HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER RULES!
This kid is in high school. He is a teenager. He plays on a field that has a track around it, football lines on the field and goalposts behind the net. He is not supposed to score bicycle kick goals from 18 yards.
Too bad. He did it. He's awesome.
Logan Shytle, you're all kinds of amazing and easily the best high schooler I have seen this season*.
* Note: He is the only one, but he's still the best.
One little boy got to honor an NFL legend by dressing up as legendary Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka for Halloween and it is absolutely adorable When I was a little boy I dressed up as a vampire, Superman, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, fireman or a baseball player most years, but I sure […]
Adorable Baby Boy Dressed As Mike Ditka Wins Halloween (Photo) - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Ryan Matthews returned to practice for the first time since injuring his knee as the San Diego Chargers running back nears a return The San Diego Chargers have been decimated by injuries to their backfield with Ryan Matthews, Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown battling various injuries. While Woodhead is lost for the year with his […]
Ryan Matthews To Return To San Diego Chargers In Week 11 - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Never a dull moment on PTI.
Tony Kornheiser certainly went with a unique approach to his Halloween costume.
Kornheiser is V Stiviano for Halloween http://ift.tt/1tJizbE
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 31, 2014 The ESPN personality decided to dress up as the once girlfriend of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Nice touch with the trademark visor.
Fellow PTI host Michael Wilbon went a little less creative and chose to be Pharrell Williams, which is easily accomplished by just wearing an over-sized hat.
— Matt Clapp (@sharapovasthigh) October 31, 2014
The Chicago Cubs officially hired Joe Maddon as its new manager on Friday, and will introduce the former Tampa Bay Rays manager in a news conference on Monday, the team announced. Maddon is the 54th manager in Cubs history.
Former manager Rick Renteria, who has two years remaining on his contract, was fired earlier on Friday.
Maddon, 60, exercised an opt-out clause in his contract with the Rays on Oct. 24, a provision that was triggered when Tampa Bay general manager Andrew Friedman left to become the new president of baseball operations on Oct. 14. Maddon had one year remaining on his contract, worth a reported $1.85 million.
Multiple reports had Maddon and the Rays close to an agreement on Wednesday before Game 7 of the World Series, but nothing was finalized until Friday. There were apparently up to 10 teams that showed interest in the free agent manager, who also reportedly had an offer to work in media, his agent Alan Nero told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday.
In a statement, Cubs president Theo Epstein on Friday said the club saw a "unique opportunity" to pursue Maddon once he became available.
"Last Thursday, we learned that Joe Maddon - who may be as well suited as anyone in the industry to manage the challenges that lie ahead of us - had become a free agent," Epstein said. "In this business of trying to win a world championship for the first time in 107 years, the organization has priority over any one individual. We decided to pursue Joe."
Maddon was 754-705 (.517) in his nine years in Tampa Bay, including four playoff appearances, two division titles and one World Series appearance, averaging 90 wins per season in the last seven years despite an average annual payroll of $60.6 million from 2008-14.
When he was hired by the Rays — after spending 31 seasons in the Angels organization, including 13 years as a major league coach — Maddon took over a team that averaged 97 losses in its first eight years of existence, never losing fewer than 91 games in a season.
Similarly, the Cubs have suffered through five straight losing seasons soon after back-to-back postseason appearances in 2007-2008, averaging 93 losses over the last five campaigns. Maddon will be the Cubs' fifth manager in six seasons.
Ryan Newman knows he doesn’t need to win a race to win the championship.
Although winless, don't tell Ryan Newman he can't prevail in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He doesn't care nor does it matter.
"A championship is still a championship, and the trophy doesn't have the number of wins underneath it," Newman said Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. "If we win the championship that would be great in any form or fashion."
When the Chase began Newman was expected to be among those eliminated in one of the first two rounds. Instead, Newman has been one of the consistent drivers with five straight finishes of eighth or better. That run has him second in the standings, three points behind Jeff Gordon in the third of four playoff rounds.
Of the eight Chasers remaining, only Newman and Matt Kenseth are without a victory. Four drivers will advance to the championship finale Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with at least two spots assured of being claimed by points scored in Round 3.
"As long as you have four seeds and three winners, there's that potential, said Newman of a winless champion. "We know that at the max there will be two at this point going into this last round. But we're here to win races as well, and there would be nothing better than to win the next three. There's no guarantee in any of that."
In his first year with Richard Childress Racing, Newman has improved in the second half of the season. Though he's led all of 47 laps -- the lowest of any Chase driver -- only Joey Logano has collected more points than Newman through seven playoff races.
Whether that consistency will carry him to his first championship, Newman isn't sure. However, he doesn't waver on if his team is capable.
"It takes us continuing to perform and outperform where we have performed," Newman said. "We've gotten stronger as the year has gone. Without a doubt we wouldn't be here if we weren't a contender for the championship."
Despite being in a position few expected, Newman will not change his approach. The goal in remaining two races of Round 3 is not to worry about winning, but to finish as well as possible and avoid doing anything that could be detrimental to advancing.
"I do know it's important to finish," Newman said. "I'd rather finish seventh than 27t without risking too much. At the end, you still don't have to win a race to win the championship.
"Mathematically, you can finish 39th or 40th at Homestead. That's not something anyone wants to see, but that's the math of it. It's not likely to happen, but I just go out there and do the best job I possibly can and that's made me a consistent driver this year."
A lot of young football players want to be J.J. Watt, including former NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington who dressed up as the Houston Texans defensive lineman for Halloween, and it came with some controversy LaVar Arrington dressed as J.J. Watt for Halloween this year and even appeared on the NFL Network to show off his […]
LaVar Arrington Dressed As J.J. Watt For Halloween, Denies Wearing White Face (Photo) - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Some members of the Minnesota Vikings dressed up as American Gladiators for Halloween and it is glorious Who said Halloween is just for little kids? Halloween is every bit as fun for adults as it is for the young ones who go trick or treating around the neighborhood in hopes of scoring pounds and pounds […]
Minnesota Vikings Dress As American Gladiators For Halloween (Photo) - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Winner http://ift.tt/1sS69ZI
— Travis Hale (@SARR_SBN) October 31, 2014
Tips to making your own great Tim Duncan costume at home:
1) Buy A LOT of foam rubber. At least 7 feet worth.
2) Make sure his eyes are as far apart as possible, preferably looking in the wrong direction,
3) Ensure your head is protruding like a chestburster from Alien.
Every son wants to be like his father, and David Beckham's son Brooklyn is making good on it. He's a model.
Brooklyn Beckham's #TMagazine cover is totally cute! http://t.co/aA0TUVd0KJ http://ift.tt/1sS69sK
— POPSUGAR (@POPSUGAR) October 31, 2014
Genetics are real, y'all.
LAFC will enter MLS with the lessons from Chivas USA, but not the baggage.
For the past 10 years, there've been two MLS teams in Los Angeles. But, thanks to the folding of Chivas USA, there will be just one team in LA for the next two years, until LAFC launches in 2017. But the league could have allowed LAFC to buy the Goats, then continue operating them next season. Why didn't they?
Chivas USA were that bad. And that embarrassing. And come with that much baggage.
"We really needed a distinct break," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "We needed to accept that what we did in '05 didn't work and the new team shouldn't be saddled and burdened with that legacy, the league should."
Come 2017, LAFC will not be looked at as a club trying to turn Chivas around. They won't be looked at as a club that used to be Chivas. They won't be looked at in comparison to Chivas in any way except for one -- can they do what Chivas couldn't?
The new club is charged with engaging the LA market in such a way that they can create a true equal for the LA Galaxy, both on the field and off of it, so the rivalry that the league has desperately wanted can finally come to fruition.
It is hardly an impossible task. The club's mere unveiling was proof of their potential.
The amount of money and experience in the ownership group is staggering. From the managing partner, Henry Nguyen, to Peter Guber, all the way down through Magic Johnson, Tony Robbins and the rest, it's obvious that the club has an incredible amount of capital. They also have expertise in Hollywood, from Manadalay Entertainment CEO Guber; sports management, in former NBA executive Tom Penn and Golden State Warriors GM Rick Welts; on the field, in Mia Hamm; and even in technology, in YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. That is just a fraction of the group, but they made it clear that they are as excited about the LA market as they are the league in general.
There have been questions about why MLS would stick with LA as a two-team market, especially when Sacramento, right up the road, is dying for a team, but that type of ownership group isn't looking to get into Sacramento. L.A. is unique, with a metro population of 13 million, strong soccer support, huge corporate base and status as a massive media market. MLS certainly wasn't ready to give up the dream of two teams, especially with the ownership group dropping a reported $100 million for the club, with at least $150 million more to come in the stadium.
But LAFC won't necessarily be an immediate success. Chivas did fail in this market, after all. But that's part of the reason the new club won't kick off until 2017. Not only do they want to distance themselves from Chivas, they also want to make sure they're flying from Day 1.
"It's about being able to plot a course from the beginning and not worry about trying to revise some past," Nguyen said. "We need some runway to do this right. If we said, okay March 2015 we'll be kicking off, we're not going to be putting a product on the field that anybody is going to be proud of. It takes time."
The first item of business is getting a stadium built. Chivas's experience made it abundantly clear that renting the StubHub Center from the Galaxy isn't sustainable, meaning LAFC will only succeed if they have their own building. They intend to finish it by 2017, so they'll be in their new home right from the start.
With 2017 as the goal, Los Angeles Sports Arena figures to be their preferred site, although they'd raze it and start anew. An Environmental Impact Report has already been approved, cutting out years of red tape and allowing them to get the stadium built in time for their first year. It's an ideal location, central and with good access to public transportation.
With the money, the leadership and the experience in the ownership group, LAFC appears to be the anti-Chivas. They want to strike a chord within the community, something Chivas didn't just fail to do, they seemed unwilling to do at times.
And so it really does come back to Chivas. As much as the ownership said they looked at Portland and Seattle for how to run things, it is obvious that they also looked to Chivas for how not to run things. They believe in the LA market, just like MLS does and Chivas did a decade ago, but they know it has to be different this time around.
"We thought it was a good idea," Garber said about Chivas. "It was a bad idea, and I'm not sure anyone could have executed it well."
LAFC is a very different idea from Chivas. It is a very different ownership group. It is a very different approach. And now, it's even a very different MLS. The only thing that is the same is the LA market, and they are as excited about that as ever.
"This was an important part of our participation. From the moment we signed on the dotted line we had a seat at the table." - Managing partner Henry Nguyen on LAFC being a full fledged owner with an equal vote starting now, not 2017.
"We're going to go through a full branding process. We're asking our LA originals, our fans, to join us in this pursuit. We're going to go through a formal naming, formal colors, kit, logo, the whole deal. We want to be very fan focused, and open, and get feedback and input. That's what's cool about a startup. We don't have anything yet." - President Tom Penn
"We're fully funded. We've got all the money we need to build it. We're targeting something in the mid 20,000s in capacity. And then we're going to spend at least $150 million." - President Tom Penn
"We're absolutely going to have a top notch development academy. This is a goldmine of talent and we will engage aggressively early in that space." "We are not operating the Chivas academy. The MLS will continue to do so. And then we will establish ours in the most expeditious way possible. We don't want to lose ground there. We're not going to go away as a club in the talent development business." - President Tom Penn
"We're encouraging them to figure out what they can do with the current Chivas academy. It will operate under the league's auspices until the spring and then I'm hoping these guys will step in because that is a great program." - MLS commissioner Don Garber
"It is not fun to sit with the supporters who are here from Chivas and tell them that their team is going away -- to accept and apologize to a fan that has his kids grow up being Chivas USA fans and going to every game." - MLS commissioner Don Garber
Regretful over their Martinsville run-in, Matt Kenseth is hoping he hasn’t ruined Kevin Harvick’s championship hopes.
Kevin Harvick has a new No. 1 fan, as Matt Kenseth is openly rooting for Harvick to advance out of the Eliminator Round and make the championship finale Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
If Harvick could advance past Round 3, it would be of great relief to Kenseth, whose mistake a week ago has placed Harvick in a severe points hole and in danger of being eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
"If he makes it to Homestead, then I'll feel better about it," Kenseth said Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. "If he doesn't win a championship and at least makes it to Homestead, at least it wasn't because of my stupid mistake. Until then, I don't know how much better I'll feel about it."
With two races remaining in the third of four Chase rounds, Harvick is last among the eight playoff drivers, 28 points below the cutline. He virtually needs a victory Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway or the following week at Phoenix International Raceway to make it to Homestead with a shot at the championship.
The deficit Harvick is in comes from an accident Kenseth triggered at Martinsville Speedway, which sent Harvick spinning into the Turn 1 wall. Harvick finished 33rd and vowed afterward Kenseth would not win the 2014 championship saying, "If we don't, he won't."
Immediately after Martinsville, Kenseth, who finished sixth, apologized for the contact and took full responsibility saying he understood Harvick's frustration. Kenseth again expressed contrition Friday, but didn't expect Harvick to follow through on his promise. Kenseth and Harvick spoke in the Nationwide Series briefly at Texas.
"It was terrible timing; wrong place at the wrong time," Kenseth said. "I understand his frustration. I would be just as frustrated. I couldn't feel any worse about it. The only way it would have been worse was if you wrecked a teammate."
"I hope he has a really good week this week or next week and wins one of these races. Even if he doesn't, hopefully he'll run good enough to get in that last round because I know that he doesn't want to get taken out of it for something that he had nothing to do with. And I certainly don't want to be the guy to take him out of it."
In his first season with Stewart-Haas Racing, Harvick has been among the most consistent and dominant drivers. He owns four victories and has led a series-best 1,817 laps. Were it not for several fluky occurrences and mishaps on pit road, Harvick would likely have several more wins.
That performance has caused Kenseth to take notice.
"Kevin and I have gotten along really good the last eight or nine years -- we've really raced each other well," Kenseth said. "I've actually been pulling for him this year. I've been trying to encourage him this year when he's been frustrated because they've run good enough to win eight or nine or 10 races.
"If me or a teammate can't win it, he's been my favorite to go and try to win the championship. I hope (Martinsville) doesn't end up being the determining factor whether he gets to Homestead or not. He doesn't want that, I don't either. I don't want to live with that. I hope that they can go out and can make it into the final four."
The Houston Texans first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft has only been on the field twice this season, and may not start his third game on Sunday. The Houston Texans had the number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. With Matt Schaub being given the heave-ho, a glaring hole was left […]
Texans’ Jadeveon Clowney Likely Out This Weekend - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday but both teams may be without one of their bigger NFL assets. The NFL is getting ready for week 9 action but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns will be without some of their offensive weapons. With the two teams set […]
Doug Martin Ruled Doubtful, Jordan Cameron Out - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Check out the top 10 NFL jersey sales among defensive players in the country Most of the love in the NFL goes to offensive players – they’re the ones that sell the tickets, right? However, there are plenty of defensive players that have a lot of their jerseys bought by the public. In fact, Carolina […]
Top 10 NFL Jersey Sales: Defensive Players - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
The boys are live from Foxboro this Halloween morning..for Greeny I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery http://ift.tt/1wNF3qO
— Mike & Mike (@MikeAndMike) October 31, 2014
This has to be the most comfortable costume ever. No itchy synthetic fabrics, no thin cotton that gets way too cold. Just throw on some slacks and a fleece hoodie and you're ready to be the Patriots' head coach.
Noted Jets fan Mike Greenberg joined in on the fun, too. Maybe dressing like Tom Brady will have some effect on the Jets' QBs by osmosis. Probably not.
Captain America reporting for duty http://ift.tt/1wNF0v4
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) October 31, 2014
Say what you will about Paul Pierce, but the dude can fill out a Captain America costume perfectly. All these NBA costumes have to be custom-made, right? It's hard enough to find one that fits right, let alone needing an extra-extra-extra-extra tall.
Marcin Gortat is ready for Halloween, too!
Ladies and gentleman Paul Pierce !!!:)) #legend #this #guyyyyyy http://ift.tt/1wNF0vc
— Marcin Gortat (@MGortat) October 31, 2014
Get it?! He's Marcin Gortat! Good costume.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and recently arrested running back Joseph Randle got into an argument before practice on Friday. The Dallas Cowboys tremendous season, that saw them race out to a 6-1 start before losing last week the the Washington Redskins, might be coming to a screeching halt. It looks like the Cowboys, […]
Cowboys’ Dez Bryant And Joseph Randle Argue Before Practice - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
This is a quote from a Philly.com article about the manhunt and subsequent arrest of Eric Frein, a 31-year-old man who was arrested for killing a Pennsylvania trooper. It's perhaps the greatest proof that the Eagles vs. Giants rivalry has gone a touch too far.
Part of writing is understanding your audience, and it's here that staff writer William Bender understood his crowd. After being questioned about his word choice on social media he didn't back down.
@randomhero213 there's always a reason to take a shot at Eli. You wouldn't understand
— William Bender (@wbender99) October 31, 2014
@AdamWHermann @Jeff_Neiburg Sorry, it's just how I felt. "Manningface" was one of the first things I wrote in my notebook
— William Bender (@wbender99) October 31, 2014
While other teams in the SEC West have overshadowed LSU, the Tigers have been one of the steadiest earners of the season for their backers.
Out of the limelight in the overcrowded SEC West, the LSU Tigers have quietly put together a strong 7-2 SU and ATS campaign through the first nine games of their season. LSU makes this list of some of the best (and worst) ATS teams in the country.
LSU Tigers (7-2 ATS, 7-2 SU) - LSU's 10-7 upset win over the previously undefeated Ole Miss Rebels proved that the Tigers aren't going to finish this season up without a fight. Look for LSU's tough defense to keep the Tigers in important games down the stretch.
Utah Utes (6-1 ATS, 6-1 SU) - The Pac-12's biggest surprise team this season has been the Utah Utes, who picked up another impressive win last Saturday against the USC Trojans. With a physical defense and an offense that never quits, Utah has proven to be a tough out all year. The Utes are a 5.5-point underdog at Arizona State on Saturday at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Western Michigan Broncos (7-1 ATS, 5-3 SU) - Western Michigan at Miami (Ohio) won't be circled on everyone's schedule, but bettors who have been backing the Mustangs all season will likely be on Western Michigan as a 6.5-point road favorite. Western Michigan has been competitive in all of its conference games out in the MAC.
UCLA Bruins (1-7 ATS, 6-2 SU) - Despite coming into the season as a projected playoff contender, UCLA has been anything but dominant with all but one of its six wins coming by eight points or less. UCLA is a 6.5-point favorite this Saturday hosting Arizona.
Kent State Golden Flashes (2-6 ATS, 1-7 SU) - Kent State averages an abysmal 14.1 points per game. With an offense that simply can't keep up in the high-octane MAC, Kent State struggles to cover the spread on any given week.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1-6 ATS, 3-4 SU) - Two seasons removed from an 8-5 ATS campaign in 2012, this year's ULM team is averaging only 17.6 points per game. Four of Louisiana-Monroe's last five games come on the road this season where ULM is 0-3 SU and ATS.
Former Washington Redskins quarterback Jay Schroeder has an opinion on the team’s name controversy. Do any of our readers remember Jay Schroeder? No? Well, that is probably because his career in the NFL was not exactly memorable. Aside from one solitary pro-bowl appearance in 1986 and a Super Bowl championship, both with the Washington Redskins, […]
Former Redskins QB Has Baffling Take On Team Name - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III says the God doesn’t want him to be a normal quarterback. So who are we to judge him as such? When Robert Griffin III was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 2012, he was a savior for the franchise. But he may have let the theological aspects of his […]
Robert Griffin III Says God Doesn’t Want Him To Be Normal - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Is there any doubt that these kids just won Halloween? Take a look at these Richard Sherman and Erin Andrews costumes. For the sake of the NFL, there needs to be better Halloween costume ideas than Ray Rice. Seriously, do not dress up as No. 27 tonight, or any other night for that matter. It […]
Kids Dress Up As Richard Sherman, Erin Andrews For Halloween (Photo) - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
New York Jets fans are unhappy with the team’s dismal start to the season and they are now calling for general manager John Idzik to be fired. The New York Jets have stumbled out of the gate to start the 2014-15 NFL regular season. Scratch that. The New York Jets have fallen flat on their […]
New York Jets Fans Launch FireJohnIdzik.com - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
A woman recently created a J.J. Watt Halloween costume that went beyond the usual jersey-and-helmet fare, invoking the iconic images of a bloodied Watt from games past. Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will have plenty of NFL fans dressing in his likeness this Halloween, as he’s not just been the best defensive player in […]
Woman Makes Awesome J.J. Watt Halloween Costume - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Bill Belichick appeared on Mike & Mike and offered some critique on Mike Golic’s Bill Belichick costume. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick joined Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic on Mike & Mike, where Golic was dressed up as Belichick and Greenberg dressed as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Belichick didn’t pull any punches with […]
Bill Belichick Critiques Mike Golic’s Bill Belichick Costume - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Also? 1. Reese’s Mini Cups 2. Reese’s Pieces 3. Reese’s Cups
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) October 31, 2014
First, putting Reese's Mini Cups on top is buying alcohol in tiny bottles when what you want is a handle of gin. You are not making an elevated, principled argument about proper chocolate-to-peanut-butter ratios. You are not performing delicate chemistry, or sounding like a gourmand getting fubsy with your peanut butter and chocolate candy requirements. Reese's Mini Cups are packaged in three things: paper, foil, and denial. "I just eat one," says a liar who ate twenty-two of them in a sitting when two or three regular Reese's Cups would have done.
Mini Cups are LIES. Reese's Cups are the fatty, insulin-spiking power of whole, unminiaturized truth.
Second: Reese's pieces aren't even in the Reese's family, since they involve at best only trace amounts of chocolate. If you like instrumental tracks without the vocals and bread sandwiches, Reese's Pieces are for you. Otherwise if you want the whole promised concept, opt for Minis or the actual Cups. WHICH ARE DELICIOUS, RYAN. Additionally, you're stating something is better without chocolate, which is impossible under several variations on natural law.
P.S. Don't even come in here with White Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. They are not canon, and might as well be candle wax wrapped around peanut butter.
Giovani Bernard will not play against the Jaguars on Sunday. We break down the fantasy implications.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard will not play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He suffered a hip injury in Week 8 and is not expected to miss much time beyond this week.
With Gio out, it'll be running back Jeremy Hill getting the featured work at tailback. Hill has been the goal-line back on the season and has three scores. He has seen his production go down and hasn't been over 3.9 yards per carry in any game since Week 3, but he also does have three or more catches in three of his last four games.
He'll get a fantastic matchup against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Jaguars are the 17th-toughest matchup for running backs in fantasy leagues, but they give up a ton of points due to a weak pass defense.
Fantasy impact: Hill has to be in all lineups as a must-start play. He's also a fantastic guy to use in daily leagues.
It's the best game of the year. Here's a primer for what to watch for on Sunday.
We're required to remind you that these strong takes are PARODY. Sorry, not sorry. All spelling errors are intentional, we think. -Ed.
Happy Friday the 31th folks. Its Holloween which is the scariest time to be a parent what with all the razorblades in apples that Im handing out as my right to discipline children the way I was disciplined as a child. Real quick one common misconcepton to clear up here if your going as a certain Washington QB for Holloween- "Andrews." was actualy the name of the Doctor, the name of the player built out of spare parts is "Dr Andrews monster."
Just a word of warning folks, Ive got the flu and possible Ebola from my trip to Dallas as Im writing this. This take is literaly my Michael jordan moment or like that time that Danny Woodhead played through being 5 foot 8.
But all the greats play through pain and thats not a excuse, Im going to gut this one out no offense to my intestines #prayforPFTC. The shield has had a rough year folks, with all the NFeLons out there getting locked up, and Tony Romo being a literally brokeback Cowboy who cant play through a spine, and the Panthers Bucs and Falcons giving a bad name to the word "South", its about time for some good clean news folks.
Fotunately this weekend is a traditon unlike any other- the Brady Manning Bowl. I call it the Bradley Manning Bowl because with metropoltan Tom Brady getting more and more posh and cosmopoltan everyday hes more likely to be a Chelsea type anyways.
One thing you cant argue with is the fact that this is the most importent game of the year. Its like back when England and France use to verse each other in a war every couple years except the loser of that didnt get to change all the rules to make sure they won the next time if you dont count the fact that France kept changing it to best 3 out of 5, then 4 out of 7, then 5 out of 9 etc.
The winner of the Brady Manning bowl should get to decide which team Wes Welker goes into the hall of fame as. Also who ever loses this game gets to decide one rule change to counteract whatever kind of "gotcha" defense the winning team used to make there team better next year,, for example if Denver wins then the Pats can say "Every team is aloud to have one player whose been linked to a murder attempt" so that they can decide whether they want to resign either Aaron Hernandez or maybe Donte Stallworth or maybe Brandon Merriweather or even Aqib Talib or someone else I dont know I guess there are alot of options.
So whose going to win the epic showdown?
Lets break down the tape-
Tight End: Advantage Patriots. Gronk is in rarified air as perhaps the only TE in league histroy who can catch double digit TDs and STDs in a single season. Orange Julius strikes me as the type guy whose going to cash in with like the Falcons and pretty much dig a hole for himself to die in without Manning.
WR: Push The Broncos went from being what I like to call the Low Speed Chase White Broncos to having so much speed its no wonder the Seahawsk not only crushed them, but snorted them as well.
Emmanuell Sanders or as I call him EMMANUELLE IN SPACE is the type guys whose highlights should be shown on Cinemax instead of NFL replay folks. Hes a softcore verson of Brandon Stokely but what he lacks in finding penetraton in a soft zone he makes up for in theatrics.
Dumbarius Thomas is sometimes to fast for his own good which is why he only gets passes in the endzone when its impossible to screw up the play too badly after you catch it. Classic example of Manning making his teammates better,
Wes Welker: Welker use to be the type guy who almost craved contact out there which as we know now is one of the symptoms of Ecstasy use. Welker use to be a Pro-cussion player now hes a Con-consson guy.
Patriots-
Julian Edelman- Hes a poor mans Welker but thats actualy a good thing. Welker had his best years before he got paid alot of money to go spend on frivolous things like molly and doctors appointments.
Kembrell Thompkins- Trememdous athlete. I really have no idea about him at all.
Danny Amedola- He should extract some of his excess muscle fibers in his heart and transplant them to his groin. Hes the type guy who just needs a bit more hernia-discipline and hed be a allpro
D-Line:Advantage Broncos
Demarcus Ware is having a late career resurgence now that hes out of the medical care of Dr. Jerry Jones. I would trust Jerry for his medical opinons on 2 things- 1. Are those things fake? 2. Is the plot of face-off medicaly possible?
Head Coach: Advantage Patriots
The way Belichick kept Tom Brady on the injury report for 6 years inspired me to allways tell my prostutes that I have ED even though i dont just in case I ever have trouble performing like I sometimes do.
Jon Fox just honestley seems like a lazy ass name for a cartoon fox.
Overall advantage goes to Peyton Manning. Manning is so hyper focused he thinks that games are a distracton from watching film. Thats the kind of preperaton you want out of a QB. Irregardless the next chapter in the history of the best rivalry is about to unfold before are very eyes, and we should never take that for granite.
I don't know, this is still pretty nuts. LeBron James is actually on the Cleveland Cavaliers again. Here he is rolling into the home opener looking like Elwood Blues:
LeBron James has arrived at The Q. http://ift.tt/1tndSTi
— Channel 3 Sports (@WKYCSports) October 30, 2014 Carmelo Anthony's got a pretty similar hat!
Carolina and New Orleans battle for the top spot in the NFC South under the lights in Charlotte.
The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers have had disappointing starts to their seasons, but find themselves playing for the NFC South lead on Thursday night. Carolina is in a massive funk at 3-4-1, losing four of its last six games. Over that stretch, Carolina has allowed 37 or more points four times. New Orleans righted the ship on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, but still sits 3-4 and winless on the road.
After winning the NFC South with a 12-4 mark last season, the Panthers have struggled to find the same formula. The defense ranked second in 2013 but looks lost thus far in 2014, checking in at No. 21 in the league. The unit did make strides in last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, allowing only 13 points and forcing two turnovers. The offense hasn't been much help over the past two games, scoring a total of 26 points. Cam Newton has been mediocre, throwing eight touchdowns against four interceptions with a 60.1 completion percentage.
The Saints are feeling good after pounding the Packers 44-23 in front of a charged crowd at the Superdome. The problem for New Orleans is when it plays games outside the dome. The Saints are 0-4 on the road this season, losing to the Falcons, Browns, Cowboys and Lions. The pass defense has been a problem everywhere, ranking No. 31 in the NFL by allowing 289.3 yards per game. Predictably, the strength of the Saints is once again Drew Brees and the passing attack. Brees has already thrown for 2,227 yards and 14 touchdowns, albeit with seven picks.
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
When: 8:25 p.m. ET
TV: NFLN
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
Radio: Saints Radio Network, Panthers Radio Network
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile | NFL.com
New Orleans is favored by 1.5 points on the road over Carolina, with an over/under of 48, according to OddsShark.
For more on the Saints, head over to Canal Street Chronicles.
To keep up on the Panthers, check out Cat Scratch Reader.
The Colts still aren't sure when Reggie Wayne will return. We break down the fantasy implications.
The Indianapolis Colts are still unsure about the status of wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Head coach Chuck Pagano said it was "too early in week" to see if Wayne will play against the New York Giants on Monday night. Wayne did not practice on Thursday.
Wayne missed Week 8 with an elbow injury. The Colts have their bye in Week 10, so it's a strong possibility they will hold him out for one more game to ensure he comes back on full rest in Week 11. The 35-year-old veteran has 38 catches for 434 yards and a touchdown in seven games this season.
Fantasy impact: Wayne hasn't been much of a fantasy producer in 2014, recording 100 yards in just one game. Still, the Colts could use his veteran hands after Hakeem Nicks flopped as the No. 2 starter opposite T.Y. Hilton. If Wayne can't go, look for the Colts to get rookie Donte Moncrief more involved in the offense. Moncrief and Hilton are both worthy fantasy options as long as Andrew Luck keeps dealing.
There has been no progress when it comes to the Carolina Panthers’ bid to lock up QB Cam Newton to a long-term deal, yet both sides will use the offseason to resolve the matter. No news is good news when it comes to the Carolina Panthers and Pro Bowl QB Cam Newton getting together for […]
Cam Newton, Panthers Stalled On Contract Talks - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
It's quite simple really - you just need the smartest minds figuring out who's good and who isn't.
Tom Brady was named the AFC Player of the Month as he reverted back to form following a sluggish September that had many wondering if the future Hall of Famer’s best days had passed by. Tom Brady began October with many wondering if he was on the verge of decline. He ended it being named […]
Resurgent Tom Brady Named AFC’s Player of The Month - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Justin Forsett was back at practice Thursday and his ankle injury should be minor. We break down the fantasy implications.
Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett returned to practice on Thursday, getting in a limited session. Forsett was held out of Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury, but it's only expected to be minor. He's now on track to play in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Forsett has emerged as the Ravens' lead back over Bernard Pierce and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro. He has 571 rushing yards and a touchdown on the year, adding 26 receptions for 135 yards. Forsett continued his effective run in last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, recording 85 total yards on 20 touches.
Fantasy impact: Fantasy owners should keep Taliaferro in their back pocket in case Forsett's ankle injury lingers, but the 29-year-old should be good to go in a starting role again. He has RB2 appeal against the Steelers' leaky run defense. Pierce has been all but phased out of the offense and can be safely dropped in all leagues.
The SB Nation Fantasy War Room is live until 8:30 p.m. ET. Trying to figure out your last minute lineup decisions? Have thoughts on a trade or a waiver pick-up? We're here for you!
Welcome back to the War Room! This marks the third season of a chat room that offers you the most extensive fantasy football advice on the Internet. In 2012, SB Nation created a live chat called the Fantasy War Room, in order to help you better prepare for your fantasy football drafts and weekly lineup decisions. Unlike other chats that are for an hour or two on game day, the Fantasy War Room is live several hours a day, for virtually the entire season.
The War Room was launched in order to help people in this era of the 24-hour news cycle. A Top 200 ranking is helpful, but even waiting a couple days to update it can leave a fantasy football player hopelessly out of date. The War Room will be able to provide you answers on the latest breaking news, and how it impacts your fantasy draft board.
We'll be live today from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. For the rest of October we will be live Monday through Friday 4-8:30 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will be live Sunday through Thursday the remainder of the season. If you have questions when we are not around, feel free to hit us up at @sbnationfantasy.
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Jordan Cameron has still not been cleared from his concussion. We break down the fantasy implications.
Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron was held out of practice for the second day in a row. Cameron has yet to be cleared from his concussion, making him doubtful to suit up for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cameron's disappointing season continued when he suffered a concussion in Week 8's win over the Oakland Raiders. It's his third known concussion since 2012 and he could end up missing more than one game. Cameron has also dealt with a shoulder injury he suffered in preseason, all leading up to an underwhelming 13-250-1 stat line through six games.
Fantasy impact: One of the biggest fantasy disappointments of the year, Cameron can be safely ruled out for Week 9. He hasn't done much of note even when playing, recording 100 receiving yards in only one game this year. Cameron is droppable in 10-team leagues and might not even be worth holding in deeper leagues if you have better tight end options available.
Cleveland Browns TE Jordan Cameron will be out indefinitely after sustaining a hard hit during last week’s win over the Oakland Raiders Two things have been givens in Cleveland this fall: an overwhelming excitement over the return of LeBron James (as if ESPN doesn’t remind you every 21 seconds) to the Cavaliers and an injury […]
Browns Lose Jordan Cameron To Concussion-Related Issues - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be back in court next week for a pre-trial hearing on felony charges of child abuse in Texas. Adrian Peterson should make sure he blocks off AD (All Day, of course) on Tuesday. Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings star, is due in a Montgomery County, Texas, courtroom Tuesday for […]
Adrian Peterson Due Back In Court Next Week - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
The latest Super Bowl odds have been released by Bovada and the Denver Broncos remain the favorites, while the Dallas Cowboys fall. The Denver Broncos are riding high at the midway point of the regular season, so it comes as no surprise that they are the favorites in the latest Super Bowl odds released by […]
Super Bowl Odds 2015: Broncos Remain Favorites - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
It’s not likely Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin will play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, but he has shed the walking boot on his injured left ankle. Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin isn’t ready to return yet, but he’s closer than he was. According to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay […]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin Out Of Boot - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has been out since the first quarter in Week 2 after dislocating his ankle, but he’s set to start Sunday. The speculation is over—barring anything unforeseen, Robert Griffin III will start for the Washington Redskins Sunday when they visit the Minnesota Vikings. Coach Jay Gruden announced at his press […]
Robert Griffin III To Start Sunday, Barring Setbacks - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
It's like "Who wore it best?" from gossip magazines, but way more athletic.
Erin Andrews-approved!
Amazing! RT @WSJSports: Costume ideas for the kids. Here are @ErinAndrews and @RSherman_25 http://t.co/af9sV7dZvx http://ift.tt/1wKqciQ
— Erin Andrews (@ErinAndrews) October 30, 2014
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he went to the sideline to help inspire the team after quarterback Tony Romo was injured. While it doesn’t happen every game, more often than not you’ll find Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones making his way down to the field where he often waits out the final few minutes […]
Jerry Jones Goes To Dallas Cowboys’ Sideline To Inspire Players - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Running back Donald Brown has missed the last three weeks with a concussion but he was back at practice for the San Diego Chargers. Donald Brown returned to the San Diego Chargers practice field Wednesday after missing three weeks with a concussion. Brown was a full participant in practice and should be ready to go […]
Donald Brown Cleared From Concussion, Back With San Diego Chargers - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
LeBron makes his Cleveland debut while the Thunder visit the Clips to finish off a back-to-back.
The third day of the NBA season doesn't feature quite as many games as the last one, but it offers up a pair of marquee matchups on national television.
LeBron James' first game back in a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform should be must-see TV for pretty much any basketball fan. Even if the Cavs needs a few games to sort things out after overhauling their roster and bringing in a new coach over the summer, there's going to be a special feeling in the air at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night. You won't want to miss it.
TV: TNT
More on these games: Posting and Toasting | Fear the Sword
Dallas is one of the most intriguing contenders in the Western Conference and Utah boasts a talented core of young talent. Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, Dante Exum and company probably won't be able to top a loaded Mavericks team, especially on the offensive end, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't tune in. The last time the Jazz beat Dallas was Jan. 7, 2013, so it would be quite the upset, too.
TV: NBA League Pass
More on these games: SLC Dunk | Mavs Moneyball
Los Angeles makes its season debut by hosting a Thunder team playing its second game in two days. Despite a brilliant performance from Russell Westbrook, who recorded 38 points in just 33 minutes on Wednesday, Oklahoma City lost its opener to Portland by 17 points. It's become clear the Thunder can't afford to rest Westbrook as long as Kevin Durant is out, so we'll have to keep a close eye on the matchup against Chris Paul.
TV: TNT
More on these games: Welcome to Loud City | Clips Nation
All games on NBA League Pass. All times Eastern
Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta won’t know about his NFL future for a few more months. Emerging as one of the premier tight ends in the NFL, Dennis Pitta looked to be on his way to stardom for the Baltimore Ravens though a devastating hip injury wiped out his 2013 season. Thankfully Pitta was […]
Dennis Pitta Won’t Know NFL Future For Months - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Watch SB Nation's fantasy experts break down the top fantasy football defenses for Week 9 in this week's War Room.
Watch SB Nation's fantasy experts break down the top fantasy football tight ends for Week 9 in this week's War Room.
Matt Ufford and Nick Stevens are back and better than ever to preview the entire fantasy football landscape for Week 9 in the NFL. Tune in and enjoy the latest episode of The Fantasy War Room.
Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has won his second straight NFC Offensive Player of the Month award this year. Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has impressed everyone all season and he’s getting awarded for it, winning his second straight NFC Offensive Player of the Month honor, two months into the season. DeMarco Murray […]
DeMarco Murray Wins NFC Offensive Player Of The Month - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman is limited after injuring his shoulder in practice. Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman has been very impressive while Montee Ball has been out three games with a groin injury, but Hillman suffered an injury of his own in practice this week when he landed on his shoulder funny. […]
Denver Broncos Ronnie Hillman Limited In Practice - FanSided - FanSided - Sports News, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Technology - 280+ Sites
Please pay homage to our new basketball overlords.
This is really weird, interesting and terrifying. Robot basketball in our lifetimes? We've come a long way from that peach basket.
Watch SB Nation's fantasy experts break down the top fantasy football wide receivers for Week 9 in this week's War Room.
The Lakers' backcourt is already having some chemistry problems just a couple games into the season.
Two games into the Los Angeles Lakers' season, Kobe Bryant is already vocalizing his frustrations with the team's performance on the court. Following a 119-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, the team's second loss in two days, Bryant called out point guard Jeremy Lin and said he needed "to run the offense" in L.A.
Kobe said he talked to Lin on the bench & said "you got to run the offense. I'm telling you to run the offense & you got to do it."(on TWC)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 30, 2014
Bryant put up numbers in the loss to Phoenix, scoring 31 points on 11-of-25 shooting, but the rest of the offense wasn't nearly as productive. No other starter reached double figures in scoring, and Carlos Boozer was a complete disaster, recording more turnovers (eight) than shot attempts (six). Lin had six points on 2-of-5 shooting in 21 minutes.
It's easy to see why Kobe would be frustrated given the direction of the Lakers' season, first with the two lopsided losses and then the injury to Julius Randle. There's not a lot to get excited about in Los Angeles right now, and for a hyper competitive guy like Bryant, hiding frustration has never been a strong suit.
However, even if Kobe's exasperation is defensible, he might want to direct it elsewhere. The Lakers are a total disaster at the moment, but placing that responsibility on the shoulders of Lin, who's played just two games with the franchise, seems a tad misguided. It's not like there's much the point guard can do when the offense looks like this:
Notice that Lin, No. 17, is just hanging on the wing during this play, completely wide open as Bryant launches a desperate three-pointer. We've seen some sweet passes from Kobe early this season, but it's hard to tell teammates to step up while you're playing Hero Ball.
This isn't to say that the Lakers' offense is a complete lost cause, even if the entire basketball world cringes every time Kobe takes an ill-fated shot or Byron Scott downplays the importance of threes. But if the future Hall of Famer wants to see his team racking up points with greater efficiency going forward, he's going to need to be the primary catalyst. There's only so much Lin can do when he's a point guard playing off the ball.
Bryant probably won't stop talking unless the Lakers start winning, which seems like an increasingly unlikely proposition entering the third day of the season. Still, it might benefit everyone if he focused more on his own efficiency, and less on what Lin is (or isn't) doing.
A dominant day against the Raiders boosted Paul Kruger's sack totals in a year when he's emerged as the Browns top pass rusher.
I don't want anyone to think that just because I didn't award him with Hoss Of The Week honors this week that I missed Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger's big day against da Raidahs. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I thought it was one of Kruger's best games in his career.
The Browns signed Kruger for mucho dinero last year in hopes that he could provide a big time pass rush for the team. Coming on the heels of his last season with the Ravens when he had nine sacks, last season's total of four and a half in sixteen games with the Browns had to have been a bitter disappointment for both him and the team. Well Browns fans, with three sacks against Oakland on Sunday, Kruger has already surpassed his 2013 output with five sacks in just seven games. He might just be worth the money after all.
Kruger had two of his sacks on first downs and he helped end the game with a sack on a third down play with just 40 seconds left in the game. He did have one gimme sack where the Raiders' offensive line just left him unblocked, but as I always say, they don't come with an asterisk beside them. A sack is a sack, forever and always. Bigger than that he made the most of his free rush by blowing Raiders quarterback Derek Carr the hell up and forcing him to fumble the football deep in his own territory.
On his first sack, which came in the second quarter, he was able to bat away Raiders right tackle Menelik Watson's hands and then rip outside to get around him. Once he was free he turned on the jets and put Carr on the turf with the quickness.
On his last sack Kruger actually lined up inside as a defensive tackle and beat Raiders right guard Austin Howard with a stutter to window wiper hands move to the outside and dove at Carr's legs to make him trip and fall down.
Along the way, Kruger also forced Raiders running back Darren McFadden into an errant throw on an attempted halfback pass. He also beat tight end Mychal Rivera inside with a swim move and was still able to react well enough to a run toward him that he corralled running back Maurice Jones-Drew in the backfield for a loss of four yards.
That was one helluva day for a guy in whom a lot of expectations have been heaped on because of his fat contract. If Kruger keeps up that level of production, I think a lot of those doubters will start to come around.
Celtic midfielder Aleksandar Tonev, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa, has been found guilty of racially abusing Aberdeen goalkeeper Shay Logan. The Scottish FA has suspended Tonev for 7 games, and Celtic plan to appeal the decision.
Logan claims that Tonev said "get your hands off me, you black s---", which Tonev disputes. However, a disciplinary tribunal that looked into the matter seems inclined to agree with Logan. The match in question occurred on September 13 and Tonev's hearing was delayed until Thursday because of his commitments to his national team, Bulgaria.
Celtic issued a statement supporting Tonev, and confirming his appeal.
"This was a very unfortunate case, but the club has accepted Aleksandar's explanation that he did not say the words that were alleged to have been said and that he is not a racist. We are, therefore, very disappointed by the outcome today and can confirm that Aleksandar will be appealing this decision."
Should that appeal fail, Celtic might not be keen on paying Tonev's wages for the rest of the season, while Aston Villa certainly won't be rushing to get him back.
Who are the best free agents on the market this offseason? Here are the top 31 baseball players that money can buy.
Let's make one thing perfectly clear: Your next five months are going to be spent arguing about the following names. How will they do? How many wins will they contribute? Will they be worth the money? How long until the contract is praised or ridiculed? You'll have opinions. Oh, how you'll have opinions. You'll form them quickly and forcefully, though there's a chance that more information will make you reevaluate before the spring.
And then you'll wait for the baseball.
...
Just gotta sit back and wait for the baseball.
...
Oh, good, it's almost freezing again. Better get the cat off the bench again before he gets stuck.
Too late. Maybe there's some baseball on. Nope, it's Bantha State and Southwest East Tech in the Cialis Bowl.
Wonder what those free agents are going to do when there's baseball?
... baseballllllllll come baaaaaaack
Yet somehow, these hot stoves keep us just warm enough. You kindle them with a free-agent power ranking. Get used to these names:
Lester has thrown over 200 innings for six out of the last seven seasons. Max Scherzer has done it only for the last two. Lester's adjusted ERA over the last seven seasons: 124, including a career-best 155 this season. Scherzer's adjusted ERA over the same time: 117. Both injury histories are mostly clean, save for a couple shoulder strains for both.
The only reason to pick Scherzer is if you're really, really big on fielding-independent pitching stats. I'm a believer, but I remember my agnostic roots, too. Lester seems like the kind of pitcher who could survive with an 88-mph fastball; I'm not sure if that's true of Scherzer.
I would rather eat a box of staples rather than have my team spend money for either of them, considering the contract they'll get, but if I'm picking one, it's Lester, even if just barely.
It seems like this is the first offseason in a while with multiple ace-type pitchers available. Or, if you're a curmudgeon, the delicious canola-based spreads to the butter of a real ace. Scherzer and Jon Lester are Ace 1 and Ace 1a of the offseason, and you can flip them and flop them as you see fit. I almost went with Scherzer in the top spot because of the shiny trophy. It doesn't matter. They're both going to ignore my letters pleading for help with my student loans, even though they're totally rich.
Scherzer turned down a six-year deal worth a reported $144 million, so that's not even the starting point for the negotiations. He's one of the best pitchers with major league experience to come on the market in years, but he's still 30, and there isn't a supercomputer in the world that could simulate what it would take for him to be worth $24 million in 2021, even though that's probably what he's in line for. If not more.
Max Scherzer (Leon Halip).
Oh, I'll bet whoever gave him the nickname "Big Game James" feels just awful now. Still, 6.12 ERA in the 2014 postseason aside, Shields is gonna be rich. His injury history at Baseball Prospectus has four entries:
He's never missed a start in the majors, posting a career 111 ERA+, and there's a chance that his age (two years older than Scherzer and Lester) will make him a cheaper, more attractive option to those two.
He's still 32 and a one-time All-Star, though. Zack Greinke is his top comparable player on Baseball-Reference.com, but his second is Shane Reynolds. That's just about the proper spectrum.
With Derek Jeter gone, we have a new why-is-he-still-playing-shortstop champion. If Ramirez still insists on playing short wherever he goes, feel free to slide him one down on this list. Ramirez isn't the average-fueled monster who hit .345 with 20 homers in a half-season in 2013, but he's still an excellent power hitter in a free agent market that isn't flush with them. And, okay, technically he can still play up the middle.
If Shin-Soo Choo, with a similar injury checkerboard and comparable production at a lower rung of the defensive ladder, can get seven years, $130 million, I'm starting to wonder if Hanley's contract will be the spit-take deal of the offseason.
Pablo Sandoval (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports). Through May 10, Sandoval was hitting .173/.250/.276. Even more amazing: He was actually worse with runners in scoring position during that stretch. He was the worst player in baseball, according to WAR, for a good three weeks.
Since then: .308/.345/.452 with stellar defense, and that doesn't include his outstanding postseason (.366/.423/.465 in 17 games, with even better defense and a strangely patient approach). His raw numbers are hurt significantly by AT&T Park, and I could see him going berserk in Fenway or Chase Field. One of his most attractive qualities is his age: He's just 28, which means he still has another four or five years before the contract is a near-certain albatross. That's about two or three more years than the typical free agent, and teams pay attention to that stuff.
Either Tomas is Jose Abreu or he's Dayan Viciedo or he's somewhere in between. He's young (24), has a skill that's in demand (dingers!), and makes teams think of the recent string of Cuban smash smash hits. Not only did players like Abreu, Yasiel Puig, and Yoenis Cespedes immediately pan out, but they were relative bargains for their teams (and continue to be). That snippet of recency bias might allow a couple of stubborn GMs to get bolder and bolder as the negotiations progress.
If a team wants all-caps POWER, they're not going to get it from Ramirez or Sandoval. They might find it with Nelson Cruz and Victor Martinez, but they'll have to pay for their twilight years to get it. Tomas is the only player on the market with youth and power on his side, and he should get a monster contract. It will be exciting for the team that signs him, assuming that he's good. Which ... I dunno. Maybe?
You've read this story before: 33-year-old DH gets hurt, 34-year-old DH comes back with reduced production, 35-year-old DH stumbles, 36-year-old DH limited to pinch-hitting duties, 37-year-old DH is out of the league. Martinez in his prime was a delight, but the story changes for no man.
Until it does. Martinez had his very, very best season, setting career marks in on-base percentage, home runs, and stolen bases (three, vroooom).
The 27-year-old right hander might not be posted by the Hiroshima Carp, who finished in second place in the Central League in 2014, but if he is, there will be a bidding war. The notable Japanese pitching flops (Hideki Irabu, Kaz Ishii, Kei Igawa) and minor-to-major red flags when it came to their control. The pitchers who succeeded after jumping to the majors were the ones who didn't walk a lot of batters in the NPB (which isn't a walking league to begin with). Maeda doesn't excite people like Yu Darvish or Masahiro Tanaka did with raw stuff, but neither did Hisashi Iwakuma or Hiroki Kuroda, both of whom were absolute steals.
Command and deception plays really, really, really well in the high-whiff era we're in. If Maeda is available, he'll probably get something close to Shields' contract.
Kenta Maeda (Ezra Shaw).
I spent most of my offseason yelling about what a disaster of a signing Cruz was going to be.
He doesn't hit for contact, and he doesn't have a lot of patience. It takes a ton of power to make up for that. Decent power makes him Jose Guillen at the end of his career. He can't have decent power. Teams would be paying for good-to-excellent power.
Ha ha. Well, at least i wasn't totally wrong. Ha. Ahem.
Cruz found his spirit ballpark: Camden Yards was absolutely perfect for him, even better than Arlington was. It helped Cruz set a career mark in home runs and led the American League with 40. He started off like an MVP candidate, deflated a bit back down to expectations, then puffed back up again. He just might get that gigantic deal that teams were unwilling to give him last offseason, and they'll give up a draft pick to do it.
If the Orioles don't re-sign him, his new team will probably be disappointed if they're expecting a 40-homer hitter. But as a win-now alternative to paying Tomas nine figures, he'll do just fine.
It was very, very funny to note that Martin was the biggest free agent deal the Pirates had given out in franchise history. A two-year deal for $15 million for an aging catcher was the biggest deal in history? What a bunch of maroons. Everyone laugh at the Pirates. Everyone point and laugh.
Except Martin led the Pirates to their first two playoff appearances in two decades. His pitch-framing, widely lauded, seems to correlate quite nicely with the Pirates' pitching renaissance, even if his help can't be perfectly quantified. He walked and hit his way to a .402 OBP in his walk year, which was certainly excellent timing. There's no way he'll keep that up going forward, considering his three reddest of red flags (a. it's out of line with his career, b. he's 32 next season, c. he's a catcher), but he's the perfect example of a player who can help a team tremendously even if he barely scrapes a .300 OBP.
Aramis Ramirez (Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports). 11. Aramis Ramirez
Has the rare mutual option that might get exercised and keep him off the market, but his consistency would get him paid on the market, despite his age.
12. Ervin Santana
Boy, oh boy, would I feel like a jerk as the new Braves GM if my first move was to extend the qualifying offer to Santana. It's something the Braves have to consider. Still jerkish, though.
13. Adam LaRoche
Has a player option that he's likely to decline and the Nationals are under pressure to move Ryan Zimmerman across the diamond. It seems like he alternates between league-average seasons and above-average seasons. Could see him getting a three-year deal, even if he's 35 next season.
14. Jason Hammel
He righted the ship a little in his last few starts for the A's, but he didn't entirely make up for his post-trade collapse. He still moved from the show-me deal of the previous offseason to a multi-year deal, though.
15. Hiroki Kuroda
He seems betrothed to the Yankees for whatever reason. I'd love to see him pitch in a forgiving ballpark, like AT&T Park or Dodger Stadium (again), just to see what he can do now. It's probably Yankees, Japan, or quiet mornings with coffee and crossword puzzles for him.
16. Chase Headley
There was a shot for him to catch up to Sandoval in terms of years, if not money, but that was a couple years ago. Getting him out of Petco helped a little bit, but it's not as if he set Yankee Stadium ablaze, either. A one-year deal might make more sense than a three-year deal, especially if he picks the right park.
17. Brandon McCarthy
The reverse Hammel. His market value was in the toilet, but once he left Arizona, the Yankees let him throw his cutter again. He also stayed healthy for the first time in his major league career, which takes out some of the guesswork.
Brandon McCarthy (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports).
18. Michael Morse
He needs an American League team. The Giants were enamored of his power enough to sign him, but terrified enough of his defense to start a converted first baseman over him in the playoffs. As a one- or two-year power option for a team looking for a DH upgrade, he could be a steal.
19. Jake Peavy
He didn't reinvent himself after coming over to the Giants in a trade. He just got luckier and pitched in a batch of friendlier ballparks. His performance in the postseason should make teams doubt his viability as anything but a fourth starter, but those guys still have value.
20. Asdrubal Cabrera
The patron saint of defensive numbers not matching defensive reputation, Cabrera would be a fantastic pickup for a lot of teams ... as long as still played a great defensive shortstop. That's been in question for years, though, and the defensive stats even hated his short time at second for the Nationals. I dunno. Looked good to me. Which is the Cabrera paradox.
Francisco Liriano (Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports). 21. Francisco Liriano
Liriano wasn't as good as he was in 2013 and failed to make 30 starts for the fourth straight season. He suffered through a four-inning start before the All-Star break, but after the break he had a 2.20 ERA in 14 starts. The control wasn't quite there (39 walks in 86 innings), but the strikeout stuff was.
22. Colby Rasmus
Dingers! And lousy plate discipline. But dingers! And poor center-field defense. Dingers, though! And general weirdness. He's still just 28, so maybe there's a team that still believes in his latent potential. Career platoon splits: .257/.323/.465 against right-handers, .214/.287/.361 against left-handers.
23. Nick Markakis
For some reason, Markakis has stuck in my head as a player closer to Nick Johnson than Cal Ripken on the Johnson-Ripken Spectrum. Maybe it's the name. Nick. Literally means cut. But Markakis has been something of a lineup stalwart, starting at least 155 games in seven of his last eight seasons. His ceiling is probably no more than "okay" at this point, though.
24. Stephen Drew
The defense was still there! The defense was still there. Just keep muttering that, and you'll be fine. I'm not sure how much the qualifying offer-inflicted months off affected Drew, but I feel pretty comfortable guessing "a ton." He never got on track, and then he flipped over the track, and then the track caught fire. However, teams looking for a shortstop know his risk/reward ledger is on the right side.
25. Kendrys Morales
The defense wasn't there! The defense wasn't there. Just keep muttering that, and you'll be horrified. I'm not sure how much the qualifying offer-inflicted months off affected Morales, but I feel pretty comfortable guessing "a ton." He never got on track, and then he flipped over the track, and then the track caught fire, and then a school bus got caught on the track. Teams looking for a DH should know his risk/reward ledger is on the wrong side by now. There are probably better options. Still, he was so very good in 2013.
26. Pat Neshek/Sergio Romo/Koji Uehara (tie)
One will be a flop. One will be as good as he ever was. One will be pretty good. Pick one. Only Uehara will command less than a three-year deal, I'm guessing. That might be the tiebreaker for which one teams fight over.
Pat Neshek (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports).
27. Edinson Volquez
With Liriano, he was also responsible for the Pirates' second-half surge. He was doing it without missing bats, though. I ... I'm not sure how he was doing it, really. Teams and GMs will be just as flummoxed.
28. Michael Cuddyer
His last two seasons: .331/.385/.543. That's outstanding. Except, here come the caveats: He'll be 36, those numbers came in Coors Field, he can't play defense, and he missed more than 100 games with injury this season. An AL team should feel lucky to win the bidding, but keep their fingers crossed.
29. Chris Young (the tall one)
Feels like we should appreciate this guy more. He's 6'10", throws Barry Zito fastballs from the right side, and he's usually been at least an average pitcher when he's been healthy. His slow finish means a multi-year deal isn't likely -- if it ever was there in the first place -- but that he's on this list at all is a major accomplishment.
30. Norichika Aoki
His defense was a topic of conversation in the World Series, and he's heading into his mid-30s, so it's not going to get better. He can still get on base, though, and he's not a clogger when he's there. If expectations are tempered and the rest of the lineup can support him, he could be a steal.
(He's also the best.)
31. Justin Masterson
There were reports that Masterson came to the Indians and offered to sign a below-market deal, but the deadline scuttlebutt was that he declined a three-year, $45 million deal. The Indians are glad he did. He won't get a tenth of that after this miserable season, but he'll get some interest from a team that thinks they can Dave Duncan him up.