Week 17: Games to Watch

Week 17 has finally arrived. Certainly every football fan’s favorite week of the regular season. Although by the end of the day, many of those fans are less-than happy with their team’s result. This year, there will certainly be some broken hearts as there are six teams fighting for the final three playoff spots. In the AFC we have Baltimore, Tennessee, Buffalo and the Chargers fighting for the two wild card spots. In the NFC, just one spot remains, which will be battled for by the Falcons and Seahawks. Below are the week 17 games which hold the strongest playoff implications.

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS

This clash of NFC South powerhouses is probably the biggest game of the week. For Carolina, it is an opportunity to win the division. However, this will be a tall task. Carolina has lost both games to New Orleans this year, so they will have to win in Atlanta and the Saints would have to lose in Tampa. Pretty unlikely but hey, we have seen crazier things. Carolina has already clinched a playoff spot and will likely be playing either the Rams or the Saints in the first round.

There is even more on the line for the Falcons in this game. At 9-6, a win or a Seahawks loss will give the last remaining seed in the NFC to Atlanta. It is impossible to know what to expect from this game as the Panthers tend to play like either a Super Bowl team or a division 3 high school team. It is difficult to know what to expect from them heading into this week. However, I do like Atlanta’s chances because they are at home. I also think Matty Ice and Julio Jones may be able to pick apart the Panthers secondary, which ranks 19th in the league in pass yards allowed per game.

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

lockedonbengals.com

Cincinnati is playing for nothing but pride this weekend as their dreadful season has them eliminated from the playoffs. However, I do expect Cincinnati to give it a valiant effort this week as they would love to help eliminate their division rival from the playoffs. For Baltimore, all they have to do is win to make the playoffs, as they have a one game advantage on the rest of the teams fighting to get in. The Ravens could lose and still make the playoffs as they have own the tie breaker with the Chargers. If the Ravens, Bills, and Titans all finish 9-7 then they would be eliminated because Tennessee and Buffalo both own the tie breaker over Baltimore.

BUFFALO BILLS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Bills have probably the slimmest chances to snag an AFC wild card spot. They do hold a tie breaker over the Ravens if both teams finish 9-7. This will be pretty unlikely as the Baltimore has a very winnable home game vs Cincy. If the Ravens win then Buffalo will need both Tennessee and the Chargers to lose. On paper, this looks like a pretty winnable game. However, much like the Panthers, both of these teams are rather inconsistent. It is hard to know what to expect in this match-up. I do believe that Buffalo is the superior team and that they will be able to win this game.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

atozsportsnashville.com

Jacksonville does not have much to worry about in this game as they will likely be AFC’s three seed. However, this is a huge game for the Titans. Luckily they own a tie breaker over all three of the other teams fighting to get in. A win would guarantee a playoff spot. If they lose, the Ravens win AND Buffalo or the Chargers win then the Titans would be eliminated. So they really need to win in order to avoid any risks. A win will be a tall task despite being the home team. Jacksonville’s defense is probably the best in the league. I expect starting corners AJ Bouye and Jalen Ramsey to completely shut down the passing game. It will be up to Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry to lead the Titans to this week 17 win

OAKLAND RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

raiderswire.usatoday.com

The Raiders will be playing to spoil this weekend. As arguably the league’s biggest disappointment, Oakland has to be itching for next season. If it makes them feel better, they can drastically decrease their division rival’s chances of making the playoffs with a win. A win will not guarantee a spot in the playoffs for the Chargers. They will need a loss from the Titans as well because Tennessee own the tie breaker. However, if they end up with the same record as the Bills then they will have the tie breaker and earn the 6th seed. LA should win this game rather easily as Oakland has struggled on both sides of the ball this year. I do not think Oakland has the ability to stop Rivers, Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen on the road. Advantage LA.

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Weird to imagine the Seahawks not in the playoffs. For Seattle to make it in, they will need to win and need Atlanta to lose against Carolina. Both things could happen of course, but the chances are not that high. Seattle cannot control what happens down in Atlanta this week, but they can help themselves by earning a win. At home I do expect Russell Wilson and company to get the win. But Arizona has quietly been playing some pretty solid football as of late. Even though I expect them to win, I also expect Atlanta to win which would eliminate Seattle due to a head to head tie breaker in Atlanta’s favor.

*Questions or comments? Find me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

*Feature pic credit goes to panthers.com*

Washington Troubles Continue for the Bruins

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Well this news certainly will not shock anybody: the Boston Bruins lost to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. The Bruins have now dropped 12 straight games against the Capitals, and do not have any more regular season games scheduled with them this year. A blessing in disguise if you ask me, because it seems like no matter how well they play the Bruins just cannot overcome the Caps. Coming into D.C the Bruins had won five games in a row and eight out of the last 10. All of the sudden the Bruins had some adversity to overcome. Lets take a look back at last nights 4-3 loss and highlight the areas where the Bruins fell short.

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Bruce Cassidy

There has not been much to complain about this season regarding Bruce Cassidy. Overall he as done a fabulous job. But last night in Washington Cassidy really had egg on his face. Starting in the overtime period where Cassidy thought it was a better idea to put Carlo on the ice in a 3-3 situation than Krug. Cassidy explained that he was sending a message to the veteran defenseman. But overtime against the team that owns you is not the time to bench your most talented offensive defenseman.

Another major blunder by Cassidy was not challenging Lars Eller’s goal that made it 2-1 Boston. When on replay it was very clearly offside. But later on in the game Cassidy did decide to challenge Brett Connolly’s game tying goal that had no chance of being overturned. At that point it’s hard not to wonder if Cassidy was more focused on saving face than actually objectively viewing the play. Especially considering that one of Cassidy’s reasons for not challenging the first goal was because he did not want to risk the two-minute minor in that situation. Which only makes him challenging the game tying goal that much worse, thankfully the Bruins killed the penalty and were able to get one point.

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Anders Bjork

This decision may be even more frustrating than the whole challenge situation. Cassidy has been rather harsh on Bjork all season, and that trend continued against Washington. Bjork had only 6:53 TOI against Washington and seemed to be in the doghouse once again. Cassidy explained that Bjork was not sharp without the puck and was off his defensive angles. This is true, as Bjork has a tendency to be rather ineffective physically in the defensive zone. However the Bruins need to make a choice on Bjork. Either let him work through his deficiencies at the NHL level or send him down to Providence. Bjork is not going to improve by playing not even seven minutes a night at the NHL level. A Providence stint would allow him to play 20 minutes a night and focus on his positioning without the puck.

The Bruins have some big roster decisions coming up, and right now Bjork is the odd man out. Krejci is set to return to the lineup soon as well as Chelarik. While the Bruins have made it public that Bjork has earned his roster spot their hand may be forced. Sweeney and Cassidy have some big decisions to make for the surprisingly good Bruins team now lets see if they can make the right one.

Despite Popular Opinion, Dave Dombrowski Is Doing the Right Thing

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On December 9th, the Yankees and Marlins officially agreed on a deal to send slugger Giancarlo Stanton to the Bronx. There were mixed opinions from Red Sox fans on whether or not they wanted Stanton because of the idea of trading pieces and his huge contract.

One thing for sure is whether or not Red Sox nation wanted him, they certainly did not want him to join Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez who slugged their way to one game from the World Series.

The Pressure

Dave Dombrowski had to immediately feel the pressure as soon as he found out that the Yankees had acquired Stanton. Not only because of the fact that the Marlins got a weak haul that the Red Sox could have matched, but also because their arch-rivals now have two giants in their lineup.

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The attention immediately focused to what “Dealin Dave” would do to counter the Yankees’ move. Many believed he was going to try and sign both Eric Hosmer and JD Martinez. Not only did fans want this to happen, they wanted it to happen as soon as possible.

However, Dave has stayed calm under pressure, which is surprising because he is usually a gunslinger.

Financial Situation

One thing to take into consideration is the financial situation of the Red Sox. They currently have some huge contracts on the table, including Hanley Ramirez, Rick Porcello, and Rusney Castillo. The Average Annual Value (AAV) of those contracts alone is a colossal chunk of the payroll.

Splurging just to splurge is not the answer here, and going after just JD Martinez instead of both him and Hosmer is also the right idea. One big contract added to the payroll will already be a burden, never mind two. Fans who also want to see the massive extensions of Mookie Betts and Chris Sale whe nthey hit the market should also take this into consideration.

Scott Boras

A lot of people know who Scott Boras is at this point. Boras is an infamous sports agent whose notorious for getting giant contracts for his clients. JD Martinez is a Boras client, and was originally seeing a 7 year deal worth $200 million+ going into the offseason. Obviously he will not end up getting that deal, but he will be making a lot of money.

What is happening right now is a stare down between Scott Boras and Dave Dombrowski. This is a staredown that is actually benefiting Boston though. Right now, the only real market for Martinez currently is the Red Sox. They have already been linked to him and are desperately seeking a middle of the order bat.

Fans who are begging for DD to make a move and sign Martinez are not using their brains properly. It is common sense that the longer Dave milks this out, Boras and Martinez will eventually get desperate and take a deal for less.

The offseason can be a very long and painful process, but Dave Dombrowski is a smart man. It may be boring right now, but the waiting game will be worth it in the long run.

Deven Marrero: The Hidden Gem

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Marrero Worked His Way from the Bottom to the Top

He’s grown up in tough situations, but that never seemed to stop Marrero with following his dreams. Deven Marrero may not be a power bat, but it’s clear that he is always up and ready to play when he needs to. Although we haven’t seen much of him in Boston, he was definitely a player to watch in the minors. His time to shine on the team is just beginning. He may not be a rookie but he has definitely earned his place in the hearts of Red Sox Nation.

Arizona State Alumni

One of the top shortstops in the nation, Marrero was rising above standards. He was taken in the first round, 24th overall, in the 2012 draft. He had a great 3 years at Arizona State before entering the MLB. Every time he stepped up and showed that he was a valuable teammate, he was rewarded. Below is a list of Marrero’s college achievements:

2012 First Team Pac-12 All-Conference
2012 First Team Academic All-District VIII
2012 Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team
2012 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
2011 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year
2011 First Team Pac-12 All-Conference
2011 Cape Cod League All-Star
2011 ABCA Second Team All-West Region
2011 Second Team Academic All-Pac-10
2011 Second Team Academic All-District VIII
2010 Collegiate Baseball First Team Freshman All-American
2010 NCBWA Second Team Freshman All-American
2010 Honorable Mention Pac-12 All-Conference
2010 All-Tempe Regional Team

Family Comes First

It takes a special person to be able to overcome the obstacles that Marrero has conquered. He grew up in a house full of female role models while his father is in prison.

“I play for them and try to support them so they can go through life with ease because they’ve been through enough pain,’’ Marrero added. “It’s in my blood to take care of my girls. That’s all I live for. I love those girls to death and they deserve the world.”

Marrero does everything possible for his family. He wants them to experience all of the love possible. Luckily, Deven had grown up with Eric Hosmer. Hosmer’s father quickly became that special figure in Marrero’s life. They’re family to him. To see the struggles he’s been through and still comes out to be his best is inspirational. Though Marrero’s father was not very prominent in his life from behind bars, Deven still credits him for his success.

“I actually wrote him a letter and sent him one of my baseball cards the day I made it to the big leagues,” Marrero said. “I just wanted to tell him that with all the bad stuff he did, he also did a lot of good. He created me and made me who I am. The hard work that I put into my game now is what he instilled into my brain.”

Looking into the Future

There is no doubt Marrero is a true shortstop, but as of now he plays mainly at third base for the Sox. He knows that eventually his time will come and when it does he will do the best he can. With Bogarets appearing in trade rumors, it seems as though his time may come sooner than he thinks. The biggest step Marrero believes he needs to take is working on his plate placement when up at bat. But every year it gets better and better.

“We all go through our struggles,’’ he added. “This is probably the hardest sport to play in the world, hands down, but I’ve never thought about quitting or anything like that. This is what I know. I want to play as long as I can and when it’s over, I probably want to coach.”

His life is baseball. It’s a special situation to find a person that wants to stay within the sport in any way that he can. To see that he loves baseball so much shows Red Sox Nation that he is a promising player.

Sources

The Boston Globe

MLB

Arizona State Baseball

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XV

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The Super Bowl is just 37 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 37 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Louisiana’s Superdome hosted Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981. The game pitted the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles against the Oakland Raiders of the American Football Conference. The game was played amid the backdrop of the more serious world events. That week, US hostages were released from Iranian control adding to the emotional nature of the game.

Philadelphia Eagles 37 Years Ago

For Eagles’ fans, winning the NFC championship was a culmination of Dick Vermeil’s culture change. Philadelphia had long been home to a losing football team. But, Vermeil instituted a winning attitude from the day he arrived from UCLA.

They were not an overnight success. In 1978, they chocked in a Wild Card loss at Atlanta. In 1979, they lost as a road favorite in Tampa. But, in 1980, they were the NFC’s best from day one. Their offense centered around three Pro Bowlers. Wilbert Montgomery was a sensational, young running back, the team’s best player. At quarterback, Ron Jaworski was rugged and had a rocket for an arm. They also had a giant. Veteran wide receiver Harold Carmichael was virtually uncoverable at 6’8”.

The 1980 Eagles had the #1 defense in points allowed and #2 in yards allowed. They did not play a bad game on that side of the ball all season. Nose tackle Charlie Johnson was the best of a very experienced bunch.

In the divisional round of the playoffs, the Eagles came out very flat. The youthful Vikings pounced on their mistakes and took a shocking 14-0 lead. However, Philadelphia got down to business in the second half. They won going away, 31-16.

In the NFC championship game, Philadelphia hosted Dallas in ice-cold Veterans Stadium. One minute into the game, Montgomery scored on a burst through the middle. He wasn’t even touched on the play that gave Philly a 7-0 lead. The Eagles’ defense punished Danny White and ‘dem Boys. The win sent Philadelphia to their first Super Bowl appearance.

Oakland Raiders 37 Years Ago

The 1980 season saw a changing of the guard in the AFC. The usually formidable and two-time defending World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers had a down season. Thus, the conference was wide open. It was so tight that each of the five playoff teams finished with identical 11-5 records.

The Bills won the AFC East behind a great defense. The Chargers had a historically good offense. The Browns were known as the “Cardiac Kids” for their amazing comebacks. Yet, the two best overall teams in the AFC in 1980 probably played in the Wild Card game.

It was Houston with ex-Raider Ken Stabler at quarterback at Oakland. The Raiders had a tumultuous 1980 season under Tom Flores. Their starting QB was former-Oiler Dan Pastorini. But, Pastorini broke his leg in week 5. Who was next on the depth chart? Ten-year veteran Jim Plunkett. Plunkett proceeded to put together a season Cinderella would have been proud of.

On defense, the Raiders had a cornerback named Lester Hayes. Hayes’ 1980 season is arguably the best-ever by a defensive back in NFL history. Counting the playoffs, the Raiders played in 20 games in 1980. Hayes recorded an insane 18 interceptions for 318 yards! What a performance!

Cinderella Story

In the Wild Card game against Houston, Hayes intercepted his former teammate Stabler and scored. Oakland won, 27-7. The win sent them to Cleveland. In one of the coldest games in NFL history, the players look like they are just trying to survive the elements. The Raiders led 14-12 late in the game. The Browns were in field goal range, but kicker Don Cockcroft was having a miserable day, so they took a shot at the end zone. Safety Mike Davis stepped in front of Brian Sipe’s pass and Oakland advanced.

They would play at San Diego for the AFC title. The Chargers beat the Bills on a TD pass with two minutes left in their divisional round game and were slight favorites to defeat Oakland. The Chargers moved the ball all game against the Raiders. But, the Raiders took the ball away three times on defense and made huge plays on offense. Oakland jumped out to a 28-7 lead and hung on to win 34-27 sending Al Davis’ club to their third Super Bowl.

Just Win Baby

The Super Bowl itself was a letdown. Vermeil and his Eagles played tight and nervous, completely opposite to their performance in the NFC championship game. The Raiders were cool, calm and collected. Plunkett was masterful dissecting the Eagles’ top-ranked defense. On the other hand, Jaworski was late on his reads. At other times, he misread the defense entirely. Raiders’ linebacker Rod Martin picked him off three times on the day.

The games’ most exciting play occurred late in the first quarter with Oakland already ahead, 14-0. Plunkett was under some pressure. Halfback Kenny King snuck behind Eagles’ DB Herm Edwards and Plunkett lofted a gorgeous pass down the far sideline. King took it in stride and was off to the races for the longest TD in Super Bowl history to that point – 80 yards.

The second half was an anti-climactic borefest. The Raiders sealed the deal with a Cliff Branch score and two field goals. The final was 27-10, but could have been much worse.

Philly would not get back to the Super Bowl for 24 years. The Raiders would be back three years later and win again. By that time, Al Davis moved his ball club to Los Angeles. Their next Super Bowl as the Oakland Raiders came after the 2002 season.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss the Super Bowl from 36 years and the birth of a different dynasty from the Bay area!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days

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For all the fans excited about @spot_bills running series on all 51 Super Bowls, here is the full list of all the articles published so far. Relive your favorite Big Games or discover new ones. Be sure to comment and chat with our authors and fans.

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-ii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-iii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-iv

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-v

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-vi

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-vii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-viii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-ix

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-x

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xi

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xiii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xiv

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVI

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The Super Bowl is just 36 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 36 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Super Bowl XVI was played in the Pontiac Silverdome on January 24, 1982. The game pitted the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers against the Cincinnati Bengals of the American Football Conference.

San Francisco 49ers 36 Years Ago

The 1981 49ers experienced a decade of mediocrity. Alas, a QB from Notre Dame came upon a white horse. His name was Joe Montana and he was about to rewrite the San Francisco and NFL history books. Bill Walsh, a Paul Brown disciple ironically from his Bengals’ days, served as 49ers head coach. His offensive scheme featured short passing plays mixed with runs by unheralded backs.

The 49ers’ best offensive weapon was wide receiver Dwight Clark. He possessed great hands and ran great routes.

On defense, the Niners were excellent in the defensive backfield. However, they were very young. They started three rookies every game of the season. Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson were good from week one. Lott was special. Dwight Hicks was in his third season. He finished the year with 239 interception-return yards and was invited to the Pro Bowl.

San Francisco added Jack Reynolds and Fred Dean to bolster their run defense and pass rush. And it worked. In fact, the ’81 49ers finished 2^nd in the league in defense and just 13^th in team offense. So, their dynasty began like most of the greatest in NFL history after all. Defense wins championships.

The Catch

Phil Huber

They finished the 1981 season with 15 wins in their last 16 games. Atlanta and Philadelphia were suppose to be the best teams in the NFC. But, the Falcons never got off the ground and the Eagles slumped down the stretch and lost in the wild card game. In the end, the Niners and Cowboys were the leaps and bounds the two best teams in the conference.

The Niners beat the Giants and the Cowboys walloped the Buccaneers to set up the game of the season in the NFC. The teams went back and forth in an instant classic. The 49ers controlled the tempo of the game. But, whether it was nerves or whatever, they were mistake-prone. They turned over the ball an incredible 6 times.

Still, they only trailed 27-21 with five minutes left. They moved the ball slowly, but surely. They mostly relied on the running of veteran Lenvil Elliott and the catching of Dwight Clark. Indeed, it was a spectacular catch by Clark which is known as “the catch” that propelled the Niners into the Super Bowl. When Montana threw the pass, it looked as if he was throwing it away. But, Clark outjumped Everson Walls and scored. Dallas’ QB Danny White fumbled on the final series and the 49ers were Super Bowl-bound.

Cincinnati Bengals 36 Years Ago

The Bengals were surprisingly the best team in the AFC in 1981. They proved that with a 40-17 thrashing at San Diego. Their only loss during the last two months of the season came at home to the 49ers.

Three-time World champion Forrest Gregg was the Head Coach of the 1981 Bengals. Their defense was average, finishing 12^th. However, their offense was excellent. League MVP and longtime Bengals’ starter Ken Anderson had a brilliant season. Rookie wide receiver Cris Collinsworth and fullback Pete Johnson also made the Pro Bowl.

In the playoffs, Cincinnati outlasted Buffalo 28-21. Next up, the high-powered San Diego Chargers. The Chargers defeated Miami in overtime in an epic. San Diego went from that hot, humid victory in Miami to Cincinnati to play in one of the coldest games ever recorded.

The Chargers were once again no match for the Bengals, losing 27-7. Cincinnati with their brand-new stripes were on to their first Super Bowl.

Joe Cool

The Bengals got the first break when the Niners fumbled the opening kickoff. But, Anderson gave it right back with a red zone pick by Hicks. San Francisco took their opening drive to the one-yard line. Subsequently, Montana dove in for the first score.

The Bengals consistently moved the ball. But, they turned it over 4 times. For one, Collinsworth committed a critical red zone fumble. The Niners took advantage of these miscues, scoring 10 points in the second quarter. They squibbed a last-second kickoff at the end of the half. Sure enough, the Bengals fumbled again. San Francisco added one more field goal and the score was 20-0 at the break.

The Bengals did not fold. They scored the next 14 points around a superb 49ers’ goal-line stand. However, Joe Cool sealed the deal with a FG drive that put the game in hand. And the Niners intercepted Anderson again in the closing minutes.

Thus, the 49ers won their first of five Super Bowls over the next 14 seasons. The Bengals would rebuild and be back seven years later. Unfortunately for them, Cincy lost Super Bowl XXIII…to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Should Boston College Keep Addazio?

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The Boston College football team’s season came to an end on Wednesday night after their bowl loss to Iowa. As head coach, Addazio is now 1-3 in bowl games and 0-2 when in the Pinstripe Bowl. He’s been able to bring the Eagles to bowl games, though not every trip was a smooth one. From questionable play calling to rude press conferences, student ‘superfans’ have been calling for his firing for some time.

Another Bowl, Another Loss

The Eagles had yet another disappointing loss in the Pinstripe Bowl. This time, they lost 27-20 to Iowa. Right out of the gate, QB Darius Wade threw an INT that led to a Iowa FG. But Addazio got his guys back on track and they went into halftime with a 14-10 lead. Unfortunately, two more turnovers late in the fourth quarter sealed the deal for Iowa, and RB AJ Dillon’s 157 rushing yards fell by the wayside. That is now three bowl losses for Addazio against Arizona, Penn State and Iowa. Two out of the three are relatively sub par, but one can argue that BC’s in the same class. You can get to the big games, but can’t win them? Something’s got to give.

Lead by Example!

Another Addazio vice: his temper, particularly during press conferences. It has been an ongoing issue for the head coach, especially during losses. Of course no one likes to lose, but that doesn’t mean you have the right to verbally attack the media when they ask perfectly valid questions. I’m sorry coach, but you are NO Cam Newton, and even so he doesn’t have the right to act that way either. He needs to have more composure because as the head coach, his guys look up to him. From personal experience, I’ve seen how his negativity can affect his players and how they interact with others. Not okay. One of the most important lessons he can teach these guys is how to communicate and carry themselves with the media, especially after a loss.

What’s Next for Addazio?

If I know Boston College, they won’t fire Addazio because deep down they know they probably should have done it already. But they don’t want to be ‘that team’ that cycles through head coaches like the Browns cycle through QBs. For now, I guess they’re satisfied with 7-win seasons and the occasional bowl win, if they’re lucky. Either way, Addazio is already looking to 2018 with excitement. He’ll get back some injured key players as well as some returning talent like AJ Dillon. Coach has confidence in his guys and the talent they have. What about the talent they will acquire? A little birdie told me that Mike Vrabel’s son Tyler committed to BC. How exciting!

Hopefully next season, people will want to stay for a whole game or show up all together. I know my fellow alums would love to see BC become real contenders again, especially with fellow ACC teams Clemson and Miami making noise. So coach, we’re all looking to you to make some magic in your fifth season. Here’s to consistency and success in 2018!

Picture credits to USA Today and BC Interruption

Andrew Benintendi: From Rookie to Key Player

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No Longer the Sox Rookie

The Arkansas Razorback alum is in the spotlight today. Andrew Benintendi is entering his 2nd full season with the Boston Red Sox. Sadly, he won’t be basking in the limelight of being the team’s rookie. But, there is no doubt that the 23-year-old left fielder will be in any shadow unless given by the green monster. He had an unbelievable rookie year coming in second place behind Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees for AL Rookie of the Year.

Benny and the Razorbacks

The small, lightweight boy from Madeira, Ohio quickly became a force to be reckoned with in Arizona. He wasn’t just a bench warmer or a place holder. He stepped up and was awarded in doing so. His accolades speak for themselves:

Was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team
Led Arkansas with 17 stolen base
Golden Spikes Award Winner
Dick Howser Trophy Winner
SEC Male Athlete of the Year
Baseball America National Player of the Year
Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year
SEC Player of the Year (Coaches)
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
Louisville Slugger All-America First Team
ABCA/Rawlings All-America First Team
NCBWA All-America First Team
D1Baseball All-America First Team
Baseball America All-America First Team
Collegiate Baseball All-America First Team
NCAA Stillwater Regional All-Tournament Team
MLB Draft Pick – No. 7 Overall – Red Sox

Benintendi has quite the college resume for only playing with the Razorbacks for 2 years before entering the MLB draft as a number 7 prospect in the MLB. This is clearly not a normal resume as some collegiate baseball players look to reach the same level as Benintendi in their senior year to get the final push. No doubt the Razorbacks had a special player on their hands.

His Struggles Will Not Stop Him

He had some amazing moments, but he also had moments where he was in a slump. Every player faces these moments and for Andrew’s was slightly more targeted with him being the rookie. Commentators and fans doubted him. But there was no way he would let himself be known as just an okay baseball player. He was in his prime the season before his rookie year, being called up into the big leagues. That came to an abrupt stop on August 24, 2016, while playing the Rays. He has always had a problem with his knee but this sprain seemed to be the one to take him out. Throughout the 2017 season if his knee was hit or he tweaked it slightly the coaches took many precautions when making sure the healing process was never interrupted.

Rookie Season: A Quick Overview

“It felt good to get it out of the way. It’s just one of those things you dream about your entire life. I got to first base and it kind of set in.” Andrew Benintendi on first major league hit.

Opening day at Fenway in 2017 and Andrew Benintendi, number 16, left fielder, was introduced to the Red Sox Nation. He had the looks and was certainly very humble and honored to be a part of the team. There are a handful of moments that truly stood out for Mr. Benintendi that will stay in the minds of the Sox fans for years.

Up first is the over the wall catch in Tampa Bay. To this day people still wonder how he did it. The rookie made a risky move and succeeded. Not many can say that they flung themselves over a wall onto a table to catch a baseball and only came out of it a little sore.

Up second is the way he protects the monster. Not many left fielders can succeed when it comes to the beloved monster at Fenway. But Benny caught on quick and learned how to use the wall. It’s not easy and he has work to do, but it’s now known that he can play the wall.

Lastly, his swing. He has the beautiful stance. The breathtaking form. When he hits the ball and it goes where it needs to, it truly is perfect. He plays with passion and doesn’t take or for granted. He always talks about how he wants to be better. The 23-year-old seems to focus on something new every day.

Looking into the Future for Benintendi

Hardworking and humble are just a few words to describe the young man. I can see him being in a Sox uniform for many years. He’s made the special bond with his teammates and truly loves playing in the city of Boston.

“Just the presence he has, he’s always under control. He controls his at-bats. He’s going to be good for a long time.” -Dustin Pedroia on Andrew Benintendi

Sources

NBC Sports

MLB

Arizona Razorbacks Baseball

The Worst Catchers in Red Sox History

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The worst catchers in the history of the Boston Red Sox tend to be guys who played a long time ago, or did not spend much time with the team. These guys are not incredibly well-known, like the best catchers are. See how many of the following names you know or remember playing. Since poor position players are harder to come up with than good ones, I am doing the worst three players at each position.

Marc Sullivan

Marc Sullivan was a 2nd round pick of the Red Sox out of the University of Florida in 1979. Despite not demonstrating the ability to hit in the minors, Sullivan was able to find his way to the majors for a few seasons. Sullivan showed his first bit of promise in professional ball in 1981 when he hit .268 with 14 homers in the low minors. However, the next season in double-a he only batted .203 with a homer. Despite this dreadful showing, he got his first taste of the bigs that September. He spent the entire season of 1984 in the minors while struggling. In 1985 he managed to hit 15 home runs, but only batted .204. In his brief showings in the Major Leagues between 1982 and 1984 he was 5-12 at the plate.

By early 1985 Sullivan was up in the big leagues for good. Sullivan may not have deserved this honor though as he never even batted .200 again. As Rich Gedman’s backup in 1985, Sullivan batted .174. Backing up Gedman again in 1986, Sullivan raised his average to .193, homering just once and posting a .512 OPS. As a reward, he actually started more games at catcher than anyone else for the Red Sox in 1987. Gedman’s play fell off a cliff following his holdout, leading to the extra playing time. Sullivan hit .169 with a career low .435 OPS. He got on base at a .198 clip while slugging to the tune of .238.

Sullivan was at least solid behind the dish, throwing out 24 base stealers in 1987. He threw out 36% of runners for his career. This helped improve his career WAR too a -1.5. His career batting line was .186 with 5 home runs and a .236/.258/.494 triple slash.

Javy Lopez

Lopez wasn’t with the Red Sox long, but he was a big disappointment. Lopez is one of the better offensive catchers in baseball history. For his career he hit .287 and averaged 28 home runs and 93 runs batted in per 162 games played. Most of that production came for the Braves, where he is probably the best catcher in team history. Lopez had been playing with the Orioles since signing with them prior to the 2004 season. After a stellar first season there, Lopez had been okay between 2005 and 2006 when the Red Sox traded for him during the waiver trade period.

Following the injury to Jason Varitek, the Red Sox were looking to add a reliable catcher to pair with Doug Mirabelli. The thought was that Lopez would give the Red Sox some juice behind the plate until Varitek came back. Always a poor backstop, it was his bat that gave him value. Lopez proceeded to hit .190 for the Red Sox. He failed to homer in any of his 63 at-bats, driving in just four runs. With his measly two walks, Lopez posted a .215/.270/.485 batting line with Boston. The team fell out of contention and Lopez was ultimately released shortly after Varitek returned in early September.

Javy Lopez of the Red Sox walks off during the game against the Mariners August 26, 2006 (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Mike Ryan

Ryan was actually a pretty good defensive backstop. His glove and arm was all he really brought to the table. For the time period, he may have been alright as a backup catcher, but was miscast as the Red Sox main catcher for a couple of seasons. He managed to hit three home runs amongst his 17 base hits in 1965. Ryan then became the Red Sox top catcher for the 1966 season. That season he batted .214, the highest total of his career with more than 70 at-bats. Despite the poor offensive showing, Ryan did throw out 34 base runners.

Ryan started for most of the season during the Red Sox “Impossible Dream” season of 1967. He clashed with Dick Williams though, who wanted a better bat behind the plate and questioned Ryan’s game calling abilities. Mike Ryan batted .199 and was eventually replaced as the starting catcher when the Sox acquired Elston Howard. It was his final season in Boston as Williams didn’t want him around anymore.

In total, Mike Ryan batted just .201 with 7 homers and 70 RBI while with the Red Sox. His OPS was just .539 during that time. He did add value behind the plate, throwing out 61 would be base stealers over three seasons. His total WAR was -1.8.

Boston Red Sox players Mike Ryan and Russ Gibson at training camp in Winter Haven, Fla., on March 1, 1967. (Photo by Dan Goshtigian/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Dishonorable Mentions:

Russ Gibson, Dave Valle, Bob Tillman