by | June 1, 2012

The Baseball Buzz: Quick Hits Around MLB

The Orioles’ Adam Jones has helped lead the team to a 29-22 record this season. Photo By: Keith Allison

By Krash Davis

Kemp back on the DL
 In just his second game back from the 15-day disabled list, Matt Kemp re-injured his left hamstring in the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Brewers. Kemp was advancing from first base on an Andre Either double when he came up limp rounding third base.

While the injury is only a Grade 1 strain (same as when he originally injured the hamstring on May 13), preliminary reports indicate that he will have to sit for at least four weeks. An additional two weeks on the DL will be needed this time because he essentially suffered the same injury to the muscle in such a short period of time.

For the Dodgers and Kemp, the news couldn’t be worse. Kemp was coming off a torrid April where he hit .417 with 12 homeruns and 25 RBIs and was named National League Player of the Month. He was a big reason why the Dodgers jumped out to the best record in the league. While his team Continue reading →

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by | May 27, 2012

Coca Cola 600: Let Freedom Race!

By Speedglutton

Quite a race and such controversy from last week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup (NSC) All-Star Race at the 1.5-mile quad oval track of the Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS).   Jimmie Johnson and his #48 Lowe’s team came home with a near walk-off win (sorry for the baseball metaphor) as he dominated not only in winning the first segment, but the final segment after spending segments two, three, and four “sandbagging” as some have termed and after the well-timed pit stops that put him at the front of the pack for most of the final ten laps.  Matt Kenseth finished the second segment in first, with Brad Keselowski taking the third, and a huge fan ovation as Dale Earnhardt Jr took the fourth segment.  And since Dale Jr would have likely won the Fan Vote, his victory in the fourth segment enabled the Fan Vote to go to Bobby Labonte.

Lots of emotion and consternation this week following the All-Star race, not just for the format itself, but how Continue reading →

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by | May 25, 2012

2012 Western Conference Finals Preview: Spurs vs. Thunder

Which point guard will have the upper hand during the Western Conference Finals? Photo by: aaronisnotcool

By Sportsgrinder

Series Outlook: Do you remember those NFC Championship matchups between the 49ers and Cowboys back in the early to mid-90s?  If so, you probably also recollect that whichever team advanced from that matchup went on to successfully win the Super Bowl.  It wasn’t that the competition coming out of the AFC wasn’t formidable during those years, it had more to do with how the 49ers and Cowboys were prepared for the Super Bowl after having to face each other.  They were always the best teams remaining in the playoffs during that era. Unfortunately, their fate would be decided in the conference championship games, and not the Super Bowl.   Ironically, I get that same type of feeling from this Western Conference Finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.  They just might be the two top teams remaining in the postseason.

From a pure offensive standpoint, the Spurs and Thunder have been extremely impressive during this postseason.  Both teams rank first and second in points per game during the playoffs (Spurs-102.5 vs. Thunder-100.0).  San Antonio and Oklahoma City are the only teams remaining in the playoffs that are both shooting over 46% from the field (49.1%-Spurs vs. 46.5%-Thunder), as well as above 35% from beyond the arc (42.3%-Spurs vs. 35.4%-Thunder).  Both teams are outshooting their opponents by over 5% from the field as well.

Continue reading →

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by | May 25, 2012

The Melk-Man Delivers: San Francisco Giants LF Melky Cabrera proving he belongs

After years of struggling in New York, Atlanta, and Kansas City, Melky Cabrera may have finally found a home in San Francisco. Photo By: Keith Allison

By Krash Davis

After six, mostly tumultuous seasons with the Yankees, Braves and Royals, San Francisco Giants left fielder Melky Cabrera has finally arrived. Acquired by the Giants on November 7, 2011 from the Royals in exchange for lefty Jonathan Sanchez, the Melk Man has made Giants General Manager Brian Sabean look like a genius for pulling off such a one-sided trade. While Sanchez has been hampered all season with an injury to his throwing arm, Cabrera has flourished, providing a much-needed spark to a Giants offense that has had trouble hitting and scoring runs over the last few years.

How good has he been? In just 46 games (through May 24), Cabrera is hitting .362 with an on base percentage of .928. He has 67 hits (MLB best), 22 multi-hit games (MLB best), five triples (MLB best) and he had a 20 game hit streak earlier in the season. The last Giant to lead the league in hits was the great Willie Mays in 1960. Yes, that Willie Mays.

More than just his hitting prowess, Cabrera has been exceptional Continue reading →

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by | May 21, 2012

2012 NBA Playoffs: Random News & Notes

Kevin Durant continues to shine during the bright lights of the postseason. Photo by: Keith Allison

By Sportsgrinder

  • Kobe Bryant was just 2 of 10 from the field in the fourth quarter of Game 4. Photo by: Keith Allison

    Kobe Bryant would have been better served keeping his comments about Pau Gasol’s “assertiveness” to himself (or at least in house), following the Lakers Game 4 loss on Saturday.  Bryant’s post game comments stemmed from Gasol’s crucial turnover in the closing seconds of the Thunder’s Game 4 victory on Saturday evening.   A couple thoughts here.  First, Bryant should’ve never given the ball up to Gasol.  TNT analyst Reggie Miller made a great point immediately following Kevin Durant’s 25 footer with 13 seconds remaining (this was the next play following the Gasol turnover).  Miller simply stated that one of the best closers in the game (which Bryant certainly is) should never give the ball up in that type of late game scenario, especially to your big man on the perimeter.   Bryant chose to put the onus on Gasol, whereas Durant chose to relish the responsibility himself. Continue reading →

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