Tuesday, February 26, 2013


After having the day off yesterday, the Miami Heat return to the hardwood tonight at the AAA, where they take on the Sacramento Kings.  Miami is riding high, enjoying an eleven-game winning streak, and they have a record of 24-3 here at home.  The Heat have also owned the fourth quarter, and they have come back to win 13 games when trailing in the closing stanza.  They will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, before heading out on a road trip that will include a Sunday matinee in New York against the Knicks, a back to back affair in Minnesota against the T-Wolves on Monday, and a date with the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday.    

In the NBA yesterday,

Washington 90 Toronto 84
The Wizards are getting better.  After beginning the season 0-12, they have won 7 out of their last 9 games, and 14 out of 23 overall.  
Atlanta 114 Detroit 103
Al Horford scored 23 points and had 22 rebounds

Denver 119 LA Lakers 108
Ty Lawson netted 22 points and dished out 8 assists, Wilson Chandler scored 23 points.

Boston 110 Utah 107 (OT)
Paul Pierce led the way with 26 points, 8 assists, and seven rebounds.

TONIGHT IN THE NBA:  

Sacramento @ Miami  7:30 pm Sun Sports
Orlando @ Philadelphia 7:00 pm
Golden State @ Indiana 7:00 pm
Cleveland @ Chicago 8:00 pm   NBA-TV
Brooklyn @ New Orleans 8:00 pm
Milwaukee @ Dallas 8:30 pm
Minnesota @ Phoenix 9:00 pm
Charlotte @ LA Clippers 10:30 pm

In college hoops, the University of Miami Hurricanes fell three spots in the national rankings to #5 after losing against Wake Forest on Saturday.  Indiana remained on top of the poll, followed by Gonzaga at #2, Duke at #3, Michigan #4, and Miami.  The top ten included #6 Kansas, #7 Georgetown, #8 Florida, #9 Michigan State, and #10 Louisville.  The Canes return to action tomorrow night against Virginia Tech here at the BankUnited Center, before heading up to Duke to take on the Blue Devils on Saturday.

The FIU Panthers return to the hardwood on Thursday, in Louisiana-Monroe, against the Warhawks.  

In college baseball, FIU had a rare Monday night game yesterday, taking on Texas Tech.  The Panthers improved to 7-1 this season with a 9-7 win over the Red Raiders.  The two teams will square off again this afternoon at 3:00 pm at the FIU baseball stadium.  Miami, meanwhile, is keeping it local with games tonight against St. Thomas, and tomorrow against Barry.  Miami has to travel this weekend to Gainsville to play the Gators, while FIU welcomes Ole Miss this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

In the NCAA investigation that won’t go away, the NCAA formally accused former UM assistant Clint Hurtt of multiple infractions, including unethical conduct.  


In Major League baseball, BJ Upton and Jayson Heyward connected long distance as the Atlanta Braves beat the Marlins 7-6 in exhibition play yesterday.   

Here are all the scores from yesterday’s spring training games.  You can “click” on the box scores and the recap under each individual game’s line score.  


Yesterday, I shared an article from Ben Lindbergh on ESPN.com, listing 10 players who project to be better in 2013 than they were in 2012.  Today, he brings us his list of ten players who project to be worse this season than in 2012.


There has been talk around MLB to increase the penalties for violating MLB’s drug program.  Here’s the story from ESPN.com:


TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Who was the first MLB player suspended for steroids?  Tell you later, alligator.

I continue with my analysis of all 30 MLB teams as we hit spring training running.  Please allow me to introduce to you the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.  

SAN DIEGO PADRES    76-86  Mgr. Bud Black 

A quiet offseason for the Padres where, unfortunately, the biggest news they got was the 50-game suspension leveled on C Yasmani Grandal for a positive testosterone test.  Their hard throwing RHP Andrew Cashner suffered a cut tendon while hunting in the offseason, and will probably open the season on the DL.  They re-signed P Jason Marquis, and added pitchers Tyson Ross, Freddy Garcia, and Faustino de los Santos.  The new ownership group is not spending any money, after buying the club for $800 million.  The quiet offseason will more than likely be followed by a very uneventful regular season. 

SEATTLE MARINERS   75-87  Mgr. Eric Wedge

Lots of trades in the Pacific Northwest.  The M’s were desperate for offense, so they added OF Michael Morse, 1B/DH Kendrys Morales, OF/DH Raul Ibañez, OF Jason Bay, C Kelly Shoppach, and IF Robert Andino.  They were able to sign an extension with Felix Hernandez, but there are lingering questions about his health.  This team should be better, but they play in the AL West.
  
Tomorrow’s contestants are the St. Louis Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Here is Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria “Letter to our Fans” that was published in the three South Florida major newspapers.   


The Marlins owner sat down with some members of the media yesterday, and talked about how he didn’t break up the 1927 Yankees.


I will have a reply to Mr. Loria’s letter, and I’ll share it with you before the end of the week.

THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Who was the first MLB player suspended for steroids?  

No, it was not Jeffrey Loria.  It was one of our own, local product Alex Sanchez, who was suspended for ten games in April of 2005.    The Cuban-born Sanchez played locally at Miami-Dade College and played with the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, and San Francisco Giants in the Majors.    

Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com

The 9:25 am segment on Radio Esperanza is brought to you by the fine folks at La Lechonera Products.  The inventors of the original mojo criollo way back in 1970, also offer the BEST naranja agria (sour orange marinade) product on the market, along with the latest additions to the family - the SALSA PICANTE (hot sauces, both HOT and EXTRA HOT), SALSA DE ALITAS (Buffalo Wings Sauce) and the truly incredible SALSA PICANTE con AJO (Garlic Pepper Sauce - Sriracha).  Look for all the La Lechonera products at Publix, Winn Dixie, Sedano’s, Presidente, and GFS.  If they don’t have it where you shop, ask nicely the first time, then use whatever means necessary to make sure they start offering the complete line of products.  Go to www.lalechoneraproducts.com and LIKE them on Facebook.  Check out some great recipes!  

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Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day. 

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