Categories: News

News: Phils win; roster decisions; 50 Greatest Games; podcast premiere!

Andrew Knapp homered at exactly the right time.

In the Phillies’ 6-3 win Sunday over Pittsburgh, Knapp clouted a two-run home run as part of a five-run first inning that included Maikel Franco’s fifth spring homer.

Knapp, who’s on the bubble to make the 25-man roster out of Clearwater, has had a trying spring, but his blast was a no-doubter. That’ll certainly help his case.

Meanwhile Clay Buchholz struggled, giving up three runs and walking four in just over three innings of work. He’ll have one more start before the team heads up to Cincinnati.

ROSTER TALK: Manager Pete Mackanin and members of the Phils front office met Sunday to discuss the 25-man roster

. We’ll talk about it in our premiere Phillies Nation Podcast today, but the roster game is all about numbers. Will the Phils eliminate someone from the 40-man roster to make room for a Chris Coghlan, Daniel Nava or Pat Venditte? It’s possible there’s one move like that.

BURNETT OUT: Sean Burnett was granted his unconditional release over the weekend, ending his spring with the Phillies. That means Joely Rodriguez stands alone as a LOOGY option, though he’s not necessarily a lock for the 25-man.

SEASON PREVIEW: It’s season preview week at Phillies Nation. Today we look at … gulp … what’s the worst that can happen with the 2017 Phillies?

50 GREATEST: Today is also the last day of our 50 Greatest Phillies Games countdown. Miss anything? Click here to catch up!

PODCAST PREMIERE: And today is the premiere of the Phillies Nation Podcast! We talk 25-man roster, Dallas Green, spring training thoughts and have a special interview with former PN senior editor, and current “CBS3 Eyewitness News Mornings” reporter Pat Gallen. Look for it soon this morning.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.