Monday, May 30, 2011

Road to the 2010-2011 NBA Finals & Series Prediction

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With both the Western and Eastern Conference Finals coming to a conclusion this past week, the table is now set for the NBA Finals which will feature the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. While most critics are calling it a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals which saw the Shaq led Heat overcome a 0-2 deficit to bring Miami their first and only Larry O'Brien Trophy, I wouldn't call it a sequel given the new faces. Since their '06 showdown, both teams have underwent makeovers as only two players from each team have stuck around -- Dwayne Wade and Udonis Haslem in Miami and Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry in Dallas.
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While the cast of superstars featured in the series will be a good one, the storyline of how both teams got here is just as good. Out west, the Mavs' well-seasoned veterans played a key role in defeating a Portland Trailblazers squad that caught fire after acquiring Gerald Wallace from Charlotte before the trade deadline. Next Dallas made a trip to the Staples Center where they disposed of the back-to-back defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers in a 4-game sweep. Finally they toed off against a young but very talented Oklahoma City Thunder squad that was unable to find an answer for Dirk Nowitzki who logged one of the best games in Postseason history by torching OKC for 48 points including a perfect 24-for-24 performance from the free-throw line in Game 1. Dallas would eventually close out the series in 5 games.
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Following the diva-like antics the Miami Heat made prior the season starting when they formed their All-Star caliber line-up, anything less than a NBA Finals appearance would be a disappointment. However, LeBron and company have only accomplished half of what they set out to achieve. Facing up against an inexperienced Philadelphia 76ers squad, Miami took the series in 5 games, making their way to the Conference Semifinals. Round 2 against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics which was projected by many to be their most challenging task would prove to be otherwise as Miami manhandled the elderly Celtics who seemed to be expiring faster than a carton of milk. With two steps of the way there, the Heat would then take their talents to Chi town to face off against a Bulls team that boasted the best record in the NBA and swept them in all three regular season meetings.
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But after being bullied by the same team in the regular season, the Bulls would experience a twist of fate as Chicago instead found themselves being the ones bullied. After taking Game 1 at home in the windy city, the Bulls were dissected, enduring back-to-back heart wrenching losses where they failed to hang on to a fourth quarter lead including a 12 point debacle in the deciding Game 5. With Carlos Boozer who was acquired by Chicago in the offseason to be the go-to-man of Derrick Rose, the former Utah Jazz All-Star instead played like an an absolute shadow of last year's Boozer as he played no factor in the series what so ever. Boozer along with the rest of the Bulls' lack of production forced the league's MVP to try and do it all by himself, only to come up short as Miami rallied to outscore Chicago 18-to-3 in the final 3 minutes to take the series 4 games to 1.
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While the Heat are coming off of 4 consecutive wins over a team that had not lost three straight games all year, the Mavs are winners of 10 of their last 11 games and are coming off of two straight impressive come from behind wins of their own. Having been virtually unstoppable this postseason and nearly unguardable, will we see LeBron try his luck on another former MVP in Nowitzki? Though James was successful when guarding the much smaller D.Rose, trying to contain the 7-foot Dirk will be a much more daunting task given his size advantage over LeBron. Regardless of who's guarding who, the series should be a good one which could easily go either way and the distance.
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Prediction: Though I wouldn't rule out any chances of the series going all seven games, I'm predicting the Mavs in six. With two future Hall of Famers in Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki yet to win a ring, what a story book ending it would be to the careers of both players if they were to bring Dallas and Mavs owner Mark Cuban their first ever Larry O'Brien Trophy.
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Both teams look to take the hardwood in Miami at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday on ABC.

Giants, Posey dealt a huge blow

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At AT&T Park on Wednesday, the San Francisco Giants played host to the Florida Marlins in game 2 of a 3 game set where they found themselves in an extra inning affair. Down 6 to 2 in the ninth inning, the defending World Champion Giants rallied to tie the game on a 2-run double by first baseman Aubrey Huff. Despite their valiant effort and late game heroics, San Francisco would go on to lose the game by a final score of 7-6 in extra innings. However, the Giants would lose much more than the game as last year's reigning Rookie of the Year Buster Posey was on the receiving end of a home plate collision.

With one out in the 12th inning and the game tied at 6, Emilio Bonifacio stepped up to the dish with Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins on third base. Bonifacio hit a sacrifice fly to shallow right field as Cousins broke for home, bulldozing the defenseless Posey to score the go-ahead run. Immediately following the hit, Posey was seen grimacing with pain and clawing the dirt as team trainers and medical personnel rushed to the scene. After a stoppage of play, the 24 year old Posey was helped off the field and taken to the Giants clubhouse where he was given further evaluation. After receiving x-rays, MRI's revealed torn ligaments in Posey's left ankle and a broken bone in his lower left leg. While his fractured fibula should heal normally according to Giants head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner, his ankle would require season ending surgery, putting the Giants' chances of winning back-to-back titles in jeopardy.
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In what is still referred to as being relatively young into the season, the Giants have already had their fair share of injuries as Barry Zito, Pablo Sandoval, Mark DeRosa, Aaron Rowand, Andres Torres and Cody Ross among others have all served time on the bench or on the disabled list. However, no absence is greater than Posey's who not only takes on the daunting task of batting cleanup, but also having to catch an All-Star cast of pitchers that currently owns the fourth best ERA in the Majors (3.23). Both are traits of Posey's which helped play a key role in San Francisco's recent success.

Highly regarded as one of the best young catchers in all of baseball, it'll be nearly impossible for the Giants to acquire someone to fill the shoes of Posey given how irreplaceable he is. But that won't prevent Giants general manager Brian Sabean to consider a possible trade if San Francisco's backup catcher Eli Whiteside continues to struggle at the plate. Though nothing is set in stone, all signs point to a possible trade for Washington's Ivan Rodriguez if need be. The injury of their most important position player who was currently riding a 13 game hitting streak, comes at a pivotal time as the Arizona Diamondbacks who have been somewhat under the radar, have crept up from behind in the standings threatening to take over first place in the division.
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Though it was just an unfortunate event, nobody feels worse about the incident than Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins, an alum of the University of San Francisco who says he feels bad Posey was hurt and that the Giants are his team. Since the incident, Cousins has called the team twice to send his apologies. Having started in 41 of the Giants' first 48 games this season, Posey has also gotten a beating behind home plate after taking a number of foul balls off the mask. And whether or not you agree, the most recent ailment regarding one of the Giants' most prized possessions has only added fuel to the discussion of if the organization should consider moving Posey to another position to avoid a similar incident from occurring. After all, their most fragile position player is at the most vulnerable of positions.

While neither Posey nor his teammates called Cousins' hit dirty, shades of Ray Fosse and Pete Rose in the 1970 All-Star Game come to mind. If a change in Posey's position isn't made, perhaps there will be a change made elsewhere like in the rule book. Although it's happened before, some think the most recent incident could result in a rule change banning catchers to block the plate. Posey's agent and Giants skipper Bruce Bochy certainly think so and are lobbying for a rule change concerning collisions. "I think this probably needs to be addressed," said Bochy who knows a little bit about catching having served 10 seasons in the Big Leagues behind home plate. With Posey sidelined for the rest of the season, the Giants who have been struggling before the injury, will need someone else to step up offensively. The one question us Giants fans are pondering, is who will it be?
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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Welcome to Hollywood Mike Brown

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While Phil Jackson plans to return to his native Montana to meditate among God know what else this offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers are forced to move on. And though his retirement is thought by many to be a brief one, if he does return to coach in the NBA, it won't be with the purple and gold. If Jackson gets bored of fly-fishing after awhile like I would expect him to, all signs are pointing to him coaching the New York Knicks whom he played 11 seasons with, winning two NBA titles. Instead of retiring at the pinnacle of greatness after winning his record 11th ring last season, the Zen Master returned for a shot at a third career three-peat, but was instead treated to his first ever sweep at the helm of the Lakers after being upset by the Dirk Nowitzki-led Dallas Mavericks.

With Jackson no longer part of the equation in Tinsel Town, a new name would emerge and be forced to perform under the bright lights of Staples Center. Such names as Bryan Shaw, Rick Adelman, Mike Dunleavy and Jeff Van Gundy were all potential candidates, but none made the cut. Instead former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown who was said to be a long shot, was chosen to be the one who puts an end to the Phil Jackson era. Brown who was a product under Spurs head coach Greg Popovich, was awarded the job of a lifetime and a 4 year, $18.25 Million contract after awing Lakers vice president of personnel Jim Bus with his defense-minded style.
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Not only does Brown inherit a star studded line-up, but he also inherits the larger than life expectations that comes equipped when coaching one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. Not to mention he's got some pretty large shoes to fill. Though it wasn't the ideal hiring in my opinion as I was hoping for Shaw or Adelman to land the job, Brown does have some impressive credentials on his track record including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2007 and a 2009 NBA Coach of the Year Award. However, the 2-time MVP LeBron James has a lot to do with that. During his tenure in Cleveland, the LeBron-led Cavs finished back-to-back seasons with the best record in the league under Brown. But it's worth noting that if Brown was a successful mentor with basically one player, it'll be interesting to see what he's capable of with an entire cast of all-star caliber talent.

The biggest shocker though revolving the hire of Brown is that the organization did not consult team captain Kobe Bryant. Days after the Lakers made the signing of their new head coach official, the only discussions between Kobe and Brown have been through text messages. Although Kobe hasn't publicly disapproved of Brown being named the 24th coach in franchise history, it's no secret he was lobbying for his former teammate Brian Shaw to land the gig. With Brown now under control in L.A. and calling the plays for one of the games all-time greats, the relationship between him and Kobe could either be a match made in heaven or it could be a recipe for disaster considering Brown has been known for being somewhat of a pushover in Cleveland as LeBron was often seen as the one calling the shots.
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Friday, May 27, 2011

Big Bats return to Rangers, Phillies

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Some good news for Texas Rangers fans as one of the leagues most formidable tandems of Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz return to the lineup. The revamped offense will see the homecoming of their reigning American League MVP for the first time since April 12 when he was placed on the DL after sliding into home on a debatable play at the plate, being tagged out at home and breaking his arm in the process. Hamilton went public regarding the disputable call from the Rangers third base coach to send him, saying it was a bad decision. Since their blazing start to the season with Hamilton in the lineup, the Rangers have been six games under .500 without him (15-21).
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Though he doesn't generate as much production as Hamilton, Cruz's return to the lineup will also be a welcomed one, as much of Texas' hot start had a lot to do with Cruz's consistent hitting to begin the season which saw him hit 7 home runs in 31 games before suffering a strained quad on May 3. Cruz also become only the third player in Major League history to ever homer in the first four games of the season. The timing of the return will be perfect given the Rangers have struggled to score runs lately, plating a combined 5 runs in their last four games. Not to mention the division is still up for grabs as a slim 2.5 games separates last place from first.
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As for the Philadelphia Phillies who have been without arguably the best second baseman in the National League to start the season due to a knee injury, the team is hoping the addition of Chase Utley's bat in the lineup will help Philadelphia pull away with the division. Without their All-Star second baseman, the Phils offense has been struggling a bit, but their dominant starting rotation has kept them atop the standings as they currently own a 1.5 game lead over the second place Florida Marlins. With both the Rangers and Phillies projected favorites to not only win their divisions this season, but also contend for a title, who's return will make a bigger impact to their team, Utley's or Hamilton's?

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

New York Mets under Friendly Fire

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If anybody has the right to criticize a ball club and its players, it's the team owner. And with what looks to be another disappointing season in Queens, Mets owner Fred Wilpon is doing just that. After signing a string of players to lucrative contracts and little success to show for mainly due to injury, Wilpon has expressed publicly just how harsh he's being on not only the players he signed, but also himself for investing in them.

Referring to Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran who had a historic Postseason while a member of the Houston Astros in 2004 where he belted 8 home runs tying a single Postseason record before signing with the Mets, Wilpon told The New Yorker magazine, "We had some schmuck in New York who paid him based on that one series. He's sixty-five to seventy percent of what he was." Following his impressive run in Houston which ended after losing in the World Series to the Chicago White Sox, Beltran garnered the attention of Wilpon as a free agent who signed him to a 7-year, $119 Million deal which at the time was the richest contract in franchise history. Little did he know, much of Beltran's tenure with the ball club would be plagued by injury as he's missed portions of both the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Making matters worse, Beltran underwent knee surgery last season which the Mets claim was without their consent.
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However, Beltran wasn't the only player targeted by Wilpon, as he also had some not so nice things to say about third baseman David Wright who's been the face of the Mets franchise since being called up in 2004. "David Wright is a really good kid, but not a superstar," Said Wilpon. As for Mets shortstop Jose Reyes who like Beltran is in a contract year and has also had his share of injuries, Wilpon told The New Yorker, "He thinks he's going to get Carl Crawford money. He's had everything wrong with him. He won't get it." For Reyes who's currently in the final year of a four-year extension signed back in '06, the 27 year old speedster is hoping to return to form as he's been among the elite at his position when healthy.

Despite going public with his strong disinterest in how his team has performed over the past few years, Wilpon does have something to be mad about. Coming into the 2011 season, the Mets owned the seventh highest payroll in the league with much thanks to the recent spending of players like Johan Santana, Jason Bay and Francisco Rodriguez. While both Santana and K-Rod have performed as expected thus far in a Mets uni, Bay has so far failed to meet expectations as his name will most likely be added to Wilpon's list in the near future. To avoid overspending and falling in a similar hole, Wilpon says he plans to slash the Mets payroll by as much as 30 percent next season. Luckily for them, first base will be among the few positions they won't need to address as they've got a promising young talent in 24 year old Ike Davis.
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Monday, May 23, 2011

JustIncredible

Just four days after Minnesota's Francisco Liriano etched his name into the record books by throwing a no-hitter, Tigers ace Justin Verlander joined him by tossing the second no-no of his career and seventh in Tigers franchise history.
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On the road in Toronto while facing the Blue Jays, Verlander who normally baffles his victims via the strikeout, having led the American League in K's in 2009, instead managed to get the opposition out by way of the ground and fly ball variety. And though he didn't amass an impressive strikeout total like he did in 2007 when compiling 12 K's in his first no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers, the four punch outs which also matched a season-low, enabled him to coast through innings with a relatively low pitch-count heading into the latter innings of the ballgame. Verlander did have his strikeout stuff though as his fastball reached speeds up to 101 MPH as late as the 7th inning.

His only flaw would come with one out in the 8th inning when he walked Jays rookie catcher J.P. Arencebia in a 12-pitch at-bat that ended in a ball just millimeters off the plate. Had it not been for the walk, Verlander would've had a perfecto as no other Blue Jay reached base. However, the former AL Rookie of the Year did face the minimum 27 batters as Toronto third baseman Edwin Encarnacion followed Arencebia's walk by hitting into an inning-ending double play. Verlander's masterful performance was capped off by striking out Rajai Davis swinging en route to a 9-0 victory. The 28 year old hurler was treated to a Gatorade shower after his teammates rushed the mound to congratulate him on his magnificent feat.
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With a second no-hitter on his resume, Verlander became just the seventh pitcher since 1954 to toss a no-no while facing the minimum (27 batters) and only the 28th player in modern Major League history to record multiple no-hitter's. Even after joining the short list of pitchers with more than one no-hitter, Verlander has his sights on an even greater achievement and says he's aiming for 7 no-no's, a territory only one man has been able to reach -- the legendary Nolan Ryan.

Preparing for his voyage, the Tigers righty will have the odds against him as only five pitchers have thrown more than two no-hitters. But as a proud Fantasy owner of Verlander, I'll be wishing him luck and cheering him on every inch of the way.
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Cavs win Draft Lottery, land first pick

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After having to sit through a torturous 19-63 season which included an NBA record 26-game losing streak, Cleveland Cavs fans receive something they've waited nearly a year for, an apology from none other than LeBron James. Since his decision in which he publicly announced his departure from the snowy weather of Ohio to the sunny beaches of Florida on July 8, LeBron has quickly evolved from home town kid to public enemy number one. Following their 97-87 victory over the Boston Celtics, triumphing the series 4-games to 1, James stood in front of a camera crew on the podium during a post-game interview where he told the people of his home state, "I couldn't do it myself against that [Celtics] team. I apologize for the way it happened, but I knew this opportunity was once in a lifetime."

Along with the Cleveland fan base, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert who was one of James' biggest critics after his infamous 'Decision', can care less about the delayed apology and are ready to move on. And with two of the first four picks in this year's NBA Draft, including the number one overall pick which was won in the Lottery today, what better way to help them recover from their LeBron hangover than adding a new crop of young talent to the team. In spite of what's being described as a relatively weak draft class this year opposed to season's past, almost anything will be an upgrade over what the Cavs roster looked like this year.
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With overall picks numbers one and four, Gilbert and company are in a perfect position to land consensus no. 1 prospect Kyrie Irving of Duke or Arizona's Derrick Williams along with Brandon Knight of Kentucky or UCONN's long shot -- Kemba Walker. In reaction to his team winning the Draft Lottery after having suffered from a dreadful season, Gilbert told reporters, "I don't know if it makes up for it, but it certainly makes it worth the pain that we all went through." Just a year removed from back-to-back seasons of 60-wins or more, you have to feel a bit sympathetic for Gilbert regardless of his inappropriate shots fired at LeBron, after seeing his team fall from what was one of the best in the league to one of the worst. And though he hasn't said it yet, you know the one thing that's on Gilbert's mind is sticking it to his former star LeBron James.

Considering the Cavs have been in rebuilding mode since James made his announcement to join D-Wade and Bosh in Miami, many in the Cavaliers organization including vice chairman Jeff Cohen, believe their in the drivers seat to get this team back on the winning track. "One and four is an unbelievable opportunity for this organization," Cohen said. "Hopefully we don't have to come back to this room for a long, long time."

Friday, May 13, 2011

Browns' Hillis lands Madden cover

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With a number of surprises in the NFL last season, none were greater those of Peyton Hillis and Michael Vick. While Vick revitalized his career in Philly after taking over the starting QB job for the injured Kevin Kolb, 2010 saw the breakout of Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis. After a trade in the offseason that sent Hillis from Denver to Cleveland in exchange for Browns QB Brady Quinn, the league became well acquainted with the 240 lb. back who went on to rush for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning him Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 9. Due to his consistent production week after week, the former Arkansas Razorback became a fan favorite among fantasy owners as he went on to become the first white running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season since New England's Craig James in 1985.

In spite of his impressive numbers, Hillis was unable to single-handedly carry the team as the Browns lost the last 4 games of the season before finishing with an overall record of 5-11. However, his remarkable season resulted in a spot on EA Sports' bracket-styled 32-player tournament to potentially become the cover athlete of Madden 12. Voted on by the fans, Hillis ousted such players as Ray Rice, Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers before facing Vick in the finals. Though Vick's career season and positive attitude helped change a lot of peoples minds since his legal troubles, it didn't quite win everyone over as he went on to lose by nearly fifty percent of the votes (66% to 34%), which I would agree with considering Vick had already graced the cover of Madden back in '04 while a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
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At midnight on April 27th, the cover was revealed on ESPN's SportsNation with both Vick and Hillis in the studio. As one of the most unlikeliest of players to land the cover of the most celebrated sports video game in history just a year ago, Hillis' rise in fame has been nothing short of a Cinderella story and couldn't have been awarded to a better player and or franchise. Though it may not seem like a big deal to some, for a team like the Browns that have been starving of recognition having reached the playoffs only twice in the last 20 years, this is easily the best thing to happen to the organization in recent memory. Not to mention the Dawg Pound finally has something worth cheering about. But while it gives the franchise a bit of much needed notoriety and hope, it also adds to the pressure and expectations of the 25 year old running back to prove he's not just a one-hit wonder.

Though it would be a bit premature to write him off as one of the game's elites, Hillis' strength and speed are just a few of the many intangibles that translate to what looks to be a Pro-Bowl caliber career. With the likes of QB Colt McCoy and WR Joshua Cribbs, the Browns have a core of young players on offense to compliment Hillis and have the potential to blossom into what they're hoping will be a reversal in fortunes given their recent struggles. Honestly, I remain uncertain on if and when the Browns will ever be a title contender so I'll pass on jumping on the bandwagon just yet, but I'm guessing we've only seen a glimpse of what's to come from Hillis. The Philadelphia Eagles on the other hand are probably a bit glad Vick won't be starring on the cover considering he won't be in line for any Madden curse this year. You can expect Madden 12 to hit shelves on August 30.
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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Liriano-no hitter

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After posting a godly 12-3 record and 2.16 ERA in 2006, the Minnesota Twins appeared to have found the perfect gem in Francisco Liriano to compliment their ace Johan Santana. However, Tommy John surgery during the offseason would cause him to miss the entire 2007 season. After logging back-to-back sub-par seasons in 2008-2009 following his procedure, the Liriano of old appeared to have somewhat revived his career by finishing his 2010 campaign four games over .500 and an ERA of 3.62 while setting a career high in strikeouts with 201. Hoping to continue his success on into the following year, he would instead encounter the exact opposite as a rocky start to his 2011 season would threaten his spot in the rotation.

Entering Tuesday's game in Chicago against the division rival White Sox, Liriano owned a dismal record of 1-4 with an ERA of 9.13 which became a cause for concern within the Twins organization. With his job on the line, Liriano stepped up and secured his spot in the rotation in the biggest and most surprising of ways by throwing a no-hitter. With little to no signs of life at the plate for either team, the match seemed to be on its way to a scoreless deadlock when finally Minnesota managed to get on the board. The games lone run came in the 4th inning when Jason Kubel hit his third home run of the season, giving Minnesota a 1-0 advantage. The one run would prove to be all the offense they needed as Liriano did the rest along with some stellar defense highlighted by outfielder Denard Span and third baseman Danny Valencia, both of whom robbed Chicago's Carlos Quentin of a hit, preserving the no-hit bid.
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Prior to throwing the seventh no-hitter in Twins franchise history, Liriano had never thrown a complete game, let alone a shutout in his Major League career which started in 2006. And though he survived the game without surrendering any hits, Liriano was far from his best and was anything but perfect. Despite finishing the night with nine hit-less frames, Liriano walked 6 batters while striking out just 2. As for Minnesota, they'll take the win any way possible. The historic feat comes at a perfect time as the Twins who came into the season as AL Central favorites, currently own the worst record in the American League at a disappointing 10-18 after losing six straight. Much to blame for their recent struggles outside of the rotation of coarse, is the injuries to both Delmon Young and former AL MVP Joe Mauer. Two integral parts to their offense last season which led to a division title.

If Liriano can ride his no-hitter to create a bit of confidence, it would do wonders for the Twins who are currently 10 games behind the division leading Cleveland Indians. While the Twins hope to bounce back from their disappointing start to the season, it's only a matter of time before the Tribe begin to cool off. After all, they finished 2010 among the worst teams in the league -- 24 games below the .500 mark (69-93).

Noteworthy: Liriano became just the fifth pitcher in the last 30 years to throw a no-hitter that included more walks than strikeouts. Entering the game, his 9.13 ERA was the second-highest among pitchers in a minimum of three starts to go on and toss a no-hitter.

Monday, May 2, 2011

2011 NBA Playoffs x Thunder-Grizzlies Preview

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One of the more intriguing stories of this NBA season and most notably during the Playoffs, is that of the the Memphis Grizzlies. Entering the Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies were given the daunting task of having to face the top seeded San Antonio Spurs in a David versus Goliath type situation. However, the young Memphis squad proved to be up for the challenge and went on to defeat the Spurs in 6-games, closing the series out at home in front of a raucous crowd. Prior to the series, the Grizzlies franchise which started in Vancouver 15-years ago had never won a playoff series, let alone a playoff game in their four playoff appearances. So it was only fitting for the Grizzlies to notch their first ever series triumph against the best team in the West.
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With a youthful crop of talent orchestrated by Zach Randolph who has had himself a remarkable season earning his way onto the NBA All-Star team for the first time in his 10-year career, next on the list for the Grizzlies is an Oklahoma City Thunder team who they most resemble. Just a year ago, the Thunder converted one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history when they improved from their 23-59 record in 2008-2009 to an astonishing 50-32 mark in 2009-2010. A major factor to their 27-game turnaround, was the development of Kevin Durant along with an impressive 2010 Draft class which included gem's James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Oklahoma's nucleus of young star-studded players proved their 2009 campaign was no fluke, by winning 55-games this season, earning them the 4th seed. With so much potential at such a young age, the Thunder easily have the intangibles to be one of the more formidable squads in the league for many years to come.
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Although Memphis' improvement from last year's mediocre 40-42 record didn't quite compare to Oklahoma City's, the 6-game progression would be all they needed to awe the critics. Similar to OKC, the Grizzlies proved their ousting of the top-seeded Spurs was no fluke, as they went on to defeat the Thunder on their own home court in Game 1. With no answer for Zach Randolph defensively, the former Most Improved Player (2004) finished the game with a stellar 34 points and 10 boards. Marc Gasol, brother of Lakers star forward Pau Gasol also contributed by compiling 20 points to go along with 13 rebounds. Not be forgotten is Grizzlies point-guard Mike Conley.What I find most impressive regarding Memphis' run, is that they've been able to do it all without their leader Rudy Gay who's been out since mid-February.

As Oklahoma City prepares to seek revenge in Game 2 on Tuesday, I expect the series to be tied heading into Game 3 when the battle shifts to Memphis on Thursday. And if it is, you can consider this one a coin-toss as to who advances to the Western Conference Finals. But just to pick a side, I'll go with one of the game's better closers in Durant and give the Thunder the upper-hand in 7-games assuming the newly acquired Kendrick Perkins is able to contain Randolph and prevent him from making a habit out of his Game 1 outburst.

2011 NBA Playoffs x Lakers-Mavs Preview

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With the first round of the NBA Playoffs in the books, the table is now set for the semifinals which will include two Western Conference heavyweights -- the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. Although seeing both teams atop the standings has become somewhat of a common occurrence over the past decade or so, it's been a distant 23 years since these teams have met in the Playoffs which in itself describes just how anxious basketball fans are to see how not only this series plays out, but also the match-up between team captains Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. Not to mention the bad-blood shared between both franchises which was seen in their last meeting on March 31. In a 110-82 blowout that saw the Lakers come out victorious, tempers flared following a hard foul resulting in the ejections of Jason Terry, Matt Barnes and Steve Blake.
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With both teams coming off of 6-game series' in which they were able to close out on the road against their respective opponents -- New Orleans Hornets and Portland Trailblazers, I won't be surprised if both teams were to lose at least one game on their home court. Another scenario which wouldn't shock me, is if the series was to go the distance, needing all 7-games to determine a winner. However, while that's what TV networks along with NBA Commissioner David Stern are hoping for, I think the series will only go 6-games with L.A. coming out on top.

Similar to the last series where the Hornets were without their All-Star Forward David West, the Lakers will dodge another bullet facing a Caron Butler-less Mavs squad. The ex-Laker who came over from Miami in the Shaq trade hasn't been on the hardwood since January 1 when he ruptured his right patella tendon. Hoping to return to the team for game 1, Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle received notice from Butler's doctor that he wasn't cleared to play. But with plenty of threats on offense such as veterans Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and the aforementioned tandem of Terry and Nowitzki, the Lakers will still have their hands full. Tip off to Game 1 at Staples Center is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.