September 5,2008.
NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell (right), shares the fans displeasure with the NFL pre-season. During interviews in the past week, with ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike, and WFAN’s Francessa on the Fan, the Commish has spoken about possible changes to the NFL Schedule, possibly as soon as the 2011 season. In the interviews, the Commissioner spoke about the quality of pre-season play. Apparently, the Commissioner, like the rest of us, has no little interest in watching practice squad players for any length of time.
Currently, the NFL pre-season showcases 4 mostly meaningless games with stars and starters playing less than one full combined in many cases. This season alone, neither Tom Brady or Peyton Manning took a pre-season snap. LT, mia, Reggie Bush, 16 attempts. Jeez, he might have that in the first half on Sunday.
So, after angry season ticketholders, complained on end about ebing charged regular season prices for pee wee league performances, the man in charge of the …
J Platt, Hot Stove Philly – This is a tough one. Both players are irreplaceable cogs to their team. Wright has been more consistent overall, while Utley started like a house on fire, but cooled after the All-Star Break. While Wright possesses more power, Utley is more dependable for the big hit. Defensively, Utley has improved but Wright has developed into a Gold Glove caliber third baseman. If you factor in position (which does contribute to overall value), Utley is the best offensive second baseman in baseball, while Wright has stiff competition at third base right in his own city. When it comes to intangibles, I don’t think there are many who hustle more then Utley, so I’ll give him the edge, but Wright is clearly superior in the leadership department. Wright has become the leader of the Mets, while Utley maintains a strong presence, he isn’t the Phillies leader.
It wouldn’t surprise me …
Jeff Freier, Hot Stove New York – This year it’s clearly Jose Reyes. He towers over Jimmy Rollins in every statistical category, and leads the league in hits, multiple hit games, triples, is fourth in runs scored and second in stolen bases. His OPS is .854 to Rollins’ .778. And the fielding slump Reyes was in at the beginning of the year has disappeared long ago. So statistically and talent-wise, Reyes is obviously superior. And Rollins’ intangibles – leadership, hustle, etc. – have disappeared this year. The one issue Reyes had was the night in Anaheim when he tweaked his hamstring and was pulled from the game, but got pissed (and pissy) because he wanted to stay in. Meanwhile, Rollins shows up late for a game and gets benched for not hustling. He seems to have an MVP hangover.
J Platt, Hot Stove Philly – Statistically this year it’s Reyes. If you look at the numbers, Reyes surpasses Rollins in …
If you ask any Eagles fan their concern entering this season, the answer will always be the same. The wide receiving corps. With #1 wide receiver Kevin Curtis on the shelf until probably Week 8, fans hoped and prayed that the powers that be in the Eagles front office would go out and land a big fish like Anquin Boldin. Some fans prayers weren’t even that high, and aging veteran like Joe Horn would have done the trick. Well the Eagles chose to stand pat with Reggie Brown assuming the role of the #1 receiver with Hank Baskett and DeSean Jackson getting their share of catches.
Well that plan took a hit as it was announced that Brown is doubtful for Sunday’s opener against the Rams with a sore hamstring. Brown hurt his hamstring on the Eagles first offensive play against the Carolina Panthers this pre-season, and has never fully recovered. He practiced with the team on Wednesday, but still …
For 45 years the Mets and Phillies never had a rivalry, despite their close physical approximation and being in the same league and division (since 1969). The problem has been that for the most part they just haven’t been good at the same time. When the Phillies were winning, the Mets were at the bottom, and vice versa.
But finally, we have a full flat-out rivalry. Phillies fans hate Jose Reyes because of his handshakes and high jinks and Billy Wagner because he’s, well, Billy Wagner. Mets fans hate Jimmy Rollins because he’s constantly whining and crying about the Mets and Shane Victorino because of his taunting and celebratory antics. Rollins recently made comments about getting extra motivation playing against the Mets because of their shenanigans (hey, Jimmy, you’re 5-10 against them and can’t be bothered to show up for the game on time―I’d hate to see how you’d do when you’re not motivated). Meanwhile, Victorino practically does …
It’s no secret this is the weekend that can make or break the Phillies season. A sweep or winning two-out-of-three, the Phillies will find themselves in the heat of a pennant race. Should the Phillies get swept or lose two-out-of-three, the season will pretty much be over and the fans will focus on the Eagles.
It all comes down to three games at Shea Stadium.
Regardless of the outcome of this series, the past two seasons, have given both the Phillies and Mets one thing. A rivalry. The Yankees have the Red Sox, the Cubs have the Cardinals, and now the Phillies have the Mets. Neither team has ever had a true rivalry, but rivalries are good for baseball. Besides, it makes it fun for the fans and the players.
In the spirit of rivalry, this weekend we’re going to do things a little differently at Hot Stove Philly. Pairing up with our sister site, Hot Stove New York, we will debate various topics fans of each team …
With 22 games remaining in the season, the Phillies have turned to an old face to hopefully turn things around. This afternoon, the Phillies have agreed to terms with infielder Tadahito Iguchi.
Iguchi was acquired from the White Sox last season when Chase Utley went down with a broken hand. In 48 games, both as a starter and a bat off the bench, Iguchi batted .304 with 2 home runs and 12 RBI’s. The Phillies were looking to sign Taguchi this past off-season to fill their void at third base, but he opted instead to sign a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres.
Iguchi struggled this season for San Diego, batting .231 with 2 home runs and 24 RBI’s, and was released by the Padres on Monday. With this signing, hopes are a return to the hitter friendly Citizens Bank Park, might give Iguchi an offensive spark down the stretch.
Iguchi will join the team tomorrow in New York. Should …
First, let me boast- I will be at the Eagles-Rams game this Sunday at The Linc. Take that. Actually if I really want to rub it in, I would tell you that I am heading up to Shea tomorrow to see the Phillies season end, I mean stay alive. But I am not that type of guy. Plus, apparently God doesn’t want me to have the ultimate sports weekend and appears to be taking a leak on the Eastern seaboard tomorrow. I’m going to go out on a limb and say rain-out. Therefore, I will subject my wife to UFC 88 tomorrow night.
Ok, now down to the meat and potatoes of the Birds kickoff game versus Marc Bulger/Steven Jackson’s St. Louis Rams. Let me start be pointing out that the Birds are favored by 7.5 at the time of writing this article. That’s a healthy number for those of you who have placed a bet or two in your day. The Eagles are notorious for …
