http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies The latest coverage of the Philadelphia Phillies. en-us Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:58:04 GMT 2012-02-16T15:58:04Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139431608&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120216_Line_forms_early_for_Phils_tickets.html Phillies fans braved the predawn chill to get a spot in the line at Citizens Bank Park for choice single-game tickets when they go on sale today. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:58:04 GMT 791e658dbe84517988afdd51146d2cb4 2012-02-16T15:58:04Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139422613&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120216_Bastardo__Stutes_could_make_Phillies__bullpen_dominant.html RARE IS the occasion when a team signs a marquee free-agent closer to a 4-year, $50 million deal and enters the following season without having definitively upgraded that position. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:09:03 GMT 564484b55b93005c55eba1bcc6bebea5 2012-02-16T15:09:03Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139411973&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120216_Inside_the_Phillies__With_seasoning__a_new_Aumont_joins_Phillies_at_spring_training.html Two springs ago, Phillippe Aumont took the longest walk of shame a professional pitcher can take. Of the seven college kids he faced, three walked, one singled, and another bashed a three-run home run. This was an exhibition game against Florida State University, and because of that, Aumont's debut as a Phillie was never officially recorded. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:07:09 GMT 320ab43401b3e7c539aade830fcffd95 2012-02-16T15:07:09Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139405708&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120216_Phillies__new_player_development_exec_sizes_up_minor_league_prospects.html OFFSEASON? Not for Joe Jordan. Spring training is approaching and he's had to do some cramming. Jordan is the Phillies' new director of player development. He got the job in October after his predecessor, Chuck LaMar, abruptly resigned in September. Since then, offseason life has mostly been traveling and fact-finding. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:21:33 GMT eccfefacc81f271534c6933afa72d23c 2012-02-16T14:21:33Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139343018&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120215_Top_of_the_Phillies__rotation_talented_and_durable.html A PERSON WHO skirts through the sports section with only a quick glimpse of the headlines might come to think of baseball season as little more than a 6-month series of strains, sprains and broken bones. To chronicle a team is to become well-versed in all of the above, as Phillies fans have no doubt realized given lengthy stays on the disabled list by stars like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and, for the upcoming season, Ryan Howard. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:23:28 GMT ffec317df40bda46db3cf661d53d5beb 2012-02-16T12:23:28Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139422618&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120216_Looking_at_the_Phillies__bullpen.html WHAT WE KNOW: Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee will have plenty more options than they did for most of last season, when young relievers Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes were forced into the fire after injuries struck Jose Contreras, Brad Lidge and, for a stretch, Ryan Madson. The ninth inning wasn't a problem last year, and it shouldn't be one this year with Jonathan Papelbon replacing Madson. The 31-year-old former Red Sox closer relies primarily on a wicked fastball, occasionally offset by a splitter. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:35:56 GMT f6827910e590de0375e60d351884274a 2012-02-16T07:35:56Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139422568&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120216_GWYNN_RECOVERY_AHEAD_OF_SCHEDULE.html TONY GWYNN WAS already talking after five doctors spent 14 hours removing a malignant tumor from inside the Hall of Famer's right cheek on Tuesday according to ESPN.com. Gwynn's wife, Alicia, said the doctors performed a complex nerve-graft procedure, removing Gwynn's facial nerve and replacing it with a nerve from Gwynn's shoulder. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:34:39 GMT 79cc96d227f15d89e31f1717048b26e6 2012-02-16T07:34:39Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139411968&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120216_Phillies_Tickets_on_Sale_Thursday.html Phillies single-game tickets are set to go on sale Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the west ticket windows near the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Citizens Bank Park. The store will open at 7 a.m., and the Phillie Phanatic and Phillies ball girls will greet fans in line. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:28:12 GMT f4055ae054b422c2b8c0014b24d7b1a1 2012-02-16T07:28:12Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139356713&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120215_Big_day_for_Phillies_tickets_is_Thursday.html Get ready, Phillies fans, if you want to buy tickets directly from the club. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:46:05 GMT 97e22c85f5e68f80957e81e79d332ecb 2012-02-15T16:46:05Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139201159&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120213_HOWARD_OUTAGE.html FEW PLAYERS IN the game of baseball inspire such divergent opinions as Ryan Howard, particularly in light of the 5-year, $125 million contract extension that begins this season. But general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said definitively this offseason that he has no second thoughts about the deal, which Howard signed in April 2010, and such hindsight is irrelevant at this point anyway. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:37:44 GMT 93dad51bf74c49195de88aa79c04054a 2012-02-15T16:37:44Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139268988&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120214_Phils__overhauled_bench_could_be_busy.html IT MIGHT sound hokey, but the makeup of the Phillies' bench heading into the 2012 season really will depend on who's on first. Manager Charlie Manuel has no shortage of options to fill in for injured slugger Ryan Howard, who is expected to miss at least the first 2 months of the season. From there, the dominoes will fall. The likely scenario heading into spring training has John Mayberry Jr. starting in leftfield and veteran Ty Wigginton getting the first crack at first base. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:36:11 GMT dd7f683963ddbc32bb633538c26ae177 2012-02-15T16:36:11Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139336318&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120215_Assessing_the_Phillies__top_prospects.html The Phillies have won five consecutive National League East titles and twice reached the World Series during this golden era of baseball. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:06:41 GMT b81fcfeee83c9f0d4468691989118cf7 2012-02-15T16:06:41Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139268993&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120214_The_Phillies__bench.html What we know: The bench is going to look a lot different than it did the last couple of years, when Ross Gload and Ben Francisco were the top two options off the bench. Gload, currently a free agent, battled a hip injury all year and was limited to 116 pl Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:54:03 GMT e805d458b6bdd052c6bb64f99d0ba880 2012-02-15T13:54:03Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139342968&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120215_Tony_Gwynn_has_cancer_surgery.html HALL OF FAME outfielder Tony Gwynn underwent surgery yesterday to remove a new cancerous tumor inside his right cheek. Gwynn, now San Diego State's baseball coach, had previously had a malignant growth removed from the same spot in August 2010. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:33:03 GMT 8e47ee8788c0aa2fd11fc9db53605cec 2012-02-15T12:33:03Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139343023&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120215_Looking_at_the_Phillies__rotation.html WHAT WE KNOW: Despite the expected loss of Roy Oswalt, the unit should once again enter the season as the class of the National League. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels each logged at least 216 innings while posting sub-2.80 ERAs. While Oswalt stru Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:27:54 GMT 25b8611bbc50091bef2ea2c50c3adbfc 2012-02-15T12:27:54Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139330973&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120214_Assessing_the_Phillies_top_prospects.html The Phillies have won five consecutive National League East titles and twice reached the World Series during this golden era of baseball. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:52:21 GMT 6e6e39b3a41450534f23a4eee6759190 2012-02-15T02:52:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139295183&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120214_ap_schillingscompanylaunchesfirstvideogame.html A teenage Curt Schilling got a paper route so he could afford an Apple II just like the one his Little League coach owned. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:54:49 GMT 56e44e8644985856a77820adca23b577 2012-02-14T17:54:49Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139261798&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120214_Inside_the_Phillies__TV_rights_windfall_looms_in_Phillies_future.html It was called Philadelphia Regional In-Home Sports & Movies, and it was ahead of its time. The Phillies started televising their games on Prism in 1977, long before regional cable sports networks funded massive spending sprees in baseball - as in this postseason. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:12:02 GMT 0bf3fe869e1cd4a3818fe92d3cae375e 2012-02-14T17:12:02Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139261728&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120214_Baseball_Notes__Cespedes_strikes_gold_with_A_s.html Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes and the Oakland Athletics have agreed to a $36 million, four-year contract. Agent Adam Katz confirmed Monday the sides had reached an agreement, with details still to be finalized. This is a significant move for Oakland, which now has the steady hitter it sought to boost its roster heading into 2012. The A's also have expressed interest in slugger Manny Ramirez. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:31:21 GMT e7ccce813dff8424e86aa6141aaec369 2012-02-14T14:31:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139268943&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120214_A_J__Burnett_to_Pirates_.html THE NEW YORK Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates have made progress toward a trade that would send much-maligned righthander A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:28:57 GMT 24170eb6893c3a338d7ea229031a6781 2012-02-14T14:28:57Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139257263&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120213_Lucrative_TV_deal_looms_for_Phillies.html It was called Philadelphia Regional In-Home Sports & Movies, and it was ahead of its time. The Phillies started televising their games on Prism in 1977, long before regional cable sports networks funded massive spending sprees in baseball - as in this postseason. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:46:11 GMT 70de7698ea95d082b08d11eaf780a357 2012-02-14T01:46:11Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139196509&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120213_Inside_the_Phillies__Spring_training_questions_for_the_Phillies.html Pitchers and catchers report for work Sunday in Clearwater, Fla. For the 21st-century Phillies, that has come to mean another realistic pursuit of a World Series title is about to begin. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:49:45 GMT fc612d4d179715d3497f033bce730349 2012-02-13T19:49:45Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139192529&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120213_John_Smallwood__Lock_up_Cole_now.html OK, SINCE team president David Montgomery said that he doesn't "think it's difficult" to get a long-term deal done with Cole Hamels, the Phillies just need to do it. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:54:39 GMT 9c82de451e25bcbee06b280d131a6f0d 2012-02-13T18:54:39Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139224804&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2FA_closer_look_at_the_Phillies_lineup.html As much as they will downplay the significance of spring performance, the Phillies will be keeping a close eye on John Mayberry Jr. as he prepares for a season that he figures to start as the team’s top option in leftfield. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:56:29 GMT 55fae58f255f5e68d72b5988b83ca389 Matt Mullin 2012-02-13T17:56:29Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139133684&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120210_Homecoming_King__Jim_Thome.html IT'S A JANUARY morning and Jim Thome is back in the Phillies' clubhouse, acting just like you think Jim Thome would act - like the genial everyman he's been throughout his career. He looks you in the eye and gives a hearty laugh. He jokes about having to do pilates to stay in playing shape, displaying the sort of unassuming attitude that's made him a beloved character throughout baseball. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:15:46 GMT 0724669e0fec1a0619c05ff6ed41337e 2012-02-13T14:15:46Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139191309&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120212_Spring-training_questions_for_the_Phillies.html Pitchers and catchers report for work Sunday in Clearwater, Fla. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:27:47 GMT 5fd4e9452153328e70637d8813188a7a 2012-02-13T01:27:47Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139171459&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120212_Phillies__Montgomery_talks_money.html Thinking big, David Montgomery says, is not difficult. The Phillies president sits in a building that has hosted sellout crowds for 204 straight regular-season games. His team plays before the highest-rated local television audience in baseball. He could outspend the next closest National League team in payroll by more than $50 million - for the second straight year. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:05:37 GMT f2ce1249b426b8bad25dfaea54b80748 2012-02-12T21:05:37Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139171469&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120212_Phillies__Montgomery_confident_deal_with_Hamels_can_be_achieved.html The most pressing financial issue the Phillies face is whether a lucrative contract for Cole Hamels can fit into the team's ever-expanding budget. Team president David Montgomery said the money is available. But can the sides agree on the proper length for a deal? Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:04:25 GMT f50a33e2e16284840b855f4ab2afd62e 2012-02-12T19:04:25Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168491&44=139137134&32=3796&7=195327&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fphillies%2F20120211__Moneyball__guru_Beane_speaks_at_Villanova.html Moneyball was born as the 1993 Phillies were dying. Billy Beane, the general manager and now part-owner of the Oakland A's - who developed the statistically based system of player analysis out of financial necessity - told a Villanova Law School symposium Friday that his successful philosophy was inspired by the surprising success of that Phillies team. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:11 GMT a69a5bd683768b022e0d5027293f2619 2012-02-11T17:59:11Z