Relax, Phillies fans. You don’t win a World Series championship in February.

Apparently you don’t defend one then either.

This probably wasn’t quite what the Phils had in mind when they took the field yesterday for the first time since they piled on top of one another on the chilly turf at Citizens Bank Park last October.

In the words of Chase Utley, the defending world champions played like “bleep.”

But that’s the thing about these Grapefruit League encounters. The final score is often not the key to what happened. The scoreboard says the Phils got waxed by the Pirates, 8-2.

But there are several things Phillies die-hards should like about yesterday’s game. Starting pitcher Jamie Moyer pitched well, giving up just one hit in two innings. Moyer struck out two and walked two. He was followed to the hill by Joe Blanton. He gave up a run on two hits.

So far, so good. Both Moyer and Blanton figure to be in the Phils starting lineup.

Unfortunately, after they left the game is when things took a turn for the worse. Joe Bisenius got shelled. Steve Nestor didn’t fare much better.

Look at it this way. Anyone else just happy to turn on the radio yesterday afternoon and hear the sounds of baseball?

Spring can’t be far away.