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Report: Chan Ho Park wins battle for fifth starter

According to David Murphy’s Twitter page, Park, who posted a 2.45 ERA and 25/2 K/BB ratio this spring, will round out the rotation, beating out lefthander J.A. Happ. Park, 35, who worked on refining his change-up this spring, owns a 4.30 ERA in 378 games, including 280 starts. No word on the status of Happ. In unrelated news, the Phillies have released local product Blaine Neal, who spent time in camp as a non-roster reliever. Update: J.A. Happ will head to the bullpen, according to Murphy's blog update, meaning, this spring's big winners, in terms of predictions, are Bill Conlin, Howard Eskin and Clout.

Breaking news: Phils release outfielder Geoff Jenkins

According to Phillies.com’s Todd Zolecki, the club will part ways with the 34-year old outfielder, and be on the hook for the $8 million he’s owed this season, including a $1.5 million buyout.

Beerleaguer: The man who hit a $13 million double. Jenkins, by all accounts a high-character teammate during the Phillies’ march to the World Series, will take his horrid uppercut softball swing elsewhere for a non-guaranteed minimum. By releasing him, they're actually doing him a favor to seek greener pastures with a team that can offer more playing time. The former Brewer becomes the latest high-priced bust hacked off the roster this spring, with Adam Eaton, who was owed $9 million, released early in camp. Thus, when you include the $3 million final installment the Phillies reportedly still owe the White Sox for Jim Thome, the Phils are paying $20 million for players no longer on the roster. Jenkins, who lost his job in right field to a full-time Jayson Werth, hit .246/.301/.392 (79 OPS+) with 9 homers, supplying basically one shining moment by doubling to lead off the second half of World Series Game 5. The move clears space for 41-year-old thumper Matt Stairs to possibly make the team as the left-handed power threat off the bench, but it also opens the door to the possibility of acquiring a right-handed stick.

Tuesday: Community call for '09 season predictions

So let's have it: Where do you see the Phillies finishing the season? Provide your regular-season record, NL East standing and playoff status. Later this week, Beerleaguer will tally the community results, plus, issue his official prediction. Last season, readers settled on 88 wins and were pessimistic about a postseason return. Meanwhile, the Berks County Carnac, who had either been right on the mark or one off the final number the previous two seasons, predicted an 85-77 finish and no playoffs. In addition, feel free to share your choices for NL MVP and Cy Young, and whether Philadelphia's usual suspects have a shot.

In race for starting rotation, Park has done all he can

If the Phils are holding an honest audition for fifth starter, as the team has stated publicly, than the job belongs to Chan Ho Park, who pitched another beauty today and has posted better numbers than J.A. Happ.

Promised an opportunity to win a spot in the rotation dating back to the time he was first signed, Park has delivered a 2.53 ERA and spectacular 25/2 ratio in 21 1-3 innings, a marked improvement over Happ's 3.15 ERA and 14/6 K/BB ratio, which isn't terrible by any stretch, but pales in comparison to Park's sterling spring. Happ also pitched Saturday in a minor league game and did not impress, numbers that obviously don't count against his overall Grapefruit League totals. If the job is awarded to Happ, it would provide the perfect commentary on the uselessness of the Grapefruit League as a way to measure performance. I've been at this five years and not once has spring training shed so much as a pinhole of light on the Phillies' true intentions, or served as a reliable predictor of future performance. However, that spring training will be erased from memory the moment the first official pitch is thrown is a fact that's proven time and again.

Hamels officially out: Cole Hamels will not take the mound Sunday night and will instead pitch Saturday night in the Phillies' exhibition game against the Rays at Citizens Bank Park. The Inquirer is suggesting that Brett Myers or Joe Blanton could take the mound Sunday when the Phillies host the Braves.

Giles sent packing as Phils make significant cuts

Marcus Giles’ comeback attempt reaches the end of the line, along with John Mayberry and Carlos Carrasco’s bid to make the Opening Day roster. Both were optioned down. Giles was outright released. 

In addition, righthander Mike Koplove, outfielder Jason Ellison and utilityman Pablo Ozuna have been told they will not make the team, but will stay on for the remaining exhibition schedule, according to Phillies.com. For those keeping score, that leaves infielder Miguel Cairo and righthanders Bobby Mosebach and Gary Majewski as the biggest variables, with the Phillies still seeking possible trade partners for Geoff Jenkins or Matt Stairs. The Phillies will not need the services of a fifth starter until April 20, Phillies.com reminds readers, which buys the Phillies some time.

Beerleaguer: None of this should come as a shock if you've been reading between the lines, especially as it concerns March darling Mayberry Jr., who sure looked awkward yesterday in a televised game. Nevertheless, the experience he and Carrasco gained this spring is priceless. Their time will eventually come, and I think Mayberry will eventually receive gainful employment in a corner platoon. Barring a last-minute trade, Cairo is a near lock to come north. It’s also no great shock to see an outright release of Giles, who is verifiably cooked.

Defense: Feliz touted, Ibanez slammed, in magazine

With Opening Day approaching, I'm reminded that nothing kills a good buzz like a hackneyed, dumbed-down, 10-part Phillies preview.

If it's all the same, I'd like to continue with regular, unplanned posting this week and let Pop Pop get his general, 5,000-word fix from newsstands (the Reading Eagle and the Phillies 2009 Annual are the exceptions). Let's start the week off right with just 34 words, found in the latest issue of ESPN Magazine: "Ask a scout and a stat analyst to identify baseball's best defensive third baseman over the past few years, and both will have Adrian Beltre and Pedro Feliz at the top of their lists."

ESPN Magazine, which usually finds its way into my recycling bin in short order, chose the new wave of fielding metrics as its central theme for its baseball preview and really sticks it to certain players, laying waste to Bobby Abreu and Raul Ibanez, among others. The magazine, which picks the Phils to capture their third-consecutive division title, calls Chase Utley's glove "underrated" and believes the club is sound defensively, but suggest that Ibanez might actually be worse than Pat Burrell in left field. Incidently, Ibanez's old team, the Seattle Mariners, rates as one of the best defensive units in baseball (as one might expect from a team that sets up with Endy Chavez, Franklin Gutierrez and Ichiro in the outfield.)

Transactions: Phils slash 27 from minor league camp

The indie league labor pool just became a little deeper with the release of many players who've reached the end of the line with affiliated ball.

(From today's press notes) The following minor league players have been released: RHP’s Jorge Crespo, Ben Pfinsgraff, Dustin Cameron, Yorman Bazardo, Reymond Cruz, Berman Espinoza, Yoel Hernandez, Yen Feng Lin, Cristobal Mata, Andrew Cruse, Shaun Ellis, Steve Shepard and Justin Pope; LHP’s Moises Melendez and Sean Thompson; C’s Josh Arhart, Alan Roberts and Scott Thomas and Caleb Mangum; INF’s Herman Demmink, Daniel Hargrave, Kyle Haines and John Urick and OF’s Bryan Frew, Tim Binkoski, Chris Walker and Damon Hollins.

Beerleaguer: Only one, Bazardo, saw action with the Phillies as a non-roster invitee. Hollins, a former Ray and Yomiuri Giant, would make a fine Lancaster Barnstormer, as would many of the ex-Reading Phillies on this list. If they boarded in the western end of Berks last season, they could even keep their lease.

Bruntlett's quirky spring; tracking a bullpen subplot

Sunday stat summary: There's an Eric Bruntlett story every spring. The versatile utilityman is hitting .339 after 64 at bats. Here's a quick look at some other numbers worth tracking, particularly in the 'pen.

Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard are slugging over .700. Raul Ibanez has not homered in 65 Grapefruit League at bats. Chris Coste won the backup catcher job by hitting .136. Marcus Giles, in his bid to make the team, is hitting .167. Geoff Jenkins is hitting .238/.308/.378 with 11 strikeouts in 42 at bats. Matt Stairs hasn't done much better than that in the same number of at bats. Following his quietly good fall, Joe Blanton has had a quietly good spring, posting a 2.30 ERA in 15 2-3 innings with a 7/1 K/BB ratio. That's almost as good as Chan Ho Park's outstanding 18/1 ratio. Park has compiled a 2.87 ERA in his 15 2-3 innings, but could be headed to the bullpen because the fifth starter job might belong to J.A. Happ, owner of a 14/6 K/BB ratio and 3.15 ERA. With the season just one week away, Chad Durbin has pitched 4 1-3 innings. Gary Majewski has thrown about three times that amount, posting a 3.00 ERA. Scott Eyre has given up 11 hits and two walks in 8 1-3 innings. Brad Lidge has pitched in only six innings, but his setup man, Ryan Madson, has been outstanding, striking out 12 while walking none.

Game chat: Joe Blanton takes on the Red Sox 1:05 from Bright House Field. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Phillies betting on bullpen value in Jack Taschner

The 30-year-old lefty becomes the latest Philadelphia reclamation project. Critics would argue that there isn't much to reclaim.

Summary: Taschner, the subject of trade rumors dating back to last season, had actually suggested to the Giants that a change of scenery would benefit all parties, according to several West Coast reports this morning. The Giants, who watched as Taschner posted a team-high 12 walks this spring, finally ended it, swinging the troubled lefthander to the Phillies for catcher Ronny Paulino, who was immediately flipped to Florida for minor league righty Hector Correa. The departure of Paulino, who had reportedly fallen into Pittsburgh's doghouse before the Phils got him, impressed no one this spring, securing a spot for incumbent backup Chris Coste.

Beerleaguer: From the Phillies' standpoint, they're buying relatively low on a 30-year-old pitcher whose career has bottomed out after 10 seasons with the Giants, the longest organizational tenure of anyone on that team. While the Phils may be trying to sell themselves on the idea that Taschner, who reunites with ex-Giant and mentor Scott Eyre, can become the next Eyre or J.C. Romero, Taschner actually has more in common with another lefty they acquired last season. Steve Kline, who signed with the Phillies after he was let go by the Giants, posted almost identical numbers the season before he was released. While Kline and Taschner differ in stuff, age and situational effectiveness, it all adds up to the same pile of dooky.

Kline in '07: 46 IP, 4.70 ERA (94 ERA+), 1.65 WHIP, 17/18 K/BB ratio
Taschner in '08: 48 IP, 4.88 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.69 WHIP, 39/24 K/BB ratio

As you can see, Kline, who toiled in Lehigh Valley for a few weeks and was eventually released, technically had the better season. Taschner's legacy is that of a fringe pitcher on a poor club, so I'm hesitant to declare J.A. Happ the winner of the fifth starter race just because of this, but it sure looks like Happ (who was throttled in a Triple-A game today) will round out the rotation, with Chan Ho Park and Taschner joining the bullpen at the outset.

There are few guarantees, however, and those expecting a nice, neat 25-man package once the Phillies break camp may need to wait just a little longer. For the Phillies, who are likely to go with an abnormal rotation variation for the first week-and-a-half, it could give them enough time to see if Taschner, who is technically better against right-handed hitters, can actually help them. As for Paulino, it goes to show what a good showing in the Caribbean Series translates to in the big leagues.

Breaking news: Phils trade Paulino for LHP Taschner

From a Phillies news release: Giants left-hander Jack Taschner was acquired by the Phillies for catcher Ronny Paulino. Taschner, 30, went 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA in 67 games for the Giants last season. Paulino, 27, was hitting .194 with one home run in 13 Grapefruit League games and reportedly lost his battle for the backup catcher spot with Chris Coste. Originally selected by the Giants in the second round of the 1999 draft, Taschner is 8-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 178 career Major League games. More tomorrow.

Stark: Sense of purpose fueled Phillies' title drive

ESPN senior baseball writer Jayson Stark, author of the new book "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies," drops in to answer the first in a series of softball questions.

Beerleaguer: Why did the Phillies win the World Series? Briefly explain the philosophy, performances and decisions that formed the foundation for a champion.

Jayson Stark: Thanks for the easy opening question. BRIEFLY sum up why this team won the World Series? How do I do that? It took a whole book to explain that. But here, I think, was the biggest thing: I said on ESPN 950 last year this time, that coming out of spring training, that team had win-the-World-Series upside. What we didn't know then was that they'd have enough pitching to pull that off. But beyond how their staff stayed amazingly healthy, an even bigger factor was this: The incredible sense of purpose they played with in September and October.
 
Unlike the Cubs, who were swallowed by the pressures of trying to rewrite their history, this group of Phillies almost used the quest to put their stamp on franchise history as fuel. It's almost unheard of for a team to talk out loud about doing that, while it's in the midst of a grueling run through October. But this team did. They were a team on a mission, and it showed.
 
Look, obviously, a lot of things broke right for them. But it was more than that. I was talking with one GM the other day as his team was playing the Phillies, and he was complaining about how he had no leaders on his team. The team the won the World Series certainly didn't have that problem. The leadership the Phillies get from Chase Utley in his own way, Jimmy Rollins in his own way, Jamie Moyer in his own way, etc., makes them unique. And it sure showed up last October.

Tune in next time when Jayson summarizes the last decade of Philllies baseball in 100 words or less, then segues into a critique on the history or religion, which I've asked Jayson to send via text message.

Book signing: Jayson will be signing copies of his book Sunday at 11 a.m. at Bright House Field in Clearwater.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Spring in hard slog mode

The WBC is over. Players have been at it for weeks. Have mercy.

It's getting harder to keep up this Spring Training charade, even harder when you're forced to work with second-hand sources and rehash last year's data. It's even difficult to find a reason to look at the box scores. Carlos Carrasco got into some early trouble against the Yankees yesterday, but there's no story there. His status has been downgraded to "putting in work," but that's basically what everyone is doing.

The main focus for Charlie Manuel is to get his regulars in a comfortable groove, with final roster decisions still a secondary concern. The biggest stories of the week occurred Monday with the demotion of Kyle Kendrick, along with prospects Jason Donald, Lou Marson and others. Minor trade rumors have also surfaced, the latest involving catcher Ronny Paulino. Phillies sources confirmed they were shopping Paulino today for the Inquirer. The story there might be the first miscalculation of the Ruben Amaro regime, but then you look at what Jason Jaramillo has done this spring, and over the past few seasons, and see a guy who's hitting .148 at Buccos' camp and has no foreseeable future in the big leagues. Reportedly Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz are good to go for opening day, but that feels like old news. Several places picked up on the Jack Taschner report as the Phils continue to look into left-handed relief.

The Brett Myers and the Phillies travel to Kissimmee to take on the Astros today. And there you have it.

Game chat: Phillies host Yankees in Clearwater

They say it’s a two-horse race for the starting rotation between J.A. Happ and Chan Ho Park, yet here’s young hopeful Carlos Carrasco getting another chance this afternoon when the Phils battle the Yankees. First pitch is 1:05. Brad Lidge, Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey are also scheduled, according to the press notes. Thanks to Beerleaguer regular Sophist for providing the snapshot of C.C. warming up before taking the mound this afternoon.

Thursday: Revisiting the lineup protection debate

Remember when keeping pitchers honest against Ryan Howard was one of the primary concerns of summer? Either fans have short memories, or they’ve written off the issue as a bunch of malarkey.

It’s the Beerleaguer way to sweat the small stuff and ignore the big picture, and offensively, it doesn't get any bigger than Ryan Howard, who, as Baseball Prospectus likes to point out, "has been a statistical backwards sprint for two seasons." Howard's shockingly mediocre .339 OBP baffles statisticians most. Howard sees more outside slop and breaking balls than anyone in the game, but despite all that, the home run and RBI champ drew just 81 walks last season.

There have been so many theories on lineup protection that it’s hard to know where to stand. The latest number-crunching data suggests that it makes no real statistical difference, with at least some evidence that a hitter may actually improve with a lesser hitter behind him. For example, Manny Ramirez’s absence from the Boston lineup led to more intentional walks for David Ortiz, but Big Papi also hit for higher average and had a higher slugging percentage without Manny.

Nevertheless, no two power hitters are the same, and there’s definitely no one quite like Howard, who will no longer have Pat Burrell protecting him. Howard struggled through much of the season, but the lineup and protection issue was rarely questioned. The reason: Anyone who watched the Phillies last season understood that the best way to avoid Howard is also the best way to strike him out, and thus, minimizing the effects of Howard is a self-contained process, independent of the man standing on the on-deck circle.

According to research done by the Hardball Times, if a pitcher is trying to avoid pitching to a hitter, the hitter is significantly more likely to draw a walk, but is also moderately more likely to strike out, which is bad news for an extreme strikeout hitter like Howard. It all amounts to a no-win situation for the big man, who could also face the added adversity of being pitched to situationally, even more so due to the presence of Raul Ibanez.

Minors: Mixed farm squads combine for 49 runs

The exhibition schedule started last week for four squads representing the highest levels of the minor leagues. As usual, the R-Phils Web site sheds some light on the daily action. [Link]

Yesterday in Florida, Lehigh Valley blasted Pittsburgh’s Triple-A team 16-8, Reading pummeled the Double-A Pirates 18-6, Clearwater stifled Pittsburgh’s Class-A squad 3-1 and Lakewood shutout the Bucco’s Low-A affiliate 12-0. While the roster breakdowns aren’t truly indicative of where players will be assigned once the Phillies break camp, it’s a fairly reliable starting point. Farm system gurus might find it interesting that Dominic Brown, rated as the top prospect in the system by Baseball America, has been cutting his teeth with Team 2, which emulates Reading’s projected roster. Brown, who was a standout in the Hawaiian Winter League and may be on the fasttrack, started in left field yesterday and doubled twice, knocking in two while scoring a pair. Top-rated catcher Travis D’Arnaud, who also started for Team 2, went 3-for-3 with a homer.

Wednesday: Lidge conspicuous by his absences

Phillies closer Brad Lidge experienced some discomfort in his forearm early in camp and has pitched in only four Grapefruit League games.

Phillies.com scribe Todd Zolecki told Howard Eskin yesterday that he hasn't heard or seen anything unusual regarding the Phillies' stopper, who was a perfect 48-for-48 in regular-and-postseason save opportunities last season. Lidge, who said he would like to eventually pitch back-to-back days this spring in preparation of the season, according to Chris Wheeler, is running out of days to do so. Both he and reliever Chad Durbin have been slowed by injuries this spring. Around camp, earlier injury scares have been soothed, however. Cole Hamels threw 48 pitches, 35 of them for strikes, in a minor league game yesterday and reported no discomfort, tossing 3 2-3 scoreless innings against a group of Pittsburgh minor leaguers. In nearby Dunedin, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley went yard in the Phillies' 7-6 win over the Blue Jays. For Werth, it was his fourth, for Utley, his first since returning to the field.

Notes: The Phillies are off today. A source for the San Francisco Chronicle reiterated that the Phillies have some interest in left-handed reliever Jack Taschner. In 67 appearances last season, the soon-to-be 31-year-old was 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA and 39/24 K/BB ratio, relegated to second lefty out of the pen with the arrival of Alex Hinshaw. Taschner hasn't been the model for lock-down LOOGY consistency over his career and reportedly allowed close to half of his inherited runners to score last season. This spring, he's walked 12 batters in nine innings, and the Giants are reportedly taking a hard look at free agent lefthander Will Ohman.

Inferior clubs, bitter press, put Schil's bid in jeopardy

It's 7 p.m. in Philadelphia, which means it's time for Jeopardy. The category is "Curt Schilling." The answer is: "Ricky Otero, Steve Frey, Desi Relaford, Jeff Brantley, Alex Arias." The correct response: "Who are a sampling of scrubs that cost Curt Schilling wins when he was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies." Let's stay in the same category for $800, Alex. Answer: "A 'Nay' for the Hall of Fame." The correct response: "What is retribution for all the writers Curt Schilling rubbed the wrong way during his career in baseball."

Final Jeopardy: Answer: This was the computer game Curt Schilling and Doug Glanville played endlessly while the two were teammates with the Phillies.

Game chat: Park makes another pitch for rotation

In his bid for fifth starter, Chan Ho Park has the ball when the Phillies face the Blue Jays this afternoon at 1:05. Last night, Park, who has a 1.54 ERA in 11 2-3 Grapefruit League innings, watched his fellow South Korean countrymen fall to Japan 5-3 in the World Baseball Classic, making it two-straight championships for the Japanese squad. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, fresh off their service with the American team, are back in the lineup today, fleshing out a lineup card that's as close to the real thing as any we've seen all spring.

Abridged Metsblog: Opening Day roster taking shape

Like the French and Jerry Lewis, or the Germans and David Hasselhoff, we at Beerleaguer can't get enough Metsblog. Here's the latest abbreviated offering.

Projected starting lineup: Jose Reyes, Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, Luis Castillo. Rotation: Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Livan Hernandez, with Hernandez replacing Nick Evans on the roster a few days into the season. Bench: Alex Cora, Fernando Tatis, Marlon Anderson, Jeremy Reed, Ramon Castro. Bullpen: Francisco Rodriguez, J.J. Putz, Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green, Robert Parnell, Brian Stokes, Darren O'Day.

Report: Phillies inquiring about Colorado utility man

Jeff Baker, who is out of options, hit .268/.322/.468 with 12 home runs in a utility role with the Rockies last season. Ken Rosenthal, who reported the story for FoxSports, lists Kyle Kendrick as a possibility for Baker, who is also drawing interest from the Astros and Pirates in addition to the Phils. Baker played first, second, third and the outfield last season and bats from the right side. A former 4th-round pick of the Rockies in the 2002 draft, he is a .262./.319/.468 (96 OPS+) hitter over parts of four seasons, with a flashier .287/.353/.569 (132 OPS+) line against left-handed pitching.

Jason Donald among latest to be voted off the island

After a long look, the impressive prospect, who has drawn comparisons to Craig Biggio from manager Charlie Manuel, was sent to minor league camp today, along with relievers Jake Woods and Dave Borkowski.

Beerleaguer: So with Jason Donald gone, along with several others today, the field of bench contenders narrows to a handful of hopefuls, including an apparent right-handed final four featuring John Mayberry Jr., Marcus Giles, Pablo Ozuna and Miguel Cairo. The Phillies will also need to come up with a plan for outfielder Matt Stairs. At catcher, it's a head-to-head battle between Chris Coste and Ronny Paulino. In the rotation, it appears to be a two-horse race between J.A. Happ and Chan Ho Park for the fifth starter, with Carlos Carrasco still in camp. Park will pitch tomorrow. In addition, relievers Gary Majewski, Mike Koplove and Rule 5 pick Bobby Mosebach, along with minor league outfielder Jason Ellison, remain with the club, but appear to be on the outside looking in for a spot on the roster.

The Phils have some tough choices to make, but it's certainly not a bad problem to have.

Report: Phils pull plug on Kendrick in rotation race

According to Scott Lauber of the News-Journal, the Phillies have optioned righthander Kyle Kendrick to minor league camp, ending his bid to break camp as the fifth starter in the rotation. The demotion is good news for lefthander J.A. Happ, who has the ball when the Phillies host the Yankees today in Clearwater. In addition to Kendrick, the Phillies also optioned catcher Lou Marson, the subject of an earlier trade rumor, and infielder Brad Harman to the minors, according to Lauber.

Report: Phillies dangling Marson, Red Sox nibbling

According to a report in the Boston Globe, the Phillies have been talking to Boston about prospect Lou Marson, but the Phils want Clay Buchholz or Daniel Bard and the Sox are reluctant to part with them. Bard, 23, went 4-1 with a 64/26 K/BB ratio over 49 1-3 relief innings with Double-A Portland. Buchholz, 24, went 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA and 72/41 K/BB ratio in 76 innings with Boston, splitting the season between the Majors and Double and Triple-A. Marson, 22, had a breakout season with Double-A Reading, hitting .314/.433/.416 with five homers and earning a spot on the US Olympic Team.

Monday: Better bench coach mark of a better Manuel?

There's no question Charlie Manuel improved his tactical game over the course of his Philadelphia tenure, but did he benefit most from time on the job or the presence of bench coach Jimy Williams?

Following a disappointing end to the 2006 season, that resulted in Charlie Manuel sitting on the hot seat, GM Pat Gillick sacked half of Manuel's coaching staff, including bench coach Gary Varsho, opting for veteran replacements in Williams, Davy Lopes and what was originally to be Art Howe at third base. These were measures taken by the front office itself, and it sent a clear message: the Phillies needed to surround the tactically-challenged Manuel with some experienced baseball minds. The difference was night and day; the subtle improvements were clear even to those standing on the outside looking in. Lopes taught the players how to run and catch, while Williams instructed the pitchers on how to bunt. But the biggest transformation occurred gradually. By 2008, Manuel was committing fewer glaring tactical blunders, and on several occasions, outwitted the opposition, a concept that would have been considered laughable just a few years earlier.

After the season, Williams opted not to return, an unexpected surprise explained away with some vague reasoning. He was replaced by 57-year-old Pete Mackanin, a highly regarded ex-scout and stat cruncher for the Yankees who spent last season with the Reds. Mackanin, tasked with analyzing scouting reports and offering strategic help for Manuel, was the focus of a March 10 article in the Inquirer. "You bounce ideas off the manager and either validate what he wants to do or offer another suggestion," Mackanin said. "Numbers don't lie," Mackanin said. "If you walk a lot, that gives you an idea of what your plate discipline is. We look at a lot of stats, and it's a combination of that and instinct that you base your decisions on."

Notes: Joe Bisenius was reassigned to minor league camp. The 26-year-old reliever was a considered a rising star at one time, but he's been batting practice for well over a year. He departs with a Grapefruit League ERA over 12.

Que Sera, Sera: Phillies fans singing a different tune

From winning the World Series, to a run of successful acquisitions, several factors have created the perfect storm of trust in the Phillies.

In comic books, there's the golden age, represented by the birth of such icons as Superman, Batman and the genesis of the DC universe. Then there was the silver age, which was the dawn of Marvel.

If 1980 represents the golden age for the Philadelphia Phillies, it's just as satisfying to dwell in the silver age, which is the point we're at now. After all, Marvel's contribution to the superhero genre is superior in its progressiveness and consistency, with only a few exceptions, and I'm prepared to drop the gloves on that, just as I'm prepared to stand with the 2008 champs, for similar reasons.

There's something to be said about succeeding in today's complex baseball world compared to how it was in 1980. It takes an added ingenuity to overcome all the obstacles. The urgency to lift Philadelphia's title burden is gone, replaced with a pragmatic approach resembling that of a West Coast or college fanbase. "In the Phillies we trust," and isn't strange to feel that way?

But it isn't just winning that has turned the tide in the Phillies' favor. Mistrust in free agency, the state of the economy and the myriad drug scandals have added to the belief that it's best to internalize and seek answers from within. Gone is the drumbeat to spend, spend, spend. That energy has been channeled into anticipating the next wave, where four weeks of Jason Donald and John Mayberry Jr. have eclipsed the dead silence of the Raul Ibanez signing, which reminded many of the old-fashioned strategies that never seemed to work.

There's a refreshing innocence to what the Phillies have built and how they've gone about doing it. Their situation is as enviable as any in professional sports, and the proof is the transformation of the most fickle fanboys on earth.

Game chat: Brett Myers leads the Phillies into Ft. Myers for a game with the Red Sox. First pitch is 1:05. In other news, Cole Hamels experienced no discomfort in a bullpen session and said he expects to pitch in a minor league game shortly.

Kendrick solid, Bruntlett homers, but Phillies fall 2-1

Twins pitching has been dominant this spring and today was no exception. Behind a solid outing by Kyle Kendrick, who settled in after the first inning, the Phillies couldn't mount an attack against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Bright House Field smelled like a big bottle of suntan lotion. Plenty of Twins fans along with the Phillies crowd, and the first pitch was thrown out by a New Jersey State Trooper, who got quite a friendly reception. Who do the fans not love? Miguel Cairo, that’s who. Every time he came up to bat, the silence was deafening. Then again, he didn’t do anything to earn an ovation, either. Also looking lackluster was Chris Coste - if he was in my softball league, I would run on him for sure. And who do the fans love? Matt Stairs, that’s who. It’s amazing how much goodwill can be generated by one legendary hit. One of the highlights of this trio of games has to be Stairs making a leaping catch all the way to the left wall in the 10th inning today. It was a beautiful and unexpected sight. John Mayberry, Jr. looked like a ballplayer today too, in actions and in physique, and what a treat to see those two jogging in together. - Phargo

Game chat: Phillies take on Twins in televised game

Kyle Kendrick replaces Chan Ho Park, who was scratched with a minor hamstring issue, when the Phillies host the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 in Clearwater. Comcast SportsNet will carry the ballgame, which is sure to lose out to the Nova-UCLA game for the attention of Philadelphia sports fans. Tip off for that one is just after 1 p.m. from the Wachovia Center. For the Phils, Clay Condrey and Scott Eyre are also scheduled.

Saturday: Phils may be leaning toward veteran Cairo

Manager Charlie Manuel is dropping hints that the 13-year veteran would be an ideal fit for the final spot on the bench. But is there room?

Beerleaguer: Scott Lauber of the News-Journal provides all the details on Cairo in print and on his blog and reminds readers that Cairo's contract includes a clause that allows him to be released if he isn't on the Phillies' major-league roster by the season-opener.

Either way, Cairo is no lock. The Phillies have some very difficult decisions to make and there are few sure things; even guys like Geoff Jenkins and Eric Bruntlett are less than certain to break camp, although I'm fairly confident they both will barring a trade. If the Phillies go with 12 pitchers, they'll carry a five-man bench, which makes the situation very tight. The guys who really need to worry are the infielders like Cairo, Marcus Giles and Pablo Ozuna, along with Matt Stairs, but if they go with a six-man bench at the outset and put Cole Hamels on the shelf, they'll have an extra opening, although it would be interesting to see how they swing that. Would they go with someone like Cairo, knowing Cole is coming back soon, or a veteran who would be easily "demotable"; Ronny Paulino, for example?

It's becoming increasingly doubtful that young players like Jason Donald an John Mayberry will be anywhere other than Triple-A; the beat writers are dropping several hints to that effect. There's also this growing sense that Chris Coste will indeed retain his backup catcher spot, but stay tuned. Two weeks to go.

Eskin interview: You can listen to yesterday's interview with Howard Eskin here.

Friday: Spring roster battles still too close to call

Today is Clout Day on Beerleaguer, marking the official date it's acceptable to assess spring training performance and draw responsible conclusions. The Phillies will need an extension.

Once again, the calendar flips to March 20 for our annual celebration of Clout Day, a day that might cause many of you to throw up in your mouth a little. It all came about - I don't know - two years ago when Clout (artist rendering right) tried to curb reader enthusiasm over scrubs who performed well in spring training. For the most part, the tactic worked. We see far fewer springtime fantasies peppering the comments thread, although one reader seems unusually high on 31-year-old career minor leaguer Jason Ellison, who's in camp as a non-roster invitee. But that's okay; I've been in that boat before. When Beerleaguer was in its infancy, I predicted that outfielder Shawn Garrett would make the team as the last man on the bench. Remember him? Neither does anyone else.

A year ago today, I posted a couple spring progress reports in an effort to draw Clout Day conclusions. I'm not doing that again. Not one amounted to a hill of beans. Based on nothing in particular, Carlos Ruiz was ready for a breakout season both offensively and defensively, while Jayson Werth and his .176 Grapefruit League slugging percentage were doomed for regression. On the mound, Chad Durbin would flop, while Brett Myers would start hot.

After all these years, Beerleaguer finally understands the point Clout was trying to make. For 85 percent of the roster, spring training is a lot of nonsense. For the other 15 percent, their fates have yet to be decided and every moment counts. Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee have each indicated that their final selections won't be made until the very end of spring training, meaning guys like Carlos Carrasco, who starts today in Jupiter, are technically still alive.

Notes: Colleague and Facebook friend Brian Startare will be signing his book, "Flyer'd Up," tomorrow from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble in Deptford. While there, be sure to pick up a copy of the Phillies 2009 Annual. ... Carson hosted a blogger roundtable on WSBGMs today. Check it out here. ... Don't forget to tune in to Howard Eskin's show this afternoon at 3:40 when we will discuss the Phillies Annual. Listen to the live stream here. ... The Clout Day meet-up scheduled for tonight at McFadden's generated so much buzz that the only definites appear to be me and one other guy. So it's been postponed for a later date during the season.

Game chat: Let's keep it here when the Phils take on the Cards. First pitch is 1:05 p.m.

Radio note: Beerleaguer on Howard Eskin Friday

Tune in Friday afternoon at 3:40 p.m. when Beerleaguer sits in the 610-WIP hot seat with the King of Bling, discussing the Phils and the 2009 Maple Street Press Annual. As a long-time listener, first-time caller, I look forward to keeping it real. You won't want to miss it. Log on to the WIP Web site for the live stream.

Blanton tosses six scoreless in effortless 6-1 win

Beerleaguer's first-ever female correspondent, Phargo, takes her turn with today's game and waistline report.

JUPITER, Fla. - Tomorrow may be Clout Day, but today was Jason Donald Day. He started strong in the first inning with a single to shallow left and a good play on a line drive for the third out against the Marlins. He also drew a walk in the sixth that resulted in a slide in to home to score, and had two other shots that went impressively deep. He also threw out a Marlin at second for the last out of the game. He looked great; the guys next to us were wondering out loud if maybe he could play some third base. The fans gave him particular appreciation as he left the field (pictured right).

Joe Blanton looked just fine, and Howard is noticeably slimmer, though he didn't have an especially good day. Brad Lidge looks ready to go and John Mayberry Jr. was another crowd pleaser. There were more Phillies fans than Marlins fans there, but they were not as loud as I expected. Clout is right, Roger Dean Stadium is nice; it even has enough stalls for the ladies. Once it stopped raining in the second, it turned into a beautiful day. Oh, and maybe it's just because I usually see him on TV, but I think maybe Charlie Manuel lost a few lbs over the winter, too. - phargo

Game chat: Phils take a peek at Marlins in Jupiter

Joe Blanton makes his fifth Grapefruit League appearance of spring when the Phillies play the first of two road games this afternoon. Clay Condrey, Bobby Mosebach and Brad Lidge are also scheduled.

Astros need a third baseman: By way of an additional discussion point, it’s been a quiet spring in terms of trades, hasn’t it? Not just the Phils, but across the league. Usually, this is the time you start seeing players come available. I thought of this when I saw this blurb from Ed Wade following the unfortunate news that Aaron Boone will miss the season because of a heart condition. Says Wade on the possibility of adding someone: "If we think there's a need at the end (of camp), there's going to be guys available. I got a call today from a club that's got a guy that they want to make available.”

Lack of surprises could keep Phillies status quo

There's only so much tinkering to be done when the last, true measure of a team's greatness is winning the World Series.

There's been some pretty wild speculation based on a few short weeks of spring training baseball. The flight of fancy starts with physical specimens like John Mayberry Jr. and ends with scrappy kids like Jason Donald. For all the hype, Mayberry, who posted a pedestrian .790 OPS last season in the hitters' orgy of the Pacific Coast League, has whiffed 16 times so far against dog-meat pitching. As for Donald, a shortstop his entire minor league career, the Phillies are all booked up in the infield. While injuries could open some doors temporarily, the fact is, none of the young hopefuls are forcing Charlie Manuel's hand. It has little to do with spring performance. The Phils would be understandably content to let the good times roll, and frankly, would probably see the best results by mimicking the championship roster as much as possible.

In the meantime, March is an excellent opportunity for players like Mayberry, Donald, Lou Marson and Carlos Carrasco to showcase their talents, and if an injury setback to someone like Cole Hamels creates an opponing for one of them to take an April field trip to Philadelphia, than so be it.

Beimel signs: Lefthander Joe Beimel, who had reportedly been on the Phillies' radar, signed with the Nationals, leaving Will Ohman as only viable option left on the market. The 31-year-old Beimel posted a 2.02 ERA in 71 games last season for the Dodgers.

Phillies, Jays call it a draw despite Werth's big day

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jayson Werth's three-run, seventh-inning homer highlighted a busy day for the suddenly hot outfielder.

Werth's day included a double and reaching base on a well-struck ball that was scored a two-base error.  Werth's right-handed power has been on display since getting back on the field following some injury setbacks, a welcome sight on a lefty leaning team. The home run gave the Phils a 7-4 lead over the Blue Jays, which was later squandered as Joe Bisenius pitched the club into a tie by giving up two walks and surrendering three seeing-eye singles. The game ended in a 7-7 tie, as the Phillies opted not to continue play due to an upcoming trip to the eastern Florida coast.

J.A. Happ, one of the candidates for the Phillies' fifth rotation spot, was merely adequate in today's start.  He only managed to strike out two batters over the course of four innings, fell behind batters, and surrendered two home runs on a breezy afternoon. Happ needs to miss bats and command his pitches to be at his best, and today he was not doing either. Gary Majewski gave up one run over two innings, but helped the Phillies tie the game in the sixth inning with a blooper hit behind first base. Majewski's hit highlighted a number of "small ball" moments prior to the Werth home run, allowing the team to match the Blue Jays' power in the early going. - Furnstein & Jonesman

Beerleaguer: Our thanks to Furnstein & Jonesman for their reports this week. Readers attending spring training are encouraged to send their stories and photos to my inbox.

Wednesday thread: Discussing Myers; Phils host Jays

Baseball Prospectus describes Brett Myers’ career as “sporadic bouts of brilliance coupled with bizarre struggles.” For Phillies fans, there’s nothing bizarre about it. When he’s bad, it's all in his head.

Although medical exams revealed no structural damage to his pitching elbow, it’s looking less likely that Cole Hamels will be set for the start of the season, which means Brett Myers, subject of today's morning forum, could be the opening day starter again. I was asked recently which player was mostly likely to disappoint this season, and my response was Myers. That doesn't jive with what baseball fans have come to expect from a contract year, but ask yourself this: Doesn't Brett Myers always figure out a way to fall short of expectations?

Frustration over being yanked back into the rotation was his excuse for killing the team for three-and-a-half months and pitching himself into an embarrassing minor league demotion. It happened despite signing one of the most lucrative deals on the team to become, at worst, a No. 2 starter, and at best, staff ace. The mental side tells most of the story, but not all of it. The other part was his well documented dip in velocity, in addition to all the other stuff that went haywire both stuff-wise and control-wise. Part of it was physical; he was out of shape. But by and large, it was mental. It had to be; how else can one explain July 29 through Sept. 14, the months following his demotion, when he basically rattled off 10 dazzling starts in a row?

What jumped out most over those first miserable months of '08 was the lack of consistency. He had no plan. Whether it was Myers masquerading as a starter using a closer's mentality, where it’s enough to load up and fire, he wasn’t working over batters or establishing his pitches the way he needed to in the rotation. When he returned from exile, he was dominant.

Which Myers should we expect in ’09? To me, he is the toughest nut to crack on the entire roster in terms of projections.

Game chat: The Phils host the Blue Jays today. J.A. Happ makes another pitch to win a spot in the starting rotation. We’ll keep it here for that.

Myers masters Reds; Phils prevail 8-1 in Clearwater

CLEARWATER, Fla - Impressive pitching from Brett Myers and timely hitting from much of the lineup helped the Phillies beat the Reds 8-1 and shake off the horse bleep from yesterday's dismal loss. 

Myers worked quickly through the Reds lineup, striking out seven in a scoreless 5 2-3 innings. The performance was a good sign for the Phillies, who may need to count on Myers for a third straight opening day start. Myers also continued his aggressive approach at the plate (aggression pictured right), driving a single down the first base line. The game also saw action from two key bullpen pieces who have been limited by injuries this spring, Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge. Lidge surrendered the only Reds' run of the game, but seemed to be throwing mostly fastballs.

Key hits were delivered by Matt Stairs, Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Howard, and Eric Bruntlett (who won the Most Leprechaunish award in the St. Patty's green). Raul Ibanez had two hits, and Chase Utley saw tons of pitches in his four plate appearances, and ended up with two walks. He looked good in the field and on the basepaths, though he drew a few concerned groans from the crowd in the first inning when he dove for a ball that got through the hole up the middle. - Furnstein & Jonesman

Clout Day at McFaddens: We're still taking a head count for Friday at 7 p.m. at McFadden's at the ballpark. Comment if you're coming.

Game chat: Myers on mound; batting stats discussed

The Phillies return to Clearwater today when Brett Myers, Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge are scheduled against the Cincinnati Reds. If that isn't enough to wet your whistle, for your viewing pleasure, here are some early stats from guys getting the most at bats:

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Time to take inventory?

Must ... resist ... urge ... to ... post ... standings ... must ... avert ... gaze ...

The forces are just too powerful this morning after learning that Charlie Manuel ripped into his club hard following yesterday's 12-0 drubbing. And so we've reached that point in spring training when even the manager would like to see some semblance of crisp baseball. Time for a St. Patrick's Day reality check. From the Daily News: "I think that any game like that [ticks] you off," Manuel said, "but the best thing you can do is go out there and get on the bus and forget about that . . . That's a [bleep] game. If I played in that game, I would definitely take a good inventory of myself."

We glance at the Grapefruit League standings and note the club's customary cellar dwelling status, perhaps foreshadowing, as it did last year, a season of heartbreak and misery.

Swindle update: Beerleaguer favorite R.J. Swindle, who signed a Major League contract with Milwaukee this winter, was optioned to Triple-A Nashville Monday.

Bad case of the Mondays culminates in shutout loss

Cole is headed home. Kyle could be headed elsewhere. Phillies fans haven't sweated this much since Bud Selig called Game 5.

Nineteen days until opening day. Two months until teams establish much of anything. Today, the Phillies told their ace to take all the time he needs. It isn't necessarily a precautionary measure to get him ready for the season. It's protection for an investment they made for the next three. Regardless of whether he passes or fails his medical exam, the Phillies spared him from the longest spring training in baseball history. Any doubt as to whether the team can be trusted to monitor the health of their once-brittle ace should revisit his 262 1-3 innings and recognize the minor miracle. Clearly, someone knows what they're doing, whether it's a member of the medical staff or Cole Hamels himself.

Onto the diamond, where March 16 results mean less for the honeymooning Phils than precautionary exams. The Phils were smoked by the Yankees today 12-0. Kyle Kendrick allowed five runs on eight hits, four earned, in four innings, falling victim to some poor defense. First-hand accounts say he pitched better than his line suggests. Still, he's lagging far behind in the race for fifth starter. How far has he fallen? Well, an NL scouting source for ESPN's Jayson Stark believes the Phillies should consider shopping him.

Unless the Phillies are bowled over by an offer, I would be more inclined to hold on to the healthy 24-year-old who won 21 games for this team. Kendrick, who's in over his head as much as a player can be in spring training, would be a perfect test subject for the minor league option. If a change-up is what the they truly want from Kendrick, why not do what they did with Myers and send him not only to Triple-A, but Double-A, where he can really test drive his pitches? Take the entire season, or as long as it takes to get him ready for his next assignment, wherever that may be.

Transactions: Speaking of assignments, the Phils made a few before today's game. They re-assigned LHP Antonio Bastardo, RHP Blaine Neal, C Tuffy Gosewisch, C Paul Hoover, INF Mike Cervenak, INF J.J. Furmaniak, INF Jorge Velandia, INF Andy Tracy to minor league camp today. They also optioned RHP Andrew Carpenter, RHP Drew Naylor, RHP Scott Nestor and LHP Sergio Escalona to minor league camp. The only one that raises an eyebrow is Carpenter, but only because of the positive feedback coming from the Phillies' broadcasters on Saturday.

Clout Day at McFadden's: This is a final headcount for Friday's get-together, which I've penciled in for McFadden's at 7. Comment if you're coming.

Injury would open things up in rotation race

With Chan Ho Park impressing in yesterday's start against St. Louis, and J.A. Happ continuing to throw well, the Phillies' pitching depth could be tested immediately if Cole Hamels goes on the shelf.

Hamels met with reporters this morning and the lefthander categorized his elbow situation as "discomfort," downplaying concerns as something that happens to him every spring. Nevertheless, the Phillies' are glad to have at least two starting candidates pitching very well this spring in Park and Happ. Park commanded four pitches, including a retooled change-up, to limit St. Louis' regular lineup to just three hits yesterday, lowering his spring ERA to 1.54. Meanwhile, Happ has been equal to the task, earning praise from pitching coach Rich Dubee with his steady approach.

If Hamels is indeed ready for Opening Day, the biggest hole is in the bullpen, where Scott Eyre represents the only sure-handed lefthander, with none of the other candidates making a serious case. The situation may be serious enough to doom Happ to the bullpen anyway, even if Hamels is a no-go for the start of the season. If something like that came to fruition, Park, and possibly Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco or even Drew Carpenter, could still have a chance at this thing if they catch lightening in a bottle late in camp; how many times have we seen jobs won by the hottest hand?

Game chat: Kendrick carries his north-of-14 ERA to the mound today against the Yankees. First pitch is 1:15 p.m.

Report: Hamels to leave Florida for elbow exam

Here's an unpleasant piece of news to start your Monday morning. Cole Hamels has been experiencing "persistent soreness" in his elbow, according to GM Ruben Amaro Jr., and will be checked by team physician Michael Ciccotti in Philadelphia. Amaro told Scott Lauber of the News-Journal that missing his opening day start is a possibility depending on the results of the evaluation, which is not expected to include an MRI unless Ciccotti deams it necessary. Hamels will meet with reporters today, according to Lauber.

Peanut gallery projection: Condrey and Coste

Clay Condrey and Chris Coste are learning that when you're the last man on a championship roster, everyone is gunning for you.

I've consulted a leading publication for help in predicting the seasons of Condrey and Coste. According to Field & Stream, Condrey will bag two quail, one whitetail, two turkey and a goose this year. They're expecting bigger things from Coste. The magazine sees the North Dakota native bagging an elk, grouse and mortally wounding a prairie dog, with Coste performing better in the freshwater fishing category, where he is expected to reel in a 19-pound walleye from the mighty Missouri. Condrey maxes out with a modest black bass caught using some crankbait down in the Texas Panhandle.

The road-game roomies may be big-game hunters in the real world, but they're hunted inside the boundaries of their own team. Coste is locked in a battle for catcher with Ronny Paulino, with Lou Marson pounding on the door. Considering how much time the other bench candidates are getting - players such as Marcus Giles, John Mayberry and others - it's tough to picture a scenario where Charlie Manuel breaks camp with three catchers. Think about the severe drop in Coste's productivity last season; his 36-year-old bat is no longer enough to save him from the causalities of roster war.

Condrey is in a safer place, but not by much. The big Texan managed to do something he never did before in sticking with a Major League roster all season. He did so because he never screwed up badly enough or long enough to be put on waivers. In fact, he was perfectly adequate, posting some of the best groundball totals on the team. You'd think his 69-inning, 3.26 ERA performance would buy him immunity. It does, but to what extent is it canceled out by the presence of capable veteran righties Gary Majewski, Mike Koplove, along with a handful of talented prospects?

For Coste and Condrey, the comforts of 2008 could turn into a most dangerous game in 2009.

Phillies' reserves finish it for the regulars in 2-1 win

Miguel Cairo continued his hot hitting with a ninth-inning single, followed by a walk-off Jason Ellison double, to win it over the visiting Cardinals.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Injury concerns are fading, as the returns of Jayson Werth, Pedro Feliz and Chase Utley in recent days allowed the Phillies to field a lineup that wouldn't shock you if it took the field in a regular season game. The Cardinals also had most of their regulars in, and quality starting pitching from Chan Ho Park and Kyle Lohse gave this game more of a real-game feel than you would expect on March 15. Park was especially dominating, only allowing three hits with six strikeouts in his 4 2-3 innings of work.  Luckily a swarm of bees along the 3rd base line came along to cause about 200 fans to evacuate their seats and remind everyone that this is in fact still pretend baseball. If that wasn't enough, Matt Stairs later stole second base and got huge applause from the record crowd in Clearwater. - Furnstein & Jonesman

Game chat: Utley makes Grapefruit League debut

Chase Utley takes a giant step forward in his return from hip surgery today when the Phillies host the Cardinals at 1:05 p.m. from Bright House Field.

Utley will lead off, followed by Jayson Werth, Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz, Geoff Jenkins, Jason Donald and Carlos Ruiz, the largest or close to the largest number of regulars Charlie Manuel has fielded all spring. Pitching-wise, Chan Ho Park is on the bump, followed by Antonio Bastardo and Clay Condrey. MyPhl 17 will carry the game, the second televised game of spring. Elsewhere, Cole Hamels will pitch in a minor league game today.

Phillies use patience to prevail over Astros

The Phils fielded a lineup with almost no regular players, but had some good patient at-bats, played some small-ball and beat the Astros 5-2.

KISSIMMEE, Fla - Jason Donald started at third and cemented his status as a dirtball type player with a hit, two stolen bases, two runs scored and a dive for a ball that ended up foul to get his uniform extra filthy. Matt Stairs showed off his speed by going first-to-third on a single in the first inning, and making a sweet running and jumping catch on hard hit ball to right. Jayson Werth added to the offense with a towering home run to straightaway center field. Greg Dobbs also had two solid hits, driving in Donald twice.

On the mound, Carlos Carrasco allowed too many base runners, and seemed to be nibbling against Berkman, Lee, and Tejada the first time he faced them, but he pitched out of jams nicely and got a huge bases-loaded strikeout on Berkman his second time up. Andrew Carpenter looked very confident, getting four strikeouts and allowing only a solo home run in 4 innings of work. Our old friend Michael Bourn made a nice diving play in center for the Astros, but he looked lost at the plate today. - Furnstein & Jonesman

Notes: Chase Utley returned to the field today in a minor league scrimmage at the Carpenter Complex. He went 2-for-4 with a double.

Saturday thread: Carrasco goes in Kissimmee

Young righthander Carlos Carrasco faces another test against Major League competition today when the Phillies visit the Astros at 1:05 p.m. Drew Carpenter and Mike Koplove are also scheduled. Meanwhile, a minor league game featuring Brad Lidge, Chad Durbin and Scott Eyre fires off at noon. Moving over to the WBC, the Netherlands battle Venezuela at 1 p.m. ET. Then later tonight it's Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and the stars of Team USA taking on Puerto Rico at 8 p.m. ET.

Five-run sixth not enough for Phillies in 6-5 loss

Observations from today's Pirates-Phillies game, including an unfavorable report on Pedro Feliz, courtesy of our correspondents.

CLEARWATER, Fla - Pedro Feliz returned to the lineup today, which is good, but he looked to be moving gingerly in the field and at bat. His mobility appeared to be limited on the field, and he had some trouble getting out of the batter's box. He was taken out before most of the other regulars, as would be expected.

Joe Blanton started off shaky; he seemed to have trouble getting a read on the home plate umpire's strike zone, and in the second inning he was called for a balk and got into a heated discussion with the second base umpire. Blanton seemed to lose his cool a bit, but he limited the damage to two runs in the inning. He bounced back and had an easy third and fourth, and got the only two men he faced in the fifth.

The Phils' offense finally got going in the sixth, starting with a Jason Donald triple. The highlight of the day was a Ryan Howard line drive home run to left field with Raul Ibanez on base. He absolutely crushed the ball. Ten Phillies batters were sent to the plate in the fifth, scoring five runs, and echoing their tendency last season to score runs in bunches.

Ryan Madson continues to impress; he struck out three straight batters following a triple on a fly ball that was misplayed by Matt Stairs. Blaine Neal blew the save in the ninth, but final scores mean little in the land of citrus. - Furnstein & Jonesman

Fan connection better late than never for Burrell

Departed outfielder Pat Burrell used ads in the Daily News and Inquirer to express his gratitude toward the city and organization today, suggesting that he finally gets it after all these years.

During his tenure, Burrell established himself as a hard worker and leader, but withdrew from the media and public spotlight, in stark contrast to community-minded nature of the rest of the organization. The Phillies may have expected more for their money when they made a long-term commitment to the former first rounder, at least when it came to being a man of the people. But on the field, the investment paid off; Burrell played a major part in the master plan to reach baseball’s ultimate plateau. Signing for $4 million less than he made last season, the wallet isn’t the only place where he may be feeling the void. Reading today’s letter, one can’t help but detect an undercurrent of remorse for leaving behind some unfinished business.

Game chat: Phillies host the Pirates in Clearwater. Joe Blanton, Bobby Mosebach and Ryan Madson are scheduled.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Werth still on ice

Jayson Werth's latest setback is reportedly a minor groin injury. He's set to return to action today against Pittsburgh. Still, the time away from the field is starting to add up, with time running out for Werth to get into a good groove before the season. Expected to have right field all to himself for the first time in his career, Werth, the recipient of a two-year extension, has been nursing a sore shoulder throughout most of spring training, and arrived at camp in need of extra time to whip himself into playing shape. Beerleaguer: This continues to smell fishy. One hopes there aren't deeper issues here.

Pitching and defense shine, but Rays silence Phils

A summary of today's action, courtesy of our spring correspondents.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The visiting Phils lost to the Rays today 3-2. Not much offense, but solid pitching and defense. The lack of offense may have been due to the fact that Joe Maddon used real Major League pitchers and the Phillies' bats did not look up to the challenge. Rays pitchers had faced the minimum number of batters until the top of the seventh, when the Phillies finally broke through with a run on Miguel Cairo's second hit, a couple walks and a Ryan Howard RBI sac fly. Jamie Moyer started and pitched out of some jams on his way to five innings, allowing two runs. He was helped by surprisingly solid third base defense from Greg Dobbs, and a nice relay play from Jason Ellison in center to Jason Donald at short to Ronny Paulino at home to record an out and save a run for Moyer.  J.A. Happ pitched the other three innings and looked very nice, surrendering only a solo home run to Gabe Kapler and a couple other dinky hits. - Furnstein & Jonesman

Another view: Moyer struggled through the first two innings, but settled down for the next three. He embarrassed a few guys with his curve. Happ came in again and had another solid outing. He gave up a solo shot, a la Cole, but was lights out other than that. Pat Burrell got nice ovations from the predominantly Philadelphia crowd. Andy Tracy had an absolute bomb in the top of the ninth with two outs, but the highlight of the game came in the eighth. Jenkins came up with Balfour on the mound and runners on first and third. The crowd (predominantly Phillies fans) starting chanting "Deja Vu" and calling for a double off the wall. - Chris Burkhart