Spring Training Notes: Abreu, Pettibone

The latest from Spring Training as we check in with some of the beat writers:

– According to Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly, Ryne Sandberg says Bobby Abreu is in “real good baseball shape“. Abreu appears to be a lock to make the Phillies as a left-handed bench bat and as their fourth or fifth outfielder. In Salisbury’s piece, Sandberg says that he’s looking to see how Abreu reacts to fastballs in particular to ensure Abreu’s bat speed is still there. Matt Gelb reports that Abreu is going to “…enjoy this like . . . you don’t have any idea,” stating that Abreu is excited to rejoin the Phillies franchise.

– Additionally, Salisbury is reporting that Jonathan Pettibone is throwing off of flat ground five days after receiving a cortisone shot in his right shoulder. Salisbury is reporting that new pitching coach Bob McClure video taped Pettibone’s mechanics in recent days. The goal is to focus on Pettibone’s lower half and put more emphasis on his legs and less impact on Pettibone’s arm and shoulder.

– And finally, according to Chris Branch, Roy Halladay feels right at home at Phillies camp as an instructor and both Sandberg and the players alike enjoy having him there. Branch quotes Halladay as stating coaching may be in his future but that his top priority right now are his two children: “Once I see how things work, yeah, I’d love to continue to do it and if I have more time, do more. I’ll always continue doing it. It’s just a matter of starting to figure out how much I can do. Once the kids are gone, maybe it’s something to do full time.”