Monday Morning Mehta 5/8/06
Edition # 161
May 8, 2006
Phils/MLB
It has taken 161 editions, but it's finally happened. The Phillies had a perfect week going 7-0 and are on an 8 game winning streak. The first place Mets come to town for a big showdown, well, it's still only May so it can't be that big but the Mets will have Pedro and Glavine throw in the first two games and they are about as hot as pitchers can get. A great test for the Phillies this week. Quick breakdown of last week:
- I always knew this team had this in them since I've been so positive about them. Clutch hitting, great bullpen work, excellent managing are a staple of Phillies baseball.
- One of my favorite Phillies, Jimmy Rollins, got a hit in each of the 8 games the Phils have won, and of course had 5 walks this week. Jimmy is just so patient at the plate as I've said for years.
- Number 1 starter Jon Lieber (not to be confused with staff ace Brett Myers) went 2-0 and continues to keep Phillies in ball games.
- Manager of the year candidate Charlie Manuel continues to show his brilliance with key decisions late in games.
- Bullpen stopper Rheal Cormier hasn't given up a run this year, and continues to show why this column has always thought he's been a great pitcher.
- I knew they should sign Tom Gordon and his 10 for 10 comes of no surprise to yours truly. His 0.61 ERA to go along with 23 K's in 14 2/3rds innings is right about what I expected.
- Mets and the Reds this week, two teams playing very well. A 4-2 week would be great, especially considering the pitchers in the first two games of the series.
- Great huge sign last night at the ballpark in left field every inning Bonds trotted out there: "Ruth did it on hot dogs and beer. Aaron did it with class. How did * you * do it?" I'm in the minority on the whole Bonds thing but that sign was excellent.
- As most readers have, I've gone to many Phillies games. You tend to ignore the songs that are playing over the PA for the most part during the game. By that, I mean, like when the opposing team has a conference on the mound with the pitching coach, catcher and pitcher, the PA guy plays the theme from "Three's Company". Or when the opposing player gets thrown out trying to steal a base they play "Been caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction. At this point I've really stopped noticing, until last night. When Jimmy Rollins stole a base, they played "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls. Please Mr. PA announcer guy, PLEASE STOP!!
- Last night was the 2nd longest home run I've ever seen in person (Bonds' blast of course). It surpassed a Fred McGriff home run I saw at the Vet, but didn't top the Mike Piazza home run at the 1996 All Star game in Philly off Charles Nagy.
- I'm not the Horse Racing expert on this staff, but I'd get more hate mail then I already get if I didn't give credit to local horse Barbaro who won the 132nd run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. In an impressive win, the Delaware Park horse owned by the Jacksons from Chester county, took charge of the race near the turn and never looked back. Like I said, I'm not an expert on horse racing but since that's never stopped me from making predictions, I'll make a bold one and say this horse wins the Triple Crown.
Around the MLB
The Phillies aren't the only team in MLB to have won 8 in a row, the San Diego Padres have won 8 straight. Of course beating teams in the NL West and the Cubs, shouldn't really count.
The Braves haven't looked this bad in a long time. You still can't count them out, but right now the run of division titles looks bleak to say the least. Is Leo Mazzone's loss really a factor, or did he see this coming? The pitchers have been inconsistent to say the least.
The White Sox continue to roll as their pitching is looking phenomenal once again this year. Javier Vasquez looks rejuvenated as does another ex-Yankee, Jose Contreras. Yankees haters should really love this team.
NBA - Derreck Sura
- Another year, another undefeated first round for me. I was a total of seven games off for the eight series' combined. I hit three exactly and missed another three by one game. Many people out there are calling this the "best first round ever". I can't go that far because three of the series' were not all that great. Conversely, there were three very competitive series' (NJ over Ind, Mia over Chi & SA over Sac) and two "instant classics" (Cle over Wsh & Phx over LAL). Five out of eight makes this one of best opening rounds in history, but not thee best. Either way, I'm sure Commissioner David Stern is ecstatic with all the positive press the NBA is receiving.
On to the Conference Semi-Finals.....
EAST
Cleveland v Detroit - I wish there was something I could say to sell this series on a competitive level, but I'm at a loss. The Pistons have the edge in experience, coaching and overall talent. Not to mention that Detroit is the more disciplined team on both offense and defense as well. Since the Cavaliers' half court defense is very suspect (I'm being nice there), I'm guessing that coach Mike Brown is going to try and out score the Pistons by playing up tempo ball. I doubt that will work, but Cleveland has absolutely no chance in a grind it out type of game where every possession matters. The Cavs should be happy that they got this far and use this series as a measuring stick for what they need to do as a franchise to compete with the big boys. Detroit needs to take care of business efficiently while continuing to fine tune their play.
Key match up - LeBron James & Tayshaun Prince. Bron has averaged 35.7 points on 51% shooting to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists in an unreal 47.2 minutes per game so far. Not bad for a 21 year playing in his first post season. The main reason to watch these games is to see how the Pistons defend James and how he reacts to it. I'm sure Tay will be his primary defender, but since no one person can stop Bron, I expect to see the initial version of the "LeBron Rules" put into play. Should be very interesting...
Prediction - Detroit might let one game slip away because they don't show up, but there's also a real chance that every game could be a blowout. Pistons in 5.
New Jersey v Miami - The should be a very competitive series because each team presents problems for the other. The Nets' superior athleticism at the wing positions has exploited the Heat's weak perimeter defense every time they played this year. On the flip side, NJ doesn't have enough big bodies down low to deal with Shaquille O'Neal. It's true that Shaq is slowing down at an alarming rate, but I don't think the Nets want to risk Nenad Krstic getting in foul trouble. So that leaves the job to Jason Collins followed by Cliff Robinson and John Thomas. Ugh. Tempo will be another important factor in this series. Both teams can run, but it would behoove Miami to slow it down and not forget to run their offense though Shaq. A very interesting subplot here is who wins the coaching battle. Heat coach Pat Riley is not what he once was. While NJ's Lawrence Frank is underrated when it comes to preparation and adjustments. In a series this close, subtle coaching moves could be the difference.
Key match up - Vince Carter & Dwyane Wade. Both lead their squads in scoring, excitement and highlights. Unfortunately, Wade's left hip contusion threatens to ruin what could be an especially exciting individual duel. VC absolutely lit Miami up this year to the tune of 38.5 points and 55.7% shooting. Dwyane has more play making responsibilities then Vince, so Wade has to be careful not to get caught up in a scoring contest with Carter. The Heat will probably use multiple defenders on VC to hide Wade's injury and protect him from fouls. Vince will not guard Dwyane all of the time either, but he'll be on him at least half of the time, if not more.
Prediction - I don't think either team looked all that great in the first round, and this series could easily be brutal to watch. In the end I like Miami's depth over the Nets' chemistry. Heat in 7.
WEST
Dallas v San Antonio - This is the second round match up that everybody has been waiting for, and I don't see it disappointing. With the Spurs coming off a tough series, and on a short turn around, the well rested Mavericks have a golden opportunity to steal home court in game one. Even if Dallas does win the opener, they are probably going to have to win two games in SA to advance. Both of these clubs are extremely versatile on offense, play solid defense, have great depth and are well coached. These two teams are so evenly matched that it comes down to health or experience in my opinion. The Mavs are the healthier squad right now. Of major concern for the Spurs is Tony Parker's bruised right leg. If his quickness is limited in any way, SA is in big trouble. As for experience, Dallas has some, but they never seem to be able to get over the hump when the chips are down. This series should be a close hard fought affair that is entertaining to watch and gets a little testy before it's over.
Key match up - Dirk Nowitzki & Tim Duncan. As far as individual match ups go, it doesn't get much bigger then this. These guys play the same position, but are effective in totally different ways. Dirk MUST take advantage of Tim's plantar fasciitis. Nowitzki needs to bust his butt down the floor and make Duncan work to get back on D. Dirk should also take advantage of his quick first step to get by Tim on the perimeter. Duncan has to be patient on the block and understand that Nowitzki can't guard him down there. If Timmy does this, Dirk will almost certainly end up on the bench in foul trouble.
Prediction - This one is a tough call for me because these two teams have been the second and third best in the NBA all season long. I really want to pick the Mavs because history tells me to side with health. However, I picked SA back in October, and as long as they aren't playing the Lakers, they usually find a way. Spurs in 7.
Phoenix v Clippers - Los Angeles will be on six days of rest for game one tonight facing a mentally and physically drained Suns club. In other words, the perfect set up to seize home court and never give it back. I hope that Clips' coach Mike Dunleavy is smart enough to follow the game plan laid out by Phil Jackson. The most important thing this LA team has going for them is Elton Brand and Chris Kaman's low post offense. Those two combined have more then enough moves down low to dominate Phoenix inside thus dictating the tempo. The Clips are also better defensively and have more overall scoring options then the Lakers. As for the Suns, they must continue to keep the pace of the game where they like it by running and making three point shots. I expect this series to be very exciting and feature many back and forth high scoring affairs. Whichever squad does a better job controlling the rhythm of the games will probably come out on top.
Key match up - Steve Nash & Sam Cassell. They are both 30+, have back issues and are allergic to playing defense. On the other hand, they both know how to run a team, can hit open shots, make good decisions and aren't afraid of the big moment. These two should conduct an interesting game of cat and mouse over the course of the series. Look for Sam to post Steve up on occasion to try and get the two time defending MVP into foul trouble. Nash's right ankle injury from game seven is something to keep a close eye on because so much of Phoenix' half court offense is dependent on his penetration.
Prediction - I'm actually surprised that more people aren't picking LA here. Sure the Suns proved to everyone how tough and resilient they really are last series, but the Clips play better defense and have more size, depth and rebounding then Phoenix. LA in 6.
NHL Week In Review By : Ed Wasser
- How crazy is this? The Rangers had planned to buy out defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh's contract this summer but a funny thing happened along the way.....he was arrested for DUI. So the quick thinking Ozolinsh entered the NHL's substance abuse program (he's a repeat visitor by the way) and now the Rangers can't buy him out because he's considered an injured player. So he'll get his full $2,750,000 salary next year. The only thing the Rangers can do is send him to the minors but they still have to pay him there but at least it won't count against the cap.
- Cool line from Eagles first round draft pick Broderick Bunkley on WIP when asked what he believes his impact will be on the Eagles...."I dunno, I just wanna be a legend". Damn, now that's a cool attitude.
- I'm going to just give a brief overview of what's going on in the playoffs and then I'm going to go Simon Cowell on the Flyers' asses. Choose to skip the playoff review if you wish and just go straight to the destruction, and by the way...if this article ends abruptly it means I punched a hole in my computer screen because I'm pissed.
- OK, playoffs. If this seems rushed it's because I'm dying to get to destroying the Flyers.....the Canes won 4 in a row to beat the Habs. Nobody in North Carolina cared so I can't imagine you do either. Oh, here's the obvious question...over the last few months of the season the Devils beat the Flyers like a harp seal, in game 1 of round 2 of the playoffs the Canes beat the Devils 6 - 0. The question is, what do you think the Canes would have done to the Flyers in the playoffs?.....The Ducks have played musical goalies with JS Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov and are coming off a tough 7 game series with the Flames so obviously they're beating the Avalanche 2 games to 0 scoring back to back shutouts. It makes no sense but the Ducks are playing great.....In one of the best games I've ever seen the Sabres beat the Sens 7 - 6 in overtime of game one. Two high powered offenses and mediocre goalies can make for a real fun series.....The Sharks won game 1 of their series with the Oilers and I'm starting to believe they have a legit shot at the Cup. Shark goalie Vesa Toskala is playing lights out and Patrick Marleau is on fire.
- The Flyers have been eliminated from the playoffs in an embarrassing, one sided face smash and there is only one person to blame for all this.......Brian Roberts (Who?). Brian Roberts, he's the CEO of Comcast, the owner of the Flyers. Roberts has stood by and allowed Ed Snider to run the Flyers and Sixers any way he's sees fit and I predict as long as the accounting balances continue to be written in black ink he'll continue to do so. Roberts allows Snider to keep Billy King as Sixers GM and as far as Flyers GM Bobby Clarke is concerned, Snider has essentially given him a lifetime contract and has a blind sycophancy toward the guy. Now what I'm hoping will happen is that Roberts notices that Philadelphia's Comcast Sportsnet has a distinct lack of primetime programming this spring save for darts, month old boxing matches, and women's soccer and he starts to wonder who's responsible and then starts to take a closer look at these organizations.
Unless you're blind you know what the Flyers problem was this whole season.....speed. But before I get into that I'm actually going to give Flyers GM Bobby Clarke a microscopic smidge of credit. He believed that with the new NHL the Flyers needed a big defenseman, who would be tough to move, clogging the area in front of the net and forcing the play to the corners. Not a bad theory but did you catch the key word? The key word is defenseman, defenseMAN. Clarke didn't get a defenseman, he got 3 big, slow, lumbering defenseMEN. Clarke got Mike Rathje, Derian Hatcher, and the real disgrace was getting Chris Therien back. It was common knowledge that during the 2003 - 2004 season Ken Hitchcock HATED Chris Therien's game and couldn't wait to unload him, which Bobby Clarke did. BUT THEN HE BROUGHT HIM BACK!!! (In the famous Nancy Kerrigan whine) WHY?? WHY?? WHY?? Plus Clarke signed 35 year old Brian Savage, which as everyone knows is an age that is not old, not at all, in fact it's still quite young, but it's old for a hockey player. 34 year old snail Turner Stevenson was also brought in. ANOTHER guy brought in for his "grit" and "defensive ability" yada, yada, yada. All that stuff that was key in 1975. Clarke let Tony Amonte go, which he deserved, but then he kept Donald Brashear. Why? And to cap off the pentagon of slow players Clarke got Denis Gauthier "to be a physical presence". Huh? Wasn't that supposed to be Hatcher's job?
And further more...if Keith Primeau had been healthy he would have been part of the problem, not part of the solution. You can't "great leader" your way into being a faster skater.
So now the Flyers are stuck with this amazingly slow goon-a-rama and they're stuck with some of them for a while because of contracts. Thankfully Donald Brashear, Chris Therien, and Brian Savage are all unrestricted free agents (Will they be resigned?). I won't even dignify that with a response!!!! Actually I will, Savage and Brashear are already gone, Therien will soon follow. The Flyers have got to get faster or I'll be writing this article again next year.
May 8, 2006
Phils/MLB
It has taken 161 editions, but it's finally happened. The Phillies had a perfect week going 7-0 and are on an 8 game winning streak. The first place Mets come to town for a big showdown, well, it's still only May so it can't be that big but the Mets will have Pedro and Glavine throw in the first two games and they are about as hot as pitchers can get. A great test for the Phillies this week. Quick breakdown of last week:
- I always knew this team had this in them since I've been so positive about them. Clutch hitting, great bullpen work, excellent managing are a staple of Phillies baseball.
- One of my favorite Phillies, Jimmy Rollins, got a hit in each of the 8 games the Phils have won, and of course had 5 walks this week. Jimmy is just so patient at the plate as I've said for years.
- Number 1 starter Jon Lieber (not to be confused with staff ace Brett Myers) went 2-0 and continues to keep Phillies in ball games.
- Manager of the year candidate Charlie Manuel continues to show his brilliance with key decisions late in games.
- Bullpen stopper Rheal Cormier hasn't given up a run this year, and continues to show why this column has always thought he's been a great pitcher.
- I knew they should sign Tom Gordon and his 10 for 10 comes of no surprise to yours truly. His 0.61 ERA to go along with 23 K's in 14 2/3rds innings is right about what I expected.
- Mets and the Reds this week, two teams playing very well. A 4-2 week would be great, especially considering the pitchers in the first two games of the series.
- Great huge sign last night at the ballpark in left field every inning Bonds trotted out there: "Ruth did it on hot dogs and beer. Aaron did it with class. How did * you * do it?" I'm in the minority on the whole Bonds thing but that sign was excellent.
- As most readers have, I've gone to many Phillies games. You tend to ignore the songs that are playing over the PA for the most part during the game. By that, I mean, like when the opposing team has a conference on the mound with the pitching coach, catcher and pitcher, the PA guy plays the theme from "Three's Company". Or when the opposing player gets thrown out trying to steal a base they play "Been caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction. At this point I've really stopped noticing, until last night. When Jimmy Rollins stole a base, they played "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls. Please Mr. PA announcer guy, PLEASE STOP!!
- Last night was the 2nd longest home run I've ever seen in person (Bonds' blast of course). It surpassed a Fred McGriff home run I saw at the Vet, but didn't top the Mike Piazza home run at the 1996 All Star game in Philly off Charles Nagy.
- I'm not the Horse Racing expert on this staff, but I'd get more hate mail then I already get if I didn't give credit to local horse Barbaro who won the 132nd run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. In an impressive win, the Delaware Park horse owned by the Jacksons from Chester county, took charge of the race near the turn and never looked back. Like I said, I'm not an expert on horse racing but since that's never stopped me from making predictions, I'll make a bold one and say this horse wins the Triple Crown.
Around the MLB
The Phillies aren't the only team in MLB to have won 8 in a row, the San Diego Padres have won 8 straight. Of course beating teams in the NL West and the Cubs, shouldn't really count.
The Braves haven't looked this bad in a long time. You still can't count them out, but right now the run of division titles looks bleak to say the least. Is Leo Mazzone's loss really a factor, or did he see this coming? The pitchers have been inconsistent to say the least.
The White Sox continue to roll as their pitching is looking phenomenal once again this year. Javier Vasquez looks rejuvenated as does another ex-Yankee, Jose Contreras. Yankees haters should really love this team.
NBA - Derreck Sura
- Another year, another undefeated first round for me. I was a total of seven games off for the eight series' combined. I hit three exactly and missed another three by one game. Many people out there are calling this the "best first round ever". I can't go that far because three of the series' were not all that great. Conversely, there were three very competitive series' (NJ over Ind, Mia over Chi & SA over Sac) and two "instant classics" (Cle over Wsh & Phx over LAL). Five out of eight makes this one of best opening rounds in history, but not thee best. Either way, I'm sure Commissioner David Stern is ecstatic with all the positive press the NBA is receiving.
On to the Conference Semi-Finals.....
EAST
Cleveland v Detroit - I wish there was something I could say to sell this series on a competitive level, but I'm at a loss. The Pistons have the edge in experience, coaching and overall talent. Not to mention that Detroit is the more disciplined team on both offense and defense as well. Since the Cavaliers' half court defense is very suspect (I'm being nice there), I'm guessing that coach Mike Brown is going to try and out score the Pistons by playing up tempo ball. I doubt that will work, but Cleveland has absolutely no chance in a grind it out type of game where every possession matters. The Cavs should be happy that they got this far and use this series as a measuring stick for what they need to do as a franchise to compete with the big boys. Detroit needs to take care of business efficiently while continuing to fine tune their play.
Key match up - LeBron James & Tayshaun Prince. Bron has averaged 35.7 points on 51% shooting to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists in an unreal 47.2 minutes per game so far. Not bad for a 21 year playing in his first post season. The main reason to watch these games is to see how the Pistons defend James and how he reacts to it. I'm sure Tay will be his primary defender, but since no one person can stop Bron, I expect to see the initial version of the "LeBron Rules" put into play. Should be very interesting...
Prediction - Detroit might let one game slip away because they don't show up, but there's also a real chance that every game could be a blowout. Pistons in 5.
New Jersey v Miami - The should be a very competitive series because each team presents problems for the other. The Nets' superior athleticism at the wing positions has exploited the Heat's weak perimeter defense every time they played this year. On the flip side, NJ doesn't have enough big bodies down low to deal with Shaquille O'Neal. It's true that Shaq is slowing down at an alarming rate, but I don't think the Nets want to risk Nenad Krstic getting in foul trouble. So that leaves the job to Jason Collins followed by Cliff Robinson and John Thomas. Ugh. Tempo will be another important factor in this series. Both teams can run, but it would behoove Miami to slow it down and not forget to run their offense though Shaq. A very interesting subplot here is who wins the coaching battle. Heat coach Pat Riley is not what he once was. While NJ's Lawrence Frank is underrated when it comes to preparation and adjustments. In a series this close, subtle coaching moves could be the difference.
Key match up - Vince Carter & Dwyane Wade. Both lead their squads in scoring, excitement and highlights. Unfortunately, Wade's left hip contusion threatens to ruin what could be an especially exciting individual duel. VC absolutely lit Miami up this year to the tune of 38.5 points and 55.7% shooting. Dwyane has more play making responsibilities then Vince, so Wade has to be careful not to get caught up in a scoring contest with Carter. The Heat will probably use multiple defenders on VC to hide Wade's injury and protect him from fouls. Vince will not guard Dwyane all of the time either, but he'll be on him at least half of the time, if not more.
Prediction - I don't think either team looked all that great in the first round, and this series could easily be brutal to watch. In the end I like Miami's depth over the Nets' chemistry. Heat in 7.
WEST
Dallas v San Antonio - This is the second round match up that everybody has been waiting for, and I don't see it disappointing. With the Spurs coming off a tough series, and on a short turn around, the well rested Mavericks have a golden opportunity to steal home court in game one. Even if Dallas does win the opener, they are probably going to have to win two games in SA to advance. Both of these clubs are extremely versatile on offense, play solid defense, have great depth and are well coached. These two teams are so evenly matched that it comes down to health or experience in my opinion. The Mavs are the healthier squad right now. Of major concern for the Spurs is Tony Parker's bruised right leg. If his quickness is limited in any way, SA is in big trouble. As for experience, Dallas has some, but they never seem to be able to get over the hump when the chips are down. This series should be a close hard fought affair that is entertaining to watch and gets a little testy before it's over.
Key match up - Dirk Nowitzki & Tim Duncan. As far as individual match ups go, it doesn't get much bigger then this. These guys play the same position, but are effective in totally different ways. Dirk MUST take advantage of Tim's plantar fasciitis. Nowitzki needs to bust his butt down the floor and make Duncan work to get back on D. Dirk should also take advantage of his quick first step to get by Tim on the perimeter. Duncan has to be patient on the block and understand that Nowitzki can't guard him down there. If Timmy does this, Dirk will almost certainly end up on the bench in foul trouble.
Prediction - This one is a tough call for me because these two teams have been the second and third best in the NBA all season long. I really want to pick the Mavs because history tells me to side with health. However, I picked SA back in October, and as long as they aren't playing the Lakers, they usually find a way. Spurs in 7.
Phoenix v Clippers - Los Angeles will be on six days of rest for game one tonight facing a mentally and physically drained Suns club. In other words, the perfect set up to seize home court and never give it back. I hope that Clips' coach Mike Dunleavy is smart enough to follow the game plan laid out by Phil Jackson. The most important thing this LA team has going for them is Elton Brand and Chris Kaman's low post offense. Those two combined have more then enough moves down low to dominate Phoenix inside thus dictating the tempo. The Clips are also better defensively and have more overall scoring options then the Lakers. As for the Suns, they must continue to keep the pace of the game where they like it by running and making three point shots. I expect this series to be very exciting and feature many back and forth high scoring affairs. Whichever squad does a better job controlling the rhythm of the games will probably come out on top.
Key match up - Steve Nash & Sam Cassell. They are both 30+, have back issues and are allergic to playing defense. On the other hand, they both know how to run a team, can hit open shots, make good decisions and aren't afraid of the big moment. These two should conduct an interesting game of cat and mouse over the course of the series. Look for Sam to post Steve up on occasion to try and get the two time defending MVP into foul trouble. Nash's right ankle injury from game seven is something to keep a close eye on because so much of Phoenix' half court offense is dependent on his penetration.
Prediction - I'm actually surprised that more people aren't picking LA here. Sure the Suns proved to everyone how tough and resilient they really are last series, but the Clips play better defense and have more size, depth and rebounding then Phoenix. LA in 6.
NHL Week In Review By : Ed Wasser
- How crazy is this? The Rangers had planned to buy out defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh's contract this summer but a funny thing happened along the way.....he was arrested for DUI. So the quick thinking Ozolinsh entered the NHL's substance abuse program (he's a repeat visitor by the way) and now the Rangers can't buy him out because he's considered an injured player. So he'll get his full $2,750,000 salary next year. The only thing the Rangers can do is send him to the minors but they still have to pay him there but at least it won't count against the cap.
- Cool line from Eagles first round draft pick Broderick Bunkley on WIP when asked what he believes his impact will be on the Eagles...."I dunno, I just wanna be a legend". Damn, now that's a cool attitude.
- I'm going to just give a brief overview of what's going on in the playoffs and then I'm going to go Simon Cowell on the Flyers' asses. Choose to skip the playoff review if you wish and just go straight to the destruction, and by the way...if this article ends abruptly it means I punched a hole in my computer screen because I'm pissed.
- OK, playoffs. If this seems rushed it's because I'm dying to get to destroying the Flyers.....the Canes won 4 in a row to beat the Habs. Nobody in North Carolina cared so I can't imagine you do either. Oh, here's the obvious question...over the last few months of the season the Devils beat the Flyers like a harp seal, in game 1 of round 2 of the playoffs the Canes beat the Devils 6 - 0. The question is, what do you think the Canes would have done to the Flyers in the playoffs?.....The Ducks have played musical goalies with JS Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov and are coming off a tough 7 game series with the Flames so obviously they're beating the Avalanche 2 games to 0 scoring back to back shutouts. It makes no sense but the Ducks are playing great.....In one of the best games I've ever seen the Sabres beat the Sens 7 - 6 in overtime of game one. Two high powered offenses and mediocre goalies can make for a real fun series.....The Sharks won game 1 of their series with the Oilers and I'm starting to believe they have a legit shot at the Cup. Shark goalie Vesa Toskala is playing lights out and Patrick Marleau is on fire.
- The Flyers have been eliminated from the playoffs in an embarrassing, one sided face smash and there is only one person to blame for all this.......Brian Roberts (Who?). Brian Roberts, he's the CEO of Comcast, the owner of the Flyers. Roberts has stood by and allowed Ed Snider to run the Flyers and Sixers any way he's sees fit and I predict as long as the accounting balances continue to be written in black ink he'll continue to do so. Roberts allows Snider to keep Billy King as Sixers GM and as far as Flyers GM Bobby Clarke is concerned, Snider has essentially given him a lifetime contract and has a blind sycophancy toward the guy. Now what I'm hoping will happen is that Roberts notices that Philadelphia's Comcast Sportsnet has a distinct lack of primetime programming this spring save for darts, month old boxing matches, and women's soccer and he starts to wonder who's responsible and then starts to take a closer look at these organizations.
Unless you're blind you know what the Flyers problem was this whole season.....speed. But before I get into that I'm actually going to give Flyers GM Bobby Clarke a microscopic smidge of credit. He believed that with the new NHL the Flyers needed a big defenseman, who would be tough to move, clogging the area in front of the net and forcing the play to the corners. Not a bad theory but did you catch the key word? The key word is defenseman, defenseMAN. Clarke didn't get a defenseman, he got 3 big, slow, lumbering defenseMEN. Clarke got Mike Rathje, Derian Hatcher, and the real disgrace was getting Chris Therien back. It was common knowledge that during the 2003 - 2004 season Ken Hitchcock HATED Chris Therien's game and couldn't wait to unload him, which Bobby Clarke did. BUT THEN HE BROUGHT HIM BACK!!! (In the famous Nancy Kerrigan whine) WHY?? WHY?? WHY?? Plus Clarke signed 35 year old Brian Savage, which as everyone knows is an age that is not old, not at all, in fact it's still quite young, but it's old for a hockey player. 34 year old snail Turner Stevenson was also brought in. ANOTHER guy brought in for his "grit" and "defensive ability" yada, yada, yada. All that stuff that was key in 1975. Clarke let Tony Amonte go, which he deserved, but then he kept Donald Brashear. Why? And to cap off the pentagon of slow players Clarke got Denis Gauthier "to be a physical presence". Huh? Wasn't that supposed to be Hatcher's job?
And further more...if Keith Primeau had been healthy he would have been part of the problem, not part of the solution. You can't "great leader" your way into being a faster skater.
So now the Flyers are stuck with this amazingly slow goon-a-rama and they're stuck with some of them for a while because of contracts. Thankfully Donald Brashear, Chris Therien, and Brian Savage are all unrestricted free agents (Will they be resigned?). I won't even dignify that with a response!!!! Actually I will, Savage and Brashear are already gone, Therien will soon follow. The Flyers have got to get faster or I'll be writing this article again next year.
posted by Monday Morning Mehta at 10:55 AM
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