Today the Philadelphia Phillies start their quest to become the first NL team in 66 years to win three straight pennants. The St. Louis Cardinals were the last to do it in 1942-44. The Cardinals won the World Series in '42 and '44.

The Phillies have plenty of reasons for optimistic, and it isn't just because pitchers and catchers report for spring training on today. For the most part, the Phillies return the same proven team of veterans returning with few holes to fill.

They replaced Cliff Lee with Roy Halladay, another former AL Cy Young Award winner at the top of the rotation.

The 32-year-old Halladay is a six-time All-Star and considered by many to be the best pitcher in the majors. The right-hander went 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA for Toronto last season, leading the majors with four shutouts and nine complete games. Halladay did that in the toughest division in baseball, the AL East and is expected to have a virtual picnic pitching in the much more pitcher friendly NL.

Signing free-agent infielder Placido Polanco to replace third baseman Pedro Feliz was the Phillies' other major offseason move. Polanco, a Gold Glove winner at second base for Detroit last season, hasn't played third regularly since 2002 with St. Louis and the Phillies but is a proven veteran and will score plenty of runs in this line-up.

Polanco, a career .303 hitter, is an upgrade offensively because he's a better contact hitter and fits nicely into the No. 2 spot in Philadelphia's already potent lineup. That allows manager Charlie Manuel to drop Shane Victorino to sixth or seventh, which will bolster the bottom of the order.

The rest of the starting position players are the same from last year. The Phillies feature five All-Stars - first baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley and outfielders Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth and Victorino. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins is a former MVP and catcher Carlos Ruiz is a defensive standout with a knack for getting clutch hits in the postseason.

Four-fifths of the starting rotation is set with Halladay followed by Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ. Forty-seven year-old Jamie Moyer, coming off surgeries on his knee and for a sports hernia, and Kyle Kendrick will compete for the fifth spot.

Barring injuries, there's also only opening in the bullpen. Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin and newcomers Danys Baez and Jose Contreras hold the first six spots. Lidge will try to rebound following a disastrous season in which he blew 11 saves. Romero is returning from an injury-plagued season.

The bench is set with catcher Brian Schneider, infielders Juan Castro and Greg Dobbs and outfielders Ben Francisco and Ross Gload. Schneider, Castro and Gload are an upgrade over Paul Bako, Eric Bruntlett and Matt Stairs.

The keys for the Phillies will be the bullpen and whether Hamels can pitch like he did in 2008. Lidge's problems and Romero's absence last year had a trickle-down effect because other relievers had to be used in different roles. Madson had some success filling in as a closer, but he's best suited for setting up. The Phillies didn't re-sign Chan Ho Park, who was outstanding in the bullpen. They're counting on Baez for flexibility because he has experience at closer and are hoping Contreras can fill in for Park.

Hamels, the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP, is coming off a disappointing season in which he struggled with consistency. If Hamels regains his old form, the Phillies will have one of the most formidable 1-2 combinations in the majors.

The Phillies actually won last year's pennant without good performances form Hamels and Lidge. Think about it, if Hamels and Lidge have solid years, the Phillies should win the NL East in a romp and will have a better than 50/50 shot to win the NL pennant for a 3rd straight year as they will be favored going into that series.

I made a similar prediction last year, and if you plunked some money down on it you would have made yourself some nice change. I would suggest the same play again this year. - Robert Fairchild

Robert is a professional sports gaming professional. He legally wages on professional and collegiate sporting events for a living. Robert is NOT suggesting that you quit your day job and try to wager on sports for a living. He is contributing his thoughts and experience to assist you in a recreational activity that you as an informed adult may choose to take part in.

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