Closing In On The Sixth Seed

When the New York Knicks acquired Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, it seemed like any chances that the Sixers may have had at the sixth seed went right out the window. Anthony brings his super star talents and ability to score, while Billups brings his veteran presence and ability to knock down big shots when the game is on the line. Surrounding a guy like Amare Stoudemire with two talents like Billups and Carmelo is simply not fair in my opinion. But the Sixers as a team are consistently playing at a high level, and after tonight’s victory over the Indiana Pacers, the Sixers are currently only a half game behind the Knicks for the sixth seed. While the Knicks struggle to incorporate Carmelo and Billups into their system, the Sixers continue to work in the formula and system that has given them so much success this year. Incorporating a guy like Carmelo Anthony is no easy task because Carmelo is similar to Allen Iverson in that for years the Nuggets tried to find a running mate for Carmelo similar to how the Sixers constantly tried to find a partner for Iverson. The Nuggets brought in Kenyon Martin and Iverson but little success was ever achieved. With Anthony’s track record of being a difficult guy to play with, it will be interesting to see how the Knicks utilize him and how he get gets along with another super star like Amare Stoudemire. For the Sixers, all they need to do is to continue to play in the system that Doug Collins has put in place. They shouldn’t worry about the teams around them making trades and acquiring talents because the Sixers are playing together as a team. They are playing defense, spreading the ball around offensively, and they are finally starting to win in the close games. The Sixers are also getting big individual contributions from Iguodala who is playing extremely well with two consecutive triple-doubles, and Evan Turner who is finally starting to make his mark. Tonights 110-100 win over the Pacers was a good victory for the Sixers. The Sixers got double digits from 7 guys as they used a balance offensive attack to down a solid Pacers team. The win puts the Sixers at 33-30 on the season and keeps them on pace behind the Knicks. Tomorrow night the Sixers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder and will try to go 4 games above .500 for the first time this season.

Flyers Look To Get Back On Track

The Flyers are currently in the midst of a 4 game losing streak, the longest for the team so far this season. They have dropped 4 consecutive games including an embarrassing 7-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday. So what are the Flyers doing wrong? Is it a long term issue or a quick fix? Mike Hlatky, Broad Street Marching’s official Flyers Insider, had this to say about the Flyers recent struggles and what they can do to get back on track:

“Everyone just needs to get on the same page. Everyone is just kind of doing their own thing and ignoring the systems that Laviolette has put in place. The power play is really struggling, and when you have a guy like Mike Richards, your captain, dropping the gloves at the beginning of the second and nobody responds, then there is a definite problem. Everyone just needs to get back on the same page and get back to the basic things and they should be fine.”

Mike also had this to say in response to the Flyers recent health and fatigue concerns:

“I think this team has definitely been hit hard with the flu and everything. Carter has missed the past two games, JVR had it, Richards had it so it’s clearly a legit concern. But it will all pass soon and as far as the fatigue goes, that’s just a poor excuse because for the defense, all of their minutes played are down from last year with the addition of a reliable 5th and 6th defenseman. And all of the major forwards such as Carter, Richards, and Briere's minutes are all down as well from last year because of their depth so there should be no problems with fatigue on this team.”

Right now the Flyers are lucky to have a coach like Peter Laviolette. Laviolette is a veteran coach who is not going to panic or make any impulsive drastic changes. Laviolette is going to stick with the system that is currently in place and rely heavily on the veteran leadership of guys like Richards and Pronger to rally the troops and turn this thing around. Right now is not the time to panic. Now is the time for the Flyers to get back to the basics and right this ship before the playoffs begin next month.

The Flyers will look to get bak on track tonight as they face off against the Edmonton Oilers at 7 PM at the Wells Fargo Center. Hopefully the Flyers will be able to get a much needed victory.

A special thanks goes out to Broad Street Marching's official Flyers Insider Mike Hlatky for his contributions to this article.

Is The Phils Offense Good Enough?

Even though the Phillies have one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball, to win games you still need to score runs. As good as Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels are they unfortunately won’t hit .300 with 50 HR and 100 RBI’s, it’s just not going to happen. Last year the Phils battled through injuries and managed to finish 2^nd in the N.L. with 772 runs scored. The fact that the Phils finished 2^nd in runs scored even with all of those injuries speaks volumes about this team’s offensive capabilities. I expect these guys to be healthier this year simply because last year was a freak year in terms of the amount of injuries. Rollins, Utley, Howard, Polanco and Victorino will hopefully have better years at the plate and I expect the Phils to finish in at least the top 3 for both batting average and runs scored. Although the team’s hitting is extremely important, as the old saying goes a good defense is a good offense. A solid offense complimented with an even better defense is sure to keep the Phillies stay at the top of the N.L. East standings through out the year. Sending an ace to the mound 4 out of 5 games will certainly help when and if this team struggles offensively. The Phils starters on a good night are going to require about 3 runs a night, so it’s not like the offense is going to have to carry this team. With these starters, being good enough offensively is really pretty simple. All the Phils have to do is play small ball and focus on putting the ball in play and consistently hitting with runners in scoring position. If they can do that, and play solid defense behind this stellar pitching staff it will be a very fun and exciting year for everyone.

The Importance Of Wilson Valdez

It's scary to think about a season without Chase Utley. Utley, a 5 time All-Star is easily one of the best middle infielders in the game getting done in the field and at the plate. He has a career batting average of .293 to go along with 177 HR and 650 RbI's, and is the perfect protection in front of slugger Ryan Howard. So when the news came out about Utley's knee tendinitis and cortisone shot, naturally people panicked and looked to plan B. If Utley's knee requires surgery or if he simply isn't ready to go for opening day, Wilson Valdez will be ready to step in and contribute in a big way. Valdez is not just a second baseman, he is also Mr. Utility. Having a utility guy like Valdez on your bench is so huge because he can play a wide variety of positions. Last year Valdez filled in for Utley, Rollins and Polanco when they were injured. His strong arm and ability to make plays helped him get playing time through out the whole year. Valdez played in 111 games last year for the Phils and managed to hit .253 with 4 HR and 35 RBI's. This spring Valdez has also played some outfield and will likely see even more time due to Domonic Brown's injury. So as much as Utley's knee worries me, I can rest a little easier knowing that Valdez will be ready when called upon. I would also not hesitate to put Valdez in for a slumping Rollins. If Rollins has another stinker .240 year, Valdez could easily replace him seeing as he is just as good, if not better defensively. The possibilities are endless with a guy like Wilson Valdez. He can fill in for an injured Utley, a slumping Rollins, or simply give a breather to a guy like Polanco. And if Victorino, Ibanez, or Francisco need a rest or get injured, Valdez is ready. He's Wilson Valdez, he's Mr. Utility, and he can do it all.

Flyers Drop Third Straight

When you haven't lost 3 straight games since early December, naturally people are going to begin to worry. Today the Flyers dropped their 3rd straight losing to the Buffalo Sabres by a final of 5-3. Early on it looked like the Flyers were going to get back on track as they put together a 2-0 lead after the first period. The Flyers came out with a lot of energy and played with a lot of excitement and it almost seemed like they were going to run away with it. But in the 2nd period the Sabres came back and eventually took a 3-2 lead late in the 2nd period stunning everyone at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers responded quickly with a short handed goal from Kimmo Timonen to make it a 3-3 game going into the 3rd period. In the 3rd the Flyers looked sloppy and disinterested. The Flyers got lazy defensively, and the Sabres took a 4-3 lead crashing the net and then sealed the victory with a late game empty netter. Right now the Flyers need to get it together. They are coasting in these final games and looking forward to the playoffs instead of finishing off the regular season strong. Although the Flyers remain in first place in the eastern conference, they can't fall backwards into the playoffs. They need to play hard and carry that momentum with them into the post season. Looking ahead to next week, the Flyers will have many chances to get back on track. The Flyers will play 4 games next week against the Rangers, Oilers, Maple Leafs and Thrashers. Peter Laviolette is a good coach and hopefully he can turn this around as we head into the final month of the regular season.

It's All About Iggy

Every year at the trade deadline, Sixers fans call for Andre Iguodala to be traded. As teams in the east made big moves this year at the deadline, many were dissappointed that the Sixers made no effort to move Iguodala. Many fans look solely at Iguodala's mediocre points per game, and instead want a super star that will score 30 points a night. What people don't realize is that Iggy does so much more than score. Last night Iguodala recorded his second triple double of the season with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 111-100 victory of the Minnesota Timber Wolves. This is his second triple double on the season, and the 7th of his career. Although he is only averaging 14 points a game this year, Iguodala is also averaging 6 boards and 6 assists a game as he continues his play as a solid all around player. For years, people in Philadelphia have failed to realize that Iguodala is not a super star. He is not a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, and he is certainly not going to put up 30 points a night. Instead, Iggy is a guy who does the little things to help his team win. He can pass, he can drive, and he can be a force on the boards. When Iguodala was drafted in the first round in 2004, people thought that he was going to come in and be a dominant star. Iggy never lived up to those expectations and many people have called for his trade. True basketball fans know just how valuable a guy like Iguodala is. Just about every part of his game is solid, and he is one of the best in terms of all around play. And although Iggy is not a Kobe or a Lebron, he does something that neither of those guys do, he plays defense. Iguodala is a guy who plays hard every night and is going to do everything he can to help his team win.

Is Blanton On His Way Out?

You know you have a great pitching staff when Joe Blanton is your number 5 pitcher. Providing this starting rotation stays healthy, during any given series the Phils will send at least 2 aces to the mound. So with 4 of the best pitchers in the game, wouldn't it make sense to trade a guy like Joe Blanton and get a right handed bat that can help you offensively? As with any debate, there are two sides to the Joe Blanton argument. Let's take a look at advantages of trading Blanton as well as the advantages of keeping him.

Advantages of Trading: If the Phillies were to trade Blanton they would probably look to get a right handed bat or try to find some help in the bull pen. If Domonic Brown continues to struggle the Phils may look to move Blanton in exchange for some offense. Mike Morse of the Washington Nationals could be a definite possibility. Adding a right handed bat to this line up could make it extremely dangerous and definitely help balance out a heavy lefty line up. In addition to getting help at the plate, the Phils might also look to add another reliever. Although I think that the Phils bull pen has great potential, I think that adding another arm, especially a lefty could really solidify the pen. I think that if the Phils do decide to deal Blanton they need to look to fill one of those two needs.

Advantages of Not Trading: As good as this pitching staff is, they are not super humans, and just like any player in baseball they are prone to injury. 162 games is a long season and the chances of one of the Phab Phour getting hurt are pretty good. Having a guy like Joe Blanton to step in and be your number 4 in the event of an injury is reassuring and quite a luxury. The Phils could then bring in a guy like Kyle Kendrick to be the 5th, and you would still have one of the best staffs in the game, no matter who gets injured.

One obstacle in trading Blanton, would be finding a team that needs a starter as well as a team that is willing to pick up Blanton's contract. Blanton is owed 17 million over the next 2 years, and finding a team willing to pay that may prove to be extremely difficult. The Phils may have to pay a part of that salary in order to trade him. In the end I hope the Phillies keep Blanton. He is a good security option, and when given run support he is able to go out and win games for you. It will be interesting to see what the Phils decide to do with Joe Blanton as opening day quickly approaches.

Cole Hamels, Future Cy Young Award Winner

When people talk about the "Phab Phour," the argument over who is the best pitcher is sure to come up. Roy Halladay would seemingly be the favortie seeing as he is the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner and coming off a year in which he pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter. Cliff Lee could also make his case as the best on this staff with a Cy Young Award of his own. But I'm going to cast my vote for Cole Hamels, because he has something that Halladay and Lee dont have: a world series ring. A World Series title is not the only thing that sets Hamels apart. Cole Hamels also has youth as he enters into the prime of his career. Although Hamels is young at 27, he is extremely wise and very experienced for his age. He realizes that to be a top pitcher in this league it takes hard work and dedication during both the season and the off season. After a brilliant 2008 season in which Hamels led the Phillies to a World Series title, Hamels was simply put "the man." He had a championship, a world series MVP, and a nice contract. But during the 2008-2009 off season, Hamels lost his work ehtic and it showed as he posted a very poor 2009 season going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA. Many people will argue that Hamels was not the same last year as he went 12-11 with a 3.06 ERA. But if you really look at the stats closely and look at the individual game logs, you will see that Hamels had just a good year as Roy Halladay. 6 of Cole's 11 losses last year could have easily been victories. In those 6 winnable losses, Hamels recieved 0 runs 4 times, 1 run in one game, and in another recieved only 2 runs to help his cause. Keep in mind that I consider a winnable game to be Hamels pitching at least 6 innings and giving up no more than 3 runs. So add 6 to Hamels 12 wins and he's got 18 wins. But were not done, we also have to go through all of his no decisions. Hamels had 10 no decisions last year and 4 of the 10 could have been victories. Add 4 to 18 and you got 22 wins on the season, more than Roy Halladay. As Halladay basked in the lime light that comes with throwing a perfect game, Hamels flew under the radar pitching soild games but recieving very little run support. Instead of having 20+ wins like Halladay, Hamels only ended up with 12 and his brilliant season went unnoticed. ERA wise, Hamels had a career low. He posted a 3.06 ERA which is better than his 3.09 2008 ERA. Looking ahead to this year, I think Hamels is going to have a very strong 2011. He showed up to camp in the best shape of his life, and looks poised to have a strong year. In addition, I think that the baseball gods are going to smile on Hamels and provide him with all the run support he needs. And in case Hamels needed any extra motivation, this is a contract year for the young lefty and he will need to be on top of his game to earn his pay day. As good as he has been up to this point, I think we have yet to see Hamels reach his full potential.

Domonic Brown, Too Early To Panic

0-12, with 8 strike outs. Not a good way to start spring training especially when you're the guy trying to replace Jayson Werth. For Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown, these first 4 spring training games have been difficult to say the least. Aside from a hit against Florida State last week, Brown is hitless this spring and struggling to find any rhythm at the plate. Today, Brown was given the day off as he attempts to recoup and figure out what he's doing wrong. For Philadelphia fans, now is not the time to panic. It is early in spring training when guys are still trying to fine tune their swings and get their timing down. In addition to it being early, Brown also has an enormous amount of pressure on him this spring. He is coming into camp as Jayson Werth's replacement and expectations are extremely high. On top of that, he is competing with a very talented Ben Francisco for playing time. At this point, Brown may be trying to do too much at the plate to impress this coaching staff by trying to hit big home runs. Brown has to get back to the basics by making contact and putting the ball in play. A .000 average with 8 strike outs is not going to fly in the big leagues especially on a premier club like the Phillies. Slow start aside, I think Brown is going to refocus and finish the spring strongly. Brown just needs to stay relaxed, work hard, and good things are sure to happen.

Doug Collins, Coach Of The Year?

Doug Collins has made the Sixers relevant again. After a disappointing 2009-10 season in which the Sixers went just 27-55, Collins has turned this team into a solid 500 club, and a team that is starting to gain some respect around the league. Collins has installed a winning formula that includes a strong focus on defense, and a strong system to operate effectively in the half court offense. During Mo Cheeks' time as coach, the Sixers relied heavily on the fast break to score a lot of their points. With a young and athletic team, the fast break was a good option to get easy high percentage shots. The only problem was that the offense stalled in the half court, and the Sixers struggled greatly. Now, Doug Collins has the Sixers spreading the basketball around and getting double figure contributions from 5-8 guys a night. Around the league, players and coaches are also starting to take notice of just how great a job Doug Collins is doing. Doc Rivers, head coach of the Boston Celtics had this to say about Collins, “He is Coach of the Year. I don’t think anyone has done a better job then Doug Collins. They didn’t make a lot of moves. This is virtually the same team, but they play different, they play together." Rivers brings up a great point on how this is virtually the same team. All the Sixers really did during the past off season was get rid of Dalambert and add Hawes, Turner, Meeks and Nocioni. I think the biggest and best move the Sixers made during the past off season was bringing in Doug Collins. He has this team playing together and playing at an extremely high level. If the Sixers can finish the season strong, I think Doug Collins is a lock for coach of the year.