2009

Last year Chase Utley played more than 115 games in season

With the Phillies elimianted by the Marlins in Miami Friday, Ron Opher turns in his final Phillies notebook of the season.

In the latest musings by our resident wrestling god, Achilles Heel thinks he sniffs a surprising ending to Hell in a Cell. The Greek god of wrestling also reminds fans that tickets go on sale for RAW this week, expresses surprise at Adam Cole’s return to CZW, and reveals the main event for TNA’s Turning Point pay-per-view.

Garrett Reid’s death has changed the relationship between Eagles fans and Andy Reid. Fans are finding it difficult to separate Andy Reid the coach from Andy Reid the man.

First-and-10

A quick look at 10 sports stories in the news…

1. Utley goes on DL Chase Utley goes on 15-day disabled list due to mild strain of right oblique, according to Phillies, following MRI Thursday. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Utley felt discomfort and burning sensation in right rib side while taking swings in batting cage prior to Tuesday’s game against Marlins and did not play Tuesday or Wednesday. Utley joins Carlos Ruiz, Mike Adams, Roy Halladay, John Lannan on DL. Ruiz goes on 15-day DL and could miss 3-4 weeks with hamstring strain suffered Sunday while running bases. Ryan Howard had MRI Monday. Howard receives cortisone shot in left knee and returns to lineup Tuesday.

2. Complete-Lee in control Kyle Kendrick opposes Jordan Zimmerman tonight (7 p.m.) as Phillies continue road trip with weekend series with Nationals. In previous game, Cliff Lee strikes out 5, scatters 3 hits (including 2 infield singles) while pitching complete game as Phillies past host Marlins, 3-0. Lee, who had 2 hits at the plate, hurls 12th shutout of his career. Delmon Young delivers solo homer for 2nd straight game to give Lee the only run he needed. After escaping bases-loaded jam in 2nd inning, Lee didn’t allow runner in scoring position until 9th inning. Phillies send reliever Phillippe Aumont to Class AAA Lehigh Valley, call up reliever Michael Stutes.

3. Casey has knee surgery Eagles TE James Casey, one of Birds’ major signings this offseason, has arthroscopic surgery on right knee. He is expected to miss rest of OTAs but be ready for training camp.

4. Eagles wrap up OTA Eagles finish up OTA on Wednesday. Dennis Kelly play right tackle with first team while first-round draft pick Lane Johnson works with second team. On Monday, RB LeSean McCoy leaves OTA early due to apparent knee discomfort. Eagles coach Chip Kelly sets frenetic paces for full-squad OTAs, with music blaring, clock ticking and players move quickly from one drill. In unusual news from Eagles camp, TE Clay Harbor, WR Jason Avant have spent time working with the defense.

5. Voracek survives crash  Flyers forward Jakub Voracek says he’s OK after crashing Ferrari in Czech Republic. Car hit side of truck, tree and utility pole, but Voracek uninjured.

6. Rangers avoid sweep Rangers rally from 2-goal deficit and then defeat Bruins, 4-3 on Chris Kreider’s deflection of Rick Nash’s pass 7:03 into overtime to avoid being eliminated in 4 games. In other games Thursday, Jimmy Howard makes 28 saves as Red Wings hand visiting Blackhawks 2-0 defeat, giving Detroit 3-1 series lead and putting top-seed Chicago in danger of being eliminated, Kings shut out visiting Sharks, 3-0, to take 3-2 series lead. On Wednesday, Penguins score 6 unanswered goals to crush Senators, 7-3, and take 3-1 series lead.

7. Heat eke out victory LeBron James scores on layup as time expires in 1st overtime to lift Heat to 103-102 triumph over persistent Pacers in Game 1 of Eastern Conference finals. Paul George (27 points), who sends game into overtime with 3-pointer with .7 seconds left in regulation, drills 3 free throws to put Pacers ahead with 2.2 seconds left in overtime. On Tuesday, Grizzlies rally from 18-point deficit, using 15-2 run at end of regulation to force overtime, only to see Spurs pull out 93-89 overtime victory to take 2-0 series lead. Tim Duncan (17 points) scores Spurs’ first six points of overtime; Tony Parker contributes 15 points, career playoff-high 18 assists.

8. Phillies to honor Schilling, Lidge Curt Schilling will be inducted into Phillies Wall of Fame on Aug. 2 during alumni weekend. Brad Lidge will officially retire as Phillie on Aug. 1.

9. Union trade Soumare Union trade defender Bakary Soumare to Chicago Fire in exchange for 2014 second-round draft choice and allocation money. Soumare, plagued by knee troubles in 2 seasons with Union, moved into lineup recently and helped Union notch 2 wins against Fire.

10. Lacrosse time in Philly NCAA Lacrosse Championship come to Delaware Valley this weekend. NCAA Division I women’s semifinals take place this evening at Villanova, with North Carolina battling Northwestern (5 p.m.) and Syracuse facing Maryland (7:30 p.m.), with the winners to meeting in Sunday’s title game (8 p.m.). The NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship will be held at Lincoln Financial Field. In Saturday’s semifinals, Cornell takes on Duke (2:30 p.m.) and top-seeded Syracuse meets Denver (5 p.m.). The Division I title game will be Monday (1 p.m.). The Division II and III championship games will take place Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m., respectively.

(Listen live to PhillyPhanatics.com’s weekly Internet Blog Talk Radio program every Sunday from 6:30-7 p.m. — or call in to express your opinion or ask a question — by calling 1-805-727-7014. To listen to past shows, click on “radio show” on bar near top of this page, then select the show you want to hear.)

LOCAL SCHEDULE

Monday
Miami 5, Phillies 1

Tuesday
Phillies 7, Miami 3

Wednesday
Phillies 3, Miami 0

Thursday
No games scheduled

Friday
Phillies at Nationals, 7 p.m..

Saturday
Phillies at Nationals, 7:15 p.m.
Union at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Soul at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
College men’s lacrosse
NCAA Championships
(at Lincoln Financial Field)

Sunday
Phillies at Nationals, 1:30 p.m.
College men’s lacrosse
NCAA Championships
(at Lincoln Financial Field)

FOR LEAGUE-WIDE SCORES AND STANDINGS, CLICK ON THE LINKS UNDER THE “STANDINGS” HEADING IN THE SIDEBAR TO THE RIGHT, OR IN THE HEADING AT THE UPPER-RIGHT OF THIS PAGE


 

Join the club: Utley goes on DL

Phillies put Chase Utley on the 15-day disabled list due to a mild strain of the right oblique. Utley, who is tied for the team lead in RBI,  joins Carlos Ruiz, Mike Adams, Roy Halladay and John Lannan on the ...
Join the club: Utley goes on DL

Eagles draft opinions

How do you think the Eagles did in the 2013 NFL draft? Should they have taken Geno Smith in the second round? Should they have traded down in the first round, or is Lane Johnson – the third tackle taken – worthy of the #4 overall pick?

Phillies notebook

The Phillies may not be good, but they sure are interesting. Ron Opher examines the interesting situations, from Roy Halladay’s up-and-down season to Cole Hamels’ struggles.

Fish ‘n Chips

Eric Fisher’s weekly column on a variety of topics. This week Eric serves up opinions on Michael Vick’s criticism of his critics, the upcoming huge lacrosse weekend and the lack of support for Cole Hamels.

Top 10 list

With the Eagles selecting offensive tackle Lane Johnson with the 4th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, PhillyPhanatics.com brings you a Top 10 list of the best and worst Eagles first-round picks of the last 40 years

Heel Turns: Rock rolls with the punches

May - 11 - 2013 Reporter: Achilles Heel Respond

The Greek god of wrestling is angry this week after his Heel Turns column did not appear last week. When he’s done unloading on PhillyPhanatics.com’s Eric Fisher and Ron Opher, Achilles Heel finds time to explain how The Rock saved WrestleMania, praise WWE for a string of excellent televised matches and tell us why it has been a bad week for world champions Dolph Ziggler (WWE) and Jay Briscoe (Ring of Honor).

Fish ‘n Chips

May - 9 - 2013 Reporter: Eric Fisher Respond

Eric Fisher’s weekly column on a variety of topics. This week Eric serves up opinions on Roy Halladay’s shoulder surgery, the Sixers’ silence regarding Andrew Bynum’s dancing escapades and J.A. Happ’s fortunate break.

Phillies notebook: (Over)due for a correction

May - 5 - 2013 Reporter: Ron Opher Respond

The scary thing is that the Phillies may be worse than they appear. They’ve fattened up on the Mets and Marlins while not doing so well against the rest of the league.

NBA playoffs: Can Thunder hold off Grizzlies?

May - 5 - 2013 Reporter: Eric Fisher Respond

The Heat and Spurs appear to have relatively easy roads to the conference finals. But Kevin Durant (pictured) and the Thunder appear to have their hands full with the Grizzlies. The Knicks and Pacers should also have a competitive series. Eric Fisher breaks down the matchups and predicts the winners in this second-round playoff preview.

From where I sit

May - 4 - 2013 Reporter: Ron Opher 1 Response

Matt Barkley has taken a lot of heat for staying at USC for his senior season and watching his stock drop precipitously in the 2013 NFL Draft. Ron Opher stands on an island, it seems, in supporting Barkley’s decision.

Draft impressions: Jury out on Eagles’ draft

May - 1 - 2013 Reporter: Eric Fisher 1 Response

Eric Fisher evaluates the Eagles’ draft, provides evidence of Chip Kelly’s active role in the draft and highlights the draft’s winners and losers, including West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith (pictured).

Andrew Bynum continues knee "rehab"