The 2012 regular season schedule was released a few weeks ago.

Quietly, the 2012 spring training schedule must have come out recently, too. (It's listed as a "tentative" schedule, so, technically, games or game times could be changed. But that rarely happens).

The first game of the spring schedule is on Leap Year day: Wednesday, February 29 vs. Florida State.


The Grapefruit League schedule opens three days later, on Saturday, March 3 at Clearwater's Bright House Field against the New York Yankees. It's a home-and-and-home three game series with the Yankees, actually.

The Phils are in Tampa on Sunday March 4 (at the place formerly known as Legends Field) before playing host to the Yankees again on Monday, March 5.

For the second straight spring, there are no night games on the docket. (Although that is always subject to change, I'm sure).

The last game of the spring sked is on Sunday, April 1 at Disney World against the Braves. The next day - Monday, April 2 - the Phils return to Citizens Bank Park to host the first of two exhibition games against Pittsburgh.

The 2012 regular season begins on Thursday, April 5 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.