Archive for April, 2012

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Sixers Game 1: A Loss For Both Teams

April 29th, 2012 by Sam Shipley | Comments Off on Sixers Game 1: A Loss For Both Teams | Filed in Basketball, General, Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers dropped game 1 of the first round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls 103-91, but that wasn’t the only loss. Reigning MVP Derrick Rose tore his ACL on a drive to the basket late in 4th quarter today and is out for the rest of the playoffs. Rose finished with 23 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds; but should Rose have really been in the game with the Bulls up 12 with just 1:20 left to play? Some will argue that he was in because of a triple double in sight, however getting a triple double is not that important especially in Derrick’s circumstances. Rose missed 27 games this season due to injuries, and he was just finally starting to get healthy. The playoffs are a long and grueling stretch of games so why not rest your MVP and only superstar for the possible championship run. When asked why Rose was in the game at that point, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said that “Philly was making a run”. Along with Roses’ 23 points, Rip Hamiliton had 19, and Luol Deng dropped 17 for the Bulls.

Elton Brand was one of the few bright spots for the Sixers today as he scored 19 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots. Jrue Holiday finished with 16 points, Thad Young had 13, and Chicago native Evan Turner finished the game with 12 points along with a lot of boo’s from the opposing crowd. Evan Turner is kind of a villain in Chicago right now after saying that the Bulls would be a better match-up for the Sixers considering that Miami is a “tougher team”. Turner and Rose already have a rivalry of their own dating back to their high school days, and that carried over into today’s game as well. Halfway through the 3rd quarter Turner and Boozer got tangled up after a foul, and Rose came and immediately started clapping in Turner’s face. There were multiple fouls called including a technical on Rose.

The Sixers just couldn’t sustain any momentum, every time they would close the gap to 5 or 6 the Bulls would come right back and stretch the lead out to 10 or 12 again. Everything seemed to be falling for Chicago as they hit timely shot after timely shot, including a dagger 3 pointer by former Sixer Kyle Korver late in the 3rd quarter after the Sixers cut a 16 point deficit to 8 and seemed to be making a big run. After that 3 pointer the game just seemed to never get back into reach.

If the Sixers are going to steal game 2 in Chicago, they are going to need better play from two of their top players. Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams had a combined 20 points on 4 of 17 shooting. The 3 point defense and offense will also have to improve. The Bulls shot 6-14 from 3, while the Sixers shot just 1-9 from down town.

This series has a different outlook on it now for sure with Derrick Rose out, but the Bulls weren’t the best team in the East for no reason either. They are a very deep team and have a lot of players who can score. The Sixers will need to do their best on both sides of the basketball if they want a shot of pulling off the upset in game 2 and the series. With that being said, I will surely take my chances with Derrick Rose on the sideline. Game 2 is Tuesday at 8 P.M. on TNT.

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And The Eagles Pick….

April 27th, 2012 by Mike H. | Comments Off on And The Eagles Pick…. | Filed in Eagles, Football

The Philadelphia Eagles traded up to the 12th pick  in the first round of the NFL draft by sending their 14th, 114th, and 172nd picks of the 2012 draft to the Seattle Seahawks. With that pick the Eagles selected defensive tackle Fletcher Cox out of Mississippi State. Cox was coveted by defensive line coach Jim Washburn. In his college career, Cox had 114 tackles, 24.5 of which were for a loss, but just 8.5 sacks. He does however have five career blocked kicks.

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Phils Tie the Series in AZ

April 25th, 2012 by AmyMac | Comments Off on Phils Tie the Series in AZ | Filed in Baseball, General, Phillies

By Amy McGinnis

During the top of the fourth inning last night, I said, “I have visions of this game being scoreless and going into extras.”  As soon as I finished my sentence, Hunter Pence hit a homerun, which led to Justin Upton doing his best impression of a bratty three-year-old.  Immediately after Pence knocked in two runs, Laynce Nix followed suit, and it was a 4-0 ballgame.  In the 7th, Pete Orr ripped a bases-clearing triple to right field, and in the 8th, Victorino had a solo shot.  Eight runs last night.  Eight.

Well, what was different last night? Was it the change in the lineup that did it? That might be part of it; Galvis needed a break, and Orr answered the call well.  I wouldn’t credit the win to it, though.  It seems to me that when it comes to assembling a lineup, Charlie Manuel throws it against a wall to see what sticks.  If it’s successful, fans think he’s a genius.  If it fails, then we hear from Chris Wheeler about how Charlie took a chance.  In any event, yes, the offense was alive last night.  Momentum traveled from hitter to hitter. Hell, Laynce Nix went 3-3.  Here’s the thing: I don’t think offense was working harder last night; I think they were working smarter.

We’ve all seen the trainwreck games when our lineup swings at anything, hacks away at the first pitch, swings for the fences, and goes nowhere.  Last night, we were able to see a little situational hitting.  Do not misunderstand; I love watching the Phils hit homeruns, and last night, it sure as hell helped.  It seemed as though our offense got the memo, though: When you are at bat, you do what is best to give the team a better chance at scoring runs.  If it means a sac bunt or a sac fly to advance runners, so be it.

Obviously, we wouldn’t have gotten very far last night if it weren’t for a solid outing from Vance Worley.  He let up just one run (I’ll get to the other four in a minute). All of his strikeouts were looking, because that’s how Vance Worley rolls.  Unfortunately, that means a high pitch count.  I wanted him to get through six innings; he did just that.

That, kids, is when Jose Contreras took the mound and tried his best to take a shit all over Worley’s hard work.  Contreras pitched 2/3 of the 7th inning, seeing five batters, and all of a sudden, the D-backs tacked on three runs.  Thankfully, Bastardo was able to secure the last out and get us the hell out of that inning.  Qualls let up a solo homerun to Jason Kubel in the 8th, but it pissed him off, so he struck out the side.  As for the 9th inning, Papelbon did what Papelbon does, and he shut it down.  A win for the Phils, a W for Worley, a save (his sixth) for Papelbon, and we all lived happily ever after.  Until this afternoon, anyway, when my man Cole takes on Trevor Cahill.  The following would be my pre-game speech to the players: Offense, use your heads.  Cole, shut this down.  Bullpen, I hope to God I don’t lay eyes on you.  And … go Phils.

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Phillies Beat Reporters Full Of Glitter And Unicorns

April 25th, 2012 by Mike H. | 27 Comments | Filed in Baseball, General, MLB, Phillies, TalkSportsPhilly

Misinformation passes for reputable reporting?I hate to bring up sore subjects, but a few weeks ago, when Johnny G and Mikey Miss were having their little tiff, Missanelli pointed out that people such as your TSP contributors only wrote things to cause trouble and to see if something would stick to create a name for ourselves. I’d like to point out that sites like TSP are a great alternative to get honest opinions as it is becoming clearer that the majority of “reputable” sources for reporting information is clearly tickling the testicles of the Phillies front office.

Yesterday, Ruben Amaro released an update on Ryan Howard’s injury. He used the following statements.

It really has improved. The wound itself has gotten smaller, and we just want to get it over the hump so he can start his activities down in Clearwater.

Because the Achilles is healed, and all this time waiting for the wound to heal over — the residual effect is that we’re going to try to be aggressive with him when he can start baseball activities.

We’ll see when he starts what he’s able to do, what he’s not able to do.

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Report: Lou Williams To Opt Out Of His Contract After The Season.

April 24th, 2012 by Sam Shipley | 1 Comment | Filed in Basketball, General, Sixers

Is Lou gone at the end of the season??

Louis Williams has been a big part of the Sixers for the last two seasons, but we may not see “Sweet Lou” in a Sixer uniform after this season is over. According to multiple reports, Lou is going to opt out of his current contract and go test the waters of free agency. Williams is averaging a team high 15.0 points per game off the bench this season, and for the second straight year is in talks for the “Sixth Man of The Year Award”.

It would be sad to see Lou go, but I think it is better for the teams two young guards Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. It would give Evan more minutes and Jrue would be the true point guard of the team instead of switching to that 1-2 combo guard when Lou comes into the game. The Sixers as a team however, would take a hit when it comes to their bench production. Lou is regarded as one of the leagues best bench players and is arguably the only Sixer who can create his own shot. He has been the Sixers “go to guy” this year as he has taken all the big shots, and is always in the game in crucial moments.

Another thing that Lou does is helping be the mediator between the young players and coach Doug Collins. The young guys don’t know how to approach Doug sometimes, and they also feel like Doug is lashing out on them at critical points which kills their confidence. Lou will go to Collins and let him know how some of the young guys are feeling and will go back and talk to the young guys 1 on 1.

Lou’s leadership in that aspect will surely be missed, and as Elton Brand and maybe even Andre Iguodala could be on their ways out-of-town where the Sixers will receive that leadership in the locker room is a big question. Would Jrue Holiday, the teams starting point guard take that role and be the floor general? Or would we see a player like Thad Young finally receive an increased role and leadership responsibility? Only time will tell.

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Phillies Notes: Injury Updates, Gonzalez, Nix

April 24th, 2012 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Phillies Notes: Injury Updates, Gonzalez, Nix | Filed in Baseball, Phillies

Injury Updates!

The Phillies were embarrassed at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks last night in a 9-5 loss. A game that was a lot worse than the final score appeared. The bright spot on the night wasn’t a rally in the ninth against a pitcher whose season ERA started in the 20s, but that Chase Utley joined the team for early batting practice. So let’s look at a couple of potential points of interest:

  • While a rehab assignment is still not in sight, Utley did take batting practice and some light fielding before Monday’s shellacking in Arizona
  • Hunter Pence was out of the line up with a hurt shoulder that he injured diving for a ball in the series finale in San Diego. He is considered day-to-day.
  • Despite the check up, there was no news on the status of Ryan Howard. As we have found out with the Phillies, no news is bad news.
  • Super Agent Scott Boras was recently quoted that free agent reliever Mike Gonzalez has been throwing bullpen sessions and “should sign in the next ten days”. While not previously connected with the Phillies, Gonzalez should be on their radar. While the “Cobra Commander” has not been effective in the American League over the past two seasons, Gonzalez holds a career 2.57 ERA and a 110:43 K:BB ratio in seven seasons in the National League.
  • With fellow lefty Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes both being ineffective/possibly injured, Gonzalez could be a welcomed addition to the bullpen.
  • Through 17 games, Laynce Nix has played in just nine games and has only started four of those nine games due to the play of Juan Pierre. Originally signed to platoon with John Mayberry Jr., Nix’s two-year deal is starting to look even more like inefficient spending than originally thought.

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Thanks Claude!

April 24th, 2012 by Christian | 2 Comments | Filed in Flyers, General, Hockey

Kudos to Claude Giroux for stepping up in Game 6 to propel the Flyers to a 5-1 win over the Penguins and move on to the next round of the playoffs.  When I saw Giroux break his stick on the ice after the Flyers Game 5 loss, I thought Wow –  this guy actually gives a shit!!

Watch the video below of his goal to open the game and his crunching check on Sydney Crosby in the game’s opening moments.  Giroux set the tone and his team followed his lead.    Coach Peter Laviolette said after the game that Giroux asked him for the first shift.  Way to listen to your player, Peter!

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