Week 2: Harbaugh's 49ers shake Schwartz' Lions

Coming into week two's meeting between the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions, the storyline wasn't about the two 1-0 teams going against one another, but rather the coaches who stirred up quite the controversy the last time they met with what became known as "Handshake Gate." Both coaches made sure they got their handshake out of the way earlier this time around as they exchanged pregame pleasantries. But unlike their 2011 meeting which took place in Detroit exactly 11 months to the day, the 2012 rematch wouldn't be as close of a game as the final score indicated. 

For the second time in as many games, 49ers QB Alex Smith finished behind the opposition in total passing yards (226), but once again managed to play mistake-free football while throwing two touchdowns compared to Matt Stafford's one, a late 9-yard pass to tight-end Brandon Pettigrew with under 1:30 remaining. Stafford also threw an interception where as Smith completed 20 of his 31 throws and extended his streak of 216 passes without an interception, a franchise-record he holds over two of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game -- Steve Young & Joe Montana. Stafford nearly made history of his own if it wasn't for the stingy 49ers defense who put a leash on the Detroit QB, holding him to only 230 yards passing on 19-of-32 attempts and preventing him from becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for 350 yards or more in five straight games. 

Alex Smith threw a pair of touchdowns to tight-end Vernon Davis, including the first TD on the 49ers opening-drive to give San Francisco an early 7-0 lead. The Lions clawed back with back-to-back field goals  from kicker Jason Hanson to make it a one point game before running back Frank Gore scampered into the end zone from 1-yard out, capitalizing on a roughing the kicker penalty by Detroit on a David Akers field goal attempt. The mistake would prove to be costly as the Lions wouldn't get any closer on the scoreboard. Field goals exchanged by both Hanson and Akers would highlight the first four possessions of the second half until a bloody Alex Smith found Davis again who slammed on the breaks and tricked his man and the Lions secondary into running left when a herd of Detroit defenders appeared to have him trapped down the right sideline. A gash above the nose of Smith caused on a play the 49ers QB found ground on and ran for a first down before sliding and being hit in the head would cause blood to trickle down his face. But that didn't seem to mind him as the touchdown gave San Francisco a 27-12 lead. Stafford would answer with a touchdown pass of his own, but it would be too late as his team fell, 27-19 in the 49ers home opener.

With the win, San Francisco ran their home winning streak against the Lions to 12 games, including the 9th consecutive meeting. What would go unknown in the box score however, was the pair of clutch receptions wide-receiver Michael Crabtree made on two key third downs to keep not one, but two San Francisco scoring drives alive. His 6 receptions led the team and trailed only Vernon Davis (73) in receiving yards with 67. Frank Gore carried the ball 17 times for 89-yards and the 49ers D contained Detroit's prolific wide-out Calvin Johnson to 94-yards on 8 catches while keeping him out of the end zone. The 49ers came a game shy of tying the New England Patriots mark of seven consecutive games without a turnover when backup running back Kendall Hunter fumbled a kick return in the first quarter, ending a streak of 26 straight quarters without turning the ball over. The lost fumble was also the first of Hunter's career. 

Week 3 Preview & Prediction: Week 3 will see the 49ers hit the road once again to take on the 1-1 Minnesota Vikings who are coming off a 3-point loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Granted Minnesota's defense has allowed 32 touchdowns in their last 13 games through the air, Alex Smith may be in store for a heyday on offense. But the 49ers run defense who hasn't gave up much of anything through the first two weeks will face arguably their toughest match-up all season long in Adrian Peterson. Their last trip to the Metrodome didn't end too well as the 49ers fell victim to some late-game heroics by Brett Favre who found Sidney Rice in the end zone to steal the lead and game from San Francisco. Sunday's game will also feature the return of Randy Moss in Minnesota where he broke quite a few records during his prime. With emotions running high, I expect him and the 49ers to come out on top, 31-13. 

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Week 1: 49ers too much for Rodgers, Packers

With the San Francisco 49ers set to kickoff the 2012-13 NFL season in front of a national audience on FOX as part of America's Game of the Week, the team under second year head coach and the reigning Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh would be tested right out of the gates and given the daunting task of having to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field where they haven't won since 1990. As if taking the field against an opponent who they've lost 8 consecutive games against wasn't tough enough, the 49ers would be facing last year's MVP in Aaron Rodgers. But even a date with the game's best quarterback would be an inviting challenge for a stingy 49ers defense which ranked tops in the league last season. And while there may be no such thing as stopping Aaron Rodgers, the 49ers were able to contain him. 

After winning the coin-toss and electing to receive, the 49ers appeared to have a long day ahead of them with Clay Matthews and the Packers D forcing San Francisco to punt on their first drive following a three-and-out. But that wouldn't stop them from getting on the board first as Alex Smith and co. marched down-field on their following drive, setting up David Akers for a 40-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. The successful drive would spark a steak of five consecutive scoring drives for the 49ers offense. On their next possession, San Francisco would get some production from one of their biggest acquisitions during the off-season in Randy Moss. Taking snaps for the first time in over a year, Moss would be targeted by Alex Smith in the end-zone for a 14-yard Touchdown, capping off a 92-yard drive.

But being the player that he is, Rodgers would answer with an impressive drive of his own, marching the Packers down the field and highlighting an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to his tight-end Jermichael Finley to make it a 10-7 ballgame. The rest of the half would be all about David Akers as the 49ers kicker stole the show by etching his name into the record books. Following a 43-yarder, Akers who set an NFL record just a season ago with 44 made field-goals, gave San Francisco a 16-7 lead at the half after splitting the uprights from 63-yards out with the help of the crossbar, tying Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski for the longest field goal in NFL history. 

In need of a second-half jolt, the Packers would fail to find it on their first drive of the second-half as they were forced to punt following a three-and-out. The 49ers would then add to their lead as Alex Smith found his favorite target -- Vernon Davis in the end-zone from 4-yards out for another Touchdown. After exchanging a pair of punts, Green Bay would get something working in the special teams department as second year player Randall Cobb returned an Andy Lee punt 75-yards for a Touchdown. With an illegal block in the back by Green Bay during the return, the score looked like it was coming back, but the officials instead picked up the flag and said there were no penalties on the play. With the Packers getting away with one, the 49ers lead was bumped to 8-points as Rodgers and co. converted on a 2-point conversion. Getting the ball back after a San Francisco three-and-out, Rodgers failed to tie the game as Navarro Bowman came up with an interception on a pass intended for Gregg Jennings.

49ers running back Frank Gore would be sure to capitalize on Green Bay's mistake, rushing 23-yards into the end-zone on San Francisco's first play from scrimmage. Down 30-15, Rodgers would refuse to give up, answering with a touchdown of his own, connecting with wide-out James Jones on back-to-back plays before eventually linking up with him in the end-zone from 10-yards out to make it a one possession game. With one last chance to tie it up and potentially send the game into overtime, the game would come down to a final fourth and ten play with Rodgers taking a shot at the end-zone where his pass intended to Jordy Nelson was broken up by cornerback Chris Culliver, allowing Alex Smith to take a knee and milk the clock with the score 30-22. 

Despite allowing 324 yards in total offense including 303 coming through the air, San Francisco's defense for the most part kept Rodgers in check and prevented him from making the big plays when they needed to. And while Alex Smith threw nearly 100 yards fewer than Rodgers, he was able to match him with a pair of TD's and topped him in the turnover department, 0-1, playing mistake-free football. The run defense would be the difference in the game, however, as the 49ers allowed a measly 45 yards rushing on 14 carries compared to the 186 yards rushing Green Bay allowed on 32 carries. Frank Gore would lead the show with 112-yards and a TD. Giving up only 22-points, 7 of which coming off a punt return to a high octane offense such as Green Bay's proves that the 49ers can hang with the best regardless if they're on the road or at home. Winning the time of possession battle 33-minutes to 27-minutes, the 49ers snapped an 8-game losing streak to Green Bay.

Preview & Prediction: With Week 1 in the books, the potent 49ers defense will direct their attention to Matt Stafford and the Detroit Lions in Week 2 as Alex Smith and company look to take the field in front of their home crowd for the first time this season in a Sunday Night battle. Though the 49ers have won the last 8 consecutive meetings versus the Lions, the league's best wide receiver in Calvin Johnson a.k.a. Megatron will do everything possible to put an end to that streak. Unfortunately for them I see that streak reaching a ninth consecutive loss and have the 49ers winning, 27-14.  


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The Strasburg Situation

At last, winning baseball being played in the nation's capital. For much of the 2012 MLB season, the best overall record has been held by none other than the Washington Nationals. And while the team was expected to finish the season with a record above .500 this year for the first time since relocating from Montreal in 2005, the first place Nats who currently stand at 77-51 and own a 6 1/2 game lead in the division over the Atlanta Braves have not only reached expectations, but have surpassed them. Barring a late-season collapse, the Nationals are on pace to make their first post-season appearance since changing their name from the Expos seven seasons ago. And for those who think 2005 was forever ago, the playoff appearance would be the franchise's first since 1981, and only their second in franchise history (est. 1969).

To save you from doing the math, that's 42 years of baseball and only one trip to the post-season. Of coarse excluding the 1994 season which was cut short due to a players' strike. A season in which the then Montreal Expos boasted the best overall record (74-40) as well as a six game lead in the division before coming to a premature close. Since the lost season, the organization and their fan base has had little to cheer about other than the Presidents Race held during the middle of the fourth inning of every Nats home game. But a crop of young talent has finally gotten the ball club to where they've been waiting so patiently to be -- in the center of a pennant race. 

While the Nats offense has done its part thus far, it's been the pitching that has led the ball club to where they currently stand. And the guy that has paved the way is the 24-year old Stephen Strasburg. Having underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2010, Strasburg would miss the remainder of the season as well as be kept on the shelf for much of the 2011 season before making a comeback in early September. Hoping to make a full recovery and return to the Nats rotation in full strength, Strasburg has looked every bit as the pitcher he was before his injury, posting a 15-6 record and an ERA of 2.94 while striking-out a National League best 195 batters. But that didn't prevent the Nationals front-office from monitoring their darling pitcher with an innings limit.

Though it's been talked about since the beginning of the season, the rumor of shutting down Strasburg's 2012 campaign before the season had ended was confirmed by manager Davey Johnson who also announced that the September 12 meeting against the Mets at New York's Citi Field would be the last start of the season for the first overall pick of the 2009 MLB Draft. With 156 1/3 innings pitched this season, Strasburg is nearing the 160-180 innings Nats general manager Mike Rizzo had targeted for his young right-hander in hopes of preventing long-term damage to what was being called the most hyped prospect in Major League history. Such a move could determine Washington's fate and how their season beyond the regular season plays out. Not to mention it could jeopardize the franchise's chances at making its first World Series appearance. But to Johnson and Rizzo, the picture is much bigger than that as they feel that this is first of many seasons in which the Nationals will be contending for a title.

That's not to say the Nationals pitching rotation which also consists of studs Jordan Zimmerman and Gio Gonzalez isn't capable of holding their own without Strasburg. After all, Washington was able to boast the best record in the Bigs without some of their best talent as Michael Morse, Drew Storen and Wilson Ramos have all been bitten by the injury bug. But with the postseason being unfamiliar territory to this young Nats squad, every bit of firepower will be needed if they plan to bring home the hardware. With a month of baseball remaining before the end of the regular season, the Nats have already matched their win total of 2005 with 81 wins, the most for the ball club since moving to the nation's capital. So regardless if the Nationals win it all this year, they've already exceeded our expectations and have proven that good things come to those who wait. And until Stephen Strasbugh returns to the mound without an innings limit, the Washington faithful will have to wait another year until they can celebrate as World Series Champions.


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Superman lands in Tinseltown

After nearly a year of ongoing speculation, what's become known as the 'Dwightmare' is officially over. At least for now. Having been the centerpiece of trade rumors dating back to last season, Dwight Howard was finally granted his ticket out of Orlando thanks in large part to the never ending saga of distractions and a blockbuster four-team trade. Howard, the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft who helped transform a struggling Orlando Magic franchise into a playoff staple before later becoming the team's all-time leading scorer, will now play for the team who deprived him of winning a title just four seasons ago -- the Los Angeles Lakers.

In what was already considered a successful off-season which saw the arrival of 2-time MVP point-guard Steve Nash, the addition of Dwight Howard makes this off-season one for the books in the minds of Laker fans and basketball fans alike. Howard, the Magic's all-time leading scorer is just the latest addition to an already formidable squad that also features Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Having built dynasty after dynasty around some of the most dominant big men in the history of the game from all-time greats such as George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers look to add another chapter with the acquisition of Dwight Howard. Following in the tracks of another former Magic great -- Shaq, who also ditched Orlando for the bright lights of Hollywood under the nickname 'Superman', Dwight told the media he appreciated being put in the same class as those dominant big men who played before him, but made it very clear that he plans to make history of his own and wants to be great in his own right.

But is the acquisition of Howard & Nash enough for the Lakers to leapfrog the Oklahoma City Thunder as the perennial favorites in the Western Conference? I'd say so. But the picture is bigger than that. After a number of tries, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak not only made the move he's been longing for, but the one that Howard's new teammate Kobe Bryant says will keep the team afloat for many years once he decides to hang it up. Kobe, who was unable to meet with Howard in person following the trade because he was overseas playing in the London Olympics where he looked to add another gold medal to his already impressive trophy case, spoke to the media about the future of both his career and the Lakers organization moving forward. "I'll probably play two or three more years. Then the team is his." Of course assuming Howard re-signs long-term with L.A. once he's eligible for free-agency following the 2012-2013 season. Having now found a long-term solution for when the day comes that the Kobe era comes to an end in Lakerland, fans of the purple & gold will no longer have to lose sleep wondering who will lead the franchise once the Black Mamba retires.

Just like Andrew Bynum who will be forgotten about despite helping the Lakers win back-to-back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010 since being drafted by L.A. at the young age of 17, what won't get talked about nearly enough regarding the deal is the fact that Kupchak was able to work his magic all while managing to keep Pau Gasol who at first glance was thought to be a for sure lock to be dealt in order to land Howard. Without Gasol the team is very good on paper, with him they're great. One thing Howard didn't mention during his press-conference, however, was winning a championship. But perhaps he'd rather be about it instead of talking about it. That's a mentality the 26-year old center will eventually adopt while playing alongside Kobe Bryant. 

Who came and who went? - In order to get a lot, you've got to give a lot. That saying applied here as the Lakers had to part with the second best center in the league in order to obtain the first best. While the Lakers sent Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers who also received Jason Richardson from Orlando, Philly dealt Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets. Highlighting the Magic's transformation next season will be Aaron Afflalo and Al Harrington who are joined by Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, Josh McRoberts and Christian Eyenga. Making the transition from Orlando to Los Angeles with Howard were Magic teammates Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. Orlando will also look to rebuild via the draft as they received five draft picks in total; three first-round picks and two second-round picks. And though it may take longer than fans would like for the Magic to return as playoff contenders, trading Howard and preparing for the future makes a lot more sense for the organization opposed to hanging on to Howard for another year only to have him walk and sign elsewhere the following summer as a free-agent. But that's not to say the earlier trade proposals which surfaced regarding Howard to either the Houston Rockets or Booklyn Nets weren't better suited for Orlando.

The Beverly Hills hotel in which Howard has lived in for the past several months while rehabbing since undergoing back surgery is just a stones throw away from his new home of Staples Center. And though Howard is expected to miss the first few games or so while recovering, the team should be getting an early Christmas present when he returns. If worse comes to worse, they could see him in action as late as Christmas day when the Lakers play host to the New York Knicks.

So far this offseason has saw the Lakers upgrade in two positions the consensus favorite and defending champion Miami Heat lack most and are most vulnerable at -- center and point-guard. And in doing so the Lakers have once again stolen the spotlight in the NBA as the one team everyone will have their eyes on and will be wanting to see come the start of the season.


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Hard Knocks: The Chad Johnson saga

Is there anyone out there who's had a worse week than Chad Johnson aka Chad Ochocinco? With an arrest, a divorce and a ticket out the door at Dolphins camp all in the last few days, the chances are unlikely. The former NFL superstar who's given us laugh after laugh in the past for his creative and often controversial touchdown celebrations was released from the Miami Dolphins on Monday, less than 48 hours after being arrested for allegedly headbutting his wife of 41-days in the driveway of their home. With a fallout for his actions to be expected, not even Johnson was prepared for the long week ahead that he had in store. Just a day after being dumped by the Miami Dolphins, his wife decided to dump him as well, ending their brief marriage which became official on July 4. 

Johnson has become more productive on our television screens as a member of the hit TV show 'Dancing with the Stars' and through social media on Twitter as of late than he has on the football field. After logging 1,000+ yards a season in seven of his first nine years in the NFL which led the AFC on two occasions and the entire league on another, the 6-time Pro Bowl wide-receiver hasn't quite been the player he once was and was an absolute ghost of his former self last season as a member of the AFC Champion New England Patriots. Despite having Tom Brady as his quarterback, the 3-time All-Pro wide-out was a non-factor during New England's title run and registered a career-low in receiving yards (276) as well as receptions with a measly 15 grabs and matched a career-low in touchdowns with 1 which he snagged his rookie year in 2001. Hoping to restore his image as well as his NFL career, Chad changed his last name from Ochocinco back to Johnson. But things have only gone downhill for the former star since then.

With his release, the Chad Johnson era in Miami ends before it could even begin, much to the dismay of Dolphins linebacker Karlos Danzby who told a Florida radio show that he disliked that Johnson wasn't given a third strike by the organization and that he hated that the team didn't stand behind him. With the 34-year old Johnson once again seeking work, though it may take awhile, an opportunity should present itself sooner or later as teams will look to fill holes before the start of the season with preseason injuries occurring. Not to mention he's a year younger than Randy Moss and four years younger than Terrell Owens, both of whom are seasoned receivers who have found work despite having their fair share of troubles in the past. Who knows, perhaps we'll see all three of them playing in the same division this year say if the St. Louis Rams take a chance with him. And though I haven't tuned in to this season of HBO's Hard Knocks, I'm taking a wild guess by saying the next episode will feature Johnson getting cut.


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USA Men's Basketball & The Great Debate

Earlier this month while practicing in anticipation of this year's Summer Olympics in London, England, USA Men's Basketball team captain Kobe Bryant opened up a can of worms by saying the 2012 squad could take the 1992 Dream Team. "It would be a tough one but I think we could pull it off," Kobe told reporters in Las Vegas just days before the team took the court against the Dominican Republic. Those comments came much to the dismay of Michael Jordan and his former teammates who didn't hesitate to fire back with comments of their own.

While Jordan questioned Kobe's intelligence by saying, "For Bryant to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done," it was Charles Bakley who really put the stake in the heart of Team USA by stating other than Kobe, LeBron, and Durant, the rest of the team wouldn't even make the '92 squad. And while I would make a case for Chris Paul who's already been touted as one of the greatest point-guards of all-time, I'd agree with Sir Charles. Regardless of whether or not Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were already past their prime when the two joined forces to bring home a gold medal in the summer of '92, the depth and size of the Dream Team would eat this 2012 team alive in the paint. The trio of Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and David Robinson would out-rebound this current squad and punk Tyson Chandler for his lunch money while Patrick Ewing filmed it. Insert a healthy Dwight Howard into the lineup, however, and this team might stand a chance in the rebound department.

With the Olympics yet to begin, Kobe's comments may have come a bit prematurely as it would take only two games for them to prove this 2012 team is no Dream Team. After winning easily against a John Calipari coached Dominican club by a final of 113-59, they'd have a close call against the Brazilians who almost made it a single-digit loss before eventually falling 80-69. After getting back on track with a 118-78 romp of an inexperienced Great Britain team, the Americans would have another scare, this time against Argentina with the U.S. escaping with only a six-point victory (86-80). Finishing their exhibition schedule against Spain who's ranked #2 in the world only behind the United States and is expected to be the toughest opponent coach K's squad will be up against this summer, Kobe Bryant and co. would have little trouble against his Laker teammate Pau Gasol who witnessed the Americans finish a perfect 5-0 after their 100-78 victory over the Spaniards despite playing on Spain's home turf.

It's no secret that the Dream Team which consisted of 11 Hall of Famers routed their opponents by an unheard of average of 44-points, but the competition back then wasn't as talented as it is now with the exception of a few countries. To the defense of Kobe, since 1992, the rest of the world has only improved on the game of basketball. Not to say the Dream Team wouldn't have won gold with ease in his day and age, but teams would have been a little bit more competitive. Something the Dream Team can't argue as the sport was basically looked upon as extraterrestrial outside of the U.S., as much of the world was still new to the game of basketball. Even Kobe said of team USA's competition, "Look, they are just as competitive as we are, they want to win, they believe that they can win - which is different from '92."

Having earned the distinction of arguably the greatest team ever assembled in the history of sports, MJ and the boys of the '92 squad in Barcelona have reason to be upset. But unless someone hires the dude who put the Tupac hologram together which performed during April's Coachella Music Festival, we'll never hear the end of it and will never truly see how a game played between the two teams would play out. One thing that's certain, however, is that all eyes will be on the Americans. Never has the pressure for a U.S. Men's Basketball team to bring home the gold been this high after Kobe's asinine comments. Hey Kobe, you're my boy and all, but lets see how this team fares during Olympic play before we begin comparing teams to the greatest of all-time, shall we?

Kobe, LeBron, Durant and the rest of the 2012 U.S. Men' Basketball squad will begin their quest for the gold medal on Sunday July 29 against San Antonio's Tony Parker and team France which can be seen on NBC.

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Ichiro bids a Sayonara to Seattle

For 12 seasons, baseball fans in Seattle witnessed Ichiro Suzuki become a fixture, manning the outfield and breaking records on more occasions than one. Donning a Mariners uniform as recent as yesterday, M's fans were treated to a sight they were unfamiliar with on Monday night as the Japanese star took the field on the opposing side for the first time since he broke onto the big league scene in the U.S.. After helping the Mariners win games for over a decade, Ichiro would turn the tables and help beat them only a day later. With the Mariners fighting to avoid logging the worst record in the American League and most likely on their way to their third straight last place finish in the AL West and this season likely to be his last, Ichiro requested to be traded to a ball club currently in a much better position to make a push for the playoffs. A request Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik would fulfill by shipping him from the last place Mariners (42-56) to the first place Yankees (58-38) who currently boast the best record in the Major Leagues. Though the 10-time All-Star will now shift from playing on the west coast to playing on the east coast, for Ichiro, the move from his old ball club to his new one was as simple as walking from one dugout to the other.

With the New York Yankees in Seattle preparing to kick off game 1 of a 3 game set against the Mariners, there was no plane ticket or bus ride needed as Ichiro traded in his old M's uniform for Yankee pinstripes. And in his first game playing with his new ball club, plugged in as the number eight hitter, he would go up against the only other Major League franchise he's ever known. After being announced over the intercom by the public address announcer for the first time as a visitor, the 38-year old future Hall of Famer was given a standing ovation from the 29,911 fans in attendance at Seattle's Safeco Field before taking a bow and waving his helmet to the Mariners faithful. Those cheers would eventually die down as Ichiro singled in his first at-bat and stole second before finishing the ballgame 1-for-4 as the Yankees went on to win by a final of 4-1. 

Having struggled last year as well as the the first half of the 2012 season, hitting a career-low .261 thus far, Ichiro and the Yankees are hoping that plugging him back into a pennant race will help revitalize him at the plate. And while Yankees GM Brian Cashman isn't expecting the 38-year old to turn into the Ichiro of old who was winning batting titles in 2001 and 2004, his addition into the lineup is one the Bronx Bombers could definitely use with their speedy outfielder Brett Gardner likely to remain on the shelf for the remainder of the season as he's scheduled to undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery next week and Nick Swisher temporarily sidelined with a hip injury. In the final year of his contract with a Mariners ball club that was going nowhere but down, Ichiro sought a brighter future for the organization by helping them rebuild and get younger with right-handed pitching prospects D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar as well as cash considerations in exchange for himself as well as allow manager Eric Wedge to give playing time to another player in the outfield.

The deal is one that benefits both parties as Ichiro lands in a position to finally add a World Series ring to an already impressive resume which includes 2 American League batting titles, 10 Gold Glove Awards, 10 All-Star appearances, 1 All-Star Game MVP Award, 3 Silver Slugger Awards, 1 AL MVP Award and an AL Rookie of the Year Award. And that's not including all of his achievements in the nine years he played prior to the big league while in Japan.

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From Red to White, The Return of Youkilis

One team's trash is another team's treasure. That could simply be said for former Boston Red Sox third baseman and fan favorite Kevin Youkilis who when healthy this season didn't quite produce the way first year skipper Bobby Valentine had envisioned. Hitting a dismal .233 with 4 home runs and 14 RBI's in 42 games for the Boston ball club, it was no secret that Youkilis was in a funk, nor was he seeing eye to eye with his manager as the two shared a rocky relationship. After losing his starting job to the hot-hitting rookie Will Middlebrooks, the once upon a time spark plug for the Red Sox was at an all time low. And not far behind was his stock. With nowhere else to go on the baseball diamond after a failed experiment at first base which seemed to only make him struggle more at the plate, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington had no other option than to trade him. 

With several ball clubs interested in the 33-year old veteran in his ninth season, it was the Chicago White Sox who landed Youk in hopes of solving their problem at third base in exchange for pitcher Zach Stewart and utility man Brent Lillibridge with the Red Sox agreeing to pay $5.5 Million of Youkilis' salary. In his final at-bat as a member of the Red Sox, Youkilis would treat the Boston faithful to the perfect farewell, hitting a triple before being pinch ran for, leading to a standing ovation and a curtain call which served as a storybook ending for what was a memorable nine-year tenure with a Red Sox franchise he helped win two World Series titles. And after only a few games and a handful at-bats in a White Sox uniform, it appeared that a change of scenery and a different color of sox was all the 3-time All-Star needed to be rejuvenated at the plate as he made his presence felt with an immediate impact.

Having hit .353 with 4 homers, 15 RBI's, 13 runs scored and 11 walks over 13 games in July, including 5 hits in 14 at-bats in Boston against his former team where the return was just as welcoming as it was emotional, White Sox GM Kenny Williams and the South Siders appear to have struck gold with their most recent addition. With the White Sox currently atop the AL Central in a tie with the division-rival Detroit Tigers who were expected to run away with the division coming into the season, Youkilis' bat just might be Chicago's key to making the postseason where they haven't been since 2008. That'll all depend on whether or not he can stay healthy. With trip after trip to the disabled-list it seems, Youkilis, a career .286 hitter, has averaged just 119 games from 2009-2011.


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Melky's Memorable First Half

Since the Giants ball club has been around dating back to the late 1800's as one of baseball's oldest teams, there's been few players to play for the franchise who've had a better first half of a season than Melky Cabrera. Instead of hitting home runs left and right, Cabrera instead awed fans by collecting hits at a torrid pace. After logging one of the best months by a Giant in franchise history by surpassing the great Willie Mays' mark of 49 hits in the month of May before later tying Randy Winn the very next day for the most hits in a single month by a Giant (SF era) with 51, Cabrera was named to the 2012 All-Star Game where he led all National League outfielders in votes with more than 7.5 Million.


Having led the Major League in hits with 119, while most players cooled off during the All-Star break, the 27-year old native from the Dominican picked up right where he left off in Tuesday's Midsummer Classic by collecting the game's first hit in the top of the first inning, lacing a single to left-center field off of Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander. After coming around to score on an RBI double by Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun later in the inning, Cabrera watched his Giants teammate Pablo Sandoval get in on the action by hitting a triple off the wall in right which cleared the bases and gave the NL All-Stars a commanding 4-0 lead before adding another run in the inning thanks to an RBI single from St. Louis' Matt Holliday which scored Sandoval. Having piled on 5-runs against last year's reigning AL Cy Young and MVP Award winner after only the first frame, the game was well over and decided. But Melky wouldn't abandon the fans of Kansas City who watched him have a breakout season the year before in a Royals uniform without giving them a show. 

After tacking on another run in the fourth inning, Cabrera put the finishing touches on the ballgame by launching a 2-run homer to left field off of Texas' Matt Harrison, giving the National League an 8-run lead they wouldn't surrender or even allow the American League to bite into. Finishing the game 2-for-3 while driving in and scoring 2 runs, Cabrera was named All-Star MVP as voted on by the fans, edging out fellow San Francisco teammate Pablo Sandoval (1-for-2, 1 Run, 2 RBI) and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (2-for-3, 1 Run, 1 RBI). With his mother and grandmother in attendance to catch his very first All-Star appearance, the two got to share the field with Melky as he was awarded his MVP hardware along with the keys to a new car. 2012 marks the sixth time a member of the Giants was named All-Star MVP, including Bobby Bonds who took home MVP honors for his performance in the 1973 Midsummer Classic which was also played in Kansas City, tying the Baltimore Orioles for the most All-Star MVP Awards.

Joining Melky in this year's All-Star Game was Giants pitcher Matt Cain who started the game and threw 2-shutout innings before being awarded the win, catcher Buster Posey and the aforementioned Pablo Sandoval, tying the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals for the most players named to NL All-Star team with four. Having amassed a robust .353 batting average which trails only Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen for tops in the league, Cabrera's currently on pace to tie if not set a career-high in Home Runs, RBI's, Runs and Stolen Bases set last year with KC. And in case everything he's done during the first half of the season was somehow missed, showcasing his talent at the All-Star Game in front of a national audience should be enough to open the eyes of Giants GM Brian Sabean and convince him to sign the outfielder to a multi-year deal before he hits the free-agent market when his contract expires this coming winter. Melky and co. will begin the second half of the season on Friday night at home against the Houston Astros, trailing the arch-rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Western Division by only 1/2 a game. 

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Lakers fill Point-Guard void with veteran Nash

With the Lakers' Ramon Sessions fleeing Los Angeles by deciding not to exercise his $4.5 Million player option for the 2012 season in hopes of signing a more lucrative contract elsewhere, the Lakers were left on the outside looking in at the point-guard position with the exception of Steve Blake. Refusing to lose sleep over the matter, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak wasted little time to work his magic as the franchise has appeared to have now found their man as long-time rivals Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant will now join forces in Tinseltown.

Having  faced one another for well over a decade now in the Western Conference since both being drafted in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, there's very few players currently in the league who've become as well acquainted with one another than Bryant and Nash. And until this past Wednesday, fans would have to wait until the All-Star Game to see Kobe and Nash playing alongside one another. That is no longer the case as the Lakers have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns which will send Steve Nash to L.A. where he'll ink a three-year deal worth an estimated $27 Million in exchange for first round picks in the 2013 and 2015 Draft as well as second round picks in 2013 and 2014. Though the addition of Nash makes the Lakers look that much older on paper and fails to fit the ideal description of head coach Mike Brown's defensive-minded ball club, he brings with him a dribbling and passing ability that hasn't been seen in L.A. in decades. He's also pretty good at shooting. Not since the Showtime Lakers which featured a backcourt ran by a guy named Ervin Magic Johnson have the Lake Show had a point-guard of this magnitude.

Many skeptics have already begun to question if Kobe and Nash can co-exist and believe the two sharing the floor on the same squad won't necessarily work. They're wrong and here's why; Not in the history of his tenure with the Lakers (16 seasons) has Kobe had a point-guard capable of distributing the ball, not to mention draw attention and run the offense quite like Nash can. With Bryant aware now more than ever that he can no longer put the team on his back and carry them to another NBA title, he'll do everything it takes to get that sixth ring. Even if that means handing over the keys to the offense to a 38-year old guy that has made 8 All-Star teams and has won 2-NBA MVP Awards. If the Lakers had acquired any other 38-year old I would've opposed, but Steve Nash has proven that he still has enough juice left in the tank to fill L.A.'s point-guard needs as he still managed to average 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game last year which ranked second in the league despite being among the oldest active players in the game today.

With the roster the Lakers currently have, Nash will have plenty of options to dish to on offense with both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the post. And while the deal gives Laker fans something they've been without for far too long -- a legit point-guard, what it doesn't give them, however, is the right to be dubbed the team to beat in the Western Conference. At least not until they can prove that they can go toe to toe with a much quicker and younger Oklahoma City Thunder squad that will remain the consensus favorite to represent the Western Conference in next year's NBA Finals, something they'll be even hungrier for this time around having now tasted defeat. That could all change, however, if the Lakers are able to finally land Orlando's Dwight Howard who they've flirted with on numerous occasions and are once again surfacing in the trade-o-sphere as a possible destination. 

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