Now that hockey is over and football hasn't started yet I can focus all my attention on baseball. Starting with the Nationals, who lost to the Yankees (I know that was a few series ago but I got locked out of my blog to write about it). I have a deep set hate-rid for the Yankees. It's not the kind of hate-rid that you have for a rival team, but the kind you reserve for arrogant teams who think they rule all of baseball because of how much money they have. The Yankees are like the Jets of baseball. Unfortunately, no matter how much I hate them, it pains me to say that they are a good team, but it's true. When the Yankees rolled into town to play the National everyone paid attention. The Nats had just swept their last two series and most Nats players and fans were hoping to do the same to the Yanks. That's not quite what happened. They lost all three games to the Yanks, it stung to say the least. But everyone has to move on to the next thing, in this case it was the Tampa Bay Rays. The three games with the Rays were interesting to say the least. Losing the first game may have in the past put a downer on the team but in the next game the Nats came back lead by Stephen Strasburg. After the game their were rumors floating about that the Rays reliever Joel Peralta had used pine tar in his glove in Tuesday's game against the Nats. Both Davey Johnson (Nats Manager) and Joe Madden (Rays Manager) jumped into action; Johnson by ordering an inspection of Peralta's glove and Madden by defending his player. Peralta also got involved in the word battle by basically saying, "Lots of people use stuff to help them in this game." It's cheating! It doesn't matter if other people do it or not it's still cheating. You may be wondering how Johnson found out about the pine tar. Some of the Nats players were suspicious of how Peralta was playing and told Johnson like they should have. This shows that their are still some people in the world of baseball who care about the sport. They are trying to make it better. If you think that they are ratting out players so they can personally gain or win more games then you may need your head checked. Yes, I won't deny that some may do that but more likely than not they are trying to better the sport they love. The Nats went on to win their next two games against the Rays but continued to bonce back and forth between wins and losses with the Orioles, Rockies, and now the Braves. They won the first match up with the Braves but lost today 7-5 in the sweltering heat of Atlanta. Strasburg had to leave the game early due to a heat related issue. The two teams match up again tomorrow at 1:35.
So I lied about hockey being over. With the NHL draft and all the free agents and traded players bouncing about it hard to keep everyone straight.
-The Capitals have a new head coach: Adam Oates. He has 19 playing seasons in the NHL and has been an assistant coach for two teams. During his playing career, he played for a time in Washington and was part of the only Capitals team to make the Cup Championships. Maybe he could lead the team to another Championship.
-On a side note, one of the keys to another Championship is Ovie. The Great 8. Not the hoe-hum 8 we've seem these past few seasons but the Great 8 that we had during his first few years. I think that he still has it in him but he just lost his way. He needs someone who he can respect and someone who can respect Ovie in return. Someone who's been there before. Someone like Oates.
-They traded prospect Cody Eakin and the 54th overall pick in the draft to the Dallas Stars for center Mike Ribeiro. Ribeiro is the strong center the Caps have been looking for and now have, but Eakin was good so that may be a little bit of a loss in the future.
- Dennis Wideman traded to the Calgary Flames (bummer, I liked him).
I think that's all besides the ever looming threat that Semin may leave. Hopefully with Oates now as the head coach he may reconsider leaving.
To golf. The AT&T National, Tiger Woods pet project, is going on this week. On one of the days the reporter asked some kids who they liked best in the tournament. The answer: Tiger Woods. The kid went on to say something about how great he thought Tiger is and that he looked up to him. Why in the world, no wait the world isn't big enough, why in the universe would you look up to him? He made huge mistakes and doesn't seem to care about it anymore. He should have spent more time with his family and less time out flaunting about with his money. Really, I see no reason to look up to him.
27 days until the Olympics.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The Amazing Nationals
I have to say that I am enjoying D.C. baseball right now. The Nats are second in the National League and in first in the eastern division. I can't remember a time when they were this good, than again my knowledge is relatively limited. Everyone in every game is shining. Bryce Harper has been awesome, to me he has come into his own. Hopefully he won't sputter out like some stars have. This past weekend the Nats swept the Red Sox at Fenway, but the Sox haven't been that good this season.
Moving on to hockey. The L.A. Kings for the first time got to hoist the Stanley Cup last night. They're the first 8th seed team to clinch the western conference and go on to win. Once the Capitals were put out of the running by the Rangers, I wanted the Kings to win. Mostly because they were the major underdog team. They barely made it into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. But in the post-season it was a different story. They were winning games left and right. By the time they reached the finals against the New Jersey Devils, the Kings had become a powerhouse. In the finals they won the first three before the Devils pushed back winning games 4 and 5. After the Devils won game 5 at home the Kings had the home ice and fans on their side. Although in these playoffs home ice hasn't been an advantage like in past years. You could tell by how hard they played that the Kings really wanted the Cup and they wanted it that night. They didn't want to wait until Wednesday to get it. Well, they got what they had worked so hard for all season. Everyone on the team took a turn to skate with the Cup and relish in the glory of the win. Jonathan Quick, the King's goalie, won MVP. He deserved it, he was run into so many times, every game somebody was in his net. He only allowed 7 goals in the final six games. I may have to consider them next season as a favorite.
In football:
-The Patriots let Chad Ochocinco go, but he already has a new job with the Miami Dolphins
-The preseason is just around the corner, and I can't wait to see all the new Redskins players in action.
The US Open is coming up this week where Rory McIlroy will defend the title he won last year, but some think that Tiger Woods will come into his own again. Please, Tiger is never going to be as good as he once was. He may get a little better but never that good. There are just to many players younger and better than he is (although not all the good ones are young, some are older than Tiger).
Ok I think I've covered everything important that's happened in the sports world.
Moving on to hockey. The L.A. Kings for the first time got to hoist the Stanley Cup last night. They're the first 8th seed team to clinch the western conference and go on to win. Once the Capitals were put out of the running by the Rangers, I wanted the Kings to win. Mostly because they were the major underdog team. They barely made it into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. But in the post-season it was a different story. They were winning games left and right. By the time they reached the finals against the New Jersey Devils, the Kings had become a powerhouse. In the finals they won the first three before the Devils pushed back winning games 4 and 5. After the Devils won game 5 at home the Kings had the home ice and fans on their side. Although in these playoffs home ice hasn't been an advantage like in past years. You could tell by how hard they played that the Kings really wanted the Cup and they wanted it that night. They didn't want to wait until Wednesday to get it. Well, they got what they had worked so hard for all season. Everyone on the team took a turn to skate with the Cup and relish in the glory of the win. Jonathan Quick, the King's goalie, won MVP. He deserved it, he was run into so many times, every game somebody was in his net. He only allowed 7 goals in the final six games. I may have to consider them next season as a favorite.
In football:
-The Patriots let Chad Ochocinco go, but he already has a new job with the Miami Dolphins
-The preseason is just around the corner, and I can't wait to see all the new Redskins players in action.
The US Open is coming up this week where Rory McIlroy will defend the title he won last year, but some think that Tiger Woods will come into his own again. Please, Tiger is never going to be as good as he once was. He may get a little better but never that good. There are just to many players younger and better than he is (although not all the good ones are young, some are older than Tiger).
Ok I think I've covered everything important that's happened in the sports world.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Hunter leaves and look who's winning
Guess what boat the Washington Capitals are in again? They don't have a head coach, again, for the second time, this season. Dale Hunter decided to focus on his family and he wanted to go back to coaching his minor league team back in Ontario. OK, I can understand why he wants to go back, but really? At least he waited to make the announcement until after the Caps were out of the running for the Stanley Cup. I still understand that family is more important than any job out there. Over all Hunter did do a good job with the Caps but his work style really showed through in the playoffs. Even if at times I had a half a mind to give him a talking to about several things (keeping strong players off the ice is the main thing that frustrated me) he was good for the team.
However, one player apparently didn't like how they were playing. According to what I can find, Alexander Semin didn't like how Hunter focused on the defense and basically ignored the offense. I can see were Semin is coming from, he's one of the players who spent a lot of time on the bench during games. He'll be an unrestricted free agent and from the sounds of it won't be returning to the team. Ugh, why must some many of the good players have big egos? Suck it up and play, even if it's not how you would like it. It's not about you, it's about the team as a whole group. I'm sure that there were a few players who had problems about how things were run, I don't think that there's a team out there where every one's happy. There are just to many egos and people to make everyone happy all the time. To be honest, I think that the team needs Semin and if he leaves the team just won't be the same.What do you think?
On to baseball. Has anyone besides me noticed that the Nationals aren't just having a little fluke, that they (hold on to you hats and socks if you're wearing them) are actually good this season. A shock, I know but you should have seen it coming. They have a strong roster of young players including one Bryce Harper, who has shown that he quite likes to make history in the baseball world. For example: He's the first teenager to hit home runs in back-to-back games since the 1990s, and he stole home plate. Not impressed? You should be. Another star player, Stephen Strasburg, has a bad game the other day. Here's the link to an article that sums it up pretty well.
Please tell me what you think of Hunter leaving and the possibility of Semin leaving.
However, one player apparently didn't like how they were playing. According to what I can find, Alexander Semin didn't like how Hunter focused on the defense and basically ignored the offense. I can see were Semin is coming from, he's one of the players who spent a lot of time on the bench during games. He'll be an unrestricted free agent and from the sounds of it won't be returning to the team. Ugh, why must some many of the good players have big egos? Suck it up and play, even if it's not how you would like it. It's not about you, it's about the team as a whole group. I'm sure that there were a few players who had problems about how things were run, I don't think that there's a team out there where every one's happy. There are just to many egos and people to make everyone happy all the time. To be honest, I think that the team needs Semin and if he leaves the team just won't be the same.What do you think?
On to baseball. Has anyone besides me noticed that the Nationals aren't just having a little fluke, that they (hold on to you hats and socks if you're wearing them) are actually good this season. A shock, I know but you should have seen it coming. They have a strong roster of young players including one Bryce Harper, who has shown that he quite likes to make history in the baseball world. For example: He's the first teenager to hit home runs in back-to-back games since the 1990s, and he stole home plate. Not impressed? You should be. Another star player, Stephen Strasburg, has a bad game the other day. Here's the link to an article that sums it up pretty well.
Please tell me what you think of Hunter leaving and the possibility of Semin leaving.
Monday, May 14, 2012
A Win within a Defeat
It was a painful game to watch Saturday, with New York scoring first in the opening seconds of the game. But I do need to back up a few games.
In Game 3, it could have been called a endurance match. The Capitals and the Rangers played almost two whole games by the time the Rangers broke the dead lock. The players had to be giving their all in every period but thought three extra periods they must have been ready to drop. How they managed to play as hard as they did, even in the end, I don't know but it must have been a relief for everyone (players, coaches, management, staff, etc.) on both teams to just go home and sleep. Unfortunately, when the game closed the wrong team won. Final score 2-1 Rangers.
Games 4 and 5 could have been the same game played twice but with a different victor. Both ended 3-2, the Caps won game 4, the Rangers won the game 5.
Game 6, the pivotal match to decide if the Rangers would take the series in Washington or would the Caps force a final game in New York. The Caps came through and gave the Rangers some tough love. Final Score 2-1.
Back to Saturday's game. It was hard yes, painful yes, and caused many a Caps fan to try and find a silver lining in the hard loss that put the Capitals out of the running for the Stanly Cup this year. If anything these playoffs have shown us about the Caps is that for once they seem to work almost better in the postseason than in the regular season. Yes, it might have been hard at first for some of the players to change halfway thought the season to the new style of coaching brought by Dale Hunter. But it all seemed to come together just in time. The team worked in sync with each other to unseat the reigning champs and worked hard to put the Rangers out of the playoffs. Even if they didn't succeed with the Rangers they did prove to everyone (even if some won't admit it) that they still have a chance and still have what it takes. They may view it as a loss or failure but I don't think it was a complete loss. Being transformed into the gritty, grind-it-out-no-matter-how-long-it-takes type of team they were in the playoffs was no easy task. If they had beaten the Rangers and moved on to the 3rd round I'm confident that they could have beaten the Devils.
On a final note, for any skeptics out there still, why don't you try and do what those guys just did with a rookie (in the playoffs) goalie and a 'rookie' coach who they had to adjust to midway into the season and totally change how they play. Pretty good and I don't doubt it.
In Game 3, it could have been called a endurance match. The Capitals and the Rangers played almost two whole games by the time the Rangers broke the dead lock. The players had to be giving their all in every period but thought three extra periods they must have been ready to drop. How they managed to play as hard as they did, even in the end, I don't know but it must have been a relief for everyone (players, coaches, management, staff, etc.) on both teams to just go home and sleep. Unfortunately, when the game closed the wrong team won. Final score 2-1 Rangers.
Games 4 and 5 could have been the same game played twice but with a different victor. Both ended 3-2, the Caps won game 4, the Rangers won the game 5.
Game 6, the pivotal match to decide if the Rangers would take the series in Washington or would the Caps force a final game in New York. The Caps came through and gave the Rangers some tough love. Final Score 2-1.
Back to Saturday's game. It was hard yes, painful yes, and caused many a Caps fan to try and find a silver lining in the hard loss that put the Capitals out of the running for the Stanly Cup this year. If anything these playoffs have shown us about the Caps is that for once they seem to work almost better in the postseason than in the regular season. Yes, it might have been hard at first for some of the players to change halfway thought the season to the new style of coaching brought by Dale Hunter. But it all seemed to come together just in time. The team worked in sync with each other to unseat the reigning champs and worked hard to put the Rangers out of the playoffs. Even if they didn't succeed with the Rangers they did prove to everyone (even if some won't admit it) that they still have a chance and still have what it takes. They may view it as a loss or failure but I don't think it was a complete loss. Being transformed into the gritty, grind-it-out-no-matter-how-long-it-takes type of team they were in the playoffs was no easy task. If they had beaten the Rangers and moved on to the 3rd round I'm confident that they could have beaten the Devils.
On a final note, for any skeptics out there still, why don't you try and do what those guys just did with a rookie (in the playoffs) goalie and a 'rookie' coach who they had to adjust to midway into the season and totally change how they play. Pretty good and I don't doubt it.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Dear Dale Hunter
First off, all Capitals fans reading this please take a moment to do a little party dance. Did it? Good. Moving on to the game. If you didn't know, the Capitals won game 2, 3-2, in New York, with foul curses raining down on. Speaking of foul language the Rangers fans need to have their mouths washed out with soap or something. All throughout the game they chanted Ovie *****(rhymes with pucks). Even under the wrath of the fans he manged to score the game winning goal. One thing that's still bugging me is the fact that Dale Hunter has kept one of his most power players off the ice for most of the post-season. Maybe if he lets Ovie on the ice more we could win these series more easily. For once it seems that the team as a whole is working together as one unit - supporting Holtby and getting on the board first. Not bad for a game 2, but we still have a long fight ahead if we want to go further.
P.S
Hunter, if you're reading this then I highly suggest that you put Ovie on the ice more.
P.S
Hunter, if you're reading this then I highly suggest that you put Ovie on the ice more.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Dethroning the Champs
First off I do apologize to any and all Bruins fans out there but I was pulling for the Capitals. I was desperately hoping that it wouldn't go to a game 7 but of course it did. Playing in Boston is hard enough but with it being game 7 and the Bruins being the reigning champs, it just added that much more pressure. The game got out to a slow start with both teams acting tentative, holding back, not wanting to make a mistake. Everyone knew that just one slip up could mean the difference between winning the game and losing. The Caps were first to score, in the first period, with a goal from Matt Hendricks. But not to be out done the Bruins scored a goal of their own from Tyler Seguin late in the second and into overtime we go. At this point a fan of either team would have to be hiding somewhere away from the TV or radio because it just wouldn't have been possible to watch without having a major mental break down due to the stress. Well, that was my case at least. Less than three minutes into overtime the Cap's Joel Ward put the puck past Tim Thomas on a deflected shot from Mike Knuble. To all the fans in TD Garden it was hard to take. The number two seed and reigning champs lost to the number seven seed. It was cool to see that even though he was on the losing team, Thomas still had a good attitude. Just before leaving the ice he skated over to where a few kids sat in the front row and gave them a smile. It's cool to see that even in one of the tougher sports the players are still down to earth.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Post Season Hockey and just about everything else
I wish I could see into the future or something like that so I wouldn't always forget about writing on this blog but I do and it means that there is a lot to cover.
In hockey there are clean games and well... some not so clean games. Take for example the Caps-Bruins match up. For the most part it's been pretty clean, even if in Monday's game it didn't look like it. Just compare it to the Flyers-Penguins series that's going on. It's a blood bath of a match up. I don't know how anyone can appreciate those two teams when they're acting like kids out on the ice fighting over everything. The Caps have been pushed around by the Bruins and they've pushed back but it's been more of a civil discussion than a drunken bar brawl which is all I can think of the describe the battle in Pennsylvania. One more quick thing before I move on to last night's game. I have quite enjoyed reading the paper recently because of all the fun adjectives that the writers have been using to describe Zdeno Chara, the Bruins 6-foot-9 defenseman. Words like banshee and behemoth have been tossed around. He can be both of those and more than an opposing force at times. The Caps may have entered in this series as the underdog, but being the underdog against the Stanly Cup Champs has to put some fire under the Capitals. It could be just what they needed to actually get farther than the first or second round. But first they have to win game 7 in Boston. Let's do a quick recap of a games so far
GAME 1, Holtby holds his own in his first game in the postseason of his NHL career against the reigning champs only allowing one goal the whole game. Final Score: 1-0 Bruins
GAME 2, the Caps put up a fight not wanting to be put a into a rut by the Bruins. With a goals by both Brouwer and Backstrom the Caps tie the series. Final Score: 2-1 Caps
GAME 3, back on home ice most would think that the Caps would have the upper hand. But they didn't. Final Score 4-3 Bruins
GAME 4, still on home ice the Caps needed the win or they would have a hard doing so back in Boston, but they did get the win. Final Score: 2-1 Caps
GAME 5, this game was very different from the rest, mostly because the Caps got out to a two goal lead and held on to it for a few minutes but the Bruins came and tied it up right before the end of the second. Final Score: 4-3 Capitals. Finally the Caps had a 3-2 lead on the series.
GAME 6, well the the lead in the series was short lived. The Bruins won in D.C. to even things up. Final Score: 4-3 Bruins.
GAME 7 is going to be a get down and get 'er down type of game for both teams.
Also going on in the NHL. The Flyers win their series with the Penguins, the Blues win in their series with the Sharks, and the Predators win over the Red Wings.
In Football news, I am still brooding with frustration at both the Jets and the Broncos for the trade of Tim Tebow. It seems like the Jets just did that for publicity but that's my view with the info that I have access to. For the Broncos, well... (devious grin crosses my face) they're basically screwed. Why? Payton Manning is why. The Broncos made a huge mistake on a guy who maybe has a year left in him. On top of that he (again this is just from what I was able to learn) isn't really that good at training a guy to replace him.
Again this year the NFL is having three games played on Thanksgiving. Detroit vs. Huston, Dallas vs. Washington, and New York Jets vs. New England. I'm going to have to eat early. The New Orleans Saints haven't been very saintly recently. With the bounty hunting scandal and now finding out that the GM may have been able to listen in on the other team. Really? Doesn't anyone play clean anymore? This is just getting out of hand.
In the golf world Bubba Watson won the Masters, and is in a very funny video called Golf Boys.
OK that's just about all that's happened that I care about.
In hockey there are clean games and well... some not so clean games. Take for example the Caps-Bruins match up. For the most part it's been pretty clean, even if in Monday's game it didn't look like it. Just compare it to the Flyers-Penguins series that's going on. It's a blood bath of a match up. I don't know how anyone can appreciate those two teams when they're acting like kids out on the ice fighting over everything. The Caps have been pushed around by the Bruins and they've pushed back but it's been more of a civil discussion than a drunken bar brawl which is all I can think of the describe the battle in Pennsylvania. One more quick thing before I move on to last night's game. I have quite enjoyed reading the paper recently because of all the fun adjectives that the writers have been using to describe Zdeno Chara, the Bruins 6-foot-9 defenseman. Words like banshee and behemoth have been tossed around. He can be both of those and more than an opposing force at times. The Caps may have entered in this series as the underdog, but being the underdog against the Stanly Cup Champs has to put some fire under the Capitals. It could be just what they needed to actually get farther than the first or second round. But first they have to win game 7 in Boston. Let's do a quick recap of a games so far
GAME 1, Holtby holds his own in his first game in the postseason of his NHL career against the reigning champs only allowing one goal the whole game. Final Score: 1-0 Bruins
GAME 2, the Caps put up a fight not wanting to be put a into a rut by the Bruins. With a goals by both Brouwer and Backstrom the Caps tie the series. Final Score: 2-1 Caps
GAME 3, back on home ice most would think that the Caps would have the upper hand. But they didn't. Final Score 4-3 Bruins
GAME 4, still on home ice the Caps needed the win or they would have a hard doing so back in Boston, but they did get the win. Final Score: 2-1 Caps
GAME 5, this game was very different from the rest, mostly because the Caps got out to a two goal lead and held on to it for a few minutes but the Bruins came and tied it up right before the end of the second. Final Score: 4-3 Capitals. Finally the Caps had a 3-2 lead on the series.
GAME 6, well the the lead in the series was short lived. The Bruins won in D.C. to even things up. Final Score: 4-3 Bruins.
GAME 7 is going to be a get down and get 'er down type of game for both teams.
Also going on in the NHL. The Flyers win their series with the Penguins, the Blues win in their series with the Sharks, and the Predators win over the Red Wings.
In Football news, I am still brooding with frustration at both the Jets and the Broncos for the trade of Tim Tebow. It seems like the Jets just did that for publicity but that's my view with the info that I have access to. For the Broncos, well... (devious grin crosses my face) they're basically screwed. Why? Payton Manning is why. The Broncos made a huge mistake on a guy who maybe has a year left in him. On top of that he (again this is just from what I was able to learn) isn't really that good at training a guy to replace him.
Again this year the NFL is having three games played on Thanksgiving. Detroit vs. Huston, Dallas vs. Washington, and New York Jets vs. New England. I'm going to have to eat early. The New Orleans Saints haven't been very saintly recently. With the bounty hunting scandal and now finding out that the GM may have been able to listen in on the other team. Really? Doesn't anyone play clean anymore? This is just getting out of hand.
In the golf world Bubba Watson won the Masters, and is in a very funny video called Golf Boys.
OK that's just about all that's happened that I care about.
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