PHILADELPHIA — Before the first pitch of spring training is ever thrown, the Phillies send something far more important south: the truck.
Not a metaphorical truck. An actual, rumbling, 18-wheeler of hope. And it left South Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Somewhere between Philadelphia and Clearwater, barreling through eight states and 1,058 miles of highway, is the most heavily packed baseball vehicle this side of Cooperstown. Inside are not just uniforms and bats. Inside are dreams. Inside is muscle memory. Inside is the smell of rosin and fresh leather and brand-new batting practice tops that haven’t yet been grass-stained by optimism…