Author Archives: @stevea1127

About @stevea1127

I'm 25 from Taunton Ma and have a passion for sports especially Boston. My strong sports are MLB and the NFL. I'm hoping to get a job in sports writing someday.

Josh McDaniels Speaks with the Media

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Josh McDaniels Spoke Friday

FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots (R) talks with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during the first half against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Josh McDaniels spoke with the media on Friday on his decision to not take the head coaching job in Indianapolis and return to the Patriots. We know when his next coaching job will be: in New England when Belichick retires. There was a meeting between Kraft, Belichick, and McDaniels, which I’ve stated before, that McDaniels will be taking over for Belichick after this upcoming season.

The way the draft went for the Patriots is starting to make sense. They know Brady has two more years left and they need to start planning for the future. All Brady’s talk about playing until he’s 45 was just to ship Jimmy Garoppolo out of town. When that worked he’s talking about spending more time with his family and missing voluntary workouts. If Garoppolo was still on the team, Brady would be at those workouts- no doubt about it. Brady also had a say about McDaniels coming back to the Patriots.

Josh Will Be a Head Coach Again

Via SI.comMcDaniels was asked what went through his decision to come back on Friday to the Patriots. His response: “I’ll say this, I’ve stated again and again that I definitely want to be a head coach again. At the same time, I love being here. This is where my kids were born and raised. We’ve made a pretty special life here and that’s not an easy thing to leave. There’s a lot to consider.” Remember, he also did an interview with the Boston Globe when he first made the choice to come back, saying he had to know what his future was going to be like. Once he found out what that was, he decided to come back.

From this point forward it’s about the future of the team. They’ll make another Super Bowl run I’m sure. Maybe they’ll win another one more before this 18-year run comes to a close. But all the pieces are coming together in this giant puzzle in Foxborough. The Patriots won’t release right now that Belichick is leaving at the end of the season. With all the rest of the drama, the last thing Belichick wants is a going away tour. Enjoy the final couple of years, because in 2020 we’ll be looking at a completely different team. A team with Josh McDaniels at the helm.

Is Danny Etling the Future?

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Patriots Sign Etling for Four Years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-cePbBqucU

The New England Patriots are trying to plan post-Tom Brady. Earlier this week they signed their seventh-round pick out of LSU Danny Etling to a four-year contract. It looks like Josh McDaniels, Bill Belichick, and the rest of the Patriots staff like what they see out of Etling. Etling is working on his mechanics with Tom Brady’s throwing coaches in California. Etling threw for 2,463 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior at LSU, while also completing 60.0 percent of his throws.

Danny Etling had a 16-7 record as LSU’s starting quarterback and finished in the top ten in school history in passing yards per game. Etling will be a nice addition to the Patriots quarterback position. It looks like Belichick will be keeping three quarterbacks on the Patriots roster for the 2018 NFL season. Etling looks like he can get the ball downfield and find an open receiver. Director of Player Personnel for the Patriots Nick Caserio spoke after they selected Etling and said, “You look at his career production and this guy didn’t turn the ball over. I think it was 16-2 this year, a low percentage. He takes care of the ball, smart, pretty accurate thrower.”

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewib47Wpwu4

Comparing Brady to Etling’s college numbers, their senior years are similar. Etling threw for 16 touchdowns his senior year at LSU. Tom Brady threw 16 touchdowns at his senior year at Michigan. Danny Etling threw two interceptions in his senior year, while Brady threw six. The two quarterbacks had similar senior years in college. I’m not saying Etling is Brady, but look where Brady got drafted and where he is now. Pretty soon we may see Danny Etling over at TB12 to get pliable.

The Patriots Will Groom Etling for Two Years

Tom Brady has two more years left and then he’s done. He knows it, Kraft knows it, and Brady’s wife knows it. Belichick, McDaniels, and Brady will groom Etling for this year. Then it will just be McDaniels and Brady in the 2019 season. Then in 2020, it will be Danny Etling’s time to shine as the starter for the Patriots.

David Price Acts Like A Little Kid

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David Price Is A Full-Time Complainer

Via CBS Sports

I swear there is always something with this $31 million dollar pitcher. All David Price does is complain about everything like a little kid. These are David Price weaknesses. Fresh cut grass and dogs, however, he has two of them. Cats, cold weather, Video Games, pitching in Texas against the Rangers, Pitching against the Yankees, and he can’t pitch in the postseason. I’m sorry but that does not sound like a guy who is ready to pitch on a big league team. Price couldn’t pitch a bullpen in Texas on Sunday because of allergies. Like seriously take a Claritin or Zyrtec and just pitch. Price sounds like a little kid who wants attention negative or positive.

David Price Is  A Joke

Via GIPHY

Price spoke to the media today and it was classic Price. He won’t play Fortnite in the clubhouse anymore because of the talk it has made these last few days. Price also said playing Fornite isn’t the cause of his Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If that wasn’t true he’d still be playing it in the clubhouse. Also, him complaining about the laundry detergent the Tampa Bay Rays used when he was playing for them. The Rays had to wash Price’s clothes separately. What a disaster! Price is nothing but a baby and a complete waste of money like Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez. I want to know what’s going to happen in October when the weather is cold, the allergies start kicking in and Price can’t pitch. That would put a dagger in the starting rotation.

Boy, does Alex Cora have his hands full with David Price. You would think with a new manager Price would want to turn things around. Nope, he wants to act like a teenage girl and be a complete drama queen. I, personally, am done to hear his constant complaining about the weather, and his dogs, cats and not liking it here. All I want, along with the rest of Red Sox Nation, is for him to shut up, pitch and win games.

 

Brad Stevens Has a Great Coaching Mentor

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Bill Belichick Takes Young Average Talent and Makes Them Elite

Bill Belichick is remarkable at taking players with average talent and transforming them to have elite level skills. He’s trained Wes Welker, Chris Hogan, and Danny Amendola and turned them into exceptional players. Can we say the same for another coach in Boston? Brad Stevens? Brad Stevens currently is without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. Stevens has taken his rookies, especially Jayson Tatum, and has turned them to greatness in the playoffs. Tatum is something special and is averaging 20+ points a game. Terry Rozier has taken the place of an injured of Kyrie Irving and has been great. Stevens has taken a page out of Bill Belichick’s book. Since taking over in 2013, Brad Stevens and his Celtics have steadily become one of the top NBA playoff contenders.

Brad Stevens Is Trying to Become the Next Great Coach in Boston

Stevens is always seen at Patriots training camp.  He is fascinated at how the Patriots run their organization. Brad took Isaiah Thomas last year.  Brad Stevens told Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network about his relationship with Bill Belichick: “I think when you walk out of there, and I’ve said this before, you feel inadequate as a coach. Their culture, the way they move from drill to drill, how they pull together, how connected they are, it’s special and it does not happen everywhere.”

Brad Stevens Praises Bill Belichick

Stevens also said, “The one thing that the Patriots have always been great about is they don’t beat themselves. They pride themselves on that. I think the idea of that, plus doing your job or the idea of ‘everyone has a role to play in being a superstar in your role’ those are all things that coaches are talking about all the time. They just do it better than everybody else.”

As of now, the Celtics are moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics were big underdogs  against the 76ers last round; at some betting sites online, their odds were as long as +300 to win that series.

They are similarly discounted in the Eastern Conference Finals against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The just-released odds have the Cavaliers at -290 and the Celtics at +245 to advance to the NBA Finals, even though Boston has home-court advantage against Cleveland and is 7-0 in the playoffs at TD Garden.

Sportsbooks might be making a big mistake there. Stevens hasn’t learned by watching Belichick the importance of teamwork and leadership in the locker room. Having communication with everyone leads to success. Now, we can question whether or not the Patriots are good in the communication part or not. However, the Celtics seem to have great communication, and Brad Stevens has great control of his team.

Look at who the Celtics have next season. With Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back, the Boston Celtics will head to the NBA Finals to compete for an NBA Championship. Not only next year, but for many years to come. Brad Stevens is the best coach in the NBA and he can thank Bill Belichick.

The Red Sox Head to New York

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Red Sox Yankee Rivalry Heads to New York

Via FOX 61

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees begin another three-game series today. The New York Yankees are 18-4 since the bench-clearing brawl that transpired the last time these two teams faced each other. The Yankees are a game behind in the AL East, which means that series in April is why the Red Sox are currently in first place in the division. The Yankees are 14-5 at home and with the weather a lot warmer the Yankee bats might be waking up. The Red Sox are 16- 8 since the bench-clearing brawl.

The Red Sox and Yankees Head to Head

According to Boston Sports Info on Twitter, the Red Sox have 46 home runs and the Yankees have 48. In 2017, the Red Sox had 30 and the Yankees had 55 homers in the first 34 games. A big difference from last season. Mookie Betts has really been hitting the ball a lot better. It is not certain if he’ll be playing in this game because he’s dealing with a right shoulder bruise. He probably will be fine and play because this is a big series.

Mookie Betts is on Fire

Mookie Betts has 13 home runs and a batting average of .355. According to Boston Sports Info, J.D. Martinez at Yankee Stadium Martinez has 39 at-bats, three home runs, nine RBI’s, and 11 strikeouts. Stanton has had 82 at-bats, four home runs, nine RBI’s, and 11 strikeouts. For the rivalry between these two teams, it’s safe to say it’s back on.

There shouldn’t be any sleeping at these Yankee Red Sox games. The question remains: will the Red Sox and Yankee brawl continue at Yankee Stadium this week? Not according to Tyler Austin, who told ESPN, “We’re just coming out here to try to win ballgames”. Cold hands David Price will no longer pitch on Wednesday. Pomeranz is taking the mound tonight, and Porcello is being moved up to pitch Wednesday. The Red Sox should take two out of three of these games.

Looking at the Patriots Draft Picks

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Going over the Patriots Draft Picks

Via NESN.comThe Patriots waited until the seventh round to select a quarterback. Danny Etling out of LSU has worked out with Tom Brady’s throwing coaches in California and worked on his mechanics. Etling is excited to learn from the greatest quarterback of all time. However, he seemed to go under the radar in the NFL Draft, and it’s a wonder what Belichick has up his sleeve.

The Patriots Plan for the Future

Via Patriots.comhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ZWI7sQRBo

Nick Caserio spoke after the draft and explained why the Patriots took Etling: “[Etling] was a player that we spent some time with here as a part of the process. Here’s a guy, a Purdue transfer, went down to LSU and the thing about him – he played for Coach [Cam] Cameron in kind of a pro-style offense. He had some experience. The one thing he didn’t do – he didn’t turn the ball over. You look at his career production and this guy didn’t turn the ball over. I think it was 16-2 this year, a low percentage. He takes care of the ball, smart, pretty accurate thrower. There’s some good qualities and traits that we think we can work with and develop. He played against good people on a weekly basis.” We’ll see how he does and sees if he’s a fit for the Patriots. With knowing that Brady has at least two more years they really needed to draft a quarterback.

As for running back Sony Michel who they drafted 31st overall in the draft, he seems to be an explosive force in the backfield. The Patriots could not only use Michel as a running back, but also as a receiver.  The Patriots have Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead, and James White also at the running back position. In the 2017, season according to PatsPulpit the Patriots ran the ball 48% of the time. That number dropped to 36% of the time when Rex Burkhead was in the backfield.  Nick Caserio said after the draft, “We think [Michel is] a good football player, so we picked the player. He’s got pretty good skills, he’s athletic, he’s good in space, he’s a strong runner for his size.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UAtbW46JoE

Pitching Staff

The Red Sox Travel to Texas to Take on the Rangers

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The Red Sox Are on to Texas

Via Gambling SitesThe 20-8 Boston Red Sox will be in Texas to take on the Rangers this weekend. The Rangers record is 20-8, and hopefully the Red Sox bats keep coming alive. Mookie Betts has been on fire lately and had himself a three home run game against Kansas City. Last night, David Price took the mound against Mike Minor. It was nice and warm in Texas, but David Price wasn’t able to get the job done. Besides that weird outing against the Yankees, Price has pitched pretty well. However, the bats seem to be quiet when Price and even Chris Sale pitch.

The Pitching Matchups

Today, Rick Porcello gets the start against Bartolo Colon. Porcello is off to a better start than last year. Rick Porcello currently is 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA. He has only given up one home run in his four starts. The former Cy Young winner looks to have another great season like he did two years ago. It seems like Bartolo Colon has pitched since the beginning of baseball. Colon is almost 45 years old, and he’s still pitching. He has a 3.00 ERA in 31 innings so far this season.  We’ll see how much longer this guy pitches, but it doesn’t look like he’s retiring anytime soon.

Saturday Eduardo Rodriguez is going against Cole Hamels. Rodriguez was on family leave and missed three games. If Rodriguez can’t make the start, the Red Sox have Brian Johnson or Hector Velazquez. Lastly, Chris Sale will play on Sunday against Doug Fister in an afternoon game. Chris Sale hasn’t gotten the run support lately when he pitches.

The New York Yankees Are Creeping Up

This series is important, as the Yankees are creeping up right behind the Red Sox for first place. The Red Sox lead the division with a game and a half lead over the New York Yankees. This four-game series could be a difference maker in the division come Monday.

Why Can’t the Red Sox Hit When Chris Sale Pitches?

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Chris Sale Having a Rough Start with Run Support

Chris Sale had a great season during his first year in a Red Sox uniform. This season, though, Sale has a record of 2-1 after seven games. For some reason, the Red Sox can’t hit the baseball when Chris Sale pitches. So far he’s pitched 42 innings, allowed 31 hits, 11 runs, 51 strikeouts, and four walks according to baseball reference. He’s giving up four home runs too. His ERA currently is 2.14. He pitches well, but the Red Sox can’t seem to find the hitting they need to win games when he’s on the mound.

The Seven Starts Chris Sale Has Pitched

Through the seven starts Chris Sale has started, the batting average as a team is .159. The Red Sox have scored 36 runs in the seven starts that Chris Sale pitches. When Chris hasn’t pitched, the Red Sox have scored 118 runs. On April 22nd, the Red Sox were 11-0 when anyone other than Chris Sale or David Price pitches. The Red Sox are 7-5 when Chris Sale or David Price pitch.

Since the beginning of the season, the Red Sox are 17-0 when Chris Sale doesn’t pitch. When he does pitch the Red Sox are 4-3. That is a jaw-dropping stat for a guy that is supposed to be the ace on the team. Chris Sale needs the bats to perform when he pitches too, especially in October. Chris Sale and David Price need the run support if they really want to get past the first round in October. Last night the Red Sox made four errors when Chris Sale was pitching against the 8-22 Kansas City Royals.

 

The Patriots Almost Got Baker Mayfield

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The Giants and Patriots Almost Made a Trade for Baker Mayfield

Via Sports Illustrated

Believe it or not, Baker Mayfield was almost a New England Patriot, according to his agent. The Giants and Patriots were in discussion about a possible trade for the Patriots to move up to the number two spot in the Draft. But when the Browns got Mayfield, the talks stopped, and it never happened. What also didn’t happen was Lamar Jackson going to New England. That was a complete smokescreen by Bill Belichick, making people think they are into Lamar Jackson when really they wanted to get Baker Mayfield.

Baker Mayfield was the closest thing to Jimmy Garoppolo in this draft. The next head coach Josh McDaniels was really into Baker Mayfield being the heir apparent to Tom Brady. I still do believe that Belichick is leaving after this season and Josh McDaniels will be taking over starting next season. With everything going on lately, I really don’t blame Belichick for walking away. Imagine Baker Mayfield in a Patriots uniform, though. There are people comparing him to Johnny Manziel. Who knows if any of the quarterbacks will be a bust or not? For some, it goes to their head, and for others, they work their tails off to get better.

People Are Already Judging Danny Etling

Via NESN.com

People seem to want to forget that Tom Brady was taken in the sixth round at pick 199. Dan Etling is no Tom Brady, however, he’s working with Brady’s throwing coaches and that should be taken into consideration. Why is there no talk about Danny Etling? Did the Patriots draft their next quarterback in this draft? Who knows. Let’s see how Etling does before we jump to conclusions that he’s going to suck. Instead of getting Mayfield, they instead loaded up McDaniels for next season with draft picks. I don’t see Brian Hoyer with the team after this upcoming season. Then in 2020, it will be Josh McDaniels, Etling (or another quarterback), and the backup with a completely new Patriots team.

Tom Brady Respects Belichick but Feels Unappreciated

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Everyday Is Something with the Patriots

The Patriots seem to still be making headlines because of their drama. The latest flame in the fire comes from Tom Brady. Brady did an interview with Jim Gray at the Milken Institute Global Conference and was asked about if he felt appreciated by the Patriots. Brady swiftly answered with, “I plead the fifth”. Second, he was asked about the Super Bowl loss his response was “last year sucked”. I can’t really he blame him there because they could’ve won had Belichick put in the one guy on defense that could’ve turned the game around. Instead, he put it all on Tom and the offense.

Tom Brady Is the Leader of the Pack

The plead the fifth comment though was uncalled for. There is really something going on, because Tom isn’t the only one speaking this way about Belichick. My question is what happened to the Patriot Way? It used to be everything was kept in the locker room and nothing got out. The players were coached to tell the media little as possible. That ship seems to have sailed, and it looks like Tom Brady is the leader of the pack. Brady got his way when Garoppolo was traded, but that’s still not enough. He wants Alex Guerrero in the locker room too. For Brady to feel unappreciated and tell Jim Gray he pleads the fifth is a complete diva and selfish move.

Tom Brady has five heads. I believe Tom Brady is bigger than Belichick when it comes to Robert Kraft. It’s like when a kid goes to the parent that lets them do what they want. Then the other parent gets mad because the nicer one lets the kid go out. Which is what Brady did to Kraft about Brady telling Kraft to make Belichick trade Garoppolo.

Belichick then said Guerrero couldn’t be in the locker room as punishment. Now, Brady is getting his own teammates current and former on his side. At the end of the day, he knows he’s bigger than the team and he’ll say and do whatever he wants. He doesn’t care what Belichick has to say. If I’m Belichick I’d leave after this season, which is what I continue to believe is happening.

Brady Talks About His Relationship With Bill Belichick

At the end of the day, Tom Brady respects Belichick as a coach. His quote to Jim Gray yesterday about his relationship with Belichick was,”He’s very respectful to me, We’ve had a great relationship. A very respectful relationship for a long time and I feel like he’s the best coach in the history of the NFL.”

Brady went on to say “He would say, ‘look, I’m not the easiest coach to play for’ and I agree, he’s not the easiest coach to play for, but he’s the best for me. I think what he’s proven is that whatever talent that he has he maximizes talent. I mean what more can you ask of a coach than that? That what I want as a player. Belichick is an incredible coach. He’s been an incredible mentor for me. He’s taught me so much football Like I said, being a 22-year old kid to come and learn from him, I mean I wouldn’t be sitting here without his coaching.”  However, all of his loyalty is to Robert Kraft. If he really felt appreciated he wouldn’t have pleaded the fifth when asked.