Spring is close

The Phillies have started out surprisingly well in their spring training schedule by winning most of their initial games. I have been impressed with their offensive performances, especially first baseman Tommy Joseph and catcher Cameron Rupp. Ruff has very large shoes to fill with the departure of Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz was a very important player on the 2008 World Series championship team.

At this point in the spring it is virtually impossible to form an opinion on how the pitchers are doing because they only pitch for two innings a game for the first three weeks or so. I hope the Phillies can continue their offensive momentum into the regular season and not have it just be wishful thinking on my part.

I thought the 76ers were turning the corner towards being relevant in the NBA for the first time in 10 years. But that all ended this week. They took another step back when they announced that their first round pick, Ben Simmons, will miss his entire rookie season with a foot injury he sustained in training camp.

To make things worse, what were the 76ers thinking as to the way they tried to handle Joel Embiid's recent injury? I wish they had been more honest with the media and just shut him down for the season after the initial knee injury happened in January. Instead, they egged everybody on, insisting that Joel would play at some point. Now who has egg on their face?

Congratulations to Cape girls swim team on their relay victories in the state championships last week. Good luck to all of the Cape teams in the playoffs as we wrap up the winter sports season and move on to new sports.

I'm also looking forward to the beginning of March Madness, starting with Championship week next week. The first four days of nonstop college basketball in the NCAA tournament is really fun to watch. It's just about time to fill out those pools!