Okay, so "Fehr the reaper" was possibly a tad too mean-spirited even though I only wrote it because I like the song.

Donald Fehr, the executive of Major League Baseball's Players Association, is in the clubhouse this morning. Each spring, he makes his rounds with all of the teams.

And I still can't get that Blue Oyster Cult out of my head. More cowbell.

I remember Fehr as one of the major players during the 1994 strike. But we just chatted with him, and despite his lawyer/politician way of answering questions, he seemed like an okay dude. Even a guy who you might share a beer and grouper sandwich with at Frenchy's.

But he did help kill the World Series in 1994 - so he'd be buying.

Bobby Bonilla, as special assistant to Fehr, was also hanging around inside Bright House Field. Bonilla must eat a lot of grouper sandwiches nowadays.

I'm not sure what any of this means but there's not much else going on right now in Phillies-land as we all begin the countdown to Tuesday, the one and only off-day in the team's spring training schedule.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While it still is early in the spring training sked, the next three days could go a long way in determining who could emerge as the favorite for the No.5 spot in the rotation for the long haul.

Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee announced that Kris Benson will throw in a minor league game Saturday. It'll be the first time Benson, a former 1st overall pick who was signed by the Phillies to a minor-league contract last month, will throw in a live-game situation since September of 2006.

Meanwhile, in Grapefruit League action today, incumbent Adam Eaton and newcomer Chad Durbin will take the mound against the (don't call us "Devil") Rays. Neither pitched well the first time out, so you have to imagine they're going to focus a little more on results this time around.

My feeling: By the all-star break, Benson will be in the rotation one way or another.

Benson has looked pretty good throwing in bullpens - and you have to figure a guy who is in his early 30s and coming off an injury is going to be pitching with something to prove and he tries to revitalize his career.

Eaton, who doesn't seem too inclined to be a bullpen guy, has an albatross of a contract. If he continued to struggle this spring, I honestly don't have a clue what the team will do.

Durbin can pitch in long relief. And he's eager to do handle whatever role the team deems suitable.

Stay tuned. It is early, but it gets late early around these parts...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Archive Files...

After some malfunctions earlier, here is your one-click friendly resource for delctomes.com Phillies stories.

The bullpen race begins, as incumbent Clay Condrey begins his pitch for a spot.

And in our notes package, Ryan Howard is quietly enjoying a productive start at the plate and a recap of yesterday's action on the field.