The busy day at the park just won't end...

For the third straight year, Brett Myers will take the ball on opening day.

Following a 9-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday night, the Phillies named Myers their starter for the season opener Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves.

“Once Cole (Hamels) couldn’t start, the way we keep the rotation, (Myers) follows Cole and then (Jamie) Moyer and (Joe) Blanton," Charlie Manuel said. "That’s how we’ve had it when we won.”

“Brett can have any type of year that he wants to have, he’s that talented,” Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said of Myers, whose inconsistency led him to a stint in the minor leagues last year. “If Brett can be the same guy and prepare in the same way every five days, there’s no reason Brett can’t have a big season.”

Myers allowed one run on three hits in four innings against the Jays. He struck out three while walking none.

“I’m ready to pitch whenever, as long as they give me the chance,” Myers said. “Whenever they give me the green light, I’ll be ready.”

Just a quick rundown on the news:

Chan Ho Park has beat out J.A. Happ for the fifth spot in the team's rotation.


Ruben Amaro Jr., on Park winning the job:

"Frankly I think our entire staff thought parked pitched better, frankly. We’re a better club with him in the rotation at this time...
"He came in prepared to pitch and win that job and he deserved to be our fifth starter."


Amaro on Jenkins:

"He was a great person to have in the clubhouse – this was a tough one. He had some big hits for us at times – maybe one of the biggest hits – and was certainly a very important piece into our championship club. That said, we just felt like we were a better club making this decision to go in a different direction.”


Jenkins on being released:

"I think coming into spring training I felt like, not that there was writing on the wall, but I definitely saw that it could be an issue with all the left-handed hitters. I think in my mind, I love to be around these guys so much, I was just hoping things would work out."


Amaro on Gary Sheffield, who was released today by the Tigers:

“We have talked to his representative and we have talked to Gary – we’ll see how that plays out. We do not have a gage (if he’d accept a backup role). We had a private conversation and we’ll keep it private.”

More breaking news from Clearwater:

General Manager Ruben Amaero Jr. just informed the media that Chan Ho Park has been named the Phillies' fifth starter.

Park had been competing with J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco this spring.

More later...

The Phillies have cleared up a spot for the extra right-handed batter they'd been searching for all winter.

The team made a surprising move, releasing veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins Tuesday afternoon. The Phillies, who signed Jenkins to a two-year, $13 million deal just last offseason, owe Jenkins $6.75 million for 2009.

Barring a trade or last-minute signing, Miguel Cairo will likely replace Jenkins on the bench, giving the team a right-handed bat to go alongside Eric Bruntlett.

Jenkins, who played 10 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers before arriving in Philly, hit .246 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 115 games in his first and only season with the Phillies. As Jenkins struggled early last season, Jayson Werth emerged as the team's everyday right fielder.

I spoke with Jenkins, who admitted he could see the writing on the wall with the log jam of left-handed hitting reserves (himself, Matt Stairs and Greg Dobbs). I'm still waiting to talk with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

There does, however, feel like there's another shoe to drop. I don't have any reasoning other than the vibe in the ballpark right now.

If you're into putting two and two together, another veteran, right-handed hitter outfielder was released today: Detroit let go Gary Sheffield. But this is pure speculation on my part, I'm not sure Sheffield has the right, shall I say, makeup issues, that the Phillies talked about when they signed Raul Ibanez.

Here is today's lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Jayson Werth, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Chris Coste, C
9. Brett Myers, P

Chan Ho Park has pitched about as well as anyone could have expected this spring.

He's 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in five games. He's walked just two batters - while striking out 25 - in 21 1/3 innings.

Park finished his spring campaign strong, allowing just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of a 13-3 win over the Astros Monday.

"I’m expecting their decision to make me as the starter, that’s my goal, that’s why I signed with this team,” Park said. “I think (my performance this spring) was better than they expected."

Park, who signed with the Phils with little fanfare this winter, looks like the pitcher who stormed onto the scene with the Dodgers 12 years ago. He doesn't look like the pitcher who flamed out in Texas after signing a mammoth, five-year, $65 million contract in 2001.

Park also signed with the Phillies specifically because they were the team that said they'd allow him to compete for a starting job.

Despite J.A. Happ's equally strong spring, can the Phillies ignore Park's success. Is it bad for business to sign a player and promise him a chance to compete, but then ignore his results?

The Phils liked how Park performed in the bullpen for the Dodgers last year. But he signed here to start, and surely has pitched like a guy who has earned a chance to start.

It should be interesting to see how Park reacts if the team chooses Happ.

"I don’t know, let’s see,” Park said. “Wait, wait, wait, wait — we’ll see. Sometimes I’m crazy.”

Which led me to ask a very important followup question: "Good crazy or bad crazy?"

"I don't know - wait," said Park, with a serious look on his face. "You guys have seen me go crazy, like when the Korean guys won in the WBC."

Park was referring to his wild run around the clubhouse that ended with a Brad Lidge-at-the-end-of-the-World Series celebration after Korea beat Japan in an early-round World Baseball Classic game.

But that was good-crazy. Are the Phillies prepared to find out what bad-crazy is?

For the last two weeks, Phils pitching coach Rich Dubee has called Cole Hamels "a long shot" to make his originally-scheduled Opening Day start.

After throwing in a minor league game Monday, Hamels basically took himself out of the running - although his left elbow is no longer an issue.

When asked if he thought he needed one more exhibition tuneup before making a regular season start, Hamels said, "Definitely."

"I think that would be the best, knowing that I can go out there, hopefully go a little deeper, maybe 80 pitches, get past that fourth inning," Hamels said, laughing at the four innings he pitched, throwing 64 pitches Monday. "Pitching four innings in the big leagues doesn't help out much, the bullpen would be taxed. It's just knowing I can go out there and hit my spots - that's the key. That just happens with going out there and getting repetition."

Hamels gave up three runs on 10 hits in four innings on Monday, but was working out the kinks, bringing his curve ball into his arsenal for the first time in a game this spring.

Hamels has made two minor league starts since getting a anti-inflammatory shot 13 days ago. He said he's tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday, in an exhibition against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park and then make his regular season debut in the fourth game of the regular season on the following Friday in Colorado.

But Dubee and the team's management and medical staffs will have the final say, of course.

It's another Monday morning with news:

Marcus Giles, signed to a minor league contract two months ago, has been released.

John Mayberry Jr. and Carlos Carrasco were both optioned to minor league camp.

Reliever Mike Koplove, outfielder Jason Ellison and infielder Pablo Ozuna were all informed they will not the final cut, but they will travel with the team to Philadelphia and stay during the on-deck series against Tampa, before the Phillies open the season Sunday against the Braves.

Giles, a former All-Star with the Braves, was out of baseball last year. He was signed in early January as possible insurance for Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz, who both underwent surgeries in November. Utley and Feliz, however, will be ready for Opening Day and Giles hit .167 (6-for-36) in 19 games this spring.

The 30-year-old Giles said he saw it coming, as hit at-bats decreased in the last two weeks, but also said he would have made the same decision if he was in the Phillies' shoes.


As for Carlos Carrasco, he'll likely open the season at Lehigh Valley. His dismissal from major league camp means the fifth starter job is officially down to Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ. Park pitches today.

John Mayberry Jr., whose power put him on the radar this spring, will also likely start for the IronPigs.






With this morning's roster cuts, the Phillies don't have to make many more decisions before cutting the roster to 25 before Sunday night.

Miguel Cairo could remain with the club if they decide to break camp with 11 pitchers (so if J.A. Happ wins the fifth spot but the team decides they don't need a ffith starter to mid- to late-April, Cairo could stick around; OR if the team finds a way to trade Geoff Jenkins/Matt Stairs).

Gary Majewski is also still in play; his chances to make the club were hurt when Jack Taschner was acquired Friday. Still, Majewski, who signed a minor-league contract, could start at Lehigh Valley and come up at some point if the Phils need an extra bullpen arm. He could also stick if the team wants to keep 12 pitchers, but keep Happ stretched out as a starter - if Happ wins the fifth spot.

Mike Zagurski (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and J.C. Romero (who faces a 50-game suspension) are also still in camp, but neither will start the season with the major league team.

The only other name remaining - Bobby Mosebach, the team's Rule 5 draft selection. If he doesn't mean the Opening Day roster, he has to be offered back to the Los Angeles Angels.

Cole Hamels was scheduled to pitch today... but according to pitching coach Rich Dubee, the ace was never scheduled to pitch against the Red Sox.

Hamels was on tap to throw in a minor-league game. But an overnight dumping of wet weather, which continued into the morning, washed away that game.

According to Dubee, Hamels will pitch Monday. It hasn't been determined if that will come in a minor league game or against the Astros at Bright House Field.

Hamels has not been ruled out to start the season opener a week from tonight, but remains a long shot. I'd say he has a 10 percent chance to make that start against the Braves on April 5.

Cole Hamels, who said he was originally scheduled to pitch against the Boston Red Sox today, will pitch in a minor league game instead.

No reasoning for the switch... or if it wasn't a switch and Hamels was mistaken. Lots of folks walking around with tight lips this morning.

It's probably nothing to be concerned about. Just a communication breakdown.

Joe Blanton will take the ball against the Sox. Scott Eyre, Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson are also scheduled to pitch.


Here's the lineups:

PHILS

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, RF
6. Raul Ibanez, LF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. John Mayberry Jr., DH
9. Chris Coste, C


BOSOX

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Jed Lowrie, SS
3. J.D. Drew, RF
4. Jason Varitek, C
5. Chris Carter, 1B
6. Jeff Bailey, LF
7. George Kottaras, DH
8. Jorge Jimenez, 3B
9. Gil Velazquez, 2B

Left-hander Jon Lester is scheduled to pitch.





Jack Taschner arrived this morning. We chatted up with him for a little while (you can read about him in Monday's paper), but he sounds like a decent guy.

You might even say he's JackTastic. (that's just a terrible inside joke... or an idea for a t-shirt).

When the Phillies went to the Winter Meetings in December, Ronny Paulino was a Pittsbugh Pirate.

When they opened camp in Clearwater last month, Paulino was a Philadelphia Phillie.

When I went to bed, Ronny Paulino was a San Francisco Giant.

When I woke up, he was a Florida Marlin.

He still has a locker stall - filled with red uniform clothes - in the Phillies clubhouse at Bright House Field.

So here's a recap: Paulino was swapped for former Phils minor leaguer Jason Jaramillo in December, he was dealt for Giants reliever Jack Taschner Friday night.... a few hours later, the Giants spinned Paulino to the the Marlins for reliever Hector Correa.

I haven't checked in the last two minutes, but I believe Paulino is still with the Marlins.

Taschner, the second player swapped for Paulino in the last four months, is expected to arrive to Phillies camp on Sunday or Monday. He'll likely break camp as the second left-handed reliever (with Scott Eyre).

So how does manager Charlie Manuel feel about the catching tandem of Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste emerging from the foursome of Ruiz, Coste, Paulino and top prospect Lou Marson, all of whom were considered top candidate for major league jobs?

"We won the World Series with those two catchers," Manuel said.

Fair enough.

By RYAN LAWRENCE
ryanlawrence21@gmail.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ronny Paulino's stay in Philadelphia was short-lived.


On Friday night, nine days before the regular season
opener, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced in a press
release that the team had traded Paulino to San Francisco.
In exchange, the Phillies receive left-handed reliever Jack Taschner.


Paulino never played in a major league game with the Phillies. He was acquired in a December trade with Pittsburgh that sent Triple-A catcher Jason Jaramillo to the Pirates.

Taschner, who turns 31 next month, has been a staple in the San Francisco bullpen for each of the last two seasons. He was 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA in a team-high 67 games for the Giants last season.

"It gives us depth," Amaro said. "We've been looking to gain depth from the left side and Jack has done that in the past; we'll see how he fits in the mix."

The trade appears to solve two issues as the Phillies prepare for the 2009 season. With Paulino headed to San Francisco, the battle for the backup catching job is over.

Chris Coste, who shared catching duties with Carlos Ruiz last year, will be back for his fourth season in Philadelphia. Paulino was hitting .194 with one home run in 13 Grapefruit League games this spring.

"We just felt Costey was a better fit for us," Amaro said. "We didn't feel like Paulino played well enough at least in this stage of the game to take it way from him."

The trade should also help the Phillies deal with the loss of J.C. Romero. With Romero out until June 1 while he serves a 50-game suspension tied to negligence in a failed drug test, Scott Eyre was in line to be the only left-handed reliever on the Opening Day roster.

Taschner is not guaranteed to make the 25-man roster, but likely has an edge over the likes of spring training-invitees Gary Majewski and Mike Koplove. Unlike those two, Taschner is a lefty.

"He's bonafide major leaguer," Amaro said when asked if he would compete with the other relievers in camp for a job. "But we added some depth and we'll see how he hits into the puzzle."

Taschner, the Giants second round pick in the 1999 first-year player draft, is 8-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 178 career major league games. Taschner avoided arbitration with the Giants two months ago and will make $830,000 in 2009.

I happened upon this website while chatting it up with the other scribes last night in the press box. These are some pretty darn good Phils' t-shirts.

The Utley one is funny, the Urbina one is just wrong (but hilarious), but I'm partial to the Victorino one, perhaps since I hear Mr. Victorino talk quite a bit and that phrase comes out every 20 seconds.

Anyway, apparently the t-shirt shop is associated with the fan site, thefightins.com

Good stuff, boys.

We've landed in Kissimmee, the last, long-ish road trip of the eight-week Spring Training journey.

It's Phillies-Astros at Osceola Stadium. Seven more games down here in Florida until the Phils return to Philly.

Yesterday, I caught up with former Astro Eric Bruntlett, who is having a pretty darn good spring - he comes into today hitting .345.

Brett Myers, who is on a five-day pace right now that would land him on the mound for Opening Night on April 5 against the Braves, takes the mound today. Myers hasn't officially been named the Opening Day starter, but unless Cole Hamels' wows the club on Sunday, it seems naming Myers is all but a formality now.

Here are a couple of other items to fill your daily baseball appetite. In case you missed it, I caught up with Astros GM (and former Phils GM) Ed Wade the last time we came into Kissimmee (less that two weeks ago).

Also, I caught up with Mike Gill of ESPN 1490/Atlantic City yesterday. Here's your weekly edition of Talkin' Phils baseball:

iryan0326.mp3

There's no place like home... there's no place like home... there's no place like home.

I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure I saw several Phillies players clicking their red cleats together as we enter the final week of spring training. Hey, Florida is nice and all, but this spring training thing gets pretty monotonous about 2-3 weeks in - and, for a lot of these guys, it's Week 8.

The Phillies will leave Florida a week from today; they'll be back at Citizens Bank Park, in a World Series rematch against Pat Burrell and the Tampa Bay Rays, a week from tomorrow (Friday).

But until then, we must play out the Grapefruit League sked. Here is today's lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Jayson Werth, RF
7. Matt Stairs, DH
8. Pedro Feliz, 3B
9. Ronny Paulino, C

Carlos Carrasco is pitching.... Brad Lidge, Clay Condrey and Scott Eyre are also scheduled to get into the game against the Yankees.

With the exception of Stairs at DH and Paulino catching, this, once again, is close to the Opening Day lineup we saw Tuesday. The only difference - Werth and Ibanez have been flip-flopped.

Today that means three straight lefties in the middle of the order. So if the last two games mean anything, here's the deal: Charlie Manuel will keep the three-straight lefties thing intact against a right-hander (like today against Joba Chamberlain) and go with Utley-Howard-Werth-Ibanez, breaking up the lefties, against a left-hander (as he did Monday against Toronto's David Purcey).


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Happy Birthday Harry Kalas!

Cole Hamels had a anti-inflammation shot for his tight left elbow a week ago today. On Thursday, he threw a long-toss session.

On Saturday, he got on the mound for the first time in a bullpen, side-session. Today, his first game action in a minor league tilt.

How does his left arm feel? Is the inflammation gone?

"Yeah, oh yeah, definitely," Hamels said. "It’s a good feeling to be able to move it around, not feel it – it’s great. Just going with that, I obviously know I’m going to feel good tomorrow because everything worked out (when) I threw the bullpen. I tried to up it more here to see how it feels, and it feels good."

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Jimmy Rollins returned to camp today (with Shane Victorino).

Rollins was honored on Tuesday when he was named to the World Baseball Classic All-Tournament team. Rollins was the only member of Team USA on the team.

Rollins went 4-for-4 in Team USA's 9-4 loss to Japan in the semifinals and batted .417 with a home run and four RBIs in the tournament. He tied for the tournament lead in stolen bases, with four.

He also took over the third spot in the batting order when Chipper Jones got injured.

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Over in Dunedin, the Phils scored three times in the ninth inning to beat the Blue Jays 7-6.

The most interesting thing: Chase Utley hit a two-run home run off Toronto closer B.J. Ryan in the seventh inning. It was Utley's first home run since hip surgery.

Cole Hamels threw in a game for the first time since last week's anti-inflammatory shot for a tight left elbow. The Phils' ace looked healthy... and said he felt fine afterward.

Hamels' final line - 3 2/3 IP, no runs, one hit, one walk, five strikeouts. He threw 48 pitches, 35 for strikes.

Hamels faced 13 hitters and threw first-pitch strikes to eight of them. He'll throw again on Sunday and likely up his workload to 80 pitches.

Other lines from today:

Chan Ho Park against Blue Jays in Dunedin: 4 IP, four hits, three runs, one walk, seven strikeouts.

J.C. Romero in minor league game (following Hamels): 2 IP, no hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts.


Everything below was written after Hamels' first two innings (from my iPhone while getting sunburned down on the back fields):

Down here at the Carpenter Complex, Cole Hamels has thrown two innings so far and looks healthy.

In a minor league game against the Pirates at the Carpenter Complex, he's thrown two shutout innings so far - 20 pitches, 13 for strikes. He's allowed one hit, no walks and has chalked up two strikeouts.

Hamels likely has at least two innings left. He was scheduled to throw 50 pitches in his first game since getting an anti-inflammatory shot in his pitching elbow last Tuesday.

Cole Hamels was in Philadelphia this time last week, visiting team physician Michael Ciccotti. The Phils ace received an anti-flammatory shot in his tight left elbow.

Hamels gets back on the mound today in a minor-league game. It should be interesting to see where Phillies management flocks today - to Dunedin to watch Chan Ho Park pitch or to the back fields at the Carpenter Complex to see how Hamels responds to his first, big challenge toward prepping for the regular season.

Pithching coach Rich Dubee continues to say Hamels' chances at starting on Opening Day are slim. But he also shed light on when his top pitcher might be available.

Hamels is expected to throw 50 pitches today and Dubee wants the left-hander to throw two more times before the start of the regular season.

The third tune-up is tentatively on tap for April 3 or April 4 --- a day or two before Opening Night against the Atlanta Braves.

“Few and far between --- it’s a very, very, very small shot, if at all,” Dubee said. “But saying that isn’t saying he can’t pitch the fourth game of the season and not miss a start.”

Dubee left the door slightly ajar by saying Hamels could skip the third spring tune-up if he “throws 80 pitches and is lights out” in his next start after today.


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

Most of the time, I laugh off wild trade rumors... most come from over-caffeinated radio talk show hosts, trying to fill air time. Which is okay - they need something to talk about, and trade rumors, false or not, are probably more likely to draw call-in traffic than, say, chatting it up about Miguel Cairo.

All that said, this Lou Marson-Clay Buchholz is not completely out of line. (It was reported in the Boston Globe the other day).

Here's why it can't be completely laughed off: the Red Sox have an aging catcher in Jason Varitek and don't have anyone to take over the reigns. The Phillies, like any team, could use a young pitcher like Clay Buchholz.

But look a little closer, and remember this, too: Brett Myers is a free agent at season's end, Jamie Moyer is not getting any younger, and no matter who wins the fifth spot in the rotation, neither Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ are sure bets for long-term success in Philadelphia.

Cole Hamels (whose health is always in question) and Joe Blanton are probably the only sure bets to be in the rotation in 2010.

The Phillies also like Carlos Ruiz (as long as he hits somewhere closer to .250 and not the .219 he hit in 2008). And they have a nice crop of other young catchers blossoming in the minor leagues. Twenty-year old, former first round pick Travis D'Arnaud was rated the No.7 prospect in the organization by Baseball America this year.

Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't comment on trade rumors. While I still don't think this will happen, I'm not going to laugh it off, either.


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With the WBC guys back, the Phillies are trotting out a lineup for the trip to Dunedin today against the Blue Jays that looks an awful lot like the one you'll see on April 5 for the regular season opener.

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, RF
6. Raul Ibanez, LF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Chris Coste, DH
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Chan Ho Park is pitching; back at the Carpenter Complex, Hamels will be joined by Joe Blanton and J.C. Romero in a minor league game.

Speaking of Opening Day lineup, it sure looks like Brett Myers will be making his third straight Opening Day start. The Phils posted the pitching schedule for the next week and Myers looks like the only possible option.

Jamie Moyer's next start is tabbed for Saturday... meaning he would most likely go again in the Grapefruit League finale here next Thursday.... meaning he's not pitching Opening Day on two day's rest.

After today, Joe Blanton will pitch again on Sunday.... meaning, five days of rest puts him on tap for Friday at Citizens Bank Park in the on-deck series opener against the Rays... meaning he also isn't pitching on Sunday, April 5.

Myers is pitching this Friday.... and then again next Tuesday. And, whaddyaknow, five day's rest puts him smack dab on for Sunday, April 5 against the Braves.

Busy day here at Bright House... call it, Moving Day.

After the game, the Phillies re-assigned infielder Jason Donald and pitchers Dave Borkowski and Jake Woods to minor league camp.

Earlier this morning, Kyle Kendrick, top catching prospect Lou Marson and infielder Brad Harman were optioned to minor league camp.

There's one reason for the body shifting - there is just over a week left down here in Clearwater and the Phillies will get two bodies back in Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino on Tuesday,

We just got through talking to Kyle Kendrick, who was optioned to minor league camp this morning (read about it below).

Kendrick said he was both "upset" and "surprised" initially, but will go to minor league camp with "a clear mind."


"When I came up, I was a one-pitch pitcher," Kendrick said, referring to the sinker that helped him cruise in his first summer in Philadelphia. But major league hitters adjusted and from the second half of last year to this spring, Kendrick failed to master an effective secondary pitch.

Now that he doesn't have to worry about results in battling for the fifth starter's spot, Kendrick can focus all of his energies on working on those pitches - including a changeup he's been his experiment this spring.

"I know what I need to do, and that's a good thing," Kendrick said.

Breaking news: Kyle Kendrick's bid to win the fifth starter's spot is over.

Kendrick, who won 21 games in the last two seasons for the Phillies, has been optioned to minor league camp. The Phillies announced the news before Monday's game with the Yankees at Bright House Field.

Additionally, the Phillies sent catching prospect Lou Marson and infielder Brad Harman to minor league camp, too. Although not entirely not surprising, Kendrick is the bombshell of the transaction.

Kendrick was a fixture of the Phillies rotation for the greater part of the last two seasons. He was called up in June of 2007, when the team was swamped with pitching injuries, and thrived in Philadelphia.

His second season didn't go quite as well. From July 11 to September 9, Kendrick went 3-6 with a 7.39 ERA in 11 starts.

His downward turn cost him a spot in the rotation, and later, a spot on the postseason roster, too.

Kendrick struggled for the most part this spring (1-3, 9.20 ERA). Although his most recent start was his best (allowing two earned runs in five innings), Kendrick has been behind J.A. Happ (0-0, 3.60 ERA this spring) and Chan Ho Park (1-0, 1.54 ERA) in the race for the vacant fifth spot in the rotation this spring.

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Not a good day for the No.38.

Former Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling announced his retirement today... from his blog.

A week ago, it was manic Monday in Clearwater as news circulated that Cole Hamels and his aching elbow were flying back to Philly. Today, it's about the polar opposite feeling - ain't nuthin' goin' on.

Quiet and slow morning. No lineup posted for today's game yet.

What we do know is this -- J.A. Happ is scheduled to pitch in the major league game against the Yankees while Jamie Moyer will throw behind Bright House in a minor league game at the same time.

Seen and heard in the clubhouse: A picture of the Japanese flag was taped to Jason Donald's locker stall. Donald, who played for Team USA in the Olympics, said it was from a minor league trainer who hails from Japan.

So what did Donald do with the flag? He walked a few steps to the left and taped it on Chan Ho Park's locker cubby. Japan, of course, beat the United States last night in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic and meets Park's countrymen, Korea, in the WBC championship game tonight.

Here is more on Donald, by the way.

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Former Phillies File:


-- Adam Eaton pitches today for the Orioles against the Minnesota Twins. After his most recent start, Eaton is looking like a strong candidate to land in Baltimore's rotation. Reminder: the O's come to Philadelphia the weekend on June 19-21.

-- Gavin Floyd used his breakout 2008 season to break the bank. I was reading Floyd's entry in Baseball Prospectus last week, and although I don't have it with me and can't remember it word for word, it wasn't exactly an endorsement for the former top Phils prospect. The people at BP expect Floyd to struggle this year. Following this contract, it should be interesting to see who was right - White Sox management or the BP stat gurus.

-- Also, the guy the Phillies got for Floyd, Freddy Garcia, makes his latest bid to return to the major leagues today when he squares off with fellow fifth starter candidate Livan Hernandez in an Mets intra-squad game today.
This could very well be Garcia's last shot - he's 0-3 with a 16.71 ERA this spring. He has allowed 15 runs (13 earned) and 14 hits in seven Grapefruit League innings. Yikes.

The 2 1/2-hour, early morning trek to Fort Myers made blogging pretty much impossible in the morning.

Before we get started, here is your Phillies lineup for their tilt with the Red Sox today:

1. Eric Bruntlett, 3B
2. Jayson Werth, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Matt Stairs, DH
6. John Mayberry, Jr., RF
7. Miguel Cairo, SS
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Brett Myers, P

Jason Donald (ankle) took batting practice and will get into the game, according to Charlie Manuel.

Most of the Red Sox starters are playing and Josh Beckett is pitching.

The last time I saw Josh Beckett against the Phillies in spring training came two years ago, when I wasn't covering the team but came down to Clearwater with my dad for the weekend. In a Phils-Red Sox game at Bright House, the benches cleared after Ryan Howard and Beckett jawed back and forth... apparently Beckett took umbrage to Howard watching a home run.

Should be interesting if sparks fly again today in Fort Myers...
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Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler rarely makes a spring training road trip. But he's here today.

Here is Wheels' 2008 highlight, in case you missed it.

Five days after flying back to Philly, Cole Hamels was back on the mound Saturday morning for a bullpen session.

It went fine.

We talked with Hamels afterward and he said there wasn't any pain or inflammation. Pitching coach Rich Dubee simulated a two-inning scenario where Hamels sat down for a five-minute period before throwing again. The ace lefty, who said the tightness came during rest in between innings or after throwing, said Saturday that was no longer the case.

Hamels said the next step will be to throw in a game, which he believes will happen Tuesday out on the minor league fields behind Bright House Field.

Hamels was noncommittal on whether he felt better about starting Opening Day - "That's like the furthest thing from my mind," Hamels said.

If Hamels throws Tuesday, he would be on tap to pitch again on Sunday, March 29 against the Red Sox - a full week before Opening Day. The math doesn't quite add up if the Phillies want Hamels to throw three times before Opening Day, so it would be interesting to see how the scheduling plays out.

UPDATE: Hamels will throw in a minor league game Tuesday, according to Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr.; Joe Blanton will also pitch in that game.
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The most surprising item in Saturday's starting lineup - no Chan Ho Park.

The fifth starter candidate tweaked his left hamstring in his last Grapefruit League game Sunday against the Cardinals. The Phillies decided to play it cautious and hold Park back - like Hamels, he threw a bullpen Saturday morning.

And, like Hamels, Park didn't report any pain while talking to reporters afterward. Park said he believes he's on tap to start in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

UPDATE: Amaro confirmed that, yes, Park will throw in Dunedin Tuesday.

Here's the rest of your Saturday lineup that will face the Minnesota Twins:

1. Miguel Cairo, SS
2. Geoff Jenkins, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry, CF
6. Matt Stairs, LF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Chris Coste, C
9. Kyle Kendrick, P

Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge are also scheduled to pitch.

Huge spring training matchup with the Phillies and Cardinals today (can you tell we're all getting a little tired of the monotony of exhibition games?

Here are your lineups:

PHILS

1. Eric Bruntlett, SS
2. Jayson Werth, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Pedro Feliz, 3B
7. Geoff Jenkins, RF
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Carlos Carrasco


CARDS

1. Skip Schumaker, 2B
2. Rick Ankiel, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Chris Duncan, LF
5. Khalil Greene, SS
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Joe Thurston, 3B
8. Adam Wainwright, P
9. Colby Rasmus, RF


-Top of things I don't get - why Tony LaRussa, who invented baseball, of course, thinks it's better to hit the pitcher eighth.

-Bill Parcells visited the clubhouse. I guess he's a pretty big deal in the football world. In the baseball world, he's the guy sitting next to Sam Perlozzo, looking like his long lost brother.


-I've probably mentioned this before, but no one matches Marcus Giles in enthusiasm. He walks over to the lineup, and says, "Nope... all right" after his name isn't in it. Then he sees Carlos Carrasco walking by and yells, "You're hitting today, dude. Swing hard in case you hit it" and gives the rookie a fist pump.


-Ryan Howard gave me the stink eye. As you may have read yesterday, he drew my alma mater, Clemson, in Brad Lidge's Field of 64 Spread Pool. Howard also drew Cal, which lost to Maryland. The Phillies first baseman shook his head, and said he was happy to "make a donation" to his teammate this year.

-And lastly, a picture of Rachel McAdams. Why? Because when I did a google image search for "Sam Perlozzo," this was among the results. And that's when it hits you - your life has turned into scouring the internet for pictures of Sam Perlozzo. For that, here's Rachel:

Cole Hamels' two-day break from throwing a baseball ended this morning.

The Phils' ace, who flew back to Philly earlier this week with tightness in his elbow, played long toss with Jamie Moyer. General manager Ruben Amaro said Hamels got up to 150-feet in the long-toss and was happy with his left-hander's progress.

"He threw with Jamie and threw well... he'll long toss again tomorrow," Amaro said. "We'll see if he comes out of that all right (and if that's the case) he'll probably be on the mound in a few days."

Did Hamels report any soreness?

"Only where he got the shot," Amaro said with a smile, referring to the anti-inflammatory injection Hamels had in his left arm Tuesday morning.

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

In other injury news, Chan Ho Park reported soreness in his left hamstring, but Amaro didn't believe it was anything to be concerned about. Amaro said the team might flip Park with Carrasco or another pitcher if he needs an extra day.

Park is tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday at Bright House Field against the Minnesota Twins.

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.

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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.

There has been widespread panic among Phils fans... and when you put "tightness in elbow" and "Cole Hamels" in the same sentence, that panic is understandable.

But the World Series MVP insists he's fine... and despite his pitching coach's "long shot" words, Cole is shooting for Opening Day. (By the way - bad byline on this story, it's written by Delco Times sports editor Rob Parent, no me).

Meanwhile, Cole's health has overshadowed the condition of another important cog in the Phils World Championship team -- Charlie Manuel missed games on Friday and Tuesday in the last week.

Yo, Chuck, were worred about ya.

"My heart is absolutely fine," he said. "My blood is perfect."

Manuel said he has to have a colonoscopy. And it's nothing to get hot and bothered about.

"That's required every eight to 10 years," said Manuel, whose own health history rivals Coles'.

I'm in my hotel in Jupiter, about five minutes from the ballpark.... the clubhouse opens in about an hour. I'll post today's lineup and any skinny from this morning later...

I have to say I've been on the fence about the WBC... and I'm probably still not entirely sold on the concept of the tournament in a sport where the regular season is long enough.

But...

How about that USA-Puerto Rico game in the final hour of St. Patrick's Day??

The United States trailed 5-3 with one out in the ninth.... two outs from being eliminated from the tournament.

But they prevailed.

Wheeeewww. Pretty good baseball theater for mid-March, huh? Walkoff, two-run single by David Wright as the US pulls off a 6-5, come-from-behind win while just two outs away from elimination.

If you're a Phillies fan, it was even better than your garden variety, exiting, international, do-or-die baseball game: J.C. Romero, Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins - whose locker stalls sit about 6 feet from one another at Bright House Field - were major players in the pivotal ninth inning.

Romero, who had pitched to the final hitter in the eighth inning, stayed in for the ninth. The first batter, Victorino, took an outside pitch the opposite way for a base hit.

After Baltimore's Brian Roberts followed with a single of his own, Romero recorded an out when Derek Jeter flew out to right. Up stepped Rollins.

Jimmy vs. J.C. was a classic. Two buddies in red pinstripes, neither smiled, winked or giggled as they faced off with their team's stake in the WBC alive.

Jimmy Rollins worked a walk. Romero was lifted.

His replacement (Fernando Cabrera) walked Kevin Youkilis to make it a one-run game. Wright followed with a two-run single to right to end the game and keep the U.S. alive.

But it began with Romero-Victorino. I'm sure Shane won't let J.C. forget about it, either.

Just a quick note before the day writers try to write the fastest (I hear it's St. Patrick's Day).

Pitching coach Rich Dubee was asked about the likelihood that Cole Hamels would be ready for Opening Day, April 5 against Atlanta.

"A long shot," Dubee said.

Dubee's rationale is Hamels will be at least a few days behind, and hasn't reached the 60-pitch count in an outing. The pitching coach wants everyone up to 100 before the season begins.

We just got word from the media relations guru Greg Casterioto that Cole Hamels' exam with team physician Michael Ciccotti went well. There was "no structural damage" in Hamels' left arm, according to Casterioto.

Phils GM Rubern Amaro Jr. is expected to give the media the lowdown before today's game.

UPDATE: Hamels had both an MRI and dynamic ultrasound Tuesday morning in Philadelphia.

"There's no structural damage at all... there is inflammation in the posterior lateral aspect of his elbow joint," Amaro said.

Added head team athletic trainer Scott Sheridan: "He had an irritation of the capsule and he had an injection, a posterior lateral injection."

Hamels will be off for throwing for two days and then get back into his throwing program. The Phillies can't guesstimate how he'll continue to progress and while they remain hopeful their ace will be ready for Opening Day, the bigger goal is to have Hamels ready for the rigors of a 162-game season.

As far as Mondays go, the Phillies didn't have a particular good one yesterday:

Cole Hamels was sent home to have his pitching elbow examined. Charlie Manuel unleashed a mild, yet, profanity-laced diatribe after an ugly, mental and physical error-induced 12-0 defeat to the Yankees.

Hamels is seeing Dr. Ciccotti today, probably as I type... no nothing new to report. Panic time? Maybe...

Even if the Phils and Hamels insist they don't believe it's anything serious, the team is not a World Series contender, and possibly not even a playoff contender, without him.

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They just put the tarp up on the field, but if and when Phils/Reds get underway today for the annual St. Patrick's Day affair - oddly, no green jerseys or hats seen in the clubhouse - here's the lineup the home team will trot out:

1. Chase Utley, 2B
2. Eric Bruntlett, SS
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Matt Stairs, RF
6. Pedro Feliz, 3B
7. John Mayberry Jr., CF
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Brett Myers, P

Brad Lidge and Chad Durbin are both scheduled to make their Grapefruit League debuts today.


On tap to pitch in the next few days:

Wednesday: J.A. Happ, Ryan Madson, Scott Eyre and Jamie Moyer (minor league game for Moyer).

Thursday (in Jupiter): Joe Blanton, Clay Condrey, Bobby Mosebach, Brad Lidge

Friday (in Jupiter): Carlos Carrasco, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson and Cole Hamels (Hamels is on tap to pitch in minor-league game.... I'll have to see if this is still on, however, given this week's events).

Saturday: Chan Ho Park, Kyle Kendrick, Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge

Sunday (in Fort Myers): Brett Myers, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson and Bobby Mosebach

Breaking news this morning:

Cole Hamels is flying to Philadelphia today to get checked out by team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti.

"He’s had a little bit of a persistent soreness in his elbow; we do not believe it’s serious," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "But at least at this time we thought it was important for Dr. Ciccotti to check him out and see if there’s anything more serious than we think it is."

Amaro didn't sound overly concerned and used the word "cautious" about a dozen times in a five-minute media briefing.

He said it was a "possibility" Hamels could not be ready to pitch on Opening Day (April 5), but added that, as of right now, Hamels is "still on course for that."

Still, this is obviously something to keep a very close eye on...

Amaro said an MRI isn't scheduled, but that could change after Hamels consultation with Ciccotti Tuesday morning. Amaro said Hamels had a thorough physical before signing a three-year, $20.5 million contract in January.


I just walked around Bright House and saw Hamels. He was stretching with Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer, Brett Myers and the rest of the guys not making the trip to Tampa today.

Although that doesn't tell you a whole heck of a lot, you can take two things from it: he's not laid up in a hospital bed (he's able to stretch/exercise) and he didn't look exactly like a guy bummed out that he has a sore arm.

Oh, now I just got word he's throwing, too. Again, maybe this is nothing to be concerned with.... but when your oft-injured ace flies back to Philly, I think it's kind of a big deal.

So there's a mad swarm of bees outside the press box window.

I am scared. There must be a thousand of them.

I actually got stung by one IN the press box just the other day. I swatted him to the ground and he still lies, dead, on the rug five-feet away.

They're coming for me now.

Joe Blanton, Carlos Carrasco and some of the players have taken notice of the swarm, too and look kind of concerned. Stay tuned for more on Bee Gate '09.

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Speaking of "When Animals Attack," while in Kissimmee yesterday I noticed a small body of water (pond?) that sits right next to the stadium and the visiting clubhouse. I was told the clubhouse door was kept closed because an alligator once walked in.

No, not a mascot - an actual gator.

So when a bunch of us spoke to Carlos Carrasco outside the clubhouse, we asked to to let us know if he saw one, since our backs were turned to the water while talking with him.

Then Carrasco said, "Run!"

Hot off the press: Chase Utley is leading off and playing second for Phils-Cards.

The televised game marks Utley's Grapefruit League debut.

Here is the entire Phils lineup:

1. Chase Utley, 2B
2. Jayson Werth, CF
3. Greg Dobbs, DH
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Pedro Feliz, 3B
7. Geoff Jenkins, RF
8. Jason Donald, SS
9. Carlos Ruiz, C


Chan Ho Park gets the start. I believe the game is on MyPHL 17... so tune in if you want to see #26 in action.

While the Phillies took on the Houston Astros in Kissimmee Saturday afternoon, several starters stayed behind, including Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez.

A few others, Brad Lidge and Chad Durbin, played in an intra-squad minor league game.

Oh, Chase Utley played, too.

That's right - Chase Utley, who had hip surgery in late November, quietly made his debut in a game this spring. He finished 2-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts.

Utley could play in the big league game tomorrow when the Phillies return to Clearwater to host St. Louis.

UPDATE: I spoke with Ruben Amaro Jr. and Charlie Manuel here in Kissimmee. Manuel says Utley will rest Sunday, and may very well make the trip to Tampa to play his first Grapefruit League game against the Yankees Monday.

"Yeah, he'll probably go," Manuel said.

By the way, props to CSNPhilly.com's John Finger for being my eyes and ears back at the Carpenter Complex.

Since the Grapefruit games can get tiring and monotonous, I wandered into the minor league camp a couple times this week to catch up with one of the most intriguing players in the Phillies organization - Kyle Drabek.

The 2006, first-round pick missed most of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery. When the Phillies chose him with the 18th pick, no one denied Drabek's talent - he might have the best curve ball in the system.

But major arm surgery is always a concern. Drabek is back now... and ready to continue his path to the big leagues.


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It's kind of lonely here in Kissimmee - only two other reporters and only one player who will likely be in the Phillies starting lineup on Opening Day.

Here's the lineup:

1. Pablo Ozuna, DH
2. Jason Donald, 3B
3. Greg Dobbs, 1B
4. Matt Stairs, RF
5. Jayson Werth, CF
6. John Mayberry Jr., LF
7. Marcus Giles, 2B
8. Eric Bruntlett, SS
9. Lou Marson, C

Scheduled to pitch: Carlos Carrasco and Andrew Carpenter, among others.

Pat Burrell took out full page ads in two papers today, thanking Philadelphia.

Yo Pat, what about us good folks in Delaware County? Or my buddies in Jersey?

How 'bout trying to save the entire newspaper business? Spread the love, Pat. Spread the love.

Quiet morning as the Phillies held a meeting and clubhouse access was limited.

But the lineup was posted. Here goes:


1. Eric Bruntlett, LF
2. Jason Donald, SS
3. Raul Ibanez, DH
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, CF
6. John Mayberry, Jr., RF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Miguel Cairo, 2B
9. Carlos Ruiz, C


Jayson Werth was scratched before yesterday's trip to Port Charlotte with a groin issue. But he's apparently fine.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel basically said yesterday that it's time for guys like Werth to start playing regularly in spring training to prep for the season ahead.

The Phils scratched out three hits Thursday, and when asked about the offense, Manuel said it's high time for the every day lineup to get into gear... which obviously means they have to be on the field.

"What did we have, three regulars out there today?," the Phils manager said. "We need to get our regular lineup out there soon. What is it, the 12th? For the next 5 or 6 days it would be nice to get out regular guys out there to get ready and start going."

Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez have really been the only two every day guys in Grapefruit League games.

Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz have been in the World Baseball Classic. Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz have been rehabbing. Werth has had one small ailment after another.

While Rollins and Victorino are at the mercy of how far Team USA advances, the other regulars should be weaved into the lineup here on a regular basis in the next three weeks, barring health. (Utley will likely begin playing next week).

Is that enough time for the entire lineup to gel as a unit? Probably.

But it should be interesting to see if the offense is affected in early April.

"It's early."

That's the popular refrain you hear in the early goings of spring training. You probably don't stop hearing it until after St. Patrick's Day.

But the race for the fifth spot in the Phillies rotation began a week ago today, when pitching coach Rich Dubee sounded off the gun in a postgame meeting with the press. Most of the competitors still have 3-4 starts remaining.

But it's never too early, at least in our minds, to take a quick stock of where the four candidates stand as we round first and head to second base (read: halfway home, to seeing who nails down the vacant spot).

Your leader: J.A. Happ.

The 26-year-old left-hander keeps getting better, according to Dubee. The pitching coach raved about Happ's improved changeup yesterday and, when asked what Happ had to do to impress the coach, he said, "keep doing what he's doing."

So Dubee, who will have a big say in who wins this job, has liked what he's seen thus far. Happ also showed poise in big situations last year, both as a starter in September and in relief in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Happ starts today against what should be a stacked Tampa Bay Rays lineup. If he continues to shine - Happ has a 2.25 ERA this spring - the fifth starter's job is his to lose.



On Happ's Heels: Chan Ho Park.

Park really wants the job. He came to Philly because they said they would allow him to compete for a starter's job.

The feeling is he would accept a role out of the bullpen, and as a lot of people have said, the organization might prefer to have him there to be the durable, multiple-inning reliever the Phils had for most of the season last year in Chad Durbin.

But Park was nearly unhittable two starts ago against Toronto - he retired nine in a row at one point. Yesterday, in a intra-squad outing, Park hit two batters in the first inning and allowed a solo home run (to Chris Coste) in the third.

If he out-pitches Happ, which is still possible, it will be hard for the Phillies to prevent him from winning the job.


The Dark Horse: Carlos Carrasco.

Carrasco has struggled in his last two starts. But he still has the best arm among the candidates.

If things all of a sudden click the next time he pitches (Saturday against the Astros), I think he has an outside shot. To paraphrase something Charlie Manuel says a lot, "talent wins out."



Destined for Lehigh Valley: Kyle Kendrick.

It's not completely over, but Kendrick's chances of winning the job aren't good for two reasons: 1) he hasn't pitched great the last two times out; 2) the Phillies have other, more enticing options.

If Kendrick was competing with Adam Eaton, Jon Lieber and Freddy Garcia, he might have a shot. But Happ and Park aren't also-rans. Both are hungry for the opportunity and have showed off their stuff.

Kendrick has not. He has a sinker... but hasn't developed any other effective pitch. Hitters have adjusted. He has not.

Kendrick coughed up 8 runs on 10 hits yesterday. Something tells me Manuel and company won't forget that when they make the final call.

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Here are the lineups for today's "World Series rematch." Jayson Werth was a late scratch - Jason Ellison took his spot.

I'll check on that, obviously.

Phillies:

1. Miguel Cairo, 2B
2. Jason Ellison, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Geoff Jenkins, DH
6. Greg Dobbs, 3B
7. John Mayberry Jr., RF
8. Jason Donald, SS
9. Ronny Paulino, C

Pitchers: Jamie Moyer, J.A. Happ


Rays:

1. Jason Bartlett, SS
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, DH
6. Gabe Kapler, CF
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Gabe Gross, RF
9. Adam Kennedy, 2B

Pitcher: James Shields


UPDATE: Jayson Werth slightly tweaked his groin, according to Phillies media relations coordinator Kevin Gregg.

The injury isn't serious; Werth was set to make the trip, but the team decided it didn't make a whole lot of sense since it's only a spring training game.

There are six baseball fields with action going on today in Clearwater.

Minor league camp opened today - so there are so many red jerseys buzzing on Schmidt, Ashburn, Carlton and Robert field that they all look like swarms of bees rather than ballplayers.

Across the street, on Joe DiMaggio Field, Brad Lidge, Chad Durbin, Brett Myers, Chan Ho Park, Pedro Feliz and Chris Coste were among a couple dozen players taking part in a five-inning, intrasquad game.

At Bright House, Kyle Kendrick and the rest of the major leaguers took on the Atlanta Braves, Kendrick didn't fare well.

His final line: 3+ IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 1 balk.

No internet in the park, so this blog is brought to you by the good folks of Apple/AT&T. Yes, writing on a phone. (Actually, the internet, in perfect timing, decided to work after I wrote this entire post... but at least now I can add pretty pictures.)

Pedro Feliz will play in today's intrasquad game at noon, as will Chris Coste. WBC participants Matt Stairs and Carlos Ruiz returned to the Phils clubhouse this morning.

Also seen and heard: Marcus Giles spent the off day geting his arms inked up. Jayson Werth wore a Lakers' James Worthy jersey while eating breakfast.


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Here's today's lineup for the big league game against the Atlanta Braves:


1. Jason Donald, 3B
2. Eric Bruntlett, SS
3. Raul Ibabez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson "James Worthy" Werth, CF
6. John Mayberry Jr., RF
7. Marcus Giles, 2B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Kyle Kendrick, P



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Brad Lidge and Chad Durbin will pitch in the intrasquad... again in a minor league game Saturday... and are both on schedule to make their Grapefruit League debuts on St. Patrick's Day at Bright House.

Hopefully the internet is working by then...

After a brief chat with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., it sounds as if Pedro Feliz will also make his game debut Wednesday. Amaro said Feliz, who had back surgery in November, is one step away from being game-ready.

Feliz will work on sliding in the next two days. If all goes well, he's expected to play in the same game as Lidge and Durbin - a split-squad at noon at the Joe DiMaggio Field (across the street from the Carpenter Complex here in Clearwater).

As we told you last week here on Phollowing the Phillies, Feliz appears to be ahead of Utley. Utley, however, is also fairly close and my best guess is he makes his first appearance in a game next week.

Early morning news from Bright House: Brad Lidge and Chad Durbin are on tap to pitch in games for the first time this spring in a split-squad game Wednesday.

Lidge, who experienced some stiffness when he reported to camp, has been brought along slow this spring after a heavy workload in last year's World Championship season. I watched him pitch a bullpen this time last week, and he looked fine.

Nevertheless, it should be interesting to see him on the mound in a game for the first time since punching out Eric Hinske to record the last out of the 2008 season.

Durbin has been nursing a hamstring injury. But for the last five days or so, he has said the injury hasn't been an issue.

Both will be important cogs in the bullpen that will be without J.C. Romero until June 1, so perhaps it's not a terrible thing they haven't throw any Grapefruit League innings yet (have to save those bullets, you know?).

As long as everything goes well, they both will likely make Grapefruit League debuts this weekend.

UPDATE: After a brief chat with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., it sounds as if Pedro Feliz will also make his game debut Wednesday. Amaro said Feliz, who had back surgery in November, is one step away from being game-ready.

Feliz will work on sliding in the next two days. If all goes well, he's expected to play in the same game as Lidge and Durbin - a split-squad at noon at the Joe DiMaggio Field (across the street from the Carpenter Complex here in Clearwater).

As we told you last week here on Phollowing the Phillies, Feliz appears to be ahead of Utley. Utley, however, also appears to be fairly close and my best guess is he makes his first appearance in a game next week.

Here's today's lineup:

1. Eric Bruntlett, SS
2. Greg Dobbs, LF
3. Jayson Werth, CF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, DH
6. Geoff Jenkins, RF
7. Jason Donald, 3B
8. Miguel Cairo, 2B
9. Lou Marson, C

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


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

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.

The kid is all right.

John Mayberry Jr. hit a mammoth, three-run home run off Tigers starter Edwin Jackson in the first inning here at Bright House.

For more on the kid who's making a name for himself in camp, read the story in today's Daily Times.

It doesn't feel quite like the Fourth of July, but it's awfully nice here and a nice crowd has turned out already for Phils-Tigers at Bright House.

Here is today's Phillies lineup:

1. Eric Bruntlett, SS
2. Greg Dobbs, DH
3. Geoff Jenkins, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry Jr., RF
6. Jayson Werth, CF
7. Mike Cervenak, 3B
8. Jason Donald, 2B
9. Lou Marson, C

A trio of lefties - Jamie Moyer, J.A. Happ and Scott Eyre - are on tap to pitch.

I guess the most interesting thing about that lineup is the inclusion of Werth, who has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game.

He played in a "B" game yesterday, and after not swinging the bat in his first plate appearance, a six pitch strikeout looking, Werth laced a sharp single to left off Blue Jays' closer B.J. Ryan. He finished 1-for-4 and his ailing right shoulder appeared to be healed.

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We had an early deadline last night, so in today's paper I didn't get too much into how well Chan Ho Park pitched in Friday's night game in Dunedin against the Blue Jays.

Park was near-dominant in four innings. He allowed one run on three hits, but after giving up a single to the first batter he faced, Park retired nine batters in a row.

He struck out four and walked zero.

Although the Phillies might prefer Park as a multiple-inning reliever, he might change their mind if he continues to pitch as he did against the Jays.

"It's where we think we need him most," manager Charlie Manuel said. "If he's better than someone else [as a starter, we're] very open to it."

Park has made it clear he prefers to start. On Friday, he talked about how important it is to the people in his home country of South Korea, who looked forward to his starts every five days when he first came up with the Dodgers.

Park's passion for his country was obvious before Friday night's game - in the Phillies clubhouse earlier in the afternoon, he watched intently as South Korea beat Chinese Taipei. In a press conference over the winter, Park choked back tears when he announced he wasn't going to pitch in the WBC for South Korea.

His reasoning: he wanted to focus on winning the fifth spot in the Phillies rotation.

For Park to pass up on competing for the country he loves, it's should be pretty obvious how much he wants to win the job in Philly this spring.

Doubleheader today: B-game at Bright House during the day, major league game in Dunedin tonight.

The matinee just got underway and an interesting thing happened. Scott Rolen strolled to the plate but there weren't enough fans here to boo.

(In B-games, there is no public address system. There are about 100 fans here. Rolen also didn't have a name on the back of his jersey).

But when he turned on an 0-2 pitch from Brett Myers and sent the ball into the empty left field bleachers, it was obvious it was Rolen. He ran around the bases, in typical Rolen fashion, as if a rabid dog was on his heels.

I was curious if Rolen and Myers ever played together with the Phils, so I looked it up: Myers made his major league debut on July 24, 2002 - a week before Rolen was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Myers, of course, is just getting his work in... and likely isn't throwing a curve ball. So don't panic.

Yet.

UPDATE: In the third inning, Myers got some revenge by striking out Rolen looking. But two pitches later, Kevin Millar launched a three-run home run just south of the Tiki Bar in left.

It's Friday Night Lights in Dunedin - our first night game of the spring.

It throws everything out of whack, really. So no new to report this morning (the clubhouse doesn't open for another few hours).

As for observations, pitching coach Rich Dubee wasn't too thrilled with Kyle Kendrick yesterday... and with Chan Ho Park going tonight, the race for the 5th starter's spot is about to get interesting.

To fill your daily baseball appetitie, here's an audio clip from my weekly chat with ESPN 1450's Mike Gill on "The Mike Gill Show." We discussed pretty much all the topics Phillies fans are interested in: Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, the battle for bench and bullpen spots and more.

ryan0305.mp3

As you may have read in today's paper, Pedro Feliz will take an important step back from back surgery when he joins his teammates for batting practice before today's game against Team USA.

Feliz didn't start hitting until earlier this week. Before today, his hitting was limited to the indoor cages at Bright House Field.

General manager Ruben Amaro told me Feliz was "a week or so" from getting into a Grapefruit League game. Meanwhile, Chase Utley (hip) said he doesn't expect to get into a game for another two weeks.

There's a good chance both will make their spring debuts the week of March 16, which would give them ample time/at-bats to prep for the season.

But "a week or so" leads me to believe Feliz could be on the field before March 16, perhaps late next week.

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Here is the Phils' lineup for today's exhibition with Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Team USA:

1. Marcus Giles, 3B
2. Eric Bruntlett, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry, Jr., RF
6. Geoff Jenkins, DH
7. Pablo Ozuna, 2B
8. Jason Donald, SS
9. Lou Marson, C

Scheduled to pitch: Kyle Kendrick, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson

Back at Bright House - and it's pretty darn bright here, you need to wear sunglasses to see the computer screen - following yesterday's day off from baseball.

It's Phils-Canucks. In the first of a two-game World Baseball Classic series, Charlie Manuel and Co. are hosting Team Canada (Matt Stairs is the lone Phillie on the Canadian roster).

Here's today's lineup:

1. Eric Bruntlett, CF
2. Miguel Cairo, 2B
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Geoff Jenkins, RF
6. Greg Dobbs, 3B
7. John Mayberry Jr., DH
8. Jason Donald, SS
9. Ronny Paulino, C

Cole Hamels is starting - he'll probably only throw an inning or two. But it should be interesting to see the 25-year-old lefty in a game for the first time since October and a busy offseason that included signing a new contract, reading of the Top 10 list with David Letterman and several hundered magazine shoots.

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Of note when looking at today's lineup: Still no Jayson Werth. The Phillies said his shoulder injury was minor, but the fact remains he has not appeared in a Grapefruit League game yet.

Werth had two at-bats in a B-game Monday, but never took the bat off his shoulder. You have to wonder how truthful people are being with his condition, huh?

Another absence in the lineup: Chris Coste. The veteran catcher has just one at-bat this spring and their were whispers he was ailing a bit in the clubhouse this morning.

I didn't get the opportunity to ask him, but I'll dig and find out what's up later. You'd have to imaginne he's itching to get on the field since he's in competition with Ronny Paulino for the backup catcher's job... and there should be ample time for both to play in the next three weeks with Carlos Ruiz playing for Team Panama in the WBC.

UPDATE: Coste's injury? A sore hamstring.

I spoke with Coste before the game, he said he hurt it running the bases last week. He hit in BP before the game, but isn't rushing back to action.

He'll likely sit out 7-10 days, he said, and return to Grapefruit League action next week.

ALSO: Cole Hamels threw two easy innings. He gave up two hits and one walk.

Nothing much to say other than he got his first spring work in, and appeared healthy and fine. You can read more about Hamels' progress in taking it slow this spring in tomorrow's Daily Times.

After working 23 straight days, I'm going to enjoy today's day off in the Phillies schedule.

I'm not a masochist, so I'm simply not going to waste any brain cells (those that are left, anyway), on blogging about the Phils on a treasured off-day.

Upon returning to baseball tomorrow, the one thing I'll be interested in seeing is Sports Illustrated cover boy Cole Hamels making his first spring appearance against Team Canada.

But that's it for shop talk. Time to kick up my feet, watch some bad TV (it's too cold to go to the beach) and then spend a good chunk of the day filling out three weeks' worth of expenses. Fun, huh?

I'm sure the red flags were raised in Philly (red as in warning, not as in Philliies), when word traveled up north that closer Brad Lidge was experiencing soreness.

Well I just caught up with the All-Star closer as he ate breakfast, and you can put your snow shovel down and rest easy. It's "nothing out of the ordinary," according to Lidge.

In fact, he said he feels fine today. After I spoke with him, he was headed outside to throw a bullpen session.

The stiffness he experienced was just the normal thing that happens in the offseason for any pitcher who hasn't throw a ton in the offseason. So, once again, Lidge is fine.


UPDATE: I watched Lidge throw his bullpen - 40 pitches - and he looked perfectly fine. When I asked pitching coach Rich Dubee how he thought it went, he said, "Very good."

So, again, all is well on the All-Star closer front.

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As for Jayson Werth... his shoulder is apparently on the mend. Although he was scratched from Monday's lineup against the Blue Jays at Dunedin a little while ago, his name is in the starting nine for the B-game the Phils and Jays will play at the Carpenter Complex.

Waking up at 6 a.m., there's a brief rush of "We're going to Disney World!"

But that feeling was quickly tempered when the foreboding clouds didn't let up on the 90-minute drive to Orlando.

We're at Disney's Wide World of Sports, spring training home of the Braves, and it isn't exactly the bright and sunny skies you'd associate with the happiest place on earth. It's raining, and it's raining hard.

From what I hear, they're expected to get the game in. If so, here's the lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. John Mayberry Jr., LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Geoff Jenkins, RF
6. Matt Stairs, DH
7. Marcus Giles, 2B
8. Jason Donald, 3B
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Brett Myers and Chan Ho Park are scheduled to share the early innings here against the Braves. It'll be the first Grapefruit League action for both... as long as the rain goes away.

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Not much to report in terms of news. Jayson Werth (shoulder) hasn't made the trip, so no word if he's feeling better. Ditto Chad Durbin (hamstring)... although Durbin had a catch yesterday, so at least he's keeping the right arm in gear.

The Phils said Saturday they'll try to give Werth his first spring start Monday... I'll let you know if I hear if that's still the plan.