During the first day of full training camp several Eagles suffered injuries, sidelining them for portions of the workouts.
Shawn Andrews (back), roommate Jason Peters (quad), and cornerback Asante Samuel (hamstring) all had to sit out Thursday afternoon’s workout after suffering injuries during the day’s earlier workouts in the brutal Lehigh Valley heat.
The three of them join three other Eagles on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Andrews, Peters and Samuel join Brian Westbrook (ankle), Victor Abiamiri (pec), and Trevor Laws (hamstring). Players can be listed on the PUP list only on the first day of training camp, but can be removed at any time.
Another casualty from Thursday’s workouts was wideout Kevin Curtis, who suffered a thigh contusion when he collided with safety Quintin Demps.
In light of the injury to Samuel, cornerbacks Sheldon Brown and Ellis Hobbs have been practicing as the right and left corners, as opposed to both practicing at the right corner, both their natural position. Since there is no clear display of who …
First Pablo Sandoval, the round hard hitting third baseman from the San Francisco Giants, lost out on making this year’s NL All Star Team when Phillies’ outfielder Shane Victorino beat him and the entire nation of Venezuela in the MLB Final Vote for the final roster spot on the team. Sandoval ran a close second to Victorino, who had the state of Hawaii, city of Philadelphia (and surrounding area), and the city of Las Vegas all pulling in his favor, not to mention a couple Governor’s mansions.
Then a glimmer of hope shone through for the Kung Fu Panda when Mets’ outfielder Carlos Beltran withdrew from the Mid-Summer Classic due to an injury that has sidelined him for more than a month. As the runner up in the Final Vote competition, Sandoval was the logical choice as the final replacement, despite not playing the same position as Beltran.
Not so, as Sandoval again lost out on his first ever All Star selection when NL manager, and Phillies’ skipper, …
Everyone’s favorite steroid deep throat, former Athletics slugger Jose Canseco, was on the Mike Missanelli Show on 950 ESPN Radio in Philadelphia on Thursday, and he was informative as always.
In light of the New York Times report that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, both members of the Red Sox World Series champion teams in 2004 and 2007, tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003, Canseco dropped what appeared to be an even bigger bombshell. In response to statements that Canseco had made earlier in the day that he was not surprised that either player was named, Missanelli asked him if he had personal knowledge that either Ortiz or Ramirez was using.
“Well, amongst players I think we all know who were the users and who were not. And definitely that number that I thought was only 8% back there is a lot higher. But we have a lot more major problems than that,” Canseco said. “I mean, fine we knew that players used steroids back then. …
While making a diving catch and likely saving a run in the first inning Wednesday night, Phillies’ centerfielder Shane Victorino bruised his knee, despite not leaving the game until the seventh inning. While Victorino said there was no fracture, his knee was “very, very bruised.”
Victorino is listed as day-to-day and is questionable for Thursday’s start in San Francisco. That could pave the way for newly acquired outfielder Ben Francisco to make his first start with the Phillies.
In 308 at bats this season with the Cleveland Indians, Francisco, who was traded to the Phillies Wednesday along with left hander Cliff Lee, is batting .250 with 10 homeruns and 33 RBIs. The 27-year old Santa Ana, CA native has 48 runs scored and 13 stolen bases so far this season.
Francisco fills the Phillies’ need for a right handed bat off the bench, something they have been lacking since Spring Training. They initially tried to fill the void with utility infielder Miguel Cairo, who was sent back …
All members of the Eagles have arrived for training camp. All but rookie wideout Jeremy Maclin that is.
Maclin is the only remaining Eagles rookie to not yet sign a contract, although it something that is currently being negotiated by his agent Jim Steiner and team consultant Andrew Brandt. The 19th overall pick in this year’s draft is in the Philadelphia area, able to arrive to training camp at a moment’s notice if a deal is struck.
“We’re still trying to find common ground,” Brandt said today when asked if any progress had been made.
“I’d normally talk about the players that are here,” offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. “However, in general, it’s my experience with rookies that help a ball club – or helped the club that I’ve been on – they’ve missed very, very little [time]. It’s just a big advantage to be at every practice.”
Clearly, the Eagles want him here as soon as possible, especially now that all the veterans have reported.
Speaking of veterans, disgruntled cornerback Sheldon Brown arrived, as promised, a little after 6:00 …
Newly acquired pitcher Cliff Lee met with reporters today in Anaheim where the Indians are facing off against the Angels. He, along with Ben Francisco, are expected to join the Phillies tomorrow in San Francisco and could pitch as early as Friday or Saturday against the Giants.
If Lee pitches Saturday, he will face Tim Lincecum, the reinging NL Cy Young award winner. Lee is the reigning AL Cy Young award winner.
Per Todd Zolecki, here is some of what Lee had to say about the trade:
“Obviously, I’m going to miss all these guys here, but it’s an opportunity for me to help a team that’s in first place and is the defending world champion. As far as that goes, I’m excited. But I’ve got to figure out how to get there and meet up with them and get acclimated to their team. It’s exciting. It’s kind of neat knowing Benny’s going with me, so I don’t have to do it all by …
With the acquisition of Cliff Lee today, the Phillies now appear to have an excess of starting pitchers.
As it stands right now, the Phillies can choose from:
Cliff Lee
Cole Hamels
Joe Blanton
Jamie Moyer
J.A. Happ
Rodrigo Lopez
Pedro Martinez
That’s seven pitchers (eight if you include Brett Myers, who is eying a mid-August return) that manager Charlie Manuel can choose from for his starting rotation from here on out. Obviously, Lee and Hamels are assured a spot in the rotation, as is Blanton, who has arguably been the team’s best pitcher this season.
Chances are that the Phillies will not relegate the 46-year old veteran Moyer to the bullpen simply out of respect for his service to the Phillies in the World Championship season and his stature in the major leagues. That leaves the final spot and three pitchers: Happ, Pedro, and Lopez.
Chances are that Rodrigo Lopez will be traded or sent to Triple-A Lehigh. There is also a chance he ends up in the bullpen, but he is definitely not starting despite four strong outings this season.
J.A. Happ is currently the …
When Toronto Blue Jays’ manager Cito Gaston was asked Wednesday if he thought his team dodged a bullett when it was announced that the Phillies acquired Cliff Lee instead of Roy Halladay, he responded by pointing out that the prospects they were seeking were still available.
Those prospects are pitchers Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ, and outfielder Dominic Brown, none of which were part of Wednesday’s deal that will bring Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco to Philly.
He then said with a chuckle, “Yeah, I guess. Who knows? They may come back and get (Halladay), too. That’d be a pretty good staff there, wouldn’t it?”
If that were to happen, it would give the Phillies a starting rotation of Halladay, Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, and Jamie Moyer/Pedro Martinez.
I was obviously not in Seattle covering the Blue Jays and did not hear Gaston first hand, but I would have to think his comments were made tongue-in-cheek. The Blue Jays would have …
Todd Zolecki, Phillies’ beat reporter for MLB.com and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com are reporting that the Phillies and Indians have reached an agreement sending Cliff Lee to Philadelphia.
The deal would reportedly be for pitchers Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson.
The Phillies would also receive outfielder Ben Francisco who would fill the team’s need for a right handed bat off the bench.
Rosenthal reports that the deal is completed pending the review of medical records.
Lee is 7-9 for the last place Indians with an ERA of 3.14 in 22 starts. His ERA looks even better when you consider that he allowed 11 runs in his first two starts of the season. He has not allowed more than three runs in four July starts, and has only allowed four or more runs twice this season since those first two starts.
Lee leads the American League in innings pitched so far this season with 152. He has thrown seven innings or more in 13 of …
FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Phillies and Indians are negotiating a deal that would send pitcher Cliff Lee and possibly one other player to Philadelphia for pitchers Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson.
Carrasco was scratched from his scheduled start today at Lehigh Valley and both Donald and Marson are out of the lineup for today’s games, although Donald was previously scheduled to be out to rest his back.
The deal would not involve pitchers Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ, or outfielder Dominic Brown, all highly coveted young players sought after by the Toronto Blue Jays for Roy Halladay.
Could the Phillies be in the midst of a trade?
It is being reported that pitcher Carlos Carrasco has been scratched from his start today at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Infielder Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson are also not in the lineup for today’s games, although they were not previously scheduled to start. Outfielder Michael Taylor is still in the starting lineup for the Iron Pigs’ 11 AM start.
All four players have been mentioned as possible pieces of a trade package over the past couple weeks, although it is not believed that they are realistically part of a deal for Roy Halladay, who want pitchers Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ, and outfielder Dominic Brown.
Carrasco, Donald and Marson could be part of a deal, possibly along with Drabek, for pitcher Cliff Lee from the Cleveland Indians, or perhaps the Mariners’ Jarrod Washburn. A deal for Washburn, or the Pirates’ Zach Duke would likely not involve Drabek or Brown.
A report Wednesday by ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark …
Former Flyer John LeClair will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
The former Legion of Doom member spent 16 years in the NHL, 10 of them with the Flyers. He was the first American-born player to record three consecutive 50-goal seasons in the NHL.
“My playing days in Philadelphia were great, as were the fans,” LeClair said. “Obviously, I enjoyed most of my success when I was a member of the Flyers. It was a great time and a great time in my career. When I think back at hockey I think I am most associated with the Philadelphia Flyers.”
In 10 seasons (1994-2004) with the Flyers, he had 333 goals and 643 points, seventh on the club’s all-time goals and points lists. In addition to three consecutive 50-goal seasons, LeClair broke the 40-goal mark in five consecutive seasons (1995-2000) and finished in the top 10 in league scoring four times (1994-95, 1996-99).
He registered 406 goals and 413 assists for 819 points in 967 career games …
