explanation of rankings of other team previews here 2008 Record: 61-101 Offseason Additions: Franklin Gutierrez, Endy Chavez, Aaron Heilman Offseason Subtractions: Raul Ibanez, J.J. Putz, Sean Green, Jeremy Reed Ranks (MLB): Line-Up - 26th Rotation - 12th Bullpen - 30th Defense - 3rd tier (out of 5) Baserunning - 3rd tier (out of 5) KEY PLAYER: ERIC BEDARD The acquisition of Bedard last year (in a trade that destroyed Seattle's farm system) had me convinced that a 1-2 punch … [Read more...]
Can we start this season over? Given how the team has played in the last 18 games under Dileo, I bet that is what a lot of Sixers fans are wishing. If the Sixers had been playing this way since game 1 their record would be 25-16 right now. But reality is we can't take back that dreadful 9-14 start. But we can look at the next 41 games as a new beginning. Elton Brand will be back on the floor today. Iguodala has his mojo back. Andre Miller has shaken off his normal off-season … [Read more...]
41 games into the season, how do the Sixers compare to last year? Have they gotten any better? Have they gotten worse? Are they about the same? What should we expect for the second half of the season? What will it take to move up to the 4th or 5th playoff spot, where they need to be to have the best chance at winning their first playoff series since 2003? Lot's of questions and many more not listed. This is my mid-season check-up, and I hope it will help answer some of those … [Read more...]
explanation of rankings of other team previews here 2008 Record: 100-62 Offseason Additions: Brian Fuentes Offseason Subtractions: Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Jon Garland Ranks (MLB): Line-Up - 8th Rotation - 5th Bullpen - 5th Defense - 3rd tier (out of 5) Baserunning - 1st tier (out of 5) KEY PLAYER: ERVIN SANTANA The biggest question for the Angels this season is this: Will they get 2008 Ervin Santana or 2007 Ervin Santana? This is a team that is going to rely on … [Read more...]
Ruben Amaro continued making the Phillies' daunting arbitration pile looks like a speck of sand as he locked up Jayson Werth to a 2 year, $10 million deal. This is a tremendous deal for the Phillies. Werth would have been a free agent after this season, and honestly, I thought he stood to make a good deal of money if he played like he did the second half of last season for a full year. However, he passed up that chance for an extra year with the Phils, who gave him the chance the Dodgers … [Read more...]
explanation of rankings and other team previews here 2008 Record: 75-86 Offseason Additions: Matt Holliday, Jason Giambi Offseason Subtractions: Huston Street, Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith Ranks: Line-Up - 23rd Rotation - 23rd Bullpen - 14th Defense - 1st tier (out of 5) Baserunning - 1st tier (out of 5) KEY PLAYER: PICK A STARTER... The additions of Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi were both uncharacteristic for Billy Beane's buy-young, sell-young Oakland A's. However, it tells … [Read more...]
Well, we have the answer to the question "How much does Ryan Howard think he is worth this year?" And the answer is: $18 million dollars. In what I can only describe as an absurd number, Howard and his agent (and his dad?) are asking for an $8 million dollar raise from their record-setting $10 million salary last season. The Phillies are offering $14 million. To put the craziness of this request in perspective... The most any player got last year with 3 years of service was Justin … [Read more...]
I wouldn't expect a quiet off-season from the Eagles. The team has several free-agents, 7 picks in the first 5 rounds of the draft, several areas they can improve, and a fan base clamoring for a bold move. Let's go position-by-position as see what the Eagles are looking at for 2009. Quarterback Do I have to? It is clear that Donovan is not going to take us to a Super Bowl championship without help, and that if it comes down to one last drive, he's probably not going to get it done. … [Read more...]
Another arbitration hurdle cleared, and another Phillies extended today as the Phillies have re-signed Ryan Madson to a 3 year, $12 million contract. Madson was eligible to be a free agent after this season. Like the Hamels signing, this is a great deal for both sides. Madson seems to have finally found his niche as the 8th inning bridge to Lidge, and was the breakout star of the playoffs. He was smart to take this deal while his value was at it's highest. Hopefully having a defined … [Read more...]
Pete and I are stuck at work today so we will likely only get to see some of the game when we take our lunch. So game notes will be short and come after I get off. I am trying to get back into the Sixers swing of things now that I am back from my short hiatus reliving my college hoops (and drinking) days. Fun time kicking the crap out of the class that came in after my 2004 graduation class and shootin' the shit with everyone. I caught the Spurs blasting on Friday night but haven't … [Read more...]
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