PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

EAGLES-

You can't over-react about the Eagles' 24-9 loss last night to the Packers in Green Bay. But here are my thoughts...

*  Carson Wentz looked good, going 4-4 and directing the Birds to a touchdown. Per reports, he has had a good camp so far. Most importantly, he stayed healthy.  And he didn't have his top two targets- Jeffery and Smith- available.

* as reported, the secondary looks bad. GM Howie Roseman needs to look for help. Kelcie, Kendricks and maybe Matthews are trade chips ( although I wouldn't be too anxious to deal Jordan Matthews and give Nelson Agolhor a starting receiver job).. Either way, Roseman can't go into the season with these corner backs.  They got manhandled at the line of scrimmage and committed several uncalled pass interference penalties.

* Coach Doug Pederson still worries me. I get it about his play-calling. No coach will show their complete arsenal in pre-season. And I agreed with his decision to go for two points after the Mack Hollins touchdown.

I just hope Pederson doesn't get too cute in certain situations. When you've got a 3rd down and short yardage scenario, hand the ball off to RB Blount- that's why you got him. Keep it simple, Doug. Don't try to out-smart yourself.

* The offensive line looked shaky at times. Center Jason Kelcie is just too small, and the packers over-powered him last night, rushing up the middle. Take away pass-blocking, running the ball was a problem too, mainly because the line wasn't getting much of a push.

Speaking of runners, the Birds seem to still lack that go-to runner consistently. Smallwood may be a 20 carry guy, but he is coming off an injury. Darren Sproles is a situation type guy. So is rookie Darnell Pumphrey. Blount seems to be strictly a short-yardage guy. It will be interesting who breaks out of the pack to become an every- down runner.

Either way, the Eagles need to establish a running game and not force Wentz to throw the ball 40 tines a game.

* Special teams had a rough time. Pumphrey fumbled a punt, and the punt returning team gave up a touchdown. I'm not worried about special teams, as the Eagles were good in special teams last season. Mack Hollins, who will make the squad as a wide receiver, is a good special teams player and once the unit plays together more, they should be ok.

* WR Nelson Aglohor dropped another ball last night, reverting back to his old-self. He has had a good training camp but it seems the pressure of a real game gets to him.

Interesting if Aglohor makes the team or is traded. With a lot more competition from the wide receiving corps, Agoholr needs to step it up in the pre-season games, or else I would release him and cut your losses. I don't trust him to make a play when needed.

The Eagles play at the Linc next Thursday night, taking on the Buffalo Bills. The starters should play the entire first half, which should give us a better idea what this club looks like.

PHILLIES-

* The Mets had the Phillies' number again last night, winning 10-0. What is it about the Mets? And if there is one team you like to see the Phils crush, it's those damn New Yorkers and their obnoxiuos fans ( Chris Christie).

* Finally, Rhys Hoskins is up with the big club, playing left field. Why wasn't he tried in the outfield earlier in the season/ It seems there is no plan, or if there is one, the front office is winging it. To throw the rookie in left field, without much of a warning, is a disgrace. Matt Klentak strikes again!

After hitting 29 homers in Lehigh Valley this year, I want to see his bat in the line-up. But why not plet him play his natural position at first base? Tommy Joseph is nothing special. You know what you have in Joseph, and he is an average player. Why the writers in the city keep sucking up to Tommy Joseph is beyond me.

I'll give the Phillies credit for bringing up Hoskins now, rather than wait til September. The injury to Aaron Altherr and trading Howie Kendrick away sort of forced their hand.

I just hope they don't screw around with this kid like they did Darin Ruf.

* Vince Valasquez left the game last night after only one inning, claiming his middle finger on his pitching hand was "numb." His velocity was down and he just didn't look like himself.

You gotta wonder if this will be the thing with Valasquez, nagging injuries. Even if he is moved to the bullpen, with his career be affected by the string of injuries and times spent on the disabled list?

The trade that sent reliever Ken Giles to Houston for Valasquez and two other pitchers, Klentak's first and biggest move so far, looks to be a bad one. Giles is flourishing for the playoff-bound Astros, while Valasquez faces questions about his durability and his future role in Philadelphia.

* The organization has finally announced that Saturday night will be a tribute/celebration of three great Wall of Fame Phillies who passed away during the year- Jim Bunning ( who most of the fans probably don't remember a lick), Dallas Green ( again, Green may be more well-known but most millennials weren't around when he guided the 1980 team to their first world championship). and Darren Daulton ( let's face it: the majority of the fans will be there for Dutch).

Credit the organization for ditching the messy Pete Rose ceremony and diving in with the much more appropriate ceremony to honor these Phillie greats during Alumni Weekend. I'll be there tomorrow night. it should be a special event.

SIXERS-

I can't believe that more Philly fans aren't pissed that the 76'ers are losing a home game this season to play the Boston Celtics in London.

Now that the Sixers are interesting, and tickets are a hot commodity ( the NBA schedule will be released perhaps as early as today), , why give the  long-suffering fans even less of a home schedule;le ( against the coveted rival Celtics, no less)?

The London game was announced after regular season tickets were on sale. So, season-ticket holders already paid their money, yet may lose a home game because they can't make it to England.

Fans should be aware how sneaky and money-hungry the Sixer management is. That's why I may attend one game this season, but no more. I don't want to give my money to a owner who really doesn't care about his fans. So why should I care?