Well I'm back from all my little excursions to bring you yet another edition of Monday Hangover. With the Phillies season officially forgotten by now, I may or may not bring it back from the dead after my little trip to the place where you'll see the Phillies next... Clearwater.
But as the weekend progressed, Philly sports were back in full spring and after the last few weeks of disappointment (the Titans game, the Phillies losing) the Philly teams turned it around a bit this week.
Colt 45
Like the malt liquor referenced above, I, and many other fans as well, thought that this week's game against the Indianapolis Colts would leave a really sour taste in our collective mouth. Instead, the Eagles squeezed out a victory after a very sloppy and poorly officiated game.
First, I just gotta say that besides the Eagles' throwbacks, I think the Colts' throwback jerseys they wore on Sunday are the most amazing throwback jersey I've seen. My only questions is why didn't they wear the throwbacks at home? And if the Colts are in throwback, then why didn't the Eagles throw on the 1960 Kelly Greens. The world may never know.
The game itself was a frustrating one. Big plays led the Eagles to early scoring drives, but the birds still settled for too many field goals. It's very frustrating to have a 94 yard field goal drive.
To make matters worse, the Eagles got called for some pretty tough penalties. Now I'm not going to defend a team that committed 14 penalties for 125 total yards. A team like that should lose the game to a team like the Colts. But there had to be at least 3 or 4 of the 15-yard variety that were just plain unwarranted. When Austin Collie went down with a concussion, Eagles safety Kurt Coleman was called for hitting "a defenseless receiver". This topic and these types of hits have been all the rage in the NFL in the recent weeks. And Collie's injury is very scary but this hit did not deserve a penalty. Collie looks like he had his hands on the ball, started to turn, and was unfortunately spun around by two clean hits. Later in the game, the Eagles looked like they sacked and forced a fumble from Peyton Manning to officially seal a victory. Nope. Trent Cole gave Peyton's helmet the white glove test and the the Colts were awarded another 15 yards. Cole was clearly going for the ball and incidental contact to the quarterback's helmet should not be a penalty.
Regardless the Eagles were able to inch out of this one and get a well deserved victory.
Four Loko Brand
The Philadelphia 76ers opened the season on very shaky ground with big losses to Miami, Cleveland, and Atlanta, but have posted a bit of a turnaround as of late. They've won two of their last three and owe it in large part to Elton Brand. Brand, labeled by many, to be a huge bust since coming to Philly a couple of years ago, has had some huge games. He posted 25 points and 12 rebounds in a huge win over Indiana in the middle of the week and contributed 20 and 7 in yesterday's win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. With a young supporting cast and key contributions from Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Lou Williams, Elton may be finally coming around. He's scored 20 or more points in the past four games and here's hoping that the Sixers can turn some of these performances into W's.
The Sixers have also been blessed by injury. Having Andre Iguodala out with an injured Achilles tendon has let Turner and Williams turn on the jets a bit. Giving these two guys more playing time is key to the future of this team. And I hope that Iggy's injury shows the Sixers front office the solution: Trade him. Soon. Get some young players or draft picks and move this team closer to resurgence. We already have a ton of capable guards and small forwards. There really is no point to having Andre on this team anymore.
Pretty Fly for a bunch of White Guys
Oh yeah and the Flyers just ended a nice little streak too. After starting a meager 3-4-1, the Flyers ripped off six straight victories before losing to the Caps last night in overtime. The offense is finally starting to click and it looks like this team is headed into the right direction. Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards are living up to their billing as the offensive gurus, while rookie goaltender Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky has played every minute of the winning streak. So far in the early going, "Bob" is 8-2-1 with a 2.19 goals against average and an impressive 92.6 save percentage. With starter Michael Leighton almost ready to return, veteran backup Brian Boucher may be the odd man out. When it comes to goaltending, you definitely cannot sit the hot hand (or glove). Look for the 22 year old Russian to continue his play as the Flyers visit the Canes on Veterans' Day.
I Can See Clearwater Now, the Rain is Gone
Yes, I just returned from a vacation in Clearwater, FL where I enjoyed the sun, the surf, and the sand. Too bad the sand was on the golf course. I also was able to stop outside the gates of Bright House Field and reflect on when I'll see my beloved Phillies again. In just a few short months, the crowds will once again start flocking to the stadium to see the 2011 version of the Phillies. So much hope was wrapped in the Phillies this year and it was tough to see the spring training facility as the San Francisco Giants won their first world series in over 50 years.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday Hangover - November 1, 2010
Ahh, November. The leaves are changing, the jackets are coming out, and...for the first time in what seems like forever, there wasn't an Eagles or Phillies game this weekend. It is quite depressing, especially considering that our last memories at the moment are Juan Uribe and Kenny Britt sticking daggers in our hearts. So, since there wasn't much actual sports action this weekend, this may turn into more of a rant than anything else, but who knows.
I hate baseball.
Yeah, that about sums it up. I didn't watch a single pitch of this World Series, which really just means I have something in common with 99.99% of the country, because frankly, no one cares. I have nothing against the Giants, even though they beat us, which is unlike me - I'll usually root against a team that beats a Philly team in the playoffs. They're a team who pitches well and plays scrappy ball, and they beat us straight up. No one on their team really bothers me, and of course I love Pat Burrell, even though it's really wrong that he may very well retire with more rings than Roy Halladay. I also didn't watch because every time I'm reminded of baseball, I want to throw the nearest fragile object at a wall. My frustration has subsided quite significantly by now, however, and the recovery stage is slowly beginning.
Kenny Britt is not that good.
But Ellis Hobbs may very well be that bad. I believe I mentioned something before the season about not trusting him as a starting corner and, well, I still lack said trust. I swear, every time anyone on the Titans made a big catch, and the TV camera would pan to the defender most responsible, it was good ol' number 31 walking away. I give Nate Allen a pass because he's a rookie and he was defensive rookie of the month in September, and looks like he could turn out to be a really nice player. Hobbs is a veteran who was absolutely embarrassed by Kenny Britt all day long. It got to the point where it was downright funny, with Kerry Collins looking more like he was playing a game of 500 just lobbing balls in the air and Britt coming down with them. It sucks because this defense actually looks better than I expected, but I still fear that the secondary will let us down big time in the end. Things aren't getting any easier throughout the remainder of the schedule, especially with the Colts next on the slate, so this group had better figure it out.
But there is a silver lining to this cloud...
Yes, there were a couple things that brought a little grin to my face this weekend. First was the Redskins benching Donovan McNabb for...and no, this is not a misprint...Rex Grossman. Yes, the great Rex with his whopping career passer rating of 69.6. Coach Mike Shanahan later revealed that he 1) isn't a huge fan of McNabb's practice habits and 2) doesn't feel that Donnie is in the greatest of shape (read here). Now, it's not that I hate McNabb, but as I've expressed before, there were things about the guy that we Eagles fans didn't like, but we were pounded into the pavement for expressing those feelings. Now, it appears that a very successful NFL head coach has similar thoughts.
Shanahan's qualms with McNabb's practice tempo and conditioning don't surprise me one bit. McNabb strikes me as the kind of guy who got comfortable being Mr. Carefree on the Eagles knowing Andy Reid had his back, but his laid-back approach might be a little too much for his new coach. On the Eagles, it was always McNabb's team, which may have led to some complacency, although a former Eagles backup QB who was on the team with McNabb mentioned that the one point the Eagles coaches continually tried to stress to McNabb was indeed picking up his tempo, which is critical in a West Coast offense. You don't have to do a ton of critical analysis to draw the conclusion that Mike Shanahan is seeing some of these qualities.
We shall see if the media comes to McNabb's defense as fervently as they have in the past now that it wouldn't also give them a chance to bash the Eagles and Philly fans. Maybe they should give some of us credit for thinking the time was right to trade McNabb, and for thinking that there were plenty of legitimate reasons to move on. And, maybe cows will fly. Oh, and if this wasn't funny enough, Shanahan actually is rumored to have considered benching McNabb AFTER beating the Eagles a couple weeks ago, despite his team getting the victory. That right there should tell you that it wasn't McNabb's effort that beat the Eagles, although, in typical Donovan fashion, he made the comment in the locker room post game that "they (the Eagles) made a mistake" in trading him. Yeah, boy, I wish we could have that one back.
Oh, and the other silver lining this weekend? The Cowboys getting beat up on yet again. It never gets old, Romo or no Romo, to see Dallas getting rocked, especially when they were the consensus pick to with the NFC East (even by me) and picked by many to go to the Super Bowl. Now, at an embarrassing 1-6, the team has become a punchline. The downtrodden state of the Cowboys will hopefully make it the perfect time for the Eagles to exact some revenge on them after being swept by Dallas in three games last season.
Orange and Black is Back
I guess I should also mention that the Flyers are looking good right now, having won four straight and sitting atop the Atlantic Division with 15 points after a 3-2 win against Carolina tonight. I don't know that there's been enough time yet to get over the Phillies to the point that I can get myself excited about the Flyers, but it looks like we have something to look forward to this season. Young goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (the "Bob") has been impressive so far, and the Flyers seem to be picking up where they left off with last year's magical playoff run. It's too early to start getting our hopes up too much just yet, but the Flyers are the one bright spot in the world of Philly sports right now.
R. Scott will be back next week, as he is again vacationing on the lovely beaches of Florida. Quite the life.
I hate baseball.
Yeah, that about sums it up. I didn't watch a single pitch of this World Series, which really just means I have something in common with 99.99% of the country, because frankly, no one cares. I have nothing against the Giants, even though they beat us, which is unlike me - I'll usually root against a team that beats a Philly team in the playoffs. They're a team who pitches well and plays scrappy ball, and they beat us straight up. No one on their team really bothers me, and of course I love Pat Burrell, even though it's really wrong that he may very well retire with more rings than Roy Halladay. I also didn't watch because every time I'm reminded of baseball, I want to throw the nearest fragile object at a wall. My frustration has subsided quite significantly by now, however, and the recovery stage is slowly beginning.
Kenny Britt is not that good.
But Ellis Hobbs may very well be that bad. I believe I mentioned something before the season about not trusting him as a starting corner and, well, I still lack said trust. I swear, every time anyone on the Titans made a big catch, and the TV camera would pan to the defender most responsible, it was good ol' number 31 walking away. I give Nate Allen a pass because he's a rookie and he was defensive rookie of the month in September, and looks like he could turn out to be a really nice player. Hobbs is a veteran who was absolutely embarrassed by Kenny Britt all day long. It got to the point where it was downright funny, with Kerry Collins looking more like he was playing a game of 500 just lobbing balls in the air and Britt coming down with them. It sucks because this defense actually looks better than I expected, but I still fear that the secondary will let us down big time in the end. Things aren't getting any easier throughout the remainder of the schedule, especially with the Colts next on the slate, so this group had better figure it out.
But there is a silver lining to this cloud...
Yes, there were a couple things that brought a little grin to my face this weekend. First was the Redskins benching Donovan McNabb for...and no, this is not a misprint...Rex Grossman. Yes, the great Rex with his whopping career passer rating of 69.6. Coach Mike Shanahan later revealed that he 1) isn't a huge fan of McNabb's practice habits and 2) doesn't feel that Donnie is in the greatest of shape (read here). Now, it's not that I hate McNabb, but as I've expressed before, there were things about the guy that we Eagles fans didn't like, but we were pounded into the pavement for expressing those feelings. Now, it appears that a very successful NFL head coach has similar thoughts.
Shanahan's qualms with McNabb's practice tempo and conditioning don't surprise me one bit. McNabb strikes me as the kind of guy who got comfortable being Mr. Carefree on the Eagles knowing Andy Reid had his back, but his laid-back approach might be a little too much for his new coach. On the Eagles, it was always McNabb's team, which may have led to some complacency, although a former Eagles backup QB who was on the team with McNabb mentioned that the one point the Eagles coaches continually tried to stress to McNabb was indeed picking up his tempo, which is critical in a West Coast offense. You don't have to do a ton of critical analysis to draw the conclusion that Mike Shanahan is seeing some of these qualities.
We shall see if the media comes to McNabb's defense as fervently as they have in the past now that it wouldn't also give them a chance to bash the Eagles and Philly fans. Maybe they should give some of us credit for thinking the time was right to trade McNabb, and for thinking that there were plenty of legitimate reasons to move on. And, maybe cows will fly. Oh, and if this wasn't funny enough, Shanahan actually is rumored to have considered benching McNabb AFTER beating the Eagles a couple weeks ago, despite his team getting the victory. That right there should tell you that it wasn't McNabb's effort that beat the Eagles, although, in typical Donovan fashion, he made the comment in the locker room post game that "they (the Eagles) made a mistake" in trading him. Yeah, boy, I wish we could have that one back.
Oh, and the other silver lining this weekend? The Cowboys getting beat up on yet again. It never gets old, Romo or no Romo, to see Dallas getting rocked, especially when they were the consensus pick to with the NFC East (even by me) and picked by many to go to the Super Bowl. Now, at an embarrassing 1-6, the team has become a punchline. The downtrodden state of the Cowboys will hopefully make it the perfect time for the Eagles to exact some revenge on them after being swept by Dallas in three games last season.
Orange and Black is Back
I guess I should also mention that the Flyers are looking good right now, having won four straight and sitting atop the Atlantic Division with 15 points after a 3-2 win against Carolina tonight. I don't know that there's been enough time yet to get over the Phillies to the point that I can get myself excited about the Flyers, but it looks like we have something to look forward to this season. Young goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (the "Bob") has been impressive so far, and the Flyers seem to be picking up where they left off with last year's magical playoff run. It's too early to start getting our hopes up too much just yet, but the Flyers are the one bright spot in the world of Philly sports right now.
R. Scott will be back next week, as he is again vacationing on the lovely beaches of Florida. Quite the life.
Monday Hangover - November 1, 2010
Ahh, November. The leaves are changing, the jackets are coming out, and...for the first time in what seems like forever, there wasn't an Eagles or Phillies game this weekend (tears). It is quite depressing, especially considering that our last memories at the moment are Juan Uribe and Kenny Britt sticking daggers in our hearts. So, since there wasn't much actual sports action this weekend, this may turn into more of a rant than anything else, but who knows.
I hate baseball.
Yeah, that about sums it up. I haven't watched a single pitch of this World Series, which really just means I have something in common with 99.99% of the country, because frankly, no one freaking cares. I don't even really care who wins, and I have nothing against the Giants even though they beat us, which is unlike me. They're a team who pitches well and plays scrappy ball, and they beat us straight up. No one on their team really bothers me, and of course I love Pat Burrell, even though it's really wrong that he may very well retire with more rings than Roy Halladay. I don't watch because every time I'm reminded of baseball, I want to throw the nearest fragile object at a wall. My frustration has subsided quite significantly by now, however, and the recovery stage is slowly beginning.
Kenny Britt is not that good.
But Ellis Hobbs may very well be that bad. I believe I mentioned something before the season about not trusting him as a starting corner and, well, I still lack said trust. I swear, every time anyone on the Titans made a big catch, and the TV camera would pan to the defender most responsible, it was good ol' 31 walking away. I give Nate Allen a pass because he's a rookie and he was defensive rookie of the month in September, and looks like he could turn out to be a really nice player. Hobbs is a veteran who was absolutely embarrassed by Kenny Britt. It got to the point where it was downright funny, with Kerry Collins looking more like he was playing a game of 500 just lobbing balls in the air. It sucks because this defense actually looks a lot better than I expected, but I still fear that the secondary will let us down big time in the end. Things aren't getting any easier throughout the remainder of the schedule, especially with the Colts next on the slate, so this group had better figure it out.
But there is a silver lining to this cloud...
Yes, there were a couple things that brought a little grin to my face this weekend. First was the Redskins benching Donovan McNabb for...and no, this is not a misprint...Rex Grossman. Yes, the great Rex with his whopping career passer rating of 69.6. Coach Mike Shanahan later revealed that he 1) isn't a huge fan of McNabb's practice habits and 2) doesn't feel that Donnie is in the greatest of shape (read here). Now, it's not that I hate McNabb, but as I've expressed before, there were things about the guy that we Eagles fans didn't like, but we were pounded into the pavement for expressing those feelings. Now, it appears that a very successful NFL head coach has similar thoughts. McNabb is a great quarterback, but he has a terrible habit of moving at a sluggish pace at the most crucial moments of a game, and not only that, he doesn't even appear to have a sense of urgency. McNabb lovers say he's "calm," but there are times in life when you don't need to be calm - see 4th quarter of Super Bowl XXXIX.
Shanahan's qualms with McNabb's practice tempo and conditioning don't surprise me one bit. McNabb strikes me as the kind of guy who got comfortable being Mr. Carefree on the Eagles knowing Andy Reid had his back, but his laid-back approach might be a little too much for his new coach. On the Eagles, it was always McNabb's team, which may have led to some complacency. A great quarterback might be able to get away with it on talent alone, but an elite quarterback will continue to work as hard as ever no matter what the situation. Of course this is all speculation - I haven't personally witnessed Donovan's workouts - but you don't have to do a ton of critical analysis to draw the conclusion that Mike Shanahan sees some of these qualities.
We shall see if the media comes to McNabb's defense as fervently as they have in the past now that it wouldn't also give them a chance to bash the Eagles and Philly fans, their favorite past time. Maybe they should give some of us some credit for thinking the time was right to trade McNabb, and for thinking that there were plenty of legitimate reasons to move on. And, maybe cows will fly. Oh, and if this wasn't funny enough, Shanahan actually is rumored to have considered benching McNabb AFTER beating the Eagles a couple weeks ago, despite the team getting a victory. That should tell you that it wasn't McNabb's effort that beat the Eagles, although, in typical Donovan fashion, he made the comment in the locker room post game that "they (the Eagles) made a mistake" in trading him. Yeah, boy, I wish we could have that one back.
Oh, and the other silver lining this weekend? The Cowboys getting beat on yet again. It env
I hate baseball.
Yeah, that about sums it up. I haven't watched a single pitch of this World Series, which really just means I have something in common with 99.99% of the country, because frankly, no one freaking cares. I don't even really care who wins, and I have nothing against the Giants even though they beat us, which is unlike me. They're a team who pitches well and plays scrappy ball, and they beat us straight up. No one on their team really bothers me, and of course I love Pat Burrell, even though it's really wrong that he may very well retire with more rings than Roy Halladay. I don't watch because every time I'm reminded of baseball, I want to throw the nearest fragile object at a wall. My frustration has subsided quite significantly by now, however, and the recovery stage is slowly beginning.
Kenny Britt is not that good.
But Ellis Hobbs may very well be that bad. I believe I mentioned something before the season about not trusting him as a starting corner and, well, I still lack said trust. I swear, every time anyone on the Titans made a big catch, and the TV camera would pan to the defender most responsible, it was good ol' 31 walking away. I give Nate Allen a pass because he's a rookie and he was defensive rookie of the month in September, and looks like he could turn out to be a really nice player. Hobbs is a veteran who was absolutely embarrassed by Kenny Britt. It got to the point where it was downright funny, with Kerry Collins looking more like he was playing a game of 500 just lobbing balls in the air. It sucks because this defense actually looks a lot better than I expected, but I still fear that the secondary will let us down big time in the end. Things aren't getting any easier throughout the remainder of the schedule, especially with the Colts next on the slate, so this group had better figure it out.
But there is a silver lining to this cloud...
Yes, there were a couple things that brought a little grin to my face this weekend. First was the Redskins benching Donovan McNabb for...and no, this is not a misprint...Rex Grossman. Yes, the great Rex with his whopping career passer rating of 69.6. Coach Mike Shanahan later revealed that he 1) isn't a huge fan of McNabb's practice habits and 2) doesn't feel that Donnie is in the greatest of shape (read here). Now, it's not that I hate McNabb, but as I've expressed before, there were things about the guy that we Eagles fans didn't like, but we were pounded into the pavement for expressing those feelings. Now, it appears that a very successful NFL head coach has similar thoughts. McNabb is a great quarterback, but he has a terrible habit of moving at a sluggish pace at the most crucial moments of a game, and not only that, he doesn't even appear to have a sense of urgency. McNabb lovers say he's "calm," but there are times in life when you don't need to be calm - see 4th quarter of Super Bowl XXXIX.
Shanahan's qualms with McNabb's practice tempo and conditioning don't surprise me one bit. McNabb strikes me as the kind of guy who got comfortable being Mr. Carefree on the Eagles knowing Andy Reid had his back, but his laid-back approach might be a little too much for his new coach. On the Eagles, it was always McNabb's team, which may have led to some complacency. A great quarterback might be able to get away with it on talent alone, but an elite quarterback will continue to work as hard as ever no matter what the situation. Of course this is all speculation - I haven't personally witnessed Donovan's workouts - but you don't have to do a ton of critical analysis to draw the conclusion that Mike Shanahan sees some of these qualities.
We shall see if the media comes to McNabb's defense as fervently as they have in the past now that it wouldn't also give them a chance to bash the Eagles and Philly fans, their favorite past time. Maybe they should give some of us some credit for thinking the time was right to trade McNabb, and for thinking that there were plenty of legitimate reasons to move on. And, maybe cows will fly. Oh, and if this wasn't funny enough, Shanahan actually is rumored to have considered benching McNabb AFTER beating the Eagles a couple weeks ago, despite the team getting a victory. That should tell you that it wasn't McNabb's effort that beat the Eagles, although, in typical Donovan fashion, he made the comment in the locker room post game that "they (the Eagles) made a mistake" in trading him. Yeah, boy, I wish we could have that one back.
Oh, and the other silver lining this weekend? The Cowboys getting beat on yet again. It env
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sixers 2010-2011 Season Preview
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.
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.
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.)
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