Mid-Week Thoughts

I have been battling spy ware which has drastically cut down on blogging activities this week so I have a bunch of thoughts I want to get out of the way today. tomorrow may be a light day for blogging as well with a couple appointments I need to take care of. So let's get started.

Villanova lost last night to Texas. No shame in losing to a top ten team in Madison Square Garden but Nova really hurt themselves with some poor shooting and too many turnovers. Every time the Wildcats came within punching distance of the Longhorns last night Texas came up with a clutch shot (more than likely a three pointer), or Villanova acted hastily by rushing up court and taking bad shots or throwing the ball away. Jay Wright will emphasize the lessons that should be learned from this game and Villanova is still going to be a good team.

Texas was just too much for Villanova last night.

This weekend Temple will host another top ten team when Tennessee rolls in to town. Should be a tough game for the Owls but a win would be great to see.

I, like many of you, are waiting for something to happen with the Phillies in the off-season. Jamie Moyer's status remains uncertain. One report tells me that Moyer and the Phillies are very close while others say there is more distance than I'd like to see. Not offering arbitration to Moyer, in my eyes, was a mistake by Ruben Amaro Jr.

Meanwhile the Phillies may be in serious contention for Derek Lowe. With CC Sabathia now heading to the Yankees the ball may get rolling on the rest of the pitchers available, and it is not likely the Yankees will continue pursuing Lowe.

The Phillies seem to be a heavy candidate for the free agent pitcher. If the Phillies do get Lowe I think Moyer's status is clear; he won't be around in 2009.

Up north yesterday the Mets made the big move that surprised nobody, signing Francisco Rodriguez, who set a major league record last year for total saves. It is a move that they had to make, but they still need some arms to get them from their starting pitchers to the ninth, unless Johann Santana is pitching.

It is a good move, and it adds one more overly animated character to hate on their roster. Time to start calling them the Showboatin' Mets? I'll take Brad Lidge any day over Rodriguez though.

Penn State is a double digit underdog to the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl. Mark May does not believe the Spread HD will be capable of scoring in double figures against USC. Put your money on Penn State if you're in Vegas.