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  Reading, also known as Baseballtown, will no longer call its team the Phillies As you read here first last week , the Phillies' Double-A club in Reading, PA will undergo a full rebranding, which will include a full name change, the team confirmed on Sunday. The Reading franchise will announce the new nickname, logos and uniforms at an event to be held at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday, November 17th at 12:30 PM. The upcoming change will end the team's run of 46 years as the Phillies. While Reading will continue its long-standing affiliation with the big league team from Philadelphia, the rebranding will occur in an effort for Baseballtown to develop its own identity.  News of the team dumping the Phillies name, in favor of the unknown, was met with displeasure from the public, as fans expressed their shock online. Personally, this was a massive surprise and I was rather disappointed when I learned of the switch last week.  Targeting a new, individual ide...

It's time for another edition of our off-season league updates. Each week, we'll take a tour around the globe for a look at Phillies talents participating in various autumn and winter action. Arizona Fall League (all Phillies talent plays for Peoria)- Catching prospect Tommy Joseph (pictured left) is batting .152 with a double and an RBI in 10 games. The 21-year-old participated in Saturday's AFL Rising Stars Game, and went 1-for-2 in the contest.  Joseph was acquired by the Phillies in the Hunter Pence trade last July. Third baseman Cody Asche also played in the Rising Stars Game, going 0-for-2.  The 22-year-old has posted a .271 average with seven doubles, a homer and seven RBI through 17 games in the AFL. The University of Nebraska product was the Phils’ 4th round draft pick last year. Outfielder Zach Collier has tallied a .295 batting average with three doubles, two triples and seven RBI through 13 games. The lefty hitting Collier was a supplem...

Rosters for the Arizona Fall League's All-Star type showcase were announced on Wednesday with two Phillies prospects among the talents involved.  Third baseman Cody Asche (pictured) and catcher Tommy Joseph will represent their Javelinas club in the seventh annual Rising Stars Game, which will be televised on MLB Network this coming Saturday, November 3rd at 8 PM eastern time. Asche, the Phillies' 4th round draft selection in 2011, was a fast mover upward in the developmental ranks this year. After beginning his first full pro season with Class A Advanced Clearwater, Asche was promoted to Double-A Reading in June. Altogether in 130 regular season games at the two levels, Asche, who recently offered his thoughts on his time in the AFL , launched 12 home runs with 72 RBI and an .849 OPS.  In 15 games with Peoria in the AFL, Asche, a University of Nebraska product, has tallied a .259 average with one home run and seven RBI. Joseph, who was acquired from San Francisco in...

It's another edition of our off-season league updates. Each week, we'll take a tour around the globe for a look at Phillies talents participating in various autumn and winter action.  Venezuelan League- Shortstop Freddy Galvis (pictured, left) is batting .321 with two doubles, a triple and three home runs through 14 games with Zulia. The switch-hitter is just 2-for-16 (.125 avg) against lefty pitchers. Infielder Harold Garcia has been playing some third base for Zulia. The 26-year-old is 4-for-12 with a double and a triple through five contests. Outfielder Tyson Gillies returned to action on Wednesday after missing nine days with a hamstring strain.  Gillies, who turns 24-years-old this week, is batting.385 with a double, a triple and two RBI in seven games for Lara.  Gillies has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, since joining the Phillies organization as part of the Cliff Lee trade with Seattle in December, 2009. Phillies rookie Dar...

Through six relief appearances in the Arizona Fall League righty hurler Colby Shreve has posted a 1.35 ERA while holding opponents to a .167 average. At three levels during the 2012 regular season, the 24-year-old College of Southern Nevada product tallied a 6-3 record with a 3.69 ERA and a 7.38 K/9 mark. A slight adjustment to his arm angle this year helped the 6-foot-5 210-pounder to upgrade his velocity, which was steadily clocked at 95 MPH in 2012. The Phillies' 6th round draft selection in 2008, Shreve had Tommy John surgery and missed his first full season following signing a professional contract, as he recovered. Recently, Colby took some time to offer his thoughts on the AFL and what he's working on while there. Read ahead for that interview. -How did you find out you'd be competing in the Arizona Fall Lg and what was your reaction? I found out I was coming to the fall league about 10 days before our regular season ended. I was excited to come to ...

Fans, off-season leagues are in full swing and each week we'll take a tour to review the performances of your Phillies players that are in action all over the world.  Read ahead for the full rundown. Venezuelan Winter League- With the Lara Cardenales, outfielder Tyson Gillies, who has steadily concerned both the Phillies organization and its fans with his long list of injury troubles and his off-field issues, is currently sidelined with a right hamstring strain. In four contests, the British Columbia native who turns 24-year-old on Halloween, went 7-for-15 (.467 average) with a double and a triple while driving in two runs. Gillies knows his body well following a stream of hamstring and foot issues in recent years and proclaimed, via Twitter last week, that he would be okay. Right now, the lefty hitting prospect is day-to-day and is expected to return to action by mid-week. As a member of the Zulia roster, shortstop Freddy Galvis posted a .405 average with two doubles,...

As the Phillies roll deeper into their off-season, the organization has taken to clearing room on their 40-man roster. On Thursday, the team announced that infielder Pete Orr and catcher Steven Lerud were outrighted to Triple-A.  The 33-year-old Orr batted .315 in 35 games with the Phillies in 2012, but played the majority of his season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  Lerud, who was signed as a minor league free agent last off-season, sported a .200 average in three big league games after being called up in August. Additionally, righty hurler Tyson Brummett , who made his big league debut on the final day of the regular season, was claimed off waivers by Toronto on Thursday.  Brummett was a 7th round draft pick by the Phillies in 2007 out of UCLA.  The 28-year-old will likely serve as organizational depth for the Blue Jays in 2013.  The Phillies' roster now stands at 37 players, along with four players on the 60-day disabled list.  Teams must a...

The Arizona Fall League is in full swing and Phils third base prospect Cody Asche (pronounced ASH-ee) is leading the way for the Peoria Javelinas. Last year's 4th round draft selection out of the University of Nebraska posted a .324 batting average with 12 homers and 72 RBI through 130 combined games with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double A Reading in his first full season as a pro this year.  Thus far in five games, playing for the Javelinas, Asche is sporting a .375 average with four doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.  This week, Cody answered some questions, sharing his thoughts on the AFL, the Phillies' new hitting coach Steve Henderson and plenty more.  Read ahead to check out that full interview. -What are your early thoughts on playing in the Arizona Fall League and the competition there? It is a great experience. You get to play against organizations and players that you haven't seen before. The competition is great.  Everyone playing i...

The Venezuelan Winter League got underway on Thursday and Phillies infielder, Freddy Galvis saw organized game action for the first time since June, when he was sidelined with a back injury.  The 22-year-old played shortstop and laced four hits in five at bats, while slugging a homer and driving in two runs en route to helping Zulia lock down a 10-3 victory over Aragua. As a rookie with the Phillies this year, Galvis, who was signed as an amateur free agent in 2006 at the age of 16, batted .226 with 3 home runs and 24 RBI in 58 games.  Galvis tested positive this year for a banned substance and was suspended for 50 games as a result.  He was able to serve the suspension while on the disabled list and would be eligible for game action at the start of the 2013 regular season. Other Phillies players participating in the VWL include second baseman Cesar Hernandez, who went 1-for-3 in Margarita's 7-4 win over La Guaira.  Hernandez, 22, had a breakout season in 201...

With the Phillies not participating in the MLB post-season for the first time in six years, regional baseball fans are confused about what to do with their time, how much playoff action they can enjoy and who they might root for. Rest assured, fans, it is perfectly okay to cheer for and have been happy when former Phillie Raul Ibanez single-handedly downed the Orioles in game three of the American League Division Series, giving the hated New York Yankees a 2-1 series lead. On Wednesday night, the 40-year-old outfielder/designated hitter pinch hit for superstar Alex Rodriguez in the 9th inning and launched a solo homerun that tied the game at two runs apiece and sent the contest into extra frames. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Ibanez smacked another blast that gave his team a 3-2 victory. Philadelphia fan reaction on Twitter was mixed. Some Philly faithful were happy that the veteran, who has never won a World Series, could help his team in such a tremendous fashion. O...

Tuesday marks the beginning of another baseball season...the Arizona Fall League season.  This year, as the league celebrates its 20th anniversary, representatives from the Phillies organization will team with players from the Reds, Padres, Twins and Mariners to make up the Poeria Javelinas roster. Led by 2012 Double-A Reading Phillies manager Dusty Wathan , the club will feature seven Phils minor leaguers.  Righty relievers Kyle Simon, Tyler Knigge and Colby Shreve , who each manned a key bullpen role for the R-Phils into the playoffs this season, will solidify Peoria’s relief corp.  Left-hander Jay Johnson will also be serving as a reliever for the team.  Additionally, catcher Tommy Joseph , who was acquired by the Phillies in the Hunter Pence trade this year, will see considerable playing time.  Third baseman Cody Asche , who made an impact at two levels in 2012, his first full year of professional baseball, is also on the roster along wit...

Righty pitcher Matt Campbell was drafted by the Phillies in the 24th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of the University of Florida.  In two seasons as a pro, the Tampa, FL native has posted a 4-3 record with a 3.90 ERA, while pitching at three levels. Campbell, who turned 25 years old in September, stands 6-feet-2-inches tall and weighs around 200 pounds.   In this previously unreleased interview with Matt from this past May, we discuss his pitch repertoire, how his pre-pro Rays fandom conflicts a bit with playing in the Phillies organization, recovery from injury and plenty more.  At the time of this interview, Matt had posted exciting stats with a 1-1 record a 1.80 ERA, 3 saves and a .154 batting average against for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. __________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .