By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Brad Lidge was a guest instructor for the first week of the Philadelphia Phillies 2017 Spring Training and liked what he saw.
The man who anchored the 2008 bullpen told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that he believes talent wise, the Phillies 2017 bullpen has a chance to be better than the 2008 bullpen:
"I'll tell you what, I don't even think even our [2008] bullpen had as many good arms as they've got now. They've got the talent."
It is important to keep things in context. The Phillies won the 2008 World Series because they had one of the greatest lineups in team history, but also one of the deepest bullpens that the team's ever had. Whether that team had more talent or not, they were an experienced unit that helped the Phillies overcome being thin on elite starting pitching to win a World Series.
That said, Lidge is correct in his assessment of the 2017 bullpen's potential. Jeanmar Gomez was nearly an All-Star last year, and despite a disastrous September that saw him lose the closer's job, he's one of the most versatile relievers in the National League. If Gomez doesn't end up being the closer, both Hector Neris and Edubray Ramos have closer's type stuff. Veteran Joaquin Benoit, who was signed to a one-year deal this offseason, will likely be a setup man for the team, but he's also got closing experience. General manager Matt Klentak also acquired veteran Pat Neshek, who should be a stabilizing force in the bullpen as well.
The problem with the comparison is that the 2008 season was already played and the bullpen was essentially perfect by the end of it. Lidge, when you count the postseason, was literally perfect, converting 48 of 48 save attempts. Ryan Madson, who was probably the most talented piece in the bullpen that year, had a 3.05 ERA in 76 games. Clay Condrey, Rudy Seanez and Chad Durbin were very effective middle relievers for the team.
To that point, the 2017 Phillies bullpen probably could compete with the 2008 bullpen. They likely won't, but Lidge isn't overstating the talent that the 2017 bullpen has.
The problem is that two summer additions by then general manager Pat Gillick, lefties J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre, are what completed the 2008 bullpen. After being acquired from the Cubs in August, Eyre posted an 0.77 WHIP and a 1.88 ERA in 19 regular season appearances as a situational lefty. Romero, who was signed in June, gave the team a second elite set-up man, posting a 2.75 ERA in 81 regular season games, prior to posting a perfect ERA in eight postseason appearances.
Phillies brass hopes that 25-year-old Joely Rodriguez, who posted a 2.79 ERA in 12 appearances at the Major League level last year, can develop into the team's situational lefty. Adam Morgan could also be converted into a reliever, though more with the expectation of using him as a long man.
Perhaps, like in 2008, the Phillies will luck into finding a Romero type piece. The difference between 2017 and 2008 is that in July and August of 2017, the team will probably be open for business on trading pretty much anyone in their bullpen, as opposed to 2008, when the team added Eyre to complete an already strong bullpen.
