Archive for the ‘sports’ Category

Lucky 7 

Posted: May 14, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 2 of 3 with The Great One on the mound vs Pirates Jeff Locke. Both men would practically mirror each other for the first three innings.  They would each start with a 1-2-3 inning.  Then put one man on in the second and have another 1-2-3 inning in the third.  The Pirates would strike first in the top half of the fourth.  With Polanco on second and McCutchen on third Francisco Cervelli would rip a double to center scoring both men.  Jake would get out of the inning but the Cuns would be down by 2.  

Jason Heyward would leadoff with a single. Kris Bryant would walk.  Two men on for Rizzo and he sends a fly ball to center for his 11th home run of the season. Just like that the Cubs are up 3-2.  

Arrieta would have a solid top of the fifth but not before walking Locke.  Locke himself would mirror the top half but with giving up another single to Heyward. Jakes top half of the sixth would be perfect.  Ben Zobrist would leadoff the bottom half with a single but Soler would pop out.  Addison Russell would get his first hit of the day with a two run home run putting the Cubs up by 3.  The very next batter Miguel Montero would be hit but this would prompt the home plate umpire Brian Knight to issue warnings to both sides.  Both sides seem confused but it may stem from his earlier ejection of Pitates pitching coach Ray Searage.  This would also bring in a new pitcher Jared Hughes who would walk The Great One.  With two men on, Dexter Fowler would send a soft line drive to left scoring Montero.  Hughes would walk Heyward but would get out of the inning. 

Arrieta would come back out for the seventh with ease.  AJ Schugel would come into the bottom of the seventh give up a walk but get out of the inning.  Jake would come back out for the bottom of the eighth with two K’s and a ground out.  Tommy LaStella would pinch hit for Jake but go down swinging. Fowler, Heyward and Bryant would all single.  Fowler would score on Bryant’s single, Heyward to third but Bryant would be tagged trying to make it a double.  Rizzo would single scoring Heyward and now the Cubs are up 8-2. 

Justin Grimm would come in to finish the game off and he would just that with a 1-2-3 inning.   Arrieta would have another solid quality start with 11 strikeouts in 8 innings.  He would only give up two runs on three hits and walk two batters.   Another one in the books for the Cubs.  They now are a league leading 27 and 8.  Go Cubs Go!   

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

How was your week

Posted: May 14, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in basketball, hockey, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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We had what has to be considered the first upset in the NBA playoffs. On Thursday the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 113-99 to take Game 6 and win that playoffs series 4 games to 2. As Oklahoma City advances to the Western Conference Finals to face the Golden State Warriors the talk turned to what will San Antonio look like next season. The media stupidly wanted an immediate decision from Tim Duncan on if he would be back next season, but of course he didn’t have an answer. Duncan who just turn 40 years of age on April 25th was the #1 pick in the draft by the Spurs in 1997 and has spent the last 19 seasons with the Spurs. Duncan had a down year in 2015-16.San Antonio did what they could to keep Duncan healthy. He played in 61 games and averaged just 25.2 minutes per game which was a career low. Duncan also had his lowest points per game average (8.6) and rebounds per game (7.3) averages in his career. If Duncan does decide to retire he is a sure fire Hall of Fame selection. Duncan won 5 NBA championships with San Antonio and was Finals MVP 3 times. He was a 15 time All-Star and won the MVP of that game 1 time. He was also the league MVP in back to back seasons in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Duncan also won the Rookie of the Year in 1997-98. Besides Duncan the Spurs will also have to wait and see if Manu Ginobili decides to retire. Ginobili will turn 39 on July 28 and just completed his 14th NBA season. Don’t forget Ginobili didn’t start playing in the NBA until he was 25. Ginoblil played professionally in Argentine starting in 1995 before moving to Europe to play in Italy. San Antonio drafted Ginobili drafted in the 2nd round of the 1999 draft, but he choose to stay with his Italian team Kinder Bologna, which he helped win the 2001 Italian Championship, the 2001 and 2002 Italian Cups, and the 2001 Euroleague, where he was named the Euroleague 2000–01 Euroleague Finals MVP.[6] He was also named the Italian League MVP in 2000–01 and 2001–02, and made the Italian League’s All-Star Game three times during this period. Ginobili has won 4 NBA tiles with the Spurs. He is also a 2-time All-Star and was elected 6-Man of the Year in  2008. The 2015-16 season was the first time since his rookie season that Ginobili didn’t average double digit points per game. Will Duncan and Ginobili decide to retire? or will they try to make one more championship run in 2016-17?

Now over in the Eastern Conference it seems as though the Cleveland Cavaliers have been waiting two weeks to find out if they’ll play the Toronto Raptors or Miami Heat in the conference finals. Miami picked up a 103-91 victory on Friday night to force the series to a 7th game. The teams meet Sunday afternoon to decide who will move on t face the Cavaliers. Besides possible to much these playoffs couldn’t of went better for Cleveland. The Cavaliers are a perfect 8-0 in the playoffs with sweeps of the Detroit Pistons in the first round and the Atlanta Hawks in the second round. As the Cavaliers wait for their next opponent you have to wonder what kind of shape that opponent will be in. Hasan Whiteside has a sprained MCL and has already been ruled out of Game 7 against Toronto and who knows if he’ll be ready to play in the conference finals. Luol Deng did play for Miami last night, but took just 5 shots as he’s dealing wit a wrist injury and is less than 100%. If the Heat do advance Deng’s injury will linger through that series. On the Toronto side Jonas Valanciunas left the series in Game 5 with a ankle injury and has been ruled out for the remained of this series. Would that ankle be healthy enough to allow him to play in a series against Cleveland. Also for Toronto Demarre Carroll played just 25 minutes in Game 6 because of a wrist injury. Carroll also took just 4 shots in Game 6. He’ll play in Game 7 and would also play if the Raptors advance, but he’s another player who won’t be 100%. It looks as though no matter which team advances to face Cleveland the Cavaliers are going to have a huge advantage health wise heading into the Eastern Conference Finals.

The NHL is down to just 4 teams and the Tampa Bay Lighting took the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals 3-1 over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It appeared with Steven Stamkos already out for Tampa Bay that Pittsburgh would have an advantage. Then when the Lighting’s Tyler Johnson went knee to knee with the Penguins Chris Kunitz and had to miss some ice time Tampa Bay had to wonder what was next. Sadly for the Lighting what happened next was goaltender Ben Bishop needed to be stretchered off the ice with 7:35 left in the 1st period. It looked as though Bishop caught a skate on the ice and fell awkwardly injuring a knee. It was reported that Bishop’s x-rays where negative for structural damage, but his status for Game 2 in uncertain. Bishop is a Vezina Trophy nominee, but like last seasons playoffs if he’s going to miss time back up  Andrei Vasilevskiy will take over in net. Tampa Bay got out to a 1-0 lead when Alex Killorn scored his 4th goal of the playoffs at 14:46 of the 1st period. The Lighting extended that lead to 3-0 on 2nd period goals by Ondrej Palat at 2:33 of the period and then Jonathan Drouin at 18:25. Pittsburgh picked up it’s only goal of the game in the 2nd period as well when Patric Hornqvist scored at 19:05 of the period. Pittsburgh had 16 shots on goal in the 3rd period, Vasilevskiy turned them all away. For the game he stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced after replacing Bishop. Game 2 is Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Western Conference Finals doesn’t start until Sunday night and that features the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have home ice and have reached the Conference finals by knocking off the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in the 1st round and the #1 seeded Dallas Stars in the 2nd round. San Jose reached the Conference finals by beating the Los Angeles Kings in 5 games and then winning a Game 7 against the Nashville Predators to take that series.

Just to get it a record Dan the Man has picked Pittsburgh to come out of the Eastern conference after they knocked off his Washington Capitals. Dan also likes San Jose to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup finals.

You can listen to The Podcast by clicking the link

You can find me on Twitter @Burketime

Start of a new streak 

Posted: May 14, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in sports
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Game 37 of 162 pits the Cubs number four starter Jason Hammel against the Pirates ace Francisco Liriano.  The Cubs are coming off a two game double header losing streak but with the day off, they should be refreshed for the third place Pirates.  

Hammel seems to have it all under control giving up only 4 hits through 5 innings.  Liriano would match him but only through three innings.  Ben Zobrist would lead off the fourth with a single, the Jorge Soler would snag a walk to reach the first.  With no outs and two men out Addison Russell would send a fly ball to left field over the wall for  three RBI home run!  Jason Hammel would try to help himself out with a single but Dexter Fowler would end the inning with a double play.  

Liriano would come back for the bottom of the fifth to reestablish himself starting with Jason Heyward who would lead off with a single.  Again no outs but only one man on with Kris Bryant at the plate, another shot to left for a two run home run!  Cubs up now 5-0.  That wouldn’t be the end of it.  Next at the plate, Anthony Rizzo would double to center.  Zobrist would walk   Two men on and no outs.  Soler steps in the box and goes down swinging.  Russell steps in the box to knock another one out of the park but he gets called out on strikes.  David Ross steps in the box and sends a line drive to left center field for his 3rd dinger of the year.  Hammel would end the inning but the Cubs are up 8-0.  

Hammel comes into the 6th inning would with a comfortable lead. He would give up a leadoff double to Gregory Polanco and then a single to Starling Marte.  Marte would steal second, Ross would make a wild throw allowing Polanco to score.  Francisco Cervelli would send a soft ground ball scoring Marte. Hammel would get out of the inning with minimal damage.  Cubs up 8-2.  

Ryan Vogelsong would enter the bottom of the 6th and 1-2-3 on Fowler, Heyward and Bryant.  Hammel still in it strikes out his first two batters, gives up a walk and that would be all for him. Adam Warren would replace him getting McCutchen to ground out.  Jared Hughes enters the eighth and stops Rizzo, Zobrist and Soler with eases it appears.  

With a bunch of moving around, Warren would come out for Clayton Richard but he would quickly be replaced after a leadoff double.  Starling Marte would snack a single off of Trevor Cahill, then steal second base.  Cahill would get the next three batters out ending the eighth.  

Arquimedes Caminero would come into the game for the Pirates get the leadoff man out but give up s single to Ross.  With two men out, Fowler would send a double to right scoring Ross, Cubs up 9-2.  Heyward would ground out.  

Cahill stays in for ninth getting two ground outs and a walk.  Andrew McCutchen comes to the plate sending a fly ball to left center field for his 8th homer of the season.  Pirates are threatening now and have four runs.  Polanco walks.  Starling Marte comes to the plate and sends a line drive to center to end the game!  Cubs Win!  

@Danzeeeman

It’s a day-nighter (Game 1)

Posted: May 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The San Diego Padres used a couple of Javier Baez errors and a 3-run home run by Brett Wallace to end the Cubs 8-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory in Game 1 of a day night doubleheader.

After extended use of their bullpens last night both teams where hoping to get some innings out of there starting pitcher this afternoon. Kyle Hendricks struggled early on for the Cubs, but settled down to pitch 6 2/3rd innings. Hendricks racked up 8 strikeouts with 1 walk while giving up 6 hits. 2 of the 3 runs Hendricks gave up where earned. Colin Rea lasted just 5 innings for San Diego. Rea gave up 7 hits while allowing 4 runs all of which where earned. He struck out 3 while walking 4. Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Former Cub Carlos Villanueva picked up the win in relief for the Padres and another former Cub Fernando Rodney picked up the save. It was Villanueva”s 1st win of the season and for Rodney it was his 9th save this season. Pedro Strop struggled for the Cubs out of the bullpen. He didn’t record an out while giving up 3 hits, 3 runs and walking 2. Strop also took the Game 1 loss.

Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell each had 2 hits for the Cubs. Zobrist and Russell along with Anthony Rizzo and  Tim Federowicz where credited with RBI’s. Russell Federowicz and Jorge Soler each had a double in the game. Derek Norris had 3 hits in the game for San Diego while Will Myers and Adam Rosales each had 2 hits. Since 2 of the Padres runs where unearned Brett Wallace drove in 3 runs with his 2nd home run of the season and Matt Kemp picked up the other 2 RBI’s for the Padres.

The Cubs will look to start a new winning streak behind John Lackey in the night cap. San Diego counters with Drew Pomeranz on the mound. Fist pitch is schedule for 7:10 p.m.

@burketime
The Podcast

Let’s Call it Wednesday

Posted: May 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, hockey, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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I have to say I was a little disappointed when the Pittsburgh Penguins series against the Washington Capitals ended last night. I know that sooner or later they all end, but I was really hoping for a Game 7 out of this one. At first there looked as though we’d have no shot at a Game 7. Phil Kessel gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the 1st period. Kessel also scored the next goal of the game on a power play to put the Penguins up 2-0. After Carl Hagelin added a power play goal to make it 3-0 Pittsburgh it seemed as though the game might be over. When Chris Kunitz took a tripping penalty late in the 2nd period it was pretty much a must score power play for the Capitals. T.J. Oshie was able to capitalize and get Washington on the board with a goal on that power play to make the game 3-1 and give the Capitals a lot of momentum heading into the 3rd period. Now 3 goals is still a lot to make up and Matt Murray has been one of the hottest goaltenders in the playoffs; so Washington had a big hill to climb. After Justin Williams cut the lead to 3-2 with a goal the Capitals where back in the game. The Penguins seemed to lose a little bit of their composure and actually ended up taking 3 straight delay of game penalties for flipping the puck over the glass and out of play. Now this could’ve cost the Penguins the game, but Washington only scored 1 power play goal in this time. It was John Carlson who evened up the game at 3-3 and at the least Washington was even. Believe it or not Pittsburgh actually took one more penalty in the 3rd period, but where able to kill it off and we where headed to overtime.The Penguins had a really good chance to win the when there was a bit of a scrum in front of the Capitals net, but some how Washington’s Jay Beagle was able to keep out a rebound attempt to keep the game going.  The about six and a half minutes intl the overtime period Hagelin had a good look at the goal, but Branden Holtby was able to make the save. Unfortunately Nick Bonino was right there on the door step of the goal and was able to put the puck into the net to win the game for Pittsburgh 4-3 and send the Capitals home. It was a huge loss for the Capitals as they won the President’s trophy with 120 points during the regular season and they appeared to be the favorite coming into the playoffs. The victory sends the Penguins into the Eastern Conference finals against the Tampa Bay Lighting.

Now I mentioned wanting a Game 7 and there are two in the Western Conference. First up the St, Louis Blues are at the Dallas Stars tonight in there Game 7 and then tomorrow night the Nashville Predators are at the San Jose Sharks as they face off in a Game 7. While the NHL seems to be 4th on the list of the 4 major sports their playoffs are as exciting if not more than the other 3 major sports.

So who’s been the best fantasy player so far this baseball season. Now we play in two larger category leagues and according to our rankings the best player so far has been the Houston Astros Jose Altuve. Altuve was ranked 14th at the time of our draft; so it’s not a huge jump for him to get to the top. Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs) has moved up from his 13th spot pre-draft to 2nd overall right now. Manny Machado (Baltimore Orioles) has moved up three spots since the draft going from 7th to 3rd. A couple of big draft movers round out the Top 5. Jean Segura (Arizona Diamondbacks) was ranked 205th when our draft came around and he’s moved up to the 4th best fantasy player right now. Rounding out the Top 5 is Daniel Murphy (Washington Nationals) who was ranked 158th as we where drafting and is now 5th.

Pitching wise things haven’t changed t much since we drafted. Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers) was #1 going into the draft and he’s still the top fantasy pitcher. Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox) was ranked #2 as we where headed into our draft and he’s still there. Now as hard as it might’ve been to believe Jake Arrieta (Chicago Cubs) was ranked 3rd heading into our draft and according to our league he’s still at #3. The last two spots are where some guys have moved up since the draft. Johnny Cueto (San Francisco Giants) was ranked 65th overall in our league at the draft, but has moved up to the 4th best fantasy pitcher. The other big mover in our league is Jose Quintana (Chicago White Sox) he was ranked 137th overall and has found his way into the Top 5. Now obviously “It’s just May” and these rankings will change quite a bit; especially the pitching, but it’s always fun to see which players are out performing there pre-season rankings.

The Washington Nationals signed pitcher Steven Strasburg to a 7 year $175 million dollar contract this week. This came as a bit of a surprise as Strasburg is a Scott Boras client and he normally takes his players out onto the free agent market. Strasburg’s contract does have a couple of opt out clauses and some deferred money breaks down something like this.Strasburg gets a $10 million signing bonus payable on July 1, 2019, and salaries of $15 million each in 2017 and 2018, $35 million in 2019, $25 million in 2020, $15 million apiece in 2021 and ’22, and $45 million in 2023. There are salary deferrals of $30 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020 and $30 million in 2023. If he stays for the full seven seasons, Strasburg would get $15 million each year from 2017-23, followed by seven $10 million payments each July 1 from 2024-30. The use of a deferral structure is similar to the $210 million, seven-year deal that the Nationals gave another Boras client, right-hander Max Scherzer, before last season. Strasburg would earn a $1 million performance bonus each year for pitching 180 innings. The new contract has an escape clause: Strasburg can opt out and become a free agent after the 2019 or 2020 seasons. If Strasburg opts out after three seasons, $30 million deferred from his 2019 salary would be paid out in three $10 million installments each July 1 from 2020-22. If he opts out after four seasons, $40 million deferred from 2019 and 2020 would be paid out in four $10 million installments every July 1 from 2021-24.

Listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast and you can find me on Twitter @Burketime

 

Posted: May 10, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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So the Cubs had yet another rainout giving me the night off but we go with the same two men in the rotation.  John Lester would take on young right hander Ceasar Vargas. Both men would easy 1st innings and Lester would carry that into the 2nd.  Vargas would get Rizzo to ground out to leadoff the inning.  Zobrist would send a line drive to to right landing the first hit of the game.  Javier Baez would lay down a surprise perfect bunt advancing Ben to second.  Addison Russell would send a line drive over the right fielder getting himself a double but on the throw home Russell would try to get to third not realizing that Baez was still on third.  He would slide into third but the throw and questionable tag would make two outs.  David Ross would walk but Lester would end the inning on a fielders choice.  

Lester would start the inning with a pop out but would walk former White Sox, Alexi Ramirez.  Then with two outs, he would hit John Jay but get Will Myers to strike out.  Dexter Fowler would lead off with a smack up the middle for a single.  With the shift on, Heyward would take the pitch and put in play with nobody at third.  With no men out and a slight shift in the outfield, Chris Bryant would pull a double down the line in left, scoring both runners. Rizzo would send one right back at the pitcher but with Ramirez covering second, he stops a possible single and another run scored but Kris would advance to third. Zobrist would squeeze one right in between 1st and 2cd scoring Bryant.  With one out, Baez would send a line drive to left in an inning that looks more like batting practice.  The Padres would intentionally walk Russell. With bases loaded, David Ross would send Matt Kemp through the warning track making the grab but Zobrist would tag and score.  Lester would fly out to end the inning. Cubs after 3, 5-0.  

With two outs in the top of the fourth, Melvin Upton, Jr would not only get the first hit but also the first run with a solo shot to left field.  Fowler would lead off the bottom half with a walk but would be out on Heyward’s fielders choice scored 4-6.  Rizzo would get his first hit of the game pushing Jason the third base.  Zobrist would make it 3-3 for the night knocking in Heyward, Rizzo to third.  Baez woul fly out to Kemp to end the inning.  Cubs, 6-1

Top of 5, Lester goes in with a solid lead, giving up a first pitch single to Jose Pirela.  Ramirez would double to center scoring Jose thier second run of the night.  However, after reaching second, Ramirez would be taken out of the game.  John Jay would double to right scoring pinch runner Adam Rosales.  Lester would get Myers to fly out and get Matt Kemp to watch strike three go by.  Cubs 6, Padres 3.  

Luis Perdomo would come into the fifth and get Addison Russell to strikeout.  Ross would send a bouncer back to the pitcher and Lester would end the inning with a ground out.  In the top of the sixth, Lester would have an easy 1-2-3.  Fowler would lead off with a walk but get caught up in Heyward’s double play and Bryant would strikeout to end the inning.  

Trevor Cahill would come into the 7th and strike out his first batter, walk his next, then get a called third strike.  Clayton Richard would come in for Cahill and give up a single to John Jay, prompting another pitching change for the Cubs.  Pedro Strop would come in and we finally got an update on Alexi who left with an injured leg.  First pitch Will Myers sends a shot screaming to Baez and would reach on an error to load the bases for Matt Kemp who would fly out to end the inning.  Rizzo would leadoff with a walk and Zobrist with his fourth hit of the night. With one out Russell would finally hit that triple to right field scoring two.  Cubs add to thier lead 8-3.  

Top of the eighth coming up.  Justin Grimm would come in and walk Derek Norris and give up a single to Melvin.  No outs two men on, he gets Brett Wallace swinging on strike three.  Pirela would single to load the bases and that would be all for Grimm.  Adam Warren would come in and strikeout Adam Rosales but gives up a monster grand slam to Alex Dickerson, his first home run of the season.  John Jaynwould ground out to end the inning.  Cubs 8, Padres 7.  Bottom of the eighth just one run separates the two.  Mike Quackenbush comes into the bottom of the eighth and has a 1-2-3 inning.  

Padres will get there last chance to tie or take the lead otherwise this game is over and we play two tomorrow.  Hector Rondon comes into the game and gets Will Myers looking.  Then gets Matt Kemp swinging.  Derek Norris steps into the box and grounds out to short to end the game!  Eight in a row!   “Go Cubs Go!”

@danzeeeman

Baez makes it 7!

Posted: May 8, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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It took 13 innings, but the Chicago Cubs found a way to extend their winning streak to 7 with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals. The win also gives the Cubs a sweep of the 4-game series.

After a Kris Bryant double tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 7th both teams had opportunities to score, but couldn’t get that hit they needed. Finally with 2 outs in the bottom of the 13th inning Blake Treinen hung a 2-2 slider to Javier Baez and Baez sent the ball into the left center field bleachers for a walk off 4-3 win.

Jake Arrieta started for the Cubs while Tanner Roark was the starter for the Nationals. Both of them where long gone by the time this one ended. While it looked as though the Cubs had an advantage on the mound going into the game it didn’t start that way. Arrieta had one of his worst outing in who knows when. He lasted just 5 innings giving up 3 runs with 2 of then being earned. He also walked 4 while striking out 7 and it took him 100 pitches to get through those 5 innings. Roark lasted 1 inning longer than Arrieta and gave up just 1 unearned run while walking 2 and striking out 7. It was in the hands of the bullpens after that. The Cubs bullpen pitched 8 scoreless innings while the Nationals bullpen went 5 1/3rd scoreless innings before the Baez home run ended that streak and the game. Travis Wood picked up his 1st win of the year and Treinen (2-1) took the loss.

Kris Bryant had 3 hits and 2 RBI’s for the Cubs with 1 of his hits being a double. Jason Heyward, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell each had 2 hits for the Cubs. Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa each had 3 hits for the Nationals and Ramos also drove in a run while 1 of Espinosa’s hits was a double. Daniel Murphy also added 2 hits with 1 being a double for Washington. Bryce Harper tied a major league record by walking 6 times on a game. Harper had no official at bats in the game as he had the 6 walks and in his other plate appearance he was hit by a pitch.

Washington (19-12) gets t head home after a 10-game road trip. They face the Detroit Tigers tomorrow. The Cubs (24-6) get to stay at the friendly confines as the San Diego Padres come to town to start a 3-game series on Monday.

@Burketime
The Podcast

To the Sky and Back

Posted: May 8, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Both the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs sit atop their respective divisions, one-fifth of the way through the 2016 season, the Cubs’ hot start approaching historic proportions. Their 23-6 record to begin the season, is the best since the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers started off also winning 23 of their first 29 games.
One successful component both of these teams have in common, is a pitching staff that knows its way around the batting cage. Giants pitchers lead all of MLB with eleven RBIs, while the Cubs are right behind with ten. Former Cub Jeff Samardzija leads his staff with five; Jake Arietta and Jason Hammel have three apiece.
Did you see Jeff Samardzija break the bat over his leg, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds last week? It’s not the first time I have witnessed this in an MLB game, but it is the first time I have ever seen a pitcher do it. What it says about Samardzija is threefold: He is a fierce competitor, he will display his emotion in much the same fashion as Jake Peavy and he is one strong individual.

Can you imagine how much that would hurt if the bat did not break?

Speaking of hurt, the Cubs and Giants were among at least twenty teams scouting Tim Lincecum, who spent the off-season rehabbing from a degenerative hip issue. He had arthroscopic surgery last fall and showcased his pitching repertoire Friday in Scottsdale.

Lincecum, who reportedly hit 91 on the radar gun, was 7-4 for San Francisco last season, with a 4.13 ERA and a WHIP of 1.48. He has made it clear that he wants to start, so of course, the Dodgers were also at the showcase. 

From Giants fans’ perspective, could anything possibly be worse than seeing a sneering Timmy, throwing scuds at Giants players, while they flailed helplessly? I think not. It would make Juan Uribe’s defection to LA after the 2010 season pale in comparison, and that one was brutal. 

Interestingly, the Cubs first selected Lincecum in the 48th round of the 2003 draft, but he went on to attend the University of Washington and was subsequently selected in the tenth round by the Giants in 2006. 

Timmy’s credentials include back-to-back Cy Young Awards (2008-09), and he was crucial in two of the three Giants World Championships. With both the Cubs and Giants leading their respective divisions, acquiring Lincecum would be as much about preventing him from going to a rival, as it would be about improving the team.

Though earlier when Lincecum expressed the desire to start, Bochy made it clear that he wanted to give both Jake Peavy and Matt Cain as much time as they needed, to pitch their way back into form. Now, with Peavy’s ERA at nine, right where it was all through spring training, and Cain’s at 7.86, Bochy has to be reevaluating his thought process.
One thing in the Giants’ favor is that when asked where he would most like to end up, Lincecum’s immediate choice was San Francisco. Let’s face it, like Pablo Sandoval, Timmy achieved super hero status regardless of how he performed.

San Francisco’s embracing of Timmy as a Bay Area icon, included a spirited campaign following the 2009 season to “Let Timmy Smoke,” following Lincecum’s citation for indulging in cannabis. It was an indication, prior to any of the three title runs, that Giants fans were willing to follow their diminutive pitcher to the sky and back.

After signing a two-year contract for $35 million prior to the 2014 season, Lincecum failed to live up to heightened expectations, but all would be summarily forgotten, were Timmy to don the Orange and Black again.

All fans have to do is think back to that dominating 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the 2010 NLDS, when Lincecum struck out fourteen batters and helped lead San Francisco to a 3-1 series win over the Braves. 
Or if that doesn’t work, then ponder Timmy’s role as a key reliever in the 2012 World Series.

As a starter or as a reliever, Lincecum was able to disregard the bright lights and distractions that post-season play features, and that is a characteristic that is attractive to all contending teams.
Considering both the Cubs and Giants are contenders, this battle to sign Lincecum may just be the most important one of 2016.
Mark O’Neill

Making it 6 in a row.

Posted: May 7, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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It was about 25 degrees cooler than yesterday and the wind was blowing straight in at Wrigley Field, but the Cubs and the Nationals still combines to score 13 runs in the Cubs 8-5 victory. It was the 6th win in a row for the Cubs and there 3rd straight over the nationals. The Cubs will go for the sweep of the 4 game series tomorrow afternoon. Lefty Gio Gonzalez got the start for the Nationals and through 5 innings he was able to keep the Cubs in check and the Nationals had a 4-3 lead. Jason Hammel struggled through 5 innings for the Cubs. It took Hammel 97 pitches to get trough those 5 innings and he walked more batters (4) then he struck out (3). Spencer Patton was the first Cubs reliever out of the bullpen, but he couldn’t get anyone out. It was Patton’s first appearance since being called up from Triple-A Iowa. Patton gave up 1 run while walking a batter and not recording an out before Clayton Richard came in to finish off the top of the 6th inning. With the way Gonzalez was pitching it looked like the 2-run lead might be enough for him. After a line out a single and a sacrifice bunt there where 2 outs and a man on 2nd for the Cubs. Jorge Soler singled to right, but 3rd base coach Gary Jones choose not to test the arm of Bryce Harper and the Cubs had runners on 1st and 3rd. Addison Russell singled to make the score 4-3 and end Gonzalez’s day. Blake Treinen walked the only hitter he faced; pinch hitter Tommy LaStella to load the bases. Lefty Sammy Solis was brought in to face left handed pinch hitter Ryan Kalish. Kalish managed a chip shot into short left field that Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa just missed. How ever you want to describe Kalish’s hit it drove in 2 runs and gave the Cubs a short lived 5-4 lead. Travis Wood started the Top of the 7th on the mound for the Cubs, but after giving up a lead off triple t Ben Revere he was removed for Adam Warren. After a strikeout for the 1st out of the inning Harper was intentionally walked and it looked like when Ryan Zimmerman hit a ground ball that Warren would get the Cubs out of the inning. Zimmerman beat the double play throw to first base as Revere scored and the game was tied at 5. In the Bottom of the 7th with 1 out Anthoy Rizzo hit a ground rule double. After and intentional walk to Ben Zobrist Solis was replaced by Shawn Kelley. It was Russell again who came through big for the Cubs. He hit a fly ball down the right field line that looked like it might go foul. Harper moved over to the foul line to try and catch the ball and it went off his glove barely in fair territory for a double. Two runs scored on the play and the Cubs had a 7-5. “Russell’s hit could be described as a Wrigley Field double as it looked as through Harper pulled up a little to not hit the wall. In any other ballpark he would’ve had the room t make the catch and end the inning.   Now the game was in the hands of bullpen combo Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon. Strop pitched the 8th and struck out all 3 Nationals hitters he faced. A Zobrist RBI single in the bottom of the 8th gave Rondon a 3 run cushion for the 9th inning. A Daniel Murphy fly out to left. a strikeout of Revere looking and an Espinosa ground out 3rd to 1st ended the Nationals 9th inning and gave the Cubs their 6th win in a row.

Warren (3 -0) got the win for the Cubs. Strop picked up a hold (7th) and Rondon recorded his 6th save of the season. Solis (0-1) took the loss for the Nationals. Tomorrow it’s Jake Arrieta against Tanner Roark in the series finale.

@Burketime

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How was your week

Posted: May 7, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in Auto Racing, baseball, golf, NASCAR, sports, Uncategorized
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MLB

The Chicago Cubs have won the first two games in their four game series against the Washington Nationals to improve their record to a Major League best 22-6. When the season was getting under way most if not all of the media expected the Cubs to be good and they haven’t disappointed. At first the Cubs winning was viewed as nothing but positive since it’s the Cubs and everyone knows the story. No World Series win since 1908. Then as odd as it might seem as the Cubs continued to win these early season games the media started to question if the Cubs where that good or if it was there schedule that has been allowing them to put up this type of record; so this four game series against the Nationals was seen as a big test for the Cubs.

The Cubs opened the 2016 season with an odd 2-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Behind the starting pitching of Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester the Angels didn’t score in either game and the Cubs started off the season 2-0. The Angels are currently 13-16 and weren’t the challenge the media thought they’d be for the Cubs. The Cubs stayed out West for a 4-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks looked to have won the off season, but that didn’t translate into this series as the Cubs took 3 of 4. Arizona is currently 13-18 and in last place in the National League West; so they apparently weren’t the match up the experts where looking for the Cubs to face either. After their  trip out West, the Cubs came home for their home opener and a 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, which the Cubs swept. While it’s difficult to sweep a team this wasn’t much of a surprise to anyone. The Reds did get of to a good start to the season, but are now 13-17. After the Reds, the Colorado Rockies came to Chicago for a 3-game series and the Cubs hit their first speed bump of the season as the Rockies took 2 of 3 in this series. Colorado is one game under .500 at 14-15, but the N.L. West is so close that they’re just one game of of 1st place. After losing there first series of the year the Cubs went back on the road to face there rivals the St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-game series. This was looked at as the Cubs first test of the season and they appeared to pass as they took 2 of 3 games in St. Louis. The Cardinals have struggled a little bit and since they’re just .500 at 15-15 this series win wasn’t good enough for the Cubs. The Cubs then went to Cincinnati for a 4-game series against the Reds; which they where expected to win and they took 3 of the 4 games. It was back to Chicago for the Cubs and another N.L. Central match up; this time against the Milwaukee Brewers. Because of rain the series ended up being just 2 games and the Cubs won both. This was another expected outcome as the Brewers are in rebuild mode. Milwaukee is 11-18 and currently in last place in the N.L. Central. The Atlanta Braves where the next team on the schedule as they came to Chicago for a 3-game series, but more rain allowed just 2 games to be played and the teams split the shortened series. Was this the chink in the Cubs armor experts where looking for? The Braves are also rebuilding and have the worst record in baseball right now at 7-21, but look out they won a game in Chicago. The Cubs headed back out on the road and jumped back into N.L. Central play as they faced the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3-game series. This was suppose to be another test for the Cubs as the Pirates where and still are in 2nd place in the N.L. Central. This appears to be another test the Cubs passed as they swept the Pirates. Pittsburgh is 16-13 on the season. This brings us to where we are now with the Cubs facing the Nationals.

You’ve seen the schedule the Cubs have played and are they just a creation of the teams they faced or are they a serious contender. I hope you’re leaning towards contender and you’re not looking to make excuses for the tams success. I’ve also been trying to figure out how the schedule is the Cubs fault. I believe the schedule was set by Major League Baseball  and the Cubs or any other team don’t have anything to do with the scheduling of games. Will the Cubs continue to win games at a clip of .786 like they are now; probably not. While the Cubs are on a 5-game winning streak right now and they haven’t lost back to back games there will probably be some times when they lose multiple games in a row. Will that be the test the media needs, to see how they bounce back from a losing streak or is it something else. While it’s still too early in the season to hand the Cubs the World Series trophy they look like a team that might be in the mix for it at the end of the season.

NASCAR

The Sprint Cup series is going racing tonight in the GoBowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. Chris Olmstead usually joins the Sports Time Radio podcast on Sunday mornings to preview the race and give his Top 3 drives he thinks has h the best chance to end up in victory lane. Well with the race being on Saturday night Chris has sent us his picks for tonight’s race. Chris is going with Kevin Harvick; who’s starting 26th, Chase Elliott who’s starting 13th and Kyle Busch who’s starting 6th. Martin Truex Jr. took the pole with an average speed of 190.921 miles per hour. Matt Kenseth starts 2nd with his teammate Denny Hamlin starting 3rd. Kurt Busch will start the race 4th and last weeks winner Brad Keslowski rounds out the Top 5 starting 5th. Hopefully Chris will be able to join The Big Jack and Mr. Fantasy on Sports Time Radio tomorrow (Sunday) to review the race.

PGA

Zac Blair is a professional golfer and yesterday he was disqualified from the Wells Fargo Championship on Friday for using a bent putter. Now how did Blair’s putter get bent? Well Blair missed a putt on the 5th hole of his round on Friday and proceeded to hit himself in the head with his putter and bent it. Everything would’ve been fine if Blair hadn’t use the putter, but Rule 4-3b states that you can’t use a non-conforming club and by bending his club in anger Blair had a non-conforming club. Blair could have tapped in with a wedge and played the rest of the round without a putter. The Rules of Golf allow you to replace a damaged club during a round but not if the damage was done in anger. Blair  approached a rules official on the sixth tee and explained the situation, which resulted in disqualification. Blair was 4 over par at the time and in danger of missing the 36-hole cut. In case you’re wondering Andrew Loupe is leading the tournament at -8 going into Saturday’s round.

Listen to The Podcast on BlogTalkRadio.com and you can find me on Twitter @Burketime

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