Archive for the ‘Sports Time Radio’ Category

How Was Your Week?

Posted: July 2, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, hockey, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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NBA free agency kicked of yesterday (July 1st) and to say the least it was Lin-sanity. I meant insanity even though Jeremy Lin was one of the players to verbal agree to a contract. None of these deals can become official until July 7th and you wonder if there will be another DeAndre Jordan moment like last season. In case you forgot what happened with Jordan he agreed verbally to a contract with the Dallas Mavericks, but after a visit from former team the Los Angeles Clippers he changed his mind and ended up resigning with them.

 With the salary cap going up to close to $93 million per team it seems like everyone who got a contract yesterday was overpaid, but it just seems that’s how it’s going to go in the NBA. I believe the minimum salary total a team can have is $83 million; so there are teams scrambling just to make that number. Out of all of the signings yesterday the two biggest names to come off the board may have both ended up with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies resigned their point guard Mike Conley to a 5-year $153 million dollar deal. They also agreed with free agent Chandler Parsons formerly of the Mavericks to a 4-year $94 million dollar deal. 

Looking at those contract numbers what are players like LeBron James or Kevin Durant going to get when they sign with a team. There have also been reports that Dwayne Wade wants a contract worth $20 plus million a season and looking at the contracts that where handed out that shouldn’t be a problem; even if that contract isn’t with the Miami Heat.

 The new television contract the NBA signed with ESPN/TNT has really put more money into the game. The salary cap is due to go up over $100 million next season; so we may go through something just like this again.

 Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck just signed a new contract this week. Luck got a 6-year deal worth $140 million dollars. There where two deals signed yesterday worth more in total than Luck’s and there where  9 players signed to contract who will make more per season than Luck does. Now Luck is in the top tier of quarterbacks in the NFL; I’m not sure if some of the guys who where signed to these huge deals yesterday are in the top tier of their positions in the NBA. I’ll be very interested to see what kind of deal the Cleveland Cavaliers end up giving James and just what kind of money it’s going to take for Durant to sign with a team. I guess if you’re a parent with a young son who hasn’t found a sport he likes basketball might be the way too go.

Speaking of Durant; he has met with 3 of the 6 teams he had planned to meet with. His current or possible former team the Oklahoma City Thunder had the first meeting with him. After that meeting, there where reports that said there was a 90% chance that Durant would resign with Oklahoma City. Then Durant met with the Golden State Warriors. Golden State had there owner Joe Lacob, General Manager Bob Myers, head coach Steve Kerr as well as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala at the meeting with Durant. Golden State’s meeting with Durant ran longer than it was scheduled to and that caused NBA insiders to report that the Warriors where now the front runner to sign Durant. 

Yesterday it was the Los Angeles Clippers turn to meet with Durant  and they made a four hour presentation to him. The Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, Coach Doc Rivers and front-office executives Lawrence Frank and Dave Wohl attended the meeting along with star players Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Point guard Chris Paul could not make it because of a scheduling conflict with his vacation in Spain but had spoken with Durant about his hopes of becoming teammates. Durant is still scheduled to sit down with the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and the Thunder a second time before reaching his decision next week.

There hasn’t been much talk or any meetings involving where LeBron may play next season. It appears as everyone is convinced that he’ll resign with Cleveland. Remember Cleveland can offer James more money than any other team can and that appears to be what James is interested in right now. The only real question coming up regarding James was a tweet he sent out congratulating Matthew Dellavedova on his new contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Was James unaware that Dellavedova was a restricted free agent and that the Cavaliers have a right to match Milwaukee’s offer or was he implying that Cleveland won’t match the offer to Dellavedova. Of course given the fact the James is pretty much the ipso facto general manger of the Cavaliers you’d think Dellavedova will be a former James teammate.

July 1st also meant that NHL teams could begin signing unrestricted free agents and even with Steven Stamkos off the board there where sign quite a few players signing with teams. Stamkos received an 8-year deal worth $8.5 million annually from the Tampa Bay Lighting before he ever reached free agency. Besides Stamkos the Lighting also signed defenseman Victor Hedman to an 8-year $63 million dollar deal. Some of the other bigger free agent goal scores signed yesterday as well. Milan Lucic signed a 7-year $42 million dollar deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Kyle Okposo got the same contract as Lucic did, but from the Buffalo Sabres. Loui Eriksson got a 6-year $36 million dollar deal from the Vancouver Canucks while Frans Nielsen got 6 years and $31.5 million to join the Detroit Red Wings. For us locally in Chicago the Blackhawks did sign defenseman Brian Campbeel for 1-year at $2.25 million dollars, but they saw Andrew Ladd leave for the New York Islanders on a 7-year $38.5 million dollar deal.

There are still plenty of NHL and NBA free agents out there. Did you like the moves your team made? Or where they one of the teams that didn’t make any moves yet?

The Big Jack Follow me on Twitter!

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Blame it on the Rain

Posted: July 1, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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We’re a couple days off from being half way through the season. The Cubs are looking to come back after losing late last night to the Mets.  Jason Hammel is looking for his 8th win of the season and he can, if the bats are flying tonight in Citi Field.  The Cubs hitters are facing Jacob deGrom, who is looking for just his 4th W of the season.

After a rain delay, the game got under way to a quick start for both pitchers deGrom would walk Kris Bryant in the first but strikes out 4 batters in the first 2 innings.  Hammel gets through the first quickly but gives up back to back home runs to James Loney and Asdrubal Cabrera to start the second but gets out of the inning.  As the 3rd inning starts, the rain would start lightly but begin to pour causing another delay over an hour.  Mets 2-0.

Hammel would lead off the 3rd for a quick top half of the inning. He would start the bottom half strongly getting the first 2 outs but gives up a single to Neil Walker then walks Yoenis Cespedes. Two men on for James Loney who sends a screamer to center field for a double scoring 2 more runs.  Mets now up by 4.

With one out in the 4th, Kris Bryant would launch a solo home run to the second deck to finally put the Cubs on the board.  Hammel would strikeout the first batter in the bottom of the fourth but walks Wilmer Flores, them gives up a single to Travis d’Arnaud.  Jacob moves them both up on a sac bunt.  Brandon Nimmo would launch his 1st home run of the season.  Mets up 7-1.

Hammel ends the top of 5th with a line out.  He starts the bottom half with a lead off home run to Cespedes, then a single to Loney who is now 3 for 3.  Asdrubal would bring him in with his 10th home run of the season.  That would be enough for Maddon as he brings in Spencer Patton to get out of the inning.  Mets 10-1.

The top of the 6th starts off great for the Cubs with Albert Almora getting a single then moves to 2cd on Matt Szczur’s single to left.  But with Heyward at the plate, the rain would come down again causing yet another delay.  Hopefully for the Cubs, the game isn’t called.

After the delay, Terry Collins would bring Jerry Blevins in to replace deGrom to get the next 3 batters out.  Trevor Cahill enters the bottom half giving up a single but gets out of the inning quickly.  

Hansel Robles enters the 8th, giving a lead off double to Wilson Contreras who makes it to 3rd on a passed ball.  Addison Russell brings him home on a sac fly for the Cubs.  That’s all the action, Cubs 2, Mets 10.  Cahill stays in for the 7th putting one man on but gets out of the inning.  

Jason Heyward is the only one to reach base in the top of the 8 against Seth Lugo.  Trevor Cahill stays in putting 2 runners on but gets out of the inning.  

Seth Lugo stays in the top of the 9th giving up a single to Baez then hits Russell.  Maddon would leave Cahill in to bat, watching the third strike and Almora would pop out to end the inning and the game.  

Not the best outing for Hammel going only 4 innings giving up 10 runs on 9 hits.  That’s 2 for the Mets with 2 to go.  

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Cleaning up in the Queen’s City

Posted: June 29, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Last night took them into 15 innings and today is the early afternoon start and then it’s off to New York for 4 but not before Kyle Hendricks takes to the mound in hopes of helping the Cubs sweep the Reds and getting his 6th win of the season jumping to a .500 record against 23-year-old rookie Cody Reed searching for his 1st win of the season.

Ben Zobrist would start the game off with reaching on a bunt back to Cody and would make it to 3rd on Kris Bryant’s line drive to center.  With two men on, Anthony Rizzo would send a deep fly ball to left center bouncing off of Adam Duvall’s glove smacking Billy Hamilton in the face, the ball gets away from them allowing Rizzo a 3 run inside the park home run to put the Cubs up.  This play would pull Billy out of the game to be replaced by Brock Holt.

Zo would then lead off the 3rd with another single but this time to center field.  He would score his 2cd run of the game when Wilson Contreras sends a two out double to center for his 1st RBI of the day and then grabs his first run of the day when Javier Baez sends a sharp ball to center.  Cubs up by 5.

Addison Russell would lead off the 4th inning on a 1-0 count and sends a fly ball to left center field for a solo home run to add to the Cubs lead.  Kyle Hendricks grounds out for the first out of the inning but after taking 2 pitches Albert Almora would smack his first home run of the season to right center.  Kris Bryant would get a single but that would be all the scoring for the Cubs that inning.

Hendricks would offer up a quality start making it into the 7th inning with two outs to go.  He would strike out 5, walks 2 and gives up only 2 runs on 8 hits.  Adam Duvall would get the first run for the Reds smacking his 22cd home run of the season to left field.  With one out and Eugenio Suarez on third and Tucker Barnhart on second, Zack Cozart would ground out but Suarez would score.  Cubs 7-2.

The top of the 7th would see the Cubs score thier last two runs of the game.  With one out, Baez would smack his 10th double of the year scoring then on Matt Szczur’s single to center.  Russell would walk and advance to 2cd with Matt to 3rd on a passed ball by Keyvius Sampson who enterd the game in the 5th.  Hendricks would lay down a perfect sac bunt to the 1st base side of the diamond scoring Szczur.  Cubs up 9-2.

As I stated earlier, Kyle went 6 & 2/3 innings.  Justin Grimm finishes the 7th but not before loading the bases with a single and two walks. Carl Edwards, Jr would finish the last two innings giving up 1 walk and striking out 2.  

A sweep for the Cubs!

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

The Gotham City Sweep

Posted: June 29, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs are looking to avoid the regular season sweep in what many are calling the “rematch.”  Jon Lester takes to the mound against Noah Syndergaard.  Lester is looking to get his 10th win of the season.  The game would seem to start off in the Cubs direction in the first inning, starting with Jason Heyward’s double to left and scores on Anthony Rizzo’s line drive to right.  The Mets would tie it up in the bottom half with Curtis Granderson’s 14h home run of the season.

Baez would start the second inning with a single but gets picked off, then David Ross and Jon Lester would strike out to end the inning.  Wilmer Flores would start the bottom half off with a solo home run to Center.  Loney would strike out for the first out.  Matt Reynolds would belt a double to right and score on Rene Rivera’s 3rd home run of the season.  Syndergaard would reach on a walk.  Juan Lagares would double.  With only one out, Curtis Granderson’s would send a line drive to center scoring Noah.  Then Yoenis Cespedes would drive in Lagares with a single to right.  Lester them gives up back to back singles to Neil Walker and Flores driving in two more runs.  This prompts Maddon to pull Lester for his shortest outing of his career 1 & 1/3 innings putting him in position for the loss.  Spencer Patton would enter the game and get out of the second inning.  After 2, it’s Mets 8, Cubs 1.

Patton would make it through the 5th, adding a run in the 4th and 2 more in the 5th to make it 11-1, Mets.  Joel Peralta would take the 6th and the 7th adding 2 more runs in the 7th by hitting Brandon Nimmo who scores on Kelly Johnson’s home run.  Mets 13 to 1.  Maddon would go with one of his interesting moves, I can only assume to preserve the bullpen by bringing in Miguel Montero to pitch the 8th.  He loads the bases but only allows 1 run, giving the Mets 14 runs.

Logsn Verret would enter the game in the top of the 9th giving up a leadoff home run to Wilson Contreras.  This is the start of a 13 run rally as Javier Baez would double with one out.  Matt Szczur would reach on a throwing error but pitcher Montero, would flyout.  Addison Russell would single to load the bases.  Jason Heyward would step into the box with bases loaded and Logan Verret would throw a wild pitch that would score Baez for the 3rd run of the game in the Cubs rally, however Heyward would ground out to end the inning and the game completing the sweep for the Mets.  Hopefully, they can start the 4th of July with a bang in Cincinnati!

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Let’s call it Wednesday 

Posted: June 29, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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It seems as though just a short time ago everyone was sold on the Chicago Cubs where easily the best team in baseball. The Cubs have hot there first real rough patch of the season and that seems to have allowed other teams to come back into the conversation. The Cubs still have the best record in the National League at 50-26, but the San Francisco Giants aren’t too far behind at 49-30. It is an even number year, so that makes San Francisco the World Series favorite, doesn’t it?

The Washington Nationals have the third best record in the NL at 46-32. While one of these teams should be the odds on favorite to make it to the World Series out of the NL they all seem to have a common weakness, the bullpen.

The Cubs bullpen issues showed up last night, but they where able to over come them and win the game in extra innings. Hector Rondon entered the game with a 2-0 lead, but allowed the Cincinnati Reds tie it up blowing his 3rd save chance in his last 4 opportunities. While Rondon has had his issues as of late he does still have an 1.65 ERA for the season. While Rondon has stayed healthy and is the only Cubs reliever to record a save, the Giants have had 5 different pitchers pick up at least 1 save.

Santiago Casilla is San Francisco’s closer, but he’s blown 4 saves this season and has missed some time with injuries. Casilla’s ERA is 3.23 and you have to wonder at age 35 if his time is running out as the Giants closer. The Nationals are in full on juggle the end of the game mode as their closer Jonathan Papelbon is current on the disabled list. Papelbon was 16 out of 18 in save chances before getting injured. While Papelbon has been out Shawn Kelly has 3 saves in 4 chances while Yusmeiro Petit and Felipe Rivero have both picked up 1 save in 2 chances while Papelbon has been out. Papelbon started a rehab assignment on Monday and should be back with the Nationals this weekend as long as things go as planned.

With these teams bullpen’s rough shape, are they looking to make a trade?  Any time you talk bullpen everyone goes to the New York Yankees and expect them to deal Andrew Miller and or Aroldis Chapman. Of course with the Yankees in contention for a wild card spot why would they break up their bullpen. So if any of these three teams are looking to make a trade is there a team out there selling?

Now I have started to hear and read that the Oakland A’s may be ready to start making deals. If you’re looking for bullpen help would Ryan Madson be someone your team should take a look at. Madson has converted 15 of 18 save chances and has an ERA of 3.00 and is 3-2 this season. If you’re not interested in Madson should your team or a team take a chance on Sean Doolittle. Doolittle has pretty much miss the last two seasons with injuries, but this season he has converted 4 of 5 save chances and has a 2-2 record with an ERA of 2.93. Both Madson and Doolittle can close or set up; so there’s some versatility for your bullpen. You could give the rebuilding Atlanta Braves a call, but I don’t think they’re going to trade 25-year-old Arodys Vizcaino as he appears to be the closer of the future. The Braves do have Jason Grilli in their bullpen, but do you want your team going that route?  The Minnesota Twins lost their closer Glenn Perkins for the season with an injury; so there probably out for bullpen help.  Jeanmar Gomez has been a surprise at the back-end of games for the Philadelphia Phillies converting 21 of 23 games with an ERA of 3.00 and has a 2-2 record. It’s the first time Gomez has closed on a regular basis; so it would be tough to see a contender going out to get him. Will one of these teams make an early move or will they stand pat and wait to see if the Yankees or another team with some possible bullpen help fall out of contention?

In the American League, the Texas Rangers have really put everyone on notice with the best record in baseball at 51-27. The Baltimore Orioles are 46-30 and where looking like the next best team in the AL until the Cleveland Indians went on an 11 game winning streak to equal the Orioles at 46-30. I wasn’t sold on the Indians at the start of the season.  I wasn’t sure they would hit enough to support the pitching staff they have.  Cleveland has the 14th best team betting average at .260.  They are tied for 12th in home runs with 96 and tied for 2nd in stolen bases with 62.  Don’t forget that the Indians have done this with their best player Michael Brantley playing just 11 games.  

Now the Orioles seem to be doing it with smoke and mirrors on the mound.  Chris Tillman has been very good for them, 10-1 with an  3.52 ERA in 16 starts. Other than Tillman the rotation is a mess.  Ubaldo Jimenez has an 6.63 ERA with a 5-7 record in 15 starts. Kevin Gausman has a solid 3.93 ERA and just had his first solid outing of the season, but has a 1-5 record in 13 starts.  Tyler Wilson has made 12 starts and is 4-5 with a 4.50 ERA.  Yovanni Gallardo has been injured and has made just 6 starts after being signed as a free agent in the off-season.  It’s amazing that Baltimore’s record is what it is when you look at their starting rotation.  

The Rangers are starting to look like the best all around team, but the question with them, can they stay healthy. The everyday line up has stayed healthy and with the addition of Jurickson Profar, they look good.  Starting pitching is where the injury bug has caught the Rangers.  Nine different pitchers have made starts this season. Currently, starters Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Yu Darvish are on the disabled list.  Lewis isn’t scheduled to start throwing for four weeks, while Darvish is scheduled to throw a simulated game today and Holland is supposed to start playing catch today.  

So it seems as every top team has questions.  Can the Indians hit enough to win?  Do the Orioles have enough starting pitching to win?  Can the Rangers stay healthy enough to win? 

The Big Jack Follow me on Twitter!

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Late Night Cap

Posted: June 29, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs took the previous game and hope to rake game two from the Reds to break thier recent skid.  John Lackey looking to get win number 10 of the season against John Lamb hoping to get his second win. 

Lester gets immediate help with Ben Zobrist starting the game off with his 10th home run of the season.  After that Lamb would keep the Cubs bats quiet adding a couple base runners but no runs until the 5th when Matt Szczur would lead off with a double and helping his cause, Lester drives him in on a single to center.  Cubs up by 2.  

Lester would put together a great performance through 7 innings giving up 1 hit, walking 1 and hitting 1 but with one out in the bottom of the 8th, he give Billy Hamilton his 3rd home run of the year.  Cubs 2, Reds 1.  

Hector Rendon replaced Lester in the bottom of the 8th for 1 out and stays in for the 9th and he starts it off well with an out but hits Brandon Phillips and gives up a single to Jay Bruce.  He gets the second out but gives up another single to Eugenio Suarez who brings in Phillips to tie the game.  

We head to extra innings!  Fast forward to the 15th, J.J. Hoover in for the Reds, walks Zo who moves to third on Jason Heyward’s single to right.  Kris Bryant drives him in on his single to left.  The Reds decide to put Rizzo on to load the bases for pinch hitter Jason Hammel, who forces out Heyward at home but makes it to first.  With two outs and bases loaded Javier Baez, gets into a pitcher’s count but takes Hoover deep to straight away center for a grand slam to put the Cubs up 7-2.  Hoover gets out of the inning but is on the hook for the loss.  

After Rondon is credited with a blown save, the Cubs would use Justin Grimm, Carl Edwards, Jr, Trevor Cahill, Joel Peralta, Spencer Patton and Travis Wood through 15 who combine for 9 K’s and 3 hits but no walks with only Trevor and Travis giving up hits.  The bullpen holds it together and Spencer gets his first W as a Cub.   

Late night just means early day tomorrow for the Cubs and Reds, it shouldn’t affect them because we’re looking for the sweep!

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Cubs Clean the Queen City!

Posted: June 28, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs look to break the hole they dug themselves losing 6 out of 7 games.  The Great One, Jake Arrieta is seeking his 12th win of the season against the Reds Dan Strailey.  The Cubs wouldn’t let the former Cubs get past the 4th inning.  Kris Bryant would start the scoring in the top of the 1st with his 18th double bringing in Jadon Heyward and he’d score on Miguel Mobtero’s sac fly.  The Reds would strike back and tie it up in the bottom of the first with Adam Duvall’s 17th double to left scoring Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto.

In Kris Bryant’s second at bat in the top of third, he’d send a fly ball to left center for his 19th home run of the year.  Just like chess, in a counter move Jay Bruce would send Zack Cozart across home on a ground ball single to center, tieing the game at 3.

After Chris Coghlan and Arrieta start the first with singles on one out, Heyward drives in Chris on a line drive to center.  Bryant would jack his 20th homer of the season to left driving in Arrieta and Heyward.  After just 3 & 2/3 innings, Strailey would be pulled to make it a bullpen day for the Reds.  Jumbo Diaz would get out of the inning after giving up a single to Russel.  Jake would allow to baserunners in the bottom half but does not allow any runs.  Cubs 7-3.

With Michael Lorenzen on the mound and two outs, Arrieta cracks his 2nd home run of the season adding to his lead but would cut his lead to 3 in the bottom half by walking Billy Hamilton then giving up a home run to Jay Bruce.  He does get out of the inning.  Cubs 8-5.

Bryant would continue his in game hitting streak with a double to lead off the 6th but wouldn’t cross the plate.  Trevor Cahill enters the bottom of the 6th walking Jose Peraza who then scores on Tucker Barnhart’s double to right.  He would get two outs but after a single to Billy Hanilton, Joel Maddon would bring in Travis Wood.

Russ Olendorf enters the 7th getting the first 1-2-3 inning of the game.  Wood gets the first out in the bottom half but gives up a double to Duvall who makes it to third after Pedro Strop comes in getting the second out of the inning.  Duvall does score from 3rd on Pedro’s wild pitch.

Olendorf seems to be calming the Cubs down by retiring his 5th batter in a row but with two outs gives up back to back dingers to Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo but does get out of the inning.  Strop makes it a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th after a bunch of defensive changes by Maddon.

Albert Almora, Jr entered the game in the bottom of 8th leading off the 9th with a single against Blake Wood.  Russel would cause Jose Peraza to commit an error to reach 1st.  Javier Baez would send a line drive to center scoring Almora but trying to stretch it to two gets caught at 2cd base.  Wood gets out of the inning.  Cubs 11-7.

Joel Peralta enters the game for the Cubs to shut down the Reds and gets Billy Hamilton to strikeout but gives up a solo homer to Joey Votto.  He gets the next out but Maddon brings in Hector Rondon to get Duvall to pop out to end the game.

While the Cubs did win, not the best outing for the Great One and the bullpen.  Jake goes only 5 innings giving up 5 runs on 4 hits striking out 4.  The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 4 hits.  It may have been a different outcome if not for Kris Bryant’s 5 for 5 with 3 home runs driving in 6 RBI’s.   Either way, Cubs win!

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast no w on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Marlins Hook the Series

Posted: June 26, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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Cubs sought to split the series in Miami to start this 11 game road trip in a wining fashion.  Jason Hammel and the Cubs would hope to split the series with the Marlins, who had their Ace scheduled for the Sunday ballgame.  Hammel is also serving for his first win since June 4th against the Diamondbacks.   That would not be the case today as the Marlins would win and take the series 3-1.

Let’s just get the offensive side out of the way.  Fernandez would get his 10th win of the season on 7 innings giving up only 1 run on 4 hits.  He would walk 3 but strike out 13 batters.  Rizzo would get the first hit in the second inning.  He’d give up the second hit of the game to his counterpart, Hammel, walks Ben Zobrist and gives up a single to Jason Heyward to load the bases.  Kris Bryant would score the second out of the inning but the first and only run of the game.  Contreras would score the second walk on Fernandez in the 4th but gets caught stealing second base.  Heyward would snag a single in the 6th and Rizzo would try to get things going in the top of the 9th with a single but that would be all the action the Cubs would see for the day.

Jason Hammel and the bullpen would not have their best outing with everyone contributing to earned run category.  The Marlins would strike first as Hammel walks Justin Bour and then scores on Derek Dietrich’s double center field.  He would put 4 batters on in the 3, 4, and 5th innings but would start the 6th off with a double to Giancarlo Stanton and moves to third as Bour flys out.  Dietrich would get beaned to get on first.  With a man on 1st and 3rd, Andy Hechavarria would ground into an RBI double play that is challenged and overturned to be scored as just a force out.  After 6 complete innings, Hammel giving up only 2 runs on 4 hits striking out 3.  In the beginning of the year that would have been enough with the Cubs offense securing the win but not today.

Travis Wood enters the 7th inning striking out a batter but gives up 2 hits and a run to have Maddon bring in Justin Grimm also strikes out a batter  and gets Bour to groundout to end the inning.

After Grimm gives up a single to start the bottom of the 8th, he would be replaced by Spencer Patton who gets the first two outs of the inning but gives up a single to Miguel Rojas.  That would be enough for Maddon as he brings in Gerardo Concepcion who walks Ichiro Suzuki.  Martin Prado would smack a double to center scoring both Dietrich and Rojas but would get Christin Yelich to ground out to end the inning.

After 8 innings, 6 runs would be all the Marlins need to knock off the Cubs and take the series.  Let’s hope the series goes much better in Cincinnati.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast no w on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

 

Marlins net the Cubs

Posted: June 25, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Joel Maddon would go back to his pitcher batting in the 8 hole  with Albert Almora, Jr batting 9th and keeping Wilson Contreras in the game in left field.  Kris Bryant would be batting 2cd and would start the game with a double but wouldn’t reach again until he walks in the 9th. Aside from Contreras’s walk that would be all in the 1st.  Lackey would lead off the bottom of the first walking Ichiro Suziki who would score on Chrstian Yelich’s sac fly to center.  The Cubs would strike back in the second with Miguel Montero’s solo shot to right tieing the game at 1 at run a piece.

The top of the third would see the patient rookie Wilson walk on two outs, Javier Baez would get hit by a pitch setting up Addison Russell for a three run blast to left center.  Cubs up 4-3.

Lackey would retire 7 straight batters until he walks Giancarlo Stanton in the bottom of the 4th, then Justin Bour launches his 14th homer run of the season bringing the Cubs lead to 1.  John gets the first out in the 5th but gives up a single to Ichiro who scores again on Martin Prado’s double to left.  With the game tied, Lackey walks Yelich prompting Maddon to visit the mound but he after gives up an RBI single to Stanton, Maddon would pull him for Gerardo Concepcion, who on his 4th pitch gives up an RBI double to Bour.  Derek Dietrch would join in the RBI fun with a sac fly to left scoring Stanton.  Marlins up 7-4.

Spencer Patton enters the 6th making it quick but gives up a 2 RBI double to Stanton scoring Prado and Yelich to put the Marlins up by 4 in the 7th bringing Justin Grimm in to finish the inning.

Russel would lead off the 8th with walk and moves to third on Montero’s single to left and then scores on Chris Coghlan’s 3-6-3 double play.  Carl Edwards enters the bottom of the 8th for the Cubs making it a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Dustin McGowen who gave the Cubs a run in the 8th comes back out for the 9th and is the pitcher who gave up the lead off walk to Bryant.  After Anthony Rizzo’s ground out, Wilson Contreras gets his first double of the year scoring Bryant.  This would have the Marlins bring in A. J. Ramos who hits Russell but gets his 24th Save of the season.

John Lackey would only go 4 and 1/3 innings striking out 5 and only walking 3 but gives up 7 runs on 7 hits which 1 was a home run.  The Cubs have the opportunity to split the series on Sunday.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

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How Was Your Week?

Posted: June 25, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, hockey, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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We had some drafting done to end the week and not the fantasy kind. On Thursday the NBA had it’s draft. That was followed up on Friday by the NHL holding it’s annual draft. I’ll start with the NBA draft since I saw more of that.

First the things that drive me crazy. Why does the NBA not allow teams to make trades during the draft so we can actually see where the player is going and not have to hear about it later. It drives me nuts when a player is drafted by a team and he goes up on stage gets the hat and the jersey from the team that picked him and does the picture thing with Commissioner Adam Silver only to find out that he’s not with that team now. There where a couple of occasions when the television announce crew would spend 5 to 10 minutes breaking down a player and how he fit with the team that drafted him only to have to turn around and do it again for the team who had already traded for him. It’s not like all these trades are happening right now and the league can’t keep up with them. How is it possible that the NFL can handle teams making trades while they’re on the clock t draft, but the NBA is lost and can’t find a way to do it. Moving on; streamline the draft coverage. Why was the television coverage so long? For whatever reason ESPN stretched out the actual draft itself to like four hours when it probably could’ve been done in have the time. Would it of been that hard for them to put a draft recap show on or something like that instead of just dragging out the draft and making it unwatchable. I get it they overpaid for their contract to cover the NBA so they’re going to do everything they can to keep them on television, but stretching out the draft coverage like this makes it boring. With the way they handle the coverage they don;t seem to understand that the majority of the fans watching will go away from the channel and the draft after a pick has been made and then come back and pick the coverage up when it gets closer to the next pick being made. Maybe this doesn’t reflect in the ratings; so it doesn’t hurt their numbers. If it did then they’d care about it.

As for the actual draft itself. It went like most experts had predicted it would. Ben Simmons (LSU) went #1 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. Then Brandon Ingram (Duke) went #2 to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Boston Celtics on the clock at #3 with one of there 8 picks on the night did everything they could according to reports to deal this pick for some veteran help, but couldn’t find a trade partner and ended up selecting Jaylon Brown (California) with the pick. Most experts thought after the first two picks came off the board any of the top players could be picked by any of the teams in the draft lottery and that’s how it went. The first real surprised was when the Milwaukee Bucks selected high schooler Thon Maker with the 10th pick in the 1st round. Maker didn’t attend college or play overseas, but spent last season at the Athlete Institute in Canada and this had some people questioning his eligibility for the NBA draft. There is also some question about his age. Maker is listed as being 19 years old, but there where NBA teams that took him off there draft boards as there are reports that he’s actually between the of 21 and 23. After Milwaukee took Maker the draft kind of settled back in and the story became how far would Skal Labissiere (Kentucky) fall. Most if not every mock draft had Labissiece being selected in the Top 10. Labissece was eventually selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 28th pick, but was traded to the Sacramento Kings in a draft day trade; that we of course didn’t find out about until after the pick was made. In his one season at Kentucky Labissece didn’t produce like it was thought he would, but still entered the NBA draft. The down season along with his performance at the NBA Draft Combine contributed to Labissece fall to #28. Back to the Celtics and all there draft picks. Besides Brown at #3 the Celtics selected Guerschon Yabusele out of France with the 16th pick of the 1st round and then at #23 the Celtics picked Ante Zizic from Croatia. As of no it appears that they’ll be keeping all three of these draft picks. Of course when you pick a player from overseas he might not be eligible to play in the NBA right away depending on what his contract situation is with his current team. The Celtics where able to deal a couple of their 2nd round draft picks #31 and #35 to the Memphis Grizzlies, but still had three 2nd round picks of there own. At #45 they took Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame), at #51 they took Ben Bentil (Providence) and at # 58 Boston took Abdel Nader (Iowa State) to wrap up it’s draft night. I don;t think that the Celtics and there General Manager Danny Ainge thought they would walk away from the draft having picked six players. I guess will have to wait and see if there are some deals still in the works for the Celtics or if they’re going to open the 2016-17 season with quite a few rookies on their roster.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don;t know much of anything about the players that where drafted by the NHL last night. Auston Matthews get #1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs and I’d expect to see him with them in the 2016-17 season. I’m sure we’ll see a few of these 1st round draft picks playing in the NHL next season, but I just don;t know a whole lot about them. What I wanted to venture off into was some of the draft day trades that where made. The Detroit Red Wings traded Pavel Datsyuk; who I thought I heard was either going to retire or play next season in Russia along with the 16th pick in the draft to the Arizona Coyotes for 20th pick, the 53rd pick and Joe Vitale. I was a little surprise to hear that the St. Louis Blues broke up their goaltending tandem, but they did sending Brian Elliott to Calgary Flames for 2016 2nd-round pick (35th overall), 2018 conditional 3rd-round pick. The Chicago Blackhawks also made a move to help with there salary cap issues as they sent Andrew Shaw to Montreal Canadiens for two 2nd round picks #39 and #45. We’ll see if these deals impact any free agent signings or if some of the teams in these deals where so close to the salary cap that they just needed the relief.

The Big Jack Follow me on Twitter!

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