By BOB GROTZ, Special to the Local News

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies video production manager Dan Stephenson figured he had just about taped it all in his 30 years with the team.

But this Major League Baseball draft was different.

“Video Dan” thought something was amiss when the Phillies asked him to shoot the last two rounds of the Wednesday lottery.

By the time he added two and two, though, his son, Ocean City (N.J.) High pitcher Kolya Stephenson was selected by the Phils with the final pick in the 50 round draft. Don’t tell the Stephensons it’s irrelevant.

“Just the idea that the Phillies had enough interest in him to look at him is good enough for us,” Stephenson said.

The Phillies worked out Stephenson, among other prospects, the Saturday before the draft. They also had a nameplate for the right hander on their draft board.

Stephenson said Rob Holliday, the Phillies’ assistant scouting director, offered to write college letters of recommendation for Kolya. They suggested a Division III program for the hurler, who for now is headed to Alvernia University in Reading.

None of that prepared the senior Stephenson for the old misdirection and filming what now is a sentimental video.

“They asked me to come up to shoot the final rounds of the draft,” Stephenson said. “They allegedly said that Pat Gillick is going to give a speech and you should there to tape it. But what they really were doing was luring me up there. So the last pick of the draft came and I was actually taping it. It was really nice to have it on tape. We called him right away and he was beside himself. He had no idea it was coming and neither did I. It was neat.”

Stephenson earned three varsity letters at Ocean City High. He was 6-1 for the team that almost went to the state title game two years ago and 5-4 this past season. Continued…

“He throws strikes and challenges the hitters,” Stephenson said. “St. Augustine Academy, which is going for the (N.J) state championship Saturday, they beat him twice. But they have nine legitimate hitters in their lineup. He went after them and paid the price. He doesn’t nibble. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

In the 47th round the Phillies selected second baseman Andrew Amaro of Penn Charter. Amaro is the nephew of general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

“He runs pretty well,” Amaro Jr. said. “He’s like a 4.0 runner down the line. He looks like he’ll probably be better off going to school but he’s got some ability. And he’s kind of the overachiever type of kid. He likes to play and he’s a real aggressive kid and we’ll see where it goes for his career down the line.”

Amaro sees a lot of himself in Andrew, who is committed to playing baseball at the University of Maryland.

Amaro also has his fingers crossed that Andrew or his nephew Robert, who plays for Virginia, will “carry on the name” in the pro ranks.

“They’re both good kids,” Amaro said. “I know they have dreams and aspirations of playing professional baseball.”

n

The Phillies wouldn’t have entered the day with the best record in baseball had they not had Cole Hamels.

Hamels has eight victories, tied for the team lead with defending Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee thinks Halladay’s influence has rubbed off. But Dubee didn’t want to minimize the “adversity” Hamels fought through after being on top of the baseball world earning World Series MVP honors in 2008. Continued…

By BOB GROTZ, Special to the Local News

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies video production manager Dan Stephenson figured he had just about taped it all in his 30 years with the team.

But this Major League Baseball draft was different.

“Video Dan” thought something was amiss when the Phillies asked him to shoot the last two rounds of the Wednesday lottery.

By the time he added two and two, though, his son, Ocean City (N.J.) High pitcher Kolya Stephenson was selected by the Phils with the final pick in the 50 round draft. Don’t tell the Stephensons it’s irrelevant.

“Just the idea that the Phillies had enough interest in him to look at him is good enough for us,” Stephenson said.

The Phillies worked out Stephenson, among other prospects, the Saturday before the draft. They also had a nameplate for the right hander on their draft board.

Stephenson said Rob Holliday, the Phillies’ assistant scouting director, offered to write college letters of recommendation for Kolya. They suggested a Division III program for the hurler, who for now is headed to Alvernia University in Reading.

None of that prepared the senior Stephenson for the old misdirection and filming what now is a sentimental video.

“They asked me to come up to shoot the final rounds of the draft,” Stephenson said. “They allegedly said that Pat Gillick is going to give a speech and you should there to tape it. But what they really were doing was luring me up there. So the last pick of the draft came and I was actually taping it. It was really nice to have it on tape. We called him right away and he was beside himself. He had no idea it was coming and neither did I. It was neat.”

Stephenson earned three varsity letters at Ocean City High. He was 6-1 for the team that almost went to the state title game two years ago and 5-4 this past season.

“He throws strikes and challenges the hitters,” Stephenson said. “St. Augustine Academy, which is going for the (N.J) state championship Saturday, they beat him twice. But they have nine legitimate hitters in their lineup. He went after them and paid the price. He doesn’t nibble. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

In the 47th round the Phillies selected second baseman Andrew Amaro of Penn Charter. Amaro is the nephew of general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

“He runs pretty well,” Amaro Jr. said. “He’s like a 4.0 runner down the line. He looks like he’ll probably be better off going to school but he’s got some ability. And he’s kind of the overachiever type of kid. He likes to play and he’s a real aggressive kid and we’ll see where it goes for his career down the line.”

Amaro sees a lot of himself in Andrew, who is committed to playing baseball at the University of Maryland.

Amaro also has his fingers crossed that Andrew or his nephew Robert, who plays for Virginia, will “carry on the name” in the pro ranks.

“They’re both good kids,” Amaro said. “I know they have dreams and aspirations of playing professional baseball.”

n

The Phillies wouldn’t have entered the day with the best record in baseball had they not had Cole Hamels.

Hamels has eight victories, tied for the team lead with defending Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee thinks Halladay’s influence has rubbed off. But Dubee didn’t want to minimize the “adversity” Hamels fought through after being on top of the baseball world earning World Series MVP honors in 2008.

“He had never faced adversity on the field,” Dubee said. “He was very hard on himself. He was too good, too soon. All of the sudden those are big expectations to live up to with very little experience. This guy has come a long way, and he had to do it by taking on a little adversity.”

The Phillies arrived at work Wednesday with a 37-25 (.596) record. After 62 games last season they were 32-30 (.516).

NOTES: Halladay (8-3, 2.56 ERA) takes on Carlos Zambrano (5-2, 3.98) tonight in second game of Phils-Cubs tonight at 7:05 (Comcast) … The game-time temperature for the opening pitch was a cool 93 degrees. It was 102 a couple of hours earlier. Phils manager Charlie Manuel didn’t remember the hottest game he ever worked although “those Orlando day games were pretty tough,” he said of his 1984-85 gig. “Especially the 11:45 (a.m.) businessmen’s specials. It would get 102 or better.” … The Phillies still are trying to find a right-handed bat to supply at least a portion of the pop they lost when Jayson Werth exited in free agency. Until and if that happens, Manuel offered an old school contingency plan. “I guess we better work on hitting left-handed pitchers better,” he said. … Right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton returned from Florida, where he rehabbed the elbow inflammation that landed him on the disabled list. It took awhile to adjust to the surroundings. “It kind of feels like the first day of spring training when you come in and see all of the new faces,” he said. Blanton is a good doctor’s appointment away from throwing since 16th.

{ET

By BOB GROTZ
Journal Register News Service

PHILADELPHIA – Phillies video production manager Dan Stephenson figured he had just about taped it all in his 30 years with the team.

But this Major League Baseball draft was different.

“Video Dan” thought something was amiss when the Phillies asked him to shoot the last two rounds of the Wednesday lottery.

By the time he added two and two, though, his son, Ocean City (N.J.) High pitcher Kolya Stephenson was selected by the Phils with the final pick in the 50 round draft. Don’t tell the Stephensons it’s irrelevant.

“Just the idea that the Phillies had enough interest in him to look at him is good enough for us,” Stephenson said.

The Phillies worked out Stephenson, among other prospects, the Saturday before the draft. They also had a nameplate for the right hander on their draft board.

Stephenson said Rob Holliday, the Phillies’ assistant scouting director, offered to write college letters of recommendation for Kolya. They suggested a Division III program for the hurler, who for now is headed to Alvernia University in Reading.

None of that prepared the senior Stephenson for the old misdirection and filming what now is a sentimental video.

“They asked me to come up to shoot the final rounds of the draft,” Stephenson said. “They allegedly said that Pat Gillick is going to give a speech and you should there to tape it. But what they really were doing was luring me up there. So the last pick of the draft came and I was actually taping it. It was really nice to have it on tape. We called him right away and he was beside himself. He had no idea it was coming and neither did I. It was neat.”

Stephenson earned three varsity letters at Ocean City High. He was 6-1 for the team that almost went to the state title game two years ago and 5-4 this past season. Continued…

“He throws strikes and challenges the hitters,” Stephenson said. “St. Augustine Academy, which is going for the (N.J) state championship Saturday, they beat him twice. But they have nine legitimate hitters in their lineup. He went after them and paid the price. He doesn’t nibble. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

In the 47th round the Phillies selected second baseman Andrew Amaro of Penn Charter. Amaro is the nephew of general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

“He runs pretty well,” Amaro Jr. said. “He’s like a 4.0 runner down the line. He looks like he’ll probably be better off going to school but he’s got some ability. And he’s kind of the overachiever type of kid. He likes to play and he’s a real aggressive kid and we’ll see where it goes for his career down the line.”

Amaro sees a lot of himself in Andrew, who is committed to playing baseball at the University of Maryland.

Amaro also has his fingers crossed that Andrew or his nephew Robert, who plays for Virginia, will “carry on the name” in the pro ranks.

“They’re both good kids,” Amaro said. “I know they have dreams and aspirations of playing professional baseball.”

L l l

The Phillies wouldn’t have entered the day with the best record in baseball had they not had Cole Hamels.

Hamels has eight victories, tied for the team lead with defending Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee thinks Halladay’s influence has rubbed off. But Dubee didn’t want to minimize the “adversity” Hamels fought through after being on top of the baseball world earning World Series MVP honors in 2008. Continued…

By BOB GROTZ
Journal Register News Service

PHILADELPHIA – Phillies video production manager Dan Stephenson figured he had just about taped it all in his 30 years with the team.

But this Major League Baseball draft was different.

“Video Dan” thought something was amiss when the Phillies asked him to shoot the last two rounds of the Wednesday lottery.

By the time he added two and two, though, his son, Ocean City (N.J.) High pitcher Kolya Stephenson was selected by the Phils with the final pick in the 50 round draft. Don’t tell the Stephensons it’s irrelevant.

“Just the idea that the Phillies had enough interest in him to look at him is good enough for us,” Stephenson said.

The Phillies worked out Stephenson, among other prospects, the Saturday before the draft. They also had a nameplate for the right hander on their draft board.

Stephenson said Rob Holliday, the Phillies’ assistant scouting director, offered to write college letters of recommendation for Kolya. They suggested a Division III program for the hurler, who for now is headed to Alvernia University in Reading.

None of that prepared the senior Stephenson for the old misdirection and filming what now is a sentimental video.

“They asked me to come up to shoot the final rounds of the draft,” Stephenson said. “They allegedly said that Pat Gillick is going to give a speech and you should there to tape it. But what they really were doing was luring me up there. So the last pick of the draft came and I was actually taping it. It was really nice to have it on tape. We called him right away and he was beside himself. He had no idea it was coming and neither did I. It was neat.”

Stephenson earned three varsity letters at Ocean City High. He was 6-1 for the team that almost went to the state title game two years ago and 5-4 this past season.

“He throws strikes and challenges the hitters,” Stephenson said. “St. Augustine Academy, which is going for the (N.J) state championship Saturday, they beat him twice. But they have nine legitimate hitters in their lineup. He went after them and paid the price. He doesn’t nibble. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

In the 47th round the Phillies selected second baseman Andrew Amaro of Penn Charter. Amaro is the nephew of general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

“He runs pretty well,” Amaro Jr. said. “He’s like a 4.0 runner down the line. He looks like he’ll probably be better off going to school but he’s got some ability. And he’s kind of the overachiever type of kid. He likes to play and he’s a real aggressive kid and we’ll see where it goes for his career down the line.”

Amaro sees a lot of himself in Andrew, who is committed to playing baseball at the University of Maryland.

Amaro also has his fingers crossed that Andrew or his nephew Robert, who plays for Virginia, will “carry on the name” in the pro ranks.

“They’re both good kids,” Amaro said. “I know they have dreams and aspirations of playing professional baseball.”

L l l

The Phillies wouldn’t have entered the day with the best record in baseball had they not had Cole Hamels.

Hamels has eight victories, tied for the team lead with defending Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee thinks Halladay’s influence has rubbed off. But Dubee didn’t want to minimize the “adversity” Hamels fought through after being on top of the baseball world earning World Series MVP honors in 2008.

“He had never faced adversity on the field,” Dubee said. “He was very hard on himself. He was too good, too soon. All of the sudden those are big expectations to live up to with very little experience. This guy has come a long way, and he had to do it by taking on a little adversity.”

The Phillies arrived at work Wednesday with a 37-25 (.596) record. After 62 games last season they were 32-30 (.516).

L l l

NOTES: Halladay (8-3, 2.56 ERA) takes on Carlos Zambrano (5-2, 3.98) tonight in second game of Phils-Cubs tonight at 7:05 (Comcast) … The game-time temperature for the opening pitch was a cool 93. It was 102 a couple of hours earlier. Phils manager Charlie Manuel didn’t remember the hottest game he ever worked although “those Orlando day games were pretty tough,” he said of his 1984-85 gig. “Especially the 11:45 (a.m.) businessmen’s specials. It would get 102 or better.” … The Phillies still are trying to find a right-handed bat to supply at least a portion of the pop they lost when Jayson Werth exited in free agency. Until and if that happens, Manuel offered an old school contingency plan. “I guess we better work on hitting left-handed pitchers better,” he said. … Right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton returned from Florida, where he rehabbed the elbow inflammation that landed him on the disabled list. It took awhile to adjust to the surroundings. “It kind of feels like the first day of spring training when you come in and see all of the new faces,” he said. Blanton is a good doctor’s appointment away from throwing since 16th.

By BOB GROTZ
bobgrotz@gmail.com

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies video production manager Dan Stephenson figured he had just about taped it all in his 30 years with the team.

But this Major League Baseball draft was different.

“Video Dan” thought something was amiss when the Phillies asked him to shoot the last two rounds of the Wednesday lottery.

By the time he added two and two, though, his son, Ocean City High pitcher Kolya Stephenson was selected by the Phils with the final pick in the 50-round draft. Don’t tell the Stephensons it’s irrelevant.

“Just the idea that the Phillies had enough interest in him to look at him is good enough for us,” Stephenson said.

The Phillies worked out Stephenson, among other prospects, the Saturday before the draft. They also had a nameplate for the right hander on their draft board.

Stephenson said Rob Holliday, the Phillies’ assistant scouting director, offered to write college letters of recommendation for Kolya. They suggested a Division III program for the hurler, who, for now, is headed to Alvernia University in Reading.

None of that prepared the senior Stephenson for the old misdirection and filming what now is a sentimental video.

“They asked me to come up to shoot the final rounds of the draft,” Stephenson said. “They allegedly said that Pat Gillick is going to give a speech and you should be there to tape it. But what they really were doing was luring me up there. So the last pick of the draft came and I was actually taping it. It was really nice to have it on tape. We called him right away and he was beside himself. He had no idea it was coming and neither did I. It was neat.”

Stephenson earned three varsity letters at Ocean City High. He was 6-1 for the team that almost went to the state title game two years ago and 5-4 this past season. Continued…

“He throws strikes and challenges the hitters,” Stephenson said. “St. Augustine Academy, which is going for the state championship Saturday, they beat him twice. But they have nine legitimate hitters in their lineup. He went after them and paid the price. He doesn’t nibble. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

In the 47th round the Phillies selected second baseman Andrew Amaro of Penn Charter. Amaro is the nephew of general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

“He runs pretty well,” Amaro Jr. said. “He’s like a 4.0 runner down the line. He looks like he’ll probably be better off going to school but he’s got some ability. And he’s kind of the overachiever type of kid. He likes to play and he’s a real aggressive kid and we’ll see where it goes for his career down the line.”

Amaro sees a lot of himself in Andrew, who is committed to playing baseball at the University of Maryland.

Amaro also has his fingers crossed that Andrew or his nephew Robert, who plays for Virginia, will “carry on the name” in the pro ranks.

“They’re both good kids,” Amaro said. “I know they have dreams and aspirations of playing professional baseball.”

•••

The Phillies wouldn’t have entered the day with the best record in baseball had they not had Cole Hamels.

Hamels has eight victories, tied for the team lead with defending Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee thinks Halladay’s influence has rubbed off. But Dubee didn’t want to minimize the “adversity” Hamels fought through after being on top of the baseball world earning World Series MVP honors in 2008. Continued…

By BOB GROTZ
bobgrotz@gmail.com

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies video production manager Dan Stephenson figured he had just about taped it all in his 30 years with the team.

But this Major League Baseball draft was different.

“Video Dan” thought something was amiss when the Phillies asked him to shoot the last two rounds of the Wednesday lottery.

By the time he added two and two, though, his son, Ocean City High pitcher Kolya Stephenson was selected by the Phils with the final pick in the 50-round draft. Don’t tell the Stephensons it’s irrelevant.

“Just the idea that the Phillies had enough interest in him to look at him is good enough for us,” Stephenson said.

The Phillies worked out Stephenson, among other prospects, the Saturday before the draft. They also had a nameplate for the right hander on their draft board.

Stephenson said Rob Holliday, the Phillies’ assistant scouting director, offered to write college letters of recommendation for Kolya. They suggested a Division III program for the hurler, who, for now, is headed to Alvernia University in Reading.

None of that prepared the senior Stephenson for the old misdirection and filming what now is a sentimental video.

“They asked me to come up to shoot the final rounds of the draft,” Stephenson said. “They allegedly said that Pat Gillick is going to give a speech and you should be there to tape it. But what they really were doing was luring me up there. So the last pick of the draft came and I was actually taping it. It was really nice to have it on tape. We called him right away and he was beside himself. He had no idea it was coming and neither did I. It was neat.”

Stephenson earned three varsity letters at Ocean City High. He was 6-1 for the team that almost went to the state title game two years ago and 5-4 this past season.

“He throws strikes and challenges the hitters,” Stephenson said. “St. Augustine Academy, which is going for the state championship Saturday, they beat him twice. But they have nine legitimate hitters in their lineup. He went after them and paid the price. He doesn’t nibble. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

In the 47th round the Phillies selected second baseman Andrew Amaro of Penn Charter. Amaro is the nephew of general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

“He runs pretty well,” Amaro Jr. said. “He’s like a 4.0 runner down the line. He looks like he’ll probably be better off going to school but he’s got some ability. And he’s kind of the overachiever type of kid. He likes to play and he’s a real aggressive kid and we’ll see where it goes for his career down the line.”

Amaro sees a lot of himself in Andrew, who is committed to playing baseball at the University of Maryland.

Amaro also has his fingers crossed that Andrew or his nephew Robert, who plays for Virginia, will “carry on the name” in the pro ranks.

“They’re both good kids,” Amaro said. “I know they have dreams and aspirations of playing professional baseball.”

•••

The Phillies wouldn’t have entered the day with the best record in baseball had they not had Cole Hamels.

Hamels has eight victories, tied for the team lead with defending Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee thinks Halladay’s influence has rubbed off. But Dubee didn’t want to minimize the “adversity” Hamels fought through after being on top of the baseball world earning World Series MVP honors in 2008.

“He had never faced adversity on the field,” Dubee said. “He was very hard on himself. He was too good, too soon. All of the sudden those are big expectations to live up to with very little experience. This guy has come a long way, and he had to do it by taking on a little adversity.”

The Phillies arrived at work Wednesday with a 37-25 (.596) record. After 62 games last season they were 32-30 (.516).

•••

NOTES: Halladay (8-3, 2.56 ERA) takes on Carlos Zambrano (5-2, 3.98) tonight in the second game of Phils-Cubs tonight at 7:05 (Comcast) … The game-time temperature for the opening pitch was a cool 93. It was 102 a couple of hours earlier. Phils manager Charlie Manuel didn’t remember the hottest game he ever worked although “those Orlando day games were pretty tough,” he said of his 1984-85 gig. “Especially the 11:45 (a.m.) businessmen’s specials. It would get 102 or better.” … The Phillies still are trying to find a right-handed bat to supply at least a portion of the pop they lost when Jayson Werth exited in free agency. Until and if that happens, Manuel offered an old school contingency plan. “I guess we better work on hitting left-handed pitchers better,” he said. … Right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton returned from Florida, where he rehabbed the elbow inflammation that landed him on the disabled list. It took awhile to adjust to the surroundings. “It kind of feels like the first day of spring training when you come in and see all of the new faces,” he said. Blanton is a good doctor’s appointment away from throwing for the first time since the 16th.

 

PHILADELPHIA – A dwindling crowd at Citizens Bank Park watched the Philadelphia Phillies finally beat the Cincinnati Reds, 5-4, in 19 innings early Thursday morning in the longest major league game of the season.

It was 1:20 a.m. when Raul Ibañez hit a sacrifice fly to center with the bases loaded to drive in Jimmy Rollins to finally end it after 6 hours and 11 minutes.

Phillies infielder Wilson Valdez took over to pitch the 19th. The fans stood and cheered when Valdez shifted from second to the mound, and the first batter he faced was Joey Votto – the reigning NL MVP flied out to deep center field.

Valdez wound up pitching a scoreless inning and earning the win. He is the first position player to become the winning pitcher since catcher Brent Mayne did it for the Rockies in 2000.

BOX: PHILLIES 5, REDS 4 (19 INNINGS)

The game was six hours old and some fans – young and old – already were asleep in the stands. But plenty of the diehards who stuck around made it a lively atmosphere, chanting “Danys! Danys!” after reliever Danys Baez pitched his fifth shutout inning. By innings, this had already become the longest game in the eight-season history of the ballpark.

No time for rest for the players, though. The teams were set to play again Thursday at 1:05 p.m.

By time, the Reds and Phillies still had a long way to go to match the latest-ending game in the big leagues this year. It was 2:45 a.m. at Fenway Park when the Los Angeles Angels beat Boston in the 13th inning of a rain-delayed game earlier this month.

Jay Bruce homered in the 10th for the Reds, then Ryan Howard went deep and tied it in the bottom half.

Roy Halladay and the Phillies led, 3-0, before the Reds rallied in the seventh.

There were about 8,000 fans left of the announced sellout crowd of 45,706 as the game kept going. The Phillies still have some innings left to match the longest game in team history: a 2-1 loss to Chicago in 21 innings on July 17, 1918.

The Reds lost to the Giants, 1-0, in 21 innings on Sept. 1, 1967, in the longest game in team history.

Both teams had used 20 players going into the 18th. Baez, the eighth pitcher used by the Phillies, led off the 16th using a bat that hardly looked game-used, drawing chuckles from Phillies star Shane Victorino and manager Charlie Manuel in the dugout.

Baez threw 73 pitches and tossed one-hit ball over five scoreless innings.

The Phillies squandered a chance to win it in the 18th when Valdez was stranded on second after a two-out double. Carlos Fisher retired Michael Martinez on a liner to left.

- With the Associated Press

Philadelphia Phillies’ right-handed reliever Jose Contreras, who is rehabbing an elbow injury, will be available tonight as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs host the Gwinnett Braves at 7:05 at Coca-Cola Park, the Pigs announced today in a news release.

Contreras, 39, gave up three runs in a third of an inning Wednesday at Single-A Clearwater. On Saturday, at Class AA Reading, he worked out of a bases-loaded jam in a scoreless inning.

He was a perfect five-for-five in save opportunities as the Phillies’ closer, going eight innings without giving up a run. His 15-day stint on the disabled list is retroactive to April 22.