* The Phillies' slogan this season is "Be Bold." New manager Gabe Kapler passed out t-shirts to the players on the first day of full-squad work-outs with the inscription of "Be Bold" emblazoned on the front.
I like Kapler's enthusiasm and positive energy. Far different from ex-manager Pete Mackanin's average declaration last spring training for the club to be .500. Maybe this young team needed a fresh, new outlook. Hopefully Kapler can actually manage a baseball game and run a team.
* Eagles center Jason Kelcie stopped by spring training and gave the Phillies a pep talk. Apparently there was more swearing in Florida by Kelcie than at the championship parade. Whatever works.
* Odubel Herrera entered camp with a new bushy beard, gold-tipped hair and to his credit, has started to speak English.
* It's reported that GM Klentak continues to talk to free agent pitcher Jake Arrieta's agent. Signing Arrieta would instantly make the Pihls wild card contenders this summer and prove the organization is serious about winning. It would also send a signal to other free agents down the road ( Manny Machado) to consider Philadelphia as a destination and as a team on the rise.
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The Flyers traded for Detroit Red Wings goalie Patr Mrazek last night. He is an average goalie at best, but the club had to do something with both Elliot and Nurwirth injured. Rookie Alex Lyon is their other active goalie on the roster.
Hopefully Mrazek can hold down the fort until Elliot returns. The Flyers are only four points off the top spot in their division.
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Fergie's rendition of the National Anthem at the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday was a disgrace. Even she apologized later.
When you try to make the Anthem all about you, the singer is in trouble. The general rule is, since the Anthem is a hard song to sing, is to keep it simple, sing it, and get out of there. No one is at the game to hear you sing a song. They are there for the event. So don't get in the way and make yourself the story, and ultimately embarrass yourself.
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The Red Sox signed slugger J. D. Martinez yesterday to a five-year contract. Martinez had a torrid second half last summer with San Diego. He clubbed 45 homers last season/ Boston needs power, plus they needed to keep up with the Yankees, who traded for the powerful Giancarlo Stanton during the off-season.
Wouldn't surprise me if, between the two of them, the Sox and the Yanks combine to win close to 200 games this year. The Phillies play both this summer, and I've got tickets to see each when they invade Citizens Bank Park.
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