Offseason

MIAMI - When asked late Saturday night what challenge lies ahead this winter, Roy Halladay said, "I'm looking forward to it" five times in the span of a minute. The pitcher has already engaged the Phillies athletic training staff and strength coaches in meetings to devise a plan. After a season of harsh lessons, Halladay is eager to apply the newfound knowledge of his body. "I feel like there's no doubt for me," Halladay said. "I feel like I can prepare myself the right way and be successful next year.

Time flies after you accumulate four aces. It has been less than two years since the signing of Cliff Lee triggered a citywide celebration and made the Phillies the favorites to win the 2011 World Series. The quartet of Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt looked unbeatable on paper and initially exceeded expectations. With rookie Vance Worley serving as the surrogate fourth ace in place of the oft-injured Oswalt a year ago, the Phillies won a franchise-record 102 games.

It's not 2011 anymore for Paul VI. The Eagles have matched last season's win total after just two weeks, outscoring opponents by 79-12 and establishing themselves as dark-horse contenders in the loaded West Jersey Football League's Constitution Division. "I wouldn't say last year was a wake-up call, but it was a tough situation," said Paul VI coach John Doherty, whose team had gone 32-9 from 2007 to '10. "Our young guys saw what it was like. There was a lot of negativity. "Our guys bonded in the offseason, worked hard, and vowed to do their best not to let it happen again.

It was early in spring training, and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was answering questions about some of the young prospects he had traded away in recent years. He admitted that his goal at some point was to get a few of them back. "There have been times when we've tried to get guys back in our organization, yeah," Amaro said. "I think many of these guys stay in contact with people from the organization, and I've heard on more than one occasion that they really, really miss being with us. Somewhere down the line, when they become free agents, that may give us an opportunity.

WASHINGTON — On the first day of August, the topics of conversation were John Mayberry Jr.'s development and the organizational depth behind Kyle Kendrick. Welcome to Grapefruit League North. Same weather, same plotlines, more expensive beer. While 2013 will not be won or lost over these next 2 months, the outlook for it will come into much clearer focus. By the time 2012 reaches its merciful end, we should have a pretty good idea of what lies in store for next season. Because the players who will likely make or break the Phillies' chances are the ones who will be using August and September as an extended audition.

The aesthetician rubbed a silky cleansing milk over my face in circular motions as I lay on a pop-up table in my St. Bart's villa. A private pool, sparkling turquoise sea, and salty air lay right outside my French doors. The sun was low in the sky. Life seemed easy on the French Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy and I couldn't believe I was here. Because of its reputation as a playground for celebrities and extremely wealthy businesspeople, I didn't think I'd fit in. But I had always coveted the French culture and lifestyle: a 35-hour workweek, four to six weeks of annual paid vacation, flavorful food and wine, and a language so pretty I made Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose" my wedding song.

These are the moves that defined the Eagles' offseason. We're attempting to rank them by importance: 1  The trade for DeMeco Ryans: If you said the signing of Demetress Bell to replace left tackle Jason Peters was really the most important move of the offseason, you might be right in a strict football sense, but if you're talking about intangibles, about calming the smoldering outrage of the fan base, Ryans has to be No. 1. For so long, the...

When the Eagles open training camp Sunday, months removed from a disappointing 2011 and on the verge of another season that holds immense promise, a long list of players and coaches face questions. The answers could determine their legacies in Philadelphia. The team will hold training camp with a talented roster fueling high hopes. The Eagles and head coach Andy Reid have had time to incorporate the many new faces of 2011, to revise their game plans and study their mistakes, to give injured players time to heal, to resolve distractions and patch holes in the roster.

ELTON BRAND says he would have loved to return, but he also knew the Sixers had to make changes if they were going to improve. Those changes included the Sixers opting to use their amnesty clause on Brand, who was claimed by the Dallas Mavericks late Friday. Dallas' winning bid was reportedly $2.1 million, but Brand still will be paid the full $18.1 million he is owed. The Sixers will pay the balance, but the money will not count against the salary cap. The Sixers also are not bringing back guards Lou Williams and Jodie Meeks.