Philly SportsCast

Philly SportsCast #145 - August 27, 2008

We’re back from vacation, but not a whole lot has changed around here. The Phillies seem to be hanging with the Mets and may be able to squeak into the playoffs and who the hell is Dr. Z and how the hell does he have the Eagles in the Super bowl?

Wild.

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The Red Sox have acquired Mark Kotsay for a mid-level prospect, according to major-league sources. The player headed to Atlanta hasn’t been identified yet.

Kotsay was drawing interest from the Phillies.

Read via SportsCade.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Braves centerfielder Mark Kotsay could be the biggest name traded before Sunday, the deadline for setting postseason rosters.

Kotsay, has cleared waivers ans is wanted by the Phillies and the Red Sox who have both placed left-handed hitting outfielders on the DL.

Kotsay, who turns 33 on Dec. 2, has been hot in August, posting an .856 on-base/slugging percentage, his highest of any month this season.

The Braves do not plan to offer salary arbitration to Kotsay, who is a free agent at the end of the season, and likely want only a mid-level prospect in return.

He would be welcome as a Phillie - this team needs a spark and this is the cat who could deliver. The clubhouse needs a fresh face.

Read via SportsCade.

The Phillies beat the Dodgers 5-0 tonight to complete a four-game sweep and get a little revenge after being swept themselves in a four-game series in LA earlier this month.

While he has shit the bed this series, this one was all Jimmy Rollins as the reigning MVP went 3-3 - single, double, triple, HBP, walk - with two RBIs and a run scored. Speaking of an off series, Manny Ramirez’s bat fell silent as he proved he is a defensive liability on a National League team. While we all would want his bat in the Phillies lineup, there is no doubt that as a left-fielder, the cat is ass.

It’s a true pleasure to watch Rollins (batting .087 (4-for-46) since calling the fans “front-runners”) play well and it is something this team is going to need with the Mets coming into town for two games tomorrow and Wednesday.

Pedro Martinez (4-3) will face Jamie Moyer (11-7) tomorrow.

The Mets crushed the Astros 9-1 earlier tonight but were forced to place John Maine on the 15-day disabled list because of a bone spur in his right shoulder. The Mets will have to do without Maine (10-8) for at least three weeks, General Manager Omar Minaya said.

New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora has ligament damage in his left knee and will miss the season.

Umenyiora was carted off the field in the second quarter of the team’s preseason game against the Jets last night. The six-year veteran could not put any weight on his left leg.

…very good news for the Eagles’ offensive line.

Read via SportsCade.

Kevin Curtis, the only 1,000-yard receiver of the Andy Reid era other than Terrell Owens, will have sports-hernia surgery today.

Imagine what this does to an Eagles team struggling to find a number one wide receiver.

It is understood the the Eagles’ Oct. 19 bye week could be a target for Curtis’ return, in the meantime Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett are your opening day WRs.

The regular season starts Sept. 7 against the Rams. Thank all that is holy that Brian Westbrook is hapy because that cat is certainly going to earn his money early in the 2008 season.

The NL East crown is being handed to the Philies - all they have to do is take it.

With the news that Mets’ closer Billy Wagner latest MRI came back with additional inflammation in his left elbow - the team has no idea of when he might be able to return to the mound, if at all, this season.

“The thing I want to be careful of, at this stage of the season, is anointing someone as [the closer] and then that doesn’t work out,” New York manager Jerry Manuel said to a pool of reporters yesterday. “I do not necessarily determine the role. The relief pitcher determines the role.

Manuel then finished with this gem:

“I’m considering everybody from the Gulf Coast League to Triple-A. Can any of y’all throw?”

Must be so reassuring for Mets fans that the idea of ANYONE closing for this team is the backup plan for when the oft-injured Wagner goes down.

This is a gift, Phils - all you have to do is unwrap it.