SB Nation - Brian Hernandez

Projecting The Eagles Next 4 Cuts

JasonB — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 15:30:05 -0000

The Eagles have until 4pm tomorrow to trim their roster to 75 from 90. So far, they've axed 11.

WR Elvis Akpla, S Wade Bonner, DE Xavier Brown, WR Brian Hernandez, WR McKay Jacobson, WR Tiger Jones, G Alfred McCullough, DB Tom Nelson, CB Kevin Thomas, OT Thomas Welch, CB Cliff Harris.

That means there four more cuts to make, which a quick look over the roster says won't be terribly hard to guess. Getting from 75 to 53 should be significantly more difficult. My guess is that the next four out come from this list.

TE Chase Ford, WR Jamel Hamler, OT D.J. Jones, DT Ollie Obgu, G/C Dallas Reynolds, LB Monte Simmons, CB Trevard Lindley.

Guys like Lindley or Hamler could survive just out of need for bodies for that final preseason game. Then again, the team could always give the likes of Damaris Johnson, Marvin McNutt and Brandon Boykin extended time against the Jets. Of course, when rookies have never even played a 16 game season there's some logic in giving them a break if they're going to be expected to be contributors this season.

After the jump, is notice of termination that players are supposed to get under the CBA when they are cut. Kind of harsh!

Eagles Cut 10, Roster Now At 80

EliotShorrParks — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 00:19:25 -0000

The Eagles had until August 27th to get the roster down to 75, and they started that process today by releasing 10 players.

Here are the players the Eagles released:

WR Elvis Akpla

S Wade Bonner

DE Xavier Brown

WR Brian Hernandez (injured)

WR McKay Jacobson

WR Tiger Jones

G Alfred McCullough

DB Tom Nelson (injured)

CB Kevin Thomas

OT Thomas Welch

No real surprises in the first cuts, unless you want to consider Kevin Thomas- the corner they acquired from Indianapolis earlier this month- a surprise. Now it is clear that move was just two teams swapping players that were not going to make the roster anyway.

The team must be down to 75 by 4 p.m. on Monday.

The Eagles have 1 more preseason game, and after that, the final cuts will be made.

Follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks

Eagles 53 Man Roster Prediction: CBS Sports Takes A Crack

JasonB — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:00:21 -0000

With NFL rosters due to be cut down to 75 in just 4 days and the deadline to get to 53 just 8 days away, the race for Eagles roster spots is in the home stretch. 15 guys will lose their jobs after the next preseason game and another 22 will be gone after the final game against the Jets. If a guy hasn't locked down a roster spot yet, his time is running dangerously short.

Kevin Noonan of CBS Sports did his full 53 man roster projection for the Eagles and I thought it would be interesting to take a look at an outsider's perspective on the major roster battles.

RB -- In: (3) LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis, Bryce Brown. Out: Chris Polk. Analysis: Polk has impressed the coaches with his toughness and they may decide to keep him on the 53-man roster, since he would probably be signed off the practice squad by another team. Hard to see Eagles keeping four RBs and suddenly Dion Lewis isn't the lock he was just a week or two ago.

I agree with this one. The Eagles aren't going to keep 4 backs and while they certainly like Chris Polk, I can't say as though he's been so good that he'll displace either Brown or Lewis. That said, I do think Noonan has a point here that Lewis could be the odd man out if Polk earns a job. I am skeptical though, about Noonan's thought that Polk would be signed to another teams' 53 man roster.

There are also a few interesting battles lower down the depth chart at WR.

WR -- In (6): Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper, Damaris Johnson, Marvin McNutt: Out: Chad Hall, McKay Jacobson, Mardy Gilyard, Brian Hernandez, Jamel Hamler, Tiger Jones, Elvis Akpa. Analysis: Damaris Johnson wasn't drafted, but he makes the team because of his return ability. But several talented young WRs will get caught up in a numbers game. At the least, players like Gilyard, Hamler and Akpa could end up on somebody's practice squad. And one of them could make roster because Riley Cooper has been sidelined almost all of camp with a broken collarbone and that could end up costing him a job.

I've been less convinced by Damaris Johnson the more I've seen of him. After a great camp, he's dropped a couple passes in the preseason and also muffed a punt. He was able to get the ball back, but it wasn't a good sign. He did have a nice return and a 70 yard TD catch against the Steelers though. I just think he has more work to do to get a sure roster spot. Mardy Gilyard is challenging him and Marvin McNutt right now.

Defensive line is the deepest position on the team and its very likely that the Eagles will need to let go at least one player they really like.

DL -- In (9): Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Fletcher Cox, Derek Landri, Antonio Dixon, Brandon Graham,Vinny Curry, Phillip Hunt. Out: Darryl Tapp, Frank Trotter, Monte Taylor, Cedric Thornton, Ollie Ogbu, Xavier Brown. Analysis: This is the deepest and most talented area on the team and some good players aren't going to make it, including Tapp. It appears Patterson won't be ready for opener and will start season on PUP list, which should open the door for Hunt, who has played as well or better than any d-lineman in camp.

For one, I can't see the Eagles cutting Cedric Thornton to keep Antonio Dixon at this point. Thornton has had a great camp and a strong preseason and has played himself onto this roster in my eyes. Dixon is more likely on the bubble between the two. Tapp will be a tough cut as he's also had a good preseason, but so has everyone else. He could be trade bait, but he also has versatility and can play both inside and outside. That could save him a spot over an extra WR/CB/LB.

None of Noonan's other projections are much of a surprise. He has the Eagles keeping the much maligned Jaiquwan Jarrett, which I actually agree with simply as a numbers issue. I think they'll keep 4 safeties and he'd probably make it by default. Where he could be in trouble is in the days after final cuts and around the first week of the season. There's a chance a decent veteran safety gets cut that the Eagles could jump on.

Travis Witherspoon and Kaleb Cowart Promoted

Rev Halofan — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:51:54 -0000

The Angels made a few interesting minor league roster moves over the minor league all star break this week. Former first round pick Kaleb Cowart is coming to the California League as two 66ers get promoted to the Arkansas Travellers.

Angels Centerfield prospect Travis Witherspoon was promoted to AA Arkansas from High-A Inland Empire on Thursday, the conclusion of the minor league All Star Break. Witherspoon, 23, was a California League All-Star and got the starting nod for the California League team. He leaves the 66ers in the top five in the Cal League in stolen bases and hits, and ranked tenth in batting average hitting .319. Witherspoon was drafted in the 12th round of the 2009 draft (aka "The Mike Trout Draft").

In Arkansas, the Travs primary centerfielders, Ryan Kiniry and Angel Castillo, are batting .192 and .186 respectively so Witherspoon should have plenty of opportunities to shine.

Infielder Kaleb Cowart was Eddie Bane's final first pick as the head of Angels scouting. Cowart was the eighteenth overall pick of the 2010 draft out of high school. Baseball America rated him the best infield arm in the Angels system to start the season and penciled him into the projected lineup for the Angels in 2015. His promotion form the Angels Low-A Midwest League Cedar Rapids Kernels sees our children of the corn lose a big part of their offense.

Cowart turned 20 on June 2. He was draft compensation for the Angels losing Chone Figgins in free agency. You don't have to remind Seattle that when it rains, it pours.

An even better story might be the promotion to AA of 66ers 3B Brian Hernandez. Cowart seems assured of playing every day with the unheralded Hernandez moving up. 66ers press officer Sam Farber laid out the Hernandez saga this way:

Brian Hernandez was one of the top defensive players in the California League at the time of his promotion and was a 66ers offensive leader as well. He went from utility infielder to every day starter and number three hitter in the batting order in a matter of weeks. He leaves the 66ers hitting .292 with three home runs and 33 RBI.

Hernandez, 23, is a product of UC Irvine and was drafted last June in the 27th round.

Inland Empire 66ers Travis Witherspoon Named Cal League Player of the Week

blast21dave — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:42 -0000

Some Minor League news courtesy of Inland Empire 66ers Director of Broadcasting Sam Farber...

66ers Centerfielder Wins Award After Hitting For Cycle and .682 On The Week

San Bernardino, CA - Travis Witherspoon hit for the cycle Thursday in Lancaster and today was named California League Player of the week for that effort and a week's worth of performances that resulted in him hitting .682 on the week. Witherspoon is the second 66er to receive a league award in 2012, and the first hitter.

Thursday night in Lancaster Witherspoon led the charge for a season best 12 run performance for the Inland Empire 66ers. He doubled and scored in the 1st, was part of back-to-back home runs with Jean Almanzar in the 2nd, singled in the 6th, and in his final at bat in the 8th shot a triple to centerfield completing the first cycle of the season for a 66ers hitter.

Overall, Witherspoon hit .682 going 15 for 22, with, a home run, five RBI, two stolen bases and eight runs scored. Witherspoon also had two doubles and two triples on the week. Inland Empire's lead off man is currently third in the California League in stolen bases with 19, and in triples with five. He is also fourth on the circuit in runs scored with 40.

Witherspoon is one of four Inland Empire hitters on long hit streaks. In addition to Travis' now nine game hit streak, Brian Hernandez has hit safely in six straight games, Taylor Lindsey has an 11 game hit streak, and C.J. Cron has a team best for the year 13 games in a row with at least one hit.

Witherspoon and the 66ers will be back home at San Manuel Stadium on Wednesday night to host the Stockton Ports (High-A for the Oakland Athletics). The series includes a Friday Night Fireworks Extravaganza after the 50 Cent Friday presented by Toyota and Scion of Redlands. All 66ers games can be heard on AM 1050 KCAA as well as on www.66ers.com or through the 66ers new I-Phone App.

Angels Prospect Trevor Reckling Roughed Up in A Ball

Rev Halofan — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:37:50 -0000

A strategy of aggressive promotion over the past few seasons backfired and a top prospect was demoted from AAA to AA and is now climbing back up the mountain in the High-A California League.

Angels lefthander Trevor Reckling has an uphill climb to regain the prospect status that inspired mainstream media hack sportswriter Lyle Spencer to compare Reckling to Al Downing prior to the 2009 season.

And now we get word from the desk of Sam Farber, media outlet of the Inland empire 66ers, the Angels A-ball affiliate:

Trevor Reckling struggled in his first start with the Inland Empire 66ers (9-9) as he gave up six runs in an inning and two-thirds, as the Lake Elsinore Storm (10-8) took the early lead and never looked back winning by the final score of 8-1.

It was the first game of an eight game homestand in seven days for the 66ers at San Manuel Stadium.

Lake Elsinore scored six runs in the first two frames taking advantage of the wild Reckling. The southpaw was making his first start as a member of Inland Empire. Trailing early the 66ers scored their lone run in the third inning with an RBI groundout by Brian Hernandez. Andrew Heid went one-for-three with a walk and reached base in every game he has appeared in for the Sixers this season.