Phillies Up Playoff Chances

The Phillies just beat the Mets in the first three games of a four game series. Now who would have thought that last week when it seemed they might crash and burn. Jimmy Rollins (left) hit a lead-off homer off Oliver Perez and Pat Burrell followed up two batters later and he served up his own shot. That made it 2-1 in the first inning and it looked to be another high-scoring game but that didn't happen. Burrell got the go-ahead RBI in the 5th when he hit a sacrifice fly. Myers got the save and Jamie Moyer got the win. The last play of the game was intresting because former Phillie Marlon Anderson slid into Tadahito Iguchi and pushed him down so he couldn' throw to first the double play. The second base umpire called it interference and it was important because the tieing run was on third. The final score was 3-2. It was defintely a satisfying victory for the Phils as they edged within 3 games of the NL East-leading Mets. The Padres, the front-runner in the wild card race, beat the D-backs again last night so the Phils are still 3 games behind them.

I can already hear the fans at Citizen's Bank Park chanting "sweep, sweep". If the Phils do beat the Mets again that would put them two games behind the Mets and prime position to make to the promised land once again.

Review: Bronx is Burning

The Bronx is Burning was an 8-week series on ESPN about the 1977 New York Yankees. It ended last night. It came on every tuesday at 10:oo and ended at 11:oo. Just to give you an overview of the show, it is about how the Yankees overcame clubhouse issues and Red Sox to win the pennant and ultimately the 1977 World Series. Reggie Jackson is brought in by George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner. Yankee manager, Billy Martin doesn't like Jackson's superstar attitude. The show also explains the police struggling to capture the .45 caliber killer. Steinbrenner wants to control the managers decisions and tempermental Martin doesn't like that. The Yankees win the Series in game 6 as Jackson hits three homers. They win it at home in Yankee Stadium (above). If you want to know more, they will probably show it again on ESPN.

I will give it 5 stars. Even if you are not a Yankee fan (I'm not really one), you will enjoy this great baseball story.

Myers Mouths Off to Reporters

Last weekend Phillies closer Brett Myers gave up 2 home runs in the ninth inning to the wild-card-leading San Diego Padres. Myers blew that game and was frustrated with himself and took it out on Sam Carachidi, a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer. The trouble started when Carachidi questioned Myers about an earlier comment in the clubhouse, said by Myers, about the 2 homers being popups. Myers replied, "Yeah, didn't you? Do you think they crush them?" Carchidi then said, "The first one I thought was out. The second one I didn't." That is when Myers got fired up, "Yeah, because you're a (expletive) retard. You don't know (expletive) about (expletive) baseball. You're filling in for somebody." Carchidi answered,"How do you spell retard?" Myers then spat back, "You know how to spell it. It's in your (expletive) vocabulary. I'm sure you know." Carchidi then said,"You are classy, I'll tell you." Myers then said,"All right, go home. Out of here, (expletive) idiot." Carchidi then said,"You're the (expletive) idiot." That was when they were seperated. Myers then apologized about calling Carchidi an retard instead of a idiot. But Myers did say he would not apologize about what he said to Carchidi. In an interview with NBC 10 Carchidi said he felt sorry for Myers and that his anger management classes were not working.
Brett Myers needs to calm his temper down. He sounds like he was acting like a little kid in his verbal spout with Carchidi. He said that Carchidi is just some high school reporter who tried to stir things up. First of all, Carchidi has been covering high school sports for 30 years, so he isn't some amateur trying to shke things up. Second, Myers was the one who stirred things up by calling his homers he gave up popups. Myers is smart enough to predict that a reporter might bring that up. Myers is known to have a bad temper. Last year in Boston, Myers was accused of beating his wife. I also feel sorry for Myers because he has so much talent but a short fuse.

Sunday's Legend- Joe Montana

Joeseph Montana Jr. was born on June 11, 1956 in New Eagle Pennsylvania. Montana was even known for late-game comebacks when he played for Notre Dame in college. He helped Notre Dame to one national championship while he was there. The San Fransisco 49ers selected Montana in the third round of the 1979 NFL draft. Montana was the number two quarterback on the depth chart his rookie season and won the starting job in his second pro season. He led the league in completion percentage in his second season with 64.5 but the 49ers went 6-10. The next season the 49ers went 13-3 and Montana helped them to 2 4th quarter comebacks. Then came one of the most memorable plays in the history of the NFL, in the the 4th quarter of the 1982 NFC Championship game, Montana threw the ball to Dwight Clark in the the endzone and Clark leaped high an caught the ball for the game-winning score. The moment will forever be known in football lore as "The Catch". The 49ers then went on to win the Super Bowl, beating the Cincinnatti Bengals 26-21 and Montana won the MVP of the game. The 9ers did not make the playoffs the next strike-shortened year. The next year, though, they went 10-6 and won the NFC West. In the divisional game Montana fueled yet another late-game comeback, throwing the winning touchdown with just over a minute left. Despite Montana throwing 3 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship, the Washington Redskins beat the 49ers 24-21. In 1983, Montana lead the 49ers to a 15-1 record. That was the first time any team won 15 games in a season. The 9ers easily made it to the Super Bowl. The opponet was the Miami Dolphins and the quarterback was Dan Marino. Montana broke the record for most passing yards in a Super Bowl (331) and threw 3 touchdown passes. The 49ers beat the Dolphins 36-16 and Montana got the MVP again. The next year the 9ers made the playoffs again but made an early exit in the NFC Wild Card game. The next season Montana only played 8 games because he suffered a severe back injury. In 1987 Montana set the record for the most consecutive complete passes (22). Even though they finished with the top win-loss record in the NFL, they lost in the NFC semi-finals. The next year the 9ers finished with a 10-6 record and won the division. They easily made it to the Super Bowl, where they would play the Bengals. Montana had a great game as he broke his own record for the most passing yards in a Super Bowl game (357). They were losing by 3 with only a little over 3 minutes left when Montana and the 49er offense got the ball. Montana drove down the field quickly and threw the game-winning touchdown to Tony Taylor with only 34 seconds left. They beat the again in the Super Bowl. The 49ers went 14-2 the next year and Montana won the season MVP. The 9ers flew threw the playoffs without a single mistake. The 49ers won the game 55-10 over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. That was the most lopsided victory in Super Bowl history. Montana threw 5 touchdowns, another Super Bowl record. He also is the only player to win the Super Bowl MVP award 3 times. In 1990, Montana led the 9ers to a 14-2 record but got injured in the NFC Championship game. It was such a severe elbow injury that he missed most of the next 2 seasons and by the time he came back Steve Young was the 9ers starter. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993. He was injured for some of the 1993 season but led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship. They lost to the Denver Broncos, though, in the game. In 1994 he played in most of the games leading the Chiefs to playoffs but lost in the first game. He retired after that season.
Montana led his teams to 31 fourth quarter comebacks, which is remarkable. He has the most career touchdown passes (45) and passing yards (5,772) in the postseason. He has never thrown an interception or lost a Super Bowl game. He played in 8 Pro Bowls in his career.
Montana was so good at comebacks that he earned the nicknames: Joe Cool and Comeback Kid. Joe Montana is a legend and one of the best quarterbacks of all time. No doubt about it. He represents what is the difference between a great player and a legend. The difference is that he came up big in the clutch. For example, if a baseball player strikes out with the World Series on the line the fans are going to remember that instead of his 500 home runs. That is the difference between great and legendary. That is what Joe Montana represents.

Saying Goodbye to Trotter

Yesterday Eagle's starting middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was cut from the team. It was a surprise to him and every other teammate and fan of the Eagles. It is believed he was cut from the team because his bad knees were slowing him down. It was a very emotinal goodbye from Trotter but no hard feelings between Trot and the Eagles front office. Trotter was definitly the leader of the team. He was looking forward to playing with new linebacker Takeo Spikes. Trot said he still believes he has a couple of good years left in him. Trotter said this about him always being an Eagle, "I truly believe that if you were to cut me, I'd bleed green. Even when I was away for two years, I was always an Eagle at heart, and I'll always remain an Eagle." Brian Dawkins was quoted as saying, "This one hit me like a ton of bricks." The 30-year- old linebacker was a fan favorite. He was only supposed to play first and third downs this year with Omar Gaither playing third down. Gaither will take his place at starting middle linebacker.
Jeremiah Trotter was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 1998 draft (He was selected 72nd overall). Even though he didn't leave with hard feelings this time, he did leave with them when he left after the 2001 season. He then played two mediocre seaons with the Redskins and then asked Andy Reed to bring them back. When he came back he was the backup middle linebacker but quickly won back the spot in 2004. Trotter was a 4-time Pro Bowler.
Trotter probably won't play in the NFL again because no team wants to take a chance on a 30-year-old linebacker with bad knees. A team desperate on the defensive side might sign him or if a team wanted a leader in the locker room who could also mentor young linebackers. I am not so happy with this move but if he can't run well then maybe he shouldn't be on the team. I do think Gaither will do a good job. I will miss him doing the ax after a tackle though. From all the fans in Philly: GOODBYE TROTTER we'll miss you!

Tuesday's Analysis- Houston Texans

Last season's record- 6-10

Next game- preseason- Dallas Cowboys- Aug. 25 7:00 pm

Division- Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaquars, Indianapolis Colts

Analysis- The Texans got rid of David Carr and picked up Matt Schaub, that won't be an improvement unless the offensive line protects him more. If you are not familiar with Schaub, he was the backup to Micheal Vick in Atlanta. He has a good arm but only started 2 NFL regular season games in his career. They also got rid of Dominick Davis, but picked up reliable veteran back Ahman Green. Andre Johnson led the league in receptions and is one of the most reliable recevier in the league. Last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year, DeMeco Ryans, should continue that pace this season. The Texans drafted defensive tackle Amobi Okoye to improve their defense.

Prediction: The Texans should finish last again this year. They are in a very tough division with Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaquars, and Indianapolis Colts. Those teams are all contenders at a playoff time. The Texans should miss the playoffs and finish last this year.

Sorry for publishing this a day late.

To Make the Playoffs the Phillies Need to...

1. The Phils can't give up a 4-run lead in the 7th inning and allow a 7-run inning like they they did yesterday.
2. Adam Eaton needs to be more conssitent when he rejoins the rotation from the DL.
3. Wes Helms need to hit better, not great but better.
4. Chase Utely has to return from his injured hand and continue his MVP type pace, as he had before he got injured.
5. Ryan Howard needs to stop striking out as much and needs to deliver with runners in scoring postion.
6. The whole Phillies team needs to hit better with runners on.
7. The bullpen needs to be a little more consisitent. I remember the bullpen being good earlier this month and then yesterday they blew up, like they do on various occaisons. They CAN NOT blow up.
8. Shane Victorino needs to come back and play good.
9. They need to win big games against the Padres and Mets.
10. They also need a little bit of luck.


Prediction: I think the Phils will make the playoffs for the first time since going to the World Series in 1993. I think they will win the NL Wildcard.

Sunday's Legend- Ted Williams

Ted Williams was born August 30, 1918 in San Diego, California. Williams joined the Major League Boston Red Sox in 1939. He was one of the tallest guys on the team. In his rookie season he led the league in RBIs. He was 4th in MVP voting, not a bad way to start off. In 1941 he hit .406, most players today don't come close to that mark. In that season he also set a Major League record in on-base percentage at .551. Ted Williams is the only Major League player to steal a base in 4 decades (30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's) even though he wasn't a good base stealer. He hit .344 for his career and had 522 home runs. He was the MVP in 1946 and 1949. Why wasn't the MVP in 1941 when he hit .406? That was because Joe DiMaggio had his 56-game hitting streak and won it that year. He won the triple crown in 1942 and 1946. The triple crown is when a player leads the league in batting average, homers, and RBIs. He was an All-Star 17 times. He homered in the last at bat of his career. The stats go on and on. After his playing career he did manage the Wasington Senators from 1969 to 1971 and the Texas Rangers in 1972. He was selected as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1966, getting 93.38% of the vote.
Ted was also a war hero. He was a Marine pilot in World War 2 and in the Korean War. He had to crash land his plane one time after being hit in the wing. After his service, Williams remained in the reserves.
Williams had a bad relationship with the Boston media and fans. He spit at the fans one time after he was getting booed a lot. He could not understand why the fans would boo him if he made a error in left field then cheer for him the next inning after he hit a home run. The Boston media was known for critizing him and insulting his personal life on a daily basis. Williams would have verbal fights with these media members all the time. His relationship improved with the fans after he retired and kept getting better.
Ted Williams was known to curse a lot all of his life. He was known to have mood swings. When he retired he went fishing most of the time. He loved fly fishing.
Ted Williams is one of (if not the best) hitters the game of baseball has ever seen. Ted died July 5, 2002.