The Red Sox are off to an up and down start overall this season. Their offense has not struggled much at all this season lead mainly by Hanley Ramirez and his .295 Batting Average, 9 Home runs and 20 RBI's. The Red Sox offense has not struggled much scoring an average of just over 5 runs per game. There have been 7 games where the team has scored 7 runs or more this season. The team has also had to have many comeback wins in the late inning including two walk off wins. The problems for this team thus far have come in the pitching staff. The majority of the struggles are in the Starting rotation.
The team named Clay Buchholz their number one pitcher in hopes he would be their ace. This has not happened as he is 1-3 with a 5.76 ERA in his 5 starts. Newly signed Rick Porcello was supposed to also do well and he is 1-2 with a 6.48 ERA in his 4 starts. The worst pitcher so far is Wade Miley who is 1-2 with a 8.64 ERA and has walked 11 batters in his 4 starts. Justin Masterson is 1-2 with a 5.16 ERA and Joe Kelly has pitched the best so far as he is 1-0 with a 4.94 ERA so far. So far the team is the worst in the MLB in team ERA with a 5.23 and have allowed 10 more earned runs than any other team allowing 112 earned runs so far. They are also 5th in the league in home runs allowed already allowing 25 home runs. Your rotation is expected to be able to throw the majority of the innings of them game and this far the team has had 5 games where the starter couldn't make it through the 4th inning and in 4 of them they didn't even throw 3 innings. The team is lucky to have won 11 games so far and are also lucky that their division is weak overall so they are still just 2 games out of first place. If their rotation continues to struggle they will need to trade their young prospects to pick up Cole Hamels.
With their lineup as powerful as it is so far this rotation only needs to be mediocre for this team to succeed. Their lineup has shown that they can score 5 or more runs almost every game so if their rotation ac start keeping the game close this team will win a lot more often. No team can win consistently when they are having to come from behind in the late innings every game. I hope that the team does give up some of their young prospects to pick up Hamels because with him as the ace and their other starters just being mediocre this lineup will score runs and this team can go on a playoff run this year.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
NBA Playoff Match ups and Predictions
The NBA post season is beginning in under a week and the 16 teams playing all have heir minds set on the championship. There are some teams that have very little chances wining such as the Celtics and Pacers in the East and the Pelicans ad Mavericks in the West. Teams such as the Celtics and Pacers made late season runs to clinch their place in the NBA postseason. Neither Conferences 8th sees has been clinched the Nets trail the Pacers by 1 game in the East and the Thunder and Pelicans are tied for the spot in the west heading into the last day of the regular season. Both the 1 and 2 seeds in each conference are looking to make a strong push for the playoffs.
The Eastern Conference match ups are all almost settled with the exception of the 1 vs. 8 seed match up. For the 1 vs. 8 game the Atlanta Hawks look to take on the Nets. Either way the Hawks should have no problem with this match up as they have a combined record of 8-0 against the Pacers and Nets. Prediction 4-1 Hawks For the 2 vs. 7 seed its the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Boston Celtics. This series should be no problem at all for the Cavaliers either as they have the big three of Lebron, Kyrie and Love and the Celtics have a team of young kids who have had a great season. Prediction 4-1. The 3 vs. 6 seed series is the Chicago Bulls vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. This series should be close because the Bucks have a big size advantage over the Bulls and Bulls star Derrick Rose is coming of a knee injury and may not be 100%. Prediction 4-2 Bulls. Finally the 4 vs. 5 seed match up is the Raptors vs. the Wizards. This series is supposed to be the closest series in the Conference. These teams are evenly matched and played 2-2 vs each other this season. Prediction 4-3 Wizards.
The Western Conference standings have yet to be settled going into the final day of the season. The 2nd seed to the 6th seed is separated by just 1 game and the standings can change drastically in this final day. As the Standings are right now the 1 vs. 8 seed series will be the Golden State Warriors vs the Pelicans. With the depth of the Warriors and the guards of Step Curry and Klay Thompson the Warriors should dominate the Pelicans even with Anthony Davis. Prediction 4-0 Warriors. The 2 vs 7 seed series is Currently the Houston Rockets vs the Dallas Mavericks. This series is strongly favored by the Rockets with their star guard in James Harden and big man Dwight Howard. The Mavericks did get a good pick up in Rajon Rondo but their roster doesn't match up to the Rockets roster. Prediction 4-1 Rockets. The 3 vs 6 is the Clippers vs Spurs although the Spurs are defending champions they are old and will have trouble with Chris Paul and Blake Griffen. Prediction 4-3 Clippers. Finally the 4 vs 5 seed is the Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies. The Grizzlies should win with Mike Conely, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph leading them against Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Prediction 4-2 Grizzles.
The Warriors from the west and the Cavaliers from the East both seem to be geared for a championship run. The Cavs have been strong since the return of Lebron from injury and have been favorites in the East all season. The Warriors behind star Steph Curry have been rolling all season. I believe this will be the match up for the NBA Finals this year. This will be a very intense series and will also be very competitive. I believe Lebron will complete his goal of his return home and bring the city of Cleveland a championship as he said he would. Prediction 4-3 Cavaliers.
The Eastern Conference match ups are all almost settled with the exception of the 1 vs. 8 seed match up. For the 1 vs. 8 game the Atlanta Hawks look to take on the Nets. Either way the Hawks should have no problem with this match up as they have a combined record of 8-0 against the Pacers and Nets. Prediction 4-1 Hawks For the 2 vs. 7 seed its the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Boston Celtics. This series should be no problem at all for the Cavaliers either as they have the big three of Lebron, Kyrie and Love and the Celtics have a team of young kids who have had a great season. Prediction 4-1. The 3 vs. 6 seed series is the Chicago Bulls vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. This series should be close because the Bucks have a big size advantage over the Bulls and Bulls star Derrick Rose is coming of a knee injury and may not be 100%. Prediction 4-2 Bulls. Finally the 4 vs. 5 seed match up is the Raptors vs. the Wizards. This series is supposed to be the closest series in the Conference. These teams are evenly matched and played 2-2 vs each other this season. Prediction 4-3 Wizards.
The Western Conference standings have yet to be settled going into the final day of the season. The 2nd seed to the 6th seed is separated by just 1 game and the standings can change drastically in this final day. As the Standings are right now the 1 vs. 8 seed series will be the Golden State Warriors vs the Pelicans. With the depth of the Warriors and the guards of Step Curry and Klay Thompson the Warriors should dominate the Pelicans even with Anthony Davis. Prediction 4-0 Warriors. The 2 vs 7 seed series is Currently the Houston Rockets vs the Dallas Mavericks. This series is strongly favored by the Rockets with their star guard in James Harden and big man Dwight Howard. The Mavericks did get a good pick up in Rajon Rondo but their roster doesn't match up to the Rockets roster. Prediction 4-1 Rockets. The 3 vs 6 is the Clippers vs Spurs although the Spurs are defending champions they are old and will have trouble with Chris Paul and Blake Griffen. Prediction 4-3 Clippers. Finally the 4 vs 5 seed is the Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies. The Grizzlies should win with Mike Conely, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph leading them against Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Prediction 4-2 Grizzles.
The Warriors from the west and the Cavaliers from the East both seem to be geared for a championship run. The Cavs have been strong since the return of Lebron from injury and have been favorites in the East all season. The Warriors behind star Steph Curry have been rolling all season. I believe this will be the match up for the NBA Finals this year. This will be a very intense series and will also be very competitive. I believe Lebron will complete his goal of his return home and bring the city of Cleveland a championship as he said he would. Prediction 4-3 Cavaliers.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Bruins Push for the Playoffs
The Boston Bruins are in the middle of a strong push for a place in this seasons NHL postseason. After a six game losing streak in the middle of March a playoff spot looked unlikely for the Bruins. Now they are currently on a five game win streak and hold the 3rd spot in the Atlantic Division and the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. With a win against the Washington Capitals in their next game along with a lose by the Ottawa Senators in their game against the New York Rangers the Bruins would clinch a playoff birth. This would be their 8th straight season with a playoff birth and give them a chance to bring home another Stanley Cup Finals trophy.
The current standings in the Eastern Conference are 1st. New York Rangers with 107 points, 2nd. Montreal Canadians with 106 points, 3rd. Tampa Bay Lightning with 104 points, 4th. Washington Capitals with 99 points, 5th. New York Islanders with 98 points, 6th. Boston Bruins with 95 points points, 7th. Pittsburgh Penguins with 95 points and 8th. Detroit Red Wings with 95 points. Although the Bruins are tied with the Red Wings in number of points they own the tie breaker so are higher in the standings. They are also tied in points with the Penguins but the Bruins are in third in their division and Penguins are in fourth in theirs so the Penguins are the top wildcard seed. The Ottawa Senators have 93 points and with a win by the Bruins along with a Ottawa lose to New York they would be out of contention for the playoffs.
With the way the Schedules of the Bruins and the teams near them in the Standings look the Bruins could go as high as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. To do this they would need help from the other teams in the Conference. First off for this to be possible the Bruins have to win their final three games against the Capitals, Panthers and Lightning. If they win out they will move up to the 5th seed because they would beat the Capitals in one of their three games and pass or tie them in the points system. To move to the 4th seed they would need the Islanders to lose 1 of their remaining 2 games in either regulation or overtime. Remaining on the New York Islanders schedule is the Penguins and Blue Jackets. If the Bruins were to lose one of their three remaining games they would need Detroit to lose their game to either Montreal or Carolina to remain in 3rd in their Division and 6th in the Conference.
With their being a number of spots the Bruins could end up in their is a number of first round matchups they could have. If they fall to the 8th seed they would play the New York Rangers who they are 2-1 against this season. If they fall to the 7th seed they would play the Canadians who they are 0-4 against this year. The 6th seed would match them up against the Lightning who they are 2-1 against on the season with 1 game remaining between the two. In the 5th or 4th seeds the Bruins could play either the Islanders who they are 2-1 against or the Capitals who they are 0-2 against. The Bruins seem ready to make a strong push for the playoffs and maybe even a deep playoff run.
The current standings in the Eastern Conference are 1st. New York Rangers with 107 points, 2nd. Montreal Canadians with 106 points, 3rd. Tampa Bay Lightning with 104 points, 4th. Washington Capitals with 99 points, 5th. New York Islanders with 98 points, 6th. Boston Bruins with 95 points points, 7th. Pittsburgh Penguins with 95 points and 8th. Detroit Red Wings with 95 points. Although the Bruins are tied with the Red Wings in number of points they own the tie breaker so are higher in the standings. They are also tied in points with the Penguins but the Bruins are in third in their division and Penguins are in fourth in theirs so the Penguins are the top wildcard seed. The Ottawa Senators have 93 points and with a win by the Bruins along with a Ottawa lose to New York they would be out of contention for the playoffs.
With the way the Schedules of the Bruins and the teams near them in the Standings look the Bruins could go as high as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. To do this they would need help from the other teams in the Conference. First off for this to be possible the Bruins have to win their final three games against the Capitals, Panthers and Lightning. If they win out they will move up to the 5th seed because they would beat the Capitals in one of their three games and pass or tie them in the points system. To move to the 4th seed they would need the Islanders to lose 1 of their remaining 2 games in either regulation or overtime. Remaining on the New York Islanders schedule is the Penguins and Blue Jackets. If the Bruins were to lose one of their three remaining games they would need Detroit to lose their game to either Montreal or Carolina to remain in 3rd in their Division and 6th in the Conference.
With their being a number of spots the Bruins could end up in their is a number of first round matchups they could have. If they fall to the 8th seed they would play the New York Rangers who they are 2-1 against this season. If they fall to the 7th seed they would play the Canadians who they are 0-4 against this year. The 6th seed would match them up against the Lightning who they are 2-1 against on the season with 1 game remaining between the two. In the 5th or 4th seeds the Bruins could play either the Islanders who they are 2-1 against or the Capitals who they are 0-2 against. The Bruins seem ready to make a strong push for the playoffs and maybe even a deep playoff run.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Review of Some things you just dont forget
The author made a lot of good points in the article. With mist cases of bullying in todays society the person being bullied never tells anyone because they don't wont to be harassed even more than before. If you are being bullied you should step up and tell someone because that shows you have the courage to do what is right. Being bullied is a terrible thing to live with and can only get better if you have someone to help you get through. In the case of Jonathon Martin and Richie Incognito I believe that it took a lot of courage for Jonathon to actually come forward and tell someone what was happening. I also don't understand how if he was being harassed that badly how no one else in the organization could have noticed what was going on and helped him. I do believe that he might have exaggerated how bad the harassment really was but no team mate should harass someone else on their team. I hope that a case like this never comes up again in any sports organization across the country.
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