http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann RSS Feed for Rich Hofmann en-us Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:57:49 GMT http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091109_Rich_Hofmann__Will_the_real_Eagles_please_stand_up_.html Al we wanted was some clarity. In the middle of the NFL season, has that really become too much to ask? http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091106_Rich_Hofmann__Phillies_should_start_building_for_next_year__starting_with_acquiring_Halladay.html AFTER THE STING wears off and everybody gets a couple of nights' sleep, the quiet pride in the accomplishment of making it to a second consecutive World Series will envelop Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., and all of them. They should be given so http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091105_Rich_Hofmann__Manuel_s_teams_never_lack_heart.html NEW YORK - You never get used to the suddenness of the ending. For the Phillies, it really does seem as if this has gone on for 18 months. The 2008 and 2009 seasons have always seemed joined somehow, inseparable, unforgettable. And then the Yankees flooded out of their dugout and it was over. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091104_Rich_Hofmann__Poor_pitchers__Looks_like_a_batty_finish_to_World_Series.html NEW YORK - At times like these, great and historic and pivotal times for the Philadelphia National League Baseball Club, it is always wise to try to remember the acronym WWWS: What Would Whitey Say? http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091103_Rich_Hofmann__Rest_is_history_for_pitching_strategy.html SOMETIMES YOU get the 3 days' rest and sometimes the 3 days' rest gets you, or something like that. This World Series has come down to two managers, Joe Girardi and Charlie Manuel, two men and two fundamental decisions they have made about how to use their pitching staffs. The contrast is rarely this stark and now there is no turning back. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091102_Rich_Hofmann__The_moment_we_all_feared__Lidge_implosion.html FIVE APPEARANCES. Four innings pitched. One hit. No runs. That had been the postseason enjoyed by Brad Lidge before last night. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091102_Rich_Hofmann__Eagles__DeSean_Jackson_could_become_new_50s_icon.html IT IS NOT every day anymore that you get to write the name Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch in a story, so that is where we begin. In 1951, Crazylegs had eight touchdowns of 50 or more yards for the Los Angeles Rams. In 2007, Devin Hester also had eight for the Chicago Bears. Eight is the NFL record. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091031_Rich_Hofmann__Don_t_tell_Charlie_how_to_manage_a_game_for_Phillies.html ON THURSDAY NIGHT, Fox analyst Tim McCarver gave it to Charlie Manuel on the telecast about a strategic decision in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the World Series, about not starting his baserunners in what ended up being a doubleplay. Yesterday, Manuel gave it right back. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091030_Rich_Hofmann__Yankees_get_more_of_the_same_from_the_great_Rivera.html NEW YORK - He just loomed last night because that is what he does, warming up out there in the gloaming, full of portent and history, wearing No. 42. And when the bullpen gate opened before the top of the eighth inning, it was happening as predicted. It was the arrival of the Great Rivera. http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/rich_hofmann/20091029_Rich_Hofmann___Experts__must_be_surprised_with_Phillies__Game_1_win.html The two home runs by Chase Utley, bolts in the night, pierced the darkness, the mist, and maybe the aura most of all. Because this was the World Series where all of the experts said they respected the Phillies but almost none of them thought they could win.