Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
What Brown Can't Do For You
It wasn't if, but when?
Just five games into the 2012-13 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers relieved head coach Mike Brown of his duties earlier this morning, giving Laker Nation an early Christmas present. At least that's how many feel.
Los Angeles is off to their worst start since the 1993-94 NBA season, dropping four of their first five games, including losing their first three games of the season, something they hadn't done since the start of the 1978-79 season.
It marked the fourth time in franchise history they opened a season with three straight losses.
Just five games into the 2012-13 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers relieved head coach Mike Brown of his duties earlier this morning, giving Laker Nation an early Christmas present. At least that's how many feel.
Los Angeles is off to their worst start since the 1993-94 NBA season, dropping four of their first five games, including losing their first three games of the season, something they hadn't done since the start of the 1978-79 season.
It marked the fourth time in franchise history they opened a season with three straight losses.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
It Comes Down to This
For the first time in baseball history the Division Series will see all four series' go to a decisive fifth game.
The San Francisco Giants completed an improbable comeback yesterday in Cincinnati, taking three straight on the road and enabling them to reach their second National League Championship Series in three years. In the Oakland, the Detroit Tigers ended the A's Cinderella season by riding the arm of Justin Verlander all the in the American League Championship Series.
With that there is four teams left fighting for the final two spots in baseball's version of the Final Four.
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
Tonight in the Bronx will be the 23rd time this season these two teams play one another with the first 22 being even as can be, 11 wins each. It's only fitting that two teams that battled all year for a division crown will have one game between them to decide the fate of their season, not to mention the fact they will win the season series.
The biggest news heading into Game 5 is the decision of New York manager Joe Girardi to sit a struggling Alex Rodriguez in the most the team's most important game all season.
Rodriguez's postseason struggles, not only this season, but throughout his career, have been well documented. Many believed he exercised those demons when he hit .365 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in the 2009 postseason en route to his first World Series title and New York's 27th in franchise history.
However, he has made the last out in each of the last two Yankee seasons and hasn't hit a postseason home run in 79 at-bats. His last coming in the 2009 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The decision shouldn't come as much of a surprise after Girardi decided to pinch-hit for the 14-time All-Star in each of the last two games with the game on the line. Rodriguez has two hits in 16 at-bats this postseason with nine strikeouts. He does not have a hit against a right-handed pitcher and is the main reason why Girardi elected to sit him against Baltimore's Jason Hammel.
But in a way it's a double-edged sword for the simple fact Rodriguez has hammered Hammel throughout his career. In 22 career at-bats against the 6-foot-6 righty from Greenville, Rodriguez has eight hits, four in which have left the yard. That is a .364 average.
Veteran Eric Chavez, who started 50 games at third base this season when Rodriguez went down with a broken hand, will start in his place and bat ninth.
Chavez has only faced Hammel six times in his career with one hit, but that one hit just happened to be a home run.
Rodriguez isn't the only Yankee struggling to find his stride, in fact some players have been worse. Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher are a combined 3-for-31 with 12 strikeouts and only one run drive in. But with Andruw Jones left on the playoff roster and Brett Gardner has all of three at-bats since April 17, Girardi doesn't have another viable option in the outfield like he does with Chavez at third.
Cano is hitting just .111, but has driven in four of the 11 Yankee runs this series.
All that being said, as the old cliche goes, momentum is only as good as your next day's starting pitcher and New York wouldn't have any one else on the mound tonight in the Bronx. Girardi gives the ball to CC Sabathia after a stellar, 120-pitch performance in Game 1 of this series. Sabathia is 5-0 in six career ALDS starts and 8-3 in the postseason since joining the Yankees prior to the '09 season.
For the Orioles, their offense has struggled just as much.
Adam Jones, who many believe is a dark horse in the AL Most Valuable Player discussion, and Matt Wieters are both batting just over 100 and have to drive in a run. Jones just .105 (2-for-19) and Wieters at .118 (2-for-17). Mark Reynolds and rookie Manny Machado are among the two Baltimore regulars that are batting under .200.
Nate McLouth has really carried the Orioles offense in this series with 11 total bases and a team-leading five RBIs. McLouth is also the only member of Baltimore starting eight that has a batting average over .300 (.318).
But the Baltimore pitching staff has kept the Yankee bats at bay which continues to be the best way to counter a struggling offense. The Orioles starters have posted a 1.85 earned run average through the first four games of the series, but really it has been the work of Buck Showalter and his bullpen that tell the story.
Aside of their All-Star closer Jim Johnson struggling in two of his four outing against New York and allowing six runs (five earned), the bullpen has been nails. Showalter has used six other arms out of the 'pen outside of Johnson and they have tossed 13 brilliant innings. In those innings they have allowed just one earned run and that of course being Raul Ibanez's walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game 3. Their ERA is a video game-like 0.69 with 13 strikeouts and only have allowed 12 base runners (seven hits, five walks).
Ten different times the Orioles caught the Yankees in the standings during the regular season, but never let them pass them. Even this postseason, every time the Yankees have won a game, the Orioles have come back with a victory. Is today the day they finally pass them?
I guess we'll find out.
BAL X-Factor: Adam Jones
NYY X-Factor: Curtis Granderson
NYY wins, 4-2
The San Francisco Giants completed an improbable comeback yesterday in Cincinnati, taking three straight on the road and enabling them to reach their second National League Championship Series in three years. In the Oakland, the Detroit Tigers ended the A's Cinderella season by riding the arm of Justin Verlander all the in the American League Championship Series.
With that there is four teams left fighting for the final two spots in baseball's version of the Final Four.
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
Tonight in the Bronx will be the 23rd time this season these two teams play one another with the first 22 being even as can be, 11 wins each. It's only fitting that two teams that battled all year for a division crown will have one game between them to decide the fate of their season, not to mention the fact they will win the season series.
 |
| Alex Rodriguez's struggles have forced him to the bench in Game 5. |
Rodriguez's postseason struggles, not only this season, but throughout his career, have been well documented. Many believed he exercised those demons when he hit .365 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in the 2009 postseason en route to his first World Series title and New York's 27th in franchise history.
However, he has made the last out in each of the last two Yankee seasons and hasn't hit a postseason home run in 79 at-bats. His last coming in the 2009 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The decision shouldn't come as much of a surprise after Girardi decided to pinch-hit for the 14-time All-Star in each of the last two games with the game on the line. Rodriguez has two hits in 16 at-bats this postseason with nine strikeouts. He does not have a hit against a right-handed pitcher and is the main reason why Girardi elected to sit him against Baltimore's Jason Hammel.
But in a way it's a double-edged sword for the simple fact Rodriguez has hammered Hammel throughout his career. In 22 career at-bats against the 6-foot-6 righty from Greenville, Rodriguez has eight hits, four in which have left the yard. That is a .364 average.
Veteran Eric Chavez, who started 50 games at third base this season when Rodriguez went down with a broken hand, will start in his place and bat ninth.
Chavez has only faced Hammel six times in his career with one hit, but that one hit just happened to be a home run.
Rodriguez isn't the only Yankee struggling to find his stride, in fact some players have been worse. Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher are a combined 3-for-31 with 12 strikeouts and only one run drive in. But with Andruw Jones left on the playoff roster and Brett Gardner has all of three at-bats since April 17, Girardi doesn't have another viable option in the outfield like he does with Chavez at third.
Cano is hitting just .111, but has driven in four of the 11 Yankee runs this series.
All that being said, as the old cliche goes, momentum is only as good as your next day's starting pitcher and New York wouldn't have any one else on the mound tonight in the Bronx. Girardi gives the ball to CC Sabathia after a stellar, 120-pitch performance in Game 1 of this series. Sabathia is 5-0 in six career ALDS starts and 8-3 in the postseason since joining the Yankees prior to the '09 season.
For the Orioles, their offense has struggled just as much.
 |
| Jason Hammel was the Orioles best pitcher much of the first half and they need him to be that in Game 5. |
Nate McLouth has really carried the Orioles offense in this series with 11 total bases and a team-leading five RBIs. McLouth is also the only member of Baltimore starting eight that has a batting average over .300 (.318).
But the Baltimore pitching staff has kept the Yankee bats at bay which continues to be the best way to counter a struggling offense. The Orioles starters have posted a 1.85 earned run average through the first four games of the series, but really it has been the work of Buck Showalter and his bullpen that tell the story.
Aside of their All-Star closer Jim Johnson struggling in two of his four outing against New York and allowing six runs (five earned), the bullpen has been nails. Showalter has used six other arms out of the 'pen outside of Johnson and they have tossed 13 brilliant innings. In those innings they have allowed just one earned run and that of course being Raul Ibanez's walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game 3. Their ERA is a video game-like 0.69 with 13 strikeouts and only have allowed 12 base runners (seven hits, five walks).
Ten different times the Orioles caught the Yankees in the standings during the regular season, but never let them pass them. Even this postseason, every time the Yankees have won a game, the Orioles have come back with a victory. Is today the day they finally pass them?
I guess we'll find out.
BAL X-Factor: Adam Jones
NYY X-Factor: Curtis Granderson
NYY wins, 4-2
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Win or Go Home: NL Wild Card Preview
It's that time again. The calendar has turned to October, summer has become fall and baseball is ready to start it's push towards another climatic finish. This time, it's one game, a Game 7 if you will, that will determine the fate of four different teams. Let the games begin.
St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves:
This time last year the St. Louis Cardinals had already embarked on one of the most improbable journeys in postseason history and capping it by winning their 11th World Series title. That is the most in National League and second in baseball history only the the Yankees' 27.
Now, they find themselves defending their crown in a one-game, winner-take-all, wild-card playoff game against the Atlanta Braves, but this is a much different team that won the World Series a year ago.
Tony La Russa retired and first-year manager Mike Matheny was brought in to replace him. Albert Pujols bolted for the West Coast, Carlos Beltran has found rejuvenation in the Gateway City and Lance Berkman is out for season.
Many wondered how this Cardinal offense could replace the bat of Pujols, but they found a way to do so. In fact, the 2012 St. Louis offense was just as productive as the 2011 team. Last season the Cards batted .273 as a team, scoring 762 runs and hitting 162 home runs. Compare that to this year's offense with a .271 average, 765 runs and 159 home runs.
This time around they just needed other guys to step up.
Five of the eight regulars drove in 75 or more runs this season, where as last year St. Louis only had three players do that. They didn't even have someone reach the century mark. Not to mention the fact the Red Birds had those same five guys hit 20-plus home runs. Pujols lead the team in home runs (37) and RBIs (99) a year ago, but this year Beltran lead with 32 home runs and Matt Holliday added the 102 RBIs.
All that being said, pitching is the key, it always is.
Matheny sends right-hander Kyle Lohse, who is enjoying the best season of his 12-year career, to the mound tonight in Atlanta, hoping that he can catch lighting in a bottle in his first postseason game as a manager. Lohse has been apart of a surprisingly good pitching staff this year that was missing ace Chris Carpenter until September 21.
At age 34, Lohse posted career-bests in starts (33), wins (16), losses (3), winning percentage (.842), earned run average (2.86), and innings (211).
The right-hander started one game against the Braves this season, that coming on May 30 at Turner Field. Lohse didn't fair that well, surrendering five runs on nine hits in just five innings of work. However, that start may have been the turning point in his season. After that rough night in Atlanta, Lohse reeled off ten straight starts in which he went at least six innings and only allowed as many as three runs in each. His ERA went from a respectable 3.36 to a brilliant 2.71.
La Russa sent Lohse to hill in the first game of last year's postseason and we all know how that story ended.
For the Braves, they could be watching future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones play his final game in an Atlanta uniform tonight, but will do all they can to prevent that from happening. In fact, this game could not just be about moving on to play the Washington Nationals in the NL Division Series, but revenge.
Remember it was the Braves historic collapse last season, where they blew an eight and a half game lead, that allowed the Cardinals to complete an unthinkable comeback and get into the postseason.
This relatively young Atlanta is a year older and wiser. It took a terrible year last season from Jayson Heyward that if he wanted to live up to expectations, hard work has to be in the cards. Heyward struggled mightily in '11, batting just .227 with 14 HRs and 42 RBIs.
What a difference a year makes.
Heyward was back to his old self this year, leading the team with 27 HRs and driving in a career-high 82 runs. Freddie Freeman came into his own, as well. The 23-year-old first baseman posted career-bests in runs (91), doubles (33), triples (2), home runs (23), RBIs (94), walks (64), slugging percentage (.456) and on-base plus slugging (.796).
However, not every offense player performed up to expectations this season, two in particular. All-Stars Brian McCann and Dan Uggla both struggled to find their stride this season and it had left manager Fredi Gonzalez with some tough decisions.
At one point during the year, Gonzalez elected to bench the power-hitting Uggla because of his lack of production. Uggla hit a team-high 36 HRs last season, but only batted .220 in '12 and hit just 19 out of the yard.
McCann had been a topic of conversation the last two days since Gonzalez announced he would start veteran David Ross in place of the 28-year-old backstop against St. Louis. McCann batted a career-low .230 this season and his struggles really continued in the second half with a .181 average in August, .214 in September and .219 overall.
But just like the Cardinals, the Braves' future this year rides on the right arm of their starting pitcher.
Kris Medlen will get the ball tonight with his team looking to win their 24th straight start with him on the mound. Atlanta has won a Major League record 23 straight starts when Medlen takes the ball, a record that was previously held by Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Carl Hubbell, whose teams won 22 straight starts with them on the mound.
That's pretty good company to be in.
If all goes according to plan, Gonzalez will hand the ball to the NL reigning Rookie of the Year Craig Kimbrel in the ninth. Kimbrel is having arguably the greatest season in reliever history with a 1.01 ERA, 42 saves and 116 strikeouts in just 62.2 innings.
Play ball.
STL X-Factor: Allen Craig
ATL X-Factor: Brian McCann
Atlanta wins, 3-2
St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves:
This time last year the St. Louis Cardinals had already embarked on one of the most improbable journeys in postseason history and capping it by winning their 11th World Series title. That is the most in National League and second in baseball history only the the Yankees' 27.
 |
| Allen Craig came through in last year's postseason, maybe tonight he shines once more. |
Tony La Russa retired and first-year manager Mike Matheny was brought in to replace him. Albert Pujols bolted for the West Coast, Carlos Beltran has found rejuvenation in the Gateway City and Lance Berkman is out for season.
Many wondered how this Cardinal offense could replace the bat of Pujols, but they found a way to do so. In fact, the 2012 St. Louis offense was just as productive as the 2011 team. Last season the Cards batted .273 as a team, scoring 762 runs and hitting 162 home runs. Compare that to this year's offense with a .271 average, 765 runs and 159 home runs.
This time around they just needed other guys to step up.
Five of the eight regulars drove in 75 or more runs this season, where as last year St. Louis only had three players do that. They didn't even have someone reach the century mark. Not to mention the fact the Red Birds had those same five guys hit 20-plus home runs. Pujols lead the team in home runs (37) and RBIs (99) a year ago, but this year Beltran lead with 32 home runs and Matt Holliday added the 102 RBIs.
All that being said, pitching is the key, it always is.
Matheny sends right-hander Kyle Lohse, who is enjoying the best season of his 12-year career, to the mound tonight in Atlanta, hoping that he can catch lighting in a bottle in his first postseason game as a manager. Lohse has been apart of a surprisingly good pitching staff this year that was missing ace Chris Carpenter until September 21.
At age 34, Lohse posted career-bests in starts (33), wins (16), losses (3), winning percentage (.842), earned run average (2.86), and innings (211).
The right-hander started one game against the Braves this season, that coming on May 30 at Turner Field. Lohse didn't fair that well, surrendering five runs on nine hits in just five innings of work. However, that start may have been the turning point in his season. After that rough night in Atlanta, Lohse reeled off ten straight starts in which he went at least six innings and only allowed as many as three runs in each. His ERA went from a respectable 3.36 to a brilliant 2.71.
La Russa sent Lohse to hill in the first game of last year's postseason and we all know how that story ended.
For the Braves, they could be watching future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones play his final game in an Atlanta uniform tonight, but will do all they can to prevent that from happening. In fact, this game could not just be about moving on to play the Washington Nationals in the NL Division Series, but revenge.
Remember it was the Braves historic collapse last season, where they blew an eight and a half game lead, that allowed the Cardinals to complete an unthinkable comeback and get into the postseason.
This relatively young Atlanta is a year older and wiser. It took a terrible year last season from Jayson Heyward that if he wanted to live up to expectations, hard work has to be in the cards. Heyward struggled mightily in '11, batting just .227 with 14 HRs and 42 RBIs.
 |
| McCann won't start tonight in Atlanta, but his bat off the bench could be the difference. |
Heyward was back to his old self this year, leading the team with 27 HRs and driving in a career-high 82 runs. Freddie Freeman came into his own, as well. The 23-year-old first baseman posted career-bests in runs (91), doubles (33), triples (2), home runs (23), RBIs (94), walks (64), slugging percentage (.456) and on-base plus slugging (.796).
However, not every offense player performed up to expectations this season, two in particular. All-Stars Brian McCann and Dan Uggla both struggled to find their stride this season and it had left manager Fredi Gonzalez with some tough decisions.
At one point during the year, Gonzalez elected to bench the power-hitting Uggla because of his lack of production. Uggla hit a team-high 36 HRs last season, but only batted .220 in '12 and hit just 19 out of the yard.
McCann had been a topic of conversation the last two days since Gonzalez announced he would start veteran David Ross in place of the 28-year-old backstop against St. Louis. McCann batted a career-low .230 this season and his struggles really continued in the second half with a .181 average in August, .214 in September and .219 overall.
But just like the Cardinals, the Braves' future this year rides on the right arm of their starting pitcher.
Kris Medlen will get the ball tonight with his team looking to win their 24th straight start with him on the mound. Atlanta has won a Major League record 23 straight starts when Medlen takes the ball, a record that was previously held by Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Carl Hubbell, whose teams won 22 straight starts with them on the mound.
That's pretty good company to be in.
If all goes according to plan, Gonzalez will hand the ball to the NL reigning Rookie of the Year Craig Kimbrel in the ninth. Kimbrel is having arguably the greatest season in reliever history with a 1.01 ERA, 42 saves and 116 strikeouts in just 62.2 innings.
Play ball.
STL X-Factor: Allen Craig
ATL X-Factor: Brian McCann
Atlanta wins, 3-2
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Right Move
He finally made the right move.
New York Yankee manager Joe Girardi has made questionable moves all season long, including last night when he batted the recently "healthy" Mark Teixeria in front of Robinson Cano. It was a move that nearly backfired on the Yankee skipper after Teixeira hit into two double plays, each with the runners at the corners and one out and espeically considering how hot Cano had been and continues to be.
Cano enterted the game hitting a ridiculous .620 (18-for-29) during his seven-game multi-hit streak and is the team leader in nearly every offensive catergory, including runs (102), doubles (48), total bases (335), on-base percentage (.374), slugging percentage (.538), on-base plus slugging (.912) and WAR (6.3).
Not to mention the fact the four-time All-Star is second in batting average (.308), hits (192) and home runs (31).
But enough about the move that almost cost New York their season. It's decision Girardi made in the ninth that we should be talking about.
After a lead off single by Curtis Granderson, the former Manger of the Year elected to pinch hit for Eduardo Nunez, who had two of the Yankee hits prior to that and the team's lone RBI, in favor of Raul Ibanez for his quick strike ability and put one into the seats.
Ibanez did just that, lacing a two-run, game-tying home run that just snuck over the short porch in right field.
It was the second time in 11 days that Girardi called upon Ibanez to pinch hit with his team down by two-runs in their final at-bat and watch him deliever.
New York Yankee manager Joe Girardi has made questionable moves all season long, including last night when he batted the recently "healthy" Mark Teixeria in front of Robinson Cano. It was a move that nearly backfired on the Yankee skipper after Teixeira hit into two double plays, each with the runners at the corners and one out and espeically considering how hot Cano had been and continues to be.
Cano enterted the game hitting a ridiculous .620 (18-for-29) during his seven-game multi-hit streak and is the team leader in nearly every offensive catergory, including runs (102), doubles (48), total bases (335), on-base percentage (.374), slugging percentage (.538), on-base plus slugging (.912) and WAR (6.3).
Not to mention the fact the four-time All-Star is second in batting average (.308), hits (192) and home runs (31).
But enough about the move that almost cost New York their season. It's decision Girardi made in the ninth that we should be talking about.
After a lead off single by Curtis Granderson, the former Manger of the Year elected to pinch hit for Eduardo Nunez, who had two of the Yankee hits prior to that and the team's lone RBI, in favor of Raul Ibanez for his quick strike ability and put one into the seats.
Ibanez did just that, lacing a two-run, game-tying home run that just snuck over the short porch in right field.
It was the second time in 11 days that Girardi called upon Ibanez to pinch hit with his team down by two-runs in their final at-bat and watch him deliever.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
What Goes Around, Comes Around
Both Darrelle Revis and Reggie Bush may have exited Sunday's game with respective knee injuries, but only one of them is saying their opponent deserved to get injured.
According to The Palm Beach Post, Bush has no sympathy for Revis after he suffered a torn ACL in New York's 23-20 overtime victory over Miami last weekend, saying "What goes around, comes around." And while Bush's comments might seem harsh, they could just be his response to both Rex Ryan and Calvin Pace's comments pre- and post-game.
Ryan referenced a comment that Jet's linebacker Bart Scott had made when both he and Ryan were employeed by the Baltimore Ravens and Bush was just a rookie with the New Orleans Saints. In 2006, Scott said of Bush, "He can do all the shakes he wants, but I wasn't going anywhere. I put a little hot sauce on that ankle."
Ryan reiterated those comments last week when he asked about stopping Bush saying, "Put some hot sauce on him, if you will."
As for Pace, he said, "We had to put him out."
Bush, who entered the game as the league's second leading rusher, was injured late in the second quarter after he took Jets safety LaRon Landry's helmet to his left knee while trying to run the clock out. Prior to the injury, Bush had carried the ball ten times for 61 yards, bringing his season total to 302 yards, which is now good enough for fifth overall.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who had just three yards rushing in the team's 35-17 loss to the Bills last week, lit up the struggling New Orleans defense, rushing for 233 yards and giving him the league lead with 323.
According to The Palm Beach Post, Bush has no sympathy for Revis after he suffered a torn ACL in New York's 23-20 overtime victory over Miami last weekend, saying "What goes around, comes around." And while Bush's comments might seem harsh, they could just be his response to both Rex Ryan and Calvin Pace's comments pre- and post-game.
Ryan referenced a comment that Jet's linebacker Bart Scott had made when both he and Ryan were employeed by the Baltimore Ravens and Bush was just a rookie with the New Orleans Saints. In 2006, Scott said of Bush, "He can do all the shakes he wants, but I wasn't going anywhere. I put a little hot sauce on that ankle."
Ryan reiterated those comments last week when he asked about stopping Bush saying, "Put some hot sauce on him, if you will."
As for Pace, he said, "We had to put him out."
Bush, who entered the game as the league's second leading rusher, was injured late in the second quarter after he took Jets safety LaRon Landry's helmet to his left knee while trying to run the clock out. Prior to the injury, Bush had carried the ball ten times for 61 yards, bringing his season total to 302 yards, which is now good enough for fifth overall.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who had just three yards rushing in the team's 35-17 loss to the Bills last week, lit up the struggling New Orleans defense, rushing for 233 yards and giving him the league lead with 323.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Changing His Sox
After putting red socks on the first eight and a half years of his career, Kevin Youkilis will be putting white socks, well technically black socks, for the rest of the season.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Replacing a Legend
Filling the shoes of a legend is never easy, but following in the footsteps of the greatest NBA coach in history is even tougher.
Nearly a year ago to the day, the Los Angeles Lakers hired Mike Brown to be the 22nd head coach in franchise history, succeeding the legendary Phil Jackson. Jackson won five NBA championships during two different stints with the Lakers over a 12-year span.
There's no question that Jackson's resume speaks for itself and his success cannot be duplicate or replaced, but Brown was and continues to be the right choice.
In his first year on the job, Brown constantly fell under heavy scrutiny and rightfully so in a city that has come to expect championships and why not? They have hoisted eleven in the City of Angels and sixteen as a franchise overall.
However, considering the circumstances Brown's first season in Los Angeles was a success.
The start of the 2011-12 NBA season was delayed due to the second longest lockout in league history, cutting the regular season from it's usually 82 games to 66. When a deal was reached on November 26, it was announced that training camps and the free agent period would begin on December 9, with the season starting on Christmas Day.
So, from the get-go, not only was Brown replacing the irreplaceable, but he was asked to do so in a shortened season with a shortened training camp, new personnel and trying to implement an entirely new offense and game plan.
In Jackson's final season as Laker head coach, 16 different players got minutes that year. Among those 16 only nine returned to the Los Angeles roster this season and only seven were left on the the team that saw the final seconds of their season tick away Monday night in Staples Center as the were eliminated in the second round for the second straight year.
This time coming at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But Brown would learn that the loses of two veterans would be immeasurable and were vital to Los Angeles' not so distant success.
Both Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher had been two franchise mainstays that didn't finish the year with the team. Odom, who was the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, was traded to the defending champion Dallas Mavericks prior to the start of the season and Fisher was dealt to Houston at the trading deadline.
Fisher was later bought out by the Rockets, signed with the Thunder and was on the floor watching his current employer defeat the organization he pledged allegiance to for more than a decade.
If all that weren't enough for Brown to deal with, he had to endure the disappointment of what would've been a Chris Paul to the Lakers trade, only to see it be nixed by the league office, leaving him with a fragile and confidence shaken Pau Gasol.
In Brown's more traditional offense, Gasol struggled to get acclimated to his new role as more of a facilitator and third option, not to mention all the trade rumors swirling around him.
However, while Brown's offensive changes didn't benefit one seven-footer, it meant the emergence of another.
Receiving more offensive focus and touches, Andrew Bynum's game jumped light years in Brown's offensive system. Bynum was named to his first career All-Star Game this season, posting career-highs in minutes per game (35.2), field goal attempts (1,382) and field goals made (950). That translated into averaging a career-high in points per game at 18.7.
Under Brown's watch, Bynum recorded the first 20-point, 20-rebound game of his career and later grabbed a career-high 30 rebounds in a game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Bynum was also became the anchor of Brown's defense. Known as a defensive minded coach from his days in Cleveland, Brown helped the 24-year-old center become one of league's premiere front court defenders.
To open up what would end up being a disappointing postseason for the Lakers, Bynum recorded the first playoff triple-double of his career and the franchise's first since Magic Johnson did it in the 1991 NBA Finals. Bynum finished that game with 10 points, 13 rebounds and an NBA playoff record 10 blocks.
There is no question that Brown's defense was inconsistent at times, but for the times it wasn't, it was suffocating.
After being blown out by Oklahoma City in Game 1 of Western Conference Semifinals, Brown made some significant adjustments that saw the NBA's third best scoring team average only 92 PPG over the next three games.
And while only one of those games translated into a win for Brown and Co., his team squandered away a seven-point lead in Game 2 and a 13-point lead in Game 4 that would have had the Lakers up 3-1 in the series, not the Thunder, leaving many to wonder what could have been.
Brown came to the Lakers having learned under one of the game's best in Gregg Popovich. In Cleveland, he learned what it took to coach a superstar and helped his team get out of a relatively weak Eastern Conference, but then again defeating a team (Detroit Pistons) that had won the first two games of the series and had been to two of the last three NBA Finals before that isn't all that easy.
In the 2007 NBA Finals, the Brown-led, or should I say Lebron James-led, Cavaliers were swept by San Antonio and Brown's former mentor.
In 2009 and 2010, Brown saw his Cavs post the NBA's best record, earning him the '09 NBA Coach of the Year honors. However, his team would make two earlier than expected playoff exits and he was fired.
Brown knew what he signed up for when he came to the City of Angels. Laker fans have come to expect championships and will let you know how they feel when they don't get the results that they want. Whether those expectations or fair or not that's the job he signed up for, a job h
As you can see Brown is no Jackson and nobody else will ever be. The sooner we accept that the easier this transition will become.
Bynum was also became the anchor of Brown's defense. Known as a defensive minded coach from his days in Cleveland, Brown helped the 24-year-old center become one of league's premiere front court defenders.
To open up what would end up being a disappointing postseason for the Lakers, Bynum recorded the first playoff triple-double of his career and the franchise's first since Magic Johnson did it in the 1991 NBA Finals. Bynum finished that game with 10 points, 13 rebounds and an NBA playoff record 10 blocks.
There is no question that Brown's defense was inconsistent at times, but for the times it wasn't, it was suffocating.
After being blown out by Oklahoma City in Game 1 of Western Conference Semifinals, Brown made some significant adjustments that saw the NBA's third best scoring team average only 92 PPG over the next three games.
And while only one of those games translated into a win for Brown and Co., his team squandered away a seven-point lead in Game 2 and a 13-point lead in Game 4 that would have had the Lakers up 3-1 in the series, not the Thunder, leaving many to wonder what could have been.
Brown came to the Lakers having learned under one of the game's best in Gregg Popovich. In Cleveland, he learned what it took to coach a superstar and helped his team get out of a relatively weak Eastern Conference, but then again defeating a team (Detroit Pistons) that had won the first two games of the series and had been to two of the last three NBA Finals before that isn't all that easy.
In the 2007 NBA Finals, the Brown-led, or should I say Lebron James-led, Cavaliers were swept by San Antonio and Brown's former mentor.
In 2009 and 2010, Brown saw his Cavs post the NBA's best record, earning him the '09 NBA Coach of the Year honors. However, his team would make two earlier than expected playoff exits and he was fired.
Brown knew what he signed up for when he came to the City of Angels. Laker fans have come to expect championships and will let you know how they feel when they don't get the results that they want. Whether those expectations or fair or not that's the job he signed up for, a job h
As you can see Brown is no Jackson and nobody else will ever be. The sooner we accept that the easier this transition will become.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
He Was Our Buddy
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| Seau brought a different type of energy to his position, making him of the best to ever do it. |
NFL legend Junior Seau was found dead in his Oceanside home Wednesday morning with what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As the news broke, shock waves scoured the Southland with one question coming to mind.
Could he really have killed himself?
But then an October morning that took place almost two years ago was quickly remembered.
In the early hours of Oct. 17, 2010, Seau was released on bail from Vista jail after being arrested on suspicion of spousal assault, but it's the picture painted following his release that spoke a thousand words. Seau's SUV swerved off a 100-foot cliff flipping and flopping onto rocks just shy of the Pacific Ocean.
Many believed that was Seau's cry for help and his first attempt at suicide, but after he said that wasn't the truth and just a case of him falling asleep at the wheel, we had no reason not to believe him.
Now, we do.
However, this isn't time to speculate, but rather a time to remember a San Diego icon, one of the greatest football players and human beings in recent memory.
Born in San Diego, Seau attended the University of Southern California. Despite having to sit out his freshman year for academic reasons, Seau became one of the first dominate linebackers in school history, paving the way for future Trojan stars like Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews and Keith Rivers.
Seau lettered in both seasons he played in the Coliseum with his junior (final) season being his best. He recorded 19 sacks that year and was a unanimous selection for First-Team All-American.
He would be taken with the fifth overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft by his hometown San Diego Chargers where he would become the greatest player in franchise history. Seau played 13 of his 20 NFL seasons as a Charger, including making 12 straight Pro Bowls and being named to the First-Team All-Pro six times.
Even though 1994 was his best statistical season, Seau was named the AFC Player of the Year and helped lead San Diego to their sixth playoff appearance since the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger. In the AFC Championship Game, the then-25-year-old had one of his finest performances, recording 19 tackles and securing the team's first and only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 17-13.
However, Seau and the rest of the Charger defense would be torched by the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX, watching southpaw Steve Young finally step out of Joe Montana's shadow, throwing for 325 yards and breaking his mentor's Super Bowl touchdown record with six.
San Diego only made the playoffs one another season (1995) during Seau's tenure. The Chargers traded him to the Miami Dolphins in April 2003 for a conditional draft choice.
Seau would spend four seasons in South Beach before announcing his initial retirement in August 2006. But just four days later, he received a phone call from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick that was enticing enough for him to abandon his post-football career.
That decision allowed Seau to be part of something special and one last shot at a Super Bowl ring.
The Patriots would complete an undefeated regular season and role through the playoffs, all the way to Super Bowl XLII. With New England trailing 10-7 late in the fourth quarter, Tom Brady hooked up with Randy Moss for a six-yard touchdown catch with 2:42 left in the season, giving them a 14-10 advantage.
Watching intently on the sideline, Seau and fellow veteran linebacker Tedy Bruschi embraced one another with less than three minutes separting them from history.
Instead, the New York Giants would spoil history.
Eli Manning would answer Brady's touchdown pass with 0:35 seconds left, sealing his improbable first Super Bowl victory.
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| Despite everything he accomplished in his career, Seau never won a Super Bowl. |
Although, he never officially filed his retirement papers.
Seau is now the eighth member of that '94 Chargers Super Bowl team to have died before the age of 45 and the third former NFL player to commit suicide in the last 15 months.
Many believe the concussions former NFL players have suffered throughout their careers have led to depression and could be the cause of Seau's unexpected suicide. Seau's gunshot wound was in his chest, maybe leaving his brain to science.
His apparent suicide comes as a surprise considering while he was a giant on the field, he was just that off the field.
Seau was one of the few athletes that personality and character matched, if not overmatched, his on-field ability. One of the most gracious athletes of our generation, Seau always went out his way to make teammates around him better, even if it made him work harder to keep his own job.
He spread kindness and happiness to many throughout his life, but maybe never found his own happiness.
Obviously, things aren't always as they appear, but if you listen hard enough I bet you can hear Junior's ukulele playing and finally at peace. Rest in peace five-five.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
A Little Rocky
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| Petrino's injuries were evident in his news conference last week. |
Just days after announcing he would be taking an indefinite, but paid leave of absence, Petrino was fired Tuesday by the University's athletic director Jeff Long. This is just the aftermath of irresponsible relationship.
Petrino, 51, was involved in a motorcycle accident back on April 1, suffering numerous injuries that caused him to be hospitalized. However, he wasn't riding alone that Sunday evening on Highway 16.
Former Arkansas All-SEC volleyball player Jennifer Dorrell was also involved in the crash, but Petrino tired to hide her presence in what Long called "knowingly misleading" the university. Dorrell, 25, had been hired by Petrino just days earlier to be the student-athlete development coordinator, but was also engaging in an inapporiate relationship with the now-former Arkansas head football coach.
At one point, Petrino also gave Dorrell $20,000, but it hasn't been disclosed what exactly it was for. Her job status has yet to be addressed.
As for Petrino, his coaching career begin in 1983 as a graduate assistant at Carroll College in Montana. He spent 15 years in college football before Tom Coughlin hired him to the his quarterback coach in the NFL, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999.
After serving as the quarterbacks coach for two seasons, Coughlin promoted Petrino to the team's offensive coordinator, calling him an "offensive mastermind". But after the team finished last in the AFC Central at 6-10, Petrino headed back to the college game. He spent one year as the offensive coordinator at Auburn until he landed his first head coaching job at Louisville.
In his four seasons as a Cardinal, Petrino accumulated a 41-9 record, but was offered a job to return to the NFL, this time as a head coach, and ran with it.
On Jan. 7, 2007, the Atlanta Falcons made Petrino their 13th head coach in franchise, bringing him in to add to then-quarterback Michael Vick's already electric and dynamic ability. However, that failed before it even got started.
Prior to the start of the 2007-08 season, Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league's conduct policy for his involvement in a dog fighting scandal.
Petrino was doomed from the start.
With the team floundering in the NFC South at 3-10 through the team's first 13 games of the season, Petrino abruptly resigned and took the head coaching job at Arkansas.
Considering the Razorbacks lost all three of their running backs (Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis) to the 2008 NFL Draft and prior to his arrival, Petrino's career at Arkansas was pretty good, continuing to win and live up this "offensive mastermind" nickname. He watched quarterback Ryan Mallett break school records, made Tyler Wilson a first-team All-SEC quarterback and the main reason why Arkasnas' offense has had the top passing attack in the SEC the last three seasons.
Petrino won 34 games during his four year stay in Fayetteville, including a 21-5 record the last two seasons.
This last season, Arkansas finished the year 11-2 after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats in the 2012 Cotton Bowl. Both of Petrino's two losses this season came at the hands of conference rivals and teams that played in this year's BCS National Championship Game, Alabama and LSU.
Those accomplishments have now been wiped way and find Petrino without a job -- a job he thought he'd have for long time after he signed a seven-year extension in Dec. 2010.
Long has said Petrino was fired "with cause", making his departure not a costly one. In other words, the University will not need to give Petrino a multimillion dollar buyout.
In the end, this is just another black eye of the NCAA.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Season Preview: National League Division Winners
Beach. Desert. Whenever your team has been the last month, it doesn't matter anymore with Opening Night upon us. With the American pastime back and playoff twist, it's time to crown a champion before a pitch has even been thrown.
National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers
It's not upstart to think the Dodgers could win this division. Los Angeles is only two years removed from back-to-back National League Championship appearances -- both in which they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.
After struggling the first 92 games (41-51) of the season in 2011, the Dodgers showed a glimpse of the future and rallied for first-year manager Don Mattingly, going 41-28 in the second half and finishing third in the NL West at 82-79.
Last season, the team road the bat and arm of Matt Kemp and Clatyon Kershaw, respectively. And will have to do the same this season if they are to get back to October.
Kemp finished second in the NL Most Valuable Player voting after one of the best offensive seasons in baseball history. Flirting with the NL Triple Crown most of the year, Kemp fell eight points short of becoming the first NL player to earn that honor since Joe Medick did so in 1937. However, Kemp led the NL with 39 home runs and 129 runs batted in.
With Andre Ethier in a contract year, the re-signing of Juan Rivera, a healthy Juan Uribe and James Loney coming off a second half in which he hit .320, the Dodgers offense should be much better in 2012.
On the mound, Kershaw became the Dodgers modern day Sandy Koufax, baffling hitters all season long. The 24-year-old left-hander took the next step a year ago, becoming one of the game's most premium pitchers and learned the value of throwing first pitch strikes. After walking 81 batters in 2010, Kershaw nearly cut that total in half last year, issuing just 54 free passes.
He led the NL in wins (21), earned run average (2.28) and strikeouts (248), winning the NL pitching Triple Crown and ultimately landing him his first career Cy Young Award. It was the first 20-win season by a Los Angeles pitcher since 1990 (Ramon Martinez).
And while Kershaw needs a repeat performance, right-hander Chad Billingsley holds the key to the rotation's success and needs to get over his recent second half woes. Over the last three seasons, Billingsley has come out of the gate strong, but has fallen back at the finish. During that time, Billingsley is 24-15 in the first half, but only 11-18 after the All-Star Break.
Los Angeles needs him to put together a full season like he did in 2008. The the injection of youth at the back end of the bullpen of Kenley Jansen and Javy Guerra leads late look to be secure.
Remember, this is the same division that saw the San Diego Padres be at the forefront until the final day of the regular season before the San Francisco Giants shocked everyone to overtake San Diego and ride the wave all the way to a World Series title. Nobody picked Kirk Gibson's Arizona Diamondbacks last year. So, why not the Dodgers this year?
After all, there will be magic in the air.
National League Central: Cincinnati Reds
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Stan the Man
If you haven't heard, the Los Angeles Dodgers were sold Tuesday night.
And while Magic Johnson is the face of the new ownership group and Mark Walters is the controlling partner, another man holds the key to future success.
No, it's not Stan Musial, but rather Stan Kasten.
Kasten, 60,
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Buy N' Him
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| Bynum's development has closed the gap between him and Howard. |
The Los Angeles Lakers are committing to Andrew Bynum, at least for now.
After months of speculation and trade rumors, Bynum stayed put at this year’s trading deadline, and had his $16 million option for next season picked up Tuesday. It’s the fourth year of $58 million contract extension Los Angeles signed him to in October 2008, despite missing most of the season with a dislocated kneecap.
Los Angeles had until June 30 to pick up the option, otherwise Bynum would become a hot commodity this summer. He has played in 41 of the Laker’s 45 games this year, missing the first four not by injury surprisingly, but serving a suspension he was slapped with following the team’s Game 4 loss in Dallas a year ago.
But in his season debut against the Denver Nuggets, Bynum tallied 29 points and 13 rebounds, setting the stage for the year to come.
Bynum, who is just 24-years-old, but in his seventh NBA season, is enjoying a banner campaign. He is averaging career-highs in points (18.1) and rebounds (12.9).
Those numbers saw him be selected to his first All-Star team, starting for the Western Conference in Orlando. He’s posted 31 double-doubles this season, including ten straight and in 16 out of his last 17 games.
During that streak Bynum recorded his first career 20/20 game.
On Feb. 6, in the Laker’s 95-90 loss to the 76ers, and on the same night Kobe Bryant passed Shaquille O’Neal for fifth on the all-time scoring list in his hometown of Philadelphia, Bynum scored and grabbed 20 points and rebounds each.
Once urged by Bryant to be traded for Jason Kidd and six years of waiting, Bynum is developing into the player Los Angeles always thought he would be.
He was most recently named the Western Conference Player of the Week, averaging 27.5 points and 14.8 rebounds over a four-game span. And while Bynum is clearly the best center in his conference, he has a long way to go to be the best in the league.
That title belongs to the Magic’s Dwight Howard.
For the last eight years, Howard, who will stay in Orlando through the 2012-13 season after waiving his opt-out clause, has become the NBA’s next dominant center.
Throughout that time, he has averaged 18.4 points per game, along with 13 rebounds and two blocks. Not to mention his record three straight Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
This season has been no different.
This season has been no different.
Howard is totaling 21.1 PPG, 14.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks on a Magic team that is currently the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. But it’s not just Howard’s on the court presence that sets the two apart, but his ability to stay on the floor.
Since being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2004, Howard has played in 616 of the possible 623 regular season games. He has started 615 of those and missed as many as four games in a season.
On the other hand, Bynum was drafted just a year later with the No. 10 pick in the draft. In the 540 games the Lakers have played since that time, Bynum has only played in 376 of them, mainly due to various knee injuries.
They have gone head-to-head 16 games in their careers, including the postseason with Howard showing almost every time why he is the best at his position.
Against Bynum, Howard has averaged 18.8 PPG, 13.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. Compare that to Bynum’s eight points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
However in those games, Howard has complied 18.6 more minutes and 4.3 shot attempts than Bynum, giving him the slight advantage. But Bynum has continued to work hard and improve, fairing better in their more recent matchups.
In Bynum’s last three games against Howard and the Magic, he has totaled 12.3 PPG, 13 rebounds and 2.3 -- a significant upgrade from his career totals versus Orlando. That could be attributed to the extra minutes (28) and shot attempts (10.3) he is receiving.
And despite what the numbers say, Bynum’s Lakers have won nine of the 16 games, including four in the 2009 NBA Finals.
If things stay they contractual are, Howard and Bynum will both become free agents following the 2012-13 season.
But I’d expect the Lakers to sign Bynum to a contract extension in the near future as they look to continue the tradition of the franchise's dominant big men with a spot open on their Mount Rushmore, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.
There's no disputing who the best center in the game is, but maybe a swap isn't as likely as it once was in Los Angeles.
Monday, March 19, 2012
New Pair of Horseshoes
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Manning is making Denver is next NFL home. |
It looks like two of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history are teaming up.
Nearly two weeks after being released from the only team he'd ever played for, Peyton Manning has informed his agent to open contract negotiations with the Denver Broncos. Manning also called Hall of Famer and the Broncos vice president of football operation, John Elway, Monday morning to inform him of his decision.
Elway played his entire 16-year career with Denver, becoming the greatest quarterback in franchise history. He played in a record five Super Bowls, winning two of them in 1997 and 1998.
Manning, 36, hopes to do the same.
The San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans were the other two teams still vying for Manning's services, but were also notified by Manning himself that he would be playing for the Broncos.
Initial contract negations are said to be worth $95 million over a five-year span.
Manning is a record four-time NFL Most Valuable Player and a Super Bowl champion. He has thrown for 54, 828 yards in his career and one touchdown shy of joining the elusive 400 club. And until his injury this year, that caused him to miss the entire season, Manning had been the league's active iron man, playing in the second most consecutive games (208) in NFL history.
He becomes only the fifth quarterback in NFL to win multiple league MVPs with the same team and then go play for another, joining Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Kurt Warner. However, Warner is the only one to reach a Super Bowl with another team, that coming as an Arizona Cardinal in 2009.
There question is, what will Denver do with their current starting quarterback?
According to sources, the Broncos will try and trade Tim Tebow, making 'Tebowmania' a brief phenomenon in Colorado.
Last season, Tebow took over an 0-4 Bronco team helped lead them back to the postseason, somewhere they hadn't been since 2005. En route to that playoff appearance, Tebow orchestrated a six-game winning streak, including five fourth quarter comebacks.
In the postseason, Tebow led the Broncos to an improbable, overtime victory over the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, 29-23. In that win and on the first play of overtime, Tebow threw a career-high, 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, ending the extra period before it even got started.
But Tebow and Co. would be over matched the following week in Foxborough, being upended by the New England Patriots, 45-10.
However, despite all of his overachieving in 201, Tebow completed just 46.5 percent of his passes and averaged just 123.5 passing yards per game both ranked last in the NFL.
There's no question a lot more work needs to be done if Tebow is going to be a consistent starting quarterback in the NFL, but he possesses the passion and motivation to do so. Jacksonville, Miami and Cleveland have already been linked to Tebow's future, but only time will tell where exactly the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will land next.
It was just two months ago Elway stated in his season wrap-up new conference, "Tim is the starting quarterback going into training camp."
He also added, "He made great strides. He has earned the right to be the starter going into training camp next year."
Those statements have since gone by the waist side with the inevitable addition of Manning.
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With Manning's arrival to Denver, 'Tebow Time' is all but over. |
Considering the Broncos finished 8-8 a year ago, winning the AFC West Division title and came within a victory of playing in the AFC title game, Manning makes Denver a Super Bowl contender. In his last season playing for the Colts, he led them to a 10-6 record and their ninth straight playoff berth.
Without Manning, Indianapolis finished an NFL-worst 2-14, proving his value to the franchise once and for all, even if it wasn't in question.
A man that once resurrected a horseshoe is putting on a different pair in 2012.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Flynning High
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| Flynn will now be able to spread his wings in Seattle. |
Already having been turned down by Peyton Manning, Miami lost out on the Matt Flynn sweepstakes Sunday, watching him sign a three-year, $26 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
It has been reported the deal is made up of $10 million guaranteed.
Flynn's decision to sign with Seattle does come as a surprise considering his connection to the Dolphins newly hired head coach. In January, Joe Philbin was named the tenth head coach in franchise history after nearly a decade long stay at Lambeau Field, including the last five as the team's offensive coordinator.
The 26-year-old quarterback was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2008, serving as Aaron Rodgers' backup and studying under Philbin since.
However, it appears his tie to Seattle's general manager John Schneider goes deeper than his relationship with Philbin. Schneider was a member of the Green Bay front office when Flynn was drafted out of Louisiana State University.
Schneider left the Packers to become the Seahawks GM prior to the start of the 2010 season and now taking Flynn with him. It just took him two years.
Flynn caught the eyes of many on two different occasions.
With Rodgers recovering from a concussion, Flynn nearly lead Green Bay to an improbable victory over the New England Patriots on Dec. 19, 2010. Flynn completed 24-of-37 passes, throwing for 251, three touchdowns and an interception. He came within five points of ending the Patriots', at the time, impressive 15-game regular season home winning streak -- a streak that was snapped at 20 this past season by the New York Giants on Nov. 6.
In Week 17 this year, with the No. 1 seed in the NFC all wrapped up, head coach Mike McCarthy decided to rest Rodgers for the postseason and give Flynn only his second career NFL start and last as a Packer.
Facing the Detroit Lions, Flynn battled Matthew Stafford in a high-scoring affair that each of them throw five touchdowns. In fact, Flynn threw a career-high six, broke Lynn Dickey's single-game franchise record with 480 passing yards and more importantly won the game, 45-41.
Stafford's 520 yards made him only the fourth quarterback in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season, finishing with 5,038.
Flynn will now battle six-year veteran Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job.
Jackson spent his first five seasons as a Minnesota Viking, constantly fighting for playing time before signing a two-year deal with Seattle prior to the start of last season.
Since it was Jackson's first year as a full-time starter, he set career highs in numerous offensive categories, including interceptions (13), touchdowns (14), games (15), yards per game (206.1), completions (271), attempts (450) and yards (3,091).
He also looked to shed his label as a runner and make himself a passer.
In 2007, at the time, Jackson played in a career-high 12 games and carried the ball 54 times for 260 yards and three scores compared to this season when he ran the ball just 40 times.
These two guys are ready to compete.
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| Hasselbeck led Seattle to some- where they had never been. |
Matt Hasselbeck, who spent this past season as manning the huddle for the Tennessee Titans, was Brett Favre's backup for the first two years of his career before being traded to the Seahawks in 2001. Hasselbeck spent a decade in Seattle, including leading the franchise to their first Super Bowl appearance in which they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10.
The Seahawks are hoping for more of the same and now Flynning high.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Unexpected Homecoming
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| Pettitte's intimidating glare is returning to the Bronx. |
After more than a year away from the game and announcing his retirement, Pettitte signed a 1-year, $2.5 million contract to return to the New York Yankees on Friday. It is a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League spring training.
In a move that shocked us all, Pettitte called his return "embarrassing". But nonetheless, New York is welcoming him home.
Pettitte first got the itch to pitch again when general manager Brian Cashman called him in December, offering him a deal worth about $10 million. However, Pettitte wasn't ready to commit and Cashman went out and acquired two right-handers, trading for Michael Pineda and signing Hiroki Kuroda.
But when the left-hander came to camp as a special instructor this spring, he made it be know he wanted to play.
Pettitte's return to the Yankees could add a second lefty to the staff, along with ace C.C. Sabathia. He is expected to be battling for the fifth spot in rotation with right-handers Phil Hughes and Freddy Garica. If the three-time All-Star makes the team he will probably not be ready until mid-May, leaving manager Joe Girardi with a difficult, but yet somewhat easy decision.
Who wouldn't take a chance on a player like Pettitte with his resume.
Over his 16-year career, Pettitte has totaled 240 wins, 203 in which came in pinstripes, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing for the most in Yankee history. The other 37 came as a member of his hometown Houston Astros.
He is second on the Yankees all-time list in games started (396) and strikeouts (1,823).
Pettitte won 20-plus games twice in his career and logged 200 or more innings ten times, including four out of the last six years.
His 16 consecutive seasons of a winning percentage of .500 or better are tied with Lefty Grove for third all-time. Hall of Famer Pete Alexander (19) and Greg Maddux (17) are first and second, respectively. Pettitte's 148 victories from 2000-09 are the most during that decade.
But it's his postseason accomplishments that speak volumes.
Pitching in eight different Fall Classic's, Pettitte's 13 games started in the World Series are second in baseball history to Ford's unbelievable 22. However, his 19 career postseason wins are the most all-time, helping him become a five-time World Series champion.
In 2009, Pettitte's most recent title, he became the first pitcher in postseason history to win all three series-clinching games as a starter, not to mention the fact Pettitte was the winning pitcher when the Yankees clinched the AL East Division title that same season.
He was also the 2001 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player when New York took down the record-setting Seattle Mariners in five games.
The question is now, how will Pettitte's body respond three months shy of his 40th birthday?
In his most recent season of work, Pettitte had one of his best seasons, compiling an 11-3 record with a 3.28 earned run average and making his first All-Star team in nine years. However, he missed two months that season with a groin injury.
Possessing one of the best pickoffs move in history, Pettitte has caught 99 base runners sleeping in his career, the most all-time. Steve Carlton's 144 would be the Major League record, but it wasn't made an official stat until 1974, ten years into his illustrious playing career.
Pettitte is back, and will trying to pick hitters off his time around.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Fishing In Houston
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| Fisher's Game 3 performance in the 2010 NBA Finals will forever live in Laker lore. |
Not long after trading for Ramon Sessions, the Los Angeles Lakers and general manager Mitch Kupchak sent longtime point guard Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets in exchange for center Jordan Hill. Houston also receives the first-round pick Los Angeles acquired when they sent reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom, to the Dallas Mavericks last December.
Sessions, 25, whose only started four games this season with the drafting and emergence of Kyrie Irving, was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers for forwards Luke Walton and Jason Kopono along with the team's 2012 first-round pick.
And while Sessions gives the Lakers the athleticism and quickness they have been searching for since nearly completed a deal to obtain Chris Paul moving forward, Fisher's veteran experience and leadership will be missed, especially come playoff time.
It's no secret Los Angeles' point guard combination of Fisher and Steve Blake were among the worst in the league production-wise.
Aside from Blake never adapting to the triangle offense last year and averaging 5.5 point per game this season, Fisher has struggled to play outside of basically the only offense he has known. The 37-year-old is averaging just 5.9 PPG, his lowest total since the 1998-99 season when he posted the same number.
Fisher has averaged 8.7 PPG throughout his 16-year playing career, 13 in which have come in the purple and gold.
He had played in all 43 of the Lakers games this season, logging 25.6 minutes per contest. But it has been Fisher's defense, or lack their of, that really was a cause for a concern.
Fisher's inability to guard elite point guards like Paul, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, etc. continued to stick out like a sore thumb. And while Sessions is anything, but an elite defender, his speed and playmaking ability add something Los Angeles needed desperately, especially if they are to compete with the Okalahoma City's and Miami's of the world.
But even with the team looking forward, Fisher's character, dedication and contributions will not soon be forgotten.
After missing most of the regular season with a foot injury, Fisher's postseason pedigree started in the 2001 playoffs, when he nailed numerous clutch, three-point baskets. He thrilled us all with his 0.4 shot against the San Antonino Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Seimfinals.
How about in Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals, when Fisher hit two, crucial three-point baskets, one tying the game with 4.6 left in regulation, sending the game into overtime. The other came in that extra period, again in the closing minute, but this time giving Los Angeles the lead and for good.
In Game 3 of the Finals the following year against the hated Boston Celtics, in the TD Garden with the series tied at a game piece, Fisher rose above the rest.
After teammate Kobe Bryant started the fourth quarter, in an extremely close game, 0-for-4, Fisher took the keys to the Spalding Bryant had been driving for so many years along side him and drove it home. Fisher dominated the paint, finishing with 16 points.
Postgame, Fisher was emotional to say the least saying, "I love this game. Uh, I love this team. I love this guy (referring to Bryant). I love what I do and uh, nothing means more to me than helping my team win."
And he would do just that in Game 7.
With his team trailing by as many as 13 in the third quarter and Bryant, again not on his game, Fisher found the stomach once again to hit a game-tying three with 6:13 left in the season to bring Los Angeles all the way back and help them win their second consecutive NBA title, 16th overall and his fifth.
It was Bryant's rare, but unbreakable trust he had with Fisher that allowed him to shine on the game's biggest stage. A trust that Bryant might never exude to another player.
Fisher's career averages in the postseason exceed the totals he put up in the regular season, including rebounds (2.4), points (8.9), minutes (28.0), three-point (.402) and field goal percentage (.427).
Most recently, in his final game as a Laker, Fisher knocked down a go-ahead, 20-foot jumper in overtime against the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday, sealing Los Angeles' ninth road win of the season.
It's not as if the Lakers haven't been without Fisher before. He signed with the Golden State Warriors prior to the start of 2004-05 season and playing in Utah for a year before coming back to Staples for one last championship run.
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| Bryant's trust in Fisher was unlike any other. |
According to the new CBA, if a player is traded and then bought out they can re-sign with a their former employer in July.
Speaking of the CBA, Fisher was elected as the Player's Association President in 2006 and played a pivotal role in ending the 166-day NBA lockout.
Throughout his career, Fisher was a consummate professional and epitome of class. I speak for everyone when I say, thanks for everything you've done, Fish.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Mega Millions
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| Johnson's size and raw athleticism make him the NFL's best wide receiver. |
The Motor City was rocking Wednesday.
The Detroit Lions announced they have signed wideout Calvin Johnson to length and hefty contract extension.
With one year remaining on his rookie contract that he signed in 2007, Johnson inked a seven-year extension, giving him an eight-year deal worth $132 million -- $60 million guaranteed -- and making him the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history.
Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald held the previous record after he agreed to a an eight-year contract last year that could pay him up to $120 million.
If there was ever a player worth the money he received, Johnson is that player.
Since being drafted out of Georgia Tech with the No. 2 overall pick in the '07 NFL Draft, Johnson has been among the best receivers in the game.
Nicknamed by former teammate Roy Williams, 'Megatron', Johnson has caught 366 passes in his brief five-year career, complied 5,812 yards and 49 touchdowns. He just completed his best NFL season, which saw him total 1,000-plus yards for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years. In 2009, Johnson narrowly missed the 1,000-yard plateau by 16, finishing with 984.
This season Johnson made his second straight Pro Bowl and only First All-Pro team thus far. He became only the third receiver in history to catch at least 95 passes, accumulate 1,600 yards and 15 TDs, joining Jerry Rice and Randy Moss.
He had 96 reception for a league-leading 1,681 yards and 16 TDs. He also led the NFL in yards per game with 105.1, not to mention his 17.5 yard per catch were a career-high.
The 26-year-old Johnson also rushed for 11 yards last season, giving him 1,692 yards from scrimmage -- fourth in the NFL.
Following his rookie year, Johnson has totaled 5,116 yards and 45 TDs, making only the sixth receiver in history to accumulate more than 5,000 yards and 45 TDs in a four-year span, join in Rice, Moss, Lance Alworth, Marvin Harrison, and Terrell Owens.
In his five years as a Lion, with many more to come, Johnson has been through the darkness, but has seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
Johnson's second year in the league, the Lions became the first team in history to go winless in a 16-game regular season. However, this past year, Johnson and Co. made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, finishing second in the tough NFC North at 10-6.
Both Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who became the fourth player in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season, anchored the team.
Detroit wouldn't last long, losing to the New Orleans Saints on Wild Card Weekend, 45-28. But there's no question Johnson was the best player on the field.
In his playoff debut, Johnson had 12 receptions for 211 yards and two scores.
It could be a sign of many things to come, at least for the next eight years.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Tampa Bay Jacked Up
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| Jackson is leaving the California sun for the beaches of Florida. |
In the first day of NFL free agency and an abundance of transactions making headlines, Jackson was one of them, signing a five-year, $55.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It has been reported the contract contains $26 million guaranteed -- the same amount Jackson will be paid over the first two years of the deal, receiving the remaining $36 million over the final three years. The 6-foot-5 Jackson is coming off one of his best seasons.
A year after playing in a career-low five games due to a nearly season-long holdout, Jackson was smacked with the franchise tag, but showed his worth, catching 60 passes for San Diego in 2011, accumulating for 1,106 yards and tying a career-high with nine touchdowns.
It was the third time in his career he had totaled more than 1,000 yards in a season -- all coming in the last four years.
However, Jackson's best season came in 2009 when he was selected to his only Pro Bowl. That season the former Northern Colorado standout, along with his nine touchdowns, set career-highs in receptions (68), yards per game (77.8) and yards (1,167). Oddly enough that was the last time the Chargers made the postseason.
Since being drafted in the second-round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Jackson has played in 91 games for San Diego, caught over 270 passes -- 272 to be exact -- totaled 4,754 yards and 37 TDs.
But now with Jackson's departure, it leaves the Chargers with numerous holes at the wide receiver position.
If you take away Jackson's 60 receptions last season, quarterback Phillip Rivers only completed 88 of his 366 completions to a wide receiver. The other 218 came from a running back, fullback, or tight end. Rivers also threw 27 TDs. Again taking away Jackson's total from a year ago, only eight of those 27 went to a wideout -- five of them coming from Malcom Floyd.
The search now begins for Jackson's replacement.
It has been reported the contract contains $26 million guaranteed -- the same amount Jackson will be paid over the first two years of the deal, receiving the remaining $36 million over the final three years. The 6-foot-5 Jackson is coming off one of his best seasons.
A year after playing in a career-low five games due to a nearly season-long holdout, Jackson was smacked with the franchise tag, but showed his worth, catching 60 passes for San Diego in 2011, accumulating for 1,106 yards and tying a career-high with nine touchdowns.
It was the third time in his career he had totaled more than 1,000 yards in a season -- all coming in the last four years.
However, Jackson's best season came in 2009 when he was selected to his only Pro Bowl. That season the former Northern Colorado standout, along with his nine touchdowns, set career-highs in receptions (68), yards per game (77.8) and yards (1,167). Oddly enough that was the last time the Chargers made the postseason.
Since being drafted in the second-round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Jackson has played in 91 games for San Diego, caught over 270 passes -- 272 to be exact -- totaled 4,754 yards and 37 TDs.
But now with Jackson's departure, it leaves the Chargers with numerous holes at the wide receiver position.
If you take away Jackson's 60 receptions last season, quarterback Phillip Rivers only completed 88 of his 366 completions to a wide receiver. The other 218 came from a running back, fullback, or tight end. Rivers also threw 27 TDs. Again taking away Jackson's total from a year ago, only eight of those 27 went to a wideout -- five of them coming from Malcom Floyd.
The search now begins for Jackson's replacement.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Count Him In
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| Moss is coming out of retirement and making his return to the NFL. |
Randy Moss, who abruptly retired last August, has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers following his workout with the team on Monday.
It was just hours after he had been catching passes from head coach Jim Harbaugh, that Moss decided San Francisco would become his fifth career NFL team. The 49ers became only the second team to host a tryout for Moss after he announced on his 35th birthday (Feb. 13), that he would in fact be making a return to football.
Last Tuesday, Moss showcased his talent for the New Orleans Saints, but was not offered a contract. However, multiple team sources reported he "looked like the old Randy", leaving us to believe the Niners saw the same thing.
Our last memory of Moss is a horrific 2010 season in which he started as a New England Patriot and ended as a Tennessee Titan with a return to the Minnesota Vikings sandwiched in between.
He finished the year with career-lows in games started (11), yards per game (24.6), receptions (28) and yards (393). But it was his eight games as a Titan that caused many to believe the freak show we all use to marvel had left the theater, catching just six passes and not scoring a touchdown.
Although, it wouldn't be the first time Moss has risen from the ashes.
After two dismal seasons as a member of the Oakland Raiders in which he caught 102 passes for 11 TDs, including one season with a career-low three, Moss was traded to the Patriots on Draft Day 2007 for a fourth-round pick.
In his first season with New England, Moss was a key contributor of a Patriot team that went undefeated until they lost in Super Bowl XLII, catching a league-leading and NFL-record 23 TDs. Moss also led the NFL in touchdowns in 1998 (17), 2000 (15), 2003 (17) and 2009 (13).
And now joins a team that needs him desperately.
San Francisco possessed one of the worst receiving corps in the league last year. They cut Braylon Edwards. Josh Morgan, who played in just five games after breaking his leg, and Ted Ginn Jr. are both free agents and not expected to return.
Michael Crabtree has been inconsistent and yet to emerge as the star he was at Texas Tech since being drafted with No. 10 pick in the 2009 draft.
The Niners ended an eight-year absence from the postseason after finishing the year with a 13-3 record and their 18th NFC West Division title. But after escaping against the Saints, San Francisco lost in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 20-17.
In that lost, Crabtree was the only wide receiver to catch one of quarterback Alex Smith's 12 completions. Tight end's Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker combined by five more, while running back Frank Gore led the team with six receptions.
Speaking of Smith, San Francisco is in the process of trying to re-sign their still-unproven quarterback - a process that should become easier with the signing of Moss.
Along with his six Pro Bowl selections, Moss has been a member on four All-Pro teams. His 954 receptions and 14,858 yards are ninth and fifth all-time, respectively. Moss' 153 TDs catches are tied for second all-time with Terrell Owens, and trails only Jerry Rice's 197. Twenty-nine of those 153 scores totaled at least 50 yards, also trailing only Rice's 36.
It looks like Moss will be chasing Rice's records in the uniform he help make famous.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Skinning Them Alive
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| RG3 might just find himself a seat in the Oval Office. |
They may have completed that search on Friday.
According to FoxSports.com, the Redskins have agreed in principle to send three first-round draft picks and another second-round pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the No. 2 overall in April's upcoming NFL Draft.
However, nothing is official as the league's new year doesn't start until Tuesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET, meaning the deal still needs to be signed off and processed by the league office.
Washington is expected to select either Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III. Basically taking whomever the Indianapolis Colts choose not to add with the No. 1 pick.
All signs point to the Colts drafting Luck, leaving the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner for the taking.
Griffin had a fantastic collegiate career at Baylor, but impressed many with his athletic ability and raw talent at the combine. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder ran a 4.41 40-yard dash, which is the fastest time for a quarterback since Michael Vick ran a 4.25 in 2001.
If in fact Washington does select Griffin, he will try and follow in the footsteps of another African-American Redskin quarterback.
In 1987, Doug Williams was responsible for leading the Skins to their second of three Super Bowl titles. Becoming the first African-American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, Williams was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
He routed the John Elway-led Denver Broncos, throwing a Super Bowl record four touchdowns passes in a single quarter, winning Super Bowl XXII, 42-10.
As for the Rams, they are one of the few teams in the NFL that believe they have their quarterback of the future after drafting Sam Bradford out of Oklahoma with the No. 1 overall pick in 2010. St. Louis and newly hired head coach, Jeff Fisher, are focused on winning and giving Bradford some offensive firepower and Oklahoma State's wide receiver Justin Blackmon could be just that.
The Rams last made the postseason in 2004 while Washington saw action in the 2007 playoffs. Both are hoping this deal can bring them back to the promise land.
'RG3' looks to be heading to our nation's capital and might just launch his own presidential campaign.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Season Preview: Comeback Player of the Year
Health and productivity continue to be the keys to success in a grueling 162 game regular season. Many found themselves battling both a year ago, but will look to bounce back in 2012 and return to form.
American League Comeback Player of the Year: Alex Rodriguez, NYY
The New York Yankee third baseman was plagued by injuries much of 2011, playing in a career-low 99 games since becoming a full-time starter. After dealing with a major hip procedure prior to the start of the 2009 season, Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this past July, causing him to miss 38 straight games.
Upon his return on Aug. 21, Rodriguez suffered a sprained left thumb fielding a ground ball off the bat of Minnesota's Joe Mauer. The injury effected the way he swung the bat the rest of the season, batting .191 with just three home runs and ten runs batted in.
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| Rodriguez hopes to reclaim the magic of 2009. |
Not to mention his forgettable American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.
Rodriguez hit .111 in the series, recording two hits in his 18 at-bats. He struck out six times, including ending the Yankees postseason for the second straight year with a punch-out.
The now 36-year-old slugger batted .276 last season, driving 16 out of the ballpark and 62 runs overall, ending Major League record of 13 consecutive seasons with 30 HRs and 100 RBIs. His 172 total bases, .461 slugging percentage and .823 on-base plus slugging were all career-lows with a minimum of 150 plate appearances.
After famously opting out during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, Rodriguez re-signed with the Yankees not long after, signing the a record 10-year $275 million contract.
Since that time, Rodriguez's numbers doesn't warrant him as the highest paid player in the game. He has averaged 124 games, 27 HRs and 97 RBIs a season. And while those are may be career-years for many other players throughout Major League Baseball, they are far removed from Rodriguez's '07 and third AL Most Valuable Player Award campaign.
That year Rodriguez led the majors with a record 54 HRs for a Yankee right-handed hitter, 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored.
All signs point to an aging and declining third baseman, but don't write Rodriguez off yet.
He took Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's advice in the offseason, seeking knee treatment in Germany. Bryant has found his second wind in his unbelievable 16-year career, leading the NBA in scoring.
Expect the same on the diamond from Rodriguez.
Notable Considerations: Carl Crawford, BOS & Kendrys Morales, LAA
In his first year as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Crawford was one of the team's biggest disappointments. Fresh off his 2010 season, that saw him win his first career Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, the former Tampa Bay Ray left fielder signed a seven-year $142 million contract in the offseason.
Crawford struggled to get a acclimated to his new surroundings, batting just .155 in the season's first month. He missed some time with a left hamstring injury, but finished the year with a .255 batting average and just 18 stolen bases.
It should be noted Crawford averaged 45 stolen bases during his nine years with Tampa Bay, leading the AL four different times.
However, despite Crawford undergoing offseason wrist surgery and expected to miss Opening Day after a recent setback, the 30-year-old's second year in Boston should be much better.
As for Morales, he hasn't seen big league action in nearly two years after breaking his leg in a celebration at home plate following his walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners on May 29, 2010. Unlike Crawford, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are aiming towards Morales' return on Opening Day.
The Cuban defector will take most of his swings as the team's designated hitter with the signing of Albert Pujols and emergence of Mark Trumbo. If healthy those two players hold the key to Morales' future success, adding protection for the switch-hitter.
Others: Adam Dunn, CHW
National League Comeback Player of the Year: Jason Heyward, ATL
Heyward opened his career with a bang, homering in his first career at-bat on Opening Day 2010. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after batting .277 with 18 HRs and 72 RBIs and was drawing comparisons as the left-handed version of Hank Aaron.
The 22-year-old become only the second player in Major League to homer in his first career at-bat on Opening Day and then follow it up with a home run in his first at-bat the next Opening Day, joining former New York Mets infielder Kazuo Matsui.
Matsui also homered in his first at-bat on two straight Opening Days from 2004-05.
However, Heyward couldn't avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and with that came a nagging injury.
Heyward played in only 128 games last year, batting a dismal .227 with 14 HRs and just 42 RBIs. His on-base percentage dropped from .393 in his rookie season to .319.
And while a shoulder injury hampered him most of the year, Heyward's step backwards could been attributed to a lack of confidence. The smooth swinging right fielder struggled in Atlanta's '10 division series matchup with the San Francisco Giants.
He batted just .125, and those struggles could have carried over into his second year in the majors.
Sandwiched in between Dan Uggla and '11 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Freddie Freeman, Heyward has the protection he needs to succeed. Who knows, maybe we'll see a third straight Opening Day home run.
Notable Considerations: Buster Posey, SF & Jayson Werth, WAS
Posey was the one that came in a stole Heyward's '10 NL Rookie of the Year Award after batting .305, commanding an electric pitching staff and leading the Giants to an improbable NL West Division title. The San Francisco backstop would eventually help the Giants win their first World Series title since moving west.
Posey's sophomore season was cut short after a home plate collision that torn ligaments in his ankle and caused him to miss the team's final 117 games.
Prior to the injury, Posey was hitting .284 with four HRs and 21 RBIs.
And while his presence in the lineup was missed, the pitching staff missed him dearly. With his ankle processing nicely and on track to start the season with the club, Posey will return as the game's best young catcher.
In the nation's capital, Werth is coming off his first season with a new club. He shocked everyone when he signed a mega seven-year $126 million contract with the Nationals last offseason, but quickly learned what he left behind was pretty special.
Werth batted .232 for Washington, adding 20 HRs and 58 RBIs - numbers that didn't follow the ones he put up in bandbox in Philadelphia.
An All-Star and World Series champion with the Phillies, Werth played four years under Charlie Manuel, averaging 23 HRs and 75 RBIs per year. He hit .282 as a Phillie, now raising the question, was he a product of a great lineup and hitter friendly ballpark?
I don't think so.
Werth showed he can still run, stealing 19 bases after swiping just 13 the year before. He stole a career-high 20 bases in back-to-backs seasons (2008, '09) for the Phillies.
Washington continues to be one of the more spacious fields in the majors, but with the injection of youth and optimism heading into the season, Werth could actually prove his worth.
Others: Johan Santana, NYM & Adam Wainwright, STL
Notable Considerations: Carl Crawford, BOS & Kendrys Morales, LAA
In his first year as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Crawford was one of the team's biggest disappointments. Fresh off his 2010 season, that saw him win his first career Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, the former Tampa Bay Ray left fielder signed a seven-year $142 million contract in the offseason.
Crawford struggled to get a acclimated to his new surroundings, batting just .155 in the season's first month. He missed some time with a left hamstring injury, but finished the year with a .255 batting average and just 18 stolen bases.
It should be noted Crawford averaged 45 stolen bases during his nine years with Tampa Bay, leading the AL four different times.
However, despite Crawford undergoing offseason wrist surgery and expected to miss Opening Day after a recent setback, the 30-year-old's second year in Boston should be much better.
As for Morales, he hasn't seen big league action in nearly two years after breaking his leg in a celebration at home plate following his walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners on May 29, 2010. Unlike Crawford, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are aiming towards Morales' return on Opening Day.
The Cuban defector will take most of his swings as the team's designated hitter with the signing of Albert Pujols and emergence of Mark Trumbo. If healthy those two players hold the key to Morales' future success, adding protection for the switch-hitter.
Others: Adam Dunn, CHW
National League Comeback Player of the Year: Jason Heyward, ATL
Heyward opened his career with a bang, homering in his first career at-bat on Opening Day 2010. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after batting .277 with 18 HRs and 72 RBIs and was drawing comparisons as the left-handed version of Hank Aaron.
The 22-year-old become only the second player in Major League to homer in his first career at-bat on Opening Day and then follow it up with a home run in his first at-bat the next Opening Day, joining former New York Mets infielder Kazuo Matsui.
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| Heyward looks to continue his promising career in 2012. |
However, Heyward couldn't avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and with that came a nagging injury.
Heyward played in only 128 games last year, batting a dismal .227 with 14 HRs and just 42 RBIs. His on-base percentage dropped from .393 in his rookie season to .319.
And while a shoulder injury hampered him most of the year, Heyward's step backwards could been attributed to a lack of confidence. The smooth swinging right fielder struggled in Atlanta's '10 division series matchup with the San Francisco Giants.
He batted just .125, and those struggles could have carried over into his second year in the majors.
Sandwiched in between Dan Uggla and '11 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Freddie Freeman, Heyward has the protection he needs to succeed. Who knows, maybe we'll see a third straight Opening Day home run.
Notable Considerations: Buster Posey, SF & Jayson Werth, WAS
Posey was the one that came in a stole Heyward's '10 NL Rookie of the Year Award after batting .305, commanding an electric pitching staff and leading the Giants to an improbable NL West Division title. The San Francisco backstop would eventually help the Giants win their first World Series title since moving west.
Posey's sophomore season was cut short after a home plate collision that torn ligaments in his ankle and caused him to miss the team's final 117 games.
Prior to the injury, Posey was hitting .284 with four HRs and 21 RBIs.
And while his presence in the lineup was missed, the pitching staff missed him dearly. With his ankle processing nicely and on track to start the season with the club, Posey will return as the game's best young catcher.
In the nation's capital, Werth is coming off his first season with a new club. He shocked everyone when he signed a mega seven-year $126 million contract with the Nationals last offseason, but quickly learned what he left behind was pretty special.
Werth batted .232 for Washington, adding 20 HRs and 58 RBIs - numbers that didn't follow the ones he put up in bandbox in Philadelphia.
An All-Star and World Series champion with the Phillies, Werth played four years under Charlie Manuel, averaging 23 HRs and 75 RBIs per year. He hit .282 as a Phillie, now raising the question, was he a product of a great lineup and hitter friendly ballpark?
I don't think so.
Werth showed he can still run, stealing 19 bases after swiping just 13 the year before. He stole a career-high 20 bases in back-to-backs seasons (2008, '09) for the Phillies.
Washington continues to be one of the more spacious fields in the majors, but with the injection of youth and optimism heading into the season, Werth could actually prove his worth.
Others: Johan Santana, NYM & Adam Wainwright, STL
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