By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2011
All games 1:05 unless noted
February
Today: at Yankees
Sunday: Yankees
Monday: at Blue Jays
March
1: Tigers (ss)
2: Orioles
3: at Red Sox
4: at Pirates
5: Pirates
6: (ss) at Tigers (ss) vs. Rays
7: at Yankees (ss)
8: Orioles
9: at Tigers
10: Yankees
11: at Orioles
12: (ss) vs. Rays (ss) at Pirates (ss)
13: (ss) at Twins (ss) (ss) vs. Netherlands at Al Lang Field
14: at Astros
15: at Blue Jays
17: Blue Jays
18: Pirates
19: at Orioles
20: Yankees
21: Red Sox
22: at Blue Jays
23: at Rays
24: Twins
25: Braves (ss)
26: (ss) vs. Blue Jays (ss) at Tigers
27: at Braves
28: Astros
29: Pirates (Phi.), 7
30: Pirates (Phi.), 4
February
Today: Phillies *
Sunday: at Phillies
Monday: at Tigers
March
1: at Pirates
2: Astros (ss)
3: at Rays
4: Red Sox, 7:05 *
5: Nationals *
6: at Astros
7: (ss) vs. Phillies * (ss) at O's (ss), 7:05
8: at Braves
9: Pirates, 7:05
10: at Phillies
11: (ss) vs. Braves (ss) at Blue Jays
12: at Nationals
13: Twins (ss) *
14: at Red Sox, 7:05
16: Orioles, 7:05
17: Rays, 7:05 *
18: at Blue Jays
19: Blue Jays *
20: at Phillies
21: at Rays, 7:05
22: at Orioles
23: Blue Jays, 7:05
25: Astros, 7:05 *
26: Pirates *
27: at Twins
28: Rays, 7:05
29: Tigers
* Sold out
All games 1:05 unless noted
February
Today: Tigers
Sunday: at Tigers
Monday: Phillies
March
1: at Tigers (ss)
2: Rays
3: Pirates
4: (ss) at Braves (ss) (ss) vs. Canada, at Al Lang Field
5: Tigers (ss)
6: at Pirates
8: at Rays
9: at Rays (ss)
10: at Twins
11: Yankees (ss)
12: (ss) vs. Pirates (ss) (ss) at Tigers
13: Rays
15: Phillies
16: at Pirates
17: at Phillies
18: Yankees
19: at Yankees
20: Twins
22: Phillies
23: at Yankees, 7:05
24: Braves
25: at Red Sox, 7:05
26: at Phillies (ss)
27: Orioles (ss)
28: Red Sox
29: at Orioles
30: at Rays (Tropicana Field), 4:10
All games 1:05 unless noted
Philadelphia Phillies
Where: Bright House Field, 601 Old Coachman Road, Clearwater
Tickets: $7-$18; (727) 467-4457
Key additions: LHP Cliff Lee, INF Michael Martinez
Key losses: RHP Chad Durbin, RF Jayson Werth
Spring story lines
The right stuff: The biggest position battle comes in replacing Werth in rightfield as touted prospect Domonic Brown competes with Ben Francisco and John Mayberry. Brown, 23, a Zephyrhills native and former Pasco High star who is rated the game's No. 4 prospect by Baseball America, will get a hard look with the Phillies wanting to see him make strides defensively.
Picking the pen: The Phillies boast a healthy closer in RHP Brad Lidge, and RHP Ryan Madson, RHP Jose Contreras, RHP Danys Baez and LHP J.C. Romero are locks for the bullpen. But they will have to decide on one or two others with LHP Antonio Bastardo a possibility. RHP Kyle Kendrick might step in the long role left by Durbin.
Getting offensive: Though the Phillies ranked second in the National League in runs last season, they're hoping for bounce-back seasons from SS Jimmy Rollins, 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, CF Shane Victorino and LF Raul Ibanez. Getting off to strong spring starts at the plate couldn't hurt.
New York Yankees
Where: Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Drive (corner of Dale Mabry Highway and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), Tampa
Tickets: $17-33; (813) 879-2244, toll-free (800) 745-3000
Key additions: RHP Bartolo Colon, LHP Pedro Feliciano, RHP Freddy Garcia, OF Andruw Jones, C Russell Martin, RHP Rafael Soriano
Key losses: DH Lance Berkman, LHP Andy Pettitte, DH/OF Marcus Thames, RHP Javier Vazquez, RHP Kerry Wood
Spring story lines
Pitching in: The biggest question mark is the rotation with the fourth and fifth spot up for grabs. Veteran RHPs Colon and Garcia were brought in to compete with up-and-coming RHP Ivan Nova and versatile RHP Sergio Mitre. Colon, 37, who is scheduled to start today's exhibition opener against the Phillies, hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2009.
Catching on: The Yankees signed Martin to take over as the starting catcher, with veteran Jorge Posada moving to designated hitter. Martin, 28, an All-Star with the Dodgers in 2007 and 2008, hopes to bounce back after two down years. He will be eased into action after December's surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. Martin's health as well as Posada's transition to DH will be keys to watch.
Bounce back: Burnett, coming off his worst season, knows there will be a lot of eyes on him. He went 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA in 2010 and has been working on his mechanics with new pitching coach Larry Rothschild. With Pettitte's retirement and the Yankees missing out on free agent Cliff Lee, the Yankees need a big year from Burnett.
Toronto Blue Jays
Where: Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, 373 Douglas Ave., Dunedin
Tickets: $15-27; (727) 733-0429, toll-free 1-888-525-5297
Key additions: RHP Octavio Dotel, RHP Frank Francisco, 3B Brett Lawrie, RHP Jon Rauch, , RF Juan Rivera
Key losses: RHP Scott Downs, RHP Kevin Gregg, RHP Shaun Marcum, OF Vernon Wells
Spring story lines
Taking the fifth: Though the Jays traded Marcum, they still boast an intriguing young rotation. First-year manager John Farrell, the former Red Sox pitching coach, will have a tough decision on the No. 5 starter. The competition appears to be among RHP Jesse Litsch (a graduate of Dixie Hollins High), LHP Marc Rzepczynski and rookie RHP Zach Stewart. Litsch, who missed most of the past two seasons due to injuries, has the most experience. But Rzepczynski shined during winter ball.
Closing time: Toronto revamped its bullpen, but the question is who replaces Gregg as closer. Francisco saved 25 games for Texas in 2009 and has a powerful arm. But Rauch filled in admirably for Joe Nathan in Minnesota last season, racking up 21. Dotel also will be in the mix.
Stepping up: Rookie J.P. Arencibia, having spent the past four seasons in the minors, hopes to crack the opening day roster as the starting catcher. Arencibia, 25, has proved his offensive abilities in the minors, including hitting 32 homers last year at Triple A. But the Jays likely will be watching how he performs defensively.
Joe Smith, Times staff writer