Doylestown Daily Intelligencer - March 5, 1980

Phils Look Good

CLEARWATER, Fla --The Phildelphia Phillies opened Spring Training 1980 here Tuesday under bright blue skies and temperatui in the 60s.

Manager Dallas Green welcomed his ballclub to Clearwater with a 35 minute meeting and a two-and-a-half-hour workout.

Catcher Bob Boone was excused from Tuesday's practice to attend the players' association meeting at nearby Tampa. Outfielder Lonnie Smith is still experiencing travel difficulties from his home in Spartanburg, S.C.

With a winter of Hot Stove League baseball talk about least year's dissapointments and the hopes for 1980 behind him, shortstop Larry Bowa is one Philhe just happy to be playing the game again.

"I've been taking a lot of heat one says we're not as good as we think we are. Maybe they're true. We gotta quit talking about what we're supposed to do and just go out between the white lines and try to perform We're probably in the toughest division - the National League East. We definitely have our work cut out for us "

Was there anything different about yesterday's opening day?

"Not really," said Bowa. "He (Green) set his rules. Every manager on the first day of spring training sets his standard of rules. He (Green) let it be known he is the manager of the team. We are going to work hard in spring training."

Bowa said he is "looking forward to playing under Green. We had a pretty good last month under him, 19-11, last season I'm just looking forward to playing with a healthy team. We played 70 games with our starting eight last year.I know injuries are a part of the game, but I hope we can keep them to a minimum."

Pitcher Marty Bystrom has a hamstring pull suffered five days ago while running near his Miami home and will see limited duty until the injury heals.

Player association president Marvin Miller was to visit the Phils' camp this morning to explain the state of the current negotiations between the players and owners. The Phillies were to work out at 12:30p.m.