By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 03/21/2011

Three months ago Phillies fans address read “cloud nine”. A fan base that has been used to losing was finally the envy of the entire league. “World Series or bust” was a popular phrase you would hear when discussing the upcoming...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 03/19/2011

Every season I rank my Phillies top 10 prospects for the upcoming season. While the Phillies farm system has been ravaged the past couple of years thanks to trades for Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and most recently Roy Oswalt, which does not mean there isn’t...
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By Charlie_OConnor @ Cracked Bell Sports 03/17/2011

Have sabermetrics went too far?
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 02/27/2011

If you grew up in the Philadelphia area there is a good chance you’ve heard of Holy Family University. However outside of the Delaware county Holy Family University isn’t a household name. That is, however, until a week ago when the entire...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 02/22/2011

A casual observer would look at the Temple Owls and think they are a contender. A contender too possibly go far in the upcoming NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001 when, as an 11 seed, they advanced to the elite 8. But that is to the casual...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 02/11/2011

"You remember when they traded Bobby Abreu for Matt Smith, CJ Henry, Carlos Monasterios, and Jesus Sanchez?" "Yeah, that was bad but they got Shane Victorino in the Rule 5 draft so it makes up for it." People remember the good trades and the bad trades...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 02/06/2011

“WTF Castillo?” That is the first text I received regarding the Eagles hiring of former offensive line coach Juan Castillo as the defensive coordinator. When I first got the text my initial thought was “Oh don’t tell me the Phillies...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 01/16/2011

Three days after saying that Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott would be retained for the 2011-2012 season, Eagles head coach Andy Reid changed his mind and Sunday and relieved Sean McDermott of his duties. It should be a happy day for Eagles...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 01/10/2011

The Eagles weren’t expected to do much in the 2010-2011 season. After trading their franchise quarterback (Donovan McNabb) they ushered in the “Kevin Kolb era” which lasted all of about a quarter and a half and then it became the “Michael...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/27/2010

Yesterday the Philadelphia area was in for a snow storm. It’s nothing new to the city considering the 90+ inches of snow they got last winter but it’s still an inconvenience non the less. But even with the snow set to blanket the city the...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/22/2010

Cracked Bell Sports is primarily a Philly sports only blog. While that may be the case I recentlly saw the movie "The Fighter" and figured I would throw it up here because while its not about Philadelphia sports its a movie that is a sort of modern day...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/17/2010

April 26, 2008 DeSean Jackson’s life changed forever. The PAC-10 all time leader in punts returned for a touchdown had left his college, University of California, for dreams of the NFL. Hundreds of players look to make the jump each year but only...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/14/2010

It has officially set in, Cliff Lee is a Philadelphia Phillie. He left millions of dollars on the table and told the New York Yankees “No thanks”, something they certainly aren’t used to hearing. In a move that has shocked the baseball...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/14/2010

On June 29, 2009 a love affair started between a left handed pitcher, and a team looking for back to back titles. Just six months later the relationship was over. Cliff Lee, who had been dealt to the Phillies for four prospects, was dealt to the Mariners...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/10/2010

“Defense wins championships.” It’s a saying that has been etched in the football fans vocabulary since legendary coach Paul Bryant said “Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships”. When looking at the current ...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/07/2010

Temple head coach Al Golden sat Sunday with his team at their team banquet. They patiently awaited a phone call that would never come. Temple was one of seventy two teams that were bowl eligible but unfortunately they were just one of two teams that ...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 12/05/2010

Most Phillies fans expected Jayson Werth to sign with another team this off season. They knew the odds of the right fielder who had become a fan favorite returning to the Philadelphia were a long shot. But what no Phillies fan saw coming was Werth signing...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 11/10/2010

The Last time I wrote about the Philadelphia Phillies the word “Dynasty” was being written. A series with the San Francisco Giants changed that pretty quickly. No one in the city of Philadelphia saw what was coming when the Giants came into...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/22/2010

Never say die attitude. Right now, for the Philadelphia Phillies, that’s the only kind of attitude you can have. The Phillies went into Thursday night down 3-1 in the best of 4 series for the chance to advance to the World Series. After a crushing...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/20/2010

The Philadelphia gave hometown boy Matt Ryan a rude welcome home. Ryan, the former number three overall pick in the NFL draft, led the Falcons into Lincoln Financial field, and left with a loss. The Eagles dominated the Falcons and shut down their offense,...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/13/2010

We now know who the face off to see who will represent the National League in the World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies are headed to their third straight championship series and standing in their way of a third straight World Series berth is the San...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/11/2010

This three game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds wasn’t so much of a series as a statement. Like a man on a mission the Phillies, along with 25 year old post season veteran Cole Hamels, finished off the NLDS sweep and head back home to await their ...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/11/2010

Can Kevin Kolb take back the starting job that was his just five weeks ago? Kolb was looking to make a case for himself in prime time against the 0-4 San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles, looking to improve to 3-2, did just that as they beat the 49ers 27-24....
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/08/2010

The reigning Eastern Conference champions opened up the 2010-2011 season just the way they wanted too. They went into the Pittsburgh Penguins new Consol Energy Center and ruined the homecoming. The Penguins, led by possibly the most hated hockey player...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/06/2010

The Philadelphia Phillies have once again made the playoffs. This comes as no shock to the casual baseball fan because the Phillies were highly favored to do so at the beginning of the season. A lineup that featured Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard,...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/04/2010

This was the game we have all been waiting for. Not just Eagles fans or Redskins fans but this was one game that the media wanted to see. How would the Philly fans react to former franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb coming back into Lincoln Financial...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/03/2010

In Philadelphia its slim pickings when it comes to college football. With plenty of schools located in the city not many are division 1 schools while that ones that are usually aren’t very goods. Penn shows their pride of course and while Villanova...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 10/02/2010

Former franchise QB Donovan McNabb returns to Philly this Sunday. Will you boo, or will you cheer?
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 09/29/2010

Sunday’s game between the Eagles and Jaguars wasn’t much of a contest. For Eagles quarterback Michael Vick it was yet another step in the right direction and, made Andy Reid’s decision to bench “future” QB Kevin Kolb look...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 09/20/2010

A game to remember for MV7 but a game to forget for the Eagles defense. That's how you would describe the week two meeting between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. The "Battle of the Backups" saw the Eagles defense almost blow an 18 point...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 09/13/2010

New season, new Quarterback, and a youth movement that is supposed to take us to the next level. Those were the things that the Philadelphia Eagles franchise used to hype up the 2010 season. After trading franchise QB Donovan McNabb to the division rival...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 08/22/2010

A month ago it was panic. People were breaking ankles jumping off the bandwagon and the general feeling in the city of Philadelphia was in shcok. Less then a year removed from the World Series, the Phillies were favored to return to the October Classic...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 08/21/2010

On Friday Night in Lakewood New Jersey the present met the future. Phillies slugger Ryan Howard was scheduled to play in a game for the Class A Lakewood Blueclaws, a team he played with in 2002 before everyone knew his name. In pure coincidence...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 08/18/2010

The Flyers may have lost Simon Gagne, but they will still be better on offense than they were last season.
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 08/14/2010

“EVERYBODY HITS!” It’s a statement that I’ve said at every one of the 32 Phillies games I’ve attended this season. It’s also a statement that brings with it many peculiar looks. Usually the only ones that respond to...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 08/08/2010

The Eagles may be in for one bad season and no one can be blamed but the front office. I have never been an Andy Reid hater and I never plan to be. I also have never really criticized the front office except when they decided to sign Michael Vick only...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 08/08/2010

The Phillies entered tonight’s matchup with the Mets a mere one game back of the division leading Braves. The Phillies ended up losing a pitcher’s duel 1-0 as Cole Hamels and Johan Santana pitched gems and the Braves also won bringing the...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 07/30/2010

“If we traded for Oswalt then why couldn’t we have just kept Cliff Lee!!” This is a statement that you’ve most certainly heard if you happen to listen to any sports talk radio in Philadelphia. You yourself might have even called...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 07/30/2010

The story broke at around 12:30 EST. A report had surfaced from Fox 26 in Houston that the Houston Astros have agreed to trade their ace, Roy Oswalt, to the Philadelphia Phillies and were asking the righty for his permission. The story said that both...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 07/22/2010

Guest Column by Charlie O'Connor   Paul Holmgren is not a popular man in Philadelphia right now, to say the least. His trade of fan favorite Simon Gagne, formerly the longest tenured player on the roster, was roundly criticized by fans and analysts...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 07/16/2010

When a man makes a mistake they need to own up to it and not make excuses. They need to look themselves in the mirror and say “I screwed up”. Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. needs to start looking at himself in the mirror and start...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 06/24/2010

“Well he’s definitely in the conversation but…” that’s what you usually hear from fans when asked if Phillies 47 year old pitcher, Jamie Moyer, should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame when his career is over. “It’s...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 06/22/2010

As a day turned into a series, and a series turned into a week, that week has turned into a month. A month of awful baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies and no one has any real explanation of what’s causing it. Theories from Jimmy Rollins, to...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 06/20/2010

Are you ever sitting there with your friends and just reminiscing on just how bad some of these players were that you saw play for the Phillies? The Phillies are good now, going to back to back World Series, and winning three straight NL East crowns,...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 06/17/2010

Written By Charlie O'Connor: Following a devastating Game 6 OT loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, for the 35th straight season, the Philadelphia Flyers will yet again “look to next year.” However, the unexpected playoff run of the 7th seeded...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 06/16/2010

      It's been a while since I last wrote anything and a lot has happened since my computer had an unsuccessful suicide attempt. The last time I wrote anything little did we know that the Phillies were just starting their worst stretch...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 05/17/2010

The Phillies entered Milwaukee looking to end their road trip on a good note. They did just that as all three of their starting pitchers earned wins and the Phillies offense looked good. Unlike Colorado the Phillies didn’t have to battle the weather,...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 05/15/2010

Team of destiny? We don’t know yet but the Philadelphia Flyers have more of a rite to stake that claim than any other team left in the playoffs. Even the hobbits in middle earth have heard about the greatest comeback in NHL history and yes I said...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 05/14/2010

Shortened by awful Colorado weather the Phillies and Rockies will have to settle the rubber match at a later date. Usually I try to keep these season recaps pretty professional but what happened in Colorado is the reason that baseball and that city doesn’t...
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By Pat_Egan @ Cracked Bell Sports 05/13/2010

Are they stealing signs or are they just that good? The recent accusations about the Philadelphia Phillies stealing signs are slowly becoming a hot topic around MLB. On Monday night television cameras caught Phillies bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer with...
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