Fan commentary on the Philadelphia Eagles and other Philly sports happenings. "Our capacity for hurt is matched only by our capacity for loyalty." -- Bill Lyon.
My brother writes:
Pro bowl - interesting that McNabb will likely either go to super bowl or pro bowl. He's first alternate and will go if saints/vikings/packers go to super bowl as one of the qb's would have to drop out. Let's hope he does NOT go to pro bowl.
Hard to believe eags now own destiny for securing #2 seed. Amazing.
Losing jamaal jackson for the year is a big loss.
The playoffs start a little early this year. Like on Sunday - Eagles vs. Cowboys. Winner gets a #2 seed, a bye and home playoff game in the second round. Loser likely has to go on the road the following week and has their super bowl chances significantly diminished.
Everyone is talking about maclin's catch. Very little appreciation for McNabb's throw on that play.
I can tell you mood in the stands as the lead slipped away was growing anger at McNabb (no idea why - up to that point the offense had already scored 27 points). Of course, that all changed after his 27 yard run - which looked like one of those old McNabb moves when he dropped back - saw Pinkston and Thrash covered - and decided to make the play all by himself.
Also on the crowd response - Dawkins got a huge reception as you'd expect. DeSean a very big cheer but still not as a big as the reigning fan favorite - B. Westbrook (though it helped it was his first game back). McNabb gets cheered but in my estimation less fervor and noise than either of the other two.
A friend writes:
Oh my god, Phil Sheridan points out that the Maclin play was the exact same play that ended our season last year in Ariz - except Curtis didn't get his feet down and didn't make the catch. Maclin did.
A reminder of the value of David Akers and a kicking game fans have not had to fret over for years now.
Akers leads the NFL with 101 points and 24 field goals, is tied for the lead with 11 boots of 40 or more yards and fifth with an 88.9 field goal percentage, the latter of which is the highest success rate of his career. He's made 16 straight field goal attempts.
Succinct description of the Lee-Halladay deal and the events surrounding the trading deadline this past July, including naming the four players Toronto wanted back then - Happ, Drabek, Brown, Gose - which is insane and rightly rejected by Amaro.
The players that form the Phillies' nucleus — Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins — are entering the latter phase of their primes. In Halladay, the Phillies have a bona fide ace to join them for the long haul, with just enough left in their farm system to feel protected.
Not sports related but I found this article about a proposal in Pittsburgh to tax the tuition of college students in the city funny. The amusing thing is the quote from the alleged college student who objects to the proposed tax because of all the other taxes students already pay, which he explains as "'we rent apartments so we pay taxes on that, we have cars here, which provide parking taxes,'" said David Gau, an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh."
The inimitable Jayson Stark evaluates the winners and losers of the Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee trade and includes a variety of scouting opinions on ALL the players involved.
The bottomline?
This was about extending their window of NL dominance as long as possible, not for one brief run at glory.If they'd stood pat, Lee almost certainly would have headed off next winter to hit the free-agent lottery. And they'd most likely have gotten outbid by the Yankees or Red Sox on Halladay. So without either Lee or Halladay, the Phillies very conceivably might have had to blow up their team and retool.
"Halladay likely would agree to a contract extension with the Phillies to waive his no-trade clause. The Phillies would acquire prospects for Lee to help satisfy the Blue Jays' demands for Halladay, and also send prospects of their own to the Jays."
"I'm told the Blue Jays need some relief help, especially after B.J. Ryan flamed out on them this past season and was subsequently released. Look for Phillippe Aumont to be included in any deal. Also, look for Tyson Gillies to possibly be included, given the fact he's Canadian and the type ofup-and-coming prospect the Jays would be thrilled to have in their system. Michael Saunders is also Canadian, and you'd have to consider him. That farm in Toronto was left rather bare by the J.P. Ricciardi years.If this deal goes down, the Mariners would instantly have one of the best one-two starting punches in baseball. In a lot of ways, this trumps any effort to get John Lackey. Provided, that is, the M's can lock him up long-term."
More from MMQB:
d. The best big back in the NFC East right now is not Brandon Jacobs. It's Leonard Weaver of the Eagles. Seattle should never have let this nimble big man with good hands go.
Peter King's MMQB offers this tidbit:
b. It must drive NFL people crazy to hear Ed Hochuli go on those long, explanatory riffs when he's got his mike open. But I love it. Mike Pereira can't make stolid refs have Hochuli's personality, and he shouldn't try. But his explanations should be textbook for all officials in college and pro football. Fans deserve to hear exactly why something has happened.
What is it about the sport of football that fosters this loyalty to the team over everything else, including the health of individual players? A mindset that permeates down to the high school level and perhaps lower.
From the NY Times:
If the attitudes of several Tustin High School players in Southern California are any indication, the culture the N.F.L. helped build will not be reformed overnight.Sitting outside their locker room Thursday, linebacker-fullback Wade Minshew and defensive end Kuresa Moaliitele both said they would not tell anyone if they sustained a concussion during Friday's big state playoff game.
They heard about the N.F.L.'s new rule. They have watched stars like Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner and Brian Westbrook struggle with concussions in recent weeks, and have been taught by their athletic trainers that playing through a concussion, when you are a teenager, can be highly dangerous and even deadly.
"It's our mentality toward football — you put the team first," Minshew said. Moaliitele added: "I'd keep playing. It's the dedication I have to the team."
My brother joins the bye possibility debate:
It's exactly where the Raiders loss kills us. That and the Vikings beating the Niners (G Lew!) and Ravens (missed fg by Ravens). If 2 of those 3 go our way we are tied for the #2 seed RIGHT NOW!!
That is why I say (and Eagleseye does too) – make the playoffs and anything can happen. There is not a big difference between Vikes and us (huge difference between Saints and us though).
Yes it's a longshot, but for us to do anything in playoffs we need to run the table. It's what happened last year – we got hot and won a few games. If we go 2-2 we ain't doing anything in playoffs (if we made it). We go 3-1 and that puts us 6-1 in last 7 and very dangerous.
If Giants win this week they will likely go 5-1 in division and have tie-breaker over everyone in division. AND have the easier schedule (won't have to play us or Cowboys). This game is HUGE for Giants. They win and they are clear favorites for division (considering Dallas' schedule). Unbelievable!!!
In short what we need right now, this week – Beat Giants. That's it. Now bonus is Cowboys lose to Chargers and Vikings lose to Bengals. Then we are 1 out with 3 to play. All is moot if we don't beat Giants. Must win or else we can't lose another game (again, we can make playoffs losing 2 games, but won't be hot and will do nothing in Playoffs at that point).
Lastly, need Ravens to win tonight
The vikes have the bengals, panthers, bears, giants left.
Yeah, I think they can go 2-2.
Our problem is running the table. That's probably not going to happen...and where that Raiders loss just kills us.
My friend answers back in the negative about my burgeoning bye optimism:
You're being unrealistic.
Do you think we're going to win 4 straight, including on the road in Meadowlands and in Dallas and the other 2?
We need to go 12-4 and Vikes need to go 2-2 down the stretch.
Let's just win 11 games and take the division.
Funny video for Irish fans (and haters) alike. A graphic testament to the lows to which Charlie Weis has left the program.
Alas, the refs and the NCAA conspired to help give the BCS championship berth to Texas (I thought the clock stopped when the whistle blew, not - as the Big 12 now officiates things in the wake of last night's game - when the ball hits a railing and has to be reviewed.)
In any case, it's fair to ask exactly why Texas got the berth partly on the basis of its strength of schedule. After all, based on final regular season standings, Texas has played ONLY ONE TEAM IN THE TOP 20 THIS YEAR...and that just happened to be Nebraska, who jumped to #20 based on its proud losing performance against Texas yesterday. For comparison's sake, Boise State has also played one one team in the top 20, thought that team - Oregon - is ranked much higher (7) than Texas' opponent and the Ducks also have the claim to be Pac-10 champs.
What the hell happened in the 3rd quarter? the Eagles went to sleep, the Skins kept fighting, and the Eags almost gave the game away.
Interesting and similar dynamic to the raiders game. no matter how bad a team, if you keep them in it long enough, they become a tougher opponent and increase the risk of losing.
McCoy played great. hard to believe he's a rookie. though he's getting so many touches now that Westy's out, we gotta be careful of wearing him out in his first long nfl season (as opposed to the college season).
hard to believe the ratio was 57-43, they seemed to run a lot more than i've come to expect today.
glad to see Maclin step up after Jackson left the game. Avant continues to make big catches.
i'll say it again. take a win against a division opponent any way you can.
Who's season is more on the brink - the Eagles or Giants? (NY fans must be more apoplectic at how the season has unfolded than Philly fans).
A friend writes:
McCoy and Maclin did their best today to shut me up. Andy lost the touch on the running game in the 3rdQ and the offense sagged, but then rediscovered it in the 4th and the chains started moving -- which then opened up space for Maclin, and he and Avant made the catches.
Really gotta hope Avant and Jackson are healthy. That gives us a fighting chance at the NFC East if they're healthy.
Andy called 27 running plays designed for runners (I count Vick in those), and he called 37 pass plays -- 35 throws by Donovan and 2 plays in which he ended up running boot leg options.
It's not a great ratio -- almost 43% running, 57% passing -- but it was enough to force the Skins D to play honest.
Back to back close-game wins, too, my other pet peeve of the year. Not sure if you guys were at the game, but the Fox guys said that was our 1st 2-point-conversion attempt of the ENTIRE season. Not sure how that's possible.
Matt Ryan is hurt, if he can't play next week, that makes the Atl game much more winnable.
The Eagles' 6 wins are against teams that are collectivrly 21-39 on the season, with only NYG being .500 or above.
We're 1-3 against teams above .500 at this point in season.
Right tackle Winston Justice has signed a four-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles.Justice's deal is worth $18.15 million, including a $6 million signing bonus, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The team announced the deal on Tuesday. Justice could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season. A second-round pick in 2006, Justice has started every game this season after starting only one in his first three years in the NFL. He replaced Shawn Andrews, who didn't take a snap and was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending back injury. Jon Runyan had started every game at right tackle for the Eagles since 2000, but he wasn't re-signed after last season and remains a free agent.
Espn's John Clayton follows up on my friend PK's close games frustration:
The Eagles' inability to win close games is becoming a major mystery in the league. I don't know why, either. How can a team that has been to five NFC title games not win close games during the regular season? By my count, Donovan McNabb is 1-8-1 in his past 10 games decided by eight points or fewer. I can't buy the notion that Reid can't manage the clock. He always wins first-round playoff games, and bad clock managers don't win playoff games. I also can't figure out how McNabb could have a career record worse than .500 in these close games. McNabb manages the game well and has a great arm. It's a mystery, but if they don't solve it, the Eagles won't have to worry about the playoffs.
Condolences to JA Happ who got screwed out of the Rookie of the Year award. The snub continues major league baseball writers discrimination of Phillies players. Last year, the beat writers for the Washington Nationals left Ryan Howard completely off their ballots for MVP. Howard only came in second to Albert Pujols.
Philly Congressman Bob Brady is a Geno's kind of guy, paying off a congressional wager on the World Series with a New York representative Jose Serrano with Geno's cheesesteaks (and not Pat's).
From Roll Call:
Brady personally delivered the sandwiches from Geno's Steaks in South Philadelphia to Serrano — but HOH notes Brady wasn't about to announce any newfound love for the Bronx Bombers.
Brady arrived in Serrano's office sporting a Phillies cap, announcing to staffers: "Where's he at? Let's get this over with." A joyous Serrano welcomed Brady into his office, showing his colleague a framed picture of the old Yankee Stadium and putting on his Yankees cap.
"You guys, you're the best team money can buy," Brady said, um, congratulating Serrano on the win.
"If I wasn't a Yankee fan, I'd be outraged at how much they spend," Serrano admitted. "But since I'm a Yankee fan ..."
My frustrated friend PK does a statistical analysis of the Reid era in light of the past two losses.
OK, I've gone back and run the numbers from 2001 on, checking to see how much worse Andy has gotten over the years in close games.
What I did was use the basic math of 7 pts or less, a pure 1 possession game, not even an 8-pt game where the deck is stacked against you by requiring a 2-pt conversion. So today's 8-pt loss doesn't statistically count.The reality is exactly as Jeff said last week, that the Eagles used to be far better in close games. Here's the rundown of the team record in reg season and playoff games decided by 7 pts or fewer:
'01: 3-3
'02: 4-3
'03: 7-2
'04: 4-1
'05: 3-5
'06: 4-5
'07: 3-4
'08: 1-6-1
'09: 0-2
Worth noting: That lone victory of 7 pts or less in '08 came because NYG scored a TD with 10 secs left in the game, the only other TD the scored being a blocked FG at the gun at the end of the 1st half that G-men ran back for a TD. Yes, there are other games that were essentially close that the Eagles won -- like the Vikes playoff game last year, which we were leading 16-14 in the 4thQ until Westbrook's screen-pass TD broke it open.
But there's an undeniable reality to Andy's teams. From '01-'04, they were 18-9 in games decided by 7 pts or less. In the '05-'09 run, they are 11-22-1 in those close games. A large chunk of that drop off is this season and last, obviously, but the other portion of that drop off comes as Reid systematically abandons the running game.
A friend writes:
This week's loss was amazing in the game planning. The Chargers systematically decided not to contest Donovan with the pass rush and instead took away any chance at the big play.
Since we can't run the ball, we can't finish drives for TDs. It's that simple. Once we get to red zone there's no room underneath for catches. So only really late when their D let up did we get TDs.
Meanwhile, the Chargers systematically commited to running the ball and did so with solid effectiveness. Not brilliance. But very solidly ran the ball and moved the chains.
This was one of the most stunning losses Reid has ever suffered as head coach. Norv Turner completely out coached him. Which is saying a lot.
My brother writes:
Not that we needed this to prove the Sports Guy has an anti-Philly bias, but how does HE not write about Pedro pitching TWO WS games in the Bronx. Of all people. There is no way this is not the biggest sports story of the year and one of the most unimaginable scenarios in sports history!
To which my friend PK emphatically agrees:
Let me say it again: Pedro F-ing Martinez, in a World Series elimination game, against the Yankees!!!!!!!
It's like Rocky got a chance to go back and fight in Moscow!
A friend writes:
From Howard Bryant of ESPN – "A performance from Martinez is what the Phillies need and why they signed him".NO. They signed him to be the 5th starter and not have an automatic loss every 5th day. They NEVER envisioned him pitching in the playoffs. Not in July at least.
This is an incredible story that he's pitching tonight. Other teams looked at him earlier this year and passed.
Pedro should have a short leash tonight and I would like to see Happ come in if someone needed by the 5th. Gotta win 6 before you get to 7.
We WILL hit CC if it gets to Game 7. it'll be like last year when w/ the Brewers. This lineup isn't facing a guy for the 3rd time in a week without adjusting and hammering him. I don't care who he is. That said – we need better pitching tonight than we will need tomorrow (if necessary).
Teixeira's right. Fortunately, the Phils only have to win 2 in NY.
Phillies 8, Yankees 6 - Utley and Lee Help Phillies Top Yankees and Avoid Series Elimination - NYTimes.com: "“It’s very tough to beat that team three in a row in their place,” Teixeira said."
Clearly Harvey Araton didn't attend any of the Series' games in Philadephia, where every A-Rod at bat was met with some loud and unified fan commentary on some aspect of his steroid abuse. His cheating might get overlooked during a June game in Kansas City, but there will be a rowdy fan reminder for every playoff game for the rest of his career about how he disgraced himself and the game of baseball.
Analysis - In Yankees’ Rodriguez, a Lesson for Redemption in the Steroid Era - NYTimes.com: "Aided by his bat and an astute apology, Alex Rodriguez is ending the baseball season not as a former steroids user but as a home run hero. In the process, he may be clearing a path forward for himself and his much-maligned sport."
Bullpen blows seemingly backbreaking game 4 loss at home? Check
Phillies’ emerging big game pitcher stops opponent in must win game 5 at home? Check
Series heads back to AL ballpark for game 6 with the Phillies down 3-2? Check
Bullpen staggering at close of season and immolating even more in playoffs? Check
Here’s hoping Mitch Williams, er Brad Lidge, doesn’t see the field tomorrow night.
mirror image of game 1. Martinez pitched well but gave up 2 solo homers....like CC.
Burnett was more dominant...like Lee.
Bright spot was roughing up Rivera and getting runners on in both innings. of course, not going to beat him if the umps continue to give him that huge strike zone.
Man, exciting to see stairs up there capable of tying the game.
oh my gosh, so many thoughts running through my head last night and this morning.
Utley's 1st inning walk was HUGE!.
Seemed like the Phils were in command the entire game even though game was very tight, 1-0 then 2-0, for most of it. I think Buck got it right last night, "Sabathia pitching really good game but just completely overshadowed by Lee's even better game."
can't believe more isn't being made of the really crappy weather that they endured most of the night. Ef Bud Selig. Lee and Sabathia deserved better for their matchup.
Rollins' defensive genius on the humpback liner that wound up doubling off Matsui and Cano. Another huge Yankees running blunder (though it was a very confusing play) on par with their 3rd base screw up against the Angels (which the umps blew). In fact, if the Angels play didn't happen, would the crew have spent the time figuring out the proper call last night? For instance, during the play it is still unclear to me if the 2nd base ump called the "out" because Rollins caught the ball or because he stepped on second for what was thought to be the forceout of Matsui.
That was a gigantic play - they go from one on and no out to none on and two out. At worst, they should have had a baserunner and only 1 out.
Lee is one cool cat. That catch of the pop up on the pitchers mound was goofy, funny, and crazy.
Honestly, if i'm a Yankee fan i can't be thrilled with sending Burnett out tonight. He's a good pitcher but i don't get a sense he's either dominant or a big game pitcher. Losing game 1 at home, I think they would have preferred to start Pettite in game 2, but he's not available cause of the game 6 rainout.
Hallelujah.
My brother says:
What I liked was not letting bullpen give them hope. Not in this game (6-0 it was over), but if they get 1 or 2 against madson then they'll gain confidence against our Pen. Also pedro goes 6 - we will need pen tonight. Lastly, no reason to let them see madson or anyone before they have to and keep rested in case u need 2innings from someone.
A friend writes:
Something just hit me: we won game 1 in Yankee Stadium!
Christ, I've been so over analytical, I've not had the chance to be happy about what we just did.
F-$# that's great.
The point made by my buddy Brody - independent observer, a Nats fan - was this: letting Lee finish was the complete demolition to get insidetheir heads for the next time they faced him.
Personally, I kinda thought 8 innings, 10 ks and 0 runs had already done that. I'd have been tempted to take him out to preserve pitches in case he has to pitch at some point in Game 7.
Yes, I'm that forward thinking, that I thought about a Game 7 when/if Cole is breaking down in the 3rd or 4th inning.
Just another reason to hate the Yankees.
From the Times:
"While the teams each have six major league free agents (that does not include players signed to minor league contracts after being in another organization), the Yankees have spent almost 10 times as much on that group as the Phillies have on theirs.
The Phillies have committed $58 million to their free agents; the Yankees have guaranteed more than half a billion dollars — $533 million — to their super six."
The most surprising news in the wake of the Phillies' game 1 win? Praise for former and much maligned Phillies GM Ed Wade.
Yanks and Phillies Took Different Paths to Build World Series Teams - NYTimes.com: "The Phillies are lauded for their homegrown talent, with the stars Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels forming the foundation of the defending champion after being drafted under the aegis of the former general manager Ed Wade.
“Ed Wade drafted a lot of good players and always said, ‘Wait until the product gets up here,’ ” Rollins said. “Now we’re here and everything he said has come true. We’re the guys he was speaking of, and we were able to live up to expectations.”"
Great column by former Phil Doug Glanville about this world series and growing up with the Phillies in the late ‘70s.
For Two Sluggers, It Is the October of Their Lives - NYTimes.com: "“He’s wanted to be the man,” Rollins said. “He’s wanted to step up and assume that role. He’s done that very successfully, and that is very big for him, a big step in his legacy — because he does have a legacy, by the way — to be the man. He’s the big guy on campus. Everybody looks at the big guy and expects things to happen, and he makes ’em happen.”"
Ryan Howard is "The Man."
Remember when he was in Triple A and the knock on him was that he had a "hole" in his swing. Now? Not so much. Hopefully this series will be more of Howard's national coming out party (the Subway commercials notwithstanding) and he can start being included in the conversations about the best hitter in baseball that till now have exclusively focused on Albert Pujols.
Game 1 of World Series features pitching matchup for the ages - washingtonpost.com: "For everyone else -- including Major League Baseball officials and Fox-TV executives -- this is a matchup for the ages: two of the game's best pitchers, both in the prime of their careers, fronting the undisputed best team in each league, and facing the deepest, most powerful lineup the opposite league has to offer.
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Chiefly because of Lee and Sabathia, the 2009 World Series holds the possibility of being an epic confrontation remembered for generations. Each has been virtually unbeatable: In three starts apiece this postseason, Lee is 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA, while Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA. Both have struck out 20 batters while walking only three. But neither has yet faced a lineup like the ones they will be facing Wednesday night."
Shades of 1950 - Phillies Arrive in New York by Train - NYTimes.com
Phillies train it to New York for World Series.
A friend writes:
Not to get overly greedy here, but a win tonight would be soooooo key. It would set up the rotation fairly nicely, with Hamels going in Game 1, Pedro in Game 2, Lee in 3, Blanton in Game 4.
Yes, I'm making an executive decision here, in which I think we'll want Blanton in the rotation against right-handed heavy lineup of the Dodgers. Put Happ in the pen.
Should any 9 inning playoff baseball game finish at 2:30 am EDT?
I know MLB doesn’t want to go head to head with the NFL, but surely they would get better ratings for a strategically scheduled afternoon game than one that went till 2:30 in the morning.
An impressive opening series win.
Lee looked great. A far cry from the last Rockies-Phillies NLDS opener.
What did they see that encouraged them to run at will?
Btw, listened to the last inning on the radio. Chris Berman is a horrible play by play man.
Great Jayson Stark column on today's game.
I know he's a national reporter now, but reading his stuff I get a sense he's still got a special feeling for the Phillies.
A friend writes on the Cliff Lee game 1 news:
Not to mention, in the 1 game that each of them has started against Colorado, Lee pitched 7 innings, gave up 1 run and got 9 Ks; Hamels got shelled, giving up 7 runs in 3 2/2 innings. What's Colorado's record against left-handed starters?
To which the answer is: The Rockies are 27-26 overall against left-handed starters, including just 8-16 on the road.
Here’s a link to a remarkably detailed and insightful analysis of the series by, of all sources, WJLA-TV in Washington, DC. (which is where I got the stat above.)
Game 1 starter.
Good call from Manuel. I was afraid he was going to go with Hamels on short rest.
Lee gets an extra day and Hamels can either be the stopper if we lose game 1 or the hammer to maybe put the Phils up 2-0 in the series if they take game 1.
Too funny that Paul Domowitch writes about an issue that should have been covered two weeks ago during the, "will Reggie Brown make the team or will he be cut in favor of Hank Baskett" navel gazing. Now it comes out, that of course Brown wasn't cut because of the huge salary cap hit the team would take. http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/columnists/20090918_Paul_Domowitch__Making_cents_of_Brown_situation.html
But cut through all of Domo's dense reporting and here's the bottomline. The Eagles will take a cap hit for releasing Brown but it won't be as bad as he portrays it and will certainly leave the team with plenty of room left to make any acquisitions they need over the course of the rest of the season.
Were the Eags to cut Brown, his cap hit would be $6.5 million ($7.3 prorated bonus minus his $884k base salary). As Domo reports, the Eagles present cap room is about $9 million, meaning that letting go of Brown will give them $2.5 million left to sign Jon Runyan and any other players they might need to fill subsequent injury voids.
"We wish Shawn all the best as he recovers..." is the operative and less than subtle wording in Andy Reid's statement about Shawn Andrews being placed on IR. A total kiss off, almost like he was being released, rather than having his season curtailed by a season-ending injury.
Runyan worked out for the Eagles today. Reportedly, 3 other teams are also interested in Runyan.
This is what drives me crazy about the front office, they’re penny wise and pound foolishness.
Presumably they are waiting to sign him after the first game when his full year contract is not guaranteed. Of course, he’s not likely to play in the first game 3 days from now, but why wait?
You’ve got a championship contending team, you’ve got problems on your offensive line, you’ve got a proven nfl tackle that wants to play, and a team leader to boot. You put all this money into other upgrades, why not just sign Runyan now for $1million and be done with it. heck, maybe you could even suit him up for Sunday so he doesn’t end his consecutive games streak. Your millions under the cap and Runyan is good insurance for Shawn Andrews.
Plus he’s earned a little management gesture of good will. I would think it would be good for the locker room and the other players if they saw that management wasn’t playing hard ball with him.
The Eagles thinking on this makes no sense to me.
According to this website, the Phillies have a 95.7% chance of making the playoffs.
The Yankees and Cardinals are near locks (99.9%), while the Dodgers are at 97.1%, the Tigers 89.2% and the Angels 88.3% (among all division leaders).
The Patriots cut WR Greg Lewis. Guess the Eagles made out in that trade, getting the Pats' 5th rounder this year (who turned out to be Fenuki Tupou) in exchange for Lewis and an undisclosed pick next year (6/7).
Finally! an article that at least touches on the real implications for the QB depth chart of the Michael Vick signing. To wit, Kevin Kolb is essentially being demoted.
Yes, yes, Kolb is technically still the "#2" QB - by default right now since Vick is suspended for the first two games of the season. But when Vick comes back, Kolb will be the only #2 QB in the league known as the "disaster QB."
The Eagles actually have done this in recent years where the game day back up is not the same as the long-term back up depending on whether the starter is out for only part of a game or several games. Wasn't Detmer the active #2 QB for a while just so he could hold for Akers but if McNabb was out for several games Garcia would leapfrog from #3 to #1?
One other interesting aspect to all this. Just like Kolb might technically be #2 on the depth chart, what if Vick, while technically a QB, is actually designated at another position (WR?) on game days? Might the 6th WR be the "disaster QB" with the thought that it gives Reid the flexibility to use all three QBs as he sees fit and that if something did happen to McNabb, the team could muddle along for a quarter or two with Kolb and Vick and then in the fourth quarter replace McNabb's empty roster spot with the extra WR? An added twist,Vick at WR has fantasy football implications.
My uninformed guess is that the final WR spot will come down to Hank Baskett or Reggie Brown. Will the preference be for a "bigger" receiver (whose size and leaping ability have yet to utilized in 4 years) who brings a little glamour to the team as the husband of a former Hef plaything, or do the Eagles lean towards not giving up on their former #2 pick? It will be interesting.
Yes the Eagles are playing the Colts in a meaningless preseason game in which the defense looked porous, the Eagles first team offense and Andy Reid continued their 3rd and 1 ineptitude (really, a pass?), and clock management was terrible again at the end of the half, but my friend PK writes about the Phils' postseason possibilities:
LAD - 70-49 (playing StL as I type)
Phils - 67-49
StL -68-52
Marlins - 64-55
Ok, let's start with Florida (and the rest of the NL East). If we play right at our current winning % of roughly .580, we should handle the division. Because we're 6 ahead in the loss column, it's gonna take a
massive Phils collapse or a massive fish run. If we go 27-19 down the stretch - .580 winning % - we finish with 94 wins. To match that, the Marlins have to go 30-13. A a tall order.
Now, to secure the No 2 slot in playoffs, we may have to step it up a notch. The Cards could get to 94 wins by going up above .600 down the stretch (26-16) or a little better to nudge ahead of us.
So, I'm now hoping for a finish of 29-17 or 30-16. That gets us to 96 or 97 wins. Probably a realistic number but also a stretch in a season of this many blown saves.
PS - final thought. If we go 30-16 in the final stretch and finish with 97 wins, the Dodgers need to go 27-18 to tie us. That's not that spectacular, but given how LAD has been playing the last month, that The might be a tall order. We could earn home-field throughout playoffs .
My Cleveland Indians fan friend (though still boiling from the Cliff Lee heist) writes:
The first 8 batters in the Angels lineup against the Tribe last night, all regulars, all had batting averages above .300. The 9th hitter (Mike Nappoli) was at .297. Any time of the year that is nuts, but late August, it's absurd.
"No recent team has made late-season surges more famous, fashionable or fun than the Phillies, who each time zoomed into the playoffs on the strength of the best September winning percentage in the N.L. They are 34-19 over the last two Septembers. Not that they are thinking this way, but this may finally be the year that the Phillies rebuff, not surpass, teams in September." - -
Phillies Enjoying the View From Atop N.L. East - NYTimes.com
Interestingly, the article also mentions that Jamie Moyer was "despondent" after last night's game, but doesn't go into any further detail.
Wow! What a move. I don’t know what to think. Low risk, high reward gamble.
One thing I do know, is that all the commentary about this being a move to/threat to McNabb for next year have it all wrong. Isn’t the vick acquisition a damning indictment not of the starter but of the backup, Kolb – and his ability to succeed McNabb?
From a friend who is a Cleveland Indians fan:
“Ben Francisco is a hell of a throw in. I like him and think with Charlie Manuel's teaching, he will be your starting leftfielder one day.
I really like this deal for the Phils. Not so keen on it for the Tribe. Halladay may be better than Lee, but he certainly is not so much better than Lee as to not prefer having Lee and keeping Happ and Drabek.”
OK, wow. The Phils got an AL Cy young winner and didn't give up Happ, Drabek, Brown or Taylor?
Wow! Ruben Amaro pulled off a great deal.
Lee is signed through next year at $8M. So the Phils get him for the same length of time as Halladay at 55% of the cost.
My friend PK does a little dirt digging and finds gold:
“Below is the top 15 all time home run hitters. The asterisk means they were definite PED cheaters. The parentheses next to a player's home-run total means he's an active player and that's his age.
More than a third of the 15 greatest HR hitters of all time are cheats; the verdict seems uncertain on Thome, who I don't think did them but I'm not really certain. If he's ever found guilty, that means half the top 15 are 'roid guys.
It's pretty amazing and stark when you put it into that perspective, i think.
1.Barry Bonds 762 ***
2.Hank Aaron+ 755
3.Babe Ruth+ 714
4.Willie Mays+ 660
5.Ken Griffey 621 (39)
6.Sammy Sosa 609 ****
7.Frank Robinson 586
8.Mark McGwire 583 ***
9.Harmon Killebrew+ 573
10.Alex Rodriguez 572 (33) ***
11.Rafael Palmeiro 569 ***
12.Reggie Jackson+ 563
13.Jim Thome 557 (38)
14.Mike Schmidt+ 548
15.Manny Ramirez 537 (37) ***
A friend writes of the limbo JA Happ finds himself:
Poor JA Happ. Think about this if you're him. He's gotta be thinking that he needs to pinch himself every night when he goes to bed, sitting at 7-0 with the defending world champions, pitching to bonkers sell-out crowds every night, an almost certainty for the club to get into the playoffs with a shot at getting to the World Series and being part of the 4-man starting rotation.
Or. Or. Or…
Getting traded to a Blue Jays team that is practically giving up on competing for the next 2 seasons. In a foreign country, no less.
Peter Gammons thinks that getting Roy Halladay would make the Phillies the favorites to not only repeat but three-peat:
"One could argue that the Phillies have a chance to win three straight World Series (if the Phils acquire Halladay, they would have him under contract for the rest of this season along with the entire 2010 campaign) -- and make Cole Hamels even better. But whether they'll do it is up in the air."
At the very least, Pedro will provide the combativeness that Brett Myers took with him to the DL.
"'It could be my mom standing up there with a bat. And if I have to knock her off the plate, I would. So don't confuse that.'
But Martinez seems to have no doubt that he is going to 'fall in love' with these people, or that he can make them fall in love with him. [writes Jayson Stark]
'I think we'll have a lot of fun,' he said, 'because they seem to be really wild -- and I'm a little out there, too.'"
Thank gosh, the Phillies are still in the hunt for Halladay according to ESPN.
"Adding Martinez isn't expected to prevent the Phillies from pursuing All-Star Roy Halladay. The Toronto Blue Jays are listening to offers for the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner, and Philadelphia has already expressed strong interest.
'This doesn't preclude us from doing other things with the club,' Amaro said."
Remind me again why my tax money went to paying 100 cents on the dollar for all of Goldman's counterparty trades in the AIG bailout ? From the Times:
"Goldman posted the richest quarterly profit in its 140-year history and, to the envy of its rivals, announced that it had earmarked $11.4 billion so far this year to compensate its workers."
Funny how Peter King doesn't mention the punishment (or non-punishment) of another NFL player who was under contract and killed a person in much the same fashion for which Donte Stallworth is being slapped on the wrist...Leonard Little.
"Stallworth was under contract to an NFL team and took a man's life, and Goodell suspended him indefinitely. I don't see the problem there. The three players you've mentioned are not under contract to any NFL teams now, so Goodell isn't under pressure to make any speedy decisions, particularly on Michael Vick or Plaxico Burress. I would anticipate both would get sanctions, and Burress could be suspended for between four and eight games."So a NY felony that's a mandatory five year prison term is only an 8 game suspension in the NFL? The Donte Stallworth issue poses big problems for the commissioner and the pending decision on Michael Vick's status. Does Goodell really want the league to be seen as imposing harsher penalties on jerks who have scrums over duffel bags of money in strip clubs or overseeing a dog fighting ring (and killling dogs) than a player convicted of manslaughter?
Huge profile of Seaford native Delino DeShields in today's Washington Post about his new coaching life in the minor leagues. One of the very few DeShields articles I've ever read that actually mentions how he chose pro baseball rather than accept a Villanova scholarship to play guard for Rollie Massimino.
I'm one of the dwindling few who probably even remembers the Philadelphia Bulletin. It was the "big city daily" we got at our home out in W. Chester every afternoon. A solid newspaper with a great sports section - Ray Didinger! - most of which got scooped up by the Inquirer.
It was sad to see it go. Sad too, to see its former publisher pass away.
What happened to Cristal being the drink of choice?
Must be the Entourage phenomenon.
Stallworth drank tequila shots prior to fatal wreck
Teams slow to re-sign '05 draft picks - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Only three players from the 2005 first round have signed extensions, and one of them is Eagle Mike Patterson. Presumably the lack of extensions is because of the looming end to the CBA - and the changes to free agency rules that will entail (i.e., extending the time before a player can become a free agent). But are some owners being short-sighted about these extensions. In another year or two, some of these players will be getting even bigger paydays than they might otherwise now because the salary cap will be lifted by then, while it is still in place now.
Regardless of how depleted the Mets' lineup is, a sweep of a division rival is still an impressive feat. Indeed, it was perhaps more important to sweep the Mets this weekend while they were undermanned. Good teams beat the opponents they are supposed to beat. And taking advantage of the Mets' weakness was in the end not only important but imperative.
My Flyer friend, Big O’s, take on the Chris Pronger trade after I expressed the opinion that giving up Lupul, 2 #1s and a minor leaguer for a 36 year-old defenseman was quite a lot.
We gave up a boatload, no doubt. Lupul is expendable bc we have Giroux coming up full time. We gave up D Luca Sbisa, our #1 pick from last year, but he had years to develop. What really hurts is giving up two more #1s as well.
HOWEVER, we need to realize what Pronger is. The guy is an absolute animal. He turns 35 this year, but still has it. Basically, this shows that Holmgren is in a win now mode. Pronger has about 2-3 more good years in him. Bottom line: we gave up alot, but Pronger immediately upgrades our defense, and gives us a legitimate shot for the Cup. If we win, Homer will look like a genius, if we lose it will go down as a disaster. Im choosing to be optimistic. Look what Leafs GM Brian Burke said about Pronger going to broad street:
"Pronger was "born to wear Orange." He is the "prototypical Flyer," and the fans will love him. He said Philly has great fans, they are "vicious and loyal," and he will fit right in there.
Richard Nixon's White House tapes are the gift that just keeps on giving. The newest recordings feature this insight into the disgraced President's warped mind. From the NY Times:
"There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white," he told an aide, before adding, "Or a rape."
My take on Pat Burrell's surprising statistics as the 3rd all-time on the Phillies home run list:
The Philadelphia Inquirer mentions something my friend PK noted several weeks ago.
“But the Phillies are 26-29 against opponents who are not the Washington Nationals.”
A friend writes:
Yes, I know he played 9 seasons of averaging almost 30 homers in Philly. I just don't think of him this way, although maybe it speaks to how bad an organization we've been over the years more than anything.
From MLB's preview of Phils-Rays series:
Burrell trails only Del Ennis and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt on the franchise's all-time home run list, and is fifth in walks and seventh in RBIs.
Former Phillie Doug Glanville writes occasionally for the New York Times. Appropriately, his most recent essay is on remembering his father.
It’s been nearly a week, and I still don’t know what to make of Donovan McNabb’s reworked contract – both in terms of the timing, the motivation, and the actual terms.
NFL teams, but especially the Eagles, are infamous for not rewarding past performance but basing contracts on future projections (see Dawkins, Brian). So why is McNabb getting a bump in salary (courtesy of the extra guaranteed money) now? Cause he took the team to the NFC championship game?
I can’t help but wonder if the balance of power between QB and team shifted in favor of #5 thanks to that playoff run. For all of the fan talk (fantasy?) and radio speculation in the run up to last year’s season of the team releasing McNabb after 2009 when the salary cap hit was at it nadir and the start of the Kolb era, the reality turned out to be that McNabb suddenly found himself in a position to practically dare the Eagles to release him – he’d find work very easily with any number of QB-deficient teams (notably the Vikings) ponying up for his services and the Eagles, who were several plays from the Super Bowl would begin the season with an untested backup whose biggest professional play up to this point has been an INT that was returned 109 yards for a touchdown. And unfairly as it is, how much did Kolb’s poor play in the 2nd half of the Ravens game influence management’s decision. One half is hardly an adequate evaluation of talent, particularly against one of the best defenses in the league – on the road, no less – but there’s no denying what happened. So the Eagles don’t have to deal with the rumors and whispers about McNabb’s fate as the franchise QB and McNabb gets some extra money, more public respect, and doesn’t force the issue and demand a trade or release in training camp.
And whither Kolb? He’s rookie deal might expire before the Eagles get a good game day look at the former 2nd round pick.
And yet, I can’t help but look at McNabb’s deal and see that big $6.2 million roster bonus due on May 5 next year. For all of the misanalysis of his “guaranteed” money ($24.2 million according to the Inquirer), this $6.2 million is factored in. of course, it’s only guaranteed if he’s on the roster on that date. It looks to me like that is the point of no return. May 5 and the $6.2 million is the deadline for the Eagles to decide if McNabb will be the starter in 2010. So maybe the new contract is a one-year deal after all.
…this headline in today’s paper, “North Korean Leader Is Said to Pick a Son as Heir”
Isn’t a son, by definition, an “heir?” So why does the North Korean leader need to pick him? He’s an heir by default.
Punch cannot be happy about this.
The FBI has become increasingly worried about the growth of "homegrown" religious-zealot terrorism.
My friend PK takes a moment out of the Sonia Sotomayor nomination coverage to provide this insightful analysis about the Phillies' record, which is especially timely during this three game homestand against the Nationals.
By Sunday we'll have played 48 games - 1/4th of them against the Nats.
We're 7-2 or 8-1 against them entering this homestand.
Ibanez is over .500 against their pitching with 18 RBIs in 9 1/2 games.
We don't play the Nats again until Sept.
We're a very average team when not playing the curly W's.
Profile of the Eagles’ 7th round pick, Moise Fokou. He’s a graduate of the Bullis School, which the Daily News describes as a “small prep school” in Potomac, Maryland. Since this is in my general area I know enough that the school should have also been described as “incredibly expensive.” So while, Fokou didn’t get a scholarship to play football in college, it would have been interesting if the story referenced whether an immigrant from Cameroon got a scholarship to play in high school. Cause if you can afford to attend Bullis, your parents don’t need any financial aid to send you to college.
The real issue with the Eagles’ stadium builder licences (SBLs, aka personal seat licenses) in today’s paper isn’t that the market is down for them, but that the team offers no freakin’ guidance or documentation for the licenses currently owned by fans. Trust me on this. As a season ticket holder, the Eagles’ administrative offices are beyond unhelpful in how to go about transferring (not even a sale) a seat license to somebody else’s name.
Here’s the ever so brief mention of the true problem.
“To make a transaction, the team requires an official ticket agreement, along with notarized signatures from both parties. Weinberg was at the Linc last week for one such transfer.”
Note the team doesn’t provide any of the paperwork for the licenses that they themselves originally issued. Amazing.
The NY Times story is bittersweet. It looks like he should be back at full speed this season, but it doesn’t appear that he is in it for the long haul. A pity for a guy that has the potential for a Hall of Fame career.
Shawn Andrews gives the NY Times a look inside his head.
His support system has grown. The Eagles signed his older brother, Stacy, and his former college roommate at Arkansas, Jason Peters, to play alongside him on the offensive line. To accommodate the signings, Andrews has shifted to right tackle from right guard, at least for now. The moves were made for football reasons, not Andrews’s mental health, Coach Andy Reid said. Andrews said he was reluctant to bring up such issues with those closest to him because “I want an unbiased opinion.” Even so, he said, having his brother and Peters around “definitely feels comforting.”
Compared with last year, Andrews said, “I’m at a better point, mentally and physically.” Stacy Andrews said that Juan Castillo, the Eagles’ offensive line coach, remarked during the recent minicamp that he had seen Shawn laughing and having fun for the first time in a long while.
