Zolecki: Chooch Suspended 25 Games

Chooch Suspended 25 Games:

Chooooooooch?!?!?!?!?!

Major League Baseball announced this afternoon that Carlos Ruiz has been suspended 25 games for using an amphetamine. The suspension begins at the beginning of the 2013 season, which means Ruiz is unable to play until April 28 against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Continue Reading...

Zolecki: Four Back, 20 to Play

Four Back, 20 to Play:



Roy Halladay recently changed his warmup music from Led Zeppelin’s Moby Dick/Good Times Bad Times to Tears for Fears’ Mad World.  Mad World seems fitting because the Phillies woke up this morning four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second National League Wild Card with 20 games to play. Remember when the Phillies were 14 games under .500 on July 13? Remember when .... continue reading

Zolecki: Utley to Third Base? Say What?

Chase Utley is a quiet man publicly, but privately he can talk.
He speaks frequently with Ruben Amaro Jr. about the future of the Phillies. Looking into the near future, Utley is smart enough to know they need an everyday third baseman next season. The Phillies will not pick up Placido Polanco’s $5.5 million club option, Kevin Frandsen is not viewed as an everyday player, Jimmy Rollins is not moving from shortstop, Carlos Ruiz is going to remain behind the plate and the free-agent market is less than desirable, unless Kevin Youkilis, Scott Rolen or Brandon Inge get folks excited.
So that is why Utley asked Amaro a very interesting question Monday.
“Can I play third base?” he said.

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Phillies outlast Cardinals in 11 innings

Phillies outlast Cardinals in 11 innings: Silver linings and gray hairs have a lot in common. You never really want to be looking for either one, but sometimes that's all you have, so you pull them out and examine them. Continue reading...

Todd Zolecki: Fake Tough

Fake Tough:

Photo courtesy of @JSalisburyCSN
Have fun.
The Phillies have tried to beat that mantra into their brains during their recent struggles. Have fun. Have fun. Have fun. On Tuesday they showed they still know how to laugh a little bit when several teammates sported red t-shirts with the Liberty Bell and “Fake Tough” printed on the front. Continue reading...

MLBTradeRumors: Phillies In Contact With Cole Hamels' Agent

MLBTradeRumors: Phillies In Contact With Cole Hamels' Agent:

10:10pm: As of early this afternoon, there's no evidence of progress in the Phillies' talks with Cole Hamels, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
8:49pm: Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he remains in contact with Hamels' agent, John Boggs, as free agency approaches, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).  While the two sides are keeping dialogue open, they have yet to set any deadlines or target dates in their discussions.
"It's been pretty open. We've kept it open. We haven't made any timelines. I haven't gotten any from them," said the GM.
Hamels is set to be one of the top talents on the open market this winter and at least one team inquired about the hurler early in the year as the Phillies struggled.  The Phillies currently sit at 21-21 and at the bottom of the National League East.

Phillies showing signs of life

Phillies showing signs of life: For the first time since the day after Opening Day, the Phillies entered a weekend with a winning record. They still need to prove that they can string together wins against teams other than the Cubs and Padres, but the past couple of weeks have yielded some positive results that go beyond the scoreboard. Continue reading...

Nationals Fail to Halt Invasion of Phillies Fans

Nationals Fail to Halt Invasion of Phillies Fans: The Nationals prodded their fans to show up for home games and keep Philadelphia’s followers out. The plan failed.
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Phils Drop Below .500 With 4-3 Loss at Nats in 11

Phils Drop Below .500 With 4-3 Loss at Nats in 11: Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel's evening ended early: He was ejected in the bottom of the first for arguing about a check-swing call. Continue reading...

Ruiz, Phillies Fall to Braves, 15-13 in 11th

Ruiz, Phillies Fall to Braves, 15-13 in 11th: Roy Halladay offered regret for his teammates, especially Carlos Ruiz, instead of excuses for himself after his worst outing in five years. Continue Reading...

Phillies 4, Braves 2 (Thurs, 5/1)

Phillies 4, Braves 2: The Phillies opened their series against the Braves with a 4-2 win at Turner Field in Atlanta.Continue reading...

Phillies move up the ranks of the wealthy

Phillies move up the ranks of the wealthy: THIS EDITION of High and Inside is all about money. Not so much who needs it, but who has it and who likes dishing it out. Let’s begin with the Phillies, who moved up four spots from No. 13 to the No. 9 sports franchise with the highest-paid athletes, according to ESPN the Magazine’s annual “money issue,” which hits newsstands Friday. Continue reading...

Zolecki: Pick up or Shake Up?

Zolecki: Pick up or Shake Up?:

“Sometimes, there’s just no answers. We’re in that area right now where I don’t have any answers.” – Jimmy Rollins.

The Phillies came within one out from suffering their second shutout loss in four games (and their third shutout loss in eight games) in last night’s 5-1 loss to the Padres. After today’s series finale against the Padres, the Phillies play three games against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix and four games against the Cubs at home before hitting the road for six games against Atlanta and Washington. Continue Reading...

Lee placed on DL with oblique strain

Lee placed on DL with oblique strain: For all of the injuries that had been suffered by the heart of the Phillies lineup before the 2012 season even got under way, the consensus among many people around the game was that the club would be ... Continue Reading...

Phillies #15 on Latest Power Rankings

Power Rankings: Surging Rangers rule the roost (Yahoo! Sports): The two-time defending AL champs knocked Tampa Bay from the top spot as the Angels and Red Sox also tumble. Continue reading...

Moyer's win one for ages

Moyer's win one for ages: JAMIE MOYER turned in a vintage performance in becoming the oldest pitcher to ever win a major league game. Continue reading...

Halladay outduels Lincecum, Philly tops Giants 5-2 (AP)

Halladay outduels Lincecum, Philly tops Giants 5-2 (AP): SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Roy Halladay walked Aubrey Huff in the fifth inning on a close inside pitch, caught the ball from catcher Carlos Ruiz and stared at home plate umpire Marty Foster for several seconds. Continue Reading...

Bob Ford: Yes, it's early for the Phillies, but it can get too late quickly

Bob Ford: Yes, it's early for the Phillies, but it can get too late quickly: Charlie Manuel wants to remind everyone that it is still early in the season. The manager has 50 years in professional baseball, so we can probably take his word for it. Continue reading...

Phillies strand eight in 5-4 loss to Mets

Phillies strand eight in loss to Mets: The Phillies offense came through with 11 hits, but went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 5-2 loss to the Mets Friday night. Continue reading

Doc dominates as Phillies shut out Pirates

Doc dominates as Phillies shut out Pirates: Phillies ace Roy Halladay dominated in a 1-0 victory over the Pirates on Opening Day at PNC Park. He just needed a little help, which finally came in the seventh inning, when Carlos Ruiz's sacrifice fly to right field scored Ty Wigginton from third base. Continue reading

For Hamels, it's wait, see

For Hamels, it's wait, see: CLEARWATER, Fla. - Cole Hamels did not come to spring training with any illusions. He will leave Florida on Sunday with his teammates and there will almost certainly be no new contract to sign. Free agency is closer than ever...Continue Reading

Utley: No Surgery, No Retirement, I’ll Be Back

Utley: No Surgery, No Retirement, I’ll Be Back:
Chase Utley spoke to reporters just a few minutes ago.
Here are the highlights:
UTLEY OPENS WITH A STATEMENT: I was in Phoenix meeting with a physical therapist by the name of Brett Fischer for about four or five days, just to get some better ideas on how I can continue to move forward. I have a better idea now on how my body is supposed to move compared to how it’s moving at this time, and I think we have something pretty good for the future.

Q: Which is?
A: Obviously, I’m not going to be ready for .... Continue Reading

Phils notes: Utley, Thome and more

Phils notes: Utley, Thome and more: Sunday figures to be a busy day at the Phillies training complex in Clearwater. Chase Utley will address the media and Jim Thome will make his spring debut at first.

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Zolecki: Season Over for Madson

Season Over: Madson Needs Tommy John:
Wow.
Mark Sheldon covers the Reds for MLB.com. He just reported Ryan Madson needs Tommy John surgery:
The ligament in his elbow is torn off the bone and he will need Tommy John surgery that will end his season before it begins. Madson was examined this morning in Cincinnati by team medical director Dr. Tim Kremcheck.

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Howard to Phillies' fans: 'Don't panic'

Howard to Phillies' fans: 'Don't panic': Ryan Howard says the Phillies have the ability to fill in the gaps at the missing positions and on Thursday told fans not to panic.

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