Category: Sports Daily

Imagine walking away from a sport that’s been a big part of your identity for nearly your whole life.

And not because it’s time to move on, but because years’ worth of injuries have taken their toll.

That’s what Sam Brown had running through his head this past offseason after he was limited to 16 carries for 38 yards at Rutgers. He didn’t want to get hurt again.

But his football story wasn’t over. He found himself poised to be a leader among Temple’s running backs, and, in many ways, he found his way home.

“I’m just grateful for every opportunity I get,” Brown, a La Salle College High School graduate, said. “I just got to keep working and I’ll get what I deserve.”

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Glove games

Trea Turner was sporting something new on his left hand in Monday night’s game. But for the closest Phillies observers, the black leather and red stitching might be familiar.

It’s Bryson Stott’s glove. Well, an extra one, anyway. So why is Turner using an extra glove of Stott’s? And is it helping him defensively?

Alec Bohm continued on his hitting tear by driving in two runs and igniting the Phillies’ 6-4 comeback win over the Marlins.

Next: The Phillies wrap up their season series vs. the Marlins tonight (6:05 p.m., NBCSP). Aaron Nola (4-9, 5.33 ERA) will face Miami ace Sandy Alcantara (13-7, 3.43). How’s that for a parting gift?

Birds in flight

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman tends to make moves in August. Last season, he acquired four players who ended up on the team’s initial 53-man roster.

That was kind of a lot, but expect Roseman to make headlines as the regular season inches ever closer.

Jeff Neiburg takes a look at moves the Birds could make, starting at quarterback.

Next: The Birds have migrated north for joint practices with the New England Patriots today and Thursday in Foxborough, Mass.

Mike Sielski’s take

So speaking of those joint practices …

Get ready for the hype train surrounding those practices and the preseason game that follows for plenty of on-field reasons. But there’s one storyline that rises above them all: Jalen Hurts vs. A.J. Brown. Really, it transcends football.

It’s about the life cycle of a friendship, and it’s a villain story. We love a villain.

OK, so who wins in the battle of Jalen vs. A.J.? Mike Sielski takes a look at several factors.

The big three

The hoopla that is Lionel Messi’s third season in Major League Soccer will continue at Subaru Park when the Union host Inter Miami tonight (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). But while the stadium is anticipated to be sold out, Union interim manager Ryan Richter said the three he’s most concerned with are taking three points at home against the Herons.

“It’s a league game, and we’re in desperate need of three points,” Richter said. “And that’s how we have to approach it … we are in a moment where the three points are the most important thing.

Still, there is hype not just because of Messi, but because it’ll be another chance to see hometown wunderkind Cavan Sullivan against an MLS team chock-full of star talent.

Speaking of star talent, the Union are planning to return homegrown U.S. national team defender Mark McKenzie to the fold during the next FIFA transfer window in January.

Fun fact: The Union faces Inter Miami with a four-game MLS winning streak on the line. Their last league loss? May 24 against … Inter Miami.

Sports snapshot

• Star turn: A past Grand Slam winner is in the field for Philly’s pro tennis tournament.
• A Dragon’s quest: Drexel grad Jeffrey Cunningham is working to grow representation within golf.
• In limbo: What’s next for Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide after the Patriot League deemed him ineligible?

On this date

Aug. 19, 2023, looked like it would be a game to forget for Phillies shortstop Trea Turner against his former team. He’d struck out twice against Washington Nationals righty Jake Irvin and added a throwing error that led to a run for good measure.

But once the Phils started teeing off on the Nats’ bullpen, Turner got in on the fun and homered in the eighth inning. Twice.

“Never hit two homers in an inning,” said Turner, typically stoic as he rounds the bases but unable to conceal a smile the second time around. “I’m usually the guy that makes two outs in those innings. There’s always one of those guys. It feels like it’s usually me.”

Scott Lauber had the story from that game three years ago today.

🧠 Trivia time answer

What number did Eagles defensive legend Reggie White wear in his rookie season?

Answer: C: 91. White wore No. 91 during his rookie season and switched to his unmistakable No. 92 the following year.

What you’re saying about the Birds

We asked: Who’s the most important piece on the Eagles’ offense?

It’s always the QB. If Hurts has a good season, so will the Birds. If he’s mediocre, the team will follow suit.The QB sets the tone and everyone else follows. — Tom G.

The most important piece of the Eagles offense is the defense leading the league in turnovers. GO BIRDS! — Ronald R.

I would say the quarterback if that doesn’t work out than your team cant work — Charles G.

The easy answer is the QB, who handles the ball on each snap, however the right answer is the offensive line, who provides pass protection and opens up running lanes. Historically, production has been down significantly when Lane Johnson has been out with injuries. Keeping that group healthy and finding Lane’s replacement will be a key to the Eagles near-term and long-term success. — Bob C.

The offensive line is the heart of the Eagles offense. Last year’s aging and oft injured line failed to even come close to what they provided for Hurts and the running backs the previous year. Quarterbacks need time and running backs need openings and without them Mannion’s new offense won’t be any different than Patullo’s last year. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Mike Livingston, Lochlahn March, Jeff Neiburg, Mike Sielski, Jonathan Tannenwald, Kerith Gabriel, Scott Lauber, Becca O’Reilly, Lauren Jones, and Conor Smith.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading along! I’ll be back in your inboxes tomorrow morning with more of the best stories in Philly sports! — Maria

One game does not determine a season.

Chances are you’ve heard that before, and that’s kind of the mantra it appears Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will continue to employ despite the Birds’ less-than-impressive performance against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Sweeping changes aren’t on the table, it would appear — well, one, but it doesn’t pertain to the team. Mannion, who noted that during planned joint practices and a preseason game against the New England Patriots, he’ll call plays from the booth as opposed to the field, as he did against the Ravens.

Why?

“I think it’s an opportunity to get a feel for both,” Mannion said on Monday. “I think it’ll be an interesting perspective, but, you know, I think for this preseason, an opportunity to kind of experience.”

Despite Saturday’s score, there were positives Mannion noted he’s focusing on going forward. Inquirer writer Ryan Novozinsky dives into what Mannion said and more right here.

It’s Tuesday, Philly. Expect some rain today, with highs in the low 80s.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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That was quite a meeting

Going into the last week of July, the Phillies reached base at a .303 clip, tied for last. But they also had the fourth-best hard-hit rate and were near the middle of the pack in barrel rate, which measures how often a hitter makes contact with the optimal combination of exit velocity and launch angle.

Maybe it was bad luck. The Phillies were batting .281 on balls in play. (Major league average is .289.) Or maybe it was self-inflicted. As a team, they swung at the second-highest rate of non-strikes (34%).

Whatever the case, they needed to figure it out.

So, they had a meeting. What’s followed has been a dramatic turnaround.

And on Monday, Cristopher Sánchez became the first MLB pitcher to earn 16 wins this season as the Phillies held off the Marlins, 6-5.

Next: The Phillies continue their series against Miami at 6:40 p.m. tonight (NBCSP). Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.89 ERA) will start for the Phillies. The Marlins have not announced a starter yet.

What we’re…

📖 Reading: What national pundits are saying about the Flyers’ chances for this season.

🏈 Sharing: FBS and FCS polls dropped yesterday, with Penn State and Villanova cracking the Top 25 in their respective lists.

💪🏽 Wondering: Who looks like they could crack the Eagles’ 53-man roster coming off last weekend’s preseason game against the Ravens.

🏀 Saving: The date for next year’s JAB Classic, a summer basketball showcase with NBA stars playing for a unifying purpose.

👀 Watching: What fight fans thought of UFC 330 in Philly this past weekend.

Just ‘play better’

So the Union are back in the win column. In part was due to gutsy play to come from behind, this time against New York City FC, but it was also a test put out by interim manager Ryan Richter.

“It was more about challenging the guys to just play better,” Richter said after the Union’s 3-2 victory. “To give more, to be more connected when they didn’t have the ball.”

Richter didn’t call out guys specifically he urged to step up and put the edict out, but as Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald explains, he didn’t have to, given who outperformed in the second half.

Now, the Union hope to do the same against league-leading Miami on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

Remembering Tommy John

Tommy John is widely known across the baseball world for the elbow surgery that bears his name, one which has revived the careers of thousands of pitchers.

But to Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, he was better known as a great teammate and a fellow Indiana native.

John died Saturday at age 83. Yesterday, Mattingly took some time to remember his Yankees teammate, as the duo played together in 1982 and again from 1986-89.

On this date

Aug. 18, 2016: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt wins an Olympic gold medal in the 200 meters for the third straight time, this time at the Summer Games in Brazil with a time of 19.78 seconds.

Mike Sielski’s take…

“The notion that throwing a pick during training camp should serve as any kind of referendum on any NFL starting quarterback is so stupid that it could gain traction only on X.” — Sielski’s latest looks at what people are saying about Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on social media entering the season. Read that and more in his latest op-ed.

🧠 Trivia time

For all of the Eagles fans pining for the start of the season, it’ll be here before you know it. Until then, see if you know this: what number did Eagles defensive legend Reggie White wear in his rookie season?

A) 90

B) 92

C) 91

D) 95

What you’re saying about the Phillies

We asked: What will it take for the Phillies to make the playoffs and go on a run?

More consistent hitting over the stretch to back up the starting pitching. Hitting that was evident during the recent Twins series must continue. The bullpen must pull its weight; the top three starters are excellent and give them a chance to win with almost every start. This is probably the last rodeo for this group. Perhaps they have reached their peak as a team, and there is very little upside to keeping them together for yet another season. — Bill B.

What will it take for the Phils to make the playoffs? Nothing special. Just each guy playing up to his capabilities. No mysterious slumps (looking at you, Brandon Marsh). They are a better team on paper than Atlanta or San Diego or Arizona or the Cubs. Now they need to play that way on the field. With their three top starters, they could go deep in the playoffs. Very deep. — Dirk D.

Right now I am somewhat pessimistic about the Phillies’ playoff chances. Going to take a big turnaround in both hitting and pitching to make it happen. Phils are 22nd best in batting average and 15th in runs scored. Marsh at .274, Harper at .256, Turner at .247, and JT at .215 are not going to do it. Very questionable relief group, and with Nola at a 5.33 ERA and Painter at 6.43, and Nola leading all MLB pitchers with 30 home runs allowed, it is not looking good. Maybe Mattingly has some magic he can perform, but I am not betting on it. — Everett S.

Consistency. They need to be at their best and go on a run. They have a good start but need to keep it up. The bullpen, starters, and lineup need to do what they just did against the Twins. As Alec Bohm said in his postgame interview after the Saturday win, he needs to just make contact and not try to hit the ball out of the ballpark. And they need to take advantage of their schedule and win series against poorer teams. — Mitch B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Ryan Novozinsky, Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Jonathan Tannenwald, Mike Sielski, Gabriela Carroll, Mia Messina, Jeff Neiburg, Conor Smith, and Ariel Simpson.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks, Philly. We’ll catch you tomorrow. If you can’t sleep tonight, ESPN is showing a replay of the Corgi races at Emerald Downs from 2023 at 4 a.m. on the Ocho. No, seriously. — Kerith

Tonight, assuming the weather holds out, Phillies players will emerge from cornstalks and onto a field in Iowa, just like the characters in the iconic 1989 film Field of Dreams — and just like some legendary Phillies on Bryson Stott’s custom cleats for the game.

One of the film’s most memorable characters was “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, who was banned from baseball for life after the 1919 Black Sox betting scandal but maintained until his death that he did not throw the World Series. Before Jackson, played by Ray Liotta, jogs back into the outfield and disappears into the cornfield, he famously asks Kevin Costner’s character, “Hey, is this heaven?”

“No, it’s Iowa,” a stunned Costner replies.

While Jackson is best known for his time with the White Sox, his big-league career actually got its start in Philly a year after he earned the “Shoeless” moniker. But he likely never confused the city with heaven.

Despite manager Connie Mack’s best efforts to get Jackson to leave his hometown of Greenville, S.C., the then-minor leaguer just didn’t want to move North — so much so that after signing with the A’s, he hopped off a Philly-bound train overnight to avoid it. Jackson, who couldn’t read or write, went to work at a cotton mill instead.

Mack didn’t give up, sending a man named Socks to land a player called Shoeless, and Jackson eventually arrived before the end of the 1908 season. But he only played 10 games in Philly over two years before moving on to fame in Cleveland and ultimately infamy in Chicago.

New rules will allow Jackson to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as early as 2027, and if when he does, it won’t be as a member of the A’s. But his major-league career started right here. Although if you’ve been paying attention, that probably doesn’t shock you — there’s always a Philly angle.

— Matt Mullin, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Happy marriage?

Johnny Mundt was not the Eagles’ most heralded offseason signing, but he’s a critical symbol of the team’s new direction.

The veteran tight end’s familiarity with the new offensive scheme ushered in by coordinator Sean Mannion — he was also Mannion’s teammate once upon a time with the Rams — is a big reason why he’s here. The Eagles are asking their tight ends to do new things, with returnees including Dallas Goedert asked to block at the point of attack more than they ever have. Nick Sirianni has used the term “marrying the run and pass” so often that he’s probably at this point ordained to officiate a wedding.

“We’re huge in that,” Mundt said. “Being attached to the line of scrimmage, being the point of attack on a lot of these blocks, you can do a lot of play-action stuff off that. The marriage of the run and the pass has been core to this offense ever since its start.”

It’s a brand-new era for the tight ends.

Next: The Eagles visit the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday (7 p.m., NBC10) for their preseason opener.

What we’re …

• 👀 Anticipating: The NBA has already revealed some of the Sixers’ marquee matchups and their slate of NBA Cup games. Today we get the rest of the schedule.
• 📚 Studying: UFC 330 comes to town this weekend, and we’ve got you covered on everything you need to know, whether you plan on attending or you’re just MMA-curious.
• 🤔 Wondering: Why wouldn’t every golfer playing in the U.S. Amateur Championship use one of the local caddies from Merion. Who knows the course better?
• 💰 Counting: The NFL continues to explode in value, and the Eagles are no different. They’ve hit a new high, over 55 times what Jeffrey Lurie paid for the team in 1994. But where do they rank among other franchises?
• 👟 Eyeing: LeBron James’ 24th signature sneakers — and first with the Sixers — dropped on Tuesday.

Wheels fell off

For four innings on Wednesday, Zack Wheeler looked back to form. Coming off a rough stretch, Wheeler had allowed one run against the Cardinals in the series finale in St. Louis.

But then came the fifth inning: Four consecutive two-out hits turned into four runs and ballooned his ERA since the All-Star break to 6.04.

So what gives for one of the Phillies’ aces?

Said catcher J.T. Realmuto: “It looks like he might be fighting his mechanics a little bit.”

Next: The Phillies travel to Dyersville, Iowa to take on Minnesota in the Field of Dreams game tonight (7:30, Netflix). Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.47 ERA) is scheduled to start against Twins right-hander Taj Bradley (9-4, 3.76).

A work of art with a purpose

The minute the Sixers landed LeBron James, Philly artist Chenlin Cai knew what his next mural would be. On Wednesday, two and a half weeks later, Cai was at the corner of 10th and Arch Streets in Chinatown applying the seal coat to his new mural, which he hopes can shine a positive light on and draw more business to the area.

The mural pays tribute to Philadelphia (and LeBron’s) history with a bronze William Penn playing the role of Dwyane Wade in a recreation of the famous meme from their time together in Miami. More importantly, it honors his Chinese heritage with the wave on the right cresting to form an ancient Chinese legend known as the “Dragon’s Gate,” which symbolizes hard work, bravery, and good fortune.

As pedestrians passed by and fist bumped Cai, some stopping to chat about their excitement over the upcoming season, he encouraged them to post on social media and continue to spread his message.

“I am just so happy with the attention this has been getting,” Cai said. “It means so much for me and my family, and this is the true purpose of my art, to bring more traffic to Chinatown and help the small businesses here.”

On the fast track

Luigi Suigo has only been on campus for a few weeks, but he’s already had his Villanova rite of passage.

Suigo, a 7-foot-3, 19-year-old from Italy who goes by “Gigi,” went to Campus Corner, the longtime pizza shop on Lancaster Ave., and had his first cheesesteak. He thought it was “crazy good” and said he may “have them in secret” after being warned not to eat too many.

He better get them in while he can. Suigo’s stay on the Main Line is not expected to be long. The freshman big man, who played professionally in Serbia last season, is expected to join the short list of modern Villanova players who are on campus for one season before being selected in the NBA draft. His journey starts now.

On this date

On Aug. 13, 1972, 67-year-old daredevil Karl Wallenda completed his tightrope walk across Veterans Stadium between games of a Phillies doubleheader.

“In the early ‘70s, we didn’t win a lot of games,” Larry Bowa said in 2022, on the 50th anniversary of the stunt. “So we had to get people in there. It was like a circus.”

And indeed it was. In addition to the high-wire act, there was Kiteman, Cannon Man, Benny the Human Bomb, and a first pitch dropped from a helicopter. And while not everything went as planned, Wallenda successfully completed his walk.

Marcus Hayes’ take

Despite his implication that American hero Dr. Anthony Fauci somehow acted improperly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite his denials that he was considering retiring over the winter (he was), Vic Fangio is a compulsive truth-teller — at least, in his own mind. He dogged the Dolphins when he was there, he’s told us that Jalen Carter has been out of shape, and he said last year that Adoree’ Jackson was playing so badly he might not start.

On Tuesday, Veritas Vic revealed a truth about 2025 that had been self-evident: Jalen Hurts lost a step.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Matt Breen, Devin Jackson, Antony R. Wood, Jeff Neiburg, DeAntae Prince, Gina Mizell, Conor Smith, Lauren Jones, Becca O’Reilly, Lochlahn March, and Marcus Hayes.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

The Summer of Philly continues this week, with the arrival of UFC 330 and a women’s lacrosse championship at Subaru Park. While both of those events feature exclusively professional competitors, there’s another major sporting event underway on the Main Line this week that features amateur athletes ages 15 to 63 taking on one of its sports most historic venues: the U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club.

The second big men’s golf event in the area this year, after May’s PGA Championship at Aronimink, starts its second stage today, following Tuesday’s cut that trimmed field from 312 to its final 64 players. The remaining golfers will now square off head-to-head in a bracket-style, single-elimination, matchplay tournament that will be capped off by a 36-hole final on Sunday. And after the first two days, everything is coming up Philly.

Among those making the cut at Merion, which will also host the 2030 men’s U.S. Open, is Norristown native Joshua Ryan. Not only did the 22-year-old former Liberty University golfer advance, but he finished the stroke-play portion of the tournament at 8-under par, two strokes better than the rest of the field. Merion member Drue Nicholas, a former Drexel golfer, finished at 3-over, one stroke over the cut.

“The first hole, I chunked a 3-wood and it went like 280 [yards]. The hands were shaking. We were pretty excited,” Ryan said. “I wasn’t super nervous, just more excitement. Everyone kind of started buzzing right away.

“That was fun.”

If Ryan makes it all the way through and hoists the Havemeyer Trophy on Sunday, he’ll not only get a gold medal and his name etched onto the wall at the USGA Museum — alongside greats like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Bobby Jones, who capped off his 1930 grand slam by winning the Amateur at Merion — but he’ll also earn invites to three of next year’s four majors, including the Masters.

— Matt Mullin, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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A little bit of ‘Moonlight’

Following their series against the Cardinals — which included an X-2-0 loss Tuesday night — the Phillies will make the trip from St. Louis to Dyersville, Iowa, the setting of the classic baseball film Field of Dreams, where they’ll take on the Minnesota Twins.

One of the film’s characters is Moonlight Graham, a longtime minor-league player who played one inning in the majors as a defensive substitute in 1905 but never had a chance to hit. The Phillies have their own version of Graham in Mickey Harrington.

As for the current Phillies, Bryce Harper admitted Tuesday that his knee — which he “banged up” against the Detroit Tigers just before the All-Star break — has started to bother him again since his move back to right field.

Next: Zack Wheeler and Phillies face the Cardinals in their series finale at 2:15 p.m. (NBCSP)

What we’re …

• 👊 Studying: Collin Gillespie and Tyrese Martin were the stars in the Rumph Classic men’s final on Monday, but the meaning behind the event made playing in it even more significant.

• ⚖️ Feeling: Former Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood was granted an early release from prison so he could be with his dying daughter.
• 🤔 Questioning: Why WIP decided to nix its Eagles sideline reporter position after laying off Devan Kaney.

No more ‘big daddy meals’

Despite a down year in 2025, Jalen Carter signed a massive contract extension this offseason, one that made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL. By the time he reported to camp, the Eagles found out they’d be getting less of Carter — 10 pounds less, to be exact.

That’s because Carter made a bet with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio over his weight. And according to the fourth-year lineman, he won by cutting out items including what he described as “big daddy meals” and Minute Maid blue raspberry juice. Winning the bet was more important even than a shiny new contract to Carter, who said this offseason his “biggest focus was putting a smile on Coach Vic’s face.” It’s already paying dividends on the field.

On the other side of the ball, another Jalen — quarterback Jalen Hurts — is working on developing his rapport with new receivers Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore, and continuing to work with Darius Cooper, the 2025 undrafted free agent out of Tarleton State, as the team’s top receivers, DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon, deal with hamstring injuries.

And as always, Jeff McLane has your practice recap from yesterday’s training camp session in South Philly.

Next: The Eagles visit the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday (7 p.m., NBC10) for their preseason opener.

Here come the Sixers

The NBA will release its full schedule on Thursday afternoon, but the league is throwing out a few quick previews throughout the week. That started on Tuesday, when it shared the slate for its marquee games, including opening week and Christmas Day.

It’s no surprise that the new-look Sixers factored heavily in both after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown this offseason. They will open the season against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in a game that’s already breaking ticket-price records. Two of the Sixers’ big games — their home opener and Christmas Day — will come against a pair of James’ former teams.

We’ll know more as the week progresses. The NBA Cup schedule will be released Wednesday and the full schedule will be here before we know it. Don’t look now, but here come the Sixers.

Learning on the fly

The Union almost certainly won’t advance out of the group stage in this year’s Leagues Cup — they’d need a blowout win over Santos Laguna on Thursday night and so many other results to go their way that it’s not worth mentioning them all here. But that doesn’t mean the tournament has been a bust for the team from Chester … especially for its young American players who dream of representing their country on the game’s biggest stage.

Which Union players have gained the most from these two games? Cavan Sullivan tops the list. He was a force in both, and he knew exactly what he was getting into.

Next: The Union host Mexican side Santos Laguna on Thursday at Subaru Park (7 p.m., Apple TV) for their third and final Leagues Cup group-stage game.

Who said it?

The Birds open their preseason schedule this weekend in Baltimore, where we’ll get our first look at Sean Mannion’s offense. It remains to be seen whether Jalen Hurts or other starters take the field, but earlier this week a former Pro Bowl Eagles quarterback made a cameo at camp and had the above to say about Hurts, adding that he thinks the current QB will thrive in the new system. Check your answer here.

What you’re saying about Trea Turner

We asked: Do you think the Phillies should keep Turner at shortstop?

Absolutely not. Trea is great offensively but he also had a four error game (that benefited from hometown scorekeeping to reduce the number of recorded errors) a few weeks ago. … If you don’t think he should play outfield, he should be playing first base instead of Alec Bohm, who is barely a MLB player at this point. — Anthony P.

Hell, I don’t want to keep Turner at all. Needs to be traded for a player to be named later. — Bill M.

With all of the infield shuffling, and the late date, Turner is our best option at shortstop for the balance of the season. I do not yet trust him in the outfield and he clearly will not be playing second base. — Bob C.

I’m OK with keeping Turner at shortstop for the remainder of the season. However, if the Phillies are fortunate enough to sign Arraez for next season, I think they need to reshuffle the fielding positions again by bringing Harper back to first base, move Stott to shortstop, and Turner to one of the corner outfield positions. — Jim V.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Lauren Jones, Owen Hewitt, Matt Breen, Lochlahn March, Conor Smith, Mia Messina, Rob Tornoe, Olivia Reiner, Ryan Novozinsky, Jeff McLane, DeAntae Prince, and Jonathan Tannenwald.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading the newsletter. We will be back in your inboxes on Thursday. — Matt

Last week, I asked my fiancé, a Phillies fan, “Who’s going to struggle the most with the realignment?”

For context, after second baseman Luis Arráez was acquired at the trade deadline, the Phillies shuffled their infield with Bryson Stott moving from second base to third and Alec Bohm shifting to first with Bryce Harper going to right field.

He responded: “Trea Turner.” It was a fair answer. Turner is second in the league in committed errors with 18. The one infielder who didn’t switch positions happens to be among the worst defenders in the sport this season.

But there was never a discussion to move Turner off shortstop, according to interim manager Don Mattingly.

How come? Scott Lauber sat down with Kevin Stocker, the Phillies’ pennant-winning shortstop in 1993, to get his viewpoint on why Turner isn’t an outfielder, among other thoughts about this new look for the Phillies.

— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Confidence is king

Jake Elliott suffered a poor 2025 season by his standards.

The former Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion went 20-for-27 on field goal attempts, a 74.1% conversion rate that was the second-worst of his career. Meanwhile, his 76.2% clip (48-for-63) over the past two seasons rates as one of the worst marks for a primary kicker in the league. But Elliott is unfazed, speaking Monday about looking forward.

“I’m extremely confident in myself right now,” Elliott said. “I feel like I’ve had a great offseason, I’m putting together a good camp, I feel like I’m striking it best I have in a while. Every day is a new day. Just trying to build on it.”

Special teams coach Michael Clay noted that Elliott has responded well to whatever blips on the radar arose in 2025. Here’s more from Jeff Neiburg on Elliott’s rebound efforts.

And the first true fight of camp occurred on Monday. It came early in the first-team drill period, but it had been brewing for days. Jeff McLane fills us in on what happened, among other things, in his practice observations.

What we’re…

🤔 Wondering: What Michael Vick said about Jalen Hurts and how he’ll look with a new offensive scheme.

👏 Supporting: Drue Nicholas, a Drexel graduate, took the first drive of the U.S. Amateur on his home course.

🔍 Analyzing: Monday’s Temple football practice revealed more about how the starting lineup will rollout, but the quarterback competition continues.

🏈 Learning: About first-year coach Rick Santos and what changes he plans to bring to Penn football.

Another bullpen blow

The Phillies announced Monday that right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain. To fill Kilian’s spot, the Phillies recalled right-hander Chase Shugart.

The bullpen has been extremely taxed in the last week. The club is in the midst of a stretch of 14 consecutive games before a day off Friday. Plus, the three extra-inning games during its homestand didn’t help.

Despite this shortcoming, Andrew Painter delivered the best performance of his young career and helped guide the Phillies to a 6-5 win in St. Louis.

Lessons learned

The Union have a slim chance of advancing to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup. Sitting on three points after two matches, they are not mathematically eliminated from advancing, but need a lot of help to jump from tied for tenth to inside the top four on the final match day.

Next is the Union’s assumed Cup finale against Santos Laguna at Subaru Park on Thursday. If they aren’t going to advance, what can the club bring back with them into the MLS schedule?

The most obvious answer is rest, but these games also helped interim head coach Ryan Richter gather more information about his personnel.

Marcus Hayes’ take

On Sunday, my family was in dismay when we tuned in to an afternoon game between the Aces and the New York Liberty and discovered that three-time league MVP A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and five-time All-Star Jackie Young would not play. At. All.

From pitch counts to minute restrictions to scheduled losses, load management has become a distasteful aspect of professional sports. This was far more than load management, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.

What you’re saying about the Phillies’ bullpen

We asked: How can the Phillies address their bullpen issues? Among your responses:

The bullpen is as inconsistent as the hitting can be. Kerkering should be sent down for a couple of weeks. Mattingly needs a dartboard to figure out who to put in. LUZARDO had another great start. All for nothing. — Tom G.

Now if Stubbs could only develop a sweeper he’d be my choice as our “set up” guy. His ERA is better than our #4 starter Nola and our #1 setup man Alvarado. Ranger would sure look good now but he’s having a blast in Boston. Most all of the free agent relief pitchers our chief of baseball operations hired over the past 4 years were stiffs. Sorry but as season 4 winds down you are asking the same question the last 3 years. — Ronald R.

Getting Arraez was great, but the bullpen should have been issue #1. Put Alvarado on waivers or drop him to Lehigh. Put Nola in as long reliever and go with a four man rotation. Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton pitched most of their carers in a four man rotation. — Everett S.

GET RID OF ALVARADO IMMEDIATELY. — Murray U.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Ryan Novozinsky, Jeff Neiburg, Scott Lauber, Marcus Hayes, Owen Hewitt, DeAntae Prince, Lochlahn March, Conor Smith, and Mike Livingston.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Have a wonderful Tuesday. We’ll be back in your inbox with the latest sports news tomorrow. — Bella

In a very unorthodox, yet surprisingly authentic way, Sixers newcomer Jaylen Brown got treated to Philly on Thursday. Instead of the Sixers facility or even Xfinity Mobile Arena, Brown held his press conference at an inner-city recreation center with spotty Wi-Fi, answered questions, met a few fans, and later threw out the first pitch at the Phillies game.

Our coverage of Brown’s big day captured:

• His intent in a Philly uniform and the relationship he wants to have with fans,
• How ‘winning is the agenda’ when it comes to his plan with the Sixers, and …
• Five additional key takeaways from his introduction to fans and media alike.

Scattered showers are in the forecast, but I said that yesterday and it was light. We’re looking at some really steamy days coming up, so make sure you hydrate and stay cool, especially if you’re headed to the Phillies’ series against Toronto this weekend.

Speaking of the Phillies, hopefully they decide to bring this guy back.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

❓Where should LeBron James hold his press conference? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Crawford’s new teacher

Phillies rookie center fielder Justin Crawford has made it a habit to ask his veteran teammates for advice throughout the season. In new second baseman Luis Arraez, he might have the ideal hitter to learn from. And that’s just what he did on Wednesday.

Arraez, with his ability to spray the ball all over the field and his penchant for singles, might be more similar to Crawford than anyone else on the team. Both lefties hit for average, don’t swing and miss a lot, and have the ability to manufacture runs. Power is not a main feature of either of their games.

Crawford knows there is a lot he can learn from his new teammate.

The Phillies collected 16 hits en route to a 7-3 win over the Nationals for their second consecutive series win.

Next: The Phillies open a series against Toronto at 6:40 tonight (NBCSP). Before the game they will induct Chase Utley into the Wall of Fame.

What we’re …

🎙️ Watching: This band who broadcasts pickup kickball games from their apartment window in Kensington.

⚽ Sharing: European federations are standing firm, wanting Gianni Infantino out as FIFA president, and are preparing to boycott FIFA-sanctioned events.

⚾ Wondering: How Andrew Painter and Derek Hill are holding up after leaving Wednesday’s Phillies game against the Nationals.

🗞️ Reading: This tribute to St. Joseph’s and Philly sports super fan Chris DiJulia.

Early look at the Eagles nest

As the Eagles continue to grind through the second week of training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season, there’s been a good enough sample size to discuss. How’s Jalen Hurts looking? What about his targets? Is the defense elite?

All of those questions and more are dissected in the latest edition of unCovering the Birds podcast with Jeff McLane, who also welcomes Inquirer colleague Jeff Neiburg on to run down the gauntlet. Listen to the latest edition right here … or wherever you get your podcasts.

Do ‘what you love’

Derrick Morton-Rivera had little choice but to “fall in love” with basketball. He was always around it. His father, D.J. Rivera, had Derrick while he was a sophomore at St. Joseph’s and other stops of his college career at Binghamton University and the University of Montevallo in Alabama.

Hank Gathers is his dad’s late uncle. Yes, the same Gathers, who starred at Loyola Marymount and was the NCAA’s scoring champion and rebounding leader in 1989. The Riveras are also staples of the Danny Rumph Classic, which tipped off yesterday. Inquirer writer Isabella DiAmore caught up with both to talk about being a part of Philly’s basketball fabric.

She’s kind of a big deal …

If there’s one Philly-area athlete to know this week, it’s Schwenksville native Ashley Sessa. When it comes to field hockey, she’s kind of a big deal, as Sessa, 22, won a national championship as a freshman at North Carolina in 2022, transferred to Northwestern, where she helped lead the Wildcats to back-to-back national titles in 2024 and 2025.

Now, she’s a member of Team USA and will look to be a big part of the Americans’ quest to win the women’s International Hockey Federation World Cup beginning Aug. 14. Inquirer writer Owen Hewitt caught up with Sessa on her ascension up the sport’s ladder.

On this date

Aug. 7, 2024: Kyle Schwarber tied his previous career high in single-game home runs (3) and RBIs (7), fueling a 9-4 road win for the Phillies against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit four home runs in a game against the Braves last year.

Mike Sielski’s take …

“It is easy and of course correct to lament that youth and high school sports too often have taken on an outsized and inappropriate importance for too many coaches and parents and athletes. But one of sports’ greatest benefits to young people is that it gives them a stake in something bigger than themselves, a stake in something that matters to them; they learn to develop and modify actions and habits to preserve sports’ place in their lives.” — Mike Sielski’s latest looks at what’s lost in the Cheltenham football investigation that is so much more than a season.

What you’re saying about sports curses

We asked: Do you believe that curses in sports are real?

No, I don’t believe in any myths and superstitions, and curses in sports such as the Curse of the Bambino, etc. Or maybe even the curse of Alvarado. These are things dreamed up by sports writers that make for fun reading and, in the case of the Red Sox, for instance, years of fun and having an excuse for not being able to overcome the mighty Yankees until they finally did. — Everett S.

I used to. I used to think that there was a time that Boston had us on lock and I didn’t know what was going on. The Flyers couldn’t beat the Bruins, the Sixers couldn’t beat the Celtics, the Eagles couldn’t beat Brady and the Patriots. But then 2018 happened and getting that Super Bowl against the Pats, and it felt like that Boston weight just lifted. We’re the captains now. Haha. Great question. No curses. Not here in Philly. Not anymore. — Jeff K.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gina Mizell, Gabriela Carroll, Alex Coffey, Isabella DiAmore, Owen Hewitt, Mike Sielski, Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Ariel Simpson, Jeff McLane, and Jeff Neiburg.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

That’s it for this week. We’ll be back in your inbox on Monday. Enjoy your weekend. — Kerith

As the high school football season begins to take shape across the Delaware Valley, the Cheltenham community is on the outside looking in after its season was suspended following allegations that former head coach Terence Tolbert allowed bullying to fester.

Tolbert, along with three other Cheltenham coaches, have been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and conspiracy last week after a 15-year-old player was allegedly assaulted in the football team’s locker room by teammates twice last year. Six players were also charged.

But parents of players on the team say they warned the district in the past that Tolbert had alleged prior transgressions during his time at Abington High School.

“We protested and pleaded,” said Naim Ferguson, father of last season’s Cheltenham quarterback Kendall Jackson. “We didn’t think the people they were putting in place were adequate to handle the kids.”

Inquirer reporter Jess Rohan dives into this ongoing investigation and looks at what’s next for the program and the community.

If you’re headed out today, know that scattered storms are in the forecast, with temperatures expected to hit the 90s across the region.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

❓Do you believe in curses when it comes to sports? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

Get to know the new Phillies

The other two-thirds of the Phillies’ haul at the trade deadline is settling into their new bullpen, which was in need of reinforcements.

Left-hander Brooks Raley, 38, might not throw Jhoan Duran heat — his fastball averages 90.1 mph — but he mixes and commands his pitches well. And it works for him. Raley, who had a 1.96 ERA in 41⅓ innings entering Wednesday’s game, throws his sweeper 37.8% of the time, with a cutter, sinker, and changeup rounding out his arsenal.

Meanwhile right-hander Caleb Kilian, acquired from the Giants with Luis Arraez, will look to continue what has been a significant season for him. This is the first year he has seized a regular role in the major leagues after transitioning to the bullpen.

The Phillies got hit with the injury bug has pitcher Andrew Painter and outfielder Derek Hill left the game with injuries in their 10-4 loss to the Nationals in 11 innings.

Next: The Phillies wrap up their series with Washington at 6:05 tonight (NBCSP). Cristopher Sánchez (14-4, 2.61 ERA) will start against Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas (3-8, 5.67).

What we’re …

🦅 Sharing: The ‘mental challenge’ of trying to transitioning to the NFL, as told by Eagles rookie tight end Eli Stowers.

🤞🏽 Hoping: Philly native Abdul Carter wins NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors this season — without it coming at the expense of the Eagles.

⚽ Wondering: What does Union interim coach Ryan Richter have up his sleeve to keep his win streak going ahead of eight games in a jam-packed month?

🍒 Watching: Larry Berg, who will take over as commissioner of Major League Soccer in January, discuss his Cherry Hill roots.

🤔 Questioning: Those who believe the moves the Phillies made during the MLB trade deadline weren’t enough.

Call it ‘calibrating’

The Eagles offense is going to face heavy scrutiny throughout the month of August, as it adjusts to life with new coordinator Sean Mannion and without wide receiver A.J. Brown. For his part, quarterback Jalen Hurts is not stressing too much over missed connections or shaky play.

“I like to think of the term calibrating,” Hurts said Wednesday. “This is a time where we’re kind of putting it together and finding out who we are. We’ve got a lot of new pieces, an entirely new approach and MO, philosophy, to our offense. Being able to put that together and make it our own, I’m excited about where we are.”

Wednesday’s practice was a run-heavy day, and it was a shorter practice compared to Tuesday’s session that ran nearly two hours. For Hurts, Wednesday was another chance to “continue to take strides.” It isn’t supposed to be easy to install a new offense against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Inquirer writer Jeff Neiburg has more on Hurts’ approach.

Does LBJ make the Sixers favorites?

The 76ers had the splashiest offseason in the NBA, signing LeBron James on a two-year, $8 million deal and trading for Jaylen Brown. Those additions elevated the expectations for the Sixers, who were previously considered a playoff-bound team anchored by the young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe and former MVP Joel Embiid. So what should we expect in the 2026-27 season? Will the Sixers be title favorites? Our experts Gina Mizell, David Murphy and Gabriela Carroll weighed in.

Who’s going to tell them?

Ahead of Union’s MLS Leagues Cup opener tonight at Subaru Park (8 p.m., FS1, Apple TV, TUDN, UniMás), their opponent, Cruz Azul, stirred up some drama by putting out a social post displaying their team’s flag on the Rocky statue.

Historically, that’s been a terrible idea, with the most recent instance coming by way of this summer’s World Cup, when Ecuador found out the hard way, and Brazil put out all the stops, literally, to make sure they didn’t share the same fate.

Needless to say, social media had a field day.

On this date

Aug. 6, 1963: Professional basketball in Philadelphia would no longer be known as the Nationals, but the 76ers, to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Mike Sielski’s take …

“They have to assert and maintain their authority, or at least some semblance of it, in the face of James’s esteem and power. James won’t necessarily be as controlling and demanding as Jordan, but he can be controlling and demanding enough. He’s accustomed to getting his way all the time, and it would be a lot to expect him to be just along for the ride now.” — Columnist Mike Sielski offers a warning to Sixers president Mike Gansey and coach Nick Nurse ahead of the arrival of James in Philly.

🧠 Trivia time answer

We asked: On Monday, which Sixers player was once ranked the 153rd-best player in the country coming out of high school by 247Sports?

Answer: B: VJ Edgecombe. Originally ranked the 153rd-best recruit in the 2024 class, Edgecombe worked his way up to a consensus five-star by the time he was a senior and headed off to Baylor.

What you’re saying about the Phillies

We asked: How would you grade Dave Dombrowski’s trade deadline moves and why?

Honestly, very good trades. — John B.

I’ll give him an A+ for the [Luis] Arraez trade. It’s a major culture shift in the Phillies’ hitting philosophy, adding a Richie Ashburn-type hitter to a group of overswinging strikeout victims who refuse to adjust their hitting approach in any given situation. Basically, they’re way more focused on hitting home runs than just getting a runner on third base, with less than two outs, home. Mattingly’s strategy, or lack thereof, is like that of Earl Weaver, waiting around for a three-run homer rather than manufacturing runs like Gene Mauch. Not sure if he even has a bunt sign. Hopefully, some of Arraez’s hitting style will rub off on the team, and we’ll cut down on strikeouts and runners left in scoring position by putting the ball in play. — Gary M.

A+. How in the world can you trade for the best hitter in the National League for nothing? The Giants will always be at the bottom of the standings with trades like this. Also, an A+ [for the] Mets [to] just give their top reliever to the Phillies again, for nothing. To make a team in your own division better just shows you why the Mets will always be the Mets. Good job, Dave! — Ronald R.

Will have to give Mr. Dombrowski a high five for a change after many years of criticism. What an exciting game with the standing ovation for Arraez as he stepped to the plate for the first time as a Phillie. And then he lit up the park with an RBI single, and finished up with another hit and RBI. And Killian adds a scoreless ninth to end it. And perfect with the first fly ball going to Bryce [Harper] in right and no problems with Bohm and Stott at their new positions. — Everett S.

It’s questionable. The goal was acquiring a right-handed bat, a starting pitcher for the fifth spot, and bullpen help. The “haul” was a left-handed infielder and two relievers. We are all jazzed with former batting champion Luis Arraez, with the expectation he would lead off or bat second, but no! He bats clean-up with a natural clean-up hitter, Kyle Schwarber batting lead-off. Defensively, is he better at second than Bryson Stott? Moving three infielders to new positions is a great idea in spring training, not in August. The division is likely lost; let’s hope the wild card remains in play. — Bob C.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jess Rohan, Ryan Novozinsky, Jeff Neiburg, Lochlahn March, Mike Sielski, Kerith Gabriel, Gina Mizell, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, and Conor Smith.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

That’s all I have today. I’ll be back one more time tomorrow to get you ready for the weekend. Have a good one. — Kerith