We'll find out.
As an assistant coach for the Kingsway Regional High School baseball team, I'm particularly proud of this group. Read this article from Philly.com's Marc Narducci on the Kingsway Dragons of South Jersey Group III.
May 24, 2013
Video: Blue Jays Fan Throws Beer at Nate McLouth After Nice Catch (And Yes, it Was a Catch)
Fact: it was a catch. If McLouth dropped the ball, it was after he made the catch and as he fell into the stands. That's a catch. Idiots commenting on Hardball Talk's article apparently don't understand the game of baseball.
Hey, Blue Jays fans are terrible people, too!
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The Inquirer's Bob Ford Roasted the Phillies in His Column Today
While he may have just been trying to get a reaction from his readers before the holiday weekend, Bob Ford may have caught the ire of every Phillies fan today.
The Phillies are only one game below .500, and for most of us fans, we think that's remarkable considering how far this team has fallen in the last year and a half. However, despite being 5.5 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves, Ford only thinks the gap is going to get larger and larger, and roasted Ruben Amaro's moves and the Phillies. [Philly.com]
Pitcher Jon Lannan barely found his spot in the parking lot before he got hurt. Roy Halladay fought his frayed shoulder as long as he could before giving in to surgery. Mike Adams, Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley (now on the disabled list) are either battling or recovering from injuries at the moment.
No, the unfortunate truth is that the team overachieved and still played below .500 through the first 47 games. Given all that has gone wrong, and given where the team ranks among its National League opponents, that the Phillies are just one game under .500 is shocking. It isn't a reason to believe, however. It is a reason to assume that the next 115 games won't be as forgiving.
Pretty hard shot to the balls. Happy Friday.
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May 23, 2013
The NFLPA and WWE May Form a Partnership to Develop New Stars
FOX Sports' Alex Marvez, former professional wrestling writer and now senior NFL writer at Fox Sports, is reporting that WWE wants to partner up with the NFL Players Association in order to give players who are cut a second chance at stardom.
Jim Ross, who used to be the head of the talent relations department at WWE, is now a part-timer that helps out with the development of young talent. He met with officials from the NFLPA yesterday in Washington, DC. [FOX Sports]
Jim Ross, a WWE announcer who now assists with the company’s talent-development program, is meeting Wednesday with NFL Players Association officials in Washington, D.C. Ross hopes to develop a working relationship that could lead to the NFLPA funneling players whose football aspirations have ended toward a WWE tryout.“Everybody doesn’t make the 53-man roster,” Ross told co-host Jim Miller and me Tuesday night on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“Some guys are going to be looking for work, and we’ve got some job openings. Maybe we can put the synergies of those two entities together and create something wonderful some day.”
Marvez's example of what WWE is looking for is simply looking at the career of The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. A standout at the University of Miami and aspirations to play in the NFL, Johnson never made it [although he did play in the CFL] and decided to follow in his father and grandfather's footsteps and become a wrestler. It worked out for him. Other stop stars like John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and the Big Show have all had athletic backgrounds in sports that ultimately led them to professional wrestling.
The WWE and NFL have always partnered up when it has been good for business. Despite having one of the worst matches ever, Lawrence Taylor wrestled Bam Bam Bigelow at WrestleMania 11, and nearly keeled over because of it. However, the likes of Steve "Mongo" McMichael, Ken Norton, Jr., Reggie White, and Carl Banks all participated in the event. World Championship Wrestling, the competition of WWE until 2001, also had some success with former pro football players, including Bill Goldberg.
WWE has made a significant investment in trying to develop younger talent that can follow in the footsteps of those legends. The company recently announced plans to build a 26,000 square-foot training center in Orlando, Fla., where its developmental program will be based.
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Flyers President Peter Luukko "Doesn't Care" About Hiding Player's Injuries
Which we all knew. But why would you admit that to the public? Dumb comment. [Metro]
Luukko drew criticism from 94 WIP’s Angelo Cataldi when he admitted that giving out detailed, up-to-date medical updates to the public isn’t a top priority. Remember, the NHL is the only league that doesn’t require teams to disclose the exact locations of injuries on a player’s body.
“I know it frustrates the media,” Luukko said, “but we really don’t care.”
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May 22, 2013
Bryce Harper Now Afraid of Fences
GIF: Crossing Broad
Bryce Harper either had a bad jump on a ball hit last night by Gregor Blanco or he is deathly afraid of fences now. Last week, he ran head first into a fence in Los Angeles, much like Aaron Rowand did in Philadelphia years ago.
Looks like it hurt. Now, here's a video of Bryce being afraid of San Francisco's fence, and then a little walk-0ff homerun by Pablo Sandoval for good measure.
Bryce takes the blame for this one.
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The Articles Talking About the Phillies Trading Cliff Lee Have Already Begun
In three of the five seasons the Phillies won their NL East titles between 2007 and 2011, they played pretty much around .500 baseball until after the All-Star break. Now, since the expectations are much higher than playing .500 baseball, it's a now or never situation with this team, who is currently hanging in the division race to this point with a 22-24 record.
However, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports talked to Cliff Lee yesterday and it looks like Lee may already be looking for a team to be traded to should the Phillies fall off and not be in contention for the playoffs.
“I definitely want to win. I want to be on a winning team,'' Lee said when asked about the possibility of being traded before the Phillies were to play the Marlins on Tuesday night. “That should be what it's all about.''
Back when Lee was traded by the Phillies after the 2009 season after acquiring him in July of that year, he was furious. Many reporters mentioned Lee was pissed regardless of going to a Mariner team where he and Felix Hernandez were expected to instantly make the Mariners a contender in the AL West. The Mariners floundered, and Lee was traded to the Rangers, where he went to [and lost] another World Series. But Lee always loved Philadelphia, as did his wife, and came back.
Now, that story may be over.
Nobody can blame Lee for wanting to go win a title. The Phillies clearly don't look like a team capable of winning a world championship, but they've been here before. They're not a terrible team, they're just not a very good team. That may be all they need to make the second Wild Card.
Honestly, Lee has been a constant here. He's had some bad games, none shittier than the 4-0 lead he gave up against the Cardinals two years ago. But, should he get dealt, I think we're gonna miss the guy, regardless of his contract.
Read Heyman's entire piece here.
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May 21, 2013
Lady Finds Her Dog Alive in Oklahoma Rubble While Talking to CBS News
UPDATE: CBS News decided to disable embedding for their own video and add an advertisement in the beginning of the video. So, here's the video. And CBS News drops the ball, big time.
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Nationals Reliever Breaks Hand by Punching a Locker
Ryan Mattheus is now on the disabled list because he punched a locker Sunday after the Nationals' 13-4 loss against the Padres. Smart move considering the Nationals bullpen isn't very good right now.
Ryan Mattheus will be placed on the disabled list after breaking his right hand Sunday in San Diego, an injury that didn’t occur during the Nationals’ 13-4 loss to the Padres but afterward when the right-hander punched his locker in frustration.
Reminds me of the time Ryan Madson broke his toe after kicking a chair a few years ago. #LOLITUDE
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Alex Sanabia Hurled Spitballs at the Phillies Last Night
Suspension coming?
David Cameron of Fangraphs caught Mr. Sanabia spitting on a baseball after giving up a home run to Domonic Brown last night, which would prove to be the Phillies' only run against the Marlins. I didn't see the game, but it's obvious Sanabia spit on the ball. Did he return the ball to the umpire after he did it? I don't know. But spitballs are a no-no. Still pics via Hardball Talk. Video of Brown's home run here.
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