Phillies get their man, Flyers Blow up the Team and Eagles pouncing on post-lockout Free-Agents

Recently, the Phillies finally got the right handed bat they have been looking for. Hunter Pence, probably MLB's most awkward and lanky Right Fielder is now a Phillie, and better yet, the Phillies didn't even have to give up a current roster player!  

I am not going to get into the discussions about how much this will help the team (its been all the Philly Sports Media has talked about the last month or so), but I will say I am excited to see the big nerd starting in Right Field - especially with how frustrated Domonic Brown has made me the last 2 weeks.  Just a warning to Philies Fans though (after the Phils dropped a series to the Giants)...Hunter Pence in 9 games vs. the SF Giants in 2010 batted a whopping .194 with a OPS of .605. Will he really be the last piece to the WS puzzle? Let's hope so - and maybe hope the Phillies don't see the Giants in the post season for the 2nd straight year.

I've stayed away from this blog for a while for two reasons: this blogger just bought a house and the Flyers (my favorite team) blew up their roster and traded my favorite player, Mike Richards, to the LA Kings. I did not want to go on a biased tyrade and annoy my readers.

In late June, the Flyers parted with Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, fan-favorite Ville Leino, and some other lesser players responsible for the 2010 run to the Cup Finals. Jeff Carter, often lazy and uninspired, was expected to be moved to shake up the locker room, and Ville Leino got his pay day in Buffalo. At the same time though, the flyers lost three of their top point scorers this off-season and replaced them with Zherdev pt 2 (Voracek), a prospect potentially not NHL ready (Schenn), and a 3rd wing grinder/tops 2nd line winger in Simmonds.  Oh, and the made a "big: splash signing Jagr, a player who has not played an NHL game in 3 years.  

My biggest issue with these trades was the dealing of Mike Richards. He was a heart and soul player, a pleasure to watch on the PK, and gave his all every game.  His style of play will be missed - but lets hope Giroux and JVR are ready for the big time because much is expected this season.  For a "Win-now" team with an aging D-corps, these trades may have hurt the teams chances a little too much for the near future, but only time will tell.

Finally to the Eagles. Since the end of the lockout, the eagles have been non-stop. Trading Kolb to the Cards for Roger-Cromartie brought a solid upgrade to the Eagles CB slot. Then in a shocker, the Eagles scoop up highly touted (in the FA market) Nnamdi Asomugha. This might limit the use (or force the trade) of Asante Samuel, but these moves do improve the team this year.

To replace Kolb, the Eagles signed none other than the head-case that is Vince Young. Over the last two seasons, the Eagles have obviously been the go to team in the NFL for bringing back "lost/mis-guided" NFL players, so maybe this to will work - Eagles fans just need to hope Vick will not get hurt within the first 4 weeks of the season (or at all for that matter).  And on Sunday, the Eagles made an attempt to upgrade at DT with the signing of Cullen Jenkins. With his 9 sacks in 2010 and valuable playoff and Super Bowl experience with the Packers, he may turn out to be a key piece for the Eagles this season.  

Now we just need to see if the Eagles will choose to up the ante with DeSean's contract, or play the hold-out/waiting game.