March 21 -- DAY 35: GARCIA ROCKED, HURT

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Freddy Garcia was pounded by the Blue Jays in the first inning here, but he may have more problems than his performance.

After allowing three runs on five hits, including a mammoth homer by Troy Glaus, Garcia was removed from the game after one inning and 35 pitches complaining of tightness in his right bicep. He was supposed to throw 85 pitches. He walked to the clubhouse with Class AAA trainer Shawn Fcasni and returned to Clearwater to be examined by head trainer Scott Sheridan. Also, a scout in attendance said his velocity topped out at 85 mph.

Good thing the Phillies haven't traded Jon Lieber, isn't it?

More updates on Garcia are expected tomorrow. I'll post to this blog when I hear something.

March 21 -- BREAKING NEWS: LIEBER TO BULLPEN

To his considerable chagrin, Jon Lieber is headed to the Phillies' bullpen, effective immediately.

That was the announcement today from manager Charlie Manuel. With the Phillies unable to find what they consider to be an equitable trade offer, and with Opening Day approaching in less than two weeks, Lieber will move to the bullpen and prepare to open a season as a reliever for the first time since 1996.

He's not happy about it.

"I'm disappointed," Lieber said. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. I'm going to do it for these guys in here, but I think I can still start. It sucks. I signed here to be a starter."

Of the Phillies' inability to trade him, Lieber said, "It's either 29 teams really don't like me, or they're asking too much. I still think I can throw 200 innings. I still think I can win a lot of games for this club. If somebody somewhere doesn't think I can, I wish they'd tell me and let's move on."

Read more about Lieber, including comments from Manuel, in tomorrow's News Journal and online at www.delawareonline.com.

March 21 -- PLOTTING A COURSE

Morning, all.

With each passing day, Charlie Manuel gets more questions about how he plans to align the Phillies' starting rotation. And, each day, he tap-dances around those questions (Charlie is a surprisingly deft tap-dancer), keeping us guessing. If he knows the identity of his Opening Day starter, he isn't telling. Here, then, is an educated guess about how the rotation may line up.

Brett Myers (left) is on schedule to pitch the April 2 opener against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park, and I'd bet he'll make that start. In fact, Myers will pitch in a minor-league game Friday rather than facing the Braves. Atlanta isn't as concerned about giving away their Opening Day starter's secrets. John Smoltz will face the Phillies on Friday. After Myers, you probably will see Cole Hamels, Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton (or Jon Lieber), in that order. Manuel says he wants to split up lefties Hamels and Moyer, and putting Garcia between them would accomplish that.

One other housekeeping note: Tom Gordon has been given a more regular routine. The closer will pitch tonight against the Blue Jays at Dunedin and is slated to pitch Friday, too.

March 20 -- DAY 34: COMEBACK KID

TAMPA, Fla. -- Let's take a momentary break from dissecting the Phillies' dismal bullpen and talk about RHP Zack Segovia, who was off the prospect map three years ago and now may have an outside shot at winning a spot on the team.

Segovia, who will be 24 on April 11, missed all of the 2004 season after undergoing an elbow ligament transplant, commonly called Tommy John surgery. In 2005, he went 4-14 with a 5.54 ERA at single-A Clearwater while coping with an inability to regain the mid-90s fastball that led the Phillies to draft him in the second round in 2002. But he went 16-6 with a 2.82 ERA between Clearwater and double-A Reading last season, and tonight, he allowed one run in five innings to a Yankees team that had everyone in the lineup except Alex Rodriguez.

"I was out of sight, out of mind," Segovia said. "I remember thinking, it took me 16, 17 years to throw the ball 90-95. I'd be really naive to think, in 17 months [after surgery], I'll be back to 90."

These days, Segovia isn't even sure how hard he's throwing. He doesn't look at the radar gun anymore, and he's forced himself to believe he can get hitters out without throwing at blazing speeds.

Segovia projects as a starter at triple-A Ottawa. But as long as he keeps getting hitters out, he could be an asset to the Phillies' bullpen.

A few other notes that won't make your morning paper: The Phillies mustered only three hits against five Yankees pitchers, including Japanese import Kei Igawa. ... RF Shane Victorino picked up two more hits and is batting .429. ... Abraham Nunez, playing shortstop, committed two errors.

See you tomorrow from Dunedin.

March 20 -- YANKEES LEGENDS

TAMPA, Fla. -- Greetings from Legends Field.

For the past 11 years, this has been the spring home of the Yankees. And, like with everything affiliated with the Bronx Bombers, the ballpark is customized to reflect Yankee tradition. Outside the front entrance are duplicates of the displayed uniform numbers that are retired in Yankee Stadium. At left, you'll see a photo of Thurman Munson's No. 15. Incidentally, as I type this, the Thurman Munson episode of "Yankeeography" from the YES Network is being shown on the Legends Field video board. The Yankees are starting most of their regulars tonight, including Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano. It should be a good test for Phillies RHP Zack Segovia.

Here's the Phillies lineup against Yankees LHP Kei Igawa:
RF Shane Victorino
CF Aaron Rowand
3B Wes Helms
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
DH Jayson Werth
C Rod Barajas
SS Abraham Nunez
2B Brent Abernathy

More later.

March 20 -- BOBBY'S BACK

Old friend Bobby Abreu is expected to be the DH tonight for the Yankees against the Phillies in Tampa. Abreu, dealt by the Phillies last July at the trading deadline, has been sidelined since Feb. 26 with a strained oblique muscle and has 11 days to get ready for the Yankees' season-opener.

"I'll be ready for Opening Day," Abreu told New York reporters yesterday.

More on Abreu in tomorrow's News Journal and at www.delawareonline.com.

Talk to you later from Tampa.

March 19 -- DAY 33: NO RELIEF

So, Opening Day is two weeks from today, and the Phillies still have six starting pitchers and a woeful bullpen. Adam Eaton (left) has a solution.

"I don't care what anybody says, we'll go with a six-man rotation," Eaton told me today. "We'll have the freshest arms in baseball."

He was joking, of course. The Phillies either will trade Jon Lieber for bullpen help or they'll put a starter (Lieber or Eaton) in the 'pen. They'd prefer the former, and if you've seen the Phillies' relievers pitch this spring, you know why. One of those relievers, soft-tossing right-hander Justin Germano, was lost today to a waiver claim by the Padres. Germano didn't have options left, so he had to clear waivers before the Phils could send him to the minors.

"At least at this stage, we figured he wasn't going to figure in for us at the outset," assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told me. "We tried to sneak him through waivers. We felt like he had a shot to get through. We would've liked to have him as inventory, but it's kind of a no-harm, no-foul thing for us."

I'm still betting on a trade before the season starts, especially if the Phillies decide they're willing to pay part of Lieber's $7.5 million salary. Like Eaton said, too many teams need pitching for there to not be a market for someone like Lieber.

Night game tomorrow against the Yankees in Tampa. Talk to you then.

March 19 -- PITCHING IN

Sorry for the lack of blogs throughout the day, but it's been busy at Bright House. It's always a strange morning when you ask MLBPA union chief Donald Fehr about steroids testing, and then, 15 minutes later, listen to Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife Karen (left) talk about their efforts to help children cope with losing a loved one.

If you haven't heard about the Moyers' endeavors, click here to see their Web site. In a touching news conference today, Jamie and Karen announced a partnership with MLB to open Camp Erin -- a bereavement camp for children -- in every major-league city within the next three years. At one point, they introduced a Tampa-area woman and her three kids, who unexpectedly lost their husband/father on Dec. 18. The Moyer Foundation has reached out to them, offering support in their time of grief.

Moyer said a recent U.S. census estimated that one in 20 children, more than 1.4 million kids nationwide, will experience the death of a parent by the time they graduate high school. The Moyers have created eight Camp Erins, a weekend camp, to serve an average of 450 children per summer. Through their foundation, they've donated more than $1.1 million towards providing grieving children with counseling, education and emotional support.

March 18 -- DAY 32: UNDER PRESSURE

In the two years that I've covered the Phillies for The News Journal, I've always known Charlie Manuel (right) to be unfailingly positive. The affable manager can find a silver lining in the bleakest of times. Last season, while the Phillies were in the midst of a midseason free fall, Manuel remained upbeat. Even after the July fire sale that sent packing Bobby Abreu and others, he publicly said the Phillies could still compete for a wild-card spot. The crazy part was he really meant it.

But, over the past few days, I've noticed a change in Charlie. He was angry Thursday night after Fabio Castro, Jim Ed Warden and Justin Germano were hammered by the Blue Jays and when another batch of relievers -- Antonio Alfonseca, Brian Sanches and Kane Davis -- got pummeled by the Tigers on Friday in Lakeland. And today, after Alfonseca got hit hard again, Manuel's frustration persisted. Hardly a day goes by that he doesn't tell reporters, often unsolicited, that the Phillies' bullpen needs help, and he uses words like "concerned" and "frustrated" to describe his feelings about the relief corps.

It's all been, well, very un-Charlie-like.

But Manuel knows the Phillies need to start strong, or else it may cost him his job. He's a lame-duck manager, in the final season of a three-year contract, and chances are, he won't survive another 10-14 April. Not this year, when "playoffs or bust" may as well be the Phillies' motto. Since October, he's talked about needing to bolster the bullpen, but so far, all GM Pat Gillick has been able to do is sign Alfonseca, a 34-year-old former closer who hasn't pitched a full season in the majors since 2004. And, if this bullpen doesn't get better fast, it may drive Manuel to the unemployment line.

That, of course, would be unfair. But it's also the reality Manuel is facing. So I expect we'll keep hearing his uncharacteristic criticisms of the Phillies' relievers, at least until they begin to fill him with confidence that they can hold a lead in the late innings. Maybe then, the Charlie Manuel I've come to know will resurface.

More tomorrow after union chief Donald Fehr has his annual meeting with the Phillies.

March 18 -- PRACTICAL JOKERS

Good morning. Happy Sunday.

Phillies have a split squad today, which means half the team is here in Clearwater to host the Devil Rays and the other half is making the 2.5-hour trek to Fort Myers to face the Twins. Needless to say, players who got to stay home (mostly veterans) consider themselves lucky. Shane Victorino isn't among the lucky ones.

Before yesterday's game, Victorino decided to play a little practical joke on his traveling teammates. In yellow marker, he highlighted Rod Barajas and Freddy Garcia on the travel list (the real traveling team was highlighted in orange). But the clubhouse attendants didn't know the difference, and when Barajas arrived this morning, his bag was packed for the trip. As a retaliatory tactic, Aaron Rowand has taped up all of Victorino's remaining equipment and shoved it in his locker, a little surprise for when he gets back.

Gotta love spring training hijinx.

Anyway, the D-Rays have brought a few big names to Clearwater, including LF Carl Crawford, 1B Ty Wigginton, 2B Jorge Cantu and P Scott Kazmir. I covered Wigginton and Kazmir in the minors, so I'm looking forward to seeing them again. Also here is B.J. Upton, the perennial shortstop prospect who is being converted into a center fielder.

Here's the Phillies lineup.
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Aaron Rowand
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
3B Brennan King
RF Greg Dobbs
C Rod Barajas
P Brett Myers
Among others pitching after Myers will be closer Tom Gordon (above), who is making his first appearance since March 10.

Finally, click here to check out News Journal photographer Jennifer Corbett's work from yesterday's game against the Yankees.

More later.

March 17 -- DAY 31: LUCK O' THE IRISH

A few notes from today's 3-2 Phillies win over the Yankees:

* Aaron Rowand wanted a stroke of good luck. On St. Patty's Day, he got it. A ball Rowand hit to third base in the seventh inning initially was ruled an error on third baseman Andy Phillips. But, after a postgame complaint by Rowand, official scorer/Phillies PR man Greg Casterioto changed it to a hit. Needless to say, Rowand, who entered with a .128 average, was pleased.

* LHP Matt Smith, acquired from the Yankees for Bobby Abreu, had his best outing of the spring, getting lefty-swinging Jason Giambi to ground into an inning-ending double play in the fifth and Hideki Matsui to fly to right to open the sixth. But manager Charlie Manuel still wants to see better control from Smith, who fell behind several hitters.

* LHP Jamie Moyer hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 12-1/3 innings.

* An odd-looking mascot, Mr. Carrasco (right) of the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Pacific League, did some between-innings dancing on the Phillies' dugout. I think Manuel is still trying to figure out exactly what Mr. Carrasco is. I think we all are, actually.

* Looking ahead, Caesar Rodney High grad Ian Snell has been listed as Monday's starter for the Pirates against the Phillies at Bright House. Looking forward to seeing him again.

More tomorrow when the Phillies face the Devil Rays.

March 17 -- IT'S MADNESS

March Madness has officially hit Phillies camp. The clubhouse televisions have been tuned to CBS for most of the week, and players have been keeping an eye on the scores -- and their pools. Aaron Rowand, who once lived in Las Vegas, was talking about former UNLV players the other day when Ryan Howard walked by and dropped a name from the past.

"George Ackles," Howard said, referring to the big man who played for UNLV from 1988 through 1991.

Asked if he's even old enough to remember Ackles, Howard affirmatively shook his head. "1990, right?" Howard said. "I was 10."

March 17 -- THE BRONX ZOO

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Busy day here at Bright House. The Yankees are coming over from Tampa, which always brings a big crowd. Derek Jeter (right), Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Carl Pavano are the big names on the Yankees' traveling roster. Alex Rodriguez, always a lightning rod for controversy in New York, won't be here (nobody seems to be complaining). Jeter's presence will surely mean more swooning female fans in attendance. Matsui's will ensure that the already sizable contingent of New York media will grow because of the Japanese reporters and photographers who follow Matsui's every move. Think anyone will notice the Phillies are here, too? The game is being televised back home.

One quick note as the Phillies get ready to take batting practice:

* RHP Alfredo Simon, acquired by the Phillies in December in the Rule 5 draft, has cleared waivers and been offered back to his former team, the Texas Rangers. The Phillies expect Texas will want him back. Simon had a 12.46 ERA in three Grapefruit League games.

Phillies will wear their traditional green shirts and caps for St. Patty's Day. Here's today's lineup:
SS Jimmy Rollins
RF Jayson Werth
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
3B Wes Helms
CF Aaron Rowand
C Carlos Ruiz
LHP Jamie Moyer
Pitching after Moyer are Ryan Madson and Matt Smith.

March 16 -- HONOR THY FATHER

Over the past week, so many people have shared their memories of late Phillies coach John Vukovich, who seemingly had an impact on everyone with whom he came into contact. Vince Vukovich (left), John's 26-year-old son and a former outfielder for the University of Delaware, has written this poignant tribute to his father for the Phillies' Web site.

Here's a sampling:

I will always remember my dad for the impact he had on me and our family. Whether it was his famous "keep pushing" when I felt like giving up, or a good chewing out when I deserved it, or a hug when I was upset, or a good BP pitcher (hitch included) after an 0-for-4, or the good advice when I was at a crossroads, or a lesson on how to be a man when I wasn't acting like one.

March 16 -- DAY 30: IS FREDDY READY?

For four innings, Freddy Garcia (left) cruised, looking every bit like the pitcher who beat the Tigers four times in five starts last season. With the exception of a leadoff homer in the fourth by one of his closest friends, Carlos Guillen, Garcia was effective.

Then came the fifth inning. Garcia allowed a leadoff walk to Neifi Perez and a one-out single to Curtis Granderson before Guillen ripped an RBI single. A two-out walk to Chris Shelton loaded the bases before Garcia was lifted for Brian Sanches, who promptly allowed a bases-clearing double to Brandon Inge.

It didn't appear that Garcia was throwing particularly hard, and a scout in the stands told me he topped out at only 88 mph, a speed he reached often in his final two innings. Interestingly, a radar gun recently was installed in right-center field here. It debuted today and was off by about 2-3 mph before the stadium crew turned it off.

Also of note: Jon Lieber's scheduled start in a minor-league game in Clearwater was rained out. Lieber threw a side session instead. ... Shane Victorino, playing DH, went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer off Mike Maroth. ... RF Michael Bourn continued to look good, going 2-for-4 with an RBI triple.

March 16 -- SKIES CLEARING

OK, so I won't be taking a job as a meteorologist anytime soon. Shortly after my last post, it started pouring here. But the sun is out, the tarp is being removed from the field, and the game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Today's lineup:
SS Jimmy Rollins
DH Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
CF Aaron Rowand
3B Abraham Nunez
C Rod Barajas
RF Michael Bourn
Slated to pitch after Freddy Garcia are Antonio Alfonseca, Clay Condrey, Kane Davis and Brian Sanches. Keep an eye on Davis, who hasn't allowed an earned run in 2.2 innings this spring.

March 16 -- LIVIN' HERE IN TIGERTOWN

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Good morning, all.

We're here at Joker Marchant Stadium (great name for a ballpark, isn't it?), home of the defending AL champion Detroit Tigers. Just to get you situated, Lakeland is about 60 miles east of Clearwater, on the other side of Tampa, and the Tigers have been training here since 1946. Now that the geography is out of the way, the Phillies have brought most of their regulars here. Freddy Garcia will be on the mound, looking for his first good start of the spring. There have been some questions about the velocity on his fastball, so, throughout the day, I'll update you on how he looks. Mike Maroth is scheduled to start for the Tigers.

From what I've heard, there's some snow up north. So, if you're home from school or work, check this blog regularly throughout the day for updates (the game isn't on TV or radio). The tarp is on the field (it rained pretty hard last night), but the sky is clearing now and I expect the game will be played.

March 15 -- DAY 29: INSIDE SCOOP

Just waiting out a typical Florida downpour, so before I leave the press box, here are a few notes from tonight's 11-6 Phillies loss to the Blue Jays.

* In his third spring-training start, Cole Hamels (left) wanted to establish the inside part of the plate with his fastball. Well, he didn't get the ball inside enough. The Jays hammered him for three homers, including two by Vernon Wells, but Hamels served notice that he'll continue to pound the inner half. He may even hit a few batters before spring training is over. "When you have [hitters] that don't buy into the inside thing, you have to forewarn them," Hamels said. "I don't want to hurt anyone, especially in spring training. I'm hoping they can get out of the way."

* Tom Gordon said he expects to throw on the side tomorrow and pitch Saturday against the Yankees at Bright House.

* Popular former Phillies (and Blue Rocks) catcher Sal Fasano was part of the Jays team that came here from nearby Dunedin, and some fans (Sal's Pals transplanted in Florida?) among the sold-out crowd at Bright House saluted him by chanting his name. Fasano acknowledged them by waving his arms while warming up pitcher Matt Roney in the eighth inning.

* I mentioned all the scouts in attendance. Well, Aaron Rowand, subject of many trade rumors, interrupted a 4-for-33 drought with a seventh-inning homer. Jayson Werth also hit a bomb in the seventh.

* Ryan Howard struck out three times. Good thing it didn't count.

* Freddy Garcia starts tomorrow against the Tigers in Lakeland. Jon Lieber will pitch in a minor league game here at the Complex.

Talk to you then.

March 15 -- LET'S GO RACIN'

Aaron Rowand, who plays center field at breakneck speed and has crashed into his share of walls, is hanging out with a drag racer today. Rowand, who grew up near Pomona (Calif.) Raceway, is hosting Tommy Johnson Jr., whom he met at the ESPY Awards last year. Johnson drives for the Skoal Racing Funny Car Team and is in Florida this week for the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. Rowand routinely wears a T-shirt that Johnson gave him under his warm-up shirt during batting practice, and he repaid Johnson with a red Phillies jersey. Rowand says he's a big drag-racing fan, but he's content watching the races. He has no desire to get behind a wheel.

* Also, Charlie Manuel didn't enter an NCAA Tournament pool this year. But, if he did, his Final Four picks would be Florida, North Carolina, Kansas and Georgetown. Chalk teams, all the way. Although, Big Chuck said he's been high on UCLA all season, too.

More, including an update on Tom Gordon, after tonight's game against the Blue Jays. Many scouts in attendance, including one from the White Sox.

Here's the Phillies lineup. For the most part, it's the team you'll see on Opening Day.

SS Jimmy Rollins
RF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
3B Wes Helms
CF Aaron Rowand
C Carlos Ruiz
LHP Cole Hamels

March 14 -- SPRING TRAINING RE-SET

An offday for the Phillies means a travel day for me. After a two-week break, I've returned to sunny Clearwater -- and Bright House Networks Field (left) -- for the final 15 days of spring training. While I'm here, I'll keep this blog fresh with updates from Grapefruit League games and other goings-on. I'll also try to post photos and audio interviews. And, as always, I encourage feedback from you, the reader, in the form of comments to this blog and e-mails to slauber@delawareonline.com. Let me know what you think about all things baseball.

But, while we wait for the Phillies to return to action tomorrow night against the Blue Jays at Bright House, here are some things to ponder:

* Since early December, the Phillies have been trying to trade a starter, namely RHP Jon Lieber. At one point, assistant GM Mike Arbuckle was so sure a deal could be struck that he joked the Phillies would need only five Christmas gifts to satisfy each pitcher in their rotation. But, here we are, 18 days from Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park, and Lieber is still with the Phillies. Will he be there on April 2 against the Braves? And, if so, which of the starters will be in the bullpen? Lieber? Adam Eaton? Brett Myers?

* INF/OF Greg Dobbs is 0-for-10 in the last three games. Has the Cinderella story of spring training already flamed out?

* Tom Gordon has returned from Philadelphia and told reporters yesterday that his appointment with Dr. Michael Ciccotti was strictly a precaution. With the off-day today, the Phillies figured it was worth having Gordon examined to double-check that everything in his right arm is exactly how it's supposed to be. But, considering Gordon's history, this story line is worth watching. Closely.

* Very quietly, Ryan Howard is batting .318 with two home runs and eight RBIs. If not getting a long-term contract is bothering him, it's hard to tell.

More tomorrow.