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The four-time defending National League East division champion Phillies head to Atlanta this weekend to take on the team that many experts say has the greatest chance to dethrone the kings of the east. In Atlanta's home opener, the Braves will send Tim Hudson to the mound, as the Phillies counter with top off-season free agent acquisition Cliff Lee. The return of Lee to Philadelphia drew many comparisons, for the Phillies' starting rotation, to the Braves well known pitching staff of the 1990's that included Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Read ahead for analysis on the pitching match ups for this series as well as plenty more key stats. Friday, 7:05pm. Cliff Lee (1-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Tim Hudson (1-0, 1.29 ERA). Lee has made 2 career starts at Turner Field and has a 1-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in those games. April is Lee's best career month for ERA at 2.88. In 18 career games against the Phillies, Hudson has a 6-7 record with a 3.79 ERA. In 82 career start...

It took the club 11 tries, but the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws finally won a home opener on Thursday night. Behind solid pitching from lefty starter Mario Hollands, Tyler Knigge and Eric Pettis, the two-time defending South Atlantic League champions locked down the 2-0 win over the White Sox affiliate, the Kannapolis Intimidators. The offense for both teams was minimal, but Lakewood first baseman Jim Murphy got the 'Claws on the board in the 2nd inning, when he led off the frame with a deep drive onto the left field berm off of Kannapolis right-hander, former Monmouth University stand out, Ryan Buch. "Our pitching was the story. And obviously, Murphy coming up with a big hit, in his first at bat, just to get us on the board was key," said first-year BlueClaws manager Chris Truby. On an evening that began with the raising of the team's second straight title banner, the BlueClaws didn't get their second hit of the game until the 7th inning when third baseman Jeremy...

Jesse Biddle, is beginning the 2011 season with the organization's Class A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws after spending last season with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies and the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. Combined in 12 starts, the left-handed Biddle posted a 4-1 record with a 3.92 ERA and 50 strike outs in 43 2/3 innings last season. Biddle, the Phillies' top draft pick in the 2010 amateur draft, grew up as a Phillies fan and graduated from Germantown Friends School in last June. The 19-year-old, will start the season as the BlueClaws' number 3 starter. I spoke with Jesse this week, prior to Lakewood's exhibition outing against Monmouth University, about his spring training, his impressions of his new team and more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview. To read my previous player feature on Biddle, click here . _________________________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitte...

Former Phillies top draft pick Anthony Hewitt is back in Lakewood with the Class A BlueClaws for a second go around. Hewitt was a member of the 'Claws squad last year that brought home a second consecutive South Atlantic League championship but slumped throughout much of the campaign. Hewitt, a 6-feet-1-inch 190-pounder, was the Phillies' 1st round draft pick (24th overall) in 2008 out of Salisbury High School. In three seasons in the Philadelphia developmental ranks, Hewitt has struggled. In 210 minor league games at three levels, Hewitt has posted a .208 batting average with 19 homeruns and 88 RBI. Drafted as an infielder, Hewitt moved to the outfield last season and is slated to split time in the outfield and as a designated hitter for the BlueClaws this season. The Brooklyn, NY native got his 2011 season in Lakewood off on the right foot, as he broke up a scoreless exhibition game on Tuesday night by slugging a 90 MPH fastball from Monmouth University freshman Stephen Frye ...

New BlueClaws manager Chris Truby is ready to begin his campaign to chase a threepeat of South Atlantic League titles for the Phillies' Class A affiliate in Lakewood. Truby played fifteen seasons of professional baseball, including four seasons in the Major Leagues with Houston, Montreal, Detroit and Tampa Bay. The 2011 season marks his third year in the Phillies' system. The past two seasons Truby, 37, was the skipper of the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. The Indiana native is now the ninth manager in club history. I spoke with Truby, about his players, spring training and several more subjects. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview. _________________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .

Top Phillies pitching prospect Jarred Cosart took to his Twitter account on Sunday evening to compare the Phils' High A Level Clearwater Thresher pitching staff to the highly regarded pitching staff of the Major League parent club. In a tweet, Cosart declared that the Threshers' pitching staff was loaded. Cosart stated that the core of the pitching staff, which helped lock down a South Atlantic League title for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws last season, Brody Colvin , Jonathan Pettibone , Trevor May as well as himself, were "The Fab Four". An image of the statement is featured below. Interestingly enough, just as so many experts and fans stated their affinity toward the Phillies' pitching staff and left out the fifth man, Joe Blanton, Cosart also neglected to include Clearwater's proposed fifth starter, Julio Rodriguez . A Puerto Rico native, Rodriguez split time with Lakewood and short-season Williamsport last season, but became a key addition to the ...

Jim "Jumbo" Elliott was a pitcher with the Phillies from 1931-1934. A left-hander, Elliott made his Major League debut in 1923 with the St. Louis Browns, but played in just one game with them before landing in the Brooklyn Robins organization. With Brooklyn, Elliott was a reliable pitcher who posted a 3.89 ERA over 4-plus seasons. However, following the 1930 season, Elliott was a piece of the trade that sent Lefty O'Doul to Brooklyn along with Fresco Thompson. The 6-foot-3-inch, 250-pound Elliott came to Philadelphia with Clise Dudley, Hal Lee and cash. In his first season with Philadelphia, Elliott enjoyed the most successful year of his career. That year the Missouri native appeared in a National League high 52 games (30 starts) and led the league in wins with 19. In 1931, Elliott threw 12 complete games and recorded 5 saves. Although three other Phils pitchers had lower ERA's than Elliott's 4.27, he was the team's only hurler to post a winning record that s...

With minor league opening day coming up next week, rosters for the Phillies' developmental levels were posted in Clearwater on Saturday, mere hours before players would depart for their new temporary home towns. Full roster information lies ahead. Single A Lakewood BlueClaws- Starting pitchers... Jesse Biddle , Colby Shreve , Mario Hollands , Ervis Manzanillo , David Buchanan . Relief pitchers...friend of the site Jake Borup, Eric Pettis , Juan Sosa , Garett Claypool , Tyler Knigge , Bryan Morgado , Chase Johnson . Infielder... Jim Murphy , Stephen Batts , Jeremy Barnes , Geancarlo Mendez , Carlos Perdomo , Edgar Duran . Outfielders... Zach Collier , Domingo Santana , Aaron Altherr , Miguel Alvarez , Anthony Hewitt . Catcher... Torre Langley , Cameron Rupp . Disabled list... Nick Hernandez , Mike McGuire . McGuire is recovering on schedule from blood clot surgery in February and will report ro extended spring training to rehab with Phillies trainers this week. High A Level Clearwa...

With cold temperatures, rain and some snow in the forecast on April 1st, it's no wonder the Phillies' public relations department didn't follow their normal procedures in releasing the itinerary for gameday festivities for opening day ahead of time. The weather isn't slated to be very normal, so why would anything else be? Courtesy of TheMorningCall.com, here's the schedule of events for the 2011 season opener at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. 7:00 a.m.- Majestic Clubhouse Store opens. Hot off the presses: New Phillies magazine featuring the Phillies starting rotation on the front cover. 10:35 a.m.- All gates open. All fans will receive a 2’x3’ replica of the 2010 National League East Champions Pennant (that will fly above Ashburn Alley all season), compliments of Modell’s Sporting Goods. Opening Day Block Party, Citizens Bank Way: Plenty of music featuring Philly Funk Authority, as well as food and fun. (No time listed)- Phillies batting practice. 11:34 a.m...

To open the 2011 season, Ed Wade's Houston club that regularly features many ex-Phillies heads to Philadelphia for a three game series. Wade, of course is the current Astros general manager who used to hold that same position in the Phillies' front office. On opening day, the Phillies will be led by Roy Halladay, who got his very first taste of the postseason last year in his initial season with Philadelphia. The Astros will send former Phillies opening day starter Brett Myers to the hill to challenge the defending National League East division champions. In their history, the Phillies are 57-69-2 on opening day. Read ahead for analysis of the pitching match ups and plenty more details from this series. Friday, 1:05pm...Brett Myers (14-8, 3.14 ERA in 2010) vs. Roy Halladay (21-10, 2.44 ERA in 2010). Myers, the Phillies' first round draft pick in 1999, was one of the most consistent starting pitchers in all of MLB last year when he pitched at least 6 innings in his first 3...

It's a landmark occasion here on PhoulBallz.com, as everyone prepares to ring in a brand new baseball season. This site began as a semi-weekly blog affiliated with a Fox Sports Radio station in Trenton, NJ in May 2008. As that year went on and the Phillies drew closer to their second ever world championship, this site matured. Content came more frequently and by the following year PhoulBallz was affiliated with a different division of Millennium Radio, regular radio segments came, as did media credentials and the site grew more and delivered loads of minor league content in addition to MLB news . These days, PhoulBallz.com continues to serve as a platform for its author, Jay Floyd, to keep its readers as close to the game as possible by offering exclusive, inside content that readers can't get anywhere else. On this occasion, thanks must go out to many folks who have helped the growth of the site. I would like to offer my appreciation toward those who have helped to turn a hob...

With another Major League Baseball season ready to get underway, I inquired with several baseball aficionados this week, to investigate how the 2011 season will pan out in many aspects. The individuals I spoke with were all baseball experts in their own right...Tyrone Johnson, who hosts 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide , Michelle O'Malley of the blog known as Chicks Dig The Long Ball , Bill Baer of CrashburnAlley.com , local sports reporter Kevin McGuire , Dick AKA "The Man With the Golden Arm" of 1BlueJaysWay.com , Peter AKA "Whole Camels" from TheGoodPhight , Pat Gallen of 97.3 ESPN and PhilliesNation , Mike Frohwirth from Philliedelphia.com and author of the new baseball themed mystery novel Game 7: Dead Ball Allen Schatz. I provided my own answers to the inquiries as well. In the graphic below, you will see each contributor's predictions for Phillies wins, how many games Chase Utley will play this season, playoff teams, World Series results as wel...