* The Flyers snapped their 10-game losing streak with a 5-2 win in Calgary Monday night. It was game 1 of a 3 games road trip to Western Canada. Edmonton and Vancouver are next later in the week.
GM Ron Hextall before the game gave coach Dave Hakstol a vote of confidence for the remainder of the season "and beyond". Not sure that's a good move, as the team has shown little spark. Let's see what happens when the team comes home and if they regroup. There's still a lot of season to go.
*Disappointing that the Sixers lost at home last night to the 9-16 Phoenix Suns. So far this year the 76'ers have beaten the teams they should, losing to higher profile clubs like Golden State, Cleveland and Houston. Losing at home to the Suns was a step backward.
* Japanese superstar Otani won't be coming to the Pihllies. We didn't expect him to, but his representatives made it official recently, ruling out teams like the Yankees and Red Sox as well. Apparently Otani, the two-way player in Japan who throws 100 m.p.h. and also hits for power, wants to play on the west coast.
I think the Dodgers will end up signing him. They have the money. They have been involved with Japanese players before. And the Dodgers are a team on the rise, an organization,like the Yankees, well known overseas.
Meanwhile, there are rumors that San Diego is interested in shortstop Freddie Galvis. The Winter Meetings begin soon, and trades will be heating up. Even though most experts predicted a quiet off-season for the Phils, certain moves need to be made. What happens with Tommy Joseph? What about a few veteran starters? Why not sign a free agent like Jayson Werth/?
But the Galvis situation will be upfront as well. Rookie J.P. Crawford played OK in Philly last summer. You hate to give up Freddie's glove and his leadership, but it may be time to turn the page with both Crawford and second baseman Scott Kingery and continue the youth movement.
* The Eagles loss in Seattle will soon be a distant memory, as the teams settles and practices in Southern California this week while preparing for the Rams.
Still thinking of last Sunday night, one wonders..
- Seattle was the most penalized team in the NFL, yet was not called for offensive holding the entire game.
- QB Carson Wentz has fumbled in all but four games he has played with the Eagles in two seasons. If he is going to run with the ball, and he should, giving the offense yet another option, Wentz needs to take care of the ball better.
- Wakes-up call. I never like a loss, but Sunday night hopefully taught the Birds a few lessons. They need to work hard in practice and not get too full of themselves. They haven't won anything yet. The Seattle game gave the Eagles a playoff-like atmosphere experience. It gave them a taste of what is to come, both players and coaches.
- If you told me the Eagles would be 10-2 at this point in the season I would've taken it in a second. No matter what happens this Sunday against the rams, the Birds will end up with at least 13 wins. Will Minnesota win 3 of their last 4 games and finish with 13 wins as well?
Interesting point: would the eagles be better off playing a veteran Hall of Fame-type quarterback like Drew Brees at the Linc, or play in Minnesota against an inexperienced QB such as Case Keenum? Home field advantage is big, but getting one of the top two spots for a bye is pivital. Only playing two games on the road to the Super Bowl instead of three games is critical.
* Rallying from a 17 point deficit, the Steelers beat division rival Cincinnati 23-20 on Monday night. Pittsburgh moves to 10-2 and stays even with New England as they prepare for their week 15 showdown. The Steelers take on Baltimore next Sunday night.
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