Archive for 13. June 2008
Erik Bedard Speculation
13. June 2008 by gchacko.
So far, we haven’t read any actual rumors suggesting the Mariners will shop Erik Bedard. However, it’s
become a prevalent discussion topic among the team’s beat writers. John McGrath even suggests Phillies GM Pat Gillick should acquire Bedard as his last hurrah. The Phils do have a history of interest in the lefty.
Though they don’t get much press, the Phillies have three Top 100 prospects in Carlos Carrasco, Adrian Cardenas, and Joe Savery. Gillick could certainly pull off a trade, though it’s interesting to note that the Phils have used the same five starters all year.
Yankees Hughes Has X-Rays On Rib
13. June 2008 by gchacko.
Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes underwent X-rays on his injured right rib on Thursday and has been cleared to begin a throwing program in roughly two weeks.
Hughes has been sidelined with a fractured rib since late April. Manager Joe Girardi claims that he will need six weeks of throwing before he returns to the mound for New York. He was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in six outings before the injury
Randolph, couple coaches could be on the way out in Queens
13. June 2008 by Glendo.
Willie Randolph’s status as Mets manager is extremely tenuous now. General manager Omar Minaya is seriously considering changing managers and at least a couple of the team’s coaches, sources told SI.com.
A Mets official indicated that nothing was expected to be decided today regarding Randolph’s status. But that doesn’t preclude something from happening later this weekend. Front-office sources indicate his hold on the job is shaky, at best.
Minaya is also weighing other changes, which could include removing hitting coach Howard Johnson and pitching coach Rick Peterson, sources indicate. Some organization people believe sweeping changes must be tried in order to jump-start the disappointing team.
Read the full article by Jon Heyman here on SI.com
Comeback C’s
13. June 2008 by rich.
Wow. The Celtics now have been part of two of the biggest comebacks in NBA playoff history. The other being in the 2002 conference finals vs. the NJ Nets. And the only similarity? Paul Pierce was on that team too.
What a tale of Jekyll and Hyde this game was. The Celtics were down 35-14 after 1. Yes, 35-14. That’s 5 touchdowns to 2. They were still down at halftime, 58-40, after a backbreaking, one foot, floater of a 3 pointer by Jordan Farmar at the buzzer. Myself, I thought that was it. I thought, every run we make, the Lakers had an answer. Glad I was wrong.
As in Games 1-3, the Celtics absolutely dominated the Lakers in the 3rd quarter and cut well into the lead and went into the 4th quarter down by only 2! The Celtics have outscored the Lakers by 43 points total in the 3rd quarter through the first four games of the series. On another positive note, Paul Pierce told Doc that he wanted to guard Kobe in the 2nd half, and boy did he deliver!
As we got to the 4th, it was a back and forth battle. The Celtics kept getting within a bucket, but couldn’t get over that hump. Then Paul Pierce went down, all Celtics fans gasped again, as he lay on the floor as Kobe flushed home a fast-break dunk to put the Lake-show up by four. But luckily Pierce was ok, he’s a true warrior.
The deciding three plays were made by Ray Allen (times two) and The Big Ticket. Allen made an amazing up and under almost Dr. J-esque move, and KG came down soon after with a beautiful turnaround J in the paint. Up three, Ray Allen had Sasha guarding him, and told KG not to set a screen (which was the play mind you!!) Instead Ray Ray took Sasha to the “cup” (as Marc Jackson would say) one-on-one and delivered the final blow to cap off the greatest comeback in an NBA Finals game in history.
My MVP(’s) for this game? Pierce? Nope. Allen? Nope. KG? Nope. James Posey and Eddie House. They get their own little mention here. Posey and House both hit HUGE shots when we needed it the most, including numerous threes. With Rondo being ineffective, Eddie House took his opportunity and ran with it. Posey was his usual hustling self, and added a few timely buckets, especially near the end nailing a HUGE trey putting the C’s up 5 when Kobe had just cut it to two. Three down, one to go.
Notes:
Here’s clips from the game
Leon Powe, the game two hero, played an important stretch from the end of the 3rd quarter into the 4th. It was only 4-5 minutes, but it gave KG the blow that he needed. Paul Pierce looked to re-aggravate his knee injury in the 4th, but stayed in the game to cap this historic comeback. Kobe Bryant talked about this loss reminding him of “wetting the bed.” Um, ok? Sasha was livid after Ray Ray took him to school in the closing minute of the game and smashed a chair on the bench w/ his hand as someone tried to console him. One of the Lakers took their jersey off after the game and I believe left it. Still looking into that story.
Interleague play returns
13. June 2008 by Glendo.
Rangers come to town today for a weekend sereis out at Shea as interleague play returns. This is the Rangers first ever visit to Shea Stadium. The Mets will try to do something good for a change as they take on a pretty decent Rangers team that just took a series from Kansas City. Oliver Perez will look to bounce back from two subpar performances in the opener tonight. The Mets bullpen will also look to not blow 5 run leads in the 8th.
MATCHUP:
Texas Rangers (34-34, 7.5GB/ 3rd Place AL West) at New York Mets (31-34, 7.5GB/ 4th Place NL East)
Tonight: Mets (Oliver Perez, 4-4, 5.37) vs. Rangers (Scott Feldman, 2-1, 4.31), 7:10 p.m. ET
Saturday: Mets (Pedro Martinez, 1-0, 6.91) vs. Rangers (Kason Gabbard, 2-1, 4.75), 7:10 p.m. ET
Sunday: Mets (John Maine, 6-4, 3.60) vs. Rangers (Kevin Millwood, 4-3, 4.91), 1:10 p.m. ET
Notes: George W. Bush’s uncle, Wall Street financier Herbert Walker, was one of the original owners of the New York Mets. In fact, George’s dream of owning a baseball team, later owned the Rangers, was sparked when as a boy he attended games at Shea Stadium, where he sat in Uncle Herbie’s box seats
