The Phillies begin spring training Sunday in Clearwater, Fla. In the final days before camp begins, we take a daily look at some of the issues the team will encounter in camp.MondayChase Utley (see story)TuesdayRyan Howard and first baseWednesdayBullpenThursdayStarting rotationFridayCole HamelsSaturdayOffenseSundayOutfield
If Chase Utley fielding ground balls while seated on a stool was the lasting image of spring training 2011, then Ryan Howard falling to the ground with a snapped Achilles tendon was the indelible image of the entire season.
Howard tore the tendon on the final swing of the final night of the season as the Phillies were eliminated from the playoffs by St. Louis in Game 5 of the National League Division Series.
The injury was surgically repaired and a little over four months later Howard is moving along in his rehabilitation in Florida. When he is able to play is one of the big questions surrounding this team. It will not necessarily be answered in spring training, but we should get some clues. Team officials hope Howard can do baseball related activities by the end of this month. If he continues to progress, he will work himself into faster, more intense drills on the field. If he progresses beyond that, he may see some limited or controlled game action late in camp. The team has ruled out Howard being ready for opening day and set May 1 as a loose, give-or-take target for his return to action. But nothing is certain. It all depends on how he progresses. The team will not rush his return, not with sixideally sevenmonths of season to play, and not with Howard, 32, beginning a five-year, 125 million contract extension.
This is not about how fast he gets back, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. Its how well he gets back. Our job is to make sure Ryan is back on the field and playing at his accustomed level and not have to worry about a setback. The closer he is to 100 percent, the better off well be long term with him. Were cautiously optimistic hell be back sometime in May.
The Phillies will have to replace Howard at first base and in the cleanup spot, where he has posted six straight seasons of at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs.
Manager Charlie Manuel will get the chance to look at several players in the cleanup hole in spring training, but when it comes time to fill out the lineup card on April 5, rightfielder Hunter Pence is expected to be in that spot.
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Ty Wigginton, Jim Thome and John Mayberry Jr. are all candidates to see time at first base while Howard continues to mend. Wigginton, acquired in an offseason deal with Colorado, could be the lead candidate for work. He is also an insurance policy at third base, where Placido Polanco is coming off surgery to repair two groin tears.
Thome, a Philly favorite, returns to the club but in a different role than he played from 2003-2005. Then he was backbone of the club at first base. Now, he will be a power bat off the bench and occasional first baseman. He has not played the position the last four seasons and will use spring training to gauge whether he can handle some part-time duty there. If Thomes glove (and balky back) can hold up at first base, he could give the team some innings in April. (Wouldnt it be cool to see him jog out of the dugout and man the position in the April 9 home opener?)
The teams preference is to use Mayberry in leftfield. In fact, he comes into camp with a leg up on being the primary leftfielder. However, he was a first baseman at Stanford and played 100 innings at the position last year, so he will get some time there this spring (with Laynce Nix, Scott Podsednik, Domonic Brown and Juan Pierre getting time in left) and possibly during the season as the Phils wait for Howard to get healthy.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com