They've done it! Losing 3-1 and 3-0 to world powers Italy and Brazil and fresh off the Costa Rica debacle, USA soccer seemed in trouble. However, one brilliant game against Egypt and an Italian collape later, new life was born. The Americans took advantage and pulled an enormous upset Wednesday by defeating Spain, the World's #1 team. Now, even with another loss to Brazil, the US will have some great momentum heading into the 2010 World Cup. That was what I wanted to see in RSA this summer, quality soccer against the world's elite. Get experience playing over there, gain confidence, and settle on 11 that can advance out of the group stage.
The 2-0 result Wednesday is one of the best in US soccer history. The team played extremely well and never looked imtimidated against the powerful Spanish squad. The future of the US team looks solid, with Jozy Alitdore poised to break all the records Landon Donovan is currently breaking. Michael Bradley is exceptional in midfield and Benny Feilhaber and Simon Davies are all under 24. Freddy Adu and Maurice Edu will be in the mix soon and don't forget Dononvan is still in his prime.
Things certainly look promising for the US as the Gold Cup defense is next month and the Confed Cup final is in their immediate future. Brazil is playing well right now and crushed the Americans just a week ago, but you never know...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday thoughts...
Wimbledon starts today...always a fun event to watch. 2009 winner? Let's go with Andy Murray. He's playing well right now, Nadal is out, Djokovic is struggling, and England is due for a local winner. Maybe Federer has a little bit of a letdown after winning his 1st career French...
Watching the final round of the US Open right now. Ricky Barnes is in the middle of a major meltdown. Not much better than watching this event on the final day with Tiger and Phil making moves on the back 9.
NBA Draft is Thursday and the Hawks need help. Assuming they are not revamping the roster by not re-signing Bibby and Marvin, they need help at Guard and Center. The draft is point guard heavy and I would like to either get one of the top guys at 19 (Holiday, Jennings) or wait until the 2nd and get Douglas, Lawson, or Collison. DeJuan Blair is somewhat intriguing if he is on the board...
After Griffin, I really like Flynn, Henderson, and Earl Clark as the best prospects. Biggest 1st round busts? BJ Mullens, Terrance Williams, James Johnson, and Sam Young...
Look for LSU to win easily in the CWS Championship Series. They have been the best team all year and have all their arms rested against a Texas team that is not as good as people think.
What a Sunday it was for the USA National Team. Advancing out of their group in the FIFA Confederations Cup is an awesome accomplishment no matter how ugly the 1st 2 games were. I believe if the 2 red cards given are yellows in the 1st two games that they get a point from Italy and play Brazil to within 1 goal. Gotta stick around with Spain and not get behind early like they have recently.
I think the Braves could really improve themselves if they acquired Mark DeRosa. He is so versatile and now even hits for power from the right side, which they desparately need. Pitching has been strong and Kawakami is finally settling in and looking sharp. Acquire DeRo and get Infante healthy and they can make a serious run. The NL East is not very good this year. Philly is struggling bad now and has Joe Blanton as their #2. Awful.
August 1st is the first date to go see Falcons training camp. Anyone interested in going that morning and then taking it another 70 miles afterwords to Harrah's casino? Just a thought...
Watching the final round of the US Open right now. Ricky Barnes is in the middle of a major meltdown. Not much better than watching this event on the final day with Tiger and Phil making moves on the back 9.
NBA Draft is Thursday and the Hawks need help. Assuming they are not revamping the roster by not re-signing Bibby and Marvin, they need help at Guard and Center. The draft is point guard heavy and I would like to either get one of the top guys at 19 (Holiday, Jennings) or wait until the 2nd and get Douglas, Lawson, or Collison. DeJuan Blair is somewhat intriguing if he is on the board...
After Griffin, I really like Flynn, Henderson, and Earl Clark as the best prospects. Biggest 1st round busts? BJ Mullens, Terrance Williams, James Johnson, and Sam Young...
Look for LSU to win easily in the CWS Championship Series. They have been the best team all year and have all their arms rested against a Texas team that is not as good as people think.
What a Sunday it was for the USA National Team. Advancing out of their group in the FIFA Confederations Cup is an awesome accomplishment no matter how ugly the 1st 2 games were. I believe if the 2 red cards given are yellows in the 1st two games that they get a point from Italy and play Brazil to within 1 goal. Gotta stick around with Spain and not get behind early like they have recently.
I think the Braves could really improve themselves if they acquired Mark DeRosa. He is so versatile and now even hits for power from the right side, which they desparately need. Pitching has been strong and Kawakami is finally settling in and looking sharp. Acquire DeRo and get Infante healthy and they can make a serious run. The NL East is not very good this year. Philly is struggling bad now and has Joe Blanton as their #2. Awful.
August 1st is the first date to go see Falcons training camp. Anyone interested in going that morning and then taking it another 70 miles afterwords to Harrah's casino? Just a thought...
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Draft recap...
Well, the Braves didn't get either of the local high school players I had hoped they would get, but getting a college pitcher with a lot of upside isn't too bad of a consolation prize. Mike Minor is a 6'4 lefty with pretty nasty stuff and projects as a top of the line starter in the major leagues in 3-5 years. I would have preferred Mike Leake from ASU or Alex White from UNC, but these guys are more polished and teams usually feel the need to get a player that "projects" rather than someone that has maybe peaked.
UGA had the most players drafted from any school with 11. I think Poythress, Joey Lewis, and Matt Cerione are likely gone for the minors, but the other underclassmen will probably stay. Zach Dodson from Effingham County HS is the most likely recruit to sign, and he is dang good - saw him last year and he is a good looking LHP. Joey Lewis got somewhat of a raw deal going in the 41st round. Way too good of a player to be passed on that many times.
The Braves overall had a pretty good draft, selecting a lot of local players as usual. Second round pick David Hale from Princeton and the Walker School in Marietta was a curious pick. He was far from dominant in the Ivy league but must have some qualities not seen by statistics. Some other local guys that I like that the Braves took were Chris Masters (Kennesaw Mtn HS) and Western Carolina and Robert Hefflinger from Georgia Perimeter. Hefflinger is a former UGA player that has a real live arm and is very signable.
I also like what the Rangers did in the draft. They took the consensus top prep lefty pitcher in the 1st and then Tanner Scheppers in the 2nd. Scheppers is a top 10 talent that has had some injury issues and has signability issues. If they sign him, that is a big steal - the guy hit 99 in his final start for his independent league team last month. Also, Texas took last years CWS MVP Tommy Mendonca from Fresno and local prep star Braxton Lane from Sandy Creek. Throw in the likely Georgia high school class AAAA pitcher of the year Catlan Kendrick late on, and it appears Texas is quite familiar with the southside of Atlanta.
Now it's time to track the bonuses and who signs and doesn't before the August 15th deadline. The Strasburg negotiations will certainly be interesting with Boras reportedly looking for up to 50 million guaranteed. But if anyone can get it, it would be him...
UGA had the most players drafted from any school with 11. I think Poythress, Joey Lewis, and Matt Cerione are likely gone for the minors, but the other underclassmen will probably stay. Zach Dodson from Effingham County HS is the most likely recruit to sign, and he is dang good - saw him last year and he is a good looking LHP. Joey Lewis got somewhat of a raw deal going in the 41st round. Way too good of a player to be passed on that many times.
The Braves overall had a pretty good draft, selecting a lot of local players as usual. Second round pick David Hale from Princeton and the Walker School in Marietta was a curious pick. He was far from dominant in the Ivy league but must have some qualities not seen by statistics. Some other local guys that I like that the Braves took were Chris Masters (Kennesaw Mtn HS) and Western Carolina and Robert Hefflinger from Georgia Perimeter. Hefflinger is a former UGA player that has a real live arm and is very signable.
I also like what the Rangers did in the draft. They took the consensus top prep lefty pitcher in the 1st and then Tanner Scheppers in the 2nd. Scheppers is a top 10 talent that has had some injury issues and has signability issues. If they sign him, that is a big steal - the guy hit 99 in his final start for his independent league team last month. Also, Texas took last years CWS MVP Tommy Mendonca from Fresno and local prep star Braxton Lane from Sandy Creek. Throw in the likely Georgia high school class AAAA pitcher of the year Catlan Kendrick late on, and it appears Texas is quite familiar with the southside of Atlanta.
Now it's time to track the bonuses and who signs and doesn't before the August 15th deadline. The Strasburg negotiations will certainly be interesting with Boras reportedly looking for up to 50 million guaranteed. But if anyone can get it, it would be him...
Thursday, May 28, 2009
College hoops nuggets...
I correctly predicted on here last June that UNC would be the 2008-2009 college basketball champions. Now that the top prospects are falling into place, it appears another school is preparing for a return to dominance - the Kentucky Wildcats. Bringing over one of the top coaches in America along with 1 and done blue chip recruits John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky is my early pick to take the title in 2010. With Daniel Orton already signed, Patrick Patterson coming back, and Jodie Meeks likely to follow, the talent level in Lexington is going to be ridiculous. Check out the 2-deep depth chart:
Wall / Bledsoe
Meeks /Liggins
Stephenson / Harris
Patterson / Miller
Cousins / Orton
That is four 1st round picks in the starting five and they are surrounded by outstanding role players/athletes that were brought in by the previous regime (unfortunately for them, guys like Perry Stephenson are not 1st of 2nd options on championship teams). They will, however, flourish as a supporting cast to Wall, Meeks, Patterson, and Cousins.
There doesn’t appear to be another team in Kentucky ’s league at this point. Kansas brings back an outstanding inside/outside combo in Collins and Aldrich. They also signed Xavier Henry and some others and will certainly be in the mix. However, too many of the other potential contenders lost more than they can handle in early entries to the draft (UNC, Cuse, UConn, Zona, USC, Louisville ).
Look for Kentucky to struggle a bit out of the gate and lose 3-4 before Christmas before jelling together in January. Coach Cal has been to the dance and had success before, but 2009-2010 will be Title #1 for him.
Wall / Bledsoe
Meeks /Liggins
Stephenson / Harris
Patterson / Miller
Cousins / Orton
That is four 1st round picks in the starting five and they are surrounded by outstanding role players/athletes that were brought in by the previous regime (unfortunately for them, guys like Perry Stephenson are not 1st of 2nd options on championship teams). They will, however, flourish as a supporting cast to Wall, Meeks, Patterson, and Cousins.
There doesn’t appear to be another team in Kentucky ’s league at this point. Kansas brings back an outstanding inside/outside combo in Collins and Aldrich. They also signed Xavier Henry and some others and will certainly be in the mix. However, too many of the other potential contenders lost more than they can handle in early entries to the draft (UNC, Cuse, UConn, Zona, USC, Louisville ).
Look for Kentucky to struggle a bit out of the gate and lose 3-4 before Christmas before jelling together in January. Coach Cal has been to the dance and had success before, but 2009-2010 will be Title #1 for him.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Hawks talk...
The Hawks season is now over and in the next couple days we can speculate how this team can get to the next level. It seems quite clear that with the current nucleus this is not an NBA Championship team. The question then becomes, what will the front office do now? Do they try and add a free agent or 2 and use their 1st round pick or do they make a major trade involving their draft pick and part of their nucleus?
While this is a deep draft, there are not many impact players. There is probably not anyone at #19 that will make a major impact next season. It will be a tough sell to the fans if an identical team is brought back after getting destroyed in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
There are some creative strategies that could be instituted this summer. Sign and trades with ZaZa, Bibby, or Murray are a possibility. Trading draft picks and players for veterans is also an option. Further, if Amare Stoudemire is available, I say do what you have to do to get him in Atlanta .
This is one possible summer that I think could lead to the Hawks to somewhere they have never been, the Eastern Conference Finals:
Trade Smith/Law/Future 1st to Phoenix for Amare
Draft Tyreke Evans
Resign Bibby/ZaZa/Murray
Extend Marvin
This addresses two of the Hawks biggest weaknesses that have been exposed this post-season. 1) No inside presence and 2) No dribble penetration threat
Amare would give the Hawks an inside presence they have never had before and T. Evans is a physical guard that can defend and get to the basket or drive and dish. Getting T. Evans and Murray in the game at the same time would give Atlanta 2 options that can drive and help to create open shots for Joe, M. Evans, and Marvin.
Bibby / T. Evans
Johnson / Murray / West
Williams / M. Evans
Horford / Solo
Amare / ZaZa / Morris
If you can’t get a Wade/Kobe/Lebron, it is necessary to have a dominant inside force if you are to compete for championships. If Amare is indeed available this off-season, do what it takes to get him here. With Boston aging and Orlando not having a lot of salary cap space to improve, I think the team listed above could earn the #2 seed in the East next season. But, knowing the ASG, we will take BJ Mullens in the draft and have a similar season to this one.
While this is a deep draft, there are not many impact players. There is probably not anyone at #19 that will make a major impact next season. It will be a tough sell to the fans if an identical team is brought back after getting destroyed in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
There are some creative strategies that could be instituted this summer. Sign and trades with ZaZa, Bibby, or Murray are a possibility. Trading draft picks and players for veterans is also an option. Further, if Amare Stoudemire is available, I say do what you have to do to get him in Atlanta .
This is one possible summer that I think could lead to the Hawks to somewhere they have never been, the Eastern Conference Finals:
Trade Smith/Law/Future 1st to Phoenix for Amare
Draft Tyreke Evans
Resign Bibby/ZaZa/Murray
Extend Marvin
This addresses two of the Hawks biggest weaknesses that have been exposed this post-season. 1) No inside presence and 2) No dribble penetration threat
Amare would give the Hawks an inside presence they have never had before and T. Evans is a physical guard that can defend and get to the basket or drive and dish. Getting T. Evans and Murray in the game at the same time would give Atlanta 2 options that can drive and help to create open shots for Joe, M. Evans, and Marvin.
Bibby / T. Evans
Johnson / Murray / West
Williams / M. Evans
Horford / Solo
Amare / ZaZa / Morris
If you can’t get a Wade/Kobe/Lebron, it is necessary to have a dominant inside force if you are to compete for championships. If Amare is indeed available this off-season, do what it takes to get him here. With Boston aging and Orlando not having a lot of salary cap space to improve, I think the team listed above could earn the #2 seed in the East next season. But, knowing the ASG, we will take BJ Mullens in the draft and have a similar season to this one.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Some Draft talk...
Those that read this blog last summer know how much I enjoy the MLB Draft. While over half of the 1st round picks that are going to be made this June will never sniff the Big Leagues, the strategies and local flavor always get me excited about this event.
This year is no different. Actually, there is one big difference in the draft order. The Braves hold the 7th pick this year after a horrendous 72-90 season last year. No more “hold your breath and pray Jason Hayword drops to us” moments. The Braves can take just about anyone they want that is not named Steven Strausburg. Plus, there is a local high school product that would make perfect sense with this 7th pick, Donovan Tate.
Donovan is the son of Lars Tate, former UGA and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back. He is an elite football player, signing a scholarship to play both football and baseball at UNC-Chapel Hill. But he will never become a Tar Heel. His baseball gifts remind scouts of B.J. Upton, a former #2 overall pick. He is an athletic outfielder with a good arm and powerful stick - probably too good of a prospect for Atlanta to pass on.
The draft also has a local flavor with UGA’s Rich Poythress a possible top 15 pick. Poythress, out of Augusta , has been among the top 1-2 in the SEC this season in AVG, HR, RBI, Runs, OBP, SLG, and Walks. He compares favorably to last seasons first basemen that went in the top 10, Yonder Alonso and Justin Smoak. Also at the collegiate level, Kyle Heckathorn (6’6 RHP from Kennesaw St ) is a probably 1st round pick.
At the high school level, talents Luke Bailey and Zach Wheeler are likely to join Tate as 1st round picks. Bailey, out of Troup High in Lagrange, has a 1.78 pop time behind the plate and hits for ton of power (Auburn signee). Wheeler, from East Paulding, is a right-handed pitcher who throws 93-94 with a devastating slider.
This year is no different. Actually, there is one big difference in the draft order. The Braves hold the 7th pick this year after a horrendous 72-90 season last year. No more “hold your breath and pray Jason Hayword drops to us” moments. The Braves can take just about anyone they want that is not named Steven Strausburg. Plus, there is a local high school product that would make perfect sense with this 7th pick, Donovan Tate.
Donovan is the son of Lars Tate, former UGA and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back. He is an elite football player, signing a scholarship to play both football and baseball at UNC-Chapel Hill. But he will never become a Tar Heel. His baseball gifts remind scouts of B.J. Upton, a former #2 overall pick. He is an athletic outfielder with a good arm and powerful stick - probably too good of a prospect for Atlanta to pass on.
The draft also has a local flavor with UGA’s Rich Poythress a possible top 15 pick. Poythress, out of Augusta , has been among the top 1-2 in the SEC this season in AVG, HR, RBI, Runs, OBP, SLG, and Walks. He compares favorably to last seasons first basemen that went in the top 10, Yonder Alonso and Justin Smoak. Also at the collegiate level, Kyle Heckathorn (6’6 RHP from Kennesaw St ) is a probably 1st round pick.
At the high school level, talents Luke Bailey and Zach Wheeler are likely to join Tate as 1st round picks. Bailey, out of Troup High in Lagrange, has a 1.78 pop time behind the plate and hits for ton of power (Auburn signee). Wheeler, from East Paulding, is a right-handed pitcher who throws 93-94 with a devastating slider.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Lets get it cranking again!
Its been a while, so lets start with some musings...
Loved the draft for the Falcons, got a DT starter in the 1st and a freak athlete safety in the 2nd. Looks like Owens and Sidbury will be at least backups as rookies. The Draft is the key to the NFL, because if you don't draft backups and special teams guys along with your 1st day picks, you end up killing your salary cap signing veterans to fill those roles...
Glad to see Jeff Francoeur get off to a good start...even his outs look good some of the time. Everything I read about Jason Heyward says he will be a complete stud. Off to an OK start this year in Myrtle Beach - .277-3-10 through Sunday. He went 1-4 in the game yesterday, a loss to Salem, where the Myrtle Beach Braves were beaten by Jose Capellan (of Dan Kolb fame). Have all of the Braves so-called "Aces of the future" since Smoltz/Avery/Glavine came along ever turned into All-Stars? Jason Schmidt maybe? There have been way too many Bruce Chen/Jose Capellan/Anthony Lerew's. Trade Tommy Hanson now!
Hawks on to Round 2 tomorrow night. Unless they sweep the 2 at home, this looks like a 5 game series at best. I just don't see LeBron letting up in any game as he seems to be on a mission this year. Big Z also gives us all sorts of problems inside that Miami couldn't...Draft a young PG and an atheltic big and lets keep moving in the right direction after this.
It's only Monday, but these funny stories are already in the headlines...
1) Super-recruit John Wall breaking and entering before signing a letter-of-intent.
2) Oliver Perez siging a huge deal and then being sent to the bullpen after developing Mark Wohlers disease.
3) Biren Ealy and Kolomona Kapanui of the New Orleans Saints getting drunk and then showing their junk to 2 random women at an apartment complex.
4) Joba Chamberlain's Mother is a Meth addict. At least she will be easy to buy for with Mother's Day coming up this weekend.
5) A Mexican soccer player spit and snotted on an opponent and told him he had Swine Flu in the 90th minute of a match.
Loved the draft for the Falcons, got a DT starter in the 1st and a freak athlete safety in the 2nd. Looks like Owens and Sidbury will be at least backups as rookies. The Draft is the key to the NFL, because if you don't draft backups and special teams guys along with your 1st day picks, you end up killing your salary cap signing veterans to fill those roles...
Glad to see Jeff Francoeur get off to a good start...even his outs look good some of the time. Everything I read about Jason Heyward says he will be a complete stud. Off to an OK start this year in Myrtle Beach - .277-3-10 through Sunday. He went 1-4 in the game yesterday, a loss to Salem, where the Myrtle Beach Braves were beaten by Jose Capellan (of Dan Kolb fame). Have all of the Braves so-called "Aces of the future" since Smoltz/Avery/Glavine came along ever turned into All-Stars? Jason Schmidt maybe? There have been way too many Bruce Chen/Jose Capellan/Anthony Lerew's. Trade Tommy Hanson now!
Hawks on to Round 2 tomorrow night. Unless they sweep the 2 at home, this looks like a 5 game series at best. I just don't see LeBron letting up in any game as he seems to be on a mission this year. Big Z also gives us all sorts of problems inside that Miami couldn't...Draft a young PG and an atheltic big and lets keep moving in the right direction after this.
It's only Monday, but these funny stories are already in the headlines...
1) Super-recruit John Wall breaking and entering before signing a letter-of-intent.
2) Oliver Perez siging a huge deal and then being sent to the bullpen after developing Mark Wohlers disease.
3) Biren Ealy and Kolomona Kapanui of the New Orleans Saints getting drunk and then showing their junk to 2 random women at an apartment complex.
4) Joba Chamberlain's Mother is a Meth addict. At least she will be easy to buy for with Mother's Day coming up this weekend.
5) A Mexican soccer player spit and snotted on an opponent and told him he had Swine Flu in the 90th minute of a match.
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