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The Phillies have begun planning for spring as news dropped today that they've requested the presence of four non-roster invitees, two of which are new additions, at camp in February. Outfielder Leandro Castro and lefty hurler Cesar Jimenez are two talents who spent this past season in the organization that will be with the big league club when spring training begins next year. Additionally, newly signed veterans Shawn Camp , a righty pitcher, and outfielder Clete Thomas will be included in the Phillies' early plans in Clearwater as well. Castro, a right-handed hitter who was signed as an amateur free agent in 2007, has steadily been criticized for his focus and cockiness during his time in the Phillies' organization. This year in the regular season, the 24-year-old posted a .256 batting average with eight homers and 55 RBI in 117 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Jimenez, 29, has a 2-3 record with a 4.96 ERA and a 6.47 K/9 mark in 62 big league games. The Ven...

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly review of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for he latest on many familiar names, some top prospects and plenty more. Dominican Winter League... 3B Maikel Franco -  The trial of Franco at first base continued as the slugger played his fourth straight game there on Monday.  Franco played eight games at first in the closing weeks of the 2013 regular season with Double-A Reading.  The 21-year-old sports a .328 average with four doubles and seven RBI in 17 games with the Gigantes.  The righty batting Franco had a bust-out 2013, slamming 31 homers and droving in 103 runs in 134 games with Clearwater and Reading this year. LHP Antonio Bastardo - In two appearances, the 28-year-old has pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one without surrendering a hit.  In 48 big league games this year, before m...

On the 46th edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast former Phillies pitching prospect Jake Borup phones in to chat about his college career, his decision to leave pro ball and shares insider opinions on former Phils director of player development Chuck LaMar.  The guys also talk about Roman Quinn 's injury, off-season leagues and enhanced video replay in baseball. 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 .

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly run down of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for loads of details on some familiar names, prospects and more. Arizona Fall League (seven Phils prospects play together on the Peoria Javelinas)... RHP Kenny Giles - The 23-year-old, was the Phillies' lone representative in the AFL Rising Stars Game over the weekend.  In the annual all-star exhibition Giles threw a scoreless frame, striking out two and walking one while impressing many with his 98-100 MPH fastball and his strong slider.  Overall, Giles has allowed six earned runs while striking out eight and walking seven batters in six innings for Peoria, although all of the runs were surrendered in one very unlucky outing.  The right-hander missed considerable time during the 2013 regular season with two oblique strains.  Giles, a 7th round pick in 2011, posted a 6.31 ERA in 24 g...

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...

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly run down of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for loads of details on some familiar names, prospects and more. Arizona Fall League (seven Phils prospects play together on the Peoria Javelinas)...  Catcher Cameron Rupp - Thus far in seven games, Rupp, who made his big league debut with the Phillies in September, is batting .300 with two doubles and four RBI.  Rupp has also been solid on defense, gunning down multiple runners in a game twice in AFL play.  The 25-year-old was the Phils' 3rd round pick out of Texas in 2010. RHP Kenny Giles - The 23-year-old, who regularly throws his fastball in the high 90's, sports a 10.80 ERA through five outings with Peoria.  One disastrous outing (six ER without recording an out) takes away from how Giles has looked in his other appearances (five innings, no runs, two hits allowed, eight strike...

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 premiere edition of our 2013 off-season league updates is here.  Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly run down of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for loads of details on some familiar names, prospects and more. Arizona Fall League (seven Phils prospects play together on the Peoria Javelinas)... Mike Nesseth RHP Mike Nesseth - The Phils' 17th round draft choice from 2010 has allowed four earned runs in four innings while striking out two and walking one thus far with Peoria.  Nesseth sported a 1-5 record with a 2.50 ERA and nine saves in 48 regular season games at three levels during the regular season this year. To hear Nesseth talking about the Arizona Fall League, check out my exclusive interview with him by clicking HERE . OF Aaron Altherr - In three games, the 22-year-old is 3-for-11 (.273 avg) with two RBI and has been unsuccessful in one stolen base attempt....

On this week's edition of the PhoulBallz Podcast Tug and Jay are joined by Phillies pitching prospect Mike Nesseth who discusses the Arizona Fall League, the Phillies' focus on throwing strikes and a proposed street fight between Cameron Rupp 's goatee and Kyle Simon 's mustache.  The guys also chat about the MLB postseason, Yasiel Puig , off-season leagues and plenty more. 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 .

Shane Watson, photo- Jay Floyd A pair of injured Class A prospects have used time at the Fall Instructional League to rehab their ailments and grow close to a return to the field. Phillies top 2012 draft choice (40th overall) Shane Watson has been sidelined since July with shoulder inflammation while third baseman Mitch Walding , the team's fifth round pick in 2011, missed time with a broken rib dating back to the latter portion of August. Neither player will see game action at instructs, but each of them is nearly ready to get back to full baseball activities. Watson, a righty hurler, has been progressing through a rehab program that included arm slot correction therapy and throwing on flat ground. The 20-year-old is slated to throw his first bullpen session in many weeks this Saturday at the Phils' training facility in Clearwater, FL. Instructs will wrap up next week and Watson will continue to follow a strict throwing program through the off-season, after he ret...

Thanks to the folks at Qualcomm for the heads up on a big initiative going on throughout all of Major League Baseball.  For everyone that's ever dealt with weak signals on his or her device at the ballpark, new and improved mobile experiences are coming soon! With All-Star Brandon Phillips on board, helping to spread the word via social networking, the FANtasking has been rolled out and seems quite fun.  Check out the following details from a press release and find out how you could win tickets. Baseball is a game steeped in history and tradition. Unfortunately for fans, the “tradition” of nose bleed seats is as old as the game itself. With its new FANtasking video feature, Qualcomm is making the impossible possible: turning the worst seats in the house into the very best. Granted, hot dog piñatas are likely not going to become all the rage at MLB stadiums, but one thing is clear, the future for fans is brighter than ever thanks to the efforts of Qualcomm and M...

On the 43rd episode of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast, Tug and Jay feature exclusive interview clips of Tyson Gillies , Freddy Galvis and Cameron Rupp talking about what baseball cards they collected growing up.  The guys also reminisce about KYW-TV's Saturday Night Dead program and old school video games. Other topics include Mat Latos ' wife's assault in Pittsburgh, the Indians' season, Delmon Young 's postseason prowess and Carlos Alonso 's defensive achievements.  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 .