Rebuttal

#5 naysayers would we be wise to remember that neither Tom Brady nor Peyton Manning has ever experienced a serious injury during their entire careers, compared to McNabb's broken ankle, sports hernia and torn ACL. in that span, the Eagles have gone to four straight NFC championship games and one super bowl. One can only imagine the "sucess" or rather non-sucesse the Pats or Colts would have without their starting QB (and this doesn't even count the separated ribs #5 suffered in the NFC champ. game vs. the Panthers).

Notes Pro Football Talk, "Vinny Testaverde, whose 1999 season evaporated in Week One when his Achilles' tendon popped. Or Dan Marino, who had the same thing happen when his foot planted on a grass field in 1993. If something like that would happen to Brady and to Manning, the entire 2007 NFL season would be turned upside down, opening the door for other teams to chase a prize that seems to be destined to go to the winner of the seemingly inevitable showdown in the AFC title game between these two teams."

Goodell has surely issued the secret memo to the refs: no QB touching of either player till after Nov. 11.

Chad Johnson on the Block?

Bengals' Chad Johnson to be traded? That's what this AP report suggests. While Ocho Cinco's act may have worn thin in Cincinnati (and didn't the trade deadline already pass?), how could Andy Reid, et al. not go after CJ if he is in fact on the trading block? Sure he is only slightly less volatile than former Eagles Ocho Uno - especially since CJ is now taking shots at Carson Palmer reminiscent of another mouth biting the hand that ampy fed it, but what better way to shake up the Eagles and invigorate the offense than getting Mr. Gold Grill out wide opposite #36. Andy need only look to Boston for inspiration for what a formerly disgruntled WR(s) can do for an offense's output.

Peter King-isms

Peter's latest bizarre comment: " It's getting to be JaMarcus Russell time, Lane Kiffin. At least it's time to peek at him. Doesn't he have a chunk of the playbook he can operate?"

Uh, Peter, the Raiders are only 1 1/2 games out of first place in the AFC West. A little early to give up on the season and tryout the rookie, don't you think. Weirdly, in the same article he mentions that at 1-6 the Jets should get a look at what Casey Kellems can do. The Jets are 6 games behind the Patriots 7 games into the season. A little different scenario out West, Peter.

Damned if he does or doesn't

I've heard from my Mcnabb-hating friends today. And, as expected, they place the blame on a defensive collapse during a 97 yard game winning drive on Donovan McNabb. They are also loudly mocking him for the saying comments in the Delco Times after the game: "The division still has to come through us," McNabb said. "We're still the defending champions and that's the way it goes. But we are in a chase position. And even in this game, it was a must-win for us, an opportunity for us to win and we just didn't capitalize." The division comment that has them most upset.

What else would he be expected to say? That the Eagles are cooked and they have no hope of making the playoffs after their 2-4 start? If he did utter such a thing, surely the McNabb-haters would complain that he gave up on the season so early, just as they now contend that he is overly optimistic.

Donovan is damned if he does and damend if he doesn't.

Et tu, Jeff Lurie?

Pro Football Talk reports that the Bears' coaches radio communications with Brian Griese went out just prior to the game winning drive. "As Jay Glazer of FOX reported on Sunday, Commissioner Roger Goodell is hearing complaints from owners regarding ongoing shenanigans with the audio connection, and Goodell plans to address the situation during upcoming league meetings.

Some Internet hack addressed this and nine other issues for SportingNews.com on Sunday," says PFT.

Radio problems at Foxboro was one of the problems cited by teams when Belichick-gate first happened. Now it would seem the Eagles are guilty of similar audio "problems." I'm wondering if this issue is something common to the teams with, uh, newer owners. You know, like Kraft, Lurie, etc.

Stay tuned....if the NFL doesn't first disrupt our communication.

Hafner vs. Silverman

Sorry, this was the photo that was supposed to run next to the one of Indians DH Travis Hafner, noting the similarities between the two. you never see the Single Guy and the Slugger in the same place. Then again, maybe Hafner is Silverman's bigger, beefier brother.

A matter of perspective

Many in Philly think the Eagles season is now lost after yesterday’s devastating last minute defeat. On the other hand, there is this headline in the NY Times, “Griese Saves Bears, and Maybe Their Season, With Late Drive.”

 

The Bears are now 3-4. The Eagles are 2-4.

 

Grant Gone

Controversy in the executive suites in the Bird’s Nest. Bonnie Grant, the now former director of communication for the Eagles, is gone. It wouldn’t necessarily be notable, except that the supposed email she sent media and other contacts about her departure was not written by her – though it was written in the first person – but by some unnamed Eagles employee. The Philly Magazine has the story about how this is just the latest Lurie-led move to burnish (or is it tarnish?) the image of his corporate brand. As if the front office reputation needed any more sullying, “Ironically, Grant, a breast-cancer survivor, leaves the team during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which she and the team have been working hard to promote as the Eagles are active in raising money for breast-cancer research,” reports Dan Gross.

 

Also interesting is that some are theorizing that Grant’s demise is related to the ham-handed way the Eagles ordered the crackdown on tailgating earlier this season. Maybe she too can now go to work for Donovan McNabb’s PR-machine like her predecessor Rich Burg.

 

Bonnie, the time is yours.

39/23, or 63-37%

Burgeoning nfl analyst PK once again questions the sanity and play calling acumen of Andy Reid. PK, predicted a 45 pass over/under for the Eagles against one of the worst run defenses in the league. The actual number came in at 39. And only 23 running plays in a game that the Eagles never seriously trailed. Indeed, it’s a mind-bogglingly disproportionate ratio given the opponent’s particularly weakness (read: stopping the run).

 

Here’s PK’s take:

Here's the statistical breakdown of the entire game. McNabb actually threw 34 passes. He was sacked 3 times, and he dropped back to pass twice but was under pressure and scrambled for running yards on 2 more plays.

That's 39 pass plays dialed up by Madman Andy Reid. Westbrook ran it 18 times, Buckhalter 3 times and 2 other guys carried it 2 more times. So that's 23 running plays.

That's a 63-37% ratio for pass plays called by the Madman. In a game in which they only trailed for 1 series, Chicago going ahead 12-9 and then the Eags went right down the field and took the lead. Westbrook had 12 carries for 59 yards late in 2ndQ.  Not sure if he got another run or 2 at the very end, but at most he ran the ball 6 times in 2nd half. (emphasis added. What was that about? Way to overcoach things Andy.)

Yes, this is a game that the defense blew. Good god, 97 yards, no timeouts, nothing -- and the Eags D couldn't stop them. But more importantly, it was another disastrous coaching performance by the offensive play callers.

PS -- Sadly, we didn't have the ball enough in the 2nd half in order to get to my 45 pass-play-over-under, so I lost my own bet.

Sheridan - Season "Dead"

Inqy’s Phil Sheridan has no problem declaring the Eagles season over after yesterday’s loss: “a must-win game had turned into a loss and, worse, a salvageable season was officially pronounced dead,” he writes.

Sad Sacks

Following up on my friend PK’s email about the year over year decline in sacks:

 

Oddly, the Eagles’ defense still gets a fair amount of sacks but at least my perception is that they don’t put a lot of constant pressure on the QB from their rush.

 

Maybe someone can help out my memory, but in 00, 01, and especially 02 did they have a particularly good defensive line then? Again, my take, is that even back then a lot of sacks were caused by corner/safety blitzes. The difference is that the defensive line was slightly better and Dawkins was younger and faster and got to the QB before he threw, while now the defensive line can be stopped, and Dawkins is getting to the QB a half-step after he throws the ball…that and the other d-back blitzers just aren’t very good at it and just plunge into the line and are stopped.

 

I’m also wondering how much of those sacks back in 00-01-02 were “coverage” sacks caused not by the d-line but by Taylor, Vincent, and Dawkins just blanketing the receivers.

 

It’s a very bitter loss. As I noted previously, I’m hesitant to declare the season over after such a gut-wrenching L – in light of the losses to Jax and Tennesee last year that looked like season killers, but to give up a 97 yard game winning drive, at home, to a 2-5 team that now drops you to 2-4 – with pending games vs. NE, Seattle, and 2 games vs. Dallas? It is now a huge hole the Eagles have dug themselves. I still don’t think the Skins or Giants are very good, but Dallas is for real and we continue to lose ground.

 

And while it is very easy to criticize the defense for yesterday’s loss cause of the last drive, let’s not forget 1) the offense failed to get a critical first down and maintain possession and 2) the defense, in the end, only gave up 19 points – which is only a FG more than they were averaging. The offense, once again, couldn’t get in the end zone enough. Scoring 1 TD a game is not going to win many games in the “national football league.”

Where the Pass Rush Go?

In the wake of yesterday’s gut-wrenching loss and slow-torture 97 yard game losing drive, my friend PK tries to make sense of the turn of events by looking at the historical trends of the Eagles defense and the prospects for the rest of the season.

 

Ok, so Jim Johnson has somehow coached this D into a tough, stop-the-run unit. But I just really feel like today's game -- and that final drive obviously -- was emblematic of something that's been a problem for a few years now: the pass rush.

I swear they simply just don't get anywhere near the QB, even when they blitz. Most of their blitz packages end up being slow developing corner blitzes/safety blitzes, which QBs totally see coming. They have 20 sacks through 6 games, which isn't bad, but it's all Cole: he has 7 all by himself.

Here's what I found in recent years, an unmistakable drop in pressure on the QB.

Total sacks by Eagles defense in seasons:

'00: 50
'01: 45
'02: 56
'03: 38
'04: 47
'05: 29
'06: 40

From '00-'04, in 4 of the 5 seasons, the D wracks up 45 or more sacks. We'll see how this season goes, but today's last drive was a bad sign of what could come all season.

 

Millar

What did Orioles fans think of Kevin Millar’s video pep talk, first pitch and reading the lineups for the BoSox for game 7? Here’s what one long-time O’s fan had to say:

 

“i'm beside myself with rage.  it was an embarrassment to himself, all parties involved, and the fans of the team he is currently under contract with.  the fact that the Orioles APPROVED this fiasco further embarrasses the current title holder for most pathetic organization in baseball.

 

look, i never liked Millar on the O's to begin with.  he's a washed-up goofball media-whore.  but somewhere in the warehouse someone had to stop and think "i wonder how Orioles fans are going to take this?".  then again, maybe not, since all they care about is selling out Camden Yards when Boston or the Yankees visit, they saw it as a further marketing ploy to Boston fans.  "Hey Boston fans, come see Red Sox mascot Kevin Millar play first base for the division 'rival' Baltimore Orioles!!!"

 

cause that's what he's been reduced to:  Red Sox Mascot Kevin Millar.”

 

 

19-16

this one hurts. I'm hesitant to declare the season over given that the Eagles lost similar games last year to Tennessee and Jacksonville that left them at 5-6 and Jeff Garcia at QB, but to allow a no account offense QB'd by brian griese to drive 97 yards in a 1:30 for the game winning TD... at home? 3-3 playing the Vikes next week would have been a lot better than 2-4 with games vs. New England, Dallas (2), and Seattle left.

My brother called from vacation and said he was literally nauseous at this evening's turn of events. Me too.

Game 6 Thoughts

Curt Schilling looks old, really old. Still, he once again showed that he is the biggest big game pitcher in baseball. 4-0 in the post-season when his team is facing elimination. That is a true "stopper."

I thought Carmona was going to cry after the JD Drew grand slam. And I did think that Carmona got screwed on the "ball" that was called that made Drew's count 3-1, rather than 2-2.

How about Martinez channeling his Jeff Leonard-like turtle-paced home run trot.

What was with Joe Buck trying to amp up the intensity? "How long can the Red Sox go with Curt Schilling?" Uh, he was staked to a 4 run lead in the first inning. Was there ever really a doubt?

Does anything make baseball announcers cream more than the possibility that a starting pitcher, or better yet an ace, will pitch on short rest in a deciding game? I thought Buck was going to climax right there talking about the possibility that Sabathia or Beckett could "be available" in game 7.

I see now why Travis Hafner grew his mutton chops. Now that he shaved he looks like Jonathan Silverman, or at worst Silverman's brother.

Eagles Game Plan

The Bears defense is ranked 15th (out of 16 teams) in the NFC, and 26th in the whole league against the run, and Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson racked up 224 yards against them a week ago.

In other words, expect Andy Reid to dial up lots of pass plays (again) against a very suspect rush defense. In fact, my friend PK puts the over/under number of pass plays at 45 for today's game.

Defense Going on Offensive

Odd  article by Rich Hoffman yesterday lamenting the lack of turnovers caused by the defense generally and the linebackers in particular. Odd because it seems like nitpicking for a facet of the team that is, by far, its greatest strength. The Eagles D is ranked 7th in scoring (16 points per game), which in the end, is what defense is all about...stopping teams from scoring points.

I guess Hoffman et. al. have gotten bored pointing out the deficiencies of the offense which is ranked 23rd in scoring at 20 points per game. Note that without the 56 point explosion, the Eagles offense would be ranked dead last at 11 points per game (4 games and 44 points), behind even San Fran's measly 12.6 points/game.

Can the defense do anymore? I suppose if you believe Hoffman. They could help the offense by creating turnovers and giving the O a short field from which to score. Bottomline though, Jim Johnson's crew gives the Eagles a more than fair shot to win each week. If the averages hold, all the Eagles need to do is score two touchdowns and field goal each Sunday to win. That shouldn't be too hard for that offensive mastermind Andy Reid to grasp, or accomplish.

Pivotal Game 6

Remarkable stats regarding the "pivotal" nature of game 6s in baseball playoffs. "Since 1975, the visiting team in Game 6 has led the series in 24 League Championship Series and World Series. On 13 occasions, the visiting team won Game 6 -- more than you'd expect. Eleven times, the home team has won both Games 6 and 7 -- again, more than simple probability would predict. However, one outcome almost never happens. Only once, in last season's NLCS, has the home team won Game 6 then failed to win Game 7," writes Thomas Boswell.

In other words, if a leading road team can't close out the series in game 6, they are almost automatic to lose game 7 - at least since 1975. With that trend in mind, Boston couldn't be set up more perfectly - or as perfectly as they could trailing 3 games to 2 - to send Curt Schilling, the league's premier big game pitcher, to the mound tonight.

What about "Three-peat"?

The AP is reporting "Rocktober," the new shorthand for the Colorado Rockies' amazing playoff run, is showing up everywhere from newspaper headlines to handmade ballpark signs. But now the team wants a trademark to keep anyone else from selling keepsakes bearing the word.

The Rockies filed applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 4 asking for exclusive rights to the name on stuffed animals, Christmas stockings, baby booties, T-shirts, bobble-head dolls and the like.”

 

Album oriented rock stations all over the country can’t be happy about the Rockies trying to big foot this cliché.

Random Thoughts...

While I was watching the Red Sox-Indians game last night:

· What the hell does Fox’s “Actober” promo mean anyway? They just misspelled October. I’m guessing that www.October.com was taken and some Fox suit had the genius idea to rename the month with an A.

· Did Tim McCarver mispronounce Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro’s name or is that really how you pronounce it? McCarver said, “Sha-pyro.” I thought it was “Sha-peero.” And if he did mispronounce it, can that be considered remotely anti-semitic?

· What and how big are those bumps growing out of Kenny Lofton’s temples.

· 2^nd Kenny Lofton thought. He’s got the number, 7, and now he’s got the odd facial features and creaky body of clutch baseball post-season star Otis Nixon.

· Josh Beckett is a big game pitcher. The Red Sox have the two biggest playoff pitchers on their staff, and they are pitching games 5 and 6 facing elimination. Watch out.

· Best part of the Red Sox win is getting to see Schilling again in game 6.

· This goes back to the game 4, but I was astounded, simply astounded, to see Tim Wakefield’s career rankings with the Red Sox. I mean, #3 in strikeouts? For a knuckleballer? And only three strikeouts away from surpassing Pedro Martinez and becoming #2…all-time?!! Speaking of which, he’s #2 all time in Red Sox wins? (actually 3^rd since, amazing coincidence, Clemens and Cy Young are tied for first at 192 Ws. Wakefield 3^rd all-time in innings pitched and 2^nd in games? How loooong has he been with the Red Sox?

· Forget instant replay, how about in the playoffs the league adds another outfield umpire – to the two that now keep an eye on the foul lines. Put him in deep centerfield and he can correctly call home runs that hit the top of the fence. How many more blown calls like game 5’s or Jeffrey Maier’s do we need before Bud comes to his senses on this sensible umpiring idea.

· Does anyone understand this pitch trax? During the Phillies-Rockies series, there’s the inside box and the outside box, but I don’t know what either of them mean since the announcers are usually saying that wherever the ball winds up is a strike.

· Speaking of which, it’s the 21^st century. Poker has lipstick cameras for card shots. Can’t TV figure out a way to put the centerfield camera directly in line with the pitcher and homeplate? The traditional offset position, just over the pitcher’s right shoulder….(why is it never the left shoulder?), makes it hard for viewers to tell if a pitch was too outside or inside – owing to the angle, wait for the more fancy term, parallax view (btw, a good Warren Beatty movie).

· At this high level and this late date in the season, you would think outfield communication would be handled well. But the Red Sox won in large part cause Grady Sizemore and the rightfielder didn’t communicate about who was catching the fly ball in right center. This happens more than you might think in the playoffs. Off the top of my head, there was a similar Bernie Williams-Bubba Crosby mix up that lead to a loss (against the Red Sox?) in a recent playoff series.

· Teachable moment: My learning to read five year-old was practicing her reading by trying to read the players names when the visuals came up. Only the Latino players and odd spellings of some of the names caused her quite a bit of confusion and I was unable to explain why Jhonny Peralta’s name is spelled so oddly. Or why “Julio Lugo” is pronounced “Hulio” and not “Joo-lio.” Gracias, America’s pastime.

· I have yet to hear a cogent explanation of why the throw that picked Ryan Howard off in game 2 of the Phillies-Rockies series wasn’t a balk.

State of the MSM

The Baltimore Sun is seeking the tax records of the family whose 12 year-old sign became the Democratic poster boy for the SCHIP program. If only such tough investigative reporting had been done by the press in the run up to the war in Iraq. But then, again, scrutinizing a poor family’s financial situation is a lot easier than penetrating the Bush administration’s war rationale.

More Big Brother in New England

The AP reports, “New England Patriots have won a bid to get the names of all the fans who bought or sold - or tried to buy or sell - tickets to home games through online ticket reseller StubHub Inc. In a lawsuit against San Francisco-based StubHub, a subsidiary of eBay Inc., claiming that the Web site encourages fans to break state law and violate team policies, the Patriots said they could seek to revoke season tickets of people who use StubHub. Daniel Goldberg, a lawyer for the Patriots, would not say what the team plans to do with the 13,000 names, which StubHub gave it last week after losing its appeal of a Massachusetts state court ruling. Team rules bar reselling game tickets for a profit. State law, though rarely enforced, restricts ticket markups to $2 above face value plus some service charges. Patriots tickets have been offered on StubHub at prices many times higher. StubHub argued that the Patriots' request violated its confidentiality agreement with its customers.”

 

What’s not clear from this report is if StubHub provided just the names of buyers and sellers and/or if it also included data on the prices for which the tickets were bought or sold. And why do the Patriots want the names of ticket buyers? What has that go to do with the scalping of tickets for which the Pats are supposedly trying to curtail?

 

Prospective ticket sellers in Massachusetts should borrow a practice from the NFL teams themselves. When you sell tickets to games online, make it clear that you are not selling the actual tickets, but a license for the opportunity to buy the tickets. The license has no face value, thus can’t violate the state law (plus, the license is such a novel concept it may not even be addressed in the state law). You can sell the license at a mark up and the tickets at face value.

 

More generally, what is up with the Patriots? It’s like George W. Bush is running the team. First, the coach was caught illegally surveiling his opponents, covered it up and glossed over it. (with a nice assist from Roger Goodell, the NFL’s version of the enabling AG Fredo Gonzalez, a man supposedly in charge of enforcing the rules but who in reality does whatever his master wants him to  -which in Goodell’s case meant destroying all the evidence and ordering a league-wide communications blackout about what the Patriots may or may not have done.)

 

And now the team is suing to get the names of fans that bought or sold their tickets. Big Brother is watching in New England. And his name is Robert Kraft.

What's an Extra $3 million

The Brian Westbrook $3 million overpayment saga continues. Though it appears near resolution in how #36 will repay the Eagles the double bonus he was paid earlier, the Eagles have gone ahead and started withholding his paychecks to recoup their cash.

 

It’s all very strange. I mean, how does a billion dollar enterprise, as the Eagles are as a business entity, pay an employee $3 million – twice – and take so long to notice. And then there’s the Villanova alum. Did B. Westbrook not notice the mistaken extra payment? Did he not think the Eagles would eventually catch their mistake and want the money back? Left unasked is if Westbrook actually spent the money which would explain why he’s having a hard time paying it back. Then again, maybe it’s a simple cash flow problem.

 

Of course, those of us that have ever been overpayed by our employers – as I have and my friend ML too – can attest, it’s not so simple to just give an extra paycheck back. Indeed, as the Inqy notes “the Eagles have acknowledged the matter is complicated by the fact that the team has to get $3 million back from Westbrook , even though he only received about an extra $1.7 million because of taxes. Apparently, Westbrook must pursue the refunding of that money from city, state and federal governments.” And that doesn’t count any retirement plan accounts, pension payments, etc for which a slice of that money may have been diverted.

 

Wouldn’t it just be easier to extend/renegotiate 36’s contract to include some sort of new $3 million bonus – for which he’s already been paid – and call it a day?

 

 

 

Baseball playoffs

Sooooo. From a Fox ratings perspective was it good or bad that the Rockies swept the D-backs? Less games to have to broadcast with low ratings, but me thinks the lack of public familiarity with the Rockies will be felt in the World Series’ Neilson numbers. Had the NLCS gone longer than four games, the public could have had a better introduction to Colorado. Now, the hottest team in baseball recedes from public view until Game 1 of the WS next week.

 

Speaking of which, would it be a good or bad thing – again ratings and fan wise – if the Indians close out the Sox tonight? On the one hand, MLB can begin ginning up interest in the Indians-Rockies match, while on the other hand those games don’t start for another week and perhaps MLB execs would prefer some more ALCS games to maintain fan interest in, you know, actual games. Who knows.

I'm Back

Sorry, you may have noticed a lack of activity on the site for the past week but actual work intervened. I’ve been up at our national meeting which was held in Philadelphia of all places.

 

One of our events featured a quartet of Mummers and so I may have some pics to post later this week of me trying to teach conferees the Mummer’s Strut – the dance my Mom taught me on the numerous occasions that we watched the New Year’s Day parade from the Bellevue Stratford while growing up. Good times. (funny story trying to explain the “Mummers” to non-Philadelphians. Many of the conferees literally had their mouths open gaping at the elaborate and colorful costumes of the quartet. And the band wasn’t even in the full regalia with the backpieces and full complement of ostrich feathers. After explaining that the Mummers had “clubs” and prepared all year for the New Year’s Day parade, one person asked me, “so they’re like the masons or Kiwanis?” Not exactly, I said. A little more, uh, social. After thinking about it, the best parallel I could draw was to the New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Crewes. Also on the subject of trying to show people the Mummer’s strut, the “band” was playing “When the Saints Go Marching In” and only one other Philadelphia woman got up to join me and I was pretty winded by the time the song wound down and was looking to head to the bar for a drink – and we had the whole conference looking at us - but then the guys broke into “Oh Dem Golden Slippers,” which to my way of thinking is the penultimate Mummer’s string band song and one that instantly recharged me – so we were good for another three and half minutes, after which I had definitely broken a sweat.).

 

Secondly, yesterday was my birthday. I’m not going to go into details, but it was one of those “milestone” birthdays.

 

Anyway, got a lot of stuff to post and comment on so please bear with me as some of this stuff goes up fast and furious.

Eagles-Jets

Man, when these two teams clash, it’s sure to be a… snooze. What kind of professional football game ends in a 16-9 score? One in which the stoppable force meets the movable object.

 

David Akers continued his Meadowland Malaise. Fortunately, he won’t have to kick on Jimmy Hoffa’s grave until next season at the earliest.

 

Heck, even the 4^th and 1 Jets play from inside the ten in the waning moments of the game during a drive that could have tied a score was humdrum. How does that happen?

 

And while I get the NY “Titans” throwback unis, it is incomprehensible to me that the team had to don “Titans” apparel – paraphernalia that actually read “Titans.” Um, they’re the Jets now, and this ain’t 1960. It’s not even 2006. Hard to believe it was only one year ago that the Jets were a playoff team. Hard to believe it was only one year ago that the Eagles were a playoff team.

 

Other thoughts and observations: K. Curtis’ 75 yard TD catch in the first quarter may have been one of the best passes Donovan McNabb ever made. He lead Curtis perfectly, in stride and put it right into his outstretched arms. Curtis did the rest, and it was a painful reminder of what can happen when, unfortunately infrequently, McNabb can hit the slant pattern perfectly.

 

Terrible 4^th and 1 play call by the Jets that was their final play of the game. Why run QB sneak on 3^rd down (with two yards to go no less) and then throw on 4^th down needing just one yard to get the first. Maybe they were trying to catch the Eagles stopping the run, but S. Brown had it the whole way and made a nice defensive play.

Rockies 3 - Phillies 0

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

 

Toward that end, here’s some interesting insights from NFL Films Greg Cosell regarding McNabb’s quarterback strengths and weaknesses – and that of his receivers. The verdict? Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis are weak WRs and “The 2007 McNabb is a pocket quarterback without the complete skill set to succeed that way. His lack of anticipation combines with his inconsistent accuracy to produce a passing game that can't function with any dependability against press coverage.”

 

 

“Watch film of the Philadelphia offense and what you instantly notice is how much press coverage opposing cornerbacks have played against wide receivers Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis. It has been the defining feature of the Eagles' three losses. The only team that did not play press coverage was Detroit; the result was a 42-point first half and the Eagles' only win of the season.

 

Curtis and Brown are both straight-line runners who do not have the great agility and strength to immediately defeat press corners. Consequently, they do not define their routes quickly enough for Donovan McNabb.

 

And McNabb has never been an anticipation passer. He is what I call an "uncover" quarterback. He waits until his receivers begin to break open before he pulls the trigger; he needs to see the throw. With his receivers blanketed well into their routes, McNabb is not comfortable delivering the ball.

 

The result is the pass rush closes in on him, and because of his ACL injury a year ago he has lost the mobility that allowed him to break down a defense on the move. The 2007 McNabb is a pocket quarterback without the complete skill set to succeed that way. His lack of anticipation combines with his inconsistent accuracy to produce a passing game that can't function with any dependability against press coverage.”

 

And the remedy? What many of us have long advocated. Utilize Westbrook’s versatility by playing him and Bucky at the same time. Split #36 out wide and force a mismatch or make the defense account for him, while keeping the option of power running Buckhalter over Andrews and Runyan.

 

In other words, run to set up the pass. C’mon Andy, it’s not rocket science.

 

Click here for the full article.

 

Kaputski

How gracious of the Phillies to complete their post-season before the Eagles concluded their bye week. Unbelievable. Oh wait, it’s the Phillies so it’s entirely believable.

 

Now we can all go back to being fixated on football. Seriously, how demoralizing, yet apropos. Make the playoffs with an incredible stretch drive, and then get swept in the divisional series by some wild card team that didn’t exist twenty years ago. It’s par for the course for the Phillies and their fans.

 

What is so depressing is the realization that having made the playoffs (note, not championships just making the playoffs) ten times in their 125 years, that the recent 14 year drought between 1993 and 2007 is not some anomaly but about average for this franchise. Will we have to wait another 12.5 years for another NL East title or wildcard? 2019? My kindergartener will be heading off to college.

 

Maybe, maybe not. Certainly, there was a lot of optimism for the ’94 and even ’95 teams, but they were never able to recapture the magic of 1993. Will it be the same fate for the 2008 Phillies? Who knows, but they will have some interesting off-season decisions.

 

Is Myers a starter or a closer? Is Rowand coming back? Can they fill the hole at third base? Will they try to unload Pat the Bat’s $15 million again or did he produce enough in the second half of the season (as my brother says, “produced like an above average major leaguer, but not $15 million worth of production”). Will we have to see Adam Eaton in the starting rotation again next year? Will Gillick make as many terrible pitching personnel decisions as he did last year?

 

As always, wait till next year.

Good Luck Bud

That Diamondback and Rockies series is going to be a disaster ratings wise.

 

-          Two relatively young franchises.

 

-          West coast teams with no recognizable household stars.

 

-          And, oh yeah, games that start at 10 pm on the East Coast.

 

Given that, we’re all going to be treated to triple doses of Red Sox – Indians. Just in the simple interests of equal time to counter balance Ortiz, Ramirez, and Schilling (though he is equally deserving) Grady Sizemore is about to have his Q rating go through the stratosphere. Sabathia will also be getting the national love.

 

Trivia Question

Regarding Phillies “ace” Brett Myers, who started opening day and after being moved to the bullpen in May cause Jon Lieber is only slightly less a wuss than Cole “I don’t want to pitch relief or on three days rest” Hamels became the Phillies closer – (that and Flash Gordon can no longer be considered a reliable closer.)

 

Anyway, Myers started the Phillies season on the mound and was the final pitcher for the team in the same season. By final, I mean actually was the last pitcher who pitched.

 

Of playoff teams, I was trying to think of any other players that accomplished this kind of a rare, fluky feat.

 

Randy Johnson and Jack Morris both came to mind but I haven’t been able to check whether they were the opening day starters. I’m pretty sure Randy Johnson was. Can you think of any others?

Moyer

A week ago, Jamie Moyer hadn't pitched in a big game for Philadelphia since his days at Souderton High. Now, in the span of less than a week he takes the mound twice with the season on the line. Amazing.

Bud's Boondoggle - Eight Days in October

Bud Selig dodged a bullet with the way the regular season standings ended. He got the excitement of the chase and divisions clinched on the last day of the season and, as an extra bonus, a one-game playoff between the Padres and Rockies for the wildcard. Which is a good thing for Bud and the boys, because it was conceivable that the closeness of the playoff races was going to require relying on baseball's cockamamie tie-breakers. Fortunately, the possibility of two! "mini-tournaments" was avoided. Maybe next year.

But now comes the latest Bud Boondoggle. I haven't seen this issue covered anywhere else so far but the Washington Post. It's the adjustment in the playoff schedules that gives teams more days off, primarily to avoid running head to head with NFL and college football. (In fact, that is why Game 4 of the Phillies Rockies series is scheduled for 10 pm. To avoid going up against the Broncos.)

Anyway, this Post story has the impact on the pitching rotations. The big effect will allow a teams top 2 pitchers to pitch four of the five games in the series if need be. Says the Post, "Because Fox, baseball's other broadcast partner, wanted the World Series to begin and end in the middle of a week -- when ratings are higher -- the entire postseason was elongated and shifted, with the World Series starting four days later than normal. Game 7 of the World Series, in fact, is the first postseason game ever scheduled in November (not counting the postponed playoffs of 2001). "It almost looks like an NBA schedule," Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. said. "Play a game, take a day off, play two games, take a day off. It's going to be different."

The extra days off, however, are not mere curiosities -- they could have a profound effect on the way the postseason plays out, by concentrating a greater number of starts and innings on a smaller number of pitchers, benefiting teams with two or three excellent starting pitchers and a similar number of excellent relievers. With more off-days in the schedule, those pitchers' standard days of rest won't sideline them for as many games as before."

That's right. Bud Selig is now imitating the much maligned NBA schedule. Remember when basketball fans and commentators started noticing - and complaining - about how long the playoffs were, especially the first round series' that took two weeks! to complete. Well Bud thought it such a "good" idea he's brought it to baseball. Thanks, Bud!

In fact, Thomas Boswell lays out the worst case scenario - and something to remember as all four NLDS series have the potential to end in three games.

"If baseball's scheduling crapshoot rolls snake eyes, it will be a public relations disaster. And there will be plenty of idle off days to pillage the sport. In fact, there won't be anything else to do, except to ask Manny Ramirez if he still remembers the names of any of his teammates. So, I saved the bad news for last.

With its new schedule, baseball is rolling the dice. If too many playoff series are wrapped up too quickly, this October could become a wasteland of off-days that stand as a testament to TV-ratings greed. How bad could it get? Theoretically, baseball could face eight straight idle days before Game 1 of a World Series that does not even begin until Oct. 24th.

The new format can be quickly summarized. The best-of-five division series are spread over a maximum of eight days (assuming no rain). That's one more day than in the past and is probably sane. The World Series, if it ever starts, will have its usual rhythm -- a best-of-seven series in a maximum of nine days, ending Nov. 1, if it doesn't snow.

However, to make the games fit the best-possible TV-ratings dates, the new structure for the LCS has been stretched by two days with every team getting three off days before a Game 6, far more than any team needs. From Oct. 16 through Oct. 19, Tuesday through Friday, there's only one game per night, maximum. Why? TV ratings, ad money and, maybe, new fans.

If both LCS go six or seven games, few will notice and many will applaud. But if neither series goes more than five games, somebody better buy Commissioner Bud Selig a suit of body armor. In that scenario, the game lies idle for five days before the Series. If both LCS are sweeps, then you get the eight-off-day plague."

Eight days in October. I can hardly wait. But I may have to regardless.

Phillies Due

Not team had more comeback wins – 48 - this year than the Phillies.

 

And the Rockies, winners of 16 of their last 17, are due for a couple losses. Right?

Manuel's Mess

Charlie Manuel may not be the worst manager in the Phillies-Rockies series (Hurdle’s still inexplicable batting of Jeff Francis in the top of the 7th inning – with a man on  - and then relieving him in the bottom of the 7^th without throwing a single pitch remains the high standard Manuel would have to meet for truly outstanding managerial incompetence), but because his team is down 2-0 in the series, he’s getting the disproportionate share of scrutiny.

 

Toward that end, Phil Sheridan today gives a remarkably detailed account of Manuel’s decision-making in replacing starter Kyle Kendrick with starter cum reliever Kyle Lohse in the top of the fourth inning, with two outs and the bases loaded. Lohse gave up the grand salami to Kaz Matsui that “broke the game open” but in reality made it a very manageable (for the Phillies offense) 6-3 game.

 

Sheridan covers it all: the lead up to that inning including previous Phillies bullpen action; the squib single that signaled Kendrick’s end; Matsui’s fateful at bat; The 1-2 count that Lohse got Matsui too. And this summary: “One misplaced pitch is the difference between a 3-2 lead and a 6-3 hole. It's the difference between Manuel looking smart and strapping that lightning rod back onto his head.”

 

Fair enough. Though as my brother pointed out, bringing in a starter out of the bullpen in that situation – bases loaded – is especially tough. I’d elaborate on that. I don’t necessarily blame Manuel for taking Kendrick out there. My bigger question is why not bring in Gordon or Romero instead? It’s a critical at bat, a critical scoring situation for the Philllies. Why not bring in one of your top relievers to shut the door on the threat? Like an old fashioned “Rolaids Fireman.”

 

Why bring in Lohse in that situation? Why not bring in Gordon or, better yet, Romero, have him pitch the 5^th and then bring Lohse in to start the 6^th inning? Yes, it was the 2^nd time Lohse had warmed up, but he couldn’t keep tossing to stay warm for one inning? In fact, Lohse wouldn’t even have been warming up the second time if Manuel had initially gone to one of his primary relievers.

 

In any case, the fixation with the Kendrick-Lohse decision overlooks the much bigger Manuel move. The Jose Mesa meltdown. The Phillies didn’t lose the game on the Lohse-Matsui grand slam. They lost it when the Rockies tacked on another four runs in the 6^th. What was Mesa doing in there!?!?!?!? A 3 run deficit is surmountable. A 7 run lead, well, not so much.

 

It was a do or die game. So I’m not sure what Manuel’s rationale for calling on Mesa was at all. In fact, why did Manuel decide the pivotal game two was the time to pitch three of his most unreliable relievers – Mesa, Alfonseca, and Condrey? What the??!! It’s like Charlie gave up after the grand slam. The reality is that if you ‘re the Phillies, losing 6-3 in game two of a best of five series where you are already down one game to none, YOU CANNOT LET THE ROCKIES SCORE AGAIN. With that imperative in mind, you have to go with Romero, Gordon, and Myers to keep you in the game while you hope the offense gets the runs back. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU PUT YOUR +5.00 ERA RELIEVERS IN AT THAT POINT (Mesa – 5.54 era, Alfonseca – 5.44, Condrey – 5.04)!!!! Thank God Eaton wasn’t on the roster, or Manuel may have been tempted to pitch him at some point in game 2.

 

If the Phils had been able to keep it a 6-3 game, or even a 7-3 game, then the bottom of the 8^th bases loaded takes on a whole new pressure for the Rockies. As it was, the Phillies never got the tying run to the plate. Without Mesa’s immolation, they likely would have at some point. And then, perhaps, the Phillies could have reversed the 4^th inning roles – and maybe – results. And it also would have changed the complexion of the game in the 9^th  when the Phils got two runners on and Ryan Howard at bat. A score of 7-5 at that point is a lot more fraught with danger for the Rockies than 10-5.

 

Manuel made some bad, bad pitching decisions in game 2. Decisions that helped the Phillies lose the game. Just not the decision most of the Philly media is looking at.

Duke Lacrosse

Just another reminder of the two systems of justice we have in this country: one for rich, white people – or in this case kids – and one for everyone else – mainly poor and minority. There are people that have spent years on death row only to be exonerated later due to faulty evidence, prosecutorial misconduct, and questionable police activity. Of course, not being Duke students they never sued for $30 million. The sense of entitlement boggles the mind. On the flip side is the  Rosenbaum family who sued Washington, DC for the negligent EMS response that lead to David Rosenbaum’s death. They won, but didn’t want money – only reforms to the city’s fire and rescue services. Finnerty, Seligmann, and Evans could take a page out of that book.

A Gnawing Bitterness

My friend PK is bitter about how the Phillies NLDS has played out so far. Compounding his frustration is the series/TV schedule.

 

He writes: “I got to watch 1 1/2 innings of my team's first playoff game in 14 years. I will likely watch none of today's game. I am in a position in life where taking off work is not a plausible thing to do in life. This sucks.

The reason why? "RedSoxNation" and the yankees.

TV sports execs are no different than the Hollywood tv/movie people who are so creatively bankrupt they keep churning out sequels of once popular movies and spinoffs of once popular tv shows. Sports producers are just praying for a BoSox-Yanks series, because they know it did so well in '03-'04. So they give every one of their games prominent timing.

F-u, TBS and MLB. F! U!”

Gruden to Return?

Fresh off Paul Domowitch ‘s “Andy Reid’s family issues are affecting the team” article this morning, my West Chester buddy Wolffie says that rumors abound that Reid is on his way out and Jon Gruden (?!?) is set to take over the team. Not sure about the Reid portion of that – though I think where there is smoke, there is fire.

But the Gruden part doesn’t make too much sense. After several lean years in the wake of his super bowl victory, Gruden finally appears to have righted the ship in Tampa. I can’t believe he wouldn’t want to put several more winning years in down there to dispel any of the whispers that Gruden’s championship came about mostly because of Tony Dungy’s players and that Gruden on his own hasn’t made the Bucs a consistent winner. Then again, Gruden does have a history with the Eagles and Jeff Lurie. Gruden was the offensive coordinator under Ray “I want players who make plays” Rhodes during Lurie’s first five years as owner. And next to Rhodes, Lurie must think Gruden was a freakin' coaching genius. And if not, well, Gruden would be sure to tell him that himself.

Back to the Eagles?

Like I said in an earlier post, the Phillies have a window of opportunity – what with the great NL East run, the first two home playoff games, and Eagles on a bye - to reclaim some Philly fan attention that has been disproportionately focused on the Eagles for, oh, the last decade. Anyway, as I also wrote, re-engaging a generation of potential baseball fans in the region was going to depend on how the NLDS went, and, more importantly, how the Phillies played.

 

Note to Pat Gillick and Dave Montgomery: Getting swept is NOT the way to engender yourself with prospective Phillies fans.

Game 3

“Yesterday is a wind gone down, a sun dropped in the West. I tell you that there is nothing in the world, only an ocean of tomorrows, a sky of tomorrow.”  - - Carl Sandburg.

 

"We gotta play it one day at a time." - - Ebby Calvin LaLoosh.

Game 2

Best line by the announcers: “Pitching for the Phillies, Kyle Kendrick. Whose name sounds like he should be driving in NASCAR.”

 

Jimmy Rollins is THE MAN.

 

Chase Utley, one of the top lefthanded hitters in the league, is 0-6 with 5 strikeouts  so far vs. Rockies southpaws.

 

 

Best Line of the Day

No – not Utley’s 0-4 with 4 strikeouts. On 13 pitches!

 

Not even Howard’s 0-4 with 3 strikeouts.

 

Phillies fans should take solace in the fact that they only lost 4-2 as their 3-4 hitters went a combined 0-fer 8, with 7! Ks -  Add in Jimmy Rollins’ double play with a 3-1 count, Charlie pinch running Michael Bourn who didn’t steal a base and then was promptly doubled up (what a waste), and the blown call on Holliday’s mammoth grand slam that was called foul as it left the stadium and the score could have, should have been much, much worse.

 

Anyway, the best line of the day was from the TBS studio guy – Ernie Johnson: “With Shane Victorino wearing the double earflap helmet and Jeff Francis, who looks like he’s 17, it’s like an American Legion game out there.”

 

All in the Family

For the first time, the Daily News’ Paul Domowitch delicately raises the issue of Andy Reid’s family life affecting his coaching and, thus, the Eagles performance. “The line between Reid's family issues and his team's poor play is starting to become blurred. While questions about his sons don't need to be asked of him right now, this one most certainly does: Are his personal problems starting to affect his ability to coach his football team?”

 

It’s a concern I’ve been hearing about from lots of fans – how else to explain Greg Lewis as a punt returner or no adjustments to address Umenyiora’s sack bonanza - but now its been publicly aired in a major venue.

 

If the Eagles season continues on its downward trajectory, expect this issue to become bigger and bigger – perhaps become THE issue - as the losses pile up.

Ump

howard just K'd in 9th on two straight balls that were called strikes.

Manuelesque.

Hurdle just let francis bat in the top of the 7th with a man on, and then replaced him before throwing a pitch in the bottom of the 7th.

Maybe charlie isn't the worst game manager in the playoffs.

jeff francis looks like he's in high school.

More like it

ok. Rowand & burrell with back to back homers has woken the moribund crowd up.

every hit this inning s even the outs - have been smashes.

So far

jimmy rollins' strikeout, after being ahead 3-0 in the count really seemed to take some of the wind out of the crowd's sail. Striking out the side just added to silence.

looks like hamels is getting squeezed on the inside of the plate - though the ump is giving both pitchers the outside.

Everyone should be happy it's only 3-0 since the ball Holliday hit out of the stadium with the bases loaded looked fair to me before it exited citizens bank.

Being There

So my Mom, stepdad, and uncle were all at Sunday's division clincher, #162. Now I get word from my brother that he is going to today's NLDS Game #1. Here's hoping I can get to a game soon. The NLCS???

Anyway, my Mom recorded the last out at Sunday's game on her cell phone. Here's the brief video. Note, the link may work better in Internet Explorer than Firefox.

Being There

So my Mom, stepdad, and uncle were all at Sunday's division clincher, #162. Now I get word from my brother that he is going to today's NLDS Game #1. Here's hoping I can get to a game soon. The NLCS???

Anyway, my Mom recorded the last out at Sunday's game on her cell phone. Here's the brief video. Note, the link may work better in Internet Explorer than Firefox.

Recapturing the Youth Market

For nearly a quarter century the Phils have been mired in mediocrity. Aside from the magical 1993 season - whose bitter ending may have permanently scarred some young fans, this team's decades-long trail of indifferent play has failed to engage - may actually have proactively turned off - an entire young generation of potential baseball fans. Compounding this misery, the Eagles during that same time have established themselves as the "gold standard" if not in the NFL, then at least in terms of professional sports franchises in Philadelphia. Indeed, younger fans may see all Eagles all the time, but Philadelphia has historically been - and remains - a strong if underrated "baseball town." As if any further proof is needed, the team often cracks 3 million in attendance for a perpetual .500 team that until very recently played in a non-descript "multipurpose" "stadium."

By dint of an unprecedented come from behind surge to capture the NL East and a NFL-MLB scheduling quirk, the Phillies have an opportunity to make amends for 25 years of futility and to make inroads with a new fan base. The 1-3 Eagles are floundering and, more importantly, on bye this week. The Phillies NLDS will go through the weekend. If they can win, the excitement and interest they will generate for the NLCS in the region could propel them to the top of the city's pro sports pecking order. At least in the short term. Whether the team can solidify the gains and make them permanent will largely hinge on how far they go and how they play ( i.e., either blown out and uncompetitive or playing cliffhanger games).

All of which is to say, that while Eagleseye is ostensibly a blog about the Eagles, it does cover Philadelphia sports in general. And with the Birds on a bye and the Phillies the most exciting athletic event in town, be warned that there will be lots more Phillies-related posts through October.

Go Phillies!

Grilling Gillick

Bill Conlin today picks up the theme about Pat Gillick's questionable personnel decisions covered here on Eaglesye last week. The key point in his article, "What were the odds on Opening Day that of Gillick's most important offseason moves, only Wes Helms, Greg Dobbs, Jason Werth and Rod Barajas would be on Manuel's postseason roster?"

Still, kind of strange timing for this to run. Couldn't this have been published yesterday? Why today, hours from the first Phillies playoff game in 14 years? C'mon Bill. Get with the program, feel the Citizens Bank love, and join the team/city/fans for the big win.

M-V-P

Add ESPN baseball writer (and former Philly Inqy baseball writer) Jayson Stark in the Jimmy Rollins is the NL MVP column.

Patriot Spy Games

Even NFL company man Peter King thinks there was fishy stuff with the way Roger Goodell and the league handled the Patriots/Belichick cheating “investigation.”

 

And I love how Patriots fans continue to be in denial and full victim mode now that there coaching “genius” was caught cheating and has now cast doubt on all their wins. Point in case is the Sport’s Guy who wrote, “My answer: In case you didn't notice, the Patriots have been in Screws-You Mode ever since the Mangini thing happened.”

 

Note he calls it the “Mangini thing.” As if the Patriots cheating is Eric Mangini’s fault. It’s like calling the famous 90’s double homicide the “Nicole Simpson thing.” Why sully OJ’s name by even mentioning it in the same breath as such a sordid incident. Oh that’s right. You do it cause they got caught.

 

And I also don’t get Simmons’ defense of the Pats running up the score now, “it's the most effective way to wave both middle fingers at the rest of the league and prove that they didn't need to cheat to win three Super Bowls.”

 

Huh? Wave a finger at the league cause they caught you cheating? The Patriots were caught cheating and they’re the victims? And how does Tom Brady throwing long TD bombs to newly acquired Randy Moss somehow “prove” that the Patriots didn’t need to cheat when David Patten and David Givens were their WR while “winning” super bowls?

 

Whatever.

On Second Down (Thought)

Further musings on the Eagles-Giants game. My previous reference to the Eagles passing yards – 138 – was gross passing yards gained. When you include the sacks, the Eagles netted 76 yards passing. Again, compared to 114 yards rushing (on 23 carries), it is even more inexplicable as to why there were so many more passes than running plays called. In fact, when you take McNabb’s four carries out of the rushing stats (4 carries for 4 yards on three scrambles and a QB sneak), the Eagles gained 110 yards on 19 carries – 5.8 yards a pop.

 

The Eagles continue to be one of the most penalized teams in the league. The Giants accepted 15 penalties and declined 2 others.  The Eagles only ran 54 plays. The penalty yardage pretty much zeroed out the gross passing yards. This undiscipline is all on Reid. Yesterday’s press conference had Reid giving a vote of confidence to punter Sal Rocca. Really, the Philly press should have been asking about his confidence in his special teams coach. The fact remains special teams have been a disaster this year. Jeremy Bloom was the pre-season fall guy. The question now is when Rory Segrest will be held accountable for the poor play and penalties.

 

The lone bright spot for the Eagles other than the running game (and Correll Buckhalter) was…as usual  - the defense.

 

I didn’t hear Gocong’s name called much, nor Spikes’ for that matter – except for that personal foul facemask. And I’ve heard some criticism about Omar Gaither being caught by Eli Manning (in Gaither’s defense, Manning did have a head start and Gaither did return his interception 49 yards.) But the Eagles D only gave up 10 points. On the road. That should be MORE than enough stops to win a game. And Jim Johnson did it without his pro bowl cornerback or his pro bowl safety and with his other starting CB suffering a stinger early in the game.

 

Johnson’s squad kept the Giants to 212 total yards, 135 passing for Manning – which, incredibly is less than McNabb had (not counting yardage lost to sacks). Johnson’s men even managed to hold the Giants to 3-11 3^rd down efficiency, a perennial bugaboo in facing the Giants. Jim Johnson held up his end of the bargain with a depleted eleven. Andy Reid, the noted QB coach, did not. Same as it ever was with this team. Maybe someday the Eagles will get an offense comparable to its defense –though probably not while Andy Reid continues to insert himself into the offensive game plan.

 

Anyone else notice that at the end of the 1^st half the referee screwed up the clock? With 39 seconds left the Eagles were whistled for a delay of game, but the Eagles and Giants ran the play and 6 seconds ran off the clock. The delay of game meant the play should never have occurred so the clock should not have run. The refs blew it by not whistling the play dead sooner/louder, and then compounded their error by not putting the 6 seconds back on the clock. It looked like the mistake was going to benefit the Eagles who were on the Giants side of the field and thinking last second score. But they wound up punting and the Giants, with less than 10 seconds left in the half (should have been 14) downed the ball and ran out the clock. It’s a small thing in the scheme of things, but it is an indication that Andy Reid is not paying attention to important details like the game clock to the detriment of his offense. It’s doubly troubling since he’s the head coach and supposedly in charge of time management. He’s even screwing that up!

 

Charlie Going to be Manager of the Year?!

Looks like Jimmy Rollins is now the odds on favorite to be NL MVP. Deservedly so.

 

But my friend PK writes about another potential award winning Phillie:

 

“Charlie Manuel is Manager of the Year. It scares me to say that, and yes, this means he'll be managing them again next season. But he's gonna be NL manager of the year. Unreal. Can't wait for the postseason.

 

Let's give Charlie his due for this past weekend-plus. He managed the boys, particularly the staff, pretty darn well. Saturday was actually genius in his bullpen work, giving the offense a chance to win the game (which it didn't). But he's a terrible in-game manager. Period.

 

The only more frustrating in-game coaching is from Andy Reid, who seems largely unaware he's got a QB who's 80% at best and is largely immobile. Andy keeps calling an inordinate # of passes vs. the run, and then - with his newly immobile QB - Andy doesn't do any max protect schemes, certainly none on NYG's No 72.”

Putting the Mets out of their Misery

Philly Phanatic Shoots Mr. Met.

Lt. Kendrick

Kendrick wasn’t even on the roster opening day. Now he’s our #2 pitcher in the post-season. And as noted before, our opening day starter is now in the bullpen. Weird season.

Rotation

Inqy reporting that the starting rotation will be Hamels, Kendrick, Lohse, and Moyer – and that Eaton may not be included on the roster.

 

My friend PK asks: “Just looking at that rotation scared the living crap out of me. Aside from Moyer, those starters have a combined 12 innings pitched in the postseason (all Lohse with the Twins) and just 1 start. With Hamels at 23, Kendrick at 22, is there any team in playoff history that went into postseason with its 2 lead pitchers being so young, so inexperienced? Prior and Wood are all I can think to compare, but those guys were in their mid-20s or later, I think, by the time the Cubs got to the '04 LCS.”

 

My brother suggests that having Hamels and Kendrick go in games 1 and 2 should help with the crowd at home.

 

 

Ceding the Field

My friend PK and I were at RFK stadium a week ago Friday for the Phillies-Nationals game. We noticed and commented on the phenomenon Bob Ford elaborates on today – the Eagles ceding fan attention to the Phillies. At RFK, where about 40% of the spectators were Phillies fans, we couldn’t help but notice the near complete lack of Eagles paraphernalia. In years past at September RFK games between the Nats and Phils, there have been plenty of Eagles hats, jerseys, and E-A-G-L-E-S cheers in the stands. But not this fall. We were both on the lookout but only saw one young man sporting an Eagles hat during the entire game. In a similar vein, several friends and I were all in agreement that the passion in Citizens Bank Park the past week has to have been a nice treat for the team which has had to endure Eagles cheers in their home stadium for years now. That’s not the case right now. It’s all Phillies, all the time.

 

(By the way, as an aside. At that Phillies-Nats game, we witnessed something unusual. When Flash Gordon came in to pitch the 8^th, the “Big 3” – Howard, Utley, and Rollins – stood abreast about 8 feet behind the mound and just watched Gordon’s warm up pitches, like they were analyzing what Gordon’s stuff was. My friend PK theorized that the 3 could veto Manuel’s decision to pitch Gordon if the 3 didn’t like his velocity. At the least, they may have been figuring if Gordon was going to get hit a lot and if they were going to be busy in the field. The whole scene was noticeable and memorable cause it didn’t appear that the 3 were talking to each other, but all three were intently standing there observing Gordon’s warm up pitches. And it was also noticeable cause Abraham Nunez who had come in previously as a defensive replacement did not join the trio behind the mound, but stayed close by third base just standing there by himself.

 

Of course, what I find so remarkable about Ford’s article is the revelation that Eagles president Joe Banner calls reporters and editors to complain about too much media coverage of the other Philadelphia sports teams – presumably at the expense of the Eagles. He’s not complaining about negative Eagles coverage, but that other teams are getting too much. Not other NFL teams, but the other major sports teams in the city. That’s astounding.

 

“One high-ranking Eagles' executive whom we won't name (rhymes with Joe Banner) has been known to contact newspapers and media outlets when he thinks other teams are getting too much coverage,” writes Ford.

10 Times in 125 Years?

The great Philadelphia sports writer Bill Lyon, now retired, has become the 21^st century equivalent of Kate Smith. Brought out for special sporting occasions. The Phillies improbable playoff appearance is just such an event worthy of Lyons’ pen.

 

But can it really be that the Phillies are in the post-season for only the 10^th time in 125 years? 1915, 1950, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1993. More amazing, I’ve been alive and remember all but 1915 and 1950.

The Comeback

Everyone has referenced the 7 games back with 17 to play as the benchmark for how much incredible ground the Phillies made up in the last two and half weeks of the season. But really, isn’t two back with five to play even more indicative of the shocking turn of events? Especially since the Phillies won the division outright meaning that they picked up three games on the division leader in five total.

Jamie Moyer

Very cool profile by Thomas Boswell of local boy made good Jamie Moyer, who got the win in the biggest game of his career for the team he cheered for as a child. The most moving graph: “Moyer talked about what it meant to be a Phillies fan, wedded to a team famed for failure.

 

As the 44-year-old southpaw headed to Citizens Bank Park on Sunday morning, preparing to pitch the most important game of his life, he drove past a Little League field near the park.

 

‘There were kids playing. If I hadn't been pitching, I might have stopped. It brought up a lot of childhood memories for me, growing up less than an hour from here, rooting for Steve Carlton, going to the Phillies' parade after they won the World Series’ in 1980, Moyer said. ‘I got those warm and fuzzy feelings. It made me appreciate what I was going to have a chance to do. To be able to win in this city where I grew up, to be able to stand in this clubhouse now, I'm at a loss for words,’ said Moyer, who fell silent and calmly, as he does everything, started to cry.”

 

And the Boz neatly captures what it means to be a Phillie fan.

 

“Few understand the life of the Phillies fan, linked to a franchise that, this season, actually celebrated its 10,000th loss. Decades of frustration, all the way back to 1883, are interspersed with rare seasons -- like this one -- of precious but perishable opportunity. Maybe no one understands better than Moyer, the third-oldest player in the game, his history tangled with Philly's baseball fatalism -- expect the worst, hope for anything else. Phils fans don't call themselves a Nation or wear their disappointments on their sleeves. And they boo a lot, and with cause, since 97 years is quite a while to wait for one World Series win. No wonder Moyer played hooky from high school to see that parade.”

 

 

Worst Ever?

So where does the Mets’ collapse rank? Our junkball pitching friend “Fish,” a once aspiring minor league thrower and very knowledgeable baseball afficianado, offers his analysis.

 

“Statistically speaking, it's the worst. 

 

Borrowing from a cbssportsline.com article today:  ‘No major league team had owned a lead of seven games or more with 17 to play and failed to finish in first place. New York, which had that margin on Sept. 12, matched the largest lead blown in September. The 1934 New York Giants (Sept. 6) and 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates (Sept. 1) also led by seven games in the final month only to drop into a fatal tailspin.’

 

Emotionally, it's crushing.  you're talking about a team that went 1-6 in their final 7 games, all at home against the two worst teams in their own division.

 

Minaya has yet to stand up for Willie Randolph.  David Wright called out his teammates.  Glavine looked like he was throwing the game yesterday.  Milledge and Reyes doing their little home run dance that precipitated the brawl Saturday.  the Mets are a mess.

 

Add all that up and put it in the New York media?  worst.  collapse.  ever.”

Rank the Collapse

My friend PK asks:

“Where does the Mets loss ranks in terms of MLB collapses?

 

I mean, I don't think it's fair to compare these sorta collapses with playoff series like the '04 Yankees or the '86 Angels.

 

But I think there's a separate category for regular season collapses that we should consider. And several jump out, Obviously, as contenders, the '64 Phillies, the '69 Cubs, the '78 Red Sox, the '51 Dodgers and, now, the '07 Mets.

 

I think, certainly, we can say that in the 21st-century-style MLB -- with 4 teams from each league making the playoffs -- this is the worst collapse of this era. Now, compared to the others, it may be considered The Worst Ever simply because they didn't just lose the division, they fell completely out of the playoffs. The Phillies went from 1st place in the NL in '64 to a tie for 2nd place, 1 game off the Cards. The Brooklyn Dodgers collapsed, sure, but they actually ended the season tied for 1st and lost out in a really hard-fought game in the bottom of the 9th to one of the single most dramatic plays in the game's history.

 

The '78 Red Sox may be the only comparable thing, but it was longer and slower, a 2-month slow motion free-fall as opposed to the complete implosion that occurred in half a month for the Mets. And of course the Sox did manage to tie the Yanks and, like the '51 Dodgers, lost in the divisional playoff game to one of the more dramatic HR's ever (Bucky Dent).

 

This collapse was sooo spectacular, so pathetic, I'm not sure anything compares.”

From Cruel to Sadistic

The Eagles game last night certainly left a sour taste in the mouths’ of fans still savoring the sweet Phillies wine of a NL East division title. It wasn’t just the loss to the hated Giants that was so distasteful, but the manner in which it happened.

Andy Reid’s preference for the pass has officially gone from a curious fetish to pathological sickness. The Inqy’s Phil Sheridan calls it an “addiction.” Asking McNabb to throw 29 times with a sports hernia in a game his team won by six touchdowns was cruel. As was making McNabb pass 46 times versus the Redskins in a game they never trailed by more than 10 points and was only the second back from his ACL surgery.

But last night’s offensive “game plan” was simply sadistic. There is no other way to explain or describe it. It was sadistic to Winston Justice who was humiliated on national TV and it was sadistic to inflict such continuing punishment on Donovan McNabb who was sacked at least once on every drive the Eagles had in the game. And that doesn’t even count the number of hits and hurries #5 endured.

But the biggest question – beyond why so many pass plays (33 compared to 23 rushes) were called when the Eagles were running all over the Giants (5.0 yard/carry) – was why in the name of Jerome Brown Andy Reid and his enabler Marty Mohrninweg provided no help to Justice on the pass plays that were called!! It was INEXPLICABLE.

Even I know enough that you can help a tackle out by lining up the TE on his side to help double team, or at the least chip the defensive end at the beginning of his route. And/or keep a running back in the backfield to help double team the end or at least provide some semblance of insurance if the pass rusher gets by the tackle so he doesn’t have an uninterrupted route to the QB.

Certainly the coaches were aware of this. On at least several plays Reno Mahe helped Jon Runyan pick-up Strahan on the rightside of the line. The unexplained question is why the Eagles’ brain trust thought it prudent to help a pro bowl tackle handle an over the hill pass rusher, but not his left side counterpart making his first NFL start. After the third sack it didn’t take a genius to realize that Justice needed some help, any help, with Umenyiora.

Correll Buckhalter ran for 103 yards on 17 carries, a 6.1 average. On nearly twice as many pass attempts (31), the Eagles gained just 138 yards. My five year-old can calculate which is the more efficient and successful option.

And when you add in that your starting tight end was hurt and your “#1” WR Reggie Brown is showing a Pinkston-like ability to get open, it becomes even more unclear as to why Reid and Mohrninweg were so wedded to the pass.

If any good came out of last night’s game, it may be this. The evidence is accumulating that McNabb is not so much “injury-prone” as Andy Reid’s offense is prone to make his QB injured. Maybe we should marvel at McNabb’s durability and wonder how McNabb has only had three serious injuries with the Eagles when you see the game- in and game-out punishment he takes in Andy Reid’s pass happy “offense.” That and we all have a new appreciation for the rock William “Tra” Thomas has been at left tackle for the past decade.

Key to the Phillies Stretch Run

The main thing in this NY Times graphic documenting the ingredients of the Mets decline and the Phils ascension was the ERA of the Phillies’ bullpen since September 12. Phillies relievers had a 2.40 era since that date. The Mets’ relievers had a 5.27 ERA. Indeed, the Phils team ERA since 9/12 was 3.44. But it was the relief era that’s such a surprising twist for what was – and remains – the weakest part of the team. Still, in crunch time the bullpen delivered. And the Mets’ pitching staff? Not so much. In fact, the offenses performed similarly in the last 17 games, but it was the Phillies pitchers that made the difference.

 

And Phillies fans will be happy to learn that fireball reliever Billy Wagner’s era since 9/12 was a too hot to handle self-immolating 5.40.

The Face of Defeat

A sudden decline

A terrific graphic from the Washington Post illustrating how the Phillies made up 7 games (really 8 when you count the final standings) since September 17th. Hint: Mets 5-12, Phils 13-4.

The Collapse is Complete

From the front page of today’s Washington Post.

 

“Collapse is Complete, and the Mets are History”