Mar. 29 -- SUNDAY READING: WHAT'S HE WERTH?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- One week.

That's all that remains before the Phillies officially launch their World Series title defense at the Bank with a nationally televised game against the Braves. So, with the clock ticking toward next Sunday night, we at The News Journal kicked off our Phillies Preview Week in today's paper. Everyone knows how essential Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are to the Phillies' success. But, throughout the week, we will be looking at the less heralded "difference-makers."

Today, for instance, we look at Jayson Werth, who I contend is the most important everyday player in the lineup. With Pat Burrell having moved on to Tampa Bay, Werth is the last remaining right-handed power bat in the middle of the lineup, a substantial responsibility for a player who has never gotten more than 418 at-bats in a season. It'll be up to Werth to get big hits whenever the Phillies face a lefty (the Mets' Johan Santana and Oliver Perez, for instance) and to make opponents think twice about sticking with their lefty relievers in late innings.

"Regardless of where you play, who you're playing with, you're trying to get as much production out of yourself as possible," Werth told me. "That said, being that one right-handed bat in the middle of this lefty-heavy lineup, I know I need to continue to hit lefties well and be productive against lefties because that's when the team is going to count on me the most.

"We've got a lot of really good hitters in this lineup. We played some of the best baseball, I don't want to say in the history of the game, but some really good baseball down the stretch last year, and we've got almost the same group back. So, it's really just about going out and doing your job. That's it. I know what needs to happen. We all know what needs to happen."

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Within the notebook, we talked to Chris Coste about securing the backup catcher job and J.A. Happ after his minor-league start yesterday in Dunedin.

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The best-in-the-nation Boston University hockey team trounced Ohio State yesterday, 8-3, to move on to the Northeast Regional final today against UNH.

More in a bit.

(Updated, 1:04 p.m.): It rained earlier this morning (it's sunny and warm now), so Cole Hamels' minor-league start has been postponed. He'll pitch tomorrow, although it hasn't been determined if it'll be in a major-league game or a minor-league game.