Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Soul Announce 2019 Arena Football League Playoff Schedule

 By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Soul's quest to return to the ArenaBowl and compete for their fourth championship in franchise history will run through the reigning champion Washington Valor (7-5).

On Monday, the team announced its 2019 playoff schedule, after this past weekend finishing the Arena Football League regular season with the third seed.

• Sunday, July 28: at Valor, 3:30 p.m., Capital One Arena
• Sunday, August 4: vs. Valor, 4 p.m., Wells Fargo Center
• Sunday, August 11 (if necessary): ArenaBowl XXXII, 8 p.m., Times-Union Center (if against Albany Empire)/Boardwalk Hall (if against Baltimore Brigade)

The Valor (second seed) defeated the Soul in both meetings, although the Soul still hold an all-time 6-3 record, including a 4-1 road record, against them. The team with the highest aggregate score between the two home-and-home games on July 28 and August 4 will advance to the ArenaBowl to face the winner of the Albany Empire-Baltimore Brigade series.

Visit www.philadelphiasoul.com/playoffs for more information and to purchase tickets.

Photo: Mike Kruce/SportsTalkPhilly.com

All Smiles for Smyly in Club Debut as Phillies Edge Pirates

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Six-year veteran southpaw Drew Smyly's debut with his new club — the Philadelphia Phillies (52-48) — matched, if not exceeded, expectations Sunday afternoon in the club's 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates (46-52) at PNC Park.

After allowing a double and walk, and a RBI single to 15-year veteran Melky Cabrera in the first, the left-hander would retire 15 of his final 18 batters faced — seven via strikeout — without allowing another run.

In total, Smyly would scatter four hits, one run and two walks allowed, while punching out eight batters, over six innings, 96 pitches and 62 strikes. Smyly induced 16 swinging strikes, and kept his team in the game, whose only other run entering the ninth was a two-out RBI single by Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez in the fourth, scoring Bryce Harper from second, following a rain delay.

The score remained 1-1 until there was one out in the top of the 11th, when Rhys Hoskins launched a go-ahead and eventual game-winning home run to left, his 21st blast and 62nd RBI of the season.

Clutch. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/JbC2tLh2RH

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 21, 2019

Juan Nicasio (7th), Adam Morgan (8th, BB, 2 SO), Hector Neris (9th, BB, 2 HBP) and Ranger Suarez (10th & 11th, 1B, 2B, 3 SO) all tossed scoreless appearances in relief of Smyly.

Power Ranger#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/LTJiIlkLSW

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 21, 2019

With the victory, the Phillies secured their first consecutive series wins in Pittsburgh since 1987; the Phillies have lost just two games to the Pirates out of 10 overall over the past two seasons.

Roy Halladay Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The late great Roy Halladay was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, New York.

Roy Halladay: Hall of Famer. #DocHOF pic.twitter.com/HSQtAAxBQi

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 21, 2019

As Roy's widow, Brandy, approached the podium, dozens of Hall of Famers that were gathered on the stage and the onlooking crowd gave her a standing ovation. Brandy then wiped tears from her eyes, before starting her speech on Roy's behalf. “This is not my speech to give," she said. "I am going to do my best to give the speech that Roy would have given if he was here."

Brandy thanked both the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, the only organizations Roy played for over the course of his 16-season career, 1998-2009 and 2010-2013, respectively.

"To both of the teams that we were blessed to be a part of, the Blue Jays and the Phillies, thank you for allowing us to grow up, to fail over and over, and finally learn how to succeed within your organizations," she said. "There were some really amazing years, but there were some really tough ones, too, and you never gave up on him."

Did Losing in the Playoffs to the Celtics Make the 76ers Realize Importance of Grit and Physicality?

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By Kevin Condit, Sports Talk Philly Guest Writer

It's May of 2018. Philadelphia 76ers management, players and fans alike are licking their wounds from a rather embarrassing 4-1 series loss to the division rival Boston Celtics. Boston dismantled the 76ers in devastating fashion using a combination of size, strength and physicality, which are all qualities Philadelphia seemed to lack this particular postseason. That is not acceptable and quite frankly embarrassing in the blue collar city of Philadelphia. They had “out Phillied" Philadelphia.

After getting dismantled by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the 76ers knew that they would need to make changes to become more physical and athletic in order to compete with Boston, a team they would be competing with for the next decade. The 76ers went into the following offseason with a clear plan to add some much needed athleticism and physicality, beginning by trying to “star hunt” in free agency. 

76ers management sung tales of star hunting, led by the tune of head coach Brett Brown, who was currently acting as the team’s interim general manager after the burnergate scandal involving Bryan Colangelo. However, star hunting didn't go as planned, with Lebron James going to the Los Angeles Lakers and Paul George staying put in Oklahoma City. Free agency proved to be rather uneventful for the 76ers.

Phillies Acquire RHP Mike Morin from Twins

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired right-handed reliever Mike Morin from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. Morin is expected to join the team in Pittsburgh on Saturday, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Breen.

#Phillies have acquired RHP Mike Morin from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. pic.twitter.com/k8U3SK92eB

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 20, 2019

As a corresponding move, to make room for Morin on the 40-man roster, RHP Seranthony Dominguez was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Morin had been recently designated for assignment by the Twins, and as The Athletic's Matt Gelb notes, he is out of options; hence, Morin will likely replace someone currently on the 25-man MLB roster.

Morin, 28, is a six-year veteran that has previous ties with Phillies General Manager Matt Klentak with the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander played his first three-plus seasons (2014-17) in Los Angeles, before he was selected off waivers. Having also played for the Kansas City Royals (2017), Seattle Mariners (2018) and Twins (2019), Morin has a career 10-8 record, 4.48 ERA and 1.246 WHIP over 209 relief appearances.

This season alone, the Andover, Minnesota, native had posted a strong 3.18 ERA and 0.971 WHIP, albeit striking out only 11 batters and walking just two spanning 22 2/3 frames. Also with the Twins in 2019, Morin had finished a career-tying-high 10 games, while also recording one save in as many opportunities; he held opponents to a .227 batting average (.190 against left-handers).