EAGLES: Curtis makes good first impression

Every fan loves to see a player that shows dedication to his team on top of improving his personal skill level. Wide receiver Kevin Curtis fits this description perfectly. You don’t see him in the media. You don’t hear about his problems off the field. And most importantly, you don’t hear about him ruining relationships with teammates or slacking off.

Kevin Curtis battled injuries last season and only caught 33 passes

Coming off a mediocre season in comparison to 2007 (77 catches for 1110 yards and six scores), Curtis has something to prove in 2009. He battled a sports hernia injury most of last season that kept him out of seven games. The 31-year-old had a second surgery in April to repair the hernia in an effort to return to full form by the start of the upcoming season.

To test his health, Curtis took initiative and reported to training camp early. The wide-out participated in several noncontact drills with the rookies and did not experience any problems. The veterans are not required to report to training camp until today (7/30/09), so it says a lot about Curtis’s character and drive to come out early in order to assure that he can run compete at training camp.

With the acquisition of unsigned rookie Jeremy Maclin, Curtis is not a definite for the second receiving spot. Since Maclin has yet to report to camp, Curtis will already have an edge on the unproven rookie. He has the speed and versatility to be a big time receiver for the ‘Birds, but even the wide-out cannot fully proclaim that he is 100 percent Since an athlete can continue to play through a sports hernia (McNabb in 2005, Curtis last season for the first six games), it is tough to assume that he is ready for full contact.

“It feels pretty good,” he said of his groin to the Philadelphia Daily News. “I’ve been out running on it hard, cutting on it [at home]. But you can’t really duplicate the real thing. I was curious how it would feel in this kind of setting. So far, so good. But I didn’t do a whole lot. And it’s going to get more intense as we go.”

If Curtis is able to duplicate his efforts from 2007 and second-year receiver DeSean Jackson can repeat from his 62-catch rookie season, the wide receiving core is looking very impressive heading into 2009.

FLYERS: LeClair Headlines U.S. Hockey HOF Class

Former Flyer John LeClair is heading to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. 

LeClair will be  joining former Flyer teammate Tony Amonte,  former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending great Tom Barrasso, the entire 1998 US Olympic Women’s Hockey Team, and the man who created quite possibly the greatest four wheel automobile ever, Mr. Frank Zamboni, as part of the 2009 Induction Class.

For extensive reading on this topic, view the Philadelphia Flyers Official Press Release here.

Hall of Fame Bound

In ten seasons with the Orange and Black, LeClair struck the back of the net 333 times.  He also became the first American Born hockey player in NHL history to notch three consecutive 50-goal seasons, doing so as a member of the Flyers.  LeClair was  saw much of his success in Philadelphia as a part of the dreaded “Legion of Doom” Line, which was composed of LeClair, Mikael Renberg, and Eric Lindros.  The line torched opposing defenses and goaltenders throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries.  Aside from his time in Philadelphia, LeClair also spent time with the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On a personal note, growing up, John LeClair was my favorite player on the Flyers.  I have always considered him to be, by far,  my favorite Flyer to play the game, and he has been dearly missed by both the Flyers and their fans since falling victim to cap casualties a few years ago.  We here at The Philly Phour wish to congratulate Mr. LeClair on this incredibly prestigious honor and it is our hope that the game of hockey has many more humble and talented players such as LeClair waiting to make their mark on American Hockey in the future.

FLYERS: New Headman for AHL Club

It will be a season of new beginnings this year for the Flyers’ AHL affiliate. 

The Phantoms will leave The Spectrum – the only home they have ever known – and ship up North to the Adirondack Mountains and the Glens Falls Civic Center, an arena vacated when the Detroit Red Wings’ old affiliate, the Adirondack Red Wings, skipped town a few years ago.

With them, the Phantoms will bring their same jerseys, many of the same players, and, still a sense of Philadelphia-style hockey.  However, there had been one major aspect that wasn’t included on the teams repertoire: a Head Coach.  After last season’s Head Coach John Paddock left to take on a role of Assistant General Manager with the Flyers, the Phantoms were left with no one to roam the bench during games. 

Just like their time in Philadelphia, consider that issue a thing of the past.

This past Tuesday, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that Greg Gilbert would become the sixth Head Coach in Phantoms history, grouped with names the likes of Paddock, Current Flyers Head Coach John Stevens, and Former Flyers bench boss Bill Barber. 

Greg Gilbert takes the reigns as Head Coach of the Phantoms

“We are pleased to add Greg to our organization as head coach of the Phantoms,” said Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren. “He has a wealth of coaching experience at many levels and has shown a unique ability to work well with younger players.”

Gilbert has spent time in both the AHL and NHL ranks, most recently serving as the Headman for the Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate.  In 3 years behind the Marlies bench, Gilbert compiled a 123-89-10-18 record, including a 39-29-5-7 mark in 2008-09.  Aside from his time in Toronto, the 47-year-old Gilbert has also been coach of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, as he patrolled their bench during parts of the 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 NHL seasons.  In 121 games behind the bench in Alberta, Gilbert came away with 42 wins, 56 losses, and 23 overtime losses. 

Gilbert’s first Head Coaching gig came with the AHL’s Worcester Ice Cats from 1996-2000.  In 320 regular season games with the Ice Cats, Gilbert went 145-121-37-17, while even capturing the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding coach in the 1996-97 season. 

Gilbert has won the Stanley Cup three times as a player, doing so with the New York Islanders in 1982 and 1983, and then finally as a New York Ranger in 1994. 

Gilbert will be the sixth Head Coach in Phantoms history, but the first in the history of the Adirondack Phantoms.

NEW POLL: VOTE!

Based on the past 24 hours, I’d like to gauge some thoughts by posting this poll to see just where recent Philly sports teams’ moves rank amongst their harshest critics: the fans.

Vote and enjoy!

PHILLIES: The Newest Phil-”lee”

Just 24 hours ago, Phillies fans like myself still thought that Roy Halladay was going to be on his way to Philadelphia at the end of the trade deadline. Now, the only time he will be coming to the City of Brotherly Love is as a visitor or if he secures a spot in the opposing teams’ dugout.

Welcome Cliff Lee. A deal that basically was developed, executed, and finalized before you can clap you hands now will most likely be the trade that defines the 2009 Trade Deadline. Headlines will read “2008 AL Cy Young going to the reigning World Champs.”

Wow, does that sound great.

Or does it?

Here is the good, the bad, and the truth in the biggest trade for the Philadelphia Phillies since they acquired Freddy Garcia (and you know how that turned out).

The Good:

Just look at this trade on the surface. Cliff Lee (2008 AL Cy Young Award winner) and OF Ben Francisco traded to the Phillies for four minor league prospects. Wow. The Phillies got starting pitching help in an ace and the right-handed bat off the bench they’ve been searching for all year without giving up one person from the big league roster that is 18 games above .500 and has a seven-game lead in the NL East. Not only that, the Phillies didn’t even give up any of their three “untouchables”, as Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor are all still members of the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Even J.A Happ, a potential rookie of the year candidate in the NL for the Phillies, was left out of the deal and is, for right now, staying in Philly. That’s a luxury they certainly wouldn’t have had if Roy Halladay were to make his home at Citizens Bank Park. Speaking of Halladay, it’s quite possible that for the Phillies, Lee may have been a better option all together than “Doc”. Lee is younger (30) than Halladay (32), cheaper (5 million a year in contrast to Halladay’s 15.75 million), and demanded far less value than Halladay would (Toronto wanted J.A Happ, Drabek and Brown in return). Even with acquiring Lee over the better overall pitcher in Halladay, the Phillies pitching staff is now certainly better, and is as deep as ever.  A Cole Hamels/Cliff Lee one-two punch combined with Joe Blanton, Happ, Jamie Moyer, and Pedro Martinez finishing out the back end of the rotation will provide the star-power and consistency to be the among the best rotations in the baseball. Add that with the best offense in baseball, and there is no reason that the Phillies shouldn’t be the favorite to represent the NL in the World Series for the second season in a row.

The Bad:

(Note, this is me playing devil’s advocate)

Here is where my pessimistic Philadelphia sports attitude sets in. If the Phillies attitude is to win now, which they showed by traded four highly regarded prospects, why didn’t they just go for the touchdown pass with Roy Halladay instead of going for the field goal in Cliff Lee. Lee’s 22-3 season last year could simply be a case of a “one-year wonder”, as he is below .500 with a 7-9 record this year. For Halladay, who is widely regarded as one of the top-3 best pitchers in the league, and may go down as one of the best pitcher of our generation, Toronto was asking for J.A Happ, the Phillies top overall prospect in Dominic Brown, and the so-called pitching phenom Kyle Drabek. Instead Phillies gave up four prospects for Lee, with fellow pitcher Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson and Jason Donald all ranked as higher prospects than Drabek by Baseball America. Combine that with the loss of 18 year-old flamethrower Jason Knapp (who scouts have compared to Jonathan Papelbon), the Phillies just dealt four players who were thought as the future of the Philadelphia baseball. If last year was just a fluke, and Lee continues his sub .500 performance of this year and basically every other year until his contract with Philadelphia ends in 2010, not only would that close the window of opportunity to bring another World Series parade down Broad Street, but the loss of these integral parts of the organization could set back the Phillies for five year, maybe longer.

The Truth:

For GM Ruben Amaro, this was the perfect trade to make. Lee will obviously solidify the rotation and strike fear in basically every NL team who could face the Phillies in a game, let alone a playoff series. On the other hand, Ben Francisco was a huge part of why the deal is a winner for the Phillies. Francisco provides a right-handed bat off the bench with power (10 HR) and versatility (can play both corner outfield positions), and will allow John Mayberry Jr. some more time to grow as an everyday player at a lower level, as he will most likely be optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Francisco’s power from the right side of the plate, combined with Greg Dobbs and Matt Stairs from the left side of the plate, gives the Phillies offensive flexibility, as if they needed it.

 

Acquiring Cliff Lee gives the Phillies an "ace" in the starting rotation

While the Phillies did get Cliff Lee, they did in fact give up a lot. Donald, the organizations third ranked prospect, and Marson, the organizations fourth ranked prospect, talent and maturity-wise are ready to play for Indians big league team right now. Also, both are projected to be above-average MLB players for ten years. Knapp had the highest ceiling of any Phillies prospect (more than Brown, Taylor or Drabek), and still has so much room to grow as a teenager. Carrasco, the wildcard in this, is still considered a top of the rotation starter by the Indians after struggling this season. The truth of the matter is that he’s allowed to struggle, he’s 22 years old, people seem to forget that, though the Indians obviously didn’t.

 

The truth is though, if the Phillies were to give up any of the highly regarded prospects, these were the ones they wanted to give up. It’s nothing against the four of them, it just seems like they made the pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly. Donald, behind Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley for another five years, would just be a career backup for the Phillies and would have no value and diminished skill when Rollins and Utley are past their prime. Marson, probably the most costly of the departed, was viewed as the catcher of the future for Cleveland, as they are also shopping Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach. He was the huge centerpiece of the trade. Knapp, the other centerpiece of the trade, is at least three years away from making an impact at the big league level, which conflicts with the Phillies three-five year window to win another World Series. Lastly, Carrasco, while highly regarded, struggled in Triple-A and was upset at the organization in June when they promoted fellow Triple-A teammate Antonio Bastardo instead of him to replace Brett Myers in Philadephia. A change of scenery was probably the best scenario for Carrasco.

With all that said, it was worth it. By trading for Cliff Lee instead of Roy Halladay, the Phillies retaining their top prospects in the organization while keeping their entire big league nucleus intact. That seems like a good combination for success.

Or so we hope.