Fittingly the Philies open the 2009 spring training with pitchers and catchers reporting on Valentines Day!   An offseason love story, spurred by winning the 2008 World Series,  between the team and it’s fans thus comes to conclusion this day as it is time to get back to the true business of baseball….playing !

Skipper Charlie Manuel told the troops that it is time to put 2008 behind and begin the focus on the new season.  Resting on laurels will not be tolerated either by the skip, the veteran core of the team or at the very least, the fans!  I watched an interview with Jamie Moyer and he addressed that very same thing and how anxious he was to get started, so much so that he had trouble sleeping the night before camp opening!

Brett Myers arrived at camp as a much slimmer version, reportedly losing 30 pounds!  Myers vows to start 2009 in a much more positive fashion that he did 2008 and thus dedicated himself to a more vigorous off season workout regimen.   Myers is in the last year of a contract and is eligible for free agency after the season if he and the team do not agree on an extension.

J.C. Romero is in camp albeit will not go north with the big club as he must serve a 50 game suspension for the use of performance enhancing “vitamins”.  Romero tested positive for a banned MLB substance in 2008 and is forced to sit out almost a third of the 2009 season. 

Adam Eaton is also in camp but with little or no chance at making the ballclub, Eaton is due a large sum of cash for the final year of the contract he signed three years ago but has little shot at gaining a starting spot with the Fightins this spring.  Eaton has stated that he will not accept a minor league assignment therefore the Phillies will either have to release him or attempt to trade him, any team that has interest will most likely sit and watch awaiting his release rather than reqlinquish anything in trade.

There will be a battle for the fifth starter’s spot…….. Chan Ho Park, Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ and Carlos Carrasco will attempt to impress the skipper enough to earn the rotation spot.  Happ may have the early edge coming in but we will see.

One thing is for certain, Cole Hamels has been named as the opening day starter by the skipper already, coming off the winning of the National League LCS and World Series MVP’s it is well deserved. 

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Want a true darkhorse to make the ballclub ?  How bout that Sergio Escalona ?  The 23 year old Venezualen is a lefty and might possibly earn the fill in spot till Romero is able to return ?  One to watch perhaps!

The backup catcher spot is also up for grabs apparently, defending champ Chris Coste must defend the spot against newly acquired Ronny Paulino who comes to the team from the Pittsburgh Pirates in an offseason trade.  Both catchers still have minor league options so one most likely will be asked to go the minors as an insurance policy however I have read rumblings that if Paulino wins the job that the Phillies may entertain the Florida Marlins interest in Coste in a trade.  I hope not as Mr. Coste is one of my personal favorites on the club!

I had a chance to be in Clearwater this weekend on personal business, actually was there to finalize arrangements for my daughter’s wedding in May at the Clearwater Beach Hilton.  The Hilton is right on the beach and is a great place to stay for Spring Training, it is also next to the Palm Pavillion which is a known local hang out for many Phillie players during Spring Training as well.

  While I was in town I swung down to the Carpenter Complex to see if the store was open in hopes of working a deal to get my book on display for spring training!  The store was closed but I stumbled accross Fantasy Camp in full bloom!

The Phillies have a fantasy camp each January at the complex for fans like myself that want to “play ball like a big leaguer”.   I actually attended the camp some 14 years ago when I was 35 and had a blast!  You get to play games against other campers, get “coached” by ex Phillies and at the end of the week play a “fantasy game” against the ex phils at the stadium. 

My wife, daughter and I walked down to Carpenter Complex from the stadium and took a look around, we found old Phillie heroes like Mitch Williams, Larry Anderson, Kevin Stocker, Warren Brusstar, Gary Matthews, Dave Cash, Dickie Noles, etc.   My daughter got her picture taken with Kevin Stocker which was cool!

You could tell that the folks participating in the camp were having a great time,  I would definitely recommend it to any Phillie fan who wants the experience of playing with old heroes !

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According to recent rumors the Fightins are looking at Ty Wigginton and Rich Aurillia as potential right handed bats off the bench.   They are both good hitters, Wigginton is a true gamer and would be an especially good addition!

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge will be out for three to six weeks following knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.  Manger Charlie Manuel has said that Tom Gordon would serve as the teams closer at the beginning of the season if Lidge is unable to go.

Lidge injured the knee during his first pitch of live batting practice when you his spike got caught in the mound.  The good news is that this happened at the beginning of spring training and not during the season where it could really hurt the team.  Lidge will rehab and get back with the Phillies as quick as possible.

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LOL, you have just got to laugh at this whole deal.  I guess that is unless you were pitcher Kyle Kendrick who it was happening too.  Atleast he took it in good heart, and then laughed about it afterwards.  That damn Brett Myers lol!