February 2012
1 post
PHILLIES VS. YANKEES ON SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1:00 PM
The Phillies have a warmup on Wednesday vs. Florida State but you won’t likely hear about the regulars in this game. The Phillies have posted the pitchers for the Seminoles game. Austin Hyatt is start the game followed by Jake Diekman, Jeremy Horst, Michael Schwimer, Joe Savery, J.C. Ramirez, B.J. Rosenberg and Phillippe Aumont.
Read more: ...
January 2012
1 post
MADSON TURNS RED THANKS TO SCOTT BORAS.
Ryan Madson will sign a one-year deal for between $8.5 and $10 million with the Cincinnati Reds.
In November, rumors had Madson signing a four-year, $44 million deal with the Phillies. Nice job Scott Boras.
Madson will replace Francisco Cordero who became a free agent when the Reds declined a $12 million club option. Cordero received a $1 million buyout.
Good luck in Cincy.
December 2011
2 posts
THE BEN FRANCISCO TREAT IS GONE. TIME TO CATCH THE...
The Phillies traded Ben Francisco to the Toronto Blue Jays for a minor league lefty in a move to clear money and a spot on the 40 man roster.
That spot will be filled by Dontrelle Willis, known as the D-Train. A former rookie of the year in 2003, the D-Train has been off track as a starter ever since. The Phillies plan to make him a reliever who may fill the lefty specialist role.
Stay tuned.
PHILS STRIKE DEAL WITH LAYNCE NIX.
The Phillies are coming close to finalizing their roster for 2012 with the signing of Laynce Nix. Nix had a .750 OPS with 16 homeruns in 351 plate appearances for the Nationals.
Nix played both corner outfield positions and 9 games at first base.
The Phillies have signed Thome, Wigginton, Schneider and Nix and have one position on the bench to fill, likely Wilson Valdez.
Starting shortstop is...
November 2011
3 posts
NO REST FOR RUBEN. PHILS SIGN TY WIGGINTON.
The Phillies have been interested in Ty Wigginton for years. He’s a career .265 hitter with power from the right side. He plays third base, second base, first base, leftfield and rightfield. So he has the versatility the Phillies were looking for. During his ten year career he’s played for the Mets, Pirates, Rays, Astros, Orioles and Rockies.
This probably ends the Phillies interest...
PAPELBON, PAPELBON, PAPELBON!
The Phillies made the right decision. Period.
After Madson’s agent, Scott Boras, leaked to the media that the Phillies offered four years at $44 million, that deal was off the table. The leak is Boras’s way of letting the rest of the teams in the league know what they had to offer to get Madson. Ruben Amaro and David Montgomery don’t play that game.
So…when the Levinson...
FREE AGENCY BEGINS. PHILS SIGN THOME FOR SECOND...
Jim Thome will join the Phillies to play his 22nd season in the big leagues continuing his quest for a World Series ring.
A career .277 hitter with 604 home runs and 1674 RBIs, Thome is Hall of Fame bound. During his first tour with the Phillies, from 2003 to 2005, he hit 96 homeruns and had 266 RBIs. His Phillies days were over when he injured his right elbow, had surgery and was replaced by...
October 2011
3 posts
THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. DON'T YOU JUST HATE...
Phillies management will have its work cut out trying to improve this team. With the current budget limitations and long-term contracts with its core players how do you improve?
There’s been a lot said about three positions. Shortstop, third base and leftfield. Lets not forget the bullpen and closer Ryan Madson. And the bench will need to be rebuilt.
Guess what? That’s next year.
DEJA VU.
Three hit shutout. What a disappointing end to a season.
SERIES TIED. PHILS NEED BIG GAME FROM HALLADAY.
Do or Die.
It all comes down to one game. The Phillies will need a big performance by Roy Halladay. The line-up needs to perform. Pence, Howard and Victorino must show up.
Lets get’er done.
September 2011
7 posts
102 WINS. A SEASON TO REMEMBER.
Phillies in four over the Cardinals. Can wait until Saturday.
Predictions?
PHILLIES WIN AFTER WEEK OF LOSING.
The Phils scored nine runs in the first four innings, winning 9-4. Their first win since clinching the NL East.
Halladay was sharp in his warm up for the playoffs. The starting eight all had hits.
The Phillies end the season with a three game series in Atlanta. The Braves have won four games over the last ten while the Cardinals have won six over the last ten.
The Braves will be ready to play....
PHILLIES CLINCH.
Five consecutive division championships. Lets start the playoffs.
IT'S CLINCH WEEK. MAGIC NUMBER DOWN TO 5.
It’s the week we’ve been waiting for. Clinch week 2011.
A Phillies win or Cardinals loss will clinch a playoff spot.
A combination of five Phillies wins or Braves losses clinches the NL East. The fifth consecutive year.
A combination of seven Phillies wins or Brewers losses clinches home field advantage through the playoffs (I think).
With 18 games to play, we’ll be seeing a...
PHILS WIN ANOTHER SERIES. GIVE THE STARTERS A DAY...
The magic number is seven. The Phillies have won six straight. The Braves and Brewers are 14 back in the loss column. The D-Backs have move ahead of the Brewers and are 13 back in the loss column.
So…who will the Phillies play in the first round of the NLCS?
PHILS SWEEP BRAVES. LEE, WORLEY AND OSWALT LIMIT...
With the sweep, the Phillies have a 12 game lead in the loss column. By the time the Braves face the Phillies again they will have won the division. That’s five straight.
The Phillies outscored the Braves 18 to five. And the Phillies offense is scoring runs.
Utley is down for the Milwaukee series. Jimmy Rollins is available to pinch hit. Howard and Ibanez have the night off.
Should be a...
PHILS COME ROARING BACK. LEE LOOKS LIKE A CY YOUNG...
After a disappointing weekend series versus the Marlins, the Phillies took it out on the Braves. Good idea.
As a fan, you hate to see the Phillies lose. But it’s going to happen. But wins mean everything right now. And a win against the Braves means the Phillies are closer to winning their fifth straight division title.
If weather permits, the Phillies will continue their assault on the...
LETS MAKE IT A CLEAN SWEEP. PHILS WIN 3-0.
Lee was perfect. Madson came in relief to throw three pitches. A six-hit shutout. The Phillies are 40 games over .500 for the first time this season. It’s August 31st!!!
Lets finish this. On to Florida for a three game series after a 12:35 day game.
August 2011
14 posts
PHILS TAKE CHARGE. TAKE TWO FROM THE REDS
After two rainouts this past weekend, the Phillies came charging at the Reds. It’s like they’re on a mission from the baseball gods.
The Phillies, with the best record in baseball and the fewest losses (46) won’t likely be passed for the league lead. The Brewers and Braves continue to win, but both teams have 55 losses.
The Phillies have 31 games to play. Most likely, those...
PHILS CAN'T CATCH METS.
An error by Michael Martinez led to a four run first inning. The Phillies couldn’t match the Mets, losing 7-4.
The Phillies managed 12 hits and four walks but left 12 runners on base.
The bullpen pitched five innings and allowed only one run.
A day off before the Marlins come to town.
WORLEY CONTINUES HIS RUN. OFFENSE STAYS HOT.
Vance Worley struck out nine over seven innings for his ninth win of the season. Worley also got two hits and scored twice to help himself.
The offense jumped all over Jonathon Niese and Pedro Beato for nine runs in the first five innings.
The Phillies sat Ryan Howard, playing John Mayberry at first and giving him another night to beat up on the Mets. He hit his 12th homer of the season. Ben...
LEE TAKES CHARGE. PENCE, MAYBERRY, RUIZ AND...
That’s baseball. One night you lose badly and the next night you take it out on your next opponent.
Cliff Lee made all his pitches last night. At 14-7 with a 2.71 ERA, he’s making his mark. Last night he past his all-time strikeouts record. He’s a contender to the Cy Young Award.
The combination of Hunter Pence and John Mayberry put some numbers on the board. Ruiz and Victorino...
OSWALT SWATS THE NATS.
Oswalt warmed up for his start on Friday. But, due to a rain delay that lasted over two hours, he never made a pitch. Kyle Kendrick, who was scheduled to pitch on Saturday, moved up and gave the Phillies six strong innings. He left the game with a 4-2 lead.
Lidge and Bastardo pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, Ryan Madson gave up six runs, surrendering a grand slam...
LEE TAMES SNAKES.
The Phillies won the second game of the series with a strong outing by Cliff Lee. Lee held the Dbacks to two earned runs on three hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Dbacks two runs came by a walk to Chris Young followed by a homerun by Paul Goldschmidt.
The Phillies offense took advantage of four walks and three errors. They added 12 hits to score nine runs.
Contributions were made up...
DIAMONDBACKS BURN PHILS, HALLADAY.
Tough way to lose a ballgame. The ace is in total control with a 2-1 lead going into the top of the ninth. Two pitches cost him and the Phillies the win.
The offense, with the exception of Shane Victorino’s two-run homer, was inconsistent. The Phillies scattered nine hits and struck out 11 times. Not good.
Bastardo and Madson were waiting for a call to the bullpen that never came. It was...
OSWALT BACK ON TRACK.
Roy Oswalt is back. Oswalt racked up another quality start by allowing three runs over seven innings while striking out five batters. He threw 96 pitches, 67 for strikes.
Michael Stutes finished the last two innings allowing one hit, one walk and striking out one.
John Lannan continues to struggle against the Phillies. Over three innings he allowed only one earned run. But, while he walked five...
PHILLIES PESTERED BY NATS.
The Phillies couldn’t find their stroke last night against Livan Hernandez. Strange.
The Phillies struggle against finesse pitchers. Hernandez never hit 90 mph on the radar and most of this stuff was in the high 70s, low 80s.
Hamels also struggled. He gave up three runs over five innings, walking four while striking out five.
We should know later today if Polanco can play with his sports...
LEE DOES IT ALL. PHILS GO FOR SWEEP
Cliff Lee pitches eight strong innings and hits the game winning homer. What more can you ask.
The Phillies are on a roll. They’ve won 16 of their last 19. Today, they’ll try to sweep the Dodgers.
The Braves keep winning too and they’ll be in the playoffs. There’s not another team in the NL who will challenge for the wild card.
Who would you like to see the Phillies play...
PENCE, MAYBERRY HOMER TO WIN SEVEN STRAIGHT.
Not much offense from either side. The pitching was stellar. Pence continues to be the lucky charm.
The Phillies seem to be playing on another level. Every games is a highlight reel.
The show continues tonight in San Francisco. Another opportunity for Worley to prove he belongs.
PHILS CRUSH ROX. WIN STREAK CONTINUES.
Ryan Howard is seeing more fastballs. He’s hit four homeruns, knocked in nine runs and raised his batting average by nine points. Thank you Hunter Pence.
Pence has six hits, three for doubles, and three RBIs since he arrived on Saturday.
The Phillies are hitting. Lets hope it continues during this four game series against the Giants.
The Phillies maintain their lead in the NL East. Can...
K-K-K-K-K-K-K KENDRICK. HOWARD LAUNCHES TWO TO...
The Phillies have won 70 games with 53 games to play. Since they acquired Hunter Pence on Friday, the Phillies are 4-0. Since the Giants acquired Carlos Beltran on Thursday, they are 0-5. The baseball gods are cheering the Phillies on.
The Braves are spinning their wheels, losing their last three games and losing six of their last 10 games. The Phillies now have a nine game lead in the NL East.
...
PHILS SWEEP PIRATES. RAUUUUUUUUUL BRINGS THE...
The Phillies acquired Hunter Pence on Friday and you could see the difference in the offense both Saturday and Sunday.
Pence is a solid .290 hitter with power. He should hit 20-25 homeruns when he settles into Citizen Bank Park.
Ryan Howard had the big game on Saturday going 4-4, and 39-year old Rauuuuuuuuuul Ibanez hit two homers and a walkoff double in the 10th inning.
The Phils are 68-39, 29...
July 2011
7 posts
WITH 62 GAMES TO PLAY...
The Phillies are six games up on the Braves in the loss column and time is running out. Both for the season, with 20 series to be played, but also for the July 31 trade deadline.
Atanta will be a buyer at the deadline and they’re looking to strengthen their bullpen and they need a right-handed bat. Sound familiar?
There are some interesting games ahead. They’ll be even more...
VW CONTAINS CUBBIES. PHILS COME OUT SWINGIN'
This series started out ugly. It looked like the beginning of a July swoon. The Phillies just haven’t hit consistently all season. And they desperately need a right handed power bat from inside the organization (John Mayberry, Ben Francisco) or a trade.
But Vance Worley held the Cubs to one run over eight innings. And that takes the pressure off the offense.
Will the Phils go after...
PHILLIES WIN UGLY. TAKE SERIES FROM DREADFUL METS.
It wasn’t pretty. But they won. That’s all that matters. Or is it?
The Phillies will make the playoffs. But who wins the division? Atlanta is younger and has a better bullpen. And now I read that both the Phillies and the Braves are looking at the same players for a trade deadline deal.
This will not be an easy trade deadline for Ruben Amaro. Polanco has a bad back. Ibanez, Brown,...
PHILLIES MAKE A STATEMENT.
14-1.
It’s one game. But a significant series victory for the Phillies going into the All-Star break.
Cole Hamels becomes the third pitcher to win 11 games in the National League. He certainly deserves his All-Star selection.
The Phillies miss Oswalt. No Doubt. The Three Aces have covered for Oswalt. The combination of Kendrick, Worley, and lets not forget Blanton (who should return after...
BRING ON THE BRAVES. FINAL SERIES BEFORE ALL-STAR...
This is it. The Phillies have a three game lead on the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies need to win one game to stay ahead of the Braves through the All-Star Break.
If the Phillies manage to win two of three they’ll be four games ahead of the Braves.
The Braves have hung with the Phillies for months. The Phils had a five game lead as recent as 10 days ago. With all the injuries it’s...
LOSE ONE. WIN ONE. COUNTDOWN TO ALL-STAR BREAK.
The Phils lost the last game of the Boston series but won the opener of their series with the Blue Jays.
After losing Hamels to a linedrive off the bat of Adrian Gonzalez the Phils bullpen gave the game to the Sox.
The Phillies came back twice to beat the Blue Jays with a so-so performance by Kyle Kendrick. KK pitched seven innings but gave up two, two-run homers and surrendered the lead in the...
June 2011
13 posts
UN-BE-LEE-VABLE JUNE. 42 INNINGS, 1 EARNED RUN.
Three consecutive shutouts and 32 scoreless innings by Cliff Lee. An historic season in the making.
Add the accomplishments of Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels and you’ve got the perfect trifecta. All three deserve All-Star selection.
Dom Brown, hitting around .210 hit his fifth homer of the season with two RBIs. Victorino also hit a two-run homer. Lee hit a flyball for another RBI.
The...
PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING.
Where would the Phillies be without Halladay, Hamels and Lee. Stutes, Bastardo and Madson have contributed too. Blanton, Kendrick and Worley are 7-7 in the fifth spot of the rotation.
Oswalt is 4-6 with a 3.79 ERA over 13 games. And it’s likely he’ll return by the end of August.
It’s all about the pitching this year. Enjoy it. It’s different. But when you’ve got...
BYE BYE BAEZ. BACK BITES OSWALT.
The Phillies have got to release Danys Baez. Three hits, two walks, six earned runs over .2 innings. The three-run homer to Berkman was a killer.
There’s always concern when back problems flair up. Oswalt has history with back problems. He may not be able to make his next start. Worley and Kendrick may have to fill the four and five spots in the rotation. Blanton is at least a month away.
...
CRAZY EIGHTS. PHILS SCORE NINE RUNS IN WILD...
Apparently, you don’t need the long ball to score nine runs in an inning. Walks, singles and station-by-station on the bases will get it done. Are we still talking about the Phillies?
It’s been a crazy month for the Phils. After three straight losses to start the month of June the Phillies have recovered and sport a 12-7 record. There have been close games and blow-outs.
The pitching...
SLEEPY (OFFENSE) IN SEATTLE. PHILS LOSE SERIES TO...
Fine pitching performances by Cole Hamels on Sunday and Roy Oswalt on Friday were wasted by the Phillies offense. They did manage to score five runs for Vance Worley & Co. on Saturday for their lone win of the series.
The bats seem to be back but suddenly went silent against the Mariners pitching. The Mariners have a talented young pitching staff and the Phillies lacked patience. Or maybe...
PHILLIES CATCH FISH AT THEIR SEASON LOW.
The Phillies have jump out in front of division rivals while sporting the best record in baseball.
For the first time this season, Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels won in consecutive games.
It was Cliff Lee’s day. Nine innings, two hits no runs. He extended the Phillies win streak to seven games. He also hit a double to score the first run of the game. The only run he would need to win.
...
FISH FRY. PHILS WIN IN TENTH.
A big walk-off single by Carlos Ruiz in the tenth inning gives the Phllies a five game lead over the Braves and drops the Marlins to ten and a half games back.
Another big game for Chase Utley who had two hits and two RBIs and batting .359 over his last ten games.
Roy Halladay pitched seven strong innings allowing four earned runs while striking out eight. Halladay kept the Phils close and the...
THE FISHING IS GOOD. PHILS HOMER THEIR WAY TO WIN.
It rained homers last night at Citizens Bank Park. After a rain delay the Phillies continued the downpour with five homeruns, all to right field. Utley, Howard, Rollins and Brown, who hit two, found the conditions perfect for the long ball.
Cole Hamels picked up his ninth win tying Roy Halladay for the league lead. Hamels was the master of the mound although he left the game in the eighth inning...
PHILS WIN THREE STRAIGHT. BRAVES ON THEIR TRAIL.
The Phillies won three of four games after losing the opener to the Cubs. With the best record in baseball and 14 games over .500, most fans would be more than satisfied. Not this fan.
The Braves are in the review mirror after sweeping the Marlins and taking the first three games of the series from the Astros. The Braves face the Astros tomorrow while the Phillies get a day off.
The Phillies...
OUT WITH THE OLD...IN WITH THE NEW.
Forget these old guys. After a sensational seven innings by Roy Halladay his teammates Jose Contreras and J.C. Romero performed like traitors attempting to give the gave to the Cubs. Why don’t the Phillies trust their young pitchers?
It was Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo who saved the day. They both have performed beyond their experience. It’s time for a change.
64 games in the...
HAMELS SHUTS DOWN DODGERS. HOWARD HOMERS.
Cole Hamels pitched eight innings giving up six hits, no walks and nine strikeouts. It was the Phillies eighth shutout this season.
Ryan Howard ended his homerun drought with a solo shot in the sixth inning. Ryan Madson earned is 14th save. He hasn’t blown a save this season.
The Phillies offense collected five hits including a double by Ibanez and a triple by Michael Martinez, the first...
PHILLIES CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES. MISSING...
It’s just hard to understand. The Phillies walked five times in the first two innings and managed to score one run. They had runners in scoring position and loaded the bases in the second inning but couldn’t shake rookie pitcher Rubby De La Rosa.
The pitchers are doing there part to keep this team in almost every game. And suddenly, the Cardinals, Brewers and even the Braves and...