|
|
Eric Byrnes made his Cactus League debut in the Diamondbacks 7-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox today. He got a single in three at-bats, scored two runs, and stole a base. He was on base for Mark Reynolds’ 3-run homer. I couldn’t tell from the box score how he got on the other time to score that other run.
Brandon Webb pitched 2 scoreless innings despite flu symptoms.
ByrnesBlogger1
(Rate this post)
Loading ...
photo courtesy of azcardinals.comAccording to SI.com the Miami Dolphins have signed now former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Calvin Pace. Bucky Brooks of SI.com says, “The financial terms haven’t been disclosed but is believed to include to include over $20 million in guaranteed money.”
I’ll start by saying Calvin Pace is good but not $20 million dollars in guarantee good. $20 million in guaranteed money is a bit much. The issue I’m having is if Arizona could have worked a deal with Larry Fitzgerald and Karlos Dansby early on, the Cards would have had money to sign Calvin at a cheaper price before he got to free agency. I’m not going to panic yet, Cardinal fans have been in worst situations. Let’s just wait and see how this all works itself out. But yes, for the moment I am disappointed.
(Rate this post) Loading ...
I’d ike to use this space to briefly discuss the UCLA game, and then go into depth on ASU’s tournament hopes.
Make no mistake about it, despite a 21 point route, last night’s game was a perfectly winnable one for ASU. That is, if they had played disciplined, fundamental basketball.
I see them do the drills in warm-ups. They work on closeouts and sliding. Yet when the game starts, they quit closing out, leave their feet, and forget to step out on shooters. Because of this, UCLA was able to drain 10 3-pointers at a 50% clip.
It started with Jeff Pendergraph putting up a real stinker of a game, with just 5 points and 3 rebounds. He was hesitant to make a move to the basket early in the game, and he got extremely frustrated when double teamed, turning over the ball 6 times total. Herb Sendek finally took him out of the game for a while after Pendergraph failed to step out on a hot Darren Collison.
Derek Glasser also put up his worst game of the season. He made several bad passes that lead to turnovers, and just couldn’t help our offense get started. James Harden couldn’t get anything going on offense either.
Rihards Kuksiks is turning into a nice offensive weapon, but he’s still been lackluster on defense. He doesn’t have the lateral quickness to stop someone from driving around him, and he hasn’t done a good job of stepping out on shooters. Still, along with some of Eric Boateng’s work, Kuksiks was one of the few bright spots for this game.
UCLA is a good team, and this was an expected loss. It’s frustrating, however, to see ASU blow one that would have likely locked them in for March Madness.
So where does this leave ASU in the hunt for the tournament?
The Sundevils are currently 5th in the Pac10 with 7-8 record. They hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over UA (also currently 7-8).
Over the past five season, the Pac10 has averaged just about four and a half teams making it to the tourney. This season, the Pac10 is probably the strongest it’s been in a while. Therefore, the team with the 6th best credentials will probably make it in. The 7th team will probably be on the outside looking in.
UCLA, Stanford, USC and Washington State are in. All are well above the .500 mark in the conference, and hold RPIs in the top 35.
UA currently holds an RPI of 21, thanks to a solid SOS. a .500 conference record probably makes them a lock, though it likely means a win up in Oregon at the Pit (no easy task). Even at 8-10, they still have a good chance to make it thanks to that RPI.
ASU is the 6th team right now, followed by Cal and Oregon. Washington and Oregon State’s at-large hopes are all but dead. Whichever team is able to earn the final bye game (top 6 seeds in the Pac10 tourney) will have a huge advantage.
So know let’s look at how the regular season is likely to turn out:
Arizona- Last 3 games: UCLA, @ Oregon St., @ Oregon
UCLA will be too much for UA to handle, but Oregon State should be an easy win. UA handled Oregon last time, and I would expect them to take this game as well. Projected finish: 2-1 (9-9)
Arizona St.- Last 3 games: USC, @Oregon, @Oregon St.
Sun Devil fans always seem to show up in numbers against USC, and Wells Fargo Arena should be electric. I expect this to end in the Devils favor. Oregon State should also be an easy win. Oregon is also winnable, but the Devils haven’t done well on the road this season. Projected finish: 2-1 (9-9)
Cal- Last 3 games: Washington, @USC, @UCLA
Cal had a solid season, but it’s unlikely they can beat USC or UCLA on the road. Projected finish: 1-2 (7-11)
Oregon- Last 3 games: @Oregon St., Arizona St., Arizona
Just like everyone, Oregon should be able to handle Oregon State. Also expect a split with the Arizona school (likely with a loss on senior night to UA). They are in position to take all three, though. Projected finish: 2-1 (8-10)
In this situation, ASU would have the #5 seed in the Pac10 tournament, locking up a first round bye. In this circumstance, they would almost assuredly play USC at the Staple Center. Unfortunately, that is essentially a home court match for USC, so ASU would likely lose their first game.
Oregon would face Oregon State in their first matchup, before facing Stanford (whom they have already beaten) in the second round. If Oregon could pull off that upset, they could pull ahead of ASU on the bubble.
In the end, though, it’s likely that ASU takes the final spot for the Pac10. Without a win in the Pac10 tourney though, they will probably have to sweat it out until Selection Sunday.
As one of the final teams to make the cut, I expect to see ASU draw an 11 (possibly 12) seed. They certainly could match up well at that position with a mid-major team like Butler or Drake.
(2 votes, avg: 5 out of 5) Loading ...
(Rate this post) Loading ...Oh my dear Jesse, I know the feeling. After watching the Suns get shellacked two out of their last three games, I have begun to think time is running out.
This is not like me. I make a concerted effort to stay positive regardless of how things are going. The cynic in me can look at LB and be certain he has regressed this year, particularly in his decision-making. He has consistently run the offense right off a cliff when Nash is on the bench. The glass half full side of me realizes he is still a dynamic offensive talent with unmatched speed and arguably the best sixth man in the league.
Any schmoe can point out flaws because it is easy to do so. Schmoes like things nice and easy. I am no schmoe. Yet I have found myself down more and more on this new version of the Suns. Two complete and utter blowouts will do that to a man.
When the news first broke of the Marion of Shaq trade, I was more angry than surprised. This was the one and only Shawn Marion getting shipped out of Phoenix. If anyone could challenge Van Arsdale for the honorary Mr. Sun title, it would be Marion. He has done it all for the Suns. I was not amused and definitely not prepared for :07 or less to be kicked to the curb.
But then came the propaganda. And it was good. Really good. After a few days of hearing buzz words like toughness, defense, rebounding and health, I started to feel warm and fuzzy and bought in completely. Shaq’s press conference and his declaration “when I’m upset I’m known to do certain things…like win championships” did it for me. If there were a Bonertown, I’d be mayor. I believed a Shaq-led, playoff-tested Suns team would get it done and the growing pains would be minimal.
We now know the growing pains aren’t merely a voice crack here or there. Just like the lanky Ms. Spano, I have gone from “SO EXCITED” to “so…scared” in no time at all. I am scared shitless the Suns will get bounced in the first round. I am scared shitless the Lakers will continue steamrolling the league and win it all. I am scared shitless the Suns won’t have enough time to make this work. I am scared shitless the window has been slammed shut on Coach D’s vision.
It has been just five games but the returns thus far have this usually upbeat fan expecting the worst. Is there enough time? All we can do is wait and see.
And hope.
Hope Coach D can work The Big Saguaro into the offense. Hope the sudden rash of turnovers goes away. Hope Boris pulls his head out of his ass and gives a consistent effort every night. Hope all this adds up to homecourt in at least the first round.
Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.
So do your worst Phil and Kobe. Is that a bullshit rule you have behind your back, Commissioner Stern? What’s that Tony Parker? Your melon fucking head is harder than ever? You’re going to break our swingman’s face again, Jerry Stackhouse? Oh hello, God. You plan to tear calf muscles and rearrange knee ligaments?
Bring it on, all of you. My glass is half full, I can’t help it. I have to stay positive because it beats the hell out of the alternative. The mere thought of a Laker championship makes me ill.
Besides, it could be a lot worse. Winning 50+ games a year is a problem a lot of fans would like to have. We could be Sonics fans.
This Stuart Smalley daily affirmation/internal back and forth is brought to you by Black Jesus Disciples. Look for a column every Friday and please email any comments, questions, hatred, love to fknmclane@gmail.com
(2 votes, avg: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Well I guess that’s why they call them the Blues. The St. Louis team is on a downward spiral assisted by the broom wielding Bryzgalov. Coyotes with the series sweeping end score 2 - 1! The Yotes take home an ugly 2 points with Breezy stealing the game after the Yote’s PP grubs up a lead.
We didn’t draw first blood but by gum we drew next and last. All the scoring was done and over in the first period. The Blues refused to quit all game long (them boys don’t care how many points they are in back of this race, they came to play). Gotta admire their gumption as they shelled Breezy from every and any direction they could. The Bryz! shut down 15 of 16 sogs in the first period alone, giving his boys a chance to get it together.
One of the many Johnson’s scored the first goal of the night giving the Blues some much needed energy 1- 0 Blues but the Yotes got lucky with a 5 on 3. They answered quickly on the big boom of PP monster Jovo’s canon to tie it up. 1 - 1 game. With a minute still left in the following 5 on 4 the Mighty Finn tipped in Yandle’s shot to make it 2 - 1 Yotes. That would pretty much settle the series despite the Blues continuing to throw everything they had at the big Russian.
The second period got a bit ugly with penalties flying everywhere and players getting chippy and dirty in every collision. The Blues outshoot us again 14 - 8 but they were no match for Breezy’s force field. We miss fire on 3 PPs but our PK was workin overtime as the Blues got creative and desperate during the single penalty we accrued (TQ! dammitt watch your stick!) Bally and Jackman tussled a lot and ended up sitting together in the sinbin for roughin each other up.
The intensity ratched waaay up as both teams settled down to play puck rather than chuck nucks (only 1 penalty in the 3rd). We held our own in the third as far as sogs (11 - 12) but the Blue’s shots that were managing to get through to Breezy were quality and the big guy just stifled eveything. It helped that he could see everything incoming (the defense and forechecking kept the Blues pretty limited to the outside all night).
Michalek had another stunning night. I still think Yandle needs to watch a few games. Kapi is so very underrated (that kid works so very hard every game). DMo keeps scaring us to death with these close to the eye injuries. Donor had several chances but just couldn’t take the shots ( no more fighting Captain Clutch, we need that big shot of yours). Hossa looked real good including another post ringer and Jovo has been playing like hell on fire w/ hardly any blue line miscalculations to mar his offensive prowess. Go Carci go! awesome disciplined play by the resident wild child.
The lines were still funky but seemed to be a bit more stable with some defense and scoring balance on all 4 lines tonight. I hope TGO finds what he’s looking for soon. My heart can’t take it.
A great night. A beautiful win. Clinging to our place in the playoff hunt with a tenacity that has been missing in the desert for a long time. Thanks for the birthday win Yoties! Watched the game at K O’Donnell’s in Scottsdale w/ TQutie and Teal (sorry you missed us Time4) and thank you to all who wished me happy bday.
(Rate this post) Loading ...
photo courtesy of azcardinals.comI’m sick to my stomach writing this but I was driving along this afternoon and apparently the rumor is out there that the Dallas Cowboys might just be interested in making a move for Larry Fitzgerald in return for draft picks both this year and next. It was being tossed around by the local sports talk radio and it’s probably got as much validity as any other sports rumor out there, but it got me thinking, and what crossed my mind was this.
WWBD?
What Would Belichick Do?
Never mind the Cardinals front office is generally considered by most national and local media as totally undermanned, dysfunctional and clueless over the years. I’ve resigned myself to the misery of them annually drafting guys who don’t make the grade ( think Wendall Bryant and Buster Davis), signing free agents that wash out in a year or less (think Terrence Holt) or creating salary cap issues that decimate a team that is on the edge of long term success. (Think $7 million to Al Johnson to play center or the Fitzgerald contract).
No, I’ve learned to live with that mess for as long as the Bidwill’s have owned the team, which was before I was born and likely long after i’m dead. What I wanted to think through was what would a smart, forward thinking, proactive organization do when confronted with the reality that one player at the WR position is poised to eat up 1/6th of the teams annual salary cap due to a moronic contract entered into during a prior negotiation where the same agent, Eugene Parker, fleeced them before.
I came to the conclusion, that Robert Kraft, Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick would trade the exceptionally talented receiver to someone who has the money and is close enough to a championship to open the wallet and bring in a Pro-Bowl receiver. They would never, ever blow up their team salary structure for any one player, no matter how good he was, because one pulled hamstring or one blown knee means he’s on the bench and you have virtually no room to build depth.
The conclusion I have come to, is the Cardinals must trade Larry Fitzgerald.
This contract, that was foolishly entered into by the Cardinals 4 seasons ago on the gamble that Larry Fitzgerald wouldn’t develop into a Pro-Bowl caliber receiver this quickly, has now blown up in the Cardinals faces to such a degree that they enter free agency with virtually no room to sign the kind of depth players they need to sustain injuries on the offensive and defensive line, or in their secondary, that crippled them last season and would cripple them again this year. Every season I hear the same refrain from Cardinals fans, ” We’d be great if we just didn’t have the injuries”. Well guess what guys, injuries are a part of life in the NFL and good teams build a balanced unit that is deep enough to sustain itself when the inevitable injuries come.
However the problem is deeper then just the depth of the current team. The problem of that contract is that it is going to have a corrosive effect on the morale and chemistry of the entire squad. Fitzgerald is a good guy, with serious talent and it makes me sick to think of him in another teams uniform, but he would be an idiot to take a penny less then what his current contract guarantees him. The Cardinals would show him zero loyalty if his knee blew out or he had a bad year and he and every other NFL player should get ever single penny they can for the time they are playing. I keep reading quotes from Rod Graves and other “Cardinal insiders” that they expect Fitzgerald to give them a discount once they get to some serious money, ” for the good of the team and to show commitment to the Cardinals.” Are you kidding me here? The same Cardinals organization that has historically been one of the most penny wise and pound foolish football teams in the NFL? Lets remember something here, the CARDINALS and Rod Graves negotiated and signed Fitzgeralds contract and they are now complaining that he is expecting them to honor it or renegotiate it in their favor? Amazing. This contract, even if he stays and plays, is going to be the cause of jealousy, bitterness and will divide the team like nothing since the Jake Plummer contract, and we all know how that turned out don’t we.
So what would the Patriots or Belichick do?
They would find a willing buyer that desperately needs a premier wide out to match with their marquee QB or stud running back, such as Dallas, Minnesota or Green Bay, get at least two first round picks and a couple of mid round selections and then use the salary cap savings to retain players like Calvin Pace, Karlos Dansby and extend Anquan Boldin again to lock up key, core players, while adding an Alan Faneca and other veteran DL help or depth to build the foundation of your team for years to come.
It makes me sick to say it or think it, but who out there actually believes that a smart, well run front office like Pittsburgh, New England, Baltimore, Green Bay or San Diego would EVER give a guy at the WR position $35 million of guaranteed money and totally gut your ability to keep your core players intact and happy? You know they wouldn’t do it, not if it meant destroying the cap for years to come and requiring the team to rely on nothing but draft picks or guys signed for the league minimum as your back up players.
Sorry guys. I’m a huge Larry Fitzgerald fan but for the good of the team and franchise they need to suck it up, realize they are about to double down on a seriously flawed contract and ruin their chances to build a solid TEAM due to the short sighted and foolish cap and contract management that has plagued this team for years.
(Rate this post) Loading ...
maybe no one on the other team will notice that I’m stealing this base. (hee-hee)
M. Spencer Green of AP has one of the greatest jobs in the world. He gets to be in warm, but not oppressively hot, Tucson in the spring, getting PAID to take pictures of Eric Byrnes.
Sigh! Some people have all the luck!
ByrnesBlogger1
(Rate this post) Loading ...
(Rate this post) Loading ...What is it about Patrick Lalime this season that we just cannot seem to solve? He just isn’t THAT good (even though he has some decent games, he implodes waay too often). But like most do or die situations, this game was a lucky-is-sometimes-better -than-good crapshoot. 1 - 0 Hawks was NOT the outcome I was looking for.
Both goalies were playin like Nero in Rome. But Breezy got caught on a very lucky skate deflection. It sucks to lose a game that way. Both teams didn’t look like much. The young Chicago snipers never even got on the board and actually got caught up in a couple of scraps. Our snipers were puttin up a fight but couldn’t get a damn thing to go in.
I sure wish Donor hadn’t fought Frankenhead in the Calgary game (I’d bet the farm, if I had one, that the hand is acting up again), our Captain hasn’t let fly any kind of shot at all since then. 3 or 4 weeks ago there was an article that listed our wounded and the big PM had a foot problem… is it worsening? Cause he is slow and ineffective lately. At least Vrbie is pickin up speed again after his ankle issues… just a matter of time b4 the streaky, sneaky lil Czech gets hot again.
Our newest Czech may not be the prettiest thing on the block and dull as drying paint in interviews but other than unfamiliarity he didn’t look too bad last night. He even rang a post in his debut. I have hopes for him once he gets acclimated. Why throw him into a game this important when he hadn’t even practiced w/ the team though? We sure love that trial by fire thing I guess.
Sweet baby Clarence! What is with this line juggling thing? I really, really, REALLY hate it. And I’m sure the players do too. Carcillo on any kind of starting line gives me hives. I mean seriously wtf?
So anyway… we can’t find any kind of energy? Maybe we need to stock up on the Rockstar or Monster drinks instead of Coyote Koolaide cuz if we can’t hype up when these kinds of games are on the line we truly will be running in 9th or 10th place the rest of the way. If we can only beat teams like the Blues or the Kings with any kind of authority we might as well sit back on the porch.
March is definitely the cruelest month with ANA(2),VAN(2), EDM(2), SJ(2), CGY & DAL(1) to fight our way through, not to mention the surging MON and the down but by no means out OTT, we better find our game quick. We need at least 3 wins for every loss at this point in time. That schedule makes it hard to view play off hopes with any kind of … well, hope.
May the Blues will oblige us with 2 more points and may Breezy continue to be a puzzle to ANA and DAL… and pray to the hockey goddess that we can skate on Oil this month. That may just be enough to slide sideways into the playoffs. Let’s start with the Blues tonight boys! Hit all the right notes and bring Mama a birthday win home from St. Louie.
(Rate this post) Loading ...Finally, the long, boring, drug-addled off-season is really, really over! Yeah, I know, the pitchers will go at most two innings. We’ll see faces and numbers that will disappear two or three weeks from now. And my player, Eric Byrnes, isn’t even starting today; he starts tomorrow. (That’s OK, I like Jeff Salazar, the D’Backs #4 outfielder). It’s just that baseball is finally warming up, as is the weather. It’s a warm, sunny day in Oakland–at least as sunny as yesterday’s heavy chemtrail spraying will let it be–and the air is full of fly balls and possibilities.
You may have heard or read some baseball fans, including me, celebrate the pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training; it’s even worse in Boston, where they observe in literal and figurative senses, Truck Day, the day when the trucks laden with equipment leave Beantown for Spring Training. But the first day of Cactus League takes everything up a notch. The opponents are actually from other teams; from now on, they’ll play nine innings (weather permitting), and if you’re lucky, you may catch a broadcast or two in the spring, more if your team is affiliated with a superstation or has its own network.
Before you know it, the games will count! I can’t wait. The Snakes have some unfinished business to take care of.
Go, Diamondbacks!
Play ball!
Byrnesblogger1
(Rate this post) Loading ...
(Rate this post) Loading ...
(Layne Murdock/NBAE Photos) Led by MVP candidate Chris Paul (25 points, 15 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) the Hornets beat the Suns, 120-103, for the fourth straight time this season. Shaq or no Shaq it just won’t matter to the Hornets who are now 4-0 vs the Suns this year.
Stoudermire led the Suns with 32 points and 14 rebounds while LSU alumni Shaq, sharing board-patrolling duties with him, added 15 points and 7 rebounds in 32 minutes of play.
The remaining three/fifth of the Suns starting five had a night to forget as Nash scored 8 points (13 assists), Bell added 14 and Hill 10; but the three combined for a mere 10-of-28 shooting.
I am coming to the conclusion the Hornets are actually a better basketball team than the Suns this year or at least they match up very well against Phoenix. It’s no mystery the Suns are often unable to match the type of effort the Hornets put on the floor last night and keep losing games against the best teams in the Western Conference.
It’s been discussed a lot lately and that was possibly the key to the Shaq trade but this trend is becoming very alarming. Right now I can’t see how the Suns could match a team like the Hornets – or the Lakers - (young, athletic, well-coached teams with a deep bench) in a long playoff series.
They’re all preaching for patience at the Suns HQ, I know it will take time to find the right equilibrium on the court but so far what we have witnessed since the O’Neal trade is a team trying to play the same game they did before. Shaq so far had a relevant impact on rebounding and on STAT’s performance but defense and intensity – two of the keys for the future – haven’t really improved.
I am not going to worry about win-loss record too much for at least another couple of weeks but I have found myself nervously looking at the standings each morning. Just in case you didn’t notice the Suns now at 39-19, stands 1.5 games behind the Lakers and currently would be seeded 5th in the Conference, just half a game ahead of the Mavs. Better watch out.
New Orleans put a lot of energy on the court and felt the extra motivation coming from a 3-game losing streak entering last night’s game.
The Hornets opened the game in the third quarter and the Suns couldn’t match their intensity nor their outside shooting.
David West scored 27 points, Peja Stoiakovic added 17 points and Jannero Pargo contributed with 22 off the bench on 9-of-15 shooting. While the guards provided the outside shooting it was high-energy Tyson Chandler controlling the boards with a game-high 15 rebounds including 4 on offense.
The Suns will now come back home from this short 2 games in 2 days road trip to face the Sixers on Saturday March 1st (7 PM).
(1 votes, avg: 5 out of 5) Loading ...
(Rate this post) Loading ...
(Rate this post) Loading ...
