Dubee

YOU CAN BET Rich Dubee is glad yesterday's earthquake did not alter his plans for the Phillies' rotation. The pitching coach had already written down a slew of different combinations as he attempts to piece things back together after a bizarre week that included a rainout, an off day and three rain delays that knocked his starters out earlier than expected. "I had a chance to laugh with those guys last night in the dugout," Dubee said. "But I've had about 15 different rotations set up. One guy with long rest and one guy with close to normal rest, and a guy comes and says, 'Man, I'm feeling too good for that kind of rest.' Then change it around, and the next guys comes and says, 'I can't get that much rest.' " In the end, the Phillies decided their best move was to move Cole Hamels' re-entry into the rotation from Friday to Monday, allowing them to pitch each of their other top starters with an extra day of rest, while also placing Hamels on the disabled list.

Whatever schedule the Phillies had in mind for Jamie Moyer's rehabilitation from three surgeries and a blood infection this off-season needs to be revised. Moyer threw off a mound yesterday for the first time since last season and threw the same number of pitches as the rest of the pitchers. But neither Dubee nor manager Charlie Manuel would say whether the competition for the fifth starter's spot between Moyer and Kyle Kendrick is open - or if it's Moyer's to lose. "I don't think we've even discussed it yet amongst the staff," Dubee said.

C LEARWATER, Fla. - Roy Halladay looked like a pitcher who made the most of his work-in-progress stuff. He also looked like a pitcher who has plenty of work to do before he arrives at the level he demands of himself. After allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon, Halladay and his pitching coach chose to focus on the positives. "Physically, [it's] night and day, last year to this year, which was the goal this winter," said the soon-to-be 36-year-old-righthander, who battled back and lat problems throughout a disappointing 2012 season.

BOSTON - It's a slight alteration to the Phillies' pitching rotation: Roy Halladay and Kyle Kendrick will flip-flop spots, meaning Halladay starts Tuesday's series opener in New York against the Yankees and Kendrick pitches Wednesday. But there are deeper reasons for the decision than just lining up Halladay to go against Yankees ace CC Sabathia in the Phillies' first game at Yankee Stadium since losing last year's Game 6 in the World Series. By moving Halladay up one day (he still goes on regular rest because of Monday's off-day)

CLEARWATER, Fla. - After eight days of drills that spawned an insatiable craving for actual baseball, creativity was required Wednesday. Phillies catching coach Mick Billmeyer dramatized a routine pop-up practice by forcing his catchers to spin in circles or do a forward roll before looking to the sky for the ball. Are the games here yet? Exhibition season starts Friday with an intrasquad game. Saturday marks the start of the Grapefruit League schedule, when the Houston Astros visit Bright House Field.

CHICAGO - Before Rich Dubee's feet touched the first-base line at Wrigley Field, his star pitcher was bent over, hands on his knees, with the gray No. 34 Phillies road jersey drenched in sweat. The mound is Roy Halladay's sanctuary, the place where he imposes a will upon hitters unlike any other pitcher in the game. Batters rarely know what is flying from Halladay's right hand. But on this night, when the pitching coach jogged to the mound and Halladay's teammates briskly created a circle around their ace, his own team did not know what to expect - an uncomfortable and unfamiliar feeling when it's his day to throw.

ALLENTOWN - The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were able to win the continuation of Saturday's game with the Toledo Mud Hens, 2-1, but Sunday's originally scheduled game was suspended after two innings with the score tied, 1-1. Wilmington, Clearwater, Lakewood, and Camden all had games suspended or postponed due to the weather.   COMPLETION OF SUSPENDED GAME Toledo 000 000 001 – 1 6 1 Lehigh Valley 000 000 101 – 2 9 0 WP: Schwimer (9-1)

ALLENTOWN - A three-run seventh inning gave the Lehigh Valley IronPigs a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons in the International League on Saturday night. ALTOONA, Pa. - The Curve buried the Phillies in the Eastern League. LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The BlueClaws' Julio Rodriguez blanked the Intimidators in the South Atlantic League. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Rock Cats piled on five innings with two runs each to get past the Thunder in the Eastern League. WP: Mazone (7-13, 3.82)

Joe Blanton finally got his start on Tuesday. He long-tossed in the outfield as the Phillies were taking batting practice, then he warmed up in the bullpen, and then he walked to the mound to do something that he really needed to do - pitch to live hitters. Citizens Bank Park was empty, the game was simulated, and the hitters were the Phillies' regulars taking mostly leisurely swings, but Blanton threw around 60 pitches, even though he doesn't know if the work was playoff preparation or extremely early spring training.

Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay denounced critical comments about Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee made by former Phillies reliever and current MLB Network analyst Mitch Williams. In a Friday radio interview on WIP-FM (94.1), Williams said the Phillies need a new pitching coach. "It is not personal," Williams said. "I think these pitchers have to hear something new. " The Phillies have struggled not only in pitching but all facets of the game. They entered Friday 26th in the major leagues with a 4.42 ERA. Halladay, one of the pitchers that Williams suggested hasn't been helped by Dubee, talked to reporters before Friday's game at Citizens Bank Park against the Miami Marlins.

ATLANTA - As Rich Dubee preached his optimism Thursday afternoon about Roy Halladay, the pitcher ran. Halladay donned a red beanie and black sweatpants. He paced the warning track at Turner Field in the 40-degree weather while a steady mist fell. Halladay was the only player on the field at 4 p.m. "I'm starting to see some results," Dubee said. "You think I'm going to take the ball away from this guy?" No one is saying the Phillies pitching coach should do that. Dubee reiterated his encouragement for Halladay despite a baffling, 95-pitch outing in which the erstwhile ace recorded 10 outs.

C LEARWATER, Fla. - Roy Halladay looked like a pitcher who made the most of his work-in-progress stuff. He also looked like a pitcher who has plenty of work to do before he arrives at the level he demands of himself. After allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon, Halladay and his pitching coach chose to focus on the positives. "Physically, [it's] night and day, last year to this year, which was the goal this winter," said the soon-to-be 36-year-old-righthander, who battled back and lat problems throughout a disappointing 2012 season.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - It was not just another bullpen session. It was something more, because of how much Roy Halladay struggled in his previous outing when he felt "lethargic" against the Detroit Tigers. "He looked wonderful, he looked fine," pitching coach Rich Dubee said Thursday after tutoring Halladay during the two-time Cy Young Award winner's 39-pitch session at Bright House Field. Dubee was perplexed by the questions about Halladay's side session, but he should not have been.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - After eight days of drills that spawned an insatiable craving for actual baseball, creativity was required Wednesday. Phillies catching coach Mick Billmeyer dramatized a routine pop-up practice by forcing his catchers to spin in circles or do a forward roll before looking to the sky for the ball. Are the games here yet? Exhibition season starts Friday with an intrasquad game. Saturday marks the start of the Grapefruit League schedule, when the Houston Astros visit Bright House Field.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - With 22 days until opening day, Rich Dubee is well aware Jose Contreras may not be ready. The Phillies pitching coach doesn't care. "If it's opening day, it's opening day," Dubee said. "There isn't any rush. " The 40-year-old Contreras appeared in a game Monday for the first time since September elbow surgery. He remains largely a wild card in the bullpen picture because the Phillies are taking a cautious approach with his pitching schedule. Dubee said Contreras would take two days off before throwing in another minor-league game Thursday.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Everyone, from front-office types to members of the media to the guy collecting towels, calls the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies by his first name. To some he's Charlie and to others he's Chuck, but no one around here uses Manuel when referring to the skipper. The pitching coach? That's another story. No one, from front-office types to members of the media to the guy collecting towels, calls Rich Dubee by his first name. Unless, said Cole Hamels, you need to jab him the way he likes to jab everyone else.

POSTSEASON baseball has a funny way of messing with a manager's best-laid plans. Take the formula that the Phillies hope will carry them to a third World Series berth in four seasons. While Charlie Manuel is on record as saying he is counting on his starters to give him at least seven strong innings, he is well aware that he could have to deviate from that plan and put his faith in a bullpen that has hit a few rough patches lately. "You think of our starters and how good they are, but when you are losing a game in the seventh inning, more than likely you've got to try to win it," Manuel said.

What if we told you the Phillies had a guy in their bullpen who has converted 18 of his last 19 save opportunities and has a 0.89 ERA in his last 46 appearances? Would you want them to use him in the postseason? Would you trust him with the game on the line? Even if you knew his name was Brad Lidge? The Phillies insist that they trust their former closer, and there is no good reason not to. With Antonio Bastardo and Mike Stutes struggling as we approach the regular-season finish line, manager Charlie Manuel was asked last week how he'll line up his bullpen in front of closer Ryan Madson during the playoffs.

THERE ARE dirty jobs and dangerous jobs. The worst are both dirty and dangerous. Diamond miners . . . Oil-well wildcatters . . . Skyscraper window washers . . . Storm chasers . . . OK, those guys chasing tornadoes are also nuts. Dirty, dangerous and nuts ranks them just behind the NFL's special-teams gunners. Guys trolling for head-on collisions at 25 mph, usually in a double team. So what is the most demanding job in sports? You can interpret that to be the job most important to the health, welfare and success of a team.