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.

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.

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 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:

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.