Marcus Giles News

Remember the offseason, when we were concerned that Utley's balky hip would force him to miss an extended portion of the 2009 season? When journeymen Marcus Giles, Pablo Ozuna, and Miguel Cairo were the top candidates to cover during Utley's absence? Those were rather dark times.

Player to watch: Brett Myers. With Cole Hamels expected to be on the DL for opening day, Myers will move to the top of the rotation for the time being.

Happy opening night. It will be nice to see more competitive tension in the games, though spring training, with its races for roster spots and the fifth spot in the starting rotation, did not lack intensity.

Chan Ho Park's final audition to be the Phillies' fifth starter went well here Monday, while Cole Hamels' 65-pitch tuneup in a minor-league game confirmed he isn't ready to start the season-opener Sunday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Mike Koplove pitched another scoreless inning yesterday, a small consolation prize for the sobering news he received earlier in the day.

Marcus Giles has been released. Reliever Mike Koplove, OF Jason Ellison and INF Pablo Ozuna have been informed that they won't be making the team, but they'll head north with the team for the exhibition games against the Rays.

Marcus Giles had hoped to resurrect his baseball career with the Phillies. He learned Monday that if that happens, it will happen someplace else.

Giles, who was out of baseball last year, said he saw this coming for more than a week.

The Phillies have optioned pitcher Carlos Carrasco and outfielder John Mayberry Jr.

One thing I've noticed over the past several days: the mood around this team is becoming more serious.

Shane Victorino hit .316 with one RBI in the Classic, while Jimmy Rollins hit .417 with a homer, four RBIs, four runs scored and four stolen bases.

Kyle Kendrick probably pitched the best he has pitched this spring Saturday afternoon at Bright House Field.

Nearly 20 years ago, when Matt Stairs began his career in cities such as West Palm Beach, Jamestown, Rockford and Harrisburg, baseball players acted differently than they do today.

Joe Blanton was impressive on the mound in Philadelphia's 5-1 win over the Florida Marlins.

Edited by Jason Weitzel of Beerleaguer and published by Maple Street Press, the Phillies 2009 Annual is the only source for serious fans to get their Phillies fix.

A lot of you are asking for an analysis of the competitions for fifth starter and between Stairs/Mayberry/Donald/Giles for that final roster spot.

Just after 8 on Wednesday morning, The Phillies filed quietly into the locker room at Bright House Field, many rubbing their eyes and yawning.

Riddle: What has five heads, 10 legs, has played every position on a baseball field in the major leagues but catcher and has a career batting average of .269 on 1,939 hits in 7,214 at-bats? Answer: nonroster ...

United States at the plate: Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins and Dustin Pedroia each singled to start the third inning.

Edited by Jason Weitzel of Beerleaguer and published by Maple Street Press, the Phillies 2009 Annual is the only source for serious fans to get their Phillies fix.