Archive for July 8th, 2016

Odubel Herrera’s transformation

July 8th, 2016 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on Odubel Herrera’s transformation | Filed in Baseball, MLB, Phillies

Since being undrafted less than a decade ago, Phillies’ 24-year-old centerfielder Odubel Herrera has made some improvements and impressive strides within the past year.

Eight-years-ago, Herrera was signed by Texas as an amateur free agent, and after spending six years in the minors, was drafted as a Rule 5 pick in 2014 by the Phillies.

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The next year, his rookie season, he posted a line of .297/.344/.418/.762, with 30 doubles and 147 hits. Considering his long wait from the minors to the majors, it was a very solid season for him.

Defensively, he ranked second in the league in putouts for center fielders, with 341.

This season, he’s strengthened his game even more, batting .305, with a .390 on-base-percentage. Defensively, although his fielding percentage has decreased from last season (.964 to .986), among center fielders, he ranks first in the league in range factor per game (2.92). Plus, with time and experience, his defense could improve.

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Philadelphia Soul To Play 2016 Postseason at PPL Center

July 8th, 2016 by Leo | Comments Off on Philadelphia Soul To Play 2016 Postseason at PPL Center | Filed in Football, General, Soul

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First Round of Arena Football League Postseason Set for Sunday, August 7 at 6 p.m.

ALLENTOWN, PA – The Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League will be playing their regular season finale at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA this Saturday, July 9 at 6 p.m.  Today, the Soul announce that their stay at the PPL Center will be extended into the postseason.

The Soul (10-3) have already clinched home field advantage for the first round of the 2016 AFL Postseason, and that game will be played on Sunday, August 7th at the PPL Center.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the opponent is still to be determined.  The national television postseason schedule for the first round will be announced by the AFL League Office shortly.

In addition to this first round game, the Soul are also still in the hunt to host the Arena Football League’s American Conference Championship game. They would need to complete the regular season ahead of the Orlando Predators (11-2) in the American Conference, whom they have already defeated once this season and play again on July 30.  The Soul would also need to win their first round postseason game on August 7th.  The Conference Championship game would be played at the PPL Center in Allentown on Sunday, August 14 at 6 p.m. should those two scenarios play out in the coming weeks. 

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