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Charlie Manuel has clear goals for Phillies in next 16 games - delcotimes.com
Read this, and you will find that Joecatz's excellent game recap is even more excellent. Also, injury updates.
Luck on Phillies’ side as they snap Pirates' 9-game streak - delcotimes.com
"Honestly," De Fratus said, "I figured, I’ve already failed enough. I’m going to get this one done.
Still looking for a link to De Fratus' endearing postgame interview, which had the frisson of early era Nuke Laloosh. Meantime, his quotes to Dennis Deitch are pretty good.
Final Five's run with Phillies may be entering final days | phillies.com: News
ICYMI: Todd Zolecki's piercingly sad but reasonable take on where the Phillies are this July.
Now is the time for Phillies to trade Utley - Philly.com
Two years ago, this would not have been the case, but it is unlikely there would be significant fan backlash in Philadelphia if Utley were traded now. Most fans recognize that the page has to be turned, and though Utley might have been the most popular figure on that previous page, once it is turned you can't see it, anyway.
Which stands in marked contrast to crap like this. As the weeks go by in July, the drumbeat of this kind of stuff will get increasingly drummier. So let's go a different route:
The 2008 trade deadline in review - Beyond the Box Score
If you're mired in the hype of what may happen this month, take a good look back at the 2008 trades and repeat after me: The Playoffs Are a Crapshoot, And It's Rare You'll Get a Good Prospect In a Trade Especially Under the New CBA. Calm yourselves.
Breaking Down the Futures Game Pitching Prospects | FanGraphs Baseball
Speaking of prospects, it's worth a look at this to put Jesse Biddle in context of the best up-and-coming arms.
Homer: The Best Name for a Pitcher - Red Reporter
Speaking of prospects who've arrived, you have to read this opening paragraph. Sigh, the times have changed. Lively up yourself, Dancing Homer!
NLBEASTMODE
Braves (Sort Of) Bash Marlins, 11-3 - Talking Chop
Braves have a lot of games left against the Marlins.
I'd be happy if we here in the mid-Atlantic could share at least 60 percent of the humidity around here with Arizona.
Wouldn't it really suck if the Phillies had a good pitcher who struggled to get any kind of run support? You know it would!