Romero took his issues to court, filing lawsuits in New Jersey Superior Court in early 2009 that named GNC and Vitamin Shoppe as defendants in addition to the manufacturing companies, Ergopharm and Proviant Technologies. According to the NY Daily News, testing done on the vitamins revealed that they were tainted with the banned substance, androstenedione, that Romero tested positive for. This month, nearly three years later, Romero has reached a settlement, which Romero hopes will clear his name and provide closure for Philadelphia fans. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

The 35-year-old recently signed with the reigning World Series champs, the St. Louis Cardinals, but the man who got the “W” in two of the Phillies’ four 2008 World Series victories clearly still has a soft spot for the city in which he experienced his best days, as he still has great concern for the validity of the club’s second ever championship.

“The amount of money (in the settlement) isn’t relevant,” Romero told the Daily News this week. “What is relevant is that people know my side. Some fans questioned my integrity. Now there is some closure and I can say the 2008 World Series was legit.”

In parts of 5 seasons with the Phillies, Romero went 6-6 with a 2.73 ERA and 4 saves in 273 regular season games. In 13 career post season games with Philadelphia, Romero posted a 2-1 record with a 0.87 ERA. The Puerto Rican born hurler was originally a 27th round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1997.

In 2009, as Romero pitched in the minors to get ready for his late start to the regular season, forced by the suspension, he offered these exclusive thoughts to PhoulBallz.com, when I asked him about the status of efforts to clear his name…

“We’re still in a battle, man. We got a couple law suits going out there. The whole thing has been a mess from the day that it happened. And the sad thing is that, knowing that everybody knows my case is totally different to what is happening with a good friend of mine, Manny (Ramirez), what happened with A-Rod, and all that. But, ya’ know, life is not fair. Sometimes things happen in life, and you can’t even explain it, you can’t expect it, I mean things happen, so this is just a bump in the road. You have to keep your head up and keep on battling.

“Like I say many times, and I stick with it- in the end, you gotta really protect your career. And that’s the message that I’m trying to tell these kids (the minor leaguers)…there’s no union, there’s no MLB representative, commissioner…nobody’s going to protect your career. You gotta do it yourself. ‘Cause when everything’s said and done, you get suspended and you’re just by yourself. I learned that the hard way, and now I’m just moving forward.”

With all the legal matters behind him, and with the ability to truly move on, at long last, Romero also stated where his full focus will now be.

“Now I can focus on dominating for another five years, hopefully,” Romero told the Daily News.

Now that Romero’s a member of the team that stunningly eliminated the Phils from the 2011 postseason, I don’t think there are many Phillies fans that would care to see that happen….no matter how much love for their city he oozes.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Right-handed slugger Jim Murphy knows that the first base position within the Phillies organization is cluttered. With former National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard signed with the Phillies through the 2017 season for big money, and names like Matt Rizzotti (.296 avg, 13 HR, 45 RBI in 67 games with Double A Reading this year), Cody Overbeck (.266 avg, 19 HR, 47 RBI in 66 combined games for Reading and Triple A Lehigh Valley), Joe Savery (.303 avg, 2 HR, 25 RBI in 57 combined games for High A Clearwater and Reading) and top Phillies positional prospect “The Boss” Jonathan Singleton (.244, 3 HR, 21 RBI in 57 games for Clearwater) all currently occupying spots ahead of Murphy within the Phils’ developmental system, there is limited room to advance, no matter how he performs.

This season Murphy is blazing through South Atlantic League pitching. In 67 games with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Murphy is batting .286 and is tied for the league lead with 17 homeruns and 53 RBI. The outstanding numbers have earned Murphy a starting spot on the SAL North division All-star team, slated to be played Tuesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, MD, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles affiliate).

Murphy was especially hot in the month of May, when he sported a .318 batting average, with 15 doubles, 6 homers and 23 RBI in 29 games en route to locking down a nod as Phillies Minor League Player of the Month.

However, Murphy’s career hasn’t been all high flying and tater mashing. After posting a combined .281 average with an OPS of .801 at 3 levels in 2008 and batting .279 with an OPS of .860 with the BlueClaws in 2009, Murphy struggled in the Class A Advanced Florida State League in 2010. In 115 games for the Clearwater Threshers, Murphy hit .239 with a .679 OPS.

While he’s not especially happy with his current situation, back with the same team he helped win a league championship two years ago, the 25-year-old Murphy is excited to be representing his team and the Phillies organization as an All-star.

“It’s definitely a huge honor to get player of the month for the Phillies and also to be an all-star,” Murphy stated. “There’s a lot of good players in this league and I thought there were a couple of other guys that were deserving. One from West Virginia that already got moved up was (Matt) Curry- he was having a heck of a year. But I’m glad to get the nod to go to the All-star Game. It’ll be a good time.”

Murphy will also take part in the pre-game homerun derby, prior to the All-star exhibition festivities, when he will compete against teammate Anthony Hewitt, Hagerstown’s Bryce Harper, Lexington’s Chris Wallace and several others.

The Washington native, Murphy, spent some time with the Phillies in big league camp during spring training. In 2 games of Grapefruit League action, Murphy was held without a hit in 5 at bats.

Originally a 17th round draft choice by Philadelphia in 2006 out of Washington State University, Murphy knows that the Phillies aren’t the only possibility out there for him to climb back upward on the ladder toward the big leagues. He has been focused on showcasing himself for other teams that might be watching, in addition to his own organization’s talent evaluators.

“I just want to put up my numbers and I don’t want to waste any at bats,” Murphy said. “I just want to see what happens. There’s a lot of other teams out there that we play against. I don’t know how many organizations are in this league, but everybody is watching and there are scouts at every game. I just want to go out and not waste any at bats and have a good approach (and if I keep posting) good numbers, somebody might look at it and say, ‘Hey, give this guy a shot.’

“We’re all auditioning. We’re all auditioning for the Phillies, we’re all auditioning for everybody. That goes for me and everybody else in the locker room.”

Lakewood manager and former Major Leaguer Chris Truby feels the presence of Murphy benefits the team in more ways than just offensive production. Truby speaks highly of the the 6-foot-4-inch 240-pound prospect, expressing the importance of Murphy’s role as a leader to younger players.

“Murph’s been awesome here. Not just the way he plays, but the way he carries himself and the way he goes about his business,” Truby said. “I think, especially when you have a guy who’s having success, obviously an older guy, naturally (younger players) are gonna watch him and see how he goes about preparing himself to play. And with Murph, he’s the ultimate pro, in terms of the way he’s handled the move here and the way he just goes about his work on a daily basis. And his numbers show it, so it’s a great example for the younger players to watch.”

With the trading deadline approaching and the attendance of scouts from other clubs set to be at a maximum level, Murphy, the BlueClaws’ all-time HR and RBI leader, might be crossing his fingers that an organization which happens to be a bit more light on minor league first basemen will decide to reach out to the Phillies to acquire the Class A stud. If that doesn’t happen, however, Murphy will continue to take pride in his approach to the game he loves and strive to do his best. And while others credit Murphy for setting examples for players coming up behind him, the man himself doesn’t take that sort of credit. He considers himself just one of the guys.

“I just want to go out and play hard every day and play with my teammates and have a good time and keep grinding. I enjoy playing the game. I’m just happy to get to play another full season.”

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league contributor. You can read more content from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

With their initial pick on day two of the 2011 MLB amateur draft, the Phillies tipped their hand for a game plan set to coordinate with the potential future of the game of baseball.

As the game has begun to go the way of speed, small ball, defense and pitching, the Phillies took shortstop Roman Quinn, a product of Port St. Joe’s High School in Florida. Quinn, who stands 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds, had played some center field and second base during the past couple of seasons as well.

According to the Phillies’ director of scouting Marti Wolever, Quinn spent time last Sunday working out at shortstop for the Phillies at their complex in Clearwater. The organization and the 18-year-old Quinn alike have interest in the youngster pursuing a professional career at shortstop.

Quinn was proclaimed, by some, to be the player with the most speed in this year’s MLB first-year player draft, which was appealing to the Phillies.

“I’ve always been a big speed guy, especially in the National League,” Wolever said.

Throughout the rest of the day, the Phillies went heavy on players from the left side of the infield, taking 8 additional shortstops and third basemen over the next 17 rounds.

“We feel like (shortstop) is an area where we’d like to add some depth in the organization,” Wolever said. “A couple of these kids were just too interesting to pass up. We felt their tools were better than the other options that we had at that point, so we went ahead and took them.”

Wolever added that he doesn’t think each of the five shortstops the Phillies drafted on Tuesday will sign with the team, but stated that if they get some of them, that the organization would be pleased.

Wolever, who has been in charge of scouting for the Phillies since 2002, seemed exceptionally pleased with the Phillies’ 11th round selection of West Boca Raton High School shortstop Tyler Greene, whose signability is among those in question.

“Tyler Greene probably has as much ability, tool-wise, if you grade them out, as any one (of our picks today),” Wolever stated.

Wolever was open in admitting the that Phillies targeted third base as another area to improve within the system, despite the tremendous efforts put forth this season from Double A Reading’s Cody Overbeck (Eastern League leading 16 HR with 43 RBI & a .268 avg. in 55 games).

University of Miami third baseman/shortstop/first baseman Harold Martinez, taken 90th overall, is a player that Wolever said was on his radar for years. A junior this season, the 21-year-old righty hitter is a guy who projects to have power and fill the typical expectations for a third baseman.

In 59 games played this season, Martinez posted a .301 batting average with 3 HR and 38 RBI. He had previously led the team with 21 HR and 69 RBI during the 2010 season.

Brown was sidelined in early March with a fractured hook of the hamate bone in his right hand that required surgery and kept him out of action for six weeks.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 200-pound Brown struggled in spring training, starting out on a 0-for-15 skid before recording his first hit in the same game that he suffered the injury to his hand.

Brown reported to spring training more than a month early and had adjusted his batting stance, lowering his hands. However, as can be seen in the above image, taken earlier this week, Brown is back to his old ways, with his hands positioned at cranium level.

Asked how his heeling hand feels, Brown stated, “Great, better than I thought it would. My first at bat (Monday) I hit an inside pitch up near the handle and I felt a little twinge but it was nothing more than the normal feeling of taking one off the handle. It feels really good.”

Word from within the organization seems to imply that Brown could be assigned to a full season minor league club, on a rehab assignment, sometime next week.  Brown himself indicated  on Friday that he expects to initially be activated for the High A level Clearwater Threshers.

**Update- Brown batted second or third in each inning of Friday’s extended spring training game for the Phillies.  In the contest, Brown reached base on an infield single, a high chopper to the pitcher that Brown beat out.  Brown also walked and reached base three more times on base hits.  In separate innings, he stole 2nd base and third base.

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PhoulBallz.com correspondent Joe Wombough contributed to this post.

The offense for both teams was minimal, but Lakewood first baseman Jim Murphy got the ‘Claws on the board in the 2nd inning, when he led off the frame with a deep drive onto the left field berm off of Kannapolis right-hander, former Monmouth University stand out, Ryan Buch.

“Our pitching was the story. And obviously, Murphy coming up with a big hit, in his first at bat, just to get us on the board was key,” said first-year BlueClaws manager Chris Truby.

On an evening that began with the raising of the team’s second straight title banner, the BlueClaws didn’t get their second hit of the game until the 7th inning when third baseman Jeremy Barnes led off with a single and later scored on another single by 18-year-old outfielder Domingo Santana. 

“It was a slow start offensively,” Truby said. “I think that’s to be expected a little bit. Maybe some of the players had some first game butterflies and what not, but it’s good to get the first one out of the way and walk out of here with the W.”

Truby, who played in the Major Leagues for four different teams previously managed most of the players on his roster when they came through short-season Williamsport, where Truby was the skipper during the past two seasons.

Hollands, a 22-year-old lefty hurler, tossed 5 scoreless innings, scattering five hits and striking out three en route to the win. Last year’s 10th round draft selection by the Phillies was excited to help the BlueClaws end their home opener winless streak in front of 6,598 fans at FirstEnergy Park.

“It was beautiful seeing all the fans out there and such a large amount of them. It makes it easier to pitch with that behind you,” Hollands said.

Hollands warming up during Thursday’s opener

The California native, Hollands, stressed the crisp 48 degree temperature as a potential reason that the bats stayed cold throughout much of the contest.

“I think (the weather) effected everyone. It was pretty damn cold out there, but we did just enough and the defense and pitching took care of things,” Hollands said.

Knigge (pronounced Ka-NIG-ee) and Pettis each tossed 2 perfect innings in relief. Pettis, who earned the save, will share time closing games early this season with two other right-handers, Juan Sosa and Chase Johnson, according to Truby.

Murphy, a 17th round draft pick by the Phillies in 2006, helped the BlueClaws win the SAL title in 2009, but returned to Lakewood this year after struggling and posting a .239 average in 115 games with High A level Clearwater last season. Happy to be contributing, the 25-year-old hopes to enjoy success with the ‘Claws once again and use that to propel himself back upward in the organization.

“I kind of had a down year last year, and my goal coming in was just to play another season. I didn’t care where it was. I didn’t think coming back here was (a possibility), but I am happy to be here, back in Lakewood. It’s a fun city to play in, with good fans,” Murphy stated.

“I just want to come out here and bang, and hopefully move up.”

The BlueClaws and Intimidators go back at it, continuing their four game series, on Friday night, as last year’s 7th round draft pick righty David Buchanan takes on the White Sox’ 2nd round pick from 2010 right-hander Jake Petricka at 7:05pm.

**More opening night action around the system…

Triple A Lehigh Valley recorded a 7-2 win at home over the SW-B Yankees. Jeff Larish and Delwyn Young each blasted homeruns for the IronPigs while Vance Worley struck out 9 batters over 6 shutout innings to earn the win. Brandon Moss went 3-for-4 as the designated hitter for the winners.

In his Double A debut, righty hurler Josh Zeid took the loss as Reading fell in Portland, 4-3. Tuffy Gosewisch jacked a homer for the R-Phils while Freddy Galvis drove in 2 runs, in the losing effort.

High-A Clearwater won their opener by a score of 10-1 over the Dunedin Blue Jays.  The Threshers were led by top pitching prospect Jarred Cosart, who allowed just 2 hits over 6 innings, but the standout in the box score was converted pitcher and former top Phillies draft pick Joe Savery, who went 4-for-4 with a walk as the designated hitter.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider. You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

Amaro also answers questions from Trenton newspaper reporter Josh Norris about Jon Singleton’s switch to the outfield from first base and his overall opinion on the state of the Phillies’ minor league system.

Check out the media player below to listen to excerpts of my time with Ruben Amaro Jr.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league contributor. You can read more from Jay on his site, PhoulBallz.com.

As an unbiased baseball writer, I cannot tell you that Shane Victorino deserves to be in the Midsummer Classic more than the Giants portly third baseman does, but there is no denying that Victorino has had a first half worthy of winning the final vote.

Simply put, Victorino is having the best season of his young career. He is experiencing career highs in on-base percentage (.369) and slugging percentage (.464.) He is on pace to set career marks in runs and RBI, as well, even in a season where the hitter in front of him has struggled to get on base.

The most evident signs of Victorino’s development, however, are his walk and strikeout rates. The Flyin’ Hawaiian is walking more and striking out less than he ever has, two necessities for a hitter in the two-hole. As a result of getting on base more in front of the power-packed middle of the Phillies lineup, Victorino has scored 60 runs, a number second to only Albert Pujols on the NL leader-board.

Not only has Victorino been putting the ball in play more than years past, but he has been making better contact. His line-drive percentage this season is 23%, by far his best figure since becoming a full-time starter. In 2008, it was 19%, and in 2007, it was 16.6%. Victorino has cut down on fly balls, too, going down from 36% in 2007-08, to 32% in ’09.

Think of the two things we always clamor for Jimmy Rollins to do – walk more and hit fewer balls in the air. Well, Victorino has indeed recognized the importance of plate discipline and putting the ball on the ground in order to utilize his blazing speed. He has 12 infield hits this season and is on pace to beat last year’s mark of 23. Victorino has improved his patience and the type of contact he makes every year. You can’t ask for much more than that.

In addition to improving every aspect of his game at the plate, Victorino is, as usual, playing tremendous defense. He is a vacuum in center field, always closing quickly on balls hit to the gaps and preventing singles from turning into doubles because of his speed. This is evidenced by his zone rating of 11.29%, tops among major-league center fielders. Zone rating represents the percentage of balls fielded by a player in his specific defensive zone. In Victorino’s case, he has the highest ZR in the most expansive zone on the field. The next highest center fielder is Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox, who’s zone rating is 10.89%.

All of these numbers are those of an All-Star center fielder. Victorino doesn’t have the sexy power numbers that Pablo Sandoval has, but he would be much more valuable to the NL All-Star team than Sandoval. Victorino could be a great late-inning pinch-runner/defensive replacement, and if this game really “counts,” he adds more to the team than a hard-hitting, weak-fielding corner infielder.

The All-Star game determines home-field advantage in the World Series, so we should be putting homers and RBI aside in favor of what’s best for the team.

In this case, that would be Shane Victorino.

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