The anticipation had been mounting for a nearly week that tonight's clash in game 1 of the NLCS would be a pitching duel for the ages between Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum. Sadly the game did not quite live up to its billing. Neither Halladay nor Lincecum had their best stuff and surprisingly the long ball ruled the night. Halladay allowed 4 runs on 8 hits, including 2 homers, while striking out 7 while Lincecum allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, including 2 homers, while striking out 8. Ultimately, it came down to who would take better advantage of their opportunities and on this night it just so happened that it was Giants who did so, and so they got the win in game 1 and the Phils took the loss.
Cody Ross gave San Francisco the initial 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the 3rd inning. Carlos Ruiz answered right back in the home half of the 3rd with a solo bomb of his known. Ross tagged Halladay again in the 5th for a 2-1 Giants lead. Then in the 6th Buster Posey slapped an innocent 2 out single before Halladay was denied a close strike 3 against Pat Burrell. That gave 'the Bat' a chance to hit a deep fly ball to left field on the next pitch which Raul Ibanez probably should have caught. Instead it bounced off his glove and went for an RBI double to make it 3-1 Giants. Burrell was replaced with a pinch runner Nate Schierholtz, who scored on a single back up the middle by Juan Uribe, as Shane Victorino's throw home went off line.
That run proved crucial as Jayson Werth crushed a 2 run homer in the home half of the 6th to cut it 4-3. Without that extra run it would have been tied at 3. Instead the Phils needed one more run in the last few innings and unfortunately Werth was stranded in the 8th, and Ruiz and then pinch runner Wilson Valdez were stranded in the 9th inning as Brian Wilson and the G-men hung on for the 4-3 win. I am not surprised the Giants, just how they won. I never knew Ross had it in him. He was terrible for the Marlins in the regular season and the Phils seemed to own him then which just makes you wonder what's changed. Anyway 1 game does not make a series, and the Phils are just going to have to dust themselves off and win game 2 or they're in big trouble.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers sloppy play continued tonight against the injury depleted Penguins. With Jordan Staal, Brooks Orpik, and Zbynek Michalek all missing from the Pittsburgh arsenal the Flyers should have been able to handle them. Instead they made it way too easy for the Pens to get out of the Wells Fargo center with a win. Once again they spent most of the night on the penalty kill with 10 penalties, 8 of which resulted in power plays, and as a result could never get it going offensively. Currently they lead the league in having shorthanded a whopping 31 times. The Flyers power play struggles also continued as they went just 1 for 5, to drop to a league low 2 for 22 on the season. You could maybe overcome just having a poor power play or just taking too many penalties, but it is almost impossible to overcome both and the Orange and Black are learning that the hard way right now.
The Flyers actually had the early lead with Danny Briere scoring just the Flyer's 2nd power play goal of the season a little under 7 minutes into the 1st period. It was all Pittsburgh after that. The managed to kill off their first 6 penalties, but Pittsburgh scored twice anyway, late in the 1st period and late in the 2nd period, to take a 2-1 lead into the penultimate period. The Flyers actually went into the 3rd killing off a 4 on 3 and almost got out of it before Claude Giroux was whistled for tripping to set up a 5 on 3. On that 5 on 3 Sidney Crosby sunk the Flyers for good with 2 goals within a minute of one another for a quick 4-1 lead. Pittsburgh later added an empty netter to walk away with an easy 5-1 win.
The Flyers actually had the early lead with Danny Briere scoring just the Flyer's 2nd power play goal of the season a little under 7 minutes into the 1st period. It was all Pittsburgh after that. The managed to kill off their first 6 penalties, but Pittsburgh scored twice anyway, late in the 1st period and late in the 2nd period, to take a 2-1 lead into the penultimate period. The Flyers actually went into the 3rd killing off a 4 on 3 and almost got out of it before Claude Giroux was whistled for tripping to set up a 5 on 3. On that 5 on 3 Sidney Crosby sunk the Flyers for good with 2 goals within a minute of one another for a quick 4-1 lead. Pittsburgh later added an empty netter to walk away with an easy 5-1 win.
Friday, October 15, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils NLCS roster is set. There are only 2 changes from the NLDS roster. Kyle Kendrick was added to the roster to be the long man in the bullpen as Joe Blanton moves back into the rotation to start game 4. Greg Dobbs was removed from the roster to make room for Kyle Kendrick. That leaves only Wilson Valdez to back up 3rd base, shortstop, and 2nd base. While Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, or Chase Utley could be removed from roster in the event of injury, they would then be ineligible for the world series. So the Phils better hope no one gets hurt or they could be in big trouble.
EAGLES NEWS
Kevin Kolb will start again for the Eagles on Sunday. Mike Vick has not been totally ruled out though and could be at least a wildcat option or a decoy against his old team. After receiving arthroscopic surgery on his knee Jason Peters will not play on Sunday. Instead King Dunlap will get the start at left tackle. Uh oh. Watch out Kevin.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
FLYERS NEWS
When Simon Gagne was traded to the Lightning in the offseason the first thing most fans likely did was check the schedule to see when Tampa Bay's first visit to Philly would be. As it turned out that visit was tonight, in just the Orange and Black's 2nd home game of the season. The Lighting came in fresh off an overtime war in Montreal on Wednesday and thus should have been tired an easy mark for the Flyers. Instead they played with a surprising energy the Flyers could never quite muster. Maybe they were extra motivated to win for Simon or maybe the Orange and Black decided to throw their old buddy a bone, but whatever the reason, Tampa just had it tonight and Flyers didn't.
The Orange and Black struggled particularly on defense, continuing to turn the puck over and take bad penalties as they have all season thus far. They took 7 penalties alltogether, 6 of which resulted in power plays. While their red hot penalty kill managed kill off all 6 power plays , the constant penalty killing took away any momentum they might have been able build offensively from 2nd the period on. Moreover, the Flyers power play continued to struggle, going o for 4 on the night, to move to 1 for 17 on the season. Just 1 power play would have at least gotten them a point tonigt. By the same token if Brian Boucher's play in net had been just a tad better they would have gotten at least a point also. He was pretty much hung out to dry on 2 of the 3 Lightning goals but he probably should stopped the last one.
There were at least some bright spots for the Flyers on the night. Late in the 1st period Nikolay Zherdev scored his first goal as a Flyer and 100th of his NHL career. At the time the goal tied the score at 1. Midway through the 3rd period Danny Briere scored his 3rd of the season to cut the Tampa Lead at the time to 3-2 and briefly restore Flyer's hopes of earning a point or 2. Unfortunately a James Van Reimsdyk penalty put the Flyes right back on the penalty kill stalling the comeback. They just ran out of time and steam from there as Tampa hung on for the 3-2 win. I'm happy that Simon got one more win, at the Wachovia, er Wells Fargo center, but the Flyers will need to start playing up to their ability to avoid any more losses like this one.
The Orange and Black struggled particularly on defense, continuing to turn the puck over and take bad penalties as they have all season thus far. They took 7 penalties alltogether, 6 of which resulted in power plays. While their red hot penalty kill managed kill off all 6 power plays , the constant penalty killing took away any momentum they might have been able build offensively from 2nd the period on. Moreover, the Flyers power play continued to struggle, going o for 4 on the night, to move to 1 for 17 on the season. Just 1 power play would have at least gotten them a point tonigt. By the same token if Brian Boucher's play in net had been just a tad better they would have gotten at least a point also. He was pretty much hung out to dry on 2 of the 3 Lightning goals but he probably should stopped the last one.
There were at least some bright spots for the Flyers on the night. Late in the 1st period Nikolay Zherdev scored his first goal as a Flyer and 100th of his NHL career. At the time the goal tied the score at 1. Midway through the 3rd period Danny Briere scored his 3rd of the season to cut the Tampa Lead at the time to 3-2 and briefly restore Flyer's hopes of earning a point or 2. Unfortunately a James Van Reimsdyk penalty put the Flyes right back on the penalty kill stalling the comeback. They just ran out of time and steam from there as Tampa hung on for the 3-2 win. I'm happy that Simon got one more win, at the Wachovia, er Wells Fargo center, but the Flyers will need to start playing up to their ability to avoid any more losses like this one.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
SIXERS NEWS
Jrue Holiday finally ended his preseason struggles tonight against the Raptors with a triple double, 18pts, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds, but the Sixers still lost their 4th preseason game to Toronto in double overtime, 119-116. The Sixers nearly forced a 3rd overtime but Lou Williams missed a 3 pointer at the buzzer. Aside from Holiday other standout Sixer stars, included Evan Turner who had a double double, with 13 points and 12 rebounds, Craig Brackins with 15, Eltan Brand and Jodie Meeks with 12 each and Williams himself who added 10 points off the bench.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles have traded RB Mike Bell to the Browns for RB Jerome Harrison. Bell was injury prone and ineffective for the Birds and they had been discussing acquiring another running back in his stead so does not come as a surprise. A year ago when Harrison rushed for the most combined yards in the final 3 games of a season in the NFL history this would have been a huge move. Now it is still a nice move but nothing earth shattering. Harrison, a fast outside runner, whereas Bell was a slower inside runner, should be better suited to the Eagles offense and I look forward to seeing him on the field.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
SIXERS NEWS
With Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Shaq, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo all getting night off for Boston, the Sixers, who did play their starters, were finally able to get their first preseason win and their first win of any kind for Doug Collins, defeating the Celtics 103-92. 3 of their 5 starters, Andre Iguodala with 10, Thad Young with 10, and Jrue Holiday with 12, scored in double figures, while the bench combined for 57 huge points which proved to be the difference. In fact, the Sixer's leading scorer on the night, was Mo Speights who came off the bench for 19 points. A win is a win, but it would have been much more impressive if the Celtics had actually been trying to win. At least they finally have a win though.
EAGLES NEWS
Once though to be done for the season with a torn up elbow, Broderick Bunckley might now actually be able to play through the injury if he so chooses. The Eagles will just have wait and see about that. In the meantime, Jeff Owens, the 2010 draft pick still in Philly who hadn't already been a part of the regular roster, has been promoted from the practice squad to replace Bunkley. In other injury news Asante Samuel is apparently over his post concussion symptoms and has been cleared to practice. He should be back in the Eagles starting lineup come Sunday.
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