WELCOME BACK!!
After a hiatus while we relocated out of Miami, the blog is back.
March Madness is down to the Final Four, as Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Kentucky battle out tomorrow night in Arlington, Texas. Florida takes on Connecticut at 6:00 pm, and Wisconsin battles Kentucky following the first game. Both games will be telecast nationally by TBS on your cable or satellite system. Still liking Florida to take the whole thing. Interesting tidbit: Florida is 36-2 so far, and have now won thirty games in a row. Their only two losses this season? Connecticut and Wisconsin.
Here are ESPN’s scouting reports for all Final Four teams:
The Championship game will be played on Monday night, and will be broadcast on CBS.
The National Invitational Tournament ended last night, and it was a very interesting coaching matchup as the old man took on the young pup. Coaching legend Larry Brown, who at the age of 73 is in his 39th season as a head basketball coach, led his SMU Mustangs against the Minnesota Gophers, coached by Richard Pitino, son of Rick Pitino. Pitino, all of 31 years old, is in his first year coaching at Minnesota, after just one season as the head coach at FIU down in Miami. Last night, the kid taught the veteran coach a lesson, as Minnesota beat SMU 65-63 to win the NIT Championship.
In the NBA, the Heat have recovered nicely from their recent struggles, and have now won four in a row to overtake the Indiana Pacers for the best record in the Eastern Conference. They have been doing it recently without Dwyane Wade, and his availability for the playoffs is in question. are struggling through the dog days of the regular season, and they have Their next game is tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AAA. The game tips off at 7:30 pm, and it will be telecast by Sun Sports.
Here’s the Heat’s remaining schedule:
Tonight 4/4 7:30 pm Minnesota SUN SPORTS
Sun 4/6 1:00 pm New York ABC
Tue 4/8 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:
There are some very interesting races for the playoffs. In the East, the Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks are in a virtual tie for the eighth and final spot, with the Cleveland Cavaliers two games behind the Knicks and the Hawks. Over in the West, the Dallas Mavericks, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Phoenix Suns are all tied for 7th place. One of those three teams will be watching the postseason on TV.
I am not a conspiracy theorist, however, the Indiana Pacers have played themselves into the second spot in the conference, losing six out of their last nine contests. The first round match ups, if the playoffs started today, would have Miami, as the #1 seed in the east, playing either the Knicks or 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’. . . . .
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my second-favorite NBA team, the San Antonio Spurs. They went in to last night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder having won 19 consecutive games. Even though that streak ended last night, it is yet another incredible coaching performance this season by the best coach in the NBA, Gregg Popovich. Day in and day out his team of oldie-goldies prove all of the so-called experts wrong. The Spurs are still the class of the Western Conference, regardless of their head-to-head regular season record (0-4) against the Thunder. Don’t take me wrong, but if I hear someone else try to tell me that Kevin Durant should be the MVP over LeBron James, I believe I will become very ill.
Alonzo Mourning headed to the Hall of Fame, while Tim Hardaway will have to wait longer. Here’s the story from the Sun Sentinel:
Let’s go to the Marlins and the rest of MLB:
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth played ten seasons together with the Yankees. How many times did they both homer in the same game? The answer comes later, alligator.
As we head into the first weekend of the MLB season, we find the Marlins at 3-1, after taking three out of four against the Colorado Rockies, a team that many picked to be at least a wild card team this season. The starting pitching was very good for the Fish, and the bullpen was even better in the four games against the Rockies, allowing only one run and 11 hits in 15 innings, striking out 12 and issuing only four walks.
We knew that the pitching wasn’t bad, but we still had concerns about their ability to hit. They answered that by scoring 27 runs in the four games vs. the Rockies. Last season, the Marlins didn’t score their 27th run of the season until the 14th game of the season, coincidentally, the same game in which they won their third game of the year. The man-child, Giancarlo Stanton, is off to a very good start, hitting .375 (6 for 16) with a home run, two doubles, and seven RBI. Newcomer Casey McGehee, who led the Japanese league in hitting last year, is hitting .462 (6 for 13) with three doubles, a triple, and eight RBI. After last year’s 62-100 season, a very good start for the Fish, who now welcome the San Diego Padres to Marlins Park this weekend.
The probable pitchers for the Marlins/Padres series:
Tonight Eric Stults vs Tom Koehler 7:10 pm
Do you believe that Koehler is the oldest Marlins starter in the rotation? He threw very well in Spring Training, reaching 97 mph on his fastball consistently.
Saturday Andrew Cashner vs Jose Fernandez 7:10 pm
What can I say about Jose Fernandez that hasn't been said before? His record at Marlins Park is 10-0 with a 1.21 in his young career. The sky’s the limit for this young man. A lot of fun to watch him pitch. Definitely worth a trip to the park.
Sunday Ian Kennedy vs Nathan Eovaldi 1:10 pm
Eovaldi is throwing heat, hitting 99 mph with his fastball in his first start against a very good Rockies team, striking out six and walking just one. Remember that last season, he averaged 96.2 mph velocity on his fastball, and that was the best number among NL starters. He will continue to get better and better.
After the series against the Padres, the Fish will hit the road for a three-game series, starting on Tuesday in the nation’s capital against the Washington Nationals and a three-game set in the city of brotherly love against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Our other team in Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays, battled the Toronto Blue Jays pretty evenly to kick off their season, as the teams split their four game set.
This weekend, the Texas Rangers come calling at the Trop. Here are the probable pitchers for the series:
Friday Joe Saunders vs Jake Odorizzi 7:10 pm
Odorizzi won the fifth starter job during spring training. I’m not sure that this will be a permanent situation.
Saturday Nick Martinez vs David Price 7:10 pm
Price beat the Blue Jays on opening day, tossing a strong 7 ⅔ innings.
Sunday Yu Darvish vs Alex Cobb 1:40 pm
Cobb looks to rebound after a rough start against Toronto, when he allowed four runs, five hits, and four walks in five innings. Cobb is 1-0 in three career starts vs. the Rangers.
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:
My old friend, Emilio Bonifacio, who is now with the Chicago Cubs, went 11 for 16 (.688) in the three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees were both looking for a versatile infielder/outfielder, why did they choose to overlook the multi-faceted Bonifacio?
Mike Trout is putting on a show as he begins his third major league season at the tender age of 22. Only nine players under the age of 25 - hall of famers Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, Eddie Collins, Jimmie Foxx and Willie Mays - had better numbers than the Angels’ outfielder by the age of 25. We need to look again in three years to match up those numbers. By the way, no player in the history of the game has EVER had better numbers at an earlier age than young Mr. Trout.
Now that Mariano Rivera has retired, the best closer in the game resides in Atlanta, and his name is Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel’s career save-conversion percentage sits at 90.4 %, having converted on 141 of 156 save chances. He is third all-time among pitchers with over 150 save opportunities, behind Eric Gagne (91.7) and John Smoltz (91.1). After saving his first two games this season, this guy is heading for the top of the list at break-neck speed.
Speaking of the Braves, methinks that they are probably second-guessing themselves after allowing Tim Hudson to leave and sign with the SF Giants as a free agent. I know that Hudson missed most of last season after breaking his ankle, but the Braves’ front office may have missed the bus on this one, especially after all the injuries to their starting pitching. All Hudson did in his first start on Wednesday, was throw 7 ⅔ innings of shutout ball against the Arizona D-Backs.
Back to the Yankees, who were able to leave Houston with at least one win, after losing the first two games of the season to the lowly Astros. Lots of age on that ball club, and they really need for Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter to come back from last year’s injuries. Tonight, all eyes will be on Masahiro Tanaka, as he makes his major league debut in Toronto against the Blue Jays. I can’t wait to see him pitch against major league talent.
More from MLB:
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 over 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 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:
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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth played ten seasons together with the Yankees. How many times did they both homer in the same game?
The Bambino and the Iron Horse homered in the same game 74 times, including one game each in the 1928 and 1932 World Series. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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