Phillies Nation

How much will Brown play if he returns to the Phils? (PHOTO: LehighValleylive.com)

September call-ups will play an important role for this Phillies team. Once the division is clinched (the Phils are at 99.9 percent to make the playoffs and 94.2 to win the division, according to Coolstandings.com) they’ll filter in Triple-A players and bench guys as a way to give the regulars a blow.

With injuries to Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez, and guys like Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz who have spent an entire season being beaten up, the expansion to a 40-man roster will provide some rest for the vets. Not to mention the starting rotation that has logged the 4th most innings in the major leagues.

In each of the previous three seasons, the Phillies have added at least seven players to the big league roster. Last season, some of the usual suspects like Mayberry, Zagurski and Mathieson got the September call-up, along with a kid named Vance Worley. Brian Bocock, Greg Dobbs, and Paul Hoover added infield and catching depth, and a veteran pitcher was brought to Philly, only to last about two seconds: Nate Robertson.

(Note: Later today, either Pete Orr or Michael Schwimer will likely be sent back down to Lehigh Valley to make way for Cole Hamels. Whoever does get the boot will almost assuredly be back in a few days.) Pete Orr was optioned back to Triple-A to make room for Cole Hamels, who was moved from the DL. Hamels will start against the Reds tonight.

Players on the 60-day DL are not on the 40-man roster. Thus, Joe Blanton is not now considered a part of  the 40-man roster. If the Phillies choose to shift Jose Contreras (out for the season) to the 60-day DL, they can free up another spot, too. A minor league player like Brandon Moss could take one of those two potential spots.

Here is a look at who might get the call from the Iron Pigs for the final month of the 2011 regular season:

Continue reading Who Will be a Phillie on September 1?

This month Mike Drago of The Reading Eagle conducted a survey of a dozen experts, made up of writers and other media members, designed to rank the top prospects in the Philadelphia developmental system.

The participating individuals, who are all close to the Phillies minor league system, were asked to rank their personal top 15, which were tabulated to determine the paper’s published list of top ten prospects. Those that offered their insight for the ratings included Bob Brookover, Joe Berkery, Tony Graham, Jeff Schuler, Brian Seltzer, Mike Drago himself and yours truly, Jay Floyd.

Last year’s survey landed two keys to the trade that brought Hunter Pence to the Phillies at the top of the rankings. Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart were numbers 1 and 2, respectively, based on voting done last year. Additionally, this year’s top Phillies rookie, Vance Worley, landed at number 3. The two players that followed those youngsters on the 2010 list now find themselves at the top of the latest edition of the Phils prospect hierarchy.

Two of the stars of the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers club, righty hurler Trevor May and catcher Sebastian Valle now take up the highest spots on the Eagle’s annual digest.

Last season’s top draft pick, left-handed pitcher Jesse Biddle, shot up the list this year with an extremely impressive campaign at Class A Lakewood. The Philadelphia native ranks third.

Another big mover this season was shortstop Freddy Galvis, who worked extremely hard last off-season to add some strength and to improve his offensive game. The Venezuela native has found himself rated as the fourth best prospect in the Phils’ organization.

Here’s a review of the full top 20 rankings: Continue reading Reading Eagle’s Annual Prospect Survey

(PHOTO: NJ.com)

This post was written by one of our commenters, The Dispy.

The general consensus is that, after the season is over, the Phils will have three big contract issues to deal with: the pending free agency of both Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Madson along with an extension for Cole Hamels. The Phillies, by design or good fortune, have a lot of expiring money coming off the books.

In my view, they are not cash strapped, yet good business and an eye to the future dictate they be prudent when letting their money go. That said, lets tackle these contracts one at a time:

1. Cole Hamels: He is the “must do” out of the three. Its not my money, but I would not be much interested in playing hardball with Cole. He is a star, he’s young, and he’s lefthanded. If I were Cole I’d want five years. Cliff got it so why shouldn’t he? Buying out his 2012 arb years is worth what….16m? Then give him 20m a year after that.? Dipsy’s price: 5y96m

Continue reading Hamels, Madson, Rollins: Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

The Double A Reading Phillies pitching staff, having been led through the first half of the season by the likes of All-star right-hander Austin Hyatt, well regarded prospect JC Ramirez and others, has seen a pair of new arms emerge as leaders helping the team make a run at the postseason in the Eastern League.

As Reading competes for a Wild Card spot in the East division, starter Tyler Cloyd and reliever Michael Cisco have solidified a staff that has been among the best in the league.

With 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the R-Phils’ win over New Britain on Wednesday night, righty hurler Mike Cisco won his 8th game of the season. The 36th round draft pick from 2008 out of the University of South Carolina is the grandson of former Phils pitching coach Galen Cisco.

The 5-foot-11-inch 195-pounder entered the season with a .253 batting average against, a 16-19 record and a 3.55 ERA in 58 career minor league contests. This season, Cisco has taken things to the next level, holding opponents to a .183 batting average, while going 8-0 with a 1.63 ERA in 26 games. Continue reading Cisco and Cloyd Excel For Reading

UPDATE, 3:30 pm:

The Phillies announce that today’s 1:05 p.m. game has been rescheduled as part of a day/night doubleheader on Thursday, September 15 starting at 2:35 p.m.

The game originally scheduled for tonight at 7:05 p.m. game will begin at 7:35 p.m. on September 15 as the night game.

———————–

File this one under “We told you so.”

The Phillies/Marlins game has been postponed due to rain, thanks to Miss Hurricane Irene. That means it is now a one game series; one in which the Phillies lost with their loss on Friday night, 6-5. No makeup date has been announced at this point.

The Phillies will do their best now to get to Cincinnati, where they start a series on Monday. There are all sorts of questions pertaining to the rotation at this point with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee being pushed back, and Cole Hamels already scheduled to start Monday when he comes off the DL.

They have been answered by Rich Dubee. Hamels will start Monday, Halladay on Tuesday, and Lee on Wednesday against the Reds. Good luck, Cincy!

Anyway, enjoy your weekend the best you can!

Florida Marlins (59-72) at Philadelphia Phillies (83-46)

Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 4.01) vs. Roy Halladay (15-5, 2.56)

Time: 1:05 p.m., Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: Rain/Wind, 77
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Doesn’t look like they’ll get this one in. With the early rain bands of Hurricane Irene already hitting the Philadelphia area, I’m not sure baseball is in the cards for today unfortunately. A Friday doubleheader would have been best, but it appears as though the Marlins nixed that because they were already playing two DH’s in five days.

Whatever the case may be, if you were looking forward to sitting back, relaxing, and waiting on impending doom, looks like you’ll have to wait until another life.

Unfortunately, this will allow everyone to stew a little bit longer after Friday’s ugly defeat. Clay Hensley, for God’s sake!

Continue reading Gameday: Marlins (59-72) vs. Phillies (83-46)

Entering the sixth Friday night, Roy Oswalt had allowed multiple Marlins baserunners in four of five innings.

His fastball velocity was down…again. What was 92-94 last week in Washington quickly dropped back down to 90, and it is possible that Oswalt himself felt the fastball was flat, because 57 of his 104 pitches were offspeed.

In that sixth inning, he was hurt mostly by the slider, change and curve. Three consecutive Marlins singled to start the frame and John Buck followed with a first row opposite field grand slam. It was a cheapie, sure, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that Oswalt was left in way too long. Continue reading Oswalt Stays In Too Long In Phils Loss

Florida Marlins (58-72) at Philadelphia Phillies (83-45)

Clay Hensley (1-5, 5.47) vs. Roy Oswalt (6-7, 3.51)

Time: 7:05 p.m., Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: Sunny, 81
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Try and keep up with me here. Saturday’s Day-Night doubleheader is now just a day game. The night portion of the double dip has been postponed until September 15, time to be determined. So Sunday’s game is now being played Saturday, and Saturday’s game has been canceled due to that Irene bitch.

Rich Dubee says Roy Halladay will pitch tomorrow(if they even get it in), then with the off day Sunday, there is uncertainty. Cole Hamels was slated to return from the DL, and it’s unlikely they’ll slide him back an further. Cliff Lee also needs to throw, so keep an eye on that situation.

Anywho, for tonight’s game, it seems like the ultimate mismatch on the mound. Roy Oswalt is back to being healthy and coming off a great performance (8 shutout innings against the Nats). Clay Hensley is not, he was just shelled last week (7 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings).

Continue reading Gameday: Marlins (58-72) vs. Phillies (83-45)

This week, we’re dispensing information. I mean, that’s what we try to do with every post, but with analysis involved. This time, no analysis, no context, just information. Here are some things you might not know about this year’s Phillies, presented on their own merits, and I make no claims about their significance or even entertainment value. I submit the following without comment or criticism.

The Playoff Chase

• Coolstandings.com has the Phillies, as of Friday morning, at 99.9% odds to make the playoffs. If they fail, it would tie the 1995 California Angels for the worst collapse in history.
• The same website has the second-place Braves at 99.2% to make the playoffs. If they fail, it would be tied for the fourth-worst collapse in history, beating both the 1962 Dodgers and 1964 Phillies (but not the 2007 Mets).
• No team in position to make the playoffs has less than a 72% chance of doing so, and no chasing team has better than a 28.5% chance of overtaking a division or wild card leader. Four of the eight playoff teams have a 99% chance or better of holding on to their spots. This could be a boring stretch run. Continue reading Dr. Strangeglove: 25 Bullet Points

(PHOTO: Philaphans.com)

A couple of days ago, Jimmy Rollins was sent to the DL with a Grade 2 groin strain. For a guy who relies on his legs, this isn’t the best news in the world. Luckily, there is plenty of time for him to heal before the playoffs begin in early October.

But are you still worried? Rollins has provided the Phillies with a spark this year and is still proving his worth at the top of the order. Not to mention, his defense has been steady as always at shortstop.

How concerned are you about Rollins moving forward? Let us know in the poll below.