Tag Archives: #BostonSports

It’s Crunch Time for the Bruins

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As teams continue to put pressure on the Boston Bruins, can the Black and Gold continue to tough it out?

I’ll be first to admit, I wasn’t sure if the Boston Bruins really needed to make a trade. But I had to take a hard look at their recent playing effort. The one thing about this team, which has been an issue these past few years, is the depth of their defense. As the trade deadline nears, most teams are looking to rebuild and that means making some changes. Recent rumbles throughout league would have the possibility of Jake DeBrusk going to Rangers in exchange for Ryan McDonough.

Yes, the Bruins need a top D-man, and Chara won’t be around forever. And yes, Carlo should be better than he is. Lacking that depth is being exposed in their recent road trip. We knew this was going to be tough test of just how good this team is and after a pretty bad showing against Vancouver, reality was starting to set in. If they want to be in the playoffs, they would have to play smarter, faster, and tougher.

Boston Bruins Matt Grzelcyk goal

Staff photo by John Wilcox/The Boston Herald

Quick Change

After losing 6-1 against a low standing Vancouver team, the Boston Bruins had to bounce back. A win against Calgary gave another shot of confidence that the team needed. The Bruins went back to the basics while working on what needed to be polished. Tuesday’s night game against the Oilers was another test. Edmonton hasn’t been playing great this year, yet somehow managed to find their pucks behind the Bruins’ net. A quick look at some stats and you’ll see that Boston plays under .500 when they are two goals behind. The black and gold found themselves in a hole, which they had to dig themselves out of. Something had to change and with a stroke of genius, Coach Bruce Cassidy led the charge. With the third period getting underway, the Bruins were set to make a dramatic comeback. And they did. David Krejci skated alongside David Backes and Danton Heinen. Backes retrieved the puck from Edmonton, passed to Heinen which set up Krejci to score the winning goal. Because of the stellar comeback win for the Bruins, the question of whether the B’s can play gritty was answered.

Production

The thing about this year’s Boston Bruins team is the production from their lines, particularly the 4th line. While the 1st line of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak has produced huge numbers for the team- let’s take a look at the 4th line. With Tim Schaller, Noel Acciari, Sean Kuraly, this line has been very productive for this team. Cassidy put that line out in the crucial minutes of the third period and sure enough, that move worked. The Bruins scored. In a bold move, Cassidy switched up his center and Riley Nash played alongside Jake DeBrusk and Ryan Spooner. After some great puck movement, Charlie McAvoy’s shot hit off Nash, who beautifully back passed to Matt Grzelcyk and the Bruins tied the game.

 

Boston Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy

Photo Credit/Getty Images

Coach Cassidy had this to say about the fourth line:

“Offensively, they’ve done a real good job chipping in.They’re over 20 goals even strength as a line. That’s pretty good for a fourth line that doesn’t see any power-play time. It was a big one by Noel tonight, typical goals. Again for Noel, going to the net, willing to pay the price, be around there. Very, very happy for those guys …I think they’re well liked by the group, so when they give you energy, it just gets the whole team going [and] they’ve done it more than once for us this year.”

Boston Bruins David Krecji scores game winning goal

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Looking Ahead

March is going to be a tough month for the Bruins. After finishing their Canadian road trip, they’ll be back home for the next five games. With the newly acquired Rangers defenseman Nick Holden, the Bruins are looking to add some jolt to their defense. The black and gold will need to work on their back-end, make smart trades (if needed) and keep pushing. Cassidy will have to switch up lines and the young guns will need to play through their growing pains. Boston hasn’t exactly made the greatest decisions when it comes to making trades however, fans will have to trust the process. This could possibly mean losing a young player and that can be hard to swallow, given the amount of talent this team has and the chemistry they’ve built.

Final Thoughts

The Boston Bruins need to stick to the basics, drive hard to net and continue to get pucks in. Other teams will be gunning for a spot in the playoffs and the pressure will be on. One thing is for sure, this team is and has been exciting to watch. Because of the comeback win in Edmonton, this team continues to prove once again just how special they are. Cassidy keeps making the right calls, the team has found their stride and Holden is someone we could use. If everything falls into place, the Bruins will get far into the playoffs. Finally, does this team need another player like a McDonough or even a Lucic? From this writer’s perspective, Boston doesn’t really need to make another trade, but I’ll leave that to the experts.

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter  @pastagrll88

Sam Kennedy Blames Pace of Play

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Red Sox President and CEO, Sam Kennedy, is blaming the drop in Red Sox viewership over the past couple of seasons on the MLB’s pace of play issues.

“People don’t want to get home at 11:30 or midnight.  They have to work the next day.  We understand that.  We’d like a crisp, faster game.  We’d like every game to be started by Chris Sale.  You get an amazing product.” –Sam Kennedy in a WEEI interview

First of all Sam, way to throw the majority of your starting rotation under the bus. Second of all, pace of play is not the reason behind people turning off the Red Sox. Under the current ownership, Red Sox fans continue to be fed spoonful’s of garbage. Overpaying for Pablo Sandoval and then telling us he is only 17% body fat is going to make fans angry. Especially Boston fans, lies make us furious. Firing Don Orsillo, a beloved color commentator because ownership thought he was to blame for the dip in views, is going to upset fans. Back to back last place finishes, then mustering out only one playoff win does not make fans happy. Lowballing Jon Lester, trading him away, and then getting angry because he did not resign is not pace of play’s fault.

Constantly changing the team strategy does not make fans feel confident in their team. Trading in clubhouse guys for big money players who do not want to play here upsets fans. Being concerned primarily with making the most money instead of assembling the best baseball team hurts fans. I am not saying the Red Sox need to win the World Series every year or we will not watch. Instead, I am saying when you see fans are mad, address the problem instead of finding the nearest scapegoat.

Fans who go to see a 7:00 PM night game plan on staying until 11:30 or midnight. That is what fans go to see. They want to see the Red Sox play, it does not matter how long the game takes.  MLB trying to lure new fans in by changing the pace of play rules does nothing but hurt the game. It only alienates the fans who are loyal to the sport. People who do not like baseball will not suddenly turn around and watch like a diehard just because the game gets shortened by twenty minutes.

Red Sox ownership continues to do an incredible job during their time here. If they continue to alienate fans however, things may change.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2017/08/red_sox_reward_sam_kennedy_with_extension_and_promotion

Courtesy of Matt Stone and the Boston Herald

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn

 

Cover image courtesy of The Boston Globe.

Positions the Patriots Need to Evaluate over the Offseason

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The Patriots fell just short of their sixth Super Bowl trophy against the Eagles. They have a stacked team, but they could definitely use some upgrades. Here are four positions or groups of positions that the Patriots need to evaluate over the offseason.

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski has been the best tight end in the NFL since 2011, but retirement rumors have been swirling due to injuries. Gronk was extremely valuable to the Patriots this season. The offense averaged 19.5 points per game in the two games he did not play. In the other 14 games he played in, the Patriots averaged 30 points per game. If the Patriots lose Gronkowski, then the offense will take a big fall. Backup tight end Martellus Bennett could also retire, and Dwane Allen and Jacob Hollister were ineffective in the passing game. The free agent tight end pool is weak and the tight end draft class is similiar, so Bill Belichick needs to have a plan.

Left Tackle

All of the positions on the offensive line have been very good since Dante Scarnecchia came out of retirement. He has been able to get the best out of players such as LaAdrian Waddle and Marcus Cannon. However, Nate Solder’s contract is up and it is rumored that he might leave. Belichick could move Waddle over to left tackle, but that would leave Cam Flemming and Cole Croston as the backup lineman. Croston did not play in his rookie season and Flemming has not been good lately. Belichick could explore the free agent market or draft class to find a replacement. The list of free agent left tackles includes Greg Robinson, Chris Clark, and Donald Stephenson.

Front Seven

The Patriots’ defense was the reason why they did not win the Super Bowl. Almost all of the positions on defense struggled throughout the season. They did not get pressure with their front four, which allowed opposing quarterbacks to have field days against the Patriots. New England ranked 31st in rush yards per attempt because they gave up 4.7 yards per run. They were poor with and without Hightower, so it is hard to rely on him to come back and change everything immediately. The Patriots have slow linebackers who cannot cover running backs or cause pressure. Belichick needs to draft or sign a fast linebacker that can get to the quarterback and keep up with running backs. He also needs to draft or sign a lineman who can get pressure and help with the running game.

Cornerback

With Malcolm Butler set to leave, the Patriots need to find a replacement for him. Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, and Eric Rowe are not good replacement options. Aqib Talib, Richard Sherman, and Marcus Peters have all been rumored to be cut or traded in the offseason. The Patriots will be spending a lot of money at corner if they sign one of them, considering how much they are paying Gilmore. However, the Patriots have not had dominate corners since Revis and Browner in 2014. They won the Super Bowl with Butler and Logan Ryan two years ago. Stephon Gilmore is great, but they can not win with one dominant corner. Super Bowl 52 is a perfect example of that because Gilmore was great, but Rowe, Bademosi, and Jones did not step up in Malcolm Butler’s “absence”. Belichick must recognize that and spend money and/or picks to get another shutdown corner.

 

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

J.D. Martinez Is Shipping up to Boston, Thank Dave Dombrowski

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J.D. Martinez Now Plays for Boston

This offseason has been tedious and uneventful. As far as being a Red Sox fan goes, this offseason has just been about waiting to see any rumors for J.D. Martinez. Him and Scott Boras have been trying all offseason to get as much cash as they can. The Red Sox were always the favorites to land J.D., but there were rumors of him potentially going back to Arizona. But the wait is now over. Dombrowski and Boras were able to come to an agreement. J.D. Martinez is now on the Red Sox.

The deal is for five years and $110 million with an opt out after the second year. I absolutely love it. It’s not the $210 million Boras was asking for at the start of the offseason.

This is a huge move for the Red Sox. This is the bat they’ve needed ever since the moment Ortiz retired. That’s why the offense hasn’t been as strong as they were in 2016. Lots of the players having down years didn’t help either. That’s another reason why this deal is great. Getting J.D. Martinez to be in the center of a lineup of guys who are due for a bounce-back year is exciting. The Red Sox are slated to make another deep postseason run. With this huge addition to the team, one can only assume that Boston will squash the underdog label they have been given. Analysts and top places for US gamblers to bet are underestimating this year’s squad very early. However, Boston is embracing their role as the dark horse.

Thank the Man Behind the Curtain

Everyone (including myself) freaked out when the Yankees traded for Stanton. But do you know who kept his composure? A man by the name of David Dombrowski. When everyone else panicked as soon as the Yankees got their guy, Dombrowski stayed smart through the whole process. He remained stoic until Boras agreed with the contract he wanted and got J.D. Martinez. You can make an argument that Martinez is in fact better than Stanton, and there are numbers to back that up.

You have to give Dombrowski all the credit in the world for this one. He was willing to be patient and not give in to what Boras wanted, knowing that the market was incredibly small for Martinez. And look where we are now. It’s hilarious because all offseason fans have been upset that the Red Sox haven’t done anything. Well let me tell you something- it’s been that way for every single team. But now the dominoes are starting to fall.

Overall this is a huge deal for the Red Sox. It should not only get fans excited, but will get people to not take this team lightly anymore. This is a deal that will make us a true threat to the Yankees.

J.D. Martinez Officially Signs with the Red Sox

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We Finally Got Martinez

We got him! Finally, after TEN MILLION YEARS of waiting we landed a deal with J.D. Martinez. I have to be honest, I wish I was more excited about this. The guy took FOREVER to sign. So at this point, instead of being hyped up about this signing, I’m just like “Oh, okay. I expected to hear that eventually.” It’s almost like being a kid finding presents your parents got you somewhere in the attic just before Christmas. So the next morning you act all surprised and excited when deep down inside you’re just like “Yeah, that’s cool. I knew I was getting that present anyway.” Kind of sucks to be honest, but hey we finally got him. Life is good. The Red Sox are good. Everything’s great!

J.D. comes to Beantown signing a deal worth 5 years and $110 million with an opt-out after two seasons. Last season with both Detroit and Arizona, J.D. hit a .303 average, with 45 homers, and 104 runs knocked in. Adding to that with a .690 slugging and .376 on base percentages.

Boston needed to get this deal done. Dave Dombrowski has now delivered on his promises every season he’s been here. Price in 2016, Sale in 2017, and now J.D. in 2018. Martinez was projected to sign with Boston the moment the World Series ended, and there was no doubt the deal eventually would’ve been done. Now that Martinez signed the Red Sox can potentially contend against the Yankees and other dominant teams around the league.

The Possibilities Are Endless

With J.D. in Boston there are now so many different possibilities for the team. He wants to be an outfielder in Boston, which could leave to a possible move in JBJ if it comes to it. Then they could move either Benintendi or Mookie to center with J.D. in right. If he is willing to DH it could move Hanley to first, thus benching Moreland. There could even be a possible Hanley deal. Only time will really tell, but this is a huge move for Boston and could really open up a potential World Series bid.

To sum up my thoughts really, it’s hard for me to be excited about this because of how long it took for this guy to sign. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m excited! This is just the piece we needed to contend for the World Series. Not like I don’t think we’re going to win the World Series every year, but this really makes us look like a legitimate threat to the American League. I’m excited. Everyone’s excited. World Series 2018.

Red Sox Players to Get Excited for in 2018: Rafael Devers

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As the season nears every day, memories from the Fall come to my mind. Thinking about the series against Houston may hit a weak spot in the guts of Red Sox Nation. But there is one moment that I look back to that makes me excited for 2018. Rafael Devers did something in the last game of that series that no one saw coming. Something not always expected from a stocky power-hitting third baseman. That moment will bring together the excitement.

Inside the Park Home Run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7eE9PrKOB4

Why Devers In 2018 Is Excited:

Baseball Reference is the usual spot for baseball statistics, but I think they should be called out. Raffy Big Stick put up an impressive line in 2017, all within the span of 58 games.

Not bad for a 20-year-old. Devers was able to become a stable source of power throughout his call-up in Boston. A reliable source for a team that was in the spotlight for a team in one of the hardest divisions in baseball. Each at-bat it seemed like Devers could bring everyone around, no matter who was on the bump. Ask Aroldis Chapman. To me with a full season, one would think his 2018 year will be just as productive. Baseball Reference seems to not think the same. In fact, they believe the difference of 80 games that Raffy will only grab 3 more home runs.

In the time that Devers joined the Red Sox major league roster, the 20-year-old had a WAR of 1.3. It is hard to believe that Devers will only be able to get 11 more RBI’s than the previous season. Rafael Devers also has made adjustments at the plate and expanded his range of swing. In a way that makes him look like a younger Vladamier Guerrero against the Indians last season.

 

Back to Aroldis Chapman again. This moment took over the baseball world in one swing. The facts and statistics that came out after the home run regarding the difficulty of what he did were shocking.

 

Conclusion:

Devers defied the odds of a situation that since the use of Stat Cast, had not been accomplished. Chapman giving up a home run to a lefty? Never happened. The pitch he hit is the fastest pitch to ever be sent out. How many people expected this sort of impact from a 20 year old fresh out of the minors? So as the season begins, print out the projected stats from Baseball Reference. I’m sure you could cross off each statistic he surpasses by the All-Star break. Red Sox fans craving power in the lineup- look no further than Raffy’s hot corner.

 

Two Pre-Free Agency Patriots 3-Round Mock Drafts

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The 2017-2018 season came and went in a blink of an eye. Even though Super Bowl 52 was only two weeks ago, we’re already suffering football withdrawals. Taking things day by day at the start of the NFL offseason is too tedious, so analysts and reporters enjoy looking toward the future. There are 164 grueling days between us and August. The 2018 NFL Draft and today are separated by 67 days. The start of free agency, our saving grace to get us through the waning moments of winter, is only 24 days away. On top of that, we are just a whopping nine days away until the NFL Combine. The only thing to do until then is to dream of what teams will look like in September. What will transpire in free agency? Better yet, who will each team draft?

The Patriots are at an important crossroads entering the offseason. There will be very little panic going into the 2018 season, but the team needs to set themselves up for the future. Tom Brady won’t get any younger, even though we’ve all been convinced that he can play forever. But pliability can only help for so long, and both Brady and New England’s defense can only bend for so long without breaking. The Patriots’ pass rush cannot go on in its current state without bringing in new talent. Also with defensive starters like Malcolm Butler presumably leaving us for new homes, the Patriots need to act quickly. Free agency can only dictate the state of the 2018 squad.

This year’s draft class boasts the most defensive talent we have seen in a long time. The Patriots have a chance to draft prospects that could make a difference down the road with their early picks. These mock drafts might be premature, but it will be updated as April rolls around the corner. It’s impossible to get into the heads of every front office in the league, especially right now. Some teams will look to address problems in free agency, and the rest will utilize the draft. The big board won’t come together until the Combine finishes up in early March. However, it’s great to have a baseline prediction on prospects. The following mock draft is updated from the one I made back in December. Fellow BSE writer Andrew Lykins will also give his insight on potential prospects in his three round draft after mine.

Mike Clement’s Mock Draft 2.0

Round 1 (Pick 31): Marcus Davenport, DE , UTSA

Pass rush is arguably the Patriots’ biggest problem going into the offseason. Part of the reason that New England possessed the 29th ranked defense in the league was because of their lack of pressuring opposing quarterbacks. The defense looked lost against mobile quarterbacks to say the least. Ever since Rob Ninkovich’s retirement last year the team has not found someone to line up parallel to Trey Flowers on the defensive line. Deatrich Wise Jr. and Eric Lee were formidable defensive ends this season, but they were not perfect.

After Dont’a Hightower’s season-ending injury, the linebacker corp did not look any better. Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, and Marquis Flowers held down the center of the defense, but also struggled on pressure. Roberts seemed to primarily play coverage and Van Noy rushed the gap a few times. Flowers, who will be a free agent, shined when pressuring the quarterback. James Harrison’s stint in New England was instrumental as well. The only problem is that he is nearing the end of his great career. Pass rush is a group effort. It isn’t one position’s responsibility.

In comes Marcus Davenport. Listed at a 4-3 outside linebacker, Davenport made his presence felt in 2017 against opposing quarterbacks. He finished four years at UTSA with 185 tackles and 21.5 sacks. The Conference USA might not be the most rigorous conference in college football, but Davenport was able to steamroll his way through offensive lines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTyTQtQotzc

Davenport saw adversity at the Senior Bowl. He struggled a bit against the talent of other NFL prospects. However, he showed enough flashes of dominance to scouts to boost his draft stock. One of his highlights from the Senior Bowl was returning a fumble 19 yards for a score. The Combine will be his next test as he attempts to push into the NFL.

Round 2 (Pick 41): Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

Mike Hughes remains on my draft list. He’s been doubted by scouts due to his lack of consistency and experience in college. However, his speed helped him be a dominant number one cornerback for UCF during their perfect season. He can jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and has ball skills to pick passes off in man coverage. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein places Hughes as New England’s first pick in the draft surprisingly. In his first mock draft Zierlein writes, “Hughes isn’t the biggest cornerback, but he has tremendous speed and twitch. He’s also an outstanding kick returner.” Hughes’s speed makes up for his size to be a tough cornerback.

I believe that Mike Hughes could drop to the early second round for New England to take him. There are about five or so higher ranked corners, but Hughes could help the Patriots’ foreseeable problems at corner.

Round 2 (Pick 63): Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa

New England’s running back corps have fared well thus far. Josh McDaniels set up an offense last season that incorporated Dion Lewis as a primary runner and had Rex Burkhead and James White go wide for passes. Lewis had a career season in 2017, only making him more valuable as he enters the free agent market. Burkhead will be a free agent as well. Dion Lewis is more likely going to leave New England, meanwhile Burkhead might stay after having an under par year due to injury.

Akrum Wadley is the best of both worlds. At Iowa, he has exhibited his ability to excel in a passing offense. He also has the strength to push up the middle. What is most admirable about Wadley is his footwork and athletic ability.

Round 3 (Pick 95): Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond

Can Kyle Lauletta be the heir to Tom Brady’s throne? Possibly. Lauletta has been under the radar in Richmond, but has some great intangibles. In 2017, Lauletta racked up 3,737 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He only started in his sophomore and junior years after switching over from lacrosse. Most scouts will disregard Lauletta as just another backup, but he has a lot of potential for Bill Belichick. Belichick loves lacrosse and will likely scavenge Lauletta’s film from high school.

Lauletta put on a show at the Senior Bowl. He threw three second-half touchdowns and was named Most Outstanding Player. He might not have the best arm but his production has risen in the past few years as he becomes more accustomed to football. His leadership and his passing on the move makes him an admirable target in the third round. If any team were to take him it would be the Patriots. He will do wonders working under Tom Brady for a year or two.

Andrew Lykins’s Mock Draft

The top four Patriots draft needs are: starting CB, tackle (either depth or starter depending upon Solder resigning), edge rush, and running back. The order of these needs will change depending upon the moves they will make in free agency. This pre-FA mock reflects on a few moves that I think will happen.

Round 1 (Pick 31) Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

I’m shooting for the stars with my first pick. The pass rush sorely needs to be upgraded. Derek Rivers, Trey Flowers and hopefully a veteran addition will be joined by the raw but talented small school product. I would also consider Sam Hubbard with this pick as well. I fully expect the Patriots to resign Solder for left tackle. If that doesn’t happen, this pick immediately changes to the best OT available. I would also consider cornerback, but the position is slightly deeper, so I opted for Davenport with this pick.

Credit to USA Today.

Round 2 (Pick 41 from 49ers) J.C. Jackson, CB, Maryland

Many people will think that this is a knee jerk reaction to losing Butler. I think we would be able to weather his loss with Cyrus Jones return as well as J.Jones returning. I want an upgrade though. If Eric Rowe and Gilmore are the presumptive #1-2 for 2018, I want a young talent to push them and provide depth for a strict outside press-man scheme. Would also consider a top flight RB if available (Guice, R.Jones, or Michel).

Credit to USA Today.

Round 2 (Pick 63) Luke Falk, QB, Washington State

Spending a day two pick on a quarterback has worked out well for us, and I see no reason to break this trend. The Patriots will continue to stock the talent at this position until Tom Brady makes it clear as to when he is hanging them up. I understand if you are not thrilled with this particular prospect, but the need is undeniable and I would rather get a good prospect sooner rather than later. I would go with best player available if he doesn’t test well and look to pick up a quarterback on day three.

Credit to The Seattle Times.

Round 3 (Pick 95) Ronald Jones, RB, USC

There are tons of high level running back prospects in this draft class, and that means that there will be some sliding of starting level talent. Free agency and the Combine will really serve to slot the prospects into their respective rankings. Ronald Jones is my favorite of the 1-2 tier that could slide. I would also consider Nick Chubbs, Kerryon Johnson, and Jaylen Samuels here as well.

Credit to the Daily Trojan.

 

Cover image courtesy of Sporting News.

Leading the Charge- Bruce Cassidy

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Bruce Cassidy- a New Coach for a New Era

The Bruins were down 2-1 in their recent game against the Calgary Flames Tuesday night at the Garden. Boston was on a power play when forward David Pastrnak got called on a slashing penalty and with their power play cut short, the Bruins knew something had to change. For Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, that meant changing up the lines. This was a move that needed to be done. And boy, did it work.

Veteran David Backes joined Bergeron and Marchand with Pastrnak playing alongside Riley Nash and Danton Heinen. For the rest of the night, the B’s controlled most of the game to come back and win 5-2 over the Flames. Decisions like this demonstrate just how well Cassidy knows his team and why he is exactly what Boston needed.

Out with the Old, in with the New

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

There’s been so many stories and media hoopla over the firing and return of Claude Julien. Along with some strong sentiments from a few disgruntled loyal Julian fans, Sweeney and Co. held their ground, knowing it was time for change. Enter Bruce Cassidy, former head coach of the Providence Bruins. The Bruins were on the brink of not making it into the playoffs and Cassidy had to salvage what was left of a mediocre season.

He did.

The Bruins began to win. They hustled, they picked up speed. Out went the old “dump and chase” game and in came the speed drills. Because Boston lost some of their key players to injuries during their playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, Cassidy did something that Julian hadn’t done. He give adequate ice time to the rookies. For some, like Charlie McAvoy and Sean Kuraly, it would be their NHL debut. Even though the Bruins lost that fought series, it was clear that Bruce would be the man for the job.

Growing Pains

Sometimes you have to learn from your mistakes and for Cassidy; it’s just something that comes with the territory. In a game against the Ducks, a goal by David Pastrnak was called off sides and after a coach’s challenge, the call was upheld. The Bruins had lost their time out and the Ducks would score an offside goal, however Boston couldn’t do anything. It was an unfortunate scenario that placed Cassidy in the awkward position of admitting his mistake.

“It’s disappointing because clearly that was a good foot offside. It’s a tough way to give up a goal, but that was a decision I made, and it was the wrong one.”

After winning his first four games with Boston, this would be his first loss as new interim coach. The season would be far from over and, as we all know, this was just the taste of things to come.

Here Come the Bruins

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Young, fast, and red-hot. These are a few words sports analysts are using to describe this season’s Bruins team. After a shaky start this season, Boston lost many top players to injuries; it was time for the young guys to step up. The Bruins have been steam rolling over their competition and unlike his predecessor, Cassidy isn’t afraid to put players in vital positions.

“We expect that every night out of these guys. We also have other guys that can pick them up, so it’s like they have to carry the team. But they are making their contributions”.

As a result of Cassidy’s coaching, the Bruins are now second  to the Lightning in the division and the league, yet this was a much different story in the beginning of the season. As the team began to bond and build their chemistry, something special happened; the Bruins were winning.  Most importantly, this team was starting to have fun.

For players like Pastrnak, Cassidy had to send a subtle message reminding him to handle the puck better. And it worked as the right winger came out of the penalty box ready to go and netting a shot on goal.

Cassidy is making good decisions and with tough match-ups coming up, is it possible for this  Bruins team to win the Stanley Cup? With a new coach that isn’t afraid to make changes, chances are looking pretty good for the black and gold.

Steven Wright Speaks Publicly About Domestic Assault Arrest

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Steven Wright Speaks

In case you either forgot or didn’t know, Steven Wright got arrested for domestic assault back in December. It was probably the most significant thing to happen this offseason for the Red Sox.

It wasn’t your usual domestic assault though. Wright’s lawyer says he apparently never touched his wife during an argument they had. What I had heard from before is he knocked a door down, which probably prompted the call.

Wright told reporters today the same thing: about how it was a verbal argument and no physical assault was involved.

“It’s tough because I really want to at least tell my side of the story. Because when it comes out you obviously think of the worst, but it wasn’t that bad. Especially on a personal level especially because I never touched her, that’s probably the hardest thing for me to like sit there and see people like talk about being a wife beater and all that stuff when I didn’t even make physical contact. But that’s pretty much all I’m allowed to really say right now”

MLB still can suspend Wright even though he hasn’t yet been charged guilty. Back in 2015, Aroldis Chapman had a similar charge and was never charged guilty. However still was suspended for the first 30 games of the season.

As far as Wright possibly getting suspended goes, it’s not that huge a deal with the fact that he is a depth starter. I’d say (barring injuries) the rotation is a lock right now with Sale, Price, Pomeranz, Porcello, and Erod. And I think most can agree with that.

Top 10 Boston Sports Moments Since 2010

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Top Ten Moments in No Order

Ravens vs. Patriots (@dkpatsftball)

One of the top Patriots moments of all time was the 2015 AFC Divisional round game against the Ravens. Coming off a 30-17 victory against a Le’Veon Bell-less Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in the most unfavorable matchup: against the Patriots.

Flacco showed this by throwing two touchdowns to start off the game, not fearing the corner duo of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Boston fans knew not to worry because they had Brady on their side. He delivered with two touchdown drives to even the score. However, Baltimore continued to show their dominance over New England’s defense.

Two touchdown passes later, they had another 14-point lead. Would the Patriots fall again to the Ravens in the playoffs? Brady answered with a 5-yard touchdown to Gronkowski. The defense got a stop, which allowed the offense to run one of their most memorable plays ever.

Brady threw a backward screen to Edelman, who threw it downfield to a wide-open Danny Amendola for a 51-yard touchdown. The score was 31-28 after the Ravens made a field goal. When the game was on the line, Mr. Clutch came through. After a time-consuming drive, Brady threw his third touchdown pass of the day to Brandon LaFell to take the lead. The Patriots secured the win with a Duron Harmon interception in the closing minutes. It was definitely a game to remember as the Patriots got their revenge on the team who stopped them from going to the Super Bowl just two years before.

Credit to the Boston Globe.

Super Bowl 49- Patriots vs. Seahawks (@dkpatsftball)

It seems like every Super Bowl for the Patriots is a close game, which is a real stress causer among us Boston fans. Anyway, the Patriots were coming off a blowout win over the Colts, while Seattle had led a thrilling comeback over Rodgers’s Packers in the championship games.

The first half was relatively close as the teams went into the locker rooms tied at 14. Seattle had taken advantage of the mismatch of the larger Chris Matthews to move the ball down the field. Matthews, who had not caught a pass before this game, hauled an eleven-yard touchdown as seconds expired in the half. The Seahawks continued their momentum by obtaining a ten-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter should be named after Brady, because that’s when he really starts to strive. He surpassed Joe Montana’s Super Bowl touchdown record with passes to Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. In familiar fashion Tom Brady and the Patriots took a late lead. The only problem was that there was still time on the clock. Russell Wilson had two passes of 31 and 11 to bring the Seahawks to the New England 38.

He dropped back and threw a deep ball to Jermaine Kearse. It was battered by undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler, but the ball never hit the ground. After Butler knocked it, it bounced off Kearse’s legs back into his hands for a 33-yard gain. At this time, New England fans were thinking, “There’s no way we could lose another game off a ridiculous catch. Would Kearse be the next David Tyree and Mario Manningham?”

A Marshawn Lynch run brought them to the 1, and the game was seemingly over. The Seahawks had one of the best and strongest backs in the league, who was virtually unstoppable in these short yardage situations. However, they chose to pass the ball instead. Wilson dropped back and aimed for Ricardo Lockette on a short crossing route, but Malcolm Butler was there first. He intercepted the ball to clinch the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl win. Seattle looked more confused than the left shark in Katy Perry’s halftime show. This moment will definitely go down in NFL history as one of the greatest.

2013 ALCS Game 2 (Prime_Kyrie)

One of the most memorable Red Sox moments in recent memory was Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS. Boston fans bought into this unique team, and they were hoping to take home the World Series. It looked like the Red Sox were going to lose the first two games following a 1-0 loss. Max Scherzer was untouchable through seven, but they got to the Tigers’ bullpen in the eight, which was their kryptonite.

Joaquin Benoit faced David Ortiz in the eighth, and of the most clutch hitters in recent memory tied the game at five with a grand slam. The next inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a walk-off single off Rick Porcello to tie the series at one each. Boston fans went from panicking to rejoicing over the comeback. The Red Sox clinched the pennant in six games to set up the next moment:

Credit to the Boston Herald.

October 31, 2013 (Prime_Kyrie)

A faceoff between two legends- Patriots versus Saints in 2013 was a game to remember. It was back and forth the whole game. The Saints took a four point lead late in the fourth quarter.

An interception from Brady seemed to seal the win for the Saints. However, the Patriots defense forced a three and out. Brady had a minute and thirteen seconds to work his magic. He drove the offense downfield to the 17-yard line with ten seconds left. Brady dropped back and delivered a perfect pass to the back of the end zone to Kenbrell Thompkins for the win.

A few hours after the Patriots’ unbelievable win against the Saints, the Red Sox took the field up 3-2 against the Cardinals. Red Sox fans were hoping to witness the first home World Series win in 95 years. They were looking to clinch the world series at Fenway Park for the first time in 95 years.

The Red Sox jumped on Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha in the third with a base-clearing double from Shane Victorino. Wacha lasted 3.2 innings, giving up six earned runs and four walks. Red Sox pitcher John Lackey was dominant through 6.2 innings, giving up just one run. Koji Uehara, the fourth option at closer, entered the game in the ninth with the Red Sox up 6-1. He struck out Matt Carpenter on a splitter to end the series and Fenway Park went crazy. They earned their eighth championship in franchise history, and the third in the last ten years.

2017 Celtics Offseason (Prime_Kyrie)

It is hard to pinpoint one day in the offseason, but Danny Ainge took the Celtics from pretenders to contenders with a series of moves. Celtics fans had been begging for big transactions since Brad Stevens took over, and they finally got them.

On June 19th, the Celtics traded the number one overall pick to the 76ers for the third pick and a conditional pick in 2018. The Celtics selected rookie of the year candidate Jayson Tatum, and the 76ers drafted Markelle Fultz who has not played this year.

On July 7th, Ainge traded Avery Bradley to the Pistons for Marcus Morris to clear cap space. Consequently Morris has been an efficient scorer off the bench. On July 14th, Boston officially signed Gordon Hayward, who is arguably the best player on the team when healthy. He could make a return in the playoffs, and he would be a huge addition. On August 23rd, Ainge shocked the NBA world when they traded Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the 2018 Nets pick to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving is an MVP candidate while Thomas and Crowder were flipped at the deadline. The Celtics are 40-18 and could beat the Cavaliers in a seven-game series.

2013 Bruins Game 7 (@JamieGatlin1217)

This is a game that Bruins fans will never forget. It will forever live in Boston lore, not because of the dramatic comeback but everything else that made this game special. The Bruins were down 4-1 in the third period of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals.

The future of the core that brought a championship to Boston two years earlier was in question. It appeared the Bruins were about to be eliminated from the playoffs at home. Nathan Horton made the score 4-2 with 14 minutes left in the third period. This gave the Bruins hope but time was dwindling.

Then with 1:22 left Milan Lucic scored to make it 4-3. There was a sense something special was happening. Thirty seconds later Patrice Bergeron tied to force overtime. The Bruins were a goal away from completing a comeback that no one thought they had left in them. Then with 13:55 left in overtime Patrice Bergeron completed the comeback and scored the overtime winner. It was an atmosphere that is rare and a comeback just the same. The game was not only a top moment for hockey reasons. A month later Boston was afflicted by the Marathon attacks. As the city started to recover, their resiliency aided the Bruins’ motivation. When everyone counted the Bruins out they came back. The Bruins provided the city with a moment truly special when it was needed the most.

Credit to SI.com.

Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Game 7 (JamieGatlin1217)

On June 15th the Bruins ended their 39-year title drought by beating the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup. It was the Bruins third game seven victory in their playoff run. It was also their first and only win of the series at Vancouver. Going into the series, many people doubted the Bruins.

Things looked bleak at the beginning of the series after they lost the first two games in Vancouver. The Bruins had to fight off elimination twice but they didn’t let that phase them. The 2011 team had many storylines that made this team unique.They were a determined and scrappy team never letting the odds affect them.

They received a historic performance from Tim Thomas in net. It was Mark Recchi’s last NHL season and he ended it with a championship, the third of his career. What made this team so special was its underdog mentality. Throughout the playoffs, they were doubted and it looked as if their season was over multiple times. They rallied around each other especially after Nathan Horton was knocked out of the Stanley Cup series with a concussion in Game Two. They didn’t make things easy on themselves, but that made it all more rewarding. This cup win meant even more as they were the only team without a title in Boston in the 2000’s. Now they had their title. It was one full of excitement and grit a trait that made this team even more special.

Super Bowl 51- Patriots vs. Falcons (@dkpatsftball)

Momentum was the keyword of the game. Up until the end of the third quarter, Falcons had all the momentum. They had a commanding 28-3 lead with a little over two minutes left to play in the third quarter. Brady had made comebacks before, but this one seemed insurmountable. The trick was that they took it one play at a time.

The Patriots finally got a touchdown with a Brady-to-White pass. This started the Patriots’ rally. The defense began doing their part by holding Matt Ryan’s high-powered offense drive after drive. In turn, the offense continued to score points as Brady continued to move the ball with ease. Finally, they did it. A James White touchdown forced an overtime… and won them the game. This game was perhaps one of the best of all, and Brady cemented his legacy as the GOAT.

Credit to Bleacher Report.

Patriots vs. Broncos 2013(@dkpatsftball)

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning renewed their historic rivalry during Week 12 in 2013. Entering the game, Brady was 9-4 against Manning in his career. Due to fumbles and big runs by Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos put together 24 points in the first half. This was the same Broncos whose offense was having a historic season as they steamrolled opponents. This game would have turned out the same way… If the opposing quarterback at the helm was not named Brady.

They started out with Edelman making an incredible touchdown grab on a perfectly placed ball by Brady. The defense made key stops with a forced fumble, sack, an interception on three separate drives- each leading to a touchdown. With a field goal afterward, the Patriots suddenly had a seven-point lead. Manning wasn’t going to choke away this game just yet. He threw a touchdown to Demaryius Thomas with three minutes left in the game. The game went into overtime where neither offense could get going. The Patriots punted to the ball to former Patriot, Wes Welker, where he signaled not to go for the ball to his team. One Bronco didn’t see it, and it hit off him. The Patriots recovered and won with the field goal. Brady got another win in this rivalry between the two Hall of Famers.

Celtics vs. Wizards 2017 ECSF (Prime_Kyrie)

After the Celtics took care of the Bulls in six, and the Wizards took care of the Hawks in six, the two teams met for the semifinals. The Celtics outscored the Wizards by 20 in the third quarter, and they took game one by the score of 123-111. Jae Crowder’s 24 points and Isaiah Thomas’s 33 points led the Celtics in Game One.

In Game Two, John Wall put up 40 points, but Isaiah Thomas scored 53 to give the Celtics a 129-119 win and a 2-0 series lead. Washington dominated Game Three by holding Thomas to 13 points, and Otto Porter and Bojan Bogdanović scoring 19 points each. The Wizards dominated Game Four by the score of 121-102 because of great guard play by John Wall and Bradley Beal. Washington tied the series at two with the series heading back to Boston.

Avery Bradley led the Celtics in Game Five with 29 points and the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead by the score of 123-101. The series went back to Washington, and the Celtics needed one more win to go to the Eastern Conference Finals. With ten seconds left in Game Six, Al Horford hit a clutch baseline jumper to give the Celtics a 91-89 lead. One more stop on defense and the series is over. But if the Wizards make a shot, we continue.

With just three seconds left, John Wall hit a three over Al Horford to give the Wizards a 92-91 win. The series was headed back to Boston, winner goes to Cleveland and the loser goes home. In game seven, the Celtics had a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. All they had to do was hold on and the series would be theirs. The Celtics went on a 15-2 run to start the fourth, and Kelly Olynyk had a surprising 26 points to lead the Celtics to a 115-105 win. The series was back-and-forth where most games were competitive. But the Celtics got their first trip to the Conference Finals in the Brad Stevens era.