Saturday, June 17, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phillies couldn't possibly play any worse than they did last night right, so it's only natural to think that things could have only gotten better for them tonight right, wrong. I would give you the whole run off of the game but why even bother, I mean if you've been watching the last few nights then you know what happened. The Phillies fell behind early, they tried to rally back but just as they finally got close the pitching broke down and allowed their opponents(Still the Devil Rays) to tack on enough extra runs to pull away for an easy win(this time 7-2). It's the same old story for the sixth bleeping night in a row. I mean honestly I am not sure the Phillies will ever win another game. All of their upcoming series are against AL East teams which of course are all better than the last place Devil Rays. If they can't even beat the Devil Rays, much less play a close game with them, how are they going to beat the Orioles or the Blue Jays, or the Red Sox, or those damn Yankees who will being visiting Citizens Bank Park on Monday. I won't say that I have lost complete faith in this team, but I am getting there. If they don't win tomorrow I may have to find something else to watch this summer. Anyway, getting back to the game, there are couple of things I would like to note. First of all tonight's game was the major league debut for Phillies starter Scott Mathieson. All things considered, he actually didn't do too poorly going 6 innings, striking out 5 and only giving up 4 runs, but like I said the Phillies offense gave him almost no run support. Secondly, in the eighth inning of tonight's game Cory Lidle, who wasn't even in the game mind you, was tossed from the game for yelling at the first base umpire from the bench. After getting the hook Lidle attempted to run out to first base and confront the umpire, but before he could manager Charlie Manuel pulled him away, and instead began arguing with the umpire over Lidle being tossed out and was himself subsequently tossed from the game. I mean you know some people will do anything to get there team fired up, but of course like said it didn't work, at least not in this game anyway. The funny thing is that this whole altercation between Manuel, Lidle, and the first base umpire was probably the most enertaining part of the game ,which is kind of sad if you think about it.
Friday, June 16, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
After a series with the Mets that was pretty hard to swallow at times you would think that starting a new series with a last place team like the Devil Rays who are struggling just as much as the Phillies have been lately, would be a break for the Phils, but even the Devil Rays are too much for the Phils these days. Tonight's game was supposed to be the glorious home debut for Phillies rookie sensation Cole Hamels, but faster than you can say homerun, leadoff man Julio Lugo had hit two of them through three innings and the Devil Rays were up 6-0 as a shellshocked Hamels was mercifully pulled from the game just two-thirds of the way into the fourth inning. It didn't get much better from there as the Devil Rays went up 7-0 before the Phillies finally got on the board with a three-spot in the fifth inning and and RBI single by Ryan Howard in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-4 but that would be as close as the Philles would get. The Devil Rays went on to score three more runs in the ninth inning to cap 10-4 laugher. Nearly lost in the Maelstrom, were the first and second career hits of hopefully many more to come for 33 year-old Phillies catcher Chris Coste. Maybe now that Coste has finally recorded his first hit we will see the Coste that was hitting the ball over the place in the Spring training, instead of the nervous Coste who just seemed a little overmatched in starting his career 0 for 13. The only good news for the Phillies tonight, is the site for sore eyes that appeared on the Phillies bench today. Yes, that's right Randy Wolf returned to the Phillies clubhouse today for the first time since July of last year. He is currently 4 rehab starts away from returning to the Phillies presumably following the All-Star break. At this point, with the way the Phillies are playing , he can't get through those starts and return to the rotation fast enough.
SIXERS NEWS
Earlier today the Sixers worked out former Duke star point guard and 2nd overall daft pick in 2002 Jay Williams who hasn't played in the NBA since being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in June of 2003. While an intriguing option, is he really the answer for the Sixers at point guard? I personally think that Williams is just a little too much of a risk for the Sixers at this point. Just stick to the plan fellas and get a guard in the draft.
EAGLES NEWS
Today the Eagles signed two of their eight draft picks to 4 year deals, 5th round draft pick Omar Gaither a linebacker from Tennessee and 6th round draft pick Lajuan Ramsey a defensive tackle from USC. Now, I am not Mel Kiper Jr. so I don't really know much about these guys, but hopefully they can provide some depth for the Eagles defense.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
Well Like I said, The Phillies aren't going to win their division this year and with the way they are playing right now they might not win the wild card either. With their loss to the Mets today they fell to 9.5 games behind first, a pretty hopeless position if you ask me. The game started badly for the Phillies and never really got better. In the first inning yet another Phillies starting pitcher, this time Cory Lidle, spotted the Mets an early lead as they scored 4 runs, three on a homer by David bleeping Wright. Lidle as always did manage to settle down enough get through the next 5 innings, giving up only one more run, but once again despite the efforts of the Met-killer, Pat Burrell, who smacked two homers, and knocked in three runs, and Sal Fasano who doubled in a run following Burrell's first homer, the rest of phillies offense squandered their other opportunities and were never able to scratch out the tying run. Following Burrell's second homer in the bottom of the 5th inning the Mets bullpen came in and retired the final 13 batters as Billy Bleeping Wagner got the save with a 1-2-3 9th inning. Add it all up and you get another agonizing one run, 5-4 loss and one frustrated team searching for answers. The one bright spot for the Phillies in today's game was that for once, the Phillies defense did not committ any errors although Sal Fasano did committ a meaningless passed ball. At this stage of the season the Phillies are back at .500(33-33) for the first time since May and it appears that things may get worse for them before they can get better unless they start making changes in a hurry. It is time for Charlie Manuel to stop making excuses and start producing results. He needs to do what he did last year and shake up the lineup for a couple games. He should try starting Abraham Nunez at third base and Shane Victorino and Chris Roberson in the outfield for a change and just see what happens, because the lineup he has been putting out there just isn't getting the job done right now. At any rate the Phils do have some warm weather to look forward to as their is a heat wave forcast for the start of next week. Maybe the hot weather can heat up the Phills as well, because nothing else seems to be working.
FLYERS NEWS
Today the Flyers began what will probably be a busy off-season of transactions by signing center Marty Murray to a 1-year deal. That's right Flyer's fans Marty Murray who played for the Flyers from 2001 through 2003 is back in Orange and Black after a year in Germany following the lockout in 2004. Murray is not as big as the Flyer's other centers Keith Primeau and Peter Forsberg, but he is faster which bodes well in the new NHL. With the status of both Primeau and Forsberg in doubt for the start of next season, having Murray aboard is good insurance and although Murray won't be a star he will help the Flyers change from the sluggish team that lost in the first round of the Playoffs this year to a faster and better attacking team.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles officially ended their mini-camp today and training camp starts in a little over a month on July 20. With the way the Phillies are playing right now, I can already hear the fans chanting E-A-G-L-E-S and I can't wait till football season starts.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
Another night with the Mets and more bad pitching and defense for the Phils. If you thought Ryan Madson was bad last night than Brett Myers was worse tonight. Everything that could have gone wrong for Myers did. In a mere 2 and 2/3rds innings of work tonight he was roughed up for 6 runs and 9 hits. Yes the Phillies defense did struggle again, committing three errors for the second night in a row, but even without the errors Myers' numbers would not be much better. The Phillies offense was also not much better, as just like last night they squandered opportunities with runners in scoring position. First in the second inning, when the score was still just 3-0 and Phillies had two on and 1 out for David Bell. Bell hit a long line drive to center field but it was snared by Carlos Beltran who then caught Ryan Howard tryng to tag up from second, despite the fact that his throw missed both cutoff men. Later in the 4th inning with the score now 7-2 following a rain delay, David Bell had another chance to do some damage and get the Phils back in the game with a man on second and one out, but again he failed and Chris Coste followed with the final out of the inning and Phillies never really had a chance after that as the Mets eventually tacked on three more runs for a final score of 9-3. It looks as if my prediction a couple posts ago that the Phillies would not win the division is going to come true, but heck if the Phillies keep playing like this they can forget about the playoffs all together. Charlie Manuel better figure out a way to light a fire under this team or they are in big trouble. He can't possibly be happy with the way his team is playing and I don't know how he tolerated it these last couple of nights. In other news the Phillies have finally answered the question everyone has been talking about for a while. They announced today that they are recalling Scott Mathieson from AA reading to take Jon Lieber's spot in the rotation for now and to start the game on Saturday. Whoever this kid is I hope someone calls him and reminds him to bring his fielding glove, because obviously the guys playing behind him aren't going to make all the plays for him.
EAGLES NEWS
There is nothing new report, but there are some interesting odds and ends from Eagles mini-camp that I want to talk about. First of all Tra Thomas has apparently changed his name to William Thomas. What the heck is up with that? what he is in the witness protection program or something. I mean was Tra even his real name or was that fake too. Secondly, Eagles writers are already talking about competitions within the team for starting positions. Is it just me or is it a little early to be talking about stuff like that. Anyway, here is the run down by position
outside Linebacker
-Dhani Jones Vs. Greg Richmond Vs. Dedrick Roper Vs. Chris Gocong
-incumbent Jones battles rising youngsters Richmond, Roper, and 3rd round draft pick Gocong
defensive tackle
-Broderick Bunkley Vs. Sam Rayburn Vs. Ed Jasper
-1st rd draft pick Bunkley battles veterans Rayburn and Jasper
fullback
- Thomas Tapeh Vs. Josp Parry
- incumbent Parry battles Tapeh who has miraculously recovered from the knee injury he suffered two seasons ago
outside Linebacker
-Dhani Jones Vs. Greg Richmond Vs. Dedrick Roper Vs. Chris Gocong
-incumbent Jones battles rising youngsters Richmond, Roper, and 3rd round draft pick Gocong
defensive tackle
-Broderick Bunkley Vs. Sam Rayburn Vs. Ed Jasper
-1st rd draft pick Bunkley battles veterans Rayburn and Jasper
fullback
- Thomas Tapeh Vs. Josp Parry
- incumbent Parry battles Tapeh who has miraculously recovered from the knee injury he suffered two seasons ago
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
Lately the Phillies have been living and dying by the long ball, well okay mostly dying and die they did again tonight. The Phillies launched 5 homers in tonight's game, 4 alone off Mets starter Tom Glavine, yet still lost 9-7. Why you ask? porous defense and shaky pitching by yet another young Phillies starter, this time Ryan Madson. The game was close for 5 innings with the two teams trading homers for a 4-4 tie, in fact the Phillies had a chance to break the game open. In the bottom of the fifth following a lead off homer by Jimmy Rollins(his second of the game) the Phillies loaded the bases with only one out, but both Aaron Rowand(on a pop up) and David Bell(on a ground out) produced weak outs to end the inning. In the top of the 6th inning however, the Mets were presented with a similar opportunity and did not let get it away. They loaded the bases with no outs, three Phillies errors followed , and the Mets managed to scratch out 5 runs for a 9-4 lead. David Dellucci briefly ressurected the Phillies hopes with a three-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning to cut the lead to 9-7 , but Billy Bleeping Wagner then entered the game and retired the side. The Phillies had one last opportunity to pull out the win in the bottom of the 9th inning. With Bobby Abreu on first and nobody out Pat Burrell hit what appeared to be a line-drive double, but David bleeping Wright made an incredible catch and turned it into a double play, effectively ending the Phillies chances. If the Phillies are to start winning games again they are going to have to find a way to drastically improve their defense. Otherwise they are going to continue playing the way they are now, inconsistent, and utterly exasperating to watch.
FLYERS NEWS
Recently ex-Flyer goalie Ron Hextall left his post as Flyers director of player personnel to take a job as assistant Gm for the LA Kings. Today the Flyers hired another ex-Flyer to replace him, Dave Brown, who spent parts of 11 seasons with the Flyers as their enforcer racking up far more penalty minutes over his career(1,789) than points(97). Maybe now with the Brown aboard, the Flyers can begin to find answers to their playoff woes instead of asking more questions.
Monday, June 12, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phillies finally got an off-day today after playing 20 games in 20 nights, so rather than complain about how the Phillies played tonight I will preview tomorrow night's game which begins a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park with the division leading Mets. At the present time the Phillies are second in the division 6.5 games behind the Mets, thus the media and many fans feel this series is make or break time for the Phillies as far as winning the division is concerned, its one of those things where if you lose the series you put yourself in an insurmountable hole, and if you win the series you keep yourself in the running for now. I personally feel that this series really doesn't mean anything. Either way the best the Phillies can be after this series is 3.5 games back which as far as I am concerned just isn't enough to get them back into the race to win the division, even this early in the season. The fact that the Phillies are already 6.5 games back is simply inexplicable to me. As talented as this team should be offensively, they should at least be within a couple games of first. I mean it's not like the Mets have a huge advantage over the Phillies in any one department. Both teams are suffering from injuries to their starting rotations, both have reasonably good bullpens, and both have starting lineups abundant in offensive talent. There is no reason why the Phillies aren't contending a little better with the Mets.
EAGLES NEWS
Earlier today the Eagles signed right guard Shawn Andrews to a seven-year contract extension that will keep him under contract through 2015. On paper this sounds like a good move for the Eagles. Last year the Eagles offense was clearly injury plagued, but one of the few guys that was able to stay healthy enough to play in every game was Andrews, so based on that the Eagles would be crazy to even give him a chance to leave as a free agent. However, in the end how much can Andrews really bring to this team. Can he make the Eagles running game better, or improve the Eagles pass protection? Ultimately, only time will tell.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
WEEKLY POLL QUESTION
With Jon Lieber still on the DL and Eude "I can't throw a strike" Brito and Gavin Floyd back in the minors what should the Phillies do to fill the 5th spot in their rotation?
a. Nothing, just stand pat and hope Lieber gets well soon
b. Move Ryan Franklin from the bullpen to the rotation
c. Recall Gavin Floyd and give him another chance to show his stuff
d. Just use 4 starters, heck if you can do it in the playoffs, why not in the regular season
e. Who cares, nothing they can do will really help the team at this point
f. How the hell should I know?
post your answers in a comment and I will post the results on Sunday with a new poll question
a. Nothing, just stand pat and hope Lieber gets well soon
b. Move Ryan Franklin from the bullpen to the rotation
c. Recall Gavin Floyd and give him another chance to show his stuff
d. Just use 4 starters, heck if you can do it in the playoffs, why not in the regular season
e. Who cares, nothing they can do will really help the team at this point
f. How the hell should I know?
post your answers in a comment and I will post the results on Sunday with a new poll question
PHILLIES NEWS
If you missed the Phillies game today consider yourself lucky because today they played what was possibly there worst game of the season. In 9 innings of baseball the Phils scored an astounding total of 0 runs. That's right for the first time this season the Phillies were shutout. Not only were they shutout, they were shutout by not one, not two, but three rookie pitchers for the Nationals, Ryan Hill through the first 7 innings, Bill Bray in the 8th inning, and Saul Rivera in the 9th inning. None of which I might add, had pitched more than 6 games in their entire careers. It's one thing to get shutout throughout a complete game by one really good pitcher like a Pedro Martinez or a Curt Schilling but it's just ridiculous to get shutout by three rookies especially when you are coming off a big win the day before. I mean really, how can you beat a team 6-2 one day then lose to the same team 6-0 the next day. If you ask me that's just pathetic. I'd give you the rest of the details on today's loss but trust me you don't want to know. Oh and by the way the Phillies pitcher today was rookie sensation Cole Hamels, who actually didn't pitch too bad, striking out 8 nationals, in fact, if he had only gotten a little run support he might have posted his second career win. Before I end this post I just want take a quick look at how the phillies have done since I started writing this blog. Let's see since I started they have won 1 game which wasn't televised and lost 3! Now that just figures doesn't it. Oh well, all the more for me to complain about.
WEEKLY TRIVIA QUESTION
How many players from the 1993 National League Champion Phillies are still active today?
Who are they?
What team do they currently play for?
Who are they?
What team do they currently play for?
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