That Balls Outta Here » preseason

PHREAK SHOW: Where do the Phillies really rank?

Justin Klugh — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:30:37 +0000

Citizens Bank is more than just a bank. It’s a blog, where you can go to have opinions, advice, and analysis chucked into your gut like a bag full of coins. Coins, as we all know, are the “blunt instruments” of currency, and nobody wields them more accurately than The Citizens Bankers. Jon makes up one half of the team over there; feel free to check him out or his cohort Pat on their site or via Twitter (@JNes12). They pretty much define the term “righteous dudes.” Today, Jon takes a look at something we fail to oblige quite often on TBOH: the truth.

Where Do The Phillies Really Rank?

by Jon of The Citizens Bankers

What’s up, this is Jon from The Citizens Bankers. There are a few storylines in Spring Training this year. We have Chase Utley’s knee (Pan ic time), Domonic Brown’s magical fractured hand, and the emergence of Ben Francisco and John Mayberry Jr.

Oh yeah, and this. Cliff Lee could literally have my future children. But that is another story. (more…)

Michael Stutes is New Guy Who is Inspiration to Watch

Justin Klugh — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:29:16 +0000

When you’re surrounded by old people, it makes sense to panic. What if they die? What if they all die at once? These are both rational, logical queries that may enter your head, and are completely valid concerns for the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies baseball season.

But what’s this? A contingency of youth was granted access to the Bright House complex? Well, excuse me while I soak my jean shorts. Naturally, a player under 30 performing noticeably well in this camp is going to catch a number of eyes. One guy being followed by drooling journalists is a 24-year-old gentleman/RHP named Michael Stutes.

So is the the kid from Lake Oswego on Oswego Lake for real? Or is he just the victim of youth’s sensationalism in this decrepit graveyard of unproductive ghosts? (more…)

Who Knows What Brad Lidge’s “Bicep Soreness” Actually Is

Justin Klugh — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:40:02 +0000

So we discovered several days back that Ruben is celebrating his new deal with a healthy dosage of secrets and lies. The status of Chase Utley’s knee was of great importance to throngs of fans clinging to their keyboards, and everyday the story seemed to spit more and more blood. Soreness became tendinitis. Tendinitis became cholera. Cholera became Michael Young.

Now, another key player is sitting out a game. Normally, I’d wave it off and go back to getting struck out by C.J. Wilson for four straight innings in the MLB 11: The Show demo. However, given the nest of deception we’ve stumbled upon recently, Brad Lidge may already be dead. (more…)