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Ladies and gentlemen, pictured above is Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard enjoying some tailgate festivities prior to Sunday's Eagles/Cowboys game outside Lincoln Financial Field. Howard, who recently underwent surgery to repair his ruptured left Achilles tendon, was spotted partying, with crutches in tow. This week the Phillies announced that Howard had progressed to partial weight bearing status. The three-time All-Star has begun a rehabilitation program in Philadelphia. ________________________________________ Picture courtesy of friend of Mrs. Ballz, Deanna. You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE

The Boston Red Sox are set to interview Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum for their vacant managerial position this week, according to WEEI radio in Boston. Mackanin and Sveum will be the first two candidates interviewed by Boston to replace Terry Francona, whose contract was not renewed after a tremendous collapse, as the season drew to a close, that led to the Red Sox missing the playoffs. The 60-year-old Mackanin previously managed the Pirates and Reds in an interim capacity and managed several minor league clubs. Mackanin played in the big leagues with the Rangers, Expos, Phillies and Twins. Mackanin has served as the Phillies' bench coach, under manager Charlie Manuel, for the past two seasons. Svuem, 48, previously coached for the Red Sox from 2004-2005. A former big leaguer, Svuem played for the Phillies, Brewers, Pirates, Yankees, Athletics, Mariners and White Sox. Since 2006 during his tenure with the Brewers,...

Dominican born right-hander Lisalberto Bonilla took great strides in the Phillies developmental system during the 2011 season. As hurlers like Justin De Fratus , Julio Rodriguez , Jesse Biddle and Trevor May excelled on the mound and proved worthy of their high prospect rankings within the organization, they were joined by a fast rising star with great control and a solid repertoire. Bonilla sports a fastball that regularly reaches the mid-90's as well as a great change up and an always-improving slider. Signed by the Phillies in 2008, Bonilla made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Phillies the following year, posting a 6-2 record with a 1.41 ERA and a .189 batting average against in 11 games, all starts. In 2010, Bonilla split his season with the Gulf Coast League Phillies and the short season Williamsport Crosscutters. In 16 combined games, Bonilla went 3-4 with a 3.99 ERA. The 6-feet-1-inch 170-pound Bonilla began the 2011 season in extended spri...

Phillies shortstop prospect Freddy Galvis returned to action on with the Aguilas del Zulia on Wednesday, going 0-for-3 with a walk. The 21-year-old had missed nine days of action with a right wrist ailment that required fluid to be drained from a cyst. Overall in 5 games in the Venezuelan Winter League, the switch-hitting Galvis, has gone 3-for-14 (.214 avg) with no extra base hits. Combined at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley during the 2011 regular season, Galvis posted a .278 batting average with 8 HR and 43 RBI. The Venezuela native, who is strong in the field, stands a good chance of reaching the big leagues next season. Infielder Carlos Rivero , who was claimed by the Phillies last off-season from Cleveland, hasn't had much success in the early going. The 23-year-old has gone just 1-for-16 through 5 games with the Leones del Caracas in Venezuela. His lone hit was a homerun. Another Venezuela born player, Rivero had a strong season (.270/.326/.440) combined w...

On Monday, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was a guest on WIP's Mike & Ike program and discussed his mindset soon after his club took an early bow from the MLB playoff picture and other subjects. Asked if he took time off to get away after the Phillies were ousted from the opening round of the playoffs by St. Louis, Amaro Jr. spoke of staying focused on his organization going forward. "I don't take too long," Amaro Jr. stated. "We've talked with our scouts. We've had a couple of conference calls and meetings- several of them. And we've been doing a couple of different things, but, certainly, lining up for 2012 and beyond has been most of the theme for most of our meetings." The third-year GM also pointed out that he has already had discussions regarding some off-season swaps. "We'll be ready to strike if there's a deal to be made, either by signing somebody or trading for somebody...I've already had several discu...

John Denny was a starting pitcher with the Phillies from 1982-1985. The right-hander was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1970. He debuted in the Majors in 1974, appearing in 2 games as a reliever. By the following year, at age 22, he was a regular in the Cards' rotation. In 1976, Denny won the National League ERA crown with a 2.52 mark. In the three seasons that followed, Denny notched just one winning record and posted an ERA under 4.50 only once. That sort of up and down production got Denny dealt out of town. After the 1979 season, the Cardinals traded him, along with outfielder Jerry Mumphrey to Cleveland for veteran slugger Bobby Bonds. As a member of the Indian's starting rotation, Denny, tallied a 24-23 record with a 4.15 ERA in 3 seasons. In the final month of the 1982 season, Denny was sent to Philadelphia for pitcher Jerry Reed and two minor leaguers. Following that swap, Denny went without a win in four September starts with the Phillies. ...

This week United States Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called on the Major League Baseball Players Association to ban the use of all tobacco products on the field of play, in the dugout, and in the locker rooms at all MLB venues. As the premiere baseball league in the world is in the midst of its championship series, the politicians saw this as an opportune time to apply pressure with million of viewers, including children, tuning in nightly on television. In a recent press release, the senators stated the following: "During the upcoming negotiations over the bargaining agreement, we write to ask that the Major League Baseball Players Association agree to a prohibition on the use of all tobacco products at games and on camera at all Major League ballparks. This would send a strong message to young baseball fans, who look toward the players as role models, that tobacco use is not essential to the sport of base...

While just the other day, PhoulBallz.com took a look at Phillies prospects taking part in the Arizona Fall League , other off-season baseball is underway as well in the form of Caribbean Winter Leagues. Several players with Philadelphia ties are staying in shape and attempting to improve their abilities in these leagues as well. Here's a quick overview of some of those individuals, who all happen to be on the Phillies' 40-man roster. Shortstop Freddy Galvis (pictured), who rose considerably in the Phillies prospect rankings this year when he posted impressive numbers for Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley (.278 combined batting average, a career high 8 homeruns, 43 RBI and 23 stolen bases), has reportedly experienced a wrist injury that has forced him out of action this week. In 4 games with Zulia of the Venezuelan League prior to the ailment, Galvis went 3-for-11 (.273 avg) with 3 runs scored. Another infield prospect, Harold Garcia , who missed much of the 2011...

Autumn is here and the Arizona Fall League is in full swing. The Phillies have several players assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions, where they merge with prospects from the Giants, Red Sox, Angels and Nationals organizations to fill out a roster that does battle with other clubs' talents. Below is a list reviewing all of the Phils' players that are seeing action in the annual fall developmental league. Through 8 games, outfielder Tyson Gillies has gone 5-for-21 (.238 avg) with no extra base hits, 7 walks and 1 stolen base. The Vancouver native, who turns 23-year-old at the end of this month, missed a great majority of the 2011 regular season with hamstring and foot injuries after playing just 28 games in 2010 due to his recurring hamstring problem. He is using this time in the Arizona Fall League as an opportunity to make up for some of the time missed since joining the Phillies organization in the 2009-2010 off-season as part of the return from Seattle for Cliff Lee . I...

In the coming weeks and months we'll be taking a look at several young talents within the organization that could make an impact on the Phillies' big league roster in 2012. With this first edition, we'll review a couple names that could seize an opportunity due to the Achilles tendon injury that Ryan Howard suffered in the final game of the National League Division Series. It's no secret that three-time All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard is expected to miss the start of next season after undergoing surgery on his ruptured left Achilles tendon this past week. While many fans, media members and baseball analysts expect the Phillies to fill the void, next April, with John Mayberry Jr., who played 18 games at first base in 2011, the team will have other in-house options courtesy of a pair of older prospects. Perhaps the leading option from the minors that could fill in while "The Big Piece" is out of action is 25-year-old Cody Overbeck. The 9th round draft pick...

Arnold "Bake" McBride patrolled the outfield for the Phillies in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Originally a 37th round draft pick by St. Louis in 1970, McBride, a Missouri native, proved to be a late round steal, as he cruised through the minor leagues, making his big league debut in 1973 and later being named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1974 when he batted .309 with 6 homers, 56 RBI and 30 stolen bases. McBride was acquired by Philadelphia in June 1977, when the Cardinals swapped him and pitcher Steve Waterbury for Rick Bosetti, Tom Underwood and Dane Iorg. The Westminster College multi-sport star (McBride played track and basketball in addition to baseball) proved to be a valuable contributor, as he posted a .339 batting average with 11 HR and 27 steals in 85 games going forward that year, to help the Phillies lock down a second consecutive East Division title. In the years to follow, McBride in right field paired with Garry Maddox in center field...

On Wednesday, Ryan Howard underwent surgery in Baltimore to repair his torn left Achilles tendon that he suffered on the final play in game 5 of the National League Division Series against St. Louis. According to Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., the timetable for Howard to recover fully is just about what many people expected. "It’s going to be 5 to 6 months from the surgery until he can play at his accustomed level," Amaro said in a statement released by the Phillies. "A lot depends on how he recovers. The start of the season could be impacted, but I still hope he makes his first at bat of the season." Placido Polanco and Hunter Pence each had surgeries this week as well. Pence's surgery went well and he is recovering in Philadelphia, according to a Twitter update posted by the All-Star outfielder. For Polanco it is no wonder why his offensive production suffered down the stretch this season, as his procedure was for a double sports hernia. Another Phi...