After a month with Ryan Madson attempting to close out games, the Phillies will have their actual closer back, as Brad Lidge has been activated from the disabled list and will be available for Friday's game against the New York Mets, according to CSNPhilly.com.
With the 2009 season now behind him, Lidge should be better than he was last year. Of course, it wouldn't take much to surpass an ERA that was over 7.50 with 11 blown saves, but anything can happen in baseball. For those of you that think going back to Brad Lidge is a mistake, just think about this: Ryan Madson has already blown two saves this year, and the season is only 21 games old. Do you really want him trying to close games out for the rest of the year? Honestly, Madson is a great setup man, but he doesn't have the stuff to close out games. He didn't have it last year, and he doesn't have it this year, either. He's much better suited to be the seventh or eighth inning pitcher, rather than the closer, and I think he'll do better once he gets back there.
I really can't be happier for Lidge to come back this season. If he's at his top health, then he's going to be much better than he was last year, as well as being better than how Madson has pitched so far this season. With Lidge back, the bullpen is just about where I want it to be, as both Madson and J.C. Romero are back where they need to be for the first time since 2008, and Lidge looks a lot closer to the 2008 version than 2009. This is one of those things that the Phillies need in order to get back to the World Series again this year. That bullpen has to get back together again, or else it's going to be another long year in the late innings. Roy Halladay can't pitch into the eighth inning of every game.
CSNPhilly.com: Phillies activate Lidge
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Kevin Kolb: Money in the Bank
Remember what I said about Winston Justice and Brent Celek getting paid, back before the season was over? Well forget all about it, because Kevin Kolb just passed them all. In a deal confirmed by CSNPhilly.com, the Eagles have sign Kolb to a one year extension worth over $12 million...and it's all guaranteed.
There is some good to this deal. First and foremost, it means that the Eagles are committed to Kevin Kolb through this season, regardless of how he does. I think that's the right move to make, as he's never had a full season under his belt before, and whether or not he performs well should be a big indicator to how much or how little the Eagles want to sign him to a long term contract after the season. Kolb showed that he can run the offense last season when Donovan McNabb was hurt, and he certainly has starting quarterback material, especially considering the quarterbacks that were taken ahead of him in the 2007 Draft. JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn? I don't think so. I'll take Kolb, thank you very much.
However, with the good, I'm not sure that I would have signed Kolb to that much for just a single year. While $12 million over two or three years seems like a better idea for a quarterback that hadn't started a single game or thrown a touchdown pass until last season, I can see where the Eagles are coming from. It allows them to evaluate what they have and see if they need to make another change with this now very young team. If Kolb does well next season, then he's going to earn his money and make even more when the Eagles sign him to a long term deal. If he struggles, then he has another year to put it together. If he doesn't, then I think the Eagles look in another direction for someone to lead their offense.
The biggest part about this deal is that it pretty much seals the fate of Michael Vick after this season. With Vick earning over $5 million this year, he's a pricey option as a backup quarterback, and now he and Kolb are going to make over $17 million in the next two seasons. With Kolb signing that deal for next year, there is no way that Vick comes back for a third season with the Eagles. He wants to start again, and that's not going to happen in Philadelphia. Personally, I think that's a good thing. I can't wait to have Vick out of Philadelphia. It can't happen soon enough. I know what Vick did off the field while he was a member of the Falcons, but this is coming from what he did on the field. He wasn't that good of a quarterback, and the plays that the Eagles drew up for him last season were predictable and didn't work. The only extended time that he got was against the Falcons, and that was more of a play by Andy Reid than anything else.
Regardless of what this means to Michael Vick, or anyone else, Kevin Kolb is getting paid big time NFL money to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles now. He doesn't have that much experience, but he's going to have to pick it up quickly, or this town will turn on him. You don't get to earn over $12 million without people judging you in Philadelphia. That's how things work around here.
CSNPhilly.com: Eagles sign Kolb to a one year extension
There is some good to this deal. First and foremost, it means that the Eagles are committed to Kevin Kolb through this season, regardless of how he does. I think that's the right move to make, as he's never had a full season under his belt before, and whether or not he performs well should be a big indicator to how much or how little the Eagles want to sign him to a long term contract after the season. Kolb showed that he can run the offense last season when Donovan McNabb was hurt, and he certainly has starting quarterback material, especially considering the quarterbacks that were taken ahead of him in the 2007 Draft. JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn? I don't think so. I'll take Kolb, thank you very much.
However, with the good, I'm not sure that I would have signed Kolb to that much for just a single year. While $12 million over two or three years seems like a better idea for a quarterback that hadn't started a single game or thrown a touchdown pass until last season, I can see where the Eagles are coming from. It allows them to evaluate what they have and see if they need to make another change with this now very young team. If Kolb does well next season, then he's going to earn his money and make even more when the Eagles sign him to a long term deal. If he struggles, then he has another year to put it together. If he doesn't, then I think the Eagles look in another direction for someone to lead their offense.
The biggest part about this deal is that it pretty much seals the fate of Michael Vick after this season. With Vick earning over $5 million this year, he's a pricey option as a backup quarterback, and now he and Kolb are going to make over $17 million in the next two seasons. With Kolb signing that deal for next year, there is no way that Vick comes back for a third season with the Eagles. He wants to start again, and that's not going to happen in Philadelphia. Personally, I think that's a good thing. I can't wait to have Vick out of Philadelphia. It can't happen soon enough. I know what Vick did off the field while he was a member of the Falcons, but this is coming from what he did on the field. He wasn't that good of a quarterback, and the plays that the Eagles drew up for him last season were predictable and didn't work. The only extended time that he got was against the Falcons, and that was more of a play by Andy Reid than anything else.
Regardless of what this means to Michael Vick, or anyone else, Kevin Kolb is getting paid big time NFL money to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles now. He doesn't have that much experience, but he's going to have to pick it up quickly, or this town will turn on him. You don't get to earn over $12 million without people judging you in Philadelphia. That's how things work around here.
CSNPhilly.com: Eagles sign Kolb to a one year extension
Well, the NHL Playoffs just got interesting, didn't they?
So much for that second round matchup between the Flyers and Washington Capitals, eh? With three straight wins, the Montreal Canadiens became the first number 8 seed to come back from a 3-1 hole against the top seed in the conference, and just like that, the Flyers are headed to Boston for a second round date with the Bruins. This is certainly an old school matchup, as these two had their scraps in the 1970s, and haven't met in the playoffs since 1978.
For both teams, the key to this series might be injuries and how each team responds to them. For the Flyers, Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere are likely both out for the the entire series with injuries, while Simon Gagne might be able to make it back towards the middle of the series. In Boston, the Bruins are going to be bolstered by the return of Marc Savard, who has been out of action with a concussion for almost two months. Savard's return is going to give the Bruins a boost, as will the fact that they are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, yet they have home ice advantage in the second round, due to the seven and eight seeds winning their series. Things happen that way some times.
The Bruins are a lot like the Flyers in that they play a physical type of hockey, and they don't have one player that they lean on to help them win by himself. Boston didn't have a single player with over 55 points during the regular season, but Patrice Bergeron, Miroslav Satan, David Krejci and the ageless Mark Recchi all had five points in their series against Buffalo, and the Bruins also boast the biggest player in the NHL in 6'9" defenseman Zdeno Chara. Chris Pronger is going to have his hands full with that lineup, and the Flyers are going to have to play well to get past Chara. Rookie goaltender Tuukka Rask had some average showings against the Sabres, but came up big when he needed to, and can easily match Brian Boucher stop for stop in this series. He is one of the big reasons why the Bruins were able to come back in three of their four wins against Buffalo. Without Rask in goal, Boston doesn't make it to the second round, it's that simple.
For the Flyers to win this series, they are going to have to play just as well as they did against the Devils in the first round of the playoffs. Unlike their series against New Jersey, the Flyers don't have the regular season edge to lean on heading into this scrap, as the two teams split their season series this year, with Boston taking the last two, including the Winter Classic on New Year's Day. It is going to take a great effort from Mike Richards, Claude Giroux and Danny Briere on offense, as well as Chris Pronger on defense and Brian Boucher in net. I do think that the Flyers have enough to advance to the Conference Finals for the second time in three years, but I can also see the Bruins moving on as well. It's just a matter of which team can keep up their physical play longer.
Philadelphia just has to keep playing like they did against New Jersey, and that includes Brian Boucher in net. No one thought that Boucher could stop the Devils as well as he did, and there are still people out there that think he's going to go back to his old ways against the Bruins. Could it happen? Of course it could, that's what makes the NHL Playoffs so interesting. However, with the time off and the confidence that Boucher has now going into the second round, I don't think it's going to happen that way. In fact, I think the time off has done nothing but help the Flyers, as they've been able to rest and get healthy. Simon Gagne should be back for part of this series, which would be a big boost for the Flyers. For Philadelphia, the key is going to be winning one of the first two games in Boston, just as they did against the Devils in their last series. If they can take home ice away from the Bruins, then they have a very good chance to take the series. If they don't, then things could get very interesting. However, I think that Boucher will continue to play well, and the Flyers will continue their hot streak into the Conference Finals. They caught a break when the Caps went out, and they're going to take advantage of it.
Pick: Flyers in 6
For both teams, the key to this series might be injuries and how each team responds to them. For the Flyers, Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere are likely both out for the the entire series with injuries, while Simon Gagne might be able to make it back towards the middle of the series. In Boston, the Bruins are going to be bolstered by the return of Marc Savard, who has been out of action with a concussion for almost two months. Savard's return is going to give the Bruins a boost, as will the fact that they are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, yet they have home ice advantage in the second round, due to the seven and eight seeds winning their series. Things happen that way some times.
The Bruins are a lot like the Flyers in that they play a physical type of hockey, and they don't have one player that they lean on to help them win by himself. Boston didn't have a single player with over 55 points during the regular season, but Patrice Bergeron, Miroslav Satan, David Krejci and the ageless Mark Recchi all had five points in their series against Buffalo, and the Bruins also boast the biggest player in the NHL in 6'9" defenseman Zdeno Chara. Chris Pronger is going to have his hands full with that lineup, and the Flyers are going to have to play well to get past Chara. Rookie goaltender Tuukka Rask had some average showings against the Sabres, but came up big when he needed to, and can easily match Brian Boucher stop for stop in this series. He is one of the big reasons why the Bruins were able to come back in three of their four wins against Buffalo. Without Rask in goal, Boston doesn't make it to the second round, it's that simple.
For the Flyers to win this series, they are going to have to play just as well as they did against the Devils in the first round of the playoffs. Unlike their series against New Jersey, the Flyers don't have the regular season edge to lean on heading into this scrap, as the two teams split their season series this year, with Boston taking the last two, including the Winter Classic on New Year's Day. It is going to take a great effort from Mike Richards, Claude Giroux and Danny Briere on offense, as well as Chris Pronger on defense and Brian Boucher in net. I do think that the Flyers have enough to advance to the Conference Finals for the second time in three years, but I can also see the Bruins moving on as well. It's just a matter of which team can keep up their physical play longer.
Philadelphia just has to keep playing like they did against New Jersey, and that includes Brian Boucher in net. No one thought that Boucher could stop the Devils as well as he did, and there are still people out there that think he's going to go back to his old ways against the Bruins. Could it happen? Of course it could, that's what makes the NHL Playoffs so interesting. However, with the time off and the confidence that Boucher has now going into the second round, I don't think it's going to happen that way. In fact, I think the time off has done nothing but help the Flyers, as they've been able to rest and get healthy. Simon Gagne should be back for part of this series, which would be a big boost for the Flyers. For Philadelphia, the key is going to be winning one of the first two games in Boston, just as they did against the Devils in their last series. If they can take home ice away from the Bruins, then they have a very good chance to take the series. If they don't, then things could get very interesting. However, I think that Boucher will continue to play well, and the Flyers will continue their hot streak into the Conference Finals. They caught a break when the Caps went out, and they're going to take advantage of it.
Pick: Flyers in 6
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Phillies Recap: Phillies-7, Giants-6
Game Recap:
Down to their last strike in the ninth inning, the Phillies staged a three run comeback, then took the lead in the 10th, lost it, took it back in the 11th and almost lost it again to cap the craziest game of the season.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with his first home run in 65 at bats.
Jayson Werth went 1-5, but it was a big one, as he tied the game with a three run double in the ninth inning.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 with a run scored.
Wilson Valdez was 1-1 with an RBI double in the 11th inning.
Cole Hamels pitched well against Tim Lincecum, allowing four runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out ten.
What went wrong?
Juan Castro was 0-4.
Carlos Ruiz went 0-2.
Ryan Madson blew his second save of the season, allowing a run in the bottom of the tenth inning on two hits. He also walked a batter and didn't strike anyone out.
Game Analysis:
Well, those were a fun few innings to close out the game, weren't they? With the bases loaded and the Phillies down to their final strike, Jayson Werth launched a double into right field that scored three, and the Phils had managed to take a game that they should have lost into extra innings...where they tried to lose it two more times. Even after taking the lead in the 10th and 11th innings, the Phillies couldn't get out of San Francisco easily. Ryan Madson blew the save in the 10th, and Nelson Figueroa allowed one run to score and had the tying run thrown out at the plate before he was able to earn his first career save.
It was an ugly, crazy win, but it still counts the same, and the way things have been going for the Phillies lately, I'll certainly take it. The offense seemed to come to life again once Tim Lincecum left the game, and it was about time. Save for Ryan Howard's home run off of Lincecum in the fifth inning, the two time Cy Young winner held the Phillies to just three hits while striking out 11. It was the same story from the last two games against the Giants, except this time, the Phillies were able to attack the San Francisco bullpen, which is something they weren't able to do in their last two games. Plus, the Phils also got a good outing from Cole Hamels, who went pitch for pitch with Lincecum for a while, striking out ten batters of his own. Of course, Hamels also got into trouble in the sixth inning, when he allowed three runs to score, and he was also in line for his third straight loss, but no one will remember that when they look at the boxscore for this game.
The important thing about this game was that Hamels, despite allowing four runs, looked worlds better than he did in his last start against Arizona. There were no home runs allowed today, and Hamels had control of the strike zone for the most part. The sixth was his only problem, and he lost control a bit there, but the Phillies at least were able to bail him out this time. He needs to pitch like this all the time, so that the Phils can at least have a chance to win the games that he starts. That's two out of his last three starts that he's pitched well in, so I'm hopeful that things are still going to turn around for him.
I'm not sure how much stock I want to put into the offensive performance in the late innings today, but they did finally score some runs again. Jayson Werth had a huge three run double in the ninth inning, and then the bench provided a little spark in extras, thanks in large part to an error in the 11th by Eugenio Velez and a wild pitch in the 10th. Regardless, it was just nice to see the Phillies get some runs on the board again. The seven runs the Phillies scored today were the most since they beat the Braves 8-3 back at the start of this road trip, but that is now over as well. The Phillies finished their opening month road trip with a 4-5 record. It's not great, but for the cities they had to go to and the way their offense was playing, I'll take it.
Things don't get any easier for the Phils when they get back home. After an off day tomorrow, the Phillies take on the hottest team in baseball, the New York Mets. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.71 ERA) goes to the mound for the Phillies, and he'll be taking on Jon Niese (0-1, 3.68 ERA).
Down to their last strike in the ninth inning, the Phillies staged a three run comeback, then took the lead in the 10th, lost it, took it back in the 11th and almost lost it again to cap the craziest game of the season.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with his first home run in 65 at bats.
Jayson Werth went 1-5, but it was a big one, as he tied the game with a three run double in the ninth inning.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 with a run scored.
Wilson Valdez was 1-1 with an RBI double in the 11th inning.
Cole Hamels pitched well against Tim Lincecum, allowing four runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out ten.
What went wrong?
Juan Castro was 0-4.
Carlos Ruiz went 0-2.
Ryan Madson blew his second save of the season, allowing a run in the bottom of the tenth inning on two hits. He also walked a batter and didn't strike anyone out.
Game Analysis:
Well, those were a fun few innings to close out the game, weren't they? With the bases loaded and the Phillies down to their final strike, Jayson Werth launched a double into right field that scored three, and the Phils had managed to take a game that they should have lost into extra innings...where they tried to lose it two more times. Even after taking the lead in the 10th and 11th innings, the Phillies couldn't get out of San Francisco easily. Ryan Madson blew the save in the 10th, and Nelson Figueroa allowed one run to score and had the tying run thrown out at the plate before he was able to earn his first career save.
It was an ugly, crazy win, but it still counts the same, and the way things have been going for the Phillies lately, I'll certainly take it. The offense seemed to come to life again once Tim Lincecum left the game, and it was about time. Save for Ryan Howard's home run off of Lincecum in the fifth inning, the two time Cy Young winner held the Phillies to just three hits while striking out 11. It was the same story from the last two games against the Giants, except this time, the Phillies were able to attack the San Francisco bullpen, which is something they weren't able to do in their last two games. Plus, the Phils also got a good outing from Cole Hamels, who went pitch for pitch with Lincecum for a while, striking out ten batters of his own. Of course, Hamels also got into trouble in the sixth inning, when he allowed three runs to score, and he was also in line for his third straight loss, but no one will remember that when they look at the boxscore for this game.
The important thing about this game was that Hamels, despite allowing four runs, looked worlds better than he did in his last start against Arizona. There were no home runs allowed today, and Hamels had control of the strike zone for the most part. The sixth was his only problem, and he lost control a bit there, but the Phillies at least were able to bail him out this time. He needs to pitch like this all the time, so that the Phils can at least have a chance to win the games that he starts. That's two out of his last three starts that he's pitched well in, so I'm hopeful that things are still going to turn around for him.
I'm not sure how much stock I want to put into the offensive performance in the late innings today, but they did finally score some runs again. Jayson Werth had a huge three run double in the ninth inning, and then the bench provided a little spark in extras, thanks in large part to an error in the 11th by Eugenio Velez and a wild pitch in the 10th. Regardless, it was just nice to see the Phillies get some runs on the board again. The seven runs the Phillies scored today were the most since they beat the Braves 8-3 back at the start of this road trip, but that is now over as well. The Phillies finished their opening month road trip with a 4-5 record. It's not great, but for the cities they had to go to and the way their offense was playing, I'll take it.
Things don't get any easier for the Phils when they get back home. After an off day tomorrow, the Phillies take on the hottest team in baseball, the New York Mets. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.71 ERA) goes to the mound for the Phillies, and he'll be taking on Jon Niese (0-1, 3.68 ERA).
Phillies Recap: Giants-6, Phillies-2
Game Recap:
Jamie Moyer only gave up four runs in six innings, but the Phillies could only manage two runs and five hits as they dropped their second straight game to the Giants.
What went right?
Do I really have to go through this again? When you only have five hits and two runs against a pitcher with an 8+ ERA, nothing went right.
What went wrong?
Aside from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, not one Phillies player had a hit. That's right, the rest of the team went 0 for the game, just like the night before.
Jamie Moyer didn't have the best game, getting hit with the loss after allowing four runs on ten hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Chad Durbin got hit for two runs on two hits in one inning of work. He walked a batter and didn't strike anyone out.
Game Analysis:
There's a reason I'm writing these things the morning after the games out in San Francisco, and it's not just because the games are wrapping up at 1:30 in the morning. It's also because I just have nothing to write about. These last few losses have all been the same, with the starting pitching giving up a few runs and the offense not being able to respond in kind.
So far against the Giants, the Phillies have scored a total of three runs on nine hits. Those were the kind of numbers that they were able to put up in a few innings at the start of the season, and now, they need two games to even come close to that. I mentioned this yesterday, but the absence of Jimmy Rollins is a huge reason why this offense just isn't working right now. Shane Victorino is hitting .226 on the season and just is not a leadoff batter. This team needs Jimmy Rollins batting first, regardless of the first pitch pop-ups, strikeouts and lack of walks, because those weren't there this year, and that's what Rollins does. He gets the offense going and makes this team work, and right now, there's none of that going on.
I really can't bash the starting pitching that much, because everyone is going out there and doing what they have to do. Both Roy Halladay and Jamie Moyer kept the Phillies in their games over the last two days, and both made it at least six innings. There's nothing wrong with that, but when the offense can't get anything going, then those solid pitching efforts are going to go to waste. It's only a matter of time until Rollins comes back and the offense gets back on track, but the Phils can't use that as an excuse while he's out. They need to get that offense going again. Luckily, it's still just April, so the season still has a long way to go. However, they will have to get out of this funk before they dig too big of a hole to try and get out of during the summer.
Today, Cole Hamels (2-2, 5.11 ERA) tries to salvage the last game of this road trip. He'll be facing...Tim Lincecum (4-0, 1.00 ERA). Oh, come on now.
Jamie Moyer only gave up four runs in six innings, but the Phillies could only manage two runs and five hits as they dropped their second straight game to the Giants.
What went right?
Do I really have to go through this again? When you only have five hits and two runs against a pitcher with an 8+ ERA, nothing went right.
What went wrong?
Aside from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, not one Phillies player had a hit. That's right, the rest of the team went 0 for the game, just like the night before.
Jamie Moyer didn't have the best game, getting hit with the loss after allowing four runs on ten hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Chad Durbin got hit for two runs on two hits in one inning of work. He walked a batter and didn't strike anyone out.
Game Analysis:
There's a reason I'm writing these things the morning after the games out in San Francisco, and it's not just because the games are wrapping up at 1:30 in the morning. It's also because I just have nothing to write about. These last few losses have all been the same, with the starting pitching giving up a few runs and the offense not being able to respond in kind.
So far against the Giants, the Phillies have scored a total of three runs on nine hits. Those were the kind of numbers that they were able to put up in a few innings at the start of the season, and now, they need two games to even come close to that. I mentioned this yesterday, but the absence of Jimmy Rollins is a huge reason why this offense just isn't working right now. Shane Victorino is hitting .226 on the season and just is not a leadoff batter. This team needs Jimmy Rollins batting first, regardless of the first pitch pop-ups, strikeouts and lack of walks, because those weren't there this year, and that's what Rollins does. He gets the offense going and makes this team work, and right now, there's none of that going on.
I really can't bash the starting pitching that much, because everyone is going out there and doing what they have to do. Both Roy Halladay and Jamie Moyer kept the Phillies in their games over the last two days, and both made it at least six innings. There's nothing wrong with that, but when the offense can't get anything going, then those solid pitching efforts are going to go to waste. It's only a matter of time until Rollins comes back and the offense gets back on track, but the Phils can't use that as an excuse while he's out. They need to get that offense going again. Luckily, it's still just April, so the season still has a long way to go. However, they will have to get out of this funk before they dig too big of a hole to try and get out of during the summer.
Today, Cole Hamels (2-2, 5.11 ERA) tries to salvage the last game of this road trip. He'll be facing...Tim Lincecum (4-0, 1.00 ERA). Oh, come on now.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Phillies Recap: Giants-5, Phillies-1
Game Recap:
Roy Halladay suffered his first loss as a member of the Phillies as Jonathan Sanchez and the Giants held Philadelphia to one run and four hits in their second straight loss.
What went right?
Nothing. Shane Victorino had three of the four hits. That's all.
What went wrong?
Aside from Victorino, only Placido Polanco had a base hit.
The Phillies left 11 men on base.
Roy Halladay didn't have his best stuff last night, giving up five runs on ten hits in seven innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
Game Analysis:
Well, we all knew Roy Halladay wasn't going to stay perfect for the entire season, and last night he was dealt his first loss as a Phillie. It wasn't a pretty loss, either, as he gave up five runs, despite still lasting into the seventh inning. Even with his lack of solid pitching last night, this was a game that the Phillies let slip through their hands at the plate once again.
Very few times have I seen the Phillies manage to work a starting pitcher for five walks in six innings and lose a game, but that's what happened last night. Jonathan Sanchez was not sharp with his control, but the Phils helped him out by striking out six times against him and leaving 11 men on base for the game. In total, the Phillies walked seven times during the game, and none of those batters that got a free pass came around to score. In the third inning, the Phils managed to load the bases thanks to a double, a hit batsman and a walk, all with just one out. Not a single runner scored in the inning, thanks to a strikeout by Jayson Werth and a Ben Francisco fly out. That was the theme for the entire night, and that's why the Phils couldn't get anything done yesterday. It wasn't all just Halladay. It was the entire team.
I don't like losing, but at least this slump is coming now. What it's showing me at least is how much the Phillies really do miss Jimmy Rollins at the top of the lineup. Shane Victorino had one of the slower starts for the Phillies at the plate, while Rollins was having the best start of his career. Now, with Rollins out, the burden falls on Victorino, and while he's had a few good games, like the one last night, for the most part, he's struggled in the leadoff spot. What that does is then put more pressure on Placido Polanco and Chase Utley, the two batters behind Victorino, to get on base and extend the inning, rather than try and drive Rollins in from wherever he's managed to land after his at bat. Once Rollins gets back, I think these issues will take care of themselves, and the Phillies will be back to doing what they do well, which is outscoring teams and playing great baseball.
Later tonight, Jamie Moyer (2-1, 5.00 ERA) goes for his third win of the season against Todd Wellemeyer (0-3, 8.16 ERA). At least there's one person for San Francisco who can't pitch that well.
Roy Halladay suffered his first loss as a member of the Phillies as Jonathan Sanchez and the Giants held Philadelphia to one run and four hits in their second straight loss.
What went right?
Nothing. Shane Victorino had three of the four hits. That's all.
What went wrong?
Aside from Victorino, only Placido Polanco had a base hit.
The Phillies left 11 men on base.
Roy Halladay didn't have his best stuff last night, giving up five runs on ten hits in seven innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
Game Analysis:
Well, we all knew Roy Halladay wasn't going to stay perfect for the entire season, and last night he was dealt his first loss as a Phillie. It wasn't a pretty loss, either, as he gave up five runs, despite still lasting into the seventh inning. Even with his lack of solid pitching last night, this was a game that the Phillies let slip through their hands at the plate once again.
Very few times have I seen the Phillies manage to work a starting pitcher for five walks in six innings and lose a game, but that's what happened last night. Jonathan Sanchez was not sharp with his control, but the Phils helped him out by striking out six times against him and leaving 11 men on base for the game. In total, the Phillies walked seven times during the game, and none of those batters that got a free pass came around to score. In the third inning, the Phils managed to load the bases thanks to a double, a hit batsman and a walk, all with just one out. Not a single runner scored in the inning, thanks to a strikeout by Jayson Werth and a Ben Francisco fly out. That was the theme for the entire night, and that's why the Phils couldn't get anything done yesterday. It wasn't all just Halladay. It was the entire team.
I don't like losing, but at least this slump is coming now. What it's showing me at least is how much the Phillies really do miss Jimmy Rollins at the top of the lineup. Shane Victorino had one of the slower starts for the Phillies at the plate, while Rollins was having the best start of his career. Now, with Rollins out, the burden falls on Victorino, and while he's had a few good games, like the one last night, for the most part, he's struggled in the leadoff spot. What that does is then put more pressure on Placido Polanco and Chase Utley, the two batters behind Victorino, to get on base and extend the inning, rather than try and drive Rollins in from wherever he's managed to land after his at bat. Once Rollins gets back, I think these issues will take care of themselves, and the Phillies will be back to doing what they do well, which is outscoring teams and playing great baseball.
Later tonight, Jamie Moyer (2-1, 5.00 ERA) goes for his third win of the season against Todd Wellemeyer (0-3, 8.16 ERA). At least there's one person for San Francisco who can't pitch that well.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Ryan Howard: Straight Cash
What a difference a couple of years makes, eh? A few years ago, it looked like the Phillies didn't really want anything to do with a long term deal for Ryan Howard, as they kept pushing him towards arbitration and then a three year contract. Now, one MVP, two World Series trips and countless home runs later, Ryan Howard is going to be a Phillie for a long time, as he signed a five year, $125 million extension through the 2016 season, with a team option for 2017, meaning that the Phillies will likely have him in their uniform for the rest of his career.
Of course, there are some people that are going to say that the Phillies paid him too much for this deal: after all, Howard is getting Alex Rodriguez money now. To be honest with you, I really think that this deal is just about right for Howard. For everything that he's done with the Phillies, he deserves this money. Yes, I know that most power hitters begin to decline as they get past 30, and Howard is there now, but he doesn't seem to be showing signs of that right now. After all, he just dropped 30 pounds in the offseason and got a late start on his pro career anyway, so he's honestly just hitting his prime right now. Plus, this keeps Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay under contract for the long term and helps the Phillies remain at the top of the National League for years to come.
Not everything is perfect with this deal, though. Signing Howard to this type of contract certainly makes signing Jayson Werth a lot harder during the coming offseason. However, there are a lot of contracts coming off the books after this year, such as:
Jaime Moyer - $8,000,000
Chad Durbin - $2,500,000
Jose Contreras - $1,500,000
Adam Eaton - $500,000
Pedro Feliz - $500,000
Geoff Jenkins - $1,250,000
Aside from the shock that the Phillies are paying Jamie Moyer $8,000,000 and still have Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins on their payroll, that's over $14 million in payroll that will be leaving the books next year. Couple in Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard making more money, and the Phils still have a little room to work with to even reach this year's payroll, which is sure to go up next year regardless of what happens with Werth. Personally, I would rather let Raul Ibanez walk, sign Werth and put Domonic Brown in left field, but I don't know what's in the cards yet. That's just what I would like to have happen, but this is certainly going to make signing Werth a bit harder.
Regardless, I do think that this is a good deal. Ryan Howard is one of the best players in Phillies history, and now he's going to be a Phillie for the rest of his career. If he does begin to decline, then this contract is going to be a huge albatross for the Phillies, but right now, we all have t focus on what Howard is doing for this team, and he's doing a hell of a lot. I'm looking forward to seeing Howard with the Phillies for years to come, and not having to deal with the Yankees or Red Sox pulling the Brinks truck up to his driveway once his current contract ran out. Good job by the Phillies to get this done.
CSNPhilly: Phillies sign Howard to $125 million extension
Of course, there are some people that are going to say that the Phillies paid him too much for this deal: after all, Howard is getting Alex Rodriguez money now. To be honest with you, I really think that this deal is just about right for Howard. For everything that he's done with the Phillies, he deserves this money. Yes, I know that most power hitters begin to decline as they get past 30, and Howard is there now, but he doesn't seem to be showing signs of that right now. After all, he just dropped 30 pounds in the offseason and got a late start on his pro career anyway, so he's honestly just hitting his prime right now. Plus, this keeps Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay under contract for the long term and helps the Phillies remain at the top of the National League for years to come.
Not everything is perfect with this deal, though. Signing Howard to this type of contract certainly makes signing Jayson Werth a lot harder during the coming offseason. However, there are a lot of contracts coming off the books after this year, such as:
Jaime Moyer - $8,000,000
Chad Durbin - $2,500,000
Jose Contreras - $1,500,000
Adam Eaton - $500,000
Pedro Feliz - $500,000
Geoff Jenkins - $1,250,000
Aside from the shock that the Phillies are paying Jamie Moyer $8,000,000 and still have Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins on their payroll, that's over $14 million in payroll that will be leaving the books next year. Couple in Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard making more money, and the Phils still have a little room to work with to even reach this year's payroll, which is sure to go up next year regardless of what happens with Werth. Personally, I would rather let Raul Ibanez walk, sign Werth and put Domonic Brown in left field, but I don't know what's in the cards yet. That's just what I would like to have happen, but this is certainly going to make signing Werth a bit harder.
Regardless, I do think that this is a good deal. Ryan Howard is one of the best players in Phillies history, and now he's going to be a Phillie for the rest of his career. If he does begin to decline, then this contract is going to be a huge albatross for the Phillies, but right now, we all have t focus on what Howard is doing for this team, and he's doing a hell of a lot. I'm looking forward to seeing Howard with the Phillies for years to come, and not having to deal with the Yankees or Red Sox pulling the Brinks truck up to his driveway once his current contract ran out. Good job by the Phillies to get this done.
CSNPhilly: Phillies sign Howard to $125 million extension
Phillies Recap: Diamondbacks-8, Phillies-6
Game Recap:
Arizona got five runs off of Kyle Kendrick in the fifth inning, and then nailed the bullpen for three more in the seventh and eighth to move past the Phillies and win the series.
What went right?
Ross Gload went 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Greg Dobbs went 1-5 with a two run home run.
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with a run scored.
Jayson Werth was 1-3 with an RBI.
Carlos Ruiz was 2-4 with two RBI.
What went wrong?
Kyle Kendrick lasted just five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. He walked four and struck out four.
Danys Baez gave up a run on three hits in 1.1 innings. He walked a batter and didn't strike anyone out.
David Herndon picked up the loss after giving up two runs on four hits in the eighth inning. He didn't strike anyone out, and walked one.
Game Analysis:
How does a team manage to bang out 12 hits and still lose? Well, if you're the Philadelphia Phillies, you have the pitching behind you to give up 15 hits and eight runs. Yesterday was an interesting game in many ways, but it was a game that the Phillies should have won.
Even with their Sunday game lineup in play (Ross Gload leading off? Really?), the Phils jumped on Rodrigo Lopez early, with Greg Dobbs putting them up 2-0 before Arizona even got to the plate in the first inning. The Phillies would tack on a third run in the top of the fifth, and with Kyle Kendrick spinning zeros and getting out of trouble, it looked like it was going to be another solid outing from a starting pitcher on this road trip.
Then came the bottom of the fifth inning. Kendrick started the inning by allowing a base hit to the opposing pitcher, then Kelly Johnson launched his fourth home run of the series to cut the lead to one. Then, the old Kyle Kendrick came out once again. This Kendrick panics when things get tough, and throws just about every pitch right over the heart of the plate. Guess what happened yesterday? Kendrick then gave up a triple to Stephen Drew and walked Justin Upton before grooving one right over the plate to Mark Reynolds, who might be the last person on that team you want to do that to. Sure enough, Reynolds hit a 458 foot blast into the center field seats to give Arizona the lead...and this was before a single out was recorded. Luckily, Kendrick got out of the inning without allowing another run, but his day was done.
Despite a two run sixth inning by the Phils to take the lead again, the bullpen would let them down. Danys Baez allowed Arizona to tie the game, and David Herndon gave up two in the eighth, and that was enough for the Diamondbacks. Chad Qualls shut the door in the ninth, and the Phils went down for the second time against Arizona. Now, I know the Diamondbacks have a good offense, but after getting such great pitching performances against the Braves in Atlanta, how can the Phillies have their pitching do a complete 180º turn against Arizona? I don't get it, but that's how inconsistent most of the pitching has been for the Phillies this year. The bats will find themselves again, but, if they don't have the pitching to back things up, a lot of games are going to look like this one did. You can have 12 hits in a game and lose because of your bullpen. That's a problem, and something that the Phils are going to have to address soon.
The Phillies finish off their road trip with a three game set in San Francisco. Roy Halladay (4-0, 0.82 ERA) looks for his fifth win of the month as he takes on Jonathan Sanchez (1-1, 1.86 ERA).
Arizona got five runs off of Kyle Kendrick in the fifth inning, and then nailed the bullpen for three more in the seventh and eighth to move past the Phillies and win the series.
What went right?
Ross Gload went 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Greg Dobbs went 1-5 with a two run home run.
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with a run scored.
Jayson Werth was 1-3 with an RBI.
Carlos Ruiz was 2-4 with two RBI.
What went wrong?
Kyle Kendrick lasted just five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. He walked four and struck out four.
Danys Baez gave up a run on three hits in 1.1 innings. He walked a batter and didn't strike anyone out.
David Herndon picked up the loss after giving up two runs on four hits in the eighth inning. He didn't strike anyone out, and walked one.
Game Analysis:
How does a team manage to bang out 12 hits and still lose? Well, if you're the Philadelphia Phillies, you have the pitching behind you to give up 15 hits and eight runs. Yesterday was an interesting game in many ways, but it was a game that the Phillies should have won.
Even with their Sunday game lineup in play (Ross Gload leading off? Really?), the Phils jumped on Rodrigo Lopez early, with Greg Dobbs putting them up 2-0 before Arizona even got to the plate in the first inning. The Phillies would tack on a third run in the top of the fifth, and with Kyle Kendrick spinning zeros and getting out of trouble, it looked like it was going to be another solid outing from a starting pitcher on this road trip.
Then came the bottom of the fifth inning. Kendrick started the inning by allowing a base hit to the opposing pitcher, then Kelly Johnson launched his fourth home run of the series to cut the lead to one. Then, the old Kyle Kendrick came out once again. This Kendrick panics when things get tough, and throws just about every pitch right over the heart of the plate. Guess what happened yesterday? Kendrick then gave up a triple to Stephen Drew and walked Justin Upton before grooving one right over the plate to Mark Reynolds, who might be the last person on that team you want to do that to. Sure enough, Reynolds hit a 458 foot blast into the center field seats to give Arizona the lead...and this was before a single out was recorded. Luckily, Kendrick got out of the inning without allowing another run, but his day was done.
Despite a two run sixth inning by the Phils to take the lead again, the bullpen would let them down. Danys Baez allowed Arizona to tie the game, and David Herndon gave up two in the eighth, and that was enough for the Diamondbacks. Chad Qualls shut the door in the ninth, and the Phils went down for the second time against Arizona. Now, I know the Diamondbacks have a good offense, but after getting such great pitching performances against the Braves in Atlanta, how can the Phillies have their pitching do a complete 180º turn against Arizona? I don't get it, but that's how inconsistent most of the pitching has been for the Phillies this year. The bats will find themselves again, but, if they don't have the pitching to back things up, a lot of games are going to look like this one did. You can have 12 hits in a game and lose because of your bullpen. That's a problem, and something that the Phils are going to have to address soon.
The Phillies finish off their road trip with a three game set in San Francisco. Roy Halladay (4-0, 0.82 ERA) looks for his fifth win of the month as he takes on Jonathan Sanchez (1-1, 1.86 ERA).
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Phillie of the Week: April 18-24
The Phillies had a bit of a rough week, going 3-3 as the offense has gone cold, but they picked it up by the end of the week, winning three of their last four games behind solid pitching efforts on a dangerous road trip. With that in mind, the Phillie of the Week is someone who is going to more than likely win this several more times during the regular season. This week's Phillie of the Week is:
Roy Halladay
Yes, it's the Doc once again. This week, he ended a three game losing streak for the Phillies with a complete game shutout over the Atlanta Braves. He walked only one batter and struck out seven, and has looked like everything that the Phillies could have possibly wanted so far this season. The best part? He's a Phillie for at least the next three seasons.
Roy Halladay
Yes, it's the Doc once again. This week, he ended a three game losing streak for the Phillies with a complete game shutout over the Atlanta Braves. He walked only one batter and struck out seven, and has looked like everything that the Phillies could have possibly wanted so far this season. The best part? He's a Phillie for at least the next three seasons.
Phillies Recap: Phillies-3, Diamondbacks-2
Game Recap:
Jayson Werth launched two solo home runs, including one in the ninth inning, that pushed the Phillies past the Arizona Diamondbacks last night.
What went right?
Jayson Werth was 2-4 with those two solo home runs.
Raul Ibanez went 2-4 with his first home run of the season.
Juan Castro went 1-2 before having to leave the game with a hamstring strain.
Nelson Figueroa pitched well in a spot start, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The bullpen did a great job, allowing only three hits in four innings of work, with each pitcher recording at least two strikeouts.
What went wrong?
Aside from Werth, Ibanez and Castro, the Phillies managed one other hit...and that was from Carlos Ruiz. Everyone else went 0 for the game.
Game Analysis:
After being pounded by the longball on Friday night, the Phillies came back last night and gave Arizona a taste of their own medicine. Somehow, the Phils hadn't hit a home run since last Saturday against the Florida Marlins, but Jayson Werth changed all of that in his first at bat of the game, taking a pitch to deep center field for his second home run of the season. He wasn't done yet, though. Raul Ibanez hit his first home run of the season in the seventh inning to tie the score, and then Werth finished the job with a blast into center that gave the Phillies the lead in the ninth. It wasn't a pretty win, with the Phils only working out six hits, but it still counts the same.
For someone that was cast off from the New York Mets, Nelson Figueroa has done a good job with the Phillies so far this season. Last night, he pitched well in his first start of the year, and he did just what the Phillies needed him to do. With J.A. Happ on the disabled list, and Joe Blanton a few days away from coming back, the Phils needed a quick start from someone that could keep them in the game and give them a chance to win. Though Figueroa threw 100 pitches in five innings, he did just that, and then the bullpen came in and finished the job for the Phillies. I'm very impressed with the way Figueroa pitched last night, especially since it was just his fourth appearance of the season and his first start. With the way the schedule is lined up now, it doesn't look like he's going to have to make another start for the Phillies before Blanton gets back, but it's nice to know that he's there if he has to.
I do have some concerns about the offense at the moment as well. Aside from Jayson Werth, no one on the team is swinging the bat well right now, though Raul Ibanez did finally hit his first home run of the season last night. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard have gone cold, and Shane Victorino is still trying to find his swing again. Now, Juan Castro, who had been playing well in place of Jimmy Rollins, is likely out for at least a few games with a hamstring strain. Wilson Valdez is going to start for Castro, but that's just another early season blow to this team. Luckily, it is still early, and despite the struggles, this team is still playing well. They're tied with the Padres for the best record in the National League, and their starting pitching has picked up the slack that their offense has left out there. The bats will get hot again, and when they do, this team is going to be very, very good.
Today, the Phils look for their second straight win against the Diamondbacks. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.24 ERA) is looking for his first win of the year, and he'll face off against former Phillie Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.50 ERA).
Jayson Werth launched two solo home runs, including one in the ninth inning, that pushed the Phillies past the Arizona Diamondbacks last night.
What went right?
Jayson Werth was 2-4 with those two solo home runs.
Raul Ibanez went 2-4 with his first home run of the season.
Juan Castro went 1-2 before having to leave the game with a hamstring strain.
Nelson Figueroa pitched well in a spot start, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The bullpen did a great job, allowing only three hits in four innings of work, with each pitcher recording at least two strikeouts.
What went wrong?
Aside from Werth, Ibanez and Castro, the Phillies managed one other hit...and that was from Carlos Ruiz. Everyone else went 0 for the game.
Game Analysis:
After being pounded by the longball on Friday night, the Phillies came back last night and gave Arizona a taste of their own medicine. Somehow, the Phils hadn't hit a home run since last Saturday against the Florida Marlins, but Jayson Werth changed all of that in his first at bat of the game, taking a pitch to deep center field for his second home run of the season. He wasn't done yet, though. Raul Ibanez hit his first home run of the season in the seventh inning to tie the score, and then Werth finished the job with a blast into center that gave the Phillies the lead in the ninth. It wasn't a pretty win, with the Phils only working out six hits, but it still counts the same.
For someone that was cast off from the New York Mets, Nelson Figueroa has done a good job with the Phillies so far this season. Last night, he pitched well in his first start of the year, and he did just what the Phillies needed him to do. With J.A. Happ on the disabled list, and Joe Blanton a few days away from coming back, the Phils needed a quick start from someone that could keep them in the game and give them a chance to win. Though Figueroa threw 100 pitches in five innings, he did just that, and then the bullpen came in and finished the job for the Phillies. I'm very impressed with the way Figueroa pitched last night, especially since it was just his fourth appearance of the season and his first start. With the way the schedule is lined up now, it doesn't look like he's going to have to make another start for the Phillies before Blanton gets back, but it's nice to know that he's there if he has to.
I do have some concerns about the offense at the moment as well. Aside from Jayson Werth, no one on the team is swinging the bat well right now, though Raul Ibanez did finally hit his first home run of the season last night. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard have gone cold, and Shane Victorino is still trying to find his swing again. Now, Juan Castro, who had been playing well in place of Jimmy Rollins, is likely out for at least a few games with a hamstring strain. Wilson Valdez is going to start for Castro, but that's just another early season blow to this team. Luckily, it is still early, and despite the struggles, this team is still playing well. They're tied with the Padres for the best record in the National League, and their starting pitching has picked up the slack that their offense has left out there. The bats will get hot again, and when they do, this team is going to be very, very good.
Today, the Phils look for their second straight win against the Diamondbacks. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.24 ERA) is looking for his first win of the year, and he'll face off against former Phillie Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.50 ERA).
Saturday, April 24, 2010
NFL Draft Grades for all!
It took three days, lots of trades, and Tim Tebow going in the first round, but the NFL draft is over. The Eagles made a lot of trades, and a lot of picks, and now I'm going to break down the picks they made on the last day of the draft and give out a final draft grade for the entire ordeal.
Now, I'm not going to break down each player as much as I did during the first two days. That would take too much time, and honestly, I'm not spending three hours typing up details about a seventh round pick that hardly anyone cares about. That's just the way it is.
With that, I'll get into the fourth round.
Fourth Round, Pick 1: Trevard Lindley-Cornerback
The Eagles needed a corner in the fourth round, and they managed to find one with the first pick. The only issue I have with Lindley is that he's a step or two slower than some of the other corners that were taken in this area, and that makes the pick a little less comforting for me. The Eagles need corners that can play with the likes of Dez Bryant, Kenny Britt and the rest of the young guns in the NFC East. If the Eagles can't find someone that can do that, then this pick isn't nearly as good as it looks. I like how well Lindley plays the football, but he has issues with tackling, and that speed is a problem.
Grade: B-
Fourth Round, Pick 2: Keenan Clayton-Linebacker
I like the Clayton pick more than I like Lindley coming to Philadelphia. Clayton is a decent sized linebacker that has a good motor and plays with a lot of energy. I know that gets said about almost every Philadelphia pick, but the fact remains that players like Clayton are what Andy Reid wants with the Eagles, so that is what they are going to get. He's got decent size for a linebacker, and while he certainly won't start right away, it's a solid pick. Some people may think he's a bit of a reach, but the Eagles needed to find some extra linebacker help, and Clayton is a good start.
Grade: B
Fourth Round, Pick 3: Mike Kafka-Quarterback
Once again, the Eagles draft in a need position. While Kevin Kolb looks like the starting quarterback for the future, Kafka is a good, developmental quarterback that can grow into a solid backup as time goes on. To be fair, my grandfather went to Northwestern, so I might have a little bit of a bias here, but I think Kafka is a good pick. He's going to take some time to learn the Philadelphia system after playing in the spread offense in college, but he's a smart kid, and can do just that. With a little time in Philadelphia, I see him as an A.J. Feely type player. That's what the Eagles wanted, and it's what they got.
Grade: B
Fourth Round, Pick 4: Clay Harbor-Tight End/Fullback
Aside from having a great name, Harbor is a big guy that can play on the end of the offensive line and provide extra protection for a quarterback. Weighing in at 253 pounds, Harbor is the type of player that the Eagles usually look for in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. He has the potential to be a decent player, but I don't know how long it will take. I don't think most other people do, either. I think this pick could have been better spent on an offensive lineman, but Harbor is decent for the position.
Grade: C
Round 5, Pick 1: Ricky Sapp-Defensive End
While there are people out there wondering why the Eagles would take another defensive end, the truth is that Sapp should have been a second or third round pick had it not been for his knee issues that he's had. I really do like this pick, though. With Sapp sitting there in the fifth round, the Eagles had to take a flyer on him, and I don't care if he's another defensive end. With a talent like this sitting there in the fifth round, the Eagles had to take him, and they did a good job here. I like the choice, and I hope that he can make the team and contribute, which I see him doing.
Grade: A-
Round 5, Pick 2: Riley Cooper-Wide Receiver
Cooper looks like a decent possession receiver, much like Brandon Gibson was in the draft last year. He does have a few questions with him, which is why he fell down into the fifth round, but he's a good pick here. His hands aren't the best, and he's coming from the Florida offense, which is about as far as you can get from a pro style, but at almost six foot four and 225 pounds, he can bang in the middle of the field. The Eagles need another receiver like this to help compliment Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, and hopefully Cooper can do just that. He certainly has the build to.
Grade: B+
Round 6, Pick 1: Charles Scott-Running Back
After grabbing Mike Bell in free agency, the Eagles decided to take a chance on another power back in the later rounds. Scott had mid-round talent, but fell in the draft because of a poor senior year and a bad showing at the combine. Regardless of those issues, he's a big back, weighing in at almost 240 pounds, and he can certainly help the Eagles in short yardage situations. LeSean McCoy is the starter, but Mike Bell and hopefully Charles Scott can help the Eagles on offense where they need the most help: in short yardage situations.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 1: Jamar Chaney-Linebacker
Going into the seventh round, do I really expect many of these players to make the team? No, but I still have feelings about each pick. Jamar Chaney is another good athletic pick that fits in well with the Philadelphia defense. He has a high motor and can play well, with most people thinking he would be another midround pick. However, he slipped, for whatever reason teams had. He's had some injury issues, and his intelligence has been called into play, but his size and skills are very good for a seventh round pick. Will he do anything this season? I don't think so, but he could become a decent special teams and situational player down the road.
Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 2: Jeff Owens, Defensive Tackle
Aside from Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, the Eagles don't have much depth at defensive tackle. Owens was projected to go a round or two higher than this, but he's not the biggest defensive tackle around, and he's had some issues with injuries. He's still a decent pick here, no doubt about it. I like this pick if he can stick around with the Eagles for a few years, because he could certianly develop into something pretty good. I doubt he could be a full time starter, but as a rotational player, he has potential.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 3: Kurt Coleman, Defensive Back
Coleman is a little undersized for his position, but he's a very good pick for where the Eagles took him. Just like their other two seventh round picks, several sites had him going in the middle of the draft, rather than right at the end. I do like this pick for its value at the end of the seventh round, but I don't know how much we should expect from Coleman in the next few years, if he makes the team. The Eagles could use him on special teams, but with Nate Allen penciled in at safety for a few years, the chance of Coleman breaking through is slim. Regardless, he should be a decent special teams player, and they're very important.
Grade: B
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the Eagles had a solid 2010 Draft. I still don't like what they had to give up to get Brandon Graham, nor do I think trading down three times through the second and third round was that smart, but in the end, the Eagles came out with 13 players. I'm hopeful that most of them will end up helping the team. Graham ended up being considered one of the best picks of the first round by most people, and I think Nate Allen was the best pick that the Eagles made in the entire draft.
The rest of the picks were spent on need, save for Ricky Sapp, but I'm not complaining about that one. Mike Kafka is a good quarterback prospect, and Charles Scott could get some short yardage situations as long as he makes the team. The only issue I have with the entire draft is the lack of concern about the offensive line. I think the Eagles may have thought that Donovan McNabb was responsible for some of the sacks he took, but in the end, they had to do something on the line, and they didn't. Unless everyone comes back healthy next season (and Jamaal Jackson won't be back until mid-season...at least), this line is still questionable. I have faith that the Eagles will be able to find some rookie free agents, but I don't want them starting next season. They really needed to grab someone in the middle of the draft, and they didn't. Just for that, I have to knock their grade down a bit, and I thought that the Eagles had a good draft. I know a lot of people don't feel the same way I do, but if you look at the long run, this draft, save for the offensive line, was solid.
Overall 2010 Draft Grade: B
Now, I'm not going to break down each player as much as I did during the first two days. That would take too much time, and honestly, I'm not spending three hours typing up details about a seventh round pick that hardly anyone cares about. That's just the way it is.
With that, I'll get into the fourth round.
Fourth Round, Pick 1: Trevard Lindley-Cornerback
The Eagles needed a corner in the fourth round, and they managed to find one with the first pick. The only issue I have with Lindley is that he's a step or two slower than some of the other corners that were taken in this area, and that makes the pick a little less comforting for me. The Eagles need corners that can play with the likes of Dez Bryant, Kenny Britt and the rest of the young guns in the NFC East. If the Eagles can't find someone that can do that, then this pick isn't nearly as good as it looks. I like how well Lindley plays the football, but he has issues with tackling, and that speed is a problem.
Grade: B-
Fourth Round, Pick 2: Keenan Clayton-Linebacker
I like the Clayton pick more than I like Lindley coming to Philadelphia. Clayton is a decent sized linebacker that has a good motor and plays with a lot of energy. I know that gets said about almost every Philadelphia pick, but the fact remains that players like Clayton are what Andy Reid wants with the Eagles, so that is what they are going to get. He's got decent size for a linebacker, and while he certainly won't start right away, it's a solid pick. Some people may think he's a bit of a reach, but the Eagles needed to find some extra linebacker help, and Clayton is a good start.
Grade: B
Fourth Round, Pick 3: Mike Kafka-Quarterback
Once again, the Eagles draft in a need position. While Kevin Kolb looks like the starting quarterback for the future, Kafka is a good, developmental quarterback that can grow into a solid backup as time goes on. To be fair, my grandfather went to Northwestern, so I might have a little bit of a bias here, but I think Kafka is a good pick. He's going to take some time to learn the Philadelphia system after playing in the spread offense in college, but he's a smart kid, and can do just that. With a little time in Philadelphia, I see him as an A.J. Feely type player. That's what the Eagles wanted, and it's what they got.
Grade: B
Fourth Round, Pick 4: Clay Harbor-Tight End/Fullback
Aside from having a great name, Harbor is a big guy that can play on the end of the offensive line and provide extra protection for a quarterback. Weighing in at 253 pounds, Harbor is the type of player that the Eagles usually look for in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. He has the potential to be a decent player, but I don't know how long it will take. I don't think most other people do, either. I think this pick could have been better spent on an offensive lineman, but Harbor is decent for the position.
Grade: C
Round 5, Pick 1: Ricky Sapp-Defensive End
While there are people out there wondering why the Eagles would take another defensive end, the truth is that Sapp should have been a second or third round pick had it not been for his knee issues that he's had. I really do like this pick, though. With Sapp sitting there in the fifth round, the Eagles had to take a flyer on him, and I don't care if he's another defensive end. With a talent like this sitting there in the fifth round, the Eagles had to take him, and they did a good job here. I like the choice, and I hope that he can make the team and contribute, which I see him doing.
Grade: A-
Round 5, Pick 2: Riley Cooper-Wide Receiver
Cooper looks like a decent possession receiver, much like Brandon Gibson was in the draft last year. He does have a few questions with him, which is why he fell down into the fifth round, but he's a good pick here. His hands aren't the best, and he's coming from the Florida offense, which is about as far as you can get from a pro style, but at almost six foot four and 225 pounds, he can bang in the middle of the field. The Eagles need another receiver like this to help compliment Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, and hopefully Cooper can do just that. He certainly has the build to.
Grade: B+
Round 6, Pick 1: Charles Scott-Running Back
After grabbing Mike Bell in free agency, the Eagles decided to take a chance on another power back in the later rounds. Scott had mid-round talent, but fell in the draft because of a poor senior year and a bad showing at the combine. Regardless of those issues, he's a big back, weighing in at almost 240 pounds, and he can certainly help the Eagles in short yardage situations. LeSean McCoy is the starter, but Mike Bell and hopefully Charles Scott can help the Eagles on offense where they need the most help: in short yardage situations.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 1: Jamar Chaney-Linebacker
Going into the seventh round, do I really expect many of these players to make the team? No, but I still have feelings about each pick. Jamar Chaney is another good athletic pick that fits in well with the Philadelphia defense. He has a high motor and can play well, with most people thinking he would be another midround pick. However, he slipped, for whatever reason teams had. He's had some injury issues, and his intelligence has been called into play, but his size and skills are very good for a seventh round pick. Will he do anything this season? I don't think so, but he could become a decent special teams and situational player down the road.
Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 2: Jeff Owens, Defensive Tackle
Aside from Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, the Eagles don't have much depth at defensive tackle. Owens was projected to go a round or two higher than this, but he's not the biggest defensive tackle around, and he's had some issues with injuries. He's still a decent pick here, no doubt about it. I like this pick if he can stick around with the Eagles for a few years, because he could certianly develop into something pretty good. I doubt he could be a full time starter, but as a rotational player, he has potential.
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 3: Kurt Coleman, Defensive Back
Coleman is a little undersized for his position, but he's a very good pick for where the Eagles took him. Just like their other two seventh round picks, several sites had him going in the middle of the draft, rather than right at the end. I do like this pick for its value at the end of the seventh round, but I don't know how much we should expect from Coleman in the next few years, if he makes the team. The Eagles could use him on special teams, but with Nate Allen penciled in at safety for a few years, the chance of Coleman breaking through is slim. Regardless, he should be a decent special teams player, and they're very important.
Grade: B
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the Eagles had a solid 2010 Draft. I still don't like what they had to give up to get Brandon Graham, nor do I think trading down three times through the second and third round was that smart, but in the end, the Eagles came out with 13 players. I'm hopeful that most of them will end up helping the team. Graham ended up being considered one of the best picks of the first round by most people, and I think Nate Allen was the best pick that the Eagles made in the entire draft.
The rest of the picks were spent on need, save for Ricky Sapp, but I'm not complaining about that one. Mike Kafka is a good quarterback prospect, and Charles Scott could get some short yardage situations as long as he makes the team. The only issue I have with the entire draft is the lack of concern about the offensive line. I think the Eagles may have thought that Donovan McNabb was responsible for some of the sacks he took, but in the end, they had to do something on the line, and they didn't. Unless everyone comes back healthy next season (and Jamaal Jackson won't be back until mid-season...at least), this line is still questionable. I have faith that the Eagles will be able to find some rookie free agents, but I don't want them starting next season. They really needed to grab someone in the middle of the draft, and they didn't. Just for that, I have to knock their grade down a bit, and I thought that the Eagles had a good draft. I know a lot of people don't feel the same way I do, but if you look at the long run, this draft, save for the offensive line, was solid.
Overall 2010 Draft Grade: B
Phillies Recap: Diamondbacks-7, Phillies-4
Game Recap:
Cole Hamels allowed four home runs and six total runs in six innings as the Phillies dropped their first game against the Diamondbacks.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-5 with a triple and two RBI.
Placido Polanco went 1-5 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth went 1-4 with a run scored on a four base error from Chris Young.
Ben Francisco went 2-4.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Ryan Howard was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Cole Hamels lasted six innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
J.C. Romero made his first appearance of the year, allowing a home run to the first batter he faced, and then he walked the second batter. His ERA at the moment is infinite.
Game Analysis:
After looking so good in his start against the Marlins last Sunday, Cole Hamels came out last night and looked solid for three innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out four batters in th first three innings, and looked well on his way to another solid start. Not only that, but the Phillies had given him some runs to play with this time, staking him to a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.
Then, the bottom fell out. Hamels got Stephen Drew to fly out, then allowed Justin Upton to single and gave up back to back home runs to Mark Reynolds and Adam LaRoche that put Arizona up 3-2. After giving up a single to Chris Young, Hamels looked like he would get out of the inning, but then he gave up a third home run, this one to Chris Synder, and the Diamondbacks never looked back. Kelly Johnson would hit his first of two home runs in the fifth inning, and though Hamels would settle down after that, the damage was done.
This was a trip between two worlds for Cole Hamels. For three innings, he was the 2008 World Series MVP, mowing batters down, and having confidence in his pitches. Then, the fourth and fifth innings came around, and he was once again the pitcher from 2009 who couldn't wait for the season to be over. Hamels has always had a problem with giving up home runs, but three in a single inning and four in a game is too much for anyone, especially him. I don't know what happened last night with Hamels, and I don't want to see it again. He shows flashes of brilliance for parts of games, but then falls apart when it matters the most.
The worst part about last night was that the Phils had even given Cole a lead heading into the fourth inning. Against Florida, the Phillies couldn't muster a run for Hamels, but last night, they gave him two runs by the fourth inning. With the way he was pitching early, that should have been enough, but it wasn't even close. I have to put the blame for this loss on Hamels. The Phillies had a lead, he was making pitches, but then, it's like he forgot how to do what he had done so well for the first third of the game. I don't know how to explain it. Luckily, it's just one game, and I hope that Hamels can bounce back in his next start.
He needs to.
In about half an hour, the Phillies take the field against Arizona once again. Nelson Figueroa (1-1, 2.45 ERA) takes on Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.65 ERA).
Cole Hamels allowed four home runs and six total runs in six innings as the Phillies dropped their first game against the Diamondbacks.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-5 with a triple and two RBI.
Placido Polanco went 1-5 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth went 1-4 with a run scored on a four base error from Chris Young.
Ben Francisco went 2-4.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Ryan Howard was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Cole Hamels lasted six innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
J.C. Romero made his first appearance of the year, allowing a home run to the first batter he faced, and then he walked the second batter. His ERA at the moment is infinite.
Game Analysis:
After looking so good in his start against the Marlins last Sunday, Cole Hamels came out last night and looked solid for three innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out four batters in th first three innings, and looked well on his way to another solid start. Not only that, but the Phillies had given him some runs to play with this time, staking him to a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.
Then, the bottom fell out. Hamels got Stephen Drew to fly out, then allowed Justin Upton to single and gave up back to back home runs to Mark Reynolds and Adam LaRoche that put Arizona up 3-2. After giving up a single to Chris Young, Hamels looked like he would get out of the inning, but then he gave up a third home run, this one to Chris Synder, and the Diamondbacks never looked back. Kelly Johnson would hit his first of two home runs in the fifth inning, and though Hamels would settle down after that, the damage was done.
This was a trip between two worlds for Cole Hamels. For three innings, he was the 2008 World Series MVP, mowing batters down, and having confidence in his pitches. Then, the fourth and fifth innings came around, and he was once again the pitcher from 2009 who couldn't wait for the season to be over. Hamels has always had a problem with giving up home runs, but three in a single inning and four in a game is too much for anyone, especially him. I don't know what happened last night with Hamels, and I don't want to see it again. He shows flashes of brilliance for parts of games, but then falls apart when it matters the most.
The worst part about last night was that the Phils had even given Cole a lead heading into the fourth inning. Against Florida, the Phillies couldn't muster a run for Hamels, but last night, they gave him two runs by the fourth inning. With the way he was pitching early, that should have been enough, but it wasn't even close. I have to put the blame for this loss on Hamels. The Phillies had a lead, he was making pitches, but then, it's like he forgot how to do what he had done so well for the first third of the game. I don't know how to explain it. Luckily, it's just one game, and I hope that Hamels can bounce back in his next start.
He needs to.
In about half an hour, the Phillies take the field against Arizona once again. Nelson Figueroa (1-1, 2.45 ERA) takes on Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.65 ERA).
Friday, April 23, 2010
Day 2 of the Draft: Safeties and trades, trades, trades!
The second of three NFL Draft days is now over, and the Eagles made their two selections, with one not being in the spot that people thought it would be. I'll get to that in a moment, however. First, I want to talk about the pick that they made in the second round, which was the pick they got from the Washington Redskins for Donovan McNabb.
With the 37th pick in the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Nate Allen, a safety from South Florida. I mentioned yesterday that I wanted this pick to be either Allen or Taylor Mays, so the Eagles seemed to listen to myself and everyone else that wanted them to grab a safety in the early rounds of the draft. After sitting through the Sean Jones debacle of last year, the Eagles needed a big time upgrade, and I'm hopeful that Allen can be just that kind of player.
Nate Allen has good size for a safety, clocking in at six foot even and 207 pounds, and he's a great cover man as well, picking up five interceptions last season from the safety spot. There have been some concerns about his tackling ability, which is a red flag in my mind, but I'm not overly concerned about that yet. There's plenty of time for Allen to get used to the system that the Eagles use, and I think he was a little bit of an under the radar player, since Jason Pierre-Paul was getting most of the attention at South Florida.
I also expect Allen to be in the competition for the starting job right away. If he doesn't get it away from Quinton Demps or Macho Harris, then something is very, very wrong. This guy has a ton of ability, and some people had him as a late first round pick. For the Eagles to be able to grab Allen where they did is terrific, and he's going to help this team out for years to come.
Nate Allen grade: A
Then, things got interesting. The Eagles had the 55th pick in the draft, but traded it to the Dallas Cowboys for the 59th and 125th picks. They then took the 59th pick and traded it to Cleveland for the 71st pick as well as the 134th and 146th picks in the fifth round. Then, they traded the 71st pick to Green Bay for the 86th pick ad the 122nd pick. Finally, they made a choice at pick 86, and it left a lot of people scratching their heads.
With the 86th overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, a defensive end from Washington. This pick I don't like regardless of how many picks the Eagles picked up for tomorrow's fourth and fifth rounds. Te'o-Nesheim is another defensive end that projects better as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, which is something that the Eagles don't need right now. He has a good motor and is decent athletically, which sounds a lot like Chris Gocong. The only problem is, the Eagles just traded Chris Gocong, which should let you know how much he meant to this defense. This pick also seems like a bit of a reach to me, as the Eagles could have taken Te'o-Nesheim in the fourth round and gone for a cornerback like Brandon Ghee or Kevin Thomas.
The other thing that this pick does is create a logjam at defensive end. While the Eagles needed a standout end to go opposite Trent Cole, with this pick, they now have six ends on the roster, meaning that one is going to have to go. At this point, it looks like it will either be Juqua Parker or Victor Abiamiri who gets the short end of the stick. I like Parker, but he might be the one that goes, despite the fact it should be Abiamiri who loses his job with the Eagles. He's done nothing to earn a spot for another season.
The Eagles seem to make one of these mid round athletic defensive end picks every few years, even though the result is still the same. I see Te'o-Nesheim being more of the same, meaning that he'll stick around for a few years, end up overmatched and eventually he'll be cut. That's how it seems to work with these players, and with a few solid cornerback options on the board, I don't like this pick. Yes, it helped give the Eagles nine picks tomorrow, but do they really need nine picks in the last four rounds of the draft? I'd rather have seen them stay at 55 and pick a corner there.
Daniel Te'o-Nesheim grade: C-
As I just said, the Eagles have nine picks tomorrow, so things could get very interesting. I'll have a recap once the madness is finished.
With the 37th pick in the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Nate Allen, a safety from South Florida. I mentioned yesterday that I wanted this pick to be either Allen or Taylor Mays, so the Eagles seemed to listen to myself and everyone else that wanted them to grab a safety in the early rounds of the draft. After sitting through the Sean Jones debacle of last year, the Eagles needed a big time upgrade, and I'm hopeful that Allen can be just that kind of player.
Nate Allen has good size for a safety, clocking in at six foot even and 207 pounds, and he's a great cover man as well, picking up five interceptions last season from the safety spot. There have been some concerns about his tackling ability, which is a red flag in my mind, but I'm not overly concerned about that yet. There's plenty of time for Allen to get used to the system that the Eagles use, and I think he was a little bit of an under the radar player, since Jason Pierre-Paul was getting most of the attention at South Florida.
I also expect Allen to be in the competition for the starting job right away. If he doesn't get it away from Quinton Demps or Macho Harris, then something is very, very wrong. This guy has a ton of ability, and some people had him as a late first round pick. For the Eagles to be able to grab Allen where they did is terrific, and he's going to help this team out for years to come.
Nate Allen grade: A
Then, things got interesting. The Eagles had the 55th pick in the draft, but traded it to the Dallas Cowboys for the 59th and 125th picks. They then took the 59th pick and traded it to Cleveland for the 71st pick as well as the 134th and 146th picks in the fifth round. Then, they traded the 71st pick to Green Bay for the 86th pick ad the 122nd pick. Finally, they made a choice at pick 86, and it left a lot of people scratching their heads.
With the 86th overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, a defensive end from Washington. This pick I don't like regardless of how many picks the Eagles picked up for tomorrow's fourth and fifth rounds. Te'o-Nesheim is another defensive end that projects better as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, which is something that the Eagles don't need right now. He has a good motor and is decent athletically, which sounds a lot like Chris Gocong. The only problem is, the Eagles just traded Chris Gocong, which should let you know how much he meant to this defense. This pick also seems like a bit of a reach to me, as the Eagles could have taken Te'o-Nesheim in the fourth round and gone for a cornerback like Brandon Ghee or Kevin Thomas.
The other thing that this pick does is create a logjam at defensive end. While the Eagles needed a standout end to go opposite Trent Cole, with this pick, they now have six ends on the roster, meaning that one is going to have to go. At this point, it looks like it will either be Juqua Parker or Victor Abiamiri who gets the short end of the stick. I like Parker, but he might be the one that goes, despite the fact it should be Abiamiri who loses his job with the Eagles. He's done nothing to earn a spot for another season.
The Eagles seem to make one of these mid round athletic defensive end picks every few years, even though the result is still the same. I see Te'o-Nesheim being more of the same, meaning that he'll stick around for a few years, end up overmatched and eventually he'll be cut. That's how it seems to work with these players, and with a few solid cornerback options on the board, I don't like this pick. Yes, it helped give the Eagles nine picks tomorrow, but do they really need nine picks in the last four rounds of the draft? I'd rather have seen them stay at 55 and pick a corner there.
Daniel Te'o-Nesheim grade: C-
As I just said, the Eagles have nine picks tomorrow, so things could get very interesting. I'll have a recap once the madness is finished.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Phillies Recap: Phillies-8, Braves-3
Game Recap:
Jamie Moyer gave up two runs on four hits in six innings as the Phillies pounded Derek Lowe and the Braves for their second straight win.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 1-4 with two RBI.
Greg Dobbs went 2-3 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard went 1-5 with an RBI.
Raul Ibanez was 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Juan Castro went 3-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Carlos Ruiz went 2-5.
Jamie Moyer had his best game of the year, allowing just two unearned runs on four hits in six innings of work. He struck out four and walked two in the 260th win of his career.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley may have walked and scored twice, but he also had two errors in the fifth inning that allowed Atlanta to score twice.
Really, that's about it.
Game Analysis:
Now, there's the offense that I've been talking about that's been missing for the last few games. Not only did the Phillies bring out the bats again tonight, but they did it to help back up Jamie Moyer and they knocked Derek Lowe around, a pitcher that normally kills the Phillies. It all added up for a very good night down in Atlanta.
While the Phillies had struggled to score runs of late, their starting pitching has been much better, and tonight was no exception. Jamie Moyer pitched his best game of the year by far. He avoided the big inning that had gotten him in trouble in his other starts, and, had it not been for back to back errors by Chase Utley, he more than likely wouldn't have allowed a single run to cross the plate while he was out there. Granted, both runs were unearned, but it's the principle of the situation. Either way, Moyer was on point tonight with his stuff, and he looked better than he has all season so far. Somehow, this 47 year old just keeps pitching, and right now, the Phillies have gotten quality starts in four straight games. Had it not been for the bullpen in the first game of this series, the Phils would have gotten the sweep in Atlanta and sent a message to the Braves. Regardless, the Phillies did what they had to do to start out this road trip, and the starting pitching has looked excellent while away from Philadelphia.
The offense looked much better tonight as well. While the Phillies did get a bit of a break with a Martin Prado error in the third inning, the play only resulted in the three run third inning. The Phillies still scored five more runs in three other innings, and Derek Lowe lasted just five, becoming another opposing starting pitcher worn down by the Philadelphia lineup. The patience at the plate this year is amazing, as the Phillies have walked 63 times to the tune of a .363 on base percentage, which is good for second in the National League. They've worn down opposing pitchers at a pace I've never seen before, and the way things are going, it's only going to keep getting better. I am still concerned about the injuries to Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco, as well as the fact that Raul Ibanez hasn't hit a home run yet this season, but the injuries will heal, and Ibanez will hopefully find his swing again. All that matters right now is that the Phillies are 15 games into the season and are five games over .500 already. This team usually starts slow in April, but with Roy Halladay at the top of the rotation, and the rest of the starting pitching starting to fall in line, a slow start might be impossible.
Tomorrow, the Phils continue their road trip with the start of a three game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cole Hamels (2-1, 3.86 ERA) will take on Kris Benson (0-1, 3.00 ERA). No word on whether or not Kris Benson's wife will be at the game tomorrow.
Jamie Moyer gave up two runs on four hits in six innings as the Phillies pounded Derek Lowe and the Braves for their second straight win.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 1-4 with two RBI.
Greg Dobbs went 2-3 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard went 1-5 with an RBI.
Raul Ibanez was 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Juan Castro went 3-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Carlos Ruiz went 2-5.
Jamie Moyer had his best game of the year, allowing just two unearned runs on four hits in six innings of work. He struck out four and walked two in the 260th win of his career.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley may have walked and scored twice, but he also had two errors in the fifth inning that allowed Atlanta to score twice.
Really, that's about it.
Game Analysis:
Now, there's the offense that I've been talking about that's been missing for the last few games. Not only did the Phillies bring out the bats again tonight, but they did it to help back up Jamie Moyer and they knocked Derek Lowe around, a pitcher that normally kills the Phillies. It all added up for a very good night down in Atlanta.
While the Phillies had struggled to score runs of late, their starting pitching has been much better, and tonight was no exception. Jamie Moyer pitched his best game of the year by far. He avoided the big inning that had gotten him in trouble in his other starts, and, had it not been for back to back errors by Chase Utley, he more than likely wouldn't have allowed a single run to cross the plate while he was out there. Granted, both runs were unearned, but it's the principle of the situation. Either way, Moyer was on point tonight with his stuff, and he looked better than he has all season so far. Somehow, this 47 year old just keeps pitching, and right now, the Phillies have gotten quality starts in four straight games. Had it not been for the bullpen in the first game of this series, the Phils would have gotten the sweep in Atlanta and sent a message to the Braves. Regardless, the Phillies did what they had to do to start out this road trip, and the starting pitching has looked excellent while away from Philadelphia.
The offense looked much better tonight as well. While the Phillies did get a bit of a break with a Martin Prado error in the third inning, the play only resulted in the three run third inning. The Phillies still scored five more runs in three other innings, and Derek Lowe lasted just five, becoming another opposing starting pitcher worn down by the Philadelphia lineup. The patience at the plate this year is amazing, as the Phillies have walked 63 times to the tune of a .363 on base percentage, which is good for second in the National League. They've worn down opposing pitchers at a pace I've never seen before, and the way things are going, it's only going to keep getting better. I am still concerned about the injuries to Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco, as well as the fact that Raul Ibanez hasn't hit a home run yet this season, but the injuries will heal, and Ibanez will hopefully find his swing again. All that matters right now is that the Phillies are 15 games into the season and are five games over .500 already. This team usually starts slow in April, but with Roy Halladay at the top of the rotation, and the rest of the starting pitching starting to fall in line, a slow start might be impossible.
Tomorrow, the Phils continue their road trip with the start of a three game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cole Hamels (2-1, 3.86 ERA) will take on Kris Benson (0-1, 3.00 ERA). No word on whether or not Kris Benson's wife will be at the game tomorrow.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Devils
Ok, so it wasn't vindication for the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, but tonight's series clinching win for the Flyers over the New Jersey Devils certainly was sweet. After backing their way into the playoffs with a shootout win on the last day of the season, the Flyers are now the first team to advance, and they did so with a shutout to clinch a 4-1 series victory over the Devils.
You could tell things were going to go right tonight from the very start of the game. Brian Boucher, who just about everyone in Philadelphia, myself included, didn't want to have starting in the playoffs, stopped Ilya Kovalchuk's shot a minute into the first period, and it was all Flyers from there. Danny Briere scored on a power play goal three minutes into the game on a pretty pass from Claude Giroux, and it didn't seem like the losses of Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne were going to bother the Flyers very much tonight.
What the absences did do was allow Giroux to get even more ice time than before, and he responded with his best game of the series. In the second period, the young winger scored the final two goals of the series, the final one coming via the power play, to give the Flyers a commanding 3-0 lead. After that, it was all about the defense and Brian Boucher. I can't give the defense enough credit for how well they played during the entire series. Ilya Kovalchuk was frustrated and held in check for all five games, scoring two goals and picking up four assists. It's not what the Devils thought he was going to do once the playoffs got here, and his little victory guarantee showed why some people shouldn't try to channel Mark Messier. Zach Parise managed just a goal and three assists in the five games. Overall, the Flyers just out muscled and out played the Devils on the defensive side of the puck, and they kept that up tonight, clearing the area in front of Boucher and making sure that they picked up all the loose pucks so the Devils couldn't have any easy goals.
They also did a good job blocking shots during the series, but that came at a price tonight as Ian Laperriere got nailed with a pick right above his eye that needed 60-70 stitches to close up. Luckily, the Flyers won't play again for about a week, which should give him enough time to recover at least a little bit. He's a hockey player, he'll be back around. It might not be enough time for Simon Gagne to come back, though. Gagne is likely out for the next three weeks, and Jeff Carter is out for the rest of the season, but if the Flyers keep playing like they did against the Devils, it should be fun no matter who they play. I'm not going to stand up right now and say that the Flyers have a great chance of winning the Stanley Cup. The Devils didn't play well against the Flyers all season, and that continued throughout the playoffs. Brian Boucher turned the clock back about ten years, and the power play and defense were outstanding for Philadelphia. New Jersey fans can whine about the penalties and how they were the better team, but the fact of the matter is that the Flyers took advantage of power play chances, looked like the better team, and knocked out the number two seed in the Eastern Conference in just five games.
The second round opponent is still up in the air, but it's likely going to be the Washington Capitals, who are the top seed in the East. They have a 3-1 lead over the Montreal Canadiens, and have looked very good in their last three wins. If somehow the Caps lose, then it would either be the Buffalo Sabres or Pittsburgh Penguins. It's a good feeling to see the Flyers actually look good in the playoffs and get some time off in between series. Right now, they need it.
It was nice to knock off the Devils in Newark, too. I can't lie about that.
You could tell things were going to go right tonight from the very start of the game. Brian Boucher, who just about everyone in Philadelphia, myself included, didn't want to have starting in the playoffs, stopped Ilya Kovalchuk's shot a minute into the first period, and it was all Flyers from there. Danny Briere scored on a power play goal three minutes into the game on a pretty pass from Claude Giroux, and it didn't seem like the losses of Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne were going to bother the Flyers very much tonight.
What the absences did do was allow Giroux to get even more ice time than before, and he responded with his best game of the series. In the second period, the young winger scored the final two goals of the series, the final one coming via the power play, to give the Flyers a commanding 3-0 lead. After that, it was all about the defense and Brian Boucher. I can't give the defense enough credit for how well they played during the entire series. Ilya Kovalchuk was frustrated and held in check for all five games, scoring two goals and picking up four assists. It's not what the Devils thought he was going to do once the playoffs got here, and his little victory guarantee showed why some people shouldn't try to channel Mark Messier. Zach Parise managed just a goal and three assists in the five games. Overall, the Flyers just out muscled and out played the Devils on the defensive side of the puck, and they kept that up tonight, clearing the area in front of Boucher and making sure that they picked up all the loose pucks so the Devils couldn't have any easy goals.
They also did a good job blocking shots during the series, but that came at a price tonight as Ian Laperriere got nailed with a pick right above his eye that needed 60-70 stitches to close up. Luckily, the Flyers won't play again for about a week, which should give him enough time to recover at least a little bit. He's a hockey player, he'll be back around. It might not be enough time for Simon Gagne to come back, though. Gagne is likely out for the next three weeks, and Jeff Carter is out for the rest of the season, but if the Flyers keep playing like they did against the Devils, it should be fun no matter who they play. I'm not going to stand up right now and say that the Flyers have a great chance of winning the Stanley Cup. The Devils didn't play well against the Flyers all season, and that continued throughout the playoffs. Brian Boucher turned the clock back about ten years, and the power play and defense were outstanding for Philadelphia. New Jersey fans can whine about the penalties and how they were the better team, but the fact of the matter is that the Flyers took advantage of power play chances, looked like the better team, and knocked out the number two seed in the Eastern Conference in just five games.
The second round opponent is still up in the air, but it's likely going to be the Washington Capitals, who are the top seed in the East. They have a 3-1 lead over the Montreal Canadiens, and have looked very good in their last three wins. If somehow the Caps lose, then it would either be the Buffalo Sabres or Pittsburgh Penguins. It's a good feeling to see the Flyers actually look good in the playoffs and get some time off in between series. Right now, they need it.
It was nice to knock off the Devils in Newark, too. I can't lie about that.
Day One of the Draft is done
Well, now that my mock draft has been put in the shredder (just like almost everyone else's), I'll talk about the pick that the Eagles made in the first round of the NFL Draft tonight.
I think a lot of people expected the Eagles to move up in the first round to get the player that they wanted. They worked out Eric Berry, but there was little chance that they could move ahead of the Chiefs, so he went to Kansas City. However, once the Eagles got to the Broncos and Dolphins, people were making noise about Philadelphia moving up. Sure enough, the Broncos traded down to pick 13, then moved all the way down to the 24th pick as the Eagles made a deal with Denver, giving up both third round picks to move up 11 spots.
With the 13th overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Brandon Graham, a defensive end from Michigan. Now, I'm not going to lie. When I first heard the pick, I wasn't that thrilled with it, because I wanted to see the Eagles get Earl Thomas or Derrick Morgan, who just about everyone had as the best defensive end on the board. However, the more that I've thought about this pick, the better I feel.
Graham is a solid rushing defensive end, which is something that the Eagles need, considering they got rid of just about every defensive lineman not named Trent Cole. Yes, they brought in Daryl Tapp from Seattle, but to be honest, he's not going to be an every down kind of defensive end. What Graham brings to the table is someone with a huge motor that can get to the quarterback and bring them down with authority. It kind of sounds like he's another Trent Cole, and that works just fine for me.
Now, Graham isn't the biggest defensive end that was taken in the first round. He's only 6'1", but he weighs in at about 270 pounds and is very strong. Plus, he does have good takeoff speed when he's rushing, which is going to be useful against slower offensive tackles. Last year, Trent Cole was all that the Eagles had when it came to getting pressure on the quarterback. Darren Howard wasn't enough, Chris Clemons wasn't enough and Victor Abiamiri certainly wasn't enough. Juqua Thomas is solid, but there has to be more of a steady rush on the quarterback. Last year against the Cowboys, Tony Romo had all day to throw against the Eagles, and that exposed the secondary even more than anyone could have expected. To get a good defense again, the Eagles have to start in the trenches, and defensive end was a big need. Not only that, but Graham can stand up and play linebacker, which is something that the Eagles look for as well. Most hybrid defensive end/linebackers haven't done that well with the Eagles, however, but Graham seems a bit different than the rest.
There's no way that the Eagles are done yet, though. They have the fifth overall pick in the second round tomorrow night, and I'm willing to bet that either Taylor Mays or Nate Allen is going to coming to Philadelphia as the new starting safety with that pick. Plus, they also have the 55th pick in the second round again, meaning that they can still take a cornerback with that selection. So far, the Eagles have had to address their defense, and they did that with the first pick that they made. Would I have liked it to have been Earl Thomas? Yes, but I'm happy with Brandon Graham as well. I said in my season wrap-up that the Eagles needed to look for a defensive line prospect in the first round, and that's what they've got. Pressure up front means more hurried throws, which leads to quicker possessions by the opposing offense. Plus, Ernie Sims and Stewart Bradley will both be playing linebacker next year for the Eagles. That works out well.
Not having to give up either second round pick was nice as well. I do sort of wish that the Eagles had been able to hold on to one of their two third round picks, but to move up 11 spots, they did what they thought they would have to do. I'm not super excited about the pick, but I like it.
Brandon Graham grade: B
I think a lot of people expected the Eagles to move up in the first round to get the player that they wanted. They worked out Eric Berry, but there was little chance that they could move ahead of the Chiefs, so he went to Kansas City. However, once the Eagles got to the Broncos and Dolphins, people were making noise about Philadelphia moving up. Sure enough, the Broncos traded down to pick 13, then moved all the way down to the 24th pick as the Eagles made a deal with Denver, giving up both third round picks to move up 11 spots.
With the 13th overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Brandon Graham, a defensive end from Michigan. Now, I'm not going to lie. When I first heard the pick, I wasn't that thrilled with it, because I wanted to see the Eagles get Earl Thomas or Derrick Morgan, who just about everyone had as the best defensive end on the board. However, the more that I've thought about this pick, the better I feel.
Graham is a solid rushing defensive end, which is something that the Eagles need, considering they got rid of just about every defensive lineman not named Trent Cole. Yes, they brought in Daryl Tapp from Seattle, but to be honest, he's not going to be an every down kind of defensive end. What Graham brings to the table is someone with a huge motor that can get to the quarterback and bring them down with authority. It kind of sounds like he's another Trent Cole, and that works just fine for me.
Now, Graham isn't the biggest defensive end that was taken in the first round. He's only 6'1", but he weighs in at about 270 pounds and is very strong. Plus, he does have good takeoff speed when he's rushing, which is going to be useful against slower offensive tackles. Last year, Trent Cole was all that the Eagles had when it came to getting pressure on the quarterback. Darren Howard wasn't enough, Chris Clemons wasn't enough and Victor Abiamiri certainly wasn't enough. Juqua Thomas is solid, but there has to be more of a steady rush on the quarterback. Last year against the Cowboys, Tony Romo had all day to throw against the Eagles, and that exposed the secondary even more than anyone could have expected. To get a good defense again, the Eagles have to start in the trenches, and defensive end was a big need. Not only that, but Graham can stand up and play linebacker, which is something that the Eagles look for as well. Most hybrid defensive end/linebackers haven't done that well with the Eagles, however, but Graham seems a bit different than the rest.
There's no way that the Eagles are done yet, though. They have the fifth overall pick in the second round tomorrow night, and I'm willing to bet that either Taylor Mays or Nate Allen is going to coming to Philadelphia as the new starting safety with that pick. Plus, they also have the 55th pick in the second round again, meaning that they can still take a cornerback with that selection. So far, the Eagles have had to address their defense, and they did that with the first pick that they made. Would I have liked it to have been Earl Thomas? Yes, but I'm happy with Brandon Graham as well. I said in my season wrap-up that the Eagles needed to look for a defensive line prospect in the first round, and that's what they've got. Pressure up front means more hurried throws, which leads to quicker possessions by the opposing offense. Plus, Ernie Sims and Stewart Bradley will both be playing linebacker next year for the Eagles. That works out well.
Not having to give up either second round pick was nice as well. I do sort of wish that the Eagles had been able to hold on to one of their two third round picks, but to move up 11 spots, they did what they thought they would have to do. I'm not super excited about the pick, but I like it.
Brandon Graham grade: B
Phillies continue the DL shuffle
A bit of good news first from the Phillies, as they activated J.C. Romero from the disabled list today, starting his 2010 season. It's good to see Romero back with the Phillies, but I wish it didn't have to come this way. In order to make room for Romero, the Phils sent J.A. Happ to the disabled list with an elbow injury.
The removal of Happ from the rotation means two things. First, Kyle Kendrick is going to be a starter with the Phillies for a while this year. Second, Joe Blanton can't get back soon enough. Nelson Figueroa is going to start for Happ on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and that doesn't exactly fill me, or anyone else I know, with joy. I don't know how long Happ is going to be out, as elbow injuries can be tricky. However, Blanton is set to come back by the start of May, which is right around the corner now, so things aren't that bad.
Happ didn't have his best stuff in his last start, and now we know why. He needs to take his time and get back to 100% before coming back to pitch. The elbow is key for any starting pitcher, and if he rushes back, it's only get to hurt himself and the Phillies more, since he'll more than likely spend the entire season on the shelf.
Regardless, the Phillies seem to be struck with the injury bug so far this year. It would be nice if it went somewhere else.
CSNPhilly.com: Happ goes to DL, Romero activated
The removal of Happ from the rotation means two things. First, Kyle Kendrick is going to be a starter with the Phillies for a while this year. Second, Joe Blanton can't get back soon enough. Nelson Figueroa is going to start for Happ on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and that doesn't exactly fill me, or anyone else I know, with joy. I don't know how long Happ is going to be out, as elbow injuries can be tricky. However, Blanton is set to come back by the start of May, which is right around the corner now, so things aren't that bad.
Happ didn't have his best stuff in his last start, and now we know why. He needs to take his time and get back to 100% before coming back to pitch. The elbow is key for any starting pitcher, and if he rushes back, it's only get to hurt himself and the Phillies more, since he'll more than likely spend the entire season on the shelf.
Regardless, the Phillies seem to be struck with the injury bug so far this year. It would be nice if it went somewhere else.
CSNPhilly.com: Happ goes to DL, Romero activated
My 2010 Mock Draft
Yes, it's that time of the year again, where NFL teams get to celebrate like it's Christmas. Of course, some teams get nothing but coal, while other end up getting the piece that can lead them back to the top of the standings. It's the NFL Draft, and it's on tonight. I've spent a lot of time working on my mock draft, and here it is.
1. St. Louis Rams-Sam Bradford, QB-Oklahoma
The Rams need to start over after winning just six games in the last three seasons. They need help everywhere, but most teams start at the quarterback position, and that's where St. Louis will get started, too. Sam Bradford is coming off of a very short season last year due to injury, but as long as he's healthy, he'll be a great pick for the Rams.
2. Detroit Lions-Ndamukong Suh, DT-Nebraska
I feel like the Lions need to address their offensive line more than their defensive line, but Suh is a freak of nature who is about as close to can't miss as you can get. While Russell Okung might be the better pick here, Detroit can't go wrong with taking Suh. Of course, Matt Stafford is going to have to run for his life again next season, but that's for Detroit to figure out how to stop.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Gerald McCoy, DT-Oklahoma
Tampa Bay is another team that needs a lot of help, which is why they're picking at the top of the draft this year. They have to go defensive tackle with this pick, it's just a matter of whether it's Suh or Gerald McCoy. If both are there, they probably take Suh, but if Detroit does what I think they're going to do, the Bucs will just have to settle for another great tackle that doesn't have the knee issues that Suh has had.
4. Washington Redskins-Russell Okung, OT-Oklahoma State
The Redskins have their quarterback now with Donovan McNabb, so that takes Jimmy Clausen out of the equation. Instead, Washington needs to focus on protecting McNabb, who can't run nearly as well as he did at the start of his career. Rusell Okung is the best lineman available in the draft, and with Chris Samuels retiring, the Redskins need to replace him. It's too easy right here.
5. Kansas City Chiefs-Bryan Bulaga, OT-Iowa
With Okung off the board, a run on offensive tackles is going to start. Bryan Bulaga isn't the second best tackle in the draft, but he has a lot of potential and upside, which Scott Pioli, the GM of the Chiefs, loves. That's why he took Tyson Jackson early last year, and it's why he's going to take Bulaga this year. The Chiefs need to keep Matt Cassel from getting killed again, and this is a good way to do it.
6. Seattle Seahawks-Trent Williams, OT-Oklahoma
Here is where things should start to get interesting. The Seahawks have needs just about everywhere. Matt Hasselbeck is on his last legs, their running game doesn't exist, both lines need work...luckily, the Seahawks have two top 15 picks this year. They good pick Jimmy Clausen here, as well as Eric Berry or even reach for CJ Spiller, but I think they decide to work on the offensive line first, so they can protect whoever their quarterback of the future is going to be. Trent Williams could go to Washington with the fourth pick, so Seattle is getting good value here.
7. Cleveland Browns- Eric Berry-S, Tennessee
This is another potential destination for Clausen, as the Browns are going to apparently try and use the corpse of Jake Delhomme's career for next season. However, Mike Holmgren doesn't seem that interested in Clausen, and the Browns have needs all over the field. Eric Berry is rated as possibly the best player in the draft, so to be able to get him with the seventh pick is nothing short of stealing. Berry would be a good fit in Cleveland.
8. Oakland Raiders-Bruce Campbell, OT-Maryland
Here's the first reach of the first round. Campbell has first round talent, but he should go more towards the bottom of the first round. Instead, the Raiders are going to take him. Why would they do that? Campbell ran a 4.85 40 at the Combine, and is an athletic freak. Al Davis loves fast, athletic players that might not have the same talent as other players. It's why Oakland took Darrius Heyward-Bey last year, and it's why he's going to take Campbell this year. Though, if Oakland can work out a trade with the Steelers for Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers will gladly take Jimmy Clausen here.
9. Buffalo Bills-Jimmy Clausen, QB-Notre Dame
This has to be the pick for Buffalo here. The Bills are a decent team that just needs a few pieces, and one of them is at quarterback. For them to have Jimmy Clausen fall into their laps is just too easy. I don't know how he's going to fit into Buffalo's offense, but he's pro ready, more so than Brady Quinn proved to be when he came out of Notre Dame. I don't like Jimmy Clausen the person, but Jimmy Clausen, the quarterback, is who the Bills need to draft. Will they do it? For their sakes, I hope that they do, because they haven't had a quarterback there since Jim Kelly retired, and that includes Doug Flutie. If Clausen doesn't get picked here, he's going to go into an Aaron Rodgers-esque free fall.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars-Derrick Morgan, DE-Georgia Tech
Even with Jacksonville getting Aaron Kampman in the offseason, they still need help on the defensive line. The only way that the Jaguars can get to the top of the AFC South is to get to the other quarterbacks that play there, and getting Derrick Morgan would be a step in the right direction. An even better step in the right direction would be drafting Tim Tebow in the second or third round, because Jacksonville needs to get fans back to their stadium, and Tebow can do that. The Jaguars need Tim Tebow to be playing for them.
11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago)-Dez Bryant, WR-Oklahoma State
I really don't know what Denver is going to do with this pick. I've seen all kinds of players taken here, but the Broncos really need help at wide receiver with Brandon Marshall now off in Miami. The only problem with this is that Bryant is another diva of a wideout, and Denver might not want to take him after just getting rid of Marshall. However, if they actually want Kyle Orton or Brady Quinn to have someone to throw to next year, they need to draft Bryant. He's the best wide receiver in this year's draft, by far.
12. Miami Dolphins-Dan Williams, DT-Tennessee
Miami took a step back last year, but they should be able to bounce back a bit in 2010. They need help getting to the quarterback, however, and nose tackle is a huge position of need. If Dan Williams can fall to them at this pick, it should take Bill Parcells about 10 seconds to make this pick. He's a solid player at a position of need. It fits too well for it not to happen.
13. San Francisco 49ers-Joe Haden, CB-Florida
The 4ers whiffed big time when they signed Nate Clements to a huge deal a few seasons back. Clements was actually benched at the end of the year last year, making corner a huge need for San Francisco. Luckily, Joe Haden ran a poor 40 time at the Combine, and then bounced back with a much better time at his Pro Day. The 49ers can get the best corner in the draft here, as long as he falls past Cleveland and Jacksonville. I think he will.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)-CJ Spiller, HB-Clemson
After getting the tackle that they needed with the sixth overall pick, Seattle can focus on their offense again by adding the best running back in the draft to their team. Spiller's stock has been on the rise even more of late, and with just Julius Jones and Justin Forsett in their backfield, the Seahawks need a better run game. Their defensive line could also be addressed here, but this is a team that needs to score points, and they can do that if they add Spiller.
15. New York Giants-Rolando McClain, LB-Alabama
This is a pick that I really don't want to have happen, because then the Giants will be getting a great defensive player. This pick has to be either on the defensive line or a linebacker, and with the best linebacker in the draft falling to New York, the Giants would be crazy to let him fall any further. McClain is the best player available at this point of the draft, and his talent level is very, very high. The Giants need to be able to stop people again, and McClain can do that, giving New York another scary linebacker. The Giants are used to having them anyway.
16. Tennessee Titans-Jason Pierre-Paul, DE-USF
Tennessee lucks into getting their ideal pick at number 16. Pierre-Paul is an athletic freak, who did more in just a few starts than just about anyone else in this draft. The Titans need to generate a pass rush to get to Peyton Manning, just like every other team in the AFC South has to do. Jevon Kearse is gone again, so Pierre-Paul would fit right in. Plus, he can jump out of pools and do backflips. That has to be good for something, right?
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina)-Anthony Davis, OT-Rutgers
Anthony Davis is a talented player, but he has some character issues, which are going to make his draft stock slip a little bit. However, the 49ers need an offensive tackle to protect Alex Smith or whoever they decide to have in their backfield next season. Mike Singletary would be the right guy to turn Davis around and make him into a rock at the offensive tackle position.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers-Mike Iupati-OG- Idaho
The Steelers need help on the offensive line, as Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked so many times in the last few years that the six game suspension that he got should push his 2010 sack total to about the league average. Regardless of who's taking snaps for the Steelers next year, they have to protect him. Mike Iupati is a huge guard and can more than likely start right away. Not many people knew about him because he went to school at Idaho, but the Steelers know what they are getting with this guy.
19. Atlanta Falcons-Brandon Graham, DE-Michigan
Atlanta recorded only 28 sacks in 2009, which was a big reason why the Falcons weren't able to return to the playoffs for the second year in a row. They could go a few different ways here, picking Sean Weatherspoon or Jerry Hughes as well, but I think they go with Graham. He's another athletic freak, and, despite his short size, he can get to the quarterback. The Falcons need that pressure on the opposing offense again so that Matt Ryan and Michael Turner can get shorter fields to play with.
20. Houston Texans-Ryan Mathews, RB-Fresno State
This may be a bit of a reach here for Mathews, but the Texans have to address their running game. Ryan Moats isn't the fulltime answer, and Steve Slaton caught the worst case of the fumbles I've ever seen, moving him from the penthouse into the doghouse so quickly, I don't know if he knew what happened. Ryan Mathews is an excellent runner who would help the Texans put less pressure on Matt Schaub, which is exactly what they want to do. While the defense also needs work, Mathews is too good to pass up for the Texans.
21. Cincinnati Bengals-Jermaine Gresham, TE-Oklahoma
The Bengals need other weapons on offense to go along with an aging Chad Johnson (I'm not calling him that other name). Gresham is easily the best tight end in this draft, and Carson Palmer would finally have a safety valve that he could pass to if the blitz gets to him. Cincinnati could easily go with Taylor Mays here, but I think they need to focus more on offense than defense right now. That team needs to be able to score points.
22. New England Patriots-Sergio Kindle, LB-Texas
The Patriots normally find difference makers with their first round picks, and Kindle would be another one of those players. He's a solid rush linebacker, and though the Patriots haven't picked a rush linebacker since Bill Belichick took over, there's a first time for everything. New England has to get younger on defense, and fast. They can't keep calling Junior Seau up every October and ask him to come back again. It just doesn't work. The Ravens exposed them in the playoffs last year, and you know the Patriots want at least one more shot at a Super Bowl with this current group of players.
23. Green Bay Packers-Charles Brown, OT-USC
Aaron Rodgers had a great season last year, but he was also sacked 50 times, which is far too many if the Packers want to keep him as healthy as they did Brett Favre. Chad Clifton fell apart against Arizona in the playoffs and Green Bay has to keep Rodgers upright to get their offense going again. While it sets them up for years of "Good Grief" jokes, the Packers have to take Brown here.
24. Philadelphia Eagles-Earl Thomas, S-Texas
Now, things get fun. Do I really think that Earl Thomas is going to be around at pick 24, available for the Eagles to pick without having to trade anything? I don't know. However, it could happen. The Dolpins and Bengals look like the most likely targets for Thomas, but if they pass on him, he could easily make his way to Philadelphia. The Eagles struggled far too much at safety last year, and to add someone with Thomas' skills should make any fan do backflips. The Eagles will more than likely have to trade up to get him, but if they can, it will be worth it. I would love to see Thomas in Eagles green.
25. Baltimore Ravens-Jared Odrick, DT-Penn State
The Ravens are starting to get a little older on defense, and their line is a little bit thinner than they're used to as well. Odrick can play defensive end or defensive tackle, and would fit very well into the Baltimore defensive schemes. If he makes it past New England at 22, I think the Ravens should have themselves a very good player.
26. Arizona Cardinals-Sean Weatherspoon, LB-Missouri
It's hard for me to believe that the Cardinals have won back to back NFC West crowns, but they have. However, it's going to be tough as they attempt to win three in a row. Kurt Warner is gone, and they missed their chance to land Donovan McNabb. Antrel Rolle is also gone, and the Cardinals still need to find an offensive tackle. Unfortunately, all the first round talent at that spot is gone by the time they can pick, so they have to upgrade on the defense instead. Joey Porter doesn't have much left in the tank, and Sean Weatherspoon would be a good pick here. The Arizona defense gave up almost 90 points in two playoff games. That's enough reason for me to have them pick a linebacker.
27. Dallas Cowboys-Taylor Mays, S-USC
The Cowboys are another one of those teams that could go a few different ways with their pick. They could take Maurkice Pouncey, the center from Florida, and help bring their offensive line back together. Tony Romo was destroyed by Minnesota in the playoffs, and adding Pouncey would really help. However, I think that Dallas has an even bigger hole at safety. Ever since Roy Williams walked, Dallas hasn't had much luck there. While Taylor Mays has some weaknesses, he's a solid safety and could do very well in the right system. I think that Dallas would be a good fit for him, as much as it pains me to admit it.
28. San Diego Chargers-Terrence Cody, DT-Alabama
San Diego really wanted Ryan Mathews to fall past Houston at pick 20, but if he doesn't, I think they can go with Terrence Cody. Cody is a load in the middle of a defensive line, and he showed that he can both lose weight and move well to create pressure at his Pro Day. The Chargers released Jamal Williams, so nose tackle is a big hole that can be filled by a very, very large man from Alabama.
29. New York Jets-Kyle Wilson, CB-Boise State
The Jets could go in several different directions with their pick as well, but I think they need to keep their eyes on the secondary. Darrelle Revis is one of the best corners in the league, but there's a reason the Chargers traded Antonio Cromartie for just a third round pick. He can take plays off, and San Diego got tired of his lack of effort and attitude. Plus, he's on his contract year, meaning that he might be one and done in New York. Kyle Wilson should be drafted higher than this, and the Jets would be getting a steal if this pick came true.
30. Minnesota Vikings-Devin McCourty, CB-Rutgers
Yes, Minnesota just added Lito Sheppard, but he flamed out after a year in New York, so I don't know how much he has left in the tank. Cedric Griffin also tore his ACL at the end of the season, creating a huge need at corner for Minnesota. McCourty is a skilled, fast corner and could step in and play right away. If the Vikings have to use Sheppard for any length of time, they might be in a bit of trouble, and they have to compete with New Orleans and their receivers at the top of the NFC. They need that second skilled corner.
31. Indianapolis Colts-Maurkice Pouncey, C-Florida
The Colts are starting to get older on the offensive line. With Pouncey, they could get a player that can play at either guard or center and could possibly step in from day one and make a difference. I also think that Pouncey should be gone before this pick, so, like the Jets and Kyle Wilson, they would be thrilled if he made it this far down. I think Indianapolis could look more towards the offensive tackle position, but if Pouncey is there, he has to be the pick.
32. New Orleans Saints-Jerry Hughes, LB-TCU
The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints...it still doesn't feel right typing that. Scott Fujita left for Cleveland, and Charles Grant also walked, creating holes at linebacker and defensive end. Hughes has the skills to play both positions, and the fact that he's down at the bottom of the first round would be a blessing for the Saints. I've seen Hughes projected as high as pick 12 to Miami, but I think he finds his way down here to New Orleans. The rich get richer...it's not fair sometimes.
1. St. Louis Rams-Sam Bradford, QB-Oklahoma
The Rams need to start over after winning just six games in the last three seasons. They need help everywhere, but most teams start at the quarterback position, and that's where St. Louis will get started, too. Sam Bradford is coming off of a very short season last year due to injury, but as long as he's healthy, he'll be a great pick for the Rams.
2. Detroit Lions-Ndamukong Suh, DT-Nebraska
I feel like the Lions need to address their offensive line more than their defensive line, but Suh is a freak of nature who is about as close to can't miss as you can get. While Russell Okung might be the better pick here, Detroit can't go wrong with taking Suh. Of course, Matt Stafford is going to have to run for his life again next season, but that's for Detroit to figure out how to stop.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Gerald McCoy, DT-Oklahoma
Tampa Bay is another team that needs a lot of help, which is why they're picking at the top of the draft this year. They have to go defensive tackle with this pick, it's just a matter of whether it's Suh or Gerald McCoy. If both are there, they probably take Suh, but if Detroit does what I think they're going to do, the Bucs will just have to settle for another great tackle that doesn't have the knee issues that Suh has had.
4. Washington Redskins-Russell Okung, OT-Oklahoma State
The Redskins have their quarterback now with Donovan McNabb, so that takes Jimmy Clausen out of the equation. Instead, Washington needs to focus on protecting McNabb, who can't run nearly as well as he did at the start of his career. Rusell Okung is the best lineman available in the draft, and with Chris Samuels retiring, the Redskins need to replace him. It's too easy right here.
5. Kansas City Chiefs-Bryan Bulaga, OT-Iowa
With Okung off the board, a run on offensive tackles is going to start. Bryan Bulaga isn't the second best tackle in the draft, but he has a lot of potential and upside, which Scott Pioli, the GM of the Chiefs, loves. That's why he took Tyson Jackson early last year, and it's why he's going to take Bulaga this year. The Chiefs need to keep Matt Cassel from getting killed again, and this is a good way to do it.
6. Seattle Seahawks-Trent Williams, OT-Oklahoma
Here is where things should start to get interesting. The Seahawks have needs just about everywhere. Matt Hasselbeck is on his last legs, their running game doesn't exist, both lines need work...luckily, the Seahawks have two top 15 picks this year. They good pick Jimmy Clausen here, as well as Eric Berry or even reach for CJ Spiller, but I think they decide to work on the offensive line first, so they can protect whoever their quarterback of the future is going to be. Trent Williams could go to Washington with the fourth pick, so Seattle is getting good value here.
7. Cleveland Browns- Eric Berry-S, Tennessee
This is another potential destination for Clausen, as the Browns are going to apparently try and use the corpse of Jake Delhomme's career for next season. However, Mike Holmgren doesn't seem that interested in Clausen, and the Browns have needs all over the field. Eric Berry is rated as possibly the best player in the draft, so to be able to get him with the seventh pick is nothing short of stealing. Berry would be a good fit in Cleveland.
8. Oakland Raiders-Bruce Campbell, OT-Maryland
Here's the first reach of the first round. Campbell has first round talent, but he should go more towards the bottom of the first round. Instead, the Raiders are going to take him. Why would they do that? Campbell ran a 4.85 40 at the Combine, and is an athletic freak. Al Davis loves fast, athletic players that might not have the same talent as other players. It's why Oakland took Darrius Heyward-Bey last year, and it's why he's going to take Campbell this year. Though, if Oakland can work out a trade with the Steelers for Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers will gladly take Jimmy Clausen here.
9. Buffalo Bills-Jimmy Clausen, QB-Notre Dame
This has to be the pick for Buffalo here. The Bills are a decent team that just needs a few pieces, and one of them is at quarterback. For them to have Jimmy Clausen fall into their laps is just too easy. I don't know how he's going to fit into Buffalo's offense, but he's pro ready, more so than Brady Quinn proved to be when he came out of Notre Dame. I don't like Jimmy Clausen the person, but Jimmy Clausen, the quarterback, is who the Bills need to draft. Will they do it? For their sakes, I hope that they do, because they haven't had a quarterback there since Jim Kelly retired, and that includes Doug Flutie. If Clausen doesn't get picked here, he's going to go into an Aaron Rodgers-esque free fall.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars-Derrick Morgan, DE-Georgia Tech
Even with Jacksonville getting Aaron Kampman in the offseason, they still need help on the defensive line. The only way that the Jaguars can get to the top of the AFC South is to get to the other quarterbacks that play there, and getting Derrick Morgan would be a step in the right direction. An even better step in the right direction would be drafting Tim Tebow in the second or third round, because Jacksonville needs to get fans back to their stadium, and Tebow can do that. The Jaguars need Tim Tebow to be playing for them.
11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago)-Dez Bryant, WR-Oklahoma State
I really don't know what Denver is going to do with this pick. I've seen all kinds of players taken here, but the Broncos really need help at wide receiver with Brandon Marshall now off in Miami. The only problem with this is that Bryant is another diva of a wideout, and Denver might not want to take him after just getting rid of Marshall. However, if they actually want Kyle Orton or Brady Quinn to have someone to throw to next year, they need to draft Bryant. He's the best wide receiver in this year's draft, by far.
12. Miami Dolphins-Dan Williams, DT-Tennessee
Miami took a step back last year, but they should be able to bounce back a bit in 2010. They need help getting to the quarterback, however, and nose tackle is a huge position of need. If Dan Williams can fall to them at this pick, it should take Bill Parcells about 10 seconds to make this pick. He's a solid player at a position of need. It fits too well for it not to happen.
13. San Francisco 49ers-Joe Haden, CB-Florida
The 4ers whiffed big time when they signed Nate Clements to a huge deal a few seasons back. Clements was actually benched at the end of the year last year, making corner a huge need for San Francisco. Luckily, Joe Haden ran a poor 40 time at the Combine, and then bounced back with a much better time at his Pro Day. The 49ers can get the best corner in the draft here, as long as he falls past Cleveland and Jacksonville. I think he will.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)-CJ Spiller, HB-Clemson
After getting the tackle that they needed with the sixth overall pick, Seattle can focus on their offense again by adding the best running back in the draft to their team. Spiller's stock has been on the rise even more of late, and with just Julius Jones and Justin Forsett in their backfield, the Seahawks need a better run game. Their defensive line could also be addressed here, but this is a team that needs to score points, and they can do that if they add Spiller.
15. New York Giants-Rolando McClain, LB-Alabama
This is a pick that I really don't want to have happen, because then the Giants will be getting a great defensive player. This pick has to be either on the defensive line or a linebacker, and with the best linebacker in the draft falling to New York, the Giants would be crazy to let him fall any further. McClain is the best player available at this point of the draft, and his talent level is very, very high. The Giants need to be able to stop people again, and McClain can do that, giving New York another scary linebacker. The Giants are used to having them anyway.
16. Tennessee Titans-Jason Pierre-Paul, DE-USF
Tennessee lucks into getting their ideal pick at number 16. Pierre-Paul is an athletic freak, who did more in just a few starts than just about anyone else in this draft. The Titans need to generate a pass rush to get to Peyton Manning, just like every other team in the AFC South has to do. Jevon Kearse is gone again, so Pierre-Paul would fit right in. Plus, he can jump out of pools and do backflips. That has to be good for something, right?
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina)-Anthony Davis, OT-Rutgers
Anthony Davis is a talented player, but he has some character issues, which are going to make his draft stock slip a little bit. However, the 49ers need an offensive tackle to protect Alex Smith or whoever they decide to have in their backfield next season. Mike Singletary would be the right guy to turn Davis around and make him into a rock at the offensive tackle position.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers-Mike Iupati-OG- Idaho
The Steelers need help on the offensive line, as Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked so many times in the last few years that the six game suspension that he got should push his 2010 sack total to about the league average. Regardless of who's taking snaps for the Steelers next year, they have to protect him. Mike Iupati is a huge guard and can more than likely start right away. Not many people knew about him because he went to school at Idaho, but the Steelers know what they are getting with this guy.
19. Atlanta Falcons-Brandon Graham, DE-Michigan
Atlanta recorded only 28 sacks in 2009, which was a big reason why the Falcons weren't able to return to the playoffs for the second year in a row. They could go a few different ways here, picking Sean Weatherspoon or Jerry Hughes as well, but I think they go with Graham. He's another athletic freak, and, despite his short size, he can get to the quarterback. The Falcons need that pressure on the opposing offense again so that Matt Ryan and Michael Turner can get shorter fields to play with.
20. Houston Texans-Ryan Mathews, RB-Fresno State
This may be a bit of a reach here for Mathews, but the Texans have to address their running game. Ryan Moats isn't the fulltime answer, and Steve Slaton caught the worst case of the fumbles I've ever seen, moving him from the penthouse into the doghouse so quickly, I don't know if he knew what happened. Ryan Mathews is an excellent runner who would help the Texans put less pressure on Matt Schaub, which is exactly what they want to do. While the defense also needs work, Mathews is too good to pass up for the Texans.
21. Cincinnati Bengals-Jermaine Gresham, TE-Oklahoma
The Bengals need other weapons on offense to go along with an aging Chad Johnson (I'm not calling him that other name). Gresham is easily the best tight end in this draft, and Carson Palmer would finally have a safety valve that he could pass to if the blitz gets to him. Cincinnati could easily go with Taylor Mays here, but I think they need to focus more on offense than defense right now. That team needs to be able to score points.
22. New England Patriots-Sergio Kindle, LB-Texas
The Patriots normally find difference makers with their first round picks, and Kindle would be another one of those players. He's a solid rush linebacker, and though the Patriots haven't picked a rush linebacker since Bill Belichick took over, there's a first time for everything. New England has to get younger on defense, and fast. They can't keep calling Junior Seau up every October and ask him to come back again. It just doesn't work. The Ravens exposed them in the playoffs last year, and you know the Patriots want at least one more shot at a Super Bowl with this current group of players.
23. Green Bay Packers-Charles Brown, OT-USC
Aaron Rodgers had a great season last year, but he was also sacked 50 times, which is far too many if the Packers want to keep him as healthy as they did Brett Favre. Chad Clifton fell apart against Arizona in the playoffs and Green Bay has to keep Rodgers upright to get their offense going again. While it sets them up for years of "Good Grief" jokes, the Packers have to take Brown here.
24. Philadelphia Eagles-Earl Thomas, S-Texas
Now, things get fun. Do I really think that Earl Thomas is going to be around at pick 24, available for the Eagles to pick without having to trade anything? I don't know. However, it could happen. The Dolpins and Bengals look like the most likely targets for Thomas, but if they pass on him, he could easily make his way to Philadelphia. The Eagles struggled far too much at safety last year, and to add someone with Thomas' skills should make any fan do backflips. The Eagles will more than likely have to trade up to get him, but if they can, it will be worth it. I would love to see Thomas in Eagles green.
25. Baltimore Ravens-Jared Odrick, DT-Penn State
The Ravens are starting to get a little older on defense, and their line is a little bit thinner than they're used to as well. Odrick can play defensive end or defensive tackle, and would fit very well into the Baltimore defensive schemes. If he makes it past New England at 22, I think the Ravens should have themselves a very good player.
26. Arizona Cardinals-Sean Weatherspoon, LB-Missouri
It's hard for me to believe that the Cardinals have won back to back NFC West crowns, but they have. However, it's going to be tough as they attempt to win three in a row. Kurt Warner is gone, and they missed their chance to land Donovan McNabb. Antrel Rolle is also gone, and the Cardinals still need to find an offensive tackle. Unfortunately, all the first round talent at that spot is gone by the time they can pick, so they have to upgrade on the defense instead. Joey Porter doesn't have much left in the tank, and Sean Weatherspoon would be a good pick here. The Arizona defense gave up almost 90 points in two playoff games. That's enough reason for me to have them pick a linebacker.
27. Dallas Cowboys-Taylor Mays, S-USC
The Cowboys are another one of those teams that could go a few different ways with their pick. They could take Maurkice Pouncey, the center from Florida, and help bring their offensive line back together. Tony Romo was destroyed by Minnesota in the playoffs, and adding Pouncey would really help. However, I think that Dallas has an even bigger hole at safety. Ever since Roy Williams walked, Dallas hasn't had much luck there. While Taylor Mays has some weaknesses, he's a solid safety and could do very well in the right system. I think that Dallas would be a good fit for him, as much as it pains me to admit it.
28. San Diego Chargers-Terrence Cody, DT-Alabama
San Diego really wanted Ryan Mathews to fall past Houston at pick 20, but if he doesn't, I think they can go with Terrence Cody. Cody is a load in the middle of a defensive line, and he showed that he can both lose weight and move well to create pressure at his Pro Day. The Chargers released Jamal Williams, so nose tackle is a big hole that can be filled by a very, very large man from Alabama.
29. New York Jets-Kyle Wilson, CB-Boise State
The Jets could go in several different directions with their pick as well, but I think they need to keep their eyes on the secondary. Darrelle Revis is one of the best corners in the league, but there's a reason the Chargers traded Antonio Cromartie for just a third round pick. He can take plays off, and San Diego got tired of his lack of effort and attitude. Plus, he's on his contract year, meaning that he might be one and done in New York. Kyle Wilson should be drafted higher than this, and the Jets would be getting a steal if this pick came true.
30. Minnesota Vikings-Devin McCourty, CB-Rutgers
Yes, Minnesota just added Lito Sheppard, but he flamed out after a year in New York, so I don't know how much he has left in the tank. Cedric Griffin also tore his ACL at the end of the season, creating a huge need at corner for Minnesota. McCourty is a skilled, fast corner and could step in and play right away. If the Vikings have to use Sheppard for any length of time, they might be in a bit of trouble, and they have to compete with New Orleans and their receivers at the top of the NFC. They need that second skilled corner.
31. Indianapolis Colts-Maurkice Pouncey, C-Florida
The Colts are starting to get older on the offensive line. With Pouncey, they could get a player that can play at either guard or center and could possibly step in from day one and make a difference. I also think that Pouncey should be gone before this pick, so, like the Jets and Kyle Wilson, they would be thrilled if he made it this far down. I think Indianapolis could look more towards the offensive tackle position, but if Pouncey is there, he has to be the pick.
32. New Orleans Saints-Jerry Hughes, LB-TCU
The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints...it still doesn't feel right typing that. Scott Fujita left for Cleveland, and Charles Grant also walked, creating holes at linebacker and defensive end. Hughes has the skills to play both positions, and the fact that he's down at the bottom of the first round would be a blessing for the Saints. I've seen Hughes projected as high as pick 12 to Miami, but I think he finds his way down here to New Orleans. The rich get richer...it's not fair sometimes.
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