by KYW's Bill Campbell

In the long history of sports, athletes have been guided by their coaches and managers. But another element has invaded the scene: their agents, whose influence grows stronger with each passing season, and can definitely affect a team's win-and-loss record.

With the Eagles about to play meaningful games, it's rather disturbing to see an agent as the topic of controversy. I thought all of that nonsense went the way of Terrell Owens.

Meanwhile, the Phillies have been playing meaningful games since April, and now face a make or break weekend in New York. Losing two out of three in Washington was simply inexcusable.
  
The Phillies are running out of excuses. They're going to put Sunday's game in the hands of Cole Hamels, whose 203 innings pitched leads the league.

No matter how the weekend or the season concludes, the management of the Phillies is going to be having some interesting off-season conversations with the agent for Cole Hamels.