Yesterday I was watching some of the previews for Game 1 in the Cleveland Cavaliers/Toronto Raptors series. Of course the main focus of any of these reports is LeBron James. Occasionally there will be a mention of one of his Cavaliers teammates, but anything the Raptors bring to this series was just an after thought.
There seemed to be one common theme to all of these reports and that was James would be tired after having go seven games in Round 1 against the Indiana Pacers. Now I only listened to this for a short period of time as I wasn’t buying what they where trying to sell me.
James is currently the best basketball player in the world. He’s also has access to the best trainers and medical staff there is. Now maybe if James walked from Cleveland after Game 7 to Toronto for Game 1 he would’ve been tired. Not only was there a day off between games I’m sure James and the Cavaliers have people on staff that make sure he’s getting proper rest and that he’s eating properly. All James had to do after Sunday’s 105-101 win over the Pacers was go home. It’s not like he was scheduled to run a triathlon on Monday or fly the plane to Toronto for Monday’s game.
Well a tired Lebron took the floor last night for Game 1 of the Cavaliers 2nd round series. Cleveland’s head coach Ty Lue had said that he’d monitor James minutes. I guess by monitoring he meant watch him play. James was on the court for 47 minutes last night. He posted a triple-double 26 points, 13 assists and 111 rebounds as the Cavaliers won game 1 over the Raptors 113-112 in overtime.
So much for James being tired. Now Game 2 is schedule for Thursday and I hope that whoever is reporting on the game doesn’t try to sell us that James is tired again. If you actually believe that he’s tired I have some swamp land in Florida that I’ll sell you or maybe you’d be interested in a bridge in New York.
While all of the 2nd round series have Game 1 in the books the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans played Game 2 of their series last night.
The Pelicans where able to keep this game closer than Game 1, but they still dropped a 121-116 decision.
Steph Curry made his first playoff appearance of this season. Curry came off the Golden State bench playing 27 minutes and scoring 28 points. The only Warriors player to out score Curry was Kevin Durant who had 29 points.
Curry came off the bench at the 4:20 mark of the 1st quarter and it took him all of 11 seconds to make his first 3-pointer. It was the first game action Curry has seen in six weeks since injury his knee.
Curry made 8 of the 15 shots he took and was 5 for 10 from behind the 3-point line. He made all 7 of his free throw attempts. Curry also grabbed 7 rebounds handed out 2 assists and had 3 steals.
All five of New Orleans starters scored in double figures led by Anthony Davis. Davis had a double-double with a team high 25 point and a game high 15 rebounds. Rajon Rondo also posted a double-double for the Pelicans with 22 points and 12 assists. Jrue Holiday had 24 points, Nikola Mirotic had 18 points and E’Twaun Moore was the final New Orleans starter in double figures with 14 points.
The teams will get that extra day off as Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night with the series moving to New Orleans.
Now the los Angeles Dodgers suffered another big injury to one of their starters. Corey Seager needs Tommy john surgery and will miss the rest of the 2018 season.
Seager was officially placed n the disabled list by the Dodgers yesterday. Seager will be joining quite a few notable names on the Dodgers disabled list.
Seager joins the likes of Justin Turner, who hasn’t played all season due to non-displaced fracture of his left wrist. Yasiel Puig went on the disabled list two days before Seager with a left hip pointer and a left foot contusion. Logan Forsythe is the final position player on the disabled list as he’s sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers also have three pitchers on the disabled list. I’m sure no one is surprised that Rich Hill is one of those three pitchers. Hill is currently out with a crack on the fingernail on his left middle finger. The Dodgers added Tom Koehler to their bullpen this off season hoping he could help fill the role that Brandon Morrow did last season. Koehler hasn’t pithed this season for the Dodgers as he’s been out with anterior capsule strain in his right shoulder. Who knows what role Julio Urias would’ve played for the Dodgers this season. Maybe will find out after the All-Star break as that’s when Urias could possibly return. Urias is recovering from surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his left shoulder.
There are the injurie the Dodgers are dealing with, but let’s focus on Seager and the shortstop position right now.
The Dodgers have some options on their roster to take over at shortstop for Seager. Chris Taylor and Enrique “Kiki” Hernandez have played the position at the major league level. Los Angeles also called up Breyvic Valera to take Seager’s spot on the roster nd while Valera has only played 2nd base in the minors maybe the Dodgers will give him some innings at shortstop while he’s up. It’s also possible that when Forsythe returns from injury he could pick up some innings at shortstop.
Now besides the guys the Dodgers have on their roster there is the possibility they could make a trade for a shortstop. Of course like they love to do the media jumped out and had the Dodgers trading Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles.
Now it’s possible that Machado could end up with the Dodgers via trade, but he could also end up with any other team in baseball via trade.
Even though Machado is in the last year of his contract and it appears as though the chances of him returning to Baltimore next season don’t look good you have to remember that Orioles owner Peter Angelos doesn’t like to trade his star players.
Now the Dodgers do have the farm system to make this deal, but there are some questions. What do you give up for a possible rent-a-player? Is it two prospects, three prospects or just one. Machado will make $16 million dollars this season, How much of his salary would the Dodgers be willing to pick up? Remember that Los Angeles really wanted to stay under that luxury tax line and a salary like Machado’s would push them over that line. Of course on the flip side of that of the Orioles are willing to deal Machado, how much of his salary would they be willing to pay?
While this looks like it’s the best fit for the Dodgers to fill that spot. It’s not going to be as easy as people might think it’s going to be. I’m sure there’s a chance that Machado is the guy the Dodgers bring in to fill Seager’s spot, but they could go a different route.
I’m sure the rebuilding Detroit Tigers would move Jose Iglesias for the right prospect. Iglesias is making $6.275 million dollars this season. Which might make him a cheaper option for Los Angeles. Iglesias will also be a free agent at the end of the season; so there’s no commitment for the Dodgers past 2018.
Maybe another rebuilding team like the Kansas City Royals would be willing to part with their shortstop. Alcides Escobar signed a one year $2.5 million dollar deal to return to the Royals this off season; so he could be the cheapest option of them all.
Will have to watch and see what if any type of move the Dodgers decide to make. Who do you see the Dodgers going after if they decide to make a trade for a shortstop?
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