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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 ...

READING, PA- As the rain fell, so did the Reading Phillies. New Hampshire left fielder Danny Perales slugged a 2-run go ahead homerun in the 9th inning, to end the R-Phils' season and clinch a spot in the Eastern League Championship Series for the Double-A Toronto affiliate. The Fisher Cats, the Eastern division champions, won the series 3 games to 1, over the wild card entrant Phillies, and will move on to face Richmond (Giants affiliate), in the title series. Richmond swept Harrisburg in the opening round. The R-Phils got the scoring started in the 2nd inning, when catcher Tuffy Gosewisch hammered an offering from NH starter Joel Pino deep to left-center for a solo homerun, to give his club a 1-0 lead. As Reading right-hander Tyson Brummett cruised, keeping the bases clear in the early going, the score stayed the same. It was with 2 outs in the 4th inning that the Fisher Cats' lineup finally got to Brummett, as Moises Sierra notched the first hit for NH. Eastern L...

Former Phillies catcher Sal Fasano has a new career as a minor league manager. Currently with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, Fasano is focused on helping young players develop and inspiring them to live and love baseball. Originally drafted by Kansas City in 1993, Fasano became a fan favorite throughout his playing career in places like Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York and other cities. Over 11 big league seasons, Fasano batted .221 with 47 career homeruns in 427 games played. Fasano began managing in 2010, when he led Toronto's Class A affiliate, the Lansing Lugnuts, to a 70-69 record. I had the opportunity to speak with Sal prior to New Hampshire's series at Trenton this past weekend about his transition into managing, his time with the Phillies, his old school vibe and plenty more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview. ____________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twit...

Phillies phans should remember Sal Fasano fondly. In 2006, Fasano was the Phillies' back up catcher who hit .243 and slugged 4 homers in 50 games played. Sal's unique mustache and tough guy vibe won over the Philadelphia crowds and a fan group called Sal's Pals was born. Prior to playing with the Phillies, Fasano debuted with the Royals, and made stops in Oakland, Colorado, Anahiem and Baltimore. Fasano was a true journeyman who had no qualms about his reserve role where ever he went. Today, Twitter user and Phillies phan Sara Scott passed along an article that I feel deserves mention here. SI.com's Jeff Pearlman detailed the Fasano family's struggles with health coverage for their 2 year old child, Santo, who suffers from a serious heart condition. The article can be found here . Santo's condition, hypoplastic heart syndrome, requires medical attention to help his underdeveloped heart to mature properly. To this point, Santo's surgeries have cost over $1 mi...