Flyers ship R.J. Umberger to Columbus

The NHL Draft is under way and several teams have made big moves, including the Flyers. The Flyers, unable to afford the recently signed Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger and a top defenseman in Free Agency, have created cap space for themselves by trading Umberger and the 119th pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for two 2008 draft picks, the 19th pick of the first round and the 67th pick in the third round.

While I hate to see Umberger go, the Flyers were smart to deal him now after his hot playoff run. Umberger scored 10 goals in the playoffs, so his value was never going to be any higher. Plus, the Flyers are dealing from a strength, since Umberger is really a center and the Flyers are loaded down the middle. Of course, this deal makes sense only if the Flyers do go out and bring in one of the top free agent defensemen, like a Brian Campbell, with the extra money they now have. The 19 pick in the draft will also be used for someone who will help down the road.

Another nice move by Paul Holmgren. Umberger was a great player, but the extra cap space and the high draft pick are too good to pass up.

Flyers sign Jeff Carter: 3 years, 15 million

It hasn't been officially announced yet, but several reports have surfaced that the Flyers have signed restricted free agent Jeff Carter to a 3 year, 15 million dollar deal. While this removes the possibility of losing Carter to another team this off-season, 5 million a year for a player who has never scored 30 goals is a little steep. It also may price them out of signing any decent free agent defenseman, or even from bringing back R.J. Umberger, who continues to be the subject of trade talks.

I do like that Jeff Carter is coming back next year, and he did show flashes of brilliance in the playoffs, but I worry that the Flyers might have overpaid here. Carter has had a problem with consistency in his career, something that no player making 5 million a year should have. With Mike Richards and Danny Briere in the mix, Carter will also never be anything more than a third line center. Let's hope the Flyers don't end up regretting paying him like a first liner.

Phillies, put in their place by Red Sox, seek pitching help

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

After leading the Phillies to an impressive victory over the Red Sox in the first game of the series, Cole Hamels suggested that a Red Sox/Phillies World Series is destined to happen. Hamels said that the Phillies could compete with the Red Sox "any day of the week". He should have rephrased that to "any day of the week I am pitching" because the Red Sox won the next two games of the series by getting to Phillie starters Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick early. The Red Sox helped to expose the Phillies biggest weakness, their starting rotation.

After Cole Hamels, there isn't another pitcher that the Phillies can count on with their season on the line. If/when the Phillies make the playoffs this year, can you imagine if they have to turn to Brett Myers or Kyle Kendrick in a Game 7? Yes, the Phillie offense is explosive, but when you get to the playoffs, you will be facing the best pitchers in baseball so those 20 run outbursts won't be happening. The Phillies need a solid number two option or they could be looking at another brisk first round ending to their season.

The Phillies basically have two options: hope Brett Myers turns it around or go out an acquire a number two. Waiting for Myers might be a risky option, but giving up the farm for short-term help would be even riskier. Jayson Stark of ESPN says that the Phillies have looked into the following starting pitching options: C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo, Jarrod Washburn and Erik Bedard. Stark believes that the price for any of these top pitchers (besides Arroyo) would cost the Phillies their two stud pitching prospects, Carlos Carrasco and Antonio Bastardo. As Stark points out, a deal like that would severely hinder the Phillies' future, so they had better win the World Series this year.

It's a risk that the Phillies may have to take. There is no telling if the team will ever be this healthy and this explosive offensively again, but as the Red Sox have proven, the Phils are clearly short in the starting pitching department. With the possibility of Brad Lidge and Pat Burrell leaving the team after the season, and the rest of the teams in the NL East playing poorly, this could already be the last great chance this team has to bring home a championship. We know that soon-to-be-retiring GM Pat Gillick will do something to try to go out a winner, let's just hope he keeps one eye towards the future when he makes his moves or this could be the last run for the Phillies.

Flyers trade Prospal back to the Lightning

Paul Holmgren did it again, this time getting something for nothing. Vaclav Prospal, who the Flyers acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in February, was sent back to the Lightning for two draft picks: a 7th round pick this year and a conditional pick next year. Prospal had no interest in coming back to the Flyers and it was unlikely that the Flyers could afford him, so Holmgren essentially picked up some late draft picks for nothing.

Prospal had a good run as a Flyer last year, but he was wildly inconsistent. Prospal and Danny Briere clicked at times to make for a dominant top line but they also would go silent for long stretches of games. Prospal will be replaced on the top line by Simon Gagne who hopes to return following a series of concussions.

Nice move, Holmgren. Can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve.

Howard powers Phillies over Red Sox

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Ryan Howard was the story in tonight's win, hitting a pair of homers and a triple to lead the Phillies over the Red Sox, 8-2.

3 Up
1. Howard's big night Ryan Howard went 3 for 5, driving in 4 runs and scoring twice. He hit two homers, which was enough to make it a special night, but he also added a rare triple:

It was Howard's second triple of the season. He also struck out twice in the game, but I doubt anyone is going to complain.

2. Hamels goes 7 strong Cole Hamels looked dominant at times in going 7 innings and giving up only two runs on a pair of back to back homers. Hamels changed speeds effectively and seemed to frustrate the Boston hitters who couldn't figure out what pitch was coming next. Chad Durbin also pitched in two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

3. Burrell's triple Not to be outdone by Ryan Howard's triple, Pat Burrell added a triple of his own:

It was Burrell's first triple of the season and his first since August of 2006. I can honestly say I have never seen Burrell run that fast, I am surprised he didn't get hurt rounding second. So the Phillies ended up with two triples in the game, one by Howard and the other by Burrell. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino should be ashamed that the two big guys got three baggers and they didn't!

3 More Ups, because they weren't any Downs tonight for the Phillies!

1. The Phillie Phaithful For continuing to boo J.D. Drew whenever he comes to town. Unfortunately he did connect for a homer, but he deserves everything we Phillie fans can give him for spurning the team more than ten years ago.

2. J-Roll's power surge Jimmy Rollins might finally be finding his power stroke again. He hit a homer tonight to lead off the game, just his sixth home run of the season but his third in his last nine games.

3. Hamels' quote In the write-up on ESPN.com about the game, Cole Hamels gave the quote of the night when asked about the Red Sox:

"I believe we're destined to play each other in the World Series," Hamels said. "We can compete with them any day of the week."

Phillies vs. Red Sox in the World Series would make for a great match-up. While Cole would be ready for it, I just hope the rest of the Phillies starting pitchers are, too. I'm looking at you, Myers.

Phillies face tough week ahead

After starting off with a sweep of the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies finished off their long road trip with a whimper, losing 4 of their last 6 despite out-scoring their opponents 37-23. Three of those losses were by one run, including yesterday's 7-6 loss to the Cardinals in the 10th inning where this happened:

Eric Bruntlett's collision with Yadier Molina not only cost Molina some brain cells, it also cost the Phillies the game. Had Bruntlett slid properly, the Phillies would have taken the lead heading into the bottom of the 9th.

Things don't get any easier for the Phillies this week as they face off against the two best teams in the American League, the Red Sox and Angels. Both teams are playing well right now, so this will be a real measuring stick for how far the Phillies have come this season. Checking out the pitching match-ups (posted to the right), the Phillies have an advantage against Boston since they won't face Josh Beckett. The Red Sox are also banged up, with Manny Ramirez missing the last few games and David Ortiz still on the DL.

If the Phillies can split this week, I would consider it a success. The Red Sox and Angels are both complete teams that can hit and have great pitching, so the Phillies will have to be at their best. Boston has had the upper hand against the Phils the last few years so let's see if they can bounce back.