Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Breaking Point: Flyers Tough Schedule Became Too Much to Handle

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By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Two weeks ago, the Flyers picked up a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. It was Monday, March 11, and the Flyers had taken a 16-point deficit in the standings and closed the gap to within three points of a playoff spot.

But the three games that followed -- and the four since, a seven-game stretch where the Flyers have gone just 2-5-0 -- has really put an end to all the playoff talk as a difficult schedule of games that were all must-wins at this point simply became too much.

Sports Illustrated Predicts Phillies to Return to World Series in 2019

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The 2019 season will not only mark the first with Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, David Robertson and Jean Segura, among others, as teammates, but also exactly one decade since the Philadelphia Phillies last played in the World Series.

Ironically, Robertson was on the New York Yankees in 2009, playing in his second season, when his club denied the Phillies back-to-back World Series championships by defeating them in six games.

Fans have high hopes now, with Harper, but most do not go as far as what Sports Illustrated has predicted. The magazine, which recently featured Rhys Hoskins, Harper, Aaron Nola and Realmuto on one of their regional 2019 MLB season preview covers, is predicting the Phillies to reach the World Series before ultimately falling to the Houston Astros.

The Washington Post writes of Sports Illustrated's "high hopes" for the Phillies:

SI projects the revamped Phillies, who boast a powerful lineup but not much in the way of proven starting pitching beyond Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta, to finish 92-70, seven games ahead of the 85-77 Nationals, followed by the Mets, Braves and Marlins. The Brewers and Dodgers are projected to win the NL Central and NL West, respectively, with the Cardinals and Cubs claiming the two wild cards. In the playoffs, SI predicts the Astros will defeat the Phillies in the World Series. Apparently those expectations followed Harper up Interstate 95.

The magazine picked the Washington Nationals, Harper's former team, to play in the 2018 World Series against the Yankees. Clearly, neither happened, and that very well could be the case for its 2019 prediction.

Wouldn't it be something, though, if Harper led the Phillies deep into "Red October" in his first of at least 13 seasons in red pinstripes? Time will tell.

Phillies Re-Sign Andrew Romine to Minor-League Deal

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Just four days after being released, utility player Andrew Romine has returned to the Philadelphia Phillies on a minor-league contract, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury. Romine, 33, will report to minor-league camp on Tuesday, and will serve as minor-league depth in case of injury at the big-league level.

Romine collected 10 hits this spring over 18 games and 39 at-bats; he doubles and homered once and produced four RBI, three walks and two stolen bases (.256/.310/.359). The nine-year veteran played with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2010-13, the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17, and the Seattle Mariners in 2018. Over 581 career games, the switch-hitter has slashed .235/.291/.301 with 38 doubles, 10 home runs, 81 RBI, 82 walks and 287 strikeouts.

Phillies' Nola Partners with Yuengling as Brand Ambassador

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Nola will not only take the mound for the first time in the 2019 regular season on Thursday with a new multi-year contract extension, but also with a new partnership with Yuengling, America's oldest brewery located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

On Monday, the right-hander has partnered with Yuengling as their newest brand ambassador; he is one of the first active Major League Baseball players to have a partnership with a beer brand, notes WNEP's Chase Senior.

New Era Takes Over Phillies Team Store at Citizens Bank Park

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Since opening its doors for the first time in 2004, the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Citizens Bank Park has sold thousands of Philadelphia Phillies merchandise, from Jim Thome and Chase Utley jerseys, to 2008 World Series championship apparel, to its last "big hit," anything Bryce Harper.

Along with a new-look to the former McFadden's area, including a beer garden and brick-oven pizza at Pass and Stow, the venue's team store will also be revamped.

Major League Baseball's longtime on-field cap rights holder, New Era, has "expanded its rights" at Citizens Bank Park by "taking over the name of the Phillies' team store," according to the Sports Business Daily.

The former, two-story Majestic Clubhouse Store has been gutted and will now be the New Era Phillies Team Store, which will feature a 375-cap mosaic and 13-foot retail cap wall with more than 400 cap facings, notes Sports Business Daily.

Also, there be a wide assortment of New Era-branded MLB apparel, (e.g., hoodies, polos, T-shirts and track jackets); 10 percent of the store will include products from other MLB licensees. The Mitchell & Ness Alley Store in Ashburn Alley will move to a new location inside Citizens Bank Park, as well.

The Phillies team store's transition to New Era comes just months after the late January announcement that Nike would become Major League Baseball's official uniform and footwear supplier, starting in 2020.

New Era took over the store earlier this month, just days after Harper signed his 13-year contract with the Phillies. The store's first few days of operation did not go smoothly, however, as it infamously posted that it had run out of "Rs" for custom Harper jerseys.

The store has already updated its Twitter handle to @philliesNEstore.

With Harper, fittingly, there is both a "new era" of Phillies baseball in 2019, along with a "New Era" team store.