.. it’s the Phillies calling to tell you we aren’t sitting back and hoping for the best!”
I watched the Phillies play the Nationals this afternoon and although the Phillies clearly outmatched the Nats, the team played hard the whole game, they hustled and they made it clear they aren’t trying to ride the tide of the past two years. This team looks hungry.
One fun fact you might note about tomorrow night’s exhibition game between the Pigs and R-Phils is that in all those years of affiliation with the Phillies, the R-Phils can say that, by themselves, the big team made the World Series twice, winning once. Add in the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, in existance for 2 years, and already have helped get the Phillies to 2 World Series with one win.
Coincidence?
I have heard many times that the Ironpigs would not be so successful in ticket and merchandise sales if it hadn’t been for the Phillies success in recent years. I think that the Phillies wouldn’t have been successful if it hadn’t been for the Ironpigs!
Call me a biased fan.. it’s ok.
1 day… Like any Pig fan will be able to sleep tonight!
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I agree 1000% – Phillies are clearly nothing without IronPigs.
The AAA team in Allentown was the missing link.
It is clearly obvious to all except biased Phillies fans.
What did the Phillies do when the AAA club was in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre?
(answer – nothing)
Case closed.
Weren’t the Red Barons the AAA team of the Phillies in 1993 when the Phils went to the World Series?
And just remember guys, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, Pat Burrell, and Brett Myers all spent significant time with the Red Barons before they arrived in the big leagues and they all played major roles for the 2008 and/or 2009 Phillies. Time will tell if the Ironpigs can produce more future Phillies of significance in addition to J.A. Happ.
Phillies Past AAA Farm Teams (before SWB):
1963-1965: Arkansas Travelers
1966-1968: San Diego Padres
1969-1973: Eugene (Oregon) Emeralds
1974-1975: Toledo Mud Hens
1976-1982: Oklahoma City 89ers
1983-1986: Portland Beavers
1987-1988: Maine Guides