Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits

Game chat: Phils host Rays in World Series rematch

As spring training games go, today's television broadcast opener is an early treat as Kyle Kendrick and the Phillies welcome back Pat Burrell and the Rays at 1:05 p.m. on CSN.

I'm looking forward to this; to me, watching that first spring training game on TV makes it feel like spring has officially set in. All that good sunshine, the young players, the veterans. Good stuff. Today, it's Kendrick's turn to state his case for the fifth starter spot, following two solid debuts by Carlos Carrasco and J.A. Happ earlier this week. The 24-year-old right-hander is trying to rebound from a 11-9, 5.49 ERA season, losing his job in the starting rotation after pitching to a 7.59 ERA after the all-star break. Also on the bump this afternoon will be Drew Naylor, 22, last season's minor league strikeout leader (156). Relievers Scott Nestor, Clay Condrey and Scott Eyre are also slated to pitch. The Tampa press notes include Brad Lidge on their list, but he's not included on the Phillies' notes. As of this writing, lineups have not been announced.

Despite hard times, Phillies fans haven't been frugal

Individual ticket sales are off to a tremendous start, and over 2.4 million tickets have already been sold, according to a recent Phillies news release. Can it continue?

Because of Beerleaguer, people are always asking how many games I attend in a season, and they're shocked - possibly appalled - when I reveal that I only make it to a handful. Location and schedule makes travel prohibitive. When I go, it's usually because someone offers me a ticket. When I pay out of pocket, I'll get the cheapest seats available. While my passion for sports has been paid in full by my commitment toward writing the site and watching on television, I've never been one to set aside gobs of money for sports. I never made it to the postseason. I was even blocked out of the parade, becoming one of many Septa casualties stuck watching the trains pass us by at the Norristown station.

But enough about my tale of woe. Back to the subject at hand. Tickets. When you consider the cost of live baseball in other markets, the Phillies are still a very good value. Just $16 bucks will get you through the gates; I recall getting tickets for as little as $14 at the ticket window just two seasons ago. That's pretty good.

Considering the excitement surrounding the team, the element of escapism during tough times and the cost compared to other metropolitan entertainment options, I'm predicting the Phillies will draw even better than expected compared with the rest of the league, where rates in places like New York are downright insulting. Lets face it: the Phillies are a marquee product, and will rule baseball this summer.

Phils remain winless, fall to Reds 10-3 in Sarasota

Following the emotional high of winning the World Series, the Phillies find themselves in a three-game funk. The Reds scored four runs off starter Drew Carpenter and never looked back. Meanwhile, the Phils have yet to score more than three runs in their first three ballgames. Leading the charge for the Phils were Shane Victorino (2-3, 2 2B), fresh off the news that he will replace Grady Sizemore on Team USA’s WBC roster. Utility candidate Pablo Ozuna led off the fourth inning with a home run, the Phils’ first tater of spring. Beerleaguer: One can only assume the Phils emptied the tank in October and didn't bother to save anything for February. 

In these uncertain times, journalists turn to the same place they've sought guidance since 1970: Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury."

This panel speaks to me personally as someone who straddles the line between a blog and newspaper, and captures the industry-wide fears I've experienced first-hand. Belts are being tightened in newsrooms all over the country as operating costs soar, readership dwindles, and with it, the advertising revenue that keeps the press rolling. The Rocky Mountain News became the latest paper to stop the presses today, with more shutdowns pending if papers can't restructure their debt. Newspapers have also been forced to reevaluate their online practices, including and what they give away from free, at risk of losing new readers and choking off alternate revenue streams.

But you know all this. This weekend, I will begin the process of preparing Beerleaguer for the season, a site largely fueled by the first-hand reporting supplied by many of the news outlets that are in jeopardy. With a heavy heart, it's a time to reevaluate the practices here, to take the moral high road perhaps, and produce even more original content, while shying away from the aggregate copy and paste practice popularized by more and more blogs every day. While sites like those may experience the short-term benefit, credibility, hard work and quality will triumph in the end, and that's the road I will continue to follow. I can't promise that Beerleaguer will be your one-stop shop for Phillies news, but I can promise you a great read, and good company.

Eaton released: The Phillies finally cut bait with Adam Eaton, according to the team Web site, releasing the right-hander with a full season remaining on his contract. The Phils will still parcel out $8.5 million of their payroll to the 31-year-old, who pitched himself out of the rotation the last two seasons. Eaton was not expected to make the club, and said he’d refuse a minor league assignment if offered one.

Today: Andrew Carpenter gets the start when the Phillies visit the Reds in Sarasota. First pitch is 1:05. I'm intrigued by Carpenter.

Phillies bats stay sluggish in loss to Blue Jays

I don't know that it's necessary to recap these Grapefruit League games. Part of me considers it a colossal waste of time. Then again, this is the place for dangerously obsessed fans. The storyline today is the four innings of shutout work put in by fifth starter candidates Carlos Carrasco and J.A. Happ. Reliever Gary Majewski also contributed two shutout frames, noteworthy since he's in the hunt for a spot in the 'pen. Call it a productive loss, as all the pitchers who factor into the Phillies' plans performed well. We'll see if I have the energy to keep up with these Grapefruit League updates. In the past, the pattern has been to do the first few, lose interest, then turn it over to a correspondent. Something tells me the time would be better spent getting the site ready for the real action, or producing more funny headshots.

Game chat: Carrasco, right-handed bats, in focus

Marcus Giles, Jason Donald, John Mayberry Jr. and Jason Ellison earn starts this afternoon when the Phillies host the Blue Jays at Bright House Field. Carlos Carrasco has the ball.

In the previous thread, Clout weighed in on the internal candidates vying for a spot on the bench: “Of far more interest to me is Marcus Giles. This is a guy who's already proven he can play and at a pretty high level. The Phils need to find out if he's washed up at age 30. If not, there's your RH bat with decent speed who can play 2B and 3B. To me, outside of the 5th starter and bullpen, that's the most interesting story line.” As for Carrasco, soon to be 22, he’s one of four starters in the hunt for the fifth starter spot, although he Phillies’ brass have been suggesting that under ideal conditions, he would start the season in Triple-A.

Lineups: SS Jimmy Rollins; 3B Jason Donald; LF Raul Ibanez; DH Ryan Howard; RF John Mayberry; 1B Greg Dobbs; 2B Marcus Giles; CF Jason Ellison; C Carlos Ruiz.

Extra reading: For a preview of the Phillies offense, check out my take at SpringTraining09.com.

Phils fall to Bucs in opener; Ruiz inks split deal

The Phillies reached agreement with catcher Carlos Ruiz on a split contract that will pay him $475,000 in the Major Leagues and $255,000 in the Minor Leagues, according to the team Web site.

The deal means everyone is now signed. Catchers Chris Coste and Ronny Paulino also signed split deals recently. Meanwhile in Bradenton, the Pirates knocked around the Phillies' bullpen in defeating the hometown nine 8-2 this afternoon. What a bunch of bums. Am I right? Reliever Joe Bisenius, who is not on included on my list of players awaiting special artwork, took the loss. Jamie Moyer pitched two shutout innings, walking a pair, striking out a pair and allowing a hit. Raul Ibanez and John Mayberry Jr. accounted for the Phillies’ scoring with a pair of RBI hits. Outfielder Jeremy Slayden, a guy I could easily see becoming the token “head turner” of spring training, contributed a pair of hits.

Game chat: Phils hunker down for exhibition opener

President Obama said the time for hard work and sacrifice is now in his address to the nation. That means ballplayers, too, as the Phillies embark on the first leg of their journey back to the World Series.

Grapefruit League play starts today at 1:05 in Bradenton, Fla., where veteran Jamie Moyer takes the mound to face Philadelphia's cross-state rival Pittsburgh Pirates. As for Beerleaguer, the season also gets underway. Drawing inspiration from the words of our President, I immediately took action by holing up in my home office to create this caricature. I like to call him "Moyer Lisa." Note the ambiguity. He could be pitching a no hitter, or he could be waiting for Charlie Manuel to climb from the dugout and lift him after an inning and a third. The world will never know. The point is that in tough times, it's necessary to have diversions. Baseball has always served this purpose for America. I'm grateful that the Phillies return to the field today, and for having this vehicle in which we can all take the journey together. God Bless Baseball, and God Bless America.

Things to watch: Raul Ibanez makes his debut. All eyes will also be on exciting young prospect Jason Donald, who starts at second base. Joe Blanton will also see action today. Then, the race for the one or two bullpen openings begins when darkhorse contenders Joe Bisenius, Scott Nestor, Dave Borkowski, Mike Koplove and Jake Woods toe the slab.

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Donald at 2B, Bruntlett at 3B for tomorrow's opener

Jamie Moyer will take the mound Wednesday against the Pirates when the Phillies open Grapefruit League play. Starting lineups for the game were announced today (Rollins, Victorino, Ibanez, Howard, Jenkins, Stairs, Donald, Bruntlett, Coste, Moyer). - posted remotely from work, where our servers are fried.

Tuesday: Television rolling out red carpet for Phillies

Kyle Kendrick and Brad Lidge are expected to pitch when the Phillies open their television schedule Saturday at 1:05 p.m. on CSN and MLB Network.

The Phillies are the new kings of all media it seems. The Phillies will be on television seven times during spring training, with games carried on CSN, MyPhl 17 and the MLB Network. MyPhl 17 replaced CW Philly as a broadcast partner and will air 43 games this season. Including radio and live streaming feed on MLB.com, each of the spring training games will be covered. Tomorrow's opener in Bradenton will air locally on 1210 AM radio. Harry Kalas is expected back in the booth Wednesday, March 15. For a full schedule, click here. ... In other media related news, the Phillies' bullpen will be the subject of a new six-episode reality series on MLB Network. In the first episode, the bullpen must create a dessert using organic ingredients. Wait, I'm confusing my reality shows.

Manuel, Green prove there's no right way to lead

Charlie Manuel and Dallas Green share the honor of being the only two Phillies skippers to achieve championship glory, and did so using opposite styles ... or so we believe. [Link]

Comcast's Leslie Gudel comes through with another good interview today, just in time to flesh out a related topic I had on the backburner. The subject of that piece would have been "When did the public perception of the Phillies change from a team that needed coddling to one that functioned independently?" It seems like so long ago, but when I first started the site, the Phillies were regarded as a bunch of softies. This was, by far, the biggest complaint registered about the club. They weren't clutch, they weren't tough, and this is what was discussed every day.

Normally, the correct response to the "When did it all change" question should always be "When they started winning some damn games." Seems obvious enough, but as someone who's chronicled each and every step of this particular group, I'm uncertain. The "perception" didn't exactly change after winning the World Series; the team had already seperated themselves from the previous generation (Rolen, Lieberthal, Abreu) by clawing their way into the 2007 postseason and establishing a reputation for hard-nosed play. But even before that, the perception was slowly changing. Chase Utley foreshadowed the fearless field general he would eventually become as early as 2005, the same season Ryan Howard won rookie of the year. This was also Manuel's first season, replacing Larry Bowa and representing a change of pace from a manager considered too demanding for the modern athlete.

It's interesting, however, that the point when the Phils sold me on being different was around the time Manuel confronted Green about comments Green made on Howard Eskin's show in early 2007, which was at the center of Gudel's interview today. Coming at a time when the team had been scuffling through a rough patch of sloppy play, Green suggested that Manuel needed to do a better job of pushing his team. The next day, Manuel confronted Green in a heated pregame exchange that became public.

Looking back, I recall feeling two things: First, it was high time for Green to butt out and move on. Second, the Phils were indeed playing like crap, and I wondered if Manuel's loosey-goosey style wasn't to blame for the chronic slow starts.

Which takes us back to the Gudel interview. Not only are Manuel and Green on good terms, but Manuel actually credits Green for what he did in '07 and for showing him how to push players while earning their respect.

Park seeking success away from Dodger Stadium

Chan Ho Park, 36, has been an above-average pitcher less than half of his career. His best years came at pitcher-friendly Chavez Ravine, where he complied a 2.96 ERA. It's 5.16 everywhere else.

When the Park signing was first announced, I instantly knew he would become the player I would follow most in spring training. Despite the poor seasons and against my better baseball judgement, Chan Ho Park is still very intriguing, and I'm obviously not the only one who thinks that, as evidenced by his new $2.5 million deal that could double with performance bonuses. No matter how bad he's been, he always gets signed. He has a legion of believers. There's something in the name, and there's something about the aggressive way in which the deal went down; the Phillies snatched him up quickly.

I agree with Baseball Prospectus when they say that if he keeps the ball down, as he did in short bursts out of the 'pen last season (52.6 GB%), the next act of his career could be interesting. That flies in the face of conventional Beerleaguer wisdom, which says that Park will lose the battle over the fifth starter spot and slot into the bullpen. But what if? We have no reason to doubt the Phillies' motives when they said Park would receive a fair shake in spring training. If the veteran hurler can harness everything he did right with L.A., while blocking out the bad years in the American League, Park could become this season's sleeper.

There's also this matter of pitching away from Dodgers Stadium and proving himself at Citizens Bank Park, but more and more, generic concerns about the effects of the Bank have been unfounded. Brett Myers posted a 3.01 ERA there last season, and Jamie Moyer, who had been an extreme flyball pitcher before coming to Philadelphia, has pitched some of his best seasons here. Combine Park's experience, talent and a positive environment to foster performance, the pieces are in place for a Cinderella Story of sorts.

Rotations will make East closer race than you think

News is on the light side, so we turn outward this afternoon, where the components are in place to visualize how the division could unfold.

The period after pitchers and catchers report continues to be Sahara Desert of worthwhile subject matter. If you're like me, you've been enjoying the images coming out of Clearwater; Comcast handed a camera to Jimmy Rollins yesterday and the Phillies shortstop managed to capture the lively spirit of the preseason. Unfortunately, playtime doesn't translate into kind of copy Beerleaguer craves. Don't get me wrong, the Inquirer has been generating quality content as usual. But the stories in spring training lean toward the human interest side. When it comes to the Phils, I need notebook items. Give it to me short and sweet, baby. And I'm still conditioned to operate under championship drought conditions. Give me a good losing streak, slump or questionable signing and I'm on that like white on rice.

But what do I care? It's a great time for nothing to happen. Personally, between World Series burnout and the book, my offseason was reduced to this brief window of spring training. It's nice to pay attention to the little things again. Like family and friends.

Speaking of the book, one of the highlights is Scott Lauber's preview of the National League East. We managed to get everything in except the Adam Dunn signing (and Miguel Cairo signing), but the beauty part is that the Nationals' rotation is so dreadful, he's completely neutered.

Unfortunately, the rest of the division is quite formidable. Discounting the Nats, one could argue that the biggest hole among the remaining four teams is the fifth starter spot in Philadelphia. In Port St. Luice, the battle is between Tim Redding, Freddy Garcia and rookie Jon Niese, a very comparable situation to the one happening in Clearwater. For Atlanta, Tom Glavine and Jorge Campillo are considered the front-runners, with usual suspects Jo-Jo Reyes, Charlie Morton, and Buddy Carlyle getting a look again. And in Florida, health will determine whether the projected rotation of Ricky Nolasco, Josh Johnson, Chris Volstad, Anibal Sanchez and Andrew Miller holds up, representing the highest-ceiling and most unheralded starting five in the league. If you consider park-adjusted ERA, Florida has the best big three of any team in the league in Nolasco (121 ERA+) Johnson (118) and Volstad (141).

It's in the middle of these rotations - with guys like Volstad, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, Brett Myers, Kenshin Kawakami, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Jair Jurrgens - where the division will be won. And these springtime battles for the fifth spots shouldn't be taken lightly, either.

Advice for Utley: Slow down, get out of the way

Chase Utley led the league in getting hit by a pitch last season, taking one for the team 27 times. And he led the league in 2007, too. His barking hip is begging for a break.

Down in Clearwater, you wonder if team physician Michael Ciccotti has the guts to give Chase Utley the kind of advice he needs to hear most: “Don’t be a hero.” Because the top story so far this spring has been Utley’s remarkable progress on his surgically repaired hip. He’s reportedly taking fielding practice and hitting off a tee. There’s even been some discussion that he could appear in a few Grapefruit League games. Really? This couldn’t be the same guy who was supposed to be sidelined for a full six months, an original timetable that would have set him back until late May/early June.

In the grand scheme of things, meaning, $11 million in 2009, $15 million in 2010, $15 million in 2011, $15 million in 2012 and $15 million in 2013, is April 5 that important? Frankly, is April that important? Or May? In Utley’s world, that’s two months of balls-to-the-wall play, at least one home plate collision and about nine HBP. Utley represents their greatest long-term investment. And if the economy was functioning in a predictable, normal manner, I’d be able to complete my train of thought with a logical metaphor about long-term investments.

The worst thing that can happen is for Utley to read his own headlines, ignore what his body tells him and assume that he needs to meet our expectations on an Opening Day return.

Payroll over $132.5 million: If avoiding arbitration with 11 holdovers from the World Series winners is the top story this winter, then the new $132.5 payroll benchmark is a close second. That’s where it’s at now that Chris Coste and Ronny Paulino have signed split contracts. Carlos Ruiz and Mike Zagurski are still unsigned. My, how far the Phillies have come from earlier in the decade, when the club was pinching every penny in hopes of making a splash with the opening of Citizens Bank Park. And to think, those were the economic boom years.

Links: I wrote a piece on Pennsylvania Dutch people today. Read it here. ... The inspiration for today’s topic came from here.

Beat writers, bloggers join forces for Phillies book

Order your copy online at maplestreetpress.com. Arrives on newsstands March 3 at area Barnes & Noble, Borders and other book and magazine retailers.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Baseball battles recession

Shifting gears from Jose Reyes to the economic crisis, Beerleaguer directs your attention to Fortune's exclusive on how the recession has baseball running scared. From the piece:

"I used to think that we were pretty recession-proof, and now I'm not so sure," Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig tells Fortune. "This is the most significant downturn I've seen in my 40 years in baseball." In years past, such a soft free-agent market might have sparked collusion charges from the MLB Players Association, but so far union boss Donald Fehr is holding his tongue. "Right now I'm not prepared to make any accusation or suggestion of improper activity," Fehr says.

The piece centers around the Arizona Diamondbacks, where the team is looking for new ways to attract fans living in an area where job creation has fallen off dramatically and forclosure rates are among the highest in the country. From Fortune:

"Historically, teams haven't had to go to such lengths because the bond between team and town was so strong. The National Basketball Association grew its attendance during both the 1973-74 and 1980-81 recessions. And Major League Baseball enjoyed record attendance in the summer of 1983, when the U.S. unemployment rate was 10%. 'The old adage is that people need distractions when times are tough,' says sports economist Andrew Zimbalist, a professor at Smith College. 'So they go to ball games." Nevertheless, Zimbalist is one of many sports-business experts who think this recession will be different. Sports leagues today are more dependent on economically vulnerable sources of revenue such as corporate sponsorships, luxury suites, and other premium seating. Even if attendance doesn't nosedive, teams could still find themselves swimming in red ink."

Fears have impacted free agency, where nearly 100 players are still unsigned.

Beerleaguer: Baseball is in for a hard fall. Unlike the banks, who understand how screwed they are, baseball, which acted just as irresponsibly during the boom years, are now coming to terms with this mess, as suggested by the volume and quality of unsigned players.   

Artificial bulletin board material falling on deaf ears

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes arrived in Port St. Lucie today and responded to Cole Hamels "choke artist” comment, which was made Dec. 11 on New York's WFAN radio.

“We don’t worry about Philly,” Reyes said. “I don’t know why they worry so much about the New York Mets. They can talk about whatever they want to, because we worry about us. They are the one to win the World Series, not us, and we don’t say nothing about them. We just say congratulations to the Phillies. We focus on them when we play them, but they always seem like they’re talking something about us, and I don’t know why.”

Meanwhile, reporters continued their line of Phillies-related questioning, asking Reyes chime in on the Phils' alleged criticism of his celebrations.

“I heard that. I don’t know why they say that, because I’m not the only one pimpin’ when I hit a home run. A lot of people do that. People from Philadelphia, too. They stand for a couple of seconds at home plate and nobody say nothing. So like I said, I don’t know why they’re so focused on us. We just worry about us.”

Beerleaguer: That’s true, about the pimpin'. Howard does it, and Victorino has irritating qualities. But I'm unaware of any specific player criticism leveled at Reyes. If there was, it would be no great shock. Reyes is seen around the league as a player of low character. Great player - dangerous player - one of my top five most feared players - but that's how it is. What Reyes probably doesn’t know is that the celebration question stems from Game 2 of the NLDS, when an unnamed teammate posted a photo of Shane Victorino, rounding the bases and pointing toward the sky, on Vic's locker with the words "Jose Reyes"  on it. The message was clear. Don't behave like a crumb.

What's this constant need to generate bulletin board material? It's cheapened a great rivalry that developed naturally. At this stage, it has to be coming from the New York media. I can't imagine that the Mets arrive in camp thinking about anything other than getting themselves physically prepared for the season. The barbs aren't coming from Philadelphia this time. The Phils are on top. No bulletin board material needed. The Hamels issue is even more bogus. (Hamels on the cover of Sports Illustrated BTW). Hamels was baited into making the comment as an invited guest on WFAN radio, and all he did was repeat what Mets fans and players had uttered the past two years.

This idea that Philadelphia, and the rest of the country for that matter, is obsessed with New York is a byproduct of the volume of coverage the New York teams receive, largely from New York-based enterprises. And there's an inflated sense of self worth that stems from this. From Metsblog: "it seems as if they enjoy more rooting against new york teams than rooting for their own teams…philly really needs to get over their inferiority complex, and as reyes says, worry about themselves ..."

Wednesday: Discussing Dobbs as a full-time option

In danger of overthinking third base, perhaps the answer is right under the Phillies' noses.

Late February is usually the toughest time to generate interesting content. Hot stove season is over. The reports suggest Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phils are done tinkering. Games haven’t started. Players are doing jumping jacks and shagging balls. So the challenge is to generate thought-provoking content based on nothing in particular. The papers spend hundreds in travel and lodging expenses to solve this dilemma. Here, we spin the dial. Today, it lands on Greg Dobbs.

Dobbs is caught in a Catch 22. As the league’s premier pinch hitter, he’s extremely valuable off the bench. At the same time, his .846 OPS against righties – who the Phillies face 70-80 percent of the time – is awfully tempting to unleash in a more robust way at third base. Dobbs, 30, signed a generous two-year, $2.5 million extension in January, a salary that honestly goes beyond that of your ordinary bench player, especially one who was arbitration eligible for the first time. So as the Phillies figure out what to do at third base if Pedro Feliz isn’t ready, perhaps the best solution is to offer more starts to Dobbs, who didn’t exactly hurt the team when he started many games during the 2007 season. In fact, the Phils posted a rather good winning percentage in his starts.

Dobbs isn’t as one-dimensional as he seems. Before 2008, I would have said “dead-red fastball hitter,” but that may not be entirely accurate. According to the Phillies 2009 Annual, edited by yours truly, Dobbs was a .476 hitter when pitched a curveball last season. (The Annual is spectacular, by the way. More information on that later).

In other words ... you pay this guy a guaranteed $2.5 million. He hits when given a chance. He won’t murder you defensively. Is it worth giving him more than just 10 plate appearances a season against left-handed pitching, rather than settle for lightweights like Miguel Cairo, Eric Bruntlett, or even start the clock on Jason Donald, who’s unproven at the position?

Links: Check out my spring training pitching preview here.

2009 Ex-Phillie Non-Roster Invitee All-Star Team

Beerleaguer's time-honored tradition returns for another installment.

Nationals: Jorge Padilla, OF; Marlins: Brian Sanches, RHP; Mets: Nelson Figueroa, LHP, Valerio De Los Santos, LHP, Ramon Martinez, INF; Cardinals: Joe Thurston, INF; Pirates: Daniel Haigwood, LHP, Anderson Machado, INF; Astros: David Newhan, INF, Matt Kata, INF; Cubs: Matt Smith, LHP, So Taguchi, OF, Bobby Scales, INF; Reds: Aaron Fultz, LHP; Giants: Justin Miller, RHP; Rockies: Sal Fasano, C; Dodgers: Brian Mazone, LHP, Stephen Randolph, LHP, Eric Milton, LHP, Val Pascucci, OF; Diamondbacks: Chris Roberson, OF, Brandon Watson, OF; Rays: Jeremy Cummings, RHP, Ray Olmedo, INF; Red Sox: Angel Chavez, INF; Blue Jays: Rick Bauer, RHP, Randy Ruiz, INF; White Sox: Michael Restovich, OF, Josh Kroeger, OF; Indians: Jesus Merchan, INF; Royals: Brandon Duckworth, RHP, John Suomi, C; Athletics: Adrian Cardenas; Rangers: Elizardo Ramirez, RHP, Derrick Turnbow, RHP; Mariners: Chris Woodward, INF.

Beerleaguer: In order to qualify, players must have been previously signed to a major or minor league contract by the Phils, even if they never played. Restovich, for example, opted for Japan and never played.

Tuesday thread: An overemphasis on versatility?

With Pedro Feliz and Chase Utley on the mend, the Phillies have been forced to sign resourceful contingency plans at the expense of offense. Are they selling themselves short?

David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News mentioned Mike Cervenak in his piece on Pedro Feliz this morning and it got me thinking that even if some guys crush the ball in camp, they’re likely to lose out to weaker-hitting glove men if Feliz isn’t ready and Chase Utley isn't 100 percent. Cervenek, a Triple-A journeyman who played 10 games with the Phils last season, is an unheralded non-roster invite, but the fact is, the 32 year old might be one of the best-hitting right-handed bench options they’ll consider this spring. Unfortunately for Cervenak – barely passable defensively at the infield corners – the Phillies have already suggested that versatility rules in determining those final roster slots. In other words, even if a guy like Cervenek smokes the ball in spring training – a la Casey Smith and Chris Coste in 2008 and 2006, respectively, the jobs may already be earmarked for the defender that makes Charlie Manuel most comfortable.

Links: Last chance to suggest links to include in the left and right sidebars.

Report: Pedro Feliz may be running behind schedule

Comcast's Leslie Gudel reports that the third baseman, who underwent off-season back surgery, may not be ready for the start of the season, putting him behind the timetable originally stated at the time of his surgery.

Gudel updated Feliz's progress tonight on SportsNight and quoted manager Charlie Manuel on CSNPhilly.com. "It's gonna be close," Manuel told Gudel. "We'll see what our trainers say." Feliz, who arrived in camp today, told Gudel that he hopes to be ready by the April 5th opener. Bracing for the possibility that Feliz may not be ready, the Phillies signed utilityman Miguel Cairo to a minor league contract yesterday and continue to hold conversations with Nomar Garciaparra. In a separate report, Gudel sat down with pitcher Brett Myers, who admitted to showing up out of shape and mentally unprepared to return to the rotation last season out of frustration for having been stripped of his job as closer.

Beerleaguer: Insightful reporting by Leslie Gudel tonight. She offered at least three tidbits that could be expanded into feature-length articles. Not to be forgotten, she also quoted Manuel as saying if the season started today, he'd carry three catchers.

First, Feliz. No surprise here. Chase Utley is going to be just fine; all this Miguel Cairo-Pablo Ozuna-Nomar-Ty Wiggington-Rich Aurilia business pointed to problems at third all along. The good news is that third has become a defense-first position for the Phils and they have plenty of good-glove, no-hit help to consider in camp. Still, for all his faults, I'm not trilled by the prospect of Feliz, a very steady defender and one of the few guys who can hit left-handed pitching consistently, staying on the sidelines in April. On to Myers. I like what I heard in the interview; if it becomes available on Comcast's Web site, check it out for yourself. The demotion did the trick. Mentally, he appears to be cleansed of the closer residue of '07.

Monday: Philadelphia becoming a pitcher’s paradise

It’s a good situation when a completely healthy 24-year-old with 21 wins and a 4.78 career ERA under his belt must scrap for a spot in the rotation.

Of course, the above summary deck describes Kyle Kendrick, who lost his job in the rotation and enters spring training as a leading candidate to land the final spot. Kendrick was the subject of several reports yesterday with pitching coach Rich Dubee claiming the job is Kendrick’s to lose based on his past performance, despite the fact that J.A. Happ replaced Kendrick late last season and performed admirably. In Kendrick and Happ, the Phillies hold a pair of young, inexpensive arms capable of becoming, or in Kendrick’s case recapturing, average or above average fifth-starter status, which makes them valuable not only to the Phils, but to teams feeling the economic crunch and facing holes in their rotation. Kendrick’s 11-9 record and 5.49 ERA in 31 games was skewed by two months of poor pitching, while Happ, who spent most of the season dominating Triple-A hitters, impressed the club enough to deem him worthy of a postseason roster spot.

In Kendrick and Happ, along with Chan Ho Park, Carlos Carrasco, and a number of veterans competing for jobs in the bullpen, it's the deepest – and healthiest – the Phillies' pitching staff has been in ages. Aside from a second lefty in the 'pen to replace J.C. Romero, the staff is air-tight. But perhaps more importantly is that a winning culture has been established. Competition will be fierce, and a pleasure to watch.

Phils add Miguel Cairo to mix with minor league deal

A veteran of 13 seasons, the 34-year-old hit .249/.316/.330 (75 OPS+) with Seattle last season, seeing limited action at multiple positions. He will battle for a spot on the bench and serve as added insurance at second and third.

Beerleaguer: Cairo essentially does what Eric Bruntlett does except Bruntlett leans heavier into the outfielder category and can do everything Cairo does with a fresher set of legs. In any event, he's an extra righty bench bat and probably the last signing we'll see unless Nomar Garciaparra decides to come here. The Phillies will continue to seek a true upgrade this spring via trade.

The Phillies have certainly stockpiled infield depth, with Cairo, Bruntlett, Pablo Ozuna and Marcus Giles. I've left out Jason Donald because it's clear now they want no part of starting Donald's clock if they don't have to while they're still trying to decide his future position. The Cairo signing signals a couple additional points. Based on name and reputation alone, he'll push several players in camp, although I don't see him winning a spot. It reaffirms concern over the injuries to Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz; Cairo's a second baseman first, but has seen lots of action at third. I think someone like Giles could easily get the pink slip midway through camp if they determine he can no longer play; perhaps they've already determined that. Lastly, one of these guys - perhaps Cairo or Ozuna - could be asked to teach the nuances of the infield to Donald at Triple-A. I'll bet it's a major reason this move was made. Donald still sounds like a future utility man to me and Cairo is a modern day master.

Saturday: Pitchers and catchers open spring training

Back to work: Pitchers and catchers are to report Saturday to the Carpenter Complex training facility in Clearwater, Fla. Position players will file in Tuesday, although many of them arrived in camp early.

Several factors, including the proliferation of online media and the added exposure from winning the World Series, made this the shortest offseason in history. Between the victory tours, hot stove updates and long list of contract extensions spread over several weeks, there was always something to talk about. Plus, you were never far from Phillies baseball due to the launch of the MLB Network, replays on Comcast and several commemorative DVDs. It's still an exciting time, but the transition from winter to spring has never been this seamless. The biggest stories are clearly in Tampa, where the Yankees are set to debut their new additions. Alex Rodriguez is expected to report next week. 

Eaton’s Philly tenure, baseball career, on life support

Posting will be light this weekend, but I wanted to leave you with a fresh topic, courtesy of Scott Lauber of the News Journal. [Link]

Lauber writes: Asked if he'd consider starting the season in the minors, Eaton said, "If we get to that point, I'll be released. And I don't think that's the end of the world by any means. It would be kind of prudent not to trade for me. I'm not going to accept another assignment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist for another GM to maybe wait and take your shot at getting me for less than a trade would be."

Beerleaguer: The days of gambling $24 million on borderline replacement-level starters – the Eatons, the Miltons -- are done and done. Baseball has universally flushed the toilet on overvalued free agents and have rolled back guaranteed years for veteran pitchers. You’ll never see three-year contracts extended to pitchers like Eaton again. As for his future, even baseball's worst team shouldn't bother wasting the minor league roster space on him. He's too old and can't pitch.

Totally awesome site maintenance: Winter cleaning

It's time to address some loose ends by removing dead links and adding new resources.

Nothing happened today, so it's a perfect time to take a head count. Use this thread to submit sites and blogs for link consideration on Beerleaguer. I receive many requests on this subject via email, but they often slip through the cracks. It's nothing personal. Trust me. Submitting your information in the thread below is the best way to be included, so drop a line and spread the word here. Additions will be made next week. Non-bloggers are also encouraged to make suggestions related to links, stats, functionality and navigation, while keeping in mind that Typepad has no plans to change the 50-per-page comment format. Once the season starts, I'll manually post a "jump to the newest comment" quick link for heavy-volume posts.

Notes: The Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show moves to the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia March 13-15. Admission is $7 for the day or $18 for a weekend pass. Willie Mays will be the featured autograph guest, along with Jim Rice, Frank Robinson and Willie McCovey. To purchase autograph tickets, visit www.mab-celebrity.com, and for more information on the show, go to www.phillyshow.org. ... My good friend at WIP radio Brian Startare has written "Flyer'd Up," a book of facts, trivia and stories about the Philadelphia Flyers. Order it here. ... Once again, long-time Beerleaguer Billy Mac will be filing reports from spring training March 3 through 10. If anyone plans on attending spring training before or after Billy's stay and would like to email updates and photos from Clearwater, inquire via email.

Minor league contract bonanza: Lots and lots of minor league deals are surfacing in the days leading up to the start of spring training: Kevin Millar (Blue Jays); Eric Milton (Dodgers); Jose Valentin (Mets); Randy Flores (Rockies); Ben Broussard (White Sox); Morgan Ensberg (Tampa Bay); Andruw Jones (Rangers), with others, like Ray Durham, still receiving minor league offers. Crashing and burning isn't limited to Wall Street. Rotoworld on Milton: "Injuries and home runs combined to sabotage Milton's career after he signed a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Reds in 2005. He went 16-27 with a 5.83 ERA during the contract, missing most of 2007 and all of 2008 following Tommy John elbow surgery. Now 33 years old, Milton is little more than Triple-A filler even if healthy."

One can identify many parallels between baseball and Wall Street these days, with teams taking a good-hard look and seeing nothing but overpriced junk. Thankfully, the Phils only have a small amount of it where it counts.

Pitchers and Catchers: Battle of the bulge begins

Some call "Pitchers & Catchers" glorified jogging and stretching. Others say it serves the same symbolic purpose as Groundhog Day. On Beerleaguer, it's time to see who got fat and draw shallow conclusions.

Every season since I've been doing this, there's been at least one spring training debate over size and fitness. In fact, entire careers in Philadelphia - including that of Jon Lieber - have been defined by weight, not just here, but on radio and in other outlets. You'll never find a less scientific study, because the results have been all over the map. Take Ryan Howard, for example, who came to camp packing extra pounds in 2007. His spare tire was partially blamed for his ensuing slow start and Howard would soon find himself on the disabled list. His weight may or may not have adversely effected the injury, but then how does one explain Howard's slow start in 2008, when he arrived in excellent shape? Then there's Brett Myers, who arrived in camp two years ago, fresh off an offseason contract extension, at a reduced weight we haven't seen since his rookie year. He felt great and had a very encouraging spring, but it was quickly derailed by a couple of regular season flops and he was soon yanked from the rotation and inserted into the bullpen, where he would capably become the team's closer. All the while, he packed on the pounds again, leading some to believe that the extra weight added to his ferocity on the mound, or some such conclusion. Last season, Myers was pretty big. To my eyes, he was slightly bigger at the beginning of the season and during his minor league demotion than at the end of the season, when he posted some of the best second-half numbers in baseball. But it's hard to say with much certainty because he hides it in an oversized uniform. So what's the right weight for Myers? Medium, I suppose.

Bobby Abreu settles for 1-year, $5M from Angels

The former Phillie with also earn incentives, but will earn far less than the 35-year-old had hoped. The deal represents a 69 percent paycut from last season's salary, and approximately $25 million less guaranteed money than fellow free agent Raul Ibanez received from the Phillies. Seattle was also pursuing Abreu. (posted remotely)

Escalona a red-hot name among spring previews

May I ask why? Left-handed reliever Sergio Escalona may be on the 40-man roster, but he has only 15 games of Double-A bullpen experience. The 24-year-old is a darkhorse for a spot with the Phillies, according to reports.

Beerleaguer: Not unless he's lights out, there's no way. I highly doubt Charlie Manuel even knows who he is at this point, and he will be competing against known commodities, including three of the four fifth starter candidates, Gary Majewski, Mike Koplove and many more - and they're still considering outside help. And if you're willing to consider Escalona, a 24-year-old whose achievements in Lakewood and Reading last season are truly no big deal, you might as well include Antonio Bastardo in the discussion, a lefthander scouts seem to like more. Escalona is what happens when stories must be filed weeks before actual game action, so it's nobody's fault really. Last season it was Andrew Carpenter, who was to become the next Joba Chamberlain. Obviously, it's too early to tell how any of it shakes out, but I'd lean heavily toward expecting a more conventional solution to the back of the bullpen.

If Phils stumble, how long does the honeymoon last?

When the season begins, it's time to find out if there's a grace period for title winners in the city of Philadelphia. If there's not, it's not mission critical. That's why I'm posting this topic at 7:30 at night, along with Beerleaguer's first photo to include partial nudity. (It's about time.) The Phillies have proven themselves impervious to such distractions, not the nudity, the negative feedback. But it's a worthwhile topic nonetheless. Personally, I think the answer is obvious. If the Phils are stuck on the runway in April and fall out of the hunt early, expect a divided reaction. The first thing that will happen is the vocal factions will grab the pitchforks and torches and hunt the new goat. Good or bad, through thick or thin, every team has someone who will absorb the most blows. That's what makes this situation so unique. Even guys like David Montgomery are no longer the punching bags they once were. And I don't know about you, but that still doesn't jive with my equilibrium. But you know what does? Champagne hot tubs. Whoot whoot! (Actually, no. It's rather nasty.)

Beer nuts: Beerleaguer seeks celebrity endorsement

So the Buzz Bissinger blurb in the banner is no longer applicable, so I’m looking for a fresh quote from a famous phan.

Actor and Germantown Academy graduate Bradley Cooper hosted 'Saturday Night Live' this weekend and was photographed wearing a Phillies hat. He seems like a cool guy, and this is a cool site. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be reading Beerleaguer and enjoying it. Speaking of SNL, Tina Fey has ties to the Philadelphia area and is a confirmed Philadelphia sports fan. Join your fellow SNL alum, Jimmy Fallon, in showing your support for the blogosphere, Tina. Fallon is pictured right showing his support for a Boston Red Sox blog. Here’s another one: Dean Ween, guitarist for the band Ween. The New Hope native is a huge Philadelphia sports fan. I’ve been to two Ween shows and I own all of their records. Where are my celebs at? Crawl out from under the woodwork and climb into my banner by showing your support for Beerleaguer. Shoot me an email in time for the 2009 season and I’ll return the favor with a handsome long-sleeve t-shirt or coffee mug.

Greg Jacobs update: Beerleaguer’s favorite minor league outfielder Greg Jacobs has signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants, meaning he’ll reunite with ex-roommate and lifting partner Aaron Rowand during spring training. Jacobs, 31, finished last season playing in the independent Northern League.

Don’t expect preseason lists: This is a time when papers and Web sites – usually the clueless national hubs – run “Five Burning Questions” or something like that. I’ve seen a few of these already and each of them has included “Will Chase Utley be ready by opening day?” It’s not important. Sources have said if he isn’t ready right on the dot, he’ll be ready soon. Besides, the only question worth asking is whether the team’s 3.88 ERA (113 ERA+) of 2008 is going to stick.

Provisional WBC rosters: “Provisional” doesn’t necessarily mean “final,” but the Phillies have 12 players tabbed for duty in the World Baseball Classic. Aside from the players you’ve heard about, Mike Spidale, an everyman who split the season between Reading and Lehigh Valley, is penciled into Italy’s roster, while righthander Mike Bolsenbroek, selected in the 42nd round of the June 2008 draft, will pitch for Holland.

Minor league transaction: Catcher Scott Thomas, who played in 30 games for Williamsport last season, has signed back with the club.

Phillyball: Amaro buys Phils long-term peace of mind

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and contract handler Scott Proefrock can put away their calculators and settle in for a long, long siesta after locking down Ryan Howard.

You know Hollywood is making a movie based on Michael Lewis’ “Moneyball,” starring Brad Pitt about the life and times of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics, right? The same regime that has produced no championships, right? So who will star as Amaro, Mike Arbuckle and the rest of the Phillies’ brass when Paramount green-lights that project? Wait – I’m getting ahead of myself. They’ll need a manuscript first. Perhaps I could file through Beerleaguer’s archives and earmark the best chapters, starting at rock bottom and leading up to the part where Amaro and the Phillies are being hailed as the gold standard for baseball front offices.

What a charmed life Amaro has led thus far. He’s taken over a World Championship club, he’s addressed some holes and navigated through the arbitration minefield with all his appendages intact. He can literally set his alarm for October of 2011 when the contract status of his best players must be reassessed.  That’s when Ryan Howard becomes a free agent, Cole Hamels enters his final year of arbitration eligibility and Jimmy Rollins can be granted a club option. Even his field manager is locked into a long-term deal. He basically knows precisely where his payroll will be for at least another year, and he knows exactly how much will come off the books when Adam Eaton, Geoff Jenkins, Pedro Feliz, Brett Myers, Scott Eyre and Matt Stairs become free agents after the season. It should be a fun amount to play with.

We all know how it’s done in Oakland. Here’s how it’s done in Philadelphia. Build a nucleus of stars from within using a high-risk, high-reward approach to the draft, then keep them. Acquire proven experience to build a deep bullpen. Blend youth and experience in the rotation while limiting long-term deals for veterans. Take chances on great athletes to round out the roster. Structure contracts with incentives and club options to get something back on your investment, while supplying instant security to the player.

“Phillyball.” Starring George Clooney as Ruben Amaro Jr. Written by Jason Weitzel, now accepting bids on an advance.

Howard, Phillies reach agreement on $54M contract

Ryan Howard becomes baseball's second-highest paid first baseman and richest Phillie by agreeing on a deal that averages $18 million per season over three seasons.

Summary: The 29-year-old will earn $15 million in 2009, $19 million in 2010 and $20 million in 2011, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, taking him through his arbitration years. For more contract details, check out David Murphy's blog here. Howard and the Phils had been $4 million apart in negotiations with Howard asking for $18 million and the Phillies countering with $14 million. With Howard locked in, first-year GM Ruben Amaro Jr. avoided arbitration with all 11 of the eligible Phillies, considered an impossible task to satisfy everyone from the championship squad. Howard hit .251/.339/.543 last season and led all major league players with 48 home runs and 146 RBIs and set a Phillies record in September for most RBIs in the month (32). With Howard signed, representing the final loose end, the Phillies' payroll tops $130 million, according to Murphy.

Beerleaguer: Our readers were all over the signing this afternoon and were obviously very pleased the deal got done. Here are the highlights:

"My bet is that Howard saw the handwriting on the wall and the current conditions in the marketplace. Some of the criteria that was posted in the Inquirer article did favor him but I bet he overextended himself this year in demanding $18M at the arbitration hearing. Howard (and his agent) probably realized that there was at least a 50/50 chance the Phils would win." - MG

"Better to lock up $54 million now than to look for a long-term contract in the middle of a depression. Here's what it was like last time (Link).  Players’ salaries fell by 25 percent on average, yet nearly every team, including the wealthy Yankees, lost money for at least a year or two in the decade.Despite the immense popularity of baseball in the 1920s, the 16 teams that made up the major leagues then were not insulated from hard times. Attendance plummeted 40 percent from 1930 to 1933 and did not return to pre-Depression levels until after World War II, when millions of soldiers returned. 'Economically, it was a very tough decade for baseball,” said Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist at Smith College.' " - Sam Fan

"I am very pleased that they locked him up through his arbitration years. If you're going to pay him for the period anyway, give yourself some cost certainty and make him feel appreciated." - sophist

"Amaro clearly knows what he's doing on the business side of running a team. It remains to be seen how he does in evaluating personnel. $15M, $19M, $20M tells us that Howard was clearly worried about losing his arbitration hearing (as well he should have been). It also tells us that he may have been worried about how the bear market for FAs, as well as his own declining numbers, could affect his future earning capacity. If the economy picks up, and Howard has a big year, there's a distinct possibility he could have made more than $19 and $20M at future arbitration hearings. Still, those are 2 big IFs and, in the final analysis, $54M is an enormous amount of money. In short, this deal is a win-win for both Howard and the Phillies." - bay_area_phan

Just another day in baseball: A-Rod tests positive

Three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids in 2003, according to four Sports Illustrated sources cited in a report published this morning.

Rodriguez, baseball's highest-paid player, is included on a list with 104 other players identified as having tested positive. The full list has not been revealed. A-Rod, 32, was a member of the Texas Rangers and won the American League MVP in 2003. He ranks 12th on baseball's all-time home run list.

Beerleaguer: Baseball's best hope to rewrite the record books with an untainted hero will instead join the ugly, ongoing chapter as the two best players of my lifetime - Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez - share an unfortunate common thread. It's a crying shame, too, because the issue had started to disappear quietly into the night. The Bonds trial hasn't grabbed much attention, but even still, I wonder how much of a shock this is to fans already desensitized to steroid scandals. I already have a deep mistrust of the other-worldly performances from the past two decades, regardless of whether the owners of those numbers had ever been implicated in steroids. Frankly, it's getting hard to keep track.

Like Bonds, the biggest shame is that A-Rod didn't need performance enhancers to achieve greatness. You won't find two more complete players than Bonds and A-Rod when they first entered the league. Had steroids never entered the bloodstreams of any player in history, there's little doubt Bonds and A-Rod would be considered the two best players of their generation. Unfortunately, they were sucked into the home run scene, which we now know to be a world of phonies, a culture of hundreds created by the enablers of Major League Baseball.

Stark adds Borowski, Seanez to the look-see list

In his latest Rumblings and Grumblings, ESPN’s Jayson Stark cites baseball sources in his report that Joe Borowski and Rudy Seanez have been offered minor league contracts with invites to spring training. [Link]

Readers recall that Borowski, 37, was offered a contract by the Phils once before in 2007 until they reduced the offer under the advice of doctors. Borowski balked and went to Cleveland instead where he led the league in saves (45). (Borowski generated approximately 3 million inches of commentary in our discussion threads that season as the Phils struggled to find answers in their own bullpen). Indians fans would claim Borowski also led the league in headaches, making an adventure out of many 9th innings. He entered 2008 as the Tribe’s closer, and after missing a month with a triceps injury, he not only lost the closer job, he lost his job completely, getting the pink slip July 10 and remaining unemployed the rest of the season. In 12 seasons, he’s 22-24 with a 4.18 ERA and 131 saves.

There’s no need to go into much detail on Rudy Seanez, who posted a workman-like 3.53 ERA (30/25 K/BB ratio) in 43.3 innings with the world champs. The 40-year-old was used sparingly by season’s end and missed time with a dead shoulder. Readers will recall that J.A. Happ beat him out of a spot on the playoff roster despite having no bullpen experience. Seanez is a good pro with lots of experience and underrated strikeout totals, but he’s nearly cooked and has been flirting with retirement, according to previous reports.

Stark also lists the usual suspects of righty bats and lefty arms while reaffirming the Phillies’ interest in Moises Alou.

Report: Phils 'thought' to have interest in Jones

We echo beat writer David Murphy's disapproval of the hot stove overuse of phrases like 'thought to have' and 'believed to be', but Beerleaguer also recognizes the importance of page traffic and the impact of namedropping husky castoff Andruw Jones, who is thought to be in the thoughts of the Phillies, according to SI.com. (posted remotely)

Extra rest for tenacious vets easier said than done

They’re hurt. They’re older. They’re determined to play. Charlie Manuel will have a tough time balancing time off with going for broke.

Aside from breaking news, one of my goals on Beerleaguer is to publish stories that haven’t been written before, but today I’d like to focus on “preservation,” even though it was the subject of Tim Malcolm’s blog entry on Phillies Nation yesterday. It's related to this week's thrust of conversation and it’s a trumpet I’ve sounded before, this idea of building in personal days for players like Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. It’s especially relevant now that Utley has suffered the first major injury setback of his career, a hip injury that will reportedly linger.

Days off are a nice concept. Too bad they never happen. The season may be 162 games, but it seems like a third of them are tabbed “must wins” for one reason or another: rubber matches; the first or last game of a crucial homestand or road trip; games with division rivals; games to snap a long losing streak; games to keep winning streaks alive, the entire month of September, etc. There’s never a proper time to sit someone like Utley, Rollins or Howard.

Instead, under Manuel, the only rest has been for the weary of bat. Players sit when they aren’t hitting, and even then, they must be mired in a brutal funk. But all things considered, how much is there to gain in resting the best players, recognizing that the playoff race always goes down to the wire and every win is vital? The Phils are indeed a year older, but are mostly in their prime. There’s something to be said about squeezing every last once from this group while they still have something great to give.

DN becomes first paper to print positive news in ’09

Did you see them in today's Philadelphia Daily News? The most meaningful words of the year? If you missed them, here they are:

CLEARWATER, Fla. –

Wednesday: Is there a need for extra speed?

Extending yesterday’s discussion on depth, we focus on center field and the possible need for added insurance for Shane Victorino.

Here’s an area that hasn’t received any attention. It was the same last off-season then – poof – So Taguchi signed for one-year, $1 million to become the fifth outfielder. Taguchi struggled to earn playing time, even losing out to Eric Bruntlett, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that no reports have surfaced in terms of the Phillies seeking an extra run-and-catch outfielder. Victorino had a very good season, appearing in 146 games, roughly 20 more than Charlie Manuel initially intended. Vic has developed into a multi-tool threat, hitting .293, which led the team, to go with great speed, Gold Glove-winning defense and spot power. But there’s still a lingering fear that a high-motor player like Vic is a prime candidate for a breakdown; he’s blown out his calf a couple times, and speed is still his greatest asset.

Worries like this haven’t surfaced all winter, perhaps deservedly so. Even Jayson Werth emerged as a major threat on the bases, stealing 20 bags last season and filling in servicably in center field.

Maybe there’s an angle. Maybe there isn’t. We turn to the peanut gallery for answers.

Caribbean Series ties run deep: Besides Ronny Paulino, yesterday’s game between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico featured many players with past ties to the Phillies. In addition to winning pitcher Alfredo Simon, a former farmhand and Rule 5er who pitched seven brilliant innings, Hector Mercado, Valerio de los Santos, Travis Minix and Felix Rodriguez also took the mound, representing guys who once earned paychecks from the Phils.

Aside from loose ends, Phils in excellent shape

The Phillies figure to add last-minute depth to the bench and bullpen, but even if they can’t, they’re set up for a successful title defense.

During Philadelphia’s 25-year title drought, one of my greatest fears was that the team that finally snapped the skid would be viewed as a fluke. Thankfully, the 2008 Phillies were the real deal, and they compare favorably with the rest of the league heading into 2009. If they’re not at the very top, they’re definitely top three. In addition to the starting lineup and rotation, they’re constructed very well in terms of contracts, balance and minor league depth. They’re flexible, and while they may not be set up for the long-term success of a team like Tampa Bay, they’re equipped with as many impact players in their prime as any team in baseball.

With news that Ty Wigginton has signed a two-year deal with Baltimore, it’s a reminder that you can’t get them all; Baltimore represented a better opportunity for Wigginton to earn playing time. However, there’s still time to address loose ends. A reliever like Will Ohman would upgrade an already excellent bullpen, and Nomar Garciaparra – still in the crosshairs – would give the bench plenty of depth.

The team believes they’re deeper than any Phillies club in recent memory, and I’m inclined to agree. But I also believe that the last-minute touches, like Ohman and Nomar, would go a long way to guarantee that the Phils aren’t just good; they’re dominant.

Caribbean Series a chance to preview Paulino, others

Phillies catcher Ronny Paulino could be in action tonight when the Dominican Rebublic's Tigres de Licey take on Venezuela's Tigres de Aragua 5 p.m. on the MLB Network. Then, Mexico's Mazatlan Venados host Puerto Rico's Leones de Ponce at 10 p.m.

Beerleaguer: Paulino has seen action for Licey as both catcher and designated hitter and represents the main Phillies-related attraction during the round-robin tournament. Tonight's game could also feature Phillies non-roster invitee Yorman Bazardo pitching from Venezuela's bullpen. Paulino and Bazardo appear to be the only participants with a current connection to the Phillies, although it's just a guess; several players, like Terry Tiffee, suited up earlier this offseason for Mexico's team, but appear to be inactive. There will be plenty of ex-Phils peppered throughout the rosters, however, so be on the lookout.

Report: Mets, Perez getting closer to agreement

FoxSports Ken Rosenthal says the Mets still have a three-year deal on the table for lefthander Oliver Perez, but the club may need to kick in a fourth-year vesting option. Perez, 27, went 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA (180/105 K/BB ratio) in 34 starts last season. Rosenthal adds there are no apparent suitors for Perez other than the Mets. Beerleaguer: Besides the Phillies' continued pursuits (lefty reliever, righty bat), the Mets' rotation situation remains the only unresolved issue I care about these days. But honestly I penciled Perez into the Mets' rotation weeks ago, once Derek Lowe signed with Atlanta.

Countdown to pitchers and catchers reaches 12 days

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Now that football is out of the way, the focus will slowly shift back to baseball, where teams like the Phillies gradually migrate south to their spring training facilities. In the meantime, MLB.com has ramped up their multimedia efforts by covering more niche subjects we care about, like John Mayberry Jr., for example. To pass the time, check out their one-on-one interview with the Phillies' young outfielder.

The All-Opportunity Knocks Team; Ohman targeted

A look back at the bit parts from '08 and a breaking report via ESPN.com. 

In any other season, it would have been easy to assemble a complete roster of the players who earned a cup of coffee with the club as emergency call-ups or fill-ins in some capacity. As it is, the Phils were fairly economic in their roster play, using far fewer pitchers than a year before and only a handful of position players to plug holes caused by injury. Here's a look back at the intrepid few who made the most of their brief opportunities. Although their short service time makes them statistical non-qualifiers, they still qualify for a place in our hearts. 

OF, T.J. Bohn: Bohn's ninth-inning double knocked in two important insurance runs in an Apr. 21 victory over Colorado. In two stints, he appeared in 14 games and went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. 

OF, Chris Snelling: Snelling's pinch-hit solo homer opened the flood gates for a four-run, ninth-inning rally in a 4-3 comeback over Houston on Apr. 15. 

OF, So Taguchi: In his last chance to impress scouts during the regular season, Taguchi, who had gone 27 days without an at bat, exploded for three hits and three RBIs, including an RBI triple, in the season's final game. 

PH, Matt Stairs: Surely, Stairs deserves inclusion on the opportunity knocks list for obvious reasons.

3B, Carlos Ruiz: Chooch turned in a flawless defensive frame at the hot corner Aug. 26 against New York (no balls hit in his direction).

SS, Pedro Feliz: Pete Happy slid over to short and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in two innings, according to Baseball Reference. Points to anyone who can pinpoint the game. 

2B, Brad Harman: Harman's only hit as a Phillie was an RBI double in a 6-5 victory over the Pirates on Apr. 25. The starting lineup for that game included Harman, 2B; Bruntlett, 3B; Taguchi, RF; Werth, CF; Utley, 1B; Coste, C; Burrell, LF; Bruntlett, SS. Like Ruiz, he also clocked one flawless inning at third base (May 6 at Arizona, no balls hit in his direction). 

1B, Greg Dobbs: This is a stretch. Besides Ryan Howard, four others took a crack at first: Dobbs, Bruntlett, Coste and Utley. While all were perfect defensively, only Dobbs reached base at the plate thanks to a pair of walks. So great job, Greg. 

C, Lou Marson: Marson finally earned a start the final game of the season and made the most of it, going 2-for-4 with a homer. 

SP, J.A. Happ: Three of Happ's four starts were quality starts and the other, a 4 2-3 inning outing against the Mets, wasn't terrible. He also pitched well in relief opportunities, including three innings of mop up in Game 3 of the NLCS. 

RP, Andrew Carpenter: Carpenter was in Class-A Clearwater just weeks before pitching a shutout inning for the Phillies out of the bullpen. 

Phillies interested in Will Ohman: ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Phillies are strongly pursuing lefthander Will Ohman, who went 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA with the Braves last season. The 31-year-old is one of the best available arms and wouldn't require draft pick compensation. He's not terrible against right-handed hitters either, so once J.C. Romero returns from his suspension, he'd maintain his usefulness as a high-pressure reliever. He earned $1.6 million a year ago.