Phightins

I don't have a problem with this. I think people underestimate how much damage a huge innings-pitched jump can potentially have on a pitcher. The Nationals are going nowhere this year, no reason to push it with any of their young pitchers, especially with Strasburg.

Of course we get rolling and then the All Star break comes...sigh.

Futures game today as well. I am excited for that.

Yeah. Probably because role players are more vital in the NHL. There is a lot more involved in building a team. But with regards to the NBA, I don't understand how in a star-driven league with a salary cap, three super stars can wind up on the same team. But whatever, that's a debate for a different thread lol.

Actually I take that back...apparently this is possible in a salary cap league too. http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/2010/7/10/heat_65817.jpg

That's life in a salary cap league I guess.

That's sad. Might have been my favorite part about Yankee Stadium.

What do you mean? The Flyers main hole was their 3rd defensive pairing, which they had to overpay to improve. To clear cap space for this (and to presumably re-sign their last 2 RFAs), they found a cheaper alternative to Simon Gagne, who also presumably will be let go at some point. They have a lot of expensive forwards, Gagne being the only one that was moveable. What other moves have they made that are so puzzling though? Arron Asham will be basically replaced with Jody Shelley. I'd have preferred to keep Asham, but that is sort of a minor deal. I don't see that having any major ramifications. You will probably say that goaltender was their main need, which is understandable, but I'd argue that if they had a competent 3rd defensive pairing in the Chicago series they easily could have won it. Instead of overpaying in terms of talent/draft picks for Bernier, Halak, Schneider, etc., they decided to overpay money-wise and take Meszaros off Tampa's hands (and the O'Donnell signing was fantastic, IMO). They felt it was more worthwhile to attack the 3rd pairing than the goaltender, and I think it's been known all along that a big contract would have to be moved for either of these areas to be fixed. Also, on another note about Zherdev, I like the 1-year contract strategy Holmgren is using here, ala Ray Emery. Let the guy prove he belongs in the NHL again, don't let him feel entitled to anything. Now hopefully Zherdev doesn't blow out his hip like Emery too!

One of the better games I have attended in a while.

Sure looks that way.

I probably missed it earlier if they explained, but why is Jose Reyes batting right handed against Hudson?

From what I have heard, Zherdev is Gagne with a right-handed shot and almost no defense, which is why I said he'd have to be significantly less money in order for it to be worth it. Clearly, he will be Gagne's replacement, and the saved cap room will go towards bringing back Carcillo and Powe (I presume), and maybe there will even be enough to bring Marty Turco in on a 1 year deal or something like that. We'll see.

Going again tonight, so we'll see how real it is.

Well, Deng plays the same position, which sort of makes your point moot. The difference is Deng is a worse defender, worse shooter, basically worse everything. I am not a fan of Iguodala's contract, however I feel the Sixers get way more bang for the buck out of him than they would out of Deng. Look, I agree that the Sixers are not contending for a title any time soon, but that is no reason for them to trade their best player for an inferior player with an even worse contract, if that is what you were getting at. It doesn't matter if your team is the Lakers and ready to compete for a title this year, or the Sixers who still have a long way to go, trades need to make sense for both teams. I just don't see the logic in this for the Sixers at all.

:) :) :) :)

Maybe Doc can bat cleanup too.

Mike Leake has 3 hits tonight. The Phillies have 5.

I don't see why the Sixers would even consider this.

That first inning for the Phillies is basically this season in a nutshell. And it even included an injury. Couldn't have scripted it any better.

Depends on where he is going. Obviously he isn't going to just say "okay I am waiving it, trade me where ever". That sort of negates it's purpose. And that is what he reportedly said to the French newspaper. Word is that he agreed to waive it to go to the Kings though.

I think I am going to cry.... A full season of Cliff Lee gets the Phillies Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, and JC Ramirez. Less than a half season of Cliff Lee gets the Mariners Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, and whatever else.

Chipper Jones? Scratched from the lineup due to an injury? You don't say...

Reportedly 1 year $2 million. If that's true, I'm down. When this was first rumored, I said I'd only be on board if Zherdev was significantly less money than Gagne, which it appears he will be.

It is getting to be that time again. Maybe we can keep everything organized into this thread. Sticky perhaps? To get things started, it appears that Cliff Lee is going to the Rangers.

Zherdev deal official.