Good morning. Happy Sunday.Phillies have a split squad today, which means half the team is here in Clearwater to host the Devil Rays and the other half is making the 2.5-hour trek to Fort Myers to face the Twins. Needless to say, players who got to stay home (mostly veterans) consider themselves lucky. Shane Victorino isn't among the lucky ones.
Before yesterday's game, Victorino decided to play a little practical joke on his traveling teammates. In yellow marker, he highlighted Rod Barajas and Freddy Garcia on the travel list (the real traveling team was highlighted in orange). But the clubhouse attendants didn't know the difference, and when Barajas arrived this morning, his bag was packed for the trip. As a retaliatory tactic, Aaron Rowand has taped up all of Victorino's remaining equipment and shoved it in his locker, a little surprise for when he gets back.
Gotta love spring training hijinx.
Anyway, the D-Rays have brought a few big names to Clearwater, including LF Carl Crawford, 1B Ty Wigginton, 2B Jorge Cantu and P Scott Kazmir. I covered Wigginton and Kazmir in the minors, so I'm looking forward to seeing them again. Also here is B.J. Upton, the perennial shortstop prospect who is being converted into a center fielder.
Here's the Phillies lineup.SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Aaron Rowand
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
3B Brennan King
RF Greg Dobbs
C Rod Barajas
P Brett Myers
Among others pitching after Myers will be closer Tom Gordon (above), who is making his first appearance since March 10.
Finally, click here to check out News Journal photographer Jennifer Corbett's work from yesterday's game against the Yankees.
More later.
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