In Case You Missed It: Phillies, Giants tussle Friday night

The Phillies topped the Giants 9-2 Friday night to collect their eighth-straight victory. But the main story coming out of At&T Park was both teams clearing their benches after Giants' pitcher Ramon Ramirez hit Shane Victorino in the top of the sixth inning. If you didn't stay up to watch the West Coast action, here's video of the fracas below.



Source: Youtube
Benches clear in sixth, Phillies down Giants for 8th straight win (The Reporter)

Eagles players, Brian Dawkins, LeBron talk NFL lockout end on Twitter

Good news, America. The NFL lockout is over. No more having to wonder if we'll have to actually do something productive with our time Sundays this fall. Instead, we have those glorious afternoons to hope that this is truly the day Andy Reid finally figures out time management.

And in the spirit of the times, Twitter was the place to comment on the return of pro football. Compiled below are a few tweets from Eagles players, Brian Dawkins and LeBron James. Cause everyone needs to know what LeBron thinks.

Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok!! FOOTBALL IS BAC LET'S GET IT!! YA HEARD MEEEEH!!less than a minute ago via Echofon Favorite Retweet ReplyDesean Jackson
DeseanJackson10

Congrats to both parties on settling the lockout. Intelligent men always find ways to win!!!less than a minute ago via Echofon Favorite Retweet ReplyMike Vick
MikeVick

It's Showtime..less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyAsante Samuel
Thepresidentcb

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!!!!!less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyStewart Bradley
StewBradley

And so it begins... #focused and #readyless than a minute ago via Echofon Favorite Retweet ReplyVictor Abiamiri
victorabiamiri

SO IT BEGINS !!!!!!!!!! #SnotBubbleCrazyEyesless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyBrian Dawkins
BrianDawkins

As of fan of the great sport of Football, I happy and excited about the 10 year deal both sides came to and upcoming football season! #hypedless than a minute ago via Echofon Favorite Retweet ReplyLeBron James
KingJames

Pennsylvania American Legion Region 2 Tournament

Host: Nor-Gwyn (norgwynbaseball.org)

Saturday, July 16
Game 1: Pennridge 16 Northern Valley 12 STORY VIDEO
Game 2: Nazareth 16, Fullerton 5 STORY (via The Morning Call)
Game 3: Boyertown 15, Bath 5 (7) STORY (via The Mercury)
Game 4: Nor-Gwyn 15, Southern Area 11 STORY VIDEO VIDEO

Sunday, July 17
Game 5: Bath 12, Northern Valley 3 (Northern Valley eliminated) STORY (via The Express-Times)
Game 6: Fullerton 9, Southern Area 6 (Southern Area eliminated) STORY (via the Republican & Herald)
Game 7: Boyertown 8, Pennridge 4 STORY
Game 8: Nazareth 3, Nor-Gwyn 1 STORY

Monday, July 18
Game 9: Pennridge 10, Fullerton 3 (Fullerton eliminated) STORY
Game 10: Bath 9, Nor-Gwyn 0 (Nor-Gwyn eliminated) STORY
Game 11: Boyertown 8, Nazareth 3 STORY (via The Mercury)

Tuesday, July 19
Game 12: Pennridge 19, Nazareth 8 (7) (Nazareth eliminated) STORY VIDEO VIDEO
Game 13: Boyertown 4, Bath 1 (Bath eliminated) STORY (via The Mercury)

Wednesday, July 20
Game 14: Boyertown 17, Pennridge 15 (Boyertown wins Region 2) STORY VIDEO VIDEO

Notes: Games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents unless necessary. If three teams remain after Game 13, Winner of Game 11 draws bye in Game 14.

Field Location

View Hostelley Field in a larger map

2011 Bux Mont American Legion Tournament

Thursday, July 7
Game 1: (8) Nor-Gwyn 8, (1) Hatfield 7 STORY VIDEO
Game 2: (5) Pottstown 3, (4) Perkiomen 0 STORY
Game 3: (3) Warrington 7, (6) Quakertown 3
Game 4: (7) Pennridge 6, (2) Doylestown 5 (8) STORY

Friday, July 8
All games postponed to Saturday due to weather

Saturday, July 9
Game 5: (4) Perkiomen 9,  (1) Hatfield 6 (Hatfield eliminated) STORY HATFIELD VIDEO PERKIOMEN VIDEO
Game 6: (6) Quakertown 6, (2) Doylestown, 4 p.m. (Doylestown eliminated)
Game 7: (8) Nor-Gwyn 8, (5) Pottstown 3 STORY
Game 8: (7) Pennridge 1, (3) Warrington 0 STORY

Sunday, July 10 at Memorial Stadium, Quakertown
Game 9: (4) Perkiomen 10, (3) Warrington 7 (Warrington eliminated)
Game 10: (6) Quakertown 11,  (5) Pottstown 8 (Pottstown eliminated)
Game 11: (7) Pennridge 7, (8) Nor-Gwyn 1

Monday,  July 11 at Memorial Stadium, Quakertown
Game 12: (6) Quakertown 17, (8) Nor-Gwyn 10 (Nor-Gwyn eliminated) STORY VIDEO
Game 13: (7) Pennridge 16, (4) Perkiomen 5 STORY

Tuesday, July 12 at Memorial Stadium, Quakertown
Game 14: (8) Pennridge 5, (6) Quakertown 3 STORY STORY VIDEO VIDEO

What to do with Worley

By Christiaan DeFranco
@cdefranco

Psst... I have an idea: How about the Phillies KEEP Vance Worley?

I know, I know, it's a radical suggestion. Most people I've heard think the Phillies should trade him for a right-handed bat.

After all, a budding young pitcher is a hot commodity. In fact, it might be the most valuable commodity in the sport. Every team wants one, and now that the Phils are lucky enough to have one, the savvy move would be to deal him away.

Right?

Wrong.

Dead wrong.

Stupid. Idiotic. Moronic.

Even if your team has the likes of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, an old baseball truism applies: You can never have enough starting pitching.

Yet lots of Phillies fans seem to be thinking, "Eh, we have enough."

Maybe they just don't believe Worley will turn out to be anything, that he's just another prospect in a sea of prospects that come and go like the tides. Maybe they overlook the fact that he held the Red Sox — baseball's best offense — to one run in seven innings. Or that he took a no-hitter into the sixth against the A's. Or that his career ERA in the majors so far is 2.29.

I happen to think he's legit, the real deal. I've thought so since I first saw him pitch. He's got the mentality it takes to be a big-time pitcher. He's got the toughness, the fiery competitive drive, the innate maturity, the work ethic, the attention to detail, the will and the need to succeed. He belongs and he knows he belongs. When he's on the mound, it's his mound. He owns it. And if a hitter gets comfortable at the plate, Worley will zing one high and tight.

That makeup is what Roy Halladay likes about him, too. That's why Halladay has taken a special interest in him.

Halladay and I could be wrong, of course, but then it's back to the question of having enough starting pitching. Oswalt is on the DL for nobody knows how long. Joe Blanton has been on the DL since before anyone can remember. And Hamels just injured his non-throwing hand.

So, after Halladay and Lee, who's left in the rotation — Kyle Kendrick?

What if somebody else goes down?

The fact is, the Phillies need Worley. Not only does he represent their future, he is a key component of their present.

They could use a right-handed bat, but trading away Vance Worley isn't the way to get it.

Mike Cabrey visits Coca-Cola Park

Dramatic sunset pic

Once in a while, I actually do get to go to a sporting event without having to cover it. Monday was that day, as went to Allentown to catch the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs take on Charlotte Knights (the Chicago White Sox's AAA affiliate) at Coca-Cola Park. And since I have a forum to post things on the internet via this blog, I figure I'lll share a couple of picture I took at the game.

David Boreanaz, not a fan of the Mike Richards trade

Never shld of gotten rid of Mike Richards. Bad Move. Gonna hurtless than a minute ago via Echofon Favorite Retweet ReplyDavid Boreanaz
David_Boreanaz

David Boreanaz of Buffy, Angel and Bones fame and the son of former 6ABC weatherman Dave Roberts, is not too fond of the trade the Philadelphia Flyers made last Thursday that sent captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings.
Source: Twitter

A New Schenn-sation on Broad Street?

I plead for forgiveness on the headline, I couldn't resist.

If you like some poorly-lit highlights and the Beastie Boys, you will love this video showcasing the Philadelphia Flyers' newly acquired forward Brayden Schenn.



Schenn was among those on the move as the Flyers massively reordered its roster Thursday, sending Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings and Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a pair of trades (which you can read more about here).

The fifth overall pick by the in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the 19-year-old Schenn compiled two assists and no goals in nine total games with the Kings and showed he can drop the gloves in this tussle with the Anaheim Duck's Luca Sbisa in the preseason last year.



One final video. With Richards leaving for Hollywood, let's remember perhaps the (now former) captain's top moment, his shorthanded goal in Game Five of the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals against the Montreal Canadiens.


-Mike Cabrey

Dodgers' fix long overdue

By Christiaan DeFranco
@cdefranco

It is rare that I side with Bud Selig.

Granted, his institution of the wild card turned out to be a good move, despite my initial skepticism as a baseball purist. It has added to the excitement of the playoffs and the pennant races without compromising the value of baseball's six-month, decisive, unequivocal, 162-game season.

Yet he also presided over the Steroid Era, turning a blind eye to a culture of cheating that dramatically and irreparably distorted the integrity and history of the game — more so than any of baseball's previous fluxuations and transgressions, including the travesty of segregation (although that's a whole other issue, the complexities of which warrant another discussion).

While the awkward and frequently incompetent Selig has lined owners' pockets, he has done more harm to the game than good.

But when it comes to the McCourts, I'm with Bud all the way.

Sleazy Frank and his wayward wife need to disappear. Now.

When you think of the great franchises of all time — in any sport — the Dodgers are right up there.

Not only do they have a decades-long tradition of winning, and not only did they venture baseball West (albeit to the justifiable dismay and disgust of Brooklyn fans), but they are the franchise of Jackie Robinson.

The Dodgers didn't just change the game, they helped change our country.

But for the past few years, they've been in the hands of a scumbag and his scummy wife (now ex-wife). And these two all-stars, despite running the organization into the ground and using it as their personal cash machine, are trying to cling to ownership.

By the way, if you don't know about Frank's background, he's a Boston real-estate developer who tried to buy the Red Sox and wanted to tear down Fenway in favor of a new stadium.

Get the picture?

I've also heard he hates Abe Lincoln and apple pie, but that's unconfirmed.

Then there was that debacle in which Frank decided security costs were too high at Dodger Stadium, despite a well-documented gang presence. So he slashed security, and on opening day this year a visiting Giants fan was beaten into a coma by a gangbanger in the parking lot. (Don't worry. Frank publicly derided the incident — a week after it happened.)

As for Jamie, she cheated on Frank after three decades of marriage but wanted to keep her share of the Dodgers because it was her cash cow. She knows nothing about baseball and doesn't care to, but she feels entitled.

Meanwhile, this historic, big-market club — a national treasure — has struggled to make payroll, foregone free-agent signings, and failed to re-sign important players who contributed to its recent playoff runs.

The other day, Frank and Jamie finalized their divorce, and Frank secured a $3-billion TV deal with Fox that would have paid Frank $385 million up-front (approximately $185 million of which he was going to use to pay off his divorce and dispose of his private debts).

Not so fast.

Selig rejected the deal, opening the door for MLB to seize control of the Dodgers and sell them to a new owner — and opening up MLB to a lawsuit challenging Selig's powers as commissioner.

Perhaps the commissioner's power needs to be challenged, perhaps not, but this isn't the case for that. My guess is that the McCourts will ultimately fail in their attempt to cling to the Dodgers, just as they've failed the Dodgers as owners. My guess is they'll be laughed out of court.

At least I hope so.

And if you love baseball, Dodger fan or not, you'll hope so too.

District One Spring Postseason

BASEBALL

Class AAAA

Five teams advance to states

First Round

Last Monday

(S8) West Chester Rustin 2, (N9) Central Bucks East 1

(N5) Owen J. Roberts 12, (S12) Penncrest 2, 6 innings STORY

(N11) Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, (S6) Interboro 3 STORY

(N8) North Penn 6, (S9) Kennett 0 STORY

(S5) Downingtown East 5, (N12) CB South 4, 8 innings STORY

(N10) Methacton 3, (S7) Strath Haven 2 STORY

(N6) Boyertown 4, (S11) Great Valley 3 STORY

Last Tuesday

(N7) Truman 5, (S10) Garnet Valley 0 STORY

Second Round

Last Wednesday

(N1) Council Rock North 3, (S8) West Chester Rustin 0

(N5) Owen J. Roberts 8, (S4) West Chester Henderson 2 STORY

(S2) West Chester East 12, (N7) Truman 2, 5 innings STORY

(N3) Spring-Ford 11, (N11) Ply. Whitemarsh 1, 5 innings STORY

(S1) Marple Newtown 9, (N8) North Penn 6 STORY

(N4) Council Rock South 6, (S5) Downingtown East 5 STORY

(N10) Methacton 7,  (N2) Pennridge 5 STORY

(S3) Conestoga 10, (N6) Boyertown 4 RECAP

Quarterfinals

Last Friday

(N1) Council Rock North 4, (N5) Owen J. Roberts 3 STORY

(N3) Spring-Ford 6, (S2) West Chester East 3 STORY

(S3) Conestoga 5, (N10) Methacton 4 STORY

Last Saturday

(N4) CR South 7, (S1) Marple Newtown 6, 13 innings STORY

Semifinals

Tuesday

(N3) Spring-Ford 9, (N1) Council Rock North 3 STORY

(S3) Conestoga 8, (N4) Council Rock South 7

Fifth Place Semifinals

Tuesday

(N10) Methacton 15, (N5) Owen J. Roberts 5 STORY

(S2) West Chester East 9, (S1) Marple Newtown 8 STORY

Final

Thursday at Glen Mills

(N3) Spring-Ford 22, (S3) Conestoga 11 STORY

Third Place

Thursday  at Council Rock North

(N1) Council Rock North 7, (N4) Council Rock South 5

Fifth Place

Thursday  at Devon Prep

(N10) Methacton 7, (S2) West Chester East 3 STORY

Class AAA

One teams advances to states

Quarterfinals

Last Tuesday

(8) Phoenixville 10, (1) Holy Ghost Prep 5 RECAP
(4) Pope John Paul II 8, (5) Lower Moreland 0 STORY

(2) Upper Moreland 6, (7) Upper Merion 5 STORY

(6) Octorara 10, (3) Chichester 4 STORY

Semifinals

Last Thursday

(4) Pope John Paul II 3, (8) Phoenixville 2 STORY

(2) Upper Moreland 5,  (6) Octorara 4, 8 innings STORY

Final

Wednesday at West Chester East

(2) Upper Moreland 9, (4) Pope John Paul II 2 STORY

Class AA

(Subregion with District 12)

Final

Last Friday at Neumann University

(2) Springfield (M) 8, (1) Devon Prep 4 STORY

Class A

One team advances to states

Quarterfinals

Last Tuesday

(8) Jenkintown 3, (1) Christopher Dock 2 STORY
(5) Calvary Christian 8, (4) Friends Select 6
(2) Bristol 6, (7) Delco Christian 1
(3) Morrisville 6, (6) Phil-Mont Christian 2

Semifinals

Last Thursday

(5) Calvary Christian 7, (8) Jenkintown 2

(3) Morrisville 9, (2) Bristol 5 RECAP

Final

Wednesday at West Chester Henderson

(5) Calvary Christian 3, (3) Morrisville 0