 Darroll Powe The Flyers have traded 25 year old forward Darroll Powe to the Minnesota Wild for a 2013 third round draft pick. Powe was one of the Flyers best defensive forwards along with being one of the grittiest players. He was second on the team in short handed time on ice (TOI) and first in hits (196) despite only standing 5’11’’. Powe will be missed on the ice. Powe is a restricted free agent. The move makes it easier to sign newly acquired restricted free agents Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek. New Names, New Numbers.
Jakub Voracek will wear #9. Brayden Schenn will wear #10. Wayne Simmonds will wear #17. Kris Versteeg switches from #10 to #32. Flyers re-sign Nodl and Sestito
The Flyers have re-signed 24 year old forward Andreas Nodl and 23 year old forward Tom Sestito. Nodl reportedly signed a two year deal were $845,000 per year. He tallied 22 points in 67 games for the Flyers last season. Sestito played in 11 games for the Phantoms last season after being acquired from, ironically enough, the Columbus Blue Jackets. He got off on a good foot with the Flyers fans after his first tweet on Twitter after the trade.
 It has been a big week in the sports world. Jim Riggleman resigned on the spot, the Flyers traded away their captain and assistant captain, and Doc Halladay became the first NL pitcher to 10 wins. Here are ten things you might have missed or we feel deserve a little bit more press:
 New Sixer Nikola Vucevic The Philadelphia 76ers entered tonight’s NBA Draft with two picks: the 16th and the 50th. With the 16th overall pick in the 2011 Draft the 76ers chose USC’s Nikola Vucevic. And there are several reasons to be happy with their choice. First, there was little chance the Sixers would find a franchise-changer in this draft. The depth of highly talented NBA prospects was not there and after Jimmer Fredette went at number 10 there was not a pick left on the board that would immediately add fan interest to the team (something the 76ers clearly lack—despite making the playoffs the team was in the bottom third of the league in attendance). Second, the Sixers needed to add depth (and talent) at the center position. Vucevic brings both of those to the team with his 7’0” frame and 7’5” wingspan. He excelled in college at rebounding and can score from both inside and out. His jumper has range to the college 3-point line.
 Carter and Richards 1. Flyers sign Ilya Bryzgalov: We now have the goalie we wanted. Sure he is not the greatest goalie in the world, but I absolutely do not want to have to ride the goalie carousel from hell for another year. Bryzgalov was signed today for 9 years, $51 million. Sure, Bryzgalov was lit up in the playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings because lets be honest, the Coyotes defense was/is atrocious. With Pronger, Timonen, Coburn, Meszaros, and such in front of Bryzgalov, things will look considerably better statistics wise. The Flyers had 0 shutouts last year, thats right, zero. The addition of Bryzgalov will help in that department. But even with the new goalie, fans are now worried about the loss of scoring that the Flyers have just traded away. If we can still score a few goals a night with the players remaining, and not have 3rd period meltdowns (a la 2nd-half-Bobrovsky) then i do not foresee a big problem.
 New Triple-A reliever, Phillippe Aumont Keeping this one short and sweet. Two members of the Cliff Lee deal have been in the news this week.
Phillippe Aumont, the 6’7’’ Canadian closer received from Seattle in the Cliff Lee deal, has been promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. After a failed attempt at becoming a starter, Aumont was moved to the back end of the bullpen last year. This year he has put up good numbers at Double-A Reading with a 2.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 31 innings. Hopefully he can maintain those numbers heading into stiffer competition.
With roster space to work with the Phillies version of Rick Ankiel, converted pitcher to first baseman Joe Savery, has been called up to Double-A Reading. The former first round draft pick out of Rice decided in the off season to switch from pitching to first base in hopes of heightening his chances to make it to the big leagues.
Indians minor leaguer Jason Knapp, the player at the forefront of the 2009 first Cliff Lee trade, will have season ending shoulder surgery. He has pitched in just 29 minor league games since being traded from the Phillies.
-Steve Dolan
 J.C. Romero J.C. Romero, one of two left handed relievers in the Phillies bullpen, has been designated for assignment. Now the Phillies have 10 days to trade him or let another team claim him off waivers (which, ironically, is how the Phillies got him back in 2007). If there is no trade and no claim, the Phillies can send him to the minors or Romero can become a free agent. I’m going out on a limb and saying if it comes to it, I don’t see Romero reporting to the minors. But let me be the first to say: it is about time. The 35 year old reliever has not been himself since his 50 game suspension in 2009. Or maybe he is being himself and the old Juan Carlos from 2008 was benefitting from banned substances? Whatever the case, good ol’ number 16 won’t be trotting out in a close game to walk batters for the Phillies again.
Romero was a keep contributor for the 2008 World Champion Phillies bullpen. In 59 innings in 2008, Romero had a 4-4 record with 52 strikeouts, 1.34 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched), and a 2.75 ERA. However, since his suspension, he has clearly not been the same pitcher. Struggling to find the strike zone, he has had more walks than strikeouts in each of his last two seasons and so far this season. This season Romero has a WHIP of 1.71 and an ERA of 3.86. Primarily a left handed specialist, Romero is often a “one and done” pitcher who faces one left handed hitter and then exits the game no matter the outcome.
 It is Wednesday and the NBA Finals finished on Sunday night. Three days after the finals the focus of mainstream sports media is not on the Dallas Mavericks victory but, still, on the Heat loss. The night the Mavericks won (see what I did there? I said Mavericks won, not Heat lost), the focus was on the “Big 3:” LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. How could they lose? What does this mean for them? Was their season a failure? What does this do to LeBron’s legacy? How will LeBron be remembered this year? Did LeBron choke? Will LeBron win next year? Did LeBron make the right move going to the Heat? Spare me. Enough is enough. I had enough of this back in July when I saw LeBron, Wade, and Bosh’s party at the American Airlines Center in Miami the day after LeBron’s infamous “Decision.”
 A-Rod upset. Once again, the New York Yankees were on national TV last night. Every time I turn on the TV it seems like the Yankees are nationally televised. Usually, I change the channel to watch the Phillies but last night the Phillies were off so I watched the first inning of the Yankees-Indians game when my dad made an interesting point in that, “No one respects the Yankees anymore.” This lead to a deeper realization.
 At this point, I think we have all have heard just about everything. Trade Carter, trade Carle, trade Versteeg, trade Richards. It is no secret that the Flyers need to clear out around $5 million in cap space to sign newly acquired goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov. If the Flyers do not sign Bryzgalov before July 1st, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. I am not rejoicing that we got Bryzgalov until it is officially announced that he has signed a contract with the orange and black.
Now as for trades, a lot of speculation has gone around. We can address these issues.
 Charlie Manuel was ejected yesterday for the second time this season.
Now let me paint the picture for you before we get into this. Bottom of the sixth inning, one out, Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt at the plate. Oswalt falls behind in the count 1-2. Oswalt works the count to 3-2 before Cubs pitch Doug Davis throws a low fastball clearly below the knees. Oswalt takes three steps towards first before stopping in his tracks and turning around the see home plate umpire, Al Porter, wring him up for the second out of the inning. Oswalt turns, chuckles, and walks toward the Phillies dugout without saying anything. As Jimmy Rollins steps to the plate, Al Porter turns to the Phillies dugout and ejects Charlie Manuel.
Now that we have the background information, let us delve into this a little further. First off, I was just as confused as Oswalt when I saw him get tossed. In fact, I yelled out “good work” when he worked a walk, or so I thought. Now, after the replay it is clear that Manuel is saying something to Al Porter. We don’t know what he was saying but let’s be clear; arguing balls and strikes is not allowed. Manuel, by rule, should have been ejected. But my question is what could have possibly said in that short period of time to get him run? Maybe he has been complaining all game? Very real possibility.
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