Last year's hero, this year's ...

Andy Martino has a good read today on a big hero of last year's playoff run who probably will be discarded before spring training ends because there are limited roster spots available for mediocre left-handed hitting backup outfielders.

Matt Stairs probably won't make the team because Geoff Jenkins, possibly the lesser of the two, makes about $5 million more.

The cutting of Stairs, a weathered veteran with a good old-fashioned baseball attitude, was pretty much telegraphed by Charlie Manuel, who was asked whether the outfielder's leadership would be considered:

"No," Manuel said, shaking his head. "He knows a lot about hitting, and he likes talking, and that's going to help him if he wants to stay in the game. But we're going to go with the players who can help us the most on the field."

Despite a good spring (.304/.370/.435), Stairs won't gripe if he's discarded months after hitting possibly the biggest home run in Philadelphia history:

I guess I'm in a competition. No one has said anything to me. If it works out, it works out. If it doesn't, I understand.

MLB.com has a story from Jenkins' point of view, but it's not as compelling. I'm pulling for Stairs and that's not just because he's a SoxandPhil or because his story contained a reference to a forgotten Slappy low-point:

Stairs believes strongly in helping other players ... an approach that he hopes will eventually lead to a managing job. But he complains of a recent erosion in baseball's code of civility and sportsmanship.

A notable example came in 2007, when Stairs was playing for Toronto. Yankee Alex Rodriguez, approaching third base on a Jorge Posada pop-up, yelled "Ha!" This distracted Blue Jays third baseman Howie Clark, who allowed the ball to drop.

At the time, Stairs was highly critical of Rodriguez and had to be restrained during a resulting brawl in August.

Stairs rolled his eyes and smirked when reminded of the play. "The game has changed," he said. "I'm just talking about being a good person."