I really thought it would be best to hold on the Sixers season preview until after getting a look at the team they would play first. Yes, the Sixers open the season tonight at home against the future NBA Champion Miami Heat. All buzz surrounds the Heat this season as LeBron James and Chris Bosh, the two top free agents of this summer's class, joined up with reigning King of South Beach Dwyane Wade.
While LeBron was deciding to "take his talents to South Beach" (my own personal euphemism for masturbation), your Philadelphia 76ers made some "big" news. Well... big for them. Hiring Doug Collins as coach and getting the number 2 pick in the NBA draft is always good.
Key Additions:
Getting Doug Collins as coach will hopefully provide some stability on this team. Collins has had success in the past with Chicago, Detroit, and less notably with Washington.
Evan Turner was selected the number 2 pick overall behind Washington's John Wall. Early reports on Turner classified him as one of the most NBA-ready players from the draft. However, stories out of training camp and his preseason performance tell a tale of a lot of work to be done with Turner. Who knows if Turner and Andre Iguodala can coexist? Turner will start the season riding the pine for the Sixers.
While I wouldn't call them "key additions", the Sixers made a couple of moves this offseason to help provide some depth and size across the board. Trying to improve their big men, they sent Sammy Dalembert to Sacramento for C Spencer Hawes and F Andres Nocioni. Nocioni has been known for playing with a large contract and under performing but Hawes may be a nice role player sharing the front court with Marreese Speights.
Key Losses
The aforementioned Samuel Dalembert was traded in June but will not really be missed. The Sixers of course said goodbye to Allen Iverson who just signed to play over in Turkey. Again nothing major.
The one key player that was lost this offseason was Willie Green. Pushed out due to the draft of Turner, Green was the odd-guard out on this team and was traded to New Orleans along with Jason Smith for Darius Songaila and Craig Brackins. Brackins was the 21st overall pick in this year's draft by the Thunder and was bounced to New Orleans before being traded for Green.
Green put up some good years in Philly but ultimately left the team and the fan base wanting more.
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The Sixers have a very good, young core to build around. Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala, Evan Turner, and Thaddeus Young all provide some excitement in the back court. However, questions abound with the Sixers up front as the aging Brand looks to shake his "bust" label as a Sixer and we don't possess a game-changing big man in either Hawes or Speights.
It is definitely a rebuilding time and I believe this season could get ugly. I don't think that Turner is the player that everyone thinks he is. He can be a good NBA player at best, but I would never say he's going to be great. I don't think he'll be able to coexist with Iguodala and I think by mid-season, one of them will be gone. My money is on Iguodala as the Sixers can try to move him and acquire some expiring contracts.
The Sixers play in a very weak division but in an ever-increasing tough conference. Besides the Celtics, no other team in the Atlantic is that scary, but I still think the Sixers will finish in 3rd place in the division and 10th in the Conference overall. Which means, of course, they'll miss the playoffs. I don't see this team being able to gel and they'll face tough opponents in the East against the elite (Celtics, Magic, Heat) and against the up-an-comers (Bobcats, Hawks, Bulls, Bucks, Knicks).
It will definitely be a tough first matchup as we'll see if "Miami Thrice" can live up to its billing tonight in the Wachovia Center.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Free Agents
Now that the Phillies season is officially over, fans everywhere are of course wondering about keeping this core together for another run. While most of the veterans are planning on returning, the Phillies 2011 payroll is already pretty big. The Phillies already have over $135 million committed to just 16 players and several Phillies regulars are on the possible move this offseason. Of course the biggest being Jamie Moyer. Just kidding, I meant Jayson Werth. Here's a look at the six big free agents including my rating of chance of resigning and possible destinations for all.
Jose Contreras, RP
Contreras had a good year and looks to land a gig somewhere in the league in 2011. He's getting up there in age but proved he still has some decent stuff. I was surprised to see him as much as we did in the postseason but obviously Charlie only trusted a handful out of his bullpen and Contreras was one of them.
Chance of resigning: 5%
My guess for destinations: You're guess is as good as mine but look for Contreras to land somewhere in the National League.
Chad Durbin, RP
Durbin has been one of the most consistent relief pitchers on the team for the past few years. He provides a solid setup or mop up role and is always depended on for those big outs in innings 6 and 7. I really hope the Phillies can resign Durbin and I have a feeling they might be able to work something out.
Chance of resigning: 60%
My guess for destinations: Phillies, Rays, Angels all need right handed bullpen help.
Jamie Moyer, SP
Jamie Moyer, the oldest dude in the league, is still hoping to pitch in 2011. I'm not sure after the injuries this year and it will be interesting to see if announcers can come up with better ways to describe how old Jamie is. My personal favorite: When Moyer pitches against the Cubs and announcers remark how Moyer started for the Cubs four years before shortstop Starlin Castro was even born.
Chance of resigning: 50%
My guess for destinations: It's either one more year with the Phils or packing it in. I don't think any other team will give him a chance.
J.C. Romero, RP
Everyone needs a lefty out of the pen and the Phillies are no exception. Bastardo may be the only left-handed option as Romero's price may be too high for the Phils in 2011.
Chance of resigning: 10%
My guess for destinations: Like I said, any team could use a left-handed reliever. All 30 teams would benefit from someone like Romero.
Mike Sweeney, 1B
The midseason acquisitions due to Ryan Howard's ankle injury finally made it to the postseason after long stints in Kansas City and Seattle. It might be short lived though as the Phillies have very little need for Sweeney. It's a shame because Sweeney brings a lot of emotion and passion to the bench and every at-bat he seemed to be fully pumped up. I know he's a clubhouse favorite and will look to either retire or bring his leadership to a young club for another year.
Chance of resigning: 0%
My guess for destinations: Look for either retirement or being a DH or backup 1B for a young team in the American League. I can see the Orioles using a guy like Sweeney perhaps.
Jayson Werth, RF
Ahhh, Jayson Werth. Our number five hitter and really the only power threat we have from the right side of the plate. It will be tough not having Werth in the lineup as top prospect Dominic Brown, a left handed hitter, looks to replace Jayson in right field. Jayson has given the Phillies some great seasons and I'm still shocked that he's tied for the all time National League lead in postseason home runs with 13. If you end up going, you will be missed. Is this a case where loyalty outweighs big bucks? Unfortunately, my guess is no as Jayson has seen huge contracts be given to high profile outfielders the past few seasons in Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and also this offseason, Carl Crawford.
Chance of resigning: 20%
My guess for destinations: Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox. Having the Phils on this list may just be wishful thinking but it's a good guess that Werth is leaving the City of Brotherly Love. The Phillies just cannot afford the length and terms of a contract that Werth will demand on the open market. The Yankees seem to be the odds on favorite for Werth's services assuming they don't sign Crawford. The fact that Werth had lunch with Reggie Jackson during the All Star break in New York speaks volumes about what type of recruiting the Yanks could have on Werth. It's not a hard sell. Imagine if Werth hit his 13 postseason homers in Yankees pinstripes. He'd be a household name by now. Just saying. For now, I'll hold a dim light for J-Dub to return but I feel this moth is heading to a bigger flame. (And yes, the Yankees are big flamers.)
Jose Contreras, RP
Contreras had a good year and looks to land a gig somewhere in the league in 2011. He's getting up there in age but proved he still has some decent stuff. I was surprised to see him as much as we did in the postseason but obviously Charlie only trusted a handful out of his bullpen and Contreras was one of them.
Chance of resigning: 5%
My guess for destinations: You're guess is as good as mine but look for Contreras to land somewhere in the National League.
Chad Durbin, RP
Durbin has been one of the most consistent relief pitchers on the team for the past few years. He provides a solid setup or mop up role and is always depended on for those big outs in innings 6 and 7. I really hope the Phillies can resign Durbin and I have a feeling they might be able to work something out.
Chance of resigning: 60%
My guess for destinations: Phillies, Rays, Angels all need right handed bullpen help.
Jamie Moyer, SP
Jamie Moyer, the oldest dude in the league, is still hoping to pitch in 2011. I'm not sure after the injuries this year and it will be interesting to see if announcers can come up with better ways to describe how old Jamie is. My personal favorite: When Moyer pitches against the Cubs and announcers remark how Moyer started for the Cubs four years before shortstop Starlin Castro was even born.
Chance of resigning: 50%
My guess for destinations: It's either one more year with the Phils or packing it in. I don't think any other team will give him a chance.
J.C. Romero, RP
Everyone needs a lefty out of the pen and the Phillies are no exception. Bastardo may be the only left-handed option as Romero's price may be too high for the Phils in 2011.
Chance of resigning: 10%
My guess for destinations: Like I said, any team could use a left-handed reliever. All 30 teams would benefit from someone like Romero.
Mike Sweeney, 1B
The midseason acquisitions due to Ryan Howard's ankle injury finally made it to the postseason after long stints in Kansas City and Seattle. It might be short lived though as the Phillies have very little need for Sweeney. It's a shame because Sweeney brings a lot of emotion and passion to the bench and every at-bat he seemed to be fully pumped up. I know he's a clubhouse favorite and will look to either retire or bring his leadership to a young club for another year.
Chance of resigning: 0%
My guess for destinations: Look for either retirement or being a DH or backup 1B for a young team in the American League. I can see the Orioles using a guy like Sweeney perhaps.
Jayson Werth, RF
Ahhh, Jayson Werth. Our number five hitter and really the only power threat we have from the right side of the plate. It will be tough not having Werth in the lineup as top prospect Dominic Brown, a left handed hitter, looks to replace Jayson in right field. Jayson has given the Phillies some great seasons and I'm still shocked that he's tied for the all time National League lead in postseason home runs with 13. If you end up going, you will be missed. Is this a case where loyalty outweighs big bucks? Unfortunately, my guess is no as Jayson has seen huge contracts be given to high profile outfielders the past few seasons in Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and also this offseason, Carl Crawford.
Chance of resigning: 20%
My guess for destinations: Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox. Having the Phils on this list may just be wishful thinking but it's a good guess that Werth is leaving the City of Brotherly Love. The Phillies just cannot afford the length and terms of a contract that Werth will demand on the open market. The Yankees seem to be the odds on favorite for Werth's services assuming they don't sign Crawford. The fact that Werth had lunch with Reggie Jackson during the All Star break in New York speaks volumes about what type of recruiting the Yanks could have on Werth. It's not a hard sell. Imagine if Werth hit his 13 postseason homers in Yankees pinstripes. He'd be a household name by now. Just saying. For now, I'll hold a dim light for J-Dub to return but I feel this moth is heading to a bigger flame. (And yes, the Yankees are big flamers.)
Monday Hangover - October 25, 2010
One might say that the proverbial Philadelphia sports moment was realized this weekend. In one of our darkest moments in recent memory, Philly sports let you down. This hangover...well... will take a while to overcome. The figurative vomit taste that is still on your tongue after this weekend will not subside quickly and this one will sting. As Zach P. would say, "Put this in the heartbreak category." Indeed.
40 ounces to Phreedom
I should pour a 40 for my fallen homey, the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies. A great run. A great team. But overall, everyone knew that anything short of another World Series victory would be a huge disappointment. Remember, this year may have been the only time that a Philly sports team was the odds-on favorite for winning it all when entering the postseason.
As the dust begins to settle after this very tough loss, many will look at a particular person to blame. Well I can't answer that question directly, but I can tell you who not to blame. Don't blame rodeo clown and NLCS MVP Cody Ross. Don't blame Tim Lincecum or that bearded crazy person of a closer Brian Wilson. Don't blame offensive lineman Juan Uribe for the game winning blast in Game 6. And you can never blame anyone referred to as Panda because you know... Pandas are endangered or something. Don't blame Ryan Howard for taking the last pitch. You can't blame Brad Lidge or Ryan Madson and you can't fault H20 for this one. Cholly made some head-scratching moves this series but nope... can't blame him either.
In the end, baseball is a collective effort. When a team wins, the team wins collectively. All pieces must go together to create a product. The same can be said when they fail. And this failure, was a collective effort. Every single player on this club has partial blame. Every coach in the dugout and every suit in the office is somewhat to blame for the disappointing and premature end to the 2010 season.
With the World Series set to begin Wednesday night in San Fran, there will be a lot of familiar faces. Cliff Lee and Pat Burrell look to be major factors for their respective teams. Still, it will hurt to watch these games, thinking about what could have been and having arguably the two best teams in the league being ousted in their respective LCS.
And this is why I think that for just the 2010 season, the MLB should go all ECW. Let's give fans what they really wanted to see in a Yankees-Phillies rematch complete with loud intro music for each player and have Jayson Werth come out in a Yankees jersey only to rip it off and a have Phillies jersey underneath. Have Mike Schmidt parachute into the stadium and use a tire iron upside the head of Reggie Jackson or something. It would be great, but unfortunately, it was only in my dreams last night. And that's where the Phillies will reside until February 2011. Only in my dreams...
TKO
For those who don't know what a TKO is, it's tequila, Kahlua and Ouzo and a lot tastier than it sounds. But on Sunday it also meant what just potentially happened to the Eagles season. Yeah this one hurt. Heading into a bye and having a very difficult schedule after the said bye makes this loss tough to swallow, unlike the delicious TKO mentioned above. Ok, I need to remember that it's 8 am on a Monday before I start thinking about drinking. But the Eagles loss almost forces me to drink in complete despair.
TKO may also be wide receiver Kenny Britt's new nickname (Tennessee Knock Out) as Britt exploded against the Eagles and almost beat them single-handed. Britt caught three touchdowns and had 225 total receiving yards. And this was after not entering the game until a little before halftime. Why you might ask? Because he was being disciplined for having an altercation in a nightclub on Friday night.
Anyway, this is the second loss for this team in a game that should have been winnable. The game was all but won in the fourth quarter with 13 minutes left to go. The Eagles were up 19-10 and Chris Johnson looked more like Moose Johnston running the ball. Sure the offense looked shaky but the defense had done its job.
That's when Britt exploded. An 80-yard touchdown here. Another 16-yard touchdown snag there and just like that, it was 27-19 Titans with less than 5 minutes remaining. The rest of the game got even uglier as a Jorrick Calvin muffed punt put the nail in the coffin for the Eagles and lowered their record to 4-3 heading into the bye week.
The mistake filled game may have also cost Kevin Kolb the "starting" job (of course the definition of starter may change week to week), as Michael Vick is expected to start after bye against Indianapolis.
The Eagles have been tough to watch at times this year. Piling on points to Detroit only to have the Lions almost come back was nauseau-inducing. Tough losses against Green Bay, Washington and Tennessee have overshadowed the blow outs against Jacksonville and Atlanta. For three quarters of play, the Eagles put a little bit of hope into this city after the Phillies defeat the previous night. But no... the Eagles loss caused an even heavier Monday Hangover.
Of course it could have been worse this Monday. At least the Flyers won 5-2 on Saturday. Go Fly Boys!
40 ounces to Phreedom
I should pour a 40 for my fallen homey, the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies. A great run. A great team. But overall, everyone knew that anything short of another World Series victory would be a huge disappointment. Remember, this year may have been the only time that a Philly sports team was the odds-on favorite for winning it all when entering the postseason.
As the dust begins to settle after this very tough loss, many will look at a particular person to blame. Well I can't answer that question directly, but I can tell you who not to blame. Don't blame rodeo clown and NLCS MVP Cody Ross. Don't blame Tim Lincecum or that bearded crazy person of a closer Brian Wilson. Don't blame offensive lineman Juan Uribe for the game winning blast in Game 6. And you can never blame anyone referred to as Panda because you know... Pandas are endangered or something. Don't blame Ryan Howard for taking the last pitch. You can't blame Brad Lidge or Ryan Madson and you can't fault H20 for this one. Cholly made some head-scratching moves this series but nope... can't blame him either.
In the end, baseball is a collective effort. When a team wins, the team wins collectively. All pieces must go together to create a product. The same can be said when they fail. And this failure, was a collective effort. Every single player on this club has partial blame. Every coach in the dugout and every suit in the office is somewhat to blame for the disappointing and premature end to the 2010 season.
With the World Series set to begin Wednesday night in San Fran, there will be a lot of familiar faces. Cliff Lee and Pat Burrell look to be major factors for their respective teams. Still, it will hurt to watch these games, thinking about what could have been and having arguably the two best teams in the league being ousted in their respective LCS.
And this is why I think that for just the 2010 season, the MLB should go all ECW. Let's give fans what they really wanted to see in a Yankees-Phillies rematch complete with loud intro music for each player and have Jayson Werth come out in a Yankees jersey only to rip it off and a have Phillies jersey underneath. Have Mike Schmidt parachute into the stadium and use a tire iron upside the head of Reggie Jackson or something. It would be great, but unfortunately, it was only in my dreams last night. And that's where the Phillies will reside until February 2011. Only in my dreams...
TKO
For those who don't know what a TKO is, it's tequila, Kahlua and Ouzo and a lot tastier than it sounds. But on Sunday it also meant what just potentially happened to the Eagles season. Yeah this one hurt. Heading into a bye and having a very difficult schedule after the said bye makes this loss tough to swallow, unlike the delicious TKO mentioned above. Ok, I need to remember that it's 8 am on a Monday before I start thinking about drinking. But the Eagles loss almost forces me to drink in complete despair.
TKO may also be wide receiver Kenny Britt's new nickname (Tennessee Knock Out) as Britt exploded against the Eagles and almost beat them single-handed. Britt caught three touchdowns and had 225 total receiving yards. And this was after not entering the game until a little before halftime. Why you might ask? Because he was being disciplined for having an altercation in a nightclub on Friday night.
Anyway, this is the second loss for this team in a game that should have been winnable. The game was all but won in the fourth quarter with 13 minutes left to go. The Eagles were up 19-10 and Chris Johnson looked more like Moose Johnston running the ball. Sure the offense looked shaky but the defense had done its job.
That's when Britt exploded. An 80-yard touchdown here. Another 16-yard touchdown snag there and just like that, it was 27-19 Titans with less than 5 minutes remaining. The rest of the game got even uglier as a Jorrick Calvin muffed punt put the nail in the coffin for the Eagles and lowered their record to 4-3 heading into the bye week.
The mistake filled game may have also cost Kevin Kolb the "starting" job (of course the definition of starter may change week to week), as Michael Vick is expected to start after bye against Indianapolis.
The Eagles have been tough to watch at times this year. Piling on points to Detroit only to have the Lions almost come back was nauseau-inducing. Tough losses against Green Bay, Washington and Tennessee have overshadowed the blow outs against Jacksonville and Atlanta. For three quarters of play, the Eagles put a little bit of hope into this city after the Phillies defeat the previous night. But no... the Eagles loss caused an even heavier Monday Hangover.
Of course it could have been worse this Monday. At least the Flyers won 5-2 on Saturday. Go Fly Boys!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Up Against It
The Phillies found themselves in an unenviable position Wednesday night after Juan Uribe, one of the starting offensive linemen for the San Francisco Giants, popped a game winning sac fly in the bottom of the ninth to win Game 4. Down 3-1 in the LCS, and looking like a team whose resolve had been zapped by the clutch performances of an energetic, confident Giants team, the Phillies looked all but done. However, just like the middle of the season when they fell to 7 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, I couldn't give up on them. I thought, why not? Why couldn't they beat the Giants 3 games in a row? All it would take was one win in San Fran, and they could bring it back to Philly with what will be an absolutely insane crowd for Game 6 (and hopefully 7). Sure enough, they did what they had to do. Roy Halladay, groin injury and all, gutted it out to lead the Phillies to a 4-2 victory in what was essentially the biggest start of his career with the season on the line.
The Giants had a chance to end it at home, but they didn't. Now, the Phillies have momentum. They still have Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. They still have a lineup who CAN heat it up at any moment and light up the scoreboard, even though they've struggled. But who says they can't turn it on at any moment? If the Phillies win Game 6, you can bet those Giants players will be sweating. They don't want this to come down to a Game 7 in Philadelphia. Watching the Phillies on the field after the game last night, I saw a team that's ticked off that this series has even gotten to this point, and is ready to take care of business at the Bank. Coming back from a 3-1 deficit in a series sounds like an extremely unlikely task, but something inside tells me the Phils might have what it takes to pull this one out.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Can't Let "That" Guy Beat Us!
Fear not, loyal blog followers, for I am back from my annual Galapagos Island Trip. As fellow contributor Zach P. pointed out, I make my annual journey down there to watch the monarch butterfly migrate. This trip unfortunately did not include my friend who got me hooked onto the migration: Austin Kearns. As you may know, Kearns is for the first and probably last time, playing in a League Championship Series for the New York Yankees.
I missed ya, buddy. Doesn't he just look like he likes monarch butterflies? Anyway, I'm back and after a lovely Monday Hangover post by Zach P., I have something to just complain about it. And it comes down to just one thing: Cody Ross. I hate him. I don't want Cody Ross to be the reason why the Phillies do not win the World Series. Just like Austin Kearns looks like a guy who enjoys a butterfly or two, Ross looks like a typical San Francisco hobo who collects change from a diaper. Trust me, I've been to San Francisco. And although it is a beautiful city, you will see more homeless people there than any other place on Earth. To top it off, most look like Ross:
I mean just look at him!
The straggly beard and bald/shaved head doesn't work for many people and I would prefer if a more beautiful person beat the Phillies. Like Pat Burrell. He really hasn't done too much to hurt the Phillies. Instead it's been Smurf Ross above. Seriously, paint him blue and he'll look less like a character from Avatar and more like Papa Smurf.
It's probably because I consider myself a terrible person, but sometimes I dislike people based on the way they look and that's it. I know, pretty awful. I'm not saying that when I see an ugly person, I immediately dislike them. But when they look like Ross and when Ross is absolutely just coming through with the clutchest hits that his face has no business making, I take offense.
For example, I'm in a large minority that just can't stand Peyton Manning. I mean he's a great quarterback and all, but I just hate him. Why? Because he looks like an idiot hillbilly and like he could be his own bobblehead doll. Google him and you'll see what I'm talking about. I don't think they changed the scale of his head for a Peyton Manning bobblehead.
Maybe I'm so hostile because I'm nervous about this series. It might stretch to seven games now which is going to be tough. Big Joe Blanton is on the mound tonight and it's essentially a must-win game. And I want "our" guys to succeed, even despite some of their looks. I want Jayson "I Look like a Goat Sometimes" Werth to jack another bomb. I want Chooch "Turtle" Ruiz to keep the clutch hits coming. And I'd much rather see the light goatee of Brad Lidge close out a game rather than the Just-For-Men beard madness of Giants closer Brian Wilson.
I still feel good about the series and maybe I'm just projecting my own insecurities on Mr. Ross. Because, even I, R. Scott, Mr. Heartbreak, was told that I resemble another baseball star recently:
Mark Teixeira "Tex"
And I just don't see it.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday Hangover - October 18, 2010
Vince Lombardi recently summed up his take on the Philadelphia sports world:
Vince, I have no idea. Things are crazy right now, and it all starts with...what else...the Eagles quarterback situation. Also, as you may notice, I'm giving R. Scott the week off for the Monday Hangover while he takes part in his annual monarch butterfly-watching expedition in the Galapagos Islands. Don't worry, he will be back next week.
Dos QBs
Andy Reid doesn't always bench starting quarterbacks when they get hurt and the backup plays well, but when he does, he drinks Dos Equis in large quantities. And sets a tricky precedent that he now has to deal with when said starter takes over for said backup and also plays well. Listening to Reid's postgame press conference after beating the Falcons Sunday, when asked if Michael Vick would still be his starting quarterback after a stellar performance by Kevin Kolb, his sputtering, meek "well...uh...yeah" response sounded more like someone had asked him if he REALLY wanted that garden salad instead of a double cheeseburger. Reid makes it sound like it's a good problem to have, and in some ways it is, but quarterback is the one position that needs to have stability, and so far there's been none. Vick took the job from Kolb because Kolb got hurt and Vick played well, and now that the reverse has happened, will Reid hold to the precedent he has set? We shall see next week against the Titans.
I also have to wonder what all the haters who dismissed Kolb as a bust after two quarters of play have to say now? As per usual, talk radio has been full of nothing but talk of how KK isn't what he was made out to be, playing scared, not able to throw the long ball, blah blah blah. In fact, I spoke with someone Sunday who informed me that Kolb "stinks. He's terrible." I proceeded to explain how I thought he was fine, and how he wasn't playing nearly as bad as people made him out to be. Well, I hate to say I told you so, but it looks like Kevin Kolb doesn't stink. Everyone was ready to anoint the Falcons as the class of the NFC, and he proceeded to tear their defense to shreds. Also, I think backup LT King Dunlap has something to say to everyone who said he would be abused by Falcons DE John Abraham Sunday, as Abraham finished with one tackle and zero sacks. I know King was getting some help from other blockers at times, but he was on an island on quite a few plays and did an excellent job keeping Kolb's jersey clean, as did the entire O-line.
Irish Favre Bomb
Brett Favre is famous for throwing bombs to wide receivers, but a bomb was dropped on him (and his junk) earlier this week. Now, I don't often write segments about another man's junk, but this is just too funny. Brett joins Chris Cooley and Greg Oden in the "Pictures of My Man Parts Ended Up Somewhere They Shouldn't Have" club when it was revealed that he had sent inappropriate pictures of his nether region to a Jets' sideline reporter named Jenn Sterger. When reached for comment, Sterger had this to say:
Who knew that Favre's "Pants on the Ground" rendition last year could be taken so literally? Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground indeed.
After becoming the center of the media's attention (his favorite hobby), Favre's junk took another hit - this time a physical one on the practice field:
Ouch. The funniest part about it might be the fact that no one seems concerned that the starting quarterback is writhing on the ground in pain, not even whoever threw the pass. The man code typically suggests that if you accidentally hit another dude in the nuts, you come over and see if he's okay (even though he's clearly not). Maybe this is a case of what goes around comes around.
Favre's week did end on a positive note as his Vikings beat the Cowboys Sunday, sending Dallas to a 1-4 record and planting them even deeper in the NFC East basement, much to the delight of us Philly fans.
Magic Pat Number 9
We all knew it. Pat the Bat, despite all his well-publicized shortcomings, would come back to haunt us, and he did in Game 1 of the NLCS with an RBI double off the left field wall to help the Giants to a victory. He may be slower than molasses, he may have the exact same swing plane on every swing, and he may still stick his rear end out on a called third strike right down the middle, but he's always ready to pop one and break some hearts.
Man or machine?
Pat wasn't the only one doing damage, however. Cody Ross, aka the bane of every Phillies fan's existence, hit three solo shots over the weekend. Two were off Halladay, one was off Oswalt, and all three were virtually the same exact pitch in the same exact location hit to the same exact section of the left field stands. Fortunately, Ross's homer was the only glitch in Oswalt's superb effort, as he helped the Phils tie the series at 1-1 after Doctober hit a rough patch on Saturday. The bats also finally came alive with runners in scoring position when Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run double with two outs in the seventh to help the team cruise to a 6-1 win. Hopefully King Cole, who seems to enjoy pitching in his home state of California, can continue his dominance tomorrow afternoon against Matt Cain.
That's all for this week. Stay thirsty, my friends.
Vince, I have no idea. Things are crazy right now, and it all starts with...what else...the Eagles quarterback situation. Also, as you may notice, I'm giving R. Scott the week off for the Monday Hangover while he takes part in his annual monarch butterfly-watching expedition in the Galapagos Islands. Don't worry, he will be back next week.
Dos QBs
Andy Reid doesn't always bench starting quarterbacks when they get hurt and the backup plays well, but when he does, he drinks Dos Equis in large quantities. And sets a tricky precedent that he now has to deal with when said starter takes over for said backup and also plays well. Listening to Reid's postgame press conference after beating the Falcons Sunday, when asked if Michael Vick would still be his starting quarterback after a stellar performance by Kevin Kolb, his sputtering, meek "well...uh...yeah" response sounded more like someone had asked him if he REALLY wanted that garden salad instead of a double cheeseburger. Reid makes it sound like it's a good problem to have, and in some ways it is, but quarterback is the one position that needs to have stability, and so far there's been none. Vick took the job from Kolb because Kolb got hurt and Vick played well, and now that the reverse has happened, will Reid hold to the precedent he has set? We shall see next week against the Titans.
I also have to wonder what all the haters who dismissed Kolb as a bust after two quarters of play have to say now? As per usual, talk radio has been full of nothing but talk of how KK isn't what he was made out to be, playing scared, not able to throw the long ball, blah blah blah. In fact, I spoke with someone Sunday who informed me that Kolb "stinks. He's terrible." I proceeded to explain how I thought he was fine, and how he wasn't playing nearly as bad as people made him out to be. Well, I hate to say I told you so, but it looks like Kevin Kolb doesn't stink. Everyone was ready to anoint the Falcons as the class of the NFC, and he proceeded to tear their defense to shreds. Also, I think backup LT King Dunlap has something to say to everyone who said he would be abused by Falcons DE John Abraham Sunday, as Abraham finished with one tackle and zero sacks. I know King was getting some help from other blockers at times, but he was on an island on quite a few plays and did an excellent job keeping Kolb's jersey clean, as did the entire O-line.
Irish Favre Bomb
Brett Favre is famous for throwing bombs to wide receivers, but a bomb was dropped on him (and his junk) earlier this week. Now, I don't often write segments about another man's junk, but this is just too funny. Brett joins Chris Cooley and Greg Oden in the "Pictures of My Man Parts Ended Up Somewhere They Shouldn't Have" club when it was revealed that he had sent inappropriate pictures of his nether region to a Jets' sideline reporter named Jenn Sterger. When reached for comment, Sterger had this to say:
Who knew that Favre's "Pants on the Ground" rendition last year could be taken so literally? Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground indeed.
After becoming the center of the media's attention (his favorite hobby), Favre's junk took another hit - this time a physical one on the practice field:
Ouch. The funniest part about it might be the fact that no one seems concerned that the starting quarterback is writhing on the ground in pain, not even whoever threw the pass. The man code typically suggests that if you accidentally hit another dude in the nuts, you come over and see if he's okay (even though he's clearly not). Maybe this is a case of what goes around comes around.
Favre's week did end on a positive note as his Vikings beat the Cowboys Sunday, sending Dallas to a 1-4 record and planting them even deeper in the NFC East basement, much to the delight of us Philly fans.
Magic Pat Number 9
We all knew it. Pat the Bat, despite all his well-publicized shortcomings, would come back to haunt us, and he did in Game 1 of the NLCS with an RBI double off the left field wall to help the Giants to a victory. He may be slower than molasses, he may have the exact same swing plane on every swing, and he may still stick his rear end out on a called third strike right down the middle, but he's always ready to pop one and break some hearts.
Man or machine?Pat wasn't the only one doing damage, however. Cody Ross, aka the bane of every Phillies fan's existence, hit three solo shots over the weekend. Two were off Halladay, one was off Oswalt, and all three were virtually the same exact pitch in the same exact location hit to the same exact section of the left field stands. Fortunately, Ross's homer was the only glitch in Oswalt's superb effort, as he helped the Phils tie the series at 1-1 after Doctober hit a rough patch on Saturday. The bats also finally came alive with runners in scoring position when Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run double with two outs in the seventh to help the team cruise to a 6-1 win. Hopefully King Cole, who seems to enjoy pitching in his home state of California, can continue his dominance tomorrow afternoon against Matt Cain.
That's all for this week. Stay thirsty, my friends.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
NLCS Preview
For the third year in a row, the Phillies are in the NLCS. And for the third year in a row, they will face an opponent from the NL West as they welcome Pat Burrell and the San Francisco Giants to the Bank Saturday night.
In a series that will feature some great pitching matchups, this NLCS might be the toughest for the Phillies compared to the recent history of beating the Dodgers. Let's face it, Brian Wilson is no Jonathan Broxton and that is not good news for Phillies fans who are used to seeing Matt Stairs or J-Roll just totally destroy any confidence Broxton could ever have.
While I have extreme confidence that the Phillies will be heading to their third straight World Series, this NLCS is scary for a couple reasons.
How the Phillies Could Lose:
1. The Freak. Tim Lincecum's only start against the Phils was all the way back in April when the season was a lot different. Still, Lincecum dominated by going 8.1 innings and struck out 11 while only allowing 2 runs. The game ended in a wild 7-6 win for the Phillies as the typically-sure-handed aforementioned Wilson surrendered a bases clearing tying double to Jayson Werth and the Phils won in extra innings. Still, Lincecum has been nasty against the Phillies and is coming off a superb performance against the Braves (a two-hit, 14 strikeout masterpiece)
2. Pat Burrell. I wake up most nights in deep sweats. Not because of Pat Burrell's sexy eyebrows but because of the karma I'm used to experiencing in the city of Philadelphia. The Phillies have been the luckiest franchise in our cities history if you think about it. It feels like it's time to get completely blindsided. If Burrell has a big series and starts hitting homers, I'm going to feel sick to my stomach. I never had anything against Burrell, but I'm just nervous. I'm as nervous as women who happen to be at the same bar as Burrell after the games. Those women have no chance. (What's worse is possible karma in the World Series. If the Rangers make it through, you know we'll face Cliff Lee at the Bank. Eek!)
3. The offense. They just didn't get it done in the NLDS. They rode great pitching but only scored 6 earned runs and only had a team batting average of .212. We got some timely hits and some big at-bats that produced walks or hit batsmen but we'll need more against the likes of Lincecum, Sanchez, and Cain.
4. The X-factor. Madison Bumgarner? Who? Did you go to high school with him? Sounds like a character from Gossip Girl (not that I watch). But the projected Game 4 starter is a left-handed rookie who the Phillies have not seen yet. They will most likely see him in San Francisco. The ballpark combined with the unfamiliarity with Bumgarner's stuff usually spells trouble for this offense. If the Phillies are leading 2 games to 1 by the time we reach Game 4, a poor offensive output against Bumgarner could mean a shift in the momentum of the series.
Now, like I said, I have the utmost of confidence in the Phils that they can eclipse the Giants and win their third straight pennant. And I have some good reasons.
How the Phillies Could Win:
1. The Doc. The Oz. The Camel. I'm just making up new nicknames at this point but I like them. Otherwise known as H20, I think the combination of Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels might be too much for an already poor Giants lineup. These three guys will give the Phillies a chance to win any game and when that offense heats up, forget about it.
2. Mad-dog and Lights Out. The back of the bullpen was a question mark throughout 2009 and some of 2010. But lately, Madson and Lidge look, dare I say... 2008-esque. Only needed for Game 2 against the Reds, the entire bullpen is well rested and ready to close out some wins in this series. If the Phillies get a lead, they have to feel pretty confident going from a member of H20 to Madson to Lidge.
3. Clooch. Carlos Ruiz is amazing and is one of the most undervalued players in the league. He's our number 8 hitter and has an OBP of .400. He works the count, turns the lineup over, and gets on base. So many little things can add up to big wins in the playoffs. And the clutch-ness carries over to other players too. Unsung heroes like Ross Gload or Ben Francisco can factor into an NLCS too and the Phillies have been known for turning these role players into key figures in October. Just remember Matt Stairs and what he did for the city and you'll know what I'm talking about.
4. The team of destiny feeling. There is just that feeling. The feeling that nothing can stop the Phillies right now. Fresh off their first ever postseason sweep, the Phillies are the "team to beat" as J-Roll once so famously put it. I believe it too. I remember back to my little league days and taking a knee after a practice late in the season. I must have been 13. The coach gave us an impassioned speech about just making into the playoffs. Then anything can happen. We must have listened as we won our next four games and found ourselves in the championship. Unfortunately, my team, "The Orioles", lost to the Yankees in that Game, but it certainly wasn't "Richie the K's" fault. Oh... what were we talking about.
Oh right. Destiny. The Lower-South Orioles were the team of destiny that year and muscled our way to the championship. That's what this team looks capable of and I believe it will happen.
Although it will be tougher than most imagine, I believe the Phils have the guts, experience and talent to go to another World Series. My prediction: Say Goodbye to Burrell and the Giants in 6 games.
In a series that will feature some great pitching matchups, this NLCS might be the toughest for the Phillies compared to the recent history of beating the Dodgers. Let's face it, Brian Wilson is no Jonathan Broxton and that is not good news for Phillies fans who are used to seeing Matt Stairs or J-Roll just totally destroy any confidence Broxton could ever have.
While I have extreme confidence that the Phillies will be heading to their third straight World Series, this NLCS is scary for a couple reasons.
How the Phillies Could Lose:
1. The Freak. Tim Lincecum's only start against the Phils was all the way back in April when the season was a lot different. Still, Lincecum dominated by going 8.1 innings and struck out 11 while only allowing 2 runs. The game ended in a wild 7-6 win for the Phillies as the typically-sure-handed aforementioned Wilson surrendered a bases clearing tying double to Jayson Werth and the Phils won in extra innings. Still, Lincecum has been nasty against the Phillies and is coming off a superb performance against the Braves (a two-hit, 14 strikeout masterpiece)
2. Pat Burrell. I wake up most nights in deep sweats. Not because of Pat Burrell's sexy eyebrows but because of the karma I'm used to experiencing in the city of Philadelphia. The Phillies have been the luckiest franchise in our cities history if you think about it. It feels like it's time to get completely blindsided. If Burrell has a big series and starts hitting homers, I'm going to feel sick to my stomach. I never had anything against Burrell, but I'm just nervous. I'm as nervous as women who happen to be at the same bar as Burrell after the games. Those women have no chance. (What's worse is possible karma in the World Series. If the Rangers make it through, you know we'll face Cliff Lee at the Bank. Eek!)
3. The offense. They just didn't get it done in the NLDS. They rode great pitching but only scored 6 earned runs and only had a team batting average of .212. We got some timely hits and some big at-bats that produced walks or hit batsmen but we'll need more against the likes of Lincecum, Sanchez, and Cain.
4. The X-factor. Madison Bumgarner? Who? Did you go to high school with him? Sounds like a character from Gossip Girl (not that I watch). But the projected Game 4 starter is a left-handed rookie who the Phillies have not seen yet. They will most likely see him in San Francisco. The ballpark combined with the unfamiliarity with Bumgarner's stuff usually spells trouble for this offense. If the Phillies are leading 2 games to 1 by the time we reach Game 4, a poor offensive output against Bumgarner could mean a shift in the momentum of the series.
Now, like I said, I have the utmost of confidence in the Phils that they can eclipse the Giants and win their third straight pennant. And I have some good reasons.
How the Phillies Could Win:
1. The Doc. The Oz. The Camel. I'm just making up new nicknames at this point but I like them. Otherwise known as H20, I think the combination of Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels might be too much for an already poor Giants lineup. These three guys will give the Phillies a chance to win any game and when that offense heats up, forget about it.
2. Mad-dog and Lights Out. The back of the bullpen was a question mark throughout 2009 and some of 2010. But lately, Madson and Lidge look, dare I say... 2008-esque. Only needed for Game 2 against the Reds, the entire bullpen is well rested and ready to close out some wins in this series. If the Phillies get a lead, they have to feel pretty confident going from a member of H20 to Madson to Lidge.
3. Clooch. Carlos Ruiz is amazing and is one of the most undervalued players in the league. He's our number 8 hitter and has an OBP of .400. He works the count, turns the lineup over, and gets on base. So many little things can add up to big wins in the playoffs. And the clutch-ness carries over to other players too. Unsung heroes like Ross Gload or Ben Francisco can factor into an NLCS too and the Phillies have been known for turning these role players into key figures in October. Just remember Matt Stairs and what he did for the city and you'll know what I'm talking about.
4. The team of destiny feeling. There is just that feeling. The feeling that nothing can stop the Phillies right now. Fresh off their first ever postseason sweep, the Phillies are the "team to beat" as J-Roll once so famously put it. I believe it too. I remember back to my little league days and taking a knee after a practice late in the season. I must have been 13. The coach gave us an impassioned speech about just making into the playoffs. Then anything can happen. We must have listened as we won our next four games and found ourselves in the championship. Unfortunately, my team, "The Orioles", lost to the Yankees in that Game, but it certainly wasn't "Richie the K's" fault. Oh... what were we talking about.
Oh right. Destiny. The Lower-South Orioles were the team of destiny that year and muscled our way to the championship. That's what this team looks capable of and I believe it will happen.
Although it will be tougher than most imagine, I believe the Phils have the guts, experience and talent to go to another World Series. My prediction: Say Goodbye to Burrell and the Giants in 6 games.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Monday Hangover - October 11, 2010
This weekend saw my parents' 33rd anniversary, John Lennon's birthday, and binary day (10/10/10). Oh and the Phillies clinched the NLDS and the Eagles pulled off a mini-upset. I was going to write the whole Monday Hangover post in binary code but I didn't want to reduce our readership from 6 down to, well.... 0.
Cole Hamels: Stud
The Phillies wrapped up yet another NLDS. Now three straight years have the Phillies made the first round postseason opponent just look silly. The Brewers had no chance in '08, the Rockies put a little scare in '09, and the Reds looked just plain miserable in '10.
Many are saying that the 2010 Phillies might just be the best iteration we've had. The starting pitching and bullpen help basically won the series for us. Even with Oswalt's game 2 bumpiness, the big 3 have lived up to their billing so far.
Halladay chucks a no-hitter in his postseason debut, Oswalt goes 5.0 innings and settles himself down giving the Phils a chance in game 2, and Hamels scatters just five hits over his complete game shut out masterpiece to clinch. With these three on the hill for us, it's a very good chance to win the first three games of any series we play. Then of course, you have Joe Blanton as a Game 4 starter, who is no slouch and has postseason experience. It's hard to imagine that the 2008 WFC Phillies went with a rotation of Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer. The studly 2010 rotation makes the 2008 squad look like the guy who tries to pick up chicks at a bar by talking about his Star Wars figurine collection. There is just no comparison.
The Phillies have won this series on pitching and defense alone as their bats have been relatively silent. They have only hit one home run, have just 4 extra-base hits, and only 7 out of their 13 runs have technically been earned. This is definitely a team that no longer always has to rely on the strength of the lineup and can be carried in other ways.
One of those ways is the resurgence of Cole Hamels. What more can you say about this guy? As the number 3 on this team, Hamels actually has the most postseason experience and is the most decorated as he won the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP awards. After the lackluster 2009 season, Hamels has been dominant all year for the Phils and he continues to shine in the postseason. Essentially, Hamels has been the X-factor as expectations for Halladay and Oswalt have already been set. Hamels may be the key to winning another World Championship. And if he does, then the question of this team becoming a dynasty has to be asked. Which is very exciting as I don't think I've ever heard of a Philadelphia team being referred to as a dynasty.
Kolb-a-Roni: The San Francisco Treat
Oh and this weekend, the Eagles won much to the surprise and delight of several Eagles fans. With their backs against the wall, playing at home, I thought the 49ers would win this game. They had to. Their entire season depended on it. But no, Kevin Kolb and the Eagles defense beat the 49ers and they looked pretty good doing it.
Let's start with Kolb. The Eagles quarterback carousel this season has already been crazy. Kolb gets injured, Vick plays well, Vick earns starting job, Vick gets injured, Kolb plays well. I guess it is a luxury to have two pretty capable quarterbacks on the team. For most of the game, especially early on, Kolb looked pretty comfortable. He utilized several bootlegs and play action passes to get some time to throw down field. He didn't look as hesitant as he was last week against the Redskins. However, the offensive line is so porous and the 49ers were able to sack Kolb 4 times. Each of those 4 times, Kolb had little chance to get rid of the ball and the rushers always seemed to come from his blind side.
Either way, I liked what Kolb did and I've been a big supporter of him. I think he's going to be a solid quarterback in the NFL and I hope it's for the Eagles. I think he is our best long-term solution. I don't think he should have lost his job one quarter into the season and I hope his performance during this opportunity makes Andy Reid question what is best for this team.
The Eagles defense also looked resurgent this week as they capitalized off of mistakes made by Alex Smith and the 49ers. Two picks and three fumble recoveries, one leading to a score, allowed the Eagles to gain some momentum in this game. Still, the defense gave up over 350 yards of offense and that is not that good.
What I'm truly impressed with is the play of LeSean "Shady" McCoy. Playing with broken ribs, McCoy 92 yards on the ground and another 46 through the air. A 29-yard scamper for a score showed McCoy's elusiveness and power. I think that McCoy is quickly showing he's close to being a top five running back in this league and can create many headaches for defenses.
So all in all, another successful weekend for Philly sports and here's looking forward to next weekend and the start of the NLCS and another big test for the Eagles as they will face the Falcons.
Cole Hamels: Stud
The Phillies wrapped up yet another NLDS. Now three straight years have the Phillies made the first round postseason opponent just look silly. The Brewers had no chance in '08, the Rockies put a little scare in '09, and the Reds looked just plain miserable in '10.
Many are saying that the 2010 Phillies might just be the best iteration we've had. The starting pitching and bullpen help basically won the series for us. Even with Oswalt's game 2 bumpiness, the big 3 have lived up to their billing so far.
Halladay chucks a no-hitter in his postseason debut, Oswalt goes 5.0 innings and settles himself down giving the Phils a chance in game 2, and Hamels scatters just five hits over his complete game shut out masterpiece to clinch. With these three on the hill for us, it's a very good chance to win the first three games of any series we play. Then of course, you have Joe Blanton as a Game 4 starter, who is no slouch and has postseason experience. It's hard to imagine that the 2008 WFC Phillies went with a rotation of Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer. The studly 2010 rotation makes the 2008 squad look like the guy who tries to pick up chicks at a bar by talking about his Star Wars figurine collection. There is just no comparison.
The Phillies have won this series on pitching and defense alone as their bats have been relatively silent. They have only hit one home run, have just 4 extra-base hits, and only 7 out of their 13 runs have technically been earned. This is definitely a team that no longer always has to rely on the strength of the lineup and can be carried in other ways.
One of those ways is the resurgence of Cole Hamels. What more can you say about this guy? As the number 3 on this team, Hamels actually has the most postseason experience and is the most decorated as he won the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP awards. After the lackluster 2009 season, Hamels has been dominant all year for the Phils and he continues to shine in the postseason. Essentially, Hamels has been the X-factor as expectations for Halladay and Oswalt have already been set. Hamels may be the key to winning another World Championship. And if he does, then the question of this team becoming a dynasty has to be asked. Which is very exciting as I don't think I've ever heard of a Philadelphia team being referred to as a dynasty.
Kolb-a-Roni: The San Francisco Treat
Oh and this weekend, the Eagles won much to the surprise and delight of several Eagles fans. With their backs against the wall, playing at home, I thought the 49ers would win this game. They had to. Their entire season depended on it. But no, Kevin Kolb and the Eagles defense beat the 49ers and they looked pretty good doing it.
Let's start with Kolb. The Eagles quarterback carousel this season has already been crazy. Kolb gets injured, Vick plays well, Vick earns starting job, Vick gets injured, Kolb plays well. I guess it is a luxury to have two pretty capable quarterbacks on the team. For most of the game, especially early on, Kolb looked pretty comfortable. He utilized several bootlegs and play action passes to get some time to throw down field. He didn't look as hesitant as he was last week against the Redskins. However, the offensive line is so porous and the 49ers were able to sack Kolb 4 times. Each of those 4 times, Kolb had little chance to get rid of the ball and the rushers always seemed to come from his blind side.
Either way, I liked what Kolb did and I've been a big supporter of him. I think he's going to be a solid quarterback in the NFL and I hope it's for the Eagles. I think he is our best long-term solution. I don't think he should have lost his job one quarter into the season and I hope his performance during this opportunity makes Andy Reid question what is best for this team.
The Eagles defense also looked resurgent this week as they capitalized off of mistakes made by Alex Smith and the 49ers. Two picks and three fumble recoveries, one leading to a score, allowed the Eagles to gain some momentum in this game. Still, the defense gave up over 350 yards of offense and that is not that good.
What I'm truly impressed with is the play of LeSean "Shady" McCoy. Playing with broken ribs, McCoy 92 yards on the ground and another 46 through the air. A 29-yard scamper for a score showed McCoy's elusiveness and power. I think that McCoy is quickly showing he's close to being a top five running back in this league and can create many headaches for defenses.
So all in all, another successful weekend for Philly sports and here's looking forward to next weekend and the start of the NLCS and another big test for the Eagles as they will face the Falcons.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
You just can't get much better than that
It's taken Roy Halladay almost 12 years of history to get to this point. It's taken him one game to make his own history.
If you haven't heard, Roy Halladay threw only the 2nd no-hitter in postseason history. The other of course, Don Larsen's perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series agains the Brooklyn Dodgers.
What Halladay did last night at the Bank will be forever ingrained in our memories and his as well. Toiling for so many mediocre seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Halladay got his wish this past offseason to come to a contender. What he's found in Philadelphia has rejevunated him and has made him the toughest pitcher to face in baseball.
While Halladay's spotlight will be even brighter after this feat, there is a more underrated side to the spectacle achieved last night. That underrated portion, my friends, is battery mate Carlos Ruiz. Besides being one of the most underrated players on the team, the position of catcher is probably the most underrated in the sport.
Chooch consistently gets Roy into a solid rhythm and never looks back. He sets up pitches and knows what type of pitch Roy should throw against certain batters and certain counts. With the exception of a walk to Jay Bruce, Roy and Chooch were perfect last night. They were both dominant and on the same page for all 28 batters and 27 outs.
Chooch's resume is building as we speak. This is a guy who has caught the final strike of a World Series clincher, a perfect game, and now, a postseason no-hitter. While only Halladay and Don Larsen can brag about throwing no-hitters in the postseason, only Chooch and hall of famer Yogi Berra can brag about catching one.
The picture above says it all. Two guys who just know how to get it done and are having a blast doing it. Roy is certainly building his Philly lure and we should all recognize Chooch's as well. Already a fan favorite, I believe this tandem deserves more respect nationally for what they've accomplished so far this season. And there is still more to come as the Phillies have emerged as the...gulp.... World Series favorites. I can't remember the last time a Philadelphia team was ever a favorite for a title.
And who knows what the rest of October holds for Roy and Chooch. Here's to many more celebrations for two guys who really deserve it. Not quite the famous celebratory photograph captured of Berra and Larsen, but certainly a memory and a time we will all be able to share.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Flyers Season Preview 2010-2011
Just mere months ago, the Flyers rode a magical playoff run all the way through the Stanley Cup Finals where they finally fell to the Blackhawks. With the season less than 48 hours away, the orange and black return with a revamped defense and plenty of questions in what, again, will be a very tough division in the NHL.
The New Fly Guys
The NHL offseason is known for being a very active one. Trades and free agency is frequent as teams attempt to make it under the salary cap. The Flyers had been very active this summer especially on the defensive side and they have built up their blue-liners quite well.
Newcomers like Sean O'Donnell, Matt Walker, and Andrej Mezaros all bring veteran leadership, size, and toughness to the back line and will definitely compliment the strong core of defencemen already in place in Pronger, Timonen, Coburn and Carle.
Perhaps Mezaros is the most intriguing new addition. Before having two disappointing seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mezaros was an active scoring defencemen who tallied over 35 points in three seasons with the Ottawa Senators. Flyers brass definitely seem to expect big things from the Czech player.
As far as the offense is concerned, losing a guy like Simon Gagne is tough. But, the Flyers did add flashy winger Nikolay Zherdev and enforcer Jody Shelley. Zherdev spent last season playing in Russia but is a former first round pick who never realized his potential with Columbus nor New York.
The winger has looked strong this preseason with Scotty Hartnell as a line mate and it will be interesting to see if Zherdev's preseason efforts carry over into the regular season.
Playoff Hangover?
Many experts predict the teams that go deep in the Stanley Cup playoffs seem to have poor years in the following season. There may be some truth to that, but in the Flyers case, the question will be if this team is capable of playing the way they did in the playoffs last year.
The Flyers were a very mediocre team all last season. They squeezed in to the playoffs in the last game of the season, but then never looked back. The real story of this season will be the performances of the playoff heroes. Can Ville Leino, Scotty Hartnell, Danny Briere and Claude Giroux all come back and have effective and productive seasons. Obviously Giroux is a rising star but questions remain for the other three. Is Briere past his prime? Is Leino legit? Does Scotty Hartnell need a haircut finally?
It might be time, Scotty.
The New Fly Guys
The NHL offseason is known for being a very active one. Trades and free agency is frequent as teams attempt to make it under the salary cap. The Flyers had been very active this summer especially on the defensive side and they have built up their blue-liners quite well.
Newcomers like Sean O'Donnell, Matt Walker, and Andrej Mezaros all bring veteran leadership, size, and toughness to the back line and will definitely compliment the strong core of defencemen already in place in Pronger, Timonen, Coburn and Carle.
Perhaps Mezaros is the most intriguing new addition. Before having two disappointing seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mezaros was an active scoring defencemen who tallied over 35 points in three seasons with the Ottawa Senators. Flyers brass definitely seem to expect big things from the Czech player.
As far as the offense is concerned, losing a guy like Simon Gagne is tough. But, the Flyers did add flashy winger Nikolay Zherdev and enforcer Jody Shelley. Zherdev spent last season playing in Russia but is a former first round pick who never realized his potential with Columbus nor New York.
The winger has looked strong this preseason with Scotty Hartnell as a line mate and it will be interesting to see if Zherdev's preseason efforts carry over into the regular season.
Playoff Hangover?
Many experts predict the teams that go deep in the Stanley Cup playoffs seem to have poor years in the following season. There may be some truth to that, but in the Flyers case, the question will be if this team is capable of playing the way they did in the playoffs last year.
The Flyers were a very mediocre team all last season. They squeezed in to the playoffs in the last game of the season, but then never looked back. The real story of this season will be the performances of the playoff heroes. Can Ville Leino, Scotty Hartnell, Danny Briere and Claude Giroux all come back and have effective and productive seasons. Obviously Giroux is a rising star but questions remain for the other three. Is Briere past his prime? Is Leino legit? Does Scotty Hartnell need a haircut finally?
It might be time, Scotty.The Flyers also relied on stellar goaltending during the playoff push. Leighton is our starter but is hurt with a bulging disc in his back. Brian Boucher will be the starter for at least October. Still, Flyers management is confident that the defencemen will be the key to whoever they play in front of, whether it is Boucher or Leighton.
My Ultimate Prediction
I think the Flyers will have a legitimate shot at the division, but yet fall just short. With the Penguins and Devils, it is a very tough Atlantic. I predict a 4th or 5th seed for the playoffs however. And I think with the Flyers defence, it can be a somewhat deep run into the playoffs. To play for the cup again would be something, but I think the Flyers may falter in the Conference finals.
I'm very excited to see the young talent on this team as Richards, Carter, Giroux, van Riemsdyk and the addition of Zherdev provides a lot of young, quick scorers to this team. Still, questions across the depth chart and early season injuries raise some concerns as the Flyers move into the regular season.
Still, this team could be full of surprises as they were last season. To get you pumped, courtesy of the 2009-2010 Flyers:
My Ultimate Prediction
I think the Flyers will have a legitimate shot at the division, but yet fall just short. With the Penguins and Devils, it is a very tough Atlantic. I predict a 4th or 5th seed for the playoffs however. And I think with the Flyers defence, it can be a somewhat deep run into the playoffs. To play for the cup again would be something, but I think the Flyers may falter in the Conference finals.
I'm very excited to see the young talent on this team as Richards, Carter, Giroux, van Riemsdyk and the addition of Zherdev provides a lot of young, quick scorers to this team. Still, questions across the depth chart and early season injuries raise some concerns as the Flyers move into the regular season.
Still, this team could be full of surprises as they were last season. To get you pumped, courtesy of the 2009-2010 Flyers:
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday Hangover - October 4, 2010
We know one person who's probably hungover this Monday morning: Jason Avant. Boy oh boy. When the most sure-handed receiver on our squad drops a pretty well thrown and catchable ball, you know he's disappointed. What a wacky game, and what a wacky weekend.
I want those baby back, baby back, baby back...
Who would have thought that McNabb would be traded on Easter Sunday, Kevin Kolb would lose his job within a quarter of the regular season, and when McNabb returns to Philly, Michael Vick gets knocked out of the game and we have to turn to Kolb anyway?
No one.
I should have made a bet on it but it would have furthered my obsession with gambling and pools.
Vick's ribs are more tender than Chili's baby back ribs (with barbecue sauce) and the Eagles had to turn the football over to what seemed to be a very timid Kevin Kolb. Kolb looked a bit lost out there and refused to throw the ball over 5 yards. Short little dump-offs and check-down passes allowed Kolb to slowly move the offense downfield. He seemed afraid to try for medium or deep throws to press the defense.
Kolb reminded me of one of those dudes you always see at a bar trying to pick up chicks by himself. Slowly taking sips from his beer just glancing or mouthing "Hi" to the closest girl next to him, but never quite taking the plunge and just go all out on the dance floor with someone way out of your league. Come on Kevin! You lost your starting job and now by chance, you're thrust back into it. Get jiggy wit it, Kev! What more did you have to lose?
Regardless Vick is now said to have a rib cartilage injury and is day-to-day.
The Big and McNasty
Donovan McNabb's effort on the field was uninspired and did not allow the Redskins to win the game. The Redskins running game and overall coverage schemes are what won this game.
It was interesting to see the reactions to McNabb. Pregame, there was only love. Standing ovations and cheering rained down on McNabb as he raised his right arm to the city that he called home for 11 years. When his first play from scrimmage came, boos came down for McNabb. I suppose it's just because it was actually game time and there was no fan who wanted us to be torched by the likes of McNabb. I don't quite understand all the boos especially for arguably the franchise's most successful quarterback.
The Red Headed Sluts
After a wild finish to the National League playoff hunt, it has been determined that the Phillies will take on the Cincinnati Reds in the division series. I, for one, am very happy about this. I would rather see Volquez, Arroyo and Cueto over Lincecum, Cain and Sanchez any day of the week and for some reason, the Giants just scare me. Fellow contributor Zach P. and I agree that there was definately one player we did not want to see in the opening round exacting his revenge on the boys:
Man or Machine?
Yes. Pat Burrell. San Francisco Giant Pat Burrell. For some reason, I just picture a towering home run to break our hearts if we played Pat Burrell. Don't ask me why, but those eyelashes and that muscular physique just says that Pat the Bat is all business.
But I really do feel confident against the Reds. They are marching out three pretty mediocre pitchers in Volquez, Arroyo and Cueto. Against Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels, those three barely stand a chance. The Reds have some good pop in their bats but I don't think they match up well against the Phils and I'm hoping this will be an easy series.
My prediction: Phils over Reds in 4.
Get that Fuzzy Navel ready:
Rumors are that former Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia is trying to be lured away from his UFL team to come back to the Eagles. With Vick's uncertainty injury, Terrell Owens' most infamous rat might be on his way back to Philly. All I have to say to Jeff is... please bring your wife back too.
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