The BUZZ in Philly
St. Joe’s Head Basketball Coach, Phil Martelli, seemed right at home on Thursday night at Clayton Hall on the University of Delaware campus. The only difference was he wasn’t standing on the hardwood, dressed in sweats with a whistle dangling from his neck. Instead, he sported a jacket and tie, and addressed a packed crowd at the annual Night of Heroes for Special Olympics Delaware.
It says a lot about the man, that during the first week of the college basketball season on his first night off from practice, he ventured down I-95 to share a special moment with this year’s Special Olympics heroes, highlighted by the presentation of the organization’s annual awards to dedicated athletes, volunteers and businesses.
Despite being in the national spotlight every night of the season at his sports’ highest level, Martelli was overwhelmed by the stories the athlete-presenters and award winners told about their Special Olympics experiences at the local level. The points Martelli made during his speech were perfect for not only the honorees, but …
The BUZZ in Philly
Chase Utley and Aaron Rowand received post-season honors as both were named to The Sporting News All-Star team. The annual team is voted on by 488 of their major-league peers.
Utley batted .332 with 22 homers and 103 RBI’s to earn his second consecutive TSN all-star berth.
Rowand hit .309 with 27 homers and 89 RBI’s. It was his first TSN all-star selection.
Charlie Manuel lost by one vote to Arizona’s Bob Melvin for the manager’s slot on the team. Only 11 managers submitted a vote.
You might wonder why Jimmy Rollins didn’t make this team? He lost out to Florida’s Manny Ramirez. So you might wonder why you don’t hear his name in the MVP chatter? I guess your team actually has to be good to be an MVP-candidate, but apparently not to be a TSN all-star.
The Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez was voted player of the year.
David Wright was the only Mets’ representative. The Braves were shutout of the voting.
Hopefully this most recent award will continue to encourage the Phillies to sign Aaron Rowand. …
The BUZZ in Philly
The Phillies will retain their entire coaching staff for the 2008 season.
However, bench-coach Jimy Williams might be a candidate for the Kansas City Royals managerial vacancy. This would certainly create a cause for concern since clearly Manuel’s greatest weakness is in-game strategic decisions. It is widely assumed that he relies heavily on Williams for input.
This announcement also means that the often-criticized third-base coach, Steve Smith, will also be back in ’08. That does not mean, however, he will be standing in the third-base coaches box when the season begins.
The Phillies will not renew the contract of conditioning-coach Scott Hoffman, who has been with the team since 1995. No reason was given, but you have to assume the unusual number of muscle-related injuries throughout the season might have something to do with it.
Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who also writes the BUZZ in New York for www.hotstovenewyork.com. He can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.
The BUZZ in Philly
General Manager Pat Gillick didn’t take long to make a decision about his first player contracts, choosing to not pick-up the options of third-baseman Abraham Nunez and catcher Rod Barajas.
Nunez received a $300,000 buyout while Barajas walked away with $500,000 (cheap compared to the $5 million he was scheduled to make next season as a 3rd-string backup at best).
The Phillies are hoping to sign a better hitter to play third. Greg Dobbs, Wes Helms and Nunez combined for the worst on-base-plus-slugging percentage among third basemen in the NL. Nunez was a good utility infielder, but the Phils feel they can sign someone for much less money than Nunez would command.
Boston’s Mike Lowell, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, has expressed an interest in playing for the Phillies. Gillick did clarify that the Phillies would not go after third-baseman Alex Rodriguez if he opts out of his contract with New York.
The Phillies are confident Chris Coste can serve as the backup catcher to Carlos Ruiz. In addition, top prospect …
The BUZZ in Philly
Three reasons why the Eagles will beat the Jets:
1. Andy Reid is 8-0 following a bye week. The Eagles will be rested and ready to play in what is almost a must-win situation.
2. Donovan McNabb plays at his best when he’s not pressured and forced to think or scramble. The Giants sacked him 12 times (Eagles lose, 16-3) and the Lions only three (Eagles win, 56-21). The Jets have just 3 sacks the entire season.
3. The Jets running game will be grounded. Thomas Jones averages less than 45 yards against teams with at least one win. The Eagles fall into that category.
Three reasons why the Eagles will lose to the Jets:
1. The game will be an offensive struggle for both teams. A win or loss could come down to a field goal at the end. The usually-reliable David Akers (81.8% accuracy – 9th alltime) hits only 45.5% of his kicks in Giants Stadium.
2. This is Eric Mangini’s first must-win game as a head coach. Last year’s Cinderella season is …
The BUZZ in Philly
As expected, the Phillies have rewarded manager Charlie Manuel with a two-year contract that has a club option for a third year.
The player-favorite Manuel led the Phillies to their first playoff appearance in 14 years and reached 250 wins in the fewest games since Pat Moran managed the club from 1915-18.
Via the Associated Press, Manuel had this to say about his new contract:
“I am very happy to be back for another two years,” Manuel said. “I’m proud of what the team accomplished this year and I’m looking forward to defending our division title and reaching our goal of winning a World Series for Philadelphia.”
General Manager Pat Gillick had nothing but praise for Manuel:
“We love what Charlie brings to the ballpark every day, which is an upbeat, positive attitude that rubs off on the players,” general manager Pat Gillick said. “He helped lead our club back to the playoffs and he and his coaching staff did a great job, especially with the injury issues they faced throughout the season with a number of …
The BUZZ in Philly
Mariano Rivera announced today that he will test the free-agent market and all rumors seem to agree that he won’t be back with the Yankees next year. Wouldn’t it be great if he gave up his blue pinstripes for red ones?
Think about it……………
The Phillies are in desperate need of another starting pitcher (okay, a couple of them). Brett Myers is a proven starter who was forced into a dilapidated bullpen and despite his success as a closer, could still be that missing person in the rotation. And no matter what he says publicly, no pitcher wants to be a closer if they can be a successful starter. And most “experts” think that Myers can be, again.
But the only way he can leave the bullpen is if the Phillies find a replacement. None of the current pitchers in the pen are closers. JC Romero might be the closest, but he’s also proven he can pitch 2 – 3 innings of middle-to-late relief when needed. And unfortunately, it’s needed …
The BUZZ in Philly
The lights at Coors Field went out and the temperature dropped 20-degrees at the start of last night’s third game of the NLDS, and when they came back on, the Phillies’ bats stayed cold, as the Rockies scored a 2-1 victory to win their first-ever playoff series.
The Rockies strung together three two-out singles in the bottom of the 8th to take a 2-1 lead. Ironically, Garrett Atkins, the best man in Chase Utley’s wedding, scored the go-ahead run. The Phils couldn’t answer in the 9th and the Rockies advanced to the NLCS to play the Arizona Diamondbacks, who swept the Chicago Cubs in their playoff series.
Jamie Moyer pitched another solid game, but the Phillies’ offense remained as silent as it has been all season. He allowed just five hits and one run in 6 innings, before turning the ball over to the bullpen.
The best offense in the NL hit a paltry .172 (16 for 93) and scored just 8 runs in the series, with 26 strikeouts. Ryan Howard was the only Phillie to …
The BUZZ in Philly
Phillies’ bench Coach Jimy Williams was on the winning side when the Red Sox came back from 0-2 to win a division series against the Indians in 1999. Who was on the losing side? Charlie Manuel, the hitting coach for the Cleveland at the time.
Only once has a team lost both games at home to open a NLDS and come back to win, the 2001 New York Yankees. Only seven times in the history of baseball has any team come back from a 2-game deficit to win a best-of-five playoff series. So the Phillies have their work cut out for them.
But there certainly should be plenty of optimism swirling around Coors Field tonight when the Phils play the Rockies in game 3 of the NLDS. The Phillies have six people who have been members of a team either rebounding from two-games down to advance to the next round, or collapsing to go home.
Davey Lopes was a member of the Dodgers team in 1981 that rallied for three straight wins to beat …
The BUZZ in Philly
Cole Hamels will not pitch on three days’ rest if the Phillies play a game four on Sunday in Denver.
Via Martin Frank and Scott Lauber of the News Journal:
“It’s too much of a risk,” Hamels said. “It’s something where I’d rather take the Game 5 because it’s also about getting to that next level, that next stage. I don’t know if it’s selfish. Some people may take it that way. But it’ll be better for me to go on my normal days’ rest because of my [injury] track record. I know they [Phillies officials] understand that.
“That’s why, mentally, when they set it up, it was already in my head that I was starting [Games] 1 and 5. That’s what I’m mentally getting prepared for, [pitching] back here. That’s what I think is going to happen, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Kyle Lohse, who pitched just 22 pitches in relief yesterday, would be the starter for game four. That amount of pitches is typical of a session …
The BUZZ in Philly
Rookie Kyle Kendrick took the mound this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park hoping to lead the Phillies back into a tie in the NLDS before heading to Denver for games three and four.
In the top of the first, he left two K’s up high, and both were hit far (even Harry Kalas had the call correct), to put the Rockies up 2-0 before some fans even had time to sit down following the National Anthem.
Jimmy Rollins gave the Phillies life in the bottom of the first with a solo homer, ending the top of the lineup’s hitting drought, and just as importantly, getting the fans back into the game. He later would triple in two runs and hit a sacrifice for a fourth RBI.
Like Cubs-Skipper Lou Piniella, Charlie Manuel will be second-guessed for his decision to pull his starting pitcher early. Kendrick had just given up a soft dribbler to third, to load the bases, and was lifted for reliever Kyle Lohse after just 66 pitches (and still looking strong). The move didn’t make strategic …
The BUZZ in Philly
I’ve learned over the years that anytime there is a big event at the Philly sports complex, win or lose inside, everyone loses outside when it’s time to leave.
I once sat in the lot after a Flyers’ game for 90 minutes because there was not one person directing traffic out of the lots. Sure, the Philadelphia Police Department lined the Broad Street intersections, but to get to that point you needed a tank, or at least a vehicle that you didn’t care about.
I got reports from several people after yesterday’s game that exiting the lots was once again, a nightmare. There was no logic, no direction, no order, and nobody with a yellow jacket in sight. Several near-fights were witnessed and my guess is more than one actually took place.
One friend was in his car at 6:15 and got home at 8:30. He lives 45 miles from the stadium (and there was no traffic on I-95).
I haven’t parked in the lots since that Flyers’ game. Instead I park in …
