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I invite you to visit Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work and get access to material like this before anyone.  Plus you'll get interviews as well as other exclusive content you won't be able to enjoy anywhere else.  I could use, and I would value, your backing. Simon Muzziotti, image- Jay Floyd Since joining the organization Simon Muzziotti has emerged as one of the Phillies' most promising outfield prospects.  Signing infractions by his former organization, the Red Sox, lead the talented youngster to be declared a free agent by Major League Baseball approximately a year after he signed with Boston at the age of 16.  Muzziotti was subsequently inked by the Phillies and has been an attention grabber as he has moved up the developmental ranks with quickness. In 2016, he played in the Dominican Summer League, tallying a .256 average with six doubles, two triples and eight steals in his combined time with the Sox and Phils teams there....

On the 60th edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast, Tug and Jay talk about prospects galore, including Tyson Gillies , Cameron Perkins and Mookie Betts . The guys also discuss the struggling Clearwater Threshers and their disappointing output. The show also features an exclusive interview with pitcher Mark Leiter Jr., with a sweet vocal cameo from Lakewood standout Willians Astudillo . 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 .  

On Halloween day 2008, the Phillies celebrated their second world championship with a parade that drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Philadelphia. Five years later, a former Phils outfielder has won another World Series. This time Shane Victorino has won it all with another team, the Boston Red Sox. The 32-year-old is tied for the Phillies' all-time postseason lead in hits with 47 and had at least a couple massive hits to help contribute to Boston's third title run in ten years. Victorino was featured in a segment of Alaska State Troopers on the National Geographic Channel this week. What better way could there be to celebrate being a World Series hero than to ride along with the po-po? To see the clip of Victorino's time in the squad car, check out the media player below. Additionally, to listen to my insider tales about Shane's rehab time in the minors during the 2011 season, which includes details on his inappropriate chats with teenage ba...

On the 45th edition of the PhoulBallz Podcast, Tug and Jay are joined by former Phillies infielder Desi Relaford , who talks about his time in the minors, being part of a forgettable time in Phils history, John Vukovich being a hard guy to play for, hip hop music, his ventures away from the baseball diamond and much more.  The guys also talk about the World Series, Shane Victorino , Terry Mulholland as well as other topics. 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 .

The Phillies (24-26) are set to begin a four game stretch in which they will face the American League’s Boston Red Sox (31-20). Two of the contests will take place in Boston’s Fenway Park, while the two teams will then head south to play another two games at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. Boston has won nine of their past 12 games and are tied for the division lead in the AL East with the Yankees, while the Phillies failed in an attempt to tie the Washington Nationals for second place in the National League East division on Sunday, when they fell by a score of 6-1. The Red Sox have dominated the Phillies at Fenway, winning eight of the last 10 meetings between the clubs there. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups for the two games in Boston and other key stats from this series. Monday, 7:10 PM. Tyler Cloyd (1-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Alfredo Aceves (1-1, 8.20 ERA). The 26-year-old Cloyd has a 3-2 record with a 4.27 ERA in eight big league starts. Both of Cloyd’s starts ...

Phils hurler Tyler Cloyd relies on superstitions Baseball players are known for being some of the quirkiest of all athletes and, as such, they typically seem to be the most superstitious. Many people feel that superstitions and sports go hand in hand. The habits and things players believe can bring good luck or serve up bad luck are embedded deeply in the game of baseball. Some of the best known player activities based on bringing a positive vibe include kooky actions like Turk Wendell 's oral habits, which involved the former Cubs, Mets, Phillies and Rockies hurler chewing black licorice while he pitched and brushing his teeth between innings. Some players are big believers in physical routines, like the manner in which Mike Sweeney would enter the batter's box, touching his helmet and face multiple times, or how Nomar Garciaparra would unfasten and readjust his batting gloves between each pitch. The superstitions that are widely known are those that belong to ...

On the latest edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast, Tug and I discuss how it's Tyler Cloyd's time to join the Phillies' rotation, Double-A and Triple-A All-Stars, Cody Asche's & Harold Martinez's ascent upward in the developmental ranks and Jay's time at Fenway Park. We also took listeners questions, played the Twitter Game and plenty more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full show, or download it by clicking HERE . Additionally, click HERE to listen to previous episodes of the program. You can also subscribe on iTunes .

Jonathan Papelbon , who signed a $50 million four-year contract with Philadelphia this past off-season after becoming a household name in the Boston organization, expects to see action against his former team for the very first time this weekend.  The Phillies (20-19) will host the Red Sox (18-20) for a three-game series beginning Friday night at Citizens Bank Park to kick off 2012 inter-league play. Papelbon has transitioned easily into the National League, where he has successfully converted all 11 save opportunities with the Phils this season.  In his regular season career, Papelbon has converted 88.8% of his save chances. Boston and Philadelphia are perennial favorites for playoff spots each season, but both have run into difficult times in the early going, this season, as they have been plagued with injuries to injured stars like Carl Crawford , Jacoby Ellsbury , Chase Utley , Ryan Howard and others.  Both teams are in last place in their respective divis...

On Sunday, the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws got a dose of a pitcher destined for bigger things in the near future.  Following righty hurler Matt Barnes' 5 2/3, 8 K, 0 BB, 3 H, 1 ER performance for the Greenville Drive at FirstEnergy Park, the 21-year-old was reportedly promoted to Class A Advanced Salem. According to Lakewood manager, former big league All-Star Mickey Morandini, his BlueClaws haven't seen anything near the likes of Barnes in the South Atlantic League this season. "He's one of the best pitchers in the league. We knew that- we saw him when we first opened, down there in Greenville, so we knew the stuff he had and we knew it was going to be a tough game for us," Morandini said. "So far he absolutely is (the best pitcher we've faced thus far), hands down.  He obviously has a real above average fastball, he was throwing 95, 96 out there with an excellent change up.  He didn't have his real good breaking ball today, but he didn't...

Boston Red Sox pitcher Andrew Bailey, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, the Phillie Phanatic, former Phillies Ricky Bottalico and Mitch Williams, as well as former Eagle Vince Papale and legendary World Wrestling Entertainment ring announcer Howard Finkel all in the same place? Yes, that's happening. This Saturday, January 7th, All-Star hurler Bailey, along with his wife Amanda, will host the Bailey Bowl, a charity bowling event for the Strike 3 Foundation set to raise money for the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and pediatric cancer research. The bowl-a-rama is set to take place at 7 p.m. at the Pinsetter Bar and Bowl on Maple Avenue in Pennsauken, NJ. Admission to the event is $175 at the door. Bailey, a right-handed closer, was born in nearby Voorhees and attended Paul VI High School in Haddonfield. The three-year big league veteran was traded from Oakland to Boston last week in a 5-player deal. Sponsors of the Bailey Bowl include Joe Canal's Liquor, Wilson, Playsta...

Another week, another free agent Friday. The Phillies have signed former Boston hurler Jonathan Papelbon to a deal to become their new premiere relief pitcher. The deal is done, pending a physical examination and is reportedly worth $50 million over four years. The contract also has a vesting option to increase the length to five years and the value above $60 million. It would be the largest free-agent contract for a reliever in MLB history. Papelbon, who will turn 31-years-old later this month, has had a more than a solid career to date with the Red Sox. The 4th round pick from the 2003 amateur draft has a career regular season record of 23-19 with a .233 ERA, 219 saves and a .204 batting average against in his 7 year career. In 18 career postseason contests, Papelbon sports an exceptional 1.00 ERA with a 2-1 record and 7 saves. What's even more impressive is that the Mississippi State product has held the opposition scoreless in all but one of those outings. Comparatively, ...

The Boston Red Sox are set to interview Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum for their vacant managerial position this week, according to WEEI radio in Boston. Mackanin and Sveum will be the first two candidates interviewed by Boston to replace Terry Francona, whose contract was not renewed after a tremendous collapse, as the season drew to a close, that led to the Red Sox missing the playoffs. The 60-year-old Mackanin previously managed the Pirates and Reds in an interim capacity and managed several minor league clubs. Mackanin played in the big leagues with the Rangers, Expos, Phillies and Twins. Mackanin has served as the Phillies' bench coach, under manager Charlie Manuel, for the past two seasons. Svuem, 48, previously coached for the Red Sox from 2004-2005. A former big leaguer, Svuem played for the Phillies, Brewers, Pirates, Yankees, Athletics, Mariners and White Sox. Since 2006 during his tenure with the Brewers,...

A pair of favorites to reach the 2011 World Series are set to square off, as interleague play continues this week. The Red Sox (45-32), who are in 2nd place in the American League East division, travel to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (49-30), who sit atop the National League East division. The teams will begin a three-game series on Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. In game one of the series, Boston will send veteran righty Josh Beckett, who leads the Major Leagues in ERA, to the mound. The Phillies will counter with left-hander Cliff Lee, who has not allowed a run in his past 23 innings. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key details for this series. Tuesday, 7:05PM. Josh Beckett (6-2, 1.86 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (8-5, 2.87 ERA). In 8 road starts this year, Beckett has a 4-2 record with a 2.35 ERA and a .183 batting average against. Beckett missed his last start with the flu. Beckett has a 2-2 record and a 6.26 ERA in 4 career starts at Citizens B...

Down in Ft. Myers, FL on Thursday, led by their pitchers, the Phillies won their third Grapefruit League contest of the year. 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels started the game, then gave way to some hungry young relievers that are trying to make a solid impression on the Phillies' brass this spring. Four pitchers combined to hold the Boston Red Sox to just one hit over 9 innings to help the Phillies claim a 2-0 victory. Read ahead for some key notes on today's Phils' victory and some exclusive quotes from right-hander Scott Mathieson . - Cole Hamels allowed a lone hit in his four innings of work. Hamels also walked one batter and struck out three. -In relief, Scott Mathieson and Mike Stutes each threw a pair of innings. Mathieson walked one batter, while striking out two. Stutes allowed no runners and struck out two batters as well. -Lefty Juan Perez worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th inning, following a walk and two errors, to earn the save. - Jeff Larish sta...

Phillies phans will remember him best as being the player acquired in the deal that sent Darren Daulton to Florida in 1997. Currently, Billy McMillon is the manager of the Greenville (SC) Drive, Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. In his first season as a manager, McMillon has led the Drive to the South Atlantic League Championship Series against the Phillies' affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws, who are trying to become the first club to repeat as league champs since 1994, when Savannah won their second straight title. A South Carolina native, McMillon played collegiate ball at Clemson University, where he still holds the best lifetime batting average, at .382. I spoke with Billy prior the postponement of game 3 of the SAL championship series. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview. _______________________________________________________________ Be sure to follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE .

With the Phillies on the road last weekend, I began to wonder why there isn't a scheduling rule in place for the team from Philadelphia to be home each year on Independence Day. It's the holiday that celebrates the birth of our nation, so why wouldn't Major League Baseball wish to allow the city where our forefathers initiated the start of the World's greatest country to host its national pastime, in celebratory fashion, on the most important federal holiday- America's birthday? Each year in Massachusetts, Red Sox baseball action is scheduled in accordance with a regional holiday. For decades, the Red Sox have played at home on Patriots Day, the day to honor the events that led to the American Revolution, on an annual basis. In addition, the Boston Marathon is slated for Patriots Day each year. Also, every preseason the Phillies are given 2 final spring training games in Philadelphia, known as the On-deck Series. So obviously, the MLB schedule can be made to accommo...

Boston and Philadelphia will meet for the second time this season, as inter-league play sparks back up this weekend. The Phillies (31-27) are in Boston to face the Red Sox (35-27) in a 3-game series. The Red Sox won 2 of the 3 meeting in Philadelphia last month. The Red Sox won 2 of 3 against the Phillies last season also. Jamie Moyer gets the assignment in game 1 to attempt to help dig the Phillies out of their recent struggles, as they've lost 14 of their past 21 match ups. Boston will counter with John Lackey, who boasts a 12-5 record and 2.77 ERA in inter-league play, during his career. The Phillies are just 9-18 (.333 winning pct.) against American League teams since they won the World Series against the Rays in 2008. Loads of details on the pitching match ups and more lie ahead. Friday, 7:10pm. Jamie Moyer (6-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. John Lackey (6-3, 4.72 ERA). In 23 career games against Boston, Moyer has a 6-12 record with a 6.57 ERA. In 26 career games at Fenway Park, Moyer, a fo...

Beginning Friday, Boston visits Philadelphia for a 3-game series to ring in 2010 interleague play for both clubs. The Red Sox (22-20) are in 4th place in the AL East, 8 1/2 games behind the division leading Rays. The Phillies (25-15) sport the best record in the National League and lead the NL East by 4 games over the second place Marlins. The Phillies enter the weekend with a 12-8 home record as the Red Sox start interleague play with an 8-9 road record. Dating back to 2004, the Red Sox have won 14 of 18 games against the Phillies. The Phillies lost 2 of 3 games against Boston in Philadelphia in 2009. Read ahead for info on the pitching match ups and other key details from this series. Friday, 7:05pm...Nationally televised on MLB Network. John Lackey (4-2, 4.86 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.29 ERA). In one career appearance against the Phillies, Lackey allowed 1 earned run in 6 1/3 innings pitched. In 3 road starts this season, Lackey is 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA, compared to his 5.52 ERA i...

Terry: So, what's Reyes' problem now? Jerry: Thyroid... Terry: Thigh 'roid?! Heh...I got 'roids, but they ain't on my thigh! Jerry: Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!! -------------------------------- Give a shot at your own captions or quotes in the comment section... Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE ! Share on Facebook

Famous baseball batter and reported performance enhancing drug abuser, David Ortiz, was doing some holiday gift giving for underprivileged children on Monday, down in the WeCelebrateChristmasLate-ican Republic. Big Papi's foundation, the David Ortiz Children's Fund, helps children with limited financial resources get needed heart operations. During the holiday season, the Fund also apparently employs a whiggity whack Santa Claus and passes out holiday gifts 11 days late. The only thing less genuine than Papi's Santa is Papi's batting statistics. ---------------------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !