Page 1792 of 2956

      2009 MLB Preview: #4 Chicago Cubs

      March 27, 2009 /

      Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

      Offseason Movement: The Cubs were seemingly hosed by the Indians in a trade that sent ultra-utility player Mark DeRosa to Cleveland in exchange for minor league pitching prospects Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub, none of which were viewed as top 10 prospects in the Tribe’s organization. But maybe one of those youngsters will emerge as a quality arm down the road and DeRosa’s contract does expire at the end of the season so at least the Cubs got something for him. Chicago also added volatile outfielder Milton Bradley, reliever Kevin Gregg and pitcher Aaron Heilman, who will move to the bullpen after losing out to Sean Marshall this spring for the Cubs’ fifth spot in the rotation.

      Top Prospect: Josh Vitters, 3B
      This club is loaded with quality prospects, including reliever Jeff Samardzija, shortstop Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Tyler Colvin. But Vitters appears to be the best of group, with his excellent plate approach, outstanding hand-eye coordination and natural swing. Thus far in Single-A, Vitters is hitting .357 and slugging .529 in 70 at bats. At only 19, he still has a ways to go before he’ll make his big league debut, but Vitters appears to have quite a future ahead of him.

      Continue reading »

      MLB

      Kentucky fires Billy Gillispie

      March 27, 2009 /

      I wrote earlier today about Billy Gillispie being in limbo, and now he’s not. He’s just been fired.

      Billy Gillispie is out as coach of Kentucky in his second season at the helm, and the school has called a 4:30 p.m. news conference to announce the change.

      School officials had been quiet about Gillispie’s job status after the Wildcats tumbled through the second half of the season to finish 22-14, tied for the second-most losses in the program’s 106-year history.

      When something like this happens, I wonder if his fate was sealed after the team missed the NCAA tournament or if a NIT championship would have been enough to buy him another season.

      Let the rumor mill begin…Billy Donovan? Rick Pitino?

      You have to think that UK wouldn’t make this move unless they had a plan in place.

      College Basketball, March Madness, Rumors & Gossip

      Elite Eight Preview & Picks: UConn/Mizzou, Pitt/Nova

      March 27, 2009 /

      #3-seed Missouri vs. #1-seed UConn
      Tip-Off: 4:40 PM ET
      Sagarin Ratings: UConn (94.21), Mizzou (91.04)
      Line: UConn -5.5
      Missouri’s strength is their forward duo of Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll, but guard J.T. Tiller scored a season-high 23 points against Memphis. Mizzou got Memphis to play at its pace, but I don’t think that the Tigers are going to find the Huskies as willing to run with them. UConn plays its best defense when Hasheem Thabeet is planted firmly in the lane. They don’t foul (Memphis sent Mizzou to the line 45 times on Thursday) and they are pretty efficient offensively, which one of the flaws of John Calipari’s team. If UConn gets into an up-and-down affair, Thabeet is far more likely to find himself in sitting on the bench in foul trouble. I’d expect UConn to push when they have the advantage but otherwise slow the tempo down. Mizzou’s run has been great, but UConn is playing as well as anyone in the tournament and given the Huskies’ balance of talent, that’s a pretty scary proposition. But 5.5 points is a lot to give the Tigers, who are playing the best basketball of their season right now. I think I’d stay away from this one wager-wise, but UConn is my pick to win it.

      #3-seed Villanova vs. #1-seed Pittsburgh
      Tip-Off: 7:05 PM ET
      Sagarin Ratings: Pittsburgh (91.97), Villanova (89.59)
      Line: Pittsburgh -2
      I picked Pitt to win the whole thing and every game they love to scare the ever-loving crap out of me. Needless to say, I’m not as optimistic about the Panthers making it to the Final Four much less win the whole thing. The one thing that they’re doing better than anyone else this in this tournament is keeping their poise in the clutch. They have three of the best players in the college game in Sam Young, DeJuan Blair and Levance Fields, but they aren’t getting much offensive help from any of their other players. In each of the three tournament games, they’ve kept it in about second or third gear for much of the game before flipping a switch in the waning minutes. This is a dangerous game to be playing, especially against a Villanova squad that looks so good right now. The Wildcats have blown out two pretty good teams (UCLA and Duke) and they beat Pitt by 10 at home in the two teams’ only meeting this season. In that game, Blair was saddled with foul trouble, so Pitt should fare better if he’s able to play his usual minutes. So with the Panthers favored by two, we have a team that isn’t playing very well (but is winning) favored by a bucket over a team that is as hot as a pistol and already won the previous meeting. If I were a betting man and you put a gun to my head, I think I’d take the Wildcats and the points, though if the game is tied or within one with two minutes to play, Pitt probably covers (if that makes any sense). The thing that really worries me about laying any money on Nova is the fact that Panthers have already lost to the Wildcats and they know they have to take them seriously. I’d stay away from this one too. My brain is saying Nova and my gut is saying Pitt, but my pick is Pitt. I think they play better and win a tight one.

      College Basketball, March Madness

      2009 MLB Preview: #5 Los Angeles Angels

      March 27, 2009 /

      Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

      Offseason Movement: The Halos added outfielder Bobby Abreu for cheap and also signed former Colorado reliever Brian Fuentes to replace long-time closer Francisco Rodriguez. Along with K-Rod, the club also lost Garret Anderson, Jon Garland and Mark Teixeria via free agency.

      Top Prospect: Nick Adenhart, RHP
      Some feel as though Jordan Walden is the Halos’ best prospect, but Adenhart is the one that will have the opportunity to make the big league roster this year as a fourth or fifth starter. With Ervin Santana, Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey all sidelined due to various injuries, Adenhart will likely start the season in the starting rotation. He could be sent down as soon as the rest of the starters get healthy, but if he does well he’ll no doubt earn a future spot in the rotation. Thus far in spring training, Adenhart has displayed good command and struggled just once in five outings.

      Continue reading »

      MLB

      Billy Gillispie in limbo

      March 27, 2009 /

      Despite a internet report that he had been fired, Billy Gillispie is still the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.

      School officials have been quiet about Gillispie’s job status after the Wildcats tumbled through the second half of the season to finish 22-14, tied for the second-most losses in the program’s 106-year history.

      University president Lee Todd said recently Gillispie’s position would be evaluated at the end of the season. Todd attended the loss to Notre Dame but did not respond to requests for comment by The Associated Press on Thursday.

      Athletic director Mitch Barnhart was planning to meet with Gillispie, though the coach said during his radio show Thursday night no meeting had been scheduled.

      In response to an Internet report Gillispie is going to be let go, the University of Kentucky issued the following statement Thursday night: “UK men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie has not been fired. There have been no meetings between Gillispie and UK officials today, and there is no scheduled press conference for tomorrow.”

      When asked after the loss to Notre Dame if he expected to be back, Gillispie said the decision wasn’t up to him.

      “You’re asking the wrong guy,” he said. “All I know is to go to work, recruit, coach and that’s what I did, that’s what I’ve done and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

      The folks at Kentucky are considering two questions:

      1) How good of a coach is Billy Gillispie?
      2) Can we get anyone better?

      It used to be that a coach would have three or four years to guide a program, but in this day and age when the top players are only stopping at the college level for one or two seasons, the leash seems to be a lot shorter. Two years ago, Kentucky thought so much of Gillispie that they signed him to a seven-year deal. UK fans and boosters are notoriously fickle about their team, but if you feel strongly enough about guy to sign him for seven years, it’s hard to justify letting him go after a 22-win season. Granted, his team lost 14 games this season, but still.

      I’m not a big fan of his after seeing how he treated a sideline reporter that reportedly rebuked his advances, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to understand why a school would fire a guy after two seasons of his seven-year deal. Unless, of course, they’re firing him for being a jerk to sideline reports. Then I understand completely.

      3:31 PM ET Update: It’s official — Gillispie has been fired.

      College Basketball, March Madness, Rumors & Gossip, Women

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑