Archive for March, 2014

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2014 Phillies Need Good Health, Good Luck (and a Fountain of Youth?) to Succeed

March 30th, 2014 by Jim Chesko | Comments Off on 2014 Phillies Need Good Health, Good Luck (and a Fountain of Youth?) to Succeed | Filed in Baseball, General, Phillies

For baseball fans, it’s one of the best days of the year. Opening Day is Monday for the Phillies – the first of the games that count is an interleague matchup against the Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas – but there isn’t a whole lot of optimism about the 2014 Phils. And that’s understandable: There is very little margin of error for this club if it’s going to compete.

phillies1It seems like an eternity now, but it was just three years ago that the Phillies set a franchise record with 102 regular-season wins. However that 2011 postseason ended with slugger Ryan Howard crawling to first base in a disappointing first-round loss to the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, having ruptured an Achilles tendon in that final at-bat. And neither Howard nor the Phils have been the same since: They won just 81 games in 2012 and 73 last year, costing the franchise’s winningest manager, Charlie Manuel, his job last August.

Well, Howard is 34 now, and – over the past two injury-shortened seasons – knee and calf issues followed that Achilles tear, along with a drop in his power numbers. Middle infielders Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins and catcher Carlos Ruiz are all 35, while newly reacquired outfielder Marlon Byrd is 36. And pitchers Cliff Lee, A.J. Burnett, Mike Adams and Jonathan Papelbon are no kids, either.

So, for the Phillies to compete in 2014, they’ll definitely need some good fortune. Heck, if this aging group of core players can stay healthy, it’ll be something of a minor miracle. And those key veterans may also need to somehow shave a few years off their biological clocks if fans are to party like it’s 2008 again. Here are some “musts” if the Phillies are to make a return to the postseason this fall.

Ryan Howard needs to rediscover his power. The “Big Piece” seems to be healthy again for the first time since 2011, and he’ll have to again be a 30 home-run guy for the Phillies to have any hope of contending. A healthy Howard is probably the biggest key to the Phils’ prospects for success in 2014. Nearly as important will be the health of Chase Utley. The second baseman’s knees held up better than expected in 2013, and his offensive numbers weren’t bad; he’ll need to be at least as good this season.

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So…now what Sixers?

March 24th, 2014 by Jeremy Bonnette | Comments Off on So…now what Sixers? | Filed in Basketball, General, Sixers, Sports

sixerstsp2

Last week, My father asked me if I wanted to go see my Sixers play the Sacramento Kings. That was the first that I’ve ever had to think very carefully about going to a basketball game. Why? Well…because I knew they weren’t going to win. I’m not one of those fans that goes to games for the atmosphere. I want my team to win. As I predicted, they lost that night.

As I am writing this article, the Sixers are currently on a 24 game losing streak. I honestly did not think I would ever see this happen (then again, I thought I’d never see the Raptors in playoff contention either). The funny thing about it is, they still DO NOT have the worst record in the league. That prestigious honor currently belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks (If the Sixers have lost 24 straight and STILL do not have the worst record, then exactly how bad have the Bucks been?). It seems like the coach, the players, and even management are running out of excuses for such terrible performances over the past 3 months, and every interview looks more painful than the last. They may look as though they are trying to get closer and closer to victory, but what some see as determination, many others see as deliberate losing. I believe in the latter.

Need any proof? Well…you shouldn’t. From the moment the NBA draft started last year it seems like Sam Hinkie has been making moves that point to a big flashy neon sign that says, “Rebuilding”, or, “NOT THIS YEAR”. I could go into specifics, but does it make the streak any more reasonable? I HATE tanking…in any sport. Though it is easier to say about sports in your own town, it still turns my stomach to witness (or for others, to hear about).

So what happens now? Do they continue to lose every game in hopes of gaining the best position to take the No.1 pick in the 2014 draft (25% chance and decreases per record). Or do they muster up some dignity and get out of this streak? I will say that there are many Sixers who are playing their hearts out (you know who they are) trying everything they can to get out of this slump. However, the team is undersized, under-talented, and CANNOT play defense.

One can only hope that either they break this streak before the season ends, or that all of this tanking will be worth it next year.

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More Bad News For The Phils

March 22nd, 2014 by AmyMac | Comments Off on More Bad News For The Phils | Filed in Baseball, General, MLB, Phillies
My feelings exactly, Phanatic.

My feelings exactly, Phanatic.

By Amy McGinnis

The Philadelphia Phillies have been having a standout Spring Training in the Grapefruit League – and by “standout,” I mean that they look as though they don’t even belong in the standings at all.  Although a W-L record is somewhat meaningless in Spring Training, it’s embarrassing that we’re currently 6-14.  For those of you keeping track, that’s a .300 record.  We can blame injuries all we want, but the truth hurts: Asche, Brown, and Utley are batting .139, .171, and .190, respectively.

As if that weren’t sad enough, we’re down two more  players.  Freddy Galvis, whose wife gave birth to their first child last weekend, is currently hospitalized with MRSA.  Outfielder Darin Ruf is also out, reportedly for 4-6 weeks, thanks to a left oblique strain.  It’s not the end of the world, but it’s not looking good.  Throw in Jimmy Rollins’s laziness and Cole Hamels’s late start, and we’ve got ourselves a bit of a mess.

Phils take on the Pirates tomorrow at McKechnie Field at 1:05.  Both teams are set to send RHP starters (Burnett and Pimentel).  Pirates are currently 11-8 in Spring Training.

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March Madness Zarwin Baum: Philly Sports Press Snuffed from Participating!

March 20th, 2014 by Leo | Comments Off on March Madness Zarwin Baum: Philly Sports Press Snuffed from Participating! | Filed in College Sports, General, PhillyWood, Serpico, TSP Radio
zarwinlaw

Zarwin Baum, they stick up for the disadvantaged

Story will be out soon, please be patient while I get the facts.

I am giving a cool down period of 1 week til I write the story, so I can be as objective as possible, I do have video and pics! As a reporter and a person who dislikes injustice and discrimination, you have to put yourself on the line and at risk to get the story.

Video of the Harassment at the Zarwin Baum March Madness Event will be posted soon as well.  This will be an ongoing article that will post updates both positive and negative regarding this situation.  Check back in the future to see if there are any more updates.

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Will Rollins Stay or Go?

March 18th, 2014 by Kyle Lutz | 3 Comments | Filed in Baseball, General, MLB, Phillies, Sports

Multiple sources recently have speculated and alluded to the chance that Phillies’ veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins will be moved sometime this upcoming season, depending upon attitude adjustments from Rollins, or a lack thereof.

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Rollins has vehemently expressed continuously that he’d like to stay put, especially to (eventually) become the Phillies’ all-time franchise hits leader. He’s currently ranked fourth all-time among team leaders in hits with 2175, just 59 hits behind Mike Schmidt, who leads the franchise with 2234 career hits. Rollins is also chasing two outfielders in Ed Delahanty and Richie Ashburn. J-Roll is 38 hits behind Delahanty and 42 behind Ashburn, the latter of which is second all-time to Schmidt by a deficit of just 17.

This is the primary reason for which Rollins wants to stay in Philadelphia; to break Schmidt’s record. With his signature laid back approach, he expressed to CSN Philly’s Phillies’ insider Jim Salisbury that it would be an honor, and a feat that only 30 men in MLB history have accomplished, considering the amount of teams within the league.

“There’s only 30 guys that are their team’s leader in hits.” “It’s a pretty high honor.”

As arguably the best shortstop in team history, Rollins has been a fixture at the six spot since making his Major League debut as a September call-up for the team in 2000. He debuted on September 17th, in a 6-5 Phillies’ victory over divisional rival Florida, with his first Major League at-bat coming against Marlins’ starting pitcher Chuck Smith (the former drew a walk and scored a run as well on a two-run Bobby Abreu home run). Irony at its finest: Abreu gave Rollins his first ever run, and 14 years later, albeit on two different occasions, the two are teammates.

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Chicago Blackhawks (39-15-14) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (35-25-7)

March 18th, 2014 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on Chicago Blackhawks (39-15-14) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (35-25-7) | Filed in Flyers, General, Hockey, Sports

(AP Photo)

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The defending champion Blackhawks handily defeated the Flyers at home on December 11th 7-2 at the United Center, and now Philadelphia is seeking revenge on home ice. Philadelphia squares off against Jonathan Toews and Chicago tonight at 7:30 PM/EST on CSN Philly/NBCSN. In the 7-2 victory vs. Philadelphia earlier this season, seven different Blackhawks scored. Patrick Sharp had a goal and two assists against his former team, while Marian Hossa recorded three assists.

In the two team’s (only) previous match-up this season, Chicago not only won but scored an impressive five goals in the second period, taking a commanding 5-2 lead heading into the third period, one of which they tacked on an additional two goals on their way to victory. Philadelphia was struggling mightily at that time, roughly three months ago, at 13-15-3 (while Chicago at the time, only having one greater loss than amount of overtime losses, was fantastic, and still is, at 23-6-5)- although the former was still in contention at the time due to the Western Conference’s superiority in comparison to the East this season.

Fast-forward a few months later and Philadelphia is doing much better under now-interim (but perceived to be the full-time coach heading forward) head coach (and former Philadelphia enforcer) Craig Berube at 35-25-7. The Fly-Guys are 22-10-4 since the aforementioned 7-2 blowout loss to Chicago in mid-December. They come in tonight’s game with Chicago having won two straight, on a back-to-back game basis no less, both victories coming against rival Pittsburgh from Saturday to Sunday of last week. Since losing a close 2-1 game to New Jersey a week ago today, Philadelphia — starting four days later — shutout the Pens 4-0 at the Wells Fargo Center, before sweeping the home-and-home with a close 4-3 victory on Sunday at Pittsburgh.

The Broad Street Bullies come into tonight’s match-up having gone 3-1-1 in their last five, averaging over 3.5 goals and almost 33.5 shots/game in that time span. They’re 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, while Chicago is 5-5.

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Fuel the Cure: March Madness is Here!

March 18th, 2014 by Leo | Comments Off on Fuel the Cure: March Madness is Here! | Filed in College Sports, Events, General

feulthecuremarchmad

FUEL the CURE has partnered with CharityBrackets.org to create an easy and fun way to participate in March Madness and help spread the FUEL the CURE mission. Our mission is to inspire an action oriented and socially conscious lifestyle. Our campaign this year is for Children in Need, benefitting the following charities: KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), The Vetri Foundation for Children, and St. Damien’s Pediatric Hospital in Haiti. Further information on our mission and our underlying charities is available on our website at www.fuelthecure.net. Our donors’ help over the years has enabled us to engage over 3,000 individuals in philanthropy, donate more than $340,000 to various causes and, of course, have fun along the way. 

FUEL the CURE March Madness Bracket Details:

  • ENTRY FEE:
    $20
  • PROCEEDS:
    All proceeds will go to help spread FUEL the CURE’s mission of inspiring an action oriented and socially conscious lifestyle
  • WINNING PRIZE:
    2 tickets and airfare to 2015 Final Four
  • ADDITIONAL PRIZES:
    Anyone who registers automatically becomes eligible to win one of four pairs of tickets to the FUEL the CURE gala (winners will be picked randomly)
  • REFERRAL PRIZES:
    Win awesome prizes (e.g. t-shirts, free tickets to 2014 gala, iPad Mini) by referring the event to your friends by forwarding an email and/or sharing a link through social media
  • Sign-ups begin 8pm Selection Sunday, 3/16 and end at 12:30pm Thursday, 3/20

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