Lee a Phillie?

Fox Sports is reporting the Phillies have acquired Cliff Lee from the Indians. No Drabek, no Haap, no Brown in the deal.

WillWeEverWin is calling all the hospitals for confirmation ...

Jim Johnson, May 26, 1941 – July 28, 2009

Jim Johnson had been a coach for 10 years in this town and nobody really said a bad word about him. That is a reflection of how great he was. Jim Johnson is a guy that loved football and he's somebody that you wish you knew personally. He will be missed.

Is you is, or is you ain't, Halladay?

Looks like this Roy Halladay business will go right down to the trade deadline, and it sounds like the Jays and the Phillies — supposedly the most likely team to get a deal done — are at loggerheads over who the Phils would have to give up. Reportedly — as seen here in Great Sports Debate alum Jayson Stark's story — the Jays are demanding current starter J.A. Happ, top starting prospect Kyle Drabek and top (?) outfield prospect Dominic Brown. And the Phils are balking.

Out of that deal, the player that hurts the most for me is Happ, because I don't like messing with the current rotation. I could care less about prospects that may never pan out — and the Jays aren't asking for eight guys here. It's three or four. But giving up Happ hurts a bit. Even so, I'd do it. I'd rather throw in a couple more minor leaguers instead, but I'd still do it.

If Indians starter Cliff Lee has to be our safety college choice, then that would stem my Hallday disappointment a good deal. He has pitched much better than his record indicates this season. Had he the run support the Phillies normally provide, he would be right up there with the best AL starters.

But Lee is being targeted by other teams as well, as indicated by Stark.

So the pressure is on for first-year GM Ruben Amaro Jr. Would you give the Jays what they're asking? How much would you give up? Is another starter the answer? Do we not even need another starter?

NOTES:
— The new terminology on repeat in every discussion of potential trades by the national media types is "pain," as in how much pain will the Phillies have to suffer to acquire Halladay. Just an observation.

— Bucks County Courier Times reporter Randy Miller supposedly wrote an article today in which several Phillies players, who provided their names, said they want Halladay on the team. I'd link to it but the PhillyBurbs site sucks big time.

Joe Banner speaks

Via Bob Ford: Banner: Birds' roster best in NFL

Various

The Erin Andrews peephole video has allowed the usual dinosaurs (even the good sports talk hosts) to slam blogs with the usual tired schtick. Mike Missanelli used the occasion to decry blogs and their "lack of standards" which I assume include reporting things without really knowing the facts. So he then "reported" what happened with Deadspin and the video without really knowing the facts. But of course his points regarding blogs still stand. And look, I linked to Deadspin in my post on this story which has been standard practice since the Mosaic browser. That must mean I agree with and support everything they do.

And can anyone really tell me what the difference between blogs and sport talk radio is except you don't have to wait an hour on hold to state your opinion in a 2 minute time limit?

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As the Eagles begin their 2009-2010 season, the national media supposedly is in love with the Eagles chances this year (note: I actually haven't read anything myself, but it's what I hear). There of course are many questions regarding the team going into the season. The biggest of course is what will the loss of Jim Johnson mean, not just for the defense, but the coaching of the entire team - everything will be on Reid now. Then there's also the loss of Dawkins, the status of Westbrook's health and the depth at running back, the brand new offensive line and its ability to gel with the Andrews brothers as big question marks, and can the backups that are now starters really play. I'll also add are this year's draft picks going to do anything, especially the WR, RB, and TE, and the required "what about McNabb?"

One thing not being mentioned though regarding the Eagles and their chances, is the difficulty of their schedule.

Sept. 13 at Carolina, 1 pm
Sept. 20 vs. New Orleans, 1 pm
Sept. 27 vs. Kansas City, 1 pm
Oct. 4, Bye
Oct. 11 vs. Tampa Bay, 1 pm
Oct. 18 at Oakland, 4:05 pm
Oct. 26 at Washington, 8:30 pm
Nov. 1 vs. N.Y. Giants, 4:15 pm
Nov. 8 vs. Dallass, 8:20 pm
Nov. 15 at San Diego, 4:15 pm
Nov. 22 at Chicago 8:20 pm
Nov. 29 vs. Washington, 1 pm
Dec. 6 at Atlanta, 1 pm
Dec. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 8:20 pm
Dec. 20 vs. San Francisco, 1 pm
Dec. 27 vs. Denver, 1 pm
Jan. 3 at Dallass, 1pm

The really hard part is the middle. After 2 consecutive road games at Oakland (west coast travel) and Washington (Monday night game), they play New York and Dallass (Sunday night game) at home, and then go on the road again for 2 straight to San Diego (west coast travel) and Chicago (Sunday night game). The travel, 3 straight vs. division rivals, playing some tough teams plus throw in the 3 prime time games which also mess up a team's routine, and you can see what could doom the Eagles.

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While 99.9% of politicians are hypocrites, Republicans seem to have a special affinity and relationship with hypocrisy. The party that loves to scream about states rights when the federal government implements things they don't like, like civil rights, proves once again they couldn't care less about states rights when states exercise them by doing things they dont like. Uber conservative Republicans and perpetual busy bodies, John Kyl and Orrin Hatch, wrote a letter last week to Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to enforce a federal ban on sports betting in Delaware - never mind Delaware had sports betting before the ban and was grandfathered in.

But why do Senators from Utah and Oklahoma want to stop the good citizens of Delaware, whose democratically elected representatives approved sports betting, from putting 20 down on the Eagles to cover? According to the Senators, "sports betting threatens to undermine the integrity of our national pastimes." HA HA HA. Good one clowns. The only thing these idiots can really stop is the single game betting, so they must think single game betting is somehow corrupting but parlay betting is benign. Makes sense to me! And last I checked Las Vegas is still around and yet somehow the integrity of the pastimes the citizens enjoy seems more at risk from steroids and corrupt referees.

And not to be outdone in idiocy, the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL and the NCAA filed a complaint to stop Gov. Jack Markell and the Delaware State Lottery Office from taking bets on their games. Delaware followed the letter of the law. Good luck morons. I love how corporations think they can write the laws. Oh wait...

Here's an idea, how about overturning the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and make sports betting legal everywhere instead. Step up real Republicans, and bring down the Nanny State! Let adults be adults.

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This Roy Halladay crap is more drawn out and tedious than Wingbowl tryouts, Wingette tryouts, intern contests, etc. Make it stop.

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The Mets suck.

Vote Victorino

You have until 4 p.m. today to vote for Shane Victorino in MLB's Final Vote for the All-Star Game. And, unlike traditional Philadelphia elections, voting often is encouraged AND legal, as opposed to just encouraged.

Victorino is as deserving as anyone else on the ballot, and isn't hurting his case with some clutch hitting this week. And with Carlos Beltran hurt, could he even start if elected? I don't know, but Uncle Charlie is the NL manager. Put him in coach.

You can vote at MLB.com or at the Phillies site, which for some reason is advocating an Inge/Victorino ticket. Why? I don't know.

UPDATE: The Hawaiian will be flyin' to St. Louis for the All-Star game. Mission accomplished.

Flyers sign two

The Flyers signed free agents Ian Laperriere and Brian Boucher. This is the right wing and back-up goalie that fans and media have been pointing to as missing from the team. Laperriere I like, a total team guy, but skill wise he is yet another Asham/Carcillo type. I guess Holmgren hopes Ian can kill penalties and win a few draws as well as hit, fight and agitate. Laperriere, who hates losing, was stoked to be signed by the Flyers.

“When Philly called, I got very excited,” said Laperriere of joining the Flyers organization. “They show their fans and they show their team that they want to win, and they’ll do anything to win.

Boucher is the quintessential back-up keeper and that is what the Flyers were searching for, so he is a good fit. I am sure all Flyers fans are looking forward to being able to chant "Boooooooooooooooooouch" again. Flyers propaganda here. Mike Knuble signed with the Capitals. Unfortunately the Flyers do not have a player on the roster who is big enough, tough enough, and skilled enough to truly occupy Knuble's "office" in front of the net (especially on the power play). Maybe Carcillo will blossom into that role?