Sports Jam Session / Descarga Deportiva

The Spurs beat the living crap out of the Miami Heat last night, final score 111-92. Miami’s first home defeat this postseason, their first home loss since game 1 of the Finals vs. the Spurs last season. This game was pretty much over in the first half, when the Spurs shot an NBA-record 76% from the field in the first half, including 13-15 (87%) in the first quarter, and enjoyed a 25-point lead at one point. Miami was able to cut down the lead to seven (81-74) with just under two minutes left in the third quarter, but that was as close as they would get. The Spurs scored on 19 of its first 23 possessions, and had a 12-minute stretch in which they didn't miss a single shot. Effective offense or simply horrible defense?

The city of Miami police sent out an APB on Heat point guards Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. Both of them have been virtually invisible and totally miserable. Neither one can buy a basket and cannot defend Tony Parker.

This was total domination by the Spurs. The reality of the situation is that it counts as much as a one-point loss, and there will be a game four on Thursday, tipoff is at 9:00 pm, on ABC.

Game Three recap and box score

What are the South Florida and San Antonio newspapers saying?

Click below:

HEAT - SPURS GAME 3 - from the Herald

HEAT - SPURS GAME 3 - from the Sun Sentinel

HEAT - SPURS GAME 3 - from the San Antonio Express

Here is the complete series schedule:

GAME 1 SPURS 110, Heat 95

GAME 2 Heat 98, SPURS 96

GAME 3 Spurs 111, HEAT 92

GAME 4 Thursday June 12 Spurs @ HEAT 9:00 pm ABC

GAME 5 Sunday June 15 Heat @ SPURS 8:00 pm ABC

GAME 6 Tuesday June 17 Spurs @ HEAT 9:00 pm ABC *

GAME 7 Friday June 20 Heat @ SPURS 9:00 pm ABC *

* if necessary

Let’s go to MLB, where the news were a little better:

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Marlins just tied the ML record with 13 consecutive interleague wins. What two teams are they tied with? The answer comes later, alligator.

How ‘bout them Marlins? The Fish beat the Texas Rangers last night, 8-5. Christian Yelich had four hits and drove in four runs in the win. The Marlins tied a ML record with their 13th consecutive interleague victory.

The Marlins now find themselves ½ game behind the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals in the NL east. The Fish take on the Rangers again today as they close out a brief two-game series, before heading home this weekend to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tonight’s starter is up in the air, as it could be Nathan Eovaldi instead of Jacob Turner, depending on the status of Eovaldi’s wife, who is expecting their first child.

Wednesday Eovaldi or Jacob Turner vs Yu Darvish 8:05 pm

Nice home stand coming up for the Fish as they welcome Pittsburgh Pirates, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Metropolitans to Marlins Park.

Click below for yesterday’s recaps and results in the major leagues:

National League

American League

Here are the standings in MLB:

MLB standings

Today’s complete schedule in the major leagues:

Today's games in MLB

Here are the individual leaders in the majors:

Individual batting and pitching leaders

Some other things I’m keeping my eye on around the diamonds:

Miami-product Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles got suspended for five games after an ugly incident in which he threw his bat towards third base on purpose after a pitch that was high and inside, setting off a brief musical interlude (shoving match) on the field. He definitely needs to grow up just a bit.

The Pirates, who will be in Miami this weekend, finally called up star prospect Gregory Polanco. Folks around MLB are already saying that the outfield of Polanco, last year’s NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, and Starling Marte can quickly become baseball’s best young outfield. NOT SO FAST . . . . . The Marlins’ outfield of Christian Yelich (22), Marcel Ozuna (23), and Giancarlo Stanton (24), are younger than the Pirate trio, are out producing them, and are all rated as very good defensive outfielders.

You have to go back to 1975 or 1978 to find a younger and better outfield trio. In 1975, it was the Boston Red Sox, with Jim Rice (22), Fred Lynn (23), and Dwight Evans (23). In 1978, try the Montreal Expos with Warren Cromartie (24), Andre Dawson (23), and Ellis Valentine (23). Honorable mention goes to the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays, with George Bell (25), Lloyd Moseby (25), and Jesse Barfield (25).

Henderson Alvarez gave everyone a scare on Sunday when he injured his hip on a play in which he went to cover first base. He should be OK, and should be ready to pitch on his regular turn in the rotation this weekend against Pittsburgh.

Keep voting for Giancarlo Stanton for the All-Star game. The man-child is now second among NL outfielders, behind only Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers. Let's make sure he gets in.

Two of the best Japanese pitchers in the majors will square off on the mound this week as Masahiro Tanaka and the Yankees will be up against the Seattle Mariners and Hisashi Iwakuma.

Sports Jam Session / Descarga Deportiva

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

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