Phillies Continue to Hand Out Pink Slips

5 11 2008

By Mike Gill

Steve Smith (left) - Fired.

Steve Smith (left) - Fired.

It may seem like a minor deal, but the Phillies have told third base coach Steve Smith the waving of runners home around third is no longer needed.  The Phillies announced that Smith with not be returning to the team in 2009. 

His tenure in Philadelphia was an interesting one.  The Phillies scored plenty of runs under his watch at the hot-corner but he recieved a lot of criticism for his several green lights he gave to runners like Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard rounding third and getting fired out at home.

Keep in mind, Smith was also responsible for coaching the infielders, espically Ryan Howard, who committed 19 errors at first base.  Though the rest of the infield defense was very solid, espically Pedro Feliz and Jimmy Rollins.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Phillies Name New GM, Lose Arbuckle

1 11 2008
Ruben Amaro Jr. - New Phillies GM

Ruben Amaro Jr. - New Phillies GM

By Mike Gill

The Phillies have made the move that has been speculated around the Delaware Valley for months – they hired Ruben Amaro Jr. as the successor to Pat Gillick as general manager.

Amaro has been the face of the team for some time now, he was always the guy who appeared on TV, radio and quoted in print during the Gillick era. He played for the Phillies (two stints), his father played for the Phillies and he was brought into the front office to become the GM of this team.  Gillick’s job was not only to build this team into a winner, it was also to mentor Amaro for this role.

I for one am not a fan of this move. Read the rest of this entry »


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JR’s Philly Ramblings: Special Ramblings Edition The City Of Brotherly Love

1 11 2008
The City Of Brotherly Love

The City Of Brotherly Love

Now that my hangover has officially ended and Bill Conlin has been revived and Ruben Amaro’s lips are removed from David Montgomery’s ass, I feel compelled to spill out thoughts on the past 25 years, as well as some current thoughts on whats going on ’round here. So grab a beer and stay a while: Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : 76ers, Baseball, Basketball, Eagles, Football, Hockey, Phillies

The Phix Is In

24 10 2008

by MIchael DeLuca

The series was already in danger of having the lowest viewership in World Series history.  The Red Sox, the Yankees, the Cubs, all long gone.  A 2-0 Phillies lead with the series heading back to Philly would be disastrous for Major League Baseball.  Who would be tuning in? 

As much as we all in the Philadelphia area love our Phillies, the story of this World Series is the engrossing tale of the Tampa Bay Rays meteoric rise from worst to first.  2-0 would have ended that fairy tale.  2-0 would have diminished the already waning interest of the most dedicated baseball fans.

And so, Brett Myers, with a full count, records a strikeout against Rocco Baldelli….which is then appealed to first base and becomes a walk.  And Jimmy Rollins is hit by a pitch…that doesn’t get him on base.  And thus, the series is now tied at 1-1.  The fairy tale, as contrived and ho hum as it may be, is given new legs.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I’m a Phillies fan.  And, on occasion, a hazardous conspiracy theorist.  So please help me out, our my concerns unsubstantiated?  Was home plate umpire Kerwin Danley influenced by Major League Baseball to even this series up or is he simply the biggest ass-clown ever to be placed behind the plate for a World Series game (I’ll accept no other answers).


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Game Two Line-ups Announced

23 10 2008
Dobbs replaces Chris Coste as the DH for game two.

Dobbs replaces Chris Coste as the DH for game two.

By Mike Gill

The line-ups for two have been announced.  Greg Dobbs will be the DH in the only significant move for the Phillies.  Cliff Floyd and Rocco Baldelli are in the line-up tonight for the Rays.

Brett Myers starts for the Phillies, James Shields goes for the Rays.

Here are the line-ups: Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Phillies

Phillies Game 1 Line-Up Set

22 10 2008

Here’s the full lineup, with regular-season stats, they will face left-hander Scott Kazmir.  Chris Coste will be the DH, Werth hits second and Victorino is sixth.

Chris Coste will DH in game 1.

Chris Coste will DH in game 1.


SS Jimmy Rollins (.277/11/59)
RF Jayson Werth (.273/24/67)
2B Chase Utley (.292/33/104)
1B Ryan Howard (.251/48/146)
LF Pat Burrell (.250/33/86)
CF Shane Victorino (.293/14/58)
3B Pedro Feliz (.249/14/58)
DH Chris Coste (.263/9/36)
C Carlos Ruiz (.219/4/31)


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The Drought is About to End …

22 10 2008

By Jamie Yannacone
http://jamieyannacone.com

Simply put, this is our time.

After 25 looooong years – and nearly five months (not that we’re counting) – of waiting, finally, Philadelphia will have a parade to celebrate a major pro sports championship.

And this is the right team to do it.

In a time when so many sports franchises are hard to root for because of selfishness and arrogance, these Phillies are the exact opposite. With the manner in which they play for each other and care for each other, and the way they don’t seem to care who gets the credit as long as they win, they have set a tremendous example for kids playing sports all over the Philadelphia area.

And, now that they have reached baseball’s ultimate level of competition, the rest of the country is getting to know just how special a team they are. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Phillies

Which Phils Do You Like More?

17 10 2008

By Mike Gill
 Rollins, Utley and Howard - all drafted by the Phillies.
So the Phillies are going to the World Series for the first time since 1993, that we know.  However, what I am wondering is what team do Phillies fans like more, the 1993 bunch or the current group of guys from 2008?

I think the answer is simple – its today’s team.

Back in 1993, we fell in love with the cast-offs, this team is homegrown.  In the photo to the right, you’ll see Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard.  All came through the Phillies minor league system, as did many others on the current Phillies roster.

Take a look:

Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Phillies

The Phillies Journey is Almost Finished

16 10 2008
Madson has become a star in October.

Madson has become a star in October.

By Mike Gill

When the Phillies game ended and the Dodgers were eliminated, the final step in their journey had been taken.  The Phillies didn’t have the look of a team that was just happy, they all said the right things.  Sure there was plenty of hooting and hollering, but the stars of this team know what is in front of them right now.

You heard Jimmy Rollins and Cole Hamels say afterwards that they were not finished yet.  The team reacted very business-like in each of their three key wins – the NL East win verses the Nats, the NLDS win and now the Dodgers.  Each time this team was questioned, they answered that it was a very long season and they have proven the media, fans and anybody else who doubted them wrong this time. Read the rest of this entry »


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Phillies are back in the World Series

16 10 2008

By Mike Gill

For the first time since 1993, the Phillies are going back to the World Series.  Its kind of an odd feeling to be honest.  Philadelphia fans, in general, are so jaded.  They have been let down so many times, that it’s hard to allow this to set in. 

But it happened, they are back in the World Series.  After 15 long years, the Phillies are back in the Fall Classic.  Led by ace Cole Hamels, the MVP of the series, the Phillies were able to jump out early on the Dodgers and Hamels and the bullpen shut them down.

King Cole - The MVP

King Cole - The MVP

Hamles has become a star, he went 2-0 in the NLCS, and went seven innings in the clincher, dropping his ERA to 1.93 in the playoffs.  His masterpiece allows the Phillies to move on to face either the Rays or the Red Sox.

The city of Philadelphia hasn’t been to the title round since 2004, when the Eagles took over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but fell to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.  The Pats were a great team and the Eagles played well, but came up just short.  The difference here is, the Super bowl is just one game, the Phillies will paint the town red for days.

Phillies players and fans are all in shock, they are speechless.  When you get to the post-season, you just hope your team is hot and no team is hotter than the Phillies are right now. 

The Phils have failed plenty of times before they have gotten this thing right.  Whether it was the learning experience of last season or the right mesh of players at the right time, this team is a bunch of guys who think this is their time.  Read the rest of this entry »


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