- Today is the Eagles' last day at training camp. They fly to New England tomorrow to take on the Patriots on Thursday night. Questions still persist about Carson Wentz and his health for September 6, opening night against the Falcons. Alshon Jeffries is also questionable for the opener. Rumors persist that the Birds may put Jeffries on the unable to perform list, which means he would be out the first six weeks of the season. He may miss Game 1 but I don't think the Eagles will put him on the shelf for six weeks.
If he is unable to play, the Birds have depth at wide receiver with Wallace, Agholor and another pass catcher in tight end Dallas Goehart. Add Darrin Sproles into the mix and the Eagles should have plenty of offense.
- The Phillies were off on Monday. Meanwhile Atlanta won a doubleheader over Miami, moving a full game ahead of Philadelphia. Odd to see the Phils drop into second place after being on top for over a month. Things may not get any better soon, as the Phillies face the mighty Red Sox ( who are an amazing 50 games over .500) the next two nights at Citizens Bank Park. The Mets play the Phils for five games later in the week, but remember that New York always give the Phillies problems. The Braves stay home this weekend to play the Colorado Rockies.
- A huge Klentak blunder as Boston invades town: for $2 million more a year the Phillies could've and should've signed J.D. Martinez instead of Carlos Santana instead. Consider the stats:
Martinez: .333 average 37 home runs 104 RBIs
Santana: .215 average 16 home runs 66 RBIs.
Plus Hoskins could've stayed at first base....
- Baseball round-up around the league:
In NL East, despite the fact that Harper, Murphy and Zimmerman have finally come alive in Washington, the nationals have fallen seven games back. Plenty of games left, including a home-and-home series with the Phillies next week, but I think the Nats are done. The Mets and Marlins are after-thoughts, battling for last place.
The Cubs, who have the best record in the National League, have extended their lead in NL Central to three games over Milwaukee. Never count out St. Louis and they have battled back to five games back. Pittsburgh, despite trading for pitcher Chris Archer in July, remain a long shot at eight games behind.
NL West is maybe the most competitive division, with Arizona up a game on bot the Dodgers and the Rockies. Don't discount the Giants, only five out but with three teams to jump over.
Of course Boston is on a record-setting season. 116 win in the regular season by Seattle remains the benchmark. Right now the Red Sox are only 31 wins away in mid August. They have buried the Yankees, who are 10 games in second place.
As expected, the Indians have cruised in AL Central, now 12 1/2 games up on the Twins.
AL West remains tight with the surprising Oakland A's a mere two games in back of the defending world champion Astros. Seattle still have a shot, 4 1/2 games out.
Regarding the wild card races, in the NL, the Phillies and Brewers right now have the two spots, with a slight advantage for the home game to Philly. The Cardinals, Rockies and Dodgers are within shouting distance for the wild card.
In the AL, it's the Yanks and A's in the wild card game, with the Mariners only 2 1/2 games behind. No other team in the American League is even close for a playoff berth.
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