Yardbarker: Philadelphia Phillies

Jamie Moyer Hospitalized in Philadelphia

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:55:24 -0500

In early October, Jamie Moyer had groin surgery. Since then, he’s had a couple of setbacks. First he had a blood infection that forced him to stay in the hospital for three days. On Wednesday, Moyer was back in the hospital. The good news is that the Philadelphia Phillies are saying that Moyer doesn’t have any serious medical conditions. “He’s quite fine,” said Michael Ciccotti to MLB.com, the team’s physician. “He’s walking. He’s eating. ...

Breaking: Jamie Moyer hospitalized in Philadelphia

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:05:07 -0500

Jamie Moyer has been admitted to Jefferson Hospital with recurring symptoms stemming from September groin surgery, according to a team news release. Details are limited and no word on the severity. Moyer, who turned 47 last week, tore two groin muscles in a fall from the mound Sept. 29 and missed the rest of the season and entire postseason. He has a year remaining on his contract and figures to be the Phillies’ fifth starter when the season opens in...

NL MVP Retrospective, or Why Chase Utley Will Never Win Anything in His Lifetime

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:02 -0500

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley shields himself from Ryan Howard's monstrous right palm after Utley hit a three-run home run during the first inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. Howard raised his hand in a slapping motion, quietly warning Utley that those were HIS runs to be driven in! (AP Photo/Matt Sl...

Prepare To Not Like...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:49:00 -0500

Juan Castro. If you didn't like Eric Bruntlett, and c'mon who the hell did?, you won't like Juan Castro. Castro is older, but is every bit as crappy of a utility infielder that Bruntlett was/is. He can't hit, but he's versatile...well la-de-fricken-da! A Swiss Army Knife is versatile too, but you don't see the Yankees trying to sign one to backup their infielders next season. Cutting Bruntlett loose was a smart move by Ruben Amaro Jr; signing his elder Mexican brother ...

Phillies agree to terms with Juan Castro

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:09:00 -0500

Veteran will fill backup role in the infieldIt was first reported Wednesday by David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News and has since been confirmed by the club, the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed on a one year contract with utility infielder Juan Castro. Castro will fill one of the vacant spots in the bench and provides the Phillies with some depth in the infield, where Castro will be used as a back up for any of the infield positions besides catcher.The reported deal for the 2010 seas...

Phillies set to sign IF Juan Castro

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:42:00 -0500

The Phillies are set to sign their first free agent of the offseason: utility infielder Juan Castro! Wait, that doesn't get you excited? What's not to like about a 15 year MLB veteran who has a career .230 batting average?Word has come out today that the Phillies and Castro have agreed to a one year contract pending a physical. Castro, who will turn 38 next June, will take over the Eric Bruntlett role on the team and fill in at second base and short stop whenever needed. While how muc...

Report: Phillies targeting utility vet Juan Castro

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:27:47 -0500

The 37-year-old infielder is a veteran of 15 seasons and hit .277/.311/.399 in 121 plate appearances with the Dodgers last season. The Dodgers are trying to resign him, according to the report on FoxSports. Beerleaguer: Very marginal, aging bench option from the right side with no speed, no bat and practically no time spent in the outfield. In some ways, Eric Bruntlett offers more versatility. He’s a career .230/.270/.332 hitter between four clubs, his best years coming as a semi-regular...

Phillies Rumors: Phils Close To Replacing Bruntlett?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:58:08 -0500

Hang on to your hats, the Phils are about to make their first move of the official off-season by signing....Juan Castro! FoxSports and Philly.com is reporting that a deal might be close on Castro, who would replace Eric Bruntlett as the Phils utility infielder who isn't any good. Here is a breakdown of the two players stats over the last two seasons... *UZR is career number at SS So - Castro is a slightly better hitter and definitely a better fielder than Bruntlett, though he is la...

Memories from 2009 - Winning one for Harry

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0500

It was a day that no Phillies fan will soon forget. Just hours before the Phillies were set to play the role of visitor for the home opener of the Washington Nationals, the legendary voice of the team, Harry Kalas, passed away as he prepared for the afternoon game's broadcast.Who else would be fitting to start the game on the mound than Jamie Moyer. Moyer had grown up watching Phillies baseball and perhaps no other Phillie had an appreciation for what Kalas meant to the fan base than the ...

Phillies Top 20 Individual Seasons,#14: Brad Lidge, 2008

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:36:02 -0500

I've already gotten started on 2 of the 3 off-season features on ReclinerGM - the all-time tournament, and the top-20 prospects. The third is a continuation of a project I started earlier this season, rankings the top-20 individual seasons in Phillies history. We continue on with #14, Brad Lidge in 2008. Stats and Ranks *65+ IP Required Some Interesting Stats and Facts 11.94 K/9 is the highest rate in Phillies history among pitchers with 60+ IP Gave up 0 runs in 62 of his 72 appear...

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter Forced to Wear Evil Jersey

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:15:30 -0500

Last time we heard from New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg he was off telling horrible jokes at the expense of Jimmy Rollins' expense. Well Philadelphia's own Micheal Nutter was up in NYC settling their World Series bet. Instead of the overplayed food for food angle, Nutman and Bloomie actually wagered something that could help people. Mayor Nutter obviously lost the wager and was up in New York on Friday to help paint a school. Philly's mayor did not go down without a fight...

Monday: 29 Phillies become minor free agents

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:24:17 -0500

The Phillies are losing the third-highest total of veteran minor leaguers to free agency, according to Baseball America. We also look ahead to possible players exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Here is the list, courtesy of Baseball America: RHP: Jason Anderson (AAA), Alexander Concepcion (AA), Tristan Crawford (Hi A), John Ennis (AAA), Santos Hernandez (Lo A), Gary Majewski (AAA); LHP: Cedrick Bowers (AAA), Gustavo Chacin(AAA), Jason Mackintosh (AA), Brian Mazone (AAA), Jake Woods (AAA); C: Paul Hoover (AAA), Orlando...

$400,000 saves the Phillies in 1943

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:48:00 -0500

On this day in Phillies history it took $400,000 to save the team from an embarrassing situation.William B. Cox had done a lot of good things for the Philadelphia Phillies when he purchased them in 1943. For the first time in almost 30 years the Phillies were making strides on the field and were becoming a team to be reckoned with in the National League. No longer were the Phillies a perennial cellar dweller, but a team on the rise. But all was not as sweet as candy under Cox.On November 23, ...

Phillies’ Top Prospects: Off-Season 11-20

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:30:05 -0500

Just a reminder that all the Phillies' Prospects articles can be found on the page linked on the right-hand side of the screen. I plan on doing specific posts for each of my top-10 prospects in the Phillies system, but I wanted to acknowledge the rest of my top-20 list here. 11. Jarred Cosart, RHP 6'3'' 180 lbs, 19 years old 2009 Stats (Gulf Coast League) The only Phillies' pitcher who received a larger bonus than Cosart in the 2008 draft was Jason Knapp. That should...

Jimmy Plus Rollins Equals Balls in Play

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:00 -0500

I'm certainly no SABR geek but I have come to enjoy a good advanced stat once in a while as another tool to evaluate a player's performance. Yahoo!'s Big League Stew is running a series which is basically "Advanced Stats for Dummies" and in today's post on BABIP -- Batting Average on Balls In Play -- they use Jimmy Rollins' numbers to explain the hitting side of the stat. Young James' BABIP was down tremendously in '09, reaching .245 on the year. This ca...

Very early 2010 Phillies roster

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:07:00 -0500

Pitchers and catchers don't report for another 90 days or so but the Hot Stove is just starting to heat up for the defending National League Champions (doesn't have the same ring, does it?). The Phillies don't figure to make a ton of moves this offseason, though after the recent announcements of the removal of Eric Bruntlett and the declining of Pedro Feliz's 2010 option, there are a few holes that need to be filled through free agency and trades for the upcoming season.With f...

Phillies news: five new free agents and the ROTY

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:09:00 -0500

Those guys over at Fire Eric Bruntlett will be happy about this one: the Phillies have non-tendered former World Series hero Eric Bruntlett, officially making him a free agent. Bruntlett, who can't hit a lick, will have to take his position versatility elsewhere if he hopes to continue his major league career. Bruntlett will forever be remembered for scoring a few big runs in the 2008 World Series and his unassisted triple play this season. For a guy who was basically useless, Bruntlett a...

Top 10 Phillies Prospects

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:05:00 -0500

Baseball America recently released their Top 10 prospects in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. The top 3 should come as no surprise (Brown, Drabek, and Taylor), as their names have been popping up on here and across other Phillies blogs all summer long. Lets take a look at the crop of youngsters expected to keep the recent winning ways of the Phils going... 1. Domonic Brown, OF- he's still developing power to go with his lanky frame (6'5" 204 lb.), but he has 20+ hr/30+ sb ...