J.C. Romero News

Last year, when the winter meetings were held at the glitzy Bellagio in Las Vegas, Ruben Amaro Jr.

So, now that he has signed a backup catcher and a utility infielder , and secured Pedro Feliz's replacement at third base , what on earth will Ruben Amaro Jr.

Want to know what the Phillies clubhouse looks like on a Tuesday afternoon in December? It's kind of eerie, really.

Free agency begins in earnest on Friday, when teams are allowed to negotiate with and sign players from other clubs.

J.A. Happ already has been named the National League's top rookie by The Sporting News .

Each game is captured in analytical detail by Philadelphia Magazinea s 2008 a oeBest Sportswritera Jason Weitzel, along with photos, behind-the-scenes access and exclusive interviews by Michael McNesby, making this 370-page compendium a must-own for all fans.

Two years ago, the Phillies acquired Brad Lidge from the Houston Astros during the general managers' meetings.

Now that it's over, now that the parade has been canceled and there is no championship left to defend, the Phillies have to be honest with themselves.

Clifford the Big Red Dog was running loose on the mound again, and there wasn't a whole lot the New York Yankees could do to chain him.

Remember, it was the powerful New York lineup that knocked Smoltz clear out of the American League and very nearly all the way into retirement with a resounding thumping back in August.

One of the oddities of the 2009 National League Championship Series has been the absence of a big winner among starting pitchers.

The last two weeks of Phillies baseball have been filled with so many highs that it's easy to forget about all their regular-season challenges and struggles.

It was supposed to be reality television, baseball style. Instead, it resembled an episode of 'MASH.' The story of the Phillies bullpen, captured on film in a weekly six-episode series that aired during the summer on MLB Network, hardly played out the way anyone imagined.

Phillies infield coach Sam Perlozzo does not believe that Chase Utley is injured, and worked with the second baseman on throwing mechanics during Tuesday's optional workout.

Lost in the drama of Jimmy Rollins' game-winning, two-run double in the ninth inning of Game 4 were the two relievers who kept the Phillies in position to seize their improbable come-from-behind victory.

One name rocked all of Baseball, the other merely stunned fans of the Phillies .

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel keeps his hands in his jacket as he chats with players in the dugout before the Phillies faced the Colorado Rockies in Game 3 of the National League division series.

After playing the role of World Series hero last year, J.C. Romero can only serve as a Phillies cheerleader this October.

So what's the cost of admission to the League Championship Series this year? How about $100 million? All four of the remaining teams -- Yankees, Angels, Phillies and Dodgers -- have payrolls numbering in nine digits this season.

What we are talking about after the Phillies' 5-1 victory in Game 1 of the National League Division Series: * Cliff Lee.