The Scope
Keeping up with sports in Philadelphia is a must. We all know that Philly sports fans are notoriously passionate about their teams and that sports-talk is almost default here. However, it can be demanding to keep up with everything; the Phillies play 162 games during their season, the Flyers and Sixers have overlapping schedules; and Eagles games are usually during prime study hours. But if you want to stay engaged with Philly sports teams without having to watch every game, you’ve come to the right place. Every other week, I will give an easy-to-read overview of the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, Flyers. These updates are intended to give you the numbers as well as a sense of the energy, momentum, and intangibles of the teams.
Last 5 Games (3-2):
Intangibles:
The Phillies had a very slow start to their season while the division rival Mets hit the ground running. This left the Phillies in a big deficit going into June. Led by Kyler Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Rhys Hoskins, the Phillies went 21-8 in June and put themselves right back into the playoffs conversation after firing their head coach Joe Girardi on May 31.
The main sore point for the Phillies during their slow start was their pitching. Specifically, the Phillies relief pitchers have been failing the organization to no surprise to the fans, who have seen this happen year after year. However, after moving some pitchers into different roles, the relief pitchers have seemingly found some sort of rhythm in the past two weeks and the team’s confidence has increased accordingly.
Injuries:
Unfortunately, Bryce Harper, last year’s MVP, has been struggling with a ligament tear in his elbow from the start of the season and has been unable to play in the field yet. However, he was still able to bat in the designated hitter position and was having another MVP season from the plate. Last week though, he was hit by a pitch and had to undergo surgery on his hand. There is no timetable for his return. Phillies second-baseman Jean Segura is also out with a broken finger and has a 10-12 week timeline for return. However, in an interview last week, Jean said that he is not letting it go that long because he loves how the team is playing and really wants to get back out there with the boys. Zach Eflin, who has become a perennial starter for the Phillies, is dealing with knee soreness and is out for at least two weeks.
Offseason Updates:
The Eagles made a splash on draft day by trading two picks for bonafide wide receiver A.J. Brown. This was huge news and reason for optimism for Eagles fans. The team followed that blockbuster trade with five draft picks that seemed to fill some needs. Specifically, keep your eyes out for defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean, college teammates at the University of Georgia. The Eagles have made other acquisitions to look out for next season. Notably, Zach Pascal, who had a solid last few seasons as a wide receiver for the Colts. There is a real reason for excitement regarding this team. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the summer!
Offseason Updates:
The NHL draft took place on July 7th and 8th in Montreal. The Flyer’s had the 5th overall pick in the 2022 draft and selected Cutter Gauthier. The 6”2’ 200-lb left winger has some excitement around him and has handled himself very well in the spotlight thus far. The Flyer’s certainly prioritized their offense this draft as they selected 5 offensive players and 1 defensive player. Most of the players selected will likely spend considerable time in the minor leagues before contributing to the Flyer’s in the NHL. However, it is always exciting to get young talent in the Flyer’s organization.
Offseason Updates:
The Sixers have already had a pretty impressive offseason after picking up P.J. Tucker, Danuel House Jr., and Trevelin Queen. Tucker has been on a slew of great playoff teams and brings a level of toughness and grit that Philadelphia fans will fall in love with quickly. House had an awesome year from beyond the three-point line and is a good defensive player as well. Trevelin made a lot of noise in the G league, equivalent to minor league baseball, last year earning the league and finals MVP. Alongside an MVP caliber Joel Embiid, a maturing Tyrese Maxey, and a hopefully rejuvenated James Harden, these additions could be exactly what the sixers need to break out in the playoffs, something they haven’t been able to do.
