Philly Sports Chatter

Pitchers, Catchers Reporting a Sure Sign of Spring

Philadelphia Phillies' pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater to start spring training in Florida on Wednesday.

This news for sports fans beats news that any groundhog could deliver. It's the sound of a baseball pounding a catcher's mitt with a solid thud that makes most of us feel warmer than any sunny day. On Wednesday, hope springs eternal when pitchers and catchers report to camp in Clearwater, Fla., for the start of spring training. After a dismal season last year, it's time to wipe the slate clean for Manager Charlie Manuel and company. Every team in Major League Baseball gets a new lease on life. And the Phillies could certainly use one after not making the playoffs for the first time in a half-dozen years. This spring training will be very interesting. There are so many questions for a team that didn't do as much as its competitors to …

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Did the Groundhog See His Shadow?

Will it be an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Find out what the furry forecaster had to say when he peeked out of his home in Punxsutawney.

On a chilly Saturday morning, it's hard not to wish that Punxsutawney Phil missed his shadow when he crawled out of his home to make his prediction. To the delight of the freezing masses gathered around Gobbler's Knob, Phil declared that there was no shadow to see, promising an early spring this year. According to the Stormfax Weather Almanac, Phil has correctly predicted the weather only 39 percent of the time since 1887. Still, with a week that saw 60 degree weather followed days after by snow blasts, getting the weather report from a woodland creature does not seem all that outlandish. Continue to stay warm, and we'll find out soon if good ol' Phil was right this time.

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Will Phill See His Shadow?

Do you think Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or is spring around the corner?

Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on Feb. 2. On this day, a groundhog comes out of its burrow and checks for his shadow to determine how soon spring will arrive. Groundhog Day as we know it in the U.S. started because the Pennsylvania Dutch farmers wanted to know if spring was coming early or not. That information helped them decide when they should plant seeds and half their hay. So what do you think? Will he see is shadow and predict six more weeks of winter, or will it soon be spring? Vote in our poll.

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Six More Weeks of Winter?

Pennsylvania's most celebrated ground hog, Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow.

When it's mid-March and you're reaching for a shovel instead of a windbreaker, you can thank Punxsutawney Phil. At about 7:25 a.m. this morning, the state's weather-forecasting groundhog saw his shadow according to the Washington Post, meaning we can enjoy six more weeks of winter. Phil, the state's most celebrated rodent, has been predicting winter outlooks for the last 126 years, according to the Huffington Post. Every Feb. 2 on Groundhog Day, a groundhog emerges to a paparazzi-like scene of spectators. If he sees his shadow and returns to his hole, winter is said to last six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see his shadow, an early spring is sure to be on the horizon. In reality, Pennsylvania's weather-predicting furry friend has …

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Saliqa Khan

11:30 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

I agree with Nicole and Linda! If this is "winter" I'll take it. : )   more ›