La Salle baseball is officially back — and they didn’t ease into Division I life. After a 1,700-day hiatus, the Explorers opened the season with a dominant three-game sweep of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, scoring 48 runs and announcing themselves as a real factor in the Atlantic 10.

On the Phillies side, we break down the Nick Castellanos saga — from the dugout beer incident to the organization’s decision to release him and his new deal with San Diego. Did the Phillies mishandle it? And what does Bryce Harper’s response to the “not elite” comments say about the tone inside this clubhouse heading into spring training?

Plus: why Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford may ultimately determine how long this championship window stays open — and why Adolis García’s offseason transformation has people talking.

Philadelphia baseball is shifting. We break down what it all means.

Diamonds & Scribes — Episode 03

Tim Wendel: The scrappy, chaotic, thrilling launch of Baseball Weekly

Diamonds & Scribes is a limited-series podcast produced by the Philadelphia Baseball Review, exploring the craft of baseball journalism through conversations with the writers who shaped it. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the reporting, storytelling, habits, instincts, and hard-earned wisdom that define great baseball writing.

When USA Today launched Baseball Weekly in 1991, the idea sounded bold but risky — at least to Tim Wendel, who had just lived through the collapse of The National. The difference this time was distribution: USA Today had reach, reputation, and visibility on every newsstand.

“That reassured me,” Wendel says. “If you can’t get the product out, nothing else matters.”

The timing helped. The Sporting News had just dropped its box scores, fantasy baseball was booming, and fans suddenly needed a national one-stop shop.

“Our thesis was simple: the fans are number one,” Wendel says. “You should be able to live anywhere and still know everything about your team.”

A look at why you should be skeptical of the Bo Bichette meeting, and what the potential hang ups may be if the Phillies were to sign him to a deal.

Diamonds & Scribes — Episode 02

Bob Nightengale: Scoops, Trust, and the Real Cost of Being First

Diamonds & Scribes is a limited-series podcast produced by the Philadelphia Baseball Review, exploring the craft of baseball journalism through conversations with the writers who shaped it. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the reporting, storytelling, habits, instincts, and hard-earned wisdom that define great baseball writing.

Bob Nightengale has spent more than four decades covering Major League Baseball, building a career rooted in access, trust, and institutional memory. Now a national columnist for USA TODAY, Nightengale came up through the Kansas City Star and the Los Angeles Times, where he learned the value of preparation, restraint, and authoritative reporting. Over time, he became one of the sport’s most reliable national voices — not by chasing attention, but by earning confidence across clubhouses, front offices, and agencies.

In this conversation, Nightengale broke down the structural realities of modern baseball reporting, particularly the differences between national writers and beat reporters. He explained how agents drive the vast majority of free-agent information, while collective bargaining rules limit what teams can publicly deny. That imbalance, combined with social media, has compressed the news cycle to seconds, making verification harder and judgment more important than ever. Experience, he noted, remains the only real filter in an environment built for speed.

Much of the discussion centered on Baseball Weekly and the reporting culture it enabled. The weekly format allowed for full box scores, long-form storytelling, and unmatched access — the kind that made spending days with players like Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn, and Larry Walker possible. Nightengale argued that era benefited from something modern media rarely affords: time. Time to know people, build trust, and write stories that carried depth rather than immediacy.

Nightengale also reflected on the personal and ethical cost of the job. He spoke about the constant presence of the phone, the impact on family life, and the responsibility that comes with publishing information that can follow someone indefinitely. At this stage of his career, success is defined less by being first and more by respect — by credibility, relationships, and stories that age well. His advice to young writers remains unchanged: be prepared, protect trust, and remember that judgment matters as much as access.

Diamonds & Scribes — Episode 01

Paul Hagen: Inside Four Decades of Baseball Writing

Diamonds & Scribes is a limited-series podcast produced by the Philadelphia Baseball Review, exploring the craft of baseball journalism through conversations with the writers who shaped it. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the reporting, storytelling, habits, instincts, and hard-earned wisdom that define great baseball writing.

Hall of Fame baseball writer Paul Hagen has spent more than four decades living the life so many fans dream about: on the beat, in the press box, and inside clubhouses from Texas to Philadelphia. In this episode, he joins host Patrick Gordon for an unfiltered conversation about the craft behind the bylines — the real work that goes into great baseball journalism.

Hagen explains how a snarky high school gamer got him kicked off the football beat, what it felt like to walk into a major-league press box for the first time, and why the best writers do far more than just quote players. He dives into what he’s learned from handling criticism (from readers and players), why Lenny Dykstra was secretly one of the most media-savvy players of his era, and what actually defines “great baseball writing” in a world where everyone has a platform.

Along the way, Hagen discusses the fierce competitiveness of the Philadelphia beat, his 20+ years with the Philadelphia Daily News, the evolving dynamics inside MLB clubhouses, his favorite teams and toughest stories, and what it truly meant to receive the BBWAA’s Spink Award in Cooperstown.

For aspiring journalists, baseball die-hards, and anyone curious about how stories really get made, this is a masterclass — and proof that, as Hagen says, if you can cover a baseball beat, you can cover anything.

What is going on with all of this drama involving Dave Dombrowski and Bryce Harper? In my opinion, Dombrowski was in the right. Also, a quick note on youth baseball in Philly.

🎧 Recap of end of year press conference

A recap of Dave Dombrowski and Rob Thomson's end of season press conference. Comments on the coaching staff, Bryce Harper, the future of Nick Castellanos, and more.

🎧 What’s Next for the Phillies?

The Phillies’ latest October collapse leaves more questions than answers.

Rob Thomson will return — but what about the rest of this core? After another NLDS flame-out, it’s hard to imagine they simply run it back.

Patrick Gordon of the Philadelphia Baseball Review breaks down the decisions facing Dave Dombrowski’s front office this winter — from roster shake-ups and potential trades to free-agent fits and what it all means for 2026.

🔗 LINKS & FOLLOW

🎧 Listen → Philadelphia Baseball Review Podcast

🌐 Visit → PhiladelphiaBaseballReview.com

🐦 Twitter → @PGordonPBR

📘 Facebook → Philadelphia Baseball Review

In this special 15-minute episode, the Philadelphia Baseball Review lays out our full coverage plan for the 2025 postseason. From daily Phillies game previews and recaps to in-depth analysis of October’s biggest storylines across Major League Baseball, we’ll walk you through exactly what to expect. We’ll cover the matchups, highlight the key players, and connect every moment back to Philadelphia. Whether the Phillies are chasing history at Citizens Bank Park or we’re breaking down how the rest of the bracket impacts them, this postseason we’ll have you covered—every pitch, every storyline, every night.

Enjoy!

About the Philadelphia Baseball Review

Our purpose is to grow the sport in the region while covering the countless storylines, especially at the amateur level, that large mainstream media outlets ignore. With over two dozen college programs in our coverage area, nearly a hundred high schools in Philadelphia, and three high-caliber adult leagues (Delco, Perky, Pendel), there is plenty to cover.

About Patrick Gordon

Patrick Gordon is an award-winning journalist and has covered baseball for nearly two decades. He has a master's in journalism and has worked with various news outlets in the region. His work has appeared in dozens of publications across the country, including Baseball America, MLB.com, Sports Collectors Monthly, the Philadelphia Daily News, and the Las Vegas Sun. Gordon also is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA), and the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and has served on the executive board of the Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA).

The Philly Select Youth Leagues launched at four different age groups (13U - 17U), with a goal of providing structure and competitiveness for teams with middle and high school age athletes that are serious about the game.

In this episode, we talk with Andrew Lihotz (Director of PSBL), John Duffy (Collegeville Spiders), and Chris Meyer (Kings), about their coaching philosophies, the second season of the Select League, and what their thoughts are on the state of youth baseball.

Enjoy!

About the Philadelphia Baseball Review

Our purpose is to grow the sport in the region while covering the countless storylines, especially at the amateur level, that large mainstream media outlets ignore. With over two dozen college programs in our coverage area, nearly a hundred high schools in Philadelphia, and three high-caliber adult leagues (Delco, Perky, Pendel), there is plenty to cover.

About Patrick Gordon

Patrick Gordon is an award-winning journalist and has covered baseball for nearly two decades. He has a master's in journalism and has worked with various news outlets in the region. His work has appeared in dozens of publications across the country, including Baseball America, MLB.com, Sports Collectors Monthly, the Philadelphia Daily News, and the Las Vegas Sun. Gordon also is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA), and the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and has served on the executive board of the Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA).