While we will be calling on the newest member of our crew here to give you the winners and losers of today's deadline and this seasons NHL trading, i will be providing you a brief overview of what went down today....
Number of Trades: 16. While most people in the industry expected this to be a slow deadline day because of the amount of trades that were made before today, TSN the Canadian hockey follower put the over/ under at 20 for the day. So just a little bit under and that includes some minor league deals as well.
Biggest Name Moved: While some people may argue about this i feel like the biggest name moved was Dustin Penner of the Edmonton Oilers and he went to the Kings for a d-man, a first rounder and a conditional second round pick. Penner is a very skilled forward who will most likely be a top line forward for the Kings.
Biggest Name not Moved: Probably Brad Richards of the Dallas Stars, there were a few other names like Phil Kessel, Zach Bogosian, Michael Del Zotto and others that had there named thrown around a few times but Richards is a game changing center man playing on a bad Dallas team, Dallas really could've used a nice package for the future
Best Move: In my opinion it was the Capitals acquiring Jason Arnott from the Devils. It provides the Capitals with a little more veteran leadership and a guy who has played successful playoff hockey before. He will also make them an even scarier team offensively.
Worst Trade: The Blue Jackets giving up Rostislav Klesla. Granted they got Scottie Upshall back for him but i feel like in the current market they probably could've gotten at least a little bit more.
All in all a very quiet day that had more trades that didn't happen than trades that actually came to fruition. Be on the look out for Kevin's analysis of all the trades made so far this season and who are some of the winners and losers overall in the trade market.
Monday, February 28, 2011
NL Sleeper pick...
My sleeper pick for the National League was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. There are a few potential teams, at least one from each division that could make a run at the postseason this year. It came down to the Milwaukee Brewers and the Florida Marlins for my sleeper pick and the more time I spent reflecting on it, it was a no brainer.
The Florida Marlins get the nod from me as the National League sleeper this year. The Brewers did acquire SP Zack Greinke from the Kansas City Royals and he makes their starting rotation that much better with Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum, and Randy Wolf. The Brewers have a few good position players in Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder (who could get traded if the Brewers are seemingly out of it by the trade deadline), Casey McGehee, and Corey Hart. Their bullpen is questionable, but closer John Axford demonstrated last year he can get the job done at the end of the game. The Brewers are playing in a weaker NL Central this year that just recently lost Adam Wainwright from the Cardinals rotation and we all don’t expect much from the Pirates and Astros this year. I believe the Brewers need another big bat in the lineup and some legitimate middle relief pitching upgrades if they want to consider themselves contenders in the Central this year. Hence why I am giving my vote to the Marlins…
The Marlins starting rotation tends to get overlooked because there are some stellar starting pitchers within the NL East. In my mind, this takes all the pressure off their starting staff because not much is expected from them except Josh Johnson. The Marlin front office acquired Javier Vazquez, who is a much better pitcher in the NL and knows the NL East teams very well as he is two years removed from his days with the Braves. Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, and Anibal Sanchez are all talented pitchers as well and are very capable of winning 10+ games each.
The Marlins offense is very young, but also very talented. We got to see some of that talent last season in the name of Mike Stanton who has ridiculous power to all fields and a good arm from right field as well. Chris Coghlan is now going into his third year in the majors, so expect big things from him and LF Logan Morrison also showed some promise as well. The Marlins did trade away 2B Dan Uggla and his 30+ home run bat, but did get back another 2B by the name of Omar Infante and southpaw reliever Mike Dunn from the Braves. The Marlins also signed free agent catcher John Buck, a veteran who is now in charge of handling the pitching staff.
Don’t sleep on their bullpen either, as they have a nice mix of righties and lefties and I see Mike Dunn making his way towards the late innings reliever role with his stuff. Leo Nunez has been a solid closer as well. I think along the way, the Marlins might need to pick up an extra arm in the bullpen just to bolster it down the stretch.
Now why would I pick the Marlins who have to face the Phillies 19 times a year and have to worry about that phenomenal starting staff? Well we all know no pitching staff in the majors expect for maybe the Red Sox can compare to the Phillies, but I strongly believe that the Marlins staff can hold their own against the Phillies. The Marlins starting lineup is full of speed and power, so when runners get on base, expect a lot of motion out of the runners to try and steal some runs.
I still see the Braves being competitive this year in the East as well, but they are really going to miss their manager Bobby Cox. Chipper Jones is coming back from the knee injury and we’re all not sure how he’ll bounce back. Derek Lowe might become trade bait as well depending upon how they are doing by the deadline. There is also the gap at the closer position that needs to be filled since Billy Wagner’s retirement in the offseason. Don’t get me wrong, they are a veteran team with up and coming talent, but this year is not their year.
The Marlins have to play to strengths and as long as their starting pitching keeps them in games, they will find a way to win. Watch for the Marlins to steal the Wild Card spot this season.
The Florida Marlins get the nod from me as the National League sleeper this year. The Brewers did acquire SP Zack Greinke from the Kansas City Royals and he makes their starting rotation that much better with Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum, and Randy Wolf. The Brewers have a few good position players in Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder (who could get traded if the Brewers are seemingly out of it by the trade deadline), Casey McGehee, and Corey Hart. Their bullpen is questionable, but closer John Axford demonstrated last year he can get the job done at the end of the game. The Brewers are playing in a weaker NL Central this year that just recently lost Adam Wainwright from the Cardinals rotation and we all don’t expect much from the Pirates and Astros this year. I believe the Brewers need another big bat in the lineup and some legitimate middle relief pitching upgrades if they want to consider themselves contenders in the Central this year. Hence why I am giving my vote to the Marlins…
The Marlins starting rotation tends to get overlooked because there are some stellar starting pitchers within the NL East. In my mind, this takes all the pressure off their starting staff because not much is expected from them except Josh Johnson. The Marlin front office acquired Javier Vazquez, who is a much better pitcher in the NL and knows the NL East teams very well as he is two years removed from his days with the Braves. Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, and Anibal Sanchez are all talented pitchers as well and are very capable of winning 10+ games each.
The Marlins offense is very young, but also very talented. We got to see some of that talent last season in the name of Mike Stanton who has ridiculous power to all fields and a good arm from right field as well. Chris Coghlan is now going into his third year in the majors, so expect big things from him and LF Logan Morrison also showed some promise as well. The Marlins did trade away 2B Dan Uggla and his 30+ home run bat, but did get back another 2B by the name of Omar Infante and southpaw reliever Mike Dunn from the Braves. The Marlins also signed free agent catcher John Buck, a veteran who is now in charge of handling the pitching staff.
Don’t sleep on their bullpen either, as they have a nice mix of righties and lefties and I see Mike Dunn making his way towards the late innings reliever role with his stuff. Leo Nunez has been a solid closer as well. I think along the way, the Marlins might need to pick up an extra arm in the bullpen just to bolster it down the stretch.
Now why would I pick the Marlins who have to face the Phillies 19 times a year and have to worry about that phenomenal starting staff? Well we all know no pitching staff in the majors expect for maybe the Red Sox can compare to the Phillies, but I strongly believe that the Marlins staff can hold their own against the Phillies. The Marlins starting lineup is full of speed and power, so when runners get on base, expect a lot of motion out of the runners to try and steal some runs.
I still see the Braves being competitive this year in the East as well, but they are really going to miss their manager Bobby Cox. Chipper Jones is coming back from the knee injury and we’re all not sure how he’ll bounce back. Derek Lowe might become trade bait as well depending upon how they are doing by the deadline. There is also the gap at the closer position that needs to be filled since Billy Wagner’s retirement in the offseason. Don’t get me wrong, they are a veteran team with up and coming talent, but this year is not their year.
The Marlins have to play to strengths and as long as their starting pitching keeps them in games, they will find a way to win. Watch for the Marlins to steal the Wild Card spot this season.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
A sleeper team coming out of the AL West?
With the anticipation of the 2011 MLB season, teams are preparing themselves for the long haul of a 162 game season in hopes for playing October baseball this fall. Many of us have a hunch about which teams could easily find themselves in the playoffs (barring injury), but I am going to surprise you with my sleeper team from the American League; the Oakland Athletics. Yes, that’s right, the Athletics. A team which has been rebuilding for years now might finally have the right pieces in line to make some legitimate noise in the AL West.
The Athletics front office stayed busy this off-season, signing key players as in Hideki Matsui to DH, outfielders Josh Willingham and David DeJesus. Both Willingham and DeJesus bring a little extra pop to this lineup, which was something they lacked of last year. They also strengthened their bullpen by signing Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes, two great late inning relievers. Balfour brings intensity out of the bullpen to go along with his mid-90’s fastball and Fuentes, a former closer now left-handed specialist is a nice option to have out of the bullpen late in the game.
Last season, the Athletics finished 81-81 which was good for 2nd in the AL West right behind the Texas Rangers. The emergence of this young pitching staff last year lead by Dallas Braden and Trevor Cahill will only make them more hungry this year. Their starting rotation I believe coming into this year has the potential of being very good. Cahill showed signs of dominance last season and stayed constant throughout the year while Gio Gonzalez and Brett Anderson have another year under their belt as well having a better understanding of the hitters in the league. The Athletics also brought back SP Rich Harden, who will probably round out the rotation in the 5th spot and if he can stay healthy, he is very capable of winning 10 games and racking up quite a few strikeouts along the way.
The main reason why I believe that the Athletics will make a strong push for the playoffs this season is not only because they have shown great signs of improvement over the past year, but that the Rangers just are not the same team from last year. Sure, many of the same guys are there on the Rangers team, but unrest between Michael Young and the front office will cause distractions amongst the players in the clubhouse throughout the course of the season until Young is traded. Don’t forget that SP Cliff Lee did not come back after a strong effort by the Ranger front office to try and persuade him back. C.J. Wilson will have to be the ace throughout the season and lead this pitching staff. I’m not saying he can’t do it because he is very capable of doing so, but this is going to be his second full season of being a starter in the majors and I feel that the innings piling up will play a factor on Wilson as the season goes on. Fatigue could set it on Wilson and then the rotation starts to get a little skimpy from there. Colby Lewis pitched well in the playoffs this past October, but lets see if he can duplicate his success from last regular season. There is also the word about flamethrower closer Neftali Feliz making the transition to the starting rotation and that would leave a big gap at the back end of their bullpen. The Rangers are still a good team, but I don’t see how they will manage another playoff berth will all of these mitigating factors.
The Angels are always a cause for concern too just because of their head coach Mike Scioscia. Scioscia has been to the playoffs eight times within the past decade. He always manages to get the best out of his players even when he doesn’t have the best talent. I believe the Angels are too much of a veteran team this year to keep up with the youth of the Athletics. I still expect the Angels to be in it come August and September, but taper off towards the end. The Mariners are still not ready to compete this season as they have a lot of holes to fill in their lineup and starting rotation. The need better quality pitching to follow King Felix if they want to get anywhere.
The Athletics have it their in front of them this season and they know it. No one is going to run away with this division. Their starting rotation is talented enough, the bullpen is better than last season and now their lineup also got a shot in the arm as well with a few key acquisitions. I fully expect the Athletics to make a playoff berth this season and as long as that front office holds onto their core starting staff, they should be good for a few years to come.
Stay tuned for my sleeper pick in the National League.
The Athletics front office stayed busy this off-season, signing key players as in Hideki Matsui to DH, outfielders Josh Willingham and David DeJesus. Both Willingham and DeJesus bring a little extra pop to this lineup, which was something they lacked of last year. They also strengthened their bullpen by signing Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes, two great late inning relievers. Balfour brings intensity out of the bullpen to go along with his mid-90’s fastball and Fuentes, a former closer now left-handed specialist is a nice option to have out of the bullpen late in the game.
Last season, the Athletics finished 81-81 which was good for 2nd in the AL West right behind the Texas Rangers. The emergence of this young pitching staff last year lead by Dallas Braden and Trevor Cahill will only make them more hungry this year. Their starting rotation I believe coming into this year has the potential of being very good. Cahill showed signs of dominance last season and stayed constant throughout the year while Gio Gonzalez and Brett Anderson have another year under their belt as well having a better understanding of the hitters in the league. The Athletics also brought back SP Rich Harden, who will probably round out the rotation in the 5th spot and if he can stay healthy, he is very capable of winning 10 games and racking up quite a few strikeouts along the way.
The main reason why I believe that the Athletics will make a strong push for the playoffs this season is not only because they have shown great signs of improvement over the past year, but that the Rangers just are not the same team from last year. Sure, many of the same guys are there on the Rangers team, but unrest between Michael Young and the front office will cause distractions amongst the players in the clubhouse throughout the course of the season until Young is traded. Don’t forget that SP Cliff Lee did not come back after a strong effort by the Ranger front office to try and persuade him back. C.J. Wilson will have to be the ace throughout the season and lead this pitching staff. I’m not saying he can’t do it because he is very capable of doing so, but this is going to be his second full season of being a starter in the majors and I feel that the innings piling up will play a factor on Wilson as the season goes on. Fatigue could set it on Wilson and then the rotation starts to get a little skimpy from there. Colby Lewis pitched well in the playoffs this past October, but lets see if he can duplicate his success from last regular season. There is also the word about flamethrower closer Neftali Feliz making the transition to the starting rotation and that would leave a big gap at the back end of their bullpen. The Rangers are still a good team, but I don’t see how they will manage another playoff berth will all of these mitigating factors.
The Angels are always a cause for concern too just because of their head coach Mike Scioscia. Scioscia has been to the playoffs eight times within the past decade. He always manages to get the best out of his players even when he doesn’t have the best talent. I believe the Angels are too much of a veteran team this year to keep up with the youth of the Athletics. I still expect the Angels to be in it come August and September, but taper off towards the end. The Mariners are still not ready to compete this season as they have a lot of holes to fill in their lineup and starting rotation. The need better quality pitching to follow King Felix if they want to get anywhere.
The Athletics have it their in front of them this season and they know it. No one is going to run away with this division. Their starting rotation is talented enough, the bullpen is better than last season and now their lineup also got a shot in the arm as well with a few key acquisitions. I fully expect the Athletics to make a playoff berth this season and as long as that front office holds onto their core starting staff, they should be good for a few years to come.
Stay tuned for my sleeper pick in the National League.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
UPDATED: NBA Trade Deadline
The following thread will be going on up to and after the trade deadline with all of the deals that will go down for the NBA trade deadline which is Thursday February 24th at 3pm Eastern Time.
New York Knicks acquire Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman, Anthony Carter, and Corey Brewer. Denver Nuggets acquire Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, and three draft picks. Minnesota Timberwolves acquire Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry. The trade makes perfect sense for all three teams. For the Nuggets, they got rid of their star player who was disgruntled and had been the cause of all distraction. The Timberwolves got a salary dump out of the trade, and a player who can jump through the roof in Anthony Randolph. New York got their guy, and now own two player tandem unmatched by most teams. In the sense of the Knicks giving up way too much it does not matter. Star power wins championships. Going into this season the expectations for this club were not high. They got pleasantly surprised with the play of Raymond Felton, and Timofey Mozgov was becoming a decent big man, but still a project. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari were both having their most impressive seasons, but Chandler was yet again struggling with injury. This was a no brainer, as they received one of the top 5 players in the NBA, and did not give up anyone who was not replaceable. Getting Chauncey Billups will pay huge dividends at the end of ball games, as he is still clutch and still reliable. You read it here first, but Corey Brewer may be the silent assassin of this deal. The Nuggets distraction from their entire season is now vanished and they can rebuild. Denver has some pieces they can work with as long as the four Knick players they acquired prove NOT to be D'Antoni system players. The possibility of trading one of them is still possible, so stay tuned. For all three team the deal is beneficial, but for the New York Knicks it sets them up to be a dynasty again, a relevant one to be reckoned with.
New Jersey Nets acquire Deron Williams. Utah Jazz acquire 2011 and 2012 first round picks, Devin Harris, and Derrick Favors. In the trade that came out of nowhere, New Jersey ends up getting a top caliber player after losing out on Carmelo Anthony. Deron Williams will be sporting the number 8 for New Jersey. Arguably the best point guard in the league, Williams brings the Nets the point guard of a caliber they have not had since Jason Kidd brought the club to the Finals. The main aspect of the trade though, is whether or not he will sign with the Nets at season's end. New Jersey needs to make a pitch that will keep Williams put or else they have just rented a star for half a season to not make the playoffs. Utah seems to have settled on the rebuilding process and is currently not a playoff team. They gain a scoring guard in Devin Harris, and a potential stud player in Derrick Favors. Although Favors gets in foul trouble, that can change and he does have a great upside after being chosen in the top 5 this past draft. The two first round picks are a great add on for a young team that has the possibility of not rebuilding for long, as they have good talent already. New Jersey got their star, but need to hang on to him.
New Orleans Hornets acquires Carl Landry. Sacramento Kings acquire cash and Marcus Thornton. The Hornets snatch another complimentary foward for David West to play with, while the Kings get another young talented player in Thornton
Atlanta Hawks acquire Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong. Washington Wizards acquire 2011 1st round pick, Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, and Maurice Evans. The Hawks who had been struggling as of late receive the hardest worker that the Wizards had this year. Hinrich fits perfectly in Atlanta, as he shoots the ball well, and plays good defense. For the Wizards this is questionable, as they lose a determined player, and gain an aging Mike Bibby. The 1st round pick will be nice for a young team led by John Wall. For Atlanta, hopefully Hinrich can revive this club back into prime form.
Boston Celtics acquire Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic. Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson. What in the world are the Thunder thinking? Just when you think the Thunder have all of the right pieces to the puzzle in order to compete, they trade away one of there key players. Jeff Green, along with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been the reason why this franchise is on the rise. That is all in question now as they have not only traded away Green's talents, but did not acquire proper players in return. Kendrick Perkins is coming off major surgery and will now be in the front court with another young athletic player, while Nate Robinson will be backing up Russell Westbrook. The Celtics hit gold in this deal, as they have gotten younger, and possibly a player they will have for a long time in Green. Oklahoma City in this trade is jeopardizing the future.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Baron Davis and a 2011 1st round pick. The Cavs are obviously abadonning ship as they have now lost their two best players in the past two years. trading away Williams, shows that the rebuild is in full form. They gain Baron Davis whose contract expires soon, and a first round pick in this upcoming draft, which will be handy when trying to rebuild a franchise. The Clippers get younger, and more athletic in this trade. Williams can shoot the rock extremely well, and Moon can fly when given the lane. Both players can become even better, and in Williams case make the franchise player Blake Griffin better. The Clippers making a strong move here to shift the power in Los Angeles.
Houston Rockets acquire Goran Dragic. Phoenix Suns acquire Aaron Brooks. Houston is dropping cap space in this deal as Brooks is an expiring contract at years end. Aaron Brooks is a young guard who can be deadly from three and is an explosive scorer when need be. He fits perfect in Phoenix where the motto seems to be, "shoot, shoot, shoot." If Phoenix can resign Brooks then they may have found the guy to replace Steve Nash when his time is over. For Houston they gain a solid role player who has expanded his game throughout his career.
Houston Rockets acquire Hasheem Thabeet. Memphis Grizzles acquire Shane Battier. In another one for one deal for Houston, the same theme applies. Houston is getting rid of another expiring contract to have cap room. This deal is more interesting for the Rockets then the Grizz though. They gain another guy over 7'2", but this is an unproven. Possibly the biggest bust in the more recent drafts, Hasheem Thabeet has shown why he had critics on him at all times while at the University of Connecticut. The fact is though that Houston needs a big man, just in case Yao Ming does retire or call it quits because of all of his nagging injuries. If Houston can teach Thabeet the way of the NBA, then this can be a steal. Battier is a great shooter with veteren leadership. Grizzles may want to hold on to him for the right price after the season.
Portland Blazers acquire Gerald Wallace. Charlotte Bobcats acquire Dante Cunningham, Joel Przybilla, and two first round picks. The Blazers add another semi star to a team, when healthy is a contender in the West. The trade makes even more sense considering how much Brandon Roy has been getting hurt in his short career. Wallace will become the most versitle player on the team, and will serve for key minutes down the season stretch. Executive Michael Jordan is making cap room, and looking into the future for the teams success. Wallace and the Blazers seem like a perfect pair.
Other Trades:
Boston trades Semih Erden and Luke Harangody to Cleveland for a 2nd round pick.
Chicago trades James Johnson to the Raptors.
Oklahoma City trade Nazr Mohammed to Charlotte for DJ White and Morris Peterson.
New York Knicks acquire Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman, Anthony Carter, and Corey Brewer. Denver Nuggets acquire Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, and three draft picks. Minnesota Timberwolves acquire Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry. The trade makes perfect sense for all three teams. For the Nuggets, they got rid of their star player who was disgruntled and had been the cause of all distraction. The Timberwolves got a salary dump out of the trade, and a player who can jump through the roof in Anthony Randolph. New York got their guy, and now own two player tandem unmatched by most teams. In the sense of the Knicks giving up way too much it does not matter. Star power wins championships. Going into this season the expectations for this club were not high. They got pleasantly surprised with the play of Raymond Felton, and Timofey Mozgov was becoming a decent big man, but still a project. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari were both having their most impressive seasons, but Chandler was yet again struggling with injury. This was a no brainer, as they received one of the top 5 players in the NBA, and did not give up anyone who was not replaceable. Getting Chauncey Billups will pay huge dividends at the end of ball games, as he is still clutch and still reliable. You read it here first, but Corey Brewer may be the silent assassin of this deal. The Nuggets distraction from their entire season is now vanished and they can rebuild. Denver has some pieces they can work with as long as the four Knick players they acquired prove NOT to be D'Antoni system players. The possibility of trading one of them is still possible, so stay tuned. For all three team the deal is beneficial, but for the New York Knicks it sets them up to be a dynasty again, a relevant one to be reckoned with.
New Jersey Nets acquire Deron Williams. Utah Jazz acquire 2011 and 2012 first round picks, Devin Harris, and Derrick Favors. In the trade that came out of nowhere, New Jersey ends up getting a top caliber player after losing out on Carmelo Anthony. Deron Williams will be sporting the number 8 for New Jersey. Arguably the best point guard in the league, Williams brings the Nets the point guard of a caliber they have not had since Jason Kidd brought the club to the Finals. The main aspect of the trade though, is whether or not he will sign with the Nets at season's end. New Jersey needs to make a pitch that will keep Williams put or else they have just rented a star for half a season to not make the playoffs. Utah seems to have settled on the rebuilding process and is currently not a playoff team. They gain a scoring guard in Devin Harris, and a potential stud player in Derrick Favors. Although Favors gets in foul trouble, that can change and he does have a great upside after being chosen in the top 5 this past draft. The two first round picks are a great add on for a young team that has the possibility of not rebuilding for long, as they have good talent already. New Jersey got their star, but need to hang on to him.
New Orleans Hornets acquires Carl Landry. Sacramento Kings acquire cash and Marcus Thornton. The Hornets snatch another complimentary foward for David West to play with, while the Kings get another young talented player in Thornton
Atlanta Hawks acquire Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong. Washington Wizards acquire 2011 1st round pick, Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, and Maurice Evans. The Hawks who had been struggling as of late receive the hardest worker that the Wizards had this year. Hinrich fits perfectly in Atlanta, as he shoots the ball well, and plays good defense. For the Wizards this is questionable, as they lose a determined player, and gain an aging Mike Bibby. The 1st round pick will be nice for a young team led by John Wall. For Atlanta, hopefully Hinrich can revive this club back into prime form.
Boston Celtics acquire Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic. Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson. What in the world are the Thunder thinking? Just when you think the Thunder have all of the right pieces to the puzzle in order to compete, they trade away one of there key players. Jeff Green, along with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been the reason why this franchise is on the rise. That is all in question now as they have not only traded away Green's talents, but did not acquire proper players in return. Kendrick Perkins is coming off major surgery and will now be in the front court with another young athletic player, while Nate Robinson will be backing up Russell Westbrook. The Celtics hit gold in this deal, as they have gotten younger, and possibly a player they will have for a long time in Green. Oklahoma City in this trade is jeopardizing the future.
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Baron Davis and a 2011 1st round pick. The Cavs are obviously abadonning ship as they have now lost their two best players in the past two years. trading away Williams, shows that the rebuild is in full form. They gain Baron Davis whose contract expires soon, and a first round pick in this upcoming draft, which will be handy when trying to rebuild a franchise. The Clippers get younger, and more athletic in this trade. Williams can shoot the rock extremely well, and Moon can fly when given the lane. Both players can become even better, and in Williams case make the franchise player Blake Griffin better. The Clippers making a strong move here to shift the power in Los Angeles.
Houston Rockets acquire Goran Dragic. Phoenix Suns acquire Aaron Brooks. Houston is dropping cap space in this deal as Brooks is an expiring contract at years end. Aaron Brooks is a young guard who can be deadly from three and is an explosive scorer when need be. He fits perfect in Phoenix where the motto seems to be, "shoot, shoot, shoot." If Phoenix can resign Brooks then they may have found the guy to replace Steve Nash when his time is over. For Houston they gain a solid role player who has expanded his game throughout his career.
Houston Rockets acquire Hasheem Thabeet. Memphis Grizzles acquire Shane Battier. In another one for one deal for Houston, the same theme applies. Houston is getting rid of another expiring contract to have cap room. This deal is more interesting for the Rockets then the Grizz though. They gain another guy over 7'2", but this is an unproven. Possibly the biggest bust in the more recent drafts, Hasheem Thabeet has shown why he had critics on him at all times while at the University of Connecticut. The fact is though that Houston needs a big man, just in case Yao Ming does retire or call it quits because of all of his nagging injuries. If Houston can teach Thabeet the way of the NBA, then this can be a steal. Battier is a great shooter with veteren leadership. Grizzles may want to hold on to him for the right price after the season.
Portland Blazers acquire Gerald Wallace. Charlotte Bobcats acquire Dante Cunningham, Joel Przybilla, and two first round picks. The Blazers add another semi star to a team, when healthy is a contender in the West. The trade makes even more sense considering how much Brandon Roy has been getting hurt in his short career. Wallace will become the most versitle player on the team, and will serve for key minutes down the season stretch. Executive Michael Jordan is making cap room, and looking into the future for the teams success. Wallace and the Blazers seem like a perfect pair.
Other Trades:
Boston trades Semih Erden and Luke Harangody to Cleveland for a 2nd round pick.
Chicago trades James Johnson to the Raptors.
Oklahoma City trade Nazr Mohammed to Charlotte for DJ White and Morris Peterson.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Part 3 of the CT Whale Bowl 2011
The atmosphere hours before up until puck drop at 7PM was unbelievably electric. Fans were pouring into to the stadium wearing old Ron Francis and Gordie Howe Whaler jerseys to go along with Whaler hats, gloves, and blankets just to keep themselves warm from the howling wind. The stadium was playing Brass Bonanza every 20 minutes to compliment all the 80’s and 90’s rock music being played. The feeling inside the stadium was like the old time Hartford Whalers were back as the newly named Connecticut Whale get ready to take on the Providence Bruins in the AHL’s 2nd ever outdoor hockey game. This is the 75th Anniversary of the AHL being in existence and what not a better way to honor the AHL than to have two old rivals face off against one another in an outdoor hockey game. Coming into tonight’s game, the Whale hold the all time advantage over the Bruins 68-49-11, including 4-2-0 this season.
The 1st period started slow for both teams as neither offenses get find their rhythm for the first few minutes. The Whale could not capitalize on a couple of PowerPlays in this period and you can credit that to the penalty kill defense of the Providence Bruins. The first goal of the game came at 11:13 and was scored by #13 Tim Kennedy his 12th of the season. The period was drawing to a quiet close when the Whale went on an attack in the last minute of the period and a nice centering pass by #24 DiDomete in front of the crease led to a goal by #8 Jyri Niemi, his 2nd of the season at 19:38. Whale went into the 1st intermission leading 2-0.
The Bruins came out of the gates in the 2nd period and answered quickly with their first goal of the game by #7 Maxime Sauve, his 14th of the season. Sauve shot a wrister from about 10 feet out of the crease that snuck right under the arm of Grumet-Morris to make the score 2-1. The goal came at 1:21 into the 2nd period. Minutes later, the Bruins relentless attack led to another goal by #16 Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman as the Bruins continued to throw the puck on net and kept poking at the rebounds until Smotherman put one in. His goal came at 6:25 in the 2nd period.
Things began to pick up a little more with another Bruin’s goal coming at 9:42 by #17 Jeremy Reich, but then the Whale finally answered with back to back goals (one being on the PowerPlay) to take the lead again 4-3 with less than 6 minutes remaining in the period.
Things began to pick up a little more with another Bruin’s goal coming at 9:42 by #17 Jeremy Reich, but then the Whale finally answered with back to back goals (one being on the PowerPlay) to take the lead again 4-3 with less than 6 minutes remaining in the period.
The end of the 2nd period and the start of the 3rd was a defensive bout as both teams worked well in open ice, caused takeaways and created breakaways, but neither team could capitalize for any goals. Finally at 13:52, the Bruins put one in on the net and it came off the slap shot from #12 Jamie Arniel, his 16th of the season. This goal tied the game at 4-4. That score would remain through the end of the period and that provided overtime hockey.
Overtime provided some excitement as both teams committed penalties to force 3-3 and then another penalty committed by a Bruin’s player forced 4-3 advantage Whale as there cannot be a 3-2 advantage. The Whale could not find the back of the net during the PowerPlay and a shootout commenced.
The goalies stood tall through the first three rounds of the shootout until #7 Maxime Sauve for the Bruins stepped up and put one passed Morris which ended up being the game winner. Both teams played well offensively and defensively, but the reason the Bruins came out on top tonight is because they cashed in on their limited opportunities. The Whale played the better game, but had many more chances to put this game out of reach with the amount of times they were on the PowerPlay. The Bruins improve to 25-28-4 as the Whale fall to 27-22-8 on the season.
The 1st period started slow for both teams as neither offenses get find their rhythm for the first few minutes. The Whale could not capitalize on a couple of PowerPlays in this period and you can credit that to the penalty kill defense of the Providence Bruins. The first goal of the game came at 11:13 and was scored by #13 Tim Kennedy his 12th of the season. The period was drawing to a quiet close when the Whale went on an attack in the last minute of the period and a nice centering pass by #24 DiDomete in front of the crease led to a goal by #8 Jyri Niemi, his 2nd of the season at 19:38. Whale went into the 1st intermission leading 2-0.
The Bruins came out of the gates in the 2nd period and answered quickly with their first goal of the game by #7 Maxime Sauve, his 14th of the season. Sauve shot a wrister from about 10 feet out of the crease that snuck right under the arm of Grumet-Morris to make the score 2-1. The goal came at 1:21 into the 2nd period. Minutes later, the Bruins relentless attack led to another goal by #16 Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman as the Bruins continued to throw the puck on net and kept poking at the rebounds until Smotherman put one in. His goal came at 6:25 in the 2nd period.
Things began to pick up a little more with another Bruin’s goal coming at 9:42 by #17 Jeremy Reich, but then the Whale finally answered with back to back goals (one being on the PowerPlay) to take the lead again 4-3 with less than 6 minutes remaining in the period.
Things began to pick up a little more with another Bruin’s goal coming at 9:42 by #17 Jeremy Reich, but then the Whale finally answered with back to back goals (one being on the PowerPlay) to take the lead again 4-3 with less than 6 minutes remaining in the period.
The end of the 2nd period and the start of the 3rd was a defensive bout as both teams worked well in open ice, caused takeaways and created breakaways, but neither team could capitalize for any goals. Finally at 13:52, the Bruins put one in on the net and it came off the slap shot from #12 Jamie Arniel, his 16th of the season. This goal tied the game at 4-4. That score would remain through the end of the period and that provided overtime hockey.
Overtime provided some excitement as both teams committed penalties to force 3-3 and then another penalty committed by a Bruin’s player forced 4-3 advantage Whale as there cannot be a 3-2 advantage. The Whale could not find the back of the net during the PowerPlay and a shootout commenced.
The goalies stood tall through the first three rounds of the shootout until #7 Maxime Sauve for the Bruins stepped up and put one passed Morris which ended up being the game winner. Both teams played well offensively and defensively, but the reason the Bruins came out on top tonight is because they cashed in on their limited opportunities. The Whale played the better game, but had many more chances to put this game out of reach with the amount of times they were on the PowerPlay. The Bruins improve to 25-28-4 as the Whale fall to 27-22-8 on the season.
Connecticut Whale team preview
In their first season under the new name of the Connecticut Whale (formerly the Hartford Wolf Pack), the Whale enter Saturday’s outdoor game at Rentschler Field with a record of 27-22-7 and are currently 3rd in the conference. The Whale are an AHL product of the New York Rangers and play out of the XL Center in downtown Hartford, CT. As an organization (both Wolf Pack and Whale) since their first season in 1997-98, they have only missed the playoffs once and that was last season. The Whale are on pace to make the playoffs this year and they are led by points leader Jeremy Williams (43). The Whale recently just got back Kris Newbury who was on loan to the Rangers for a couple weeks and he has been an important piece to this Whale offense as he has contributed 33 assists and 9 goals on the year.
Chad Johnson has done an admirable job in net this season for the Whale, but newcomer Dov Grumet-Morris and Cameron Talbot have started to see more playing time and combined have a 12-5-4 record in net. The strong point of this team is their defense because when they have the lead late in the game, they rarely give it up. A perfect example of their defense is when they lead after the 2nd period their record is 16-1-2. The Rangers are built on defense and it all starts in the AHL with the Whale.
With the regular season end in sight, the Whale are poised to be back in the postseason and make a run at the Calder Cup.
Chad Johnson has done an admirable job in net this season for the Whale, but newcomer Dov Grumet-Morris and Cameron Talbot have started to see more playing time and combined have a 12-5-4 record in net. The strong point of this team is their defense because when they have the lead late in the game, they rarely give it up. A perfect example of their defense is when they lead after the 2nd period their record is 16-1-2. The Rangers are built on defense and it all starts in the AHL with the Whale.
With the regular season end in sight, the Whale are poised to be back in the postseason and make a run at the Calder Cup.
Part 2 of CT Whale Bowl 2011
Today's 2nd event of the CT Whale Bowl is a Legend's Game between Hartford Whalers Alumni and Boston Bruin Alumni. Some of the more famous alumni to come out and play in today's game are Bob Crawford, Wayne and Dave Babych, Mark Janssens, and Paul MacDermid from the Whalers. Representing the Bruins Alumni are Reggie Lemelin, Ken Linseman, Craig Janney, Rick Middleton, and Bob Sweeney just to name a few.
This game had a fun atmosphere from the very start. The head referee was mic'd up and was cracking jokes with the players and the Public Address announcer. The mascots for both team were running through the stands to get fans more involved and also banged on the glass to try and instigate some of the players as well. Before the game, there was a ceremonial puck drop at center ice in rememberance of the players that could not be here today.
The game was played under two 25 minute periods (running time) and right from the get-go, it was an offensive showcase for both teams. Granted, none of the players were moving as fast as they could 20+ years ago, but most demonstrated that they can still skate and handle the puck. In the first of two periods, the Whalers Alumni took a 3-2 lead.
After a short intermission of Whale Ice Girls skating routine and mascot skating, the 2nd period got underway. The Hanson Brothers (1977 film "Slap Shot") made an appearance as Dave, Jeff, and Steve started on the ice for the Whalers, but did not stay long. For comic relief, Dave threw the official to the ground before puck drop and when the other referee's tried to intervene, the other Hanson brothers tossed them to the ground as well. All three were thrown in the penalty box and charged five minutes for molesting the referees.
The rest of the period played out pretty quickly as the Hanson Brothers would find themselves goofing around on the ice, cracking jokes with the referee, and spending more time in the penalty box. The final score ended up being 4-4, but for all those who were involved in the game or were here to witness it, it was a great event precursor to tonight's main event.
This game had a fun atmosphere from the very start. The head referee was mic'd up and was cracking jokes with the players and the Public Address announcer. The mascots for both team were running through the stands to get fans more involved and also banged on the glass to try and instigate some of the players as well. Before the game, there was a ceremonial puck drop at center ice in rememberance of the players that could not be here today.
The game was played under two 25 minute periods (running time) and right from the get-go, it was an offensive showcase for both teams. Granted, none of the players were moving as fast as they could 20+ years ago, but most demonstrated that they can still skate and handle the puck. In the first of two periods, the Whalers Alumni took a 3-2 lead.
After a short intermission of Whale Ice Girls skating routine and mascot skating, the 2nd period got underway. The Hanson Brothers (1977 film "Slap Shot") made an appearance as Dave, Jeff, and Steve started on the ice for the Whalers, but did not stay long. For comic relief, Dave threw the official to the ground before puck drop and when the other referee's tried to intervene, the other Hanson brothers tossed them to the ground as well. All three were thrown in the penalty box and charged five minutes for molesting the referees.
The rest of the period played out pretty quickly as the Hanson Brothers would find themselves goofing around on the ice, cracking jokes with the referee, and spending more time in the penalty box. The final score ended up being 4-4, but for all those who were involved in the game or were here to witness it, it was a great event precursor to tonight's main event.
Part 1 of CT Whale Bowl 2011
The Whale Bowl 2011 is brought to you by Harvest-properities.com and it is a 2 week event that started Feburary 9th and runs until Feb 22nd. High school and college games have been held in the preceeding days leading up until the main attraction of the CT Whale and Providence Bruins which is going to take place Feburary 19th at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. This is Connecticut's 2nd outdoor hockey game and it is shaping up to be an epic day here in East Hartford.
The day started with a match-up between Army (8-18-4, 7-12-4 AHA) and American International College (7-18-1, 7-15-1 AHA). The 1st period was an exciting exhibition of goaltending between Jay Clark of Army and Ryan Kerpan of AIC as both goalies demonstrated their talents in net, especially with their gloves. AIC threw 14 shots on goal in the 1st period and Clark made a few glove saves on quick one-timers to perserve the shutout. Kerpan looked sharp as well by stopping all 9 shots he faced.
The 2nd period got underway and picked up where the 1st period ended, but as time progressed into the period, the sun and shadows started to creep in on the north and west side of the field and ice rink. AIC was defending the north end of the ice rink where the sun was lowering right into eye level for Kerpan. A penalty by Jon Puskar at 9:18 put Army on the PowerPlay and it did not take long for Army to strike with the games first goal. Mark Dube's goal on the PowerPlay for Army opened the flood gates on AIC as they let up two more goals before the end of the 2nd period. No doubtedly the sun and shadows played a factor in that period.
Coming out into the 3rd period, due to the sun and shadows on the ice, teams would split the period on both ends of the rink. AIC being down 3-0 chose to defend the same end of the ice as they did in the 2nd period for the first 10 minutes of the 3rd period hoping to tally a goal or two and not allow any before the switch. It did not work out according to plan for the Yellow Jackets as Army lengthened the lead with a goal in the first minute of the period. AIC managed to score on a PowerPlay to avoid the shutout, but Army showed why they were the better team today. They were able to kill the PowerPlay five times today and captialize on offensive breakaways.
The 2nd event of the Whale Bowl today is an Alumni Game of former Hartford Whalers and Boston Bruins...more to come!
The day started with a match-up between Army (8-18-4, 7-12-4 AHA) and American International College (7-18-1, 7-15-1 AHA). The 1st period was an exciting exhibition of goaltending between Jay Clark of Army and Ryan Kerpan of AIC as both goalies demonstrated their talents in net, especially with their gloves. AIC threw 14 shots on goal in the 1st period and Clark made a few glove saves on quick one-timers to perserve the shutout. Kerpan looked sharp as well by stopping all 9 shots he faced.
The 2nd period got underway and picked up where the 1st period ended, but as time progressed into the period, the sun and shadows started to creep in on the north and west side of the field and ice rink. AIC was defending the north end of the ice rink where the sun was lowering right into eye level for Kerpan. A penalty by Jon Puskar at 9:18 put Army on the PowerPlay and it did not take long for Army to strike with the games first goal. Mark Dube's goal on the PowerPlay for Army opened the flood gates on AIC as they let up two more goals before the end of the 2nd period. No doubtedly the sun and shadows played a factor in that period.
Coming out into the 3rd period, due to the sun and shadows on the ice, teams would split the period on both ends of the rink. AIC being down 3-0 chose to defend the same end of the ice as they did in the 2nd period for the first 10 minutes of the 3rd period hoping to tally a goal or two and not allow any before the switch. It did not work out according to plan for the Yellow Jackets as Army lengthened the lead with a goal in the first minute of the period. AIC managed to score on a PowerPlay to avoid the shutout, but Army showed why they were the better team today. They were able to kill the PowerPlay five times today and captialize on offensive breakaways.
The 2nd event of the Whale Bowl today is an Alumni Game of former Hartford Whalers and Boston Bruins...more to come!
Venue Review: Rentschler Field
Located just five minutes from downtown Hartford, Rentschler Field has become one of the most popular stadiums in Connecticut over the past couple years. This field plays home to the University of Connecticut Huskies and its doors have been open since August 30th, 2003, in which the Huskies won their inaugural game by defeating Indiana 34-10. Uconn can attribute the construction of this stadium to ex-Head Coach Randy Edsall, who recently took the job at Maryland because Edsall is the sole reason for Uconn's recent success. Edsall helped turn Uconn into a Division I, Big East contender, which in turn resulted in the construction of their new facility.
Rentschler Field has played host to many other events over the years including high school football, rugby games, All-Star games, US soccer games, concerts, and now it's first outdoor hockey game. This stadium is your prototypical college field; the majority of the seating is benches for college students, the stadium is U-shaped to maximize noise against away teams, and it's location is prime for entertainment before and after the game. There are plenty of family restaurants, most notably Augie and Ray's who have been around for over 50 years and are famous for the sausage and peppers. Also, the Hartford nightlife has become much more popular over the past couple years as well.
Since Connecticut lacks a pro sports team, people are starting to follow the success of Uconn football and Rentschler field is one of the nicest stadium east of the Connecticut River, a variety of organizations flock to use this facility
Rentschler Field has played host to many other events over the years including high school football, rugby games, All-Star games, US soccer games, concerts, and now it's first outdoor hockey game. This stadium is your prototypical college field; the majority of the seating is benches for college students, the stadium is U-shaped to maximize noise against away teams, and it's location is prime for entertainment before and after the game. There are plenty of family restaurants, most notably Augie and Ray's who have been around for over 50 years and are famous for the sausage and peppers. Also, the Hartford nightlife has become much more popular over the past couple years as well.
Since Connecticut lacks a pro sports team, people are starting to follow the success of Uconn football and Rentschler field is one of the nicest stadium east of the Connecticut River, a variety of organizations flock to use this facility
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Maybe too much loyalty?
NFL's Tennessee Titans, and NBA's Utah Jazz parted ways with their head coaches within the past month. For the sports fans who don't know Jeff Fisher he spent 16 years with the Titans organization, dating back to when he started there in 1994 as a defensive coordinator. Jerry Sloan resigned from the Jazz during what would have been his 24th season as their head coach. This shows how loyal both organizations are to their head coaches. One problem though, combined how many NFL/NBA championships did they win...0
Fisher only got to the Super Bowl one time, which ended up being a loss to the "greatest show on turf," St. Louis Rams. The game ended with Kevin Dyson reaching for the goal line, which he would end up missing by one yard. This would be Fisher's only trip to the Super Bowl. Fisher overall is 146-120, which is more then acceptable in a competitive sport/league like the NFL. In the Playoffs though, he is under .500 career posting a 5-6 record, three of those wins in that Super Bowl year. Arguably the play that even made them advance as far as they did was not a play call by Fisher. The "Music City Miracle," was a street football play which could only be made up by the players on the field. If it was not for that miracle, Fisher would have never made it to the promised game. Despite being with the organization for so long, maybe it was the players which kept him with the team for so long. Fisher coached some great players with phenomenal skills. Through 1999-2003, the Titans made the playoffs four of the five years, led by Steve McNair and Eddie George. McNair is arguably two honorable things in the league. One being the toughest man in the league, who would play through any extent of injury. The other being the biggest dual threat, throwing and running wise, of the late 90's early 00's. McNair was a warrior for lack of better words, and almost led his team to that Super Bowl. In his backfield was the force that was Eddie George. George a dual threat in his own way, of catching and running, was more consistent then any running back of his time. His hard mouth, play making agenda made him the player he was. Later in the 2000's Fisher was blessed with receiving Chris Johnson, NFL's number one back. The late surge in that time period was only because of Johnson and his ability to sprint through the line. If it was not for those three great players, Fisher is less then average and most likely would have been canned earlier.
The Utah Jazz never technically fired Jerry Sloan, but there was something fishy going on in that situation. point guard Deron Williams has been known to say that Sloan did not coach as hard as he used to during the Malone and Stockton days. After 20+ years with the same team and less then expectations results, one would stop coaching as hard too. Sloan came close to the Finals and winning them on various occasions. With the Jazz he lost in the NBA Finals twice, when he was victim to Michael Jordan and his two Bulls teams. He also was a loser in the Western Conference Finals on three occasions. Sloan coached the Jazz for almost 24 years and was blessed, like Fisher, with monumental players. During the, "Jordan Era," he coach two of the 50 greatest players of all time in Karl Malone and John Stockton. The accolades between these two players are endless, but Stockton holds the record for most career assists, while Malone is up there for points. Those two accolades were made because of one another. Say what you want about it being impossible to win a title while Jordan was playing, but when you have these two players, you are telling me that you can't steal one? Adding to this is the fact that he was recently coaching the best combination point guard in the league in Deron Williams. Williams finds every hole, hits all the open shots, and make all the right decisions on the floor. Mr. Sloan, you may be a tad overrated if you cannot win a title with the duo of the 90's or arguably the current point guard of the decade.
Both Jeff Fisher and Jerry Sloan coached a long time for their respective organizations. The question must be raised, after looking closely were these organizations too loyal to guys who brought them all the way to only be disappointed in the end?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Andy Pettitte...a Hall of Famer
Andy Pettitte, 38, ended his 16 year career last week by announcing his retirement. Throughout his career, Pettitte has collected 240 wins, 5 World Series rings, a 3.88 career ERA, and 2,251 strikeouts. Does Pettitte deserve to have ticket punched to Cooperstown? Let’s go inside the numbers…
If Pettitte is going to be remembered for anything, it is the fact the he is all time wins leader in the postseason with 19. Granted, he pitched in the postseason 14 out of 16 seasons he was in the major leagues. That is a crucial fact to the reason why he won so many games, mainly during the Yankee dynasty in the late 1990’s, but without Pettitte the Yankees might not have won all five World Series Championships.
Pettitte was a big game pitcher in the postseason as he always rose to the occasion and was usually dubbed with being the starter in game 2 of every series. He would either be the stopper from game 1 if his team lost or push his team to a 2-0 lead with another victory.
Some memorable postseason games:
1996 World Series – Game 5 (series tied 2-2) at Turner Field
Pettitte: 8.1 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, W
2003 ALCS – Game 2 (series 1-0 Boston) at Yankee Stadium
Pettitte: 6.2 innings, 9 hits, 2 ER, 5 K, W
2003 World Series – Game 2 (series 1-0 Florida) at Yankee Stadium
Pettitte: 8.2 innings, 6 hits, 0 ER, 7 K’s, W
2009 World Series – Game 3 (series tied 1-1) at Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia
Pettitte: 6 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 7 K’s, W
Yes, Pettitte is not the best postseason pitcher to ever live, but he did have a tremendous amount of success in October and should not be looked over. One thing that does get looked over a lot is the fact that for 13 seasons he pitched in the AL East, which has been considered a hitters division for many years. Pettitte won a lot of games against AL East opponents, let alone the rest of the American League. During the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s, there were a plethora of great hitters and DH’s like Manny Ramirez, Frank Thomas, David Ortiz, Edgar Martinez, and many others Pettitte had to deal with.
Looking back, Pettitte never won a CY Young Award, was an All-Star 3 times, only won 20 games twice, was not close to 3,000 strikeouts, and only won 240 regular season games. Putting numbers aside, he should be in the Hall of Fame because he was a fierce competitor, extremely durable, not afraid of the big game, pitched in a hitters league (American League), let alone in a hitters division, and was the core foundation for the Yankees for several years. He pitched with great control and had three effective pitches (fastball, cutter, and curveball) that made him extremely successful. Pettitte was a leader in the clubhouse, whether it was for the Yankees or the Astros and was someone who could be counted on to get the job done.
Overall, Pettitte won 240 games and had 100+ more wins than loses for his career. He had 10+ winning seasons 15 out of 16 years in the majors. He also had a sub 4.00 ERA pitching most of his career in the AL East and won 19 postseason games. How many pitchers in the Hall of Fame can say that? Not many!
If Pettitte is going to be remembered for anything, it is the fact the he is all time wins leader in the postseason with 19. Granted, he pitched in the postseason 14 out of 16 seasons he was in the major leagues. That is a crucial fact to the reason why he won so many games, mainly during the Yankee dynasty in the late 1990’s, but without Pettitte the Yankees might not have won all five World Series Championships.
Pettitte was a big game pitcher in the postseason as he always rose to the occasion and was usually dubbed with being the starter in game 2 of every series. He would either be the stopper from game 1 if his team lost or push his team to a 2-0 lead with another victory.
Some memorable postseason games:
1996 World Series – Game 5 (series tied 2-2) at Turner Field
Pettitte: 8.1 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, W
2003 ALCS – Game 2 (series 1-0 Boston) at Yankee Stadium
Pettitte: 6.2 innings, 9 hits, 2 ER, 5 K, W
2003 World Series – Game 2 (series 1-0 Florida) at Yankee Stadium
Pettitte: 8.2 innings, 6 hits, 0 ER, 7 K’s, W
2009 World Series – Game 3 (series tied 1-1) at Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia
Pettitte: 6 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 7 K’s, W
Yes, Pettitte is not the best postseason pitcher to ever live, but he did have a tremendous amount of success in October and should not be looked over. One thing that does get looked over a lot is the fact that for 13 seasons he pitched in the AL East, which has been considered a hitters division for many years. Pettitte won a lot of games against AL East opponents, let alone the rest of the American League. During the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s, there were a plethora of great hitters and DH’s like Manny Ramirez, Frank Thomas, David Ortiz, Edgar Martinez, and many others Pettitte had to deal with.
Looking back, Pettitte never won a CY Young Award, was an All-Star 3 times, only won 20 games twice, was not close to 3,000 strikeouts, and only won 240 regular season games. Putting numbers aside, he should be in the Hall of Fame because he was a fierce competitor, extremely durable, not afraid of the big game, pitched in a hitters league (American League), let alone in a hitters division, and was the core foundation for the Yankees for several years. He pitched with great control and had three effective pitches (fastball, cutter, and curveball) that made him extremely successful. Pettitte was a leader in the clubhouse, whether it was for the Yankees or the Astros and was someone who could be counted on to get the job done.
Overall, Pettitte won 240 games and had 100+ more wins than loses for his career. He had 10+ winning seasons 15 out of 16 years in the majors. He also had a sub 4.00 ERA pitching most of his career in the AL East and won 19 postseason games. How many pitchers in the Hall of Fame can say that? Not many!
Monday Evening Review
Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers on their Super Bowl Championship victory. Now that the game is over lets take some time to reflect and get some of these thoughts out on paper while the game is fresh in our minds.
While the Steelers may have been the team with the most super bowl experience they were certainly the team that seemed to be a little bit jittery to start. Were going to break down both teams by positions on offense and the defenses as a whole on how they played in this Super Bowl.
Quarterback: Did anyone else notice Big Ben throwing high for most of the first quarter? This was the guy that others and myself thought would stand alone as the difference in this game. Was the loss of Emmanuel Sanders that detrimental to their offensive scheme, because other than that I don’t see an excuse as to why his timing would be so off? His two interceptions were products of being hit as he threw and a great play by Jarrett Bush to undercut his intended receiver so I will give him a pass on those, even though they turned out to be the difference in the game.
Running Backs: Rashard Mendenhall seemed as though he was an all-pro running back at times and at others he got lost in translation and was almost forgotten about in times of play calling because of the early deficit the Steelers faced. The thing to look back on in this game for him was when he ran into the cameraman on the sideline and appeared to be banged up after the collision. Was this the reason that he couldn’t hold onto the ball in the fourth quarter when Clay Matthews caused the late fumble, granted this was a great form tackle and a well placed hit, but Mendenhall needs to know that a fumble just cannot happen in that situation. Redman and Moore performed admirably in limited action while Mendenhall was out but they really didn’t play enough to make a difference in this game.
Wide Receivers: Mike Wallace was outstanding, other than the final play of the game where I thought that he could made a better effort to make that catch and not blame the minimal contact from Tramon Williams, he had nine catches and scored a big touchdown for the Steelers towards the end. Also he probably could have had another if Roethlisberger wasn’t hit on his first interception. Hines Ward was Hines Ward, made big catches all day, especially in the end zone for his only score. He was consistently open on plays when it mattered most. Antwaan Randle El played probably his best game of the season in the absence of Sanders, but that isn’t saying much after a disappointing season. Heath Miller and others were insignificant other than a few catches here and there. Ultimately some early struggles for Roethlisberger led to this offense never getting in a good tempo.
Defense: Troy Polamalu is the defensive player of the year this season, so where was he ALL GAME. He got beat on the Greg Jennings touchdown and was virtually unseen when it came to a pass rush or stopping the run, he may have had a good amount of tackles but he was trying way to hard to make that game changing play we were expecting. The front seven for the Steelers did an outstanding job putting pressure on Rodgers all night and forced him to make some uncomfortable throws throughout this game. Second half pass rush led to the sputtering of the Packers offense and a few key sacks down the stretch. The defensive backfield for the Steelers were useless, McFadden got banged up so Rodgers went right after William Gay for their first touchdown to Jordy Nelson and then after that the front seven were the only people who were seemingly on the field. I said this before but I feel like it needs to be said twice, WHERE WAS TROY POLAMALU, maybe trying to do too much?
Special Teams: Where in the world was Sean Suisham kicking that football, a huge unremembered play in that game was indeed his missed field goal. Other than that the Steelers special teams played well.
And now for the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers….
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers at times looked as though he was rattled and bothered by the Steelers pass rush and at times they were a bit overwhelming in the second half. He had some balls sail on him throughout the game but when it came down to crunch time he was able to throw the touchdowns to Greg Jennings, and Jordy Nelson and connect with Jennings on a deep ball to really clinch the last drive field goal. In addition to the balls that he did complete he also had several key drops most notably by Nelson and James Jones, which one or more could have lead to possible scores. Rodgers won the MVP and in this case I think he deserved it.
Running Back: James Starks and Brandon Jackson didn’t really do much in this game, in fact that Packers just won the Super Bowl with an NFL record low in rushing yards. Jackson did have a nice third down catch and Starks did pick up a few rushing first downs late in the game to help the Pack put it away.
Wide Receivers: Donald Driver went out early and only had one catch. Jennings and Nelson were the story beginning middle and late in this game. Nelson may have distinguished himself as one of the better slot receivers in the game after this playoff season. Making big catches in big spots all playoffs. This however does not overlook the fact that he also had some key drops throughout the game and may have even had two more touchdowns if he was able to catch that deep ball on the second drive and the ball in the corner of the end zone on the last drive. Jennings played pretty well throughout, making some good plays, especially with his first touchdown catch in front of Polamalu. Jones had some huge drops including one for a touchdown and a few others for first downs. Andrew Quarless barley played and didn’t contribute much at all.
Defense: Charles Woodson and Sam Shields went out at half time, subtracting two huge playmakers from the Green Bay defense. Tramon Williams was gift wrapped an interception and had a nice return for a touchdown, while Jarrett Bush made a great play on the interception over the middle, and contributed with the pass rush while replacing Woodson. Clay Matthews the defensive player of the year runner up played well but only had a few standout plays, when he knocked down a Roethlisberger play action pass and causing the late fumble which halted the best Steelers comeback attempt. Ultimately this defense and Dom Capers were handed an easy road to stopping Big Ben because of the deficit the Steelers faced all game which made them one dimensional. On the one drive the Steelers were able to use their running game they went right down the field to start the second half and scored a quick touchdown. BJ Raji and Cullen Jenkins were relatively quiet all game and the front seven didn’t really do much to standout. They played very well in spots but ultimately were able to sit back and defend the pass.
Special Teams: Crosby knocked down his only chance, and other than a botched fumble catch on the opening punt and the stupid Tramon Williams penalty they played really well.
The difference in the game were the turnovers and the fact that the Steelers were forced to become one dimensional, Rodgers didn’t turn the ball over and the Packers D forced a late turnover. This game didn’t necessarily prove that Roethlisberger isn’t the big game quarterback we thought he was but it did open our eyes to the next star quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
All Predictions BUT The Final Score
Everyone in the world wants to know one thing, who will win Super Bowl XLV? Will it be Big Ben and the Black and Yellow, or Aaron Rodgers and the Cheese Heads? Well I am here not to answer that question, but to answer any other question you may have. Lets start with the National Anthem.
This year the national anthem is being sung by Christina Aguilera, award winning artist who has had her up and downs in life. On Sunday evening Christina will be singing her red, white, and blue with a smile on her face, and billions watching her. With all those eyes on her, how long will it take for her to sing this beautiful tune. Usually the National Anthem takes around one minute fifty seconds. With her big voice, and the huge spotlight on her, expect her to take at least a minute fifty seven.
Now to the coin toss. Every year the coin is brand new and has some new logos on it and such. First think, who will be tossing the coin? It is usually a special guest or an old legendary player, which means the toss will be sloppy and has the chance not to even flip in the air. Aside from who is flipping the coin, you may want to take into effect that one of the Packers traditions are the fans with their Cheese HEADS. With that being said, even though there are going to be Cheese HEADS everywhere, Tails is the way to go.
Another major part of the Super Bowl is the commercials. The commercials during the game are the ones everyone waits for all year. This is the only day people actually watch and enjoy them. Throughout the years we have been witness to great ads. Last year the viewers at home got to see the brand new "Here We Go," campaign put on by Bud Light, along with another Doritos commercial campaign where the fans voted for which ones got to go on air. The first commercial last year was Bud Light, expect this years first commercial to be... Coors Light. Why? Because its a business and they are most likely jealous they weren't the first commercial last year.
In the actual game though lets face it, every year one wide receiver shows his abilities and skills and makes a name for himself. If you remember the Patriots/Eagles Super Bowl, Terrell Owens put on a showcase, despite the loss and basically a torn ankle. Santonio Holmes did the same thing in the last Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl victory, and Deion Branch did it a while back for the Patriots. This year the Super Bowl MVP will be... Mike Wallace. Wallace is the most explosive receiver in the game today, and may be the fastest player on the field. Expect huge numbers from this speedster.
This year the national anthem is being sung by Christina Aguilera, award winning artist who has had her up and downs in life. On Sunday evening Christina will be singing her red, white, and blue with a smile on her face, and billions watching her. With all those eyes on her, how long will it take for her to sing this beautiful tune. Usually the National Anthem takes around one minute fifty seconds. With her big voice, and the huge spotlight on her, expect her to take at least a minute fifty seven.
Now to the coin toss. Every year the coin is brand new and has some new logos on it and such. First think, who will be tossing the coin? It is usually a special guest or an old legendary player, which means the toss will be sloppy and has the chance not to even flip in the air. Aside from who is flipping the coin, you may want to take into effect that one of the Packers traditions are the fans with their Cheese HEADS. With that being said, even though there are going to be Cheese HEADS everywhere, Tails is the way to go.
Another major part of the Super Bowl is the commercials. The commercials during the game are the ones everyone waits for all year. This is the only day people actually watch and enjoy them. Throughout the years we have been witness to great ads. Last year the viewers at home got to see the brand new "Here We Go," campaign put on by Bud Light, along with another Doritos commercial campaign where the fans voted for which ones got to go on air. The first commercial last year was Bud Light, expect this years first commercial to be... Coors Light. Why? Because its a business and they are most likely jealous they weren't the first commercial last year.
In the actual game though lets face it, every year one wide receiver shows his abilities and skills and makes a name for himself. If you remember the Patriots/Eagles Super Bowl, Terrell Owens put on a showcase, despite the loss and basically a torn ankle. Santonio Holmes did the same thing in the last Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl victory, and Deion Branch did it a while back for the Patriots. This year the Super Bowl MVP will be... Mike Wallace. Wallace is the most explosive receiver in the game today, and may be the fastest player on the field. Expect huge numbers from this speedster.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Big Ben = Big Time
Super Bowl Sunday. The story lines, the trash talk, the history, the heroes, and finally the plays and players we will always remember. This Sunday’s football comes layered with a little extra something on every play. It is in this light that we need to give a little credit to those who have lead their teams to victory and give a little more credit to those who deserve it. In the beginning of the season I went as far as to say that the Pittsburgh Steelers would not make the playoffs because of them not having their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger due to some off the field issues that will not be commented on by this blogger as he has taken plenty of grief for his mistakes already. In addition to that Ben Roethlisberger will never be remembered to me as a great off the field person, because no one cares what he does off the field, he’s the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and that is all we really care about.
Roethlisberger has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL and has an outstanding record when it comes to games that matter. If Big Ben is able to gain a victory on Sunday he will join an exclusive group that includes both present and future hall of famers. The group is quarterbacks that have won three super bowl titles in their career. Names like Montana, Bradshaw, and even Brady come to mind when thinking about this group. Notice how inside this group you will never find a Manning, Brees, or Rivers. Nothing against those quarterbacks but when it comes to winning the big game those three just aren’t cutting it, however when you ask people around the league who the best quarterbacks are these are most of the names you hear. In a quarterback driven league these quarterbacks may be winning MVPs and putting up huge numbers but they are not helping their teams win titles, which really means more? Manning and Brady continuously put up big numbers every season but only one of them has won more than one super bowl, and there in the background is Big Ben, not a flashy guy, not a trash talker, a guy who goes out and wins football games for his team every Sunday. I mean the guy played his college ball at the University of Miami Ohio, not a Tennessee, not Michigan, or even an NC State. This guy has persevered and even got his subpar college team to win football games.
As a football fan is this what our fan hood has come down to, just being interested in the flashy players and not giving the guys who win football games their due? Big Ben is one of if not the best in the league at winning big football games, he’s right up there with Tom Brady and sure there are people who will argue that Ben has a great defense but when a team loses a big game it’s the quarterback that has a record and a reputation for losing the big games not the defense. If Big Ben wins it might be time to start tipping our caps and giving him a little bit more credit than he’s gotten in the past.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)