Utley Powers Phillies To A Tie

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Phillies Tie Tigers 4-4

The Tigers finally jumped on Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang on Sunday at Bright House. Harang threw three hitless innings before Tigers right fielder Tyler Collins hit a solo home run and Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run home run in a 4-4 tie with the Phillies. Phillies second baseman Chase Utley hit a two-run home run to right field in the first inning. It was the first home run of the spring for Utley, who played in just his 10th game this spring after recovering from a sprained right ankle. Utley hit his second homer of the spring in the fourth, a solo shot to right. "Chase swung the bat very well," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He just looks like he's ready to go on the offensive side of things. Probably his whole game is ready as we speak." Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez struck out 10 over 6 1/3 innings, but allowed three home runs -- two to Utley and one to Russ Canzler in the sixth which tied the game at 4. Sanchez surrendered four runs on five hits with one walk. "I think [Utley] was [waiting] for the curveball. I threw him two curveballs and he hit them pretty good," Sanchez said. "He's a pretty good hitter. ... He was ready for it." Harang allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits over 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and two walks for the Phillies.

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

Phillies prospect Zach Eflin will start for the Phillies on Monday at 1:05 p.m. ET against the Pirates in Bradenton. Fans can listen to the game exclusively on a live webcast. The Phillies acquired Eflin in December as part of the Jimmy Rollins trade. Elfin is the Phillies' fifth-ranked prospect according to MLB.com.

PHILS PHACTS:

Sandberg Setting The Outfield – Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg telegraphed his thought process March 21, when he first played Ben Revere in left field and Odubel Herrera in center field. He confirmed Sunday that he plans to use Revere and Herrera in those spots on Opening Day. "As I look at it now, he's left field," Sandberg said about Revere on Sunday. So Herrera, who is a Rule 5 Draft pick, starts in center? "Probably to start [the season] with," Sandberg said. Revere said Sandberg has told him to be prepared to play left field in the regular season. "I'm fine now," Revere said about being comfortable in left, a position he had not played since 2012. "I'm just playing my game. Before I got here [to Philadelphia], I played center, left, right, a bunch of times. It won't make any difference. Of course, it's different the way the ball goes. But everything else is pretty much the same. "There may come a time when they may need me back in center. All right, I'll be ready to go. I'm up for any task."

Hamels Officially Named Opening Day Starter – Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg smirked Thursday when asked about his Opening Day starter. "It's a secret," he said. Everybody in the world knew it would be Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. It literally could be nobody else. But Sandberg made the obvious official Sunday afternoon at Bright House Field, where he anti-climatically announced Hamels is the guy. "It'll be Hamels and [Aaron] Harang to start the season, officially, in that order to start the year," Sandberg said after a 4-4 tie with the Tigers. Hamels will face the Red Sox on April 6 at Citizens Bank Park. It will be the second Opening Day start of his career. Sandberg said the Phillies have not lined up anything beyond that, but David Buchanan and Jerome Williams will be the Nos. 3 and 4 starters. The No. 5 starter is expected to be Sean O'Sullivan or Kevin Slowey with O'Sullivan, who is in Minor League camp, considered the favorite. The Phillies do not need a No. 5 starter until April 12, and the organization is hopeful Chad Billingsley will be able to join the rotation before the end of April. Billingsley is recovering from a pair of right elbow surgeries. But Hamels will pitch Opening Day. How long he remains in the Phillies' rotation remains to be seen. He is available in a trade, but the Phillies have not found an offer they like.

No Hit For You! – Tigers center fielder Rajai Davis asked Phillies left fielder Ben Revere for a favor before Sunday afternoon's Grapefruit League game at Bright House Field. "Take it easy," he said. "I need some hits." "All right," Revere replied. "I got you, man. But just drop a bomb. Don't make me run." Revere reneged on his promise in the third inning. Davis hit a high fly ball toward the left-center-field wall, but Revere timed his jump perfectly and caught the ball at the wall to bring back a home run. Revere leapt into the air to celebrate the catch and laughed and smiled widely as he returned to the Phillies' dugout. He said he was recalling his pregame conversation with Davis as he returned to the Phillies' dugout. Davis met him near third base and fist bumped him. "What did we just talk about?" Davis said. "My bad," Revere said. "I'm sorry, dude." Coincidentally, Phillies first-base coach and outfield instructor Juan Samuel just worked with his outfielders a couple days ago about making catches at the wall. "If you missed the ball, I would have been really upset," Samuel said to Revere in the dugout. Revere, who will open the season in left field with Odubel Herrera in center, certainly showed some ups. He is listed at 5-foot-9, but he said he has dunked a basketball in the past. "I used to dunk in Timberlands [boots]," he said. "But since I got knee and ankle surgery, it's tough. Now I'm getting close to 30. Back in the day when I was in high school and I had the springs, I'd be in the gym after school and I could dunk in Timberlands, one-handed or two-handed."

Injury Updates – The Phillies are down two starters this week because of injuries, but at least one of them is close to a return. Phillies third baseman Cody Asche went 2-for-4 with a double in a Minor League game Sunday afternoon at Carpenter Complex. The Phillies scratched him from Thursday's lineup because of tightness in the middle of his back. "It feels good right now," said Asche, who did not play in the field. "I'll see how I respond tomorrow. If we were in June, I'd probably be in the lineup playing, pushing through things. Right now, it's just a matter of taking care of it before the season starts so it doesn't nag and linger." Asche said there is no doubt he will be ready by Opening Day. Asche is not sure when he might return to the Phillies' lineup, but he considered Sunday a good step forward. Right fielder Domonic Brown has not played since March 19 because of tendinitis in his left Achilles. He has been recovering slowly, but he said he hopes to be a designated hitter in a Minor League game Monday at Carpenter Complex. "I'm going to try to get some at-bats," he said. "I don't know for sure yet, but I'm pretty sure that's the plan. It depends how I feel coming tomorrow." Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg expressed doubts Brown will be ready by Opening Day, although Brown seemed optimistic.

Not Living Up To The Hype – So far Phillies right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez has not come close to the hype. The Phillies announced Sunday they had optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, which was not a surprise. Gonzalez entered Spring Training with a chance to make the Phillies rotation and his chances improved dramatically with Cliff Lee almost certainly lost for the season with an injured left elbow. But Gonzalez never looked close to big league ready. He went 0-3 with a 7.53 ERA in five Grapefruit League appearances. He allowed 25 hits, 12 runs, five home runs and one walk with seven strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings. "With some work," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said, when asked if Gonzalez can be a good big-league pitcher. "The inconsistency was the biggest thing that he fought. Behind in the count. That's what he has to get ironed out to be successful." Gonzalez's demotion leaves the No. 5 starter's job to Kevin Slowey or Sean O'Sullivan, who is in Minor League camp. O'Sullivan might be the favorite at this point because he is being stretched out. Slowey is not, although there is time. The Phillies do not need a No. 5 starter until April 12. The Phillies on Sunday also optioned right-hander Hector Neris to Triple-A. Right-hander Paul Clemens, catcher Koyie Hill and infielders Chris McGuiness and Chris Nelson had been reassigned to Minor League camp. The Phillies have 36 players remaining in camp: 17 pitchers, three catchers, eight fielders and eight outfielders. The Phillies and Gonzalez agreed to a six-year, $48 million contract in July 2013, but the deal dropped to three years, $12 million following his physical. Gonzalez's questionable health popped up last Spring Training and he struggled in the Minor Leagues as a starter with those health issues lingering. The Phillies eventually converted Gonzalez into a reliever and he had success in that role in Double-A Reading and Triple-A. He got promoted to the Phillies in September, but he had a 6.75 ERA in six relief appearances. "He showed glimpses of what he has," Sandberg said.

Heading In The Wrong Direction – Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. offered a blunt assessment about his offense a couple weeks ago. "We're not going to score a lot of runs," Amaro said. It was an evaluation based in fact. The Phillies scored 619 runs last season, which ranked 23rd in baseball. They were the fourth-fewest runs the Phillies have scored in a non-strike shortened season since 1972. Only the 1995 Phillies (615), 2013 Phillies (610) and 1988 Phillies (597) fared worse. But the Phillies chose not to address the offense this offseason. Instead, they traded Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd to acquire three Minor League pitchers. Byrd (.757 OPS) and Rollins (.717 OPS) ranked first and third, respectively, among qualified Phillies in OPS in 2014. It is why the Phillies will be hard pressed to score more than 619 runs in 2015. They will need bounce-back seasons, if they do. They will need surprises. They will need luck. "We're going to have to manufacture them," Amaro said about scoring runs. "We're going to have to do it with our legs. We're going to have to do it with our brains and aggressiveness." The Phillies will need Ryan Howard and Domonic Brown to return to prior form. Howard hit .223 with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs last season. His .695 OPS in the cleanup spot ranked 314th out of 316 hitters with 600 or more plate appearances in the cleanup spot from 1914-2014. But he said his left leg is finally healthy following left Achilles and left knee surgeries since 2011. He also has some serious family issues behind him, which might have affected him. But can Howard, 35, really turn back the clock? Brown made the National League All-Star team in 2013, but hit just .235 with 10 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .634 OPS in 144 games last season. His OPS ranked 139th out of 147 qualified hitters in baseball. His .640 OPS as an outfielder ranked 60th out of 64 outfielders. But Brown is already behind the eight-ball. He has been sidelined since March 19 because of tendinitis in his left Achilles and could open the season on the disabled list. Chase Utley will open the season as the team's No. 3 hitter, but on a better team he would hit elsewhere. His .755 OPS in the No. 3 hole last season ranked 18th out of 20 hitters with 400 or more plate appearances in that spot. The Phillies will hope Cody Asche takes a step forward in his second full season. They will hope for more from Ben Revere, and they will need Darin Ruf to be more than just a part-time player. Rule 5 Draft pick Odubel Herrera must prove he can hit big league pitching on an everyday basis. Can Freddy Galvis post better than a .621 OPS, which is his career mark in 550 big league plate appearances? There are big ifs everywhere. They are so big, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg is talking a lot about small ball. "I look at our bats and our type of team and I think we're going to have to be good at that game," he said. It might not be enough to pass 619.

Phillies In Need Of Balance – Comcast SportsNet finally found a replacement for Jamie Moyer when it announced in February that Ben Davis will join Tom McCarthy, Matt Stairs and Mike Schmidt in the Phillies' broadcast booth this season. Davis knows the Phillies and baseball. He grew up in the area, attending Malvern Prep. The Padres selected him with the second overall pick in the 1995 First-Year Player Draft before he played in the big leagues seven seasons. He spent the past four years working on Comcast's Phillies pregame and postgame shows. Davis stopped to chat a few minutes recently about his move to the booth and the team he will be watching this season. Here are a few highlights: MLB.com: How are you enjoying the new job? Davis: I absolutely love it. I love it. It's weird not working every day (in Spring Training) because we're only doing home games and I'm not scheduled for every game, but it's been a blast so far. MLB.com: Do you feel comfortable in the booth? Davis: It's been great. The first three games I was with Matt, so we had the three-man booth. Tom just sets you up so well and Matt has his input. I think we all mesh really well. Obviously there is going to be some transition there, but I feel very comfortable. It's similar to what I've been doing the last four years in the studio. It's just now I have more time to talk about a given play. We don't have to worry about getting a commercial break in or whatever, so it's been fun. MLB.com: What are your impressions of this team? Davis: Well, ups and downs right now. There's obviously some issues with Cliff Lee not being there. I think that's obviously going to hurt the rotation. But offensively, there's always room for improvement. They've had some good games. They've had some good at-bats. Then they've had some bad games. So, I think they just need to find that balance there with hitting balls hard and getting good at-bats. And they're starting to come along as Spring Training goes, but I think there's definitely some good signs. I'm really anxious to see Odubel Herrera. He's really caught my eye. I like what I've seen out of him. Speed, he's had some good at-bats. It's been nice. MLB.com: Has anybody else caught your eye? Davis: Some of the guys like (Brian) Bogusevic has looked very good. (Cord) Phelps has looked good. I don't know what's going on with Dom Brown, how long he's going to be on the shelf. But these guys are really I think opening some eyes and showing they can play. MLB.com: What is realistic for this team? They're rebuilding. Davis: I wouldn't say it's rebuilding. A lot of these guys have been here for years, so I don't know if you really want to call that rebuilding. I just think they're taking some different measures in how they're approaching their season. It might be tough at times. I think the offense might have a tough time scoring runs at times. I like the bullpen. They've had a few bumps lately, but I like the bullpen. I love the bullpen. There are great arms coming out of there. But definitely the Phillies have some things that they need to address. I think they're looking to do that, Pat Gillick on down.

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.

Phillies Show Unexpected Power In Win Over Tigers

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Phillies Tame Tigers 5-4

Brian Bogusevic, a last-minute replacement in the Phillies' lineup, hit two home runs off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez. However, it was a Russ Canzler single that set up the go-ahead run in the ninth for Philadelphia's second win over the Tigers in three days -- a 5-4 decision on Saturday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium. Bogusevic wasn't in the lineup until Jeff Francoeur was scratched with a sore left oblique. He took over Francoeur's original cleanup spot and jumped a 91-mph fastball for a two-run homer, part of a 33-pitch opening inning for Sanchez in his third spring start. The ball landed near the bottom of the left-field berm, just out of Xavier Avery's reach at the fence. "He's here in Spring Training having a look like everybody else. He's shown a good bat," manager Ryne Sandberg said of Bogusevic. "The ball really comes off his bat well. He's shown a good arm in the outfield. He's an interesting guy. We have some interesting players in camp, so we'll continue to look and watch." Sanchez allowed hits to three of Philadelphia's first four hitters. He allowed one other hit over the rest of his four-inning performance. That, too, came from Bogusevic, who sent a slider out on a line over the right-field fence in the corner for a third-inning solo shot. "We want to be a team that doesn't sit back and count on the home run, but with more contact and possibly cutting down on strikeouts and having a good approach, some of that can happen," said Sandberg, whose Phils have hit three homers in the last two spring games after belting two in the first 10 contests. "So that's a plus sign of what we're working on. When you hit the ball correctly and you hit down at it through the ball, you can backspin some balls out of the park." The Tigers chipped away at the 4-1 deficit with help from Phillies starter Paul Clemens, who walked four batters and threw just 18 of 48 pitches for strikes over 2 1/3 innings. Jefry Marte's fifth-inning solo homer completed the comeback minutes after Marte's off-balance threw robbed Odubel Herrera of a bunt single leading off the top of the innings. The two bullpens traded scoreless frames from there until Canzler hit a one-out single in the ninth off Alex Wilson and went to third base on Chris McGuiness' single. Catcher Shane Zeile's passed ball allowed Canzler to score.

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, competing for a spot in the rotation, will start for the Phillies split-squad that plays the Red Sox at Bright House Field on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET on MLB.TV. The right-hander will be looking to rebound after going 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA to open Grapefruit League play. The other split squad will travel to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., where right-hander Sean O'Sullivan will start against the Yankees.

PHILS PHACTS:

Surprising Strides In Spring Training – After hitting just two home runs in their first 10 Grapefruit League games, the Phillies have now hit three in their last two contests. That includes two by non-roster invitee Brian Bogusevic in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. He was a late addition to the lineup after Jeff Francoeur felt a twinge in his left oblique during batting practice and was scratched for precautionary reasons. One of the themes of camp for the Phillies has been that there are jobs to be won. The 31-year-old Bogusevic took full advantage of his first start to show what he can do by homering to left in the first, a two-run shot, and then to right in the third, both off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez. "He's here in Spring Training having a look like everybody else. He's shown a good bat," manager Ryne Sandberg said. The ball really comes off his bat well. He's shown a good arm in the outfield. He's an interesting guy. We have some interesting players in camp, so we'll continue to look and watch. "For anybody in camp it's important to show what they can do, put themselves in a position to leave with the ballclub or to be one of the guys [you turn to] in a need situation. We have a lot of new faces in camp. So for us to get to know some of these guys and for them to show what they can do is very important." Bogusevic has been held back by injuries with the Cubs in 2013 and the Marlins' Triple-A New Orleans affiliate last year. "There have been ups and downs, but that's how baseball goes," he said. "That's how life goes. It's not a big deal. You just keep going. "Every spring you have goals of making teams and this and that. But really what you have to do is get ready for a season. If you're not trying to get ready for the season, you're really not doing yourself any favors. Just see as many pitches as possible, get as many good swings as possible for the first game of the season, no matter where it is." Two other players getting a close look, for different reasons, also played on Saturday. Phillippe Aumont, the towering right-hander who is out of options, struck out two of the six batters he faced after allowing an inherited runner to score in the third. "He threw a lot of strikes," Sandberg said. "He was much better. Got ahead of the hitters. It was good outing for him. He needs to be able to repeat it, hit his spots, not make mistakes, keep the ball down, quality pitches. He showed more of those in this outing." Touted No. 3 prospect Maikel Franco went 0-for-3, dropping his Grapefruit League average to .182. "He needs to make some adjustments," Sandberg said. "We saw some of the same approaches and same swings last year in September [when the 22-year-old batted .179 in 16 games]. For him to break into the league and be an established hitter, he needs to hit for an average and use the whole field. That's what's talked about with him. He looks like he's overswinging."

Disappointing Fill In – The Phillies needed a starter to fill in for veteran Aaron Harang, who was scratched for the second time this spring with lower back discomfort, against the Tigers on Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium. Enter right-hander Paul Clemens, a non-roster invitee who pitched for the Astros last season. The hope, of course, is that Philadelphia won't need long-term replacements for Harang or Cliff Lee, who has been sidelined with renewed left elbow inflammation after missing the last two months of the 2014 season. But the club also has to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. And that's why the 27-year-old Clemens was so disappointed that he gave up three earned runs on three hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings of what turned out to be a 5-4 Phillies win. "We need those guys healthy. But it opens a door to show what I can do," Clemens said. "This was a great opportunity to really show that I can work deep into a ballgame. We jumped on them early. So today was a great opportunity that I let slip away. That's tough to swallow. I'm confident in what I can do. I know what I bring to the table." Clemens was unable to locate his fastball, which meant he was pitching behind during much of his outing. "It was pretty brutal actually. When you're not getting ahead of the guys, you're in for a long day," he said. "I was consistently behind guys, putting guys on base without them earning it. Makes it rough, makes it tough. I felt good with my stuff, but I couldn't command my fastball the way that I should have." Said manager Ryne Sandberg: "He's shown some good things in his outings as far as hanging in there and making a pitch and not getting rattled. But for him to be able to throw strike one would go a long way with what he has on the mound, so that's something he needs to improve on." The Phillies didn't provide updates on Lee or Harang on Saturday. Cole Hamels and Jerome Williams are the only other starters penciled into the rotation at the moment, although David Buchanan appears to have an inside track on a spot. Other options include Kevin Slowey and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.

Game Clock Has A Fan In De Fratus – A few days ago, Phillies reliever Justin De Fratus had a thought about Major League Baseball's attempts to tighten up inning breaks and shared it with his Twitter followers. "Game clock between innings is awesome!" he tweeted. Given the opportunity to expand his opinion beyond 140 characters before the team bus left Bright House Field for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium, the right-handed De Fratus, who has pitched three scoreless innings and earned two saves this spring, offered an interesting take. "This is just my own personal opinion. I have no numbers to back this up. I don't think the average time between innings is so much less," De Fratus said. "But what I think is happening is, it doesn't allow for that one inning that causes the entire pace of the game to hit the brakes. There always seems to be that one moment. The game seems to be moving along great, and then it hits this moment, and it can never pick that original pace back up." Game clock for in between innings is awesome! - Justin De Fratus (@JustinDeFratus) March 9, 2015 Part of MLB's pace of play initiative this year adds a timer which counts down from 2:25 beginning as soon as the third out of an inning is made (2:45 for nationally-televised games). Ideally, the pitcher and hitter should both be ready to go when the clock hits 20 seconds. "It's just allowing the game to move more naturally. And it doesn't allow for that stop," De Fratus said. "You know like if you're going on a road trip or something like that? And all of a sudden, somebody has to use the restroom? It's like, 'Dang it, man, you just killed the whole momentum of our trip.' "Before you had the jams going. And afterwards you get back in the car and you're just kind of dead now. This isn't allowing for that moment where so-and-so took five minutes between innings and now everybody's just kind of dragging. That's what I love about it. I don't think it's really shaving off a whole lot of time, per se, as opposed to not allowing that moment of the game hitting the brakes. Because once that happens, it's hard to get it back."

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.

Howard Powers Phillies Past Rays

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Phillies Defeat Rays 2-1

The Phillies know they are not going to hit for much power this season, so they need everything they can get from Ryan Howard. Howard hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning against right-hander Chris Archer in Friday's 2-1 victory over the Rays at Bright House Field. It was Howard's first homer of the spring. "I'm just going to go out there and do what I can do," Howard said. "The approach is try to put a good swing on the ball. If I can get extra-base hits, home runs, whatever I can do to try to help get those guys in. We've been doing a great job of being able to go out and execute." Howard hit a first-pitch changeup from Archer. "He left a changeup up," Howard said. "I had a good pass at it. I feel like my first AB, felt good, felt like I was seeing the ball pretty well. He threw me a good changeup early on to strike me out, 3-2. But, the second AB, changeup up, put a good pass on it." When asked about the pitch to Howard, Archer said, "When you don't execute something that's 88 mph and you have a 30-home run, 100-RBIs guy, if you don't execute, it's going to get banged. And we have a lot of those guys in our division. ... [It was a] 0-0 changeup, couldn't-put-it-on-a-tee-any-better home run." Another key piece for the Phillies this season, Chase Utley, made his spring debut, batting third as the DH. Utley struck out in the first inning before singling to right-center field to lead off the fourth inning. He was then pulled from the game for a pinch-runner, ending his day 1-for-2 at the plate. Utley had not played in a game this spring because of a sprained right ankle, which he injured in January when he stepped on a baseball. Utley's ankle has made incremental progress over the past several weeks, and he has progressed enough to step into the batter's box and potentially run the bases. The Rays scored their only run in the first inning when Evan Longoria singled to score Asdrubal Cabrera, who moved into scoring position on an error from Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez.

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

The Phillies scratched right-hander Aaron Harang from Saturday's start against the Tigers, which you can listen to live on Gameday Audio at 1:05 p.m. ET, because of "lower back discomfort." They said they are not worried. But right-hander Paul Clemens, a non-roster invitee, will make the start in Harang's place. He has allowed one hit, two walks and has struck out one in four scoreless innings this spring. Ken Giles, Phillippe Aumont and Nefi Ogando also are scheduled to pitch.

PHILS PHACTS:

Persistent Rotation Issues – A little more than three weeks before Opening Day, the Phillies have some serious health questions about their rotation. Cliff Lee threw Thursday, but the discomfort in his left elbow remained. He is trying to pitch with a tear in the common flexor tendon, but if he cannot pitch then season-ending surgery is the next option. Then the Phillies scratched Aaron Harang from Saturday's start against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., because he has "lower back discomfort." The Phillies said it is precautionary, and Harang is day to day. "I'm not that concerned about it," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It's a muscular thing that he has." This is the second time Harang has missed a start this spring because of his back. He pitched Monday against the Orioles and said his back felt fine.

Utley Takes The Field – The Phillies hope Friday represented just another step in Chase Utley's chances to be in the Opening Day lineup. He played in his first Grapefruit League game in a 2-1 victory over the Rays at Bright House Field. Utley has been slowly recovering from a sprained right ankle, which he suffered in January when he stepped on a baseball. "It feels pretty good," Utley said about the ankle. "Still making a little progress on it. It's not perfect yet, but we're moving in the right direction." Utley was a designated hitter for four innings, striking out swinging in the first inning and singling to right-center field in the fourth. Aaron Altherr pinch-ran for Utley, and Altherr scored on Ryan Howard's two-run home run. "It felt good to get out there in front of the crowd, get some at-bats off an opposing pitcher," Utley said. "It was nice." "I thought Chase looked great," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I thought he laid off some pitches. His swing was good, with the base hit, and ran well." Utley's health is worth following. First, the Phillies desperately need his bat in the lineup. Second, he has a $15 million club option for next season that automatically vests with 500 plate appearances. Of course, the next step is playing in the field. Sandberg and Utley offered no timetable for that. "I think we have to talk about it," Utley said. "I think there might be another DH in there, but yeah, I'd like to play the field soon."

Is Biddle Ready To Make An Impact? – This season could set up pretty nicely for Phillies prospect Jesse Biddle. The Phillies entered Spring Training with a dearth of starting pitching and it looks even thinner with the tear in Cliff Lee's left elbow and Aaron Harang missing more time because of lower back discomfort, although the Phillies said they are not concerned about it. But if Biddle -- the club's No. 9 prospect -- follows a couple years of adversity with a strong showing in 2015, it is not a stretch to think he could join the big leagues before the end of the season. "It's not really about how things went last year," Biddle said Friday at Bright House Field. "It's not really about whatever happened on the field, off the field. I have a lot of people in my corner, a lot of people sticking up for me and a lot of people that have been really supporting me, whether it's coaches here or coaches back home. I don't have any worries about this season. I feel great. My arm feels great. That's the most important thing." Biddle, the Philadelphia native drafted in the first round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, allowed two hits and struck out one in two scoreless innings Friday in a 2-1 victory over the Rays. But with Minor League camp rolling at the Carpenter Complex, it could have been his final big league appearance this spring. He hopes to be back soon. Biddle, 23, will have to put everything together to make it happen. The Phillies first want him to become a strike-throwing machine. They also want to see him better handle adversity. Biddle's physical and mental battles are well documented. He pitched through whooping cough and plantar fasciitis in his left foot in 2013 with Double-A Reading. He acknowledged that offseason he carried his poor performances with him too long. He returned to Reading in 2014 as a tune-up for an anticipated quick promotion to Triple-A, but it never came. He struggled, saying he was "miserable" at one point. The Phillies put him on the temporary inactive list and sent him to Florida because they believed he needed a mental break. He returned, but missed the rest of the season with a strained right quadriceps. He made just two starts in winter ball because of a sore left elbow. "Anybody giving up 10 runs in an outing when they know they can do a lot better is going to be miserable," said Biddle, referring to his trip to the inactive list. "The thing I've learned and the thing I've really been paying attention to is, this pressure that people talk about, this pressure I'm getting from the fan base or from my family or whatever, it's just support. It is love for me. "The pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself. There is a certain amount of expectations I have for myself to succeed. Sometimes I think maybe I do put too much pressure on myself because I want to pitch well for the people supporting me. But that's something I can change and adjust." Biddle said he suffered a concussion last season when a piece of hail struck him during a storm in Reading. He tried to pitch through it, not realizing at the time he had a concussion. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. acknowledged concussion symptoms, but told CSNPhilly.com, "I don't know if it was a full-blown concussion. That wasn't the reason we gave him the break." Asked about the apparent discrepancy, Biddle said, "I can't really speak to that. I'm not in charge of how we handle them releasing information about my situation. But whatever it was, going down to Florida was the best thing that happened to me. It was the best thing I could have done, so the Phillies made the right call in that aspect. They took really good care of me." But that is in the past. Biddle is ready to let his pitching take care of his future. He believes it will. "Do I have every bit of confidence in myself?" Biddle said. "Absolutely. I think there's nothing really holding me back except myself. I think I have the talent to do it. I think I definitely will do it."

Rodriguez Ready To Shine – Joely Rodriguez learned the Pirates traded him to the Phillies in December while sitting in a bullpen in the Dominican Republic. He thought somebody was playing a joke on him. But Rodriguez, whom the Phillies acquired for Antonio Bastardo, said he realized the trade was real when he received another phone call on his ride home that night. "I'm happy to be in an organization that's giving me the opportunity to really show what I've got," Rodriguez said through translator Rickie Ricardo. Rodriguez allowed one hit, one unearned run and walked one in three innings on Friday in a 2-1 victory over the Rays at Bright House Field. He has allowed two hits, one unearned run, two walks and has struck out one in seven scoreless innings this spring. "My mission today was to get ahead in the count, attack the strike zone early so then I could work on my breaking pitches," Rodriguez said. He is expected to open the season in the Triple-A Lehigh Valley rotation, but the Phillies certainly are hoping they get something from Rodriguez, whom MLB Pipeline ranks No. 26 in the organization's Top 30 Prospects list. He is a piece in their rebuilding plan.

Debating The DH – Although it does not seem to be a pressing issue, Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark said recently that the idea of adding the designated hitter to the National League has been mentioned to the union. With the Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire following the 2016 season, Phillies president Pat Gillick hopes the DH remains in the American League. "There's nothing imminent," Clark said Friday morning at Bright House Field, where the union held its annual meeting with the Phillies. "There's nothing going on. I don't know how that snowball got rolling downhill. This wasn't anything that's been discussed. This was something that was mentioned elsewhere. At the end of the day we will go to the players and will determine -- if it's actually proposed -- whether or not it's a consideration the guys want to make, and then we'll have our bargaining position." Scoring in baseball is down, so including the DH in the NL could boost offense. It also would create more high-paying jobs for veteran hitters. "I've been in both leagues," Gillick said. "Basically, I like the National League style of play. Some people might say, 'Well, that's an old guy's way to look at it.' But I think it's a little more intellectual. I think one thing right now that's pretty prominent is pace of game. The American League games are longer than the National League games. "So I would not be one that would be a proponent of the DH in the National League." Told that the DH in the NL could increase scoring, Gillick said, "To be frank, I'd rather see them lower the mound and take some of the advantage away from the pitchers and try to improve scoring that way. I just like the intellectual game." Clark steered clear of saying whether or not the DH in the NL makes sense. "There could be an argument for it. There could be an argument against it," he said. "We're not going to take a position one way or the other. I will tell you, though, that each time we've had a bargaining session, the DH has been a part of the conversation. What do you want to do? Do you want to eliminate it? Do you want to add it? So it's been part of the conversation. But as I stand here today I haven't even begun to ask guys, 'Hey, what are you thinking about this?'"

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.

Phillies Fall To Frat Boys

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Phils Fall To Spartans 6-2

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg downplayed the end result Sunday afternoon at Bright House Field. The Phillies scheduled an exhibition against the University of Tampa, which is the No. 1 Division II baseball team in the country. The club wanted to give its younger players and non-roster invitees some work against the wide-eyed kids before opening the Grapefruit League season Tuesday against the Yankees. Philadelphia lost to the amateurs, 6-2. "Well, you know," Sandberg said, asked if it was embarrassing to lose to a college team, "it kind of shows where we're at as far as seeing players and workouts and seeing the work that needs to be done. I think it just emphasizes that." Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz and other Phillies veterans never touched the field, but the youngest player on the field for the Phils (Odubel Herrera, who was born Dec. 29, 1991) was older than every player on the Spartans. They also have years of professional experience in the Minor Leagues. In a twist, the Spartans took the lead in the seventh inning with a big assist from Andrew Amaro, the nephew of Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. The Spartans first baseman worked a bases-loaded, two-out, nine-pitch walk against right-hander Nefi Ogando to score the tying run. "It was one of my coolest baseball games ever," said Amaro, who is from Bensalem, Pa., and attended Penn Charter. "Obviously my name means something in the Philadelphia area. It was just cool to go out there and compete and have a pretty good game against my favorite hometown team." Amaro said there was no trash talking with his uncle leading up to the exhibition. "My uncle said he didn't even know about the game until four days ago," he said. Right-hander Hector Neris replaced Ogando, but served up a grand slam to Giovanny Alfonzo to give the Spartans the four-run lead. "That was awesome," Amaro said. "Giovanny is on Cloud 9. He said that was the coolest experience of his life." It wasn't for the Phillies. "You just get some of the cobwebs out," Sandberg said. "It kind of shows after some practices where we're at on certain things."

TUESDAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

Phillies take on the Yankees at home.

PHILS PHACTS:

Utley Out – Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will not be in the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League opener against the Yankees at Bright House Field. Utley sprained his right ankle in January and has not fully recovered. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said the Phillies are going to "ease him in a little down the road." Sandberg declined to say if Ryan Howard or any other regulars will be in Tuesday's lineup.

Beat The Clock – For the first time in Major League Baseball, when the Phillies faced the University of Tampa at Bright House Field on Sunday, the time between innings and pitching changes was timed. There was a large clock immediately to the left of the batter's eye in center field and a smaller one on the façade behind home plate. The goal is to improve the pace of play by eliminating time between the end of the break and the resumption of play. It is one of three major initiatives MLB has announced for the 2015 season involving the tempo of games. Immediately after the third out of each half-inning, the countdown began from 2:25; it will be 2:45 for nationally-televised games. With 40 seconds remaining, the next batter is announced and his walkup music begins. With 30 seconds, the pitcher throws his final warmup. At 25 seconds the batter's walkup music ends and the batter is required to be in the box and the pitcher ready to deliver with between five and 20 seconds. At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. And, for the most part, it went pretty smoothly Sunday. "It kind of went unnoticed for the most part," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I really didn't notice it that much at all. When the time was right for the hitter to walk up there, it kind of happened naturally. So I don't think there was a lot of stress about it. It just kind of flowed." Which, of course, is the goal. Since the actual time devoted to commercials between innings is 2:05 (2:25 for national games) the goal is to have the first pitch of the inning delivered before the clock actually runs out. And that was the case going into the bottom of the first when University of Tampa right-hander David Heintz's first pitch to Phillies leadoff hitter Odubel Herrera came with 15 seconds to spare. Not every changeover went as flawlessly but there weren't many snags considering that details of the changes were made public Feb. 20. Phillies starter Paul Clemens said he had no problem with the new rules. "I've always gotten to the mound quickly," he said. "I want to get on there and go. That way the opposing team isn't able to sit there and settle in. So I've always -- after the third out is made by my offense -- I've always gotten right back out there." Two other pace of play adjustments stipulate that batters must, under most circumstances, keep one foot in the box between pitches, and managers will no longer come onto the field to issue challenges. Those changes had little impact in this game. Since the umpires were not a standard MLB crew -- behind home plate was Gary Glover, who works on the Bright House Field grounds crew -- Sandberg didn't remind his hitters that they aren't supposed to step out between pitches. He'll do that before Tuesday's Grapefruit League opener against the Yankees. Also, since instant replay was not used, the tweak on how challenges will be issued wasn't a factor, either. That, plus the fact that there were 10 pitching changes, makes it difficult to read anything into the fact that the time of game was 2:57. Still, it was the first step on the latest significant update in the way MLB games will be played.

Rotation Competition – Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez said pitching is pitching and he will pitch happily anywhere. Of course, he would be especially happy in the Phillies' rotation. Gonzalez, 28, wants to start, and the Phillies are giving him a chance this spring. They open their Grapefruit League schedule Tuesday against the Yankees at Bright House Field, and Gonzalez will be competing with David Buchanan for the fifth spot in a rotation that figures to include Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Aaron Harang and Jerome Williams. "I've always been a starter," Gonzalez said through a translator Sunday. "That's important. I'm used to that. I've always been one." Gonzalez makes his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., and there will be plenty of eyes on him. He is in the second year of a three-year, $12 million contract, which has not yet panned out. "It didn't go as well as I wanted last year," Gonzalez said. "This year I'm much better prepared, and much more mentally focused on what I have to do. The setbacks last season … I thought I was physically ready and I'd have a setback. If it wasn't one thing it was another. This year, all that stuff is out of the way." The Phillies and Gonzalez originally agreed to a six-year, $48 million contract in July 2013, with the Phillies expecting him to immediately jump into the 2014 rotation as a legitimate No. 3 behind Hamels and Lee. But Gonzalez lost $36 million in the deal following a physical, which revealed shoulder issues. Those issues popped up last season, which precipitated a move to the bullpen. The club felt Gonzalez's shoulder would hold up better there. Gonzalez pitched pretty well in relief. He had a 3.14 ERA in 11 appearances with Double-A Reading and a 1.65 ERA in 12 appearances with Triple-A Lehigh Valley before he joined the Phillies in September. He allowed nine hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings that month. But Gonzalez believes he can be a better starter, and he expressed those desires to the Phillies after the season. They could use the help. The Phils have pretty decent bullpen depth, but should they trade Hamels or Lee at some point, they are remarkably thin in the rotation. So Gonzalez's health and durability are important. He said his shoulder is finally 100 percent healthy. "Hard work," he said about his offseason regimen. If Gonzalez can stay healthy and throw well, he could work his way into the rotation, although Buchanan enters spring as the favorite based upon a solid rookie season. But certainly the Phillies and Gonzalez hope he eventually lives up to the hype he brought with him in 2013. "I don't have to prove anything to anybody," Gonzalez said. "I just have to go out and play my game and not worry about what other people think."

Bringing Confidence To Bullpen Competition – Paul Clemens is not afraid to say he has a great arm and two "hellacious" pitches. But he will need to pitch well this spring to make the Phillies' seven-man bullpen, which has three openings behind Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles, Jake Diekman and Justin De Fratus. Clemens, who signed in the offseason as a non-roster Invitee, will need to improve upon the 5.51 ERA he posted in 48 appearances the past two seasons with Houston. It is not impossible for Clemens, who pitched two perfect innings in Saturday's 6-2 exhibition loss to the University of Tampa, to make the team. Jeff Manship made the Opening Day roster last season as a non-roster invitee and Manship does not throw nearly as hard as Clemens, who hit 96 mph on the radar gun in the first inning. "Some pitching coaches tell me how incredible my arm is and that I could play for a long time, so I think I've been showing some guys what I bring to the table," Clemens said. "I had a couple really good conversations with front office and some guys around here, so it's definitely motivating. "I feel like I've got two pretty hellacious pitches -- my fastball and my curveball. I feel like I could do a multitude of things in this game." So where has Clemens fallen short? "Command in both of [my pitches] all the time," he said. "You don't get away with much and I feel like if you go watch video of me, you go see some of the better hitters in the game, I've punched tickets on three straight pitches. I've proven to the guys who need to be proven to what I can do. "Sometimes I think I get too overzealous with my fastball and I just pound it and pound it and pound it. So picking my spots more, being smarter. You can't really challenge guys at this level. Once in a while you've got to pick your spots, but you can't challenge too many guys, even the guys you don't really know their names as much. You've still got to pitch."

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.

Let The (Exhibition) Games Begin!

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

The Phillies play the University of Tampa on Sunday afternoon in an exhibition at Bright House Field. Rule 5 Draft pick Odubel Herrera will hit leadoff and play center field. Cesar Hernandez (second base), Cord Phelps (third base), Darin Ruf (left field), Chris McGuiness (first base), Russ Canzler (designated hitter), Aaron Altherr (right field), Tommy Joseph (catcher) and Chase d'Arnaud (shortstop) follow him in the lineup. Right-hander Paul Clemens will start. "He's a guy that has a little bit of starting experience," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He could be a long-man type of guy."

PHILS PHACTS:

Bullpen Battle – The Phillies are in the beginning stages of a substantial rebuilding process. But they believe they could be extremely competitive in at least one area in 2015. They believe they could have one of the better bullpens in baseball. The Phillies bullpen finished ninth in the National League last season with a 3.60 ERA. But from June 1 through the end of the season, it ranked fifth with a 3.36 ERA and second averaging 9.81 strikeouts per nine innings. Credit a consistently strong season by Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles' arrival, Jake Diekman's big arm from the left side and marked improvement from Justin De Fratus for much of that. The club expects Giles, Diekman, De Fratus and others to take another step forward this season, making the bullpen even better. Those high expectations should create some interesting roster battles this spring. The Phillies typically carry seven pitchers in the bullpen, although they could open with six if they want to carry an extra bench player. "It's time to see them with hitters in there," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said on Saturday, following a rain-shortened workout. "[I'm] kind of open minded, as far as the bullpen goes." Here is a look at the bullpen candidates, as the Phillies get set to play the University of Tampa in an exhibition on Sunday at Bright House Field. Their first Grapefruit League game is on Tuesday against the Yankees: RHP Jonathan Papelbon: He is a lock, as well as the closer -- assuming the Phillies do not trade him before Opening Day. RHP Ken Giles: His 0.79 WHIP last season ranks fifth among all rookie relievers since 1914. His 5.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio is sixth, and his 12.61 strikeouts-per-nine innings average is 10th. He is a lock to make the team. LHP Jake Diekman: Also a lock, he posted a 2.70 ERA in 61 appearances from April 22 through Sept. 21, striking out 80 batters over 60 innings. RHP Justin De Fratus: He struggled in his first four appearances before being sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He returned and posted a 1.89 ERA in 50 appearances from May 26 through the end of the season. He is a lock, as well, leaving three jobs available in a seven-man bullpen. LHP Andy Oliver: He has an edge, if for no other reason than he is a Rule 5 Draft pick on a rebuilding team. If the Phillies like what they see, they could stash him in the bullpen just to keep his arm in the organization. But he will need to throw strikes. He struck out 85, but walked 47, in 64 innings last season with Triple-A Indianapolis (Pirates). LHP Mario Hollands: He was one of the best stories of 2014, coming out of relative obscurity to make the Opening Day roster. He pitched pretty well, too. He has a very good chance to make the team. The Phillies carried three left-handers in the 'pen last year, so it's not out of the question Diekman, Oliver and Hollands make the team. RHP Luis Garcia: The Phillies named Garcia their Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014, based upon a dominant performance in Triple-A. Garcia fizzled in his first four appearances with the Phillies, posting a 12.71 ERA. He improved in his final nine, though, posting a 2.16 ERA. The Phillies believe that is the real Garcia, but he will have to prove it this spring to get a job. RHP Jeanmar Gomez: The non-roster invitee entered camp under the radar, but he has a good chance to make the team. The 27-year-old posted a 3.28 ERA in 78 appearances over the past two seasons with Pittsburgh. RHP Hector Neris: He pitched a scoreless inning last season for the Phillies, but went a combined 6-3 with a 3.61 ERA in 48 appearances last season with Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. He will have to put up strong numbers in camp. RHP Phillippe Aumont: He is out of options, so if he does not make the Opening Day roster, he will have to clear waivers before the Phillies can send him to Triple-A. He has a great arm, but he has been unable to put it together. The possibility of losing Aumont could push him onto the roster, but only if he pitches well (i.e. throws strikes). RHP Ethan Martin: He missed some time last season with a shoulder issue, and Sandberg said his mechanics need some fine tuning. Martin would have to come on strong to turn a few heads. RHP Paul Clemens: He could be this season's Jeff Manship, who made the 2014 Opening Day roster as a swingman. But Manship had to pitch really well to earn that spot. Clemens will have to do the same. Left-hander Elvis Araujo and right-hander Nefi Ogando are also in camp, but neither has pitched above Double-A. Expect them to open the season in the Minor Leagues.

Pettibone Making Progress – Phillies right-hander Jonathan Pettibone pitched pretty well in 18 starts in 2013. But a right shoulder injury popped up that July, which has limited him to just seven starts and 35 1/3 innings at the Major League and Minor League levels since. He ultimately required surgery to repair the shoulder in June 2014, which has him behind schedule this spring. "It's a little tight just grinding through these past couple days -- starting to throw bullpens, stretching out my long toss and everything," Pettibone said on Saturday at Bright House Field. "It's come along great. We haven't had any setbacks, so that's definitely a positive." Pettibone, 24, will throw his third bullpen session on Sunday. He is expected to remain in Clearwater once the season starts to make a few starts before he joins Triple-A Lehigh Valley. From there, he hopes to begin his road back to the big leagues -- where he posted a 4.04 ERA in 100 1/3 innings as a rookie. "Anytime after surgery, you're kind of uneasy about the whole situation," said Pettibone. "But I've been kind of staying positive."

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.