Quite the Turnaround

            The Eagles turnaround from worst to first was impressive for several reasons, the fact that so many of the key players on the current roster were the same players who came in last in 2012, the fact that an entirely new defensive scheme was introduced, a bend-but-don’t break 3-4  that was almost 180 degrees opposite from the previous regime’s blitz-heavy 4-3, the fact that a new head coach with no NFL experience was bringing all sorts of new philosophies (quick tempo, different practice schedule, a reliance on sports science) to a team full of jaded NFL veterans who were likely to rebel against this college coaches ideas, and, perhaps most impressively, the team’s ability to gel despite the potentially fractious nature of the Riley Cooper fiasco makes this division title all the more remarkable. 

            After losing their first four home games of the season the Eagles now have a home playoff game, against the offensively prolific Saints, a tough matchup, but one that should be easier for the Eagles to play in the cold of Philadelphia rather than the Superdome in New Orleans where the Saints are almost unstoppable.  Win or lose, it has been an incredible season for Chip Kelly and the Eagles. The game Saturday night should continue this incredibly entertaining season , one made even more so in comparison with the desultory 2012.

The “Blizzard Game’ shows difference between Kelly & Reid

I love snow gams in the NFL , but for a while it looked like it was really going to kill the Eagles in their game against the Lions. The Eagles did nothing in the first half offensively. The passing game was non-existent and it looked like Shady McCoy wouldn’t be able to employ his patented jump cuts and direction changes with the footing so uncertain.  I even wanted them to play Polk with his power running style instead of LeSean (good thing I'm not coaching).  Kelly made adjustments at halftime, however, changing to a running McCoy between the tackles and even taking advice from a defensive back who suggested long post patterns, assuming correctly, that if he couldn’t turn and run with a receiver their defenders wouldn’t be able to do so either. Reid, for all his strengths, and his greatest was meticulous planning, was unable to adjust quickly. Convinced his detailed gameplan was the right way to attack a team, he stubbornly refused to adjust when the opponent provided evidence to the contrary. Kelly,  on the other hand, really seems to understand how to use his offensive personnel, and it appears he lets the defensive coaches run the defense...imagine that!  He's improving on his game management as well (his early troubles seem to be from inexperience with the pro-game (understandable) and because he was focusing on teaching his schemes to the players (also understandable). Things bode well for the future, and they should be able to concentrate on the defense in the draft (they are not terrible by any means, but some more athletic secondary players would be nice). Of course, if Johnny Manziel is there (he won't be), you still grab him. As good as Foles has been playing, Manziel looks perfect for Kelly’s offense. I'd plan on keeping Foles the starter going into 2014. If he falters next year, Oregon QB Marcus Mariota should be coming out in 2015 and the Eagles we can try for him.

Chooch!

Can Pedro Feliz be far behind? How 'bout Burrell? (Shane is stuck winning championships in Boston, poor guy).

I'm seriously very glad to have Ruiz back, he made the most sense for the Phils, and he can mentor whichever young catcher they bring along. He may not be able to catch 135 games any longer, but if he can catch 90 and , say Tommy Joseph can handle the other 72 while learning from the master the Phillies will be in fine shape. Ruiz' workload should diminish over the life of his 3 year deal, but he's well worth the cost in clubhouse leadership, fan support, and loyalty alone.

Glad to have you here, Chooch.

World Series great baseball despite the absence of the Phillies

The World Series, despite the absence of the Phillies, and in spite of the presence of my least favorite team , the St. Louis Cardinals, whom I consider to be the Dallas Cowboys of MLB, (I'll never forgive them for J.D. Drew, among other transgressions), has been wonderful baseball. Two games ended on strange plays you almost never see, well, at least not as game-ending plays, let alone game-ending plays in the World Series, a walk –off fielder interference play in game three, and a pinch runner, Kolten Wong, someone only getting the opportunity to play in the World Series because they supposedly were a better option the lame Allen Craig, instead getting picked off first base for a walk-off pick-off in game four. The look on Carlos Beltran’s face as he stood at home plate, the bat suddenly taken out of his hands, was priceless.
 
Otherwise, great pitching, great defense, David Ortiz so hot you are amazed when he doesn’t get a hit…and, the one thing that to my mind, makes baseball better than any other sport, you never run out of time. No matter how far you get behind, you don’t lose until you make that third out in the ninth inning. Therefore, especially in the playoffs, you never see anyone give up, there’s always a chance.  To me, it’s what makes baseball the best, by far. It’s almost over for the year. Catch it while you can.

 

Philadelphia Fallows?

Are Philadelphia sports entering one of their all too frequent fallow periods? The Phillies missed the playoffs for the second straight year, finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2002, the Eagles are 1 and 3, just gave up 52 points in a single game, and are struggling trying to implement a college system in the NFL, and are attempting to play a type of defense their personnel are unsuited for. The Flyers also missed the playoffs and start the season with an untested goalie, and the Sixers, well, they are playing for the number one draft pick in the NBA draft with a roster so bereft of talent that more fans may show up to boo the owner for buying the Flyers hated rival the Jersey Devils than to actually watch the team play. However, unlike previous periods, there actually is some hope. The Phillies have the funds to remake their roster, the Eagles, despite their numerous mistakes, are entraining and play in a division that I so bad, a 1-3 record leaves them a mere one game out of first place. The Flyers have a lot of young talent, one that could put it all together the way the Phillies did in 2007, and the Sixers , instead of patching a mediocre roster, have at least acknowledged the need to start over, and have acquired the draft picks to do so. It may be a fallow period, but it is not one bereft of hope as so many seasons in Philadelphia sports history have been.

With Charlie fired, what is the plan for next year?

First of all, forget the interim tag on Sandberg. He will be back. The young guys on the roster (and maybe some of the vets too!) should consider this a tryout for 2014.

2014 is not lost. The Phillies have potentially good pitching, though with a lot of ifs (if Halladay comes back improved, and if anyone can, he can), plus Hamels, Lee, Gonzalez, the Cuban defector, (if they actually finalize the signing, and Kendrick back to #5 (He's a pretty good 5, not so good a 3). Additionally, I'd resign Lannan as the swingman/sixth starter. As for their Achilles heel, the bullpen, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There are jobs available, and young, strong arms to fill them, it depends who wants to take them (Diekman and DeFratus seem to be making their moves right now).
 

If the Phils can work in the young guys with the high priced vets, giving the older players some rest and developing the younger guys for full time roles down the road it could be a return to the good times. Rollins is still a good shortstop (with Galvis), especially if Sandberg can keep him playing hard.  Utley and more Hernandez at 2nd, Asche and Maybe Franco at 3rd, and Howard/Ruf at 1st, plus Chooch as a part time starter while mentoring the winner of the Joseph/Rupp/Valle competition next spring.  In other words I think the best bet is to hope at least some of the stars can still play, but start working in the youth, maybe add in an outfielder if possible via free agency, plus a bullpen piece or two and they could be right back in the mix.

The outlook is workable, if still peppered with ifs, but definitely workable.

Deadline Day

Today is the non-waiver trade deadline in MLB, and the Phillies are a mess. Their offense is almost non-existent, their bullpen is atrocious, and they are hampered by players with declining production and huge, untradeable contracts. Does this mean the Phillies are finished, that their fabled "window" of opportunity has slammed shut, dooming them to years of mediocrity at best?  Not necessarily. Two year ago, the Red Sox were in the same position, and now they are once again leading the American League East.  It took some creativity, but it can be done. The Phillies , like the Red Sox, are a large market team, with resources. It will take an overhaul, but, with some shrewd moves, keeping the right players, integrating the right rookies with their youthful enthusiasm into the lineup, and perhaps getting lucky and finding a trade partner to take some of the bad contracts (as the Red Sox did with the Dodgers), plus free agent signings and a change in their international signing policy (as recently exhibited with their lavish signing of Cuban defector Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez), the Phillies may turn it around quickly, perhaps as soon as next year.  What happens today may be the start of this retooling.