Reasons to care about Wednesday’s exhibition game

by Eric Schwartz

Tuesday March 2, 2010 

Are you are having a tough time getting pumped up for the Phillies first Spring Training contest tomorrow?

Well, lets fix that.

Sure we might not see Ryan Howard hit any bombs or Roy Halladay throw a few flame balls, but there is still enough going on to keep the attention of hardecore baseball fans.

Philly.com Phillies beat writer Andy Martino points out several things of interest heading into Philadelphia’s clash with Florida State. Bellow are his thoughts:

Points of interest for the exhibition include J.A. Happ’s new two-seam fastball.  The lefty is playing with the sinker to augment his four-seam fastball, cutter, change-up and curveball. As with all spring training pitch additions, he will work it in for a while before deciding whether to take it north.  So that’s something to watch.

–Phillippe Aumont, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle last winter, is also among the scheduled pitchers. The 21-year-old righthander said that he would focus on honing his mechanics and pitches.  Aumont is known for a power sinker; he also throws a four-seam fastball, curveball and change-up.  He considers the curveball a strength and the change-up a work-in-progress.

Aumont also said that he would try to develop those pitches without feeling pressure to succeed immediately, despite his importance to the organization and role in the controversial Lee trade.  “The know what I am capable of,” he said.  “They know what I need to work on.  Obviously, though, you could have fans or other players saying, ‘oh, look at this guy. This guy got traded for Cliff Lee, he’s not worth it.’ Whatever.  There are others who are going to understand that I’m still pretty young and trying to learn.”

–Charlie Manuel said that center fielder Shane Victorino would not play tomorrow. Victorino has mild soreness in his shoulder.  He played long-toss at 120 feet this morning and worked in the batting cage. Manuel said that he considered using Victorino as the designated hitter, but decided to grant a full day’s rest instead.

It may not be able to compete with World Series action, but it’s enough to get my blood flowing. Baseball will once again be underway.

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