When we last left off, Cliff Lee was on the DL and Kyle Kendrick entered the rotation.

**Pause while I weep for both Cliff Lee on the DL and Kyle Kendrick pitching.**

In today’s episode, Chase Utley proves that he is in fact alive and bad news with Hunter Pence.

The Good News:

Photo Credit: PHL17.com

Chase Utley, who has spent the entire season, and all Spring Training games, on the DL has met up with the team in Phoenix.  The rest of the team is there to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks, Utley is there to work on his knee.

Within about 2 minutes, every single beat writer tweeted that Utley was taking grounders at second and looked decent out there.  Then they all tweeted that he was taking swings.

Utley talked to the media (!!! That might be the most surprising thing about all of it.  Utley talked!  And according to Todd Zolecki on twitter, smiled, TWICE!)

To sum up everything that Utley said:  He’s feeling better, stronger, but won’t put any timetable on his return.

The Bad News:

Hunter Pence is out with a sore arm.

Charlie Manuel said he hurt it in San Francisco by running into the wall.  Pence said he injured himself yesterday in San Diego.  Either way, he’s injured and since he hasn’t seen a doctor yet, there is no clue how bad it is.

So, take that as you will.

This concludes tonight’s episode of: As The Phillies Roster Turns.  Join us next time!  Good night everyone!

Karilee Jeantet is Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116 and e-mail her AViewFromSection116@gmail.com.

The Fightin’ Phils are in San Francisco to take on the Giants tonight.  I thought this was a good time to remind everyone what has happened in years past:

August 5, 2012

http://youtu.be/PndS42kzZgw

» Continue reading “A Look At Phillies/Giants Series Past”

All eyes in Philadelphia seem to be settled on Cole Hamels and his next contract.  He has shown a great desire to stay in Philadelphia and I truly believe that he will stay in the City of Brotherly Love and wear Red Pinstripes for a very long time.

Shane Victorino during Phillies Photo Day. Tweeted out by @philaphillies

However, he’s not the only Phillie whose contract is up after this season. Shane Victorino will be a free agent and his future with the franchise is up in the air.

Todd Zolecki, of Phillies.com, spent a few minutes catching with Victorino and asked him about his future.  Shane responded with

 I don’t plan on going anywhere.

Well, ok Shane, but you know, it takes two to tango. And the Phillies need to want you back.  Which I am sure it’s true, but money will be an issue.

Jayson Stark, of ESPN.com, asked Victorino what he meant about his statement to Zolecki and his answer is, well, interesting.

“What that statement was saying,” he said, “was that I’m willing to give up free agency. A lot of guys won’t. In the game of baseball, free agency is what every major league player dreams of. You want to maximize your value, and of course I do, too. But what’s important to me is, I want to be here. I love playing here. My family loves the city. I love the city. So when I made that statement, that’s what I meant.”

» Continue reading “Negotiation 101: With Shane Victorino”

I know I am a little late on this, but this is an important piece of information: Ryan Howard has joined Twitter. Yes, “The Big Piece” is now tweeting.  Ok, so it’s one tweet so far, but it is actually him.

This was the big news out of Clearwater today, and for about 15 mins, it was controversial and a lot of people didn’t believe that it was actually him.  This is snapshots of my timeline for the 15 minutes.

How it all started:

The excited responses:(including on from his fiancee)

To the doubt and skepticism:

Then Jimmy Rollins jumped in:

and that led to even more confusion (and hope).

And finally confirmation!

And more confirmation,

And even more confirmation.

And it ended with an update on when the Phillies Nation can expect to see Chase Utley on Twitter:

So there you go. Ryan Howard is officially on Twitter, and has even changed his handle from @RyanHoward6 to @RyanHoward already. Chase Utley will join Twitter as a sign of the End Times.

The first week of Spring Training provided press conferences galore.  I have recapped The Closer and the Original Ace and now let’s see what the always amazing Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee had to say.

Roy Halladay

No one had quite the offseason that Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter of the St Louis Cardinals had, and that anaconda attack was the main topic of conversation at his press conference.

I could tell you about it, but I’ll let him.  He’s smiling and his face turns red and he laughs and he proved that he is somewhat human.

Please take note that he has told that story more than he has told stories of his perfect game.  (Oh, I’m still going to believe that he wrestled snakes, just because I can.)

On top of saving men from deadly snake, he’s a pretty good pitcher, and he did talk a little about that secondary occupation.

» Continue reading “Phillies Press Conference Round-up Pt 2: The Ace #1 and Ace #2″