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This past week I had the opportunity to film some interviews for Phillies Nation TV at the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws' open practice and media day. Among those that I spoke with were former Phillies All-Star Mickey Morandini , who currently serves as Lakewood's manager. As a player, Morandini helped lead the Phillies to the 1993 World Series and is now in charge of guiding the Phils of the future to the pinnacle of their sport. In this uncut version of the interview, Morandini chats about Lakewood's young roster, what led him to coaching in the professional ranks, legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas and more. See the full video in the media player below. To view this week's full episode of Phillies Nation TV, click HERE .

It's been a full year since Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away preparing to do the job he loved and millions of people around the country loved him for. His passing was one of those moments that many people will remember where they were when it happened. The Phillies lost their voice that day. I long considered Harry Kalas to be more of a Phillie than any of the players who had worn the uniform in many years. You are missed by many, Harry. ---------------------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE . Share on Facebook

Phans, have you grown to adore your very own radio color guy and former Phils pitcher Larry Andersen more than any color commentator since Richie Ashburn? Do you enjoy his nightly banter with radio play by play man Scott Franzke more than you enjoy Crab Fries and Schmitters? Has your love of "LA" come close to equalling your love of seeing that Liberty Bell at Citizens Bank Park getting rung? Well...your feelings for Larry might get a little more intense very quickly, as you read the next couple lines. A little known detail about the day Harry Kalas died is that Larry Andersen performed CPR on Harry in the broadcast booth of Nationals Park until paramedics arrived. Andersen revealed the information while speaking to students at Temple University on Tuesday. Some previous reports stated that director of broadcasting Rob Brooks performed CPR on Harry Kalas. Larry Andersen did his darnedest to save the life of one of Philadelphia's most beloved media and sports figures...a m...

Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly bring to you the inaugural edition of THE BALLZIES...PhoulBallz.com's annual awards given out for the finest achievements in the Phillies organization as well as related things and stuff. Without any additional delay, let's get this thing rollin'. Major League Player of the Year- Ryan Howard Howard is one of the most consistent hitters in baseball today. He's had four straight seasons with 45 or more homers and over 135 RBI. Howard also won the most valuable player award of the NLCS in 2009. He is one of the greatest Phillies hitters of all time. There's not much else to say. Minor League Player of the Year- Domonic Brown The Phils' #1 prospect hit for a .299 batting average in 106 games while smashing 14 homers, 64 RBI and swiping 23 bags. When watching Brown play it is easy to tell he's got the right tools and he is a pure athlete. Speed on the bases, range in the outfield, an excellent arm, a solid bat...it's all t...

Let me start by stating that I absolutely think the Phillies should honor Harry Kalas in as many ways as possible. We know about the restaurant at Citizens Bank Park, we're all aware that the team renamed their television broadcast booth after Harry, and of course it was a big deal when the team honored Harry with a spot on their Wall of Fame (unfortunately with a typographical error ). However, I am still not sure I am in love with the current methods of funding this project. The website HarryKalasStatue.com and the non-profit group Dear Harry Inc. have set out to collect a total of $80,000 in order to complete a 7 feet tall statue, which is slated to be created by local sculptor Lawrence Nolan. The goal, in the end, is for Dear Harry Inc. to present the statue as a gift to the Phillies. Dear Harry Inc. currently stands at roughly $15,000 raised. Check out the web site for full details. My issue is not with the idea or the group trying to make it happen. It's that the team do...

As Hanukkah wraps up, so does the annual PhoulBallz top 8 Phillies videos countdown. There's really no need to explain this video or to elaborate on its ranking in this countdown. All I will say is Phillies phans were very lucky that HARRY KALAS was their guy for all those years. Happy Hanukkah to all. ---------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

The Phillies came up short in the World Series this time around. However, players and phans alike should all still feel as though 2009 was a hugely succesful year. I got the hate out of the way with my previous post , so, looking back, here are my top '09 reasons that Phillies phans should be pleased with the season that ended 2 wins shy of a World Series repeat... '09- The Phillies won the National League pennant. That is still a big deal. 8- Brad Lidge and Cole Hamels will bounce back. (Right? Won't they...?!) 7- Ruben Amaro Jr. knows what he is doing. Raul Ibanez, Cliff Lee and still having Michael Taylor, Kyle Drabek and Dom Brown intact in the Phillies' system are certainly enough proof. 6- Ryan Howard developed himself into a better player. Showing up in Clearwater, the Phillies' spring training facility, slimmer, to work on his defense and focus on being a better hitter, early this year was where it all started. Howard's defense was visably improved in 20...

The World Series is almost here. Check out this Phillies montage I created. As if you weren't jazzed up enough already, here's something else to get you feelin' it and ready to play ball! ----------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

Congratulations to the Phillies and all their phans on a 3rd straight NL East Title! Happy October, everybody! Ryan Howard just after making the final out Jack Taschner shotguns a beer while "Jay" Happ pours one on Taschner Jimmy Rollins spraying Pedro Martinez with champagne The team pays tribute to the beloved Harry Kalas Ryan Howard bows his head to Harry, while Raul Ibanez pours out a lil' liquor Jayson Werth- smokin' Cliff Lee and Chase Utley celebrate Jamie Moyer and Pedro Martinez enjoying the division title Tyler Walker pouring beer down Jayson Werth's throat --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

At the ballpark today for the first time since Harry Kalas was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday, I noticed an error in the text on his plaque. Verbage on the plaque reads like this... Voice of Phillies baseball on radio and TV for 39 seasons. Teamed with Richie Ashburn from 1971 until 1997. Harry was on the air for all of Mike Schmidt's 548 home runs, five Phillies no-hitters, seven National League Championship Series, three World Series, the first and final games at Veterans Stadium and the Citizens Bank Park 2004 opener. Received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 for "Major Contributions to Baseball" and was inducted into the broadcasters' wing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His calls were legendary, especially his signature home run call, "Outta heeere." On October 29, 2008, he brought utmost joy to Phillies fans: "The 0-2 pitch, swing and miss , struck him out. The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 Worl...

Through 9 starts, the Phillies starting pitchers have allowed 43 earned runs in 48 innings pitched. That's 5 1/3 average innings pitched per start, with an 8.06 ERA. Chase Utley knocked in the 500th run of his career on Friday, passing Richie Ashburn on the Phillies all time RBI list . Jimmy Rollins (547) , Ryan Howard (507) and Chase Utley rank 26th, 27th & 28th on the team's all time list. Gary Sheffield hit the 500th HR of his career for the Metropolitans on Friday. He is the 25th player to hit that many. Of the feat, Sheffield had this to say, "Now I can say I'm in the club and, you know, it's like getting your degree. Nobody can never take that away from you." Angels fans are being prohibited from purchasing Nick Adenhart #15 jerseys to honor their fallen pitching star. Apparently, anyone with a bright idea to grab a Harry Kalas #08 jersey will be rejected also. Try it and you will receive this message, "Your current entry cannot be processed. L...

There were no new postings yesterday on PhoulBallz . This was partly as a day of silence, and partly because it was difficult to muster the enthusiasm to write anything worthwhile, after Harry Kalas passed away. I received an e-mail with a great Richie Ashburn and Harry Kalas story from reader Nikki. With the permission of the author, I'd like to share it with you all. Picture it, Veteran’s Stadium, 1996 (possibly '97) Phillies ALS Phestival . I had found out about a month prior that Richie Ashburn was going to be signing autographs in the broadcaster’s booth. Father’s Day was coming up, and even though I personally did not know much about Richie Ashburn , I thought the autograph would be a nice gift for my Dad who grew up in Philly, then living in California , and was an Ashburn fan. So, after waiting for entrance into the stadium, I get on line- first one there. As more people came, I realized I was definitely on the younger end of the age range. Just about everyone els...

Legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away today. Harry collapsed while preparing to call today's game against the Washington Nationals. So many phans will feel as though we've lost a member of our own families. I feel as though I've lost a part of myself, but Harry enhanced my love of the great sport we call baseball and I will always carry that love, and Harry, in my heart. I've stated on this page before that I consider Harry more of a Phillie than anyone who wears the uniform as an active member of the roster. Harry Kalas was a Phillie. Moreso, Harry Kalas was the Phillies. Please share your thoughts and memories of Harry in the comments section, or send them to PhoulBallz (at) verizon (dot) net.

The last time we saw the Phillies take the field at home on national TV, Harry Kalas topped the night with his rendition of High Hopes. Sunday night they returned to the nation wide stage, and got shut down by Braves starter Derek Lowe. Hey, remember when our Phillies were rumored to be interested and were among the final suitors for Lowe? Yeah, you do. Also, do you remember when our Phillies signed left handed hitting Raul Ibanez because, as Ruben Amaro Jr. stated, the Phillies feared returning the same team to the field in 2009? Well the lefty who replaced righty Pat Burrell, in the lineup, allowed Braves lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez the best possible matchups versus three straight lefty hitters in the Phils' lineup, when he got to face Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Ibanez in a row, and halt the Phils' 9th inning rally. I was surprised to see Charlie Manuels' lineup that featured those three straight lefties. Switch hitting Shane Victorino could easily bat 2nd, while Jayso...

It's phinally here- The night we've all been waiting for. It is the 8th night of Hanukkah and that means The Phoul Ballz is bringing you The Best Phillies Video of 2008 (that I could find on Youtube). This video is brought to you straight from the hometown radio broadcast booth. There is a combination of some things that make this one of the greatest clips I have ever seen. The main thing is, of course, the Phillies winning the World Series. Next, is Harry Kalas' classic call of the happenings on the field. And the other is "The Wheeler". Yes, The Wheeler is the party dance performed by Phils color analyst Chris Wheeler as he quietly celebrates, so that Harry can make the call. Fist pumping, near-humping gestures, high fives, arm thrusts and more all add up to the hottest moves this side of Danny Jackson's Hulk Hogan impressions. *BONUS* These will be your honorable mentions for this list. Consideration could be made for having these videos rank in a tie at #1...

MLB's winter meetings begin this coming Monday. According to new Phillies general manager Rueben Amaro Jr., the Phils' priorities are to add a starting pitcher and to improve the bullpen. Many expected Jamie Moyer to be re-signed by now, but it is likely that the Phillies are only willing to offer a 1-year contract, while Moyer and his agent, Jim Bronner, are wishing for a 2-year dealio. Derek Lowe's name has been in the media this week as a pitcher the Phillies have had talks with. The gift giving season is also upon us. Phillies Phans young and old alike will have the World Series DVD on the wish lists this month. Allow me to give you a tip on where to find the glorious 8-disc set the cheapest. http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewproduct.htm?productId=54055428 DeepDiscount.com offers the full collector's set for the low price of $48.61, no tax, and shipping included. Amazon.com's item description of the bonus features includes this blurb... Alternate audio tra...