2010 MLB Playoffs: Rating Each Phillie on the ‘Momentum Meter’

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Doogan

With this post, we officially put the regular season behind us to begin coverage of the 2010 Playoffs.  It was a regular season that saw the Phils finish with the best record in baseball for the first time in their 127 year history.  Amazing.  Before taking a look at LDS foe Cincinnati in a day or two, we’ll go through the Phils’ roster on a player-by-player basis for a very brief summary of their 2010 season, and also what kind of momentum they’re taking into the post-season.

In the first round of the playoffs, when each hitter comes to bat, you see their regular season stats.  Obviously, those stats tell you a lot about their season, but they don’t tell you the whole story about what kind of hitter the guy is right now.  What I mean by that is, the season is a 6-month, 162-game odyssey.  Some guys have monster numbers in the first-half, then fall apart in the second.  Some guys play through an injury for half the season but come into October fully healthy.

So, in the following breakdown, we’ll include a snap-shot of each player’s full season stats, but we’ll also take a look at “who’s hot and who’s not”.  Where do the concerns lie for the Phils, and what under-the-radar players are poised to pick up a clutch hit or get a tough out that could make all the difference in a short, best-of-5 series?

To help make this a bit more clear, we’ll assign each player a  rating on the “Momentum Meter”:  a 1 through 5 rating based on, you guessed it, how much momentum they have coming into the playoffs.  A 1 means they’ve been really struggling and a 5 means “Reds, Beware.”

Position Players (in alphabetical order):

Greg Dobbs: (AVG/OBP/SLG)- .196/.251/.331. Dobbs is the first one on this alphabetical list, but he’ll most likely be the last guy off the bench.  In fact, don’t be surprised if he doesn’t even make an appearance in the LDS.

  • Momentum Meter: 2.  Four hits over the past week, which is pretty impressive for him this season.  But, man, what a poor year he had. 

Ben Francisco:  .268/.327/.441. An under-rated bench player.  He has some power, some speed, and can play all three outfield positions.  If he was any better at one of those those skills, some team would probably be willing to pay him starter money. 

  • Momentum Meter:  4.  His 2-homer game on Wednesday means he’s taking some nice momentum into post-season play.  He’ll be Charlie’s top right-handed pinch-hitting option. 

Ross Gload:  .281/.328/.484.  After a slow start this year, Gload really showed why he’s considered one of the top pinch-hitters in the game.  Kudos to Ruben Amaro for this low-publicity signing.  Gload also stepped up nicely when Howard went down with the ankle injury in August.

  • Momentum Meter:  3.  Not many AB’s over the past month, but he’s been consistently good since June.  He’ll be Charlie’s go-to pinch-hitter.

Ryan Howard: .276/.353/.505. A great example of why full-season stats don’t tell you everything.  That .505 SLG looks really low for him (and it is), but that number is .550 since June 1st and has been rising pretty steadily throughout the year.  It’s also worth keeping in mind that power numbers were down across the league this year.  Despite missing 3 weeks, he still finishes in the Top-10 in the NL in home runs and 4th in RBI.

  • Momentum Meter:  4.  Slugged .570 in September.  Looks like he’s still not running as well as normal after the ankle injury, but it’s not affecting his hitting.

Raul Ibanez:  .275/.349/.444.  Just like last year, it was a tale of two halves for Raul, but this time he was great in the 2nd half.

  • Momentum Meter:  5.  Hit .340 with a .577 SLG% in September.

Placido Polanco:  .298/.339/.386.  He’ll have elbow surgery as soon as the season ends, so he’s limping to the finish line, to a certain extent.  The injury has all but zapped what little power he has, as he still has just one home run since May 6th.

  • Momentum Meter:  2.  .260 AVG in September, pretty bad considering he’s basically a singles hitter right now.  Maybe the cortisone shot he got this week will help.  Some cause for concern here with the #2 hitter in the line-up.

Jimmy Rollins: .243/.320/.374.  Basically a lost season for Jimmy.  He had three lengthy trips to the DL, so even though he did play half the season, he was never able to get into any kind of rhythm. 

  • Momentum Meter:  2.  4-for-19 since coming back from the latest injury.  Very unlikely that he’ll be much of a base-stealing threat, at least in the LDS.  The Momentum Meter gives him a 2 just for that grand slam in Atlanta on Friday night. 

Carlos Ruiz:  .302/.400/.447.  The Legend of Chooch continued to grow as the soft-spoken Panamanian came up with as many big hits as any Phillie this year.  Can you believe: he led the team in hitting and OBP?  If he can match his ’09 post-season this year, he could cement himself as one of the most unlikely heroes in Philly sports history. 

  • Momentum Meter:  5.  He was already having a career year when he posted his best month yet in September, hitting .324 with a .500 SLG%.

Brian Schneider:  .240/.345/.384.  A very backup-catcher-like season from the backup catcher.

  • Momentum Meter:  3.  Hasn’t seen the field much, which will most likely continue in the post-season.  He did manage 6 singles in 16 September AB’s, though.

Mike Sweeney:  .253/.323/.447.  Among active players who have never appeared in the post-season, Sweeney ranks 4th in games played and Halladay ranks 1st in innings pitched.  For two of the nicer guys in the game, it’s good to see.  Side note: two of the guys ahead of Sweeney on that list will also be in this year’s post-season: Michael Young and Aubrey Huff.  Randy Winn began the year with the Yankees but finished with the Cardinals, so he remains atop the list heading into next season.

  • Momentum Meter:  3.  Barely played over the past month, but he did hit a home run on Wednesday.

Chase Utley:  .275/.387/.445.  While we’re throwing out random trivia:  Chase is the all-time leader in home runs by a player with a last name starting with ‘U’.  Another guy that can’t be judged by his season stats.  Not only did he miss two months with the thumb injury, but he was also recovering from surgery at the start of the season.  It’s impossible to say how much that affected him.  Either way, it was clearly a sub-par season for him at the plate.

  • Momentum Meter:  4.  It looks like he’s finally put the injuries behind him.  .323 average and .531 SLG% in September, including at least one hit in 16 of the last 18 games of the month.  Obviously great news for the team.

Wilson Valdez:  .258/.306/.360.  We’ve said it here many times now: the Phils’ needed someone like him to come in and get the job done this season, and he certainly did.

  • Momentum Meter:  4.  Hit .297 in September as the starting SS for basically the whole month.

Shane Victorino:  .259/.327/.429. The power numbers are great, but Shane needs to get his average and OBP up next season.

  • Momentum Meter:  3.  Was on fire in early September, as evidenced by his .380 OBP and 10 steals in the month.  But has just 6 hits in his last 37 AB’s, and just spent a few days away from the team for the birth of his son.  That all adds up to a “who knows?” on the ole’ Momentum Meter, so we’ll give him a 3.

Jayson Werth:  .296/.388/.532.  Considering his contract situation, hiring Scott Boras as his new agent, and an up-and-down (but mostly up) performance on the field, it’s been an interesting year for him.  The intrigue will continue in the off-season.  He’ll get a massive contract one way or the other, and probably not from the Phils.

  • Momentum Meter:  5.  His 8 home runs in September tied Howard’s July total for the most by a Phillie in a month this season, and he added another on Sunday.

Pitchers:

Danys Baez:  47.2 IP, 5.48 ERA, 1.64 WHIP.  A disappointing season, as he was unable to establish himself as a useful part of the pen.  Relief pitchers are hard to predict, his track record suggests that he could potentially be a useful piece next season, in the 2nd year of his 2-year deal.

  • Momentum Meter:  2.  He was actually having his best run of outings on the season before he imploded to the tune of 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning on Sunday.  That may have been the end of his bid for a post-season roster spot.

Antonio Bastardo:  18.2 IP, 4.34 ERA, 1.50 WHIP.  He scuttled between AAA and the majors throughout the season, and was mostly unimpressive with the big club.  He wasn’t bad, but did nothing to suggest that he’s a guy that can really be counted on to get high-pressure post-season outs.

  • Momentum Meter: 3.  After his third straight decent outing on Saturday, Charlie said that he’s been impressed with how he’s thrown lately.  It’s a good sign, but the Momentum Meter won’t grant him anything more than a tepid 3.      

Joe Blanton:  9-6, 174.2 IP, 4.74 ERA, 1.40 WHIP.  One of those guys who’s been on an upward swing all season.  Missed the first month with an injury, then was pretty bad for a couple months before starting to put it together around mid-season.  It remains to be seen what his role will be in the post-season, but it ‘s nice knowing he’s there, and he should pencil in nicely behind the Big Three going into next season.

  • Momentum Meter:  5.  5-0 with a 2.73 ERA over his last 9 starts.
 
 

Jose could be a key for the 'pen

Jose Contreras: 56.2 IP, 3.34 ERA, 1.22 WHIP.  A quietly solid season and a good return on the 1 year/$1.5 mil. contract.  He should be considered the third-best reliever behind Lidge and Madson, but Charlie doesn’t seem to have too much confidence in him.

  • Momentum Meter: 3.  Had back-to-back poor outings a couple weeks ago, but was solid in his 8 games since then, including two 1-2-3 innings this weekend in Atlanta.

Chad Durbin: 67.1 IP, 3.80 ERA, 1.31 WHIP.  Basically the season you expect from Durbin:  decent, not great.     

  • Momentum Meter: 1.  Durbin’s really struggled over the past month, with a 6.52 September ERA.  Allowed three base-runners in 1.1 IP in his final tune-up on Sunday.  Hold your breath if the Phils have to go to him in a key spot in the LDS.

Roy Halladay: 21-10, 250.2 IP, 2.44 ERA, 1.04 WHIP.  Which of those stats is most impressive?  The 21 wins?  The sub 2.50 ERA?  The 250 innings?  Take your pick.  The guy was everything Phillie fans hoped he would be.  Most likely will take home the Cy Young for his efforts.

  • Momentum Meter:  3.  A tough read for the Momentum Meter.  One the one hand, in his 6 starts prior to his final regular season start, he gave up at least 3 runs each time, which is quite un-Halladay-like.  On the other hand, he dealt the Nats a 2-hit shutout in that final start, he’s getting some much-needed rest before his Game 1 start, and you know how badly he wants to be at his best for this post-season.

Cole Hamels: 12-11, 208 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.18 WHIP.  His two scoreless innings on Sunday ensured that he beat out his ’08 ERA for the best of his career.  It really seems like his ’08 post-season success had a certain negative effect on him, and that he didn’t go into ’09 with the right mind-set and the right motivation.  I don’t often give Cole much credit for anything he does off the mound, but he deserves praise for getting his career back on track.  He’ll enter the post-season (and 2011) as the best #3 starter in the game.

  • Momentum Meter: 5.  A 2.28 ERA since the All-Star break, 1.93 in September.  He had his first bad start in a while against the Mets last week, but his incredible run through these last three months, combined with cruising through his two innings on Sunday, is more than enough to keep the Meter reading 5.

Kyle Kendrick:  11-10, 180.2 IP, 4.73 ERA, 1.37 WHIP.  I think we can finally pass down a final judgement on KK:  he’s a #5 starter.  The only question left is whether he should be a #5 for a good team or a bad one.  With all the money the Phillies have committed elsewhere for 2011, you have to think he’ll get another shot at that #5 spot in Spring Training next year with the Phils.

  • Momentum Meter:  2.  If he does make the post-season roster, it’s hard to imagine he’ll see much work.  He did keep the Phils in the game over his last four starts.

Brad Lidge: 44.2 IP, 2.96 ERA, 1.23 WHIP.  It wasn’t always pretty, but a fine, bounce-back season from the Phillie closer.   

  • Momentum Meter: 4.  He’s allowed just 3 earned runs in his last 24.2 IP, but the Momentum Meter isn’t willing to give Lidge a 5.  As good as the stats are, this is not ’08 Lidge.  He’s shown he can get the job done, but those occasional shaky outings, like on Sunday (2 walks and a hit in 1 inning), will keep us all on the edge of our seats in the coming weeks.

Ryan Madson:  52 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.04 WHIP.  The best season of what’s becoming a really nice career as a set-up man. 

  • Momentum Meter:  5.  Forget that 2-run homer he served up to Carlos Beltran last week.  He’s sporting a 1.50 ERA since the All-Star break, and worked more than any other reliever in the game in that stretch.  There’s been some concern about his heavy workload, but considering he missed two months with the toe injury, and that he’s had some solid rest leading into Wednesday, he’ll be good to go for October baseball.

Roy Oswalt: 13-13, 210.2 IP, 2.73 ERA, 1.02 WHIP.  Oswalt has had a fantastic career, so it’s no small feat that he matched his career-best ERA this season, and posted his best WHIP ever.  In 81.2 innings for the Phils, his ERA was 1.65.  Seems like he was happy that Lidge convinced him to accept that trade.  He’ll get the start in Game 2 on Friday.

  • Momentum Meter:  5.  The Momentum Meter is almost bursting.  After an August that saw him put up a 1.53 ERA, he somehow took it up a notch in September, with a 1.12.  So, he’s basically 1968 Bob Gibson right now.  And he’s not our ace.  So that’s pretty cool.

J.C. Romero: 36.2 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.61 WHIP.  Definitely a dissappointing season for Romero, after a couple really good years as the go-to lefty.  This is one stat line where the WHIP comes in handy.  That 3.68 ERA is respectable, but anyone who watched Romero this year knows that that number should be much higher.

  • Momentum Meter: 2.  He’s been pitching decently of late, but the walks are still way too high.  And he left Sunday’s game with an injury.  No idea yet how serious it is, but we’re staring at the possibility of Antonio Bastardo as the only lefty in the Phillie bullpen this October.
Posted in 2010 MLB Playoffs | Tagged , | 4 Comments

MLB Postseason Game Times Announced

Posted on October 3, 2010 by bry

The postseason game times have been announced and are posted on mlb.com.

The Phils play on Wednesday at 5:07 and Friday at 6:07.  Sunday’s gametime is still to be announced.

Posted in 2010 MLB Playoffs | Tagged | 3 Comments

Live Blog: McNabb’s Return to Philly

Posted on October 3, 2010 by bry

Sunday, October 3, 2010

4:11:  The one thing I never thought I’d see, but am not that upset that I’m seeing is about to happen:  Donovan McNabb is going to play at the Linc as a visiting player.  I think this calls for a BSB live blog.

4:14:  So, the fans, apparently, greeted Donovan with an overwhelming chorus of cheers.  Yet another disappoinment to the national media, who was DYING for another story of the stupid Philly fans who boo everything (a huge post on this coming soon…).

4:16:  Joe Buck and Troy Aikman here announcing.  If you told me fifteen years ago that these two (the Cowboys QB and the son of Jack Buck) would be the major national announcers, I would probably say that I would really like one of them and really hate the other.  But, I would say I’d probably hate Aikman and love Buck.  But, no, I actually kind of like the ex-Cowboy quarterback (as an announcer), and I HATE the son of the great Cardinals play-by-play guy.

4:18:  Quick note on Sav Rocca, that I wanted to say before that return, and now it doesn’t look as “prophetic.”  Through the three years of watching him punt now, he always hits boomers (averaging over 50 yards a punt), but they are always line drives, which gives the opponents great chances at returns.  I don’t like him very much.

4:19:  There you go, national media – we booed…

4:21:  After a great punt return, a bad penalty, and a strange scoring drive, the Redskins are – just like that – up 7-0.  What just happened???

4:25:  Honestly, there have certainly been better quarterbacks than Michael Vick, but has there ever been a better athlete to play this sport?  Even now, at 31 years old and going through what he has been through, he still makes everyone else look like they’re running in slow motion.  He doesn’t even look like he’s at full speed and he just flat-out runs by these professional athletes.  It’s like a high school team where that one guy on the field is just a lot faster than everyone else.  It’s awesome to watch.

4:27:  Stuffed again on 3rd and short.  You would think that the change from McNabb to Vick would really help the short-yardage packages this year, but it just hasn’t been the case.  It’s so frustrating.

4:31:  Okay, I didn’t really “openly laugh” watching McNabb miss a WIDE OPEN receiver, but I did chuckle a little bit to myself.  I want the best for the guy, but it’s nice to see him miss receivers for someone else.

4:33:  I think Trent Cole might be the most underrated Eagles player I’ve seen in my lifetime.  The guy is a monster and you never hear anything about him.

4:34:  Well, the Phillies (and their 8 pitchers) finally lost to the Braves, 8-7.  So, this assures that they will not face the Giants unless San Fran loses today and tomorrow and beats the Braves on Tuesday.  It’s pretty unlikely, so that’s good.  And, it also means that we are one Padres win away from a dream scenario as a baseball fan–a three-way tie and back-to-back one-game playoffs.  I’m salivating just thinking about it.

4:36:  Let’s keep talking about the Phillies because it’s now 14-0 Redskins.  This is bad…

4:38:  In the last two minutes, I watched Donovan McNabb throw a touchdown to the tight end in a Redskins uniform, and I saw Pat Burrell pop out to the secondbaseman wearing a Giants uniform…weird.

4:42:  Another nice play by LeSean McCoy.  I thought he was a big question mark coming into the season, but he’s been really good so far.  He’s a VERY important player for the next 5 Eagles seasons, I would say.

4:44:  Vick is a lot faster this year than last.  He couldn’t turn the corner last year like he is doing this year.

4:45:  Another note on McCoy.  I always really liked the nickname “Shady,” but I never thought it would catch on quite to the extent that it has.  I was listening to last week’s game on the radio, and I don’t think Merrill Reese or Mike Quick ever said “LeSean” all game.  They only referred to him as “Shady.”

4:47:  A fourth-and-inches conversion!  Interesting.  I’ve said this a thousand times on the blog–I HATE going for it on fourth down.  I don’t necessarily mind it so much at this point on the field because the field goal is long and the punt doesn’t really help, but I really hate it, in general.

4:48:  I’m really surprised by the lack of production from Brent Celek this year.  Especially considering how good Vick was at using the tight end (Crumpler) in Atlanta, it’s really surprising that Celek has been so absent from this offense.

4:50:  It’s a dangerous game we play when we want our quarterback running around like that all the time.  Hey, at least we have our “future” as a backup…

4:52:  Great, and now the field goal is even longer than it would have been if they hadn’t gone for it the first time on fourth down.  See, it doesn’t pay off.

4:53:  Okay, I guess we have to think a little bit now about what it means that Kevin Kolb is in the game.  McNabb on one side, at the Linc, and now Kolb has three quarters to try and make up a 14-point deficit.  Not to be overdramatic, but we could be looking at one of the definitive moments in the next generation of our football team.

5:02:  Interestingly, the Eagles were one of the worst teams in red zone offense last year.  This year, with Vick, they are #1.  The Redskins, with McNabb are #30.  Just sayin’…

5:06:  Well, they just reported that Vick suffered a rib injury and is questionable to return.  Just when we thought this QB situation couldn’t get any more messed up.  A rib injury means that Vick will be “okay” to play, but not 100% for most of the season.  What does that mean?  Do they play him because he’s physically able to play?  Do they play Kolb because Vick isn’t 100%?  Not good, not good.  I would almost rather he have torn his ACL…almost.

5:10:  The Giants have a 2-0 lead on the Padres in the 4th.  Come on, Pads, it’s just one game away from a dream playoff scenario.  As the Phillies are concerned, a Giants win assures a matchup with Cincinnati on Wednesday.  The Reds have named Edison Volquez as their Game One starter.  Obviously, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about this, but I like the matchup.

5:12:  Kolb’s first play on his first drive “back:”  he drops the snap and then throws the ball into the back of a lineman.  Please tell me this won’t be a circus.

5:15:  Now that Jeremy Shockey has left the NFC East, has DeAngelo Hall become the hardest player in the NFL not to hate?

5:17:  It is interesting to see just how different this offense looks like with the two very different quarterbacks.  It just reaffirms my belief that this team would be at its best if they had a 60% Kolb-40% Vick “quarterback platoon” situation.  Can you imagine trying to gameplan a defense to stop that?

5:21:  Someone I know showed me this ESPN article written in January laying out all the reasons why Marty Mornhinweg is the next great NFL head coach.  It’s interesting, at the very least.

5:35:  A delay of game penalty after a booth review AND a timeout???  How the FFFFFF does that happen?  That’s unbelievable.  I don’t have the words right now.  Aikman and Buck are trying to let the Eagles off the hook, but I don’t agree.  That absolutely CANNOT happen, and it’s absolutely on the coach and the quarterback.

5:38:  Okay, it’s halftime, and the way it ended was a perfect ribbon to put on a VERY BIZARRE first half of football.  The defense didn’t look that good, but the offense was effective.  The last drive, though it ended with just 3 points, was encouraging.  If I were a gambling man and had access to the worldwide web, I would absolutely put a hefty wager on the Eagles at -3.5 for the second half.  Actually, now that I think about it…be back in a minute.

6:01:  These penalties are killing me!  I’ve said time and time again that this game is won and lost on third down–both offense and defense.  You have to extend drives on offense and you have to get off the field on defense, and these penalties are just killing the defense.

6:02:  I love that McNabb just threw an interception to the “McNabb compensation pick.”

6:05:  The problem with Kolb has been his “happy feet.”  He seems a little bit more aware in the pocket today, but he still doesn’t look poised.  Happy feet are what derailed the careers of more talented guys like David Carr, Ryan Leaf, and Andre Ware, while poise in the pocket has allowed less talented guys like Jeff Garcia, Drew Brees, and…ahem…Donovan McNabb have great careers.  Hopefully, Kolb can find some poise in the pocket.

6:09:  Another great play by Stewart Bradley.  He has the ability to be a superstar in this league, if he can stay healthy.  He might be the most important player on the Eagles defense.

6:10:  Say what you will about the Philadelphia fans (and I know you will), they are so educated.  The crowd just went nuts when they saw McNabb throw one at the feet of Chris Cooley.  A seemingly mundane play was incredibly exciting to this crowd because we recognize that those passes have been the cause of so much frustration over the years.

6:14:  I don’t know about Philly, but here in Baltimore it’s about to rain – and maybe hard.  So, it might be important to get back in this game now and not rely on a passing game to get back in it late in the fourth.

6:21:  It’s a young team.  It’s a young team.  It’s a young team.  We have to keep reminding ourselves that these growing pains are going to happen.  But, it’s so f’ing frustrating sometimes.  If this McCoy fumble is actually a fumble, that’s absolutely gigantic as far as momentum here.

6:26:  All credit is due to the Redskins defense here, which has played a very good game, but the Eagles are just killing themselves here with penalties and stupid plays.  Ugh…

6:27:  Oh, and Mr. McNabb?  He’s been extremely mediocre.

6:29:  Even with a bye week, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman can’t help but talk about the Dallas Cowboys, huh?  They’re great…

6:38:  Okay, down 11 with thirteen minutes left.  This drive could be one of those season-definers.

6:43:  These holding calls might cost me a remote control.

6:47:  A terribly inaccurate deep ball to an open Jackson, a very costly holding penalty, and completely ignoring a wide open Maclin.  Let’s hope that drive wasn’t “season defining.”

6:52:  Buster Posey just hit a solo HR off an absolutely exhausted San Diego bullpen, and it looks like we won’t have any one-game playoffs this year, and the Phils can get set to host the Reds on Wednesday.  The Giants now lead 3-0 in the bottom of the 8th, so the Padres have to get out of this inning and then somehow find 3 runs against Brian Wilson.

6:59:  Will someone please tell these guys that it’s the fourth quarter.  All these dinks and dunks are great (I actually love that offense), but we’re running very short on time right now.

7:08:  Not that I want to disagree with Joe and Troy again (oh, wait), but I think the defense has actually done enough today.  The offense is to blame for this loss.  The defense has played a decent game, all things considered.

7:09:  Then again, they have to get off the field right now…

7:12:  One minute, a whole field and we need a touchdown.  Kevin Kolb, let’s see what you can do, kid.

7:13:  As much as I don’t really like Rocca as a punter, this Bidwell guy for the ‘Skins is atrocious.

7:17:  How big do things like the McCoy fumble, the missed 2-point conversion, and the STUPID delay of game penalty at the end of the first half look right now?

7:19:  Four seconds left and we need a TD, it’s a shame we lost Riley Cooper earlier in the game…oh ya, and some guy named Vick.

7:22:  Jason Avant has a shot, but can’t come up with the catch in the end zone on the last play of the game, and the Eagles lose to a pretty bad McNabb-led Redskins team, 17-12.  It was one of the most frustrating games I’ve seen in a long time.

Okay, now the difficult part of a 16-game season is knowing exactly how to put one game into perspective.  It’s natural to exaggerate the significance of a single game and make knee-jerk reactions.  And, usually these knee-jerk reactions are overstated.  But, then again, there are only 16 games in a season.  Last year, if the Eagles had not lost to the pitiful Raiders, they would have been able to rest all their starters in Week 17, with the division and the bye locked up.  And, how different could the postseason have been if they got a bye and then a home game?  Two years ago, the Eagles tied the Bengals, which looked like it would be the difference between making the playoffs and watching from home.  So, it’s also wrong to just throw out games as not important.  This one could hurt…a lot.  But, right now, they are still tied for the lead in the division.  But, the hard part of the schedule is upcoming, and Kevin Kolb looks shaky.  Obviously, a lot more on this coming up on the blog.  For now…

Let’s go Phils!

Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

BSB Question of the Day

Posted on October 3, 2010 by bry

Should the Phillies “throw” the game today to almost assure themselves of NOT facing the Giants in the NLDS?

Posted in Questions of the Day | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Quick Pitch: Dreaming of a Three-Way Playoff

Posted on October 2, 2010 by bry

Right now it is a little after 6:00 in the east, and the Padres lead the Giants 4-1 in the 7th.  The Braves and Phillies are scoreless in the 6th.  When the weekend started, my dream scenario was a longshot, but with each passing inning, it becomes more and more possible.

Here is what I was hoping for when the weekend started:

  • A Padres sweep of the Giants in Pac Bell
  • The Phillies taking 2 of 3 from the Braves in Atlanta

If both of those (then unlikely) things happened, the Giants, Padres, and Braves would all finish with the same record and we would be in for a phenomenal situation where the Giants and Padres would play a one-game playoff on Monday for the NL West, with the loser playing a one-game playoff Tuesday night against Atlanta for the wild card.

Well, the Pads won last night and are just 9 outs away from another win today.  The Braves lost last night, so they need to sweep the final two games from the Phils to avoid their one-game playoff fate.

This playoff is good for two reasons:

  1. As a baseball fan, it would be tremendous drama.  Can you imagine the intrigue of a one-game playoff on Monday, with the winner in and the loser to play a one-game playoff the next night?  Unprecedented…and fascinating!
  2. As a Phillies fan, it would be fantastic to have these teams have to burn their pitching staff, considering that there is still a chance that the Phils can match up with one of those West teams in the first round (if the Braves don’t win the wild card).

Now, it’s most likely that it won’t matter because the Phils will probably get the Reds anyway, but a guy can dream, right?  And, my dream is to face the Padres as the wild card on zero days rest!  Imagine if they sweep the Giants this weekend, then lose to Lincecum on Monday, but rebound to beat the Braves on Tuesday, and then have to face a rested Roy Halladay and the Phils the very next night!  Like I said, a guy can dream, right?

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All in the Family: Week 3 Recap, Week 4 Preview

Posted on October 2, 2010 by bry

NOTE: [All in the Family is BSB’s fantasy football league, with one catch–the teams have to all consist of players with the same surname.  The league consists of The Dix (Johnson), the Jack-O’s (Jackson), the Black Smiths (Smith), Jones & the Last-Name Crusade (Jones), Charlie Brown (Brown), and Big Willie Style (Williams).]

Week Three
Week Three of the inaugural season of All in the Family was a real “show me what you’ve got week,” as each team was in position to really make a statement about their chances of challenging The Dix this year.  And, some statements were made loud and clear.

Big Willie Style 50 – The Dix 46
In the huge showdown of 2-0 teams, The Dix were foiled.  Big Willie Style has made it known, to anyone listening, that this league is not going to just be a coronation of a couple of Johnsons.  We’ve got a season, folks.  Big Willie got an incredibly timely performance from the most underappreciated (and underperforming) Williams of the first two weeks–Roy Williams–and it was enough to overcome another big day for Mr. Chris Johnson.

The surprise of the week came from one of the Roy Williams

Like we said in the opening, this win for Big Willie Style (the biggest win in the short history of All in the Family) was fueled completely by their forgotten wide receiver.  Roy (DAL), who only started in 5% of Yahoo! fantasy leagues, went for 117 yards and 2 TDs.  This made up for the inept performance of the two Mikes (TB & SEA), who only combined for 5 points, and the running backs, DeAngelo (CAR) and Ricky (MIA), who only combined for 9 points.  The benching of Cadillac (TB) wasn’t a good move, but it didn’t hurt either, as the Caddy only had 5 points against the Steelers defense.  And, the best defense in the league made the difference again, as Tramon (GB) had 7 tackles and a sack on Monday night to lead his team to victory.  Mario (HOU) didn’t play on Sunday, which hurt because his backup Kyle (BUF) had 6 points on the bench.  Fortunately, this team is good enough for that not to matter.

On the other side, The Dix had a decent game (46 points was the 3rd best total of the week), but in the end, their best player, Chris (TEN), was surprisingly neutralized by Roy Williams’s big day, and the defense for The Dix just isn’t as good as their counterparts for Big Willie Style.  Chris had 27 points on 125 yards and 2 TDs, and they even got some garbage points from QB Josh (TB), who came into a blowout against Pittsburgh.  Team captain, Andre (HOU), added 7 points and Calvin chipped in with 6, but The Dix just can’t match the depth of Big Willie Style, as they got goose-eggs from the #3 WR, #2 RB, DB, and DL.  They only had 4 points total from the defense, which sealed their fate.

We’re not going to get carried away, but Big Willie Style may have established themselves as the team to beat in this league.  If they can continue to get production from so many different positions, this team may actually pull off an incredible run in this inaugural season.  Task #1 is complete, as they are the first team to beat The Dix at their own game.  Roy Williams is clearly the MVP of this week, as he came out of nowhere to make a huge splash in the league.

Jack-O’s 47 – Jones & the Last Name Crusade 38
The second game of the week was a big game for both teams.  Jones & the Last Name Crusade is a really tough 0-2, as they have played two tough games against good teams that they could have won, but missed out on.  While, the Jack-O’s, who got pummelled by The Dix on opening day, but then beat Charlie Brown in Week Two, were trying to establish themselves as a competitor this year.  And, they did just that.  Led by DeSean and Stephen Jackson, the Jack-O’s improved to 2-1 and will have a shot at first place in Week Four, as they take on 3-0 Big Willie Style.  Jones & the Last Name Crusade added a third tough loss to their season, as they just didn’t have the horses in this one.

DeSean is doing it all for the Jack-O's

DeSean (PHI) had a huge 24 points for the Jack-O’s, which coupled with a workman-like 12 more from team captain, Stephen (STL), was just about enough to hold off a game Crusade team.  Brandon (GB) did get the tough start over Fred (BUF) here and it paid off, as Brandon had 4 points, while Fred only would have given 1.  Again, the receiving corps is decimated by Vincent’s no-show, as goose-eggs were had by WR2 and WR3 this week.  Speaking of decimated by off-the-field issues, the defense continues to get blasted.  Tanard (TB) was suspended for the season for use of PEDs and now D’Qwell (CLE), the team’s only linebacker, has been placed on IR and is out for the season.  Lawrence (DET)–who replaced Tanard in the starting lineup–picked up a sack for the Jack-O’s defense.

As for the Jones squad, they were carried, as usual, by their stable of running backs.  Thomas (KC) led the way with 16 and team captain Maurice (JAX) chipped in with 9.  Felix (DAL) had 4 on the bench, so Doogan made a nice coaching decision there.  Jacoby (HOU) and James (GB) are a decent couple of WRs, but they only combined for 7 points on this day.  And, the defense didn’t come through as much as it has earlier in the season.  Pacman (CIN) after a big day last week on the bench, got the start and gave nothing.  Dhani (CIN) had a forced fumble as the only real highlight of a poor showing by the Jones defense.

This was a nice win for the Jack-O’s, as they improve to 2-1–in a three-way tie for second place.  They do have a tough couple of games coming up, so they needed to get some momentum heading into this rough stretch of games.  DeSean Jackson continues to shine, as he gets another game ball this week for the Jack-O’s.

Black Smiths 44 – Charlie Brown 28
Even though the league’s only kicker outscored the league’s only starting QB, the Black Smiths had enough from the rest of the team to take this victory.  Charlie Brown is not going to win many games when their running backs don’t come through.

It was a big day for one of the Steve Smiths

The Black Smiths actually had a pretty bad day from their captain, Steve (CAR), on this day, and a mediocre day from their QB Alex (SF), but got enough from “The Other Steve” (NYG) and a surprising 5 points from Brad (NYJ).  This was enough to overcome another combined goose-egg from the running backs and TEs.  The defense was solid again, as Eric (NYJ) blocked a kick and Will (NO) registered a sack.  They did get an interception from Alphonso (DET), but he was on the bench.

Charlie Brown had a rough day, which is going to happen if they don’t get much from their two running backs.  Ronnie (MIA) had 5 points and Donald (IND) had just 1.  They got nothing else from their offense.  Kicker Josh (STL) made 3 FGs for 12 total points, which is a nice bonus, as he is the only kicker in the league.  The defense was okay–nothing special, but okay.  C.C. (DET), Sheldon (CLE), and Alex (NO) combined for 9 points on the defensive side.  They got a goose-egg from Ricky (OAK).

The Black Smiths got a nice win, despite not giving their best showing.  They improve to 2-1 heading into their showdown with The Dix in Week Four.  The Other Steve (NYG) is the MVP of the week for the Black Smiths, as he had a 100-yard receiving day.

Standings
3-0 Big Willie Style (146 points)
2-1 The Dix (141 points)
2-1 Black Smiths (125 points)
2-1 Jack-O’s (117 points)
0-3 Jones & the Last Name Crusade (105 points)
0-3 Charlie Brown (99 points)

Week Four Matchups
In Week Four, we will get more of a picture of where these teams should be as we have the fourth set of inaugural meetings.  It should be a bit of a separation week, as well, as four of the six teams are 2-1 or 3-0 and they all face each other this week.

The Dix (2-1) – Black Smiths (2-1)
Is it possible that The Dix could lose two in a row?  It’s certainly possible.  With Larry Johnson released and out of football, they have no dependable running back other than, well, the best RB in the game.  The Dix are projected to win this game, 56-40, but you never know.  The Black Smiths have a much better defense, and they do have that wild card of a quarterback.

Big Willie Style (3-0) – Jack-O’s (2-1)
Will there be a letdown for Big Willie Style after their big win over The Dix last week?  We will see, as they face the Jack-O’s, who have won two straight (albeit against winless teams).  Big Willie should win this game, as they are projected to take it 46-34.  The byes have kicked in, and Big Willie loses their two Tampa players, Mike Williams and Cadillac Williams, but they have a couple decent replacements.  The Jack-O’s have their quarterback on the bye, so there is no chance that Tavaris Jackson would get any garbage points in this one.  They also have a decimated defense, as Tyson Jackson is on the bye, Tanard Jackson is suspended for the year, and D’Qwell Jackson is on injured reserve.  Big Willie, on the other hand, has the best defense in the game.  This would be a pretty big upset if the Jack-O’s can pull it off.

Charlie Brown (0-3) – Jones & the Last Name Crusade (0-3)
After Week Four, there will only be one winless team, as the two 0-3 teams battle this week.  Jones & the Last Name Crusade is projected to win 40-37, so this one could go either way rather easily.  The problem for Charlie Brown is that their only two dependable offensive players, Ronnie Brown and Donald Brown are banged up.  They also lost their starting linebacker, Ricky Brown, but their defense is better than that of the Crusade.  Also, Charlie has the only kicker, which always helps.  The Crusade has Maurice Jones(-Drew), who is the best player in this game, so he could carry them to their first ever victory.

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Key Questions for Week after ANOTHER Division Title

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Doogan

He'll Take the Ball in Game 1

On Monday night, as everyone knows, the Phils clinched their fourth consecutive NL East title.  How impressive is that?  How about this stat:  the Phils have just become the third team in NL history to make 4 consecutive post-season appearances.   Also, considering they clinched with 5 games still to play and little drama involved, it’s easy to forget that two months ago it looked like just making the playoffs would be a tough haul, let alone chasing down the Braves and taking the division.

In lieu of any more semi-weekly report cards, it’s time to shift our focus fully to the post-season.  The Phils are right on the verge of clinching the best record in the NL, which almost certainly means that they will be starting the playoffs a week from Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park.  Let’s take a look at some of the key questions Phils fans should be following over the next week:

What will the rotation look like?  Not only was it a pleasure to watch Roy Halladay deal a two-hit shutout on Monday, but it also kept Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee from having to make any tough decisions regarding their Game 1 starter.  Halladay had been struggling (by his standards) of late, but his dismantling of the Nationals (even though it was the Ryan Zimmerman-less Nationals) seals the deal for him as the first pitcher to take the mound in the playoffs.  This also means that Halladay’s regular season is finished, though he’ll need to stay sharp with a side session or two over the next 8 days.  It’s obviously a luxury to be able to get him some needed rest.

My guess is that Hamels will go in Game 2, followed by Oswalt.  I absolutely agree with that order for a 7-game series, because I’d love to hand the ball to Oswalt for a potential Game 7, but for a 5-game series I’m not completely sure.  Either way, I think it will be Hamels in Game 2, and I have no problem with that.

What’s up with Rollins?:  All indications are that Jimmy will be in the starting line-up on Tuesday night, and for the remaining four games after that.  One of the most important aspects of these last five games is Rollins getting back into the flow, and the coaching staff evaluating what they have in him.  The guess here is that Victorino is in the lead-off spot to stay, and that Rollins will be hitting 7th, and maybe flip-flopping with Ibanez up to the 6-hole against lefties.

Who’s on the playoff roster?:  For the 5-game series, it will almost certainly be just 11 pitchers.  Besides the three starters, Joe Blanton will be there.  He could potentially slot into the bullpen and bump Durbin down a notch, but most likely he’ll be a just-in-case long man/extra starter.  Lidge, Madson, Contreras, and Romero will also be there.  That leaves two more spots to be filled by Bastardo, Herndon, Kendrick, or Baez.  I’d go with Bastardo and Kendrick, but a case could be made for the other two.  This could be decided by how these four guys pitch in these final five games.

That leaves room for 14 position players.  Besides the 8 starters, Valdez, Schneider, Gload, and Francisco are locks.  That leaves two spots for Sweeney, Dobbs, and Brown.  Honestly, none of these three brings much to the table.  I guess Sweeney should be on because of his veteran leadership and to give one more right-handed bat.  Dobbs and Brown is a tough call.  They’ve both done nothing, and Brown has been (not surprisingly) lost as a pinch-hitter.  Brown brings the speed, but is he really a good base-runner at this point?  Dobbs brings the experience.  Again, could be determined in these 5 games.

Who do we want to play in the LDS?:  With just 5 games left, there are still three potential first-round foes for the Phils:  San Francisco, San Diego, and Cincinnati.  We’ll certainly take a closer look at these teams next week but for now I most want to play the Padres, followed by the Reds, and then the Giants. 

The Giants as least appealing opponent is a no-brainer.  Tim Lincecum has been back to his old self in September, Matt Cain has been lights out for months, and Jonathan Sanchez has a sub-1.00 ERA in September.  The Phils have the better line-up, but the Giant line-up isn’t the pushover that many think it is, especially with Buster Posey raking in the middle of it.  It’s not hard to imagine Phillie-Giant games coming down to the bullpen, and they have an advantage there.  The Giants should scare you right now if you’re a Phils fan.

Reds or Padres is a fairly tough call, but I want the Padres because their starting pitchers, who are so important to their success, appear to have hit the wall.  Mat Latos is the ace of the staff, but he’s young and appears to have run out of gas.  Jon Garland and Clayton Richard are solid pitchers, but they’re pretty average away from Petco Park.  Yes, the Padre bullpen is absolutely lethal, but with their anemic offense and faltering starting pitching, I don’t think the bullpen will be able to play much of a factor.

The Reds are somewhat opposites to the Padres.  They lead the NL in runs scored, led by likely MVP Joey Votto.  But there is nothing resembling an ace on the staff, with Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto leading the way.  Aroldis Chapman is certainly an added weapon to their bullpen, but Francisco Cordero has had a sub-par season in the closer role, and the rest of the pen just doesn’t really scare you much.

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Vick vs. Kolb: A Provocative, Passionate, Controversial, Polarizing Opinion

Posted on September 24, 2010 by bry

It seems like everyone in the country, with or without ties to Philadelphia, has some sort of opinion on the Eagles quarterback situation right now, so I guess it’s only fair if I chime in with mine, considering I try and run a website devoted to Philadelphia sports. 

So, here it is:

Q:  Who should be the Eagles quarterback right now?
A:  I have absolutely no idea.  No, really, I don’t know.

Have you heard? There's a QB controversy in Philly

I know that opinions like this aren’t exactly going to get me far in the business of modern sports journalism.  I know that the only real successful sports personalities are those that spew brash, polarizing, shocking opinions on every single event across the sports landscape regardless of whether or not they have any knowledge of the issue or any basis for the notions they fervently espouse.  I know that Skip Bayless, Colin Cowherd, and Angelo Cataldi (unadmittedly, but undoubtably, following the trail blazed by Jim Rome) are the guys that ultimately succeed in this profession, whereas pensive, analytical, and rational personalities, like Jody MacDonald, get pushed right out the door.  But, fortunately, I am not doing this as a profession, so I have the liberty to say, once in a while, “I don’t know” when, in fact, I actually don’t know.

So, with the understanding that I am really glad that I don’t have to make the decision on a starting quarterback, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each decision:

Naming Michael Vick as the starting quarterback:

  • PRO:  Vick has played six consecutive quarters at an elite level.
  • PRO:  Vick is a former #1 overall draft pick, who is only 30 years old, so he, arguably, has as much natural ability as anyone in the league.
  • PRO:  The offensive line is in shambles.  They are at least a full season away from any sort of prolonged continuity on the line, which means that whoever is under center for this team is going to face a good deal of pressure.  It’s pretty clear that Vick is better suited for a shoddy offensive line than Kolb–at least right now.
  • PRO:  All that Vick has gone through has humbled him, which means that the things that held him back in Atlanta (e.g. being ill-prepared for games; slacking off in the weight room, film room, and

    Randall? Is that you?

    practice field; not caring about being a strong leader or a good teammate) may have been corrected by Leavenworth Correctional Facility.  In fact, I believe that there is an outside chance that Michael Vick could become one of the top 3-5 quarterbacks in this league.  Before you laugh that off, think about how dominant he was in Atlanta (3 Pro Bowls, multiple playoff victories, a trip to the NFC Championship Game), and then think of the fact that he flat-out admitted that he didn’t really watch any film or scout his opponents and that he didn’t care at all about practice.  Now that he may be rehabilitated mentally, he has a chance of realizing the full potential of his talents–and no one can deny his natural abilities (I would even argue that he is among the handful of greatest pure athletes this country has ever produced).

  • CON:  It’s Michael Vick.  Can we really hitch our wagon to Michael Vick?  I heard a quote from Bill Walsh that went something like this:  “Coaches who get enamored with athleticism are doomed to fall victim to its inherent inconsistency.  And inconsistency is the one thing that inevitably derails any coach, no matter how brilliant he may be.”  I’m not sure to whom this was in reference, but it sure smacks of Michael Vick.
  • CON:  A lot of this Vick craze has been created because of his play in the last 6 quarters–2 of which were against the Packers in a prevent defense and the other 4 were against a really bad Lions secondary.  It’s not like he put up monster numbers against the Steelers or Jets.
  • CON:  The Eagles just traded the best quarterback in the history of their organization and handed $10 million to Kevin Kolb because they believe that he is the future.
  • CON:  Andy Reid offense relies on short drops, precision passing, and consistent play from the quarterback position.  This is not exactly a system tailored for Vick’s skill set.
  • CON:  Vick is 30 years old and plays a reckless style that has proven to lead to injuries.  Any long-term plans for this team that rely upon Michael Vick as the starting quarterback are inherently risky.

Naming Kevin Kolb the starting quarterback:

  • PRO:  There must be something there that makes the coaching staff believe–to the point of trading a franchise quarterback to a division rival–that Kevin Kolb is a future star in this league.  And, honestly, this coaching staff has built up enough capital for me to trust that opinion.
  • The future?

    PRO:  Kolb is younger, more suited for this offense, and the safer bet, long-term.

  • CON:  Did you see the first half of the season?  That concussion may have saved him from an epically bad full-game performance.
  • CON:  The way Michael Vick played against Green Bay and Detroit means that, if Kolb were to play against Jacksonville and then against McNabb’s Redskins next week, the pressure will be enormous.  Are we sure he’s ready to handle that and might it be too much for him at this point in his career?
  • CON:  Is he really fully healthy?  It has only been two weeks since a major concussion, and the way this offensive line is playing, is it smart to throw him out there so soon when we have a more than capable backup ready to play?  I know that Reid claims that Kolb is perfectly healthy, but no one seems to know anything about the science of concussions right now, so as long as there is a viable second option, why take a chance?

[Quick Tangent:  There is another real, distinct possibility, and I’ve been saying it on this website for 6 months now.  It’s a little crazy, but not out of the question if you really think about it.  What are the chances that Andy Reid (who has proven in the past to spit in the face of convention and act like he’s the smartest guy in the sport), behind closed doors, is trying to revolutionalize the position of quarterback?  What if the “starting quarterback” is nothing more than the guy who takes the first snap?  What if his plan all along has been to experiment with a two-quarterback system?  It sounds crazy, but ten years ago everyone scoffed at dual running back systems and now every team either has or wants to have two good running backs to share the load.  You have to admit with two guys with such opposite skill sets, a cruel schedule in a brutal division, and the youngest team in the NFL, this is the perfect season to do it.  Now, I’m not saying that I think it will work, and I’m not even saying that Andy Reid thinks it will work.  I’m just saying that I think we both think that it’s worth a shot, and now is a good time to do it.  Just throwing it out there…]

Okay, now, I still have absolutely no idea what is the right call in this situation.  My initial reaction was “there is no way that Kolb should lose his spot to an injury, especially with the big unknown of Michael Vick.”  But, to be honest, the more I’ve thought about it (and I’ve thought way too much about it), I have come around and now I believe that starting Vick is the right move, for a couple reasons:

  1. It’s really hard to turn your back on a guy with that kind of talent.  He is, without a doubt, a once-in-a-lifetime talent.  Now, whether he has the makeup, intelligence, and drive to become a once-in-a-lifetime quarterback is a whole other matter, but it’s really hard not to give him the opportunity to do it Eagle green.
  2. As young as they are (the youngest team in the league), I still believe that this team has a legit shot to win right now, and Vick is pretty clearly the better option for September 26, 2010.  Whether he is the best option for December 26, 2010, or November 26, 2012, is another question, but we can cross that bridge when we come to it.
  3. And, this is the one that, when I thought of it, finally convinced me that Vick is the right decision:  Whichever quarterback starts Week Three will have a boatload of pressure on him, and has a legitimate probability of wilting under that pressure and failing at some point this season. 

If Vick is the guy and fails, then he goes back to being a backup quarterback this year, Kolb rides in on a white horse to try and save the day, and whether he does or not, there is no question that he is the guy for the future because we tried Vick and that didn’t work.  We then cut ties with Vick at the end of the year, wish him well, and turn everything over to Kevin Kolb with a young, talented set of weapons around him, an improving O-line, and a backup named Kafka who is no threat to the job security of our young franchise quarterback.  2010 is just chalked up as a rebuilding year, and we’re ready to compete again in 2011 and beyond.  BUT…

…If Kolb is named the starter and he fails, then what?  Do we go to Vick in Week Ten to try and save the season?  What if he does?  What if he doesn’t?  Is Kolb’s confidence ruined?  Worse yet, do even have any clue whether he can play or not, considering the only shot he got was with another guy breathing down his neck on a team with a shoddy O-line and a struggling defense?  And, do we sign Vick and trade Kolb?  If he fails, does he even have any value, at that point?

Basically, here it is.  If Vick plays and fails, we’re no worse off than we were before Kolb’s concussion.  We’ve got, what we believe to be, a franchise quarterback ready to step in and play when the team is ready to compete in 2011.  But, if Kolb plays and fails, we have an absolute cluster-f#*& of a quarterback situation.  In what seems to be counter-intuitive, going with the older quarterback is probably the best decision for the long-run.  Sounds weird, but I think it’s probably true

The moral of the story…it’s hard to be an NFL head coach.  I’m glad we’ve got one of the best.

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All in The Family: Weeks 1 & 2

Posted on September 23, 2010 by bry

Well, with the start of the NFL playoffs and the surging Phils, we’re not at the point of apologizing for a delay in updating our BSB fantasy football league (Jack-O vs. The Dix), but it’s getting close to that point.  And, there has been some fascinating upheaval in the All in the Family BSB fantasy football league.  So, let’s catch up on the big offseason news and then give recaps of the first two weeks of thrilling action.

Expansion
First of all, we are proud to announce that the All in the Family league has expanded AGAIN.  At the 11th hour of the inaugural season, our league expanded and brought in two more teams.  This first season will consist of six teams–all of which are populated by “brothers” (or at least guys with the same last name).

  • We all know that the league was formed in the spirit of The Dix–Waters team of all Johnsons
  • The impetus of the league was when Bry challenged Waters with the Jack-O’s (all Jacksons)
  • Doogan and J followed suit, entering Jones & the Last Name Crusade (all Joneses) and the Black Smiths (all Smiths), respectively
  • At the 11th hour, David wanted in with Big Willie Style (all Williamses), and Ina rounded out the 6-team league with Charlie Brown (all Browns)

So, that is where we our in Season 1:  six teams, an absolute grudge match every week, and all the marbles going to the winner of All in the Family.  We also included, in the rules, that there would be four individual defensive players each week (1 DL, 1 LB, 1 DB, and 1 Flex).

Week One
The kickoff was, well, everything we hoped it would be and then some, as there were grudge matches left and right, one semi-close game, and a ton of excitement and hype.  Let’s run down the games one-by-one, starting with the challenge that started it all.

The Dix 51 – Jack-O’s 20
There are no words to really express the statement that The Dix made in their very first game in this league.  They have been preparing for this game for 8 years now, playing exhibitions against “real” teams, and all of it came to a head, as they dominated the Jack-O’s to make a statement to the rest of the league that they are the big dogs. 

The biggest of The Dix made his mark in Week One

In fact, with the exception of one player, The Dix didn’t even really have a great week.  But, that one player, Chris (TEN) had 29 points, single-handedly outscoring the entire Jack-O team.  It was a down week for the usually fantastic receiving corps, as Andre (HOU) only had 3 and Calvin (DET) only had 5.  Bryant (DET) actually chipped in 2 for the best set of receivers in the league.  The other running back, Larry (WAS), got a point for the team he used to carry.  The leader of the defense was LB Derrick (KC), who had 11 tackles and a forced fumble.  Jarret (BAL) also chipped in a half of a sack.

On the other side, the Jack-O’s were not very good in this one.  Their best contributor was their captain, Steven (STL), who had 9.  Not having Vincent (SD) is brutal, but so is the poor performance of DeSean (PHI) didn’t help.  Fred (BUF) had 2 points as a starting RB, while Brandon (GB) scored 8 filling in for Ryan Grant, but wasn’t in the starting lineup.  Tavaris (MIN) didn’t play, so they got nothing from the QB spot.  The defense was okay, despite the late scratch of LB D’Qwell (CLE) from the Browns starting lineup.  Kareem (HOU), Tanard (TB), and Tyson (KC) all played well.

In the end, the Jack-O’s just had no answer for Chris Johnson and took a brutal beating on opening day.

Black Smiths 39 – Jones & the Last Name Crusade 30
With the two teams’ offensive stars essentially cancelling each other out, the closest game of the opening week came down to a big point total by, arguably, the best defense in the league–The Black Smiths.

Daryl leads the Black Smiths to a Week One victory

The Black Smiths did get 14 points from their big gun, Steve (CAR), which was enough to make up for zero points from the running back position.  The Other Steve (NYG) had 4, while Brad (NYJ) actually rushed for 27 yards and made a tackle on special teams for 3 points.  The big advantage of the Black Smiths over everyone else is that they actually have a quarterback, but this week, they won without him, as Alex (SF) only had 1 point.  But, again, the best defense in the league made the difference–particularly Daryl (JAX), who had a monster game with 5 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed.  Eric (NYJ) and Antonio (HOU) also contibuted for this stellar defensive unit.

On the other side, Jones & the Last Name Crusade also prides themselves on their defense, but for its depth more so than its top-level talent.  The captain of the squad, Maurice (JAX), did his part with 11 points, while Felix (6) rewarded Doogan for starting him over Thomas (KC) by putting up 6.  The defense is deep, but depth is less important when there are only 4 spots.  Dhani (CIN) led the way with 7 tackles.

The Black Smiths got a nice victory here on opening day, despite no production from Alex Smith.  Their defense might be the best in the league, and Daryl Smith gets the game ball from this one.

Big Willie Style 50 – Charlie Brown 33
It was actually a pretty encouraging debut for an under-appreciated Charlie Brown team, but Big Willie Style really answered the bell and won decisively.  They may take exception to the crowning of the Black Smiths as the league’s best defense.  Theirs is not too shabby, and it carried them today–well, that and a couple of Mikes.

Mike & Mike are stylish for Big Willie

Big Willie Style might be a real sleeper team this year (especially if Yahoo! ever gets their act together and changes the starting lineup configuration like I asked them to before the first week).  Here, in Week One, they had the most balanced attack of all the teams in a nice win.  They were led by Cadillac (TB), who put up 10 points without a touchdown.  Their captain, DeAngelo (CAR), added 6, while a pair of Mikes (TB and SEA) added 10 and 6, respectively.  There wasn’t even any room for Ricky’s (MIA) 6 points on the bench.  And, that was only the offense.  The defense was fantastic, as well.  Tramon (GB) had a fumble recovery and 3 pass defenses.  Mario (HOU) had 2 tackles and a sack, and D.J. (DEN) had 9 tackles.  There even got 5 tackles and a sack from a guy on their bench, Corey (DET).  What a week for Big Willie Style!

On the other side of this game, you have to be somewhat encouraged if you’re a Charlie Brown fan, as they hung tough with a good team, despite only getting points from one offensive player.  Their captain, Ronnie (MIA), hit for 15 points.  The big advantage for Charlie Brown is that they have the only two kickers in the league.  Their starter, Josh (STL) gave them 8 points.  They also got a combined 10 points from their two defensive backs, C.C. (DET) and Sheldon (CLE).

People should take notice–Big Willie Style might just be a real contender for the title here.  They have a ton of balance and talent to boot.  I’m not so sure The Dix are “scared,” but they might be a little concerned.  The game ball here goes to Mike Williams–both of them.

Week Two
The rivalries of Week One gave way to another set of great games in Week Two.

Big Willie Style 45 – Black Smiths 41
The best game of the week pitted two teams that won their first games and were ready to try and go 2-0.  Another balanced attack by Big Willie Style proved enough to withstand a furious Monday night comeback, let by Alex Smith.  The battle of the two best defenses was swayed by a HUGE day from Mario Williams, and Big Willie Style is 2-0 heading into a Week Three showdown with The Dix.

Again, the Mikes combined for a big number, but this one was all TB Mike, as he had 11.  SEA Mike only had 1.  And, again, the running back combo of DeAngelo (CAR) and Cadillac (TB) proved potent, putting up 13 points.  Roy (DAL) continues to struggle, but there might be help on the horizon, as this deep team had some decent wide receiver performances on the bench from Roydell (WAS) and Stephen (ARI).  But, the real story here is the defense.  Maybe spurred on by people dubbing the Black Smiths the league’s best defense, this unit was fantastic.  Mario (HOU) had 3 sacks and 2 pass defenses.  D.J. (DEN) had 3 tackles and a 0.5 sacks.  Pat (MIN) added a forced fumble, while the other part of the Williams Wall, Kevin (MIN) had a sack on the bench.  This defense is really good.

Alex sure made Big Willie sweat on Monday night

Down 21 points heading into the Monday night game, the Black Smiths were almost carried all the way back by the league’s only quarterback, Alex (SF), who threw for 275 yards and 1 TD, but it wasn’t quite enough.  Good Steve (CAR) had 13, while Okay Steve (NYG) had 4.  The rest of the offense was non-existent…almost literally.  And, as for the highly-touted defense, well they struggled.  Antonio (HOU) had 0, Eric (NYJ) had 1 and Will (NO) had 3 to try and help the Monday night comeback (ironically, Will Smith couldn’t beat Big Willie Style).  The lone bright spot on this side of the ball was, again, Daryl (JAX), who followed up a big Week One with 7 more points in Week Two.

Although Alex Smith made it really interesting, Big Willie Style’s defense led the way to another victory.  Mario Williams was clearly the player of the game, and this team has a lot of confidence heading into its Week Three showdown with The Dix.

The Dix 44 – Jones & the Last Name Crusade 38
With the impressive win for Big Willie Style and a bit of a struggle for The Dix, this league might not be the runaway we thought it would be.  The Dix were very vulnerable this week, and Jones & the Last Name Crusade nearly pulled off the upset.  Both teams’ captains had monumentally terrible weeks, which made for an interesting matchup.  In fact, it was defensive personnel decisions that will have Jones fans wondering what could have been.  

Some teams tout their defense (Big Willie Style); some tout their running backs (Jones & the Last Name Crusade); some even tout the fact that they actually have a quarterback (Black Smiths), but no one has a unit quite like the wide receiving corps of The Dix.  (Yes, I said no has a unit like The Dix.)  And, they proved that in Week two.  Calvin (DET) put up 16 in the early game and maybe that inspired Andre (HOU) to top it, as he went for 24 in the late game.  This was very much needed, as their go-to guy, Chris (TEN), only had 2 points.  They didn’t get much from their defense either, as Derrick (KC) was the only starter to get any points whatsoever, logging 7 tackles.

Andre celebrates The Dix 2-0 start

Just like Chris Johnson of their opponent, the go-to guy for Jones & the Last Name Crusade faltered this week.  Maurice (JAX) only had 2 points.  His slack was picked up by touchdowns from Jacoby (HOU) and James (GB), and 83 yards rushing from Thomas (KC), but it still stings to lose to The Dix by 6 when your best player only rushes for 31 yards and a fumble.  But, the worst part of this loss for Jones is the points that were left on their bench on the defensive side of the ball.  Big days from Pacman (CIN) and David (JAX) were wasted on the bench, as poor days from Jason (TEN) and Brad (GB) counted as starters.

This is a real gut-wrenching way to lose a game for Jones & the Last Name Crusade, but what did we expect when we entered a league against a team that’s been playing this game for almost a decade?  The Dix just know how to win, and they got it done today without the help of their best player.  As good as Calvin Johnson was today, Andre Johnson was the clear MVP of this Week Two matchup.

Jack-O’s 49 – Charlie Brown 38
What an exciting week, as every game was within 12 points.  This one went to the Jack-O’s, as their two best players really stepped up big time.  Charlie Brown got a surprisingly great game from Donald Brown and a special teams touchdown from the unlikely source of Antonio Brown, but it wasn’t enough, and they fall to 0-2.

With Vincent out, the fate of the Jack-O's season rests in the hands of DeSean

This game for the Jack-O’s was all about DeSean (PHI), who, overly anxious to make up for the MIA Vincent (SD) in the first week, rebounded with a huge Week Two.  135 yards and a TD gave DeSean a big 22 points.  They also got 13 from their captain, Steven (STL), even though he failed again to reach the end zone.  It’s tough now with three running backs, as Brandon (GB) had 10 in the starting role, but they also had 10 on the bench from Fred (BUF).  The defense continues to be a big question mark for this team, as they only got 5 total points from their defense, and now it has gotten a lot worse, as safety Tanard (TB) has been suspended for at least the rest of this season for his second substance abuse infraction.  (By the way, am I the only person in the country devastated by the suspension of Tanard Jackson?  You know, other than, well, Tanard Jackson.)

Charlie Brown falls to 0-2 with the loss here, but there were some positives to take away here.  The offense might not be just the Ronnie (MIA) Show, as Donald (IND) had a huge day and Antonio (PIT) had a punt return for a TD.  And, on defense, the secondary continues to be the bright spot of the team, as Sheldon (CLE) has another interception, and C.C. (DET) plays another nice game.

Charlie Brown is going to struggle this year, but they do have a future here.  Donald Brown looked good and the defense is okay.  The Jack-O’s–led by game MVP DeSean Jackson–got the win here, but this was a really bad week for the team off the field.  Not only does their awful defense lose maybe its best player to suspension (Tanard Jackson), but Vincent Jackson wasn’t traded, which means he cannot play until Week Seven, and there are reports that he might not play at all this year.  This Vincent Jackson news is absolutely crippling to the Jack-O’s…but hey, they are still just one Brett Favre injury away from a starting quarterback.

Standings
2-0 Big Willie Style (96 points)
2-0 The Dix (95 points)
1-1 Black Smiths (80 points)
1-1 Jack-O’s (70 points)
0-2 Charlie Brown (71 points)
0-2 Jones & the Last Name Crusade (67 points)

Week Three Matchups
Week Three is a huge week to see where these teams really are, at this point, with some nice matchups, headlined by a battle for first.

The Dix (2-0) vs. Big Willie Style (2-0)
Clearly the best two teams in the league through two weeks and they get to prove it on the field in Week Three.  Both teams are 2-0.  Big Willie Style has 95.7 total points, while The Dix have 95.4.  Can the Big Willie Style defense, which is fantastic, overcome The Dix fantastic offense?  We will see.  Chris Johnson gets to run on the Giants, while Andre Johnson gets to catch passes against the Dallas secondary.  The matchups for Big Willie Style are not good at all.  DeAngelo Williams has to run on the Cincy defense.  Cadillac and Mike Williams have to face Pittsburgh’s defense (and might be benched), while Ricky Williams has to run on the Jets defense.  It’s not a great week for Big Willie Style to get their big test, but they are scared, as they are playing with a lot of confidence.  For what it’s worth, the Yahoo! projections have Big Willie Style winning this game 53-51.

Jack-O’s (1-1) vs. Jones & the Last Name Crusade (0-2)
The Jack-O’s will try and build upon their first win last week, while Jones & the Last Name Crusade will try and bounce back from a brutally tough loss to The Dix.  The big question mark in this game is Maurice Jones(-Drew) and whether he’ll be the guy that Jones fans hoped he would be.  The Jack-O’s still aren’t whole and are vulnerable here.  Coach Bry has a decision to make between Brandon Jackson and Fred Jackson, so it’s hard to say what will come of that.  The Yahoo! projections have Jones & the Last Name Crusade as favored to win this game 42-36.

Black Smiths (1-1) vs. Charlie Brown (0-2)
The third matchup pits a solid Black Smith squad against a young and hungry Charlie Brown team looking for their first ever victory.  The question mark for Charlie Brown is will Donald Brown match against Denver what he did against the Giants.  If so, they’ve got a real shot here.  On the other side, the Black Smiths were supposed to have a phenomenal defense, but, outside of Daryl Smith, it has been rather ordinary so far.  Another question for the Black Smiths is will they ever get anything out of a running back?  That remains to be seen.  This game might pivot around each team’s big advantage that they have over the rest of the league.  The Black Smiths have the league’s only quarterback, so will Alex Smith put up big numbers that can’t be matched?  Conversely, Charlie Brown has the league’s only kicker, so will Josh Brown be the difference this week?  We will find out.

Until next week…

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Phillies Semi-Weekly Report Card #15

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Doogan

Record since last Report Card:  7-0

Overall Record:  92-61 (1st in division, 6 ahead of Atlanta)

I could go on and on about what a great week this was, what a great month it’s been, and how good this team is, in general, but let’s cut right to the chase:  the Phillies are the team to beat.  Not in the division, not in the National League, but in all of baseball.  At no point in this incredible run of success that they’ve had over the last few years have I made that statement, but I made it after Monday night’s win, and obviously two more wins over a very good Braves team did nothing to change that opinion.

With all due respect to the other contenders, especially the Yankees and Rays, I see no reason why the Phillies, especially with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, shouldn’t be the favorite to win the World Series. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re some sort of lock to win it, or even win the pennant again.  I’ve heard some Phillie fans dismissing the thought of a team like the Reds or Giants beating the Phils in the first-round.  In a playoff series, anything can happen.  But with the pedigree of this Phillies team, the way they rise to the occasion again and again and again, with three aces in the rotation, and a back-end of the bullpen that is rounding into shape, they are the most likely team to win it all next month.

On to the grades:

Position Players:  A stellar week with the bats, highlighted by 19 runs combined in the first two games of the week (vs. Marlins and Nats) and a 4-run 9th inning to beat the Nats 7-6 on Sunday.  Seemingly in the middle of it constantly were Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez.  Werth’s power stroke has come back in a big way, as he hit 4 homers this week en route to a .440 (11-25) average.  His two-run bomb completed that comeback on Sunday. 

Ibanez delivered key RBI hits in the Atlanta series.  His two-run double in the 6th on Tuesday gave the Phils a 3-run cushion, and his RBI double in the bottom of the 8th on Wednesday accounted for the only run of the game.  He hit .464 (13-28) on the week, and over the last two weeks, he’s hitting .440 with 10 extra-base hits.

Utley and Ruiz each had another nice week, while Wilson Valdez continued to contribute, hitting .360 (9-25) with his usual handful of jaw-dropping plays at short.  Who knows how many runs this offense would have put up this week if the table-setters, Victorino and Polanco, hadn’t struggled.  Those two combined to hit .200 (12-60), with just one extra-base hit.  Polanco’s elbow injury continues to effect his power, as his homer-less drought has now reached two months, and he has just one long ball since May 9th.

Grade:  A-

Starting Pitchers:  Very similar to the last few weeks here, and that’s not just a good thing, it’s a great thing.  Oswalt and Hamels again vied for Start of the Week, and the nod has to go to Oswalt for his effort against Atlanta on Wednesday night, even though he got a no-decision.  He went 7 shut-out innings, allowing one hit and striking out eight.  In his other start of the week he beat the Nats by allowing one run in six innings.

Hamels lone start of the week came on Monday against Atlanta, when he set the tone for the series with 8 excellent innings, allowing one run.  Stat of the Week:  Cole has now allowed one run or less in 10 of his last 14 starts, including the last 5 in a row.  Halladay had two more good-but-not-great starts, allowing three runs in each and going 6 and 7 innings, respectively.  He’s allowed at least 3 runs in six consecutive starts.  It would be nice to see him throw up a real gem here in one of his final starts to go into the playoffs feeling strong.

Blanton and Kendrick were both decent, going 6 innings apiece against the Nats over the weekend.  Blanton allowed four runs and Kendrick gave up two.  In all, the starters combined for a 2.73 ERA, and struck out 44 batters while walking just 7.

Grade:  A-

Bullpen:  What an electrifying performance Lidge gave to close out the game on Monday.  He came in with a two-run lead, with the Bank rocking like a playoff game, and he was facing the 2-3-4 hitters in the Braves line-up.  His slider was diving like we haven’t seen in a while, and he had complete command of it.  He was very shaky in a non-save situation last Wednesday in Florida, but that could be chalked up to the old “closers struggle in non-save situations” phenomenon.  He converted four save opportunities after that.  His consistency is not at the level that it was in ’08, but for the most part he very much resembles the guy he was two years ago.

Yet another dominating week for Ryan Madson, who allowed no runs in his four outings.  There’s been a lot of talk about him being over-used, and there’s something to be said for that, but it’s worth noting that he missed two months with that toe injury early in the year, so his season innings total is still well below what it was the past two years.  Jose Contreras had a couple good outings and should have the 7th inning role locked down.  Not that the Phils need a 7th inning man that often considering how good their starters are.

Grade:  A-

Up Next:  An off day on Thursday before the Mets come to the Bank for three and then a trip to D.C. for three before going to Atlanta to close out the regular season.  To be frank, the division race is all but over.  These next 9 games will be mostly about answering certain questions going into the playoffs.  For example:  What will be the order of the aces in the rotation?  Can J.C. Romero be trusted in key situations?  Will Jimmy Rollins be ready to go, and where will he hit in the batting order?  Will Mike Sweeney, Greg Dobbs, and/or Dom Brown be on the playoff roster?

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