2/15/26 : Today in Spring Training & This and That
- Steve Potter
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Major League Practice : Day Five - Pitchers and Catchers :
No side bullpens - pitchers did stretching, throwing programs and conditioning work. Catchers did their fielding, throwing and hitting practices in the Stadium.
Minor Leagues :
High Performance Camp has concluded - Minor League Mini Camp begins 2/16. Minor leaguers were off today.
This and That :
Thru the first four days of initial Spring Training the number of on-site spectators is noticeably less than prior years - compared to last year when finding a parking spot in the complex lot adjacent to the fields was generally impossible this year I’ve had no problems finding a space. With Monday being a holiday and local schools closed while also the first day of full squad one might expect a larger crowd - will see. Just sayin.
The bridge is fixed! It took almost two years to build a new bridge on Old Coachman Road to the right of the Complex exit however it’s now complete. The original 1925 bridge was replaced with a 69-foot-long, 45-foot-wide structure, featuring two 11-foot lanes, 5-foot shoulders, and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides. The new, higher bridge provides increased clearance to protect against heavy storms, along with improved drainage for Alligator Creek. The new bridge was announced as completed in mid-December 2025. It re-opens up a second pathway on Old Coachman Road that folks can use for Spring Training games or when visiting the complex and stadium on practice days.
Local Life - my wife Barb and I lived in the Clearwater area from 2015 till last summer so we acquired some knowledge of places that are more “local” than others. While many Phillies fans visitors will stay on Clearwater Beach which is indeed a busy, entertaining and touristy place to be if anyone’s looking for a more quiet stay then inland hotels or rentals would be the ticket. Regardless folks should check out inland dining establishments like Ozona Pig on Orange Street in Palm Harbor - their barbecue dishes are the best in the area. Others to consider are Delco’s Original Steaks on Main Street in Dunedin for a taste of Philly style steak sandwiches, Prohibition Dunedin on Main Street in Dunedin for southern comfort food, Casa Tina in Dunedin and Plaza Mexico in Palm Harbor for Mexican dishes and Emily’s Family Restaurant in Palm Harbor and Sunset Grille in Clearwater for home town diner food, especially good for breakfast meals. If ya want award winning pies or deserts stop in to see Zukie at Zukie’s Pies and Cakes on Sunset Point Road in Clearwater. Our favorite pizza place in the area is Gino’s New York Style Pizzeria on Tampa Road in Palm Harbor. Just sayin - some folks aren’t about the crowds and hustle and bustle.
Spring Training is a time of new beginnings - it’s both too long and not long enough - games don’t count and stats are meaningless yet the practice time they provide are essential to prepare for the marathon season ahead. Drills are repetitive and usually not elongated, the emphasis is on the building of overall stamina to perform daily with routine engrained in the memory banks on what to do in game situations. Younger teams emphasis repetition more than veteran clubs where knowledge has been acquired over years of prior play. If attending games folks shouldn’t get too worked up when the regulars exit mid game and the auxiliary players and minor league call ups take the field to finish - it’s actually the more enjoyable parts of the ST games for me as I get to see the minor leaguers I write about in action - it’s also a showcase for them in front of the big league manager and staff as well as the front office - Mr. Dombrowski always watches the entire game - he doesn’t miss out on seeing players in person - good stuff!
In regard to young players - way back in the day the 1980 Phillies were infused by young home grown talent such as Marty Bystrom, Bob Walk, Keith Moreland and Lonnie Smith. In 2008 it was a core of players who had developed together. In 2026 the core of the Phillies veteran leadership returns and must again show the way to success. However, upcoming home grown or internally developed (after acquisition from another organization) talent such as Otto Kemp, Rafael Marchan, Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller, Orion Kerkering and Johan Rojas along with others such as Gabriel Rincones Jr, Keaton Anthony, Alex McFarlane, Felix Reyes, Jean Cabrera and Andrew Walling perhaps will be afforded opportunities that can have impact on the big league season - the 2026 opening day roster could have as many as ten or eleven new players when compared to 2025’s opening day crew. Not all of the changeover will be home grown but as an advocate for Phillies player development it’s great to see fellas in the mix I’ve watched and written about the past few years now in consideration. And that’s not to mention another layer of talent on the verge of getting there this summer such as Dante Nori, Caleb Ricketts, Aroon Escobar, Dylan Campbell, Angel Liranzo, Ramon Marquez, Brian Walters, Gabe Craig, Gage Wood, Cade Obermueller, Jaydenn Estanista, Casey Stewart, Luke Gabrysh, Sean Youngerman and Tegan Cain that’s ready to blossom. Just sayin - that ain’t necessarily “running it back”.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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