* With division rival superstars Beckham Jr. and Elliot out with injury and soon-to-be suspended, the Eagles have a clear path to 1st place in NFC East. A win at Kansas City today would go a long way to setting up their season
. If they lose to the Chiefs, they return to Philly for their home opener next week with a respectable 1-1 record after two road games. The Giants looked bad with Beckham Jr. last week vs. Dallas. It will be interesting to see how they do Monday night in New York against the Lions. Dallas is in Denver today. They need to pile up the victories now, before Elliot leaves for six games.
The Redskins proved last Sunday vs. The Birds that they aren't going to be a factor this season. They play out in Los Angeles today against the Rams.
So, Philadelphia can take an early stranglehold on the division with an upset win today over Andy Reid. The Giants come to the Linc next Sunday, so the Birds could really do some damage the next few weeks. A trip to LA vs. the Chargers looms in two weeks, then a home game with Arizona ( who doesn't play well int he Eastern time zone).
* Eagles rookie running back Darnell Pumphrey tore his hamstring in practice this week and will be out a while. No biggie. He probably wasn't going to dress anyway very much this season. He is a work in progress, I think a bit of of a disappointment to the front office, who moved up to draft him in the 4th round last spring.
* The Phils beat the A's last night, 5-3, after a rain-delay. Rookie catcher Jorge Alfaro hit his fourth home run. Tommy Joseph finally was back in the line-up. He looks like the odd-man out this off-season. If Rhys Hoskins doesn't play first base in 2018, looks like Mychal Franco is being groomed to [play some first as well, which leaves Joseph without a position. I still think it's confusing to keep moving players out of their normal positions, but it does give the team flexibility on the field, and flexibility when it comes to trades.
Scott Kingery will be in Philly next spring, but will he play his natural position of second base? He can play third, or even shortstop. J.P. Crawford has been playing short, third and second since his call-up. Even the outfield is in flux, with Altherr playing center and right and Williams playing all three position., This all makes for a very interesting off-season for the Phillies.
* The Indians finally lost a game on Friday night. They won an incredible 22 consecutive games, a record we may never see broken. They now own the American League record for winning streaks. They have put themselves into a great position for this year,Only a few games short of the overall best record in baseball- and home field advantage through-out the playoffs and World Series
With a few weeks to go in the 2017 regular season, only two division races remain up for grabs. Boston is three games up on the Yankees in AL East,while the Cubs are hanging onto a 3 1/2 game lead in NL Central over Milwaukee. St. Louis, ever dangerous, looms five games back.
The wild card races are much closer. The Yanks and Twins are the current wild card teams, with the Angels a mere two games behind. Arizona and Colorado are the wild card clubs in the National league, but the Brewers and Cardinals are changing in there within striking distance.
I like a hot team going into the playoffs. That makes the Indians and Diamondbacks as dangerous teams to watch out for a two weeks.I'll stick with my spring training picks of the Dodgers and Red Sox playing in the World Series, but the Nationals, Cubs, Yanks, even the Astros, can be there at the end. Home field will be big, and may be the difference in the close playoffs this year.
* Tomorrow is my Eagles review and Tuesday is the NFL wrap-up.Stay with me and check the blog daily!
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