Going to a baseball game is great thing by itself. But it helps if there is a little incentive to go along with your ticket.  The consecutive sellout streak that the Phillies had is not a normal thing in baseball. Most team's have to really work to get people to come to the games. Each season the Phillies give out all sorts of great giveaways  everything from a bobble-head to a knit cap to nice t-shirt. Besides the nice giveaways the Phillies also have other promotions to bring the masses to the ball park. 

The Opening Day in the Major Leagues is one of the greatest days of the year. The warm April breeze melts away the winter snow and on that day every fan base has at least a little hope that it will be "their year."   The sold out ball parks, player introductions and all of the other festivities make being named the Opening Day Starter a very big deal to most pitchers. Being named the starter on Opening Day is a sign from your manager, that you are the main horse on our staff. 

As Sixers Nation prepares for the highly anticpated debut of big man Andrew Bynum I can't help but put the spotlight on the real "big" man of Sixers basketball. All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday.

That's right, ALL-STAR!! Holiday has quietly become the driving force behind the Philadelphia 76ers success, or attempt at success. At 18-25 the Sixers are far from making noise in the Eastern Conference but Holiday is starting to make a name for himself as an elite point guard in the NBA. Let's just say the Sixers wouldn't be even remotely close to the 8th seed in the Eastern conference without their All-Star point guard. 

We heard all off-season that Ruben wanted to get a power hitting outfielder to hit behind Ryan Howard in the lineup. Early in the nonseasonal we hoped that it would former MVP Josh Hamilton or switch hitting Nick Swisher. But as the off-season moved along it became apparent that significant money wasn't going to be used for the upgrade. Then earlier this week we learned that the Phillies had agreed to terms with the talented but troubled Delmon Young. I'll take a look at the positives and negatives of the signing. 

I hope you enjoyed the 1st part of the series that featured three prospects and I hope you got to know some phuture Phillies a little better. The Phillies have had a lot of great players come through their minor league system over the last number of seasons. Big league players like Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Ryan Madson were crucial parts of the Phillies 2008 World Series Championship and a young core is a must for the Phillies to have sucess in the future. The 2nd part will feature 4 propspects: Chris Duffy, Mitch Gueller, Adam Morgan and Kyle Simon who answered a few questions for us.  

Long before they play at Citizens Bank Park in front of 45,000 screaming phans, they are working their way up the organizational ladder in the minor leagues. Unlike other sports, where players get drafted and immediately play at the highest level. Almost every baseball player spends years in the minors. Most play for the love of the game, but every minor league player dreams of playing in the big leagues one day. Its the combination that drives these players through the long bus rides and minor league struggles. 

Sadly it seems way to normal to watch our former players or coaches leave Philadelphia and win a championship with another team. Many watch the Super Bowl excited to see two great teams and also see some hilarious commercials. But to many Philadidelphians, the Super Bowl is just a reminder that it our team won't be winning a championship and we will have to wait at least one more year for another parade down Broad Street. I'll take a look at all the former Eagles who will be playing in the big game next Sunday. 

Ruben Amaro Jr. seemed to be set with his young, unproven corner outfielders. As recent as a few weeks okay it seemed as if the Phillies were staying put with Ben Revere in center and a platoon of Babe Ruf, Mayberr Jr., Dom Brown and Nix at the corner spots. I had expressed my opinion in a previous blog that I was "comfortable" and optimistic with Ruf and Dom Brown holding down the corner spots. With the signing of Delmon Young on wednesday the Phillies have added a new outfielder to the mix. Young provides some much needed right handed power to a lefty heavy lineup. I still believe Babe Ruf can provide another righty power bat and has the potential to make a significant impact with the big league club. 

81-81, mediocre. It was the lowest win total for the Philadelphia Phillies since an 80 win season in 2002. Spring Training is now only 22 days away, the first Spring Training game vs. the Houston Astros only 33 days away. Baseball is on the horizon, spring is coming!

It was a frustrating 2012 season for the Phillies and phans alike. The bitter taste of the 2011 playoffs lingered as Ryan Howard struggled to get back on the field and never quite looked like he was close to being healthy. The Chase Utley knee saga, Doc on the DL, a sputtering offense, a horrid bullpen. It was a season to forget and forget we will.

Michael Vick was at one time the greatest show in the NFL. He was the poster-child, the highlight reel, the must have on Madden. He made NFL defenses look like highschool teams. He made a living on pure, undeniable talent. He didn't care too much about practicing and film study. He knew his freakish athleticism was all he needed. 

Today Michael Vick is 32, next season the Philadelphia Eagles will owe him $15.5 million if he is still on the roster. Vick spent a majority of the 2012 season watching from the sidelines as rookie QB Nick Foles took over his job. As other rookie QB's, that grew up idolizing Vick, stole the spotlight with their legs.