Joe Blanton is taking the mound today, and since is the first spring game pitchers are hitting, he'll also step to the plate (as long as he's still in the game, which is pretty likely).

You may remember the last time Blanton batted in a game. (Try to ignore the cuts to the kid - the Blanton highlights are in there, too).



Anyway, I talked with Blanton earlier this spring, and he said he never got the ball. I don't think he'd mind having it - he gave the bat to the Hall of Fame.

So if you caught Joe's home run ball - or you know someone who did - why don't you cut a deal with the Phillies. Maybe you can get some good tickets or a ball/bat autographed by the team.

Here is today's lineup:

1. Marcus Giles, 3B
2. Jayson Werth, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry Jr., RF
6. Jason Donald, 2B
7. Eric Bruntlett, SS
8. Ronny Paulino, C
9. Joe Blanton, P


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Another, final update on Ruiz: he took batting practice and will be in the lineup for Panama today. Here's the skinny from earlier in the day and yesterday:


Also, Carlos Ruiz came out of Panama's WBC game with stiffness in his neck (scroll down for the question to Bruce Chen and the Panamanian coach). We'll check into this today with the Phillies.

Apparently it happened while he was trying to catch a foul ball... but that's not official. As I said, I'll try to get the info from Ruben Amaro Jr. today before the Phils game here in Disney World.

UPDATE: Amaro isn't with the team today, but assistant general manager Scott Proefrock spoke to the media a little while ago concerning Ruiz.

"Apparently there was a collision in the game and subsequent to that, I guess he was chasing a pop up and flipped his mask off and felt it so they took him out of the game," Proefrock said. "It was diagnosed as a neck strain."

Ruiz will stay with the Panama team, as the injury appears to be minor. He is expected to reevaluated today in Puerto Rico, where Panama is playing.

Look for another possible update in Monday's Daily Times.