Would The Phillies Trade Dom Brown?

Before reading this article keep in mind that this is entirely speculation.

There has been talk and there will continue to be talk as the trade deadline approaches about the Phillies possibly adding a bat. Even though the Phils are 51-21 and are tops in all of baseball, people still feel that they need to add another bat to solidify the offense. There is no argument that the Phils have invested a ton of money into this season, and for people to sit there and say that they would not be willing to spend an extra million or two to get them over the hump is absolutely foolish. If the Phils have the opportunity to add some offensive fire power even if it does put them over their spending limits, I feel that they will certainly do it. But as an alternative way to add a proven bat the Phillies could possibly trade a guy like Domonic Brown.

Brown is currently hitting .214 with 5 HR and 13 RBI’s, and although he supposedly represents the future of the Phillies he simply is failing to get it done at the big league level. So far Brown has played in 69 games at the professional level and has hit .213 with 7 HR and 26 RBI’s in 174 at-bats. That’s pathetic and if the Phillies are smart they should at least consider trading Brown who is still viewed as one of the best prospects in all of baseball. I don’t want to rip Brown as I feel that he has a ton of potential and when given the opportunity to play on a consistent basis he can become a great player. But at the same time the Phils have invested a lot of money into this season and they can’t afford to have a developing Domonic Brown hold them back. If the Phils could trade Brown for a proven bat that can get them over the hump I say they should do it.

A possible trade that the Phils may be interested in could be Domonic Brown for Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence. The Phils have dealt with Ed Wade and the Astros in the past and it would be a good trade for both teams. Pence went to arbitration before the beginning of this season and will earn 7 million this year. If the Phils could work out a deal in which the Astros would pay half of that 7, don’t you think the Phils would be willing to pay 3.5 for a proven bat and overall great player? According to cbssports.com currently the Phillies payroll is somewhere in the neighborhood of 173 million dollars, the second largest in baseball behind the New York Yankees. And according to stevethehump.com the “salary cap” or amount before the Phils would have to pay a luxury tax is 178 million for 2011 so the Phillies definitely have a little wiggle room. I think that if the Phils could acquire Pence and only have to pay him 3.5M they would do it in a heartbeat. They have already inevested 173 million dollars into this season, so wouldn’t you pay another 3M to put you over the hump?

The Phils would also have to part ways with some other prospects but the time to win is now. Don’t think about the future, think about winning this year. The window of opportunity to win with this team is quickly fading and if the Phils don’t go all out this year and instead hold back to prepare for the future they may find themselves as a mediocre team down the line with only one World Series title (2008). If the Phils are smart they would at least shop Brown around and see what other teams are willing to offer. It can’t hurt and they could get a proven guy that could potentially lead them to a World Series title.

Remember how the Phillies didn't have any money for Lee? I think that if it comes down to it, Amaro will be able to "magically" make more money appear if it means another World Series title. If they can sign Cliff Lee, then in my mind anything can happen.

Flyers Free Agent Possibilities

According to Tim Pinaccio of csnphilly.com, the Flyers will not submit an offer sheet to restricted free agent Steven Stamkos. So with the exciting Stamkos sweepstakes over, the Flyers will have to turn their attention to unrestricted free agents to help fill the void left by Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Here are some possibilities.

Brad Richards C: Richards may be a little too expensive for the Flyers who may be asking for a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 mil over 8 years or an almost 7 M cap hit. The Flyers may shy away from Richards as they still have to sign Simmonds, Voracek and possibly Leino.

Simon Gagne RW: Why not? He would have a cap hit of just under 6 which is similar to Carter and Richards and they would still have money available to sign Simmonds and Voracek. Plus Gagne is still just 30 years old and it would be great for him to come back to Philadelphia to finish out his career. But if the Flyers did sign Gagne they would have to forget about Leino.

Michael Handzus C: Another former Flyer here but at a little bit cheaper price. Handzus would have a cap hit around 4M and if the Flyers decided to go with Handzus they could also sign Leino which is a plus.

Michael Ryder LW: From Boston, Ryder scored 18 goals last year and would have a cap hit around 4 M. He is a forward which definitely gives him an advantage over Handzus. Ryder is 30 while Zuse is 33 another reason the Flyers may sign Ryder.

Erik Cole LW: Cole is from Carolina and would be relatively cheap at around 3 M. Cole scored 26 goals last year and at age 31 could be a great possibility. The Flyers would have a ton of wiggle room to sign other guys as well.

Scottie Upshall RW: Yet another former Flyer Upshall would be welcomed back in Philly. The speedy winger scored 34 goals last year splitting time with Phoenix and Columbus.

Jamie Langenbrunner RW: The 35 year old from Dallas would expect to make around 3-4M. Langenbrunner scored 9 goals last year splitting time with New Jersey and Dallas but could play better on a great team like the Flyers. Plus he is a veteran who knows how to win and would have a great presence in the locker room.

Steve Sullivan LW: He is small but he is also cheap with an expected cap hit around 3M. Sullivan only scored 10 goals last year but could improve on a better team.

Mike Knuble RW: Very interesting possibility. Knuble is another former Flyer and has an expected cap hit of around 3M. Knuble is relatively old at age 34, but at the same time he is a veteran leader and he put up 24 goals last year for the Capitals.

Alex Kovalev RW: Another veteran, Kovalev is 37 years old but at the same time brings veteran leadership. Kovalev scored 16 goals last year for Ottawa and Pittsburgh. Kovalev has an estimated cap hit around 5M which the Flyers may shy away from.

Marcel Goc C: Goc is young at age 26 and made under a million last year. Goc is bursting with potential and could be a definite possibility as the Flyers could go out and sign other free agents as well. The only downside to Goc is that he is coming off an injury that sidelined him for second half of last season.

Jeff Halpern C: Halpern made just 600,000 last year and is another veteran who could be a good fit. Halpern is 35 years old.

This is just an extended list of unrestricted free agents the Flyers may be targeting. I would love for the Flyers to get Knuble or Handzus but we will see how it plays out in regards to the Flyers' desire to resign Philly Leino. Leino is good but is he 3M good? He is 26 and has a definite upside but I think the Flyers should focus on getting veteran guys who know how to win and win now. Tomorrow will definitely be a busy day for the Flyers so make sure you stay updated to Broad Street Marching for all your Flyers free agency news.

Stamkos For Sale

According to csnphilly.com's Tim Panaccio, the Flyers are among several teams that are reportedly interested in signing restricted free agent Steven Stamkos. If Stamkos doesn't sign with Tampa by midnight tonight, the Flyers can then submit an offer sheet.

As of right now the Flyers have $8,281,905 in cap space according to CapGeek. Frank Seravalli of Daily News estimated that Stamkos would want $115 million over 12+ years, or a $9.58± million cap hit. Clearly the Flyers would have to forget about re-signing Villie Leino and they would have to trade a big name like Versteeg, Carle, or Hartnell to free up even more cap space.

There are two sides to the Stamkos debate. There are writers and reporters who say that it will absolutely not happen, and there are others who have inside sources that point to the Flyers making an offer.

The people who say that the Flyers will definitely not sign Stamkos point to the fact that they still have to sign Villie Leino and newly acquired players Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds.

Josh Janet of gcobb.com also brings up a good point:

"The other problem with preparing an offer sheet for Stamkos is that the Lightning would have up to seven days to match the offer. During that time, the Flyers would be unable to sign free agents, as they would have no idea how much salary they have available."

Also Tampa general manager told Flyers general manager that he would match any offer made to Stamkos.

But if we have learned anything in the past week with the departure of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards it's that this Flyers team is capable of anything. They changed the entire nucleus of their team in the course of just one hour so clearly they are willing to move some guys to acquire Stamkos. At this point I feel that anything can happen. The Flyers traded their captain and it wouldn't surprise me to see another big name leave in order to free up cap space. Ultimately the Stamkos debate will come to an end in the very near future as free agency starts at midnight tonight.

Why The Eagles Shouldn't Go After Plax

When Plaxico Burress sported a Phillies hat upon his release from prison and the rumors began to swirl that the Eagles were interested in signing him, initially I was extremely excited. As great as the Eagles offense was last year with Vick at the helm, they at times still stalled in the redzone and it was extremely frustrating to watch.

How many times did the Eagles have to settle for a field goal when the offense was unable to punch it in? The course of last season could have been drastically different if the Eagles had been more efficient inside the 20. The Birds didn't have a big tall receiver who they could throw a jump ball to and Plaxico could be a perfect solution to their redzone struggles.

But the Eagles already have a tremendous recieving corps of Jeremy Maclin, Desean Jackson, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper and Brent Celek. Quite simply the Eagles have more pressing issues right now that they must address before they even think about adding another receiver. First off the Eagles need to strengthen their linebackers and secondary especially with a new defensive coordinator. Also the Eagles still need more depth on the offensive line. Jamaal Jackson is still a question mark and the protection of Vick is a top priority. And is Danny Watkins really that good?

Before the Eagles go out and sign Plax they must first address the positions where they are the weakest. If they want to go all out this year and still bring in Burress I'm fine with that as long as they address the positions on this team that need the most attention.

Who Is The Best?

When you have 4 aces all on one starting rotation, naturally people are going to try and decide who the best pitcher is. So far this season it is literally a toss up between Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay as to who is the "Ace" of the staff.

One could make the case that it is Cole Hamels who is 9-4 with a 2.49 ERA. Hamels has been simply outstanding and has given up 4 runs or more in only 2 starts this year. In his 14 other starts Hamels has given up 3 runs or less which is an outstanding feat. Although he only has one complete game this year, Cole has consistently pitched well and he gives the Phils a chance to win every time he takes to the mound. Hamels has lost his last 2 outings and has been stuck on 9 wins since June 14th. Hopefully Hamels will have a big game tomorrow night against the Red Sox.

The ace of the staff could also very easily be Roy Halladay who is 10-3 with a 2.40 ERA. Halladay is tied for first in the NL with 10 wins and has been dominant all year. Halladay has 3 complete games under his belt this year and always goes deep into which allows the bull pen to rest. Halladay will most likely be the starter in the All-Star game and as the leader of this pitching staff, he could easily be deemed the ace.

In his last 5 starts, Cliff Lee has surged his way to the top of this staff. Cliff has pitched 42 innings in his last 5 outings and has only surrendered 1 earned run. And after last night's complete game shutout against Boston, Cliff has now pitched 3 consecutive complete game shutouts, a feat that is simply unheard of in today's game. Lee has put a slow start behind him and is now 9-5 with a 2.66 ERA. If Cliff continues to pitch at this level I think he will be the unanimous ace of this staff when it's all said and done.

As of right now Hamels, Halladay and Lee are all pitching at an extremely high level and it is simply to close to call. I think the true test to see who the is the ace of the staff will be determined by whoever pitches the best in October. Whoever can buckle down and be lights out in the post season and bring this city a World Series will earn the title of ace.

Feel free to comment on who you feel is the ace of this staff.

Sixers Need A Big Man Specialist

Last week the Sixers added size by drafting Nikloa Vucevic and Lavoy Allen. By drafting two big men the Sixers realize the importance of having guys down low that can rebound and shot block. In the playoffs the Sixers got pushed around down low. Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade grabbed offensive board after offensive board and aside from Brand they didn't have any real presence under the basket.

Now the Sixers have Vucevic and Allen who are young, hungry and bursting with potential. What the Sixers need now is a big man specialist who can teach these guys how to play the game the right way. The Sixers need a guy like Patrick Ewing who knows how to play the position and has experience in coaching big men. As good as Doug Collins is in developing young talents, Collins was a point guard and having a guy who played the position could benefit the Sixers greatly.

Ewing is currently an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic and has been extremely successful in coaching Dwight Howard. Lavoly Allen and Nikloa Vucevic could really use a coach like Ewing who can teach them how to be successful at the professional level. Plus having Ewing could benefit Hawes, Speights and Brand as well. If the Sixers can't get Ewing they should still look around at getting a big man specialist. It will benefit them not only for the future but for this year as well.

Sixers Select Lavoy Allen

With their second round pick the Philadelphia 76ers selected Lavoy Allen, a forward from Temple. Lavoy also played for Pennsbury High School and as a Pennsbury grad myself I'm trying to contain my excitement as I write this article.

Lavoy brings to the Sixers a strong defensives presence. He can go up and block shots which is something the Sixers definitely lack. Allen also is a fantastic rebounder and whenever a shot goes up you will see Lavoy finding an opponent, stamping him in the gut and boxing out. Allen is a force on both the offensive and defensive boards and has the ability even at the professional level to consistently put up double-doubles. Allen compliments his defense and rebounding abilities with a soft touch from the outside. Allen can knock down the mid range jumper and is a good finisher under and around the hoop. Lavoy is extremely versatile and the Sixers can use him in a multitude of ways.

In college, Fran Dunphy designed his whole offense around Lavoy. Not to say that he was Temple's leading scorer, but when you really watched one of his college games, Lavoy was constantly setting picks and cutting to the basket and in turn opening up Temple's whole offense.

When I recieved news that the Sixers drafted Lavoy I was ecstatic. I grew up watching him in high school and I can't wait to see what he will do at the professional level. Doug Collins is going to fall in love with this guy. From what I know of Lavoy as a person, I know that he is a humble guy and will come into camp ready to learn and work hard for Collins and the Sixers.

Phils Win Series In St. Louis

After a decisive 10-2 win in the series opener on Tuesday, the Phils looked to continue their strong play on Wednesday night with ace Cliff Lee on the mound. Cliff delivered with his second consecutive complete game shutout and the Phils cruised to an easy 4-0 victory. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard both homered and that would be plenty of run support for Lee.

In tonight's series finale it was a different story. Roy Oswalt got the start and surrendered 4 earned runs in just 2 innings of work. Oswalt was forced to leave the game after just 2 innings because of lower back tightness and injuring that has been plaguing him all season. In relief Kyle Kendrick surrendered 2, and Danys Baez surrendered 6 runs in the 8th. At the plate the Phils struggled against Chris Carpenter who pitched 7 innings of 1 run ball. The only other Phillies run came in the 9th thanks to a Carlos Ruiz solo homerun. Ultimately the Phils were blown out in the series finale by a final of 12-2.

The big concern coming from this series is the status of starter Roy Oswalt. Oswalt has struggled in his last few starts and if this lower back injury is an ongoing injury he could be headed to the disabled list in the near future.

But even with tonight's ugly 12-2 loss the Phils still won the series. With the series victory the Phils finish up this roadtrip 3-3. At 47-29 the Phils still maintain 4 game over the Atlanta Braves. Looking ahead to this weekend's series against the Oakland Athletics, the Phils will send Vance Worley, Cole Hamels, and Roy Halladay to the mound.

Flyers Sign Bryzgalov

In the course of just over an hour the Flyers have traded Jeff Carter and Mike Richards and now they have reportedly signed Ilya Bryzgalov to a 9 year 51 million dollar contract.

Bryzgalov comes at a high price but now the Flyers have a true number 1 goalie and somebody that can carry them in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flyers have drastically changed their team in such a short period of time. Richards and Carter are gone and Bryzgalov and Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek along with possible draft picks now make up the new face of this Flyers franchise.

News is coming in fast. Stay updated to the blog as we attempt to break down all of these Flyers transactions.

Flyers Trade Richards And Carter

In an effort to clear cap space to sign Ilya Bryzgalov, today the Flyers traded Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for first and third round draft picks in this year's draft and Jakub Voracek. The Flyers also traded Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings for Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds and a second round draft pick in this year's draft.

By trading away Richards and Carter the Flyers have cleared a lot of cap space. The trades also give the Flyers more options in this year's draft as they now have now earned the 8th overall selection, a second round pick, and another third round selection.

With the surplus of draft picks the Flyers now have a lot of flexibility in the upcoming draft. They can either try to draft a lot of youth to replenish their minor league system or trade some of those picks for proven NHL players.

Obviously the Flyers now have suffiecent amount of cap space to sign Bryzgalov so look for a deal between the Flyers and the goaltender to come within the next few days.

As for the players the Flyers acquired according to Barry Melrose of ESPN, "Brayden Schenn has the potential to be a star in this league and Wayne Simmonds is a solid and proven NHL player." As for Jakub Voracek, he is young and has a lot of potential.

Check the blog in the upcoming days for more coverage on these trades and the possible signing of Bryzgalov.

Phillies Offensive Explosion

The first half of the series opener last night was an agonizing low scoring game.Roy Halladay was great as he put together 6 innings and only gave up 1 run. It was a 1-0 game for an extremely long time as Cardinals' pitcher Kyle McClellan used his sinker and off speed junk to keep the Phils off the scoreboard. The Phils were swinging at bad pitches out of the zone and couldn't get into a rhythm offensively and it was painful to watch.

Finally in the 7th, Ross Gload pinch hit for Roy Halladay and hit a line drive to score Raul Ibanez. But after Stutes surrendered a run in the bottom of the inning, the Phils again found themselves down by 1. In the 8th the Phils generated a ton of base runners and after Ryan Howard got plunked by Jason Motte, the Phils had the bases loaded for Placido Polanco. Pauly also got plunked by Motte to walk in the tying run. In the next at bat Ibanez struck out and with 2 outs and the bases loaded, Charlie Manuel elected to hit Ben Francisco for the lefty Dom Brown. Francisco hit a single to left field to score and put the Phils up 3-2. With the bases still loaded, Carlos Ruiz and Michael Martinez worked back to back walks to put the Phils up 5-2. But the Phils weren't done as Jimmy Rollins laced a singled up the middle to score 2 more runs and put the Phils up 7-2. Chase Utley then followed Shane Victorino's walk with a single to left field to score 2 more runs. Ryan Howard also got in on the action by singling to score Victorino and cap off the 9 run inning. The game went from being a boring low scoring game to a blowout in a matter of a few minutes. Up by 8 Antonio Bastardo and David Herndon finished off the game for by pitching scoreles innings.

Last night was an impressive victory. The Phils were having an awful game vs McLellan and it looked like they were going to get shutout for the second game in a row. But to their credit they didn't get frustrated and with a few smart managerial moves by Charle were able to bust open in the 8th inning with a 9 spot. Last night's 10 run explosion further proves just how potent this offense can be. Tonight the Phils will send Cliff Lee to the hill as he looks to build off of his successful homestand.

Top Philly Cheese Steak List

Before attending a Phillies, Sixers, Flyers or Eagles game, I sometimes find it appropriate to stop into one of the many wonderful cheese steak hot spots in the Philadelphia area for an always satisfying pre-game meal. There are many places through out the Delaware Valley who claim to have the best cheese steak, but I have your inside scoop and the answer to the never ending Philly cheese steak debate. Here is my top ten.

#10 Campo’s
Campo’s comes in at number 10 mainly because I only ate there a couple of times. I went to the Campo’s at Citizens Bank Park and waited in a decently long line but boy was it worth it. Campo’s is a great option if you’re not willing to wait in the long Tony Luke’s line and will always leave you satisfied before or during a Phils game.

#9 Dallesandro’s
If you’re looking for a pre-game meal, Dallesandro’s is a bit out of the way. But if you’re willing to make the trip, you’re in for a treat. Dallesandro’s is tucked away in a nice Manayunk neighborhood and is a well kept cheese steak secret. Lines are relatively short and the cheese steaks are phenomenal.

#8 Geno’s
I haven’t been to Geno’s for a few years now, but just going by memory I know that Geno’s offers one of the best Philly cheese steaks. The rolls are perfect, the meat is great and you can’t beat their location in South Philly. It’s a true Philadelphia experience to have a Geno’s cheese steak and a true experience for your taste buds as well. Some people may be a bit surprised to find Geno’s all the way down at #8. Geno’s may have the lights and glamour but their cheese steaks can’t compete with some of the places in my top 7.

#7 White House Subs
This is another place that I only visited a couple of times basically because it is a bit out of the way. White House is located all the way in Atlantic City but still offers one of the best cheese steaks around. Probably the most notable feature about White House is that they get fresh rolls delivered from a local bakery several times a day. The bread really adds to the cheese steak and if you’re ever hungry on your way down the shore, be sure to stop in.

#6 Wit or Witout
Wit or Witout is relatively new and has locations on the boulevard, on Frankford Avenue, and in Brookhaven, PA. Wit or Witout offers you great cheese steaks with or without sautéed onions and some of the best French fries I’ve ever had. Wit or Witout cooks great non-chopped meat complimented nicely by fresh cheese and great rolls. Wit or Witout has low prices and is a non-expensive and convenient pre game treat.

#5 Tony Luke’s

Located directly off the Packer Avenue exit of 95, is a great and convenient place to go before the game. But if you go too close to the start of a major sporting event you may find yourself waiting in an overwhelmingly long line. Personally I love Tony Luke’s but I’m not willing to wait at their South Philly location or Citizens Bank location on game day. If you’re willing to wait you’re in for a very satisfying and perfectly cooked cheese steak. Tony Luke’s has great cheese steaks which are good enough to crack my top five.

#4 Steve’s Prince Of Steaks
Steve’s is a great way to avoid the long lines of places like Geno’s and Tony Lukes and still get an authentic Philly cheese steak experience. Steve’s is similar to Wit or Witout in that they don’t chop their meat and the cheese compliments the meat so well. Steve’s also has great rolls and fries and is a convenient pre-game meal especially if you live in the burbs.

#3 Mony’s Sandwich Shop
Monty’s opened in 2010 and has been steadily climbing in the ranks of my cheese steak list. Located in Southhampton, PA, Monty’s offers outstanding steaks and is a well kept secret. Monty’s owes a lot of their cheese steak’s success to their rolls. Monty’s has the best rolls I’ve ever had hands down. The fresh rolls and great meat make for a near perfect combination. Although Monty’s is pretty new, it still has better steaks than some of the most notable South Philly joints. If you are a Philly cheese steak fanatic, Monty’s has to be on your list of places you need to try.

#2 John’s Roast Pork
John’s is probably the best kept Philly cheese steak secret. John’s is located in South Philly and is located just off of Columbus Avenue exit of 95. John’s combines fresh and perfectly chopped meat and incredible rolls into one of the most amazing cheese steaks in all of Philadelphia. The only complaint I have with John’s is the slow moving lines. If you’re going to a 1 PM Phillies game you may want to arrive at 11-11:30 in order to have sufficient amount of time to catch the first pitch.

#1 Chink’s Steaks
Some prior information you need before reading the description of Chink’s; it was an extremely close call between Chink’s and John’s for number 1, in fact it was a photo finish. But ultimately Chink’s prevailed as number 1 on my list combining great cheese steaks, pre-game convenience, and overall atmosphere. Chink’s cooks their meat whole and offers great rolls. Located on Torresdale Avenue, Chink’s is a convenient pre-game stop and offers customers a unique 1950’s soda shoppe experience. And as if the cheese steaks weren’t filling enough, Chink’s has awesome milkshakes that are extremely tasty and filling. Chink’s is number 1 on my list and is the best pre or post game stop for steaks and more.

Pre-game rituals are as important to the overall enjoyment of a sporting event as the game itself. Whether you are tailgating with your friends or stopping in at a top 10 cheese steak joint, a fun and satisfying pre-game meal can make even a loss manageable. So next time you’re thinking about grabbing a steak before a game, make sure you stop in to a Joe Morrison approved cheese steak joint and I promise that you won't be disappointed.

A special thanks goes out to my uncle for his contributions to this article.

Top Philly Sports Fueds

The recent twitter war between Shady McCoy and Giants defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora is probably the most interesting thing to talk about in a slow and boring NFL lockout. In case you haven't heard a couple weeks ago Shady tweeted that Osi is "Overrated n soft 3rd best d-line on his team honestly." Click [HERE] for more Umenyiora soft photos. McCoy and Umenyiora's feud has inspired me to relive some of the most memorable Philly sports feuds in recent memory.

#5 Richards vs Lavy/Prongs

This feud is a lot of speculation. According to multiple sources Richards doesn't get along with head coach Peter Laviolette and veteran leader Chris Pronger. It's not as entertaining as some of the other battles primarily because both sides have denied that there is a problem. I think that this feud is still in the early stages and could possibly escalate during the course of next season.

#4 Rollins vs Mets

"I think we are the team to beat in the NL East -- finally." Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins made that comment before the 2008 season and I think it's safe to say that he backed up his words. But the response that it got from many of the Mets made for one heated rivalry during the regular season. And the following season in response to Rollins' comment Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran stated, "So this year, to Jimmy Rollins, we are the team to beat." As you may or may not know the Mets finished the 2009 season 70-92 and fourth place in the NL East. Maybe this argument is down on the list at 4 because the Mets just stink.

#3 Shady vs Umenyiora

I'm putting the most recent feud right in the middle at number 3 because it has the chance to get even better. If Umenyiora winds up staying on the Giants it could make for some great games between the Giants and Birds and possibly more outlandish comments made by both sides. But for now we'll let this fight simmer at number 3.

#2 McNabb vs TO

This feud ended with TO doing sit-ups in his driveway and is possibly one of the most bizzare fights in Philly sports history. McNabb and TO go from being best buds one year to hating each other's guts the next year. It's really sickening for me to sit here and go into the gory details because if TO and McNabb could have put aside their differences maybe we would have Super Bowl trophy. But it was still pretty entertaining and for that it earns a number 2 spot on my list.

#1 Iverson vs Brown/Media

Ok I have to admit this feud earned the number 1 spot entirely because of the famous "practice" press conference. [WATCH HERE] Larry Brown remarked that Iverson was missing a few team practices and Iverson responded in a press conference that will go down as one of the most entertaining/bizarre comments ever made by a professional athlete.

Feuds between athletes and teams makes sports more exciting. A boring regular season game can turn into a heated battle between two opponents that down right hate each other. And on a night where there is absolutely nothing going on in the world of Philly sports, there's not a better way to spend your time then to relive some of the best Philly sports feuds of all time.

For Eagles & Vick, The Time To Win Is Now

I think it’s safe to say that Michael Vick’s public image has come a long way. From his dog fighting scandal to his heroic playoff sun last year, Vick has taken full advantage of the second opportunity that the Eagles have given him. But as amazing and flashy as last season was, Vick and the Eagles ultimately fell short in the playoffs and failed to bring this city its’ first Super Bowl title.

Providing there is an NFL season, going into free agency and training camp Vick and the Eagles need to have a winning now mindset. Last year the Eagles went 10-6 and proved to everyone that they are very close to winning a Super Bowl. In the playoffs the Birds lost by just 5 points to the Green Bay Packers who eventually went on to hoist the Lombardi trophy. Think about how close that Packers game was. A couple bounces go their way and who knows maybe the Eagles wind up playing in the Super Bowl. From what I’ve seen during the lockout I think this Eagles organization fully understands how close they are to the promised land.

So far during this lockout the Eagles have already proven that they are committed to winning. Why else would Reid draft a soon to be 27 year old in the first round of the draft? Clearly they are focused on winning this year rather then planning for the future. Vick has also shown his commitment to winning by holding several workouts during the lockout. Vick is showing that he is willing to go that extra mile in order to get better individually and as a team.

But will the Eagles pull the trigger when it come to free agency? Will they make the necessary acquisitions to put them over the hump? Some players that the Eagles may be interested include Jason Babin, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Plaxico Burress.

Babin would be a great option as he has expressed interest in playing for both the Eagles and new defensive line coach Jim Washburn. And considering his only great year was last season the Eagles could get him at a relatively cheap price. Asomugha could be pricy but he is one of the best corners in the league and paring him with Assante in the backfield could easily make the Eagles secondary one of the best in the league. Although wide receiver is not a position that the Eagles need to upgrade, having Plaxico as a jump ball option inside the 20, could give them an extremely dangerous red zone threat. The Eagles offense sometimes stalls when they get inside the redzone primarily because they lack that big tall receiver. Even if they don’t throw to Plax, just his presence on the field could open up the rest of the offense. To read about other free agents the Eagles may be interested in click [HERE]

In the past the Eagles have pulled the free agency trigger. In 2004 the Eagles went out and got Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse. The moves paid off as the Eagles finally reached the Super Bowl but eventually lost 24-21 to the New England Patriots. The Eagles have also paid big money for other big name free agents like Assante Samuel and Jason Peters. The Eagles know how to spend, the question is will they spend the big bucks this year.

The time for the Eagles to win is now. Hopefully once free agency hits the Eagles will spend the money necessary to get this team over the hump.

Phils Get Roughed Up In Seattle

This past weekend the Phils left the comfort of Citizens Bank Park and traveled to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Unfortunately the Phils were unable to continue their hot streak and dropped 2 out of 3. Here is a complete breakdown of the Phils Mariners series.

In Friday night's series opener it was a pretty low scoring game as predicted. Roy Oswalt pitched a solid game giving up 4 earned runs over 6.1 innings. On the other end Mariners' starter Michael Pineda was simply dominant and had a no-hitter going until Shane Victorino singled in the 6th inning. Chase Utley then followed with another single to score Jimmy Rollins from third and make it a 3-1 game.

But as the Phils tried to battle back the Mariners pulled further away. In the 7th Brendan Ryan singled to score Ichiro from second. It was 4-1 in the 8th and the Phils chances at an 8 game winning streak didn't look too bright. But just when I thought it was over Victorino continued his streak of late game heroics by blasting a solo homerun to left field to make it a 2 run game. Herndon pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning to keep it a 4-2 game. The Phils made a little noise in the 9th against Mariners' closer Brandon League but were unable to get anyone home and their 7 game winning streak was snapped.

Saturday night was a true pitcher's duel between Felix Hernandez and recent call up Vance Worley. Worley pitched 5 innings surrendering just 1 run while Hernandez pitched 7 and only allowed 3. Both teams got a decent amount of baserunners but were unable to get many runs home. The Phils finally managed to break the 1-1 tie in the 7th inning thanks to Victorino. With the bases loaded Shaner fought off an inside pitch that bounced just inside the foul line for a ground rule double giving the Phils a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the inning Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo combined to pitch a scoreless inning. Bastardo then stayed in the game and pitched a scoreless 8th. The Phils added some insurance in the top of the 9th when Shane Victorino nailed a 2 run homer. Even though it wasn't a save situation, Madson got the call in the 9th and was able to secure the 5-1 victory.

On Father's Day Cole Hamels put forth a great effort pitching 6.1 innings and allowing 2 earned runs. But Cole recieve no run support as Mariners' pitcher Jason Vargas baffled the Phillies hitters all day. The Phils were way too aggressive at the plate and swung at lousy pitches. The Phils typically have trouble against off-speed pitchers because they are an aggressive fast ball seeking bunch of hitters. Vargas eventually went the distance and earned a complete game shutout and in doing so secured a Mariners series victory.

After the Phils recent homestand you really can't get too mad at them for losing this series. They still hold a 5 game lead over the Braves in the division and they are 8-2 in their last 10. Still the Phils need to find a way to be more consistent at the plate. The Phils put up just 7 runs over the weekend and they can't afford to take days off at the plate.

Their is still time for the Phils to turn this road trip around. They will travel to St. Louis on Tuesday where they will take on Albert Pujols and the Cardinals. The Phils will send Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt to the mound and hopefully Ryan Howard will come alive in his hometown and wake up this offense.

2001 Sixers 10 Year Anniversary

As the Mavericks hoisted the NBA Finals trophy last week my mind slipped back to the 2001 Sixers team that captivated the city of Philadelphia in their exciting run to the finals. Philadelphia fell in love with Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutumbo, Eric Snow and Aaron McKie as they put together one of the most memorable playoff runs in Philly sports history.

To get to the finals the Sixers beat the Indiana Pacers in the first round, and then beat both the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games. Although I was only 9 years old at the time I was fortunate enough to attend Game 7 of the Toronto series, a game that I will never forget. The most memorable moment of that game was undoubtedly [Vince Carter’s shot]. The arena went dead silent as Carter’s shot at the buzzer arched through the air. When Carter’s shot finally rimmed out fans at the First Union Center burst into wild applause and cheers and I think someone spilled beer on me. But I didn’t care because the Sixers were heading to the Eastern Conference Finals where they would take on Ray Allen and the Milwaukee Bucks. Against the Bucks Iverson put together dazzling performances as the Sixers again won in 7 and would face the Lakers in the finals.

I’ll never forget the excitement of the city in the days leading up to the finals. Sixers flags on cars, Pat Croce jumping off bridges, and it seemed like everyone owned at least one Allen Iverson jersey. In the Finals the Sixers would have to take town Kobe Bryant, Shaqille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. Coming into the Finals the Lakers had swept everyone and looked unstoppable. But in Game 1 the Sixers “shocked the world” and beat the Lakers on the road 107-103 in overtime. The defining moment of the game and probably the whole Sixers playoff run was [Iverson’s shot over Tyrone Lou]. Iverson’s hit a big fadeaway jumper in front of the Lakers’ bench and then proceeded to step over the fallen Lou. But Kobe and Shaq were just too much to handle and the Lakers went on to win the finals in 5 games.

Although the Sixers ultimately fell short there was something special about that team. Whether it was the amazing 50 plus point performances of Iverson, the valiant defensive efforts of Dikembe Mutumbo, or the smooth play of Eric Snow Philadelphia loved that team. The Sixers didn’t bring a parade to this city but they did put up a great effort against the Lakers. That Game 1 victory prevented the Lakers from sweeping straight through the playoffs and it was a true special moment for the Sixers. This is the 10 year anniversary of the Sixers heroic playoff run, a run that I know I will never forget. Overall the 2001 Sixers will forever be remembered as one of the best teams in Philadelphia sports history.

Future Of The Phillies

The picture above (if you need to click on it to make it bigger please do so) is a little preview of how I think the Phillies lineup will look come 2012. A lot of youth in both the bullpen and outfield and a strong veteran presence in the infield and the starting rotation. The young speedy outfield of Mayberry, Victorino and Brown excites me and and is bursting with potential. Providing the Phils get a deal done with Rollins the great Phils infield will stay in tact. And if the Phils don't exercise their mutual option with Oswalt and use that money for Hamels, the big three of Halladay, Lee and Hamels will still give the Phils one of the best starting staffs in all of baseball. The only thing that really worries me is the youthful bullpen. The only veterans are Madson and Contreras and the Phillies will have to sign somebody during the offseason.

Overall the Phillies have a great window of opportunity both this year and definitely next year where they can win another World Series title. The nucleus of Rollins, Utley, Howard and Victorino will be in tact along with most of this dominant starting rotation. This team is going to be great for a very long time and will contend for a World Series title this year, next year and hopefully many years in the future.

Future Of The Phillies: The Bullpen

The bullpen is our final stop in our analysis of the Future Of The Phillies. For next year I expect the Phils to go young and rely heavily on some of their younger arms.

Brad Lidge 2012: ?

He is in the final year of his contract, and he will get 11.5 million this year. The Phils have a club option for 2012.

Ryan Madson 2012: ?

Madson is in the final year of his contract and could want the big bucks come next season.

JC Romero 2012: ?

JC signed a 1 year 1.35 million dollar contract before the beginning of this year.

Jose Contreras 2012: Philadelphia

Contreras signed a 2 year 5.5 million dollar contract in 2010 that will keep him a Phillie through 2012 with a team option for 2013.

Brad Lidge and JC Romero are gone. They were both a vital part of the Phils 2008 World Series run but it's time for the club to part ways with both of them. (After today Romero really is gone.) Lidge is aging and injury prone and Romero is a head case who can't throw strikes. As for Madson if he asks for 10 million plus I don't think the Phils will re-sign him. Although Madson has had a great season so far there is no way he is worth that much money. The Phillies would be better off giving the job to Contreras or a younger guy like Stutes or Bastardo. I think that Madson won't ask for 10 million plus and the Phils and Madson should be able to work out a deal somewhere around 32 million over 4 years. The rest of the bullpen could be a mixture of a lot of young guys like Antonio Bastardo, Michael Stutes, Mike Zagurski and Scott Mathieson. With so much money devoted to the starting rotation the Phillies can afford to pay less to their relievers. Still the Phillies need at least one more veteran arm in their pen and I expect them to sign someone in the offseason.

Hot Homestand

This Phillies team is scary good and is beginning to resemble the World Series team of 2008. In the recent homestand the Phils went 9-2 as the bats finally came to life. The Phils combined strong starting pitching with explosive offensive performances to catapult themselves to a 44-26 record and 5.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East. Most recently the Phils 4 game swept the Florida Marlins to extend their winning streak to 7 and cap off an extremely successful homestand. Let's take an in depth look as to how the Phils went about sweeping the Fish out of town.

In the series opener on Tuesday Cole Hamels improved to 9-2 on the season as he pitched 7 strong innings only surrendering 1 earned run. The Phils provided a ton of run support for Hamels as they roughed up Marlins starter Chris Volstad for 8 earned runs. It was a homerun party as Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Domonic Brown all homered off Volstad. Brown even added another homer off of Edward Mujica in the 7th. It was a very impressive outing from Hamels and the offense, and a great way to open the 4 game set.

Wednesday was a day night double header and it would be a great opportunity for the Phils to put more distance between themselves and the rest of the NL East. In the day game Kyle Kendrick got the start against Elih Villanueva. At first it looked like it was going to be one of those games where Kendrick would absolutely self destruct. Kendrick gave up a solo homerun to Logan Morrison in the first and it looked like the beginning of a very long afternoon. But after the first Kendrick settled down and through 6 consecutive scoreless innings. He had great command and did a good job of keeping everything in front of him. The Phils gave Kyle a ton of breathing room as they tacked on a run in the first and then another in the second followed by a 6 run explosion in the third. The two key hits of the third inning were Wilson Valdez's bases clearing triple and Jimmy Rollins' 3 run homer. The Phils would go on to win by another lopsided final of 8-1.

In the night game Roy Halladay took the mound in search of his 10th win of the season. Unfortunately Halladay got into trouble in the first inning and surrendered 2 quick runs. He then proceeded to give up 2 more runs in the 4th and the Phils quickly found themselves in a 4-1 hole. The Phils tacked on a run in the 5th but still trailed 4-2 going into the 9th inning.

In the 9th Carlos Ruiz and Ross Gload hit back to back singles to put runners on first and second with 1 out for J-Roll. Michael Martinez came into the game to pinch run for Ross Gload so a solid double would easily tie the game. Rollins smoked a hot shot up the middle that careened off the shin of Marlins pitcher Leo Nunez and rolled directly over to first baseman Gaby Sanchez who stepped on first for the second out of the inning. The unlucky bounce did however advance the runners to put men on second and third for Shane Victorino. Victorino then ripped a 2-1 pitch just past the second baseman to score Ruiz and Martinez and tie the game at 4. After Chase Utley flew out to end the inning the game headed to extras.

In extras Madson pitched a scoreless top of the 10th to give the Phils a chance to win. The bottom of the inning started with a bang. Marlins pitcher Michael Dunn drilled Ryan Howard in the back and the Phils had a leadoff baserunner aboard. But after Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez both got out, the once promising inning didn't look too bright. Dom Brown was up next and he had an incredible at bat in which he forced a walk to put runners on first and second for Carlos Ruiz. Mr. Cluth, Chooch whatever you want to call him came through in a big way and singled to score Ryan Howard and give the Phils an exciting 5-4 walkoff victory. Chooch always seems to come through in the clutch and he continued that streak last night.

The Phils rode the momentum of the walkoff victory into today's series finale. Cliff Lee came out and absolutely dominated the Fish as he pitched a 2 hit complete game shutout. Cliff had great command and was putting the ball exactly where he wanted to. He also had his curveball working and even stated after the game that his curveball is a big reason he has been so successful in his last few starts. Lee also opened up the scoring as he nailed a double to the wall in the 4th to score Michael Martinez. For insurance Ryan Howard hit an opposite field solo homerun in the 5th and Jimmy Rollins continued his hot hitting by doubling in the 6th to score Domonic Brown. The Phils went on to win 3-0 as Lee improved to 7-5 on the year and the Phils capped off their homestand with a 7 game winning streak.

Overall the Phils have consistently played great baseball all year but during this recent homestand they showed everyone just how dangerous they can be. When the offense and pitching are both clicking at the same time nobody in either league stands a chance. The Phils are playing great baseball right now and I expect them to get even hotter as the year progresses. Cliff Lee is starting to settle in, Howard looks phenomenal, Rollins is finding his swing, and Utley is almost 100%. The Phils will look to carry the momentum of this homestand with them as they embark on a 6 game roadtrip in which they will face the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals. Stay updated to the blog for a complete Phillies Mariners preview.

Future Of The Phillies: The Infield

In this segment of Future Of The Phillies we take a look at the infiled. As of this moment the Phillies currently have 3/4 of their infield under contract for 2012. The only guy not signed for next year is Jimmy Rollins. Are the Phils willing to possibly pay Rollins 10-13 million dollars a year? Or will they give the spot to a younger less expensive minor leaguer? Let's take a look.

Jimmy Rollins 2012: ?

The Phillies exercised their club option for Rollins before the beginning of this year and this could be Rollins' final season in Philadelphia.

Ryan Howard 2012: Philadelphia

Howard signed a 5 year 125 million dollar extension that will keep him in Philly through 2016 with a club option for 2017. Howard will make $20 million each in 2012 and 2013 and $25 million annually from 2014-16. The option for 2017 is 23 million and a 10 million buyout.

Chase Utley 2012: Philadelphia

Utley signed a 7 year 85 million dollar deal that will keep him a Phillie through 2013. Utley will get 15 million in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Placido Polanco 2012: Philadelphia

Polanco signed a 3 year 18 million dollar deal last year so he will be a Phillie through 2012.

The big question that everyone wants answered is will the Phils re-sign Rollins. With an already steep payroll the Phillies may decide not to give Rollins an extension. According to phillysportsdaily.com "An agent guessed J-Roll could wrangle himself a three year, $39 million contract from a willing suitor." 13 million a year could prove to be too expensive for the Phils. But at the same time I think Rollins understands the importance of winning another a World Series and he may possibly be willing to take a paycut. I expect the Phillies to work something out with J-Roll. A 2 year 25 million dollar contract is a definite possibility. As for the rest of the infield Chase and Ryan are here to stay long term. And if Polanco continues to produce he could find himself with a nice new contract sometime in the near future.

Phillies Need To Sign Hamels

Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels is proving in a contract year that he is worth a big investment.  Hamels has been brilliant this year, arguably the best pitcher out of the four aces this year.  He was expected to get a big contract, but with the way he is pitching this year that contract could be even bigger.  With that said Hamels is still young and is a top priority for the Phillies when the time comes to sign him. 

Hamels has been brilliant throughout his career even though his record does not show that.  He probably gets some of the worst run support in the league, which has hurt his chances of being a 20 game winner.  This might be the year though, Hamels is 8-2 with a 2.58 ERA and has just been excellent every time he takes the mound.  If the run support continues which doesn't seem to be a lot with a 2.58 ERA Hamels should reach that 20 win mark. 

With three other veterans on the staff as well, it seems that Hamels has learned a lot.  He seems to be working harder and seems to have a comfortable routine throughout the year.  His offseason workouts seem to be better for him now, maybe because he is actually doing them, but he realizes how important they are.  He also seems to be more comfortable on the mound.  When something bad used to happen it seemed like Hamels would lose his cool, but that is all in his past. 

He has taken his game to the next level over these past two years and with that said he is a core piece to the Phillies.  Fans were starting to get frustrated with Hamels, but that doesn't seem to be the case either.  Hamels led this team to a World Series Championship in 2008 and seems to be ready to led them again to another one this year.  Hamels deserves a big contract and the Phillies seem ready to give him one.  The Phillies must sign Hamels and the sooner they do the better everyone will feel about his future. 

Lee Starting To Find His Groove

When news started surfacing that Cliff Lee wanted to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies fans started to get really excited.  Lee took less money, something a player rarely does to give him a chance at a World Series title and to play where he wants to play.  Everyone surrounding the MLB was talking about the Phillies now having the best rotation ever as they posted four aces out of their five pitchers.

In the beginning of the season though Lee has not seemed to pitch like everyone expected him too.  He wasn't pitching bad, but he wasn't the same pitcher everyone expected to see.  He had a game where he looked dominant and then he would have a game where it seemed like he wasn't going to record an out.  It seems like he is heading to a more consistent dominate side as the season ages.

Lee has been titled as a second half player.  He is still very good early on, but when the season starts to get older he starts to get better.  He has proved that the past two seasons when he was acquired late in the year by the Phillies and the Rangers.  He led both of them to the World Series, dominating opponent after opponent.  It seems to be that he is ready to turn it on again after two dominating performances in his last two starts.  In his last two starts he has only given up one earned run, while pitching fifteen innings and striking out seventeen.  That is what an ace is supposed to do.

Early on it was just some inconsistency issues, that was all.  Now that seems to have been fixed and he is ready to help this team win another World Series.  Lee has not won a World Series just like Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt, so they are going to do everything possible to get that done this year.  You know that these guys want it badly and with Lee starting to dominate the road to a title only gets a little easier.  

Phils Win Series Against Chi-Town

The 4 game series that occured this past weekend between the Phillies and Cubs was probably the most interesting and wacky stretch of games I've ever seen. 2 rain delays, a 5 run inning by the Cubbies, a homerun call reversal, and a Charlie Manuel ejection on Sunday all added up for a very interesting National League matchup.

In the series opener on Thursday Rollins got things started with a 3 run homer in the bottom of the second. On the mound Kyle Kendrick looked solid through 3 innings and was doing a good job of keeping his pitch count down. Unfortunately the weather didn't hold off and midway through the bottom of the third the heavens opened up. After over an hour rain-delay, Kendrick was replaced by Danys Baez who pitched 3 innings and only surrendered 1 run in the 6th.

The bullpen was doing a solid job of containing the Cubbies but the Phils couldn't get anything going at the plate. Aside from the Rollins homerun the Phils failed to produce and extend their lead. Jose Contreras gave up an RBI double to Carlos Pena in the 8th and the Phils clung to a slim 3-2 lead heading into the 9th.

In the 9th Ryan Madson surrendered a 1 out solo homerun to Giovany Soto and the game was knotted at 3. Madson then gave up a solo homerun to Tyler Colvin and the Cubbies found themselves on top. Or did they? Charlie Manuel waddled out to the umpire and asked for the homerun to be reviewed and after what seemed like an eternity, the umpires returned and reversed the homerun and ruled it a ground rule double. Madson eventually worked his way out of the jam and the Phils were given an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the 9th.

The Phils went down in order in the 9th and the already long game was extended even further with extra innings. David Herndon came onto pitch the 10th and did a good job of pitching a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the 10th Chase Utley and Ryan Howard led off the inning with back to back strike outs. After Shane Victorino walked and Raul Ibanez singled it was runners on the corners with 2 outs. Dom Brown stepped to the plate and the Cubbies elected to intentionally walk him to get to Herndon. In my opinion, Charlie made the right decision in batting Herndon. They had nobody left in the pen, and if you pinch hit for Herndon in that spot you are then forced to pitch Wilson Valdez. Herndon would go on to strike out and the game headed to the 11th.

In the top of the inning Herndon surrendered a lead off single to Tyler Colvin, and Colvin eventually advanced to 2nd base on a past ball. Herndon then struck out the next 2 batters and with 2 outs and a runner on second Darwin Barney stepped to the plate. Here's where things get really wacky. Barney hit a weak 3-2 ground ball to third basemen Placido Polanco. Polanco fielded the ball cleanly and instead of turning around and tagging Colvin who was running from 2nd to 3rd, Pauly fired a ball into the dirt and Colvin scored to give the Cubs the lead. In the 11th, Ruiz hit a lead off single but Rollins, Polanco and Utley all flew out to end the game. It was an ugly and extremely frustrating defeat but fortunately it would be the only loss of the weekend.

On Friday the Phils offense turned things around and exploded for 7 runs. The Phils scored a quick run in the bottom of the first and then tacked on two more runs in the second thanks to a Dom Brown 2 run homer. From there the Phils didn't score until the bottom of the 7th when Placido Polanco hit a grand slam to give the Phils a 7-0 lead. With a 7 run lead Manuel elected to give pitcher Roy Halladay some rest and pulled him after 7 innings.

But in the top of the 8th the wackiness that I talked about in the beginning of the article continued. Jose Contreras surrendered 2 runs and was replaced by JC Romero who surrendered 3 more runs to make it a 7-5 game. In the blink of an eye the 7-0 lead had vanished. Luckily Michael Stutes came in and got the final 2 outs of the inning. Stutes then got the first 2 outs in the 9th and Antoni Bastardo got the final out to secure a 7-5 Phillies victory.

The game on Saturday got off to an extremely weird start. Literally seconds before Cliff Lee through the opening pitch it began to rain and the game was delayed once again. Once play resumed Lee dominated the Cubs and went on to pitch 8 innings surrendering only 1 run. The Phils offense exploded for 7 runs once again with Chase Utley leading the offensive surge. Utley went 2-5 with 4 RBI's and is quickly returning to his regular self. The Phils would eventually win by a final of 7-1.

Sunday was the Ryan Howard show. The big man went 3-3 with 3 rbis and helped to provide run support for Roy Oswalt. Oswalt who had a rough first inning in which he gave up 3 runs, settled down nicely after that and didn't surrender a run in his final 6 innings. Stutes and Madson pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th and the Phils went on to win the game 4-3.

After the dissapointing road trip last week the Phils have responded nicely and have now won the first 2 series of this homestand. Looking ahead the Phils will host the Marlins in a 4 game set beginning on Tuesday.

Future Of The Phillies: The Outfield

In this segment of Future of the Phillies we will be taking a look at the outfield and how it will look not only next year but in the next few years. The Phils outfield has a very bright future with a lot of youth and potential ready to usher in a new era of Phillies baseball.

Raul Ibanez 2012: ?

Rauuuul is in the final year of his contract. He signed a 3 year 30 million dollar deal after the 08 season.

Shane Victorino 2012: Philadelphia

Shaner signed a 3 year 22 million dollar extension that will keep him a Phillie through 2012.

Ben Francisco 2012: ?

Francisco avoided arbitration and signed a 1 year deal before the beginning of this season.

Domonic Brown 2012: Philadelphia

I searched around to find how long Dom Brown will be in Philadelphia and came across this article HERE

John Mayberry Jr. 2012: Philadelphia

Mayberry is arbitration eligible in 2013 and if the Phillies don't sign him will be a free agent in 2016.

It is highly unlikely that the Phillies will re-sgin the 39 year old Ibanez. He is currently making 10 million a year and the Phils would be foolish to re-sign him. The Phils may re-sign Francisco depending on his asking price. But I see the Phils outfield of the future consisting of Shane Victorino in center, Brown in right, and Mayberry in left. That is a young, fast, athletic and extremely dangerous outfield. They can all hit and they can all make great defensive plays and cover a lot of ground in the outfield. The outfield of Brown, Victorino and Mayberry has the potential to be one of the best outfields in Phillies history.

Future Of The Phillies: Starting Rotation

The Phils are on track to make the playoffs for the 6th straight year. And as the Phils continue their streak as one of the best teams in baseball I begin to wonder, how long is this great team going to be around? For how much longer will the Phillies be one of the elite teams? This current nucleus of players won't be around forever but here is a quick look at some of your favorite Phillies and their contract statuses. In this segment of Future Of the Phillies we will be taking a look at the legendary starting rotation.

Roy Halladay 2012: Philadelphia

Roy Halladay's contract with the Phillies started this year. Halladay was still under his Toronto contract last year, and his 3 year 60 million dollar deal with the Phils will keep him in Philadelphia through 2013 with a vesting option that could keep in Philly through 2014.

Cliff Lee 2012: Philadelphia

Cliff Lee's 120 million 5 year contract will keep him in Philly through 2015 with a vesting option that could keep him in Philly through 2016.

Roy Oswalt 2012: ?

He is due 16 million this year and the Astros will pay 7 of that and the Phils will pay 9. His contract will be up after this season, but there is a mutual option that could keep him in Philly through 2012 with a 2 million dollar buyout.

Cole Hamels 2012: ?

Hamels was given a 3 year 20.5 million dollar contract after the 08 season. Hamels is due 9.5 million this year in the final year of his contract.

Joe Blanton 2012: Philadelphia

Blanton was given a 3 year 24 million dollar contract that will keep him in Philly through 2012.

Kyle Kendrick 2012: ?

Before the beginning of this season the Phils signed Kendrick to a 1 year 2.45 million dollar contract.

The future of the Phils starting rotation has many question marks. Will they re-sign Oswalt and Hamels? What is the deal with Blanton? First off for next year I predict that the Phillies won't exercise the mutual option for Oswalt. Oswalt is going to want a lot of money and at 33 years of age with back problems I simply don't see the Phils bringing him back. Blanton although he is dealing with elbow problems right now should be healthy later this year and will be back next year. Halladay and Lee will obviously be back for next year, no need to worry about them. The Phils top priority heading into this off season will be resigning Cole Hamels. He is going to want the big bucks and the Phils have todo everything they can to keep him in Philadelphia. With a lot of big salaries coming off the payroll I expect the Phils to take care of Hamels.

For next year I predict the Phils starting rotation to be Halladay, Lee, Hamels, a healthy Blanton and Vance Worley as your fifth. The Phils would be foolish to give Kendrick 2.45 million again and aside from one bad outing Worley has also looked pretty good and would be a great 5th guy on this staff. Although your 4th and 5th will be a combo of Blanton and Worley if the Phils sign Hamels, the big three of Hamels, Halladay and Lee is really all you need.

Phillies Forget Bats After Rain Delay; Fall To Cubs In 11

Can mother nature be charged with a loss?

As crazy as it sounds, that question has to be asked as the Phillies seemed to forget that they had a game to finish after a one hour and seventeen minute rain delay that began one out into the bottom of the third inning. Before the delay, the Phillies seemed to be cruising behind a solid three scoreless innings from starter Kyle Kendrick and a three run home run by Jimmy Rollins in the second. After the delay, the pitching continued for the most part but the bats when silent. The Cubs climbed back run by run, scoring once each in the sixth, eighth, and ninth innings to tie the game and send it to extras. Ryan Madson blew his first save of the season as he allowed the Geovany Soto solo shot that tied the game. After Madson left, the Phillies were down to only one reliever, David Herndon, due to the long rain delay and some interesting decisions by manager Charlie Manuel. Manuel used four different relievers for less than one inning, a decision that short-changed the Phillies in extras.

In the top of the eleventh, it was the Phillies defense that would let them down. Ryan Howard misplayed a ball hit by the Cubs Tyler Colvin that put the leadoff runner on first, and a Carlos Ruiz passed ball would move him to second with none out. Herndon was able to strike out the next two batters, but his efforts went unrewarded as Placido Polanco's poor throw to first following a grounder ended up an error and allowed Colvin to score. Herndon would get Starlin Castro to ground out to end the inning, but the damage had been done. Carlos Ruiz singled to start the bottom of the eleventh, but the ever-impatient Jimmy Rollins swung at closer Carlos Marmol's first pitch and flied out. Polanco and Chase Utley would fly out soon after to end the game and any hope of a Phillies comeback. The Phillies send ace Roy Halladay to the mound against the Cubs Carlos Zambrano tomorrow night as the Phillies look to even the series in game two of this four game set.

Sixers For Sale

The Philadelphia 76ers are in talks with billionaire Josh Harris about selling the team. Harris is a New York-based leveraged buyout specialist, and is a co-founder of Apollo Global Management. The talks between Comcast-Spectacor are still ongoing and a source close to the disscussion calls the deal "imminent".

Harris was reported to have a net worth of 1.5 billion according to Forbes' 2011 billionaire rankings. Some people have pointed out that Harris may only see this as an oppurtunity to make money, rather than win basketball games.

Other partners in the deal include David Blitzer, a private equity executive, and formor NBA player agent and Sacramento Kings executive Jason Levien.

PNC Park Review

As an avid baseball fan I have traveled to quite a few major league ballparks. Whether it was for Phillies road games or just to watch a game, I’ve done my best to make it to a solid number of major league stadiums. So far I’ve been to:

-Wrigley Field in Chicago
-Old Yankee Stadium, New Yankee Stadium, and Shea Stadium in New York
-Nationals Park in Washington D.C.
-The Vet and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia
-PNC Park in Pittsburgh

Previously, Wrigley was undoubtedly my favorite ballpark. There is something almost magical about the close proximity of the fans to the field, the Ivy covered walls, and the location of the stadium right in the middle of a North Side Chicago neighborhood. But after attending the Phils Pirates game this past weekend, PNC Park has surpassed Wrigley and is now in first place on my list.

PNC Park is snuggled up against the Allegheny river and is just a short walk from downtown Pittsburgh. If you walk over the Roberto Clemente Bridge from downtown you find yourself immersed in a party scene outside the streets of the stadium. There are street performers, shops, restaurants and just about everything to keep everyone entertained. The scene outside the stadium has a similar feel to the neighborhood atmosphere of Wrigley.

Inside the stadium there are more restaurants and entertainment opportunities. You can walk full circle around the stadium and when you are up on the main concourse the game is visible similar to CBP. When you finally take your seat the view is breathtaking. The beautiful Pittsburgh skyline and Roberto Clemente Bridge is visible in the back drop. When you look out on the field there is a “cozy” feeling as the field looks extremely small. The fans are right on top of the players and it definitely has a similar proximity feel to that of Wrigley.

After the game fans flood the streets and head back over the Roberto Clemente Bridge to downtown. There is also a river walk where you can walk along the Allegheny river and parallel the downtown skyline.

It’s extremely different from CBP because there are actually things to do outside of the stadium. There is a neighborhood feel to PNC that is missing from the Bank which is located smack in the middle of nowhere. Overall if you have never been to PNC Park I strongly recommend that you go. It combines features from many stadiums and adds its’ own flare to create one hell of a baseball experience.

One of my favorite features about PNC is the Roberto Clemente

Bridge. The bridge connects downtown Pittsburgh directly to the ball park and it is extremely unique. The bridge is set aside for pedestrians and is strictly for walking during Steelers and Pirates gamedays. I also loved the close proximity of the fans to the field. At some stadiums you feel extremely far from the game but at PNC you feel like you are practically on top of the players. Lastly I loved the location of PNC. It blows CBP out of the water and there is so much more todo than just go to the game. The location of PNC gives it an edge over a lot of other MLB stadiums.

The only real complaint I have about the park is that the Phillies lost both games I attended. But other than that PNC Park is a beautiful place to watch a ball game and a must see stadium for all baseball fans everywhere.

Phils Lose In Pittsburgh Again

Maybe I'm bad luck or maybe the Phillies are just taking an offensive vacation. Either way I'm 0-2 this weekend at PNC Park and I'm beginning to get frustrated with this inconsistent Phillies offense. Usually I'm pretty even keeled and try to keep a good perspective when the Phils struggle at the plate. But after tonight's disappointing performance in which the Phils managed just 3 runs, I've had just about enough of this non-existent offense.

The Phils lost tonight by a final of 6-3 mainly because they failed to hit with runners in scoring position. How many times did Ryan Howard roll over a weak ground ball with runners on? How many times did Chase Utley lift a weak fly ball to left when all we needed was a sharply hit grounder? The Phils got base runners but simply failed to come through with runners on. Even in the top of the first when the Phils scored they still should have done more damage. Rollins toughed out a hot lead off double down the line. Placido Polanco then hit a single up the middle to put runners on the corners with no outs. But Utley proceeded to strike out, and Howard hit into what would have been an inning ending double play had it not been for a tremendous take out slide from Placido Polanco. The Phils barely squeaked out a run in the first and should have scored at least 3 to start out the game.

The Bucs then responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 2-1 lead. The Phils knotted things at 2 in the 4th when Domonic Brown grounded out to score Shane Victorino. In the bottom of the inning Lyle Overbay worked a leadoff triple. Raul Ibanez should have held Overbay to a single but he instead attempted a diving catch and the ball scooted past him enabling Overbay to practically walk to third. Chris Snyder grounded out to score Overbay and Brandon Wood followed with a solo homerun to give the Bucs a 4-2 lead. The Pirates added a run in the 7th and another in the 8th to give them a comfortable 6-2 lead going into the top of the 9th.

Ibanez led off 9th with a double, Ruiz walked and Wilson Valdez singled to load the bases. With 2 outs Placido Polanco singled and the Phils made it a 6-3 game. Utley came to the plate as the go-ahead run but he lofted a gentle fly ball to left to end the game in a 6-3 Phillies defeat.

Basically the game was a bunch of dumb Phillies defensive mistakes that led to some runs that shouldn't have been allowed. With Kendrick pitching the Phillies should have tightened up on defense and done a better job of making plays behind him. Kendrick has been known to have some nights where he simply implodes but don't be fooled by tonight's boxscore. Although Kendrick gave up 4 runs the defense behind him was non existent and there were some runs that weren't entirely his fault.

Offensively the Phils will come out of this slump as they always do. But for now it's extremely frustrating to watch this team at the plate. Tomorrow Halladay will attempt to stop the bleeding and end this 4 game skid. And hopefully the Phils offense will make an appearance and finally score more than 3 runs. As I conclude my rant I will leave you with this bit of good news; I will not be attending tomorrow's series finale at PNC Park. Hopefully that will help the Phils in their attempt to climb out of this recent skid.