Skip to main content

All Star Break Notes

Charlie Manuel announced his starting lineup for the National League all star team this morning. Here's a glance at the lineup...

Hanley Ramirez SS
Chase Utley 2B
Albert Pujols 1B
Ryan Braun RF
Raul Ibanez LF
David Wright 3B
Shane Victorino CF
Yadier Molina C
Tim Lincecum P


Don't be surprised to see Manuel remove Ryan Braun from the game around the 3rd of 4th inning, to substitute Jayson Werth into the game in order to play the three starting Phillies outfielders in the game, at once, for an inning or two.

----------------

In the MLB Futures Game on Sunday in St. Louis, Reading Phillies pitchers Yohan Flande and Kyle Drabek each threw a scoreless inning...Flande for the World Team, Drabek for the USA Team. Click here for some video highlights of both pitchers in the All Star Futures Game. Click here for PhoulBallz.com's exclusive interview with Kyle Drabek.

---------------
The Phillies completed a 9-1 homestand on Sunday with a sweep of the Pirates. Over the 10 games stretch, the Phillies outscored their opponents 66-27. Pedro Feliz's grand slam on Sunday was the Phillies' 7th of 2009. In 2007 and 2008 combined the Phillies only hit 6 total.


The Phillies enter the All Star Break with a record 10 games over .500. Last year, the team was just 8 games over .500. They also enjoy a full 4 game lead over the 2nd place team, the Marlins. The Phillies' first place lead over the nearest team last year, at the All Star Break, was only a half game.

----------------
There is still plenty of chatter about the Phillies and Pedro Martinez. Reports have Martinez flying to Philadelphia during the All Star Break to meet with team doctors for a physical examination. Once the exam is passed, the Phillies are expected to sign Pedro. Click here for Todd Zolecki's latest article on the situation.

BallHype: hype it up!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...