Roy Oswalt tossed 8 scoreless innings, Hunter Pence blasted a homer, Wilson Valdez lined a 2 run triple and Jimmy Rollins slapped a bases loaded single as the Phils rebounded from yesterday's loss with a 5-0 win over the Nationals.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
PHILLIES NEWS
Kyle Kendrick was subbed in for Roy Oswalt(he'll start tomorrow) at last the minute and pitched well, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings. Meanwhile, consecutive hits by Jimmy Rollins, John Mayberry Jr, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Hunter Pence, and a 2 out single by Carlos Ruiz allowed the Phils to jump to a quick 4-0 lead in the 3rd inning. It was still 4-2 Phils heading into the 9th, but it wasn't to be as Ryan Madson blew just his 2nd save of the season and the Phils fell 8-4.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
PHILLIES NEWS
Vance Worley and David Herndon combined around a rain delay for 6 scoreless frames. Meanwhile, John Mayberry Jr. blasted a 2 run homer just before the delay in the 3rd inning. That coupled with Raul Ibanez RBI double in the 5th inning, was just enough for the Phils finish off the DBacks 4-1 for their 80th win of the season.
EAGLES NEWS
It was a rough night for the Eagles in their 2nd preseason game against the Steelers at Heinz Field. Mike Vick threw 3 interceptions and the Eagles defense, vaunted just a week ago, alloted the Steelers touchdowns of 80 and 96 yards. Even Desean Jackson wasn't that effective in his first game back, with just 2 catches for 8 yards. Things got so bad that the Eagles found themselves down 21-0 at the half. Still it wasn't all doom and gloom for Birds, as Mike Kalfka threw for 160 yards and 2 TDs in the second half to make the final score a respectable 24-14. Frankly I will not get to carried away by how sloppy the Birds were tonight. After all it is the preseason and you can only read so much into a preseason game.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
PHILLIES NEWS
It was a rare treat for the Phils tonight as they racked up 9 runs on 12, with only one of those hits being a homer and 7 of 9 runs coming in their final 2 at bats. Cliff Lee was also in fine form allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 7 in 7 innings. Jimmy Rollins got the homer out of the way early leading off the game with a solo shot. John Mayberry lined an RBI single in the 2nd inning to knot things up at 2 and then it looked like it would stay that way for a while. Instead good smart baseball and poor defense by the Diamondbacks took hold in the 7th and 8th innings. In the 7th Wilson Valdez ripped a 2 run double and scored on a sac fly to make it 5-2 Phils. In the 8th 3 straight hits and a Cody Ransom error led to 1 run. Then another DBack error loaded the bases for Brian Schneider who singled in a run. Later Jimmy Rollins hit a sac fly, Shane Victorino doubled and before you knew it the Phils lead 9-2. That was more than enough for Ryan Madson to nail down the Phils 79th win of the season.
PHILLIES NEWS
It was rough ending to the night for the Phils. Roy Halladay struck out 14 and allowed just 1 run through 8. Unfortunately he got unlucky in the 9th as the Diamondback scratched out a couple runs and the hung to win 3-2. Shane Victorino's 2 run jack in the 5th inning account for the Phils only runs of the night.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Top 10 Most Beloved Philly Sports Teams
It's been a couple years since I last unveiled a list and with no Phils for the 2nd straight day I thought it would be a good idea to do a list to pass the time. Love is defined as a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection. Here now our the 10 Philly sports teams who best provided their fans with those feelings.
#10. Andy Reid's Eagles 2001-present.
Love Factor(out of 10): 6
Reason(s) For Love: Won franchise' first ever out right NFC East title. Advanced to 4 straight NFC Championship games and 5 in 8 years. Advanced to franchise' 2nd ever Super Bowl and first in 24 years. Would be higher on the list if they had won, but poised to move up the list this season.
Impact: Restored football as the favored sport in town for the better part of a decade and Allowed city to dream of a Lombardi Trophy for the first time. Even now 3 years removed from their last playoff win they continue to sell out every game. They could change sports in the city forever with a super bowl win this year.
#9 Fo Fo Sixers (1983)
Love Factor: 6
Reason(s) for Love: The team that owed us one snagged Moses Malone in the offseason and finally delivered what would be the city's last championship for the next quarter century, with a resounding sweep of the Lakers in the Finals.
Impact: Briefly lifted Basketball to #1 sport in town. Unfortunately became the first victims of the Billy Penn curse with a shocking opening round playoff loss to the Nets in 1984.
#8 2010 Flyers.
Love Factor: 7
Reason(s) For Love: As a #8 seed, became only the 3rd NHL team to rally from 3-0 down to win a series, rallying from 3-0 down in game 7 to stun the Bruins in the Eastern conference semi-finals. Won franchise' first Eastern conference title in 13 years. Pushed the heavily favored Blackhawks to overtime of game 6 of the finals. Their loss in game 6 ranks amongst the city's most heartbreaking.
Impact: Renewed the Flyer's drive for the cup after a now 36 year drought. Sure it didn't work last season, but with new faces and perhaps a #1 goalie this year, the Cup may finally be theirs again.
#7 Vermeil's Eagles (1980-1981).
Love Factor: 7
Reason(s) For Love: Advanced to franchise' first Superbowl by defeating the hated Cowboys in the NFC championship game. No Eagles' head coach has ever been more one with the city than Dick Vermeil.
Impact: After nearly 20 straight years of losing the Eagles were finally winners again. Unfortunately it didn't last. Vermeil burned out just 2 years later and so did the Eagles. It was 13 years before the Birds finally won another playoff game, 21 before they finally returned to NFC title game and 24 before they returned to the Superbowl.
#6 Current Phillies(2007-Present)
Love Factor: 8
Reason(s) For Love: Exercised the demons of 64 by rallying from 7 games down in September to win the 07 NL East title. Exercised the demons of 'Black Friday' by downing the Dodgers in back to back NLCS. Delivered the city's first championship in 25 years with the 08 world title, vanquishing the Billy Penn curse at least partially. Gave Harry Kalas his first and sadly only opportunity to call the final out of the world series.
Impact: Baseball is king in Philly once again. Not even the Eagles can match their popularity at this point. Like the Yankees and Red Sox they now routinely sell out before the season even begins, have fans in every stadium, not just the Bank, and are always in the World Series picture. No Philly team has ever matched the sustained excellence of this team and they've got all the other teams in the city trying to match them now. Likely to move up this list in the coming years.
#5 Hextall's Heroes (1987 Flyers).
Love Factor: 8.5
Reason(s) For Love: Pushed Gretzky's Oilers to the 7th game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Since their last triumph in 1975, no other Flyer's team has come closer to winning the cup. Just had an eclectic mix of fan favorites in Rick Tocchet, Dave Poulin, Tim Kerr, Brian Propp, Mark Howe, and a crazy rookie goalie named Ron Hextall. J.J Daigneault's winning goal in game 6 of the finals produced arguably the loadest roar in spectrum history.
Impact: As it turned out this would be the Flyers last real shot at a cup until the mid-90s. In the 24 years since they have advanced to only 2 Stanley Cup Finals. Why you ask? In all those years they have yet to find another goalie as good as Hextall. Things might finally be different this season.
#4 2001 Sixers
Love Factor: 8.5
Reason(s) For Love: Survived 2 grueling 7 game series in a row to advance to franchise' first NBA finals in 18 years. Denied the hated Lakers of the first perfect postseason in NBA history with an overtime win in game 1 of the finals. No one is more Philly than then owner Pat Croce. Allen Iverson was the epitome of Philly, the fearless little guy who just keeps getting back up again.
Impact: Like Fo Fo, briefly turned Philly into a basketball town when it was thought to be impossible to do so. Unfortunately, the renaissance didn't last as Allen Iverson was traded away and Larry Brown resigned. So far the team has yet to recover from their departures.
#3 1980 Phillies
Love Factor: 9
Reason(s) For Love: After 97 years of frustration they finally won the franchise' first ever world title. Survived arguably the most dramatic NLCS in history just get to the world series. All 4 Phillys teams played for a championship in 1980 but only the Phils finished the deal. Tug McGraw, fearless and effervescent, might be the most beloved reliever in history. Pete Rose, "Charlie Hustle", was always endearing to the fans with his grit and determination.
Impact: Proved that even the losing-est franchise in pro sports could be a champion. The legendary figures from that team as well as the drive and will to win with which they played remain an inspiration to this day. Could have changed the course of the franchise if ownership had not completely mortgaged the future to win a 2nd title in 1983.
#2 Macho Row(1993 Phillies)
Love Factor: 9.5
Reason(s) For Love: This wonderful wacky bunch of throwbacks led us on the 162 game joyride of a lifetime. Had an incredible will to win no matter the circumstances. Not necessarily the most talented team but wanted it more than anyone else. Every fan in the city and in America for that matter had a player on the team they could relate to. Probably had more wild and wacky endings then any team ever. Won franchise's first NL Pennant in 10 years. Pushed the mighty Blue Jays (then defending champions) to 6 games in the world series. The walkoff homer by you know who is arguably the most heartbreaking moment in Philly sports history.
Impact: Proved that talent and good looks aren't everything. It's hard to imagine any team being better remembered for losing a world series than these guys. Always a one shot deal, the Phils were doomed to losing seasons for the remainder of the decade. Eventually you have to put real talent on the field if you expect to win. It was 8 years before they finally started doing so, resulting in a winning season in 2001, and then their first postseason berth in 14 years in 2007.
#1 The Broad Street Bullies(Flyers 1974-1975)
Love Factor: 10
Reason(s) For Love: Only Philly team in the modern era to win back to back titles. Won the Orange and Black's last Stanley Cup in 1975. Had an enigmatic cast of characters, with the likes of Rick Macleish, "the Rifle" Reggie Leach, Bernie Parent, Andre "Moose" Dupont, Bill Barber, Gary Dornhoeffer, and Dave Schultz. Won the way Philly would have wanted them to, either outscoring the opposition with skill and precision or if all else failed, kicking the crap out of them. Nearly won a 3rd straight Stanley Cup before losing to the Canadiens in the 1976 finals. Bobby Clarke was most the fearsome competitor ever to wear the Orange and Black along with the Captain's C. Simply put, they were our team, our champions, and they were loved like it.
Impact: Ushered in a championship era in Philly, with the Phils following suit in 1980, the Eagles reaching the super bowl in 1981, and the Sixers winning their 2nd championship in 1983. Before they got here most people in the city didn't know what a puck was, now you would be hard pressed to find anyone in the city who isn't at least a casual fan. Even now they remain beloved by those who saw them play. Most still live in the area and contribute in multiple ways. Some returned to the team after retirement, most notably Clarke himself as GM, and Barber as head coach. 36 years later their accomplishments still hang like a cloud over the current Flyers and they will continue to unless they win the cup this year.
#10. Andy Reid's Eagles 2001-present.
Love Factor(out of 10): 6
Reason(s) For Love: Won franchise' first ever out right NFC East title. Advanced to 4 straight NFC Championship games and 5 in 8 years. Advanced to franchise' 2nd ever Super Bowl and first in 24 years. Would be higher on the list if they had won, but poised to move up the list this season.
Impact: Restored football as the favored sport in town for the better part of a decade and Allowed city to dream of a Lombardi Trophy for the first time. Even now 3 years removed from their last playoff win they continue to sell out every game. They could change sports in the city forever with a super bowl win this year.
#9 Fo Fo Sixers (1983)
Love Factor: 6
Reason(s) for Love: The team that owed us one snagged Moses Malone in the offseason and finally delivered what would be the city's last championship for the next quarter century, with a resounding sweep of the Lakers in the Finals.
Impact: Briefly lifted Basketball to #1 sport in town. Unfortunately became the first victims of the Billy Penn curse with a shocking opening round playoff loss to the Nets in 1984.
#8 2010 Flyers.
Love Factor: 7
Reason(s) For Love: As a #8 seed, became only the 3rd NHL team to rally from 3-0 down to win a series, rallying from 3-0 down in game 7 to stun the Bruins in the Eastern conference semi-finals. Won franchise' first Eastern conference title in 13 years. Pushed the heavily favored Blackhawks to overtime of game 6 of the finals. Their loss in game 6 ranks amongst the city's most heartbreaking.
Impact: Renewed the Flyer's drive for the cup after a now 36 year drought. Sure it didn't work last season, but with new faces and perhaps a #1 goalie this year, the Cup may finally be theirs again.
#7 Vermeil's Eagles (1980-1981).
Love Factor: 7
Reason(s) For Love: Advanced to franchise' first Superbowl by defeating the hated Cowboys in the NFC championship game. No Eagles' head coach has ever been more one with the city than Dick Vermeil.
Impact: After nearly 20 straight years of losing the Eagles were finally winners again. Unfortunately it didn't last. Vermeil burned out just 2 years later and so did the Eagles. It was 13 years before the Birds finally won another playoff game, 21 before they finally returned to NFC title game and 24 before they returned to the Superbowl.
#6 Current Phillies(2007-Present)
Love Factor: 8
Reason(s) For Love: Exercised the demons of 64 by rallying from 7 games down in September to win the 07 NL East title. Exercised the demons of 'Black Friday' by downing the Dodgers in back to back NLCS. Delivered the city's first championship in 25 years with the 08 world title, vanquishing the Billy Penn curse at least partially. Gave Harry Kalas his first and sadly only opportunity to call the final out of the world series.
Impact: Baseball is king in Philly once again. Not even the Eagles can match their popularity at this point. Like the Yankees and Red Sox they now routinely sell out before the season even begins, have fans in every stadium, not just the Bank, and are always in the World Series picture. No Philly team has ever matched the sustained excellence of this team and they've got all the other teams in the city trying to match them now. Likely to move up this list in the coming years.
#5 Hextall's Heroes (1987 Flyers).
Love Factor: 8.5
Reason(s) For Love: Pushed Gretzky's Oilers to the 7th game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Since their last triumph in 1975, no other Flyer's team has come closer to winning the cup. Just had an eclectic mix of fan favorites in Rick Tocchet, Dave Poulin, Tim Kerr, Brian Propp, Mark Howe, and a crazy rookie goalie named Ron Hextall. J.J Daigneault's winning goal in game 6 of the finals produced arguably the loadest roar in spectrum history.
Impact: As it turned out this would be the Flyers last real shot at a cup until the mid-90s. In the 24 years since they have advanced to only 2 Stanley Cup Finals. Why you ask? In all those years they have yet to find another goalie as good as Hextall. Things might finally be different this season.
#4 2001 Sixers
Love Factor: 8.5
Reason(s) For Love: Survived 2 grueling 7 game series in a row to advance to franchise' first NBA finals in 18 years. Denied the hated Lakers of the first perfect postseason in NBA history with an overtime win in game 1 of the finals. No one is more Philly than then owner Pat Croce. Allen Iverson was the epitome of Philly, the fearless little guy who just keeps getting back up again.
Impact: Like Fo Fo, briefly turned Philly into a basketball town when it was thought to be impossible to do so. Unfortunately, the renaissance didn't last as Allen Iverson was traded away and Larry Brown resigned. So far the team has yet to recover from their departures.
#3 1980 Phillies
Love Factor: 9
Reason(s) For Love: After 97 years of frustration they finally won the franchise' first ever world title. Survived arguably the most dramatic NLCS in history just get to the world series. All 4 Phillys teams played for a championship in 1980 but only the Phils finished the deal. Tug McGraw, fearless and effervescent, might be the most beloved reliever in history. Pete Rose, "Charlie Hustle", was always endearing to the fans with his grit and determination.
Impact: Proved that even the losing-est franchise in pro sports could be a champion. The legendary figures from that team as well as the drive and will to win with which they played remain an inspiration to this day. Could have changed the course of the franchise if ownership had not completely mortgaged the future to win a 2nd title in 1983.
#2 Macho Row(1993 Phillies)
Love Factor: 9.5
Reason(s) For Love: This wonderful wacky bunch of throwbacks led us on the 162 game joyride of a lifetime. Had an incredible will to win no matter the circumstances. Not necessarily the most talented team but wanted it more than anyone else. Every fan in the city and in America for that matter had a player on the team they could relate to. Probably had more wild and wacky endings then any team ever. Won franchise's first NL Pennant in 10 years. Pushed the mighty Blue Jays (then defending champions) to 6 games in the world series. The walkoff homer by you know who is arguably the most heartbreaking moment in Philly sports history.
Impact: Proved that talent and good looks aren't everything. It's hard to imagine any team being better remembered for losing a world series than these guys. Always a one shot deal, the Phils were doomed to losing seasons for the remainder of the decade. Eventually you have to put real talent on the field if you expect to win. It was 8 years before they finally started doing so, resulting in a winning season in 2001, and then their first postseason berth in 14 years in 2007.
#1 The Broad Street Bullies(Flyers 1974-1975)
Love Factor: 10
Reason(s) For Love: Only Philly team in the modern era to win back to back titles. Won the Orange and Black's last Stanley Cup in 1975. Had an enigmatic cast of characters, with the likes of Rick Macleish, "the Rifle" Reggie Leach, Bernie Parent, Andre "Moose" Dupont, Bill Barber, Gary Dornhoeffer, and Dave Schultz. Won the way Philly would have wanted them to, either outscoring the opposition with skill and precision or if all else failed, kicking the crap out of them. Nearly won a 3rd straight Stanley Cup before losing to the Canadiens in the 1976 finals. Bobby Clarke was most the fearsome competitor ever to wear the Orange and Black along with the Captain's C. Simply put, they were our team, our champions, and they were loved like it.
Impact: Ushered in a championship era in Philly, with the Phils following suit in 1980, the Eagles reaching the super bowl in 1981, and the Sixers winning their 2nd championship in 1983. Before they got here most people in the city didn't know what a puck was, now you would be hard pressed to find anyone in the city who isn't at least a casual fan. Even now they remain beloved by those who saw them play. Most still live in the area and contribute in multiple ways. Some returned to the team after retirement, most notably Clarke himself as GM, and Barber as head coach. 36 years later their accomplishments still hang like a cloud over the current Flyers and they will continue to unless they win the cup this year.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils and Nationals were washed out this afternoon and now will play a day night doubleheader on Sept 20 to make it up.
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