Bruins Center Spooner Out 4-6 Weeks

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Ryan Spooner is the Latest Injury Victim

Spooner suffered a right groin adductor tear against Vegas on Sunday. The first reaction is obviously how the loss of Spooner will hurt the Bruins. The reality is that Spooner’s injury is a blessing in disguise. While nobody ever wants to see anyone hurt, Spooner was a lame duck on this Bruins team. Spooner, now 25 years old, is signed to a one year bridge contract. Evidently the Bruins don’t view him as a part of the future, if they did then, he would have had a real offer given to him. The Bruins are right, Spooner has done nothing to show that he is a valuable asset to the team.

 

The Ryan Spooner Era Comes To A Close?

Since his first full season in 2015-2016, Spooner hasn’t produced on either side of the puck. Spooner’s strength is supposedly his vision  and passing skills. However, outside of one good stretch in 2015, Spooner has never displayed that talent consistently. More often than not, Spooner disappears and goes weeks being a non-factor.

Offensively, Spooner’s shot is nothing special. Spooner is too hesitant to pull the trigger, especially on the power play– the tendency to hold the puck for a split second to long has been a problem for Spooner. This is one of the reasons his production just hasn’t been good enough.

Defensively, Spooner is dreadful. The past two seasons, Spooner has a combined minus 17 rating. He’s become a liabilty in the defensive zone. He lacks the physicality, and tends to be pushed around by bigger, stronger centers. Spooner has been brutal on face-offs. Last year, Spooner won only 38.9 percent of draws. Cassidy was afraid of putting Spooner in defensive zone face-offs; either the Bruins would have to put two centers on the ice, or have Jimmy Hayes taking draws.

Spooner should have become a power play and offensive zone specialist, but can’t put the puck in the ocean, and is mediocre at best as a passer. Spooner provides nothing valuable to the Bruins. Add this groin injury that could be bothersome for quite awhile, and even Spooner’s speed is no longer a factor.

This past offseason many wanted the Bruins to let Spooner walk. The Boston Bruins brought the young centerman back, with Spooner  practically blocking younger players from getting more minutes. Even with the injuries to Backes and Bergeron, Spooner should have been benched–that’s how little value the center has.

Seeing anyone injured is always a bad thing, but Spooner’s injury will open a spot for a younger player who may have a future with the Bruins. It’s a blessing in disguise for the Bruins. The Ryan Spooner era in Boston appears to have come to a close.

The Red Sox Need A Big Bat

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The Red Sox are coming off another good season, but one that ultimately fell short. There are many factors that play into why, but the lineup is a big one. The Red Sox lost legend David Ortiz, and didn’t replace his bat. As a result, the lineup faltered. This offseason they need to rectify the situation.

Red Sox Lineup

Without the presence of David Ortiz in the lineup this season, many players regressed. They may have been pressing more to try and fill the void. In past seasons, pitchers didn’t want to face Big Papi, which gave the other batters better pitches to hit. This cannot be understated. Mookie Betts dropped off considerably, most notably his batting average. Xander Bogaerts went from a near .300 average with 21 home runs, to .273 with 10 homers. After hitting 30 home runs in 2016, Hanley Ramirez may have been the one most expected to fill the void left by Ortiz. He disappointed, and only batted .242. The Red Sox need a legitimate power hitter, a threat to go yard every time.

As a team, the Red Sox finished 27th in the league in home runs. Fenway Park is a hitters park, and while the Red Sox have often taken advantage, they failed to this season.

The Red Sox finished 22nd in the majors in the all-important OPS category. OPS is a combination of on base percentage and slugging percentage, it combines two very important skills. The Red Sox need to bring these offensive numbers back up. They aren’t a 2nd division team.

 

How to improve the lineup

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondback celebrates after hitting a grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Last season, the Red Sox could have signed Edwin Encarnacion to replace Big Papi. It seemed like the perfect fit, but the Red Sox passed. Passing on Encarnacion cost them this year as he hit 38 home runs, a number that would have probably increased playing at Fenway. They cannot make the same mistake in 2018.

A fix this year could come in the form of JD Martinez. He may not provide the same presence as Big Papi, but honestly, who could? Martinez’s power production would be with the best of them though. Adding him to the fold gives the Sox the home run threat, run producer in the middle of the lineup and makes things easier on the rest of the lineup. Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and company will see better pitches to hit if Martinez is looming on deck and producing. The addition would also alleviate some pressure on them. Two years ago, the Red Sox were 9th in the Major Leagues in home runs and first in OPS. Yes, they dropped from 1st in OPS to 22nd. Add that big bat, and they should be back in the top ten.

Who is JD Martinez?

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in the National League Wild Card game (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

JD Martinez began his career as a 4th outfielder for the Houston Astros. He was average for his three seasons in Houston before being cut prior to the 2014 season. He worked hard to revamp his swing, and it showed in his results. After he was scooped up by the Tigers (by none other than Dave Dombrowski), Martinez has been one of the better hitters in the league. He stays under the radar, but Martinez can rake. He has batted .300, with 128 home runs and a .936 OPS. Even with missed time, that’s an average of 40 home runs per season. He is 10th in the Majors in home runs and 6th in OPS during that 4 year span.

This season, Martinez had a career year at the age of 30, hitting 45 home runs despite missing roughly the first month and a half of the season. After being traded to Arizona, Martinez hit 29 home runs in 62 games. While he may not get recognition nationwide, JD Martinez is a top power hitter.

 

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
2011 23 HOU NL 53 226 208 29 57 13 0 6 35 .274 .319 .423 .742
2012 24 HOU NL 113 439 395 34 95 14 3 11 55 .241 .311 .375 .685
2013 25 HOU AL 86 310 296 24 74 17 0 7 36 .250 .272 .378 .650
2014 26 DET AL 123 480 441 57 139 30 3 23 76 .315 .358 .553 .912
2015 27 DET AL 158 657 596 93 168 33 2 38 102 .282 .344 .535 .879
2016 28 DET AL 120 517 460 69 141 35 2 22 68 .307 .373 .535 .908
2017 29 TOT MLB 119 489 432 85 131 26 3 45 104 .303 .376 .690 1.066
2017 29 DET AL 57 232 200 38 61 13 2 16 39 .305 .388 .630 1.018
2017 29 ARI NL 62 257 232 47 70 13 1 29 65 .302 .366 .741 1.107
7 Yr 7 Yr 7 Yr 7 Yr 772 3118 2828 391 805 168 13 152 476 .285 .342 .514 .857
162 162 162 162 162 654 593 82 169 35 3 32 100 .285 .342 .514 .857

What will it take?

Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton are comparable players who signed free agent deals in the past few years. Both players easily surpass 20 million per season. I’d take Martinez over either of them personally,  with 25 million dollars per year being a reasonable expectation to shell out for his services.

The question becomes how many years to give him. Ideally a 4 year deal around 100 million, but it will likely take a 5th year to get it done. If the Red Sox can get him for 5 years at that rate, a 5th year shouldn’t stand in the way. He’d be 35 at the end of his contract, but wouldn’t be like another Albert Pujols situation in Anaheim. For the production he has been putting up over the last 4 seasons, 5/125 is worth it. Will the market command even more, push him to 150 million? There have been reports that the up and down Eric Hosmer is looking for an obscene 200 million dollar deal. No thank you.

Where does he play?

Lou Gorman once famously passed up trading for batting title champion Willie McGee in the heat of a pennant race because he asked the question: where would he play? Gorman has been second guessed ever since.

Barring a trade, Martinez would play designated hitter. Hanley has one season left on his contract, he isn’t here for the long run, and he hasn’t been that good. Martinez could be the primary DH, while Hanley splits time at first base with Mitch Moreland (back for another season?) or Sam Travis. Hanley primarily played first base in his only good season in Boston to date. Martinez could occasionally play in the outfield to keep him up to speed, and give others a rest day. On those days, Hanley could slide to DH to get out of the field, and rest his aching shoulder from those strenuous throws he’d be making at first base.

The Red Sox might have an inside track on acquiring Martinez that some other teams do not. Dave Dombrowski is the one that gave JD Martinez another chance in Detroit following his release from the Astros. It would make sense for JD Martinez to be interested in playing for Dombrowski again.

The Red Sox have an opening for him, they have the need, all that is left to do is sign him.

From Bad to Worse for the Bruins

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With the Bruins only five game into this young season, they have posted a 2-3-0 record. The Bruins have been good in their two wins this season, but horrendous in the three losses they have suffered.

The team has been without assistant captains Patrice Bergeron and David Backes to start the season, but both have resumed skating this week and look to be close to a return. Bergeron has been out with a lower body injury, and Backes with Diverticulitis. It’s a good sign seeing these two skating and looking to soon make a return.

The injuries just keep coming

When things were just starting to look better, the Bruins were hit with more injuries. Third line center-man, Ryan Spooner, was injured in Sunday’s loss against Vegas. Spooner is going to be out of the lineup for 4-6 weeks with a groin tear. He had previously been playing through the issue, which tore in Sunday’s game. Spooner wasn’t the only player to be injured in that game. D-man Adam McQuaid, was injured after taking a slap shot off the side of his knee from Colin Miller. McQuaid was able to participate in Wednesday’s practice, and hasn’t been ruled out for tonight game against the Canucks.

Rask leaves practice

Bruins starting goalie Tuukka Rask has had a shaky start to the season. Rask currently holds a record of 1-3-0, has a SV% of .882 and a GAA of 3.30. Rask left Wednesday’s practice after rookie, Anders Bjork, ran into him during a drill. “It was a fast play. I don’t even know what happened” said Bjork. The Bruins haven’t given an update on Rask, but the Bruins have called up young goaltender, Zane McIntyre. It looks like Rask may miss some time. Hopefully Rask isn’t out too long, the Bruins need him to be successful in the lineup in order for them to win games.

Backes could return Thursday

According to Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, David Backes is closer to returning tonight than Bergeron. Having Backes back would be a tremendous boost to the Bruins young forward group. Backes adds size, power and a veteran presence. If able to play tonight against the Canucks, he could potentially play between Marchand and Bjork on the top line. This would allow Bruins center-man, Riley Nash, to move down in the lineup where he is more effective.

Bruins need wins now

With the Bruins currently 2-3-0, they are tied for fifth in the Atlantic division, with the Florida Panthers and the Buffalo Sabers. The Bruins have two games in hand, but are seven points behind the division leaders, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins need to start catching up now rather than later. The Atlantic Division is very good this season, with the Leafs, Lightning and Red Wings all playing excellent hockey. If the Bruins want to compete with the other teams in the division, they better start now.

 

Gordon Hayward Injury

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CELTICS?

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In a night filled with anticipation and excitement, a 102-99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers seemed insignificant to the Boston Celtics. The image of Gordon Hayward laying on the ground and pointing at his left ankle in shock will stick in the minds of fans across the NBA. According to many media outlets, Hayward suffered a fractured left ankle and has been flown back to Boston to undergo surgery. A timetable for his return has not been specified. It seems trivial to talk about what the team does going forward in the face of such a devastating injury, but the season moves on. The Celtics have to regroup and move forward without Hayward.

Jaylen Brown

WHO STEPS UP FOR THE CELTICS?

The Celtics were understandably shocked after the Hayward injury. Players were forcing things in an attempt to pick the team up for the remainder of the first half. As the game move on and emotions settled, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Jayson Tatum stepped up. With Hayward out for the foreseeable future, the youngsters are going to have to carry this team. Even before the Hayward injury, Brown was attacking the basket without inhibition. He was a key piece in bringing the Celtics back from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter. After looking completely hapless in the first half, Smart turned up the intensity and scored all of his 12 points in the third quarter.

The success of the Celtics in Hayward’s absence will fall on these three players. Tatum will not have a chance to grow and mature in a smaller role. He is going to get more minutes and be expected to contribute. Tatum finished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and showed more poise as the game went on. While the Hayward injury is devastating, it will give Brown, Tatum, and Smart even more minutes to develop.

Kyrie Irving

IT REALLY IS KYRIE’S TEAM NOW

There have always been questions about Kyrie’s leadership. The coming months will, hopefully, answer those questions. The Celtics are his team now, and he will have to lead them. After a sluggish start in an emotionally charged game, Kyrie showed what he is capable of in the fourth quarter. He knocked down three shots from beyond the arch to keep the C’s close. Kyrie finished with 22 points and 10 assists, and yet he will need to do more. There will be a balancing act that Kyrie has to conquer. Yes, this team will need exceptional numbers from him, but most importantly, he can’t force things. Kyrie needs to get people involved and in addition be the assassin that we know him to be.

WHAT WILL THE CELTICS LOOK LIKE NEXT MONTH

Because the details of Hayward’s injury are still up in the air, the Celtics must reformulate their plan going forward. Three-point shooting on the wing will need to be better. Brown and Tatum combined to go 3-11 from behind the three-point line. Marcus Morris will certainly help when he returns, but the kids will have to step up. Stevens should stick with the youth movement in Hayward’s absence. Kyrie, Brown, Morris, Tatum, and Al Horford will give the Celtics the best chance to win. Smart, Terry Rozier, and Aron Baynes will captain the second unit. Everyone will need to step up in the coming months. Kyrie, Brown, and Horford will carry the load, but each player will need to contribute.

Our thoughts and prays are with Hayward for a speedy recovery. I will leave you with a bit of optimism:

A Heartbreaking Opening Night for the Celtics and Hayward

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If you have not heard, C’s starting SF Gordon Hayward suffered what for now looks like a fractured ankle just six minutes into the new NBA season. Before the game’s end, Hayward was en route to Boston.  Celtics dropped the 1st game to the Cavs, with a final score of 102-99.

 

After the freak accident, the Celtics looked out of sync all over the floor for the obvious reason. The shooting was flat, either long or short, and the ball did not move well, leading to a 54-38 Cavs lead at halftime.  Marcus Smart started in place of Hayward in the second half.  The Celtics came out like they wanted to win this for Hayward, with a 28-11 tear in the third quarter to take a quick lead.

One player responsible for the comeback tonight, Jaylen Brown, had a career night. He was not going to be denied taking it to the hoop and his never-back-down attitude. He finished the night with 25 points and six rebounds.

Kyrie did his stuff in the fourth quarter but it was not enough, as LeBron put the Cavs behind his back and led them to the victory.  Jayson Tatum had a shaky start, but the rookie found his touch later on the game, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Marcus added 12 points and nine rebounds but shot 0-4 beyond the arc.

YOUNG PLAYERS TO STEP UP

I don’t want to speculate on any timetable for G’s return, but he will probably sit out a big portion of the season. The young players will have to step in line. Next man up mentally. They showed it tonight and will have to continue going forward.

Celtics open at home tonight when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks.

Is it time for a Charlotte Hornets Rebuild?

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The NBA has a garbage problem?

With the NBA season officially upon us, fans everywhere are excited to see what their teams will do in 2017. Some would argue the league has more balance this year. Others will claim that the Golden State Warriors will still smoke past the competition. Did the Charlotte Hornets improve this off season, or are they miles behind the Warriors like everybody else?

Hornets Owner Michael Jordan is one of those who agrees that the level of competition in the NBA is weak. “Twenty-eight teams are going to be garbage” is what Jordan had to say about the state of the league this season. Most will assume that his Hornets are on the “garbage” side of NBA teams currently.

With the Hornets owner even believing that his team cannot find success this season, what are the next steps?  Charlotte has consistently been a mediocre team since changing the franchise name back to the Hornets in the 2014-2015 season. Winning anywhere between 33-48 games per season qon’t provide fans with much to look forward to.

Charlotte Needs a Change

So what is the plan for the franchise moving forward? Currently, it appears Charlotte still envisions competing. The Hornets acquired Dwight Howard from the Atlanta Hawks on Draft Night 2017. The team gave up virtually nothing and hopes he returns to his Orlando Magic form. Call me crazy, but I say it is about time the Hornets enter rebuild mode for a fresh start.

Jordan’s team made the playoffs once since changing the franchise back to its original name. In the 2015-2016 playoffs, the Hornets lost in the first round by a post-Lebron James Miami Heat squad, in seven games.

With little success in recent history, the team should enter a rebuild and prepare for the 2018 off season. How they will go about this rebuild is the major question. The Hornets have been known for terrible drafts (trading away the rights to Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac in 1996 for example), and have made few attempts to acquire top free agents.

Copy the Celtics!

Some recent questionable draft picks include Noah Vonleh (9th overall in 2014) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2nd overall in 2012). Both of these players came into the league with high expectations and little to show for it. Vonleh has since been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Kidd-Gilchrist remains on the roster, but has suffered consistent injuries during his time.

If the team plans to rebuild through the draft, they should emulate the Boston Celtics. Their first step —  enter full on Danny Ainge-mode and acquire as many draft picks as possible. Charlotte has players like Kemba Walker that have value for trades that could get the team high draft lottery selections. It can be hard to part ways with your top players. The Celtics did so when trading away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett for draft picks in 2013 to the Brooklyn Nets. This move lead to a quick rebuild and now they are  one of the top teams for the 2017-2018 season.

Choosing this route will put a lot of pressure on the team’s executives. With their poor draft history, they will really need to get it together and draft the right players to make the rebuild a success.

Hornets Make Some Buzz in Free Agency

Another option would be to aim for the 2018 NBA offseason and attempt to lure in free agents. Lebron James, Paul George, Isaiah Thomas, Demarcus Cousins among others enter free agency next off-season. The Hornets could shed some cap space and attempt to make a major move.

Although the chances of acquiring King James and PG13 are slim, Demarcus Cousins might be a more realistic option. If his stint with the New Orleans Pelicans ends up a failure, he will try to join a new team in the off season. Charlotte could use a more modern option at the center position such as Cousins as an inside presence but can hit outside jump shots.

Adding Cousins alongside Kemba Walker and Dwight Howard would make for a new exciting big three in the Eastern Conference. This, along with other minor moves, would put the Hornets in a position to compete and make noise in the playoffs.

What’s the Plan?

Whichever choice the Hornets make, their worst option would be not doing anything at all. Although rebuilds can be dreadful in terms of tanking, they set teams up for future success which is better than not having any clear plan for improvement.

Today, Charlotte is a mediocre team, and if they want to sell out the Spectrum Center like they did in the 90’s, they must make a future decision that will set the team up for believable success. With the greatest of all time as your team owner, what could go wrong?

What’s Wrong With The Patriots?

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The Patriots Are 4-2

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 15: wide receiver Brandin Cooks #14 of the New England Patriots makes a catch against cornerback Morris Claiborne #21 of the New York Jets during the second quarter of their game at MetLife Stadium on October 15, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots are 4-2 and atop the AFC East. But they don’t play like a Super Bowl winning team right now.  Why? Because the new guys think they can just walk in and think they’ll just win a Super Bowl?  With Tom Brady and Belichick here we should be fine? It’s okay for the media to say that, but as a player, you can’t think that way or you’ll be out. The defense can’t give up 300-plus yards a game as they have done. The defense ranks last in the league. With Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe out last week the defense still gave up more than 300 yards.

Bill Belichick Conference Call

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

In Belichick’s conference call yesterday he was asked how to balance week-to-week adjustments with the foundation and system installed before the season began? His answer ” I don’t think we had a lot of major issues with pass protection. I mean, I think overall our passing game wasn’t particularly efficient. We had a couple plays, they got us on a couple of pressures where they schemed up a look and then had a little variation off it. They beat the protection, so they did a good job coaching-wise of setting up a couple things. That’s really not a player issue. That’s more of a scheme issue for us, but they hit us a couple times.”  Very interesting and long six- minute answer from Belichick. Sounds like he’s sticking up for his players and this it’s too early to judge them.

Tom Brady Can’t Do It All Himself

FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: Tom Brady #12 reacts with Brandin Cooks #14 of the New England Patriots after a touchdown during the third quarter of a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Tom Brady can’t do this all himself. Yes, he has the wide receivers and the talent on the offensive side to score, but they have been missing plays. The defense has to do their part and not give up big plays on third down. The New York Jets win was an ugly one and needed the refs help at the end with the questionable touchdown or down at the one. The touch-back call proved lucky for the Patriot.s   Up next — Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night, the much-anticipated rematch of the stunning Pats victory in SuperBowl LI.

Is It Panic Time For The Bruins?

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Two nights, two completely different outcomes. After an impressive showing in Arizona, the Bruins had a chance to gain some momentum heading back to Boston. Instead, the Bruins layed a massive egg and were shut down by former teammate Malcolm Subban. It wasn’t like Subban was tested that much, the Bruins couldn’t get it going offensively.

The lackluster showing in Vegas concluded a frustrating and disappointing roadtrip. The Bruins looked lifeless in the first period, barely generating anything offensively. Another slow start for the Bruins is  alarming. The entire reason for a coaching change was the slow starts, which have thus far continued under Cassidy.

The five games the Bruins have won looked impressive. When they have lost, it has been ugly and alarming. While some growing pains can be expected with a young transitiong club, the Bruins haven’t shown much growth. Both Vegas and Colorado outworked Boston, and neither teams are world beaters.

The Bruins return home to the Garden lacking an identity and the ability to execute. Should fans be pushing the panic button? The short answer is no– they’re only five games into an eighty-two game schedule. If the Bruins don’t look alive soon though, get ready to smash that button.

The offensive struggles have been obvious. Time and time again the Bruins have wasted the few scoring chances they have been able to generate. They lack execution. Sunday against Vegas emphasized this, as the Bruins kept firing shots wide, or directly into Subbans chest protector. It appeared every one of the Bruins forwards thought they were Wayne Gretzky. The Bruins desperately need to simplify their offensive approach. Get the puck and move it to the open. Make simple plays first, then expand to a more dynamic offensive approach.

For a team struggling offensively, it would be nice to have an explosive offensive defenseman with a cannon for a shot. The Bruins let their cannon, Colin Miller, leave in the expansion draft, because Kevin Miller and Adam McQuad were so valuable. While Colin Miller was firing rockets all afternoon, Kevin Miller was making brutal turnovers that led to a goal.

While the Bruins have only played a hand full of games, the philosophy and decision making of the organization should have Bruins fans ready to panic. Getting Bergeron and Backes back from injury isn’t going to fix the core problems of the Bruins. Both players have shown signs of decline, and have many miles under them.

The potential for a lost season seems much greater now, Boston looks lifeless this season.

Alex Cora is the Right Man for the Job in Boston

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The Red Sox are in the market for a new manager for the first time in five years after John Farrell was fired after another disappointing postseason appearance.

The team knocked it out of the park when they hired Farrell prior to the 2013 season, following up a tumultuous 2012 season with a World Series title in Farrell’s first season. The team followed that up with back-to-back last place finishes, as well as back-to-back AL East titles, something the organization had never achieved before.

Still, it was not enough, as division titles don’t buy you job security in Boston. Now, it’s back to square one, and the Red Sox seem to have their sights set on a new man to lead the ball club. A certain somebody who has experience playing in Beantown.

Take a minute and think back to the Red Sox teams of last decade, say from 2004-2010. Think of how much fun those teams were to watch; no drama, no media tirades, none of that. Just quality, winning baseball that resulted in two championships.

Cora played with the Red Sox right in the middle of that era. He was on the 2007 World Series winning team. He was on the 2008 team that was one win shy of back-to-back appearances in the Fall Classic.  Not to mention, Cora was teammates with Dustin Pedroia during the majority of his tenure in Boston.

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What this team needs is somebody who can communicate effectively in the clubhouse. The players need a manager that can be authoritative, but also friendly with the guys. Terry Francona found that happy medium, and it’s why he is one of the best managers, if not the best manager in Red Sox history.

Now, I’m not about to put Alex Cora in that category; the guy has only been a coach for one season.

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However, what I will say is that this team will have a different dynamic next season. The locker room will be better, players will be happier, and that will result in a much better on-field product.

Also, Red Sox fans everywhere will be spared from watching John Farrell make his fair share of questionable in-game decisions.  You can’t knock Farrell, however. I’m not here to crush the guy. He did bring a title to Boston in very unexpected fashion.  When it came right down to it, Farrell didn’t do enough after 2013 to maintain job security.

Should the Red Sox bring in Cora, which right now seems likely, the 2018 season looks much brighter than it did before.

 

Jayson Tatum

THE JAYSON TATUM ERA IS ABOUT TO BEGIN

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The circumstances around the arrival of Jayson Tatum in Boston are…peculiar. The Celtics hit the jackpot with the number one pick after years of being screwed by the ping-pong balls. In a draft that was both deep, and filled with potential franchise-altering talent, Boston held the reigns. Fans could hardly contain themselves after combing through highlight clips of Markell Fultz, the presumptive top pick out of Washington. Then Danny Ainge trades the pick. The team drops down to the third pick, Fultz heads to Atlantic division rival Philadelphia, and Tatum lands in our laps. Oh how quickly things can change.

Tatum slid under the national radar while people were more enamored with Fultz and Lonzo Ball. He wasn’t as flashy as Ball, and Fultz put up much better numbers on a bad team. After missing his first eight games at Duke with a foot sprain, it took Tatum time to adjust to the college game. As the season went on, he got more comfortable, and started to show off one of the most polished offensive games in college basketball.

Tatum Dunk

Ainge has a track record of drafting long, athletic players whose offense needs work. After moving from one to three in the draft, the choice came down to Tatum, or Kansas star Josh Jackson. He picked Tatum, and immediately added a potent scorer to the team. While he certainly has holes in his game, Tatum proved he was every bit as talented on offense as advertised. He torched defenses with midrange jumpers and savvy moves around the basket throughout Summer League play. His outside shot needs work, but he has been able to knock them down when left open. While the numbers have dipped in the preseason, his game is drawing rave reviews from Boston royalty:

Tatum does have a similar build and offensive game to a young Paul Pierce. He’s not the most athletic, but his basketball IQ is through the roof. The typical rookie mistakes have, and will, happen, but his maturity will give him an advantage on the competition. He has also shown a willingness to compete on the boards and the ability to defend multiple positions.

With Marcus Morris expected to miss time to start the season, Tatum will be thrust into a starting role. With a potential starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Tatum, and Al Horford, the third pick in the draft will need to contribute right away. Starting on a team with high expectations may seem overwhelming, but this situation is ideal for Tatum. With Irving and Hayward garnering most of the defensive attention, he will have plenty of open shots on offense. The positive strides on defense will be what the starting unit needs from him. If he can keep guards in front of him and execute switches, any offense he can produce is icing on the cake.

EXPECTATIONS FOR TATUM

Expectations are always high for a top-three pick, but expectations might be even higher for Tatum. He and Fultz will always be linked after the trade, and he will have to live up to the expectations of a number one pick. He has shown that he has the skill, the drive, and the mentality to be a winner. Tatum may not be the pick Celtics fans wanted at first, but he is here and ready to help this team win. Just ask Horford: