Phillies

Phillies Finalize Monday's Opening Day Roster Vs. Reds

... Galvis, who had a career-high 20 homers last season, went deep an inning after Hernandez. Both homers came against Reds' starter Scott Feldman. The two friends and middle infielders from Venezuela signed as teens on the same day in 2006. After hitting home runs on the same day in 2017, they shared a laugh in the clubhouse. "I have to tell you," said Galvis, explaining the dugout reaction to Hernandez's homer, "nobody believed it.". Hernandez heard Galvis' comment and shot a look at his friend. Galvis laughed. "It was pretty good, man, pretty amazing," he said. "The guy worked hard in the offseason. He really worked hard, took it seriously every day. To see a start like that is pretty good.". Manager Pete Mackanin concurred. "Cesar Hernandez set the tone," he said. "I tell you what, we don't need power from the corners. We've got our power from the middle infielders. Cesar and Freddy, the two littlest guys on the field. It was good to see.". Yes, it was a good way to start a game and a season. A lot went right for the Phils in this one. Three of general ...

Phillies Need Sluggers. Dylan Cozens And Rhys Hoskins May Fit The Bill

... said, he had to learn to become a better hitter. The power then followed as a result. "I got a taste of it last spring, when I brought him to Port Charlotte as a minor-leaguer, an extra guy," Mackanin said. "He hit about three or four balls over the batter's eye in center field and on the roof of the building in right field. I'm well aware of his power, and I think he's going to be a real good hitter for power. He's a good defensive player, too.". Ryan Howard is the only Phillie to hit 30 or more homers in a season since 2011. The Phillies are desperate for power hitters who can take advantage of Citizens Bank Park's tight dimensions. It is likely something they will address in free agency, but Cozens and Hoskins could provide an internal option. This season will provide a clearer picture of what the Phillies have. The sluggers will face stiffer pitching at triple A and play with the pressure of being on the brink of the majors. They will also have to prove that their power was not ...

Phillies' Improved Bullpen Still Has Question At End

... long stints in the same role with the Camden Courier-Post and the Delaware County Daily Times. He also served as the National League columnist for ESPN. He made the move from rawhide to pigskin in 2003 and covered the Eagles for seven years before returning to his roots as the Inquirer's baseball columnist in 2010. He became a general sports columnist in 2013 and loves covering a variety of sports and events. More by Bob Brookover. Apr 2. CINCINNATI - Pete Mackanin was sure of only one thing about his bullpen when the Phillies arrived at Great American Ballpark for the start of the 2016 season. The manager was positive that he had one. Who was coming out of it at what point in the game was another matter entirely and Mackanin openly admitted he did not have a clue about who would be his ...

Philadelphia Phillies

... there have been a number of changes around the league. It's hard enough keeping up with everything going on with the Reds, let alone what is happening with their competition. But don't worry, we've got you covered. Whenever the Reds take on an opponent for the first time this season, will help you get a handle on the Reds competition. First up in our season preview series, it's the Philadelphia Phillies. Today is the first Opening Day since 2000 that one of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley or Ryan Howard isn't in the #Phillies lineup. __link__/zbs Ks 9 u UE 2. — Tim Kelly (@Tim Kelly Sports) April 3, 2017. Cincinnati and Philadelphia have been on similar trajectories the past few seasons. Both teams have been in rebuilding mode, and most of the stars of past teams are now gone. As the tweet above highlights, the Phillies have moved on from foundational pieces of the past. Philadelphia heads into 2017 with much of the roster that will ...

Phillies Face Coven Of Non-believers To Start 2017

... and that his guess was a far saner "79.". I openly admit to being infected with toxic optimism for these New Phillies, so young and cool and experimental with their hair. But tragically, this has affected my widely respected objectivity that I have maintained so stoically and professionally through the years. In response to this, I was up all night, staring out a window at the stray cat fight club outside of my home, considering how to regain my lost integrity. The only solution I could muster was to gather all of the worst things people have said about the Phillies leading up to the 2017 season and put it all in one place in an attempt to counteract the joy that led to me overreaching in regards to their win total. J. P. Crawford needs to stop reading about how good he is and start working to show everyone how good he is. — "A rival scout," Sports Illustrated. We'll open with a doozy that by now we've all seen. Sports Illustrated's MLB preview featured sections on all of the teams written by rival scouts, who broke down their enemies player by player. Obviously, the shortstop considered ...

Now-healthy Aaron Nola Out To Prove To Phillies Last Year Was A Fluke

... The Phillies will likely find a top-flight pitcher through free agency in the coming offseasons. And it will be expensive, as evidenced by the $17 million the team gave Jeremy Hellickson this offseason. They will need Nola and the other young starters to be stabilizers in the middle of the rotation if they make a splash on the open market. It will be a success if just two or three of the team's young pitchers who are in the majors and triple A - Jerad Eickhoff, Nola, Vince Velasquez, Jake Thompson, Zach Eflin, Ben Lively, and Mark Appel - can prove to be mid-rotation arms. The money can then be spent at the top of the rotation. Eickhoff proved last season to be a durable pitcher. Velasquez has shown spurts of electricity. Nola started his career with promise. The rest are unproven. "We have a lot of depth through the system," president Andy Mac Phail said. "Not necessarily front-end rotation types, ...

Phillies' Matt Stairs Among Those Helping Young Sluggers Become Smash Hits

... just the featured face in a collage of premium prospects. In two months that collage could feature selective slugger Rhys Hoskins, 24, or Dylan Cozens, his 22-year-old "Bash Brother"; switch-hitter Roman Quinn or Nick Williams, 23-year-old outfielders; or, the most intriguing prospect of all, Jorge Alfaro, a bearded Colombian who signed with the Rangers as a slim 16-year-old and who now, at 23, is the size of a small RV. "I've never been around a group like this. Maybe at a minor league all-star game, or something," Wathan said. "We've got guys out there that we expect to contribute in the major leagues at some point or another. Which ones will end up being the superstars and which ones end up being the average major-league players has yet to be seen. They're a special group.". Uniquely special, said bench coach Larry Bowa, who has spent 33 of his 52 years ...

Phillies' Odubel Herrera's Chance To Become An Elite Hitter

... were to decide to trade Herrera, its cost would make moving him prohibitive. And already, Herrera has made enough strides to suggest that, if all goes well, he can render the entire sum a bargain. From his first season to his second, he cut down on his strikeouts, doubled his walk rate, and increased his on-base-plus-slugging percentage by 19 points. Examining Herrera's career so far and projecting his future production, one has plenty of reason to be optimistic. That's the analytic way to view Herrera's potential, but the aesthetic way might be more fun. He's a sight to see in the batter's box: that high leg kick; his rhythmic circling of his bat as he eyeballs the pitcher, as if he were churning butter without looking; the melding of all that motion when he gets a pitch he likes and squares it up. "He doesn't really try to pull lefthanders," Phillies hitting coach Matt Stairs said. "He knows that if he gets a good pass to it, he's going to drive it to left-center. His hit against Happ was a great swing, and I think you see that a lot with him. ...

Phillies Win Opener As 'two Littlest Guys' Homer

... set the tone," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "I tell you what, we don't need power from the corners. We've got our power from the middle infielders. Cesar and Freddy, the two littlest guys on the field. It was good to see.". The offense - bottom feeders in every major category last season - rapped seven extra-base hits by six hitters. The Phillies coerced Cincinnati starter Scott Feldman to throw 27 pitches in a patient first inning. Feldman required 64 pitches to record his first nine outs. It looked nothing of the feeble unit from a season ago. That, as much as a nine-inning sample can mean, is progress. "That's part of the plan," Mackanin said. "We want to grind out at-bats and not waste at-bats. I think we did that.". Hernandez, the unlikeliest of sluggers, started the surge. He did not hit his first home run last season until June 4, in the ...

Meet The Philadelphia Phillies Top Prospects

... grew up idolizing former Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay , and his 138 strikeouts ranked third in the team’s system. According to __link__, Pivetta’s fastball can touch 95 mph, and the “continued refinement of his command” will be the key in his development. Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Scott Kingery throws to first to complete a double play after forcing Atlanta Braves' Emilio Bonifacio (64) out at second in the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux). 11. Scott Kingery, 2 B. In his first full season in the organization, the 2015 second-round pick out of Arizona made it to Double-A, though he batted only.250 in 37 games. With Single-A Clearwater, Kingery displayed some pop with 29 doubles and a.293 average. He’s also ranked as the No. 7 prospect at second base in the minors. 10. Cornelius Randolph, OF. The No. 10 overall pick in 2015 batted.274 with two home runs and 27 RBI in 63 games in the South Atlantic League last season. Randolph, 19, has plenty of pure talent, but there’s work and development to be ...

Vintage Philadelphia Phillies Photos, Including That 1980 World Series Win

... seventh ever perfect game in MLB history in 1964). Steve Carlton doing what he does best - pitching for the Phillies between 1972 and 1986. Pete Rose nearly landing on a guy's back as he tries to catch a throw in 1979. Mike Schmidt from the 1970 s to his retirement in 1989. Larry Bowa as both a player in 1977 and a coach. Tug Mc Graw leaping to victory after the team won the National League Championships in 1980. 1980 World Series Victory parade in Philadelphia, with Larry Bowa and Mike Schmidt waving to the crowds. A brawl between the Phillies and the New York Mets in 1990 that lead to the ejection of four Phillies and three Mets. John Kruk after his second two-run home run of the April 18, 1993 game against the Chicago Cubs. Darren Daulton sharing a total bromance hug with Curt Schilling after Game 5 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. Lenny Dykstra scoring a homerun against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. Mitch Williams following through ...