Tag: Anthony Stalter (Page 100 of 133)

      Tigers demote youngsters Scherzer, Sizemore

      May 17, 2010 /

      One day very soon, the Tigers hope starter Max Scherzer and infielder Scott Sizemore will be a part of their future core. But as of right now, the club feels as though they need more work before they can contribute on the big league level.

      Both players were sent to Triple-A Toledo over the weekend in hopes that they’ll straighten out their weaknesses. Scherzer, who was acquired as part of a three-team trade that sent Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks in early December of last year, is a hard-throwing right-hander that needs to develop a second pitch. He’s lived and died by his fastball thus far in his career and it doesn’t take major league hitters long to abuse pitchers that don’t have a second pitch that they trust in.

      As for Sizemore, manager Jim Leyland seems to think that the young second baseman was starting to look lost at the plate.

      “It was almost like he was starting to get a little lost,” Leyland said. “He was fighting himself. You could kind of see it.

      “But I think Sizemore’s gonna be fine. We still really like him.”

      Baseball can be an extremely humbling game. When players are slumping, they feel as though they’ll never get another hit or have another good outing again. They start pressing, and once that happens their confidence crumbles and things start to unravel.

      Hopefully both of these players gain perspective in the minors and can come back up and help the Tigers soon. Talent certainly isn’t an issue – they just need time to get their heads back on straight.

      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      2010 Preakness Stakes Predictions

      May 15, 2010 /

      All right, so I was a tad off in my Kentucky Derby predictions two weeks ago. Sidney’s Candy (the colt I predicted to win) ran out of gas down the stretch and I’m pretty sure Line of David (my prediction to show) still hasn’t come out of the posts yet.

      That said, my choice of Paddy O’prado to place was partly correct as he finished in the money, but third instead of my prediction of second. Had he not tired down the stretch, he would have held off Ice Box for second place, but I was happy that at least one of my predictions finished in the money. I also noted that Conveyance would probably jump out to a big lead at the front – which he did – but tire down the stretch (which he also did). But that prediction doesn’t really count for anything; I’m just trying to make myself feel a little better considering the picks didn’t pan out.

      I’ll try to do better today with the Preakness, as the second leg of the Triple Crown takes place at 6:15PM ET.

      Win: Lookin at Lucky (3/1)
      Lookin at Lucky was the favorite heading into the Kentucky Derby, but he fought traffic out at the start and finished a disappointing sixth. That said, he spotted the field over 20 lengths, battled through traffic and still managed to finish sixth. The last horse to pull off a similar feat was Curlin in 2007, who lost to Street Sense at the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby and then won the Preakness two weeks later. Had Lucky not drawn the awful rail position for the Derby, we might have seen a different outcome. But now that he is coming out of the No. 7 post, he shouldn’t have to battle as much traffic at the start and he can run his race throughout. If he does that, he beats the field.

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      External Sports, horse racing

      Jaguars to hold an open competition at quarterback?

      May 14, 2010 /

      Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter reveled some interesting information when speaking recently to a reporter for the Jaguars’ official website – most notably that Luke McCown and David Garrard saw equal reps at the team’s recent mini-camp.

      “Even though Luke was our number two last year, he didn’t take many reps. We haven’t had much chance to see him operate in our system. Mini-camp was his first chance to get equal reps. This is a time for Luke to show he can compete with Dave. He’s athletic, he’s sharp. Can he push Dave when they’re hitting you for real? We like what we see out of Luke in the meeting room and what we saw of him in mini-camp,” Koetter said.

      What Koetter said could mean something, it could mean nothing. That said, the Jags haven’t necessarily shown unwavering support for Garrard over the last year or so. Even though he has been productive, you get the feeling that the Jags want more out of their quarterback position than what Garrard brings to the field.

      It’s still early, but the likely scenario is that Garrard beats McCown in training camp and then is kept on a short leash. If Garrard gets off to a slow start, McCown could unseat him early in the season.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      McNabb apologizes to Eagle fans for not winning a Super Bowl

      May 14, 2010 /

      Donovan McNabb is sorry that he didn’t win you a Super Bowl, Eagle fans.

      From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

      “The things that I set out to accomplish and bring back to Philadelphia, I wasn’t able to, and I apologize, more than anything, to the people of Philadelphia, not bringing a Super Bowl to ’em, but it didn’t happen, and I look forward to trying to achieve that goal here in Washington,” McNabb said, the most explicit regret he has expressed.

      Asked about his legacy, the Eagles’ all-time leading passer reiterated what he said at his introductory press conference in Washington, five weeks back. He said he hoped he would be remembered as “a guy who provided excitement, who gave them a chance to win every time he stepped out on the field, one that they had trust, knowing that I would do the right things, an most importantly, one that won ballgames.”

      Some in Philadelphia feel as though McNabb is a phony. That he gives the appearance of someone who cares, but when push came to shove (especially in the playoffs with everything on the line), his dedication wasn’t there.

      The quarterback will always be the most scrutinized. That’s because they make the most money, have the most responsibility and always get the ball first. They essentially have the ability to win and lose games by their play and some Eagle fans will never forgive McNabb for not winning the big one when he was on the doorstep so many times.

      But the fact of the matter is that football is, and always will be, a team game. To hold one player responsible (even the quarterback) for wins and losses is asinine. It often takes a full 53-man roster and every member of the coaching staff to win Super Bowls. For whatever reason, the Eagles could never do that with McNabb under center and to think that some fans hold him responsible for the team’s failures over the years is rather humorous.

      Whether his apology was sincere or a front, McNabb doesn’t owe Philadelphia anything. Players win and lose as a team.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Will Darrelle Revis hold out if he doesn’t receive a new contact from Jets?

      May 14, 2010 /

      Darrelle Revis, whose contract is set to void after 2010, expects the Jets to give him a new deal before the regular season starts. They said they would, and he trusts them.

      But if push comes to shove, will he hold out? While recently speaking at the Jets’ Florham Park facility in New Jersey, Revis may have provided insight to that question.

      From the New York Post:

      “We’ll figure it out when [the start of camp] comes.”

      Revis said he “believes [the Jets] at their word.” But he quickly added, “When you go back on your word it’s a problem.”

      “We have a bunch of months to get things done,” Revis said. “I trust [Jets management] . . . but I also know this is a business as well.”

      Seeing as how the Jets didn’t abide by Leon Washington’s wishes for a new contract last year and then traded the running back to Seattle during the draft last month, Revis has reason to be weary that he may not get a new deal. He also plays for a team that just dumped Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca in order to recoup some of his huge salary. (Although as many Jet fans will note, despite his Pro Bowl appearance Faneca didn’t play well last year.)

      That said, Revis is the best cover corner in the NFL, and good defensive backs are hard to come by. If there were one position on the field outside of quarterback that a team would want to splurge on, it would be cornerback because good ones are such a rarity in the league. (Look at the deal the Raiders gave Nnamdi Asomugha in February of last year.)

      Chances are that the Jets and Revis will come to a deal before the season starts. But if they don’t, a player’s best bargaining chip is a hold out. It sounds as if Revis wouldn’t hesitate to hold out if the Jets fall back on their word.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

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