Apter Hours: Blue Jays 14, Phillies 9

The Phillies could not rally back in their game against the Blue Jays today as they got handled, 14-9. By far, the biggest story of the day was Cole Hamels. How would he improve, if at all, on his composure and new pitches? Well some of us got a little glimpse of it today.

Despite giving up a leadoff homer, Cole Hamels came out of today's game with a solid outing. The first thing I thought was that he was going to get frustrated and give up hit after hit. I was wrong because Hamels quickly regained his composure professionally and worked an effective two innings. He ended up giving up a run on two hits and striking out two. He threw 32 pitches, 20 of which were strikes. Hamels has been working on adding a cutter and a better curve and today he threw six cuts and four hooks. Cole, in a post game interview, mentioned that he was trying to stray away from the changeup to try and get the hitters guessing. He got one Blue Jay batter on fastball, curve, cut, cut. It is really good to see that he looks and sounds more confident in his talent, which will prove as a huge boost if it continues. The only other bright spot on the day on the mound was probable reliever Antonio Bastardo. He pitched the ninth, giving up no hits and struck out two. The rest of the non-roster invites got shelled for 13 runs.

At the plate, the Phillies prospects dazzled for the second game in a row. Top prospect Dom Brown had a solid day at the plate...2/4 and two RBI's. Tyson Gillies, acquired in the Lee trade, jacked a solo homer in the sixth. He added another hit in his first at bat and ended up going 2/2 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Ozzie Chavez had another impressive day at the dish...he went 1/2 with a run scored and an RBI while fellow Reading teammate Quintin Berry finished the day 1/1 with two runs scored and an RBI. Yes I know...it is just spring training...but so far, these guys are taking full advantage of the opportunity to prove their skills. Polanco was the only notable starter hitting-wise, going 2/3 with an RBI.

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So two games in the books so far this spring and I feel comfortable so far with what I have seen from the Phillies starting pitchers. I look forward to seeing how Blanton fares in his first start and how Happ does against major league hitters. I am also hoping that Howard, Utley and Werth start finding some of their stroke in the next games, which I am sure they will.

Up next: Pittburgh Pirates at 1:05 on Saturday afternoon.

Notes: Jamie Moyer pitched three scoreless innings in a 'B' game. He gave up three hits and struck out three. Moyer, coming off of three surgeries, is battling Kyle Kendrick for the fifth spot in the Phillies rotation.