Is Joe Blanton The Philadelphia Phillies’ Best Starting Pitcher So Far?

He’s Joe Blanton.

He’s just another No. 3 or 4 starter who will amount to nothing more than an innings-eater. Correct?

Not quite.

Going back to May 26, Joe Blanton of the Philadelphia Phillies has allowed more than three runs just once, and gave up three runs twice. He has also lasted seven innings in all but three of those starts.

In that span, Blanton’s ERA is an extremely solid 2.44. Blanton is never a stat pitcher, and usually only gives you seven innings and three or four runs. Yet he has found a way to become more than an innings pitcher recently.

Blanton’s overall ERA to date this season stands at 4.44, but was as high as 8.41 after April. If it had not been for his horrid start, Blanton would be teettering on the brink of a sub-4.00 ERA.

So the question begs to be answered: Has Joe Blanton been the best pitcher for the Phillies thus far?

The only true competition for Blanton would be J.A. Happ, who is 5-0 with a 3.04 ERA. On the surface, it clearly appears that Happ has the upper hand. Yet, Happ does not have the number of starts Blanton does, and does not pitch as deep into games.

When Happ takes the mound, you can be confident to get a quality start, but you know the bullpen is likely to be used for two or three innings.

When Blanton starts every fifth day, you can feel confident that the bullpen wil.

Is it safe to call Blanton the Phillies’ best starting pitcher this season? Possibly. Happ will beg to differ that his numbers conquer those of Blanton’s, but his numbers since he turned it on tower those of Happ in that same span (Blanton’s quality pitching began May 26, and Happ began as a starter on May 23).

If I had to choose Blanton or Happ to pitch one game in which I needed a win, I would easily take Blanton.

I know I can depend on him pitching into the eighth inning, possibly even longer, and him allowing three or less runs. With this offense, that should nearly guarantee a victory.

But hey, I’ll still hands down send Cole Hamels to the mound if I need a win in October. There’s no doubt about that.

But when it comes down to performance this season, I have to go with Joe Blanton.

Philadelphia Phillies Send Trio of Outfielders to All-Star Game, Continue to Win

All three starting outfielders for one major league team are heading to the All-Star game for the first time since 1995, when the Cleveland Indians sent Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Albert Belle.

This season, the Philadelphia Phillies will be the club sending its starting outfielders to the Midsummer Classic with the group of Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth.

Ibanez was the top vote-getter among National League outfielders, while Victorino was voted in by the fans in the final vote, garnering about 15 million votes.

Jayson Werth was added earlier today to replace injured Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran.

Ibanez was a sure selection, while Victorino and Werth cause more controversy.

Victorino was voted to St. Louis over the Giants’ third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who many thought deserved it more than the Flyin’ Hawaiian. Yet, it became clear as the voting progressed that Victorino simply wanted it more.

His up-beat attitude and overall like-ability is the likely reason to why he was voted in.

Jayson Werth was selected by Charlie Manuel, who is managing the NL team in the game, to replace Beltran.

Although he may not be the “most deserving,” Werth is third among NL outfielders with 20 home runs, fifth in RBI with 54, eighth in stolen bases with 12, second in runs with 59, seventh in SLG and OPS at .522 and .894, respectively, ninth in OBP at .373, and second in walks with 49.

Not to be forgotten, and rarely shown in statistics, is Werth’s pure ability to run the bases.

If all of that isn’t enough to get the man into the All-Star Game, what is?

You can argue that Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp deserved it, but Werth beats Kemp out in home runs, doubles, RBI, runs, OBP and OPS.

Add to that the fact that Werth will most likely not be in contention for the game for too many more seasons, while Kemp will almost certainly be a part of the Midsummer Classics for years to come.

We can continue to argue that neither Werth or Victorino deserved it, but both players have worked tirelessly to get to this point, and are backed by some of the best fans in baseball. They deserve it, no doubt about it.

Moving forward, let’s go back to my opening paragraph when I stated that the Phillies are the first team since 1995 to send their starting outfielders to the All-Star game.

As I said, that 1995 team was the Cleveland Indians. Who was their hitting coach? More importantly, why should you care? Because it was Charlie Manuel, the Phillies’ skipper.

Another record set by the Phillies this season is their group of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth, who have all hit 20 home runs. This means the Phillies are just the second team of all-time to have four batters with 20 or more home runs by the All-Star break.

Could there be a fifth 20-home run hitter in the near future?

Well, if Jimmy Rollins is able to hit 13 home runs over the next two games, then yes. Other than that, no, there will not be another member to the Phillies group of sluggers.

In other news, the Phillies won their seventh game out of the eight played on the current home stand this evening with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Joe Blanton was once again solid, allowing four hits and one run over 7.1 innings. Brad Lidge entered the game in the ninth inning with one out, and notched the save after allowing a two-out home run to David Moss.

Their current lead in the National League East stands at 2.5 games.

The Florida Marlins, who sit in second place, have just began their game in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.

The New York Mets kept up their losing ways with a 3-0 defeat to the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, moving them 6.5 games back of the Phillies.

Finally, Raul Ibanez was activated off the 15-day disabled list today. The Phillies waived catcher Chris Coste in order to fit Ibanez onto the roster. Coste was quickly picked up by the Houston Astros.

Ibanez did not play Friday, but is likely to start on Saturday.

If the Phillies can manage to keep up their hot play, especially with the return of Ibanez and the overall play of the All-Star outfield, they just may begin to run away with division later this month.

If that were to occur, would a trade for Roy Halladay be as realistic, or would a trade for a number three starter make more sense?

Right now, it’s all up in the air. All we know is that the Phillies are still the defending champions and are finally showing again. Whether any trades are made will be seen in the coming weeks.

NL East Division Battle: Phils in First, Marlins Fighting, Others Fading

At the exact moment I type this, the Philadelphia Phillies lead the National League East by two games.

The second place team is, surprisingly, the Florida Marlins, who began the season 11-1, only to fade in May and June. Yet, over the last few weeks, the Fish have climbed their way back to second place.

Third place is currently held by the Atlanta Braves, who sit five games back of the Phillies.

And the New York Mets, who are four games under .500, are now 5.5 games behind first place.

The Phillies have held first place longer than any other team in the division this season, while the Marlins, Braves, and Mets have been up and down throughout the standings.

Most surprising halfway through the season in the NL East could be the New York Mets and their inability to win consistently.

This was supposed to be “their year,” as sworn by nearly every Mets fan. Yet, all the Mets have shown is that they are the same disappointing team they have been over the past few seasons.

Is July 10 too early to consider the Mets “out of the race”?

With the numerous injuries the Not-So-Amazin’s have faced, and the continued lack of chemistry and consistency, can the Mets improve to the point where they can overtake the World Champions?

The defense on the part of the Mets has been anything but spectacular, the everyday lineup they take to the field is young and inexperienced, and frankly is not ripe with talent, and finally, the blame is once again beginning to spread to the manager, Jerry Manuel.

While their most polarizing weakness in 2008, the bullpen, has drastically improved, the Mets’ offense has plummeted, and the rotation has been mediocre.

The guarantees from numerous Mets fans that their team would finally lose their choking ways and would relinquish the division are quickly losing steam. How soon can we finally say it’s over for the Mets?

Well, because of what occurred in 2007, a seven-game lead with 17 games left can be lost, so I guess it won’t be over until the Mets are completely out of it.

But with the way the Phillies are playing compared to how the Mets are playing, and the overall talent being put on the field by both clubs, the Phillies look to have the upper hand.

Aside from the Mets, a surprising Florida Marlins team has crept back into second place, and sits only two games back. Their 10-run inning earlier this evening kept the Fish within two games, showing that they should be a force to be reckoned with.

Yet, can the team who actually sat 1.5 games behind the Phillies at this time last season keep themselves from fading like they did in 2008?

That fact remains to be seen. Yet, the Marlins have one more year of experience and are a bit more talented than they were last season. The Marlins just might be the real deal this season.

In first remains the World Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies.

After going into mid-June with the second best record in all of baseball, the Phils hit a major speed bump that is interleague play, going 6-12 against the American League, including a 1-8 home stand against the AL.

Since their return home and to their regular National League schedule, the Phillies have won six of seven, including a three-game sweep of the Mets. The Phillies most recently took three-out-of-four from the Cincinnati Reds to keep their momentum going.

If it had not been for their most recent slump, the Phillies could be five games or more in front of second place in the division, and possibly seven or eight games above the Mets.

Yet, what happened is not reversible and the Phillies are in first with just a two game lead.

Will the Phillies clinch the division earlier than they have the past two seasons? Will the Mets even come close to the wildcard? Can the Marlins stay in the picture for most of the season? Finally, can the Braves quietly make a run for a playoff spot?

It’s all up in the air. There is only one sure thing in this division:

The Washington Nationals have been out the race since Spring Training.

Is Roy Halladay Worth the Philadelphia Phillies’ Future?

Roy Halladay has long been one of my favorite pitchers in baseball.

Although he was not commonly known by the casual fan until these past few seasons (largely due to the fact he plays in Toronto), Halladay has been a consistent and talented pitcher his entire career.

Except for one major league season in which he posted an ERA of 10.64 in 13 starts and 19 overall appearances (that disaster was in 2000, his second full season), Halladay has only had an ERA above 4.00 one time, in 2004.

He was awarded with the American League Cy Young Award in 2003, and was a worthy candidate for the award in many of his other seasons, including this year.

Although Halladay missed a few starts this June and has struggled since his return, he has been lights out for the majority of the season.

He has pitched for less than seven innings only twice, and has allowed three or less runs in 12 of his 16 starts.

His ERA currently stands at 2.79, his WHIP at 1.09, and strikeouts at 98.

And suddenly, Roy Halladay could be packing his bags and boarding a plane out of Toronto.

With only one year remaining on his current contract, the Toronto Blue Jays have said that they are listening to any offers that may come their way. However, it was made clear the Jays are not going to look to trade Halladay, and are only listening to the possible offers that could be made.

If the Blue Jays are intrigued by any offer to a point where they cannot refuse, Halladay could be on the move.

One possible location is Philadelphia and the World Champion Phillies.

It has been reported the Phillies are interested, yet would whatever the Phillies would need to put on the table be too much to trade away?

The Blue Jays are supposedly looking for a package of prospects, and one or two major league players.

Would this mean the departure of a Jayson Werth-type player, along with the Phillies’ top prospects Kyle Drabek (pitcher), Dominic Brown (outfielder), and possibly Carlos Carrasco or Joe Savery (both pitchers)?

It would be likely both Drabek and Brown would have to be included, and either Savery or Carrasco could be as well. On top of that, a major-league player would need to be sacrificed, yet who could that be?

Unloading a pitcher should be out of the question, since the club is already scratching for major-league ready minor leaguers out of their own system that can be of use to the team.

The Blue Jays would have no use for a bench player, so would the Phillies have to part ways with Jayson Werth? Werth would be an upgrade over David Dellucci and Adam Lind, their right fielders, and is likely the only need the Jays have that the Phillies may be willing to meet.

Understand that in no way, shape, or form am I saying that Werth will be traded. This is just merely speculation and a suggestion. Yet it would seem Werth would be the most expendable player and fits what Toronto may want.

But would Werth, Drabek, Brown, and either Carrasco or Savery, and even possibly one other minor-league player be too much for the Phillies to lose?

Would it be more sensible to trade for a number three or four starter to solidify the back end of the rotation without having to lose so much talent, or is giving up much of your future worth the possibility of winning this and/or next season with Halladay?

Other factors to take into consideration are Halladay’s salary and no-trade clause.

It has yet to be seen whether he would waive his NTC to come to Philadelphia, and the $14.5 million Halladay is making this season just adds to the large sum of salary going into the main focus of the team.

Is all of that goes into this deal worth trading for Roy Halladay, even if it does mean a second-consecutive World Series Championship this October, or is the price too steep to pay?

The market for pitchers this season is thin, and however likely a Halladay-to-Philadelphia deal is, the Phillies are bound to make a move sometime before the July 31st deadline.

Just what that move is remains to be seen.

Revisiting The J.C. Romero Suspension Nearly Five Months Later

On January 6th, 2009, J.C. Romero was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for an illegal drug on Major League Baseball’s banned substance list.

Immediately, Romero adamantly defended himself and had the proof to back himself up.

The Major League Baseball Players Association had told Romero that the supplement was perfectly fine to take (the MLBPA then sent out another letter in November saying the supplement could cause a positive test), his personal nutritionist had approved of the substance, and Romero even brought the substance up to Dong Lien, the Phillies’ strength and conditioning coach.

Although Major League Baseball never completely admitted that Romero cheated, they did accuse Romero of negligence.

Negligence? Is checking with the Players Union, his personal nutritionist, and his strength and conditioning coach not enough?

What made the situation worse was the fact that the bottle Romero had bought had absolutely no warning label on it.

Yet, at his arbitration hearing, the bottle MLB showed had a warning label. You can speculate that to be what you want, but Romero’s original bottle had no warning label.

In the end, the suspension ended up costing Romero $1.25 million and the first 50 games of ’09.

That was then, this is now.

Now, the suspension is turning out to be more costly than most supposed it would be.

His 2.75 ERA, 52 strikeouts, 1.34 WHIP, and 24 holds last season in 81 games provided the Phillies with a reliever who can be trusted to be called upon every other day, especially in the playoffs, where he pitched 7.1 scoreless innings.

In 2007 with the Phillies, he recorded a 1.24 ERA in 51 games.

Yet, with the best bullpen in the National League from 2008 returning for ’09, his absence was not expected to create any longstanding conflicts.

While the bullpen still sits at eighth in the Majors and fifth in the NL, the load on Ryan Madson has been increased. More noticeably, Brad Lidge has had to be used in nearly the same number of non-save situations as he has in save situations.

Many believe this constant change in situation for Lidge is what has launched Lidge into his troubles.

Whether this is the case or not, that remains to be seen. Yet, considering the fact that Lidge’s season completely went off when he was forced to make the switch from closer to set-up in Houston, it seems to be a likely possibility.

If you still believe J.C. Romero was and is a steroid user, just take this into consideration:

It was proven the supplement was not found in his body for the duration of the 2008 playoffs, in which he pitched 7.1 scoreless innings.

This was the first time he tested positive for this substance, and he has recorded an ERA under 2.00 two times in his career, 2008 not being one of them, and an ERA under 3.00 three other times in his career, not including 2008.

The fact that he approached three separate sources for confirmation on the substance, one of them being the MLB Players Association, and was assured by the clerks at each of the two stores he bought the substance that it would not cause a positive test shows he was in no way, shape, or form attempting to cheat.

The lack of a warning on the substance’s label didn’t seem to help much, either.

But now, with the Phillies entering their 44th game of the 2009 season this evening, Romero has just six more games to watch and wait before his is eligible to return.

You can bet he’ll be ready.

Phillies Complete Four-Game Sweep Of Nats, Improve to Four Above .500

After a rough 5-8 stretch, the Philadelphia Phillies ran into the right team at the right time. After playing the Mets, Cardinals, Braves, and Dodgers, the Washington Nationals were just what a slumping team needed.

Jimmy Rollins, who came into Saturday with a .199 average, improved his average to .222 by accumulating seven hits in the series.

Chase Utley, who hit .342 in the month of April, is hitting .195 thus far in May and is now hitting .291 overall. Oddly enough, the downfall in Utley’s average began the day after he sat out a May 5 game against the Cardinals.

The reason for his absence was a bruised foot, which had been struck by a pitch. Utley has not been the same since.

You might recall that, around this time last season, Utley began to see a decrease in his average. Many speculated that there was something wrong with his body, which turned out to be true. News of a hip injury became afloat after the season, proving the theory right.

Could this recent “injury” be the same? Only time will tell.

Raul Ibanez, the new Philly Messiah (Pat who?), came back to life in this series. He entered Friday with a .336 average and left Sunday with a .357, tallying three home runs, nine hits, and nine runs batted in.

In the month of April, Ibanez hit .359, and was already beginning his new love affair with the Philly faithful. But May has been even sweeter, as he has hit .379 in the month.

Among others, Pedro Feliz has boosted his average above .300 once again, and Jayson Werth is inching closer to .300 with every day.

Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino stand alone among Phillies’ hitters, being the only two hitters not producing to their highest ability of late. Even Carlos Ruiz has been coming through when needed, which is huge for the club.

Overall, the Phillies rank sixth in baseball in runs (199), eighth in OBP (.348), fourth in SLG (.454), eighth in OPS (.802), and third in home runs (50).

As for the pitching staff, the bullpen is slowly moving up the ranks. Once near last in the league, the ‘pen is now in 13th in baseball with a 4.14 ERA. Chad Durbin (4.03 ERA), Ryan Madson (3.57), Scott Eyre (4.00), and Jack Taschner (3.86) have given consistent relief efforts of late, while the best relievers so far have been J.A. Happ (2.49) and Clay Condrey (2.61).

The starting rotation began the season in a funk, but just as the bullpen has, the rotation is quietly improving. Brett Myers’ 4.50 ERA appears to show inconsistency, but five quality starts beg to differ.

Cole Hamels battled soreness, a bruised shoulder, and a strained ankle through April, but has allowed just three earned runs in his last 17.1 innings. His ERA in the month of April is 2.08, and his year-to-date ERA of 5.04 would likely be better had it not been for his departure after 4.1 scoreless innings due to a strained ankle.

Jamie Moyer’s 8.15 ERA is certainly a cause for concern, as he has just one quality start and has allowed seven earned runs in each of his last two starts. But the 46-year old does have three wins, and that’s a plus no matter how you look at it.

Joe Blanton could be pitching more consistently as well, but his three quality starts is what you expect. The 6.86 ERA needs to improve, and only time will tell if it will.

Now, what is there to say about Chan Ho Park? A poor start to open the season, then decent starts in his next two outings, then a terrible start, then two impressive starts, and the most recent start was today’s poor outing. “Inconsistent” is all you can say, but a call for Happ to take his spot is a not an easy decision.

Without J.C. Romero for 14 more games, the bullpen would be without their best reliever so far. Waiting through a few more Park starts is not the worst idea.

Overall, the rotation’s ERA still ranks last in baseball, but look at the bright side. The Phillies are just one game out of first and four games above .500 (20-16) with an inconsistent rotation that is going to improve.

Plus, being last means one thing: Up is the only way to go.

Analyzing the Philadelphia Sports Scene, Part 1: The Media

Sadly, the voice of Philadelphia sports passed away just a few weeks ago.

Yet, the deep, movie-like voice of Harry Kalas was not the only polarizing voice in Philadelphia.

While Harry-the-K was the most famous of the Philadelphia media, the city is kept alive with a lively local radio station, and a few talented television broadcasters.

The main piece of the puzzle to the City of Brother Love’s sports media is held in place by a local sports network, Comcast SportsNet (CSN).

CSN is where we will begin our tour of the best and worst sports media personalities in Philadelphia. So if you are ever passing through this great city (you may not think so), this may help you decide what to turn on and whom to listen to.

If you already live in the area, well then maybe you’ll be interested in seeing my opinion on the men and women who bring to you our sports news.

So without further adieu, please take your seats, identify your closest emergency exit, and enjoy.

 

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia (CSN) – Philadelphia-based sports television network

Comcast SportsNet was founded in Philadelphia in 1997. Ever since, the network has been a staple in Philadelphia sports.

In its 11 and a half years of existence, CSN has come to branch out to 10 locations around the United States. In the Philadelphia area, CSN mainly televises Philadelphia Flyers, Phillies, and 76ers games.

In the mornings, at noon on weekdays, at 6:30 PM every night, and at 10 PM every night, CSN Philly airs a sports newscast, similar to ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Over the years, CSN Philly has employed 18 anchors, nine of which are still on the network and are actively anchoring.

Just two of the six original anchors for the network are not currently with CSN.

Most anchors also do on-location reports, such as post-game interviews and pre-game coverage. Some go as far as to travel with the Eagles to away games.

As briefly stated above, CSN Philly televises Flyers, Phillies, and Sixers games. Yet, they also show special programs such as: Eagles Pre-and-Post-Game Live, Monday Night Live, Daily News Live, Inside the Eagles, Eagles Locker Room, Phillies Clubhouse, Phillies Post-Game Live, Flyers Post-Game Live, Sixers Post-Game Live, and special pre-and-post-game specials for the Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers during their respective postseasons.

Other various programs include Inside Golf, Golf Shots, Fantasy Fix, Pro Football Now, ‘net IMPACT, and occasional horse racing specials on weekends.

The most famous of the CSN Philly team is popularly thought to be Michael Barkann. Barkann is a lively and enthusiastic character to watch during his television specials.

Although Barkann does not appear on the networks’ sports newscasts, he hosts popular shows such as Daily News Live, Eagles Pre-and-Post-Game Live, and some Flyers Post-Game Live specials, as well as occasional Phillies and Sixers Pre-and-Post-Game Live specials.

Barkann is never afraid to get emotional (just look at his job as host of the Harry Kalas special when he teared up during the introduction), nor is he too shy of getting personal. Overall, many consider Barkann as one of the most talented members of the Philadelphia sports media.

Personally, I think of Barkann as the most truthful and “real” member of the CSN team.

Other popular CSN Philly anchors include Ron Burke, Derrick Gunn, Leslie Gudel, Neil Hartman, and Dei Lynam. New anchors to the team include Amy Fadool, Marshall Harris, and John Boruk.

Overall, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia provides a more unbiased view at Philadelphia sports, as well as national sports. While the main focus is on Philadelphia, as it should be for a local station, the network also gives all scores from all professional sports. Something the, eh-em, national four-letter network does not do.

As we move on, we turn our attention to the local sports radio station, 610 WIP.

Sports Radio 610 WIP – Philadelphia Sports Radio Station

Coincidentally, 610 WIP was created during the same year of Jamie Moyer’s birth. This was also the year of ending to the Ice Age.

If you guessed correctly, neither of those statements were correct. Yet, WIP really is one of the older radio stations in the tri-state area.

610 WIP’s first show was aired in 1922, yet did not convert to a part-time sports station until 1986 before completing their transition a few years after. You see, Moyer was older than the sports version of WIP, yet this was nowhere near the end of the ice age…

Anyway, ignore my painful attempts at humor. Turns out “Jokes for Dummies” doesn’t work. (See, there’s another one.)

Back to WIP…

In 1986, Howard Eskin was the original broadcaster for a sports talk radio show from 5PM-6PM. Eskin is still with the station today, yet is considered the most controversial on the team.

Eskin is criticized by many for his apparent hot-headed attitude and his rudeness to callers who disagree with his opinion.

He can be a pleasant, knowledgeable radio show host, and he does provide entertainment to his listeners with his occasional outbursts. Yet, most of the time people find him unreasonable.

Personally, when seeing him at professional sports games, I cannot stand the guy. It becomes obvious to those around him that he wants the attention on him.

Also, it is partly because of him that I no longer listen to the talk shows on WIP.

So even with Eskin being the only member of the WIP team to still hold a talk show, he is not the most pleasant guy to listen to.

The other most notable WIP host is Angelo Cataldi.

Cataldi is known for his humor and connection with the fans. While he can provide outbursts of his own just as Eskin will, Cataldi tends to be more humorous and sarcastic in his rants.

His partner in crime, Al Morganti, is a big piece to that humor. The two make a great pair for entertainment. Other notable hosts such as Keith Jones, Chris Therien, Mitch Williams, and Hugh Douglas make appearances on Cataldi’s morning show.

Cataldi has been involved with numerous conflicts, including a long-standing riff with Howard Eskin, and a moment when Cataldi challenged Phillies manager Charlie Manuel to a fistfight and signed legal papers to do so (Manuel, of course, never responded).

Yet, these are all what makes Cataldi such a lovable loser. He is quite frightening at times, to the point where I wouldn’t want to be alone with the man for more than five minutes. But from afar while listening on the radio, it’s a treat to listen to him.

Other notable WIP hosts include Ray Didinger, Hugh Douglas, Mitch Williams, Keith Jones, Chris Therien, Brian Startare, Glen Macnow, Joe Conklin, Ike Reese, and Anthony Gargano.

The station airs Flyers and Sixers games throughout their seasons, while two other stations air Eagles and Phillies games.

Tim Saunders and Chris Therien present Flyers games, while Tom McGinnis and Todd MacCulloch present 76ers games. Both teams are enjoyable, yet I find Saunders and Therien to be more entertaining.

Overall, 610 WIP is a decent station to listen to. The hosts are not the most experienced, and can become annoying at times. Yet, there are enough hosts that will keep your interest with knowledgeable opinions.

Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News – Local newspapers providing largest sports sections in area

Who needs newspapers nowadays when we have Bleacher Report?

Yes, even with Bleacher Report, the journalists who are paid to do their job need to be recognized.

Philadelphia is blessed with one of the most talented groups of journalists.

Countless writers consistently publish solid material into the city’s main newspapers. Many of these writers are distinguished and experienced, providing Philadelphia’s sports fans with quality writing and material.

Among the many notable journalists, Bill Conlin, Les Bowen, Phil Anastasia, Paul Domowitch, Sam Donnellon, Bob Ford, Paul Hagen, Stan Hochman, Rich Hoffman, Dick Jerardi, Rick O’Brien, Jim Salisbury, and Phil Sheridan stand out.

Most of these various writers contribute to multiple sports day in and day out.

While there are a few included in this bunch that bring race into the picture on too many occasions or look at themselves as superior to the rest, the work generated is still consistently solid.

Finally, we end this article with each of the individual broadcast teams for the four major sports franchises in Philadelphia.

We begin with the Philadelphia Flyers and their broadcast team.

Jim Jackson, Steve Coates, Keith Jones – Philadelphia Flyers’ broadcast team

Jim Jackson has emerged into one of the finest broadcasters in hockey. I don’t know if it’s just me, but Jim Jackson has the touch. There is just something about that energetic voice.

He follows the game so well, it’s hard to miss anything.

But what makes Jim Jackson that much more talented of a broadcaster is his ability to call the big moment.

There is this great call from the 2008 NHL playoffs:

“Briere the shot, bounces back, Timonen, shot, save, rebound, THEY SCORE! They score! Joffrey Lupul tucks it home, and the Flyers win game seven in overtime and head to round number two!” You can here that call here.

There is also this call from the 2004 NHL playoffs:

“And here’s Roenick the other way, two-on-one with Amonte, Roenick with the puck…Roenick the shot, HE SCORES! He scores! Jeremy Roenick sends the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals! Sudden death magic for J.R.! And the Flyers move on!” You can here that here.

I know I’m not the only one who likes this guy. He may not be the next Gene Hart, but he could be pretty close.

Jackson’s partner, Keith Jones, is improving as a color commentator, while the team’s ice correspondent, Steve Coates is a lively character commonly known to liven up any dull game.

Next is the Philadelphia Eagles’ broadcast team.

Merrill Reese, Mike Quick – Philadelphia Eagles’ broadcast team

It was 1977 when Merrill Reese began calling Eagles games. For these past 32 years, he has done a tremendous job.

His deep, charismatic voice faintly resembles that of Harry Kalas’. Reese’s impact on Philadelphia has not been anywhere near Kalas’, because most fans watch the Eagles on television, while Reese is forced to do radio since FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN carry most NFL games.

Reese’s ability to call a game in its entirety is one of the best in the league. This is mostly because of his knowledge of the game. When listening to Reese, it is apparent that he knows what is going on. He can take a situation earlier in a game and apply it to a current situation better than most out there.

He is commonly known for his ability to call a long-play and field goal kicks. His “He’s at the 30, the 25, the 15, the 10, the five, TOUCHDOWN!” phrase flows with perfect rhythm, while his high-pitched “Goooooooood!” after made field goals is one-of-a-kind.

His partner, Mike Quick, compliments Reese well. Although he may not be the most talented commentator, Quick knows the game very well and adds in quite a few witty comments every game.

The Phillies’ commentators are up next, yet not lead by the most influential man in Philadelphia broadcasting history.

Tom McCarthy, Chris Wheeler, Gary Matthews – Philadelphia Phillies’ broadcast team

Without Harry Kalas, this team of commentators is lost.

Personally, Chris Wheeler is my favorite of the bunch. Gary Mathews can be pleasant at times, as well with Tom McCarthy, but both get somewhat annoying.

McCarthy’s fanhood lies somewhere between the Phillies and the Mets, something that obviously interferes with his job with the Phillies.

For example, he often announces home runs for the opposing team almost like the Phillies knocked it out. Also, a few nights ago, he labeled a home run that was hit near Ashburn Alley as “Mike Piazza territory”.

Are you serious? Mike Piazza territory? In Philadelphia, of all places? Where does your heart lie, Mr. McCarthy?

Before Kalas passed, McCarthy was not a main commentator, as he was a Peter Gammons-type of reporter. Yet, ever since he was promoted into the booth, his stock is falling for me.

Overall, this trio of announcers doesn’t need a complete face lift, but could use some help.

Finally, we end with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Marc Zumoff, Bob Salmi – Philadelphia 76ers’ broadcast team

I cannot recall one game this entire season in which I watched more than two minutes of a Sixers game.

Oh wait, there was that one time…wait, no, that was a nightmare a few weeks back.

Anyway, even with only watching two or three Sixers minutes of the entire season, I have heard Marc Zumoff to know that he is a very good broadcaster. His style fits well with the team, I believe.

He does over exaggerate many times throughout his games, though. Just take his “and the fans at the Wachovia Center rise to their feet!” when there is only 27 fans in the building. But hey, the extra enthusiasm is needed for a team that can’t even sell out a playoff game.

Salmi provides a more calm side to the broadcast. Salmi is a very knowledgeable fan, so he fits well.

Watching the Sixers can be compared to trying to watch water boil. The water won’t boil, and the Sixers won’t win. But at least their broadcast team is a decent one.

With that, I salute to you, the reader. I don’t know why, but I do.

This may help you sometime down the road, it may not. Either way, I was inspired by Rory Brown’s request for sports personality articles, and although this was longer and a bit tweaked from his requests, I wanted to cover all of Philadelphia.

Plus, as you read in the headline (unless you are incapable of reading, in which case you would not be reading this sentence, so no worries…), this will become a series. The next segment should come over the weekend. The topic is a secret until then.

I enjoy writing this and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Be sure to look out for part two.

Phillies Ride Hot Bats of Ibanez and Utley to Five-Game Win Streak

Pat who?

Rauuuuuuuuuuuul (Ibanez, that is), as the Phillies’ faithful like to call him, sure has brought the Philadelphia Phillies’ offense to the next level.

Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Shane Victorino are big helps, too.

Especially that Utley guy who’s batting .357 with seven home runs and 20 RBI this season.

So much for out until June, eh Worldwide Leader in Sports?

Back to Mr. Ibanez.

Hitting at .355 with seven home runs and 17 RBI—the voices questioning the departure of Pat Burrell are slowly backing into a dark corner.

Ibanez has hit the ball to all fields and does so during the most important part of games.

He already has a walk off home run, and gave the Phillies the lead in the eighth inning of Monday’s 13-11 win over the Nationals by hitting a grand slam.

Tonight, Ibanez continued his consistent play with a single right back up the middle and a home run to the deepest part of Citizens Bank Park in left center.

With the help of Ibanez and company, the Phillies have climbed their way to just a half game out of first in the NL East on the hands of a five game winning streak.

The streak began with a three game sweep of the Florida Marlins, who have fallen from 11-1 to 12-8, losing seven out of their last eight.

The fourth win came against the awful Washington Nationals.

Yet, the win didn’t come easy.

It took two grand salami’s and more to give the Phillies a come-from-behind win for the ninth time this season, which leads the majors.

The fifth came earlier this evening in a 7-1 trouncing of the Nationals.

Cole Hamels, who had not pitched particularly well—er, terrible—so far this season, came out to pitch a beautiful four and a third innings.

Well, ah, you see…he…uh…he “rolled” his ankle.

No, this isn’t basketball, but Cole somehow managed to “roll” his ankle.

He left the game after throwing one warmup pitch, yet appeared to walk off the field just fine. He had thrown 61 pitches in 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and no runs while striking out four.

The severity of the injury is not yet clear, yet it is being called a sprain at this point.

Anyway, the Phillies still managed to pull out the 7-1 victory.

Chase Utley hit two home runs (solo shot and a two run home run), Pedro Feliz hit a three run home run, and Raul Ibanez hit a solo shot of his own to account for the seven runs.

Chad Durbin let up the sole Nationals’ run off the bat of Adam Dunn, who clobbered a pitch into the right field seats.

Durbin pitched 3.2 innings, with the Dunn home run being the only hit he allowed.

Durbin would collect the win.

Clay Condrey, the best reliever for the team thus far, finished the game off in the ninth, allowing a hit but nothing more, locking down the Phillies’ fifth straight win.

The Phillies will go for their sixth straight on Wednesday night against the Nationals.

They will also be trying for the sweep. Brett Myers will take the ball for the Phillies, while Scott Olsen will toe the rubber for the Nationals.

The Week That Was In Philadelphia Phillies Land

*First off, I would like to introduce Cody Swartz as my co-Community Leader for the Philadelphia Phillies. Cody has mostly written about the Philadelphia Eagles, but has also written about the Phillies and shares the same knowledge with the Phillies as he does the Eagles. He has officially been promoted to the position as my co-CL. He will be a huge help with all of the activities that are planned to be introduced to our community this season, so look out for messages from Cody or myself in the near future for a community event.

 

Phew. I’m tired.

It all began on an early April night, when the freshly cut grass and the dusk skies welcomed the new baseball season.

For the Phillies, it was the beginning of what hoped to be a repeat season. Yet, by the late evening on Tuesday, the season had begun 0-2 for the world champions.

What appeared to be the third loss for the Phillies turned into the first victory after a 10-3 comeback the next day, resulting in a 12-11 win.

After an off day on Thursday, the Phillies travelled to Denver to take on the Colorado Rockies in a three-game series. The Phils took the loss in the first game of the series 10-3, moving their record to 1-3.

That was where the losses ended. The Phillies took the Saturday game by the score of 8-4, and followed that by winning the final game of the series 7-5.

Things were looking up. Brad Lidge saved two games, while pitching well in two other appearances, the bullpen had performed well in most situations, and the offense was certainly improving.

Plus, moving your record from 0-2 to 3-3 definitely boots your teams confidence.

Then Monday came, and it seemed like it never left.

It was just another manic Monday. I wish it were Sunday.

Because if it were still Sunday, we would have never had to experience Monday. We would have never had to lose Harry Kalas.

Harry Kalas. He was a legend. There’s no need for me to go into detail about this legend. By now, we’ve all heard the hundreds—no, thousands—of stories and thoughts about Harry Kalas. We all know what happened, and we have all thought about what a great man, broadcaster, and fan he was.

There have been many terrific tributes to Harry Kalas and his life over the past 27 hours. All I’m here to say is that watching Phillies games will never be the same.

Harry Kalas’ presence on a daily basis had been slowly lessening for a few years now, but Harry was still there. Now he isn’t.

It will certainly take a lot of adjusting to get used to watching a ballgame.

The Phillies went on to play their game at 3:05, just under two hours after Kalas’ passing. His presence, or lack thereof, was felt throughout the game, on the field and in the booth.

Most of the broadcast was spent talking about Kalas, and tributes such as Shane Victorino’s point to the broadcast booth were seen throughout the ballgame.

By the end of the day, Brad Lidge notched the save as the Phillies improved to 4-3 in a 9-8 win.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves remain tied for the NL East lead with records of 5-1, while the Phillies sit in third place, two games back. The New York Mets are one game behind the Phillies at 3-4. Rounding out the division are the winless Washington Nationals, who are 0-7.

When you take a step back and examine the Phillies’ first week of baseball, this could be considered one of the most hectic starts in their history.

A horrible 0-2 start, a seven-run comeback, a seven-run loss, then four straight wins, the fourth and final coming just hours after the death of the voice of the Phillies for the past 39 seasons.

Phew. It’s tiring just to watch this team.

Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz, and Jayson Werth are off to a hot start, while Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino are off to slower starts.

The starters have compiled an ERA of 9.00, while the bullpen has recorded an ERA of 3.67.

But more importantly, the Phillies are 4-3 and can look ahead to the rest of the season in memory of Harry Kalas.

Here’s to another eventful season, and here’s to Harry Kalas.

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