Do not think to much, do not speak to loud, our Hot New Today is about MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1 - You have to continue reading this information about MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1.
Orlando Cabrera singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians won their seventh straight game, 4-1 over the host Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.
The Indians are off to their best start for the fourth time in franchise history - they last began 20-8 in 1999.
Matt LaPorta and Jack Hannahan hit consecutive one-out singles before Cabrera delivered the tiebreaking hit against Brian Fuentes (1-3).
Asdrubal Cabrera, who had three of Cleveland's 12 hits, finished the scoring with a two-run single.
Fausto Carmona (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in eight innings, and Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.
Oakland starter Tyson Ross allowed one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.
Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-4 with a walk. He was arrested on a DUI charge early Monday morning before the Indians departed for Oakland.
Via:http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-rt-usmlb-us-mlb-recap-tre7430ux-20110504,0,4109178.story
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1
Do not think to much, do not speak to loud, our Hot New Today is about MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1 - You have to continue reading this information about MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1.
Orlando Cabrera singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians won their seventh straight game, 4-1 over the host Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.
The Indians are off to their best start for the fourth time in franchise history - they last began 20-8 in 1999.
Matt LaPorta and Jack Hannahan hit consecutive one-out singles before Cabrera delivered the tiebreaking hit against Brian Fuentes (1-3).
Asdrubal Cabrera, who had three of Cleveland's 12 hits, finished the scoring with a two-run single.
Fausto Carmona (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in eight innings, and Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.
Oakland starter Tyson Ross allowed one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.
Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-4 with a walk. He was arrested on a DUI charge early Monday morning before the Indians departed for Oakland.
Via:http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-rt-usmlb-us-mlb-recap-tre7430ux-20110504,0,4109178.story
Orlando Cabrera singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians won their seventh straight game, 4-1 over the host Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.
The Indians are off to their best start for the fourth time in franchise history - they last began 20-8 in 1999.
Matt LaPorta and Jack Hannahan hit consecutive one-out singles before Cabrera delivered the tiebreaking hit against Brian Fuentes (1-3).
Asdrubal Cabrera, who had three of Cleveland's 12 hits, finished the scoring with a two-run single.
Fausto Carmona (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in eight innings, and Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.
Oakland starter Tyson Ross allowed one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.
Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-4 with a walk. He was arrested on a DUI charge early Monday morning before the Indians departed for Oakland.
Via:http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-rt-usmlb-us-mlb-recap-tre7430ux-20110504,0,4109178.story
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Coughlin Is Moved by U.S. Response
Do not think to much, do not speak to loud, our Hot New Today is about Coughlin Is Moved by U.S. Response - You have to continue reading this information.Coughlin Is Moved by U.S. Response
Giants coach Tom Coughlin kept little emotion in check on Monday morning on Sirius NFL radio in discussing the Sunday killing of Osama bin Laden.
"One of the things that does put goosebumps on top of my goosebumps is the reaction of all Americans to this news,'' Coughlin said. "You think of the patriotism and the sacrifices that have been made by our servicemen and women who have put their lives on the line every day, who need our tremendous support and will always get it from me and many, many Americans.''
Such unequivocal support is not a surprise coming from Coughlin. In the Giants' 2007 Super Bowl season, he installed Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, who lost two legs in Iraq, as an inspirational constant on the team's sideline. Ray Odierno, the Commander of the U.S. Joint Forces, is a regular visitor of Coughlin's at the Giants' complex.
The Giants coach made a U.S.O. tour to the Persian Gulf in 2009 and his oldest son Tim, then a bond trader working in the World Trade Center, escaped the burning building on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.
�Aditi Kinkhabwala
Hughes's Test Results Rule Out Syndrome
First, the good news: Yankee pitcher Phil Hughes does not have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a rare condition that would have required season-ending surgery. "All tests negative for circulatory and vascular issues," said a Yankee PR staffer.
Now, the bad news: The Yankees still don't know what's wrong with the 24-year-old pitcher, whose velocity has mysteriously disappeared this season. Hughes was examined Monday in St. Louis by a specialist after initial tests turned up hints at Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a condition where the nerves and blood vessels running through the shoulder are pinched. He should rejoin the team Tuesday.
�Daniel Barbarisi
Giants' Tickets Will Feature Their Fans
Lockout or not, the Giants are making sure their fans are thinking about football. The team opened a contest Monday, inviting fans to offer their photo and a personal story about their Giants fandom. The team will cull their favorite 20, then starting May 18, fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite story on Facebook.com/NewYorkGiants.
Each of the 10 winners will have her or his name, image and/or likeness appear on the tickets for one of the two preseason and eight regular-season home games during the 2011 season.
�A.K.
source : http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704436004576299452937892900.html
Coughlin Is Moved by U.S. Response
Do not think to much, do not speak to loud, our Hot New Today is about Coughlin Is Moved by U.S. Response - You have to continue reading this information.Coughlin Is Moved by U.S. Response
Giants coach Tom Coughlin kept little emotion in check on Monday morning on Sirius NFL radio in discussing the Sunday killing of Osama bin Laden.
"One of the things that does put goosebumps on top of my goosebumps is the reaction of all Americans to this news,'' Coughlin said. "You think of the patriotism and the sacrifices that have been made by our servicemen and women who have put their lives on the line every day, who need our tremendous support and will always get it from me and many, many Americans.''
Such unequivocal support is not a surprise coming from Coughlin. In the Giants' 2007 Super Bowl season, he installed Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, who lost two legs in Iraq, as an inspirational constant on the team's sideline. Ray Odierno, the Commander of the U.S. Joint Forces, is a regular visitor of Coughlin's at the Giants' complex.
The Giants coach made a U.S.O. tour to the Persian Gulf in 2009 and his oldest son Tim, then a bond trader working in the World Trade Center, escaped the burning building on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.
�Aditi Kinkhabwala
Hughes's Test Results Rule Out Syndrome
First, the good news: Yankee pitcher Phil Hughes does not have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a rare condition that would have required season-ending surgery. "All tests negative for circulatory and vascular issues," said a Yankee PR staffer.
Now, the bad news: The Yankees still don't know what's wrong with the 24-year-old pitcher, whose velocity has mysteriously disappeared this season. Hughes was examined Monday in St. Louis by a specialist after initial tests turned up hints at Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a condition where the nerves and blood vessels running through the shoulder are pinched. He should rejoin the team Tuesday.
�Daniel Barbarisi
Giants' Tickets Will Feature Their Fans
Lockout or not, the Giants are making sure their fans are thinking about football. The team opened a contest Monday, inviting fans to offer their photo and a personal story about their Giants fandom. The team will cull their favorite 20, then starting May 18, fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite story on Facebook.com/NewYorkGiants.
Each of the 10 winners will have her or his name, image and/or likeness appear on the tickets for one of the two preseason and eight regular-season home games during the 2011 season.
�A.K.
source : http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704436004576299452937892900.html
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs
Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs
TAMPA - The Yankees and Tigers made quick work of their final spring game at Steinbrenner Field Tuesday, but the two teams will meet Thursday at Yankee Stadium under much more meaningful circumstances.
Spring training is over, and although the Yankees weren't able to completely avoid the injury bug, they boarded their charter Tuesday feeling pretty good about their chances to make a run at the World Series this season.
"I feel good about this team," Joe Girardi said. "I know one of the things we have to do is we have to stay healthy."
The news on that front was encouraging, as Curtis Granderson was optimistic about his chances to play on Opening Day after taking part in a simulated game at the minor-league complex Tuesday. Granderson, who did not accompany the team to New York, will play in a minor league game Wednesday, giving his strained right oblique one final test.
Pedro Feliciano isn't as fortunate, as the typically durable reliever will open the season with his first career trip to the disabled list.
"If you don't have your lefthanded specialist and your center fielder starting the season, that's not how you want to get started," Girardi said. "But I believe this team is extremely talented and I like this team."
The manager has every reason to feel good about his club, especially considering the spring performances of some of the Yankees' biggest stars.
Alex Rodriguez looked like an MVP candidate, hitting .388 with a team-leading six home runs and 15 RBI, while Mark Teixeira hit .294 and hopes to carry that momentum into the season and avoid another awful April.
"Alex's spring was unbelievable," Girardi said. "There's really no other way to describe it - the power that he displayed and how hard he hit the ball on a consistent basis. I don't know if you're surprised, but to see a guy locked in from Day 1 sometimes is kind of different to see."
Derek Jeter was also a bright spot this spring, as the captain adapted to his new stride-less swing, hitting .304 in 18 games. Jeter is likely to share leadoff duties this season with Brett Gardner, although Girardi planned to discuss the top of the order with his coaches during the flight home Tuesday night before writing out his Opening Day lineup.
"Some of the balls that he's pulled with authority, I've noticed that he seems to get to that better now, and I think it's something that pitchers are going to have to think about," Girardi said. "Everything he used to try to shoot the other way, and he would pull some breaking balls. I've seen him pull some heaters with authority. People are going to have to decide whether the risk is worth it now."
The biggest questions heading into the spring surrounded the final two rotations slots, but with Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia now entrenched at No. 4 and 5 behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, the Yankees believe they have the arms to contend in the ultra-competitive AL East.
"I've always raved about Nova's stuff," Girardi said. "I believe he can be a winner and pitch at a very high level. And Freddy's a competitor and knows how to compete."
Girardi believes his team is good enough to win it all, but when asked for a season prediction, he opted not to follow Rex Ryan in the prognostication business.
"Be the best we can be," Girardi said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/03/30/2011-03-30_yankees_manager_joe_girardi_optimistic_after_arod_derek_jeter_mark_teixeira_have.html
Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs
Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs
TAMPA - The Yankees and Tigers made quick work of their final spring game at Steinbrenner Field Tuesday, but the two teams will meet Thursday at Yankee Stadium under much more meaningful circumstances.
Spring training is over, and although the Yankees weren't able to completely avoid the injury bug, they boarded their charter Tuesday feeling pretty good about their chances to make a run at the World Series this season.
"I feel good about this team," Joe Girardi said. "I know one of the things we have to do is we have to stay healthy."
The news on that front was encouraging, as Curtis Granderson was optimistic about his chances to play on Opening Day after taking part in a simulated game at the minor-league complex Tuesday. Granderson, who did not accompany the team to New York, will play in a minor league game Wednesday, giving his strained right oblique one final test.
Pedro Feliciano isn't as fortunate, as the typically durable reliever will open the season with his first career trip to the disabled list.
"If you don't have your lefthanded specialist and your center fielder starting the season, that's not how you want to get started," Girardi said. "But I believe this team is extremely talented and I like this team."
The manager has every reason to feel good about his club, especially considering the spring performances of some of the Yankees' biggest stars.
Alex Rodriguez looked like an MVP candidate, hitting .388 with a team-leading six home runs and 15 RBI, while Mark Teixeira hit .294 and hopes to carry that momentum into the season and avoid another awful April.
"Alex's spring was unbelievable," Girardi said. "There's really no other way to describe it - the power that he displayed and how hard he hit the ball on a consistent basis. I don't know if you're surprised, but to see a guy locked in from Day 1 sometimes is kind of different to see."
Derek Jeter was also a bright spot this spring, as the captain adapted to his new stride-less swing, hitting .304 in 18 games. Jeter is likely to share leadoff duties this season with Brett Gardner, although Girardi planned to discuss the top of the order with his coaches during the flight home Tuesday night before writing out his Opening Day lineup.
"Some of the balls that he's pulled with authority, I've noticed that he seems to get to that better now, and I think it's something that pitchers are going to have to think about," Girardi said. "Everything he used to try to shoot the other way, and he would pull some breaking balls. I've seen him pull some heaters with authority. People are going to have to decide whether the risk is worth it now."
The biggest questions heading into the spring surrounded the final two rotations slots, but with Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia now entrenched at No. 4 and 5 behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, the Yankees believe they have the arms to contend in the ultra-competitive AL East.
"I've always raved about Nova's stuff," Girardi said. "I believe he can be a winner and pitch at a very high level. And Freddy's a competitor and knows how to compete."
Girardi believes his team is good enough to win it all, but when asked for a season prediction, he opted not to follow Rex Ryan in the prognostication business.
"Be the best we can be," Girardi said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/03/30/2011-03-30_yankees_manager_joe_girardi_optimistic_after_arod_derek_jeter_mark_teixeira_have.html
Scott Kazmir puts together a solid effort in Angels' 5-1 win over Dodgers
Scott Kazmir puts together a solid effort in Angels' 5-1 win over Dodgers
Left-hander gives up only a home run over 41/3 innings. Torii Hunter drives in four runs, two with a fifth-inning home run.
The Angels don't need Scott Kazmir to lead the league in strikeouts, like he did when he whiffed 239 batters for Tampa Bay in 2007. They don't need him to win 20 games or compile a sub-3.50 earned-run average.
As the fifth starter on a team with four very good ones � Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Joel Pineiro � Kazmir needs to pitch well enough to give the Angels a chance to win and long enough to prevent the bullpen from being overworked every fifth game.
The left-hander didn't go deep into Tuesday night's 5-1 exhibition victory by the Angels over the Dodgers in Angel Stadium, throwing only 49 pitches in 41/3 innings, though that was by design.
But it was the best and most efficient outing of the spring for Kazmir, who gave up one run and three hits, including Rod Barajas' home run in the third, walked one and struck out none.
Andre Ethier isn't sure of future with Dodgers
It couldn't have come at a better time. Kazmir, who was 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA last season, was 0-2 with a 7.79 ERA in five spring starts, giving up 23 hits, walking 12 and striking out 10 in 171/3 innings.
Speculation was already mounting that if Kazmir's struggles continued in April, the Angels would have little choice but to release him and swallow the $14.5 million left on his contract.
Kazmir may have muted such talk, at least for this week.
"I felt good, it was a good tuneup," Kazmir said. "I'm just trying to stay focused, trying to get better every time out there."
Kazmir's fastball topped out at 89 mph, still down from his 93-mph range of a few years ago, but he changed speeds and located well and induced two double-play grounders.
"For his own confidence, it's never going to hurt to pitch like that," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "The way he pitched tonight, we feel he can do that every time he takes the ball."
Dodgers fan would rather eat his tickets than have lunch with Frank McCourt
Matt Palmer worked 12/3 hitless innings for the Angels, and relievers Rich Thompson, Michael Kohn and Jordan Walden each threw one inning.
Torii Hunter drove in four runs with two singles against starter Hiroki Kuroda and a two-run home run against Scott Elbert in the fifth inning.
The Angels made their final cuts after the game, and there were no surprises. Jason Bulger edged out Francisco Rodriguez for the final bullpen spot, and infielder Brandon Wood, outfielder Chris Pettit and catcher Hank Conger made the team as reserves.
The team will open the season with four starting pitchers; Pineiro will open on the disabled list but is scheduled to pitch the April 8 home opener.
Seven relievers fill out an 11-man staff: Fernando Rodney, Kevin Jepsen, Hisanori Takahashi, Walden, Kohn, Thompson and Bulger. Left-hander Scott Downs (broken left big toe) will open on the DL.
The projected infield of first baseman Mark Trumbo, second baseman Howie Kendrick, shortstop Erick Aybar and third baseman Maicer Izturis, will be backed up by Alberto Callaspo and Wood, who can play third, short or first.
A calf injury to reserve outfielder Reggie Willits opened a spot for Pettit, who will back up Hunter, Vernon Wells, Peter Bourjos and Bobby Abreu. Conger will join catchers Jeff Mathis and Bobby Wilson on the roster.
source:http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0330-dodgers-angels-20110330,0,5826880.story
Scott Kazmir puts together a solid effort in Angels' 5-1 win over Dodgers
Scott Kazmir puts together a solid effort in Angels' 5-1 win over Dodgers
Left-hander gives up only a home run over 41/3 innings. Torii Hunter drives in four runs, two with a fifth-inning home run.
The Angels don't need Scott Kazmir to lead the league in strikeouts, like he did when he whiffed 239 batters for Tampa Bay in 2007. They don't need him to win 20 games or compile a sub-3.50 earned-run average.
As the fifth starter on a team with four very good ones � Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Joel Pineiro � Kazmir needs to pitch well enough to give the Angels a chance to win and long enough to prevent the bullpen from being overworked every fifth game.
The left-hander didn't go deep into Tuesday night's 5-1 exhibition victory by the Angels over the Dodgers in Angel Stadium, throwing only 49 pitches in 41/3 innings, though that was by design.
But it was the best and most efficient outing of the spring for Kazmir, who gave up one run and three hits, including Rod Barajas' home run in the third, walked one and struck out none.
Andre Ethier isn't sure of future with Dodgers
It couldn't have come at a better time. Kazmir, who was 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA last season, was 0-2 with a 7.79 ERA in five spring starts, giving up 23 hits, walking 12 and striking out 10 in 171/3 innings.
Speculation was already mounting that if Kazmir's struggles continued in April, the Angels would have little choice but to release him and swallow the $14.5 million left on his contract.
Kazmir may have muted such talk, at least for this week.
"I felt good, it was a good tuneup," Kazmir said. "I'm just trying to stay focused, trying to get better every time out there."
Kazmir's fastball topped out at 89 mph, still down from his 93-mph range of a few years ago, but he changed speeds and located well and induced two double-play grounders.
"For his own confidence, it's never going to hurt to pitch like that," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "The way he pitched tonight, we feel he can do that every time he takes the ball."
Dodgers fan would rather eat his tickets than have lunch with Frank McCourt
Matt Palmer worked 12/3 hitless innings for the Angels, and relievers Rich Thompson, Michael Kohn and Jordan Walden each threw one inning.
Torii Hunter drove in four runs with two singles against starter Hiroki Kuroda and a two-run home run against Scott Elbert in the fifth inning.
The Angels made their final cuts after the game, and there were no surprises. Jason Bulger edged out Francisco Rodriguez for the final bullpen spot, and infielder Brandon Wood, outfielder Chris Pettit and catcher Hank Conger made the team as reserves.
The team will open the season with four starting pitchers; Pineiro will open on the disabled list but is scheduled to pitch the April 8 home opener.
Seven relievers fill out an 11-man staff: Fernando Rodney, Kevin Jepsen, Hisanori Takahashi, Walden, Kohn, Thompson and Bulger. Left-hander Scott Downs (broken left big toe) will open on the DL.
The projected infield of first baseman Mark Trumbo, second baseman Howie Kendrick, shortstop Erick Aybar and third baseman Maicer Izturis, will be backed up by Alberto Callaspo and Wood, who can play third, short or first.
A calf injury to reserve outfielder Reggie Willits opened a spot for Pettit, who will back up Hunter, Vernon Wells, Peter Bourjos and Bobby Abreu. Conger will join catchers Jeff Mathis and Bobby Wilson on the roster.
source:http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0330-dodgers-angels-20110330,0,5826880.story
Monday, February 28, 2011
Ivan Nova sharp in first exhibition start
In December 2008, Nova was selected by the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 draft. However, he was returned to the Yankees after clearing outright waivers at the end of the 2009 spring training, during which he had an 8.31 ERA, allowing eight earned runs and 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings.
What is the Hot News Today ?
Ivan Nova, in contention for one of the back-end spots in the Yankees� rotation, looked sharp in his first exhibition start, Sunday�s 7-3 victory over the Phillies.
�Real good,� Joe Girardi said. �You look at the six outs he got, four ground balls. That�s what we want from him. I thought he looked really good.�
Nova, 24, doesn�t lack for confidence. The righthander smiles easily, and he broke into a wide grin when asked what he has liked best so far.
�Right now I�m happy with everything,� Nova said. �The first thing I�m happy with is we have a spot open in the rotation. Everything�s going well, I have really good command right now and I feel great. I like everything.�
Girardi is fine hearing that, as are the Yankees. Barring any trades, they need Nova to excel.
�He should believe in himself,� Girardi said. �I believe in him. This kid, I think he�s got a bright future ... This kid�s extremely talented and we like his stuff.�
Nova got groundouts by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez in the first inning and started the second by freezing Ryan Howard on a curve ball. Placido Polanco grounded back to Nova, who then ended the inning by striking out Domonic Brown.
�I got to face really good hitters,� Nova said. �But you just have to go out there and throw strikes and be aggressive.�
That Nova had a good first two innings wasn�t surprising. He looked good early in the majority of his seven starts at the end of last season, only to run into problems the second or third time through the lineup.
�For Nova, I thought the issue was when he got into trouble, getting out of it,� Girardi said. �He did it the one day in Toronto but the other days he struggled with it.�
The day Girardi referenced in Toronto was Nova�s first big-league start, Aug. 23, when he worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.
�My confidence, I�m not thinking too much, like �Oh, I have to face Ryan Howard,� � Nova said of the difference he feels this year after going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 2010. �Just throw the ball. I know I can people out. I have really good stuff and I just have to throw strikes.�
Girardi said maybe too much was made of the problems Nova had as the games wore on.
Source:http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/2011_0228nova_sharp_in_first_exhibition_start/srvc=sports&position=recent_bullet
Ivan Nova sharp in first exhibition start
In December 2008, Nova was selected by the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 draft. However, he was returned to the Yankees after clearing outright waivers at the end of the 2009 spring training, during which he had an 8.31 ERA, allowing eight earned runs and 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings.
What is the Hot News Today ?
Ivan Nova, in contention for one of the back-end spots in the Yankees� rotation, looked sharp in his first exhibition start, Sunday�s 7-3 victory over the Phillies.
�Real good,� Joe Girardi said. �You look at the six outs he got, four ground balls. That�s what we want from him. I thought he looked really good.�
Nova, 24, doesn�t lack for confidence. The righthander smiles easily, and he broke into a wide grin when asked what he has liked best so far.
�Right now I�m happy with everything,� Nova said. �The first thing I�m happy with is we have a spot open in the rotation. Everything�s going well, I have really good command right now and I feel great. I like everything.�
Girardi is fine hearing that, as are the Yankees. Barring any trades, they need Nova to excel.
�He should believe in himself,� Girardi said. �I believe in him. This kid, I think he�s got a bright future ... This kid�s extremely talented and we like his stuff.�
Nova got groundouts by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez in the first inning and started the second by freezing Ryan Howard on a curve ball. Placido Polanco grounded back to Nova, who then ended the inning by striking out Domonic Brown.
�I got to face really good hitters,� Nova said. �But you just have to go out there and throw strikes and be aggressive.�
That Nova had a good first two innings wasn�t surprising. He looked good early in the majority of his seven starts at the end of last season, only to run into problems the second or third time through the lineup.
�For Nova, I thought the issue was when he got into trouble, getting out of it,� Girardi said. �He did it the one day in Toronto but the other days he struggled with it.�
The day Girardi referenced in Toronto was Nova�s first big-league start, Aug. 23, when he worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.
�My confidence, I�m not thinking too much, like �Oh, I have to face Ryan Howard,� � Nova said of the difference he feels this year after going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 2010. �Just throw the ball. I know I can people out. I have really good stuff and I just have to throw strikes.�
Girardi said maybe too much was made of the problems Nova had as the games wore on.
Source:http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/2011_0228nova_sharp_in_first_exhibition_start/srvc=sports&position=recent_bullet
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity
There�s nothing like a rambling, underinformed, hot-air rant from someone named Steinbrenner to whisk us back to the bad old �80s � you know, that Yankee dark age when the franchise was soaked by lunacy�s constant drizzle (courtesy of you know who).
The Bombers were treated to more of the same in the last two days, except it wasn�t George who barged his way on to the back pages of the tabloids. It was his rogue son Hank, the more reckless, albeit more interesting of the two siblings, who decided to take on Derek Jeter, of all people.
Understand this about the shortstop: His star power isn�t what it used to be, certainly not after being taken down during last fall�s contract negotiations. Another .270-something season and Jeter will learn the hard way that New York�s love of its superstars isn�t limitless.
But for now, Hank is no match for Jeter�s celebrity, which is why any criticism of the �mansions� the shortstop supposedly was building while the Yankees were falling short of the World Series in 2010 is more amusing than it was insulting.
Still, the idea that Hank is once again on the loose after a two-year hiatus could mean trouble, if not for Jeter, then for Joe Girardi and especially Brian Cashman, who�s in the final year of his contract.
The team�s hierarchy understands many, many things have to go right for the Yankees to prevail in October, assuming they even get there. This delicate equation depends not just on the emergence of credible fourth and fifth starters (and a bounce-back season from Jeter), but on good chemistry and competent management � two factors that Hank has a chance to nuke.
He is very much the �80s version of his father: demanding, unfiltered, boisterous. But while George was an astute businessman a shark, no doubt � Hank acts and sounds like a knee-jerk, one-dimensional thinker
Hank, for instance, said some of today�s players are richer than their bosses �thanks to good old revenue sharing,� which he called �not the American way.� Steinbrenner saved his most irrational explanation for why small-market teams struggle, invoking �socialism, communism, whatever� as the culprits.
Anyone with sense, of course, will treat Hank like the raging bull he is, which is to say, allow the beast to charge (and vent) until it�s exhausted. With any luck, Steinbrenner will fade into the background, just as he did for most of 2009 and 2010.
In the interim, the Yankees became his brother Hal�s team, more smoothly run, a model of professionalism, even if last season ended in disappointment. Hank used the devastating ALCS loss to the Rangers as an excuse to step in front of Hal this week. Observers say Hank was tired of being eclipsed, the way his father eventually resented how Joe Torre became the face of the organization in the mid- to late-�90s.
It�s anyone�s guess whether Hank and Hal will compete for power, if not for exposure. Hank�s impact in the clubhouse is relative, at least with players as grounded as Jeter. The captain maneuvered carefully around the flap, saying he had �no problem� with an owner speaking his mind.
Steinbrenner must�ve realized how foolish he�d sounded a day earlier, insisting the reference to those �mansions� wasn�t directed at Jeter � it merely was a �euphemism.�
Even in trying to defuse the story, Hank was too clumsy for his own good: Of course he was talking about Jeter, who lives in a recently constructed home on Davis Island � the biggest residential structure in Hillsborough County.
When Yankee officials whispered that the size of Jeter�s home was a reflection of his ego, not one of them, even in the most acrimonious stretches of the contract negotiations, questioned the shortstop�s competitive edge.
Hank, however, had a problem with the �mansions,� which he equated to opulence. In his mind, opulence is complacency�s embryo. The logic was too weak for Hank to repeat it a second day. He finally admitted, �You don�t get five (World Series) rings by being complacent.�
Yet, Steinbrenner couldn�t back down altogether. He continued to insist the Yankees weren�t as driven in 2010 as they were in �09, to which even Girardi, the ultimate company man, had to disagree.
More detail about Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity
Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity
There�s nothing like a rambling, underinformed, hot-air rant from someone named Steinbrenner to whisk us back to the bad old �80s � you know, that Yankee dark age when the franchise was soaked by lunacy�s constant drizzle (courtesy of you know who).
The Bombers were treated to more of the same in the last two days, except it wasn�t George who barged his way on to the back pages of the tabloids. It was his rogue son Hank, the more reckless, albeit more interesting of the two siblings, who decided to take on Derek Jeter, of all people.
Understand this about the shortstop: His star power isn�t what it used to be, certainly not after being taken down during last fall�s contract negotiations. Another .270-something season and Jeter will learn the hard way that New York�s love of its superstars isn�t limitless.
But for now, Hank is no match for Jeter�s celebrity, which is why any criticism of the �mansions� the shortstop supposedly was building while the Yankees were falling short of the World Series in 2010 is more amusing than it was insulting.
Still, the idea that Hank is once again on the loose after a two-year hiatus could mean trouble, if not for Jeter, then for Joe Girardi and especially Brian Cashman, who�s in the final year of his contract.
The team�s hierarchy understands many, many things have to go right for the Yankees to prevail in October, assuming they even get there. This delicate equation depends not just on the emergence of credible fourth and fifth starters (and a bounce-back season from Jeter), but on good chemistry and competent management � two factors that Hank has a chance to nuke.
He is very much the �80s version of his father: demanding, unfiltered, boisterous. But while George was an astute businessman a shark, no doubt � Hank acts and sounds like a knee-jerk, one-dimensional thinker
Hank, for instance, said some of today�s players are richer than their bosses �thanks to good old revenue sharing,� which he called �not the American way.� Steinbrenner saved his most irrational explanation for why small-market teams struggle, invoking �socialism, communism, whatever� as the culprits.
Anyone with sense, of course, will treat Hank like the raging bull he is, which is to say, allow the beast to charge (and vent) until it�s exhausted. With any luck, Steinbrenner will fade into the background, just as he did for most of 2009 and 2010.
In the interim, the Yankees became his brother Hal�s team, more smoothly run, a model of professionalism, even if last season ended in disappointment. Hank used the devastating ALCS loss to the Rangers as an excuse to step in front of Hal this week. Observers say Hank was tired of being eclipsed, the way his father eventually resented how Joe Torre became the face of the organization in the mid- to late-�90s.
It�s anyone�s guess whether Hank and Hal will compete for power, if not for exposure. Hank�s impact in the clubhouse is relative, at least with players as grounded as Jeter. The captain maneuvered carefully around the flap, saying he had �no problem� with an owner speaking his mind.
Steinbrenner must�ve realized how foolish he�d sounded a day earlier, insisting the reference to those �mansions� wasn�t directed at Jeter � it merely was a �euphemism.�
Even in trying to defuse the story, Hank was too clumsy for his own good: Of course he was talking about Jeter, who lives in a recently constructed home on Davis Island � the biggest residential structure in Hillsborough County.
When Yankee officials whispered that the size of Jeter�s home was a reflection of his ego, not one of them, even in the most acrimonious stretches of the contract negotiations, questioned the shortstop�s competitive edge.
Hank, however, had a problem with the �mansions,� which he equated to opulence. In his mind, opulence is complacency�s embryo. The logic was too weak for Hank to repeat it a second day. He finally admitted, �You don�t get five (World Series) rings by being complacent.�
Yet, Steinbrenner couldn�t back down altogether. He continued to insist the Yankees weren�t as driven in 2010 as they were in �09, to which even Girardi, the ultimate company man, had to disagree.
More detail about Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Trevor Bayne wins Daytona 500
He is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the number 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the number 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.
Bayne was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and began his racing career racing go-karts at the age of five. After eight years, he moved to Allison Legacy Race Series, where he became the youngest top rookie. Two years later, he moved to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Southern Division. In 2008, he signed a contract with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to race in the NASCAR Camping World East Series, where he recorded one win, six top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. One year later, he recorded Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors after participating in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Also in 2009, he began racing in the Nationwide Series for Michael Waltrip Racing.
After one year with the team, he moved to Roush Fenway Racing, and began racing in the Sprint Cup Series for Wood Brothers Racing. In 2011, Bayne won the Daytona 500, becoming the youngest driver to win the race.
In only his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, Bayne won a wild Daytona 500 on Sunday to take the fabled Wood Brothers Racing team back to victory lane at Daytona International Speedway.
The 20-year-old led the final six laps and held off fellow Ford driver Carl Edwards by .118 seconds to become the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500.
"Are you kidding me?" Bayne radioed after crossing the finish line.
A few moments later, he came on the radio again: "Am I dreaming right now?"
"I don't even know where to go," Bayne added.
The outcome will go down as one of the most improbable in the 53-year history of the Great American Race.
Sunday's was the first held on the 2.5-mile speedway since being repaved and went an extra eight laps to ensure a green flag finish. The smooth surface ushered in a new era of high-speed tandem racing that produced a record 74 lead changes among 22 drivers and kept the tow trucks and cleanup crews busy.
"I don't know if you guys noticed," Edwards said, "but that was pretty wild out there."
A wreck with four laps to go sent the race into NASCAR's version of overtime.
Bayne had helped push David Ragan to the front of the field for the first of what would be two attempts at a green-white-checkered flag finish. But on the restart, Ragan made a mistake - he changed lanes too soon - and was black-flagged by NASCAR.
"That rule is tough," Bayne said. "Do I agree with it? I don't know what to say because we're sitting here in victory lane . . . Neither one of us might have ended up in victory lane had he not gotten black-flagged. I have to thank them for getting us up there because if it wasn't for them we never would have been in that situation to take the lead."
An accident on the backstretch that took Dale Earnhardt Jr and Ryan Newman out of contention set up a second attempt at a thrilling finish. Bayne was up front but a slew of hungry veterans were trailing the rookie.
For all of their experience, nobody in the pack that included Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Kurt Busch, had ever won a Daytona 500.
"Now that you put it that way, I'm a little bit worried that one of them is going to come after me tonight," Bayne said.
Labonte settled in behind Bayne to form a two-car draft. Edwards, meanwhile, used a push from David Gilliland to muscle his No. 99 Ford into contention and tried to close.
"We waited and waited and tried not to tear up the racecar, and there in the end it all worked out almost perfectly," Edwards said. "Trevor did a good job of blocking the bottom. That car was a rocket and took off to the finish line. We didn't have a chance to be able to mount a real charge."
Gilliland finished behind Edwards as Ford swept the top three spots.
Bayne's victorious ride came in a No. 21 Ford car painted red and white with gold numbers to resemble the car that David Pearson drove to victory in the 1976 Daytona 500. Until Sunday, that stood as the last Daytona 500 victory for Wood Brothers Racing. The team also went to victory lane at Daytona with Tiny Lund, Cale Yarborough and A.J. Foyt.
"That's a cool list," Bayne said. "It's incredible to be a part of this group, it really is."
Wood Brothers Racing hadn't won a race in the Cup Series in almost a decade.
"We never did quit. We just kept trying," team owner Eddie Wood said. "Bringing back the red and white car with the gold numbers that Pearson drove, that just seemed like it put things back to normal."
Edwards' consolation was the Cup Series points lead because Bayne is vying for the Nationwide Series title with Roush Fenway Racing.
Bayne is only scheduled to drive 17 races with Wood Brothers Racing in the Cup Series this season. Sunday's victory and the $1,462,563 purse that came with it could change those plans.
"We were talking about running the first five races," owner Len Wood said. "I think Martinsville, here we come. That will be the sixth race. On to Texas from there."
Source: http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20110220/SPT/102210339/1196/rss1107/Trevor-Bayne-wins-Daytona-500?odyssey=nav|head
Trevor Bayne wins Daytona 500
He is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver. He drives the number 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, and the number 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series.
Bayne was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and began his racing career racing go-karts at the age of five. After eight years, he moved to Allison Legacy Race Series, where he became the youngest top rookie. Two years later, he moved to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Southern Division. In 2008, he signed a contract with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to race in the NASCAR Camping World East Series, where he recorded one win, six top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. One year later, he recorded Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors after participating in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Also in 2009, he began racing in the Nationwide Series for Michael Waltrip Racing.
After one year with the team, he moved to Roush Fenway Racing, and began racing in the Sprint Cup Series for Wood Brothers Racing. In 2011, Bayne won the Daytona 500, becoming the youngest driver to win the race.
In only his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, Bayne won a wild Daytona 500 on Sunday to take the fabled Wood Brothers Racing team back to victory lane at Daytona International Speedway.
The 20-year-old led the final six laps and held off fellow Ford driver Carl Edwards by .118 seconds to become the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500.
"Are you kidding me?" Bayne radioed after crossing the finish line.
A few moments later, he came on the radio again: "Am I dreaming right now?"
"I don't even know where to go," Bayne added.
The outcome will go down as one of the most improbable in the 53-year history of the Great American Race.
Sunday's was the first held on the 2.5-mile speedway since being repaved and went an extra eight laps to ensure a green flag finish. The smooth surface ushered in a new era of high-speed tandem racing that produced a record 74 lead changes among 22 drivers and kept the tow trucks and cleanup crews busy.
"I don't know if you guys noticed," Edwards said, "but that was pretty wild out there."
A wreck with four laps to go sent the race into NASCAR's version of overtime.
Bayne had helped push David Ragan to the front of the field for the first of what would be two attempts at a green-white-checkered flag finish. But on the restart, Ragan made a mistake - he changed lanes too soon - and was black-flagged by NASCAR.
"That rule is tough," Bayne said. "Do I agree with it? I don't know what to say because we're sitting here in victory lane . . . Neither one of us might have ended up in victory lane had he not gotten black-flagged. I have to thank them for getting us up there because if it wasn't for them we never would have been in that situation to take the lead."
An accident on the backstretch that took Dale Earnhardt Jr and Ryan Newman out of contention set up a second attempt at a thrilling finish. Bayne was up front but a slew of hungry veterans were trailing the rookie.
For all of their experience, nobody in the pack that included Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Kurt Busch, had ever won a Daytona 500.
"Now that you put it that way, I'm a little bit worried that one of them is going to come after me tonight," Bayne said.
Labonte settled in behind Bayne to form a two-car draft. Edwards, meanwhile, used a push from David Gilliland to muscle his No. 99 Ford into contention and tried to close.
"We waited and waited and tried not to tear up the racecar, and there in the end it all worked out almost perfectly," Edwards said. "Trevor did a good job of blocking the bottom. That car was a rocket and took off to the finish line. We didn't have a chance to be able to mount a real charge."
Gilliland finished behind Edwards as Ford swept the top three spots.
Bayne's victorious ride came in a No. 21 Ford car painted red and white with gold numbers to resemble the car that David Pearson drove to victory in the 1976 Daytona 500. Until Sunday, that stood as the last Daytona 500 victory for Wood Brothers Racing. The team also went to victory lane at Daytona with Tiny Lund, Cale Yarborough and A.J. Foyt.
"That's a cool list," Bayne said. "It's incredible to be a part of this group, it really is."
Wood Brothers Racing hadn't won a race in the Cup Series in almost a decade.
"We never did quit. We just kept trying," team owner Eddie Wood said. "Bringing back the red and white car with the gold numbers that Pearson drove, that just seemed like it put things back to normal."
Edwards' consolation was the Cup Series points lead because Bayne is vying for the Nationwide Series title with Roush Fenway Racing.
Bayne is only scheduled to drive 17 races with Wood Brothers Racing in the Cup Series this season. Sunday's victory and the $1,462,563 purse that came with it could change those plans.
"We were talking about running the first five races," owner Len Wood said. "I think Martinsville, here we come. That will be the sixth race. On to Texas from there."
Source: http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20110220/SPT/102210339/1196/rss1107/Trevor-Bayne-wins-Daytona-500?odyssey=nav|head
Monday, February 21, 2011
All-Star break over, James ready for playoff push
I really want to know what is the actual result in the next game.
How about you? Ok do not think to much because this news of All-Star break over, James ready for playoff push has been entered into the Hot News Today.
LeBron James acknowledges there is a point in the NBA schedule where regular-season games start carrying a little bit more significance.
It's now.
He's not shy about saying that, either. Though they all count the same in the marathon 82-game schedule, games after the All-Star break just seem to carry more weight in James' mind. The reason is simple: With every passing game, he's that much closer to returning to the playoffs � and resuming his still-unfulfilled quest of winning an NBA championship.
Miami opens its post-All-Star schedule Tuesday at home against Sacramento. This time of year is often called the second half, but it's more accurate to depict it as the final third, since the Heat have just 26 games left before the opening postseason round begins.
James has been saying for weeks that he starts getting into playoff mode after the break.
The Heat can't wait to see what that really means.
"We're still learning each other," James said. "Our record is really good and we're excited about our record, but we understand, we've still got to continue to get better."
In other words, follow his lead.
He's the league's two-time reigning MVP, a title that he was widely expected to relinquish this season in exchange of pursuing, well, another title. With Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh alongside him in Miami, many people � James included � thought he would be unlikely to put up MVP numbers for a third straight year.
But James' stats have gotten better each month. Scoring is up. Rebounding is up. Assists are up.
And the strange part is, he's doing it while the productivity for Wade and Bosh has increased as well, making Miami look more and more like a championship contender as the year rolls along.
"Here's what's interesting. As his personal numbers have increased the last few weeks, what's important is our level of team execution and trust and confidence has also increased," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "As long as those two things can work in concert, we're all for it. We're talking about an MVP, a two-time MVP, who is so dynamic and versatile with his skills he can impact the game in so many ways."
Just look at Sunday night's All-Star Game as proof of that. The Eastern Conference may have lost to the West All-Stars, but James still managed a triple-double � 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The only other player in All-Star history to do that? Michael Jordan.
James comes out of the All-Star break ranked third in the league in scoring (26.1), 13th in assists (7.3, despite spending almost as much time lately at power forward than point guard), and tops the NBA charts in two categories that measure efficiency � plus-minus (plus 8.3 per game) and the combination of points, assists and rebounds (40.8).
"I didn't want to think about me being MVP this year," James said. "I wanted to think about bringing the Miami Heat an MVP player on the court. ... I've always said over my career team success comes individual accolades � and I guess my name is back in the race."
Miami's 9-8 start to the season is long forgotten. The Heat are 32-7 since.
Around the league, no one is surprised that the Heat turned things around. Suns coach Alvin Gentry scolded reporters in November for asking him about Miami's "struggles," answering those questions by saying onlookers would be crazy to think Miami's tough times would continue all season. That night, as if on cue, Gentry's team lost in Miami by 27 points.
Much got made of a team meeting in Dallas and a bump James gave Spoelstra during a time-out that same night, but in actuality, there may not have been one definitive launching moment for where things started clicking for Miami.
"We knew each other's games from playing on different teams, but it's different when you're playing with a guy," Wade said. "You have to make adjustments to not only the teammates around us, but to our style of play a little bit. ... It was just time. Time cures all. Anytime we had a point where we felt it wasn't going as smooth, we talked about it."
For his part, James doesn't look to a certain game as the springboard, either.
Miami's best basketball, he believes, is still to come � and given the way the Heat played going into the break, he may be right.
"I think he's more comfortable in the system, more comfortable playing with the guys, he knows where everybody's going to be," Heat center and longtime James teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas said. "We use a lot more of our playbook now. We have a lot more plays in. We just had to have some games under our belt as individuals and as a team for us to be comfortable."
Wade says that if he got an MVP vote now, he'd pick James.
It's tough to argue.
Still, remember what James said Jan. 1 about how he would handicap the MVP chances for either himself or Wade, who also hasn't seen any major dips in his stats despite having two other No. 1 options playing alongside him now. "When we decided to come together, our MVP chances went out the window," James said on New Year's night.
Care to reconsider, anyone?
"Look at his numbers. He's putting up great numbers on a good team," Wade said in Los Angeles at All-Star weekend. "It shows even more to average 26, 7, and 7 and you have another guy (himself) averaging 25 and you got another guy (Bosh) averaging almost 19. And you still are a very valuable player to this team. So there's no question he can."
Spoelstra has made a number of changes to the Heat lineup over the season, experimenting with different starting point guards, then always having either Mario Chalmers or Carlos Arroyo on the floor, then going to long stretches without either. James has been a hybrid, going from point guard to power forward � neither his preferred position, remember � at times within the span of one possession.
The biggest change was one that Wade and James may have made on their own. They're attack players who tried to defer to each other too much in the early going. So now, they find ways to attack at the same time.
"Me and D-Wade were trying to, I guess, shoot less and make sacrifices and it was really hurting our team," James said. "Until we turned the switch and said, 'OK, we need to just be ourselves and let everyone else catch up to us on the team,' it's then we started winning basketball games. And we knew we were going to be all right then."
James would prefer to be better than "all right." He desperately hopes this is the year to finally win it all.
Maybe the harbinger of what awaits came Sunday night. Jordan's All-Star triple-double was in 1997. His Bulls won that season's NBA championship.
James starts getting ready for that playoff mode on Tuesday.
"We'll go out there and just play the game the right way," James said. "We never get in each other's way."
source:http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/basketball/7438893.html
All-Star break over, James ready for playoff push
I really want to know what is the actual result in the next game.
How about you? Ok do not think to much because this news of All-Star break over, James ready for playoff push has been entered into the Hot News Today.
LeBron James acknowledges there is a point in the NBA schedule where regular-season games start carrying a little bit more significance.
It's now.
He's not shy about saying that, either. Though they all count the same in the marathon 82-game schedule, games after the All-Star break just seem to carry more weight in James' mind. The reason is simple: With every passing game, he's that much closer to returning to the playoffs � and resuming his still-unfulfilled quest of winning an NBA championship.
Miami opens its post-All-Star schedule Tuesday at home against Sacramento. This time of year is often called the second half, but it's more accurate to depict it as the final third, since the Heat have just 26 games left before the opening postseason round begins.
James has been saying for weeks that he starts getting into playoff mode after the break.
The Heat can't wait to see what that really means.
"We're still learning each other," James said. "Our record is really good and we're excited about our record, but we understand, we've still got to continue to get better."
In other words, follow his lead.
He's the league's two-time reigning MVP, a title that he was widely expected to relinquish this season in exchange of pursuing, well, another title. With Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh alongside him in Miami, many people � James included � thought he would be unlikely to put up MVP numbers for a third straight year.
But James' stats have gotten better each month. Scoring is up. Rebounding is up. Assists are up.
And the strange part is, he's doing it while the productivity for Wade and Bosh has increased as well, making Miami look more and more like a championship contender as the year rolls along.
"Here's what's interesting. As his personal numbers have increased the last few weeks, what's important is our level of team execution and trust and confidence has also increased," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "As long as those two things can work in concert, we're all for it. We're talking about an MVP, a two-time MVP, who is so dynamic and versatile with his skills he can impact the game in so many ways."
Just look at Sunday night's All-Star Game as proof of that. The Eastern Conference may have lost to the West All-Stars, but James still managed a triple-double � 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The only other player in All-Star history to do that? Michael Jordan.
James comes out of the All-Star break ranked third in the league in scoring (26.1), 13th in assists (7.3, despite spending almost as much time lately at power forward than point guard), and tops the NBA charts in two categories that measure efficiency � plus-minus (plus 8.3 per game) and the combination of points, assists and rebounds (40.8).
"I didn't want to think about me being MVP this year," James said. "I wanted to think about bringing the Miami Heat an MVP player on the court. ... I've always said over my career team success comes individual accolades � and I guess my name is back in the race."
Miami's 9-8 start to the season is long forgotten. The Heat are 32-7 since.
Around the league, no one is surprised that the Heat turned things around. Suns coach Alvin Gentry scolded reporters in November for asking him about Miami's "struggles," answering those questions by saying onlookers would be crazy to think Miami's tough times would continue all season. That night, as if on cue, Gentry's team lost in Miami by 27 points.
Much got made of a team meeting in Dallas and a bump James gave Spoelstra during a time-out that same night, but in actuality, there may not have been one definitive launching moment for where things started clicking for Miami.
"We knew each other's games from playing on different teams, but it's different when you're playing with a guy," Wade said. "You have to make adjustments to not only the teammates around us, but to our style of play a little bit. ... It was just time. Time cures all. Anytime we had a point where we felt it wasn't going as smooth, we talked about it."
For his part, James doesn't look to a certain game as the springboard, either.
Miami's best basketball, he believes, is still to come � and given the way the Heat played going into the break, he may be right.
"I think he's more comfortable in the system, more comfortable playing with the guys, he knows where everybody's going to be," Heat center and longtime James teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas said. "We use a lot more of our playbook now. We have a lot more plays in. We just had to have some games under our belt as individuals and as a team for us to be comfortable."
Wade says that if he got an MVP vote now, he'd pick James.
It's tough to argue.
Still, remember what James said Jan. 1 about how he would handicap the MVP chances for either himself or Wade, who also hasn't seen any major dips in his stats despite having two other No. 1 options playing alongside him now. "When we decided to come together, our MVP chances went out the window," James said on New Year's night.
Care to reconsider, anyone?
"Look at his numbers. He's putting up great numbers on a good team," Wade said in Los Angeles at All-Star weekend. "It shows even more to average 26, 7, and 7 and you have another guy (himself) averaging 25 and you got another guy (Bosh) averaging almost 19. And you still are a very valuable player to this team. So there's no question he can."
Spoelstra has made a number of changes to the Heat lineup over the season, experimenting with different starting point guards, then always having either Mario Chalmers or Carlos Arroyo on the floor, then going to long stretches without either. James has been a hybrid, going from point guard to power forward � neither his preferred position, remember � at times within the span of one possession.
The biggest change was one that Wade and James may have made on their own. They're attack players who tried to defer to each other too much in the early going. So now, they find ways to attack at the same time.
"Me and D-Wade were trying to, I guess, shoot less and make sacrifices and it was really hurting our team," James said. "Until we turned the switch and said, 'OK, we need to just be ourselves and let everyone else catch up to us on the team,' it's then we started winning basketball games. And we knew we were going to be all right then."
James would prefer to be better than "all right." He desperately hopes this is the year to finally win it all.
Maybe the harbinger of what awaits came Sunday night. Jordan's All-Star triple-double was in 1997. His Bulls won that season's NBA championship.
James starts getting ready for that playoff mode on Tuesday.
"We'll go out there and just play the game the right way," James said. "We never get in each other's way."
source:http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/basketball/7438893.html
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Never say never: Justin Bieber named MVP at NBA Celebrity All-Star Game
Ah do not think to much you just need to continue for reading the Hot New Today.
Although dwarfed by many of his opponents, Justin Bieber put on a sterling performance at tonight's NBA Celebrity All-Star game and was name the Most Valuable Player.
The pint-sized pop star would ordinarily be much too short to play in the basketball league but he showed that he was not intimidated by the game held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Bieber was representing the West team which was coached by Magic Johnson and managed by Jimmy Kimmel.
Bieber's West team lost 49-54 to the East Conference side but the Baby singer was still honoured for scoring eight points, two rebounds and four assists.
In his red jersey and yellow sneakers, the teen sensation looked even younger than his 16 years. When receiving his trophy, Bieber screamed: 'We're going to Disneyland'.
Bieber's team members were reality star Rob Kardashian, Chuck star Zachary Levi, rapper Common, Modern Family actor Ty Burrell, actor Jason Alexander and rapper Lil' Romeo.
Rob was cheered on by his sister Khloe and brother-in-law Lamar Odom who plays for the LA Lakers - to add to his pressure levels.
Lamar said that Rob 'did ok' and 'didn't embarrass the family'.
His younger sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner were also there for support.
Bieber will be kicking himself though as he missed a 3-pointer with 30 seconds to go that would have tied the game.
But the singer had made a tiring 13 hour plane journey to get to the game and went straight to the court when he landed.
He later tweeted: 'That was fun. Crazy being coached by @magicjohnson - gonna auction off my jersey for charity at www.bieberfever.com'.
Hall of Fame player Scottie Pippen scored the most points leading the Eastern Conference team to victory. The defensive highlight was Pippen's third-quarter block of Bieber.
But at least the Never Say Never star had a trophy to take home after being left disappointed at last week's Grammys when he failed to win any awards.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1358562/Justin-Bieber-named-MVP-NBA-Celebrity-All-Star-Game.html#ixzz1EXxXwDMN
Never say never: Justin Bieber named MVP at NBA Celebrity All-Star Game
Ah do not think to much you just need to continue for reading the Hot New Today.
Although dwarfed by many of his opponents, Justin Bieber put on a sterling performance at tonight's NBA Celebrity All-Star game and was name the Most Valuable Player.
The pint-sized pop star would ordinarily be much too short to play in the basketball league but he showed that he was not intimidated by the game held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Bieber was representing the West team which was coached by Magic Johnson and managed by Jimmy Kimmel.
Bieber's West team lost 49-54 to the East Conference side but the Baby singer was still honoured for scoring eight points, two rebounds and four assists.
In his red jersey and yellow sneakers, the teen sensation looked even younger than his 16 years. When receiving his trophy, Bieber screamed: 'We're going to Disneyland'.
Bieber's team members were reality star Rob Kardashian, Chuck star Zachary Levi, rapper Common, Modern Family actor Ty Burrell, actor Jason Alexander and rapper Lil' Romeo.
Rob was cheered on by his sister Khloe and brother-in-law Lamar Odom who plays for the LA Lakers - to add to his pressure levels.
Lamar said that Rob 'did ok' and 'didn't embarrass the family'.
His younger sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner were also there for support.
Bieber will be kicking himself though as he missed a 3-pointer with 30 seconds to go that would have tied the game.
But the singer had made a tiring 13 hour plane journey to get to the game and went straight to the court when he landed.
He later tweeted: 'That was fun. Crazy being coached by @magicjohnson - gonna auction off my jersey for charity at www.bieberfever.com'.
Hall of Fame player Scottie Pippen scored the most points leading the Eastern Conference team to victory. The defensive highlight was Pippen's third-quarter block of Bieber.
But at least the Never Say Never star had a trophy to take home after being left disappointed at last week's Grammys when he failed to win any awards.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1358562/Justin-Bieber-named-MVP-NBA-Celebrity-All-Star-Game.html#ixzz1EXxXwDMN
Mark Teixeira says the Yankees are underdogs heading into 2011, but team focused on World Series
The 1980 U.S. hockey team. The New York Yankees? If Mark Teixeira is to be believed, the Bombers fall into the same category as those other famous underdogs, something that might serve as motivation for the Yankees in 2011.
"It's a lot of fun, because we're the underdogs this year," Teixeira said when asked what it felt like to report to Yankees camp for the third time. "I love it. No one is picking us right now, but everyone in here should be looking forward to winning a championship.
"When you put on the pinstripes, that's what your goal should be every year - and I think everyone understands that. Just because the public might not be picking us doesn't mean we don't believe it in here."
After missing out on Cliff Lee and bidding farewell to Andy Pettitte, the Yankees are considered by many to be the second-best team in the American League East, falling behind the Red Sox, who dealt for Adrian Gonzalez and signed Carl Crawford to bolster their lineup with two perennial All-Stars.
"If this was a horse race, they would have the inside lane and the pole position," general manager Brian Cashman said. "That doesn't mean you win the race."
In Fort Myers, various members of the Red Sox downplayed the idea that they were the favorites entering the spring.
"They have a $200 million payroll," manager Terry Francona said. "They're not too underdog-ish."
Added Dustin Pedroia: "I'm just worried about what goes on with our team. I'm sure they'll be fine."
Nick Swisher said he doesn't believe the Bombers have to play second fiddle to anybody.
"I don't ever feel like an underdog with the New York Yankees," Swisher said. "I don't look at us as favorites, but I never feel like an underdog when I wear those pinstripes. All this offseason did was solidify the AL East as the best division in baseball."
Cashman noted that his team has been picked as the odds-on favorite several times in recent years, only to watch another club hoist the commissioner's trophy at the end of the season.
"Some years you do; most you don't," Cashman said. "We have one of the better teams in the game, but I have more work to get accomplished."
Still, Cashman was pleased to hear Teixeira's words, calling it "a good approach" for his players to take into the season.
"I want them to collectively feel that we have to fight, scratch and claw for it," Cashman said. "We've worn the target of being the hunted, so let's be the hunter and see if that works well for us."
Informed of Cashman's comments, Red Sox owner John Henry laughed, calling the Yankee GM "a very bright guy." Boston team president Larry Lucchino added that while Cashman is ordinarily a "straight shooter," he's "not above a little gamesmanship, is he?"
Teixeira pointed to the Yankees' poor performance against the Rangers in last October's ALCS as one of the reasons they can't be considered the favorites entering 2011.
"We didn't win last year, we played terrible in the playoffs and we didn't win the division," Teixeira said. "We have to re-prove ourselves this year."
Joe Girardi, who will address his entire team Sunday morning before the first full-squad workout, said his message will be simple.
"Be the best we can be," Girardi said. "That's our goal."
As for playing the role of the underdog, Girardi didn't seem to buy into that type of hyperbole.
"That's going to be talked about a lot in the next five, six weeks, about being an underdog," Girardi said. "People look at the winters that teams have, the additions and subtractions, but the bottom line is you have to go out and play whether you're an underdog or not. We have high expectations for this team, and that's not going to change whether we're picked to finish first, second, third, fourth or fifth."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/02/20/2011-02-20_tex_likes_role_of_underdog.html#ixzz1EXtd19lu
Mark Teixeira says the Yankees are underdogs heading into 2011, but team focused on World Series
The 1980 U.S. hockey team. The New York Yankees? If Mark Teixeira is to be believed, the Bombers fall into the same category as those other famous underdogs, something that might serve as motivation for the Yankees in 2011.
"It's a lot of fun, because we're the underdogs this year," Teixeira said when asked what it felt like to report to Yankees camp for the third time. "I love it. No one is picking us right now, but everyone in here should be looking forward to winning a championship.
"When you put on the pinstripes, that's what your goal should be every year - and I think everyone understands that. Just because the public might not be picking us doesn't mean we don't believe it in here."
After missing out on Cliff Lee and bidding farewell to Andy Pettitte, the Yankees are considered by many to be the second-best team in the American League East, falling behind the Red Sox, who dealt for Adrian Gonzalez and signed Carl Crawford to bolster their lineup with two perennial All-Stars.
"If this was a horse race, they would have the inside lane and the pole position," general manager Brian Cashman said. "That doesn't mean you win the race."
In Fort Myers, various members of the Red Sox downplayed the idea that they were the favorites entering the spring.
"They have a $200 million payroll," manager Terry Francona said. "They're not too underdog-ish."
Added Dustin Pedroia: "I'm just worried about what goes on with our team. I'm sure they'll be fine."
Nick Swisher said he doesn't believe the Bombers have to play second fiddle to anybody.
"I don't ever feel like an underdog with the New York Yankees," Swisher said. "I don't look at us as favorites, but I never feel like an underdog when I wear those pinstripes. All this offseason did was solidify the AL East as the best division in baseball."
Cashman noted that his team has been picked as the odds-on favorite several times in recent years, only to watch another club hoist the commissioner's trophy at the end of the season.
"Some years you do; most you don't," Cashman said. "We have one of the better teams in the game, but I have more work to get accomplished."
Still, Cashman was pleased to hear Teixeira's words, calling it "a good approach" for his players to take into the season.
"I want them to collectively feel that we have to fight, scratch and claw for it," Cashman said. "We've worn the target of being the hunted, so let's be the hunter and see if that works well for us."
Informed of Cashman's comments, Red Sox owner John Henry laughed, calling the Yankee GM "a very bright guy." Boston team president Larry Lucchino added that while Cashman is ordinarily a "straight shooter," he's "not above a little gamesmanship, is he?"
Teixeira pointed to the Yankees' poor performance against the Rangers in last October's ALCS as one of the reasons they can't be considered the favorites entering 2011.
"We didn't win last year, we played terrible in the playoffs and we didn't win the division," Teixeira said. "We have to re-prove ourselves this year."
Joe Girardi, who will address his entire team Sunday morning before the first full-squad workout, said his message will be simple.
"Be the best we can be," Girardi said. "That's our goal."
As for playing the role of the underdog, Girardi didn't seem to buy into that type of hyperbole.
"That's going to be talked about a lot in the next five, six weeks, about being an underdog," Girardi said. "People look at the winters that teams have, the additions and subtractions, but the bottom line is you have to go out and play whether you're an underdog or not. We have high expectations for this team, and that's not going to change whether we're picked to finish first, second, third, fourth or fifth."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/02/20/2011-02-20_tex_likes_role_of_underdog.html#ixzz1EXtd19lu
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