The Phillies have announced that they have signed first-round pick, 16th overall, shortstop J.P. Crawford for a signing bonus of $2.299 million. Crawford is a big time prospect who expects to remain at  shortstop as he progresses into professional baseball.

Crawford comes with a solid background. He is the nephew of Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford and is a product of Lakewood High School which has produced Shane Watson, the Phillies first selection in last year's draft, along with former Phillies, and current Mets prospect Travis D'Arnaud. 

Crawford boasts a tall but slim frame for a shortstop which leaves himself room to fill out as he ages in professional ball. He is solid hitter for average as he hit .452 this year with a staggering .540 on base percentage. In the field is where Crawford shines with his smooth hands and strong arm that most scouts agree is a plus arm from shortstop. Phillies assistant general manager Marti Wolever says that Crawford is three-to-four years from being in Philadelphia.

A full scouting report on Crawford can be found here.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Ross Detwiler
2-4, 3.02 ERA, 1.42 WHIP

Detwiler, 27, made his return to the Nationals' rotation last Thursday after missing nearly a month due to a strained oblique. He had a solid outing allowing three runs on six hits over five innings of work while throwing 77 pitches. He got the no-decision as the Nationals went on to beat the Rockies 5-4. The Nationals are 4-5 in his nine starts this season. In eight career games (seven starts) against the Phillies, Detwiler is 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.

Cliff Lee
8-2, 2.55 ERA, 0.98

Lee was the stopper the Phillies needed last week in Minnesota. He went seven innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six Twins en route to his eighth win of the year which snapped the Phillies five-game losing streak. The Phillies have won seven of his last eight outing and are 9-5 in his 14 starts this season. In eight career starts against the Nationals, Lee is 5-3 with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.

Phillies Week Preview can be found here.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

The off-season speculation has begun already as we sit 12 days away from the 2013 NHL Draft. As is usually the case this time of year, the Flyers are in the thick of the rumors surrounding (what else?) goaltending.

This year the hot name on the market is 24 year old Kings backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier. Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos tweeted today that the Flyers, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, are the front runners to land Bernier. He is slated to become a restricted free agent this off-season.

It is worth noting that Bernier fired his previous agent and hired CAA sports, specifically Pat Brisson, to represent him. If Brisson's name sounds familiar that is because he is also the agent for Flyers captain Claude Giroux and new Flyers defenseman Mark Streit.

The Kings are expected to be able to get fair market value for Bernier as the suitors are numerous (some say 12 or more teams). The Flyers would like a deal to center around Matt Read as the Kings have depth up the middle and need help on the wings. That being said, it is not out of the question that the Kings would try to center a deal built around Sean Couturier. Buzz around the league is the bernier to the Flyers is not far fetched as Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period cites a league source that thinks Bernier is likely headed to Philadelphia.

Bernier appeared in 14 games last year going 9-3-1 with a 1.87 GAA and a .922 save percentage. In his career, he is 29-20-6 with a 2.36 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Many scouts have him tabbed as a future No. 1 goaltender in the NHL, something the Flyers have had trouble grooming over the years.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Pulock is a defenseman who appears to be taken right out of the mold of what the Flyers need. He is an offensively gifted defenseman who can really bring it with his shot from the point. Standing at just 6'1" 211 lbs. he can really generate power with his shot as it has been clocked at over 100 mph in skills competitions. In addition to his shot, he is an excellent passer who sees the ice very well. Pulock is steady with the puck and efficient with his passes which leads many to believe that he can run a NHL power-play almost immediately.

Defensively he is solid where he uses his stick well to cut off passing lanes and is a good checker in open ice. The 18 year old could be a little more physical for his size but he has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons which could have made somewhat him gun-shy. He does lack elite size and strength from a shutdown defenseman but that can come in time at the professional level. The Manitoba native's skating is average which is one of the big knocks on him but his sound defensive positioning should help alleviate concerns over his lack of top-end speed on the back end.

One major key to Pulock that cannot be overstated is his leadership. He served as the team captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings last year and also has experience running the power-play from the point. The poise he developed serving in these roles cannot be taught.

Powerful shot? Check. Ability to move the puck? Check. Solid defensively? Check. Leadership? Check. Sounds like Ryan Pulock could find himself in orange and black if the cards fall the right way.

Pulock can do everything the Flyers need from their defensemen moving forward. If they can add a puck moving defenseman, in addition to Mark Streit, they will have immediately addressed a gaping hole they had entering the off-season.

Pulock does not quite have the size to be an imposing force on the blue line but that is not necessarily a need for the Flyers as they have Nicklas Grossmann (6'4"), Braydon Coburn (6'5"), Luke Schenn (6'2"), and Andrej Meszaros (6'2") all on the blue line who are strong, physical players. Pulock, at just a shade under 6'1", would fit in nicely with that crew plus Streit and Kimmo Timonen.

He should be available when the Flyers select 11th overall but won't be around too long after that is they're hoping for a slide.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

The Phillies have had issues staying healthy behind the plate this year. 2012 All-Star Carlos Ruiz missed the first 25 games of the season due to a suspension then injured his hamstring just 16 games into his season. Ruiz's backup, Erik Kratz, tore his left meniscus and required surgery to repair it. He will be out 6-8 weeks. Humberto Quintero had taken over the starting responsibilities.

Today, the news got a little better as the Phillies activated Ruiz from the 15-Day Disabled List. To make room for Ruiz on the 25 man roster, the Phillies optioned Steven Lerud to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Lerud, 28, was still searching for his first hit of the season. He was 0-for-5 with four strikeouts before being optioned. He was primarily brought in as a defensive replacement at the end of games. He appeared in six of the seven games he was with the Phillies.

Ruiz, 34, last appeared in a game on May 19th in a 3-2 win against the Reds. On the year, Ruiz is hitting .235/.286/.275 with no home runs and two RBI. He was suspended 25 games in the off-season for Adderal use.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Shabazz Muhammad entered UCLA as one of the prized recruits coming out of high school and now, a year later, he is closing in on his dream of playing in the NBA. Sound similar? Sounds a lot like UCLA product Jrue Holiday who was selected by the 76ers in the first round of the 2009 draft. Could Muhammad be Holiday's new teammate come June 27th?

Sitting at 34-37 and coming off of a 3-7 road trip, the Phillies were in dire need of a win last night against division rival Washington. They would get the 5-4 win but not how they envisioned it.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Chad Tracy stepped to the plate looking to tie the game with one swing of the bat. Phillies broadcaster Chris Wheeler chirped, and chirped, and chirped that "Tracy is looking to turn on an inside pitch and hit it out to rightfield." If he said it once, he said it 10 times.

As Tracy continued to foul pitches off, he got his pitch. A two-out, two-strike fastball on the inside part of the plate and hit it  into the right field seats. The Phillies would win it in the bottom half of the ninth to get Jonathan Papelbon his first win of the year but he also earned his first blown save.

Ironically enough, a report from Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe yesterday states that the Phillies believe to have interest from three teams about the availability of their All-Star closer. The Cardinals, Red Sox, and Tigers are the three teams mentioned to be interested in Papelbon.

It is hard to see the Cardinals parting with a prospect that would satisfy Phillies fans for Papelbon (most notable prospect is OF Oscar Taveras). A reunion in Boston would be a little strange but maybe? The Tigers seem like the obvious fit. The team has been looking for a closer for months and have resorted to resigning last year's closer Jose Valverde, who was less than reliable out of the bullpen.

The Tigers do have one very interesting trade chip that could help the Phillies if they'd be willing to part with him: Nick Castellanos. The 21 year old outfielder has spent much of his professional baseball at third base but moved to the outfield because he is blocked by reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera. He was the 2012 Futures Game MVP. The 2010 supplemental round pick is the 20th overall, and Detroit's top, prospect according to MLB.com. Castellanos can hit for average and power as he is hitting .293/.368/.477 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI in 72 games in Triple-A this year.

Papelbon, along with Castellanos, are certainly guys to keep an eye on as trade rumors begin to swirl with July quickly approaching.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

It seemed like such a perfect analogy. As the offense stalled in a tough 5-2 loss to the Rockies on Sunday, the Phillies returned home only to have their machines stall on them as well.

Prior to the Phillies' 5-4 victory over the Nationals last night, the Phillie Phanatic was doing his usual pregame shtick in front of the Nationals dugout when he went to take off on his ATV. Then... trouble arose. The Phanatic's ATV stalled along the third base line. Lucky for us, friend of Whiz Wit, Dan McQuade captured the moment in perfect .gif format.

A team of Phillies employs were then forced to lift the all-terrain vehicle over the third base gate. No word on whether or not the ATV will be available for tonight's game. Looks like it will be a game-time decision.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

The Vet. The building has been nonexistent for over nine years. The Phillies are in their tenth season at Citizens Bank Park. The Eagles are entering their 11th at Lincoln Financial Field. It's been nearly 50 years (49 if you're keeping track at home) since the city got approval on a $25 million bond to build the "Crown Jewel" of Philadelphia. But somehow, they still owe money to repay the debt.

Phily Mag's Andrew Thompson is reporting that the city of Philadelphia still owe $183,000 for the construction (not demolition - construction) of Veterans Stadium. In addition to the $183,000 for the construction, the city owes over $1 million for the extension of the Broad Street Subway Line down to Pattison Avenue.

All of these loans were issued in 1964 and are still owed today. The full payment for Veterans Stadium is expected to be completed by 2014 but the payment for the extension of the Broad Street Line is not expected to be paid in full until 2022.

I cannot wrap my head around how the city was allowed to construct two new beautiful stadiums without paying off the one they were going to demolish and, here we sit ten years after that, with the debt still owed. I just don't know how this happens.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

The Flyers acquisition of defenseman Mark Streit from the Islanders last week was the first step in bolstering the blue line that is in need of some help. The next step is signing Streit before he hits unrestricted free agency on July 5th.

Well, the Flyers might have made another step in the right direction. TSN's Darren Dreger is reporting that the Flyers and Streit have agreed on a four-year, $21 million deal with an annual cap hit of $5.25 million. The reported deal would also have a limited no-trade clause in which Streit would submit a list of teams in which he'd be willing to play for in the event of a trade.

The deal cannot be made official until the Flyers get more cap space which is coming with the likely amnesty-buyouts of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and/or center Danny Briere. This is a 35+ deal meaning that the Flyers are on the hook for every dime of the contract in the event of an injury (such is the case with Chris Pronger) or early retirement.

The 35 year old Streit led all Islander defensemen in scoring with 27 points - six goals, 21 assists. He had three goals and two assists, tied with Jonathan Tavares for the team lead, in their first round playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He served as the Islanders captain the last two seasons and has not missed a game in over three seasons. Despite his age, the 5'11" 191 lbs. blue-liner has only played in 491 career games as he made his NHL debut at 28 years old.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports