Saturday, July 15, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
As you traverse through the long winding road that is the MLB regular season, you will come across some bumps in the road, that you know should have flattened but you didn't. Tonight's(Friday) game was one of those bumps that should have been flattened. It's not often that any team, even the Phillies, builds an early lead with their staff ace on the mound and is unable to make it stand up, but that is exactly what happened to Phillies. They built an early 3-0 lead over the Giants on a sacrifice fly by Bobby Abreu in the 1st inning, and a 2 run homer by Ryan Howard in the 4th inning, yes it's official the home run derby is not still bothering him. This 3-0 lead however, would not last long as Jon Lieber just did not have his best stuff today when needed it. In the very same 4th inning in which Howard had homered, the Giants Ray Durham hit a two homer of his own, following a walk and a stolen base by of all people, Barry Bonds. 2 innings later in the bottom of the 6th things got worse for the Phillies, as with one out and 2 on Chase Utley booted a sure double play ball. By the time the smoke had finally cleared on the inning the Giants had scored 2 more runs, and Utley had gone from All-Star to goat in less than a week. At this point the Giants led 5-3 and as they say in some news circles that's the way the cookie crumbled. The Phillies never recovered from Utley's gaff, and the bullpens of both teams shut things down the rest of the way. Not quite what I had in mind yesterday when I was hoping that the Phillies would get on off the on right foot in this the second half of their season. In fact if you ask me I'd say they got off the wrong foot. With this loss the Phillies are now 8 games under .500 at 40-48 and seem to be slipping closer and closer towards the dark abyss of rebuilding, and selling off all of their veterans. For the sake of all those like me, who have suffered with this team for the last 12 years, let's hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does just remember I told you so. Well happy trails everyone.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers continued their busy off-season today (Friday) by resigning defenseman Joni Pitkanen to a one year contract. Pitkanen led all Flyers defenseman in points last season, but he spent considerable time on the injured list and struggled during the playoffs. If he is to make a significant contribution to the Flyers this upcoming season he will have to learn how to be more durable and reliable.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
As I mentioned the Phillies are on break until tomorrow when they start the 2nd half of their season by opening a 3 game set in San Francisco with the Giants. Jon Lieber will be on the mound for the Phillies in the 1st game of the series. Opposing him for the Giants will be Matt Morris. Here's hoping the Phillies get off on the right foot, and happy trails everyone.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers announced today that they have signed free agents Boyd Kane, Daniel Corso and Martin Grenier and re-signed right wing Matt Ellison each to a one-year contract. As far as I know all of these guys are career AHLers with limited NHL experience, but I guess since virtually every player on the Phantoms roster ended up with the Flyers last season, they had to give them something.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers made the trade of John Salmons official today as they agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors for a 2nd round pick in next year's draft and of course the trade exception I mentioned before.
EAGLES NEWS
4th round pick WR Jason Avant became the 6th Eagles draft pick to sign with the team today when he agreed to a 4 year deal. Avant has starred with the University of Michigan Wolverines for the last 4 years, but I am not really sure how the Eagles plan to use him, but hopefully he can be another valuable weapon for the Eagles offense. With Avant signed only 1st rd pick Broderick Bunkley and 2nd rd pick Winston Justice remain unsigned by the Eagles.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers did some spring cleaning today, resigning restricted free agents Willie Green and Shavlick Randolph, and putting another restricted free agent, John Salmons on the trading block. Sixers president Billy King has reported that Salmons will be traded in a sign and trade with two teams, and in return the Sixers will get a draft pick and a trade exception, which is a mechanism by which teams like Sixers who are over the salary cap, orchestrate trades while still over cap and avoid any penalty. Salmons has never really fit in with the Sixers, and it is probably about time they let someone else deal with him. As for Green and Randolph it is probably for the best that the Sixer's resigned them because last season they were the only bright spots on the Sixer's bench.
EAGLES NEWS
Defensive end/Linebacker Chris Gocong became the 5th Eagles draft pick to sign with the team, when he joined Jeremy Bloom today in agreeing with the Eagles to a 4 year contract. Gocong was selected by the Eagles in the 3rd round of the draft and is the reigning division 1-aa defensive player of the year, outside of that I don't know much about him, but if the Eagles are excited about him, then it is good enough for me.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
The MLB All-Star game was tonight and it featured three Phillies, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Tom "Flash" Gordon. Utley started the game at 2nd base, singled in his first at-bat in the 1st inning and later followed that up with a snare of a line drive by Ivan Rodriguez. Howard, did not enter the game until the 6th inning and his lone at-bat came in the 9th inning. In fact, he had chance to repeat his heroics of a night ago, with one on, one out and the NL trailing 3-2, but he grounded into a fielder's choice, as the NL lost a heartbreaker 3-2. Gordon, did not enter the game until the 8th inning, but when he did he was lights out, pitching a perfect top half of the 8th. In end though, as I mentioned his effort went for naught. All in all this all-star experience, despite the tough loss, was a memorable one both for those who had none previously, Howard and Utley, and for those who had it before, Gordon. Well, happy trails everyone.
EAGLES NEWS
Kick-returner/Wide Reciever Jeremy Bloom became the 4th Eagles draft pick to sign with the team today, when it was announced by his agent that he has agreed with the Eagles on a contract, although of course no specifics could be divulged. Bloom is a speedster and although he hasn't played football in 2 years, due an NCAA rules infraction stemming from the endorsements he recieved as an olympic skier, he showed at the NFL combine that he still posseses the speed that made him a star at Colorado and the Eagles feel like he can upgrade their special teams and wide recieving corps.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers recieved some good news today when it was announced that Peter Forsberg will not need surgery on his ankle, and by consequence he will be ready to play for the Flyers at the beginning of the upcoming NHL season. All together now, THANK YOU GOD!
Monday, July 10, 2006
PHILLIES NEWS
Although he didn't come anywhere close to Bobby Abreu's total of 41 homers in last year's derby Ryan Howard made it 2 home run derby titles in a row for the Phillies when he bested David bleeping Wright 5 -4 in the final round, and that after rallying to hit 8 homers in the 1st round, 4 on his final out, and 10 homers in the 2nd round, 6 on his final two outs. All in all Howard put on quite a show and at least gave Phillies fans something to cheer for in what has been an otherwise lackluster season so far. Now let's hope Howard doesn't fizzle out for the remainder of the season like Abreu did last year. Well, happy trails everyone.
EAGLES NEWS
Today 4th rd pick Max-Jean Gilles became the third Eagles draft pick to sign with the team when he signed a 4 year contract. From what I know about Gilles he is big and a monster on the offensive line. He should definitely help to beaf up the Eagles offensive line.
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