Archive for April, 2010

An Open Letter to Pitcher Dallas Braden of the Oakland A’s

Posted: 23rd April 2010 by Travis Nelson in MLB
Dear Mr. Braden, Congratulations on beating the Yankees Thursday afternoon and ending their winning streak at six games. Now shut up. You sound like a fool. When you yelled at Alex Rodriguez for taking a shortcut (not a "detour") across the diamond back to first base after a long foul ball by Robinson Cano in the top of the sixth inning yesterday, well, you intimidated exactly ...

Ben Zobrist Agrees To Long Term Extension with Tampa Bay Rays

Posted: 23rd April 2010 by Average Joe in MLB
There are very few things the ultra-versatile Ben Zobrist can't do.  Later today, the list gets smaller. Scratch signing a long-term contract extension off the list, as Zobrist will sign on the dotted line keeping him with the Rays through 2015. The former utility player had a breakout season last year, hitting .297, with 27 HR, and 91 RBI.  Questions abound as to whether that was a career year or if ...

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Week Two

Posted: 23rd April 2010 by Zac Fluewelling in MLB
Grade A David Aardsma, Mariners Aardsma should be considered in the same class as the elite closers. With this being said, we need to see how he reacts after he gives up some runs and blows a save. Aardsma had two saves during the week and still has yet to give up a run. He deserves the top spot.   Matt Lindstrom, Astros Houston was finally able to win some games and let ...

Fantasy Baseball Box Score Breakouts: April 22, 2010

Posted: 23rd April 2010 by Ryan Lester in MLB
Here’s a look at some unheralded players who played well yesterday.   Randy Wolf, Milwaukee Brewers Wolf threw six scoreless innings as the Brewers pounded the Pirates. He improved to 2-1 with a 3.70 ERA.   Mitch Talbot, Cleveland Indians Talbot improved to 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA after holding the Twins to one unearned run over six innings. He gave up just two hits.   Jim Edmonds, Milwaukee Brewers Edmonds went 4-for-6 with two runs, two doubles, a ...

2010 NHL Playoffs: Stories from the First Round

Posted: 23rd April 2010 by Matthew Hogan in NHL
The playoffs are just over one week old, and already some major stories have developed. From Marty Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils being ousted in five games by Brian Boucher and the Philadelphia Flyers, to the strong play of several veterans, the 2010 playoffs are slowly turning into one of the best postseasons in recent memory. So let’s start with Mr. Brodeur and the Devils, who will be heading home in ...

Trash Talking: A Look at Some of Hockey’s Greatest Chirps

Posted: 23rd April 2010 by Daniel Sallows in NHL
Chirping is as much a part of the game of hockey as the Zamboni, power plays, and Donald S. Cherry. It starts in minor hockey, and goes all the way up to the pros. Though it may be looked down upon, it can have an ill effect on one's opponent, and take their head right out of the game. Just look at the way New York Rangers winger Sean Avery got under the skin of Devils goaltender Marty ...
With Portland swarming Amare down low and out-muscling Steve Nash on the perimeter, Phoenix needed Jason Richardson in the worst way this series. Man, has he delivered. J-Rich cashed in for 29 points in Game Two, then upped the ante with a 42-point onslaught in Game Three. Suddenly the guy Phoenix treated like over-expensive trade bait is the indispensable teammate the Suns need to succeed. That's not to disparage guys like Grant Hill, ...
The 2010 NBA free agency is huge for the Houston Rockets. Not because they will be trying to steal Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire away from the market (via a sign and trade), but because they will be trying to retain their fan-favorite—Luis Scola. The Rockets remember the deadline-day trade this past season that sent their most beloved player to Sacramento in exchange for a brighter future. The Rockets sent fan-favorite Carl Landry ...
With the first two games of Round One in the rearview mirror, it’s now safe to look ahead at what’s next on the road to the NBA Finals. After a remarkable bounce-back effort to tie the Lone Star series at one game apiece, San Antonio aims to keep the ball rolling in their favor when they host the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three on Friday night. Richard Jefferson, who had a coming-out ...

Bipolar Blackhawks Shut Out Predators, Even Series

Posted: 22nd April 2010 by TAB BAMFORD in NHL
At what point do Chicago Blackhawks fans start humming Katy Perry when they think of their hockey team? We're four games into the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, and the best way to describe the Blackhawks is hot and cold. Game One: the Blackhawks don't show up at all, despite being at home in front of a raucus crowd. The final score, despite two of Nashville's goals, was appropriate ...