CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, I hear it snowed back home today. Bummer. Here are a few Friday tidbits to warm you up:* Joe Savery (left) will start Tuesday night's exhibition game against FSU. Savery, a lefty from Rice and the Phillies' first-round pick last June, will pitch two innings. "My goal is to get in front of these coaches and gain respect as a mature, young guy who can be relied on when the time comes," said Savery, 22, who went 2-3 with a 2.73 ERA in seven starts for short-season Williamsport last season. "I just want to give them confidence I'll be able to handle myself."
* Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez lost his arbitration hearing today, which means Ryan Howard's record $10 million award is still intact. K-Rod will make $10 million this year, but he asked for $12.5 million. In 2006, Alfonso Soriano received a $10 million award, but he also lost his case. So, Howard remains the highest-paid winner in an arbitration hearing. Don't be surprised if he breaks his own record next year.
* Had a chance to watch Tom Gordon's son, Devaris, take some swings in the indoor cage, and let me tell you, the kid is good. Amazingly, Devaris (right) didn't start playing baseball until two years ago. Never even played Little League or Babe Ruth. But he starred as a freshman last year at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., which is East of Tampa, about a 90-minute drive from here. According to his dad, he's got a good curveball, but he prefers to play short. Devaris is a switch-hitter with blazing speed, and he's already attracting attention from scouts. He has a similar batting stance to Derek Jeter. I asked if Jeter, his dad's former teammate with the Yankees, is his idol. "Yeah, but he likes J-Roll better," Flash said.* High temp today: 84 degrees.
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