I go on vacation and the sports world explodes.
I actually blogged last Saturday morning after one of the most earth-shattering days in Philly sports.
The Eagles, in the process of signing every free agent on the market, stunned the NFL by acquiring the top player on the market, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Not to be outdone, the Phils then one-upped the Birds just a few hours later by acquiring the top prize in baseball at the trade deadline, right fielder Hunter Pence.
Pence joined the Phillies in time for their game Saturday night against the Pirates.
Yesterday the Phillies did something they have not done since Pence joined the lineup. They lost a baseball game.
They had won eight straight since acquiring Pence from the Astros, nine in total. Along the way their lead in the NL East ballooned to nine and a half games. After yesterday’s loss and win by the Braves, the lead has been sliced to eight and a half.
Pence has been everything the Phillies thought – and more.
Yesterday Roy Oswalt returned to the mound for the first time since June 23. He got knocked around a bit, giving up 12 hits over six innings.
A few weeks back that kind of return would have cause widespread panic. Not now. That’s what the addition of Pence has meant to the Phils.
Oswalt was basically getting in his work, going against Giants ace Tim Lincecum, who certainly seems to have the Phils’ number.
The Phils now move on to three late-night games in Los Angeles, while all eyes in Philly will return to the Eagles. DeSean Jackson is expected to end his holdout today.
Not necessarily because he wants to, but because if he does not he will lose a year toward becoming a free agent.
I actually blogged last Saturday morning after one of the most earth-shattering days in Philly sports.
The Eagles, in the process of signing every free agent on the market, stunned the NFL by acquiring the top player on the market, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Not to be outdone, the Phils then one-upped the Birds just a few hours later by acquiring the top prize in baseball at the trade deadline, right fielder Hunter Pence.
Pence joined the Phillies in time for their game Saturday night against the Pirates.
Yesterday the Phillies did something they have not done since Pence joined the lineup. They lost a baseball game.
They had won eight straight since acquiring Pence from the Astros, nine in total. Along the way their lead in the NL East ballooned to nine and a half games. After yesterday’s loss and win by the Braves, the lead has been sliced to eight and a half.
Pence has been everything the Phillies thought – and more.
Yesterday Roy Oswalt returned to the mound for the first time since June 23. He got knocked around a bit, giving up 12 hits over six innings.
A few weeks back that kind of return would have cause widespread panic. Not now. That’s what the addition of Pence has meant to the Phils.
Oswalt was basically getting in his work, going against Giants ace Tim Lincecum, who certainly seems to have the Phils’ number.
The Phils now move on to three late-night games in Los Angeles, while all eyes in Philly will return to the Eagles. DeSean Jackson is expected to end his holdout today.
Not necessarily because he wants to, but because if he does not he will lose a year toward becoming a free agent.
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