Quick Hitters

We’re Going Streaking!

Don’t look now, but the Sixers have won four straight since the dismissal of GM Billy King. Skeptics may discredit the streak by pointing out the wins have come against teams with a combined 27-58 record (the 6-15 Knicks (twice), the 12-11 Rockets, and the 3-17 Timberwolves). They may also say that there is no dominant player on the team.

Personally, I think it’s a good sign that they’re getting contributions from more than one player. Check out the line scores from the four wins and you’ll find a different statistical leader each night.

Samuel Dalembert (12/7 vs. NYK): 9-12 FG, 2-3 FT, 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks
Thaddeus Young (12/8 @ NYK): 7-9 FG, 14 points, 5 rebounds
Willie Green (12/10 vs. HOU): 8-15 FG, 3-4 FT, 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Andre Iguodala (12/12 vs. MIN): 8-17 FG, 7-9 FT, 25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals

I haven’t even mentioned the contributions they’ve been getting from Andre Miller, Kyle Korver, and Louis Williams. I guess what I’m trying to say is maybe the Sixers aren’t as bad as I originally thought. Time will tell, I suppose.

Rowand to the Giants

Free agent center fielder Aaron Rowand inked a 5 year, $60 Million contract with the San Francisco Giants yesterday. A fan favorite in Philly for his hard-nosed, aggressive style, Rowand had been seeking a five year deal. The Phillies may have been offering a higher salary on a per year basis but only over a three-year span.

What it boils down to is Rowand, already with a championship ring courtesy of the 2005 White Sox, opted for job security in lieu of winning. I know the Phillies didn’t win a playoff game last year, but at least they made it to the post-season. The Giants have a few decent young pitching prospects in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but they’ll spend 2008 trying to emerge from Barry Bonds’ enormous shadow.

Plus, AT&T Park isn’t exactly hitter friendly. I can’t see Rowand putting up the numbers he did in his contract year here. You know he’ll play his tail off, because that’s what Aaron Rowand does.

Now it’s up to Pat Gillick to find another outfielder. The Phillies projected opening day outfield reads Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, and Jayson Werth left to right. Burrell’s production has been inconsistent, so his reliability is a question mark. Victorino isn’t a power guy. Werth showed signs last season, but there’s a reason he’s always been a platoon player.

My gut tells me Gillick isn’t finished tooling with this team yet.

Mark Your Calendar

The Flyers host the Penguins on Thursday, January 24th.

OTCOBL (Outside the City of Brotherly Love)

Atlanta Falcons coach Bobby Petrino absolutely quit on his team to take the Arkansas Razorbacks head coaching job, and did so without speaking with his players face to face. Petrino’s apologists have given him a pass because of the whole Michael Vick situation, and to some degree I can understand that, but the bottom line is if you’ve going to quit on your guys, at least have the stones to do so in person. Can’t say I blame guys like Lawyer Milloy, Warrick Dunn, and DeAngelo Hall for being upset.

The long-awaited Mitchell Report will be released today, and speculation is that there will be somewhere between 50 and 80 names mentioned with links to performance-enhancing drugs. To me, this is like a much-hyped movie that bombs at the box office. I think the names will be those of guys we’ve already heard (Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmeiro) or suspected (Bret Boone, Brady Anderson). I don’t think marquee names like Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz are going to be in the report, which is what it seems like some expect. More on this once the report is made public.

Here are the Week 15 NFL Picks (Home team in CAPS):
Denver (Pick) over HOUSTON
Cincinnati (-8.0) over SAN FRANCISCO
Atlanta (+13.5) over TAMPA BAY
KANSAS CITY (+4.0) over Tennessee
Seattle (-7.5) over CAROLINA
ST. LOUIS (+10.5) over Green Bay
Baltimore (-3.5) over MIAMI
NEW ENGLAND (-23.5) over New York Jets
NEW ORLEANS (-3.5) over Arizona
PITTSBURGH (-3.5) over Jacksonville
CLEVELAND (-5.5) over Buffalo
Indianapolis (-10.5) over OAKLAND
Detroit (+10.0) over SAN DIEGO
Philadelphia (+10.5) over DALLAS
NEW YORK GIANTS (-4.5) over Washington
MINNESOTA (-10.0) over Chicago