Phightins

The early reaction I am seeing from a lot of people is disappointment that the Flyers are paying JvR this much money after only three years, before he has a "breakout season", and before he is even an RFA. Personally, I don't give a shit. He and Giroux are the franchise now...please pay them as such. This is a good start.

6 year, $25.5 mil extension for JvR. Fantastic. I just hope there is a no-trade clause worked in...

I think most of it does.

Not quite, but close.

Andrew Brandt reporting a 6 year, $100 million extension for Vick. Um, wow.

Baseball!!!

So he can pay the Bruins' bar tabs I guess.

The rat just wants to get paid.

Kingda Ka is fine, apparently.

Still down and still live. Sparking up every 15 minutes or so. I have called 911 five times in the past 8 hours.

Down power line in my front yard. Massive electrical fire. Shit is scary.

I will be stuck at work all weekend. I work at a hotel, so you can imagine the hell I will be going through, especially if (more like when) we lose power. Should be fun.

And 32 games in 31 days to close the season in all. Sunday will be the final off day of the regular season. Nuts.

The Phillies now have 29 games in 28 days in September. Thanks Irene!!!

At the time, they took a lot of flack for not spending money. They had recently traded away Scott Rolen and Curt Schilling for nothing. Nobody wanted to play here. Then Thome came here and literally everything changed... Well, several other key events happened too (moving into new ballpark, farm system finally producing legit talent, etc). But Thome was big.

I am certainly happy that he bailed on Cleveland. I would argue that that one signing single handedly changed the Phillies culture.

Mike Pelfrey pitching like shit getting a win today, and Kyle Kendrick pitching like shit yet only seeing his ERA rise by .05 are exhibits A and B as to why those to stats are so outdated.

So Kendrick'd

In addition, Johnson is supposedly a type-A free agent in the AL. Meaning he will bring the Jays a first round pick (or at the worst, a very high compensation pick/2nd rounder) if he signs elsewhere. Probably the real motivation for the trade.

You basically said it. Lots of strikeouts, lots of power potential (for a middle infielder especially). He isn't quite a butcher in the field, but he isn't particularly good either (advanced stats have him in the middle of the pack of starting MLB second basemen). When he first came up with Atlanta, I always figured he'd wind up in the outfield full time eventually, but I guess he doesn't have the arm.

That was wild.

Jim Thome hit waivers today. He would be beyond perfect for the Phillies. Of course, the Phillies are last in waiver priority I fully expect somebody to claim him just for the sake of cock blocking. But if he somehow makes it down that far, I would be thrilled.

This is pretty much spot-on analysis IMO. And I agree with Smitty also.

Two most agonizing losses of the season come in a three day span. Get it all out of the system now, I guess.

Charlie Manuel will probably (definitely) go down as the greatest manager in Phillies history. I am fine with this...he does many things well, beginning with "managing personalities", blah blah blah. He is very lovable...I love and respect the guy. However, his pitching management is TERRIBLE. Fortunately, there is so much talent on this pitching staff from the very top to the very bottom, so he gets bailed out frequently. But I am just very concerned that this will cost the team at some point. My main point of frustration at this point is that Michael Schwimer has been on the active roster for 4 games now, and has yet to make an appearance, despite many opportunities to get him in. Come on Charlie!! Who cares how young he is, he has more talent than anybody in that bullpen that isn't named Madson or Bastardo. At least give him a look. Also, while I am on this rant, I can't wait to see next year's bullpen. Schwimer-Stutes-Bastardo-De Fratus-Aumont-Herndon. So much potential. Plus we will get a nice compensation pick from whoever overpays for Madson.