Phillies' Broadcaster Chris Wheeler Cheers Cliff Lee News

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The reaction to the return of Cliff Lee in Philadelphia has been one of joy and borderline giddyness.

Longtime Phillies' broadcaster Chris Wheeler was a guest on KYW Newsradio this morning, and he was just as surprised as everyone else at this development.

"On paper it is unbelieveable," Wheeler told KYW's Harry Donahue.  "You know, you always have to go out and play games and see what happens, because things can go wrong and all kinds of stuff can happen in a long Major League Baseball season.  But this is so exciting, right before Christmas -- if this all works out the way that it sounds like it is -- to have Cliff back."

Hear the entire interview in this CBS Philly SportsPod...

So now, the Phillies' rotation consists of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels.  And this embarrasment of riches gives Charlie Manuel the chance to make tough decisions -- like which ace to pitch on Opening Day.

What does Wheeler think?

"It will be a friendly competition, and Charlie will play coy with it all spring training and have fun with it.  But I would think it would be Roy Halladay, and I would think he had earned that."

Hard to believe that it was only ten years ago that Omar Daal was the Phillies' Opening Day starter.

Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.