{"id":79483,"date":"2017-04-12T13:59:23","date_gmt":"2017-04-12T13:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=79483"},"modified":"2023-04-25T14:22:36","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T14:22:36","slug":"sportstalk-shop-nationalsphillies-season-outlook-interviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/sportstalk-shop-nationalsphillies-season-outlook-interviews\/","title":{"rendered":"The SportsTalk Shop:  Nationals\/Phillies Season Outlook &#038; Interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We had an opportunity on last week\u2019s \u201cSportsTalk\u201d show to get insights and predictions for both the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/nationals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Washington Nationals<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rwwvrTL6RGs\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u2026as well as interviews with some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/phillies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Phillies <\/a>top prospects on spring training performances and their thoughts on opening the season in Triple-A\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SgsGiquUSzA\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For more of these interviews and videos on both of these teams, be sure to watch last week\u2019s \u201cSportTalk\u201d through RCN On-Demand or check out our podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rcn.com\/atvn\/sports-talk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rcn.com\/atvn\/sports-talk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A few more points\/observations about both the Nationals and Phillies\u2019 2017 expectations\u2026<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0 Like last year, there are completely different expectations for both teams.\u00a0 As I predicted (correctly, I might add) at this time last year, I will once again predict the Nationals will win the NL East and the Phillies will improve their win total from last year (I\u2019m looking at 73 victories for 2017).<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0 I think both the Phillies and the Nationals have greatly improved their bullpen staff.\u00a0 After a few years of various question marks, Washington has about as solid a 7-reliever set as anyone in the National League\u2014with both flame throwers and guys who have really good stuff.\u00a0 Joe Blanton\u2019s addition during spring training gave the Nats a veteran presence who can pitch multiple innings.<\/p>\n<p>The Phillies also increased their depth this offseason with the additions of proven, late-inning guys Pat Neshek and Joaquin Benoit to join youngsters Edubray Ramos and Hector Neris.\u00a0 While neither Blake Treinen nor Jeanmar Gomez has a solid track record as a closer, both teams have options (and neither team\u2019s pen has the \u201cPapelbon-esque\u201d ego) which could allow for a rather seamless transition if needed.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0 While the rest of the NL East is improved, I think both organizations front offices made solid moves that will keep the Phillies and National ahead of the curve overall in the division.\u00a0 The Nats should outlast the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/mets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mets <\/a>thanks to Washington\u2019s deeper pitching and more offensive weapons (and New York has more injuries to content with).\u00a0 Meanwhile, the Phillies\u2019 offseason improvements should give them an opportunity to pass the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/marlins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marlins <\/a>this year and give the team a decent shot at finishing third in the division\u2014even if they don\u2019t play .500 ball.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Finally, after a slow start for the spring sports teams (for the ones that play outdoors, anyway), local high school baseball and softball teams finally got a few games in under their belt this past week.\u00a0 Our cameras recently stopped by the Dieruff\/Northampton girls softball game for their thoughts on the season thus far\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/u95mbPF1czg\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You can catch more local sports interviews on this Thursday\u2019s \u201cSportsTalk\u201d program.<\/p>\n<p>One note for our scholastic sports readers:\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019d like to encourage athletic directors, coaches or parents to pass along outstanding achievements by the student-athletes in the RCN viewing area by emailing me awards, honors or other special accomplishments at <a href=\"mailto:rcnsportstalk@rcn.com\">rcnsportstalk@rcn.com<\/a> and we\u2019ll try to highlight those young people both here on our blog and on the television show!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We had an opportunity on last week\u2019s \u201cSportsTalk\u201d show to get insights and predictions for both the Washington Nationals\u2026 \u2026as well as interviews with some of the Phillies top prospects on spring training performances and their thoughts on opening the season in Triple-A\u2026 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; For more of these interviews and videos on both&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index 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