Since they run at the same time against each the NBA playoffs and the NHL playoffs will always be compared to each other. While the NBA is more popular and the NHL is regulated to second tier status as a major sport their playoffs especially the 1st round is so much better it’s not even funny. Let’s take a look.
The top teams in the NBA the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are both undefeated in their series. Golden State has had two very easy wins. The Cavaliers are up 3-0 in their series, but it hasn’t been easy. Of course neither of these teams are in danger of being eliminated from the playoffs. In the NHL the top two teams where the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens. Well the Blackhawks where easily swept out of the playoffs by the 8th seeded Nashville Predators and while the Canadiens are up in their series 3-2 they’ve had their hands full with the 8th seeded Toronto Maple Leafs. To be fair the Cavaliers are the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they’re everyone’s pick to get to the NBA finals from that conference. There’s even a #2 seed in trouble in the NHL playoffs. The St. Louis Blues currently have a 3-1 lead in their series against the #2 seeded Minnesota Wild. The only thing close to this in the NBA is the 8th seeded Chicago Bulls having a 2-1 lead in their series against the #1 seeded Boston Celtics.
If you’ve been watching both of these playoffs; what has been more interesting and or exciting to you?
While I made a quick mention of where some of the series are, but here’s here they all currently stand.
In the Eastern Conference the Celtics are down 2-1 to the Bulls. The Cavaliers are up 3-0 on the Indiana Pacers. The Milwaukee Bucks are up 2-1 on the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards are up 2-0 on the Atlanta Hawks. In the Western Conference the Warriors are up 2-0 on the Trailblazers. The San Antonio Spurs are up 2-1 on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Houston Rockets are up 2-1 on the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers are up 2-1 on the Utah Jazz.
Over in the NHL the Capitals are up 3-2 on the Maple Leafs in their Eastern Conference series. The other Eastern Conference series look like this. The New York Rangers are up 3-2 on the Montreal Canadiens. The Pittsburgh Penguins swept the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 to advance to the 2nd round. While the Ottawa Senators are up 3-2 on the Boston Bruins. In the Western Conference you know the Nashville Predators have moved into the 2nd round knocking out the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1st round 4-0. The St. Louis Blues are up on the Minnesota Wild 3-1 in that series. The Anaheim Ducks advance to the 2nd round by sweeping the Calgary Flames 4-0 in their series and the Edmonton Oilers lead the San Jose Sharks 3-2 in that series.
For the first time in his career Madison Bumgarner will be making a trip to the disabled list. Now it’s never a shock to see a pitcher go on the disable list and now with the new 10-day version of the list teams seem to be using it more and more for everyone including pitchers. Oddly though Bumgarner’s injury didn’t happen while he was pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Yesterday the Giants announced that Bumgarner would be heading to the disabled with because he was injured in a dirt biking accident on Thursday the teams off day. It’s being reported that Bumgarner injured his ribs and sprained his left (throwing) shoulder. Bumgarner’s ribs are said to be bruised, but the injury to his shoulder is said to be a Grade 1 or Grade 2 sprain. San Francisco has set no time table for Bumgarner’s return. The only thing the Giants have said is that Bumgarner is out of the hospital and is resting at the teams hotel. The Giants plan to re-evaluate Bumgarner next week, but early reports are saying that the pitcher will be out 6 to 8 weeks. Bumgarner is not expected to speak about his injury until the Giants return home from their current road trip on Monday. Giants manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti both did comment on the situation. Bochy said “He’s a young guy like a lot of us and he thinks he’s invincible. He’s just having fun that day hit a slippery spot and went down. I’m sure looking at it now Madison wishes he wouldn’t have gotten on the bike . He was very remorseful in talking to him. Unfortunately an accident happened.” Righetti went a little different way with his comments saying. “Off days are the freaking worst. We don’t get many and when we do guys want to go do those things that they’re missing out on. Things like this do happen; unfortunately.”
Bumgarner has made four starts this season. He is 0-3 with an E.R.A. of 3.00 over 27 innings this season. He has struck out 28 batters while walking just 4. To fill Bumgarner’s roster spot the Giants called up right-handed pitcher Chris Stratton. Stratton has been pitching for the Sacramento River Cats in Triple-A. Stratton has pitched in 2 games both in relief covering 10 1/3rd innings. Stratton has stuck out 2 while walking 1 and has an E.R.A, of 7.84. Stratton did pitch out of the Giants bullpen in 2016 appearing in 7 games covering 10 innings. Stratton was 1-0 with a 3.60 E.R.A. out of the Giants bullpen last season.
San Francisco hasn’t announced who will fill in for Bumgarner in the starting rotation, but since they called up a reliever you have to think that left-hander Ty Blach may get the first look. Blach made the team out of soring training, but has been working out of the bullpen so far this season, but Blach did make 2 starts for San Francisco last season. Blach was a 2012 5th round draft pick of the Giants. Blach made 98 minor league starts before pitching out of the bullpen at the major league level.
Is Bumgarner’s injury the weirdest one you’ve heard of? Please post in the comments if you have one that’s stranger.
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