Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Recap

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A four game series versus the Orioles will take place Thursday through Sunday. The Orioles are in last place in the AL East, and the Sox are tied for first place with the New York Yankees. This weekend will also mark the showdown of Mookie Betts and Manny Machado, the top two leaders in the home run race for the MLB. Dustin Pedroia, Austin Maddox, and Tyler Thornburg will all play in Rochester this weekend with minor league affiliate Pawtucket Red Sox. The Red Sox look to keep their lead and overrule the Yankees to be sole leader of the AL East. David Price will be up first on the mound Thursday night. Then Pomeranz, Porcello, and Rodriguez will follow.

Price vs. Gausman – a Full Game for Price

David Price had himself quite the night. He pitched nine innings in under 100 pitches, and came out with a win. Price struck out eight batters and let up only five hits. J.D. Martinez hit a two run homer in the first, and Xander Bogaerts hit a three run homer in the fifth, providing Price with plenty of run support. Showalter didn’t hesitate to wait for Bogaerts to finish rounding the bases before speed walking to take Gausman out. The Orioles skipper was so in the moment he did not even realize that Bogaerts hadn’t even made it home. Kevin Gausman pitched a little under five innings, letting up six runs and eight hits, striking out six and walking two. Boston won their second straight game after beating the Oakland Athletics 6-4 on Wednesday to avoid a three game sweep. Baltimore was 5-7 coming in.

“They’re a free-swinging team,” said Price, who threw just 95 pitches. “You can go out there and do that or you can go out there for three innings and give up a bunch of runs.”

”We just got into some sticky situations where we just had to dig ourselves out of a hole and we just couldn’t,” Susac said.

“He was amazing,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He was outstanding. You saw it. Bad swings, up, down, in and out, change up, cutter, sinkers … that was fun to watch.”

Pomeranz vs. Cobb – Cobb Takes His First Win in an Orioles Jersey

The Orioles beat the Red Sox 7-4, ending Baltimore’s 13-game road losing streak. Cobb held the Red Sox to three runs and ten hits over six innings. It was Alex Cobb’s first game as an Orioles pitcher, he previously spent the past 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. Drew Pomeranz only lasted four innings, getting pulled after the Orioles scored four in the fourth. Pomeranz let up seven hits and walked three. He struck out a season-low of two. Mookie Betts doubled twice and hit his 14th homer this season. One day after Machado took the AL lead with his 14th homer, Betts tied him with his solo shot in the third and his three-hit night raised his American League leading batting average to .371.

 

“He’s a dangerous combination right now,” Cobb said of Betts. “Betts is just locked in. He’s where every ballplayer strives to get to.”

“I can’t remember the last time we won a game on a road,” said Machado after the Orioles win.

“It’s just pretty frustrating,” Pomeranz said. “You put so much time and effort into it and you want to throw a good game for your team, especially the way our offense is. Just trying to keep us in the game, and I didn’t do that tonight.”

Porcello vs. Bundy – Mookie Betts Is Still the Best in the MLB

Betts hit a two run homer before Andrew Benintendi followed with a homer of his own in the fifth inning, and the Red Sox beat the Orioles 6-3 on Saturday night. The rain was not enough to stop Mookie from having himself a night. Mookie is hitting a major-league best .368 with 15 homers and 32 RBI’s out of the lead off spot for the Sox. Rick Porcello gave up three runs over six innings, with nine strikeouts, and three walks. Alvarez’s two run homer got it to 4-3 in the sixth, but Benintendi’s single made it 6-3 in the seventh. Craig Kimbrel captured his 13th save of the season. Eduardo Rodriguez is set to start against his former team on Sunday.

“It’s incredible. It’s a lot of fun to watch. I don’t know what to say,” pitcher Rick Porcello said. “When he gets his pitch, he’s not missing it. When he doesn’t get his pitch, he’s not missing it.”

“He’s in a groove right now. But, it’s not like he’s hot-hot,” Benintendi said. “It feels like he can get hotter.”

Rodriguez vs. Hess – the Sox Take the Series Win over Orioles

Eduardo Rodriguez held the Orioles scoreless over almost six innings to earn the win. Rodriguez let up nine hits with no walks and seven strikeouts, improving his record to 4-1 and lowering his ERA to 4.13. J.D. Martinez recorded his eighth career multi-homer game and first with the Red Sox. He led off the second inning with a first-pitch homer to left then added a two-run shot in the fifth to tie Mookie Betts for the Major League lead in home runs with 15. Mitch Moreland doubled before Martinez hit his second homer of the day. His first came in the second inning. Andrew Benintendi hit his fifth home run of the season to bring both himself and another runner in to score. The Sox got the win 5-0 to end the series and this home stand.

Up Next

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia went zero for three in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday and he will play at some point in the next week.  Alex Cora said he’d like to see Pedroia play consecutive games before coming back to the majors. The Sox are 31-15 and hold first place in the AL East. The Red Sox will travel to Tampa Bay for a three game series versus the Rays, and then return home for a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves.

Sources

MLB

ESPN

NESN

Red Sox Twitter

Statcast

 

The “Big Man” Factor: The Celtics’ Missing Piece

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Now or never

Make no mistake about it, the memorable 2018 run for this Celtics squad ranks up there with the team’s history. From young talent to cinematic drama, The Celtics have done its part to remain among the elite. With the setting for the future becoming more clear, Danny Ainge put the pieces and personnel together to excite and deliver. To somewhat no avail though, as a championship seems to be the in-reach goal yearly, Gang Green hasn’t seen the Finals since 2009-2010. Eight years is a long time for Celtics fans, and it could be longer. Big Al’s been essential, and the group of young guns? Stellar. But the need for a young, pure big man is what the team might need to make it over the almost decade long hump. Easier said than done. Gordon Hayward will be back, as will Irving, back to himself in no time.

Having short, easy-to-break contracts is perfect for the Celtics. Two huge names come to mind for Boston, with K.A.T. not enjoying the cold in Minnesota anymore, and Anthony Davis tired of losing in New Orleans. Cousins may even be attractive as he brings that no-bull you-know-what attitude, but unlikely unless in a sign and trade. The jury’s still out as we don’t know his plans for New Orleans and signing him outright isn’t possible. LeBron’s the brick wall in the east, and both Philly and Milwaukee are right on the Celtics’ heels. Let’s explore two ideas that would intrigue Boston fans, but satisfy the loss of a potential beloved player. Time to rip off the band aid.

Karl Anthony-Towns – C

KAT Attack

Baby Shaq is something that comes to mind with this guy. A seven-foot house down low, and smooth as silk outside. Ok, maybe not quite Shaq, but nonetheless as dominant as we’ve seen since a young Dwight Howard (RIP). Since entering the league, Karl-Anthony Towns proved an intimating and ferocious presence for the NBA landscape. He doesn’t let a shot get by without being around and if you give him the ball, move. Drafted three years ago, his numbers have seen an uptick as he continues to grow into his own. Shooting an astounding 55% from the floor on average, a 25.1 PPG/12.3 RPG campaign in ‘16-‘17 really secured his name on the board. He saw a drop at 21.3 PPG/12.3 RPG in ‘17, but the emergence of Andrew Wiggins and addition of Jimmy Butler took that away a little bit.

Still, the kid’s a beast and one of the best young talents the NBA has to offer. The Celtics would breeze through the East with the addition of KAT, easily. Al swings to the 4, Barnes/Monroe/Theus help out the front court off the bench. Brown comes through from the 6th man or even start at SG, and Smart the 7th. Imagine that starting line up? Match made in heaven really. Interesting note, Al Horford and KAT’s moms are BFF’s, and KAT mentions Horford as a mentor. Hmm.

Tough Tradeoffs

Here’s the tough part, Jayson Tatum has to go. Both he and Brown undoubtedly have been at the center of it all for the Celtics, but Brown wouldn’t get the juices flowing for Minnesota with Jimmy Buckets starting, Wiggins on the wing, and Jamal Crawford off the bench. Jeff Teague will need a back-up and that’s where Terry Rozier’s value could sweeten the pot. Wiggins also isn’t happy in Timberwolves Town, so Tatum would be a better replacement. C’s could add both Sacramento’s 2019/LA’s lottery-protected pick in 2019 to get the deal done. Towns only makes $6 MIL year and Tatum $5 MIL. Add Roziers $2 MIL and you got yourself a blockbuster.

Tatum is limited with his quickness and athleticism, so at best he may translate to a Paul Pierce, which still isn’t bad. But I’d rather have Baby Shaq then Pierce right now.

Minnesota receives:

SF – Jayson Tatum

PG – Terry Rozier

2019 1st round pick from SAC

2019 1st round lottery protected from LAC

Boston receives:

C – Karl-Anthony Towns

Anthony Davis – C

AD Busts Out in the Bayou

When you’re in the MVP discussion, you have to be pretty good to even get a mention. After bringing the New Orleans Pelicans to the second round in the playoffs, first in franchise history, it was no doubt Anthony Davis put the bayou on his back and soared through the NBA. One of —  if not the most —  prolific big man the league has today, unquestionably. Throw the guy an ally-oop and watch your head. Out on the perimeter? Good luck. On the block? Thank you, come again. You will not stop this guy point blank. 5x all-star, 2x All-NBA and 3x block champ, Davis’ 28.1 PPG/11.1 RPG has gained him the notoriety he deserves. Adding to that, he managed 28 PPG/11.8 RPG in ‘16-‘17 and 24.3 PPG/10.3 RPG in ‘15-‘16, which earned his way to the front of the young NBA culture.

He’s a freak with a crazy wingspan and game altering defense. Another Kentucky product like Towns, he’s equally, if not better, as good a defender and offensive producer. Listed at 6’11, he’s probably closer to 7’. With all of the above into account, you’re definitely going to have to give up a bit more to get him. Rozier’s value can be used since NO has a PG issue looming with Rondo, plus Brown would fit nice with Jrue Holiday and Cousins if he comes back. But who else would you add?

AD makes upward of $23M a year, so giving up younger players with small contracts won’t leave much meat on the bone for the Celtics. That leaves Hayward, Irving and Horford as the most available pieces to trade away. Irving isn’t going anywhere, and Hayward signed a stay-put contract.

Al Horford is aging, no matter how supportive he’s been to the Celtics success. Still, second on the team at $27.7M a year, you save money sending him away, and gain what could be a Hall-of-Fame big man in Davis. To secure his services, adding Jaylen at $5M and Rozier at $2M could just make it happen. Throw a pick or two depending on how greedy New Orleans can be, but they have a right with Anthony Davis. NO adds E’twuan Moore at $8.5M which still saves the Celtics $2M.

Ainge doesn’t like a luxury tax and keeps Boston’s books clean for the most part. Moore could add 12 PPG a game off the bench, and Boston keeps Tatum. The bro wants to win, and with Rondo/Cousins free agents, AD might take his talents to Boston Harbor instead. Al is loved, but Danny doesn’t care about feelings. Break out the beads and masks, it could be a party in Boston.

New Orleans receives:

C – Al Horford

SG – Jaylen Brown

PG – Terry Rozier

2019 1st round pick SAC

2019 1st round lottery protected pick LAC

Boston receives:

C – Anthony Davis

SF – E’twaun Moore

Al Horford – Keep ‘em

Al

Master Horford Leads Young Grasshoppers

The Godfather has showed his vet status as the playoffs progress. A steady 12.9 PPG/7.4 RPG got it done on a nightly basis. He was a leader in the locker room with the experience to pass off to the young guys, all while keeping them grounded in times of turmoil. His stats don’t say “look at me”, but enough to make the all-star team and currently two games away from the Finals, somewhere he’s never been. Registering 53 10+ point games with 11 putting up 20+, he also gave Boston 14 10+ rebounding games. He passes pretty well too for a big man, and he doesn’t demand the ball like an Anthony-Towns or Anthony Davis. He’s also not the worst on defense, having 23 multi-block nights.

You could send a Terry Rozier off for a pick somewhere mid-teens, or package something with Marcus smart for something a little higher, but the big men in this draft aren’t much more than DeAndre Ayton and Mohamed Bamba. Wendell Carter and Omari Spellman are big college names, but harder to tell if their non-traditional size at C will bode well next the NBA.

Its hard to find someone who has the resume Al Horford does. Older guy who’s seen some things, but wants to win before it’s over. Young guys respect him, coaches love him. That Kyrie/Horford pick and pop was excellent.  Imagine adding Hayward on the wing ready to launch from a sharp eyed big passing off the block. Ainge is known for trading a previous Big Al from Boston for a one Kevin Garnett, so will he do the same for the sake of the crown?

Celtics get:

An expeinced veteran who’s still servicable, and will anchor down a locker room. Great tutor for the already successful young core. Possibly a draft pick for right scenario without breaking up youth.

*Bleep* or get off the pot

Win some, lose some

With hopes of a 2018 title run, even if they manage to get past the king and all his men, Golden State or Houston could show why Irving and Hayward are missed. That’s not a shot at The Celtics, but to get this far has been one Hail Mary short of a miracle. They outlasted The Greek Freak, broke The Process, and have shoved their flag in The Land. Will it be enough to make it home?

Not so likely. Monroe/Baynes have been mediocre to say the most. Aside from Hordford, Boston has seen lack luster rebounding and down low defense. When Al comes out of the game, The Celtics heavily rely on the wing players and long-bomb three’s. Yes, it’s worked up to now, but how long can it last? They’re going to need a big man day in and day out that’s younger whos ready to shake and move.

My gut says go with KAT. Youthful, hungry, and would put the NBA on notice in a place like Boston. I think AD could do more, but his super-star element might take away from the Celtics core. You lose Taytum, but gain 3,4,5,6 championships? That big three of KAT, Irving, Hayward? My goodness.

That’s what I think would best benefit the Celtics best. Could AD be that bright spot? Will Ainge make the blockbuster move for Towns? Right now the stars are aligned for both of these big men to conquer another coast and move on to greener pastures. Pun intended. Hopefully DA sees the value in what a big man like those two can bring to an already dynamic, high-caliber team.

 

Please follow me on Twitter at @JaxBrown725

Why It May Be a Good Idea to Trade Kyrie Irving

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The Boston Celtics have performed way beyond expectations in these playoffs. Without Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving they have been able to beat good teams. Everyone said they would lose to the Bucks. Well, the Celtics beat them in seven games. They said the same about the 76ers. That series only lasted five games. With these injuries, other players had to step up their games, and one player in particular has really ramped up his play. Terry Rozier has become somewhat of a legend in Boston, averaging an impressive 17.4 PPG and 5.6 PPG. This could be an opening for a new point guard in Boston. Here is why it may be a good idea to trade Kyrie Irving:

Image result for kyrie irving terry rozier

Credit: USA Today

Durability

Kyrie Irving does not have a respectable track record when it comes to health. Irving has never played more than 75 games in a season in his career. In four out of seven seasons, including 2017-2018 with the Celtics, he didn’t play more than 60 games. He has many injuries over the years, including the knee surgery he’s currently dealing with. Type in to Google “Kyrie Irving Injuries” and you’ll find a long list of injury problems he’s had since 2013.

On the other hand, Terry Rozier has only had two injuries in his three-year career. These injuries were minor and he only missed one game for each. On top of all of that, he is two years younger than Kyrie.

Contract

Irving signed five-year, $94.3 million deal with the Cavaliers in 2015. After next season, Kyrie has a player option, so there is a great chance he could leave. The worst thing to happen would be for the Celtics to not get any value from Kyrie before he becomes a free agent. Also, it would cost a lot of cap space to lock him up with an extension, because, well, Kyrie Irving is Kyrie Irving.

The Celtics have Terry Rozier locked up for next season, plus he has a qualifying offer for the season after. He is much less of cap hit, for his AAV (adjusted annual value) is $16 million less than Kyrie.

Value

Do you know the phrase “strike while the iron is hot”? Well, that iron is burning hot in terms of a Kyrie Irving trade. If Irving had played all 82 games, he most definitely would’ve been a contender for the MVP award. Irving put up great numbers this season, averaging 24.4 PPG on 49.1 FG% and 40.8 FG3%. Also, Irving is only 25 years old. With his trade value, you could get almost anyone, including Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard. That would make the Celtics instant championship contenders, especially if LeBron James leaves the Eastern Conference.

Maybe Terry Rozier is the future point guard of the Boston Celtics. Perhaps it’s time to trade Kyrie Irving.

Down on the Farm- 5/12-5/18

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*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA). Also, the Portland Sea Dogs (AA),  the Greenville Drive (A), and Salem Red Sox (High A). After every team is given a recap, individual stats are posted.

5/12-5/18

Pawtucket Red Sox

The Red Sox went 1-4 during the week, bringing their record to 17-20. On the 12th, the Sox fell to Syracuse 6-5 on a walk-off walk. They had chances to win it in the late innings, but the offense could not come through. Justin Haley got the start and allowed two runs over 3.2 innings. On the 13th, they lost by the score of 9-1. Starting pitcher Marcus Walden gave up one run in 2.1 innings. On the 14th, they defeated Buffalo 6-5 on a walk-off single by Tzu Wei Lin.

Dustin Pedroia went ⅓ with a single in a rehab start. Jalen Beeks gave up two runs in six innings, lowering his ERA to an impressive 1.93. Their game on the 15th was postponed due to rain. The next day, they lost 5-4. The game was tied in the ninth until Ryan Brasier gave up a go-ahead sacrifice fly. On the 17th, they had an off day. On the 18th, they were defeated by Rochester 2-0. Chandler Shepard’s one earned run over six innings was not good enough as the Sox only recorded four hits.

Portland Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs went 4-3 on the week, bringing their record to 15-24. On the 12th, the Sea Dogs lost to Binghamton 10-7. They had control of the game at first, but gave up all ten runs from the fourth to the sixth inning. Kevin McAvoy gave up five runs over 4.1 innings. They lost 10-4 the next day. Tony Renda knocked in two runs, but Travis Lakins gave up four runs in 2.1 innings. On the 14th, they lost to Reading 10-7. Tate Matheny knocked in two runs, but Trey Ball gave up a long ball in the seventh. They were also rained out on the 15th, which caused a doubleheader on the 16th.

The first game was an 8-2 win thanks to three RBIs from Austin Rei, and five innings of two-run baseball from Kyle Hart. Chad De La Guerra’s five RBIs were not enough in the second game as Portland lost 9-8. The game was tied going into the ninth, but Jake Cosart gave up two runs in the top half of the inning. On the 17th, they beat Altoona 12-9 in ten innings. They scored all twelve runs in the final four innings and the top three hitters in the lineup racked up seven RBIs. On the 18th, they won by the score of 8-4. Starting pitcher Travis Lakins struggled, but Teddy Stankiewicz picked up the win with 6.1 innings of shutout baseball in relief. 

Greenville Drive

The Drive went 1-5 on the week, bringing their record to 10-30. On the 12th, the Drive lost to Lexington 6-0 and they only recorded four hits. Nick Duron gave up four runs in as many innings. On the 13th, they lost 7-3. Frankie Rios had two RBIs but Devon Fisher gave up four runs in the seventh and picked up the loss. On the 14th, they won a wild one by the score of 13-12. They scored eleven of the thirteen runs in the final four innings, and the bullpen barely hung on in the ninth.

On the 15th, they lost by the score of 4-3. They were in control of the game, but Angel Pardon gave up three runs from the seventh to the ninth inning to blow it. On the 16th, they had an off-day. On the 17th, they lost to Agusta 2-1. Denyi Reyes only gave up two runs over six innings but that was not good enough. On the 18th, they lost by the same score. Enmanuel De Jesus gave up one run over six innings in the start.

 

Salem Red Sox

Salem went 0-2 during the week, bringing their record to 17-20. On the 12th, the Sox lost to Lynchburg 18-1. Tanner Houck gave up five runs over four innings. On the 13th, they lost 6-2. It was a one-run game in the ninth, but Algenis Martinez and Matthew Gorst gave up three runs in the ninth. On the 14th, Salem had an off day. On the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th the games were washed out by rain.

Should Celtics Fans Be Happy for Ray Allen?

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How should Boston fans feel?

Should Celtics Fans Be Happy for Ray Allen?

With Ray Allen recently being named a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Celtics fans have been conflicted on how to feel about his induction. Some are simply appreciative of his efforts with the Celtics and in the NBA. Others, however, still have some animosity towards Allen after his less-than-smooth exit from the team. So, the question must be asked: are Boston fans right to be hostile towards Allen? Or should they put old grudges aside and praise his accomplishments?

Yeah, Be Happy for Ray Ray:

Accomplishments with the Celts

There’s no denying that Allen helped this franchise enormously. Acquired in a trade with the Seattle Super Sonics in June of 2007, Allen, along with Kevin Garnett, formed the second coming of the “Big Three”. The two joined forces with Celtics legend Paul Pierce to create a formidable trio. In his first year with the C’s, he helped the team to their 17th championship title, breaking a 22-year drought. Allen made four other playoff trips with them, advancing to at least the second round in all of them. He was an All-Star two times while with the team. He played a total of 449 games with Boston, which included 91 playoff games, and averaged 16.7 points and 41% shooting from three.

Allen has written his name all over the Celtics’ record books. He is first in free throw percentage. He also holds the record for most consecutive free throws made (72). Allen is third in three pointers made, and fourth in three point percentage. He is eighth all-time in box plus/minus and fourth in true shooting percentage. There is no doubt that he is a permanent part of Celtics lore, no matter the opinion of him.

Allen’s Place in League History

And if that isn’t enough, consider his impact on the whole league. Allen holds the record for both the most three pointers of all time and the most playoff threes of all time. He’s a two time champion and ten time All-Star. He also has made the All-Rookie second team, an All-NBA second team, and an All-NBA team.

Fans should be happy for a guy who had an incredible run with the Celtics. Without him, they probably don’t win the 2008 title. People need to appreciate how much he was able to accomplish in the league. Remember that time he dropped 51 on the Bulls in the playoffs? What about when he poured in EIGHT threes in a quarter with the Sonics? And no, we can’t forget THAT corner three in the 2012 NBA Finals. Just enjoy his success and be congratulatory towards him on attaining the league’s highest honor.

Allen’s now-famous three in Game 6 of the Finals.

No Way, Don’t Forgive Allen:

The Exit

There is no doubt that Ray left many fans angry with the manner in which he departed Boston. Allen had an extremely rocky 2011-2012 year with the Celtics. Mid-season, the blossoming Avery Bradley overtook him for the starting spot. Multiple media outlets also had reports out that the Celtics were actively shopping Allen during the year. To put the cherry on top, he and point guard Rajon Rondo argued and fought throughout the end of Ray’s Celtics tenure. He recently shed more light on this conflict in his new book.

And then, of course, came the actual departure. The Celtics offered Allen a two year deal worth $12 million in the offseason of 2012, which included a no-trade clause. The franchise was hoping that this would alleviate some of the conflict from the previous season. However, he accepted a deal for three years, but worth only $9 million to go join the Miami Heat. This came after the Heat had just beaten the Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference. They then went on to win the championship. The two teams were forming a rivalry, and Ray only strengthened it by shunting the Celtics’ more appealing offer to go play for the defending champions.

The Aftermath

The animosity between Allen and Celtics players and fans has only increased in recent years. When the 2008 championship team announced a ten-year reunion, Rondo told the media that he wasn’t invited. A few of the members of the team also met up on Kevin Garnett’s show “Area 21” last year, in which he also didn’t take part. After Allen came out with his new book, he and Rondo publicly butted heads again over it.

Perhaps the most heinous of all of his crimes, though, was his neglect of Paul Pierce’s jersey retirement night. Rather than attend the ceremony to celebrate his teammate’s number being raised, Ray went golfing with George Lopez. To exacerbate the matter even further, he then posted about Lopez getting a hole in one on Instagram while the ceremony was happening. No one who calls themselves a Celtics fan should even consider being happy for the man who responded to every event since leaving the Celts about as poorly as possible.

Allen’s Instagram post.

The Verdict:

So, how should Celtics Nation feel about Ray Allen entering the Hall? Given everything he’s done since his rocky departure, one would be perfectly understood if they still felt resentment towards number 20. However, if all that he did for the franchise and for the league is considered, then there has to be some feeling of happiness for his accomplishment. At least for a few days in September when Ray will make his speech, Boston faithful should forgive his mistakes and applaud him and what he has achieved. Congratulations to Ray Allen on making the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Red Sox Struggles

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Jackie Bradley Jr.’s Struggles

The Boston Red Sox are now in second place in the American League East. However, Jackie Bradley Jr. can’t seem to get the bat on the ball. In his last 20 games, Bradley has had 62 AB, 0 HR, 3 RBI and 30 strikeouts. According to Boston Sports Info on Twitter, in his last ten games, Bradley has had 29 AB, 0 HR, 0 RBI and 16 strikeouts.

The slump has gotten worse for Bradley. Something might have to be done if it doesn’t change. Alex Cora spoke a few weeks ago about Bradley’s slump, saying, “I don’t know. I trust the guy. I trust him. But we’ve got to sit down and talk, obviously. Decisions here, they’re not only made by me. We talk to the coaching staff, see where the hitters are, see where the players are and go from there.”

Poor Leadership Between Price and Smith

The team’s struggles don’t come from only Bradley. The Red Sox have issues with their bullpen and starting pitcher David Price. Price pitched a complete game the other night but lost the shutout. The weather must’ve been not a problem for the $31 million pitcher. Also, Carson Smith throwing Alex Cora under the bus is such a dirty move when there’s supposed to be a better vibe in the clubhouse.

There’s a subtle difference between Ortiz breaking a dugout phone out of frustration and Smith throwing his glove and missing time. Ortiz was a leader and never complained about being tired after playing in only 14 games. Carson Smith complained about being fatigued after only pitching 14 innings. That is not a leader.

Mookie Betts Is on Fire

Rick Porcello is back to his old self and Andrew Benintendi needs to start running the bases better than what he has been. The only player that’s really on fire and has been all year is Mookie Betts. He looks like he’s the voice in the clubhouse, even when Dustin Pedroia comes back.

LeBron, Cavs Send Message with 116-86 Pummeling over Celtics

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With their backs against the wall, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers took Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals 116-86. Cleveland dominated from start to finish, led by LeBron’s 27 points and 12 assists.

The biggest story in this game was the play from Cleveland’s supporting cast. As the saying goes- role players play better at home. George Hill set the tone early, scoring 11 first quarter points on his way to a 13 point, three rebound game. A total of six Cavaliers scored in double figures. Kevin Love produced 13 points and 14 rebounds. Tristan Thompson was also big on the boards, grabbing seven to go along with ten points. J.R. Smith finally got hot, knocking down three of four three pointers. Kyle Korver added 14 points off the bench.

Cleveland knocked down a staggering 17 threes on 50% shooting. It seemed as if nobody on the team could miss. The Cavs dominated on the boards, ripping down 45 rebounds (eight offensive) to Boston’s 34.

Ty Lue mentioned the team’s increased energy and effort, stating, “We challenged everyone, just to be aggressive and understand the game plan.”

Cavs Bring Back Memories of Last Year

Game 3 way eerily reminiscent of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics simply had no answer for LeBron and could not withstand the constant barrage of threes. Boston settled for too many tough jumpers, shooting an abysmal 39% from the field and 27% from three. The team made as many three pointers in the game (six) as Cleveland had in the first quarter. Carelessness with the ball led to a lot of easy buckets for the Cavs, as Boston turned the ball over 12 times.

Al Horford was asked about what went wrong postgame and he responded, “I can tell you right now off the top of my head there was a lot of breakdown defensively- it’s something we have to address, and be better at on Monday if we want to have any chance of winning.”

Al Horford did not attempt a field goal in the first quarter. He finished the game with seven points and seven rebounds. Terry Rozier chipped in 13 on yet another poor shooting game on the road, going 5-12 from the field. There wasn’t a first quarter breakout from Jaylen Brown this time around, as he was nowhere to be seen in this one. Brown didn’t register his first point until eight minutes left in the 2nd quarter. He ultimately finished with ten for the game.

Resiliency for Boston’s Youth

The one bright spot for Boston in Game 3 was the effort of Jayson Tatum, who refused to give up early on. When nothing was going for the team, Tatum relentlessly attacked the basket, getting to the free throw line repeatedly. He finished the night with a team-leading 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting.

After the game Brad Stevens said about the Celtics, “They always respond. This will be another challenge to respond to.”

The Road Ahead

Cleveland delivered a momentum-changing punch right to the gut of the Celtics. If they intend to steal a game on the road they will need to punch right back in Game 4. The Celtics will need to bring the energy and physicality for Game 4 and play with a much higher sense of urgency. If anything, this game should serve as a wake up call for the team.

Game 4 is set for Monday night at 8:30 pm on ESPN. LeBron and the Cavs will look to tie this series up, as the Celtics hope to head back home with an opportunity to close it out on their home court.

Did the Cavs Pull the Trigger Too Early on Isaiah Thomas?

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Despite Saturday night’s 116-86 loss to the Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics are still in good shape. They’re still up 2-1 on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston is two wins away from an improbable NBA Finals birth, despite the injuries to All-Star guards Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. The team dismantled the Cavaliers in the first two match-ups of the series. They blew Cleveland out in Game 1 by 25, 108-83. They then followed that up with a 107-94 game two victory. The biggest problem Cleveland has faced in this series is lack of depth outside of LeBron James and Kevin Love.

Which leads to the question- would the storyline of this series be different if the team hadn’t traded Isaiah Thomas?

Isaiah Thomas in Cleveland

Sure, the Cavs were struggling when the deal was struck. The team lacked any sort of chemistry or cohesiveness. Often they looked like a bunch of individuals all trying to “get theirs”.  Isaiah Thomas was still not fully recovered from the hip injury he sustained the previous season, which noticeably hindered his play during his short tenure with the Cavs.

In 15 games played for Cleveland, Thomas averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 rebounds in 27 minutes per game. These numbers are vastly lower than his incredible 2016-17 campaign with the Celtics, where he averaged over 28 points per game and an All-NBA nod.

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Despite Isaiah’s slow start to the season, it is possible Cleveland pulled the trigger on the experiment too early. Isaiah finished the 2017 season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he started in only one of his 17 games played. In 26 minutes per game as the team’s sixth man, Thomas averaged 15.6 points and 5.6 assists per game. He also started to showed flashes of his old self as the season wound down.

Now a year removed from his hip injury, Isaiah says he is feeling like his old self again.

A Few of Cleveland’s Role Players Still Haven’t Shown Up

Cleveland received Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson in the deal for Isaiah Thomas. The pair of bright young talents came to the Cavs on the expectation that they would bring newfound energy and scoring ability. Through three games against the Celtics, Larry Nance Jr. is averaging 2.6 points. Jordan Clarkson hasn’t fared much better. He has only appeared in games one and three of the series, where he has produced 6.3 points per game. 

Given the poor production of the duo, one must wonder if a now fully healthy Isaiah Thomas would have made a big enough impact to change the dynamic of the series. Sure, Isaiah does come with obvious issues on the defensive side of the ball. That being said, the guy is only a year removed from an All-Star season. A season that saw Thomas carry his Celtics all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cleveland has struggled to score consistently at times during this series, making LeBron do everything for the team. Given Isaiah’s history as an energy guy who despite his 5’9” frame has always managed to score at will, Cleveland could have had a lethal scorer to look to.

There’s no way of knowing what could have been for the Cavaliers had they not been so quick to pull the plug on Isaiah. But based on the performance of the team through three games, one has to wonder if the team’s front office is thinking the same thing right now

 

The Celtics and Cavaliers play Game 4 of the series Monday evening at 8:30 PM on ESPN. Boston leads the best of seven series 2-1.

Al Horford: The Celtics’ Pillar of Success

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In a league full of high-flying athletes, dazzling handle displays, flashy passes, and awe inspiring highlight real dunks, it is inevitable that Al Horford would be overlooked.

When people watch the Celtics, they see Kyrie Irving performing magic with the ball. They see Jaylen Brown slam home highlight reel worthy breakaway dunks. Fans might catch a Jayson Tatum finesse move at the rim finished off with a rim-rocking jam. They will also see plenty of big time Terry Rozier three pointers.

What they won’t necessarily see is everything Al Horford does to make these things happen. Fans won’t see Al set a hard screen on Kyrie’s man to give Irving space to make his move. They might miss him ripping down a rebound and heaving an outlet pass to a cutting Brown for a dunk. No one sees him set a pick and pop and run it to perfection, freeing up Tatum for his drive to the rim. They also won’t pay attention to the pass Horford makes out of a double team in the post to set up Rozier for the dagger three pointer.

The Man Behind the Curtain

It is not always what you see on the stat sheet that makes Al Horford special. Make no mistake- Al Horford is the most important player on a Celtics team two wins away from the NBA Finals.

When Gordon Hayward went down early, Horford was there. When Kyrie went down and was announced out for the remainder of the year, Horford was there. In a season full of injuries, on a team with four returning players and a roster full of inexperienced talent, Horford has been the savvy veteran for his teammates to rely on. He has provided the Celtics with a stabilizing force through the turmoil, and kept the motor churning smoothly at the heart of the team’s success.

Boston may not have escaped Milwaukee in the first round if not for Horford’s abuse of the Buck’s smaller defenders. He forced Embiid to the bench in crunch time minutes in the 76ers series. He was too quick to guard outside of the key, and too deadly of a shooter to leave uncontested. His help-side defense on Ben Simmons snuffed out the brightly burning flame that once was the promise of Philadelphia’s season.

The Celtics wouldn’t be up 2-0 on the Cavaliers if Horford didn’t dominate Kevin Love on both ends of the court in Game 1, and follow up the performance by taking over down the stretch in Game 2.

Al is a Leader

One of the things that makes Al Horford unique is his ability to fill whatever roll Brad Stevens asks him to fill. Some nights he might be a role player. He’d willingly take a backseat to the Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum show by setting up screens, making passes, and even running point. Other times he may be asked to be the focal point of the offense. He’d run constant pick and rolls and be fed in the post against undersized and outmatched defenders.

In the playoffs this year Horford has been the team’s veteran leader and star.

Playoff Al

Al Horford is averaging 17.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 57% from the field in 14 playoff games. He has a true shooting percentage of 65.4%, which is up from 57.5% in the regular season. He has been notably more aggressive when attacking the rim, throwing down momentum-shifting dunks and flexing his muscles for the crowd.

The team has taken notice to Horford’s increased production and energy on the court, particularly at the end of games. After Game 2 against Cleveland, Jaylen Brown was asked to comment on Al Horford’s production down the stretch.

“That’s why Al gets paid the big bucks,” Jaylen Brown said. “We lean on Al in those tough moments. And he really went to work. Hitting some big free throws, made some big post-ups, hit the 3. Al, when it gets close to crunch time, we look towards Al to make some big plays.”

Take this play, for example.

This play came right after Horford was intentionally shoved to the ground by J.R. Smith. J.R. was called for a flagrant 1 on the play, sending Horford to the line. Horford went on to make Cleveland continue to pay in the last few minutes to put the game on ice.

The job is not yet finished for Horford and the Celtics. The team is preparing for their next major task: going into Cleveland for Games 3 and 4. The team will look to steal at least one of the two and come back to Boston to close the series out.

Whatever the future has in store for these Celtics as they continue their quest for banner 18, without a doubt Al Horford will be at the heart of it all.

Carson Smith Throws His Manager Under the Bus

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Two years ago, with bullpen help being one of the highest needs on the club, Dombrowski traded for Carson Smith from the Mariners. Right off the bat the Red Sox had high hopes for him. In 2015 he finished with a 2.31 ERA after striking out 92 hitters in 70 innings. He arrived in Boston as part of a bullpen that also had Craig Kimbrel in the mix. It was sure to be a deadly 1-2 punch. 

Two years later, Kimbrel is still in the bullpen and doing well overall. It’s just Smith who hasn’t been living up to expectations. In 2016, he pitched 2.2 innings before getting Tommy John surgery, knocking him out for over a year and a half. In 2017, he made his return but only pitched 6.2 innings, giving up only one earned run overall. 

More Injury Woes in 2018

He came into the 2018 season looking to have a full healthy year for the first time in a Red Sox uniform. Unfortunately, it’s not looking like this will be the year. On Monday night against Oakland, he made an appearance in the eighth inning. He pitched an inning and gave up a solo home run to Khris Davis. On his way back to the dugout, he threw his glove out of frustration. Right away, he felt something pop. The next day Dave Dombrowski said it looks like a significant injury that will knock Smith out for a while. Just perfect. 

Smith later said that he thinks the injury happened due to fatigue because he had been used a lot recently. 

On Wednesday, Christopher Smith, writer for MassLive asked Smith to clarify what he said and if he was implying that Alex Cora was to blame. His response was “No comment, I’ve said everything I’ve needed to say.”

The truth is, Carson Smith is wrongfully throwing Cora under the bus. Smith’s point was that he thought he was being used too much and was blaming it on fatigue. This is something we can actually statistically refute. Of the ten pitchers to pitch out of the Red Sox bullpen this year, he is eighth in usage. The only guys behind him are Steven Wright and Bobby Poyner, who have barely pitched at all. Technically, Smith pitched the least out of every reliever in the bullpen this season. Yet, he has the audacity to go ahead and blame his manager for getting injured. 

The Fallout

Do I hate that Smith threw his glove? No. He threw it out of anger, meaning that he cared. But if you are going to throw your glove like that, you have to be careful. And if a freak accident like this happens, the last thing you should do is blame the manager. 

When asked about it, Cora disagreed with what Smith said. Cora mentioned that recently he and the coaching staff met with Smith about availability and he told them he was ready to go. So why complain about how you were being used too much when you told them you were available? Also, Smith has pitched only five innings this May. 

Carson Smith screwed up. He knows he did, and is trying to blame anybody and anything but himself for this one. If this team didn’t need bullpen help already, they only do more so now. But for the meantime, who knows what will end up happening with Smith. He’s definitely not one of the more likable guys on the team right now for sure.