Play Ball!

It’s time for eternal hope to morph into reality.

Yours truly, Beerleaguer and Balls, Sticks & Stuff were in attendance at the Bank yesterday enjoying the final Spring tune-up as the Phils blanked the Red Sox 4-0.

The temperature was in the upper ‘60’s, the sky crystal clear, and the field emerald green. We took note of the new outfield dimensions and were unimpressed. The Phillies Phanatic wore red, not green, in honor of the team’s current PR campaign, “Paint the town Red.” We all agreed he looks much better in green.

Our tickets were free, the generous donation of a neighbor who holds season tickets. Reports that some of the region’s best microbrews are now available at the Bank will have to be taken on faith. Our seats were located in the Hall of Fame Club, a semi-precious section with its own concessions but not, apparently, the aforementioned microbrews.

The talk, naturally, focused on the team’s prospects.

From my perspective it will all still come down to pitching. If the back end of the starting rotation produces, if the health of Arthur Rhodes and Tom Gordon does not become an issue, the Phils will do well. There is no doubt they can score runs and catch the ball.

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By the end of yesterday’s exhibition manager Charlie Manuel was shuffling in minor league players wearing wide receiver numbers (80, 82). I didn’t recognize a single one of them but Beerleaguer knew them all and BS&S knew his share. Only one Phillies regular was still in the lineup when the team came to back in the bottom of the eighth: Ryan Howard. Manuel probably left him in there because the Red Sox trotted in a lefty to pitch and, after all, this was still practice. Howard bombed a home run deep to right centerfield; no other way to describe it. It was a majestic, no-doubt-about-it shot. Howard also stroked a solid single in the opening frame to drive in the first two Phillies runs.

I said to my fellow bloggers that opposing managers must sit in the dugout marveling at Howard and reminding themselves he is going to be around for a longtime. And the Phillies must sit there reminding themselves, he’s all ours.

Earlier in the game, Chase Utley made a terrific play behind the bag and nipped the runner at first base. Chase is going to hit and he is steadily making himself into more than the adequate second baseman he was when he took over the position permanently.

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There were the usual late stage comings and goings including the acquisition of Dave Dellucci from the Rangers for Robinson Tejeda, the release of player favorite Tomas Perez, and the demotion of and end to the Spring’s best field-good story, Chris Coste.

The Dellucci-Tejeda deal mystifies me. The Phils need pitching more than they need a journeyman outfielder. The release of Perez came as no surprise. What did surprise me was the depth of feeling for this popular cut-up in the locker room. A number of players were quoted this morning as saying he was one of their favorite teammates….all time.

The Coste demotion was, frankly, something of a heartbreaker, a reminder that at least on the Gillick watch, there will be little room for sentiment.

But it’s Opening Day, and there is plenty of room for sentiment in this corner. Play Ball!!