I don’t want to get in the habit of rubbing it in, but it was pretty nice to sit on the perch alongside the Tiki Bar at the ballpark today, with the sun beating down on my back and the sound of mitts popping below.

Spring Training 2009 is underway.

*** No sign of the newly-rich Ryan Howard. Hey, who are we kidding. He made $10 million last year, he was already rich. Anyway, the $54-million man is expected in camp later this week.

*** Ryan Madson pulled into the player’s parking lot around 10 a.m.

He was greeted with a “Congrats” from fellow reliever Chad Durbin. Madson, of course, signed a three-year, $12 million deal last month.

*** Meanwhile, Durbin was having a catch with Scott Eyre. Kyle Kendrick, hoping to pitch his way back into the rotation, was also helping create the sweets sounds of spring by throwing with spring invitee Blaine Neal (who, like myself, happens to be a graduate of Bishop Eustace High School in South Jersey).

Neal, who has a World Series ring while with the Marlins six summers ago, spent the 2008 season as the closer for the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate. He could be a darkhorse to find his way into the major league pen early this season, while the Phils deal with J.C. Romero’s 50-game suspension.

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There's only a smattering of players here at the moment - mostly the aforementioned pitchers, some minor leaguers - but some big names are here, too.

World Series MVP Cole Hamels poked his head in the clubhouse.

Chase Utley is also here, continuing to rehab his surgically-repaired right hip. Utley was working pretty hard with an exercise ball... I wouldn't be surprised to see him swinging a bat later this week.

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As expected, we’ve hit the ground running since landing in the Sunshine state – quite literally, actually.

Just as I was collecting my two-month’s worth of luggage at Tampa International, my phone began buzzing with all of the emails, phone calls and texts I missed while flying the friendly skies.

As it turns out, the news on Ryan Howard’s contract took place about a half hour after I departed Philly. So instead of unpacking socks, shirts and whatever else I crammed into my hockey goalie-sized duffle bag, I took out the computer and began typing away.

I didn’t have a chance to blog, in part, because the internet connection was shaky in the condo.

Speaking of shaky internet connections...

No signals, from wireless or Ethernet cords, here at Bright House Field. But, hey, that’s why we get here early – to work out the kinks. Hopefully the internet will allow more real-time blogging later this week. (UPDATE: the good folks in the IT department here at the ballpark have us up and running online.)