Happy Birthday America! (News Updates)

With a busy day filled with barbacues, fireworks, and so forth, this will likely be today's only update. Happy 4th of July to all of you Americans out there. However you may feel about situations or people in the country, think back to what could have been and what may never be.

First, the Phillies remain in first by 2.5 games and will host the visiting New York Mets for a 4 game series until Monday. The Phillies currently hold a 4.5 game lead over the Mets and rookie JA Happ will make his 2008 debut tonight. Happ was 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA in Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 17 games. Happ is a 6'6" 25-year old lefty who lead all minor leaguers in strike-outs with 104 and only 38 walks. His GB/FB ratio isn't terrible and his WHIP has been a bearable 1.27. I'd expect him to limited to about 5 or so innings, but we'll see.

As for the Flyers, they were informed that forward Stefan Ruzicka has decided to sign with a team in the KHL (the new Russian super league). Ruzicka may have had a chance to compete for a roster spot with the Flyers, but it was not likely with Claude Giroux about to come up. They were also rumored to be involved for Tampa Bay defenseman Dan Boyle, but he has been traded to San Jose.

The Sixers have been aggressive thus far with regards to free agency, but they have yet to make an offer to Josh Smith. Smith was impressed with the team and the city of Philadelphia. If the Sixers give Smith a front-end loaded contract, they may be able to snatch him away from Atlanta.

The other Hawk that they are interested in is Josh Childress, who is expected to visit Philadelphia on Monday. Childress is a 6'8" swingman who averaged about 12 points in a little less than 30 minutes. Smith shoots 57% from the field, but I am not sure why we'd want another swing man when the Sixers already have a plethora of them. We saw what Thaddeus Young can do. Let his game develop and become a full-time starter. If we're going to go after another restricted free-agent besides Josh Smith, make it J.R. Smith from Denver. He can at least shoot and score in a hurry. He also fits in to the Sixers "run the floor" gameplan. I remember him alley-ooping to himself mid-air as a Sophomore in high school.

I hope everyone enjoys their 4th. I'll be working all day on Long Beach Island.