Sunday, February 13, 2011
Posted: 5:49 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
CLEARWATER, Fla.Winning the World Series is the goal of every Phillies player and club official.
Few, however, are willing to articulate the urgency of winning it all like Brad Lidge.
Lidge looks at the Phils starting pitching rotationRoy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamelsand thinks anything short of a World Series title will be a disappointment.
Ive never seen anything like the rotation were going to have and thats exciting, the Phils closer said upon checking into camp Sunday. For the guys in here, we all feel like we need to win the World Series this year. Anything short of that, it could still be considered a good season if we get to the World Series or if we get deep, but its not going to be what we wanted. We want to win the whole thing this year.
A reporter mentioned to Lidge that the Phillies are now like the Yankees, a club that has long considered anything less than a World Series title as unfulfilling.
MLB
I guess weve got that same mentality now, Lidge said. I feel fortunate to be part of this squad right now. All you can ask for is the opportunity and our brass has given us every opportunity. So now we need to go out there and deliver.
I feel like this is an amazing opportunity. Fans should be pumped up. I know I am.
All present
Thirty-three pitchers and catchers checked into camp in preparation for Mondays first workout. Reliever Jose Contreras, armed with a new two-year contract, is down 22 pounds to 240.
Kendrick update
Though Joe Blanton is the fifth starter, pitching coach Rich Dubee said Kyle Kendrick and Vance Worley would stretch out as starters in camp. Kendrick could end up being a spot starter or reliever. Worley is likely to be used as a starter at Triple A.
Must see TV
The Phillies starting rotationHalladay, Lee, Oswalt, Hamels and Blantonwill take part in a camp-opening news conference after Mondays workout. The news conference is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m. and will be aired live on Comcast Sportsnet and CSNPhilly.com.
Related: There's work to do, cautions Phils pitching coach
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
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