Sports Time Radio

Maybe it was the change of teams o the fact tat he doesn’t have the pressure of pitching for a New York team, but Mat Harvey’s first start for the Cincinnati Reds has to be considered a success.

Harvey threw 55 pitches in the 4 innings he worked. While it was a short outing remember that Harvey hasn’t made a start since April 19th; so he’ll have to build up his arm strength and stamina again. In his 4 innings of work Harvey gave up 1 hit that shouldn’t of even been a hit. Scott Schebler lost a fly ball in the lights that turned into a triple for Cody Bellinger. Harvey also struck out 2 in his start.

This was the first start for Harvey that he didn’t give up a run in since his first start of the season. In the four relief appearances Harvey made for the Mets he only had one outing where he didn’t give up a run.

The Mets wanted to send Harvey to Triple-A to try to work out his issues, but he refused the assignment. The Mets ended up designating Harvey for assignment which gave them 10 days to trade or release him. On May 8th the Mets where able to agree to a deal with the Reds that sent Harvey to Cincinnati for catcher Devin Mesoraco and cash.

While Harvey was making his first start for Cincinnati last night Mesoraco was getting his first hit in a Mets uniform. Mesoraco hit a solo home run in the top of the 9th inning as the Mets picked up a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

As for Harvey and the Reds. They went on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 last night.

On Wednesday Dwane Casey was named NBA Coach of the Year as voted by the other coaches in the league. On Friday Casey was out of a job as he was fired by the Toronto Raptors after seven seasons as their head coach.

Casey is the most successful coach in Raptors history. He has a career record of 320-238 and Toronto just posted it’s best regular season record in team history at 59-23, but after consecutive seasons of being swept out of the playoffs in the 2nd round by the Cleveland Cavaliers the Raptors decided to make a change.

Casey had one year left on his contract with the Raptors at $6.5 million dollars.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if Casey is hired very quickly by one of the teams still looking for a head coach. The Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic are still looking for a new head coach.

The Bucks are in a similar situation that the Raptors where in when Casey took over that team. Could that be the landing spot for Casey? Milwaukee is the only team out of the four still looking for a had coach that was in the playoffs this season.

As for the Raptors. Reports have come out that former Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer is the first candidate they’d like to interview for their current vacancy. Since the Raptors are a little late in looking for a head coach Budenholzer has already interviewed with the Bucks.

A coupe of other names that have came up as people the Raptors would like to interview are Nick Nurse who has been an assistant with the Raptors since 2013. Former NBA player and current coach of the Raptors G-League team Jerry Stackhouse is another name that’s come up as someone Toronto wants to interview.

While neither Nurse or Stackhouse have NBA head coaching experience Budenholzer spent 5 seasons as Atlanta’s head coach. Budenholzer led the Hawks to the playoffs his first four seasons with the team before Atlanta decided to rebuild last season.

No matter who the Raptors decide to hire they’ll be coming into a team that is coming off it’s best regular season in team history, but have only reached the Eastern Conference finals one time.

While we’re in the Eastern Conference the finals will get started tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. as the Boston Celtics will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of their series.

The Cavaliers haven’t played since Monday when they eliminated the Raptors; so they’ll be coming into Game 1 with 5 days off.

The Celtics wrapped their 2nd round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday; so they haven’t had quite as much time off as Cleveland as they’ll be coming into Game 1 with 2 days off.

As for the Western Conference finals; well they have to wait until Monday night to tip off their series. The Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors both wrapped up their 2nd round series on Tuesday; so they’ll both come into Game 1 with 4 days off.

The playoff scheduling for the NBA has always seemed odd to me. While the Rockets and the Warriors will get one day off between Game 1 and Game 2 the Cavaliers and the Celtics will get 2 days off in between Game 1 and Game 2. Then everybody gets 2 days off before they play Game 3. No wonder why the NBA season doesn’t end until June.

Most of the people believe that even though it’s just the Western Conference finals match u that the winner of the Rockets/Warriors series will be the NBA champion. I’ve even heard this series being called the “actual” NBA finals. Are you on board with this theory? Or do you think which ever Eastern Conference team gets into the NBA finals they have a chance to win a title?

Even though they lost their 2nd round playoff series to the Celtics 76ers guard T.J. McConnell showed his worth to the team. Yesterday the 76ers announced that they will be picking up the option on McConnell’s contract for next season. McConnell’s option is for $1,600,520 making him a steal in today’s NBA.

McConnell is 26 years old and just finished up his 3rd season with the 76ers. Last season  in 76 regular season games this season, he averaged 6.3 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, and 3.0 rebounds per game.

McConnell’s salary for 2018/19 season remains non-guaranteed even after his option is exercised. That shouldn’t be an issue since Philadelphia won’t be waiving him.

You can listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast live on BlogTalkRadio.com, but don’t forget that the podcast is available for you to listen to any time you want at TuneIn.com.

Don’t forget to look for me on Twitter @Burketime

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?

You can listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast live on BlogTalkRadio.com, but don’t forget that the podcast is available for you to listen to any time you want at TuneIn.com

On Friday’s in have a routine that I more or less follow after I get off work and here’s what I do.

I get done working at 8:15 a.m. and I head to the grocery store to do my shopping. I shop at two different stores for my items to save myself some money.

The first store I go to is the place where I buy my fresh items. I get my fruits, my vegetables, my meats and cheeses. This grocery store is already open by the time I’m off work; so I like to get that done and over with. Then I hit a delay.

The second store I shop at is what you could describe as a discount grocery store. I’m sure you’d know the name of this store, but since they don’t sponsor this blog or the Sports Time Radio podcast we’ll leave the name out.

This discount store has all the items you’re use to seeing they just have names that you’re not use to and they’re cheaper price wise. They do have some brand named items, but they don’t carry them on a regular basis. The issue I have is that they don’t open early like most stores and I have to find a way to kill some time in between stores.

To fill the time in between my shopping trips I’ll stop and have breakfast at this little café that I like. Now this is what I did yesterday. I’m sure you’re wondering how this relates to sports since this is a sports blog; well here goes.

Since I’ve been to this café multiple times they sit me at the same table and I have the same waitress. As I took my seat I noticed that there was an older gentleman sitting in the booth across from me. He finished his breakfast a little before I did and as he got up to leave he noticed the t-shirt I was wearing.

I just happened to have on my Hunter Pence t-shirt which is styled like a San Francisco Giants jersey. Since it just says Giants on the front this gentleman asked me if it was a San Francisco jersey. When I told him that it was he started to tell me about the greatest baseball player he had ever seen play Willie Mays.

Now this gentleman was probably 10 or 15 years older than I am and he was talking to me about how he saw Mays play live. We went on to discuss different aspects of his game. We talked about this for about 15 minutes.

After talking about Mays the player this gentleman went on to tell me the story about the two times he met Mays. He said that he was surprised to learn that Mays was just as nice in person as he sounded in his interviews. I could see the admiration in this gentleman’s eyes as he talked about meeting Mays for about 10 minutes.

Now I have a lot of sports t-shirts, most of them bought for me by Dan the Man, but that’s a different story. This however was the first time that anyone has ever stopped to talk to me about one of them and then shared their own sports stories with me.

Does this happen a lot? Or has this ever happened to you? I really enjoyed talking baseball with this gentleman and I’d be interested to know if you have a story similar to this. If you do feel free to leave it in the comments section.

In Wednesday’s blog I mentioned that the NHL playoffs where getting ready to start. Well today it’s the NBA’s turn to get their playoffs underway. There are four games today and four games tomorrow to tip-off the opening round.

At 2:00 p.m. my time the NBA playoffs start with a Western Conference match up as the San Antonio Spurs are at the Golden State Warriors. We Move into the Eastern Conference for the next two games starting with the Washington Wizards at the Toronto Raptors. The third game of the day has the Miami Heat at the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s back to the Western Conference for the final game of the day has the New Orleans Pelicans at the Portland Trailblazers.

If you’re looking for these games on television the first game is on ABC while the next three will all be on ESPN.

On Sunday the game start a little earlier with the first game tipping off at Noon. We have back to back Eastern Conference match ups today starting with the Milwaukee Bucks at the Boston Celtics. The second game of the day has the Indiana Pacers at the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then it’s over to the Western Conference for the final two games of the day starting with the Utah Jazz at the Oklahoma City Thunder. The final game one of the opening round has the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Houston Rockets.

As for the television schedule with these games the first one is on TNT. The second game will be shown on ABC, but then the final two games will be back on TNT.

Do you see any upsets in these first round match ups? The opening round of the NBA playoffs usually stay pretty true to form with the higher seeds advancing. Could this season possibly be different since there are teams that will be going into this opening round without their star players.

You have the Warriors playing without Steph Curry. While also in that series the Spurs will play without Kawhi Leonard. The Boston Celtics will be playing without Kyrie Irving and it appears that the 76ers will go into round one without Joel Embiid. While not considered a star player the Thunder will be without Andre Roberson. John Wall has also just returned from injury, but only played in consecutive games once since returning. Will Wall be at full strength for the Wizards?

Do you see any of these injuries having an affect on these first round playoffs series?

You can listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast live on BlogTalkRadio.com, but the podcast is also available for you to listen to any time you want at TuneIn.com.

Don’t forget to look me up on Twitter @Burketime.