Dealing Lee wasn't all about the money

The Phillies rotation could have had both Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay at the top. The decision not to keep Lee wasn't just about payroll, it was more of what Ruben Amaro termed a "baseball decision."   Full Story

Terry Kennedy will bring many of the hitters he had in Double-A to his new post in Triple-A. We caught up with the Kennedy to discuss the San Diego Padres prospects he had in San Antonio.   Full Story

Wednesday's practice at Flowery Branch was missing several key starters as the Falcons prepare to take on the New York Jets this Sunday. RB Michael Turner was a no-show as well as QB Matt Ryan and several other missed the workout as well...   Full Story

Carlos Lezcano saw some impressive arms come through the San Diego Padres Lake Elsinore affiliate where he manages. We discussed the high profile pitching prospects that came through High-A.   Full Story

Head coach Mike Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff have their hands full this offseason. Whether they make the playoffs or not, the Falcons must find some cornerbacks they can rely on in both zone and man-coverage in order to take the next step. The offensive playmakers are in place, but on defense they need more or they will be mired in mediocrity for the forseeable future...   Full Story

What did we learn about the Chicago Bears after a 21-14 defeat to Ryan Grant and the rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field? Start with our five-pack of observations made straight from the press box.   Full Story

Last year, as the Falcons became the "Cinderella Story" of the NFL going from 4-12 to an 11-5 playoff team, rookie QB Matt Ryan got the most hype because cool-under-pressure demeanor. While Ryan was a key to their success, it was the defense that helped return them to postseason play and this year it's the reason they are going to be watching from home in January...   Full Story

If you're going to have an intelligent discussion on whether Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay is the better investment, you'll need some numbers for ammunition. Here's all you need to know, number-wise for the two aces.   Full Story

The swap of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee isn't official - yet. The deal is in the works though and would seem to have a pretty good chance of going through.   Full Story

The Chicago Bears gave up a 62-yard TD to Ryan Grant on Green Bay's initial play from scrimmage. Who was to blame? Marcus Harrison knows, and he was talking in the locker room after the game.   Full Story

Undersized Ryan Lilja goes up against the Titans' best pass rusher, and with Charlie Johnson possibly out, Tony Ugoh draws Tennessee's always-dangerous Kyle Vanden Bosch. The last time these two teams played, Vanden Bosch got the upper hand on Ugoh and several hard shots in on Peyton Manning. Can Ugoh right the ship this time? Greg Talmage takes a look at the matchups.   Full Story

Lake Elsinore Storm manager Carlos Lezcano is a stickler for discpline within the San Diego Padres farm system. He wants to see the progress of each player through the year. We caught up with him to discuss the hitting prospects.   Full Story

Ranking prospects is always the highlight for anyone that covers a major league team’s minor league system, in this case the San Diego Padres, and while it is the most viewed and discussed, it is also the most misunderstood.   Full Story

MadFriars.com annually ranks the top 60 San Diego Padres Prospects, and the best news is it gets harder and harder to do every season. That is a credit to the strengthening of the farm by the San Diego Padres’ front office and development staff. Take advantage of our Buy One Month, Get One Month Free promotion - EXTENDED through WEDNESDAY midnight!   Full Story

Friday marks the beginning of the 2009-10 Nebraska basketball season as the Huskers take on Arkansas-Fort Smith in an exhibition. Nebraska returns four players from the team last year, but the focus for this year’s squad will be on the many new faces.   Full Story

Former San Diego Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson pushed many of the players that were seen in San Antonio this year. Some responded and others did not. Do they offer hope for the future? MadFriars.com spoke with Fuson about those topics.   Full Story

Summary: Usually when talking about the Missions its about pitching but this year San Antonio had more hitting, than, pitching, prospects. The Missions featured as good a double play combination as anywhere in the organization in Eric Sogard and Lance Zawadzki, the premier speedster, Luis Durango and two very good “professional” hitters in Craig Cooper and Logan Forsythe.   Full Story

Summary: With multiple promotions throughout the system, several hitters in Lake Elsinore saw time elsewhere. Because of the movement, only two players had over 50 RBI while with the San Diego Padres High-A affiliate.   Full Story

Who are toughest running backs to stuff for a loss? Which receivers are the NFL's top targets? Which rookie linebacker is proving he should have been a first-pick? Special teams aces, offenses struggling with three-downs-and-out situations and much more in Ed Thompson's NFL Quick Count.   Full Story

PHILADELPHIA -- Former Kentucky right-handed starting pitcher Joe Blanton has drawn the starting assignment for Game 4 of the 2009 MLB World Series against the New York Yankees, it was announced by Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.   Full Story

Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said Wednesday that changes were on the horizon, but coach Lovie Smith simply refused to share exactly what those changes may be before Sunday.   Full Story

There is no denying the mystique that is the New York Yankees, but that doesn't mean the Phillies have to dwell on it. They made the Yankees look just like any other team as they grabbed a 6-1 win in game one of the World Series.   Full Story

Former San Diego Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson’s legacy will hinge on a lot of the talent that was seen on a Fort Wayne TinCaps club that won over 100 games and won a championship. Fuson discussed the talent with MadFriars.com.   Full Story

The Yankees haven't written their proposed three man rotation in stone, but some Phillies hitters would probably prefer having someone else take a turn on the hill. Then again, some key Yankees have struggled against the Phillies starters. We're going inside the numbers with a look at the starting pitching of the Yankees and the Phillies.   Full Story

The Chicago Bears told Jay Cutler after they traded for him that they weren't interested in contract talks during the season. But when Cutler's agent made an offer they couldn't refuse, a deal got done.   Full Story