Archive for January, 2010

Felipe Lopez: The Missing Piece to the 2010 Chicago Cubs Puzzle?

Posted: 5th January 2010 by Joel Reuter in MLB
With the Marlon Byrd signing shoring up the center field situation, the biggest weakness in the Cubs lineup, provided Geovanny Soto turns things around, is now at second base. It seems as though the Cubs are content to open the season with the trio of Jeff Baker, Mike Fontenot, and Andres Blanco set to man second base, with Baker in position to get the bulk of the playing time. While there ...
Almost across the board, the conventional numbers say the Steelers offense was among the best in the league, and for the better part of 80 yards, it was all of that. It ranked among the leaders in total yards (seventh overall) and time of possession (third).á ItÆs the hidden numbers that tell the real story of the 2009 Steelers offense, however. What they say is that, based on experience and ...

Eric Mangini Is Still the Browns Head CoachùMaybe

Posted: 5th January 2010 by Brian DiTullio in NFL
The ball is in Eric ManginiÆs court as to whether or not he will remain the Cleveland Browns head coach in 2010. á New President of Football Operations Mike Holmgren said he spoke briefly with Mangini this afternoon before setting up a meeting for Wednesday. á At an afternoon press conference Tuesday, Holmgren said he gave Mangini a list of things to think about for ôThe Meeting.ö á At this point, it appears Holmgren is open ...

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Decade Team: Defense/Special Teams

Posted: 5th January 2010 by Brian Carson in NFL
With the new year in full swing and resolutions set, it's time to take one last look back at the past decade. Time flies by too quickly, but with reflection, we can preserve it in our minds like it was yesterday. Last week, I focused on the offensive side of the ball selecting the Pittsburgh Steelers' All-Decade team. Now we take a look at defensive and special teams to complete this look ...

Where is Mr. Stern? Gilbert Arenas’ Stupidity Indicates Zero Tolerance

Posted: 5th January 2010 by Jonathan Mathis in NBA
The last thing the District of Columbia needs is a gun duel in Barrack’s backyard, at the nation’s capital where homicide rates are overwhelming, repulsive, and a disgrace. Years ago, the local basketball team had enough sense to change its name from the Washington Bullets to the Wizards, anxious to remove violence from a troubling society.   However, for years, the NBA has dealt with disturbing aspects of firearms in which players ...
Ultimately, the 2009 regular season will be defined for the multitude of offensive juggernauts going off on weaker defenses. á One of those weaker defenses just happens to be a team generally renowned for it: the New York Giants.á á SheridanÆs firing at the end of the season was really the only sure thing for the Giants in the month of December. The lack of pride exhibited virtually on a weekly basis sent shivers ...

NFL Late Hits: Week 17

Posted: 5th January 2010 by Andrew Garda in NFL
Apologies for the tardiness of this entry û yesterday was a sea of catch up work, pinched back nerves, and getting back on schedule. Of course, the talk on any message board I go to seems to still be circling the "Bengals/Colts must go to hell for giving the Jets a free pass." ItÆs understandable. While I submit there is an excellent chance the Jets could have (and this weekend will) beat ...
The Philadelphia Phillies have announced that they have signed Danys Baez to a two-year, $5.25 million contract. He jumped the final hurdle, which was a physical examination. Baez, 32, went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 appearances last season with the Baltimore Orioles. He held right-handed hitters to a .197 average and opposing hitters to a .222 average in 71.2 innings. In his 10-year career in the majors, Baez has played ...
ItÆs been a trying season for Josh McDaniels for various reasons. At the tender age of 33, he was thrust into the role of NFL head coach last winterùand at least as far as his teamÆs fan base is concerned, has failed miserably so far. So it begs the questionùis there such a thing as being too young or inexperienced to be an NFL head coach? I think so, and thanks to ...
It won't be too much longer before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell tells the St. Louis Rams they are on the clock with the first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. At that point, the team will have a choice to makeùshould it select Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh or Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen? The Rams need help at the quarterback position, but 1-15 teams have a lot of needs. It tends to ...