Anaheim Angels: 44-30
Philadelphia Phillies: 42-33
Joe Saunders (10-3 3.06 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Brett Myers (3-8 5.58 ERA, 0-1 7.94 ERA)
Projected lineups
Figgins 3B N/A N/A
Izturis SS 2/2, 1.000/1.000/1.500
Anderson LF 1/2, .500/.667/.500
Guerrero RF 3/6, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .500/.500/1.000
Hunter CF 1/3, 1 RBI, .333/.333/.333
Kotchman 1B N/A
Kendrick 2B N/A
Mathis C N/A
Saunders P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Feliz 3B N/A
Coste C N/A
Myers P
It's time to snap the losing streak. The Phillies need to show they can compete a little with the top teams of the AL, because they hope to run into Boston or Anaheim later this year. They have to prove they can hit good pitchers, and tonight is a tough challenge with lefty Joe Saunders on the hill. He's having a career year, but the Phils are due for a breakout offensive performance.
I wonder how close the Phillies are to making a move with Myers. Among the fans, you get the feeling that now is the time to move on. I disagree. He has talent, and he's shown it in the past. You can't trade him for nothing because he's at his lowest value right now. That's bad baseball. The Phillies need to ride it out for a while and hope he gets better.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Flyers Draft Talk And Fun With Pierre McGuire
The Flyers have been wheeling and dealing during tonight's first round, so let's take a look at what they've done.
They kicked off the night by sending RFA C R.J. Umberger to Columbus along with a 4th round pick for their first rounder, 19th overall, and a third rounder. Holmgren must not have felt they were making progress in contract talks, or he really just wasn't interested from the beginning. The fact is, the Flyers have too many forwards and really can't invest any more money in them. It's great that they were able to get a couple picks out of him, but I wish they could've used him to upgrade the blue line and maybe not do what they did later.
With that 19th pick, the Flyers took Luca Sbisa, a defenseman from the WHL. He was one of the points leaders in the WHL postseason, and he's described as a very mobile player. He's good at starting the rush and is compared to fellow Swiss D-Man Mark Streit. Streit's not exactly a glowing comparison, but he can definitely score some points. He's also compared to Kaberle, a player the Flyers were very interested in. He'll probably player in the junior league for another year or two, and then we'll see how he handles the pro game.
Instead of using their own 27th overall pick, the Flyers traded it to Washington for D Steve Eminger and a 3rd round pick. I'm not sure I'm a fan of this. Eminger was a former 12th overall pick, but he has not come close to living up to his expectations since joining the professional ranks. He has not shown the offensive ability that made Washington take him so high. He has also not proven himself in his own zone, so unless the Flyers' coaching staff sees something they can correct, I'm not sure how much he'll help.
The Flyers picked up a 3rd round pick and essentially traded up from the 4th to the 3rd for tomorrow. It wouldn't surprise me if they took a goalie with one of these picks, but I'd never expect that player to become good. We'll see. I doubt Holmgren is done upgrading the blue line.
Also, Pierre McGuire. What's with this dude? Let's take a look at some of his reviews of picks tonight.
On first overall pick Steven Stamkos: "It's about his level of excellence."
On third overall pick Zach Bogosian: "This is a gigantically positive move for Atlanta. This guy's got it all going on, and I can't say enough good things about him."
On fifth overall pick Luke Schenn: "Toronto wins huge here. This is the start of the re-build and there's no better place to start than on the shoulders of Luke Schenn. He is the Human Eraser on defence. A one man search and destroy defender. This is a franchise player."
On fourteenth overall pick Zach Boychuk: "Perfect! Tremendous move."
On fifteenth overall pick Erik Karlsson: "He's the Swedish Brian Rafalski."
On twenty-second overall pick Jordan Eberle: "Perfecto for the Oilers."
Did anyone make a bad pick? This is like that episode of the Simpsons where Homer is a food critic, and his worst review is six thumbs up.
They kicked off the night by sending RFA C R.J. Umberger to Columbus along with a 4th round pick for their first rounder, 19th overall, and a third rounder. Holmgren must not have felt they were making progress in contract talks, or he really just wasn't interested from the beginning. The fact is, the Flyers have too many forwards and really can't invest any more money in them. It's great that they were able to get a couple picks out of him, but I wish they could've used him to upgrade the blue line and maybe not do what they did later.
With that 19th pick, the Flyers took Luca Sbisa, a defenseman from the WHL. He was one of the points leaders in the WHL postseason, and he's described as a very mobile player. He's good at starting the rush and is compared to fellow Swiss D-Man Mark Streit. Streit's not exactly a glowing comparison, but he can definitely score some points. He's also compared to Kaberle, a player the Flyers were very interested in. He'll probably player in the junior league for another year or two, and then we'll see how he handles the pro game.
Instead of using their own 27th overall pick, the Flyers traded it to Washington for D Steve Eminger and a 3rd round pick. I'm not sure I'm a fan of this. Eminger was a former 12th overall pick, but he has not come close to living up to his expectations since joining the professional ranks. He has not shown the offensive ability that made Washington take him so high. He has also not proven himself in his own zone, so unless the Flyers' coaching staff sees something they can correct, I'm not sure how much he'll help.
The Flyers picked up a 3rd round pick and essentially traded up from the 4th to the 3rd for tomorrow. It wouldn't surprise me if they took a goalie with one of these picks, but I'd never expect that player to become good. We'll see. I doubt Holmgren is done upgrading the blue line.
Also, Pierre McGuire. What's with this dude? Let's take a look at some of his reviews of picks tonight.
On first overall pick Steven Stamkos: "It's about his level of excellence."
On third overall pick Zach Bogosian: "This is a gigantically positive move for Atlanta. This guy's got it all going on, and I can't say enough good things about him."
On fifth overall pick Luke Schenn: "Toronto wins huge here. This is the start of the re-build and there's no better place to start than on the shoulders of Luke Schenn. He is the Human Eraser on defence. A one man search and destroy defender. This is a franchise player."
On fourteenth overall pick Zach Boychuk: "Perfect! Tremendous move."
On fifteenth overall pick Erik Karlsson: "He's the Swedish Brian Rafalski."
On twenty-second overall pick Jordan Eberle: "Perfecto for the Oilers."
Did anyone make a bad pick? This is like that episode of the Simpsons where Homer is a food critic, and his worst review is six thumbs up.
Sixers Draft Workouts: June 19th
We're falling behind again, but the Sixers brought in at least one legit guy. Let's take a look.
Ryan Anderson F 5'10 235 Sophomore California
He's got a nice shot and some range, and his combination of size and shooting could be a nice match for the Sixers. Anderson is a high energy player who can pull down a bunch of rebounds. His toughness and shot blocking potential are assets, but I'm not sure how much he fits the Sixers' system. The knock in scouting reports is his athleticism, which the Sixers really covet now. There's no denying his scoring ability though. If the Sixers like that enough, the 16th pick might be a bit of a reach, but they could trade down.
Kentrell Gransberry PF 6'9 270 Senior South Florida
As a Bull, I'm definitely pulling for this guy. As a Big Baby fan and someone who believed he fell way too far in the draft last year, I'm obligated to like a similar player in Gransberry. He has a wide body and plays a very physical game on both ends of the floor. He's obviously not the quickest guy, but most teams always have a spot for a big player in the paint. DX was underwhelmed with his draft camp performances and measurements, so he has some work to do if he wants to raise his slim hopes of being drafted.
David Padgett C 6'11 250 Senior Louisville
He's a hard working player who was very important to Louisville's deep run this year, but the reality is, he just doesn't have the tools NBA teams look for. I know people really dislike it when teams take raw athletes over productive players, but he's not on any draft boards at the moment. Padgett is a very smart player, and he uses it on both ends of the floor. He has a bunch of different low post moves, but he could probably add a jumper to his repertoire.
Marreese Speights FC 6'10 250 Sophomore Florida
He got an opportunity to learn from some of college's best big guys as a freshman, so it wasn't a surprise that Speights showed promise when he started getting a lot more minutes this season. He shows a lot of scoring ability on the offensive end, which could be a huge asset to the Sixers. His size and athleticism give him the potential to be a very good defensive player, so it's easy to see why he's a projected mid-first rounder. He's still pretty raw, but with the Sixers, he would be stepping into a great situation. He'll be able to chip in a few minutes off the bench and learn the NBA game slowly.
The Sixers had Callistus Eziukwu in for a second time as well. They must really think they have something with him if they brought him back.
Ryan Anderson F 5'10 235 Sophomore California
He's got a nice shot and some range, and his combination of size and shooting could be a nice match for the Sixers. Anderson is a high energy player who can pull down a bunch of rebounds. His toughness and shot blocking potential are assets, but I'm not sure how much he fits the Sixers' system. The knock in scouting reports is his athleticism, which the Sixers really covet now. There's no denying his scoring ability though. If the Sixers like that enough, the 16th pick might be a bit of a reach, but they could trade down.
Kentrell Gransberry PF 6'9 270 Senior South Florida
As a Bull, I'm definitely pulling for this guy. As a Big Baby fan and someone who believed he fell way too far in the draft last year, I'm obligated to like a similar player in Gransberry. He has a wide body and plays a very physical game on both ends of the floor. He's obviously not the quickest guy, but most teams always have a spot for a big player in the paint. DX was underwhelmed with his draft camp performances and measurements, so he has some work to do if he wants to raise his slim hopes of being drafted.
David Padgett C 6'11 250 Senior Louisville
He's a hard working player who was very important to Louisville's deep run this year, but the reality is, he just doesn't have the tools NBA teams look for. I know people really dislike it when teams take raw athletes over productive players, but he's not on any draft boards at the moment. Padgett is a very smart player, and he uses it on both ends of the floor. He has a bunch of different low post moves, but he could probably add a jumper to his repertoire.
Marreese Speights FC 6'10 250 Sophomore Florida
He got an opportunity to learn from some of college's best big guys as a freshman, so it wasn't a surprise that Speights showed promise when he started getting a lot more minutes this season. He shows a lot of scoring ability on the offensive end, which could be a huge asset to the Sixers. His size and athleticism give him the potential to be a very good defensive player, so it's easy to see why he's a projected mid-first rounder. He's still pretty raw, but with the Sixers, he would be stepping into a great situation. He'll be able to chip in a few minutes off the bench and learn the NBA game slowly.
The Sixers had Callistus Eziukwu in for a second time as well. They must really think they have something with him if they brought him back.
Game 75: Angels at Phillies (1/3)
Anaheim Angels: 43-30
Philadelphia Phillies: 42-32
Ervin Santana (8-3 3.40 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Adam Eaton (2-4 4.57 ERA, 2-1 5.26 ERA)
Projected lineups
Figgins 3B 3/6, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500/.571/1.167
Matthews LF 1/5, 1 RBI, .200/.333/.200
Kendrick 2B 1/9, .111/.111/.111
Guerrero RF 3/10, .300/.364/.300
Hunter CF 1/3, .333/.333/.333
Kotchman 1B N/A
Mathis C 0/2
Izturis SS 3/10, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .300/.364/.600
Santana P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Feliz 3B N/A
Coste C N/A
Eaton P
Adam Eaton should hopefully be able to have another decent outing. This lineup hasn't had much success against him, and we can only hope he keeps that up. After Kendrick's bad outing on Wednesday, this team could use a strong start from the rotation. Even though the entire bullpen got a rest yesterday, it would be great if they weren't used much again today.
Anaheim is a beatable team. They're very good on the road, but sometimes they have trouble scoring. If the Phillies find a way to put a dent in their strong pitching, they should be able to win the series and get back on track. Things don't get any easier after this, so let's finish the homestand on a better note and hit the road.
Philadelphia Phillies: 42-32
Ervin Santana (8-3 3.40 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Adam Eaton (2-4 4.57 ERA, 2-1 5.26 ERA)
Projected lineups
Figgins 3B 3/6, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500/.571/1.167
Matthews LF 1/5, 1 RBI, .200/.333/.200
Kendrick 2B 1/9, .111/.111/.111
Guerrero RF 3/10, .300/.364/.300
Hunter CF 1/3, .333/.333/.333
Kotchman 1B N/A
Mathis C 0/2
Izturis SS 3/10, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .300/.364/.600
Santana P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Feliz 3B N/A
Coste C N/A
Eaton P
Adam Eaton should hopefully be able to have another decent outing. This lineup hasn't had much success against him, and we can only hope he keeps that up. After Kendrick's bad outing on Wednesday, this team could use a strong start from the rotation. Even though the entire bullpen got a rest yesterday, it would be great if they weren't used much again today.
Anaheim is a beatable team. They're very good on the road, but sometimes they have trouble scoring. If the Phillies find a way to put a dent in their strong pitching, they should be able to win the series and get back on track. Things don't get any easier after this, so let's finish the homestand on a better note and hit the road.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Carter Is Back, Baby
He's set to sign a three year deal worth about 15 million.
I'm definitely glad he's back in the fold for the immediate future, but at that cap hit, I wish the deal would've been longer. That's a lot of money invested at the C position, but he's a talented player and probably worth it.
I'm not sure how much longer he'll be a Flyer. At three years, it's obviously not a long term deal at all. He'll only be 26 when it expires, and he'll still be eligible for restricted free agency. Carter's going to get one more big pay day, and he wasn't looking for long term security like Mike Richards.
This means he has to perform though. If he underachieves, he's not going to get quite as much money next time around. It's a gamble, and if he develops into the player everyone thinks he can, it'll be a good one. He has a big body and huge skills, and I'm glad he's a Flyer.
I'm definitely glad he's back in the fold for the immediate future, but at that cap hit, I wish the deal would've been longer. That's a lot of money invested at the C position, but he's a talented player and probably worth it.
I'm not sure how much longer he'll be a Flyer. At three years, it's obviously not a long term deal at all. He'll only be 26 when it expires, and he'll still be eligible for restricted free agency. Carter's going to get one more big pay day, and he wasn't looking for long term security like Mike Richards.
This means he has to perform though. If he underachieves, he's not going to get quite as much money next time around. It's a gamble, and if he develops into the player everyone thinks he can, it'll be a good one. He has a big body and huge skills, and I'm glad he's a Flyer.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Flyers Get Something For Nothing
The Flyers get the 196th overall pick and a conditional 4th rounder next year for the rights to UFA Vinny Prospal.
It's better than nothing, but it's not much more than that. Prospal had no interest in coming back, and the Flyers wouldn't be able to afford him anyway. In that sense, they got something because he previously would've gone to the same place with the Flyers receiving nothing. The condition for the pick is based on whether or not the Lightning sign him, but I'll be shocked if he goes anywhere else. Pardon the pun.
It was a bit disappointing how Prospal finished up the playoffs. He was pretty good against Washington, and for whatever reason, he fell off the map after that. However, without him, the Flyers probably wouldn't have made the playoffs. He turned around Briere's season, and those two played a big role in the team's resurgence to capture the 6th seed.
It's better than nothing, but it's not much more than that. Prospal had no interest in coming back, and the Flyers wouldn't be able to afford him anyway. In that sense, they got something because he previously would've gone to the same place with the Flyers receiving nothing. The condition for the pick is based on whether or not the Lightning sign him, but I'll be shocked if he goes anywhere else. Pardon the pun.
It was a bit disappointing how Prospal finished up the playoffs. He was pretty good against Washington, and for whatever reason, he fell off the map after that. However, without him, the Flyers probably wouldn't have made the playoffs. He turned around Briere's season, and those two played a big role in the team's resurgence to capture the 6th seed.
Game 74: Red Sox at Phillies (3/3)
Boston Red Sox: 45-29
Philadelphia Phillies: 42-31
Justin Masterson (3-1 2.90 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Kyle Kendrick6-2 4.54 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Projected lineups
Ellsbury CF N/A
Pedroia 2B N/A
Drew RF N/A
Ramirez LF N/A
Lowell 3B N/A
Youkilis 1B N/A
Lugo SS N/A
Cash C N/A
Masterson P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Dobbs 3B N/A
Coste C N/A
Kendrick P
I said the offense would have to put up eight runs again last night, and I was dead wrong. Moyer issued a few too many free passes, and that led to a high pitch count that got him out of the game early. Otherwise, he and the bullpen did a nice job. Only allowing three runs should be good enough to win most games, but it's impossible to win a baseball game without scoring any.
Masterson has a heavy sinker, so he's the kind of guy that could give the Phillies problems if he's on. The lineup needs to re-break out and send a message to the rest of the league. They can compete with the Sox, hopefully Angels and the better teams in the league. Put up some runs today and take a series from the Sox for the first time in a while.
Philadelphia Phillies: 42-31
Justin Masterson (3-1 2.90 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Kyle Kendrick6-2 4.54 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Projected lineups
Ellsbury CF N/A
Pedroia 2B N/A
Drew RF N/A
Ramirez LF N/A
Lowell 3B N/A
Youkilis 1B N/A
Lugo SS N/A
Cash C N/A
Masterson P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Jenkins RF N/A
Dobbs 3B N/A
Coste C N/A
Kendrick P
I said the offense would have to put up eight runs again last night, and I was dead wrong. Moyer issued a few too many free passes, and that led to a high pitch count that got him out of the game early. Otherwise, he and the bullpen did a nice job. Only allowing three runs should be good enough to win most games, but it's impossible to win a baseball game without scoring any.
Masterson has a heavy sinker, so he's the kind of guy that could give the Phillies problems if he's on. The lineup needs to re-break out and send a message to the rest of the league. They can compete with the Sox, hopefully Angels and the better teams in the league. Put up some runs today and take a series from the Sox for the first time in a while.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Sixers Draft Workouts: June 17th
I'm finally getting to work on the day of the workouts. Let's see how things look.
Chris Clark PG 5'8 165 Senior Temple
The 76ers continued the local play parade into their practice facility today. Chris Clark played his college ball at Temple where he averaged just over 22 minutes a game in his senior season. He didn't put up gaudy numbers, and his statistics don't do him any favors. With his small stature and small numbers, I'm not sure how great Clark's shot at an NBA future is.
Lamont Gordon G 6'4 220 Junior Mississippi State
Gordon is a bit of a tweener in the backcourt. He would have great size for a PG, but he might not have the distribution skills you need from the position. Teams might also like a taller player for SG, but he'll fit in somewhere. He's not a bad shooter, and Gordon is a very aggressive scorer. He'll use his big frame to draw contact on the offensive end, and he's a very good defensive player as well. His rebounding ability is a good asset, and the Sixers could use some help on the boards. Despite all of this, he's currently projected as a second round pick. It would be a huge reach for the Sixers to take him where they're currently at.
Marvin Kilgore PG 6'3 195 Senior Texas El-Paso
At UTEP, Kilgore isn't getting much attention in draft talk. He's a Philadelphia native, so he's probably very excited to get a chance to work out with his hometown team. He was third in the C-USA in assists, so he knows how to pass the ball and get his teammates involved. For a PG, he gets a bunch of rebounds despite his pretty thin build. Like several of the guys they Sixers have looked at so far, Kilgore probably won't get drafted.
Jawann McClellan G 6'4 200 Senior Arizona
McClellan is a long shot to be drafted, but that's not going to stop the Sixers from bringing him in. He played four years with the Wildcats under some pretty good coaches, so you have to figure he knows the game of basketball. He says defense is his best quality, which is always a plus. Maybe he's good at workout out. We'll see.
Michael Sturns G 6'4 190 Senior Holy Family
Sturns is an interesting case. He was the Sun Belt sixth man of the year on a team one year removed from the NCAA Tournament. He wanted more playing time, wasn't getting it at North Texas, so he transferred to a place where he would. He was Division II's leading scorer and earned several national honors for his play. The jump from DII to the NBA isn't as big as it looks because he at least has a little experience against tough competition. However, there's a good chance he goes overlooked on draft day, and he'll have to catch on in a league elsewhere or in training camp.
With the exception of maybe Gordon, the Sixers definitely didn't have marquee names in for visits today. You almost get the idea that the Sixers are going to trade down. So far, they've only worked out a couple guys in the neighborhood of their first pick, but there are still many workouts left for this to change.
Chris Clark PG 5'8 165 Senior Temple
The 76ers continued the local play parade into their practice facility today. Chris Clark played his college ball at Temple where he averaged just over 22 minutes a game in his senior season. He didn't put up gaudy numbers, and his statistics don't do him any favors. With his small stature and small numbers, I'm not sure how great Clark's shot at an NBA future is.
Lamont Gordon G 6'4 220 Junior Mississippi State
Gordon is a bit of a tweener in the backcourt. He would have great size for a PG, but he might not have the distribution skills you need from the position. Teams might also like a taller player for SG, but he'll fit in somewhere. He's not a bad shooter, and Gordon is a very aggressive scorer. He'll use his big frame to draw contact on the offensive end, and he's a very good defensive player as well. His rebounding ability is a good asset, and the Sixers could use some help on the boards. Despite all of this, he's currently projected as a second round pick. It would be a huge reach for the Sixers to take him where they're currently at.
Marvin Kilgore PG 6'3 195 Senior Texas El-Paso
At UTEP, Kilgore isn't getting much attention in draft talk. He's a Philadelphia native, so he's probably very excited to get a chance to work out with his hometown team. He was third in the C-USA in assists, so he knows how to pass the ball and get his teammates involved. For a PG, he gets a bunch of rebounds despite his pretty thin build. Like several of the guys they Sixers have looked at so far, Kilgore probably won't get drafted.
Jawann McClellan G 6'4 200 Senior Arizona
McClellan is a long shot to be drafted, but that's not going to stop the Sixers from bringing him in. He played four years with the Wildcats under some pretty good coaches, so you have to figure he knows the game of basketball. He says defense is his best quality, which is always a plus. Maybe he's good at workout out. We'll see.
Michael Sturns G 6'4 190 Senior Holy Family
Sturns is an interesting case. He was the Sun Belt sixth man of the year on a team one year removed from the NCAA Tournament. He wanted more playing time, wasn't getting it at North Texas, so he transferred to a place where he would. He was Division II's leading scorer and earned several national honors for his play. The jump from DII to the NBA isn't as big as it looks because he at least has a little experience against tough competition. However, there's a good chance he goes overlooked on draft day, and he'll have to catch on in a league elsewhere or in training camp.
With the exception of maybe Gordon, the Sixers definitely didn't have marquee names in for visits today. You almost get the idea that the Sixers are going to trade down. So far, they've only worked out a couple guys in the neighborhood of their first pick, but there are still many workouts left for this to change.
Game 73: Red Sox at Phillies (2/3)
Boston Red Sox: 44-29
Philadelphia Phillies: 42-30
Jon Lester (5-3 3.43 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Jamie Moyer (7-3 4.12 ERA, 6-11 6.69 ERA)
Projected lineups
Ellsbury CF N/A
Pedroia 2B N/A
Drew RF 1/4, .250/.250/.250
Ramirez LF 17/57, 10 HR, 20 RBI, .340/.421/1.000
Lowell 3B 2/3, .667/.667/1.000
Youkilis 1B 2/6, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .333/.556/1.000
Varitek C 8/32, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .250/.333/.406
Lugo SS 7/14, 2 RBI, .500/.500/.786
Lester P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Werth RF N/A
Feliz 3B N/A
Coste C N/A
Moyer P
Last night was a great win, and the offense is going to have to put up another 8 spot tonight. Jamie Moyer has not had a good career against Boston, and I don't expect him to reverse that trend tonight. He's having a good year, but their lineup just has too many patient players for his tricks to work. I can't imagine J.D. Drew or Manny swinging out of their shoes or lunging at pitches off the plate. They're going to wait for a mistake and hit it.
Cole Hamels was not intimidated by the World Champs last night. He went right after their lineup, and he used three pitches effectively to keep them off balance all night. "I believe we're destined to play each other in the World Series," Hamels said. "We can compete with them any day of the week." That's the kind of confidence you like to hear from your best pitcher. He's not going to back down from anyone or any challenge.
Philadelphia Phillies: 42-30
Jon Lester (5-3 3.43 ERA, 0-0 --- ERA)
Jamie Moyer (7-3 4.12 ERA, 6-11 6.69 ERA)
Projected lineups
Ellsbury CF N/A
Pedroia 2B N/A
Drew RF 1/4, .250/.250/.250
Ramirez LF 17/57, 10 HR, 20 RBI, .340/.421/1.000
Lowell 3B 2/3, .667/.667/1.000
Youkilis 1B 2/6, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .333/.556/1.000
Varitek C 8/32, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .250/.333/.406
Lugo SS 7/14, 2 RBI, .500/.500/.786
Lester P
Rollins SS N/A
Victorino CF N/A
Utley 2B N/A
Howard 1B N/A
Burrell LF N/A
Werth RF N/A
Feliz 3B N/A
Coste C N/A
Moyer P
Last night was a great win, and the offense is going to have to put up another 8 spot tonight. Jamie Moyer has not had a good career against Boston, and I don't expect him to reverse that trend tonight. He's having a good year, but their lineup just has too many patient players for his tricks to work. I can't imagine J.D. Drew or Manny swinging out of their shoes or lunging at pitches off the plate. They're going to wait for a mistake and hit it.
Cole Hamels was not intimidated by the World Champs last night. He went right after their lineup, and he used three pitches effectively to keep them off balance all night. "I believe we're destined to play each other in the World Series," Hamels said. "We can compete with them any day of the week." That's the kind of confidence you like to hear from your best pitcher. He's not going to back down from anyone or any challenge.
Sixers Draft Workouts: June 14th
I'm several days late again, and I'm going to have to improve with the frequency of workouts picking up as we get closer and closer to draft day.
Pat Calathes SF 6'10 210 Senior St. Joseph's
It's nice of the Sixers to work out the local kid, but I don't know if he's going to cut it in the NBA. He's a good shooter, but he doesn't have the strength to handle NBA forwards. He did a great job with the Hawks after Nelson and West left, but the A10 is far from the competition he'll face in the pros. He probably won't get drafted, but he could get a shot in camp with the Sixers, and a foreign league will definitely come calling if he's interested.
Rob Ferguson F 6'8 230 Senior St. Joseph's
Calathes' St Joe's frontcourt mate gets a chance to stay in the city too, but like Calathes, he faces long odds. He's an okay shooter and can block shots, but he just doesn't seem to be in the NBA picture. At 6'8, he might be too short to play forward in the NBA, and he doesn't have the quickness to play G. He was a very good player in the Big Five, and he had a good college career.
Donte' Greene SF 6'9 221 Freshman Syracuse
Greene is one of a bunch of very good athletes that have taken the past couple drafts by storm. His stock is rising, and he's probably going to be taken in the mid first round. His versatility has scouts very high on him, but he needs to develop an aggressiveness in addition to his jump shot. If the Sixers are going to take him, he'll have to learn to love contact and draw it to get to the line. The shooting he can provide could plug up a hole for this team, and his shot blocking ability is a plus.
J.J. Hickson PF 6'9 242 Freshman NC State
Hickson's strong freshman year was kind of overlooked due to a mediocre Wolfpack team, but he has potential to become a very good player. The Sixers are no doubt interested in his ability to block shots, which is still a common theme among players they bring in to work out. Although he's already very strong and athletic, it could take him some time to get used to the NBA game. His post offense needs some work before he can become a true threat. He should be a late first round pick, and he might be a bit of a reach if the Sixers take him where they're at right now.
Nikita Shabalkin SF 6'9 210 1986 Russia
Color me unimpressed. I guess it doesn't hurt to take a look, but as a 1986 birth, his time is running out to come over to the NBA. You have to figure it'll take a bit to make the transition to the NBA, and although the Sixers were active in drafting internationally last year, I don't see it happening again. He's a hard worker who brings a lot of energy, but he doesn't have great measurables, and I'm not sure if he fits over here.
The Sixers bring in some more guys on June 17th. The draft is approaching...
Pat Calathes SF 6'10 210 Senior St. Joseph's
It's nice of the Sixers to work out the local kid, but I don't know if he's going to cut it in the NBA. He's a good shooter, but he doesn't have the strength to handle NBA forwards. He did a great job with the Hawks after Nelson and West left, but the A10 is far from the competition he'll face in the pros. He probably won't get drafted, but he could get a shot in camp with the Sixers, and a foreign league will definitely come calling if he's interested.
Rob Ferguson F 6'8 230 Senior St. Joseph's
Calathes' St Joe's frontcourt mate gets a chance to stay in the city too, but like Calathes, he faces long odds. He's an okay shooter and can block shots, but he just doesn't seem to be in the NBA picture. At 6'8, he might be too short to play forward in the NBA, and he doesn't have the quickness to play G. He was a very good player in the Big Five, and he had a good college career.
Donte' Greene SF 6'9 221 Freshman Syracuse
Greene is one of a bunch of very good athletes that have taken the past couple drafts by storm. His stock is rising, and he's probably going to be taken in the mid first round. His versatility has scouts very high on him, but he needs to develop an aggressiveness in addition to his jump shot. If the Sixers are going to take him, he'll have to learn to love contact and draw it to get to the line. The shooting he can provide could plug up a hole for this team, and his shot blocking ability is a plus.
J.J. Hickson PF 6'9 242 Freshman NC State
Hickson's strong freshman year was kind of overlooked due to a mediocre Wolfpack team, but he has potential to become a very good player. The Sixers are no doubt interested in his ability to block shots, which is still a common theme among players they bring in to work out. Although he's already very strong and athletic, it could take him some time to get used to the NBA game. His post offense needs some work before he can become a true threat. He should be a late first round pick, and he might be a bit of a reach if the Sixers take him where they're at right now.
Nikita Shabalkin SF 6'9 210 1986 Russia
Color me unimpressed. I guess it doesn't hurt to take a look, but as a 1986 birth, his time is running out to come over to the NBA. You have to figure it'll take a bit to make the transition to the NBA, and although the Sixers were active in drafting internationally last year, I don't see it happening again. He's a hard worker who brings a lot of energy, but he doesn't have great measurables, and I'm not sure if he fits over here.
The Sixers bring in some more guys on June 17th. The draft is approaching...
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