Tough luck for Lakers, Kobe out with injured knee

Just six games into his return from a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot suffered back in April, Kobe Bryant will once again be watching games from the sideline rather than playing in them. Basketball fans and Laker fans alike were given just a small sample size of the Kobe Bryant post-Achilles injury as his highly anticipated return which was eight months in the making, was once again put on hold due to the injury bug. On the road facing the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Bryant went down on the count after appearing to have tweaked something in the third quarter. Though he lied there clutching his knee for a good minute or so, there didn't appear to be any major damage as Kobe was able to walk off the court under his own power and continued to play the remainder of the game as the Lakers eventually went on to win by a final of 96-92. But after experiencing soreness the following day, an MRI on Thursday revealed Kobe had in fact fractured the lateral tibia plateau in his left knee. 

The injury comes just three weeks after the Lakers signed their superstar player and all-time franchise scoring-leader to a two-year, $48.5 Million extension. A deal that might end up hurting the team more than it helps. In the limited time Kobe played on the court before once again having to trade his Lakers uniform for a pair of crutches, he managed to score at least 20-points in three of the six games he starred in and logged a 13-assist performance in another. Though Kobe's presence will be missed, his injury is just the latest name added to the laundry list of players the Lakers have seen miss time this season. At the moment, coach Mike D'Antoni will have to make due with a depleted lineup as Bryant joins Steve Blake, Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar on the sideline. Upon his return, Kobe was being looked at as the saving grace, being able to move from shooting-guard to point-guard but his absence forced general manager Mitch Kupchak to seek an alternative as the team signed free-agent Kendall Marshall. The former first round pick out of North Carolina in last year's NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Marshall was most recently waived by the Washington Wizards and has yet to produce anywhere near the numbers he put up while with the Tar Heels.

In the handful of minutes we got to see Bryant play this season, he showed flashes of his old self as he got his feet back more and more after each game. But in no way did we see the explosiveness as to be expected given the repercussions of his Achilles injury. One department Kobe's absence will benefit the team in, however, is in the Draft lottery. With the Lakers franchise in desperate need of rebuilding from the ground up, the 6 to 8 weeks Kobe is out for should help the team further solidify themselves in the lottery sweepstakes.

I'm one of the biggest Kobe supporters you'll meet but what he did on November 25 by signing his two-year contract-extension for $48.5 Million set me back a bit. In no way am I hating on the man for taking money, but I am a bit surprised given how much Bryant says he wants that sixth ring to add to his legacy. Taking up $24 Million a year in payroll at the age of 35 does little to help his team's case in pursuit of NBA Championship no. 17. Compare Kobe's deal to that of the aging Tim Duncan who in 2012 went from making $23 Million the year before to $9.7 Million a year, a deal which helped the franchise sign pieces to surround Duncan with and helped them get to the NBA Finals this past June. It appears Kobe's latest contract is more of a 'thank you' from Lakers owner Jim Buss for what he's done in the past rather than what Kobe can accomplish in the next two seasons. Maybe it was just wishful thinking when I thought Kobe would take a page out of Tom Brady's book by taking a pay-cut to help his team.

As for any doubt we had in the past on whether or not Kobe's last seasons would be in the purple and gold, the contract-extension means Kobe will be a Laker for life. After it's all said and done, Kobe will have been with the team for 20 years, one year longer than John Stockton was with the Utah Jazz, the longest tenured player in NBA history with one franchise. The fact of the matter is Kobe's hunger for greatness is unparalleled and nothing will prevent him from playing these final two plus seasons unless he's got to be carried away from the game for good. With all that said, get well, Mamba, and take your time recovering.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Week 15: 49ers trample Tampa Bay, 33-14.

After back to back losses in weeks 10 and 11, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers headed into Sunday at 9-4 having played their best ball as of late, riding a three game win-streak. A trip to Tampa Bay to face the lowly (4-9) Buccaneers would allow San Francisco a chance to keep their foot on the gas pedal with the NFL's regular season nearing its end. And through the first three quarters before encountering a minor hiccup, the 49ers would do just that. From San Francisco's very first possession of the day after forcing a Buccaneers three and out, Colin Kaepernick and company would put their foot down as the Niners QB orchestrated a successful 11-play, 62-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes and was capitalized with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree.

The touchdown pass would be the first to a receiver not named Anquan Boldin or Vernon Davis this season as San Francisco took an early 7-0 lead. The 49ers would string together 17-unanswered-points before Tampa Bay would get a whiff of their first scoring drive as kicker Phil Dawson connected for a 47-yard field goal followed by Niners tight-end Vernon Davis hauling in his team-leading 12th touchdown reception on a 52-yard bomb from Kaepernick on one of the prettiest connections we've seen from him all year. A touchdown pass from Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon to wide-out Vincent Jackson would put Tampa Bay on the board just before the end of the first half. Trailing 20-7, the Buccaneers would make a game out of it with a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter as Glennon hit Tim Wright from 24-yards out to pull Tampa Bay within six. But the 49ers would answer back as Kaepernick ate away at the clock by marching his team down the field with a 17-play drive that lasted over ten minutes long and ended with another field goal to make it a two possession game.

With under five minutes remaining in regulation, Tampa Bay's margin for error was as small as can be and on the ensuing kick, Greg Schiano's special-teams would commit a major gaffe, hand-wrapping a gift TD to their opponent. The Buccaneers' poor attempt at a reverse hand-off would cost them a chance at pulling off the comeback as the ball was fumbled and scooped up by Niners running back Kendall Hunter who dove into the end zone to make it a 30-14 lead. A turnover on downs by Tampa Bay on their next drive would give San Francisco the ball inside the 30 as Phil Dawson eventually kicked his fourth field goal on the day, extended his franchise-record to 24 consecutive successful FG attempts. A late interception by rookie safety Eric Reid would seal the win as the 49ers came out on top, 33-14. San Francisco's stellar defense dominated for much of the game and held Tampa Bay to a season-low 183 total net yards in route to the team's fourth straight win.

Colin Kaepernick logged a turnover-free performance by completing 19-of-29 passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding another 42 yards on the ground. Running back Frank Gore ran for 86 yards on the day to add to his franchise-record as he eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau on the season for the seventh time of his career. Vernon Davis would lead all 49ers receivers with 79 yards on 5 receptions. The 49ers would receive some negative news following the game, however, as an MRI revealed fullback Bruce Miller would be out for the remainder of the season with a broken shoulder blade. Though it might not always show in the box score, Miller does all the little things that help an offense thrive and his presence will be missed.

Week 16 Preview: Despite having the day off, the 49ers will be score watching on Sunday as a loss by the Arizona Cardinals who face the daunting task of playing the Seahawks in Seattle, would guarantee a playoff berth for the 49ers. But with a win on Monday night, the Niners could punch their own ticket to the playoffs regardless of what Arizona does. Week 16 will see the 49ers host the last regular season game and quite possibly the last football game at Candlestick Park. Having called the 'Stick home for the last 43 years, the 49ers hope to bid a storybook farewell to the stadium that has played host to plenty of moments that have made the 49ers the historic franchise they are today. Monday night's game against Atlanta (4-9) will be a rematch of last year's NFC Championship, a game in which the 49ers came from behind on the road to knock off the no. 1 seeded Falcons to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. Much like the 49ers were up until a few weeks ago, the Falcons are suffering from a shorthanded offense with their number one play maker Julio Jones out for the season. Expected by many to make another run at a potential Super Bowl appearance coming into the season, the Falcons have easily been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. And with their only win on the road coming against the woeful Buffalo Bills, they'll have their work cut out for them on Monday going up against a thriving 49ers team who currently stand as 13-point favorites and will be playing with high emotions in front of a raucous crowd. 


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

The Morse the Merrier

Giants find their slugger in Morse - The last time we checked up on the San Francisco Giants following their free-agent signing of pitcher Tim Hudson as well as the re-signing of reliever Javier Lopez, the club still had high hopes of acquiring a power-hitting left-fielder to add to their busy offseason. On Monday, the Giants were able to complete their Christmas shopping a little early, agreeing to terms with the 31 year old, right-handed Michael Morse. Better known for his stint with the Washington Nationals, Morse split his 2013 campaign with the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles where he posted a .215 batting average with 13 home runs and 27 RBI before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist in mid-October. Pending a physical, the deal is reportedly worth $5 Million with incentives over one year.

Though coming off an injury, Morse is more than capable of supplying the Giants with the power bat in left field they so desperately need. After watching his team finish last in the Majors among left fielders in runs, home runs and OPS, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean are hoping they've found a solution to that problem with the acquisition of Morse. In 2011 while with the Nats, Morse had a breakout year in which he hit .303 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI and an OPS of .910. Morse saw his numbers regress the following season but he still managed to produce quite well despite missing the first few months with back problems. Whether or not those numbers will translate to the pitcher-friendly AT&T Park is yet to be seen but in the limited action he's had in San Francisco as a visitor, Morse has hit .316 (6-for-19) with three doubles, a homer and four ribbies. While he won't likely be a guy making highlight reel catches day in and day out, Morse should hold his out in left field and can provide a security blanket at first base if and when Brandon Belt needs a day off. 

With Morse expected to be the everyday left fielder, joining an outfield that consists of Angel Pagan in center and Hunter Pence out in right, Gregor Blanco should still see frequent action as a late-inning substitute. Granted the deal is only for one year, the Giants won't be obligated to hang onto Morse past 2014 if the signing doesn't work out. But if it does, both sides will win as Morse looks to bounce back meanwhile Sabean hopes to have found a diamond in the rough given how thin the market has been for outfielders this offseason. Still in need of another arm or two to add to the Giants' bullpen, this will likely be the last move on the offensive side of things by Sabean and company before spring training. 


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Week 14: 49ers knock off rival Seahawks behind Gore's late run

If you're a football fan, chances are Sunday's meeting between the (8-4) San Francisco 49ers and (11-1) Seattle Seahawks was a game you've had circled on your calender for quite some time now. The same could be said for the players on both teams. Expected to be a hard fought, back and forth affair, this one would definitely live up to the hype. One thing that's certain about this rivalry over the years aside from the strong disliking for one another, is that the home team almost always comes out victorious. In fact, the home team has won 9 of the last 10 meetings this series with the only road victory coming in 2011 when the Alex Smith led 49ers won in Seattle. And with this being the last regular season game at Candlestick Park between both teams, the 49ers had plans to keep that trend alive on Sunday. With a bet in line the last time these two teams met that saw the losing quarterback shave his eyebrows, this meeting would be strictly business.

In Colin Kaepernick's first two career starts against Seattle, the 49ers were absolutely dismantled by a combined score of 71-16 as both games were played on the road with the help of the raucous 12th Man. But this one would give Kaepernick his first crack at seeking revenge at home. Needing a win to keep a stranglehold on a playoff spot in the NFC, Kaepernick and company knew it wouldn't be easy. After two Phil Dawson field goals put San Francisco up 6-0 in the first quarter, coach Harbaugh saw his team give up the lead just minutes later as Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to put the Seahawks ahead. The go-ahead touchdown would spark a total of six lead-changes as each team answered one another on the scoreboard. Following another Dawson field goal, Seattle QB Russell Wilson would find a wide-open Luke Willson who's 39-yard touchdown reception put his team back on top. It would then be Kaepernick's turn to respond as he threw a strike to tight-end Vernon Davis who found the end zone for the 11th time this season with 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter, making it a 16-14 ballgame at the half. 

Though it would be Kaepernick's only touchdown pass of the afternoon, it would be vital to the 49ers' confidence as his team took both a lead and the momentum with them into the locker room. The San Francisco defense which has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season, faced their most formidable foe on Sunday in Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. And with 50 yards rushing by halftime, that streak looked like it was coming to an end. But Vic Fangio's defense stepped up and made the needed adjustment by allowing Lynch to run for only 22 yards the rest of the way. Hoping to add to San Francisco's lead in the second half, Kaepernick and the 49er offense marched down the field and appeared to be heading in the right direction, but a pass down the sideline intended for Michael Crabtree would be picked off by Seattle who several drives later would retake the lead on a Steven Hauschka field goal. 

Running back Frank Gore who's been a ghost the last three weeks in the yards department, showed up on Sunday with 110 yards rushing including 51 of them on the biggest play of the game, trailing by a point with 4 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Running ahead of the pack after finding a hole, Gore made the heads up decision to put on the brakes and fall down around the 20 yard line, allowing the 49ers to eat away at the clock and give Seattle as little time to work with on offense. It would prove to be a good decision by the 4-time Pro Bowl back who eclipsed the century mark for the first time since a 101-yard performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Gore's run would be the heart and soul of an 11-play, 76-yard game winning drive against one of the best defenses in the league as 49ers kicker Phil Dawson split the uprights for the 20th consecutive time to put his team up 19-17 with 26 seconds left in regulation. With less than a minute to go and no timeouts remaining, Seattle was in need of a miracle. Corner back Eric Wright who earlier in the game departed briefly after sustaining a head injury, however, would have other plans as he saved the day with an interception on a last-ditch effort by Seahawks QB Russell Wilson with just 9 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

A win for Pete Carroll's Seahawks would've clinched the NFC West as well as a first-round BYE in the playoffs but the 49ers refused to watch their two year reign of the NFC West come to an end and witness their archrivals celebrate winning the division on their home turf. With the win, the 49ers snapped Seattle's 7-game winning streak by handing them only their second loss on the year and their fifth straight in San Francisco. The win also means the 49ers have swept their division rivals at home this season, beating the Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks in what will be the final season and the historic Candlestick Park. San Francisco hasn't lost at home to a division opponent since Seattle handed them a loss back in 2008. The win should bode well for the 49ers' confidence given another trip to the Super Bowl will likely have to go through Seattle, a team they now know they can beat. You want your team to play its best football in the month of December leading up to the stretch run just before the playoffs and Jim Harbaugh's 49ers are doing just that. After back to back losses to the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco has now won three straight and have a fairly favorable schedule ahead of them.  

Week 15 Preview: Standing even in the NFC Wild Card race at 9-4 with the Carolina Panthers, the 49ers head south to visit the (4-9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Like San Francisco, the Bucs are playing their best ball of the season having won 4 of their last 5 games after an 0-8 start. Expected by many to make a run for the playoffs in the NFC South coming into the season, Greg Schiano's Buccaneers now have their eyes set on a fresh start for next season but wouldn't mind playing the role of spoilers. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has seen his interception numbers decrease over the last several weeks after getting off to a sluggish start, but he'll be facing an interception happy defense in Tampa Bay on Sunday with a league leading 21 picks, including 4 in last week's win vs the Buffalo Bills. With both Darrelle Revis and former 49ers Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson on the opposite side of the ball, Kaepernick will have to be cautious when throwing the ball or he could be in for a long day. With that said, expect a hefty workload for running back Frank Gore who's 69 yards shy of the 1,000 yard mark. 


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Week 13: Davis, 49ers hurdle Rams, 23-13

Last season when the San Francisco 49ers played host to the division-rival St. Louis Rams, both teams left the field in a 24-24 tie. With the 49ers still vying for a playoff spot, Jim Harbaugh's team would make sure their last meeting at Candlestick Park against their long time division foe wouldn't end the same way it did a year ago. Coming into Sunday's meeting with the Rams, 49ers running back Frank Gore has made a habit out of torturing St. Louis throughout his career, having scored 14 touchdowns in 14 games against them. He would add to that mark in the second quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 15 touchdowns in as many games against them as San Francisco took a 13-0 lead. 

The rest of the day would be a quiet one from Gore, however, as most of his team's damage would come through the air. 49er fans were able to take a sigh of relief last week when quarterback Colin Kaepernick logged his best outing statistically since Week 1. But given the performance was against a Washington defense that ranks among the worst in the league, a similar performance against a defense like St. Louis' would be much more meaningful. And with wide-out Michael Crabtree back on the field to make his long-awaited season debut since recovering from surgery to a torn Achilles tendon some six months ago, Kaepernick had his eyes set on another good game with the arrival of his favorite target. Crabtree, who shook off some early jitters by being called for two penalties on San Francisco's opening-drive, hauled in only two passes on the day but one would be a 60-yarder as he showed off some of the speed his team has missed since his absence. 

But not even the return of Crabtree would be enough to steal the spotlight away from Vernon Davis as the game soon turned into a track meet for the 49ers tight-end. Davis caught 4 passes for 82 yards including Kaepernick's lone touchdown pass on the afternoon as he hurdled his way into the end zone, leaping over a defender for his 10th touchdown reception of the season. Davis who's arguably the most athletically gifted tight-end in the league, appears to have added the hurdle to his arsenal of moves as he hurdled not one, but two St. Louis Rams as if he was running track in the Olympics. Anquan Boldin on the other hand led the team with 9 receptions for 98 yards as Kaepernick logged another stellar performance by throwing for 275 yards on 19 of 28 pass attempts and playing mistake-free football. The Niners defense which kept Rams quarterback Kellen Clemens in check, surrendered two field goals by St. Louis kicker Greg Zuerlein before coach Harbaugh put in his second-team defense which allowed a late touchdown pass from Clemens to Brian Quick with only seconds remaining on the game clock. 

The touchdown would cut the deficit to 10 by making it a 23-13 ballgame but it would be too late as San Francisco came out on top, improving to 8-4 on the year. San Francisco's only mistake in the game would be a fumble by running back Frank Gore who logged just 42 yards as the 49ers forced three St. Louis turnovers including an interception by cornerback Carlos Rogers. Niners kicker Phil Dawson racked up three field goals in the win and has now converted on 16 consecutive tries. 

Week 14 Preview: After consecutive losses to the Panthers and Saints, the 49ers have bounced back with back to back wins and appear to be clicking on all cylinders just in time for their showdown with the Seattle Seahawks whom they plan to settle the score with after being demolished in Seattle earlier this year. Standing at 11-1 with the best record in the NFL, Pete Carroll's Seattle team is also coming off an impressive 34-7 win at home against the New Orleans Saints. With a win on Sunday, Seattle could clinch the division title at Candlestick Park, further upping the stakes and putting that much more heat on the Niners who plan to crash the party and prevent their division-rival from celebrating on San Francisco's home turf. If one thing is certain regarding these two NFC heavyweights, it's that these teams don't like one another which should setup a must-see battle. The 49ers who welcomed back wide-receiver Mario Manningham from injury several weeks ago and Michael Crabtree this past week, will now see the return of rookie wide-out Quinton Patton for the first time since he fractured his foot in Week 4. Though San Francisco's receive-corps appears to finally be healthy and in tact for the first time all season, this might not be the best week for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick to test his arm given Seattle's tough secondary. The same goes for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson which is why this one will likely be a head-to-head match up between running back's Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch. Where this game lacks in high-flying offense, will likely be made up with plenty of big hits and lots of trash-talking. So be sure to grab your popcorn! 

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Week 12: Kaepernick, 49ers shine in team's first Monday Night game of the season

Last year San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick and Washington's Robert Griffin III took the National Football League by storm. The duel-threat QB's helped their teams make it to the playoffs and even punch a ticket to the Super Bowl for Kaepernick's 49ers, while RGIII took home Rookie of the Year honors. But so far, 2013 hasn't exactly treated the pair of young, gifted quarterbacks as nicely. Aside from his Week 1 performance against Green Bay, Kaepernick has struggled mightily with a thin receive corps, whereas Griffin who's sophomore campaign has had its fair share of ups and downs, has clearly not been the same QB since undergoing surgery on his right knee. Struggles aside, one QB would have another win to hang to their total as they faced off against one another for the first time in their bright career.

During Kaepernick's struggles, it's been tailback Frank Gore and the running game that's been the catalyst to the 49ers offense and has provided for the team. Not in this one, however, as Gore was kept relatively quiet with just 31 yards on 13 carries. With the 49ers ranked last in the league in passing yards entering the week, Kaepernick would face one of his most favorable match-ups yet. Planning to exploit that and dig the Niners' mediocre aerial attack from out of the gutter, Kaepernick would log one of the finest outings of his career and easily his best since Week 1 by throwing for 235 yards and 3 touchdown while completing 15 of 24 pass attempts and amassing a career-best passer rating of 134.5. No duo has been more productive and has meant more to their teams' receive corps as Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin. And with a bulk of Kaepernick's passes going in their direction, each managed to find the end zone like they've done so often this year. Davis caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown while Boldin hauled in five receptions for a game-high 94 yards and a pair of TD's.  

But where Kaepernick and the 49er offense excelled, Griffin and the Redskins struggled. Completing 17 of 27 passes, RGIII threw for only 127 yards and was picked off for the 11th time this year, more than double the amount of interceptions he threw last season. Needing a win to keep a stranglehold on a playoff spot, the 49ers defense entered Monday night's game having allowed 12.5 points per game since week 4, the fewest in the league. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive-coordinator Vic Fangio would see that number decrease as Washington was kept out of the end zone the entire game and logged only 190 yards of total offense, their lowest total since a blowout loss to the Bills in 2011. To put Griffin's awful night into perspective, Washington was held to just 30 yards of offense in the second half as the second-year QB was under constant pressure by San Francisco's swarming defense which tallied four sacks on the night. It also marked the first time an RGIII led offense was held touchdown-less in his career, including his years in college with Baylor where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2011.

The Niners also got plenty of help on defense from defensive-end Aldon Smith who in his second start since taking nearly a two month hiatus while being treated at a rehab facility, looked like the Aldon Smith of old as he recorded his first sack since Week 3. Smith would finish the game with 2 sacks and made a number of hits on the Redskins quarterback as San Francisco won, 27-6. The win was the fifth straight for the 49ers on Monday Night Football and put an end to their two-game losing skid as they improved to 7-4 on the year and more importantly held on to their wild card spot in the NFC Playoff race. As for Washington, the Redskins have now lost 4 of their last 5 games and continue to fall behind in the NFC East as they dropped to 3-8 on the year. Griffin, who's asked the Redskins coaching staff not to show tape of his negative plays during team meetings, will likely see a plethora of negative plays from this one considering that's all there was on Monday by the Washington quarterback.

Week 13 - Owning the tie-breaker over the division-rival (7-4) Arizona Cardinals for the second NFC wild card spot, the 49ers will look to improve on their record on Sunday when they return home to host another division foe in the St. Louis Rams. Sitting at the bottom of the NFC West at 5-6, the Rams have been playing their best ball of the season as of late despite being without their starting quarterback -- Sam Bradford and are coming off back-to-back blowout wins against two pretty darn good teams in the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. Earlier this season when these two teams met in St. Louis, the 49ers pulled off a blowout 35-11 win in Week 4. But with the Rams eyeing the .500 mark and hoping to play the role of spoiler, don't expect anything to be given to Colin Kaepernick and company as they return to the Stick. Week 4 saw Frank Gore explode for his first big game of the season when he torched the Rams for 153 yards rushing to go along with a touchdown. With coach Harbaugh likely to get his running back back on track after sub par performances in each of his last two outings, we could be in store for a steady diet of Gore in this one. Week 13 will also see the return of wide-out Michael Crabtree. With Kaepernick's favorite target slated to return for the first time this year since tearing his Achilles during training camp in May, we just might see a TD reception by someone not named Boldin or Davis for the first time this season.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Giants sign former All-Star Hudson, retain Lopez

For the second time in three years, the San Francisco Giants have followed up a successful World Series triumph with a disappointing season in which they've failed to make the postseason. Trying as hard as ever to manufacture a team capable of climbing back to the pinnacle of baseball immortality, Giants general manager Brian Sabean has already done some early shopping and knocked off a few key needs on the team's Christmas list. With outfielder Hunter Pence signing a 5-year extension one day before the end of the 2013 regular season and pitcher Tim Lincecum inking a new two-year deal just weeks later, Sabean continued his early spending by landing another seasoned veteran in right-hander Tim Hudson as the team officially cut ties with Barry Zito. 

Hudson, 38, signed a two-year, $23 Million deal earlier this week. Along with his veteran leadership and valuable knowledge of the game, Hudson brings a repertoire of pitches that includes everything but the kitchen sink as well as over 200 career wins along with him to the bay area where he first established himself as a big league pitcher from 1999-2004 with the Giants' cross bay rival -- Oakland A's where he helped create 1/3 of the Athletics' "big three" alongside Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. Through 15 big league seasons, the last 9 of which with the Atlanta Braves, Hudson has been named to three All-Star teams and has yet to log a season in which he's recorded a record at or under .500. 2014 will see the return of Hudson to the baseball diamond after a fractured right ankle in July put an abrupt end to his 2013 campaign. A season in which the Braves finished the regular season 96-66, good enough for the number 2 seed in the National League before being bounced out of the postseason by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. 

Hudson logged an 8-7 record and an ERA of 3.97 in 21 starts in 2013 before being bit by the injury bug. Better known for their dominant pitching over the last few seasons that saw a World Series Championship in 2010 and another just two seasons later in 2012, Hudson joins a Giants starting pitching staff that looked very much unlike itself this past season by boasting an overall ERA of 4.37, the third highest in the National League. What direction Sabean and skipper Bruce Bochy look to head in with the team's fifth starting pitching spot is not yet known. While Ryan Vogelsong remains an option, the Giants may look elsewhere and sign another lefty to join Madison Bumgarner, granted Matt Cain, Linececum and Hudson are all right-handers. One southpaw the Giants will for sure be bringing back, however, is reliever Javier Lopez. Coming off his best Major League season yet (1.83 ERA), Lopez, who's been nothing but nails for the Giants since being traded in 2010 from the Pittsburgh Pirates, entered the offseason as one of if not the top left-handers on the free-agent market and was said to have drawn the interest of at least 10 other ball clubs before San Francisco retained one of its key cogs in the bullpen.

While the Giants still have a hole to fill in left field, GM Brian Sabean has been very on point thus far in the offseason in addressing the teams top priorities. And given how Sabe's likes to do his work early in the off-season, don't be surprised if he makes a move anytime soon and surprises us with an early Christmas present before the holiday.

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Week 11: 49ers lose second straight after Bogus call in the Bayou

Entering Sunday's game, the San Francisco 49ers had their work cut out for them as they were given the daunting task of having to face the (7-2) New Orleans Saints at home where they're unbeaten in five games this season. Expected to be a showdown between two NFC heavyweights, it wouldn't be long before the officials made a plethora of terrible calls from beginning to end, none worse than the one with 3:12 remaining in the fourth quarter as the 49ers appeared to be on their way to putting an end to New Orleans' perfect home record. Leading 20-17, Niners linebacker Ahmad Brooks who earlier in the game collected his first interception of the season, sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees, forcing him to fumble on third down as the ball was recovered by Patrick Willis near midfield.

However, there would be a flag on the play as the officials called for a personal foul on Brooks for illegal contact despite him hitting the quarterback cleanly without any helmet to helmet or hands to the head contact. One word to describe the call -- bad. How bad you ask? So bad that two former Pro Bowl linebackers in Ray Lewis and Tedy Bruschi both offered to pitch in and help Brooks pay for the ridiculous $15,750 fine that is being issued for the hit. The penalty would negate the sack and forced fumble that would've setup Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco offense at midfield and in position to potentially add to their lead and put the game away for good. Instead, Brees and the Saints were awarded the ball back with an extra 15-yards as they eventually tied the game five plays later thanks to a Garrett Hartley field goal. In an attempt to make up for the call, the officials missed what should have been a safety on the 49ers as Kaepernick got away with an intentional-grounding call inside the five yard line.

After a punt following a three and out on San Francisco's ensuing drive, the 49ers would shoot themselves in the foot when Kaseem Osgood interfered with the Saints' Darren Sproles who had called for a fair catch. The 15-yard penalty put New Orleans near midfield and with a 1:40 remaining, Drew Brees did the rest, marching his team down field and once again setting up his kicker Garrett Hartley for the game-winning field goal as time expired. Brees threw for 1 touchdown and 1 interception while compiling 305 yards through the air, giving him eight games with at least 300 yards passing this season, trailing only Peyton Manning who's eclipsed the 300 yard mark nine times this year. As for Kaepernick, the struggling QB threw for a pair of touchdowns and just one interception but only amassed 127 yards passing. Through the air, Kaepernick has yet to connect with someone in the end zone not named Anquan Boldin or Vernon Davis this season as all 11 of his passing touchdowns have been thrown in their direction. That trend continued in this one as both Boldin and Davis hauled in a TD reception.

The 49ers who scored 17 of their 20 points off turnovers, got things started in the second quarter as they cashed in on a muffed punt by Saints receiver Lance Moore. Two plays later, Kaepernick would find Boldin from 11-yards out in the end zone for his first receiving touchdown since week 4. Jim Harbaugh and company would get a huge sigh of relief in the second quarter when Kaepernick was picked off by Corey White who filling in for the injured Jabari Greer, dove in front of Mario Manningham for the interception and returned it 43 yards before leaping into the air and losing the ball just before crossing the goal line. The ball sailed into the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback as San Francisco retained possession. But that would be the only break in favor of the 49ers all afternoon long. Though it's hard not to blame the loss on the bogus call that cost the 49ers a possession and the chance to add to their lead, Kaepernick and co. let a number of opportunities slip through their hands on Sunday. Literally. Midway through the fourth quarter, Kaepernick had a wide-open Frank Gore who had nothing but real estate ahead of him but he was unable to corral the low pass as San Francisco dropped its second straight game, 23-20, falling to 6-4 on the year and tying them for second place in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals, winners of three straight.

But back to the Ahmad Brooks hit. Over the last several years, the NFL has made strides in protecting players most notably at quarterback. With hits to the knees outlawed as well as those to the helmet and head area, defensive players are already given a tiny area on the body in which they can hit the quarterback. And with the player in motion, that area becomes even smaller given they can duck at anytime. But with these new rules in place where almost every hit on a quarterback is illegal it seems, the defensive player is left with little to work with when it comes to making a play on the quarterback. Of course we'd all love to see an end to the devastating concussions that have proven to be even more serious to a players long-term safety, the latest banning of hits on the quarterback is beginning to take away from the game as well as the play we know as the "sack." Keep that word in mind because at this rate it might be erased from both the game and our memories as we know it, given the recent direction of the NFL and their overly obsessive love craze for protecting the quarterback. Franchise player or not, those at the quarterback position knew what they were signing up for the moment they put on a helmet and pads for the very first time, just like their peers at every other position on the gridiron. It's game changing plays like this that are causing teams key games all too often and are making it easier for people like me to become less of a fan of a sport I've been watching and have loved since a child. So don't be surprised if and when the NFL adopts a two-hand touch or flag football type of deal for the quarterback position. *Rant over*

Week 12 Preview - Entering the 2013 NFL season, many believed the Washington Redskins would be one of the teams the San Francisco 49ers would have to fend off if they planned on winning a second consecutive NFC Championship. That couldn't be any further from the truth as the 'Skins currently sit at the bottom of the NFC Eastern division standings at 3-7. In what's been an up and down season for Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, the former Heisman Trophy winner and last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year has had a hard time adjusting to his one dimensional ways as his surgically repaired knee has kept him immobile for the most part. With three of San Francisco's remaining six games against NFC Western division opponents and the Arizona Cardinals breathing on the back of their neck with their eyes set on a wild card spot, the 49ers cannot afford to lose a game against a sub .500 opponent. But with this one being on Monday Night Football and on the road in the nation's capital, you better believe RG3 and company will give it their all. With upcoming dates with the Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks all ahead for San Francisco, this will be one of the more favorable match-ups for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick. 


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Week 10: 49ers bitten by Panthers behind poor offense

With a BYE Week in Week 9 after their trip across the pond in London, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers came into Week 10 with plenty of time to rest and prepare for their next opponent -- the Carolina Panthers. Both teams entered Sunday's meeting riding win-streaks of four and five games respectively, but only one would be able to improve on that mark. Unlike San Francisco who many had predicted would be in the discussion for another NFC Championship this season, Carolina has been one of the league's surprise teams, trailing the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints by only a game. Much like the 49ers, Carolina's been winning games led by their stout defense which had yet to allow a first quarter touchdown in 12 consecutive games dating back to last year.

Though the 49ers would fail to put an end to that streak, they did manage to draw first blood by opening the game with a successful drive that saw Phil Dawson split the uprights from 53-yards out to give San Francisco an early lead. It would be the beginning of a busy day for the 49ers kicker who nailed three field goals to account for the only scoring by San Francisco all day. The 49ers' aerial attack has been one of the worst in the league thus far this season and though they would welcome the return of receiver Mario Manningham who saw his first snap since late last season when a knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year, the team would be held in check through the air. With two speedy duel-threat quarterbacks that were selected in the same draft class (2011) and have been exciting to watch throughout their young careers in Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick, the same couldn't be said for their performance on Sunday as both quarterbacks completed only half of their passes and were kept out of the end zone.

Kaepernick would finish with one of the worst games of his brief NFL career, failing to surpass the century mark by throwing for a career-low 91 yards and an interception as he was under constant pressure by Carolina's swarming defense who compiled a total of six sacks. Newton on the other hand would be just slightly better than his counterpart, throwing for 169 yards and an interception while being taken down five times. Frank Gore led all rushers with 82 yards on 16 carries but it would be Carolina's run game that got them on the board. Aside from a 27-yard touchdown run by Panthers running back DeAngelo Hall, Carolina would have very little to cheer about in the first two quarters as they headed into the locker room trailing at the half in a game for the first time all season long. San Francisco would be dealt a huge blow in the second half as they'd be without one their key cogs on offense for most of the game. Tight-end Vernon Davis who's been Kaepernick's most lethal weapon in the passing game, would leave the field in the second quarter after sustaining a concussion.

Standout rookie safety Eric Reid would later join Davis after suffering a concussion of his own before also losing tight-end Garrett Celek and defensive-tackle Ray McDonald to injuries. In his first game back since undergoing treatment at a rehab center following the Week 3 loss to the Colts, Aldon Smith saw limited action on Sunday and was a non-factor on defense. After putting up more than 30-points in each of their last five games, the 49ers offense came out of their BYE Week flat and was unable to solve one of the best defenses in the league as Panthers kicker Graham Gano made up for a missed field goal earlier in the game with a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter to give Carolina a 10-9 lead. That lead would hold up as Kaepernick and company struggled to get anything going on two last-ditch efforts and failed to pull off the comeback victory as the 49ers fell to 6-3 on the season, snapping their five-game winning-streak. The Panthers got the hallmark win they needed to quiet some of the naysayers and keep within striking distance of the Saints, improving to 6-3 for their fifth consecutive win, their longest such streak in eight years.

Week 11 Preview: With a horrific and down right embarrassing performance offensively at home after a BYE Week now behind them, the 49ers will now have to get ready to face one of their toughest tasks of the season as they head to the Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints. Though the team has lots to improve on before Sunday's game, New Orleans played host to Kaepernick's first big game on the road last season as he led the 49ers to a 31-21 triumph. The Superdome was also the site of Super Bowl XLVII. In other words, he's no stranger to the loud, hostile environment that awaits him. Unfortunately, this year's Saints team isn't the same one he and his teammates saw a year ago. With New Orleans head coach Sean Peyton back at the helm after serving a suspension last season, the Saints, led by QB Drew Brees are 5-0 at home and are coming off a record-breaking performance against the Dallas Cowboys in which they converted on 40 first downs. So if any time is a good time for the 49ers offense to wake up, it's now as this one will likely be a shootout.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Beast of the East

With the start of the 2013-14 NBA season in full effect, one of the main storylines to keep an eye on is who if anybody can dethrone the Miami Heat out east. Since LeBron James made his highly criticized 'Decision' to take his talents to South Beach and join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in the Summer of 2010, Miami has had little competition in the Eastern Conference having made three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, winning the last two. But last season saw the Heat meet their toughest match yet in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Indiana Pacers gave LeBron and company a run for their money. And though Miami eventually won the thrilling best-of-seven series in a lopsided game 7, the Pacers showed to the rest of the league that the Heat could in fact be beaten. And had it not been for a coaching blunder by Pacers head coach Frank Vogel in game 1 when he chose to sit his best defender in Roy Hibbert who's absence in the paint proved to be costly, allowing LeBron James to drive through the lane for the game-winning lay-up, we could very well be looking at a different NBA champion. 

But enough with all the ifs and buts, the fact remains that last year the Indiana Pacers came within one win of upsetting the defending world champion Miami Heat, something they plan on accomplishing this season if given a second chance. Proving that last season was no fluke, the Pacers who finished last season with an overall record of 49-32, are off to their best start in franchise history having won all 8 of their games this year, standing tall as the league's last and only unbeaten team. Allowing a league-low to opponents in both points per game and field goal shooting percentage, Indiana once again poses the biggest threat to LeBron James and the Miami Heat's chances of making it a three-peat. And with one of their best players in Danny Granger expected back sometime in the near future, the Pacers could get even better. But depending on what role coach Vogel decides to use his All-Star forward in, the wrong move could cost his team in the long run. The absence of Granger who led the Pacers in scoring in each season from 2007-08 to 2011-12 before missing all but the first five games last year due to a knee injury, allowed Paul George to breakout and rise to stardom while being named to his first All-Star team and taking home the NBA's Most Improved Player honors. 

Another player who's benefited from Granger's absence is Lance Stephenson who took over the starting role and is off to the best start of his career this season. So plugging Granger back into the starting lineup might not be the easiest thing to do for coach Vogel, nor would it be the smartest. At least not yet. Having Granger come off the bench could give the Pacers a jolt both offensively and defensively as he plans to get back onto the court for the first time since straining his left calf almost a month ago. A limited role would allow him to get back into the gist of things physically without disrupting what the Pacers currently have going with their starting lineup. After all, if it ain't broken don't fix it, right? But back to Indiana's biggest concern -- the Miami Heat. The Pacers are the one team in the east that can match up best with Miami on both sides of the ball while teams like Chicago and New York lack the depth and physicality that Indiana possesses. As for Brooklyn, another team likely to make the playoffs, let's just see if their old, fragile lineup can make it to season's end in one piece.

The Pacers are also one of the deeper teams in the league after adding depth in the offseason by acquiring power forward Luis Scola from the Phoenix Suns via trade. All of this coupled with Indiana's stellar play could help the Pacers who are coming off their first Central Division title since 2004, get over the hump and surpass the Miami Heat for Eastern Conference supremacy. Locking up home-court advantage would definitely increase Indiana's chances in doing so as we all witnessed just how important playing at home was last year when the Heat held off the Pacers in Miami in the decisive game 7.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest