Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Quinn Set for Season Debut as Phillies Open 7-Game Road Trip

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Looking to start their seven-game road trip on a positive note, the National League-best Philadelphia Phillies (11-6) will take on the Colorado Rockies (6-12) in the first of a four-game series Thursday evening at Coors Field. Right-hander Zach Eflin will oppose southpaw Kyle Freeland.

Prior to the game, the Phillies activated outfielder Roman Quinn (strained right oblique) from the 10-day injured list, while placing fellow outfielder Odubel Herrera (right hamstring strain). Quinn will make his season debut in place of the once-Phillies All-Star. Scott Kingery — who is slashing .571/.609/1.048 over his last eight games and 23 plate appearances with six singles, four doubles, two home runs, six RBI, and just three strikeouts — who make his second straight start at shortstop in place of Phillies hits leader Jean Segura (hamstring).

The Phillies have the third-best MLB winning percentage (.647), whereas the Rockies have the fifth-worst (.333). Likewise, in the National League, the Phillies have the third-best run differential (+17), whereas the Rockies have the second-worst (-23).

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Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (11-6)			Colorado Rockies (6-12)
RHP	Zach Eflin		LHP	Kyle Freeland
	(2-1, 3.94 ERA)			(1-3, 5.40 ERA)

Vigneault Vows to Bring New Mindset, Consistency to Flyers

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

A week before Chuck Fletcher made his first move of the offseason, hiring Alain Vigneault as the new head coach of the Flyers, he ran through a long list of bad habits that the team possessed in the previous four months of play. He talked about needing to find the right mindset, the right approach to games, and a method that allows them to play that game with consistency.

Early in Vigneault’s introductory press conference on Thursday, it became apparent why Fletcher felt he had found the right person for the job. Vigneault talked at length about the approach he will bring to the Flyers, one that involves approaching the game with the right mindset.

Phillies Activate Quinn, Place Herrera on Injured List

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies' four-game road series against the Colorado Rockies, starting Thursday evening, the club placed outfielder Odubel Herrera on the 10-day injured list, and activated fellow outfielder Roman Quinn to the 25-man roster.

Herrera, 27, suffered a right hamstring strain on Wednesday while tracking down a line drive hit by the New York Mets' Amed Rosario in the top of the fifth inning. He exited the game and was replaced by Aaron Altherr. Only one other Phillies player has logged more hits than Herrera (17), shortstop Jean Segura (22), who also has recently suffered a hamstring injury, albeit being sidelined day-to-day.

Quinn, 25, had been placed on the injured list since Opening Day. Through his seven rehab assignment games with High-A Clearwater and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Quinn combined to slash .370/.452/.593 with nine runs scored, seven singles, one double, one triple, one home run, three RBI, four walks, two stolen bases and 11 strikeouts spanning 35 plate appearances.

Herrera joins Phillies right-handed relievers Tommy Hunter (60-day) and David Robertson (10-day) on the injured list.

Around the NHL: Blue Jackets Upset Lightning, Islanders Moving On

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By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is well underway and already two teams have seen their seasons come to an end -- one the postseason favorite and the other a team with two Stanley Cups already this decade.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that tied an NHL record with 62 wins in the regular season, were swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in four games. The Pittsburgh Penguins, the Stanley Cup champions in 2016 and 2017, were also swept by the New York Islanders in four games.

Here is a breakdown of those two series and where the other six are after Wednesday night’s action.

Analyzing the Flyers Hiring of Alain Vigneault

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By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The decision has been made. Alain Vigneault has been hired to be the next head coach of the Flyers.

The next few months will prove to be important when it comes to determining where the Flyers are as they begin the 2019-20 season. For now, the million dollar question -- or five-year, $25 million question, the terms of Vigneault's contract -- is if Alain Vigneault is the right fit for the Flyers.

The hiring was met with mixed reviews among Flyers fans, some seeing this as a sign that the team will take on more of a winning attitude and makeup and with changes try to restore the level of success that had become customary in the past. Others focused on Vigneault’s downfall in New York two years ago instead of the career body of work.

There are many factors that go into determining why the Flyers went this direction. Here are a few of them.