Rob Q. Ink - A Philly Sports Blog

Bloggers being ripped by mainstream media is nothing new, but somehow this week was a little more pathetic than usual. As the Mel Kiper’s of the world become relevant for a week, I heard or read more than a few sports’ commentators take shots at the plethora of mock NFL drafts that are available these days. I happen to agree that mock drafts are stupid. They’re almost as stupid as airing the NFL Draft for two days. My problem is the media members who are ripping these things one minute in a weak effort to play the maverick that doesn’t follow the crowd, only to project what the Eagles might do the next as if there’s a difference. Then there’s columns like the one Jack McCaffery wrote for the Delaware County Times this week. When all else failed, he took a gratuitous shot at bloggers: In the backward modern society of sports, that’s not easy. Any more, rampaging interest in drafts has become so ferocious that mainstream writers and broadcasters, let alone idiot bloggers, recommend out

Writing just after the Phillies have won their second game in three days, which included a triple-play and a complete game by Cole Hamels, I figured now was as good a time as any for my first Week-in-Review in a while. It could be months before the sports fan in me is this happy again. · If last year didn’t prove just how absurd it is to look at the NFL schedule when it comes out and think predictions are relevant, nothing ever will. That said, the Eagles’ first four games—Packers, Redskins, Lions, Giants—look like a gift. · With the NBA playoffs underway, and despite today’s loss by the Miami Heat, I’m looking forward to watching Dwayne Wade play a lot. Not that this is any revelation, but I think he’s the most exciting player by far in the league. I don’t make predictions any more, but if he’s truly healthy I’m looking for a Heat-Suns final. · To the Sixer-fan haters, especially Stephen A. Smith, who kept mocking fans with the possibility that Greg Oden and Kevin Durant might not en

Now that Charlie Manuel is apparently picking fights with sports talk-show hosts, its time he was put out to pasture. Manuel allegedly had to be restrained from going at Howard Eskin last night after the 610 WIP host questioned whether or not the manager should be showing more anger to his 3-9 team. Going after Eskin doesn’t necessarily suggest there’s anything wrong with Manuel. Plenty of folks no doubt wish Manuel had kicked the guy’s ass. But the fact is enough is enough with Manuel, and regardless of Eskin today was the day to move on. I know, just a few days ago I said Manuel had a chance to turn things around with Houston and Washington coming up. Well, they only split a rain-shortened series with the Astros, and the Washington games would be a chance for a new manager to get off to a good start. And if Manuel is letting a media member get to him, it sends a terrible message to a team that is yet again proving they can’t handle pressure. Obviously, their manager can’t either. I s

Once again the Phillies have spent at least the first of the opening month of the season digging a hole for themselves. I’m finally on the “fire Charlie Manuel” bandwagon with both feet. This team is ridiculously undisciplined. Guys swing at the first pitch in bad situations with regularity and it’s accepted without question. Running the bases looks like a physics course to this team. The one creative thing Manuel actually did — moving Ryan Howard up in the lineup — he bailed on in the first week. Some day someone will have to explain to me why Jimmy Rollins is so revered in this town. He’s an average fielder, a lead-off hitter that wants to hit for power, and despite the speed to hit an inside-the-park home run he never steals. That, of course, may be the coaches’ fault. With Rollins and Shane Victorino at the top of the lineup, the team should terrorize pitchers on the base paths. Everyone already knows the bullpen is attrocious, but I can’t pin that on Manuel. Howard and Chase Utley

With the arrival of Opening Day, we can officially close the book on our sports winter of discontent. As bigger and better things await — we hope — a few random thoughts: · Despite some Spring Training panic, I think optimism abounds for the Phils (unless I end up posting after a loss, in which case people will be lining up on the Walt Whitman Bridge). I’m anxious to see if Ryan Howard handles being pitched around for an entire season. Like it or not, Pat Burrell may be the key to the season. Maybe we shouldn’t boo him if he doesn’t homer his first at bat, eh? · The Greg Oden / Roy Hibbert match-up Saturday night was one of the biggest busts in recent memory due to constant — and immediate — foul trouble for both. The refs should have found a way to let these guys play more. · The more I saw Oden and Kevin Durant play in March the less I salivated over the Sixers’ prospects of winning the NBA Draft Lottery to grab one of them. Durant’s going to end up as a small forward in the NBA, I’d