Rick
Last season has no bearing on this season...Cliff Lee won't pitch until game 3 - for whatever reason - more balls are falling for hits against cole hamels this year - consistently - being down 0-2 after two games in LA is a distinct possibility. Tonghts game is another example of why the 'closer' mentality is idiotic. Tracy had a left handed pitcher with good numbers against Utley and Howard in the bullpen - but it's the 9th inning so match up strategy doesn't matter...just like when Joe Nathan choked against the Yankees in Game 2. Lidge isn't 'better' - he got one out last night and was shaky against the rockies in game 3 but their batters helped out...the dodgers currently have the better performing pitching staff...last year is irrelevant to this year...the phillies don't have any kind of 'edge' because they beat the dodgers last year...there is no 'hangover' or anything - that's a fan based delusion.
As for the flyers, i couldn't give a good god damn about them, every year they're supposed to do well every year they lose and every year they blame the goaltending - a comcast spectacor owned team will not win a title - in either sport - corporate ownership is one of the evils in professional sports in my mind.
As for the Eagles...yes they played two games without McNabb - they've played 3 really crappy teams and one really good team...they beat the 3 really crappy teams and their defense let the really good team basically walk all over them...Green Colored glasses are the only way to think that this team is in the league with the elite of the NFL right now...they beat who they were supposed to...all we've learned is that Kevin Kolb can throw for a lot of yards but makes some bad decisions (which in a guys first two starts i understandble)
Last night's win shows that the Phillies are a very strong confident team. They scored 3 runs in the top of the Ninth inning against a team facing elimination. Lidge has had two successful close-outs in a row. To say last year has no relevance is silly. The Lakers are picked as this season's favorite based on what they did last season. Since there are more players in Baseball, it's not quite the same, but there's no question the Phillies are winners and no lead is safe. That definitely gives them a psychological edge, as does the fact that they beat the Dodgers last season. Baseball is a sport I'm no authority in, but the Phils have an attitude about them that I've seen before in other championship teams. Until someone knocks them off and takes that attitude away, it is a mistake to go against them.
Corporate ownership is no different than any other type, in fact the worst franchises are often owned by meddlesome egomaniacs in over their head, like Daniel Snyder for the Redskins. Because corporate ownership is a relatively new phenomenon, you can't compare it with private ownership and say one is a better predictor of success. I worked for Comcast for a while and they are assholes, but they do run a good business, and they have spent money on their sports franchises. The Flyers and Sixers have been pretty entertaining since Comcast took them over, Sixers even go the the finals a few years ago. With 30+ teams in each league having a good record season after season is a pretty good accomplishment and no sign that corporations can't manage sports teams. Most teams are owned by groups, very few individuals have that kind of wealth to run the whole show in a major sport, it is a sign of the times and I expect that to continue.
I have already said it's too early to say anything about the Eagles, but the statistics indicate well above average performance. The penalties and special teams problems are the only red flags at this point, the offense is absurdly potent and with McNabb behind the center, exceptionally effective.
It is rare for all four teams in the major sports to be competitive at the same time in the same city, it hasn't happened in Philly since the 1980's. That's 29 years ago, and it looks like it's their turn. Makes sense as each league has about 30 teams.
