Phillies score and there's an E-A-G-L-E-S chant in Lakeland.
…which says something…and not something particularly good…about random Phillies fans. Just my opinion here.
But it does sound like the Phillies fans outnumber the Tigers fans, or at least it sounds that way in the audio feed from today’s broadcast. I have a road trip planned to Florida this year; planning to catch one game in Clearwater and another in Lakeland.
I'm not a fan of it generally but I think in this case it's both enthusiasm for the Eagles' legit greatness and enthusiasm for the Phillies, as if their first run of the season means they are picking up with where the football team left off. . Whereas usually it's something people do out of boredom or cynicism when the baseball team is not looking good.
The fun of Spring training:
Things you almost certainly will not see in the season:
Johan Rojas starting the game as the DH.
There were a couple - including one called ball that was changed to a strike. But mostly, the pitchers were just missing.
Game's on the radio - and WIP is streaming the audio. And of course, Gameday is available.
I was wondering if Game Day pitch by pitch would show the overturns? Just heard the Tigers challenge and get a ball.
6-6 after 8 innings. I know these games are for getting ready for the regular season, but I’d rather win than lose plus blowing a 5 run lead always bothers me.
I've learned to take all results with a bag of salt until about 2 weeks into ST.
Pitchers are either minor leaguers or ML pitchers who are working on stuff or just building up strength their first few outings.
A couple weeks before the 1st game, pitchers start getting regular starts and building up to 4-5 innings.
At that point hitters are facing real pitching, not batting practice.
Walker supposedly has his velocity back, but I won't be a believer until he goes twice through a lineup with 5-6 ML starters, not mow down a bunch of scrubs.
Though it's nice seeing Crawford hit a 108 MPH line drive.
Oh, I dunno. I am very concerned that Johan Rojas is not designated hitter material and that if Crawford can't get a hit on a 108 line drive here how is he going to do it in Allentown. But I think Nabil Crismatt could win 10 games for us this year based on his two scoreless innings and Weston Wilson just lost his job to Breaux.
….Harper can’t even get on the field, clearly a cut candidate and Wheeler and Nola had a nice run, but now they don’t even pitch into the first inning.
Gelb really does seem to think the Phillies were willing to send down Rojas if Sosa could play CF. But it's moot for now. Kennedy still probably has the edge (and Clemens has modest trade value, or will clear if he doesn't).
The Phillies have been active, major-league sources said, in trying to obtain righty outfielders on minor-league deals. It’s possible they cast a wider net now. They could wait to address the situation until later in March when other teams make cuts.
The Phillies had thought about Sosa in the outfield before Wilson’s injury because they considered it a way to keep a better bat on the bench over Rojas, who can be sent to the minors. The Wilson injury probably protects Rojas.
I hope we are looking VERY hard at Waiver wires and low end trades that could be made. I know it is just the 25th/26th roster spot, but in today’s game that 4th bench spot does play a reasonable amount and it would be nice to upgrade.
Somewhere there is a bad team that would give us a low end starter that could be a bench player on this team for a low end prospect. Even if it is a veteran they would like to unload.