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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 (39-51) continue their road trip when they begin a three-game series against the Dodgers (48-42) on Monday night. Both teams are have a rough go of it in July, as the Phillies won consecutive games for the first time this month on Sunday, when they clinched a series victory against the Rockies, their first since taking two of three games from Pittsburgh nearly three weeks earlier. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, who are in second place in the National League West division, have lost five of their last six games and have average just 2.35 runs per game in their last 17 contests. The Phillies won all three games against the Dodgers in Los Angeles last season. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and loads more statistical information on this series. Monday, 10:10 PM. Joe Blanton (7-8, 4.98 ERA) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (1-5, 4.21 ERA). In 5 career regular season starts against the Dodgers, Blanton has a 1-0 record with a 3.52 ERA. Over his last 4 starts, Blanton is 1-2 with...

The Phillies (36-45) travel to New York to take on the Metropolitans (43-37) in a three-game series beginning Tuesday night. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other statistical notes. Tuesday, 7:10 PM. Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese (6-3, 3.55 ERA). In 7 career outings against the Mets, Worley has a 3-2 record with a 3.60 ERA. Worley has a 1.89 ERA in 6 road starts this season. Lucas Duda is 3-for-7 (.429 avg) with a double and a home run against Worley in his career. The left-handed Niese is 3-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 7 home starts this season. In 11 career starts against the Phils, Niese has a 4-4 record with a 3.86 ERA. John Mayberry Jr. is 7-for-22 (.318 avg) with a double and 3 HR in his career against Niese. Wednesday, 1:10 PM. Kyle Kendrick (2-8, 5.35 ERA) vs. Chris Young (2-1, 3.30 ERA). Kendrick is 4-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 17 career games against the Mets. In 6 June starts, Kendrick posted a 1-4 record with a 6.96 ERA. Young...

It's been a number of years since the Phillies (14-18) were 4 games under .500 at this stage of the season.  That happened in 2007, to be precise, and that year marked the beginning of the club's streak of 5 consecutive National League East division titles.  The Phillies hope to bounce back in the same way they did back then, as they take on the San Diego Padres, who, at 11-21, sport the worst record in the NL. The two teams begin a three-game series on Friday evening. To open the series, the Padres will send lefty hurler Clayton Richard to the mound.  Richard has lost his last 4 starts.  The Phillies will counter with righty Vance Worley , who is fresh off his worst outing of the season when he surrendered 5 earned runs in 6 innings pitched against Washington last Saturday. The Phillies won 3 of 4 meetings with San Diego at Citizens Bank Park last season. Read ahead for more information on the pitching match ups for this series as well as plenty more stat...

With their losing ways, the Phillies (7-10) have quickly begun to draw negative attention, related to their lackluster offense.  As the club struggles to find a remedy (the team has used 13 different lineups, from the 1 through 8 spots, in 17 games), analysts and fans alike have begun to pick apart the club's weak efforts at the plate.  To understand just how poorly the team has performed, take a look at some noteworthy stats and rankings... The Phillies rank 29th out of 30 Major League Baseball teams in runs scored. The Phillies rank 15th out of 16 National League teams in OPS. The Phillies are 29th out of 30 MLB team in extra-base hits. There are only 2 teams in MLB with fewer homeruns than the Phillies. There is only 1 team in MLB with fewer triples than the Phillies. There are just two teams in MLB with fewer doubles than the Phillies. Carlos Ruiz's .760 OPS leads the team.  That's good enough to rank 38th in the National League. Shane Victorino's 3...

Each team will send its top hurler to the mound in the opener of a 3-games series on Monday night, although just one of the two has pitched like an ace thus far in 2012. Philadelphia's perennial Cy Young Award contender Roy Halladay will take the mound at San Francisco's AT&T Park against the Giants in game 1. Halladay is coming off two great outings against the Pirates and the Marlins to begin the season. The Giants will counter with two-time former National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum , who is fresh off the shortest outing of his career, after allowing 6 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Rockies on April 11th. This will mark the pair's first meeting in the regular season. The Phillies won 4 of 7 meetings with the Giants last season, including 3 of 4 in San Francisco. Read ahead for more details on the pitching match ups and loads more stats for this series. Monday, 10:15 PM. Roy Halladay (2-0, 0.60 ERA) vs. Tim Lincecum (0-1, 12.91 ERA). In 3 ca...

This week Phillies All-Star outfielder made his acting debut on the CBS television network's Hawaii Five-O program. The part was small, but that didn't make things any easier for the man known as "The Flyin' Hawaiian". Victorino told Hawaii News Now that filming the show was more stressful than playing in the World Series. ...It's something that I'm not used to doing. Obviously, playing in the game, playing in the World Series, I played the game of baseball everyday as a kid. And I just saw it as another game. I didn't think, 'Okay, I'm playing in the biggest stage of my career or my life', but I just looked at it as playing another game. So, that definitely kept my nerves down, but I'm definitely a lot more nervous now. Trust me. Check out video of Victorino's appearance below. ____________________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . Also connect with PhoulBallz on Face...

For the final series of the regular season, the Phillies (99-60) will travel to Atlanta to face the Braves (89-70), who are battling to clinch the National League wild card for the second straight season. Heading into action on Monday, Atlanta leads St. Louis by 1 games in the wild card race. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key info for this series. Monday, 7:10 PM. Cliff Lee (16-8, 2.38 ERA) vs. Randall Delgado (1-1, 2.70 ERA). Lee has posted a 0-1 record with a 1.57 ERA in his last 3 starts. In 13 road games this year, Lee is 5-5 with a 3.03 ERA. Lee has a 1-1 record with a 5.65 ERA in 3 career starts at Turner Field. Delgado posted a 7-7 record with a 3.88 ERA in 25 minor league starts this season. In 4 home starts with the Braves, the rookie Delgado is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA. Tuesday, 7:10 PM. Roy Oswalt (8-10, 3.86 ERA) vs. Derek Lowe (9-16, 4.92 ERA). In two starts this season against the Braves, Oswalt is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a .200 batting ...

The Phillies (98-54), who have clinched the National League East division title and having locked down home field advantage throughout the playoffs, sit just 2 wins away from the century mark and 4 wins away from an all-time franchise record for wins in a season. With the division rival Nationals (72-79) coming in for a 4-game series, both marks are within reach before the Phils complete their regular season home schedule on Thursday. Right-hander Kyle Kendrick will get things started in the series opener, as the teams will play a twin bill on Tuesday. The Nationals will counter with left-hander Ross Detwiler, who has struggled in his career against the Phillies. In the night cap, Cy Young Award contender Cliff Lee will take the mound for Philadelphia, while Washington is slated to go with rookie Tommy Milone. The Phillies have won 8 of 14 meetings against the Nationals to date this season. Read ahead for more details on the pitching match ups as well as other key details from this s...

As the first place Phillies (81-44) approach the final month of the season, it seems as though each week brings another injury. On Monday, it was announced that shortstop Jimmy Rollins will land on the disabled list with a grade 2 groin strain. Luckily, Placido Polanco, who missed time with a sports hernia, will be activated to fill Rollins' void on the roster. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was quoted as saying he hopes that Rollins' DL stint lasts just 15 days, however it is unclear at this time whether or not Rollins will require a longer period to recover. As Corey Seidman of PhilliesNation points out , Orlando Hudson spent 24 days on the disable list earlier this season with the same injury. The Phillies return home after a series loss to Washington over the weekend that saw the division leaders drop two contests in dramatic fashion in the Nationals' final plate appearance of each game. Philadelphia will play host to the Metropolitans (60-66), who have los...

As news dropped that Placido Polanco and Cole Hamels will miss time, the Phillies (78-41) are set to begin a three-game series against the playoff contending Arizona Diamondbacks (68-53). After Polanco worked out on the field at Citizens Bank Park, the team decided to place him on the disabled list. The All-star third baseman, who has been out of action lately with a sports hernia, tested his body with running and fielding drills on Tuesday, but the call was made to officially place him on the DL retroactive to August 7th. Polanco would then be available to return after just five more days. The move allows the Phillies to add a player to the active roster in the meantime. Surgery is likely in Polanco's future, but he prefers to put it off until the off-season and play through it, as the Phillies head toward a fifth straight post-season. In addition, an MRI on Cole Hamels' ailing left shoulder revealed inflammation and the team has announced that he will skip his nex...

Fresh off a franchise best 9-1 road trip, the Phillies (77-40) return home to begin a home stand with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals (56-61). The Phillies, winners of 12 of their last 13 games, are proud owners of the best record in Major League Baseball, while the Nationals struggle to stay out of last place in the National League East division. In the series opener, the Nationals will send veteran righty Livan Hernandez , who has lost his last three starts at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia will counter with All-star Cole Hamels , who has not lost against the Nationals since April 2nd, 2008. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key info from this series. Friday, 7:05 PM. Livan Hernandez (6-11, 4.41 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (13-6, 2.53 ERA). In 12 road starts this season, Hernandez is 1-8 with a 5.69 ERA. Hernandez is 1-3 with a 6.46 ERA in his last 5 starts. Chase Utley is 12-for-34 (.353 avg) in his career against Her...

The west coast swing continues for the Phillies (74-40) beginning Monday night, as they travel to Los Angeles to start a 3-game series against the Dodgers (52-61). After having their 9-game win streak snapped at the hands of San Francisco on Sunday, the Phillies look to begin a new one with their ace on the mound. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay will start the series opener and will be looking for his league leading 15th win. Los Angeles will counter with righty hurler Hiroki Kuroda, who has been outstanding against the Phillies in the regular season. The Phillies received word on Monday that is set to impact their lineup, as center fielder Shane Victorino has been served a 3-game suspension for his involvement in the bench clearing incident in a game against the Giants on Friday. The suspension would have begun Monday and lasted throughout this series, but Victorino has appealed. When the teams met earlier this season in Philadelphia, the Philli...

On Sunday afternoon, Brad Lidge and Shane Victorino competed for the Double A Reading Phillies for the second straight game against the Trenton Thunder at Waterfront Park, as both men rehabbed from injuries. On consecutive days, both men contributed to a Reading victory, as the R-Phils chase Trenton for the Eastern division Wild Card spot in the Eastern League. Victorino, batting lead-off and playing center field on Sunday, took highly touted lefty pitching prospect deep, out of the stadium in the 1st inning, and rounded 3rd base before Reading manager Mark Parent, manning the coach's box, informed Victorino that the umpire had called it foul. Victorino then sarcastically thanked the umpires for letting him practically round the bases before informing him of the call. He then returned to the batters box and worked a walk. Later in the frame, Victorino stole home on the back end of a double steal. The 30-year-old All-star batted again in the 2nd inning, striking out against Banue...

TRENTON, NJ- A pair of Phillies big leaguers thrilled fans in attendance on Saturday night at Waterfront Park, home of the Trenton Thunder. On rehab assignments with Class Double A Reading, relief pitcher Brad Lidge and Gold Glove Award winning outfielder Shane Victorino contributed to a convincing victory, as the R-Phils won in a rout, 13-2. At the plate, as the team's designated hitter, Victorino, who has been sidelined with a right thumb injury, went 3-for-5 with two singles and a double, while driving in a run. The right-handed Lidge, out with shoulder and elbow ailments, breezed through a 1-2-3 inning on 12 pitches, striking out one batter, inducing a fly out and throwing out the third batter on a come backer to the mound. The 30-year-old Victorino experienced discomfort in his thumb during batting practice and in the game. He was sure it was something that he could and should play through. "The pain's tolerable and that's all that I was worried about,...

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The teams with the two best records in Major League Baseball will face off this weekend, as the Braves (53-36) travel to Philadelphia to take on the National League East division leading Phillies (55-33). Philadelphia will head into the three-game series down an all-star. Center fielder Shane Victorino, who was voted into the final NL All-star roster spot by fans this week, was officially placed on the disabled list on Friday. Victorino injured his thumb after stumbling while making a play last Sunday. The right thumb sprain forces Victorino to the disabled list for the second time this season. Former Brave Pete Orr was recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley to fill Victorino's void. Atlanta has been victorious in 5 of 9 meetings between the two clubs this season. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key info for this series. Friday, 7:05pm. Brandon Beachy (3-1, 3.23 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.44 ERA). In 4 career starts against the Phillies, Beachy h...

Division rivals begin a 3-game series on the birthday of the country, as the Phillies (53-32) travel to Florida to take on the Marlins (38-46) on Independence Day. Florida went 3-22 to begin the month of June, but have gone 4-1 since then. The tough stretch set the Marlins back quite a bit. The club now sits 14 1/2 games behind the division leading Phillies, in last place in the National League East division. Details on the pitching match ups and loads more key stats from this series lie ahead. Monday, 6:10PM. Vance Worley (3-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. Ricky Nolasco (5-4, 4.08 ERA). In 2 career games against Florida, Worley is 0-1 with 3.38 ERA. Worley has a 0-1 record with a 5.25 ERA in 4 road appearances this season. Worley is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his last 3 starts. In his last 4 starts, Nolasco is 1-3 with a 4.88 ERA. Nolasco is 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 13 career games against the Phillies. Shane Victorino is 4-for-26 (.154 avg) in his career against Nolasco. Tuesday, 7:10PM. Cole ...

When the Cardinals and Phillies meet in a 3-game series beginning on Tuesday night in St. Louis, it will be a match up of two teams that have held onto the top spot in their respective divisions, despite repeated injuries all season long. The Cardinals (40-33) are in first place in the National League Central, but they are just 1/2 game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. They'll have a difficult time holding onto that lead as baseball's top hitter suffered a fractured wrist on Sunday in a collision with the Royals' Wilson Betemit. Pujols, the 3-time NL Most Valuable Player, is expected to miss up to 6 weeks with the injury. St. Louis has also lost top pitcher Adam Wainwright for the season to an elbow injury. In addition, outfielder Matt Holliday has spent 2 stints on the disabled list. Nick Punto, David Freese, Gerald Laird, Eduardo Sanchez and others are also currently on the DL. The defending NL East champion Phillies (45-28), with Brian Schneider, Joe Blanton and Brad ...