(Note: Beginning Dec. 10-Jan. 3, SportsTicker's Insider Report will consist of the top prospects by position, beginning with right-handed pitchers and concluding with outfielders on Jan. 3.)

After recording their 15th losing season in the last 18 years, the Phillies have made the commitment to compete for the National League East title in 2003 by signing veteran free agents like Jim Thome and David Bell.

Yet, with a pretty good nucleus of young position players like Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu and Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies have not had much trouble on the offensive side. Their true Achilles' heel has been the inability to develop pitching to go along with those potent bats.

However, the organization has a trio of right-handed pitchers among the best in the minor leagues which could help reverse this trend.

Future staff ace Brett Myers earned valuable experience in the major leagues last season, 2001 top-pick Gavin Floyd had a strong showing in his professional debut and Taylor Buchholz was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the high Class A Florida State League.

After nearly making the Phillies rotation out of spring training, Myers posted a solid 9-6 mark at Scranton\WB before debuting in the majors on July 24. A power pitcher with stuff very similar to his idol Curt Schilling, the 22-year-old has displayed the ability to dominate hitters in his brief stint, tossing a four-hit complete game win versus Milwaukee on Aug. 14. He would have been the top choice for this list, but pitched too many innings in Philadelphia to qualify.

Floyd, a fourth overall selection, missed pitching a year ago because of contract negotiations. After signing a last-second deal worth $4.2 million right before he was to attend classes at South Carolina University, the 6-5, 200-pounder validated all the hype by becoming one of the top pitchers in the low Class A South Atlantic League as a teenager.

Despite a 9-14 record in 2001, Buchholz earned praises for staying mentally strong during a 1-10 start to his first full pro season. A battler, the 21-year-old attacks hitters with a wide variety of speeds and movements.

Just missing the list was 22-year-old Ryan Madson, who rebounded from a subpar 2001 campaign in dominating fashion. Four full years of experience, improved control and a solid arsenal of pitches could have him vying for a rotation spot in Philadelphia next spring.

Top 10 right-handed pitchers
1. Jerome Williams, Giants
The youngest pitcher in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League at the beginning of the season, Williams did experience some growing pains, but re-established himself with a strong second half and an outstanding performance in the Arizona Fall League. The 21-year-old, who had his low-90s fastball drop into the 80s towards the end of the year, finished with a 6-11 mark and a 3.59 ERA. A member of the SportsTicker All-Prospect Team, Williams showed very good control, striking out 130 and walking 50 in a career-high 160 2/3 innings. After recording a 2.02 ERA over his last eight outings with Fresno, the 6-3, 180-pounder fanned 25 and limited opponents to a .135 batting average over his five starts in the AFL before resting for the spring.

2. Gavin Floyd, Phillies
Despite losing a chance to pitch in 2001 because of contract negotiations, Floyd proved to be quite polished for a first-year player, posting a winning record and the seventh-lowest ERA (2.77) in the South Atlantic League. The 19-year-old, who showed off a mid-90s fastball and an outstanding curveball, also led the loop with a batting average against of .200. Floyd proved to be a workhorse, finishing in the top five in innings pitched and posting three complete games. A member of SportsTicker's All-Teen Team, he earned a dubious honor on July 24 when he threw a nine-inning no-hitter, but lost to Lexington by the score of 1-0. He also had another no-no broken up in the eighth inning just two starts later.

3. Rich Harden, Athletics
A 17th-round pick in the 2000 draft, Harden established himself as a top-notch prospect by recording a pair of strong showings in two of the minors' top hitters' leagues at the tender age of 20. Pitching in both the high Class A California and Double-A Texas Leagues, the 6-1, 180-pounder collected 12 wins and a 2.94 ERA in 28 starts. Armed with a low-90s fastball, a wicked breaking ball and a strong curve, Harden finished second in the minors with 187 strikeouts and posted the sixth-best ratio of strikeouts per nine innings (10.98).

4. Jesse Foppert, Giants
A relative newcomer to pitching, Foppert has rapidly advanced through the organization with great success in 2002, his first full season as a pro. The 22-year-old, who only took to the mound in his final year at the University of San Francisco, finished with a 6-10 mark and a 3.46 ERA between the Texas and Pacific Coast Leagues, two of the minors' more offensive circuits. With a mid-90s fastball and an outstanding slider, Foppert led the minors with 11.74 strikeouts per nine innings. The 6-6, 210-pounder also displayed excellent control, allowing just 56 walks and a batting average against of .225. After being limited to a conservative work load, Foppert will need to show in the future that he can pitch effectively into the later innings.

5. Taylor Buchholz, Phillies
A notorious slow starter, Buchholz overcame a 2-4 start this year to post a 10-6 record and a 3.29 ERA. A sixth-round pick in the 2000 draft, the Pennsylvania native has quickly established himself as a very durable pitcher who can eat a lot of innings. After posting five complete games a season ago, Buchholz finished four starts in 2002. The 6-4, 220-pounder also has five shutouts over the last two years. He attacks hitters with deception, changing the speed on his fastball by a number of miles per hour. His curveball also fools hitters with its tremendous drop out of the strike zone.

6. Francisco Rodriguez, Angels
A budding superstar after his dominant performance in the Angels' unthinkable postseason run, Rodriguez adapted well to his move to the bullpen this past year. After two seasons riddled with injuries and inconsistency, the 20-year-old finally displayed his ability to overpower hitters with a fastball that can touch 98 mph and a sharp-breaking slider. Rodriguez also improved his control, cutting both his walk and wild pitch totals. Similar to Mariano Rivera, the native of Venezuela will assume a set-up role to slowly allow him to grow into the closer spot.

7. Aaron Cook, Rockies
After four non-descript seasons after being selected in the second round of the 1997 draft, Cook began to reach some of his potential towards the end of 2001. He threw 17 shutout innings in the playoffs to lead Salem to the Class A Carolina League title. He continued his great play this past year, going 7-2 with a 1.42 ERA in the Double-A Southern League before eventually earning a callup to the majors. With outstanding stamina, the 23-year-old has been able to maintain his mid-90s fastball late into contests, sometimes hitting 98 mph as late as the ninth inning. His heater also has outstanding sink, making it a perfect weapon for pitching in Coors Field. More improvement on his offspeed offering will better his chances of succeeding for the Rockies.

8. Adam Wainwright, Braves
Despite tiring towards the end of the season, Wainwright finished with a winning record, going 9-6 with a 3.31 ERA. The 21-year-old also led a league in strikeouts for the second consecutive year, fanning 351 batters over his last 328 innings. He has a low-90s fastball that is able to fool hitters with its tremendous movement, and a solid curveball. A participant of last summer's Futures Game, the 6-6, 190-pounder had an 8-3 record at the end of July, but posted a 6.32 ERA over his last seven starts. In just his second full season, Wainwright needs to develop more strength to improve his stamina.

9. Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers
The first-ever player taken in the amateur draft after his junior year in high school, Bonderman started the season as one of the youngest pitchers in the high Class A California League. The 26th overall pick of the Athletics in the 2001 draft, he overcame a slow start to become one of the top pitchers in the league. Down the stretch, the recently-turned 20-year-old won seven of his last 11 starts, posting a 2.70 ERA and striking out 76 over 70 innings. A member of the SportsTicker All-Teen Team, Bonderman owns three quality pitches, including a mid-90s fastball. He was included as the player-to-be-named-later in the deal that sent Jeff Weaver to the Yankees.

10. Franklyn German, Tigers
Also a part of the Weaver deal, German has developed into an intimidating presence out of the bullpen with a high-90s fastball and a hulking frame. Signed out of the Dominican Republic as a skinny 16-year-old by the Athletics in 1996, the 6-4, 260-pounder had his first exposure of Double-A at the beginning of the season and ended the year by making seven scoreless appearances with Detroit. Overall, he pitched shutout ball in 45 of his last 47 appearances. German has the makeup to be a strong major-league closer, but needs to improve both his control and secondary pitches.

Others worth watching: Kris Honel (White Sox), Ryan Madson (Phillies), Bobby Jenks (Angels), Bobby Basham (Reds), Rafael Soriano (Mariners), Ben Hendrickson (Brewers), Dewon Brazelton (Devil Rays), Jason Young (Rockies), Clint Nageotte (Mariners), Joel Hanrahan (Dodgers), Julio De Paula (Yankees), Dustin Moseley (Reds), Colby Lewis (Rangers) and Boof Bonser (Giants).