Philly Sports

What Were The 76ers Thinking?

I don’t know. My first instinct is that this move was to stimulate ticket sales. I am of course referring to the signing of Allen Iverson. Why would a team that has a lot of young, developing players bring in a player that pouts when he is asked to take a break? I don’t know.
Let’s keep in perspective that this is not the Iverson of 2001. He will be 35-years-old in June. Frankly, Iverson wasn’t a great defender when he had superior quickness. He is certainly not a great defender now. I saw this as a move of desperation on the part of team president Ed Stefanski. His [Stefanski’s] track record with the Sixers has not been very good thus far. Elton Brand has yet to regain the form the Sixers GM thought he would. That is beginning to look like big mistake number one. Will the move to bring back the player who doesn’t always show up for practice on time become big mistake number two? Time will tell, I guess.
I really worry about the impact A.I.’s antics will have on players like Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday. I don’t want these players feeling that it is okay to take practice for granted, or that it is acceptable to complain when you are given a five-minute rest. I don’t want these players to neglect the idea of team basketball-an element that was missing for the entire period in which Iverson was in Philadelphia the first time.
It took the acquisition of point guard Andre Miller to show the Sixers just what the concept of team basketball really looked like.
I thought the team had realized that Iverson was not “the Answer.” But apparently, they forgot. I wonder what Billy King is thinking.
Of course, Iverson said all of the right things at his first press conference in his return as a Sixer. "The opportunity to come back here, I couldn't turn it down," Iverson said, as his emotions turned to tears. "I'm just happy."
We’ve seen Iverson’s tear ducts well over before though. Are we to believe that he will finally take full advantage of the opportunity that he is being given? He certainly did not take full advantage of his opportunities in Philly the first time around, Denver, Detroit, and Memphis.
"You never know what you've got until it's gone," Iverson said, referring to how much he missed Philadelphia. "I thought all those situations were going to work because that's the confidence I have in myself. I ran into some bad situations."
I found parts of Iverson’s words at his return meeting with the media a bit strange. "I've done a lot of things to bring it on myself, mistakes and decisions I've made throughout my career. That bad rap followed me and ended up hurting me," Iverson said. "I'm human. During my time here, I'm going to make mistakes again. It's going to happen."
Was he setting us up for another sequel? Like the Rocky movie saga, I’ve had enough. I think many of us have.
What kind of mistakes was he referring to? I can deal with a turnover here or there. What I cannot handle is the tardiness to required team events, such as practice or the pouting when he is briefly taken out of a game. Those types of mistakes get players cut, especially those who are no longer performing at an All-Star level in their play.
I had another point I wanted to bring up with regard to the Sixers. At present, they [the 76ers] are simply not a good basketball team. The squad is supposed to be running a semblance of the “Princeton Offense.” But their offense looks nothing like that. The “Princeton Offense” is supposed to entail lots of crisp passes from the high post, back-door cuts to the basket, and a series of passes to set up a great shot. I have not seen much of that. I’m seeing far too much one-on-one basketball.
Another point that needs to be addressed is the fact that this is not a sound defensive team. They play decent defense in stretches, but for not even close to 48 minutes.

Welcome Back

The Phillies found their new third baseman. It happens to be a familiar face from the team’s past. His name is Placido Polanco.
This was a solid move on the Phillies’ part. Polanco is a solid hitter. Who happens to hit from the right side of the plate. A good thing for a lineup loaded with left-handed bats. The stout infielder has always been a consistent hitter as he has hit in the .290 to .300 range throughout his career. And an added bonus, Polanco doesn’t strike out much.
Won’t that be a welcome addition to a lineup that does. Strike out a lot that is. What I am driving at is the fact that Charlie Manuel will be able to hit and run with Polanco. Because of the criteria, he is a wonderful candidate to be the Fightin’ Phils number-two hitter. I know Victorino won’t like it, but it’s for the good of the team. And it would put a solid switch-hitter with good speed in the lower part of the lineup. The Phillies desperately need consistent offense from that area. It killed them in the World Series against the Yankees.
I am a little concerned about Polanco’s ability to play third base at this stage of his career, however. He [Polanco] just turned 34 in October. He has not played third in quite a while. And that position requires quick reflexes and a strong accurate arm.
The Phillies signed Polanco to a 3-year deal worth about $18 million. Polanco actually won the Gold Glove as a second baseman in 2009 in the American League.
He talked about not wanting to leave the first-time-around with the club. And that his kids have been wearing Phillies attire all along.
So, when the opportunity to come back was presented to him; it was an easy decision. "I always wanted to be here," said Polanco. "My family is very happy, also. We have a lot of good memories from this place. I wanted to come back to the Phillies, because it is obvious that the team is committed to winning, and I wanted to win."
Polanco does not believe he will have a tough time making the change to third. "I think it's going to be easier, because of the fact that you have to move less," he said. "You catch the ground ball and throw it."
That sounds easy enough.

College Football Player Of The Year

Toby Gerhart, running back, University of Stanford. Gerhart was by far the best player I saw this year in college football. The 6-1, 237lb tailback is a load to tackle. Forget about arm-tackling this guy. He runs with excellent balance. And will subtly shift in the hole for that extra yardage. This kid thinks end zone every time he touches the ball. He scored 26 rushing touchdowns this season. Gerhart rushed for 200 yards, three times during the regular season in 2009. Which included 200-yard-performances against Oregon, Notre Dame, and Washington. He ran for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns at USC. While averaging over 6-yards-per-carry in the contest. Gerhart had a total of 1,736 yards rushing at a 5.6-yard-clip this season.

This And That

Once and for all. Can we stop pretending to know whether an athlete is a good person or not because of an interview? “He seems like a good guy.” I hear this all the time from people. What makes one draw that conclusion? Because the player smiles a lot during an interview? That’s pretty flimsy evidence, folks. Truth be told, we don’t know what these people are doing 24 hours a day. So, we are not fully equipped to make such a determination. Am I referring to Tiger Woods? Yes, he and many other athletes and celebrities for that matter. I have always found these unwarranted assumptions disturbing. I have some advice, fans. Admire with caution.

Synopsis: The Yankees were the better team in this year's World Series. They got most of the timely hits and got good enough pitching from all three of the starters manager Joe Girardi decided to use. And also from their bullpen, particularly closer Mariano Rivera.
The Phillies had their issues in this series. Pitcher Cliff Lee was fantastic in both of the games he pitched. The only problem is-none of the other starters set the world on fire. The only real shining star offensively for the Phillies was Chase Utley, who hit 5 home runs in the series. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino did not set the tone offensively as they need to for Philadelphia to be successful. And Ryan Howard struggled mightily at the plate in the World Series. He [Howard] struck out a World Series record 13 times. The bottom of the Phils lineup was not very good in the series either. Brad Lidge continued to have his troubles, especially in Game 4. The Phillies needed another starting pitcher to step up, but that did not happen. And that is a large reason for them losing the World Series. And of course, a bunch of cold bats. If Philadelphia brings their "A-game," they would have repeated as World Series Champions in 2009. The Fightin' Phils were certainly talented enough to beat A-Roid and the gang.
Second Guessing: I would have had J.A. Happ in the starting rotation in the World Series, and the entire post-season for that matter. This was a mistake on manager Charlie Manuel's part. If I would have used Pedro Martinez at all, I would have had him in the bullpen in the post-season, particularly the World Series in which the weather was colder. Martinez is much more effective in warm temperatures. Happ was arguably the Phillies best starting pitcher in the regular season. I know many will say "no, that was Cliff Lee." Remember, folks, Lee had a stretch where he really struggled with Philadelphia in the regular season. He [Lee] finished with an ERA that was over 3.00 with the Phils in the regular season. Happ finished with a 2.93 ERA and 12 wins. Happ was the most consistent starting pitcher for the Phillies in the regular season. I am not saying that Happ is better than Cliff Lee at this point in their careers. But the point that I am strongly trying to make is that Happ should have been the Phillies #2 starter in the post-season.
Yes, I said #2. Ahead of Cole Hamels, who did not have a very good regular or post-season. I would have had Hamels as my #3 starter in the playoffs and Blanton as my #4.
In the World Series, I would have gone with a 3-man rotation and had Blanton in the bullpen. You have to use Lee on three days rest in that situation. It was do-or-die.
The lack of an efficient right-handed bat off the bench and as a DH was really evident against the Yankees. It could have made a tremendous difference.
The Future: The Phillies brass have some important decisions to make this offseason. One decision that already appears to have been made is that team will go in another direction at third base. The team chose not to pick up the option on Pedro Feliz. Feliz was up and down offensively in the regular season. And in the playoffs, especially the World Series, Feliz was pretty bad at the plate. The third baseman really needed to come up big against the Yankee left-handers, such as C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, and he did not.
Two key players for the Phillies are eligible for arbitration this offseason. Those players would be gold-glove centerfielder Shane Victorino and pitcher Joe Blanton. Both could receive large boosts in salary.

Whoever the team brings in to play third base, he had better not be too big a drop defensively from Feliz. I agree that the Fightin' Phils need to explore the option of another player at third, particularly because of Feliz's inconsistency with the stick. But don't downplay just how good Feliz was on most days with the glove.

The team's core players will be back in 2010. General manager Ruben Amaro needs to add some other pieces besides a third baseman to the roster. He [Amaro] has to improve the team's bench. In particular, a right-handed hitting utility guy who can play the infield and a right-handed hitting outfielder to give Raul Ibanez and Victorino a rest once in a while. For Ibanez, that rest may need to come a little more often-as the left fielder will turn 38 in June.

The Phillies are also in need of an efficient backup catcher to give Carlos Ruiz a rest from time to time (or if he [Ruiz] is to be injured). If you recall, Amaro traded away prospect Lou Marson to acquire Lee from the Cleveland Indians.

Let me speak on Ruiz for a bit. This guy has developed into an All-Star caliber catcher in my opinion. He was already a stellar defensive catcher. Ruiz calls an excellent game. And now he is becoming a dependable offensive player. Keep in mind, the strong-armed catcher hit .333 in the World Series and .385 in the playoff series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and .308 in the playoff series against the Colorado Rockies. Not too shabby.

I have great concern over Hamels. He had a poor year, yes, but more importantly can he recover from it? I don't have an answer to that. Hamels has to adopt a third pitch. The hitters in the league guessed right on his pitches far too often this past season. Whether he tries to regain trust and command of his curve ball or whether the 25-year-old lefthander develops another pitch, such as a cut fastball, Hamels must add another to his arsenal. Possessing 3 or more pitches is a must in today's game for a starter.
The Phillies brass must decide on whether to sign Cliff Lee to a long-term deal, simply let him walk after the final year of his contract, which is 2010, or trade the former American League Cy Young winner. I think losing Lee for nothing would be a horrible move, as the team gave up four prospects to get him. The Phillies should sign Lee to a long-term deal, in my opinion. Pitchers like this do not grow on trees.
Amaro has already told pitcher Brett Myers that he will not be back with the team.
Pitcher Jamie Moyer is now 47. He showed signs of his age this season. In 2009, Moyer often struggled to get out of the fifth inning. Nonetheless, Amaro said he [Moyer] is in the mix for the fifth starter spot next Spring.

The fifth starter spot is another area that may need to be addressed by the club. They certainly could go with a rotation of Lee, Hamels, Happ, Blanton, and Moyer next year. Or they could look elsewhere for the fifth guy. Kyle Kendrick is not the answer.
Ibanez was not the same player in the second half of this past season. But maybe there was reason for that. He [Ibanez] had surgery to fix a sports hernia in November. It has to be difficult swinging a bat with one of those. Hopefully, Ibanez can regain the form he had in the first half of last season.
Will the team bring relief pitcher Scott Eyre back for 2010? Does he want to come back? Eyre has talked about possibly retiring. He said that if he pitched next season, he would only pitch for Philadelphia. Eyre posted sound numbers in 2009. He had a 1.50 ERA, while the opposition hit just .206 against him.
Perhaps, Brad Lidge was hurt after all. Lidge had surgery in early November to remove a loose body from his throwing elbow. The Phillies desperately need the former All-Star closer to revisit his 2008 form.
Amaro has to improve the bullpen in general. Relief pitcher Chad Durbin did not have a very good year. And it appears that pitcher Chan Ho Park may not be back with the team. The Phillies are hoping that J.C. Romero will find his 2008 form as well when Spring Training rolls around.
The Fightin' Phils should be a real good team once again in 2010. But the playoffs are not guaranteed. They never are.
Pete's Picks for NFL Week 14, Sunday December 13, 2009

Detroit at Baltimore - The Pick: Ravens win 34 - 9
Buffalo at Kansas City - The Pick: Chiefs win 14 - 13
Green Bay at Chicago - The Pick: Bears win 19 - 14
Carolina at New England - The Pick: Patriots win 44 - 10
Miami at Jacksonville - The Pick: Dolphins win 20 - 17
Seattle at Houston - The Pick: Texans win 21 - 10
St. Louis at Tennessee - The Pick: Titans win 20 - 0
Denver at Indianapolis - The Pick: Colts win 20 - 19
N.Y. Jets at Tampa Bay - The Pick: Jets win 21 - 7
New Orleans at Atlanta - The Pick: Falcons win 24 - 23
Cincinnati at Minnesota - The Pick: Vikings win 30 - 27
Washington at Oakland - The Pick: Raiders win 13 - 7
San Diego at Dallas - The Pick: Cowboys win 21 - 20
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants - The Pick: Eagles win 17 - 13

Monday December 14, 2009
Arizona at San Francisco - The Pick: Cardinals win 24 - 20

The Eagles: First Quarter Report

Five games into the season, the Eagles hold a 3-2 record. They were supposed to beat the pitiful Oakland Raiders, but that didn't happen. The Eagles offense was horrible in the game. Quarterback Donovan McNabb was sacked six times and was hurried in several other instances. Even when McNabb did have time, he wasn't very good. I think he left his accuracy in Philly. McNabb completed under 48% of his passes in the contest.
The play-calling was not very good either. The team did not run the ball enough. Brian Westbrook ran the ball only 6 times in the contest. Gaining 50 yards on those few carries. The score was close throughout, but the running backs only carried the ball 11 times combined. You cannot generate balance from 11 runs and 46 pass attempts.
After 5 games, Philadelphia appears to be a slightly-above average team to me. The Raider game aside, I like a lot of things I see on offense. In the game against Tampa Bay, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin showed why the team selected him in the first round of this year's draft. He showed excellent speed and hands. Maclin will also catch the ball over the middle of the field, which is nice to see from a rookie. The University of Missouri product is also adept at making yards after a catch. I think this kid will get even better as the season goes along.
Another bright spot on offense has been rookie running back LeSean McCoy. The 5-10 tailback shows a real nifty style of running. He catches the ball very naturally. What has surprised me is his ability to block. He has adjusted to that part of the position much quicker than most young running backs. I have also been impressed with his ball-security. McCoy had some problems with fumbling in college, but we have not seen that in the first quarter of the season. McCoy looks like he could have a bright future. Brian Westbrook is still trying to regain the form that we are accustomed to seeing from him. I saw glimpses in the Raider game. I need to see more.
The offensive line appears to be a work-in-progress. It seems that one game the pass-blocking is good and the run-blocking is not so good. And in other games like the game against Oakland, the run-blocking was much more efficient than the pass-blocking.
The quarterback position has been interesting to date. We had a chance to see Kevin Kolb for the first time in a week where he had all of the repetitions in practice before the game. We actually got to witness Kolb in this situation twice. He made some good passes and he made some bad passes in the game against the New Orleans Saints. This is pretty much what you would expect from a young quarterback making his first start.
Kolb was extremely impressive against the Kansas City Chiefs. He showed the ability to make all of the necessary throws of an NFL quarterback. The ball came out quick. And Kolb's decision making was very good throughout the game. Granted, the Chiefs are not world-beaters, but we as fans just wanted to see something from Kolb. Mission accomplished.
McNabb was efficient in the game against the Carolina Panthers. He was exceptional in the game against Tampa, and he was ineffective in his game against Oakland. The thing that frustrates the fans of Philadelphia so much with regard to number five is his inconsistency. We should not be talking about inconsistency with a veteran quarterback, but far too often this is the only term that is suitable for him [McNabb] as a QB.
I am very concerned with the Eagle defense. Too often the front four does not generate enough pressure on the opposing quarterback. The secondary is left to cover for too long a period. And this is a recipe for big passing plays by the other team. I have not been impressed with the team's run defense either. At times, I am seeing a defensive line that is getting blown off of the football. And a linebacking core that is playing patty-cake with blockers. This front seven sorely misses Stewart Bradley as its anchor in the middle.
The special teams unit has had its share of erratic moments as well. From missed field goals, to fumbles, to penalties and poor tackling at critical points in games.

. Phillies Awards

Team MVP: I am giving this award to first baseman Ryan Howard. I think Chase Utley, Jason Werth, and Raul Ibanez each deserve some consideration. But I simply cannot look past Howard's power numbers. He [Howard] struck 45 homeruns and knocked in 141 runs. Considering the fact that Howard hit behind a leadoff hitter, in Jimmy Rollins, who batted below .250 for most of the year and had an on-base-percentage under .300, it's pretty amazing that he [Howard] had so many RBIs. The massive first baseman also scored over 100 runs (105). Howard was much improved in the field this past season, with improved throwing and glove-work. I don't think Howard will ever be compared with Pete Rose as far as fielding is concerned, but we can settle for adequate with these kinds of power numbers. I also like the fact that he [Howard] hit for a pretty fair average, .279, which was just 3 points below Utley.
Team Pitcher of the Year: J.A. Happ was the most consistent pitcher on the Phillies this past year. Happ posted terrific stats with a 12-4 record, coupled with a 2.93 ERA in 166 innings of work. The left-hander has a deceptive fastball. And he does a wonderful job of mixing his pitches. The fastball and changeup in particular. It was a pleasure to watch him pitch in 2009. I think the future is promising for this even-keeled 27-year-old.

League Awards

From the American League, my Player of the Year is Joe Mauer, catcher for the Minnesota Twins. Mauer is hands down the best catcher in baseball and one of the best players as well. Mauer hit a Major-League best, .365 this season while belting 28 home runs.
The Pitcher of the Year in the American League in 2009 was Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners.. Hernandez had a remarkable turnaround from the 2008 season, in which he was an unimpressive 9-11. This season Hernandez posted 19 wins and just 5 losses. He [Hernandez] also had an ERA of 2.49 and struck out 217 batters.
I am giving the award for Player of the Year in the National League to Albert Pujols, first baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols put up some remarkable numbers in 2009. The gold-glove first baseman led the Majors in home runs with 47 and drove in 135 runs. He also hit for a .327 average. And only struck out 64 times. To put that number in perspective, Ryan Howard struck out 186 times this year and hit 2 fewer home runs. Pujols is just about as good as it gets at the plate.
In the National League, I feel the Pitcher of the Year was another Cardinal, Adam Wainwright. He [Wainwright] had a National-League high 19 wins. The right-hander struck out 212 hitters with a 2.63 ERA. Wainwright proved to be a real horse in pitching 233 innings. The 6-7, 230 lb hurler should have his best years in front of him, for he just turned 28 at the end of August.

Pete's Picks for NFL Week 10, November 15, 2009

Atlanta at Carolina - The Pick: Falcons win 20 - 10
Buffalo at Tennessee - The Pick: Titans win 16 - 9
New Orleans at St. Louis - The Pick: Saints win 30 - 10
Cincinnati at Pittsburg - The Pick: Steelers win 16 - 13
Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets - The Pick: Jets win 19 - 13
Detroit at Minnesota - The Pick: Vikings win 24 - 13
Tampa Bay at Miami - The Pick: Dolphins win 20 - 7
Denver at Washington - The Pick: Broncos win 16 - 10
Kansas City at Oakland - The Pick: Raiders win 13 - 10
Philadelphia at San Diego - The Pick: Eagles win 20 - 17
Dallas at Green Bay - The Pick: Packers win 21 - 13
Seattle at Arizona - The Pick: Cardinals win 20 - 19
New England at Indianapolis - The Pick: Patriots win 24 - 20

Monday November 16, 2009

Baltimore at Cleveland - The Pick: Ravens win 25 - 10

The Flyers signed former Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery to a 1-year deal worth about $1.5 million. This spells the end of the Martin Biron era in Philadelphia. Emery has an incredibly checkered past, both hockey and non-hockey related, from spats with some of his own teammates to accusations of road rage. It definitely sounds as though Emery marches to the beat of his own drum.
The 6-2, 195 lb goaltender says that he is happy about having a chance to play with a good team in the NHL.
“I’m excited to be able to get a chance to play with a team that’s a contender and I’m grateful for the opportunity that’s being given,” said Emery. “I think I have the ability to play consistently. I’m athletic, but I try to rely on a system and make things as simple as possible.”
Flyers management likes the potential of Emery.
“We are extremely excited and happy to have entered into this agreement with Ray,” said general manager Paul Holmgren. “We believe Ray is a good, young goalie that has a unique blend of size, competitiveness and athleticism.”
The team is convinced that Emery's past is in the past and that none of the type of incidents that make a checkered past, checkered, will happen in the future.
"He is still a young guy," Holmgren said. "He is going to fit on our team from an age standpoint and from a competitive standpoint. He is a good fit for our team. We're really excited about this opportunity, not only for Ray but for the Flyers."
I am not as sure as the Flyers about the "good fit" thing. Let's not forget, the Senators bought out Emery's contract because they grew tired of his off-ice incidents as well as his inability to get along with some teammates.
The Flyers are banking on Emery's 18-12 record in the playoffs along with a 2.46 GAA in the postseason. Emery had his best playoff-run in 2007 when he went 13-7 with a 2.26 GAA to help lead Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen the club bring Biron back and add some defensemen. But what do I know?

The Sixers Hire A New Head Coach, Again
On May 29, the team hired Eddie Jordan as its new head coach. Jordan's last head coaching job was for the Washington Wizards. He led the Wizards to 4 straight playoff appearances before being fired after a 1-10 start in November of 2008.
The 76ers will run a version of the "Princeton Offense," which consists of backdoor cuts and precise passing. That sounds lovely. But do the Sixers currently have the personnel to run that type of offense? I would feel a lot better if Andre Miller was the point guard. Triggering back-door passes is one of his specialties. Apparently, Eddie Jordan would feel better with Miller at the one as well.
"You can't replace Andre Miller with a rookie, that's for sure, with a draft choice," Jordan said.
Agreed, but it seems highly unlikely that Miller will return to play for Philadelphia next season. If that is the case, general manager Ed Stefanski will need to bring in a starting-caliber point-man.
I have not seen enough consistency from Lou Williams to say that he could tote the majority of the minutes at lead guard. His decision-making is poor at times. Williams needs to be more resolute in his choices of whether to pass or create offense for himself.
Williams is also way too inconsistent with his shooting and shot selection. He has all the talent in the world, but he needs to fine tune just about every part of his game.
Jordan learned the finer points of the "Princeton Offense" from Pete Carril when he [Jordan] and Carril worked together with the Sacramento Kings. Jordan feels that the system is not difficult to learn, but it is a tough offense to coach.
One of the aspects that is required of this offense is a good passer from the high-post. Can Sam Dalembert fill this role? I say absolutely not; Elton Brand may be able to, however. The Sixers new head coach feels that Dalembert will help most on the defensive end. Let's see if Jordan can motivate the athletic center to play hard and within his capabilities every game. None of the previous head coaches has had any such luck.
Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young could be good candidates for the backdoor baskets that this offense will yield. Iguodala is one of the best finishers in the league. Jordan will need to decide whether or not Young and Iguodala can play on the court at the same time or will one need to spell the other. If one is to play shooting guard in the former scenario, then I say no.
Kudos to Stefanski for bringing in a bona fide shooter in Jason Kapono. In order to create enough space for all of the back-door cuts of the "Princeton Offense," you have to have good shooters. Kapono is certainly a good start to address that area of need. Philadelphia was dead-last in three-point shooting last season.
Kapono was acquired from the Toronto Raptors in a trade for forward Reggie Evans. The three-point marksman is one of the most accurate shooters from beyond the arc in the history of the league.
This team will be much better served with a mixture of good shooting and drives to the basket. Without sound shooting to stretch the defense, teams can pack in their defense to stop dribble penetration. Hopefully, Kapono can change some of that. With teammates like, Williams, Young, and Iguodala driving to the basket, the former UCLA star should see his fair share of open shots.

Phils Talk This was written after the Phillies were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in a weekend series.
Jimmy Rollins continues with his struggles at the plate this season. What I can't figure out is why manager Charlie Manual won't put him [Rollins] in the 6th hole, where the Phillies shortstop has been much more productive this year. Manual has been known to make the unpopular move for the better of the club in the past. So why not admit that Rollins is not getting the job done from the leadoff spot and give someone else a chance?
Rollins does not get on base enough to lead off. He [Rollins] is also popping the ball up entirely too often. His .217 batting average is simply unacceptable for a player of his talent.
If the Phillies are going to make a strong post-season run this year, they will have to be led by a healthy and productive Brad Lidge. Ryan Madson is a very good setup man, but he is not a closer. The pitching troubles in late innings this year, really make you appreciate what Lidge did last season.

Gone Too Soon
Unfortunately, long-time Action News sports director Gary Papa lost his battle with cancer on June 19. Papa became the sports director with Action News in 1990. Papa should be remembered not only for the charismatic manner in which he delivered the day's sports highlights, but for the courage he demonstrated in his battle with such a brutal disease. Papa remained vibrant through his last broadcast on May 13th. He will be missed by many.

In the first round, the Eagles traded up from 21 to 19 and selected Jeremy Maclin. The speedy wide-out from the University of Missouri has number-one receiver potential. I love this pick as I had Maclin rated as the top receiver in the 2009 draft. Maclin has excellent skills: he is swift in and out of his cuts, he has the speed to beat defensive backs on deep routes and he can run reverses. The 6-0, 200 lb. receiver will go over the middle of the field. Maclin is outstanding after the catch as he has the strength to break tackles. If opposing defenders don't wrap this guy up, look out, for Maclin will try to take it to the end zone every time he sees open space. He is also a terrific kickoff and punt-return man as he really sets up his blocks well.
The Eagles traded their second first-round pick (number 28) for Jason Peters, an offensive tackle from the Buffalo Bills. The Bills received a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft as well as a conditional pick in the 2010 draft. The 6-4, 340 lb. Peters will be the Eagles’ left tackle for many years to come. Upon trading for the behemoth offensive lineman, the Birds inked him [Peters] to a 6-year, $60 million deal. Eagles head coach Andy Reid called Peters the best left tackle in the National Football League. Peters is a converted tight end; he is extremely athletic for an offensive tackle. His best year came in 2006 when he surrendered only two sacks. He [Peters] is a definite upgrade from Tra Thomas. The Eagles could not have chosen a better offensive tackle with the 28th pick. This was an excellent deal for the Birds to make.
In the second round (53rd pick overall), the team took running back LeSean McCoy. The 5-10, 198 lb. tail back from the University of Pittsburgh is extremely elusive. He changes direction very swiftly and can stop on a dime and make people miss. McCoy has nice hands for a running back as he catches the ball very naturally coming out of the backfield. The Birds should be able to run many of the same plays with McCoy that they ran with Brian Westbrook. I've heard some people say that McCoy is just as good as Westbrook; that remains to be seen. McCoy has a lot of the same abilities of the Eagles star running back, but let's not forget how good Westbrook was in his prime. While McCoy is quick, he does not possess the breakaway speed Westbrook had when he came out of college. McCoy runs about a 4.55/40; Westbrook was a legitimate 4.4/40 guy when he was drafted out of Villanova. I love McCoy's talent-level, but he will need to improve on his blocking skills at this level and he must take good care of the football. McCoy has a tendency for fumbling which is a sure way to find your self on the bench in this league. He [McCoy] has a chance to be a real good football player if he can get those two aspects of his game under control.
In the fifth round (150th pick overall), the Eagles took Cornelius Ingram, a tight end. The University of Florida product did not play last year in college due to a torn ACL. The 6-4, 245 lb. tight end has the ability to get open down the seam. Ingram is very quick in and out of his breaks and mans the skills of a large wide receiver. The converted quarterback is too big for defensive backs to handle and too fast for linebackers to keep up with. Ingram is built like a power forward. He actually played basketball for the University of Florida as well. He will need to vastly improve on his blocking abilities. Ingram could be a real steal for the Eagles, being that they only had to use a 5th-rounder on him. He has a huge upside and possesses the talent to potentially be a real difference maker at the tight end or H-back positions.
The rest of the Bird’s draft choices will most likely contribute somewhere down the line; if they even make the team, that is. If the other draft picks do have any impact, it will probably be on special teams. I'm sure Victor Harris, the corner back Philadelphia selected in the 5th round (154th pick overall) fits this bill. He came from Virginia Tech, a team that excels in the area of special teams. Harris will probably have to play safety in the NFL as he lacks the foot-speed to cover fast wide receivers.
I am giving the Eagles an A for this year's draft. The acquisitions of Peters, as well as three very talented skill-position players in Maclin, McCoy, and Ingram make this a draft loaded with potential.

NFL talk
Just a thought: the Detroit Lions selected quarterback Matthew Stafford out the University of Georgia as the number one pick in this year's NFL draft. Stafford, who has yet to throw a pass in an NFL regular- season game will make more money than the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady this coming season. How insane is that? If you had "very" as the answer, you would be correct.

The Flyers’ needs
After losing a playoff series to the Pittsburg Penguins in two straight years, the Flyers have some real issues to address if they are going to take that next step. First and foremost, who will be their number one goaltender? It looks as though Antero Niittymaki's days with the organization will be over shortly. I guess the next question is: can the Flyers win a Stanley Cup with Martin Biron as their primary net-minder? If not, then who will the team employ for this job? Sit tight, folks, we should have the answer in a while.
Another need for the Fly-Boys is a defenseman with a strong shot from the point on power plays. That was lacking on the team's power play this season. Many thought Braydon Coburn could fill this role, but he was hesitant on too many occasions in this regard during the past year. A good shot from the point gets everything started, and then the forwards can put home the rebounds if there are any.
The team also needs a center who can consistently win faceoffs. Philadelphia lost far too many key faceoffs in the playoff series with the Penguins and during the regular season as well.
A tough defenseman who can skate would be a welcome addition. There is no sense in just bringing in any old tough defenseman - bring in somebody that can actually keep up with the better forwards in the league. The Flyers don't need any defensive liabilities.

What about the 76ers?
Samuel Dalembert's efforts against the Orlando Magic in game 6 of the Eastern Conference opening-playoff round was embarrassing. He was dominated by a guy not named Dwight Howard, who was suspended for the game, a game in which the Sixers should have won easily. Perhaps, the team thought their jerseys were enough to lead them to victory because their performance was pathetic.
Don't blame the coach for not firing the team up and all of that gibberish. Players play and give good or lame effort; coaches coach. End of story.
If and when Andre Miller leaves, the 76ers will take a step back. No one can convince me that losing one of the better point guards in the league with no proven player to replace him makes you a better team. Lou Williams has lots of ability, but he is far too inconsistent, and I am not sure he is a pure point guard. As I said before, this team cannot win on a regular basis with Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young playing shooting guard and small forward simultaneously. Neither player is a two-guard and never will be; they are both very good small forwards. But I believe Philadelphia needs to choose which of the two will be its starting small forward of the future and trade the other. This team is in desperate need of a good 2-guard. Is there a team willing to take on Dalembert's big contract in an offseason trade? I doubt it, but as the saying goes. Miracles do happen.

"Swing an' a long drive, there it is, #500, the career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt!" This is the call of the great Harry Kalas that will ring in my ears for the rest of my days. Everyone has their favorite "Harry call," this one happens to be mine.

Harry Kalas tragically died of heart disease on April 13, 2009. Harry might not have considered it to be as tragic as we all do, however. For he took his last breath in the place where he gave his heart and soul on every single call he made since 1961, the broadcast booth.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on March 26, 1936. Harold Norbert Kalas was raised in Naperville, Illinois. He graduated from Naperville High School in 1954. While at Cornell College in Iowa, a blind speech professor of Harry's told him, "you have the kind of voice that could make it in radio." The professor advised Harry to transfer to the University of Iowa because its resources were more suitable to the advancement of his broadcast career. Harry became connected with the University of Iowa radio station, WSUI. Kalas broadcasted many different sports including baseball, football, track and field as well as swimming for the university.

After Kalas graduated from Iowa, he was drafted by the Army. He was sent to Hawaii to train in infantry. When his period of responsibility with the Army had ended, Harry stayed in Hawaii. He became the broadcaster of the Hawaii Islanders, a minor league baseball team. Kalas had to use his creativity to recreate road games. He broadcast the Hawaii Islanders' games from 1961 to 1965.

Harry got his big break with the Houston Astros broadcast team in 1965. In 1971, he joined the Philadelphia Phillies organization to succeed broadcaster Bill Campbell. Harry worked in the booth with By Saam and Richie Ashburn until Saam retired in 1975. Kalas was the master of ceremonies for the opening of Veterans Stadium in 1971, the Vet's closing in 2003, and the opening of Citizens Bank Park in 2004.

Kalas said that Ashburn was a huge help to him in his replacement of Campbell, to which some did not initially take kindly, mostly because of the fact that Campbell was considered a Philadelphia legend in his own right. Little did people know, the genesis of another legendary broadcaster was about to take place in Philadelphia.

Kalas and Ashburn worked together in the booth beautifully. Harry would set Whitey up for his terrific one-line deliveries. And we as Philadelphia Phillies fans ate it up. The duo broadcast games together until Ashburn's death in 1997. The two had formed a wonderful friendship over their time together as broadcasters. Harry had often said, not a game would pass during the course of a broadcast, where something in the booth would happen to remind him of "His Whiteness" as Harry often referred to Ashburn. "I think of him often," Kalas had said regarding the Hall of Fame centerfielder.

Over the years, Harry touched so many people with the passion in which he called a baseball game, myself included. I had the pleasure of listening to him broadcast Phillies games during my youth in South West Philadelphia and as an adult in Delaware County. Harry's baritone delivery was as soothing as mother's milk. It was a constant on a brilliant Sunday afternoon in the summer. Whether it was expelled from a television or radio, everyone in the Delaware Valley recognized the voice of Harry Kalas.

Everyone in the Philadelphia Phillies organization was saddened on April 13th. “We lost our voice today," Phillies president David Montgomery said. "He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization."

Kalas impressed upon the lives of many players, past and present. "He found the good in everybody, especially the players," former Phillies pitcher Larry Andersen said. "He loved the players. He loved being around them."

"I heard Harry's voice probably for the first time as a 9-year-old kid. I grew up listening to Harry," said 46-year-old Jamie Moyer, who pitched for the Phillies on the day of Harry's passing. "He was just a great ambassador for the game."

Former Phillie Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt considered Kalas a good friend.

"Harry meant a lot to many players over the years," Mike Schmidt said. "And to players like me who considered Harry family. We traveled together; we went to dinner together; we played cards on the planes together; we did a lot together. He was a wonderful guy with a wonderful smile. The best way I can sum up Harry's relationship to me; he gave me my name. He gave me my sports name. People all over the country refer to me by the name Harry gave me: ‘Michael Jack’. Every time I hear it now, the rest of my life, his face and his smile will resonate."

He [Kalas] called every one of Schmidt's 548 major league home runs. Kalas' voice could also be heard during NFL highlights. Harry joined NFL Films as a narrator in 1975. NFL Films president Steve Sabol said of Kalas, "In many ways, Harry is the narrator of our memories. His voice lives on not only on film, but inside the heads of everyone who has watched and listened to NFL Films."

Kalas received the Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 from the Baseball Hall of Fame. An award given each year to a broadcaster for their major contributions to baseball. Think about it, Harry called over 5,000 games for the Fightin' Phils. As Whitey used to say, "Hard to believe, Harry".

What a treat it was for us all over his illustrious career. We had the pleasure here in the Philadelphia area of listening to one of the greatest sports broadcasters of all-time. One of the special aspects of the relationship between Harry and Phillies fans is that we truly knew how good we had it during his career. Philadelphia fans didn't take Harry the K for granted. We treasured every single call by the Hall of Famer.

For Harry, his love for baseball began as a ten-year-old when Marcus Hook native, Mickey Vernon, took young Kalas around the clubhouse to meet all of his teammates. Vernon was playing for the Washington Senators at the time. For many of us, our love for the game began when we first heard the golden-piped broadcaster describe what he was seeing on the baseball diamond.

Even for those who never had the pleasure of meeting the magnificent game-caller, Harry broadcasted in such a personal manner, that many fans felt as though he was their friend. He was certainly a fixture in many of our lives for a number of years. Harry the K's voice will echo in our heads forever. One thing is certain, there will never be another like Harry Kalas.

As I see it, the Birds certainly have needs that glow more brightly than others when considering positions on their current roster. The need for an offensive tackle or two jumps to the head of the line, so does depth at running back, tight end, defensive end, and wide receiver. Every team can use potentially great players no matter what positions those players hold. Here is a look at some of the players the Eagles could potentially choose in this year's NFL draft:

William Beatty, of the University of Connecticut, might be a good fit for the Eagles. The offensive tackle certainly has the athletic ability to play left tackle in the National Football League and excel in doing so. Beatty is around 6-6 and 305 lbs. He will need to add bulk, but plays stronger than his frame. Beatty ran a solid 5.12/40 at the combine. He has exceptional footwork and is capable of handling speed rushers off the corner. Beatty has the ability to pull and get into the second level, which would serve him well on potential screen plays (and we all know how much the Eagles like to utilize the screen pass with Brian Westbrook). The UConn offensive tackle was a three-year starter in college and achieved the honor of first-team all-Big East. I would love to see the Birds snatch this kid up with the 21st pick in the first round. Beatty has the potential to be a 10-12 year player at left tackle in the NFL.

Chris "Beanie" Wells could be the power running back head coach Andy Reid covets to complement Brian Westbrook. The former Ohio State tailback has the size to be a workhorse-style running back in the NFL at 6-1, 238 lbs. Wells is a strong, powerful, runner. He is excellent in short-yardage and goal-line situations. It is awfully difficult to bring him [Wells] down once he has built up a head of steam. His style is strictly north and south, but he also commands 4.59/40 speed. That size and speed are a difficult combination to find in a running back. Wells’ running style is similar to Brandon Jacobs of the Giants, and he could eventually fill a congruous role with the Eagles. Like Jacobs, however, Wells is not going to offer much in the receiving department. Wells is projected as a mid-late first round selection.

Brandon Pettigrew is the best the tight end crop has to offer in this draft. Pettigrew, out of Oklahoma State, is absolutely huge at 6-6, 260 lbs. He does not have incredible speed and is not considered a down-the-seam type of tight end but Pettigrew can work the short to intermediate area of the football field as well as outrun linebackers, and he will be an absolute load for opposing safeties and corners to tackle. He [Pettigrew] should also be a real asset in goal-line situations as he is blessed with excellent hands. Pettigrew has the reputation for being a more than capable in-line blocker as well. This promising tight-end prospect could be there when the Eagles choose at 28 in the first round.

Michael Johnson is a defensive end from Georgia Tech. Johnson is quite tall at 6-6, and is around 262 lbs. He has the prototype NFL defensive end physique, and actually has the type of frame in which he could add some weight. Johnson possesses long arms and good athleticism and has excellent natural ability, but has really not yet lived up to his full potential. The lengthy defensive end posted 7 sacks in his senior season, but many feel that he should have had more. Johnson shows good explosiveness in limited space, so quarterbacks could have a difficult time escaping from Johnson once he gets clear of offensive linemen. He needs to get better against the run as he has a tendency to overrun running plays. He has more of a pass-rushing mentality. Johnson could be a great player or he could be a potential bust, but no one can refute this kid's potential. He [Johnson] is a likely late first-round pick.

Donald Brown could be an interesting option for the Eagles at running back. The University of Connecticut product has a terrific stutter-step, and he has legit 4.5/40 speed. He can also catch the football as he grabbed 21 passes this past season. Brown was basically UConn's whole offense. He rushed for 2083 yards in 2008 with a 5.7 yard average, and that's with other teams knowing he was going to get the ball. Brown runs with excellent balance and hits the hole hard. He packs a pretty good punch in his 5-10, 210- lb-body. Brown is constantly moving forward; he does not waste a lot of movement. He [Brown] sets up blocks beautifully as he plays with great patience. He will need polishing in the area of pass-blocking. The versatile back was named 2008 Big East Offensive Player of the Year. Brown is projected to go between rounds 2 and 3. I really like this guy; he would be a nice fit for the Birds' style of offense.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin out of Missouri is a possibility with the 21st pick. Maclin has pretty good size at 6-1, 200 lbs. He has excellent speed and is difficult for opposing corners to keep up with. Maclin also runs pretty fair routes, he is an excellent punt and kickoff returner and was terrific on reverses and rushes out of the backfield this past season. Maclin could make an immediate impact on special teams as a pro, but may require some time to polish his plethora of skills as a wide receiver. He also needs to become more steady while catching the football.

Percy Harvin is a wide receiver from the University of Florida who will likely be taken in the latter part of the first round. Harvin has very good speed: he has been clocked at 4.41/40. He has good hands and a strong build at 5-11, 192 lbs and will work over the middle of the football field. He has the ability to break tackles and also possesses sound body control. He is not a punt or kickoff returner. He [Harvin] is rather unpolished as a route runner. Harvin does have tremendous ability and could become a nice NFL wide receiver with proper coaching.

Phillies: It's that time again

The Phillies would like to come out of April with many more wins than losses this season. Yes, they are a good enough second-half team to make up for a poor start, but why put off until July what you can begin accomplishing in April?

Both Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz appear as though they will man their respective positions come season's start. The opening day lineup will probably be similar to last year's lineup at season's end, except for the fact that newly acquired left fielder Raul Ibanez will be in the five hole instead of Pat Burrell, who is now ironically with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The starting pitchers will be Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, and either J.A. Happ, Chan Ho Park, or Kyle Kendrick in the fifth spot. Park has probably had the best spring training of all of these candidates. But he [Park] may be a bigger help in the bullpen, especially in the absence of J.C. Romero until June.

Matt Stairs, Greg Dobbs, and Eric Bruntlett should lead a very good bench for the Phillies once again this season. The team is hoping that Geoff Jenkins will have a much better season this year than last with the stick. Jenkins hit a measly .246 with 9 homers and 29 RBIs in 293 at-bats in 2008 and will also attempt to cut down on the Ks this season - he struck out 68 times last year. Jenkins is a dead, low-ball hitter and gets into trouble when he chases high fastballs. Jenkins just doesn't possess the bat speed to catch up with pitches of this nature.

The bullpen should include RHP Chad Durbin, LHP Scott Eyre, RHP Clay Condrey, LHP Romero when he comes back, possibly Park or Happ, RHP Ryan Madson in the set-up role, and last season's team MVP Brad Lidge at closer.

The Phillies should have nice depth at Triple A this season if anyone gets hurt or an emergency call-up is necessary. Jason Donald has proven to be able to play short stop, second base, and third base this spring. Catcher Lou Marson has the potential to be a star some day. Power-hitting outfielder John Mayberry showed flashes of brilliance this spring and of course, pitcher Carlos Carrasco has outstanding stuff. If anyone in the rotation struggles, and Carrasco pitches well with the Iron Pigs, he [Carrasco] may not be a bad option. But the Fightin' Phils coaches and management are hoping Carrasco is not needed this season with the big club.

There is no reason to believe that the Phillies shouldn't win the N.L. East again this season and contend for another World Series championship. The talent, know-how, and moxie are certainly in place for this team to do just that.

The 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies are down in Clearwater preparing for the grind of another major league season. The Fightin' Phils will work diligently on the fundamentals such as fielding, hitting, and throwing to the right base and all of that kind of stuff. Those things are extremely important, yes, but in order to repeat, you have to have the talent as well.

One key component for the home team will be their first baseman. Ryan Howard showed up to spring training early and approximately 20 lbs lighter. Howard signed a 3-year, $54 million deal in early February. This was a smart move for both sides. The Phillies and Howard will not have to deal with the unpleasant nature of arbitration for the next three offseasons. And most importantly, the power-hitting first baseman can concentrate solely on baseball, and forget about the amount of ducats his offensive production will yield.

“I think the biggest thing was trying to get something done as far as, not having to go to arbitration,” Howard said. “The talks were actually very good. Back and forth, pretty quick.”

Howard is now signed through the 2011 season. He led the majors in 2008 with 48 home runs and 146 runs-batted-in. He [Howard] will need to improve on his defense in spring training and beyond as he made far too many errors last year. But for now, everyone seems to be content that Howard's contract situation is behind them.

“Both sides were happy with it,” Howard said. “I thought we were able to get a deal where both sides felt good about it.”

Chase Utley will of course be the Phillies starting second baseman. The only question is: When? Utley is recovering from offseason hip surgery. Will the all-star four be ready for opening day? Utley says that he is ahead of schedule. That is good to hear. This team needs the best second baseman [Utley] in baseball in order to successfully defend its World Series crown.

Jimmy Rollins wants to get back to the form he displayed in 2007, when he took home the National League MVP trophy. Rollins played his usual stellar defense last season, but his 2008 offensive production was down from recent years past. He [Rollins] hit only 11 home runs and knocked in 59 RBIs in 2008 compared to his 30 home runs and 94 RBIs of 2007. I know that was a dream season for Rollins offensively, but even if you look at his 2006 numbers in which he hit 25 home runs and drove in 83 runs, there was a pretty significant difference between his 2008 offensive stats. But probably the stat that the Phillies would like to see their starting shortstop improve on from 2008 is his number of runs scored. Rollins scored only 76 runs last season, which is far less than the 139 runs he scored in 2007 and the 127 he [Rollins] scored in 2006. I think the club would be happy with 100 runs scored from Jimmy, anything else would be a bonus.

Pedro Feliz is looking to bounce back from a season which saw him put up power numbers that were not as inflated as he would have liked (14 home runs, 58 RBIs in 2008), but back problems were an issue for the slick-fielding third baseman after the All-Star break last season. Feliz had a stint on the disabled list that lasted nearly a month from the end of July to the end of August.

Feliz is currently recovering from a lumbar discectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove part of a problem disc in the lower back, that he had in November. The Phillies are not sure when he [Feliz] will return to action.

In the meantime, the Phillies will take a look at other players at the hot corner, such as prospect, Jason Donald. Greg Dobbs is also an option at third if Feliz is out for an extended period of time. Donald is a natural shortstop, but he could see some time at third base as well as second base this Spring, particularly in light of the uncertain return timetables of both Feliz and Utley.

In center field, gold glover Shane Victorino is the main stay. Victorino was a real lightning rod for the Fighin' Phils in their World Series run in 2008. He made many big-time plays in the field as well as coming up with clutch hits. But no hit was more clutch than the grand slam he hit in game 2 of the NLDS off of Milwaukee Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia. The huge knock was actually Victorino's first ever grand slam in a major league uniform. Did I mention he was clutch?

Jason Werth has earned the job as the everyday right fielder. Werth had a breakout season in 2008, with 24 home runs and 67 RBIs in 418 at bats. The sky is the limit for Werth, who has true 5-tool ability. He [Werth] has very good speed (20 steals in 2008); he can hit for power, he is a good fielder (only 2 errors last season); he has a strong arm (9 assists in 2008, two better than Victorino); and he has the ability to hit for average, as he is a good contact hitter as well as the Phillies best hitter with 2 strikes.

Raul Ibanez will be the Phillies new left fielder. He replaces Pat Burrell, who played nine seasons with Philadelphia. Ibanez was signed as a free agent from the Seattle Mariners. Ibanez hit .293 in 2008 with 23 home runs, 110 RBIs, and hit 43 doubles as well. He [Ibanez] is one of five major league outfielders to drive in at least 100 runs in each of the past three seasons.

“He’s a good hitter, a good contact hitter,” Manuel said. “He’s going to put the ball in play hard. He makes good contact.”

The Phillies signed Ibanez to a 3-year, $31.5 million contract. Ibanez is no stranger to the Phillies tradition.

“Growing up as a kid, I watched this team with Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Garry Maddox, Pete Rose,” Ibanez said. “It’s kind of neat for me to put on the red shoes and the pants and think I’m a part of something, a tradition that’s been there for a long time and goes beyond any of us in the clubhouse.”

Carlos Ruiz will be the team's starting catcher on most days. The team also acquired Ronny Paulino from the Pittsburg Pirates. Paulino will have to beat out Chris Coste in order to win a spot on the roster as the second catcher. A wildcard in this 4-player race is talented prospect Lou Marson. Marson will be the Phillies starting catcher someday, when is probably up to him. He was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Some felt that Marson was the team's best player.

Marson has the potential to be a .300 hitter in the majors. He has a reputation for being a patient hitter with some pop in his bat. He is also an extremely good defensive catcher. He [Marson] threw out nearly 40 percent of would-be-stealers at Reading last year.

The starting rotation is pretty well set from starters one through four. The real competition will be for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Cole Hamels might be the best left-handed pitcher in the majors. He is certainly one of the best. The Phils ace would probably like to give up fewer home runs, being the perfectionist that he is. Hamels looked like a grizzled veteran in last year's playoffs where he went 4-0. The higher the stakes were, the better Hamels got. The 2008 World Series MVP is a legitimate Cy Young candidate.

Brett Myers can rest assured that he is now a starting pitcher., and just happens to be the Phillies number 2 starter. Myers has the stuff to be as good as Hamels. He just needs to be consistent. I still don't think there is a better curve ball in baseball when Myers has control of it and is locating his fastball.

Jamie Moyer will be back in the third spot in the rotation after signing a 2-year deal for $16 million. The 46-year-old pitcher had one of the best years of his career in 2008. Why shouldn’t we expect a similar year from the consummate pro hurler? I can’t say enough about the value that Moyer brings to this pitching staff, both on the field and in the clubhouse.

Joe Blanton will be the Fightin' Phils 4th starter. Blanton is at his best when he is keeping the baseball down to hitters. The 28-year-old showed a lot of promise in his win in game 4 of the World Series. Blanton needs to be steady with his fastball and his 12-to-6 deuce will be more effective as will his changeup and slider. All of which he can throw quite well when he is on his game. Blanton has won 16 games in the past with Oakland, which is not too bad for the number 4 guy in your rotation.

The fifth spot in the starting rotation will be awarded to the most worthy candidate. Kyle Kendrick, prospect Carlos Carrasco, Chan Ho Park, and J.A. Happ will vie for the job. I would love to see Happ or Carrasco win the job, as I feel that both have much higher upsides than the favorite to win the fifth spot, Kyle Kendrick. Yes, Kendrick has won some games in the past, but with an extremely high ERA and limited tools in the shed.

What a comfort it is to have a shut-the-door closer on this team. Brad Lidge was perfect last season in 41 save attempts. I have not seen a better closing pitcher in this town. No way the Phillies win the World Series without Lidge in 2008.

Ryan Madson is developing into one of the better setup men in the National League. He [Madson] will try to build on his success from last season. As he now has a role defined for him on this club. The 28-year-old right hander was inked to a 3-year, $12 million deal in January.

The Phillies will try to fill the absence of J.C Romero until he can return from his suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Scott Eyre was outstanding for Philadelphia after his acquisition from the Cincinnati Reds last season. The left-hander posted a 3-0 record with a 1.88 ERA in 19 appearances for the club.

Chad Durbin was terrific out of the bullpen last season. He [Durbin] won 5 games and sported a 2.87 ERA in 2008.

Chan Ho Park also figures to play a part in the bullpen if he doesn't win the 5th position in the Phils rotation.

The Phillies seem to have different people step up in different parts of every season in recent memory. Chase Utley is usually the player who carries the team in the early part of the season, and Ryan Howard in the latter part. Mid-season, what Charlie Manuel calls "hittin' weather," is when everyone's bats seem to pick up. I suppose this season will not be much different. The one aspect that was pretty constant for the Fightin' Phils last year was their pitching. That will need to continue if they are to repeat as World Champions in 2009. It doesn't really matter how you win, though, 10-2 or 3-2. Because a favorable end justifies the means.

What lead to the Birds winning 4 out of their last 5 contests and a miraculous playoff invitation? The answer is several things, with the first obviously being a far more even blend of run and pass. We all know that Eagles head coach Andy Reid loves to throw the ball. But running the ball at about a 40% clip to 60% pass will make the passing game that much more effective, especially when you have one of the game's best running backs behind the quarterback, namely Brian Westbrook.

Though Westbrook's production was down a good bit from last season's totals. He [Westbrook] rushed for 936 yards with a 4.0 yards-per-carry average this year, which is down significantly from his 1333 yards on the ground at a 4.8 yard-per-carry clip in 2007. Westbrook also had less production in the passing game in which he caught 54 balls for 402 yards this year, as opposed to a whopping 90 receptions for 771 yards in 2007.

And let's face it. Brian Westbrook is a great football player when he is healthy, but he is injury-prone, plain and simple. He'll get hurt on plays that honestly, I have a difficult time seeing how. But the fact remains that he is Philadelphia's best player. As Westbrook goes, so go the Eagles, as was proven on that 71-yard touchdown reception against the Vikings to seal the playoff victory.

Just the threat of Westbrook opens things up in the passing game, for if a team only keeps seven in the box, and the offensive line gets things blocked up, Westbrook will have a party in the open field. He remains one of the most deadly runners in football once he is beyond the linebackers.

Another reason for the turnaround was the benching of quarterback Donovan McNabb in the Baltimore Ravens game. Though, I do think the timing was odd; it definitely helped to snap the talented signal-caller out of his funk.

Should McNabb have been benched? Absolutely, he was playing terribly. There was rumor that Kevin Kolb would have kept the job as starting quarterback if he had played better, but he did not. Of course, many quarterbacks struggle against the vaunted Baltimore Raven defense, so let's not be too hard on Kolb. But that's another story. Anyway, McNabb returns as the starter on Thanksgiving against the Arizona Cardinals; the Eagles destroy them. And the march to the post-season has a new genesis.

McNabb and others will tell you that the benching had nothing to do with his [McNabb's] better play, but it clearly did. I just wish McNabb would chill with the weird comments, such as when he eluded to the benching in his fraudy joke about none of the Giants’ players being benched during the team's [the Giants] late-season struggles at regular season's end. He played it off as a joke, but that comment was laced with a dash of phony. As I've said before, number 5 needs to get over the hyper-sensitivity and just play football when his number is called.

A third reason for the Birds’ in-season turnaround was changes on defense. One change being the benching of cornerback Lito Sheppard. Sheppard fell so far down the depth chart that he is not even the team's third cornerback. That job now belongs to Joselio Hanson, and rightfully so. Let me just say that I feel Sheppard is overrated.

He [Sheppard] is far too inconsistent. He is not a very physical corner. He looks into the backfield too often, something that I noticed when he was at Florida as well. And he gives way too much of a cushion to opposing wide receivers, which drives defensive coordinator Jim Johnson crazy.

Hanson is probably not as gifted an athlete as Sheppard, but he is a better football player because he does not emulate all of the flaws of Sheppard, which I mentioned above. In short, Hanson is a smarter, more physical cornerback. He also gives much better effort. Look for Sheppard to be traded in the offseason.

Brian Dawkins made the Pro Bowl this season, but the best safety on this team presently is Quintin Mikell. If the Eagles could have only had one safety go to the Pro Bowl, it should have been Mikell. If you want to go strictly by the numbers, Mikell had 3 interceptions versus Dawkins 1. He [Mikell] also had 93 tackles versus Dawkins 75 tackles. But forget all of that number stuff. Mikell is the better safety at this point in his career.

Don't get me wrong, Dawkins is still an extremely effective football player and safety. It's just that now he is playing more like a strong safety rather than a coverage safety. Dawk can no longer cover the way he did let's say, five years ago. There was a time when Dawkins could run with many wide receivers, no more though. His new role is to play around the line of scrimmage and attack the run more. Dawkins is also still a very efficient blitzer. He has always had a wonderful knack for forcing fumbles by the other team. Of course, you will still see number 20 drilling the opposing team's receivers in the secondary, separating them from the football. He [Dawkins] just doesn't get there as swiftly as he did in years past.

Mikell is now the team's best cover safety. Though Mikell didn't make the Pro Bowl, he did achieve Second Team All-Pro this season, arguably, a more indicative honor.

The replacement of Omar Gaither as the starting weak-side linebacker with Akeem Jordan made a huge difference in the front seven. Jordan is a real solid all-around linebacker. He can cover and he takes on blocks well. He also keeps things contained on his side of the football field on running plays. All of which Gaither was not doing very well this season. Another thing the presence of Jordan did, was to light a fire under strong-side linebacker Chris Gocong. Gocong is now attacking and shedding blocks in a much more aggressive manner, and just playing better football overall. This is a dynamite linebacking core, with the best of the bunch being Stewart Bradley in the middle. Bradley should also be taking his 108 regular season tackles to Hawaii.

I believe another reason the Eagles made the playoffs this season is due to the reemergence of David Akers. He [Akers] definitely got his confidence back this season as he was 8 out of 10 on kicks in between 40-49 yards this season. He only hit 1 out of 6 from that range last year. He [Akers] was even golden on 2 attempts from 50+ yards this year. So, Akers was definitely born again hard in 2008 - a good sign for the best kicker in Eagles history.

NFC Championship Assessment
Let's face it, the Eagles did not show up to play football in the first half of their matchup with Arizona, and it took them far too long to get started. Quarterback Donovan McNabb missed some throws that I'm sure he would like to have back. And the defense struggled to get off the field for a good part of the day. Thirty two points is far too many for Arizona - and let's give the Cardinals some credit; they played extremely well.

Do I think it was a successful season for the Birds? Yes, this team went further than many thought they would. It was a small miracle that they even got into the post-season. Remember, wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who was the team's best receiver in 2007 missed a good portion of this year and Brian Westbrook was bothered by knee-troubles all season long. Those are two key offensive components for the Eagles. I see a lot of promise for this team. But that conversation is for another day.

50 for J.C.
J.C. Romero claims that he was victimized in his suspension of 50 games for taking the product 6-OXO Extreme, a supplement that raises testosterone levels. Romero says that he has been wronged; that he should not have received such a harsh sentence, and that he did not know that the supplement contained a substance that is banned by MLB.

I say that the real victims here are the Phillies as they now must scramble to replace one of major league baseball's best left-handed relief pitchers, and an extremely important part of the Phils bullpen. Romero could have had his sentence reduced to 25 games if he had just admitted guilt, but pride got the better of him. And now the reigning World Series champs will be without his [Romero's] services until June.

Let me just say this. These supplements that people buy and then take from particular vitamin stores are not held to any standard as they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Translation: the companies that produce them can fill those bottles with anything. Just because a bottle says it contains 50 grams of pure creatine monohydrate, doesn't mean it's so. Be careful when consuming and ingesting supplements of any kind, folks. Romero should have used better judgment, especially in light of the keen eye in which the major league higher-ups are watching its players and what is detected in their bodily systems.

Flying High
The Flyers have regained their form of last season. A season in which they showed so much promise before losing to the better-manned Pittsburg Penguins in the playoffs. This is a dangerous hockey team, the Flyers that is, which is loaded with young talent. Much of its core players are barely 24-years-old, defenseman Braydon Coburn (not yet 24), Mike Richards (soon to be 24), and Jeff Carter (just turned 24), to name a few.

When you consider a wealth of talented goal scorers, in Carter, Richards, Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell, Mike Knuble, and Joffrey Lupul, a clutch scorer in Scottie Upshall, and let's not forget what Danny Briere can do, this team should not struggle to light the lamp. Add a handful of solid defensemen and two goalies with GAAs under 3.00, and you have a legitimate Stanley Cup contender on your hands. Of course, health will always be a major concern. But as long as this team is relatively healthy come playoff time, the orange and black can skate with anyone in the NHL.

The Philadelphia 76ers fired head coach Maurice Cheeks on December 13 as the team was not responding to Cheeks for some reason. The Sixers had lofty hopes of challenging Boston and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference coming into the season, but the team has not fulfilled those expectations up to this point. The Sixers were beaten in a home-and-home series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that seemed to be too much weight for the camel to carry.

I said at the start of the season that I believed Philadelphia, with the addition of Elton Brand, could win anywhere from 48 to 50 games. This basketball team is nowhere near that pace at present. Assistant general manager Tony DiLeo takes the reigns as head coach, at least until the end of the season, when he and the rest of the team will be evaluated to the fullest.

DiLeo has certainly paid his dues with the Sixers as he has been with the team in some way, shape, or form for nearly twenty seasons. DiLeo has a very good basketball mind as far as talent evaluation and knowledge of the game. Now, he takes on one of the toughest occupations to succeed in, coaching an NBA team. DiLeo certainly knows each of these players well, having scouted some of them since as early as the high school ranks.

Can DiLeo translate all of that knowledge of what players should do to win basketball games in the National Basketball Association to wins? We'll have to wait and see. Yes, in the end, that is what it comes down to in any professional sport: wins, and how many can a team achieve under the guidance of a head coach.

From where I sit, this team was not playing up to its talent level under Cheeks. Early on, we kept hearing that the team needed to adjust to playing with Brand. It got old after a while. Adding a great player should make you a better team, not worse. For whatever reason, the team had horrible starts two seasons in a row under Cheeks despite promising finishes the seasons before.

We need to see this team play well from the start to the end of the season. That hasn't happened for this basketball franchise in a while, and sadly enough, it certainly was not happening under Cheeks.

I saw a team that was not playing with the same measure of desire on defense as it did at season's end last year. I think that is what troubled Sixers' president Ed Stefanski most, and what led to the firing of Cheeks. It's a change that had to be made.

I don't think that is the only change that needs to be made, however. The hard truth of the matter is that this team has one too many small forwards. Because that is what Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala are. Andre Iguodala is not a shooting guard, and I stress shooting here. Iguodala is one of the better threes in the game, but he is not a two, end of story.

Stefanski needs to decide whether the team is going to keep Andre Iguodala or Thaddeus Young as the Sixer's starting three-man. I know it will be an extremely tough decision, but this team cannot win consistently with both Iguodala and Young on the floor on a regular basis. Who do I believe has the greater upside of the two? Thaddeus Young. You notice I didn't hesitate? I really like what Iguodala brings to the table as a small forward, so don't get me wrong, but I believe in the long-run Young brings more.

Young is a live wire. He is long. He's a solid defensive player. He rebounds. He possesses an extremely good shooting touch. He can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. And he has that innate quality of always being around the basketball.

I remember when Billy King drafted Young, I was thinking, Young is a straight-up small forward; this team needs a two guard that can shoot the ball consistently, but they were doing that best-available-athlete thing, which is lovely, but this team needed a shooting guard then, and it still needs one. Willie Green is not a starting 2 on a good NBA team. He is a far too inconsistent a shooter and scorer.

Another problem is that Sam Dalembert has not learned how to play with Brand. He needs to realize that the team's needs for him have not changed, block and alter shots, rebound, run the floor (all the time), finish when you are around the basket, be aware that the ball may be coming your way, so be ready, and hit the occasional mid-range jump shot, but every now and then Sam forgets. DiLeo needs to remind him, every game if necessary, because Dalembert is dripping with talent, what he must do for success once in a while. Every player is put together different, and this is just the way it is with Sam. I am sure that many coaches would love to have a center with his talents. DiLeo talked about "attention to detail," well, keeping Dalembert focused is a matter that needs to be kept up with, for the upside makes Philadelphia a much better basketball team.

Stefanski will also have to address whether or not the team wishes to keep the services of Andre Miller beyond this season. Miller is one of the better point guards in the NBA. But does he want to stay in Philadelphia, and does the team want to commit to him for the next several years?

Lastly, I have heard some chatter about Elton Brand not being the same player he was. Okay, maybe the Achilles injury Brand suffered has slowed him a bit, but it must not have slowed him too much because opposing teams are continuing to run double-teams his way. Other teams will not double-team a player if he can't play. Elton Brand is still one of the best power forwards in the NBA.

The other players need to be ready to shoot the ball when they receive it from Brand out of a double-team, get their feet under them, and make shots. This team passes up far too many open jumpers. I see guys time and time again passing up wide open looks and dribbling into more difficult ones. That has to stop.

The 76ers need some players who can flat-out shoot the basketball. I don't see any on this roster right now. The best teams always have a nice blend of shooters and athletes. Shooters kill double-teams.

BCS nonsense
May we please have a playoff in college football already? Texas, at 11-1, has as much of a claim to be in the National Title game as Florida or Oklahoma. In fact, Texas totally outplayed the Sooners on their home field in October. All of this gibberish about how a loss early is better than a loss late drives me batty. A loss is a loss. Florida's home loss to Mississippi is just as bad, if not worse than Penn State's loss to Iowa on the road, or USC's lone loss on the road to a tough Oregon State team. What do the teams that beat USC, Penn State, and Florida all have in common? Answer, they all finished with records of 8-4.

The only difference in this equation is that Florida, who, I repeat, lost at home to the Rebels, is playing for a national championship, while the Nittany Lions, Trojans, and Longhorns are forced to glance through the window. It's a joke.

My solution: Take the top 8 teams and let them have a playoff. You can use each of the four sites of the BCS bowl games for the first four games, then use two of those sites for the two semi-final contests between the victors, and then of course one of the sites for the championship, the real championship I might add. You rotate the sites of the semi-finals and championship game each year, and everybody should be happy. Of course you still would have all of the other 97 bowl games, it's just that now there would be a legitimate playoff system in place.

College Football's Best Player
I'm giving this award to Colt McCoy, QB, Texas. He was the best player I saw this past year. McCoy threw 32 touchdowns and ran for another 10, while completing an astonishing 77.6% of his passes in 2008, not to mention rushing for 576 yards with a 4.5 yard average.