It was a sold-out crowd at the Phillies' rollicking spring training facility in Clearwater. Official attendance: 10,270. The Rays were in the park--so were Elvis and Pat--and there was a nice mix of Ray fans in the crowd. It's about time the Rays have fans! Maybe the Marlins and Nats will now get some.It was also the first televised game of the season. It almost made me wish I were there--but really Florida is not my cuppa. Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler were talking about how Bright House Field resembles the Lakewood park, and it does. Maybe that's why I liked Lakewood so much when I went there last year.
T-Mac and Wheels also talked about Victorino's selection to Team USA. No one is more excited about it, said T-Mac. Responded Wheels, he gets excited about the sun coming up in the morning. They also talked about Victorino getting a Gold Glove last year. How did I forget that?!
Kyle Kendrick got the start and did OK, going 2.2 innings. The Phillies at last got decent pitching for a whole game. Drew Naylor came in after KK and did pretty well. I've heard a lot about the kid, only 22, and it was good to see him. Lots of future 'Piggies played, including the hunky John Mayberry, Jr., who had one of six windblown homers in the game. Jason Donald, playing 3rd, got his first hit of the season and made a diving catch in the stands. It was a typical spring training game, which is to say the weather was good, the fans relaxed, and the game soon got boring. On the winning end or losing end, these early ST games tend to get out of hand once the starters leave.
Jayson Werth has turned into something of a mystery man. He's yet to play in a game, is reportedly not in game shape because of his hometown weather. He was supposed to play today but was scratched pregame because he yesterday "tweaked his shoulder." What is that all about?
If I went to Clearwater again, I'd now know all the good places to go. Five years too late!
