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 [...]

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 [...]

The Philadelphia Phillies’ quest to repeat as World Series champions has come to an end.

Thanks to six RBIs for Hideki Matsui the New York Yankees finished off the Phillies in Game Six, winning 7-3, to claim their 27th World Series.

It was a frustrating day all the way around for Phillies fans. Pedro Martinez never gave the team a chance, allowing four runs in four innings. Chad Durbin came in and made things worse. The offense had its moments, but never [...]

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 [...]

When the Phillies signed pitcher Pedro Martinez late in the regular season it was with hopes hat he could provide them with a little bit more than Jamie Moyer was giving them.

Now, they are asking for more; A lot more.

Pedro will take the mound tonight at Yankees Stadium with the task of giving the Phillies a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Pedro’s best game against the Yankees came in September of 1999 when he pitched a complete-game one-hitter in [...]

If someone had told you at the All-Star break that the Phillies would be in the World Series with Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez pitching games one and two, what would your reaction have been?

Likely a little confused.

However the Phillies two big late-season pickups will be doing exactly that as Charlie Manuel announced that Pedro will get the ball in Game 2 on Thursday.

“To have 60,000 people looking at one guy to deliver that ball and all of them chanting [...]

It wasn’t so long ago that Charlie Manuel was looked at as a laughing stock in this area.

Manuel, the Phillies skipper, seemed to know nothing about National League baseball after spending his entire career in the American League as the manager of the Cleveland Indians.

Two years into his term with the Phillies it looked as though Manuel still didn’t understand how to properly execute a double switch – something Little League managers could figure out.

Manuel’s speech [...]

The Phillies and Rockies are deadlocked at 1-1 after the first two games at Citizens Bank park, and now they are off to chilly Colorado.   The talk this year has focused on the Phillies pitching.  Everyone seems to agree the offense and defense are good enough to repeat as World Series champions, but the jury is still out on the pitching staff.  On an off day with no game scheduled, I am taking this time to review the Phillies pitchers; today [...]

The Phillies won again.  Hit 4 homeruns.  Ho hum.  We Phanatics are getting spoiled.  This is a really good team, with a lot of depth.

Example 1. Pitching :  Happ left in the third with a mystery injury, probably reinjured his oblique muscle, and with all the talk about the bullpen, Kendrick comes in and pitches 4 innings of shut out 2 hit relief.   The Phillies bullpen for all it’s late inning woes has been notorious this year for clutch long middle [...]

After a rough couple of weeks at the end of August, where the Phillies starting pitchers were roughed up in several games, the staff has reverted back to their mid season form.  They are looking like the powerful, indomitable rotation we expected to have after several key midseason trades.  Cliff Lee lost back to back starts, as Pedro struggled without losing a game but the staff endured.  The starters posted 28 consecutive scoreless innings before Hamels gave up a lone run on [...]

Joe Blanton again made a case to be in the Phillies’ rotation, pitching six scoreless innings in the Phillies 6-1 win over the Nationals.

Of course that comes after Pedro strengthened his case and Cliff Lee assured his. Then there is J.A. Happ who has made a season-long case to pitch come time for the postseason.

Never before has a Phillies team had such a great problem.

At this point there are only two things assured: First, Cole Hamels will be in or [...]

In the first game of a rainout makeup double header with an odd 4 hour delay between games, Kyle Kendrick got his first win of the year and Manuel did as promised and sent Brad  Lidge out to get the save, albeit a shaky, scary one.

Lidge gave up two runs, keeping his ERA above 7 but finished the game without losing it.  Barely.  Manuel is now switching back and forth between Lidge and Madsen, with neither selection appearing to be [...]

The Phillies came out of their slump tonight in typical Phillies fashion.  There was a moment when it seemed every batter that stepped up to the plate hit the ball out of the park.  5 solo home runs provided just enough support to Pedro for the Cy Young winner to get his fourth win this year as a Phillie.  This team needed a wakeup call.  The series in Houston was brutal, and no offense to Washingtonians, but the Phillies really [...]

I know, I could’ve used Jamie Martinez as well but I think everyone gets the idea here.  For the second time in four starts Pedro Martinez had a good performance interrupted by rain.   On Friday night in Philadelphia Martinez survived the first 63 minute delay  but after play was resumed for all of 7 minutes Pedro’s night was done as the Braves and Phillies waited through a second 45 minute delay.

Enter Jamie Moyer.   Making his second relief appearance since being [...]

After a disappointing three days in Pittsburgh that saw the Phillies drop two of three to the Pirates, the Phillies returned home Friday night and Ryan Howard blasted two homers (36 and 37) in between the rain drops to push the Phillies to a 4-2 win against the Braves.

Howards display was just another day at the office for the big man who certainly knows what its like to have big games this time of year.   Howard certainly knows what its [...]