Phillies' hot dates in 2011

Wednesday, March 30: The final exhibition game, against Pittsburgh at Citizens Bank Park. Please note the 4:05 start.

Friday, April 1: The Phils open up with the Astros coming to CBP. Roy Halladay vs. Brett Myers in the opener. Whichever-stud-Charlie-wants vs. J.A. Happ in Game 3?

Tuesday, April 5: The dysfunctional Mets make their first visit.

Tuesday, April 12: The first trip to Washington to see old friend Jayson Werth.

Friday, May 20: The Cliff Lee-less Texas Rangers come to town for three.

Tuesday, June 28: A midweek series against the Red Sox figures to be the toughest ticket of the regular season. The Yankees are not on the Phillies' schedule.

Tuesday, July 12: The last Phillies pitcher to start the All-Star Game was Terry Mulholland in 1993. This year's game is in Phoenix.

Tuesday, July 26: The world champion Giants come to Citizens Bank Park. Note to Ryan Howard: SWING!

Sunday, Aug. 7: The final game of a four-game set at San Francisco and the seventh game against the Giants in two weeks. Shame they couldn't get to a seventh game last October.

Sunday, Sept. 11: If they don't get their acts together, this could be the first Sunday without the NFL. It'll sting even more if the Phils aren't in first.

Wednesday, Sept. 28: The Phillies end the year with a six-game road trip starting in New York and ending in Atlanta. It's the first time since 1990 the regular season ends on a day other than Sunday. It'll allow the playoffs to start on the weekend and end before November.