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Phillies third base prospect Cody Asche is back once again to check in directly from spring training in Clearwater, FL. A 4th round draft selection in 2011 out of the University of Nebraska, Asche has been a fast rising prospect since joining the Phillies organization. Last year, the 22-year-old, in his first full professional season, tallied a .324 batting average with 12 home runs, 72 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 130 combined games with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading. Asche followed that up with a .281/.343/.438 line with Peoria in the Arizona Fall League, then went 5-for-14 (.357 average) with two doubles in eight big league spring games this year. In the latest edition of The Cody Chronicles, Asche speaks about being reassigned to minor league camp, Phils legend Mike Schmidt , what he took from his time with the big league team and plenty more. Sharing his thoughts on being reassigned to minor league camp recently... "It's something that, whe...

When reviewing the MLB Network's Phillies preview on their 30 Clubs in 30 Days program, their version of the All-time Phillies Homegrown team jumped out at me as pretty remarkable. Here's what the squad looked like. SP- Robin Roberts C- Bob Boone 1B- Ryan Howard 2B- Ryne Sandberg 3B- Mike Schmidt SS- Jimmy Rollins RF- Greg Luzinski CF- Richie Ashburn LF- Del Ennis RP- Ricky Bottalico Certainly, there are players on that list who are indisputable. Howard, Schmidt, Ashburn and probably Ennis (as I think Chuck Klein does not qualify because he was not drafted by, or originally signed by, the Philadelphia Phillies) have no competition in their respective positions. Ferguson Jenkins, also a Philadelphia product, could be an option at starting pitcher over Roberts, but there is likely no incorrect choice with either one of those. The most debatable assignment on the list is Ryne Sandberg. Aside from the initial displeasure of seeing Sandberg on the list, because he achieved his succ...

Occasionally, The Sporting News includes a feature called "Since You Asked..." that allows readers to send in questions that are answered by a surprise former or current athlete. In the latest issue of the magazine, a Philadelphia resident named Drew Floyd wrote in, asking if a public campaign, by a forgiving society, could assist in helping Pete Rose gain entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Drew also wondered, "is baseball stuck in its ways?" Rose is banned from baseball for betting on baseball games, while he was the Reds' manager in the 1980's. Drew's inquiry mentioned Mark McGwire's steroid use as an example of the baseball public's pardon. Lucky for the Philadelphian, Drew, his letter was answered by Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman, and Rose's friend, Mike Schmidt. Schmidt's opinions over the years have fluctuated. Years ago he stated that Mark McGwire would get his vote for the Hall of Fame, if Schmidt had one. Schmi...

This week, Mike Schmidt spoke with West Palm Beach's NBC affiliate, Channel 5, about the recent news relating to Mark McGwire and steroid use. Schmidt was asked what he thought of Mark McGwire's announcement earlier this week that he used illegal drugs during his playing career. "It's good that he is freed up to pursue his new job, which is hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. In that sense it's good. Never good for baseball when one of its all-time great stars, a guy like Mark McGwire who was so big in the late-90's into the early 2000's, helped save the game of baseball along with Sammy Sosa, officially admits to having used steroids, during that period. I think a lot of people were let down." Schmitty, who annually acts as a guest instructor during spring training, was asked what he might say if he runs into McGwire during spring training... "I would be a little nervous. I'm not sure I could say to Mark, 'Hey Mark, ya know......

Twenty years ago tomorrow, Mike Schmidt delivered a touching speach, announcing his retirement from baseball. That's twenty years since a Hall of Famer has played for the Phillies. As a salute to Schmitty, I'll be waking up quite early in the morning and at 5:48 AM, I will blow my car horn 20 times as a salute to Michael Jack Schmidt. If 20 and 548 don't ring a bell, that's Schmidt's jersey number and how many homers Schmidt hit in his legendary career. Please join PhoulBallz.com and toot your own horn, along with us. *DISCLAIMER* PhoulBallz is not responsible if you wake up your neighbors and they beat you with a Louisville Slugger as though they were Michael Jack and you were a Rick Reuschel curveball. "I could ask the Phillies to keep me on to add to my statistics, but my love for the game won't let me do that." -Mike Schmidt

Jim Thome smashed a homerun on Monday night off Jesse Carlson of the Blue Jays to tie Mike Schmidt for 13th most all time in MLB. Both sluggers have 548 homeruns. A tip of the hat to big Jim, from PhoulBallz.com, on this milestone.

I've read some sour reports and opinions online today about Jamie Moyer. Most are, more or less, leaning toward Moyer being replaced in the rotation. I'm not for that. The WSBGM guys consider Moyer going the route of Geoff Jenkins and Adam Eaton, as guys who were signed to considerable contracts, and were later cut and owed the full amount. Scott Lauber mentioned it, but simply touched on the idea of Moyer being bumped from the rotation in place of "Jay" Happ. Others are not pushing the emergency button yet and simply discussing Moyer's struggles. I'm not that relaxed either. Todd Zolecki quotes Moyer as not being worried, and Charlie Manuel saying "Our pitching is what it is. We signed those pitchers to pitch. Will I stay with them? Of course I'll stay with them." In just a couple of weeks, the whole Phillies world will reminisce, when on Friday May, 29th, we look back two decades and remember Mike Schmidt's retirement. Schmidt retired in...

I have a desk calendar that provides daily trivia, facts and such, all about baseball. Today's question: Who was the first player to have his signature engraved into the barrell of a Louisville Slugger bat? (Pause, think it over.) Today's answer: Honus Wager. One of the recent calendar entries had to do with Curt Schilling leading our Phillies in wins and K's during the 1990's. When the question was asked, the answer came easy for me. But that got me wondering about who the team's offensive leaders were, for the same decade. The hitting leaders would not come to mind as swiftly. In the categories of HR's and RBI, would it take anyone longer than a second to tell you who led the Phillies in those categories in the 1980's? What about the 2000's? (Pause, think it over) In the 90's, was it Rolen? Dykstra? Kruk? Lieberthal? Abreu? None of those are the correct answer. Darren Daulton led the Phillies in homers during the 1990's with 110. His RBI total ...

With the World Baseball Classic less than 24 hours away, here is a little something to get you in a patriotic mood. USA! USA! USA! ***** Colbert Hamels made his 2009 spring debut today. He pitched 2 scoreless innings against Team Canada, allowing 2 hits and a walk. John Mayberry Jr., Jeremy Slayden and Raul Ibanez led the offense, as our Phils won 9-2, scoring runs off all 5 Canadian pitchers faced.

This week, we've all been pounded (not in a Matt Stairs kind of way) with news about Alex Rodriguez and his positive test for performance enhancing drugs. Rodriguez came clean, in an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons, admitting that he took steroids for at least 3 seasons while playing for Texas, and admitting that he lied in previous interviews when asked about it. The test results were to remain anonymous, thus MLB is unable to punish Rodriguez over the maliciously released news. Instead, Commission Bud Selig can only chastise Rodriguez, saying that he has shamed the game. Rodriguez's confession has also drawn concern from the management of the Yankees. General Manager Brian Cashman stated, "I'm not confident about anything, about anybody." And manager Joe Girardi expressed his desire to keep a closer eye on players that he has concerns about. Alex Rodriguez is a cheater. Much like a cheater in school or in a relationship. Is the cheater sorry when he/she ...

The latest issue, dated February 2nd, of the Sporting News features a cover story on Phillies slugger Ryan Howard. In the issue, Ken Bradley asked Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt who would hit more homers, Howard or Schmidt, in Schmidt's choice of an era. Old #20 had this to say about choosing himself... This era and the stadiums they play in today- and it's not a chip-on-the-shoulder thing or sour grapes by me- it's probably about a 10-a-year difference. Slicing the ball to the opposite field and having it go out of the ballpark didn't happen very often when I played. I flew out to the opposite-field warning track maybe 50 times a year, and 10 of those would go out of the park now. (But) we'd be very similar. In terms of being able to go 50-plus, 60-plus, he might have a little bit more of that kind of ability, but our numbers would probably average somewhere in the 40's on a regular basis. Please chime in with your thoughts on this matter in the commen...

The baseball world is buzzing this week with arbitration talk and World Baseball Classic roster announcements. Firstly, Tuesday was the day when players and teams exchange dollar numbers for arbitration. Reportedly, Ryan Howard is asking for $18 million, while the Phillies offered $14 million. So, if the two sides reach an arbitration hearing again this year, Howard would, at least, get a 40% raise. Wouldn't we all like to be guaranteed a 40% pay increase this year? While MVP-runner up Howard stayed headed toward arbitration, Ryan Madson , Joe Blanton and Shane Victorino have all come to terms with the Phillies on new contracts. Madson's deal is worth $12 million, with incentives, over 3 years. Shane's deal is for one year, and is for $3.125 million. Big Joe's contract is also a 1-year deal, worth $5.4 million. The remaining Phillies still up for arbitration, aside from Howard, are Jayson Werth and Chad Durbin . Werth is said to have requested $4 million, while...