Archive for September 16th, 2014

Minor League Mondays: J.P. Crawford

September 16th, 2014 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Minor League Mondays: J.P. Crawford | Filed in Baseball, Phillies, Sports

With the 2014 minor league season over for the Phillies affiliates, I thought I’d highlight some of the prospects that stood out. Who better to start with than the 2014 Paul Owens Award winner for best organizational position player, J.P. Crawford. Crawford, the youngest player to receive the award other than Jimmy Rollins, followed up an impressive 2013 season with an even better 2014 season.

  • 2013 (GCL/Lakewood): .308/.405/.400 with 13 XBHs and 35:32 K:BB ratio
  • 2014 (Lakewood/Clearwater): .285/.375/.406 with 34 XBHs and 74:65 K:BB ratio

While his batting average and on base percentage dipped slightly, his slugging rose significantly. In 2013, Crawford’s isolated power, or ISO, was .092. In 2014, that number jumped to .121. While they aren’t Ruthian numbers, close to a thirty point increase, and more than doubling the total at bats is still impressive.

Crawford also improved his approach at the plate. In 2013, Crawford had a strikeout rate of 15.4% and a walk rate of 14.0%. In 2014, his strikeout rate dropped to 13.8%. While his walk rate slipped to 12.1%, one has to wonder how much the increase in plate appearances effected him. One thing definitely impacted was his aggressiveness on the base path. While he did successfully swipe 24 bases, he was also caught 14 times. As he moves along through the system, hopefully he’ll improve his ability to read pitchers as to when to advance.

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Week Two: Eagles-Colts Predictions

September 16th, 2014 by Sam Shipley | Comments Off on Week Two: Eagles-Colts Predictions | Filed in Eagles, Football, General, NFL, Sports, TalkSportsPhilly

I would be lying if I said to you that looking at tonight’s game against the Indianapolis Colts didn’t feel a lot scarier in the first half of last week’s win against the Jaguars. However, the Eagles turned it up in the second half by putting up 34 unanswered points, looking like the team we all expected to see this season.

Tonight the Eagles face the reigning AFC South Champion Colts, who are coming off a similar game as the Eagles. Last week the Colts fell behind by 24 points in the first half against the Denver Broncos, and entered halftime with a 17 point deficit, just like the Eagles. In the second half the Colts looked like a different team, outscoring the Broncos 17-7, but eventually lost 31-24.

The argument can easily be made that the Colts have an advantage tonight based off of their rally and slim seven point loss to the reigning AFC Champions led by Peyton Manning. However, some can say the Eagles putting up 34 unanswered points to overcome a 17 point deficit, no matter who the opponent, is a very strong statement of the first half being a fluke.

Let’s see what the Talk Sports Philly staff thinks about this game:

Christopher Leomporra:  Eagles 35 – Colts 24

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I Still Hate Jonathan Papelbon

September 16th, 2014 by AmyMac | Comments Off on I Still Hate Jonathan Papelbon | Filed in Baseball, General, Phillies
Jonathan Papelbon reacts to booing from Phillies fans.

Jonathan Papelbon reacts to booing from Phillies fans.

During the ninth inning of the Phillies-Marlins game yesterday, Jonathan Papelbon allowed four runs on four hits and one walk, resulting in a 5-4 Phillies loss.  Phillies fans booed Papelbon upon his blown save, and he responded with a crotch-grabbing tantrum.  (Umpire Joe West swiftly ejected Pap.) I haven’t always agreed with West’s decision-making; you might recall his use of instant replay to reverse a call in September 2011 that resulted in Manuel’s announcement that the Phils would continue to play under protest.  Tossing Pap yesterday, though, was 100% the correct call.

I’ve said plenty to and about Papelbon over the past couple years, and I stand by all of it.  He has one job: shut it down.  Come into the game – not every night, mind you – hold the lead, record three outs, and shut it down.  He has just one job, for which he is grossly overpaid, but he continues to make things far more difficult than they need to be.  Papelbon, I’ve asked you in the past – don’t tell the media you “didn’t come here for this,” don’t try to engage fans one way or another, don’t blame your teammates, don’t get yourself into a jam just to see if you can get out of it, don’t disrespect your manager – just shut it down.  That’s it.  Record three outs, take a shower, and go the hell home. I’d like to remind you, sir, that we didn’t bring you here for this.

While we fans should be content with Papelbon’s 37 saves in 40 opportunities this season, I think I speak for many of you when I say that we’re not content with the $13M it has cost in just 2014.

None of this is new, though.  I’ve said it all before.  What is new, however, is Jonathan Papelbon’s new low: reacting like a punk-ass kid who didn’t get his way.  Did he miss the memo that Philadelphia is a tough crowd?

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