Nova - St Mary's

Well, lets hope Wright is done with his "teaching points". Villanova takes on 10 seed St. Mary today in Providence. The Gaels beat up on the Spiders in the first round while 'Nova escaped Robert Morris, with some special thanks to the refs. Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher Taylor King and Corey Stokes have all been benched recently for disciplinary reasons and taking leaks outside.

This game will be decided by which ever team can dictate the pace. St Mary has a huge frontline while Villanova is guard oriented.

Here's hoping Villanova can stay alive especially after Temple's dissapointing loss to Cornell.





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Doc in Clearwater

Doc's view from Left Field. 

 

P.S. I hate you, Doc.

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Spring is Here

Now that the snow is starting to clear, and the weather is getting warmer it is time for Philadelphia to turn their focus to the REAL team of the City. It feels like years ago that the Phils were playing the Yankees in the World Series, but it is finally here. Spring training has started and the Phils new ace Roy Halladay will be taking the mound today against CC Sabathia at 1:05 in Clearwater's Bright House Field. Doc will be in attendance at the game as he made his way down there yesterday. I'm sure that he will be getting hammered at Frenchy's today, and one can only hope that he doesn't pass out at the bar. It's a good thing that Moose will not be down there this year. Last time he was there he was hammered and screaming obscenities to the opposing pitchers in the bull pen with a pit stained wife beater, mesh shorts, and high top cons on. All of this was being conducted while little kids were standing around with their dads. If that doesn't scream Kensington then I don't know what does, Moose.

Today marks the start of a long journey throughout the summer that will hopefully end with what happened in 2008. Another good thing about baseball season is that there will be more posts on the blog for all three of our readers to read. Baseball consumes about 98% of our blog, so here we go. Get ready for another season with Charlie and the Phils. They never disappoint, and if you are not pumped for this season then I would have to say go f yourself. LET'S GO PHILS!

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QB Talk

A day after ESPN's Adam Shefter says Michael Vick will remain an Eagle - Vick tells the Charlotte Observer that he wants to play in Carolina because he like the colors.

Well, you know, it's close to home," Vick said. "I like the uniforms. You get to play against Atlanta twice a year. Ain't nothing better than playing against your former team, right? So, yeah, that would be a good look, it would be a good look."

A report out of St. Louis has the Rams talking about a deal for Donovan McNabb.

According to more than one well-informed source, the Rams have had intense internal conversations with the Philadelphia Eagles about a trade for Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb.

(St Louis Dispatch)

Brian Burwell later back tracked and said there was a typo..Because internal talks can't really involve another team.

Here is an interview on 97.5 with Brian Burwell talking about the situation which isn't really a situation.

Sal Pal is reporting/has reported that the Rams do not like the QB's in this year's draft and will make a run at any one of the 3 Eagle QB's. He says that the Rams could draft N.Suh and maybe package their second rd pick this year plus a first rd pick next year for McNabb. That there is amazing value for a QB with 1 year left on his deal.

It seems that the Eagles like 2nd round picks better than first rounders anyway (cheaper). And you have to figure that the Rams pick next year will be very early.

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DW's NL Central Preview

Can anyone compete with the Cards? St Louis brought back Matt Holliday to form one of the best 3-4 punches in the game. If they can get another injury free season out of Carpenter, the Cards will walk with the division. The Cubbies used addition by subtraction in the offseason with Milton Bradley. They need bounce back years from Soriano and Soto to contend - they still have some talent. Milwaukee didn't do too much to improve off last season's 80 wins while the Reds have alot of young developing talent and also lured Aroldis Chapman into Cinci. Ed Wade continues to build with former Phillies with little upside and the Bucos plan to contend sometime in the next decade or so.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

2009 record and finish: 62-99

Manager: John Russell

Departures: RHP Matt Capps

Arrivals: RHP Octavio Dotel, 2B Akinori Iwamura, IF Bobby Crosby, RHP D.J. Carrasco, OF Ryan Church, LHP Neal Cotts

Rotation: LHP Paul Maholm, LHP Zach Duke, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Daniel McCutchen

Closer: RHP Octavio Dotel

Setup guy: RHP Brendan Donnelly

Lineup: CF Andrew McCutchen, 2B Akinori Iwamura, RF Garrett Jones, C Ryan Doumit, LF Lastings Milledge, 1B Jeff Clement, 3B Andy LaRoche, SS Ronny Cedeno


HOUSTON ASTROS:

2009 record and finish: 74-88

Manager: Brad Mills

Departures: RHP Jose Valverde, IF Miguel Tejada, C/IF Chris Coste

Arrivals: RHP Brett Myers, 3B Pedro Feliz, RHP Brandon Lyon

Rotation: RHP Roy Oswalt, LHP Wandy Rodriguez, RHP Brett Myers, RHP Bud Norris, RHP Felipe Paulino

Closer: RHP Matt Lindstrom

Setup guy: RHP Brandon Lyon

Lineup: CF Michael Bourn, 2B Kaz Matsui, 1B Lance Berkman, LF Carlos Lee, RF Hunter Pence, 3B Pedro Feliz, C Jason Castro, SS Tommy Manzella



ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
2009 record and finish: 91-71

Manager: Tony La Russa

Departures: IF Mark DeRosa, RHP Joel Pineiro, IF Troy Glaus, IF Khalil Greene, RHP John Smoltz

Arrivals: RHP Brad Penny, LHP Rich Hill

Rotation: RHP Chris Carpenter, RHP Adam Wainwright, RHP Kyle Lohse, RHP Brad Penny, LHP Rich Hill,

Closer: RHP Ryan Franklin

Setup men: RHP Jason Motte

Lineup: 2B Skip Schumaker, SS Brendan Ryan, 1B Albert Pujols, LF Matt Holliday, RF Ryan Ludwick, CF Colby Rasmus, C Yadier Molina, 3B David Freese


MILWAUKEE BREWERS

2009 record and finish: 80-82

Manager: Ken Macha

Departures: RHP Braden Looper, SS J.J. Hardy, CF Mike Cameron

Arrivals: OF Carlos Gomez, LHP Randy Wolf, RHP LaTroy Hawkins, C Gregg Zaun, LHP Doug Davis

Rotation: RHP Yovani Gallardo, LHP Randy Wolf, LHP Doug Davis, RHP Jeff Suppan, LHP Manny Parra

Closer: RHP Trevor Hoffman

Setup men: RHP LaTroy Hawkins

Lineup: 2B Rickie Weeks, SS Alcides Escobar, 1B Prince Fielder, LF Ryan Braun, RF Corey Hart, 3B Casey McGehee, C Gregg Zaun, CF Carlos Gomez


CHICAGO CUBS
2009 record and finish: 83-78

Manager: Lou Piniella

Departures: OF Milton Bradley, RHP Rich Harden

Arrivals: OF Marlon Byrd, OF Xavier Nady

Rotation: RHP Carlos Zambrano, LHP Ted Lilly, RHP Ryan Dempster, RHP Randy Wells, LHP Tom Gorzelanny

Closer: RHP Carlos Marmol

Setup guy: LHP John Grabow

Regulars: SS Ryan Theriot, RF Kosuke Fukudome, 1B Derrek Lee, 3B Aramis Ramirez, LF Alfonso Soriano, CF Marlon Byrd, C Geovany Soto, 2B Mike Fontenot


CINCINNATI REDS
2009 record and finish: 78-84

Manager: Dusty Baker

Departures: OF Willy Taveras

Arrivals: SS Orlando Cabrera, LHP Aroldis Chapman, IF Aaron Miles

Rotation: RHP Bronson Arroyo, RHP Aaron Harang, RHP Johnny Cueto, RHP Homer Bailey, RHP Micah Owings

Closer: RHP Francisco Cordero

Setup guy: RHP Nick Masset

Lineup: CF Drew Stubbs, SS Orlando Cabrera, 1B Joey Votto, 2B Brandon Phillips, 3B Scott Rolen, RF Jay Bruce, LF Jonny Gomes, C Ramon Hernandez


DW Pre-Spring Training, Predicted Order of Finish

1. St Louis
2. Chicago
3. Reds
4. Brewers
5. Astros
6. Pirates

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