Sports Quote of the Day:
"Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, Famous Writer and Poet
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Bears cut five players to reach 53-man roster limit.
By Larry Mayer
The Bears reached the NFL's 53-man roster limit Saturday by waiving safety Brandon Hardin, linebacker J.T. Thomas, tackle Cory Brandon, defensive tackle Corvey Irvin and receiver Terrence Toliver.
Hardin was waived/injured and could be placed on injured reserve if he clears waivers, while Brandon and Irvin were waived with injury settlements.
Brandon Hardin was chosen by the Bears in the third round of the 2012 draft.
The Bears kept six cornerbacks but only four safeties, with Hardin being beaten out by Craig Steltz and Anthony Walters for reserve spots behind starters Chris Conte and Major Wright . A 2012 third-round pick, Hardin sat out his senior year at Oregon State with a shoulder injury and missed his entire rookie season with the Bears after hurting his neck in a preseason game.
On his Twitter account, Hardin wrote: "It's not a journey without a few speed bumps and detours. Thanks for the support Bears fans. Trying to stay positive!"
Thomas was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. After spending his entire rookie season on injured reserve, he appeared in all 16 games last year, primarily on special teams. The 6-1, 236-pounder made two impact plays in the preseason, blocking a punt against the Chargers and sacking Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer on a well-timed blitz.
Brandon joined the Bears in 2012, spending the first 15 weeks of the season on the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster Dec. 17, but did not play in the final two games. The 6-7, 324-pounder sustained a leg injury late in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Browns.
Irvin signed with the Bears in May. He has appeared in 18 games in three NFL seasons with the Panthers (2010), Jaguars (2011) and Buccaneers (2012), recording 11 tackles.
Toliver has spent time with the Texans (2011) and Lions (2012) without appearing in a regular-season game. He showed flashes in the preseason, catching seven passes for 63 yards.
The Bears kept nine rookies on their 53-man roster. All six draft picks made it (guardKyle Long , linebackers Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene , tackle Jordan Mills , defensive end Cornelius Washington and receiver Marquess Wilson ) along with three undrafted free agents (running back Michael Ford , defensive tackle Zach Minter and cornerback C.J. Wilson ).
The Bears kept one fullback (Tony Fiammetta ) and three tight ends (Martellus Bennett , Steve Maneri and Kyle Adams ). Their four reserve offensive linemen are guard/center Taylor Boggs , guard/tackle Eben Britton , tackle/guard James Brown and tackle Jonathan Scott .
Here's a breakdown of the 53-man roster as it stands now (in alphabetical order):
Quarterbacks (2):Jay Cutler , Josh McCown
Running backs (3):Michael Bush , Michael Ford, Matt Forte
Fullbacks (1): Tony Fiammetta
Wide receivers (6):Joe Anderson , Earl Bennett , Alshon Jeffery , Brandon Marshall , Eric Weems , Marquess Wilson
Tight ends (3): Kyle Adams, Martellus Bennett, Steve Maneri
Offensive linemen (9): Taylor Boggs, Eben Britton, James Brown,Jermon Bushrod , Roberto Garza , Kyle Long, Jordan Mills, Jonathan Scott, Matt Slauson
Defensive linemen (9):Nate Collins , Shea McClellin , Henry Melton , Zach Minter, Cheta Ozougwu , Stephen Paea , Julius Peppers , Cornelius Washington, Corey Wootton
Linebackers (6):James Anderson , Jon Bostic, Lance Briggs , Blake Costanzo , Khaseem Greene, D.J. Williams .
Cornerbacks (6): Zackary Bowman,Isaiah Frey , Tim Jennings , Sherrick McManis , Charles Tillman , C.J. Wilson
Safeties (4): Chris Conte, Craig Steltz, Anthony Walters, Major Wright
Specialists (4):Robbie Gould , Devin Hester , Patrick Mannelly , Adam Podlesh
On his Twitter account, Hardin wrote: "It's not a journey without a few speed bumps and detours. Thanks for the support Bears fans. Trying to stay positive!"
Thomas was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. After spending his entire rookie season on injured reserve, he appeared in all 16 games last year, primarily on special teams. The 6-1, 236-pounder made two impact plays in the preseason, blocking a punt against the Chargers and sacking Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer on a well-timed blitz.
Brandon joined the Bears in 2012, spending the first 15 weeks of the season on the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster Dec. 17, but did not play in the final two games. The 6-7, 324-pounder sustained a leg injury late in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Browns.
Irvin signed with the Bears in May. He has appeared in 18 games in three NFL seasons with the Panthers (2010), Jaguars (2011) and Buccaneers (2012), recording 11 tackles.
Toliver has spent time with the Texans (2011) and Lions (2012) without appearing in a regular-season game. He showed flashes in the preseason, catching seven passes for 63 yards.
The Bears kept nine rookies on their 53-man roster. All six draft picks made it (guard
The Bears kept one fullback (
Here's a breakdown of the 53-man roster as it stands now (in alphabetical order):
Quarterbacks (2):
Running backs (3):
Fullbacks (1): Tony Fiammetta
Wide receivers (6):
Tight ends (3): Kyle Adams, Martellus Bennett, Steve Maneri
Offensive linemen (9): Taylor Boggs, Eben Britton, James Brown,
Defensive linemen (9):
Linebackers (6):
Cornerbacks (6): Zackary Bowman,
Safeties (4): Chris Conte, Craig Steltz, Anthony Walters, Major Wright
Specialists (4):
Bears add seven players to practice squad.
By Larry Mayer
The Bears on Sunday signed seven players to their practice squad, including five who had recently been waived by the team after participating in training camp.
The returnees include linebacker Jerry Franklin, cornerback Demontre Hurst, tight end Fendi Onobun, running back Harvey Unga and defensive end Aston Whiteside. Also signed to the practice squad were quarterback Jerrod Johnson and receiver Ricardo Lockette.
Fendi Onobun
Franklin was claimed by the Bears off the Cowboys' practice squad late last season and appeared in the final three games, recording two special teams tackles. The 6-1, 245-pounder showed promise in training camp and the preseason, especially on special teams.
Hurst joined the Bears this year as an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma. He showed his playmaking ability in the preseason finale against the Browns, intercepting a Brian Hoyer pass and drawing an intentional grounding penalty with a well-timed blitz.
Onobun performed well at times in training camp but struggled in the preseason, dropping three passes without recording a reception in the first three games. He caught four passes for 45 yards in the finale against the Browns. But one pass that deflected off his hands was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He also had another drop and committed two holding penalties.
Onobun followed an unusual path to the NFL. He played basketball for four years at Arizona before using a final year of college eligibility to play football at the University of Houston in 2009.
Onobun was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Rams and appeared in three games as a rookie with St. Louis, catching two passes for 15 yards. He had brief stints with the Seahawks, Redskins, Jaguars and Bills before joining the Bears after the 2012 season.
Unga was selected by the Bears in the 2010 supplemental draft. He enters his fourth season, but has not appeared in a regular-season game. The 6-foot, 237-pounder was on injured reserve in 2010, on the reserve/left team list in 2011 and on the practice squad for most of the 2012 season.
Whiteside also spent most of last season on the Bears' practice squad. The 6-2, 255-pounder from Abilene Christian joined the team last summer after being released by the Cowboys.
Johnson entered the NFL with the Eagles in 2011 as an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M. He has also spent time with the Steelers and Seahawks, but has not appeared in a regular-season game. The 6-5, 250-pounder left Texas A&M as the school's all-time leading passer with 8,011 yards.
Lockette appeared in two games with the Seahawks in 2011, catching two passes for 105 yards including a 61-yard touchdown. The 6-2, 211-pounder spent part of last season with the 49ers, but did not appear in a game. He was released by San Francisco on Aug. 22.
The Bears still have one spot open on their eight-man practice squad.
Hurst joined the Bears this year as an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma. He showed his playmaking ability in the preseason finale against the Browns, intercepting a Brian Hoyer pass and drawing an intentional grounding penalty with a well-timed blitz.
Onobun performed well at times in training camp but struggled in the preseason, dropping three passes without recording a reception in the first three games. He caught four passes for 45 yards in the finale against the Browns. But one pass that deflected off his hands was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He also had another drop and committed two holding penalties.
Onobun followed an unusual path to the NFL. He played basketball for four years at Arizona before using a final year of college eligibility to play football at the University of Houston in 2009.
Onobun was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Rams and appeared in three games as a rookie with St. Louis, catching two passes for 15 yards. He had brief stints with the Seahawks, Redskins, Jaguars and Bills before joining the Bears after the 2012 season.
Unga was selected by the Bears in the 2010 supplemental draft. He enters his fourth season, but has not appeared in a regular-season game. The 6-foot, 237-pounder was on injured reserve in 2010, on the reserve/left team list in 2011 and on the practice squad for most of the 2012 season.
Whiteside also spent most of last season on the Bears' practice squad. The 6-2, 255-pounder from Abilene Christian joined the team last summer after being released by the Cowboys.
Johnson entered the NFL with the Eagles in 2011 as an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M. He has also spent time with the Steelers and Seahawks, but has not appeared in a regular-season game. The 6-5, 250-pounder left Texas A&M as the school's all-time leading passer with 8,011 yards.
Lockette appeared in two games with the Seahawks in 2011, catching two passes for 105 yards including a 61-yard touchdown. The 6-2, 211-pounder spent part of last season with the 49ers, but did not appear in a game. He was released by San Francisco on Aug. 22.
The Bears still have one spot open on their eight-man practice squad.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Forecasting Canada's roster for Sochi Olympics.
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com senior writer
Canada's Olympic orientation camp earlier this week included what had to be the most impressive collection of ball hockey players ever assembled anywhere on the planet.
The same 45 players who laced up their sneakers, grabbed a pair of gloves and a stick, and pushed an orange ball around a fiberglass floor for walk-throughs Monday and Tuesday make up most of the pool of gold-medal hopefuls for the defending Olympic champions.
Executive director Steve Yzerman will select 25 players, most from that pool but some from the group of candidates who were not in camp, to make up the Canada Men's Olympic team that will compete for its second straight gold medal in Sochi, Russia in February.
After spending three days at Hockey Canada headquarters in Calgary watching, evaluating, listening and asking questions of the management staff, coaches and players, the picture of Canada's Olympic roster came into focus as the attributes Yzerman will be looking for were spelled out.
To make Canada's roster the player must possess four qualities: 1) foot speed; 2) agility; 3) the ability to play a 200-foot game; 4) high hockey IQ.
The first three months of the NHL season will weigh heavily in Yzerman's decision-making, but based on the information available at orientation camp and the qualities necessary to be a part of this team, here is my prediction of what Canada's roster could and should look like:
DAN ROSEN'S CANADA OLYMPIC TEAM
GOALIES
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Call him the de facto No. 1 for now, but he could be the clear-cut No. 1 by the time Yzerman announces the team. It's the perfect situation for the Canucks because Luongo is motivated to return to an elite level and hungry to get back to the Olympics.
Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
There seems to be zero traction for Crawford despite the fact he won the Stanley Cup and was arguably Chicago's best player throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That will change once he gets off to another strong start for the Blackhawks. Crawford may not steal a game for Canada, but who says he has to? He would give the Canadians a chance to win every game he plays. That's the job of a goaltender.
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Price's talent is not up for debate, but is he mentally tough enough to handle the pressure of being Canada's goalie? Even if he is selected as a backup he has to be considered an option to start. He faces scrutiny in Montreal every day, but he succumbed to the pressure in the playoffs last season. His position on this team is tenuous, especially with Mike Smith, Cam Ward and Braden Holtby lingering, but Price will get first crack.
FORWARDS
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's a lock and the likely captain.
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
The two-time Stanley Cup champion is as tight a lock as Crosby is and should wear an "A" in Sochi.
Rick Nash, New York Rangers
Nash knows the big ice well and would be going to his third Olympics. Yzerman identified him as part of the leadership core.
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
A center in the NHL, expect Stamkos to be on the right wing in his first Olympics. He played right wing at the IIHF World Championship earlier this year.
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Tavares can shift to left wing if necessary, but look for him to be in the middle to start the tournament. He'll play in the bottom six, though, because Crosby and Toews will be the top two centers.
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Canada's management and coaching staff understood but were not happy Giroux didn't attend orientation camp because he's rehabbing his surgically repaired finger. It shouldn't hurt his chances to be on the team provided he gets off to a strong start. His versatility is what Canada is looking for.
Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
The big center might find himself on Crosby's left wing to start the tournament. Chris Kunitz can regale Staal with stories about how great it is.
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Canada is loaded at center, but Yzerman said it's important to have natural wings who are adept at playing up and down the wall and getting the puck to the middle. Perry, like Nash, is one of those guys.
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
He's big, mobile and could be Canada's fourth center behind Crosby, Toews and Tavares. He'll have to adjust to playing fewer minutes.
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Couture makes it because he can score, he's smart with and without the puck, and he can skate. He's another center who will be on the wing.
Patrick Sharp, Chicago Blackhawks
Sharp has everything Yzerman is looking for: foot speed, versatility (he can play all three forward positions), high hockey IQ, scoring ability and defensive acumen.
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
The disappointment of not making the team in 2010 has driven St. Louis to be there in 2014. As long as he gets off to a strong start, the 38-year-old right wing should be in Sochi. He can play either wing and will be part of Canada's leadership group.
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
He's a sensational two-way center and one of the best faceoff guys in the NHL. Bergeron could be Canada's 13th forward specializing in defensive-zone faceoffs and penalty killing.
Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers
There didn't seem to be much buzz about Hall during orientation camp, but there should be. He's a strong and fast skater who is starting to figure out the 200-foot game. Hall will impress Canada's management staff in the first three months and play his way onto the Olympic team.
DEFENSEMEN
Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
He's a fast, low-risk, smart, left-handed shooting defenseman. Keith has everything going for him, making him a lock.
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Weber's ability to delivering punishing hits won't be as important as his ability for punishing the puck, which he does better than anybody eligible for this team.
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Doughty's game is tailor-made for the big ice. He can move the puck and himself well. He'll join the rush, but his game won't suffer on the defensive end. He'll make the safe play instead of taking the risk.
Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
Provided he avoids a prolonged contract holdout, Pietrangelo, who is a restricted free agent, will be on the team because he does just about everything well.
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Subban will have to be more conservative than he normally is to play on the big ice, where making up for mistakes is harder because of the extra strides it takes to get back into position. That said, the reigning Norris Trophy winner shouldn't change too much because he's already so dangerous.
Marc Staal, New York Rangers
Staal has no doubts he'll be back to his old self to start the season despite lingering blurriness in his right eye. Provided he is, the big, mobile, intelligent blueliner will be in the Olympics. He's a left-handed shot, which makes him more enticing.
Jay Bouwmeester, St. Louis Blues
Canada likes him because of his smooth skating and decision-making. The knock is that Bouwmeester, another left-handed shooter, has never won a championship at the professional level and when he went to Turin in 2006, Canada finished seventh. He'll have to raise his compete level in Sochi.
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
There is some thought Subban and Letang are interchangeable and Yzerman will take one of them. It makes sense, but only to a point because Letang is one of those players who is simply too good to leave off this team. Like Subban, he'll have to be more conservative on the big ice. He'd be Canada's fifth righty defensemen, but he can move to the left side if necessary.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session... Strategic Changes Chicago Bulls Must Make in 2013-14.
The same 45 players who laced up their sneakers, grabbed a pair of gloves and a stick, and pushed an orange ball around a fiberglass floor for walk-throughs Monday and Tuesday make up most of the pool of gold-medal hopefuls for the defending Olympic champions.
Executive director Steve Yzerman will select 25 players, most from that pool but some from the group of candidates who were not in camp, to make up the Canada Men's Olympic team that will compete for its second straight gold medal in Sochi, Russia in February.
After spending three days at Hockey Canada headquarters in Calgary watching, evaluating, listening and asking questions of the management staff, coaches and players, the picture of Canada's Olympic roster came into focus as the attributes Yzerman will be looking for were spelled out.
To make Canada's roster the player must possess four qualities: 1) foot speed; 2) agility; 3) the ability to play a 200-foot game; 4) high hockey IQ.
The first three months of the NHL season will weigh heavily in Yzerman's decision-making, but based on the information available at orientation camp and the qualities necessary to be a part of this team, here is my prediction of what Canada's roster could and should look like:
DAN ROSEN'S CANADA OLYMPIC TEAM
GOALIES
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Call him the de facto No. 1 for now, but he could be the clear-cut No. 1 by the time Yzerman announces the team. It's the perfect situation for the Canucks because Luongo is motivated to return to an elite level and hungry to get back to the Olympics.
Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
There seems to be zero traction for Crawford despite the fact he won the Stanley Cup and was arguably Chicago's best player throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That will change once he gets off to another strong start for the Blackhawks. Crawford may not steal a game for Canada, but who says he has to? He would give the Canadians a chance to win every game he plays. That's the job of a goaltender.
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Price's talent is not up for debate, but is he mentally tough enough to handle the pressure of being Canada's goalie? Even if he is selected as a backup he has to be considered an option to start. He faces scrutiny in Montreal every day, but he succumbed to the pressure in the playoffs last season. His position on this team is tenuous, especially with Mike Smith, Cam Ward and Braden Holtby lingering, but Price will get first crack.
FORWARDS
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's a lock and the likely captain.
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
The two-time Stanley Cup champion is as tight a lock as Crosby is and should wear an "A" in Sochi.
Rick Nash, New York Rangers
Nash knows the big ice well and would be going to his third Olympics. Yzerman identified him as part of the leadership core.
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
A center in the NHL, expect Stamkos to be on the right wing in his first Olympics. He played right wing at the IIHF World Championship earlier this year.
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Tavares can shift to left wing if necessary, but look for him to be in the middle to start the tournament. He'll play in the bottom six, though, because Crosby and Toews will be the top two centers.
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Canada's management and coaching staff understood but were not happy Giroux didn't attend orientation camp because he's rehabbing his surgically repaired finger. It shouldn't hurt his chances to be on the team provided he gets off to a strong start. His versatility is what Canada is looking for.
Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
The big center might find himself on Crosby's left wing to start the tournament. Chris Kunitz can regale Staal with stories about how great it is.
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Canada is loaded at center, but Yzerman said it's important to have natural wings who are adept at playing up and down the wall and getting the puck to the middle. Perry, like Nash, is one of those guys.
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
He's big, mobile and could be Canada's fourth center behind Crosby, Toews and Tavares. He'll have to adjust to playing fewer minutes.
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Couture makes it because he can score, he's smart with and without the puck, and he can skate. He's another center who will be on the wing.
Patrick Sharp, Chicago Blackhawks
Sharp has everything Yzerman is looking for: foot speed, versatility (he can play all three forward positions), high hockey IQ, scoring ability and defensive acumen.
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
The disappointment of not making the team in 2010 has driven St. Louis to be there in 2014. As long as he gets off to a strong start, the 38-year-old right wing should be in Sochi. He can play either wing and will be part of Canada's leadership group.
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
He's a sensational two-way center and one of the best faceoff guys in the NHL. Bergeron could be Canada's 13th forward specializing in defensive-zone faceoffs and penalty killing.
Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers
There didn't seem to be much buzz about Hall during orientation camp, but there should be. He's a strong and fast skater who is starting to figure out the 200-foot game. Hall will impress Canada's management staff in the first three months and play his way onto the Olympic team.
DEFENSEMEN
Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
He's a fast, low-risk, smart, left-handed shooting defenseman. Keith has everything going for him, making him a lock.
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Weber's ability to delivering punishing hits won't be as important as his ability for punishing the puck, which he does better than anybody eligible for this team.
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Doughty's game is tailor-made for the big ice. He can move the puck and himself well. He'll join the rush, but his game won't suffer on the defensive end. He'll make the safe play instead of taking the risk.
Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
Provided he avoids a prolonged contract holdout, Pietrangelo, who is a restricted free agent, will be on the team because he does just about everything well.
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Subban will have to be more conservative than he normally is to play on the big ice, where making up for mistakes is harder because of the extra strides it takes to get back into position. That said, the reigning Norris Trophy winner shouldn't change too much because he's already so dangerous.
Marc Staal, New York Rangers
Staal has no doubts he'll be back to his old self to start the season despite lingering blurriness in his right eye. Provided he is, the big, mobile, intelligent blueliner will be in the Olympics. He's a left-handed shot, which makes him more enticing.
Jay Bouwmeester, St. Louis Blues
Canada likes him because of his smooth skating and decision-making. The knock is that Bouwmeester, another left-handed shooter, has never won a championship at the professional level and when he went to Turin in 2006, Canada finished seventh. He'll have to raise his compete level in Sochi.
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
There is some thought Subban and Letang are interchangeable and Yzerman will take one of them. It makes sense, but only to a point because Letang is one of those players who is simply too good to leave off this team. Like Subban, he'll have to be more conservative on the big ice. He'd be Canada's fifth righty defensemen, but he can move to the left side if necessary.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session... Strategic Changes Chicago Bulls Must Make in 2013-14.
By Andres Montero (Featured Columnist)
Is Tom Thibodeau going to make any offensive changes? Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The Chicago Bulls were unable to show their full potential last season due to injury, but now that everyone is healthy, they'll look to make a title run in 2013-14.
There aren't many changes the Bulls need to make. Under Tom Thibodeau's coaching, they'll remain a top-10 rebounding team and one of the elite defensive units. It's that style of hard-nosed basketball that will push the Bulls above the Miami Heat.
However, taking advantage of some of their assets will help Chicago become a little less one-dimensional.
With Derrick Rose back, not only are the Bulls adding a primary scorer, but also someone who can run the floor and finish at the rim. There are also players on the roster that could be used slightly more or in a different way.
The Bulls' strategic changes start with one thing:
Push the Ball
However, taking advantage of some of their assets will help Chicago become a little less one-dimensional.
With Derrick Rose back, not only are the Bulls adding a primary scorer, but also someone who can run the floor and finish at the rim. There are also players on the roster that could be used slightly more or in a different way.
The Bulls' strategic changes start with one thing:
Push the Ball
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
With Rose, the Bulls should have more fast-break opportunities.
Chicago is a half-court team; there's no changing that. Now that Rose is back, though, the Bulls might want to take advantage of that and run the floor a little more than they have in the past.
Throughout the 2012-13 season, the Bulls averaged just 89.3 possessions per game and scored just under 10 fast-break points per game, per TeamRankings. The previous season, their possessions per game were essentially the same, but the team had a top-15 average in fast-break points.
Now that the Bulls have quality shooters on the roster, they should aim to surpass that 2011-12 figure. They have the personnel to be a very dangerous open-floor team and should take advantage of it.
A lineup of Rose, Jimmy Butler, Luol Deng, Mike Dunleavy and Joakim Noah could effectively run the floor, with Butler, Deng and Dunleavy stopping at the perimeter ready to knock down a shot.
The Bulls will always be a half-court team and will prefer to run their sets more often than running the floor, but when the opportunity arises, they should look to push the ball, especially now that they have a great ball-handler that can lead the way.
Post Up Carlos Boozer More Often
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Boozer is very proficient in the post.
If the Bulls decide to waive off the fast-break opportunity, they can go to one of the better post players in the league: Carlos Boozer. One of Boozer's biggest strengths is his ability to shoot from mid-range, but that may be causing the Bulls to use him less in the post.
Boozer has an array of moves once he's established in the low block: He can go over and under, fake one way and follow it with a quick spin in the other direction, shoot a fade away or simply bully his way into the paint.
Per Synergy, 33 percent of Boozer's plays came in the post, shooting 43.7 percent in those occasions. Thirty-three percent seems like a good amount for a player that also likes to play outside, but Boozer shot just 39 percent on shots 10 feet and farther from the rim.
This is easier said than done, however. Boozer constantly draws double teams, which is one of the reasons he settles for jumpers.
This is where the Bulls' new additions come in handy.
Boozer will be surrounded by good perimeter shooters this season, so even if he's being doubled in the post, he should be able to make the defense pay by finding the open player. If the Bulls can increase their usage of Boozer in the post from 33 to somewhere between 36 and 40, it could give the Bulls a more efficient offense.
Utilize More Small-Ball Lineups
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Luol Deng is big enough to play the 4, and has the skill set for it as well.
It might be a little hard to call a lineup of Rose, Butler, Dunleavy, Deng and Noah "small," but a set like this could help the Bulls stretch the floor for some Rose isolations and add some shooting options.
The Bulls have a lot of versatility at each position; Thibodeau said it best in an interview with Grantland's Zach Lowe:
Jimmy, Luol, Mike Dunleavy, and Tony Snell — all four are capable of playing 2 [shooting guard], 3 [small forward], and even some 4 [power forward]. Hinrich and Derrick can both play the point and the 2. Taj and Joakim can play both the 4 and 5 [center]... when teams go small against us, we can remain big and maybe get an advantage on the boards. We like that. But Luol does give us the option to go small and get more shooting on the floor.Like Thibodeau said, going small still leaves some decent size on the floor, while adding more offense. With the number of teams using these small-ball lineups, the Bulls can use their own version to try to have an upper hand.
All three of these strategies should be used in moderation, though.
The Bulls may not have had the most explosive or dynamic offense over the past few seasons, but it led them to consecutive years as the league's best record holder in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
The Bulls will be known as an elite defensive and rebounding team, but applying some of these strategies throughout the year could help them establish themselves as a potent offense.
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Remember, (1) Competition breeds excellence, (2) You can't win ($$$) if you aren't in and (3) The odds are better than the Lottery!!!
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Using the prompts under the NCAAFB Scoreboard heading, you can get scores by Regular Season, Postseason, Top 25, Nevada Rotation, All Games and by Conference. We hope this will help you when you need to catch up with your college scores and the pages are constantly and automatically updated. Enjoy a great college season.
Garcia leads a low-scoring pace in Boston.
DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer
Sergio Garcia was doing everything right. He had the lead going into the third round. He kept bogeys off his card and made two birdies on the front nine.
And he was losing ground Sunday in the Deutsche Bank Championship.
''You could make a lot of birdies if everything went exactly the right way, kind of like it went on the back nine for me,'' Garcia said. ''But you have to be patient and just wait for the right time.''
Garcia regained control on the back nine of the rain-softened TPC Boston, making five birdies for a 6-under 65 that gave him a two-shot lead over Henrik Stenson.
Garcia hit 4-iron from 218 yards onto the 18th green for a two-putt birdie as darkness settled over New England on this longest of days.
But nothing is close to being settled at this FedEx Cup playoff event.
Not with such a soft course, with preferred lies, with mint conditions on the putting surfaces and the world's best players - most of them, anyway - in top form. There were 332 birdies and 10 eagles in the third round, translating to sub-par holes 32 percent of the time.
''There's heaps of low scores out there,'' Stenson said after his 66. ''You have to keep making birdies if you want to have anything to do with this tournament. Today was no different. It's going to be the same tomorrow. I'm sure everyone is coming at us from all different angles.''
Tee times have been moved up to Monday morning because of the threat of more rain.
Garcia was at 19-under 194, though the Spaniard isn't great at protecting the 54-hole lead. His record is 3-7 when he has at least a share of the lead going into the last day.
And this Labor Day figures to live up to its name. It will take hard work to stay there.
And this Labor Day figures to live up to its name. It will take hard work to stay there.
Graham DeLaet of Canada all but locked up a spot on the Presidents Cup team with a 62 that left him three shots behind with Steve Stricker, who had a 63 and took a big step toward making the U.S. team for the matches next month at Muirfield Village.
PGA champion Jason Dufner had a share of the lead until cooling off on the back nine. He had a 66 and was tied for fifth at 15-under 198 with Robert Castro (68).
About the only ones who couldn't keep up were the star attractions at the start of the week - Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson, who started the third round five shots out of the lead, had his second straight 71, and this one wasn't exciting at all. He had three birdies, three bogeys, 12 pars and wound up 12 shots behind.
Woods didn't get anything going early and fell apart on the back nine, starting with a tee shot into a hazard well right of the 10th fairway. He began the back nine with three straight bogeys and ended with a three-putt par on the 18th for a 1-over 72. It ended six straight rounds in the 60s in the FedEx Cup playoffs, and much worse, left him with no chance of winning going into the off week. He was 13 shots back.
''I just didn't have it today,'' Woods said. ''I just didn't hit it well. I didn't make anything. I had a bad day at the wrong time.''
The average score was 68.2, and anything higher than that meant losing ground.
''We can't control the weather,'' Garcia said. ''And you've just got to go out there and try to play the best you can. And I was very happy to see that my best was 6-under.''
Monday is filled with plenty of ramifications.
Garcia is trying to end a troublesome season with his first PGA Tour victory of the year, trying to move past his humbling moment this spring when a public spat with Woods led to Garcia making a racially insensitive ''fried chicken'' comment at a London dinner.
Stenson has done everything but win in the last two months - third at the Scottish Open and PGA Championship, runner-up at the British Open and a World Golf Championship.
Stricker's goal when he showed up at the Deutsche Bank was to make the Presidents Cup team so that U.S. captain Fred Couples wouldn't have to consider using a pick, if Stricker even wants to be picked. Now only three shots behind, Stricker is thinking more about a chance to win for the first time this year, go to the Presidents Cup and set up a family working vacation at Kapalua next year.
The top 70 in the FedEx Cup advance to the third playoff event in two weeks north of Chicago. Ernie Els is among those on the cusp. Ian Poulter, despite a pair of late bogeys, had a 66 and was six shots out of the lead. He appears safe for Chicago, and now can try to think about qualifying for the Tour Championship for the first time.
Rory McIlroy made the cut on the number and still was lingering at the bottom of the pack after a double bogey. Then, he ran off eight birdies over his last 13 holes, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki showing up for the last two hours. McIlroy was too far back to win, but he can make his bid for the Tour Championship a lot easier.
The third round was barely an hour old when rain caused not only a three-hour delay, but forced officials to scrap the round and start over. That took two birdies away from Webb Simpson and two bogeys away from Zach Johnson. It didn't really matter. Both were at the bottom of the pack, and one of them looked likely to miss out on a spot on the Presidents Cup team.
Kyle Busch wins Atlanta, locks up Chase spot.
PAUL NEWBERRY (AP Sports Writer)
With a big hand from his pit crew, Kyle Busch locked up his spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship with his fourth victory of the year Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Busch emerged with the lead after a rapid-fire series of caution flags near the end, and he held off hard-charging Joey Logano to win by 0.740 seconds.
''My boys on pit road,'' Busch said. ''They're amazing. I would do anything for them.''
Martin Truex Jr., racing with a broken right wrist, was third on the 1.54-mile trioval, followed by Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman.
Martin Truex Jr., racing with a broken right wrist, was third on the 1.54-mile trioval, followed by Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman.
The rest of the top 10: Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers.
Kyle Busch was among four more drivers locking up their spot in the Chase heading to Richmond next weekend, where the 12-car field will be set for the playoff. He was joined by Harvick, Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne.
Points leader Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth had already claimed playoff berths before Atlanta.
That means the final five will be determined at Richmond.
Busch earned his 16th win of the year in NASCAR's top three series. He has nine victories in Nationwide and three in trucks.
Logano had the fastest car on the track at the end of the race, but ran out of time to run down Busch.
''It's just frustrating,'' Logano said. ''But in the grand scheme of things, it's a big points day for us to get into the Chase going to Richmond. This helps us a lot. A win would've helped a lot more.''
Bowyer was dominant through the middle of the race, leading 48 laps, but he radioed his crew that that something didn't seem right in his No. 15 car. On Lap 193, those fears became reality when smoke started pouring from the back of his Toyota going into Turn 1.
He managed to creep back around to pit road, but he headed straight for the garage, any hope of winning the race snuffed out.
He managed to creep back around to pit road, but he headed straight for the garage, any hope of winning the race snuffed out.
''I don't think they wanted to believe me,'' Bowyer said about his crew. ''But I was pretty sure what I was hearing.''
At least Bowyer won't have to worry about the poor finish - he wound up 39th - costing him a spot in the Chase.
That wasn't the case for defending Cup champion Brad Keselowski.
Winless for the year and on the Chase bubble, he took over the lead and looked as if he had a shot at a much-needed victory. But his engine dropped a couple of cylinders and began dropping back, finally sputtering to a stop 18 laps from the finish. He finished 35th and will go to Richmond knowing he likely needs a victory to even have a shot at taking a second straight title. He slipped to 15th in the standings, 28 points behind 10th-place Kurt Busch.
''There's just some things you can't control,'' Keselowski said. ''I guess we'll look at the positive. We were leading the race when it broke. We were doing all the right things. We just didn't put all the pieces together.''
Truex made it through the grueling race, which lasted some four hours, even though his cast was in the tatters at the end.
''It hurts like hell when you're steering the car,'' he said.
After a pre-determined yellow flag came out on Lap 25 so NASCAR officials could check tire wear, Gordon had trouble getting up to speed on the restart.
That set off a chain-reaction series of collisions behind the No. 24 car, which resulted in Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kahne smashing his radiator and smoking badly.
Another Hendricks car, driven by Johnson, also sustained damage, as did Mark Martin and Jeff Burton. Kahne limped straight to the garage for repairs and finished 36th, while the other battered cars spent extended time on pit road.
But Kahne locked up at least a wild card because he has two victories on the year.Another Hendricks car, driven by Johnson, also sustained damage, as did Mark Martin and Jeff Burton. Kahne limped straight to the garage for repairs and finished 36th, while the other battered cars spent extended time on pit road.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. started at the front after claiming the first pole position of his career, but Montoya sped right on by the rookie when the green flag came out.
Montoya was the strongest car in the early laps, while Stenhouse quickly slid back in the field.
Early in the race, Denny Hamlin squeezed Paul Menard and sent the No. 27 car skidding into the wall. Then, on Lap 205, in what appeared to be a bit of payback with neither driver on the lead lap, Hamlin spun out going into the third turn after getting bumped from behind by Menard. Hamlin's right front tire was shredded, though he managed to get back to the pits after the yellow flag came out.
Liverpool defeats archrival Manchester United.
NBC Sports
The win gave the home side sole possession of the top of the table in addition to a great win over their bitter rivals.
The Reds never found a second goal but they were the side with more cutting edge as Robin van Persie and company were left shaking their heads in frustration.
Liverpool banged their way ahead early as birthday boy Sturridge redirected a Daniel Agger header goalbound in just the third minute to put Liverpool up. The corner from Steven Gerrard came in from the right corner and Aspas got a head to it and sent it to Sturridge near the goal line who flicked it on into the net.
The Liverpool midfield dominated possession throughout the early portions of the match with accurate passing, as Jordan Henderson, Aspas, and Philippe Coutinho linked up well and built from the back. On the other end Ryan Giggs, making his 38th appearance against Liverpool, struggled to settle into the match and made a few rash challenges to give Liverpool free kicks.
Tom Cleverley showed his frustration in the 34th minute as he angrily took down Coutinho very late, and found himself in the referee’s book for the vicious challenge.
The following kerfuffle also saw Iago Aspas booked. Meanwhile Phil Jones hobbled off after twisting his ankle, replaced by Antonio Valencia.
Source: Getty ImagesAlso frustrated was Michael Carrick, who resorted to wrestling down Aspas to prevent a counter, receiving a booking for his efforts. With Robin van Persie also having been booked earlier, all the yellows provided a glimpse into the physicality the United players were falling back on. The match remained chippy as Gerrard and van Persie got in each others’ faces towards the end of the first half, having to be separated by the referee.
Those frustrations boiled over into the second half, as Carrick and others received early words from the referee. United then began a spell of pressure that saw Ashley Young take a crack at a volley off a corner but his bullet of a strike was blocked comfortably by Glen Johnson.
The match then transformed into a bitter battle in the midfield, offering little in the final third but keeping viewers entertained with hard-fought possession. United began to retain more of the ball but could offer little on goal. Manager David Moyes brought on Javier Hernandez in the 73rd minute to add some punch to the attack, but Liverpool instead took the initiative.
United pressed and pressed as time wound down, but as van Persie missed from a tight angle in the 88th minute, it was clear they wouldn’t be finding the goal today. Substitute Raheem Sterling almost had a stunner in extra time but a wonderful save by David De Gea denied the second score.
Lineups:
Liverpool - Simon Mignolet; Glen Johnson (Andre Wisdom, 78′), Jose Enrique, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel; Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho (Luis Alberto, 84′), Lucas, Jordan Henderson; Iago Aspas (Raheem Sterling, 63′), Daniel Sturridge.
Manchester United - David De Gea; Patrice Evra, Phil Jones (Antonio Valencia, 37′), Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic; Ryan Giggs (Javier Hernandez, 73′), Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverly; Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young (Nani, 63′); Robin van Persie.
By Brooks Peck
Spurs have finally, officially sold 24-year-old winger Gareth Bale to Real Madrid after months of feet dragging and false alarms with one day left in the summer transfer window. And to fully prove that the move is real, EA Sports produced a short teaser video showing Bale, who signed a six-year contract, as a member of Real Madrid in the upcoming FIFA 14 game. Now the only question that still remains is whether the deal marks a new world record transfer fee.
September storylines: Miguel Cabrera, Yasiel Puig and the sit/start debate.
The English press are reporting that the deal is worth a record €100 million ($132 million), while the Spanish press are convinced that Real Madrid paid €91 million ($120 million). In the latter stages of the melodrama that this story became, there were reports that Real Madrid wanted to keep the deal below the €94 million ($124 million) threshold that they set upon acquiring Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in the summer of 2009 so Ronaldo wouldn't feel like he was being usurped as the star of the team. The fact that the final number hasn't been made crystal clear by the usually boastful Spanish giants seems telling.
Whatever the final total is, it's a lot and it's enough to get Spurs to reluctantly let go of their best player — a man who scored 26 goals in all competitions for them last season. The deal was announced following their 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday. From Spurs' official statement on the transfer:Chairman, Daniel Levy commented, "Gareth was a player we had absolutely no intention of selling as we look to build for the future. He is a player whose career we have fostered and developed and he was only a year into his new four year contract.
"Such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season.
"We have, therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad to which we have added no fewer than seven top internationals. More importantly, we have an immense team spirit and a dressing room that is hungry for success."
As Levy noted in his statement, Spurs weren't just wasting time as they dragged out the Bale deal. They used the summer wisely and signed what seemed like a full squad of new players worth more than €100,000,000. The hope is that instead of being dependent on one player, they will develop a more balanced team that can challenge for a place in the top four after coming up just short last season. The seven new players whose cost will be predominantly negated by the sale of Bale are: Paulinho from Corinthians, Nacer Chadli from Twente, Roberto Soldado from Valencia, Etienne Capoue from Toulouse, Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest, Christian Eriksen from Ajax and Erik Lamela from Roma.
As for Real Madrid, they now have a dilemma they've grown used to in figuring out how to use all of their stars and their overlapping talents while keeping inner turmoil to a minimum. Though Spurs didn't want to sell and Bale is a very talented young player, it's very possible that they got the better end of this agreement.September storylines: Miguel Cabrera, Yasiel Puig and the sit/start debate.
By Tim Brown
September held off just long enough for the Pittsburgh Pirates to remake their batting order, and for the New York Yankees to become relevant, and for the Los Angeles Dodgers to turn the NL West into a rout.
Now we enter the second-most important month of the baseball season, and some things are still on our minds.
Nine for September:
Miguel Cabrera, his abdomen and the Detroit Tigers
Jim Leyland's first priority is to win the AL Central. His second is to get there with a healthy Cabrera, who may have to sacrifice a shot at back-to-back Triple Crowns to rest a nagging issue with his abs. On the bright side, he has abs.
In the midst of becoming – or having become – one of the great right-handed hitters anyone has ever seen, Cabrera came out of Thursday afternoon's game early, promised he'd be fine for Friday's game, was, and then left that one early, too. He was held out of Saturday's lineup.
Leyland says Cabrera is in no danger of harming himself further, and that Cabrera experiences little to no pain batting or fielding, but that running the bases is problematic. Cabrera is as critical to the Tigers' offense that a .359 average (.419 with runners in scoring position), .450 on-base percentage, 43 home runs and 130 RBI would suggest. A big lead in the AL Central should make some of the daily decisions easier, perhaps at the expense of another historic season for Cabrera.
Yasiel Puig and the Los Angeles Dodgers
It's complicated.
After a $42-million windfall and 63 minor-league games, Puig arrived with the bat of a thunderclap, the arm of a lightning bolt and the propriety of a noogie. He hit, he ran, he dispensed with cut-off men, he brawled, he was tardy, he was benched. Then he hit some more.
And the Dodgers won a lot of ballgames for it.
By the looks of the NL West, the Dodgers can coast into their first postseason in four years. Along the way, Don Mattingly will hope for a happy medium between reckless Puig and indifferent Puig, and also get Matt Kemp back from the disabled list, and then choose three outfielders every night from four – Puig, Kemp, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford. Puig is a lot of things – fourth outfielder is not one of them.
The playoffs and the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates will win more games than they lose, which is something. They appeared poised for the same Steel City miracle two years ago, however, and then a year ago, and those seasons didn't end well. So the good baseball fans of Pittsburgh won't be much in the mood for the moral victory of bare mediocrity and a barren October, seeing as their Buccos spent the summer hanging around first place in the NL Central, and over four days added Justin Morneau, Marlon Byrd and John Buck.
One month stands between the Pirates and the end of a horrific baseball generation.
Four more games against the St. Louis Cardinals. Six more games against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Pirates can't hit with either. But they can pitch. So they'll stand behind Francisco Liriano and A.J. Burnett, and they'll hope Jeff Locke merely needed a rest, and they'll ride Mark Melancon in the Shark Tank and then get Jason Grilli back, and perhaps get Wandy Rodriguez back, and maybe put two decades to rest.
Clay Buchholz and the Boston Red Sox
In the AL East, where the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees can be found within 4 ½ games of each other, the Red Sox reside remarkably above the fray. We say remarkably, because just a year ago they were the fray.
The Red Sox regained their composure, made sound decisions, stacked good months upon good months, and haven't had their best starter throw a pitch since June 8. Buchholz appears to be recovering from shoulder and neck ailments that interrupted his season at 9-0 and with a 1.71 ERA; he is due for another rehab start next week and could return in time for a series in Tampa Bay that begins Sept. 10.
Down the stretch and into October, you like a team that starts John Lackey, Jake Peavy and Jon Lester. You love a team that starts Lackey, Peavy, Lester and a healthy, capable Buchholz.
Arte Moreno and the Los Angeles Angels
This isn't the consensus view, but what if Albert Pujols returns healthy and confident, and Josh Hamilton is over his transition jitters, and Mike Trout is Mike Trout, and Mark Trumbo hits 35 jacks, and Peter Bourjos can stay upright? Well, yes, the Angels would still need all kinds of pitching. But isn't Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and a re-signed Jason Vargas a reasonable start?
It's wispy for 2014. All too wispy.
So, living with another poor team, burdened by payroll inflexibility, and perhaps unwilling to admit his role in it, Moreno has September to choose the course of his organization. General manager Jerry Dipoto is under contract for another year, though it's possible he'll take the hit for another third- or fourth-place finish in the AL West. Manager Mike Scioscia has another five years left on his contract, and he may not be safe either. The prevailing opinion is that Dipoto goes before Scioscia, but Moreno has proven to be unpredictable, just like his ballclub.
Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees
This has become the arranged marriage of Major League Baseball. The one where both realize they can't stand each other, are bound by the dowry, and now wait out 'til death do they part.
Imagine the spectacle of the Yankees (resurgent with Rodriguez in the middle of their lineup) and Rodriguez towing their many issues into the playoffs, among them malpractice accusations and a drug suspension on appeal.
Then again, nobody does spectacles quite like A-Rod, quite like the Yankees. And if Ryan Dempster didn't approve of Rodriguez playing on Aug. 18, he might just be given to the vapors on Oct. 18.
The hot seat and the New York Mets (among others)
In a place of some tumult, of a thin roster, of weird and occasionally goofy, of some heartache and one bummer of an elbow ache – that place would be Flushing, N.Y. – Terry Collins has walked the walk of a man in limbo.
A good man in a difficult job, Collins arrives at the end of his contract. He appears headed for a third losing season, which, in some organizations, would come with an automatic pink slip. Mets management seems to understand Collins has done what he could with what he was given, that he's more than the guy who can babysit the lean years. Barring something ugly over the final four weeks, Collins should return in February with a fresh contract.
Other places with decisions: Seattle, Eric Wedge; Anaheim, Mike Scioscia; Kansas City, Ned Yost; Washington, Davey Johnson; Minnesota, Ron Gardenhire; Philadelphia, Ryne Sandberg.
Biogenesis and the Texas Rangers
And the Tigers.
The suspensions for patronizing, fraternizing and/or otherwise comingling with Tony Bosch and associates end with the regular season, which for most meant a seven-week head start on their short game. For Nelson Cruz of the Rangers, however, it meant a trip to the Dominican Republic to keep his baseball skills sharp, to be followed by three weeks in the Arizona Instructional League, where under terms of the suspension he will be allowed to play.
Unlike the San Francisco Giants, who in a similar situation last season could have brought back outfielder Melky Cabrera and did not, the Rangers seem open to activating Cruz for the postseason. That's assuming they qualify, of course, and at the moment they lead the AL West. Alex Rios, acquired in an August trade with the Chicago White Sox, has taken over right field, meaning Cruz would return as the designated-hitter.
Yoenis Cespedes and the Oakland A's
The A's, who generally do things in mysterious ways, flattened out in August. They weren't bad, but they were mediocre, which was enough for the Rangers to run them down.
They still pitch with anybody in the league and they still have their problems on defense. Offensively, they're still better than you'd think. What they miss is Josh Reddick, felled by injuries and a .213 batting average. What they really miss is Cespedes, who would have been baseball's breakout story last season had it not been for Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.
With a month left, he's batting .227, striking out more often than last season, being fooled by sliders away and fastballs up, and killing rallies from the four hole. He's coming off an August that was his worst OPS month of his career (not counting last May, when he played in five games).
Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss and Jed Lowrie have had nice seasons. The A's have had a nice season. Cespedes, in September, could make them better than that.
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