Philly Sports Squawkbox

Running on empty

2008-06-30T18:49:00.005-04:00

Are the 2008 Phillies this year's version of the 2007 Mets? One has to ask that question as they are mired in an embarrassing slump. The only question is, how can it be fixed?

The answer to that question is a riddle itself. The Phillies sit in first place, but if they continue to play like they are they will soon be looking up, a familiar position for the losingest franchise in sports history. Just when fans get comfortable thinking that the Phillies' imposing lineup will be enough, they stop hitting.

could never be classified as a team with enough pitching to pull off a championship. The "ace" Brett Myers (based on opening day start) is just awful this season. He's 3-9 with an ERA around 6. He's That would be fine on a team with pitching. But the Phillieswon once since April18. To say he's a rag arm would be derogatory to rags. Couldn't an almost-ready minor league go 3-9 with an ERA around 6? Myers also does all of this for $8.5 million, about $8.49 million too much. Analysis: Major Problem

The real Ace, Cole Hamels (the opening night starter), is definitely a solid pitcher to build around. He's pitched better than his 8-5 record, holding a 3.38 ERA with 103 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting only .212 against him. Hamels is like the anti-Myers, as he wins and makes only $500,000, about $8 million less than he should. The biggest concern is durability. He's already logged 120 innings, and has never pitched more than 183.1 in a major league season. Will he hold up? Analysis: No Problem...Yet

Then there's 45-year-old Jamie Moyer who reminds me of Eddie Harris from the movie Major League. ("Yo, bartender, Jobu needs a refill.") If anyone expected him to be better at this point than 7-6 with a 4.13 ERA they're crazy. The main concern, besides his age, is that after putting together a string of five straight wins from May 16 to June 12, he has collected three consecutive losses since. Analysis: Give Me More Moyers Than Myers

Probably the best surprise, especially if one believes in sophomore slumps, is 23-year-old Kyle Kendrick (pictured). He's 7-3 and has become arguably the most reliable pitcher in the rotation. Kendrick is sporting an ERA of 4.59, but he seems to get good run support. The team is 12-4 in games that Kendrick starts, which shows a lot of confidence in their youngest starter. Analysis: No Problem

Rounding out the starting pitching is the Myers-like dreadful, overpaid Adam Eaton. Eaton didn't get his first decision until his seventh start, and since then he's 2-6 with a 4.86 ERA. He hasn't won since June 3, and the team is 7-9 when Eaton starts. Like I said about Myers, couldn't a rookie from the minor leagues go 2-6 with a 4.89 ERA? Eaton also makes just a hair less than $8 million. Analysis: Major Problem

The Phillies starting staff is a classic example of paying players then getting no production. Between Eaton, Moyer and Myers, the Phillies are shelling out $22,541,666. In return those three have a produced a 12-21 record, with an average ERA of 4.94. Yet Hamels and Kendrick are receiving $500,000 and $445,000 respectively . They've combined to go 15-8 with an average ERA of less than 3.99.

Two possible solutions for Eaton and Myers could be Kris Benson, who was just roughed up in a AAA start, and Brian Mazone, who is 8-6 with a 3.28 ERA for the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Benson is a former Major Leaguer who will likely just collect a paycheck and never perform for the Phils. Mazone will be 32 this month so his clock is running out. Perhaps it's time to move Chad Durbin to the starting rotation.

(Editor's note: since this post was originally published less than 24 hours ago, the Phillies have optioned Brett Myers to the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs. According to Phillies.com, "Likely candidates to fill that rotation spot are reliever Chad Durbin and Minor Leaguers J.A. Happ and Carlos Carrasco." In other updates, Kyle Kendrick, the youngest and least paid pitcher in the rotation, won again. He's now 8-3 overall, and 5-1 on the road.)

Back for more?

2008-02-26T21:28:00.004-05:00

Looking at the free agent picture for this upcoming summer, and knowing that the 76ers have a new GM who needs to make a splash, could the team possibly go after a dream scenario of bringing back Allen Iverson? Even with Iverson, the Nuggets are not real contenders in the West, and he was much more of a national star playing in Philly. He also has an early termination clause in his contract.

With the emergence of some young players, and a true point guard in Andre Miller, the original AI could be the missing piece to the puzzle. Thaddeus Young and the Andre Iguodala have both come on as threats with their all around games. Add in a dose of a true scoring threat like AI and the Sixers become immediate contenders, and Ed Stefanski makes his splash.

Recently, owner Ed Snider commented how he was surprised to see the 76ers poor numbers at the gate. That's shocking. He's been around sports long enough to know that stars on the court put butts in the seats. It's not a secret formula that should take forever to figure out. The Sixers are putting out a no frills product of emerging players, and the attendance is a direct reflection of that low level of excitement.

Bringing back a star like AI would do the trick at the gate and at the turnstile. But he's not the only potentially available player who can light it up. In Miami, the recently acquired Shawn Marion also has an early termination clause. He is one of the better all around players in the game, and could gel nicely with this bunch. He rebounds, scores (a combo that the Sixers currently lack) and plays with a never ending intensity. At his age (30 in May), he might also be with the Sixers longer term than AI (33 in June) would be.

Stefanski has an important summer coming up. With the draft and free agency, it'll be time to make a splash. Hopefully the end result will help Snider wipe the surprised look of his black & orange skinned face.

Cap room commeth

2007-12-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

New Philadelphia 76ers President Ed Stefanski made his first move on Saturday, sending 3-point threat Kyle Korver and his bloated contract to the Utah Jazz. The trade, which netted the Sixers Gordan Giricek (pictured) and a future draft pick, created the cap room that Stefanski wanted.

In order to make the team competitive, Stefanski will have to strengthen the roster. Giricek is a step in the right direction. Like Korver, he's also a 3-point specialist. The key is that his contract expires at the end of the year. The other reason why this makes sense is that Giricek is also from Europe, a basketball breeding ground badly neglected by the 76ers.

Congratulations Mr. Stefanski on your first move. It was smart and truly in the direction of moving forward.

Stefanski's first move?

2007-12-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

When Ed Stefanski was brought in to resuscitate the Philadelphia 76ers about three weeks ago, there was a sigh of relief among Sixers fans. Sine then, though, there has been little news. The team is playing to the best of their ability (12-16), and they are impressing some people who had them pegged to finish dead last.

Rumors, however, have begun to fly that Stefanski is about to make his first move. Andre Miller (pictured), who is averaging over 16 points and six assists per game, may soon be suiting up for another franchise. ESPN is reporting the team that covets the services of Miller, a point guard in his ninth year out of Utah, is the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

The deal that ESPN rumors would net the Sixers little for Miller, and might not be the best offer out there. Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Ira Newble would be the bounty. Gooden is the only one of the lot that I would think can contribute to the team effectively.

Stefanski denies the deal will take place, but if he wants to right the ship sent listing by Billy King, he needs to make some personnel changes soon. No matter how good or bad a front office is, teams need talent on the court. Did King seriously think that Kyle Korver and Samuel Dalembert deserved bloated contracts? They're role players, not building blocks.

With two months of the season nearly complete, the Ed Stefanski era needs to lift off soon.

Ding Dong the Dingbat's Gone

2007-12-04T17:08:00.000-05:00

Fans are rejoicing on Broad Street once again. The man who has almost single-handedly destroyed the Philadelphia 76ers, Billy King, has finally been given his pink slip. To call him a lame duck GM would be a disgrace to lame ducks everywhere. King was a boil on the neck of the Sixers, allowed to fester as ownership concentrated more on hockey than basketball.

With the Flyers erasing the memory of last year’s dismal run, Ed Snider and the powers of Comcast have finally looked to make the Sixers competitive. Normally when a team loses a remarkable amount of games, a coach is the scapegoat for poor performance. But in the case of the 76ers, how could you blame a guy for not winning when given a roster full of players who would be at best a third option anywhere else? When he came back to Philly as a head coach, I’m sure Maurice Cheeks was expecting a little help from the front office. Seemingly, the opposite kept happening.

Chris Webber loafed his way into a buyout, and Allen Iverson was traded for less than his value. Undeserving, bloated contracts were also handed to Samuel Dalembert (the Haitian Sedation), Willie Green and Kyle Korver. The latter of the three is the only one who would even hold a little trade value as he shoots the three phenomenally…at times. Dalembert could have some trade value if his contract wasn’t bigger than he plays. Let’s not even get into the long list of King’s draft day duds. Hey Billy, there’s some great talent overseas you might have wanted to analyze.

Ed Stefanski, now the former GM of the New Jersey Nets, will replace Billy King. I don’t know if it’s such a great thing to hire someone who was so readily available from a division rival, but maybe he knows how to win a little. Either way, he helped take the Nets from perennial bottom feeders to division overlords almost overnight.

To Billy King I say good riddance. To Ed Stefanski I say good luck. Unlike in East Rutherford where the stands are half empty for a playoff team, in Philly the fans have passion. Our stands are half full for a cellar dweller.

Rollins: A.K.A. "The Best"

2007-11-20T17:12:00.000-05:00

Jimmy Rollins is the man. Not because he won the NL MVP award on Tuesday, but because he walks the walk. As September rolled around, a bold prediction made last offseason seemed nothing more than wasted ink on some paper long ago sent to the recycling center.

Rollins, unquestionably the best shortstop in the NL, said that the Phils were the team to beat in the NL East. Down and seemingly out of the playoff hunt with less than a month to go, Rollins willed the team back to an improbable division crown.

Things like this don't happen often in Philly, so it was a sweet ride watching the Phillies handle their business when it counted. Rollins had help, but he was the leader. Congratulations Jimmy!

Blink and it's gone

2007-10-08T23:17:00.000-04:00

The MLB playoffs were actually in Philadelphia this year. Did you blink? Cause if you did, you might have missed it. With two beatings starting before 5th graders got out of school, followed by a prime time exit, the Phillies just looked like they were boys playing with men.

The playoffs began with optimism, with the thinking that the Phillies had overcome some great mountain and were about to grind it out in the playoffs. Yet, it became clear enough after the first two games that the team had already made their October plans, and playing baseball wasn't part of the deal.

The franchise mindset of accepted losing snuck back into the players minds, but is it their fault? Pitching is a commodity in baseball because it is so important in the playoffs. The Phillies brass didn't plan on a playoff team. They went out and picked up two starters, Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton, who they thought would pan out. Eaton was a bum before and a bust now. Garcia is nothing more than a shell of himself who gets more than 10 mil a year. That leaves the oft-injured Cole Hamels as the only true weapon in the starting rotation. (Jamie Moyer is great, for his age. Kyle Kendrick will be good, and did better than most thought he would. Kyle Lohse, well, please stop trying to act like this was a good pick-up.)

In the playoffs, a staff of Hamels, Kendrick, Moyer and Lohse is just pathetic. Now I know what you're thinking, Kendrick and Moyer did well, but the competition only gets tougher as the playoffs continue. Hamels had an off inning, which was the difference in Game 1. There is one more problem, the Phillies bullpen has a huge hole in it if you are going to take a starter out before the 7th inning. Uncle Charlie did just that.

Yet I still focus on the starting pitching, and surprisingly enough on Hamels. What I am left struggling to swallow is not how he played (looking disgruntled that he was forced to play in October by the great Mets collapse), but what he said before Game 3. He went on TV and explained that the Phillies goal all season was just to make the playoffs. Hey, just like the Army - Mission Accomplished!

Phillies Fever

2007-10-01T20:24:00.000-04:00

This photo just goes to show that no matter if you are a lifelong Phillies fan (me on left), or someone who doesn't know what home plate is (dad on right), you can still catch Phillies fever. It's sweeping the Delaware Valley like the plague.

Now I'm watching to see who I can direct my "hate" toward throughout the Divisional series, and just when I thought it would be the Rockies (as I am writing this post), the Padres blow it wide open. The SoCal boys took a 4-3 lead after a grand slam, and now lead it 5-3 in the 3rd. I guess it's anyone's game.

Here's to a Red October!

Phillies hot, Birds not

2007-09-30T23:54:00.000-04:00

What a bittersweet Sunday it was. The joy surrounding the Phillies clinching the division and their first playoff appearance in 14 years was followed by the Eagles' worst performance of a dismal season.

The Phillies, led clearly by should-be MVP Jimmy Rollins, Took the division crown following a tremendous final 17 games of the year. That finish was proceeded by a Mets loss, giving the fightin' Phils their first division crown since 1993.

The Eagles, on the other hand, have proven that they are just plain awful. Putting the season in perspective, last week's points explosion against the Lions was just a fluke. The defense is old, and the offense has no rhythm. Without an offensive line enhancement, the team has no prayer.

Go Phils! Hopefully they can send Jamie Moyer to another Phillies victory parade. (Fact: He skipped school to attend the 1980 celebration.)

Do you mind if I ask?

2007-07-24T21:53:00.001-04:00

With the doldrums of summer upon us, or, rather, another mediocre version of America’s losingest team (still love them though, just stating fact), I am left with nothing but hope. Hope for the Eagles. Hope for the Sixers. Hope for the Flyers Hope that some team will end our championship drought.

Not since the ’83 Sixers has a real trophy been hoisted by any of my beloved teams. Babies born then have spouses and mortgages and mega sports contracts (well some of them). Anyway, it’s been a while since the Promised Land was anything but a pipe dream in Philadelphia.

This Friday, the Eagles will open up training camp with rookies and select veterans reporting to Lehigh University. I’ve read some stories, and reporters debate the linemen, and the linebackers, and even the strength of the receiving core (how many number 3 options do they have now?), but no one is raising a huge stink about Donovan McNabb. No. 5 is getting a virtual free pass. Staying in Arizona and providing his own updates, McNabb is sort of on the back burner.

Do you mind if I ask? Is Donovan ever going to be as good a QB as he was during the near-Super season? Or is he just the best option the Eagles have at the position now that they jettisoned a player born for this offense? Last season, in the two or three games leading up to his injury, McNabb looked off a bit. It led me to wonder if he was already heading downhill with no true nary a weapon to throw to.

This offseason wasn’t kind to the receiving core either. The big name to exit: Donte Stallworth. The big addition: Kevin Curtis. There are no words to describe the despair. I could almost hear Donovan puking at the news of that signing. At best, Curtis is on par with James Thrash. And then there was the signing of Bethel Johnson. Good collegiate athlete, bad pro athlete.

Yet forget the defense, and most of the offense, my only question mark heading into the Birds’ 75th season is at the QB position. Will Donovan be able to rise up, avoid the deer in headlight moments, and make his receivers better than they truly are?

I hope so.

Exit interview due for Manuel

2007-04-18T20:40:00.000-04:00

The Philadelphia Phillies need to fire Charlie Manuel. There it is, laid on the line. To change is to make a change. And change is overdue. The losingest franchise in all of sports needs to shake things up. At 3-9 (down by 3 as I am writing), there is nothing to lose.

I never like my first article of the season to be about a team's need to fire their leader. In this case, I'll make an exception. Or maybe I am not. It seems that the Phillies are not following the old man's lead.

Manuel has an undeniable knowledge of the game. Let's not sell him short. But it is his ability to lead that leaves me in doubt. Since he replaced Larry Bowa, the Phillies have come close to the playoffs. But how many times can a team come close before you start to say, this team has not made the playoffs since 1993 and only twice since the franchise's only World Series title in 1980?

Who the Phillies would replace Manuel with is a tough truth. The best managers have jobs. Also, who would want the gig?

Not only have the Philly bats had trouble at times this year, the pitching has given up huge innings in almost every loss. Whether it's the bullpen blowing the lead after an outstanding start, or a starting pitcher serving up a 3-run bomb, the arms have been in trouble. Brett Myers was moved to the bullpen today with Jon Leiber rejoining the rotation. Leiber coming out I agree with, but is Adam Eaton better than Myers? In the long run, no way.

But pitchers are only half of the battery. The Phillies are relying heavily on unproven catcher Carlos Ruiz. His game experience is anything but extensive, and his pitch calling may be more of a problem than the team wishes to admit. Opposing teams are averaging 6 runs a game, and only twice have been held to two points. Does this mean Ruiz is responsible? Partly.

Overall, though, I think the Phillies are in a downward spiral and they need to come out of it. Manuel has a lot of experience in baseball, but it is obvious the players aren't buying into his system.

If the Phillies decide to wait a while before inviting Charlie for an exit interview, I do have a solution. The Phillies need to go old school. If they are still looking up at the division come the All-Star break, Manuel should be replaced by one of the people who helped get him fired.

That's right, a player-manager. Like Frank Robinson and Pete Rose, a current Phillie should be handed the reigns. This would add some accountability to the player, and it would also bring back that sandlot feel. This team needs an overhaul, and that might be the best course of action. After all, it can't hurt.

Sixers Preview - Grizz sighting in Philly

2007-03-01T13:13:00.000-05:00

The sound of ping pong balls will be ringing in the air tonight as the 76ers take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams are looking at a lottery finish, and the winner of this game may be the loser.

The Memphis Grizzlies might be the worst team in basketball, but they may also be the most envied heading into the lottery. The Oden-sweepstakes leading Grizz have a gruesome 15-44 record. To top it off, like it matters, they're 34 games out of first in their division.

It's hard to believe that the Sixers were once on the brink of contending for the league cellar this season. They're still an antonym of the word elite, but they have been playing some inspired ball as of late. Yesterday, the team beatdown the Phoenix Suns juggernaut, and they're the only Eastern Conference host to achieve the feat all season. Philly even managed to lead from start to finish, another first against the Suns this season.

At 20-38, it's safe to say that the Sixers aren't headed to the playoffs, and they won't be the lottery favorites either. However, the team is showcasing its young talent (Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver, Rodney Carney), and using a crafty veteran point guard (Andre Miller) to achieve something Philly couldn't do last season, play with respect.

A squad with Allen Iverson and Chris Webber on the roster that doesn't make the playoffs is just a sad bunch to watch. The current incarnation, though virtually star-less, is an exciting group to see on the court. They play with a passion and hunger lost after the influence on big money.

I'm not a betting man, but if I was I'd... take the under. The teams scored a combined 220 points when they played in January, but Philly's defense has stopped Sacramento and Phoenix in their last two games.

Sixers officially in search for new answer

2006-12-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

Today's trade of Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets is bittersweet. On the plus side, AI will not be in the division or conference. This is a bonus especially considering that Boston was an instant frontrunner to snag him. Another plus is the fact that the Philadelphia 76ers were able to acquire Joe Smith's expiring contract, two first round draft picks and Andre Miller (pictured), a solid point guard who's averaging more than nine assists on the season.

Sadly, though, this marks the end of an era in Sixers basketball, an exciting one to boot. Iverson is one of the greatest players that ever put on a Philly uniform, and it's a shame that he isn't leaving with a ring (not his fault at all, but that's another can of worms that team owner Ed Snider should address). I've never seen a player do so much with so little stature. He truly gave 100 percent on the court every time he laced up.

Another disappointment is the fact that this is an admission that the team cannot win with Iverson and his hefty contract. Building a team around the superstar, still in his prime, just never seemed to work. As good as he is, I knew they would eventually have to part way if the Sixers were going to win a title in the future. In 2002, I met former Sixer Matt Harpring. A lifelong 76ers fan (and basketball fan in general), I was excited to have the opportunity to talk to him. In that conversation, which lasted about an hour, he told me directly that the 76ers will never win a championship with Allen Iverson. I wanted to think he was wrong, but I knew he was right.

Now it's time to move forward and embrace the newest additions to the team. Miller has impressed me at times when I saw him play live as a Clipper. He has some skills and has career averages of more than 14 points and seven assists. He is a quality point guard who should move current starter Kevin Ollie back to the bench where he belongs. Though he is no replacement for AI, who no one will replace, Miller is a young, quality point guard who could be a steady piece of a championship puzzle if the team rebuilds quickly.

Seldom used forward Ivan McFarlin will head to Denver with AI. Hopefully for McFarlin he'll participate in a win soon. His only playing time has come in Sixers losses this season (0-11 when he takes the court).

The youth movement is in full effect, and I can't help but wonder if the team won't be able to move Chris Webber around the trade deadline. If anyone is thinking straight in the front office, Webber should be on the block. Now comes the exciting part...How this new-look team handles the road in front of them.

AI can go, but problems will persist

2006-12-09T21:14:00.000-05:00

With trade rumors running through the streets of Philly faster than Rocky Balboa, the 76ers are the talk of the league. There are people who think trading away Allen Iverson will immediately set the franchise on a course to return to greatness in a few years. Then there are the doomsday predictions that say if the Sixers trade him, the franchise will never recover and the team should keep him and build.

But the Sixers will have neither prediction come true without more changes. Iverson is an amazing talent, and one of the league's top draws on the road. Losing him will undoubtedly take the Sixers down a notch, if possible sitting at 5-13.

The Sixers should trade Iverson, without a doubt. But they should also let head coach Maurice Cheeks and president Billy King follow him out the door. Neither has demonstrated an ability to do their jobs well, and both have the franchise on its knees gasping for air.

King has had one of the greatest players of all time right in his hand, yet he has continuously failed to build a team around his prized player. It's not like he's had a month. He's had more than three years. And the team of overpaid nobodies is now worse than I can remember, at least recently.

King is the one responsible for signing the players. Cheeks is the one responsible for not motivating them. I recently saw the team play at the Meadowlands. The 76ers looked like a bunch of gym league players at a pick-up basketball game. And that's just during shootaround. Cheeks looked shellshocked most of the game and it should be no surprise to anyone that this club does not look like they want to put on an NBA uniform. Cheeks had no control of his players in Portland, and appears headed down the same path in Philly.

If Ed Snider really wants to turn things around, trade AI to Memphis for Gasol and the big man they need will be here. To make it even better, send Cheeks and King with him.

A glimpse of the future?

2006-10-11T17:50:00.000-04:00

Picture this: Wachovia Center, playoffs 2010. On the bench cheering is Allen Iverson. On the floor wowing the crowd, Rodney Carney. In the stands, people wear shirts and hold signs declaring themselves believers, affectionately known as Carney Folk.

If you believe in Tuesday's exhibition win against the Suns, this could be the future you've envisioned. Sure Carney, the Sixers rookie, only scored 14 points, but keep in mind that it was in 12 minutes, and he was 6-of-9 from the floor. Most importantly, he wasn't afraid to hoist up a 3-pointer with the team trailing in the final minute. Fearless leadership; the kind of skill that no coach can teach. Carney also added 7 boards and a block. That's production.

The Sixers as a team though are potentially worrisome. For some reason, maybe it's the underwhelming offseason or the lack of change from a team that finished 9th in the Eastern Conference last season, but the 76ers look to repeat as the NBA's best impersonator of an amusement park ride. The roller-coaster has already started as the team dropped a game to FC Barcelona this week, then beat the Suns and CSKA Moscow.

Looking at the staff, Head Coach Mo Cheeks has surrounded himself with some great minds. John Loyer is a scouting specialist. Henry Bibby (yes, Mike's dad) has coached for 22 years. Jim Lynam is a former Sixers coach who has more than 20 years experience. And last but not least, Moses Malone, a player who helped bring the last championship to this trophy-starved city, and who should help Samuel Dalembert reach his full potential.

All things considered, the Sixers should go 42-40 and earn a playoff birth. If not, look for changes from top to bottom next offseason.

A giant collapse

2006-09-18T21:25:00.000-04:00

If only football was a three-quarter (I know they wouldn't be quarters if there were three) game. The Eagles would be 2-0 instead of an embarrassing 1-1. Jevon Kearse would be walking fine, now he's out for the season. And the Eagles would've won their first NFC east game following six straight losses, now make it seven.

All day today, the radio was filled with armchair GMs talking about the reason the Eagles lost. But people are missing the big picture. The Eagles were up 24-7 at the start of the fourth quarter. If they'd been up by only seven or 10, one mistake could've been blamed. But they just flat out fell asleep.

Eagles Quarterback Donavan McNabb auditioned for "Dancing With The Stars," albeit at the wrong moment. Running back Brian Westbrook fumbled. And the Giants exploited the one problem with defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's schemes. They're hurry-up plays prevented the Eagles from setting up and rotating players in and out.

If the Eagles plan on making a playoff run, they'll need to plan for teams to go hurry-up toward the end of the game. It could be tough for the Eagles' coach Andy Reid to recognize this, as his own offense is commonly known for falling asleep in crunch time.

All I saw yesterday was a collapse. When the Eagles needed big plays, the well was dry. They lost the game. They lost their seventh straght in the division. They lost "The Freak." And they lost some credibility.

Health key to Birds redemption

2006-08-02T16:36:00.000-04:00

The sweltering heat in Philadelphia has helped thaw the freezing cold winter that was the Eagles offseason. Officially out of town is WR Terrell Owens (he'll be back for a wallop on Oct. 8), and officially in town is Jabar Gaffney (left).

Sure it may seem like a disappointing bait-and-switch, but it fits the formula of the Eagles success. The Birds played in four straight NFC title games without that "go-to" guy, finally making it back to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season. So not having a "stud" out there isn't all that alarming.

The thing that Philly must do is stay healthy. Last season (6-10) was punctuated by a rash of boo-boos to key players on both sides of the ball. This season though, the Eagles brass got wise and landed themselves Jeff Garcia, a very capable QB to back up Donovan McNabb. Even if the former scrambler fails to make it out of the pocket healthy, the Eagles playoff hopes won't be immediately dashed.

If the Eagles manage to stay healthy, the chances of making the playoffs are great. This year's team is much like the ones that went to the NFC title games and Super Bowl, and managed to go 66-26 from 2000-2004.

One key to the season that the players must remember is that this could be the last hurrah. Another disastrous season like 2005, and the team will have to make some serious personnel decisions.

Bye Bye Bobby

2006-07-31T11:13:00.000-04:00

To simply sum up the Bobby Abreu (sorry Cory Lidle) trade to the Yankees, it's about time. The first order of business for GM Pat Gillick shouldn't have been to sign the dreadful Ryan Franklin (a loser even on steroids), it should have been to buy back the no trade clauses of Abreu and Pat Burrell.

To think what might have been if that clause had been removed before the season. At any cost, it could've blown trade negotions much more in our favor. We could possibly have traded Burrell as well.

The years of banking on the outfielders have come and gone in failure, much like many of the teams in the club's 123 year history. The Phillies fortunes now clearly lie with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Cole Hamels. That's right, for the first time in a while, we have a bright young pitcher to look forward to seeing more of.

Getting rid of Abreu is step one in the process of moving forward. Next, will be to try and unload Burrell (2007 trade deadline possibly). At least Gillick is moving the Phillies in the right direction.

The GM traded Rheal Cormier to the Reds for Justin Germano, a young starter. He traded 3B David Bell to Milwaukee for minor league pitcher Wilfredo Laureano. And in the Yankees deal, Gillick acquired 20-year-old minor-league shortstop C.J. Henry, the Yanks No. 1 pick in 2005 and 27-year-old left-handed reliever Matt Smith. The Phillies also received minor league catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios, while the Yankees took on responsibility for Abreu and Lidle's contracts.

The tune of these trades, it seems to me, is to feed our farm system while freeing up cash. Quite a few talented position players have emerged from the Ed Wade era, but pitchers have been pretty lousy. Gillick is also stressing patience, which shouldn't be too hard to preach to fans of a team with 1 championship in 123 tries. Desparation passed us by about 50 years ago.

Draft Report: Sixers get their guy

2006-06-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

For the past week leading up to the draft, mock drafts had the Philadelphia 76ers selecting small forward Rodney Carney of Memphis with the 13th pick. When it was all over, they had their guy, but not the conventional way.

When their name was called, the Sixers passed on Carney in favor of Thabo Sefolosha from Switzerland. After the Bulls selected Carney with the 16th pick, the Sixers traded the rights to Sefolosha to Chicago for Carney and cash.

Later in the evening, Philly traded for another small forward, Bobby Jones of Washington. Jones had been selected by the Timberwolves with the 37th pick.

To round out their night, the Sixers traded cash to the Raptors for the rights to the No. 56 Edin Bavcic. The Bosnian center who has shooting range will likely stay in Europe for a couple of seasons.

All in all, not a bad night. Though, between now and the tip-off of the 2006-2007 NBA season, expect some fireworks out of Philadelphia.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Phillies Pitching

2006-06-24T14:05:00.000-04:00

This is the initial offering of a new series I'm going to feature, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." Seeing that it's baseball season, what a better way to start than by examining the Philadelphia Phillies' cache of arms.

The Good: The Phillies have the third best bullpen in baseball, and just added another veteran arm in Cincinnati castaway Rick White. Closer Tom Gordon is tied for fifth in the majors with 20 saves, and sporting a nifty 1.47 ERA. He also has 40 Ks in only 30.2 innings. Another offseason addition, Arthur Rhodes, is tied for second in the big leagues with 15 holds, an important stat for setup men.

The Bad: For as good as the relief pitching is, the starting pitching is equally bad if not worse. In fact, the starting rotation (if eight pitchers is still considered a rotation and not a platoon) is the worst in the league. In May, every eye in the city turned to Cole Hamels as the savior. Here we are in June and he's sporting a record of 1-3 (three straight losses). Not exactly the answer we were hoping for. The rotation has a combined record of 24-27, with a gaudy 6.05 ERA. That'd be fine if Philly had the lineup of the Yankees...but they don't.

The Ugly: As if being the "Ace" of a woeful pitching staff wasn't embarrassing enough, the Phillies Brett Myers proved this week that he is a despicable person. On Friday, Boston police arrested Myers, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 240 pounds, for beating his wife on a local street. Reports of the incident said that Myers pulled his wife by the hair and struck her in the face. The Phillies, who are a reflection of their manager Charlie Manuel, hopeless, need to take action and suspend Myers after today's start.

Technorati Tags:Phillies,Brett Myers,Tom Gordon

Second at best

2006-06-14T23:58:00.000-04:00

After witnessing my third (live) Phillies game this season, I'm sad to say that the team will finish no better than second. With the division leading Mets (and about 15,000 of their fans) in town through tomorrow, the fight-less Phils are reeling. After another embarrassing loss, they sit 8.5 games back at 33-32.

The reasons for this season's demise are obvious. The starters can't pitch. There's only so much a fielder can do. Brett Myers (4-3) is promising and Cole Hamels (1-1) looked brilliant in his first three starts, though horrid in his last one.

Through today, seven different pitchers have started for the Phillies, going a combined 22-22. That's not exactly playoff material. They also boast a 5.91 ERA. Will it get better? We'll have to wait until Saturday to see if an eighth pitcher, Scott Mathieson of Double-A Reading, can help move this rotation to respectability.

But the problem for the Phillies goes deeper than the players. Charlie Manuel has lost the respect of the fans and seemingly the players. Just the other day, while discussing a certain pitch, he and Hamels had an "in-the-press" disagreement. The energy level of the players, with the exception of a few, has been lackluster. That's a sign of an unmotivated ballclub; one without respect for their mentor.

Case in point: Bobby Abreu is playing like the Phillies are sitting 30 games up in first place. To get the attention of fans and players, he should be traded for a talented arm (maybe Scott Kazmir of Tampa Bay). For the money Abreu's making, he should be lighting the place up every night.

Maybe it's me and maybe I'm sour over the taste of another loss to the Mets, but the Phillies have got to make a real change. Manuel and Abreu must go.

Technorati Tags:Phillies,Charlie Manuel,Bobby Abreu

Draft can't cure Sixers ills

2006-06-07T19:35:00.000-04:00

On the eve of the NBA Finals, the 76ers are preparing to watch it at home for the 22nd time in 23 years. But later this month, comes the draft, a day when all of the lovable losers of the NBA pick up their newest saviors and goats.

Although a part of me wants to keep hope alive for a great pick, the Sixers really have no shot of fixing their problems. GM Billy King's picks since 2000 have been lackluster role players at best, with only one flashing signs worthy of a first-round draft pick (Andre Iguodala).

What the team needs is a trade. Allen Iverson and Chris Webber are obvious choices. Some fans I've talked to have said that trading AI will lead to years of cellar dwelling. If you don't make the playoffs with him, who cares if they're in third or last?

Iverson is still a great player and one of the best draws around the league. Even so, with the money that he brought in, the 76ers have never been able to find a running mate that can coexist with him (see Jerry Stackhouse, Keith Van Horn, Larry Hughes...even Chris Webber). Speaking with a former Sixer a few years ago, I was told, flat out, that "Philadelphia will never win a title with AI in town."

It was blunt, but I'm beginning to believe it, with sadness. Since he's arrived in town, AI has played the game harder than anyone I can remember. He gives a total effort on every play, which makes his on-court life admirable. Off the court, Iverson's had his media troubles, but nothing truly serious.

Although Webber can still score, he's a shadow of his former self. For as long as I can remember, he's been a player long on talent, but short on game presence. The Webber experiment in Philadelphia should be put out of its misery.

Speaking of needing to be put out of its misery, maybe it's the Billy King era. He was even outdone this season by Clippers GM Elgin Baylor. When that happens, it's time to go. Some people might ask, well who could replace him? I'm sure there are some assistant GMs somewhere looking to move on, or maybe Larry Brown would want to come back and finish the job. But two less obvious choices could be Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Both are part of the 50 greatest players of all time, and have front office and scouting experience.

With King making the choice on June 28, and a shower-deep draft pool, another mediocre player is surely on his way. Cheers to standing pat...in the middle of the pack.

Technorati Tags:Allen Iverson,Chris Webber,76ers

Season over, lockout over

2006-05-10T18:17:00.000-04:00

Now that the Philadelphia Flyers have hung up their skates for the summer, my ban on hockey talk is over. The Flyers' had me biting my tongue all season long, and I'm finally going to let it rip.

First off, how does a team fool a city into believing there is a chance of a championship when they can't even choose a goalie. Sure the team did well during the regular season, and they fought valiantly through injuries, but when the postseason rolls around, you need a goalie who is ready. What Philly had were two guys afraid to make mistakes.

Against the Sabres, both Robert Esche and Antero Niittymaki (pictured) finished with a goals against average above 4. Esche, who played all six games of the playoffs, could never get into a comfort zone as one mistake could have ownership flipping on their radios and listening to the fans, AGAIN.

When it came to his goalie, it was clear that GM Bobby Clarke could not make a decision. If you turned on the radio after an Esche loss, all the fans would be calling for Niittymaki. If the latter lost, every fan would be calling for Esche. At times, it looked like Clarke was listening. Pick one and stick with it. Goalie is the only position that doesn't change with the line shift and the reason is comfort and repetition. Neither goalie was afforded those luxuries.

What does the future have in store? More of the same, I'm afraid. Clarke stated in a post-season press conference that he doesn't see a problem with the goalie situation and that he was pleased with how they played. Go figure, another complacent GM in Philly who is afraid to admit their problems by fixing them.

Technorati Tags:Flyers,Antero Niittymaki,Robert Esche

The great debate rages on

2006-03-21T15:08:00.000-05:00

In case you guys haven't checked it out, The Broad Street Journal, another blog that I write for, has been running a debate about the greatest athlete in Philadelphia sports.

Be sure to check it out.

The stage is set for Villanova

2006-03-15T00:34:00.000-05:00

This is a sore point for me, as I'd love to watch Villanova run the table and bring the city a national title. But to do so they have to knock off my alma mater Monmouth in Round 1. Sure Monmouth is a 16 seed, but I still dare to dream.

Realistically, Villanova has a great shot to win it all, and have toppled some great competition this year. If healthy, look for the Wildcats' to contend deep into the tourney.

Also congratulations to Penn for taking the Ivy League title.

Go 'Nova (except on Friday).

Technorati Tags:Villanova,Monmouth,Penn