Kendrick Avoids Arbitration with 1-Year Deal

My Fellow Phans,

I bring to you some Phillies news as we enter the last few days before Spring Training. Kyle Kendrick has avoiding arbitration when he and the Phillies agreed to a 1-year deal worth 2.45 million.

That closes out the list of arbitration-eligible players for the Phillies. They now have no players to go to the negotiating tables.

This may be the last new Phillies news until Spring Training, although I will try to keep posting as regularly as 

possible.

Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies! 

Phillies Avoid Arbitration with Francisco and Sign Former Top Pick

My Fellow Phans,

For the first time in a considerable amount of time, there is some Phillies news to report. It is not a breaking news story, but it is something notable to report.

The Phillies have avoided arbitration with outfielder Ben Francisco when both sides agreed to an 1-year contract worth 1.175 million dollars. Francisco, the other player acquired in the original Cliff Lee deal and one of my personal favorites, is expected to platoon with budding star Domonick Brown, or get a chance to be the everyday starter in right field this season for the Phillies replacing the recently greedily departed, Jayson 

Werth.

From my view, this is a good deal for the Phillies. Francisco is a quality extra man and can provide a nice presence off the bench or as a starter. Last season, Francisco hit .268 with six homers and 28 RBI in 88 games last season, which included a .282 average coupled with 7 RBIs as a pinch hitter.

In other news, The Phillies did add a new member to their minor leagues recently. They signed Matt Anderson, a former No. 1 pick in 1997. He struck out 44 hitters in 44 innings pitched during his rookie year of 1998. However, the highly anticipated starter flamed out early and found himself out of baseball after 2006.

Now the 34-year old flamethrower is attempting a comeback with the Phillies. I don’t see him making serious noise in Spring Training, but if he comes back to his form, there is a very small chance he could make a positive impact for the hometown club. This is a small risk for the Phillies and we shall see how it turns out. 

No matter how you slice it, this Spring will be quite an interesting one.

Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies! 

Tragedy Strikes the Phillies' Family.... and the Nation....

My Fellow Phans,

I know it has been awhile since I have had some significant news on the Phillies front to report and although I kept wishing that I had more to blog on over the past days, I regretfully come to you today with a story that I wish I did not have to be writing to you today.

I’m sure all of you by now have heard of the shooting rampage that occurred in Arizona just yesterday when an, what authorities are calling, unstable individual opened fire during an outside meeting of Representative Gabrielle Gliffords and those looking to speak with him. A total of 6 people were killed and over a dozen people were injured.

One of those killed was a 9-year old girl. This girl, Christina-Taylor Green, turned out to have Phillies’ connections. She was the granddaughter of former Phillies’ manager Dallas Green.

I’m not going into a serious opinionated piece on the matter as this is not the time nor blog or to do it on. I just wanted to mention this to those of you who didn’t know. I will be praying for her and her family in this tragic time. Crazily enough, Christina was born on September 11^th, 2001. I guess that was just a bad omen.

Keep her and your family in your prayers folks. As for the shooter, I will say this. I hope the *insert explicative here* gets what he deserves.  Politics is no excuse to do what he did. It’s just horrible.

Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies! 

It's Official! Romero Returns to Phillies!

My Fellow Phans,

It’s official! After a reported deal had been finalized, lefthander J.C. Romero completed his return to the Phillies by passing his physical.

The announcement came today by the Phillies that they have signed Romero to a one-year deal worth $1.35 million dollars. Aside from the overall total, the contract includes performance bonuses.

This signing leaves the Phillies with just one more piece of the bullpen puzzle to sign, right-hander Chad Durbin, whom I hope that the Phillies will bring back and do it sooner rather than later.

Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies! 

Phillies: Did You Know?

My Fellow Phans,


Here is an interesting fact about your hometown Phillies: 


Did you know? 


The Phillies are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.


- Courtesy of Wikipedia

Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies! 

J.C. Romero Returns to Phillies

My Fellow Phans,

I know it’s been awhile since we last spoke, but there hasn’t been much to discuss, outside of the historical Cliff Lee signing.

However, it is my pleasure to say that Philadelphia seems to become a place where players want to play and some will even take paycuts to come here. First, it was Roy Halladay last offseason, Cliff Lee joined him this offseason, and the newest member of this club, is left hander J.C. Romero.

After the Dennys Reyes deal fell through, the Phillies needed a veteran left handed in the pen and with Romero stating that he would take a paycut to come back to the Phillies, it seemed like a perfect fit. Sounds familiar, aye? Anyhoo, Romero is now a member of the Phillies for next season and it is safe to assume that he will take a paycut in this deal with details not announced yet.

I am in full support of this deal. Romero is a quality pitcher despite the fact that he often has control issues. The Phillies needed a veteran lefthander in the pen and Romero is comfortable being here so they are a perfect match. I know some of you are against this deal, but look at it logically. He fills a need that we have and that can only help us in the end.

Throw in the fact that Romero has a very competitive nature which can always help to fire a team up at times.

Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies! 

PS: I am still looking for ideas on segments to cover concerning the Phillies this offseason, so if you have any suggestions, let me know!

Cliff Lee & Brian Cashman Video: Hilarious!

My Fellow Phans,

Enjoy this new video that I found on Youtube! Cliff Lee and Brian Cashman! Hilarious!