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.

Behold the Beltline

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FASHION BEFORE FUNCTION

Complete disclosure: I am a field hockey player. I also go cycling and dabble in the occasional 5k run. You know what I never think about during those activities? How I wish I were wearing a belt.

Amongst what separates baseball from all other widely popular sports on this Earth is that the players don fine, supple, luxurious leather belts. I don’t know if they’re Italian leather, but that would be my preference.

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As the Franklin Sports website says, “…every baseball player needs a belt”. The question is why? If I was sliding along my belly at full speed would I really want a belt buckle harvesting dirt as I went? It’s not that the guys can’t afford a pair of pants that fit properly. You know the uniform isn’t there for function because the base coaches are wearing the same thing. Plus, the hitters are eternally adjusting their sleeves, resetting their gloves… Come to think of it none of it fits very well. Perhaps they really do need to hold their pants up.

If I was playing professional baseball I’d want to be streamlined like a downhill skier; I’d be marginally faster between bases and slightly harder to tag. I’d look ridiculous, of course, but baseball has never let looking ridiculous get in the way.

IT’S ALL ABOUT TRADITION

Synonymous with baseball are hats, which they need because of the sun (and merchandise), stirrup socks, which phase in and out (well documented here), and belts. Tradition is the only explanation, one which could be modernized by designers incorporating such an image into the waistband. It would open the game up to a whole raft of vegan fans. If they must wear belts, then how about making them more impressive, with huge club logo buckles that dominate the outfit. If that’s not going to work, then may I suggest suspenders (braces for our British friends), for at least they align themselves with the direction of travel of a sliding base runner.

A single rule exists when men wear a belt: belt color = shoe color. If baseball players could only adhere to this we’d be on our way to a better world.

ON THE SAME TOPIC

Brian O’Nora got whacked on the knee by a foul ball the other night umpiring home plate in Cincinnati. While the players keep adding extra protection when at bat, the umpires seemingly haven’t been following suit. It’s about time they were given full body armor; 100mph fast balls are going to leave a mark.

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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.

Why Mookie Betts Is Poised for a Huge 2018

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Mookie Betts is arguably the best hitter in baseball right now. He is seeing the ball so well and smoking it. He massacred the Yankees’ pitching staff, raking in a grand slam in a 14-1 win. Mookie is also off the heels of a four home run series against the Angels. The man is insane.

Betts currently leads the MLB in AVG (.366). Obviously this won’t be sustainable for an entire season, but it’s a damn good start. Consequently, it could be a sign of even better things to come for Betts. Mookie is doing damage early, and if he can continue, the Red Sox are going to be very dangerous this season.

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2017

2017 was a very disappointing season for Betts. He had a steady offensive decline coming off of an insane MVP caliber year in 2016. Many fans put the blame on the absence of David Ortiz, which put the pressure on Betts to carry the offense.

He was also flip-flopped in the batting order a few times by former manager John Farrell, which could have affected his thought process throughout the season. It’s more difficult to hit if you aren’t sure whether you’d be hitting leadoff, or batting cleanup.

Having a rough 2017 was obviously something that Mookie did not want to do, but the silver-lining is that it was a wake-up call. He needed to get better and make adjustments.

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THE ALEX CORA EFFECT

Earlier, I mentioned how Farrell had swapped Mookie around throughout the 2017 season. That’s something that Alex Cora is not all about. From the time he was hired as the Sox manager, he has made Betts’ position in the batting order clear.

Betts knowing every day that he will be batting leadoff is a very overlooked thing. This allows him to go up to the plate with the same thought process each game and just try to do his part. Although he has the ability to hit home runs, it is important for him to get on base early and use his speed to score.

Alex Cora is known for his communication with younger players, as he was the bench coach for the Astros. The presence of Cora will pay dividends for Betts, as we have already seen from Xander Bogaerts this season.

FINE TUNING

None other than David Ortiz. Of course it was the “Large Father”, as Betts likes to call him, to point out mechanical issues he noticed with Betts in 2017.

Betts said in Spring Training they sat down, and Ortiz pointed out that his stride was off, causing his stance to be too open. It’s hard to say that was the sole reason for the tough time that Betts had last year.

The start that Mookie Betts is having in 2018 is no fluke. This kid is the real deal. He is a true five-tool player, and there is no ceiling for him. He’s just getting started, and I don’t think there’s anything the rest of the league can do about it.

Providence Bruins Heading to Allentown

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The Dunk is rocking following two intense Atlantic Division matchups this past weekend in Providence.  The two games were split amongst the Providence Bruins and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.  Games 3 and 4 are taking place next Friday and Saturday in Allentown at the PPL Center.  If the Providence Bruins continue to play the way they are plying, this is going to be a quick series.  Going out to Allentown is going to bring some new challenges to the team.  Not to mention the last two times the Providence Bruins played at the PPL Center, the Phantoms shut them out.

Providence Bruins

 

Game 1

The Providence Bruins are playing well enough to reflect a 2-0 series lead.  However, as we all know, the puck does not lie.  Sometimes breaks do not always go your way.  Phantoms’ goalie Alex Lyon has been playing some of the best hockey of his young career.  Former Boston College Eagle Ryan Fitzgerald got the game going with a late first period, power play goal.  However, Lehigh Valley did not give up and quickly scored, ending the first period with a score of 1-1.  Notably, Ryan Fitzgerald got the Providence Bruins going quickly again, scoring early in the second period.

Multiple penalties continued to prove costly for Providence.  The Phantoms were able to score twice on a 5-3 power play, giving Lehigh Valley the 3-2 lead.  No scoring occurred during the third period.  Despite out shooting the Phantoms 15-2, Lyon was able to smoother up everything and secure a Game 1 victory.  In the end, Lyon stoned 39 out of 41 shots.  However, if the Providence Bruins keep putting shot totals like that, good things will happen.  Zane McIntrye played well, stopping 21 of 24 shots.  However, one weak goal seemed to make the difference.  Danick Martel’s blue line shot jumped over McIntrye’s glove.  How can some one blame Zane for the two power play goals?

Game 2

The Providence Bruins kept the trend of starting off strong in Game 2.  This time it is Anton Blidh and Peter Cehlarik who scored quickly.  Five minutes and eight seconds into the game the Providence Bruins secured a 2-0 lead.  Again, the Phantoms did not going down quietly.  Lehigh Valley scored twice in the second period.  Both goals occurred within one minute and eleven seconds of each other.  Momentum continued to swing in this series, as Jordan Szwarz scored a short-handed goal to give the Providence Bruins the 3-2 lead.  Peter Cehlarik continues to light the lamp this series.  The Providence Bruins went on to win this one 5-3, evening out the series.

 

Austin Czarnik is the unsung hero so far of this playoff matchup.  Czarnik currently leads the Calder Cup Playoffs with four assists.  Both he and Ryan Fitzgerald have two goals this series.  Zane McIntyre mysteriously did not play in Game 2.  Rumors were flying that he would be the third goalie in Toronto, but Daniel Vladar was on the practice lines.  Not to mention Jordan Binnington played out of his mind in Game 2, stopping 23 of 26 shots.  It is unclear who is going to be manning the pipes for Game 3.  All the Providence Bruins need to do is keep playing the way they are and things will work out.

Watch the Providence Bruins preparing for their run here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqpWgEI83ZA

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn @TA_CawHawkey

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.

Can Perfection Be Achieved?

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A SLIGHT WOBBLE

On mlb.com this morning it said ‘A’s hand Red Sox another loss on late HR’. Oh how some pounce on aberrations. Another loss? Another? I don’t think we’re in the spiral of failure yet.

The Red Sox are 17-4, and are playing with a style and confidence that makes you think we’re going to win every game. Until the last two nights, when a no-hitter and a Khris (that’s not how you spell Chris, FYI) Davis shot spoiled the party. A colleague recently asked if anybody was going to give the Sox a decent game; one should be careful for what one wishes.

Great teams, though, ignore the little bumps along the road. A wise man once said that form is temporary, class is permanent. With the best start in the franchise history I got to thinking about perfection.

ARE RED STOCKINGS THE SECRET?

With permission from David Adam at Herald-Whig

The 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings

Physically possible, but statistically highly improbable is a perfect season. In 1869, when people lived in grayscale, the Cincinnati Red Stockings went 67-0. But ignoring that pitiful amount of games I don’t think that fits the bill of a perfect season, because nothing treats perfection the way baseball does. If a perfect season meant winning every game, then a perfect game would just be not letting the opposition score.

However, we the free people of the USA are obsessed with stats, we have to be or fantasy football would be rubbish. A perfect season would have to consist of no hits, no errors, and nobody on base. That’s all pretty hard to achieve. Could we award an outfielder a perfect season if he makes all of his throws and catches every ball that was his responsibility? Maybe, but this is a team game and there’s no I in team. Though there is an I in pitcher, and it would seem that perfection is only achievable for them.

IN OTHER NEWS

Willy Adames (Chris Robertson/KZONEimages)

At the Durham Bulls the other night Willy Adames hit a home run that bounced off the bull. In the crowd we were thinking free steak for us all! Sadly this is Triple-A, so it’s just for him and a friend, which seemed a shame as we reckon he could already afford it. As an aside, he’s going for a side of asparagus. So there, budding athletes, you gotta eat your greens to make it to the minors.

Does Rob Gronkowski Deserve Better?

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Is Rob Gronkowski Acting like a Baby?

Aug 11, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during pregame warmups prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY SportsRob Gronkowski made an appearance at the Motorcross event at Gillette Stadium on Saturday. Gronkowski said he wouldn’t take part in the offseason workouts because he was working on his dirt bike skills. If that isn’t a shot at Bill Belichick I don’t know what is. There is no way after that press conference he will ever be captain of that football team. At the end of the day, he doesn’t care if he’s on the Patriots or not.

The other question is does Rob Gronkowski deserve better? Does he deserve to go to a team that will pay him based on his performance? It’s also being reported that Gronk and Brady are still upset that Malcolm Butler didn’t even see a snap in the Super Bowl. If you’re Gronkowski, he’s thinking he’s worked hard all season to have the coach bench the one player that could’ve won the Patriots the Super Bowl. If I’m Belichick, I’m pissed. I wouldn’t blame Belichick at all for retiring after this season.

Rob Gronkowski Doesn’t Care If He’s on the Team or Not

Gronkowski has played really well for the Patriots and deserves a pay raise. However, Gronkowski knows the Patriots are cheap and don’t usually play their players. Brady has taken many pay cuts over the years so they can sign other players. At the end of the day they win and win Super Bowls. If you don’t like it, then stop complaining and just request a trade.

Rob’s comments on Saturday were, “My status is doing really great, I’ve been riding dirt bikes. I’ve been training really hard. I can vroom vroom really good. I can ride that bike like no other, and my speed is up there. Wow. Coming at me. I’ve learned never talk forward. I’m just here today in the present. I’m working hard, riding these bikes. Just drinking Monster Energy Gronks, so you can get wild, do crazy stuff that people don’t like when I do it, but I’ll just do it. Get crazy.”

Does Gronkowski deserve better? Yeah, with a pay raise. However, he won’t get that with the Patriots, so he can suck it up and just deal with it and win, or be on a 4-12 team making a lot of money. It seems like he wants to be on a 4-12 team making a lot of money.

Selke

Bergeron’s Case for the Selke

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Last Wednesday the finalists for the NHL Selke Trophy were announced and with little surprise, Patrice Bergeron was one of the three finalists. Bergeron has won the award four times and received votes for the award every year since the 2009-2010 season. Winning the award this year could cement Bergeron as the best two-way forward in NHL history, as he is now tied with Canadiens great Bob Gainey for four Selke Trophies. The Selke Trophy is given to the forward who excels in the defensive aspects of the game. Winning it this year will not be easy as the other finalists, Anze Kopitar and Sean Courturier, are having career years. All three have a strong case, but Bergeron’s is unique.

Why He Shouldn’t Win

This year Bergeron may have his weakest case to win. Due to a fractured foot, Bergeron missed a month of the season. That is a significant number of games missed as the LA Kings Anze Kopitar only missed three games, and the Flyers Sean Courturier suited up for all 82. Bergeron finished fifth in faceoff percentage, an area in which he usually ranks higher. He saw an increase in offensive zone usage and along with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, formed one of the top lines in the NHL. That offensive dominance is reflected in his stats since he recorded 63 points in merely 64 games. Despite all this, there are still many reasons why Bergeron would be deserving.

Why He Should Win the Selke

Despite the injury, Bergeron still managed to finished in the top five in some essential categories. He had a +21 rating, which was his highest since the 2013-2014 season when he played in 80 games. Even though his face off ranking was low, compared to years past it was still impressive. He ranked higher than both his competitors and was first in shorthanded face-offs. His impact on the ice was obvious as the Bruins struggled during the month of his injury. Bergeron’s line was exceptional defensively as they didn’t give up an even strength goal until January. Despite missing 18 games, Bergeron still had a very good season and has a real shot at winning the award for the fifth time. But his competitors also have a good case.

Selke

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

His Competition

The main reason that Bergeron may not win his fifth Selke is his health. His numbers as usual were above average, but he was limited in time compared to the other finalists. Bergeron averages 80 games a season and, had he played that many, his statistics would have been different. This makes his case more compelling as what he did in shortened time was impressive. Courturier had a remarkable season offensively and posted a plus rating of 34, thirteen points higher than Bergeron. Kopitar lead all NHL forwards in overall time on ice and was part of the league’s best penalty kill unit. All of these finalists have their own case on why they should take home the award. The debates will continue as the winner won’t be announced till June, and it could end up being very close.