With the start of the NFL's regular season looming and the San Francisco 49ers looking to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl 47, here's three things to keep an eye on heading into the season as one of the most storied franchises in all of football looks to capture their sixth title and their first since the 1994 season.
1. Will Colin Kaepernick continue to run rampant on the NFC West or will they figure him out? - Though 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Colin Kaepernick didn't invent the pistol formation, they utilized it to perfection in 2012 and made it one of the hardest formations for an opposing defense to adjust to. With little known about the pistol offense at the professional level aside from college footage, the 49ers used it to their advantage, catching defenses guessing on more than one occasion. On the biggest stage of his career making his first playoff appearance, the duel-threat Kaepernick torched the Green Bay Packers for an NFL-record 181 rushing yards, the most ever by a QB in a single game. But with months of preparation and studying film during the offseason to get up to speed with this formation that has taken the league by storm and has catapulted the 49ers young quarterback to instant fame, teams most notably those within the division figure to create defensive schemes to best counter the pistol and put a stop to the human gazelle that is Colin Kaepernick.
2. What about the D and can we count on the 49ers secondary? - Finishing the 2012 regular season with a record of 11-4-1, beating out the Seattle Seahawks for the division crown by a half a game, the 49ers had a tougher road than anticipated while capturing their first set of back-to-back NFC West titles since the franchise won four straight from 1992-1995. And with a target on their back in the NFC, division foes Seattle, the St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals plan to do everything possible to prevent coach Harbaugh and company from raising a third consecutive pennant. The best way for San Francisco to maintain their supremacy in a division full of hungry playoff hopefuls and a conference far superior than their opposite, is through their defense. Two years removed from having the league's most formidable defense from top to bottom, head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio saw San Francisco's secondary regress in 2012 and hope to breath life back into the heart and soul of the team. Though they weren't exactly terrible, there were some gaps and there's plenty of room for improvement as indicated in their loss to the Ravens.
Harbaugh and co. hope safety Eric Reid who the 49ers selected 18 overall in this year's draft NFL Draft can fill the shoes of the departed Pro-Bowler Dashon Goldson. Fingers are also crossed for positive contributions from cornerback's Carlos Rogers who had a down year in 2012 compared to his Pro-Bowl year the season before. Nnamdi Asomugha is another player at the corner position that looks to rebound with his new team and will be called upon to help fill the void of the injured Chris Culliver who sustained a season-ending ACL tear earlier this month. That's if Asomugha makes the squad as early reports had him being the odd man out towards the end of training camp. But that might all change now that Culliver is no longer in the 2013 picture.
3. Who will step in and pick up the slack at wide-out? - With the 49ers receiving corps currently in shambles as two of the top three options in Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham are on the shelf nursing injuries and aren't expected to be back until mid-season, the team will be seeking contributions from a list of 10 players vying for a roster spot at a position the 49ers are paper thin at. While Vernon Davis poses an enormous threat worthy of double-coverage from the tight-end position and the newly acquired Anquan Boldin has done nothing but impress at training camp, who Kaepernick calls his go-to target outside of the two aforementioned names is anyone's guess up to this point. While nothing is set in stone, Kyle Williams and newcomer Austin Collie lead the pack and are early candidates to most likely win over the last vacant spot. Also worth noting is that Boldin and Collie who has shown flashes of talent but has suffered from lingering concussions during his stint with the Peyton Manning-led Colts, are the only active wide-receivers on San Francisco's roster that have amassed at least 100 career receptions. That alone should describe just how inexperienced the team is in the wide-out department.
Coach Harbaugh had envisioned for last year's first round pick A.J. Jenkins to be the next bright young star to carry the torch at the wide-out position but after watching his rookie season from the sidelines followed by a forgetful training camp and a preseason that is better left unmentioned, speculation of the former Illinois standout failing to make the team arose. But instead of getting nothing in return, the 49ers dealt Jenkins to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for receiver Jon Baldwin, pulling the plug on the A.J. Jenkins experiment. Like Jenkins, Baldwin is a former first round pick that was selected 26th overall out of Pittsburgh in 2011, four picks earlier than Jenkins and has also failed to live up to the hype. But considering both players are still young (Jenkins 23 years old and Baldwin 24) the fresh start a change of scenery brings might do both players some good and could benefit both parties in the process. It definitely couldn't hurt given they've been declared busts up to this point. Unlike Jenkins who has yet to haul in his first career reception, seeing action in only one game where his lone target was a drop, Baldwin has over 500 receiving yards to his name and 2 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Baldwin will have to learn the playbook and build chemistry with his new quarterback in a fraction of the time those he'll be competing with received.
Now, with all that said, I think it's about time for my Super Bowl prediction: Last year at the start of the postseason, all signs pointed towards a rematch of Super Bowl 24 between the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos, a game in which the Joe Montana-led 49ers demolished John Elway and the Denver Broncos in blowout fashion -- 55-10. But as we all know, 2012 didn't end to well for Denver who fell victim to a late collapse and a desperate hail mary that resulted in a miracle touchdown from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones which ultimately put an end to Peyton Manning's stellar first year with the Broncos. But with all of that behind them now and a new weapon in receiver Wes Welker for Peyton to throw to, I'm predicting the 49ers and Broncos to meet at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on February 2 for Super Bowl XLVIII.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
This year's MLB trade deadline was a whisper in the night opposed to years passed as there were no major splashes made in baseball's trade-o-sphere. However, a few clubs managed to address their pitching needs without dealing for marquee names. Perhaps the biggest name dealt was starting pitcher Jake Peavy who relocated from the Chicago White Sox to the Boston Red Sox. Though Peavy, a 4-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner isn't quite the pitcher he once was with the San Diego Padres as he's had a hard time adjusting to the offense-friendly American League, he gives Boston a much needed arm in a rotation that's been without arguably its best pitcher in Clay Buchholz who's been idle since June 8 with a shoulder injury. The move also benefits the player as the 32-year old Peavy (8-4, 4.28 ERA) departs a last place Chicago team for Boston who currently sits atop the AL East with an MLB-best 66-wins. Peavy is under contract through 2014.
One team hoping to spoil the party and prevent Boston from making the postseason if not meet them there, are the Baltimore Orioles who answered their division-rivals with a move of their own, acquiring hurler Bud Norris from the last-place Houston Astros. Norris, who served as the ace for a Houston ball club that's had a torturous 2013 campaign, owning baseball's worst record at 36-71 in their first year in the American League, has gotta be as happy as anyone now that he'll be shifting from the race for the worst record in all of baseball for what's expected to be a pennant race in the AL East. Orioles skipper Buck Showalter who helped turn the franchise around in 2012, leading them to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, knows his squad has been highly dependent on its power hitting offense while the team's mediocre pitching staff has fallen by the wayside, putting up numbers near the bottom of the pack in almost every major pitching category. That's where Norris comes in and hopes to make his presence felt.
However, as far as importance goes, both of these deadline deals fail to match that of the Texas Rangers acquiring Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs for Mike Olt, C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm, which took place last week. Nolan Ryan and company hope the addition of Garza will help the Rangers catch up to and pass the Oakland A's who dethroned Texas for the American League Western Division title last season and currently lead the division by 3.5 games. Garza who's been surprisingly consistent despite playing a majority of his career in the powerhouse AL East while with the Tampa Bay Rays and in the hitter-friendly Wrigley Field, will now be given the daunting task of having to pitch in Arlington, Texas where the triple-digit temperatures are no friend to a pitcher's earned-run average. But who wouldn't sacrifice a few notches on their ERA to play for a contender that's made two World Series appearances in the last three years.
Another name or beard rather that is quite popular among baseball fans is Brian Wilson. The former All-Star closer for the San Francisco Giants has been M.I.A. from the big league stage since April of 2012 while recovering from a second Tommy John surgery. After watching his team win the World Series without his help in 2012, negotiations with the San Francisco ball club went sour when the team he compiled 171 career-saves for over seven seasons failed to offer Wilson a contract following his second surgery. Wilson didn't shy away from expressing his disappointment with the Giants front-office as his feathers were ruffled so much so that he chose not to accept an invitation to the team's ring ceremony back in April. And to spite them even more, the former ringleader of the 2010 Giants club which were best known as a band of misfits, signed with the team's arch rival -- the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Signing with the Dodgers gives Wilson a chance to prove he still has something in the tank as well as play for a contender as it appears the blue crew is primed to run away with the division, barring a setback of suckage like the 2013 Dodgers prior to Yasiel Puig's arrival. The deal which keeps Wilson under contract for the remainder of the season is a low-risk, high-reward type of signing for L.A. considering they didn't have to give up any prospects to get an arm that helps bolster the bullpen assuming he resembles the Brian Wilson that led the National League in saves in 2010 with 48. And if not, they won't be obligated to his services past 2013 which makes it a win-win for Don Mattingly and company.
Last but not least is Alfonso Soriano, the lone position player acquired before the deadline worth mentioning. After beginning his Major League career in 1999 with the New York Yankees where he spent five seasons, two of which he made the All-Star team in while donning the pinstripes, Soriano was dealt to the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez who he'll now call his teammate. The Yankees began the season as one of the better teams in the AL and remained near the top of the AL East standings until just recently where they're now looking up at everybody in the division except for the Toronto Blue Jays who still can't get over the .500 mark and continue to disappoint. Soriano is due $25 Million over the remainder of 2013 and through 2014, with the Cubs picking up nearly $18 Million owed to the 7-time All-Star. Though Soriano's batting average has dropped drastically over the years and he no longer poses a major threat on the base paths, he can still pile up RBI's as evident in 2012 when he racked up a career-best 108 ribbies while swatting 32 home runs, his largest total since 2007 when he hit 33 homers with the Cubbies. But even the addition of the 37-year old Soriano doesn't look like it'll be enough to help the Bronx Bombers overcome the much younger and talented teams ahead of them in the division. At least not this season.
The limited action at this year's trade deadline is most likely an indication that teams feel more eager to hang onto key players since the MLB's adoption of a second Wild Card team in each league which was introduced for the first time in 2012, thus making teams that would normally be sellers at the deadline into hopeful contenders. That move may have forever altered the landscape of the trade deadline we once knew to be one of the more exciting week's of baseball. But that's not to say moves still can't be made as there's always the waiver wire that teams can resort to. The waiver deadline is a whole different ballgame though, which doesn't end until August 31. With that said, lets keep our eyes peeled for any forthcoming deals made through waivers. For all we know, they might be more groundbreaking than what this dud of a trade deadline offered.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
With half of the 2013 MLB season already in the books as teams collect as much rest as possible during the All-Star break in preparation of the dog days of summer that await, the midway point couldn't have come at a better time for the San Francisco Giants. The defending world champs who've won two of the last three World Series titles, have looked like a shadow of their 2012 selves up to this point. Having been bit by the injury bug practically all year long with injuries striking up and down the lineup as well as across the pitching staff, the Giants who are without their spark plug on offense in speedster Angel Pagan, have limped to the halfway mark with a 43-51 record, 6.5 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks. Though the GMen have maintained some success at home until their most recent home stand which saw Bruce Bochy's ballclub uncharacteristically drop 5 of 6 at AT&T Park, their road record of 15-31 is among one of the worst in the National League and has translated to their first sub .500 record at the break in years.
After appearing to hit rock bottom, losing 17 of their last 23 games, the Giants did manage to head into the All-Star break on somewhat of a high-note by taking 3 of 4 on the road against the pesky San Diego Padres. One of the wins being a game that Giants fans my age will be sure to one day tell their grandchildren about. Less than two weeks after being no-hit by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey who tossed his second career no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Giants, Tim Lincecum who received the loss, had the tables turned on him just two starts later. Following their first pair of consecutive road wins in nearly a month, Lincecum would do something that baseball fans knew he was capable of the moment he broke onto the big league scene as a 150 lb. kid that could reach the mid to high 90's with his fastball while his build and features resembled that of a bat boy more than they did a Major League pitcher, resulting in players and fans simply calling him, "The Freak."
Despite his recent struggles, the now 29-year old pitcher in his seventh season would display a performance fit for the record books in vintage Lincecum fashion by tossing the 15th no-hitter in Giants franchise history and the 7th since the team moved out west to San Francisco. Striking out 13 Padres batters, Lincecum's only flaw came in the walk department where he allowed four men to get on base via the base on balls. Timmy also added a hit batsman, but none of that prevented him from making history and completing the first no-hitter in Petco Park history since the stadium opened its doors in 2004. The Padres who've been no stranger to the no-hitter having been no-hit on eight different occasions and as recent as 2009 against pitcher Jonathan Sanchez of these very same Giants, oddly enough have yet to throw a no-hitter of their own and are the only active Major League franchise with that claim.
Lincecum's no-no which was followed up by a bear-hug from his battery-mate Buster Posey who rushed the mound and a Gatorade bath from the rest of his teammates, required the second most pitches in MLB history, falling one pitch shy of Edwin Jackson's mark of 149-pitches on June 25, 2010 when he no-hit the Tampa Bay Rays as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. With the All-Star break looming, you had to have wondered whether the extra days of rest factored in on Bochy's decision to keep his pitcher in despite the high pitch-count. But given the circumstances of just how rarely a feat of this magnitude occurs and the relationship Bochy has with his former ace who's come close to making history on a number of occasions, the skipper never would've heard the end of it had he elected to pull his starting pitcher in favor of the bullpen. Factoring in all the warm-up pitches, it's likely Lincecum exceeded the 200-pitch mark and is something I'm sure almost every pitcher that's ever stepped foot on a mound would sacrifice if it meant etching their name into the record books with a no-hitter.
Also worth mentioning is the spectacular defense Lincecum had behind him making play after play. None greater than the play outfielder Hunter Pence made in right when coming in hard making a diving catch to rob San Diego's Alexi Amarista of a hit to end the eight inning, preserving the no-hit bid. At that point it seemed that the Giants' right-hander was destined to make history. The no-no is just the most recent accolade to add to the illustrious career of Lincecum who also has a pair of Cy Young Awards on his well decorated resume as well as a pair of World Series rings. Lincecum, a popular topic in trade rumors as of late, has long been in need of a confidence boost since following up a stellar postseason while in the Giants bullpen, with a mediocre 2013 campaign. Bruce Bochy and company hope that this historic performance will do just that as the team tries to right the ship in the second half and get back to their winning ways. But with a rising Dodger squad and a Diamondbacks team that's shown no signs of slowing down expected to be atop the NL West pennant race until the end, the Giants will have their work cut out for them. But whatever you do, don't count Bruce Bochy's club out, because we all know what happened the last two times that took place.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
No more sleeping with the lights on and hiding under your covers, the "Dwightmare" is over. After days of weighing his options, NBA All-Star center Dwight Howard has made his decision on where he'll be taking his talents for the upcoming 2013-2014 NBA season and beyond -- Houston, as the signing was made official on Wednesday. Hoping to make basketball in Houston as synonymous with the city as codeine syrup and screwed and chopped music, Howard plans to bring the franchise its first championship since the team won back-to-back titles in 1994-95 with another dominant big man in Hakeem Olajuwon. And though he didn't make his decision on national television like LeBron James did a few season's back which rubbed people the wrong way, he still made a lot of people unhappy. However, there won't be any need for lighter fluid and matches to burn jersey's like we saw when LeBron made his often criticized decision to leave his home state of Ohio for the sandy beaches of Miami, mainly because Howard's departure didn't take everyone by surprise quite like LeBron's.
Even after Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak finalized the deal that was several years in the making to finally land the best big man in the league last offseason, we were all aware of the possibility of Howard being a one-year rent-a-player. What we didn't know, however, was just how mightily a Lakers squad which featured Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Howard would struggle. While injuries were partially to blame for their early elimination in the playoffs, falling to the eventual Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs in a four-game sweep, the Lakers' star-studded cast had a hard time gelling even when healthy which had to have made Dwight's decision to walk a bit easier. Not to mention Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni's system which Dwight felt he was unfit for, whom he asked the Lakers to fire in November in favor of Phil Jackson. Having suffered from a torn labrum and coming off of back surgery in his lone season with the purple and gold, Howard received plenty of criticism from Los Angeles' media circus while getting little support from teammates Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant who he told during negotiations before making his decision, he was upset with after they failed to come to his aid and stick up for him.
Further spoiling the relationship between Howard and the Lakers organization was when Howard publicly said he, "never really felt embraced in L.A." But all things considered, even that would make it difficult to walk away from the extra $30 Million dollars that only the Lakers could offer him. Though it's become a rarity in sports these days, Howard's decision to ditch Tinseltown to play for a much younger Rockets franchise in a small market is proof that money isn't everything. Also left on the table along with $30 Million dollars is the torch to the Laker team that Kobe planned to hand down once he retires in the next few years. With big men being the foundation that paved the way to a number of NBA titles from Laker greats George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O'Neal and so on, Howard walked away from the thought of becoming the latest big man to write his own chapter in Laker lore. If there's one thing Laker fans did learn about the failed experiment that brought the 27-year old Howard to L.A., it was that playing under the brightest of lights in Hollywood were just too much for him to handle and that the real Superman was indeed Shaq.
Where the Lakers go from here is anyone's guess. Though not signing Howard adds to the money Mitch Kupchak and company will save from an already hefty fee from the league's luxury-tax, it also opens the door even wider for the Lakers to go after not one, but two superstar talents via free-agency next off-season in a free-agent class that will most likely feature such star-studded names as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony among others. As for the Rockets who landed arguably the most coveted free-agent player of the off-season alongside All-Star point-guard Chris Paul who announced earlier this week that he'll be re-signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, Howard joins a young squad led by the rising Chandler Parsons and the bearded James Harden who reached super stardom after leaving Oklahoma City last season. And with head coach Kevin McHale at the helm who knows a thing or two about playing inside the post and figures to utilize Howard to his full potential. Something Howard felt coach Mike D'Antoni failed to do in L.A.
Before making his decision and choosing Houston as his destination, Howard's list of suitors included the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, all of whom he eliminated before eventually choosing between the Lakers and the Rockets. A choice he described as, "tough" before saying he made his decision solely on winning a title and not the money. And though Kobe Bryant took to his Twitter account to wish Dwight Howard the best with his new team after un-following him from the social networking site, we all know deep down that he doesn't mean it. Similar to when a man says he wishes his ex the best when she's in a relationship, it's all a lie. Even with Howard in the mix, I still have a hard time placing the Rockets ahead of the Spurs, Thunder, Warriors and Clippers in the Western Conference power rankings.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Since my early childhood I've been attending baseball games with my father. In fact, some of my earliest memories are traced back when walking through the turnstiles at Dodger Stadium to cheer on the archrival San Francisco Giants. Continuing a tradition that we used to live by at least once a year when school was out for the summer until some 3 or 4 seasons back, my father and I set out to catch a pair of games at Chavez Ravine for my Birthday for the first time since the Giants added two World Series titles to their resume (one in 2010 and the other in 2012) while calling the Bay Area their home, leapfrogging the rival Dodgers in the process with 7 Championships to L.A.'s 6.
With seats down near the right-field foul pole in the outfield for game 1 of a 3 game series, my dad and I took a stroll down to the visiting bullpen where we watched in awe as the starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner threw strike after strike to the Giants catcher and reigning NL MVP Buster Posey as the battery warmed up before joining everyone in the ballpark as we sung the National Anthem in unison. Shortly after, we took to our seats some six rows back from the field as the game got underway. With the entire row to ourselves and our gloves in hand, we knew we had a good chance at catching a home run ball if one was hit our way. Little did we know our catching abilities would be tested several pitches into the game. After the Giants failed to get anything going in the top of the first inning, it was L.A.'s turn.
Three weeks into his big league career, Cuban sensation Yasiel Puig, who's been red-hot since being called up to the Majors on June 3, stepped up to the plate boasting a batting average well above .400. The noise Dodger fans made for their new favorite player when he stepped up to the plate was deafening as cheers and whistles were mixed in with the sound of maracas that blew out the stadium speakers. And in his first career at-bat against the Giants, Puig hit a 87 mph offering on a two-seam fastball our way. The ball appeared to be headed straight for my lap but then began curling around the foul pole a few seats over. Hesitant to move as if my feet were stuck in quicksand, I turned my head and saw that my dad had already drifted over some eight seats down the isle with his hands in the air. Doing his best Say Hey Kid impersonation decked out in his vintage Willie Mays Giants jersey lost in a sea of blue, my dad came down with the ball. Standing their in disbelief, I instantly began celebrating and laughing with my father as if he had just caught the final out of a World Series clinching game 7, despite our team falling behind, 1-0.
With a good amount of Giants fans sitting in our section, it wasn't long before they began shouting, "Throw it back!" And had it been me who caught the ball, I just might have. Instead, my father began to make a throwing motion as if he was going to toss the ball back onto the field but he played it off and shook his head no to the chorus of boo's from our fellow Giants fans to which he responded by blowing them kisses. As if the moment couldn't get any better, a Dodger fan sitting several rows in front of us pulled out and flashed a one hundred dollar bill from his pocket and offered to buy the ball from us. With little purpose of a ball hit by a player of the opposing team, my dad proudly obliged before handing me the Benjamin and saying, "Happy Birthday, son," Putting a stamp on the perfect father son moment. And though it would be the Dodgers who came out victorious on this day, 3-1 winners, snapping a five-game losing-streak against the Giants whom they would later sweep in the series, being there with my father to soak in a ballgame, much less witness him catch a home run ball which is a once in a lifetime moment, is something that far exceeds one single 'W' in the win column. However, getting the win would've been pretty nice, too, given I've been to nine Giants-Dodger games in L.A. in my lifetime and the only game they've won, I was too young to remember. Needless to say, this is one Birthday present that I'll never forget.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Attention football fans and bible thumpers alike, everyone's favorite Christian -- Tim Tebow has found a new home! After appearing to be dead in the water with no place to go following his unfortunate release from the New York Jets in April which couldn't have come at a worse time given most teams that needed a quarterback this offseason likely acquired one in the NFL Draft, a surprise team emerged. That team? The New England Patriots who agreed to sign Tebow to a 2-year deal with no money guaranteed. With arguably the most successful quarterback-coaching tandem that's ever stepped foot on a playing field in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in place, it's unlikely Tebow will receive many snaps at the quarterback position if any at all this season. From a QB standpoint, New England was both the best and worst possible destination for Tebow. But that's not to say neither party will benefit.
Playing in New England under coach Belichick and alongside Brady will do wonders for Tebow's knowledge of the game even if it means watching from the sidelines while holding a clipboard. For Tebow, a former Heisman Trophy winner, the move to Foxborough will reunite him with some familiar faces including Pats offensive-coordinator Josh McDaniels who was at the helm of the head coaching position in Denver when the Broncos traded up to draft Tebow in the first round in 2010. Another is tight-end Aaron Hernandez whom Tebow won a BCS National Championship with at the University of Florida. Despite being listed at quarterback as mentioned by Belichick on Tuesday when addressing the media at minicamp, if Tebow does see playing time it'll likely be at another position. And though he's made it clear that quarterback is his ideal position where he's listed at third behind Brady and backup Ryan Mallet on the depth-chart, there won't be any complaining or bickering coming from Tebow regarding his role albeit as a fullback or at tight-end where New England will likely need help in place of the ailing Rob Gronkowski.
Having already undergone a plethora of mechanical throwing adjustments from coaches and former players alike, moving to another position might be the only way Tebow will see playing time this season. Few teams relied on the run in short-yardage situations last year more so than the Patriots which would be right up Tebow's alley. And granted no coach likes to mix it up quite like Belichick when it comes to milking his players for their versatility, it's definitely a possibility. But while his role remains a mystery, one thing that we all know already is that Tebow, who spoke highly of the franchises recent success and thanked the organization numerous times for giving him the opportunity, will give it his all and will do everything possible to help his team win if called upon. But not all players seeking success come to New England and leave having flourished. While Randy Moss and Danny Woodhead were both gambles that paid off, Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth are just an example of a few recent experiments that Belichick and co. rolled the dice on to no avail. During his nightmare season with the Jets last year under coach Rex Ryan, Tebow threw for a whopping 39 yards while completing 6 of 8 pass attempts and ran for another 102 yards on 32 carries while seeing limited action.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Heading into the 2013 MLB season, no two teams had higher expectations than the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers. So much so that many had predicted the first ever Freeway Series in this year's Fall Classic. Unfortunately those same two teams share another distinction two months into the season as being the biggest disappointments thus far into the year despite owning the two highest payrolls in all of baseball. With both clubs at or near the bottom of the standings, the Dodgers (25-32) dead last in their division and the Angels (26-33) ahead of only the lowly Houston Astros in the American League West, there's still plenty of time for both teams to turn it around. The question is, can they?
While the Angels are hoping for Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton to turn things around on offense after getting off to a slow start as well as get their ace Jered Weaver back on track after a fractured left elbow landed him an early trip to the disabled-list, their National League counterparts appear to have found what they've been missing all along. Having suffered from a lack of power all season long near the bottom of the pack in home runs and only ahead of the White Sox, Nationals and Marlins in the runs department, the Dodgers lineup has been rejuvenated practically overnight while getting a glimpse of the future. With their star player in Matt Kemp on the DL with a hamstring injury and scheduled to make a pit-stop in the Minor Leagues for a rehab assignment, Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly who's been on the hot seat, elected to make a decision many thought he would've made during the final weeks of spring training by calling up 22 year old prospect Yasiel Puig. Puig, a native of Cuba, signed a 7-year, $42 Million deal with L.A. after defecting from his homeland in 2012 and had a superb spring before being promoted to the Majors on June 2. He would make his big league debut the following day.
Taking on the division-rival Padres, Puig was plugged into the starting lineup as the lead-off man where he'd finish the game 2-for-4. However, his most impressive feat of the night would come on a play made for the final two outs of the ballgame. With 1-out in the 9th and a runner on first, Puig tracked down a fly ball on the warning track before rifling a toss on the fly to the first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in time to gun down the runner attempting to retreat to the bag for the game-ending double-play, worthy of a SportsCenter Top 10 nominee. And for those who missed his debut, the Cuban sensation made sure he backed it up with an encore even more awe-inspiring. Following their 2-1 victory over San Diego the night before, Puig highlighted a come-from-behind win over the Friars by going 3-for-4 with 2 home runs, 5 RBI's and 2 runs scored and possibly saving his manager's job in the process (at least for now) as L.A. improved to 2-0 in the Puig era after the 9-7 triumph Tuesday. The 22 year old stud became the first Dodger ever with a multi-homer game in his first two games and only the second player in franchise history with 2 home runs and 5 RBI's from the lead-off spot.
Up until Monday the Dodgers were a two man show led by Adrian Gonzalez and their ace Clayton Kershaw who's 1.85 ERA is third in the Majors behind only Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox and Shelby Miller of the Cardinals. The kid has made one hell of a first impression on his first homestand and already has as many home runs in his first two games as teammate Matt Kemp has all season. A start of this magnitude will most likely draw the comparisons to Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and other young stars who made an immediate impact with their clubs last season, but Puig seems poised to write his own chapter as the one who helped save the season despite the year being far from over. While he definitely appears to be the shot in the arm the team was desperately in need of on offense, he'll need all the help he can get from struggling players like Andre Ethier and Hanley Ramirez while key cogs Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford are sidelined with injuries.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
With the month of June right around the corner, the Pittsburgh Pirates are rolling and stand at 34-20, good enough for the second best record in all of baseball, trailing only the St. Louis Cardinals (35-17) who lead the NL Central division by 2 games over the streaking Pirates. With a 16-4 record in their last 20 games including 3 out of 4 wins against the reigning American League champion Detroit Tigers, Clint Hurdle's Pittsburgh ball club is the hottest team in all of baseball and figures to make a habit out of their recent winning ways. But no matter how hot the Bucs may be out of the gates or even at the All-Star break, Pirate fans won't hold their breath until the final out of game no. 162 as they've grown all too familiar with disappointment in the past.
While most franchises and their fans would complain about missing the playoffs for two decades, the Pirates haven't even finished a season above .500 in that span. Not only have the Buccos endured one of the most crucial playoff droughts in all of sports, but they own the distinction of having the longest streak in North American sports history with 20 consecutive losing seasons. To put that into perspective, the Pirates haven't made the postseason since the George H.W. Bush administration back in 1992. Andrew McCutchen, who is the catalyst of the Pirates offense and is be the best player to don the black and yellow since Barry Bonds did so from the mid to late 80's to the early 90's, was six years old when Pittsburgh last made a trip to the postseason. A dry-spell he's now being counted on to help end. And after coming within just four games of the .500 mark in 2012 before finishing the year 79-83, a year in which the McCutchen-led Pirates were sixteen games above .500 as late into the season as August 8th before much of that same disappointment came crashing down on Pittsburgh, McCutchen and company look to ensure a collapse of that magnitude doesn't happen again.
Led by a surprisingly good pitching staff which boasts a 3.12 ERA, second in the bigs to only the division-rival Cardinals and is second in the NL in strikeouts behind Cincinnati, Pittsburgh's bullpen has stolen the show up to this point. Anchored by reliever Jason Grilli who has yet to blow a save this year, has converted on a perfect 22 of 22 save opportunities to lead the Majors. Ace A.J. Burnett who was acquired during the off-season and knows a thing or two about winning having won a World Series in 2009 while with the Yankees, leads the NL in punchouts, trailing only Texas' Yu Darvish for the Major League lead. But whether or not the Pirates' pitching staff can continue their early dominance on into All-Star break and more importantly beyond it, is worth keeping an eye on.
Though McCutchen will most likely be in the MVP race come seasons end like he was last year, the Bucs will only go as far as their pitching takes them. If the rotation and bullpen holds up, Pittsburgh just might see their losing ways come to an end. But if their pitching staff begins to fold down the stretch and the ball club is forced to lean on their offense, the Pirates' hopes of making it over .500 and into the postseason might sink along with their ship.
Follow on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Don't look now but the Cleveland Indians are baseball's hottest team. Winners of 18 of their last 22 games including five in a row, the Tribe stand alone atop the American League Central division at 26-17, 2.5 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers after completing a four-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners on Monday with a 10-8 victory in extra innings. While most of the baseball world has begun to take notice of the Cinderella story that is the Cleveland Indians' blazing start, unfortunately their fan base hasn't quite gotten the memo. At least not yet. Despite their red-hot month and a half, the Indians are struggling to attract a packed house. The empty stands have even caught the attention of some of the players who've begun giving out free tickets to lucky fans on Twitter and other social media networks.
Though Cleveland fans have seen a similar beginning to the season in each of the past two years only to witness their beloved Tribe return to earth with a mediocre second half following the All-Star break, this year's Indians squad appears to be different. Of coarse having an ace in Justin Masterson who took home AL Player of the Week honors this week after going 2-0 with 20 strikeouts and a flawless ERA of 0.00 in 16 innings is nice as well as hitting a league-best 60 home runs, but this year's Indians squad has something they've lacked the last two years -- a proven manager who knows quite a bit about winning in first year skipper Terry Francona. With the acquisitions of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn creating some buzz during the offseason, it was the addition of Tito which garnered the most attention prior to Spring Training. Having managed a team to a pair of World Series titles while at the helm in Boston, Francona serves as the hope to help turn things around for an Indians franchise that hasn't made it to the postseason since 2007.
Francona's ball club has been no fluke up to this point, as they've knocked around some of the game's best, handing losses to such pitchers as Felix Hernandez, R.A. Dickey, David Price, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Bartolo Colon and Justin Verlander, all of whom are former Cy Young Award winners. Jake Peavy of the Chicago White Sox was the only former pitcher to take home the hardware that Cleveland faltered to this season, preventing them from making it a perfect 8-0. They've also had a flair for the dramatic, logging six walk-off wins already with their most recent coming on Monday in a wild, back and forth affair that ended on a 3-run home run from Yan Gomes to give Cleveland the 10-8 victory. If there's one thing we've learned about this ball club thus far it's that they refuse to give up. And while the Indians most likely have more naysayers than believers, whether or not their third time will be a charm will be one of the many storylines worth keeping an eye on this MLB season.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
While the NBA season is still in full swing for those teams still battling it out in the playoffs, the biggest storyline coming into the year has already reached an early climax. Entering the 2012-2013 NBA season, expectations were at an all-time high for the Los Angeles Lakers who added future Hall of Fame players Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to a roster that already included All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. On paper the team seemed virtually unstoppable and had the potential to be one of the greatest squads ever put together in Laker land. Little did they know that everything that could go wrong would. With injuries plaguing the team all season long, it was their defense that was often criticized.
Entering the final month of the NBA schedule, the Lakers found themselves in and out of the playoff picture leading to a playoff promise by their team captain Kobe Bryant. And though the Lakers would deliver on Kobe's guarantee on the final day of the regular season by defeating the Houston Rockets in an overtime thriller to lock up the No. 7 seed, the man himself was unable to help his team reach their ultimate goal in the NBA Finals as L.A. was swept in the first round for only the second time in franchise history by the San Antonio Spurs. But to say the Lakers were short-handed would be an understatement. Nash, Gasol and Howard all missed games due to injury and were joined by teammates Jordan Hill, Metta World Peace, Jodie Meeks, Antawn Jamison and Steve Blake as those who fell victim to the injury bug. But what happened to Kobe Bryant seemed almost unreal.
For many fans of the Lakers and basketball alike, Kobe has virtually evolved into this superhero-like character that nobody thought was capable of falling to an injury of this magnitude. The moment Kobe went down with a torn Achilles tendon, it seemed as their championship hopes were destined to soon follow. And while many were quick to point the finger at Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni as the reason Kobe had played more than 40+ minutes for seven consecutive games, D'Antoni deserves as much blame as I do. Kobe and his teammates know that had they played more consistently all season long and not just won games down the stretch with their backs against the wall, Bryant wouldn't have needed to play so many minutes that late in the season in hopes of securing a playoff position. Besides, Kobe's been around long enough to demand some time on the bench to catch his breath if need be.
Now that the nightmare that was the Lakers' 2012-2013 season is over as Dwight Howard described it, the three biggest questions and concerns entering next year are as followed:
1. Is Dwight Howard the future of the Lakers franchise and will they re-sign him?
The Lakers made it no surprise that they've wanted to add Dwight Howard to their team for years and last offseason they finally got their wish. And though his first campaign with the purple & gold didn't end the way Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak had in mind, it's unlikely Howard was at full strength at any time this year while recovering from back surgery during the offseason. It's also important to look at what's available at center and what other options the Lakers can go with. When at 100% Dwight Howard is the best center in all of basketball. When limited as he was this year, he's still in the top 3. And though Howard's first impression in L.A. wasn't a very good one, the Lakers can offer him a max contract of $118 Million over 5 years where as he can make a max of just $87.6 Million if he were to sign elsewhere. While Dallas, Houston and Atlanta are all rumored to be interested in his services, who in their right mind would leave $30 Million on the table to play for another team? Neither of the mentioned teams have a brighter future with their current roster than the Lakers do with Houston maybe being the only exception.
2. Is Mike D'Antoni the man for the job?
With every Laker fan in the world including me going to say no in favor of bringing back Phil Jackson, it appears as if that ship has sailed for good. The Lakers had their chance to bring in Phil for a third stint as head coach before the hiring of D'Antoni and decided to move on. After signing D'Antoni to a 3-year, $12 Million deal in November, it's unlikely the team will cut ties with him a year into his contract. Then again, that's exactly what they did with the man D'Antoni replaced in Mike Brown who was relieved of his duties just a year and 5 games into his 4-year deal signed in 2011. And considering he took over a team trying to find its identity as well as plug in two All-Star players in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash who struggled to get on the same page offensively as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, he deserves a full year at the helm to try and right this ship.
3. Have we seen the end of the Kobe Bryant era in L.A.?
The answer to this question relies more so on the decision of the Lakers' front-office than it does on Kobe. We all know Kobe is as hard headed and stubborn as they come and no player in the league wants to win another title more than Bryant does. The question is, what is he willing to sacrifice in order to get that sixth ring? While the possibility of the Lakers amnestying Kobe has been a popular topic of discussion this season, the smartest thing to do would be for Kobe to take a pay-cut. Maybe I'm reaching when I say this but what better way to help your team add talent in hopes of winning a title than to show you're a team player by taking less money. But say there is no pay-cut, Bryant who will be 35 years old at the start of next season and most likely won't be cleared to play until mid-season, is scheduled to make $30.5 Million in salary next year. That total could climb to $80 Million for the Lakers franchise after factoring in the luxury tax. But as smart of a move as that sounds, it's hard to think a premiere franchise with such class as the Lakers would let a 17-year run which saw 5 championship banners get raised go down the drain with arguably the greatest player to ever don a Laker uniform. Not to mention how big a blow the franchise would endure in the PR department. So if you asked me, I'd say no. The Kobe era in Tinseltown is not over and the Black Mamba will be that much hungrier to prove the critics wrong and add another title to his resume.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
