March 8 -- DAY 22: RULE 5 WOES

Tough day in Winter Haven for Rule 5 draft picks Alfredo Simon (left) and Jim Ed Warden (right). With the Phillies facing the Indians, Simon entered in the sixth inning and didn't get out of the seventh. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out one, raising his Grapefruit League ERA to 18.00. After the Phillies scored three runs in the eighth, Warden came in to save a 6-5 win. But he retired only one batter, loading the bases before allowing Shin-Soo Choo's two-run single that gave the Indians a 7-6 victory. Warden has a 27.00 ERA in two spring outings.

Ordinarily, it wouldn't make much sense to write about a couple of middling middle relievers having rough springs. But, as Rule 5 picks, the hard-throwing Simon and side-arming Warden either have to stay on the Phillies' 25-man roster all season or be offered back to their former teams. Keep in mind: the Phils kept Fabio Castro on the roster during the second half of last season even though there was some doubt about his readiness to pitch in the majors. There's plenty of time still left in spring training, but you'd have to think Simon and Warden will have to show more than they have to warrant spots in an already thin bullpen.

One other note: Pedro Swann, a product of St. Mark's High and Delaware State, was summoned from minor-league camp to make the long trek to Winter Haven and went 0-for-1.

Finally, hopefully you read some of the thoughts posted below about John Vukovich. The Phillies are encouraging fans to share their memories by writing to remembervuk@phillies.com. Some of the fan responses will be read on upcoming Phillies broadcasts.