Philly things...February preview

Here are a few things that are on my mind as we end the month of January and start the month of February. Football is comign to an end and now is the time to really take notice of the Flyers. Baseball is just 14 days away and the Phillies vs. Mets debate is on. As for the Eagles, it draft season, we'll get into that as well. Finally, the Sixers are showing some signs of life and are actully in the playoff race.

Here are my thoughts:

Flyers - The Fly Boys have gone 12-2-1 since Christmas but a bad lose to the Rangers showed me what I have been saying all along - they need to play Marty Biron. If they are going to win a round in the playoffs, Biron is the man who can get them a playoff series win. Should the Flyers get Peter Forsberg is another question that has come up a bunch. He is an exceptional talent, but I dont think he is the difference in a playoff series win...the goalie is. In Hockey, a goalie is the like a baseball pitcher, they can win or lose you a series. Right now, I see them one and done.

Sixers - The Sixers are a team on the rise, with a couple of younger players that can actually play. Loius Williams and Thadeus Young are two guys worth watching. Jason Smith is the kind of player winning teams have, give Billy King some credit, both these guys can play andhe drafted them. Andre Miller is an interesting story. Is it worth keeping him to try to get into the playoffs next season and maybe even win a round - I think so. Andre Igoudala is another story, I like his game, but he needs another player to take the pressure off of him. We all know that so what kind of player is that? Unfortunalty, that player isnt out there this offseason in free agency. I dont see the Sixers making the playoffs, but they are making strides to even be in the race at this stage of the season.

Phillies - The Phillies or the Mets, that has been the debate the last few days since the Mets traded for Johana Santana and the Phillies added Pedro Feliz. At this point I still am leaning towards the Phils, but I do hope they add another piece to the puzzle. Kyle Loshe and Livan Hernandez are availble and would be a welcomed addition to the Phillies staff, lets just hope the Mets dont step in there and sign either one of them. As for Feliz, he seems to be happy to be here and is a nice addition to the team. He is a solid gold glove level third basemen and can hit for some power at CBP. Right now, I am leaning to the Phillies as division champs and Mets as the Wild-Card, but that can change.

Eagles - There are a lot of issues right now with the Birds, I am going to lead off with with draft. I am looking to add a D-End via the draft and right now I like Derrick Harvey from the University of Florida. He is a top level pass rusher from the SEC that I feel better about them Vernon Gholston and Chris Long. If its not a DE that is not obtained, I like WR DeShawn Jackson from CAL, Safety Reggie Smith from Oklahoma, RB, Felix Jones from Arkansas would be a nice addition to the return game and as a compliment to Brian Westbrook, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is a sleeper I like from Tennessee State, he is CB who is really moving up some charts. The second thing I want to talk about with the Eagles is "playmakers". If Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb are asking, then they are needed. If just McNabb is asking, then maybe the team can say that he just is trying to fend off his own thoughts that he had a down year. But enter Westbrook (and to a lesser extent John Ruynan)and now the writing is on the wall - they need more playmakers.

Should be an interesting month of February, all sports are in play. College hoops is coming down the strecth, baseball has pitchers and catchers, Football begins draft and offseason rumors plus hockey as the playoffs coming into focus and this season the Flyers are part of it.

Some Baseball talk...

Well, since I was so off on my football picks, it made me start thinking about baseball. Got some thoughts I wanted to share with the readers of the blog spot about the all NL East team and some other baseball views...enjoy!

Here is my All NL East team.

1B - Ryan Howard (Philadelphia)
2B - Chase Utley (Philadelphia)
SS - Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia)
3B - David Wright (New York)
LF - Pat Burrell (Philadelphia)
CF - Carlos Beltran (New York)
RF - Jeff Francouer (Atlanta)
C - Brian McCann (Atlanta)
SP - Cole Hammels (Philadelphia)
SP - John Smoltz (Atlanta)
SP - John Maine (New York)
SP - Brett Myers (Philadelphia)
SP - Tim Hudson (Atlanta)
CP - Billy Wagner (New York)

As I looked over the teams in the NL east to make this team, I found that I really am not that impressed with the divison. Six Phillies made the team and there could have been some more.

Here are some thoughts...

Close battles at SS, with Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins and Hanley Ramirez. Rollins gets the call as the league MVP, I ranked them Rollins, Ramirez, Reyes.

Close battle at 3B - Dave Wright edges out Ryan Zimmerman and Chipper Jones

Close battle at Closer - I think Lidge can have a real good year but I give the edge to Wagner till I see what he does.

I think top to bottom right now, the Phillies have the bets team in the divison. With 3 legit MVP canidates and a Cy Young award canidate. They have the best the core in the divison.

Pitchers and Catchers are almost here...

My Pick....NFC/AFC title games

Well, I had a few minutes before I went on the air and figured if you are one of the people who check the blog you could see my picks here first.

NFC Title game NYG at Green Bay

I like the Packers plain and simple I think they are the better team. The G-Men are out-of-gas and I think Ryan Grant is the difference. Brett Favre will make a big play and their D is underrated. I think Eli makes a mistake and Jacbos has a huge game but for the Giants to score 24 points, thats asking alot in this weather in this stadium vs this team

The Pick : Packers 31 - Giants 20

AFC Title Game Chargers at Patriots

I think this is a laugher. Pats are healthy and SD simply is not. Much like the Giants I think they might have used all their get out of jail free cards alredy. I think the Pats can ru it and pass it on the Bolts and dont be surprised if they toy with them for most of the first half. San Diego would have a shot if they were 100% healthy...but LT, Gates and Rivers limited means no shot for the Chargers. LT plays, Gates and Rivers...doubtful

Pats 42 - Chargers 23

Sixers Struggling...Bad

While the Sixers were a decent little feel food story for a few weeks there, but they are quickly falling from any playoff talk.

Consider they have lost five games in a row with San Antonio, Houston (a team they beat) and Boston on the road this week. No easy task.

At 14-23 the Sixers are 37 games into the season and getting to the 35 wins they had in 2006-2007 might be a challenge now that they are not up for.

Here is a quick breakdown of the roster and what could be in its place next season.

Point Guard - Andre Miller, Louis Williams and Kevin Ollie - Miller played extremely well during the Sixers sting of solid play. However, he alone can not help this team win. I still think Miller will be here next season, unless Stafanski gets his socks blown off. No team with a decent enough draft pick or expiring contract in the playoff hunt can help the Sixers, so I think he stays. Williams is exciting, but doesn't have a true position and he isn't ready to be a true point guard. Ollie is taking up space on the bench and must be a nice practice player.

Shooting Guard - Willie Green, Gordan Giricek - Green would be a nice player to come off the bench, but Cheeks is kind of forced to start him. He could be a poor mans Vinne Johnson, scoring in bunches off the bench but the Sixers are playing him to many minutes and he just isn't a starter in this league on a team that is a playoff team. If the Sixers could trade him for something similar that they got for Korver they would jump at it. Giricek is gone after this season.

Small Forward - Andre Iguodala, Rodney Carney, Thaddeus Young - Iguodala isn't playing like a guy who deserves a max contract. His numbers overall are good, but not good enough to lead this team to the playoffs. Iguodala is a nice player, not a max player. His defense isn't as good as it once was and he needs to be more aggressive. Carney has had an up-and-down season, but mostly down. He was buried, then started and now is buried again, to the point he was inactive verse Denver last week. I was never a fan of Carney to begin with, but he could have some value somewhere else, he was a former first round pick but dint expect much in return if he is dealt. As for Young, he looks like he could be a player. He is Young and talented and Mo is starting to use him more and more and he is responding. Overall, I think he is going to be a nice player in this league and could potentially be a starting player by seasons end.

Power Forward - Reggie Evans, Jason Smith, Louis Amundson - Evans is a bruising re bounder, but he is a back-up in this league. The Sixers are desperate for a scoring presence in the post and none of the power forwards on this team can provide that. Smith is definitely a nice role player coming off the bench in this league, but isn't the low scoring threat they need. Amundson is a journeymen at best.

Center - Samuel Dalembert, Calvin Booth - Samuel just isn't a fan favorite but he is having a pretty solid season. If he had a low post scoring presence next to him he might be able to take off. He might even be named to the all-star team this season due to his rebounding and blocked shots. Booth was signed to a pretty big deal this off season but really hasn't contributed much of anything.

Coach - Mo Cheeks - Cheeks is going to be the fall guy here at seasons end, he is going to be gone. Stanfanski will bring in his own guy but Cheeks is coaching as if he has a shot to get the job next season at the expense of guys like Young, Smith, Williams and Carney. I think Cheeks has done an OK job of keeping the ship from completly sinking but they still might not surpass last years win total.

GM - Ed Stafanski - The new GM traded Kyle Korver away to clear cap space and I am sure he has some other moves up his sleeve this season. There isn't a whole lot of attractive names on the free agent market but two that are available are Josh Smith of Atlanta and Elton Brand from the Clippers who is out til March with an Achilles injury. Maybe he will trade Miller maybe he wont, I think the deal will have to blow him over. Keep in mind, Miller had a contact for next season and the Sixers can trade him next year if need be. So far I think the culture has changed in the Sixers locker room, but the players at this point just aren't good enough. If they can get a big free agent to come here this summer they can get to the playoffs next season and if they make the right moves in this draft and during next summers free agent period they can be a player in the East in 2 years.

Here is a list of this summer free agents both restricted and unrestricted.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=2008FreeAgents

Talk to you on the radio....

The 2008 Phillies

Well, the Eagles finished the season at 8-8, so its the Phillies the are now the talk of the town. The 2007 defending NL East Champs will be most pundits favorites to win it again, but that would be enough for the demanding Philly fan base and media. Here is my early look at the 2008 season full with predictions on each player and their role.

Line-Up

1. SS Jimmy Rollins - .284, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 30 SB
2. CF Shane Victorino - .276, 15 HR, 64 RBI, 20 SB
3. 2B Chase Utley - .340, 30 HR, 125 RBI, 12 SB
4. 1B Ryan Howard - .285, 50 HR, 135 RBI
5. LF Pat Burrell - .274, 32 HR, 110 RBI
6. RF Geoff Jenkins - .255, 25 HR, 73 RBI
7. 3B Wes Helms - .265, 17 HR, 55 RBI
8. C Carlos Ruiz - .255, 9 HR, 52 RBI

The line-up is one of the best in baseball from 1-8 this is a real sloid order. With three porential MVP's at the top of the line-up, speed and power from the right and left sdie, this line-up could produc more runs then the 07 team.

Grade - A

Bench

3B/OF - Greg Dobbs - .260, 12 HR, 40 RBI
3B/OF - Eric Bruntlett - .255, 4 HR, 22 RBI
OF - So Taguchi - .289, 5 HR, 27 RBI
OF - Jason Werth - .270, 12 HR, 40 RBI
C - Chris Coste - .290, 6 HR, 33 RBI

This bench is deeper and better then last season. The additin of Taguchi helps the OF depth and Bruntlett can play multiple positions. Dobbs is also a versitle role player who will see alot of time at 3B this year. Jason Werth will split time in RF with G. Jenkins to form a solid R/L tandem. Chris Coste is a solid reserve at catcher.

Grade - B

Pitchers

1. Cole Hammels - 18-7, 3.66 ERA
2. Brett Myerys - 15-9, 4.45 ERA
3. Kyle Kendirck - 10-11, 4.77
4. Jamie Moyer - 14-12, 5.39
5. Adam Eaton - 12-10, 5.17

the rotation is helped by the return of Myers, but I was never all that impress with him as a starter in the past. He is however, an upgrade to anyone they trotted out there every fifth game last season. Kendrick is a major wild card, who knows if he can duplicate his solid 2007. If Eaton can get back on track that should help a staff that has a legitimate ace and solid veteren in Hammels and Moyer.

Grade - C +

Bullpen

Chad Durbin
JD Durbin
Ryan Madsen
JC Romero
Tom Gordon
Brad Lidge

I think this pen is simialr to last years edtion, with Lidge closing games out instead of Myers. Romero will play more of an important role then last season and the Phillies will need to hope that Gordon stays healthy for more of this season then last. Chad Durbin is a nice veteren pressence and Ryan Madsen is back to pitch the 6-7 innings. Overall, I think this pen will be better then last year, but
health is the key.

Grade - C