Mar. 24 -- J-ROLL, VICTORINO RETURN; MYERS TO START OPENER?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, I was standing in the Phillies' clubhouse a few minutes ago when bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer walked over at pointed at the first two names in the lineup.

"We called two guys up from the minors to help us today," he said.

Uh, not exactly.

Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino have returned after spending the past three weeks with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and they're in the lineup today against the Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium. We'll hear from them later, but for now, here's the full lineup, which kind of looks like the lineup the Phillies may use on Opening Night (minus the DH, of course).

SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
RF Jayson Werth
LF Raul Ibanez
3B Pedro Feliz
DH Chris Coste
C Carlos Ruiz

Chan Ho Park will start in Dunedin. Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.C. Romero will pitch in a minor-league game here at the Complex.

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Speaking of pitching, here's the rotation for the week. Based on this alignment, it would seem Brett Myers will start the season-opener April 5 at the Bank. Although, to quote Rich Dubee, there's a "very, very, very small shot" that Hamels could still make that start. For that to happen, he'd have to be lights-out for 80 or so pitches Sunday, and the Phillies would have to decide that he doesn't need a final spring-training tune-up before the season starts.

Thursday vs. Yankees (Clearwater): Carlos Carrasco, Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre, Chad Durbin, Brad Lidge
Friday at Astros (Kissimmee): Brett Myers, Ryan Madson, Condrey, Bobby Mosebach, J.C. Romero
Saturday at Pirates (Bradenton): Jamie Moyer, J.A. Happ, Lidge, Eyre, Durbin
Sunday vs. Red Sox (Clearwater): Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, Madson, Eyre
Monday vs. Astros (Clearwater): Chan Ho Park, Condrey, Durbin, Mosebach
Tuesday vs. Blue Jays (Clearwater): Myers, Lidge, Romero, Madson.
Wednesday at Yankees (Tampa): Carrasco, Madson, Lidge, Eyre.

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In today's News Journal, we examine the fall of Kyle Kendrick. Also, the roster picture is getting clearer.

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I'll write a longer post about this later, but I've gotten a few e-mails about a rumor that has surfaced in the Boston Globe about a potential swap that would send catching prospect Lou Marson to the Sox for either pitcher Clay Buchholz or hard-throwing prospect Daniel Bard. The deal seemingly would make sense for both sides. The Sox need a catcher, and the Phillies would love to add another young pitcher to their rotation, especially with Myers headed for free agency after the season. But it's highly, highly doubtful the Sox will part with either of those young arms. Buchholz already has thrown a no-hitter in the majors, and Bard hit 100 mph on the radar gun this spring.

More in a bit.