51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XII

The Super Bowl is just 40 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 40 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Super Bowl XII was played in the Louisiana Superdome on January 15, 1978. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the Denver Broncos of the American Football Conference.

Dallas Cowboys 40 Years Ago

The Cowboys had much the same cast as the one that brought them their surprising Super Bowl X berth with one notable exception. They traded up in the 1977 draft with the expansion Seattle Seahawks and grabbed Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett out of Pitt. Dorsett emerged in late-October and so did Dallas.

Innovative Tom Landry rode the talents of Roger Staubach and Dorsett to a 12-2 record. The Cowboys ran the most advanced offense of the era. They threw on first down, ran on third down and tossed in a trick play or two every week.

On defense, the Cowboys were tops against the run. Add to that the Defensive Player of the Year, Harvey Martin, and this Dallas team was the most complete club in football in 1977.

They embarrassed Walter Payton and the Bears in the playoffs and were not tested in the championship game as they faced a Vikings’ team without Fran Tarkenton. In one of the easiest marches a team has had to the Super Bowl, the Cowboys qualified to take on Denver two weeks later.

Denver Broncos 40 Years Ago

Denver’s road to the Super Bowl was far more unexpected. To be sure, they benefited from the Steelers having a down year. But, the AFC was by no means a breeze. Baltimore and Oakland were every bit as good as the Broncos were.

Where the Broncos held an edge was defense. The “Orange Crush” was third in scoring defense. Lyle Alzado, Tom Jackson and Randy Gradishar were stars on a team that played fundamental football under first year coach Red Miller.

On offense, it was old Cowboys’ QB Craig Morton who emerged to win Comeback Player of the Year. Kick returner Rick Upchurch was another stud on this club.

In the playoffs, Denver overpowered the vaunted Steel Curtain. They won going away in a game which introduced them to a national audience. The following week, they would face Oakland. The Raiders had just survived a double-overtime thriller over the Colts in Baltimore.

Veteran wide receiver Haven Moses stole the show on this day. He tallied 5 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Still, this game came down to a controversial call. Rob Lytle fumbled on the goal-line, but was ruled down. It turned into a 14-point swing and the Broncos prevailed 20-17.

Doomsday Dominates

Dallas was a prohibitive favorite. However, the first half of this game featured two of the zaniest quarters ever seen in a championship game. Dallas’ doomsday destroyed Denver. In possibly the greatest mismatch in the history of the Super Bowl, the Cowboys overwhelmed their old quarterback. Morton threw four interceptions in the first half. The Broncos also lost two fumbles.

Denver’s defense was game. The Cowboys had numerous opportunities to blow their doors off, yet settled for five field goal attempts. Their only first-half TD occurred on a fourth down play from the one by Dorsett. The Cowboys fumbled four times in the first half themselves, but only lost one of those. Those missed opportunities haunted the Broncos.

Cowboys Clinch It

The second half was a much more normal football game. Dallas was still superior. Harvey Martin was unstoppable on the pass rush. Likewise, Ed Jones and Randy White were all over the field. Finally, they knocked Morton from the game.

After a dramatic TD reception from Butch Johnson, Broncos’ back up Norris Weese led Denver to their only touchdown. The score was 20-10 in the fourth.

Amazingly, the Cowboys caused yet another turnover. They forced Weese to fumble. On the next day, Landry went to his bag of tricks. Fullback Robert Newhouse ran a sweep, pulled up and launch a beauty for Golden Richards. That score closed the door.

Martin and White were the co-MVPs of Super Bowl XII. But, realistically, the award could have gone to the entire defense. Dallas came back one year later for another shot. However, their defense could not duplicate this effort against the Steelers.

The Steelers also knocked the Broncos out of the 1978 playoffs. Denver would not get back to the Super Bowl until the ‘80s when they had a quarterback named Elway.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

The Bruins-Canadiens Rivalry

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The Beginning

Bruins versus Canadiens. The greatest rivalry in all of hockey. I say it’s the greatest in all sports. Some will argue that the rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees holds the title, but I disagree. It all began December 8 1924. A 4-3 come-from-behind win for the Canadiens. Pffft. Now you might ask: what makes a rivalry? Well let me tell ya!

These two teams have met a total of 915 times. The all time record is 466–338–103–8 (MTL). Yuck. They have met in the playoffs 34 times. They have faced each other nine times in Game 7 of the playoffs. That’s more than any other two NHL teams. I’d say that’s enough for a rivalry!

Through the Ages

On the night of March 13 1955 in Boston, Maurice Richard got into a stick swing altercation with Bruins’ defenseman Hal Laycoe. Both ended up bloody. Boston Police tried to go to the Canadiens dressing room and arrest Richard. After all said and done Richard got a match penalty and an automatic $100 fine. Laycoe got a 5 min major and a 10 min misconduct, which came with a $25 fine for the high stick. This is what started the Richard Riot. Clarence Campbell called a meeting on March 16 and suspended Richard for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. The longest ever in Campbell’s 31 years as President! Habs fans were calling for his head issuing death threats to Campbell. The suspension cost ‘Rocket’ the scoring title that year. Yup, there were some unhappy people in Montreal!

Between 1965 and 1979 the Bruins and Canadiens made up 16 of a possible 30 Stanley Cup finals. They went head-to-head in 1977 and 1978 Stanley Cup finals. Montreal won 4-0 (1977) and 4-2 (1978). In 1979 they met in the semi finals. I really hate reliving this next part. In Game 7 the Bruins were winning with 4 mins left when they got the infamous penalty for too many men on the ice. Then came the non-call for offside. In the end that marked the last game with Mr. Don Cherry behind the bench.

Heating It Up

Let’s jump ahead to the 90’s. The Bruins knocked out the Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs in 1994 in seven games. You might remember this series. Patrick Roy was diagnosed with appendicitis and missed Game 3. He convinced doctors to let him play in Game 4. Canadiens fans will argue that made the difference in the series. Any excuse will do I guess!

In 2000 and 2001 both teams missed the playoffs. Then in 2002 and 2004 the Canadiens defeated the Bruins in the first round both times. In the 2004 playoffs the Bruins held a 3-1 series lead with the Canadiens coming from behind to win. That was the first time the Canadiens had won a series when trailing 3-1!

During the summer of 2007 the Bruins hired former Habs coach Claude Julien. That year the Canadiens won every meeting between the two teams. During that regular season Steve Begin crosschecked Marc Savard from behind resulting in a broken bone in the back.

Now you all should remember the 2010-2011 season. Montreal won four of six meetings that year. Feb 9 had a brawl with two all-star goalies squaring off at center ice. The bigger Carey Price manhandled the hot-headed Tim Thomas. Now this next one is a real sore spot for Canadiens fans. March 8 of the same season the Canadiens won the game 4-1 but this is the game where the mighty Chara rode Pacioretty into the turnbuckle. His head hit one of the metal uprights and he was knocked unconscious. Chara wasn’t fined or suspended for the hit but received an interference major and a game misconduct. Habs players and fans wanted a suspension and the Montreal police even conducted a criminal investigation into the hit.

The Cup

Again they met in the first round of the playoffs that season. The Bruins lost the first two games at home after finally winning the series in 7 games on a 2nd OT goal by Nathon Horton. The Bruins became the first team to win a 7 game series without scoring a power-play goal. During Game 4 of the series the rivalry got heated up just a bit more if that’s even possible. Hometown favorite Andrew Ferrence made the famous obscene gesture to the Canadiens fans and was fined $2500 by the league. No suspension. And in Game 6 Milan Lucic got a 5 min major and a game misconduct for boarding hit on Jaroslav Spacek.

This was season was my absolute favorite! The Bruins made it to Stanley Cup finals defeating the Canucks in 7 games! First time I got to see them hoist the cup. They won it all in 1972. I was born in 1973. It was the first time the Bruins beat the Habs on route to a cup win since 1929.

Current Day

The Bruins fired Julien. The Habs rehired Julien. Bruins have a rookie coach. Habs are having trouble getting above .500 hockey. Bruins are having injury troubles. And they will meet for the first time this season on Jan 13 2018. Me and a friend have some wobbly pops on the line for this meeting. This is a much-anticipated meeting. It always is. Am I looking forward to this game? YES! My best friend is a Habs fan and we usually don’t speak to each other for at least a couple of days after games. I have lost $100 to my brother betting on the Bruins against the Habs. It never ends and I can’t wait!

Until next time….Keep Your Head Up

Torey Krug: a Key Element for the Bruins

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Torey Krug: a Key Element

Last offseason the Boston Bruins resigned defenseman Torey Krug to four-year deal worth $21 million. Many people said the Bruins overpaid Krug, however he is extremely important to the team. Through his first seven seasons in the NHL Krug has scored 44 goals while adding 152 assists. In the preseason Krug suffered a dislocated jaw, causing him to miss three weeks. Krug started the season slow and recently he’s reminded Bruins fans why management thinks so highly of him.

Krug’s Breakout

Krug broke out in the 2013-2014 playoffs when he scored four goals in 15 games. His goals were significant because he became the first rookie defenseman in league history to score four goals in his first five playoff games. Krug followed that up by scoring 14 goals in the 2013-2014 season. Since then, Krug has scored double-digit goals once. He has improved in other areas of the game and become more than just an offensive minded defenseman. With Krug finally healthy this year, it’s looking like he’s returning to the form that made Bruins so excited when he first debuted.

Krug’s Season so Far

Through twenty-nine games this year Krug has six goals and fourteen assists. This puts Krug on track to reach double-digit goals for the first time in three seasons. Recently he’s been on a tear in his last eight games with eight points. This season the Bruins have been injury riddled which contributed to their slow start. People were saying it was time for a rebuild as the youth and certain veterans struggled. It’s no coincidence that this team started to improve its play as Krug became healthy.

Outlook For Remainder Of the Season

With Krug’s recent play he’s well on his way to passing his preseason projections. He is in the midst of a breakout year when he needed it the most. The Bruins have committed to their youth this season and so far, it’s paying off. A career year is what Krug needs in order to keep his spot and so far he’s done well on his way to doing that.

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XI

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The Super Bowl is just 41 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 41 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977. The game pitted the NFC champion Minnesota Vikings against the Oakland Raiders of the American Football Conference.

Minnesota Vikings 41 Years Ago

By the 1976 season, the Vikings were annually hosting playoff games in frigid Bloomington. Bud Grant’s squad was veteran-laden. For example, quarterback Fran Tarkenton was in his 16^th season. The Vikes got a big lift. in ’76 by adding an outstanding wide receiver named Sammy White. They played Ahmad Rashad at the other wide out position. Add to the mix Chuck Foreman out of the backfield and Pro Bowl tight end Stu Voigt. Suddenly, Minnesota had a big play offense to go along with their stellar defense.

The inimitable Buddy Ryan served as Grant’s defensive coordinator. The unit finished 2^nd in the NFL. They featured five starters that had played at least 10 seasons! The Vikings were especially stout against the pass. They combined their great pass rush with terrific play from their back-end.

This was the fourth consecutive season that Minnesota was the class of the NFC. However, Roger Staubach’s “Hail Mary” stunned the ’75 Vikings. They bounced back with a tremendous regular season.

In the ’76 playoffs, they stayed at home to eliminate Washington. In the championship game, the Vikings parlayed several first half breaks into a 17-0 lead. The Rams scored two touchdowns in the third to put a scare into the home team and their fans. However, midseason acquisition Sammy Johnson dashed 12 yards for a clinching score. Thus, Vikings’ fans were rewarded for sitting through single-digit wind chills.

Oakland Raiders 41 Years Ago

The Vikings’ opponent was the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders, under Hall-of-Fame coach John Madden, participated in the AFC Championship game four times in five seasons from 1971-1975. They were the winningest team in the league over that time. Unfortunately, they had not made the Super Bowl since the 1967 season where they got blasted by Green Bay.

The Raiders’ best players were on their offensive line – Art Shell & Gene Upshaw. On offense, they played with tremendous balance. Quarterback Ken “the snake” Stabler had weapons like Dave Casper, Cliff Branch and Fred Belitnikoff. But, they also had a sneaky good running attack thanks to 1000-yard rusher Mark van Eeghen, Clarence Davis and Pete Banaszak. Put it altogether and the Raiders went 13-1 in 1976.

Their only loss was against New England by a score of 48-17 early in the season. The Raiders exacted their revenge in the playoffs – barely. New England was called for an awful roughing the passer on fourth down with under two minutes to go. The Raiders scored and advanced. (Somehow, 25 years later, a critical call determined another Raiders-Pats’ playoff game.)

Oakland Beats Pittsburgh

After losing consecutive AFC championship games to Pittsburgh, the Raiders were primed and ready this season to knock off the two-time defending world champions. The Steelers played that game without Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris. The “Steel Curtain” had one of the greatest defensive seasons in NFL history. But, it was Oakland’s underrated defense that won this game.

Oakland’s defensive backfield was awesome. Willie Brown, Skip Thomas, Jack Tatum and George Atkinson were great in coverage, but exceptional at hitting in a day when the NFL did not prevent DB’s from destroying receivers.

Oakland did not mind bending or breaking the rules. In fact, they took pride in it. Nowadays, if the Patriots get a call on third down or the ball is a milli-ounce under the playing weight, everybody in the region pays for it. Back then, the Raiders were lauded for their cheating and rule-bending, even glorified for it.

One-sided Affair

The Super Bowl itself was a letdown. The Raiders’ huge offensive line knocked around Minnesota’s smallish-defensive linemen all day. It was not van Eeghen, it was Davis who exploded for chunk plays on offense. Stabler hit Belitnikoff on two different plays that ended up at the 1-yard line. Indeed, the veteran Belitnikoff, known for the globs of stickum he utilized, was the best player on the field that day.

The Raiders’ defense punished Viking ball carriers all day. The vintage moment of Super Bowl XI was Tatum hammering the defenseless White across the middle. The hit was so jarring, White’s helmet went flying.

The final score was 32-14 with Brown securing the game with a long interception return.

After 11 Super Bowls, Minnesota was 0-4 in such games, losing all by double-digits. They have not been back to this day. Contrariwise, the Raiders got back to the Super Bowl and won two more times under Al Davis.

The ’77 Raiders were great again. But they were thwarted by a club from their own division in their attempt to repeat.

Tomorrow, we will talk about that team and their legendary opponent from Super Bowl XII.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Ice Wars: The Return of Darth Quaider

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October 19, 2017

The last game Adam McQuaid played in before going down with an injury.

What looked like a routine block shot turned out to be a broken leg. Thanks Canucks. Now anyone who knows me knows that I dislike the Canucks. Even being a Canadian I have a couple of teams north of the border that I will not cheer for.

I am originally from New Brunswick, so anytime a player from the east coast is in the NHL, especially in the Bruins line-up, he draws my attention. Brad Marchand is the best player to come out of Nova Scotia! Now Quaider (as he is known to teammates) is from PEI and plays for the Bruins. He is a defenseman, which is my favorite position, and one of my favorite players on the team. He plays with grit and stands up for teammates. And he is a pretty good defenseman. He has an average TOI of 14:42 this season, with 16:20 for his career.

Now if you ask me, that is enough to help take some of the work load off Chara, who turns 41 in March. He needs all the help that he can get. Father time is catching up with Chara. He is not quite the presence he once was, but I still would not want to meet him in the corner! If we make the playoffs, which I am saying we will, we are going to need a rested Chara. That is where the return of McQuaid will be a huge help. I am tired of seeing the Bruins limp into the playoffs.

Back in Action

McQuaid was a game-time decision on December 23 against the Red Wings. Guess the powers-that-be decided he needs the Christmas beak. The next game is on December 27 against the Senators. That is a division rival! I for one would love to see him in the lineup for that one. He is definitely the on-ice presence we need to help keep some of the top line guys safe. No more injuries please. Man, it’s been a tough start-injury-wise. Luckily some of the young studs have stepped up.

That leads to the next dilemma. Who do we send down to make room for McQuaid? That young baby face guy… What’s his name? Oh yeah… Charlie McAvoy. NOPE!!! Carlo or Miller? No and no. Krug? Well if you ask the masses they might say dump him. I read a post on Twitter this morning that said he is an absolute joke of a defenseman. Too small. Blah blah blah. Personally I like the guy. Yeah he is a bit small to defend some of the bigger guys, but he is quick and can move the puck up the ice fast. And speed is the name of today’s game. And he has a laser from the point.

The obvious choice for me is Matt Grzelcyk. So far this year with the big team he has played in 16 games. 3 points and a plus 7. Not bad for a young d-man. But we need to make room. We need the physical play that Darth Quaider can bring. Ask anyone, one big hit can turn the momentum of a game. And that’s what he can do for team riddled with injuries.

That Guy from PEI

Now the stats of McQuaid are nothing to write home about, but I say leave the blue line scoring to Krug and that youngster McAvoy. But he will definitely be a welcome addition. I for one am excited to see the team injury-free and a team that nobody wants to play. I still think the team needs a tough guy up front. But for right now the lineup that we have is great. A healthy lineup. Oh yeah, there is still that Krejci guy. He was placed on IR and can sure use the break to get rested up. Who makes room for him? That’s for another day.

Adam McQuaid; he’s an easterner. He’s that guy from PEI. Tough as nails. Mean as a junkyard dog. Plays with intensity. Puts fear into forwards heading into his zone. Super nice guy. What does his return mean? Everything to a team that looks playoff bound!

Until next time…. Keep Your Head Up!

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl X

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The Super Bowl is just 42 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 42 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Miami’s Orange Bowl hosted Super Bowl X on January 18, 1976. The game pitted the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys against the defending World Champion Pttsburgh Steelers of the American Football Conference. Dallas was making their third Super Bowl appearance in six seasons. Meanwhile, the Steelers rampaged through their season in an effort to repeat. After they endured decades of futility, Pittsburgh was now the NFL’s premier organization.

Dallas Cowboys 42 Years Ago

The 1975 Cowboys were not expected to compete for a title. Primarily, they featured a different cast of characters than the club that won Super Bowl VI. Of course, there was one huge exception. Quarterback. Indeed, Roger Staubach was no longer a game manager. He was one of the best players in the NFL. However, the Cowboys struggled in 1974 to an 8-6 record. Hence, it was time for a rebuild. And in 1975, teams did not reload and explode in one season like they are able to do in 2017.

Dallas defied the odds. They drafted tremendously in 1975. The Cowboys hit a home round with the #2 choice in the draft, Randy White. White was one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history. Additionally, with the 18th overall pick, Dallas chose Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, a lightning-quick outside linebacker. White and Henderson were added to a mix of young, talented defenders known as “Doomsday II.” Players like Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Harvey Martin, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones would be staples of the franchise for years to come.

On offense, Dallas added two Pearsons, running back Preston and wide receiver Drew, to the mix. Coach Landry also added the shotgun offense and pre-snap reads to his already innovative scheme. Thus, the Cowboys showed vast improvement right out of the gate. They opened with wins over divisional championship teams, the Los Angeles Rams and St. Louis Cardinals. Unfortunately, they stumbled a bit during a middle stretch of games as often the youthful teams do. They bounced back very well once they got into the playoffs. In their divisional round game, they made history.

Hail Mary

The Cowboys were decided underdogs when they traveled to Minnesota. The two-time defending NFC champion Vikings led practically the whole afternoon. But, with just under one minute to play, Staubach performed some magic. He completed consecutive passes to Drew Pearson. The second one was dubbed “Hail Mary” because Staubach later indicated that he tossed up the ball and said a prayer. The prayer was answered. Pearson and Nate Wright were a little grabby with each other, but Pearson emerged with the ball and the winning score. In the NFC championship game, the Cowboys came in with tons of momentum and steamrolled the Rams in the Coliseum, 37-7.

Pittsburgh Steelers 42 Years Ago

The Steelers came to the Super Bowl fresh off a splendid season. Many oundits point to 1978 as their best squad because Terry Bradshaw was so good that season. However, their most complete squad was the one that represented the AFC in Super Bowl X. First of all, they prevailed in one of the great divisions in league history. The AFC central of 1975 featured the 10-4 Houston Oilers, the 11-3 Cincinnati Bengals and the Steelers who ended up with a superb 12-2 record. They only lost one meaningful game all season – that to the Bills when OJ Simpson ran for an obscene 227 yards on the Steel Curtain.

In the playoffs, Pittsburgh crushed Bert Jones and the upstart Baltimore Colts. In the championship game, they played Oakland in icy conditions. Pittsburgh led 3-0 heading into what turned into a bizarre fourth quarter. The Raiders recovered an onside kick and hit a Hail Mary, but Cliff Branch was tackled short of the end zone and the Steelers were off to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Super Bowl X Must See TV

Super Bowl X is a must see football game. The author of this piece (me) was one month old at the time and considers it one of the great games in NFL history. The Cowboys under the direction of Coach Landry came out of the shoots ready to go toe to toe with Pittsburgh. They ran a reverse on the opening kickoff to Henderson. It took kicker Roy Gerela to make the tackle. He bruised his ribs on the play. And he kicked poorly the rest of the day.

Dallas struck first on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Staubach to Pearson. Unbelievably, it was the only first quarter TD the Steelers allowed all season. Pittsburgh bounced back to tie the game at seven on a short TD pass from Bradshaw to Randy Grossman.

Pittsburgh Takes Control

The Cowboys and their no-name running backs pounded the rock on the next drive which produced three points before halftime. One story was developing in this ball game that was bigger than the score. The Steelers 2nd-year wide out from USC named Lynn Swann was putting on a show for the ages. He finished with four total receptions on the day. One was a circus catch along the sideline. Another was a juggling masterpiece as he was falling to the turf. Finally, he caught an extraordinary bomb from Bradshaw to put the Steelers up 21-10 late in the fourth. Simply put, Swann was spectacular. It was a performance for the ages.

Dallas, as always, did not quit. They scored with about three minutes to go to cut the lead to 21-17. Interestingly, Percy Howard scored on the play. Why is that interesting? It was his only career reception! The score was too little, too late as Staubach could not replicate his Hail Mary from earlier in the playoffs. The Steelers walked off the Orange Bowl field with another World Championship. That was 42 years ago!

Dallas was back two years later; Pittsburgh returned for Super Bowl XIII. In that ball game, it would be the Cowboys seeking a repeat.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_bills

What to Make of the Mitch Moreland Signing

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Mar 21, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Sam Travis (59) is tagged out by New York Yankees third baseman Ronald Torreyes (74) as he tries to steal second base in the third inning of a baseball game during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox’s biggest splash of the off-season thus far has been signing Mitch Moreland to a 2 year, $13 million-dollar deal. The former Gold Glover hit .246 with an OPS of .769. “Mitchy 2 Bags” became a fan favorite and seems like a great guy to have in the club house. Fans are up in arms because of Dave Dombrowski’s “failure” to add a bat like Giancarlo Stanton or Eric Hosmer in this offseason. However, there is more than meets the eye with the extension of Mitch Moreland.

Eric Hosmer

Eric Hosmer is a name the Red Sox keep hearing this offseason. Many fans would love to see him added to the roster this season. Unfortunately, Hosmer is a Scott Boras client and will likely demand over $100 million-dollars, and could possibly receive $200 million. Do I believe Hosmer deserves that much money? Yes and no. I believe he deserves around $100 million, but $200 is far too much. Hosmer was the dictionary definition of consistent this season. He hit .318 with an OPS of .882 while playing in every single game. Hosmer capped it all off with a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger.

Hosmer is a better player than Mitch Moreland. There is no debate, but is he head and shoulders above Moreland? I don’t think so. While Hosmer is able to drive in more RBI’s and hit for a higher average, they both hit over 20 homers and play Gold Glove worthy defense. They are both grinders who play through injuries. They are both very similar players with very different price tags. Dave Dombrowski is saving $14 million dollars a year by signing Moreland instead of Hosmer.

Scott Boras

Both Dave Dombrowski and Red Sox fans are familiar with Scott Boras. Boras makes his clients money, most times more than what they deserve. Multiple Red Sox players have Scott Boras as their agent, including Rick Porcello, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. Boras got Porcello $20 Million/ 4 years before Porcello even picked his number for the Red Sox. You can bet your bottom dollar that Boras will be getting above top dollar for Bogaerts and Betts. He might have to settle a little bit with Bradley, but that is a story for another time. Boras is already demanding $200 million for free agent target J.D. Martinez, and he will likely do the same for Hosmer.

Boras is no friend to the Red Sox or Dombrowski. Dombrowski inked Prince Fielder to a 9 year, $214 Million deal. Playing less than 90 games in two of the five years he served and being forced to retire makes that contract hard to swallow. Boras brings Boston into bidding wars that only the Yankees can win. He was able to secure big Red Sox contracts, such as Daisuke Matsuzaka (6 year/ $52 Million), J.D. Drew (5 Year/ $70 Million), and Jason Varitek ($ year/ $40 Million). Boras has led clients such as Johnny Damon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mark Teixeria, and Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees.

All of those names, besides Johnny Damon, did more harm for the Yankees than good. As well as those contracts, Scott Boras has also manufactured overpriced contracts for Jayson Werth, Barry Zito, and Shin-Soo Choo. While it will be impossible to not deal with Scott Boras, having one less player to deal with is not such a bad thing.

Sam Travis

This season, Red Sox fans got a glimpse of Sam Travis in the majors. For anyone who frequents McCoy Stadium or Spring Training, like myself, they know how well Sam Travis can hit the ball. Before tearing his ACL last season, Travis looked like he was the clear-cut future of 1^st base for Boston. He certainly came back strong, but the future is a little murky. Just look at him mash this ball.

In the brief 83 plate appearances this season, Travis slashed a line of .263, .325, and .342. Travis’ lack of homeruns was the most notable part of his call up. However, in his minor league career, Travis has only hit 29 long balls. Sam Travis could become a 20 homerun a season type of player if he could play everyday. By passing on Hosmer, the Red Sox are going to look to platoon Moreland and Travis at 1^st base together. They are grooming Travis to be the future first basemen. Having a class act like Mitch Moreland as teacher is a great position to be in.

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn

Fred McGriff Should Make the Hall of Fame

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Fred McGriff is a victim. He is a victim of an overcrowded ballot, causing writers to leave players off their ballot they find worthy of a vote. He is the victim of the era he played in; his numbers overshadowed by players who were juicing, making McGriff’s numbers look more run-of-the-mill than they should have. It is time to start giving the “Crime Dog” the respect he deserves.

500 Home Runs

Remember when 500 home runs used to gain someone automatic induction into the Hall of Fame. The steroid era hit and that all changed as baseballs started flying out of parks at historic rates. How come the standards shouldn’t remain the same for someone who played the game clean though? If they never used steroids, they weren’t getting that extra help in hitting home runs and 500 should remain a significant threshold.

McGriff didn’t hit 500 home runs, but his 493 is tied with Lou Gehrig for the most home runs by a player with less than 500. Would hitting seven more home runs change the kind of player Fred McGriff was? Of course not. If falling seven home runs shy of 500 is helping keep his votes down, that is just ridiculous. That would be saying if McGriff had hit one more home run every two years, he was more worthy of being a Hall of Famer.

McGriff would have surely reached 500 career home runs if not for the strike. When the strike happened in mid-August, McGriff had 34 home runs. With a month and a half to go he would surely have hit seven more homers. The strike lasted until late April the following season, costing him even a few more games. It is likely that without the strike he would have wound up right around Eddie Murray’s 504 career home runs.

Speaking of Eddie Murray, who coasted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, check out their career numbers. Besides the hit totals, McGriff’s career statistics compare pretty well to Murray’s. Murray had nearly 3000 more at-bats, so he gained more counting numbers. The home runs are similar and McGriff has the better on-base percentage and slugging percentage, topping him by 50 OPS points. I am not saying Fred McGriff was better than Eddie Murray, I do not believe that. The distance between the two might not be as large as you think though.

In 1994-95, McGriff averaged a HR every 15.6 at-bats. He would have surpassed 500 home runs if not for the strike costing him 2 months.

The Difference in Eras

When McGriff first came up with Toronto in the eighties, he was one of the biggest power hitters in the game. He hit 20 home runs in only 295 at-bats in 1986. He proceeded to eclipse 30 home runs in each of the next seven seasons. McGriff led the league in home runs in both 1989 with the Blue Jays and 1992 with the Padres. In the late 80’s and early 90’s hitting 35 home runs meant you led the league or came close. By the mid to late 90’s his 30 home runs were lost in the shuffle of steroid hitters. Illustrating this point, McGriff finished in the top five in the league in home runs all seven seasons from 1988-1994. He never finished in the top 10 again.

If McGriff had come along a decade earlier he would already be in the Hall of Fame. Instead, over eight years he has yet to accrue even 25 percent of the vote. Based on what he did prior to the steroid era, he would be a Hall of Famer. Explain to me how the steroid era is counted against him when he never used steroids? Not only did he not benefit from steroids, he was going against stiffer competition, playing on an uneven field. Once all the steroid facts came out my opinion of McGriff went up. There is no proof, or even any evidence that he ever used, he just had the misfortune of being a power hitter in that era.

Fred McGriff of the Toronto Blue Jays bats against the Chicago White Sox during a Major League Baseball game circa 1986 at Comiskey Park. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

No Steroids

As I said previously, there is no reason for anyone to suspect McGriff of steroid use. First off, he never got bigger. Check the pictures of McGriff through the years, he looks the same in Atlanta as he did in Toronto, and he looks the same in Tampa Bay as he did in Atlanta. His head never grew larger, his neck never got huge, and his upper body never became strikingly larger. He was always a tall, slender first baseman.

Secondly, McGriff’s home runs never spiked. In fact, he hit more home runs in the first half of his career before the steroid era really struck than he did during the peak of steroid use. From 1987-1994 he averaged 33 home runs per season, 38 per 162 games played. From 1992-2002, his last good season, he averaged 27 home runs per season, 30 per 162 games. If you want to cut a couple years off earlier in his career, he still averaged 36 home runs per 162 games played the first six seasons of his career.

23 Apr 1998: Infielder Fred McGriff of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in action during a game against the Texas Rangers at The Ball Park in Arlington, Texas. The Devil Rays defeated the Rangers 12-5. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

The Postseason

Fred McGriff has a large collection of playoff data to his resume. He was traded for by Atlanta prior to the trade deadline in 1993 to help fortify their lineup. He caught fire for Atlanta, hitting 19 home runs and posting a 1.004 OPS after the trade. The Braves went 50-17 after the trade and edged out the Giants for the division title by one game. McGriff then batted .435 with a 1.214 OPS in the playoffs that year.

The Braves would have made the playoffs if not for the strike in 1994. McGriff then made three consecutive postseasons with the team before heading to Tampa Bay. In 1995 the Braves finally got their World Series title, with McGriff belting two home runs during the series. For that postseason he batted .333 with four home runs. In total, McGriff played in 50 postseason games, batting .303 with 10 home runs and a .917 OPS. Postseason results are taken into account for other players, and McGriff certainly proved to be a good postseason performer.

Advanced Metrics

The new age “statistics” don’t help McGriff get votes from the writers who buy into those more than actual statistics. Those “new age statistics” are not fair to someone who played clean during the steroid era though. WAR and OPS+ take into account the average player’s numbers and adjust a players OPS or calculate their value comparatively. In an era matched up against juiced players, how is it fair to use a juiced players totals against a clean player? Everyone wants to vilify steroid users and pretend they weren’t a part of the game, keeping them out of the Hall of Fame. So let me get this straight, if you used steroids it is counted against you, but if you didn’t use steroids…it’s counted against you?

From 1988-94, the first seven full seasons of his career, McGriff posted a 155 OPS+. With those unfamiliar with the stat, that is a very high number. To put things into perspective, Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio and Mel Ott had career OPS+ of 155. Those are three of the greatest to ever play the game. McGriff twice had an OPS+ of 165 and never dipped below 144 during those seasons. From 1995 on he was typically between 106-120, good, but not outstanding. However, that is because he was being judged against a large number of performance enhancers. Posting those same numbers several years earlier likely would have resulted in an OPS+ of 140 or better each season.

Conclusion

It is clear that going onto his ninth ballot McGriff will not earn induction during his voting window. My belief is he will eventually get recognized by the Modern Era Committee and earn enshrinement down the road. You cannot hold steroid use against players who used but then use their numbers as an argument against someone who played the game clean. The Hall of Fame needs to fix the voting system, the ballot is a total mess. The writers also need to do a better job of looking at someone who played the game clean and not using their era against them. Not to mention, the “Crime Dog” moniker is worthy of the Hall of Fame in itself.

What is Going on with Boston University Hockey?

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With the history and tradition that surrounds the Boston University Terriers’ Hockey program, a “down” or “rebuilding” year are out of the question. The students, alumni, season ticket holders, and higher-ups expect and demand greatness, and every game the team endures “Sucks to BU” chants where ever they go.

Coaching

David Quinn has been given the unfortunate gift of taking the helm of the Terriers from Jack Parker. This is perhaps the most unenviable position to be in College Hockey, Quinn has taken the Terriers to some success. Coach Quinn has taken the Terriers to a record of 83-53-17. They are 44-29-13 in Hockey East action. Comparatively, this is a good record for a hockey school, but Boston University is no ordinary hockey school. Coach Quinn’s reign as produced the only one down year, the 2013-2014 season when the Terriers finished 10-21-4. They went 5-12-3 in Hockey East games. In light of this season, the Terriers bounced back the following season which saw them finish first in Hockey East and end runner’s up in the NCAA Finals. Coach Quinn has led the Terriers to two first place finishes in Hockey East Standings.

This Season

Currently the Terriers stand at 8-10-1. They are 6-6-1 in Hockey East Games. The Terriers are not in the Top 20 in NCAA. Playing .500 hockey in Hockey East this season good enough for third place in the standings. The main stay between the pipes this season is Sophomore Jake Oettinger. The first round Dallas Stars pick has appeared in 17 games this season and boasts a 2.91 GAA and a .902 SV%. These numbers are too “average” for a Boston University goalie. Sophomore Patrick Harper leads the team with 21 points this season. The Nashville fifth round draft pick has 8 goals this season. The team leader in goals this season for the Terriers is Bobo Carpenter, with 9 goals.

Problems

These numbers are the root of the Terriers’ struggles this season. They lose too may close games and get blown out far too often for a team that should be competing. Some the defense and goal tending shows up, the offense sputters, and other games the offense is firing on all cylinders, the defense and goal tending cannot stop anything. The 2017-2018 Boston University Terriers are the worst thing you can be in sports, inconsistent.

Going Forward

The Terriers season is far from over and the chance for them to succeed is very high. The schedule is weaker than what the Terriers went up against during the first half of the season with multiple games against Merrimack, Vermont, and Arizona State. There are multiple chances for Boston University to win. Only 2 games under .500, the Terriers are not out. Hockey East is a tough conference and in order to survive, consistency is key.

The Worst Relief Pitchers in Red Sox History

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As one can imagine, there have been many poor relief pitchers in the history of the Boston Red Sox. With over a century’s worth of pitchers in team history, and at a position with many guys on the team, the list is cluttered. Narrowing it down to just five guy’s leaves a lot of “worthy” players on the dishonorable mention list.

Jerry Stephenson

Stephenson was a swingman for the Red Sox during the 1960’s. He both started and relieved during his time, but was a disaster in both roles. Stephenson was 8-19 with a 5.54 ERA and 1.68 WHIP while with the Red Sox. This was during the sports best era to be a pitcher since the dead-ball era. These numbers led to a -4.4 WAR for the Red Sox, an astoundingly bad number for a pitcher. Stephenson was even worse as a reliever, posting a 6.65 ERA and 1.92 WHIP in that role.

Ramiro Mendoza

Mendoza pitched for the Red Sox for two seasons, but it was like he was still employed by the Yankees. After spending seven seasons in New York as an effective long reliever, Mendoza was given a 2 year 6.5 million dollar deal by the Red Sox. With the Yankees, Mendoza could come in after a starting pitcher was knocked out early and keep the opponent at bay for several innings while the Yankees clawed their way back into the game. He did it to the Red Sox on multiple occasions.

Mendoza went 16-8 with a 3.60 ERA over his final two seasons with the Yankees. After switching sides of the rivalry, supposedly, Mendoza posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 2003 for the Red Sox. Mendoza did bounce back in 2004 in half a season. He missed about half the year and was not trusted in high leverage situations once he was back. He also faltered down the stretch, allowing eight runs in September and October after allowing four prior to that. Mendoza finished his Red Sox career 5-6 with a 5.73 ERA.

Did Ramiro Mendoza ever really trade in his pinstripes? (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Eric Gagne

Gagne was the Red Sox big acquisition for the stretch run in 2007. The Red Sox were the best team in baseball that year but needed another reliable bullpen arm in the later innings. Gagne wasn’t quite the dominant force he had been in Los Angeles when he set the record for most consecutive successful save opportunities, but he was still a good pitcher.

From 2002-05 he was 14-7 with a 1.83 ERA and 160 saves. Gagne missed most of 2006, only pitching two innings. Texas took a chance on him in 2007 and he rewarded them, going 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 16 saves. Texas cashed him in for a few prospects with David Murphy turning out to be the best of the bunch. Murphy went on to have a solid career for the Rangers, while the Red Sox got nothing out of Gagne. Over 20 games Gagne had a 6.75 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP for the Red Sox. Then in the postseason, Gagne allowed three earned runs over 4.1 innings pitched. He was anything but the reliable setup man the Sox thought they were receiving.

Bringing in Eric Gagne was like punting the game. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Craig Hansen

Hansen was the Red Sox 26th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was supposed to be a rapid riser through the system, a near Major League ready arm. Because of this belief, I think the Red Sox pushed him quicker than was warranted. Hansen made four appearances late that same season. The next season he pitched well overall in the minors, but showed underlying control issues. The Red Sox called him up anyways and he proven unready. Hansen had a 6.63 ERA in the Major Leagues in 2006.

The Red Sox, realizing they may not have allowed Hansen to develop, left him in the minors for all of 2007. This late attempt at a correction didn’t have much effect as Hansen had a 5.58 ERA and almost as many walks as strike outs in 2008. He was then including in the three team deal at the deadline that season that involved Manny Ramirez and Jason Bay. Hansen finished his Red Sox career with a 6.15 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.

Craig Hansen of the Red Sox during a game against the Orioles on May 30, 2008 at Camden Yards. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Todd Frohwirth

Frohwirth was as bad as can be while with the Red Sox. He pitched in 26.2 innings for the Red Sox, and 52 innings for the PawSox. Frohwirth came to the Red Sox after spending three seasons with the division rival Orioles. In Baltimore, he was 17-13 with a 2.71 ERA, so there was reason to be in favor of the acquisition.

Todd Frohwirth had an 0-3 record with the Red Sox in 1994, pitching to an unsightly 10.80 ERA and 2.14 WHIP. Usually pitching two innings or less, Frohwirth allowed three or more runs in four appearances out of 22. After pitching to an ERA north of 10 by June 10th, the Red Sox sent him to the minors. When he returned in August he was no better, allowing 10 runs, seven earned over five innings. He was so bad I remember friends and family referring to him as Todd “throw up.”

Despite a successful three year stint in the Baltimore bullpen, Frohwirth spent a chunk of the 1994 season in Pawtucket.

Dishonorable Mentions:

Skip Lockwood, Mark Melancon, Heathcliff Slocumb, John Wasdin, Matt Mantei, Lenny Dinardo, Emerson Dickman, David Aardsma, Arnold Earley