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Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly rundown of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for the latest on many familiar names, some top prospects and plenty more. Venezuelan Winter League-  Second baseman Cesar Hernandez - The 23-year-old is 6-for-29 (.207 avg) in his last eight games.  Overall in 31 games for Margarita, Hernandez, who has also been playing center field, has posted a .254 average with two home runs, 15 RBI and two steals.  Hernandez batted .289 with five doubles and 10 RBI in 34 games with the Phillies and was honored as a Triple-A All-Star this past season. Shortstop Freddy Galvis - The 23-year-old is batting .295 with eight doubles, one triple and two homers along with 12 RBI in 27 games.  The switch-hitting Galvis is batting .295 from both sides of the plate for Zulia.  Galvis sported a .234 average with six home runs and 19 RBI in 70 big league games

A 2013 Sally League Umpire, Image Tug Haines As many fans view a game unfold on a professional baseball diamond, the most savvy watchers may feel as though they know everything there is to know about the team personnel on the field .  The year and round they were drafted.  What their educational background is.  The route they've taken to get where they are and the other teams they've played for.  But with that assumption by avid fans that they know everything about everyone on the field, how much do they really know about the other individuals that help execute the athletic competition by officiating each contest?  What do they know about the umpires? During the 2013 regular season I sat down with some pro umpires to learn more about their lives and what their paths to the major leagues are like.  Read ahead for a list of seven things that you very likely did not know about umpires. 1- Umpires in the minors are not just some local guys. There seems to be a

Tug and Jay are back with the 47th edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast.  On this episode the guys talk about the Phillies' additions to their 40-man roster as well as the signings of free agents Marlon Byrd and Carlos Ruiz .  They also take some time to cut some silly radio bumpers for BaseballPodcasts.net and share some thoughts about some of the other programs the site offers. Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

Cameron Rupp, image- Jay Floyd It has been more than seven weeks since the Phillies began their off-season, but for one player that wrapped up the 2013 season with the club that missed the postseason for the second consecutive year, it's barely been seven days.  Catcher Cameron Rupp made his major league debut with the Phils in September, but unlike most of his teammates his baseball activity for the year hadn't ended when the MLB schedule was completed. The 25-year-old reported to big league spring training with the Phillies in February.  His promotion to the majors in September resulted in his season lasting roughly a month longer than the minor league schedule does.  By the completion of the Phils' regular season, Rupp had already endured his lengthiest baseball year to date by more than eight weeks.  Despite that, Rupp wanted more time on the field. The University of Texas product had been a 3rd round draft choice in 2010 and played more than 100 games in a pr

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly rundowns of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for the latest on many familiar names, some top prospects and plenty more. Venezuelan Winter League-  In news that I first mentioned on Twitter over the weekend, minor league slugger Jim Murphy was released by the Aragua Tigres last Thursday.  Through 20 games, the first baseman batted .274 with three doubles, two homers and 10 RBI.  The release came as a surprise to the 28-year-old, who was planning to play through the full season, into late December, but will now be home in time for Thanksgiving Day. Murphy remains signed with the Phillies. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez - The 23-year-old switch hitter has gone 5-for-32 (.156 avg) in his last eight games.  Overall in 26 games for Margarita, Hernandez, who has also been playing center field, has posted a .242 average with two home runs and 13 RBI. 

The Phillies have begun planning for spring as news dropped today that they've requested the presence of four non-roster invitees, two of which are new additions, at camp in February. Outfielder Leandro Castro and lefty hurler Cesar Jimenez are two talents who spent this past season in the organization that will be with the big league club when spring training begins next year. Additionally, newly signed veterans Shawn Camp , a righty pitcher, and outfielder Clete Thomas will be included in the Phillies' early plans in Clearwater as well. Castro, a right-handed hitter who was signed as an amateur free agent in 2007, has steadily been criticized for his focus and cockiness during his time in the Phillies' organization. This year in the regular season, the 24-year-old posted a .256 batting average with eight homers and 55 RBI in 117 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Jimenez, 29, has a 2-3 record with a 4.96 ERA and a 6.47 K/9 mark in 62 big league games. The Ven

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly review of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for he latest on many familiar names, some top prospects and plenty more. Dominican Winter League... 3B Maikel Franco -  The trial of Franco at first base continued as the slugger played his fourth straight game there on Monday.  Franco played eight games at first in the closing weeks of the 2013 regular season with Double-A Reading.  The 21-year-old sports a .328 average with four doubles and seven RBI in 17 games with the Gigantes.  The righty batting Franco had a bust-out 2013, slamming 31 homers and droving in 103 runs in 134 games with Clearwater and Reading this year. LHP Antonio Bastardo - In two appearances, the 28-year-old has pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one without surrendering a hit.  In 48 big league games this year, before missing time due to a ban

On the 46th edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast former Phillies pitching prospect Jake Borup phones in to chat about his college career, his decision to leave pro ball and shares insider opinions on former Phils director of player development Chuck LaMar.  The guys also talk about Roman Quinn 's injury, off-season leagues and enhanced video replay in baseball. Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly run down of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for loads of details on some familiar names, prospects and more. Arizona Fall League (seven Phils prospects play together on the Peoria Javelinas)... RHP Kenny Giles - The 23-year-old, was the Phillies' lone representative in the AFL Rising Stars Game over the weekend.  In the annual all-star exhibition Giles threw a scoreless frame, striking out two and walking one while impressing many with his 98-100 MPH fastball and his strong slider.  Overall, Giles has allowed six earned runs while striking out eight and walking seven batters in six innings for Peoria, although all of the runs were surrendered in one very unlucky outing.  The right-hander missed considerable time during the 2013 regular season with two oblique strains.  Giles, a 7th round pick in 2011, posted a 6.31 ERA in 24 games with Class