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Bias Bulletin

/ Jason / 1 Comment

Game 7 (Now With 50% More Time Off To Forget That There’s A Game 7 on Saturday)
Alex Ovechkin scored less than two minutes into last night’s Game 6 and goalie Braden Holtby stopped 30 shots as the Washington Capitals forced a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup with the New York Rangers. And other long, uninterrupted sentences.
The Rangers handed Washington an early power play last night. The Capitals capitalized on Anton Stralman’s tripping penalty, when Nicklas Backstrom found Alex Ovechkin, who laced a one-timer past Henrik Lundqvist. The Capitals added a 2nd period goal to take a 2-0 lead.
Rangers forward Marian Gaborik put a scare into the DC crowd when he scored a goal with a minute to play in the third, but Holtby and the Caps defense held the Rangers to just that one goal.
Saturday night, the Rangers will welcome the Capitals into Midtown Manhattan for Game 7.  The Capitals have already played in (and won) one Game 7 this playoffs. They’ll look to make it two after a few days of (much needed, but difficult to understand from a television standpoint) rest.
The NBA Playoffs Resembling the NBA’s Regular Season
In what seems like the longest first round EVER, we have one more advancement and one more series heading toward a possible Game 7.
The Miami Heat closed out the New York Knicks last night behind a 29 point, 8 rebound, 7 assist game from LeBron James. The Heat will now wait for their second round opponent.
Out (sort of) West, the Memphis Grizzlies pushed the Clippers to a 6th game, with a 12 point victory. Pau Gasol’s brother led Memphis with 23 points.
Going back to the first line in this bit, the Heat and Knicks played 5 games in their series. A series that began on April 28. It’s May 10. 11 days for 5 games. This needs fixing.
The Great Boston Soap Opera of 2012
You’ll recall that last season, Red Sox pitcher and fried chicken-aficionado Josh Beckett  got himself in hot water (or hot grease). Beckett (along with teammates Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester) was accused of spending game days eating fatty food, drinking beer, and playing video games, rather than exercising and eating healthy. In short, they were role models for every Sophomore at Boston University.
The problem, of course, is that Beckett (and the others) is a professional athlete who is paid lots of money to perform at his peak. So the Red Sox brought in Bobby Valentine, a manager famous for holding his players accountable. The Red Sox clubhouse was apparently not happy. But that’s okay. They’d win games. And all would be well in Beantown…
Except, no. The Red Sox are terrible. Very terrible. And when teams are terrible, clubhouse friction becomes more visible.
Yesterday, Boston’s 98.5 FM (that’s something called a “radio station”) reported that just two days prior to missing a start with a sore lat muscle (in the back), Beckett was out golfing with Clay Buchholz. Boston manager Bobby Valentine was relatively dismissive of the report saying that golf is as synonymous with pitching as a curveball.
Still, this reeks of fried chicken for many in Red Sox Nation, who were already questioning Beckett’s commitment to the team and to his pitching. This, combined with the Red Sox lack of on-field ability, will simply draw more attention to the hottest soap opera in New England. So grab your favorite Heineken (mine is “Light”) and a bucket of extra crispy. Things are only going to get more dramatic.
Your Daily Washington Nationals Update
They lost. Again. To the Pirates. Again.
Stephen Strasburg will try to salvage the series tonight when he faces Kevin Correia. Game at 7:05.
Game of the Day
Three elimination games in the NBA tonight. As follows:
Chicago @ Philadelphia (PHI leads 3-2)….(7 p.m./NBA TV)
Atlanta @ Boston (BOS leads 3-2)….(8 p.m./TNT)
Los Angeles @ Denver (LAL leads 3-2)….(10:30/TNT)

Bias Bulletin

/ Jason / Leave a comment

4s Are Wild
Last night, in Baltimore, Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton became just the 16th player in the history of Major League Baseball to hit 4 home runs in a single game. Hamilton also became the American League’s all-time, single game leader in total bases (with 18…Hamilton added a double in between his home runs).
The story of Josh Hamilton, the first-overall pick in the 1999 MLB Draft continues to get better. Most people are aware that after being drafted, Hamilton’s life spiraled out of control. He became addicted to drugs and alcohol and was suspended multiple times by Major League Baseball. Hamilton found God in the depths of his struggle and returned to baseball in 2007 and is now, very likely, the most feared hitter in the American League. His life is mostly on track (he has had two alcohol relapses, for which he has apologized). 
Hamilton currently leads the American League in each of the triple crown categories (Batting Avg, Home Runs, and Runs Batted In) and his Texas Rangers are a favorite to return to the World Series for the third consecutive year. Hamilton is a free agent after this season.
5s Are Also Wild
A number of Game 5s last night in both the NHL and NBA. The Indiana Pacers finished off the Orlando Magic in the NBA (winning their series 4-1). Over in the NHL, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in their Game 5, winning that series 4-1 and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
A number of teams were not able to close out their series last night, however. That number is two. The Lakers and Celtics were both unable to close out their opponents. One team (the Lakers) were able to get a couple of last second shots off against Denver, but Kobe Bryant and Ramon Sessions both missed threes that would have sent the game to overtime. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the Celtics could not get a single shot off in the game’s final 10 seconds and fell by one point to the Hawks.
There was also a game in Chicago. Two teams played. One won. The other lost. Life continued.
Your Daily Washington Nationals Update or How I Walked Around My Apartment Singing An Inane Song About Sliders In The Dirt
Adam LaRoche stepped to the plate in the Top of the 9thinning last night with Ryan Zimmerman on base and the Nationals trailing by one run. LaRoche proceeded to deposit a Joel Hanrahan pitch deep into the Pittsburgh night. The Nationals led 4-3.
Enter Henry Rodriguez. The Nats closer has been unstoppable in Washington. Away from Washington, he cannot be stopped from blowing saves. Last night was no different. With pinch-hitter Alex Presley on 3rd, following two wild pitches, Rodriguez, having only one pitch to throw, laid a fastball up in the zone that Pirates catcher Rod Barajas (a .127 hitter at the time) laced over the left-field wall. The Pirates won 5-4. Rodriguez blew another save on the road.
The Nats and Pirates continue their series tonight in Pittsburgh. Ross Detwiler will face Erik Bedard. Game time is 7:05. Folks in Washington might be a little busy though, because…
Game of the Day
New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals (7:30/NBC Sports Network). The Capitals face elimination tonight in what has been the only close series in the NHL’s second round. The Rangers hold a two goal lead in the series. Only Game 1 was decided by more than one goal. Two games have gone to overtime (New York won both). In short, this should be a great game.

Bias Bulletin

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Who Needs Derrick Rose?
The 2011-12 Chicago Bulls.
They could also use Joakim Noah.
Missing their Point Guard (Rose-ACL tear) and starting Center (Noah-ankle), the Chicago Bulls fell into a 3-1 hole against the 8-seed Philadelphia 76ers yesterday. Rose, of course, is done for the playoffs. Noah is day-to-day, but with the injury to Rose, it’s clear that Chicago doesn’t want to risk Noah’s health in what is essentially a lost cause.
After finishing the regular season with the NBA’s best record, the Bulls have struggled to win in the absence of the reigning MVP, Rose. They managed to score just 74 and 82 points in both weekend games in Philadelphia and now return to Chicago for Game 5 on Tuesday, facing elimination.
In other NBA playoff news, the Lakers, Heat, Pacers, and Celtics all hold 3-1 leads in their individual series. The Spurs will look to sweep the Utah Jazz tonight, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder as the only teams to sweep their first round series. In tonight’s late game, the LA Clippers will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead on the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles.
Hockey Hotbeds
We’re one Phoenix Coyotes victory away from having a Los Angeles Kings vs. Phoenix Coyotes Western Conference Finals. And that will get GREAT ratings!!!!
The Kings completed a sweep of the St. Louis Blues yesterday and have now knocked out the regular season’s two best teams (only needing 9 games to do so). Phoenix will look to end their series with the Nashville Predators (surely an Original Six member of the NHL) tonight in the home of hockey, southern Arizona.
In the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Devils moved to within one game of advancing to their conference’s Finals, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 last night.
Thankfully, there is at least one close series in the NHL with a big game later tonight. See below for details.
Kicking It Old School (A Commentary)
Last night in Washington DC, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels decided to channel his inner Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, and Old Hoss Radbourn. He decided that he was an “old school” baseball pitcher. Nevermind that his nickname in Philly is Hollywood and this image of him exists. Cole was tired of 19-year-old, Washington Nationals phenom, Bryce Harper hustling hard on every ball he hit. He had seen enough of Bryce Harper tarnishing OUR National Pastime by exhibiting one of the strongest outfield arms in baseball.  No more would Bryce Harper sully the game Cole Hamels loves so much by drawing walks and answering every question asked of him the right way since being called up to the Majors last week.
Cole Hamels will not stand for such disrespect of the game!
So, in the first inning, as Harper stepped into the batter’s box, Cole Hamels felt the spirit of Don Drysdale transfer into his own body. He stared Harper down and delivered a 92 MPH fastball into his back. A telegram, if you will, from all of the game’s past greats, telling the kid, “Hey, we’re tired of you disrespecting baseball by being so good at such a young age!”
And it was beautiful. The pitcher who had always done thingsin an old schoolway took Harper to school.
After the game, Hamels, in his old school way, told the press that he hit Harper intentionally. I mean, how old school is that???
Your Daily Washington Nationals Update
The Nationals took 2 of 3 from the Phillies, but all that will be remembered from this series will be last night’s game. The Nats were drubbed 9-3, Jordan Zimmermann pitched his worst game since his Tommy John surgery, and Jayson Werth broke his left wrist. Other than that, things went great.
The Nats have today off to re-group and re-energize after a demoralizing defeat. They’ll travel to Pittsburgh today and begin a three-game series with the Pirates tomorrow.
Expect news about the extent of Werth’s injury to come later today.
Game of the Day
Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers (7:30/NBC Sports Network). The series is knotted up at 2-games apiece. Neither team has much of an edge. Each game has been competitive. Tonight’s game is crucial for both clubs, but perhaps more so for the Rangers who cannot afford to head back to Washington needing to win two consecutive games in the series.

Bias Bulletin (The Weekender)

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Twist and Shout
For a time yesterday, it appeared that the biggest baseball injury of the day would be Giants Third Baseman Pablo Sandoval’s broken hamate bone. That was, until the early evening in Kansas City.
Many relief pitchers will spend their time during batting practice catching fly balls. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has made a 17 year habit of “shagging” fly balls before games. Until last night, no one really noticed.
While running back toward the centerfield wall, Rivera caught his foot on the warning track and twisted his knee. He fell to the ground, wincing in pain, clutching the knee. He was carted off the field and later diagnosed with a torn ACL. He will miss the rest of the 2012 season, one that many believe would be his final in Major League Baseball.
If it is, Rivera will retire as the greatest relief pitcher in history. His 608 career saves is the most in baseball history. For Rivera, though, it’s his more advanced statistics that tell the story. As a relief pitcher, his 58 wins above replacement put him as the 58h most valuable pitcher in Major League Baseball history. The next closest relief pitcher to Rivera is Trevor Hoffman. He ranks 260th. Rivera is second all-time in WHIP (Walks+Hits/Innings Pitched). He is 5thall-time in K/BB ratio (Strikeouts/Walks). He is the career leader in adjusted ERA+ (don’t ask).  He is 4th all-time in WPA (win probability added). He is simply the greatest relief pitcher we have ever seen. And that is to say nothing of his postseason dominance, in helping the Yankees win 4 World Series titles.
The knee injury is the most unfortunate way that the 42 year old pitcher’s career could end. There is a chance that Rivera could decide to come back next year. I have my doubts that a 42 year old will want to rehab from an ACL injury in time to pitch again next year. But we shall see.
In the interim, the Yankees will likely give the 9thinning duties to current setup-man David Robertson, who has been excellent in his role, but is unproven as a closer, especially given the shoes he’ll have to fill.
Your Daily Washington Nationals Update
Batting third in just his fifth Major League game, Bryce Harper drove in the game-winning run last night for the Nationals as they beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 to earn a series victory.
The Diamondbacks could not solve Nationals starter Ross Detwiler early in the game and the young lefty only allowed 3 hits in the game. The bullpen (Ryan Mattheus, Tyler Clippard, and Henry Rodriguez) pitched 2 2/3 innings of  perfect baseball to preserve the victory.
The Nationals will welcome their unfriendly rival from Southeastern PA tonight for what should be a contentious three-game series. Your weekend pitching matchups:
Friday: Kyle Kendrick vs. Stephen Strasburg (7:05/MASN (locally),MLB Network (nationally))
Saturday: Vance Worley vs. Gio Gonzalez (1:05/MASN)
Sunday: Cole Hamels vs. Jordan Zimmermann (8:05/ESPN)
The Phillies enter the series 3.5 games behind Washington.
Games of the Weekend
MLB: Phillies @ Nationals (Sunday at 8:05 p.m.)- A huge test for Nationals fans. Yes, you read that write. It’s the team’s first ESPN game in 4 years. They must take back the park.
NBA: Hawks @ Celtics (Tonight at 7:30 p.m.)- A crucial game for both clubs. Especially the Hawks who can’t afford to give additional momentum to Boston.
NHL: Rangers @ Capitals (Saturday at 12:30 p.m.)-See above. Substitute “Capitals” for “Hawks” and “New York” for “Boston.”
Soccer: Chelsea vs. Liverpool (FA Cup Final) (Saturday at 12:15 p.m.)-Two of the premier (see what I did there?) clubs in English football battle for the oldest cup championship in the world.
Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby (Saturday at 6:00 p.m.)-Horses run around a track. People in Kentucky get super drunk and bet on those horses. Hats.
A safe weekend to the readers. You all need a nickname. Discuss!

Bias Bulletin

/ Jason / Leave a comment

Death of a Legend
The Bulletin (yes, third person) grew up watching Junior Seau dominate the Linebacker position in the NFL. Seau played the bulk of his career in San Diego, with the Chargers, and in his prime was a dominant, fierce force on the football field. Unstoppable in pursuit of the ball-carrier.
Seau died yesterday of what appears, at least initially, to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. The 43 year old, six-time All-Pro was most recently in the news in 2010 when he drove his car over a cliff in California, hours after being arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. At the time, Seau said that the accident was not a suicide attempt, but rather, an accident. He claimed to have fallen asleep at the wheel of his car. And perhaps that’s the case. Regardless, you’d be naïve not to draw a connection between the two events.
Additionally, you’d be naïve to not draw a connection between the death of Seau and that of former NFL safety Dave Duerson, who killed himself a year ago, leaving behind instructions for the medical community to study his brain for evidence of injury.  Examinations of his brain showed extensive degeneration due to frequent trauma.
The Boston University Medical Group, who studied Duerson’s brain, is now in the process of trying to acquire Seau’s brain to determine whether his death could also be tied to his years as a fierce hitter on the football field.
The Year of the Pitcher (Part 2)
Late last night, out west, Angels pitcher Jered Weaver became the first Angel to throw a no-hitter since, well, last year. And Weaver became the first Major Leaguer to throw a no-hitter since, well, 10 days ago.
Common occurrences aside, Weaver did throw a no-hitter and that deserves to be celebrated. Only two runners reached base against him; one on a passed ball and the other via a walk. He struck out 9 Minnesota Twins, but did have to throw 122 pitches to complete his first career no-hitter.
Albert Pujols was very happy, I’m sure, to hand over the spotlight to Jered Weaver for one night. Pujols went homerless again in the 9-0 Angels victory.
Triple the Overtime, Triple the Pain
Early this morning, the Washington Capitals fell 2-1 to the New York Rangers in a triple OT thriller in the nation’s capital.
The overtime periods were marked by a handful of missed opportunities for the Capitals. Following a great check in the offensive zone, forward Matt Hendricks found an open Troy Brouwer in front of the net. Brouwer shot wide right. 
Later, Alex Ovechkin stole the puck from a Ranger defenseman in the Capitals offensive zone and fired a shot passed Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The puck clanked off of the goalpost, missing the net by centimeters.
Nearing the end of the third OT, Marian Gaborik was able to beat Capitals goalie Braden Holtby through his legs for the game winning goal.
Combined, Holtby and Lundvist stopped 92 of 95 total shots and both made great glove saves in the overtime periods. For Holtby, it was all for not.
Game 4 (NYR lead 2-1) will be played on Saturday at Verizon Center.
Your Daily Washington Nationals Update (Now With 33% More Ian Desmond Walk-Off Homers)
Down 4-3 entering the bottom of the ninth last night, the Washington Nationals were picked up, so to speak, by their youngest player. Leading off the inning, Bryce Harper hit his second double of the game (both high off of the wall in right-center). With Harper in scoring position, Wilson Ramos and Rick Ankiel both struck out swinging, neither looking terribly impressive in doing so.
With two outs, in stepped Ian Desmond, the Major League leader in swinging at the first pitch he sees in an at-bat as well as the leader in giving me ulcers. With the count 1-1, Desmond took a big swing and delivered a ball into the Diamondbacks bullpen, giving the Nats a 5-4 victory and ending their 5 game losing streak.
Harper, it should be noted, enters tonight’s game with a slash line of .385/.400/.615, albeit in just 13 at-bats. When asked last night if he will move the hot-hitting Harper higher in the order, Nats manager Davey Johnson essentially said, “Why not?”
The Nats will wrap up their 3-game series with Arizona tonight at the Navy Yard. Ross Detweiler will take the hill for the Nats and will oppose Ian Kennedy (21-4, 2.88 ERA last year). Game time is 7:05 on MASN.
Game of the Day
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Dallas Mavericks (9:30/TNT). The defending champion Mavericks come in to tonight’s game in a 2-0 hole. A loss will effectively end their quest for a  repeat.

Bias Bulletin

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Some Terrible Pun Using “Rosey”
The Chicago Bulls were going to rally around their absent star. They were going to man up. Role players were going to step in and fill the void. And that’s exactly what didn’t happen.
You’ll remember that Bulls Guard Derrick Rose went down with a torn ACL on Saturday afternoon. Leading up to Tuesday’s Game 2 (sidebar: do we really need 2 full off-days?), the talk was that everyone would have to step up and fill the void. It’s a mantra you hear from lots of teams. Sometimes, it works. Other times, like last night, the Philadelphia 76ers win by 17 points.
Rose’s replacement, CJ Watson, shot 4-11 in the game. He scored just 12 points and added 3 assists. The Bulls now head to Philadelphia, having lost their home court advantage, on Friday, for Game 3. This time, they’ll actually need someone (other than Center Joakim Noah who played very well last night) to fill the Rose void.  Otherwise, a lot of golf will be played.
How To Rally Around An Absent Star
While the Bulls were losing by 18 points at home, the Celtics were beating the Atlanta Hawks, in the ATL, without their star Point Guard.
You’ll remember that Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo walked into an NBA official on Sunday evening.  Leading up to Tuesday’s Game 2, the talk was that everyone would have to step up and fill the void. It’s a mantra you hear from lots of teams. Sometimes, it works. Last night, for Boston, it did.
Behind a virtuoso performance from future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce (36 points/14 rebounds) and solid defense (holding Atlanta to 35% shooting), the Celtics were able to steal home court advantage in the series. They’ll head to Boston now for Game 3 on Friday with Rajon Rondo back in the lineup.
The Nicest Story You’ll Hear All Day
In the fall of 2010, Rutgers University Defensive Tackle Eric LeGrand attempted to tackle an opponent in a football game, but collided awkwardly with the player. LeGrand fell to the turf, motionless, for minutes. He was rushed from the stadium to a nearby hospital where doctors determined that he was paralyzed from his neck down.
In the year following his injury, LeGrand underwent extensive physical and occupational therapy in an attempt to help him regain some movement and sensation.  By July 2011, LeGrand was standing upright and was slowly regaining some movement in his arms.
He returned to Rutgers Stadium in October of 2011 and, in his wheelchair, led the Scarlet Knights players onto the field before a game against West Virginia University.
Initially, doctors didn’t believe that LeGrand would ever be able to breathe without a ventilator. He is now able to stand for nearly an hour at a time.
LeGrand’s college coach, Greg Schiano, is now the head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This morning, the Bucs signed Eric LeGrand to a player contract. LeGrand will never play for the Buccaneers, of course. The gesture is symbolic, but it’s what it symbolizes that leads me to include it here.
Eric LeGrand’s dreams were instantly shattered nearly 2 years ago. Given the prognosis of “You’ll never breathe again,” LeGrand didn’t wallow. He worked. Hard. Incredibly hard. What the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did today for Eric LeGrand doesn’t happen every day in sports. When it does happen, it should be celebrated. As should the effort and will that Eric has exhibited since his injury.
Your Daily Washington Nationals Update
The hitting woes of the Nats continued last night as they were unable to solve Diamondbacks starter Trevor Cahill.  Arizona came away with a 5-1 victory. Bryce Harper was 0-3 at the plate with a strikeout.
The Nationals are now 14-9 and a ½ game ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.  They’ll face the Dbacks again tonight. Edwin Jackson will take the hill for the Nats. He’ll be opposed by Joe Saunders (7:05 p.m./MASN)
Game of the Day
LA Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (9:30 p.m./TNT). The Clippers surged back from a 27 point deficit to win in Memphis on Sunday. It’ll be very interesting to see whether the Grizzlies come out of the locker room like this or like this.

Bias Bulletin (Now With More Song Lyrics!)

/ Jason / Leave a comment

My Hands Are Small, I Know
Following last night’s defeat to the Miami Heat, Knicks Forward Amar’e Stoudemire decided to let off some steam. For some, that would involve hitting a pillow. For others, it would involve punching a fire extinguisher. Stoudemire chose the latter.
NBA writers and reporters got a little suspicious when they saw Stoudemire leaving the arena with his hand bandaged and his arm in a sling. They got more suspicious when they saw a puddle of blood on the carpet that connects the court with the visitor’s locker room. 2 and 2 were soon put together and equaled 4.
The extent of Stoudemire’s injury is not yet known, but some reports from sources in the locker room stated that he would be done for at least the rest of the series, due to the large gash, the amount of stitches, the heavy blood loss, and the fact that this will likely be an abbreviated series.
Stoudemire or not, the Knicks face a steep uphill climb heading back to Midtown Manhattan. They are down 2-0 in the Best-of-7 series and have lost by an aggregate score of 43 points. Game 3 will be played on Thursday. All heavy objects should be removed from Madison Square Garden.
Bump Bump Bump
Late in their Game 1 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics’ Guard Rajon Rondo disagreed with a referee’s call. He, too, decided to let off some steam. For some, that would involve hitting a pillow. For others, it would involve following the referee and walking into him. Rondo chose the latter.
Yesterday, the NBA dropped the hammer. Thankfully, for the Celtics, it was one of those Little Tykes hammers.
Rondo will be forced to sit out tonight’s game against the Hawks. It will be the second time this season that Rondo will be suspended for referee-directed anger (in February, he threw a ball at a referee). The Celtics, already undermanned, due in part to bone spurs in Ray Allen’s right ankle, will rely heavily on second-year Point Guard Avery Bradley to fill some of Rondo’s void. The young Guard has improved dramatically in his sophomore season, but faces a tough task on the road against an experienced backcourt.
Just To Hit The Ball and Touch ’Em All – A Moment In the Sun
Not a whole lot of moments in the sun in Southern California during the month of April. And, no, I’m not talking about the weather.
During the offseason, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed Albert Pujols to a 10 year/$200+ million contract. They signed Albert in the hopes that he’d, you know, hit home runs. Hitting home runs was something he showed a propensity for doing during his tenure in St. Louis. Never had he hit fewer than 32 home runs in a full season. Never had he gotten on-base at a clip below 37% in a season.  In short, he was a very good baseball player.
Now, April is not a fully season. It’s only 1/6 of the season. That said, Albert is currently on pace to hit 0 home runs and get on-base roughly 26% of the time. And the natives are getting restless.
It seems that when you pay someone a lot of money to do something and they don’t do it, people become impatient. A funny world that we live in.
Jokes aside, Pujols is pressing hard to hit his first home run of the season. He is striking out more than he is walking (something he hasn’t done since he was a 21 year old rookie). And his swing is sloppy. And it doesn’t look like just a matter of time before he pulls out of his current funk. Which could make for an interesting season in Anaheim, where people had visions of World Series rings on April 1st.
Your Daily (Brief…I Promise) Washington Nationals Update
The Arizona Diamondbacks come to DC tonight to start a three game series. Bryce Harper will make his home debut. Jordan Zimmermann will take the hill for the Nats. He’ll be opposed by Diamondbacks’ righty Trevor Cahill. (7:05 p.m./MASN)
Game of the Day
I get that there are a number of playoff games tonight. Celtics/Hawks, Nuggets/Lakers, Devils/Flyers. But Bryce Harper is making his DC debut. And I have a strong Mid-Atlantic Bias.

Bias Bulletin

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The Dawning of the Age of Brycequarius
On Saturday night, baseball’s future arrived, perhaps a few months early, in Los Angeles, California.
Amid a season-long offensive slump, facing the prospect of playing without their best hitter  for at least a week, the Washington Nationals expedited the arrival of uber-prospect and 2010 MLB 1st overall pick, Bryce Harper.  The 19 year old was called up from AAA Syracuse on Saturday to fill the roster vacancy created by the placement of Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day Disabled List. It didn’t take long for Harper to make an impact.
Playing LF on Saturday night, Harper went 1-3 at the plate with a 9th inning RBI that would have been the game-winner RBI, had closer Henry Rodriguez not imploded in the bottom of the inning. The Harper play that had people talking though, didn’t occur at the plate. In the bottom of the 7th, Dodger Catcher AJ Ellis hit a single into LF. Harper, in seemingly one motion, scooped the ball up and threw a laser to catcher Wilson Ramos, who unfortunately could not hold on to the ball, allowing Jerry Hairston Jr. to score.
Through 2 games, Harper is batting .333 and has drawn a walk. The most important thing, though, is that he looks relaxed  in the field and at the plate.  He will make his Washington DC debut tomorrow night against Trevor Cahill and the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The Nats will be looking to bounce back from a weekend sweep in Los Angeles. The Nationals (and Harper) have today off for travel.
And With That, Their Season Ended
Up by 11, late in the fourth quarter, against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday afternoon, the Chicago Bulls’ playoff run, for all intents and purposes, came to an abrupt end. Star PG Derrick Rose, who has endured a season of nagging injuries, suffered the opposite of a nagging injury, as he tore the ACL in his left knee with just a minute to play. Rose will miss the remainder of the playoffs, the Summer Olympics, and, very likely, the early portion of next season’s NBA schedule.
The loss of the NBA’s reigning MVP puts Chicago in an enormous hole.  Rose is the catalyst for the Bulls’ offense. Without him, the team will need major contributions from reserves like CJ Watson (now starting in Rose’s place) and John Lucas. Both had big moments during the NBA’s regular season, but as any observer can tell you, the playoffs are different.  
The loss of Rose puts the Miami Heat firmly in the catbird seat in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. The Heat currently have a 1-0 series lead on the New York Knicks, following a 33 point victory on Saturday.
Someone Forgot to Wake Up the Fat Lady
The LA Clippers found themselves down by 21 points at the end of the 3rd quarter of last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies (Game 1 of their series).  The first few minutes of the 4th quarter didn’t go much better for LA.  With 8 minutes to play, the Clippers were down by 24 points. Then, they made a run. And won. 99-98.
The Clippers tied an NBA record by coming back from 21 points down at the end of the third quarter.  Once Memphis went up by 24, the Clippers went on a 26-1 scoring run, spurred by former Washington Wizard Nick Young, who hit three 3-pointers. Young finished with 19 points off the bench, to lead the Clippers.
The Grizzlies will have a chance to bounce back from this devastating loss on Wednesday night in Memphis.
Game of the Day
Manchester United @ Manchester City (2:30/ESPN).  United leads City by 3 points in the English Premier League. A City victory would pull them to within one point of their cross-town rival. Each team has two matches to play following today’s showdown.
City handed United an historic 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford in October. 

Bias Bulletin

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Feeling Drafty

I’m running out of bad Draft puns.
Last night, the NFL held the first round of its seven round annual player draft. As expected, Stanford QB Andrew Luck and Baylor QB Robert Griffin III went 1st and 2nd overall to Indianapolis and Washington, respectively. The biggest news of the draft may have come an hour prior to its start though, when the Cleveland Browns traded a fourth, fifth, and seventh round pick to swap their 4th overall pick with Minnesota’s 3rd. The Browns then took Alabama running back Trent Richardson, because if we know anything about the NFL, it’s that there’s never something as sure as a Running Back.
Other highlights of the night included 28 year old QB Brandon Weeden being drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd overall pick. But the true star of Draft night was the trade. There were 8 instances of teams swapping picks last night, in what was easily the most hectic and rapid-fire first round of the NFL Draft in recent memory.
Finish Him!
It was a night to celebrate in the Tri-State area, as the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils won their Game 7 matchups to advance to the second round of the NHL Playoffs. The Rangers defeated the Ottawa Senators behind solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist and the Devils did their work in multiple overtimes, winning 4 minutes into double overtime on an Adam Henrique goal (his second of the game). 
The Rangers advance to face the Washington Capitals, while the Devils will face a relatively rested Philadelphia Flyers team. 
Out west, the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues begin their second round series tomorrow, while the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes (two historic hockey hotbeds) kick the second round off tonight in the Desert Southwest.
The NBA Regular Season Finally Ended

Some highlights:
*The Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs finished tied for the best record in the league at 50-16.
*Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder beat Kobe Bryant for the League scoring title by 1/10 of a point. It’s Durant’s second consecutive scoring crown.
*Rajon Rondo finished the season with 24 consecutive games with at least 10 assists.
And some lowlights:
*The Charlotte Bobcats season ended on a 23 game losing streak. The Bobcats finished with a 9-55 record, which qualifies them as, statistically, the worst team in the history of the NBA.
*The Golden State Warriors tanked most of their season to hang on to a draft pick. In a previous trade with the Utah Jazz, the Warriors agreed to send a first round pick to Salt Lake City if they finished with the 8th worst (or better) record. If Golden State was one of the 7 worst teams (according to win/loss record) they would get to keep their pick. Knowing this, the Warriors benched their good players and played the latter part of the season with mostly rookies. They finished tied for the 7th worst record in the league. 
Your Daily Washington Nationals Update

The Nationals, again, failed to execute a series sweep, losing late last night to the San Diego Padres by a 2-1 mark. Setup man Tyler Clippard was tagged with the loss, after surrendering a two-run double in the bottom of the 9th. The Nats failed to get a run across in the 9th, giving Padres closer Huston Street the save.
The Nats now drive up I-5 to Los Angeles for a weekend series with the Dodgers. Tonight’s game features reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw facing the Nats’ Ross Detweiler. Game time is 10:00 p.m.
Games of the Weekend
We’re firmly in that time of year that is a sports lovers dream. Playoff games in both the NHL and NBA will fill the schedule this weekend. In addition, the NFL draft will continue tonight with Rounds 2 and 3 (7:00 p.m./NFL Network and ESPN). Add to that a very intriguing series between the Dodgers and the Nationals and you’ve got a good excuse to abandon your loved ones and hole up, like a hermit, in your living room for the next 72 hours. Enjoy!

2012 NFL Draft Mockery

/ Jason / 1 Comment

It’s time, once again, for me to look at the mock drafts of professionals and aggregate their mocks into “my own” mock. This “time” is also known as Spring.  Without further ado, further ado:

Kidding aside, everyone is just sort of stealing from everyone else. I am always very amused during NFL Mock season at how similar all of the experts’ mocks are. Are we really that much in agreement on the list of the 32 best eligible college players? No. Some poor sap has to be the first guy to publish a mock draft. That “poor sap” carries the proverbial water for every other mock draft. Writers might say that they don’t read what others write, but they’re lying to you. They’re not all getting the same info from sources. Yet rarely do you see someone straying too far from the mainstream. When one writer says, “I’m hearing that Team X really likes Player B,” every other mocker is welcome to take that piece of information and use it. And so, here we are, on draft day, and everyone’s mock looks relatively the same.

Mine will be no exception, really. These picks are a bit of a blend of what teams should do/will do. Every year, some team picks a guy no one had them targeting. Christian Ponder and Jake Locker last year. Tyson Alualu the year before. Darrius Heyward-Bey the year before that. The 2012 NFL Draft will be no different. It spoils the moment when you spend a mock draft trying to pick surprises. This ain’t March Madness. And this really ain’t a science. It’s fun (or at least should be). Now, without further ado:

1.) Indianapolis Colts select Andrew Luck (QB/Stanford)
I’ve been trying, desperately, to envision a doomsday scenario for the Washington Redskins, where the Colts draft Robert Griffin III and a dark cloud quickly hangs over the District. It’s not happening. Luck is the right pick.

2.) Washington Redskins select Robert Griffin III (QB/Baylor)
Never has a team so embraced the second overall pick in a draft quite like DC has embraced RGIII.  I was at a DC United game in March and people were chanting “RGIII! RGIII!”  Griffin has already appeared at a card show where he signed Redskins memorabilia. If Luck is the right pick for Indy, and he is, Griffin is the “rightest” pick for DC. He’s exactly the kind of energizing player that the Redskins fan base so fervently desires. He’ll be a marketer’s dream in the District. Time will tell how well he can play professional football.

3.) Minnesota Vikings select Matt Kalil (OT/USC)
The first two picks are sure things. Barring some terrible injury to either Luck or Griffin III (though, I sincerely believe that if RGIII (God forbid) died before the draft, the Redskins would still pick him second overall) this is where the draft will really begin.

Kalil is what most scouts would regard as the safe or “correct” pick. The Vikings desperately need a franchise Tackle. Kalil is, by most accounts, a franchise-type Tackle. The intrigue comes from two other directions. Minnesota also could use a cornerback and there’s a potential star at that position (a couple, actually. Morris Claiborne is the name you’ll see most often.). This is also a spot that a desperate, QB needy team like Miami could trade up to. But for the sake of the sanity of Vikings fans and the health of Christian Ponder, let’s go with Kalil.

4.) Cleveland Browns select Ryan Tannehill (QB/Texas A&M)
If it was my decision, I wouldn’t give up on Colt McCoy. Cleveland could use a receiver like Michael Floyd or Justin Blackmon in this spot. But you don’t make a big deal about how you couldn’t trade up to get one Quarterback (Griffin III) and then tell your incumbent (in this case, McCoy), “But, hey buddy, we really love you.”

I think Tannehill will be an enormous bust. Although, he did play WR at Texas A&M. And the Browns do have a hole at that position….

5.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Morris Claiborne (CB/Louisiana State)
He of the (reported) 4 out of 50 on the Wonderlic exam. Claiborne might not be able to tell you which number comes next in the sequence, but he can certainly play football. He’s as versatile a corner as you’ll find in this draft. And he fills a position of need for a team that plays 6 games per season against Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, and Drew Brees.

6.) St. Louis Rams select Justin Blackmon (WR/Oklahoma State)
If Blackmon is available, there’s really no need for the Rams to use any time on the clock. They should have the slip of paper ready. The Rams haven’t had a great WR since Torry Holt. Blackmon will not be as good as Torry Holt. But frankly, “not as good as Torry Holt” is a lot better than “Brandon Gibson.”

7.) Jacksonville Jaguars select Michael Floyd (WR/Notre Dame)
The Jaguars have a number of needs. They need help at each level of the defense, for example. Floyd, though, much like Blackmon with St. Louis, offers a young quarterback a really good target. Floyd is bigger and stronger than Blackmon, with less production in college because, well, Dayne Crist.

8.) Miami Dolphins select a box of tissues to fill with tears and Melvin Ingram (DE/South Carolina)
The Dolphins want Ryan Tannehill, apparently.  Michael Floyd would have been a great replacement for Brandon Marshall.  Neither is available. So what better way to excite your fan base than by drafting a defensive end? Right?

Ingram is good. Really good. But this pick will only further upset the Dolphins fan base. If there’s even a fan base left.

9.) Carolina Panthers select Luke Kuechly (LB/Boston College)
A draft board riser and a smart, stable pick for a team that really needs bodies on the defensive side of the ball.  Plus, ESPN’s Sports Science says that Kuechly is more powerful than Dwight Freeney. So that’s something.
10.) Buffalo Bills select Stephen Gilmore (CB/South Carolina)
The Bills have said they need to improve at cornerback. So, yeah…

Gilmore is one of three first-round CBs (Claiborne and Janoris Jenkins are the others) with potential star written on them. Gilmore came in to South Carolina as a highly regarded recruit, but never became a star there. People seem to believe he will be better in the pros. I’m not terribly confident.

11.) Kansas City Chiefs select David DeCastro (OG/Stanford)
KC going with the OG. DeCastro is as highly regarded as any Guard in recent memory. He’s quick. He’s a fabulous pass blocker (his college Quarterback will likely agree). He’s a solid run blocker. And he’s got, according to those who now, quite the nasty streak. In short, he might be the perfect interior lineman. There’s no reason why DeCastro won’t be an All-Pro multiple times in his career. This would be one of the smartest choices of the draft.

12.) Seattle Seahawks select Quinton Coples (DE/North Carolina)
Coples is not David DeCastro. He’s a high upside/high risk player. He’s had weight issues, run-ins with coaches, and was investigated (though exonerated) by the NCAA for attending illegal parties. He’s being taken here because of his potential and the need for a rush end in Seattle. Coples is often compared, in terms of skill level, with Julius Peppers, another former Tar Heel.  Julius Peppers is very good.

13.) Arizona Cardinals select Riley Reiff (OT/Iowa)
Arizona is a team with a huge, gaping need at OT. Reif is a huge, talented OT, who comes from a school that churns out prospects like this on a yearly basis, Robert Gallery notwithstanding.

14.) Dallas Cowboys select Trent Richardson (RB/Alabama)
Richardson is not a player of any need to Dallas. They have needs in the defensive secondary, but Richardson is a top 5 talent, who I think might fall because of the notion that you can draft Running Backs late. Jerry Jones would see the value in getting a guy like Richardson here. Dallas hasn’t had a Back like him since Emmitt Smith.

This is certainly one surprise in my mock. Most mocks I’ve seen have Richardson going in the top 5.

15.) Philadelphia Eagles select Fletcher Cox (DT/Mississippi State)
Cox is another guy I have dropping. And unlike Richardson going to Dallas, Cox would fill a big need for Philadelphia. Primarily because he’s a defensive, front 7 player. And Philadelphia doesn’t have a lot of those.

16.) New York Jets select Mark Barron (S/Alabama)
Mark Barron is a Rex Ryan-type player. He’s an Ed Reed-type safety. Enough said.

Well, actually, look for Barron to be gone if Richardson does not fall in the first round. Dallas will take him. Right away.

17.) Cincinnati Bengals select Courtney Upshaw (OLB/Alabama)
We’re in the SEC portion of the draft. Upshaw is a pass rusher extraordinaire.  He also has a domestic violence arrest on his record. So he’s the perfect fit for the Cincinnati Bengals.

18.) San Diego Chargers select Michael Brockers (DT/LSU)
Brockers is thought to be a Top 10-type talent who hasn’t fully realized his potential. Chargers GM AJ Smith must really like him then.

19.) Chicago Bears select Whitney Mercilius (DE/IL)
I have no idea who he is. I mean, c’mon, do you actually think I watch a lot of Illinois games?

20.) Tennessee Titans select Donatri Poe (DT/Memphis)
He of the underachieving, often invisible, Dontari Poe from Memphis University. You’ll remember that he had the best combine of any prospect. All of a sudden, a player with little to no consequential game tape became the prospect du jour. So someone will take him in the first round. Congratulations, Tennessee Titans fans!

21.) Cincinnati Bengals select Janoris Jenkins (CB/North Alabama)
Most scouts like Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick more than Jenkins, but that is more of a reflection of Jenkins’ off-the-field problems than his on-the-field skills. If Jenkins can keep his life together (and stop creating other lives…four children) he could be the steal of this first round. He could also continue down the path he was on at Florida, where he was eventually dismissed.

He may be the best man coverage corner in the draft. Since losing Jonathan Joseph to free agency last year, the Bengals have had a void in that department.

22.) Cleveland Browns select Stephen Hill (WR/Georgia Tech)
Hill is a lengthy speedster with a ton of upside. His college numbers weren’t great because he played in a run option offense. The Hill pick makes a world of sense for the Browns, especially if they go with Tannehill with their earlier pick. And no, I won’t make a joke about how now they’ll have two more Wide Receivers after the first round.

23.) Detroit Lions select Dre Kirkpatrick (CB/Alabama)
This has to be a dream scenario for a team with a giant hole in their secondary. Kirkpatrick could go much earlier in this draft. Kirkpatrick is a prototypical corner with enough size to be an effective shutdown corner in press coverage. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m saying that he should be good.

24.) Pittsburgh Steelers select Cordy Glenn (OT/Georgia)
Cordy Glenn has sizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

25.) Denver Broncos select Devon Still (DT/Penn State)
Denver hasn’t drafted a Defensive Tackle in Round 1 since 1997. Considering how important the DT is, that’s kind of stunning. This pick comes down to Still and Jerel Worthy. Still comes with more size, which could greatly help a team that couldn’t stop my grandmother if she was walking slowly at their front 4 with her eyes closed and cinder blocks tied to her ankles.

26.) Houston Texans select Shea McClellin (OLB/Boise State)
Mario Williams is gone. DeMecco Ryans is gone. Needing players who can rush the quarterback from the edge, Houston turns to a guy with a huge motor, much in the vein of current Texans Brooks Reed, Connor Barwin, and Brian Cushing. Of course, this pick does have me thinking that the Texans linebacker corp will have a certain kind of pale hue to it.

27.) New England Patriots select Amini Silatolu (OG/Midwestern State)
First, I have an issue with making fake draft trades. It messes with the whole nature of picking the best, most logical guy for each team. That said, if I was going to project a trade, it’d be here.

This is about as “New England Patriots” as a draft pick can get. Boring position (check). Guy no one has ever heard of (check). College no one knew existed (check). Guy getting drafted a round early (check).

28.) Green Bay Packers select Nick Perry (DE/Southern California)
The Packers are weak on the outside of the D-line. Perry is a bit undersized, but his quickness is unrivaled at this juncture in the draft. He also comes with the same USC pedigree as Clay Matthews. Teams sometimes like that stuff.

29.) Baltimore Ravens select Dont’a Hightower (ILB/Alabama)
Eventually, the Ravens will draft Ray Lewis’ heir apparent in the first round. Hightower would be a very good choice. High motor. Good run-stuffer. Smart defender. Might not have top-end quickness, but he makes up for it by not wasting steps.

30.) San Francisco 49ers select Coby Fleener (TE/Stanford)
It’s probably too easy for Harbaugh to take a Stanford player in the first round of a draft and it’s not like the Niners need another TE (Delanie Walker and Vernon Davis do the job well). Fleener is versatile enough, though, that he could serve as a hybrid type player. Harbaugh will find ways to use him. And no one knows him better.

31.) New England Patriots select Vinny Curry (DE/Marshall)
So, we’ve got an Offensive Lineman from Midwestern State and a Defensive End from Marshall. Perfect.

32.) New York Giants select Reuben Randle (WR/LSU)
Randle would be a more than adequate replacement for Mario Manningham.  There’s a fair amount of Dwayne Bowe potential with Randle.  He’s big. He’s quick enough. His numbers in college weren’t stellar, but let’s be honest, Jordan Jefferson was throwing him the football. So let’s cut him some slack and make him a first rounder.


*********************************************************************************************
And that concludes the first round. Before I sign off, here are a few guys who I think can be a real sleeper at each position (that people care about. Sorry Guards.). These are players projected to go in the 4th round or later by most prognosticators. I will not be held accountable for the Patriots reaching for any of these players in the second round.

QB: Nick Foles (Arizona). I like his size. I like his mobility. I like him. Is he a “winner?” No. But he was an effective QB for a series of mediocre-to-bad Arizona teams.

RB: Terrance Ganaway (Baylor). A big, physical running back. Lacks breakaway speed. Cut in the mold of a slimmer Brandon Jacobs.

WR: T.Y. Hilton (Florida Int’l). He’s not likely to make it as a WR because of his tiny frame (5’8”, 183 LBS), but there’s definitely a future for him as a kick/punt return guy. Ran a 4.37 at the combine. Scouts tout his great vision and crisp cuts.

Defense: Duke Ihenacho (San Jose State). A low-profile school will diminish his stock, but Ihenacho has good size and great instincts at the safety position. If the Patriots are going to reach for someone in the second round, Ihenacho wouldn’t surprise me.


Enjoy the happiest evening of the year!!!!!


(Fans of the Oakland Raiders need not apply)