Paul Hagen

Paul Hagen covers baseball for the Daily News.

Email Paul at hagenp@phillynews.com

As All-Star manager, Manuel might have to stiff his Phillies stars
The votes are in: How leagues pick All-Stars
Phils head home after sweep by Braves

Gallery: 2009: Jimmy Rollins

Paul Hagen: Burrell unbelievably good in Rays' win over Phils - 06/25/2009: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - In the movies, or professional wrestling, Pat Burrell would have looked straight into the blinding television lights, sneered and said something like this:
Paul Hagen: As Rollins slumps, so slump the Phillies - 06/22/2009: A SINGLE BASEBALL game has hundreds of interrelated parts, all of which influence which team ultimately tumbles onto the field to celebrate after the final out and which trudges disconsolately back to its clubhouse.
In major leagues, changing manager not always the answer - 06/19/2009: by Paul Hagen

The Rockies were going nowhere fast when Jim Tracy was hired to replace Clint Hurdle last month. Maybe the Rockies were due to turn it around. Maybe Tracy made the difference.
Paul Hagen: Phillies pass road-trip test, but there is more to come - 06/12/2009: NEW YORK - Before they departed, suitcases bulging, for a trip that would consume 11 days, require them to cross the continent twice and check in and out of hotels three times, the Phillies mixed bravado with just a whiff of trepidation.
Paul Hagen: Werth's instincts, then Phillies take over to beat Mets in 11 innings - 06/11/2009: NEW YORK - Rule No. 1 for the outfielder, in this case, is simple: Don't let the ball get by. Keep it in front of you.
Paul Hagen: With Lidge out, Phillies hope Madson is saving ace - 06/10/2009: NEW YORK - It's still a simple matter of trying to record three outs without allowing a runner to cross home plate. Still 60 feet, 6 inches from the mound to the plate. Everything about pitching in the ninth inning is exactly the same as pitching in the eighth.
Paul Hagen: Atlanta GM did a Brave thing by releasing Glavine - 06/05/2009: by Paul Hagen

CUE THE outrage. Instead of promoting franchise icon Tom Glavine at the end of his rehab assignment, which everyone expected, the Braves chopped him instead. The winning pitcher from the clinching game of their only world championship was dumped after pitching six shutout innings for Class A Rome.
Paul Hagen: Mets' latest replay home run anything but conclusive - 05/29/2009: by Paul Hagen

THE VIEW from this shaded patio, iced lemonade firmly in hand, has consistently been in favor of using instant replay to arbitrate disputed home-run calls. The most important thing is to get it right, etc.
Paul Hagen: Phillies bullpen gets much-needed day off today - 05/28/2009: WHEN A STARTING pitcher leaves a game early, it ain't pretty. There are basically just a few reasons why that happens, and none is conducive to having his teammates file out onto the field to congratulate each other at the end of the game.
Paul Hagen: Starting pitchers will be available, if Phillies need one - 05/27/2009: ONE OF THE perks of having the Phillies occasionally featured as the nationally televised game is the opportunity to hear a from-the-outside-looking-in perspective on the team.