http://www.philliesnation.com More than a blog Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:23:48 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In anticipation of the Super Bowl, Buster Olney mused in his ESPN Insider column yesterday about baseball players that could potentially make it in the NFL. Number 5 on the list was The Man, Chase Utley.  Buster said, "You could see him being a possession receiver who is willing to ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/all-pro-chase-utley/ Originally published Feb. 5, 2010. According to Daily Sports Online, the Phillies signed Shigetoshi Yamakita and Naoyo Okamoto to minor league deals.  They each spent 2009 with the Shonan Searex, a minor league team of the Yokohama Bay Stars.  Both players are left-handed pitchers. Yamakita, 32, posted a 2.47 ERA in 27 innings.  Okamoto, 26, ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/phillies-sign-japanese-players-to-minor-league-deals/ The Philadelphia Phillies are usually playing their best baseball when their spark plug is productive.  "As J-Roll goes, the Phillies go."  2009 was no different. Before the season started, Rollins batted .417 with a home run and four RBIs for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic.  With the hot start, it ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/year-in-review-jimmy-rollins/ I'm not that easily shocked, but something happened to me Wednesday night that I think bears repeating here. I was at a bar with a couple friends, when, realizing that the famed "Pitchers and Catchers" was only a couple weeks away, I let out a sigh and said, almost without ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/whom-can-we-trust/ The Total WAR Project is a series of posts Mike and I began back at The Phrontiersman. In each post, we take a look at the biggest competition the Phillies will likely face - within their division, the National League and the American League - and evaluate their offseasons. Have ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/the-total-war-project-part-v-los-angeles-dodgers/ Phillies Assistant GM Scott Proefrock was a guest of the Sports Bash today and talked about the state of the team, including some chatter about Cliff Lee. He touched on such topics as Placido Polanco, Cole Hamels, and the health of the bullpen.  Proefrock also showed enthusiasm while talking about ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/scott-proefrock-on-97-3-espn-fm/ In their never-ending quest for arms, the Phillies signed former Braves and Astros relief pitcher Oscar Villarreal to a one-year, minor league deal today. Villarreal last pitched in the majors in 2008, sitting all of last season after Tommy John surgery.  His last full year was with Houston, and it was ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/phils-ink-villarreal/ As you may have heard, we're collecting recipes for the first edition of our Tailgate Cookbook. We've already had many creative submissions like "Grand Salami Pie" and "Philly Phanatic Honey Dew Melon Daiquiris". Preferably, the recipe can be prepared in a parking lot using portable equipment, but if you're ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/last-call-submit-your-recipes-today-for-the-philly-tailgate-cookbook/ You’d have to go back a long time to find a pitcher in Phillies pinstripes who had a better career resume than Pedro Martinez. In his day, he was as dominant as any right-handed pitcher ever to play the game. So even though he would turn 38 during the playoffs, and ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/year-in-review-pedro-martinez/ -Poor Lenny Dykstra. It seems he has hit rock bottom as his mansion is now up for sale in California for $14.9 million. "Nails", as he was so affectionately called here in Philly for years, left the house a mess according to Reuters. Dog feces and raw sewage ... http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2010/02/odds-and-ends-dykstra-lowry-howard/