April 13 -- GAME 6 WRAP: STAIRS STRIKES AGAIN

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- So, I was making the pleasant, 20-minute walk to Coors Field from my hotel here yesterday morning when I stopped into a Starbucks (there's one on every other corner in downtown Denver). Sure enough, standing directly in front of me in line were Matt Stairs and Raul Ibanez. We exchanged hellos, then they ordered their caffeinated beverages and went on their way.

About seven hours later, I was talking to Stairs in the Phillies' clubhouse after his pinch-hit, two-run home run into the bullpen in right-center field proved to be the decisive blow in a come-from-behind 7-5 victory over the Rockies.

So, I asked, what's the secret to your pinch-hitting success?

"Grande white mocha," Stairs said with a smile.

As you might imagine, Stairs was the focus of the game story in today's News Journal. Specifically, I wrote about his ultra-simplistic philosophy of hitting: See ball, hit ball. Or, if you prefer, "grip it and rip it." Ask Stairs about his approach at the plate, and it's really very basic. Every time he steps in the batter's box, he tries to hit a home run. Seriously. There's not much nuance. He swings as hard as he can, and often, the ball goes a long way.

I knew Stairs was a little different from most hitters when, before batting practice one day last September at Citizens Bank Park, he placed a tee at home plate, grabbed a fungo bat and launched balls over the outfield fence. In batting practice, while some of his teammates are working on hitting the ball the other way, Stairs often cracks everyone up with his display of unbridled power. And, thanks to his memorable pinch-hit, two-run homer in Game 4 of the NLCS last year, he has developed somewhat of a cult following in Philly. Last Wednesday, when the Phillies received their World Series rings, the ovation for Stairs was every bit as boisterous as the ones for Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins or Cole Hamels.

"My approach doesn't change, if I'm starting or pinch-hitting," he said yesterday. "It's amazing how it kind of came up last year that I try to hit home runs. It's been like that for 15 years. I try to hit every ball as far as I can. That's the approach I have. It doesn't happen as much as I'd like it to, but it seems like it's worked pretty well."

***
Deep within the notebook, beneath the daily Cole Hamels update, we have word on Chan Ho Park's ineffective first regular-season start and the 9.62 ERA of the Phillies' starters through six games. But, as bad as the starters have been, that's how good the bullpen is right now. Opponents are batting only .103 against Phillies relievers.

***
My colleague, Geoff Mosher, is covering the team today in DC, as I fly back from Denver. I'll be back tomorrow from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, where the Phillies will visit with President Obama. Meanwhile, here's a preview of the series against the Nationals, who have too many outfielders, not enough pitching and absolutely no victories.

PHILLIES (3-3) at NATIONALS (0-6)
Today, 3:05: LHP Jamie Moyer (0-1, 7.20) vs. RHP Daniel Cabrera (0-1, 7.50)
Tomorrow: Off day
Wednesday, 7:05: RHP Joe Blanton (0-0, 15.75) vs. RHP Shairon Martis (0-0, 9.00)
Thursday, 7:05: LHP Cole Hamels (0-1, 17.18) vs. LHP John Lannan (0-2, 10.00)
Hot: Phillies 2B Chase Utley, showing no lingering effects from offseason hip surgery, has 10 hits in his last 18 at-bats (.556), although he says he's still a "work in progress"; Phillies RF Jayson Werth went 7-for-12 with two doubles, one triple, one home run and five RBIs in the three-game series against Colorado; Nationals SS Cristian Guzman has hit safely in all six games and has at least two hits in five games; Nationals CF Elijah Dukes is 6-for-14 (.429) with two walks and three RBIs in three starts.
Not: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins has two hits in his last 25 at-bats; Phillies C Chris Coste has one hit in his last 10 at-bats; Nationals LF Josh Willingham is hitless in 10 at-bats; Nationals CF Lastings Milledge has three hits in 19 at-bats (.154) this season.

April 12 -- HAMELS UPDATE, GAME 6 LINEUP

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- So, there I was, standing in the Phillies' clubhouse a little while ago, when Baseball Tonight came on television. During a segment from last night's show, Peter Gammons joined the parade of people wondering if Cole Hamels is OK.

Well, I figured, why not ask him directly -- again?

Hamels had just come inside after throwing a bullpen session here. He said he feels perfectly fine, and he will throw in the 'pen again tomorrow in DC. Once again, and I can't emphasize this enough, Hamels would NOT be throwing if he was experiencing any discomfort.

But why the back-to-back bullpens between starts? Ordinarily, he would throw just one.

"That's kind of what I need, more repetition," Hamels said. "I think that's why having the extra days off helps because I can throw another bullpen session before my game and try to really get the understanding of where I'm releasing the ball. Having one back-to-back, in an area I'm familiar with, Washington, it's not bad. It's just getting out there, throwing and throwing, just getting my muscle memory back."

***
Tarp is on the field. Forecast calls for rain throughout the afternoon. Just heard someone say it feels like 37 degrees outside with the wind chill. Charlie Manuel has the same lineup as last night, when the Phillies' offense finally broke out. Rockies right-hander Aaron Cook (0-0, 23.14)starting today.

SS Jimmy Rollins (.130/0/1)
CF Shane Victorino (.250/0/1)
2B Chase Utley (.444/0/3)
1B Ryan Howard (.250/0/4)
RF Jayson Werth (.316/1/4)
LF Raul Ibanez (.250/2/4)
3B Pedro Feliz (.333/0/4)
C Chris Coste (.250/0/1)
RHP Chan Ho Park (0-0, 0.00)

April 12 -- GAME 5 WRAP: GETTING OFFENSIVE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- Morning, all. Happy Easter Sunday.

Day game after a night game means a quick turnaround, so I'll be brief. Through the first four games, the Phillies batted .215 and scored only 16 runs. More worrisome, they batted .175 with two outs and were 0-for-12 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

All of that changed last night. The Phils pounded 10 two-out hits, including a three-run double by Ryan Howard, a two-run triple by Jayson Werth and a solo home run by Raul Ibanez in an 8-4 victory over the Rockies. Between them, the first five hitters (Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Howard, Werth) went 9-for-21 with six RBIs.

It was a performance that was both clutch and cathartic.

"That's kind of more of what we're accustomed to," Werth said. "Not that it's going to happen every night, but we haven't really swung the bats well. We're just a good hitting ball club. We get timely hits and knock in runs, and that's what makes us a potent lineup."

***
Initially, Charlie Manuel was non-committal when asked if Cole Hamels would make his next scheduled start, Thursday in DC against the Nationals. But yesterday Manuel said Hamels will start that game, and really, it's a no-brainer. First, Hamels is NOT injured. Trust me, if he was, he'd be shouting it from atop the Rocky Mountains. That's just how Hamels is. After a checkered injury history in the minors, he tells Manuel and Rich Dubee when he feels even the slightest twinge. But after missing nearly a week of spring training, Hamels isn't quite ready for the regular season, and the only way for him to get up to speed is by pitching in major-league games. So, the Phillies have little choice but to stick with him, even if it means a few ugly April starts.

***
Strange stat of the night: Six of the 12 hits allowed this season by Brett Myers have been home runs. "I just want to be able to make a mistake and get away with one," he said.

***
Stranger stat of the night: Myers improved to 5-0 in his career at Coors Field. Only four pitchers have at least five wins without losing at Coors: Chuck McElroy (9-0), Lance Painter (6-0), David Cortes (5-0) and Myers.

***
It's been a while, at least a few weeks, since I mentioned "Phillies Confidential," the book I wrote with Gary Matthews about the 2008 season. (It's on sale, by the way, at Citizens Bank Park, but you can always just buy it online by clicking here.) Anyway, while I was working on the book, there were a lot of things I learned about my esteemed co-author. But perhaps the most interesting was that he is close friends with President Obama. They met years ago, when their daughters were in the same dance class, and ever since, they have gotten together for dance recitals, cookouts and golf outings.

Because the Phillies are going to the White House on Tuesday, I figured I'd talk to Sarge about his friendship with the Obama family. You can read about that, plus other odds and ends from Week 1 of the season, in our Sunday MLB notes.

***
More on the Phillies' catching situation, which, with Carlos Ruiz on the disabled list, has gotten a lot more interesting.

***
Even before Colby Cohen scored the game-winning goal in overtime, my phone was buzzing with text messages. Boston University, my alma mater, won the 2009 NCAA championship last night in what Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy has dubbed the greatest college hockey game ever played. Congratulations to coach Jack Parker and all the players, and thanks for making me as proud as ever to have graduated from BU.

***
Don't forget to follow me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter. And since we always endeavor to give you more here at Philled In, if you follow me, you can also sign up to follow Alyssa Milano.

April 11 -- RUIZ TO DL, MARSON RECALLED

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- As we suspected yesterday, the Phillies have placed catcher Carlos Ruiz on the disabled list with a strained right oblique (rib cage) muscle and officially recalled Lou Marson from triple-A Lehigh Valley. Ruiz was injured in the third inning yesterday when he was drifting back behind the plate to catch a pop up.

Marson, the Phillies' top catching prospect, arrived here last night after being scratched from the lineup shortly before Lehigh Valley's game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It's expected that Marson will play quite a bit until Ruiz returns. I would imagine he'll at least split starts with backup catcher Chris Coste. Marson went 1-for-20 in spring training.

More later.

April 11 -- GAME 4 WRAP: ANALYZING COLE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- Good morning, all.

Quick post this morning to put a bow on yesterday's 10-3 loss to the Rockies. Obviously, the game story in today's News Journal focused almost exclusively on Cole Hamels, who endured arguably the worst start of his career. (We ran down his other poor starts in a post yesterday.) Now, I'm way out here in Denver, but I can hear the panic back home, where I'm sure everyone is concerned about Hamels' health.

Three things I need to make clear:

1. I believe Hamels is healthy. Why? Well, I've known him for the past four years, and I can safely say that he's about as tuned in to his own body as anyone I've ever covered. If Hamels feels so much as a twinge, he alerts Rich Dubee and Charlie Manuel. He has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and he understands, better than most players, how much damage can be done if he tries to pitch through pain. So, if there was anything going on with Hamels' arm, I believe he would've removed himself from the game.

2. The issue yesterday wasn't Hamels' velocity, which is always in the mid-80s in April. It was his command, specifically of his changeup. Now, command is always important for Hamels, but until his velocity stabilizes in May and June, it's absolutely critical. And the Phillies didn't do him any favors by starting him here yesterday. He barely threw his curveball (only six of his 81 pitches were curves) because the altitude here caused it to come in straight, without much break. So, Hamels was out there yesterday with a flat fastball and a subpar changeup. Pretty tough to be effective against major-league hitters with that combination.

3. Even though Manuel left open the possibility that he could be pushed back, I believe Hamels will start Thursday in Washington, as scheduled. Here's the problem: Everyone agrees that Hamels is behind after missing nearly a week in mid-March to get an anti-inflammatory injection in his cranky elbow. He threw fewer pitches in fewer Grapefruit League games than any Phillies starter, and just the other day, Dubee said Hamels is still in "spring-training mode." But while he may not be ready to pitch in major-league games, the only real way for him to build his velocity and fine-tune his command is by pitching in major-league games. So, I think the Phils will continue to run him out there every fifth game and cross their fingers that Hamels will soon resemble Hamels again.

***
Almost time to head over to Coors Field. I expect that we'll get an update on Carlos Ruiz, and when I get it, I'll pass it along, both here at Philled In and on Twitter.

***
Finally, it's a big night for the Boston University hockey team, which plays for the NCAA championship in DC.

April 10 -- RUIZ TO THE DL?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- As his Phillies teammates were leaving the clubhouse here, catcher Carlos Ruiz stayed behind and got treatment for a strained muscle on the right side of his rib cage. Depending on how he feels tomorrow, Ruiz may be placed on the disabled list.

All signs are pointing in that direction.

"I'm not a doctor," Charlie Manuel said, "but if that's what it is, if it's a strained rib cage, you're talking at least a week to maybe two weeks."

Another hint: Catching prospect Lou Marson isn't playing tonight for Lehigh Valley and is en route to Denver, according to an announcement made by the team. Manuel said Marson likely would be called up if Ruiz goes on the DL.

Ruiz tweaked his oblique muscle while tracking Chris Iannetta's foul pop to the backstop to end the Colorado Rockies' five-run third inning in today's 10-3 loss. He remained in the game, even getting a fourth-inning at-bat, before being replaced by backup catcher Chris Coste in the seventh.

More in tomorrow's News Journal.

April 10 -- WORST OF COLE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- So, Cole Hamels is done. His eyesore of a line: 3.2 IP, 11 H, 7 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 81 pitches (54 strikes).

I've seen each of Hamels' major-league starts, and this, I think, may have been the worst. He tied his career-high for hits allowed in a game and earned runs allowed. (He once allowed nine runs, but only five were earned).

You be the judge. Here's a rundown of Hamels' rockiest starts.

June 16, 2006 vs. Tampa Bay: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R/5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
June 28, 2006 at Baltimore: 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R/7 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
July 24, 2006 vs. Atlanta: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R/7 ER, 2 BB, 12 K, 3 HR
Aug. 24, 2006 at Chicago: 2 IP, 9 H, 9 R/5 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
June 18, 2007 at Cleveland: 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R/6 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
May 25, 2008 at Houston: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R/6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
May 31, 2008 vs. Florida: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R/7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 3 HR

***
Carlos Ruiz has left the game in the seventh inning with a right oblique strain. Details to follow later.

***
Phillies lose, 10-3, in the opener here at Coors.
The good: Jayson Werth, 4-for-4 with two doubles and a homer.
The bad: Ryan Howard, grounded into three double plays.

More here later -- and in tomorrow's News Journal.

April 10 -- GAME 4 LINEUP (W/HAMELS UPDATES)

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- Festive atmosphere here for the Rockies' home-opener, although it's definitely not baseball weather. High expected in the low-50s, and it feels even chillier. Lots of buzz here about Rockies rookie center fielder Dexter Fowler, and when you think about, it's a good rookie crop of rookie center fielders in the National League with Fowler, Atlanta's Jordan Schafer and Florida's Cameron Maybin.

If you're stuck at work today, I'll try to post some updates throughout the game. For now, here's your Phillies lineup vs. Rockies RHP Jason Marquis.

SS Jimmy Rollins (.071/0/1)
CF Shane Victorino (.154/0/1)
2B Chase Utley (.364/0/2)
1B Ryan Howard (.250/0/1)
RF Jayson Werth (.091/0/1)
LF Raul Ibanez (.273/1/3)
3B Pedro Feliz (.222/0/1)
C Carlos Ruiz (.333/0/0)
LHP Cole Hamels

(Updated, 4:32 p.m. Eastern): Hamels allows a leadoff single by Fowler but gets out of the inning. He threw 12 pitches (eight fastballs, four changeups). Top fastball velocity: 89 mph.

(Updated, 4:48 p.m. Eastern): Werth doubles and scores on Feliz's sac fly in top of the second. Hamels threw 18 pitches (11 fastballs, six changeups, one curveball) in a scoreless second. Fastball consistently between 87-89 mph.

(Updated, 5:12 p.m. Eastern): Trouble for Hamels in the third inning. He allowed five runs on six innings, including a two-run homer by Garrett Atkins on an 88-mph fastball. Brad Hawpe drilled an 86-mph fastball for a double, and Troy Tulowitzki launched a changeup for an RBI triple. Hamels reached 90 mph for the first time with a fastball to Todd Helton. He threw 30 pitches in the third inning (18 fastballs, 10 changeups, two curveballs).

April 10 -- ALL ABOUT COLE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- Cole Hamels stood in front of his locker last Sunday, before the Phillies raised the curtain on 2009 and the 2008 World Series banner, and expressed no disappointment that he was unable to start the season-opener.

"I'd rather have my health," he said.

Well, Cole, since you brought it up ...

For the past month, Hamels has had the most scrutinized left elbow in the Delaware Valley -- and for good reason. To recap: For about three weeks in spring training, he felt persistent, lingering between-innings stiffness during his starts. So, he returned to Philly and underwent an MRI exam that didn’t reveal structural damage. He received an anti-inflammatory injection March 17 and has been insisting ever since that the discomfort is gone.

Surely, though, team officials still will be holding their breath as Hamels takes the mound here tonight for the opener of a three-game series against the Rockies. Even Charlie Manuel said he's anxious to see how Hamels responds to the thin mountain air and forecasted temperature in the upper-40s. (Take it from me, it's chilly here. I walked to dinner last night on the 16th Street Mall and had to bundle up.)

But after overseeing Hamels' bullpen session Wednesday at the Bank, pitching coach Rich Dubee believes his ace will be just fine.

"Physically, I think he's fine," Dubee said. "We ran the MRI and all the tests, and we felt very good about the doctor's evaluation. Cole is feeling much better than he felt a month ago. He's definitely headed in the right direction."

His last spring-training start left some questions, though. Facing the Rays last Saturday, he yielded six runs in six innings, threw 83 pitches and still didn't crack 90 mph on the radar gun. His fastball maxed out in the high-80s but mostly sat in the mid-80s.

"You don't really see velocity until May," Dubee said. "That's true with most guys. Cole hasn't been a good spring-training guy. He wouldn't make our team out of spring. He's a guy that likes a third deck and big lights. He proved that during his first couple of years and the playoff run that he had [last year]."

But Hamels' health always has been closely monitored. Last season marked the first since 2003 that he didn't make a trip to the disabled list. Including the playoffs, he threw 262-1/3 innings, by far his career-high.

Will Carroll, who tracks and studies injuries for Baseball Prospectus, is among the analysts who have suggested that the dramatically increased workload (his previous career-high was 190 innings in 2007) will leave Hamels at greater risk for an arm injury.

"Over and over, our research has shown that a 30-inning bump is not to be trifled with," Carroll told me a few weeks ago. "Is anybody immune to it? Some pitchers have avoided it. Is he the kind of guy that can handle it? Maybe, but you really don't know until you see how he reacts."

That's why today's start has so much intrigue.

"The public had concern [about Hamels] last year," Dubee said. "The public had concern two years ago. That's the job of the public, to be concerned."

***
PHILLIES (1-2) at ROCKIES (2-1)
Today, 4:10 p.m.: LHP Cole Hamels (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jason Marquis (0-0, 0.00)
Tomorrow, 8:10 p.m.: RHP Brett Myers (0-1, 6.00) vs. LHP Jorge De La Rosa (0-0, 0.00)
Sunday, 3:10 p.m.: RHP Chan Ho Park (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Aaron Cook (0-0, 7.71)
About the Rockies: In the post-Matt Holliday era, the Rockies' most recognizable star may be SS Troy Tulowitzki, who followed his superb 2007 rookie season with an injury-plagued 2008. He already has two homers in the first three games. But the key to Colorado's season will be the continued maturation of young starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales, neither of whom will face the Phillies here this weekend.
Hot: Phillies 2B Chase Utley is 4-for-11 (.364) and making everyone say, "Hip surgery? What hip surgery?"; Rockies INF prospect Ian Stewart is 4-for-6 with four RBIs.
Not: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins is 1-for-14; Rockies 3B Garret Atkins, Utley's college teammate at UCLA and the best man in his wedding, is 0-for-11.

April 9 -- SWEATING IT OUT

BY SCOTT LAUBER

DENVER -- Landed in the Mile High City a few hours ago, just in time to watch the Boston University hockey team advance to the NCAA championship with a 5-4 victory over Vermont. Definitely got some strange looks from the other ESPN Zone patrons when I applauded after BU scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal. Hey, what can I say? Had to support the alma mater.

Shortly before I boarded my Southwest flight this afternoon, the Phillies signed Tyler Walker to a minor-league contract. Here's the scouting report: He's a 32-year-old right-handed reliever with a 4.52 ERA and 34 saves in 230 career major-league appearances. Once upon a time, he was the Giants' closer, and he racked up 23 saves in 2005. But here's something you can't learn from Walker's Baseball-Reference profile:

He sweats a lot.

A lot.

I covered Walker in 2000 and 2001 when he was in the Mets' farm system, and I've never seen a pitcher perspire so much when he's on the mound. So, one day, I asked him about it. He just laughed and said, "You should see what happens when I play basketball. Nobody wants to guard me."

Ugh.

In fact, Walker's excessive sweat was the focal point of a game story in the New York Times from Sept. 8, 2002 when, then with the Mets, he "sweated out" a victory (pun intended) over the Phillies. At one point in the story, he explains, "When I get nervous, my body gets to a certain temperature, and that's all she wrote."

Seriously, though, Walker could help the Phillies later this season in the event of injuries or ineffectiveness in the bullpen. He'll first go to the Phillies' extended spring training camp in Clearwater, then most likely to triple-A Lehigh Valley. And, as we've heard so often, you never can have enough pitching.

***
OK, I have a confession: I love Denver.

Not sure what it is, exactly, about this city. I don't ski. I'm not outdoorsey. I think snow is a nuisance. But, to me, Denver is among the most underrated cities in the country. The air is clean. The streets are spotless. The people are nice. And from the 16th Street Mall (a pedestrian thoroughfare that cuts through downtown) to the restaurants in LoDo (lower downtown), it's one of my favorite cities in which to walk around.

***
Please check back before noon (Eastern time) for a post on Cole Hamels and a primer on the three-game series with the Rockies. And don't forget to follow me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter.

April 8 -- GAME 3 WRAP: WALK THIS WAY

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Well, that was a walk in the park.

Actually, it was many walks in Citizens Bank Park.

By the grace of the Braves' erratic bullpen, the Phillies scored eight seventh-inning runs, overcame a seven-run deficit and averted a three-game, season-opening sweep with a come-from-behind 12-11 victory. Simply put, the Braves' relievers couldn't find the strike zone if they had a GPS. Peter Moylan and Blaine Boyer combined to issue four bases-loaded walks in the improbable seventh inning, and the Phillies took full advantage.

But it wasn't as easy as it looked. Baseball players are trained to swing the bat, and the Phillies have several free-swingers. Matt Stairs, who confessed last October that he tries to hit a home run every time he comes to the plate, walked on four pitches but said later that he would've swung at a 3-0 pitch if he'd gotten something he liked. Shane Victorino said he had to fight himself to look at the first pitch he saw after three consecutive walks.

"You try to be patient, you look for your pitch," Stairs told me after the game. "A lot of times we get out of sync by swinging at their pitch. But I thought we did a good job of zoning in on one area and looking for a ball to drive. When it wasn't there, we let it go."

So, on Ring Day, the Phillies got their first win of 2009. If they can come up with 90 or so more, they'll give themselves a good chance to win another ring.

***
Pat Burrell got a thunderous ovation today, but his replacement had a nice day, too. Raul Ibanez (pictured-AP), playing like he badly wants to receive a ring next season, went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. I grew up watching the Yankees, and whenever a newly acquired player had his first big game, it often was said that he earned his pinstripes. I suppose Ibanez earned his red pinstripes today.

More tomorrow before I fly to Denver.

April 8 -- ABOUT THE RINGS

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, the rings finally have been revealed. As expected, Pat Burrell, Geoff Jenkins and Kyle Kendrick are here to receive their rings. Less expected, Adam Eaton also showed up, got booed loudly and waved to the crowd.

Can you say awkward?

The only players who spent considerable time with the 2008 team who aren't here are So Taguchi, Tom Gordon and Rudy Seanez. Former bench coach Jimy Williams and third-base coach Steve Smith also weren't here. Burrell, booed on Opening Day last year, got a thunderous ovation and embraced Pat Gillick.

Some fast facts about the ring, which looks pretty sharp:

-It is 14 karat white gold and has 103 diamonds totaling 3.84 karats. The 103 represent each regular-season and postseason victory.
-The top of the ring is crowned with a ruby inlay topped with a "P."
-The title "World Champions" is written along the ring's top and bottom outer rim.
-The left side of the ring features the player's name and number atop and below the Liberty Bell.
-The right side of the ring features the World Series trophy rising out of Citizens Bank Park along with the initials of both World Series teams and the number of games won by each team.

"I need to put it on two fingers," Jamie Moyer said.

Hard to believe the Phillies have to play a game after this.

***
Kendrick, by the way, will be the Opening Day starter tomorrow for Lehigh Valley against Scranton. Phil Hughes will be pitching for the Yankees. Should be a good matchup in Allentown.

April 8 -- THE RING IS THE THING

By SCOTT LAUBER

So, the Phillies' best-kept secret will be disclosed at approximately 2:15 p.m. when players and coaches receive their World Series rings.

"I'm definitely curious," Brad Lidge said yesterday. "I can't wait to see it."

Obtaining details about the ring has been like unearthing FBI intelligence. It was designed by a panel of Phillies officials, including team president David Montgomery, but all have seemingly been sworn to secrecy. Even Manuel and the players haven't seen previews. (The 1980 ring is pictured here.)

"The Marlins one [from 2003] was huge," Lidge said. "You can't wear that, ever."

But, given the magnitude of the feat for which it's awarded, can a World Series ring ever really be too large?

"There's such a thing as classy, I guess," said Lidge, who has long admired the World Series rings of close friends, including relievers Mike Timlin and Mike Myers. "And probably if it's too, too big, it takes away from the meaning of it. I don't know what it's going to look like, but it's what it means that's the important thing.

"When it all comes down to it, you don't hear guys who won the World Series talk about anything other than getting that ring. It's pretty much the symbol of it all. I'm not going to be wearing it everywhere I go, but I imagine I'll be wearing it a lot [tonight], in my house. I'll probably sleep with it on."

***
Pat Burrell and Geoff Jenkins are expected to attend today's ceremony. Also, suspended reliever J.C. Romero will be allowed to be on the field to receive his ring. Romero, by the way, has been with the team. He'll probably return to Clearwater later this month to continue staying in shape.

***
We'll try to get you a picture of the ring when it becomes available.

***
Finally, the Phillies have been invited to meet President Obama, the First Lady and Vice President Biden on Tuesday at the White House. Obama, of course, is a White Sox fan (and a pretty decent left-handed pitcher, judging by his delivery), but I'm sure he'll put his partisanship aside to meet the world champs.

April 7 -- GAME 2 WRAP: 'WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE'

"Getting off to an 0-2 start isn't what we wanted,

but we've been here before. That's kind of the good thing about it. At no point are we going to panic."
-Ryan Howard

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Short post tonight because we have to back here at the Bank in less than 12 hours. But, really, there isn't much to say after a 4-0 loss to the Braves.

The Phillies had their chances against Jair Jurrjens, but went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base. They also had several well-hit balls knocked down by a strong wind gusting to right field (Jayson Werth's shot to left field in the third inning and drives to center by Raul Ibanez in the fourth and Matt Stairs in the sixth). And, afterward, I thought Ryan Howard put things into the best perspective when he said, "We've been here before."

Indeed, slow starts have been the norm for the Phillies in recent years. Just check out the numbers:

--This is the fourth consecutive season in which they have started 0-2. In 2004 and 2006, they lost six of their first seven games. In 2007, they started 4-11 and were playing so poorly that they called a team meeting before a game in Cincinnati. Even last year, they lost 10 of their first 18 games.

--They have lost the season-opening series in five straight seasons and are 2-12 in season-opening series games under Charlie Manuel.

--Usually, the Phillies' bats are colder than the April temps, and that's the case again this year. Through two games, they are 10-for-65 (.154) and have scored one run in 18 innings. But at least they put runners on base tonight, unlike Sunday night when they were utterly silenced by Derek Lowe. The next step, it seems, is getting those runners across home plate. It'll happen, eventually.

--The Phillies are the third World Series champion in the last five years to start the following season 0-2. The 2005 Red Sox went 0-2, while the 2007 Cardinals started 0-3.

***
Looking for positives? The bullpen has retired 21 straight batters to start the season. Making his Phillies debut and his final tuneup before his start Sunday in Colorado, Chan Ho Park pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

So, at least Phillies fans in Korea are going to sleep happy.

April 7 -- GAME 2 LINEUP & MORE MYERS

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, Charlie Manuel has split the lefties for tonight's game against the Braves. Asked for his reasoning, Manuel citetd Shane Victorino's success (4-for-11) against Braves starter Jair Jurrjens (Victorino batted sixth in the opener). But you have to believe Sunday night's ninth inning, when lefty closer Mike Gonzalez retired lefty-hitting Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez with two on and one out, had something to do with Werth batting in the No. 5 spot tonight.

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, RF
6. Raul Ibanez, LF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Jamie Moyer, P

***
Also, chatted with Rich Dubee about Brett Myers. Dubee didn't have a huge problem with Myers not throwing a curveball until the second inning Sunday night, although he did say he has talked to him in the past about throwing it sooner.

"He's got four pitches, and he likes to use them," Dubee said. "Sometimes, he likes to hide the curveball a little bit. Sometimes, he likes to go through the lineup once without using it.

April 7 -- LEFTY, LEFTY, LEFTY

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, a few weeks ago, I had an interesting conversation about the Phillies' offense with Joe Sheehan, one of the knowledgeable analysts for Baseball Prospectus. In the abstract, we agreed that it makes sense for Charlie Manuel to bat Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez consecutively in the middle of the lineup. But it was Joe's contention, and he feels strongly about this, that Manuel must split up the big three left-handed run-producers.

Why?

Well, look no further than the ninth inning Sunday night.

Trailing 4-1 and facing left-handed Braves closer Mike Gonzalez, the Phillies had one on, one out and their big three lefties coming to the plate. Utley walked, but Howard struck out and Ibanez grounded out.

Game over.

Point is, the Phillies may be vulnerable to being shut down by left-handed pitchers if they keep the block of lefties together in the middle of the lineup. Gonzalez would've pitched the ninth inning no matter what. But let's say the Phillies are in a similar situation in the seventh or eighth inning against the Mets. Jerry Manuel won't have to think twice about which reliever to use. The Phillies will see lefty Pedro Feliciano, and the Mets simply can leave him in the game to face Utley, Howard and Ibanez.

Typically, Utley has success against southpaws (.280 average in his career). But lefties dominate Howard (.231 average, .786 on-base/slugging percentage), and although Ibanez batted .305 with an .837 OPS against lefties last season in Seattle, that seemingly was an aberration. For his career, he's only a .268 hitter with a .733 OPS against lefties.

Asked after Sunday night's game if he might consider changing the lineup, Manuel bristled. "We've played one game, man," he said. "What would you do?"

Well, I asked Sheehan that exact question last month. His solution is simple: At the very least, he'd bat Jayson Werth in the No. 5 spot and bump Ibanez to sixth. Werth, the Phillies' top right-handed power threat, has success against lefties (.291, .920 OPS) and would give opposing managers something to think about late in a game. For instance, if the Mets use Feliciano against Utley and Howard, they'd have to decide if they want to leave him in the game to face Werth or replace him with a right-hander who most likely would then also have to face Ibanez. (It should be noted that, before the lefties came up in the ninth inning Sunday, Werth ripped an RBI single against Gonzalez.)

"Werth eviscerates lefties," Sheehan said. "He almost has to be moved to the middle of the lineup. Now, you may get a pitching change, an intentional walk. You're not necessarily giving every manager a free shot with his lefty specialist."

Manuel has hinted that he may heed Sheehan's suggestion when the Phillies face left-handed starters or teams with multiple lefties in their bullpen. But against right-handed starters and teams with only one lefty reliever, Manuel seems to like keeping Utley, Howard and Ibanez together.

So, you play manager: How would you structure the lineup?

April 6 -- GAME 1 WRAP: DECONSTRUCTING BRETT

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, the Phillies won't go 162-0.

Oh well.

"My goodness," Jimmy Rollins said last night. "I am so heartbroken that we lost a game."

But seriously ...

What did we learn from Game 1 of 162? Well, the Braves, often overlooked in the NL East conversation, are better than people think. Derek Lowe's sinker is as good as ever, and he will help boost the Braves' rotation. And maybe, just maybe, the Phillies' lefty-leaning lineup is vulnerable to left-handed pitching. But that's a topic for another day -- or, perhaps, for later today (hint: stay tuned).

The most interesting thing I heard in the clubhouse last night was Rollins' assessment of Brett Myers' performance. Myers allowed three homers in the first two innings, putting the Phillies in an early 4-0 hole. Brian McCann swatted a changeup over the right-field fence in the first inning. Jeff Francoeur belted a first-pitch fastball to open the second, and two batters later, good-looking rookie Jordan Schafer clocked a middle-in fastball. Anyway, Rollins noted that Myers didn't throw his curveball until later in the game, which is odd because Myers' curveball is usually a pretty good pitch. So, I went back and broke down Myers' pitch selection, according to the usually reliable GameCast on MLB.com. Here's what I found.

First inning (16 pitches): 10 fastballs, 4 changeups, 2 slider/cutters
Second inning (21 pitches): 7 fastballs, 2 changeups, 8 slider/cutters, 4 curveballs
Third inning (12 pitches): 1 fastball, 1 changeup, 7 slider/cutters, 3 curveballs
Fourth inning (18 pitches): 6 fastballs, 1 changeup, 7 slider/cutters, 4 curveballs
Fifth inning (12 pitches): 6 fastballs, 1 changeup, 2 slider/cutters, 3 curveballs
Sixth inning (16 pitches): 4 fastballs, 3 changeups, 2 slider/cutters, 3 curveball, 4 intentional balls

Of the 91 pitches Myers threw (not including an intentional walk of Schafer in the sixth inning), 34 were fastballs, 12 were changeups, 28 were a slider/cutter hybrid and only 17 were curveballs. Of those 17, 12 were thrown for strikes. But Myers didn't throw a curveball until the second inning.

"It's something that Brett can learn from," Rollins said. "He didn't throw his curveball until later in the game, and that's a weapon for him. Maybe he'll start throwing it a little earlier in the game, just to get guys off his fastball and off his cutter and give them a different look or just a wrinkle."

Rollins' analysis came after Myers had already spoken to reporters, so I didn't have a chance to ask him about the curveballs (or lack thereof). But, before the game, Charlie Manuel talked about Myers' dependence on his fastball and his need to vary his pattern.

"I think Myers is learning to use all of his pitches and have command of them," he said. "But I think he still pitches off his fastball, and I think he gets in trouble a lot of times when he's trying to double-up or triple-up. I think the hitters are very intelligent, and if they're smart at all, they'll sit on some of those and they can hit it when they look for it. ... [In] spring training, he changed that pattern. The pattern that he pitches in sometimes gets him in trouble. I think he's learning to change that."

Perhaps Myers' best sequence came in the fifth inning when he fanned Kelly Johnson on four pitches -- an 83-mph slider for a called strike, a 90-mph fastball for a called strike, a 70-mph curveball that was fouled off, an 85-mph changeup for a swinging strike. Four pitches. Four speeds. Great success.

Myers said he learned some lessons last night. He didn't elaborate, but maybe this was what he was talking about.

***
I'm sure Manuel enjoyed raising the 2008 World Series championship banner up the flag pole in center field. But, generally speaking, he wasn't a fan of the pregame pomp and pageantry and the effect it may have had on the players, who were high-fiving their adoring fans one minute, then trying to get hits off Lowe the next.

"I complain about that a lot," Manuel said. "You've got to stay focused. Any time you get away from the real reason that we're there, I don't know how much it hurt. I can tell you that it did, but I don't know. I could tell you that I don't like it."

***
Also in today's News Journal, Manuel said he won't deviate from his lefty-lefty-lefty lineup just because things didn't go well in the ninth inning. ... Geoff Mosher says Myers can take a page from Pat Burrell and have a big free-agent walk year. ... It's easy to forget now, but when Chase Utley had hip surgery in November, there was no guarantee he'd even be ready by opening night. ... The Braves may not be one of the teams everyone is talking about in the NL East, but they may be pretty good. ... Kevin Tresolini talked to fans who were at the Bank last night talk about a pregame ceremony they'll never forget but refuse to live in the past by savoring 2008 for too long.

***
Day off for the Phillies today. Rollins said he'll be getting a massage. Sounds good to me.

More later.

April 5 -- OPENING NIGHT LINEUPS

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Here they are, your opening-night lineups, posted by Charlie Manuel and Bobby Cox:

BRAVES
2B Kelly Johnson
SS Yunel Escobar
3B Chipper Jones
C Brian McCann
LF Garret Anderson (moves to NL after many years with Angels)
RF Jeff Francoeur (will he have a bounce-back year?)
1B Casey Kotchman
CF Jordan Schafer (my early favorite for NL Rookie of the Year)
RHP Derek Lowe (Braves' new ace)

PHILLIES
SS Jimmy Rollins
RF Jayson Werth
2B Chase Utley (admit it: you weren't sure he'd be here)
1B Ryan Howard
LF Raul Ibanez (Pat Burrell's replacement)
CF Shane Victorino
3B Pedro Feliz
C Carlos Ruiz
RHP Brett Myers (may be the key to the season, pitching-wise)

Couple of other notes: With Utley, Howard and Ibanez, the Phillies are going lefty-lefty-lefty in the middle of the lineup. Odds are, Manuel will use this alignment against right-handed pitchers when the opposition doesn't have many lefty relievers in the bullpen. Atlanta, for instance, has only Eric O'Flaherty and closer Mike Gonzalez.

Pitching matchups for the rest of the week: Tuesday vs. Braves, RHP Jair Jurrjens vs. LHP Jamie Moyer; Wednesday vs. Braves, RHP Javier Vazquez vs. RHP Joe Blanton; Friday at Colorado, LHP Cole Hamels vs. RHP Jason Marquis; Saturday at Colorado, Myers vs. RHP Jorge De La Rosa; Sunday at Colorado, RHP Chan Ho Park vs. RHP Aaron Cook.

More later.

April 5 -- OPENING NIGHT IS HERE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

It feels like just yesterday, doesn't it? Brad Lidge uncorked one last hellacious slider, dropped to his knees, raised his arms to the heavens and struck the championship-clinching pose that Phillies fans will remember forever.

And, tonight, it starts all over again.

Happy Opening Night, everyone.

In a few hours, I'll be heading over to the Bank to join colleagues Geoff Mosher and Kevin Tresolini in bringing you all the pomp and pageantry of the Phillies' season-opener tonight against the Atlanta Braves. By now, you know the particulars: Brett Myers will be on the mound for the Phils; Derek Lowe will start for the Braves; Pat Gillick will throw the ceremonial first pitch; Miss America will sing the national anthem.

And in today's News Journal, we have a special section to help preview the 2009 season. Over the past several weeks, I have spoken to some people who have done what the Phillies are attempting to do: Repeat as world champs. It's not an easy feat. In fact, since 1978, only two teams (the 1992-93 Blue Jays and 1998-2000 Yankees) have done it. And in our cover story today, Tony Perez, Tino Martinez, Gillick and others tell us why repeating is so difficult.

Also in today's paper: As his first season as a GM dawns, Ruben Amaro Jr. says he's never satisfied with the Phillies' roster; Martin Frank believes the adversity that the Phillies overcame last season will help them to do it again in 2009; Cole Hamels struggled yesterday against the Rays, but he remains on target to start Friday night in Colorado; within the notebook, Miguel Cairo reacts to being the Phillies' 25th man and Pat Burrell homers off Hamels; in our Sunday MLB notes, I preview the NL East and make some predictions for how the division will shake out; speaking of predictions, members of The News Journal sports department offer their bold forecasts for 2009. We'll be awaiting your e-mails.

While you're checking out all of that (thanks, in advance, for reading), I'll be making my way to the Bank. Please check back later for updates, and don't forget to follow me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter.

April 4 -- CAIRO IN, ROSTER SET

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, as we suspected yesterday after Gary Sheffield signed with the Mets, the Phillies' final roster spot belongs to ...

... Miguel Cairo.

The Phillies made it official just a few minutes ago when they announced they have purchased Cairo's contract. Cairo, a 34-year-old infielder, signed a minor-league deal Feb. 15, just as spring training was dawning, and the contract stipulated that he could request his release if he wasn't on the 25-man roster by opening night. That won't be necessary now.

It's been well-documented that the Phillies have been looking for a right-handed bat off the bench. They flirted with Nomar Garciaparra. They had interest in Ty Wigginton. And, for the past few days, they talked to Sheffield's agent, Rufus Williams. In the end, though, the Phillies couldn't offer any of those guys the kind of playing time they wanted. I suppose you could say they've "settled" for Cairo, but Cairo also earned the job. He finished the spring with a .237 average, but that number was much higher for most of camp. He also showed decent power, hitting three homers in 59 at-bats after not homering in a regular-season game since 2005.

Here's a story I wrote about Cairo a few weeks ago, where he says he believes he still has some value to a contending team. So, for now, he's the 25th man. For the full roster, check out our post from yesterday.