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The New England Patriots Aren’t Going Anywhere

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The New England Patriots just lost Super Bowl 52, 41-33, to the Philadelphia Eagles. A mix of uncharacteristically poor coaching and terrible defense proved to be too much for quarterback Tom Brady to overcome, and the Patriots left Minnesota empty handed. The bad news is that the Patriots lost. The good news is that they’ll be back soon. The New England Patriots aren’t going anywhere, and should even better in 2018.

The New England Patriots Aren’t Going Anywhere

Internal Stars Return

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Tom Brady’s Favorite Target Will Be Back in Action in 2018

Image credit: Boston Herald

The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl in spite of two of their best four players missing the season. Wide receiver Julian Edelman tore his ACL in the preseason, effectively ending his season before it began. While Edelman is 31, there’s no reason to expect anything less than a full comeback.

The silver lining to tearing his ACL in the preseason is that his gives him a full calendar year to get healthy. The typical ACL recovery timeline is roughly 6-9 months, so Edelman should be a full go by the 2018 regular season. Edelman’s rehab, as far as we know, is moving along without any setbacks, and he even said that he believed he could have played Super Bowl 52 were he were eligible.

The Patriots will also be getting their best defensive player back in Dont’a Hightower. Hightower played in just five games all season, with his last appearance coming in Week Seven. While linebackers like Kyle Van Noy performed admirably in his absence, there’s no overstating how much Hightower means to this defense. He’s the de-facto do it all linebacker, capable of rushing the passer, stopping the run, and dropping into coverage. It’s no coincidence that the Patriots won the two Super Bowls he played in, but lost the one he didn’t.

Role Player Reinforcements

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Malcolm Mitchell’s Presence was greatly missed in 2017

Image credit: Bleacher Report

Additionally, the Patriots will be getting some minor reinforcements with the return of Malcolm Mitchell. Like Edelman, Mitchell missed the duration of the season. While he won’t have Edelman’s impact, he does offer something that none of the other receivers do. Mitchell plays bigger than his size, and is able to win tough, contested passes on the boundary. He showed he’s more than capable of being a reliable intermediate option, and his presence should open up a whole new dimension to the Patriot offense.

With Edelman running his famous option routes and Mitchell a threat on intermediate passes, who covers Brandin Cooks? Cooks had a great 2017 despite being the teams best receiver, and thus facing the best opposing defenders. Teams won’t be able to lock in on Cooks with a healthy Edelman, Mitchell and Rob Gronkowski on the field. Gronkowski is mulling retirement, but that felt like a reactionary statement after a long, grueling season. Until he officially says otherwise, expect him to be playing in 2018.

Additionally, the Patriots will be getting their top draft picks back for 2018. Third round rookies Derek Rivers and Antonio Garcia missed the entire 2017 season with injuries, and should be able to bring a huge boost to the 2018 roster. Rivers in particular should be a big piece in aiding a weak front four, and Garcia could earn the backup tackle role with both Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle free agents.

You can bet on if you think the Patriots will keep on winning this season and you can find the most updated NFL betting lines from BetQL.

Several Early Draft Picks

The Patriots became AFC Conference Champions with minimal help from their rookie class. The Patriots traded their first rounder in 2017 for Cooks, and only drafted four players. Of those four, only Deatrich Wise made the opening day roster.

That will not be the case this season. The Patriots will have their own first and second round picks this season, along with a high second rounder acquired from the San Francisco 49ers. While one of those picks will likely be used to draft Brady’s eventual successor, the other two should be ready to contribute immediately. Having two high level rookies should be an instant help for a team that historically does well in the draft. Even if Belichick trades one of those early picks, the longtime coach has a knack for finding stars in the mid to late rounds.

Tom Brady Is Still Here

This is really all that matters. As long as Brady looks like Brady, the Patriots will continue to win. Brady is getting older, but there’s no reason to think he’ll be dropping off anytime soon. In his age 40 season, Brady led the league in passing yards en route to winning MVP honors. And while he didn’t win the Super Bowl, he was the only reason it wasn’t a blowout. Brady threw for 505 yards and three touchdowns, setting several passing records along the way.

This team will still be good even assuming the worst case scenarios. If Gronkowski does retire and the 2018 draft is a bust – both of which are unlikely events – the Patriots should still win the AFC East pretty handily. Brady’s done far more with less than whatever the 2018 iteration of the team will be, and he will continue to do so.

The Patriots may be down, but they don’t stay out. They’re the best run organization in sports, led by the best quarterback in history and one of the best coaches. They won’t lose focus, and next year at this time they’ll be in the thick of yet another title chase.

 

Cover image courtesy of NJ.com

Red Sox vs Yankees: How They Match Up

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So as you probably know by now, Giancarlo Stanton is on the New York Yankees, the team that was one game short of the World Series last year. A team that already had a great lineup and is now even better. So what does that mean for the Red Sox in 2018?

Lineup

Let’s start with the lineup. Yankees have the edge here. But here’s the thing: although Boston did win 93 games last year, the offense still lacked some firepower. Lots of guys had down years and others were injured. Mitch Moreland was still effective last year even with his toe injury. He was still able to hit 22 homers and drive in about 80. Pedroia had a good but injury plagued year. He’s another hitter that if he can stay healthy, not only will he hit well but he will play well defensively at second, just like Moreland will at first.

After having a runner-up MVP season in 2016, Mookie had a setback and had a lower average, less power. He’s due for a better 2018 hitting-wise. JBJ also had a down year after a breakthrough year in 2016. The problem with Bradley is he is a very streaky hitter, so I think Tim Hyers, the new hitting coach will be able to work with him on that.

Xander Bogaerts is another guy who I expect to have a solid 2018. The problem with him is he always has an All-Star first half, and a hard to watch kind of second half. So him not falling off after the All-Star break is something he and Tim Hyers can work on. Of course you have Benintendi over there in left, which is a good bat to have.

You also can’t forget the new guy Rafael Devers aka Raffy Big Stick word to Jared Carrabis of Barstool Sports. I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but that dude can sort of hit. Not even 21 and already hitting opposite field bombs off of 105 mph fastballs from Aroldis Chapman to tie the game in the top of the ninth at Yankee Stadium. Expect more from him as well even though he’s not even near his prime yet.

Bullpen

So overall as far as offense goes right now, New York has the edge, but that’s not to say this Red Sox team won’t be able to be productive. Now here comes the pitching. Bullpen wise, Yankees have the better one. Rotation wise, the Red Sox do. Boston has the best reliever in the game to along with a healthy Smith and Tyler Thornburg. You also can’t forget Joe Kelly. There are also some names you don’t hear about much who can be big parts of this bullpen such as Austin Maddox and Brandon Workman.

It’s not that this pen isn’t talented, it’s just the Yankees have a little more talent there right now with guys like Chapman, Betances, David Robertson just to name a few. But this Sox pen can definitely be something special as Cora has already started to talk about how he won’t use Kimbrel strictly as a closer, which I like.

The rotation goes to the Sox because well, you know we have this guy named Chris Sale. You also can’t forget about Drew Pomeranz and what he did. It’s easy to say he’ll regress but I can definitely see that being what Pomeranz really is. If Erod can stay healthy which is always the big question with him, he can be real effective. Rick Porcello obviously will have some work to do. He doesn’t need to be the Cy Young winner we saw two years ago, all Porcello has to be is a mid 3 ERA guy.

Then comes David Price, who I am pretty confident he can turn back into the old one we all know and love. He showed flashes of what he can be in the reliever role he was in the postseason last year. So if he can put that success back into the starter role, we’ll be in good shape.

 

So overall the Yankees have the better roster on paper. But this offense and bullpen definitely has the potential to compete. They can be just as great as the Yankees’ if not better.

Draft Profile: M.J. Stewart, CB at North Carolina

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This year’s Draft Class is brimming with talent. Just about every position has a few players that have been in the limelight since the end of the 2017-2018 college football season. Lately, as mock draft season has come into fruition undervalued players are on the rise. Senior North Carolina cornerback M.J. Stewart recently became a name to consider two months before draft day.

Analysts have begun to look into Stewart’s draft stock after he appeared in the first round of Todd McShay’s most recent Mock Draft for ESPN. McShay listed the Patriots as a possible team to select the 6’0″ and 205 pound cornerback with the 31st pick in April. This came after Stewart’s exceptional play during the Senior Bowl in late January.

“Given his Super Bowl controversy, it certainly appears New England will part ways with Malcolm Butler. Spending an early pick on a CB makes sense, especially with Stephon Gilmore on the other side. Stewart is underrated and an experienced player, with adequate height (5-10) and very good top-end speed. He’ll also support the run” writes McShay.

Stewart’s Stats

Before the Senior Bowl M.J. Stewart ranked 31st in cornerbacks in the 2018 Draft Class by Walter Football.com. He was ranked low due to failing to intercept any passes in his senior season. In Stewart’s four year stint at North Carolina he racked up 199 tackles, three sacks, three fumbles, six interceptions, and 44 passes defended. He did not pick passes off frequently but he did well with defending them. In his senior season alone Stewart recorded 12 pass breakups, 45 tackles (five for a loss), and two sacks. He finished the 2017-2018 season as the top ranked player at UNC, as well as earning All-ACC First Team reps.

Playstyle

The highlight of M.J. Stewart’s play is his press coverage. Stewart locks down receivers from the line of scrimmage to ten yards behind him. Stewart keeps pace with every assignment. He might not have the height, but he can use his strength and speed to muscle his way ahead of a receiver to make a play. Even when it seems like he is beaten on a play Stewart uses his quick hands to pull passes out of the receiver’s hands for an incompletion. Upon watching his highlights, I think it’s insane that Stewart hasn’t been more highly touted. His stats might not jump out at analysts and scouts, but he does not fail at single coverage whatsoever.

Player Comparison

If I were to compare M.J. to two star cornerbacks in the NFL they’d be Richard Sherman and Josh Norman. Like Sherman, he thrives at taking receivers out of plays right out of the gate. In press coverage they both do an exceptional job at keeping receivers at the line of scrimmage, and they both punish quarterbacks if they force a pass toward them. They both ballhawk in deep routes as well. Stewart also can hit like Josh Norman. In the event that he lets up a completion he will let the receiver feel his frustration. He is able to bring players down extremely well despite his size and frame.

M.J. might not be too exciting on paper, but his film makes up for it. To me he is a viable option for the Patriots, maybe just not in the first round. Whatever team he lands on he has the potential to make a splash as one of the NFL’s next premier defensive backs.

To the Haters

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In the NFL, fans hate the New England Patriots the most. They constantly win games, and this is why many opposing fans say they resort to cheating. How can a team consistently win games year after year? Well, Bill Belichick has created a system which has allowed for unheard players to step up and thrive. Dear Patriots haters, do you guys really know who you are hating?

Addressing the Eagles “underdog” description going into Super Bowl 52, Patriots linebacker, Kyle Van Noy, said, “We’re underdogs too. If you look across the board, this team is built on underdogs”. Thirty-four percent of their team went undrafted. Overlooked and ignored players fill this Patriot roster. Biggest examples of this are sixth-rounder Tom Brady, who had six quarterbacks picked before him in the 2000 draft and undrafted wide receiver Danny Amendola, who bounced around to three teams before finding a comfortable home in New England. Both of these players proved themselves when the team needed them and has been reliable starters ever since.

The Defensive Hero

Van Noy had his own second chance underdog story. He came into the league a promising prospect coming out of a stellar season at BYU. Expected to be a three-down linebacker, the Lions drafted Van Noy in the second round. However, a hernia sidelined him for half his rookie season, and he wasn’t the same after that. Considered a liability on the field, the Lions traded for a late-round draft pick to the Patriots.

In New England, he’s become one of the most versatile players on the team. The difference is the coaching according to Van Noy, who felt that it was what held him back in Detroit. After Rob Ninkovich had retired and Dont’a Hightower went down with a pectoral injury, Van Noy flourished as his role grew. He finished the 2017 regular season campaign with 73 tackles and 5 ½ sacks in just 12 games. It seems that Matt Patricia had rekindled the BYU college star by giving him a chance to succeed when the team that drafted him wouldn’t.

Kyle Van Noy AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers v New England Patriots

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Breakout Star

Another story is that of Dion Lewis. The Philadephia Eagles drafted Lewis in the fifth round in 2011 where he was buried on the depth chart. When asked about what he remembers in his time in Philadelphia, he said, “Not playing”. The Eagles traded him to Cleveland where he missed the 2013 season with a fractured fibula and eventually cut.

The Patriots signed him in 2015 where he was stellar in the first seven games before tearing his ACL. “We had a feeling there was something there and we let it play out”, Patriots running back coach Ivan Fears said. Fears had compared him to Kevin Faulk, another undersized running back who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. Lewis is arguably the most dynamic player on the Patriots offense right now. Watching Lewis play, one can see him always pushing himself and fighting for every inch. With injuries to other running backs, the organization relied on Lewis to be the workhorse for the second half of the season. He used his increased touches to total career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns. A running back who hadn’t played in two years ran with an opportunity given by the Patriots all the way to his second Super Bowl.

Dion Lewis

Photo Credit: Getty Images

A Final Message

Thus, Patriots haters, it is understandable that you guys don’t like a team whose won all these games. However, the underdog trait truly defines these players. The coaching staff preaches hard work and expect greatness. The leadership of the organization gives players a sense of success, pride, and family. It doesn’t matter what round they were drafted or how they did in college, but the amount of work they put in to excel their game on and off. Haters, you are really hating the athletes that people belittled and put down. The athletes who got back up, stronger than ever, and found a home where they can strive. The athletes with the best work ethic that fights to get what they want. In New England, these athletes live by a simple mantra …”Do Your Job”.

Dustin Pedroia Should Not Play Opening Day

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Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia had to undergo offseason surgery for a lingering knee injury that limited his production in 2017. Initially, this injury was expected to keep him out for roughly seven months, putting him back in the lineup by late May or early June. However, Pedroia has recently been cleared to start running, and seems to eyeing an Opening Day return. For the sake of the Red Sox, they better hope this doesn’t happen.

Dustin Pedroia Should Not Play Opening Day

The Red Sox will need their longest tenured player, just not in April

Image credit: Boston Herald

Pedroia’s career has been marred by injury for the last few seasons. He’s still one of the best all-around second basemen in baseball when healthy, and his glove is as good as it’s ever been. The problem is keeping him healthy. Since the 2014 season, Pedroia has played in 135, 93, 154, and 105 games out of the possible 162 games. This doesn’t include 2013, when he played 160 games through a painful wrist injury and clearly wasn’t himself.

Pedroia is the best second baseman on the roster by a large margin. Having him available for as many games as possible is crucial to the success of the Red Sox. That’s why it’s important for Pedroia to be smart with his recovery. The longtime Red Sox absolutely loves baseball, and tries to get on the field as quickly as possible. This has led to some problems in the past, such as in 2015.

Old Injury Concerns

Pedroia started 2015 on a tear. After playing through a wrist injury for the better part of two seasons, Pedroia started playing like his old self. In the season opener against Philadelphia, he hit two homers, and it looked like the Pedey of 2008 was back. However, his season hit a road block on June 24th.

Pedroia suffered a hamstring injury and missed the next sixteen games. The 2015 Red Sox weren’t good, but they still had a chance to pull out a winning season by mid-July. Pedroia tried to rush himself back into the lineup even though he wasn’t close to 100%. He ended aggravating the injury, making only six appearances before going back on the disabled list for the next 42 games. Pedroia wouldn’t return until early September, when the season had long since been a lost cause.

Playing When It Matters Most

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The Red Sox will need plays like this near the playoff push

Image credit – CBS Sports

This could be a case of history repeating itself. Pedroia is clearly trying to get back into the lineup as quickly as possible, but it’s on him and the team trainers to do it smartly. It’s much more important to have a 100% healthy Pedroia in September and October than it is to have a 60% Pedroia in April.

This Red Sox team has a lot going for it. They have an enviable starting rotation led by one of the games best pitchers in Chris Sale. They have an incredibly talented young core of players, led by likely MVP candidate Mookie Betts. Barring catastrophe, this team will be playing meaningful games in September and October, and they need to have their longtime second baseman around when that happens.

 

Cover image courtesy of WEEI.

Scott Boras Denies Reports That JD Martinez Is “Fed up”

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The Martinez Enigma

This whole JD Martinez situation all offseason has been annoying. It’s been weird, maddening, and downright boring. It’s been a lot of things. And another story has been added onto this seemingly never ending run for the power bat the Red Sox are looking for.

Ken Rosenthal wrote a column that JD Martinez is telling people in Miami that he is willing to hold out until he gets the price he wants, which was first reported by FanRag Sports’s Jon Heyman. He is also telling people that he is “fed up with the Red Sox inflexibility and would rather sign with another club”.

Scott Boras then came out and said those reports are false and that Martinez is “pleased” with the process. He also said that he has other offers and they are still negotiating. I’m going with Rosenthal on this one. He doesn’t just come up with random BS to get people to read his articles. JD probably told some folks he’s upset about whats going on and word got out to Rosenthal.

Apparently the only other offer JD Martinez also has is a one year offer from Arizona. But apparently he’s upset with Boston? This makes no sense. I also find it ridiculous that he and Boras are willing to hold out as long as possible to get the deal they want. Let me tell you something: the Red Sox have given you more than enough. I don’t know why Boras told this guy he will be getting $210 million for seven years at the beginning of the offseason. He’s clearly not worth that. Is he great? Absolutely. But not worth north of $200 million.

Don’t forget the fact that the Red Sox have literally given you the best offer out of anyone. Why are you mad at them? Why aren’t you mad at Arizona who is offering 1 year?! or any of the other 28 teams who aren’t even thinking of you. Why aren’t you “fed up” with them?

Money on His Mind

Now whether Rosenthal or Boras is right, there’s no denying the whole process has been ridiculous. The fact that he still hasn’t signed yet is the dumbest thing ever. I don’t know if it’s because Scott Boras and all your buddies were saying what they think you deserve and you think five years and $125 million is some petty offer or what. But you need to get it together. For some reason people got you thinking you’re Mickey Mantle or Barry Bonds. You’re great, but not a legend. At least not yet.

JD is just acting like a spoiled brat in all of this thinking he deserves one thing when he really deserves something else, and Boras is helping him think that way. You also can’t forget the dude is turning 31 this year. We’ve been down this road before. Overpaying someone over 30 is never ideal. Never seems to work out especially at the end.

I’m sure this whole same situation is going on with Eric Hosmer as well, another name you would think has signed by now but has not. Why? Because teams aren’t stupid and don’t want to overpay players.

Boston is Watching

I’ll say this: I really hope if we get JD Martinez. It’s not like we are dragging him here and the only reason he is here is because of the check. He better want to play here. Because just like the pressure Stanton is going to have from going to NYY from Miami, JD will have to face that playing in Boston. And it is not easy. The fans don’t let you get away with things in cities like this. If you come here, please want to be here, because if not, please don’t. Sign that one year Arizona deal for all I care. Dombrowski can figure something else out. I just don’t want the Red Sox and JD Martinez to already be on bad terms before he even plays a single game with this team.

So whether this whole situation is because of Boras, JD, or both, it needs to end soon. And if you sign with Boston, sign with them wanting to win with them and wanting to be here. If you can’t do that, we’ll find someone who does.

Hey Boston Sports Fans, It’s Time to Wake Up

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Since the Patriots’ devastating loss in Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Boston has been in a state of what I like to call “sports grief”. Numerous fans tune out all media and sports radio in order to avoid the heartbreaking reality. However, do not fret Boston- hope for another championship lives on. Allow me to introduce you to the Boston Bruins who are currently playing like the best team in the NHL.

What You Have Missed

It has probably been a bit of time since you last gave the Bruins your full attention. While the Patriots were dominating the sports news cycle, the Bruins have been quietly making a name for themselves. The Bruins are currently trailing the division-leading Lightning by one point with one game in hand. Their 74 points has them placed second in the entire NHL (33-11-8) and they have shown no signs of slowing up. Last night’s 6-1 dismantling of the New York Rangers marked the Bruins 18th win in their past 23 games.

On the second night of a back to back in two cities the Bruins played a complete game against a lackluster Rangers team. Boston is 27-4-4 in its last 35 contests. After back to back road wins the Bruins are a remarkable 10-0-2 in their last twelve road games. They have secured a ridiculous 22 out of 24 points away from the Garden and last lost on the road in early December.

How the Bruins Have Done It

How are the Bruins dominating the sport of hockey you may ask? That is the great part; it’s been a team effort. Defensively the Bruins are a well oiled machine. They allow only 2.31 goals per game, which leads the entire National Hockey League. This outstanding defense has the Bruins second in the NHL in goal differential with a +48.

They are led by Vezina candidate Tuukka Rask, who has been the best goaltender in the NHL for the past two months. Rask has not lost a game in regulation since November 26th and is riding a personal 21 game point streak (19-0-2). Rask is tied for sixth in the NHL in save percentage (.925%) with none other than Anton Khudobin. The Finland native is currently third in the NHL in GAA and tied for sixth in wins with 22. After being benched earlier in the season, Tuukka has responded with a bang leading the Bruins to the top of the NHL standings.

Leadership

Offensively the Bruins have been absolute juggernauts. The Bruins rank fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.27) and third in the Eastern Conference. Led by the Hart Trophy candidate Patrice Bergeron, who already has 24 goals on the season, and should be on pace to surpass his career high 32 goals. Nothing seems to slow this team down, whether it’s injuries, breaks, or suspensions. Whatever it is the Bruins just steam roll through it. Not many teams could lose their best offensive player to a five game suspension and go 4-1 in that stretch. Somehow someway the Bruins always come out on top and get the job done. They are playing like a true team mainly because of one of the best lead by example players in all of sports in Bergeron.

Relentless Nature

Maybe the stat of the year is the Bruins are 13-10-4 when allowing the opponent to score first. Including winning their past two contest against Detroit and New York where they trailed 1-0 in both games. It gets even crazier when being outshot by the opponent the Bruins are 12-3-4. In one goal games the Bruins have an insane .900 winning percentage (9-1-0). Even though the Bruins have a habit of getting of to slow starts they are still outscoring their opponents 48-39 in the first period. As the game goes on the B’s only get better. In the second and third periods the Bruins are outscoring their opponents 122-77, a plus 44 goal differential. Closing has not been a problem for the young players either. The Bruins have not lost in regulation when they lead after the second period (26-0-2).

The way this team has played the past few months it’s not unrealistic to expect them to win at least two rounds. Mainly because as of right now this team has no weaknesses. Wake up Boston sports fans, because the Boston Bruins are demanding your attention.

Red Sox Should Stay Away from J.D Martinez

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Now that the Patriots’ season is over (long sigh), fans will quickly turn their attention to the other Boston teams. The Red Sox won 93 games last year, but they were knocked out in the divisional round. So far they have not done anything noteworthy this offseason to improve the team. One option is former Tigers and Diamondbacks slugger JD Martinez. Last year, Martinez had a career year with 45 home runs, 104 RBI, and he is a free agent. One of the teams with interest is the Red Sox. The Red Sox SHOULD NOT sign Martinez for three reasons:

Money and Production

According to Jerry Carasnick, Martinez’ agent, Scott Boras is looking for $200 million. The Red Sox have already wasted money on players such as Pablo Sandavol, who was cut last year. Rusney Castillo has been a bust since he came over from Cuba. Hanley Ramirez who has been okay, but not living up to his contract. They have a big payroll, but bad decisions cannot be made if they want to contend. You cannot win with players not living up to their potential. Also, they are reportedly unwilling to go over the luxury tax. Martinez is 30 years old so his production will go down by year, and he struggles with injuries. Martinez was the second best hitter in Detroit behind Miguel Cabrera and in Arizona behind Paul Goldschmidt. The Red Sox did not replace David Ortiz’ power, leadership, and ratings/marketing, and Martinez is not the guy.

Might Not Be the Year of the Red Sox

The Red Sox should wait another year. They already missed out on Giancarlo Stanton, who was regarded as the top need for the Red Sox. The list of free agents in 2019 include Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Charlie Blackmon, and Josh Donaldson. These players will cost more than Martinez, but they are more talented and younger players worth waiting for. Many fans in Boston are spoiled and have a win-now mentality because of all the winning this century, but the Red Sox are better off waiting considering it is going to be hard to beat the Yankees this year anyway.

Is He That Good?

Do they really need Martinez? JD Martinez is a great player, but he is not good enough to make them better than the Yankees, Astros, or Indians. Is spending all that money really worth it, considering 2018 might not be Boston’s year anyway? If David Price opts out and the Red Sox can find a way to clear some more money, then the Red Sox can sign big free agents next offseason. Young stars such as Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr., will not be due for a big payday yet.

If the Red Sox can get their offense from 2016 back, and the pitching staff is as good as it was last year then they will be legitimate contenders. Not having Martinez should not be a problem because they led the league in runs in 2016, and the pitching staff ranked fourth in 2017. Their roster has not changed that much since 2016, and the Red Sox could win the world series if new manager Alex Cora puts all the pieces into the puzzle the right way.

 

Cover image courtesy of MassLive.com

Patrice Bergeron- Fire on Ice

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After losing in a recent game against Anaheim, the Bruins were looking to bounce back. In their next game, they had their chance for redemption when they faced the St Louis Blues. The Bruins are getting into the latter part of the season where every point is crucial. Boston scored three goals-all coming from key veteran players: David Krejci, David Backes, and Patrice Bergeron. In this article, we take a look at one of the league’s most humble player.

THE ART OF THE DRAW

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If you want to win a faceoff, you put Patrice Bergeron on the ice. The Boston Bruins centerman led the NHL in faceoff wins with 1,015 in the 2013-14 season, and he’s widely considered one of the best in the league. The finest two-way players in the NHL, Patrice Bergeron is not only methodical in his gameplay, he’s a consummate player. With a team-first attitude, the quiet forward makes a lot of noise on the ice. So much so that Bergeron earned NHL’s Second Star for January. Currently, Bergeron boasts a 57% faceoff win and has 11 goals in his last 14 games played. He also is now first on the Bruins’ roster in goals.

As being part of NHL’s most formidable line, Bergeron just keeps piling up numbers, even without his sidekick, Brad Marchand. With Marchand serving a five-game suspension, Patrice kept the first line productive with himself, David Pastrnak and Danton Heinen. Being with a responsible player like Bergeron has served them well, as both Pastrnak and Heinen scored critical goals. The B’s posted a 4-1 record without Marchand, showing once again how cohesive the black and gold have been. And if you’re wondering just how respected Bergeron is around the league, there’s serious talk about nominating the four-time Selke Winner as the league’s MVP. Not only does he have the backing of the Bruins organization, he has a fan in Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill:

“Bergeron, for me, has probably been the best player in the league for the season up to now…There are others like (Tampa Bay’s Nikita) Kucherov that you could make arguments for, but I think he has had as big an impact on winning as anyone in the league.”

Not only is the future Captain an all-around player, he’s one tough player. And playing against an ill Bergeron doesn’t exactly bode well for any opponent. Ask the Carolina Hurricanes, who had the misfortune of playing against Bergeron; he netted 4 goals in a recent game- an impressive feat considering he wasn’t feeling too well. Back in 2013 during a Stanley Cup playoff run, Bergy played with a separated shoulder, a hole in his lung, and a fractured rib. Most athletes wouldn’t dare play through those type of injuries, yet for someone like Bergy, there’s no questioning his dedication to the sport.

FUTURE CAPTAIN

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For every young Bruins player on this years roster, they have found themselves in a somewhat enviable position. Not only do they look to Captain Zdeno Chara’s wisdom from his many years of playing 1400 games to be exact-but they also have Bergeron to look to. Sadly, there will come a time when Chara will hang up his skates, leaving a lasting legacy in Boston. For Patrice Bergeron, becoming the Bruins new Captain would be the natural step, as Chara passes the torch to his successor. For the organization and fans, there could not a better leader than Patrice- tough, smart and classy.

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter: @pastagrl88

Will the Celtics Make a Move Before the Trade Deadline?

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The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching. Teams have until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday to make any player transactions, before locking their rosters in for the remainder of the season. For some teams, like the Warriors and Rockets, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Meanwhile, less fortunate teams, like the Cavaliers, are scrambling to save their season by attempting to bring in fresh faces. Adversely, few teams, like the Clippers and Grizzlies, are planning ahead by moving pieces for future assets. They know their season is dead, and instead of trying to acquire All-Star talent, they are the ones dealing it.

Where are the Celtics in all of this uproar? Sitting at the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the C’s are virtually carefree. Well, for the most part. Thus far, they’ve had what it takes to assert dominance over some of the league’s best squads. The talent of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and more, have rocketed the Celtics to a commanding record. That being said, there are a few loose ends that could be addressed this week before the trade deadline.

Offensive Rebounding

The Celtics have done a much better job with crashing the board, compared to recent years. From two seasons ago to last season, Boston’s offensive rebounding ranking dropped from fourth to twenty-second. GM Danny Ainge attempted to address this problem by bringing in center Aaron Baynes from Detroit, to add center depth. After Gordon Hayward’s injury on opening night, Brad Stevens moved Al Horford to the four, and moved Baynes off the bench into the five slot.

Baynes’s job is to crash the boards, while the other four guys do their thing on offense. However, his abysmal rebounding numbers have only hurt the team. Baynes averages 1.4 offensive boards a game, and 3.8 on defense. Those shouldn’t be starting center numbers. With the lack of rebounding on offense, Boston has only advanced to the twenty-first spot in the league rankings this season.

Enter Greg Monroe. After playing twenty games with the Phoenix Suns, his contract was bought out. About a day later, he found himself signing a contract with the Celtics. In his seven season career, Monroe averages 2.9 offensive rebounds a game, and 5.8 defensively. Monroe isn’t washed up, he just needs a team where he can be under the rim on both ends of the court. He will fit nicely in the role Brad Stevens sets up for him.

Will signing Greg Monroe cause some competition with Baynes for minutes? Yes. Will Aaron Baynes be subject to trade sometime before the deadline? Probably not, but he could be a valuable asset in a multi-man trade.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images.

Secondary/Bench Scorer

Kyrie Irving is Boston’s true primary scorer. He wanted his own team to lead, and the Celtics have embraced that in every fashion. But after Kyrie, who is the Celtics’ second best shooting option? Jaylen Brown has been in a sophomore slump, and Jayson Tatum is still learning the ropes of the NBA. Gordon Hayward was supposed to be Kyrie’s running mate for scoring options, but without him there is a little confusion as to who’s in that role now. Brad Steven has done a masterful job of getting production out of every player.

However, some nights have resulted in losses because Kyrie wasn’t able to get a hot hand. That should not be the case. Someone needs to step up. There have been flashes of brilliance from different players on different nights. One night the bench could be hot, and other nights they could be quiet on offense. Terry Rozier is the latest to get hot in the past few games.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Boston to add some depth at guard to have more consistent scorers. Rumors have linked the Celtics to the Grizzlies’ Tyreke Evans, and the Clippers’ Lou Williams. Williams, a valuable sixth man, hasn’t really found a role for the Clippers, who are trying to clean house. Both teams want to make moves before the trade deadline.

According to the Boston Globe, the C’s have recently become less interested in Williams as a trade option. This leaves the opportunity to trade for Tyreke Evans up in the air. The Grizzlies have made it clear that Evans will be traded, after last week when the front office decided to take him out of games until the deadline. Evans has averaged a career high 19.5 points in Memphis, and 31.1 minutes per game. He can make a difference on Boston’s bench, and can be inserted into the starting lineup more often than not.

The only question for Boston is if the asking price is right for them. Boston has announced that they are willing to trade Marcus Smart for a first round pick before the trade deadline. Danny Ainge has been quiet lately, but as the deadline comes down to the final hour the Celtics might pull the trigger. There are reports that the Celtics might just mull over the buyout pool after the trade deadline anyway.

Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images.

Three Team Trade

I’m not a NBA GM, nor will I probably ever be. If the Celtics want to move Smart and acquire someone like Tyreke Evans, they certainly have options. The Nuggets are reportedly interested in Marcus Smart, so a three team trade might be in place. Boston could exchange Smart to Denver for a first round pick and flip it to Memphis for Tyreke Evans. It seems unlikely, but it doesn’t seem too unrealistic. Regardless of what happens the Celtics will still be a deep playoff contender.

 

Featured image courtesy of clutchpoints.com