This past week “SportsTalk” got to chat with some of the up-and-coming stars in both the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies organizations.
First, the Eagles and a preliminary look at some of our interviews:
You can see more interviews on the next live edition of “RCN SportsTalk presented by The Morning Call.”
The thing that was so impressive to me about the Eagles rookies we spoke with was their focus. We interviewed them on a day in which nearly all the Philadelphia fans’ focus was on the issue of Fletcher Cox attending “voluntary” practices—which he did on this day (there was a incredible crowd of reporters/videographers around Cox in the locker room after practice).
The players we spoke with were very determined to acclimate themselves with the speed of the NFL game and learn from the veterans about all the nuances that come with playing on the pro level. There were no big egos…only a quiet passion to try to improve their game and their skill-set and a desire to contribute in any way they can.
Derek Barnett, Rasul Douglas, Mack Hollins and Donnel Pumphrey all will have opportunities to contribute for the Birds this season…and all seem like they have the mental drive to be standout players for the Eagles for the foreseeable future.
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Fans of the Phillies are a little less optimistic right now based on the team’s win/loss record. However, there are still lots of reasons for hope down on their farm—especially within its current core of young outfield prospects.
(More Phillies prospects interviews available through RCN On-Demand and here on the RCN-TV website).
All three Triple-A starting outfielders—Dylan Cozens, Nick Williams and Roman Quinn—have some outstanding talent. Cozens has bashed tremendously long home runs over the last few weeks (and was last week’s International League Player of the Week) but still strikes out quite a bit.
Williams, who had issues last season with intensity and not running hard on the bases, now hustles every time I see him. He’s still not taking many pitches and hasn’t been as hot as some of this teammates, but he is also primarily hitting sixth in Lehigh Valley’s lineup and has not had the benefit of any consistent hitter behind him.
Quinn is such an exciting player and I think might be the first of the three outfield prospects to get a call up to the Big Leagues. His issue in the past was staying injury-free—something he has been able to do so far in 2017. But I don’t believe he’s been able to drive the ball with authority on a consistent basis and that might hurt him in the Majors. Still, he’s been working on bunting and finding ways to get on base—something that would be most welcome with a Phillies lineup that has struggled overall this year.
I don’t think either the Eagles or the Phillies will be bringing home a championship banner in the next year or two. But with exciting young players in both franchises a year or two away from potentially blossoming into superstars, it is worth fans pushing their patience level a little further in the realistic/slightly optimistic chance that much better days are almost within sight.
