The Sox once again scored early, but couldn't hold on to the lead this time as Victor Martinez and the Indians pounded Boston last night at Fenway. The Sox pushed two across in the second inning, when Jeff Bailey hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice and Jonathan Van Every singled in Mike Lowell. That was all the offense could muster against Carl Pavano (yes, THAT Carl Pavano), as the big right-hander went six strong innings to earn the win. The victory was Pavano's second consecutive win this season and the first in his career at Fenway Park.
Martinez had a huge night for Cleveland, going 3-for-5 with a double, homer, four RBI and three runs scored. The Indians first baseman is now hitting .398 for the season. Third baseman Mark DeRosa also had a big night, notching three hits of his own, including a two-run blast into the Monster seats in the seventh off of Sox reliever Hunter Jones.
Sox starter Justin Masterson once again looked shaky, giving up six earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched on eight hits and three walks, while striking out six. It may be time for Theo to consider bringing one of the youngsters up from Triple-A Pawtucket to start in Masterson's place, until Dice-K is ready to return to the rotation in a few weeks. Phenom Michael Bowden flirted with a no-hitter last night against Toledo, and has a paltry 1.08 ERA in the minors this year. The hard throwing right hander could be an option to fill in for a few starts.
The loss snapped a nine-game home win streak for the Sox, which dated back to the April 17 contest against Baltimore. They look to get another streak started tonight in the series finale against Cleveland, as veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (3-1, 2.91 ERA) tries to continue his hot streak against Jeremy Sowers, who is being called up to make his first 2009 start for the Tribe. Aaron Laffey moves into the bullpen to make room for Sowers. First pitch is at 7:05 from the Fens.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Manny busted for PED's
By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
It looks like Juan Pierre will finally get that playing time he's been asking for. Accordingly to ESPN, Manny Ramirez will be suspended for 50 games due to a positive test for performing enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball has yet to announce it so we don't have any idea yet as to what he was actually busted for.
This is a huge setback for both the Dodgers and the MLB. Manny has totally transformed the Dodgers lineup since his arrival last July. He's provided confidence to young players like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and James Loney. Luckily the Dodgers play in a terrible NL West division and have a deep enough lineup to still play above .500 and maintain the division lead during his absence.
I can't stress enough how big this is for baseball. The 4 best players of my lifetime have now been linked to PED's. He joins Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds in PED infamy. I have never been a Manny fan for his off field, and sometimes on field, antics and this just makes it even worse. He showed his true scumbag colors by the way he acted in shooting his way out of Bostons. His already shaky image has now been completely tarnished. If he was stupid enough to take something now, there's is no doubt in my mind he has been taking something all along. With that being said, you should certainly reconsider his amazing stats.
Here's to hoping this doesn't send the Dodgers in a tailspin!
Should Brett Favre stay retired? No!
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Say what you want about Brett Favre, but what's really the big deal if he decides to come out of retirement again to play for the Minnesota Vikings this time?
He can do whatever he wants, as far as I'm concerned.
Is he hurting the game of football by trying to wiggle his way back into the league? No. It's great from a business standpoint, mind you.
I can see if he was downright awful -- well, you could make a case he was pretty gross down the stretch when the Jets started 8-3 and went 1-4 in their final five games-- but he's proven he still has something left in that tank (remember Pats fans, they beat us, 34-31, at home in overtime).
He had 22 TDs and 22 INTs and threw for 3,472 yards in New York last season.
He's got to be better than at least half -- and maybe even more -- starting quarterbacks in this league.
Yes, I know, he's retired twice. The first after 16 years in Green Bay, and then coming out of retirement and forcing a trade from Green Bay. He goes to the Jets, they flop late and he retires after the season.
Football may be the only thing he knows how to do, and it's obvious he doesn't know how to stay away from the game.
Now, he's got that pigskin itch again. Apparently, he's meeting with Vikings coach Brad Childress today, and who knows what's going to be said and if Favre will unretire again?
I think health is a major issue with Favre. He had an arm injury that he elected to not have surgery on at the end of the season, but he's had to test his arm if he's even considering coming back.
I'm not a huge Favre fan, mind you. I think he makes too many poor decisions, forcing the ball where it doesn't belong, but he's fun to watch. You never know if you're going to see the great Favre or the bad Favre. That's the beauty or ugliness of that right arm.
Plus, I'd love to see Packers GM Ted Thompson try to spin Favre playing with the Vikings like Favre's the worst guy on the face of the earth. If it happens, I'll love Favre's response because we all know they both hate each other.
Favre, who got his release from the Jets after retiring, always wanted to play for the Vikings and stick it to Thompson, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Packers who didn't think he could get the job done anymore.
Now, he might get his chance to play in the NFC North -- a division he knows inside and out -- and try one last run at a Super Bowl title.
There's one thing I do know about Brett Favre: He's a heck of a lot better than what the Vikings have under center right now (Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson, John David Booty). If the Vikings want to win now and think they have a shot at the playoffs and a Super Bowl title, then Favre's the right guy to get, as long as he's healthy and understands he's not the centerpiece to this offense (Adrian Peterson is, of course, in the backfield).
If you think Favre can't help out the Vikings, well, you're crazy, and you don't know football!
C's make a series of it again, 112-94
By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Anyone else taken aback by that final score? It almost bears repeating ad nauseum.
Boston 112, Orlando 94. Let that sink in for a minute.
How the heck did they pull this one off without Kevin Garnett, with Paul Pierce in foul trouble most of the night, and with Brian Scalabrine playing a kid-you-not 34 minutes? Two things happened last tonight that triggered this explosion.
First, the Celtics dictated the tempo -- and it was uptempo, for sure. The C's attempted 80 shots (10 more than Orlando), committed 34 assists to just 10 turnovers, and had almost every major contributor rating at least a plus-nine. The only guy who played more than two minutes to get a negative plus-minus for the night? Take a wild guess (Marbury).
When Rondo is on, this team is hard slow down. And apparently, it no longer matters that two of the Big Three aren't on the court -- when he's clicking, there's just no stopping him. Fifteen points, 11 rebounds, 18 assists and just three turnovers? Sweet deal.
The second thing they did was find open shots on the perimeter. In case you missed it, Eddie House had yet another night for the ages, pouring in 31 points (including a perfect 4 for 4 on 3's) and was nearly perfect from the field (11 of 14). A few more games like this, and I bet we start comparing him to Gerald Henderson in the category of "role guys who absolutely bailed out the Celtics in the playoffs."
The combination of those two put Dwight Howard out of synch. He got his double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), but wasn't nearly as effective on offense (5 for 13 field goals). Having to sag to the perimeter more to cope with the shooters, Howard ended up with zero blocks after making a Nike commercial out of the C's in Game 1.
I think we underestimated these guys up until this point. There's a lot of fight left in them.
A few more thoughts from around the basketball world:
--At the beginning of the season, I thought there were six legitimate contenders for the title: Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio, Detroit, LA Lakers and Houston. I'm sticking with my Houston pick as a dark horse, and you saw why in Game 1. Without their biggest defensive liability (Tracy McGrady) on the court, they became a grittier team that is less prone to late-game collapses. Yao Ming has transformed into a solid pure center, Battier routinely takes on opponents' best player with success, and Luis Scola does the dirty work. Even Ron Artest is acting civil for once in his career.
--Two x-factors in this series: the Lakers' much-hyped Andrew Bynum, and the Rockets' shifty backcourt of Von Wafer, Carl Landry and 5-foot-6 Aaron Brooks. Almost Rondo-like in terms of fun to watch. Seriously.
-- The Nuggets and Mavericks don't play again until Saturday. That's a FOUR-day layoff. Somebody needs to fix this.
-- Cringed a little when I saw this story about Toledo basketball today. Things have swiftly hit the fan over there in the form of a point-shaving scandl, which is unfortunate for a classy guy like Stan Joplin to have to deal with. Glad to see former Charlestown High great Ridley Johnson (who absolutely owned my alma mater Oakmont in the 2005 state final) was not one of the players named in this scandal.
-- You know those new Heineken commercials, where these 20-something hipsters are singing Biz Markie in the back of a cab with the driver? Anyone else think the commercial's tagline -- "Let a stranger drive you home" -- goes against everything we were taught growing up? I'll tell you what's next...a Bud Light commercial urging us to "go ahead, take that candy from that creep in the van."
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Anyone else taken aback by that final score? It almost bears repeating ad nauseum.
Boston 112, Orlando 94. Let that sink in for a minute.
How the heck did they pull this one off without Kevin Garnett, with Paul Pierce in foul trouble most of the night, and with Brian Scalabrine playing a kid-you-not 34 minutes? Two things happened last tonight that triggered this explosion.
First, the Celtics dictated the tempo -- and it was uptempo, for sure. The C's attempted 80 shots (10 more than Orlando), committed 34 assists to just 10 turnovers, and had almost every major contributor rating at least a plus-nine. The only guy who played more than two minutes to get a negative plus-minus for the night? Take a wild guess (Marbury).
When Rondo is on, this team is hard slow down. And apparently, it no longer matters that two of the Big Three aren't on the court -- when he's clicking, there's just no stopping him. Fifteen points, 11 rebounds, 18 assists and just three turnovers? Sweet deal.
The second thing they did was find open shots on the perimeter. In case you missed it, Eddie House had yet another night for the ages, pouring in 31 points (including a perfect 4 for 4 on 3's) and was nearly perfect from the field (11 of 14). A few more games like this, and I bet we start comparing him to Gerald Henderson in the category of "role guys who absolutely bailed out the Celtics in the playoffs."
The combination of those two put Dwight Howard out of synch. He got his double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), but wasn't nearly as effective on offense (5 for 13 field goals). Having to sag to the perimeter more to cope with the shooters, Howard ended up with zero blocks after making a Nike commercial out of the C's in Game 1.
I think we underestimated these guys up until this point. There's a lot of fight left in them.
A few more thoughts from around the basketball world:
--At the beginning of the season, I thought there were six legitimate contenders for the title: Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio, Detroit, LA Lakers and Houston. I'm sticking with my Houston pick as a dark horse, and you saw why in Game 1. Without their biggest defensive liability (Tracy McGrady) on the court, they became a grittier team that is less prone to late-game collapses. Yao Ming has transformed into a solid pure center, Battier routinely takes on opponents' best player with success, and Luis Scola does the dirty work. Even Ron Artest is acting civil for once in his career.
--Two x-factors in this series: the Lakers' much-hyped Andrew Bynum, and the Rockets' shifty backcourt of Von Wafer, Carl Landry and 5-foot-6 Aaron Brooks. Almost Rondo-like in terms of fun to watch. Seriously.
-- The Nuggets and Mavericks don't play again until Saturday. That's a FOUR-day layoff. Somebody needs to fix this.
-- Cringed a little when I saw this story about Toledo basketball today. Things have swiftly hit the fan over there in the form of a point-shaving scandl, which is unfortunate for a classy guy like Stan Joplin to have to deal with. Glad to see former Charlestown High great Ridley Johnson (who absolutely owned my alma mater Oakmont in the 2005 state final) was not one of the players named in this scandal.
-- You know those new Heineken commercials, where these 20-something hipsters are singing Biz Markie in the back of a cab with the driver? Anyone else think the commercial's tagline -- "Let a stranger drive you home" -- goes against everything we were taught growing up? I'll tell you what's next...a Bud Light commercial urging us to "go ahead, take that candy from that creep in the van."
NHL Goes into Overtime
By Matt Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
There were two games last night on the docket, Caps vs. Pens and B's vs. Canes. Both games did not disappoint this hockey fan (other than the Bruins losing). Each had great goaltending, back and forth offensive pressure, and an exciting sudden death period.
Let's skip to the third period in both.
Evgeni Malkin, who looked to be the best player on the ice, gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead with 4:59 to play in regulation with a goal. After taking a pass from Sidney Crosby, Malkin brought the puck between the circles and fired a laser-like wrister that went high over Simeon Varlamov's stick and in. At 17:32 into the third the Caps went on the powerplay. Alexander Semin, with the puck near in the left circle, waited opportunisticly before taking a shot that Ovechkin tipped. Fleury made the save, but the puck bounced to his right and Nicklas Backstrom, standing on the goal line, was able to bang it in off of the goalie's backside to take it to Overtime.
Boston's Mark Recchi, a key member of the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup championship team in 2006, tied it with just under 11 minutes left in regulation when he scored on a deflection, redirecting a Chuck Kobasew's shot from the wing past Ward to make it 2-all. Thomas kept it tied by withstanding an onslaught by the Hurricanes, who had a 38-19 shots advantage before overtime.
Overtime
In overtime Pittsburgh had huge pressure on the Caps young goalie Varamov. Eventually that pressure led to a facoff in the Caps zone, 11:23 in to the extra session. Crosby cleanly won the right-circle draw back to Mark Eaton at the blue line. Eaton slid a pass to his left for Kris Letang, who left Game 2 in the third period with an undisclosed injury nad was questionable for game 3, blasted a one-timer that ricocheted off Caps' defenseman Shaone Morrisonn and whizzed past Varamov.
Instead of playing for their playoff lives on Friday night, the Penguins can even the best-of-7 series by winning Game 4 at home.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
There were two games last night on the docket, Caps vs. Pens and B's vs. Canes. Both games did not disappoint this hockey fan (other than the Bruins losing). Each had great goaltending, back and forth offensive pressure, and an exciting sudden death period.
Let's skip to the third period in both.
Evgeni Malkin, who looked to be the best player on the ice, gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead with 4:59 to play in regulation with a goal. After taking a pass from Sidney Crosby, Malkin brought the puck between the circles and fired a laser-like wrister that went high over Simeon Varlamov's stick and in. At 17:32 into the third the Caps went on the powerplay. Alexander Semin, with the puck near in the left circle, waited opportunisticly before taking a shot that Ovechkin tipped. Fleury made the save, but the puck bounced to his right and Nicklas Backstrom, standing on the goal line, was able to bang it in off of the goalie's backside to take it to Overtime.
Boston's Mark Recchi, a key member of the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup championship team in 2006, tied it with just under 11 minutes left in regulation when he scored on a deflection, redirecting a Chuck Kobasew's shot from the wing past Ward to make it 2-all. Thomas kept it tied by withstanding an onslaught by the Hurricanes, who had a 38-19 shots advantage before overtime.
Overtime
In overtime Pittsburgh had huge pressure on the Caps young goalie Varamov. Eventually that pressure led to a facoff in the Caps zone, 11:23 in to the extra session. Crosby cleanly won the right-circle draw back to Mark Eaton at the blue line. Eaton slid a pass to his left for Kris Letang, who left Game 2 in the third period with an undisclosed injury nad was questionable for game 3, blasted a one-timer that ricocheted off Caps' defenseman Shaone Morrisonn and whizzed past Varamov.
Instead of playing for their playoff lives on Friday night, the Penguins can even the best-of-7 series by winning Game 4 at home.
Carolina won the game on its first rush of the OT, but not before Cam Ward was his remarkable self, stopping Milan Lucic on a breakaway 53 seconds into sudden death, and turning aside three other quality chances. Sergei Samsonov's centering pass against his old club found Jussi Jokinen in front of Tim Thomas, who was solid in the Boston net under Carolina’s constant siege all night. Jokinen, in the crease, pounded away until the puck slipped past the goal line 2:48 into overtime.
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