Chase Utley: Still Every South Philly Girl’s MVP

 Chase Utley hit a walkoff bomb in the bottom of the tenth off of Dave Borkowski to end the Phillies 12 game, 2 year losing streak to Houston.  And Ryan Howard hit another tremendous home run (ho hum).  And Cole Hamels pitched outside of his mind, retiring the first 17 batters he faced (yawn).  And I finally got to see Jose Hernandez play.  And I got to see Jose Hernandez pop out weakly to first with the bases drunk in the bottom of ninth with two down.  Way to go, Old Timer.

 

             

Birds finalize 53 Man. Gaffney, McCants Out. Fraley and Parry Traded.

I sent this e-mail to some friends on March 16, the day the Eagles signed Jabar Gaffney:

“we agreed to terms with jabar gaffney!!  this has me excited.”

This is why I’m not a pro scout.  After averaging just 10 YPC, the Eagles cut Gaffney along with Darnerien McCants (a supposed lock to make the 53 man due to stand out special teams play and a solid preseason) to finalize their 53 man roster.

 Fraley and Parry were traded to Cleveland and Seattle, respectively.  The Birds received conditional 2008 draft picks for both Fraley and Parry.  An ironic side note is that the Browns landed LeCharles Bentley (another ‘Nawlins product), a coveted free agent offensive lineman who visited Philly but ultimately ended up with the Mistake by the Lake.  Bentley is now out for the season with a torn ACL, which ostensibly precipitated the trade for Fraley.  Good luck, Honey Buns.

The complete list of cuts and IR placings:

 The released players are: QB Timmy Chang, LB Torrance Daniels, G/C Trey Darilek, WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Michael Gasperson, WR Justin Jenkins, DE Darrell Lee, DT Keyonta Marshall, WR Darnerien McCants, LB Dedrick Roper, S J.R. Reed, WR Bill Sampy, TE Stephen Spach, CB Donald Strickland, TE Andy Thorn, CB Matt Ware, CB Dexter Wynn.

The Eagles also placed OL Stefan Rodgers (knee) and LB Chris Gocong (stinger) on the Injured Reserve list.

Wiz Wits:

Ryan Howard is awesome

 -http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/15434863.htm

I sat next to Dikeme Mutombo at Union Station the other day.  His voice is equally, if not more so, unsettling in person.

College football is back.  USC should still be number 1.  Cal’s preseason ranking was totally too high.  Colt McCoy has the perfect name for being the Longhorns QB.  Notre Dame’s preseason ranking was too high but not as bad as Cal’s.  Penn State’s WR’s are still sick.  The SEC is by far the toughest conference in the NCAA.  Charles, our resident NCAA Football guru (and LSU alum) hates PAC 10 football and loves JaMarcus Russell.

Steve Irwin wins the award for craziest death.  Dude took a stingray spine to the heart. 

Schmidt’s Record No More. Rhyno Jacks Number 49. Wolfie’s Sharp Outing All for Naught as Phils Fall in the 10th

 What a heartbreaker.  Ryan Howard broke Mike Schmidt’s single season homerun record when he sent a Pedro Astacio fastball to Prince George’s County in the 4th inning for his MLB leading 49th HR.  His milestone, however, was marred by a bizarre but costly play.  The Phils rallied from a 2 run deficit to take the lead at 4-2 until (shocker) Arthur Rhodes and Aaron Fultz blew the game in the bonus baseball 10th.

I cant help but wonder if our “MVP!” chants from the first row unnerved the Big Man a bit because he made a routine play uncharacteristically flashy, trying to backhand flip a Nick Johnson ground ball to Fultz covering first base.  Johnson was safe and eventually crossed the dish as the tying run. 

 I’m still pretty hungover  bummed about the game so this is all you greedy monsters get for now.

King Cole Sharp; Phightin’s remain 1/2 game out in NL Wild Card Race. Old Guy Curse Hopefully Broken.

              They seem do this every year, right around this time.  They tantalize their long suffering fan base with streak after streak , only to come up just short.  While not altogether in control of their own destiny, the Phils have, without a doubt, the easiest remaining schedule of the serious wild card contenders.  The catch, though, is that there are two perennial Phillie killers left to play:  the Marlins and the Astros.  Last season, the Phillies finished a game out of the wild card race behind eventual NL pennant pinchers Houston.  The Phils played six game against the ‘Stros last season, losing all six, a few in typical Phillies fashion (I still have nightmares of Biggio taking Satan Billy Wagner yard in the ninth).  During their final series of the 2004 season against the Nats, the Phils did their job, sweeping the Nats, but also needed a Houston loss to the Cubs to force a one game playoff.  The Astros won.  The Phils set up tee times.  Old Guy Phillie Killer Number 1.

The Marlins, who have 2 World Series titles in their 13 history, which, incidentally, is one more that the Phillies have in their 123 years, are surging right now.  Backed by brilliant young starting pitchers, NLROY candidate Dan Uggla and Joe Girardi’s inspired management, the Fish were on a nine game tear until the Cards put the kibosh on their run last night with a 13-6 victory.  The Phils have ten games left against the Marlins, who are 2 1/2 games out of the NLWC lead but have a history of killing October baseball in Philadelphia.  And that brings us to Old Guy Phillie Killer Number 2:  Jeff Conine.

This team scares me. 

The Marlins road to their second World Series title in 2003 when through South Philly.  Since the Braves were on track to win their 720th NL East title, the Fish and the Phils were both fighting for a wild card spot.  During that season, Conine, now a Phightin’, hit .324 with three taters and 11 RBIs against the Phillies, which helped the Marlins edge the Phils for the NLWC.  Old Guy Phillie Killer indeed.

So, with Conine now a Phillie and only a three game set against Houston next week, the Phillies can inch closer to their first post season appearance since the Broad Street Bellies made it to the World Series in 1993.  The future is in their young hands.  Their young, non-arthritic hands.

Pinkston and Koy out. Feeley back in. Earth Reverses Rotation.

 

The Eagles FO continues to slash and burn the roster, cutting longtime roster stalwarts Todd Pinkston, Koy Detmer and Koy Detmer’s neck beard.  In turn, the Birds brought back 2003 miracle man AJ Feeley who was cut by the Chargers, effectively killing Timmy Chang’s chances of making the 53 man.  I like Chang and think he will make a fine QB someday.  I’m hoping he makes great strides on the practice squad and doesn’t take any cues from Andy Hall, making routine DUI’s as part of his practice regiment.

48 & Counting. Michael Jack gives a million passive aggressive interviews.

Ryan. Howard. is. a. BEAST.

 

Last night, with yours truly in attendance, Howard tied the Phillies franchise record for homeruns with 48.  This is no small feat considering the Phillies have been around for a million 123 years and the man he tied was Michael Jack Schmidt (I’m saying it in Harry Kalas’ voice as I type this) arguably the greatest Phillie ever and the greatest to play the hot corner in baseball history.

Howard’s tater in the sixth was a moonshot.  We were down the right field line up in the nosebleeds, surrounded by the salt of the Earth (Phils Phans) when Rhyno connected. Everyone knew instantly. Majestic.  Really.

Congrats, Ryan.  You, Chase and Cole are going to bring this team a championship.

Pinkston given permission to seek trade; Delaware Valley totally doesn’t care

Todd Pinkston was given permission by the eagles FO to seek a trade. With the arrival of Donte’ Stallworth this shouldn’t come as much of a shock, unless you were counting on Pinkston being cut (Admit it. I know I was).

Pinkston, another fan favorite whipping boy because of his reluctance to go across the middle (or lose balls in the lights; depends on who you believe) has not been the most productive wide receiver. According to the Inky, “Pinkston, 29, has three years left on his contract. He is scheduled to make $1.48 million this season, $1.68 million next season, and $1.9 million in 2008. The story on ESPN.com said that three teams have expressed an interest in Pinkston, who has 184 career catches for 2,816 yards and 14 touchdowns.” That’s alot of money for not so many yards or TD’s. Good luck StinkyPants. Not many will miss you.

20.42 and Climbing. Maybe.

 Perhaps one of the more interesting features of Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Report is the ever changing percentage the Phillies have of making the playoffs according to Baseball Prospectus.  I’m not sure what those stat geeks use to determine this number (see chart at left.  What the hell is that?).  All I know is that I’m pretty sure it’s either completely arbitrary or based on some type of Good Will Hunting combinatronic formula.  Either way, it makes me feel better .

“20.42 The percent chance the Phillies have of making the postseason, according to Baseball Prospectus. They had a 15.21 percent chance last week and a 6.85 percent chance two weeks ago.”-Todd Zolecki.  Phillies Report.  Philadelphia Inquirer.  8/29/06

Eagles continue to loot N.O., one year after the fact

After acquiring defensive end Darren Howard as a free agent from the New Orleans Saints to boost the Eagles woeful pass rush, Banner and the Boys made a move for Donte’ Stallworth, a five year veteran wide out.  A first round pick out of Tennessee, Stallworth brings speed and experience to a young, unproven wide receiver corps. Not too tough, though, to bring experience to a group of wide receivers led by second year man Reggie Brown and training camp wunderkind Hank Baskett.  The Eagles sent fan favorite whipping boy Mark Simoneau and a conditional draft pick to the Saints.  God forbid David Akers ends up on the IR again.  Not sure anyone on the 53 man can kick soccer style extra points as proficiently as Sim.

A look at Stallworth’s numbers last season with the Saints:

RECEIVING Year Team G GS No Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ FD 2005

New Orleans Saints 16 13 70 945 13.5 43 7 16 1 50