http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F Sports columnists from philly.com en-us Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 2009-07-06T07:01:00Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=50004257&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090706_Bill_Conlin__Saluting_the_Williams_sisters_on_strange_Fourth_of_July.html THERE MAY have been weirder Fourth of Julys in the 233-year history of the Republic. But none come to mind. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT ca440e4c01aa28200066ff4c65a71a76 2009-07-06T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=50007107&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090706_Bob_Ford__A_Mets-induced_mirage__or_money_in_the_Bank_.html The Mets left town yesterday afternoon the same way they arrived - very quietly - and it would be difficult to blame the Phillies for checking off their rival from the mental list of worries this season. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 8ed077810a2acca758acf7ad8bc24a47 2009-07-06T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=50004262&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090706_Sam_Donnellon__All-Star_selection_special_to_Ibanez.html HE WAS CUT twice in a 2-week span once, was out of work with a pregnant wife, was forced to move, like a lot of people out there these days. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 316bc8e8849a08e771595b322cd9b119 2009-07-06T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=50007112&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090706_Blog_Zone_.html If Todd Bertuzzi is within the $2M range the Flyers should take a crack at him. Not because it would give my fellow bloggers more ammunition against the Flyers, but because he's put up 40 and 44 points in 68 and 66 game seasons over the past Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 71ee69c4a5d20470d300a998de1a9349 2009-07-06T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=50007197&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090706_You_Talking_to_Me___Fox_cheated_Phillies_fans.html I was appalled on Saturday when Fox kept cutting away or small-screening the Phils-Mets game to give extra-special coverage to the at-bats of Manny Ramirez, noted dope cheater just returned from suspension. You couldn't see the replays of the Phils' game because Pajama Man was all over the thing. Is "appalled" too strong a word? Your thoughts? Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 37bb758c8b0b0a303b3972771ad0ba78 2009-07-06T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49946432&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090705_Bob_Ford___My_guy___When_Manuel_fills_out_the_all-star_roster__Howard_will_get_a_look_.html If we have learned anything about Charlie Manuel during his five seasons managing the Phillies, it is that he likes to support his players, and - what a coincidence - they have returned the favor. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 594bdddb2c2c454a0a58dad401a31f7a 2009-07-05T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49946452&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090705_Gonzo___E-mail_bag__Baiting__mascots.html While hoping everyone enjoyed the Fourth of July, it's time to look inside the e-mail bag . . . Why would somebody want an autograph from a player he clearly doesn't respect?  All J.C. Romero had to do was say "no" and [Robert Eaton] goes "steroids" on him, which tells me that he had it in his head to begin with.  Meanwhile, Eaton was on WIP saying what a great baseball fan he is. I turned it off in disgust. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT dd2a08f441408cb79ca6e3511f957b14 2009-07-05T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49946492&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090705_You_Talking_to_Me___Ahhhhh__vacation__but_first__what_about_Hamels_.html From: Gonzalez, John To: Ford, Bob; Salisbury, James T. Subject: Hamels Every team needs a stopper - especially the Phils. Unfortunately, since June 10, Cole Hamels hasn't pitched like the club's ace. He's 0-3 with a 6.14 ERA over that stretch, and the Phils have just one win in the last five games he's started. Jimmy Rollins' struggles have been much discussed. Is it time we start worrying about Hamels, too? Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 92d6fe2947186a7577223ef5958b632e 2009-07-05T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49903247&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090704_Jim_Salisbury__Jim_Salisbury__Rodrigo_Lopez_s_long_road_back.html As good as doctors have gotten at fixing elbow ligaments that have been shredded by years of throwing baseballs, there's always some doubt in a pitcher's mind when a scalpel pierces the tool of his trade. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 9e5fabf05c1c5716477c1a1e6ba6e10c 2009-07-04T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49823712&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090703_Paul_Hagen__It_s_still_early__Mets-Phillies_interesting__but_not_critical.html IT SEEMS to have become an article of faith at the upper end of the New Jersey Turnpike that the sky is falling. And that as a result, the Mets' next three games, against the Phillies starting tonight at The Bank, will be a make-or-break series for the team many picked to topple the defending world champions this summer. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 6d86269489f7ceb38ffcb99c4b552410 2009-07-03T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49827497&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090703_Gonzo___A_Mets_fan_escapes_the_nightmare.html Steve Bonsignore couldn't take it anymore. The never-ending stress. The soul-crushing mistakes. The inevitable disappointment. The public humiliation. It wore on him and dragged him down. So he gave it all up for a while. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 7df1ee8789d9b98ed9ebee37af216696 2009-07-03T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49827612&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090703_You_Talking_to_Me___Talkin__about_Phils_and_Mets.html From: Gonzalez, John To: Ford, Bob; Salisbury, James. T Subject: Phils-Mets Big weekend in Philly - another Fourth of July and another Phils-Mets series. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT b53c2d7683cecc60435cd25c7405e2a7 2009-07-03T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49827472&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090703_Bob_Ford__Anger__Armstrong_and_the_Tour_de_France.html As Lance Armstrong was climbing steadily to the summit of professional cycling's holiest of Ziggurats - reeling off two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN straight wins in the Tour de France during his remarkable comeback from the cancer that nearly killed him - followers, fanatics and doubters struggled to find an apt historical comparison within the sport. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 56b3dc29d40ec0df24cf712350253b3f 2009-07-03T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49827582&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090703_Jim_Salisbury__Phillies__test_starts_with_Mets.html Sept. 8. Circle the date. The kids will be back in school. The Eagles will be five days away from their season opener. And the Phillies will play the Washington Nationals. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT a414fa8fb2b77f29fae44a0b491b1913 2009-07-03T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=49823672&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20090703_Bill_Conlin__If_Michael_Taylor_isn_t_a__Futures__star__who_is_.html WHEN I'M KING of the World . . . The deep thinkers who select the rosters for the All-Star break's showcase Futures Game - the intelligentsia of Baseball America, MLB Scouting Bureau and 30 big-league clubs - will lose the political agendas and select the best talent available . . . I kn Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT ca005bc9dfa19c13cc7f11ba1b8a20b2 2009-07-03T07:01:00Z