Join PhoulBallz.com at the On-deck Series this Saturday, at Citizens Bank Park. You'll get a super sweet schedule magnet, see Pat Burrell in an opposing uniform and you'll get to check out Cole Hamels in his last spring start.
Charlie Manuel announced today that Colbert is definitely out as opening night starter against the Braves. He also announced that Jamie Moyer will start game 2, at home Tuesday night, 4/7. Two key details about the pitching rotation have yet to be made known to the public. 1- Who will start opening night, Brett Myers or Joe Blanton? 2- Who will be the 5th starter, Chan Ho Park or "Jay" Happ? Park made his final start of the spring today. Happ will pitch Thursday. Considering our Phils have 3 days off in the first 10 days of the season, they wouldn't need to use a fifth starter till Monday, April 20th, or so.
Among today's roster moves, Marcus Giles was released. Giles told reporters, "I got every chance in the world. It's not their fault. There's nobody to blame but myself. I would have made the same decision they did to be honest with you. I'm not a guy to make excuses. I had my chance." Miguel Cairo (.286 avg, .830 OPS this spring) can still make the opening day roster as a righty reserve hitter.
Eric Bruntlett had another big day at the plate on Monday, going 3-for-4 with a homerun and 4 RBI. That raised Bruntlett's Grapefruit League batting average to .364 and his OPS to 1.042. Bruntlett is second on the team in total bases and RBI this spring and he leads the team in runs scored and hits.
Raul Ibanez is in great company this pre-season, joining the powerful likes of Emmanuel Burriss, Kazuo Matsui and Mike Bourn as NL players with 70 or more at bats and zero homeruns.
