Phillies veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer threw seven fine innings, giving up only 2 runs while spreading 6 hits but that was by no means the whole story. He had 2 hits, one of them a run scoring double to cap a 4 run third inning as the Phils pounded rookie Max Scherzer and the Arizona Diamondbacks by an 11-4 score.

Scherzer, with his 98 mph fastball, was rocked in his starting debut as the Phils scored a single run in the first inning on 1st baseman Ryan Howard's sacrifice fly RBI and scored 4 more in the third as the Phils sent 9 men to the plate including Moyer who doubled in the 4th run of the inning. Having thrown 92 pitches in 4 innings, Scherzer, who was charged with the loss, was replaced by Edgar Gonzalez to open the fifth inning.

Baseball Library records The 25th and 27th of February, 35 years ago, marked two groundbreaking events which have served to shape fiscal and economic reality in contemporary baseball. The former date being the root for the evolution of MLB salary arbitration and free agency.

The latter date in 1973 made Dick Allen baseball's highest paid player having received a 3 year, $250,000 per year deal from the Chicago White Sox.

When you spoke about "Lefty" during the past 4 decades, if you weren't talking about political leftists, then you were undoubtedly a baseball fan. And if so, by mentioning the nickname "Lefty", it was universally known by baseball fans that you were talking about Steve Carlton.

Lidge was diagnosed as needing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee which was successfully completed today. He had previous surgery in October, 2007 where doctors removed torn cartilage from the same knee.

The probable prognosis after the surgery is that he'd be sidelined for three to six weeks. He is, at best, doubtful for a March 31st opener with the Washington Nationals.

Howard, the powerful lefthanded hitting slugger who has pounded out the fastest 129 homers in MLB history and has driven in 353 runs in 2 1/2 seasons in the big leagues, will watch his bank account soar as he continues terrorizing opponents' pitching with well-struck drives going ballpark to all fields.

I see Feliz as slick with the glove, capable of high 20's to 30's in homers, particularly playing half of his games in Citizens Bank Park, near 100 RBIs and capable of hitting in the .270's to .280's.

Apparently, no less than all-time great and Hall of Fame 3rd baseman Mike Schmidt would seem to agree with my assessmnent.

With spring training just underway, having started on the voluntary reporting date of February 14, the Phillies training camp is electric with excitement in anticipation of the beginning of the exhibition season in 8 days and the 2008 season beginning at the end of March.

On February 14, voluntary reporting day, the Phils made official that pitcher Kris Benson, who missed the 2007 season due to recovery from right shoulder rotator cuff surgery in March, 2007, had joined the fold.

As I have stated in the past, this blog is not about the sensationalism of the paparazzi coverage of the entire steroids, HGH and sports issue. This blog is about baseball -- all baseball, all the time.

As such, this blog's focus remains on such topics as the impact of Curt Schilling's latest shoulder injury on his 2008 season, contract and career.

the big news of the weekend in baseball is that the Mets came to agreement on a long-term contract with star lefthander Johan Santana, thus finalizing their deal with the Minnesota Twins.

Santana and the Mets inked a $137.5 million, six-year contract on Friday evening followed by Santana's passing his physical on Saturday, completing the four for one deal which sent the Twins four top prospects.

Colorado Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki, arguably one of the top five shortstops in baseball off of a monster rookie season was rewarded by the NL Champions with a $31 million, 6-year deal as the Rockies tossed service time to the wind.

As players and clubs sought to avoid the recriminations of arbitration confrontations, the Phillies and their powerful 1st baseman Ryan Howard, with the quickest 129 homeruns in major league history, seem headed inexorably for a nasty arbitration collision which could taint their future relationship.

The Phillies and their powerful 1st baseman Ryan Howard, with the quickest 129 homeruns in major league history, seem headed inexorably for a nasty arbitration collision which could taint their future relationship. The battle scars of a looming arbitration confrontation could harm the chances of a team that looks poised, after their 2007 charge to the NL East crown, to reach the next levels of post-

season in 2008 and beyond.

Free Agent pitcher Jon Lieber, a 20 game winner with the Chicago Cubs in 2001, rejoins the Cubs in a one year, $3.5 million deal with another $ 4 million in incentives.

There have been a number of transactions; nothing major or earth-shattering, but yet newsworthy.

Two notable hurlers passed away within a day of each other; lefthander Johnny Podres, who was part of 4 Dodger World Champion teams, and righthander Don Cardwell, who started and struggled in his early career with the Phillies but who was the first major league pitcher to toss a no-hitter in his first start with a new team