Keeping The Burgeoning Optimism Inside

Here at “Frank Helps You Think It All Out”, we are trying to keep the burgeoning optimism inside. It is hard. For example- even Tulane's blow out loss this weekend to LSU has upside- if just of the "thank heavens that is over" variety. The Wave is only 1-2- but any rational observer of the schedule had them 0-3. They're flat out over-achieving!

With a little luck, Tulane could square their mark at 3-3- with both Auburn and LSU behind them. But temper those crazy thoughts- there is a lot needing to go right in New Orleans yet too.

More optimism that needs tempering? Well, the Phillies magic number stands at 7- and Bill Conlin starts writing stuff like this:

So... these Phillies are in what should be an anticlimactic final week in baseball as the most dangerous team in the National League.

Prepare to celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music...

Trust me when I say these Phillies are the one team the Mets, Cardinals and survivor of the Padres-Dodgers mud-wrestling match dread meeting in a postseason series. During a week when I was homebound by a left eyelid that was surgically folded, stapled and mutilated, I had a chance to half-watch some very bad baseball played by the flawed, shorthanded division leaders in the Central and West and the hibernating East-winning Mets, who haven't played a meaningful game since they blew out the Phillies in the Money Pit to avert an embarrassing, four-game sweep in mid-August.

But the Phillies feel oh-so-far from being a done deal play-off wise. Philadelphia has probably got to win five-of-six to avoid an “anything can happen play-off game” with the Dodgers. The rotation will probably give them the five good starts they need- and Myers will get two turns this week (nice job Charlie)- but the bullpen is simply not capable of the corresponding five good games in six. I’m not optimistic, merely hopeful. Feels 50-50 to me.

That is kind of the hesitant attitude you have to take with the Eagles too. Yes, there have been a lot of nice surprises. The interior of the offensive line is oh-so-much better: younger and athletic. Couple that with competent, healthy, veteran OT play- add a pro-Bowl quarterback, a big play tailback and three capable wide-outs/tight ends- and you got something.

But what is up with the secondary? You can’t simply pencil a team in for ten wins with this botheration. The Eagles have enjoyed almost a decade now of really good defensive back play. There may have been disputes on the merits of Taylor, Vincent, Lito, Sheldon and Dawkins- but they were largely disputes over whether they were Pro-Bowlers or not. And while combinations of those three guys largely kept team’s passing attack bottled up, we always sort of assumed SS Mike Lewis could play the pass too.

Well, that has to be re-assessed, right? With Lito out- and Dawkins forced to play linebacker in the nickel/dime, so at least someone can cover guys in the flats and slot- the Eagles secondary is Michael Lewis, Quintin Mikell, Joselio Hanson, Sheldon Brown and other “guys”.

And that is not a good situation- particularly since the potential fixes are actually playing already due to injuries. The Eagles defensive front and Trotter are eating up the run- but who cares? As long as teams can throw even adequately, they’ll score three touchdowns more often than not.