Castillo blames late arrival to Phillies camp on 'miscommunication'

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The sun rose early yesterday, incubating Bright House Field as a squad full of ballplayers worked beneath its steady orange glow. As infield practice began, a lone player stood in the dugout, drawing from a paper cup of water while fixing his gaze upon the proceedings. Chase Utley's uncertain spring brought more of the same yesterday, the All-Star second baseman fully dressed in his practice jersey and sliding pants, yet forced to watch as life progressed without him.

A few hours later, long after the Phillies had departed for the 15-minute drive to Dunedin Stadium and a Grapefruit League date with the Blue Jays, another solitary figure slipped into the Phillies' spring training complex and began to make the rounds. By the time Luis Castillo spoke to reporters yesterday afternoon, the three-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star was echoing the explanation that the Phillies had settled upon after a couple of hours of confusion that marked an otherwise anonymous morning.

The Phillies had expected Castillo to begin his candidacy to replace the injured Utley yesterday against the Blue Jays, but at some point during the previous 36 hours, communication between club and player broke down, forcing manager Charlie Manuel to rewrite a lineup that originally featured the new guy batting second.

"A miscommunication with my agent," Castillo said in a soft voice as he stood outside the stadium wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

Manuel certainly did not greet the news by doing cartwheels around the infield grass, essentially telling reporters he would defer comment to those who had spoken with Castillo. But it is important to note that the veteran manager's mood has never been particularly jovial when discussing the dilemma he faces in replacing one of the keystones of his lineup. For now, Castillo is only the latest option, a 35-year-old player coming off an injury-plagued season whom many scouts have categorized as being at the nadir of a solid career. After his physical late yesterday afternoon, Castillo was expected to be in the lineup today when the Phillies travel to Port Charlotte to face the Rays. It will be the first of seven games in which Manuel and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will have an opportunity to evaluate Castillo in person.