Phillies at Rays

Great news! Out favorite anthem singer, Dale Badway, is singing the national anthem before today’s Phillies-Rays game at Al Lang Field.

This guy is the best. He moves around the home plate area, waves his arms, hits all the high notes. A real showman.

“The man is enthused about his country,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said after Wednesday’s game in Clearwater where we first spotted Badway, who has performed on Broadway.

This guy needs to work at the Trop this season.

Anyway, quite the media gathering today. Peter Gammons and Buster Onley of ESPN are here. So is Paul White from USA Today.

And, of course, there’s me, Roger Mooney, eager to provide all the action that’s fit to blog.

Here are the lineups:

Phillies
CF Eric Bruntlett
DH Jayson Werth
LF Chris Snelling
1B Ryan Howard
RF Geoff Jenkins
3B Pedro Feliz
2B Casey Smith
C Carlos Ruiz
SS Ray Olmedo
P Jamie Moyer

Rays
2B Aki Iwamura
LF Carl Crawford
CF B.J. Upton
DH Cliff Floyd
RF Jonny Gomes
1B Eric Hinske
3B Evan Longoria
C Mike DiFelice
SS Jason Bartlett
P Edwin Jackson