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It's the 4th night of Hanukkah and that brings along the #5 video in our annual PhoulBallz top Phillies videos of the year countdown. This video features Phillies prospects Travis D'Arnaud, "Moose" Mattair, Jacob Diekman, Jeremy Hamilton and other members of the 2009 SAL Champion Lakewood BlueClaws performing the Cha Cha Slide during a rain delay at home in May. This is just one classic moment in Lakewood's championship season. Happy Hanukkah, everyone. Everybody clap yo' hands!! ------------------------------ Follow PhoulBallz on Twitter HERE !

It's the third night of Hanukkah. Along with that, it's the third night of the annual PhoulBallz top 8 Phillies videos of the year countdown. For the 6th spot on this year's list we have a three way tie, as they all belong together anyway. These are all news clips that followed the Phillies clinching a berth in their second straight World Series. The first video is a Fox 29 clip of a wild phan taking a tumble off the top of a moving cab. Ouch. The next clip is NBC 10's Claudia Rivero getting air humped during her live remote street appearance. Too Sexy! And then more Fox 29 footage of a phan celebrating atop a traffic light, while attempting to dodge projectile beverages...at the 1:05 mark. Good times. Stay tipsy! ------------------------ Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

Phans, it's Hanukkah and that means we're doing the annual PhoulBallz countdown of top Phillies videos of the year. These are not game moments, these are not necessarily highlights, they are simply the top Phillies videos of 2009 on YouTube. In our countdown, clip #7 features Jimmy Rollins doing promotional work with Red Bull, as he crashes Linc lot tail gate parties, for the Phillies/Mets series over Independence Day weekend, hidden in a Red Bull truck. Phans were surprised and it resulted in some pretty cool footage. Way to go, J-Bull. Bonus content from Red Bull...Jimmy answers the door with a bat and gives a tour of his home- link here . Happy Hanukkah! ------------------------------ Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE for stats, trivia, news and other great stuff!

We started this tradition last year. Each night of Hanukkah, PhoulBallz.com will countdown the 8 best Phillies videos on YouTube from that year. So, as we begin holiday celebrations in the multi-cultural Fam of Ballz, we invite you to light candles with us as we celebrate the festival of lights, deliver gifts to children, eat latkes and light candles. This year's #8 Phillies YouTube is a clip of the Phillies' radio broadcasters' call of the NL East division clincher. It's really not a video, but it's on YouTube, while TV calls are not, because MLB is stingy with their footage...thus we have the radio call. Scott Franzke is a gem and this clip is outstanding as he paints a picture. The entire situation was great...from the stadium scoreboard staff not notifying the crowd in attendance and the players of the field that the Phillies were already division champs due to a Braves loss seconds prior to the final out, to Charlie Manuel calling on Brad Lidge to pitch the fin...

The Phillies are just about ready to wrap things up at this year's Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Wednesday was the third day of the meetings, and, while the team was involved in many rumors, the Phillies didn't make any moves. The Ross Gload deal is technically pending until Gload passes a physical. Brandon Lyon agreed to terms on a 3 yr/$15 million deal with Ed Wade's Astros. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro stated that the Phillies were involved deeply in negotiations with Lyon but that Wade stole him away. Rumors surfaced that the Phillies were in the mix again for a trade with Toronto involving ace pitcher Roy Halladay. Talks mainly had names like Domonic Brown and Michael Taylor attached, but GM Ruben Amaro stated Thursday morning that a big trade like that getting done is not likely. On Wednesday, Brown was named to the 22 player Arizona Fall League top prospect team. PhoulBallz interviewed both big OF prospects during their '09 minor league campaigns...here are links i...

Aside from the reported 3-team blockbuster involving the Yankees, D-Backs and Tigers that moved Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson and Max Scherzer, the biggest deal of the meetings thus far has been the impending move of reporter Peter Gammons from ESPN to MLB media and NESN. MLB.com's Mike Siano and other sources report the deal is done and the crossover will coincide with the new year. The Phillies added more reserve depth by signing OF/1B Ross Gload on Tuesday night. Such a move enhances what became a weak spot for the Phils in 2009, their bench. More on Gload's signing from PhoulBallz here . Regarding the Phillies interest in Brandon Lyon, it is not confirmed that the Phillies have made an offer, but GM Ruben Amaro confirmed the team has offered contracts to players, although he did not believe a deal was close with anyone, prior to the Gload announcement. That could mean any offer to Lyon was possibly a low-ball gesture and the team & player are likely not in the same ...

The Phillies made a move by signing free agent Ross Gload late Tuesday night. Gload, who will turn 34 years old on opening day next year, is a career .283 hitter in 608 Major League games. The lefty hitter, who led the National League in pinch hits this past season, will add depth to the outfield and can play first base. Leading up to the announcement of the signing, rumors had surfaced stating that Gload had 2-year offers on the table from the Braves, Marlins and Phillies. Gload decided to go with the National League champs. While this deal adds depth to the team, it was not a necessary signing. Outfield was likely the area at which the Phillies were best stocked, going into next season. Their three starting positions are filled by a trio of all stars (Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez), while Ben Francisco and his low salary are locked into a back up role. The Phillies have John Mayberry Jr., who played 39 games with the big league Phillies in 2009 and hot prospect ...

Lots of talk, no moves at all for the Phillies on day 1 of the 2009 Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. Relief pitching should be the priority. The Phillies are in the market to retain some of their own, as well as add some players who have become free agents from other team. Near the top of the list seem to be Chan Ho Park returning and perhaps Brandon Lyon, the former Tiger and D-Back. The Phillies met with Park's agent Jeff Borris on Monday, and talks remain ongoing. In 374 career games, the 30 year old Lyon has a 4.20 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Trade rumors mainly surrounded only one current Phillie...Joe Blanton. ESPN's Jayson Stark reported that the Phils quietly let other teams know they'd listen to offers for Blanton. Ideally, they do not wish to trade him, but if the deal could improve the club and/or offer enough salary relief, it could interest the National League champs. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters that re-signing Pedro Martinez is something that cou...

Emory "Bubba" Church was a pitcher with the Phillies from 1950-1952. Like Curt Simmons, Church was a strong-armed Phils farmhand who quickly moved through the minor league system. Following 15 wins at Toronto in 1949, he earned a shot in the big leagues and debuted with the Phillies in 1950. Church had some solid success with the team. As a rookie, Church was initially used out of the bullpen. By the middle of the 1950 season, Church was inserted into the starting rotation and helped the Phillies win the National League crown with some convincing wins. He won five of his first six starts, including a couple of shutouts. In mid-September that season, Church took a line drive to his face off the bat of Cincinnati's Ted Kluszewski. Church would be carried off the field on a stretcher. He made one final start that season, but was not used in the World Series. In 1951, Church started the season slowly. He won just 3 of his first 8 starts. However, starting in late May...

I was happy to be wrong in doubting the Placido Polanco rumors, as they sprung up Wednesday night. Not so much because I am in love with that signing, but because I am relieved that the only vacant position on the starting defense is filled, an the team can now focus on filling the remaining holes in the pitching staff. The acquisition of Polanco is a solid one. Based on the expected impact on the actual lineup (Shane Victorino moves from the 2 hole, down to the 7th spot and Polanco brings his discipline to the 2 slot), this addition should be an improvement. Declarations that the Phillies dropped the ball by signing "a declining hitter" are considerably premature. Yes, at the time, it seemed that the Phillies may have overpaid last offseason when they gave Raul Ibanez a 3 yr/$30 million contract, but that was proved to be a good move as Ibanez began the season in scorching fashion and became an all star for the first time in his career. Could the same be in the cards ...

Several reports popped up Wednesday evening stating that the Phillies have elevated their pursuit of Placido Polanco, to fill their void at third base. In the past three seasons with Detroit combined, Polanco has been a .310 hitter. His season average over those three seasons was 9 homers, 65.7 RBI and 92.3 runs scored. By comparison, departed Phils third baseman Pedro Feliz has hit .256 over the past three seasons and has averaged 15.33 homers, 70.7 RBI and 55.3 runs. Feliz is roughly 6 months older than Polanco, but both are age 34. Other teams are interested in Polanco also. Teams interested in Polly include former Phillies GM Ed Wade's Houston Astros. The Astros, also rumored to be in the mix for free agent Brett Myers, may continue to lengthen their list of ex-Phillies (Mike Bourn, Chris Coste, Jason Michaels, Geoff Geary & Yorman Bazardo). Other options for the vacant third base spot are still the same list of usual suspects...Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and Miguel Tejada....

Because I know you haven't seen it before, above is behind the scenes footage of Ryan Howard at a Powerade commercial shoot. What's that? You're thirsty for more? I made a sports drink joke there. Did you get it? Oh...say, "HA", and shut up then. Check out the full length advertisement below. ----------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !