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.

Mookie Betts Having a Great Season so Far

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Mookie Betts Seems More Comfortable This Season at the Plate

Boston Red Sox’s Mookie Betts celebrates his home run with Andrew Benintendi, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Anaheim Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, April 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)Mookie Betts has gotten off to a solid start this season. He has eight home runs, 18 RBI’s and a batting average of .344. Last season at this time his batting average was .293. Mookie Betts has been swinging early in the count and being more aggressive at the plate this season. Also, Betts and other players on the team are connecting with Cora a lot better than they connected with John Farrell.

Alex Cora Likes Mookie Bett’s Approach at the Plate

Betts has a hamstring injury, and it’s not certain if he’ll play against the Kansas City Royals. But overall this season Betts is playing really well. Alex Cora told WEEI earlier this month: “There’s a different approach this season I think Betts set the tempo on the first-pitch fastball of the season when he almost took it out of the ballpark in Tampa against [Chris] Archer. Instead of just working the count, taking pitches right down the middle and falling behind, he’s ready to attack from the get-go. You can see now pitchers, they know what’s going on so they have to grind from the first pitch with every at-bat. I don’t think it’s a hot stretch. I think this is the guy. Obviously, his OPS is not going to be 1.400. He’ll be over .900, and that’s a good leadoff hitter. I mean, that’s elite. That’s what we wanted from the get-go, and he’s done an outstanding job.”

The 20-7 Red Sox have the best record in baseball. They also avoided a sweep this past weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays. The question remains if Betts will be able to keep this up all season along and into October. That remains to be unseen, but he seems to be more comfortable at the plate.  The Red Sox will have their slumps and so will Betts. It’s a long season. However, It’s been a very fun and watchable team so far.

The Future Is Now for the Patriots

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The Patriots Selected a Quarterback

The New England Patriots are planning for the future. The Patriots set a record in this draft after making eight trades. Though frustrating, they now have a lot of picks in 2019. The Patriots took a quarterback Danny Etling from LSU in the seventh round. All of the Lamar Jackson talks were false and the Patriots were eyeing Etling all along. According to Albert Breer, Etling has already been working with Tom Brady’s throwing coaches in California. Danny Etling completed sixty percent of his passes at LSU and had 16 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Etling is excited to learn from the greatest quarterback of all time, saying yesterday, “It’s an opportunity to learn from the greatest quarterback. You don’t expect anything, absorb as much information as you can and continue to keep on improving and prepare for your opportunity when it comes. You just want to watch a guy who has been so great and know how he does it. … It’s such a great quarterback room. I’m so excited to be a part of it”.

Are the Patriots Doing Some Team Building for the Future?

Nick Caserio also spoke yesterday and hinted that they were eying a quarterback: “We knew we were going to add a quarterback to our team at some point, so it’s relative to what other options we might have, relative to other positions. There’s no template like, ‘Well we’re going to take one here, we’re going to take one there.’ You just evaluate the player and we think Danny has some decent traits and some decent qualities to work with, so we’ll put him in our program and see how he does”.

The Patriots are building a team for the future. They gave Brady offensive line help, and also added a running back, tight end, wide receiver. New England also added some defensive help, too. Also, they have lots of picks in next year’s draft. Josh McDaniels’s presence in the draft room is still pretty clear to me what’s still in play. After this season you could be looking at Josh being the next head coach of the Patriots.

More Protection for Tom Brady

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The Patriots Are Building a Team to Protect Tom Brady

Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SportsThe Patriots made a trade with San Francisco 49ers today. New England received Trent Brown, another offensive tackle, to help protect Tom Brady. The 49ers and Patriots also swapped the 143rd and 95th picks. No one expected the Patriots to make moves like this prior to this weekend.

It was first reported by Pro Football talk that the two teams were in trade talks early this morning. Brown was a seventh-round pick in 2015 NFL Draft.  He started ten games in 2017 and 16 in 2016. Brown is also under contract through 2018 with a salary of $1.9 million. Trent Brown had a shoulder injury which made him miss the end of the 2017 season. However, he is expected to be ready by training camp. This comes after the Patriots drafting Isaiah Wynn 23rd overall in the NFL Draft last night.

What Do the Patriots Have up Their Sleeve?

According to Mike Reiss, the offensive tackle depth chart is as follows: Marcus Cannon, LaAdrian Waddle, Isaiah Wynn, Trent Brown, Antonio Garcia, Cole Croston, Matt Tobin, Ulrick John, and  Andrew Jelks. The rest of the Patriots draft picks are as follows: In Round 2, they have picks 11 (43rd overall) and 31 (63rd overall). The Patriots in Round 5 have pick 6 (143rd overall). In Round 6,  they have picks 24 (198th overall) and 36 (210th overall).

The Patriots seem to be committed with Tom Brady, who turns 41 in August. All of his talk wanting to play till 45 may be false, but so far Belichick wants to protect him with the best players possible. Reports are saying that the Patriots aren’t impressed with this year’s quarterback class. So now they have to build an offensive line good enough so Brady doesn’t get injured. Does this mean Johnny Manziel is in play? Possibly, because there’s really nobody else out there. I don’t like Manziel, but they’ve done this to themselves. They traded the next guy to San Francisco so now they have to deal with the consequences.

Patriots’ Picks in the First Round of the NFL Draft

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Wild Night at the NFL Draft

Via UGA WireThe 2018 NFL Draft began last night and once again Bill Belichick fooled everyone. He did not pick a quarterback in the first round. Instead, the Patriots drafted two players from the University of Georgia. They drafted offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn at No. 23 and running back Sony Michel at No. 31. The Patriots filled the hole Nate Solder left at offensive tackle early.  They also addressed  running back Dion Lewis leaving. The quarterback question remains going into the second round.

Tom Brady Gets Help on Offense

Tom Brady got help in the first round with adding an explosive running back. They also added an offensive lineman to replace Nate Solder.  Running back Sony Michel had a conference call last night and said, “I’m just honored just to be able to get a call from a prestigious program like the Patriots and it was just so much excitement. No words can really describe what the feeling was like.” And Isaiah Wynn also is excited to be a Patriot saying on a conference call. “It’s awesome. Who wouldn’t want to get a phone call from them? I mean it’s great and I’m just looking forward to starting this new chapter of my life”.

Will the Patriots Select a Quarterback on Friday?

The Lamar Jackson speculation is over as he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens. He was selected with the No. 32 pick in the draft. However, Nick Caserio joked when he met the media Thursday night after the draft. Caserio said, “There are some quarterbacks left in the draft? Look, there’s a lot of good players and a lot of positions. We will re-calibrate in the morning see where we are”. Furthermore, Tom Brady turns 41 in August and fans did not like that New England didn’t select a quarterback in the first round. Remember, Tom Brady wasn’t selected until the sixth round. The top quarterbacks left in the draft are Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta, and Washington State’s Luke Falk.

Gronkowski Says There’s a Lot of Fake News

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Gronk Says ‘Fake News’ Is Being Reported

It was reported before the Super Bowl that  Rob Gronkowski was thinking about retiring. After the Super Bowl he was thinking about his career and what his plan was moving forward. Then we got that he was thinking about an acting career and sending people signs on social media with his tweets. Gronkowski on Saturday did a press conference and made a fool out of himself and the team. He talked about how much he was going to be working on his dirt bike skills and not be attending the offseason workout program.

Belichick Gave Gronk a Choice

Via CNNOn Tuesday, Gronk met with Belichick because he gave him the ultimatum: that he’s either in or out. Gronkowski said that he’s been working out and will be ready for the 2018 season, which is what he wrote on Instagram. Now, yesterday he posted a video of Patriots fans saying there is a lot of fake news being reported. I’d like to know what that is since Gronkowski is the one that started this whole thing. He’s also saying how he feels more pliable. Gronkowski is heading to the Bahamas to shoot Shark Week, but will be ready for the 2018 NFL Season.

With the NFL Draft is tonight, the Patriots had to know if he was going to be in or not. Would they have to draft a tight end? They still might, but who knows because they do need other help besides on the offensive side of the ball. I swear, since the Super Bowl every single day there’s something new to talk about with this team. It’s amazing. You have the three other teams in Boston doing well and the Patriots are still making headlines. Unreal.

Maybe some of the things being reported were blown out of proportion, however, the overall gist is there. There’s are a rift and Gronkowski was told to keep his mouth shut and get ready for the season.

 

Lamar Jackson Is Ready for the NFL Draft

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Draft Day Is Today

FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 06: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots run onto the field prior to the game between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Today is the day the NFL Draft begins. The day when dreams come true in the face of the NFL. The Patriots have hosted Lamar Jackson a few times among other prospects. The drama surrounding the team can be pushed aside for a while, and real football can be talked about. Bill Belichick is building a team for the future to have an easy transition for Josh McDaniels. What the Patriots are going to do with the 23rd overall pick remains to be unseen, but Lamar Jackson was excited when he met with Bill Belichick.

Lamar Jackson spoke yesterday in Dallas. According to USA Today, Jackson talked about Belichick, saying, “I’ve always seen him so serious. Even when he won the AFC championship, he just passed the trophy like he was so serious about it. So I was like, he’s probably going to be hard or something. But he was cool, laid back. Just wanted to talk and stuff like that, so it was pretty cool for me. We were just talking and having a conversation, and he was trying to help me. And he, like, giggled and started laughing, and I said, ‘Oh snap!’

Lamar Jackson Ready to Begin a Career in the NFL

Lamar Jackson wouldn’t mind being the next Jimmy Garoppolo. Jackson knows Garoppolo learned a lot when he was behind Tom Brady. Jackson also said yesterday, “When Brady said I’m a beast, I’m like, ‘Brady said that!?’” Brady doesn’t really come out too much and talk, but that’s one of the guys I’ve looked up to as well, playing football and just trying to learn to be a quarterback”. Nope, Brady doesn’t, so him approving of Jackson is pretty clear what could be happening tonight, even though Brady shouldn’t have a say.

Jackson also said that McDaniels and Belichick could help him grow more as a quarterback. Like I’ve said all along what’s going to happen. They are drafting a quarterback this draft to groom to be the successor to Tom Brady. At the end of the press conference, Jackson said, “I’m just happy for my name to be on their mind period, It’s cool to me. I’m cool with it in a positive way”.

Lamar Jackson Met Privately with Josh McDaniels

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Will the Patriots Draft Lamar Jackson?

Via Dallas WeeklyNot only did Lamar Jackson meet with the Patriots in Foxborough, he met privately with Josh McDaniels in South Florida according to Sports Illustrated. He also was astonished that he made Belichick laugh when he met him in Foxborough. If you want to read into this, you can. It’s pretty clear what’s going on here. When does it ever come out that McDaniels has ever met privately with a quarterback the Patriots might draft? I’ve never heard that before util now. That pretty much says Josh wants a guy he can develop to be the successor to Tom Brady. Also certain that Belichick wants to leave Josh with a good team when Josh takes over next season.

Read Between the Lines

The NFL Draft is Thursday and the word around the draft is the Patriots are interested in Lamar Jackson. The picks the Patriots have are the 23rd, 31st, 43rd, and 63rd. Tom Brady’s future realistically has about two years, then he’s done. He doesn’t want a contract extension or play until 45. He even approves if the Patriots get Lamar Jackson. I’ve said this already: a year with Bill, Brady, and Josh. Then Jackson will have a year with Brady and Josh, and then Jackson will have a new team and a new coach.

Remember What Josh Told the Boston Globe

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)The Patriots really made sure they got out that Josh McDaniels worked out with Jackson privately. Remember what McDaniels told Jim McBride from the Boston Globe?

“I wasn’t 100 percent sure what the future was. I just hadn’t had any clarity on that. So, where did I fit in? Were there any plans? I just didn’t have much clarity on what my role was here moving forward. Look, I’m privileged to have the opportunity to do that and when they kind of crystallized that — ‘Hey, here’s what we see going forward and here’s how we would like you to fit into it’ — it gave me a reason to stop and say, ‘All right, what’s the best decision for me?’ And certainly, it was difficult. But I made the decision on my own, nobody pushed me into it.’’

In other words, once he found out he was the next head coach it was clear where he needed to be. Which explains why McDaniels worked out Lamar Jackson privately in Florida.

Bill Belichick Has Had Enough

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Saturday Was the Final Straw for Bill Belichick

I wrote on April 1st Rob Gronkowski was coming back to play football for the Patriots. After Gronkowski embarrassed himself and the team on Saturday, Bill Belichick had enough with the nonsense. Belichick gave Gronkowski an ultimatum yesterday and said that he’s either with the team or not. This clown show that he’s been putting on is not fair to the players who are in the weight room every day getting ready for the season. Saturday was the last straw for Belichick, and wanted to meet with Gronkowski and his agent yesterday.

Gronkowski isn’t getting a raise. If he wants to play football for the Patriots and win, he needs to shut up and just get ready for the season. I don’t believe Gronkowski planned the meeting with his agent and Belichick. This was all Bill. He’s trying to get ready for the season and his two best players are acting like they don’t want to be there. Belichick doesn’t have time for it since he’s also trying to plan for the transition for Josh when he takes over next season.

Belichick Gave Gronkowski an Ultimatum

Gronkowski will be here until Brady retires after his contract is up. Gronkowski wants to get paid, but that isn’t happening and he’s not getting traded. Patriots fans that think Gronkowski will be getting paid are wrong. Belichick gave him an ultimatum that he’s either in or out. If he’s in, he can’t act like a clown and talk trash about the team. He also can’t be saying how much he wants to get paid. Gronkowski posted on Instagram yesterday, ” I met with coach today and informed him I will be back for the 2018 season with the Pats, I have been working out, staying in shape and feel great. Looking forward to another championship run. #bandsamakeherdance”. Really though, Bill Belichick has had enough of the nonsense.

Red Sox – Toronto Blue Jays Preview

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The Boston Red Sox Are on to Toronto

Via Boston HeraldThe Boston Red Sox head to Toronto to begin a series with the Blue Jay’s tonight. The Red Sox open the series as favorites and look to retain first place in the American League East. The red-hot Red Sox started the season with a 17-2 record averaging, 6.48 runs per game. Then the bats were silenced in Oakland on Saturday and Sunday.

The Pitching Matchup Looks like a Win for the Red Sox

Apr 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsRick Porcello will get the ball for the Red Sox tonight in the first game of the series. Porcello is 4-0 on the season and has not allowed an earned run in his last 13 innings. Going against Porcello is J.A. Happ, who has struck out 26 total batters. In Happ’s last three starts he’s 3-0 with a 4.67 ERA. Happ also has 26 strikeouts.

Eduardo Rodriguez will go against Aaron Sanchez on Wednesday night. In Rodriguez’s last three starts he’s 3-0 with a 3.45 ERA. Rodriguez has 20 strikeouts. In Sanchez’s last three starts he’s 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA and 13 strikeouts. The series finale on Thursday has Chris Sale going against Marco Estrada. In Chris Sale’s last three starts he’s 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts. Estrada is 2-1 in his last three starts. He has a 6.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

Last season when Porcello pitched four times against the Blue Jays. In total, he had a 2.74 ERA with 23 strikeouts and six walks. Rodriguez made two starts and one relief appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays last season as well. He struck out 18 batters, gave up eight walks, and had a 3.65 ERA. The ace Chris Sale was great against the Blue Jays last season. Sale went over 27 innings with 43 strikeouts. Sale’s ERA was 1.67 and only allowed four walks.

The 17-4 Red Sox should win this series over Toronto. The Red Sox have hit five grand slams so far this season. Will we see anymore during this series? That remains to be unseen, however, this team is a lot more fun to watch than last season.

 

Jimmy Garoppolo Has Learned from the Best

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Jimmy Garoppolo Taking the Patriot Way with Him

Via SFGateDespite the drama in New England, Jimmy Garoppolo has gone to San Francisco to be their next franchise quarterback. You can tell Garoppolo has taken a lot from his time with the Patriots and being under Tom Brady. Jimmy Garoppolo is also a two time Super Bowl Champion and knows what it takes to win. Garoppolo should’ve been the next guy in New England. However, football fans will see him shine in San Francisco.

Jimmy Garoppolo Sounded like Tom Brady Yesterday

Via Daily SnarkGaroppolo talked yesterday and really sounded like Tom Brady. Garoppolo gathered teammates on Saturday for extra work, saying, “We had our first one this weekend. It’s just something that I like to do. It kinds of gets us away from the coaches and everything, and allows me to talk to the receivers about specific things, or the tight ends or running backs. We try to get everyone out there that we can. I understand people have things that they have to get to. But we had a great showing this Saturday. It was good. Just to be on the same page with those guys, talking through route concepts and how they see it versus how I see it, it just gets us on the same page.”

Garoppolo also said, “You’ve got to take care of their legs. They’ve got us working pretty hard during the week, so you’ve got to be careful with that. But those guys, our receivers, tight ends and running backs came back in great shape. The conditioning part of it, it always makes my job easier when I can throw forever because those guys are willing to run. It’s nice to have that luxury.”

Garoppolo Is Ready for the Upcoming Season

Via Chat SportsGaroppolo said he didn’t learn that from Tom Brady and was really starting getting teammates together in high school for a side practice. Garoppolo’s expectations going forward are having a great OTA, then minicamp, then having a great training camp. Some Patriots habits are hard to break, according to Jim Trotter of the NFL Network. One thing’s for certain- it will be fun watching Garoppolo this season. Also, it’s a break from the Patriots drama.