While only time will tell if they are truly healthy and can maintain that health for the long run, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were among players that have already hit the field in Clearwater. Mandatory full-squad workouts won't take place until Saturday, but Utley and Howard were already taking fielding practice today.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Recapturing the NL East Should Prove Daunting Task in 2013
After an overall disappointing 81-81 finish to the 2012 season, the Phillies began to regroup and prepare for the 2013 season. Trades and signings of free agents took place, but this may not be enough to get the Phillies back to the top of the NL East this season.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Spring (Training) is in the Air
The truck carrying the Phillies Spring Training gear was due to arrive today at Brighthouse Field in Clearwater. The truck is carrying over 1,000 baseball bats and 2,000 baseballs, not to mention 15 cases of gum (probably all for Charlie Manuel).
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Cole & Heidi Hamels Adopt Ethiopian Child
Just over a month ago reports emerged that Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi had adopted an Ethiopian child. Tonight Reeve Hamels will make her first television appearance in an interview televised on ABC with Cole and Heidi.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
2013 Phillies Projected Opening Day Lineup vs. My Suggested Lineup (Assuming Everyone's Healthy)
1. Rollins 1. Revere
2. M. Young 2. M. Young
3. Utley 3. Utley
Sestitwo: Lightning Strikes Twice
Hope I didn't overdo the puns in the title of this post. It's good to be back. As I'm sure none of you know, I was not allowed to reference the Flyers on social media during the past few months that I was an intern with the organization. Since the season started and my internship ended at almost the exact same time, I guess I'm free to get back to the BSB.
Last night was an interesting game to say the least. This might be the game that gets the ship righted for the orange and black. The Lightning are a tough team, loaded with talent, so my hopes weren't too high going into this game, but three things happened that made last night the game of the year so far.
Bryz was absolutely on last night. He made the saves that you would expect a $51 million goalie to make. The Lightning are averaging almost 5 goals per game, but last night Bryz shut them down with 21 saves and a .955 save percentage. All things considered, Bryz is looking much better than last season. Here's hoping he keeps it up.
The fight that Zac Rinaldo had against B.J. Crombeen is also worth a mention. I love a good fight that a Flyer absolutely dominates and this was exactly that. Some say Rinaldo violated an unwritten code by punching Crombeen while he was down, but he was actually mic'd last night and you can hear the referee absolve him of any guilt by listening to this http://www.the700level.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/news/Video-Zac-Rinaldo-Was-Micd-Up-During-Cro?blockID=829371&feedID=8510.
While Rinaldo is known more for fighting than actually contributing to the offense, the same could have been said for Tom Sestito...until last night. If you had asked me if I thought I'd be cheering for Tito Burrito to notch a hat trick last night I would have called you crazy. The man has 4 goals over his 32 career games, 2 of which came last night. Before last night his last career goal was in 2010 when he played for Columbus. Last night though, he looked unstoppable. The kid single-handedly won the game for the Flyers. So at least for the next day, left is right, up is down and Zac Rinaldo is killing it out on the ice. If there's any team that he should be able to replicate this against it's the Florida Panthers, and as luck would have it they come to Philadelphia tomorrow to try and avenge their 7-1 beating they got last time. Let's see if tomorrow's game can live up to last night's.
Last night was an interesting game to say the least. This might be the game that gets the ship righted for the orange and black. The Lightning are a tough team, loaded with talent, so my hopes weren't too high going into this game, but three things happened that made last night the game of the year so far.
Bryz was absolutely on last night. He made the saves that you would expect a $51 million goalie to make. The Lightning are averaging almost 5 goals per game, but last night Bryz shut them down with 21 saves and a .955 save percentage. All things considered, Bryz is looking much better than last season. Here's hoping he keeps it up.
The fight that Zac Rinaldo had against B.J. Crombeen is also worth a mention. I love a good fight that a Flyer absolutely dominates and this was exactly that. Some say Rinaldo violated an unwritten code by punching Crombeen while he was down, but he was actually mic'd last night and you can hear the referee absolve him of any guilt by listening to this http://www.the700level.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/news/Video-Zac-Rinaldo-Was-Micd-Up-During-Cro?blockID=829371&feedID=8510.
While Rinaldo is known more for fighting than actually contributing to the offense, the same could have been said for Tom Sestito...until last night. If you had asked me if I thought I'd be cheering for Tito Burrito to notch a hat trick last night I would have called you crazy. The man has 4 goals over his 32 career games, 2 of which came last night. Before last night his last career goal was in 2010 when he played for Columbus. Last night though, he looked unstoppable. The kid single-handedly won the game for the Flyers. So at least for the next day, left is right, up is down and Zac Rinaldo is killing it out on the ice. If there's any team that he should be able to replicate this against it's the Florida Panthers, and as luck would have it they come to Philadelphia tomorrow to try and avenge their 7-1 beating they got last time. Let's see if tomorrow's game can live up to last night's.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Hope Diminishes as Lockout Looms
If anyone has been paying any attention to the NHL it is no doubt that you know about the impending lockout. With only three days left until the deadline, it is looking ever more ominous that this league is bound for its third lockout under the reign of commissioner Gary Bettman. The sides originially seemed to be close together and were actively talking, which is more than the NBA could say at this time last year, but as the months went on things got worse.
Originially the league owners wanted the revenue that the players made from league operations to drop from 57% to 43%. Perfect right? A 20% pay cut to open negotiations. In my opinion, it seems very much like the NHL Players Association is the good guy in this situation. They have made countless attempts to bargain with Bettman and the owners, led by Donald Fehr. They have agreed to give up more revenue, but talks don't seem to be progressing lately. It is nearly impossible to find a detailed report of the latest offers online. All we can be assured about is the sides are 'talking'.
You know the situation is getting bad when ESPN dedicates a whole 70 seconds on Sportscenter to talk about a possible lockout, which is what they did today. I had faith originially that this would get solved, but the sheer greed of the owners is looking to be too much. There are reports everyday that there is almost no one at the Flyers practice facility in Voorhees, NJ, on a daily basis, leading to more chances of a lockout.
It seems that much like the NBA, the NHL will most likely start in December of this year, to avoid missing the Winter Classic. Lord knows Bettman doesn't wanna miss out on that payday. I don't know why playing one more season under the current CBA and having weekly discussions during the year isn't an option, but it isn't.
As I prepare to head into my internship training next week, I know the Flyers organization will take care of me. There's good people in that organization, many of whom will lack real purpose until this lockout situation is over. Perhaps it isn't a bad thing that the only possible year that I can do this internship is during a lockout. It will afterall, give me an interesting perspective on things that most don't usually get. What Bettman and the owners don't see though, is the little people they are affecting. I still have an internship thankfully, but who knows about some of the workers in say New York or Nashville or the other 27 markets? Obviously the fans don't matter either. Why should the owners give care about the fans when there is precious money to be had?
Another lockout would be bad for this league, real bad. If your're a true hockey fan and remember the lockout in 2004 you also remember how long it took the leauge to recover. The NHL is hotter than ever right now. Their best teams are in huge markets and the product is better than ever, but it could be hard to win the casual fan back. I mean, people in Pittsburgh will most likely forget what hockey even is if the season is delayed. If they won't pay any attention to a losing team they certainly won't pay attention to a dormant team. (Had to take my usually jab at Pittsburgh)
Simply put, this whole situation is a mess. Greed lead us to this point in 2004 and it has done it again. I hope we will see the NHL start on time, but I won't get my hopes up. In the meantime go Phillies.
Originially the league owners wanted the revenue that the players made from league operations to drop from 57% to 43%. Perfect right? A 20% pay cut to open negotiations. In my opinion, it seems very much like the NHL Players Association is the good guy in this situation. They have made countless attempts to bargain with Bettman and the owners, led by Donald Fehr. They have agreed to give up more revenue, but talks don't seem to be progressing lately. It is nearly impossible to find a detailed report of the latest offers online. All we can be assured about is the sides are 'talking'.
You know the situation is getting bad when ESPN dedicates a whole 70 seconds on Sportscenter to talk about a possible lockout, which is what they did today. I had faith originially that this would get solved, but the sheer greed of the owners is looking to be too much. There are reports everyday that there is almost no one at the Flyers practice facility in Voorhees, NJ, on a daily basis, leading to more chances of a lockout.
It seems that much like the NBA, the NHL will most likely start in December of this year, to avoid missing the Winter Classic. Lord knows Bettman doesn't wanna miss out on that payday. I don't know why playing one more season under the current CBA and having weekly discussions during the year isn't an option, but it isn't.
As I prepare to head into my internship training next week, I know the Flyers organization will take care of me. There's good people in that organization, many of whom will lack real purpose until this lockout situation is over. Perhaps it isn't a bad thing that the only possible year that I can do this internship is during a lockout. It will afterall, give me an interesting perspective on things that most don't usually get. What Bettman and the owners don't see though, is the little people they are affecting. I still have an internship thankfully, but who knows about some of the workers in say New York or Nashville or the other 27 markets? Obviously the fans don't matter either. Why should the owners give care about the fans when there is precious money to be had?
Another lockout would be bad for this league, real bad. If your're a true hockey fan and remember the lockout in 2004 you also remember how long it took the leauge to recover. The NHL is hotter than ever right now. Their best teams are in huge markets and the product is better than ever, but it could be hard to win the casual fan back. I mean, people in Pittsburgh will most likely forget what hockey even is if the season is delayed. If they won't pay any attention to a losing team they certainly won't pay attention to a dormant team. (Had to take my usually jab at Pittsburgh)
Simply put, this whole situation is a mess. Greed lead us to this point in 2004 and it has done it again. I hope we will see the NHL start on time, but I won't get my hopes up. In the meantime go Phillies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)