Thats my Field of Dreams...Always go for the Fences.."NE OUBLIE"To: "PHILLIES FAN UNION MEMBERS AND FRIENDS" <fans@...> From: "The Phillies Fan Union" <fans@...> Subject: The Phillies Fan Union Newsletter Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 21:07:59 -0500 The November 21st Edition Membership as of November 20th, 2005: 101,947

___ FEATURE STORY Pat Gillick has made clear his priority to sign closer Billy Wagner, but Gillick has to be looking at the other components of the team which will need attention, simultaneously. He says that with five or six more wins next year, the Phillies make the playoffs. Now, if David Montgomery and Phillies ownership provide the resources necessary for Gillick to be creative enough to help this team compete and win, then 2006 could be a very interesting year for the Phillies. GET THE FULL STORY

 THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION Supporting the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association ***Do whatever you can***This Week's Question: On September 1st, 1964, in 4-3 Phillies
victory over Houston, three Phillies outfielders hit solo home runs in one inning. Who were they? Scroll down for the answer...

UNION NEWS:  NOT A MEMBER OF THE UNION YET? Join Us And spread the word! PFU HALL OF FAME VOTING Have a favorite Phillie? Nominate him for the PFU Hall of Fame. Feel free to use the Phillies All-Time Roster - Courtesy The Sports Cube Bobby Wine 16,829 Votes Tony Taylor 16,722 Votes Mickey Morandini 16,443 Votes Andy Seminick 15,893 Votes VOTE HERE RESULTS OF THE WEEKLY SURVEY Who would you like to see the Phillies trade? Bobby Abreu 5% Pat Burrell 13% Ryan Howard 3% Jim Thome 79%  GET THE BEST IN PHILLIES MERCHANDISE
    PHILLIES NEWS: 
GILLICK MEETS WITH WAGNER Pat Gillick, Ruben Amaro, and Charlie Manuel met with Billy Wagner and his agent on Wednesday. Wagner was reported to be enthusiastic about the meeting. The Phillies made no new offer, though Gillick told Bean Stringfellow, Wagner's agent, that they would be in touch over the weekend. The Phillies are sticking to a previous proposal that was believed to have been for three guaranteed seasons at $29 million to $31 million, an upgrade from an earlier offer of three years and $24 million.
 
RUIZ LOOKING GOOD An intriguing name in the Phillies not so distant future is catcher Carlos Ruiz, who has continued his hot second half hitting at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a
fine start in winter ball for Licey. Ruiz is hitting. 323 through 31 at-bats, and could wind up as the Phillies backup catcher next season. The Phillies always knew he was an excellent defensive catcher but last season they saw an offensive display that they hadn't seen from him in years past. His emergence could send veteran catcherTodd Pratt packing.
 
THOME LOOKING BETTER? Phillies first baseman Jim Thome has been in Clearwater, working out as he attempts to come back from elbow surgery that ended his season. The Phillies report that Thome is in great shape and should be at 100% for the start of spring training. Thome suffered from back problems last season before he had season-ending right- elbow surgery in July. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said he wouldn't consider dealing
for Jim Thome until seeing him healthy and swinging the bat well in spring training, but he's still interested. There are reports that other general managers are also interested. It's good news for the Phillies who need to clear the way for Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard. Thome would like to go to a midwestern team, preferably in the American League.
 
PHILLIES ADD BOURN TO 40 MAN ROSTER The Phillies purchased the contract of OF Michael Bourn, the team's 4th round pick in June 2003 draft. Bourn, 23, also is the burner that management loves. He runs a 6.32 sixty. Last year he hit .268 with 38 stolen bases. Bourn is batting over .300 in winter ball and should be with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. Baseball America named Bourn the most exciting player in the Eastern League. The
Phillies needed to make the move to protect him for the next Rule V draft.
 
PHILLIES ADD MATHIESON TO 40 MAN ROSTER The Phillies also added Clearwater RHP Scott Mathieson to the 40 man roster. Mathieson is one of eight Phillies playing winter ball. He went 3-8, with a 4.14 ERA in 23 starts (121.2 innings) last season. Mathieson struck out 68 batters, while walking just 20. Opposing batters hit .220 against him. He pitched well enough to see action with AA Reading next season. He was the team's 17th-round pick in 2002. The Phillies needed to make the move to protect him for the next Rule V draft.
 
GOODBYE KENNY
Reports are that the Phillies have chosen not to sign veteran OF Kenny Lofton for next season. Lofton split time in CF with Jason Michaels last season. In 110 games, Lofton batted .335. He had 41 strikeouts and 32 walks. He was instrumental in the continued development of SS Jimmy Rollins, whose franchise record 35 game hitting streak will continue into next season. Lofton's departure clears the way for the Phillies to give Shane Victorino a shot at center field.
 
URBINA CHARGED Free agent relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina was formally charged with attempted murder on Wednesday, and will remain in prison while he is tried, his lawyer said. Urbina, who most recently pitched for the Phillies before becoming a free agent, was taken to a detention center in Los Teques, just west of
Caracas. He has not spoken to reporters yet. As far as Urbina's baseball career is concerned, his lawyer says that all will depend on the way in which he is brought before justice.
 
HOWARD WATCH As new general manager Pat Gillick continues to appraise his new organization, there is no word where Ryan Howard will be playing next season. Trading Howard might put Gillick's head on the block in Philadelphia, literally. As he waits, the Express spent time talking to about 200 students last Wednesday morning at Russell H. Conwell Middle School. The event is part of Coca-Cola's Philadelphia Live It! program. It's good to see Howard taking part and having a positive impact on the lives of young people. 
 FOURTEEN PHILLIES PLAYING WINTER BALL - From The Phillies RED BARONS FANS RAISE $1420 FOR UNITED WAY - From The Red Barons JINGLE BELL FEST EXUDES HOLIDAY SPIRIT - From The Reading Phillies Creators of the popular Halloween festival Shocktoberfest opened a new winter wonderland that includes an awesome Reading Phillies light display. Santa wanted to make sure everyone had the Holiday Spirit for Christmas. So, he asked Jingle Bell to plan and organize a Holiday Festival. Jingle Bell thought what better name for the event than Jingle Bell Fest. Get the full story. PHIL-INS
 
Jim Thome, Bobby Abreu,
and Pat Burrell are the only Phillies players with no-trade clauses. Mike Lieberthal is a 10-5 player (10 years in the major leagues and the last five with one team). He he can veto any trade. 
The Yankees are considering letting free agent John Flaherty go and signing Todd Pratt as Jorge Posada's backup. 
The Phillies learned in a recent discussion with the Arizona Diamondbacks that righthander Javier Vazquez, who has requested a trade to be closer to his family on the East Coast, has a list of six teams he won't play for. The Phillies are reported to be one of them. 
Jake Blalock is being left available for the Rule V draft. The Phillies chose not to protect him. Blalock in currently with Clearwater. 
The penalties for steroid use in MLB will be 50 games for a first positive test, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban (with reinstatement possible after two years) for a third under the new policy. Those penalties are up from this year's
10 days for a first offense, 30 days for a second, 60 days for a third and a one-year suspension for a fourth. 
Tim McGraw drew an impressive roundup of talent to 36th Street last Monday, celebrating the life of his father, former Major League pitcher Tug McGraw. 
The Mets are expected to offer as much as $30 million over three years, and could add a fourth year to land Phillies closer Billy Wagner. 
The Washington Nationals have signed former Phillies utility man Marlon Anderson to a two-year contract. 
The Phillies have 35 players on the 40-man roster, 18 pitchers, two catchers, eight infielders and seven outfielders. 
Scott Mathieson took a loss for Team Canada after giving up two runs in four innings against Mexico on Saturday. 
The Pittsbugrh Pirates agreed to terms with former Phillies RHP Terry Adams on a minor league contract. 
Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Bill Lyon has retired after 33 yearswith the paper.
 PHILLIES: DID YOU KNOW? A rare distinction in baseball is to hit four home runs in one game. There are only fifteen times that this has happened. The Phillies have had three batters with four home runs in a game, this is more than any other team, past or present. Ed Delahanty accomplished this feat on July 13, 1896 and holds the distinction of being the only person to ever hit four inside the park home runs in a single game. Chuck Klein hit his on July 10, 1936 and Mike Schmidt hit his on April 17, 1976. MLB STANDINGS - Courtesy Sports Illustrated PHILLIES 2005 SCHEDULE/RESULTS - Courtesy USA Today PHILLIES 2004 ORGANIZATIONAL RECAP - Courtesy MLB and The Phillies UP-TO-DATE PHILLIES TRANSACTIONS - Courtesy The Sporting News PHILLIES 2005 SCHEDULE - Courtesy MLB and The Phillies BASEBALL STATISTICS 101 - Courtesy Baseball Almanac NL TEAM STATS - Courtesy USA Today PHILLIES FARM REPORT - Courtesy PhillyBurbs  THE PFU FEATURE OF THE WEEK - SCOTT MATHIESON
 THRESHERS RHP SCOTT MATHIESON GET THE FOTW HERE! 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION:  
 On September 1st, 1964, in 4-3 Phillies victory over Houston, outfielders John Callison and Wes Covington and first baseman Frank Thomas hit solo home runs in last of the seventh inning. 

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