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Paul Clemens learning from Phillies veterans

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The blue tables on either end of the Phillies clubhouse at Bright House Field are typically used by players for breakfast and lunch. For Paul Clemens, it is where he gleans advice from veteran pitchers such as Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The blue tables on either end of the Phillies clubhouse at Bright House Field are typically used by players for breakfast and lunch. For Paul Clemens, it is where he gleans advice from veteran pitchers such as Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon.

"I just sit next to them and listen," said Clemens, who will start Sunday's exhibition against visiting University of Tampa. "I try to sit around and soak up as much as I can."

Clemens said the Phillies veterans are guiding him through the mental aspects of the game.

"They've been real good to me," he said. "Talking about how they set hitters up, how they approach ball games, what they do, stuff like that."

Clemens was told Friday he would start Sunday. He will be relieved by lefthanders Elvis Araujo and Andy Oliver and righthanders Phillippe Aumont, Hector Neris, and Nefi Ogando. All six pitchers are competing for roster spots.

It will be Clemens' first start since last July. He said he will throw two innings or 30 pitches. Clemens spent most of last season as a reliever with the Houston Astros and their triple-A affiliate. His best shot at making the Phillies is likely as a long reliever.

"He could be a versatile guy for us," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He'd be in the competition for a bullpen spot. He has the ability of going long."

Clemens joined the Phillies in November as a minor-league free agent. He is one of five nonroster pitchers in camp. He throws a fastball, curveball, and change-up. His fastball sits around 93 m.p.h.

"Everything is where it needs to be," Clemens said. "Everybody is working on stuff, but that's what the minor leagues is for. Here it's just about getting your job done."

Leading off. Odubel Herrera, who has impressed so far in spring training, will bat leadoff and play center field Sunday. The Phillies selected him in the Rule 5 draft in December after he was left unprotected by the Texas Rangers. He was a middle infielder with Texas and started transitioning to the outfield this winter in Venezuela, where he hit a league-leading .372 to earn MVP honors.