Thursday, July 20, 2006
EAGLES NEWS
Today (Wednesday) the Eagles resigned center Jamaal Jackson to a 7 year deal. Jackson started 8 games for the Eagles last season in place of the injured Hank Fraley, and the 2 will compete for the job this season. may the best man win!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
Normally when your team scores 12 runs in 2 games you've got good news to talk about, but not so for the Phillies. For the 2nd night in a row they trailed the Padres early 2-0, and like last night they rallied back to tie the score at 2, this time in the 3rd inning following a solo homer by Jimmy Rollins. However, unlike last night they were unable forge a lead and starter Ryan Madson could not escape the game, as Hamels had, with only 3 runs on his slate. Through 5 innings Madson held the Padres to 3 runs, but in the 6th inning which was likely to be his last, he ran into some trouble. Fueled by the same Adrian Gonzalez who had victimized the Phils last night the Padres touched up Madson for 4 runs, chasing him from the game. At this point the Padres lead 7-2 and were seemingly on their way to an easy win, but the Padres bullpen which began their night in the 7th inning, nearly recreated what the Phillies had done last night in blowing a 6-3 Phillies lead. Doug Brocail started the inning by surrendering 2 runs and three hits. Alan Embree replaced him , surrendered another run, and suddenly the Phillies were within 2 at 7-5, but Clay Meredith relieved Embree and retired the side, momentarily ending the Phillies rally. David Bell tripled and scored in the 8th inning of Scott Linebrink, to cut the lead to 7-6, and all at once it seemed a very real possibility that the Phils could steal one in San Diego, but it was not to be. Up until the bottom of the 8th inning the Phils bullpen, much maligned by me for their performance last night, had done pretty good, then the normally reliable Arthur Rhodes entered the game and well, let's just say he didn't have his best stuff as he gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, for a 10-6 Padres lead, effectively ending Phillies hopes for the night. Well, with tonight's loss the Phillies drop to 13.5 games back in their division, and 6 games in the wildcard race, with 8, yes 8 hit teams ahead of them. I know about you but to me it seems that the mountain is beginning to get a little to tall to climb. If they get really hot, really fast, their season could be over before they even know it. Well, happy trails everyone.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phillies went from the thrill of victory against the Giants on Sunday, to the agony of defeat against the Padres earlier tonight, wasting a golden opportunity to collect their 3rd win in a row. In the process, a sparkling performance by Cole Hamels, in front of his hometown, Ryan Howard's 31st homerun, a pair of RBIs by the suddenly red hot Pat Burrell, and a streak extending double(19) by Chase Utley all went for naught. For most of the night the Phillies trailed 2-1, and if not for the brilliant pitching of Hamels giving up just 3 runs on 5 hits through 5 and 2/3rds innings, they would have trailed by more. Finally in the top of the 6th inning using clucth hits from Chase Utley, Burrell, and pinch hitter Abraham Nunez the Phils scored 3 runs to go ahead 4-2. With 2 outs in the bottom of the inning, Adrian Gonzalez homered off Hamels to end his day, but it looked like it wouldn't matter, as reliever Rick White got out of the inning without further incident, and Ryan Howard answered in the 7th inning with a 2 run homer to seemingly put the Phillies, with the NL's 2nd best bullpen, up for good, but it was not to be. In the bottom of the inning Ryan Franklin recorded one out, but gave up 2 hits and was relieved by Rheal Cormier, who promptly served up Adrian Gonzalez' 2nd homerun of the day, a 3 run homer, tying the score at 6. Geoff Geary then relieved Cormier and somehow got out of the inning with the score at 7-6. Although the Phils were only down by 1 at this point the damage had been done. Geary could only manage one out in the 8th and gave up another run before being relieved by Aaron Fultz who got out off the inning. The game was over before the Phillies even stepped to the plate in the 9th inning as legendary closer Trevor Hoffman dazzled and retired the Phillies in order for an 8-6 Padres win. In all, the Phils bullpen gave up 5 runs and 7 hits, which at this point in the season in the 1st game of a series is simply inexcusable. As a team the Phillies did all they had to do to get a win tonight, it just came down to the bullpen closing out the game, and they didn't get the job done. The Phillies just cannot continue to allow games to slip away like this, otherwise they might as well kiss their playoff hopes good bye right now. Well happy trails everyone.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles Signed 2d round draft pick, offensive tackle Winston Justice to a 4 year deal. This now gives them 7 of their 8 draft picks under contract. Only 1st rd pick Broderick Bunkley remains unsigned. Justice is a solid offensive tackle, good enough to have gone in the 1st round of the draft. He will likely start this season as the backup to Tra, sorry William Thomas.
Monday, July 17, 2006
WEEKLY POLL QUESTION
Which is your favorite Philadelphia sports team?
a. The Phillies
b. The Eagles
c. The Sixers
d. The Flyers
e. other
f. I have No favorite I just like all of them
last week's results:
50% B. out in the 2nd rd
25% A. he'll crush 'em all
0% C. out in the 1st rd
a. The Phillies
b. The Eagles
c. The Sixers
d. The Flyers
e. other
f. I have No favorite I just like all of them
last week's results:
50% B. out in the 2nd rd
25% A. he'll crush 'em all
0% C. out in the 1st rd
PHILLIES NEWS
Well, the Phillies played another enertaining game today and this time I was able to watch and I didn't regret it. Today the Phillies rode the brilliant pitching of starter Brett Myers, back with the team for the 1st time since his infamous leave of absence, and timely hitting to an impressive 6-2 victory over the Giants, giving them 2 straight series wins, and 4 wins out of their last 6 games. Now, obviously those last numbers are nothing to brag about, but for a Phillies team that had been marred in a slump throughout June and into early July, they are an encouraging start. In addition, if the Phillies still hope to make the playoffs, they are going to have to continue winning 2 out a three like this for the rest of the season. Anyway back to the game, as I said before Brett Myers pitched brilliantly, going 7 innings and giving up just 2 runs on 5 hits. Meanwhile, his counterpart Matt Cain was pitching a gem of his own as he went 6 innings and gave up just 1 run on 1 hit. Cain actually left the game after the 6th inning with a 2-1 lead on homers by Ray Durham and Barry Bonds, but David Bell answered the Bell in the 7th inning with a homer of his own to tie the score at 2. Bell then followed with a triple, to cap off a 4 run 8th inning for the Phils, highlighted by Giants miscues in the outfield, one of which allowed a sure flyout by Chase Utley to fall in for a base hit, extending Utley's career best hitting streak to 18 games. From there with a 6-2 lead the Phillies coasted to the finish via another strong outing by their bullpen. Well, I don't know about you but I am starting to get excited at the prospects of a long phillies hot-streak. The Phillies rotation has some bite again with Jon Lieber, Cory Lidle, and Brett Myers all together again, Randy Wolf closing in on his return to the rotation, and Mike Lieberthal back behind the plate. Also the Phillies lineup has suddenly started to - gasp! manufacture runs. Put these 2 figures together and you've got the potential for another desperation-fueled playoff run like they had last year at this time in the season and wouldn't that be sweet. Well, happy trails everyone.
WEEKLY TRIVIA QUESTION
Who is the last Phillies Player to compile 30+ homeruns and 100+ RBIs in the same season?
last week's answer:
Ryne Sandberg and Dale Murphy
last week's answer:
Ryne Sandberg and Dale Murphy
Sunday, July 16, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
I am going to be honest, I was busy mowing the lawn this afternoon, so I didn't watch the Phillies game today(Saturday) and you know what, for once I am truly sorry that I didn't because from all the highlights and postgame reports I saw they put on a real show this afternoon. From start to finish in this game the Phillies were Goliath and the Giants were David, but today David misplaced his trusty slingshot and was thrashed by Goliath. No the Phillies pitching staff didn't have it best day today giving up 6 runs, 5 off starter Cory Lidle, and no the Phillies defense wasn't at its best either, committing 2 errors, but the Phillies offense was simply spectacular. They racked up 18 hits and 14 runs, both season highs, against a shellshocked Giants pitching staff. However, despite their 14 runs, the Phillies actually started this game behind 2-0 following the 1st inning and again 3-2 following the 2nd inning. From there though, things took off, as the Phillies scored run after run after run, until they had racked up 10 runs through 7 innings. Even then though, the result still remained in doubt as the Giants had scored 6 runs of their own. Then in the top of the 9th inning the Phillies put all debates of a victory to rest scoring 4 runs to widen their lead to the eventual final score, a laughable 14-6. Today's victory was made all the more sweet by some Phillies players who had the chance to celebrate their own achievements, with career and season milestones. Pat Burrell, who had been struggling so mightily for the past month, suddenly came to life and went 4 for 4 on the day collecting 4 RBIs on a three-run double, and a solo homer his 20th of the season. Ryan Howard, went 2 for 5 on the day collecting 2 RBIs on a 2 run homer, his 30th of the season. Last but not least we have Jimmy Rollins, noted for his normally brilliant defense play, but not usually for his hitting, he may finally have garnered a little respect at the plate today, collecting 2 hits in 7 at bats, 1 of them, his 1,000th career hit, joining Bobby Abreu and Mike Lieberthal, who made his 1st start for the Phillies today since returning from the disabled list, as the only active Phillies players with 1,000 or more career hits. Now when you win a game like this it tends to make you feel good about yourself, and that's probably how the Phillies are feeling right now. Hopefully that good feeling can carry over for the rest of the season. Well, happy trails everyone.
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