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Their phans had high hopes. And why wouldn't they? It's just about habit by now. Four straight division titles and what was supposed to be a third consecutive World Series berth are enough to spoil people and ensure that any result shy of another world title will be a disappointment. In game 6 of the National League Championship Series the Phillies had loads of opportunities to take control of the game and put the San Francisco Giants away to force Philadelphia's very first postseason game 7. Unfortunately, the Phils blew those chances and lost to a team that was widely considered inferior. In the 3rd inning, after the Giants had tied the game at 2, the Phillies' first two batters reached base when Placido Polanco walked and Chase Utley was hit by a pitch. On his way to first base, Utley tossed the ball back toward the pitchers mound, which resulted in some insults being fired from San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez. Tempers flaired, the benches cleared, but no punc...

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . ______________...

Doc Classic SAN FRANCISCO— Television cameras caught him trying to stay up and loose between innings. Roy Halladay rarely rested, as he spent time riding a stationary bike after pulling his groin in the 2nd inning of Thursday night's National League Championship Series Game 5. Halladay was tough, throwing 6 innings, to help the Philadelphia Phillies extend the NLCS and return home to wrap up the series this weekend. Halladay's teammates didn’t quite realize their starting hurler was pitching through pain in his game 1 rematch against San Francisco's reigning Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum. Learning that Doc pitched while ailing impressed his teammates more than they typically are with a Halladay outing. Some found it difficult to describe Halladay's efforts. "I don't know what word you can put on him. Do you want to use 'Superhero?' That works," Shane Victorino told the media following the game. In his 6 innings of work, Halladay allowed just...

Clutch doubles, an outfield assist, solid bullpen pitching, a big game from rookie phenom Buster Posey and questionable moves with the Phillies' pitching staff all added up to a win and a 3-1 series lead for the NL West champions when game 4 of the National League Championship Series was done. At San Francisco's AT&T Park on Wednesday evening, the Giants plugged away, scoring in 5 different innings. They got on the board in the 1st, when the 23-year-old Posey drove home Freddy Sanchez with a single to centerfield. Posey then slapped a double in the 3rd inning, to plate Aubrey Huff and put San Francisco up 2-0. The Phillies got some offense of their own rolling in the 5th inning when Ben Francisco and Carlos Ruiz got the team's first back-to-back hits of the series. Shane Victorino then stepped in and slapped a single to center that drove home Francisco, but Aaron Rowand gunned down Ruiz at home plate for an out. Chase Utley then singled. Placido Polanco stepped up and d...

Shane Victorino, who went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the Phillies' game 4 loss to the Giants on Wednesday night, spoke with the media following the game. Despite the team's pressing predicament, Victorino expressed his positive outlook going forward in the series. Check out the media player below to listen to his comments. Victorino has batted lead-off for the defending National League champions throughout this postseason. He has posted a low .214 batting average (6-for-28) in 7 playoff games thus far in 2010. In his last 13 postseason games, dating back to the start of last year's World Series, Victorino is 10-for-50 (.200 avg). The Phillies and Giants go back at it in game 5 of the NLCS on Thursday evening at 7:57 EST. _______________________________________________________________________ For updates, facts & stats, follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE .

Matt Cain led the way for the Giants to take control of the best-of-seven series, grabbing a 2-1 lead over the Phillies on Tuesday afternoon at AT&T Park. The right-handed Cain held the defending National League champions to just 2 hits over 7 innings and the San Francisco offense was able to squeak 3 runs out of Phillies hurler Cole Hamels. The Giants got on the board against Hamels in the 4th inning, after he had been perfect through the first 3 innings. As he's done all postseason for the Giants, Cody Ross did some damage and broke the scoreless tie when he smacked a 2 out single to left field that drove home Edgar Renteria, who led off the inning with a base hit. Aubrey Huff then singled to right field, to plate Pat Burrell with the game's 2nd run. "He plays with no fear," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the media after the game of Ross. "That’s what you like about the guy." Ross is now 8-for-23 (.348 avg) this postseason with the Giants, who claimed...

PHILADELPHIA- Productive outs were something the Phillies lacked in the National League Championship Series opener against the Giants on Saturday night. With strike outs in key spots, the Phillies came up short by a run and San Francisco took a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was not the same case, as moving runners over and the underrated baseball aspect known as the sacrifice fly came into play, and helped the Phillies tie the series against the Giants at 1 game each. The Phillies got the scoring started in the bottom of the opening frame against Giants starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez, in support of their own starter Roy Oswalt, when Chase Utley scored on a bases loaded walk to Jimmy Rollins. Philadelphia led 1-0 until the top of the 5th, when San Francisco's game 1 hero Cody Ross smashed another solo homerun to left field. Ross hit 2 solo shots off Roy Halladay in game 1. Ross has had tremendous success at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park in his career. In 35 games played at CBP,...

The much anticipated pitching match up in game 1 of the National League Championship Series ended with the younger of the two aces earning a victory, and the veteran came out of the contest already focused on redemption, but it was a late season addition from the waiver wire who became the star of the game for the Giants. Cody Ross shined, slugging 2 solo homeruns off of Roy Halladay, who was fresh off throwing the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history last week against the Reds. Ross was cut loose by the Florida Marlins and scooped up off waivers by the Giants, reportedly as a preventive measure, so that he would not end up with the rival Padres. As a Marlin earlier in the season, Ross was on the down side of Halladay's other big outing this season, his perfect game on May 29th. With one out in the 3rd inning, Ross ended Halladay's postseason hitless streak, delivering San Francisco's first hit and first run of the game, by smashing a solo homer to left field. The Phi...

With confirmation coming from Phillies manager Charlie Manuel that the Phillies' pitching rotation in the next round of the playoffs will remain the same as is was in the Division Series against Cincinnati, a famous exclamation from TV character Homer Simpson may be what the Giants will be saying once the National League Championship Series begins. The Phillies' big trio of pitchers- D oc, O swalt and H amels will set out to continue their dominance that they've displayed since Oswalt joined the Phillies in late July. Since the Phillies acquired Oswalt from Houston on July 29th, the "D'oh!" inducing trio have troubled their opponents, posting a combined 23-7 record with a 2.23 ERA, 248 strike outs and 48 walks in 262 innings pitched (39 games). Combined in 21 career postseason games, "Doc" Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels have posted an 11-3 record with a 3.31 ERA. In those games, they've struck out 106 batters while walking just 38 in 130 1/...

With the Texas Rangers' first ever postseason series victory on Tuesday night, both League Championship Series schedules are set. The Rangers, led by Cliff Lee's 11 strike out complete game effort and Ian Kinsler's 3rd homerun of the series, beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in the series' 5th game. Texas moves on to play the New York Yankees in the best-of-seven American League Championship series that begins on Friday. Cliff Lee, of course, was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies team that reached the World Series against the Yankees last year. Lee won both of his starts against New York in that series. With his outstanding effort in the ALDS, Lee has improved to 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA and a .185 batting average against in 7 career postseason starts. The Senior Circuit will feature the San Francisco Giants and the Phillies battling it out for the pennant. The big talk surrounding the National League Championship Series is the match up of exceptional pitching staffs. The Phil...

The Phillies played a simulated game on Tuesday, in which Joe Blanton started. Blanton threw roughly 60 pitches against the Phillies regular lineup. The fact that Blanton saw a considerable amount of action on the mound could be telling that the team wishes for him to be ready to start game 4 of the National League Championship Series in San Francisco. However, the series results could decide Blanton's status. If the Phillies trail after 3 games, it could be deemed necessary to use presumed game 1 starter Roy Halladay on short rest in game 4. Manager Charlie Manuel announced on Tuesday that the team would be off on Wednesday, then return to Citizens Bank Park for a workout on Thursday at 1pm. A schedule has not been announced for Friday as of yet, as both the Giants and Phillies will work out at CBP that day. Placido Polanco was seen at practice on Tuesday using a unique method to hide Raul Ibanez's mitt. What else does he have in there? Roy Oswalt was spotted doing his best C...

The series that pitted the widely feared trio of Phillies starting pitchers against the National League's top offensive lineup, the Cincinnati Reds, ended in quick fashion. The pitchers, who had posted a 13-1 record with a 2.13 ERA since the start of September came out and shut down the offense that led the league in batting average (.272), homeruns (188) and RBI (761) over the full regular season. On Sunday night, Cole Hamels threw an impressive 5-hit complete game shut out, in which he struck out 9 Reds, leading the Phillies to a sweep in the best-of-five divisional round of the MLB playoffs, in Cincinnati. Hamels improved to 7-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 8 career starts against the Reds. After the series clincher that locked Philadelphia into their franchise record third consecutive National League Championship Series, the Phillies had a bit of a reserved celebration. There were no dog piles on the field, only some tame champagne spraying in the clubhouse, as the Phillies are aware the...

Once again, the Dodgers used Jonathan Broxton to try to lock down a game against the Phillies and once again, the Phillies were the ones actually closing things down. After Carlos Ruiz smashed the double that scored Jayson Werth and Ben Francisco to lock down another dramatic comeback win, he seemed to have a more difficult time surviving the celebratory barrage delivered by his teammates than he did catching up with the pitch from Broxton that Ruiz drove high off the left-centerfield wall. Ruiz was chased down by Phils players between first and second base, after the winning run crossed homeplate, to congratulate him. Broxton, who has struggled in the second half, has a 10.13 ERA in 8 outings since the All-star break. Philadelphians have no intentions of hiding their growing love for Broxton, whose reputation as a Phillies punching bag gets larger each time he faces them. The implosion marked the third straight season that the Dodgers experienced a memorable collapse to the Phillies w...

Today, as all of baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson and the end of racial segregation in Major League Baseball, the 2009 National League Champion Phillies received their championship rings in a ceremony prior to the game at Citizens Bank Park. For those of you wondering what the rings looked like, check out the images below. Raul Ibanez's ring shows that the Phillies won their league 2 straight years. Opposite side of the ring, showing the result of the National League Championship Series...Phillies 4, Dodgers 1. A happy group of starting Phils with their rings. Robinson's number 42 is retired all throughout MLB and will be worn by players on all teams, as a tribute, on April 15th each year, the anniversary of the day Robinson broke the color barrier with the Dodgers. -------------------------------------- Screen caps ripped straight from that great website Phillies.com You can follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE . Share on Facebook

Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly bring to you the inaugural edition of THE BALLZIES...PhoulBallz.com's annual awards given out for the finest achievements in the Phillies organization as well as related things and stuff. Without any additional delay, let's get this thing rollin'. Major League Player of the Year- Ryan Howard Howard is one of the most consistent hitters in baseball today. He's had four straight seasons with 45 or more homers and over 135 RBI. Howard also won the most valuable player award of the NLCS in 2009. He is one of the greatest Phillies hitters of all time. There's not much else to say. Minor League Player of the Year- Domonic Brown The Phils' #1 prospect hit for a .299 batting average in 106 games while smashing 14 homers, 64 RBI and swiping 23 bags. When watching Brown play it is easy to tell he's got the right tools and he is a pure athlete. Speed on the bases, range in the outfield, an excellent arm, a solid bat...it's all t...

In the annual Best Phillies YouTube Videos of the Year Countdown that we do every Hanukkah, we've reached this year's #2 video...which is actually a pair of clips honoring the Phillies' second straight World Series berth. The first of two here is the post game celebration from the TBS television broadcast of game 5 of the National League Championship Series, when the Phillies clinched a return to the World Series. Obviously, the game is more important than this content but, considering we always run into the issue of MLB being stingy with their game footage, we use the post game celebration instead. There are great moments here, including speeches by team president David Montgomery and series MVP Ryan Howard as well as a perfect moment as Philly phaithful boo broadcaster Ernie Johnson. As an extension to that video, we have the Ron Browz/Jim Jones "Pop Champagne" music video remix featuring Chan Hooooo Park celebrating the NLCS win. It was a tremendous run goin...

Hey, gang. It's the 6th night of Hannukah, and we're getting closer to the top ranked spot on this year's PhoulBallz Top 8 Phillies Videos on YouTube Countdown. The #3 video is this edited clip of Henry Hill in Goodfellas reacting to the Phillies' radio broadcast when Jimmy Rollins slapped the game winning walk-off hit to beat the Dodgers in game 4 of the National League Championship Series. It was the greatest comeback I have ever seen. The creator of the video, "n8productions", did so to win a t-shirt from thefightins.com. So, to the creator and the fightins I offer tips of the proverbial cap, and congrats on creating a tremendous video for all phans. Happy Hanukkah, everyone. ------------------- Hey, follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

As I watched game 5 of the National League Championship Series from section 418 on Wednesday night, sitting next to my 15 year old cousin, Eric, I looked over at him a lot. Occasionally, whether on the baseball diamond when I've coached Eric's Babe Ruth League team, or at home witnessing how he reacts to things, I see much of myself in him. Never have I felt like I was looking into a time delayed mirror more than at NLCS game 5. I glanced at Eric and saw myself sitting in the 600 level of Veterans Stadium at game 6 of the 1993 NLCS. In 1993, I was a year older than my cousin is now, but I could tell that his state of mind was exactly the same as mine was back then. As I watched that '93 Phillies team excel, achieve great feats and go farther than anyone expected, I knew I was watching something terrific, and I knew it was more than worthy of celebration...but I don't think I appreciated the team enough. I don't think I was grateful enough that MY team was going...

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Have you heard the one about the performance enhancing drug user who ditched his team in the playoffs to take a shower and get ready to leave the ball field? No? Oh, well then you missed today's news about Manny Ramirez. Radio stations all over the region, and sports writers from coast to coast laid into Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez for taking to the club house during Monday night's game 4 of the National League Championship Series, after he was removed for a defensive replacement, in order to disrobe, shower and perhaps attempt to dodge the press. On Sunday night, Manny was asked by a reporter about Philadelphia phans having the notion he had taken steroids, following chants from the crowd asserting the concept. All Manny could say was, "Next...". With a 1 run lead in the 9th inning, on Monday night, it seemed that Manny felt that the game was locked up and the Dodgers were sure to tie the series and force at least one more game back in Los Angeles. Ramirez didn...