Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2009, 12:38 PM | 18 comments |
 

Phillies' Werth hurt, Burrell bats for Rays
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Inquirer staff writer Jim Salisbury reports from Phillies camp in Clearwater, Fla.

Checking in before the Phillies play Pat Burrell and the Tampa Bay Rays today at Bright House Field, where it is 77 degrees with a home-run wind blowing out to left. 

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Jayson Werth’s first start of the spring was postponed today.

Werth was scratched from the lineup with a strained right shoulder, suffered in batting practice on Friday.

Werth, who emerged as the Phils’ starting rightfielder last season and signed a two-year, $10 million contract this winter, did not play in the first three games of the exhibition season. That absence was attributed to a general lack of readiness for game action.

Manager Charlie Manuel ``gave me a few days to get my legs going. They were slow coming around,’’ Werth said today.

He said the shoulder problem is unrelated.

``I reached for a ball in batting practice and tweaked it,’’ he said.

Werth said the shoulder strain was mild and that he hopes to play Monday.

He was replaced in today’s starting lineup by John Mayberry Jr.

 

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Jason Donald is making his fourth straight start, and third in a row at third base.

 

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Burrell is batting fourth in the Rays lineup.

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Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 12:38 PM  Permalink | 18 comments
18
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:50 PM, 02/28/2009
    Donald at third is interesting... Why not Dobbs at third and Donald at second? I would understand if Dobbs was in rightfield to replace the injured Werth, but Mayberry is in right.
    — Lehigh Philly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:16 PM, 02/28/2009
    Lehigh, because Manuel is in Clearwater and watches these guys practice everyday. You my friend are not...
    — Giojr24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:35 PM, 02/28/2009
    so that he can hopefully take over after Feliz is done, he has no spot anywhere else in the infield long term
    — GreenReaper
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:53 PM, 02/28/2009
    Giojr, you're an idiot. Manuel isn't responsible for the infield.
    — rich_gelman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:00 PM, 02/28/2009
    rich-gelman, peolple who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Chalie Manuel is responsible for EVERYTHING.
    — sdlmedford
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:07 PM, 02/28/2009
    Sounds like Feliz might be slow to return & they want to see if Donald can handle third
    — ChekUrFax
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:17 PM, 02/28/2009
    I firmly believe Donald IS the 3rd baseman of the future. Feliz is good as gone after this season.
    — ronin32
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:44 PM, 02/28/2009
    I hope this Werth thing get over with QUICK I want to see him on the field!
    — Jason - Altoona, PA
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:46 PM, 02/28/2009
    I AM in clearwater, and believe it or not, it will be cold tonight (40 degrees). Presently 75 and breezy. That's the report!
    — The Young Geezer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:52 PM, 02/28/2009
    Feliz if good has gone and he should take Jenkins with him, what a WASTE he is?
    — rapbuffy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 PM, 02/28/2009
    lol..i'm in central fla, our febuary evenings are always in lo to mid 50's....so whats the point of giving a weather report? philly is a cold weather team they're used to it.they'll be ok...............lets go Phillies
    — t_darb_56
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:00 PM, 02/28/2009
    You mean waste like, World Series winning RBI? Right, waste. What a dope.
    — Muck the Fets
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:19 PM, 02/28/2009
    So Werth signs a big contract and doesn't bother to get in shape for the season?
    — FIREMARK
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:37 PM, 02/28/2009
    Feliz is doing exactly as expected, and in line with his career numbers. .250 average, on base percentage around .300. Will hit about 20 HR and be an excellent fielder. As long as the Phils have great hitters in Howard and Utley, you can afford to sacrifice some offense for some great D...
    — 93phils
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:34 AM, 03/01/2009
    Hey. It's spring trainning...Bigger story.. Dawkins leaves Eagles and signs with Denver...
    — STEVE5444


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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.

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