Philadelphia Phillies News

Jimmy Rollins is a believer in Dice-K and the mysterious gyroball. “It’s a funky pitch, it definitely is,” said Rollins, the Phillies’ All-Star shortstop. “It’s something new in America.” Well, get ready America. Here comes Matsuzaka mania. Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out seven over four shaky innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies [...]

The three words — discipline, respect, confidence — tattooed on Ryan Howard’s right upper arm represent more than simple body art. The reigning NL MVP practices each principle in his daily life on and off the field. Howard followed up winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2005 with perhaps the best season ever [...]

Barry Zito thought about the San Francisco Giants’ chances and was pretty pleased. Payroll no longer is supreme when it comes to World Series titles. “In 2002, the wild card won. In ‘03 the wild card won. And in ‘04, Boston was the wild card and won,” he said. “That’s what’s great about baseball.” [...]

The home plate of the New York Mets is marked with green paint in the gravel. The infield is a construction site teeming with men in hard hats. The seats of Yankee Stadium rumble not with cheers and boos, but with cement mixers and excavators. Forty-three years after the last major league stadium was built [...]

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Jimmy Rollins’ challenge to the Mets adds to a season, like every other, full of hope.

Cole Hamels thinks he missed the intensity and adrenaline rush this spring that he normally gets from pitching in a regular-season game. Maybe once Hamels rediscovers his competitive fire, he can figure out a way to keep the ball in the park. Manny Ramirez’s first homer of the spring was one of four the Red [...]

To get inside players’ heads, check these Q&A’s from players on teams in the National League East. For more 2007 preview info, get this week’s Sporting News.

The Philadelphia Phillies are one of three clubs that have made trade offers for Toronto Blue Jays right-hander…

Ryan Howard hasn’t had much of a spring, especially for a National League MVP. One big swing gave him something to take north for the start of the season. Howard hit a long home run that landed on a practice field next to McKechnie Field, the first of successive homers by the Philadelphia Phillies off [...]

With the first pitch ready to be thrown, we take a look at who will shine and who will flop in 2007.