Archive for February, 2014

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Observing the 76ers

February 28th, 2014 by Jeremy Bonnette | Comments Off on Observing the 76ers | Filed in Basketball, General, Sixers

sixerstsp2Philadelphia Sports Media

I don’t know what machine Sam Hinke is trying to build, but he sure is using some pretty mysterious parts to make it.

The Sixers’ new GM has already shown that he isn’t shy about shaking things up when he traded away all-star guard Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans, and drafting center Nerlens Noel with the received draft pick. Of course, recently, he made more noise by trading away a few more players including Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner, and Royal Ivey.

What exactly is the man up to?

Maybe he’s clearing enough cap space to acquire a superstar in the off-season. It seems likely that he’s trying to expedite the rebuilding process. After all, you have to think he’s not just going to sit on that money and call it a season. Hawes and Turner were having their best seasons in the NBA and were gaining some needed leverage to get some nice new contracts, so I’m not entirely angry for getting rid of them.

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Lucky Number 7: Part I

February 27th, 2014 by Mike H. | 1 Comment | Filed in Baseball, General, MLB, Phillies, Sports

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Despite the possible ramifications the Phillies may incur due to the allegations made regarding Oregon State pitcher Ben Wetzler, I’m VERY excited for the Phillies upcoming pick in the draft. Granted it’s just over three months away, and stocks will rise and fall, there is one name that really intrigues me: Florida State pitcher Luke Weaver. Weaver currently projects as a mid-to-late first round pick, but based on his starts, I expect his stock to rise dramatically. MLB Pipeline projects Weaver as a slightly above average pitcher. His fastball sits at 92-93 MPH, but has been able to reach back and hit 97. He complements his fastball with a deceptive, low 80s change-up and an average at best slider/slurve.

Weaver, a Florida native, is in his junior year and is majoring in Sport Management. He’s a right-handed pitcher that stands 6’2″ at 170 lbs. and draws comparisons to Tim Hudson. He was drafted out of high school in the 19th round by the Toronto Blue Jays, but did not sign. His freshman season was a bit of shock as he was moved back and forth between the rotation and long relief. He sported a 5.93 ERA with an 8.8 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, and 1.51 WHIP. Last year was Weaver’s coming out party, as he dominated the ACC. Weaver started 15 games and appeared in two others accumulating a 2.29 ERA, 10.9 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, and 0.99 WHIP. Early in his 2014 campaign, Weaver, after just two starts, is sitting on a 2.45 ERA with a 7.4 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, and an even 1.00 WHIP. While his early numbers aren’t as impressive as his 2013 numbers, Weaver got better as his season progressed last year.

Once Weaver finds his groove, I fully expect to see his stock soar high enough to justify being a top ten draft pick.

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Eagles Lock Up Peters Through 2018

February 26th, 2014 by Sam Shipley | Comments Off on Eagles Lock Up Peters Through 2018 | Filed in Eagles, General, Sports

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The Eagles have signed 6-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters to a contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through 2018. The extension is reported to be a 4 year deal, worth $41.3 million ($19.55 million guaranteed for the 5-time all-pro tackle. The Eagles now have four of their five starting offensive lineman locked up through 2016, with the odd man out being Jason Kelce who is locked up through next year. However, the Eagles would like to lock up Kelce this offseason as well.

Peters is 32 and will be 36 when his contract is up with Philadelphia.

For all of your Eagles news and updates follow me on twitter @samshipley5

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Together We Build

February 25th, 2014 by Sam Shipley | Comments Off on Together We Build | Filed in Basketball, General, Sixers

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It is clearly obvious that the Philadelphia 76ers are rebuilding. If the team slogan “Together We Build” didn’t give it away, then the recent moves the team has made in both the NBA Draft and at the NBA trade deadline certainly did. With rebuilding being the case, there are certainly questions that Sixers fans have about the direction of the team.

Like I said we all know the Sixers are rebuilding, but what path will they go down to get there?

It is a simple, but also, very complicated question to answer and there is a lot of luck that goes into reaching the organizations ultimate goal. The two simple routes that are easy to answer are these:

Building Through The Draft

Building through the draft is the harder way to go in my opinion. This would path would mean that the Sixers would ultimately avoid spending big money on potential free agents this summer such as Carmelo Anthony for example. They would take a Indiana Pacers approach which has obviously worked out greatly for them, as they are now NBA championship contenders. However, can you name me another team who has built through the draft in recent years who are now legitimate NBA title contenders?

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From Bad To Worse

February 21st, 2014 by Mike H. | Comments Off on From Bad To Worse | Filed in Baseball, General, MLB, Phillies
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The Phillies decline

Like a punch to the face from Ivan Drago, the Phillies are going down. Being someone who has given up on the big club’s ability to contend in the present, the Phillies are now sacrificing their future as well. If you haven’t heard or read by now, the short of it is that the Phillies reported Oregon State’s Ben Wetzler and Washington State’s Jason Monda to the NCAA for using advisors and subsequently not signing with the Phillies after last year’s draft. While Monda has been cleared to play, Wetzler has not. An investigation has been in effect since November and still has not been resolved despite the college season having started.

The Phillies, at time of post, have yet to issue a statement regarding this situation. They’ve declined comment but General Manager Ruin Tomorrow Sooner…I mean Ruben Amaro Junior is deferring all questions to Assistant General Manager Marti Wolever, who has also declined comment. The Phillies have been using the ongoing NCAA investigation as reason for not commenting.

I find this entertaining as Ken Rosenthal reported on MLB Network’s Hot Stove that the Phillies are not even remotely involved with the investigation outside of doing the dime. Early reports are already starting that schools are going to block the Phillies from viewing or connecting their players aged of this June’s First Year Player Draft.

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Top 10 Philly Athletes of the Past 50 Years: One Man’s View

February 19th, 2014 by Jim Chesko | Comments Off on Top 10 Philly Athletes of the Past 50 Years: One Man’s View | Filed in Baseball, Basketball, Eagles, Flyers, Football, Hockey, Phillies, Sixers, Sports, TalkSportsPhilly

Philadelphia’s been the home base for a great number of incredible athletes over the years, but who are the best of the best?

If you’re a faiBobby Clarke and Bernie Parentthful viewer of Comcast SportsNet (I admit, I’m a heavy watcher), you know that CSN has recently been counting down its list of the Top 10 Philly Athletes of all time. (In case you haven’t been paying attention, Numbers 10 through 4 were Bernie Parent, Chuck Bednarik, Carl Lewis, Julius Erving, Steve Van Buren, Joe Frazier and Steve Carlton; will the final trio be Clarkie, Schmidty and Wilt? We shall see.)

Anyway, it got me thinking about MY list. First, however, the parameters: I decided to limit my Top 10 to players whom I’ve seen in action during the past the 50 years and who’ve played the bulk of their career in Philadelphia. So, no Jimmie Foxx or Lefty Grove (way before my time), no Pete Rose (despite how much he meant to the Phils’ 1980 World Series team), no Steve van Buren or Chuck Bednarik (amazing careers for both, but – again – before my time), no Richie Ashburn … and no Kobe Bryant.

Before giving you my personal Top 10, how about a few Philly greats who just missed the cut? Getting “honorable mention” status would be Charles Barkley, Brian Dawkins and – although he spent just four of his prime NBA years as a 76er – Moses Malone. All right, here goes…

10) JOE FRAZIER – Philly’s greatest boxer, “Smokin’ Joe” was an Olympic gold medalist and undisputed World Heavyweight Champion from 1970 to 1972, who had those three memorable battles with Muhammad Ali. Career record of 32-4-1.

9) CARL LEWIS – The Willingboro, New Jersey, sprinter and long-jumper won nine Olympic gold medals and an additional eight World Championship gold medals in the 1980s and 90s. (We won’t penalize Lewis for his inglorious 1993 attempt at singing the national anthem at a Bulls-Nets NBA playoff game.)

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An Early Look at Phillies Pitching

February 19th, 2014 by AmyMac | Comments Off on An Early Look at Phillies Pitching | Filed in Baseball, General, Phillies

 By Amy McGinnis

You’d never guess it by stepping outside here in Philadelphia, but spring is right around the corner.  Spring Training is officially underway in Clearwater, and manager Ryne Sandberg held his first team workout today.  Pitchers and catchers reported last week, and there’s a familiar guest instructor at training: Roy Halladay.  It seems like a lifetime ago that Philadelphia’s pitching rotation boasted the likes of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt, and Blanton, doesn’t it?

We’re still graced stuck with Jonathan Papelbon as closer, and Mike Adams (once he’s fully recovered from shoulder surgery) will be 8th inning setup man.  We’ll also most  likely see lefties Antonio Bastardo and Jake Diekman in the bullpen.  Joe Savery was claimed on waivers by the A’s; Philadelphia needed his spot on the roster for newly-acquired A.J. Burnett.  (If you’re wondering, Burnett signed a one-year, $16 million deal.)

Lefty Cole Hamels, who announced that he has had shoulder “discomfort,” is currently scheduled for his first bullpen session at Carpenter Complex next Tuesday.  Also experiencing shoulder issues is RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who is behind schedule with bullpen sessions (yes, it’s the same shoulder that landed him on the disabled list last season).

On the bright side, non-roster invitee Jesse Biddle has been working out in Clearwater.  You may remember the 22-year-old lefty’s name from the first round of the 2010 draft.  The 6’4″ lefty is a Germantown Friends School alum, and he’ll be pitching in Lehigh Valley this season.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he made an appearance or two in Philadelphia.

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