The Phillies are happy to be down with American League teams as they finished with a 4-11 record in Interleague action this season. Versus the National League, on the other hand, they are playing .600 baseball (42-28), not including their July 3 contest against the Atlanta Braves. It ranks second best to the Chicago Cubs (45-25).
Even with Ryan Howard’s struggles at the plate this season, in Tuesday night’s win over the Braves he hit his 150th career homer, making him the fastest player in Major League history to reach the mark (495 games). Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews, No. 2 on the list, needed 569 games to hit the same mark.
With 11 games to play before the All-Star Game on July 15, it’s the perfect time put a streak of wins together especially with the Mets, Cardinals and Diamondbacks coming to town. As of this afternoon, the team has yet to name Brett Myers replacement for the series opener against New York. The only sure thing is Johan Santana is starting for New York.

Following USA Gymnastics announcement of the the 2008 men’s team, each of the team members took time to talk about how they spent selection day and their thoughts on making their team. Jonathan Horton along with Paul Hamm were the two who were nominated following Saturday’s second day of competition. It didn’t necessarily make the day go by any easier. USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny said the selection team spent 10 to 11 hours deliberating as to who would make the final cut.

Here are some thoughts from Jonathan Horton.

Was today (Sunday) easier knowing that you were already nominated to the team?

Horton: “Actually it wasn’t easy for me at all. I woke up pretty nervous for the rest of the guys because in the back of our minds we have the teams that we feel should be out there on the floor in Beijing. It’s kind of nice that the whole thing is over. We can kind of relax now and just think about what we have to do as a team in training.”

What did you do to pass the time?

Horton: “I actually ready and searched the Internet to see what people were saying about us. Played some video games, watched some movies. Just stayed as relaxed as possible.”

How were the Olympic Trials?

Horton: “The competition itself was exciting. I had a great time. Every one of these guys really showed what they can do on this floor. It was a great competition. The way Philadelphia treated us was amazing.”

Did you get a chance to spend any time around Philly?

Horton: “Not much at all. We just went for a bite to eat at the Reading Market. We just hung out in the hotel rooms and focussed on the job ahead of us.”

What was the mindset like from when the competition ended Saturday night until the selections were made Sunday afternoon?

Horton: “I was just trying to keep my mind off the entire thing. I went and got coffee this morning, ate and hung around with these guys. We didn’t really talk about [the selection process]“

Were you getting to the point where you were asking yourselves when is the news going to come?

Horton: “We knew it was going to come sooner or later. There was definately some anxiety there. We just tried to be loose.”

The 2008 Team USA men’s gymnastics team has been announced.  The main team of six are Paul and Morgan Hamm, Jonathan Horton, Joseph Hagerty, Justin Spring and Kevin Tan. The three alternates are David Durante, Raj Bhavsar and and Alexander Artemev.

It took 18 months to bring the U.S. Olympic Trials-Gymnastics to Philadelphia, and now the grand finale of the women’s second team of competition is fast approaching. I am anticipating the biggest crowd of the four days as the women are the big draw of this event. Friday night, there were over 12,000 fans at the Wachovia Center where as the men draw 8,700 and change for Saturday afternoon’s action.

Good sports

One other thing that stands out about both the men and women competing in these trails is the display of sportsmanship. With just six available spots on both teams, it’s nice to see them congratulate each other following every routine. Many of them will not be making the trip to China in August.

Tough call

Picking the 2008 men’s gymnastics team has turned out to be a lot tougher decision for the selection team. The announcement was scheduled for 3 p.m. As we close in on the 4 o’clock hour, the news is still pending.

As they say in China, Zai jian for now. That would be goodbye for now.

I am by no means what you would call an Olympic gymnastics effort, especially with this new scoring system. However, it is always fun trying to predict the results before they happen. Ahead of Sunday’s announcement, here are my predictions as to who will heading to China later this summer. Keep in mind that both the men and women will be attending camps in July, which will be the final stage in selecting Team USA.

For the six team spots on the ladies side, I am going with Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin,Chellsie Memmel, Alcia Sacramone, Samantha Peszek and Shayla Worley.
On the men’s side, after seeing Paul Hamm in person Thursday afternoon, I think he will be fine when the Olympics arrive in August. I expect USA Gymnastics to reserve a spot for the defending all-around champ. Joseph Hagerty, Jonathan Horton, Raj Bhavsar, Sean Golden and David Durante will get the remaining nods.

Following Saturday’s competition, Hamm and Horton were both nominated to the Olympic squad.

Before the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics come to a close Sunday, it is expected that the U.S. Olympic men’s squad will be named. The team is expected to be introduced prior to the start of the women’s competition. At the start of competition on Saturday, the top four men in the weighted all-around ranking were Jonathan Horton, Joseph Hagerty, Alexander Artemev and Raj Bhavsar. You’ll only get confused if I try and explain the system. It requires the completion of the new college course of gymnastics scoring 101.

Sender update

David Sender is not competing in Saturday’s second day of competition as a result of a sprained ankle. The injury occured during Wednesday’s afternoon training session.

Crowd notes

The women are the big draw these trials as 12,490 fans attended Friday’s first night action. NBC Olympics primetime host Bob Costas was spotted near the event floor getting an early look at some of the 2008 Olympians.

Family support

Defending Olympic all-around champion might be sidelined recovering from hand surgery, but he was still in Philly supporting twin brother Morgan. Every time one brother finished competing, the arena cameras flashed to the other brother for reaction.

Colorado’s Alexander Artemev leads the men’s all-around field after the first day of competition at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics taking place at the Wachovia Center. But the competition is tight as a mere .15 separates Artemev (90.650) from third-place Raj Bhavsar of Houston (90.500). Jonathan Horton is second with a 90.550. The high score of the night belonged to Kevin Tan on the rings with a 16.550, while Camden’s Sean Golden was the leader on vault with a 16.200.
The men will conclude their portion of the trials Saturday afternoon, starting at 3 p.m.
Opening night observations
There seemed to be a lot of empty seats on Thursday’s opening night of competition at the Wachovia Center, but the crowd will likely hit its peak for Sunday night’s women’s final, which will be broadcast live on NBC. The biggest cheers of the night, at least from where I was sitting, belonged to hometown favorite Golden. He only competed in the rings, floor exercise and vault, and finished in the top four of all three. Some of his fans made “Go Sean” signs with Olympic rings on it. An M.C. floating around the building kept the crowd, which included a lot of young area gymnasts, entertained during breaks. One lucky fan even got to meet Blaine Wilson for answering a trivia question correctly.
Hamm eyes Olympic return
One of the hot topics of conversations on Thursday was 2004 Olympic Champion Paul Hamm and whether or not he will be ready to compete for the United States in Beijing less than two months from now. Hamm broke the fourth metacarpal (one of the bones between his wrist and fingers) in his right hand during his parallel bar routine at the U.S. men’s gymnastics championships, which took place in Houston last month.
The surgery, which included inserting nine screws in the injured area, was performed a little over three weeks ago by Dr. Lawrence Lubbers, a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Hamm is optimistic that he will be ready to compete in his third Olympic Games. But the injury has forced Hamm to skip the trials.
“I don’t like being in this position,” he said of skipping the Olympic Trials. “I would love to be out there competing with them. Unfortunately this is the way it worked out.”
The athlete had to petition for a spot on the team as a result of the injury.
Lubbers said Hamm’s recovery has been remarkable.
“Right now, his fracture is healing in an accelerated fashion,” the doctor said. “He achieved full mobility within a week and he started strengthening within two weeks of surgery. We are now working to help him train appropriately as the hand regains full strength.”
Hamm said he thinks by the time the Olympic Games roll around he will be able to do all six events.

Before the U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics men’s competition even starts, David Sender has been sidelined at least for tonight’s (June 19) opening round of competition as a result of a sprained ankle. According to USA Gymnastics, the level two to three sprain on his right ankle occurred just prior to Wednesday afternoon’s training session at the Wachovia Center. An MRI showed no tears, and the injury is being treated aggressively.
In accordance with the men’s selection procedures, Sender has the option to compete in the June 21 final, or if he opts not to compete, the athlete may file a petition to be considered for the Olympic Team. Sender, from Illinois, won the all-around title at the Visa Championships, which preceded the trials.
“We are taking this day by day,” said Thom Glielmi, Sender’s coach at Stanford University. “We are treating his sprain very aggressively, and the medical team has been very encouraged by the mobility and strength [of David’s ankle]. We will see how things stand on Saturday.”

Sean Golden, a member of the 2006 and 2007 United States World Championship teams will likely have the strongest fan support of these trials, being a short drive over the bridge from his Camden, NJ home. At the recent Visa Championships, he finished second in the vault and tied for third on the rings. During Wednesday morning’s media session, he shared his thoughts heading into the competition.

How great is it to have the home arena advantage?

Golden: “It’s great, it really is to be so close to home and have so many supporters here that haven’t seen me do gymnastics yet. For them to see it live and in person is a great feeling.”

Have you been home?

Golden: “I am staying at the hotel with the team. However, I did go home [Tuesday] to do interviews with NBC and CBS. Anything to help promote the sport, these trials, and anything to get my mission out there to help kids in the intercity.”

What are your thoughts going into the competition?

Golden: “I am very anxious, I am very excited to go through this process. I am very ready to embrace the process.”

Wednesday was a warm-up and meet the media day at the U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics. Amber Trani, of Richlandtown, Pa. had one of the shorter commutes, living some 90 minutes outside of Philadelphia. She trains out of Parkettes in Allentown. At the 2007 Pan American Games, Trani helped the United States bring home the gold and finished second in the vault.
The gymnast spoke to us Wednesday morning about competing in her home state and overall thoughts on the competition.

How does it feel to be competing in your home state?

Trani: “No matter where you are, the arena is the same, the atmosphere is the same. It’s doesn’t really matter where you are, but it’s nice to be in the hometown.”

How will you be spending your free time in Philly?

Trani: “We come in here and workout and then we go back to the hotel to eat and rest. There is not much down time to do sightseeing or anything like that. It’s strictly business.”

What are your thoughts going into the competition?

Trani: “I think I have a shot. I am really excited to see how this all pans out. I am just going to go in and do my best. That way I won’t have to look back and wonder.”

What are your thoughts on performing at the Wachovia Center?

Trani: “It’s going to be very exciting. There are a lot of top athletes here and everyone is amazing. It’s going to be great to have the crowd and everyone behind us.”