Crossing Broad

BREAKING NEWS: Ryan Madson on the DL

Ryan Madson has been placed on the 15 day DL.  He kicked a folding chair after his blown save against the Giants.  Sweet.

The Phils have called up Antonio Bastardo. 

Just in time for Lidge's return, he will now be sans bridge.

What is a Rivalry?

Rivalry, oh sweet rivalry.

What is Rivalry?

Rivalry is growing up with a brother similar to your age that you pick on because you can then he grows up and challenges you.

Rivalry is pulling pranks on the school bully because he pulled down your pants in the lunch room in front of the girl you like (never happened, you can't prove it!).

Rivalry is hating a team because it's in your genes.

Compliment FAIL: Chase Utley Tries to Compliment His Wife

Chase Utley and his wife Jenn held their annual fundraiser for animals, Utley's All-Star Animals Casino Night, at the Electric Factory last night, and the event raised $284,000 for the Pennsylvania SPCA, well played Chase.

Most of the video is pretty standard, with interviews of Rollins and Halladay, but the real highlight comes at the 2:35 mark when (a perhaps inebriated?) Utley tried to pay his wife back a compliment that she gave, and he winds up talking about his ass...

Maybe Chase isn't so smooth.

Video from Dan Gross at Philly.com

The Bobby Bonilla Annuity Fund

 

(Source: Faniq.com) 

There has been a lot of local sports talk about contracts this week with Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, and Kevin Kolb.

So it is fitting that this gem of a dealfor ex-Met Bobby Bonilla made news again this week. For some unknown reason the Mets decided to defer a final payment of $5.9M he was due when they released him in January of 2000 after his second stint with the team in 1999. Instead, they agreed to pay him 25 equal payments of approximately $1.19M every July from 2011 to 2035. 

Battle of the Upsets in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

Flyers vs. Bruins to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals - a match-up no hockey analyst could have predicted. In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Flyers manhandled a solid Devils team in five games. The Bruins, backed by goaltender Tuukka Rask and solid specialty-teams play, upset the #3 seed Buffalo Sabres in six games. Beginning Saturday afternoon at 12:30, these two teams will face-off in a Winter Classic rematch. You can catch the entire Flyers second-round playoff schedule here.

(As a side note, let's predict how many times we'll hear "Winter Classic rematch," as if we had no idea they played in the game just a few months ago. I predict 892 times.)

I picked the Flyers in seven against Jersey. This time, despite being injury-depleted, I'm going to pick the Flyers in 6. Here's why:

Kevin Kolb Makes Too Much

If you think Ryan Howard's contract is absurd, maybe you want to take a look at Kevin Kolb's contract, since the Eagles just extended it by another year.  He will now make a GUARANTEED $12.26 million dollars over the next two years.

Not many NFL players get guaranteed money like that due to the serious risk of injury, but Kevin Kolb does. Let's put this in perspective, Kevin Kolb has attempted 130 passes in the NFL, ever.

It's not nearly as much as Ryan Howard, but Howard has had one of the best 4 year stretches in the history of his sport, won an MVP award, a World Series, and is nicknamed "The Big Piece."  His contract may be outlandish, but it's borderline deserved.

Kolb on the other hand, is getting an awful lot of money for somebody who has been a career backup (sans a couple of starts).  Andy Reid is realllllly hoping this one works out.

In case you forgot: Hit number 1,000 for Chase Utley!

Welcome new writer Christian Rivera!

They grow up so fast don't they?  

Our own little Chase Utley hit his 1,000th hit today during the Phillies heart-stopping 7-6 victory over the Giants.  It seems like only yesterday when he hit a grand slam for his first major league hit to only be sent back down to Triple-A soon after.  

1,000 hits later he's a multi-year all-star, one of the Phillies core players, and is one of the best players in baseball.  

He also likes puppies.

What a swell guy.  Congrats Chase!

Jayson Werth (and his beard) Facts

In case you needed any more reasons to help keep Jayson Werth in Philly, we decided to pass along a few facts about him and his beard that our readers sent to us.  Enjoy.

Mike Missanelli Defends Ryan Howard against Keith Law

Keith Law, a baseball writer for Scouts Inc. and a former member of the Blue Jays' front office, came on 97.5 The Fanatic this afternoon to discuss Ryan Howard's contract.

He wasn't a fan. 

He has old man skills.  Those guys cannot age as well as your Chase Utley's or Jimmy Rollins' of the world.

Then conversation gets heated... listen to the whole thing at 97.5 The Fanatic.  Good stuff.

What Are They Drinking in Reading?

Here's the good news: both Brad Lidge and Joe Blanton have verbalized their aptitude to rejoin the ranks of the major league. But before you start unraveling your "Welcome Back" banner, let's look at the cold hard facts.

On Tuesday, after pitching a mere two innings without event for Double-A Reading, Brad proudly proclaimed himself "ready to go!".  This, after giving up five runs in 4.2 innings in single A, meaning Lidge has essentially had a six inning spring training.  

10 thoughts on the Phillies after the first month

   (Source: Scripps.com)

1. Everybody take a deep breath and relax as we are only 1/8 of the way through the schedule. You can't live and die with every baseball game like you can with the 16 football games during a season. There are some concerns obviously, but considering that for all or large portions of the first month they have been missing their starting shortstop and lead off hitter, #3 and #4 starting pitchers, their closer, and their top left-handed setup guy, things could be a lot worse.

Flyers 2nd Round Playoff Schedule

Per Flyers.com, here is their second round playoff schedule.

Gotta love the VS Network, it's like the playoffs "in a vacuum!"

Game 1 Sat., May 1 at Boston, 12:30 p.m. NBC 

Game 2 Mon., May 3 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. VS 

Game 3 Wed., May 5 at Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m. VS 

Game 4 Fri., May 7 at Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m. VS 

* Game 5 Mon., May 10 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. CSN 

* Game 6 Wed., May 12 at Philadelphia, TBD CSN 

* Game 7 Fri., May 14 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. CSN