"Right you are Wheels, I'm surprised that Charlie is hitting Cabrera seventh but I guess he wants some pop down in the order and he'll certainly get that from Miguel Cabrera."

"Harry the Phillies have really helped themselves over the winter and went out and added a closer, a great starting pitcher in Willis and of course Cabrera at third and it will be a very interesting season for Phillies fans."

"So we are set go here on opening day..."

"Ron, wake up, you're dreaming again..."

Dolly Parton is no longer the big draw in Opryland and neither is Pat Gillick. Besides, anybody can get breast implants today--and big old is not as enticing as big young--and...everybody knows the Phillies don't have the young talent needed to draw a Miguel Cabrera or Dontrelle Willis (right). That is, if you want to trade-away some future Chase Utleys for a left handed starting pitcher who was  10-15 last year  with a  5.17 Era. Or, a third baseman who has been accused of dogging it. Don't look dogging up in the dictionary.
The Yankees appear to be out of the Johan Alexander Santana sweepstakes, with the signing of the left hander Andy Petite. However, one can never be sure if the Yankees are interested in Santana, or just staying in the hunt to drive the price up for the Red Sox. Gets nasty this time of year.

Santana is still big young at 28, but didn't have his greatest numbers last year. Ok, so his ERA 'ballooned' from the mid 2.00s to 3.33, nobody's sweating the small stuff. Keep an eye on the Mets in this endeavor. Mets' GM Omar Minaya has never met a pitcher who throws in the 90s he doesn't like and waits around until the bargaining gets more to his liking. Besides, ain't no way in hell  the Mets will stick with their current rotation.

Story in this morning's Inquirer about Gillick wanting to resign Tadahito Iguchi for third base. Seems like Iguchi doesn't have as many offers as he though he'd get on the open market. Besides, the Phillies could then platoon Iguchi with Dr. Cement Glove and leave it to Ruben Amaro, Jr. to hunt for a real third baseman next year. I think if you took a vote most Phillies' fans would welcome back Iguchi with open arms.

So for now, things are quiet for Gillick in Opryland. If he does do something, and you can bet he will, let's hope it's for big young and not big old.

Question: With the signing of Tom McCarthy for the television booth, where does that leave Chris Wheeler? Hopefully the Phillies' suits will leave plenty of room for the best analyst in baseball. Seems like it may be a little crowded upstairs with Scott Franzke, Larry Anderson, Gary Matthews, and Wheels sharing duties. I'll let you know if I hear anything!