Jody Mac
08-09-2010, 11:11 AM
If you had offered me a wager that Raul Ibanez would be the key bat for the Phils for the last couple weeks of July and the first week of August, I would have endeavored to take you for every penny you had. Instead you would have emptied my pockets. After his MVP-like first half last year, Ibanez' calendar year that has followed since can be described as pedestrian at best. Somehow he seems to have found the Philly fountain of youth. Since the all star break the 38 year old outfielder is hitting almost .400 (.397) and has an OPS. North of 1.000 (1.067). Add to that his production has been clutch and you've got a guy who is making his 11.5 million dollar salary look worthwhile, rather than the albatross it has resembled all too often. When Shane Victorino returns this week Charlie Manuel is going to have to work to find at bats for Dominic Brown. If their wunderkind outfielder is allowed to come along slowly, that might not be the worst thing in the world.
While not as stark as Ibanez' hot streak, Ross Gload has also gotten it turned around since the all star respite. Pre all star game Gload hit .243, post he's delivering at .357. With Ryan Howard's injury, he’s getting some significant starts at first base and more than holding up his end of the bargain. Like Ibanez, he's making what looked like a questionable Ruben Amaro Jr. signing seems to be an excellent acquisition.
With 50 games to play, the NL West is still going to have a lot to say about the Phillies fates and post-season fortunes. Still on the sched are 13 games vs. West squads like the Padres, Giants and Dodgers before the September in-division push begins. Beat the Giants and you can move past them in the Wild Card standings, handle the Dodgers like they have the last two NLCS's and you keep them in your rear view mirror. You always should like having to take care of your own business!!
Friday night marks the first football game played here in town that health permitting is not going to be started by Donvan McNabb in more than a decade.(Quickie trivia question, who was the last quarterback to start in front of # 5...If you are under 20 years old and remember the short lived Doug Pederson era, pat yourself on the back) Kevin Kolb will give you a quick peek at what the post-McNabb Eagle offense could look like before Andy Reid hands him his ball cap and says take the rest of the night off !! Those who attended flight night last week thought Kolb looked a little shaky. Hopefully he throws it a little better against the Jags de on Friday. Either way, look for Reid to try and put Kolb in a position to succeed, even if it's on a smaller scale. They want to leave the first period of their exhibition opener with a good feeling about the offense.
While Kolb will be kept on a short reign, Birds fans better hope that the Eagles don't push the envelope on Shady McCoy either. If he were to go down, Birds hopes would already be in the questionable hands of the already hobbled back up half back Mike Bell. The restricted free agent acquisition does have a Super Bowl ring from last year’s Saints magic carpet ride. What he doesn't have is an NFL season under his belt where he's toted the rock more than 175 times. If you think Birds fans were obsessed with run pass ratio when McNabb was here, what do you think the hue and cry will be if Mr. Kolb's pass to INT ratio starts out high. (McNabb's career # being one of the lowest in the history of the league.)
Stewart Bradley, great to have you back, get used to having inter-changing faces to your left and right because I don't think coach McDermott has a clue yet as to who best to surround you with. But that's why we play these full priced scrimmages right?? Enjoy!!!
While not as stark as Ibanez' hot streak, Ross Gload has also gotten it turned around since the all star respite. Pre all star game Gload hit .243, post he's delivering at .357. With Ryan Howard's injury, he’s getting some significant starts at first base and more than holding up his end of the bargain. Like Ibanez, he's making what looked like a questionable Ruben Amaro Jr. signing seems to be an excellent acquisition.
With 50 games to play, the NL West is still going to have a lot to say about the Phillies fates and post-season fortunes. Still on the sched are 13 games vs. West squads like the Padres, Giants and Dodgers before the September in-division push begins. Beat the Giants and you can move past them in the Wild Card standings, handle the Dodgers like they have the last two NLCS's and you keep them in your rear view mirror. You always should like having to take care of your own business!!
Friday night marks the first football game played here in town that health permitting is not going to be started by Donvan McNabb in more than a decade.(Quickie trivia question, who was the last quarterback to start in front of # 5...If you are under 20 years old and remember the short lived Doug Pederson era, pat yourself on the back) Kevin Kolb will give you a quick peek at what the post-McNabb Eagle offense could look like before Andy Reid hands him his ball cap and says take the rest of the night off !! Those who attended flight night last week thought Kolb looked a little shaky. Hopefully he throws it a little better against the Jags de on Friday. Either way, look for Reid to try and put Kolb in a position to succeed, even if it's on a smaller scale. They want to leave the first period of their exhibition opener with a good feeling about the offense.
While Kolb will be kept on a short reign, Birds fans better hope that the Eagles don't push the envelope on Shady McCoy either. If he were to go down, Birds hopes would already be in the questionable hands of the already hobbled back up half back Mike Bell. The restricted free agent acquisition does have a Super Bowl ring from last year’s Saints magic carpet ride. What he doesn't have is an NFL season under his belt where he's toted the rock more than 175 times. If you think Birds fans were obsessed with run pass ratio when McNabb was here, what do you think the hue and cry will be if Mr. Kolb's pass to INT ratio starts out high. (McNabb's career # being one of the lowest in the history of the league.)
Stewart Bradley, great to have you back, get used to having inter-changing faces to your left and right because I don't think coach McDermott has a clue yet as to who best to surround you with. But that's why we play these full priced scrimmages right?? Enjoy!!!