Let’s call it Wednesday

Posted: April 13, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in Auto Racing, basketball, hockey, sports, Uncategorized
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NBA

The NBA wraps up there regular season tonight and there are still a couple things to be decided. The big story is the Golden State Warriors going for the 73rd win tonight. That would set a new record for wins in a season if they get it. The Warriors play host to the Memphis Grizzlies tonight. Memphis is currently the 7th seed in the Western Conference, but record wise they are tied with the Dallas Mavericks; so a win might be the difference between the Grizzlies opening the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs (which they would as the 7th seed) or the Oklahoma City Thunder. It will be a difficult game for the Grizzlies to win as Golden State is 38-2 at Oracle Arena this season. Memphis has had it’s share of injuries this season as leading scorer Marc Gasol to a foot injury that ended his season after 52 games. Point guard Mike Conley hasn’t played since March 6th and it doesn’t appear that he’ll play tonight against Golden State. Memphis does still have Zack Randolph (Z-Bo) and Lance Stephenson has played better in Memphis than he has in his stops with the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers. No one expected Golden State to lose to the Boston Celtics or the Minnesota Timberwolves at home, but you have to wonder if Memphis has enough quality healthy players to make this a game. It would be a bit of a surprise if they could and you have to expect that the Warriors will cruise to their 73rd victory and a new NBA record.

Tonight is also the last game in the great career of Kobe Bryant. Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz. Not only is it an important game because Bryant is ending his 20 year NBA career, but the Jazz find themselves tied for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Utah is tied with the Houston Rockets for that final playoff spot and the Rockets hold the tiebreaker over the Jazz. Houston is hosting the Sacramento Kings tonight and if they win they’ll claim that final Western Conference playoff spot, but if the lose they’ll open the door for the Jazz to grab it. I don’t think I can say anything about Bryant that hasn’t already been said. Bryant is an 18 time All-Star and won the MVP of that game 4 times. Bryant has won 5 NBA Championships and was voted finals MVP in 2 of those 5 finals. Surprisingly Bryant won just 1 league MVP Bryant is the 3rd highest scorer in NBA history with 33,583 points trailing only Karl Malone who is 2nd and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the career scoring leader. Bryant has had his injury issues the last few seasons, but tonight will be his 66th game of the season. He is averaging 16.9 points per game to go along with an average of 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. It’s been a down year for the Lakers as they are 16-65 entering tonight’s game. Since it’s looking like it’s a must have game for the Jazz can Bryant’s teammates send him off with one more win?

NHL

The NHL playoffs start tonight with 3 of the 8 opening round series getting started. On this evenings'(Wednesday) podcast of Sports Time Radio Dan the Man will give you his predictions for the opening round. Not only will he be picking which team he thinks will win the series, but how many games that series will go. Tonight starts with the Detroit Red Wings at the Tampa Bay Lighting followed by the New York Rangers at the Pittsburgh Penquins and the nightcap is the Chicago Blackhawks at the St. Louis Blues. Thursday night start with the Philadelphia Flyers at the Washington Capitals. I can guarantee you that Dan will be taking the Capitals to win this series since they where his pre-season pick to win the Stanley Cup. Then it’s the New York Islanders at the Florida Panthers after that we’ll get the Minnesota Wild at the Dallas Stars with the nightcap being the San Jose Sharks at the Los Angeles Kings. Now the Kings where my pre-season pick to win the Stanley Cup; so will see if Dan picks them to advance. There is one series that won’t open until Friday night as the Nashville Predators are at the Anaheim Ducks for their Game 1 while the other teams that play tonight will be playing their Game 2. I haven’t heard why the Nashville/Anaheim series is starting later than the other ones, but I guess they’ll all even out down the line. Since you’ll be able to get Dan’s picks tonight; who do you have winning the Stanley Cup?

NASCAR

Kyle Busch took the win Saturday night in the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. With the win Busch joined Jimmie Johnson as the only drivers with 2 victories this season. Busch got the win with Dale Earnhardt Jr. finishing 2nd, Joey Logano who was the pole sitter finished 3rd, Johnson came home 4th and rookie Chase Elliott rounded out the Top 5 in 5th place. The Sprint cup drivers are headed to Bristol Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Food City 500. Can Busch or Johnson be the first guy to get his 3rd win this season or might we see someone new get their 1st win of the season and qualify for The Chase. Of course we might also see Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin or Brad Keslowski get their 2nd victory of the season.

Tony Stewart was awarded the Major General Thomas Sadler Award while the Sprint Cup series was at Texas Motor Speedway. Stewart received the award for his charitable contributions to the Texas chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities organization. During Stewart’s acceptance speech fans had hoped that he might reveal when he would return to the #14 car. However Stewart did give any timetable for his return. He suffered a serious back injury in an all-terrain vehicle accident just prior to the start of the season and has been out of the driver’s seat recovering. Stewart made it clear in his speech that he looked forward to being back in the car competing alongside those active drivers. He has been doing rehabilitation work for his back injury. The thought was that Stewart would return right around the time of the All-Star race, but right now no one knows for sure.

 

You can listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast on BlogTalkRadio.com

 

You can follow me on Twitter @Burketime

Opening Day @ the Freindly Confines!!!

Posted: April 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, Minor League Baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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I really try to keep my emotions out of these recaps but damn this one is difficult to contain because well spoiler alert, CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!!!  Now they’ve one on opening day in Anahiem and won 3 out of 4 in Arizona but there’s nothing like a win for the Cubs at Wrigley.  Now I wasn’t there but the excitement deep within my gut was still there watching them get their first win at home today!  

So let’s go!  John Lester opens up the season at home with a single to leadoff man Zack Cozart who would advance to third on a Joey Votto single to left field.  He would then score the first run on a ground out by Brandon Phillips.  He would make it through the second but would give up a home run to Billy Hamilton putting the Reds up 2-0.  Brandon Phillips would lead off in the fourth with a single and would reach 2 on Devin Mesoraco’s ground out that was scored 1-6-3, which means Lester touched it, Addison Russell picked it up and threw it to Anthony Rizzo.  Phillips would then steal third and score on Brandon Finnegans single to center.  But that would be all she wrote for the Reds as Lester would allow one base runner in the fifth and sixth.  Trevor Cahill would start the seventh off with a double to Adam Duvall but would stop him from advancing and would close out the inning.  

Reds starter Brandon Finnegan would coast through six only allowing base runners on walks with out any real damage until the seventh, which he would get through two but would give up a line drive single to center by David Ross.  After a visit to the mound, he would walk Matt Szczur and get pulled for Caleb Cotham, only to walk Fowler and get replaced himself by Chicago area native Tony Cingrani.  Jason Heyward would send a line drive to right scoring Ross & Szczur.  He would get out of the inning to come back in the eighth.  The top of the eighth would see former Yankee Adam Warren come into the game giving up a single to Joey Votto but finishing the inning out strong.  

Cingrani would get Rizzo to ground out but would walk Zobrist then hit Soler.  Jumbo Diaz would come into the game and all but almost immediately give up a two-run home run to left center, putting the Cubs up 5-3.  Ross would ground out and the guy that would take Starlin Castro’s crowd exciting, player clapping, mascot dancing walk up music, Munenori Kawasaki would line out to right.  

But the excitement doesn’t stop there!!!  Hector Rondon would come into the ninth getting Jay Bruce, Adam Duvall & Scott Schebler to not only strikeout but would recieve three backwards K’s to get his second save of the season, giving Adam Warren his first win in front of 40,882 people all singing “Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago, Whattaya Say, The Cubs Are Gonna Win Today!” 

@danzeeeman
@sportstimeradio
Sports Time Radio Podcast

How the Cubs won the West!

Posted: April 10, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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Today the Cubs wrapped up a week long trip that started with a sweep in Anahiem, a huge loss but a big win in Phoenix.  

Ace, Jake Arrieta faced off against Shelby Miller and the different uni everyday, Diamondbacks who helped himself to one of the longest home runs this season in Chase Feild projected by Stat Cast as reaching 440 feet to take the lead at 2-0. He would get some help in the fourth from Miguel Montero by knocking in Tommy La Stella for his 5th rbi on the year. 

Chris Owings & Paul Goldschmidt would give Arrieta a little trouble but it would be the bottom of the fourth when Goldschmidt would lead off with his second homer of the season.   After a David Peralta double, Jake Lamb would send him in to cut the lead to one.  Arizona would tie it up in the bottom of the fifth.  23 year old Center fielder Socrates Brito would launch his first career homer against Jake and would rack up one more hit.  After that, Jake would stop them from creating anymore damage through seven.  He closes his second start with a respectable 1.93 ERA, giving up 8 hits, 3 earned runs, 6 strikeouts but walking nobody.  Justin Grimm would come into the eighth and Neil Ramirez would see the ninth, with niether pitcher giving up a hit or run.  

The Cubs, on the other hand, would not be silenced. In the top of the sixth, Jorge Soler would hit his first home run of the year, La Stella would single, given Nathan Hale a reason to bring in Randall Delgado to close out the sixth.  But he wouldn’t have as much luck in the top of the seventh.  Jason Heyward would walk and would move over to third on a Kris Bryant single.  Soler would send a sac fly to fight scoring Heyward, while Bryant would score on a line drive to center by Tonmy La Stella causing another pitching change.  

After closing out the seventh, Jake Barrett would give up a single to Addison Russell, then he’d hit Fowler but strikeout Zobrist.  Heyward would single to left collecting his third RBI, scoring Addison give the Cubs a 7-3 lead which turned into another W and Arrieta his second win of the season. 

 In the top of the ninth, Arizona would bring out 32 year old rookie Matt Buschmann who’s made a career in the minors.  He would get Matt Szczur to ground out but would give up a single toCubs  newcomer, Munenori Kawaski, who was just activated due to the Schwarber injury.  Kawasaki would steal second prompting Arizona to walk Montero intentionally but getting Russell to ground into a 4 – 3 double play.  
Neil Ramirez would come into the ninth striking out the first two batters faced and getting the last  to pop out to Heyward to close out the game.  

Despite the season ending injury to Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs had a great week out west.  Let’s hope with the excitement of seeing the new clubhouse, the Cubs can continue to play as they did out west, with the huge weather change here in Chicago!

@danzeeeman
 

Cubs settle on 4

Posted: April 10, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Here we are just game five but it seems nothing can stop the mixture of youth and experience.  26 year old Kyle Hendrix would take to the mound in front of 32,000 at Chase field which had many Cubs fans in attendance.  Kyle was very successful through the of three.  In the forth Chris Owings would lead off with a single and then stealing second base putting himself in scoring position. He was able to move over to third on a routine infield ground ball and then score on a wild pitch.    He would fend them off until the bottom of the seventh. When David Peralta would lead off with a single to second base.  He would steal second and then score on Brandon Drury’s double to left.  This is where new Cub Adam Warren would enter the game taking it to the ninth where Hector  Rondon would take over and close out the game.  

My biggest question of the season, was how is the pitching going to perform.  So far they are keeping up with the offense.  Hendrix would go 6 and 2/3 giving up only two runs on four hits.  He walked one but struck out five.  Adam Warren would go an inning and a third receiving his first hold and Rondon would close out the game for his first save of the season.  

The Cubs would start off very aggressive against one of the best pitchers in the MLB, Zack Greinke.  You have to wonder if he is still playing catch up after game 1 with the flu.  In the first, Heyward, Zobrist and Rizzo would all reach on singles, with Rizzo’s scoring Heyward.  Chris Bryant would double to center and earn an RBI. Miguel Montero would send a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Rizzo putting the Cubs up 3-0 on the first.  In the fourth, Zack would strikeout Hendrix but then walked Fowler.  After another K, Zobrist would come to the plate and send a liner to center, doubling and scoring Fowler.  The Cubs would continue to hit the ball but Greinke and the bullpen would stop them from scoring any more runs.  

The Cubs seemed to have bats seemed to have have come back down to earth.  Which isn’t a bad thing as long as they are still winning!

@DanZeeeMan

How was your week

Posted: April 9, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in Auto Racing, baseball, golf, sports, Uncategorized
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MLB

After last night I’m sure a lot of people are asking, who is Ross Stripling? As you know by now Stripling is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who had a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants last night for 7 1/3rd innings, but was removed from the game because he was on a pitch count. Stripling is 26 years old and played college baseball at Texas A&M. He was originally drafted in the 9th round of 2011 amateur draft by the Colorado Rockies. Stripling didn’t sign with the Rockies and after spending another season in college the Dodgers selected him in the 5th round of the 2012 amateur draft. Stripling is a right handed pitcher who has spent the last 3 seasons working his way through the Dodgers minor league system. Stripling has made 48 minor league starts and has appeared in 55 minor league games before this season. His minor league record was 12-10 with an ERA of 2.83 over 235 1/3rd innings. He had 1 complete game in the minors and also recorded 1 save. The Dodgers have had their share of injuries to starting pitchers and they where looking for a 5th starter to open the season with. Stripling was able to land that 5th starter spot with his spring training performances. Overall this spring Stripling made just 1 start, but appeared in 4 games covering 11 innings overall this spring. Stripling was 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA but did average a strikeout an inning during spring training. The Dodgers saw enough in Stripling to give him the 5th starters job and for 7 1/3rd innings last night it paid off. While it was a great outing for Stripling sadly he ended up with a no decision and the Dodgers ended up with a loss in extra innings last night. Stripling’s official line was 7 1/3 rd innings 0 hits, 1 run allowed, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. The Dodgers gave Stripling a 2-run lead in the 5th inning as A,J, Ellis and Corey Seager each singled in the inning to drive in runs. After Stripling walked Angel Pagan Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went to the bullpen for Chris Hatcher. The first Giants batter Hatcher faced was catcher Trevor Brown who greeted him with a 2-run home run to tie the game at 2-2. The game stayed tied at 2 into the bottom of the 10th inning. Joe Blanton came out of the Dodgers bullpen to pitch the 10th inning. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was the first batter Blanton faced and Crawford hit the 2nd pitch he saw over the left field fence for a walk off home run. Sadly Stripling’s great outing went for nothing as the Giants ended up taking Game 1 of the series 3-2 in 10 innings. The teams meet again on Saturday and it will be  it will be Clayton Kershaw against Madison Bumgarner in their first match up of 2016. The ace lefties are each 1-0 in 2016 and matched up four times in 2015. This will be the eighth overall meeting between them.

The Chicago Cubs lost their first game of the 2016 season last night 3-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but really the first loss this season for the Cubs happen before the game started when it was announced that outfielder Kyle Schwarber will miss the entire 2016 season with a knee injury. Schwarber collided with centerfielder Dexter Fowler in Thursday night 14-6 victory as they where going for a fly ball in the left centerfield gap. Schwarber had to be carted off the field and an MRI showed that Schwarber suffered full tears to the ACL and LCL in his left knee. Schwarber also suffered a severely sprained ankle in the collision with Fowler.  Schwarber is expected to have surgery in one to three weeks and will remain at the Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona, until he is ready to travel back to Chicago. The Cubs hope that Schwarber can return for spring training next year, but with damage to two ligaments, they aren’t sure of the timetable. Munenori Kawasaki will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Schwarber’s roster spot.Jorge Soler played left field in Friday nights game at Arizona. The Cubs have some depth and you may see Tommy La Stella get some playing time in Schwarber’s place, with third baseman Kris Bryant being another option in left field. The Cubs also have Matt Szczur to insert into the outfield rotation. Schwarber was a catcher by trade and is still in the learning process in leftfield. While the injury will take playing time away from Schwarber he’ll have the opportunity to watch and learn the position this season. If he’s able to return for the start of the 2017 season he may end up being a better defensive outfielder.

 GOLF

We don’t talk a lot of golf on the Sports Time Radio podcasts, but this is Master’s weekend and I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least look at who’s leading the tournament going into today’s round. Defending champion Jordan Spieth is leading the tournament at -4 under par. Spieth has tied Arnold Palmer’s record by being in the lead at the Master’s for 6 consecutive rounds. Rory McIlroy is one shot behind at -3 under. Danny Lee and Scott Piercy are tied at -2 under and then there are three golfers; Brandt Snedeker, Soren Kjeldsen and Hideki Matsuyama tied at -1 under. Spieth is trying to be the first golfer to repeat as Master’s champion since Tiger Woods won back to back in 2001 and 2002.

 NASCAR

The NASCAR car Sprint cup series takes the track tonight (Saturday) at Texas Motor Speedway for the Duck Commander 500. Carl Edwards took the pole with a s qualifying speed of 194.609. Joey Logano is starting 2nd with Martin Truex Jr. 3rd. Chase Elliot (4th) and Rickey Stenhouse Jr. (5th) round out the Top 5. None of these five drivers have a win; so they’ll be looking to use there good starting spot to get that win and lock themselves into the Chase. Chris Olmstead from BeyondtheFlag.com will join the Sports Time Radio podcast on Sunday morning as usual, but instead of his normal preview he’ll do a review of tonight’s race. As I’m writing this I don’t have Chris’ picks for his three drivers to look for in victory lane. If I can get them before the race starts maybe I’ll be able to tweet them out and let you know who he’s going with. 

I’m on Twitter @Burketime.

 Listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast on BlogTalkRadio.com

Cubs momentum Rattled

Posted: April 9, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in sports
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After receiving the worst news of the young season, the Cubs still had to take on the Diamondbacks in a closed dome at a comfortable 74 degrees.  Cubs radio broadcasters were questioning why it wasn’t open?  It wasn’t open last night, so I’ll save my foil hat for another topic.

Jason Hammel took to the mound but it seems Jean Segura doesn’t care who’s pitching because he led off the bottom of the first with a double but was unable to score. He was able to keep his composure through five innings despite giving up two walks in the fourth and a throwing error that Nick Ahmed tried to take advantage of but was thrown out at third by Rizzo.  The sixth inning sees Segura lead off with a single to right field and then steals second  base. He scores on a Paul Goldschmidt liner to Dexter Fowler.  After six, Hammel would finish with a respectable 1.5 ERA giving up four hits, one run and striking out six.

The Cubs bats were almost silenced in this close game for the ages.  Diamondbacks Robbie Ray starts off the third by walking both Russell and Ross.  Hammel would try to bunt them over to no success but reached first on a force out.  Rey would walk Fowler, then Heyward scoring the first run of the game. Zobrist would ground into a force out scoring Hammel.  As for Runs that would be all she wrote for the Cubs today.  Rey would complete six innings turning it over to Tyler Clippard, Daniel Hudson and Brad Ziegler to not only complete the game but stop the Cubs from scoring another run.

Pedro Strop would follow Justin Grimm in the eighth and would you guessed it, give up a double to Segura.  Goldschmidt would step to the plate and send a sharp ground ball to Fowler scoring Segura to tie the game.  Ziegler would finish the Cubs in order in the top of the ninth.  Travis Wood came into the ninth to retire David Peralta and subsequently was removed for Trevor Cahill who would give up a single to Wellington Castillo. Chris Owings would pinch run for Castillo and would advance to second.  With two outs and a man on second, Yasmani Tomas would send a walk off line drive to left scoring  Owings and winning game two of the series.  Giving Cahill the loss and Ziegler the win.

While the Dbacks had the right to celebrate, neither team ran the bases very well and made similar costly mistakes that prevented both teams from scoring more runs.  While they can’t win them all, had either team been less eager to grab an extra base, the outcome would have been much cleaner. Had the Cuns taken advantage of the Dbacks mistakes instead of making the same ones, they would be on a four game winning streak. But instead the lost in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth, 3 – 2.

@danzeeeman

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Cubs heat up the desert!

Posted: April 8, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The Cubs open a four game series in the valley of the sun with John Lackey getting the nod in game 3 of 162.  He doesn’t get off to the best start of the season or donning the Cubbie Blue with a first pitch leadoff home run to former Milwaukee Brewer Jean Segura.  He’s able to strikeout Nick Ahmed but walked Paul Goldschmidt and gave up a double to David Peralta.  It was Jake Lamb’s single to center that put them up 3-0.  In the bottom of the second, the Cubs would suffer their first injury with Kyle Schwarber and Dexter Fowler colliding in center allowing Segura his second home run of the night but this one scored as inside the park.  In the third, he would find himself in trouble again, giving up a triple to Peralta that scores Goldschmidt.  Peralta would then score on a sac fly to left by Lamb.  Lackey would make it through the 4th, 5th & 6th with out anymore damage. He would end up with a W but also a 9.00.  My two biggest questions coming into this season were Lackey and the bullpen.  The seven-eight-nine, Pedro Strop, Travis Wood & Hector Rondon would combine for six strikeouts giving up no runs.  I think the biggest question mark will remain with Lackey, but maybe he just needs time to catch s groove.  

He did get his first win of the season but had huge help from his offense. Ruby De La Rosa would get out of the first but wouldn’t make it passed  4 innings giving up 6 hits and 6 earned runs.  First he hit Rizzo, gave up a double to Bryant, walked Kyle and with one out gives up a 2 RBI single to Addison Russell.  After the collision in center, Bryant would move to left and Tommy La Stella would take over at third.  

In the third Heyward would reach on a single to right and would end scoring due to Rizzo’s sharp ground ball to center putting Zobrist at third.  He would end up scoring after Bryant popped out to Wellington Castillo and a bad throw to second allowing Rizzo to move to third.  Russell would start off the fourth with a double to right and scored on a triple by Fowler to right.  Ruby would walk Heyward and that would be all she wrote.  Jake Barrett would replace him with no more luck.  Fowler would score on a wild pitch.  After walking Zobrist, Rizzo would triple bringing in two more runs.  Bryant would single to third and then try to advance on a throwing error by Yasmani Thomas.  He was called out at second but it was overturned with a challenge by Maddon.  Rizzo would score.  After 4 it was 9-6 Cubs!

Kyle Drabek would come into the game for Arizona in the 5th would get into a little trouble but was able to make it through 6 only to be pulled in the seventh after walking Russell and giving up a single to pinch hitter Matt Szczur. Fowler would lay down a bunt to score Matt but Andrew Chafin would make it through the 7th.  

Strop would replace Lackey in the seventh, putting Bryant back at third and benching La Stella, with Szczur staying in left.  Randall Delgado would make it through the eighth unscathed for the Diamondbacks but wouldn’t get so lucky in the ninth.  He would walk Fowler, give up a single to Heyward, Zobrist would smack an rbi double to set up Rizzo for a three-run homer to right field.  He was able to close out the ninth but not before giving up a single to Bryant.  The Cubs continue thier domination at the plate and go 3-0 on the season. 

Schwarber’s x-Ray’s would come back with a sprained ankle.  Just waiting to hear back on his MRI.  

@DanZeeeMan

Let’s call it Wednesday

Posted: April 6, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, basketball, College Basketball, sports, Uncategorized
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The MLB

The Major League baseball season got under way Sunday with 3 regular season games and 1 exhibition game. I’m always going to bring that 1 game up because it was so stupid I just can’t let it go. Now I watched all 3 games on Sunday and I’ve been spending quite a bit of time watching the free preview of the MLB Extra Innings package. I don’t have any issue sitting down watching an out of market game to see what other teams look like. Now we’re just 2 games into the 2016 season and it’s way, way too early to start taking away anything from these games, but fans will. I understand the excitement of a fan when a player starts the season out with a hit and he thinks he’ll hit 1.000 for the season. There’s also the negative side where if a player takes an 0 for 4 in Game 1 of the season there are fans who think he’s not going to get a hit all season long. Now with fans it’s just the rooting interest for that team inside them that brings it out. Now when a teams announcers do it; it’s just plain stupid. After Bryce Harper and Freddie Freeman homered for their respective teams on opening day I heard an announcer from one of the tams mention that there both on pace to hit 162 home runs this season. Now I’m guessing this announcer thought it would be cute or funny, but it’s not; sadly it’s just plain stupid to say. Let the fans make those kind of statements and you spend your time giving us useful information about the players. This wasn’t the only example I saw. As the Chicago Cubs where on their way to a 2 game series sweep over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim they couldn’t help pointing out that there next opponent the Arizona Diamondbacks have gotten of to an 0-2 start and a couple of there off season additions Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller had rough outings. While I don;t know how much it affected his pitching performance, but after the game it was revealed that Greinke had the flu. As far as I know Miller just had a rough outing to start the season. I don;t understand why you’d post these stats on the screen when your team is playing so well to start the season. Are we suppose to believe that Greinke and Miller are going to be this bad all season long. I’m guessing the Cubs announcers where pointing this out because the Cubs will face Greinke and Miller in there series against the Diamondbacks, but it seemed as though they expected to pitch the same way against the Cubs. I actual wondered if there was some bitterness on the Cubs part as they had a couple of chances to acquire Miller, but couldn’t get a deal done; so they want to point out to there fans that they did the right thing. Now maybe they both will go out and have another tough outing against a Cubs team that can really hit the baseball, but even if they do it’s only 2 starts of 30 plus they should make this season. Of course this is also the Diamondbacks opening series at home for the 2016 season and they could both easily come out and have quality starts against the Cubs. Now if your a Cubs fan you know that it can be difficult to keep their television announcers focused on what’s actually going on in the game. They have a tendency to wander off topic for one reason or another, but I’m hoping since the Cubs are suppose to be a very good team this season that won’t happen as much. I’m sure there are many, many, many more examples of this, but these where the two that stuck out to me. Please stop doing this and just call the damn game. Oh by the way sorry Cubs fans, but the St. Louis cardinals will win some games this season.

NCAA

The NCAA basketball season ended for the men on Monday night and the woman last night. The men’s game featured a great finish to the game between North Carolina and Villanova. Now I wish I could say that I saw every minute of the game and it was the greatest tournament final of all time, but I can’t. I turned the game on just in time to see Marcus Paige of North Carolina hit that split legged 3-pointer to tie the game up. I was smart enough to stay with this game to watch the final play. Villanove inbounded the basketball with 4.7 seconds left. They rushed the ball down the floor and Kris Jenkins hit buzzer beating 3-pointer to give Villanove the win and the national championship. Seems to me like I flipped over the game at the perfect time. Now I didn’t see any of the woman’s championship game, but looking at the final score it went like a lot of people have been saying it would. The Connecticut Huskies defeated the Syracuse Orange woman 82-51. I believe Connecticut had been beating teams in the tournament by an average of 40 plus points; so this game was closer than people thought it might be. I wish I could crag as I did pick Connecticut to win the tournament in my women’s bracket, but given the fact that they where dominant all season and undefeated coming into the tournament; I’m guessing they where a very, very popular pick. The Connecticut victory capped off a great college career for Breanna Stewart. She was part of 151 victories and only five losses at Connecticut. She was Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four an unprecedented four times. She won the Wade Trophy twice. Stewart, fellow senior Moriah Jefferson and red-shirt junior Morgan Tuck, became the first college basketball players, men or women, to win four titles.

NBA

With a handful of games left in the NBA regular season and the Golden State Warriors 4 wins away from setting the record for most wins in the regular season you have to wonder if they should go for it. Golden State has loss it’s last two home games. One to the Boston Celtics and then last night in overtime to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Is it time for Golden State to give their starters some rest and focus on defending there NBA championship or is the wins record that important. Golden State was untouchable at home and now to have dropped two games to teams that most people think they shouldn’t of lost to has to bring up that question. If Golden State gets that 73rd win and sets the record, but doesn’t win the NBA championship was it worth it. While records are nice; they can be broken. Championships however go down in history.

You can find me on Twitter @Burketime

You can listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast on BlogTalkRadio.com

Cubs, Angels game 2

Posted: April 5, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Minor League Baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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U It’s game 2 of 162 and Jon Lester gets the nod.  There’s big expectations for this team, especially the top 3 in this rotation.  If you were listening to the Big Jack & I on the podcast, he asked me what I’d like to see out of Lester.  Being that #ItsOnlyApril, I’d be happy with him completing 6 innings with a max of 6 hits possibly 2 runs.  You’d hope he’d not go passed 100 pitches and get at minimum 5 K’s. Now he ended going a full 7 innings giving up only one run on four hits.  He only had four strike outs but walked no one.  He ended up only throwing 93 pitches.  Very solid outing. At first it appeared, that he might night come out but he was relieved in the eighth by Trevor Cahill, who struck out one in 2/3. Daniel Nava was announced as the pinch hitter, which prompted Maddon to call Travis Wood to the rubber who closed out the eighth inning.  Pedro Strop would come into the 9th, striking out Mike Trout, getting Pujols and CJ Cron to ground out to sweep the Angels in this two game series.

As for the lineup, Maddon switched it up for game 2, was he listening to us today?  The Big Jacks biggest question was Ben Zobrist in the three hole.  He stayed with Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward in the one, two but put Chris Bryant in at three, followed by Zobrist, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, Matt Szczur and catching David Ross.  

Pitching for the Angels, Andrew Heaney held was able to hold the Cubs to nothing in two innings despite an injury delay due to a bloody nose.  But in the top of the third it was Szczur who got things going with a lead off home run. Ross would go on to double and move over to third on a Fowler single to short stop.  Heyward would ground into a force out at second but scoring Ross.  Bryant’s fly ball to left would advance Heyward but it was Anthony Rizzo’s brute strength that would score Heyward on 400 foot home run to dead center.  

In the 7th inning Mike Scioscia, would bring in 24 year old, right handed Mike Morin to face Matt Szczur who reached on a soft liner to Mike Trout.  David Ross would like out to Trout but it was Dexter Fowlers line drive home run to right that would bring Szczur home and secure the Cubs lead at 6-1.  After that, the Angels bullpen would hold the Cubs from creating anymore damage. 

The Cubs were able to stop the Angels biggest stars combined Albert Pujols & Mike Trout went 0 for 15 with 5 strike outs.  I think someone needs to remind the Angels that spring training is over…sorry had to steal that line!  Overall I think we will start to see the Cubs settle into a groove over the next month.  Last night we saw three less strikeouts but Schwarber wasn’t in the line up, which may have given them one or two more but with I’m sure with one bomb, but Szczur filled that spot.  I still think down the line pitching may be an issue which is why I’d love to see Soler perform better than 1-8.  I believe that if he’s able to get going he would be the guy to bring back some value by the trade deadline.  Hence why Maddon is going to do what he has to, to get him the lineup. Just hoping he doesn’t lose his value like Javier Baez has done. 

Game 2 and the Cuns and Pirates are tied for 1st but like I said earlier #ItsOnlyApril

@danzeeeman
@SportsTimeRadio
STR podcast on BlogTalkRadio.com

Cubs Wins! Cubs Win!

Posted: April 5, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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For anyone not paying attention, Major League Baseball had its season premiere Sunday April 3 and it didn’t start in Cinncinatti.  This year it was in Pittsburgh, who started off strong, just like the division rivals and everyone’s favorite to win the World Series, the Chicago Cubs.  

They started off strong in Anahiem  with a Dexter Fowler double to right, who scored on a ground ball to Mike Trout by Anthony Rizzo. Fowler would go on to collect two more singles and another run on a ground ball to short in the top of the 7th by Kris Bryant, while Rizzo would round the bases in the fourth, scoring on a single by Jorge Soler. 

The biggest surprise of the night, especially for me would have to be Miguel Montero.  If you were listening today on Sports Time Radio, I told the Big Jack that I loved the lineup put together by Joel Maddon besides the Catcher spot and to chalk it up as outs.  Now he must have been listening because he made me eat my words. He went 2 for 5 with a single in the fourth, scoring Kris Bryant, whose patience paid off by reaching first on a walk.  Miguel would go on to send a two run blast to right field in the sixth, giving Soler his second Run of the night and taking the honor as the first Cub to hit a home run for the 2016 season.  

The last of the action came in the top of the ninth with the top of the order.  Fowler would reach on a walk and then pushed over to third on a Ben Zobrist single to right. He would move over to second on another walk by Bryant.  Matt Szczur, who was a defensive substitution for Kyle Shwarber, who went 0-4 with two strikeouts, in the bottom of the seventh came up to bat in the ninth, clearing the bases with a double to left.  This secured the win for the Cubs at 9-0.  

Jake Arrieta showed why he was the 2015 Cy Young Award recipient, holding the Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem to two hits and no runs through 7 striking out 6 with only 1 base on balls.  Solid outing for Jake but we would see Justin Grimm come into the game in the eighth, giving up a lead off double to C. J. Cron but with the help of some great defense by Heyward, Rizzo, Chris Bryant & Addison Russell, the side is retired with no damage.  Travis Wood came into the game in the bottom of the ninth with a huge lead but was able to retire the Angels in order, giving the Cubss they’re first W of the year.  

They were able to score a lot of runs last night, which secured the win but for me, I’d like to see less than 12 strikeouts per game but as long as they win, no one is going to care how often they strikeout.  Game 1 of 162 and it started off strong!

@DanZeeeMan

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