* Eagles' wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder yesterday. It was reported that Jeffery hurt his should last summer in training camp. he played the entire year with the painful injury.
Jeffery caught nine touchdowns during the season and make crucial catches in the playoffs and the Super Bowl. No one should ever question his guts or desire to win again.
As it turns out, the contract extension the Birds gave him during the season was well worthwhile. Jeffery becomes yet another symbol of an incredible Eagles season. They overcame adversity and injuries, fighting hard, often underdogs, bringing the first-ever Super Bowl championship to Philly.
Hopefully Jeffery will be healed for the start of the season. Reports are that he may miss time in this summers' training camp and pre-season games.
***********************************************************************
* Phillies owner John Middleton was interviewed recently and again stated his intense desire to win. Even more so now since the Eagles won a world championship. Hopefully he is the deciding voice when it comes to signing free agent pitcher Jake Arrieta.
Look at the current Phillies brain trust. Different personalities. Check it out:
- Manager Gape Kapler- Never managed major league baseball before. New ideas. Into physical fitness, working-out and taking care of your body. Full of positive energy. Seems to be aggressive . Analytical thinking. Will be interesting to see how he manages a game, and the different personalities on the team, starting with malcontents like Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco.
- President Andy MacPhail- Old-school guy. Boring. Seems to be a slow-thinking, deliberate. Talking more about improvements to ballpark rather then improving players on field. Disappointed in his lack of aggressiveness since joining the organization.
- General Manager Matt Klentak- Another boring guy, like MacPhial. Inexperienced, like Kapler. Talks a lot but says nothing. Rarely makes trades, and when he does, usually gets back prospects in return instead of major league-ready players. Not aggressive enough, like last summer when he waited to bring up Rhys Hoskins and Nick Williams until he had no other choice.Very analytical. Hopefully showing signs of loosening up a bit, with the signing of free agent Carlos Santana.
-Owner John Middleton- Excited, voice of the fan. Billionaire, now getting more involved with team. Face of the owners to the public. Not concerned about his desire to win. The heat is on Middleton in the city, now that the Eagles have won big-time. Has the money to spend, from his own personal wealth, to TV money the club has sat on for the last few years, to the cash they have saved by not dipping into the free agent market recently.
So, you've got two really enthusiastic guys in Kapler and Middleton, and two prudent, slow-moving, analytical guys in MacPhail and Klentak. Who wins out? If Kapler doesn't show he can manage a baseball game he will be history soon enough. With that, Klentak will go, as his job hinges on Kapler's success. MacPhail is safe as team president, and thankfully, Middleton has the final word on everything.
As long as Middleton continues to be an enthusiastic, voice of the fan owner, who goes with his gut as much as listens to those under him, the Phillies' future will be bright. Unless he decides to sell his share of the team Middleton ain't going anywhere. Hopefully he learns from Birds' owner Jeffrey Lurie, hangs in there and does whatever it takes to bring a winner to Philly soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment