Pitching, Consistent Hitting, Keys to Reds 2010 Success

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

It's spring training time and for the 2010 Cincinnati Reds, improvement is not only probable, it's expected. The pitching has always been there with Arroyo, Cordero, and Harang but fans and experts alike, believe success in 2010 will come down to consistent hitting and defense.

Earlier this month I talked to a few guys who should shed more spotlight on this issue and what fans can expect from the Reds in the coming season. Former Reds outfielder Glenn Brags and Hall of Fame Broadcaster Marty Brennaman on the keys to Reds success in 2010:



While consistent hitting, minimal injuries and defense are the main keys to improvement, your strengths must stay strong. Paul Janish and Brandon Phillips are expected to make up one of the better defensive middle infields in Major League Baseball. For Phillips it's the balance between individual achievement and team success that is the most important for him. Can Brandon Phillips repeat his 2008 season in which he won the Gold Glove? I talked to Brandon what he hopes to accomplish and here is what he had to say:



The Cincinnati Reds have a lot to improve on but it is widely believed that they have the guys to do it. With Dusty Baker as manager anything is possible. Many believe the addition of Orlando Cabrera will give the Reds a little more beef in the line-up.

The Reds went 27-13 to finish off the 2009 season; Will they pick up where they left off?

It seems for the 2010 Reds there are more questions then answers. Locksmithsportspicks.com picks the Reds to finish 4th in the N.L. Central, but if the answers to those questions can be answered in a resoundingly strong fashion, then perhaps maybe Marty was right, maybe they CAN be a factor in the Central Division.
(AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Read More

Overtime Explosion Pushes Cavs Past Raptors

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

It took 5 quarters to determine a victor as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-118 in overtime Friday night. LeBron James finished with 36 points but perhaps it was Mo Williams' two 3-pointers in overtime that put the final dagger in the Raptors.

Friday's game versus the Raptors was Williams' second game back from injury and like Thursday's game in Beantown, he didn't disappoint. Williams' 22 points (6 in overtime) and 6 assists helped the wine and gold's NBA best 45 wins become 46.

Another story in Friday's game was the absence of two key bigmen for both teams (Chris Bosh for Toronto and Shaquille O'Neal for Cleveland). The absence opened up the floor for the 3-point shot, an attribute both teams specialize in. Both teams combined to make 19 3-point field goals and 222 points during regulation. The difference came in overtime as the Cavs outscored Toronto 15-7.

The bright spot for the Raptors was the play of Andrea Bargnani; His 24 points and 4 rebounds helped push the game into overtime. To push the NBA's best team (record wise) into overtime without your best player is quite a feat, and lets face it Chris Bosh means more to the Raptors than Shaq does to the Cavs. This sort of result shouldn't be a surprise for Cavaliers fans. In the three meetings with the Raptors this season, Cleveland is only 2-1 including this game which went into overtime.

Next up, the Cleveland Cavaliers will face the New York Knicks on Monday. New York will once again try to stake a bid for LeBron James but will have to do it from a far, as the Knicks come to Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs are 2-0 against the Knicks this season including a 113-106 win the last time they met. The game starts at 7:00 p.m.

Read More

Tiger Woods: Apology Accepted

(Photo courtesy of thewrap.com)

Friday Tiger Woods apologized to fans, sponsors, family members, and just about the whole world for his elicit affairs and his unfaithful actions concerning his wife. Woods read a prepared written statement in front of a crowd of sportswriters, journalists, his family, friends, and a few TV cameras. In his statement Woods mentioned he was 'unfaithful' and said that he was, "so sorry".

Before Tiger Woods even stepped on to the stage I had already accepted his apology because it was none of my business. Why am I concerned about his personal life? Why is anyone concerned about his personal life? Do I think what he did was wrong? Yes but who cares what I think, or what anyone thinks. The only people who have a reason to be concerned are his family and his sponsors. Why do people believe they have a right to know every detail? This is a personal matter, PERIOD. This is not a politician cheating on his wife, this is a man who plays golf and has kept his mouth shut about any outside manner besides golf. I don't need an apology from Tiger Woods, he is doing everything he can to turn this around; He is going to a sexual rehabilitation center, he apologized, both of which shouldn't matter to anyone because they don't involve golf!

In the new age of 24-hour news and tabloids giving no one privacy, it has become common culture to believe that everyone should know everything about everyone. I understand people want to know about a huge affair that happened with the most recognized athlete in the world, but that doesn't mean they should know. If you are a fan of Tiger Woods then you have been a fan of his golf game. Leave his personal life alone!

I guess you could say I don't accept Tiger Woods apology. I don't accept it because I never asked for it.

Read More

Why Amare Wont Help the Cavaliers

(Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire/Courtesy of ESPN)

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of one of the best seasons in franchise history. Posting a record of 43-11, the Cavs are in the midst of a 13-game winning streak (best in the NBA this season.) Last year the Cavs lost in the Eastern Conference Finals and it was widely assumed that changes needed to be made if they were going to make that final push to get to the Finals and win it. Now Cleveland is having good success with the players they have including the offseason additions of Shaquille O'Neal and Jamario Moon. With the expected success of the Los Angeles Lakers in the West and a Boston Celtics team who is starting to heal up, along with a good Orlando Magic team who defeated Cleveland in the playoffs last year, it should be a general consensus (a "no-brainer" if you will) to bring in All-Star power forward Amare Stoudemire to get Cleveland over that playoff hump and finally win the NBA Finals right?

WRONG!

Here are the 5 reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn't trade for Amare Stoudemire:

1. Team Chemistry
Cleveland is in the midst of an NBA season-best 13-game winning streak and most of those games were won without Delonte West or Mo Williams. Why bring in a guy who can't even win with his own team and trade with a team, the Phoenix Suns, who obviously wants to get rid of him. If you don't have to jeopardize it, why would you?

2. Shaq and Amare
In 2008, The Phoenix Suns missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004. On that team you had and All-star packed, couldn't go wrong with, front line-up pairing Amare Stoudemire with Shaquille O'Neal. The only major difference between the 2008 team and past Suns playoff teams was the addition of Shaq. If Cleveland acquired Amare, who would that pair him with again? Oh, thats right, Shaq! Why would the situation in Cleveland be any different? You know those two would be the starters, and even now you are at a disadvantage because Stoudemire would be with a team who doesn't implement a run-and-gun style offense which he has been playing with since forever!

3. Is Amare an upgrade?
Amare Stoudemire is an electric, fast-paced, high octane offensive player, but perhaps one of the more overrated players in the NBA today. You might be saying to yourself, "Paul how could you." Well before you write an angry comment to me calling me a hater or something lets look at the facts. There are 22 players, including 6 power forwards that average more rebounds per game than Amare Stoudemire and in his specialty, scoring, he only ranks 6th amongst forwards. Now I'm not doing this to be picky or hateful, but it seems to me that if you are going to risk a team's chemistry and ship over some of your better players and future draft picks to get a guy, shouldn't he be a sure thing. Look we know all of Amare's offensive accolades, he is definitely one of the better scoring PFs in the NBA, but on the defensive end, he simply lacks ("lacks" putting it nicely) what Cleveland needs in the front-court. Remember Mike Brown focuses on team defense and stresses the importance of defense as a key to winning ball games. Amare has never been part of this philosophy which is not all his fault.

4. What about LeBron in all of this?
One of the biggest issues in this debate is, "If you don't bring in a marquee name, LeBron James will leave." This statement is false. If Cleveland wins an NBA Championship this season, I don't think LeBron would give a damn who the names were who helped him get there, plus I already think he likes the people he has there (hence the team chemistry and the 13-game winning streak). Has LeBron come out publicly and said he needs Amare or someone big to make it to the Finals? No. If the Cavs keep winning, LeBron is kept happy.

5. OK Paul, then what should the Cavs do?
The answer to this question could be many things. Personally I believe that getting a guy like Corey Maggette would benefit the Cavs more. Maggette plays good defense and is playing his best basketball as of late. He wouldn't take focus off the team and there wouldn't be as many style changes to the offense and defense that the Cavs would have to make. Also probably the best reason why he would be the better acquisition, is you wouldn't have to give up as much to get him. Maggette is not a long term solution for the Cavs and when the NBA hits free agency in the off-season, that would be the best time to bring in the marquee name. Personally I like Chris Bosh. Bosh wants out of Toronto, he wants to be on a Championship contending team, his position is what Cleveland needs, and he is the best power forward in the NBA (If you don't think this we'll break out the stats and you'll lose). Getting Bosh would put Cleveland over the hump but would only be necessary if either LeBron wants him or they don't win the Championship this season.

Think about these points I bring up next time you tune into ESPN or read a sports column where it says, "Stoudamire to Cleveland a no-brainer," because if this deal does go through, the only no-brainer will be Danny Ferry.

Read More

Evan Turner Naismith Player of the Year Candidate Video

Evan Turner returned to Ohio State for his junior season. Now, back from injury, can he lead the Buckeyes to the National Championship and win The Naismith Player of the Year Award?

Check out the video!

Read More