By Lesley Van Arsdall

Just back from my trip to spring training and I have to say not a lot has changed with the Phillies, the core is intact.

So how will this team go further than last years team? Clearly, hitting was a problem and Charlie says they are going to work on that.

He also wants them to start talking.

He says, three years ago if someone had a good at-bat they would all sit around and talk about it. He said for some reason they got away from that.

Someone who still likes to talk hitting, Jim Thome. He was actively doing that with Ryan Howard and I noticed his lunch hour was spent talking hitting with Dom Brown and John Mayberry Jr.

This past week, the Phillies even went so far as to invite Hall Of Famer Mike Schmidt to talk the guys about hitting.

The Phillies first major league action is this Saturday against the Yankees.