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It's Wednesday, March 3rd and if you didn't know before, I guess you'll know now...today, the exhibition season begins for the Phillies. Spring training games actually started on Tuesday, but since the lone game featured Phillies' division rivals, the Braves and the Metropolitans, it was about as painful to view as a Cannibal Corpse death metal song's imagery. As interesting as seeing Chris Coste in arch enemy colors was, and as grand as the butt smooching Rod Barajas did for Roy Halladay during an interview seemed, I could not have enjoyed watching a baseball game any less. Tonight REAL baseball begins, as the defending National League champions take on the Florida State Seminoles in the prelude to the preseason. No television for this game, but the 2010 Phillies will debut on television on Thursday, when they take on last year's World Series opponent, the Yankees, at 1pm on Comcast Sportsnet. "Jay" Happ, Phillippe Aumont, Jesus Sanchez and Yohan Flan...

The New York Metropolitans inked former Phillie Chris Coste on Monday. Coste will be guaranteed a spot on the organization's 40-man roster, though not the Major League 25-man roster. Reports state that Coste must pass a physical before the contract is final. In four seasons with Philadelphia, Coste hit .282 with a .779 OPS in 256 games. Coste was placed on waivers and claimed by Houston last July. Coste will join former Trenton Thunder standout Omir Santos as back stops for the Metropolitans. Initially I was saddened by this news. I loved Coste's life story of sticking around and putting forth maximum effort in minor league baseball long enough to finally make the Major Leagues, as a rookie, at age 33, and as a result, I began to adopt Coste as one of my favorite Phillies. But, after considering where Coste is heading, I'm truly just sad for him . I am sorry, Costie. For now, you are no longer my dude. ------------------------------- John R. Finger's article for C...

Ed Wade's Houston Astros (72-83) come to town to face the Phillies (90-65) for a four game series beginning Monday night. The Phillies' magic number to clinch a third straight division title stands at 3. The Phillies need a combination of their own victories and Braves losses totalling 3 to win the NL East and take the first step toward adding to the team's ring jewelry collection. Read on for additional information and pitching matchups from this series. Monday, 7:05pm. Yorman Bazardo (0-2, 9.55 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.11 ERA). Bazardo, one of Ed Wade's many former Philadelphia players, has allowed 15 walks in 21 2/3 innings pitched this year. Bazardo was signed by the Phillies last offseason, but was released this spring. Cole's ERA over his last 6 starts is 2.01. At home this season, Hamels is 7-3 with a 3.29 ERA. Carlos Lee is the only active Astro to homer against Colbert. Lee is 3-for-14 (.214 avg) with a HR and 7 RBI vs. Hamels. Colbert's last loss...

The Phillies (77-54) visit Ed Wade and the Houston Astros (63-70) this weekend for a four game series. This will mark the first time these two teams have faced each other this season. Read below for pitching match ups and important notes from this series. Friday, 8:05pm. Cliff Lee (5-1, 1.80 ERA - NL) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (12-9, 2.93 ERA). Cliff Lee is 7-3 with a 2.67 ERA on the road this season. Batters are hitting .211 off of Lee since he joined the Phillies. Lee's last start, a loss to the Braves, was only the second time all season that Lee has surrendered more than one homerun in a game. Wandy Rodriguez is 3-8 with a 4.63 ERA in 18 career games in September. At home this season, Wandy is 7-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 12 starts. Wandy has given up 6 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Phillies in his career. Jimmy Rollins is 3-for-5 against Rodriguez with a homerun. Saturday, 7:05pm. Joe Blanton (9-6, 3.77 ERA) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-5, 3.80 ERA). In his last 12 starts, Joe Blanton i...

Chris Coste looked way cooler when he was a Phillie. Sunglasses, tough guy expressions and fresh jewelry are all missing these days. Now it's all about frowns and wrong colored pin stripes. What happened, Costie? Ohh, I know. Too much of this guy...

The Phillies have designated Chris Coste for assignment today, to make room for Raul Ibanez on the active roster. Coste was seemingly immediately scooped off of waivers by former Phillies GM and current Astros big cheese Ed Wade. Wade's collection of Phillies cast-offs continues to grow as Coste will join Mike Bourn, Jason Michaels and Geoff Geary (currently in the minors) in Houston. Coste, who became a phan favorite after a lengthy career in the minors leagues and making the Majors at the ripe rookie age of 33, is a career .282 hitter in 256 games. This season, Coste had a .245 average with 2 homers and 8 RBI in 45 games.

Chris Coste can rest a little easier now that the Phillies have traded away Coste's prime competition for the back up catcher spot. Ronny Paulino was traded twice last night. First, by the Phillies to the Giants for lefty reliever Jack Taschner. Later, the Giants traded Paulino to the Marlins for Hector Correa. Coste told reporters this morning that he is a little relieved, after learning of Paulino's departure. However, he won't feel like his job is guaranteed, and acknowledged a "constant fight to survive" in order to keep his job. It is likely also, that this trade clears an easier path for prospect Lou Marson to climb above both Coste and starter Carlos Ruiz, during the season. ******* Links for you to enjoy... PhilliesFlow has a solid post comparing "Jay" Happ & Chan Ho Park. IronPigPen has content worth reading, as always, today, reviewing IronPigs and R-Phils points of interest. More Hardball is weak on promises, but strong on the World Seri...

There is loads of news coming out of spring training this week. Most of which is from the Phillies' home of Clearwater, FL, but some is from Port St. Lucie, FL, where the Mets train. The New York media continues to ask every Metropolitan possible about the remarks of Jimmy Rollins in past years (about our Phils being the team to beat), and the statement by Cole Hamels, in December, to a NYC radio station about the Mets being "choke artists". It seems that the Metropolitans players are getting a vibe from all the media questions that the Phillies players are speaking about the Mets endlessly, when the fact is that the only material going is from the reporters who wish to build this rivalry, in order to get page views, sell papers, and gain viewers for NYC sports programming. Carlos Beltran was nice enough yesterday to state the Mets' desire to end Cole Hamels by saying, "The only thing I know is that he will be watched every time he faces us. Hopefully, we kill hi...

According to recent reports, the Phillies are confident that they can avoid arbitration with Ryan Howard. There is no confirmation whether the agreement would be a one-year or a multi-year deal. If an agreement can not be reached in the coming days, a panel of 3 arbitrators will hear arguments from both the team and the player, next week, and decide on either the Phillies' offer of $14 million, or Howard's requested $18 million. Two local BC Sports Collectibles will be hosting Phillies player autograph signings this week. BC Sports in the King of Prussia Mall will have Chris Coste signing autographs this Wednesday night, 2/4 at 6:30pm. And on Saturday, 2/7, Jamie Moyer will be at the Oxford Valley Mall starting at noon. There are 11 days till the 63rd year of spring training baseball begins in Clearwater, Florida. Jamie Moyer is 46 years old. Ryan Madson has changed his jersey number from 63 to 46. I have no idea if those numbers are all related, but this is a nice little parag...

The Phillies made the first roster alteration at the winter meetings on Wednesday, by trading minor league catcher Jason Jaramillo to the Pirates for Ronny Paulino. This trade deepens the Phillies at the catching position and could have other effects on the 2009 team. The move could unofficially end Chris Coste's run as a Phillie. It could also make Carlos Ruiz or even Lou Marson trade bait. Another move that happened on Wednesday that could effect the Phillies down the road is the Yankees signing CC Sabathia. $161 million?! Wow. Now let's look forward to the day when Cole Hamels wants that top free agent pitcher money. Enjoy young Colbert while you can, Phillies phans. New reports about the Phillies' interest in Minnesota's Delmon Young and Chan Ho Park are the buzz today. Park, who was with the Dodgers in 2008, is not the LA pitcher most Phillies phans were hoping for (eh-hem, Derek Lowe!). Park, however, was fairly solid this year posting a 3.40 ERA in over 95 inning...

Cowbells, mohawks, bad math equations...these things all await the Phillies in St. Petersburg. The Rays' fan base is mostly Johnny Come-Lately's. Their stadium is a mess. But the team has made history. The Rays have 37 more wins this year than they had last year. That is the biggest increase, from one year to the next, in modern baseball history. World Series note of the day #1- Phillies 25th man So Taguchi is the only player on either team to record a base hit in the World Series. Both teams are not required to set their rosters till Wednesday morning. There has been some speculation that catcher Lou Marson would make the World Series roster for the Phils, so that back up catcher Chris Coste could be used as a designated hitter against lefties, and that would cut the risk of leaving the Phillies in a stuck position if starting catcher Carlos Ruiz were to become injured during a game. MLB rules state if your DH plays the field, the team loses their DH, and the pitcher ...

From time to time, this guy right here known as Jay Ballz is happy to give himself a little pat on the back. Since my last post, where I suggested that Jimmy Rollins was just about to turn it on for the big playoff push, the reigning league MVP has performed like his old self. In the last 14 games, Rollins is 24 for 60 (.400 batting avg.) with 2 homers, 12 RBI, 8 runs scored and 10 steals. Oh, pat on the back #2...my Brett Myers prediction seems to be holding true also. Tom Gordon not returning from the disabled list, did surprise me, however. A big welcome back shout out goes out to every Phillies phan's phavorite Asian born player..."The Gooch" Tadihito Iguchi. Iguchi batted .304 in 42 games for the NL East Champion Phillies last season. Iguchi was released last week by the Padres, and won't be eligible for the Phillies' post season roster, should they clinch a post season berth. Konichiwa, Gooch. Kyle Kendrick has been making a good case for his own remo...

Welcome to Philadelphia, Joe Blanton. Blanton is definitely a guy who is primed to come around. While he's not Ben Sheets, and he's not CC Sabathia, Blanton is a needed addition to the Phillies' staff. At the very least, this is addition by subtraction ....take away Adam Eaton from the starting rotation and the Phils take a step in the right direction. Blanton makes his Phillies debut against the Mets on Tuesday, the 22nd. Mets batters David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran are a combined 3-for-20 (.150 avg.) against Blanton. 2 of those hits belong to Beltran. Statement to ponder...The catchers suck. Everyone's favorite 35 yr old sophomore, Chris Coste, hasn't been able to shake himself out of a slump this month. Carlos Ruiz has been slumping for almost a couple months now. Since seeing his batting average reach a season high of .246 on May 25th, Ruiz has had only 1 multi-hit game and his avg. has dipped just about every week, to where...

Who’s the furthest away from setting the green grass at CBP on fire? Brett Myers , “the #1 starter”, has a 7.71 ERA in 3 May starts this season. Myers’ career ERA in May is 3.34, which is actually his best month. After scorching every bit of turf he stepped on during April, with a 1.136 OPS and only striking out 15 times in 27 games, Pat Burrell is hitting .231 in May with 15 strike outs in 12 games played. Burrell’s career OPS in May is .933, which is his best month aside from the small sample size of October games he has played. Ryan Howard has a 6-game hitting streak going, which has raised his batting average to .182 for the season. Howard’s career splits improve each month of the season. His batting avg in May is .017 higher than April, June is .033 higher than May, July is .014 higher than June and so on. So, with typical improvement in production expected from these 3 home grown talents not happening, should the Phillies be worried? I’d have to say no. There is too much talent...