Philly Sports Blogs Ads
Philly Sports Blogs is part of the YBN Sports Blog Network
Lets Go Flyers Lets Go!
Philadelphia Flyers Eastern Conference Champions
Phillies Tickets
Old dog learns a new trick
Anytime Joe Paterno does something for the first time as a coach it is newsworthy. When he makes an announcement like he did today, it really grabs attention.
Paterno announced that freshman Robert Bolden will be the starter for No. 19 Penn State in its opener against Youngstown State on Saturday. It marks the first time in Paterno’s 45 years as a coach that true freshman will begin the season as the signal caller.
Bellow is an excerpt form the Associated Press:
Bolden barely beat out returning sophomores Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome an impressive feat given that the touted freshman only joined the team this summer. All three quarterbacks still have a chance to earn the starting nod on a regular basis, Paterno said Wednesday night in a statement.
“Based on what we have seen to this point, Bolden has a slight edge right now, but we are confident all three quarterbacks are ready to go and hope to give them an opportunity to play until we settle on the one that gives us the best chance to win,” Paterno said.
Bolden had more than 2,000 yards passing and 14 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,000 yards and 16 scores in his final two high school seasons.
The move is certainly an interesting one, given that the Nittany Lions are expected to once again be in the thick of things in the Big 10 — though Ohio State is the clear favorite. What I am curious to see is what type of leash Paterno will give Bolden, since this is new territory for the sage coach. I’m hoping he gives Bolden a serious look and does not start making changes in the second half Saturday. I’ve never been a fan of quarterback rotation, even though some have proven successful in the past.
Today’s news sure adds some drama to what should be an easy opener for Penn State.
Time to tear apart some NFL beliefs
With the first game of the NFL now just a week away it is time to turn my focus to the pigskin. I love the game and the anticipation is great. Yet with that anticipation comes overreaction and at times lunacy from those who cover and report on the game.
Every year experts are certain of things and every year many of those things turn out not to be. So as Grinding My Gears returns this week, it does so by picking apart some of the statements I have heard during the offseason that really dig at me.
The Patriots have been passed in the AFC East: Never, ever doubt Tom Brady. I may not be one of his fans come Sunday, but I sure do respect his talents. Rex Ryan can run his mouth all he wants, but the AFC East still runs through the Patriots — and it probably will until Brady retires or leaves town.
The Sexy pick: Every year it happens: Last year it was the Chargers and this year it’s the Packers and the Cowbys. Analysts collectively faun and drool over a team that has been close but hasn’t gotten to the big game, and decide it’s time to make them the favorites. Sometimes they’re right and most of the time they’re not, but every year it seems like the Colts get pushed on the back-burner. And every year the Cots are right there in the end. It would be nice if just once the favorite was actually labeled as the favorite.
Mike Martz love: Mike Martz is the offensive co-ordinator for the Bears and suddenly that offense will be more potent. Suddenly, Jay Cutler will be able to throw the ball to someone other than the opposition. These are the things I hear.
In fact, I keep hearing things about Mike Martz that would make Chuck Norris jealous. I respect what the guy did in St. Louis, but his time in Detroit and San Francisco hardly makes me a believer that he will transform the Bears offense into a scoring machine. In fact I have no faith at all that he will.
The Bengals are Super Bowl contenders: OK this one is coming from the Bengals themselves … and I’m not close to buying it. The Ravens will be the class of the division while the Bengals may scrap to get close to a Wild Card spot, before falling short. Super Bowl contenders do not have a giant question mark at QB (Yes Carson Palmer fits that profile after a dismal 2009/10 season).
This is the year for the Texans: Hasn’t every year been the year for the Texans to reach the playoffs since 2007? I thought so. How many times have they been to the playoffs during that span? Zero. There is a lot to like with this team but I refuse to get sucked into the hype anymore.
Brett Favre’s numbers will take a huge hit this season: This one is my personal favorite. I will be the first to admit that it will be tough for Favre to repeat the success he had last season (33 TDs, 7 picks), but I sure think he will be close. Don’t let the ankle injury news fool you. Favre always keeps an excuse handy in case he needs one. The man still has a great arm and plenty of talent around him (even with Sidney Rice out for up to six weeks). He may be the biggest drama queen in the league, but the man can still play — and play very well.
Numbers unjust for Oswalt, Hamels
Disagreement is a major part of sports. After all, what fun would it be to discuss sports if everyone had the same opinion about everything?
It wouldn’t be fun at all.
But every great one in a while a topic comes up that just can’t be debated — at least it shouldn’t be.
This is one of those cases.
I will state is as unquestioned fact (or something like that) that no team in baseball has two pitchers with losing records that are better than the Phillies’ Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. Oswalt took a no-hitter into the seventh today in the Phillies’ 5-1 win over the Dodgers. With the win he improved to an unjustified 10-13. I guess that’s what happens when you’re stuck on the Astros for 2/3 of the season.
If Oswalt is looking for sympathy he certainly wont get any from teammate Hamels, who somehow only has eight wins this year. One of the big question marks entering the season was if Hamels could find his 208 form, or if he would be the same guy who struggled in 2009. Well, Hamels has pitched like the 2008 version, yet is stuck with 2009-like numbers.
Trust me, when teams go against Hamels and Oswalt they are not licking their lips at the chance to face two guys with a combined 18-23 record. It’s quite the opposite.
Baseball is a team game and Oswalt and Hamels will be the first guys to tell you their numbers don’t matter as long as the team gets back to the playoffs.
Yet it wouldn’t seem justified for either pitcher to end the regular season with a losing record. Hopefully the offense can get on enough of a role to not only propel the team into the playoffs, but also reward a pair of pitchers who’s win totals just don’t seem right.
Houston we have a problem
For months Phillies fans trotted a sentence that went something like this: “If we can just stay in the race while our stars are out, this team will catch fire once its healthy.”
The team played well above expectations during injuries to Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz … and so on.
Now that the gangs finally all here, things were supposed to really take off. Instead, the team has gone into another funk. The Phillies lost to the Astros 3-2 last night, marking the third straight game it has dropped to the lowly Astros. Making matter worse is that two of those losses have come in games started by Brett Myers and J.A. Happ, two former Phillies.
While fans have been stunned by the way the team has played recently, they really should not be. When players are away from the game as long as Utley and Howard were, they rarely come back tearing the cover off the ball. It takes time to get back into a rhythm and unfortunately time in in short supply when you get to mid August. Utley’s swing isn’t quite back yet, while Howard is in a 2-19 funk since returning. That combination could have the Phillies reeling right now but thankfully for them the Braves have joined them in struggling this past week. Atlanta did the Phillies a huge favor yesterday, blowing a 10-1 lead in a loss to the Rockies. Meanwhile the Phillies remain in a tie with the Giants for the Wild Card lead.
I don’t expect the Phillies recent slump to last too much longer. Howard and Utley will get their timing back and the rest of the lineup will benefit from that. This team is still in great position to make another postseason run and has the arms to go up against anyone once they get into serious October baseball. The key will be riding out this storm.
It would also help if they won today. Getting swept by the Astros in a four-game series just isn’t palatable.
Former Eagle Tra Thomas retires
Former Eagles’ offensive lineman Tra Thomas has retired according to an Associated Press report. Thomas was a stud tackle for the Eagles from 1998-2008, helping protect Donovan McNabb. Thomas made three Pro Bowls during that time.
Bellow is the complete AP report:
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Chargers say 35-year-old left offensive tackle Tra Thomas has retired, leaving the team woefully thin at a crucial position.
Thomas was signed as insurance when it became apparent that Marcus McNeill might stage a prolonged holdout. Thomas, a 12-year veteran, had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
General manager A.J. Smith didn’t return a call seeking comment Saturday.
Even if McNeill ended his holdout, Smith placed him on the roster exempt list on Friday, meaning he’ll be suspended for three games once he signs his contract tender.
McNeill is unhappy that he hasn’t been given a long-term deal. Instead, the Chargers tendered the restricted free agent a one-year deal for $3,168,000.
49ers are the perfect fit for Westbrook
The NFL can be a cruel place for running backs who are at, near or past the age of 30. At an age where most guys are still living out what’s left of their college juices, running backs are told they are too old, too slow and no longer relevant.
This was the reality for Brian Westbrook. Despite nearly a decade of hard work, production and at times excellence with the Philadelphia Eagles, Westbrook, 31, was sent packing after last season. His body worn down by injuries, Westbrook no longer had a place in the Eagles plans — and for a few months there was no place for him anywhere in the league.
Rumors were persistent for the better part of two months that the helpless St. Louis Rams were interested in bringing in the aging back. This was sad news to say the least. The Rams aren’t going anywhere anytime soon and Westbrook only has so much mileage left on his legs and shoulders. If he joined the Rams he would get a job and paycheck, but I doubt any real sense of enjoyment or accomplishment.
Then came news yesterday that Westbrook had signed – not with the Rams, but rather the San Francisco 49ers. He will compete for the backup job which was vacated when 23-year old running back Glen Coffee shockingly announced his retirement last week after just one NFL season. With a hole in their lineup the 49ers reached out and gave the veteran a chance – and it is a chance I believe he will thrive in.
Unlike the Rams, the 49ers figure very much to be in contention this season. They have one of the best coaches in the business and a tough S.O.B in Mike Singletary. Singletary demands that his team run the football and with Frank Gore leading the way that is the obvious direction to go. With the 49ers Westbrook should be more than serviceable. Gore will take the bulk of the carries, attention and glory. Westbrook will be fine with that.
Westbrook didn’t go to San Fran for glory or money – he making just $1.25 million this season – he went for a chance to prove that he can still produce, and do so for a winner.
In his eight seasons with the Eagles Westbrook rushed for 5,995 yards and 37 touchdowns and caught 426 passes for 3,790 yards and 29 TDs. Up until last season every time he touched the ball Eagles fans knew something big could happen. Many times it did. San Fran fans get to experience the same feeling every time Gore touches the ball. Now they can also experience that when he takes a break.
Westbrook won’t be playing in the Pro Bowl and almost certainly won’t sniff 1,000 yards rushing this season, but he doesn’t have to. Instead heshould be able to keep his body fresh, while helping the 49ers ground game get even better.
The Eagles made the right decision by moving on and almost nothing Westbrook will do can change that. The team is featuring youth and Westbrook no longer fit in their plans.
But with the 49ers, Westbrook has the perfect opportunity to show that even at 31, he can help a team win, and maybe even win big.
Non-call cost Union victory
CHESTER, PA – Even after battling back from a deficit it was hard for the Philadelphia Union to leave PPL Park in anyway satisfied.
The Union saw two goals called back due to offside calls and controversial non-call when Sebastien Le Toux appeared to be taken down in the box in stoppage time and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids Saturday afternoon. The tie was Philadelphia’s second straight, but it also extended its winless streak to five games.
Two minutes into stoppage time Le Toux took a pass and beat two defenders before being contacted and going down in the box. The whistle was never blown as a chorus of boos rained down from the 17,749 fans in attendance.
“If 18,000 people see it then how come three or four officials can’t?” said Union coach Peter Nowak. “ … “Le Toux is the last guy who to dive and look for a call like that.”
Not surprisingly, Rapids coach Gary Smith saw things a bit differently.
“I thought (Le Toux) might have gone down trying to buy one given the time of the game,” said Smith.
The boos grew even louder a minute after the non-call when Union defender Michael Orozco Fiscal beat Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens, only to have the goal disallowed to an offside call.
The tie was just the latest letdown for a team that has been competitive throughout its inaugural campaign, but is yet to record its first shutout.
“I feel like it’s a broken record,” said Union captain Danny Califf. “We don’t give up much, but they get one and we battle to the end. I think we’ve shown character during the year in that we don’t give up. Things don’t always go our way, but we always fight and always work and I think we are unlucky to be denied in the end.”
The Union (4-10-5) trailed 1-0 in the 74th minute when forward Danny Mwanga found the equalizer. Mwanga took a cross from Le Toux, beat his defender and slid a shot between the legs of Pickens. The play was set up by a long feed from captain Danny Califf, who sent a pass 60 yards to Le Toux, who was streaking down the near sideline.
“(Mwanga) doesn’t have to have five or six chances a game, when he gets one he’s going to bury it,” said Nowak.
The goal was the Mwanga’s seventh.
“I’m one of the forwards so I have to come out play the best I can play and help the team get going,” said Mwanga.
The Union had the batter of the possession and the chances in the first half, but were unable to anything on the scoreboard against Colorado (7-5-7).
Union Forward Alejandro Moreno appeared to put the Philadelphia ahead 16 minutes in when he one-timed a cross into the left corner of the net, but the offside’s flag went up canceling the tally. Moments later Moreno had another chance but his shot from 18 yards out sailed over the crossbar. Moreno also struck the crossbar in the 31st minute.
After surviving the first half the Rapids came out with better tempo to start the second and got on the board when Jeff Larentowicz scored in the 59th minute. Union keeper Chris Seitz punched out a cross but the ball went directly to Larentowicz just outside the 18. Larentowicz took a touch before sending a rocket into the far right corner of the net.
Larentowicz was making a homecoming of sorts, as the midfielder went to high school at Chestnut Hill Academy, located in northern Philadelphia.
“It was great, I had a lot of friends and family that came out to see me,” said Larentowicz. “Just to play in front of them was a treat, but to score a goal was something really special.”
Feeling ever snake-bitten, Philadelphia will have a week off before returning to the pitch next Sunday in the Nation’s capital when it takes on D.C. United.
Catching up with Darren Daulton
Earlier this week I got the opportunity to see former Phillies catcher Darren Daulton while attending a baseball tournament down in Bridgeton, New Jersey. As a guest of the Bridgeton Invitation Daulton signed autographs for fans and took the time to speak about various topics includig the current Phillies, the 1993 Phillies and his life after baseball. I had an opportunity to listen to Daulton and put together this report, which can also be read here on nj.com.
BRIDGETON — The Bridgeton Invitational saw one of its biggest crowds in years Monday night.
That’s the type of presence former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton still has.
Fans flocked to get autographs from a player who was at the heart of the 1993 National League champion team and spent the better part of 14 seasons behind the plate for the Phillies. Daulton, who was put on the Phillies Wall of Fame in Citizens Bank Park on Friday was surprised by all of the fans who came out to see him.
“I looks like you guys have about the same turnout as we did (Friday),” joked Daulton.
For Daulton, who is the second high-profile former Phillies player to visit the Invitational Greg Luzinski was the other Monday was not only his first time at the Invitational, but his first time in Bridgeton.
“Out of all my worldly travels I can’t remember ever coming through Bridgeton,” said Daulton. “It reminds me a lot of the town I grew up in in Kansas. I was joking with some of the guys earlier that I used to be a groundskeeper.”
Daulton was a career .245 hitter with 137 homers and 588 RBIs. His best seasons came in 1992 and 1993 when he hit a combined 51 home runs and drove in 214.
The 1993 Philadelphia squad was know for its crazy cast of characters headlined by Daulton, John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra and Mitch Williams. The team surprised everyone by going from perennial cellar dwellers to National League champions. Daulton said the reason the team was so embraced both in and away from Philadelphia was because of the blend of characters the team possessed.
“I like to say that we covered all the food groups,” said Daulton. “We had big buys, small guys, fat guys, skinny guys, smokers, drinkers, guys that were Jewish and guys that were Catholic and I think that’s why so many people around the country liked the team. You could pick any type of personality and we had someone that personified it.”
Though he spent almost his entire career with the Phillies, it wasn’t until Daulton was traded in 1997 that he finally won a World Series ring. As a member of the Florida Marlins, Daulton ended his career by helping the Fish defeat the Cleveland Indians in seven games.
“I started, obviously, with the Phillies organization and was able to play for 14 years,” said Daulton. “I was very fortunate to get traded down the stretch in ‘97 to the Marlins. At that time I thought I was going to go to an American League club to be a DH. Jeff Conine was having a so-so year for the Marlins so they wanted me to come down there offensively for my bat and it just happened to work out. You couldn’t have written a better script.”
Daulton currently resides in Clearwater, Fla., but still keeps a watchful eye on the Phillies and appears periodically on Phillies Postgame Live. He admitted he wasn’t always as tuned in to his former ball club.
“For 10 years from 7-8 p.m. it was ‘Seinfeld,’” said Daulton. “Now when 7:05 comes around I want the remote because I want to watch these guys.”
Daulton, who took part in the Phillies’ Alumni Golf Tournament earlier Monday, said he will be working with Comcast SportsNet through the summer and will be featured on pre- and post-game shows should the Phillies return to the postseason. He raved about the team’s play this season despite all of its obstacles.
“I tried to think back as far as I have been in the game and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team go through what they have gone through this year,” said Daulton. “It’s just amazing. If you would have told me before the season started that they would be at this juncture (of the season) with all of their stars that have been on the DL, I would say there would be no chance that they would be in the playoffs. It’s really remarkable.”
Are the Eagles suddenly booring?
Many Eagles fans have been excited about the ongoing training camp do to the fact that the team that will take the field on Sundays starting in September will be vastly different than the ones that have proceeded it for the better part of a decade. We don’t know if it will be better, but right now the word “different” also stands for “hope.”
Then there are those who are not so excited about training camp. Without McNabb shooting off his mouth or Sheldon Brown looking for a bigger check, this preseason has been more about actual football and less about drama. To me that’s a good thing, yet some people just need their taste of daily drama.
Philadalphia Inquirer writer John Gonzalez is one of those people. He misses the old Eagles already. Check out his take on the current group compared to that of years ago.
Here is an extended clip from Gonzalez’s piece, which can be read in entirety here.
The Eagles’ locker room was once stocked with oversized personalities willing to yammer in front of a television camera until the battery lost its charge. If Lito Sheppard wasn’t grumbling about his contract, there was always the possibility Sheldon Brown might pop off and say something of note. They’re gone now. So are Shawn Andrews and Terrell Owens, Freddie Mitchell and Hugh Douglas and others. And though it was time to move on as far as football goes, those of us who enjoy a solid sideshow will miss Donovan McNabb’s often ridiculous one-man Party of Five.
Compared with some of the guys who once served under Andy Reid, the current crop of Eagles is about as entertaining as Michael Strahan’s short-lived show on Fox. Who is going to hold the driveway workout/news conference? Who’s going to catch a locker room beat down courtesy of the team’s ambassador? Who’s going to get his Michael Phelps on or thank his hands for being so great or rock an air guitar at the worst possible moment?
Who’s going to give us something to talk/complain/laugh about?
Maybe most of what happened in the past was detrimental to the team, but it was also entertaining. If the Eagles have any shot of continuing the town’s best Off-Broadway production for a 12th-straight season under Reid, only one man can make it happen – and he’s not talking.
DeSean Jackson has gone into the sort of disciplined communication blackout usually reserved for covert military missions or the morning after a one-night stand. The once outspoken wide receiver hasn’t said much during training camp. On the day he arrived, Jackson said he had nothing to say (how very Meta of him). And on Monday, he told The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane that he’d “talk with y’all closer to the regular season.” It didn’t seem possible, but the preseason just became even more unbearable
So how do you feel. Is this preseason an exciting one for you because of the uncertainty surrounding the changes or is it just a little too bland for your taste?
Favre’s streak is great, but never discount Ripken
As news broke this morning that Brett Favre was retiring, yet again – at least we think – it didn’t take long for analysts to turn to talk of the QB’s impressive games started streak of 285.
That many starts in football is unheard of given the violent nature of not only the sport, but the position. Favre clearly possesses a level of toughness and grit, along with protection and luck, that few in the history of the game have ever had. While other players limped off the field, Favre had enough bravado to limp onto it.
Remembering Favre as one of the all-time great quarterbacks and one of the toughest men in the business should be enough for most people. But as is the case of some in the media, it can never stop there.
Twice today I heard analysts compare Favre’s consecutive games streak with Cal Ripken’s. I guess the comparisons were inevitable. Both analysts, along with several writers agreed that Favre’s streak was more impressive than Ripken’s.
That’s where I have a problem. A big problem.
How quickly we forget just how remarkable what Ripken accomplished was. For those who need a refresher course, Ripken started 2,632 straight games, again that’s 2,632. In today’s game if a player starts 50 straight fans start to wonder if the manager is overworking him. I’m not here to tell you that Ripken’s streak is superior to Favre’s — that’s not my style. I am however assuring you that it isn’t any less impressive. Some people dissagree, like this out of touch blogger from Yahoo who posted this when Favre’s streak hit 253.
The argument that writer and others are making is that Favre’s streak should be considered superior because football is a more physical game with more opportunity to get injured. I fully accept that football is a more physical game and get that. Not too many baseball players get thrown to the ground — although Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer once did. But what’s not taken into account is the recovery time football players have between games. There were plenty of occurrences where Favre was hurt in a game, came out and was questionable heading into the next game. So he sat on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, sometimes Thursday and Friday too, recovering.
It’s the natural thing to do for any quarterback who may be hobbled.
Ripken never had that option. When he was banged up Sunday night, he still had to come out and play nine more innings Monday and then again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Maybe an off day was sprinkled in, but those are few and far between. The only time Ripken got to recover was when he was sleeping.
Another area that can not be overlooked is day games, following night games and double-headers – and I mean real double headers unlike the day/night ones you see today. In Cal’s era a double-header meant once the first game ended the second one began. Managers often used those situations to get their bench guys in for one of the games as to not wear out the starters. Ripken always wanted a full 18 innings though.
Another area rarely mentioned when talking about games played streaks is voluntary rest. In football there is rarely a scenario where healthy players sit (the final game or two of the season for teams that clinched a playoff spot being the exception). In the NFL, if you are healthy enough to play, you play. That’s not always the case in baseball, Every hitter will go through slumps and sometimes a hitter will ask for a day to sit down and clear his head. And if the player doesn’t ask, the manager often makes the decision for them. Ripken had his share of slumps in his career, yet sitting was never an option. When he finally did take a day off on Sept. 19, 1998, he said afterwards that he didn’t want to sit anymore. He had tried it out and it wasn’t for him.
My point is simply that just because Favre’s streak possibly coming to an end is the most recent, doesn’t mean it is automatically the greatest in any sport. Peyton Manning may catch that streak before he is done and maybe he wont. Either way it shouldn’t change the way we feel about Brett and his legacy. Just like Brett’s streak shouldn’t change the way we feel about Ripken’s.
I think former Yankees pitcher David Cone summed it up best, speaking when the streak ended.
“A lot of people who go to work every day can identify with Cal,” said Cone. “The streak supersedes baseball.”
And nothing can ever take away from that.
Howard to have MRI
Through all of the injuries the Phillies have endured this season the one constant in the lineup has been Ryan Howard. That figures to change for at least a few days as Howard recovers from an injured left ankle. The good news is that Howard does not think he will need to go on the DL even though he is currently on crutches.
David Murphy of philly.com is reporting that Howard will have an MRI today.
“I’m not worried that it’s long term,” Howard told NBC10’s John Clark at the airport before visiting team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti. “It’s been 2 days and I’ve been able to put pressure on it and just using the crutches for precautionary measures. Hopefully, maybe it’s like 4, 7 days. Maybe 10 days.”
Howard was hurt when he slid back into second base in the first inning Sunday against the Washington Nationals.
“It’s part of the game,” Howard said. “It’s a little frustrating. Right now the focus is just getting better and see what happens … It feels alright. I can put pressure on it … just need to see how long it takes.”
“There’s pain, there’s swelling. Once we get all the swelling out, we’ll see where it goes from there and what the MRI says and what ligaments are involved.”
If Howard is to go on the DL it will be a giant blow to the team. For all of the guys that have been out of the lineup at times this season – Utley, Polanco, Rollins, Ruiz – the big man has always been there to keep the lineup looking potent. With Howard out of the lineup the Phillies look a whole lot less threatening. The results of the MRI should be known tonight or tomorrow. That news may very well determine if the team can stay in the race.
Full Training Camp now underway
The veterans are all in. Eagles Training Camp has officially begun.
As the Birds usher in a new era with the likes of Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Sheldon Brown no longer on the roster, this camp has a feel unlike any other in the last decade. For the first time there is a bit of uncertainty as to what to expect from this team. Will the youth movement result in the Eagles taking a step forward or back? Is Kevin Kolb the real deal at QB? What can we expect from the Eagle’s defense in Sean McDermott’s second season?
Over the next few weeks phillysportsblogs.com will examine those questions and many more.
But for today, here is a look at some highlights from last season as football fans get pumped up for their favorite time of year.
Oswalt to Philly a done deal
The Roy-to-Roy combo is about to get underway. Various media outlets are reporting that the Phillies and Astros have completed a deal that will send Roy Oswalt to the Phillies in exchange for J.A. Happ and two prospects.
Bellow is an ESPN.com report:
Roy Oswalt has officially accepted his proposed trade to the Philadelphia Phillies, the right-hander told KRIV-TV in Houston.
A baseball source said after considering his options and speaking with friends familiar with the Phillies’ situation, the Houston Astros‘ staff ace waived his no-trade clause in order to be dealt to Philadelphia.
“It feels pretty good actually to have al of this stuff out of the way and I can concentrate on baseball,” Oswalt said, according to the report.
Oswalt, who said he will pitch for the Phillies on Friday, said he loved his time in Houston but felt it was time to do make a change.
“I love the city of Houston and the Astros fans,” Oswalt said, according to the report. “They have been great to me and the Astros are a great organization. I think it’s time for us to separate and do something different.
“Philly has a great team with a chance to go to the World Series. I wanted this deal to be good for both the Astros and me and I think it is,” he said, according to the report.
The Astros will pay $11 million of the approximately $23 million that the 32-year-old right-hander is guaranteed through 2011, sources said.
Oswalt did not demand that his 2012 mutual option for $16 million be picked up by the Phillies, a baseball source told ESPN.com’s Amy K. Nelson. Instead, if either he or the Phillies chose not to pick it up, his $1 million buyout will increase to $2 million.
If Oswalt or the Phillies decline to exercise the option, then the pitcher will make $18 million next season. But both Oswalt and the Phillies must agree on the option for 2012 for him to stay with the team that season, the source told Nelson.
In return for Oswalt, the Astros would get back left-handed starter J.A. Happ and two prospects, according to sources.
With the Phillies already riding high on a 7-game win streak, this move is certainly a game changer. If the Braves haven’t already started feeling the pressure coming from the Phillies, this move will certainly do it. I’ll take my chances with Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels in a three-game series against anyone.
The Domonic Brown era begins
For fans looking to take a glass-half-full approach there is a bit off good news that should result from the latest injury to a member of the Phillies, Shane Victorino. The Phillies’ center fielder strained his oblique Tuesday night and was placed on the 15-day DL. That has paved the way for two things:
1. Jayson Werth likely isn’t going anywhere now since they will need him to man center field for at least the next 15 days.
2. Domonic Brown is now on the big league roster and will start tonight for the Phillies.
Starting with Werth, I don’t see any way the team can trade away Werth for pitching now that Victorino is joining Utley on the DL. Even if it brought back a pitcher as mighty as Oswalt, it would be hard to imagine the Phillies trading away one of the healthiest bodies on the roster. Plus Werth has finally started hitting, highlighted by his first home run in 21 games last night.
As for Brown, this is a moment Phillies fans have been waiting to see for a year and a half. Brown has been tearing up the minor leagues, posting a .327 batting average with 20 homers, and 68 RBIs in 98 games for Double A Reading and Leihigh Valley. He is listed on the lineup card as batting sixth today — after Werth and before Ruiz.
In other Phillies news, Valdez will once again get the start at short as Jimmy Rollins is still not ready to return to action. That leaves Placido Polanco as the leadoff hitter and Greg Dobbs will hit second — not exactly the way the team drew it up in April.
Let the Brown era begin — even if it is just for a couple of weeks.
Oswalt a Phillie by the weekend?
If Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci is right, the Phillies will have the best 1-2 punch in baseball by the weekend.
The veteran baseball writer appeared on the Dan Patrick Show today and said:
You can read the full article on Dan Patrick’s web page.
Philly Sports Blog Poll
Loading ...Philly Sports Books
Hey Philly, check out this great little Phillies book.
The Phillies Fan's Little Book of Wisdom (Little Book of Wisdom (Taylor))
Sports Columns
Grinding My Gears is all the stuff that gets under your skin. Bad calls in a game, fans storming the court after a regular win, comments by players...
By The Numbers simply put is research comparing records and statistics from today to bygone eras.Philly Sports Blogs on Social Networks
