Wes Helms, who checked into camp Sunday and spoke to the media today (Monday morning), seems to be at ease with his position as the possible odd-man out in the Phillies third base logjam.

Helms said he would prefer starting on Opening Day elsewhere, but also didn't seem opposed to eventually becoming a bench player with a winning team. The 31-year old, nine-year veteran struggled in his first season with the Phillies last spring, batting .246 with five home runs and 39 RBI in 112 games.

Helms spent the entire offseason at his home in Alabama enjoying family time and forgetting about his personal failures last summer.

"I tell my dad all the time, I could go 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and have the fans throw batteries (but) when I see my kids and family later, none of that matters," Helms said.

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NOTES IN MONDAY'S PAPER:

CHUCK-SPEAK
"My favorite saying is, 'Watch the game' - if no one’s getting anybody out, why should I have to criticize someone, it speaks for itself.”

- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel on why he doesn't bad mouth players after bad performances.

KRIS-TALK
"It's like the black plague when it comes to baseball teams - they don't want to see shoulder surgeries; so I can definitely see the concerns that come with it.”

- New Phillies pitcher Kris Benson, who was recently signed as a free agent after missing all of last season following a rotator cuff surgery.

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Helms wasn't the only player to report to the Carpenter Complex for the first time. Jayson Werth, who will likely serve as the right-handed hitting platoon to Geoff Jenkins left-handed bat, also made his first appearance of 2008.
Only two Phillies have not reported: reigning National League MVP Jimmy Rollins and reserve infielder Eric Bruntlett.
Both are expected tomorrow, for routine physicals. Position players aren't required to report until Tuesday, when their workouts begin.

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A month from today, on March 18, Chris Coste's writing debut will be released to the public.
"The 33-year old Rookie – How I Made it to the Big Leagues after 11 years in the Minors" will be hit bookstores. Coste, whose work was edited down from the 100,000 words he wrote, said he was told the book was getting a premiere display – in the front of every Barnes and Noble store.
With rumors about the book becoming a possible movie abound, Coste wouldn't volunteer an actor to play the starring role.


"I don't know; Will Ferrell – that'd be funny," Shane Victorino said.

"He'll tell you Matthew McConaughey," Phillies media relations manager Greg Casterioto. "(I say) William H. Macy."

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Also in Monday's paper: Utley responds to Beltran, well sort of:
http://www.delcotimes.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FDCT%2FSports&r21.content=%2FDCT%2FSports%2FContentTab_Feature_1599318