I’m not a big baseball guy by any means, but for as long as I’ve followed the sport, the name Don Mattingly has been a big deal.
Not long after he became the Phillies interim manager, I was digging through a shoebox of old baseball cards and realized that, among the pile, I had Mattingly’s Donruss card from 1992 during his time with the Yankees.
Today, I realized what a gem I have on my hands after reading what we’re leading off with on this Thursday. Former Inquirer columnist Claire Smith, who is a legend in her own right, caught up with Mattingly recently for this must-read piece.
Remove Mattingly from yesterday’s stinker against the Reds, and you’ll realize that the turnaround he’s produced here in less than a month is pretty remarkable — especially when you take into account that the man known as “Donnie Baseball” actually considers himself to be pretty unremarkable.
We get a significant break from the heat, but we’re not drying out from last evening’s monsoon, as there’s rain expected in the forecast for much of the day. ☂️
— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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With a 9-4 loss to the Reds on Wednesday, the Phillies dropped their first series since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager on April 28. But beyond that, Aaron Nola struggled again.
Nola, who completed five innings, was charged with four runs and took the loss. For most of his career, Nola regularly pitched over 190 innings per season for the Phillies, but he has posted just three quality starts this year. His ERA is 6.04.
The Phillies have discussed tweaks to Nola’s game plan, but there is no simple fix.
Next: After an off day today, the Phillies open a home series against the Guardians on Friday.
What we’re ...
🏀 Sharing: Villanova has scheduled a home-and-home matchup with men’s college hoops powerhouse, Kansas, for this upcoming season.
👏🏾 Celebrating: With the PGA Championship complete, it’s the ladies’ turn to show out locally as the ShopRite LPGA returns to the Jersey Shore.
💪🏼 Hoping: A speedy recovery for Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, who was on a tear before picking up an undisclosed “stomach issue.”
⚾ Watching: Former Phillies manager Terry Francona on what it’s like to coach a storied ballclub like the Boston Red Sox and how it differed from the Phillies.
🌭 Wondering: Can top-seeded St. Joseph’s make some noise in the Atlantic 10 baseball playoffs and book a trip to the NCAA Tournament?
A stellar year from Flyers center Trevor Zegras did not go unnoticed. The Flyers center recently was tabbed by streaming service Hulu for one of its latest advertisements.
The spot, which Zegras posted on his Instagram page (here you go if you haven’t seen it), depicts him throwing his gloves off in frustration, calling for a foul while watching women’s soccer courtesy of Hulu’s live TV package. He then dons a Wrexham A.F.C. scarf while watching FX’s Welcome To Wrexham. Finally, Zegras is brought to tears watching Disney’s Zootopia 2.
However, Zegras is getting cooked on social media from teammates, friends, and followers for the spot, which is a friendly reminder that you can always leave it to your teammates and friends to remind you who you are. Our Conor Smith dives into the spot and its hilarious fallout.
The Holy Ghost Prep family is mourning following the passing of a figure within the school’s athletics program, as well as healthcare provider to the larger Port Richmond community.
Dr. Joe Czarnecki, who volunteered (yes, volunteered) as the team doctor for the Holy Ghost basketball team for 22 years, died April 18 at the age of 86. From 1981 to 2003, he watched hundreds of games from the student section, constantly waving a white rally towel and launching into cheers and chants.
Inquirer writer Gary Miles has more on the life of Czarnecki and his impact on two communities.
On this date
May 21, 1819: This one is for Philly’s robust cycling community: The first bicycles made their way to the United States via New York City two years after they were developed and mass-produced with the title “swift walkers.”
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
RENATE DONAJGRAHN
As we dive into the intangibles of the Eagles’ latest acquisition, do you remember his name? Take a guess and then click here to see if you’re correct.
What you’re saying about the Sixers
We asked: What changes do you hope to see from the Sixers next season?
Trade or release Paul George and Joel Embiid. They have worn me out. Oh, and a change in ownership would be nice. — Bill M.
Trade Paul George, trade [Joel] Embiid. They have a good young nucleus to build around if they get a good GM. Neither of those two will ever lead the team to a championship. — Unknown sender
The Sixers need to trade their sometimes outstanding, but oft-injured superstar Joel Embiid and start to rebuild. Joel played an excellent series against the Celtics, but then was overwhelmed by the Knicks. The 76ers have never won an NBA Championship with Joel. I don’t want to misquote Marcus Hayes, but I believe he recently wrote that they will never win a championship with Joel, and I agree. — Everett S.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Claire Smith, Lochlahn March, Gary Miles, Colin Smith, Jeff Neiburg, Ariel Simpson, Gabriela Carroll, Devin Jackson, and Mia Messina.
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.
Whew, some strong opinions when it comes to the Sixers. A friendly reminder to make sure you send us your name, or, at a minimum, your first name and last initial, so I don’t have to label your submission “unknown sender.” But many thanks for your submission, whoever you are.
That’s it for me. My colleague Maria is tapping in tomorrow to get your weekend off on the right foot. — Kerith