The Phillies pitchers and catchers have yet to have their cleats touch the chilly Clearwater turf yet. However, thanks to a long Phillies offseason of publicly and not-publicly shopping their ace pitcher Cole Hamels and publicly stating that the Phillies were better off without Ryan Howard on their team, both are still with the Phillies. Already, both are a distraction.
When Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg address the media for the first time on Wednesday, much of the conversation revolved around Howard. With the team's rebuilding efforts seemingly waiting for room in the Phillies infield to begin, the publicly-labeled unwanted Howard has already been labeled an impediment. But, first base is his.
Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer was one of the reporters there, and Sandberg had very little to say:
“Right now, unless he gets unseated, he's the first baseman,” Sandberg said.
Sandberg said he and Howard spoke on the phone about a month ago. Howard was “very positive with the conversation," his manager said.
What else could Sandberg say?
As for Hamels, the mood has turned south to the point where the situation has the makings of a Scott Rolen or Curt Schilling situation. Hamels wants out, and he flat out stated to USA Today's Bob Nightengale that he should go somewhere else.
"I wanted to see where I was going to spend my next four years. Now that I'm here, I plan on being here for the next six weeks. I think it would be pretty chaotic if that's not the case. "
Hamels is only willing to commit to the next six weeks. What happens when the season opens?
One report had the Phillies turning down a deal for two of the three Padres top prospects. The Phillies should have taken it. Instead of letting Hamels build his trade value, he is now losing it. The Phillies might as well place an ad: "Miserable pitcher seeks new home".
The Phillies have not begun their first workout, but the damage is already being done.
