First off, sorry about the lack of writing the past week or so. Being the slave intern is not it is all cracked up to be, but I digress. Read the rest of this entry >>
Tags: Atlanta Braves, Chase Utley, Dominic Brown, Jason Heyward, Jayson Werth, Jayson Worth, LA Dodgers, MLB, NL East, Philadelphia Phillies, Playoffs, Ryan Howard
After weeks of speculation, reports that Roy Oswalt did not want to come to Philadelphia, etc. The deal is finally offical. Roy Oswalt is a Philadelphia Phillie, giving the Phils, arguably, the best 3 man rotation in baseball, of Doc, Oswalt and Cole-Train. Read the rest of this entry >>
Numerous reports this morning are that the Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Roy Oswalt in a deal from Houston that would send Houston J.A. Happ, Vance Worley and young hard throwing Scott Matheison. The deal is pending Oswalt’s approval. Oswalt has made it clear he wants to be on a legitamate contender, and he wants to get paid – i.e. his 2012 option for $16 million. Though, he does have a buyout for $2 million which I am sure the Phillies could sweeten the deal if they wanted to get rid of him that badly. Read the rest of this entry >>
Shane Victorino’s strained oblique is serious enough for the Phillies to place him on the 15 day DL. The timing is not perfect for the Phils considering their hot streak of late. But it gives the opportunity to call up the #1 Prospect in the Minor Leagues, Dominic Brown. Read the rest of this entry >>
Tags: Dominic Brown, MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Shane Victorino
For the first time this season the Phillies have won six straight games. Jayson Werth hit his first homerun since June 23rd, a month and four days ago. It is believe that Danys Baez pitched his first 1,2,3 inning while with the Phils. A game of firsts all around. Read the rest of this entry >>
Tags: Arizona Diamonbacks, Atlanta Braves, Charlie Manual, Dany Baez, Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino
Joe Blanton went a solid 6 innings on Monday during the Business Person Special at CBP. Blanton started off the game as shaky as he has been in his last few times on the hill, surrendering two runs in the top of the 1st inning. But he settled down nicely, working his way out of a jam in the 3rd keeping the Rockies to just the two runs. The Phillies responded to the Rockies early surge when Brian Schneider tripled to deep left center in the bottom of the 2nd inning, scoring Ross Gload and Greg Dobbs. Jimmy Rollins then grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Schneider, which put the Phillies on top 3-2. Insurance runs were added in the 6th with RBI’s by Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez. Read the rest of this entry >>
Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero did their job by holding the lead for the 7th and 8th innings, allowing only one hit and one walk combined. But then the dramatics started when Brad Lidge came into the game. After allowing a double to Miguel Olivo to start off the inning, Lidge retired the next two batters. Seth Smith then came to the plate, down in the count 0-1, Lidge left a hanger that Smith pummeled over the right field fence. The next batter, Jonathan Herrera drew a walk and Carlos Gonzalez singled to right. Lidge, obviously shaken threw a wild pitch that advanced both runners into scoring position. Jason Giambi was intentionally walked to load the bases for Ryan Spilborghs. Spilborghs who went 2-4 yesterday, with 2 RBI’s, ensued to ground out to Lidge to end the game.
Just your average Brad Lidge pitching extravaganza.
With the trade deadline now only 5 days away, the rumor mill is churning once again. Jayson Werth was absent from the starting lineup today. Some feared that Werth was packing his things getting ready for a move. But when Werth stepped into the on deck circle in the bottom of the 6th inning, you could hear a certain sigh of relief from the crowd, and those watching and listening at home. With Dan Haren now off their shopping list, Roy Oswalt is now back in the spotlight. But will the Haren deal drive down the Houston Astro’s asking price, or drive it even further up?
There were reports late last week that Oswalt did not want to be traded for the Phillies and would not restructure his 2012 year in which he is owed $16 million. But he was willing to restructure the deal if he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Figure that one out. The Phillies have been to the World Series the past two years, and are always a contender but Roy wasn’t looking to give them any breaks.
I have stated from the beginning that trading Werth for Oswalt would be a mistake of epic proportions. And I still stand by that. Todd Zolecki has reported that there is a possibility the Phillies could trade for Oswalt and still keep Werth. They would have to trade basically everything they have in the farm system, which isn’t that much, besides Dominic Brown, and their A system which is reported to be the best in A. If, and that is a big IF, they were able to some how bring in Oswalt while keeping their Major League team in tact, I would not be opposed to that scenario; though that circumstance seems to be quite far-fetched.
The Phillies will look to deal for another starter if the Oswalt deal does not happen, and possibly look to bolster their bullpen. Adding to the bullpen should be at the top of the Phillies list right now, after another heart attack inducing inning by the one and only Brad Lidge. A right-handed bat off the bench would be a nice addition as well, but don’t look for a star studded name if that happens.
After a forgettable first half of the season, an early snide to start off the 2nd half, the Phillies have won four straight. Starting with the series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals,now three straight against the Colorado Rockies; who are in fourth place in their NL West division, now 7.5 games behind the surprisingly solid San Diego Padres. Read the rest of this entry >>
Tags: Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, J.A. Happ, Jayson Werth, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres
With another discouraging offensive showing in tonight’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, and the acting his age Jamie Moyer going down with a left elbow injury, the Philadelphia Phillies look to be heading down an already very slippery slope. A 7-1 loss tonight puts the Phillies at seven games out of first place in the NL East. But more concerning trepidation should be focused on Moyer going down on the Disabled List, with what they are calling a “left elbow strain”, very similar to the one that has landed J.A. Happ on the DL for well over a month. With Kyle Kendrick being sent down to AAA Lehigh Valley just hours before the game, Andrew Carpenter was brought up to replace Kendrick’s roster spot, and was thrown into action sooner than anyone had expected after Moyer’s injury sent him to the showers after just one inning. Carpenter’s season debut was short-lived unfortunately, going three innings surrendering five hits, three earned runs; all three runs came off the bat of Randy Winn of all people, which was followed shortly after by a wild pitch that score Yadier Molina. Carpenter was pulled at the end of the 4th, and Danys Baez’s services were then called into action, but the only thing he was serviceable for was allowing two walks and three more earned runs, including an absolute bomb by Matt Holliday which scored the aforementioned three earned. After that there was not much action for either team, minus Charlie Manual parading out to the mound to make three additional pitching changes. Read the rest of this entry >>
Tags: Andrew Carpenter, Charlie Manual, Cliff Lee, J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, Jayson Werth, Kyle Kendrick, Matt Holliday, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Halladay, St. Louis Cardinals
After another not-so-stellar start out of Kyle Kendrick, he will be optioned down to the AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs today. With Kendrick being sent down, the Phillies will re-call right-handed pitcher Andrew Carpenter from Lehigh Valley. Kendrick went 5 innings last night, allowed seven earned runs, seven hits and three homeruns against the powerful St. Louis Cardinals line-up. One of the homerun’s was a 422 foot blast off the bat of Albert Pujols. Last night’s loss drops Kendrick’s record to 5-4 on the year with a sub par 4.82 ERA. Kyle had shown glimpses of the bright future this year, reminiscent of 2007 where he went 11-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 starts for the Phillies. But with his inconsistent outings and the Phillies falling in the standings, the front office felt it necessary to send him down to AAA. Read the rest of this entry >>
Andrew Carpenter will join the team while they are in St. Louis for a four game set with the Cardinals. Carpenter is 7-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 games started for Lehigh Valley. Carpenter will hopefully add some depth to the rotation or struggling bullpen while up in the Majors. While in AAA, he has thrown 100+ innings allowing 38 earned runs, 94 hits, and 9 home runs. If Carpenter joins the rotation, he would fill in for Kendrick’s next scheduled start which is this Saturday at home vs. the Colorado Rockies. He would face the daunting task of matching up against Ubaldo Jimenez, who allowed six runs, four of them being earned, but did not factor into the decision last night, keeping him at only one loss for the year.
Tags: Albert Pujols, Andrew Carpenter, Kyle Kendrick, Philadelphia Phillies
Today Chase Utley and Placido Polanco have been placed in the 15-day DL. Utley’s injury has been specified as a sprained thumb that he suffered in Monday night’s game while trying to stretch a single into a double, when he slid into second base, apparently jamming the thumb. Utley was scheduled for an MRI this morning. Polanco took cortisone shot in his elbow before the game Monday night, claiming the discomfort had become more serious, and later admitted that the elbow may require off-season surgery. Read the rest of this entry >>
Tags: Brian Bocock, Chase Utley, Greg Dobbs, Philadelphia Phillies, Placido Polanco
The happenings of the Philadelphia Phillies.
My name is Kenny Brock and I am the Philadelphia Phillies Correspondent for the FanBall Blog Network. I am currently an Intern for 610 WIP Sports Talk Radio in Philadelphia. Born and raised loving Philly sports. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook or email me at kennethbrock22@gmail.com.
