http://delcotimes.com/articles/2013/08/17/sports/doc520ff6357e01f518983049.txt

http://www.thereporteronline.com/article/20130816/SPORTS12/130819671/-1/SPORTS/mccaffery-firing-manuel-tough-but-right-move-for-phillies

Chip Kelly collected his first victory--- exhibition variety as it were --- as the Eagles' head coach Thursday.

And the 14-9 triumph over the Carolina Panthers showed that it could be the first of plenty.

With not one quarterback but two --- Nick Foles, then Michael Vick --- moving the ball with ease, and with the defense playing with new authority, the Eagles showed that they might deliver on the request of their new cornerback.

That would be Cary Williams, who had asked them the other day to become more "feared."

“For those guys, against a pretty potent offense with some good receivers and obviously a talented quarterback,” Kelly said, “I think we are all pleased with where the effort is. There is still a lot of work to do in all phases of the game. From Week 1 to Week 2, we have to be happy where we are right now. But we have to build on it.”


Check out my column on the Eagles' impressive offense --- and my story on their improved defense, too --- in the Daily Times Friday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

http://delcotimes.com/articles/2013/08/09/sports/doc5205b2ff9dd21754482124.txt

On a night when the Phillies were facing disaster, they could see the future.

Darin Ruf  was their right fielder ... and he could be for a long, long time.

Though Ruf had played the position just once, and that was in a winter league game, he looked comfortable in a 9-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs, hitting a home run and reaching base for the 33rd consecutive game.

“It will be fine,” Ruf said. “Hopefully, it will be a smooth transition, but I have never played there before. Hopefully, I will be able to learn on the fly and pick it up pretty quickly.”

 

With Ruf and All-Star Dom Brown on the corners, and with .300-hitting Ben Revere in center, the Phillies could have an interesting outfield next season.

 

By the way, Ruf's performance helped save the Phillies the embarrassment of being shown-up by Nate Schierholtz, whom they somehow thought was not as necessary to keep employed as Laynce Nix.

 

Check out my column on the Phillies' outfield follies in the Daily Times Wednesday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

http://delcotimes.com/articles/2013/08/05/sports/doc51ff1010a5c46194994542.txt

Out of loyalty, Jim Fregosi rode Mitch Williams as far as he could in 1993. That turned out to be Game 6 of the World Series.

Out of loyalty, Charlie Manuel continues to ride Jonathan Papelbon, 20 years later. All that has meant is that the Phillies have been in free fall.

Papelbon was fine Saturday, pitching one crisp, two-strikeout inning in the Phillies' 5-4, 12-inning loss to the Atlanta Braves.  But it is already too late.

Fregosi, on site to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1993 N.L. championship, has empathy for Manuel, for if anyone knows the risks of calling a closer in from the bullpen, he would be the man.

“When you are supposed to win games and you are supposed to win a lot of them, a closer will stay sharp,” Fregosi said. “A lot of times when a team becomes inconsistent, the closer will be inconsistent because he is not getting the adrenaline flow on a daily or an every-couple-days basis. And a lot of times, I think that affects how a closer does.”

 

Different managers, different situations, different times.

 

Check out my column on Fregosi and how he remembers the 1993 season fondly, Joe Carter notwithstanding, in the Daily Times Sunday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

http://delcotimes.com/articles/2013/08/01/sports/doc51fafb12507e6587333621.txt