CLEARWATER, Fla. -- And the insults from Port St. Lucie keep on comin'. Here's what Jose Reyes said today about the Phillies.
"We don't worry about Philly. I don't know why they worry so much about the New York Mets. They can talk about whatever they want to, because we worry about us. They are the one to win the World Series, not us, and we don't say nothing about them. We just say congratulations to the Phillies. We focus on them when we play them, but they always seem like they're talking something about us, and I don't know why.
"We worry about the New York Mets, not other teams. They have to be happy because they won the World Series -- why do they focus on us? What did I do to them? If we win the World Series, everybody is going to be happy and not worry about other teams."
Interestingly, there has been absolutely NO talk about the Mets from Phillies camp, although Jimmy Rollins did say the Phillies will win games against the Mets when Cole Hamels pitches. Asked today about the Mets and their insistence on using and re-using the "team to beat" line in reference to their rivalry with the Phillies, Rollins said, "It has been pretty funny and see it going on and on and on. I sit here and laugh and say, 'Really, this is still going on?' But every time a team is going to be good and facing another team that's going to be good, someone is going to have something to prove. We're going to win, but it's going to be fun to watch. If that's the term they want to use to state their claim, then so be it." Asked if he considers himself a "trend-setter" for using the "team to beat" line first in 2007, Rollins said with a wink, "No, not at all."
Reyes also said he heard about Phillies players taunting Shane Victorino during the NL Division Series for putting his finger in the air as he rounded first base after hitting his grand slam against CC Sabathia.
"I don't know why they say that, because I'm not the only one pimpin' when I hit a home run," Reyes said. "A lot of people do that. People from Philadelphia, too. They stand for a couple of seconds at home plate [after a homer] and nobody say nothing. So like I said, I don't know why they're so focused on us. We just worry about us."
The first Phillies-Mets game is May 1 at Citizens Bank Park.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Looks who's on the cover of next week's Sports Illustrated. Asked if he's worried about the notorious SI jinx, Cole Hamels said, "Nah. I don't even know what that is. As long as I'm not on a Madden cover."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- For about 19 minutes this morning, Mike Schmidt sat on a picnic bench outside the Phillies' clubhouse and spoke with the media. He does it every spring, and every spring, it seems there's another steroid scandal to ask him about. Last year, it was Roger Clemens. This year, it's Alex Rodriguez. In the past, it has been Barry Bonds.
Anyway, Schmidt didn't say anything too revealing, although he did seem skeptical about A-Rod's "I was young and stupid" defense. "I guess it works," he said. "Young and stupid may be better [if you are] 12, 13, 14, as opposed to 23, 24, 25, 26." Schmidt said he isn't upset about A-Rod passing him on the all-time homer list. Regarding A-Rod's Hall of Fame candidacy, he said, "I'd welcome him if he got elected." And, interestingly, Schmidt said it was the great Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home-run chase in 1998 that got him interested in baseball again after years away from the game.
So, those were the highlights. If you'd like, I can post Schmidt's complete thoughts on A-Rod. I'm kind of curious to know how interested y'all are in this whole A-Rod saga. Were you riveted to the press conference yesterday, or could you care less?
Schmidt also was asked this hypothetical question: If the 2008 Phillies played the 1980 Phillies in a seven-game series, who would win?
"That's not a good question," he said with a smile.
C'mon, Schmidty.
"Probably these guys," he said, finally. "Bigger, faster, stronger. Yeah, no doubt in my mind. It would go seven games. It would probably turn on a Schmidt error at third base. Bowa picks it up, throws to first, and Bruce Froemming calls him safe. And the '08 team wins in a controversial play that's talked about for years."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- J.A. Happ never expected to win a World Series. Not last year. Not after being among the Phillies' first spring-training cuts and nearly falling off the prospect radar because of a 2007 elbow problem.
But he pitched the Phillies to a pair of September wins over the Braves and was included on the playoff roster. And after pitching in Game 3 of the NLCS, sprinting from the bullpen to the mound to pile on closer Brad Lidge after the final out of the World Series and riding in the parade down Broad Street, Happ needed to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
So, he called Don and Kathy Kadlac.
Happ isn’t related to the Kadlacs. Not by blood, anyway. But they are his baseball parents, the kind folks with whom he lived in 2005 when he was just a 22-year-old prospect pitching at Class A Lakewood.
"We congratulated him, of course, and it was like he was in a dream world," Kathy Kadlac told me yesterday from her home in Brick, N.J. "I think he was numb. He just kept saying, 'I can't believe we won the World Series. And I helped get us there.'"
The Phillies even invited Happ along for their World Series trophy tour last month. He made stops at banquets in Lakewood, N.J., and Williamsport, Pa. At the Lakewood event, he reunited with the Kadlacs, even singling them out during a short speech.
"He took the microphone and turned to us and thanked us for being part of his life," Kathy said. "I got goosebumps. He's a very humble young man, but he's very determined. His goal is to make it to the top."
Now, though, his goal is to win the Phillies' fifth-starter job, and he'll have to beat out Kyle Kendrick, Chan Ho Park and Carlos Carrasco in spring training. If he doesn't, he still can win a job in the Phillies' bullpen as a second lefty reliever.
Happ will do whatever it takes to duplicate the feeling he had last October.
"My goal is to be in the big leagues," Happ said. "Hopefully, my minor-league days are behind me. I want to prove that I'm ready to have a spot on this team."
*** Raul Ibanez doesn't condone what Alex Rodriguez and other admitted steroid users in baseball have done. But unlike many players, he isn't crying about how the cheaters got an unfair advantage. Quite the opposite, actually.
"I'm actually thankful almost because I think the guys that were cheating made me better," Ibanez said yesterday. "I wasn't going to take that road, and I knew I had to work harder to compete to keep up with the other people who were cheating. My mindset was always that I was going to outlast the people that were cheating because it's a foreign substance, and it's not supposed to be in your body. I always felt that I was going to work harder and be better. I think it wound up making me better. I think I probably never would've gone into the weight room if the game hadn't gotten so big and strong. I probably wouldn't have gone to find the best trainers and the best training methods. Of course, part of you thinks you got cheated, but the optimistic side of me says I'm glad because it made me a better player."
*** On tap for today: We'll hear from Mike Schmidt (always interesting), and hopefully, we'll get a chance to chat with Jimmy Rollins (usually even more interesting). So, stay tuned for all of that.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, Carlos Beltran reported to Mets camp today, and according to Philled In's spies across the state, he was told that new closer Francisco Rodriguez already has declared the Mets the "team to beat" in the NL East.
Beltran smiled and said, "He say that? I agree with him."
Oh, and about Cole Hamels calling the Mets "choke artists" back in December, Beltran said, "The only thing I know is that he will be watched every time he faces us. Hopefully, we kill him, and then he'll have to deal with the situation."
So, there's that.
*** Just polished off stories for tomorrow's News Journal, but wanted to pass along some late-afternoon news: Chris Coste has agreed to a 2009 contract. He'll make $460,000 in the majors, $249,000 in the minors.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It was a pretty quiet day here at Bright House Field, but 20 miles away in Tampa, the Alex Rodriguez circus was taking place in Yankees camp. When A-Rod's press conference was over, I walked into the Phillies' clubhouse. And although almost every player was gone, Raul Ibanez was still there. Ibanez and A-Rod came up together in the Mariners' organization and called this a "sad day" for baseball. He also said A-Rod was so talented that never needed to use steroids.
"He was the most talented 18-year-old I've ever seen, still to this day," Ibanez said. "The first time I saw him swing a bat in the cage, I told people, 'I think that guy is going to be the next Juan Gonzalez,' and I've since apologized. Juan Gonzalez was a great player, but this guy is on another level."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Chase Utley fielded grounders -- hard grounders hit by infield coach Sam Perlozzo -- during today's workout. Then, he went to the indoor batting cage and took swings off a tee.
Pedro Feliz did none of those things.
Charlie Manuel admitted that Utley is closer to being ready to play than Feliz. That's surprising, especially since the Phillies initially projected that Utley's total recovery time from Nov. 24 hip surgery would be 4 to 6 months, while Feliz's recovery time from Nov. 20 back surgery would be 8 to 12 weeks.
"I would say Feliz right now might be on a longer leash than Ut, but at the same time, I feel like he's not going to miss a whole lot of time," Manuel said. "Utley is doing more right now. I think he is [closer to returning] because of what he's been doing. Feliz has been working out this winter, but Utley is fielding ground balls. Feliz is not allowed to do that yet. Utley is just doing more. His workouts are more strenuous."
As players have trickled into camp, many with new contracts and even greater wealth, I had been waiting for someone to reference the nation's spiraling economy, which has had at least some impact on baseball this winter. Alas, nobody did. Ryan Howard, the highest-paid Phillies player, even was asked about the economy and shrugged off the notion that it had anything to do with his willingness to sign a three-year, $54 million extension after two years of not being able to reach a contract agreement with the Phillies.
But then Ibanez showed up yesterday. And, without any direct prompting (he was asked only about his three-year, $31.5 million deal and the pressures that come with both his new deal and having to replace popular Pat Burrell), he offered up this pearl: "Pressure? I wouldn't call it that. I've always felt pressure is a single mom working two jobs, trying to feed her family. That's pressure. This is baseball. I feel very blessed. The market and the way things have played out, not just the baseball market but the world market, there's a lot of people suffering out there. I just feel very fortunate."
Regardless of how Ibanez performs this season (here at Philled In, we're on record as saying he'll do just fine), his awareness of the plight of ordinary people and his refreshing outlook on his position in society as a baseball player is worth applauding, don't you think?
*** Where were you when Brad Lidge threw the pitch that clinched the Phillies' first World Series title since 1980? In Philly, that's a question that will be asked for decades, sort of like "where you when JFK was shot or when Barack Obama was inaugurated.
Koplove, who pitched for the University of Delaware in 1998, is a South Philly native. Still lives there, too, in a house that's only about a 7-minute walk from the Bank. So, when the Phillies were on the verge of winning it all, he walked outside and took a listen. The crowd was so loud, he said, that he didn't even have to watch on TV to know how things were going.
*** On tap: Big day today. The Phillies will hold their first full-squad workout, and Charlie Manuel will give his annual state of the team address to the players. We'll have more in a little while.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, I was planning to talk about the Page 1 story in today's News Journal about the economy's effect on the Phillies, but at the last minute, I called an audible. That's what happens sometimes in spring training. You plan to do one thing, and circumstances require that you change course.
Anyway, since all of the Phillies' position players reported to camp today, I decided instead to talk a bit about the suddenly uncertain status of Pedro Feliz, and Raul Ibanez's first impressions of Philly when he visited in December for his physical and press conference. I think you'll find them amusing. Besides, we can always touch on the economy tomorrow. Unfortunately, it isn't getting better overnight.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Chase Utley's every step has been chronicled since his hip surgery in November. But we haven't heard much about Pedro Feliz. Well, Feliz reported to camp this morning, a full day before the first full-squad workout (so did Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, Greg Dobbs, even Jimmy Rollins), and said his lower back is feeling better since his November surgery to repair a herniated disk.
But Feliz also hasn't started swinging a bat or fielding ground balls, which means his last swing was the World Series-clinching RBI single in Game 5. Mostly, he has been doing conditioning drills and throwing back home in the San Francisco area. Feliz said he expects to resume normal baseball activities "any time soon," but he said he definitely plans to be ready by the season-opener April 5.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, there I was yesterday, watching Brad Lidge and Chad Durbin and Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer throw their first bullpen sessions of the spring when I realized I was more interested in the catchers to whom they were pitching.
For now, at least, the Phillies' starting catcher is Carlos Ruiz, a favorite of pitching coach Rich Dubee. Pitchers love throwing to Ruiz, and his defense and game-calling were so impressive last season that Charlie Manuel basically ignored his .219 average that made the No. 8 spot in the lineup a black hole for long stretches of the season. But, for as good as he is behind the plate, he didn't become the outright starter last season until Chris Coste stopped hitting. Coste ended the season in a 3-for-32 slump, and although Ruiz wasn't hitting much better, Manuel elected to start the better defensive catcher in 19 of the final 28 regular-season games and all 14 playoff games.
Coste's poor finish has left him to battle this spring with newcomer Ronny Paulino for the backup job. And in today's News Journal, we examined that competition. Coste maintains (and I tend to agree) that he has unfairly gained a reputation as a subpar defensive catcher. There are advanced sabermetrics, things like "catcher's ERA" and "wild pitches/passed balls per inning," that support Coste's claim. Yet, for Coste, playing time will always be dictated by how well he's hitting. Over the past 2-1/2 seasons, Manuel has put Coste in the lineup more often when he's swinging a hot bat. So, if Coste hits well this spring (he always has been a good spring-training hitter), odds are he'll have a job, either as the backup catcher or a right-handed pinch-hitter.
We don't know much yet about Paulino, except that he lost the Pirates' starting job to Ryan Doumit last spring. Word out of Pittsburgh is that Paulino was out of shape last season. But the Phillies believe they can unlock his potential, so they traded for him in December. I watched Paulino take batting practice yesterday, and he has serious pop in his bat. He's a big dude (6-foot-3, 235 pounds), but his conditioning doesn't appear to be a problem this year, especially after he played in the Dominican Winter League.
But here's where the catching situation gets really interesting. Lou Marson, a 22-year-old prospect, had a breakout 2008 season for double-A Reading and the U.S. Olympic team before homering in his major-league debut Sept. 28. Marson is expected to start at triple-A Lehigh Valley, but check out what Coste said about him yesterday: "They throw around that 'can't-miss' tag a lot, but he's got every skill that a major-league star catcher has -- a Jason Varitek, Brian McCann, Russell Martin. Physically, he's got every tool. He can throw it, catch it, block it. Offensively, he can drive the ball. He's going to put himself in position to be an All-Star-type catcher for many years."
Now, Manuel said it's possible, perhaps even likely, that Ruiz, Coste and Paulino will all make the team out of spring training. But all have contract options, meaning they can be sent to the minors without clearing waivers. And if Marson starts fast at Lehigh Valley, he could force one of them out of a job before too long.
OK, you be the manager. How would you handle the catching situation this spring?
*** Meanwhile, across the state, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez says he "had no idea" about the Phillies-Mets history with regard to the "team to beat" comment made famous by Jimmy Rollins two years ago. "I was in a different league," K-Rod told the New York Daily News. "I don't know if people are going to get offended with this. I'm not trying to make any ball club offended in our division or the National League. That's the opinion of me as a player. I'm just giving it."
And, regarding his characterization of the Mets as "choke artists" in December, Cole Hamels (right, AP photo) explained, "I don't know what happened. My personality is that I don't need to make comments like that. I don't need that kind of attention. I hope I get that label cleaned up. My teammates and players know I don't talk like that."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, in the pages of the Sunday News Journal, you heard from Kyle Kendrick, who is attempting to redeem himself after the bitter disappointment of losing his spot in the starting rotation last September.
Well, he got a vote of confidence today.
Kendrick is the frontrunner in the competition for the fifth-starter spot, according to pitching coach Rich Dubee. After today's workout here, Dubee said he considers Kendrick a slight favorite to win the job over lefty J.A. Happ, veteran right-hander Chan Ho Park and prospect Carlos Carrasco.
"I can't walk away from 21 wins," Dubee said, referring to Kendrick's 21-13 record over the past two seasons. "To me, he's the leading candidate going in as the fifth starter because of what he's done."
But this is hardly a done deal. Dubee, who was painfully honest in his criticisms of Kendrick last season, made it clear that Happ, Park and Carrasco will have a chance to win the job by outpitching Kendrick this spring. And if Kendrick hasn't developed his changeup, it's entirely possible that he can be outpitched.
So, clearly, this job will be won on the mound and may not be decided for several weeks.
*** Today's arrivals: Matt Stairs, Eric Bruntlett, Jayson Werth. Stairs said he hasn't picked up a bat since the World Series (too busy coaching high-school hockey in Maine). Bruntlett looks like he hasn't shaved since the World Series, while Werth reported with a short haircut.
*** Line of the day: "You're gonna use a glove this year?" soft-tossing Jamie Moyer joked to rookie catcher Lou Marson before throwing a 45-pitch bullpen session.
The Phillies have signed utility infielder Miguel Cairo to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, which means he'll be in camp by Tuesday for the first full-squad workout. Cairo, 34, batted .249 with 23 RBIs in 221 at-bats last season for the Mariners. He's a .266 career hitter in 13 seasons with the Blue Jays (1996), Cubs (1997, 2001), Devil Rays (1998-2000), Cardinals (2001-03, 2007), Yankees (2004, 2006-07), Mets (2005) and Mariners (2008).
So, where, exactly, does Cairo fit in? Well, he's a right-handed hitter, and he can play nearly every position. Last year, he played 70 games at first base, 19 at third base, five at second base, two in left field, one in right field and one at shortstop.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, J.C. Romero was sitting on a picnic bench here yesterday morning, holding court with reporters, continuing his self-defense plea and railing that his 50-game suspension is "unfair" and "ridiculous." In other words, he was replaying his greatest hits from a month ago.
Then, he dropped this mini-bombshell: "My teammates knew what was going on. I told them, 'Hey, make sure you're careful what you put in your body from GNC. Cole Hamels, he was very stunned when this happened because he and his wife buy things at GNC all the time."
Uh, Cole? Care to do some 'xplaining?
Hamels (above, AP photo) admitted he uses several supplements from GNC -- mostly vitamins, he said -- and he clears everything with Cynthia Sass, the nutritionist who consults for the Phillies. "All you're trying to do is just kind of keep your body going," Hamels said. "I know this stuff is not going to make us play better. It's just going to make us feel better. That's not going to really affect how I'm going to get a guy out."
OK, fair enough. But Hamels, like Romero and several other Phillies players, said he wasn't aware of Major League Baseball's toll-free drug hotline until after Romero tested positive. That doesn't jive with anything MLB executive VP Rob Manfred has said about the extensive spring-training briefings that players receive every year, during which they're given a wallet card with the 1-800 number to call if they have any questions about nutritional supplements.
"When they come in, it's for very few minutes, and they don't really go over too much," Hamels said. "I think that [wallet card] just got thrown in my locker. But now, I think I'll be having that thing on me. I think now, because of the strictness, I think they'll go over that a little bit more."
*** Spent about 10 minutes with Kyle Kendrick yesterday. A year ago, he was the victim of an elaborate practical joke that had him believing he'd been traded to Japan. This year, he's fighting to reclaim his spot in the starting rotation. And, as you'll see from his quotes, he seems pretty determined to prove that he wasn't a one-year wonder.
*** New arrivals into camp this morning included Matt Stairs. Still waiting for most of the position players, including Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Pedro Feliz, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez. As you know, the first full-squad workout is Tuesday.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Typically, Charlie Manuel waits a few weeks before naming the Phillies' Opening Day starter. Not this year.
It'll be Cole Hamels.
Shocking, right?
"You might as well go ahead and pencil him in," Manuel said today. "There's no sense in me bull[bleeping]. I don't think there's a sense of me playing games, so go ahead and pencil him in."
Hamels said taking the ball April 5 against Braves will be "awesome." But it can't possibly beat starting Game 1 of the World Series, can it?
"No, it won't," Hamels said. "It never will. Starting Game 1 of the World Series will top anything. I'd like to do that this year. When he tells me I'm the No.1 starter for the World Series, then I'm happy."
(Updated, 6:25 p.m.): It had been my impression that, upon signing as a free agent in December, closer Francisco Rodriguezdeclared the Mets would be the "team to beat" in the NL East, although it's really difficult to remember since Mets players have become so reckless with Jimmy Rollins' famous catch phrase over the past few years.
Anyway, our spies across the state in Port St. Lucie tell us that K-Rod reported to camp today and reiterated his "team to beat" boast. I guess he -- and the rest of the Mets -- just have nothing much else to talk about.
"Whatever happened, it's in the past," Rodriguez said of the Phillies' 2008 World Series title. "You've got to move forward. Whatever they did last year, they already got paid for. Whatever they did, we all respect. They work hard and they deserve it. This is a different year, a different ballclub now. We've just got to go out and compete. Like I said before, I don't want to make no controversy. But with this ballclub, the way I see it, with those guys, me and J.J. Putz and the other acquisitions in the bullpen, I think now I feel like we're the team to beat."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- J.C. Romero's story hasn't changed.
Six weeks after receiving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a substance banned by Major League Baseball, Romero reiterated today that he only took an over-the-counter supplement that he purchased in July from a GNC store in Cherry Hill, N.J. He claims he didn't know the supplement, 6-OXO Extreme, contained androstenedione, the steroid made famous by Mark McGwire.
But Romero isn't completely free of regret.
Asked if there's anything he could've done differently, he said, "I guess calling that 1-800 number that they talk about so much. It's a 1-800 number that I guess the guys have to call. I talked to some of my teammates, and they say that it takes forever. But I guess that's the only thing that I would have done differently. Other than that, I would have continued doing the same thing that I've been doing, and I'm honestly going to continue to do the same thing this year as well. I've always been very careful with what goes in my body. It's just very unfortunate that I ran into a supplement that apparently was contaminated with something that wasn't legal, but that was beyond my control."
Well, not exactly.
Rob Manfred, MLB's executive VP of labor relations, said last month that the players are informed annually during spring training about the 1-800 hotline and are encouraged to call with any questions regarding supplements. If Romero had called the hotline, Manfred said he almost certainly would've been told not to take 6-OXO Extreme. Romero, though, said he wasn't aware of the existence of the toll-free number until after he tested positive last August.
So, did MLB and the union brief the players, or not?
"They probably did," Romero said, "but you've got to understand, we have meetings at 7:30 in the morning, 8:30 in the morning in spring training. You could take most of the people here, 8:30 in the morning, their boss starts talking, they're not going to pay attention to everything they say. I would be asleep. I'm not saying they didn't say that to me, but I would say I didn't know anything about an 800 number."
At least he's honest.
More on Romero -- and the first workout for pitchers and catchers in your Sunday News Journal. Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Couple of leftovers from today: One year after being the victim of an elaborate prank that had him thinking he'd been traded to Japan, Kyle Kendrick continues to get razzed. This picture, and a few others from a photo shoot with Kendrick and his girlfriend, were posted on the clubhouse bulletin board. Meanwhile, an enlarged copy of this 1987 baseball card was posted above Jamie Moyer's locker.
Tapping away at a few stories for tomorrow's News Journal. But, while you wait for that newspaper to land on your driveway, here's a video recap of some of what happened here today.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Ryan Howard has been in the Tampa area since Jan. 5, training at the exclusive Saddlebrook Resort. He said he's shed about 20 pounds. I don't have pictures to prove it, but take my word, Howard looks svelte.
Even his pal, Subway pitchman Jared Fogle, is proud.
"Jared, my boy, shout out," Howard said. "I got to see him down here during the Super Bowl. He was complimenting me a little bit."
Howard also is relieved to have a three-year, $54 million contract extension. It's the first time Howard has agreed to a multiyear deal. Asked what the difference was between last year's negotiation and this year's, Howard smiled and said, "We were able to agree."
"I was always open to a multiyear deal," he continued. "It's just a matter of getting to that point or getting to some type of agreeance. I've always been open to that."
For the past few weeks, Howard has been working with new third-base coach Sam Perlozzo on his often-maligned defense. Howard led major-league first basemen with 19 errors last season and is widely considered a future DH. Mostly, he said he is working on his footwork and positioning.
"As far as my defense is concerned, I know a lot of people have a concern about it," Howard said. "But I've been down here working hard on it. Working with Sam, he's taught me some things that have clicked a little better that I've been able to add to the repertoire."
Asked if he's concerned about his defense, Howard said, "Not really. It's something I've always focused on getting better. Everyone has their outside opinion or whatever, but I'm not really concerned. I'm feeling confident with the way I've been working with Sam that my defense will be better."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, we heard from Adam Eaton a little bit ago. Eaton is, without question, the elephant in the clubhouse. After opting to go home instead of pitching in the Florida Instructional League last October, Eaton isn't in the running for the Phils' No. 5 starter job this spring, according to Ruben Amaro Jr.
But there's still the matter of his $9 million left on his contract ($8.5 million salary in 2009, $500,000 buyout for 2010). The Phillies tried to trade Eaton in the offseason, and they'll continue to seek a taker for him during spring training. But it seems more likely they'll have to release Eaton and eat most of the remaining money.
Asked if he'd consider starting the season in the minors, Eaton said, "If we get to that point, I'll be released. And I don't think that's the end of the world by any means. It would be kind of prudent not to trade for me. I'm not going to accept another assignment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist for another GM to maybe wait and take your shot at getting me for less than a trade would be."
A few other gems from Eaton today:
On not being included in discussions about the four-man race for the fifth starter job: "I knew already, obviously. If I establish myself, it might not be here. That's just the way it is. There's a lot of pitchers vying for the fifth spot. Stuff happens. Who knows what's going to happen? Hopefully, nothing does happen, and it makes it a very difficult decision for them. But I just have to get ready for a season. I'm not going to shortchange myself or my teammates now or in the future. If it's a season here in Philly, so be it. If it's a season somewhere else, that's the way it is."
On what he was doing during the playoff run and parade: "I definitely watched. It was the most baseball, regular season, postseason, that I've ever watched probably since the Atlanta Braves in 1991 or '92. It was definitely weird. I had my own little celebrations, running around the house when [Joe] Blanton hit his homer. It was fun to watch, but at the same time, it was definitely weird to watch it and hear the commentary when you know the guys."
On passing up the chance to pitch in the Florida Instructional League: "Let's be honest here. I didn't pitch in September, I'm not going to pitch in the postseason. It was a loaded question. I think they had an idea what I was going to say. What's the difference if I watch it here and continue to work out or if I watch it at home? Same result. Whether or not they frowned upon my decision, if they didn't want me to decide that, they shouldn't have given me an option. I also thought, me being there, I don't want to detract from what's going on as well. There's that flip side, too. I don't need to be an extra guy who can't do anything to help. I haven't heard of any gripes among the guys or anything like that. I don't think they have an opinion, and if they do, I hope they'll come express them to me."
On not being part of the celebration or parade: "That's hard. Obviously, I'll receive a World Series ring, but I haven't competed in a World Series. Anyone who has been in that situation, in that dugout, you still want to compete. I've been in other playoffs where I haven't pitched. You want to get out there and compete in that situation to test yourself."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- John Mayberry Jr. was born in 1983, one year after his father retired. But he still knows all about his dad's 15-year major-league career.
How?
"I have pretty much every John Mayberry baseball card that exists," Junior said yesterday. "I started looking at the backs of them and reading the stats, and that puts it in perspective. Guys in his day weren't hitting 50-60 home runs. Guys led the league with 35. To see that he's a guy who hit 30 home runs a year, correlate that to today, he's hitting 40-50 a year."
The elder Mayberry finished with 255 career home runs, topping the 20-homer mark five times and the 30-homer mark twice. In fact, when Ryan Howard was in Double-A, I remember talking to several Eastern League scouts who compared him to Mayberry. Charlie Manuel made that same comparison early in Howard's career. (I called Mayberry at his Kansas City home yesterday, by the way, and he couldn't be more flattered by that comparison.)
Point is, Mayberry had serious power. But his career may not have gotten off the ground if Houston hadn't traded him to Kansas City before the 1972 season, and his son, John Jr., is hoping the November trade from Texas to the Phillies will help launch his career, too. Nobody knows if Junior, 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, ever will harness his raw power. But I'm looking forward to watching him hit this spring.
*** A year ago, I did a long one-on-one interview with Pat Gillick for a profile that appeared in The News Journal. We touched on a variety of subjects, and somehow (I can't recall how or why), we got to talking about Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS when then-12-year-old Jeffrey Maier reached over the right-field fence and deflected Derek Jeter's ball into the stands. Despite the Orioles' protests, Rich Garcia mistakenly called it a home run, the Yankees won the game (and ultimately the series), and the entire play went down in infamy. Gillick was the Orioles' GM back then, and as I found out last year, he still gets a little twitchy when you mention Maier's name.
Anyway, I thought about that yesterday while he was talking to a few of us writers. Gillick, as much as anyone, understands the role that serendipity plays in winning a championship. And although he believes the Phillies can repeat (of course he does), he also knows they'll need a little good fortune. I wasn't able to squeeze this into my story in today's paper, but it's still worth a mention here.
"We had a lot of luck last year," he said. "He didn't do much, but remember [Chris] Snelling had a big home run and a big double. He had two hits. Milwaukee had to use [CC] Sabathia on Sunday to get into the wild card. Tampa Bay had to use [Matt] Garza in the last game [of the ALCS] to beat Boston. A lot of stars lined up pretty good for us. [Matt] Stairs' home run [in Game 4 against the Dodgers]. [Brett] Myers fouling off all those pitches [against Sabathia]. Huh?"
As usual, Gillick is right. The Phillies were good last year (still are). But they also were lucky, and that can't be underestimated.
*** On tap today: We'll hear from Howard, who will make his first public comments since signing that three-year, $54 million contract extension last week. Also, we'll keep an eye out for Adam Eaton. Should be interesting when he arrives. So, please check back here throughout the day for updates.
(Updated, 9:44 a.m.): Eaton has checked in. We'll try to get you comment from him in a bit. Brett Myers also is here, looking positively svelte. And Howard has arrived, also looking fit and trim. He's expected to speak to us after his workout. J.C. Romero stopped by, and he's expected to talk to reporters tomorrow morning.
That's right, we're shooting video now at Philled In. Here's my first, arduous, attempt at a video post, taped shortly after lunch on a fairly quiet day at the Complex. Things will pick up considerably over the next few days. I'll be posting more video throughout spring training, starting Friday after we hear from Ryan Howard. The idea: We're trying to give y'all more of a flavor of Bright House Field. So, please keep checking back. I promise I'll get better at this.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Kind of a slow day here at the Carpenter Complex. A few more players trickled in (saw Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin; still no sign of Adam Eaton, the (unwanted) $24.5 Million Man) and Chase Utley took a few "dry swings" (no pitching) in the batting cage. Otherwise, pretty quiet.
But after sitting in on organizational meetings for most of the day, Pat Gillick (remember him?) took some time to talk to the beat writers. Turns out, he'll be in Florida until the end of spring training, and afterward, he'll be doing some amateur scouting for the Phillies, a return to his roots from his early years as an executive. He had a few other interesting things to report. Here's the rundown, and we'll expand on this in The News Journal tomorrow:
--Asked if, after last year's arbitration hearing, he thought the Phillies would be able to work out a multi-year contract with Ryan Howard: "I would've been pessimistic. I think three weeks ago Ruben [Amaro] was optimistic he could do something. He had a good feeling about it. I'm happy about it. I think we're all happy. The club's happy. Naturally, the player should be happy. I'm just glad. It's something that, really, [arbitration] was needless. I don't think the player needed it. I don't think the club needed it. I think it was good that we could have a meeting of the minds."
--Gillick said the Phillies "tried during the [2008] season to really bring Pat [Burrell] back. But I think they had a little more grandeur than we did. We would've brought Pat back, but I think their expectation level was a little higher than what they ended up doing with Tampa Bay [two years, $8 million]. We had some conversation with them during the season, and based on that conversation and what their expectation level was, I don't think Ruben would make an offer. We were in different areas. They were looking for a longer deal than we wanted to do. The length was more the problem."
--Gillick advocated signing Raul Ibanez. "He fits in our clubhouse. He's a very positive guy. He's going to hit probably in our ballpark with more power than he hit in Seattle. He fundamentally is a very sound player that makes very few mistakes. And he's a hard worker, maybe to the point that he wants to be a perfectionist. He brings a very positive approach to the clubhouse. He's a good hitter. He hits well against left-handed pitching. The tough left-handers are going to get the guys out anyway. Hamels is going to get right- or left-handers out. It doesn't matter. I think the average to a little above-average left-handers, Raul will handle them.
--On whether the Phillies may have overpaid for Ibanez (three years, $31.5 million), given the one-year, $6 million deal that Bobby Abreu just signed with the Angels: "The Cubs were after [Ibanez] pretty thick. Lou [Piniella] and he had a good relationship, so I think Lou was plugging pretty hard for him. I don't think [the Phillies could've waited]. The Cubs were searching for left-hand hitting. My opinion is I would prefer Ibanez to Milton Bradley, just from an injury standpoint. Milton Bradley to me is an American League player, a DH/part-time outfielder. He's not a day-in, day-out player in the National League."
--On whether he'd ever be interested in being a GM somewhere: "You know the old statement, 'Never say never.' You don't know. I think I'd rather do it if something popped up with the president of the baseball side and have a GM working under me. Something like that, when you get to this point, I think. I wouldn't ever say never."
--Given the economic climate in the country, I asked if he thought the Phillies could've increased payroll by $30 million if they hadn't won the World Series. "Probably not," he said. "I think what's happening, and there's been some inference from the Players' Association about it, everybody's scared to death of the economy. That's just a fact of life. I think people in the sports business have to be concerned about the discretionary money that's going to be spent. People are concerned about paying their mortgage or credit cards, so probably the guy who went to 10 games will only go to six or seven this year. Other than a couple of clubs, I've heard there's been a decline in season tickets. It doesn't seem like the government knows where this is going. This is a crisis, a new situation, for everybody, so I think people are a little apprehensive for the moment."
--He celebrated retirement by taking a European vacation (his first in a long time)with his wife. They went to Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris. I asked him if he knows what to do on vacation. "I just follow my wife," he said with a laugh.
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- From across the state, the New York Mets already are making noise.
After taking batting practice today in Port St. Lucie, right fielder Ryan Church had this to say when asked about Cole Hamels calling the Mets "choke artists" on a New York radio station in December: "They say talk your talk and walk your walk. Well, hey, they won the World Series. More power to them. It's only a big bull's-eye on their back. We're coming."
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, as you turn the corner and walk down the hallway that leads to the Phillies' clubhouse here at Bright House Field, the first thing you see is a sign on the door that indicates this is the spring home of the 2008 world champs.
Like we were going to forget that.
I got here only a little while ago, but as I walked upstairs to the executive office and past the security near the clubhouse, there's definitely a different vibe around the Complex. Everyone seems to be smiling a little brighter, with a little extra bounce in their step. Winning will do that, of course.
And so it begins, here, at Gate D7 in Philly International Airport. Bag is checked. iPod is humming with Springsteen tunes. We're practically in midseason form (well, not quite, but we'll get there; that's what spring training is for, after all.) Still about 30 minutes until my flight to Tampa (via Dulles) boards, so I thought we'd use the time to discuss five players to watch over the next seven weeks in Clearwater.
You can read about them in today's News Journal, but here at Philled In, I'd like to talk more about Mayberry (pictured). The Phillies acquired him in November from the Rangers for speedy center fielder Greg Golson in a swap of former first-round draft picks, but the trade was overshadowed by the news that Utley was going to have hip surgery. At the time, Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phils were looking for a power-hitting outfielder, and Mayberry fits that description. He's 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, and last year, he hit 16 homers in 437 at-bats in Triple-A. Power runs in his family. His father, John Mayberry Sr., hit 255 career homers over 15 major-league seasons. When I asked Amaro if Mayberry had a chance to make the team as a right-handed hitter off the bench, he said, "You never know. We'll see."
Now, I'm not saying Mayberry is a favorite to win a roster spot. In fact, unless he has a terrific spring, it's more likely that he'll open the season at Lehigh Valley. But the Phillies have been looking for a right-handed pinch-hitter (still waiting to hear from Nomar Garciaparra), and eventually, Mayberry could be an internal solution.
OK, almost time to board. More in a bit from Clearwater.
T-minus 23 hours until "Philled In" shifts to Clearwater, and as I pack my bags and make final preparations, there are several Phillies-related issues on my mind. We examined five, perhaps the top five questions facing the Phillies this spring, in today's News Journal.
1. Who will be the No. 5 starter? 2. Is the honeymoon over for Chris Coste (left)? 3. How much will J.C. Romero be missed? 4. Will Chase Utley be ready by Opening Night? 5. Will the Phils find another right-handed hitter for the bench?
A complete look at each question is provided in the story, which I hope you'll check out. So, what are you most looking forward to seeing from the Phillies in spring training?
*** Everyone, even President Obama, has an opinion on the news that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, a story first reported Saturday by Sports Illustrated. A-Rod has subsequently admitted that he used PED from 2001 through 2003 when he was with the Rangers.
And during his news conference last night at the White House, President Obama, a diehard White Sox fan, was asked by a Washington Post reporter for his reaction to the A-Rod news. In case you missed it, here's what he said:"It's depressing news on top of what has been a flurry of depressing items when it comes to Major League Baseball. It tarnishes an entire era, to some degree. ... Our kids hopefully are watching and saying, you know what, there are no shortcuts. That when you try to take shortcuts you may end up tarnishing your entire career."
All of which leads me to ask y'all this: How much does the A-Rod bombshell tarnish the game? When you see a player put up eye-popping numbers, do you automatically wonder if he's clean?
A source has now confirmed an earlier report that Ryan Howard has agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Phillies. Calls from The News Journal to Ruben Amaro Jr. and Howard's agent, Casey Close, haven't been returned. (UPDATE:) But now, at 12:38 p.m., the Phillies have released an announcement confirming the deal.
Obviously, this deal makes sense for the Phillies. It covers Howard's three remaining seasons of arbitration eligibility before he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season. And although I'm sure Howard's salary would escalate in 2010 and 2011 (again, I'm working to pin down those details), the Phillies would be able to keep his compensation under relative control. If Howard went through three more rounds of arbitration, it's entirely possible, likely even, that he'd make more than $54 million.
Stay tuned throughout the day for more.
(Updated, 12:38 p.m.): Here are some quotes from a statement released by the Phillies:
Howard: "I'm happy to have this done and to know that I'll be in Philadelphia for at least another three years. Both sides are happy, and now I'm just focused on getting the season started and having fun."
Amaro: "We're very pleased to have avoided the arbitration process, not just for this year, but also for the next two. Ryan is clearly one of the top power hitters and run producers in the major leagues and is a very important part of our championship club."
By the way, Howard has been training in Clearwater since early January, and according to what Amaro told me the other day, he has been working hard on his defense with new third-base/infield coach Sam Perlozzo.
(Updated, 4:11 p.m.): Howard will make $15 million in 2009, $19 million in 2010 and $20 million in 2011. According to the Associated Press, there are $1 million bonuses if Howard wins the MVP in 2009 or 2010. If he finishes second in either year, he'll get a $500,000 bonus. And the Phillies are free to trade Howard without penalty after Nov. 1, 2010, but if he's traded before then, he would get an additional $1 million. Once again, there's a strong chance he could've made more than the base $54 million if he'd continued through the arbitration process. So, although the Phillies were unable to sign him through any of his free-agent years, they do keep his salary from reaching ridiculous proportions through the arbitration process.
Just returned from Amaro's press conference. Will post some quotes shortly.
(Updated, 5:22 p.m.): Close hasn't returned a message, and Howard won't be available to speak until later this week, probably Friday, at Bright House Field. But, as promised, a few quotes from Amaro:
On why the Phillies made this deal: "One of the things this gives us is cost certainty. We know what kind of dollars we're going to have to give to one of the best offensive players in the game. We know where we're at, and we can continue to grow our organization accordingly. Our job is to put a championship-caliber club on the field every single year. Knowing exactly where the dollars are going to be, it helps me a lot because we can work around trying to continue that trend. But we take a lot of risk, and Ryan may have left some dollars on the table based on what he's done up until this time in his career. He's put himself at levels that no one ever has gone before. But, again, that's probably why it was the right thing to do for our organization because we know exactly where we're going to go."
On previous negotiations with Howard: "Things that happened prior with Ryan, I don't know why they were depicted in a certain way, but they weren't really adversarial. It was just a matter of two sides agreeing to disagree, and that happens a lot in any kind of negotiations in any kind of business. Up until now, the parties just agreed to disagree. It didn't make us love Ryan any less, and I don't think it made Ryan love us any less. The people who thought this was an adversarial issue, those are people who are not involved in the situation and can speculate all they want. The fact is it has not been adversarial."
Really, they're impossible to miss. They cover the wall to the left of Ruben Amaro Jr.'s desk, and your eye is drawn to them as you walk into the corner office on the executive level of Citizens Bank Park. All 30 teams are there, and the names of more than 750 players are listed. It's a veritable Baseball Encyclopedia, right there on the wall, and Amaro inherited it from Pat Gillick nearly 100 days ago when he was named the Phillies' new general manager.
A few days ago, I sat down with Amaro for a wide-ranging interview, most of which is published in your Sunday News Journal. Among other things, we talked about Amaro's busy offseason and the pressures of inheriting a world champion. But my favorite moment, I think, came when Amaro discussed the change he has noticed in the city since the Phillies won the World Series.
"I believe in karma. I believe in luck," said Amaro, who grew up in Northeast Philly and was the Phils' batboy from 1980-83. "And I think the city has done kind of a 180 because I think the mentality here and within the organization is not like, when is this going to collapse? Now, it's like, when are we going to turn it on? I just don't want to screw it up. I just kind of want to stay out of the way and make sure we continue that trend."
A few outtakes: Amaro said his father, former Phillies shortstop/coach Ruben Sr., won't be working for the organization. But he will serve as a sounding board and confidante. Amaro also has been burning up the phone lines with Gillick, who has remained with the Phillies as an advisor. "Pat finally took a vacation for a short period of time, but he's right back at it," Amaro said. "I don't know if he's ever had a vacation. He's been a great resource. I'm real fortunate to have Pat and Dallas [Green] in what you'd call the 'inner circle,' I guess, of people that are helping us make decisions. To have those people at my disposal, I couldn't ask for a better situation."
Also, Amaro is baseball's second Latino GM, and he has nothing but praise for the first, Mets GM Omar Minaya. "I have to give Omar a lot of kudos," Amaro said. "Omar has been a real big supporter of mine. I've actually called him on many occasions, and it's a little ironic, I think, that we're battling against each other now. But I have a great amount of respect for Omar as a person and as an executive, clearly. He used to call from time to time to offer advice and let me know he was always there to answer any questions. I probably should've taken him up on that more than I did. But he's been real nice and supportive, and I really respect him for that."
Some other facts about Amaro that you may not have known:
-After high school, he declined an offer to play pro soccer in Germany. -He graduated from Stanford with a biology degree in 1987. -His grandfather, Santos, was a home-run-hitting star in the Mexican League. -He replaced Hall of Famer Dave Winfield on the Indians' World Series roster in 1995.
One week from today, Phillies pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout at the Carpenter Complex, which means the countdown to spring training is winding down. In today's News Journal, we launched our week-long spring-training preview by examining the tough task of winning back-to-back World Series.
Here at Phillied In, I thought we'd take another look at the Phillies' 2009 payroll. Believe it or not, no team -- not even the Yankees -- hiked its payroll more this winter than the Phillies, who will see an increase from $98 million on Opening Day last year to about $130 million when the 2009 season starts. (The Yankees, by the way, actually will have a slightly lower payroll to open 2009 despite signing CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, which tells you just how much money Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano were making last season. But I digress...)
Anyway, here's a salary breakdown for the 2009 Phillies. The figures include signing bonuses. (2008 salaries are in parentheses). Note: Our projection doesn't factor in a $3 million payment to the White Sox for Jim Thome.
*1B Ryan Howard: $14 million or $18 million ($10 million) RHP Brett Myers: $12 million ($8.5 million) RHP Brad Lidge: $11.5 million ($6.35 million) 2B Chase Utley: $11 million ($7.5 million) RHP Adam Eaton: $8.5 million ($7.635 million) SS Jimmy Rollins: $8.5 million ($8 million) LF Raul Ibanez: $8.5 million (N/A) OF Geoff Jenkins: $6.75 million ($5 million) LHP Jamie Moyer: $6.5 million ($7 million) RHP Joe Blanton: $5.475 million ($3.7 million) 3B Pedro Feliz: $5 million ($3 million) LHP Cole Hamels: $4.35 million ($500,000) CF Shane Victorino: $3.125 million ($480,000) RHP Ryan Madson: $3 million ($1.9 million) RF Jayson Werth: $3 million ($1.7 million) **LHP J.C. Romero: $2.75 million ($3 million) RHP Chan Ho Park: $2.5 million (N/A) LHP Scott Eyre: $2 million ($3.8 million) RHP Chad Durbin: $1.635 million ($900,000) INF Greg Dobbs: $1.15 million ($440,000) OF Matt Stairs: $1 million ($2.25 million) INF Eric Bruntlett: $800,000 ($600,000) RHP Clay Condrey: $650,000 ($420,000) ***C Carlos Ruiz: $500,000 ($425,000) ***C Chris Coste: $500,000 ($415,000) ***C Ronny Paulino: $500,000 ($423,500) ***RHP Kyle Kendrick: $500,000 ($445,000) ***LHP J.A. Happ: $400,000 ($380,000) (*Howard's salary will be determined through arbitration) (**Romero's salary includes projected loss from 50-game suspension) (***Projected salaries after contracts are renewed)
A quick note: Tom Gordon has agreed to a one-year, $500,000 contract with the Diamondbacks. According to reports, he can make an additional $2.5 million in bonuses based on time spent on Arizona's active roster. That's significant because Gordon's 2008 season with the Phillies was cut short in July because of right elbow inflammation. Two weeks ago, Ruben Amaro Jr. said Gordon contacted the Phils and was told the club no longer had interest in keeping him.
Gordon, 41, signed a three-year, $18 million contract to be the Phillies' closer before the 2006 season. He posted a 3.34 ERA and 34 saves and pitched in the All-Star Game in 2006, but he was plagued by injuries over the past two years. He had a 4.73 ERA and six saves in 44 appearances in 2007 and was supplanted as the closer by Brett Myers. Last season, as the setup man for Brad Lidge, he went 5-4 with a 5.16 ERA but allowed runs in only 10 of his 34 appearances.
So, as Gordon heads to the desert, my question to you is this: Looking back, was Gordon a good signing for Pat Gillick?
So, I spoke to Ruben Amaro Jr. today, and there is nothing new to reporton Nomar Garciaparra, who still hasn't decided if he will play this year. And the Phillies don't expect an answer from him until after spring training begins next week.
"Nomar has been great through the whole process, but he doesn't want to put our team in position to bring on a player who may not be prepared to performed at his accustomed level," Amaro said. "But if we can bring Nomar in and give him an opportunity to be in camp, if he feels like he's healthy enough to do that, it gives us more depth."
So, would Nomar (or, as my friends in Boston say, "Nomahhh") be willing to sign a minor-league contract and test his balky knees and calfs in spring training?
"I'm not sure," Amaro said. "Would it be a possibility? Yes. But Nomar has so much respect in the game that, if it would be a situation where he isn't going to make our club, he'd be free to do whatever he wants. He's earned that. I would hope that, within the next couple weeks, we'll have a clearer picture of where he's at."
*** With spring-training set to begin, it's always helpful to know which players on the 40-man roster have options. Players with options can be sent to the minors without passing through waivers. So, it stands to reason that players who are out of options have a better chance of making the team than players who can be sent to the minors without any risk of being claimed on waivers.
Follow all that?
Anyway, Amaro said both backup catcher candidates -- Ronny Paulino and Chris Coste -- have options. Also, No. 5 starter candidates J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco have options. Thus, it appears the two biggest battles for jobs this spring will be fought on relatively equal footing.
As we all know, Jimmy Rollins isn't shy. He never lacks opinions, and better still, he rarely keeps them to himself. It's what makes him so popular with the media and a frequent target of opposing fans. So, when Mr. Team To Beat and Chipper Jones participated in a conference call today to discuss the World Baseball Classic, many of us reporters thought there was a decent chance one or the other (or maybe even both) would have something juicy to say about the Mets or the NL East.
No dice.
"Being on the same team, you actually get to see and admire what a guy is like when you're in the same clubhouse," said Rollins, who will play for Team USA next month in the WBC. "You're not representing New York or Philadelphia. It doesn't matter who the guy on your left or right is. It's just Team USA. So, as for the Mets, that has nothing to do with the World Baseball Classic. I'll address that in spring training."
So, we'll have to wait a few more days for that.
It seems, though, that Rollins is genuinely honored to represent the U.S. He was among the final cuts before the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, and he mentioned today that he was under consideration for the 2000 Olympic team before being called up to the Phillies (he didn't mind not going to Sydney). So, Rollins insisted he doesn't particularly care that he'll be sharing the shortstop duties with Derek Jeter.
The latest sign that spring training is almost upon us: The Phillies' equipment truck leaves Friday for Clearwater.
It's an annual ritual. Equipment manager Dan O'Rourke and his staff load the 53-foot truck with thousands of items and make the drive (yes, they actually drive) from Citizens Bank Park to Bright House Field. We checked MapQuest, and it's about 17 hours, non-stop.
What's on the truck, you ask? Good question, and thanks to the Phillies, we have answers.
15 cases of gum (regular and sugarless) 12 cases of sunflower seeds 20 coolers and a half pallet of Gatorade mix 300 helmets 350 pair of shorts 450 pair of socks 600 pair of pants 600 hats 200 fleeces 1,200 bats 2,000 t-shirts 10,000 12 oz. cups 15,000 baseballs 150 pairs of batting gloves Hundreds of autographed bats, baseballs and game-used items to be sold for charity during the Phillies FanFest on Feb. 20 at Bright House Field.
Programming note: We expect to hear from Jimmy Rollins on a 2 p.m. conference call. J-Roll and Chipper Jones will be answering questions about the World Baseball Classic and other matters. I'm sure the NL East will come up a bit. We will, of course, let you know what he has to say.
So, I know The Groundhog saw his shadow yesterday. And I know it's snowing outside. And I know the notion of six more weeks of winter is about as depressing as, well, the last time you checked the status of your 401(k).
But pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in 10 days, so really, things can't be that bad.
As the big day (Feb. 14) draws closer, we'll ramp up our Phillies coverage here at The Blog and in the pages of The News Journal. I'll travel to Clearwater next Wednesday, and in the meantime, I'll work to bring you more from Ruben Amaro Jr. and Charlie Manuel. We'll also break down the top competitions for roster spots, and along the way, try to provide some unique, off-beat stories to get you ready for Opening Night, April 5 at the Bank. Also, look for some new features on The Blog. I won't spoil the surprise, but you'll know them when you see them.
For now, though, I thought I'd rattle off some random thoughts about the upcoming seven weeks in Clearwater. And what better way to make the official football-to-baseball hand-off than by taking a page from esteemed Sports Illustrated writer Peter King's always-entertaining blog format and presenting 10 things I think I think:
1. I think Ryan Howard wins his arbitration case even if he loses. Whether he makes $18 million or $14 million this year, The Big Man can serve as his own economic stimulus program.
2. I think Raul Ibanez will be a perfectly suitable replacement for Pat Burrell. Yes, Ibanez (37 in June) is older than Burrell (33). No, he isn't an appreciable defensive upgrade. And yes, Ibanez ($31.5 million for three years) will cost more than Burrell ($16 million for two years). But he also will be a more consistent hitter and won't make you pull out your hair during those maddening slumps.
3. That said, I think Burrell is going to have a nice year as the Rays' designated hitter. Pencil him in for 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.
4. I think Ty Wigginton would have been a nice addition to the Phillies' bench. But the price (two years, $6 million from the Orioles) was too steep, especially considering the Phillies are having a hard time unloading the $7 million remaining on Geoff Jenkins' contract.
5. I think Chris Coste has to make the Phillies' roster. Somehow.
6. I think a large part of the Phillies' success/failure will depend on two things: a) whether Ryan Madson can be the shut-down setup man that he was in September and October; b)whether Jamie Moyer can win 16 games again. That's a lot to ask of a 46-year-old ...
7. ... but I think Carlos Carrasco will win 10 games, relieving a lot of the burden.
8. I think "Doubt" was the best movie I saw this winter, although I haven't seen "Slumdog Millionaire" or "The Wrestler" yet.
9. I think Chase Utley plays on Opening Night.
10. I think the offseason was too short (it has been only 95 days since the parade), but I know the Phillies won't mind another abbreviated winter in 2009-10.
Playing catch-up while I wait for my car to get fixed (long story) and contemplate how Santonio Holmes' Super Bowl-winning catch stacks up against David Tyree's leaping, ball-stuck-to-helmet grab last year:
--I recently posed this question to Charlie Manuel: If the Phillies can add one more piece before spring training, would you prefer another pitcher or a right-handed bat for the bench? "A pitcher," said Manuel, never hesistating. Well, how about lefty reliever Will Ohman? According to ESPN.com, and confirmed by my mole in Atlanta, the Phils plan to talk to Ohman's agent this week. Here's the problem: At the winter meetings, it was believed that Ohman was looking for a two-year, $8 million contract that mirrored left-hander Jeremy Affeldt's deal with San Francisco. But pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in 12 days, and Ohman still doesn't have a job. Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies may have the flexibility to add another player, but probably not for $4 million per year. So, if Ohman's asking price has come down, he may be an option to give the Phillies another lefty in the bullpen. Until June 1, when J.C. Romero returns from his 50-game suspension, Scott Eyre is slated to be the Phils' lone lefty reliever.
--More about Ohman: He has held lefties to a .197 average throughout his career, including .200 last season with the Braves. He's 31, has a 4.16 career ERA and is a movie buff. The Big Lebowski and Fletch are two of his favorites, which means he has good taste.
--The Mets have re-signed Oliver Perez to a three-year, $36 million contract. So, their rotation will include Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Perez and either Tim Redding, Jon Niese or old friend Freddy Garcia. It sounds like the Mets' offseason shopping is mostly complete, which means no Manny Ramirez in Flushing.
--Democrats and Republicans can't agree on anything (just ask President Obama), but when it comes to the naming-rights deal on the Mets' new stadium, they're in agreement: It shouldn't happen. As we mentioned in our Sunday MLB notes, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) have urged new Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to "dissolve" the 20-year, $400 million deal between Citigroup and the Mets. Citigroup has announced plans to lay off 50,000 workers and is taking $45 billion in federal aid. The Mets and Citigroup intend to uphold the agreement.
--Want to hang out with the World Series trophy? Sure you do. Well, it'll be displayed at Concord Mall on Route 202 in North Wilmington on Feb. 12 from 6-7:30 p.m.
We'll have more on Howard in The News Journal and on The Blog throughout the week, but for now, let me ask you this: How much do you care about how much money Howard makes in 2009?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
