Injuries Tempering Promising Spring

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Phillies Plunder Pirates 4-2

Darin Ruf and Cesar Hernandez picked up big hits for the Phillies against Pirates left-hander Jonathan Niese in Tuesday's 4-2 victory at Bright House Field. Ruf blasted a two-run homer in the first inning and Hernandez knocked a two-run triple in the second. Phillies left-hander Adam Morgan, who is competing for a job in the rotation, pitched three scoreless frames, walking one batter and allowing a hit to Niese. "The competition in here is just making everybody else better," Morgan said. "So for them to go out and throw three innings scoreless, that's awesome for them. We're here to make the Phillies better, so you can't really root against a guy like that, because we're playing for the same team. "You can't play GM, though. That's one thing I've learned. Once you think you've got it figured out, they throw you a curveball and you never know what's going to happen." Niese gave up four runs on two hits with two walks in three innings. He has permitted eight runs over five innings in two Grapefruit League starts. "I fought through it," Niese said. "Right now, I'm not really worried about the results. I'm just worried about the process, getting the volume. It'll come. The results will be there." Cole Figueroa and prospect Harold Ramirez produced back-to-back RBI singles off Chris Leroux in the seventh to break up the shutout.  "I like the looks I've seen him take at the plate with the ball," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Ramirez. "I've seen the numbers grow, the progression. ... He wants to hit, and [he] goes up there with bad intentions."

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies have a split squad Wednesday, hosting the Orioles and traveling to Ft. Myers, Fla., for a 1:05 p.m. ET contest against the Twins. Jeremy Hellickson starts in Clearwater, Fla., in a 1:05 p.m. ET game that can be watched live on MLB.TV, while prospect Zach Eflin starts in Ft. Myers.

PHILS PHACTS:

The Outfield Just Got Thinner – The Phillies got bad news on Tuesday regarding Aaron Altherr's injured left wrist. Altherr will have surgery on Wednesday in Philadelphia to repair a torn tendon sheath in the wrist. The Phillies said Altherr, who projected to be one of their Opening Day outfielders, will miss four to six months. "We're hopeful he'll be back before the end of the season," general manager Matt Klentak said. But Altherr's unexpected absence is a blow to an organization hoping to get as many looks at as many young players as possible this season. Altherr certainly fit into that group. The 25-year-old hit .241 with 11 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 22 RBIs and an .827 OPS in 39 games last season. Manager Pete Mackanin essentially declared Altherr one of his everyday outfielders before camp opened last month. But with Altherr likely out until at least July, the Phillies must find somebody to take his place. Odubel Herrera and Peter Bourjos will be in the Opening Day outfield, but Cody Asche and Rule 5 Draft pick Tyler Goeddel are in the running to start alongside them. David Lough, Darnell Sweeney and Cedric Hunter suddenly have a better shot at the fifth outfielder's job. Darin Ruf, Emmanuel Burris and others in camp also have played some outfield. Goeddel went 1-for-3 with a double in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Pirates at Bright House Field. He is hitting .333 (6-for-18) with two doubles and three RBIs. Asche has not played this spring because of a strained right oblique. He remains day-to-day. "Goeddel has made a great impression," Mackanin said. "Not only does he play a solid defense, he can run. He looks like a heady ballplayer, and I like his swing path. He seems to have good pitch recognition, especially when he gets behind in the count. He doesn't really offer at pitches that are out of the strike zone, which is really nice to see, a young player having good plate discipline like that. I like everything about him so far, and we'll just keep going." Top outfield prospects Nick Williams and Roman Quinn? They are expected to open the season in the Minor Leagues. "It's disappointing, certainly, for a young player who had a lot to prove," Klentak said about Altherr. "We were certainly excited to watch him play. But we're not going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves. We have a lot of good players in camp that are competing really hard for an opportunity. And now there is an opportunity." Asked if the Phillies could look outside the organization, Klentak said, "We owe it to the guys in camp to give them that chance to fill that spot. We'll survey the market. If there's something out there, we'll explore it, but we feel pretty good about the guys we have here." It is worth noting the Phillies will have priority on the waiver wire through the end of April, so if any outfielders become available, they could get them. Altherr injured the wrist last Friday, when he dived to make a catch against the Braves at Bright House Field. He visited hand and wrist specialist Randall Culp on Monday in Philadelphia. Altherr received a second opinion on Tuesday in New York. The Phillies said Culp will perform the surgery -- officially, he is repairing a torn extensor carpi ulnaris retinaculum -- at the Philadelphia Hand Center. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira had a similar surgery in July 2013. Teixeira said at the time he expected to be fully healed in six months. He played the following season, although he posted his second-lowest OPS (.711) in 2014 before rebounding with a .906 OPS last season.

The Rotation Battle Continues – Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff still has not pitched in a Grapefruit League game this spring, but the Phillies said they believe he will be ready to join the rotation at the end of the month. If that happens, the Phillies figure they have four-fifths of their rotation set with Jeremy Hellickson, Aaron Nola, Charlie Morton and Eickhoff, who has been sidelined with a fractured right thumb. The fifth job is available, and the top three candidates appear to be Vince Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer and Adam Morgan. Velasquez and Oberholtzer each pitched three scoreless innings on Monday against the Pirates in Bradenton. Morgan pitched three scoreless innings in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Pirates at Bright House Field. Morgan has allowed three hits, two runs and one walk in five innings this spring. "The competition in here is just making everybody else better," Morgan said. "So for them to go out and throw three innings scoreless, that's awesome for them. We're here to make the Phillies better, so you can't really root against a guy like that, because we're playing for the same team. "You can't play GM, though. That's one thing I've learned. Once you think you've got it figured out, they throw you a curveball and you never know what's going to happen."

I Got Your Southpaw Right Here – Darin Ruf did what he does against left-handed pitchers on Tuesday, homering against Pirates southpaw Jon Niese. Ruf's first homer of the spring handed the Phillies a two-run lead in the first inning. He entered camp as the favorite to play regularly at first base against left-handed pitchers this season because of his success against them in the past. His 1.107 OPS against lefties in 2015 would have tied Nelson Cruz for the best mark in baseball if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. His .946 OPS against lefties the past four seasons ranks 13th out of 311 players with 250-or-more plate appearances. Ryan Howard, who has struggled against lefties in recent seasons, has not played since Friday because of a flu that has spread throughout the team. Manager Pete Mackanin said Howard could play as early as Wednesday.

9^th Inning Still Up For Grabs – Phillies right-hander David Hernandez said there is no reason to be alarmed. But Hernandez has not pitched since March 1 because of right triceps tendinitis. It might not be an issue, except the Phillies are looking for a closer since trading Ken Giles in December. Hernandez missed the entire 2014 season following Tommy John surgery. "More of a day-to-day thing," general manager Matt Klentak said Tuesday evening. The Phillies signed Hernandez to a one-year, $3.9 million contract in December. He was the only free agent they signed to a Major League contract in the offseason, giving him front-runner status to be the Phillies' closer. Hernandez said on Tuesday afternoon that he has no shoulder or elbow injury. "We're good," Hernandez said. "I'm on schedule." The 30-year-old righty, who is 25-35 with a 4.15 ERA over six seasons, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. "Just taking it slow," Hernandez said. "I'm just trying to manage my appearances." Non-roster invitees Andrew Bailey, Edward Mujica, Ernesto Frieri and James Russell also are competing to be in the back of the Phillies' bullpen. Bailey threw a scoreless inning on Tuesday in a 4-2 victory over the Pirates. He has thrown two scoreless frames this spring. Mujica and Russell each have thrown one scoreless inning, while Frieri has allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Today In Phils History - On this day in 1921, the Phillies opened their only spring training in Gainseville, Florida. 22 years later the Phillies welcomed Babe Dahlgren to the team while bidding farewell to Lloyd Waner and Al Glossop at the same time. In 1970, the Phillies were the benefactors of some sloppy play as they trounced the Mets 13-3 thanks to 8 New York errors. Some of the older birthdays for the day include John McPherson (1869) and Tom Delahanty (1872). However, some Phillies from recent memory also have birthdays today including Terry Mulholland (1963) and Benito Santiago (1965). 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have begun the spring with a 5-3-1 record (6-3-1 if you include the exhibition game against the University of Tampa). With the Phillies having finished the 2015 season with a spectacularly awful record of 63-99 it will be interesting to see what kind of team new President Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak put on the field. At the same time I am definitely looking forward to the games against Boston with former GM Ruben Amaro on the field. Given the departures, lingering contracts, a history of injuries, bipolar performances, and unproven talent, it should, at the very least, be an interesting season for the Phillies. Who knows, maybe they can avoid 100 losses... hopefully by more than one game!

Phils Can’t Finish Off Nats In Extras

GAME RECAP: Nationals Outlast Phillies 8-7

The Nationals and Phillies found themselves in a slugfest on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. When it was over, the Nationals won the game, 8-7, in 11 innings with Jonathan Papelbon picking up the victory in his return to Philadelphia. With one out in the 10th inning and Phillies right-hander Dalier Hinojosa on the mound in a 6-6 game, Jayson Werth swung at a 3-1 pitch and hit a homer, his second of the game, over the left-field wall to make it a one-run game. Papelbon then came on to try to save the game, but he ended up blowing his first save of the season. Freddy Galvis led off and hit a home run over the right-field fence to tie the score at 7. It was Papelbon's first blown save since Sept. 14, 2014 when he was with the Phillies. However, Papelbon ended up getting the last laugh. "I'm very familiar with that situation," Papelbon said about blowing the save. "But at the end of the day you play to win the game. Regardless of how it unfolds, you win the game, it's a good day at the office." With the score tied at 7 and right-hander Luis Garcia on the mound in the 11th, the Nationals had runners on first and third with no outs, when Yunel Escobar hit a chopper to second baseman Andres Blanco, who was unable to get Danny Espinosa at the plate. With the win, the Nationals kept pace with the National League East-leading Mets as they remain 9 1/2 games out of first place. Papelbon ended up getting his fourth win of the season, while Doug Fister picked up his first save of the season. The last time Fister pitched was Sept. 1. The Nationals were saving him just in case Stephen Strasburg wasn't able to pitch because of back tightness. "It's always great to pitch," Fister said. "I think the first and foremost thing was the guys that played tonight. They fought. I could see that from the bullpen. It's not just the home runs by the guys, it manufacturing the runs, especially that last inning.. The guys plays hard. The guys continue to fight and play this game. It's nice to get in there and pitch. No matter how your name is called, three outs are three outs. No matter what the score is." Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann lasted six innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and two home runs. Zimmermann was given a 6-2 lead after five innings, but gave it right back when he allowed a three-run homer to Cody Asche to tie the score at 6.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• The Phillies right-hander remains a heavy favorite to make the 2016 rotation, but he has room to improve. He allowed six runs and three home runs in four innings against the Nationals. Nola is 6-3 with a 4.11 ERA this season, but he has a 6.75 ERA (12 earned runs in 16 innings) in his last three starts. He should get at least one more start this season. He has pitched 175 innings, and the Phillies want him to finish around 180-185.
• Asche hit a walkoff homer Saturday night against the Cubs. He then hit his game-tying, three-run homer in the sixth. Saturday's homer left his bat at 107.9 mph, the hardest ball he hit this season as tracked by Statcast™. Tuesday's homer was tracked at 105 mph, which was among the 11 balls he had hit 105-mph or harder this season. "Confidence for sure," Asche said about his recent success. "For a hitter, I think confidence is the No. 1 key."
• Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit a solo homer to right field in the second inning to tie the game, 1-1. He left the game in the eighth inning because of a bruised left knee. Howard took a throw off his knee in the seventh inning. He was seen leaving the ballpark on crutches. Teammate Aaron Altherr left the game in the 11th with a bruised right forearm. He got hit by a pitch from Papelbon in the 10th.
• "I'm sure he's frustrated where they're at. He got traded from here and we've had more save opportunities here for Kenny [Giles] now, you know? Like I said, I'm sure he's frustrated that he got traded over there and they're not going to probably go to the playoffs. So he's upset. But I mean, the city gave him a great contract and gave him a lot of money. That's his business what he wants to say, but I think you ask any guy in here with his organization they know how to win. It's just a tough time right now." - Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who disagreed with Papelbon's pregame comments about the team not having players that want to win.
• Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez is scheduled to have surgery to repair an injured ligament in his left thumb Wednesday.
• Ryan Howard has the most experience against Strasburg on the Phillies. He is 5-for-25 (.200) with a double, two RBIs and 10 strikeouts.
• Anthony Rendon hit a leadoff homer Monday night against the Phillies. He has hit safely in 22 of his last 25 games.

NEXT GAME:

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg has been pretty good since he rejoined the rotation last month. He hopes his good fortunes continue Tuesday night against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Strasburg is 3-2 with a 2.89 ERA in six starts since returning from a trip to the disabled list because of a strained left oblique. Strasburg faces Phillies right-hander David Buchanan, who has a 22.00 ERA (22 earned runs in nine innings) in his last three starts. The Phillies are sticking with Buchanan in their six-man rotation because they hope he can get things right entering the offseason.

PHILS PHACTS:

Ironically, Papelbon Gets A Dose Of BS – Jonathan Papelbon heard some boos as he left the bullpen Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. No surprise there. He heard boos from Phillies fans before, but previously he heard them while he wore the home team's uniform. Papelbon faced the Phillies for the first time since they traded him to the Nationals in July. He allowed a game-tying home run to Freddy Galvis in the 10th inning to blow his first save in exactly a year, when he infamously made a lewd gesture in front of Phillies fans to earn a seven-game suspension. But Washington scored a run in the 11th inning to win, 8-7. Papelbon blew the save, but he got the win. "I've done that plenty of times in my career," Papelbon said. "I'm very familiar with that situation. But at the end of the day you play to win the game. Regardless of how it unfolds, you win the game it's a good day at the office." But the Phillies acknowledged it felt sweet the moment Galvis laced a 1-1 splitter over the right-field wall to tie the game. "Absolutely," Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. "For sure," third baseman Cody Asche said. "One hundred percent." Especially after some pointed comments Papelbon made about the Phillies before the game. He told reporters that "I was far [from] the bad guy on this [Phillies] team. I was one of the few that wanted to actually win and I was one of the few that competed and posted up every day." Francouer is one of the only veterans on the team. And even though he has played for the Phillies for just one season, he defended his teammates. "I haven't heard exactly what he said to make enough of a comment, except that I completely disagree with that," he said. "If you're in here, you see guys working. To say guys don't post or know how to win around here, I mean, I came here as a visiting player for a lot of years and they beat us just fine. That wasn't the right statement." Papelbon is prone to saying controversial things, whether or not they are based in reality. "I'm sure he's frustrated where they're at," Francoeur said. "He got traded from here and we've had more save opportunities here for Kenny [Giles] now, you know? Like I said, I'm sure he's frustrated that he got traded over there and they're not going to probably go to the playoffs. So he's upset. But I mean, the city gave him a great contract and gave him a lot of money. That's his business what he wants to say, but I think you ask any guy in here with this organization they know how to win. It's just a tough time right now." Papelbon in the 10th hit Aaron Altherr with a pitch with one out and Darin Ruf reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Francoeur crushed a ball foul to left in the following at-bat. He eventually hit a ball to right with Bryce Harper making a nice catch in the corner for the second out. "I wanted to win that one quite bad," Francoeur said.

Done For The Year – Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez's season is finished. The Phillies placed him on the 60-day disabled list Monday after he dislocated his left thumb on a collision at first base in the seventh inning of Sunday's 7-4 victory over the Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. He is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday to repair ligament damage in the thumb. Recovery for this type of surgery is typically three months. "The prognosis is that he's going to be fine for next year," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. The Phillies selected the contract of infielder Chase d'Arnaud to give the Phillies additional infield depth. Hernandez hit .272 (110-for-405) with 20 doubles, four triples, one home run, 35 RBIs, 19 stolen bases and a .687 OPS in 127 games. His OPS ranks 17th out of 21 qualified second basemen in baseball. He showed some potential this season and he is expected to be the team's Opening Day second baseman in 2016. Darnell Sweeney and Andres Blanco are expected to see the majority of playing time at second with Hernandez out. "I've seen enough that I'd feel comfortable with him at second base," Mackanin said about Hernandez. "It doesn't mean that anything else could come up, trades, anything like that could happen. But I like him. He offers a lot. He can steal a base. This is his first year getting this many at-bats at this level, so I think he's learned from it. He's learned from some of the mistakes that he made. We all do. I like what I see."

Howard Up For An Award? – First baseman Ryan Howard is the Phillies' nominee for the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. The award recognizes players who "best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement." "It's truly an honor to be in this category with Mr. Roberto Clemente and everything that he's done not only for the sport of baseball, but in the community," Howard said in a statement. "For me it's always been about giving back, and helping children to have an opportunity to succeed in life." Howard's community work includes The Ryan Howard Big Piece Foundation. The foundation promotes academic and athletic development. "I want children to believe in themselves," Howard said. "I want to help them dream big. Kids need to realize and believe that they can grow up to become whoever they want to be. It's about becoming the best version of yourself and sometimes all you need is just that one break or that one opportunity to make dreams become a reality. I want to help provide those opportunities for kids." Howard's community initiatives include The Ryan Howard Reading Challenge, which has become the Foundation's signature program. It is a K-3 literacy-based program that engages students to read at least 20 minutes a day, seven days a week. The foundation also has awarded local Vare-Washington Elementary School with a $75,000 academic grant that provided a much-needed library for students. The development of inner-city youth baseball is also a passionate cause of Howard, who has committed to being involved with the new Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy. Beginning on Roberto Clemente Day, fans are encouraged to participate in the process of selecting the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet by visiting ChevyBaseball.com, which is powered by MLB Advanced Media, to vote for one of the 30 club nominees. Voting ends on Friday, Oct. 9; participating fans will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2015 World Series, where the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet will be announced. Clubs playing at home on Wednesday will recognize their nominee as part of Roberto Clemente Day ceremonies, while visiting clubs will honor their nominee before another September home game. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, and a tribute video will be played in ballparks. The concept of honoring players for their philanthropic work came about in 1971 as the Commissioner's Award, which was renamed the Roberto Clemente Award in 1973 in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star, who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Each September since 2002, Major League Baseball has commemorated Roberto Clemente Day.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last place in the NL East with a record of 56-89. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope for this year! All time, the Phillies are 50-54-2 on this day.

Lingering Injuries And Impressive Invitees

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Phillies Sting Rays 5-4

Chris Archer, who will begin the season as the Rays' No. 2 starter, made his first start of the spring. After pitching a scoreless first, the right-hander allowed a one-out double to Cody Asche in the second before Freddy Galvis drove him home with a single to right during Philadelphia's 5-4 win on Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park. Archer allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out one in two innings. "Honestly, I gave up a run, but I'm happy overall," said Archer. "For outing No. 1, I threw too many pitches (37 total, 27 strikes), but I'm not going to beat myself up over a few extra pitches when there were so many executed. Even if they were balls. Quality pitches down in the zone." Kevin Jepsen and Brad Boxberger each threw a scoreless inning. Both of the right-handers will be used at the back end of the bullpen this season. Kevin Slowey started for the Phillies and did nothing to hurt his chances of earning the fifth spot in the rotation. The veteran right-hander retired the Rays in order while striking out two in three perfect innings. Also in the hunt for the No. 5 spot are David Buchanan and Alfredo Gonzalez. Phillies pitchers retired the first 14 Rays hitters in order. Joey Butler finally broke the spell with a two-out single in the fifth through the middle against left-hander Joely Rodriguez. The Phillies added three runs in the seventh inning on RBIs by Ben Revere, Odubel Herrera and Brian Bogusevic. Boog Powell had an RBI single and Corey Brown doubled in a run for the Rays.

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

Aaron Harang will makes his first start of the spring when the Phillies travel to Sarasota on Monday afternoon to play the Orioles in a 1:05 p.m. ET contest that can be heard on Gameday Audio. The veteran right-hander signed a one-year, $5-million contract with the Phillies in January after going 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA for the Braves in 2014.

PHILS NOTES:

• General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said there is one team that has "stepped up" its efforts to acquire left-hander Cole Hamels in the past few days, but declined to be more specific. "We're keeping an open mind," he said. "We're open-minded on everything. The transition, the rebuild, all that stuff didn't stop on Feb. 25. It's going to continue."

PHILS PHACTS:

Lee Suffers Setback – Something has gone wrong for a team that needs a lot to go right this season. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced before Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park that left-hander Cliff Lee is experiencing discomfort in the same area of his elbow that bothered him last season. That strained flexor tendon ended his season on July 31. Lee will miss his next scheduled start against the Tigers at Bright House Field. "I just don't have any idea where we're going to go from there," Amaro said. "Hopefully he'll be able to make his following start, but I'll talk with [pitching coach Bob McClure] and [manager Ryne Sandberg] and with Cliff and we'll see how he feels moving forward to see how altered his schedule will be. But it will depend on how he feels when he starts throwing again." According to Amaro, Lee felt fine during his first spring outing against the Astros on Thursday in Kissimmee. It was during his workout the following day that he began to feel something. "Very mild," the general manager said. "But because of what happened last year, we have to be hypersensitive." Lee was examined by club physician Michael Ciccotti in Clearwater. A static ultrasound and enhanced MRI were ordered. The MRI photos have been forward to renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. Amaro described the steps as precautionary and said the tests showed no damage to the UCL. "None of the area that is supposed to be affected has changed. There's no change from the last MRI we did. And he had thrown so much since then without really feeling anything until this last outing. We shouldn't say it's not alarming because it is of concern. It's the same area. But there's no increase in the original affected area," the general manager explained. "It's very, very small, a very pinpointed area. And again there's very little swelling or fluid in that area. But any time it's the elbow you've got to be concerned about it." Said manager Ryne Sandberg: "First of all, there are still some positive signs. When he does warm up, he feels fine. I'm anxious to watch him play catch and see how he progresses the next few days and see if he makes a start from there. There is concern." Amaro said all the doctors consulted last season recommended against surgery, but couldn't guess if that's now an option. "A lot of it will depend on what Dr. Andrews says, but everybody has kind of been on the same page with this," he said. "That if they do have to do a surgery and have to clean away some of the 'bad stuff' in there, it's a real small area. If it ends up having to get repaired it's six to eight months. "So I don't know. I think ultimately it'll be a decision for Cliff later on. But a lot of it will depend on how he's feeling when he starts throwing again." In the short run, this is a potential setback on more than one level. If Lee is healthy and pitching well, the Phillies are obviously a better team. And if he pitched well enough to be traded, it could help accelerate the franchise's rebuilding process. "It could affect the bigger picture," Amaro agreed. "If he can't perform, of course it's going to affect us whether he pitches for us or somebody else."

Utley Progressing Slowly – Second baseman Chase Utley is probably at least a week away from making his Grapefruit League debut after suffering a sprained right ankle while working out in January. But the Phillies remain optimistic that the six-time All-Star will be fully prepared for Opening Day. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. hopes Utley can get into a game within a week, but cautioned that it remains a day-to-day situation. "I just saw his ankle [Saturday] and it's still swollen. It's going to take some time to heal. There's no reason to rush him," the general manager said before Sunday's 5-4 win over the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. "As long as he gets 40-50 at-bats to get his timing down. I think that's the important thing." Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said he believed the 36-year-old Utley could be ready for the regular season even if he doesn't play until there are two weeks left, which is about March 21. "Two weeks can be adequate for a regular player. I think the biggest thing would be getting enough at-bats. He could get numerous at-bats in Minor League games, as guys do. Then you hit the field for two weeks. For some guys that's enough," the manager said. "He's gaining on it. He's able to take ground balls. He's able to run adequately. He's getting his conditioning in. He's taking a lot of batting practice. So I think it's more just continuing to do that to get him real stable on his ankle, which I think will help him not think about it when he's out there playing. "Everything else is good with him. That's the positive thing. He doesn't want his ankle to affect something else. So it's somewhat precautionary."

Slowey Making An Impression – Kevin Slowey is quickly becoming one of the pleasant surprises of the early days of Spring Training. The 30-year-old right-hander retired all nine batters he faced after starting the Phillies' 5-4 win over the Rays on Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park. He's in camp as a non-roster invitee after being released by the Marlins last June. In Grapefruit League play this year, Slowey has allowed one single in five innings. "I think at this point in my career, I know what makes me good. And if I can execute that, things usually turn out well. If I can't, usually they don't turn out so well. The last couple games I've been able to get ahead with fastballs in the zone and let our defense do the work," he said. The conventional wisdom coming into camp had Slowey competing with David Buchanan and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez for the fifth spot in the rotation. That calculus may have changed with Sunday's announcement that Cliff Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner, is once again experiencing discomfort in his elbow. Slowey doesn't want to benefit from Lee's misfortune. "I was not aware of that, but that makes me sad," Slowey said. "Hopefully he'll be OK. He's a good man. We'll be praying for him for sure. It stinks. More than anything, I feel for him. "I wanted them to know early on I'll do anything it takes, in any capacity, whenever they need me to do it. Last minute, if I know ahead of time, it doesn't matter to me. I'm willing to do whatever it takes this spring and then carry it on to the season." Said manager Ryne Sandberg: "He was impressive. He threw all fastballs. I don't know if I've ever seen that before. He was able to change speeds on them."

Herrera’s Odds Increasing – When the Phillies selected Odubel Herrera from the Rangers organization in the Rule 5 Draft in December, they made it clear the plan was to use the natural infielder primarily as an outfielder. Against the Rays on Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park, though, the 2014 Double-A Texas League batting champion started at second base. Although he went hitless in four at-bats during the Phillies' 5-4 win, he's still hitting .333 this spring. "Just some added versatility for him," manager Ryne Sandberg explained. "Because you just never know what spot's going to open up for an opportunity. If the guy swings the bat and you need him in there, it helps if he can play a couple different positions." Sandberg speaks from experience. He was drafted as a shortstop, and after reaching Triple-A, he went to winter ball and played second base, third and center field. He played third base when he first came up with the Cubs, then was switched to second and went on to have a Hall of Fame career. "He looked natural [at second] as far as I was concerned," Sandberg said. He has good moves there. He looked good. And he made something happen with the bat beating out a [potential] double-play ball." Herrera has played center field so far, but will also get a look in left and right. "He's looked real good in [center field]," Sandberg said. "Very good routes. He's shown a real good arm out there. His speed really plays getting to the balls, but it's still fairly new to him. It will be useful for him going forward to get some reps in the corner outfield positions also. Which can be tougher than center because of the angles." Said the 23-year-old Herrera, who also led the Venezuelan Winter League with a .372 average for La Guaira: "I like playing second base, because that's my natural position. I feel good over there. I'm going to try to do the best I can. Right now I'm in the outfield but today they put me at second base and I'm going to have fun. "I don't know why [the Rangers didn't protect me]. But it happened for a reason. I feel good here and I hope I can stay with this team. There is a lot of opportunity here and I'm going to do the best I can to stay here." The Phillies must keep Herrera on the Major League roster for the season or send him through waivers or offer him back to the Rangers.

Family Ties – When Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg looked across the field Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park, he saw a familiar face: His nephew, Jared Sandberg, manager of the Rays' Triple-A Durham Bulls farm team. The two men chatted after batting practice, posed for pictures and made plans to try to have dinner when the Rays play in Clearwater on Friday. "It was awesome. He's moving up the ladder. He's done a nice job over there and that's good to see," said Ryne Sandberg. Said Jared Sandberg: "It was really cool. I've been in the stands when Ryne's been playing or managing, but to be in the opposing dugout was really cool for me and him and the whole family." Ryne had a Hall of Fame career with the Cubs. Jared, the son of Ryne's older brother, Del, hit 18 homers in his first 102 games after breaking in with the Rays in 2001, but developed a rare disease that caused blind spots in his vision. "He started to lose track of the baseball, so that called for the early retirement [after the 2007 season]," Ryne said. Jared immediately became a coach and manager in the Tampa Bay system. After Ryne retired, he occasionally went to visit Del and they'd catch a series when Jared played in Durham. When he was working his way through the Minors as a manager, he and Jared would sometimes get together when their schedules allowed. "We got together for Thanksgiving this year in Arizona. I usually see him five or six times a year," Ryne said. They never managed against each other in the Minors. So if Jared gets his opportunity, it would be a big day in the Sandberg family if they ever faced off against each other in the big leagues. "I've thought about it, but that's probably a long ways away from my development, from where I'm at, but at some point it would be really cool," he said. And he had a message for his uncle: "I got his signs," he said with a laugh. "Let him know."

ON THE RECORD:

The Phillies will look to rebound this season from a 73-89 record last year. While uncertainty abounds, there is little question that the franchise is in rebuild mode based on the moves and statements that have been made during the offseason. The only question that remains is whether or not the young and veteran talent on the team can work together to disprove Gillick’s predictions either this year or next.