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Rhys Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd At long last, it is Opening Day for the Phillies.  The delayed season, a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, gets underway for the Phils and Marlins on Friday, as the two teams open a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Entering the 2020 campaign with new manager Joe Girardi at the helm, the Phillies hope this is the year they can return to the postseason for the first time since 2011 after under-performing and faltering down the stretch in each of the past two seasons. On Thursday, Major League Baseball announced arrangements for an expanded playoff format this year, increasing the amount of post-season teams from 10 to 16. Coming off back-to-back last place finishes in the National League East division, Miami looks to surprise many and contend for one of those spots.  The Marlins lost 105 games last year. Read ahead for specifics on the pitching match ups and more from this series.  Friday, 7/24/20...7:05PM....

In recent seasons, plenty of well-regarded prospects have been traded by the Phillies to acquire established MLB talent and other key contributors. Many of those minor leaguers have been spending time with their respective clubs' big league teams this spring training. Here's a glance at how many of those former Phils' farm hands have done thus far in the exhibition season. Jonathan Singleton , 1B, traded to Houston in 2011 as part of the Hunter Pence deal- 9 games, 4-for-10 (.400 avg.), 1 double, 3 runs scored. Jonathan Villar , SS, traded to Houston in 2010 as part of the Roy Oswalt deal- 4 games, 0-for-2, with 2 walks. Anthony Gose , OF, traded to Houston in 2010 as part of the Roy Oswalt deal (subsequently flipped to Toronto)- 11 games, 4-for-15 (.267 avg), 1 double, 1 RBI. Travis d'Arnaud , traded to Toronto in 2009 as part of the Roy Halladay deal- 7 games, 3-for-15 (.200 avg), 2 doubles, 1 HR, 4 RBI. Kyle Drabek , traded to Toronto in the 2009 Roy Halladay deal...

Recently, we reviewed the prospects that the Phillies dealt to acquire Roy Halladay . As a sequel to that piece, this week we'll take a glance at the minor leaguers that Philadelphia sent to Houston in exchange for Roy Oswalt. Much like the deal for Halladay, the second of the team's pair of Roys, Mr. Oswalt, cost the Phillies a three-piece of young talent. At the time of the July, 2010 deal, Houston was reported to be in the market for a Major League ready contributor to fill Oswalt's void on the roster. The Phillies obliged and sent 2009's Sporting News Rookie of the Year, J.A. Happ , over to the National League Central's current cellar dwellers. After joining the Astros last season, the left-handed Happ did a respectable job, going 5-4 with a 3.75 ERA in 13 starts. This season, however, was considerably different. After posting a 7.66 ERA in 10 combined June/July starts, Happ was sent down to Triple A Oklahoma City, where he sported a 1.50 ERA through 3 starts a...

The various costs the Phillies have paid to acquire their dream rotation of top-of-the-line starting pitchers are high and well-documented. The long-term contracts - including the Phillies’ first-ever $20 million arms – put the monetary cost front and center, but the secondary cost of acquiring these players can sometimes be forgotten. Really, it’s not hard to see why. When players like Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt do what they’ve done for the Phils at the Major League level, caring about what could have been with prospects is pushed aside in favor of appreciation, awe and admiration for what actually is. Still, for nostalgia’s sake, it’s nice to keep tabs on former Philly farmhands. In the case of the Phillies, a slew of young players were exchanged for this lineup of fierce hurlers. Few teams have had the depth and quality – or, at least, perceived quality – of minor leaguers to pull off deals like these, especially not in a two-plus-season span. It’s a big family to monitor. Sadly,...

While pitching in the Dominican Winter League for the Escogido Leones on Saturday, Jamie Moyer was removed from the game after 2 1/3 innings with an elbow injury. Moyer, whose contract with the Phillies expired at the end of the 2010 season, had been sidelined with an elbow injury since mid-season. Moyer was hoping to use his time in the Winter League to get in shape and showcase himself, in order to draw offers from clubs for another year in the Majors in 2011. Moyer, who will turn 48 years old in less than two weeks, has already pitched 24 years in the Major Leagues. With the Phillies in 2010, Moyer posted a 9-9 record with a 4.84 ERA in 19 starts. In 3 Dominican Winter League games, Moyer held opponents to a .190 batting average and posted a 1.69 ERA. Moises Alou, who is the general manager for the Leones team, told reporters that he felt Moyer's pitching days were likely over, due to the severity of the injury. Such a diagnosis is obviously premature and not fully reliable comi...

On Wednesday South Atlantic League president Eric Krupa announced the league's full season all star team that included four honorees from the defending league champion Lakewood BlueClaws. Those who made the team were manager Mark Parent, catcher Sebastian Valle, traded short stop Jonathan Villar and first baseman "The Boss" Jon Singleton, who was also anointed the league's Most Outstanding Prospect. Singleton is the first BlueClaw player to receive the honor. The 18 year old Singleton was drafted in the 8th round of the 2009 amateur draft and has quickly risen in the ranks of Phillies minor leaguers, as a poll that surveyed a dozen minor league experts released this week by the Reading Eagle declared Singleton the #1 prospect in the organization. In 100 games this season for Class A Lakewood, Singleton has posted a .297 batting average, slugged 14 homeruns and driven in 77 runs. Lakewood has clinched a playoff berth and will return to the post-season to defend its SA...

On Thursday I spoke with Lakewood BlueClaws manager and former Major Leaguer Mark Parent about Jonathan Villar's inclusion in the Phillies' deal with the Houston Astros for Roy Oswalt. Parent had managed Villar all season to this point and had really come to like Villar's skills and efforts on the field. Parent spoke about Villar's progress, how Villar was notified of the trade, Villar's future, other rumors and more. Check out the media player below to listen to the complete audio. Also, click here to listen to Mark Parent speaking plenty more about Villar in another recent exclusive interview. In addition to that, I also spoke with "The Boss" Jon Singleton about his rumored attachment to this trade. Singleton, who is ripping up South Atlantic League pitching (.313 avg, 12 HR, 59 RBI, .943 OPS in 71 games with Lakewood) at the age of 18, was long rumored to be on Astros general manager Ed Wade's wish list. Check out the media player below to hear Sin...

With a done deal in the books and the Phillies having acquired the second of two well known All-star pitchers named Roy, let's go over some things. The Astros are sending an undisclosed amount of cash to the Phillies in the deal along with Roy Oswalt for "Jay" Happ, Jonathan Villar and Anthony Gose. Physical examinations could still throw a wrench into the trade. Oswalt has struggled with back issues, having missed time as recently as last September because of the ailment and receiving at least two cortisone shots this year to alleviate his back discomfort. Also, lefty pitcher "Jay" Happ, who is being sent to Houston, missed a considerable amount of time this year with a forearm strain. The Astros will likely need to clear Happ's health status before everything is final. Gose, a speedy left-handed hitting outfielder, led planet Earth in stolen bases last season as a member of the Class A South Atlantic League Champion Lakewood BlueClaws with 76 swiped bags....

After the BlueClaws' loss to Delmarva on Monday, I spoke with manager Mark Parent. I asked Mark about Jiwan James' 20-game hitting streak and James' progress toward becoming an offensive leader for the club, about Jonathan Pettibone's recent success (2.36 ERA & .156 batting average against over his last 6 games) and about Jonathan Singleton's slump. I also asked him about Brian Gump's injury and recovery progress. Gump's forearm was fractured when he was hit by a pitch on Independence Day last week. Check out the media player below to listen to all of Parent's comments. _____________________________________________ Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE . For BlueClaws tickets click here . Upcoming promotions include a Phillie Phanatic & World Series trophy appearance on the 21st and a Dusty Wathan SAL Championship bobble head giveaway on July 22nd. Share on Facebook

I caught up with Lakewod BlueClaws manager Mark Parent after Thursday night's contest. He provided updates on Jarred Cosart's elbow problems, gave input on the progress of all-star shortstop Jonathan Villar and discussed which players Assistant to the Phillies General Manager Pat Gillick thinks has a shining future with the organization. Check out the media player below for all that. _____________________________________ Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE . Share on Facebook