Phillies say the word risk, but dont take one.

The Phillies did what they do best yesterday. They added a scrap-heap, spare-part and will now hope that Scott Eyre preforms "to the way we (the Phillies) think he can." Yesterday on the Mike Gill Show, I spoke to Phillies assistant GM Mike Arbuckle. He mentioned the word "risk" and I was almost surprised someone in the Phillies organization knew how to even pronounce that word.

While the trade deadline may not have been active, there were risk-taking moves by other NL contenders that helped their fan base at least have a feeling that those teams are going for it. Milwaukee got the ball rolling by adding stud southpaw CC Sabathia. Sabathia has dominated NL hitters, going 5-0 with an ERA of 1.88 and a sparkling WHIP of 0.958. The the leagues best team, the Chicago Cubs, went out and acquired Rich Harden from the Oakland A's. Harden has had injury problems in the past and Arbuckle even admitted to me that was an issue. His numbers since joining the Cubs and facing Senior Circuit hitters; 1-1 with an ERA of 2.10 and a 1.033 WHIP in five games.

The Dodgers took a different approach to the work risk, but adding a major bat to the middle of their line-up; Manny Ramirez. You might think the Phillies have place to play him or that they don't need another bat - wrong. As I watched the Phillies bat go as silent as 20,000 on-lookers for a Tiger Woods put on the 18th green yesterday, it made me realize even more that Manny could have been Manny here. In LA, Manny his hitting .565 with four home runs and nine RBI in less then a week with the Dodgers. His on-base percentage is a staggering .615, don't you think that is something the Phillies could use after watching Chris Volstad dominate them yesterday afternoon.

As for Eyre, yeah he is a shot in the dark, but his 2-0, 7.11 ERA are a piece of duct-tape to a team that has glaring needs elsewhere. An extra lefty is a luxury that is nice to have, a bat like Manny or arms like Sabathia or Harden are risks that the the Phils just weren't willing to take.

Should The Sixers Trade Iguodala?

The Sixers have been one of the NBA’s best off season stories. On July 9th, 2008 the Sixers signed former Los Angeles Clipper Elton Brand to a five-year, $79-million contract. In inking Brand, they got a guy who has averaged 20.3 points, 10.4 rebounds (4.0 being offensive rebounds) and 2.00 blocks in his career.

In Brand, the Sixers finally may have found the power forward they have been looking for since Charles Barkley took his 14,184 points, 7,079 rebounds and .576 field-goal percentage to Phoenix back in 1992. Since then guys like Tim Perry, Scott Williams, Tony Massenburg, Richard Dumas, Ed Pickney, Adrian Caldwell, Derrick Coleman (twice), Terry Cummings, Harvey Grant, Tyrone Hill, Rick Mahorn (a second time), Kenny Thomas, Joe Smith and Chris Webber all tried to but probably combined didn’t put together numbers to match Sir Charles eight seasons in Philly.

This offseason the Sixers also landed an outside shooter by signing former Indiana Pacer Kareem Rush. Rush scored 8.3 points per game last season off the bench, while hitting nearly 39-percent of this three-point shots. Royal Ivey, was brought in to be a defensive minded point guard and spell Andre Miller at times during the game. In 19 minutes per game last season in Milwaukee, Ivey scored a career best 5.9 points per game.

These off season pieces will be added to a very young core of players that includes last years top draft pick Thaddeus Young, the enigma that is Samuel Dalembert, Louis Williams (who just inked a five-year $25 million deal) and Jason Smith. Add in veteran point guard Andre Miller, banger Reggie Evans and Willie Greene and optimism is high in Philadelphia for the first time since the 2001-2002 season.

The one name that hasn’t been mentioned yet could very well be their best all-around player; Andre Iguodala.

The Sixers offered Iguodala a $57 million deal last season that he decided to turn down. Many NBA experts could not understand this decision, until Iguodla proved during the regular season that he could be worth that amount and more. Iguodala posted 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game through 82 games.

Then came the playoffs. The Pistons completely took Iguodala out of the series, which the Sixers lead 2-1 at one point. NBA people began to question if Iguodala could ever be the guy and reports have indicated that he is looking for a deal in the neighborhood of the six-year, $75 Million range. The Sixers and their fifth year swingman are currently at a stalemate.

My question, is he really worth the hassle? I say no.

Here is why I propose a sign-and-trade. First, Iguodala has never been able to create his own shot and with Elton Brand on board the team still needs a legitimate outside shooting threat. Secondly, Iguodala isn’t the outside shooting threat that this team needs and could be the perfect piece to land a three-point shooter the Sixers still desperately need.

Richard Hamilton has been mentioned, I would certainlytake a chance on his smooth perimeter game and big game leadership and shot-making ability. He is a free agent following the 2009 season, but if he doesn’t pan out Louis Williams may be ready to take on more minutes in 2010.

Phoenix has Raja Bell who can depart after next season and can shot the three and plays very good defense. The Sixers might even be interested in taking on Grant Hill in the deal and having another savvy veteran around.

Portland’s Brandon Roy is a restricted free agent, after the 2008 season and might be the kind of player the Sixers could use. While he is not a great three-point shooter, he is better then Iguodala and scores about 19 points per game.

Finally, Josh Howard from the Dallas Mavericks is an interesting idea. He doesn’t shoot the three, but he can score, rebound and do many of the things Iguodala can do at a much more comfortable cost.

According to reports, the Sixers are close to a $12 million per season deal. I think giving him that kind of money will be just as big as a mistake as all the other contracts given to many of his 2004 classmates this off season.

Nowhere to go but up for the Dolphins in ‘08.

“The kicking was a strength and that’s about it,” said Kevin Rogers of 790 The Ticket in Miami during a radio interview on “The Mike Gill Show” on ESPN Radio 1450, Atlantic City.

When that’s the first thing you can comment on when looking for positives in a football season, you know you have a long way to go.

Miami was awarded an expansion team back in 1965 and has been on of the better franchises along the way. However, in 2007, the Dolphins resembled their 1965 expansion team much more than the competitive team they have been in the great history, finishing with a pathetic 1-15 mark and finding little positives along the way.

So the team brought in Bill Parcells to help rebuild this once proud franchise and right away he began to make subtle changes almost immediately.

The Fins have been a strong defensive unit in the post-Marino years, led by names like Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas. Parcells allowed both those veteran players to move on and now the defense must rely on Joey Porter to make plays on that side of the ball. Yeramiah Bell is an exciting player in the secondary according to Rogers but there isn’t much else to get excited about.

New coach Tony Sparano has named Josh McCown his starting quarterback…for now. He is competing with second year man John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. “If they can somehow get the quarterback situation figured out,” says Rogers, they have a good running game and could be okay offensivly.

The running game features Ronnie Brown who is coming back from major knee surgery and vagabond Ricky Williams who should see plenty of time in a reserve role. Williams as many know as been on quite the journey since his “retirement” from the NFL back in back in 2004. He has been to Canada and back to try and prove he can still play the game that made him fifth overall selection in the 1999 draft. Many people wonder if Williams can be counted on to help this Dolphins team. “People understand what he did, when he did it, said Rogers. “(Former head coach) Dave Wandstadt was running him into the ground.” So Ricky left and now he is back and according to Rogers looks “pretty impressive”.

Not many people will predict a playoff berth for the Dolphins but Rogers thinks they can win some of the close games they left slip away during last seasons 1-15 campaign and get to five-or-six wins this season.

Up Next : Seattle Seahawks

This is a series called “2-A-Days” that will preview two teams per day every day this month, where Mike Gill will interview a beat writer or radio personality who covers the team on “The Mike Gill Show” on ESPN Radio 1450 , weekdays from 3-6pm.

Is this the Year the Cardinals Rise?

For each of the past few season, the Arizona Cardinals have been the off-season darlings of the NFL media. For the past few season they have disappointed. Like Big Brown faltering down the stretch at the Belmont, the Cardinals have vanished from the NFL playoff picture prematurely every year since 1998.

Since departing for the desert from St. Louis following the 1987 season the Cards have made exactly one playoff appearance. However a new stadium and big names on the offensive side of the ball have led to high expectations, something the team has failed to deliver. “I don’t see it right now,” said XTRA Sports 910 radio host Mike Jurecki, in an interview I conducted with him during my radio show (The Mike Gill Show, 3-6pm, ESPN Radio 1450, Atlantic City).

Offensively, the Cardinals have plenty of talent. With wide-receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald they may have the best stable of wide-outs in the NFL. The problem is, if they don’t win with this duo this season they may never be able to get it done.

Fitzgerald just signed a a four-year, $40 million contract extension with Arizona following a 100 receptions, 1,409 yard and 10 touchdowns last season.

As for Boldin, he has instructed his agent Drew Rosenhaus to cut of negotiations with the team and could be playing in a new uniform next season. “I can’t see them paying two wide-outs, $9-to-$10 million per season,” said Jurecki.

Add in quarterback Matt Leinhert and running back Edgerian James, and the Cards should be able to score points. “Edge hasn’t been the problem,” according to Jurecki. The Cards woeful offensive line has been. Meanwhile back to Leinhert, he gained some press clippings for the wrong reasons this off-season, appearing at a party with young co-eds was not the image the Cardinals were hoping for from their franchise quarterback. There is at least one person in Arizona who doesn’t think the former Trojan is a sure-bet to be under-center September 7th in San Francisco. According to Jurecki who spoke to Kurt Warner, who is currently the number two man in Arizona, “Kurt thinks it’s an open competition.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Adrian Wilson is having a great camp and is the leader of their underrated defense that according tro jurecki “will be improved.” Antrell Rolle is playing better, Bertrand Berry is a force and if Travis LaBoy can get some pressure on the quarterback, they might be pretty decent.

The Cardinals have a new stadium and a second year coach who is moving this team in the right direction, but unless they start winning on the field, the stands may again resemble their playing days at Sun Devil Stadium, when they were playing in front of plenty of empty seats. Is this a playoff team? Not according to Jurecki who is covering the team from it’s Flagstaff camp, “I think they can win nine games, but I wouldn’t say this is a playoff team.”

Up next : Miami Dolphins

This is a series called “2-A-Days” that will preview two teams per day every day this month, where Mike Gill will interview a beat writer or radio personality who covers the team on “The Mike Gill Show” on ESPN Radio 1450 , weekdays from 3-6pm

Pcpsports.com / Guest Line-up

Check me out writing over at www.pcpsports.com


The weekly line-up for football season has been updated for the show 3-6

Monday

4:25 - Steve Miller (Phillies Report)
4:45 - Tommy Schoegler (Weekend Re-cap)
5:25 - Nick Fierro (Eagles Re-cap)

Tuesday

3:25 - Pete Thompson (Local update)
3:45 - Geoff Mosher (Eagles Report)
5:25 - Mike Radano (Phillies Report)

Wednesday

4:45 - John Brittain - (Baseball news)
5:10 - Scott Lauber - (Phillies Report)
5:25 - KC Joyner - (NFL Insider)
5:45 - Jordan Raanan (Eagles Report)

Thursday

4:25 - Tony Moss (NFL Preview)
5:25 - John Finger (Phillies Report)
5:45 - Mike Florio (NFL Rumors)

Friday

3:25 Cecil Fielder - (Baseball talk)
3:45 - AJ Mass - (Baseball Insider)
4:25 - Dave Weinberg (Eagles Preview)
4:45 - Outside View (Preview of Eagles Opponent)
5:10 - Pick the Perfect Score
5:25 - Ryan Lawrence - (Phillies Report)
5:45 - Jeff Pasquino (Fanatsy preview)

The Blog is Back

Sorry for the hibernation...the Blog is back!

Starting with the Phillies win today over the Brewers, Tom Gordon gets out of a bases loaded jam and Pat Burrel continues to hit, driving home the game-winning runs with a two RBI double.

Tonight the Flyers open their series with the Habs. Talked to Rick Moffatt who is the "voice of the Canadiens" he seems to think goaltending will be the difference with Carey Price over Marty Biron. Both teams have a lot of depth, with four-to-six guys who can score goals. Sup-plot here, Danny Briere was highly sought after during the offseason and will be public enemy number one in this series.

My pick: Habs in 6

Sixers- Pistons Gm 2 re-cap

Sixers looked like they were happy to get a win in Detroit and get out tied 1-1. Its going to take a lot more then the effort they gave last night to upset the Pistons in this series. It all starts with Andre Igudola, he needs to "take over" a game like a superstar would. If he does, I will give him superstar status, until then, he is a pretty darn good player.

Eagles drat pick #19 on Saturday....my pick on Thurs -
Trade up for OT Chris Williams, Vanderbuilt.

Eagles slap franchise tag on LJ Smith

The Eagles have slapped the franchise tag on TE LJ Smith. He is probably the best TE on the market but he didnt seem to be happy here last season.

But was he not happy due to the fact he was hurt or b/c he was on a one-year deal ? I think it was the latter, so what makes the Eagles think he is going to be any happier this season...beats me.

Smith is going to make some nice money this season, one year at 4.522 million - the average of the top-five TEs in the league - BUT...He could make more if he goes somewhere else. However, dont hold your breath he has been an underachiever his entire career and I cant see anyone taking a shot on him at more then that figure, Eagles fans we're stuck with LJ...again.