Monday, July 28, 2014

Monday, Monday!  Time to get started on  a brand new week.    

Here’s the blog.

Lots of stuff going on - the major league trading deadline, the Dolphins and the NFL open their training camps, with the first preseason games for the Fins coming up on August 8th.

Speaking of the NFL, I will have my first analysis on all the teams later this week, as I take a look at the NFC, followed by the AFC next week.  Keep your eyes out for that.

In the NBA, LeBron James will wear #23 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Of course, all the idiots that burned his old #23 jerseys when LBJ brought his talents to South Beach, will just have to go out and buy another one before he leaves again and they have to burn them again.  

Here is more on the Heat from Ira Winderman’s blog in the South Florida Sun Sentinel:


It’s all over but the shouting in Donald Sterling’s trial to determine whether or not his wife can sell the LA Clippers for $2 Billion.  


What about Michael Beasley and Greg Oden?


Off to the diamonds we go:

The Hall of Fame in Cooperstown welcomed six new members on Sunday - Managers Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, and Joe Torre; pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine; and slugger Frank Thomas.



There should be another big class of inductees in 2015.  Among the players that are eligible for induction next year (in alphabetical order):  

Jeff Bagwell 
Craig Biggio
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Randy Johnson
Edgar Martinez
Pedro Martinez
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Mike Mussina
Rafael Palmeiro
Mike Piazza
Tim Raines
Gary Sheffield
John Smoltz
Sammy Sosa

You will notice that this list includes some guys with steroid implications, whether assumed or real (in italics above).  If the hall just inducted Tony LaRussa, who turned a blind eye to McGwire, Canseco, and others while in Oakland, then maybe it is time to let in these guys in as well.  I’m just saying . . . .

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Only three left-handers in MLB history ended their careers with more wins than Tom Glavine, who entered the Hall of Fame on Sunday with 305 wins.  Who are they?  The answer comes later, alligator.

The Marlins enjoyed the best road trip in the history of the franchise, as they took 6 out of 7 - - - - 3 out of 4 against the Braves, and sweeping the Astros in a 3 game series.  That is as good as it gets.  The Fish are now 51-53 for the season, and find themselves in third place in the NL east, seven games behind the Washington Nats, who lead the second-place Atlanta Braves by 1 ½ games.  Miami is 5 ½ games behind the Braves, both in the division and in the race for the second wild card, but the Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds are all in front of the Marlins in the wild card standings as well.

One thing at a time.  The Nationals are in town starting a three-game series against the Fish at Marlins Park today.  Next up will be the Cincinnati Reds for a four-game series this coming weekend.  These two series are pivotal if the Marlins are going to remain in the post-season chase.  You gotta beat the teams in front of you, it is that simple.  Here are the probable pitchers for the series against the Nationals and the first two games against the Red Stockings:

Mon 7:10 pm Jordan Zimmerman vs Nathan Eovaldi
Tue 7:10 pm Stephen Strasburg vs Henderson Alvarez
Wed  12:40 pm Tanner Roark vs Brad Hand

Thu 7:10 pm Johnny Cueto vs Tom Koehler
Fri 7:10 pm Mat Latos vs Jacob Turner

In my preseason analysis of the Marlins, I told you that this team was going to be better than last year, and that was counting on a full year from Jose Fernandez.  Even with the loss of Jose for virtually the entire season, the fact that this team is right around the .500 mark at the trade deadline is definitely a HUGE improvement.  Remember that the Fish were 62-100 in 2013.  

The starting pitching needs to continue to improve, the bullpen needs to step it up a notch, and they need to plug that hole at second base.  We’ll see if GM Dan Jennings is able to pull the trigger on a trade this week.  Will they bring a starting pitcher in?  Will it be a veteran bat?  Second baseman?  I’ll keep you posted.

For more Marlins news and stories, follow make sure you follow my good friend Larry Walansky on nbcmiami.com. 


The Yankees’ blog is here, thanks to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News:


Here are the rumors around baseball, up to the minute.



Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports are also in the gossip business this week:


Doug Miller of MLB.com brings more rumors to the table:


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



Here are the standings in MLB:


Here are the individual leaders in the majors:


Let us move on to the Miami Dolphins and the NFL.

Training camp is open.  

The Dolphins are making a lot of changes this season.  I sincerely hope that the “new and improved” offensive line lives up to that mantra.  The “new and improved” offense must include more connections between Ryan Tannehill and Mike Wallace, something that didn’t happen very much last season.  The addition of Knowshown Moreno to what has been a mediocre running back combination of Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas must make an impact.  Hopefully we’ll start seeing that when the preseason games start on August 8th, in less than two weeks.

On a side note, I still have high hopes for Lamar Miller, especially in this “new and improved” offense being implemented by new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.  You may also want to keep your eyes on rookie wide receiver Jarvis Landry, the second round pick from LSU.  



Miami Dolphins blog from Armando Salguero:


Chris Perkins and Omar Kelly bring us their Dolphin blog:


The countdown is on until the Dolphins take the field.  Their first preseason game is now less than two weeks away.  Here are both the Preseason and Regular Season schedules:

2014 MIAMI DOLPHINS Preseason schedule: 

Aug. 8         at Atlanta Falcons           (Fri)      7:00 pm
Aug. 16       at Tampa Bay Bucs           (Sat)     7:00 pm
Aug. 23       Dallas Cowboys                (Sat)     7:00 pm
Aug. 28       St. Louis Rams                 (Thu)    7:00 pm

2014 MIAMI DOLPHINS Regular Season schedule:

Sep. 7         New England Patriots                    1:00 pm
Sep. 14       at Buffalo Bills                              1:00 pm
Sep. 21       Kansas City Chiefs                         4:25 pm
Sep. 28       at Oakland Raiders  (London)         6:00 pm
Oct. 5         BYE
Oct. 12       Green Bay Packers                         1:00 pm
Oct. 19       at Chicago Bears                            1:00 pm
Oct. 26       at Jacksonville Jaguars                  1:00 pm
Nov. 2        San Diego Chargers                         1:00 pm
Nov. 9        at Detroit Lions                              1:00 pm
Nov. 13      Buffalo Bills              (Thu)              8:25 pm
Nov. 23      at Denver Broncos                           4:25 pm
Dec. 1        at New York Jets      (Mon)              8:30 pm
Dec. 7        Baltimore Ravens                           1:00 pm
Dec. 14      at New England Patriots                  1:00 pm
Dec. 21      Minnesota Vikings                           1:00 pm
Dec. 28      New York Jets                                 1:00 pm

For more 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. 

From around the universities,

Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have all the latest news from 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:


In other sports,

George Richards has his Florida Panthers Blog going, and he talks about Cuban-American goalie Al Montoya joining the Panthers.


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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Only three left-handers in MLB history ended their careers with more wins than Tom Glavine, who entered the Hall of Fame on Sunday with 305 wins.  Who are they?  

Warren Spahn (363), Steve Carlton (329), and Eddie Plank (326)

Next on that list, behind Glavine, are Randy Johnson (303), Lefty Grove (300), and Tommy John (288).  Tell me again why Tommy John isn’t in the Hall of Fame. 


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

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