First things first - those "Phillies 2008 World Champions" posters and placards you'll be seeing all spring and summer? I doubt they'll be going away.

As I wandered into Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, the front door read, "World Champions 2006 - St. Louis Cardinals." So I'm guessing there's like a five-year grace period in keeping such signs up.

Speaking of Cardinals, that's all I saw as I strolled in this morning. I thought I was at the wrong game.

Even Dennis Martinez, aka "El Presidente," was making rounds in his Cardinals uniform (he's a spring training instructor).

But here's the thing: the Cardinals and Marlins share spring training facilities. The Phils are scheduled to play the Marlins today.

But I didn't see any sign of Fish, just a lot of Red Birds. The Phils play the Cards Friday.

Here is today's Phils lineup:

1. Pablo Ozuna, 2B
2. Jason Donald, SS
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, CF
6. Geoff Jenkins, RF
7. Marcus Giles, 3B
8. Chris Coste, C
9. Joe Blanton, P

No Chase Utley today, but he's coming off playing two games in a row. He's here on the trip and I expect him to play against the Cards.

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

Other than recovering from last night's four-hour trek from Clearwater to Jupiter by bus, the Phils have been checking out a large, rectangular piece of a cardboard box in the clubhouse.

Huh?

It's the field of 64, of course. Brad Lidge designed a spread bracket game where players randomly select teams (think Pin the Tail on the Donkey); and the players' teams must cover the spread.

I feel for Ryan Howard. One of his two teams is my alma mater, Clemson. They're favored by 5.5 points... they're playing Michigan... and they've hobbled into the tournament like wounded dogs (not like the team that walloped Duke last month).

"They better play some ACC basketball," Howard said.

I hear ya, Ryan. I hear ya.