I think I would have found that blog title impossible to believe an hour ago.

Why? Well this is my rookie season as a working writer in Clearwater and all you here about is Frenchy's and Lenny's. Like 78 times a day.

I've been to Frenchy's - no better place for a grouper sandwich and a beer (or three) - a handful of time. But I had never been to the uber-popular breakfast joint Lenny's until this morning.

My review: If you're coming down the Tampa area (yes Tampa, not just Clearwater - it's worth the drive), you would be an idiot not to dive into a dish of a delicious breakfast at Lenny's.

Why would I call anyone an idiot? Well, I'm calling myself out - a couple years back my dad and I made a Spring Training trip and I never went to Lenny's - which is a stone's throw (or errant foul ball) away from the ballpark, on Route 19.

Two years, two hours and an oversized plate of a western omelet and home fries later, I can honestly say I was an idiot. Lenny's CAN'T be missed.


After hearing so much about it, I feared it would be like the Hollywood blockbuster movie everyone builds up... and when you see it... it's a dud.

Nope. Sorry. Wrong.

Lenny's is a stud.

The freshly-squeezed orange juice - a Florida staple - was as tasty as advertised. The two baskets of pre-meal pastry was the perfect primer to the main course.

And the wait staff is fast and friendly.

Okay, so you came on this blog looking for baseball news, not a restaurant review. But it's a Sunday.

And Sunday is as good as any day to eat - and write about - the best breakfast joint south (and north?) of the Mason/Dixon line.

Lenny's - which is talked about as often as Ryan Howard or Jimmy Rollins inside Brighthouse Networks field - is actually underrated.


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From Today's Sunday Times...

BENSON REPORTS, PITCHES; 2/17:
http://www.delcotimes.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FDCT%2FSports&r21.content=%2FDCT%2FSports%2FTopStoryList_Story_1597187

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Chase Utley spoke a little today about expectations and proclamations - mostly because he was the most popular Phillies player in the clubhouse this morning in the wake of Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran's remarks less than 24 hours earlier (see post below) that New York is now the "team to beat."

"Okay; that's fine," said Utley, maybe the last guy in either clubhouse who would ever be found guilty of stirring the pot with words. "He has confidence which is good - other than that, we'll see what happens... in order to have successful you need to have a little confidence."


Utley spoke for just over 10 minutes about all things Phillies, the N.L. East race and whatever else came to a dozen or so writers' minds on a lazy Sunday morning inside the clubhouse.

For more on the second baseman, be sure to read tomorrow's Daily Times...

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From the Notebook files...

CHARLIE-SPEAK

“(We’ll) let Louisville do the talking.”

- Phillies Charlie Manuel told the Associated Press when told New York Mets center fielder was quoted Saturday saying, “Tell Jimmy Rollins we’re the team to beat.”


SAY IT IS SO

"Un poquito."

- New reserve outfielder So Taguchi, a Japanese import who doesn't need a translator to speak English, when asked if he can speak Spanish. Translation: "A little bit."

...

Kris Benson has a pretty popular wife.
Anna Benson, whose revealing magazine spreads and Howard Stern interviews have made her quasi-famous, is not in Clearwater just yet. But her husband is well-versed in dealing with questions regarding his wife, who once said she’d sleep with everyone in the Mets organization if Kris, then with the Mets, cheated on her.

"A lot of the teammates and the wives are like, 'You're not like what they write about you,'" Benson said of his wife. "Baseball is boring sometimes, so you have to spruce it up a little bit. It's entertaining, it makes it interesting. It keeps me on my toes. It keeps you guys on your toes."

...

Earlier this month, the Phillies designated right-handed pitcher Anderson Garcia for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for new third baseman Pedro Feliz.
Garcia was claimed by the Seattle Mariners Saturday.

...

The Phillies finalized split contracts with 11 players Saturday: catchers Chris Coste, Carlos Ruiz and Jason Jaramillo and pitchers Joe Bisenius, Fabio Castro, Clay Condrey, Jon Ennis, J.A. Happ, Lincoln Holdzkom, Shane Youman and Mike Zagurski.