This 2018 Red Sox Bullpen Has Potential

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The Red Sox bullpen may not be as attractive as some of the others in baseball. However, it certainly can be a good one. As of right now the bullpen looks like Kimbrel, Thornburg, Smith, Kelly, Barnes, and maybe Maddox. The first four names on that list are definite. Everyone else is a question mark.

The Lefty Situation

Cora has already stated that if a lefty pitcher does not make the team out of spring training, then they won’t need one. At least for right now. Robby Scott was the favorite to make the team before Spring Training started, but he hasn’t shown he deserves a spot so far. Cora’s talked highly of Bobby Poyner, a lefty who has pretty good numbers so far this spring, but it isn’t the biggest sample size. So, if there is no lefty that Cora can trust in the pen to start the year, it wouldn’t be detrimental. I totally agree with Alex Cora. It doesn’t matter if you’re a righty pitcher. If you can get lefties out you deserve a spot over an undeserving lefty in the bullpen.

The Bullpen’s up and Coming

Besides Craig Kimbrel, the reliever I’m most excited to watch is Carson Smith. He showed us tidbits of what he can do last year for the abbreviated time he was available. However, we haven’t really seen much of Smith yet. He has a nasty slider along with a good sinker and a fastball that sits around 92-94. Smith is someone you bring in when you need a double play late in the game. He would be great at giving up soft contact on the ground, or just watching guys freeze on his nasty hook.

Tyler Thornburg, who had thoracic outlet surgery in the offseason, will have to start the year on the DL. The exact time that he will return is up in the air. But it shouldn’t be too long before he makes his long awaited return. He is certainly another key piece and a great weapon to have in this bullpen.

Joe Kelly, aka Jim Buchanan, is a great guy to have not only in this pen, but on this team. I’ve mentioned before his goofy personality is exactly what this team needs. Something a winning team will need. Joe and his personality, along with his 100 mph fastball, nasty slider, and curve will be a big part of this team in 2018.

Last and certainly not least, is Craig Kimbrel, who pitched to a 1.43 ERA, a 1.41 FIP, and struck out about half the hitters he faced last year. So yeah, this dude is not bad. And let me just mention someone else who is awesome. Kimbrel was out of Fort Myers for three weeks because his daughter Lydia, who was born with a heart defect and only a few months old, had to get her second heart procedure done in Boston. Kimbrel returned to Spring Training because his daughter had the surgery and is doing great.

So Kimbrel, who has been working out at Fenway for a while now is back with the team at camp and will be ready for Opening Day, which is great news. But more importantly, his daughter is alright. Let’s just say that’s one tough girl, and she definitely got part of that from Craig, no doubt. Lydia Strong.

All in all, this Red Sox bullpen may not necessarily jump out as the best. But it is certainly not a bullpen anyone should take lightly. With these scary arms to go along with Cora’s managing and the non-closer philosophy, this bullpen can definitely be a strength for this 2018 Red Sox team.

 

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

Gotham Chopra Speaks About Being Tom vs. Time Director

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The Director of Tom vs. Time Speaks

Via FacebookGotham Chopra, the director of Tom vs. Time, appeared on FS1’s Undisputed yesterday. The six episode series went in depth of behind the scenes footage of Brady’s football life and Brady’s personal life. It went from the first episode, with Brady talking about football and his family’s sacrifice, to the sixth episode where he became introspective. Chopra talked about filming and getting Tom to do this documentary:

“Last season, about a year ago right now offseason, Tom, I think in large part because he was hearing that chatter, like this can happen at 40 years old. Nobody continues to perform at this level. Plus, the prior season, the comeback against the Falcons, the stuff with his mom off the field, the suspension, all of that, there was drama. And I think Tom sort of thought, OK, let’s try this. So it was supposed to be an offseason thing. It became a full season because Tom got hip to storytelling. And if you’re going to set it up, you might as well pay it off. And so we kept on rolling.”

Afterwards, Chopra talked about the tension between Brady and Belichick. He said he was not allowed in the locker room, which was understandable.

“All the stuff around the team and all of the politics, look, I think Tom’s been doing this and coach was doing this for 18 years. I would also say I didn’t have any interaction with the coaching staff. I was never once in the locker room. We were very, very conscious of that and mindful of that. So Tom had to do his stuff up in the– halfway through the season, he had to start doing it up in his suite. So we did.”

Gotham Chopra Spoke About Brady’s Relationship with the Team

Via WEEIChorpa even talked about Tom’s relationship with Jimmy Garoppolo, saying,

“I’m just saying I think Tom likes Jimmy. He’s happy for him now on the 49ers. But yeah, I don’t disagree with you. Competitively, this is my job. And until you take it away from me, you’re not getting it, until you earn it. Well, I feel better if you’re not here, so that way– I want to fight. But if you’re not here, I won’t have to fight as hard.  Look, I also think Tom is a pretty unique case. I’m biased, but this guy has established himself. And he’s so confident in his process, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, the way he’s able to calibrate all these things. And I don’t think he feels particularly threatened by anyone.”

Tom Brady isn’t going to retire this season, but if he does after next season what a slap in the face to Belichick that would be.

 

A British Perspective: Sox and Yanks in London for 2019

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Reports from Bloomberg pointed to the Yankees and Red Sox finalizing a two game series that will be played in London for the 2019 season. This will not be the first time MLB takes a sample of games to other countries (Japan 2004/2008, Australia 2014, Mexico 1996/1999), and will also play some games this season in Puerto Rico and Monterrey, Mexico. However, what is the reception going to be like for baseball’s best rivalry when the Sox and Yanks battle each other in London Stadium? I had some questions, and John from the UK’s only baseball podcast had answers. 

Justin: How well do you think the game of baseball in general will translate once many people from the UK will finally get to see a game or two in person?

John: Good question! I know there’s a view in the States that UK fans like ‘all action’ and ‘non stop’ games based on the dominance of soccer and rugby here, but I don’t buy it. Cricket, even in its livelier forms, is really sedate and the American sports that have a foothold here – especially NFL – are really stop start. It feels vital to me that the organizers aim to capture the ballpark environment, though. That’s the real point of difference that MLB has, like the tailgate in football. Two games isn’t enough to explain to people why you throw an outside fastball in a 3-1 count; MLB needs to be smart and think about their pitch (no pun intended). Everything we’ve heard from them so far has been positive – make it about the cultural experience as much as the game, but don’t ignore that as there’ll be seasoned fans tuning in too.

JG: Reports say that the two game series would be played at London stadium. In your opinion, is this the best venue for a professional baseball game in the area?

John: I’m not sure. I think ‘least worst’ is potentially a better way of putting it. Obviously cricket grounds have better dimensions, but they’re quite small (20-25k max) and England is hosting the Cricket World Cup around the same time as these games are billed, anyway. The London Stadium’s selling point is that it can be adapted for different events, and that feels important – there’s also plenty of space for events around it too, which is lacking at stadiums like Wembley or Arsenal’s home, Emirates Stadium. I’m a bit nervous about the atmosphere – on my one trip to the Stadium for a West Ham game it was pretty flat; they did lose 6-0 to Man City, though!

JG: How big has the sport of baseball become in recent years in the UK?

John: That’s a difficult question to give a straight answer. Arguably, it’s less popular than its peak in the early 2000s when it was on network TV and had a proper cult following. That said, there are plenty of die hards, and it feels (from our viewpoint at least) that it’s swelling. In the Opening Week of the season there are going to be ‘watch parties’ in five different UK cities, and the fact we are running a podcast with a growing, sustained listenership, didn’t seem likely when we started a couple of years ago. The sport is a popular, if niche, participatory activity too – along with softball the estimates are around 20,000 people playing regularly in the UK, which isn’t bad for a sport with little coverage and an ‘amateur’ domestic league.

JG: Rob Manfred has briefly touched up on a possibility for an expansion team in Mexico City. Do you think this could eventually lead to a possible expansion team for London?

John: It feels highly unlikely. I know the NFL trajectory feels like it’s going this way, but 8 games a year, with a week of rest, is different to managing a 162 game schedule across two continents with a minimum of 5 hours in time differences.

JG: Which player(s) between the Yankees Red Sox rivalry are you looking forward to see play in London the most?

John: There’s a difference between who I’m most looking forward to, and the consensus! As a Red Sox fan, I’m biased, but even I appreciate the idea of seeing Judge and Stanton in London would be a thrill. Personally, I’m a massive fan of Craig Kimbrel and Jackie Bradley Jr, so I’ll say those two. My fellow podcast hosts would tell you it’s Joe Kelly, who they think I have a soft spot for on account of being a fellow glasses wearer (they’re right).

JG: Any tips for Americans that will be making the trip over especially for their first time visiting London?

John: How long have you got? I don’t live in London now, having moved away just over a year ago but was there long enough to give some ideas!
 
I would say to travelling fans to consider staying near the venue if it is at the Olympic Park. There’ll be loads going on and that part of East London, and the couple of miles around it (especially Hackney, Dalston, Stoke Newington and Leyton), are some of the most interesting, creative and picturesque – think craft breweries, idyllic parks and cool music venues – which not many visitors see. Transport in London – especially the bus – is cheap and excellent, and none of the main tourist sights will take longer than an hour to get to if you must (though many of them are not worth bothering).
 
Eat at Dishoom for breakfast (there are a few sites) for their INCREDIBLE naan bread breakfast rolls, and Kiln in Soho in the evening; the best Thai food this side of Bangkok.

JG: If you could name a London expansion team, what would you name it and who would you want to manage it?
John: Given my previous answer, maybe the London Jetlaggers? Seriously, it’s a shame the Royals have gone isn’t it? Maybe the London Cavaliers, or the Red, White and Blue Sox?
 
In terms of management, I feel duty bound to give it to GB Baseball’s awesome coach, Liam Carroll. He’s a real spark plug for the game here, and has earned it! Pitching coach would be Trevor Hoffman, who helped Liam at last year’s WBC – his Mom’s English and he’s very proud of his British heritage.
John and the rest of the crew for the Batflips and Nerds podcast can be found here. These guys really do know what they’re talking about. Do NOT underestimate them!
As for me, I am super excited to see the great reception that one of the best rivalries in sports receives. For foreign fans, this is as big as El Clasico and should really put into perspective just how exciting baseball can be at its peak.

Featured Image: Melissa Bell

Riley Nash

The Emergence of Riley Nash

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2018 Season so Far

This year the Boston Bruins have been led by their youth. The young players have come as advertised and propelled the Bruins to the top of the Eastern Conference. Riley Nash doesn’t fall under that category. He is in his seventh NHL season, but he’s been key this year. Through seventy games he has a career high of 15 goals and 25 assists. He’s stepped up when the Bruins needed him the most and been key for this team. Like the other veterans on this team he’s complemented the rookies well and is quietly having a career year.

Riley Nash

Photo Credit: Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Riley Nash’s First Year in Boston

Prior to the 2016-2017 season Nash spent the first five years of his NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes. In Carolina the most points he had in a season was 25. This year, with 12 games left, he already has forty. In his first season in Boston Nash scored seven goals and contributed ten assists. This year has been much different for the former Hurricane who wasn’t seen as a big part of the Bruins offensive attack. He’s spent a lot of time on different lines contributing wherever he’s been put. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has shown his faith in Nash and even moved him up to the first line when for an injured Patrice Bergeron.

Riley Nash

Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Why Riley Nash Is Critical

Lately Nash has had to step up as the injury bug has hit the Bruins. This has been critical, considering the Bruins are one of the youngest teams in the NHL. What has made this team so good is the different weapons they have. Nash has surprisingly been one of those weapons. He’s not just a sniper, as lately he’s been crashing the net and earning his goals.

Riley Nash

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Prediction Going Forward

In the playoffs the Bruins don’t need Nash to be an elite scorer. If he plays like has in the regular season, then the Bruins could have a very dangerous top three lines. So far this year they have been a gritty team. They need to continue that come playoff time once some of their key players like Bergeron and Backes return. Even with their return the play of Nash will still be key.

Jersey 18

The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #18-#21

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NUMBER EIGHTEEN

Wide receiver Randy Vataha was one of New England’s better players in the early-1970’s catching passes from Jim Plunkett. Vataha was a teammate of Plunkett’s back in Stanford and their chemistry carried through to the pros. Vataha’s best season came in 1975 when he had 720 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.

Jersey 18

Donte’ Stallworth played one season plus one game with the Patriots. In 2007, Stallworth wore the #18 jersey and contributed to one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. One of his great plays occurred in the Divisional Round game against the Jaguars. On this day, Tom Brady was absolutely on fire as he’s prone to be in big games. In a nail-biter, Brady hit Stallworth on a short pattern and #18 streaked down the sideline for a huge-gainer that turned out to be the clincher.

Streeter Lecka

Stallworth came back for one game in 2012 wearing #19, caught a long touchdown on Monday Night Football and was subsequently injured on the play.

Special Teams Standout

Matthew Slater is clearly the best player to ever wear jersey #18 for the Patriots. Slater is the son of the Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater of Los Angeles Rams fame. Slater has become one of the best special-teamers in NFL history. He’s been named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and is a perennial team captain. He even correctly called the coin toss before New England’s championship drive in Super Bowl LI.

 

Slater will go down as one of Bill Belichick’s favorite players and will live forever in Patriots lore.

NUMBER NINETEEN

Do you remember who punted for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI? If you said Tom Tupa, you got it. The one time backup quarterback of the Phoenix Cardinals became a full-time punter when it became brutally obvious that he was better at kicking a football than throwing it. He wore #19 for the Patriots for three seasons under Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll.  

Jersey 18

In 1999, he left New England for the Jets and in an incredible twist of fate, Vinnie Testaverde tore his ACL and Tupa was forced into emergency quarterback action. The Jets were heavily favored going into 1999 to defend their AFC East title, but once Testaverde went down, their hopes were dashed. Tupa made a decent appearance as he threw touchdown pass. He made the Pro Bowl as a member of the Jets in 1999 and won a Super Bowl as a member of the Buccaneers after the 2002 season.

The Patriots used their third round draft choice in 2009 on a kick return specialist named Brandon Tate. His only season of productivity in New England turned out to be in the Patriots 2010 season when they finished 14-2. He returned two kickoffs for scores that season before leaving for the Cincinnati Bengals. To his credit, he’s still in the league.

Nineteens in the Super Bowl

The Patriots got some Super Bowl championship contributions from two other players wearing #19. Brandon “Jojo” LaFell had an excellent season in New England in 2014 as he made several key plays in the Patriots march toward their first World Championship in ten years. Against the Ravens in the playoffs, he caught the winning touchdown, then scored the first points in the Patriots win over Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX.

Unfortunately, he had an injury-plagued, drop-filled campaign in 2015. The Patriots moved on from LaFell and drafted a new #19. That guy’s name is Malcolm Mitchell. Mitchell’s finest game as a Patriot may have come in New England’s dramatic win over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Time and again, Tom Brady targeted Mitchell in the second half and Mitchell was up to the task in the biggest game of his life.

Sadly, Mitchell never saw the field in 2017, but it’s hard to say it mattered much when New England was able to throw for over 500 yards in the Super Bowl without him. However, he’ll be a welcome addition back to the fold in 2018.

NUMBER TWENTY 

Only one player has ever worn #20 for the Patriots and only one player ever will. Gino Cappelletti is truly one of the most beloved of all Patriots. He played for Boston from 1960-1970 and upon retirement held countless franchise records. He was the AFL MVP in 1964 and was named to five All-Star teams.

Perhaps he is best known as a game analyst for almost 30 years. The combination of Gil Santos-Gino Cappelletti was in the booth for New England’s first three Super Bowl championships. Cappalletti also was in the booth for Boston College games. He is a New England treasure for sure!

NUMBER TWENTY-ONE

We have quite the potpourri of players who wore #21. But, let’s face, does anybody besides Malcolm Butler really matter? Butler made the single most impactful interception in the history of professional football. When he stepped in front of Russell Wilson pass with seconds left in Super Bowl XLIX, it allowed the Patriots to win their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history.

Perhaps the greatest thing about Butler, though, was his spirit to keep playing and performing at a high level even after his career-defining play. Butler is not the greatest cornerback in NFL history, but one can never fault him for lack of effort. He plays hard on every play, tackles well and goes for the turnover. His last game with the Patriots in Super Bowl LII was shrouded in controversy, but Butler took the high road as he departed for the Titans, praising Coach Belichick despite his benching. Frankly, it will be weird and a little sad to see him in that Tennessee jersey in 2018.

Best of the Rest

Speaking of DB’s, let’s go way back to the Parcells era when he had a #21 named Ricky Reynolds. Reynolds was exactly the kind of player Parcells loved: He was a scrappy veteran. Reynolds contributed in a big way down the stretch as he scored two touchdowns in December of the 1994 season. New England’s strong play down the stretch catapulted them to a surprising playoff spot. They were derailed by Bill Belichick’s Cleveland Browns.

Reynolds played another year and a half with the Patriots and retired following the 1996 campaign.

Randall Gay was another defensive back that wore #21 during his time in New England. Gay mostly played on special teams but saw extensive action in the Patriots Super Bowl XXXIX win over the Eagles. Unfortunately, Gay struggled up against Terrell Owens. Gay had a strong season as part of the supporting cast of the 2007 team that ran rampant through the NFL only to lose the Super Bowl in the waning seconds.

Gay’s best seasons were spent wearing #20 for the New Orleans Saints where he played in his third Super Bowl.

Our final #21 was a sensational player but not while he was a member of the Patriots. Fred Taylor amassed 11,000 rushing yards, including seven 1,000-yard seasons while wearing #28 for the Jaguars. His two seasons with New England were uninspiring and unnecessary.

 

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Realistic Expectations for Adrian Clayborn

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The New England Patriots entered the offseason with a desperate need for an edge defender. The 2017 Patriots struggled to stop outside runs and lacked consistency getting to the quarterback. Two days into free agency, the Patriots addressed that problem with the signing of former Altanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn. But what are realistic expectations for Adrian Clayborn as a Patriot?

Setting Realistic Expectations for Adrian Clayborn

Clayborn Rushing the Passer

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Clayborn’s six-sack game against the Dallas Cowboys won’t be the norm

Image credit: SI.com

Clayborn finished his 2017 season with 9.5 sacks, but that number is a little deceiving. Six of his nine and a half sacks came in one game, against Dallas Cowboys backup left tackle Chaz Green. Take out that game, and he only had 3.5 sacks in 15 games.

This isn’t meant to take any credit away from Clayborn – six sacks in a game is an incredible feat – it’s merely to point out he’s not an elite pass rusher. Anyone expecting the second coming of Richard Seymour is asking for disappointment.

While Clayborn isn’t a Hall of Famer, he’s still a huge upgrade as a pass rusher. He’s never had a double-digit sack season. However, he consistently gets to the passer. He’s capable of lining up all over the Patriots defensive line, although he’s best when lining up wide off the edge.

While he doesn’t always bring down the quarterback, he’s phenomenal at generating pressure. Per Pro Football Focus, Clayborn pressured the quarterback on 54 snaps, despite having just 9.5 sacks. If Clayborn can continue to bring pressure and move the quarterback off the spot, then the rest of the defense can finish the job.

Ultimately, Clayborn won’t fix the pass rush all by himself. However, pairing him with fellow defensive end Trey Flowers should give the Patriots one of the better pass rushing duos in the league. Factor in edge rushers Deatrich Wise Jr. and Derek Rivers coming off the bench, and suddenly the Patriots have one of the deeper groups of pass rushers in the league.

Clayborn Against the Run

While Clayborn is an above average pass rusher, he’s not quite as good against the run. Per Pro Football Focus, Clayborn finished his season with 18 run stops overall. While that’s not an elite number, it’s fine for a player whose game is primarily rushing the passer.

However, he doesn’t need to be an elite run defender to be an upgrade. The 2017 Patriots edge defenders couldn’t set the edge to save their lives. Cassius Marsh was a failed experiment, while younger players like Wise and Adam Butler just didn’t have enough experience to play the run and the pass. Outside of Flowers, the only player capable of setting the edge all last season was former Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison.

Clayborn is an upgrade on all of the non-Flowers defenders in the run game. While it’s not his speciality, he’s still capable of setting the edge, eating up a blocker, and allowing linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy to finish the play.

How Adrian Clayborn Fits

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Trey Flowers will be happy to have Clayborn in town

Image credit: ESPN

Essentially, New England is getting a lesser version of Chandler Jones. While Clayborn isn’t the same pass rushing threat that Jones is, he’s capable of generating pressure on a snap to snap basis and getting to the quarterback. Like Jones, Clayborn is an adequate, if unspectacular, run defender. He’s not a liability, but it’s certainly not his strength.

Ultimately, the Patriots got the ideal #2 edge defender on a good deal. Clayborn should be a perfect complement to Flowers, and Flowers will have a genuine pass rushing threat alongside him.

Clayborn, Flowers, Wise, Butler, and Rivers should combine to be a ferocious pass rushing unit on passing downs. The base defense of Clayborn, Malcolm Brown, Danny Shelton, and Flowers won’t be one of the elite run stopping units in the league, but they’ll certainly be capable of holding their own against opposing offensive lines.

Clayborn came over on a two-year, $12 million dollar deal and he already looks like a bargain. He fits an immediate need on the Patriots defensive line and should be a Week One starter. While this free agency has been turbulent for Patriots fans, this is one move that absolutely goes New England’s way.

 

Cover Image Credit: USA Today

Biggest Risers and Fallers in Free Agency Thus Far

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In one of its craziest offseasons, the NFL has seen a flurry of free agent moves and trades. Which teams are likely to rise and improve? Which teams are likely to fall and decline?

Risers

Cleveland Browns – This was a gimme. The Browns looked like they belong playing in college football, with winning only one game in two years. What does new GM and resident savior in Cleveland do? John Dorsey reshaped this whole team by trading for Jarvis Landry, Tyrod Taylor, and Damarious Randall, and signing seven free agents, most notably being Carlos Hyde, T.J Carrie, Chris Hubbard, and Darren Fells. They did take a hit with the retirement of Joe Thomas, though. With a transformed offense and still having two of the top five picks, the only way this team can go is up.

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Photo Credit: theplayoffs.com

Chicago Bears – One of the most complete offseason so far, the Bears have acquired good players in all three aspects of the game. They signed two receivers and a tight end in Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Trey “Philly Special” Burton, which gives now second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky some much-needed weapons on offense. They also signed OLBs Aaron Lynch and Sam Acho, along with resigning Prince Amukamara to bolster the defensive side of the ball. The Bears also contain a high draft pick to address the defense too. Along with the signing of kicker Cody Parkey, these Bad News Bears have the chance to change their name.

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Photo Credit: dynastyleaguefootball.com

Tennessee Titans – Am I upset that two of my favorite players are on different teams? Absolutely. Do I wish the best for them? Absolutely, they deserve it. The Titans now boast a two-headed monster with the shifty Dion Lewis and powerful Derrick Henry. Malcolm Butler is going to a secondary that already boasts the interceptions leader and a very promising rookie. There isn’t a lot of weakness on the team. Linebacker is the biggest need and will most likely be addressed in the first round of the draft. Face it, Titans are going to be a scary team this year.

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Photo Credit: theplayoffs.com

Other risers: Rams, Texans, 49ers

Fallers

Seattle Seahawks – Russell Wilson might as well scramble every play with that offensive line that’s “protecting” him. Seattle also lacks a real run game although potential standout Chris Carson is returning from injury, and they lost pass catchers Paul Richardson and Jimmy Graham. The breakup of the Legion of Boom and losses of Michael Bennett and Sheldon Richardson leaves this team with too many needs on both sides of the ball.

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Photo Credit: worldstarhiphop.com

Detroit Lions –  The Vikings got Cousins and Richardson, the Packers got Graham and Wilkerson, and the Bears got A-Rob and Taylor Gabriel (and more). All other teams in their division got better which leaves the Lions grasping for whatever leftovers they can get. They did sign LeGarrette Blount who will improve their otherwise nonexistent run game. However, the losses of Haloti Ngata, Tahir Whitehead, and Eric Ebron are drastic. Deshawn Shead and Devon Kennard can improve the team a little bit, but they are going to need a great draft, a couple more FA signings, and a bigger beard from a certain someone in their management.

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Photo Credit: redandblack.com

Arizona Cardinals – The solution to losing an injury prone quarterback? Get another one. And better yet, pay him $20 million a year. Especially when your offensive line needs serious improvement. Why not cut one of your best defensive players while you are at it? This was a pretty easy one. Sam Bradford is a high-risk player and the loss of Tyrann Mathieu is devastating.

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Photo Credit: onsizzle.com

Other fallers – It was hard to really say if a team was a faller because many teams lost notable free agents, but made signings that could make up for it. Those teams would be neutral or undecided until further notice.

Grading the Patriots’ Offseason so Far

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It’s for certain that the Patriots are cleaning house at One Patriot Place. The Patriots have cut ties with Danny Amendola, Dion Lewis, Nate Solder, and Malcolm Butler. It’s fun to speculate at how this offseason is different from previous years. Last year they made a lot more moves, and really who worked out? Brandin Cooks wasn’t great, Kony Ealy was a bust and so was Dwyane Allen. Right now the Patriots have less talent now than they did in the Super Bowl. All they have right now are players from the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

Amendola Looks Depressed

Via Twitter

I saw the video of Amendola trying to pump up the Miami crowd. He looked like a kid that didn’t get what they wanted. Amendola left on his own because he wanted to be free from Belichick. If things were different in Foxborough maybe he would’ve stayed in New England. Malcolm Butler was forced out as well, which was obvious. Solder was offered the same amount of money from the Patriots he was with the Giants, and he chose the Giants for a different environment.

Brady All About His Brand

Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s look at what Tom Brady has thinking about. He’s really has been making his rounds this past week, with his media tours and selling his brand. Also, he doesn’t feel appreciated by Belichick. A lot of other prominent players agree. In the first episode of Tom VS. Time, Brady said that he puts everything into playing football, and how he makes sure he’s prepared. Brady in the final episode, however, talked about more of his family and being there for them. Even Gisele said he’s been through a lot these last few years with not only Deflate-Gate but with Garoppolo creeping up behind him too. It just seems Brady, now that he’s going to be 41 and doesn’t feel like he’s having a good time anymore, might be eyeing his last days playing football.

What’s in Store for the Future for the Patriots?

Via GoogleHowever if I’m Belichick, I’m not happy because I was just forced to trade the next guy in Garoppolo. To keep Brady for three more years. The contract with Brady is still up in the air and seems Brady is giving Belichick a hard time about it. So far I give the Patriots offseason a C.

 

The Bruins Answer the Bell Once Again

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The 2018 Boston Bruins answer the bell when it matters, no matter what. Want to play run and gun hockey? They have the skill to beat you 6-5. If the game is a grind it out defensive battle, then fine by this team. They will still beat you 2-1. What about handling injuries to key players in the middle of a playoff push? Nope, that cannot slow this team down either. They just beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 on the road.

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Looking Back

The Bruins had a few noticiable concerns ahead of their anticipated matchup with the division-leading Lightning. Coach Cassidy was publicly critical of the Bruins’ defensive performance in the past week. He was especially critical following Thursday’s loss to the Panthers. Add the fact that the Bruins’ top two defensemen, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy, were out of the lineup. Along with one, if not the best, defensive forward in hockey, Patrice Bergeron. Just as Bruce Cassidy has done all season long, he pushed the right buttons ahead of the daunting matchup. Cassidy made sure to address the Bruins defensemen who have been battling for playing time. Making it clear that this was their shot to earn playing time and trust.

Results

The Boston Bruins did not let a chance to prove doubters wrong once again go by. As shorthanded as they were, the were facing a Lighting team averaging an NHL best 3.54 goals per game. Many expected the Bruins to take a loss. Yet they went into Tampa and completely stifled the best offensive team in hockey, and earned an extremely impressive 3-0 victory. Tuukka Rask, who has been under a microscope as of late, played a solid game all around, making key saves when the Bruins needed them most. Rask looked relaxed and energized in net. He was on top of his angles and had great anticipation all game long. Going forward the Bruins should try to alternate starting goalies every game, but it is definitely a good sign to see Rask step up.

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Tampa Bay has been the class of the East all season long. If the Bruins plan on going deep in the playoffs, then it is very probable that a matchup with Tampa will occur. To see this team answer the bell like that on the road against better team is really eye-opening. Right now I’m taking the Bruins in a seven game series over any team. This team has that it factor and it’s going to show in April when they answer the bell once again.

David Price Is Ready for 2018

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David Price was scheduled to make his first start of the spring last Saturday, but got scratched due to the wet weather. He finally pitched his first Grapefruit League game on Thursday against the Blue Jays. The results? Let’s just say he did pretty well. He threw four shutout innings, he gave up one hit, one walk, and punched out five.

Now I know it is only Spring Training, but regardless of how Price did today, I as well as many Red Sox fans are excited. And for the ones that aren’t, you might want to jump off that train as soon as you can.

All Aboard the David Price Hype Train

Price has obviously not been what we paid for the last couple years, pitching to a 3.99 ERA in the first year of his contract in 2016, and only making 11 starts last year due to an elbow injury. What he did out of the bullpen in last year’s postseason was a glimpse of what’s to come. But this time he will be pitching from the start.

In 2016, Price’s ERA was a little higher than expected, and he got a lot of hate. But if you look back on that year, he only had one bad month, and that was April. He had an ERA over six. The rest of the season? He had an ERA around 3.30. You also can’t forget the fact that he threw 230 innings that year, which is huge. Also, over his last 263 and a third innings, Price has a 3.38 ERA. That’s right. And that’s through his struggles over the past couple years as well.

Price was so upset last year when he had that elbow injury. He wanted to prove himself and everyone else that he is worth that contract. Now he is all healthy and ready to show everyone why we signed him.

Will 2015 Price Make a Comeback?

Recently, I looked up Price’s 2015 highlights, the year he got traded from Detroit to Toronto. The whole video was him just mowing everyone down. As I watched that I couldn’t help but think that this man is on our team. Just because maybe the media and some of the fans might tell you otherwise, this dude is a stud. Someone who can be just as good as Chris Sale. David is motivated, and he’s ready to show the world that he’s one of the best pitchers in the game of baseball.

2018 is going to be a huge year for Price, and whether you like it or not. Whether you can admit it or not, your baseball team is better when he is on it.