It doesn’t matter that the Delaware Valley could get hit with some winter weather in the next 48 hours or so. The Phillies were on TV today, so as far as I am concerned, it is full-blown spring around here. I am not the biggest fan of Tom McCarthy or Chris Wheeler, but I take what I can get.

The Phils beat up on the Tampa Bay Rays 12-5, although this was hardly the Rays we last saw in late October, lineup-wise. It was the Phils first spring win after 3 losses to open Grapefruit League play.

Homers by John Mayberry Jr., Ryan Howard and Miguel Cairo staked the Phils to an early 5-0 lead. Kyle Kendrick started for the Phils in his first opportunity to grab the 5th starter spot by the throat. Kendrick was so-so in 2 2/3rds, giving up 4 hits including a bomb by Ray Sadler in the second inning.

Pat Burrell looks strange as hell in anything but red pinstripes, but there he was all the same as Tampa Bay’s DH. Burrell ripped a nice double down the third base line in his second at bat.

According to Todd Zolecki, there was a record crowd at Bright House Field for this one. They packed in over 10,000.

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Juan Cruz finally found a home, but not at Citizens Bank Park. He’s a Royal. That doesn’t sound fun.

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Lastly, as a Philly sports fan, I can’t help but add to the growing chorus of disgust over Brian Dawkins’ departure from the Eagles. I’m sure more will come out about what, if anything, the Birds did to keep him in green, but my guess is they wanted him to give them a huge hometown discount and a 1 year deal. Les Bowen has a good writeup on his blog. Dawkins’ leaving, and the general state of the Eagles shows how quickly it can all unravel. The Phils should take heed.