* Way to go Phillies' organization, especially owner john Middleton! Signing Scott Kingery to six-year deal, with club options for three additional years. Kingery will be on Opening Day roster, either as super-utility guy or a regular if Cesar Hernandez or Mychal Franco gets traded this week.
Exciting times ahead! With Arrieta, Santana and now Kingery, along with Hoskins ( who hit another home run today), the rebuild is officially over and it should be a hot summer at Citizens Bank Park. Meaningful games in September will be so welcomed again!
Rumors are that if Phils are buyers come July trade deadline, ex-Pihllie Cole Hamel;s could be coming back to town> Cole who give them another anchor on top of rotation, along with Arrieta and Nola, a veteran lefty starter the staff so badly needs.
As camp breaks this week, and the season opener in Atlanta looms on Thursday, the 25-man roster is starting to take shape. Who wins the third catchers' job? Will it be a four-man outfielder to start the year? Will the team carry eight pitchers in the bullpen, thus only having four bench players?
The Phillies also announced that P Jake Arrieta's first regular season game with the Phillies will be on Sunday, April 8 at home vs Miami. Expect a big crowd that day. Until then the team will go with a four-man rotation, probably Nola, Pivetta, Valasquez and TBA the # 4 starter.
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* Still trying to make sense of the Michael Bennett incident. I believe he might be a bad guy, and certainly should've reported the alleged incident in Houston to the NFL< the Seahawks and the Eagles. I think Bennett will be fined and suspended but not jailed. They will reach some sort of agreement. But do the Birds really want this off-the-field disruption in their otherwise stable locker room?
If there is a video of the alleged pushing incident of an elderly female paraplegic security guard ( as Bennett's sister claims) why hasn't see turned it over to authorities to clear her brother? Why didn't the police officer who supposedly witnessed the abuse arrest Bennett on the spot/ Why did it take over a year to finally indict?
Too many unanswered questions for me. meanwhile the Birds make yet another terrific free agent signing by inking a one-year deal with speedy veteran wide receiver Mike Wallace.
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The Sixers won their sixth game in a row and could clinch a playoff berth tonight with another win. They are a dangerous team to play now, with the easiest remaining schedule in the league, and can cruise into the playoffs red-hot. With home-court advantage I wouldn't want to play this young, hungry team, with Ben Simmons coming into his own.
Meanwhile, the Flyers lose again to Pittsburgh, a key 5-4 loss in overtime. The Flyers are now three points behind the Penguins. They still have the first wild card spot with 89 points.
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As I write this, Villanova is up by eight points with 7 minutes left in the second half against Texas Tech. Unless the Cats totally collapse they should move on to the Final Four in San Antonio next weekend.
Funny, this would be twice in three years that the Wildcats make the Final Four, with a real shot to win another national championship. Yet i feel Villanova is still under-appreciated, not only locally but nationally too. When one thinks of powerhouse basketball school, programs like North Carolina, Duke or Kansas come to mind. But Villanova has to be considered right there with the highest of any school in the country.
As the Eagles lacked respect this season, maybe Nova will finally get the respect it deserves soon. And that's coming form a St. Joe's fan.
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