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Image- Jay Floyd The national pastime is changing.  At least at the developmental level for affiliated professional teams. In a rule change announced by Minor League Baseball on Wednesday, all extra innings will start with a runner on second base. The goal with the rule adjustment is to expedite games and reduce any over-usage of pitchers. Specifics on the announcement from MiLB are listed below. The runner at second base will be the player in the batting order position previous to the lead-off batter of the inning (or a substitute for that player). By way of example, if the number five hitter in the batting order is due to lead off the 10th inning, the number four player in the batting order (or a pinch-runner for such player) shall begin the inning on second base. Any runner or batter removed from the game for a substitute shall be ineligible to return to the game, as is the case in all circumstances under the Official Baseball Rules. The extra inning rule c...

The PhoulBallz Podcast is back to close out 2015 by running down the top moments from the Phillies minor league year. Jay also interviews pitchers Blake McFarland and Stephen Shackleford . Among the topics of discussion are Cornelius Randolph , Aaron Nola and plenty more. Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE .

Kyle Martin as Santa, edit- Eric Floyd Everybody loves the holidays and, of course, baseball players are no exception. Each year at Christmas time, I survey a group of Phillies prospects about what they get excited for during the holiday season. Players taking part in this year's sixth annual questionnaire include 4th round draft pick first baseman Kyle Martin , 2nd round pick second baseman Scott Kingery , slugging outfielders Nick Williams and Dylan Cozens , righty relievers Matt Hockenberry , Jason Zgardowski and Stephen Shackleford as well as lefty reliever Joey DeNato . Questions and answers detailing each player’s holly jolly holiday favorites are ahead… -What is your favorite Christmas movie or TV special? Martin: I love comedies, so I gotta go with National Lampoons' Christmas Vacation. Kingery: A Christmas Story. That was one of my dad's favorites and we watched that one every year, growing up. I see a couple times each year. Williams: Fav...

Stephen Shackleford, image- Jay Floyd Righty reliever Stephen Shackleford set the single season saves record for the Double-A Reading Fightins this past season, when he notched 30 in 53 Eastern League appearances.  Following the 2015 campaign, the man known as "Shack" became a free agent and news of his signing with the Nationals was announced on Friday. Via his twitter account , the 26-year-old fan favorite posted a nod to the city where he enjoyed his record setting season this year as well as the Phillies organization.  I would like to thank the Phillies and the Fightin Phils for everything they did for me this past year.  I had an amazing experience in Baseballtown and it will always hold a special place in my heart.  I'm looking forward to the next step in my baseball journey and excited to be a part of the Nationals organization.   Last week I spoke with Shackleford about his off-season routine, playing abroad this autumn following Re...

Off-season leagues are underway for many Phillies players including some stateside in the Arizona Fall League, but with several players taking the diamond abroad. Read ahead for a complete rundown of how your Phils are doing across the globe. Stats listed are current through Saturday's games. Arizona Fall League- JP Crawford, image- Jay Floyd In two games, shortstop J.P. Crawford is 1-for-8 (.125 avg) with a walk and a strike out. The 20-year-old was the Phillies' first round draft selection in 2013. In 86 games with Double-A Reading this year, Crawford posted a .265 average with five home runs and 34 RBI. Catcher Andrew Knapp is 1-for-3 with a double and a walk in one game played as a designated hitter. The 23-year-old was the Phils' second round draft selection in 2013. With Reading this year, Knapp sported a .360 average with 11 homers and 56 RBI in 55 games. Edubray Ramos allowed an earned run in 1 1/3 innings while allowing a hit and striking out ...

Over the weekend I chatted with Double-A Reading pitching coach Dave Lundquist, who spoke about his staff. Among the topics are new addition Jake Thompson , standout starter Zach Eflin , team saves record holder Stephen Shackleford the injured Ben Lively (shoulder strain) and more. Read ahead for all the exclusive remarks from "Lundy"... Jake Thompson, image- Jay Floyd -Since being acquired in the deal for Cole Hamels , Jake Thompson has gone 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three games started. In his latest out, he kept the team in it and earned a win despite walking five. If I asked him, he probably wouldn't like his output, based on the walks. What are your thoughts on his latest effort? They never want to see that, but you’ve got a situation where a guy can command four pitches and the misses, the fastball was moving a little too much off the plate. But, you have a guy that’s able to find a way to limit the damage to just two runs on a solo home run and you do...

Stephen Shackleford, image- Jay Floyd As the Double-A Reading Fightins' winning streak continued, their closer etched his name in the club's record books. Right-handed reliever Stephen Shackleford closed out Reading's 4-1 win over New Britain on Sunday, their seventh straight victory. With the successful save, the 26-year-old tied Justin Friend , Wayne Gomes and Toby Borland for the most in a single season, with 24. Shackleford, who was originally drafted by San Francisco and also played in the Seattle organization, came to the Phillies last off-season as a minor league free agent. He says the potential to make his mark in history for a team that dates back nearly 50 years is important. "It would mean a lot to me," Shackleford told Phillies Nation. "I really like Baseballtown. Reading, the fans are awesome. They've been great to me. They've been great to everybody on the team. So, it would be great to be part of their history!"...

Pointer following a home run this year, Photo- Tug Haines With a unique format in place to decide a regulation tie, the Eastern League's All-Star Game was decided when Reading outfielder Brian Pointer slammed a deciding home run to clinch a victory for the Eastern Division. The Double-A league's All-Star exhibition wrapped up nine innings of play with a 4-4 tie in Wednesday's annual event held in Portland, Maine. Extra innings were not how the game would be decided and, without a way to display the method that was actually used to decide the winner, the contest's box score displays the final score as a tie. Instead of a traditional overtime format, the league used a home run derby to determine the winning club, with the two teams taking turns with one swing each time up, to try and launch a ball over the outfield wall in fair territory. Following eleven failed attempts by the Western division All-Stars and ten missed opportunities by Pointer and his Eastern di...

During the Double-A Reading Fightins' recent road series in Trenton, I sat down with the team's pitching coach Dave Lundquist to chat about his pitching staff. "Lundy", who pitched in the big leagues with the White Sox and the Padres, is in his eight season coaching in the Phillies' organization after spending three years in the Pirates' system. Lundquist spoke about his group of well-touted starting pitchers including specific comments on Zach Eflin , Jesse Biddle and recently promoted righty Aaron Nola . He also shared some thoughts on his bullpen hurlers and how a player like Tyler Knigge , who gets moved up and down between levels could be impacted by the movement, among other things. Read ahead for that full interview... Lively, image- Jay Floyd -We talked back in April about the group of five starters you entered the season with that included Tom Windle , Jesse Biddle, Zach Eflin and Ben Lively . Almost halfway into the season, what can you sh...