Phillies ink Madson to 3 Year Deal

One day after locking up their ace Cole Hamels for the next three years, the Phils did the same with their top set-up man, Ryan ‘MadDog’ Madson.

The team and Madson have agreed to a three-year, $12 million extension, pending a physical. The deal calls for Madson to receive a $1 million signing bonus, $2 million this season, $4.5 million in 2010 and $4.5 million in 2011.  He can earn $1.5 million annually in performance bonuses if he becomes a closer: $150,000 each for 30, 35, 40 and 45 games finished; $200,000 each for 50 and 55, and $250,000 each for 60 and 65.

Sixers 8th in ESPN’s Power Rankings

Marc Stein of ESPN.com has ranked YOUR Philadelphia 76ers 8th in the NBA in the pre-season Power Rankings.  This is probably the highest the Sixers have ever been on Marc Stein’s over-hyped ranking system, but you know, I’ll take it.

I am a diehard Sixer fan, probably one of the few Philadelphia sports fans where the Sixers are my favorite over the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers (which would be the order of importance to me).  I have never been more pumped for the start of an NBA season then I am for this upcoming season.  The Sixers were hands down the outright winners of the offeason and the team they are about to trot onto the hardwood could be the best in years.  The run and gun style combined with a true post presence really gives me goosebumps when I think of the potential this team possesses.

Mr. Stein ranked us 8th in the NBA, but behind fellow Eastern Conference mates: Boston (1), Cleveland (6) and Detroit (7).  He had this to say about our franchise heading into the 2008/2009 NBA season.

The Sixers were undisputed champs of the offseason, but it’s also true that Mr. Brand might lift last season’s No. 7s only one spot. Philly can finish anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6, like Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando and Toronto.

I think Mr. Elton Brand will indeed lift us higher then then 7th seed in the East.  I’m predicting a 3 seed (behind Boston and Detroit), it’s bold, it’s a tad high, but who ever said lofty expectations were bad.   I think Mr. Brand is the best pickup we possibly could have made.  Not only was he the best FA out there, but he also filled our biggest need at a true Power Forward.

Things are looking bright Sixer Fans and I’m jumping on the bandwagon now, wait, I was always on the Sixer bandwagon… anyway, see you on opening night.

Braves Down Phils, Mets Lose

Chipper Jones hit his second career pinch-homer and the Atlanta Braves beat the Phils 10-4 Wednesday night in the 215.

Then the Cubbies beat the New York Mets 9-6 in 10 innings, reducing the Phillies’ magic number for clinching their second straight division title to three.  Three friggin’ wins, come on fellas.

The Phillies remain 1½ games ahead of the Mets. They will finish the regular season with a three-game series against the last-place Washington Nationals, starting Friday and look to capitalize.

Magic Number = 4

Determined to stay on top, the Phils are playing their best baseball at the right time.

Pat Burrell hit a three-run homer in the eighth and the NL East-leading Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 Monday night for their 10th win in 11 games.

The Phillies reduced their magic number for clinching their second straight division title to four after the New York Mets lost 9-5 to the Cubs to fall 2½ games back. Philadelphia’s magic number for clinching a playoff berth is three.

Shane Victorino got … Co – ‘Jacked Up’

The Phils won another one last night on some timely hitting by Chase Utley, god he’s incredible.

The highlight of the night however came in the 8th inning courtesy of the Flyin’ Hawaiian and Co-Jack. Shane Victorino struck out swinging, but the ball got past D-Backs catcher Chris Snyder, and Shane took off for first , where his helmet met Conor Jackson’s face, and CoJack’s arm clotheslined Vic and sent the Hawaiian, well, you get the point.

This isn’t the greatest clip, but take a peak.

Apparently Shane does this in video games as well.

Phantasy Beisbol – Meet the Fazools

So my buddies and I started our first fantasy baseball league ever and had the draft last Thursday. All of us are rooks except for one, Pubby, whom I’m not matched up against for a while, so no biggie. I lucked out with the number one overall pick with whom I had to take Alex Rodriguez. Being a Phillies fan, Chutley and J Roll were both highly considered, and I did happen to freak out a bit and get nervous as my clock continued to tick away. Once the beeping started and I only had 5 seconds to draft I just took A-Rod. I’m pretty confident it was a smart move and am riding him all year to the promised land. He’s untouchable kids.

First pick was great and all, mainly to brag to my pals that I had the #1 pick again (also had the #1 in our Fantasy Football last year and took LT) but it sucks in the snake order of drafts. Having to wait for 20 picks to go by is brutal and makes it tough when you have to try and take two guys who you think wont make it back around by the time it is your pick again. I think I would much rather draft towards the middle in future drafts, mainly because I have never had the option and would like to try it out.

	Batters
	C Joe Mauer
	1B Adrian Gonzalez
	2B Tadahito Iguchi
	3B A Rod
	SS Edgar Renteria
	LF Alfonso Soriano
	CF BJ Upton
	RF Jeff Francouer
	OF Jacoby Ellsbury
	UTIL Big Papi
	Bench
	LF Matt Diaz
	LF Geoff Jenkins
	RF Xavier Nady
	CF Curtis Granderson (DL15)
	RF Jeremy Hermida (DL15)
	Pitchers
	RP Chad Cordero
	RP Jeremy Accardo
	SP Tim Lincecum
	SP Javier Vazquez
	SP Tim Hudson
	SP Zack Greinke
	SP Tom Glavine
	SP Kevin Millwood
	RP Manny Corpas
	Bench
	SP Jeremy Bonderman
	SP Dave Bush
	RP BJ Ryan (DL15)

Let’s meet the team. My team, the Phillie Fazools, is led by, well the #1 pick Alex Rodriguez. After that I managed to grab Alfonso Soriano, David Ortiz, BJ Upton, Curtis Granderson (who is on the 15 DL – did not know when I drafted him – sonuvabitch) and Joe Mauer just to name a few. The rest is listed to the right.

The setup of our league is head – to – head with five categories in each batting and pitching. For batting the categories consist of homeruns, runs, runs batted in, batting average and stolen bases. For pitching our categories are wins, strikeouts, saves, WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched) and ERA.

I’m pretty happy with how the Fazools turned out, but I definitely need to make a play for a backup infielder. I will most likely package Jenkins and Diaz for some value. Once Granderson comes back and I can insert him into the center field spot and BJ back to 2B I will have a much more dynamic squad.

Being that I am a rookie, any and all input is appreciated and will be taken into consideration barring no retarded moves or asshole comments about the Fazools. Like here, by Jel.

 The Fazool Logo

 

                                  

Phillies Predictions

Record/Standings
Steve – 91-71, 1st place NL East
Brian – 96-66, 1st place NL East, this is our YEAR
Chris – 89-73, 2nd place NL East, 2 GB NY Mets, no playoffs

Primetime Pitchers
Cole Hamels
Steve – 19-4 2.97 ERA, 219 Strikeouts
Brian – 19-8 2.75 ERA, 207 K’s
Chris – 21-5 3.33 ERA, 234 K’s will lead the National League in Strikes and W’s, will have 12 wins at the all-star break and will be NL Starter, will be the only Phils starter come September that is able to pitch more then 5 innings per start.

Brett Myers
Steve – 17-6 3.43 ERA 203 Strikeouts
Brian – 18-7 3.23 ERA 186 K’s
Chris – 5-3 2.18 ERA 43 Saves 115 K’s.  Myers will start the regular season 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA and on a cold blistery night in Denver in late April, Myers will pop his groin and be forced to goto the 60 day DL. 

Some Bold Predictions
Steve

• Pat Burrell sets career highs in HR and RBI. Burrell finally is putting in the work to turnaround his career. He got a taste of winning and worked hard all off-season to improve his game. Throw in the contract year and the fact that the Phils lineup should provide ample opportunity and Burrell continues where he left off the second half of last season.
• Chase Utley wins the National League MVP. Not too bold since he was on pace last year to win it before he got hurt, but having 3 straight Phillies win MVP’s would be insane. I think he will hit around .340 and lead the National League in Batting Avg. (How could ownership not go out and add a front line starter next off season with 3/4 of the infield yielding the last 3 MVP’s. C.C. Sabathia anyone? I had to make that last part very bold since the beginning was weak)
• The Phillies lead the league in scoring. They score over 900 runs and have Howard lead the NL in HR, Rollins in scoring, and Utley in Avg.
• They have 4 players hit more then 30 HRs (Utley, Feliz, Howard, Burrell). They have two players over 40 Stolen Bases (Victorino and Rollins).
• The Phillies are AT LEAST 4 games over .500 by the end of April.
• Charlie Manuel successfully completes over 35 double switches.

Brian

• Johan throws at J Roll’s face.  J Roll ducks out of the way just in time but takes the ball off the back of the helmet.  He rises and points his bat at Johan and utters, ” You filthy piece of NY Shit.” Johan retaliates by signalling with his arms in Jimmy’s direction, “Bring it on.”  This in turn sparks a bench clearing brawl at Citizens Bank Park, which spills over into the stands and Phils fans start a serious melee on all Mets fans in attendance.  It will go down as the biggest fight in US sports history as every Met fan there (besides women and children) are brutally beaten.  204 victims, 3 dead. 

Chris

• With Myers on the DL for 2 months, during that time the Phillies will go from starting the season 15-5 in their first 20 games into a complete tail spin through May and June. The injury to Myers will be just the beginning of the crumbling of the pitching staff. Kyle Kendrick has a stint on the DL, the replacement team of Kris Benson, and the Durbins Chad and JD, will not work. Tom Gordon’s arm will finally fall off, and one Brad Lidge will have to under go season ending knee surgery in the beginning of May.
• Leading to bold prediction number 2. Brett Myers will come off the DL and back to the Pen. Once again out of necessity, Bretty Myers will have 50+ appearances out of the bullpen ass the closer converting 43 of them into saves to lead the NL in that category as the Phils will go on a torrid 2nd half tear only to fall 2 games short of the Mets as Myers will blow the save on the second to last day of the season to the lowly Nationals.
• Geoff Jenkins will have more HR’s then Pat Burrell.
• Jayson Werth will have more HR’s then Pat Burrell.
• Shane Victorino will have more HR’s then Pat Burrell.
• Jimmy Rollins will lead the NL in doubles, triples, SB’s, and Runs scored, and will come in 2nd in the NL MVP voting to Alfonso Soriano of the NL Central winning Cubs.
• Carlos Ruiz will NOT get any better at speaking English.
• Adam Eaton will go 15-11 pitch 180 innings and will have a respectable 3.99 ERA.

Philly Sports Recap

Phils Rock Reds, 8-1

In the second inning Ryan Howard smacked a double to center and scored when newcomer Geoff Jenkins grounded into a double play. Another new guy, third baseman Pedro Feliz stroked a line single in his first Phillies at-bat, then doubled in the second run in the fifth. During the Phillies 7-run, fifth inning barrage of the Reds, Greg Dobbs belted out a 3-run shot for the Phillies inaugural home-run of the season.

Veteran Jamie Moyer, in his 22nd Major League season, allowed only one hit over three scoreless innings. He walked none and struck out three. Rule 5 Draftee Travis Blackley also worked three scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, but picked the runner off and also struck out two.

Last years rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick will take the hill today at 1:05 against the Shitsburgh Pirates.  Word is first round draft pick Joe Savery will also see some work.

Sixers Win Big, 101 – 89

The Sixers seem to be hitting their stride at exactly the right moment with the playoffs looming in their near future.  Notice I said “their near future”, thats right, I believe the Sixers can and WILL make the playoffs this year. 

Andre Miller and Bill Green both had huge games with 26 points each, Bill’s being a season-high.  Iggy also added 24, however had a rough night shooting the rock, only going 7-20 from the field. 

The Sixers have won seven straight at home with their last loss at the Wach coming to the Magic on Feb. 1 — and 8 of their last 10.  

FLYERS GAME TONIGHT!

I’ll be in attendance with some of the guys and the lady to see our Flyers take on the Sens from the best view in the house,  Luxury Suite 1** right behind the goal, its a beautiful thing.  The Senators seem to be in turmoil at the moment after two scoreless loses, prompting the firing of head coach John Paddock.  Flyers have also been reeling as we all now.  Should make for some angry hockey players, lots of fights, and some good fun.  I’m pumped.

Myers is the No. 1 Stunna

Welp Skipper Charlie Manager said Tuesday that Brett Myers will start on Opening Day.

 

If I remember correctly Brett was the opening day starter last year as well before being moved to the bullpen. 

“We’re trying to set up our rotation the way we want.  I did talk to Hamels; I felt like I should talk to him and he seemed like he definitely was OK with it,” Manuel said. “I told him he was our No. 1 last year and he had a big year, but that’s the way we wanted our rotation to line up.”

The Phil’s exhibition match against the Florida State Seminoles was rained out last night, but they start Grapefruit League play this afternoon at 1:05 as the take on the “The (39 year old) Kid” Ken Griffey and the Cincinnati Reds.  Jamie Moyer will get the nod. 

Should be a relaxing afternoon in the office.  Might hit up Wawa and pick some nice chow to kick back with as I listen to the game (available on 1210 AM).

Interesting fact:  Myers threw the first and the last pitch of the regular season at Citizens Bank Park in 2007 against Washington.

Update: Lidge Out 3-6 Weeks

And there ya have it folks, Brad Lidge is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and could miss the regular-season opener.The 31-year-old right-hander was expected to return to the (215) on Sunday for surgery Monday that would sideline him for three to six weeks. The Phillies open the season at home March 31 against Washington.

Charlie Manager said setup man “Flash” Gordon would close if Lidge isn’t ready for Opening Day.

“Ideally, if everything went right I wouldn’t miss any of the season because that would be four weeks,” Lidge said. “But that will be based on how it feels.”