All Things Philly Sports

NFL Week 11 Predictions

2009-11-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

Week 11 is here! With all of the byes out of the way we can finally get a clearer picture of how the playoffs might look. It's already very obvious which teams have eliminated themselves and which have set themselves up for a top seed.

Here are my picks for Week 11 of the NFL season. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 9-6, .600
Overall Record: 100-44, .694

Thursday Night Game:

Dolphins (4-5) @ Panthers (4-5) No Ronnie Brown for the rest of the season should slow the Dolphins Wildcat attack but I would have gone with the Panthers either way in this one. Don't be surprised when Carolina pushes their way into the NFC playoff picture. My pick: Panthers

Sunday Day Games:

Browns (1-8) @ Lions (1-8) Wow, what a game! I can't wait to watch this one. The Lions are bad but the Browns are terrible. My pick: Lions

Niners (4-5) @ Packers (5-4) The Packers really surprised me with how well they played against the Cowboys, Aaron Rodgers was given just enough time to make a few plays when he needed to and the defense played over their heads. Green Bay isn't out of playoff contention just yet. My pick: Packers

Steelers (6-3) @ Chiefs (2-7) No Dwayne Bowe means whatever slim chance the Chiefs had at pulling out an upset is gone. My pick: Steelers

Redskins (3-6) @ Cowboys (6-3) Great win by the Redskins last week, I don't think anyone saw them knocking off the Broncos. That may say more about how far Denver has fallen than the fact that Washington is improving. My pick: Cowboys

Falcons (5-4) @ Giants (5-4) When we last saw the Giants, the were doing their usual December slide a little early. With Michael Turner on the mend, look for the Giants to bounce back. My pick: Giants

Saints (9-0) @ Bucs (1-8) Good luck, Tampa Bay. Actually, this one might follow the trend of the Saints recent games and be closer than you might think. My pick: Saints

Bills (3-6) @ Jaguars (5-4) Look out, here come the Jaguars with a playoff push. After they win this one, they will be the most mediocre 6-4 team in recent memory. My pick: Jaguars

Colts (9-0) @ Ravens (5-4) I'm tempted to go with the Ravens in an upset but I haven't seen anything in the Baltimore offense that shows me they can exploit the Colts weak secondary and actually put up enough points to compete in this game. My pick: Colts

Seahawks (3-6) @ Vikings (8-1) Thanks for playing in 2009, Seattle! Good luck next year. My pick: Vikings

Cardinals (6-3) @ Rams (1-8) The Rams are due to knock someone off, especially a team that can't contain Steven Jackson. Just not this week. My pick: Cardinals

Chargers (6-3) @ Broncos (6-3) Now this is a good game. I have to go with the trend of the last few years, the Chargers always overtake the Broncos at some point in the season. That time is now. My pick: Chargers

Bengals (7-2) @ Raiders (2-7) Cedric Benson or no Cedric Benson, the Bengals roll in this one. Poor Raiders and their poor quarterbacking problems. My pick: Bengals

Jets (4-5) @ Patriots (6-3) Feel bad for the Jets, feel very, very bad. The Patriots are out for revenge after their loss to the Colts and they already want to get back at the Jets for losing earlier in the year. The Pats win this one BIG. My pick: Patriots

Sunday Night Game:

Eagles (5-4) @ Bears (4-5) Quintin Mikell said that this game is the Eagles Super Bowl. Um, I guess they don't plan on getting to the real one? Even the most optimistic Eagles fan has to realize that the Super Bowl is a longshot at best. As for this Bears game I actually think the Eagles will win it by a wide margin. Even though the Eagles always play poorly in Sunday Night games, I just don't see Jay Cutler completing enough passes to his own teammates to beat Philly. My pick: Eagles

Monday Night Game:

Titans (3-6) @ Texans (5-4) The temptation is to go with the Titans to continue their rebound but if the Texans have any playoff aspirations they need to win games like this. My pick: Texans

Those are my picks for Week 11 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Your very early 2010 Phillies roster

2009-11-17T21:07:00.005-05:00

Pitchers and catchers don't report for another 90 days or so but the Hot Stove is just starting to heat up for the defending National League Champions (doesn't have the same ring, does it?). The Phillies don't figure to make a ton of moves this offseason, though after the recent announcements of the removal of Eric Bruntlett and the declining of Pedro Feliz's 2010 option, there are a few holes that need to be filled through free agency and trades for the upcoming season.

With free agency set to begin in a few days, here is my early look at the Phillies 2010 roster, including places where the team needs to bring in new players:

Infielders (6): Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, FA 3rd baseman, Greg Dobbs, FA Utility player

The Phils obviously need a new starting third baseman and will look to sign someone through free agency. Names like Chone Figgins and Adrian Beltre have been bandied about but don't be surprised if the Phillies settle for someone like Mark DeRosa or Placido Polanco. The departure of Bruntlett means the team must also look for a new backup utility player that can fill in at second and short. I also wouldn't be opposed to the Phillies finding a way to rid themselves of Greg Dobbs and picking up a better lefty pinch hitter.

Outfielders (5): Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Ben Francisco, John Mayberry

Four spots are set in stone and the 5th is up for grabs amongst several guys in the system. My guess is that Mayberry did enough last year to get the 5th outfielder gig, though the Phils could easily sign a lefty free agent bench bat that can play in the outfield.

Catchers (2): Carlos Ruiz, FA Backup catcher

With the Phillies likely letting Paul Bako go and already showing Paul Hoover the door, they will need to find a new backup catcher in the open market. With the trade of Lou Marson, they don't have anyone in the system that is capable of playing in the majors at this time.

Starting Rotation (5): Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ, ???

Four spots are set, who gets the 5th starter role? Putting aside the rumors about Roy Halladay, the Phillies do have a few in-house solutions for the rotation: Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer and Kyle Drabek. I think Drabek can be ruled out because he likely won't be ready and I don't think the Phils can go with four lefties so Moyer is probably out. That leaves our old friend Kyle Kendrick as the 5th starter. Let's hope they bring someone else in!

Bullpen (7): Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, Clay Condrey, FA Lefty, FA Righty

Those two free agent spots could easily go to Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre if the Phillies find a way to bring both back. I'm not convinced that the Phillies bring back Clay Condrey, so that could be a spot where they make a change in the bullpen.

Free agency starts on November 20th. At the very least, we should see the Phillies signing a third baseman and a bench player by the end of this month. They may wait a while after that to fill the remaining roles with slightly cheaper talent.

Phillies news: five new free agents and the ROTY

2009-11-16T23:09:00.004-05:00

Those guys over at Fire Eric Bruntlett will be happy about this one: the Phillies have non-tendered former World Series hero Eric Bruntlett, officially making him a free agent. Bruntlett, who can't hit a lick, will have to take his position versatility elsewhere if he hopes to continue his major league career. Bruntlett will forever be remembered for scoring a few big runs in the 2008 World Series and his unassisted triple play this season. For a guy who was basically useless, Bruntlett actually had quite the highlight reel. He was kinda like Forrest Gump in that he was always in the right place at the right time.

The Phillies also granted free agency to four other players: pitchers Tyler Walker and John Ennis, catcher Paul Hoover and infielder Andy Tracy. Walker had the biggest contribution of this group in 2009 but is just an expendable bullpen piece. Hoover's lone claim to fame with the Phillies was his walk-off hit in the final regular season game of the season.

In other news, the National League Rookie of the Year award was given today to Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan. Coghlan narrowly beat out Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ for the award, winning by a score of 105-94. Happ was a solid contender and likely would have taken home the award had he not been shuttled between the rotation and the bullpen at various parts of the season.

Too little, too late: Eagles fall short in San Diego

2009-11-15T19:20:00.004-05:00

(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

You want to know what makes the Eagles such a frustrating team to follow? They start off the game playing terrible, falling way behind, and just when you think they are going to get completely blown out in a game, they wake up and mount a furious comeback to get themselves back in the game and get our hopes up. Then, like clockwork, the Eagles fall just short at the end with the game on the line.

Such was the story today as the Eagles fell to the Chargers, 31-23. The Birds ineptitude in the red zone was on display early in this game as they failed three times inside the 20 and had to settle for David Akers field goals rather than TD's. The Eagles rallied late with a pair of touchdowns in the 4th quarter but ended up falling short when the defense couldn't stop the Chargers on a pair of third down plays late in the game.

Donovan McNabb racked up the individual stats in the game, passing for 450 yards as the Eagles completely abandoned the run after they fell behind. Also having a career day was Jason Avant, who was the one Eagle who showed up all day with 8 catches for 156 yards.

The defense deserves a large share of the blame in this one as they failed to slow down San Diego on the ground or through the air. LaDanian Tomlinson, who has looked washed up in every other game this season, ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles made him look like his old self. Philip Rivers had no problems throwing on the Birds depleted secondary, either, as he completed 20 of 25 passes.

The Eagles did get more bad news late in the game. Brian Westbrook, who returned to the field this week after suffering from post-concussion symptoms, suffered a second concussion today and had to sit out the entire 4th quarter. Two concussions just a few weeks apart isn't only going to keep Westbrook out for the rest of this season, it might end the career of one of the Eagles biggest offensive weapons.

The Eagles lost today for all of the usual reasons. They racked up a ton of penalties, couldn't convert on short yardage plays and failed to capitalize on their red zone opportunities. About the only good news that comes out of Sunday's action is the fact that the Cowboys lost, too, meaning the Eagles still remain just one game out of the NFC East. Of course, the fact that a team that has looked as bad as the Eagles in the last two weeks is still in contention for a division title might tell you a lot more about how weak the NFC East is than how good the Birds are.

And the frustration continues to build, Eagles fans. We know what this team is capable of when they are firing on all cylinders, hopefully it's only a matter of time before they put together a complete football game like they did against the Giants a few weeks back. The schedule doesn't get any easier from here on out but we know you can never count out the Eagles until the final whistle. And that's why we keep watching, no matter how frustrating it gets.

Eagles/Chargers Inactives: Westbrook in, Peters, Demps out

2009-11-15T14:55:00.005-05:00

The Eagles and Chargers have announced their inactive players for their big Week 10 clash:

Eagles: WR Kevin Curtis, DB Quintin Demps, RB P.J. Hill, DB Jack Ikegwuonu, LB Akeem Jordan, QB Kevin Kolb, OL Mike McGlynn, LT Jason Peters

Chargers: WR Buster Davis, LB Tim Dobbins, G Tyrone Green, C Nick Hardwick, CB Dante Hughes, DL Vaughn Martin, LB Jyles Tucker, QB Charlie Whitehurst

With Jason Peters sitting out today, the Eagles will start Todd Herremans at left tackle, Nick Cole at left guard and Stacy Andrews at right guard. With the way Andrews has played this year, I would expect the Chargers to be licking their chops. Demps is out after suffering an injury against the Cowboys, leaving the secondary pretty thin. Jordan and Curtis are also out with injuries, as expected. There is some good news for the Eagles as Brian Westbrook will return to the field, although he is expected to be limited.

It's all hands on deck for the Chargers as they have no significant injuries.

With all of the injuries and having to travel across the country, the Eagles have a lot to overcome this week. Let's hope they can get it done in sunny San Diego. GO BIRDS!

From bad to worse: Sixers lose Speights for 6-8 weeks

2009-11-15T14:41:00.004-05:00

It's no secret that the Sixers haven't started off the 09/10 season the way they had hoped. Their inconsistent play on offense and poor defensive effort have led to a team that is going to struggle to be .500 all year long. Things aren't going to get much better after the news that came out today about one of their lone bright spots.

According to the official Sixers Twitter, second year forward Marreese Speights, the first guy off the bench who is 4th in the team in scoring, will be out for 6-8 weeks after suffering a partial tear of the MCL in his left knee. Speights' development into something more than just a scorer was one of the few interesting things to watch this season with the Sixers but this injury will set him back quite a bit. The better Speights played, the less the Sixers needed to use the maddeningly inconsistent Samuel Dalembert. Now, you can expect a whole lot more of Dalembert, as well as Jason Smith.

NFL Week 10 Predictions

2009-11-12T12:00:00.001-05:00

What a slate of games we have on tap for this weekend! Not only do we have some huge divisional showdowns, we also have our first Thursday Night game of the season! Things are starting to heat up in the NFL as we enter the stretch run and the games start getting a little better.

Here are my picks for Week 10 of the NFL season. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 9-4, .692
Overall Record: 91-39, .700

Byes: Giants, Texans

Thursday Night Game:

Bears (4-4) @ Niners (3-5) The loser of this game is basically out of the playoff hunt. Sorry Niners, the jig is up. My pick: Bears

Sunday Day Games:

Saints (8-0) @ Rams (1-7) Does it get any easier for the Saints than this matchup against the Rams followed by a "showdown" with the Bucs next week? The Patriots loom after that but 16-0 seems like a real possibility for New Orleans. My pick: Saints

Bucs (1-7) @ Dolphins (3-5) I'm still shocked that the Bucs knocked off the Packers last week, I thought the Pack would roll them. Any given Sunday, I guess. Not this Sunday, though. My pick: Dolphins

Lions (1-7) @ Vikings (7-1) If Detroit goes 1-15 this season, is it fair to call is a success? And, if the Vikings don't win this game by 20, is it fair to call it a success? My pick: Vikings

Jaguars (4-4) @ Jets (4-4) This "battle" of 4-4 teams is more interesting on paper than it is in reality. The Jets should be a little better than this and the Jags should be a little worse. My pick: Jets

Bills (3-5) @ Titans (2-6) The march to 10-6 will continue this week for the Titans. Don't worry, I don't really think they will win out, but they certainly are a better team now that Vince Young has taken over. Who'd have thought that? My pick: Titans

Bengals (6-2) @ Steelers (6-2) Order will be restored in the AFC North after the defending champs knock down the upstart Bengals this week. The Bengals are the real deal and they will be a playoff team but I don't think they are quite ready to take on the big boys in the AFC. My pick: Steelers

Broncos (6-2) @ Redskins (2-6) The Broncos are ripe for a fall but they won't fall as far as the Redskins already are. My pick: Broncos

Falcons (5-3) @ Panthers (3-5) Carolina has been playing better in recent weeks as they have gotten the running game going but Atlanta needs this game more as they look to solidify themselves in the playoff picture. My pick: Falcons

Chiefs (1-7) @ Raiders (2-6) With so many other good games this week is there anyone that is actually going to watch this game? Seriously, even the most die-hard Chiefs and Raiders fans have to be able to find something better to do with their lives, right? My pick: Chiefs

Eagles (5-3) @ Chargers (5-3) ARGH. How frustrating is this Eagles team? The same issues come up year after year and nothing is done to solve them. I pegged this one as a loss before the season began and I see nothing in the past few weeks from the Birds to change my mind. I hope I'm wrong. My pick: Chargers

Seahawks (3-5) @ Cardinals (5-3) The Niners will be rooting for the Seahawks to pull the Cardinals back towards the pack in the NFC West. The Cards are maddeningly inconsistent but I think they find a way to win this one at home. My pick: Cardinals

Cowboys (6-2) @ Packers (4-4) If the Eagles offensive line couldn't slow down the Cowboys pass rush, what hope do the Packers have? If Aaron Rodgers survives this season he deserves a medal for bravery. My pick: Cowboys

Sunday Night Game:

Patriots (6-2) @ Colts (8-0) No matter what team you root for, this game is always a must-watch. The entire balance of power in the AFC could shift with this contest as the Patriots play with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Colts are banged up in the secondary, which is a scary thing against the Patriots, but I think Peyton finds a way. My pick: Colts

Monday Night Game:

Ravens (4-4) @ Browns (1-7) Sucks to be ESPN for having to televise this one. My pick: Ravens

Those are my picks for Week 10 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

Rollins, Victorino repeat as Gold Glove winners

2009-11-11T15:57:00.003-05:00

MLB award season has begun and several Phillies expect to be up for some of the big awards. Among the Phillies in contention for an award include Ryan Howard (MVP), Charlie Manuel (Manager of the Year) and J.A. Happ (Rookie of the Year). Those awards are coming in the next few days but first a few Phillies have been honored with Gold Glove awards.

Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino were both honored by Rawlings today with a Gold Glove for their respective positions. For Rollins, it's his third straight Gold Glove and he has begun to win them solely on his reputation as a slick fielder. For Victorino, it's his second straight Gold Glove.

The one Phillie who was not given a Gold Glove who probably deserved one was Chase Utley. Utley is a fine defensive second baseman but he was beaten out by Orlando Hudson of the Dodgers. Perhaps Utley's bad throws in the playoffs did him in?

The complete NL Gold Glove list:
P Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)
C Yadier Molina (Cardinals)
1B Adrian Gonzalez (Padres)
2B Orlando Hudson (Dodgers)
3B Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals)
SS Jimmy Rollins (Phillies)
OF Michael Bourn (Astros), Matt Kemp (Dodgers) and Shane Victorino (Philadelphia).

Rough day for the Birds: Hobbs out for the season, Hanson out for a month and Jackson signs with Rosenhaus

2009-11-11T13:20:00.006-05:00

Veterans Day is turning into a day of horrors for the Eagles. News has come fast and furious today about several key Eagles players going down with injuries, one player being suspended and a star player who has made a questionable decision.

First, let's deal with the injuries. Cornerback and primary kick returner Ellis Hobbs was placed on IR today with a spine injury, a move that ends his season. Hobbs had been an effective kick returner as well as a contributor in nickel and dime packages on defense, so this is definitely a blow to the Eagles. To replace Hobbs, the Eagles signed free agent CB Ramzee Robinson, who had played in 19 games in two seasons with the Lions in his career.

Later, more news came out about another pair of Eagles who are injured. RB Brian Westbrook and LB Akeem Jordan both sat out of practice as they each dealt with injuries. Westbrook is being held out due to his ankle injury but the Eagles still think he will be able to play against the Chargers on Sunday. Jordan, on the other hand, appears very likely to miss this weeks game, a move that further weakens a questionable linebacker group.

The Eagles also learned today that they will be without nickel corner Joselio Hanson for a month due to an unspecified reason. The early speculation is that Hanson did something to violate the NFL substance-abuse policy, a move that would force him out of 4 games. To replace Hanson, the Eagles called up CB Jack Ikegwuonu from their practice squad.

Finally, and possibly the worst news of all, Eagles WR DeSean Jackson has ditched his current agent and signed on with Drew Rosenhaus. Yep, that's the same Drew Rosenhaus who helped drive T.O. out of town a few years back. A move like this means that Jackson is going to want a payday sooner rather than later, and we all know how the Eagles feel about renegotiating contracts. This could get ugly.

It's definitely been a rough day for the Eagles so far. You get the feeling that this season may be beginning to crumble away as the injuries mount and the team continues to lose players. It's especially disheartening that all of these injuries are piling up on defense, the biggest strength of the Birds. If they lose too many more defensive players, that strength will quickly turn into a weakness.

Here we go again: the Phillies are pursuing Roy Halladay

2009-11-09T23:12:00.005-05:00

You knew it was only a matter of time before this rumor started up again: according to Jim Salisbury of the Inquirer, the Phillies are interested in acquiring Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. Yep, that's the same Roy Halladay the Phils pursued at the trade deadline last year before they balked at Toronto's high asking price and instead went with Cliff Lee at a discounted rate, a move that certainly worked out well.

If you recall, in July, the Blue Jays were asking for J.A. Happ, Kyle Drabek, Domonic Brown and Anthony Gose from the Phillies in exchange for Halladay. The Phillies didn't have to give up any of those pieces to get Cliff Lee, so it only makes sense that talks could start back up again if the Phillies wanted more starting pitching. With the price likely to fall this winter, the Phillies wouldn't have to give up such an extravagant package to get Halladay this time around.

Of course, one has to wonder if starting pitching should be the Phillies top priority this offseason. While a starting rotation of Lee, Halladay, Hamels and Blanton would be awesome, the team clearly needs a new third baseman and some help in the bullpen. I wouldn't put too much stock in this rumor but it sure is fun to dream. That's what the hot stove is all about, anyway.

Eagles let NFC East lead slip away to Dallas

2009-11-08T23:42:00.003-05:00

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

A matter of inches decided tonight's game between the Eagles and Cowboys. With the game tied and the Eagles facing a 4th and 1 while entering Cowboys territory, Donovan McNabb took the snap and lunged at the line, seemingly falling forward for the few inches the Eagles needed to convert. One bad spot, an Andy Reid challenge and a non-reversal by the referees later and the Eagles were robbed of a first down they nearly certainly had.

Just a few plays later, Tony Romo found Miles Austin for a 49 yard touchdown that clinched the victory for the Cowboys, who ended up winning 20-16. The win gives Dallas sole possession of first place in the NFC East and makes them a truly legit contender in the NFC.

The Eagles had plenty of chances all night but seemed to come up just short every time. Donovan McNabb had his usual maddeningly inconsistent game, throwing nearly as many passes into the ground as he did to his receivers. McNabb wasn't helped by the Eagles offensive line in this one, either, as he was sacked four times and flushed out of the pocket on numerous occasions.

Still, the Eagles had a shot to at least send the game into overtime as they drove down the field trailing by a touchdown with about 5 minutes left. Then, facing a 4th and 11 in Dallas territory, Andy Reid made one of his more curious decisions, electing to kick a 52 yard field goal to cut the Dallas lead to 4 rather than go for the touchdown the Eagles would need eventually, anyway. So, with no timeouts left, the Eagles gave the ball back to the Cowboys with 4 minutes left and all Reid could do was watch as Dallas salted the game away.

In all, this was one of the more maddening Eagles games to watch. The game was right there for the taking by the Birds and they just couldn't get it done. While the refs do deserve some blame in this one, there is still plenty of blame to go around on the Eagles sideline, from the coach to the quarterback to the defense that couldn't stop Dallas on 3rd downs. While I still have faith that the Eagles will be right there in the NFC East title race at the end of the season, they simply must fix some of the glaring problems they seemingly have had for years, like their timeout usage and their short yardage failures. It's not going to get any easier when they travel to San Diego next week, either, so let's hope they find that magic solution sooner rather than later.

Eagles/Cowboys Inactives: Westbrook officially out

2009-11-08T19:15:00.003-05:00

The Eagles and Cowboys have announced their inactive players for their Sunday Night clash:

Eagles: DE Victor Abiamiri, WR Kevin Curtis, LB Chris Gocong, RB P.J. Hill, G Max Jean-Gilles, OL Mike McGlynn, CB Dimitri Patterson, RB Brian Westbrook

Cowboys: S Michael Hamlin, G Montrae Holland, QB Stephen McGee, OL Pat McQuistan, LB Steve Octavien, C Duke Preston, CB Allen Rossum, LB Jason Williams

As was reported earlier today, Brian Westbrook is being held out due to precautionary reasons. He is apparently still dealing with post-concussion issues so the Birds want him to rest up for another week. None of the other players for the Eagles are surprises, Gocong hadn't practiced all week so he wasn't expected to play.

As for the Cowboys, there aren't any surprises. In fact, Allen Rossum is the only player of that bunch that I've ever heard of.

Here we go, first place in the NFC East will be on the line tonight! GO BIRDS! BEAT DALLAS!

Who's on third? Phillies decline 2010 option on Pedro Feliz

2009-11-08T18:25:00.003-05:00

The 2010 Phillies will likely have a new third baseman. According to Todd Zolecki on Twitter, the Phillies have declined their 2010 option on Pedro Feliz for 5 million dollars, choosing instead to buy him out for .5 million, making Feliz a free agent.

Feliz was never much at the plate for the Phillies, hitting in the .260 range and belting a dozen homers or so. Feliz made up for it in the field, however, as he was one of the best fielding third basemen in the game. I would have liked to see him come back to the Phillies but not for that 5 million dollar price tag.

So, what now for the Phillies at third base? While it is still possible that the Phils bring Feliz back at a lower price, you have to believe they are going to pursue an upgrade. The top two names you will hear are free agents Adrian Beltre and Chone Figgins, both of whom are a little more solid at the plate and are slick fielders in their own right.

So long, Pedro Feliz. Thanks for your two years of service in Philly, and thanks for your contribution to 2008!

ESPN: Westbrook out for Sunday Night

2009-11-08T12:34:00.002-05:00

I wish I could say I was surprised. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Brian Westbrook, who has been dealing with concussion issues since he was knocked out against the Redskins two weeks ago, will not be playing in tonight's game against the Cowboys. Schefter reports that the Eagles want to give Westbrook another week to rest and be completely free of symptoms.

This is odd news considering the Eagles have been saying all week that Westbrook was going to play. Westbrook even practiced a few days this week, a sure sign he was going to suit up. Perhaps he suffered a setback, perhaps the Eagles were just trying to bluff the Cowboys, but either way, it looks like LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver are going to have to handle the rock this week.

Brett Myers is no longer a Phillie

2009-11-06T15:39:00.004-05:00

We are only two days removed from the end of the World Series and the Phillies have already begun making moves for 2010. The first move the Phillies did was obvious as they picked up their option on Cliff Lee for next season. Their second move is a little more interesting as it means the loss of a longtime Phillie.

Brett Myers, who has been in the Phillies organization since he was drafted in 1999, has informed the media that the Phillies have told him he won't be back with the club. Myers is a free agent this offseason so the Phillies have decided that he isn't worth bringing back.

Myers' career with the Phillies was a tumultuous one to say the least. Myers had his fair share of off field drama and bounced around from the rotation to the bullpen but he was always loyal to the team. Despite his domestic issues, it was hard not to like the guy for everything he did for the organization. The Phillies won't bring him back because they feel they can use their money more wisely, not because Myers isn't a good clubhouse guy.

I'm looking forward to seeing Myers return to Philly next season wearing another uniform. He should get a nice reception at the Bank.

NFL Week 9 Predictions

2009-11-05T13:00:00.002-05:00

We are already past the halfway point of the NFL season! With the World Series occupying too much of my time, I'm keeping things short this week with just one line about each game. Don't worry, things will return to normal next week.

Here are my picks for Week 9 of the NFL season. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 8-5, .615
Overall Record: 82-34, .707

Byes: Bills, Browns, Jets, Raiders, Rams, Vikings

Sunday Day Games:

Redskins (2-5) @ Falcons (4-3) The Falcons looked pretty impressive against the Saints so they should have no problems here. My pick: Falcons

Cardinals (4-3) @ Bears (4-3) This is one of the tougher games of the week with both teams playing pretty bad football. Yes, I know the Bears beat the Browns last week but you can play terrible and still beat them. My pick: Cardinals

Ravens (4-3) @ Bengals (5-2) The Ravens look poised to fight their way back into playoff contention and the Bengals look poised to fall back to the pack. My pick: Ravens

Texans (5-3) @ Colts (7-0) The Colts always beat the Texans. My pick: Colts

Dolphins (3-4) @ Patriots (5-2) Wildcat tomfoolery won't work against the Patriots who appear to have found their groove on offense again. My pick: Patriots

Packers (4-3) @ Bucs (0-7) Somebody help out Aaron Rodgers! The Packers aren't doing anything in the playoffs if they can't find someone who can block. Won't matter against the Bucs, though. My pick: Packers

Chiefs (1-6) @ Jaguars (3-4) How amazing was Maurice Jones-Drew last week? 22 yards per carry!? Why the Jags only gave him 8 carries is mystifying. My pick: Jaguars

Lions (1-6) @ Seahawks (2-5) The Lions continue to play teams that are just as bad as them but I don't like their chances on the road in this one. My pick: Seahawks

Panthers (3-4) @ Saints (7-0) A quick scan of the Saints schedule and I can't find one game where I will be picking against them. My pick: Saints

Chargers (4-3) @ Giants (5-3) I'm soooo tempted to pick the Chargers but the Giants have to bounce back this week. They can't lose 4 in a row and expect to make the playoffs. My pick: Giants

Titans (1-6) @ Niners (3-4) Chris Johnson thinks the Titans can "run the table" and get into the playoffs? Um, you'll win this week, but you aren't winning 10 in a row. My pick: Titans

Sunday Night Game:

Cowboys (5-2) @ Eagles (5-2) With the NFC East division lead on the line, you can bet the Eagles will be coming out fired up for this one. With Brian Westbrook back to add to the weaponry and the defense playing like gangbusters, I like the Birds to win this one by 10. My pick: Eagles

Monday Night Game:

Steelers (5-2) @ Broncos (6-1) The Broncos slow fade back to normalcy continues this week. Look, Denver is still going to make the playoffs, but they aren't THAT good. My pick: Steelers

Those are my picks for Week 9 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!

We'll always have 2008, Phillies fans

2009-11-04T01:03:00.000-05:00

I know you feel raw right now, Phillies fans. I know you are downtrodden that our team didn't win another World Series. Before you get too upset, however, you need to keep a little perspective. We still have 2008 and all the memories that went into winning that title. We still have Cole Hamels' mastery, Brad Lidge's perfection, Carlos Ruiz's big hits and Ryan Howard's homers. They still won it all in Harry Kalas' last year. We still have that banner waving in Citizens Bank Park and nothing will take that away.

Not winning this year doesn't erase 2008. No, the Phillies weren't the best team in baseball this year, they were the second best. No, they didn't have enough pitching to slow down the Yankees. And, no, none of the left-handed bats showed up in the World Series except Chase Utley. But, they still deserve credit for getting back to the World Series and giving it everything they had to defend their title. They still gave us plenty of memorable comebacks and brilliant pitching performances, they just didn't quite have enough to get it done against a good Yankees team.

It's okay to be disappointed that the 2009 Phillies didn't get it done, just don't ever forget that the Phillies were the 2008 World F'n Champions.

Utley's bombs send Phillies back to New York

2009-11-03T01:47:00.006-05:00

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

This is why you can't give up hope, Phillies fans. Facing elimination, the Phillies came out and played inspired baseball to get past the Yankees in Game 5 by a score of 8-6 and push the series back to New York.

The hero of the game for the Phillies was Chase Utley, who hit two homers on the night, a three-run shot in the 1st inning and a solo homer in the 7th. Utley set the tone for the Phillies right away with his 1st inning homer, helping erase the Yankees early 1-0 lead and putting the Phils up for good. Utley's homers have now become historic as he has tied Reggie Jackson's World Series record for homers with 5. With Game 6 coming on Wednesday, Utley has a great chance at making the record all his own.

Phillies starter Cliff Lee did what everyone expected of him, pitching 7 solid innings before running into a few bumps in the 8th inning. In all, Lee's numbers weren't spectacular as he gave up 7 hits and 5 runs, but he ate innings and kept the team ahead throughout. Lee's confidence alone has to give the team a boost. Although things got dicey near the end of the game as the Yankees made the game close, the Phillies bullpen proved to be just good enough to back Lee up.

Now the series shifts back to New York with the Yankees still needing one win to close it out. The Phillies will send Pedro Martinez to the mound for Game 6 while the Yankees will counter with Andy Pettitte, who will pitch on three days rest. Given the fact that Pedro is fresh, you have to give the Phillies the edge in that pitching matchup, meaning there is a great chance this series could be pushed to a 7th game. What the Phillies would do for a pitcher in that case is anybody's guess since Cole Hamels has shown he wants no part of pitching again this year.

Keep the faith, Phillies fans. This team has done what seemed impossible before, there is no reason not to hope they can do it again. Winning two more in New York won't be easy but the Yankees will start feeling the pressure the moment they fall behind in a game. Go Phillies, we believe!

Gagne to have surgery, miss 6-8 weeks

2009-11-02T21:08:00.003-05:00

Less than a week after placing him on Injured Reserve, the Flyers got a timetable as to when they can expect Simon Gagne back in the lineup: 6-8 weeks. Gagne, who hasn't played since October 25th, will undergo surgery to repair two hernias in the coming days. This current injury is not believed to be related to the groin issues Gagne has had throughout his career.

While losing Gagne for an extended period of time will set the Flyer offense back a bit, if there is one thing the Flyers have plenty of it is forward depth. With the emergence of youngsters Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk, losing Gagne's scoring won't hurt the team too much.

There is no word right now on Danny Briere, the other oft-injured Flyer, who has been dealing with groin issues.

Failure. Lidge implodes, Yankees take commanding 3-1 series lead

2009-11-01T23:53:00.004-05:00

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

It's been a rough year for Brad Lidge and tonight was the icing on that crap-filled cake. Lidge failed for possibly his last time this season as the Phillies lost Game 4 to the Yankees, 7-4, and now face a 3-1 series deficit.

With the game tied at 4-4 going into the top of the 9th inning, the Phillies closer took the mound looking to keep the Yankees off the scoreboard. Lidge got two quick outs, then appeared to have the inning sewn up after he got two strikes on Johnny Damon. A single, two stolen bases, a hit-by-pitch, a double and another single later, the Yankees plated 3 runs and completely silenced Citizens Bank Park. After the Phillies failed to do any damage in the bottom of the 9th, the crushing loss was complete.

This loss was particularly hard to take as the Phillies were in the game the whole time. The Yanks scored 4 runs off starter Joe Blanton but the Phillies nipped away at the lead throughout the night, getting solo homers from Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz in the 7th and 8th innings to bring them back into the game. It was all for naught, however, as Lidge failed just like he had all season long.

Now the Phillies find themselves on the brink, one loss away from ending their 2009 season. With Cliff Lee taking the mound in Game 5, the Phillies certainly have a great chance of extending the series back to New York but it's quite an uphill climb to pull off three straight wins against a good team like the Yankees. One thing this team has proven is that they are never out of any game, and although they have not been down in a series like this in the last few years, you have to believe they have some fight left in them. All it takes is one win to get the momentum back in the series and hopefully Cliff Lee will provide that win.

That was a tough loss to stomach, Phillies fans, but don't give up hope just yet. Until they lose that 4th game, this Phillies team is going to fight with everything they have. They are the World F'n Champs, after all.

Eagles crush Giants, move to top of the NFC East

2009-11-01T16:15:00.003-05:00

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

If only this Eagles team showed up every week! After two straight weeks of playing down to their opponents, the Eagles got up for the Giants and then some, crushing their rivals 40-17 in a game that was never in question. The win helped move the Eagles past the Giants and into a first place tie with the Cowboys in the NFC East.

This one was all Eagles from the start as the Birds took only 3 plays to score on their opening drive when Leonard Weaver ran it in from 41 yards out. Just a few plays later, the Eagles struck again after they picked off Eli Manning when Brent Celek caught a touchdown pass. Just like that, 4 minutes into the game, the Eagles were up 13-0 and they never looked back.

Offensively for the Eagles, it was the typical "spread the ball around" passing attack Andy Reid likes to employ, as 8 different receivers caught passes, including Donovan McNabb himself, who caught one of his own passes that was deflected back to him. DeSean Jackson, coming off his huge Monday Night performance, had another big play in him today, this time catching a 54 yard touchdown pass. Not to be outdone, Jeremy Maclin also had a TD.

The Eagles also ran the ball better than they had in recent weeks as both Leonard Weaver and LeSean McCoy finished with over 70 yards of rushing and a touchdown. Not having Brian Westbrook made little difference to the Eagles rushing attack; the "thunder and lightning" of Weaver and McCoy was quite effective, finishing with 8.3 yards per carry.

The defense for the Eagles also played one of their best games of the season, forcing Eli Manning to make bad throws all game long. The Birds finished with 2 sacks, forced a fumble and had two interceptions. We all know what happens to Eli when the calendar turns to November and the weather starts to get a little colder and the Eagles took advantage of his poor play all game long.

Suddenly, the Eagles Week 9 match-up against the Cowboys is for first place in the NFC East. Dallas rolled all over the Seahawks this week as they continued their hot play but the Eagles know that if they play the way they did against the Giants, they should easily handle the Cowboys. With the Eagles, it's never a question about talent, they have plenty as they displayed today. It's a question of motivation, and they are always motivated for these big games against their division rivals. When they get up for a game, there are few teams better in the league. When they simply show up expecting to win, things can get ugly.

In all, a great win for the Eagles over the Giants. Let's hope that trend continues tonight as the Phillies look to beat a different New York team.

Eagles/Giants Week 8 Inactives: Westbrook out

2009-11-01T12:02:00.003-05:00

The Eagles and Giants announced their inactives for their Week 8 clash:

Eagles: DE Victor Abiamiri, WR Kevin Curtis, OL Max Jean-Gilles, FS Macho Harris, QB Kevin Kolb, G Mike McGlynn, DB Dmitri Patterson, RB Brian Westbrook

Giants: WR Ramses Barden, LB Michael Boley, DL Chris Canty, C Adam Koets, RB Gartrell Johnson, WR Mario Manningham, CB Aaron Ross, T Guy Whimper

The Eagles will be without Brian Westbrook, who is still recovering from his concussion on Monday Night. Starting in his place will be LeSean McCoy, who isn't much of a drop-off. Newly signed P.J. Hill will suit up for the Eagles and be the 3rd RB. The other notable inactive for the Eagles is Macho Harris, who will be replaced by Sean Jones in the starting line-up. Jones got beat out by Harris in the preseason for the starting free safety spot but now he has his opportunity to re-claim the spot. Kevin Curtis is also out again, as expected.

The most notable Giant that will be out is Mario Manningham. The Giants receiving corps are deep so it shouldn't slow down the passing attack much.

It's a big day for Philly sports today, let's see if the Eagles can set the tone for a better day than yesterday. GO BIRDS!

Hamels falters again as Yankees take 2-1 World Series lead

2009-11-01T01:16:00.007-04:00

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

For a few innings, the Cole Hamels from 2008 was back. Unfortunately, one bad call in the 4th inning and the ugly 2009 version of Hamels reared its ugly head. The Yankees capitalized on Hamels' turn as they downed the Phillies 8-5 and took a 2-1 World Series lead.

Hamels was brilliant through 3 innings, not giving up a single hit while mixing up his fastball and change-up. Then, in the 4th inning, while facing Mark Teixeira, Hamels threw a 3-2 pitch that was in the strike zone but was inexplicably called ball 4. Hamels was rattled from that point forward, giving up a "home run" (more on this later) to the very next batter, Alex Rodriguez, then 3 more runs in the 5th inning as he played around with his curveball. What started out so promising for Hamels went south in a hurry as he was yanked from the game after allowing 5 runs in 4 and a third innings.

Of course, there was some controversy in that "home run" by A-Rod. Rodriguez hit a shot to right field that hit a camera that was positioned just over the fence and in the field of play. The hit was originally called a double but after going to the replay, the umpires decided it was a home run. It's difficult to really tell if the ball would have cleared the fence if the camera wasn't there, so I'm not quite sure how the umps had conclusive evidence that it was a home run.

As for the Phillies offense, it was pretty well neutralized by Andy Pettitte on the night. Pettitte gave up 3 early runs but then settled in and allowed only one run after that. He was particularly effective against the Phillie lefties like Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, who went a combined 0 for 12 on the night with 7 strikeouts against Pettitte and the Yankee relievers. The one hitter who was on tonight was Jayson Werth, who continued his hot playoff hitting by bashing two solo home runs.

The Phillies now find themselves in a position they haven't been in for a few years: behind in a series. They have a tough challenge tomorrow as they face Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia in a must-win game, but there is plenty of reason to still have faith. Sabathia isn't unbeatable, as the Phillies have beaten him twice in the last two years in the playoffs, and he is going on only three days rest. The Phillies will be using Joe Blanton, who won Game 4 of the World Series last year, so hopefully he can repeat that performance on Sunday.

Game 3 was a tough loss for a Phillies team that isn't used to trailing in a series. It proved once and for all that the 2008 Cole Hamels is dead and won't be resurrected for 2009. Winning Game 4 now becomes critical as the Phillies will now look to extend the series back to New York. Don't worry, Phillies fans, there is still plenty of fight left in this team.

Yankees even up series behind Burnett's gem

2009-10-29T23:21:00.003-04:00

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

When you are looking for a pitcher to match the masterful performance that Cliff Lee had for the Phillies in Game 1, there would be quite a few names that come up before A.J. Burnett. While Burnett's outing wasn't quite up to par with Lee's, the Yankee pitcher did everything he could to silence the Phillie bats in a 3-1 Game 2 win for New York.

Burnett was on point all night, throwing first pitch strikes to nearly every batter he faced en route to striking out 9 and giving up only 4 hits and 1 run in 7 innings. While he isn't known for his command, Burnett was around the plate all game long and mixed his pitches up just enough to keep Phillie hitters off balance. It was a great performance for a pitcher who is known to implode once things get a little rough; unfortunately for the Phillies, he never had to sweat much on the mound.

Following Burnett's 7 innings, the Yankees turned to Mariano Rivera, the historically great playoff closer. While the Phillies did manage to get guys on base against Rivera in both the 8th and 9th innings, the Yankee closer shut the door by getting the key double play groundout (although the ump blew it and Chase Utley was safe on the play) and the key strikeout when he needed them.

For the Phillies, Pedro Martinez pitched a solid game in his first outing at the new Yankee Stadium. The fans were on him for most of the night but Pedro was about as good as expected, giving up 3 runs in 6 innings. While it took him a lot of pitches, Pedro mixed up his speeds and got the Yankees to flail at some bad pitches on his way to an 8 strikeout game. In all, it was a tough loss for Pedro as he once again didn't get much run support.

No reason to panic, Phillies fans. Yes, the Phillies lost a tough, close game. If you look at the bigger picture, though, the Phillies did just about all you can ask of them: they went into New York and took one out of two against the Yankees. By splitting the road games, the Phils took home field advantage away from the Yankees and now have three games in Philly vs. the two left in New York. While it would have been even better had the Phillies won both games, even the most jaded fan has to be pleased that the Phillies can win the series by taking care of business at home.

Keep your heads up, Phillies fans. A.J. Burnett isn't going to have another game like that. There is still plenty of series left to be played and the Phillies bats still have plenty more hits in them.

NFL Week 8 Predictions

2009-10-29T17:00:00.004-04:00

Can you believe we are almost to the halfway point of the NFL season? Things are already starting to shape up for an intriguing stretch run as several teams will be fighting for the one or two playoff spots that will be up-for-grabs. With so many elite teams and so many terrible teams, it's going to be a dogfight just to be a 5 or 6 seed.

Here are my picks for Week 8 of the NFL season. Remember, all picks are made strictly based on who I think will win and do not take the spread into consideration.

Record Last Week: 10-3, .769
Overall Record: 74-29, .719

Byes: Bengals, Bucs, Chiefs, Patriots, Redskins, Steelers

Sunday Day Games:

Texans (4-3) @ Bills (3-4) The Bills look like they are sticking with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback even if/when Trent Edwards is healthy. Yeah, I'm aware Fitzpatrick has "led" the Bills to two straight wins. Good luck with that, Buffalo. My pick: Texans

Browns (1-6) @ Bears (3-3) I don't think even Jay Cutler can screw this one up. The Bears should get a touchdown on defense and that could be enough to win this game. My pick: Bears

Seahawks (2-4) @ Cowboys (4-2) With how "bad" the Cowboys were supposedly playing earlier in the season, their 4-2 record puts them even with the Eagles and ready to compete for a playoff spot. A lot of that has to do with Miles Austin's emergence from nowhere; he really has been remarkable and has fantasy owners everywhere giddy. Seattle is slowly slipping back into the "have-nots" pile in the NFL. My pick: Cowboys

Rams (0-7) @ Lions (1-5) Yeesh. I never thought a one win team could look so much better than a zero win team. Whether Calvin Johnson plays or not, and no matter who their quarterback is, I expect Detroit to win this game by 10. That doesn't say much about the Rams, who have to be wondering where that first win is going to come from. It's going to be a looooong second half of the season, Rams fans. My pick: Lions

Niners (3-3) @ Colts (6-0) The Colts where the best team in football, then they had a bye week and suddenly the Saints leapfrogged them because they barely beat the Dolphins? How does that work? Look for Indy to re-establish their dominance over the league by crushing the Niners. Sorry, starting Alex Smith just isn't going to cut it. My pick: Colts

Dolphins (2-4) @ Jets (4-3) Think the Jets have figured out how to stop the Dolphins offense by now? Revenge will certainly be on their minds as they try to shut down the Wildcat this week. If the Jets want to make the playoffs, they've got to beat Miami once. My pick: Jets

Broncos (6-0) @ Ravens (3-3) It only seems like I pick against them every game but I have to believe that the Ravens will finally hand Denver their first loss this week. The Ravens are fresh off their bye and have had two weeks to prepare for Denver so you can bet their defense will be ready. Offensively, I don't see how the Broncos will slow down Ray Rice and the rushing attack. My pick: Ravens

Giants (5-2) @ Eagles (4-2) I don't like making this pick but I just haven't seen enough from the Eagles to justify picking them to beat the Giants. The Eagles have looked very average the last two weeks, getting by the Redskins only because DeSean Jackson is a beast. I just don't have enough faith in the offense, especially without Brian Westbrook, to go with the Eagles. The only chance the Birds have in this one is if the defense keeps the game low-scoring and forces a few key turnovers. While we are getting to the time of year where Eli Manning starts sucking, I'm just not confident enough to pick the Eagles. By all means, prove me wrong Birds! My pick: Giants

Jaguars (3-3) @ Titans (0-6) Call me crazy, but the Titans have to win sometime, right? While the decision to start Vince Young in this game may doom this pick, I just have a feeling that Tennessee gets their first W against a Jaguars team that is hit or miss from week to week. Both teams are coming off their bye's, and I have to believe Jeff Fisher has fixed a few of the things that have gone wrong with his team. If not this week, when are the Titans going to win? My pick: Titans

Raiders (2-5) @ Chargers (3-3) The fact that the Chargers have only one more win than the Raiders is shocking. That speaks more to how they have been under performing and to how charitable the Eagles were to give the Raiders a win. My pick: Chargers

Vikings (6-1) @ Packers (4-2) Is the honeymoon over for Brett Favre in Minnesota? While that interception at the end of the game against the Steelers wasn't his fault, you can bet Vikings fans started to grumble about the return of the erratic gunslinger. If the Vikings truly want to be an elite team, they need to feed the ball to Adrian Peterson much more and stop relying on Favre to do everything. You have the best running back in the game, use him already. As for the Packers, you can bet they have had this game circled on their calendar for months. Expect a lot of points and expect Aaron Rodgers to pull a "Favre" and lead his team to victory in the 4th quarter. My pick: Packers

Panthers (2-4) @ Cardinals (4-2) The Panthers are really sticking with Jake Delhomme? Do they not watch their own film? The Cardinals aren't a great team but after they win this one they will be running away with the NFC West. My pick: Cardinals

Monday Night Game:

Falcons (4-2) @ Saints (6-0) The Saints officially can beat you every way possible. Want to try to run the ball all game long and keep Drew Brees off the field, Atlanta? Fine, the defense will slow you down and Brees will find a way to put points on the board in a hurry. The Saints are going to trip up one of these weeks and the Falcons are a quality team but it's just not time yet for New Orleans to lose. My pick: Saints

Those are my picks for Week 8 of the NFL Season. Check back every Thursday during the season for the latest predictions. Feel free to discuss, argue or make your own picks in the comment section!