April 1 -- BREAKING DOWN THE ROSTER

BY SCOTT LAUBER

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, anyone remember the scene near the end of "The Godfather," when Michael shows up in Carlo's living room and gets him to confess his role in orchestrating Sonny's murder?

"Today," Michael says, "I settle all Family business."

The Phillies might've borrowed that line yesterday.

Let's review the busiest newsday of the spring: At about 1:55 p.m., the Phillies announced the release of outfielder Geoff Jenkins. Less than an hour later, Ruben Amaro Jr. told us Chan Ho Park won the fifth-starter job, edging J.A. Happ, and confirmed the Phillies have at least cursory interest in Gary Sheffield. Then, after a 9-1 victory over the Blue Jays under the lights at Bright House Field, Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee divulged what had been suspected for two weeks: Brett Myers will be the opening-night starter. They also announced prospect Kyle Drabek will start today against the Yankees.

Got all that?

Well, we've got it all covered in today's News Journal. There's a story on the Park-Happ decision, a sidebar about Myers and a notebook that includes Jenkins, Sheffield, Drabek and more.

So, what's left before the team flies home Thursday night?

At this point, the Phillies are most likely to carry 12 pitchers and 13 position players. Barring a trade, the position players are locked in: Eric Bruntlett, Miguel Cairo, Chris Coste, Greg Dobbs, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, Matt Stairs, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth. Ten pitchers have guaranteed spots: Joe Blanton, Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre, Cole Hamels, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Jamie Moyer, Brett Myers, Park.

That leaves four pitchers for two bullpen spots: Happ, Gary Majewski and Bobby Mosebach and Jack Taschner.

Based on what Dubee said last night, I think Happ will make the team. I asked Dubee, point-blank, if Happ would benefit more from starting in triple-A or pitching out of the Phillies' bullpen. "If he's one of the best 12, we'll start him out pitching up here," he said. "I think he proved himself last year in triple-A. He proved himself somewhat up here. It depends how much work he gets up here. He's not a guy we want to let sit around. He's still in the process of becoming a consistent major-league pitcher, but at the same time, if he's one of our best 12, we want him with us. He's far enough along. If you compare him to [Kyle] Kendrick and [Carlos] Carrasco, he's farther along than those guys, maturity-wise, pitchability-wise. J.A.'s had two years in triple-A. So, he's farther along in his development process. He's close to being a consistent major-league pitcher. He's pitched in the major leagues and been pretty effective."

So, if Happ gets one bullpen spot, who gets the other?

-Taschner threw a scoreless inning last night in his first appearance since being acquired in a trade last week for Ronny Paulino. He can be sent to the minors without clearing waivers, but he's also making $830,000, a steep salary for a triple-A pitcher. To me, he's the favorite to get the job.

-Majewski (2.77 ERA in 13 innings) has pitched well this spring and has major-league experience with the Expos/Nationals and Reds. But he's a non-roster invitee on a minor-league contract.

-Mosebach (9.39 ERA in 7.2 innings) is a Rule 5 draft pick, which means he must remain on the Phillies' 25-man roster all season or be offered back to his former team (the Angels) for $25,000 before he can be sent to the minors. The Phillies think he has a strong arm, but it's doubtful he has shown them enough this spring to use a roster spot on him.

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