Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Typically, teams like to configure their corner outfielders by placing the strongest arm in right field, where the throws to third base are longer. The Phillies' strongest arm is Domonic Brown's, and he has started every game in left field.
Laynce Nix made two throws to home plate from right field Friday that arrived well late.
"Nix and [John] Mayberry have both played a lot of right field," Charlie Manuel said. "Domonic has played left and right. I kind of like him better in left because of how he moves and everything."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Billy Butler, Kansas City's lone All Star from 2012, swung a bat in the on-deck circle. Butler was neutralized without the advantage of the designated hitter in a National League park. Charlie Manuel saw him standing there in the sixth inning, and he did not want the Royals' best hitter beating him.
The Phillies infielders converged on Kyle Kendrick at the mound.
"I felt strong," Kendrick said. "I would have liked to face Butler there. It's not my decision, but I respect it."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The bunting is hanging from Citizens Bank Park. The parking lots are filled with tailgaters. The sun is shining and a once-ominous forecast yielded to perfect April weather.
It's the home opener in South Philadelphia.
The Phillies are 3-6 in openers at Citizens Bank Park. This opener is unlike any in 131 years of Phillies history. It is the first time the home slate starts with an American League team.
Phillies centerfielder Ben Revere can’t wait to play his first regular season game at Citizens Bank Park. Speaking by his locker before this afternoon’s home opener against the Kansas City Royals, Revere, who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins, is expected to ignite the Phillies offense with his speed.
As far as he is concerned, the opener couldn’t come soon enough.
“First (regular season) game in a new ball park, I know how excited the Phillies fans are,” Revere said. “I am excited, it’s going to be a big festival today so I am really pumped up about it.”
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
ATLANTA – Rich Dubee continues to see progress even though the desired results remain elusive for Roy Halladay.
“As far as Doc’s stuff, I feel very good about it,” the Phillies’ pitching coach said Thursday after watching Halladay record only 10 outs – nine via strikeout – in Wednesday night’s 9-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. “I think he continues to build. Like I said his last two outings in spring training, he’s starting to build momentum. Is he there yet? No. But I thought his stuff continues to improve. The one thing he’s not doing, he’s not commanding it like he needs to.”
Dubee also touched on a number of other subjects about Halladay’s bizarre seasonal debut in which the two-time Cy Young Award winner needed 95 pitches to cover 3 1/3 innings, but recorded more strikeouts than any starting pitcher since 1900 in that short of an outing.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — For a team that claims it cares little about pitch velocity, the Phillies are not adept at hiding the truth. When Roy Halladay made a minor-league start this spring, pitching coach Rich Dubee peeked at the radar gun after every pitch. Manager Charlie Manuel frequently speaks of Halladay's velocity and its eventual improvement.
And the pitcher himself, the man who said he does not stare at radar guns or pay any semblance of attention to velocity readings, now concedes his slowed velocity bred bad habits.
"I was just trying to be too picky, too fine," Halladay said of his 2013 debut outing. "Last year, feeling the way you do, you think, 'I can't throw an 86 m.p.h. fastball to a general zone, it's going to get hit.' So you get to the point where you start to get picky."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — For the second straight day, Delmon Young played a few innings in right field during an extended spring training game. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. likened it to the start of spring training for Young, who is recovering from ankle surgery.
"He’s still got a little bit of a gimp," Amaro said. "But he’s running a little bit smoother. ... Just looking at some of the film for [Tuesday], he’s moving better."
The Phillies will probably be without Young for at least the month of April. Once activated, Young will receive a $225,000 bonus, so there is no reason to rush him. He has not played right field since 2007.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — Ezequiel Carrera spent eight days in baseball limbo. The setting was Columbus, Ohio, where Carrera lives. He went to the gym. He waited for a phone call.
The Phillies claimed him off waivers Tuesday from the Cleveland Indians. He arrived to Turner Field in time for early batting practice. Charlie Manuel, his new manager, issued a brief scouting report of the 25-year-old outfielder. "I knew he showed up," Manuel said, and that was a fine start.
"We'll see what we got," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — Charlie Manuel made no changes to his lineup for Game 2 after scoring five runs opening night. The same unit will play behind Roy Halladay, who is shooting for his 200th career win.
Even with a lefty, Paul Maholm, pitching for Atlanta, Manuel saw no need for a different combination.
"I've got the same lineup," Manuel said. "I don't know how much more I can change. It is what it is. I can change anything I want to. But that's what it is."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — There are no expectations for Roy Halladay when he makes his 2013 debut Wednesday, and it is a strange dynamic. This is Roy Halladay, the most dependable pitcher in this millennium, a model to pitchers everywhere, a man whose work ethic is unparalleled.
No one knows what will happen when he launches a baseball from his right arm.
Both Halladay and pitching coach Rich Dubee spoke of doing more with less during spring training. How much less electricity is contained in Halladay's arm? He reached 90 m.p.h. with his fastball in Grapefruit League play. Mostly, his stuff sat between 87-89 m.p.h.
