Archive for the ‘sports’ Category

Let’s call it Wednesday

Posted: June 22, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, golf, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The Golden State Warriors won 73 regular season games and there was a lot of talk about this was the best team ever. This 73 win team made it to the NBA Finals for the second season in a row. Now the issue becomes is this the best team ever or is this the best regular season team ever since they lost Game 7 and the NBA Championship 93-89 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. The record Golden State broke belonged to the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, but that Bulls team won the title. The next year the Bulls won 69 games to tie for the second most wins in a season at the time with 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers. Both of those 69 win team won the title. I guess the question is; what does a 73 win regular season mean when you don;t win the NBA title. The record is impressive in this NBA day and age where players are always looking to take regular season games off and not to mention staying healthy. Did setting the wins record in the regular season hurt Golden State in the playoffs. To be fair the NBA did everything in it’s power to make sure there was a Game 7. The NBA and the referees did quite a bit to stack the deck against the Warriors in Games 5 and 6, but Game 7 appeared to be on the up and up and they didn’t win. Without the NBA title on their resume where does this Golden State team rank in NBA history. Would they make it into the Top 5 or do they make the Top 10. Is there even a possibility that they’re outside the Top 10 because they didn’t win the title. Even if the Warriors had won the NBA title there where people who thought that the 1995-96 Bulls team led by the greatest player of all time Michael Jordan was still a better team. By not winning the championship Golden State made it easier for anyone and everyone who want to compare these teams to drop them down the list. If you’re making your list; where do you have this Golden State team on it?

While we’re talking about the Warriors they made some noise yesterday about who they might target in free agency. NBA free agency officially starts July 1st and there are reports that Golden State’s number one target is Kevin Durant. Now of course teams always need a back up plan and yesterday the Warriors back up plan may have opted out of his contract. While he is 38 wouldn’t Dirk Nowitzki fit nicely into the scheme that Golden State runs.  Nowitzki has spent his entire 18 year NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, but could he leave Dallas for a shot at another NBA title with Golden State. The Mavericks won the NBA championship in 2010-11 season and Nowitzki was voted finals M.V.P. Nowitzki won the league M.V.P. in 2007; he’s a 13 time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA team 12 times all with the Mavericks. Nowitzki is the Mavericks all time leading scorer and is 6th in NBA history. Nowitzki is also the Mavericks all-time leader in games,  rebounds, field goals, three-point field goals and free throws. I think it would be tough for Nowitzki to leave Dallas, but is the allure of another championship enough for him to sign with Golden State.

While we’re on free agency Dwight Howard declined the $23.1 million dollar option in his contract and come July 1st will be a free agent. Now guys like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade will opt out of their contracts and sign max deals with their respective teams. With the increase of the salary cap and the influx of money do to the new television agreement there will be a lot of players opting out of there deals on a yearly basis to get bigger and bigger contracts. This move might make sense for a lot of those players, but is it the right move for Howard. Will the Houston Rockets or any other NBA team pay him more than the $23.1 million he just opted out of. Last season Howard’s scoring average (13.7 points per game) reached it’s lowest since his (12.0 points per game) in his rookie season. Howard is still a solid rebounder and shot blocker, but he’s also still a terrible free throw shooter. With the way the NBA game has changed it’s hard to see a team paying Howard upwards of $20 million, but it does only take one team to see something in Howard or have a use for him. Would you want your favorite team to sign Howard with the price tag of over $20 million.

The NBA draft is tomorrow and the Philadelphia 76ers have the 1st pick. Word has leaked out that the 76ers plan on selecting LSU forward Ben Simmons with that 1st pick. There was some talk that Simmons didn’t want to play for Philadelphia and would prefer to be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 2nd pick. That talk seems to have passed as Simmons had his first workout for an NBA team and it was the 76ers. With Simmons now appearing to be a lock for the #1 pick this leaves the Lakers drafting Duke forward Brandon Ingram. It’s been reported over and over that Simmons and Ingram are clearly the Top 2 players in this draft. The Boston Celtics have the 3rd pick and they’ve dangled it in front of the Chicago Bulls in a deal for Jimmy Butler. Boston is a young team and adding a veteran for this pick would be a good move, but if they hang onto it I’m not sure who they’d draft. Could it be California forward Jaylen Brown, Washington forward Marquese Chriss or possible Croatian forward Dragan Bender. It pretty much seems that after Simmons and Ingram come off the draft board it’s kind of up for grabs on who goes next.

I was wondering if or when we’d start hear Olympians bow out of the Rio de Janeiro games because of the Zika virus. World’s #4 ranked golfer Rory McIlroy has decided not to compete at this summer’s Olympics in Rio due to fears about the Zika virus. McIlroy joins a list including Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Marc Leishman and Vijay Singh having already said they will not travel to Brazil; while world #6 ranked golfer Rickie Fowler has also cast doubt on his participation. The situation is a difficult one for golf as it  returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1904. Concerns about the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects, have cast a shadow over Rio 2016, but the International Olympic Committee, with guidance from the World Health Organisation, has resisted calls for the Games to be moved or postponed.

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Down 2 

Posted: June 22, 2016 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Last night was not a W in Wrigleyville for John Lackey but Jason Hammel hopes to improve to 8-2 when he takes on Adam Wainwright.  Hammel owns a 2-0 record against the Cards this year in St. Louis and looks to make the first of his starts this year at home against the Cards a W.  While the veteran batting lineup seems to have his number, no one has reached 20 at bats against him.

Tonight would not be Hammel’s night going only 5 & 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs in the second and third innings.  Stephen Piscotty would lead off the second with a double scoring on Brandon Moss’s single to center.  In the third, Matt Carpenter would lead off with his 11th home run of the season.  Aledmys Diaz would reach on a single the reaches home on Matt Holiday’s 13th home run of the season giving the Cardinals the lead with 4 runs.  

With Adam Warren optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Clayton Richard on the DL, the contract of Gerardo Concepcion is brought up and the fastball pitcher immediately enters the game in the bottom of the 6th striking out Brandon Moss to end the inning and has a 1-2-3 7th inning.  Pedro Strop takes the 8th striking out 2 batters as Travis Wood closes the game out.  

The Cubs bats wouldn’t provide enough support for Hammel to get his 8th win of the season.  They would strike first with Chris Coghlan leading off with a single getting pushed to third then scoring on Anthony Rizzo’s sac fly for the first run of the game.  

Coghlan would then lead off the third with a walk and immediately scores on Jason Heyward’s 12th double of the year, a line drive to center.  Wilson Contreras and Addison Russsel would both single in the bottom of the 4th with Contreras ending up at 3rd base and then scoring when Albert Almora grounds into a double play.  

Cubs lose by 1 in their second straight loss to the Cardinals.  There’s always tomorrow as long as the rain doesn’t stop them. 

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

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A Loss for Lackey

Posted: June 20, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 68 has the St. Louis Cardinals coming to Wrigley for the first time this season with Jamie Garcia taking on John Lackey.  His last outing in St. Louis, he went 7 innings striking out 11 but giving up no runs for his third straight win to open the season.  Tonight he hopes to continue his domination of his former team.  He would get through the first inning giving up a single Aledyms Diaz and walking Stephen Piscotty but giving up no runs.  Jamie Garcia would do the same giving up a single to Ben Zobrist and waking Anthony Rizzo.  Lackey gets himself in to trouble giving up a solo home run to Brandon Moss, then gives up a single to Kolten Wong who moves to second on Garcia’s sac bunt.  Matt Carpenter would walk and end up at second on Diz’s single to left scoring Wong.  Lackey gets out of the inning but the Cards are up 2-0.  Baez would get a single but that would be all the action for the Cubs in the second.  Johnny Peralta leads off the third with a solo home run but Lackey gets out of the inning but not before giving up a single to Wong.

Zo would start off the bottom of the third with a single and scores on Kris Bryant’s 16th double of the season.  With Rizzo at the plate, Garcia would throw a wild pitch moving Bryant to third.  After Rizzo strikes out, Wilson Contreras would get his second RBI of his young career sending a single to center.  Cubs 2, Cardinals 3.

Lackey would score his first 1-2-3 inning with two flyouts and a ground out.  Jamie Grcia would do the same but with two ground outs and a K.  Both men would hit a batter in the 5th but Lackey would give up a single to Stephen Piscotty.  Lackey would score his second 1-2-3 inning of the game.  The bottom half would see a walk to Baez but all three batters would fly out.

Trevor Cahill would replace John Lackey in the top of the seventh getting all three batters out.  Garcia would stay in the game getting the first two outs but gives up a single to Jason Heyward bringing Tommy Pham into the game to face Kris Bryant who flys out to end the inning.

Travis Wood comes into the eighth making it a quick 1-2-3 inning.  Seung Hwan Oh enters the game giving up a single to Rizzo who ends being forced out on Contreras’s double play.  Baez would come up to the plate but goes down swinging.

Justin Grimm comes in the eighth striking out Pham but walks Matt Carpenter who gets caught caught stealing second.  Aledyms Diaz walks and that brings Maddon to the mound for a new pitcher.  Clayton Richard  would come into the game to face Jedd Gyorko giving up a double that Diaz would try to score on but gets caught on Kris Bryant’s relay to Russell.

The Cubs last chance sees Trevor Rosenthal enter the game for the Cards to try and get the save and starts out by striking out Russell.  Albert Almora Jr would double and Chris Coghlan, pinch hitting would get hit to reach first.  Almora would get gunned down at third by Yadier Molina.  Zo would send a single to right field moving Coughlan to third.  Man on first and third with Jason Heyward at the plate but he pops out to end the game for the Cubs.

Not a win for the Cubs and only a small loss for Lackey.  He goes to 7 and 3 but the Cubs at 47 and 21 still hold the best record in the Majors.

Go Cubs Go.

Dan the Man

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The 2011 NBA draft

Posted: June 20, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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Believe it or not the NBA Finals are actually over and the draft is this Thursday. Like we like to do we’re looking back to see who the 1st round picks where and if they helped the team that selected them.

#1 Kyrie Irving (Duke) Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving spent just one season in college and he was hurt for most of that. While he’s shown he can be a top player in the NBA the injury bug has continued to follow him as he has missed 101 games due to injuries since being drafted.

#2 Derrick Williams (Arizona) Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams spent two plus seasons with the Timberwolves before being dealt to the Sacramento Kings in 2013-14. Williams spent the remained of the 2013-14 season with the Kings plus one more. He played in 80 games last season for the New York Knicks. For being the 2nd overall pick you could say Williams is a bust.

#3 Enes Kanter (Switzerland) Utah Jazz. Kanter spent three and a half season with Utah and was averaging double figure points for them when he was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2014-15 season. Kanter has continued to average double figure points for the Thunder. Kanter’s rebounding average has went up since going to Oklahoma City; plus he played in every regular season game last season.

#4 Tristan Thompson (Texas) Cleveland Cavaliers. With their second pick on the Top 5 the Cavaliers took a big body rebounder. Thompson has averaged 8.5 rebounds for his career and has averaged 9 plus rebounds a game during three of his five seasons with Cleveland. Thompson has never been a big time scorer; he averages 9.7 points per game, but he plays. Thompson has played in every regular season game the last four seasons.

#5 Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania) Toronto Raptors. It took a year for Valanciunas to join the Raptors as he was under contract to his European team, but in four seasons his scoring average has continued to climb; reaching a high of 12.8 points a game this season. His rebounding average also reached a career high of 9.1 per game last season. He’ll be looking to play a full season next year as injuries limited him to 60 games last season.

#6 Jan Vesely (Czech Republic) Washington Wizards. As the 6th pick in the draft you can clearly say Vesely was a bust. He spent a little over three season with Washington before being dealt to the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 3.6 points per game in his career along with grabbing an average of 3.5 rebounds per game. Vesely spent just three season in the NBA and played in 162 career games.

#7 Bismack Biyombo (Republic of Congo) Sacramento Kings. While being officially drafted by the Kings Biyombo never played for them as he was dealt on draft day to the Charlotte Bobcats. Biyombo spent four seasons with the Bobcats; who went back to the Hornets name his last season there. In 2015-16 he signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Raptors. Biyombo isn’t a huge scorer averaging 4.6 points per game in his career, but he is a solid rebounder 6.5 career average and can block shots averaging 1.6 per game in his career.

#8 Brandon Knight (Kentucky) Detroit Pistons. Knight has has a solid NBA career so far, but it’s been with three different teams. After two season in Detroit he was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks. Then after a season plus with Milwaukee he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Knight averages 15.9 points per game in his career and has averaged 4.6 assists per game. He put up his career high scoring average last season at 19.6 per game.

#9 Kemba Walker (Connecticut) Charlotte Bobcats. The knock on Walker was that he was a shoot first point guard, but he has averaged 5.3 assists per game in his career. Don’t look at that the wrong way though Walker is a shoot first type of player. He averages 17.3 points per game and just put up his career high at 20.9 points per game last season. Walker has spent his entire career with Charlotte and has twice tied for the NBA lead in games played.

#10 Jimmer Fredette (Brigham Young) Milwaukee Bucks. Fredette was another one of those draft day deals. He never played for Milwaukee as he was dealt to the Sacramento Kings on draft day. Fredette was a high volume shooter and scorer in college, but his skills never translated to the NBA. Teams continue to take looks at him though as he’s been with four teams in five NBA seasons. He ended last season playing in two games for the New York Knicks after spending time in the D-League.

#11 Klay Thompson (Washington State) Golden State Warriors. Thompson is a key part to Golden State’s success. his scoring average has improved every season and reached 22.1 per game this past season. Golden State centers it’s offense around 3-point shooting and Thompson had his best career year behind the 3-point line. Thompson made 47% of the 3- point shots he took and for his career he’s shooting 45% from behind the 3- point line. Thompson has made the last two All-Star games and won the NBA title in 2014-15.

#12 Alec Burks (Colorado) Utah Jazz. While spending most of his time coming off the Utah bench Burks has averaged double digit points per game in the last three seasons. He was limited to just 31 games last season because of injury. Burks has gotten his career scoring average above the 10 points per game mark. Injuries have limited him though as he played in just 259 games over his five season with the Jazz.

#13 Markief Morris (Kansas) Phoenix Suns. Morris spent four plus seasons with the Suns before being dealt to the Washington Wizards last season. He’s a solid all around player. He averages 11.5 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game in his career. After being traded to Washington his field goal percentage jump to a career high 52.4%.

#14 Marcus Morris (Kansas) Houston Rockets. Yes that’s right the Morris twins went back to back in this draft. After a season and a half Morris was dealt to the Phoenix Suns where his brother was playing. After an off court incident he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He averaged career highs with the Pistons in points at 14.1 per game; assists at 2.5 per game and in rebounds at 5.1 per game.

#15 Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State) Indiana Pacers. Here’s another one of those players who was drafted by a team, but never played there. Leonard has spent his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs and has become on of the top players in the NBA. Leonard won the NBA championship with the Spurs in 2014 and was named Finals MVP. He has also won Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons. His 21.2 points per game average was the highest of his career.

#16  Nikola Vucevic (USC) Philadelphia 76ers. People may not remember that Vucevic was drafted by the 76ers and spent one season with Philadelphia before being traded to the Orlando Magic. Since being traded to Orlando Vucevic has averaged double figures in scoring. In 2014-15 he posted a career high averaging 19.3 points per game and last season he averaged 18.2 points per game. He also averages 9.8 rebounds in his career.

#17 Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) New York Knicks. After a little over three seasons with New York Shumpert was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers where he just won the NBA title. Shumpert looked t be stepping into a starting role with the Knicks, but since being traded to the Cavaliers he has been coming off the bench. Shumpert has been looked at as a defensive player. He averages 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in his career.

#18 Chris Singleton (Florida State) Washington Wizards. Singleton played in 148 games over three seasons for Washington. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds for his career. Since being let go by Washington Singleton has spent time in the D-League, the Chinese Basketball Association and has played professionally in Russia. In the NBA draft at this point it’s tough to call anyone a bust; so what would you describe Singleton as?

#19 Tobias Harris (Tennessee) Milwaukee Bucks. Harris spent a season and a half with Milwaukee before being traded to the Orlando magic where his scoring really improved. He never averaged more than 5.0 points per game with Milwaukee, but once he got to Orlando his average went right into double digits. Then after three plus seasons with Orlando Harris was traded again this time to the Detroit Pistons. Harris has a career scoring average of 13.2 points per game.

#20 Donatas Motiejūnas (Lithuania) Minnesota Timberwolves. Drafted by Minnesota, but traded to Houston on draft night Motiejunas took a year to join the Rockets. He has battled some injury issues as he’s played in 214 games over his four seasons with Houston. He proved when he’s healthy and playing he can score as he averaged a career high 12.0 points per game when he played in a career high 71 games in the 2014-15 season. He appeared in 37 games last season and was healthy enough to play in 5 playoff games for the Rockets.

#21 Nolan Smith (Duke) Portland Trail Blazers. Smith spent just two season in the NBA with the Trail Blazers. He played in 84 games starting 4 of them. His career scoring average is 3.3 points per game. Smith spent time playing in Croatia, Turkey and the D-League before joining the Duke coaching staff as a special assistant in February of this year.

#22 Kenneth Faried (Morehead State) Denver Nuggets. Faried has become a staple along the Nuggets front line since being drafted. He has been a double digit scorer and a tough rebounder since being drafted. Faried averages 12.3 points oer game and 8.7 rebounds per game in his career. Faried was a member of the United States national team that won the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup; Faried was also named to the All-Tournament team. In January 2016, Faried was announced as one of the 30 finalists for United States national team that will compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

#23 Nikola Mirotic (Spain) Houston Rockets. Another player drafted by one team, but sent to another right away as Mirotic is with the Chicago Bulls. Mirotic has played just two NBA seasons for the Bulls. He missed some time last season due to injury, but has averaged double digit points in his first two seasons. It was thought that Mirotic would be a 3-point shooting threat, but he’s shooting 35.5% from behind the 3-point line in his career. His percentage did improve last season; so maybe he’ll end up fitting that role.

#24 Reggie Jackson (Boston College) Oklahoma City Thunder. Jackson was with Oklahoma City for three and a half season, but with Russell Westbrook as the starting point guard it was tough for Jackson to get minutes. Jackson let the Thunder know he was unhappy and ended up being dealt to the Detroit Pistons where he’s found playing time and shown he can score. In his first partial season with Detroit Jackson averaged 17.6 points per game. Last season in 79 games Jackson averaged 18.8 points per game. Did he just need to play?

#25 MarShom Brooks (Providence) Boston Celtics. Brooks right to the New Jersey Nets in a draft day trade. Brooks played in 164 games over three seasons with four teams. He averaged 7.7 points per game in his NBA career. Brooks played with the  Emporio Armani Milano in the Italian League in 2014 and he signed to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Jiangsu Dragons in August of 2015. 

#26 Jordan Hamilton (Texas) Dallas Mavericks. Another deal here as Hamilton went to the Denver Nuggets on draft day. Hamilton spent three plus seasons with Denver before being dealt to Houston Rockets. After finishing the 2013-14 season with Houston Hamilton signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. After spending  a few seasons in the D-League Hamilton is now playing for the Bucaneros de La Guaira in the Liga Profesional de Baloncesto in Venezuela.

#27 JaJuan Johnson (Purdue) New Jersey Nets. Another trade here as Johnson went from the Nets to the Boston Celtics in draft day. Johnson played just one season with the Celtics. In 36 games he averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Johnson spent some time in the D-League before heading overseas to play. He’s spent the last three seasons playing overseas and is currently with Pallacanestro Cantù in the Italian League.

#28 Norris Cole (Cleveland State) Chicago Bulls. Cole was dealt to the Miami Heat on draft day and spent four plus seasons with the Heat. Miami traded Cole to the New Orleans Pelicans. Cole posted his highest per game scoring average of 9.9 with New Orleans. Cole is the Pelicans back up point guard. Cole was part of two NBA championship teams while with the Heat.

#29 Cory Joseph (Texas) San Antonio Spurs. Joseph spent four seasons with the Spurs coming off the bench before signing a free agent deal with the Toronto Raptors. Joseph played in a career high 80 games for the Raptors; starting four of them. He also posted his career high in points per game 8.5, assists per game 3,1 and rebounds per game 2.6 with Toronto last season. His deal with Toronto was for four year and $30 million.

#30 Jimmy Butler (Marquette) Chicago Bulls. With the last pick of the 1st round the Bulls found a quality player in Butler. He has battled some injuries as he’s played in all 82 games just once in his career. He had his best season last season posting career highs in scoring average with 20.9 points per game and assists with 4.8 assists per game. Butler received a five year $95 million dollar contract from the Bulls in July of 2015.

There you go! How did your favorite team do in this draft. Did they find a guy they could build around and win a title with? Or is the guy they picked playing in another country right now.

@Burketime

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Wrigleyville Father’s Day

Posted: June 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs/Pirates series would see another main event this time on the mothership AKA ESPN.  James Taillon would be taking on Kyle Hendricks who would have a quick first inning.   Chris Coughlan would be replacing Dexter Fowler leading off with a walk and moved to third on Heyward’s single.  Bryant would strike out but Rizzo would send a soft liner to short scoring Chris.  But Taillon would get out of the inning.  Cubs up by 1.  

In the top of the second, Kyle would give two singles but would get out of the inning. In the bottom half with one out, Javier Baez would send a fly ball to left for his sixth home run of the season.  The inning would end but the Cubs would put themselves up by 2.  The Pirates would get a hit in the top of the third by Kyle would strike out 2.  

Taillon would start the bottom of the third with back to back home runs to Bryant and Rizzo to put the Cubs up by 4.  Zobrist would flyout.  Miguel Montero would reach on a soft grounder to second and then steals second but gets thrown out trying to score on Baez’s single to right.  

After striking out the first two batters, Josh Harrison would send a long fly ball to center for his third home run of the season but Kyle would get out of the inning but he’d strike out to start the bottom half of the inning and the Cubs wouldn’t add to the board.  The Cubs 4, Pirates 1.  

Kyle would give up a two out single and gives up a two out double to Gregory Polanco but strikes out McCutchen to end the inning.  A.J. Schugel enters the fifth to get the Pirates second 1-2-3 inning.  Kyle would start off the top of the 6th getting the first out but would give up a single to Jung Ho Kang and Jody Mercer would reach on an error but Kyle would get out of the inning without putting the Pirates closer in range.  A.J. would stay in the bottom of the sixth getting the first two outs but Javier Baez would single to third and would score on new comer Wilson Contreras’s pinch hit two run home run.  Cubs are up 6-1.  

Justin Grimm enters the seventh to get the first out to be replaced by Clayton Richard putting Matt Joyce with a single and walks Palonco.  Adam Warren would come in to get McCutchen to force out Polanco at second.  With two outs, Starling Marte would triple to left scoring Joyce and McCutchen.  Jung Ho Park would send a soft grounder to Baez who bare hands it but pulls Rizzo off first scoring Marte but Harrison would ground out to end the inning.  Curtis Partch enters the game for the Bucs giving up a single to Heyward and walking Bryant.  Rizzo would single to center scoring Heyward.  Jorge Rendon would enter the game putting Zobrist on by fielders choice scoring Bryant.  Montero would get two outs by grounding into a double play.  Russel would blast his sixth home run to left center.  After 7 it’s Cubs  10 Pirates 4.  

The 8th inning would only see Heyward grabbing a single in the bottom half but neither team would score.  Adam Warren stays in the game for the top of the ninth giving up a leadoff double to David Freese who makes it to third on Polanco’s ground out to Rizzo and then scores on McCutchen’s soft ground ball to short stop.  Marte hits one in the hole reaching first and that would bring Maddon to the mound for the swap.  Pedro Strop enters the game to get a force out and strikes out Harrison to end the game. 

Kyle Hendricks would go 6 innings giving up 7 hits and 1 earned run with 12 strikeouts.  Great putting for Kyle and Cubs would sweep the Pirates on this home stand.  

@DanZeeeMan

Take Your Pick

Posted: June 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports
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The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs are each on a course which will most likely see them oppose one another in the playoffs this coming October. If we are to believe MLB’s power polls, then the Cubs will be winning their first World Series in more than one hundred years.
That is a pretty big “if.”

For the most part power polls reflect the current standings and little more. Yes, the Cubs (45-20) have the better record than the Giants (42-26), but how about if we go back a month or so, and see how each team has done during that span?

In the last 33 games, the Cubs are 20-13 while the Giants have posted a 25-8 record. You can take those power polls and plaster them all over the Cubs’ locker room for all the difference they make in the individual locker rooms.
There are seven reasons why I do not see the Cubs beating the Giants in a head-to-head confrontation in October, despite the overwhelming feeling in baseball that, well, you know, it’s the Cubs’ turn. Giants fans would respond, “It’s an even year.”
Take your pick.

Let’s begin with defense because-on the big stage-defense is what separates the very good from the excellent. The Cubs are nineteenth, overall, in Major League Baseball; that is very good. In 65 games the Cubs have had 2,484 total chances and 1,761 put-outs. They have accrued 683 assists and committed 40 errors, for a fielding percentage of .984
The Giants are second in all of MLB; that is excellent. In three more games (68) than the Cubs, they have had 2,599 total chances with 1,848 put-outs. San Francisco has racked up 722 assists and been charged with 29 errors, for a fielding percentage of .989.

The Giants have proven under the brightest lights, that they can produce the big play. I have seen Joe Panik try that back-handed flip of the ball to second base, while falling away with his back to the play, twice since Game Seven of the 2014 World Series. Once it worked to perfection-once the ball went askew. It’s all about timing.
The second reason the Giants have the advantage is speed. The Giants have out-stolen the Cubs, 41 bases to 28, despite being caught only twice more than Chicago, 18 to 16. Additionally, though both clubs have identical team batting averages (.285), the Giants have 22 triples to the Cubs’ nine.
Speed is deadly because it throws off the timing of the defense. Aside from the in-the-park home run, the triple is the most exciting offensive play in baseball. It electrifies the offense and causes conniption fits on the part of the defense.

Yes, the Cubs have clubbed 78 home runs to the Giants’ 56, but we have already seen San Francisco win a world series with the fewest number of home runs in all of MLB. The year was 2012 when the Giants finished dead last and it wasn’t even close. The Los Angeles Dodgers were second-to-last with 116. 

San Francisco went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. How many homers did Detroit hammer out in 2012? 163, which is sixty more than the Giants. A lot of good it did them in the World Series.
Thirdly, the Giants have a pitching staff that has more savvy when it comes to preventing stolen bases. San Francisco has allowed 24 stolen bases to Chicago’s 51. That would be the influence of one Buster Posey, Esq. I might imagine. 

Together, Posey (14) and Trevor Brown (4) have caught eighteen base-stealers. The Cubs’ Miguel Montego (9) and David Ross (2) have nabbed eleven. I am more interested in the number of stolen bases allowed (51) by the Cubs, compared to the 24 allowed by the Giants. That’s huge.

Fourth, whereas the Giants and Cubs may be on a par as far as front office leadership is concerned, with Theo Epstein and Brian Sabean working behind GM’s Jed Hoyer and Bobby Evans, San Francisco has the best manager in baseball.

I have heard of the wonderful rapport Joe Madden has with his players, and how comfy all the rookies are. How nice for them. How many rings has the man earned? Zero. 

How many rings has Bruce Bochy won? With essentially the same crew as he has this year? Three. 

‘Nuf said.
Fifth, the Giants have experience as a team. They have earned at least 31 world series rings amongst them, with Javier Lopez leading the parade with four. I don’t know how many rings the Cubs have earned, but it does not approach 31.

Sixth, the Giants have that chemistry thing going for them. It doesn’t matter what is happening inside the Cubs’ locker room, or how loosey-goosey Joe Madden has his rookies, the Giants have taken the concept and brought it to a new level. After all, San francisco still has Hunter Pence, even if he is on the disabled list, the best motivator in the game.

Finally, the Giants, as I pointed out above, are the underdogs to the Cubs. It just so happens that San Francisco embraces this concept. They work it to their advantage, as they have done EVERY step of their way to their three recent titles. Madison Bumgarner has helped make this happen, as has Buster Posey.
I am not going to put it all on these two foundation pieces, but if the cap fits, flaunt it, Baby. Not to dis on Jake Arieta and his ongoing streak of quality starts, but Jake’s playoff repertoire is nothing like his regular-season record. 
So I’m fine with MLB and the latest power polls. In fact it works to the Giants’ advantage. Just don’t try to convince me that they mean anything.

Mark O’Neill

Saturday Night Main Event

Posted: June 18, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in sports
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Something I can’t remember happening in a long time or ever, a Saturday night game in Wrigleyville with Jon Lester getting the nod against Jonathon Niese.  The first inning would begin with Jody Mercer sending a line drive to left field for a lead off home run to start the day off in favor of the Bucs.  With one out Lester walks Andrew McCutchen who steals second before Jung Ho Park walks.  With David Freese at the plate McCutchen would get caught stealing third for the second out.   Lester would walk his third batter of the inning but get Matt Joyce to ground out to end the inning.  Niese make his half a 1-2-3 inning as Lester would follow suit in the top of the second.  Niese would give up a lead off home run to Rizzo to tie the game at 1.  Zobrist would line out but Javier Baez would double for the second hit for the Cubs.  Russel would strikeout and Niese would intentionally walk Ross to get to Lester who strikes out to end the second.  Mercer would go 2 for 2 with a double and Harrison would ground out but McCutchen would send a ground ball to center scoring Mercer for the second run of the game for the Bucs.  Lester gets out of the inning with a double play.   Niese gives up a two out walk to Kris Bryant but gets out of the inning with out the Cubs being able to tie it up.  Pirates 2-1.  

The top of the fourth would see Lester get himself into trouble by loading the bases but gets the next two outs with K’s.  He hits puts Mercer by hitting him and giving him another RBI but gets Harrison out with a K.  Niese would start off the bottom half giving Zobrist a single but would be forced out at second when Baez singles, then steals second with Russel at the plate, then moves to third on a wild pitch.   David Ross would sacrifice himself with a bunt to first scoring Baez.  Lester would only give up a single to David Freese.  Niese would not have a great bottom half giving up a solo home run to Kris Bryant tieing up the game at 3.  Lester would have himself another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth.  The Cubs would take the lead with David Ross’s fifth home run of the season.  Cubs up 4-3.  

Pedro Strop would enter the seventh grabbing a 1-2-3 inning.  Jared Hughes who came in after Bryant’s home run gets into a little trouble but gets out of the inning with out any extra runs.  Strop gets one out in the 8th as does Travis Wood and Hector Rondon.  Pirates closer Mark Melancon gives up a walk to Ross but that would be all for the Cubs.  

Top 9, Hector Rondon makes it a quick save, his 12th of the season and the Cubs league leaving 46th win.  Go Cubs Go!

@DanZeeeMan

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How Was Your Week?

Posted: June 18, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, basketball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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Are the Chicago Cubs the best team in Major League Baseball? In most experts opinions they are. They’ve played 65 games and they’re 45-20 record is the best in baseball. The only other teams with more than 40 wins are the Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants. After making the playoffs as a wild card team last season the Cubs look to be cruising in the National League Central. They have a 10 1/2 game lead over the 2nd place St. Louis Cardinals and a 13 game lead over the 3rd place Pittsburgh Pirates; who they’re playing this weekend. It appears as though the Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer rebuild has worked for the Cubs as they are a viable World Series contender and in a lot of people’s opinion the favorite to win it.

Now even as good as the Cubs have been they have there issues like every other major league team. In the Cubs case it’s the bullpen. To be more specific left handed middle relief. This issue started the rumor a couple of weeks ago that the Cubs would be interested in making a deal for Andrew Miller the New York Yankees left handed set up guy. Now I’m not sure if the Yankees are ready to start dealing players. They’re 33-34 right now and find themselves in 4th place 5 1/2 games behind the American East leading Baltimore Orioles. A deal like sending Miller to the Cubs does make sense for both teams. It fills a weakness for the Cubs and the Yankees could acquire some of the young talent they’re looking for. Then this week everything went a little overboard. There are now a few reports out there that the Cubs not only want to pick up Miller from the Yankees, but also closer  Aroldis Chapman. Now these reports sent Cubs fans over the edge and things got a little carried away. Now what the majority of the Cubs fans who’ve heard about this possible trade don’t seem to understand is that the Yankees aren’t going to just give you Miler and Chapman. It’s not like the Yankees will just take the Cubs two left handed bullpen guys Travis Wood and Clayton Richard straight up in a deal. That sounds like a trade Dan the Man would send me in one of our year long Yahoo fantasy leagues. This is the part that for some reason a majority of Cubs fans just don’t understand, but here goes. 

There are reports out there that the Yankees want injured left hander slugger Kyle Schwarber as part of this deal and that’s just a starting point. While Chapman may just be a rent a player for the Cubs this season, the Yankees gave up 4 good minor league prospects to get him in the off season and they’re going to want some of that back.  Miller is signed through 2018 at in today’s game at a very friendly $9 million a season. A possible hold up in this deal is the fact that te Yankees appear to want young pitching back and the Cubs don’t have that anywhere in their organization. 

Okay Cubs fans here’s what it’s going to come down to. If the Cubs can acquire Miller and Chapman and set themselves up as favorites to win the World Series; which to be fair they might be anyway. Are you willing to give up a combination of Schwarber, Javier Baez, Alberto Almora and Jorge Soler along with probably your two best minor league pitching prospects in this deal? Now everyone knows the Cubs haven’t won a World Series in 100 plus years, but the team appears to be set up for long term success. Picking up Miller and Chapman may help them finally get that World Series title but is that one World Series title enough to satisfy long suffering Cubs fans or can you hold pat with the team you’ve built and see if they can come through with more than one. So Cubs fans; are you making this deal?

The New York Knicks are looking for an upgrade at the point guard position. Right now the Kinicks point guards are Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant and Tony Wroten. So to upgrade the position the Knicks have had internal talks about trying to deal for Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose. Both Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek and General Manager Steve Mills have said that the Knicks are interested in upgrading their point guard position in the off-season, but is Rose that upgrade. Remember just last week the Minnesota Timberwolves dangled the #5 pick in the draft at the Bulls to try and get Jimmy Butler. There are reports in Chicago that Butler and Rose can’t play together and I think I most people’s mind Butler would be the player who was traded. Not only is Rose a Chicago native, but with his injury history you wouldn’t think there would be a lot of interest. Now Rose is in the last season of his contract and a lot of teams do like those expiring deals. Rose was solid for the Bulls last season as he  averaged 16.4 points on 42.7 percent shooting and 4.7 assists in 66 games last season. The question would be who would the Knicks be willing to part with in a trade for Rose and remember with the NBA salary cap the players salaries have to match up. Now they don;t have to be exact, but they have to be close. Under Hornacek the Knicks are going to be playing more of an uptempo style with Phil Jackson’s triangle offense mixed in. So if the Knicks are going to run next season would they be willing to trade Center Robin Lopez along with a player like Arron Afflalo to the Bulls for Rose. The salaries match up; so neither tam would have to add players. The Knicks would get Rose and the Bulls would get Lopez who could replace free agent Pau Gasol and Affalo who could add some scoring. Lopez has 3 more years on the contract he signed with the Knicks last off season and make a little over $12 million. Affalo is entering the last year of his contract and makes $8 million. Rose is the Bulls highest paid player and he’s due to make just a little over $20 million in the last year of his contract. Is it possible that Rose starts the 2016-17 season in a Knicks uniform and that Butler might be in a Timberwolves uniform. Would it be a good idea for the Bulls to deal Rose and Butler and start on a rebuild?

@Burketime

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Pirates ship sinking

Posted: June 17, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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 Cubs fans will say every time the Cubs have an off day, they lose the the next game but with the Cubs have The Great One, Jake Arrieta on the mound taking on Pirates ace, Francisco Liriano.  The Great starts the game off with striking out two out of the three batters.  Liriano wouldn’t be so lucky giving up a lead off single to Dexter Fowler.  Then Matt Szczur would launch his third home run of the season putting the Cubs up by two.  With two runs and two outs Albert Almora, would single and move to second on a wild pitch before Baez would walk.  Cubs up 2-0. 

Jake would get another two K’s in the second as Liriano would only strike out Jake.  Jake would give up two singles but strikes out the next three batters to get out of a trouble.  Liriano would mirror the three K’s but would hit Rizzo in between.  Jake would have 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth.  Liriano would load the bases in both the fourth and the fifth but the Cubs would not add any more runs to the board.  

In the sixth, with one out Jake would load the bases with walks but strikes out the last two batters to end the inning.  Chris Coghlan leads off the bottom half with a double who scores on a two out single by Ben Zobrist.  Cory Lurbke comes in and  would walk Rizzo, who moves to third on Almora’s double as Zobrist scores.  Baez would be put on intentionally  and Addison Russell would walk scoring Rizzo.  This would bring in Sean Rodriguez to get Montero to ground out.  Cubs up 5-0. 

Trevor Cahill replaces The Great One in the seventh making it a 1-2-3 inning.  Arquimedes Caminero enters the bottom of the seventh for the Pirates with one out walks Fowler and gives up a single to Szczur but gets Zobrist to ground out.  Rizzo walks to load the bases. Almora would single scoring Fowler everybody’s safe!  The Pirates would challenge the call at third being overturned ending the owning.  Cubs up 6-0.  

Travis Cahill stays in for the eighth, getting Rodriguez to ground out but hits John Jaso.  Travis Wood would replace Cahill, getting Polanco to ground into an inning ending double play.  

Justin Grimm would enter the top of the ninth as well as Cubs #1 catching prospect Wilson Contreras.  Andrew McCutchen would start the inning with a single but Freese and Jung Ho Kang pinch hits to strikeout for the second out.  Josh Harrison would reach in a walk.  Grimm would throw a wild pitch a dancing both runners.  Jody Mercer would be the Pirates last hope but would be called out on strikes.  Cubs Win!  

Jake would only go 6 innings striking 11, walking 3 and only gave up 2 hits.  The bullpen combined would strike out 2, walk 1 and give up only one hit.  Great day for the Cubs!

@DanZeeeMan

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Battle for the Hill

Posted: June 15, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Wrapping up the 9 game road trip out East, Jason Hammel seeks to grab his eighth win of the season coming off loss at the hands of the Braves but he is taking on Steven Strasburg who hopes to improve his perfect record to 11-0.   He would not start off in that direction giving up a leadoff to Ben Zobist who lead off due to a day off for Dexter Fowler.  Jason Heyward would send his 11th double of the season to center.  Bryant would strike out for the first out and before Rizzo could strike out to end the inning, Jason would get caught stealing second base.  Hammel gives up a lead off single to Ben Revere but gets the next two batters to ground out but Revere would make it to third.  With Daniel Murphy at the plate, Hammel would throw a wild one scoring Revere.  Murphy would double for the second hit of the inning but Zimmerman would go down swinging.  The second and third innings would see a couple base runners for both teams but no runs would cross the plate.  After 3, we are all tied at 1.

Strasburg would start off the fourth by hitting Kris Bryant but would strikeout the next three batters.  Hammel would make it  quick 1-2-3 inning.  Jason Hammel would get the only hit of the fifth and make it another 1-2-3 bottom half  of the inning.  Strasburg would see his first 1-2-3 inning of the day.  Hammel would follow suit due to an overturned call.  After 6, we are still tied at 1.

The seventh inning would only see a double in the top half by Albert Almora, Jr and a single in the bottom half by Zimmerman.  Both pitchers would come out in the 8th, Felipe Rivero for the Nats and Pedro Strop for the Cubs.  He would get two K’s in the 8th but gives up a solo home run to Stephen Drew.  Nats up 2-1.  Matt Belisle enters the 9th giving up a lead off double to Bryant prompting Dusty Baker to bring in Oliver Perez to give up a two run dinger to Anthony Rizzo.  He would get Fowler to fly out and that would bring Shawn Kelley to come in to end the inning.  Hector Rondon enters the game for the Cubs walking Harper who moves over to second base on Murphy’s ground out.  With two outs Wilson Ramos would single to left scoring Harper.  Rondon would get out of the inning and take us into extra innings.  After 9 we are all tied up at 3.

Shawn Kelly stays in for the 10th getting all three batters out with a walk and a double play.  Justin Grimm enters the 10th getting a ground out and walk to bring in Travis Wood to get Clint Robinson to end the inning with a 1-6-3 double play.  Yusmeiro Petit  enters the 11th only giving up a two out walk to Rizzo.  Travis Wood walks both Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy, despite getting Harper to pop out, he is pulled for Trevor Cahill who ends the inning.  After 11, we are still tied at 3.

The 12th inning, the Nats are sticking with Petit who gives up a lead off single to Almora, strikes out Baez.  With one out and one on, Addison Russell sends a ground ball to center scoring  Almora to put the Cubs up by one in the 12th.  Trevor Cahill still in the game strikes out Rendon, but hits Espinosa who steals second base with Michael Taylor at the plate, who singles to score Espinosa and tie the game at 4.  Maddon would bring in Adam Warren to try and stop the Nats from taking the series and gets the second out of the inning but gives up a walk off single to Jayson Werth to give the Nationals the series.  The Cubs may have lost this series but out of seven games the Cubs took 5 to the Nats 2.

@DanZeeeMan

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