Philadelphia
Phillies

News: Brown hit .229/.290/.390 with two home runs and nine doubles in 118 at-bats for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.
Impact: Not very impressive numbers from Brown but that shouldn't tarnish his top prospect status. He finished the minor league season hitting .299/.377/.504 with 14 home runs, 21 doubles and 23 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A this past season. He'll likely open next season back at Double-A with a promotion to Triple-A by midseason. 

News: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he is unconvinced that Eyre (elbow) wouldn't entertain signing with another team, the Delaware News Journal reports.
Impact: Eyre had previously stated that he would either re-sign with the Phillies or retire. "I've heard that noise before, and I've seen guys play a long time after the statement is made," Amaro said. "We may have a difference of opinion in terms of the value. If that's the case, and someone else views him at a higher value, we may risk losing him." Reached by phone, Eyre's agent, Tommy Tanzer, declined to comment. 

News: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he has made contract proposals to Park's representatives, but as of right now the two sides aren't "there yet," the Delaware News Journal reports.
Impact: The Phillies would like to re-sign Park as a reliever, and during a news conference last week in Seoul, Park indicated he still prefers to be a starter. "In the back of his mind, maybe," Amaro said. "But after having discussions with the agent, they know his best role is as a reliever. Now, if there's somebody out there who wants to have him start, he may want to go do that. When he goes out there looking, we'll have to look elsewhere as well." 

News: The Phillies outrighted Taschner to Triple-A. Taschner opted for free agency.
Impact: Taschner went 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a 19:20 K:BB ratio in 29.1 innings with the Phillies. The team is not interested in bringing him back next season. 

News: MLB.com reports that the Phillies have added center field prospect Quintin Berry to their 40-man roster.
Impact: The move was made to protect Berry from being stolen in December's Rule 5 draft. The 25-year-old speedster is one of the Phillies top prospects and has spent parts of four seasons in the minors. He has already collected 173 steals in 457 games and has complied a .275 batting average. Right-hander Jesus Sanchez and southpaw Yohan Flande were also added to the 40-man roster. 

News: The Phillies added Sanchez to their 40-man roster, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Sanchez, 22, was converted from catcher to pitcher this season and went 10-6 with a 3.44 ERA in 26 starts for Single-A Lakewood. He had a 2.41 ERA over his final 15 starts. He was acquired from the Yankees in 2006 as part of the Bobby Abreu trade. 

News: The Phillies added Flande to their 40-man roster, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Flande, 23, split the season between Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. He made 25 starts and was 10-5 with a 3.40 earned run average and allowed six home runs in 145.2 innings. Flande, who was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 2004, figures to open next season back at Double-A. 

News: The Phillies added Berry to their 40-man roster, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Berry hit .266 with five home runs, 28 RBI and 48 stolen bases in 135 games at Double-A Reading this season. Berry might not get a chance to win a roster spot this spring but he could see time with the Phillies next season should injuries strike. Keep him in mind when drafting reserves in a deep NL only league next season as his speed makes him intriguing even if he only profiles as a reserve long-term. 

News: Pedro Martinez intends to pitch the entire 2009 campaign, according to FOX Sports.
Impact: Martinez has already decided to return for an 18th MLB season, and he was having fun again while trying to help the Phillies claim their second straight World Series title in 2009. He went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over nine starts, and should garner interest if he does not remain in Philadelphia.  

News: Bruntlett, who scored the winning run in the final game of the 2008 World Series, became a free agent after refusing a minor league assignment from the Philadelphia Phillies.
Impact: Bruntlett batted just .171 (18-for-105) in this season after hitting .217 in 212 at-bats in '08. Bruntlett got more playing time last year because of an ankle injury to shortstop Jimmy Rollins in April and because he was a late-inning defensive replacement for former left fielder Pat Burrell. 

News: Martinez's agent, Fern Cuza, said his client intends to pitch an entire season next year, FOXSports.com reports.
Impact: Cuza said Martinez feels "rejuvenated" after helping the Phillies win their second consecutive National League pennant. Cuza said the Phillies are "one of the teams we would consider going back to." He declined to mention other possibilities but the Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, Angels and Rangers were interested in Martinez last year and could have some interest this winter. 

News: Eric Bruntlett has been removed from the Phillies' 40-man roster, making him a free agent, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's David Murphy.
Impact: Could it be the end of his major league career, as well? Bruntlett his just .202 in 312 at-bats the past two seasons, and at age 31, it's hard to imagine where the interest for him would come from. 

News: Park said in a news conference last week that he would still like to be a starter, the Delaware News Journal reports.
Impact: "I want to be a starter again," Park told the Korea Times. "I would really enjoy playing for the Phillies again, but my first consideration in making my decision is finding a circumstance that is right for me. I want to play for the Phillies again, but I also wouldn't mind joining a team I've never played with before." The Phillies will only be interested in bringing Park back as a reliever. 

News: Mayberry is hitting .293/.364/.455 with four home runs, 18 RBI and four stolen bases in 25 games for Obregon of the Mexican Pacific League.
Impact: Mayberry is in Mexico with the Phillies' highly touted outfield prospect Michael Taylor. Mayberry will compete for a roster spot this spring. 

News: Taylor is hitting .308/.361/.415 with a home run, 11 RBI and three stolen bases in 19 games for Obregon of the Mexican Pacific League.
Impact: Taylor ended the minor league regular season on the disabled list with a strained oblique. He'll be in camp with the Phillies this spring but shouldn't have a chance at earning a roster spot unless the Phils lose one of their starting outfielders to an injury. 

News: The Phillies added Mathieson to the 40-man roster.
Impact: Mathieson was a top prospect back in 2006 and even reached the big leagues before undergoing elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery. He had another elbow procedure in 2007, then suffered a setback that required a second elbow ligament replacement last year. Mathieson went 4-0 with a 0.84 ERA and a 34:12 K:BB ratio at three minor league levels last season and has a 13:8 K:BB ratio in 11.2 innings over ten games for Scottsdale of the Arizona Fall League. The Phillies will likely give him a chance to compete for a bullpen spot this spring. 

News: Bruntlett has filed for free agency.
Impact: Bruntlett hit .171 in 105 at-bats with the Phillies this season. The team is not interested in bringing him back so Bruntlett will be looking for a team in need of a utility player this winter. 

News: The Phillies outrighted Hoover to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He declined the assignment and opted for free agency.
Impact: Hoover was called up in September to act as the Phillies third catcher. He hit .253 with a home run and 28 RBI with the IronPigs this past season. 

News: The Phillies outrighted Tracy to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He declined the assignment and opted for free agency.
Impact: Tracy went 5-for-12 in limited action with the Phillies after being called up in September. The minor league vet hit .254 with 26 homers and 96 RBI for Lehigh Valley this past season. 

News: The Phillies activated Ennis from the 15-day disabled list and then outrighted him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Impact: Ennis opted for free agency rather than accepting the assignment to Triple-A. He is recovering from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. 

News: The Phillies outrighted Walker to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Impact: Walker opted for free agency. He went 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA and a 27:9 K:BB ratio in 35.1 innings with the Phillies this season. 

News: Phillies' relief pitcher Scott Eyre filed for free agency on Thursday, according to the Twitter page of beat writer Todd Zolecki.
Impact: Eyre recently had surgery to remove floating bodies from his left elbow, but it was a minor procedure and he is expected to be ready to pitch before long. He is contemplating retirement, but he would like to return to the Phils for another season. 

News: Lidge had successful surgery on Wednesday to repair his flexor pronator tendon and also had a loose body removed from his right elbow, the Phillies' official site reports.
Impact: Lidge is expected to start throwing within eight weeks. "Brad could be one to two weeks behind in Spring Training, but, overall, we feel very good about his recovery time," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a statement. "We're hopeful that he will be ready close to Opening Day."‬ 

News: Moyer (groin/abdomen) will have another surgery later this offseason to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Moyer is slated to have that surgery in early December. He's signed through 2010, but will he be able to pitch? 

News: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro dismissed any speculation that he'd consider trading Hamels, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: This pretty much scuttles the notion that the Phils might get involved in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes this offseason. "I have no thoughts about trading Cole Hamels," Amaro said. "I don't know where those rumors are coming out, but that is exactly what they are. Cole Hamels is our pitcher. We're keeping him. And I'm glad to have him." 

News: Sportsnet.ca is reporting that, despite rumors of the Phillies including Cole Hamels in trade talks for Roy Halladay, Hamels will not be traded. Hamels was likely mentioned as a possibility after his controversial comments during the World Series.
Impact: Hamels would certainly seal the deal in a Halladay trade, but the Phils aren't moving their young lefty. How quickly people forget his 2008 World Series MVP. Expect him to be in a Phillies' uniform for many years to come. 

News: Park has filed for free agency, MLB.com reports.
Impact: Park, who opened the season in Philadelphia's starting rotation then emerged as a solid long-reliever for the National League champs, was classified as a Type B free agent. The Phillies are interested in re-signing Park but will receive a supplemental pick if he signs elsewhere. 

News: Eyre had surgery on Monday to remove a loose bodies from his left elbow, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Eyre, a free agent, said he plans to retire unless the Phillies want to re-sign him. 

News: Bako has filed for free agency, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Bako will be looking for a reserve job this winter. It wouldn't be surprising to see him return to the Phillies. 

News: Stairs has filed for free agency, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: The Phillies are not expected to bring Stairs back next year unless he is interested in a minor league contract this winter. 

News: Ibanez had surgery Monday to repair a sports hernia, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Ibanez had damage on the left and right side of his abdomen. A typical recovery for sports-hernia surgery is 6-to-10 weeks, which means Ibanez should be ready to participate when spring training begins in mid-February. 

News: Philadelphia Phillies' beat writer Todd Zolecki is reporting on Twitter that the team has declined the 2010 option on third baseman Pedro Feliz. Feliz was scheduled to make $5.5 million next season.
Impact: Bit of a surprise here, but it looks like the Phils might look for another third baseman through free agency or a trade. If Feliz doesn't come back, look for the team to pursue a player like Adrian Beltre or possibly Dan Uggla.  

News: The Phillies announced Sunday that they have declined the 2010 option on Feliz's contract, making him a free agent, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: General manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said Sunday's announcement doesn't mean Philadelphia won't try to bring Feliz back, but it does likely indicate that they have their sights set on a potential replacement (Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, etc.). 

News: Eyre will have surgery on Monday. Dr. Michael Ciccotti will remove loose bodies from Eyre's left elbow.
Impact: Eyre had a 1.50 ERA in 42 games in 2009. 

News: Ibanez will have surgery on Monday. Dr. Bill Meyers will repair Ibanez's sports hernia.
Impact: Ibanez hit a career-high 34 homers in his first season with Philadelphia. This should not set him back at the start of next season. 

News: Ennis' contract was purchased from Lehigh Valley and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Impact: Ennis is recovering from Tommy John surgery and likely won't pitch until 2010. 

News: Cairo has filed for free agency, MLB.com reports.
Impact: Cairo hit .267 with a home run and two RBI in limited action with the Phillies this past season. He'll be looking for a reserve job this winter if he opts to keep playing. 

News: Martinez has filed for free agency, MLB.com reports.
Impact: Martinez went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA and a 37:8 K:BB ratio for the Phillies this past season. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. previously stated the team will consider resigning Martinez this winter but starting pitching won't be on the top of their free agent shopping list. 

News: The Phillies are interested in resigning Park, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Park posted a 2.52 ERA in 38 relief appearances this past season. He'll certainly draw interest from other clubs as well if the Phils can't lock him up before he files for free agency. 

News: The Phillies are not expected to bring Stairs back next season, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team may be willing to offer Stairs a minor league contract but it is unclear if Stairs would be interested. He said previously that he would like to play one more season. 

News: General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies are actively exploring options at third base other than Feliz, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: The team has until Monday to exercise a $5.5 million dollar contract option on Feliz for the 2010 season. "More than anything else, we want to see what options may be out there for us and decide whether picking his option up is best suited for this club to try to move forward," Amaro said. "He had a solid year for us. I like the man personally. He's a great person and a great teammate, but I also believe in trying to improve and sometimes change can be for the better. It doesn't necessarily mean we're going to, but it's just something that we're thinking about." Adrian Beltre, Chone Figgins and Mark DeRosa are free agent options that could interest the Phillies. 

News: Eyre is scheduled for surgery on Monday to remove a loose bodies from his left elbow, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Eyre is considering retirement this offseason but has also indicated he could be interested in returning to the Phillies. 

News: Lidge is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday to remove a loose body from his right elbow, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti will perform the surgery. Lidge will also have his right flexor/pronator tendon evaluated. 

News: Lidge will have surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday.
Impact: Lidge is scheduled to have a loose body removed and Dr. Michael Ciccotti also will evaluate his right flexor/pronator tendon. Lidge led the majors with 11 blown saves this season but was better in the playoffs as the Phillies reached the World Series before losing to the Yankees in six games. 

News: Phillies' beat writer Todd Zolecki is reporting on Twitter that outfielder Raul Ibanez will have his sports hernia repaired on Monday. Ibanez was dealing with pain in his abdomen for just over four months.
Impact: Ibanez was a warrior for the Phils this season, as he played through pain for a vast majority of the second half. He should be fine for spring training, so fantasy players should expect another big season out of Ibanez in 2010. 

News: According to the Twitter page of Phillies' beat writer Scott Lauber, closer Brad Lidge will have surgery on Wednesday to remove a loose body from his right elbow. Lidge will also have his right flexor tendon evaluated at that time.
Impact: The Phillies aren't too concerned about this procedure, as it is a fairly minor operation. The flexor tendon could be the bigger worry here, but overall this doesn't figure to be a huge deal. 

News: Ibanez will undergo surgery Monday to repair a sports hernia, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Ibanez has been playing hurt since he came off the disabled list during the summer, which may have a lot to do with the pronounced difference in his half-season split stats. No timetable was announced for Ibanez's return, but expect him to be healthy by the time spring training begins. 

News: Lidge may need to undergo arthroscopic surgery to clean up some loose bone fragments that may be present in his right elbow, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Lidge claims the elbow problem did not affect his pitching, and only caused minor discomfort. The arthroscopic procedure is a minor one and Lidge should be fully healed by the time spring training begins. 

News: Scott Eyre underwent surgery today to remove floating bodies in his left elbow, according to the Associated Press.
Impact: The 37-year-old reliever pitched with the injury over the final month of the season. He will resume his career with the Phillies or will hang up his cleats. 

News: The Phillies have until Monday to decide whether to pick up a $5 million option on Feliz, who batted .266 with 12 homers in 2009, hitting mostly seventh in the lineup.
Impact: Not picking up Feliz's option doesn't prevent the Phillies from re-signing him. "He had a solid year for us," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "I like the man personally. He's a great person, a great teammate, but I also believe in trying to improve and change can be for the better. It doesn't necessarily mean we're going to, but it's something that we'll look into." 

News: The NL champion Phillies have picked up Lee's $9 million option for 2010. The team announced the expected move on Friday, two days after losing the World Series to the New York Yankees. Lee's contract expires after next season, though general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team is open to signing the star left-hander to a long-term deal.
Impact: Lee, 31, was acquired from the Cleveland Indians on July 29 for four minor leaguers, and quickly became Philadelphia's ace. Lee posted a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts for the Phillies, then went 4-0 with a 1.56 mark in five postseason outings, including 2-0 in the World Series. 

News: Brett Myers has declared for free agency, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
Impact: He isn't likely to be back in Philadelphia, as the Phillies are set in the rotation and wouldn't be willing to pay Myers the money he will likely seek just to be a reliever.  

News: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports that the Phillies have exercised Cliff Lee's $9 million 2010 option.
Impact: File this one under "duh." Now the question is, will the Phils work out a long-term extension this winter. After picking up the win in both of the team's World Series victories this fall, the answer would seem to be a resounding yes.  

News: Philadelphia will not try to re-sign Myers, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: He missed much of the season with a hip injury, but could be a rebound candidate next season. 

News: Philadelphia has picked up the $9 million club option in Lee's contract for 2010, the team's official web site reports.
Impact: This was a no-brainer given his performance for the Phillies last season. We'll have to see if there's any talk of adding an extension. 

News: Martinez allowed four runs and three hits Wednesday in a 7-3 loss to the Yankees in Game 6 of the World Series.
Impact: Martinez went 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in two World Series starts for the NL champion Phillies. 

News: Ibanez had two hits Wednesday in a 7-3 loss to the Yankees in Game 6 of the World Series.
Impact: Ibanez's first season with the NL champion Phillies was a success. He had 34 homers and 93 RBIs. 

News: Ruiz reached base all four times and had two hits Wednesday in a 7-3 loss to the Yankees in Game 6 of the World Series.
Impact: Ruiz batted .341 in the postseason with two homers and nine RBIs for the NL champion Phillies. 

News: Rollins finished the year hitting .250/.296/.423 with 21 home runs, 77 RBI, 100 runs scored and 31 stolen bases.
Impact: Rollins was hitting only .229 with seven home runs at the All-Star break but hit .272 with 14 home runs after the break to post respectable numbers. Rollins' batting average suffered this year due to a decreased walk rate and an increased fly ball rate. He was getting under the ball early in the season and flying out quite a bit. The Phillies would certainly prefer that Rollins gets his on-base percentage back up in the .340 range next season. 

News: Ruiz hit .255/.355/.425 with nine home runs, 43 RBI and three stolen bases this season.
Impact: Ruiz set a career high in home runs this season and improved on his .219 batting average from last season. The Phillies traded away prospect Lou Marson this season and the team loves Ruiz's defense and game calling so it seems highly likely that he'll be the team's starter again next season. 

News: Utley hit .282/.397/.508 with 31 home runs, 93 RBI, 112 runs scored and 23 stolen bases this season.
Impact: There were some concerns about how Utley would perform after offseason hip surgery but he showed those concerns were unfounded. His 23 stolen bases were a career high and he was not caught stealing on any of his attempts. 

News: Werth finished the season hitting .268/.373/.506 with 36 home runs, 99 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 571 at-bats.
Impact: All the counting stats are career highs for Werth except for the steals, which tied his career high. Werth delivered excellent value to his fantasy owners this season and figures to go very high in drafts next season given the power and speed combination that he provides. 

News: Victorino finished the year hitting .292 with a .358 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, 62 RBI, 102 runs scored and 25 stolen bases in 620 at-bats.
Impact: The home runs and stolen bases are down a bit from 2008 even though Victorino played in 10 more games this season. Despite that, it was still a very productive season for the Phillies' centerfielder. 

News: Lee finished the year 14-13 with a 3.22 ERA and a 181:43 K:BB ratio in 231.2 innings between the Indians and the Phillies.
Impact: Lee was excellent after joining the Phillies going 7-4 with a 74:10 K:BB ratio in 79.2 innings. Lee has a $9 million club option for next season that the Phillies will definitely exercise. 

News: Feliz finished the year hitting .266 with 12 home runs and 82 RBI.
Impact: Feliz has a $5.5 million club option with the Phillies for next season. The team will need to decide if they want to pursue a free agent with more offensive firepower or stick with Feliz and his defense. 

News: Eyre (elbow), who previously said he would retire at the end of the season, sounds like he is reconsidering his plans, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: Eyre said that he would "see what happens" this offseason, weighing his options with his family. "I guess it's up to [GM] Ruben [Amaro Jr.]," Eyre said. "We'll see if they still want me around. I can promise you I won't play anywhere else. I'll either wear a 'P' on my head or nowhere else." Eyre will also need to undergo surgery in the offseason to remove loose bodies from his elbow. He finished the season 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA and a 22:16 K:BB ratio over 30 innings. 

News: Myers, who will become a free agent this winter, has said he would like to return to the Phillies next season, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: Myers said that in the offseason, he would consider both bullpen and starting roles. "It doesn't matter to me," Myers said. "I can do both. I prefer both, actually. I was sitting there in the postseason in the bullpen thinking, 'Man, I had so much more fun starting last year,' because I was a factor in the season. In the bullpen, it's a little different. We'll see what happens. Whatever situation comes my way, I'm definitely going to explore everything. 

News: Pedro Martinez lasted only four innings in Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday as the Phillies fell 7-3 in the game and 4-2 in the series. Martinez allowed four runs on three hits while walking two and striking out five in the game.
Impact: All four runs allowed by Pedro came off the bat of Hideki Matsui, who drove in six on the game. It was not the outing that he and the Phils were hoping for, as Andy Pettitte won the pitching match-up tonight. 

News: Ryan Howard finally found his home run stroke in Game 6 of the World Series, but it was too late as the Phillies fell to the Yankees 7-3. Howard was 1-for-4 on the evening with a home run, a run scored, and two RBI. Howard also struck out for the 13th time in the World Series, setting a new record.
Impact: Other than Chase Utley, the Philly offense really struggled in this series. Howard was a strikeout machine after he killed the ball in the previous two series, and his homer tonight just wasn't enough to take this thing to Game 7. 

News: Victorino was in Philadelphia's starting lineup Wednesday night for Game 6 of the World Series despite a finger injury.
Impact: Victorino was struck on his right index finger by a fastball from A.J. Burnett in the first inning of the Phillies' 8-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Monday night. X-rays were negative, but the injury appeared to bother him throughout that game. 

News: Shane Victorino is in the Phillies' lineup for Game 6 on Wednesday, according to the Twitter page of beat writer Todd Zolecki. X-Rays on his index finger were negative.
Impact: Victorino wasn't going to let a little finger injury keep him out of the World Series, so there was never really any doubt he would play tonight. The Phils have their full lineup in tact, and they are ready to try and take this series to Game 7. 

News: Victorino (hand) will be in the starting lineup for Game 6 against the Yankees on Wednesday night, the Phillies' official site reports.
Impact: "He said he can move his finger. The swelling has gone down," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He said he can hold a bat. He said he can grip the ball. That's what I took and that's what it is. If there's any problem, I'll take him out of the game." Victorino will once again bat out of the No. 2 spot for the Phillies on Wednesday night. 

News: Manager Charlie Manuel said Tuesday that he would have confidence in sending Hamels out to the mound for a potential Game 7 Thursday, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Hamels was quoted as saying he could not wait for the season to be over after his last outing, which was interpreted by some to mean that he had given up on pitching well in the postseason. Hamels said he did not realize how his answer to a question about how he would assess his season would look in print. "I think Charlie knows me," Hamels said. "He's managed me for quite a few years. I think the only doubt it left in people's minds was the fans', and that hurts because I love the city of Philadelphia and I play as hard as I possibly can. I might not necessarily have the results that they hope, but I know that if I go out there and do everything I possibly can, and in the end, if they see that I've left everything I possibly can out on the field, then I think they can respect that." 

News: Victorino's hand remained swollen Tuesday and his status for Wednesday's game is up in the air at the moment, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: "He'll probably get in the ballpark early Wednesday, and when he first comes in, I'll go talk to him and I'll go talk to our trainer when our trainer comes in," manager Charlie Manuel said. "They just said he's day-to-day, and they said he's going to have some soreness in his finger. We'll see." Manuel said he likely would use Ben Francisco in centerfield if Victorino is unable to play. 

News: If Shane Victorino (hand) can't go on Wednesday night, Francisco would start in his place in center field, the Philly Inquirer reports.
Impact: Francisco has experience in center, having started a number of games there this year for Cleveland when Grady Sizemore was on the DL. 

News: Hamels isn't ready to call it a season. Hamels wants to pitch again if the Phillies need him against the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Impact: Hamels angered fans and created a stir on talk radio with his comments after his latest poor outing Saturday night. He clarified those remarks after the Phillies avoided elimination with an 8-6 victory in Game 5 on Monday night. "Sometimes I might not say the best things or the smartest things, but I've learned and am learning," Hamels said. "I wasn't able to sleep the past couple of nights because of it." 

News: Lee allowed five runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings Monday to earn an 8-6 victory over the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series.
Impact: Lee is 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts. He could earn a Game 7 start for the Philadelphia Phillies if they force the World Series to a decisive game. "As far as my availability, I'm available," Lee said. 

News: Howard walked twice and struck out in his other two at-bats Monday in an 8-6 win over the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series.
Impact: Howard is 3 for 19 (.158) with 12 strikeouts in the World Series. The Phillies need more from him when the series resumes Wednesday in the Bronx. 

News: Howard struck out three times against starter A.J. Burnett and four times in all Thursday in a 3-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series.
Impact: Howard gave credit where credit was due. "A.J.'s breaking ball, it starts in the other batter's box," he said. "That's a nasty pitch, nasty today." 

News: Ibanez homered, singled and drove in two runs Monday in an 8-6 win over the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series.
Impact: Ibanez has been struggling and is batting just .250 in the series, which resumes Wednesday in New York at Yankee Stadium. 

News: Yahoo! Sports reports that Phillies pitchers Cole Hamels and Brett Myers had a "short but terse confrontation" in the Phils clubhouse after their victory in game five of the World Series.
Impact: Myers reportedly said to Hamels, "What are you doing here? I thought you quit." The snide remark was in reference to comments Hamels made after he was lit up in game three of the World Series about wanting the season to be over because of how poorly his year had gone. It doesn't look to be an issue going into game six. 

News: Manager Charlie Manuel announced that Martinez will start Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday, the Phillies' official site reports.
Impact: "Pedro is ready," Manuel said. "He has already been told and he's ready to go. I mean, how much do I expect out of him? I expect probably something similar to what we got the other night. I think that he's definitely capable of giving us anywhere from six to seven innings in the game, maybe longer, depending on how many pitches he throws early." Martinez struck out eight, walked two and allowed three runs on just six hits in his Game 2 outing against the Yankees. 

News: Despite leaving Monday's game with a hand injury a few innings after being hit by an A.J. Burnett pitch, Victorino says he plans to play in Wednesday's Game 6, ESPN.com reports.
Impact: Victorino was 0-for-3 in the game and was clearly bothered by the injury throughout the night, but X-rays following the game were negative. Perhaps if the swelling goes down, he'll be his usual self on Wednesday. 

News: Shane Victorino expects to play in game six of the World Series on Wednesday despite the bruised finger he suffered in game five, according to MLB.com.
Impact: The contusion he suffered after getting hit by an A.J. Burnett pitch in the first inning on Monday made it hard for him to grip a bat, but the swelling should be down by game time Wednesday. Victorino is a gamer, and will surely play.  

News: As expected, Pedro Martinez will start game six of the World Series for the Phillies Wednesday in New York, according to MLB.com.
Impact: He will counter fellow super-vet Andy Pettitte, who will be pitching on three days rest. In game two of the series, Pedro held the Yanks to three runs in six innings, while striking out eight, but took the loss.  

News: Chase Utley continued his smoking hot World Series on Monday as the Phillies beat the Yankees 8-6. Utley went 2-for-3 with two homers, three runs scored, and four RBI in the win.
Impact: Utley has now tied a World Series record with five homers, which just illustrates how important he has been to the team. The Phils will need him to continue to hit the ball if they are going to come back and defend their title. 

News: Cliff Lee wasn't his usual dominant self on Monday, but he was good enough as the Phillies stayed alive by defeating the Yankees 8-6. Lee pitched seven innings and allowed five runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out three.
Impact: Lee was very good until the eighth inning, when the Yanks put up three runs to get back in the game. The Phils are still alive, but they are heading back to New York down 3-2.  

News: Utley hit his fifth homer of the World Series on Monday, tying Reggie Jackson's record for the most in one Fall Classic. Utley connected off Phil Coke in the seventh inning, giving the Philadelphia Phillies a 7-2 lead over the New York Yankees in Game 5 on Monday night. Utley hit a three-run shot in the first inning off A.J. Burnett.
Impact: He is the second player to have two multihomer games in a World Series. Willie Aikens of Kansas City did it against the Phillies in 1980. Utley hit three solo shots off CC Sabathia, two in the opener and one in Game 4. Jackson hit five homers for the Yankees in 1977 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mr. October hit three in New York's clinching victory in Game 6. 

News: Park, who missed a game due to the flu, returned to action on Sunday.
Impact: Park pitched a scoreless seventh inning allowing one walk while striking out one. 

News: Chase Utley hit his third home run of the World Series off of C.C. Sabathia in Sunday's loss to the Yankees. He also had a double in the game to go with two RBI and a run scored.
Impact: Utley had not logged a hit since Game 1, but clearly seems to have Sabathia's number. Sabathia is normally dominant against left-handers but he has yet to figure out Utley. Utley and the Phillies will likely have to heat up if they want a chance to see Sabathia again this postseason. 

News: Pedro Feliz was 3-for-4 with an eighth inning home run that tied the game at four. He had two RBI and a run scored in the game.
Impact: Feliz was 0-for-7 in the first two games in New York, but he's gone 4-for-8 with two extra base hits in Philadelphia. 

News: Chan Ho Park was unavailable in Game 3 due to the flu and is questionable for Game 4.
Impact: Park has been a decent option out of the bullpen for the Phillies, but has not done very well in the playoffs. He has allowed three runs in 3.2 innings of work. 

News: Park was not available for Saturday's game due to a case of the flu, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.
Impact: Park is questionable for Sunday night's game. 

News: Jayson Werth crushed two more home runs on Saturday night, but couldn't will the Phillies to victory, as the Yankees won game three of the World Series 8-5 in Philadelphia.
Impact: Werth is absolutely pounding the ball, but he'll need his teammates, namely Ryan Howard, to get going offensively, as well, if the Phils are going to have any chance at beating the Yanks. 

News: Given an early three-run lead, Cole Hamels was ineffective yet again for the Phillies in the playoffs, allowing five runs in just 4.1 innings, as the Yankees won game three of the World Series 8-5 in Philadelphia.
Impact: Hamels now has allowed at least three runs in all four of his playoff starts, and failed to make it past 5.1 innings. With his next start coming in a potential game six, he has to figure something out or risk giving away the Phils' season. 

News: Dobbs will be available off the bench in Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday, reports Scott Lauber of the Delaware News Journal.
Impact: Dobbs had missed Game 2 with flu symptoms, but they have subsided. He'll be available to pinch hit if needed. 

News: Phillies' beat writer Andy Martino is reporting that Greg Dobbs will be available for Game 3 of the World Series Saturday night. Dobbs missed Game 2 due to an illness.
Impact: Dobbs reportedly had a fever that reached 102 degrees, but he is feeling much better today. He will be available off the bench for the Phils tonight, and will be so for the rest of the series.  

News: Joe Blanton has been slated to pitch Game 4 of the World Series for Philadelphia, according to the Associated Press.
Impact: Skipper Charlie Manuel does not want to use ace Cliff Lee on only three days of rest. Lee will take the hill in Game 5. Blanton has World Series experience, as he pitched for the club in 2008.  

News: Blanton was picked to start Game 4 of the World Series for the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Impact: Manager Charlie Manuel said Friday he will go with Blanton against the New York Yankees rather than ace Cliff Lee on short rest. Lee, who has never pitched on three days' rest, is slated to start Game 5. 

News: Cliff Lee will not be starting game four of the World Series against the Yankees on short rest, according to MLB.com's Noah Coslov.
Impact: Lee threw 122 pitches in a complete game, game one victory. The Phils will instead counter the Yankees' CC Sabathia, who will be starting on three days rest, with Joe Blanton.  

News: Lee will start Game 5 of the World Series on Monday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: The Phillies were considering throwing Lee on three days' rest Sunday, but he's never pitched on short rest in his career and Joe Blanton will get the nod instead. The Yankees haven't announced whether they plan to throw CC Sabathia on short rest Sunday. 

News: Blanton will start Game 4 of the World Series, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: The Phillies could have pitched Game 1 winner Cliff Lee on three days' rest, but opted for Blanton instead. Lee will pitch Game 5 Monday on regular rest. 

News: Ibanez had two hits and scored the lone run for the Phillies on Thursday in a 3-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series.
Impact: Ibanez's three hits in eight at-bats leads the Phillies in the World Series. 

News: Martinez allowed three runs and six hits over six-plus innings in a 3-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday.
Impact: Matrtinez struck out eight, but gave up solo homers to Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui. "The fans, I enjoy that," Martinez said. "I know they really want to root for me. It's just that I don't play for the Yankees, that's all. I've always been a good competitor, and they love that. They love the fact that I compete. I'm a New Yorker, as well. If I was on the Yankees, I'd probably be like a king over here." 

News: Raul Ibanez fared well in tonight's 3-1 loss in Game 2 of the World Series at New York, as he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored.
Impact: The Phillies only mustered six hits in the game, and will try to get their bats going in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. Ibanez is performing better after only hitting .167 over 18 at-bats in the NLCS against the Dodgers. 

News: Pedro Martinez gave up three earned runs on six hits over six innings in Thursday's 3-1 loss in Game 2 of the World Series at New York. He had two walks with eight strikeouts, and was tagged for two solo homers.
Impact: Pedro failed to get the job done tonight, as he let New York even the series at 1-1. He fired seven scoreless innings in his previous outing in the NLCS against the Dodgers.  

News: Dobbs has returned to Philadelphia before Game 2 of the World Series because he has the flu.
Impact: Dobbs was a candidate to be the designated hitter against Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett in Thursday night's game, but Matt Stairs got the nod in his absence. 

News: Dobbs returned to Philadelphia before Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday because he has the flu, the Associated Press reports.
Impact: Dobbs may have been used as the designated hitter had he been available, but Matt Stairs took that spot in his absence. Dobbs' availability for Game 3 on Saturday is unknown, but Friday's off day may give him enough time to recover. 

News: Greg Dobbs is not expected to play in tonight's Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium while dealing with the flu, according to MLB beat writer Todd Zolecki's twitter page.
Impact: Dobbs is a left-handed reserve, and is yet to chip in any hits over four plate appearances in the playoffs. 

News: Matt Stairs is serving as the DH for the Phillies in Game 2 on Thursday. Raul Ibanez will shift from DH to left field, replacing Ben Francisco.
Impact: Stairs is a prototypical DH against righties, so this move comes as no surprise. he will return to his role as pinch-hitting specialist when the series shifts to Philly, but he gets his opportunity tonight. 

News: Lee was brilliant, striking out 10 in a six-hitter in a 6-1 victory over the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday.
Impact: Lee outdueled former Cleveland teammate CC Sabathia in his World Series debut. "To be honest I really never have been nervous in the big leagues. This is what I wanted to do my whole life," Lee said. Lee threw 122 pitches so his next start could be for a possible Game 5. 

News: Utley hit two solo homers off Yankees ace CC Sabathia in a 6-1 victory Wednesday in Game 1 of the World Series.
Impact: Utley, who finished the game 2 for 4, walked in the first inning to set a postseason record by reaching base in 26 straight games. Baltimore's Boog Powell held the record of 25 straight games from 1966-71. "I didn't know that happened," Utley said. "You try to get on base for the next guy. The more guys on base we have, the better opportunity we have to score some runs." 

News: Chase Utley hit two solo home runs off of CC Sabathia on Wednesday night, giving Cliff Lee all the runs he would need in a 6-1 Phillies victory in game one of the World Series on Wednesday night.
Impact: Utley helped show why the Phillies are the defending champions on Wednesday night, and made it clear that the Yankees are going to have to play their absolute best baseball to win this series.  

News: Cliff Lee blew away the high-powered Yankees in game one of the World Series, striking out ten in a complete game 6-1 victory.
Impact: Wow. There's good, and then there's great, and Lee was positively dazzling on Wednesday. The Yanks better hope the next time they face him isn't in an elimination game.  

News: Ben Francisco will make the start in left field for the Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series. Francisco will hit seventh in the order while Raul Ibanez serves as the DH.
Impact: Francisco figures to see a few starts while the games are in New York, as the team would rather have his glove in the outfield instead of Ibanez. He will be hitting against former teammate Cliff Lee tonight, so he shouldn't be surprised by anything Lee has to offer. 

News: Miguel Cairo was left off the Phillies' World Series roster, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. The club opted to carry hurler Brett Myers instead.
Impact: Cairo did not register any hits over five at-bats during the previous two rounds of the playoffs.  

News: The Phillies have decided to add Brett Myers to their World Series roster, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Impact: Myers recovered well from his hip surgery, and will work out of the bullpen in the World Series against New York, which begins tomorrow at Yankee Stadium. 

News: Cairo was left off the Phillies' World Series roster, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: The club went with added bullpen depth and Brett Myers instead of Cairo. 

News: Myers was added to the World Series roster on Tuesday, the Philadelphis Inquirer reports.
Impact: The Phillies will opt for Myers and his added bullpen depth as opposed to infield depth, as Miguel Cairo was left off the roster. 

News: Manager Charlie Manuel announced that Hamels will start Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies' official site reports.
Impact: Hamels has struggled this postseason going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts. Cliff Lee will go in Game 1 and will be followed by Pedro Martinez. 

News: Cole Hamels will not start until game three of the World Series, according to Michael Klein of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Impact: The move allows Hamels to pitch at home, where he was dramatically better than he was on the road this season. His ERA sat at 4.99 away from Citizens Bank Park, but 3.76 at it. Pedro Martinez will start game two in Yankee Stadium.  

News: Manager Charlie Manuel announced that Martinez will start Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday, the Phillies' official site reports.
Impact: Martinez is 11-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 career starts against the Yankees in the regular season, and was 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 16 career starts at the old Yankee Stadium. He is 1-2 with a 4.72 ERA in six postseason appearances against the Yankees, and is 0-2 with a 5.93 ERA in his past five. 

News: Michael Klein of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Pedro Martinez will start game two of the World Series for the Phillies at Yankee Stadium.
Impact: Suddenly, it's like the early-2000s again. The Pedro signing has certainly worked out better for Philadelphia than anyone thought possible, and you can bet he will be as motivated as ever when he takes on his former nemesis on Thursday. 

News: Ibanez downplayed but didn't deny a Sports Illustrated report that he is playing with a torn muscle in his abdomen and will need surgery in the offseason, the Philly Inquirer reports.
Impact: Ibanez saw a specialist when he was on the DL this summer and has played hurt since returning. "I'm doing fine," he said. "That's all stuff that's in the past. I had spoken to the guy, but that's stuff that's kind of in the past. I don't really even think about it. Look, I'm fine right now." 

News: Raul Ibanez will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter in game one of the World Series at Yankee Stadium this Wednesday, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
Impact: This means that Ben Francisco will likely be manning left field at new Yankee Stadium. 

News: Lidge's resurgence has come at a perfect time for the Phillies. The defending champions needed someone to step up in the bullpen during the postseason, and Lidge has done just that. He's 1-0 with three saves in as many tries and hasn't allowed a run in five appearances. The hard-throwing right-hander has given up just one hit in four innings.
Impact: But this year was a nightmare for Lidge. He led the majors with 11 blown saves and went 0-8 with a 7.21 ERA. None of that matters now. Lidge is lights-out again, and the Phillies are heading back to the World Series. They'll play the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Angels, starting Wednesday. 

News: GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies will consider resigning Martinez this offseason, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Impact: "I don't think Pedro has done anything to push us away from it," Amaro said. Martinez, 37, could seek a multi-year contract. One person familiar with the Phillies' thinking said the team might not rule out offering a contract of more than one year if it were laden with incentives based on performance and appearances. 

News: Manager Charlie Manuel said Lee will start Game 1 of the World Series, the Phillies' official site reports.
Impact: Lee will likely be followed by Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels though it is not certain which of those two will pitch Game 2. J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton are expected to be available out of the bullpen for the first three games of the World Series. 

News: As was widely expected, Cliff Lee has been named the Phillies' starting pitcher for game one of the World Series on Wednesday, according to MLB.com's Noah Coslov.
Impact: If the Yankees win tonight, he will face off with CC Sabathia. If they don't, it could be anyone from Andy Pettitte to John Lackey or Jered Weaver of the Angels. 

News: If New York advances to the World Series against the Phillies, Martinez would love to get the ball again at Yankee Stadium, the new $1.5 billion version. He won't be intimidated by the crowd, that's for sure.
Impact: The defending champion Phillies haven't set their rotation for the World Series, which starts Wednesday in New York or Anaheim, Calif. Cliff Lee, who is 2-0 with a sparkling 0.74 ERA in three postseason starts, almost certainly will start the opener. Martinez or Cole Hamels would start Game 2 on the road. 

News: The Sporting News is reporting that the Phillies have not decided on their World Series rotation past Game 1 starter Cliff Lee. Cole Hamels, Pedro Martinez, JA Happ, and Joe Blanton are the starting options for the team.
Impact: Hamels is the obvious choice for Game 2, but he has been just short of awful in the postseason. Still, we expect him to get the nod, with Pedro going in Game 3 and either Happ or Blanton in Game 4. 

News: The Phillies could add Brett Myers to their World Series roster, according to ESPN. He was not on the NLCS roster against the Dodgers.
Impact: Myers has made good progress in his recovery from his hip injury, and GM Ruben Amaro noted that he is locating his pitches well. He could potentially help the club out of the bullpen while trying to repeat as champions against either the Yankees or Angels.