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Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly.  On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne.  The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska.  In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be.  He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line.  And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line.  He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage.   Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August.  Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH.   Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve

Drafting 27th overall in the first round on Sunday night, the Phillies chose shortstop/third baseman Aidan Miller. The 19-year-old sat out the 2023 season with a broken hamate bone, which required surgery.  The absence from action resulted in Miller falling in the draft and analysts feel that the Phillies got a huge steal in this draft spot as a result.   Miller, a six-foot-two 205-pounder, bats right-handed and is touted as having great power potential.   A graduate of J.W. Mitchell High School in Florida, Miller is committed to play collegiate baseball at Arkansas.   Last year, Miller posted strong numbers on the showcase circuit and was named as the MVP of the All-American Game and won a home run derby title as part of the All-Star festivities in Los Angeles.   Aidan's brother Jackson Miller was drafted 65th overall by the Reds in 2020 out of J.W. Mitchell as well. The Phils' next selection will take place at 98th overall, in the third round.  The club does not have a second

Lefty hurler Taylor Lehman has proven to be a consistent performer and could be forcing himself to be considered as a big league option. After bouncing back from elbow surgery last year, Lehman, a Penn State product, made 15 appearances (four starts) with Double-A Reading.  In those outings, he notched a 1-1 record with a 3.74 ERA, a .210 opponents' batting average and a 10.4 K/9 mark. Last off-season the six-foot-eight 240-pounder pitched for Surprise in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.  In eight appearances there, all in relief, he sported a 6.17 ERA while striking out 16 and walking eight in 11 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old opened the 2023 campaign with the Double-A Reading Fightins.  Through seven relief appearances to open this season, Lehman has notched a 1-0 record with a 2.61 ERA, a .162 batting average against while striking out 10 and walking five in 10 1/3 innings pitched. Recently, Lehman was interview by PhoulBallz correspondent Evan Floyd, who inquired about everyt

The Fall Classic is set to get underway on Friday with the Phillies opening on the road to take on the Astros in a best-of-seven series. This year marks 75 years since the first time a World Series was televised and this year each game will be broadcast on the FOX television network.  ESPN will have the radio broadcast and that feed can be streamed by using this link . Game 1 Friday, 8:03pm Eastern....in Houston.  RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA).  In 16 road starts during the regular season this year, Nola notched a 5-9 record with a 3.00 ERA.  Nola has struck out 18 and walked three in 17 1/3 innings pitched this postseason.  Earlier this month, Nola tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Houston.  In 15 home starts during the regular season, Verlander sported a 10-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.  Verlander has a 5.68 ERA and has not recorded a win in seven career World Series starts.  Verlander has 11 starts allowing one run or fewer in

The day after the Phillies signed their interim manager to a two-year contract extension, the team will open the best-of-five playoff series in National League East Division winning Atlanta. On Monday the Phils made a clear vote of confidence when they gave skipper Rob Thomson the job for years to come.  On Tuesday, the team sends 27-year-old Ranger Suarez to the mound to battle Braves ace Max Fried to open the National League Division Series.  The Phils earned their way to the series by notching a pair of victories over the Cardinals in the Wild Card round this past weekend. Details on pitching match ups and other key notes from this series are ahead... Tuesday, 1:07pm Eastern...LHP Ranger Suarez (10-7 record, 3.65 ERA) vs. LHP Max Fried (14-7 record, 2.48 ERA).   Suarez has a 2.81 ERA in six daytime outings this season.  In five starts against the Braves this year, the Venezuela native, Suarez, tallied a 1-2 record with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.  Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson is

October 7th, 2011. 11 years ago. That was the last time the Phillies played a postseason game. Here's what else was happening at that time... The number one song in the United States was Moves Like Jaggar, by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera.   The Philadelphia Eagles had a 1-3 record and their starting quarterback was Michael Vick. The funeral of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., took place on that date. Mookie Betts, a 5th round draft pick of the Red Sox earlier that year, turned 18 years old.  He had played in just one professional game at that point. Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, was the top film at the U.S. box office that week as well as the week that followed. For video gamers, the PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 consoles were all the rage. TV Guide's issue at this time featured a cover story about Ted Danson joining the cast of CSI. Current Phillies ace hurler and game 1 starter Zack Wheeler was 620 days away from making his Major League debut and had not pitch

Baron Radcliff, image- Jay Floyd Lefty batting outfielder Baron Radcliff has been on a roll of late for the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws. In seven August contests thus far, the 23-year-old is batting .375 with a home run, nine RBI and four walks.  The son of former pro baseball player Vic Radcliff and D1 basketball standout Nikki Keyton Radcliff, Baron was the Phillies' 5th round draft selection out of Georgia Tech in 2020. Listed at six-feet-four, 228 pounds Radcliff projects as a power hitter and at the plate he resembles a familiar Phillies slugger, namely Ryan Howard.  Recently, I spoke with Baron about his approach at the dish, his offensive battles, learning from his parents, hobbies and plenty more. Read ahead for excerpts from that interview and visit my page on Patreon to support my work and access the complete version of this piece along with so much more exclusive content.  - Your pose when you step to the plate, how often do you hear about who that remind

With the 17th overall selection in the 2022 MLB amateur draft, the Phillies chose high school outfielder Justin Crawford. The 18-year-old is the son of four-time big league All-Star Carl Crawford.   Listed at six-feet-three, 175-pound, Justin Crawford is a lefty batting outfielder, who projects as a top-of-the order speedster.  A graduate of well renowned Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV, the talented prospect is committed to play collegiate baseball at Louisianna State.   Crawford was ranked as the top high school player in Nevada and placed among the top three outfielders in the country. The elder Crawford led the American League in stolen bases four times in his career and exceed 45 steals in a season seven times, tallying 480 big league steals.  The younger Crawford jokes that he is faster than his dad. Big time speed with excellent defense, solid barrel control and a projectable frame are what make this the right pick for the Phillies. Not to be forgotten is the family t

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi