MLB Spring Season 2020

The Mets started their spring season yesterday and, going into the new season, they are actually surprising contenders for the NL East title and even the World Series.

In the three spring training games, the Mets’ young talent showed … talent. JD Davis is back and is showing his hitting once again, going 1 for 2 against the Cardinals. The guys out of the bullpen against the Cardinals just allowed 1 run, with vet Marcus Stroman allowing the other one. But, the Mets being the Mets lost to the Cardinals 2-0. Some of the starters last year actually played the full game, like Dominic Smith. That’s why they are hopefuls for the World Series and will continue to get better. They already have an okay team, almost getting to the Wild Card Game last year and having a lot of young talent. In the foreseeable future, they could actually win the World Series. The Mets then lost another one and this one may make them blush. They played the Marlins, who were at the bottom of the ocean last year, a disgusting 57-105. But here, at least they scored some runs, and the final from Port St. Lucie was 5-3. Lumbering vets Wilson Ramos and Matt Adams – Adams being a nice offseason pickup (he will provide the power from the bench or the lineup), Wilson had two ribbies and one hit in 2 plate appearances and Matt Adams had no hits but he did have an RBI. Michael Conforto is probably going to be the leader of the clubhouse going into next season because he is one of the players who has the longest tenure as a Met. He had a hit and a run. A player who will be much better in a few years than Amed Rosario is now is Andres Gimenez, who will definitely replace him as the starter. He only had a hit on Saturday. The young hitters on the Mets, backing up the starters, showed no signs of life at all, having 0 hits on Saturday. The relievers weren’t too good, blowing the tie and the offense never came back.

Today, the Mets’ performance wasn’t quite bad enough for them to lose, but not quite good enough to win, they tied. JD Davis had an RBI, pickup Jake Marisnick who I think deserves a lineup spot, in left or center. Ryan Cordell, a guy who played for the White Sox last year, he hit 7 homers in a pretty solid year for them, he added a dinger for them in this game. The bullpen held amazingly strong, until new guy Franklyn Kilome, who the Mets got in a trade with the Phillies, blew the lead.

As expected, the Nationals fans were funny in their game with the Astros yesterday. One fan held up a sign that said Houston *’s because they (as well as me) believe that a * should be put next to their name in the record book as the 2017 World Series Champions. And many fans banged on their seats to mimic how supposedly the Astros banged on a garbage can in the dugout to relay the stolen signals. Also, there were a ton, and I mean a ton of boos, probably by everyone who’s a fan of baseball also, just in their heads, as the Astros walked on the field. Manager Dusty Baker was applauded by Nationals fans because he was their manager in 2016 and 2017, leading them to NL East titles, then getting fired because he didn’t advance in the playoffs, I don’t know how much of that is his fault, though.

The Yankees got their injury woes back again this Spring Training with Luis Severino, who has never consistently played, is shelved, or partially shelved again this year, this time with forearm soreness. The Yankees also don’t know if James Paxton is going to be ready for the season, so, this means that the Yanks will have two open rotation spots.

Something that I want to see is Yoenis Cespedes being ready for Opening Day – that would be so nice – and him racking up a few hits on Opening Day. I see the Mets winning the NL East by 5 games, Braves in second, Nats in third, Phils in fourth and Marlins in 5 (sorry fish). I see them at about 93-94 wins. Another thing is the Mets will call up Andres Gimenez, I really want to see that.

NBA Midseason Awards

COTY: Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

He should win this award because he took this team from not even making the playoffs, to being a prime contender in a very tough top of the East – the bottom is looking like a Rec league. He had some help from up top, acquiring big-name Jimmy Butler and a bunch of other guys but he strung them together into a game plan they all like.

SMOTY: Dennis Schroder, OKC Thunder

For sure, he’s going to win. Lou Will’s time is up. Dennis is backing up Chris Paul, who’s surprisingly playing like he’s 26, instead of 35. Lou is posting up 19.5 PPG and 5.9 APG on 41% on the field. He also drained 331 shots. Dennis has 19.3 PPG and 4 APG, on 47% from the field, he drained 388. The stats don’t really show it, but he’s faster and more elusive than the 34-year-old Williams.

MIP: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Okay, don’t lie and say you’ve heard of Bam Adebayo before this year, just don’t do it (unless you’re a Heat fan). He has 15.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG and 4.9 APG. They are all improvements from 8.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 2.2 APG. He’s also faster from his bulky and muscular build, which means if he improves his shooting, he could stretch the floor and could become one of the best-undersized centers in basketball’s history.

DPOY: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks or Andre Drummond, Cleveland Cavaliers

The reason I’m debating this is if defensive rebounds didn’t count, then Giannis wins, no doubt. But, when Andre Drummond is leading the defensive rebounds category, with Giannis in third, and Drummond is in third in steals, with point guards surrounding him on both sides for about 2 spots in each direction; he is also 10^th in blocks, with Giannis nowhere near him. Giannis is leading the scientific defensive categories, which the people who created them don’t even know how to find them, the underpaid workers at ESPN shout out random numbers and type them on the stats page for that category.

ROY: Sorry Grizzlies Fans: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

In just 10 games, Zion had already scored 221 points, third-most by a number one overall pick (but, keep in mind, those two, [Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson] didn’t have a devastating knee injury and literally had to be taught how to walk again). He is just so good, he’s posting up on guys that are 4 inches taller than him and are huge. But, Zion throws them around like cans in a hurricane, all over the court (not literally, no NBA players have been harmed in the making of his blog post). Ja is very explosive also, lobbing up passes and throwing down dunks, all while shooting threes, Zion can also do that. Just Zion is much stronger. Oh yeah, sorry, RJ Barrett.

MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Do I even have to explain myself. Giannis is tall, he can rebound very well, he has speed, and he has strength, and literally is picking up the Bucks organization, along with the actual animal that lives in the forest. He is average 30 PPG, 13.5 RPG and still averaging over 5 assists per game. He isn’t doing too well from the charity stripe (the free throw line), but then again, he can shoot farther than 4 feet away from the rim. There are also no real competitors, who play up to his level, probably LeBron James, coming in at a distant 2.

Finals:

I know this is cliché, and I’m sorry: Bucks over Lakers. 

NBA Trade Deals – Big Names Get Moved

The biggest deal of this year’s trade deadline was that D’Angelo Russell went to the Timberwolves on a quite lopsided deal. Russell is a prime and explosive shooter and scorer. He’s averaging 23.6 PPG and 6.2 assists, not exactly the most “sharing” guard but he’s so explosive. Shooting guard Jacob Evans also goes to the Warriors as well as forward Omari Spellman, it gives the T’ Wolves some bench depth, but I wouldn’t even want either of them, maybe a 2^nd round pick but I wouldn’t want to clog up the salary cap. The Warriors get Andrew Wiggins and a first and a second round pick, but I think the Warriors should’ve fought for more, after all, the Wolves were tracking Russell for a while and wanted him a lot. The Warriors should’ve gotten Josh Okogie and Malik Beasley. I know it’s a lot, but, it’s fair.

The Rockets messed up here, a lot. Clint Capela, the Rockets’ height, who averages a double-double per game, is traded to the Hawks, now they’re left with their tallest player being newly acquired Robert Covington at 6’ 7”. Their highest rebounder is going to be their 6’ 6” “giant” at center, PJ Tucker, who’s going to have about 3 rebounds per game. The Rockets get Robert Covington, interesting, now they have 2.5 punch. Russ, Harden and Robert at the 0.5. Minnesota gets Evan Turner and Jarred Vanderbilt, I have just heard about them for the first time today. Like, what are you doing? Minnesota, be aggressive and that’s guaranteeing a playoff spot. Were they trying to clear up cap space or something? Like, if I was a free agent, I wouldn’t want to sign with Minnesota, eew. No other big names were traded. The teams involved were the Hawks, Rockets, Timberwolves and Nuggets.

Another three-team trade, this one with Clippers, Knicks and Wizards.

 A very accurate representation on the teams in this trade.  The Clippers won this trade by far, acquiring Marcus Morris Sr., a solid 15+ points per game, which is amazing, and really short PG Isaiah Thomas, who they’re planning to waive, I heard. Now, with the hilariously over-filled forward rotation, acquired yet another forward, now, what on the big, blue earth was Scott Perry or whoever the Knicks GM is now. Watch them use all of their first round picks on forwards but then use their second rounder on a guard from an unheard-of college somewhere in the middle of Kansas. They acquired solid forward Moe Harkless and Issuf Sanon (but I don’t really know if they acquired him, it only says they acquired the rights). They also got a first rounder. The Wizards acquired Jerome Robinson, who’s not good, but gives them depth at the guard position.

Andre Drummond got traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a Big Mac left over from when Andre was born, a banana peel found in a dumpster and the best part of the deal, a diet coke, oh wait, I’m getting word now that there’s only the can left, oh wait, nope, not over yet, it is reportedly crushed too. Andre Drummond, who averages a double-double per game, 17.8 PPG and 15.8 RPG does not have that kind of trade value, this trade should’ve included so much more. He’s on my fantasy team, and he gets 35-40 fantasy points per game, he’s a beast in the paint. He’s also the league’s top rebounder and top center in my book, top 10 player in my book as well. The Pistons got back John Henson and Brandon Knight back, both of them combined are scoring 9.9 PPG and 5.2 RPG. I don’t get it, like clear up cap space, sure, but don’t get back two bench incinerators, oh, and a 2^nd round pick, not 1^st, second. 

My Thoughts about Super Bowls 2020 & 2021

The 2020 Super Bowl was a good one, not like last year when the teams had don’t-score-in-the-biggest-game-of-the-season syndrome, oh, what a horrible disease, affects all sports fans. Well, now the star of the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, has a shining Super Bowl resume: an MVP, a trip to Disney World, 76 touchdowns in two full seasons and 9,128 passing yards in two full seasons. As for the Super Bowl MVP, he shouldn’t have won that honor. In three quarters, he wasn’t doing well at all, but, he was scrambling, he finished with 29 yards and one touchdown. Then, in the fourth quarter he wakes up and leads his team to a 10-point comeback, which, don’t get me wrong, is phenomenal, amazing. Damien Williams had 104 yards rushing, one touchdown on the ground, 29 yards receiving and one touchdown receiving. Including a very acrobatic touchdown that had to be reviewed but it stood for a touchdown. Jimmy Garapollo was actually very bad, he was doing so badly that he tried to impersonate his opponent, Mahomes, by throwing an eyes closed pass, which ended up as one of his two INTs.

Raheem Mostert didn’t even have a good game, even though I said he would have to take charge, Garapollo actually took charge with his eyes closed, (literally and because they lost). They did a lot of handoffs to the wide receivers and a lot of potential flee flickers, Kyle Shanahan obviously thought his would work. I’m saying that John Lynch, one of the smartest men in football, could definitely put this team into contention for another Super Bowl.

Just watching the game you could see how much Nick Bosa made a difference. He was beating his defender all night, Mahomes got his throws off very, very fast. He only got 1 sack though and I don’t know why Andy Reid didn’t put Damien in as a blocker for most of the game (then Mahomes would’ve won MVP without any words out of my mouth about that) or locking Nick up in a double team all game, which would’ve been better. The Niners D also got Mahomes to throw two picks, one of which were his fault, the ball bounced off of his receiver’s hands the second.

The Chiefs weren’t giving Jimmy G anything all game long, but he threw 31 and completed 20. The 49ers O line was amazing; they were doubling Chris Jones a lot, which is very smart on the inexperienced coach’s side. They only allowed 1 sack, but Jimmy threw two picks, one of them, he thought closing his eyes would be successful, but proved not to be. When the 49ers were trying to mount a bit of a game-winning drive with about a minute game, Kendall Fuller mosses (or aggressively catches over) poor Deebo Samuel to lock up Andy Reid’s first Super Bowl.

Way, Way too Early Super Bowl LV Prediction:

Saints – Chiefs: Saints 38-35

And the Vince Lombardi Trophy Goes to ...

The most exciting point of this NFL football season is upon us. The Super Bowl. The contenders are the San Fransisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. But you probably know this already. So this blog will be about my predictions and my evidence.

Being in Andy Reid’s position, I think he should try to attack on the ground, even though they have a prodigy and beast at QB. The Chiefs should do this only because the 49er pass defense is disgustingly good. They have Richard Sherman and Jimmie Ward out there, an amazing secondary already, plus other underrated stars. I’m definitely not saying that their Front 7 isn’t good, with Dee Ford, Nick Bosa and Kwon Alexander staring down Patrick Mahomes all game long. Their run game isn’t the best, they have speed in Damien Williams, just not enough; the O-Line isn’t amazing, it’s adequate, but if they’re going to rely on their run, they need a better one. The Chiefs do have a defensive edge, with Jimmy G, who hasn’t proved himself yet, the Niners are going to rely on Raheem Mostert, their speedy running back. They’re going to be sending their rovers that safety, Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorenson down to blitz. Jimmy G’s going to have to step up a bit more if the Niners want to win.

The Niners are going to rely on their ground game, all game long, Raheem Mostert is going to share the responsibilities with Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida. Their run game is practically unstoppable, but the Chiefs Front 7 isn’t too shabby, so they’re going to come for them all game long. I don’t really like how everyone is saying that the Chiefs are so fast, they have the speed advantage and stuff like that. Really? Yes, they do but not by a lot, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Emanuel Sanders, they also have speed. The Niners weak spot is that their linebackers aren’t too good, and Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins are going to be running streaks and drags for a while and they’re not going to get a man on them for a few seconds, which is costly in a game.

QB – Chiefs

RB – 49ers

WR – Chiefs

TE – 49ers

OL – 49ers

DL – 49ers

LB – 49ers

CB – 49ers

S – Chiefs

K – Chiefs

Coaching Experience – Chiefs

Better Coach (my opinion) – Andy Reid

Prediction

28-24 Kansas City Chiefs

Remembering Kobe

Drafted 13th overall in 1996,

The youngest ever to play in an NBA game, just 18,

A wizard with the ball, creating space with every move he makes,

Shooting from everywhere, making everything on the floor against the best

Fifteen All-Stars, Five championships, One MVP, Fourth most points in the NBA

Creating chemistry with everyone, a legend, an icon, and an inspirer 

A family man, going to his daughter’s basketball game,

A tragedy happened that caught everyone off guard,

A thing that affected everyone in the world

You will most definitely be remembered,

Kobe