Articles by Matt Rappa (1744)
By: Matt Rappa, managing editor CLEARWATER, Fla. — With just hours before the first spring training game of the 2016 season, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is already causing damage off the swing of his bat – just not the expected way, however. During batting practice Tuesday morning, the 23-year-old hit a home run […]
Embed from Getty Images By: Matt Rappa, managing editor CLEARWATER, Fla. — Coming off of a 63-99 record last season, the worst in the majors, the Philadelphia Phillies will begin Grapefruit League play this afternoon against right-hander Marcus Stroman and the Toronto Blue Jays at Bright House Field. This season's Phillies spring training roster features […]
Cody Asche standing near the on-deck circle at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida, on Friday, March 20, 2015. (Photo: Matt Rappa) By: Matt Rappa, managing editor CLEARWATER, Fla. — Even with the Phillies' first game of spring training just days away—an exhibition contest against the University of Tampa Spartans this Sunday at Bright House Field— trade […]
Embed from Getty Images By: Matt Rappa, managing editor DUNEDIN, Fla. —The Toronto Blue Jays have signed former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Brown, 28, elected free agency on Oct. 26 after spending six seasons with the Phillies, […]
Embed from Getty Images By: Matt Rappa, managing editor PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Nearly five months after throwing "near the head" of Philadelphia Phillies' catcher Cameron Rupp during the sixth inning of a late-September contest last season, New York Mets right-hander Hansel Robles has finally agreed to serve a two-game suspension beginning Sunday, April 3, according […]
By: Matt Rappa, managing editor CLEARWATER, Fla. – Looking ahead to 2016 was the common theme of discussion for Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard in his first press conference of spring training at Bright House Field on Tuesday. Amid the ongoing investigation involving the Al Jazeera report that he received shipments of performance-enhancing drugs, in […]
Ruben Amaro Jr. talking to a reporter at Spring Training on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/photommo) By: Matt Rappa, managing editor FORT MYERS, Fla. – Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is still getting acclimated to his new role as first base coach of […]
Embed from Getty Images The Atlanta Braves have signed former Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Francoeur, 32, will return to the organization that drafted him 23rd overall in the 2002 amateur draft, where from 2005 to 2009 he […]
New Astro Ken Giles arrived in camp today ready to go #AstrosST pic.twitter.com/l96DctFvgq — Houston Astros (@astros) February 18, 2016 Kissimmee, Fla. – Former Philadelphia Phillies closer Ken Giles spoke to the media for the first time of the new season Thursday at the Houston Astros' spring training facility. "I'm hoping to start ramping it […]
Embed from Getty Images CLEARWATER, Fla. – With just one day remaining in the Philadelphia Phillies' offseason, as pitchers and catchers report ahead of their first workout on Feb. 18, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes two absences from the locker room at Bright House Field—eight-year veteran southpaw Matt Harrison and recently-acquired right-hander […]