While the Phillies first exhibition game was a 13-6 win over the Florida State Seminoles yesterday, the Phillies start playing the big boys today.
In the Grapefruit League opener, the Phillies play the New York Yankees at Bright House Networks Field at 1:05 P.M. Now, besides being the spring training opener, the game will also serve as Roy Halladay’s Phillies’ debut. An entire city of baseball fans has been waiting for this day all winter. To finally see Doc in red pinstripes will exciting.
This game will be a World Series rematch for about an inning, maybe 2. After the first couple of innings, the fringe players and spring training invitees will begin to filter in. The regulars may play a little longer as this is against the Yankees, but most of them will be out of the game by the 3rd inning most likely. Hell, as all of the beat writers just Twittered, even the starting lineup will be watered down:
SS Rollins, 3B Polanco, CF Francisco, RF Werth, LF Mayberry, 1B Ransom, 2B Castro, DH Bocock, C Ruiz with Halladay pitching.
Interesting to see Cody Ransom playing for the Phils against the Yanks after opening last season as NY’s Opening Day 3rd baseman when Alex Rodriguez was injured.
Even thought this may be the first game, it will hopefully be the beginning of a long journey that will end in late October for this team.
It’s been a long 4 months, but Phillies baseball is finally back.
