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3/4/15: It is easy to pile on the Philadelphia Phillies right now: the team is old, the veterans are in decline and are owed obscene amounts of money, GM Ruben Amaro took too long to realize what everyone else knew and start rebuilding the team. The Phillies, by many predictions, are expected to finish at or near the basement this season. At least they got some good news on the pitching front. Cliff Lee threw batting practice last week, the first time he faced hitters since last July. That probably will not mean wins for Philadelphia, but could mean that Lee gets traded and team gets some building blocks in return.

2/18/15: The Philadelphia Phillies continue to remake their roster, probably trying to drop about 10 years from the average age of their players (OK, that is a bit much, but probably not too far off). They still have ace lefty Cole Hamels, and many do not expect he will be traded until mid-season when contending teams get desperate and willing to spend big. The Phillies would trade him now for the right offer. Boston has made an offer, but reports indicated it was for major leaguers and the Phillies are looking for prospects for their rebuild. Other possible trade partners include the Dodgers, Cardinals and Cubs.

2/11/15: While the Phillies were about a year and a half behind the rest of the baseball world in realizing that their team was very old, very expensive and (near) very last in the division, they have made some moves to add youth to the roster and relief to the payroll. Just about every player still on the roster from the glory days is in play, and that includes pitcher Cliff Lee. The Phillies are reportedly interested in trading him during spring training. A nice thought, but a tall order. Lee is 35, missed most of last season with an arm injury and has two years remaining on his contract for $52.5 million. Philadelphia may have to pay a lot of that salary to get him off the team.

2/5/15: There may not be an official team handbook espousing the philosophy of the Phillies, but if one did exist, it seems like the first chapter would be about only signing aging veterans and overpaying them for many years. If that was the case, then the Phillies were only able to fulfill half of that mandate when they signed pitcher Chad Billingsley last week. Philadelphia gave the 30 year old pitcher a one year deal for $1.5 million. They got the age part right, but are actually paying a reasonable amount. Billingsley has not pitched since April 2013 since having Tommy John surgery and another elbow injury.

1/21/15: The Philadelphia Phillies are still trying to shop ace lefty Cole Hamels. There are a few teams interested such as the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, but no deal has been made yet. That is likely because the Phillies are asking too much in return and that Hamels is very expensive. Recently, it seems like the market for Hamels has slowed down as teams start to get ready for pitchers and catchers to report. Therefore, it may just be that it will be closer to the trade deadline before anyone makes an offer that Philadelphia will accept.

1/14/15: The first step is admitting that there is a problem. After a few years of watching guys making $20 million a year hobble along the basepaths, the Phillies seem to understand now what everyone else has known for a long time. The team is old and needs to be reconstructed. One of the few true assets they have is ace lefty Cole Hamels. It appears that he is still on the trading block. Teams such as St. Louis, San Diego and Boston may have interest in Hamels, but the trade will depend on what the Phillies can get in return. Hamels is a valuable pitcher, but teams may not want to give what the Phillies are asking for him.

1/7/15: The Phillies have been busy this offseason, yet have not slowed down the pace of remaking their roster. Their latest move was to send veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds. Philadelphia may also be parting ways with reliever Jonathan Papelbon. Paps is a very good closer but is also expensive, and the team may be looking to get younger and cheaper where they can. It is probably good for the pitcher as well, as he has had run-ins with the Phillies fans in the past. Lastly, the Phillies are trying to find a taker for slugger Ryan Howard, who simply has not been effective for the past few years but is owed a ton of money.

11/26/14: Conspiracy Theory Time! Recent reports out of Philadelphia say that the Phillies have 'cooled' on their interest in Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas. Tomas is the next big Cuban superstar-in-waiting since the last guy. Apparently, the Phillies like his offense but not his defense. Take that with a grain of salt. This seems like a story that was intentionally leaked, possibly to coax other teams into thinking that the Phillies are out of the running. That is mere speculation, and Philadelphia may never had been really interested in Tomas, who ended up signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

11/19/14: Stop if you have heard this before, but the Phillies signed aged veteran. This time it was pitcher Jeff Francoeur, but it is a bit different than the type of contract GM Ruben Amaro normally dishes out. Francoeur got a minor league deal with a chance to make the MLB roster. It is actually a decent, low-risk move. The organization gets a tested veteran which should help in the clubhouse, adds a bit of depth and can play while their young guys develop. In other news, the Phillies are reportedly shopping Ryan Howard and his monstrous contract around. No word on any takers, but most assume that the Phillies would have to chip in a good deal of money for someone else to take Howard.

11/12/14: The Phillies, at least in talk if not deed (yet) are reportedly looking to make some big roster moves this offseason. The team has been criticized for repeatedly signing big-name, aging and expensive former superstars to contracts that cripple the organization. However, word is that they are trying to trade Ryan Howard and the $70-plus million he is owed (good luck with that) and even ace pitcher Cole Hammels. The Cubs had interest in Hammels in the regular season. Too bad Alphonso Soriano just retired, at age 38, he would be the perfect trade bait for the Phillies.

11/5/14: The Phillies are taking a page from the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. Literally. GM Ruben Amaro distributed "The Phillies Way" handbook throughout the organization outlining the organization's methods and philosophy. The Cardinals and Braves did this a few years ago and are typically successful organizations - though the handbook does not pitch or bat. The thing is that 'the Phillies Way' under Amaro has been to bring in overpaid and aging veterans who are a shell of their former selves, and that has led to living in the cellar of the NL East while other teams have passed them by.

10/29/14: The Phillies are getting started on their 2015 roster and made the move to sign catcher John Hester to a minor league contract. Hester is probably just depth for the organization, as he spent all of 2014 in the minors for the L.A. Angels. It does bring up an interesting thought though. The St. Louis Cardinals are not likely to bring back veteran A.J. Pierzynski, who wants to keep playing. An aging, over-priced veteran is right in line with the Phillies M.O., so that is a possibility. In other news, GM Ruben Amaro expects pitcher A.J. Burnett to return, even as he is turning into the MLB version of Brett Favre for his maybe retiring routine.

10/22/14: It is odd when reports come out that Player X, who had a terrible season, is electing free agency. That is the case in Cincinnati with pitcher Trevor Bell (who pitched two thirds of an inning all season), and it is true with the Phillies as outfielder Tony Gwynn has chosen the same path. Gwynn is 32 and compiled a lowly .152/.264/.109 slash line last season. There does not seem to be much of a market for an aging player with those kinds of numbers, but maybe Gwynn knows something we do not. If anything that looks like the kind of player the Phillies typically sign. At least that may free up a roster spot for the Phillies to get a younger player in there.

10/1/14: The Phillies finished the 2014 season in last place in the National League East, and many are concerned that is where they will be in a year from now. The team, as an organization, has made a determination to continue to play with an aging roster of former all-stars rather than develop young talent. Longtime shortstop Jimmy Rollins has his ideas. He wants the team to get active in free agency and bring in some top talent to bolster the team. That is not a bad idea, but also could come at a big price - and the Phillies already have a bloated payroll.

9/24/14: Most catchers do not sport overwhelmingly strong offensive numbers, and the ones that do are considered superstars. Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz may not be a household name, but he has more than done his fair share at bat, particularly over the past couple of years. His numbers were slightly down this season as he hit .258. But it has also come to light that he injured his shoulder back in March and has been playing through the pain for the entire season. Since he is over 30 and with the Phillies, he naturally has two years left on his contract for over $15 million.

9/17/14: At a bare minimum, the Phillies still owe ace Cliff Lee $37.5 million over the next two years, and that is if they buy out his contract after the 2015 season (and do not have him on the roster for $27.5 million in 2016). So it is pretty important to the team that he gets well. The good news here is that the team expects him to avoid surgery and be ready for opening day next season. Two esteemed doctors, including Dr. James Andrews, agreed that rest and rehab will suit him. He is expected to begin throwing again in November. That seems much better than shelving him for all of next season.

8/28/14: The Phillies struggles this season have been largely based upon GM Ruben Amaro Jr. basically refusing to his expensive veterans, many of whom are well past their primes, in favor of younger and cheaper alternatives that can be developed for the future. The result, so far, is a record well below .500 and no chance for the postseason. The frustrations are building in the clubhouse where both pitcher David Buchanan and outfielder Domonic Brown are questioning moves made by manager Ryne Sandberg. Again, a lot of that may be due to the fact that the team will struggle to win even 70 games this season and the Phillies are simply playing out the string.

8/21/14: There is a theory that in big market towns - and Philadelphia should certainly qualify as one - that the show is as important if not more important than the standings. That worked for decades for Dr. Jerry Buss and the L.A. Lakers. It is not working for the Phillies, who seem to be allergic to developing new players and getting rid of overpriced veterans. So it is only fitting that the Phillies are looking at bringing back Grady Sizemore for next season. Sizemore has been an excellent player in his time, but he is on the downside of his career and has a history of injury. At some point, the Phillies are going to have to bring in new talent, but that seems to be in the distant future.

8/14/14: The Phillies were not nearly as active as many experts predicted (and many more fans would have liked) at the trade deadline. Still in Philly are Ryan Howard, Antonio Bastardo, Marlin Byrd and Cole Hammels. Hammels is interesting because the Phillies put him on waivers. He was promptly picked up by the Cubs, so Philly revoked the waivers. They could try to work out a deal, though that would be very complex and probably not pragmatic. Instead, it looks like Hammels will probably spend the rest of the season with Philadelphia, who may try to trade him in the offseason.

8/7/14: The future, of course, remains to be seen. It is possible that the Phillies will somehow will themselves to health and their previous talent level - and GM Ruben Amaro will be vindicated for sitting on the sidelines during the non-waiver trade deadline. At the same time, many were expecting the Phillies to trade some veterans like Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo (maybe even Ryan Howard) to get some prospects. That did not happen. Of course, there is always the chance that the Phillies put some of these guys through waivers and can trade them over the next month.

7/31/14: The big question heading into today's non-waiver trade deadline is if the Phillies will trade star pitcher Cole Hammels. The team for weeks said Hammels would not be traded, though the team looked like they were trying to trade other veterans like Cliff Lee and Ryan Howard. But the Phillies may have had a change of heart, so it looks like Hammels is back on the market. The Dodgers were linked to the pitcher, but that seems to have fallen through. Giving up Hammels would be a tough pill to swallow, but there could be a lot of good prospects in return.

7/24/14: Now would be as good of a time as any for the Phillies to consider making a few moves that at least resemble a rebuilding process. The team is not likely to make the playoffs with the Nationals and Braves running away with the division. A wild card spot is unlikely as well, as there is the NL Central and West with several better teams. One of those teams, the Cincinnati Reds, needs help immediately and have an interest in Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo. Trading off these two players could provide a few valuable prospects as well as shedding some pretty big contracts.

7/17/14: The Phillies took a risk by signing 35 year old catcher Carlos Ruiz to a three year, $26 million contract in the offseason. The body tends to break down at that age, so there is always the chance of injury. Ruiz has been injured, but not by his own form failing him. He was hit in the head by a pitch on June 26 and has been out since. The good news is that he is scheduled for a rehab assignment so may be back soon. Backup catcher Wil Nieves has been injured as well, so the Phillies have had to dig deep for catching help. Ruiz' return will not generate power, but the man is pretty good at getting on base.

7/10/14: The Phillies commitment to keeping their veterans around for more years is certainly not paying off. Team management says it is because they do not want a drop in attendance by putting in a developmental roster. Fair enough, but losing also drives fans away. The team was finally able to snap their six game losing streak last week by rallying to beat the sinking Marlins 5-4 in Miami. Philly took advantage of shaky pitching in the top of the ninth inning to get the tying and go-ahead runs across the plate. That is a good sign, but the team does need to bring in some youth to rebuild and catch the Braves and Nationals in the future.

7/3/14: Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro has come under harsh criticism over the past few years by electing to continue to try to compete with his roster of aging and expensive veterans. That plan has not worked out too well so far. They have missed the playoffs the last two years, and look like they will miss out again this season as the Phillies again have a losing record. But this may not be all on Amaro. Phillies president David Montgomery says that they do not want to do a rebuild because they fear that attendance may drop. Attendance is already dropping and the best thing to do may be to rebuild with exciting young talents.

6/26/14: The trade deadline is fast approaching and common sense dictates that the Phillies would be better off dealing away some high priced veterans for prospects. Granted, the Phillies are only four games out of first, but they still have to contend with the Braves, Nationals and Mets. We all know what will happen next. The team will go on a small run - just enough to convince GM Ruben Amaro that they have a chance. It is admirable to keep loyal players around, but it can be argued that it is a disservice to the paying fans when the team is aging and simply does not have the horsepower to compete this season.

6/19/14: As is often the case, there was an overreaction in baseball. This one was not a player, it was the umpire. Last Friday, Roberto Hernandez gave up a home run to Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro. Hernandez hit him with a first pitch fastball on his next at-bat. Home plate umpire Mark Ripperger must have assumed that it was intentional and ejected Hernandez without any warning. This is in contrast to the Rays-Red Sox game a few weeks ago when David Price hit two Red Sox batters but was never ejected. Perhaps MLB wants to set a no-tolorance attitude for intentional hit batsmen. In any case, it did seem like an overreaction on Ripperger's part.

6/12/14: The Ruben Amaro Era in Philadelphia continues, and that may bring tears to some Phillies fans' eyes. Many believe that Amaro has made several personnel missteps over the years, and that is their opinion. A new report adds more fuel to that fire as it says that the Phillies accidentally traded highly regarded prospect Domingo Santana to the Astros as the player to be named later in the Hunter Pence deal back in 2011. Amaro is denying the report. Santana, a 21 year old outfielder, is the #8 ranked prospect in the Astros organization now, and could have been a big help to the Phillies.

6/6/14: The Phillies received a lot of criticism lately when they apparently turned in a Ben Wetzler (one of their draft picks) for consulting with an advisor after the team failed to sign him. On one side, it is accepted practice for underclassmen to consult an advisor on contractual matters, even if they do not sign. The NCAA says that is against the rules, but it has always been overlooked. Wetzler was suspended for 11 games. Mari Wolver, the Phillies scouting director is defending his actions now, and simply saying he provided the NCAA information, but the NCAA is the one that suspended him.

5/29/14: A lot of things have happened on earth since 1978 if you think about it. The Reagan Years, a couple of Gulf Wars, the Internet, and the list goes on. But something happened Sunday for the first time since 1978 - the Phillies were no-hit in baseball game. Josh Beckett of the L.A. Dodgers was the pitcher for this one and he simply controlled the Phillies all game. It was both the first no-hitter of Beckett's solid career and the first of the season. Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals got close last week, allowing one-hit against the Diamondbacks. Philly really needs to pick up the offense as that was the sixth time in 18 games they were shut out.

5/22/14: The Pirates loss has been the Phillies gain. That gain being the addition of starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. Burnett has had a pretty solid start to the season and sports a 2.90 ERA, though the Phillies are in last in the NL East. The Pirates are muddling through in the lower half of the NL Central, so it could be argued that the everyone would have been better off had Burnett stayed in Pittsburgh (everyone but the Phillies who would probably be in the same place). But starting pitching is not Philly's problem, it has been a shaky bullpen that has given up 17 home runs already this season. How long until the fans are screaming for the GM's job?

5/15/14: With about one fourth of the MLB season in the record books, no one in the NL East can be considered out of the running. Much of that is due to the division, as a whole, being a bit weak compared to other divisions. The Phillies are glad to hear that as they are struggling and two games under 500. That being said, and though they are in last place, they are only three games out of first, which is currently shared by Atlanta and Miami (yes, Miami). Philly lost ground over the past two weeks with a 4-6 record, but there is more than enough time for this veteran squad to right the ship and make a run at the postseason.

5/8/14: So the season has gone through six weeks, which is a good time to take a look at where everyone is at. The Phillies are at the cellar of the NL East, but this is probably the best division in all of baseball to this point. Even with being a game under .500, the Phils are only 3.5 games out of first place. Two good series would have them near the top of the division, which is changing every day. The Phillies need better production out of their starting rotation, but otherwise, look pretty good to this point.

5/1/14: There should not be much debate that Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks is the manliest man of the month after taking a puck to the face (returning the next game to score the game winner). But do not overlook Phillies pitcher A.J. Burnett. Burnett was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. Rather than get the surgery, he is pitching through it. And pitching well. Since the diagnosis, he got his first win of 2014 with eight quality innings. That is his third quality start since finding out about the problem, and he has only allowed two earned runs in that time.

4/24/14: Okay, Phillies fans, you are about to get a welcome addition to the rotation. The injured Cole Hamels threw his second rehab start and lasted seven solid innings. That puts him on track of rejoining the team this week. The Phillies could certainly use his help as they have already fallen three games out of the division lead, and are even behind the Mets at this point. That being said, one solid week of baseball and some consecutive wins could put the Phils back near the top of the division. With Washington's terrible defense and Atlanta's patchwork pitching staff, the Phillies actually have a decent shot at sneaking up on everyone this year.

4/17/14: The 2014 baseball season is only a few weeks old, but we are already seeing some concerning trends from the Phillies. For starters, the team is having trouble keeping their opponents from scoring. After just 10 games, they allowed a whopping 55 runs. Only the Arizona Diamond backs have allowed more (75), but that was through 13 games. So, off the bat, it looks like they could use some pitching help. That may be coming next week in the form of the return of Cole Hamels. Hamels made his first rehab start with Single-A Clearwater last week and should make one more. He could return to the Phillies on April 22 to face the Dodgers.

4/10/14: It's a good thing that shortstop Jimmy Rollins does not play in New York, or he would get skewered by the press for missing games for the birth of his child (see: Daniel Murphy, New York Mets). Rollins missed two games, which should not be an issue - especially in April. One of the games that Rollins missed was a win in the Cubs' home opener. Chase Utley was the star of the game with three RBIs, which includes a two run home run. The Phillies are not expected to much this season, but they finished the first week with a winning record. The victory may have been extra sweet for manager Ryne Sandberg. He played his career with the Cubs and was their triple A manager before being passed over for the Cubs managerial job a few years ago.

4/3/14: By the final score, it looked more like an Eagles and Cowboys game than a Phillies and Rangers game. The Phillies won on Opening Day, opening up in an interleague matchup against the Texas Rangers. Final score: 14-10. Pitching is generally ahead of hitting early in the season, but you could not tell that to these two teams. Philly pitcher Cliff Lee got the win in his start, but at the expense of a 14.10 ERA. The good news is that the Phillies knocked 17 hits on the day and committed no errors. Most managers would like to see that runs against number quite a bit lower, but a win is a win, and it is always nice to start the season with a win.

3/27/14: The Phillies have the chance to catch the National League East off guard this season. The Washington Nationals and the defending NL East Champion Atlanta Braves have gotten all the publicity and picks, while the Phillies are fielding an aging team that did not fare well last year. However, the Nats are still an enigma and the Braves pitching staff has been decimated with serious injuries. But the Phillies are not immune to the injury bug themselves. Over the past week, their top two bench options, Darin Ruf and Freddy Galvis have been ruled out. Galvis has a staph infection that will take a while to get past.

3/20/14: Maybe a lot of people do not have much faith in the Phillies this season, and that is their right. Indeed, the team has a roster of older players who have been successful in the past but may be past their primes. The injuries to the Atlanta Braves' pitching may open up a door for the Phillies. And even better news, pitcher Cole Hamels is almost ready to face live hitters. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to make one more bullpen session before getting in front of actual batters. That could make him available to pitch in mid or late April, which would be great for the team.

3/13/14: There are no shortage of optimists in Phillies camp this season. GM Reuben Amaro already thinks that he has a winning formula on his roster and now closer Jonathan Papelbon says that the Phils have a top five bullpen. That type of optimism is not abounding among experts, especially since the Phillies have both the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves in their own division. Not to mention the Cardinals, Pirates, and Dodgers in the rest of the National League. A bullpen rebound would be nice, considering Philly had the fourth highest bullpen ERA last season at 4.19.

3/6/14: The optimism that GM Rueben Amaro has been expressing for the past several weeks seems to be wearing off of the fans. The team has had a rough start to the Grapefruit League, going 1-3 in their first four games (but those are meaningless exhibitions). More concerning is that they have not been getting good sessions from Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez or Roberto Hernandez. Additionally, Jonathan Pettibone is experiencing more shoulder issues and now Cole Hamels will not be ready for Opening Day due to tendinitis in his shoulder. A tough few weeks indeed for the Philllies.

2/27/14: Most of the baseball watching public may not believe that the Phillies are due for a comeback this coming season, but the team does. One of the keys to the Phillies season will be veteran starting pitcher Cole Hammels. Hammels is suffering from shoulder tendonitis and has to get himself healthy and back into playing shape before he can contribute to the team. The good news is that he is making great progress in his rehab and seems ready to make the next step. He will probably miss a couple of starts to begin the season, but that is a small cost to pay if he can be healthy for 25 other starts in 2014.

2/20/14: Just a week prior, the Phillies chances at signing veteran starting pitcher A.J. Burnett were considered remote. Burnett had previously stated that he would either retire or pitch for the Pirates in 2014. The Pirates patiently waited for the pitcher's decision, and a few weeks ago Burnett decided to play. Baltimore got into the discussion, playing on Burnett's desire to play near his Maryland home. The Pirates offered one year at $12 million, then the Phillies swooped in with their TV money and trumped them with a one year deal for $16 million. So Burnett is going to Philly for his last season. Unless it is not.

2/13/14: The Phillies may be eyeing up former major league closer Ryan Madson. Madson is 33 years old now and has not pitched in the majors since 2011, when he was with the Phillies. His career has been derailed by elbow injuries. He finally took the mound in Arizona last week to work out for scouts from several teams, and the Phillies were reported to be in on that. He touched 93 miles per hour with his fastball, so he is showing that he does have some juice left. Plenty of other teams may be interested as well, so expect some talk about him and his contract negotiations in the near future.

2/6/14: Add a late entry to the A.J. Burnett sweepstakes. The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly interested in the veteran starting pitcher now. Now it appears that there are three teams that Burnett will consider: The Pittsburgh Penguins, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Phillies. Burnett reportedly wants to play near his Maryland home. He previously said that he would only play again for Pittsburgh, but it looks like that requirement has now changed. The Phillies may be a longshot in this, or may only be leverage for Burnett to strike a more lucrative deal with Pittsburgh or Baltimore.

1/30/14: The Phillies seem to be holding on to their past glory by keeping a lot of the players that got them to the World Series a couple times and several division titles. What the team may not realize is that those great teams are now old, and the Phillies roster consists of veterans like Jimmy Rolilns, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley. They also added Boby Abreu and Marlon Byrd this offseason. That is a great team...in 2009. Despite all the veterans, Byrd insists that the Phillies are not an 'old team'. They certainly have experience on their side, but until they push the Braves and Nationals, there will be doubters.

1/23/14: The Phillies are reportedly interested in reliever Ryan Madson. Madson was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball for a few years. Unfortunately, he has suffered severe right elbow issues and underwent Tommy John surgery. He has not thrown in the majors since 2011. Interestingly enough, his last two seasons in the majors were with the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a one year deal with the Angels last season, but continued elbow issues kept him from pitching. Both the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox are also interested in Madson, who will throw for them in the near future.

1/16/14: Most people realize that it will be an uphill climb for the Phillies to get back to the top of the mountain. They traded away a lot of promising prospects over the past decade to build a competitive team at the MLB level, and that has hurt them. They are slowly rebuilding the farm system, but got some very tough news as pitching prospects Adam Morgan and Shane Watson will miss most of the 2014 season with injuries. Both are young guys and should bounce back long-term. However, they are pitching depth that every organization needs, so losing both for most of the year can really hurt the organization.

1/9/14: The Phillies are moving up to the elite of the big leagues. Word came out on January 3rd that the team signed a 25 year extension with Comcast for the broadcast rights to Phillies game. The big number here is that it is worth $2.5 billion plus equity and ad revenue. That puts the Phils in the same league as the Yankees and Dodgers in terms of TV revenue, and may allow them to spend their way to the top. The Braves already realize this and have good reason to be worried as their deal is worth about a tenth of that. Then again, this may be the start of the realization that baseball needs a salary cap.

1/2/14: Pitcher Ryan Madson left the Phillies after the 2011 season as free agent. In that time he has signed not one, but two lucrative contracts. Good news for him, but not for those teams he signed with as he has not thrown a pitch in a major league game since leaving Philadelphia. A reunion may be on the way as the Phillies seem interested in bring him back. He is an injury risk (which is why he did not play for the past two seasons), but there may be a minor league deal in the makings soon, as well as a chance to win a bullpen job in the big leagues.

12/26/13: The Phillies have made it known that they are finally willing to part with shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Rollins is a former MVP and has spent all 14 years of his career with the Phillies. He is now 35 and the team apparently realizes that they need to get younger. Had they tried to move him sooner, then they may have found a deal with the Cardinals. However, they signed Jhonny Peralta so are set for a few years. There are still teams in need of a shortstop for the next few years, but the trick is dealing him for the right price.

12/19/13: The Phillies should be an interesting team next season. They have opted against rebuilding and instead have added veteran players to their already aging core group of players. Marlon Byrd is an upgrade in right field and Roberto Hernandez does give them a nice experienced option in the starting rotation. However, these additions may not be enough to catch up with the younger and more talented Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Of course, with the roster as it stands, they will be respectable and may be able to earn a wild card spot.

12/12/13: Philadelphia is reportedly getting very active in trying to trade closer Jonathan Papelbon and Kyle Kendrick. Getting those two off the books will save $20 million next season, and that is on top of the reported $26 million they already have available for free agency. The Phillies are said to be interested in adding former Ranger Nelson Cruz. Cruz was tendered a qualifying offer, meaning that any team signing him would give up their first round pick - unless it is in the top ten selection. Philly has the seventh overall pick, which makes this signing even more intriguing for Phillies fans.

12/5/13: It is early December, but it looks like the Phillies have already solidified their regular starting position players for 2014. The team signed catcher Carlos Ruiz to a three year extension as well as acquiring Marlon Byrd. Cody Asche will join the infield at third base, joining veterans Ryan Howard (1B), Chase Utley (2B) and Jimmy Rollins (shortstop). The Phillies are unlikely to make an blockbuster moves, unless they can somehow trick another team into taking Ryan Howard's huge contract. So the team is expected to start looking for pitching help to get their rotation and bullpen in shape for next season.

11/28/13: How many times do the Phillies have to offer their pitching coach job before someone takes it? The correct answer is somewhere around three. Philadelphia interviewed at least 12 men for the job and offered it to both Braves' pitching coach Roger McDowell and Pirates' special assistant Jim Benidict. Both turned down the job. The team finally hired Bob McClure. He held the same position for the Rockies, Royals, and Red Sox. He was fired by Bobby Valentine in Boston, but that is probably to his credit. He has a lot of experience as the Phillies hope to rebound from a miserable 2013 season.

11/21/13: The theme in the NL East seems to be to find a way to bolster the middle reliever position. The Mets are interested in adding Alfredo Aceves to help them out and the Nationals seem intent on bidding on every left-handed set-up guy that is available. The Phillies are in the same boat and signed Shawn Camp to a minor league deal. Camp was with the Cubs this past season and it was disastrous. On the other hand, he did have 80 appearances with a 3.59 ERA in 2012, so there may still be something there.

11/14/13: Carlos Ruiz is an odd situation - he is a 35 year old catcher that teams want. The Rockies are prepared to offer him a multi-year contract (likely two years) as a defensive upgrade to current catcher Wilin Rosario. The Phillies say that they want Ruiz to return, despite only playing in 92 games last year. However, they also caution that they will not wait around for Ruiz to make a decision as they do not want to miss other opportunities. Whether that is conjecture or truth is only known to the Phillies. What is known is that Ruiz will likely be a starter somewhere next season.

11/7/13: The Phillies have a lot of issues to deal with in the offseason and finding a new pitching coach is still one of them. Philadelphia was interested in Braves' pitching coach Roger McDowell, who has been very successful and highly regarded since taking over for legend Leo Mazzone. McDowell's contract expired last week, making him essentially a free agent. However, McDowell signed a two year deal to stay with the Braves who probably did not want their coach going to a division rival. The Phillies have been without a pitching coach since releasing Rich Dubee last month after nine years on the job.

10/31/13: Not many people in the Phillies organization probably want to speak about it, but the team must do something with Ryan Howard and his monster contract. Howard has not been the same since tearing his Achilles in the final out of the 2001 NLCS, but is still owed a lot of money for several years ($25 million for each of the next three seasons, then is eligible for a $10 million buyout). Ryan has not hit left handed pitching well and may be forced into an expensive platoon role or a trade where the Phillies absorb much of the contract. Very tough decision in Philadelphia on this one.

10/24/13: Unless something changes in relatively short order, Ryne Sandberg will shed the 'interim' label and be the full time manager of the Phillies next season. Sandberg was promoted when the Phillies fired long-time manager Charlie Manuel over the summer. Sandberg is a good choice and has paid his dues by managing in the minors for several years. Many thought he would be the Cubs manager two years ago, but the only team he had ever known (at that time) selected Dale Sveum. Sandberg left the Cubs, now has his chance, and must be whispering over to the North Siders "How did that work out for you?"

10/17/13: The Phillies could be the prime example of committing too much to aging veterans. The team has a staggering $110 million committed to six players, but has a trainload of holes to fill. Ryan Howard, Jonathan Papelbon, and Chase Utley all have eight figures due their way next year (and that is guaranteed money), which makes GM Ruben Amaro's job that much harder in trying to field a competitive team in 2014. Of course, one could argue that Amaro got himself in this mess - but that is a story for another day. For now, the Phillies have to find cheap labor that can play.

10/10/13: The Phillies thought they would have a shot at the playoffs in 2013, but injuries and poor personnel decisions derailed that hope fairlly quickly. As the offseason begins, the Phillies realize that they have to reload somehow. The team may let starting pitcher Roy Halladay leave, even without a reasonable offer. St. Louis may be interested in Halladay, especially if Halladay's close friend Chris Carpenter can return next season. But there is a thought in Philadelphia that the team has traded away too much pitching depth, and that could hinder the team for the next few years.

10/3/13: The Phillies announced that they fired their pitching coach Rich Dubee on Monday, which will undoubtedly make the Phillies a great team again. True, the pitching staff was bad this past season, ranking 27th out of 30 in ERA, but he also did not have the personnel due to injuries. Dubee had to work with stopgap starters like Tyler Cloyd, Ethan Martin, and Zach Miner for over 20 starts this season. GM Ruben Amaro did not provide the proper depth for the team. The next question will be if interim manager Ryne Sandberg will get the job full time or if he will be jettisoned as well.

9/26/13: It may not seem too good in Philadelphia now, but brighter days are coming. This year provided a rare switch in Pennsylvania, with the Piirates seemingly headed towards the playoffs and the Phillies already eliminated. But there should be optimism in the City of Brotherly Love. The National League East is not a particularly strong division and some personnel improvements could get the team competitive again. Also, the contracts of Roy Halliday and Carlos Ruiz expire at the end of the season, freeing up some $25 million. This should all give the Phillies faithful some solace, let's just hope GM Amaro gets the right players.

9/19/13: The 2013 season will go down among the low points in Phillies history. The team had hopes of contending for the playoffs this season and that fell through early. They suffered multiple major injuries that hindered their onfield performance. They fired their long-time manager who led to a World Series championship and another appearance, and they did not realize the ship was sinking until it was too late. The good news is that interim manager Ryne Sandberg has the team playing better and should get the permanent job next season. Philly will have to make some moves, though, and rebuilding the starting rotation would be a good place to start.

9/12/13: It has been a very tough year for the Phillies. The team is just two years removed from knocking on the door of the World Series (they were knocked out in seven games by the St. Louis Cardinals, who went on to win the World Series) to a team that will barely avoid losing 100 games. The team has simply gotten old, so expect some turnover this offseason. One name that may not be back is Roy Halladay. Halladay missed much of the season to injury but his time in Philly may be limited. Perhaps he goes to the Cardinals and joins up with his best friend Chris Carpenter.

9/4/13: Much maligned Phillies general manager Reuben Amaro may have gotten the the team a good bargain. The Phillies originally signed pitching prospect Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez to a lucrative six year, $50 million contract. Then reports popped up that the young pitcher had some undisclosed injury concerns. The team was able to renegotiate with Gonzalez for a three year, $12 million deal. Gonzalez may be inserted into the line up right away, which would be a good chance for him to get acclimated to the major league game without any pressure, as the Phillies are not going to make the postseason.

8/29/13: The Phillies found themselves in a meaningless game that happened to be the longest in terms of hours and minutes since 1989. The 18 inning marathon lasted over seven hours, and ended when the D'backs were able to finally put up some runs (5) in the top of the 18th inning. At that point, the Phillies had exhausted their bullpen and were using position players to pitch. At least the team is finally getting back Roy Halladay. There is no real point in having him pitch at this time of year, but perhaps they are trying to audition him for a trade in the upcoming offseason.

8/22/13: The Phillies General Manager Rueben Amaro was probably the last person to realize that the Phillies were not going to make the playoff this year, which is why he stood pat on his line up until the last minutes leading up to the trade deadline. So now Amaro is trying to retroactively fix the team. He fired longtime manager Charlie Manuel and promoted third base coach Ryne Sandberg to interim manager. Sandberg is deserving of a manager role, but Manuel did not have the tools to make a run this season. He led the team to the World Series twice, winning one. If anything, the failures are on the front office and Manuel is just falling on the sword.

8/15/13: The Phillies as an organization look like they finally gave up on the 2013 season, unfortunately they made that decision a few weeks too late. They insisted on trying to keep the team together up until near the trade deadline - but that was too late. So now they are stuck with a very expensive roster that has fallen to fourth place in the NL East. The Phillies did get an extension finished with star Chase Utley. Utley is now 34 years old and his deal is for two years for $27 million, meaning that there is a good chance he retires as a Phillie.

8/8/13: Phillies general manager Amaro Rueben finally got the message - it is time to be sellers this season. Not that it really did any good because he finally realized what everyone else knew far too late - the Phillies did not do anything at the trade deadline. The Phillies are a disappointing team this season. They do have talent but have not been able to put anything together and are currently miles away from a playoff spot. Perhaps if they had realized this a few weeks earlier, then they would have been able to move some obligations off the payroll and build for next season.

8/1/13: Even at six games under .500 and 10 games out of first place in the NL East and sitting in third in the division standings, the Phillies have remained non-committal about their future for the rest of the season. More specifically, will they tear down and trade away talent or try to make a late season push. No one knows yet. Philly did sign Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez to a $59 million contract, even though he has never pitched in the big leagues. The Phillies are hoping that he is a missing link in their rotation. Perhaps this means that the Phillies are looking to contend now rather than later.

7/25/13: Whether Phillies fans like it or not, general manager Ruben Amaro believes the team can contend this season and is not willing to be a seller. At least not yet. The team is at .500 and about seven games behind the Braves - and even with the Nationals. But the Phillies learned of a big blow this week when they found out both Mike Adams and Jeremy Horst are out for the year. Those were two key contributors to the bullpen. Perhaps Amaro will rethink his position - but considering that he may be fighting for his own job, he may try to trade some prospects and bolster the team to be competitive the rest of the year.

7/18/13: The Phillies will not have the services of Paul Revere for awhile. Revere came to the plate in the 11 inning against the Chicago White Sox with a man on first. He fouled a pitch off his foot and was in a great deal of pain. The team could not take him out since they had just exhausted their last bench player as a pinch runner. Revere stayed in and grounded into a game ending double play. X-rays after the game indicated that he broke his foot and will be out for several weeks while the injury mends.

7/11/13: As the trade deadline nears, it is becoming more and more obvious to most people that the Phillies should be sellers this season. The team is 8.5 games out of first place and 3.5 games out of second (to the Braves and Nationals, respectively). Struggling slugger Ryan Howard is on the disabled list and really has not been the same since he tore his Achilles in the playoffs in 2011. Philly has some coveted players like Chase Utley and Cliff Lee, and could turn them into building blocks for the future. Unfortunately for the team, it looks like their window is quickly closing.

7/4/13: The Phillies may be the most interesting team in the National League right now. It is not because they are dominating, but quite the opposite. The team has the talent and experience to do damage in the playoffs - if they can get there. The are battling with the Nationals for second place in the NL East and also have to deal with St. Louis, Cincinnatti and/or Pittsburgh for one of two wildcard spots. So the question becomes if they are going to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. They could offer up Cliff Lee or Cole Hammels for a nice return. It all depends on how the team performs in July.

6/27/13: The Phillies and Nationals are in a tight race for the second spot in the NL East. Atlanta, of course, sprinted out of the gates and still has a five game lead in the division. The Nats have not been as strong as advertised (and have been hit by injuries). The question becomes what does the team do at the trade deadline. They are 6.5 games out of first and are currently in second. The team could make a run at a wild card spot, but that means leapfrogging two NL Central teams and the Nationals. There is a chance that the Phillies may shut it down for the year and trade off Cliff Lee and others as they look to rebuild.

6/6/13:On Saturday the Philadelphia Phillies pinch-runner Kyle Kendrick, dove back to second base as Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura applies the tag in the ninth inning of a game in. Kendrick was called out on the play. Philadelphia fans are stirring up quite a stink as they felt the call was complete garbage and a bad call by the second base umpire. The Brewers defeated the Phillies 4-3. The Philadelphia Phillies are just six and half games behind the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves. While they are doing generally well they may end up trading just before the deadline. The roster is filled with guys who find themselves towards the end of their careers. Time will tell.

5/30/13: Utley is heading to the 15-day disabled list. He is considered at Grade 1 oblique strain (very mild), according to a report from Mike Axisa of CBS Sports. The Phillies expect him to return to the line-up in the next two to four weeks. Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown is now named the National League player of the week. He is the first Phillies position player to win the award since Raul Ibanez back in July 2011. "I'm proud of it," Brown said. "But at the same time, I feel like I've got a long way to go and a lot of work to do." His confidence and having had a shorter swing is what he thinks has helped."

5/16/13: Phillies pitcher Roy Halliday has apologized to the city for his poor performance. Halliday has not pitched well at all this year and his record shows it. However, he has been injured and is on the disabled list - at least for now. His close friend, Cardinals' pitcher Chris Carpenter expects Halliday to keep plugging away to try to get that elusive World Series ring (Carpenter has extra to spare). The Phillies currently sit at 4.5 games out of first place, but are behind both the Braves and the Nationals - that makes the climb to the top pretty difficult this season.

4/25/13: The Phillies wrapped a four game home stint against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, splitting the series at two games apiece. Philadelphia took early control of the opening game on Thursday and never looked back. They were completely stymied by Lance Lynn on Saturday, losing 5-0. Sunday's game was a pitcher's duel for most of the game, until the Phillies cracked Cardinals' releiver Mitchell Boggs for four runs late in the game, en route to a 7-3 win. The Phillies are not as strong as in year's past, but they can still play some ball in this league.

4/4/13: As great as the power show that the Atlanta Braves put on for everyone on Opening Day, it was equally as devestating for the Philadelphia Phillies. Everyone knows that this is not the same team that won the World Series in 2009 or even the one that made it to the NLCS in 2011. This team is good but not great, though they still have some great pieces like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels. Hamels had the roughest opener - surrenduring three home runs to the Braves en route to a 7-5 defeat.

Cole Hamels was superb as his complete game shutout propelled the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday at Marlins Park. Hamels allowed just seven hits and a walk over his nine innings, adding five strikeouts to move to 13-6 with a 2.91 earned run average on the year. Offensively for the Phils, Chase Utley, Juan Pierre and Erik Kratz each drove in runs in the winning effort. On the day, the team scattered 12 hits, but were just 2-14 with runners in scoring position. Kyle Kendrick will get the ball for the Phillies on Tuesday night in Miami, facing off against Marlins ace Josh Johnson.

The Philadelphia Phillies continue to find themselves further and further in the basement of the National League East and recent play hasn't helped, with the team 18 games out of first place with a 50-61 record heading into the weekend. Overall, the offense has been struggling - the team currently ranks 20th in overall runs, 14th in batting average, 21st in on-base percentage and 19th in slugging percentage. While Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have recently returned and will certainly add a boost to the offense, with less than two months left of the season, it may be too little too late for the pitching- heavy Phillies.

Cole Hamels reminded the Philadelphia front office just why they gave him all that money on Wednesday night as he led the Phillies to victory on a complete game shutout. Hamels allowed just five hits in the 3-0 victory, striking out six Atlanta Braves over the course of his 111 pitch outing. The victory was his 12th of the year thus far and lowered his ERA to 3.14. Offensively, Ryan Howard blasted his fifth home run of the year in the first off Braves starter Mike Minor, a two-run shot that gave the Phillies early in the first inning. From there, Hamels took care of the rest - the Braves never even got so far as to have any runners in scoring position on the day.

Citizens Bank Park is a baseball stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is home to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies, who have won 5 straight division titles, play in the East Division of the National League. They have also represented the National League in the World Series in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009, bringing home the title in 2008.One of the many featured parts of the ball park is Ashburn Alley behind the center field wall. The alley is named after Hall of Fame outfielder Richie Ashburn who played for the Phillies from 1948 to 1959 and later became a Phillies broadcaster from 1963 until 1997. Ashburn passed away in 1997. Ashburn Alley is a walkway which features restaurants, games and Phillies memorabilia. There is also a large bronze statue of Richie Ashburn that sits behind center field, which was the position he played. Fans are allowed in Ashburn Alley up to 2.5 hours before the start of the game.Citizens Bank Park has also hosted many big name concerts including Jimmy Buffett, The Eagles, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Police, and Jon Bon Jovi.Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004 to replace Veterans Stadium, which was later demolished.

After a 6-2 loss on Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies completed a series in which they lost three straight to the Atlanta Braves. Roy Halladay got the start on Sunday for Philadelphia, pitching six innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits and a walk. He also added seven strikeouts despite picking up his sixth loss of the year thus far. Offensively, Shane Victorino went deep in the fourth inning off Braves starter TIm Hudson, his ninth home run of the season. Carlos Ruiz also drove in a run in the losing effort, bringing his season total to 57 on the year so far. Overall, the Phillies were 1-4 with runners in scoring position.

The Philadelphia Phillies were victorious in extra innings on Wednesday night as they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers by the score of 7-6 in 10 innings. Vince Worley got the start for Philadelphia and pitched 5.1 innings, surrendering three earned runs on ten hits and a walk. He also added six strikeouts over the course of his 90 pitch outing. Chase Utley, Hunter Pence, Carlos Ruiz, Jimmy Rollins and Erik Kratz all drove in runs for the Phillies in the winning effort. Overall on the day, the team hit a solid 4-12 with runners in scoring position. Chase Utley also added his third stolen base of the season in the third inning.

Joe Blanton provided the Phillies with a solid start that kept his team in the game as Philadelphia defeated the San Francisco Giants by the score of 4-3 on Sunday. Blanton lasted eight innings, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits and a walk. He also added six strikeouts over the course of his 102 pitch outing. Kyle Kendrick picked up the victory in extra innings, his fourth of the year. Offensively, John Mayberry Jr. blasted two home runs, both off Giants starter Barry Zito. The two home runs gives him eight on the year to go along with 25 runs batted in. Overall, however, the Phillies were just 1-5 with runners in scoring position in the victory.

Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a six-year $144 million contract extension. It is the largest contract in Phillies history and second largest by a pitcher in baseball. The 28-year old has spent his entire career in the Phillies organization. He has a career record of 85 wins and 58 losses with a 3.38 ERA over 7 seasons. He is a three-time All-Star and was the World Series MVP in 2008. This season, Hamels has been the ace of the Phillies' pitching staff with 11 wins and 4 losses with 3.23 ERA. He has been their most consistent pitcher this year with the injuries to Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been languishing in last place for most of the season, but the one bright spot for them this year has been the pitching of Cole Hamels. Well, the Phillies did the right thing and locked up their star pitcher on Thursday with a six-year contract extension that is worth a reported $144 million. The contract, which works out to roughly $24 million per year for the 2008 World Series MVP, comes after there was much speculation about whether or not the struggling Phillies were going to trade Hamels to a team in contention at the trade deadline. However, the Phillies made the right decision and decided to keep Hamels by signing him to the largest contract ever given to a Philadelphia athlete.

The Philadelphia Phillies got their All-Star second baseman Chase Utley back into the lineup this week, and his presence has been sorely missed. The Phillies pulled themselves up from last place earlier in the week, replaced by the struggling Miami Marlins, however they since lost their last two games to the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates and have fallen back to last in the NL East with a record of 36-42. The Phillies are currently 9 games out of first place and a half game behind the Marlins, but they received good news on Thursday with word that Ryan Howard would be playing in a Class A minor league game to begin his rehab and work his way back to the lineup as well.

Things have not gotten any easier lately for the Philadelphia Phillies, who remain 9 games out of first place in the NL East with a 33-38 record. This past week, they received news that second baseman Freddy Galvis, who is already on the DL with a fractured back, tested positive for steroids and received a 50-game suspension. Luckily for Galvis, the suspension may be served while Galvis remains on the DL, meaning that Galvis would have most likely missed those 50 games anyway, due to his injury which is expected to keep him out for at least the next few months.

With Chase Utley making rehab starts in the minors and getting ready for his return to the Philadelphia lineup, many Phillies fans are wondering if it's too little, too late. The Phillies have been in a nose-dive as of late, and have lost 7 of their last 10 games as they watch the first-place Nationals get farther and farther away. Now a whole 9 games out of the division lead and two games behind the fourth-place Marlins, the 31-34 Phillies are beginning to enter panic mode. Luckily for them, they will begin a three-game interleague series on Friday night with the similarly struggling Toronto Blue Jays with a chance to pull themselves out of their hole.

The reeling Philadelphia Phillies have now lost six games in a row and 7 out of their last 10 to drop them to 28-31. Still in last place in the NL East, the Phillies are now just a little bit further away from the top, as they are 6 games out of the division lead. With Chase Utley currently making a few rehab starts for the Phillies' minor league affiliates and getting ready to make his return, it's clear that Philadelphia sorely needs his bat back in the lineup as they are struggling to score runs. After being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who currently have the best record in baseball, the Phillies will travel to Baltimore to face another first-place team in the Orioles.

After taking 2-out-of-3 from the New York Mets, the Philadelphia Philli