Thursday, May 26, 2011

the mets have been R.A.DICKulouslEY unlucky

After today's freaky-looking fall, we can add RA Dickey to the list of notable Mets that have missed time this season with injury:

Johan Santana
Jason Bay
Bobby Parnell
Angel Pagan
David Wright
Ike Davis
Chris Young
RA Dickey

When will it end?

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Trades That Make Sense: Mets & Reds Edition

This kills me to write because Jose Reyes is one of my two favorite Mets of all time (DWright), but I think the Mets need to start fresh and deal him away.



Proposed Trade:

The Mets would deal Reyes and Mike Pelfrey to the Reds in exchange for prospects Billy Hamilton, Yasmani Grandal, and Ryan LaMarre.


Why Would the Mets Do This?

1- With a starting rotation dependent upon the likes of Chris Capuano, Dillon Gee, and Mike Pelfrey, this team is not competing in 2011.

2- Reyes will be a free agent after the season and if he bolts, the Mets will be left with nothing. If they trade him now, they can restock a bare cupboard with an infusion of young talent.

Hamilton is one of the fastest players in the minors, Grandal can be the future behind the dish in Flushing, and LaMarre is a great defensive centerfielder.

3- Reyes is healthy and (obviously) there are no guarantees it stays this way.

4- They clear plenty of salary now, allowing them to spend freely during June's draft which is regarded as one of the deepest in recent memory.

5- It's time for Pelfrey to go.


Why Would the Reds Do This?

1- As it stands now, the Reds are only 2.5 games out of first in the NL Central and two games out of the Wildcard lead, but Reyes makes them an instant pennant contender.

2- Cincy has gotten no production from the shortstop platoon of Paul Janish (.238/.273/.287) and Edgar Renteria (.228/.326/.253).

3- The prospects they would be trading are blocked anyway. Hamilton is behind Reyes and Brandon Phillips, Grandal is behind fellow-prospect Devin Mesoraco, and LaMarre is behind Drew Stubbs, Jay Bruce, and Chris Heisey.



Up next for the Mets, dealing Carlos Beltran, KRod, and possibly David Wright.



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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Separated at Birth?


Blue Jays pitching prospect Deck McGuire and actor Matthew Lillard

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Gut Reaction NBA Mock Draft (Lottery Only)

1. Cleveland: G Kyrie Irving - I love the idea of taking Derrick Williams here and then one of the elite point guards (Irving, Knight, or Walker) with the fourth pick, but I don't think that's what will happen.

2. Minnesota: C Enes Kanter - A starting five of Ricky Rubio, Wes Johnson (admittedly not a great fit at SG), Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, and Kanter can win some games and get fans excited.


Can this guy do the impossible and make David Kahn look smart?

3. Utah: G Brandon Knight - The Jazz will be the third team to realize Devin Harris isn't the long-tern answer at the point.

4. Cleveland: F Derrick Williams - A dream scenario for Cleveland. They get the two best players in the draft and revamp the organization.

5. Toronto: F Jan Vesely - A pure guess at who the best international player remaining is.

6. Washington: F Kawhi Leonard - Pair this athletic freak with John Wall and the Wiz are on to something. They would become the lankiest team in the NBA (see Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee)

7. Sacramento: G Kemba Walker - Can he be the calming factor Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins need?

8. Detroit: F Bismack Biyombo - Awesome name and apparently his game resembles Ben Wallace's. That worked well the first time in Motown.

9. Charlotte: F Marcus Morris - Somehow, I think the Morris twins will be drafted by the same team. The Bobcats - who own picks 9 and 19 - could use the talent infusion.

10. Milwaukee: F Tristan Thompson - He would fit perfectly next to Andrew Bogut.

11. Golden State: F Tobias Harris - They will almost certainly take another PF, just because.

12. Utah: G Jimmer Fredette - Doesn't this have to happen? I love the Knight/Jimmer combo.

13. Phoenix: G Josh Selby - A much better fit for the Suns than he ever was at Kansas.

14. Houston: SG Marshon Brooks - Morey is always trying to outsmart everyone so drafting a guy that plays the same position as his best player seems to make no sense (and probably doesn't) which is exactly why he'll do it. Got that?

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Finally....

The spawn of Shawn (Kemp) are ready for college basketball.

It doesn't look like my dream of an all-Kemp starting five will come to fruition, however.





Editor's note: Loyal reader georgekaplan reminds TSB that it has been over a year with no Kemp references.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Whoops

Here is Clint Barmes' player page picture on Yahoo Sports:



I'm pretty sure that is not Clint Barmes. Here is a picture of the real Clint (and not Rickie Weeks):



Really easy to confuse the two.




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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Draft Grades by Team

Texans: I was critical of the JJ Watt pick after the first round, but after the Texans added Brandon Harris and Rashad Carmichael, I can live with them passing up Prince Amukamara. Adding Brooks Reed in the second round was also a great move. Anytime you add four difference-making starters with your first four picks (plus a serviceable backup quarterback in round five), you'll get high grades from me.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: QB TJ Yates (5th Round)
Grade: A.


Lions: Their first three picks were perfect: DT Nick Fairley, WR Titus Young, and RB Mikel Leshoure. If they can add some cornerbacks through free agency, this team can have legitimate playoff aspirations.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: LB Doug Hogue (5th Round)
Grade: A-.


Eagles: They added a ton of talent that will contribute right away. Really solid from start to finish. It's like my golf game...except the exact opposite.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: LB Brian Rolle (6th Round)
Grade: A-.


Bucs: After picking two defenisve tackles last year, they picked up two defensive ends this year including Da'Quan Bowers who slipped to 51st overall. He'll prove to be a great risk.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: S Ahmad Black (5th Round)
Grade: A-.


Saints: They traded their 2012 first rounder but came away with an impressive slew of talent. When was the last time one team had the Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year? The Lions in 1967. Can the Saints DE Cameron Jordan and RB Mark Ingram duplicate that feat?
Late Rounder That May Surprise: DE Greg Romeus (7th Round)
Grade: B+.


Packers: Good idea- Protecting Aaron Rodgers and giving him more weapons at his disposal. That's exactly what Green Bay did. I think Randall Cobb is this year's Dexter McCluster.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: DT Lawrence Guy (7th Round)
Grade: B+.


Bengals: Cincy got the draft's best player with the fourth overall pick. Win. Although I'm not a huge Andy Dalton fan, Jay Gruden seems to be, and I tend to value his opinion. Dontay Moch is a workout beast who owns the Nevada career sack record. He bolsters an already impressive linebacking corps (Keith Rivers and Rey Maualaga). Clint Boling will also start immediately.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: S Robert Sands (5th Round)
Grade: B+.


Giants: As has been customary over the last few years, the Giants got great value with a number of their picks, specifically their first three. CB Prince Amukamara was a top-10 talent, DT Marvin Austin could have been a top-20 pick, and Jerrel Jernigan is a sleeper. I also like tackling machine LB Greg Jones in the sixth. Well done, again.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Da'Rel Scott (7th Round)
Grade: B.


Jets: As a Jets fan, I would have loved Da'Quan Bowers in the first round. Besides that, I think they got solid talent across the board. QB Greg McElroy is the same player as Andy Dalton but he was selected five rounds later. All six of their picks can make the team.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: WR Jeremy Kerley (5th Round)
Grade: B.


Chiefs: I'm a believer in WR Jon Baldwin, and I like how they addressed their need at DE/OLB with Justin Houston and Allen Bailey. This defensive line is now full of top draft picks with these two along with Tamba Hali, Glenn Dorsey, and Tyson Jackson.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: DT Jerrell Powe (6th Round)
Grade: B.


Bears: Chicago only had five picks this year, but they made the most of them, especially their first two. OT Gabe Carimi and DT Stephen "Bench-Pressing Freak" Paea will start from Day One.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: QB Nathan Enderle (5th Round)
Grade: B.


Titans: Tennessee decided to draft guys that love football. Sounds smart, but it's not always easy to identify players that fit this mold. Yes, they took QB Jake Locker too highly but they made up for it the rest of the way.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: DT Karl Klug (5th Round)
Grade: B.


Falcons: This draft (and some of next year's draft) clearly hinges on Julio Jones. They dealt five picks to move up 21 spots in the first round to nab Jones with the sixth pick. Atlanta was the best team in the NFC last year, and I respect them for thinking they are only one superstar away from putting them over the top. Hopefully for them, Jones is that guy.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Jacquizz Rodgers (5th Round)
Grade: B-.


Bills: Truthfully, any warm body would be an improvement along this defensive front, but Marcell Dareus will be an especially welcome addition. Aaron Williams will also help, but the defensive backfield wasn't a pressing need. They also chose not to address the quarterbacking situation so Ryan Fitzpatrick it will be in 2011.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: CB Justin Rogers (7th Round)
Grade: B-.


Vikings: They may have reached a little for ponder, but they redeemed themselves by grabbing TE Kyle Rudolph in round two, DE Christian Ballard in round four, and Brandon Burton in round five. Solid depth.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: LB Ross Homan (6th Round)
Grade: B-.


Rams: They gave Sam Bradford weapons to work and strengthened the defensive front seven. Solid.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: WR Greg Salas (4th Round)
Grade: B-.


Colts: A typically solid Bill Polian draft. Peyton Manning was doing backflips, err, gave a half fistpump when he saw the first two picks were offensive linemen. I thought DT Drake Nevis had a chance to go at the back end of round one so getting him in the third was a steal.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Delone Carter (4th Round)
Grade: C+.


Ravens: Not sure I can define it, but Jimmy Smith, Torrey Smith, and Tyrod Taylor just fit the " Baltimore mold." Jimmy fills a cavernous hole at corner, but I am not sure I trust to him to stay on his best behavior. Then again, Ray Lewis got away with murder so maybe Jimmy has a shot after all. Taylor reminds me of another Smith, Troy, whom the Ravens drafted in 2007.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Anthony Allen (7th Round)
Grade: C+.


Cardinals: I can't argue with the Patrick Peterson pick because he was one of the three best players in the draft, but they failed to address serious areas of need - QB, LB, OL - until late in the draft, making luxury picks at RB like Ryan Williams.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: LB Quan Sturdivant (6th Round)
Grade: C.


Patriots: How many years in a row can they trade down? It's hard to question Bill Belichick, but I would have liked to have seen them trade up to get an impact defensive end. Ryan Mallett was my favorite quarterback in the draft. Not sure if we'll ever be able to see what he could have been now that he's locked in as a backup for five years.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: OT Marcus Cannon (5th Round)
Grade: C.


Redskins: Washington finally traded down to pick up more picks, but it cost them in high end talent.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: WR Niles Paul (5th Round)
Grade: C.


Broncos: Von Miller and Rahim Moore, good. Beyond that, lots of questions.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: TE Virgil Green (7th Round)
Grade: C-.


Steelers: It's really hard to question Pittsburgh when it comes to the draft because they hit a lot more than they miss, but I wasn't crazy about this class.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Baron Batch (7th Round)
Grade: C-.


Chargers: Of their eight picks, none excites me aside from first rounder Corey Liuget.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Jordan Todman (6th Round)
Grade: D+.


Browns: Where is the offense going to come from? Teams are about to stack nine on the box and stuff Peyton Hillis. Plus, he's on the cover of Madden. Things could be really ugly in Cleveland this year. Pray the Indians stay hot or this city might implode.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Owen Marecic (4th Round)
Grade: D+.


Panthers: Every single one of Carolina's picks - including the top overall pick Cam Newton - is a boom or bust prospect. Swinging for the fences is not the way to build a team.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: OT Lee Ziemba (7th Round)
Grade: D.


49ers: They picked DE Aldon Smith and QB Colin Kaepernick too highly. I'm not excited about many of their 10 picks.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: WR Ronald Johnson (6th Round)
Grade: D.


Cowboys: Under Jason Garrett, Dallas' offense was borderline great. The defense was another story. It makes no sense that six of their eight picks were on the defensive side of the ball. They bolstered areas of the team that were already strong - linebacker and running back. Thumbs down.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Shaun Chapas (7th Round)
Grade: D-.


Dolphins: Bor-ring. OL Mike Pouncey is not as good as his brother. He is also not a center (can't snap in shotgun). Nothing to get excited about here.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: WR Edmond Gates (4th Round)
Grade: D-.


Seahawks: Another snoozefest here. That's what happens when you take guards with your first two picks.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: WR Kris Durham (4th Round)
Grade: D-.


Jaguars: A quarterback is not what this team needs. David Garrard was given no weapons with which to work. Blaine Gabbert will be put in the same situation now. Makes no sense. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: WR Cecil Shorts (4th Round)
Grade: F.


Raiders: What did Oakland accomplish in this draft? They got more speed but very little discernible talent.
Late Rounder That May Surprise: RB Taiwan Jones (4th Round)
Grade: F.