Deadline Mania: Phils frantically seek help

By SHAY RODDY

Managing Editor — sroddy@highhopesblog.com

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Could Roy Oswalt be the newest Phillie? Shay Roddy has the details.

Ruben Amaro Jr. is usually a pretty calm guy. Laid back and quiet, as any winning GM should be. The only problem is right now his team isn’t winning. Amaro, after talking on television, met with reporters today in St. Louis to discuss the state of his struggling team. And this time Amaro was far from calm and reassuring.

The second year GM told “Daily News Live” that he sees this year as a bit of a “different scenario since we’re dealing from a position behind, as opposed to where we were in the last couple of years.”

So let’s get all caught up on exactly what types of moves the Phils might be making.

Red Alert – Phillies fall to Cardinals 7-1

By STEPHEN WILDMAN

Staff Writer — swildman@highhopesblog.com

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Jamie Moyer was pulled from the game in the second inning and reports say he could be DL-bound. (Photo: AP)

It didn’t look promising on paper coming into tonight in St. Louis, with the Phillies’ bats asleep and Chris Carpenter pitching for the Cardinals against Jamie Moyer.  It would only get worse from there.

After a shaky, but scoreless first inning, it looked as though Moyer may not have his best stuff on this night. Well, it didn’t matter all that much anyway because Jamie left the ballgame after the finishing the bottom of the first with what’s being called an elbow strain by the medical staff.  So with their starter on the fritz, you could hear the moans and groans all the way from Delaware Valley as Charlie Manuel was forced to go to his bullpen in the bottom of the second inning.

No End in Sight – Phils fall again to Cards, 8-4

By STEPHEN WILDMAN

Staff Writer — swildman@highhopesblog.com

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Frustration continues to mount in a Phils clubhouse that seemingly can't figure out how to do much of anything right. (Photo: Philly.com)

After a rough four game series coming out of the All Star break vs. the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies needed a spark.  It wasn’t found tonight in St. Louis, however, despite a promising start from Kyle Kendrick and the Phillies offense early on in the game.

After four solid innings, it looked as though Kendrick was going to have one of those starts no one expected.  You know, one where he goes seven or eight innings and gives up 1-3 runs.  The Cardinals were able to tag Kendrick for 5 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to squash any hope for the Phils and their fans that the team could emerge from their latest funk.

Lightning Strikes: Gagne era in Philadelphia ends with trade

By CHRIS DiFRANCESCO

Staff Writer — cdifrancesco@highhopesblog.com

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Today's trade marks the end to the ten-year Gane era in Philadelphia. (Photo: Philly.com)

It has been known for weeks that Flyers left-winger Simon Gagne was on his way out of Philadelphia. It was only a matter of when? That answer came Monday afternoon when Gagne was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Gagne, 30, was sent South in return for defensemen Matt Walker and a 4th-round draft pick.

The NBA is a mother that eats its Young

The following is the third-part in an indeterminate-part series that takes a closer look at each of the key components of the Sixers as they approach a season that may mark a turning point for the franchise, but will probably just be a disappointment. Today we look at Thaddeus Young.

Interview: Kevin Cooney talks Phils

By SHAY RODDY

Managing Editor — sroddy@highhopesblog.com

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Cooney covering the Phils at the White House after winning the World Series in 2008.

Kevin Cooney is a baseball columnist for Calkins Media. He started with the paper back in 1996. I had the chance to chat with him this afternoon about the first half of the Phils season and what the team needs to improve on moving forward.

Flyers resign Dan Carcillo

By JAY BOEHMER

Staff Writer — jboehmer@highhopesblog.com

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While Paul Holmgren and his colleagues negotiate a move to send Simon Gagne packing from Philadelphia, the pieces are being moved in that will take the cap space left in Gagne’s wake.  First it was Nikolai Zherdev, the Russian forward who signed for one year at $2 million.  Next in line is Dan Carcillo, the Flyers energetic tough guy and fan favorite.

No one could play The Boss like David, but no one could be The Boss like George

By MATTHEW NADU

Staff Writer — matthew.nadu@yahoo.com

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George Steinbrenner behind his desk in the NBC sitcom "Seinfeld"

As Larry David walked into the room to prepare for an upcoming scene for HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, a murmur carried across air as the other actors observed this creature of improv perfection and the obvious. “It’s that Seinfeld guy,” an elderly woman whispered to me.

The only think that registered in my mind is “it’s George Steinbrenner!” As you may know, David played the late Yankee owner on the hit NBC sitcom Seinfeld.

Ah, no one could play The Boss like David.

Burried alive, Sixers hope to be Doug out

Doug Collins, pictured coaching Michael Jordan and the Bulls, hopes to be the Sixers savior.

The following is the second-part in an indeterminate-part series that takes a closer look at each of the key components of the Sixers as they approach a season that may mark a turning point for the franchise, but will probably just be a disappointment. Today we look at Doug Collins.

Gagne deserves better than a bitter end to a lifetime in Philadelphia

By CHRIS DiFRANCESCO

Staff Writer — cdifrancesco@highhopesblog.com

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After 12+ years in the Flyers organization, Simon Gagne's time in Philly is coming to a bitter end.

It has become a forgone conclusion that one of the longest tenured athletes to ever play in Philadelphia will leave as the product of a bitter breakup with the city he knows best.

Simon Gagne, who was drafted by the Flyers way back in 1998, has been with the organization ever since and looks to be on his way out the back door. The 30-year old left-winger has been with the big-club since the 1999-2000 season where he made the NHL’s All-Rookie team after notching 20 goals and 48 points.