Now Hiring: Ticket Office Representatives

Join our team!
Job Title:
Ticket Office Representative (part-time)

Length of Assignment:
Seasonal – Phillies (Jan-Mar), Threshers (Apr-Aug)

Background on Teams:
The 2007 NL East Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies will be conducting Spring Training in Clearwater, Florida for the 62nd year in 2008. Phillies Spring Training home games, which take place in March, are played at beautiful Bright House Networks Field near the corner of US 19 and Drew Street.

At the conclusion of Spring Training, the Clearwater Threshers begin a 140 game (70 home) season. The 2007 Florida State League Champion Threshers are the Phillies Advance-A affiliate. Bright House Networks Field also hosts numerous special events throughout the year.

Job Description:
Primary duties include selling tickets to our guests via ticket windows or telephones (incoming calls). Other duties as directed.

Requirements:
Employee must be comfortable using a computer. Representative must be customer-friendly and have good interpersonal and telephone skills. Ability to work under pressure, adaptability, and punctuality are a must. Flexible schedule as hours vary depending on event. Paciolan experience preferred but not necessary, as we will train. Bilingual not necessary but is a plus.

Contact:
Kevin Brahm – Ticket Manager – Phillies Florida LLC
kbrahm@threshersbaseball.com
www.ThreshersBaseball.com | www.Phillies.com

Brad Harman added to Phillies 40-man roster

The Phillies have added Brad Harman to their 40-man roster.

He hit .281 in 122 games for the Clearwater Threshers in 2007. Harman had a stellar second half of the season, hitting .321 after the All-Star break.

Harman is one of four infielders currently on the Phillies 40-man roster who have played in Clearwater.

Phillies.com Press Release

Jimmy Rollins wins NL MVP

Former Clearwater star Jimmy Rollins has won the 2007 National League MVP Award.

He received half of the first-place votes and didn't finish lower than fifth on anyone's MVP ballot. Rollins is the first shortstop to win the NL MVP since 1995.

Rollins' win gives the Phillies back-to-back MVPs as former Clearwater star Ryan Howard won in 2006. Howard came in fifth this season. Another former Clearwater star, Chase Utley, finished eighth in the voting.

Former Threshers manager Mike Schmidt won the NL MVP Award as a Phillie in 1980, 1981, and 1986.

Rollins also won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards this year. He played for Clearwater in 1998.

See the MLB.com story and chart

Cole Hamels comes in 6th in NL Cy Young Voting

Former Thresher Cole Hamels received two third place votes to give him a total of two points which was good for sixth place in the 2007 National League Cy Young Award voting.

Hamels was the youngest player to receive a vote in the balloting for the award this year.

Former Phillies who have won the Cy Young Award include Steve Bedrosian (1987), John Denny (1983), and Steve Carlton (1972, 1977, 1980, 1982).

See the MLB.com story and chart

AFL Season in Review

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) has put another season in the books. Let's review how our list of familiar names did this year.

Greg Golson | He hit .266 with six doubles, three triples, and two home runs. He scored 17 runs and knocked in 16 RBIs. He also stole eight bases.

AFL Top 10: Games, At-Bats, Runs, Hits, Doubles, Triples, RBIs, and Stolen Bases

Tuffy Gosewisch | He had 12 hits in 48 at-bats (.250) in 14 games. Included in his 12 hits were two doubles and a home run. He scored four runs and knocked in six RBIs.

Mike Costanzo | He had 17 hits in 25 games. Included in his 17 hits were one double and two home runs. He scored six runs and knocked in 10 RBIs.

Joe Bisenius | He threw 10 innings over six games and finished with a 1-1 record. He gave up 13 hits and struck out 12.

Patrick Overholt | He split the season between the role of a starter and coming out of the bullpen. He threw 20.2 innings over nine games and finished with a 3-2 record. He gave up 18 hits and struck out 11. He held hitters to a .243 batting average.

AFL Top 10: Wins

Josh Outman | He split the season between the Saguaros and Team USA. In three starts for Peoria (0-1), he struck out eight in 7.2 innings. He made two relief appearances (1-0) for the Red, White, and Blue and struck out five in six innings.

Chris Booker | He gave up just one hit and struck out three in two relief appearances for Team USA. He also picked up a save in his 3 innings of work.

Baseball America names Phillies Top 10 Prospects

Chris Kline of Baseball America has named the Phillies Top 10 Prospects for 2007 and many names should look familiar to Threshers' fans.

Former Threshers on the Top 10 list include Carlos Carrasco (1), Josh Outman (4), Dominic Brown (6), Greg Golson (7), Lou Marson (8), and Andrew Carpenter (9).

Included in the story is a 'best-of' list in a variety of categories.

Former Threshers include:

Greg Golson | Best Power Hitter, Fastest Baserunner, Best Athlete, Best Defensive Outfielder, and Best Outfield Arm

Carlos Carrasco | Best Fastball and Best Changeup

Josh Outman | Best Slider

Andrew Carpenter | Best Control

Kline also forecasts the Phillies 2011 lineup and if his projection holds, some former Clearwater folks will be mighty happy. Lou Marson is listed as the catcher, while Dominic Brown is at center field. Former Threshers would make up three-fifths of the starting rotation with Hamels (1), Carrasco (3), and Outman (5).

Cole Hamels was Baseball America's Top Phillies prospect last season.

See the full Baseball America lists and story

Kyle Kendrick comes in 5th in NL ROY voting

Former Thresher Kyle Kendrick received one second place vote and four third place votes to give him a total of seven points which was good for fifth place in the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year voting.

Kendrick was the only pitcher to receive any votes in the balloting for the award this year.

Two former Clearwater stars have won the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Ryan Howard won in 2005 and Scott Rolen finished first in 1997.

See the MLB.com story and chart

Threshers Promotions Meeting Tomorrow

There is a Threshers Promotions meeting setup for tomorrow afternoon to discuss some what worked and what didn't work last year.

We should be talking about the Weekly Promos (ie. Feeding Frenzy Monday, Bright House Networks Family Day, etc.), Giveaways (Bobbleheads, Jerseys, etc.), Theme Nights, and more!

What promotions did you like?

What promotions did you dislike?

What would you like to see in 2008?

Let me know and I will pass along your thoughts and ideas to the folks in the meeting.

Former Thresher Mike Costanzo Talks About Trade

Chris Kline from Baseball America has a short interview with Mike Costanzo about his trade to the Astros.

BA: You sound pretty amped up. How excited are you right now?

MC: I’m really fired up. It took a little time to get over the fact that I won’t be a Phillie. I mean, I grew up watching that team in the Vet and Citizen’s Bank (Park) is unbelievable. I’m just thrilled to go to Houston right now. This might be the best thing for my career. It’s a great organization.

Read the full Baseball America interview

Former Threshers Now Free Agents

The following former Threshers are now free agents:

Name (Most Recent Organization)

Brad Correll (Red Sox)
Elizardo Ramirez (Reds)
Matt Sweeney (Astros)
Julio de la Cruz (Phillies)
Charles Weatherby (Phillies)
Jason Wylie (Phillies)
Allen Davis (Phillies)
Chris Key (Phillies)
Luis Villarreal (Phillies)
Cory Willey (Phillies)
John Urick (Phillies)
Carlos Leon (Phillies)
Peeter Ramos (Phillies)
Nic Jackson (Phillies)
Alfredo Simon (Rangers)

Check out the whole list from Baseball America.

Former Thresher Mike Costanzo traded to Astros

Former Thresher Mike Costanzo joins Michael Bourn and Geoff Geary as the newest members of the Houston Astros. The Phillies received Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett in the deal.

Mike Costanzo | He spent the 2006 season in Clearwater hitting .258 with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs.

Geoff Geary | He started 19 games for Clearwater in 1999. He was 10-5 with a 3.95 ERA.

Michael Bourn | He was a fourth round pick in the 2003 draft. He skipped Clearwater during his progression to the Majors.

Brad Lidge | He was a starting pitcher in the Florida State League for Kissimmee during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Eric Bruntlett | He skipped Single-A ball during his progression to the Majors. He was a ninth round pick in the 2000 draft out of Stanford.

Baseball America Profiles Team USA

Ben Badler and Chris Kline profile Team USA for Baseball America.

Josh Outman

Outman was one of two pitchers to appear on one of Baseball America’s top 20 prospects lists, checking in at No. 14 in the Florida State League. He is an athletic lefthander works with a 92-94 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider... Outman relies more on the strikeout to get opposing hitters out, notching 117 strikeouts in as many innings in 2007. Although Outman may be the best prospect in the rotation, he also pitched at the lowest minor league level compared to his fellow Team USA starters.

Chris Booker

The 30-year-old Booker has always posted quality peripheral numbers in his 12 minor league seasons—including 83 strikeouts in 53 Triple-A innings in 2007—but has never found success in brief big league stints.

Full Baseball America Story

AFL Update (as of 11/4/07)

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) has finished up another week and it's time again to check up on our list of familiar names.

Greg Golson | He has picked up the pace since our last update stringing together a five-game hitting streak. He has upped his number of doubles on the AFL season to five.

Tuffy Gosewisch | He has continued to do well in Arizona, going one for four with a run scored in his three games since our last update.

Mike Costanzo | He has struggled since our last update only picking up two hits in four games.

Joe Bisenius | He has added just one more relief appearances since our last update. He gave up two runs on three hits and struck out two in 1.1 innings of work.

Patrick Overholt | He gave up three runs on four hits and struck out one in three innings of work, which was good enough for his second victory of the AFL season.

Josh Outman | He picked up his first win for the Red, White, and Blue in relief. He threw four innings of shutout baseball giving up just three hits while striking out three.

Chris Booker | He made his second relief appearance for Team USA, giving up one hit and striking out one in two innings of shutout baseball.

Watch AFL Action on MLB.TV

2008 Threshers Home Game Times Set

This post was updated on 11/5/07 at 12:30pm

It looks like the Game Times are set for the 2008 Clearwater Threshers home slate.

There is only one slight change from 2007. Sunday games during the second half of the season will start at 4:00pm instead of 1:00pm.

Here are the regular Game Times for 2008:

Monday - Friday - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday (First Half of Season) - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday (Second Half of Season)- 4:00 p.m.

Note: There are a few Wednesday games that will have earlier starts for Camp Day and other special events.

What do you think about the change on Sundays?

Poll Question: What was your favorite part of Boo Bash 2007?

The current Poll Question on the Official Site asks, "What was your favorite part of Boo Bash 2007?"

The four choices are:

(1) Candy Stations
(2) Costumes / Costume Contest
(3) Haunted House
(4) Hay Ride

Which one would you pick?

Vote now on the Official Site and talk about your choice in the comments section under this post.

Poll Recap: 2007 Threshers Relief Pitcher of the Year

Will Savage has been voted by visitors on the Official Site as the the 2007 Threshers Relief Pitcher of the Year.

Savage won in a relatively close race with 38% of the vote.

Cory Willey finished in second place with nearly 30% of the vote, while Ron 'Bear' Hill finished third with nearly 21% of the vote. Brett Harker came in fourth with just over 11% of the visitor's votes.

What do you think about the results?