Phillieshome.com | Philadelphia Phillies News, phillies Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --LHP Cole Hamels said he'll be ready to make his regular-season debut Friday night against the Rockies in Colorado after starting the Phillies' spring-training finale Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. Hamels initially was slated to be the opening night starter before being slowed in spring training by elbow stiffness. Asked Sunday if he felt even a twinge of disappointment at not being able to start the opener, the ace left-hander said, "I'd rather have my health. I'd rather make 34, 35 starts and pitch every five days." Hamels threw 83 pitches Saturday against Tampa Bay, his longest spring-training outing. Manager Charlie Manuel admitted he has some concerns about Hamels pitching in the Colorado cold, although the Phillies may get relatively lucky. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s Friday night.</div>--RHP Brett Myers may hold the key to a Phillies World Series repeat, at least from a pitching perspective. His Jekyll-and-Hyde 2008 proved just how good -- and how disappointing -- he can be, and his first inning of 2009 Sunday night reiterated the point. He got two quick outs and was one strike from a perfect frame when Chipper Jones served a single into left field. Brian McCann followed by mashing a changeup over the right-field fence. In the second inning, Jeff Francoeur drove Myers' first-pitch fastball to the left-field seats, and after Casey Kotchman struck out, Braves rookie Jordan Schafer homered to center field in his first major league at-bat, creating his own memory on what was supposed to be a memorable night for the Phillies. "I made three mistakes, and they didn't miss them," Myers said. "Am I going to make those mistakes again? Not that many." From there, Myers settled. The damage, however, was done. "He still pitches off his fastball, and I think he gets in trouble a lot of times when he's trying to double up or triple up," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I think the hitters are very intelligent, and if they're smart at all, they'll sit on some of those and they can hit it when they look for it. (In) spring training, he changed that pattern. The pattern that he pitches in sometimes gets him in trouble. I think he's learning to change that." --INF Miguel Cairo learned his fate on the final day of spring training. He was staying with the Phillies. Cairo, a 34-year-old utility infielder, had his contract purchased Saturday and was added to the Phillies' 25-man roster. On Feb. 15, Cairo signed a minor league contract that included a clause that allowed him to ask for his release if he wasn't on the roster by the season opener. Cairo batted .237 in spring training but also showed rare power with three home runs. He hasn't homered in a regular-season game since July 28, 2005. The Phillies have been looking for a right-handed bat off the bench and flirted publicly with Nomar Garciaparra, Ty Wigginton and Gary Sheffield, among others. But they couldn't provide enough playing time to satisfy those players. Sheffield signed with the rival New York Mets on Friday. Cairo will give the Phillies versatility. He has played every infield position, left field and right field throughout his career. --LHP J.A. Happ couldn't sleep during the final week of spring training. But after losing the final spot in the rotation to veteran RHP Chan Ho Park, he somehow relaxed. The Phillies had two jobs available in the bullpen, and Happ was confident he would get one. On Friday, Happ learned he had made the team as a long reliever. "I'm happy," Happ said. "My goal was to have a big-league uniform on, and I have one. It's hard to describe where my emotions have been the last five days or a week. Now, I can get some sleep." Happ, 26, compiled a 3.97 ERA in spring training. LHP Jack Taschner, acquired last week from the San Francisco Giants, also made the team. The Phillies have three lefties in their bullpen (Scott Eyre, Taschner, Happ). RHP Gary Majewski was assigned to minor league camp and will open the season at Class AAA Lehigh Valley. --LF Raul Ibanez knows he's replacing a longtime Phillies staple. He doesn't think much about it. In his final at-bat for the Phillies, which happened to come in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series, Pat Burrell broke an 0-for-13 slump with a double to left-center field, setting up pinch runner Eric Bruntlett to score the championship-clinching run. Then, two days later, he rode at the head of the Broad Street parade on a wagon pulled by Clydesdales. Surely, Burrell's last act will be tough to follow. But, with a new season poised to dawn, Ibanez says he's not Pat Burrell. "Pat Burrell's a great player," said Ibanez, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract in December. "I know the fans were fond of him. I know the guys in the clubhouse were fond of him. But I'm not going to try to be him. We're two different people. Nobody can replace anybody else." BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Homers for INF Miguel Cairo this spring. He hasn't hit one in the regular season since 2005. QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's exciting. You play for so many years and you still got to know you made the team. This year was a little difficult, but I came through. And hopefully, I'll stay here all year long." -- INF Miguel Cairo, a 13-year veteran, on making the opening-day roster.<div class="spacer10"></div><div class="gray_dots"></div><div id="body_footer_link">Play FOX Fantasy Baseball today </div><div class="gray

--LHP Cole Hamels said he'll be ready to make his regular-season debut Friday night against the Rockies in Colorado after starting the Phillies' spring-training finale Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. Hamels initially was slated to be the opening night starter before being slowed in spring training by elbow stiffness. Asked Sunday if he felt even a twinge of disappointment at not being able to start the opener, the ace left-hander said, "I'd rather have my health. I'd rather make 34, 35 starts and pitch every five days." Hamels threw 83 pitches Saturday against Tampa Bay, his longest spring-training outing. Manager Charlie Manuel admitted he has some concerns about Hamels pitching in the Colorado cold, although the Phillies may get relatively lucky. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s Friday night.

--RHP Brett Myers may hold the key to a Phillies World Series repeat, at least from a pitching perspective. His Jekyll-and-Hyde 2008 proved just how good -- and how disappointing -- he can be, and his first inning of 2009 Sunday night reiterated the point. He got two quick outs and was one strike from a perfect frame when Chipper Jones served a single into left field. Brian McCann followed by mashing a changeup over the right-field fence. In the second inning, Jeff Francoeur drove Myers' first-pitch fastball to the left-field seats, and after Casey Kotchman struck out, Braves rookie Jordan Schafer homered to center field in his first major league at-bat, creating his own memory on what was supposed to be a memorable night for the Phillies. "I made three mistakes, and they didn't miss them," Myers said. "Am I going to make those mistakes again? Not that many." From there, Myers settled. The damage, however, was done. "He still pitches off his fastball, and I think he gets in trouble a lot of times when he's trying to double up or triple up," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I think the hitters are very intelligent, and if they're smart at all, they'll sit on some of those and they can hit it when they look for it. (In) spring training, he changed that pattern. The pattern that he pitches in sometimes gets him in trouble. I think he's learning to change that."

--INF Miguel Cairo learned his fate on the final day of spring training. He was staying with the Phillies. Cairo, a 34-year-old utility infielder, had his contract purchased Saturday and was added to the Phillies' 25-man roster. On Feb. 15, Cairo signed a minor league contract that included a clause that allowed him to ask for his release if he wasn't on the roster by the season opener.

Cairo batted .237 in spring training but also showed rare power with three home runs. He hasn't homered in a regular-season game since July 28, 2005. The Phillies have been looking for a right-handed bat off the bench and flirted publicly with Nomar Garciaparra, Ty Wigginton and Gary Sheffield, among others. But they couldn't provide enough playing time to satisfy those players. Sheffield signed with the rival New York Mets on Friday. Cairo will give the Phillies versatility. He has played every infield position, left field and right field throughout his career.

--LHP J.A. Happ couldn't sleep during the final week of spring training. But after losing the final spot in the rotation to veteran RHP Chan Ho Park, he somehow relaxed. The Phillies had two jobs available in the bullpen, and Happ was confident he would get one. On Friday, Happ learned he had made the team as a long reliever. "I'm happy," Happ said. "My goal was to have a big-league uniform on, and I have one. It's hard to describe where my emotions have been the last five days or a week. Now, I can get some sleep." Happ, 26, compiled a 3.97 ERA in spring training. LHP Jack Taschner, acquired last week from the San Francisco Giants, also made the team. The Phillies have three lefties in their bullpen (Scott Eyre, Taschner, Happ). RHP Gary Majewski was assigned to minor league camp and will open the season at Class AAA Lehigh Valley.

--LF Raul Ibanez knows he's replacing a longtime Phillies staple. He doesn't think much about it. In his final at-bat for the Phillies, which happened to come in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series, Pat Burrell broke an 0-for-13 slump with a double to left-center field, setting up pinch runner Eric Bruntlett to score the championship-clinching run. Then, two days later, he rode at the head of the Broad Street parade on a wagon pulled by Clydesdales. Surely, Burrell's last act will be tough to follow. But, with a new season poised to dawn, Ibanez says he's not Pat Burrell. "Pat Burrell's a great player," said Ibanez, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract in December. "I know the fans were fond of him. I know the guys in the clubhouse were fond of him. But I'm not going to try to be him. We're two different people. Nobody can replace anybody else."

BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Homers for INF Miguel Cairo this spring. He hasn't hit one in the regular season since 2005.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's exciting. You play for so many years and you still got to know you made the team. This year was a little difficult, but I came through. And hopefully, I'll stay here all year long." -- INF Miguel Cairo, a 13-year veteran, on making the opening-day roster.

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