Posted: Friday, February 25, 2011, 1:25 PM | 9 comments |
 

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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It's getting a bit dusty in these parts. My apologies, but truthfully, there isn't much happening in Camp Clearwater right now. The workout this morning consisted of light batting practice and few side bullpen sessions for pitchers. 

Many players will participate in this afternoon's annual Bill Giles golf tournament. Some will not. They will enjoy an afternoon off.

The Florida State game was an appetizer to Grapefruit League play, which begins Saturday. Cole Hamels takes the mound and will most likely spend two innings out there. Will be interesting to see him. The reviews have been glowing thus far during workouts.

Chase Utley will not play again Saturday. Charlie Manuel says it's general body soreness that is limiting the second baseman. Utley declined comment and left the clubhouse when approached by reporters Friday.

So there's that.

In addition to Utley, Placido Polanco, Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz will stay behind Saturday. They'll work out and not participate in any game action. Standard stuff.

Here's the lineup for the opener:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Ross Gload, DH
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Ben Francisco, CF
6. Domonic Brown, RF
7. Jeff Larish, 3B
8. Brian Schneider, C
9. Wilson Valdez, 2B

There is also a minor-league B game Saturday morning against Toronto. (Also referred to as the Jamie Moyer Special.) It's at Bright House Field. It's free and open to the public. First pitch is 10 a.m. Be there sharp.

The lineup:

1. Michael Martinez, CF
2. Harold Garcia, 3B
3. Brandon Moss, LF
4. Tagg Bozied, DH
5. Matt Rizotti, 1B
6. Matt Miller, RF
7. Eric Kratz, C
8. Freddy Galvis, SS
9. Cesar Hernandez, 2B

Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.

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Posted by Matt Gelb @ 1:25 PM  Permalink | 9 comments
9
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:10 PM, 02/25/2011
    The game will be televised by NY's Yes network. Does Comecast have it? I remember Comcast carrying the New York channels and the Chicago Cubs channel in the past.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:22 PM, 02/25/2011
    Never mind, the MLB network will carry the game.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:42 PM, 02/25/2011
    AM I THE ONLY PERSON IN PHILADELPHIA WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS UTLEY "BODY SORENESS" THING? I mean, that sounds a LOT like it's pretext for something else actually being wrong.

    Matt - throw us a bone here. Is Chase limping? Is he working out? Is he participating in team activities????
    — Philth
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:23 PM, 02/25/2011
    I'm also concern. He started doing some kind of 'different' training this off season and came to camp stronger and now this. Apparently he added weight lifting to his offseason regime. I'm not that old, only 50, but I'm old school. And when I was playing weight lifting and baseball were like oil and vinegar. I remember the great Robbie Alomar changing his offseason training routine when he was acquired by the Mets and he wasn't the same player after that. Was that the problem? I don't know for sure but he went downhill very quickly. Juan Gonzalez and Ruben Sierra were two pretty good players who started weightlifting and became injury-prone quickly. Don't get me wrong, I believe players should be in shape, but you can accomplish that by running and doing other baseball drills. Like John Kruk told an old woman once: "Lady, I'm not an athlete, I'm a baseball player.''
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:24 PM, 02/25/2011
    concerned
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:09 PM, 02/25/2011
    Thanks to the Eagles suckitude, and the fact that the NHL playoffs are not yet here, this weekend's 2 games against the Yankees are the highlight so far of my 2011 sports year. We've obviously had slim pickings this year...
    — Dan in Holmesburg
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:03 PM, 02/25/2011
    Not the way to start a season, "body soreness" my a**. Something's up!
    — JBinPA
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:27 PM, 02/25/2011
    In related news, the sky is falling. Look, do I wish everyone was ready to go from day one? Sure. But I expect that the best second baseman in the game (and one of the top 5-10 players overall), will make another run at the MVP award.
    — schmenkman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:13 AM, 02/26/2011
    Thank you Matt Gelb for admitting that there is nothing to write about. Honesty in journalism is refreshing.
    — Ron


9 comments
About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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