|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Nationals (33-32) at Indians (32-33)
Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: June 14, 2013 7:05 PM EDT
The Cleveland Indians may be thrilled to return home.
Justin Masterson may be the most relieved.
Coming off a lackluster road trip, the Indians hope Masterson can continue his home dominance in Friday night's series opener with the Washington Nationals.
Cleveland (32-33) opened a nine-game road trip by losing seven in a row before finding some solace in winning the last two, including Wednesday's 5-2 victory at Texas.
"It takes a little pressure off," second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "You get a happy flight home, you get a day off, you get a little momentum on your side, you get to go home for a long homestand."
A nine-game homestand may be just what the Indians need to begin cutting into the 4 1/2-game gap on AL Central-leading Detroit. Hosting an NL foe may be even better since they've won seven in a row in Cleveland in interleague play, batting .341 with 15 homers while averaging 7.6 runs.
The pitching staff has been particularly outstanding in four home interleague wins this year, compiling a 1.25 ERA with the rotation getting each victory.
Masterson (8-5, 3.68 ERA) was responsible for one of them, allowing one run with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 5-2 win over Cincinnati on May 29. He's won three straight interleague starts at Progressive Field, yielding two runs with 25 strikeouts in 22 innings.
The right-hander is 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA in seven home starts in 2013.
Masterson, who is making his first career start versus Washington, hasn't been nearly as effective on the road, compiling an 8.06 ERA while losing four starts in a row, two on Cleveland's recent trip.
Kipnis was one of the few bright spots for the Indians during that stretch, going 11 for 28 (.393) over the last seven games. He kept that surge going with his best performance yet Wednesday, getting three hits while coming a triple shy of the cycle and driving in a run.
Michael Brantley, who owns a .184 average with two RBIs over the past 11 road games, could be sparked with a return to Cleveland, where he is hitting .345 with 10 RBIs in his last eight contests.
The Nationals (33-32) are hoping for a similar result for Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.59), who is facing the Indians for the first time since Sept. 1, 2011, with Oakland. The left-hander is 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA in six career meetings, winning all four visits to Progressive Field.
He's needed some help from the lineup lately, going 0-1 with a 2.27 ERA while being backed by 11 total runs over his last six games.
The bats provided him two runs Saturday, while he allowed three in six innings of a 4-3 loss in 11 at Minnesota.
Washington, though, has since won four of five behind a .292 average after winning 5-4 at Colorado on Thursday. Still, the team is 5 1/2 games back of NL East-leading Atlanta.
"We just need to grind it out and stay where we're at and stay within striking distance," said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who hit his seventh homer Thursday. "And then hopefully once we get going or maybe this is the start of that, where we can have a good 20-game span. Then all of a sudden we're right back in it."
Ian Desmond is doing his part, batting .404 with 12 RBIs during a career-high 15-game hitting streak. He's been particularly impressive over the last five games, going 11 for 18 with eight RBIs after getting four hits and plating a run Thursday.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
06-14-13 08:01 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Dodgers (28-37) at Pirates (39-26)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: June 14, 2013 7:05 PM EDT
There's a chance Los Angeles Dodgers phenom Yasiel Puig might be healthy enough to return to the starting lineup for the series opener in Pittsburgh.
The question is whether Major League Baseball will give him the chance.
Puig could be among the players suspended for a brawl earlier this week, but Hanley Ramirez is expected to return Friday night to try to help the Dodgers extend their dominance over the Pirates.
After being scratched from the starting lineup because of a strained right shoulder Wednesday against Arizona, Puig entered in the 12th inning and got a hit in his only at-bat in that 8-6 loss. The outfielder is batting .486 with four homers and 10 RBIs in his first 10 games but it's unknown when he'll get to add to those stats.
Puig was seen punching the back of Diamondbacks infielder Eric Hinske's head in Tuesday night's brawl. He was also among four players hit by pitches before the benches cleared and was among the six who were ejected afterward.
"One thing we've learned from Yasiel is there's no half-speed," manager Don Mattingly said. "It's fast, hard and all the time, so I'm really not surprised."
MLB is expected to hand out punishments from that incident Friday and it's unknown which players will be available for the series with Pittsburgh (39-27). The Dodgers (28-37), losers in four of five, likely can't afford to be too short-handed because the Pirates enter having won 13 of 17 at home.
While Puig's status is unknown, Los Angeles is expected to have Ramirez in the lineup. A nagging left hamstring has limited the shortstop to a pinch-hitting role since June 5.
In his first start in a little more than a week, Ramirez will try to lead the Dodgers to their 19th win in 22 games against the Pirates. Los Angeles swept a home series with Pittsburgh from April 5-7.
Stephen Fife (1-1, 3.78 ERA) will also seek his second career victory in his first outing against the Pirates. The right-hander allowed two runs over a career-high 6 2-3 innings Saturday but was saddled with a 2-1 loss to Atlanta.
Fife has given up two runs or fewer in seven of his eight career starts but has received a combined 14 runs from his teammates.
It would appear that Fife would have a difficult time getting better run support Friday as Pittsburgh will send out Jeff Locke (5-1, 2.39).
The left-hander, moving up to take the injured A.J. Burnett's spot in the rotation, has earned a team-best five straight wins and has a 1.21 ERA in his last five starts. He gave up one run and one hit over 5 2-3 innings Sunday but also walked seven and did not get a decision in a 4-1 defeat to the Chicago Cubs.
Locke is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers, who handed him his only loss in 2013. He opened this season by allowing four runs over six innings in a 6-2 defeat in Los Angeles on April 7, but has since compiled a 2.08 ERA over 12 starts.
Pittsburgh hopes to bounce back from its most lopsided defeat of the season, 10-0 to San Francisco on Thursday. The Pirates managed three hits after producing 20 runs and 30 hits in the first two games of the series.
Andrew McCutchen has doubled in each of his last four games, and is 8 for 15 overall in those contests, but is batting .217 (5 for 23) in his last seven versus the Dodgers.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:03 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Cardinals (43-23) at Marlins (19-46)
Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 14, 2013 7:10 PM EDT
The St. Louis Cardinals' rotation has the best ERA in baseball, and it's about to get back the pitcher who had quite a bit to do with that for the first five weeks of the season.
Jake Westbrook makes his first start in more than a month Friday night as the NL Central leaders visit the Miami Marlins for the first of three.
Adam Wainwright lowered the St. Louis' starters ERA to 2.74 by throwing seven shutout innings in Thursday's 2-1 win at the New York Mets. Now, the Cardinals (43-23) are hoping Westbrook (2-1, 1.62 ERA) can seamlessly return to the rotation Friday after spending a month on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation.
The right-hander had a 1.62 ERA through six starts prior to the injury, the best mark in the Cardinals' rotation and one of the best in the majors. Though his peripheral numbers aren't impressive - Westbrook struck out 19 and walked 18 in 39.0 innings - he didn't allow a homer and had a major league-best 76.5 percent ground-ball rate.
He gave up two runs over 10 2-3 innings, walking none and striking out 10, in two rehab starts for Double-A Springfield.
"I've always had elbow issues and I pitched through a lot of it," Westbrook told MLB.com. "I think I'm always going to have something, some sort of feeling in there that's not normal.
"I feel really good right now. I feel really good with the two starts I've had. I feel really encouraged about getting up and down seven times on Sunday, and hopefully it continues to feel that way throughout the year."
He and his teammates should feel quite comfortable on the road. The Cardinals, a major league-best 24-11 on the road, haven't lost a series outside St. Louis since dropping two of three to Arizona to open 2013.
Westbrook went 0-1 with a 2.13 ERA in two starts against Miami last season when St. Louis won five of seven matchups. The Cardinals took three of four in Miami.
After dropping two of three to Milwaukee, the Marlins (19-46) continue their six-game homestand with rookie right-hander Jose Fernandez (3-3, 3.17) on the mound.
The 20-year-old Cuban gave up one run or fewer for the fourth time in seven starts by throwing six innings of one-run ball in Saturday's 2-1, 20-inning win at the New York Mets.
"I've really been trying to make pitches, make good pitches and make them in a good location - that's how it's been," Fernandez told the Marlins' official website. "The catchers, they're calling the right pitches in the right moments, and it's been pretty good."
Fernandez has been outstanding in five home starts, going 1-0 with a 1.55 ERA.
Miami in batting .229 with a major league-worst 3.0 runs per game, but the club is hitting .266 and averaging 4.3 runs during a 6-5 stretch.
Giancarlo Stanton and Logan Morrison could help the club continue its improvement at the plate. Stanton is 3 for 12 with a homer in three games since sitting out six weeks with a hamstring injury, while Morrison is 4 for 9 in three games following offseason right knee surgery.
Morrison likely will return to the lineup after sitting out Wednesday's 10-1 loss.
Left fielder Juan Pierre extended his season-best hitting streak to nine in that game, but he's 1 for 17 off Westbrook.
David Freese should be back in the Cardinals' lineup after getting Thursday off. His career-best 20-game hitting streak, also the longest in the majors this season, ended Wednesday.
Freese is a .464 (13 for 28) career hitter off Marlins pitching.
St. Louis' Carlos Beltran, a career .333 hitter in Miami, will try to hit safely in his 13th consecutive game. He's batting .364 (20 for 55) with four homers and 13 RBIs during his run.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:04 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Cubs (25-38) at Mets (24-37)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: June 14, 2013 7:10 PM EDT
While the Chicago Cubs are showing signs of breaking out of their slump, the New York Mets haven't been able to overcome their season-long troubles at the plate.
Runs could be tough to come by when these offensively challenged clubs open a three-game series Friday night at Citi Field.
After hitting .161 in losing five of six, the Cubs (26-38) matched a season high with 15 hits in a 6-5, 14-inning win over Cincinnati on Thursday.
Pinch-hitter Julio Borbon singled home the winning run with two outs as the Cubs scored at least five runs for the first time in seven games.
Chicago has lost eight of 11, largely because it's batting .203 with 36 runs over that span.
"I think we needed that win today," winning pitcher Hector Rondon said.
All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro went 3 for 7 after entering in a 4-for-48 slump, while Anthony Rizzo (.135) and Darwin Barney (.205) have struggled this month.
Chicago will be looking to build on Thursday's performance as it meets the Mets (24-37) to open a seven-game road trip.
The Cubs are scheduled to face Shaun Marcum (0-7, 4.96 ERA), who had his best outing of the season in relief Saturday. The right-hander suffered the defeat despite giving up one run and five hits over eight innings in a 2-1, 20-inning loss to Miami.
Marcum is 4-0 with a 2.90 ERA in five starts against the Cubs. Alfonso Soriano (2 for 11), David DeJesus (3 for 23) and Castro (2 for 16) haven't had much success when facing him.
The Mets have had their own troubles at the plate, particularly while losing four of five on this homestand.
New York, which has dropped eight of 10, couldn't get anything going again Thursday except for a Marlon Byrd home run - his second in as many games - in a 2-1 loss to St. Louis.
The Mets are hitting a major league-worst .224 and have scored 13 runs while batting .184 on the homestand.
Right-hander Edwin Jackson (2-8, 5.76) will try to keep their bats quiet after snapping a three-start losing streak Sunday. He struck out eight and allowed one run and four hits over seven innings in a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh.
"Sometimes we take the game too serious and we are kind of confined in a bubble," Jackson said. "I was just able to come out of that bubble and have some fun out there."
He'll make his second start against the Mets this season after giving up three runs and seven hits - two homers - over 6 2-3 innings in a 3-2 loss at Wrigley Field on May 17.
David Murphy and David Wright homered off Jackson in that contest, though Murphy is 2 for 12 against him.
Wright, who went 3 for 4 on Thursday, has been one of the few bright spots with 11 hits in 28 at_bats (.393) over his last six games. He's batting .385 during a seven-game hitting streak against the Cubs.
Chicago lost two of three at home to the Mets last month but has won four of the last five meetings in New York.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:05 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Brewers (27-38) at Reds (40-26)
Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 14, 2013 7:10 PM EDT
The Cincinnati Reds had the majors' best home record earlier this month.
They've hardly been playing their best at Great American Ball Park since then.
The Reds open a seven-game homestand Friday night against the improving Milwaukee Brewers, who could be without Ryan Braun again.
After being denied a four-game sweep over the Chicago Cubs with Thursday's 6-5, 14-inning defeat, Cincinnati (40-27) will face the Brewers (27-38) for the second time this season after sweeping them at Great American Ball Park from May 10-12.
The Reds were a MLB-best 21-7 at home three weeks later, but they've been outscored 39-18 while losing four of five to visiting teams.
Friday's starter Bronson Arroyo (6-5, 3.35 ERA) is 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA in eight home starts after throwing six innings of two-run ball in Sunday's 11-4, 10-inning loss to St. Louis. The right-hander was hit on the knee by a one-hopper in the fourth, but the injury doesn't seem like it will impact him moving forward.
"It's not serious," Arroyo told the Reds' official website. "It just got me in a good spot."
Arroyo wasn't in a good spot prior to his May 12 start against Milwaukee, bringing in a 2-4 record and 4.30 ERA in seven outings. However, he threw 6 2-3 scoreless innings in that 5-1 victory and is 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his past six starts.
Arroyo might not have to face Braun, who has missed the past three games with a right thumb injury and could go on the disabled list this weekend if it doesn't improve.
Even without the former MVP, the Brewers' lineup is delivering. Milwaukee is hitting .307 and averaging 6.3 runs during a 5-1 stretch, reaching double-digit runs for the first time in 40 games in Wednesday's 10-1 win at Miami.
"Give those guys some credit, they're swinging the bats good and that's a potent lineup right now that's got a lot of guys swinging the bat really well," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.
Carlos Gomez has been swinging it as well as anyone, going 10 for 25 with a homer, four triples and eight RBIs over the last six games.
Milwaukee's rotation has also been solid over that span with a 2.11 ERA.
"The starting pitching has been awesome," Gomez said. "You're more pumped up when you see the starting pitching be more consistent."
A more consistent Kyle Lohse (2-6, 4.03) could really help. He picked up his first win in eight starts Sunday, allowing one run and four hits in a season-high eight innings to beat Philadelphia 9-1.
"I'm finally coming back around where I can snap (the slider) off," said Lohse, who's made three starts since his turn was skipped to rest a sore arm.
The right-hander will get his first look at the Reds in a Brewers uniform. He's 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in his last seven starts against Cincinnati.
Jay Bruce, 8 for 24 with a homer, triple and three doubles off Lohse, is batting .407 (11 for 27) in the last six games after Thursday's four-hit effort. His four RBIs in last month's series against Milwaukee led Cincinnati.
Joey Votto went 3 for 12 in that series, and the former MVP is batting .268 at home compared to .370 outside Cincinnati.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:07 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Royals (30-33) at Rays (35-30)
Game: 2
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: June 14, 2013 7:10 PM EDT
The start of June has not been kind to Tampa Bay's Matt Moore.
After dominating for the first two months of the season, the left-hander looks to avoid a third straight losing start when he tries to help the host Rays cool off the surging Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Moore (8-2, 3.78 ERA) went 8-0 with a 2.18 ERA in his first 11 starts, which included a one-inning effort during a rain-marred 9-2 win at Cleveland on May 31.
However, since the calendar turned, Moore has allowed 15 runs, 19 hits and walked seven in seven innings to lose his last two. He lasted two innings in a 10-1 loss at Detroit on June 4, then gave up career highs of nine runs and 12 hits in five innings of a 10-7 loss to Baltimore on Sunday.
"The 8-0 start is obviously gone,' Moore said. "It's something that, maybe, was a bit misleading I guess you could say."
A lack of command continues to plague Moore, who has yielded half of his total runs this season in June.
"Not bad stuff, but the location was not good,' manager Joe Maddon said after Moore's last start. "This whole season, really, he has not been a command kind of a pitcher.
"Earlier in the season he might have been making mistakes that were not being hit. It's not like it's entirely different than early, it's just that the command right now is a little off with his off-speed stuff.'
In Moore's only previous start versus Kansas City (31-33), he gave up four runs in 7 1-3 innings while not factoring in the decision of a 5-4 loss last year.
While Tampa Bay (35-31) has dropped two straight and four of five, the Royals have outscored their opponents 42-16 while winning eight of nine.
Ex-Ray Elliot Johnson had three hits, including a three-run homer for one of his two hits during Kansas City's eight-run sixth-inning in Thursday's 10-1 series-opening victory. Ervin Santana threw 7 2-3 strong innings as the Royals set a franchise record by holding an opponent to three runs or fewer in a 12th straight game.
"Everything is going our way right now so we have to keep that up,' Santana said.
Traded by the Rays to Kansas City in February, Johnson is 6 for 11 with two homers and four RBIs in three victories versus Tampa Bay this year. He's batting .202 with three RBIs in his other 39 games played in 2013.
"It's good to get them anyway you can, but it feels good to get them against them, of course," Johnson said.
Teammate Luis Mendoza (1-3, 4.19) takes the mound looking to build on his best outing of the season. He allowed four hits in seven innings, but didn't factor in the decision of a 2-0 win over Houston on Sunday.
Though the right-hander last won May 13, he's posted a 2.25 ERA while going 0-1 in his last five starts. The Royals, however, have totaled 10 runs in those contests.
Mendoza is 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA in two starts versus Tampa Bay. He allowed six runs and three homers in four innings before leaving without a decision in a 9-8 home win over the Rays on May 1.
Tampa Bay's Matt Joyce is 3 for 5 with a double and a home run against Mendoza. He had two hits Thursday and is 8 for 20 (.400) in the last five games.
-------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Royals at Rays
Thu, Jun 13 Final 10 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Royals at Rays
Fri, Jun 14 - 7:10PM EDT
GAME 3
Royals at Rays
Sat, Jun 15 - 4:10PM EDT
GAME 4
Royals at Rays
Sun, Jun 16 - 1:40PM EDT
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:08 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Giants (33-31) at Braves (39-27)
Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: June 14, 2013 7:30 PM EDT
Perhaps no team in baseball looks forward to returning home more than the Atlanta Braves.
After a rough West Coast trip, Atlanta hopes to continue its excellent play at Turner Field on Friday night as it opens a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
The Braves (39-27) split four games with the Dodgers, then suffered a three-game sweep by San Diego, falling to 18-20 on the road. Atlanta didn't fare well in a four-game trip to San Francisco from May 9-12, losing the final three by a score of 23-4 after a 6-3 win in the opener. But the club's 21-7 record at home - where they've won 13 of 15 - is the best in the majors.
Meanwhile, the Giants (34-31) come in with a 13-20 road record - the worst of any team better than .500 overall. But they're likely feeling good after a 10-0 victory at Pittsburgh on Thursday as Matt Cain yielded two hits in 6 2-3 innings.
Buster Posey was one of three Giants with three hits as the team - without Pablo Sandoval, Marco Scutaro and Angel Pagan due to injuries - finished with 17 and has 67 over its last five games.
"It's a great sign,' manager Bruce Bochy said. "We're missing three big bats. You hope guys pick it up and they have the last couple of games."
Posey is 9 for 23 with eight RBIs over his last five contests and owns a 1.123 OPS and 14 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak versus the Braves.
San Francisco will again try to get the best of Kris Medlen (3-6, 2.87 ERA), who gave up five runs - including three homers - over 5 1-3 innings in the Giants' 5-1 victory May 12. But after going winless in eight consecutive starts, Medlen has won his last two, throwing 13 2-3 shutout innings.
"I wouldn't say I feel like I did last year," Medlen told the team's official website. "But I feel more consistent than I did in my first five, six or seven starts this year."
Madison Bumgarner (5-4, 3.58) comes in looking to build off his last start as he yielded three runs and five hits over five innings in a 10-5 win at Arizona on Saturday. He had lost three of his last four outings while posting a 6.29 ERA.
The left-hander was 0-3 through his first four career starts against the Braves, but notched a victory with seven innings of one-run ball in a 10-1 win versus Atlanta on May 11.
Jason Heyward is 17 for 43 (.395) during a 10-game hitting streak, raising his season average from .142 to .215. He also homered in each of his last three games against the Giants.
Justin Upton, who connected for his 15th home run Wednesday after going 21 games without one, is 9 for 17 off of Bumgarner.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:13 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Blue Jays (28-36) at Rangers (38-27)
Game: 2
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: June 14, 2013 8:05 PM EDT
A lack of offense once again has the Texas Rangers mired in another rough stretch.
The Rangers hope to improve at the plate when they look to avoid extending their season-high home skid to four games Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Texas (38-28) has scored five runs, three on homers, while matching a season high with three straight losses overall. Losers in 11 of 17, the Rangers have batted .222 and struck out 61 times while losing six of eight to fall two games behind first-place Oakland in the AL West.
The Rangers wasted another strong outing Thursday from ace Yu Darvish, who allowed one run, three hits and struck out nine over seven innings of a series-opening 3-1 loss to Toronto (29-36).
"I'm not amazed,' said Darvish, who is 0-1 despite a 2.08 ERA in his last five starts. "This is baseball. Anything can happen.
"Some games you get a lot of run support. Others you don't. I'm not really surprised by it.'
Nelson Cruz homered and had two of the six hits Thursday for the Rangers, who managed little against the Blue Jays' Esmil Rogers in his third start of the season.
Cruz is batting .353 (6 for 17) with two doubles, two homers and four RBIs in five games. However, Adrian Beltre is 2 for 13 without an RBI in the last four games and David Murphy is 4 for 37 (.108) in his last 10.
Potentially making matters worse, the Rangers could be without center fielder Leonys Martin after he sprained his left wrist trying to make a diving catch on Edwin Encarnacion's tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning Thursday. He's considered day to day after X-rays came back negative.
"Just hurts a little bit, but I don't think it's too serious,' Martin said through a translator. "I had to run a lot and unfortunately, it was a great hit and I didn't get it.'
Texas could have a tough time getting back on track against scheduled starter Mark Buehrle (2-4, 5.06 ERA), who is 12-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 18 starts against the Rangers and 5-2 with a 3.35 ERA in seven at Arlington. The left-hander allowed a solo homer to Jeff Baker and three other hits through the first seven innings of Toronto's 4-3, 18-inning home victory over Texas on Saturday.
Though Buehrle is 2-1 with a 3.77 ERA in seven home starts, he's 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in six on the road in 2013.
The Blue Jays have won two in a row and five of seven.
Encarnacion has batted .327 with 30 of his 55 RBIs in his last 27 games.
He went 1 for 3 on Sunday off scheduled Texas starter Justin Grimm (5-4, 5.25), who yielded four runs in the third inning and walked three over 5 2-3 frames while not factoring in the decision of a 6-4 win at Toronto.
After giving up 12 runs in 7 1-3 innings of his last two starts, both on the road, the right-hander should be glad to return home where he's 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 2013.
-------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Blue Jays at Rangers
Thu, Jun 13 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Blue Jays at Rangers
Fri, Jun 14 - 8:05PM EDT
GAME 3
Blue Jays at Rangers
Sat, Jun 15 - 4:05PM EDT
GAME 4
Blue Jays at Rangers
Sun, Jun 16 - 3:05PM EDT
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:16 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Tigers (36-28) at Twins (29-33)
Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: June 14, 2013 8:10 PM EDT
Rick Porcello has played a part in the Detroit Tigers' streak of solid starts but his next opponent has given him some trouble recently.
Porcello will try to earn his first win over the Minnesota Twins in nearly two years in Friday night's opener of a three-game series.
Detroit's starters have allowed three runs or fewer in 18 of the last 19 games with Porcello (3-3, 4.86 ERA) pitching in three of those contests. The right-hander has been effective in most of his last eight starts as well, going 3-1 with a 3.24 ERA, and gave up two runs and three hits over six innings in a 6-4 win over Cleveland on Saturday.
Porcello has allowed three runs in all but one of those starts but the lone exception was against the Twins. Porcello surrendered five runs and 10 hits in five innings to them May 23 but his teammates helped him avoid a loss by rallying for a 7-6 victory.
Porcello is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in his last four matchups with Minnesota (29-34), winners in 11 of 18 and six of eight at home. The Twins, though, had a season-high four-game win streak at Target Field snapped with a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.
After taking a lead on Justin Morneau's two-run double in the seventh inning, Minnesota gave up two runs in the next frame. Jared Burton took the loss in his return from a groin injury.
"You get that situation, you got Burton in the game, we feel pretty good about it," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It didn't work out tonight, but we feel pretty good about that situation."
The Twins have dropped five of seven to the Tigers after winning two of three in the only meeting in Minnesota this season from April 1-4. Before its opening series in 2013, Detroit had won 15 of 19 road games against its AL Central rival.
The Tigers will try to register another win in Minnesota by adding to Scott Diamond's recent woes, and they might get some help if Austin Jackson can return from a hamstring injury that's kept him out since May 11.
Jackson has been rehabbing at Triple-A Toledo this week.
"We have to make sure he's ready to hit up here," manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday. "We'll have to see where his timing is. Hopefully he'll have no issues physically."
Diamond is 1-3 with a 7.26 ERA in his last six starts, and he gave up a career-high seven runs and 10 hits over 4 2-3 innings in a 7-0 defeat in Washington on Sunday.
"I'm really frustrated with the way it went and how it all played out in those last couple of innings for me," he said. "Nothing to really hang my head about. Just come back and continue to stay aggressive."
Diamond (4-5, 5.19) has been much better against Detroit lately, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two matchups this season and 2-0 with a 2.73 ERA in his last five.
Miguel Cabrera, though, has been very successful in their matchups. He's 10 for 19 (.526) with a homer and three doubles against the left-hander.
Josh Willingham is 7 for 13 (.538) with two home runs and seven RBIs versus Porcello.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:17 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: White Sox (28-35) at Astros (23-44)
Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: June 14, 2013 8:10 PM EDT
Having finally run into an outstanding stretch at the plate, Adam Dunn probably would have preferred playing the last couple of days.
The slugger hopes to keep swinging a hot bat and lead the well-rested Chicago White Sox to their fourth win in five games Friday night at Minute Maid Park when Chris Sale takes the mound against the Houston Astros.
Behind Dunn and a resurgent offense, the White Sox (28-35) have scored 26 runs while hitting nine homers over their last five games after totaling 26 runs and one home over their previous 10.
Dunn went 8 for 15 with four homers and seven RBIs to help Chicago win three of four before Wednesday's rainout and Thursday's scheduled day off.
Dunn, among the major league strikeout leaders with 79, has whiffed only three times in his last four contests while raising his batting average from .156 to .182.
He'll likely get a chance to continue that production despite facing left-hander Erik Bedard in the opener of this four-game series.
Though he's 5 for 50 against southpaws this season, Dunn has been in the lineup the last seven times the White Sox have faced a lefty starter in an AL park. He went 2 for 3 with a homer off Oakland's Tommy Milone on Saturday.
Dunn, however, is 0 for 3 with two strikeouts lifetime against Bedard (1-3, 5.34 ERA), who looks to regroup from one of his worst outings of the season.
After going 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA over his previous five starts, Bedard matched a season high by allowing six runs and eight hits over 4 2-3 innings in a 7-2 loss at Kansas City on Saturday.
Bedard has faced the White Sox just once since 2009.
Houston (23-44) looks to get a winning streak started after rallying for six runs in the ninth inning Wednesday to stop a six-game losing streak - during which it had totaled seven runs - with a 6-1 victory over Seattle.
The Astros, who hadn't scored in their previous 17 innings, won for the first time in 38 chances when trailing after eight innings.
"It's never too late when you're able to put together a six-run inning, especially after the woes we've had the last two games,' manager Bo Porter said.
The White Sox will give the ball to Sale (5-4, 2.68) as they seek their sixth win in nine meetings in Houston, including two victories there in the 2005 World Series - their most recent visit.
Sale, who had his start pushed back following Wednesday's rainout, is the first of four consecutive southpaws they'll throw at the Astros in this series, with John Danks, Hector Santiago and Jose Quintana to follow.
Houston ranks among the majors' top 10 with a .274 batting average versus lefties, but has hit .224 against them since May 26.
Sale is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in two starts since missing time because of mild tendinitis in his left shoulder.
"It's nice to get back out there and just be a part of the rotation again," he told MLB's official website. "Obviously, there are going to be some things that are going to come up that we're going to have to handle."
Sale yielded four hits over eight shutout innings in a 10-1 win last June 9, his only career appearance against the Astros.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:18 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Phillies (31-35) at Rockies (35-32)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 14, 2013 8:40 PM EDT
The Colorado Rockies routinely have a difficult time with the Philadelphia Phillies, and being without at least Troy Tulowitzki isn't likely to help them change that.
With Tulowitzki out and the status of Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler uncertain, the Rockies go for a rare win over the Phillies in the opener of this three-game series at Coors Field on Friday night.
Colorado (35-32) has dropped 29 of its last 37 meetings - including playoffs - with Philadelphia, including 12 of 15 at home thanks in large part to a 6.31 ERA.
However, it's the offense that is a bigger concern heading into the teams' first matchup of 2013, specifically Tulowitzki.
The All-Star shortstop and cleanup hitter is out at least four weeks with a broken rib on his right side, suffered while diving for a grounder in Thursday's 5-4 loss to Washington.
"When he came off, it was very evident he was done," manager Walt Weiss told the team's official website of Tulowitzki, the team leader with a .347 average and second with 15 homers and 51 RBIs.
Weiss may also be without Gonzalez and Fowler, who also were hurt Thursday. Gonzalez was hit by a foul ball waiting on deck in the first inning and suffered a bruised left foot, while Fowler was hit by a pitch on the right hand after squaring to bunt in the third.
They're considered day-to-day.
Gonzalez is batting .299 with team highs of 18 homers and 52 RBIs, while Fowler is hitting .404 with 13 runs over the past 12 games.
The Rockies could be hard-pressed to snap a five-game skid against the Phillies without three of their best hitters.
Gonzalez is hitting .365 over his last 15 meetings, going 11 for 23 (.478) in five home matchups. Fowler is 9 for 20 over his past five games with Philadelphia (32-35).
The Phillies are hoping a series with the Rockies can get them rolling again after ending a season-high five-game slide with Thursday's 3-2 win at Minnesota. They had won five straight prior to that losing streak.
Michael Young and Ben Revere are providing an offensive spark of late. Young is 12 for 29 (.414) over the past seven games and Revere has seven hits with a triple and three runs in the last two.
Kyle Kendrick (6-4, 3.22 ERA) looks to continue his run of solid outings for Philadelphia. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts, losing his last outing 4-3 at Milwaukee on Saturday after allowing three runs and eight hits in six innings.
Kendrick is 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA in six road starts, but the last two have been his worst of the season. He's yielded eight runs in 11 innings in those games.
His last start at Coors Field on Aug. 2, 2011, was by far the best of the four he's had there. Kendrick limited the Rockies to four hits in eight innings of a 5-0 victory.
Juan Nicasio (4-2, 4.61) is scheduled to counter for Colorado, seeking to end a four-start winless stretch.
The right-hander was superb through the first five innings Sunday against San Diego, retiring the first 16 batters before allowing two runs and leaving after the sixth of an 8-7 win in 10.
He is 1-4 with an 8.17 ERA in six career starts against NL East teams.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:19 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Yankees (37-28) at Angels (28-38)
Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 14, 2013 10:05 PM EDT
Andy Pettitte earned his 250th career victory his last time out.
He possibly could have reached the milestone a bit quicker if not for his struggles against the Los Angeles Angels.
Pettitte gets the nod Friday night as the New York Yankees visit the Angels in the opener between two teams trying to turn things around.
Pettitte (5-3, 3.82 ERA) became the 47th major league pitcher to reach 250 wins on Saturday, throwing 7 1-3 innings of one-run ball while allowing three hits in a 3-1 victory at Seattle.
"We tried to make adjustments and he adjusted right back," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said of Pettitte. "He's amazing."
The left-hander hasn't been as amazing against the Angels since 2008, going 2-5 with a 5.83 ERA in nine regular-season starts. He surrendered five runs and nine hits over seven innings in a 5-1 loss at Los Angeles on May 29 of last season.
Better results from Pettitte versus Los Angeles on Friday would be timely for New York (37-29), which was swept in three games at Oakland, capped by a 3-2 loss in 18 innings Thursday. Mariano Rivera allowed the game-winning single to Nate Freiman, and the Yankees were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position and finished the series 5 for 26 in such situations.
"I think it's probably a little more frustrating because you can look at how you had an opportunity here and an opportunity there," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "A lot of guys probably look at that, but it doesn't change the result."
The Angels (28-38) are coming off a 9-5 comeback win at Baltimore on Wednesday, but have still dropped nine of 12. Opening a 10-game homestand, they'll look to build on a victory that saw a six-run seventh inning highlighted by a three-run homer from Albert Pujols. The three-time NL MVP hit .368 with two homers in nine games against the Yankees last season.
"Real good at_bats," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Drew some walks, got into some good hitting counts. It was good to see our offense ... with some clutch hits at the end."
Starter C.J. Wilson (4-5, 4.02) has been tagged with a loss in two of his last three starts while recording a 6.35 ERA, but he's 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his last three outings versus New York.
He needed 104 pitches to get through five innings in a 7-2 loss at Boston on Saturday, allowing four runs, eight hits and three walks.
"That's pretty garbage," the left-hander said. "It's disappointing"
Since 2010, Robinson Cano is slugging .723 with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs in 26 contests against Los Angeles, and is 6 for 14 against Wilson.
Mark Trumbo is hitting .359 with seven homers in 17 games against the Yankees, and Erick Aybar is 10 for 26 off Pettitte.
Entering his first contest against his former team, Vernon Wells is batting .095 over his last 12 games.
Mark Teixeira is hitting .118 with five RBIs in his last eight contests.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:20 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Mariners (29-38) at Athletics (40-27)
Game: 1
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: June 14, 2013 10:05 PM EDT
A big reason for the Oakland Athletics' month-long success has been their exceptional play at home.
Coming off a marathon victory, the A's look to extend their home winning streak to 12 games Friday night against the Seattle Mariners.
Nate Freiman singled home the winning run off Mariano Rivera in the 18th inning to help Oakland (41-27) complete a three-game home sweep of the Yankees with a 3-2 victory Thursday.
"It was very taxing even winning the game. To lose could have been demoralizing,' A's manager Bob Melvin said. "These are awful games to lose.'
The A's have won 21 of 26 to surpass Texas atop the AL West. They are 21-10 at home, and their 11-game winning streak at the Coliseum is the longest since posting 12 straight Aug. 13-Sept. 14, 2002.
Perhaps the only thing that's cast a shadow over Oakland's surge is the status of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who has missed the last two games with hamstring tightness.
Freiman, however, is hitting .381 (8 for 21) in his last seven home games.
Making his first home start since May 18, Oakland's Tommy Milone (6-5. 3.69 ERA) is 3-0 with a 3.66 ERA in his last five starts. He gave up a solo homer and three other hits in seven innings of a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Milone is 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA at home, and 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA against the Mariners (29-38) in 2013. That victory came April 3 when the left-hander allowed two solo home runs and two other hits in seven innings of a 6-2 victory.
Scheduled Seattle starter Joe Saunders (4-6, 5.12) gave up four runs and walked four in four innings in that contest to fall to 6-3 with a 3.14 ERA at Oakland.
The left-hander is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA against the A's this season, and heads into the opener 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in six road starts compared to 4-2 with a 2.53 ERA in seven at home. He's received an average 4.47 runs of support at home and 1.74 away from Safeco Field.
Saunders, however, is 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA in his last three outings overall. That included May 29 at San Diego, when he gave up a run and four hits in seven innings of a 3-2, 10-inning loss.
He allowed three runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-1 home loss to the Yankees on Saturday.
"He's starting to kind of lock it in and get into a groove," manager Eric Wedge told the Mariners' official website. "He has a much better feel for himself now in regard to what he wants to do. He's been pitching for a while, and you're seeing what we'd hoped we'd see."
Seattle is 4-3 against the A's in 2013 and split a season-opening four-game set at Oakland, but has lost two straight and nine of 11 on road the overall.
The Mariners concluded a 5-5 homestand with a 6-1 loss to Houston on Wednesday, giving up all six runs in the ninth.
Seattle hopes first baseman Kendrys Morales and outfielder Michael Morse can play through some nagging injuries and be in the lineup Friday.
Morales is batting .394 with two homers and seven RBIs in his last eight road games, but missed the last two contests with lower-back stiffness.
Morse is hitting .333 (9 for 27) with four home runs and seven RBIs against the A's this season but is dealing with a quad injury.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:22 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Diamondbacks (37-29) at Padres (32-34)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: June 14, 2013 10:10 PM EDT
The Arizona Diamondbacks just won an emotional series against an NL West rival.
The division leaders can't let up with the surging San Diego Padres up next.
Trevor Cahill will try to rebound from his shortest outing of 2013 on Friday night and prevent the host Padres from matching their longest winning streak of the season.
After a 5-3 loss on Tuesday when pitcher Ian Kennedy and manager Kirk Gibson were ejected in a benches-clearing incident with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona (37-29) took the decisive finale Wednesday, 8-6 in 12 innings.
The Diamondbacks had a season-high 20 hits - four apiece by Cody Ross and Miguel Montero.
"The guys weren't satisfied with one run, they went out and got a bunch of runs (four in the 12th)," closer Heath Bell told the Diamondbacks' official website.
Another good night at the plate could help Cahill (3-7, 4.02 ERA), who has a 13.50 ERA while losing his two June outings after being charged with eight runs in 3 2-3 innings in Saturday's 10-5 loss to San Francisco.
"I left a lot of balls up and when I got ahead and tried to put them away, I get it belt high and down the middle," Cahill said.
The right-hander lasted only 3 2-3 in one of his five outings against the Padres last season, but went 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA in two starts at Petco Park, including a six-hitter in a 6-0 victory June 3.
He'll face a Padres team going for a seventh win in nine games after a three-game sweep of NL East-leading Atlanta. San Diego (32-34) is 27-19 since its 5-15 start.
"We've been playing very good baseball," Jesus Guzman told the Padres' official website after Wednesday's 5-3 victory. "When you play like that, you're going to get the results you want. The first step is to get to .500."
The Padres scored 15 runs against the Braves despite hitting .227, but manager Bud Black had to be especially pleased with his rotation's 1.99 ERA in that series.
Eric Stults (5-5, 3.53) will try to keep that going as he makes his second start against the Diamondbacks in three weeks. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA in three starts since a 5-2 loss at Arizona on May 24, when he surrendered four runs in 6 1-3 innings.
"The last few starts, I feel like I have a good tempo," said Stults, who went seven innings in Saturday's 4-2 win at Colorado, giving up two runs - one earned. "I've felt good about the way I've been throwing the ball."
He can't feel good about how he's fared against Martin Prado, who is 6 for 14 in that matchup.
Prado is 11 for 25 against Padres pitching this season as these West foes have split six games. Paul Goldschmidt went 6 for 16 with five RBIs in those contests, but he's batting .138 in Arizona's last seven games.
Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera is 8 for 24 with five extra-base hits - two homers - in the season series, but is 1 for 10 lifetime off Cahill.
San Diego, winner of 18 of 25 at Petco Park, have taken two of three in each of Arizona's last two visits.
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 08:23 AM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Preview: Red Sox (41-27) at Orioles (38-29)
Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: June 14, 2013 7:05 PM EDT
Chris Davis is the Baltimore Orioles' most dangerous hitter, and that's been especially true at Camden Yards.
The Boston Red Sox are well aware of what he's capable of at the plate.
After coming through in the clutch in the opener of this four-game series, Davis looks to continue his torrid hitting versus the Red Sox on Friday night.
Davis leads the majors with 21 homers, and is second in the AL with 56 RBIs while hitting a team-high .338 - an increase of 68 points from last year. The first baseman has been particularly productive over the past 10 home games, hitting .474 with five homers, 11 RBIs and nine runs.
He came up big Thursday, connecting for a walkoff single to clinch a 5-4, 13-inning victory over Boston, as Baltimore (38-29) won for the ninth time in 11 games as host.
"I took a few swings late in the game where I was just swinging way too hard, trying to win it with one swing instead of just trying to put the ball in play," Davis said. "Good things happen when you simplify it."
The second-place Orioles are 2 1/2 games back of the AL East-leading Red Sox (41-27), and they're also the only division foe to own a winning record against them at 3-1.
Baltimore has won six of the last seven versus Boston, partly due to Davis.
He's batting .433 with five homers and nine RBIs and has a .564 on-base percentage over his last nine meetings with the Sox. That includes going 7 for 16 while hitting three homers with seven RBIs in the past four at Camden Yards.
The Orioles are expected to turn to Chris Tillman (6-2, 3.89 ERA), who has been backed by an average of 9.9 runs over his last four starts. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 4.76 ERA over that stretch, and has a 2.08 ERA in winning his two outings this month.
Tillman has a sterling 1.40 ERA over his last three starts against the Red Sox, but just a 1-0 record to show for it since he's received three total runs in the other two outings. His lone win in that stretch came at home Sept. 28, when he allowed an unearned run and one hit in eight innings of a 9-1 victory.
Boston will try to solve Tillman after hitting .200 while dropping two of its last three games. The team had a .327 average while winning four of the previous five.
David Ortiz is hitting .241 over his last 14 games, but has made up for it by hitting six homers with 15 RBIs. He connected for a solo shot Thursday before Mike Carp had one of his own in the next at-bat after replacing an ill Mike Napoli.
Carp is on a tear, going 13 for 28 (.464) with four homers and nine RBIs in eight games, and that may be enough to continue filling in for Napoli at first base.
Ryan Dempster (4-6, 4.40) is expected to get the ball at Camden Yards for the first time in his career, and he's 1-1 with a 5.17 ERA in three road starts.
The right-hander didn't get a decision against the Orioles on April 10, allowing three runs with seven strikeouts in five innings of an 8-5 defeat. He's also held Davis hitless in five at_bats, striking him out three times.
Dempster has won his last two starts, allowing six runs in 13 innings.
Dustin Pedroia has reached base in 22 straight games, and he's 5 for 14 (.357) against Tillman.
----------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Red Sox at Orioles
Thu, Jun 13 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Red Sox at Orioles
Fri, Jun 14 - 7:05PM EDT
GAME 3
Red Sox at Orioles
Sat, Jun 15 - 4:05PM EDT
GAME 4
Red Sox at Orioles
Sun, Jun 16 - 1:35PM EDT
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 11:37 PM |
|
|
| |
|
CNOTES
FoxDen Hall of Famer
Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543
|
Armadillo: Friday's six-pack
Six most pitches thrown in a major league game this year.........
-- 132 Kershaw W2-0 vs Mil-- Came one out from CG shutout.
-- 130 ASanchez W6-0 vs Minn-- Got 32 called strikes, struck out 12.
-- 127 Darvish W4-3 vs Bos-- Pitched seven, didn't get a decision.
-- 127 Dempster W12-5 vs Minn-- 4.2 IP; 59 balls, 68 strikes. Painful.
-- 126 Verlander L0-2 @ Sea-- Got 24 misses on 71 swings.
-- 125 Bailey W6-2 @ Mia-- Got 28 called strikes from CB Bucknor.
*****
Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Happy Armadillo Day, everyone...........
13) Happy Armadillo Day to everyone!!!
12 years ago today we started this project and amazingly, we’re still going strong. Thanks to you guys for reading.
Also would like to wish a Happy Birthday to the Big Dawg, who turns 29 again today.
12) I’ve been really lucky and have done a lot of fun things, but #1 on my Bucket List is 2-3 baseball games at the Oakland Coliseum.
Will be great to be in a stadium with so much history in it, and to see a place where I’ve spent most of my life rooting for the home team, without ever having been there. I’m thinking next summer.
11) Patrick Ewing can whine all he wants about getting passed over for NBA head coaching jobs, but he turned down a chance to coach in D-League, where he could actually learn how to be a head coach.
Ewing was Dwight Howard's position coach in Orlando; how many post moves does Howard have? If Ewing was serious about becoming an NBA coach, he should go to the D-League, earn his stripes, instead of sitting on Charlotte’s bench and collecting a paycheck.
10) October 5 Rutgers visits SMU, in what will be the only series meeting in the AAC between these football lightweights. How they ever wound up in the same league, even for only a year, is quite baffling.
9) Former Duke hooper/Syracuse QB Greg Paulus is expected to be named a full-time assistant for Ohio State’s basketball team, replacing Chris Jent, who moved on to the NBA.
Paulus has done a lot of stuff for a guy who is only 26, and he’s paid his dues in coaching, working as Ohio State’s video guy this past winter.
8) Football players from U of Cincinnati are hurt by the school’s quarter system, since NFL draftees aren’t allowed to attend mini-camps until the school year is over, and the school year at Cincinnati runs later than most places. Cincy kids usually wind up missing one of the rookie mini-camps, which puts them behind the learning curve for training camp.
7) Legendary writer Dan Jenkins tweeted Thursday that he hasn’t missed a US Open since 1950; that’s amazing!!!!
6) Chiefs/Jaguars are latest NFL teams to go with IPad playbooks; must be nice to have money!!! IPads are a growing trend in the NFL.
5) Wonder if fact that Jason Kidd/Deron Williams have the same agent helped the Nets decide to hire Kidd as head coach; think it helped their chances of keeping Williams? I’m guessing yes.
4) Only nine baseball games Thursday, but three of them went 13-14-18 innings; A's are first team since '71 Washington Senators to play two 18+ inning games in same season, and they won them both.
3) Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki broke a rib, is out 4-6 weeks.
2) Dwyane Wade shot 14-25 in Miami's 109-93 win; when Miami gets production like that from someone other than James, they ain't going to lose. Heat is 12-0 vs spread in game following their last 12 losses, but are 0-7 vs spread in game following their last seven wins.
1) I look forward to Year 13 of this site starting today, as we head into summer; football season is only 11 weeks away. Thanks again for reading!!!
Reply With Quote
Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.
|
|
06-14-13 11:39 PM |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
