PHILADELPHIA Charlie Manuel preached a fast start to his pitchers and catchers 6 weeks ago, emphasized the point when the rest of the team arrived and reiterated it often throughout spring training.
The Philadelphia Phillies of all teams know every game matters in the regular season, whether it s the first one or No. 162.
In 2005, the Phillies walked off the field after winning their final game in Washington with a chance to make the playoffs. Their hopes were ruined soon after when Houston won to secure the NL wild-card berth.
Just one more win over the course of the season would ve meant the Phillies and Astros would ve needed a one-game playoff to break a tie.
Last year, the Phillies led the wild-card race with seven games remaining. But they were eliminated on the next-to-last day of the season to waste another opportunity.
The common theme for Philadelphia in each of Manuel s two seasons as the manager has been a bad start.
The Phillies went 10-14 in April both years and spent the rest of the summer trying to recover only to fall just short at the end.
That s why it isn t an ordinary season opener when the Phillies host the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on Monday. Philadelphia wants to set a tone early, especially since it plays 22 of its first 28 games against NL East opponents.
And, especially because All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins already proclaimed the Phillies the team to beat in the division, a statement that irritated some players on the defending East champion New York Mets.
This April s probably the most important that it s been the last couple of years, said Brett Myers, who will make his first opening-day start against veteran John Smoltz.
We need to come out swinging the bats and playing hard every day and beat those guys because ultimately those will be the guys we ll be chasing or they ll be chasing us.
It s not like you can go out there and take it easy for the first month. We ve got to go out there and play hard every single day. If we can get out to a decent lead in our division, I think we can hold our own.
Zambrano extends contract deadline. Pitcher Carlos Zambrano extended his deadline to reach a contract extension with the Chicago Cubs beyond opening day, a sign the sides are nearing agreement.
Zambrano and the Cubs are thought to be discussing a five-year deal worth about $80 million.
He had said he didn t want to negotiate past Monday s opener against the Reds.
Baseball still negotiating on TV package. Baseball was still negotiating Sunday in an effort to reach agreements that would keep its Extra Innings package of out-of-market games on cable television.
Baseball had struck an exclusive $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV last month, but under pressure from Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., resumed talks with the other incumbent providers, iN Demand and the Dish Network.
Padres give Gonzalez $9.5 million, 4-year deal. The San Diego Padres raised some eyebrows early in spring training when they gave first baseman Adrian Gonzalez a raise of just $500 for this season.
That bump in the road, as general manager Kevin Towers called it, disappeared on Sunday, when Gonzalez agreed to a $9.5 million, four-year deal.
Carneal, Hall of Fame radio voice, dies at 83.
Herb Carneal, a Hall of Famer who broadcast Minnesota Twins games the past 45 seasons in a fluid and soothing baritone, died Sunday. He was 83. He died of congestive heart failure, the Twins said.
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