Excuses are like ... | Sports Daily Newsletter
Everybody’s got them, including Aaron Nola.
It’s no secret that Aaron Nola has been ... inconsistent this season.
There are plenty of excuses, namely that Nola doesn’t like the pitch clock, but he must find a way to thrive in the same conditions as every other pitcher in baseball — without circumventing the rules, like he tried to Saturday. That’s why he’s being paid handsomely — about half a million per outing — though not as handsomely as he may have been going forward, had he signed the contract he reportedly turned down last season.
It’s time to stop making excuses and start performing on a regular basis — for his sake as well as the Phillies’, Marcus Hayes writes.
— Maria McIlwain, Inquirer Sports Staff, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
❓ Do you think Aaron Nola will turn it around for good this season? Why or why not? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
Norristown native Christian Walker of the Diamondbacks has fond memories of visiting Citizens Bank Park to follow the likes of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. The first baseman remains a follower of Philadelphia teams to this day and still admires Philadelphia fans.
“The passion the fans have is contagious,” he says. “It makes you want to rise to the occasion.”
It turns out Walker rose to the occasion yet again against the Phillies, but they managed to still win against the Diamondbacks.
The Phillies have a decision to make about who’ll pitch the bulk innings in Saturday’s bullpen game in Oakland.
Next: The Phillies close their four-game series against the Diamondbacks on Thursday at 3:40 p.m. (NBCSP). Aaron Nola (5-5, 4.60 ERA) is set to face Arizona’s Ryne Nelson (3-3, 4.95).
With just two weeks until the NHL draft, the trade rumors are swirling around several Flyers including Carter Hart, Travis Konecny, and Scott Laughton. In other words, Danny Brière has some tough decisions to make.
In our latest roundtable, we asked our insiders Oliva Reiner and Giana Han to weigh in with what they are hearing regarding the futures of the players listed above and more.
The Flyers made one decision Wednesday, announcing which restricted free agents to whom they have elected to extend qualifying offers. Morgan Frost and Cam York were among the five players who received offers, while Kieffer Bellows is on his way out.
The 76ers continue to pad their coaching staff under Nick Nurse. After adding Bobby Jackson days ago, they have hired Rico Hines, who recently worked as a player development coach on Nurse’s staff in Toronto. Hines, who played at UCLA, has organized renowned open workouts on the Bruins’ campus and built connections with players across the league. That extends to the Sixers. Hines is a personal trainer for Montrezl Harrell and appears to have a relationship with James Harden, who remains on the fence about whether to remain in Philly.
Worth a look
Pool problems: The lack of indoor pools is exacerbating the city’s lifeguard shortage and making it harder for kids to learn to swim, activists say.
Cream of the crop: Semaj Beals turned heads as a freshman, and the sophomore is among the area’s top recruits.
What you’re saying about Jokić vs. Embiid
We asked you: Whose winning reaction do you relate to more, Jokić's stoicism or Embiid’s vulnerability? Among your responses:
Jokić is much more mature than Embiid. Jokić goes about his job and makes his teammates better. Embiid makes excuses and plays when he wants to play. He blames others for not winning but seldom points the finger at himself. Nick Nurse has a huge job ahead, trying to get Embiid on the same page as himself. I’d take Jokić any day over Embiid, who has no heart. — Tom G.
Embiid is vulnerable?? To what?? Embiid cares about Embiid. Jokić cares about his team winning. What is more valuable?? You tell me. — Bill M.
I’m reminded of a local high school pole vaulter who spent the past two years traveling to Philly several times every week to improve her skills and was rewarded as the PIAA champ this spring. There’s just no substitute for total dedication to a noble goal. — Ted N.
I really like Joel and every year live in hope that he and the Sixers can go all the way, but obviously they have been good, but not good enough. Jokić is an Eastern European version of the great Bill Russell. Like Russell Jokić is a winner and his efforts on the court, like Russell’s, make everyone else rise to be their very best. Jokić was the youngest player on Serbia’s Olympic silver-medal winning team and a winner ever since. In God-given talent I think Joel tops Jokić, but in strength and endurance and the ability to be the Russell-type leader, I think he comes off second best. Now if Nick Nurse can be Alex Hannum and get Joel to play like Wilt Chamberlain of our 66-67 Sixers we can finally win it all. — Everett S.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Alex Coffey, Giana Han, Olivia Reiner, Gina Mizell, Allison Beck, and Aaron Carter.