Despite Point Streak Bruins Still Have Plenty to Prove

Yes the Boston Bruins have earned a point in eighteen straight games. But with thirty-five games left on the schedule the Bruins still chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are still a quite few hurdles for the B’s to clear. Up to this point the B’s have proved that they need to be taken seriously. However, let’s look at some concerns the team has even with this point streak.

Composure

This may seem like nitpicking, and it probably is. But could cockiness become a problem for such a young Bruins team? Maybe, while the Bruins have plenty of proven veteran leadership up and down the roster there is a cocky feel around this team. That is what a huge streak can do to a team. While having some swagger on your team is a good thing it can become flat-out arrogance if you let it. Especially when the puck starts bouncing the wrong way for you and all of a sudden you have lost three out of four. That is where Bruce Cassidy, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chara are going to have to make their presence felt. It has not been a problem up to this point, but lets see what happens with the confidence of the young kids if the team starts to struggle, if that ever happens.

Embed from Getty Images

Workload

This may be the biggest concern surrounding a complete team like the Bruins. Young and old players have different ways of handling a full 82 game schedule. The All-Star break is the last real lull for a hockey team during the grind that is the NHL regular season. With this being the first full season for players like Charlie McAvoy, Jake Debrusk, Anders Bjork, Matt Grezyleck, it will be interesting to see how their legs hold up down the stretch. Also the Bruins’ best defenseman from start to finish this year has been Zdeno Chara, who is forty years old. Chara is leading the Bruins in TOI with 23:26 minutes per game. That is a lot of pressure to keep on the veteran.

With the playoff run really starting to heat up teams are going to give their best every night. That means harder hitting, tougher puck battles, and more emphasis put on every single point. With the Bruins in a tight division race it will be interesting to see if the team can hold up under the pressure. Going on a point streak is one thing, but building off of it is something completely different.

New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Preview

Leave a reply

It’s that time of year again. Once again the New England Patriots are playing the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. The last time these two teams played in the Super Bowl was in 2004, when coincidentally the Patriots also lost both coordinators following a win. It was their third Super Bowl win in three seasons. The Patriots could be looking at their sixth Super Bowl title since 2001. Simply amazing!

Familiar Faces

The Patriots will see two familiar faces on the field next week. LeGarrette Blount and Chris Long are former Patriots who both signed with the Eagles in this past offseason. Belichick was asked about Long and Blount in press conference and replied,

“Yeah, they’ve done a good job for them. Both guys have been productive, having good years along with a lot of other guys on the team; solid”.

The James Harrison signing has been great addition for this team. Brings some pressure from the defense that the Patriots didn’t have before. Belichick praised Harrison Wednesday saying,

“James has been great, really professional, works hard. There are a lot of things that we do that are different from what he’s done in the past, but he’s adjusted very quickly. I give him a lot of credit for that and has tried to learn and do everything that we’ve asked him to do to the very best of his ability”.

Brady Is Strictly Focused on the Super Bowl

Tom Brady has not talked about his documentary that was released on Thursday. Instead he’s talking about football and sticking to the big game. He said during his press conference Saturday that having Gronk back out at the practice was great.

“It’s always great to have him out there. He’s a great person great teammate, and a big part of what we do so it obviously hurts when he’s not out there for a lot of reasons.”

Brady is also excited to play in the eighth Super Bowl of his career. The Patriots should fly the Eagles all the way back to Philadelphia this Sunday.

Options Left for Red Sox in Free Agency

Leave a reply

Brewers Make a Statement in Free Agency

Until Friday the MLB offseason had been remarkably boring. Of the top ten free agents only two have signed. On Friday the Brewers signed Lorenzo Cain to a five-year deal and acquired Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins. With a little more than two weeks left until Spring Training these free agents will start to sign and the Red Sox have needs to fill. Their needs include an impact bat and relief help. They have many options remaining in both free agency and through trades.

Photo Credit: Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Options for Offense in Free Agency

All offseason the Red Sox have been linked to J.D. Martinez. He is the best hitter on the market and would make the Red Sox offense much scarier. The only problem is that his agent is Scott Boras. He is known for being getting his players big deals. So far, the highest offer the Sox have given Martinez has been for five years and around one hundred and twenty-five million. Martinez wants a seven-year deal, but the Sox are hesitant to commit to him for that long. Recent deals like the Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, and Rusney Castillo deals have not worked out. The Red Sox could look elsewhere. Eric Hosmer still remains but the Sox signed Mitch Moreland to a two year deal. The Sox do not have the prospect depth to pull off a big trade. Martinez may be their best option, but they will have to offer more money.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Ross D. Franklin

Bullpen Options

The Red Sox are returning most of their bullpen from last year. That isn’t a bad thing as the Sox bullpen had the second-best ERA in the American League last year. The only subtractions from the staff is Addison Reed, who signed with the Twins as a free agent. There are not a lot of options remaining meaning any addition would like to come from within the organization. If the Sox do make an addition it could be an experienced shutdown lefty.

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens/ AP

Bench Options

The Sox are expected to begin the season without Dustin Pedroia. They will need someone to replace Pedroia at second until he returns. The Sox have options internally like Brock Holt, but he struggled with the bat last year. The Sox have options in free agency such as Eduardo Nunez and Neil Walker. The only problem is once Pedroia returns they would not be the starters. The Sox could find spots for Nunez as unlike Walker he can play shortstop and third base.

Photo Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Final Thoughts

The Red Sox need to improve their offense. Last season the Sox ranked towards the bottom in home runs. Martinez would provide a big boost and Nunez would make the team deeper. The Sox could also add Logan Morrison or Lucas Duda who both hit thirty home runs last year. With Spring Training less than a month away the Sox have plenty of options and should make a move soon.

Red Sox Best Free Agent Signings

Leave a reply

Free agency this winter has been colder than the temperatures outside. Those baseball fans among us are starving for action and something to talk about. Hopefully the team is drawing near, as Spring Training is just around the corner. But, with free agency currently lulling us all to sleep, I decided to take a look at some of the best free agent signings the Red Sox have ever made.

David Ortiz

Big Papi is in a class all by himself. The Red Sox picked up Ortiz cheap after the Twins mistakenly dumped him. I remember thinking it was odd the Twins let him go and was happy to see the Sox bring him aboard, but obviously no one knew what would come of it. Ortiz had homered twenty times the year before in a part-time role and eighteen times the year before that. The Red Sox signed Ortiz for just 1.25 million dollars. The rest, as they say, is history.

Ortiz blossomed in Fenway and turned into maybe the most popular and beloved Red Sox of all-time. There are too many instances to cite; all the game-winning hits, the postseason heroics, David Ortiz is a living legend. He hit 483 home runs with the Red Sox. In several decades, people will tell of his heroic feats and some will wonder if half of them really happened. All he did was that unbelievable, that legendary. In several years Cooperstown should be opening its doors to him. When they do, the entire city of Boston and a large portion of the states in New England will try to get tickets and descend upon the tiny town, trying to watch the lovable Papi become enshrined.

In 2013, Ortiz came to the forefront, not for his baseball heroics, but for a motivational speech he gave following the Boston Marathon bombing. This speech can still give chills nearly five years later. David Ortiz was, is, and will forever remain, a Boston hero.

Ortiz rallied the entire city behind him after the tragic marathon bombing in 2013.

The Big Money Signings

Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramirez could be a headache, and was put on the trade block multiple times, but all in all the signing paid off. He was given an eight year contract worth 160 million dollars by the Red Sox before the 2001 season. Despite the problems he could cause, and “Manny being Manny”, Ramirez helped the Red Sox win two World Series and was the MVP of the curse breaker in 2004. That series he batted .412 to win the award. In four postseasons with the Red Sox he batted .321 with eleven home runs. In regular season play, Manny hit .312 with 274 home runs and a .999 OPS.

Manny Ramirez of the Red Sox celebrates after connecting for a three-run home run to defeat the Angels, 6-3 in Game 2 of the ALDS. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Johnny Damon

The Red Sox signed Johnny Damon to a four year deal worth 31 million dollars before the 2002 season. Damon batted .295 in his four seasons with Boston, making two All-Star Games. He stole 30 bases in each of his first two seasons, then hit 20 homers in his third season. Damon helped the Red Sox break the curse in 2004, helping the band of “idiots” overcome the “evil empire.” Damon hit two huge home runs in game seven of the ALCS that season to defeat the Yankees en route to the World Series. He may have cut off all his hair and gone to the Yankees, transforming from Jesus into the Antichrist, but during his deal he was certainly worth the money.

Keith Foulke

After the bullpen struggled in 2003, the Red Sox went out and signed closer Keith Foulke to a three year deal worth 18.75 million. He earned every penny of the entire deal in 2004 and embedded himself into Red Sox lore. After pitching to a 2.17 ERA and saving 32 games that season, Foulke became a postseason hero. With the team down 0-3 to the Yankees in the ALCS, needing a win to avoid the sweep, Foulke pitched 2.2 shutout innings to keep the game alive. He then pitched each of the next two days to help the Red Sox force a game seven. After winning the series, Foulke pitched in all four World Series games and recorded the unforgettable final out.

Bargain Contracts

Bill Mueller

Bill Mueller was a cheap signing heading into the 2003 season to handle the hot corner. Signed to a three year deal worth only 6.7 million dollars in total, Mueller was worth more than that in just the first season. He led the American League in hitting that year, batting .326 with 19 home runs, 45 doubles and a .938 OPS. That was a career year for Mueller, but he still batted .290 over the next two seasons. Mueller of course also had the base hit to score Dave Roberts, sending game four of the ALCS in 2004 to extra innings. Mueller batted .321 that postseason as the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years.

Adrian Beltre

Beltre was a big name, but came to Boston on a relatively cheap deal. After a down season in 2009, Beltre bet on himself to rebound and cash in with a larger contract the following season. The Red Sox were able to procure his services for 9 million dollars in 2010. Beltre proceeded to have the second best season of his career; he hasn’t stopped hitting since. Beltre to that point had been a decent third baseman, but somewhat disappointing. His season with the Red Sox started him on an epic second half of his career journey which is leading him to the baseball Hall of Fame. In his one season in Boston, Beltre batted .321 with 28 homers and led the league with 49 doubles.

Koji Uehara

Koji had always put up good numbers prior to coming to Boston, but had troubles staying healthy. The Red Sox initially gave him a two year deal worth 9.25 million dollars. Uehara stayed healthy and had an insanely dominant first season in Boston. In 2013, Uehara was 4-1 with a microscopic 1.09 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and saved 21 games. He then allowed one run in 13.2 innings pitched during the postseason as the Red Sox won the World Series. Koji was the MVP of the ALCS that year. Uehara ended up spending four seasons in Boston, posting a 2.19 ERA and 79 saves.

Off the Scrap Heap

Tim Wakefield

Wakefield burst onto the scene in 1992 with the Pirates, going 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA. The fall was quick though and Wakefield was back in the minor leagues for part of the next season and the entire 1994 season. The Pirates released him before the 1995 season started. Just under a week later, the Red Sox decided to nab Wakefield off the scrap heap and give his knuckleball a try. One thing Dan Duquette was good at was picking up players no one else wanted and getting success out of them.

Wakefield stayed in Boston for 17 years, pitching in every role imaginable. He won 186 games, good for third on the franchise’s all-time list. He was a fan favorite and still works with the team today, showing up on NESN often throughout the year to do studio work. Not a bad pickup.

Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox starts against the New York Yankees March 13, 2009 at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Luis Tiant

Tiant had been a successful pitcher in Cleveland in the sixties, even leading the league with a 1.60 ERA while winning 21 games in 1968. His career had fallen on hard times before coming to Boston however. Tiant missed half the season in 1970 and had yet to pitch when the Braves released him in May 1971. With Tiant a free agent, the Red Sox decided to take a chance on him and his injured arm. The move didn’t pay off immediately, as he was 1-7 the rest of that season. However, the dividends down the road were immense.

Tiant went on to have an excellent career with the Red Sox and become a borderline Hall of Fame candidate. I listed Tiant as one of the Red Sox five greatest right-handed pitchers ever a few months ago. By 1972, Tiant led the American League with a 1.91 ERA. He’d win 20 games as a member of the Red Sox three times, winning 122 total in parts of eight seasons. He also went 3-0 in the 1975 postseason with a 2.65 ERA.

Rich Garces

The lovable “El Guapo” is the third “scrap heap” free agent signing. Listed at a generous 250 pounds, (it was probably closer to 300), Garces looked like he belonged anywhere but playing professional sports. Garces pitched seven seasons for the Red Sox and developed into one of their more reliable relief pitchers. Between 1990 and 1995, Garces had only appeared in 26 Major League outings, a number he eclipsed in 1996 alone with the Sox. Garces’ best season came in 1999 when he put up a 1.55 ERA. Starting with that season, Garces won 19 games against just 3 losses over a three year stretch.

Rich Garces of the Red Sox pitches during a Spring Training game against the Rangers in Fort Myers, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XLVII

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 5 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 5 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

New Orleans hosted Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013. The game pitted the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers against the Baltimore Ravens of the American Football Conference.

San Francisco 49ers 5 Years Ago

From 1981 to 1998, there was no more decorated franchise in the NFL than the San Francisco 49ers. But, they fell on hard times as they entered the 21^st century. They bounced back in a big way with the hiring of Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh’s 49ers played tough, physical defense and ball control offense. On offense, Frank Gore out of the University of Miami was the masterpiece.

In 2011, the 49ers great defense helped them get to overtime in the NFC championship game. They were stunned in that game due to a special-teams miscue. The 2012 team got off to another good start, but Harbaugh made a surprising move prior to a week 11 game against Chicago. He switched from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick at starting quarterback.

Colin Kaepernick

Kaepernick was mesmerizing to watch. He threw the ball with ferocious velocity and ran like a gazelle in the open field. In his fifth career start, he won at New England 41-34. In his eighth career start and first playoff game, he embarrassed the proud Green Bay Packers 45-31. He passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for 181 yards and 2 more touchdowns including a 56-yarder where he dashed untouched.

In the NFC championship game, the 49ers offense faced its toughest challenge as they fell behind at Atlanta 17-0 early. Matt Ryan torched the Niners defense to the tune of 400 passing yards. Yet, San Francisco kept their poise and stayed in striking distance. Ted Ginn set up the Niners go-ahead score with a 20-yard punt return. Five runs and one pass later, Gore hit the end zone for a 28-24 lead. Atlanta’s final meaningful possession lasted seven minutes but yielded 0 points as Ryan’s fourth down pass from the 10-yard line fell incomplete. The 49ers were back in the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years!

Baltimore Ravens 5 Years Ago

Like the 49ers, the Ravens lost a heartbreaker in the AFC championship one season earlier. Unlike the 49ers, Baltimore played their stronger ball early in the 2012 season. Led by Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and several capable receivers, the Ravens started 9-2 including a miraculous win at San Diego. In that game, Rice converted a 4^th and 29!

The Ravens followed that up with a three-game losing streak and dropped to the fourth seed in the AFC. Their defense was affected with an injury to veteran Ray Lewis. Baltimore finished an unremarkable 17^th in team defense and stumbled into the playoffs to play the up-and-coming Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts Rookie Pro Bowler Andrew Luck was throttled, however, by the proud Ravens “D.” Lewis had announced his retirement, so this was his last home game and it was an emotional one. The Ravens buried the Colts 24-9. Veteran Ed Reed, arguably the best safety ever to do it likewise had a big game helping Baltimore to advance.

Road Warriors

Their Divisional round matchup served as this team’s turning point. They were heavy underdogs to Peyton Manning and the Broncos. In his first season with Denver, Manning was not human with his production. But, on this frigid night, the Ravens kept at him despite his hot start. Late in the fourth quarter of his scintillating game, the Ravens faced a third down from their own 30. Flacco launched a ball deep downfield where somehow Jacoby Jones was behind the defense. He scored to tie the game at 35 and send it to overtime. Corey Graham picked off Manning late in the first overtime setting up Baltimore’s game-winning drive in a staggering upset.

In the AFC championship game, the Ravens showed their mettle by frustrating the Patriots time and again in New England. The Patriots were able to take a 13-7 halftime lead, but it could have been more were it not for Baltimore’s excellent red zone defense on this night. Unbelievably, the Patriots did not score in the second half. On offense, Flacco carved up New England with veteran Anquan Boldin scoring twice in the fourth. Baltimore’s 28-13 win sent them off to their second Super Bowl. It was John Harbaugh against Jim Harbaugh in Super Bowl XLVII.

The Lights Go Off

The Ravens continued their hot streak by jumping all over the 49ers. They got off to a solid 14-3 start thanks to a quick strike offense and opportunistic defense. The roof really caved in for San Francisco during a two-minute stretch at the end of the first half and beginning of the second. Jones came back to receive an underthrown bomb and returned the second half’s opening kickoff. The 28-6 appeared to be turn the lights off on the 49ers season.

But, strange things happen in football. Perhaps the strangest incident in Super Bowl history came next as the lights literally were turned off in the Superdome. When the lights came back on, so did the 49ers momentum. They scored 17 points over seven minutes of game time to cut the lead to 28-23 entering the fourth quarter.

The Ravens Hold On

Then, Kaepernick pulled off one of those absurdly easy quarterback sweeps to cut the lead to 31-29. With the score 34-29, the Niners embarked on one last exciting drive into Baltimore’s territory. Kaepernick and Gore took turns making big plays to get San Francisco to the Ravens’ seven-yard line with just one-minute remaining. However, they never reached the promise land. Three consecutive tosses all intended for Michael Crabtree fell incomplete. The Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII thanks to this surprising goal-line stand.

The Ravens have not gotten back to the Promised Land. The 49ers, on the other hand, came back to have a very strong 2013 season but were denied by their archrival Seattle in the NFC championship game.

Kaepernick is now out of football, but for a few seasons, there was no more exciting player in the game. Flacco is still the Ravens’ QB. Will he ever get back to the Super Bowl? We’ll see.

Tomorrow, we will meet the Seahawks amazing “Legion of Boom” defense.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XLVI

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 6 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 6 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Indianapolis hosted Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012. The game pitted the NFC champion New York Giants against the New England Patriots of the American Football Conference. This, of course, was the rematch of probably the most intense of all the Super Bowls, Super Bowl XLII when the Giants prevented the Patriots from going undefeated.

New York Giants 6 Years Ago

The Giants did not have a particularly strong 2011 season, but they did have a breakout defensive star in Jason Pierre-Paul. Joining Pierre-Paul along the line were Chris Canty, Linval Joseph and Justin Tuck. This was a true strength of the team that started the season at 6-2. However, the defense slumped down the stretch to finish 27^th in the NFL.

In week 9, the Giants defeated the Patriots in New England 24-20 on a last-second drive led by Eli Manning. The Giants’ best players on offense were wideouts Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. Although the Giants went on a 4-game midseason skid, the Cowboys and Eagles could not catch them in the NFC East. Cruz and Nicks played outstanding football in the Giants’ late-season sweep of Dallas that clinched the division.

New York really seemed up against it heading into the playoffs. The Packers had an extraordinary 15-1 season and the top seed. The 49ers and their punishing defense and the Saints and their high-octane offense also had superb regular seasons. And, the Giants finished dead last in running the ball. Nobody had ever made it to the Super Bowl with such difficult odds. But, these were the Giants captained by Tom Coughlin that made history by defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII ending their undefeated season. So, they believed.

Giants Upset Pack & Niners

In the opening round, the Giants outclassed the Falcons, 24-2 in the Wild Card round setting up a clash with the Pack. In the regular season, the amazing Aaron Rodgers helped the Packers come back to win a thriller at the Giants’ MetLife Stadium. This time, Rodgers never had a chance. The Giants looked like the 15-1 squad while the Packers played like a team that barely finished above .500.

Manning found Nicks for an exciting 66 yarder early and on a “Hail Mary” on the last play of the first half. Michael Boley, Chase Blackburn and the wily Osi Umenyiora tormented Rodgers in the second half as New York shocked the football world with a 37-20 victory in Lambeau Field. The Giants had another very challenging matchup ahead of them. The 49ers had knocked off the Saints in an absolute beauty and would host the NFC championship game.

San Francisco jumped ahead, but New York just kept hanging around. They managed to get the game into overtime where it turned into a punt-fest. New York benefited from a blown whistle on a fumble in their own red zone and a fumble by Niners’ punt returner Kyle Williams. The Giants prevailed 20-17 and were on to their 5^th Super Bowl.

New England Patriots 6 Years Ago

The New England Patriots got back to the big game with the second-ranked offense and the second-worse ranked defense. Brady started with a bang collecting 500 yards passing on opening night in Miami. Following that week 9 loss to New York, the Pats finished the season on a 10-game winning streak.

In the Divisional round, Brady was on fire as he threw 6 touchdown passes. Tim Tebow was on the other side for Denver and he completed nine total passes. New England routed the Broncos twice in 2011 by a combined score of 86-33!

Pats Survive Gutsy Ravens

The AFC championship game between New England and the Baltimore Ravens was a completely different beast. Baltimore challenged the Patriots all day. Brady struggled, and the defensive backfield was so depleted, New England was using punt returner Julian Edelman as a cornerback. The lead see-sawed back and forth until Brady snuck in on a 4^th down to put the Patriots ahead 23-20. Then, the fun reached a climax.

The Ravens got the ball back with about two minutes to go and easily moved the ball into field goal range. On a second down, quarterback Joe Flacco fired a perfect throw toward Lee Evans in the end zone. Evans caught it. Then, Sterling Moore swiped it away. After another incompletion, Billy Cundiff came in to attempt a game-tying field goal. He hurried on to the field and missed wide left. The Patriots advanced to their seventh Super Bowl. By the way, nose tackle Vince Wilfork played a game for the ages.

Even First Half

The Patriots did not get off to a great start in the Super Bowl. On their first offensive series, Tom Brady got flagged for grounding in the end zone. The Giants then drove to a Victor Cruz touchdown and a 9-0 lead. The Pats settled down and kicked a field goal early in the second quarter.

The Giants had something brewing in response but received an extremely questionable holding penalty on a third and one. Punter Steve Weatherford came on to punt and pin the Patriots deep. Weatherford, for the record, was outstanding in the most important game of his career.

Brady then embarked on a record-setting streak. Interestingly, this may have been his worst overall performance in a Super Bowl, but for what it is worth, over the course of two drives in the second and third quarters, he connected on 17 straight passes. The first scoring drive came with eight seconds left in the first half. Brady surveyed the field for eternity before firing a dart to Danny Woodhead for the touchdown.

Patriots Drop the Ball

In the second half, Tom connected with Aaron Hernandez. The score was 17-9 for the Patriots midway through the third quarter. It was now the Giants turn to strike back. For NY, the going was slow but steady. Two field goal drives cut the lead to 17-15. Brady also threw an interception on a promising Patriots drive. And, one other crazy thing about this game is the Giants fumbled three times but recovered all of them.

New England moved the ball well again in an effort to put the game away late in the fourth quarter. However, on a second and 11 at around the Giants 40 with four minutes to go, disaster struck. Brady had Wes Welker open in the seam. The pass was slightly high and behind Welker but was definitely catchable. Welker went up for it, got both hands on it and dropped it. On third down, Deion Branch missed what would have been a first down over the middle.

Manning to Manningham

New England punted. Then, Manning hit his third wide receiver Mario Manningham on a gorgeous throw and catch along the sidelines. New York drove into field goal range. So, Bill Belichick advised his team to let New York score. Ahmad Bradshaw endeavored to stop short of the goal-line but accidentally fell into the end zone for the 21-17 lead. Subsequently, the Patriots desperate last drive failed. They dropped a few more passes, converted a fourth and 20 and missed on two bombs. The Giants were champions for the fourth time.

New England would be back at it three years later while the Giants have fallen on some down times. They will always have the distinction of beating the dynasty Patriots not once, but twice in Super Bowl action.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_bills

The Possible Power Hitters of the Red Sox

Leave a reply

Current or New Hitters?

J.D Martinez is still on the market, and Spring Training is around the corner. The Sox have shown interest in Martinez, and it is a waiting game to see what he is going to do. With the Red Sox organization not making any moves to get the power hitter that they need, it’s time to look at the possibilities of the current power hitters. There’s still hope that the Sox will pick up a power bat, but the questions are who and when. Could it be J.D., or a could it be a current player? The Red Sox have good hitters, but they need great hitters if they are going to stack up against other teams.

Hanley Ramirez

The current designated hitter of the Sox has always been a great batter. “El Trece” had a tough 2017 season, and his place on the team has definitely been questionable. With the possibility that J.D Martinez becomes a part of the Red Sox roster, what will happen with Hanley? With Mitch Moreland back for another season, Hanley is not going to be the first choice for first baseman. The thing Hanley needs to work on the most is his control and keeping his eye on the ball. Watching tapes and trying to see where he hits the ball is the best way for Hanley to approach a tough pitcher. Could 2018 be Hanley’s year to be the power hitter everyone is looking for?

Mookie Betts

There is no doubt that Mookie is a great player. With consecutive Golden Gloves he has proven that he is a strong outfielder. Mookie is young, but he is confident with his swing. When he can control the bat he hits beautifully, and it definitely pays off. He ranked high on the team with twenty-four runs in the 2017 regular season. There is rarely a day that Mookie doesn’t play or has an all around bad game. Mookie has a special quality of being great in the outfield and at the plate simultaneously. The 2018 season could be the time for Mookie to lock in and show that he has the potential to play for many more years. As a hitter, Mookie is strong and has the chance to be even greater.

Andrew Benintendi

The former rookie has learned to play the Monster with poise very quickly. Benintendi has a beautiful swing. If it’s done right, Benintendi hits big. The biggest thing for Andrew to work on is his execution and control while at home plate. Now he is aware of how certain players will pitch to him, and is learning the dynamics of playing at Fenway. He is young and has the potential to play left field for many more years. Andrew hit twenty home runs in his rookie season after cutting his 2016 appearance short with an injury. This season is the year for Benintendi to focus on his hitting power. Benintendi is one of the hitters with a style. He swings with power and is quick. He has the potential to turn his swing into more.

Rafael Devers

The soon to be rookie of the Sox quickly became popular after being called up from Pawtucket last season. Hitting ten homers very quickly after his arrival proved that Devers was a force to be reckoned with. Rafael is undoubtedly going to be one of the most watched rookies in Sox history. Devers formed a quick bond with people like David Ortiz and Pedro Martinez, and maybe their advice will push him over the edge. The baby-faced player quickly became a household name in New England with his ease to hit homers at Fenway. With that being said, it seemed almost unreal when you see Devers play, because he is just freshly twenty-one and playing like a veteran.

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Jackie Bradley’s 2017 season can be remembered by that one catch he made where he robbed Aaron Judge of a home run. He’s a force in the outfield with his amazing power arm. It is going to be interesting to see if he takes his power arm and uses it to benefit himself at the plate. A notable seventeen runs in the 2017 season showed that there is promise with Bradley Jr. He is a player with compassion and leaves his heart on the field. Perhaps the best thing about Bradley is his arm. Due to his power arm, he protects the outfield and prevents runs. Therefore, if during Spring Training Jackie puts his arm to work on his batting, he will definitely become a key player or one of the power hitters of the Sox.

Sources

Boston Herald

MLB

Sports News Instant

Brad Marchand Needs to Stop Making Illegal Hits

Leave a reply

I loved every minute of watching Brad Marchand wreak havoc in the 2011 Stanley Cup final, but there’s a difference between now and then. In 2011 Marchand was a twenty-two year old rookie still trying to prove his worth in the NHL. But now, he’s a superstar that the Bruins need on the ice. As the team’s leader he can’t keep making dumb decisions like this.

Marchand shattered his career high in points during the 2016-17 season and is on pace to do just the same this year. Even with his missed time earlier in the season factored in with the recent suspension, he is still on pace to finish with ninety points. The 1.32 points per game that he’s produced this year leads the league and emphasizes his value in each and every game. He’s on the best line in the NHL. Their production is something that Bruins fans haven’t seen since the days of Marc Savard. The trio of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak have been white-hot since early December and have led the way during the B’s current eighteen game point streak. But thanks to his own stupidity, Marchand may have just tampered with the momentum of the entire team.

The Suspension

What it comes down to is that the hit was both stupid and selfish. I know it’s a split-second decision, but the well-being of the team should instinctively come first. Even in just that half-second he should’ve known what he was about to do would only hurt the team. Marchand was lucky enough to avoid a penalty on the ice, but the suspension is well deserved. He needs to realize that his style of play has put a target on his back. Because of his track record he is rarely going to be given the benefit of the doubt. He’s now been suspended six times for a total of seventeen in his career. Every offense that he makes from here on out will consequently be magnified.

Ryan Whitney said it perfectly on Friday’s episode of Spittin’ Chiclets. He explained that he doesn’t “think this will ever stop because he can’t just not play with this anger”, and that it’s “in his DNA”. Everybody in the hockey world would love to see Marchand smarten up. His antics benefit absolutely nobody. There’s no benefit for himself, the guy he’s hurting, the team, or the other guy’s team. But Ryan Whitney is spot on. It’s just part of the package with Brad Marchand and the Bruins are lucky to have him in the end.

Cover image courtesy of www.masslive.com.

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XLV

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 7 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 7 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Dallas hosted Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011. The game pitted the NFC champion Green Bay Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference.

Green Bay Packers 7 Years Ago

The Packers underachieved during the regular season, then overachieved in the postseason to win the franchise’s fourth World Championship. They were led by breakout star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was in his third season as starter as he patiently waited for the great Brett Favre to depart. The 2010 Packers had a good offense with four receivers with at least 45 receptions. But, defense was the strength of this ball club.

Three defensive backs were selected for the Pro Bowl including longtime great CB Charles Woodson. Second-year linebacker Clay Matthews earned first-team All Pro honors. Even as the Packers struggled during the midseason, Matthews was outstanding against the run and pass. Incredibly, the Packers never trailed by more than seven points for the duration of the 2010 season. They could not even duplicate that feat during their 15-1 2011 season.

The Packers were in must-win mode in the season finale against the arch-rival Chicago Bears. Chicago had already clinched but had the opportunity to keep Green Bay out of the playoffs. The Bears defense did their job, but not their offense. Green Bay shut down Chicago 10-3 in a game that would foreshadow things to come in the NFC.

Sensational Six Seed

In the playoffs, Green Bay came in with high expectations despite their being the sixth seed. The Pack snuck past Mike Vick and the Eagles in the opening round as Mike Vick was intercepted by Tramon Williams in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay was beyond fantastic in their second-round matchup against top-seeded Atlanta. Rodgers was next to perfect and Williams made the play of the game again when he took a Matt Ryan pass to the house on the last play of the first half. The Pack humbled the Falcons 48-21.

In the NFC championship game, it was Green Bay’s old friend and NFC North Champion Bears in the way. When Bears quarterback Jay Cutler got knocked out of the game, they went with veteran Todd Collins. Collins played so poorly, Lovie Smith resorted to third-stringer Caleb Haney. Late in the fourth, Chicago trailed 14-7 and had the ball deep in their own end. Haney was picked by giant B.J.Raji of all people who rumbled in for a dramatic touchdown. Green Bay was on their way to Super Bowl XLV.

Pittsburgh Steelers 7 Years Ago

It was another season in Pittsburgh and another Super Bowl appearance and another #1-rating for their defense. Things did not come to the Steelers the easy way in 2010, though. They started the season with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serving a suspension for accusations surrounding sexual assault. They weathered the storm with a 3-1 record thanks to their top-rated defense and the Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu.

Later in the campaign, the Patriots and the Jets battled for top seed in the AFC and both teams defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh. But, the Steelers survived a brutal battle at Baltimore squeaking out a dramatic 13-10 victory. Pittsburgh’s top receiver was speedster Mike Wallace and their top running back was newcomer Rashard Mendenhall. Along with tight end Heath Miller and veterans Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El, Roethlisberger had a strong second half of the season.

Tough Home Wins

In a terrific Divisional round game against the Ravens, Pittsburgh’s defense struggled in the first half. The Steelers came back to outscore Baltimore 24-3 in the second half. Two rookie receivers made the big plays in this one. Antonio Brown had a 58-yarder and Emmanuel Sanders caught 4 balls for 54 yards. The Steelers embarrassed the Ravens’ vaunted defense. Pittsburgh received a huge gift the next day when the Jets upset the Patriots in New England the next day. That meant the Steelers would have the opportunity to host the Championship game.

Pittsburgh’s defense jumped on the Jets early and often. James Harrison and William Gay among others punished Mark Sanchez and the upstart Jets to the tune of a 24-0 lead. Rex Ryan’s feisty team battled back to get within five late in the ball game. The Steelers did not sit on the lead and converted two first downs to put the ball game away including a third and six from Roethlisberger to Brown. The Steelers were on their way to their eighth Super Bowl! At just 38 years of age, Mike Tomlin was already coaching in his second.

Packers Hold On

On their second drive, the Packers drove for a Jordy Nelson touchdown. On the next play from scrimmage, Green Bay increased their lead to 14-0 when Nick Collins returned an underthrown Roethlisberger pass for a score. Each team score a touchdown before halftime. So, the Pack went to the locker room up 21-10.

The Steelers scored first in the second half on a five-play run-only drive. Rodgers and Roethlisberger each responded with excellent touchdown drives against tough defenses. The Packers led 28-25 with less than seven minutes to go. Rogers converted a third and ten early in the next drive and they moved all the way inside the Steelers 10-yard line.

To their credit, Pittsburgh held the Packers to a field goal with 2:07 left on the clock. However, Green Bay held tough after allowing only one first down on Pittsburgh’s final possession. The Lombardi Trophy was heading home to Green Bay.

Both Mike McCarthy’s Packers and Tomlin’s Steelers are good every season. Incredibly, though, neither team has made it back to the Super Bowl since that game at the end of the 2010 season.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XLIV

Leave a reply

The Super Bowl is just 8 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 8 years ago to honor this not-so-significant occasion!

South Florida hosted Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010. The game pitted the NFC champion New Orleans Saints against the Indianapolis Colts of the American Football Conference. Peyton Manning was going up against his father Archie’s old team.

New Orleans Saints 8 Years Ago

New Orleans had come up from the dregs of professional football. It took them a ridiculous thirty-four seasons to win a single playoff game. After a hurricane battered their city in 2005, they had a dreadful season. That opened the door to the acquisition of Head Coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees. That combo helped the Saints win their second playoff game in 2006.

In 2009, expectations were quite high. They were jam-packed at wide receiver, but nobody was better than Marques Colston. With running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush and veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey, Drew Brees had a host of weapons at his disposal. Thus, he passed for 4, 388 yards and led the Saints to a 13-0 start. They took their foot off the gas as they clinched everything at the end of the regular season.

In the playoffs, Brees was his usual dynamite self in a 45-14 win over the defending-conference champion Cardinals. The win set up a wonderful matchup between the Saints and Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes were led by ancient Brett Favre and all-world Adrian Peterson.

Battle for NFC Title

The game was as see-saw a battle as there has ever been. The Vikings were as capable of making a big play on offense as they were of coughing up the ball with a momentum-changing turnover. Minnesota outgained the Saints, 475-257, but were -4 in turnover differential. The Saints’ defense was hitting Minnesota players especially Favre with tremendous ferocity throughout the game.

Brees was calm under fire as he tossed three touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. With the score tied at 28, the Vikings found themselves in great field position with an opportunity to kick a potential game-winning in regulation. However, the veteran gunslinger made a critical mistake as he threw across his body toward the middle of the field where Saints’ cornerback Tracy Porter stole the trophy.

In overtime, the Saints drove the field on the first possession for a game-winning field goal by Garrett Hartley. The Saints were off to their first Super Bowl in franchise history!

Indianapolis Colts 8 Years Ago

Their opponents would be Jim Caldwell and the Indianapolis Colts. The ’09 Colts started the season 14-0 led by the amazing Peyton Manning. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne both caught 100 passes and exceeded 1000 receiving yards for the season. And, on defense, Dwight Freeney was a first-team All-Pro recording 13.5 sacks in just nine starts.

Caldwell controversially sat many of his main guys over the last two games costing them the chance to go undefeated. In the playoffs, the Colts held off challenges by the Ravens and Jets to make it back to their second Super Bowl in four seasons.

Colts Early Lead

Ronald Martinez

Indy controlled the first quarter converting three third downs en route to a 10-0 lead. Young Pierre Garcon was the recipient of a gorgous Manning lob for the first touchdown of the game. The Saints responded with a good second quarter. The unsung Hartley connected on two long field goals to cut the lead to 10-6 at the half.

Payton rolled the dice with an onside kick to open the second half and it worked. The Saints made the gamble pay off with a perfect screen play to Thomas. The Colts would not go away, however. Manning led them right back on a scoring drive that included two more third down conversions. Joseph Addai scored the go-ahead touchdown. Hartley responded with another long field goal.

Saints Get the Lombardi

In the fourth quarter, the Colts drove to the Saints 34 and decided to go for a field goal. Adam Vinatieri was out with an injury. Veteran Matt Stover missed setting up New Orleans with great field possession and they took advantage. The Saints regained the lead on a short scoring strike from Brees to Shockey. They added a 2-point conversion and led 24-17 late in the fourth.

The Colts moved the ball well again. However, on this third down, Manning and Wayne seemed to be on different pages. Porter jumped the route and took the interception to the house. The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV 31-17 setting off a party on Bourbon Street like never before!

Neither the Colts nor the Saints have aspired to such lofty heights since. But, in 2009, they gave football fans a great game. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss how the Green Bay Packers brought the Lombardi Trophy home!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills