Week In Review – Where Do I Begin

It is finally here.  No longer do I have to bring you a countdown.  We have baseball in Clearwater.  Pitchers and catchers officially reported and have started their workouts.  I couldn’t go more than three updates on Twitter (@kierancarobine) and Facebook without seeing something about the Phillies.  I am happy.

OK, so what did you miss?

Jay Floyd took the time, again, this offseason to rank the prospects so we can get an idea of what to expect.  This week we meet RHP Michael Schwimer, RHP Lisalberto Bonilla, and OF Tyson Gillies.

In the latest post, Pat Gallen takes a look at some notes from down at Spring Training, including the news that Ryan Howard could be ahead of schedule. Very interesting.

Now while today is the first official day for pitchers and catchers, there are some position players hanging around Clearwater already.  According to David Hale from Delaware Online Chase Utley, Jim Thome, John Mayberry, Juan Pierre, Scott Podsednik, Tyson Gillies, Hunter Pence, Kevin Fransden and Pete Orr were all in the locker room this morning.  Looks like they are excited as well!

With any trip you take, there is a great deal of planning involved.  For those of you lucky enough to make the trip down south this year, the staff at Phillies Nation looks forward to seeing all of you.  And those that are still pondering the idea, we have one word; GO!  Make the trip.  Check out our guide to Clearwater if you still need some convincing.

In Clearwater, you are going to recognize all of the usual suspects and maybe some other guys might look familiar.  If you don’t know everyone that’s ok.  The Phillies have invited a handful of non-roster guys to work out and see if they can fit into this team somehow.  Ian takes you through all the non-roster invites

and breaks down the odds of making the team.  Ian also educates you on the pitchers that will be in camp and how they the Phillies could use them if needed.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to Clearwater, we know it’s not an easy trip to make.  Every season we try and set up trips to touch all corners of our fan base.  And this season is no different.  Aside from Spring Training, we will heading to DC, Baltimore and kicking off the season in Pittsburgh.  So plan ahead and get signed up!

Other big points from this past week include prospects Schwimer and Jesse Biddle ready to make their mark, Jayson Stark talking about Utley and Joe Blanton while Pat talks about Jorge Soler and touches on Ruben Amaro Jr commenting about Cole Hamels’ contract deadline.

Another big announcement this week comes with the addition of Nick McIlwain and Casey Boy (a.k.a Casey Foster) from the #1 morning show in Philadelphia ‘Preston and Steve’ on 93.3 WMMR.  This is very exciting for us here at PN.  2012 is shaping up to be a big year for PN, and hopefully the Phillies.

Go Phillies!