Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2012, 10:07 AM | 25 comments |
 

Qualls only one missing as camp begins
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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Thirty-four of the 35 pitchers and catchers have reported to Phillies camp for the beginning of spring training. The lone absentee is righthander Chad Qualls, who was excused for personal reasons.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he expects Qualls to report Tuesday. Qualls signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal late in the offseason and could challenge for the primary setup role behind Jonathan Papelbon.

More than a few position players have reported early. Among them: Chase Utley, Hunter Pence, John Mayberry Jr., Ty Wigginton, Jim Thome, Domonic Brown and Juan Pierre. Ryan Howard has also spent a significant time in Florida but was not present Sunday.

Thome, most noticeably, was looking svelte. The 41-year-old wants to play first base and to do that, he spent a great deal of the winter pushing his body.

Other notes:

- Antonio Bastardo is the owner of a new Rolex, courtesy of Jonathan Papelbon. Bastardo surrendered his No. 58 for Papelbon, who calls himself Cinco Ocho and signed for $50,000,058.

- Some other non-roster players have reported early, too. They include Tyson Gillies, Kevin Frandsen, Pete Orr (now rightfully wearing No. 4), Scott Podsednik and Harold Garcia.

Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Posted by Matt Gelb @ 10:07 AM  Permalink | 25 comments
25
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:11 AM, 02/19/2012
    Gelb ... send pictures
    — shawnmac
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:44 PM, 02/19/2012
    @shawnmac: Agreed.

    Hopefully you are not looking for nasties of RAJ and MontCo in compromising positions for future post opportunities but more of the Halladay Hot Rod sort? Clearly those of Blanton and his bad haircut and goatee are not entertaining nor enlightening.

    Personally, seeing examples of the stacks of Philabons $50B (sic) would be interesting too.

    If Chad Qualls has any hope of pitching this season for a major league club, personal reasons and permission to be late aside, he'd better get in today. 35 pitchers vying for 12 slots - maybe? OMG. Pictures at 11.
    — 24sDad
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 AM, 02/19/2012
    Pitchers and catchers...ahhhhhhhh!
    — mmislove
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 AM, 02/19/2012
    And what's Bastardo's # now?
    — calm weather
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:47 AM, 02/19/2012
    Hope 58's save % is better than the Bryz.
    — GreenWing
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:55 AM, 02/19/2012
    Where's Jimmy?
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:59 AM, 02/19/2012
    i think you have a few extra zeros there, i hope we are not paying papelbon 50 BILION
    — CT Flyers fan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:10 PM, 02/19/2012
    CT Flyers fan - I think you need to go back to elementary math. Matt had 50 million correct, there were not any extra zeros.

    50
    500
    5,000
    50,000
    500,000
    5,000,000 5 million
    50,000,000 50 million (this is what Matt posted)
    500,000,000 5 hundred million
    5,000,000,000 5 billion
    50,000,000,000 50 billion
    — scubapro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:03 AM, 02/19/2012
    Maybe Qualls will be later than JRoll this year?
    — BammBamm
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:10 AM, 02/19/2012
    I like the fact that Utley, Pence, Brown, Thome and Wigginton reported early. They want to win. We have a lot of hope. Aren't you glad we have the Phillies to root for instead of the Mets?
    — OBLawyer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:12 AM, 02/19/2012
    I didn't know he signed a deal for 50 billion....wow! salaries have really gotten out of hand...
    — turbofan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:15 AM, 02/19/2012
    Howard has been taking ground balls for the past week, and he is not moving that well.
    — AUDUBONRON
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:18 AM, 02/19/2012
    Bastardo just traded the Rolex to Ruben for a permanent seat up front on the plane.
    — mmislove
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:21 AM, 02/19/2012
    50 billion buys a lot of rolexs
    — dubsman24


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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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