* The Eagles traded long snapper Jon Dorenbos last night to the New Orleans Saints for a 2019 seventh-round draft pick.
Dorenbos was the longest tenured Philadelphia athlete. He was an excellent long snapper and gained national fame last year by performing magic on the TV show "America's Got Talent."
I have memories of Jon. My first time at Eagles training camp in Lehigh, I remember Jon kneeling close to me on the sidelines as we watched morning practice. it was a really hot August day, and Jon was playfully teasing the Eagle fans in the stands by threatening to spray all of us with a water hose.
His interactions with fans is well-known and will be missed. He was dun, had personality and showed us that a football player can be just a regular guy too.
Rick Lovato will take over long snapping duties. He filled in for Dorenbos last season after Dorenbois suffered a gruesome wrist dislocation. Lovato will be on the hot seat. One bad snap on a punt or field goal and fans will compare him to Dorenbos, criticizing the front office for dealing the popular Dorenbois
. Lovato better be perfect.
* The Phillies once again beat up on the Atlanta Braves last night, their 7th straight victory this season at Citizens bank park over the Braves. The Phils are 12-2 against Atlanta this summer, with five games left on the schedule.
Rhys Hoskins did not homer last night but he did single and double.He played first base, his natural position. I think we will see more and more of Hoskins at first, as the organization wants to see him there for next year. It's pretty clear that Tommy Joseph will be gone in 2018. Plus the team needs to open outfield spots, with Herrera, Williams, Altherr all fighting for playing time. Add Dylan Couzins to the mix and it makes sense to keep Hoskins at first base where he belongs.
Aaron Nola got his 10th win. He was out a month, so he could very well be around 13-15 wins. He will be the ace in 2018, with several free agents pitchers or trades filling out the rotation, aside from the muttled young candidates like Efflin, Pivetta, Thompson, Eischelman, Valasquez and Lively.
Funny, not too long ago the team seemed to have depth at pitching and their position players were a concern. All of a sudden it's reversed: the position players and the offense have stepped up and we haven't seen Crawford or Kingery yet) and the young pitching staff has regressed.
Pitching coach Bob McClure is all but gone, as are many, if not all, of the coaches.
* The Flyers are retiring Eric Lindros' No. 88 in a ceremony on January 18. Good for Lindros, who has turned his fate around with Flyer fans. Maybe Lindros never did live up to all of hype surrounding him, but he still was a great player. Injuries hampered him as did off the ice controversies, especially regarding contract disputes and his father.
The Wells Fargo center will be an interesting venue this fall and winter sports season, with the Flyers expected to improve and push their young talent, and the Sixers showcasing their litany of young stars. Suddenly, it will be the place to be once again, after recent seasons of gloom. Finally there is hope and excitement for our winter teams.A reason to watch and attend the games again, if one can afford to do so.
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