The busy day at the park just won't end...

For the third straight year, Brett Myers will take the ball on opening day.

Following a 9-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday night, the Phillies named Myers their starter for the season opener Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves.

“Once Cole (Hamels) couldn’t start, the way we keep the rotation, (Myers) follows Cole and then (Jamie) Moyer and (Joe) Blanton," Charlie Manuel said. "That’s how we’ve had it when we won.”

“Brett can have any type of year that he wants to have, he’s that talented,” Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said of Myers, whose inconsistency led him to a stint in the minor leagues last year. “If Brett can be the same guy and prepare in the same way every five days, there’s no reason Brett can’t have a big season.”

Myers allowed one run on three hits in four innings against the Jays. He struck out three while walking none.

“I’m ready to pitch whenever, as long as they give me the chance,” Myers said. “Whenever they give me the green light, I’ll be ready.”

Just a quick rundown on the news:

Chan Ho Park has beat out J.A. Happ for the fifth spot in the team's rotation.


Ruben Amaro Jr., on Park winning the job:

"Frankly I think our entire staff thought parked pitched better, frankly. We’re a better club with him in the rotation at this time...
"He came in prepared to pitch and win that job and he deserved to be our fifth starter."


Amaro on Jenkins:

"He was a great person to have in the clubhouse – this was a tough one. He had some big hits for us at times – maybe one of the biggest hits – and was certainly a very important piece into our championship club. That said, we just felt like we were a better club making this decision to go in a different direction.”


Jenkins on being released:

"I think coming into spring training I felt like, not that there was writing on the wall, but I definitely saw that it could be an issue with all the left-handed hitters. I think in my mind, I love to be around these guys so much, I was just hoping things would work out."


Amaro on Gary Sheffield, who was released today by the Tigers:

“We have talked to his representative and we have talked to Gary – we’ll see how that plays out. We do not have a gage (if he’d accept a backup role). We had a private conversation and we’ll keep it private.”

More breaking news from Clearwater:

General Manager Ruben Amaero Jr. just informed the media that Chan Ho Park has been named the Phillies' fifth starter.

Park had been competing with J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco this spring.

More later...

The Phillies have cleared up a spot for the extra right-handed batter they'd been searching for all winter.

The team made a surprising move, releasing veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins Tuesday afternoon. The Phillies, who signed Jenkins to a two-year, $13 million deal just last offseason, owe Jenkins $6.75 million for 2009.

Barring a trade or last-minute signing, Miguel Cairo will likely replace Jenkins on the bench, giving the team a right-handed bat to go alongside Eric Bruntlett.

Jenkins, who played 10 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers before arriving in Philly, hit .246 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 115 games in his first and only season with the Phillies. As Jenkins struggled early last season, Jayson Werth emerged as the team's everyday right fielder.

I spoke with Jenkins, who admitted he could see the writing on the wall with the log jam of left-handed hitting reserves (himself, Matt Stairs and Greg Dobbs). I'm still waiting to talk with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

There does, however, feel like there's another shoe to drop. I don't have any reasoning other than the vibe in the ballpark right now.

If you're into putting two and two together, another veteran, right-handed hitter outfielder was released today: Detroit let go Gary Sheffield. But this is pure speculation on my part, I'm not sure Sheffield has the right, shall I say, makeup issues, that the Phillies talked about when they signed Raul Ibanez.

Here is today's lineup:

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

Chan Ho Park has pitched about as well as anyone could have expected this spring.

He's 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in five games. He's walked just two batters - while striking out 25 - in 21 1/3 innings.

Park finished his spring campaign strong, allowing just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of a 13-3 win over the Astros Monday.

"I’m expecting their decision to make me as the starter, that’s my goal, that’s why I signed with this team,” Park said. “I think (my performance this spring) was better than they expected."

Park, who signed with the Phils with little fanfare this winter, looks like the pitcher who stormed onto the scene with the Dodgers 12 years ago. He doesn't look like the pitcher who flamed out in Texas after signing a mammoth, five-year, $65 million contract in 2001.

Park also signed with the Phillies specifically because they were the team that said they'd allow him to compete for a starting job.

Despite J.A. Happ's equally strong spring, can the Phillies ignore Park's success. Is it bad for business to sign a player and promise him a chance to compete, but then ignore his results?

The Phils liked how Park performed in the bullpen for the Dodgers last year. But he signed here to start, and surely has pitched like a guy who has earned a chance to start.

It should be interesting to see how Park reacts if the team chooses Happ.

"I don’t know, let’s see,” Park said. “Wait, wait, wait, wait — we’ll see. Sometimes I’m crazy.”

Which led me to ask a very important followup question: "Good crazy or bad crazy?"

"I don't know - wait," said Park, with a serious look on his face. "You guys have seen me go crazy, like when the Korean guys won in the WBC."

Park was referring to his wild run around the clubhouse that ended with a Brad Lidge-at-the-end-of-the-World Series celebration after Korea beat Japan in an early-round World Baseball Classic game.

But that was good-crazy. Are the Phillies prepared to find out what bad-crazy is?

For the last two weeks, Phils pitching coach Rich Dubee has called Cole Hamels "a long shot" to make his originally-scheduled Opening Day start.

After throwing in a minor league game Monday, Hamels basically took himself out of the running - although his left elbow is no longer an issue.

When asked if he thought he needed one more exhibition tuneup before making a regular season start, Hamels said, "Definitely."

"I think that would be the best, knowing that I can go out there, hopefully go a little deeper, maybe 80 pitches, get past that fourth inning," Hamels said, laughing at the four innings he pitched, throwing 64 pitches Monday. "Pitching four innings in the big leagues doesn't help out much, the bullpen would be taxed. It's just knowing I can go out there and hit my spots - that's the key. That just happens with going out there and getting repetition."

Hamels gave up three runs on 10 hits in four innings on Monday, but was working out the kinks, bringing his curve ball into his arsenal for the first time in a game this spring.

Hamels has made two minor league starts since getting a anti-inflammatory shot 13 days ago. He said he's tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday, in an exhibition against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park and then make his regular season debut in the fourth game of the regular season on the following Friday in Colorado.

But Dubee and the team's management and medical staffs will have the final say, of course.

It's another Monday morning with news:

Marcus Giles, signed to a minor league contract two months ago, has been released.

John Mayberry Jr. and Carlos Carrasco were both optioned to minor league camp.

Reliever Mike Koplove, outfielder Jason Ellison and infielder Pablo Ozuna were all informed they will not the final cut, but they will travel with the team to Philadelphia and stay during the on-deck series against Tampa, before the Phillies open the season Sunday against the Braves.

Giles, a former All-Star with the Braves, was out of baseball last year. He was signed in early January as possible insurance for Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz, who both underwent surgeries in November. Utley and Feliz, however, will be ready for Opening Day and Giles hit .167 (6-for-36) in 19 games this spring.

The 30-year-old Giles said he saw it coming, as hit at-bats decreased in the last two weeks, but also said he would have made the same decision if he was in the Phillies' shoes.


As for Carlos Carrasco, he'll likely open the season at Lehigh Valley. His dismissal from major league camp means the fifth starter job is officially down to Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ. Park pitches today.

John Mayberry Jr., whose power put him on the radar this spring, will also likely start for the IronPigs.






With this morning's roster cuts, the Phillies don't have to make many more decisions before cutting the roster to 25 before Sunday night.

Miguel Cairo could remain with the club if they decide to break camp with 11 pitchers (so if J.A. Happ wins the fifth spot but the team decides they don't need a ffith starter to mid- to late-April, Cairo could stick around; OR if the team finds a way to trade Geoff Jenkins/Matt Stairs).

Gary Majewski is also still in play; his chances to make the club were hurt when Jack Taschner was acquired Friday. Still, Majewski, who signed a minor-league contract, could start at Lehigh Valley and come up at some point if the Phils need an extra bullpen arm. He could also stick if the team wants to keep 12 pitchers, but keep Happ stretched out as a starter - if Happ wins the fifth spot.

Mike Zagurski (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and J.C. Romero (who faces a 50-game suspension) are also still in camp, but neither will start the season with the major league team.

The only other name remaining - Bobby Mosebach, the team's Rule 5 draft selection. If he doesn't mean the Opening Day roster, he has to be offered back to the Los Angeles Angels.

Cole Hamels was scheduled to pitch today... but according to pitching coach Rich Dubee, the ace was never scheduled to pitch against the Red Sox.

Hamels was on tap to throw in a minor-league game. But an overnight dumping of wet weather, which continued into the morning, washed away that game.

According to Dubee, Hamels will pitch Monday. It hasn't been determined if that will come in a minor league game or against the Astros at Bright House Field.

Hamels has not been ruled out to start the season opener a week from tonight, but remains a long shot. I'd say he has a 10 percent chance to make that start against the Braves on April 5.

Cole Hamels, who said he was originally scheduled to pitch against the Boston Red Sox today, will pitch in a minor league game instead.

No reasoning for the switch... or if it wasn't a switch and Hamels was mistaken. Lots of folks walking around with tight lips this morning.

It's probably nothing to be concerned about. Just a communication breakdown.

Joe Blanton will take the ball against the Sox. Scott Eyre, Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson are also scheduled to pitch.


Here's the lineups:

PHILS

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. John Mayberry Jr., DH
9. Chris Coste, C


BOSOX

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Jed Lowrie, SS
3. J.D. Drew, RF
4. Jason Varitek, C
5. Chris Carter, 1B
6. Jeff Bailey, LF
7. George Kottaras, DH
8. Jorge Jimenez, 3B
9. Gil Velazquez, 2B

Left-hander Jon Lester is scheduled to pitch.





Jack Taschner arrived this morning. We chatted up with him for a little while (you can read about him in Monday's paper), but he sounds like a decent guy.

You might even say he's JackTastic. (that's just a terrible inside joke... or an idea for a t-shirt).

When the Phillies went to the Winter Meetings in December, Ronny Paulino was a Pittsbugh Pirate.

When they opened camp in Clearwater last month, Paulino was a Philadelphia Phillie.

When I went to bed, Ronny Paulino was a San Francisco Giant.

When I woke up, he was a Florida Marlin.

He still has a locker stall - filled with red uniform clothes - in the Phillies clubhouse at Bright House Field.

So here's a recap: Paulino was swapped for former Phils minor leaguer Jason Jaramillo in December, he was dealt for Giants reliever Jack Taschner Friday night.... a few hours later, the Giants spinned Paulino to the the Marlins for reliever Hector Correa.

I haven't checked in the last two minutes, but I believe Paulino is still with the Marlins.

Taschner, the second player swapped for Paulino in the last four months, is expected to arrive to Phillies camp on Sunday or Monday. He'll likely break camp as the second left-handed reliever (with Scott Eyre).

So how does manager Charlie Manuel feel about the catching tandem of Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste emerging from the foursome of Ruiz, Coste, Paulino and top prospect Lou Marson, all of whom were considered top candidate for major league jobs?

"We won the World Series with those two catchers," Manuel said.

Fair enough.

By RYAN LAWRENCE
ryanlawrence21@gmail.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ronny Paulino's stay in Philadelphia was short-lived.


On Friday night, nine days before the regular season
opener, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced in a press
release that the team had traded Paulino to San Francisco.
In exchange, the Phillies receive left-handed reliever Jack Taschner.


Paulino never played in a major league game with the Phillies. He was acquired in a December trade with Pittsburgh that sent Triple-A catcher Jason Jaramillo to the Pirates.

Taschner, who turns 31 next month, has been a staple in the San Francisco bullpen for each of the last two seasons. He was 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA in a team-high 67 games for the Giants last season.

"It gives us depth," Amaro said. "We've been looking to gain depth from the left side and Jack has done that in the past; we'll see how he fits in the mix."

The trade appears to solve two issues as the Phillies prepare for the 2009 season. With Paulino headed to San Francisco, the battle for the backup catching job is over.

Chris Coste, who shared catching duties with Carlos Ruiz last year, will be back for his fourth season in Philadelphia. Paulino was hitting .194 with one home run in 13 Grapefruit League games this spring.

"We just felt Costey was a better fit for us," Amaro said. "We didn't feel like Paulino played well enough at least in this stage of the game to take it way from him."

The trade should also help the Phillies deal with the loss of J.C. Romero. With Romero out until June 1 while he serves a 50-game suspension tied to negligence in a failed drug test, Scott Eyre was in line to be the only left-handed reliever on the Opening Day roster.

Taschner is not guaranteed to make the 25-man roster, but likely has an edge over the likes of spring training-invitees Gary Majewski and Mike Koplove. Unlike those two, Taschner is a lefty.

"He's bonafide major leaguer," Amaro said when asked if he would compete with the other relievers in camp for a job. "But we added some depth and we'll see how he hits into the puzzle."

Taschner, the Giants second round pick in the 1999 first-year player draft, is 8-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 178 career major league games. Taschner avoided arbitration with the Giants two months ago and will make $830,000 in 2009.

I happened upon this website while chatting it up with the other scribes last night in the press box. These are some pretty darn good Phils' t-shirts.

The Utley one is funny, the Urbina one is just wrong (but hilarious), but I'm partial to the Victorino one, perhaps since I hear Mr. Victorino talk quite a bit and that phrase comes out every 20 seconds.

Anyway, apparently the t-shirt shop is associated with the fan site, thefightins.com

Good stuff, boys.

We've landed in Kissimmee, the last, long-ish road trip of the eight-week Spring Training journey.

It's Phillies-Astros at Osceola Stadium. Seven more games down here in Florida until the Phils return to Philly.

Yesterday, I caught up with former Astro Eric Bruntlett, who is having a pretty darn good spring - he comes into today hitting .345.

Brett Myers, who is on a five-day pace right now that would land him on the mound for Opening Night on April 5 against the Braves, takes the mound today. Myers hasn't officially been named the Opening Day starter, but unless Cole Hamels' wows the club on Sunday, it seems naming Myers is all but a formality now.

Here are a couple of other items to fill your daily baseball appetite. In case you missed it, I caught up with Astros GM (and former Phils GM) Ed Wade the last time we came into Kissimmee (less that two weeks ago).

Also, I caught up with Mike Gill of ESPN 1490/Atlantic City yesterday. Here's your weekly edition of Talkin' Phils baseball:

iryan0326.mp3

There's no place like home... there's no place like home... there's no place like home.

I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty sure I saw several Phillies players clicking their red cleats together as we enter the final week of spring training. Hey, Florida is nice and all, but this spring training thing gets pretty monotonous about 2-3 weeks in - and, for a lot of these guys, it's Week 8.

The Phillies will leave Florida a week from today; they'll be back at Citizens Bank Park, in a World Series rematch against Pat Burrell and the Tampa Bay Rays, a week from tomorrow (Friday).

But until then, we must play out the Grapefruit League sked. Here is today's lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Jayson Werth, RF
7. Matt Stairs, DH
8. Pedro Feliz, 3B
9. Ronny Paulino, C

Carlos Carrasco is pitching.... Brad Lidge, Clay Condrey and Scott Eyre are also scheduled to get into the game against the Yankees.

With the exception of Stairs at DH and Paulino catching, this, once again, is close to the Opening Day lineup we saw Tuesday. The only difference - Werth and Ibanez have been flip-flopped.

Today that means three straight lefties in the middle of the order. So if the last two games mean anything, here's the deal: Charlie Manuel will keep the three-straight lefties thing intact against a right-hander (like today against Joba Chamberlain) and go with Utley-Howard-Werth-Ibanez, breaking up the lefties, against a left-hander (as he did Monday against Toronto's David Purcey).


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Happy Birthday Harry Kalas!

Cole Hamels had a anti-inflammation shot for his tight left elbow a week ago today. On Thursday, he threw a long-toss session.

On Saturday, he got on the mound for the first time in a bullpen, side-session. Today, his first game action in a minor league tilt.

How does his left arm feel? Is the inflammation gone?

"Yeah, oh yeah, definitely," Hamels said. "It’s a good feeling to be able to move it around, not feel it – it’s great. Just going with that, I obviously know I’m going to feel good tomorrow because everything worked out (when) I threw the bullpen. I tried to up it more here to see how it feels, and it feels good."

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Jimmy Rollins returned to camp today (with Shane Victorino).

Rollins was honored on Tuesday when he was named to the World Baseball Classic All-Tournament team. Rollins was the only member of Team USA on the team.

Rollins went 4-for-4 in Team USA's 9-4 loss to Japan in the semifinals and batted .417 with a home run and four RBIs in the tournament. He tied for the tournament lead in stolen bases, with four.

He also took over the third spot in the batting order when Chipper Jones got injured.

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Over in Dunedin, the Phils scored three times in the ninth inning to beat the Blue Jays 7-6.

The most interesting thing: Chase Utley hit a two-run home run off Toronto closer B.J. Ryan in the seventh inning. It was Utley's first home run since hip surgery.

Cole Hamels threw in a game for the first time since last week's anti-inflammatory shot for a tight left elbow. The Phils' ace looked healthy... and said he felt fine afterward.

Hamels' final line - 3 2/3 IP, no runs, one hit, one walk, five strikeouts. He threw 48 pitches, 35 for strikes.

Hamels faced 13 hitters and threw first-pitch strikes to eight of them. He'll throw again on Sunday and likely up his workload to 80 pitches.

Other lines from today:

Chan Ho Park against Blue Jays in Dunedin: 4 IP, four hits, three runs, one walk, seven strikeouts.

J.C. Romero in minor league game (following Hamels): 2 IP, no hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts.


Everything below was written after Hamels' first two innings (from my iPhone while getting sunburned down on the back fields):

Down here at the Carpenter Complex, Cole Hamels has thrown two innings so far and looks healthy.

In a minor league game against the Pirates at the Carpenter Complex, he's thrown two shutout innings so far - 20 pitches, 13 for strikes. He's allowed one hit, no walks and has chalked up two strikeouts.

Hamels likely has at least two innings left. He was scheduled to throw 50 pitches in his first game since getting an anti-inflammatory shot in his pitching elbow last Tuesday.

Cole Hamels was in Philadelphia this time last week, visiting team physician Michael Ciccotti. The Phils ace received an anti-flammatory shot in his tight left elbow.

Hamels gets back on the mound today in a minor-league game. It should be interesting to see where Phillies management flocks today - to Dunedin to watch Chan Ho Park pitch or to the back fields at the Carpenter Complex to see how Hamels responds to his first, big challenge toward prepping for the regular season.

Pithching coach Rich Dubee continues to say Hamels' chances at starting on Opening Day are slim. But he also shed light on when his top pitcher might be available.

Hamels is expected to throw 50 pitches today and Dubee wants the left-hander to throw two more times before the start of the regular season.

The third tune-up is tentatively on tap for April 3 or April 4 --- a day or two before Opening Night against the Atlanta Braves.

“Few and far between --- it’s a very, very, very small shot, if at all,” Dubee said. “But saying that isn’t saying he can’t pitch the fourth game of the season and not miss a start.”

Dubee left the door slightly ajar by saying Hamels could skip the third spring tune-up if he “throws 80 pitches and is lights out” in his next start after today.


-----------------------------------------------

Most of the time, I laugh off wild trade rumors... most come from over-caffeinated radio talk show hosts, trying to fill air time. Which is okay - they need something to talk about, and trade rumors, false or not, are probably more likely to draw call-in traffic than, say, chatting it up about Miguel Cairo.

All that said, this Lou Marson-Clay Buchholz is not completely out of line. (It was reported in the Boston Globe the other day).

Here's why it can't be completely laughed off: the Red Sox have an aging catcher in Jason Varitek and don't have anyone to take over the reigns. The Phillies, like any team, could use a young pitcher like Clay Buchholz.

But look a little closer, and remember this, too: Brett Myers is a free agent at season's end, Jamie Moyer is not getting any younger, and no matter who wins the fifth spot in the rotation, neither Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ are sure bets for long-term success in Philadelphia.

Cole Hamels (whose health is always in question) and Joe Blanton are probably the only sure bets to be in the rotation in 2010.

The Phillies also like Carlos Ruiz (as long as he hits somewhere closer to .250 and not the .219 he hit in 2008). And they have a nice crop of other young catchers blossoming in the minor leagues. Twenty-year old, former first round pick Travis D'Arnaud was rated the No.7 prospect in the organization by Baseball America this year.

Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't comment on trade rumors. While I still don't think this will happen, I'm not going to laugh it off, either.


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With the WBC guys back, the Phillies are trotting out a lineup for the trip to Dunedin today against the Blue Jays that looks an awful lot like the one you'll see on April 5 for the regular season opener.

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. Chris Coste, DH
9. Carlos Ruiz, C

Chan Ho Park is pitching; back at the Carpenter Complex, Hamels will be joined by Joe Blanton and J.C. Romero in a minor league game.

Speaking of Opening Day lineup, it sure looks like Brett Myers will be making his third straight Opening Day start. The Phils posted the pitching schedule for the next week and Myers looks like the only possible option.

Jamie Moyer's next start is tabbed for Saturday... meaning he would most likely go again in the Grapefruit League finale here next Thursday.... meaning he's not pitching Opening Day on two day's rest.

After today, Joe Blanton will pitch again on Sunday.... meaning, five days of rest puts him on tap for Friday at Citizens Bank Park in the on-deck series opener against the Rays... meaning he also isn't pitching on Sunday, April 5.

Myers is pitching this Friday.... and then again next Tuesday. And, whaddyaknow, five day's rest puts him smack dab on for Sunday, April 5 against the Braves.

Busy day here at Bright House... call it, Moving Day.

After the game, the Phillies re-assigned infielder Jason Donald and pitchers Dave Borkowski and Jake Woods to minor league camp.

Earlier this morning, Kyle Kendrick, top catching prospect Lou Marson and infielder Brad Harman were optioned to minor league camp.

There's one reason for the body shifting - there is just over a week left down here in Clearwater and the Phillies will get two bodies back in Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino on Tuesday,

We just got through talking to Kyle Kendrick, who was optioned to minor league camp this morning (read about it below).

Kendrick said he was both "upset" and "surprised" initially, but will go to minor league camp with "a clear mind."


"When I came up, I was a one-pitch pitcher," Kendrick said, referring to the sinker that helped him cruise in his first summer in Philadelphia. But major league hitters adjusted and from the second half of last year to this spring, Kendrick failed to master an effective secondary pitch.

Now that he doesn't have to worry about results in battling for the fifth starter's spot, Kendrick can focus all of his energies on working on those pitches - including a changeup he's been his experiment this spring.

"I know what I need to do, and that's a good thing," Kendrick said.

Breaking news: Kyle Kendrick's bid to win the fifth starter's spot is over.

Kendrick, who won 21 games in the last two seasons for the Phillies, has been optioned to minor league camp. The Phillies announced the news before Monday's game with the Yankees at Bright House Field.

Additionally, the Phillies sent catching prospect Lou Marson and infielder Brad Harman to minor league camp, too. Although not entirely not surprising, Kendrick is the bombshell of the transaction.

Kendrick was a fixture of the Phillies rotation for the greater part of the last two seasons. He was called up in June of 2007, when the team was swamped with pitching injuries, and thrived in Philadelphia.

His second season didn't go quite as well. From July 11 to September 9, Kendrick went 3-6 with a 7.39 ERA in 11 starts.

His downward turn cost him a spot in the rotation, and later, a spot on the postseason roster, too.

Kendrick struggled for the most part this spring (1-3, 9.20 ERA). Although his most recent start was his best (allowing two earned runs in five innings), Kendrick has been behind J.A. Happ (0-0, 3.60 ERA this spring) and Chan Ho Park (1-0, 1.54 ERA) in the race for the vacant fifth spot in the rotation this spring.

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Not a good day for the No.38.

Former Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling announced his retirement today... from his blog.

A week ago, it was manic Monday in Clearwater as news circulated that Cole Hamels and his aching elbow were flying back to Philly. Today, it's about the polar opposite feeling - ain't nuthin' goin' on.

Quiet and slow morning. No lineup posted for today's game yet.

What we do know is this -- J.A. Happ is scheduled to pitch in the major league game against the Yankees while Jamie Moyer will throw behind Bright House in a minor league game at the same time.

Seen and heard in the clubhouse: A picture of the Japanese flag was taped to Jason Donald's locker stall. Donald, who played for Team USA in the Olympics, said it was from a minor league trainer who hails from Japan.

So what did Donald do with the flag? He walked a few steps to the left and taped it on Chan Ho Park's locker cubby. Japan, of course, beat the United States last night in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic and meets Park's countrymen, Korea, in the WBC championship game tonight.

Here is more on Donald, by the way.

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Former Phillies File:


-- Adam Eaton pitches today for the Orioles against the Minnesota Twins. After his most recent start, Eaton is looking like a strong candidate to land in Baltimore's rotation. Reminder: the O's come to Philadelphia the weekend on June 19-21.

-- Gavin Floyd used his breakout 2008 season to break the bank. I was reading Floyd's entry in Baseball Prospectus last week, and although I don't have it with me and can't remember it word for word, it wasn't exactly an endorsement for the former top Phils prospect. The people at BP expect Floyd to struggle this year. Following this contract, it should be interesting to see who was right - White Sox management or the BP stat gurus.

-- Also, the guy the Phillies got for Floyd, Freddy Garcia, makes his latest bid to return to the major leagues today when he squares off with fellow fifth starter candidate Livan Hernandez in an Mets intra-squad game today.
This could very well be Garcia's last shot - he's 0-3 with a 16.71 ERA this spring. He has allowed 15 runs (13 earned) and 14 hits in seven Grapefruit League innings. Yikes.

The 2 1/2-hour, early morning trek to Fort Myers made blogging pretty much impossible in the morning.

Before we get started, here is your Phillies lineup for their tilt with the Red Sox today:

1. Eric Bruntlett, 3B
2. Jayson Werth, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Matt Stairs, DH
6. John Mayberry, Jr., RF
7. Miguel Cairo, SS
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Brett Myers, P

Jason Donald (ankle) took batting practice and will get into the game, according to Charlie Manuel.

Most of the Red Sox starters are playing and Josh Beckett is pitching.

The last time I saw Josh Beckett against the Phillies in spring training came two years ago, when I wasn't covering the team but came down to Clearwater with my dad for the weekend. In a Phils-Red Sox game at Bright House, the benches cleared after Ryan Howard and Beckett jawed back and forth... apparently Beckett took umbrage to Howard watching a home run.

Should be interesting if sparks fly again today in Fort Myers...
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Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler rarely makes a spring training road trip. But he's here today.

Here is Wheels' 2008 highlight, in case you missed it.

Five days after flying back to Philly, Cole Hamels was back on the mound Saturday morning for a bullpen session.

It went fine.

We talked with Hamels afterward and he said there wasn't any pain or inflammation. Pitching coach Rich Dubee simulated a two-inning scenario where Hamels sat down for a five-minute period before throwing again. The ace lefty, who said the tightness came during rest in between innings or after throwing, said Saturday that was no longer the case.

Hamels said the next step will be to throw in a game, which he believes will happen Tuesday out on the minor league fields behind Bright House Field.

Hamels was noncommittal on whether he felt better about starting Opening Day - "That's like the furthest thing from my mind," Hamels said.

If Hamels throws Tuesday, he would be on tap to pitch again on Sunday, March 29 against the Red Sox - a full week before Opening Day. The math doesn't quite add up if the Phillies want Hamels to throw three times before Opening Day, so it would be interesting to see how the scheduling plays out.

UPDATE: Hamels will throw in a minor league game Tuesday, according to Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr.; Joe Blanton will also pitch in that game.
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The most surprising item in Saturday's starting lineup - no Chan Ho Park.

The fifth starter candidate tweaked his left hamstring in his last Grapefruit League game Sunday against the Cardinals. The Phillies decided to play it cautious and hold Park back - like Hamels, he threw a bullpen Saturday morning.

And, like Hamels, Park didn't report any pain while talking to reporters afterward. Park said he believes he's on tap to start in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

UPDATE: Amaro confirmed that, yes, Park will throw in Dunedin Tuesday.

Here's the rest of your Saturday lineup that will face the Minnesota Twins:

1. Miguel Cairo, SS
2. Geoff Jenkins, RF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. John Mayberry, CF
6. Matt Stairs, LF
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B
8. Chris Coste, C
9. Kyle Kendrick, P

Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge are also scheduled to pitch.

Huge spring training matchup with the Phillies and Cardinals today (can you tell we're all getting a little tired of the monotony of exhibition games?

Here are your lineups:

PHILS

1. Eric Bruntlett, SS
2. Jayson Werth, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Pedro Feliz, 3B
7. Geoff Jenkins, RF
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Carlos Carrasco


CARDS

1. Skip Schumaker, 2B
2. Rick Ankiel, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Chris Duncan, LF
5. Khalil Greene, SS
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Joe Thurston, 3B
8. Adam Wainwright, P
9. Colby Rasmus, RF


-Top of things I don't get - why Tony LaRussa, who invented baseball, of course, thinks it's better to hit the pitcher eighth.

-Bill Parcells visited the clubhouse. I guess he's a pretty big deal in the football world. In the baseball world, he's the guy sitting next to Sam Perlozzo, looking like his long lost brother.


-I've probably mentioned this before, but no one matches Marcus Giles in enthusiasm. He walks over to the lineup, and says, "Nope... all right" after his name isn't in it. Then he sees Carlos Carrasco walking by and yells, "You're hitting today, dude. Swing hard in case you hit it" and gives the rookie a fist pump.


-Ryan Howard gave me the stink eye. As you may have read yesterday, he drew my alma mater, Clemson, in Brad Lidge's Field of 64 Spread Pool. Howard also drew Cal, which lost to Maryland. The Phillies first baseman shook his head, and said he was happy to "make a donation" to his teammate this year.

-And lastly, a picture of Rachel McAdams. Why? Because when I did a google image search for "Sam Perlozzo," this was among the results. And that's when it hits you - your life has turned into scouring the internet for pictures of Sam Perlozzo. For that, here's Rachel:

Cole Hamels' two-day break from throwing a baseball ended this morning.

The Phils' ace, who flew back to Philly earlier this week with tightness in his elbow, played long toss with Jamie Moyer. General manager Ruben Amaro said Hamels got up to 150-feet in the long-toss and was happy with his left-hander's progress.

"He threw with Jamie and threw well... he'll long toss again tomorrow," Amaro said. "We'll see if he comes out of that all right (and if that's the case) he'll probably be on the mound in a few days."

Did Hamels report any soreness?

"Only where he got the shot," Amaro said with a smile, referring to the anti-inflammatory injection Hamels had in his left arm Tuesday morning.

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In other injury news, Chan Ho Park reported soreness in his left hamstring, but Amaro didn't believe it was anything to be concerned about. Amaro said the team might flip Park with Carrasco or another pitcher if he needs an extra day.

Park is tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday at Bright House Field against the Minnesota Twins.