The NCAA Men’s basketball tournament is a done deal, and the University of Connecticut defeated Kentucky 60-54 to capture the title for the second time in the last four years. Great job by the Huskies, who lost their coach, were terminated from the Big East Conference, and were ineligible for the tournament last year.
The U-Conn women’s team has a chance to duplicate the men’s effort, as they take on Notre Dame in tonight’s championship game. Both teams come into the game undefeated this season. Game time tonight is 8:30 pm and you can watch it on ESPN on your cable or satellite system.
By the way, the UConn men and women both won the national championship in 2004.
Here is Yahoo Sports’ preview of tonight’s men’s championship game:
In the NBA, the Heat lost a double-overtime thriller against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, and came back with a vengeance against the New York Knicks yesterday, knocking the Knicks out of the eighth and final playoff spot. They now find themselves in ninth place in the conference, two games behind the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta has six games to play in the regular season, while New York has only four games left.
The Heat is now 53-23, one game in front of the Indiana Pacers, who stand at 53-25. Miami has six games to play, the Pacers have four games left. The Heat host the Brooklyn Nets tonight at the AAA. The game tips off at 8:00 pm, and it will be telecast by TNT.
Here’s the Heat’s remaining schedule:
Tonight 8:00 pm Brooklyn TNT
Wed 4/9 8:00 pm @ Memphis ESPN
Fri 4/11 7:30 pm Indiana SUN SPORTS, NBA-TV
Sat 4/12 7:30 pm @ Atlanta SUN SPORTS
Mon 4/14 7:00 pm @ Washington SUN SPORTS
Wed 4/16 8:00 pm @ Philadelphia SUN SPORTS
My take from around the Association:
You have to believe me . . . . I’m really not a conspiracy theorist, however, the Indiana Pacers look like a team that is tanking it right now. losing seven out of their last ten contests. The first round match ups, if the playoffs started today, would have Miami, as the #1 seed in the east, playing the Hawks, and the Pacers would take on the Charlotte Bobcats. It even gets more difficult for the #1 seed in the second round, as they would have to face the winner of the series between the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets, where the #2 seed would face the winner of the Washington-Toronto matchup. I’m just sayin’. . . . .
Over in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks are in seventh place, ½ game ahead of the Phoenix Suns, who hold a 1-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies for the 8th and final playoff spot.
Let’s go to the Marlins and the rest of MLB:
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: There are only two ACTIVE players in the major leagues who have hit 20 or more home runs in each of the last 12 seasons. Who are they? The answer comes later, alligator.
The Marlins took two out of three against the San Diego Padres this weekend, and the Fish are off to a terrific start. Jose Fernandez, my pick for the Cy Young award this season, and Giancarlo Stanton, my selection for MVP, are off to the races.
The Marlins are in Washington, DC, where they will pen a three-game series against the Nats. The probable pitchers for the series are:
Tuesday Henderson Alvarez vs Gio Gonzalez 7:05 pm
Wednesday Jacob Turner vs Tanner Roark 7:05 pm
Thursday Tom Koehler vs Jordan Zimmerman 4:05 pm
After the Washington series, the Fish head to Philadelphia to take on the Fighting Phillies in a three-game weekend series.
After a pretty good weekend, when they took two out of three against the Texas Rangers, the Tampa Bay Rays got off on the wrong foot yesterday against the KC Royals, losing 4-2. After the three-game series vs. Kansas City, the Rays will enjoy an off-day on Thursday, when they will travel to Cincinnati for an inter-league matchup against the Cincinnati Reds. Here are the probable pitchers for rest of the series against the Royals:
Tonight Chris Archer vs Yordano Ventura 7:10 pm
Wednesday Jake Odorizzi vs Jeremy Guthrie 1:10 pm
Click below for yesterday’s recaps and results in the major leagues:
Click below for today’s complete schedule in the major leagues:
Some little things I’m keeping my eye on around the diamonds:
Derek Jeter is now in ninth place in the all-time hits list with 3,321, passing Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. He is 98 hits behind Carl Yastrzemski, 99 hits behind Honus Wagner, and 114 hits behind Cap Anson, who is in sixth place. The top five:
Pete Rose 4,256
Ty Cobb 4,189
Hank Aaron 3,771
Stan Musial 3,630
Tris Speaker 3,514
Some teams are extending six-year contracts for non-arbitration eligible players, including the Angels (Mike Trout), the Indians (Yan Gomez and Jason Kipnis), the Braves (Julio Teheran), and Tampa Bay (Chris Archer). Isn’t it about time that the Marlins jumped in and did the same with Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez? Wouldn't that send out a great signal to the rest of the teams and the much-maligned fans in South Florida?
Bad news for the Yankees, who lost closer David Robertson for at least two weeks due to a groin injury. He went on the 15-day DL yesterday. The Yankees will resort to “closer by committee” until D-Rob’s return. Shawn Kelly will get the first shot at it.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, an unnamed baseball executive told him that MLB should reduce the length of the games from nine innings to seven innings. I don’t know who this “unnamed executive” is, but he qualifies as a total buffoon.
I was worried about how the Atlanta Braves’ current starting rotation would respond, after losing two of their starters to season-ending injuries. Fredi Gonzalez’ team has started the season with a 4-2 mark, and in the two losses, the pitching staff only gave up two runs each time.
Keep your eyes on former starter Mike Minor and recent acquisition Gavin Floyd, who are looking pretty good in their minor-league rehab assignments.
From ESPN, check out their story on the NY high school pitcher who not only pitched a perfect game, but took it one step further by striking out all 21 hitters he faced.
Here’s an example of how time flies . . . It has now been 25 years since the movie “Major League” debuted back in 1989. Only time I rooted against my beloved New York Yankees.
More from MLB:
In case you missed them last week, here are my sure-fire picks and predictions in MLB this year:
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays Led by the best manager in the AL and a very astute front office, the Rays just keep on keeping on. Evan Longoria is headed to an MVP-type season, but he could use a little help, and the Rays are hoping that James Loney, Wil Myers and Desmond Jennings will fill the bill.
2. New York Yankees The Yankees added Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, and Jacoby Ellsbury to an anemic offense. Can Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira come back from injuries? Will they miss Robinson Cano? The addition of Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka will make the starting rotation a lot stronger. Can David Robertson come close to filling the humongous shoes left behind by Mariano Rivera? Alex Rodriguez’ suspension is addition by subtraction. One last playoff run for Derek Jeter.
3. Boston Red Sox After going from last to first last season, the Red Sox will come back to earth this year. Look for shortstop Xander Bogaerts to make a big impact.
4. Toronto Blue Jays The most disappointing team in the AL last year. Can they bounce back? Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Edwin Encarnacion, and Melky Cabrera should provide a lot of offense. RA Dickey and Mark Buehrle have to be there every fifth day.
5. Baltimore Orioles The Orioles were aggressive in the offseason, adding Nelson Cruz to try and bolster the offense, that was all Chris Davis last season. Was he a one-hit wonder? You still need to pitch to compete in the AL East.
AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers Too much talent for anyone to pass them in the division, although the rest of the division is much-improved. Miguel Cabrera will benefit from moving to first base, and their pitching staff is still tough to beat.
2. Chicago White Sox Look for this team to improve from the 99-loss season in 2013. They will look more like the team that won 85 games in 2012. Avisail Garcia is the real deal, and new addition Jose Abreu brings some pop.
3. Cleveland Indians The Indians won 92 games under Terry Francona last year, finishing only one game behind the Tigers. Starting pitching will be a question mark, as they have to replace the departed Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir.
4. Kansas City Royals The Royals were much better last year, but I just don’t see them improving on last year’s 86-76 record. Keep your eyes on rookie starting pitcher Yordano Ventura.
5. Minnesota Twins Minnesota added starting pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes, but that will not be enough to get them out of the cellar. They do have Joe Mauer, however, and playing him at first base should keep him in the lineup.
AL West
1. Texas Rangers The Rangers added Prince Fielder and added Shin-Soo Choo goat that strong lineup. Is Yu Darvish the real deal? Injuries in their starting rotation have set them back a little as we start the 2014 season.
2. Los Angeles Angels Can Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton take advantage of Mike Trout’s presence in that lineup? Adding David Freese and the presence of Raul Ibañez both in the lineup and in the clubhouse will help. Can their pitching lead the way? This may be the last year for manager Mike Scioscia if they don’t make it back to the postseason.
3. Oakland A’s Some injuries to the A’s pitching staff and an offense that is still full of question marks.
4. Seattle Mariners The addition of Robinson Cano will not be enough to lift this team out of mediocrity. Who starts after Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma?
5. Houston Astros A furniture dealer in Houston is promising free furniture to the Astros fans if the team doesn’t lose 100 games in 2014. A name to watch out for - outfielder George Springer could make an impact later on this season.
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves Their every-day lineup is scary, but they need for Dan Uggla and BJ Upton to come back from horrific seasons last year. Manager Fredi Gonzalez will have to perform some magic with the starting rotation, after losing Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen to season-ending injuries.
2. Washington Nationals The addition of Doug Fister to an already impressive starting rotation makes them a favorite to at least make the playoffs as a wild card. They are very solid.
3. Miami Marlins I truly believe that this team has the ability (at least on paper) to win 20 more games than last season. With any luck, they could reach 86 wins and be a factor in the NL East. If Giancarlo Stanton is able to stay healthy, he will put up MVP-caliber numbers. Jose Fernandez is already a candidate for the Cy Young award, after winning the Rookie of the Year award last season. Watch Nathan Eovaldi, Henderson Alvarez, Jacob Turner, and Tom Koehler. If the starters can keep the bullpen fresh, the Fish will be a lot more fun to watch than they were last year.
4. New York Mets It will all come down to the pitching with the Mets. Matt Harvey will miss the season, and the other starters have to pick up the slack. Picking up Bartolo Colon and Daisuke Matsuzaka may not be the answer. Curtis Granderson will bring a quality bat and a quality person to the clubhouse.
5. Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies have gotten old very fast. If Cliff Lee, AJ Burnett, and Cole Hamels pitch to their old level, they'll be ok. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Marlon Byrd, Ryan Howard, and Carlos Ruiz need to stay healthy and perform at their career levels. The bullpen, especially closer Jonathan Papelbon, will need to be much better in order to stay out of the cellar.
NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals Year in and year out, the class of the NL. They are loaded. Watch for outfield prospect Oscar Taveras to possibly make an impact at some point during the season.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates will not catch anyone by surprise this season. MVP Andrew McCutchen has a great supporting cast with Sterling Marte, Pedro Alvarez, and Neil Walker. Russell Martin handled their pitching staff very well last season, and they will be very good again in 2014.
3. Cincinnati Reds Can Billy Hamilton steal first base? He can fly, but he needs to get on base in order to have an impact with his blazing speed. The middle of their lineup is scary good, and their starting rotation is very, very good. Aroldis Chapman needs to return quickly from his injury.
4. Milwaukee Brewers If the Brewers’ pitching can hold up, they'll make some noise in the division. Their offense, especially with the return of Ryan Braun, will keep them in a lot of games.
5. Chicago Cubs They are headed in the right direction, but Rome wasn't built in a day, or in just one baseball season. There are a lot of prospects in their minor league system, but they are not ready to help at the big league level just yet. Remember these names - Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, and Albert Almora.
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers The Dodgers are stacked, and that should be enough for them to win the West. However, injuries have affected them. Clayton Kershaw is out for a while, and they could use Matt Kemp back in that lineup at his best. Yasiel Puig is a terrific player, but his head is not on straight. He needs to grow up and mature immediately if not sooner.
2. San Francisco Giants Love their everyday lineup, and their starting pitching is rock-solid. They will be much better than they were in 2013.
3. Colorado Rockies Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, and last year’s NL batting champ, Michael Cuddyer get some help from a healthy Justin Morneau, who should really flourish playing at Coors Field. It will all come down to pitching, especially a bullpen that struggled last season.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks Their starting rotation is young and talented, with more help on the way. Look for Archie Bradley to join the team during the season and make a huge splash. Paul Goldschmidt gets some help with the addition of Mark Trumbo. The return of Cody Ross and Miguel Montero will help.
5. San Diego Padres Not enough firepower in the every-day lineup for this team to be a factor in the NL west. The starting pitching needs help. They added former Marlins ace Josh Johnson, but he begins the season in his customary place on the disabled list.
Individual awards:
MVP
National League - Giancarlo Stanton
American League - Miguel Cabrera
Cy Young
National League - Jose Fernandez
American League - David Price
Manager of the Year
National League - Fredi Gonzalez
American League - Joe Maddon
Rookie of the Year
National League Archie Bradley
American League Masahiro Tanaka
That is my story, and I’m definitely sticking to it.
What’s up from the gridiron?
Here’s the latest on the Miami Dolphins from Armando Salguero:
2014 MIAMI DOLPHINS Home schedule: Buffalo, New England, NY Jets, Kansas City, San Diego, Green Bay, Minnesota and Baltimore.
2014 MIAMI DOLPHINS Road schedule: Buffalo, New England, NY Jets, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland (in London), and Jacksonville.
Here is the 2014 draft order, according to ESPN. The Houston Texans are on the clock.
The NFL Draft is just a month away. Mark your calendars for May 8th, at 8:00 pm.
Mel Kiper has a three-round draft where he plays GM for every team. Check it out here:
For the latest news from around the NFL, here is NFL NATION:
Of course, we can all continue to sleep at night, knowing full well that Aaron Hernandez remains in jail, where he belongs.
Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have the latest from Coral Gables, and the University of Miami.
From FIU, David J. Neal of the Miami Herald has the latest in his blog:
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and the Seminoles:
From Gainesville and the University of Florida:
The Central Florida Knights are in the house:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: There are only two ACTIVE players in the major leagues who have hit 20 or more home runs in each of the last 12 seasons. Who are they?
David Ortiz and Alfonso Soriano.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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