Hmmm ... good move? I believe so.

Just as an FYI, I thought you should know I just popped two liquid gel pills of Nyquil. So, in a last minute attempt to post my thoughts on a semi up-to-date topic in baseball news, if I pass out please ignore theeeeeeeeeee repeaaaaaaaaatedddddddd leeeetrrrrrsssssssssssssssss. Kidding. But I really did take two Nyquil pills.

ESPN has reported that the Philadelphia Phillies have signed a fundamentally solid veteran and great all round third baseman Pedro Feliz. Feliz, who first signed as an amateur free agent in 1994 with the San Francisco Giants, will be making $8.5 million for the next two years with a club option for 2010. When all is said and done Feliz's contract could potentially be worth around 15 million with bonuses.

Feliz is more than just an upgrade from the trio of Nunez, Dobbs, and Helms. He's a solid potential everyday starter. O.K, sure, he's been in the league for 8 long and grueling seasons but his numbers have grown over the years and he seems to be at a certain consistency with his play in the batters box and at the hot corner. Sure, we'll have Dobbs and even Helms if needed (hopefully not. GEW!).

Feliz solidifies an already stellar infield. Feliz is bringing a lifetime bating average of .252, average RBI's of 84, and average HR's of 21 a season. Not only that but last season, Feliz showcased a snappy glove with a fielding percentage of .973. All of Feliz's statistics compared to that of the original trio we had in Philadelphia for the 2007 season are significantly more improved.

With this new acquisition by GM Pat Gillick, one is left to wonder, what's next?

We have made a lot of progress and are now, to me anyway, statistically better on paper as a team than we were last season (Yes, that includes Aaron Rowand. We are now better without him.) Do we wait for injuries to occur (hopefully not to us but, rather, to other teams) before we decide what to do with Helms, or better yet, Dobbs? Do we have the possibility of picking up at least one more solid reliever to help out our always struggling bullpen? Could Helms or Dobbs be packaged with a minor leaguer or two for a quality arm?

These are all questions that will be answered in time but, for right now, I'm glad to say I'm satisfied with where the Phillies stand in they're off season.

Bring on Clearwater and Spring Training! God, I love it.

* Pedro Feliz

Dear Giants, You're Welcome.

This is just my lame attempt to feel some-what adequate due to the Eagles' dismal season.





But, this always does make me feel better. Ahhhh. :-)

Cry Me a Bluebird...or a River

"If he doesn't like it, he can quit."

That was Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa's stance on the "Rolen situation" last month in the winter meetings when he stated that if Scott played hard, he'd be in the lineup, and if he doesn't he'd be on the bench. Scott Rolen, MLB's overpaid two-year old, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays today for 3B Troy Glaus. Rolen batted .256 with eight homers and 58 RBI's last season and still has $36M left on his pathetic contract. My problem with this guy is not how much money he gets paid for being a semi-pro baseball player, it's his "hide me in the crib I want my baby formula" attitude every time he gets called out for being well. . . a pussy. First it was Larry Bowa, and now LaRussa. Next, it will be John Gibbons. Who? Well that's the manager of the Blue Jays. The same manager who confronted David Bush in the dugout after his displeasure for being removed from a game. The same manager who challenged Shea Hilderbrand to a fight for writing negative comments on the team display board. And again the same manager who reportedly shoved pitcher Ted Lilly for throwing a fit on the mound. And lastly, the same manager who has little major league experience making the decisions. So how will Rolen react? He'll shit his pants, but unfortunately, no one will be there to change his diaper, wipe his ass, pamper his toosh, and put him back in his crib. No, Scott Rolen will piss and moan about Toronto in no time, and by then we will have a new face for Life Cereal.

Will the Hornet ever change? Do a slam dunk or something!

Call Kendall Gill because the Hornets can't draw fan support. The Charlotte, New Orleans, Oklaholma City Hornets recently extended their lease through the 2014 season, but more than likely the Teal and Purple will opt out before that, which in return they get stiff fines of $50-$100 million. Fuck that, give that money to the people of N.O. The Hornets average like 11,000 fans per game. I know if Mugsy and Larry Johnson came back it'd easily sky rocket to 40,000 per game. I'd fly down every weekend to watch them play. Another option, promotions. Free Slump Buster drinks at the concession stands, $1 hot dogs, strip clubs, drugs, .9mm pistols, slot machines. You know the people of New Orleans like that shit.

Butterfingers Forgets He's in the Playoffs

While the not so fortunate NFL wild card teams were battlin' it out on the gridiron this past Sunday, Tony Romo, the leader and quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, along side his blondie bombshell girlfriend (GOD DAMMNNN!!!) Jessica Simpson, were seen soakin' up the sun in Mexico.

As reported by Us Magazine, Romo, along with a few teammates, and Jessica, along with her family, were all seen together in Cabo San Lucas apparently rubbing each others butts. An onlooker told the magazine that Tony was very affectionate with Jessica even to go as far as rubbing Jessica's hot bottom (I guarantee he was gazing at Jason Witten while doing it though).

Come on now! Do you really think that going on a vacation for a few days on your off week (also a week before a playoff game) will mess with your mind and take your eye off the prize? Good, because I do too.

Romo and his Cowgirls are just asking for Karma to bite them right in the ass. I would love to know what the Patriots or the Colts do on an off week before they hit the field for an either "go big or go home" weekend. I highly doubt that any winning athletes are thinking of anything else other than their opponent.

While I love vacations and I believe it is a great way to get things off you're mind, I have to 100% disagree with doing it before an NFL playoff game. I'm generally a huge critic of the Cowboys because I think they play dirty (wouldn't have won unless they knocked Favre out of the game) and are highly overrated. You say you learn from you're mistakes Romo, well, you learned how not to fuck up in the playoffs last season and it seems as if you're going to have to learn that again.

G-Men win 17-13 in a close battle that comes down to Romo losing composure. Ouch! Better hope Jessica ain't there Cowboy!

National Ledger

In 'Roids We Trust

Having just read Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big by the King of the Needles, I am still a little undecided in one of the most intriguing and heated stories baseball has seen in recent years. As all sports fan know, Roger Clemens was recently accused by his former trainer, Brian McNamee of being injected with Winstrol, a performance-enhancing drug. While Roger's stats were phenomenal between 1998 and 2004 (age 35-41), I am still awaiting concrete evidence from Mr. McNamee and for Roger to do a lie detector test to make me take his side. But the reality is Roger got bigger. Roger isn't impressing the media or fans with the handling of the situation. Roger is arrogant. Roger is in the fight of his life.

Don't get me wrong, I am against steroids and all performance enhancing drugs in baseball, but this is a classic case of "He Said , He Said" and its driving me nuts. Many of us are awaiting for Clemens to go under oath in a few weeks and testify before Congress. We all know from his lame internet video, 60 minutes interview and press conference he denies everything that he was accused of doing. But what more can you do when Roger says he didn't and McNamee said he did. It's a vicious circle. For all of those media hogs out there that attack Clemens personally and are itching for him to "tell the truth" (even though know one knows the truth), you are wasting your time. The truth is, this case is not going anywhere. Roger won't take the extreme measures to clear his name and McNamee isn't going to cave either.

"Do you think I played my career because I'm worried about the damn Hall of Fame? You keep your vote. I don't need the Hall of Fame to justify that I put my butt on the line and I worked my tail off, and I defy anybody to say I did it by cheating or taking any shortcuts, OK?"

Well Roger you do need the Hall. Because if you can't get out of this mess, no one is going to remember you for anything but steroids. No one will care about your 20-3 season with 213 K's in 2000. So in the words of the Big Cuban flake, Jose Canseco,

"I'll take a lie detector test on the subject in a minute, and I'll pass with a perfect score. To you media types out there who want me, I say: Bring it on. Take your best shot."

We're waiting on you Roger. Prove me and all the other non-believers wrong. Where is your intensity? Where is your passion? If you worked so hard in your baseball career, why don't you work harder to clear your name. Saying no isn't going to cut it today. Holding press conferences isn't going to do it either. If one day McNamee admits he lied. I'm sorry, Roger. Only time will tell though, Mr. Clemens. If your not in the Hall, what are you in the eyes of all sports fans? A cheater. End of story.

wileyman

image copyright of bostondirthogs.com

Peace Jaguars. Your Goin' Home.

As if the Patriots need any other sources of outside motivation, Paul Spicer, a Jacksonville Jaguar Defensive Lineman believes the Patriots shouldn't even be in the playoffs. To anyone who doesn't thoroughly follow sports this may seem like a questionable statement and would seem to merit further questioning but, to any sports fanatics, a perfect season is hardly questionable.

"Do like the NCAA and kick them out of the playoffs or something," Spicer told The Associated Press after news of the scandal broke. "Put them on probation; they can't go to no playoff games. Roger Goodell has definitely enforced some new rules. He's been hard on players. Now let's see how hard he's going to be with a team."

That's not even considering all of the bullshit the Patriots had to deal with during the season about the whole Spygate Scandal. But you know what, I'm going to go out on a limb and say I'm sure there are at LEAST a few other teams in the NFL that could be just as guilty as the Pats for Spygate. The only difference is the Patriots (and the Jets maybe!) were the only team to get caught.

Look, say what you will about the punishments given to the Patriots. Maybe a half-million dollar fine given to only Coach Belichick, the 250,000 dollar team fine, and the loss of your 2008 first round draft pick wasn't enough. But one thing holds true, this is one of the most amazing teams football fans have ever had the pleasure of watching.

Spygate doesn't negate the simple and unavoidable fact that their still 16 and 0, and NOTHING will ever take that from them. Not only did they go undefeated, they showed many times during the season just how "human" they can be by almost losing a few close games (vs. Eagles, Ravens, and the G-Men.) But, when you're down and out, true champions always find a way to win and the Pats have done that better than anyone, or team, I've ever seen.

So, don't be afraid to admit that your just scared to play 'em, Spicer. I would be too. But, what some of you professional athletes don't seem to quite get is that you don't need to be giving the best team in your respective sport any more reason to want to beat you're head in.

Way to go, Spicer.

I'm tempted to not even watch the game because I'm sure I can predict the outcome but, I'll watch the Pats once again shove someones words (GUARANTEED! fuckin' Steelers.) right back in their faces.

Everyone needs em sometimes. I mean, a drink of course.

Normally endorsements for professional athletes are with the more well-known energy drink products such as Tim Duncan Donuts Coffee, Mountain Drew Brees, SoBe Bryant, and the ultimate lip smacker Gatorade Tiger (made with real bits of tiger, so you know it's good).


But Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox has recently signed with a California based company MBSB Holdings, LLC to create a fancy energy drink concoction so cleverly entitled Slump Buster.


The drink (and it's attractive can ... not really) will hit the scene most likely during spring training ball and will be available at most baseball stadiums for the start of the '08 season. All proceeds will be going towards Youks charities and most likely an organization representing all those slump busters we love only once in a while (sorry.)


Enjoy a Slump Buster and hey, maybe you will get lucky enough to "Take One Down". NaWhatta mean?

Gillick needs a slump buster

My first post ... I'm tired and hungry. I can't write right now, but here was what I was thinking about today.

Well I don't know about you, but after last years first playoff appearance in 14 years, I'm pretty excited what the Fightin' Phils can do in 2008. Here is the problem though, Pat Gillick once again is having a lackluster offseason and continues to be stubborn about spending money to sign a big name pitcher. Instead, the man who predicted the Phils to be a contender in 2009 continues to be in awe of pitchers who are released or in arbitration periods of their contracts who just absolutely suck. These pitchers during his helm have flopped and have atrocious stats. Here's a list of names - Chad Durbin, Antonio Alfonseca, Jose Mesa, Adam Eaton, Arthur Rhodes, Clay Condrey, Cory Lidle, and Ryan Franklin. Oh and then there's the young "talents" in the organization that Gillick obviously was content with keeping around for the last 3 or so years; Geoff Geary, Ryan Madson, Brian Sances, Fabio Castro, Eude Brito.

Do you know why we can't get any pitching. Here are 4 reasons why:

1. The architect of CBP is a moron. No one wants to pitch in the "Coors Field" of the east.

2. The fans. We are the most passionate fans in all of sports. Philadelphia fans are brutal. We demand a lot.

3. Our farm system is depleted - thank Ed Wade and some partial blame goes to Gillick to trading away decent prospects.

4. The organization needs to make a change in scouting. The men in charge are not getting job done.

Now, why does Gillick continue to say he has no interest in guys like Bartolo Colon, Mark Prior, Jeff Weaver, Livan Hernandez, etc. WHY NOT? WHY NOT TAKE A GAMBLE? I mean really, you signed Jose Mesa last year. You traded for Arthur Rhodes. You signed Ryan Franklin. What is wrong with taking a risk with a guy like Colon or Mark Prior, who in my opinion, are high caliber pitchers compared to previous acquisitions like Cory Lidle or Adam Eaton. Why not take a risk on Carlos Carassco like you did with Kyle Kendrick. Why not take a risk with Joe Savery?

Pat Gillick YOU NEED A SLUMP BUSTER. You need to get out of this slump, this awful track record as Philadelphia Phillies GM, you need to leave your home in Toronto and look for some road beef.