Note the date 5/7/9
Today is “Odd Day”. Check it out here: http:///www.oddday.net/
Here is an Odd sports Ode I wrote
An odd baseball feat is a triple play bout
A ball bashed to third base snatched so stout
The fielder tags a baffled base runner for one out
Then fluently flips to second to see another player pout
From a glove at second on to first goes the throw
Spinning sharply in space the ball lobs landing low
Five-seven-nine the box score will not show
Third base to left field and rocketed to right just doesn’t flow
Six days this century we’ll celebrate odd days
It’s as rare as baseball’s unassisted triple plays
Six times since ‘91 has one player made all three displays
A single shining star for one inning of praise
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
List Leaders
It’s one month into the baseball season. Much to my chagrin, the Yankees have a 13-13 record and do not lead their division. There have been a few surprises emerging early in the division races. The Bluejays, Royals and Mariners stand on top in the American League. Philadelphia, St. Louis and Los Angeles hold first place in the National League. Oakland and Washington are trying to get to double digit wins and the Rockies, Orioles and Dbacks wonder how they are already 8 games back.
Last year’s reigning AL CY Young, Cliff Lee, has not been in step with his 2008 performances. The Mets’ David Wright is struggling to find his swing and has been haunted by the strikeout. The Dodgers do not know how to lose at home and the Yankees have already dropped five straight games to Boston. October is far away but certain players are performing at their peak, while others are not seeing desirable stats yet. Over the course of the year, the leaders will change. Different teams will dip into first place and dangle in the middle. Some won’t break out until after the all-star break and others will be setback by injured stars.
These are the individual leaders topping several lists:
Batting Average:
.393 Kevin Youkilis (BOS)- Boston’s prized first baseman was selected in 2001 as an 8th round draft pick. He’s had four two-hit games in his past ten, including seven for extra bases. I love reading situational stats and see Kevin has six homeruns, half coming on solo shots. But he also has 17 of his 20 RBIs from at-bats with runners on base. Youkilis hits for a high average because he gets on base often. Kevin’s .505 on-base percentage is great for 89 at-bats. He has more strikeouts than walks this year (18 K’s to 16 BB) which is uncharacteristic of the patient slugger. But the Red Sox star is smart at swinging at good pitches, as his batting average indicates. Youkilis is .417 with runners-in-scoring position this year and .545 with two outs. This is the highest his average has ever been. Since 2001, Kevin’s average has gone up every year. He finished 2008 with a lofty .312, and should top that by the completion of this year barring any injury.
.400 Carlos Beltran (NYM)- One of the best centerfielders in the league, Beltran blasted two homeruns Monday night in Atlanta. His bat has been on fire since day one of the 2009 season. Knock his base sliding skills all you want, but Carlos produces and quietly leads the league in batting average by far. The closest to him is Cincinnati’s, Joey Votto, at .365. A former Astro and Royal, who bats right-handed, Beltran is the Mets MVP right now. He crossed the plate ten times in the past ten games for a New York team fraught with scoring runs. Beltran is no burden for Flushing, extending his hitting streak to 16 straight games last night. The fifth man in the order, Beltran hit .367 with runners-in-scoring position. In the past three seasons with the Mets Carlos clocked 64 over the fence. He has 18 RBIs in 90 at bats for the Amazins and is on his way to another all-star year. I don’t think his stay at the top will be terse if he continues to plug away at the plate.
Home Runs:
11 Carlos Pena (TB)- The Rays have a legitimate left-handed all-star in first baseman, Pena. The well-rounded hitter has 27 hits with a scattering of doubles, triples and singles. His eleven homeruns accompany 28 RBIs. Pena had a four RBI day, including two long balls, in late April against Oakland. He came to the plate five times that day. Pena’s homerun total dropped off slightly last year. He socked 31 in 2008 after detonating 46 dingers a season before for Tampa. Pena has 174 homeruns in his 10 year career, playing for five different clubs. Only since he started playing for the Rays has Carlos been a 100 plus RBI man and he should put up similar numbers this year.
9 Albert Pujols (STL)- Pujols persists on putting up unreal stats. The NL leader in jacks and RBIs, Albert is the main reason St. Louis is a first place team. The righty went without a hit against Philadelphia Monday but has hit five out of the park in his past ten games. In that span, he’s also had a pair of three hit games. His .344 batting average is remarkable enough but Albert rarely strikes out. He only has 9 whiffs on the year. Although some are intentional, Pujols has enjoyed 19 base-on-balls too. He has 30 RBIs, including 16 with a runner on third base. Clutch hitting is something Albert embraces. The team’s third hitter also has a .705 slugging percentage and 4 stolen bases.
9 Adrian Gonzalez (SD)- It seems like first baseman lead most of these categories, and Gonzalez is another one to top the NL homerun list. The Padre plays for the city he was born in and bats lefty. His eager approach is appealing but his bat is what makes him standout on the diamond. He gave fans something to finally cheer about last week with a two homerun performance against the Rockies. Gonzalez has been a perennial 30 homerun hitter after a slow start as a Texas rookie. With more playing time, Adrian has vastly improved at the plate since donning the Padres uniform. The free swinger strikes out a lot, but his power bat proved why he was a first round Florida draft pick in 2001. His 20 RBIs in 27 games are pretty efficient numbers and he is batting .313. Adrian seems to favor Mets, Phillies and Pirates pitching in 2009. He’s had multiple homeruns against all three pitching staffs this year. He doesn’t fare too well against leftys, however. Only one of his 9 homers has come against a left-hander on the mound. Still, Pena is a knockout threat making his presence felt for an anemic offense in San Diego.
RBIs:
31 Evan Longoria (TB)- Tampa’s best kept secret is no more. Longoria broke out last season and really dominated down the stretch. He was very much a part of the potent lineup when the Rays played for the world title. The 23 year old third baseman is already one of the best at his position in the AL. The all-pro tallied 31 RBIs, including back-to-back games to end April where he totaled four. Longoria’s .721 slugging percentage and 15 hits with runners-in-scoring position add up to success. Tampa will score runs whenever Evan is batting in the three hole for them. Evan keeps his cool on the field and with the bat. His abrupt swing is enough to muster the ball like a watermelon into the stands. I enjoy watching him hit because his enthusiasm ignites the young team. The California native lived up to his hype and instantly accomplished more than most rookies last year. He can bash AL East foes and is valuable to the defending league champs.
29 Albert Pujols (STL)- see above
Wins:
6 Zack Greinke (KC)- Zack’s diminutive ERA is amazing and grand. He was the first major leaguer to hit the six win mark on the mound. When Greinke takes the hill, the Royals win. It’s that simple. He should be anointed the face of the franchise. The righty was Kansas City’s first round pick in 2002 but never panned out until this season. He is a great comeback story for the Royals, and for baseball. The pitcher of the month for April, 25 year old Greinke greets batters with a beautiful artsy curveball and tight, torrid fastball. So far, Zack has pitched three complete games and allowed 3 runs (2 earned). Greinke industriously induces ground balls and appears flawless as he flaunts and flashes his fastballs. He struck out 44 batters in 36 innings during April. Monday, during his latest masterpiece, Zack shutout the Whitesox 3-0 on six hits. As you can see, he leads the league in all three pitching categories and is on his way as the early CY Young favorite and all-star starter.
5 Chad Billingsley (LAD)- Right-handed Billingsley is 5-0 for the Dodgers in 478 innings of work. Coming off a 16-10 season, LA fans have reason to believe Chad can top that total in 2009. He’s endured seven or more innings in four of his six starts and has established himself as a hard thrower. He allowed his first homerun May 1st in a win over the Padres but was perfect in April in that department. Billingsley walked only 16 batters and struck out a sizeable 42. Chad’s wins are impressive because they have come in relatively close balls games. Except for the 11-1 dominant drubbing of the Giants, Billingsley has held his own on the hill in two, three and four run lead situations. Odds are he is going to be a money pitcher for the remainder of the Dodgers season. If he can win five games and log fifty innings every month, a 20 win year is not out of the realm.
ERA:
.40 Zack Greinke (KC)- see above
1.10 Johan Santana (NYM)- I can’t recall a more astounding and bigger than life pitcher than the stately Santana. Johan is a magician on the mound and if not for some Mets miscues, would not have a loss. Just when you think Santana has done it all, he still does more to impress you. Santana’s career ERA is 3.07 and has not been higher than 3.33 since 2001. In a span of ten seasons, Johan has pitched 1575 innings, allowing 580 runs. He has over 1600 strikeouts, including the 44 under his belt this year. Opponents are having trouble with his offerings, hitting only .185 against the gifted lefty. He wins without glitz or glamour. The Mets should let Johan complete his own games instead of handing the job to the shaky bullpen. Johan tossed nine complete games in his career and is capable of finishing and retiring the final batters. Oddly, he only has one twenty win season but boasts a 112-52 career record. Those are definitely favorable for any pitcher and I would be stuffing the ballot box with votes for CY Young if it were my choice.
Strikeouts:
54 Zack Greinke (KC)- see above
50 Javier Vasquez (ATL)- An Atlanta Brave leads the league in strikeouts. I was surprised to see that after a month’s worth of play. Vasquez’s 50 K’s go along with only 11 walks issued. Javy was so promising as a young pitcher in Montreal. I really liked when he signed with the Yankees but was happy to see him leave town after a mediocre 14-10 year. Vasquez has gradually shown signs of a re-emergence. He struck out 200 or more in his final two years as a Chicago Whitesox. His ERA remains constant, lingering and ranging between 3-4 since 2000. Javy’s longest outing was a nine hit game when he pitched eight innings in a loss to St. Louis. His best strikeout game was a six inning loss to Florida where he fanned 12 Marlins. The Marlins lead the league in strikeouts so that may not be the best indicator of Vasquez’s talent in 2009. Although he struck out 8 Mets on Monday, he did allow three homeruns. His hits and runs allowed keep increasing as the weather warms, so I do hesitate to admire what he’s done thus far. That’s not to say he won’t still lead the NL in K’s. He has the ability, and always has had a knack for puzzling sluggers. His strikeout-to-walk ration is great. Without him the Whitesox probably do not get into the playoffs last year. Javy also has a tendency to leave floaters out and over the plate. But I can’t see Vasquez outperforming some of the league’s best down the stretch.
Parting points: My play “list” for today:
Blur- “Song Two”
Duran Duran- “Hungry Like the Wolf”
Shinedown-”Second Chance”
Stone Temple Pilots- “Tripin’ on a Hole in a Paper Bag”
Boyz II Men- “On Bended Knee”
Better Than Ezra- “Good”
Last year’s reigning AL CY Young, Cliff Lee, has not been in step with his 2008 performances. The Mets’ David Wright is struggling to find his swing and has been haunted by the strikeout. The Dodgers do not know how to lose at home and the Yankees have already dropped five straight games to Boston. October is far away but certain players are performing at their peak, while others are not seeing desirable stats yet. Over the course of the year, the leaders will change. Different teams will dip into first place and dangle in the middle. Some won’t break out until after the all-star break and others will be setback by injured stars.
These are the individual leaders topping several lists:
Batting Average:
.393 Kevin Youkilis (BOS)- Boston’s prized first baseman was selected in 2001 as an 8th round draft pick. He’s had four two-hit games in his past ten, including seven for extra bases. I love reading situational stats and see Kevin has six homeruns, half coming on solo shots. But he also has 17 of his 20 RBIs from at-bats with runners on base. Youkilis hits for a high average because he gets on base often. Kevin’s .505 on-base percentage is great for 89 at-bats. He has more strikeouts than walks this year (18 K’s to 16 BB) which is uncharacteristic of the patient slugger. But the Red Sox star is smart at swinging at good pitches, as his batting average indicates. Youkilis is .417 with runners-in-scoring position this year and .545 with two outs. This is the highest his average has ever been. Since 2001, Kevin’s average has gone up every year. He finished 2008 with a lofty .312, and should top that by the completion of this year barring any injury.
.400 Carlos Beltran (NYM)- One of the best centerfielders in the league, Beltran blasted two homeruns Monday night in Atlanta. His bat has been on fire since day one of the 2009 season. Knock his base sliding skills all you want, but Carlos produces and quietly leads the league in batting average by far. The closest to him is Cincinnati’s, Joey Votto, at .365. A former Astro and Royal, who bats right-handed, Beltran is the Mets MVP right now. He crossed the plate ten times in the past ten games for a New York team fraught with scoring runs. Beltran is no burden for Flushing, extending his hitting streak to 16 straight games last night. The fifth man in the order, Beltran hit .367 with runners-in-scoring position. In the past three seasons with the Mets Carlos clocked 64 over the fence. He has 18 RBIs in 90 at bats for the Amazins and is on his way to another all-star year. I don’t think his stay at the top will be terse if he continues to plug away at the plate.
Home Runs:
11 Carlos Pena (TB)- The Rays have a legitimate left-handed all-star in first baseman, Pena. The well-rounded hitter has 27 hits with a scattering of doubles, triples and singles. His eleven homeruns accompany 28 RBIs. Pena had a four RBI day, including two long balls, in late April against Oakland. He came to the plate five times that day. Pena’s homerun total dropped off slightly last year. He socked 31 in 2008 after detonating 46 dingers a season before for Tampa. Pena has 174 homeruns in his 10 year career, playing for five different clubs. Only since he started playing for the Rays has Carlos been a 100 plus RBI man and he should put up similar numbers this year.
9 Albert Pujols (STL)- Pujols persists on putting up unreal stats. The NL leader in jacks and RBIs, Albert is the main reason St. Louis is a first place team. The righty went without a hit against Philadelphia Monday but has hit five out of the park in his past ten games. In that span, he’s also had a pair of three hit games. His .344 batting average is remarkable enough but Albert rarely strikes out. He only has 9 whiffs on the year. Although some are intentional, Pujols has enjoyed 19 base-on-balls too. He has 30 RBIs, including 16 with a runner on third base. Clutch hitting is something Albert embraces. The team’s third hitter also has a .705 slugging percentage and 4 stolen bases.
9 Adrian Gonzalez (SD)- It seems like first baseman lead most of these categories, and Gonzalez is another one to top the NL homerun list. The Padre plays for the city he was born in and bats lefty. His eager approach is appealing but his bat is what makes him standout on the diamond. He gave fans something to finally cheer about last week with a two homerun performance against the Rockies. Gonzalez has been a perennial 30 homerun hitter after a slow start as a Texas rookie. With more playing time, Adrian has vastly improved at the plate since donning the Padres uniform. The free swinger strikes out a lot, but his power bat proved why he was a first round Florida draft pick in 2001. His 20 RBIs in 27 games are pretty efficient numbers and he is batting .313. Adrian seems to favor Mets, Phillies and Pirates pitching in 2009. He’s had multiple homeruns against all three pitching staffs this year. He doesn’t fare too well against leftys, however. Only one of his 9 homers has come against a left-hander on the mound. Still, Pena is a knockout threat making his presence felt for an anemic offense in San Diego.
RBIs:
31 Evan Longoria (TB)- Tampa’s best kept secret is no more. Longoria broke out last season and really dominated down the stretch. He was very much a part of the potent lineup when the Rays played for the world title. The 23 year old third baseman is already one of the best at his position in the AL. The all-pro tallied 31 RBIs, including back-to-back games to end April where he totaled four. Longoria’s .721 slugging percentage and 15 hits with runners-in-scoring position add up to success. Tampa will score runs whenever Evan is batting in the three hole for them. Evan keeps his cool on the field and with the bat. His abrupt swing is enough to muster the ball like a watermelon into the stands. I enjoy watching him hit because his enthusiasm ignites the young team. The California native lived up to his hype and instantly accomplished more than most rookies last year. He can bash AL East foes and is valuable to the defending league champs.
29 Albert Pujols (STL)- see above
Wins:
6 Zack Greinke (KC)- Zack’s diminutive ERA is amazing and grand. He was the first major leaguer to hit the six win mark on the mound. When Greinke takes the hill, the Royals win. It’s that simple. He should be anointed the face of the franchise. The righty was Kansas City’s first round pick in 2002 but never panned out until this season. He is a great comeback story for the Royals, and for baseball. The pitcher of the month for April, 25 year old Greinke greets batters with a beautiful artsy curveball and tight, torrid fastball. So far, Zack has pitched three complete games and allowed 3 runs (2 earned). Greinke industriously induces ground balls and appears flawless as he flaunts and flashes his fastballs. He struck out 44 batters in 36 innings during April. Monday, during his latest masterpiece, Zack shutout the Whitesox 3-0 on six hits. As you can see, he leads the league in all three pitching categories and is on his way as the early CY Young favorite and all-star starter.
5 Chad Billingsley (LAD)- Right-handed Billingsley is 5-0 for the Dodgers in 478 innings of work. Coming off a 16-10 season, LA fans have reason to believe Chad can top that total in 2009. He’s endured seven or more innings in four of his six starts and has established himself as a hard thrower. He allowed his first homerun May 1st in a win over the Padres but was perfect in April in that department. Billingsley walked only 16 batters and struck out a sizeable 42. Chad’s wins are impressive because they have come in relatively close balls games. Except for the 11-1 dominant drubbing of the Giants, Billingsley has held his own on the hill in two, three and four run lead situations. Odds are he is going to be a money pitcher for the remainder of the Dodgers season. If he can win five games and log fifty innings every month, a 20 win year is not out of the realm.
ERA:
.40 Zack Greinke (KC)- see above
1.10 Johan Santana (NYM)- I can’t recall a more astounding and bigger than life pitcher than the stately Santana. Johan is a magician on the mound and if not for some Mets miscues, would not have a loss. Just when you think Santana has done it all, he still does more to impress you. Santana’s career ERA is 3.07 and has not been higher than 3.33 since 2001. In a span of ten seasons, Johan has pitched 1575 innings, allowing 580 runs. He has over 1600 strikeouts, including the 44 under his belt this year. Opponents are having trouble with his offerings, hitting only .185 against the gifted lefty. He wins without glitz or glamour. The Mets should let Johan complete his own games instead of handing the job to the shaky bullpen. Johan tossed nine complete games in his career and is capable of finishing and retiring the final batters. Oddly, he only has one twenty win season but boasts a 112-52 career record. Those are definitely favorable for any pitcher and I would be stuffing the ballot box with votes for CY Young if it were my choice.
Strikeouts:
54 Zack Greinke (KC)- see above
50 Javier Vasquez (ATL)- An Atlanta Brave leads the league in strikeouts. I was surprised to see that after a month’s worth of play. Vasquez’s 50 K’s go along with only 11 walks issued. Javy was so promising as a young pitcher in Montreal. I really liked when he signed with the Yankees but was happy to see him leave town after a mediocre 14-10 year. Vasquez has gradually shown signs of a re-emergence. He struck out 200 or more in his final two years as a Chicago Whitesox. His ERA remains constant, lingering and ranging between 3-4 since 2000. Javy’s longest outing was a nine hit game when he pitched eight innings in a loss to St. Louis. His best strikeout game was a six inning loss to Florida where he fanned 12 Marlins. The Marlins lead the league in strikeouts so that may not be the best indicator of Vasquez’s talent in 2009. Although he struck out 8 Mets on Monday, he did allow three homeruns. His hits and runs allowed keep increasing as the weather warms, so I do hesitate to admire what he’s done thus far. That’s not to say he won’t still lead the NL in K’s. He has the ability, and always has had a knack for puzzling sluggers. His strikeout-to-walk ration is great. Without him the Whitesox probably do not get into the playoffs last year. Javy also has a tendency to leave floaters out and over the plate. But I can’t see Vasquez outperforming some of the league’s best down the stretch.
Parting points: My play “list” for today:
Blur- “Song Two”
Duran Duran- “Hungry Like the Wolf”
Shinedown-”Second Chance”
Stone Temple Pilots- “Tripin’ on a Hole in a Paper Bag”
Boyz II Men- “On Bended Knee”
Better Than Ezra- “Good”
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Ming Man on Mission
Yao Ming collected 28 points and 10 rebounds as Houston bested the Lakers in Los Angeles in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals. Kobe Bryant had 32 points in defeat. Ron Artest added 21 points for the Rockets, who lead the best of seven series against the top seeded Lakers. Houston hit all their foul shots and got the stops down the stretch to pull out the upset road victory. The Rockets scored 30 fourth quarter points, even with Ming being knocked to the floor. The tall center fell when he and Bryant crashed and bashed knees with each other. The seasoned and elite Ming remained in the game, and the Rockets remained unstoppable through the final six minutes to win 100-92.
The scoring starting early for Houston. They held a three point halftime lead and were sharp offensively in the first half. Houston scored more points in each quarter to pace themselves throughout the night against a harsh opponent. L.A. only had 18 buckets in the first quarter and fell behind early. The Lakers never got into a rhythm, missing 7 of 19 free throws. L.A. shot 8 for 24 over the first 12 minutes. They were ineffective from the 3-point line and couldn’t execute on offense. Houston committed turnovers in the second half and L.A. came within one point of snatching the lead. That’s when Yao and the Houston defense attacked the Lakers’ passers and played more consistent basketball. The Rockets scored on nine consecutive possessions. Ming had two blocked shots on the night and Los Angeles had no answer for him or point guard, Aaron Brooks. Brooks was more aggressive and played much more consistently than he did in the series with Portland. He and Artest corroborated the rugged Rocket’s defensive.
The Rockets coasted to an 8 point lead when Yao’s knee buckled and went berserk. Lakers forward, Pau Gasol, cut the Rockets lead to six with a definable dunk and Lamar Odom rebounded on the next possession to reduce the lead with a basket of his own. Odom replaced Andrew Bynum of the Lakers after the center committed two fouls in the first three minutes of the game. Artest and Ming mugged the Lakers with under three minutes left in the game. Yao hit a 20 foot jumper and nailed four free throws and Artest sealed a shot to keep Houston on top. With an 11 point lead and only 1:30 remaining after Shane Battier hit a pair of free throws, the Lakers attempted a Staples Center comeback. Yao’s two free passes finished L.A. for good when time expired. Ming’s 28 points are a personal playoff high for the Chinese all-star. Artest had an equally gigantic night, dishing out 7 assists in the effort.
The Rockets got a scare late in the fourth quarter that reminded fans of the four regular season meetings between the teams. In all four games, the Lakers outscored Houston by an average of 12 points in the fourth quarter. L.A. swept the season series in one-sided games. This time, the Rockets responded late with the help of Ming, Artest and Brooks. The team did not fold. The Rockets cannot win games without Yao. Ming left the game with 4.54 on the clock but returned to rejuvenate the Rockets. He scored 8 points after his return to the game and did not miss any of his six free throws. He had ten free throws all together.
Artest and Battier did a great job in guarding Bryant. Battier and Kyle Lowry were terrific and relentless. They smothered the Lakers on defense and gave their best effort the entire game. They forced the Lakers to rush points and shunned and shrugged off their defense. Battier needed stitches to his left eye in the first quarter after a hard hit from Sasha Vujacic. Shane returned just before halftime. Gasol sat earlier in the quarter with a left eye injury too. He came back to finish with 14 points and 13 rebounds for L.A.. Kobe made three shots in two minutes during the second half to narrow the gap, but Bryant kept missing his points down the stretch. Defensively, the Rockets forced Kobe to take outside shots and Yao and Brooks helped Houston keep the lead by driving the baseline for baskets.
Steady veteran, Derek Fisher, didn’t factor much in the loss for L.A. who has the better frontcourt team. He scored 8 points Monday night. Fisher is not the same player he once was and could not guard second year man, Brooks. Jordan Farmar’s shooting went cold this year as he regressed offensively. Perhaps this is the series he will step up in place of Fisher. He isn’t playing with confidence right now but a playoff performance might snap him out of it. For Houston, Luis Scola led in scoring during the Portland series ,but also did not play a major role last night.
The heavily favored Lakers have a formidable trio with Trevor Ariza, Gasol and Bynum. All play secondary roles to Kobe, but may be the most important players if L.A. is to win the series. We all know Kobe is going to get his points. But Artest and Battier are going to make him work. Houston’s defense ranks among the league’s best and they know the game plan against L.A. They held Kobe last night harassing him into missing 17 shots and giving only five chances at the line.
Gasol is low-post presence and keeps the offense moving. Ariza muscles his way on defense and is a hustling player. Bynum hasn’t performed well this season and the 21 year old struggled in the first round of the playoffs against Utah. It will be increasingly difficult for Andrew to defend Yao. If Bynum can handle the coverage without the Lakers having to double team Ming, L.A. will be able to play a stronger perimeter defense. The Rockets several three point threats but Bynum can mitigate their shooting success if he can contribute his unbelievable skills. He is the L.A. x-factor and many feel the Lakers would have beaten the Celtics with a healthy Bynum last year. Andrew has height, size and quickness for a traditional center.
Guard, Vujacic carved out a niche with his hot shooting during the final week of the season. He’s a promising player who could shake things up when backing up Bryant. Gasol is a tough match for Houston’s Scola. The two are familiar with each other because they played international ball together. Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry may have to be present on the court more often if Scola gets into foul trouble or can’t fend off Gasol. Luckily, the Rockets have that depth at the forward position. They have a suitable crew to be a industrious scoring team.
The Lakers certainly have more weapons offensively and arguably the best clutch player in Bryant. Last night they didn’t show their supremacy. L.A. only shot 44.3% and made only 2 of 18 three point attempts. The Rockets shot 47.9%. The Lakers were being stripped of the ball and shot poorly throughout the Rocket romping. Now it’s in the Lakers’ psyche whether or not they can win an NBA championship. They have to move the ball more and exhibit more patience on offense. Reserve players need to come off the bench for Phil Jackson. L.A. must have quicker passes and execute their prolific pick and roll. When the Lakers took quicker passes, Houston’s defense could not react in the second half last night. L.A. thrived on getting better looks inside and freeing up the circle instead of relying primarily on perimeter shooting.
The Rockets only won 53 games this year but the team is hungry and energetic. Houston already got the monkey off their back by winning a first round playoff series for the first time in forever. They stole a game in Los Angeles and even if they lose Wednesday, can take care of business at the Toyota Center to make it a very attainable series. Let the plot thicken.
Parting points: Posada + Hamstring = trip to the DL; not a good sign for the Yankees
The scoring starting early for Houston. They held a three point halftime lead and were sharp offensively in the first half. Houston scored more points in each quarter to pace themselves throughout the night against a harsh opponent. L.A. only had 18 buckets in the first quarter and fell behind early. The Lakers never got into a rhythm, missing 7 of 19 free throws. L.A. shot 8 for 24 over the first 12 minutes. They were ineffective from the 3-point line and couldn’t execute on offense. Houston committed turnovers in the second half and L.A. came within one point of snatching the lead. That’s when Yao and the Houston defense attacked the Lakers’ passers and played more consistent basketball. The Rockets scored on nine consecutive possessions. Ming had two blocked shots on the night and Los Angeles had no answer for him or point guard, Aaron Brooks. Brooks was more aggressive and played much more consistently than he did in the series with Portland. He and Artest corroborated the rugged Rocket’s defensive.
The Rockets coasted to an 8 point lead when Yao’s knee buckled and went berserk. Lakers forward, Pau Gasol, cut the Rockets lead to six with a definable dunk and Lamar Odom rebounded on the next possession to reduce the lead with a basket of his own. Odom replaced Andrew Bynum of the Lakers after the center committed two fouls in the first three minutes of the game. Artest and Ming mugged the Lakers with under three minutes left in the game. Yao hit a 20 foot jumper and nailed four free throws and Artest sealed a shot to keep Houston on top. With an 11 point lead and only 1:30 remaining after Shane Battier hit a pair of free throws, the Lakers attempted a Staples Center comeback. Yao’s two free passes finished L.A. for good when time expired. Ming’s 28 points are a personal playoff high for the Chinese all-star. Artest had an equally gigantic night, dishing out 7 assists in the effort.
The Rockets got a scare late in the fourth quarter that reminded fans of the four regular season meetings between the teams. In all four games, the Lakers outscored Houston by an average of 12 points in the fourth quarter. L.A. swept the season series in one-sided games. This time, the Rockets responded late with the help of Ming, Artest and Brooks. The team did not fold. The Rockets cannot win games without Yao. Ming left the game with 4.54 on the clock but returned to rejuvenate the Rockets. He scored 8 points after his return to the game and did not miss any of his six free throws. He had ten free throws all together.
Artest and Battier did a great job in guarding Bryant. Battier and Kyle Lowry were terrific and relentless. They smothered the Lakers on defense and gave their best effort the entire game. They forced the Lakers to rush points and shunned and shrugged off their defense. Battier needed stitches to his left eye in the first quarter after a hard hit from Sasha Vujacic. Shane returned just before halftime. Gasol sat earlier in the quarter with a left eye injury too. He came back to finish with 14 points and 13 rebounds for L.A.. Kobe made three shots in two minutes during the second half to narrow the gap, but Bryant kept missing his points down the stretch. Defensively, the Rockets forced Kobe to take outside shots and Yao and Brooks helped Houston keep the lead by driving the baseline for baskets.
Steady veteran, Derek Fisher, didn’t factor much in the loss for L.A. who has the better frontcourt team. He scored 8 points Monday night. Fisher is not the same player he once was and could not guard second year man, Brooks. Jordan Farmar’s shooting went cold this year as he regressed offensively. Perhaps this is the series he will step up in place of Fisher. He isn’t playing with confidence right now but a playoff performance might snap him out of it. For Houston, Luis Scola led in scoring during the Portland series ,but also did not play a major role last night.
The heavily favored Lakers have a formidable trio with Trevor Ariza, Gasol and Bynum. All play secondary roles to Kobe, but may be the most important players if L.A. is to win the series. We all know Kobe is going to get his points. But Artest and Battier are going to make him work. Houston’s defense ranks among the league’s best and they know the game plan against L.A. They held Kobe last night harassing him into missing 17 shots and giving only five chances at the line.
Gasol is low-post presence and keeps the offense moving. Ariza muscles his way on defense and is a hustling player. Bynum hasn’t performed well this season and the 21 year old struggled in the first round of the playoffs against Utah. It will be increasingly difficult for Andrew to defend Yao. If Bynum can handle the coverage without the Lakers having to double team Ming, L.A. will be able to play a stronger perimeter defense. The Rockets several three point threats but Bynum can mitigate their shooting success if he can contribute his unbelievable skills. He is the L.A. x-factor and many feel the Lakers would have beaten the Celtics with a healthy Bynum last year. Andrew has height, size and quickness for a traditional center.
Guard, Vujacic carved out a niche with his hot shooting during the final week of the season. He’s a promising player who could shake things up when backing up Bryant. Gasol is a tough match for Houston’s Scola. The two are familiar with each other because they played international ball together. Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry may have to be present on the court more often if Scola gets into foul trouble or can’t fend off Gasol. Luckily, the Rockets have that depth at the forward position. They have a suitable crew to be a industrious scoring team.
The Lakers certainly have more weapons offensively and arguably the best clutch player in Bryant. Last night they didn’t show their supremacy. L.A. only shot 44.3% and made only 2 of 18 three point attempts. The Rockets shot 47.9%. The Lakers were being stripped of the ball and shot poorly throughout the Rocket romping. Now it’s in the Lakers’ psyche whether or not they can win an NBA championship. They have to move the ball more and exhibit more patience on offense. Reserve players need to come off the bench for Phil Jackson. L.A. must have quicker passes and execute their prolific pick and roll. When the Lakers took quicker passes, Houston’s defense could not react in the second half last night. L.A. thrived on getting better looks inside and freeing up the circle instead of relying primarily on perimeter shooting.
The Rockets only won 53 games this year but the team is hungry and energetic. Houston already got the monkey off their back by winning a first round playoff series for the first time in forever. They stole a game in Los Angeles and even if they lose Wednesday, can take care of business at the Toyota Center to make it a very attainable series. Let the plot thicken.
Parting points: Posada + Hamstring = trip to the DL; not a good sign for the Yankees
Monday, May 4, 2009
Hughes Handed Home Hype & High Hopes
Phil Hughes posted his first win of the season when he was the pitcher on record against the Detroit Tigers last week. Hughes was supposed to face the Halos Sunday, but the game was rained out. He will start tonight in a two-game homestand against the Boston Red Sox. Phil shut down the Tigers in six innings in his season debut as the Yankees routed Detroit. The 22 year old doesn’t have the pressure on him this year like he experienced in 2008. Last season, Hughes was slated to start every five days and be one of the aces on the mound. He did not live up to those expectations after the Yankees handed him the number three spot in the rotation. Hughes was shipped back to the minors and accepted a demotion before the year was over. Last Tuesday he filled in for the ineffective Chien-Ming Wang and proved to be the better option for New York. The Bombers got a huge boost from the righty in his Comerica Park outing. Hughes struck out six and tamed the Tigers to two hits. Phil has an opportunity to grow from that fine start. The Yankees have so much invested in Hughes and his unlimited potential has to be realized.
Hughes is a competent pitcher and I saw potential when he first debuted for the team in 2007. He looked like a kid just stepping out of high school, and still goes. That May, he flirted with and nearly threw a no-hitter.
Phil has endured a few setbacks so far in his young career since that dashing debut. He has been wildly inconsistent and twirled some dreadful games. He still showed a flippant fastball but Hughes was very unstable in his second year campaign. The 6’5” righty went 0-4 in 8 starts in 2008. He gave up 43 hits in 34 plus innings, issuing 15 walks. His ERA soared to a wretched 6.62 after keeping it under 4.50 his rookie year. The Yankees would like to see more of the 2007 version of Hughes when he went 5-3 in 72 innings of work. He was once the organization’s top prospect and believed to be as gifted as Roger Clemens. Hughes has a long way to go and many games to endure before he draws those unreal comparisons, but you had to like what you saw against Detroit. Having a surplus of starters would be a problem the team would embrace.
The Yankees were swept in Boston in their first series with the rivals of 2009. Hughes cannot afford any hiccups tonight because the Red Sox will take advantage of any minor mistakes. Tonight, Hughes will be contested as he faces the AL East’s best. Although they do hold the lead (Toronto is in first place), Boston does have a 15-10 record. Encouragingly, they are only 5-8 on the road in 2009. The team always plays to win. They are, however, 9-4 against AL East teams. The Yankees are only 3-6 in those games. Hughes has only one appearance against the hated Sox. Last April, he lost up in Fenway 8-5. He only lasted two innings and was charged with 7 of the 8 Boston runs.
The relief pitching is most important as the Yankees open the two game set, especially with left-hander, Damaso Marte on the DL. New York called up Anthony Claggett from Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre to take Marte‘s place. Robinson Cano’s 18 game hitting streak ended in Saturday’s tough loss with the Angels. Robinson’s defense has improved drastically and he is tearing the cover off the ball. Cano has been creaming and crushing the baseball since he took his first swing in April. The same is true for outfielder, Nick Swisher. Swisher may miss this series due to injury though. Mark Teixiera is notorious for slow spring starts. He was signed this winter to be the Yankee heavyweight in the heart of the order, and it would be delightful if he chose this series to pound it out. The Bomber bats will compete against Jon Lester in the Sox first appearance in the new Yankee Stadium. Lester dominated New York last year with his 1.19 ERA against the Bombers in three starts. He threw a shutout last July I am still trying to forget. Lester threw in the 11 inning affair this season between the two teams. He tossed six innings of two run ball. Which Lester will show up tonight? The one who beat New York a few weeks ago or the one who flopped in his last start? Hopefully the men in pinstripes won’t be his latest casualties. Which Hughes will take the ball? The bright dazzler of 2007 or the dim, doleful and dejected disappointment of 2008? It would be great to see Hughes welcome the Boston bats with un-hittable stuff.
Boston is coming off a losing effort against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sunday night, Boston allowed speedy Rays slugger, Carl Crawford, to steal six bases. Crawford tied the major league record for most in a game with his half dozen swipes. The bullpen is just as important for the Red Sox. In the first series up in Beantown, Boston’s bullpen out pitched New York and kept the Yankee bats silent in all three victories. The games were closer than the scores indicated, but the Red Sox relief pitching compensated for any Boston blips. During last evening’s 5-3 loss in Tampa, the bullpen could not sustain a strong outing from starter, Brad Penny. Reliever, Manny Demcarmen gave up his first earned run of the year and the team is now losers of 3 of their last 4 games. Delcarmen hit two Rays after giving up back-to-back singles when he was called into the game.
Terry Francona, the Sox skipper, fields one of baseball’s top starting lineups. The Red Sox can hit, field and do the little things needed to win. Pitcher, Josh Beckett, isn’t having a Beckett-like year, but the pitching is still very deep and accomplished. Penny is already 2-0 on the year, and Tim Wakefield’s knuckler stunned and shunned the Rays last weekend for his third victory. Righty, Justin Masterson is 2-1 and lefty, Lester is 1-2. Lester’s ERA is above 5 but Francona believes he will find his velocity and command again. He has been topsy-turvy on the hill as of late. Jonathan Papelbon is the Red Sox closer. He has 6 saves on the season. Boston will not wilt as long as they can depend on their arms.
Centerfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, is the stud leadoff hitter. Ellsbury is hitting .276 and stole home on Andy Pettitte in an embarrassing Yankee moment at Fenway. The versatile Ellsbury exhibited Boston’s proactive playing style. Dustin Pedroia hits behind Ellsbury with a .309 batting average and dapper glove at second base. Pedroia peppers pitchers and plays with intensity. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis pack the power in the three and four hole. Youkilis is particularly good with two outs in getting base hits, and his patience is a frustrating aspect for pitchers. DH Ortiz is not off to a good start, only batting .215. Big Papi realizes he is slumping early in the season and it is only a matter of time before he breaks out of it. Ortiz is looking for his first four baggers of the year and hopes to get it in the new stadium. His batting average has plummeted to .208 in the beginning of May.
Youkilis is lighting up the league with an over .400 average and spewing out 5 homeruns. J.D. Drew and Jason Bay play the corner outfield positions and bat next to each other in Francona’s lineup. Bay has been the most recent “Yankee killer” with his knockout blasts. The bleeders he sent out in the first series with New York are still being felt by fans. Bay has 20 RBIs on the season and steps to the plate with a respectable .316 average. Drew is batting under .250 but is a homerun hitter capable of starting rallies or finishing off teams with late game heroics. He has three long balls so far. Veteran third baseman, Mike Lowell, enjoys a bottom-of-the-order slot with his five homers. His team-leading 24 RBIs come with a .312 average on the young season. Catcher, Jason Varitek and SS, Julio Lugo round out the nine batters Hughes will face tonight. The pervasive captain, Varitek, clubbed four homeruns for 10 RBIs and Lugo is batting an even .300. Lugo is useful in turning the lineup over and getting important hits with runners on base. The Red Sox have been light-hitting and struggling offensively other than their outburst Saturday. The bottom four hitters went 0-14 yesterday for Boston. The team is being walloped and outscored but I think they will have success in the hitter friendly Bronx home.
Parting points: Befitting song for tonight- “Know Your Enemy” by Green Day
Link of the day:
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-253478
Hughes is a competent pitcher and I saw potential when he first debuted for the team in 2007. He looked like a kid just stepping out of high school, and still goes. That May, he flirted with and nearly threw a no-hitter.
Phil has endured a few setbacks so far in his young career since that dashing debut. He has been wildly inconsistent and twirled some dreadful games. He still showed a flippant fastball but Hughes was very unstable in his second year campaign. The 6’5” righty went 0-4 in 8 starts in 2008. He gave up 43 hits in 34 plus innings, issuing 15 walks. His ERA soared to a wretched 6.62 after keeping it under 4.50 his rookie year. The Yankees would like to see more of the 2007 version of Hughes when he went 5-3 in 72 innings of work. He was once the organization’s top prospect and believed to be as gifted as Roger Clemens. Hughes has a long way to go and many games to endure before he draws those unreal comparisons, but you had to like what you saw against Detroit. Having a surplus of starters would be a problem the team would embrace.
The Yankees were swept in Boston in their first series with the rivals of 2009. Hughes cannot afford any hiccups tonight because the Red Sox will take advantage of any minor mistakes. Tonight, Hughes will be contested as he faces the AL East’s best. Although they do hold the lead (Toronto is in first place), Boston does have a 15-10 record. Encouragingly, they are only 5-8 on the road in 2009. The team always plays to win. They are, however, 9-4 against AL East teams. The Yankees are only 3-6 in those games. Hughes has only one appearance against the hated Sox. Last April, he lost up in Fenway 8-5. He only lasted two innings and was charged with 7 of the 8 Boston runs.
The relief pitching is most important as the Yankees open the two game set, especially with left-hander, Damaso Marte on the DL. New York called up Anthony Claggett from Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre to take Marte‘s place. Robinson Cano’s 18 game hitting streak ended in Saturday’s tough loss with the Angels. Robinson’s defense has improved drastically and he is tearing the cover off the ball. Cano has been creaming and crushing the baseball since he took his first swing in April. The same is true for outfielder, Nick Swisher. Swisher may miss this series due to injury though. Mark Teixiera is notorious for slow spring starts. He was signed this winter to be the Yankee heavyweight in the heart of the order, and it would be delightful if he chose this series to pound it out. The Bomber bats will compete against Jon Lester in the Sox first appearance in the new Yankee Stadium. Lester dominated New York last year with his 1.19 ERA against the Bombers in three starts. He threw a shutout last July I am still trying to forget. Lester threw in the 11 inning affair this season between the two teams. He tossed six innings of two run ball. Which Lester will show up tonight? The one who beat New York a few weeks ago or the one who flopped in his last start? Hopefully the men in pinstripes won’t be his latest casualties. Which Hughes will take the ball? The bright dazzler of 2007 or the dim, doleful and dejected disappointment of 2008? It would be great to see Hughes welcome the Boston bats with un-hittable stuff.
Boston is coming off a losing effort against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sunday night, Boston allowed speedy Rays slugger, Carl Crawford, to steal six bases. Crawford tied the major league record for most in a game with his half dozen swipes. The bullpen is just as important for the Red Sox. In the first series up in Beantown, Boston’s bullpen out pitched New York and kept the Yankee bats silent in all three victories. The games were closer than the scores indicated, but the Red Sox relief pitching compensated for any Boston blips. During last evening’s 5-3 loss in Tampa, the bullpen could not sustain a strong outing from starter, Brad Penny. Reliever, Manny Demcarmen gave up his first earned run of the year and the team is now losers of 3 of their last 4 games. Delcarmen hit two Rays after giving up back-to-back singles when he was called into the game.
Terry Francona, the Sox skipper, fields one of baseball’s top starting lineups. The Red Sox can hit, field and do the little things needed to win. Pitcher, Josh Beckett, isn’t having a Beckett-like year, but the pitching is still very deep and accomplished. Penny is already 2-0 on the year, and Tim Wakefield’s knuckler stunned and shunned the Rays last weekend for his third victory. Righty, Justin Masterson is 2-1 and lefty, Lester is 1-2. Lester’s ERA is above 5 but Francona believes he will find his velocity and command again. He has been topsy-turvy on the hill as of late. Jonathan Papelbon is the Red Sox closer. He has 6 saves on the season. Boston will not wilt as long as they can depend on their arms.
Centerfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, is the stud leadoff hitter. Ellsbury is hitting .276 and stole home on Andy Pettitte in an embarrassing Yankee moment at Fenway. The versatile Ellsbury exhibited Boston’s proactive playing style. Dustin Pedroia hits behind Ellsbury with a .309 batting average and dapper glove at second base. Pedroia peppers pitchers and plays with intensity. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis pack the power in the three and four hole. Youkilis is particularly good with two outs in getting base hits, and his patience is a frustrating aspect for pitchers. DH Ortiz is not off to a good start, only batting .215. Big Papi realizes he is slumping early in the season and it is only a matter of time before he breaks out of it. Ortiz is looking for his first four baggers of the year and hopes to get it in the new stadium. His batting average has plummeted to .208 in the beginning of May.
Youkilis is lighting up the league with an over .400 average and spewing out 5 homeruns. J.D. Drew and Jason Bay play the corner outfield positions and bat next to each other in Francona’s lineup. Bay has been the most recent “Yankee killer” with his knockout blasts. The bleeders he sent out in the first series with New York are still being felt by fans. Bay has 20 RBIs on the season and steps to the plate with a respectable .316 average. Drew is batting under .250 but is a homerun hitter capable of starting rallies or finishing off teams with late game heroics. He has three long balls so far. Veteran third baseman, Mike Lowell, enjoys a bottom-of-the-order slot with his five homers. His team-leading 24 RBIs come with a .312 average on the young season. Catcher, Jason Varitek and SS, Julio Lugo round out the nine batters Hughes will face tonight. The pervasive captain, Varitek, clubbed four homeruns for 10 RBIs and Lugo is batting an even .300. Lugo is useful in turning the lineup over and getting important hits with runners on base. The Red Sox have been light-hitting and struggling offensively other than their outburst Saturday. The bottom four hitters went 0-14 yesterday for Boston. The team is being walloped and outscored but I think they will have success in the hitter friendly Bronx home.
Parting points: Befitting song for tonight- “Know Your Enemy” by Green Day
Link of the day:
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-253478
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Phillies Platitude
It’s become a cliché in baseball. Can teams repeat as World Champions even with all the parity on the league? The days of the dynasty appeared to abruptly end as we entered a new century. There are still teams who make the playoffs a habit and are always going to compete for the pennant. It’s harder to ascertain which teams will be in the World Series each year. Nobody considered the Tampa Bay Rays a team capable of evening winning the division in 2008, let alone going to the World Series. The Phillies survived the down stretch and muscled and pitched their way to the title. They are no longer the proverbial losers. But, now the Phillies are puttering along early in 2009. The pitchers are getting smacked around and the hitters are failing to smack. Can the team repeat? I break down Philadelphia’s chance, but as the brainchild of the Oakland A’s, Billy Beane, says, the playoffs are a crapshoot.
Top flight pitcher, Cole Hamels, was expected to be the backbone of the Phillies this season. Last year, the Phillies went 19-14 in games Hamels started. Philadelphia is 1-3 in Cole’s starts this season. He struggled to protect a 7-1 in the Phillies recent homestand against Washington. Head Coach Charlie Manuel is in an unfamiliar predicament with his ace, who could land on the DL for an extended period of time. Hamels threw a bullpen session yesterday but could miss his next start Tuesday in St. Louis. The Phillies number one left-hander sprained his ankle and if he misses time, will be replaced by reliever, J.A. Happ. Manuel could also call up a starter from the minors. Kyle Kendrick is a triple A right-hander with a 2-1 record and 2.77 ERA.
Hamels is not the only Philadelphia pitcher struggling. He has a 7.27 ERA and has given up an extensive 27 hits in 17 innings. Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer also have high ERAs and have yielded too many homeruns. Myers is 1-2 with a 4.83 ERA, allowing 8 dingers. Myers has a quality arm but tends to make mistakes and get down on himself for them. Against the Nationals last week, Myers walked three in an inning, including the left handed Washington starter, Scott Olsen. The third pass, with the bases loaded, resulted in a run. The Nationals outlasted Philadelphia 4-1 and Myers took the loss.
Moyer boasts a 3-1 record, pitching with a .5.65 ERA and 7 long balls surrendered. The back end rightys, Joe Blanton and Chan Ho Park, have yet to record a win and both have over 8 ERAs. Park has issues an abysmal 28 hits in just 20 innings of work and walked 11. On Saturday, he put the Phillies in a 5-0 hole because he allowed the Mets seven runs on eight hits, walking six. He pitched a little over four innings in the loss. If Park proves he cannot handle big league pitching, Manuel may be forced to put Happ into the rotation anyway. Park beat out Happ for the fifth starter in Spring training. The pitching staff allowed a homerun in all but on of their first 19 games. I realize they play at home in a bandbox but that is inexcusable for a world championship caliber team.
Closer Brad Lidge had a career year in 2008 and was the team’s cog in close games. Lidge controlled the bullpen chaos as the Phillies coasted to their World Series title. He was unreal on the mound in relief. This year, Brad has a 7.27 ERA in nine appearances. He did injure his knee last week and blames a hitch in his delivery on the ailment. The flaw is self-correcting according to the closer so the Phillies shouldn’t be without his services too long. Right-hander, Clay Condrey, has been the best bullpen arm for Manuel. The ground-ball pitcher is 3-0 in 14 games. A long relief man last season, Condrey finished with a 3.26 ERA. He’s been used in more high-pressure circumstances this year and has the confidence of pitching coach, Rich Dubee. Condrey has held opponents to a .195 batting average, tops on the team. The 33 year old has an improved changeup, nasty sinker and cutter. Ryan Madson has also been a positive, with 16 strikeouts in 11 games. Madson hasn’t issued a homerun and stands with a 2-1 record. Righty, Chad Durbin and southpaw, Scott Eyre, have been only mediocre. Overall, the team has received good work out of the pen. As a unit, they have a 4.28 ERA. While not spectacular, the relievers have been effective. If they continue with the heavy workload, the effectiveness will wear off quickly.
A productive and potent power lineup positioned Philadelphia for a first place finish last year. The two best hitters for Manuel have been second baseman, Chase Utley and off-season free agent pickup, Raul Ibanez. The outfielder Ibanez is batting .360. He and Utley both have 8 homeruns (not including Raul’s launch yesterday) and 21 RBIs through the season’s first month. Ibanez ignited the Phillies with an 8th inning grand slam against the Nationals last week. Count Ibanez as another player the Mets missed out on. His defense is better than last year Phillies outfielder, Pat Burrell, too.
Utley came back from injury to club .342 at the plate so far. Jimmy Rollins, the all-star shortstop, finally raised his average to the .200 mark after hitting in yesterday’s win against New York. Rollins has a .206 on-base-percentage and the Phillies could benefit from a Jimmy hot streak. Ryan Howard, the ultra-talented, muscular first baseman, has a .281 average and is striking out too often. Because Howard swings a big bat, you can expect the ball to pass the fence with regularity. You also must be accustomed to the young slugger whiffing on more occasions. At third base, the Phillies are seeing surprise plate production from Pedro Feliz. Feliz is batting .338. Centerfielder, Shane Victorino, is the heart of the team and plays a core position on the field. Shane is batting .287, while his teammate in right field, Jayson Werth, has a .250 average. Werth and Victorino can go yard and may provide power once the summer hits. Utility player, Matt Stairs, can also be the pop needed from a bench that lacks depth. Catcher, Carlos Ruiz, has been out since April 10th, but Manuel hinted about him being activated from the DL after this weekend. Top prospect, Lou Marson, is a viable replacement, however. Marson is 4 for 17 with a .235 average since being called up.
You could argue the Phillies are one of baseball’s best comeback teams this year. They have scored 40 of their 85 runs in the seventh inning or later so far. Philadelphia has eight come-from-behind wins. The Phillies are a resilient club and have trailed by multiple runs in 13 of their first 19 games. It is too risky and hard to play catch-up all the time but they do find ways. This is a team that hangs around and kicks it into high gear when the pressure is on. The comeback ability factor is reason enough to believe the Phillies are for real, despite their major pitching woes and starters not hitting. Philadelphia is off to a slow start but I predict they will drastically improve their record by the all-star break. This six week stretch has not been kind to the Phillies. Some teams take time to get things going again, especially after winning world titles. I think that is what we are seeing with the Phillies, at least at the plate. The Phillies know how to keep pitcher’s honest with their tenacious and unrelenting lineup. A blossoming of bashing bats is not to much to beseech and would benefit benignly.
Manuel, a former hitting coach, was upset with his offense after the team was shut out through eight innings against Dave Bush and the Brewers. Bush came close to throwing a no-no at Citizens’ Bank Park. Even though Bush hit his spots, the Phillies played poorly. The team didn’t make aggressive swings and played more of a defensive style at the plate. Stairs’ solo shot off Bush broke up the no hit bid but the team lost 6-1. I think Manuel wants to see harder hit balls instead of loopy liners and shabby singles. As he so eloquently put, the hitting on this club “stinks”.
A solid defense is still present, especially in the Philadelphia infield. Rollins, Utley, Feliz, and Howard all play their positions well. The National Leaguers held the record for consecutive errorless games until Utley was charged with a 7th inning error against the Mets in a 7-4 loss Saturday. Victorino plays a magnificent centerfield and continues to gun down line drives with marvel.
Manuel has a good feel for his team and the Phillies are very capable of winning again in 2009. Last year, they won because their pitching rotation and bullpen were better than most people expected. The starting pitching is worst in baseball this year and that is the main reason for concern at this time. Philadelphia starters have allowed 83 earned runs and have a league worst collective ERA of 6.65. The rotation needs to go deeper into ball games instead of these 5 inning affairs where they drive up their pitch counts. Last year, the pitchers were credited with multiple 1-2-3 innings, but we haven’t seen many glimpses of the same this season. Myers, Moyer and Park are showing signs of settling in, and if Hamels returns healthy, the Phillies rotation will be back in tact. Blanton caught on late last year as the Phillies surged behind is stellar summer arm. They just need more length from the starting five to alleviate the pressure off the bullpen.
It may be another platitude, but Philadelphia has to be more consistent. The Phillies have the seal of approval around the league because they are still the defending world champions. The Phillies hardly look like defending champs but until they are beaten, you have to consider them the best.
Parting points: Check out a cool bike- http://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=47768
Top flight pitcher, Cole Hamels, was expected to be the backbone of the Phillies this season. Last year, the Phillies went 19-14 in games Hamels started. Philadelphia is 1-3 in Cole’s starts this season. He struggled to protect a 7-1 in the Phillies recent homestand against Washington. Head Coach Charlie Manuel is in an unfamiliar predicament with his ace, who could land on the DL for an extended period of time. Hamels threw a bullpen session yesterday but could miss his next start Tuesday in St. Louis. The Phillies number one left-hander sprained his ankle and if he misses time, will be replaced by reliever, J.A. Happ. Manuel could also call up a starter from the minors. Kyle Kendrick is a triple A right-hander with a 2-1 record and 2.77 ERA.
Hamels is not the only Philadelphia pitcher struggling. He has a 7.27 ERA and has given up an extensive 27 hits in 17 innings. Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer also have high ERAs and have yielded too many homeruns. Myers is 1-2 with a 4.83 ERA, allowing 8 dingers. Myers has a quality arm but tends to make mistakes and get down on himself for them. Against the Nationals last week, Myers walked three in an inning, including the left handed Washington starter, Scott Olsen. The third pass, with the bases loaded, resulted in a run. The Nationals outlasted Philadelphia 4-1 and Myers took the loss.
Moyer boasts a 3-1 record, pitching with a .5.65 ERA and 7 long balls surrendered. The back end rightys, Joe Blanton and Chan Ho Park, have yet to record a win and both have over 8 ERAs. Park has issues an abysmal 28 hits in just 20 innings of work and walked 11. On Saturday, he put the Phillies in a 5-0 hole because he allowed the Mets seven runs on eight hits, walking six. He pitched a little over four innings in the loss. If Park proves he cannot handle big league pitching, Manuel may be forced to put Happ into the rotation anyway. Park beat out Happ for the fifth starter in Spring training. The pitching staff allowed a homerun in all but on of their first 19 games. I realize they play at home in a bandbox but that is inexcusable for a world championship caliber team.
Closer Brad Lidge had a career year in 2008 and was the team’s cog in close games. Lidge controlled the bullpen chaos as the Phillies coasted to their World Series title. He was unreal on the mound in relief. This year, Brad has a 7.27 ERA in nine appearances. He did injure his knee last week and blames a hitch in his delivery on the ailment. The flaw is self-correcting according to the closer so the Phillies shouldn’t be without his services too long. Right-hander, Clay Condrey, has been the best bullpen arm for Manuel. The ground-ball pitcher is 3-0 in 14 games. A long relief man last season, Condrey finished with a 3.26 ERA. He’s been used in more high-pressure circumstances this year and has the confidence of pitching coach, Rich Dubee. Condrey has held opponents to a .195 batting average, tops on the team. The 33 year old has an improved changeup, nasty sinker and cutter. Ryan Madson has also been a positive, with 16 strikeouts in 11 games. Madson hasn’t issued a homerun and stands with a 2-1 record. Righty, Chad Durbin and southpaw, Scott Eyre, have been only mediocre. Overall, the team has received good work out of the pen. As a unit, they have a 4.28 ERA. While not spectacular, the relievers have been effective. If they continue with the heavy workload, the effectiveness will wear off quickly.
A productive and potent power lineup positioned Philadelphia for a first place finish last year. The two best hitters for Manuel have been second baseman, Chase Utley and off-season free agent pickup, Raul Ibanez. The outfielder Ibanez is batting .360. He and Utley both have 8 homeruns (not including Raul’s launch yesterday) and 21 RBIs through the season’s first month. Ibanez ignited the Phillies with an 8th inning grand slam against the Nationals last week. Count Ibanez as another player the Mets missed out on. His defense is better than last year Phillies outfielder, Pat Burrell, too.
Utley came back from injury to club .342 at the plate so far. Jimmy Rollins, the all-star shortstop, finally raised his average to the .200 mark after hitting in yesterday’s win against New York. Rollins has a .206 on-base-percentage and the Phillies could benefit from a Jimmy hot streak. Ryan Howard, the ultra-talented, muscular first baseman, has a .281 average and is striking out too often. Because Howard swings a big bat, you can expect the ball to pass the fence with regularity. You also must be accustomed to the young slugger whiffing on more occasions. At third base, the Phillies are seeing surprise plate production from Pedro Feliz. Feliz is batting .338. Centerfielder, Shane Victorino, is the heart of the team and plays a core position on the field. Shane is batting .287, while his teammate in right field, Jayson Werth, has a .250 average. Werth and Victorino can go yard and may provide power once the summer hits. Utility player, Matt Stairs, can also be the pop needed from a bench that lacks depth. Catcher, Carlos Ruiz, has been out since April 10th, but Manuel hinted about him being activated from the DL after this weekend. Top prospect, Lou Marson, is a viable replacement, however. Marson is 4 for 17 with a .235 average since being called up.
You could argue the Phillies are one of baseball’s best comeback teams this year. They have scored 40 of their 85 runs in the seventh inning or later so far. Philadelphia has eight come-from-behind wins. The Phillies are a resilient club and have trailed by multiple runs in 13 of their first 19 games. It is too risky and hard to play catch-up all the time but they do find ways. This is a team that hangs around and kicks it into high gear when the pressure is on. The comeback ability factor is reason enough to believe the Phillies are for real, despite their major pitching woes and starters not hitting. Philadelphia is off to a slow start but I predict they will drastically improve their record by the all-star break. This six week stretch has not been kind to the Phillies. Some teams take time to get things going again, especially after winning world titles. I think that is what we are seeing with the Phillies, at least at the plate. The Phillies know how to keep pitcher’s honest with their tenacious and unrelenting lineup. A blossoming of bashing bats is not to much to beseech and would benefit benignly.
Manuel, a former hitting coach, was upset with his offense after the team was shut out through eight innings against Dave Bush and the Brewers. Bush came close to throwing a no-no at Citizens’ Bank Park. Even though Bush hit his spots, the Phillies played poorly. The team didn’t make aggressive swings and played more of a defensive style at the plate. Stairs’ solo shot off Bush broke up the no hit bid but the team lost 6-1. I think Manuel wants to see harder hit balls instead of loopy liners and shabby singles. As he so eloquently put, the hitting on this club “stinks”.
A solid defense is still present, especially in the Philadelphia infield. Rollins, Utley, Feliz, and Howard all play their positions well. The National Leaguers held the record for consecutive errorless games until Utley was charged with a 7th inning error against the Mets in a 7-4 loss Saturday. Victorino plays a magnificent centerfield and continues to gun down line drives with marvel.
Manuel has a good feel for his team and the Phillies are very capable of winning again in 2009. Last year, they won because their pitching rotation and bullpen were better than most people expected. The starting pitching is worst in baseball this year and that is the main reason for concern at this time. Philadelphia starters have allowed 83 earned runs and have a league worst collective ERA of 6.65. The rotation needs to go deeper into ball games instead of these 5 inning affairs where they drive up their pitch counts. Last year, the pitchers were credited with multiple 1-2-3 innings, but we haven’t seen many glimpses of the same this season. Myers, Moyer and Park are showing signs of settling in, and if Hamels returns healthy, the Phillies rotation will be back in tact. Blanton caught on late last year as the Phillies surged behind is stellar summer arm. They just need more length from the starting five to alleviate the pressure off the bullpen.
It may be another platitude, but Philadelphia has to be more consistent. The Phillies have the seal of approval around the league because they are still the defending world champions. The Phillies hardly look like defending champs but until they are beaten, you have to consider them the best.
Parting points: Check out a cool bike- http://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=47768
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Complacent Chicago-Celtics Complete Classic Clash
Today may be Derby Day, but the real horse race takes place tonight in Boston. It’s all about the C’s and B’s. The Celtics host the Chicago Bulls in Game 7 one of the spiciest playoff series we’ve ever witnessed. The captivating and confounding classic closes out this evening at TD BankNorth Garden with an 8pm tip-off. The Eastern opponents have played seven overtimes in the first six games, including a Game 6 triple overtime Bulls win. If the first six are any indication of what to expect in the decisive game, NBA fans are in for another thrilling threat. Here is a quick recap of the first six wars.
Derrick Rose was the difference in Game 1. Rookie Rose pulled off a Michael Jordanesque performance in Boston with the support of teammates, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas. The game went to overtime after Rose hit both free throws with 9.4 seconds left and the Bulls leading 97-96. Noah double-teamed Paul Pierce and blocked his jump shot but drew a foul on the play. Pierce was sent to the line. The Celtics shooter tied the game with his first free throw, but missed the second. Rose went 12 for 19 from the field and was perfect from the line until fouling out in overtime. Thomas had 16 points and scored the game-winning basket with a left corner jumper. Noah nailed 11 points to go along with a double-double. Rose’s 36 points and Noah’s 17 rebounds helped carve Chicago’s way to the 105-103 road win in Game 1. Boston, playing without injured Kevin Garnett, struggled to defend the point guard Rose and missed shot early in the game against the Bulls. The Chicago defense wasn’t fantastic but took advantage of Boston’s miscues. They led at halftime 53-44 and increased the lead to 11 in the second half. At the end of the third quarter, Boston outscored Chicago to re-take the lead entering the fourth.
Rose took over from there and Ben Gordon added 12 points in the final quarter. The Bulls fought off a late Celtics rally and kept bringing the pressure on Boston’s Ray Allen and Pierce. Then in the extra session, Thomas helped Chicago put it away, permitting six of the team’s eight points.
Game 2 was just as stunning as Ray Allen hit a three point shot with two seconds left. Allen’s basket notched the series at 1 and completed a 118-115 Celtics win. Boston grabbed an early lead in this game just five minutes into play. Rose was benched on four fouls but the Bulls managed to rally back and cut the lead. Chicago had a 36-35 advantage by the second quarter. At the half, Chicago held a nervous 61-58 lead. Gordon’s career high 42 points were tremendous but the Celtics were successful in out-rebounding Chicago. Point guard, Rajon Rondo, was gritty in snagging a triple-double for Boston. Rondo had 19 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds. Allen helped score 30 points in the second half against his former college teammate at Uconn, Gordon and the Bulls. The Celtics converted any second chances into points and scored on four straight possessions with just about a minute left in regulation. Boston led by one point when Rondo collected a bucket from 18 feet. Gordon countered with his own tough shot to put the Bulls back on top as the clock showed 46 seconds. The teams exchanged leads again with an Allen three pointer. Gordon tied the game with 12 seconds left and overtime was imminent until Allen’s fade away finisher. The Bulls fought and defended well for the second straight game. They had 14 blocked shots, including six from Thomas and four from Noah. Boston had 9 steals to Chicago’s 7.
The fired up Celtics lead by 22 points at halftime of Game 3. Chicago missed their free throws and turned the ball over in front of their home fans at the United Center. Rondo scored 20 points, with nine coming in the opening quarter. Nine times, Chicago turned the ball over and missed 7 free throws in that quarter. Poor shooting killed the Bulls in the first half, especially with Pierce firing and making tough shots in cruise control mode. John Salmons and guard, Kirk Hinrich, each scored 14 for Chicago as the team had to play catch-up in the second half. Gordon finished with 15 points of his own but Rose only had nine buckets with seven turnovers. The aggressive Celtics’ swipe leaders were forward, Glen Davis and Rondo. Even misconceived Stephon Marbury contributed for the Celts. He scored 13 points off the bench. Chicago was never able to entirely erase the commanding Celtics first quarter lead.
The Bulls needed two overtimes to defeat the Celtics 121-118 in Sunday’s Game 4 contest. Even after Allen hit a three-pointer near the end of regulation, Chicago did not cave. Allen’s bucket tied the game at 96 to send the teams into overtime. The Bulls trailed by five with two minutes in OT number one but managed to force a second overtime on Gordon’s three pointer. Miller was in the middle of the nastiness, burying baskets all night. Noah collected 10 rebounds and the Bulls were helped by Hinrich’s 18 swishes. Hinrich contained Pierce throughout the game. The Bulls problems with timeouts have hurt them in this series, but this night they were able to suffice. They never trailed in the second session. Salmons struggled from the start, but finished with 20 points and four free throws in the game’s final 26 seconds. Rose also had trouble this game. He couldn’t hold on to the ball, committing seven turnovers. Rondo had two takeaways for Boston and is the leader in steal average this series for either team.
Pierce netted three shots in overtime to give Boston a 106-104 overtime win in Game 5.
The Tuesday night clash put the Celts on top 3-2 in the first round series. Bulls center, Brad Miller, was fouled by Rondo to give Chicago a chance to tie the game after Pierce’s last basket. Miller missed the two free passes for the scoring opportunity. The Celtics battled back from an 11 points deficit to force overtime in the fourth quarter. Pierce tied the game with just over 10 seconds in regulation and ended the game with 26 points. Rondo scored 28 for Boston and Gordon hit 26 while nursing a strained hamstring for the Bulls. Kendrick Perkins starred in rebounding 19 for the Celts and Davis added 21 points. Perkins also tied an NBA record with 48 minutes of play time without a being called for a foul. Offensively for the Bulls, Noah had 11 points and Salmons contributed 17. Thomas and Rose each had 8 rebounds, and Hinrich came off the bench to drill 19.
An instant classic occurred Thursday when Chicago and Boston survived a 128-127 triple overtime affair. In the fourth quarter, Chicago went from being 12 points up to 8 down in a mere six minutes. Allen amassed an outrageous 51 points. He also tied a playoff record with nine three pointers. Rondo dished out 19 assists for Boston and Salmons scored 35 for Chicago. Salmons clocked 60 minutes during the epic game. The Bulls looked exasperated and exhausted by the second overtime and Allen hit another three with 7.6 second left to force another five minutes. Noah’s free throw in the third session gave Chicago some breathing room and a 126-123 lead. Noah’s remarkable and memorable open-court steal on Pierce gave Chicago the lead they needed to end the masterpiece game at home.
This is one enduring series for two teams of hard nosed players. Five games have been decided by three points or less. The Bulls never folded against the polished, defending champion Celtics. The teams keep sticking it to each other in different and devastating ways. Underused players have stepped up for both teams, Miller for Chicago and Mikki Moore, Eddie House and Brian Scalabrine for Boston. Rose has rocked and been brilliant defensively, and Allen has let loose so often for the Celtics it’s hard to remember just how many times he’s scored. Pierce plants pure buckets and Gordon glowingly gnats offenders as a defensive presence. Rondo is an untiring point guard crucial to the Celts without Garnett available. He is capable of being the thorn in Rose’s side and turning it into overdrive offensively. Perkins has a great inside game and Davis sets screens superbly for Boston. The Bulls have a proven veteran in Hinrich to provide the energy Chicago needs to defeat Boston on the road. Hinrich and Gordon are money players but it’s Noah who show constant effort in pressuring dribblers. Thomas is also a quiet factor, trumping and taming the Boston big men. Tonight should be another classic battle between two teams both perfectly practiced and set up for victory. People questioned whether Boston’s chemistry would be the same without Garnett. They haven’t missed a beat yet. Doc Rivers represents a head coach who demonstrates a desire and determination to win. Chicago is a team with just enough scruffy players and chemistry to pull through too. Del Negro experimented with different starting sets and Gordon is his true symphony conductor on the court. It would be hard to live up to Game 6, but all Game 7’s are always awesome because of the elimination factor.
Parting points: Is Eric Chavez really on the DL again? It is unfortunate he cannot stay healthy.
Song for the day- “Give it up”-Linkin Park
Derrick Rose was the difference in Game 1. Rookie Rose pulled off a Michael Jordanesque performance in Boston with the support of teammates, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas. The game went to overtime after Rose hit both free throws with 9.4 seconds left and the Bulls leading 97-96. Noah double-teamed Paul Pierce and blocked his jump shot but drew a foul on the play. Pierce was sent to the line. The Celtics shooter tied the game with his first free throw, but missed the second. Rose went 12 for 19 from the field and was perfect from the line until fouling out in overtime. Thomas had 16 points and scored the game-winning basket with a left corner jumper. Noah nailed 11 points to go along with a double-double. Rose’s 36 points and Noah’s 17 rebounds helped carve Chicago’s way to the 105-103 road win in Game 1. Boston, playing without injured Kevin Garnett, struggled to defend the point guard Rose and missed shot early in the game against the Bulls. The Chicago defense wasn’t fantastic but took advantage of Boston’s miscues. They led at halftime 53-44 and increased the lead to 11 in the second half. At the end of the third quarter, Boston outscored Chicago to re-take the lead entering the fourth.
Rose took over from there and Ben Gordon added 12 points in the final quarter. The Bulls fought off a late Celtics rally and kept bringing the pressure on Boston’s Ray Allen and Pierce. Then in the extra session, Thomas helped Chicago put it away, permitting six of the team’s eight points.
Game 2 was just as stunning as Ray Allen hit a three point shot with two seconds left. Allen’s basket notched the series at 1 and completed a 118-115 Celtics win. Boston grabbed an early lead in this game just five minutes into play. Rose was benched on four fouls but the Bulls managed to rally back and cut the lead. Chicago had a 36-35 advantage by the second quarter. At the half, Chicago held a nervous 61-58 lead. Gordon’s career high 42 points were tremendous but the Celtics were successful in out-rebounding Chicago. Point guard, Rajon Rondo, was gritty in snagging a triple-double for Boston. Rondo had 19 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds. Allen helped score 30 points in the second half against his former college teammate at Uconn, Gordon and the Bulls. The Celtics converted any second chances into points and scored on four straight possessions with just about a minute left in regulation. Boston led by one point when Rondo collected a bucket from 18 feet. Gordon countered with his own tough shot to put the Bulls back on top as the clock showed 46 seconds. The teams exchanged leads again with an Allen three pointer. Gordon tied the game with 12 seconds left and overtime was imminent until Allen’s fade away finisher. The Bulls fought and defended well for the second straight game. They had 14 blocked shots, including six from Thomas and four from Noah. Boston had 9 steals to Chicago’s 7.
The fired up Celtics lead by 22 points at halftime of Game 3. Chicago missed their free throws and turned the ball over in front of their home fans at the United Center. Rondo scored 20 points, with nine coming in the opening quarter. Nine times, Chicago turned the ball over and missed 7 free throws in that quarter. Poor shooting killed the Bulls in the first half, especially with Pierce firing and making tough shots in cruise control mode. John Salmons and guard, Kirk Hinrich, each scored 14 for Chicago as the team had to play catch-up in the second half. Gordon finished with 15 points of his own but Rose only had nine buckets with seven turnovers. The aggressive Celtics’ swipe leaders were forward, Glen Davis and Rondo. Even misconceived Stephon Marbury contributed for the Celts. He scored 13 points off the bench. Chicago was never able to entirely erase the commanding Celtics first quarter lead.
The Bulls needed two overtimes to defeat the Celtics 121-118 in Sunday’s Game 4 contest. Even after Allen hit a three-pointer near the end of regulation, Chicago did not cave. Allen’s bucket tied the game at 96 to send the teams into overtime. The Bulls trailed by five with two minutes in OT number one but managed to force a second overtime on Gordon’s three pointer. Miller was in the middle of the nastiness, burying baskets all night. Noah collected 10 rebounds and the Bulls were helped by Hinrich’s 18 swishes. Hinrich contained Pierce throughout the game. The Bulls problems with timeouts have hurt them in this series, but this night they were able to suffice. They never trailed in the second session. Salmons struggled from the start, but finished with 20 points and four free throws in the game’s final 26 seconds. Rose also had trouble this game. He couldn’t hold on to the ball, committing seven turnovers. Rondo had two takeaways for Boston and is the leader in steal average this series for either team.
Pierce netted three shots in overtime to give Boston a 106-104 overtime win in Game 5.
The Tuesday night clash put the Celts on top 3-2 in the first round series. Bulls center, Brad Miller, was fouled by Rondo to give Chicago a chance to tie the game after Pierce’s last basket. Miller missed the two free passes for the scoring opportunity. The Celtics battled back from an 11 points deficit to force overtime in the fourth quarter. Pierce tied the game with just over 10 seconds in regulation and ended the game with 26 points. Rondo scored 28 for Boston and Gordon hit 26 while nursing a strained hamstring for the Bulls. Kendrick Perkins starred in rebounding 19 for the Celts and Davis added 21 points. Perkins also tied an NBA record with 48 minutes of play time without a being called for a foul. Offensively for the Bulls, Noah had 11 points and Salmons contributed 17. Thomas and Rose each had 8 rebounds, and Hinrich came off the bench to drill 19.
An instant classic occurred Thursday when Chicago and Boston survived a 128-127 triple overtime affair. In the fourth quarter, Chicago went from being 12 points up to 8 down in a mere six minutes. Allen amassed an outrageous 51 points. He also tied a playoff record with nine three pointers. Rondo dished out 19 assists for Boston and Salmons scored 35 for Chicago. Salmons clocked 60 minutes during the epic game. The Bulls looked exasperated and exhausted by the second overtime and Allen hit another three with 7.6 second left to force another five minutes. Noah’s free throw in the third session gave Chicago some breathing room and a 126-123 lead. Noah’s remarkable and memorable open-court steal on Pierce gave Chicago the lead they needed to end the masterpiece game at home.
This is one enduring series for two teams of hard nosed players. Five games have been decided by three points or less. The Bulls never folded against the polished, defending champion Celtics. The teams keep sticking it to each other in different and devastating ways. Underused players have stepped up for both teams, Miller for Chicago and Mikki Moore, Eddie House and Brian Scalabrine for Boston. Rose has rocked and been brilliant defensively, and Allen has let loose so often for the Celtics it’s hard to remember just how many times he’s scored. Pierce plants pure buckets and Gordon glowingly gnats offenders as a defensive presence. Rondo is an untiring point guard crucial to the Celts without Garnett available. He is capable of being the thorn in Rose’s side and turning it into overdrive offensively. Perkins has a great inside game and Davis sets screens superbly for Boston. The Bulls have a proven veteran in Hinrich to provide the energy Chicago needs to defeat Boston on the road. Hinrich and Gordon are money players but it’s Noah who show constant effort in pressuring dribblers. Thomas is also a quiet factor, trumping and taming the Boston big men. Tonight should be another classic battle between two teams both perfectly practiced and set up for victory. People questioned whether Boston’s chemistry would be the same without Garnett. They haven’t missed a beat yet. Doc Rivers represents a head coach who demonstrates a desire and determination to win. Chicago is a team with just enough scruffy players and chemistry to pull through too. Del Negro experimented with different starting sets and Gordon is his true symphony conductor on the court. It would be hard to live up to Game 6, but all Game 7’s are always awesome because of the elimination factor.
Parting points: Is Eric Chavez really on the DL again? It is unfortunate he cannot stay healthy.
Song for the day- “Give it up”-Linkin Park
Friday, May 1, 2009
May Mechanics
Friday Forehands
Mechanics are an important part of an athlete’s game and often determine how successful they are in their sport. The forehand is my favorite stroke in tennis, and the first one I learned. Here are some informative descriptions of the common forehand grips used in tennis:
Eastern Forehand:
A natural eastern forehand grip is easy to learn. The simple way I was taught was to act as if I were “shaking hands” with the racquet handle. Instructors also advise their students to place their dominant hand on the strings of their open-faced racquet and slide it down to the handle. The resulting grip is the eastern forehand. Eastern forehands place your palm directly on the side of the handle’s grip, with the base knuckle (on index finger) on one of the sides. On fast surfaces, this grip is best because it allows the player to fend off overpowering opponents. Pete Sampras used a traditional eastern forehand effectively on all surfaces, but he probably benefited most on the grasses of Wimbledon with his choice grip. The grip requires some preparation because it is accompanied by longer strokes. Players should hit the ball in a closed stance as they setup the forehand shot with the eastern forehand grip. The grip is not as forgiving as the other forehands and may not be advantageous in all situations. It does allow for a later contact point, in front of the shoulder. The follow through does not go over the shoulder but instead, finishes in front of the body. I use the eastern forehand most often at the net or in doubles because I think it gives me the best chance to create a powerful, penetrating shot. The transition from the forehand to the volley grip at net is easier with the eastern grip when you have little time to react to the ball. It is difficult to get good topspin and the ball will pass low over the net compared to the other forehand grips. Therefore, I would not use the eastern forehand to outlast long rallies because the ball is hit with flatness. A heavy topspin often gives you the edge and this grip isn’t as suitable as the others. The eastern forehand grip is probably most conducive to serving, overheads, slicing and volleying.
Western Forehand:
The Western grip is an effective tool to counter high oncoming bouncers from the opponent. The heel of the hand is on the bottom of the racquet, with the base knuckle on the lowest bevel of the handle. Players who learn on slower surfaces, such as clay, would use the western grip to their advantage because the balls bounce high. If you prefer the open stance when stroking the ball, the western grip would also be of use because the forehand is best hit with this style. An established western forehand supplies deliberate and structured shots. Open stances convey power and topspin as contact is made in front of your body. The western grip allows the largest margin for error of the three and a quicker recovery to the center of the court. With a straight wrist, the angle of the racquet ensures a downward trajectory on the hit. An over-the-shoulder finish with an elbow facing the opponent is typical of the western forehand. I am not keen about the fully western forehand because it is very uncomfortable and awkward. It does generate tremendous topspin, but it’s too extreme for my particular style. I don’t hit the ball with high bounces or topspins that send opponents beyond the baseline very often. This is an ideal shot to use when you have to slow the game down or a facing a moonballer. I prefer faster-paced tennis with low, driving shots. It’s troubling to attack low, wide balls with this grip.
Semi-Western (extreme Eastern) Forehand:
A semi-western forehand grip keeps the heel on the lower bevel of the racquet and the hand slightly underneath the racquet. The thumb and forefinger should almost form a V into the handle’s side. The semi-western grip is not as extreme as the western, allowing the player to handle both high and low bounces. A three quarter open stance enables tennis players with this grip to adapt to any type of pace placed on the ball. Flat shots can be hit authoritatively, or the user can fluidly flick a topspin winner. The versatile semi-western grip also requires an over-the-shoulder finish, very similar to the western forehand. The contact point is usually out in front with an upward sharp swing. Because the hand is more behind the grip than in the eastern forehand, more power is exuded. Most players switch to this grip and prefer playing with the semi-western as they develop. Power baseliners are encouraged to use the grip to apply spin and have more racquet control. Short angle shots and lobs are especially effective with the hand shifted one bevel clockwise from the eastern grip. The positioning poses possible setbacks too. With a naturally closed racquet face, low balls may be harder to get back. I find this grip hard to use when playing close to the net or trying to drill a deep approach shot. Considerable grip change is still necessary when you get to net and employ a semi-western forehand. I do frequent this grip most often however. It is the best of the three forehands in ensuring my shot selection and preferred placement on the court.
Hopefully you learned a little about the different forehand grips in tennis. Ultimately, it’s up to the athlete to find their forehand grip. What works for one player might not be the best for another. I’ve been fortunate enough to take countless amounts of tennis lessons and had fun trying to discover which suited my the most.
Parting points: “People who know me understand that I torture myself sometimes just to win matches.”- Pete Sampras
Mechanics are an important part of an athlete’s game and often determine how successful they are in their sport. The forehand is my favorite stroke in tennis, and the first one I learned. Here are some informative descriptions of the common forehand grips used in tennis:
Eastern Forehand:
A natural eastern forehand grip is easy to learn. The simple way I was taught was to act as if I were “shaking hands” with the racquet handle. Instructors also advise their students to place their dominant hand on the strings of their open-faced racquet and slide it down to the handle. The resulting grip is the eastern forehand. Eastern forehands place your palm directly on the side of the handle’s grip, with the base knuckle (on index finger) on one of the sides. On fast surfaces, this grip is best because it allows the player to fend off overpowering opponents. Pete Sampras used a traditional eastern forehand effectively on all surfaces, but he probably benefited most on the grasses of Wimbledon with his choice grip. The grip requires some preparation because it is accompanied by longer strokes. Players should hit the ball in a closed stance as they setup the forehand shot with the eastern forehand grip. The grip is not as forgiving as the other forehands and may not be advantageous in all situations. It does allow for a later contact point, in front of the shoulder. The follow through does not go over the shoulder but instead, finishes in front of the body. I use the eastern forehand most often at the net or in doubles because I think it gives me the best chance to create a powerful, penetrating shot. The transition from the forehand to the volley grip at net is easier with the eastern grip when you have little time to react to the ball. It is difficult to get good topspin and the ball will pass low over the net compared to the other forehand grips. Therefore, I would not use the eastern forehand to outlast long rallies because the ball is hit with flatness. A heavy topspin often gives you the edge and this grip isn’t as suitable as the others. The eastern forehand grip is probably most conducive to serving, overheads, slicing and volleying.
Western Forehand:
The Western grip is an effective tool to counter high oncoming bouncers from the opponent. The heel of the hand is on the bottom of the racquet, with the base knuckle on the lowest bevel of the handle. Players who learn on slower surfaces, such as clay, would use the western grip to their advantage because the balls bounce high. If you prefer the open stance when stroking the ball, the western grip would also be of use because the forehand is best hit with this style. An established western forehand supplies deliberate and structured shots. Open stances convey power and topspin as contact is made in front of your body. The western grip allows the largest margin for error of the three and a quicker recovery to the center of the court. With a straight wrist, the angle of the racquet ensures a downward trajectory on the hit. An over-the-shoulder finish with an elbow facing the opponent is typical of the western forehand. I am not keen about the fully western forehand because it is very uncomfortable and awkward. It does generate tremendous topspin, but it’s too extreme for my particular style. I don’t hit the ball with high bounces or topspins that send opponents beyond the baseline very often. This is an ideal shot to use when you have to slow the game down or a facing a moonballer. I prefer faster-paced tennis with low, driving shots. It’s troubling to attack low, wide balls with this grip.
Semi-Western (extreme Eastern) Forehand:
A semi-western forehand grip keeps the heel on the lower bevel of the racquet and the hand slightly underneath the racquet. The thumb and forefinger should almost form a V into the handle’s side. The semi-western grip is not as extreme as the western, allowing the player to handle both high and low bounces. A three quarter open stance enables tennis players with this grip to adapt to any type of pace placed on the ball. Flat shots can be hit authoritatively, or the user can fluidly flick a topspin winner. The versatile semi-western grip also requires an over-the-shoulder finish, very similar to the western forehand. The contact point is usually out in front with an upward sharp swing. Because the hand is more behind the grip than in the eastern forehand, more power is exuded. Most players switch to this grip and prefer playing with the semi-western as they develop. Power baseliners are encouraged to use the grip to apply spin and have more racquet control. Short angle shots and lobs are especially effective with the hand shifted one bevel clockwise from the eastern grip. The positioning poses possible setbacks too. With a naturally closed racquet face, low balls may be harder to get back. I find this grip hard to use when playing close to the net or trying to drill a deep approach shot. Considerable grip change is still necessary when you get to net and employ a semi-western forehand. I do frequent this grip most often however. It is the best of the three forehands in ensuring my shot selection and preferred placement on the court.
Hopefully you learned a little about the different forehand grips in tennis. Ultimately, it’s up to the athlete to find their forehand grip. What works for one player might not be the best for another. I’ve been fortunate enough to take countless amounts of tennis lessons and had fun trying to discover which suited my the most.
Parting points: “People who know me understand that I torture myself sometimes just to win matches.”- Pete Sampras
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