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Gone too soon; Chace Numata (left) w/ the late Roy Halladay, image- Jay Floyd In extremely sad news, catcher Chace Numata succumbed on Monday to injuries sustained in an apparent skateboarding accident last week. Numata, a switch-hitting Hawaii native, was originally a 14th round draft selection by the Phillies in 2010.  He was named an All-Star with Class A Lakewood in 2013 and with Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2016.  He would play in the Phils organization through the 2017 and left to free agency, later playing in the Yankees system and then this year with the Tigers organization. In 77 combined games this season at Triple-A and Double-A, the 27-year-old has tallied a .244 average with four home runs and 28 RBI. Per a release from the Erie Seawolves , Numata's family issued the following statement: It is with deep sorrow that the Numata Ohana announces that Chace Kekoa Kenji Numata, our beloved son, brother, and a friend to all, has passed away on September...

The eight teams in the 2011 Major League Baseball playoffs are officially set and start times for early League Division Series games were announced today, including some preferable slots for the Phillies, who have home field advantage throughout the postseason. Games are set to be broadcast on TBS, unless otherwise specified. TIGERS vs. YANKEES: Game 1- DET @ NYY Friday, 9/30 8:37 EST Game 2- DET @ NYY Saturday, 10/1 8:37 EST Game 3- NYY @ DET Monday, 10/3 8:37 EST Game 4- NYY @ DET Tuesday, 10/4 To be determined Game 5- DET @ NYY Thursday, 10/6 TBD RAYS vs. RANGERS: Game 1- TB @ TEX Friday, 9/30 5:07 EST Game 2- TB @ TEX Saturday, 10/1 7:07 EST (on TNT) Game 3- TEX @ TB Monday, 10/3 5:07 EST Game 4- TEX @ TB Tuesday, 10/4 TBD Game 5- TB @ TEX Thursday, 10/6 TBD PHILLIES vs. CARDINALS: Game 1-STL @ PHI Saturday, 10/1 5:07 EST Game 2- STL @ PHI Sunday, 10/2 8:07 EST Game 3- PHI @ STL Tuesday, 10/4 TBD Game 4- PHI @ STL Wednesday, 10/5 TBD Game 5- STL @ PHI Friday, 10/7 TB...

Last August, a week after he debuted at the double A level with Reading and smashed a homerun that was reportedly legendary for FirstEnergy Stadium, I asked Domonic Brown if he thought he might remember his first homerun at each level. Brown told me, "Nah. I plan on hitting so many, hopefully (that I won't remember)." I wonder how that staement applies to the performance that Brown, a Phillies outfield prospect, put on with the big club in Tuesday's spring training game against the Detroit Tigers in Clearwater, Florida. In his first at bat, Brown launched a massive solo homer that exited Brighthouse Field, promptly played in traffic on the highway outside the ballpark and gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead. The homer, off of 2-time all star and former AL Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander, was Brown's first of the spring. In his second plate appearance in the 4th inning, Brown smashed another homerun to right field with a runner on base, this time off lefty reliever Ph...

"Hello, young man. I am Wilkin Ramirez. Can I play Connect Four with you, while this photographer from our PR department takes a few pictures? What? You haven't heard of me? Pssh...what do you mean? I'm sayin'...I am a rookie, but I am kind of a hot shot, internationally known outfield stud. Who hasn't heard of Wilkin Ramirez ? Ughhh. Well, since you're such a foolish little punk who doesn't know his hospital bracelet from a hole in the ground, how about I just slap a little Connect FIVE on your ass for good measure?! Yeah, how ya like me now? Hahahahahahahah. In yo' FACE!" Yeah, that is what I think happened there when Tigers players visited the Detroit Medical Center Children's Hospital on Friday. All the kid wanted was a famous ballplayer to sit and play a game with him, and, since Wilkin Ramirez is a jerk hole, he showed this poor child what Connect Four is all about. Rather than give a sick child a morale boost, he dominated the youngster...

Taking a look at this AP graphic detailing 2009 MLB payrolls, the differences are clear. The fun part of looking over something like this is picking out the underachievers and the surprise performers. The difference between the Detroit Tigers' payroll and the Florida Marlins' total team salary is nearly 102 million dollars. The difference between the Tigers and Marlins in 2009 total wins is 1 (the Marlins has one more win than the Tigers). That is remarkable value from Florida. In fact, the Marlins, with the lowest payroll in MLB, had more wins than 19 teams and the same amount of wins as one other team. 15 of those 19 teams that the Marlins were better than had a payroll that was at least DOUBLE what the Marlins paid their 40 man roster. At 87 wins, the Marlins finished just 6 games out of the division lead and 5 games back in the wild card standings. Imagine if that team actually spent some money and brought in some help for the existing core of young players. Adding veteran ...

Aside from the reported 3-team blockbuster involving the Yankees, D-Backs and Tigers that moved Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson and Max Scherzer, the biggest deal of the meetings thus far has been the impending move of reporter Peter Gammons from ESPN to MLB media and NESN. MLB.com's Mike Siano and other sources report the deal is done and the crossover will coincide with the new year. The Phillies added more reserve depth by signing OF/1B Ross Gload on Tuesday night. Such a move enhances what became a weak spot for the Phils in 2009, their bench. More on Gload's signing from PhoulBallz here . Regarding the Phillies interest in Brandon Lyon, it is not confirmed that the Phillies have made an offer, but GM Ruben Amaro confirmed the team has offered contracts to players, although he did not believe a deal was close with anyone, prior to the Gload announcement. That could mean any offer to Lyon was possibly a low-ball gesture and the team & player are likely not in the same ...

Several reports popped up Wednesday evening stating that the Phillies have elevated their pursuit of Placido Polanco, to fill their void at third base. In the past three seasons with Detroit combined, Polanco has been a .310 hitter. His season average over those three seasons was 9 homers, 65.7 RBI and 92.3 runs scored. By comparison, departed Phils third baseman Pedro Feliz has hit .256 over the past three seasons and has averaged 15.33 homers, 70.7 RBI and 55.3 runs. Feliz is roughly 6 months older than Polanco, but both are age 34. Other teams are interested in Polanco also. Teams interested in Polly include former Phillies GM Ed Wade's Houston Astros. The Astros, also rumored to be in the mix for free agent Brett Myers, may continue to lengthen their list of ex-Phillies (Mike Bourn, Chris Coste, Jason Michaels, Geoff Geary & Yorman Bazardo). Other options for the vacant third base spot are still the same list of usual suspects...Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and Miguel Tejada....

As of this writing there are just under 17 hours left to vote for the final spot on the MLB all star rosters. As you heard on tonight's game broadcast or saw on both teams' websites, the Phillies and Tigers are teaming up to merge their fans' votes to elect Shane Victorino and Brandon Inge. Click the image below to keep on voting!! Need reasoning to vote for Shane? On the Phillies' current home stand, Shane is batting .464 (13-for-28) with 2 doubles, a triple, a homerun, 2 steals, 9 runs scored and 6 RBI. Need reasoning to vote for Inge? Tigers fans are voting for our guy, so we're voting for their guy. No further details required. **Thursday lunchtime update** MLB.com reports that Bran-Torino is leading the final fan voting. Keep voting! *Thursday evening update* Ladies and gentlemen, the Tigers/Phillies alliance worked. Brandon Inge and Shane Victorino are all stars! Congratulations, Bran-Torino!