PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

EAGLES-

* Again, Coach Doug Pederson worries me. Last night was another case of questionable play-calling. The very first play, RB LaGarrett Blount was stopped on a sweep play.

First, Blount was signed to be a more downhill runner, a goal line bruise, not a fast guy on sweeps. Second, the offensive line sucked again last night ( more on that later).

Stupid play-calling. Pre-season or not. Pederson gets too cute. Is he going to be as cute when the real season starts in Washington?

I'll hold my breath every game, every quarter, every play that Pederson doesn't screw-up.

* The refs were once again a disgrace last night at the Linc. 24 penalties called. Slow, boring game. Can't be that way once the season starts. No wonder TV ratings are down. No wonder the Red Zone ratings on the NFL Network are up.

* Mychal Kendricks played well once again. He is making his case to be a part of a line-backing corps that needs depth. Either that or he is increasing his trade value. He is still too small but if he flies around the ball like he did as a rookie he can still be a valuable piece of the defense.

* So, the defense played well- including an interception by new Eagle CB Darby, but the offensive again looked sluggish. OK, the O-line was without Jason peters. Kelcie continues to get crushed on the inside. The offensive doesn't look cohesive yet. Too many field goals and not enough touchdowns. Same old story.

* Where is Nick Foles? I'm tired of seeing QB Mike McLoin. Foles has a sore shoulder. Why sign him if he can't play? It's crazy to have aback-up quarterback who hasn't seen the field yet. I'm sure Wentz will play into the third quarter next Thursday against Miami. Foles needs to finish that game, plus play the entire final pre-season contest vs. the Jets.

*I was happy the Birds drafted RB Darnell Pumphrey last spring. He is the NCAA all-time leading rusher, a small but quick Darren Sproles-type of guy. But he has disappointed so far. He muffed a punt in the Green Bay game last week. He can't seem to make tacklers miss. RB Corey Clement from Wisconsin,a undrafted free agent, was impressive against the Bills and right now should be considered ahead of Pumphrey on the depth chart.

* Nelson Agholor did OK last night. He needed more passes thrown his way. Two other wide receivers shone brightly as well: Greg ward Jr. and Marcus Johnson. With Jordan Matthews shuffling off to Buffalo, someone needs to step up and take hold of the slot receiver job. It will be an interesting battle the last two weeks of camp.

It's good not to get too excited or too down from an exhibition game. Don't overreact. But also be aware of some potentially concerning issues that may develop as patterns, issues that should be addressed now, such as Pederson's play-calling.

PHILLIES-

* The Phils are now losing to equally bad teams. San Diego and San Francisco area combined  103-141. the team is a season-low 33 games below .500. They are a dismal 19-45 on the road. Can't get much worse.

* John Middleton, are you out there? you need to clean house the day after the season ends. If Pete Mackanin goes- which he will 9 how can you justify bringing back a manager that loses well over 100 games)- so much Matt Klentak. The entire coaching staff needs to be fired as well. The organization needs a fresh start with coaches who will grow with the younger players. Sadly, Larry Bowa must be shown the door too.

No one really cares about the Phillies now that football season is almost here. It's been a spring and summer of embarrassment. We knew the club would be bad but not this bad, and the front office hasn't helped matters with terrible free agent signings, mediocre trades and stupid decisions regarding promoting young prospects.

* My final Phillies game is next Saturday night against the world champion Cubs. My girlfriend's very first Phillies game. It will be nice to take in the ballpark- Bull's Bar-B-Que, the Majestic Clubhouse store, etc...Hopefully the game itself isn't a form of cruel and inhuman punishment
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* Tommy Joseph is showing why I have always thought of him as an average player ( and why Columist Marcus Hayes is a moron and a shill for Matt Kletak and the Phillies). He has grounded into 19 double plays this year. Average at best defensive player. Below-average hitter. OK power guy. Doesn't take enough walks or get on base. No wonder no one wanted him at the trade deadline.

Rhys Hoskins needs to play first base next year. Period. Joseph needs to be packaged in the off-season, ideally to an American League club where he could be a DH.

Speaking of changing positions, with Hoskins suddenly moving to left field ( which I don't agree with), why not try Scott Kingery at third base? He won't be called up Philadelphia until spring training. See if he can handle the position now, in case you make Mycha;l Franco trade bait during the winter. Keep Cesar Hernandez. An infield of Kingery, Galvis/Crawford, Hernandez and Hoskins is young, speedy and has power, and still good defensively.

* Why isn't young catcher Jorge Alfaro playing more? Cameron Rupp isn't the future. He is what he is- a below-average defensive catcher who has limited offensive skills. Rupp became the everyday catcher basically because no one else could fill in for the aging Carlos Ruiz.

Alfaro hit a laser-like home run to center field a few nights ago in San Diego. he hasn't played since.

Like this entire loser organization, there doesn't see to be a plan.

Go Eagles.

* Finally, the LA Dodgers are amazing. Over games games above .500. Challenging for the all-time win total in a season ( 116). All this without ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw for a good chunk of the summer.

Shows what wise drafting and player development can do. The Dodgers have always had one of the best farm systems in the majors.

Los Angeles was my pick to win the World Series before the season began. I like their chances even more. The Cubs and Nationals will give them a tough time in the playoffs. But look for a Dodger-Red Sox series, which would be great for baseball fans everywhere.