Turf envy

why does the Ravens' Stadium turf look so gorgeous but the Linc grass is a pathetic mess?

More Skins Thoughts

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).

Skins Post-Game

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.

Sub .500

PK digs deep into the numbers.

 

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.

Justice Extended

What a remarkable turn of events for Winston Justice. Notorious for his 8 sack meltdown vs. the Giants and on the verge of being released this summer, Justice has found a home on the right side of the line and played so well the Eagles just extended his contract by 4 years.

Incredible.

ESPN's Matt Mosely reports:

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.

Eagles, too, in need of closer

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.

Happ You Very Much

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.

Geno's the Wager of Choice

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 ..."

Reid doesn't win close games

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.

Post-Charger Blues

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.

Vote for Pedro

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!

Game 6

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 5^th starter and not have an automatic loss every 5^th 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 5^th.  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 3^rd 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).

Only 2

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."

A-Rod Cheats

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."

'93 deja vu?

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.