3 Common Mistakes Casuals Make When Betting on NBA Games

Leave a reply

When it comes to sports betting, few leagues are as difficult to master as NBA basketball. With all the different variables that can affect the game and the unpredictability of the game itself, new bettors often make some predictable mistakes that could easily be avoided. Here are some of the most common mistakes casual bettors make when betting on NBA games.

Royalty Free Photo

Being Star Struck

We all know that the NBA is a star driven league. But ironically, there aren’t many major sports where individual stars have less of an impact on the entire team. But most casual bettors aren’t aware of that fact and will have a tendency to put their money on the team with the most star-studded line-up. They don’t pay attention to individual matchups, coaching, defensive vs offensive styles, and other things that may affect the outcome of the game. Oddsmakers know this all too well and will adjust the lines accordingly. It’s up to you as a bettor to go into the matchups more in-depth and to get a deeper understanding of the game before you even think about betting.

Assuming Fireworks All the Time

Another mistake people make when betting on NBA games is betting for teams with the most exciting play style. And it’s also because of the way the NBA is marketed. It’s all about big moments, clutch shots, close games, flashy passes and over the top dunks. But at the end of the day, the team or players who are the flashiest aren’t always the most efficient.

It’s easy to assume for a casual bettor that a team like Thunder will win against a team with great fundamentals and coaching like the Spurs or Celtics all the time, but those in the know understand that they usually won’t be able to rack up huge numbers against these types of teams. So, don’t make that mistake and try to get as many opinions as you can on each team to see who people are favouring to win and why.

Assuming the NBA is an Easy League to Bet on

For some reason, a lot of people seem to think that the NBA is easy to bet on. This ties in with what we said earlier about the league revolving around stars. Since they assume that the team with the biggest stars are always favourites, they think that they can just bet based on this factor alone. But in reality, the NBA is one of the most difficult leagues to make consistent gains on, especially if you’re thinking of betting on the point spread.

If you’re interested in betting on basketball, you should consider trying your hand at some other leagues. Sites like https://www.toals.com/ offer bets on Australian, Filipino and WNBA teams as well. You should do your homework on some of these teams and see if any of these leagues would be more advantageous for you.

Betting on basketball games can be loads of fun, but don’t assume it’ll be a walk in the park. Make sure that you do your research and test the waters with a small roll before you go all in.

Swihart

Blake Swihart’s Time Is Now

Leave a reply

This is Blake Swihart‘s moment. Granted, it’s a moment that has been 4+ seasons in the making, but it’s here nonetheless. As soon as starting catcher Christian Vazquez headed to the DL with a broken pinkie on July 8th, Red Sox nation turned their eyes to a former top prospect who had fallen on some difficult times.

If Swihart is able to deliver on his initial promise, he could be a difference maker both in the present and the future. If not, it will likely be an end to one of the more frustrating (and strange) Red Sox careers in recent memory.

A Long, Strange Trip

This crossroads has been a long time coming. Swihart was ranked #1 among all Red Sox farmhands by SoxProspects.com as late as April 9, 2015. He headed up a then-stacked minor league system that included names like Yoan Moncada, Henry Owens, Rafael Devers, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Michael Kopech. Swihart made his first start on May 2, and proceeded to slash .274/.319/.392 in 308 PA with below average defense behind the dish.

In 2016, Swihart appeared in only 16 games after defensive issues led to his relinquishing of the starting catcher position to Vazquez. Then-manager John Farrell gave him some run in left field, where he almost immediately suffered a broken ankle. That injury sidelined Swihart for the remainder of the ’16 campaign, and much of 2017 as well. In 71 games at the minor league level last season, Swihart only managed to muster a .210/.291/.306 slash.

This season, Swihart was tried out in the infield during spring training, due to lingering discomfort from that same ankle injury. While he made the 25 man roster in a utility role, he spent much of the early part of the season riding the pine. Things got bad enough that Swihart’s agent requested a trade. However, other teams weren’t exactly lining up for a failed catcher with a sub-.200 batting average.

Now Swihart is sharing catching duties with Sandy Leon, a roundabout way back to where his major league story began.

Red Sox Catching: Not Great!

Swihart’s return behind the plate comes at a time when the Sox are looking for answers there.  Since 2014, Red Sox catchers have slashed only .244/.300/.351. They are 28th in RC+, and 26th in fWAR. This season, Red Sox catchers have posted a 56 wRC+ and a -0.5 fWAR (both 29th in the bigs).

Vazquez and Leon have handled the bulk of the work at that spot for the Sox this year. Neither have an OPS over .650. Leon has also managed to post a 26.7 K%, which is only matched in it’s mediocrity by Vazquez’s .087 ISO.

Granted, catcher isn’t considered a premium offensive position. But for a team with World Series aspirations, those numbers qualify as a black hole.

Swihart Heating Up?

To be fair to Leon and Vazquez, Swihart hasn’t lit the world on fire either. He’s only mustered a .218/.288/.287 line in 111 PA this season. His ISO (.069) is even lower than Vazquez’s, and he’s striking out at almost the same rate as Leon.

However, there have been signs of life. In 23 PA since Vazquez’s injury, Swihart has reached base 10 times. If you extend that window out to June 26, he’s hitting .407/.484/.593. Over that same span, Leon is batting only .218/.283/.382. These are all tiny sample sizes, and drawing lasting conclusions from them can be dangerous. But, there’s evidence that we could be (finally) closing in on a Swihart breakthrough.

Swihart was 1-3 with a walk on Friday night vs. the Twins. His defense was unspectacular, but not detrimental.

At this point, “unspectacular but not detrimental” is all the Red Sox need from their catchers. It’ll be worth seeing whether their former top prospect can provide more than that.

Ted Williams Documentary Is a Smashing Hit

Leave a reply

American Masters aired a documentary on PBS Monday night to chronicle the life of Ted Williams. The film didn’t introduce any revelations, but they did have new color footage of Ted Williams homering in his final at-bat. Even without bringing anything new to light, the documentary was definitely worth a watch. Scanning film on one of the best hitters of all time and hearing people talk about him will never grow boring.

Playing Days

Ted Williams famously hit .406 in 1941, his third season in the big leagues. The film discussed the famous story of his refusal to sit out the final day of the season. Going into that final day, his average would have finished at .400 if rounded up. Given the option to sit and take the .400, Williams opted to play and proceeded to go 6-8 on the doubleheader, raising his average to .406.

Another famous story, which will never grow old, was when Williams returned from Korea. After not having held a bat in 456 days, Williams took batting practice at Fenway Park upon his return. After a couple line drives, Williams started launching home run after home run. At one point, he homered on 13 consecutive swings. When he returned to the playing field, Williams batted .407 and hit 13 home runs in only 91 at-bats. His OPS was an astounding 1.410. All of this was accomplished after just coming back from fighting a war.

The Final At Bat – In Color

Williams played injured in 1959 and had the only poor season of his career. Not wanting to end his career like that, Williams was determined to come back. When Tom Yawkey offered him the same pay, Williams rejected it and said he hadn’t earned it with his play, insisting on a pay cut. Can you imagine any modern player arguing for a pay cut? Williams proceeded to have an excellent season in 1960, on way to his best HR/AB ratio of his career. In his final major league game, the weather was cold and dreary and the balls weren’t traveling well. Williams had two deep fly outs in the game that likely would have cleared the fence on a warmer, dryer day. In his final at-bat, he rocked a homer. This documentary aired never before seen color footage of that home run.

Lasting Legacy

Williams was a proponent of hitting fly balls and being selective at the plate. The modern “fly ball revolution,” as it’s been termed, can be traced back to Ted Williams. Wade Boggs was interviewed in the film and gave an interesting ode to Teddy Ballgame. Boggs was struggling his senior season. He then read Ted Williams book, “The Science of Hitting.” After reading that book, Boggs batted .485 the rest of the season and was drafted by the Red Sox.

When Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966, he included in his speech notes about great Negro League players and why he hoped to see them join him in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The people at the Hall of Fame saw these notes ahead of time and asked him not to read them when he spoke. However, Williams didn’t listen. He championed the great Negro League players during his induction speech and within a few years, some of them were elected.

Ted Williams giving his Hall of Fame speech in 1966.

Personal Life

The documentary covered what a difficult person Williams was to live with. He didn’t treat his wives very well, he wasn’t a tenderly parent, and he mostly did his own thing. However, it also showed what a good person he could be. The most touching part of the film was the stories of visiting sick kids at the hospital. Teddy Ballgame refused to allow the press acknowledge his presence at these visits, which speaks to his true character. Williams always donated generously to the Jimmy Fund and visited the sick children. There was one story in particular that stood out; one day when visiting a sick child, the child gripped Ted’s finger and wouldn’t let go. Instead of forcing himself away, Williams had a nurse pull up a cot for him and he stayed by the child’s side, letting the child hold his finger until he fell asleep.

Working off of that, Williams would often go to fellow retired ballplayers, asking for donations to the Jimmy Fund. If one happened to be down on their luck, Williams would ask that they just write a ten dollar check. Once he had the check, Williams would take the account numbers from the check and have $1000 deposited into their account.

An Odd Interview

There was a peculiar moment caught on camera with Ted Williams’ daughter, Cindy. An interview with her on many topics was included in several instances of the film. She always looked into the camera, answering questions and telling stories. However, when asked about and then discussing Ted Williams “wanting” to be frozen, she never looked at the camera. The whole time she spoke, she gazed downward at the table and at her hands. It certainly gave one pause. Could there be an untold story here?

Overall Grade

The documentary was as enlightening as it was entertaining. While much of the famed folklore was recounted, some interesting glances into Williams’ personal psychic were also allowed. For any Red Sox fan, it’s a must-see. For any baseball fans, it’s a must see. Once again, the story of the greatest hitter who ever lived has been brought back to life.

Final Grade: 4.5/5 stars

Patriots Football Is Back (@steveA1127)

Leave a reply

The Patriots Have A Successful Day One Of Training Camp

The New England Patriots began training camp today. The crowd was massive and got there early to see the Patriots on the field for the first time in 2018. Bill Belichick spoke this morning about day one of training camp. He told the media, “Well, it’s a long day. It’s a big day. We have a lot of opportunities today to get better. Hopefully, we can maximize all of them or as many as possible. That’s our goal every day.” Tom Brady came out strong with the Brady chants erupting from the crowd. Julian Edelmanalso  looked good today, even though he’s coming off an ACL injury.

Tom Brady Looked Sharp

Tom Brady looked sharp today and so did Danny Etling. The rookie quarterback looked to get rid of the ball more quickly than he did at LSU. Tom Brady did have one interception on the day, but was unfazed. Julian Edelman showed no signs of coming off an ACL injury. Number 11 looked sharp on his first day of training camp. Robert Kraft came onto the field and was greeted by Brady. The Patriots have practice Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week for training camp.

Rob Gronkowski was asked if he considered holding out of camp. His response: “No. Haven’t come close to considering that. No even one bit. What I can do is keep preparing, keep showing up every day, keep doing what I got to do.” As long as Tom Brady was on the field, there was no way Gronkowski was holding out of training camp. The tight end had solid chemistry Brady today too. They connected on a few occasions.

Overall Impressions

The Patriots looked sharp today on their first day of practice. But there is still along way to go until the season. Some questions will work themselves out, like which running back will most likely be cut before the start of the season? Who will step up at the wide receiver position? Will the Patriots make another Super Bowl run?

We’ll just have to watch and see.

The #NERevs Tough Road Ahead

Leave a reply

The Revolutions season is now past the halfway mark and they still remain in a playoff position. However, the toughest part of their schedule has yet to come. According to Benjamin Baer of MLSsoccer.com, New England have the hardest schedule in the league for the second have of the season. Eight of their next 13 games will be on the road. While the Revs have only lost four road games this season, they have also only won one. With only five more home games in the regular season, where on the road will they be getting their points?

Source: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

 

Revs Three Point Opportunities

Orlando City: Orlando has been having a tough season. After jumping out to a great offseason, they were expected to go far this year. However, it has been quite the opposite so far. They have only managed to get 22 points through their first 19 games. Not to mention they are tied for 2nd for most home losses in the league this season with four.

 

D.C. United: D.C. may have a new stadium and may have signed Wayne Rooney, but they’re still D.C. United. Just like how the 49ers signed Garoppolo, they are still the 49ers. For the most part, this team is still weaker than New England. Along with the fact that Revs fans usually travel well to D.C., the team will most likely have the advantage going into D.C.

Toronto FC: Toronto FC is the joke of the league at the moment. They have gone from MLS Cup champions to the bottom of the table. The Revs were able to beat TFC at Gillette, even with Mark Geiger as the ref. So a win in Toronto is definitely possible.

Philadelphia Union: The Revs team is a completely different team that went down to Philly in March. This team now has an identity and a system. The Revs are ranked higher in the standings as well. A major boost the team is getting; as opposed to 72 traveling fans, they will be backed up by about 1,000 fans from around New England.

Revs One Point Opportunities

Real Salt Lake: This game will be a tough one for the Revs. As we speak, RSL has only lost one home game this season. Along with this, they have more points than the Revs, but only by two. Overall, these teams are very even and will definitely be a tough match.

LAFC: LAFC will be another difficult bout for New England, even more difficult than RSL. LAFC has yet to lose a game at home this season. So how can the Revs get a point? It’s the fact that LAFC has five home wins, yet four draws. LAFC is definitely a better team than the Revs, but those four draws are glaring.

Zero Point Outcomes

Photo by Keith Nordstrom

Atlanta United: Do I need to explain? The Revs lost 7-0 to Atlanta last year, and Atlanta is currently atop the East and Supporter shield. Not to mention the Revs couldn’t even beat Atlanta at home and could only muster a draw.

NYCFC: NYCFC are right behind Atlanta in the shield and are having a great season. At home, NYC is undefeated and have only had one draw which came at the hands of Atlanta. The Revs chances in New York don’t look good. But after all, this is MLS. And as we all know, anything can happen.

 

The Revs will look to end their three game losing streak when they play Orlando on August 4th. With the new signing of Cristhian Machado and possibly more to come, the Revs look will look to get back to their winning ways.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Special Teams

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on the Patriots compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the special teams. The Pats special teamers have not changed that much over the years, but it could be different this year. They did not lose any key special teamers, but they added an undrafted rookie punter.

Stephen Gostkowski #3 (2006-Present):

Stephen Gostkowski is the second longest-tenured Patriot player behind Tom Brady. He is entering his thirteenth year for the team this upcoming season. Gostkowski was drafted in the fourth-round in the 2006 NFL Draft and was immediately expected to replace Adam Vinatieri. Over his career, Gostkowski has played in 184 games. He has 340 FGM on 388 FGA, and 593 XPM made on 599 XPM. He holds the all-time record for most consecutive extra-points made with 479. Gostkowski is a four-time pro bowler, two-time first team All-Pro, one-time second team All-Pro, and is 18th in all-time scoring in NFL history.

Gostkowski has proven to be one of the best-kickers in NFL history over his career. His career has been weird the past few years, missing more extra points than usual. One of his misses came in the AFC Championship in 2015, which cost the Pats the game. With Gostkowski being one of the best kickers in the league, coupled with the Pats not having another kicker, he is a virtual lock to make the team.

Ryan Allen #6 (2013-Present):

Ryan Allen is entering his sixth year in the NFL and for the Patriots. He has been the starting punter and holder for the Pats ever since he entered the league. Allen has played in all 80 games in his career. He has 345 punts, 45.3 yards per punt, and 127 punts inside the 20.

https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/948785960510205952

As a left-footed punter, Ryan Allen is exactly the type of player the Patriots value. However, last year was his worst year as a pro. He only averaged 43 yards per punt. He is more known for pinning the opponents back inside their own 20 yard line, but he sometimes cuts a punt too short. Also, he has been shaky as a holder the past few seasons. Allen will have some competition this year as he is not the only punter on the roster.

Matthew Slater #18 (2008-Present):

Matthew Slater is entering his eleventh season in the NFL and for the Pats. He was the 153rd overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA. Slater has been one of the best, if not the best, special-teamer of all-time. As a returner, Slater has 35 returns, 637 yards, and 0 TD. He makes his money as a gunner on special teams. Over his career, he has 53 special teams tackles and 1 forced fumble. He has been recognized as a seven-time pro bowler, four-time first team All-Pro, one-time second team All-Pro, and a two-time Super Bowl champion.

https://twitter.com/fearthe_beard11/status/975122307424268288

Slater has been a captain ever since the 2011 since. He is quite the vocal leader. He was a free agent this past offseason. It looked like Pittsburgh was going to sign him. Instead, Slater resigned with New England on a two-year deal. There is really no chance that he will be released.

Joe Cardona #49 (2015-Present):

Joe Cardona is entering his fourth year in the NFL and for the Patriots. He was drafted 166th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of the Naval Academy. This made Cardona only the fourth pure long-snapper selected in the NFL Draft, and second for the Pats. Cardona has played in all 48 games in his NFL career so far, and has made contributions in both of the Super Bowls that he has played in.

Cardona has been a very good long snapper for New England in his career. Being one of the best long-snappers in the league, he will most likely make the roster.

Corey Bojorquez (Rookie):

Corey Bojorquez is the only addition to the Patriots special teams groups this summer. Bojorquez was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico State. He started 25 games in his last two years at NMSU. In those games, he had 116 punts and 45.1 average yards per punt.

Bojorquez is a lefty punter. He got a spot with the team after his tryout and can give Ryan Allen a real run for that punter spot.

 

Overall, the Patriots consistently have one of the best special teams in the entire NFL. It looks like this trend will only continue this season.

mccourty

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Safeties

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on the Patriots compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the safeties. The Pats have kept their main group of safeties in tact while adding two via free agency.

Devin McCourty #32 (2010-Present):

Devin McCourty is the leader of the Patriots defense. He is now heading into his ninth year in the NFL and for the Patriots. McCourty started his career in New England as a cornerback. In his rookie season he had 73 tackles, 17 PBUs, and 7 INT. The next season saw McCourty start in all 16 games, all the while earning a pro-bowl nod and second team All-Pro honors. McCourty spent his next two seasons at cornerback where he had 159 tackles, 25 PBUs, and 7 INT. He was selected as a second team All-Pro in 2012.

McCourty changed his position to free safety in the 2013 offseason due to the departure of Patrick Chung. He spent his next six seasons at his new position, playing and starting in 77 games. In those games, McCourty had 393 tackles, 35 PBUs, and 6 INT. This span included 2 selections to the second team All-Pro team, and one selection to the Pro-Bowl. He had also performed in the playoffs, and in the 19 games he had played he had 84 tackles and 2 INT.

With McCourty being the leader of the defense over his career, the Pats had a big decision to make. It was either resign Darelle Revis or keep Devin McCourty. They went with McCourty; he signed a five-year 47.5 million dollar contract that offseason. With him being the vocal leader for the Patriots, I don’t see anyway of getting cut.

Duron Harmon #21 (2013-Present):

Duron Harmon is now entering his sixth season in the NFL and for New England. He is a former third-round pick out of Rutgers University and has played in almost every game in his career. Over his five-year career, Harmon has missed one game and played in 79 games. Harmon has racked up a total of 114 tackles, 20 PBUs, and 11 INTs thus far. He also has 13 tackles and 3 INTs in his 13 playoff games. Harmon was a key part in the 2014 Super Bowl team. He helped cap off the comeback against Baltimore with a game-sealing INT.

Harmon got himself into trouble this offseason by getting arrested for trying to smuggle marijauna into Costa Rica. That being said, Harmon has been the ball-hawking safety the Patriots needed all these years. With guys like Chung and McCourty excelling at open-field tackling, Harmon brings something different. He has come up in the clutch so many times and has evolved into a defensive leader alongside McCourty. Harmon is more than likely going to make the roster this upcoming season.

Patrick Chung #23 (2009-2012, 2014-Present):

Patrick Chung is now in his tenth year in the NFL and ninth for New England. Chung was the 34th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. His first four years in the NFL were successful. He played in 50 games, amassing 231 tackles, 19 PBUs, and 7 INT. Chung became a free agent in the 2013 offseason and signed a three-year deal with the Eagles. Chung’s time in Philly was uneventful; he had 63 tackles and 3 PBUs, and later was released by the team. Chung came back to New England after his release and played in 63 games. He had 345 tackles, 28 PBUs, and 3 INT.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/929926707561336832

Chung has split time at strong safety, nickel corner, and linebacker in his recent years in New England. He is a very versatile defensive player and superb at open-field tackling. Overall, Chung is a key-piece in the Pats secondary and he has a very good chance of making the team.

Jordan Richards #37 (2015-Present):

Jordan Richards is entering his fourth-year in the NFL and for the Patriots. Richards was the 64th overall pick by New England in the 2015 NFL Draft. Richards’ first two years saw him appear in 25 games, in which he had 20 tackles and 2 PBUs. He found a bigger role last season, playing in all 16 games and piling up 22 tackles and 1 PBU. He started in Super Bowl 52 against Philadelphia due to the Malcolm Butler benching. Richards was awful in this game. He missed numerous tackles and let up big plays.

As a hybrid safety, Richards brings some value to the team. However, he did let up so many plays last year and missed so many tackles. A lot of Pats fans cannot wait to see him gone, but he may have a legitimate chance of making the team yet again.

Eddie Pleasant #26 (2018-Present):

Eddie Pleasant was signed by New England on July 24, 2018 as an unrestricted free agent. Pleasant is entering his seventh season in the NFL and first for New England. Pleasant spent his first six years in the NFL for the Houston Texans, playing in 78 games. During that time, Pleasant had 99 tackles, 17 PBUs, and 3 INT.

Pleasant will head into training camp competing with strong safeties like Chung, Richards, Ebner, and others. It will be tough for him to make the team, especially after getting signed so late into the offseason. The odds are stacked against him.

Damarius Travis #39 (2017-Present):

Damarius Travis is entering his second year in the NFL and for the Pats. Travis was picked up by New England in 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota. He had a good career for the Gophers, playing in 39 games and notching 189 tackles, 13 PBUs, and 4 INT. He went on to have a successful preseason for the Patriots last year, playing in all four games. Travis had 19 tackles, 1 FF, and 1 FF, which secured him a spot on the practice squad.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/903402749877944320

Travis is a sleeper to make the team next year. Travis very well could make the roster, especially with the disappointment Richards has been.

Nate Ebner #43 (2012-Present):

Nate Ebner is entering his seventh year in New England. Ebner was picked up in 2012 by the Pats as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State. He has proven to be one of the best special-teamers in the NFL since then. He has played in 82 games over the course of his career, mostly as a special-teamer. Ebner has lead the team in special teams tackles numerous times in his career. He was recognized as a second team All-Pro behind teammate Matthew Slater in 2016.

Ebner’s ability to be coachable and excel in his role as a special-teamer has caught the eye of Bill Belichick:

“His development has really been outstanding. I would probably put him in the, not the all-time top, but maybe in the top-five percent all time of players that I’ve coached, from where they were in college to how they grew in the NFL. [He] has adapted in a relatively short amount of time to the knowledge of our defense, to the understanding of opponents’ offenses, to instinctiveness and reading and recognition at a position that he plays right in the middle of the field, which is among the most difficult – inside linebacker and safety – where the number of things that can happen is the greatest.”

Ebner missed all of 2017 with a knee injury. But he will most likely make the team next year due to his special teams acumen.

A.J. Moore (Rookie):

A.J. Moore was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent this offseason. Moore spent his college days at Ole Miss, playing in 39 games in four years. He totaled 132 tackles, 2 sacks, and 5 PBUs.

Moore is at a disadvantage because he is an undrafted rookie. His ability to cover receivers has never been that good, yet he is a solid tackler. With guys like Chung, Richards, Travis, and Pleasant all vying for roster spots, there is virtually no chance he makes the team.

 

The Pats will have a few tough decisions to make with this safety group. Guys like Richards, Ebner, and maybe even Chung could be gone by Week 1.

 

Tom Brady – The Ultimate Fighter

Leave a reply

Tom Brady is ready to embark on his next challenge this September. He will have to overcome many different obstacles along the way. This is nothing new to Brady though; he’s been fighting his way toward greatness his entire life and it won’t change in 2018.

FROM THE BEGINNING 

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

His fight for football greatness began in high school, where Brady wasn’t good enough to be the starter on a winless team that had zero touchdowns. He eventually got the starting job as a junior and held it until he graduated. Brady wasn’t getting much attention from colleges during his senior year, so he made highlight tapes of himself to send to schools he wanted to attend. Tom’s tapes worked, as many different colleges around the country started showing interest. Tom decided on the University of Michigan, which again led Brady into another battle he would have to fight. Starting his college career, Tom was once again a backup for 2 years. It’s hard to believe now, but the GOAT was seventh on the Wolverines depth chart at one point. He continued his hard work, eventually moving up the depth chart-only to have to share time with Drew Henson.  Brady was still fighting for his position, leading his team to multiple comebacks, earning the nickname of the Comeback Kid along the way. He won the Orange Bowl in Tom Brady fashion, leading his team back from two 14 point deficits. Sound familiar, Patriot fans?

TOM TAKES HIS TALENTS TO THE PATS

Courtesy of the Boston Globe

After fighting his way through high school and college, Tom’s professional start would be more of the same. With his combine performance not going over well with scouts, he had to sit and wait while 198 other players were drafted ahead of him. His deeply ingrained work ethic helped him move up the Patriots depth chart from number four to Drew Bledsoe’s backup. After Mo Lewis knocked Bledsoe out, Brady’s hard work was about to pay off. He saw his opportunity and would fight harder than ever to not be a backup again. Five Super Bowls and three MVPs later, Tom Brady is now fighting against something that has never been defeated.

FATHER TIME

Brady has been beating Father Time for a few years now, winning SBs at ages 37 and 39. He was MVP of the league at 40 while breaking his own SB records. It seems to be pushing it, right? Well not for this guy. He’s always found a way to beat whatever was in front of him. Brady’s turning 41 in August. With no Julian Edelman for a month, a whole new cast of teammates, and nature doing its thing, this will be Tom’s biggest fight. I expect the same results from the man who can’t seem to lose. We have been and are watching the greatest QB and fighter the NFL has ever seen. Brady will not stop until he gets what he needs, and that’s the next ring. Brady’s on a mission for more SBs, and we get to watch history. Make no mistake about Tom Brady; he wasn’t handed anything. He’s earned it.

Eovaldi

Sox Make Big Splash Before Trade Deadline, Acquire Nathan Eovaldi

Leave a reply

Less than 24 hours after the New York Yankees reportedly acquired former all-star closer Zach Britton from the Orioles, the Boston Red Sox made a corresponding move of their own. Nathan Eovaldi, the current Tampa Bay Rays’ flame throwing righty and former Yankee, is shipping up to Boston in exchange for triple-A prospect Jalen Beeks.

Let the AL East war of attrition begin.

Eovaldi

Courtesy of draysbay.com

Out With The Old, In With The New

While Beeks had his chances with the big league Sox this season, he failed to make much out of them. His 2018 MLB stat line sports an 0-1 record with a 12.79 ERA, having allowed 9 earned runs through 6.1 innings pitched. Though he is still young (25 years old) and still has some big league potential (just ask the Rays), Dave Dombrowski decided that the Sox can do better without him.

Out goes the flailing prospect, in comes a ready-made starter.

For now, Nathan Eovaldi comes over to Fenway with some high upside and some notable baggage. While he is known for his high heat that can occasionally eclipse 100 mph, he’s proven throughout the years to be quite hittable. Over his career, he is 41-50 with a 4.22 ERA, and a 1.35 WHIP.

That being said, Eovaldi has shown at times this season that he can absolutely bring it. In his latest start on July 8th against the Mets, the righty surrendered just one hit through 7 full innings of work while allowing no bases on balls and striking out nine batters. He was nothing short of dominant, and it stands to reason that Dombrowski was watching all along.

Rotation Remedy?

Now, with Eovaldi providing a significant and immediate upgrade to the Sox rotation, this team is primed for the postseason. It remains to be seen where Eovaldi will slot in the rotation. But odds are he will find a home either in the 4th or 5th spot. Ahead of him are clear favorites like Chris Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello. From there, it gets a bit hairy. From the looks of it, Eovaldi joins the mix of Eduardo Rodriguez, Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright, and Brian Johnson. The former three are dealing with varying levels of injury concerns and waning self-confidence. Johnson figures to be the only level-headed, healthy of the bunch.

That leaves a clear window for Eovaldi to jump right through. The backend of the rotation is for his taking, so long as he can perform up to par.

Bring Him Home To Beantown

Sox fans will be waiting in anticipation for Eovaldi’s first start. The only thing for certain is that Alex Cora has some tough decisions to make with his pitching staff.

Bill Belichick Won’t Answer Anything From Past Seasons

Leave a reply

Bill Belichick Won’t Answer Questions From Last Season

Bill Belichick is ready for another football season to start. Training camp begins Thursday and he’s in midseason form with his press conferences. Belichick will never answer questions from previous seasons or talk about past players. When asked about the Malcolm Butler Super Bowl benching, he replied, “I’m focused on doing the best that I can for the 2018 Patriots.” Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy asked and pressured Belichick for the answer. But Belichick wasn’t about to go there.

Bill Belichick Didn’t Deny He Was Texting Jimmy Garoppolo

https://twitter.com/IanSteeleABC6/status/1022107381600149505

Belichick was also asked about texting Jimmy Garoppolo last season. His response: “Yeah… those are things that happened months ago.” Clearly, he did text Garoppolo last season after his wins in December. Belichick says he has lots to improve on with his coaching style. Is one of those benching a player that would help you win a Super Bowl? What’s interesting is not one question about Brady was asked throughout that whole press conference. Brady turns 41 in August and is coming off an MVP season. Belichick wouldn’t talk about contracts or the Malcolm Mitchell situation.

Garoppolo Part of Belichick’s Legacy?

Belichick is a great coach but his ego has also gotten in the way recently. Felger and Mazz made a great point yesterday: Jimmy Garoppolo is part of Belichick’s legacy. If Garoppolo goes on to win a Super Bowl, that’s a reflection of Belichick for drafting him and making him the next great quarterback in the league. That is why Belichick is so high on Garoppolo and talked him up so much. Belichick drafted Tom Brady and won a Super Bowl he then drafted Garoppolo and could have done the same thing. It’s like Theo Epstein going to the Red Sox and winning a World Series then going to Chicago and following suit.

Everyone knew Belichick wasn’t going to talk about any previous season at all. Belichick is focused on the 2018 season and that’s all he cares about with the media. He might still text Garoppolo, but that won’t stop him from coaching the Patriots to put them in the best position to win.