Well here we are for the final Top Ten of July. The Phillies currently stand at 65-37 with a 6 game lead in the NL East and the Eagles are scheduled to begin training camp today with their first preseason game scheduled for August 11th. It has been a crazy week in sports. The NFL Lockout has ended, the MLB Non-Waiver trade deadline is looming, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are back in the news, and Pat Gillick was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. All inside this week's Top Ten......
Blanton crushes a pitch.
10. The Tour de France ended- I think the more shocking news to Americans should have been, they still have the Tour de France. Now that Lance Armstrong isn’t racing, Floyd Landis became the black eye of American cycling, and the fact that very few Americans know any other cyclist made this the most anticlimactic sporting even involving Americans all year. Nobody can even be thankful it is over so they don’t have to hear about it- there was no coverage. Cadel Evans of Austrailia won the race. Moving on….
9. Brad Lidge is back- Remember him? The guy who went 48 for 48 in save opportunities in 2008. Well THAT Brad Lidge will probably never return but the shell of the former closer is back. Lidge made his first appearance for the Phillies all season on Monday against the Padres. It should be interesting to see how Charlie Manuel uses Lidge moving forward. In the same breath….
8. Joe Blanton won’t pitch again this year- Joe who? If many Phillies fans had their way, Joltin’ Joe would receive as much press as the Tour de France. It was announced yesterday that Blanton has nerve damage in his elbow and is likely out for 2011 and definitely won’t start. Thanks heavens for Vance Worley.
9. Brad Lidge is back- Remember him? The guy who went 48 for 48 in save opportunities in 2008. Well THAT Brad Lidge will probably never return but the shell of the former closer is back. Lidge made his first appearance for the Phillies all season on Monday against the Padres. It should be interesting to see how Charlie Manuel uses Lidge moving forward. In the same breath….
8. Joe Blanton won’t pitch again this year- Joe who? If many Phillies fans had their way, Joltin’ Joe would receive as much press as the Tour de France. It was announced yesterday that Blanton has nerve damage in his elbow and is likely out for 2011 and definitely won’t start. Thanks heavens for Vance Worley.
7. Wow Mariners- Over the past three weeks, whenever I am having a bad day, I think “Well, at least I don’t play for the Seattle Mariners.” Last night the Mariners lost their 17th straight game. That actually might be more difficult to do than one might think. Even the lowly Astros haven’t done that this year. In fact, only the 2005 Royals have lost more consecutive games in the past 10 years.
6. Dry Island Controversy- As if we hadn’t heard enough about Mike Richards and Jeff Carter partying, Daily News columnist Dan Gross decided to beat the figurative dead horse once again. Gross wrote Monday that Peter Laviolette asked players to pledge to “Dry Island” in which they would refrain from drinking for 30 days. Richards and Carter did not make the pledge. Gross confirmed this with Paul Holmgren. Can we move on? They don’t play for the Flyers anymore. Now that we have confirmation they drink (I think we all knew that anyways), we can finally put this to rest. Please? I've asked before.
5. Trade Deadline- The Nationals made a blockbuster trade by acquiring Jonny Gomes from the Reds yesterday for two prospects. Ok, you probably just read that and said “That isn’t a blockbuster trade.” You are, in fact, correct. However, stunning nonetheless. Why would the Nationals trade for a 30 year old platoon outfielder that is hitting .211 this year? I do not know but that explains the Nationals 49-53 record. But there have been names associated with the Phillies: Heath Bell, Mike Adams, Chad Qualls, Carlos Beltran, Hunter Pence, and even Jason Giambi (even though he just was placed on the disabled list so that deal looks a little less likely to happen). Stay with us for breaking news on any of these.
6. Dry Island Controversy- As if we hadn’t heard enough about Mike Richards and Jeff Carter partying, Daily News columnist Dan Gross decided to beat the figurative dead horse once again. Gross wrote Monday that Peter Laviolette asked players to pledge to “Dry Island” in which they would refrain from drinking for 30 days. Richards and Carter did not make the pledge. Gross confirmed this with Paul Holmgren. Can we move on? They don’t play for the Flyers anymore. Now that we have confirmation they drink (I think we all knew that anyways), we can finally put this to rest. Please? I've asked before.
5. Trade Deadline- The Nationals made a blockbuster trade by acquiring Jonny Gomes from the Reds yesterday for two prospects. Ok, you probably just read that and said “That isn’t a blockbuster trade.” You are, in fact, correct. However, stunning nonetheless. Why would the Nationals trade for a 30 year old platoon outfielder that is hitting .211 this year? I do not know but that explains the Nationals 49-53 record. But there have been names associated with the Phillies: Heath Bell, Mike Adams, Chad Qualls, Carlos Beltran, Hunter Pence, and even Jason Giambi (even though he just was placed on the disabled list so that deal looks a little less likely to happen). Stay with us for breaking news on any of these.
Gillick delivers his Hall of Fame speech
4. Rangers go off- Well the Twins had a night to forget on Monday. They played..ahh…. well they were in the same ballpark as the Texas Rangers. The Rangers unloaded 27 hits on Twins pitching. They became the third team in AL history to have seven players with three or more hits in a nine inning game. They scored 20 runs, 3 or more in each of the first 5 innings, and never scored more than 5 in any inning. Talk about spreading it out. The Twins gave up and decided to pitch right fielder Michael Cuddyer which ended up going well as he did not allow any runs. Anyone in need of the right fielder/relief man? Philadelphia? Just saying…
3. Brett Favre making a….- Please spare me. Here we are, over three years after Brett Favre retired as a Packer, and talking about another potential Brett Favre un-retirement. This makes me sick. I physically get nauseous hear that Brett Favre might make a comeback and, to of all teams, my beloved Eagles. No, stop it. End this rumor before it spreads like wildfire. Brett Favre is retired and it should stay that way. Spare the general public the agony of listening to the drama and, Brett, spare yourself the embarrassment.
2. LOCKOUT OVER!- The NFL owners and players have reached an agreement to end the lockout. The free agency and trade markets are open and players are coming and going faster than Flyers goalies in the playoffs. Notable names changing teams are Donovan McNabb (to the Vikings), Matt Hasslebeck (to the Titans), and Marian Barber to whoever will take him. Follow us on Twitter @WhizWitSports to get up to the second updates.
1. Pat Gillick to the Hall of Fame- The man who built the forever loved 2008 Philadelphia Phillies was enshrined in Cooperstown, NY on Sunday. Gillick, known for making risky moves that paid off, said “I’m not the most deserving, but I am the most grateful.” We will leave out the part that he also built the 1992-1993 Blue Jays, the latter of which beat the Phillies in the 1993 World Series. Congratulations to a man who certainly deserves it.
3. Brett Favre making a….- Please spare me. Here we are, over three years after Brett Favre retired as a Packer, and talking about another potential Brett Favre un-retirement. This makes me sick. I physically get nauseous hear that Brett Favre might make a comeback and, to of all teams, my beloved Eagles. No, stop it. End this rumor before it spreads like wildfire. Brett Favre is retired and it should stay that way. Spare the general public the agony of listening to the drama and, Brett, spare yourself the embarrassment.
2. LOCKOUT OVER!- The NFL owners and players have reached an agreement to end the lockout. The free agency and trade markets are open and players are coming and going faster than Flyers goalies in the playoffs. Notable names changing teams are Donovan McNabb (to the Vikings), Matt Hasslebeck (to the Titans), and Marian Barber to whoever will take him. Follow us on Twitter @WhizWitSports to get up to the second updates.
1. Pat Gillick to the Hall of Fame- The man who built the forever loved 2008 Philadelphia Phillies was enshrined in Cooperstown, NY on Sunday. Gillick, known for making risky moves that paid off, said “I’m not the most deserving, but I am the most grateful.” We will leave out the part that he also built the 1992-1993 Blue Jays, the latter of which beat the Phillies in the 1993 World Series. Congratulations to a man who certainly deserves it.
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