Mar. 23 -- LET'S MAKE A DEAL

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, after rain washed out yesterday's Tigers-Phillies game, I chit-chatted for a bit with Pat Gillick. The subject, mostly, was the possibility that the Phillies will acquire a pitcher before the season starts next Monday.

Gillick's answer: Quite possibly.

It's no secret the Phillies are looking for another reliever. If they carry 12 pitchers (Gillick and Charlie Manuel prefer to keep 12 than 11), the Phillies have two bullpen spots available after Brad Lidge, Tom Gordon, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin. Right now, I think Clay Condrey is looking good to get one of those spots. The other? Well, Rule 5 lefty Travis Blackley has had an inconsistent spring; J.D. Durbin has been ineffective; Francisco Rosario went on the DL yesterday; Vic Darensbourg and Gary Knotts are non-roster invitees, and therefore, long shots.

I asked Gillick if one of the bullpen vacancies may be filled by someone who isn't in camp yet. "One of them could be here, one of them could be outside," he said.

Problem is, the Phillies don't have much to trade.

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Gillick confirmed what we've been talking about for a while. There has been little interest in spare third baseman Wes Helms, and Gillick said he's "not optimistic" that the Phillies will be able to trade him. That means Helms may be released, although the Phillies still would be on the hook to pay him $2.9 million. It also means the Phillies may have to scour the waiver wire to find the bullpen help they need.

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Talk to enough people around baseball -- or any industry, really -- and you're bound to get some dissenting thoughts about everything. But everyone I spoke to last week about Rich Dubee -- from Twins starter Livan Hernandez to Tigers manager Jim Leyland -- had nothing but positive things to say about the Phillies pitching coach, the subject of our latest Sunday enterprise feature.

A small sampling of opinions:

Hernandez, who pitched for Dubee in Florida in 1998 and '99: "He's a great pitching coach. He does a great job. There are a lot of different things. You do something wrong in the game, he's good at figuring it out. He makes it more easier for you to get people out."

Leyland, Florida's manager when Dubee was pitching coach in '98: "He's always been a coach who knows quite a bit about the game, overall. Some pitching coaches don't see the other stuff that goes on. He's a good baseball man, overall. Rich Dubee can handle anyone. He's smart and has a good rapport with people. And he knows the game. ... He's very serious about what he's doing. He's got a great personality. I offered to take him to Colorado with me [in 1999], but he wanted to stay in Florida. He's done a hell of a job. The Phillies are very fortunate to have him.

Jamie Moyer, Phillies' 45-year-old lefty: "Dubes is a guy that cares about each one of us. To me, that's first and foremost. Some guys don't give a flip who you are and just throw you out there and try to get the most out of you. That's not Dubes. There's a personality with Dubes and a genuine concern for your well-being as a pitcher and as a person. ... The way I've always looked at pitching coaches is as an extra pair of eyes. You spend a lot of time with them one-on-one, especially during your bullpens. Dubes tries to make a habit of walking around the outfield each and every day when he has time. 'How are you doing? How are you feeling?' There's an interest there. That's nice. ... I think he's good at getting to your level and parlaying what you're bringing to what it's going to take to maintain or stay here. He also tries to create as much of a comfortable environment for that person. It's like, 'OK, this is what you're accountable to and for as a pitcher. It's going to take a lot of work on your behalf, but I want you to know I'm here to work with you and help you.'"

John Boles, former Marlins manager: "He's really well-rounded. He's got a terrific personality. There's no agendas there. He's hard-working, diligent and very knowledgeable. And in Florida, his patience was exemplary. He was developing pitchers at the major-league level. We knew they were good. It was a matter of taking off the rough edges. His work culminated with another world championship for the Marlins, led by guys like [Josh] Beckett and [Brad] Penny. Rich was really their watchdog and guardian."

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Yesterday, we asked you which team has a better offense, the Tigers or the Phillies. Chad Durbin has pitched for both teams, so we asked him, too. Also within our Sunday MLB notes, Caesar-Rodney's Ian Snell had a big week, and Miguel Cabrera lost weight.

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Kevin Tresolini has some problems with the Yankees. I'll make sure to pass along his concerns to Hank Steinbrenner when the Phillies travel to Tampa tomorrow night.

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Short trip to Dunedin today for the Phillies-Blue Jays. A.J. Burnett, another Dubee disciple, pitching today for Toronto; Cole Hamels for the Phillies. Here's your lineup: SS Jimmy Rollins, CF Shane Victorino, 2B Chase Utley, DH Ryan Howard, LF Pat Burrell, RF Geoff Jenkins, 3B Pedro Feliz, 1B Eric Bruntlett, C Carlos Ruiz.

Enjoy your Easter Sunday.