Did anything not go right for the Phillies yesterday in their Spring Training opener against the Reds? They won 8-1 and even though it doesn't mean anything, the Mets lost too. Sounds like a good day.
Notes & Observations from blustery Delco:
- Greg Dobbs hit a 3-run homer in the fifth inning, part of a 7-run outburst by the Phils. New nickname suggestion for Dobbs: King of Clearwater. He hit over 1.000 last year in spring training (even more impressive when you consider that it is mathematically impossible) and is off to a similar start this year.
- David Murphy of the Daily News grabbed this quote from LHP Travis Blackley, who pitched three scoreless innings, when Blackley was asked what he threw: "sinker, sinker, sinker". It's because of his sinker, his left-handedness, ability to start or relieve, and the fact that he's a Rule 5 draftee that I give him a pretty good chance of making the final 25-man roster.
- Murphy also had a good description of Jamie Moyer's pitches yesterday: "In the second inning, Moyer struck out Juan Encarnacion on what was either a slow curve or a change-up. Either way, it looked like it was travelling in a School Zone it was moving so slow. The thing practically had its hazard lights on." Personally, I tend to think Moyer is going to have some overall numbers that don't look to good by the end of the year, but I also think he'll have more than a few games under his belt when he comes up big for the team when they need a win.
Next up for the Phils is the Pirates. Kyle Kendrick will get the start [isn't he supposed to be in Japan by now?] and Josh Outman and Joe Savery are also scheduled to pitch. Theoretically, these three could comprise 60% of the Phillies 2009 rotation.
