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HELP SUPPORT CONTENT LIKE THIS AND KEEP IT COMING ALL SEASON LONG BY BECOMING A PATRON!- https://www.patreon.com/phoulballz   Following the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws' exciting walk-off victory in the 10th inning against West Virginia (Mariners affiliate) on Thursday night, I spoke with the team's manager Mike Micucci about several of his team's standouts including starting pitcher Dom Pipkin, who had a less than ideal performance, middle infielder Luis Garcia, who notched the game's big hit and others.  Micucci also talked about the recent promotion of top prospect Alec Bohm, who opened this season with Lakewood and is headed to Double-A Reading.  Read ahead for those interview excerpts. Dom Pipkin, image- Jay Floyd -Not a very good start from Dominic Pipkin , who only lasts an inning and a third, gave up three earned runs and threw more balls than strikes... He looked a little rusty (coming off of the All-Star break), I thought.  Had a hard time getting ...

As Phillies hurler Cliff Lee dominates opponents with his arm and his bat this year, his full legacy within the organization may not completely be his own. Lee signed a lengthy contract with the Phillies last off-season, but just one year prior, he had been traded by Philadelphia to Seattle for three minors leaguers that are still under the proverbial microscope despite Lee's return. The premiere target in the December, 2009 swap was right-handed pitcher Phillippe Aumont . The 6-foot-7-inch 255-pound Canadian has had an exceptional season, combined at two levels with the Double A Reading Phillies and the Triple A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 35 total games, Aumont has posted a 1-5 record with 7 saves and a .206 batting average against, while striking out 65 batters in 44 2/3 innings pitched. Aumont struggled initially after joining the Phillies in 2010 after the organization chose to switch him from a reliever into a starting pitcher. Recognizing the issues that Aumont...

The Phillies (44-26), in the midst of a hot streak that has seen them win 7 straight games, will head west for a 3-game interleague series with the Seattle Mariners (35-34) that begins Friday night. Philadelphia has been riding stellar pitching during the recent streak of success. Phillies starting pitchers have combined to post a 1.80 ERA over the past 7 games. The M's, who are 1/2 game behind Texas for 1st place in the American League West division standings, hope to benefit from the promotion of highly regarded prospect, infielder Dustin Ackley. The 2nd overall draft selection in the 2009 draft, Ackley had posted a .303 average with 9 homers and 35 RBI through 66 games with Triple A Tacoma. These two teams have not met since the Mariners took 2 of 3 games from the Phillies at Seattle's Safeco Field in 2005. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups as well as other key statistics from this series. Friday, 10:10PM. Roy Oswalt (4-4, 3.14 ERA) vs. Michael Pineda (6-4, 2....

Phillies prospect Phillippe Aumont will return to a relief role going forward. As reported by the Inquirer's Matt Gelb on Thursday, the Phillies plan to restore the righty Aumont to the role in which he enjoyed the most success in his career. A first round pick in the 2007 draft, Aumont was a prized prospect acquired in the deal that sent Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners last off-season. Aumont posted a 2-6 record with 16 saves, a 3.88 ERA and 59 strike outs in 51 relief innings at two levels of the Mariners system in 2009. However, after coming over to the Phillies, the organization chose to move Aumont, who stands 6'7", into a starting role, and he was not nearly as effective. As a member of the Double A Reading Phillies staff, Aumont struggled, going 1-6 with a 7.43 ERA in 11 starts. By June, the Phillies demoted Aumont to High A Clearwater, where he initially pitched in relief and improved somewhat, posting a 2-5 record with a 4.48 ERA in 16 games (10 starts). Philli...

These days, many phans would advise the Phillies to avoid doing silly things like trading away ace pitchers for garbage prospects and signing guys with silent S's at the end of their first name. Those tips would, of course, use hindsight and look into the Phils' own recent mistakes. PhoulBallz.com has been reviewing some other MLB franchises, and has developed some tips for the home team. Today, we offer a list of 5 things the Phillies should avoid doing. #5- Letting their manager hang out with the city's head football coach, like they do in Seattle. Charlie Manuel's family is drug free and his team can win championships. Nothing good would come from rubbing elbows with the likes of the Eagles' coach. #4- Fruity flying hip touches. Leave that to the Metros in NYC...and that other team too. #3- Engaging in any sort of contact like these Padres. Shoulder impalement and stinky fingers do not help players win baseball games. #2- Doing their hair as though they are t...

Cliff Lee receives a congratulatory hug from teammate Felix Hernandez after his outing on Friday On the same night a newly activated Ian Kinsler made his season debut for the Texas Rangers, Seattle's new co-ace, Cliff Lee, made his season debut as well. Lee shined and shut down the Rangers offense, in his first American League action since he was dealt from Cleveland to the Phillies last July. In 7 innings, Lee struck out 8 batters and allowed just 3 hits and no walks. Lee's fastball steadily hit 93mph and he easily showed the 34,055 Mariners fans in attendance that the abdominal strain that kept him out of action since spring training was no longer an issue. Surprisingly, Lee was not the pitching star of the night, as Rangers starter Colby Lewis continued his solid season with 9 shut out innings, striking out 10 Mariners in the process. During one stretch, Lewis retired 21 consecutive batters. Both pitchers were plagued by the same issue- neither offense could muster a run an...

Following a throwing session on Tuesday, Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee is likely to have his abdominal strain result in some time on the shelf. Lee stated that he still feels pain, but that his condition feels better than it did last week. He traveled to Seattle last week to be evaluated by team physicians. Lee, the former Phillie, is expected to throw from flat ground on Thursday. His status be reevaluated on Friday. It's a troubling situation for Lee, as he tries to build on a terrific 2009 season in which he excelled with the Phillies throughout the post season. An abdominal injury is the type of ailment that could effect Lee well after he is active on the Mariners roster. While the lingering effects of the abdominal strain may not be to the extent that Phillies phans saw last year, when Brad Lidge's health issues effected his performance for the entire season, it could certainly be the sort of setback that impacts Lee's April. Being unable to pitch and fine tune oneself c...

Well known Philadelphia Phillies blogger Bill Baer inquired with a dozen or so other Phils bloggers, including myself, about several questions surrounding the upcoming 2010 season for the defending National League champions. Bill's site, CrashburnAlley is always worth checking out, but today's roundtable, that features loads of solid opinions, is can't miss. Here is a direct link to the Phillies preview questionnaire. Ahead, I've listed some of my answers that did not make the cut in Bill's piece, as he tried to distribute equal exposure for all involved. How concerned are you about Cole Hamels going into 2010? I have no great concern about young Colbert for the 2010 season. I've seen and read enough in a few weeks of spring training to know that his off-season conditioning improved his physical state to this point. Half way through spring training he is leaps and bounds beyond where he was half way through even April in 2009. Phillies phans should be confiden...

Welcome to PhoulBallz...a place to enjoy random spring training photographs of former and returning Phils, courtesy of the Associated Press and Getty Images. "Pat Burrell, why you wear your clothes like dat?" "For easy access, baby." New Seattle starter Cliff Lee continued work, on Friday, to rehabilitate his surgically repaired foot. He is seen here pretending to throw off the mound, without a ball. Here is a shot of Billy Wagner rocking Braves gear. Billy Wagz is about the only thing in baseball that might annoy phans more than being reminded that Cliff Lee is gone, so I thought I'd toss him in the mix to take your minds off of Clifton. And our last image out of spring training this week, shows that not everyone is all that impressed by and excited about Jayson Werth's beard, as Placido Polanco grew quite tired of all its attention on photo day. -------------------------------------- Be sure to follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE for stats, trivia and ...

For $1,000 in the category of foreign MLB players, the answer is: "The Japanese-born former AL Rookie of the Year, single season hit record holder and future Hall of Famer who trains during the off-season while wearing unnecessarily tight Zubaz style fruit-booty shorts." Who is Ichiro Suzuki? Correct! Cliff Lee's new teammate seems to dress questionably while practicing, near home, in the off-season. ------------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE for updates, games and generally good baseball facts. Share on Facebook

For $1,000 in the category of Awful Phormer Phillies, the answer is: "This weak hitting outfielder, who could barely bat his weight and totaled just 2 hits after July during his stint with the Phillies in 2005, is replacing new Phillie Raul Ibanez as the starting left fielder in Seattle." Question: "Who is Endy Chavez?" Correct!