TRUSTS CHOOCH IN A PINCH
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- For an idea of how serious Ryan Howard and the Phillies are taking the ESPN report that the team has had internal discussions about proposing a Howard for Albert Pujols trade to St. Louis, we present this scene:
As Howard discussed the rumor with reporters this morning, Shane Victorino walked through the clubhouse and chanted, "Albert! Albert! Albert!"
Yeah.
"I don't believe in anything until it's done," Howard said. "For me, I didn't really pay attention to it."
Of course, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has categorically denied the story. And even if the Phillies had internal discussions about trading a player (I'd imagine this happens occasionally.) it's hard to believe these internal discussions were very serious.
But Howard discussed it this morning.
"I really don't have anything to say about it," Howard said. "Truthfully, I can go back to all the stuff that happened when I was in double-A -- all the talk about trade rumors. I don't know anything about anything. I'm not really focused on it. If that were the case -- I don't know if it is or not -- it is what it is. You just keep going out there and doing your thing. If you get a call saying you're trade, then you're traded. Until that happens, I'm still a Phillie. I'm still here. Let's ride it out."
And that's that.
THE LINEUP
The Phillies are boarding a bus for Bradenton, Fla., where Roy Halladay will make his third Grapefruit League start.
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Placido Polanco 5
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Jayson Werth DH
6. Ben Francisco 7
7. John Mayberry 8
8. Ross Gload 9
9. Carlos Ruiz 2
Chad Durbin and David Herndon will also pitch in relief.
Meanwhile, Jamie Moyer will start his third B game of the spring over in Dunedin, Fla., against the Blue Jays.
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.
To submit a question for Matt Gelb's Phillies mailbag, click here.
 | Join on Facebook |  | Follow on Twitter |
