Paul Hagen

Paul Hagen covers baseball for the Daily News.

Email Paul at hagenp@phillynews.com

Audio: Sports Spotlight for July 18
Podcast: Josh & Pat on the Phillies at midseason

The long and long of it
Phillies Notebook: Wagner says Utley should wear boos like a badge of honor
Selig in good spirits with steroids out of headlines

Paul Hagen: Time will tell whether Sabathia deal pays off for Brewers 07/11/2008: by Paul Hagen

EVERYBODY LOVES the guy who says, "I'll make it a true Daily Double, Alex." Everybody admires the poker player who coolly shoves his entire stack of chips into the middle of the table. And everybody applauds the general manager who makes the bold move before the trading deadline to get an established star for a handful of prospects only somebody who works at Baseball America has ever heard of.
Paul Hagen: Letting Lohse go looks bad for Phillies, but consider these factors 07/03/2008: by Paul Hagen

KYLE LOHSE won his 10th game of the season Monday, another poke at the wasp's nest. By then, Phillies Opening Day starter Brett Myers had made what would turn out to be his last start in the big leagues before heading off to a tutorial assignment at Triple A Lehigh Valley. The team had lost 13 of its last 18 and its lead in the National League East was evaporating.
Paul Hagen: In baseball, physical confrontations equal pink slips 06/27/2008: by Paul Hagen

IT WAS JUST another ho-hum spring-training day. Blue skies, swaying palm trees, a meaningless exhibition to be played. At least it was on that March afternoon in 1977 at Tinker Field in Orlando, Fla., until Rangers second baseman Lenny Randle, unhappy at losing his starting position to rookie Bump Wills, emphasized his discontent with a quick flurry of punches that sent manager Frank Lucchesi to the hospital with a broken cheekbone.
Paul Hagen: Hot-seat season comes early for baseball this year 06/20/2008: by Paul Hagen

A GENERAL MANAGER, Seattle's Bill Bavasi, and two managers, the Mets' Willie Randolph and the Mariners' John McLaren, were fired this week. And that can mean only one thing.
Paul Hagen: Misters October must live in moment 06/19/2008: ALL RIGHT, so the Phillies are down, two games to one. Now the scene shifts to Fenway Park in Boston, where they'll try to even things up and win just the second world championship in franchise history. The forecast calls for temperatures dipping into the high 30s, so . . .
Paul Hagen: Throwing out some pitchers for Phillies to consider 06/13/2008: by Paul Hagen

THE JULY 31 trading deadline may seem to be little more than a chimera glistening on a faraway horizon. In fact, it arrives in fewer than 7 weeks, 48 days that will pass in a blink.
Paul Hagen: Change is a fixture in baseball 06/06/2008: THE COLORADO Rockies played in the World Series last October. The Cleveland Indians could have joined them, but were unable to hang onto a lead of three games-to-one in the American League Championship Series.
Paul Hagen: Instant replays wouldn't be a drag on baseball, but TV ads are 05/30/2008: by Paul Hagen

TWO FAMILIAR TOPICS, pace of game and instant replay, were back in the news this week and that's kind of funny when you think about it.
Earle H. Hagen, composed themes for TV shows, dies at 88 05/28/2008: LOS ANGELES - Earle H. Hagen, who co-wrote the jazz classic "Harlem Nocturne" and composed memorable themes for "The Andy Griffith Show," "I Spy," "The Mod Squad" and other TV shows, has died. He was 88.
Paul Hagen: Remember, the baseball season's still early 05/23/2008: by Paul Hagen

THIS CAN BE a deceptive time of year. It seems like a lot of baseball games have been played when, in reality, the season is just starting to heat up.