The Big Piece, Greinke, Get Weekly Honors

Ryan Howard is a large reason for the Phillies current success. He takes home National League honors, being named the NL Player of the Week. "That's why I call him the 'Big Piece'," Charlie Manuel said of Howard, who clobbered two home runs in a game against the Mets.

In August and September, Howard takes hitting to a new level. His late season surge has begun. This week, he batted .393 (11-for-28) with 12 runs batted in and five home runs. He had two multi-home run games.

Howard has 37 home runs and 111 RBI this season, tying Chuck Klein with four consecutive 30-100 seasons. This marks the fifth time Howard was credited with the award, with the latest being the week of June 1.

Zach Greinke was named the AL Player of the Week. Greinke went 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA with the Kansas City Royals. He led the majors with 20 strikeouts.

In other news, the Philadelphia Phillies purchased John Ennis’ contract from Lehigh Valley. However, Ennis was immediately placed on the 15-day disabled list because he is recovering from April Tommy John surgery. To make room on the 40-man roster, Brad Harman was designated for assignment.

Having a player on the 40-man roster who is on the disabled list allows a non-roster player to be added to the postseason roster. A player must be in the organization on August 31 to be added to the playoff roster.

Players of the Week: 8/16-22

Jayson Werth earned National League honors by being named the NL Player of the Week.

From the week of August 16-22, Werth led the majors in home runs (5) and total bases (29). He batted .440 (11-for-25), scored seven runs and drove in nine. He slugged 1.160 and his on-base percentage was .481.

Werth is batting .269 with 29 home runs and 79 RBI this season. His OPS is .897.

In the American League, Michael Young was granted with Player of the Week honors.

Young batted an even .500 (15-for-30) with one home run and stolen base for the Texas Rangers. He slugged .733 and has an 11 game hitting streak.

Call of the Day: The right fielder makes a nice catch.

"Swing and a drive to right field. Johnson
got a long ways to run. Makes the running catch nicely. Rifels to
first base! Double Play! Great play by Johnson."

Players of the Week: May 24-31

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez have been named Co-Players of the Week in the National League.

Howard and Gonzalez tied for the National League league in home runs (4), runs batted in (10), and slugging percentage (1.000) last week.

In the American League, Luke Scott, fresh off the disabled list, earned Player of the Week honors. He hit six home runs, and homered in four consecutive games becoming the first Oriole to do so since Miguel Tejada in 2005. He went 8-for-18, drove in 14 runs, and had a 1.968 on-base plus slugging percentage.

This is the fourth time Howard has won the award and the first since September of 2007. Gonzalez last won in July of 2006. Scott also won in July of 2008.

Speaking of Howard, he moved into second place in the all star voting among first basemen, behind Albert Pujols. Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez also moved to second at their respective positions and Chase Utley continues to dominate the balloting at second base.

Call of the Day: In 2007, Ryan Howard hit a long walk off home run in extras to beat the Washington Nationals.

"Towering drive! Watch this one! OUTTA HERE! Ryan Howard
has ended the game with a two run home run. And the Phillies win it in 14,
by a score of 7-5. As the Phillies won in 14, 7 to 5, number 28 for
Howard."

"No doubt about it, look at that baby. So it took 14 innings, but the
Phillies made it five in a row in their 7-5 win over the Washington
Nationals."

News Around MLB

Raul Ibanez was named the National League Player of the Week. Ibanez batted .481 with 4 HR and 12 RBI. He also slugged .963. It was the fifth time in his career he was named to this honor.

Roy Hallday earned honors in the American League. Halladay was 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA with the first place Toronto Blue Jays.

According to a poll of Major League executives and managers, Jayson Werth and Adrian Gonzalez are the two most underrated players in the National League.

Currently, Gonzalez leads the majors with 15 HR and Werth has 7 homers. Gonzalez is batting .294, the same average as Werth. Gonzalez has 29 RBI, Werth 24. Gonzalez has a 1.017 OPS and Werth's is .936.

The Phillies signed catcher Paul Bako to a minor league deal. In his 11 year career, Bako has hit .231 with 21 HR and 186 RBI.

Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado will need surgery to remove a bone spur and repair torn labrum in his right hip. The injury is similar to Alex Rodgriguez and Alex Gordon's. He will need about two months to recover.

Ricky Weeks is sidelined for the remainder of the season because he will need surgery on his wrist. Weeks suffered the injury when he struck out swinging. Weeks was batting .272 with 9 HR and 24 RBI.

Remember when the Phillies were in the World Series? Good times, right? Remember how you stayed up past midnight to watch the Phillies fight their way to a championship? Remember how you got up 6 AM or earlier the next day for work (or school). Remember how exhausted you were, even if it was well worth it?

Now, you won't have that problem. Introducing new World Series times! Games will start approximiely 40 minutes earlier! That is 40 minutes earlier!

Perhaps Phillies fans came through again? Remember 1980 when the Phillies broadcasters could not call the game. Fans complained and 3 years later the rule was changed. Or, as FOX claims, they did it for the young fans.

Call of the day: Bonus! Since yesterday was an off day, I'll give you two calls of the day in one shot. Pat Burrell hits two home runs during the NLDS against the Brewers.

"Swing and a long drive! Fair or foul? It is a... fair ball! Outta here! 3 run
home run Pat Burrell, and the Phillies take a 4-0 lead here in the third
inning!"

"Swing and a line drip to deep left field. And this ball is..
over the fence and OUTTA HERE! Line drive home run Pat Burrell, his second home
run of the game, and the Phillies now lead it by a score of 6 to 1 here in the
8th inning. What a day by Burrell who came into this game of the division series
0-for-8. But he made up for that this afternoon, 3-4 with 4 RBI, two home runs."

Players of the Week: April 13-19

For the American League, Ian Kinsler and Zach Greinke shared Co-Players of the Week. In the National League, Andre Ethier earned the award.

Last week, Kinsler hit .556 with 2 HR, 4 doubles, a triple, 9 runs, and 6 RBI. His on base percentage was .500 and his slugging percentage was .864, a 1.364 OPS. Not only did he lead the majors in average, but also led in hits, 15, extra base hits, 7, and runs scored.

Kinsler had a career night on April 15, Jackie Robinson day, when he went 6-6 and hit for the cycle, two rare feats in one game. He became the first player in the modern era to hit for the cycle and get six hits.

In two starts last week, Greinke pitched 14 scoreless innings, going 2-0, including one complete game shutout. He currently leads the American league with 26 strikeouts.

Ethier, of the Dodgers batted .391 with 12 RBI, 4 HR and scored 8 runs. He slugged 1.000.

Ethier's teammates Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsley and Orlando Hudson were runners up for the award.