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. 

The Phillies Fan Union's Newsletter is a service of the Phillies Fan Union. It is published weekly for PFU Members and Friends. If you wish to be removed from our Newsletter mailing list, simply send us an e-mail at: The Phillies Fan Union. In the text area, type Unsubscribe. Make sure you remember to include your e-mail address. Our
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 THE PHILLIES FAN UNION; EST. 1995 ©2005: THE PHILLIES FAN UNION

From: "The Phillies Fan Union" <fans@...> Subject: The Phillies Fan Union Newsleter The September 5th, 2005 Edition Membership as of September 4th, 2005: 100,469

___ FEATURE STORY The Phillies have entered that special time of the season. The rest of the NL East is waiting. The "beast of the east" is ready to slay the Phillies. Ryan Howard and the rest of the Phillies have less that one month to wield the sword that lays waste to the monster that has had it's way with them all season. Bring on the beast. 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 December 16, 1967: this popular Phillie was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitchers Woodie Fryman, Harold Clem, and Bill Laxton, and infielder Don Money.
Who was this Phillies player?
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
Tony Taylor 11,967 Votes
Mickey Morandini 11,639 Votes
Bobby Wine 11,587 Votes
Andy Seminick 10,803 Votes
VOTE HERE
RESULTS OF THE WEEKLY SURVEY
Do you think the acquisition of Michael Tucker will help the Phillies?
Yes 29%
No 53%
Not Sure 18% 
GET THE BEST IN PHILLIES MERCHANDISE

  
PHILLIES NEWS:
LIDLE TO THE 15 DAY DL
Phillies placed RHP Cory Lidle on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. Lidle had to leave a game against the Giants on August 25th with a strained left oblique muscle. He hurt himself on the swing before he grounded out. Lidle was replaced in the rotation by RHP Robinson Tejeda. In the first half of the season,
Lidle was one of the more consistent Phillies starters.
THOME TO THE 60 DAY DL
Phillies 1B Jim Thome was moved from the 15 day disabled list to the 60 day DL. Thome hasn't been healthy since the middle of last season. He opened this season with a
back problem which landed him on the DL for the first time
in May. He returned to active play, only to return to the disabled list in early July with elbow tendinitis. He had surgery in August and is expected to be out of action for three months. The Phillies are said to be actively shopping Thome and are reportedly willing to pay half of his remaining salary.
VICTORINO'S IN THE MIX
The Phillies picked up AAA outfielder Shane Victorino from The Dodgers in last year's Rule V draft. It now
looks like this year's minor league diamond in the rough
could dramatically alter the Phillies CF plans for 2006.
Victorino, fresh from being named the International
League Player of the Year on Tuesday, is now with the big
club for September play. He hit .310, with a career-high 18 homers, including a team-record 13. He also reached career highs with 70 RBI, 25 doubles, and 16 triples. He was riding a 22-game hitting streak when he was called up as rosters expanded on Thursday.
MYERS COULD BE ACE MATERIAL
After a difficult outing that saw Phillies RHP Brett Myers
reverting to his old mental form, the Phillies young starter
came back with the kind of game that aces are made of as he convincingly beat the Mets and ace Pedro Martinez at Shea on Thursday. Myers did all the little things that aces to and kept his head in the game after the Mets touched him for two runs early. Myers is currently 12-6 with a 3.51 ERA.
WAGNER; PHILLIES STILL NOT CLOSE
Phillies closer Billy Wagner and the Phillies are still negotiating. That's good. They're still far apart. That's not good. It's believed Wagner is looking for $27 million over three seasons, while the Phillies' top offer is a two-year, $14 million deal with an $8.5 million option. Wagner is now saying he'll accept a full no-trade clause over the first two seasons and a limited no-trade in the third season. The Phillies' latest offer includes a full no-trade for 2006, a limited no-trade for 2007, and nothing for 2008.
MICHAELS SOLID IN SHARED ROLE
Jason Michaels continues to impress for the Phillies. The four year CF has played in 89 games for the Phillies.
He has a .309 batting average to go with a .404 on-base-
percentage and a .413 slugging percentage. Michaels
has 3 home runs this season and 26 RBI. Michaels has
been sharing playing time with Kenny Lofton. He bats
against the right handed pitchers, with Lofton playing against the lefties.
TEJEDA MISSES START
The Phillies announced that rookie righthander Robinson Tejeda, who has pitched remarkably well since he joined the rotation in June, would miss his next scheduled start against the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Tejeda said he first felt discomfort in his shoulder August 24th in San Francisco, when he pitched two innings in relief of Cory Lidle. Tejeda felt pain again Tuesday in New York, and again Thursday when he threw a bullpen session. He threw just 10 pitches and had to stop. Tejeda was replaced in the rotation by rookie Eude Brito.
FLOYD RETURNS TO PHILLIES
Gavin Floyd pitched for the Phillies for the first time since he was demoted in April. Floyd gave the Phillies six effective innings in his first start in the Majors since April 15th, but the Nationals used a pair of three-run home runs to earn a 6-1 victory at RFK Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Floyd struggled at AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre, going 3-6 with a 6.28 ERA in 17 starts. He regained his focus, his fastball,
and his curve in two sessions with part-time assistant Johnny Podres in July.
HOWARD WATCH
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, finishing the season in place of injured lineup anchor Jim Thome, has begun
to step up the pace as the Phillies make a run for a playoff spot in the National League. The Express looks right at home in the spotlight. He smashed his third home run in four games on Thursday, a ninth-inning bomb
that gave the Phillies their two-run lead. He hit one Pedro off Martinez on Wednesday, too, two games after he crushed one more than 425 feet off the centerfield wall in Arizona. In that game ESPN commentator was
comparing Howard to former Giant great Willie McCovey.
Howard went yard again on Saturday with an opposite
field shot against Washington. 
WADE WATCH - Week 37
Ed Wade's contract with the Phillies is now guaranteed through 2007 instead of 2006. Wade he had a clause in his contract that automatically kicked in another year on an unspecified date during the season. Some baseball
people were making comparisons between the circumstances
surrounding Jim Thome and those that befell Lenny Dykstra.
Dykstra's career was ended as a result of s chronic back
problem. To this, Wade said, "The circumstances here are different than Dykstra-Glanville. We knew that Lenny, at that point, was at the end of his career. I don't see Jim at the end." This is what scares Phillies fans when
it comes to Wade. Hey Ed. Do we have to wait for the end,
or wouldn't it be a good idea to move Thome while he still
has enough left to be worth something. Ah, Ed? IT'S WHAT
THE WINNING ORGANIZATIONS DO!
SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS
Five players, including outfielder Shane Victorino, the International League most valuable player, joined the Phils as rosters expanded to 40 yesterday. Utility man Matt Kata, catcher A.J. Hinch and pitchers Geoff Geary and Pedro Liriano also arrived. Pitcher Gavin Floyd will join the club Sonday, after his final start with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
PHILLIES, CITIZENS BANK TO PITCH IN
FOR HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF FUND - From The Phillies
SILENT AUCTION SET FOR MONDAY
Fans attending National League games during the 10-game homestand at Citizens Bank Park will have the opportunity to team with the Phillies, Citizens Bank and the American Red Cross to raise dollars for Hurricane Katrina victims.
The homestand, which includes pennant-race games against the Houston Astros, Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves, begins on Monday, September 5th, and concludes on Thursday, September 15th. Donations for the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund will be accepted at specially designated locations inside the First Base, Third Base and Left Field Gates at Citizens Bank Park when the gates open (1 ½ hours prior to game time during the week; 2 hours before Saturday
and Sunday games).
VICTORINO IS IL MVP - From The Red Barons
For the first time ever, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons can claim the IL's Most Valuable Player. Outfielder Shane Victorino has won the award on the heels of his best season as a professional, setting career highs in nearly every offensive category. Victorino put together an incredible season in 2005. After his average dipped to .243 on June 22nd, he put together five straight multiple-hit games, sparking the 24-year-old to a torrid second half. He currently enjoys a 22-game hitting streak, second longest of the season in the IL (former teammate Ryan Howard, 24). Known for his defensive skills in center field, Victorino is among the League leaders in several offensive categories, including 8th in batting average (.310), 3rd in hits (153), 3rd in slugging percentage (.534), T-1st in extra-base hits (59), 1st in runs scored (93), and 1st in triples (16). His 16 triples is two more than any other player has collected this season in all of professional baseball. The Wailuku, Hawaii native has twice been named the IL Batter-of-the-Week this season (July 25-31, August 8-14).
READING PHILLIES' RUIZ HEADS FOR HOLLAND - From The Reading Phillies
Randy Ruiz has left the Reading Phillies lineup once again, this time to head for Holland, where he will take part in the World Cup tournament, which begins Friday. The 27-year-old Ruiz was born and raised in New York, but his family heritage allows him to represent Puerto Rico in international competition. Ruiz is leading the Eastern League with a .349 batting average in 89 games. He has 385 plate appearances, which should, unofficially, be enough to qualify for the batting title. Ruiz is also leading the league in slugging percentage at .669. Ruiz has missed 45 games this season due to two suspensions after twice testing positive for a banned substance. He is one of three Reading players headed to the World Cup. Pitcher Greg Bauer is going to represent the United States, and pitcher Josue Matos is going to represent Puerto Rico. Two pitchers were added to the Reading roster to take their places: Travis Minix returned from AAA and Matt Sweeney was added from Single-A Clearwater.
PHIL-INS

To make room on the 40-man roster for MichaelTucker the Phillies transferred JimThome (elbow surgery) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL...
Double A outfielder Chris Roberson broke the Reading Phillies hits record set in 1987 by Tommy Barrett.
LF Pat Burrell has hit 29 career homers against the Mets, including a two-run blast in the series opener on Tuesday, with 15 of those at Shea Stadium. 
The Phillies finished August with a 16-11 record. They have a winning record for four straight months for the first time since September of 1992 and April, May and June of 1993 (excluding March and October).
The Phils needed to clear room on their 40-man roster for Shane Victorino and A.J. Hinch. They did so by designating pitcher Clay Condrey and third baseman Juan Richardson for assignment.
Hitting coach Milt Thompson was ejected for getting on home-plate umpire Larry Young after Ryan Howard was ruled out on a liner to right in the seventh inning of the Phillies' 3-1 win. Replays showed the ball had been trapped by outfielder Victor Diaz.
Courtesy of Hurricane Katrina, a river now flows in Phillies pitcher Jon Lieber's back yard in Mobile, Ala.
Reliever Aaron Fultz also resides in Alabama, but a few hours north of the Gulf of Mexico in Fayette, where damage was minimal.
The Phillies game at Florida on Sunday, September 18th, has been selected as an ESPN Sunday Night national telecast. Game time is 8:09 p.m. This the fourth ESPN Sunday night game for the Phillies this season.
David Bell hit the first grand slam of his career against the Nationals on Friday night.
Phillies players and coaches visited the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., this week. They signed autographs and took pictures with patients.
Lefthanded reliever Rheal Cormier has inflammation in his left shoulder.
PHILLIES: DID YOU KNOW?
Named for a verbal shorthand of the city of residence the Phillies replaced the Worcester (Massachusetts) Brown Stockings in the National League. However, the team was not relocated, the Worcesters were expelled from the league, and the new Phillies were given their spot. The name has nothing to do with horses. Their initial owners were John Rodgers and Al Reach, the first ever professional baseball player according to many definitions and he was the man to give the Phillies their name.
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 - MICHAEL TUCKER 

PHILLIES OUTFIELDER MICHAEL TUCKER GET THE FOTW HERE! 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION: 

On December 16, 1967: Pitcher Jim Bunning traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitchers Woodie Fryman, Harold Clem, and Bill Laxton, and infielder Don Money.
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THE PHILLIES FAN UNION; EST. 1995 ©2005: THE PHILLIES FAN UNION