The Phils lost again yesterday, this time to the blue Jays. They match-up with the Yankees again today in Clearwater, having already lost to the new Yorkers twice this week.
I'm not a big Vince Valaquez fan. He showed flashes of brilliance in the past, striking out 16 Padres a few springs ago. Now, he rarely goes past five innings. To me he is a closer destined for the bullpen someday. i know he's got a power arm, one which is hard to find. but he is wildly inconsistent and has a fastball to pitch less than an inning and get a strikeout when you need it late in the game.
Anyway, he started against Toronto and had a shaky outing. Way too early. Too soon to give up on Valasquez. But there are spots in the rotation to be had after Aaron Nola. Valasquez is one pitcher who needs to step up. The bullpen looks solid for now, with Neris, Hunter, Sheshak, Ramos, Morgan and others vying for innings.The starting rotation needs to come together and Valasquez could be a big part of the staff if he stays healthy and learns how to pitch.
* Scott Kingery continues to impress, hitting another homer yesterday, accounting for the Phillies' lone run. Could he stick with the club out of Florida as a Ben Zobrist-type super utility man? My thinking is that he goes to Lehigh Valley for a month or so to fine-tune his game, plus serve his service time, then comes to Philly later in the spring and sticks. By then, his role on the club should be more defined. And who knows with injuries or trades?
***************************************************************************
The Eagles' brain trust is at the combines in Indianapolis this week. GM Howie Rossman was on WIP Sports Radio today and all but said that QB Nick Foles will be an Eagle this fall, unless he is "overwhelmed' by a trade offer. As I said, the Birds will keep Foles, at least until they know that Carson Wentz has recovered from his knee injuries.Maybe Foles will be dealt during the season, but it's more likely the team lets him play out the final year in his contract, then reassesses the quarterback situation next spring. By then, they should have a better grasp if third-stringer Nate Sudfeld can handle back-up duties to Wentz or not.
Foles will get his money either way, as a free agent or signing an extension with Philadelphia. The eagles won't get as high of a draft pick if they hang on to Foles for 2018, but I would rather have the insurance of Nick, with another run at a Super bowl possible, then the hope of a draft pick.
************************************************************************
After a group of guys put up a billboard near the Cleveland Cavaliers' arena, asking LeBron James to consider the Sixers as a destination next season ( James is a free agent this summer), he was asked what he thought about the billboard. James didn't just ignore the idea. He was hones tin saying he is "flattered" by the attention. There are also reports that he has been checking out schools for his kids in the Philly suburbs, just in case.
I know James is a savvy business guy, so he's going to use teams against each other. he's got a big ego too, so it's no surprise that he is flattered by the attention.So, will he sign with the 76ers this summer/ I think there's a chance, since he is friends with Ben Simmons and they have the same agent. James is smart enough to see an up-and-coming team when he sees one, and his presence in Philly, as a mentor to take yet another team to an NBA title, would do even more to cement his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
No comments:
Post a Comment