Phillies News

Phils head home after sweep by Braves
Comment
July 3
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"It happened in a matter of seconds, as these things often do. One moment, Pedro Feliz is at the plate in the eighth inning of a tie game, and Jayson Werth is on third base ready to run with two outs, and a high 2-2 pitch from Mike Gonzalez is bouncing off the webbing of Brian McCann's glove and caroming to the backstop.The next, McCann is whipping a throw, and Werth is sliding headfirst into home, and Gonzalez is swiping his glove and umpire Mike Everitt is hovering above it all, poised to make a call that could very well decide the outcome of the game.And then . . . Out.It might not have been the decisive play in the game - Matt Diaz' RBI double off Ryan Madson in the bottom of the eighth ..."
As All-Star manager, Manuel might have to stiff his Phillies stars
Comment
July 3
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"THE 2004 All-Star Game was held at Minute Maid Park in Houston and, even by midsummer classic standards, it had plenty of sparkle. Native son Roger Clemens, representing the hometown Astros, was the starting pitcher for the National League. The Marlins' Jack McKeon was the oldest manager ever to run an All-Star team from the bench. Muhammad Ali threw out the first pitch. None of that, however, got more attention than the fact that American League manager Joe Torre packed his team with eight of his own players. Three Yankees were voted starters: Jason Giambi at first base, Derek Jeter at shortstop and Alex Rodriguez at third. Then Torre, exercising his right to fill out the roster, selected ..."
Mets, Phils both struggling to sting their wins together
Comment
July 3
New York Post
 
"With their many injuries, the Mets likely don't have the talent to stick with the first-place Phillies, who they play this weekend, but they don't need their manager enforcing that belief. Jerry Manuel insisted his team needs to add a bat to the lineup with Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado on the disabled list, statements that can't be helping the players in the clubhouse, according to SNY analyst Ron Darling. "You have a roomful of players that are going out there and busting their rear ends to try and get the job done for you, and when you start to implore management to try and get someone else in there, you start wondering 'What's wrong with us?' " the former Mets hurler ..."
Amazin'ly, There's Fireworks in Philly
Comment
July 3
New York Post
 
"There is no way we could've expected what we're getting this weekend. This was the weekend the Phillies would bid farewell to the Mets, September coming a little bit early this year, the Phils taking advantage of the Fourth of July festivities to bury the Mets for good at Citizens Bank Park. There is no rhyme for this, no reason, no rational explanation. The Mets are beaten up and bloodied and battered, and have been for weeks, and even when they were fully fortified it wasn't as if they scared anyone with either fundamentals or fortitude. The Phillies? Everyone fell in love with the Phillies. "They play the game the way the game is supposed to be played," David Wright had said exactly 22 ..."
Phillies won't rush Ibanez back from DL
Comment
July 3
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Raul Ibanez is eligible to be activated from the disabled list tonight, just in time for the opener of the Phillies' three-game series against the rival Mets at Citizens Bank Park. That won't happen. Ibanez, sidelined since June 18 by a groin strain, had been scheduled to play Thursday night at Class AA Reading, but for a second straight day, he settled for taking batting practice and working out. Reached by phone Thursday, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. maintained Ibanez hasn't had a setback, but rather the Phillies are merely being cautious. "He's actually progressing real well, just not to the point where he's comfortable that he's ready to go," Amaro said. "Just like hamstrings or any ..."
Ibanez Still On Hold
Comment
July 2
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Although they continue to insist Raul Ibanez hasn't had any setbacks with his strained groin, the Phillies have once again pushed back the start of his minor-league rehab assignment. A short time ago, we received word that Ibanez will work out for a third straight day at Class AA Reading but will not play in a game. The Phillies are "hopeful," according to a team spokesman, that Ibanez will play in a minor-league game tomorrow night. Clearly, then, Ibanez won't be ready for this weekend's series against the Mets. A return next week remains a possibility."
Lopez gets the call-up to start against Mets
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"The Phillies bypassed promising youngsters Carlos Carrasco and Drew Carpenter to award veteran Rodrigo Lopez tomorrow's start against the New York Mets, but team officials said that Lopez's experience was not the main factor in their decision. They simply felt that he gave them the best chance to win. "They said he was the guy who could help us at this moment because of the way he has been pitching," manager Charlie Manuel said. The move is significant because the Phillies view Lopez's assignment as potentially more than a spot start. With Antonio Bastardo (shoulder strain) likely sidelined for more than a month and the trade market for pitching bearish, Lopez could become a member of the ..."
What's behind Rollins' prolonged slump?
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Inquirer
 columnist Frank Fitzpatrick
"Jim Fregosi used to complain that I refused to absorb all the wisdom he tried to impart, whether it was about baseball, journalism, or 401(k)s. But the ex-Phillies manager did teach me one valuable lesson during my four years as a beat writer: A baseball season is 162 games long for a reason. Good teams invariably end up with good records, bad teams with bad. And, unless some underlying variable is at work, veteran players almost always come close to their career norms. They don't fall off statistical cliffs for no apparent reason. Which brings us to the strange, sad case of Jimmy Rollins and His Missing Bat. According to Fregosi's theory, either the slumping Phils shortstop will have an ..."
Phillies slugger Howard dodges Home Run Derby question
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"In previous years, Ryan Howard has played coy when asked about his potential participation in the Home Run Derby. This year is no different, even though the event will be taking place in his hometown of St. Louis. Asked if he would participate, even if he's not a member of the National League All-Star team for the July 14 game, the Phillies' slugger smiled. "I don't know," he said. "We'll see what happens." While Howard is not likely to catch Albert Pujols at first base in the fan balloting for the starters, he could be voted into the game as a reserve in balloting by the players, coaches and managers, or selected by Charlie Manuel, who is managing the National League team. Finally, he ..."
Believe it or not, Phillies doing fine
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Daily News
 columnist Sam Donnellon
"YOU SEE BAD things arising. You see trouble on the way. You see the Phillies as a team still hung over from the intoxication of last year's championship, unable to hold teams down early or hold onto leads late. You walk away from the television set muttering "This never happened last year." I see a lot of memory loss out there. The Phillies were 39-35 heading into last night's game against Atlanta. A year ago, with better weather and a tighter schedule, they were 44-39. Five more wins, four more losses, and the similarity does not end there. You see a team that can't seal the deal like they did last year, a team that seems to lose all the close games. But here are the numbers on that. In ..."
Phillies hope Lopez can recapture old form
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"The 2002 Baltimore Orioles will not go down as one of the pre-eminent teams in Major League Baseball history. They won 67 games, posted a middling 4.46 ERA and scored the second-fewest runs in the American League.But one of their few bright spots came in the way of a previously unknown 26-year-old pitcher who went 15-9 with a 3.57 ERA and finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting to the Blue Jays' Eric Hinske.His name?Rodrigo Lopez."He's a good competitor," said Phillies third-base coach Sam Perlozzo, who was a bench coach on that 2002 team and later went on to manage Lopez in 2005-06. "There were times when you thought you might have to go out there early in the game, use up ..."
Phillies delay Ibanez's rehab start
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"It's about the long haul for Raul Ibanez, not a three-game weekend series against the New York Mets, not even the All-Star Game.Ibanez's desire to be completely healthy for the second half of the Phillies' season led him and team officials to delay the start of a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.The leftfielder, on the disabled list with a strained left groin, could have played for double-A Reading last night. He worked out with the Reading club yesterday afternoon. But during batting practice, it was announced that he would not play in the game."No, no, no," Ibanez, 37, said emphatically when asked if he had experienced a setback. "We just decided to play it safe. I'm trying to stay ..."
Flyers add Boucher, Laperriere, lose Knuble
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Brian Boucher is back, Mike Knuble is gone, and feisty right winger Ian Laperriere will be wearing orange and black.For the Flyers, it was a busy first day in the free-agent market.Boucher, who was superb as San Jose's backup goalie last season, and Laperriere (seven goals with Colorado) signed salary-cap-friendly deals with the Flyers yesterday, while Knuble opted to sign with the Washington Capitals.With the departure of Knuble and the trade of Joffrey Lupul in last week's blockbuster Chris Pronger deal, the Flyers will need to replace a combined 52 goals from last season."It's a lot of goals, but we're still looking around," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "We'd like to add one more ..."
Phils turn to veteran starter Lopez
Comment
July 2
Camden Courier-Post
 
"In 2006, when Rodrigo Lopez led the American League with 18 losses, then-Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo often talked to the struggling right-hander in the early innings of games. "He'd get in trouble and it looked like you might have to use your whole 'pen, and he'd say, "I'll get you four or five more (innings),' " Perlozzo recalled. "And I'd say, "OK,' and son of a gun, he'd go out and do that and pitch his butt off and save your 'pen." Perlozzo, now the Phillies' third-base coach, said he didn't have input in the decision, rendered Wednesday, to call up Lopez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Friday night against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. But if he did, he may have advocated for ..."
Braves torch Hamels and Phils, 11-1
Comment
July 2
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"When Cole Hamels last pitched, the Toronto Blue Jays chased him from Friday's game in the fifth inning. Hamels, angry with himself and the world, earned an ejection on the way out.That seemed like a low point in the season, but with tonight's 11-1 loss to Atlanta at Turner Field, the Phillies quickly circled back to their darkest moment.Hamels' exit was calmer, but his performance was even worse. The pitcher allowed nine hits and seven runs in four-plus innings, and trudged off the mound with his head down. And just like in Friday's game, which provoked a rare team meeting, the Phillies waited until the seventh inning for their first hit off Jair Jurrjens. They are now just a half-game in ..."
Cool solution for hot corner - Greg Dobbs
Comment
July 1
Tacoma News Tribune
 columnist John McGrath
"Before I suggest a low-maintenance replacement for the high-stress position usually occupied by Adrian Beltre, please meet Charles "Piano Legs" Hickman. OK, you can't meet Hickman, as he has been dead for 75 years. But his struggles should be a warning of the hazards that await any novice attempting to follow in his footsteps. In 1900, with the New York Giants, Hickman committed 86 errors. Actually, Piano Legs committed 87 - one in the outfield, and the other 86 at third base. It remains the single-season record for defensive ineptitude and explains why putting any old player at third base (or any young player, for that matter) might not be such a good idea. The ball will find you at ..."
Phillies close to decision on starter
Comment
July 1
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Before catching up with the Phillies at Turner Field for a three-game series with the Braves, assistant general manager Benny Looper spent five days at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. So when it comes to replacing injured starter Antonio Bastardo, he has seen each candidate. "I think we're pretty close to making that decision," Looper said Tuesday. Close enough, in fact, that the Phillies may have an announcement today. For now, they have decided only that the pitcher they call up -- the candidates are right-handers Carlos Carrasco, Drew Carpenter and Rodrigo Lopez -- will start Friday night's series opener against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Initially, it appeared the Phillies would need a ..."
Rollins struggles as Phils fall
Comment
July 1
Camden Courier-Post
 
"When Charlie Manuel decided last week to bench Jimmy Rollins for four games, his well-stated hope was that an extended break would help free the Phillies' languishing leadoff hitter from the longest slump of his career. But his fear was equally transparent: What if it doesn't work? "There have been a lot of guys that have been elected to the Hall of Fame that have had terrible years," said Manuel, sitting in the dugout before Tuesday night's series opener against the Braves at Turner Field. "Everybody goes through that. That's a part of the game." So with the very real possibility that the worst season of his career simply won't be salvaged, Rollins returned to the Phillies' lineup and ..."
Braves top Phils in 10th
Comment
July 1
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Jimmy Rollins bobbled a ground ball in the fifth inning of tonight's 5-4 loss to Atlanta at Turner Field, then threw his head back and shouted. The uncharacteristic display of frustration continued when Rollins pulled his foot back and gave the ball an angry kick. After a four-game break that manager Charlie Manuel had hoped would rejuvenate the shortstop, Rollins seemed like the same decimated player who had spent all season frustrated. Despite making an excellent defensive play in the ninth, Rollins went 0 for 5, and the Phillies lost in the 10th inning on a walk-off hit by Martin Prado. Hours earlier, the team faced a pitcher who might have been one of their own. But the Phils ..."
Phillies leftfielder Ibanez might play at Reading tonight
Comment
July 1
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"While a weekend return remains questionable, Phillies leftfielder Raul Ibanez should take a big step toward getting himself back to the active roster tonight when he is tentatively scheduled to make his first minor league start since landing on the disabled list June 18 with a strained groin.Ibanez worked out at Double A Reading yesterday, participating in batting and fielding practice as a final test before beginning a slate of rehab appearances.Assuming his body feels prepared this morning, the All-Star-to-be will be in the lineup tonight when the R-Phils host the Altoona Curve.The Phillies would like Ibanez to get somewhere around 12 at-bats in the minors before they clear him to return ..."
Ibanez unlikely to return from DL Friday
Comment
June 30
MLB.com
 
"Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez said last week that his strained left groin feels much better.But while it has improved, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, "One day he can be doing great, and another day not as great. We have to keep our minds open there." Ibanez is eligible to be activated from the disabled list Friday against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park, but that is unlikely to happen. Amaro said Ibanez will see team physician Michael Ciccotti again this week. "We'll re-evaluate him and see whether he's physically able to start some type of rehab," Amaro said. While Ibanez remains on the disabled list, rookie John Mayberry Jr. will continue to play. He has hit .216 with ..."
Phils' Thursday pitching choice down to two
Comment
June 30
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Whenever they are faced with deciding which player to call up from the minor leagues to plug a roster void, the Phillies always ask one question above all others. What have you done for me lately? Thus, when it comes to picking a starter to replace injured lefty Antonio Bastardo Thursday night in Atlanta, the Phillies likely will choose the pitcher who has had the most recent success at Class AAA Lehigh Valley, said pitching coach Rich Dubee, who receives nightly reports from each minor-league team. According to those criteria, they have two options -- Drew Carpenter or Carlos Carrasco. Carpenter, a 24-year-old right-hander, is the more familiar choice. He made a spot start in the finale ..."
Florida to review Romero incident
Comment
June 30
Camden Courier-Post
 
"The case involving a flare-up between Phillies relief pitcher J.C. Romero and a Tampa Bay Rays fan last week at Tropicana Field has been turned over to the Florida attorney's office, a St. Petersburg Police Department spokesman said. Robert Eaton, a 25-year-old from New Port Richey, Fla., filed a complaint against Romero after alleging the pitcher grabbed him by the neck after Thursday's game. The officer who received the complaint classified it as "simple battery," a misdemeanor in Florida, according to spokesman George Katjsa. The police report has been forwarded to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office for further review and a determination of whether prosecutors will charge ..."
Ibanez unlikely to return from DL Friday
Comment
June 30
MLB.com
 
"Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez said last week that his strained left groin feels much better. But while it has improved, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, "One day he can be doing great, and another day not as great. We have to keep our minds open there." Ibanez is eligible to be activated from the disabled list Friday against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park, but that is unlikely to happen. Amaro said Ibanez will see team physician Michael Ciccotti again this week. "We'll re-evaluate him and see whether he's physically able to start some type of rehab," Amaro said."
Phillies' J.A. Happ harnesses his aggression
Comment
June 30
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"There are at least two versions of James Anthony Happ. There is the 26-year-old who speaks quietly and usually only when spoken to, who sits facing his locker and reading while teammates joke and yell and curse. That is J.A. Happ when he is not playing baseball.Some athletes display the same personality traits - being mean, energetic, lackadaisical, or otherwise - on and off the field. Not Happ. "Whatever impression I give off when I'm not pitching, maybe that I'm quiet, that's not what's going on inside of me," he said. "And I try to have a different edge on the mound."For a glimpse of J.A. Happ's interior life, watch him when he is pitching well. He is aggressive, unshakable, and ..."
We'll see if Rollins gets the message
Comment
June 30
Philadelphia Inquirer
 columnist Bob Ford
"If being benched for one game is a short jolt of shock-therapy motivation - the baseball equivalent of a brief text message reading, Pck it Up:-) - then being removed from the lineup for four straight games is an old-fashioned, longhand epistle on the seriousness of the situation. The Phillies don't merely want Jimmy Rollins to begin visiting the bases more frequently. They don't just think it would help steady a team that scores runs either in bunches or not at all. They desperately need Rollins to shake off his batting funk and become, if not a prototypical leadoff hitter, then at least a good imitation of the player whose intangible spark often outweighs an underwhelming on-base ..."
Phillies put Bastardo on 15-day disabled list
Comment
June 30
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"Whether it is Carlos Carrasco or Andrew Carpenter or another member of the Phillies' farm system, somebody is going to get a chance to pitch his way into the team's rotation.The Phillies announced late last night that they had placed lefthander Antonio Bastardo on the 15-day disabled list with a posterior shoulder strain, likely sidelining him until after the All-Star break.Bastardo suffered the injury against the Rays on June 25, when he allowed six runs on seven hits before leaving with two outs in the fourth inning. There was no immediate word from the team on how serious they consider the injury, or how long the 23-year-old might be sidelined.Bastardo had mixed results in his first ..."
Utley, Ibanez remain atop All-Star voting
Comment
June 30
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and outfielder Raul Ibanez continue to lead in the National League All-Star fan balloting, and shortstop Jimmy Rollins has fallen back in the voting with 4 days remaining.Utley's total of 3,510,082 votes is second overall to St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols' 3,602,765. Utley has almost three times more votes than the Dodgers' Orlando Hudson among second baseman (1,277,348).Ibanez, who is on the disabled list, tops outfielders with 2,970,139 votes. Milwaukee's Ryan Braun is second (2,654,061), followed by the Mets' Carlos Beltran (2,085,028). The Cubs' Alfonso Soriano is fourth with 1,916,598 votes and the Phillies' Shane Victorino is fifth at ..."
Too soon to tell whether Phillies' swoon is history
Comment
June 30
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"Turning points are difficult to identify when you still might be in the midst of one, so as the Phillies take the field in Atlanta tonight, the questions remain:Were their two straight victories in Toronto, during which they scored 15 runs and reached base in 43.2 percent of their plate appearances, the beginning of the end of their most trying stretch of the season?Or are they destined to spend the dog days of summer as they did a year ago, riding alternating stretches of success and impotence before ultimately deciding their fate in the season's final month?"We'll see Tuesday," veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer said Sunday after the Phillies beat the Blue Jays, 5-4, to finish interleague ..."
Phils showing less cool and more fire
Comment
June 29
Philadelphia Inquirer
 columnist Phil Sheridan
"Along with a numbing series of baseball games, the Phillies may have lost something they needed to lose on this road trip.Their cool.Every long baseball season has significant mile markers. Sometimes they're obvious as they happen, sometimes they seem clear only in retrospect. At the end of this season, whatever happens in the Phillies' unfamiliar quest to defend a championship, the events of the last few days will stand out.Charlie Manuel finally locked the clubhouse doors and addressed his team in an effort to fan away the psychic fog that had engulfed these Phillies.Cole Hamels and Chase Utley lost their Cali-cool with a couple of umpires.Jimmy Rollins was sent into dugout exile by the ..."
Rollins to return tomorrow
Comment
June 29
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Charlie Manuel has never wavered in his belief that Jimmy Rollins is the most capable leadoff hitter on the Phillies' roster, despite the shortstop's paltry average and on-base percentage this season.Tomorrow, Rollins will return to that role after four games on the bench. "Tuesday, he's going to be back in the lineup and he's going to be in the leadoff hole, unless something really changes between now and then," Manuel said.Rollins is batting .211, with a .254 on-base percentage, but Manuel trusts that the shortstop will find his swing. The manager feels that Rollins' speed is essential at the top of the lineup."That's why Jimmy Rollins becomes really important for us," Manuel said. "With ..."
Lidge seals Phils' win over Jays
Comment
June 29
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Brad Lidge felt nervous at first, entering today's game in the ninth inning with a one-run lead.The closer who was perfect last season had not earned a save since June 1, spending most of the month on the disabled list with a sprained right knee. He had blown six saves before that, but the Phillies suffered in his absence, losing 12 of 16 games.The Phils, trying to reverse the worst stretch of their season, received a much-needed save from Lidge, who picked a runner off second base and closed a 5-4 win against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.The Phillies scored four of their runs in a fourth inning that included a two-run triple by Chase Utley. They took two of three in Toronto ..."
Werth, Utley help Phillies win last series vs. AL
Comment
June 29
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"Asking a baseball player to root out the underlying causes for the various idiosyncracies of a season is often like asking an ocean wave to explain why it rises and falls and, eventually, crashes onto the beach. Somewhere, there is a reason, the explanation of which is better left to folks who don't have to concern themselves with the actual task at hand.And so it was with a shrug that Jayson Werth answered a question regarding his remarkable production against his old Blue Jays team, which yesterday helped propel the Phillies to their second straight win over Toronto, this time 5-4 in come-from-behind fashion."I don't have an answer for that," said Werth, who reached base in five plate ..."
Phillies closer Lidge survives Blue Jays' tests for first save since June 1
Comment
June 29
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"At first, Brad Lidge was not happy.Blue Jays catcher Raul Chavez had just surprised the Phillies closer by bunting the first pitch of the ninth inning toward the left side of the infield, forcing Lidge and his uncertain right knee to scramble toward the ball and make an off-balance throw, which did not get to first base in time."I wasn't real happy about that," said Lidge, who was attempting to close out his first save opportunity since returning from the disabled list Thursday. "At first, it kind of [ticked] me off. I remember thinking that, but then, OK, [there's] a runner on first base, nobody out in a one-run game. You better get it done and be upset later."Honestly, it's fair. They ..."
Phillips' birthday gets happy boost from win over Indians
Comment
June 29
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Cincinnati Reds completed the interleague portion of their 2009 schedule by rocking the Cleveland Indians (Cleveland doesn't rock on the baseball field), 8-1, in Progressive Field. Despite that crescendo finish to interleague play, Reds manager Dusty Baker is happy to have it over with and if they would do away with interleague play forever Baker would applaud until his palms bled. The Reds were 6-9 against the American League, 3-6 on the road, where the designated hitter is used. Said Baker, when asked if he would miss interleague play, "No. I'm glad it's over. You enjoy going to other ballparks and different cities. "But I knew when it started that interleague play would have a big ..."
Phillies confirm confrontation in Tampa
Comment
June 28
ESPN.com
 
"The Philadelphia Phillies confirmed Saturday that one of their players was involved in a confrontation with a fan following Thursday's game at the Tampa Bay Rays. The Phillies did not identify the player in their statement. The Rays also confirmed the incident but did not release details. The St. Petersburg Times reported on its Web site Saturday that Phillies reliever J.C. Romero grabbed and shoved Robert Eaton, 25, of New Port Richey, Fla., after the fan made two comments about steroids. "What did he say? That he was drunk and got into a fight?" Romero said of the fan's complaint Saturday. "I'm not going to comment on it. I'm trying to be professional, and I don't really want to get into ..."
Strain to force Bastardo to miss start
Comment
June 28
MLB.com
 
"Philadelphia Phillies rookie left-hander Antonio Bastardo will miss his next start, scheduled for Wednesday, due to a strained left shoulder, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sunday. Bastardo, who had posted a 6.75 ERA in five starts, is scheduled to see team doctor Michael Ciccotti in Philadelphia on Monday."
Aftermath of Series: Phils glad, Rays not
Comment
June 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Which team has benefited more at the box office from last year's World Series? Attendance increases are about the same - 3,396 per game for the Rays, 3,361 for the Phillies - but the Rays are bummed and the Phillies are not. Crowd counts in Philly have risen from fifth in the majors to second, an average of 43,785 a game while the Rays rank 25th in attendance (up from 28th) at 22,524 a game. Furthermore, the Rays had embarrassingly small crowds last week for a World Series rematch. The Phillies visited for three games, and the crowds averaged 19,537. Rays president Matt Silverman told the St. Petersburg Times the team's projection for full houses throughout the series was a "huge miss," ..."
Phils drill Mills
Comment
June 28
Toronto Sun
 
"Brad Mills may one day be a quality pitcher at the major-league level. However, as he proved yesterday afternoon in a 10-0 thumping by the Phillies at the Rogers Centre, right now he is not ready for prime time. Mills, in the rotation because of the shoulder soreness that plagues Casey Janssen, made his second big-league start against Philadelphia and, much like the first one, it wasn't pretty. The Phillies' Jayson Werth, who at one time was a Jays prospect, certainly didn't mind seeing Mills again. In the second inning, with a man on, he pole-axed a 2-2 pitch and watched it rattle off the first row of seats in the fifth deck down the left-field line. As actor Kevin Costner, playing ..."
Fan says Phillies pitcher assaulted him over steroids remark
Comment
June 28
St. Petersburg Times
 
"A New Port Richey man says he was assaulted by a Philadelphia Philies player following Thursday's game against the Rays. Robert Eaton, a 25-year-old father of two, said Phillies pitcher J.C. Romero grabbed him by the neck and pushed him after he made a comment about steroids. Romero initially had no comment when approached by Philadelphia media after Saturday's game in Toronto, but when asked by a Daily News reporter if he wanted to hear the accusation, Romero replied: "What'd he say - that he was drunk and got into a fight? ... I'm not going to comment about it. I'm trying to be professional and I don't really want to get into that. Don't make a story out of nothing. I don't know what's ..."
Fla. man accuses Romero of assault
Comment
June 28
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"A Florida man has accused Phillies reliever J.C. Romero of assaulting him after Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla."What did he say? That he was drunk and got into a fight?" Romero, 33, said yesterday when asked whether he wanted to hear the fan's complaint. "I'm not going to comment on it. I'm trying to be professional, and I don't really want to get into that. Don't want to make a story out of nothing."The fan, 25-year-old Robert Eaton, told the St. Petersburg Times that he asked Romero for an autograph outside Tropicana Field and was refused. Eaton said that he then made a comment about steroids and that Romero grabbed him by the neck and pushed him, Eaton ..."
Phils might plug gap with 'electric' Carrasco
Comment
June 28
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Minor-league pitching coaches file a report with their parent organization after every game.On Friday night, Rod Nichols used superlatives in assessing righthander Carlos Carrasco's work."I used the word 'electric,' " Nichols, pitching coach for the Phillies' triple-A Lehigh Valley club, said yesterday. "His stuff was electric."Carrasco pitched 61/3 innings of one-run ball in a 6-1 victory over Indianapolis. It was the latest in a string of strong starts for the highly regarded prospect who is under consideration to fill a vacancy in the big-league club's rotation Thursday night in Atlanta.Carrasco, 22, is 4-7 with a 4.92 ERA in 15 starts for the IronPigs. However, he has shined in his ..."
Hamels regrets his outburst
Comment
June 28
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Cole Hamels was too upset to answer questions after Friday's ugly loss to the Blue Jays, but the Phillies lefthander expressed regret yesterday about his behavior toward home-plate umpire Mark Carlson.Hamels, who allowed four runs in 42/3 innings, was ejected when he barked at Carlson after manager Charlie Manuel removed him from the game."That was just me taking it all out on him, and I shouldn't have done that," Hamels said. "I was desperate for something good to happen. . . . Everything exploded in me, and I wasn't able to control myself."After Carlson called a two-strike change-up to Kevin Millar a ball, Millar reached base on an infield single. Hamels immediately voiced his ..."
Manuel decides to speak out
Comment
June 28
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"The visitors' clubhouse at the Rogers Centre is small, with minimal floor space between the rows of lockers that line each wall. After Friday night's game, manager Charlie Manuel stood on the carpet in the middle of the room, according to several Phillies players. He spoke passionately, but did not shout. The players sat in folding chairs in front of their lockers, most looking at Manuel and listening.The manager had not held a team meeting since the beginning of spring training. In March, Manuel told his players to remember how they became World Series champions - by focusing only on the moment, avoiding distractions, and functioning as a cohesive unit.He rarely addresses the group as a ..."
Fan files complaint against Phils' Romero
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June 28
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Having served his 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball, Phillies relief pitcher J.C. Romero may have to deal with a more serious legal problem. Romero was involved in an altercation with a Tampa Bay Rays fan after Thursday night's game at Tropicana Field, the Phillies and Rays confirmed Saturday. The fan lodged a criminal complaint of battery with police in St. Petersburg, Fla., and has retained a lawyer, according to a report in the St. Petersburg Times. After Saturday's 10-0 victory in Toronto, Romero initially declined to comment on the situation, but didn't deny his involvement in an incident and later alleged the antagonizing fan was drunk. ``I'm trying to be professional. I ..."
All systems go for Phils
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June 28
Camden Courier-Post
 
"As he sat in front of his locker Friday night and listened to manager Charlie Manuel speak during a 20-minute, closed-door team meeting, J.A. Happ could think of only one thing. "Why can't I be the guy to stop this (losing streak)?" he recalled. And after the Phillies hammered the Blue Jays 10-0 here Saturday, and the music and smiles finally returned to the clubhouse after being largely absent for two weeks, it would've been easy to declare the meeting a success, to say the defending World Series champs are rehabilitated from a June swoon that nearly knocked them out of first place. That would be premature. Sure, the Phillies' offense pounded out 14 hits, eight against rookie starter Brad ..."
Everything clicks for Phils
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June 28
Camden Courier-Post
 
"As he sat in front of his locker Friday night and listened to manager Charlie Manuel speak during a 20-minute, closed-door team meeting, J.A. Happ could think of only one thing. ``Why can't I be the guy to stop this (losing streak)?" he recalled. And after the Phillies hammered the Blue Jays 10-0 here Saturday, and the music and smiles finally returned to the clubhouse after being largely absent for two weeks, it would've been easy to declare the meeting a success, to say the defending World Series champs are rehabilitated from a June swoon that nearly knocked them out of first place. That would be premature. Sure, the Phillies' offense pounded out 14 hits, eight against rookie starter ..."
Stairs says Phillies not feeling pressure
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June 27
MLB.com
 
"The atmosphere in the Phillies' clubhouse before Saturday's game against the Blue Jays was markedly different than just a night earlier. While the visitors' clubhouse was silent following Friday's 6-1 loss at Rogers Centre, on Saturday morning, there was a relaxed feel in the air as reggae music played on the speakers. Philadelphia outfielder Matt Stairs would not confirm nor deny on Saturday that a team meeting was held after Friday's game, but he did say that the Phils are not feeling pressure despite a current skid that has lasted for two weeks. "There's no pressure," said Stairs. "If we look at stats from last year, I think we were bad during Interleague Play. And what are we doing ..."
Report: Phillies Player Fights With Rays Fan
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June 27
Camden Courier-Post
 
"Still in the process of gathering information about this, but evidently, a Phillies player got into an altercation with a fan after Thursday night's game at Tropicana Field. The police reportedly were involved. The identity of the player is not yet known. The story was initially reported by the St. Petersburg Times."
Something's gotta give - probably pitching - and probably for the worse
Comment
June 27
Camden Courier-Post
 
"With the bullpen in tatters now that Lidge has returned but in the same poor form with which he left for the DL, and with Myers replacement, Bastardo, very likely to miss his next start - at least - due to injury, who's going to pitch for the Phils when they face the Mets in a week? Would you call up Kendrick? Would you call up Double A talent, the much ballyhooed Kyle Drabek?"