Professional Tailgating: Cup Final Day

For the first time, I attended a competitive Philadelphia Union match but it may have been the biggest in their history. The Union played the Sounders in the final of the US Open Cup. Here are some of sights.

 

Prospects Plus: Futures Game

For prospects fans like myself the Futures Game during All Star weekend is always a big treat. Here are a couple of notes from the game:

• Reds Prospect Billy Hamilton is going to have to move to outfield. He is a terrible infielder.
• Every time I see Profar I keep seeing a superstar and wonder what the Rangers are going to do with him.
• Dylan Bundy fastball is not hit able, you just wonder how long the Orioles are going to be able to keep him in the minors.
• Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker might be the most athletic pitcher that I have ever seen. Easy delivery and big time velocity. Its going to take a couple of years, but the finished product is going to out of this world. 
• Phillies fans are going to complain about giving up Gose and Singleton but just remember what came back in those deals and the World Series that was won. 
• Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos, who took home the games MVP award, might be the best hitting prospect in the minors. Sweet swings, he looks like he is going to hit for power. The questions because what do the Tigers do with him. He is blocked at both third and first base. Could they include him in a deal for Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. Castellanos could be in the majors by the end of next season or the end of the 2013 season. 
• The Royals fan showed how much this event has grown in the last decade. Amazing job selling out the place for the game. Royals fans understand how important a good farm system is.

Prospects Plus: D'Backs Trevor Bauer makes MLB Debut

The 2011 MLB Draft class was highlighted by three top of the rotation type of pitchers: Gerrit Cole, Danny Hultzen, and Trevor Bauer. On Thursday night, Bauer became the first of the group to make their MLB debut. Bauer started against the Braves and went four innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs and walking 3 on 74 pitches. Bauer Debut Doesn't Dazzle, was the headline from The Bleacher Report. While ESPN story stated that Bauer has some work to do. Its only his first start so there is time. Over the next couple of years it will be interesting to see which of the three has the best pro career.

Madden Covers Through the Years

This was in an ESPN.com story about the Madden video game over the years. Love the ole school covers with just Madden on the cover, talk about an ego crazy person.

Top Picks Madden Style

The picks have been made, they have been introduced, and now its time to see what they look like in the new Madden Video Game. Here are a couple of the top picks:

Matt Stafford: Lions

Jason Smith: Rams

Aaron Curry: Seahawks

Tyson Jackson: Chiefs

More will be coming over the next couple of weeks.

Its almost time to start shopping

While the Eagles made the NFC Championship game this year, people are still seeking improvements to the team and with the start of free agency on Friday fans of the eagles are all developing their wish list and I will be no different. The thing about developing a list is that its easy to just put all of the top ranked players on it, sure would I love to see Boldin wearing #81 in an Eagles, yes but lets be serious that is not going to happen. This list also assumes that Tra Thomas and B'Dawk will both be back with the birds.

So here is the Only Time Will Tell Eagles wish list

1. T. J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Cincy: Would be perfect fit for the Eagles offense. Could open the field up more Jackson.
2. Reggie Williams, WR, Jacksonville: Another big receiver, has not been great with the Jags but has enough natural talent to warrant a look.
   
3. Leonard Weaver, FB, Seattle: Besides receiver the positions that the Eagles have never addressed is full back. I know its not a sexy signing, but it fills a hole and just think what Route 36 could do with a good lead blocker.
4. Maurice Morris, RB, Seattle: It seems like Buck is heading down the road and Morris would be the perfect one to give Route 36 a rest.

The wild card in this list is Julius Peppers. He has said there are only a couple of teams that he would like to play for is one of those teams the birds, I think that it might be. Remember a couple of years ago on the start of free agency the birds signed The Freak, could this be a similar situation, where the Eagles are doing all of their work behind the curtain. I really don't know, but you never know with this group.