The Latest Breaking News from Nick Castellanos

PHILADELPHIA —Given the way things are going for the Phillies, there were several reasons why many of the fans in attendance Wednesday night might have greeted manager Joe Girardi with a loud, long, gutteral boo as he stepped out of the dugout with two out in the eighth inning. But,…

PHILADELPHIA — It’s almost certainly a coincidence, but, well, let’s just mention it off the top anyway: Since Kyle Schwarber blew off a bunch of steam a few nights ago, the previously stalled Phillies offense hasn’t ceased chugging along.

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper had something to say. So, after being presented with the National League MVP award in a pregame ceremony Saturday, he stepped to a podium and made brief remarks, including eight words that may serve as the keynote to the Phillies’ season.

TAMPA, Fla. — After a flurry of offseason activity, the Phillies have one more move to make:

New baseball season. Same preseason favorite.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — As Joe Girardi walked through the back corridors of the Phillies’ clubhouse Monday morning, he came upon Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins, dressed in shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops, pantomiming phantom swings. Two hours later, Schwarber hit his first home run of spring training.

Bruce Sherman, Miami Marlins principal owner, sought to convey all-is-well calm as baseball’s lockout-delayed spring training began a couple of weeks ago. CEO and face-of-the-franchise Derek Jeter had just abruptly and unexpected left in a mutual parting, and Sherman said exactly what he knew fans wanted to hear in the…

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The two biggest homers hit Sunday afternoon weren't the two that MVP Bryce Harper launched out of TD Ballpark. They came from a couple of more intriguing lefty-hitting bombers.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The optics were hard to miss.