Burning Braves

LeBron James and Lindsay Lohan are hogging the headlines this week, but there are still baseball games being played. Division races are still as close as ever as the dog days of summer peek from around the corner. The temperatures in the East are soaring over the 100 degree mark, and you can bet the AL and NL East clubs are feeling the heat. The Philadelphia Phillies, especially are feeling the burn of the Atlanta Braves. The Braves scored three runs in the 11th inning to outlast the Phillies in hazy Philadelphia Tuesday. Atlanta’s 6-3 victory came after Phillies’ ace, Roy Halladay, dominated them a night before. The Braves sit five games ahead of the defending NL champions in the NL East, and hold a two game lead over the New York Mets. The Braves are hotter than a Philadelphia ballpark in July and more sizzling than a Chris Bosh autograph.
Cole Hamels allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings for the hometown Phillies. The 2008 World Series MVP struck out eight Atlanta Braves in his Tuesday night start. Still, Hamel’s team lost for the seventh time in his past eight starts. Atlanta countered with Netherland’s native, Jair Jurrjens. Perhaps the 24 year old pitcher was busy warming up to the idea of his native country in the World Cup finals, but he still tossed a credible six inning effort of three run ball. He only allowed two hits in his mound stint. The Phillies managed just three hits the entire contest. Raul Ibanez crushed a two-run homerun in the first inning to put the Phillies on top. Philadelphia first baseman, Ryan Howard, got the better of Jurrjens with a run-scoring triple in the seventh. The Atlanta hurler was removed after just 89 pitches and retiring 14-of-15 batters before Howard’s extra-base hit. Jurrjens was the benefactor of stingy relief pitching and timely hitting Tuesday.
Atlanta had plenty of scoring opportunities, but Hamels limited the offense in the early innings. The Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the first frame, but scored only one tally on Troy Glaus’ fielder’s choice groundout. All-star second baseman, Martin Prado gave the Braves a 3-2 lead with a solo shot to left field in the seventh. Six Braves relievers combined to throw five scoreless innings after Howard tied the game at 3-3. Atlanta’s Matt Diaz went 3-for-5 and recorded the tie-breaking RBI in the 11th inning. Diaz’s double on a hit-and-run play started Atlanta’s three run barrage of relievers Dave Herndon and Mike Zagurski. Eric Hinske blazed a two run homerun to snap an 0-for-13 slump for the Braves’ slugger and the visitors were on their way to another win at Citizen’s Bank Park. Jesse Chavez earned the win with a scoreless tenth and Billy Wagner saved his 18th game after working a hitless 11th. The Braves lead the major leagues in final at-bat victories. Philadelphia’s slide continues as they dropped their fourth game of their last six. Wednesday is the rubber game of the three game series between the teams. Jamie Moyer goes for his tenth win of the season, where he tries to appear hotter (but definitely not younger) than Atlanta right-hander, Kris Medlen.

Parting Points: The Red Sox are pretty beat up these days…

Five squeegees hang on a fence
Four courts wait for her entrance
She watches from outside
How the sun forms a squint in her eye
The heat of the summer dries the lines
The green wind screens shield like blinds
Yellow-blue branded banners posted inside
Bring life to the sport the trees try to hide
The half-painted wood benches
Shelf the plastic bottle she quenches
The thirst begins here with her serve
The only home that calms her every nerve

Groza's Greatness

This is a completely random blog about college football. College football awards are named after certain players who excel in a specific area. The Lou Groza award is presented each year to the game’s best placekicker. Not surprisingly, the award is named after former Ohio State kicker and offensive tackle, Lou Groza. Groza only played one season as a Buckeye but received his degree from Ohio State in 1949. Groza fascinates me because he played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns. He was born in Ohio, played at Ohio State, was drafted by the Browns and died in Ohio. Most casual fans don’t remember his contributions as a Browns’ placekicker. For those who don’t really know a thing about Groza, this blog’s for you.
Groza’s number 76 is retired by the Browns. In Cleveland, Groza excelled as the kicker and offensive tackle. He notched a game-winning 16 year field goal with 30 seconds on the clock to win the NFL Championship Game in 1950 to beat the LA Rams. That same year, he led the league in field goals. Groza was so adored by the Cleveland Browns, they eventually named a boulevard after him. He was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times and co-led the NFL in scoring in 1957. Nicknamed “The Toe” for his kicking proficiency, Groza personified the importance of the kicking game in the NFL. He could nail narrow attempts at any angle and is still considered one of the best at his position of all time. Groza went on to play 21 seasons for the Browns until he retired for good in 1967. He won eight championships and holds the franchise records for most games played and career points. Groza was inducted into the pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Parting Points: Pick up the Drew Brees autobiography out in stores today.

Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” is spinning on the stereo with some Rick Price and Tina Arena mixed in.

Liberty & Loyalty

Freedom and liberty mean different things to everybody. For LeBron James, liberty equals testing the free agent waters of the NBA. James is free to sign with any team that entertains an offer to Cleveland’s All-Star MVP. For the Atlanta Hawks, liberty is loyalty to a 29 year old shooting guard. The Hawks offered Joe Johnson the highest contract of any on the market to keep him in Atlanta. The cost-conscious Hawks simply couldn’t afford to lose Johnson.
Liberty and loyalty often go hand in hand. Take the All-Star game voting, for example. Fans are prone to voting for players who are established in the league, and who play for their favorite teams. Every year, there are players dubbed All-Star “snubs”. Some of these omissions are afforded a chance to be placed on the team during the Final Man vote. It’s interesting to note there are no Red Sox in the starting lineup for the American League for the first time in seven years. Boston still boasts six All-star selections. The Yankees also have six All-stars, and the bulk of the American League is filled with players from the East. Andy Pettitte should be on the team, although most baseball fans outside of New York would disagree. Texas’ Michael Young is also a glaring snub in my opinion. I could go either way on whether Stephen Strasburg should have been named to the team. His 2-2 record is nothing to brag about, but the rookie’s ERA is 2.45 and he has already fanned 53 batters in 36 innings. Strasburg will have his time to shine at the mid-summer classic.
Brazil seems to understand liberty but clearly doesn’t grasp the loyalty concept. The Brazilian Football Federation fired head coach, Dunga (not sure if that is his last name, first name, or only name) after the country’s premature World Cup exit. The Dutch dropped the heavily favored Brazil team, 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup and possible succesors include Mano Menezes, Wanderley Luxemburgo, Leonardo and Luiz Felipe Scolari.
A little hockey on a 96 degree July day never hurt. Paul Martin’s loyalty is not with New Jersey. The Devils lost Martin to the Pittsburgh Penguins and promptly replaced him with veteran defensemen Henrik Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov. Johan Hedberg was also snatched to backup goalie, Martin Brodeur, and replaceYann Danis. Volchenkov spent the past seven seasons in Ottawa but had the liberty to leave and sign for the next six with the Devils. The biggest prize in the NHL free agent sweepstakes is Ikya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk is the NHL version of Lebron James. He played his entire career with the Atlanta Thrashers before going to the Devils late last season. The star-hungry Los Angeles Kings were the team with eyes on the prize, but are no longer competing for Kovalchuk’s services. That leaves the Devils and New York Islanders in the running for the 27 year old winger. As both a Kings and Devils fan, I can’t say I would be too disappointed if he re-signs with New Jersey. The six time 40 goal scorer would be a fine fit. However, Kovalchuk is also free to leave the NHL entirely and enter Russa’s KHL. Isn’t liberty the best?

Parting Points: Update on Kovalchuk- The Devils signed him to a plausible seven year, $60 million dollar deal.

Stars, Stripes and Slams

Happy Independence Day, America. Today’s blog focuses in on the nation’s capital, where Washington baseball prevailed over NL East opponent, New York. Ivan Rodriguez was the star of the day, and Francisco Rodriguez was possibly seeing stars after suffering the loss. The Mets’ four-time All-star closer, Francisco Rodriguez, blew a 5-2 lead as the Nationals capped a comeback in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 6-5 win. Matt Capps earned the win for Washington after keeping the Nats within a run in the ninth. The Mets pitted runners on first and second with nobody out in the top of the ninth before Capps recorded three consecutive outs. Washington bats came through in the bottom of the ninth, and a little patience at the plate paid off. Christian Guzman walked on four pitches from Rodriguez and scored on Adam Dunn’s one-out double to tie the game. Dunn’s drive merely missed going over the wall for a grand slam and instant replay was needed before the ruling was reduced to a double. Ivan Rodriguez singled in the winning run to right to lift the Nationals over the Mets in the middle of a three game set. It was Washington’s seventh win in eleven tries over the Mets.
Washington’s sizzling starter, Stephen Strasburg was scorched for four hits and surrendered two runs. Strasburg walked two Mets and fanned five in the five inning outing for the Nationals. New York was impressive against the rookie hurler, working Strasburg to a season-high pitch count. Jason Bay striped the ball to center in the top of the first to score Ike Davis from third base and give the Mets and early 1-0 road edge. Davis was on base three times Saturday in what continues to be a breakout year for the first baseman. The Mets surged to a 2-0 lead in the third when 30 year old backstop, Josh Thole, knocked in his first RBI of the season on a Strasburg fastball. Thirty-five year old, R.A. Dickey, toed the rubber for the visiting Mets. Dickey pitched seven innings of six hit ball. He allowed just two unearned runs with his tricky knuckleball. The Nats scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of base hits by Josh Willingham and Rodriguez. Ruben Tejada was charged with a fielding error, resulting in the two unearned tallies for Washington. The Mets got ahead of Strasburg early in the count and made the Nationals’ starter labor. The Mets reached base seven times against Strasburg. The right-hander needed 74 pitches to get through three innings, but never folded.
David Wright wringed a tie breaking RBI infield single to third during the Mets’ three run eighth frame. Thole torched a double to right and Tejada’s sacrifice fly scored the final run of the inning off the Nats’ bullpen. Adam Kennedy smoked a single to center in the eighth to score Dunn and put the home team within two runs before Rodriguez imploded in the decisive ninth. Kennedy’s run-scoring base hit came off reliever, Bobby Parnell.

Parting Points: Kudos to Andy Pettitte on win#10 and Brett Gardner on his grand slam during the 11 run third inning for the Yankees.

And another Williams’ sister wins another Wimbledon.

Let’s go Germany!

Bullpen Blues in Bronx

The Bluejays snapped a five game skid in the Bronx by edging the New York Yankees 6-1 in an 11 inning pitcher’s duel yesterday afternoon. A.J. Burnett was back on track for New York, delivering 6 2/3 scoreless innings before he left with a one run lead. Toronto lefty, Brett Cecil gave up one run on four hits through six frames. Both hurlers turned the tight contest over to their bullpens, with contrasting results. The Bombers’ bullpen imploded, while the Bluejays were brilliant in relief of their starter.
Aaron Hill connected on a ground ball single off New York’s Joba Chamberlain in the eighth inning to tie the game at 1-1. The two out RBI shot skidded past a diving Rodriguez at third base. Rodriguez wasn’t the problem for the Yankees yesterday, however. He was the only Bomber to tally an RBI, and one of four batters to record a hit. The third baseman’s sacrifice fly in the first inning gave the home team a 1-0 lead. The lack of offense was the theme the rest of the game. The Yankees didn’t manage a hit after the seventh inning. Relievers Shawn Camp, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor and Kevin Gregg combined to allow only one hit and no walks over the final five frames. The Yankees stranded 14 base runners and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The Yankees’ bullpen continued to blow-up after Chamberlain gave up the thin edge in the eighth. Dave Robertson was tagged with the loss after giving up consecutive singles in the 11th. An intentional free pass was issued to Toronto’s Fred Lewis after the runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jarrett Hoffpauir. Alex Gonzalez followed Lewis by lacing a single to left field to plate the go-ahead run. Chan Ho Park relieved Robertson and struck out Jose Bautista for the second out of the inning. Veteran outfielder, Vernon Wells, worked a full count walk to send another Bluejay runner home and load the bases. DeWayne Wise pounded a triple off Park to clear the bases for a 6-1 Jays’ lead. That wasn’t quite the last of the dysfunctional Yankees bullpen, however. Park hit Hill with a pitch before finally securing the third out on Overbay’s grounder to first baseman, Mark Teixeria. Gregg tossed a one-two-three bottom of the 11th inning to seal the deal for visiting Toronto. Frasor picked up the win, his third of the season for Cito Gaston’s Jays. Gaston was ejected arguing with umpire, Mark Wegner. The teams return to Yankee Stadium for a 1:05 start time for the second game of the three game set. The Bombers are looking for their lineup to light up as Andy Pettitte takes the hill vying for his tenth victory.

Parting Points: Musician of the day---Jack Johnson

Giving up the Good Game

I’d give this all up just for you
The racquet, the ball, the surface blue
The breaking serves, the unsteady returns
I’d let them go for what my heart yearns
For you, I’d concede the sport
The placid perfection of the tennis court
I’d forget the way my swing makes sense
Because you’d replace that easy essence
I’d walk outside the lines, leave behind
Every net and every shot you call to mind
To be with you, I’d sacrifice, I’d yield
The scorebook would remain sealed
There would be no match point chance
No double fault, double take or second chance
I’d give up the good in the game
If somehow I knew you’d do the same

Parting Points: "Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go"
-Hermann Hesse