Categories: News

MacPhail talks rebuild as Phillies report to Clearwater

Photo by Keith Allison

Good morning! Here’s the news rundown for Tuesday.

REPORT DAY: Pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater Monday, and all looks good.

Phillies President Andy MacPhail spoke to the media, doubling down on the rebuild while maintaining his team will continue to put a premium on pitching. The 2017 goal? “Stay on track.”

So what does that mean? It means allowing prospects to play their way onto the big club, finding out what’s under those rocks, and slowly making moves to improve the noticeable flaws. When will the Phils be in on a big free agent? Maybe at the end of this season. Maybe a little later. It’ll come. He promises.

We’re patiently waiting. Still.

MEANWHILE IN LA-LA LAND: Just to update: The Dodgers have signed Chase Utley to a one-year, $2 million pact. Like Pete Rose some 35 years ago, Utley will find work because he plays hard, and players and coaches love him. Maybe he’ll be a coach one day.

Either way, read this Peter Gammons’ piece about Utley, with a couple amazing stories that are entirely believable.

BALLGIRL SEARCH: The Phillies are searching for a few ballgirls for 2017. To apply, send a resume and a video of your softball skills to the Phils by March 1. More info here.

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Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.

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