Top 1st: Pirates at Phillies, 2/28/08

Hello, this is John Lembo, staff writer for the Bradenton Herald, and I'll be your host today for the Pirates' spring training opener at the Phillies in Clearwater.

Ordinarily, I would be blogging in real time, posting entries at the end of every half-inning. However, today we're at the aptly (maybe not) named Brighthouse Networks Field, which can mean only one thing: the wireless service here isn't working. Seriously. It's only the newest spring training facility in Florida, people. We're told this happens quite frequently (hello, Brighthouse, anyone?) and that they're trying to find a guy to work on the problem. So it could take a little while to catch you up on today's action.

Chances are whoever is responsible for the fritzed-out wireless router isn't in the stands. Maybe it's the weather, a nippy 53 degrees at first pitch, or maybe the Pirates can't draw much of a crowd on the road. Whatever the reason, this stadium is sparsely attended as the Phillies prepare to defend their first division title since 1993. While there are some fans clustered up and aruond home plate, the sun-splashed bleachers are a sea of empty blue seats. I count only 31 people in the right field berm. Too bad, because the stars are out. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are all starting for the Phillies.