I believe it is foolish to get wrapped up in Spring Training statistics, particularly when they come from players who have already secured roster spots.

When a player goes through an 0-for 10 stretch at the plate, it’s not something that gets me worked up, and likewise if a young player goes through a 7-for-10 stretch I don’t jump to the conclusion that the Phillies have the next great thing on their hands.

But once in awhile I see something in Spring Training that holds my attention. Today Cole Hamels did exactly that.

The notion that the Phillies chances of winning  a second World Series in three years hinges on Hamels being the pitcher of 2008 and not the sub-.500 one of 2009 [...]

 From 1976 to 1980 they won 4 NL East titles, 1 National League Pennant and 1 World Series.

 From 2005 to present they have won 3 National League East titles, 2 National league Pennants and 1 World Series.

The first team included the group known as the Whiz Kids, with nearly every member of the team either in the hall of fame, or close to it, and known nationally as household names due to the exposure they recieved during their dominance.  The second team is still playing so does not have the advantage of securing a historical place in our minds and memories as of yet, but may equal or exceed the ability and statistics of the first group of Phillies superstars. 

This [...]

After starting last year against the perennial rival Atlanta Braves, the Phillies will have a chance to start off strong an immediately separate from the rest of the National League East.  Their first 9 games come against 2 teams that went a combined 133-191 in 2009.  With the addition of staff ace Roy Halladay and 5 of their first 8 series coming against sub .500 teams from 2009, the Phillies may have a real shot at the best start in team history.   Halladay may have 3 starts against National League bottom feeders before he is put to his first true test.

It is funny though, from all the reports I have read, and out of all the quotes attributed to Halladay, [...]

Thank God, baseball is back ! 

Pitchers and Catchers reported a day early as the Phillies get geared up to try to make it 4 in a row.  The role that used to belong to the Atlanta Braves as the perennial team to beat seems to have been handed over to our Phitens.   The Braves and Marlins both made off season moves that indicate the team in their sights is in fact the Phillies.  The Mets also signed Jason Bay for 66 million for four years to improve their chances at being competative.  They may finish 15 games out instead of 24, but will never seriously challenge.

I believe this year the race is a two team one.  The Braves and the [...]

Roy Halladay is there.So is Cole Hamels.

J.A. Happ? Check

Brad Lidge? Check.

The pitchers and catchers have arrived at Clearwater, Fla., one day earlier than tomorrow’s mandatory date.

According to philly.com every pitcher has reported except for Jamie Moyer and Jose Contreras. (There’s an old persons joke just begging to be inserted with that).

So good news baseball fans; despite the snow that appeared outside our windows today, baseball is ready to get going again.

The only real news of the day is that J.C Romero said he expects to break camp with the team, implying that he will be completely recovered from his elbow surgery and ready to pitch at full strength by Opening Day.

That’s good news for the Phillies, as Romero is the [...]

In his three seasons with the Eagles Garry “G” Cobb made his presence felt on the Eagles defensive line. Teamed with Reggie White, Seth Joyner and Jerome Brown, Cobb was a productive player on the field.

I wish I could say the same about his radio career.

As a member of 610 WIP, Cobb brings his insights to the late night listeners. Cobb doesn’t lack in experience - he was a CBS sports anchor for eight years, runs his own web site gcobb.com and is a columnist for the Philadelphia Bulleton.

What he lacks is range.

When it comes to talking about the Eagles, few on the station do it better than Cobb. As a former player he knows the ins and outs of the [...]

If the Phillies want to become a dynasty, I offer 5 suggestions to send them on their way. They have a good balanced ball club, one that has won the National League east three times in a row, been to 2 World Series and won one. That is a good 500 or so games for the team. But to truly become a dynasty, they need to sustain this level of play for 1000 or so more games.

That is tough in an arbitration filled, salary capped, league unless they plan on spending half a billion dollars each and every off season like the Yankees seem to do. Frankly, as much support as the Phillies get, I still  [...]

There’s nothing quite like squashing a rumor before it even gets it legs under it.

That is what Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. did today when he announced publicly that they team would not entertain offers for starting pitcher Cole Hamels. This is a bummer. Not because the team will keep Cole, but because fans won’t be able to consider the different possibilities a trade would bring.

One of the great things about baseball’s offseason is all of the trade rumors that take place. This last week, a popular rumor that had been popping up was a deal that would send Hamels to the Blue Jays for ace Roy Halliday. The deal sounded reasonable considering the Phillies would get an ace that [...]

Wherever he has gone Pedro Martinez has elicited a lot of emotions from his team’s fan base and the fan base of the opposition. Some view Pedro as a fun, wacky guy who brings energy to a team and a stadium every time he takes the mound.

Others view him as a cocky, arrogant pitcher whose history of hitting batters makes him an intimidator.

But how will his two-month stay in Philadelphia be remembered?

The Phillies signed Pedro Martinez on July 5 to a modest 1-year/$1 million contract. The former Red Six and Mets pitcher had been out of baseball to that point, as his asking price of $5 million to start the season garnered little attention.

Shortly after the signing of Pedro, the [...]

All of that tension between Cole Hamels and Brett Myers has apparently been fabricated.

At least that’s what Hamels is saying.

In a recent article by the Philadelphia Inquirer Hamels said that he has no problem with Myers and that the situation at question was just a case of misinterpreted joking.

Hamels has drawn the ire of some Phillies fans after he was quoted after the Game 3 loss as saying “I cant’s wait for (the season) to end. It’s been mentally draining. At year’s end, you just can’t wait for a fresh start.”

It was then reported that prior to Game 5, Myers walked past Hamels in the clubhouse and said “I thought you quit?”

Hamels said that although he was not pleased with [...]

Pivotal Game 3 has arrived.

To say that Cole Hamels has been a disappointment this season would be an understatement. Coming off of a postseason where he was the NLCS and World Series MVP, big things were expected of the young left-hander. Those expectations were never met as Hamels went 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA. He consistently gave up big home runs and never quite found a rhythm. Even upon the Phillies’ return to the postseason, Hamels could not find his 2008 magic.

If he can find it tonight, all of those aforementioned stats will be forgotten.

Hamels takes the hill tonight as the Phillies host the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series.

Opposing Hamels will be postseason veteran Andy Pettitte. With [...]

Pedro Martinez gave the Phillies a valiant effort Thursday night but the Philadelphia bats went silent against A.J. Burnett, as the New York Yankees took Game 2, 3-1, to tie the World Series, 1-1.

A couple of solo home runs proved to be enough for New York thanks to seven strong innings from Burnett, who had his curveball going, and a two-inning save from Mariano Rivera.

Now the series shifts to Philadelphia where Cole Hamels will get the ball for Game 3 against postseason veteran Andy Pettitte, on Saturday night.

While taking both games in New York would have been a huge boost for the Phillies, a spilt is more-than acceptable. The Phillies have proven that they are a great home team in [...]

Bring on the Evil Empire.
Or for that matter, Los Angeles second team.
The Phillies are going back to the World Series.
Jayson Werth hit two home runs including a three-run bomb in the second inning and the Phillies defeated the Dodgers 10-4 to advance to their second-straight World Series.
On a night where Cole Hamels gave up three home runs and didn’t make it through the fifth, the Dodgers still never had a chance. It wasn’t quite Game 3’s 11-0 white-washing, but it was a blowout from the middle innings on.
What a moment for the team and the city. Faced with several questions entering the postseason, the Phillies have ran through their competition, going 8-2 against their National League opponents.
With the way the [...]

Right after Carlos Ruiz scored the winning run last night to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the NLCS the network cameras picked up a fan holding up a sign that read “Are You Kidding Me?” – it was perfect.  It not only put the exclamation point on last night but it simply explains the 2009 Phillies.

This is a team that just doesn’t know how to quit.  Never.  Not in their vocabulary.  So what if the bottom of the order was coming up in the 9th? No problem.  After Ibanez grounded out to second base for the first out and Matt Stairs pinch hit did anyone besides me have the flashback of his monster homer in Los Angeles that [...]

It is almost not fair.
Opposing closers just have no chance.
Jimmy Rollins crushed a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning off closer Jonathan Broxton leading the Phillies past the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4,  Monday night, giving them a commanding 3-1 lead in the NL championship series.
With Eric Bruntlett on second and Carlos Ruiz on first, Rollins lined a gapper to right-center that rolled all the way to the wall. It was clear from the second the ball hit the outfield grass that Ruiz was going to score without issue.
What a remarkable win for a team that has had a dozen of them over the last two seasons.
The Phils can advance to the World Series for the second-straight year [...]