PHILLIES: Phils break eight-game losing streak, beat Giants.

July 30, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

The Phillies needed a win and they needed it badly. Their playoff hopes had been all but shattered with the recent eight-game losing streak.  But the win was still needed though, to remind everyone that they, as a team, were still breathing. That win came Tuesday night when the Phillies beat the Giants 7-3.

PHILLIES: Top prospect Asche to get call up, Young trade could be coming

July 30, 2013

By Nick Tricome

UPDATE: Michael Young will only waive his no-trade clause for a trade back to the Texas Rangers, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal via Twitter.

MLB.com originally reported that sources told them a reunion with the Rangers was not happening, but now it's possible that Texas could be the Phillies' only trade partner.

Stay tuned...

ORIGNAL
This is probably the heads up that Michael Young is on his way out of Philadelphia.

Third baseman Cody Asche is getting called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will join the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park for their series against the San Francisco Giants.

PHILLIES: Like it or not, Papelbon has a point

July 29, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Before the Detroit Tigers handed the Phillies their eighth consecutive loss on Sunday afternoon, Jonathan Papelbon made opinions known.

"I definitely didn't come here for this," he said to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.

It's understandable, when he signed a four-year, $50 million contract with the team prior to the 2012 season, he was supposed to help what was a winning team in the five years before, continue to do so.

The Phillies missed the playoffs in 2012 and after a deflating road trip coming back from the All-Star break, it looks like they will be missing October again.

When Zolecki asked him about the direction of the club, Papelbon responded with, "Oh, man. We could be here all day."

However, Papelbon also has an idea on what it will take for the Phillies to get back in the right direction.

PHILLIES: After a frustrating road trip, what's next?

July 29, 2013

By Nick Tricome

At this point, the season gets more and more frustrating by the day.

The Phillies lost Sunday's series finale to the Detroit Tigers 12-4 to get swept for the second straight series and lose their eighth straight game.

So far, the second half of the season has been a disaster, putting any last hopes of making the postseason out of reach at this point. The Phillies are third in the National League East, sitting seven games below .500 with a 49-56 record.

They are now 11 games back of the first place Atlanta Braves (60-45), who now sit comfortably at the top of the division after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. They are also 9.5 games out of a wild card spot.

With the non-waiver trade deadline just two days way, it's safe to say the Phillies are sellers at this point.

It's understandably tough for fans to see a team that has had so much success in recent years fall like this, but it's tough for the team as well.

PHILLIES: Phils shutout 10-0, losing streak hits seven games

July 27, 2013

Box Score (from ESPN.com)

By Nick Tricome

The downward spiral the Phillies have been on since returning from the All-Star break just seems to keep going with no end in sight.

The Detroit Tigers shutout the Phillies in embarrassing fashion on Saturday night, winning by a score of 10-0 and extending the Phillies' losing streak to seven games.

PHILLIES: Gonzalez signing signifies retool instead of rebuild

July 26, 2013

By Nick Tricome

At this point, the Phillies will probably be sellers at the trade deadline, after losing their sixth straight game to Detroit on Friday night to fall to 49-54.

Although the 2013 season may be lost, that didn't stop the Phillies from spending nearly $60 million while they struggled to get hits off the Tigers.

The Phillies signed Cuban righthander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, 26, to a six-year deal with $48 million guaranteed, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. Gonzalez will also have an option for a seventh-year worth $11 million.

PHILLIES: Make it six

July 26, 2013

Box Score (from ESPN.com)

By Nick Tricome

It just keeps getting worse.

After getting swept in St. Louis, the Phillies headed to Detroit on Friday night, only to get handed their sixth straight loss in a 2-1 defeat to the Tigers.

PHILLIES: They got swept

July 25, 2013

Box Score (from ESPN.com)

By Nick Tricome

Yup, the headline sums this one up pretty well.

The Cardinals won 3-1 on Thursday night, sweeping the Phillies and handing them their fifth straight loss.

PHILLIES: Zambrano given unconditional release

July 25, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Carlos Zambrano, we hardly got to know you.

The Phillies gave the 32-year old righthander his unconditional release on Thursday, after signing him to a minor-league deal back in May.

PHILLIES: Phils lose fourth straight

July 24, 2013

Box Score (from ESPN.com)

By Nick Tricome

So, there are now five games left until the trade deadline and the Phillies' situation has only gotten worse.

The Cardinals handed the Phillies their fourth straight loss in an 11-3 defeat on Wednesday night, taking away that much more hope that the Phillies would be able to go on one more run to the postseason.

PHILLIES: Brown to seven-day DL

July 24, 2013

By Nick Tricome

UPDATE: Domonic Brown has been placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list and won't be able to return by Friday as he originally hoped.

The Phillies called up outfielder Steve Susdorf from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and moved reliever Jeremy Horst to the 60-day DL in reaction to Brown's DL placement.

Susdorf, 27, was drafted by the Phillies in the 19th round of the 2008 MLB Amatuer Draft. After 70 games with Lehigh Valley this season, he is hitting .335 with a .419 on-base percentage and 25 RBIs.

Susdorf has a .304 batting average and a .380 on-base percentage in two seasons (154 games) at the Triple-A level.

ORIGINAL
Domonic Brown is out of the lineup for Wednesday night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The All-Star leftfielder is being tested for a concussion according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki (via Twitter).

PHILLIES: Martinez recalled, Quintero designated for assignment

July 24, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Seriously? Again?

Alright... Michael Martinez has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while Humberto Quintero has been desiganted for assignment.

PHILLIES: Phils lose to Cardinals, time is running out

July 23, 2012

Box Score (from ESPN.com)

By Nick Tricome

The Phillies were in a pretty good situation coming back from the All-Star break.

They were at the .500 mark and looked to make up some serious ground on the National League East leading Atlanta Braves, after finishing off the first half of the season with a good homestand.

But man, have the Phillies not capitalized on a good opportunity. They dropped two of three to the Mets and were handed their third straight loss via a 4-1 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

PHILLIES: Savery to DL, Valdes recalled

July 23, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Reliever Joe Savery is heading to the 15-day disabled list with stiffness in his left elbow.

The Phillies recalled Raul Valdes from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Savery's spot in the bullpen.

FLYERS: Laviolette named Team USA assistant coach, things could get interesting

July 23, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette will be at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, serving as an assistant coach for Team USA.

FLYERS: Sochi bound? Here are the Flyers invited to prelim camps

July 22, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The NHL made a deal at the end of last week to allow their players to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics and teams have been putting together their preliminary rosters in preparation of orientation camps.

Here are the Flyers that will be getting a shot at representing their countries this winter...

PHILLIES: Phils lose series to Mets

July 21, 2013

Box Score(From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

The Phillies tried to win their series against the Mets on Sunday Afternoon, but they ran into offensive woes and a dominant Matt Harvey. The Phillies were shut out 5-0.

PHILLIES: Kratz is back

July 21, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Erik Kratz is back in the lineup and will be catching for Cliff Lee this afternoon.

PHILLIES: Rollins, Utley homer in Phillies loss

July 20, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

After thrashing the Met’s offense the night before, the Phillies had an early game at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon. They lost the game by a score of 5-4.

FLYERS: Sean Couturier gets two-year extension

July 20, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Getting pending restricted free agents under contract has been a top priority for the Flyers this season.

They already signed defensemen Erik Gustafsson and Oliver Lauridsen, who already hit restricted free agency, to deals and signed their captain Claude Giroux, who would have become a restricted free agent after the 2013-14 season, to an eight-year contract extension.

Now the Flyers have signed forward Sean Couturier to a two-year contract extension.

FLYERS: Important games on the schedule

July 20, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The NHL finally released the schedule for all 30 of its teams on Friday, leaving some interesting match-ups on the Flyers' schedule. 

Some of it's due to conference re-alignment, while the rest of it is the result of the team's acquisitions and departures during the offseason.

So, let's take a look...

PHILLIES: Phils start second half with a bang

July 19, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

Citi Field hosted the All Star game festivities earlier in the week. On Tuesday night the league’s best mustered up a meek 3-0 game, the win going to the AL. On Friday night at Citi Field, the offense of these National League teams was quite the opposite. The Phillies out-slugged the Mets 13-8.

PHILLIES: This is it

July 19, 2013

By Nick Tricome

A World Series title, back-to-back National League pennants and five straight division titles.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the most successful franchise in Major League Baseball over the past few years. But after missing the playoffs last year and having some core, yet aging, players in the final year of their contracts this season, 2013 could very well be the Phillies' last shot at October for a while.

The first half of the season has had its up and downs and ended with the Phillies at the .500 mark, but now they have to take full advantage of the second half to make one last run to the postseason.

It won't be easy.

PHILLIES: Cliff Lee is not amused

July 16, 2013

By Nick Tricome




Mets fans booed Cliff Lee at the All-Star game during introductions. His reaction? None at all.

(GIF from Bill Baer of Crashburn Alley)

FLYERS: Hextall returns to Flyers as assistant GM

July 15, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Ron Hextall has made his way back to the Flyers.

The Flyers named Hextall assistant general manager and director of hockey operations on Monday.

PHILLIES: Phillies take series, reach .500 for All Star break

July 15, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler 

The Phillies tried to take the series against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The win would give them a .500 record at the All Star Break.

The Phillies beat out the White Sox in 10 innings by a score of 4-3.

PHILLIES: Losing Revere is an injury the Phillies couldn't afford

July 14, 2013

By Nick Tricome

UPDATE: Revere will have surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

ORIGINAL

Ben Revere didn't get off to the best of starts in April. He hit .200 and had a .234 on-base percentage for the month, causing many fans to speculate or even give up entirely on the idea of having the 25-year old as the Phillies' centerfielder for the long-term future.

But Revere turned things around pretty quickly, batting .347 since May 1 and becoming one the Phillies' most consistent hitters.

So when Revere broke his foot in the last at-bat of the first game in Saturday's doubleheader, it was a big loss for the Phillies.

PHILLIES: Phils Split Double Header against the ChiSox

July 14, 2013

Game 1 Box Score (From ESPN.com)
Game 2 Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zachary Geibler

PHILLIES: Werth gets mad, walks away during post-game interview

July 12, 2013

By Nick Tricome

After Thursday night's 3-1 loss to the Phillies, the game that gave the Phillies three of four in the series, Jayson Werth was in  no mood to talk.

PHILLIES: Wins gives Phils series victory over Nats

July 11, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

The Phillies needed to take this game and the series. They need to gain as much ground as possible in the National League East before the All-Star Break. They needed to prove themselves, and they did. The Phillies beat the Washington Nationals on Thursday night by a score of 3-1.

76ERS: Kazemi, MCW and Wyatt highlight Sixers' Summer League

July 10, 2013

By Mike Patterson

The NBA Summer League kicked off on July 7 in Orlando. Vegas will host the Summer League from July 12-22. 

The Sixers have played three of five games thus far in the Orlando Summer league. They lost all three games, losing to the Rockets, Pacers, and Thunder.

The Sixers roster for Orlando include Michael Carter-Williams (MCW) and Arsalan Kazemi, whom the Sixers drafted 11th and 54th, respectivley. 

76ERS: After disaster year in Philly, Bynum gets 2-year deal with Cavs

July 10, 2013

By Mike Patterson

Last offseason, the Sixers took part in the four-team blockbuster, Dwight Howard trade that landed them all-star center Andrew Bynum.

At the time, the Sixers appeared to be the big winners of the deal. Bynum was coming off his best season and they did not have to give up too much to get the big man. 

However, it soon became clear that this was not the case. 

PHILLIES: Offense falters in 5-1 loss to Nats

July 10, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

The Phillies came into Wednesday night's game against the Nationals looking for the series win, instead they caught a dominant starting pitcher and an offense with some pop.

The Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park by a final score of 5-1.

PHILLIES: Daulton diagnosed with brain cancer

July 10, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Not even two weeks after having both of his brain tumors successfully removed, former Phillie Darren Daulton has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

FLYERS: Lauridsen signed to two-year extension

July 10, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Flyers re-signed another one of their restricted free agents on Wednesday in defenseman Oliver Lauridsen.

Lauridsen will be getting a two-year contract extension after the two-year entry level deal he originally signed ended after the 2013 season.

PHILLIES: Hamels goes eight in 4-2 win

July 9, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

The Phillies looked to continue their 2013 success against their fellow National League East teams on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. They did just that winning the game 4-2.

FLYERS: Broad Street Bullies coach Fred Shero finally gets elected to Hockey Hall of Fame

July 10, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The honor was long overdue, but it's finally happening.

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its newest inductees on Tuesday. The list includes greats players like Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan and Chris Chelios and now, finally, former Flyers coach Fred Shero.

FLYERS: Gustafsson signed to one-year deal

July 10, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Flyers signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year, $1 million contract on Tuesday and it is a one-way deal, according to Flyers Inside Reporter Anthony SanFilippo.

FLYERS: After 14 years with Lightning, Lecavalier wears colors of a different team

July 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

It's hard to imagine Vincent Lecavalier wearing the colors of any other team but the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On Tuesday, though, the day finally came.

At the conclusion of the introductory press conference for the Flyers' newest signings in center Lecavalier, defenseman Mark Streit and goaltender Ray Emery, the three of them put on their orange and black sweaters for the first time (well, second time in Emery's case).

No one looked more different than Lecavalier.

FLYERS: Streit after Islanders' playoff appearance: "It was time to move on"

July 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Mark Streit had spent the past five of his eight (technically four of seven) NHL seasons playing for the New York Islanders.

But even though the Islanders made the playoffs for the first time in six years, with him as their captain, the 35-year old Swiss defenseman felt it was time to move on.

FLYERS: Holmgren on Emery: "All he does is win"

July 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Flyers introduced their newest members on Tuesday in center Vincet Lecavalier and defenseman Mark Streit. They also welcomed goaltender Ray Emery back into the fold.

During the introductory press conference at the Wells Fargo Center, general manager Paul Holmgren had very high praise for the 30-year old goaltender.

PHILLIES: Lannan, Phils start series right with 3-2 win

July 8, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Nick Tricome

After taking two of three from the Atlanta Braves to start a crucial 10-game homestand, the Phillies began a four-game series against the Washington Nationals on Monday night. 

It was a close game at the end, but the Phillies, behind John Lannan, got the series started off right with a 3-2 win over their division rivals.

PHILLIES: Howard needs surgery, out 6-8 weeks

July 8, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Ryan Howard will miss six to eight weeks after an MRI revealed that he has a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury that will require surgery.

76ERS: Aron out as CEO, O'Neil to take over

July 8, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Adam Aron has stepped down as Sixers CEO to pursue another business interest, according to Dan Gelston of the Associated Press.

Scott O'Neil, a Villanova graduate and former president of Madison Square Garden Sports, will take over as CEO next week.

PHILLIES: Brown, Phils beat Atlanta to take series

July 7, 2013

Box Score (from ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

With a 7-3 win the Phillies took the series against the Atlanta Braves, and fought back to 7.5 games out of first place in the National League East.

PHILLIES: Cliff Lee and Domonic Brown selected to All-Star Game

July 6, 2013

By Nick Tricome and Zach Geibler

There are two Phillies heading to the All-Star Game. One is no stranger to the mid-summer classic, while the other has earned a well deserved first trip.

PHILLIES: Braves score 13, Phils lose game and Howard

July 6, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler and Nick Tricome

The Braves retaliated to say the least in game two of a three-game series against the Phillies. 

Phillies fans left with knots in their stomachs and questions in their heads as the Braves offense lit up the scoreboard, winning the game 13-4.

76ERS: Sixers acquire White from Houston

July 6, 2013

By Nick Tricome

The Sixers acquired power forward Royce White from the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

PHILLIES: Phils win key series opener 5-4

July 5, 2013

Box Score (From ESPN.com)

By Zach Geibler

Going into the three-game weekend series with the Braves, the Phillies may have been holding their heads high, having just beaten what may have been the best team in the Majors in the Pittsburgh Pirates.

This was good accolade and a great confidence boost to the struggling Phillies.  The momentum was now needed in a big homestand that could possibly (once again) save the season. 

PHILLIES: Next 10 games are big

July 5, 2013

By Nick Tricome

After taking two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Phillies ended a 10-game road trip with a 5-5 record.

The Phillies are returning to Citizens Bank Park with a 41-45 record that is good for third in the National League East, 8.5 games back of first. They will have a three-game series against the division leading Braves--starting tonight-- and a four-game series against the second place Nationals in their last 10 games before the  All-Star break.

These next 10 games are huge.