The New Crew

When the clock struck Midnight on July 31st, like every year it did not only signify the end of July and beginning of August but also the end of the period in which Major League franchises can trade players. Jake Peavy was now a member of the White Sox, Victor Martinez had become a Boston Red Sock, and Roy Halladay the deadline's diva had not been moved. Above all else that happened in the week leading up to the trade deadline, the most important acquisition was Cliff Lee becoming a Philadelphia Phillie. With that move, Phillies GM Reuben Amaro Jr. did not only give his team that much more of a shot to win a second straight World Series title, but also finished  a puzzle long in the making while doing so, inserting the final piece into what is now the best starting rotation in baseball. 

The Ace

Cliff Lee is one of the newest members of the Phillies rotation and in only four starts has already made himself the Ace of the staff. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has dazzled opponents in every start he has made since putting on red pinstripes. In his first start he threw a complete game on the road in San Fransisco only surrendering one run on four hits to the Giants. He followed suit in his next two starts only giving up one run in Phillies wins. In his most recent start he beat the Arizona Diamondbacks giving up an earned run throwing a complete game and only giving up two hits. Cliff is the ace that the fans have been itching for since Curt Schilling left the club years ago. He works fast and his command on the mound can only be matched by the league's best, the ones whom are grazed with his presence. 

The Movie Star

The story has it that when Cole Hamels first walked up to big league camp he was wearing his big sun glasses, khaki shorts, and polo shirt just like a California boy, earning him the nick name Hollywood. While he is almost an outcast in a sea of blue collar players in the Phillies clubhouse, Hamels' work ethic and performance makes him fit in the with the bunch, no one is harder on Cole than Cole. Hamels, the once ace of the staff is struggling a little bit in '09 but he is a pitcher who knows how to throw down the stretch and certainly when the pressure is on in the playoffs, as he was the recipient of the NLCS and World Series MVP Awards in '08. While Cole hardly seems to be pitching like it he completes the rotation's 1-2 punch with Cliff Lee as the Phillies two pitcher.

The Work Horse

Pat Gillick brought Joe Blanton to the Phillies at the '08 deadline and he has hardly faltered since. He had a rocky start to the '08 season, but has really settled in as the year has worn on. Joe has not given up more than three runs in a game since June 18th and he has pitched seven or more innings in seven of his last eight starts, truly a work horse. Blanton has substantially lowered his ERA to 3.86, and his 8-6 record doesn't speak for itself, while Joe on occasion has not gotten run support, as hard as that is to believe with the Phillies lineup. Big Joe has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since the All-Star break, and has really padded his case as one of the league's most underrated players. 

The Young Gun 

J.A. Happ has been the pleasant surprise for the Phils pitching in '09. Happ in his first full season won over the starting position when Chan Ho Park was struggling and cemented himself into the rotation when Brett Myers went to the DL. He has been nothing short of brilliant since. He has a 9-2 record and a 2.66 ERA and his making himself a strong case for the NL Rookie of the Year. His two complete game shutouts (one on the road in Toronto) showed Philly fans what he is capable of doing when he is really on, amidst his consistency. Having a pitcher who will give you a legitimate shot to win every time he goes out there is so valuable, especially in the form of a twenty seven year old rookie. 

The Daddy

Who can forget when Pedro Martinez said the words "Who's your Daddy?" in that infamous interview regarding his then rivals New York Yankees. That alone illustrates the personality and charisma that Pedro can bring to a ball club. The Phillies signed Martinez for 1 million dollars for one year taking a small risk with him as he was one year removed from baseball. Pedro beat the Cubs in his first start, and was settling into his second start when rain struck and ended his day in just three innings. His pitches seem to be on point and his two Cy Young Awards along with his "down the stretch" experience makes him very suitable to hold down the fort as the fifth starter. 

A combination of Ruben Amaro Jr. and Pat Gillick has built this mammoth of a pitching staff, something that the Phillies have not had in a long time. Combining with possibly the league's best lineup, this pitching has to make you like the Phillies chances, they can just smell October, and it smells like repeat.  

JD

Who Let The Dogs Out?

I'm a vegetarian who owned a dog most of his life, so you would think I would be a PITA nut... I'm not. I believe more in the justice system which sentenced Michael Vick to two years in jail and put him in bankruptcy. I also believe he did his time and deserves his right to return to the job he has trained for, because just like a lawyer an NFL football player trains 4 years in college to try and obtain a job afterwards.

Now here's my problem, he's on my team. The team that represents my city, the team that cheer for proudly. That's right, Philadelphia. The place where over 350 murders were committed last year, and this year to many cops have lost their lives, has brought in their symbol of change, oh wait no, Michael Vick, a thug who hung, electrocuted, and bred dogs to fight to the death is our newest acquisition. I would have loved it if the Eagles won their first Super Bowl and brought this city together just like the Phillies. But now I just don't know. The thought of that guy having a ring telling him he is the best makes me want to puke.

When I think of Kansas City the first thing that comes to my mind is the Chiefs. A place like St. Louis, my mind first goes to the arch and then to the Rams. When people think of Philadelphia, there going to think Vick, the Liberty Bell, and then the Constitution center, and so on. But for this whole season, Vick comes before the birthplace of the United States of America, before all of the fallen officers. All news centers will talk about Vick not about the murders or the poor defenseless children who have been caught in the cross-fire. A football season I was looking forward to is now ruined, because I cringe at the thought of seeing a stadium full of people cheer for him scoring a touchdown to win the game.

I love that Philly fans spit, push, and heckle opposing fans to tears. That is what home field advantage should be, and I myself have done some of the above to make it that way. Our own govenor threw snow balls at Santa with pride, and I say that Philly fans did it with my own heart. Things like that show that we love our teams. But now with Vick, the fan base is going to be torn apart, and people on T.V. aren't going to think that were tough and physical, Philly fans are going to become dirty. During my days of travel sports we were all told to play bigger, play more physical, but when a kid played dirty he was taken out and taught a lesson. Bonds is remembered for playing dirty, and Diego Maradonna, who had so many sensational goals in his soccer career is remembered for the one that he scored with his hand.  You don't play dirty!

The minute a fan cheers for that monster, Philadelphia fans will no longer be admired. The second Michael Vick steps onto Lincoln Financial Field it is no longer going to be a tough place to play, it's going to be a dirty place to play.

DF

NFL Preview- Divisions and Wild Cards

NFC East

1.    Eagles

2.    Cowboys

3.    Redskins

4.    Giants

While losing Owens seemed like the loss of a distraction, it is also the loss of one of the league’s premiere weapons, and it makes Dallas lose their edge a little bit in the NFC East. The Redskins just don’t cut it yet, and the Giants have lost both of their starting receivers Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress, leaving “little” Manning just about no one to throw to. That leaves the Eagles, a team that has had quite the off-season. Losing their on field defensive leader Brian Dawkins to the Broncos, and their off the field defensive leader Jim Johnson to cancer, the Eagles will find their losses on the D side as a source of inspiration to really prove themselves as a unit. With fresh leg on the offensive line with Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews, and fresh legs in the skill positions with rookies Lesean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin, along with ultimate weapon slash convict Michael Vick, the Birds will have their usual consistent offense and will have a slightly easy time taking the division title.

NFC North

1.    Bears

2.    Vikings

3.    Packers

4.    Lions

This is a division that is not as clear cut as the NFC East or NFC West. There is no power in the North and that is mainly because each team in this division has a hard time putting points on the board. The Vikings should be the favorite to take the division, but the whole Brett Favre deal had to have taken a toll on the team’s off-season, and now the quarterback situation still isn’t cleared up. While the Lions are still hopeless, the Packers are in what I would call somewhat of a rebuilding year, leaving Jay Cutler and the Bears to back up Cut’s off-season division smack talk. Cutler along with second year running back sensation Matt Forte (let’s pray for no sophomore slump Windy City), will be the one two punch that combines with a well above average defense to take the NFC North.

NFC South

1.    Falcons

2.  Panthers

3.    Saints

4.    Buccaneers

The Saints and Bucs for me start the season out of the picture, although I could see the Saints making a push later in the year if Reggie Bush can get his act together, Brees can’t do it alone. This division really comes down to two really good offensive teams in the Panthers and Falcons. The Falcons list of weapons grew with the addition of TE Tony Gonzalez, just another toy for young Matt Ryan to play with. The Panthers found their stride as a team last year, getting a first round bye in the playoffs and really figuring out how to use all of their weapons Deangelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and of course Steve Smith. Both teams made the playoffs last year, and I see that happening again, with a first round bye most likely coming from this division as well.

NFC West

1.    Cardinals

2.    San Francisco

3.    Seahawks

4.    Rams

For the last few seasons just about every win that each of these teams get is within their own division. That was until the Cardinals blossomed last season, having a great year under Ken Wisenhut, with ageless Kurt Warner at the helm. The Cardinals will certainly not have the same fate as last year while they represented the NFC in the Super Bowl, but there is no doubt that they will take the NFC West, with the best receiving core in football, and a strong defensive unit.

NFC Wild Cards- Panthers and Cowboys

While the Cowboys had key losses on both sides of the ball with Roy Williams and Terrell Owens leaving the team, I cannot see there being a season for a while where there aren’t to be two NFC East teams in the playoffs, and they are that next team in 2009. The Panthers will in the end get beat out by the Falcons in a close race, either heads up or a let down loss to a team that will be out of the picture, but their record will carry them into the playoffs regardless, maybe Simpson will show up when Romo is winning again.

AFC East

1.    Patriots

2.    Dolphins

3.    Bills

4.    Jets

This season the AFC East teams are going to be brought back to reality because the Pats one year sabbatical is over, and Brady is back. The Patriots will run away with this division with almost as much ease as they did when going 16-0. The Dolphins will fall from last year’s results because the “wild cat,” the staple of their offense will now be in every team’s scouting report, resulting in them losing a creative edge that they had when they won the division in ’08, less people will be surprised. The Bills gained a weapon in Owens, but are losing their running back Marshawn Lynch to a three game suspension to start the year and Pro Bowl linemen Jason Peters to free-agency. A slow start will haunt the Jets for the remainder of the season, as I believe they won’t have their true starting quarterback by at least Week 5. The Pats will prosper whether or not Brady is still ailing or not, they will beat up on their own division, making it a hard time for the rest to get a spot in the playoffs with a wild card.

AFC North

1.    Steelers

2.    Ravens

3.    Bengals

4.    Browns

My philosophy is that you can never doubt the defending champs. The Steelers won it in ’08 behind possibly the league’s best defense, and a above average offense with a lot of weapons. Therefore they have a legitimate shot to do it again, and I can’t see anyone in this division challenging them too much. The Ravens will have another solid year with Flacco at the helm, and their strong defense will make them the team that will challenge the Steelers. The Bengals got stronger because the departure of Housh will mean a better Ocho Cino, and Lavreneus Coles will not need as much attention as the two guy. They also added play-maker Roy Williams to help out the back of their defense substantially. I don’t feel as though Cleveland needs to be mentioned, prove me wrong Brady Quinn. 

AFC South

1.    Colts

2.    Texans

3.    Titans

4.    Jaguars

I understand Marvin is gone, but Joseph Addai will be back and will have a much better season than last year. Harrison makes room for Anthony Gonzalez who I have liked since he came into the league. The Colts will de thrown the Titans, but who didn’t see that coming. Call me crazy but for the first time in a while, Houston we don’t have a problem. Behind play makers Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson, and a defense that will suffice in this division, the Texans will be the team that will make a run at the Colts not the Titans. The Titans will be figured out by now, and their ability to “run” away with victories will end starting in ’09. The Jags need help on offense and on defense, I wish them luck, but grant them no chance.

AFC West

1.    Chargers

2.    Broncos

3.    Raiders

4.    Chiefs

The quarterback is the most important position in football, and without one a team will struggle, alot. Jamarcus Russell, Kyle Orton, and Matt Cassel just don’t  cut it yet, and therefore my logic says they just don’t cut it as teams. That leaves the Chargers with Philip Rivers, who will take this division and maybe get home field advantage solely because of the fact that they will most likely get 6 within this division. The Raiders ground game showed promise with Michael Bush’s week 17 coming out party, and a young Darren McFadden that still has time to develop, the Chiefts signed a still young and in my mind unproven Cassel and added Amani Toomer to be aside Dwayne Bowe in the receiving, and the Broncos have new management and new additions with rookie playmaker Knoshown Moreno and Brian Dawkins. Despite, the Chargers are the team to beat in the worst division in football, its like being the smartest of the dumb, but they’ll get a playoff berth.

AFC Wild Cards- Ravens and Texans

Houston’s first good year in franchise history will not end with a second place finish, but a wild card berth to top it all off. The Ravens will be the shoo in Wild Card team, taking it for two years in a row. Flacco will be a sophomore but already showed that he has the ability to play like a veteran in the NFL in his rookie season. The Texans are to say the least due, and the Ravens are an experienced team (counting out Ray Rice and Joe Flacoo), that knows what its like to play down the stretch for a playoff spot. Miami will challenge each of them for a spot, but will fall short, leaving way for the Birds of Baltimore and the Texans of…Texas.

JD