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TRENDING: Bears trade to draft Mitch Trubisky No. 2 makes biggest statement on GM Ryan Pace. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
TRENDING: The Prognosticators pick the Chicago Bears to go 7-9 for the 2017 season. What's Your Take? (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
TRENDING: 2017 NFL draft: Round 1 instant grades. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
TRENDING: Five Things to Watch: Bulls battle Celtics in Game 6. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: Spieth/Palmer share lead in New Orleans. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).
TRENDING: Weekend NASCAR Cup, Xfinity schedule at Richmond. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
TRENDING: Fourteen Things You Might Not Know About the Kentucky Derby. (See the last article on this blog for Kentucky Derby news and updates).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! The Prognosticators pick the Chicago Bears to go 7-9 for the 2017 season. What's Your Take?
CS&T/AllsportsAmerica
(Photo/Jonathan Daniel/Getty)
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: First, it should be noted that these predictions have been made by the so called NFL experts and Vegas odds-makers. They were also made before the 2017 draft and the end of the free agent acquisition period. Now for our take; The Bears see a jump in their win totals from a year ago simply because the team should be far healthier in 2017 than they were in 2016 when 19 players landed on injured reserve. The defense should be more stable with their additions in the secondary. Offensively, Jordan Howard, with a full season as a starter, should be able to carry the team to a couple victories all on his own.
The team is being built with a slow and steady yet formidable plan to make the Bears a long term contender. They are picked to be at the bottom of the NFC North standings. We beg to differ. They have an absolutely rough start of the season with their schedule, first eight games with our (predictions); Falcons (W), @ Buccaneers (L), Steelers (W), @ Packers (L), Vikings (W), @ Ravens (L), Panthers (W), @ Saints (L). 4-4 for the first half of the season, that's what we think. The second half of the season is a lot less intense or so it seems but the overall record will depend on the leap out of the gate at the start of the season.
Many of you are laughing right about now but please consider: 1) They have a young team with talent that needs to be developed and maximized. 2) The culture at Halas Hall is changing. It's being drilled into them that they're a professional team as good as any team out there and why not them? 3)They have a mature, knowledgeable coaching staff that has a goal of putting the team in a position to win and stepping it up to the next level. 4) The front office, (General Manager), is doing his due diligence and research to find exceptional young talent and diamonds in the rough, players with tremendous potential and upside and 5) The ownership is hungry for a championship and supports the front office and coaching staff wholeheartedly. That is the mindset, attitude and position needed to become a champion. The Bears are taking it very seriously. And so are we. For all of you fair-weather Bears fans, we are looking for the Bears to go 8-8 or 9-7. A tremendous improvement over last year's 3-13. Plus they lost several games because they didn't know how to finish, had 19 players out because of injuries and tremendous inexperience in their depth chart. Well we know a lot of last year's young players got the opportunity to gain serious game experience.
The pressing and final question to the puzzle is what about the quarterback position? Mike Glennon is in the driver's seat right now, however, if the Bears draft a franchise quarterback, it can only get better. We advocate the development of the quarterback the same way the Packers developed Aaron Rogers. Let him observe and learn as he did with Bret Favre and then play him when he's ready. In other words, give him the opportunity to win and don't program him to lose. The draft starts tonight so we'll see how that plays out.
Well, we've given you our thoughts and now we'd love to know, what do you think and what's your take? Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your opinion with us. We love to hear from you and anxiously await your responses. NFL Draft coverage here. Let's go Bears!!!!!
The Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff
Bears trade to draft Mitch Trubisky No. 2 makes biggest statement on GM Ryan Pace.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Mitchell Trubisky’s makeup may take a little time to discern at the NFL level. Ryan Pace? No, his nature has now been pretty emphatically revealed as perhaps one of the most aggressive general managers currently doing business in the NFL. How good Pace is, well, that’s a whole other discussion that doesn’t really move to the fore until next September. But right now Pace is safe from any accusations of timidity at the top of his drafts.
“If we want to be great, you just can’t sit on your hands,” Pace stated after round one was over. “There are times when you’ve got to be aggressive and when you have conviction on a guy, you can’t sit on your hands. I just don’t want to be average around here; I want to be great and these are the moves you have to make.”
Not quite two weeks ago, the strongest current flowing around the Bears was that they were intent on securing a quarterback in the 2017 draft, even if it meant trading up to ensure it happening rather than risk another team jumping over them for their sought-after quarterback. That came to pass on Thursday night when the Bears, who’d decided Mitchell Trubisky was their quarterback of choice, heard from the San Francisco 49ers that a team was angling to jump the Bears and grab Trubisky at the 49ers’ spot at No. 2.
Pace had established last draft that he was ultimately about going what he perceives to be elite quality rather than simple quantity when he gave up the 11th-overall pick and a fourth-round pick to vault over the New York Giants and select rush-linebacker Leonard Floyd. Pace now has demonstrated his quality-over-quantity predisposition to an exponentially greater degree when he gave up, in addition to that No. 3 pick, third- and fourth-round picks this year and a third next year to go up just one spot rather than lose Trubisky.
And Pace has pounded a steady beat about addressing the quarterback position. Which he has, with three new QB’s on the roster going into the run-up to training camp.
“The most important position in all of sports is quarterback, and I don’t think you’re ever a great team until you address the position and you address it right,” Pace said. “I think everybody should respect that. We’re addressing the quarterback position, we’re being aggressive with that position because it’s the most important position in sports.”
Did Pace overpay for Trubisky? Maybe; let’s see what the kid becomes. By comparison, in the 2012 draft the Browns switched places with the Minnesota Vikings, moving up from No. 4 to No. 3 also at a cost of four picks: that No. 3 plus fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks in that draft. Not nearly in the price tag for the Bears to make the Trubisky grab.
But the Cleveland trade was for a running back (Trent Richardson); this was for a franchise quarterback. And a one-slot move from No. 3 to No. 2 is a little pricier than from No. 4 to No. 3 to begin with. And there was the sense that Pace honestly didn’t care what the price was in this case.
“Once you have conviction on a guy, you have to do it,” Pace said. “You have to be aggressive and do it. The comparison for me is always in free agency. You don’t really know. You set a price on a player, whether it’s a financial price or draft picks. And if you have conviction on a player, you go get him. Because the alternative is, you don’t know. Hey, maybe you call the bluff and you miss out on the player. And in this case, I wasn’t willing to take that risk.”
Regardless of the price or even the outcome of the deals, the significance of what all this says about Pace cannot be overstated. Because he clearly is very comfortable indeed with extreme risk.
“Ceiling” vs. “floor” guys
For one thing, where former GM Jerry Angelo operated from a “floor” philosophy, looking for a player with an apparent solid at-the-very-least-he’ll-be-OK evaluation, Pace has now gone for “ceiling” players in all three of his No. 1’s – a sort-of, “Hey, this guy could really be GREAT!” Kevin White was far from polished; Floyd had been a jack-of-all-trades at Georgia, which diluted and obscured some of his pure rush results; and now Trubisky, with one year as a starter and all of 13 starts. It was apparent when the Bears signed Mike Glennon over re-signing Brian Hoyer than Pace covets upside. And now this? All about upside.
The quality-over-quantity philosophy sounds like it should be obvious, but it isn’t. Draft chiefs covet quantities of picks for purposes of giving themselves more chances of being right.
Pace likes picks as much as the next GM. But he also is not inclined toward “safe” picks and even just being “safe” in general. His massive investment of draft capital Thursday night points to a willingness to go all-in on the conclusions of his scouts, coaches and himself (he went to a Trubisky game himself at North Carolina last Tar Heels season). Trubisky had one workout with the Bears besides his Combine interview, so “I didn’t see that coming at all,” he conceded, establishing himself as right there with every draftnick who hazard’ed doing a mock.
Job security? Probably
The move also is consistent with the patience that Chairman George McCaskey voiced during the recent owners meetings. Not that another dismal season doesn’t take coaches and GM’s to the brink of the abyss, but Trubisky as a quarterback is not viewed as a this-season impact player; and the departed third- and fourth-round picks may contribute this year but they’ll do it for the 49ers, not the Bears.
Meaning: Pace and his staff, including the coaches, appear to have been willing to give up three potential starters as early as this season in order to land someone who starts his Bears career sitting behind Glennon, to whom the Bears just gave $18.5 million guaranteed over the next two years.
“John [Fox] and I are arm-and-arm in all these decisions,” Pace said. “So we talked about this thoroughly and we're connected on this. John is just as excited as I am. So when you have an opportunity to get a quarterback of this caliber, you can't pass on it. So we're good.”
The Bears weren’t the only ones feeling a quarterback urgency surge. Three quarterbacks – Trubisky, Pat Mahomes to Kansas City at 10, Deshaun Watson to Houston at 12 – were taken in span of the first 12 picks, this from what was widely rated a mediocre quarterback class. And any sense Pace had that something big was rumbling behind him in the draft order appears amply validated, and this did not include the Cleveland Browns, also believed to be the team trying to get Trubisky ahead of the Bears. Teams traded up to get all three of those quarterbacks, and Pace felt he knew the landscape just judging from his own incoming calls at No. 3.
“I knew there were teams inquiring about going up,” Pace said. “There were teams calling me, at our pick, wanting to come up. So you could feel that all around us.’
“Those were teams interested in a quarterback?
“For sure,” Pace said, nodding. “Yeah. 100 percent on that.”
Bears will not have quarterback competition: ‘Glennon is our starter’.
By JJ Stankevitz
“If we want to be great, you just can’t sit on your hands,” Pace stated after round one was over. “There are times when you’ve got to be aggressive and when you have conviction on a guy, you can’t sit on your hands. I just don’t want to be average around here; I want to be great and these are the moves you have to make.”
Not quite two weeks ago, the strongest current flowing around the Bears was that they were intent on securing a quarterback in the 2017 draft, even if it meant trading up to ensure it happening rather than risk another team jumping over them for their sought-after quarterback. That came to pass on Thursday night when the Bears, who’d decided Mitchell Trubisky was their quarterback of choice, heard from the San Francisco 49ers that a team was angling to jump the Bears and grab Trubisky at the 49ers’ spot at No. 2.
Pace had established last draft that he was ultimately about going what he perceives to be elite quality rather than simple quantity when he gave up the 11th-overall pick and a fourth-round pick to vault over the New York Giants and select rush-linebacker Leonard Floyd. Pace now has demonstrated his quality-over-quantity predisposition to an exponentially greater degree when he gave up, in addition to that No. 3 pick, third- and fourth-round picks this year and a third next year to go up just one spot rather than lose Trubisky.
And Pace has pounded a steady beat about addressing the quarterback position. Which he has, with three new QB’s on the roster going into the run-up to training camp.
“The most important position in all of sports is quarterback, and I don’t think you’re ever a great team until you address the position and you address it right,” Pace said. “I think everybody should respect that. We’re addressing the quarterback position, we’re being aggressive with that position because it’s the most important position in sports.”
Did Pace overpay for Trubisky? Maybe; let’s see what the kid becomes. By comparison, in the 2012 draft the Browns switched places with the Minnesota Vikings, moving up from No. 4 to No. 3 also at a cost of four picks: that No. 3 plus fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks in that draft. Not nearly in the price tag for the Bears to make the Trubisky grab.
But the Cleveland trade was for a running back (Trent Richardson); this was for a franchise quarterback. And a one-slot move from No. 3 to No. 2 is a little pricier than from No. 4 to No. 3 to begin with. And there was the sense that Pace honestly didn’t care what the price was in this case.
“Once you have conviction on a guy, you have to do it,” Pace said. “You have to be aggressive and do it. The comparison for me is always in free agency. You don’t really know. You set a price on a player, whether it’s a financial price or draft picks. And if you have conviction on a player, you go get him. Because the alternative is, you don’t know. Hey, maybe you call the bluff and you miss out on the player. And in this case, I wasn’t willing to take that risk.”
Regardless of the price or even the outcome of the deals, the significance of what all this says about Pace cannot be overstated. Because he clearly is very comfortable indeed with extreme risk.
“Ceiling” vs. “floor” guys
For one thing, where former GM Jerry Angelo operated from a “floor” philosophy, looking for a player with an apparent solid at-the-very-least-he’ll-be-OK evaluation, Pace has now gone for “ceiling” players in all three of his No. 1’s – a sort-of, “Hey, this guy could really be GREAT!” Kevin White was far from polished; Floyd had been a jack-of-all-trades at Georgia, which diluted and obscured some of his pure rush results; and now Trubisky, with one year as a starter and all of 13 starts. It was apparent when the Bears signed Mike Glennon over re-signing Brian Hoyer than Pace covets upside. And now this? All about upside.
The quality-over-quantity philosophy sounds like it should be obvious, but it isn’t. Draft chiefs covet quantities of picks for purposes of giving themselves more chances of being right.
Pace likes picks as much as the next GM. But he also is not inclined toward “safe” picks and even just being “safe” in general. His massive investment of draft capital Thursday night points to a willingness to go all-in on the conclusions of his scouts, coaches and himself (he went to a Trubisky game himself at North Carolina last Tar Heels season). Trubisky had one workout with the Bears besides his Combine interview, so “I didn’t see that coming at all,” he conceded, establishing himself as right there with every draftnick who hazard’ed doing a mock.
Job security? Probably
The move also is consistent with the patience that Chairman George McCaskey voiced during the recent owners meetings. Not that another dismal season doesn’t take coaches and GM’s to the brink of the abyss, but Trubisky as a quarterback is not viewed as a this-season impact player; and the departed third- and fourth-round picks may contribute this year but they’ll do it for the 49ers, not the Bears.
Meaning: Pace and his staff, including the coaches, appear to have been willing to give up three potential starters as early as this season in order to land someone who starts his Bears career sitting behind Glennon, to whom the Bears just gave $18.5 million guaranteed over the next two years.
“John [Fox] and I are arm-and-arm in all these decisions,” Pace said. “So we talked about this thoroughly and we're connected on this. John is just as excited as I am. So when you have an opportunity to get a quarterback of this caliber, you can't pass on it. So we're good.”
The Bears weren’t the only ones feeling a quarterback urgency surge. Three quarterbacks – Trubisky, Pat Mahomes to Kansas City at 10, Deshaun Watson to Houston at 12 – were taken in span of the first 12 picks, this from what was widely rated a mediocre quarterback class. And any sense Pace had that something big was rumbling behind him in the draft order appears amply validated, and this did not include the Cleveland Browns, also believed to be the team trying to get Trubisky ahead of the Bears. Teams traded up to get all three of those quarterbacks, and Pace felt he knew the landscape just judging from his own incoming calls at No. 3.
“I knew there were teams inquiring about going up,” Pace said. “There were teams calling me, at our pick, wanting to come up. So you could feel that all around us.’
“Those were teams interested in a quarterback?
“For sure,” Pace said, nodding. “Yeah. 100 percent on that.”
Bears will not have quarterback competition: ‘Glennon is our starter’.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Bears’ aggressive decision to trade up and draft Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 2 pick won’t create a quarterback competition this summer and fall, general manager Ryan Pace said.
Pace made it clear that Mike Glennon, who the Bears signed in March, will be the team’s starting quarterback when they open the 2017 season Sept. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons.
“There’s no quarterback competition when Mitch gets here,” Pace said. “Glennon is our starting quarterback. We’ll focus on Mitch’s development and Mike Glennon winning games for the Chicago Bears.”
Both Glennon and Trubisky, though, are no strangers to quarterback competitions — and coming out on the wrong side of them. Glennon, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lost his starting job midway through the 2013 season to Josh McCown, then permanently was relegated to backup duty when Jamies Winston was picked first overall in 2014.
Trubisky, too, was unable to beat out Marquise Williams for North Carolina’s starting quarterback job in 2014 and 2015, only taking over after the graduation of Williams, an undrafted free agent who didn’t stick on an NFL roster. Pace pointed to Williams having “chemistry” within the Tarheels’ offense, though, which powered North Carolina to an 11-win season in 2015.
Pace said the Bears don’t have a timetable for when they expect Trubisky to take over as the team’s starter. But given Glennon’s contract is structured so the Bears could cut him for $2.5 million next year — bringing his guaranteed money to $18.5 million — there could be an opening for Trubisky as soon as 2018.
It’s worth noting, too, that it’s rare for quarterbacks in the same range as Trubisky to not play in their rookie years. The last quarterback drafted in the top 10 to not start a game their first year in the league was Tennessee’s Jake Locker (eighth overall) in 2011. And the last time a quarterback effectively was benched his entire rookie year was 2004, when fourth overall pick Philip Rivers appeared in two games and attempted eight passes for the San Diego Chargers.
But the Bears won’t plan on Trubisky taking playing time away from Glennon this fall, and feel they have an ideal situation set up to develop their highest draft pick since the AFL-NFL merger.
“I talked to Mike tonight, he understands the competitiveness of our business at every single position,” Pace said. “Mike also understands he’s our starting quarterback. Mike’s been here working hard all the time, already developing leadership with his teammates. I’m extremely excited about Mike Glennon this season and I’m extremely excited about adding Mitch to our roster.”
2017 NFL draft: Round 1 instant grades.
By Eric Edholm
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Five Things to Watch: Bulls battle Celtics in Game 6.
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Pace made it clear that Mike Glennon, who the Bears signed in March, will be the team’s starting quarterback when they open the 2017 season Sept. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons.
“There’s no quarterback competition when Mitch gets here,” Pace said. “Glennon is our starting quarterback. We’ll focus on Mitch’s development and Mike Glennon winning games for the Chicago Bears.”
Both Glennon and Trubisky, though, are no strangers to quarterback competitions — and coming out on the wrong side of them. Glennon, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lost his starting job midway through the 2013 season to Josh McCown, then permanently was relegated to backup duty when Jamies Winston was picked first overall in 2014.
Trubisky, too, was unable to beat out Marquise Williams for North Carolina’s starting quarterback job in 2014 and 2015, only taking over after the graduation of Williams, an undrafted free agent who didn’t stick on an NFL roster. Pace pointed to Williams having “chemistry” within the Tarheels’ offense, though, which powered North Carolina to an 11-win season in 2015.
Pace said the Bears don’t have a timetable for when they expect Trubisky to take over as the team’s starter. But given Glennon’s contract is structured so the Bears could cut him for $2.5 million next year — bringing his guaranteed money to $18.5 million — there could be an opening for Trubisky as soon as 2018.
It’s worth noting, too, that it’s rare for quarterbacks in the same range as Trubisky to not play in their rookie years. The last quarterback drafted in the top 10 to not start a game their first year in the league was Tennessee’s Jake Locker (eighth overall) in 2011. And the last time a quarterback effectively was benched his entire rookie year was 2004, when fourth overall pick Philip Rivers appeared in two games and attempted eight passes for the San Diego Chargers.
But the Bears won’t plan on Trubisky taking playing time away from Glennon this fall, and feel they have an ideal situation set up to develop their highest draft pick since the AFL-NFL merger.
“I talked to Mike tonight, he understands the competitiveness of our business at every single position,” Pace said. “Mike also understands he’s our starting quarterback. Mike’s been here working hard all the time, already developing leadership with his teammates. I’m extremely excited about Mike Glennon this season and I’m extremely excited about adding Mitch to our roster.”
2017 NFL draft: Round 1 instant grades.
By Eric Edholm
Here’s a look at how Round 1 went, which featured a few bold moves to snag quarterbacks. Yep, we’re looking at you Chicago.
1) Cleveland Browns: DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M – The Browns made us sweat a bit, but they went as we thought all along in their selection of the best defensive game-changer in the draft. Players like Garrett don’t come along too often. He’s large and almost impossibly athletic, and he gives the Browns and their new defensive coordinator that crucial pressure piece it has lacked. The rebuild of the defense continues, but it took a big step forward here. Grade: A.
2) Chicago Bears: QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina – Teams don’t trade up — and give up two third-round picks (one in 2018) and a fourth-rounder — for a safety. The price the Bears paid for Trubisky is enormous, but if they think he’s a savior in time, it will be worth it. Mike Glennon likely starts this year, and Trubisky (he of 13 college starts) can be brought along at the right pace. But that’s now two QBs in which the Bears are heavily invested that have not played a lot of live football the past few seasons. Grade: C-
3) San Francisco 49ers: DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford – General manager John Lynch is on the job, what, two months now? He nailed his first assignment, fleecing the Bears to swap picks and the 49ers still get the player they likely would have taken had they not been able to trade down. Thomas needs to find a true position, and many believe they’ll use him in the Michael Bennett role as the 49ers transition to a new Seahawks-style defensive scheme under Robert Saleh. Right now, Thomas is a great run defender and could be a great pass rusher one day. Nice, safe pick and a great trade. Grade: A
4) Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Leonard Fournette, LSU – Blake Bortles is officially on watch. The Jaguars considered a QB here but instead drafted the best power runner we’ve seen in some time. Fournette might not have an Ezekiel Elliott-like impact on the Jaguars, but he should help out Bortles, who now is running out of excuses and will need to impress the brass quickly. The AFC South quickly is becoming a power-running haven with Fournette and the Titans’ duo. Fournette should be a terrific back who can carry the ball 20 times a game and wear down defenses. Grade: A-
5) Tennessee Titans: WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan – Our second stunner. It was believed that Davis’ ankle injury was not serious but that his inability to run a 40-yard dash prior to the draft was going to be a concern that might push Davis down. Didn’t happen. The Titans love his competitiveness, his large catching radius, excellent production and red-zone work to be a huge asset for Marcus Mariota, plus Davis likes to block, which is a boon for the power-run game they run. Fascinating choice, but a bit early. Grade: B-
6) New York Jets: SS Jamal Adams, LSU – The Jets had a darned good player fall into their laps, faintly similar to how they took Leonard Williams in the same slot a few years back. That worked out well. Both players were regarded as extremely hard workers and tone setters. Adams will help change the culture that has infected the Jets’ locker room the past few years, and he’s a very good box safety to boot. The fans there will love his hitting and his passion. The Jets will rebuild the D around Williams and Adams, but that’s saying something considering this is now the ninth (!) year in a row their first-round pick has been on that side of the ball. Grade: A-
7) Los Angeles Chargers: WR Mike Williams, Clemson – The run on receivers starts earlier than expected. Williams should give Philip Rivers another big target as Keenan Allen is coming off injury and Antonio Gates heading toward the twilight of his career. Williams made Deshaun Watson look good by high-pointing a lot of passes last season but suffered a serious neck injury that wiped out his 2015 season. Although Williams is not a speed guy, good luck to the AFC West DBs who have to contend with this group that also features emerging tight end Hunter Henry. Grade: B-
8) Carolina Panthers: RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford – Ron Rivera has spoken frequently this offseason about the need to transform the Panthers’ offense, and we now know how it will change. The Panthers add a do-it-all weapon with an edge in McCaffrey, who can line up in the slot, be a terrific zone runner (and let Jonathan Stewart take the between-the-tackles carries) and impact the return game from Day 1. There is no player on the Panthers who has McCaffrey’s skills; they were too overloaded in big targets and, save for Greg Olsen, most with suspect hands. Olsen, McCaffrey and Cam Newton? Imagine the possibilities. Grade: A-
9) Cincinnati Bengals: WR John Ross, Washington – Ross gets his wish to go to Cincinnati, saying he would love to join the Bengals after bonding with head coach Marvin Lewis during the pre-draft process. The Bengals now have a potentially lethal top four pass catchers with A.J. Green, Ross, Tyler Eifert and Tyler Boyd in the slot. This is a unit Ken Zampese can work with for sure. Ross’ medical reports freaked out some teams. Had he been cleared medically, this would not be a reach. Ross is a fantastic receiver in college. But two knee injuries and a shoulder concern, and the Bengals are rolling the dice — the same risk they took with Eifert, who has been in and out of the lineup but great when health. Grade: B
10) Kansas City Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech – The Chiefs last picked a quarterback in Round 1 in 1983 — more than 12 years before Mahomes was born. This is a very un-Chiefs-like move in another respect: when was the last time they traded this far — and this boldly — up? Giving up a first-round pick in 2018, along with a third-rounder this year, to move up means the Chiefs believe Mahomes is a franchise savior. He could be special under the tutelage of Andy Reid, who hasn’t had a raw passer this gifted in a long time. So Alex Smith is the bridge QB, and Mahomes can take over when he’s ready. A breathless start to the draft, and yet another thrilling move here. Grade: B-
11) New Orleans Saints: CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State – The Saints explored a Malcolm Butler trade prior to the draft but ended up winning out here in this scenario, as Lattimore fell to them after roundly being projected as the best corner in the draft and a top-10 player. He has a history of soft-tissue injuries — hamstrings to be specific — that will require close management. But when healthy, he’s an excellent cover man with terrific movement skills to contend with the Mike Evanses and Julio Joneses on New Orleans’ schedule. Grade: A-
12) Houston Texans: QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson – When the Texans saw the Chiefs’ bold trade up to land Patrick Mahomes, time was a wastin’. The Texans boldly jumped up 13 spots, giving up next year’s first-round pick, for Watson, who could be a perfect fit for head coach Bill O’Brien and his demand for a tough, thick-skinned, experienced and cerebral quarterback. Tom Savage is still likely to win the starting job from the get-go, but Watson has played in a boatload of big games against some terrific college defenses and will be nipping at Savage’s heels. This is a strong and much-needed move for the Texans. Grade: B+
13) Arizona Cardinals: LB Haason Reddick, Temple – Reddick is versatile, and he gives the Cardinals another pass rusher in a division where he could rack up sacks with suspect offensive lines and some sack-prone QBs. The Cardinals might use him at inside linebacker to start off, and he can blitz from there too — the role Daryl Washington starred in before his suspension. Washington is back, so could the Cardinals find room for both on the field? Perhaps. But with Reddick, Chandler Jones and Markus Golden, the Cardinals are collecting defensive players who can stalk and close. Grade: B+
14) Philadelphia Eagles: DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee – The Joe Douglas effect has already hit the Eagles’ draft. The team’s first-year college scouting director cut his teeth with the Ravens and learned from them: historically, sack production translates from college (especially in the SEC) to the NFL. Barnett might not be an elite athlete, but he has a terrific motor and wills his way to quarterbacks. Opposite Brandon Graham, there should be no drop-off with Barnett essentially replacing Connor Barwin. Grade: B+
15) Indianapolis Colts: FS Malik Hooker, Ohio State – Another first-year general manager had a dream scenario unfold. Chris Ballard came from the Chiefs to rebuild this Colts roster, and he got a whopper of a first pick with his name attached. Hooker is a top-5 talent, and the only concerns were his hernia surgery and one year of starting in the country’s most talented secondary the past few seasons. In five years, Hooker could be the best center fielder in the game. He’s that special. Grade: A
16) Baltimore Ravens: CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama – Everyone said the Ravens would take a pass rusher, an offensive lineman or a receiver. Despite all the offensive linemen still on the board, Baltimore instead went for a corner — one from a school GM Ozzie Newsome knows well. Typically Newsome builds teams from the inside out, but this is a tough corner with terrific physical skills. The knock on Humphrey is that he got beat too much deep. With Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson back there, is that a concern now? Grade: B
17) Washington Redskins: DT Jonathan Allen, Alabama – Allen is the best true interior talent in the draft, and he fell for long-term concerns over his potentially arthritic shoulders. But even on a loaded Bama D, he stood out as a disruptor who has a little Geno Atkins in him. In a 3-4 scheme he’ll be asked to hold the point more, but you can’t hold Allen back. He’s smart, strong, instinctive and will be an asset to a defense that could use a little more juice up front. Grade: A
18) Tennessee Titans: CB Adoree’ Jackson, USC – The Titans reached for Corey Davis at No. 5 and they reached for Jackson here. They drafted two good players but Jackson is not close to a finished product, and he’s going to make a quicker impact as a returner and a player the Titans could sprinkle in on offense. His coverage skills have improved, but they need more work. He could be a playmaker who also gives up big plays on defense. Grade: C
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TE O.J. Howard, Alabama – The Buccaneers were not planning to take a tight end here, but when Howard fell it became a natural fit. They used a ton of two-TE sets with Cameron Brate and Luke Stocker but Howard is an upgrade over the latter and can be a seam threat for Jameis Winston and also a strong blocker to help the run game. Howard tends to disappear, and now we find out if this was a Lane Kiffin thing. Dirk Koetter and Todd Monken love utilizing the position to its full extent. Grade: A-
20) Denver Broncos: OT Garett Bolles, Utah – The Broncos needed a left tackle, and Bolles played the position at a high level last year — his one year at FBS. He flashed his superb athleticism and mean streak, although Bolles needs work. He turns 25 in a month, too, so he’ll be close to 30 when his first NFL contract ends if it lasts the entire five years. Bolles is intriguing but taking him over the more seasoned Cam Robinson might not turn out to be the best move in the long run. Grade: C+
21) Detroit Lions: ILB Jarrad Davis, Florida – The Lions needed a pass rusher in the worst way but passed on Charles Harris, who was not viewed as a true fit in their scheme. Instead, they find another need: a three-down linebacker who can cover. Davis is an excellent football player when healthy, but he has had a lot of trouble staying on the field in recent years. Davis is a big upgrade and could play outside or inside. Grade: B
22) Miami Dolphins: DE Charles Harris, Missouri – With Cam Wake entering the final stages of his career and Mario Williams shipped off after a bust season, the Dolphins could use the reinforcements. With Wake, Andre Branch, William Hayes and Harris outside — not to mention Ndamukong Suh inside — the Dolphins have a very deep front and can try to get after the Tom Bradys of the world. Linebacker is still an issue, but this was a smart pick. Grade: B
23) New York Giants: TE Evan Engram, Mississippi – Engram over David Njoku is interesting, but there’s not a huge difference athletically between the two. The difference is that Engram really plays a receiver’s game, and he adds an interesting dimension to an offense that has Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall in the lead roles, plus Sterling Shepard in the slot. Now this offense looks more like the one Giants head coach Ben McAdoo left in Green Bay in terms of weaponry. The TE position was mostly a wasteland for the Giants last season, but don’t expect him to be blocking defensive ends. He’s a detached pass catcher who can gain yards after the catch well. Grade: B-
24) Oakland Raiders: CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State – Raiders owner Mark Davis has taken a firm stance against domestic violence, and yet Conley recently was accused of a sexual assault, although no charges have been filed. Do the Raiders feel comfortable with this blowing over? Clearly. Conley is a first-round talent, and lots of teams have looked hard into this case. Most felt good about Conley after they did. This is still a potentially frightening risk if charges are brought in the case. Grade: B-
25) Cleveland Browns: SS Jabrill Peppers, Michigan – The Browns moved down from No. 12 to here and now have — are you ready for this? — two first-rounders, three second-rounders, two fourth-rounders and two sixth-rounders in 2018, plus all their remaining picks this year. And now they have Garrett and Peppers, elite prep prospects who were decorated defenders last season. Is Peppers a safety? We’ll find out; he was a slot corner and a linebacker in college and likely can’t play the latter in the NFL. But he’s a Day 1 star as a returner and a fascinating risk. Gotta do something with all these draft choices, right? Still no QB, though. Sad! Grade: B-
26) Atlanta Falcons: OLB Takkarist McKinley, UCLA – The Falcons targeted one of the few remaining pass rushers with high grades on their boards, trading up five slots to ensure they got McKinley. Health is a concern, as he’s coming off surgery to repair his labrum and a cracked glenoid. That could be a 4 to 6 month rehab, but the Falcons can afford for him to wait. He’s a high-energy rusher who can play on either side of the line and is a nice fit in Dan Quinn’s system in time. Grade: C+
27) Buffalo Bills: CB Tre’Davious White, LSU – The Bills needed cornerback help with Stephon Gilmore moving on, but White is a different style of player and likely will help out inside a lot, with the ability to play in the slot. He’s a very reliable corner coming off an excellent season and also should contribute as a punt returner. The White pick is a surprise with Kevin King on the board, but White has good arm length to make up for his lack of height. The is the pick the Bills acquired when they traded down from No. 10, so landing a 2018 first-round also gives them a thumbs up. Grade: B
28) Dallas Cowboys: DE Taco Charlton, Michigan – He was a disappointment prior to last season, but he broke out with a final 2016 campaign that saw his stock soar. He still has his share of detractors; not everyone is convinced he’ll be special in the NFL. But adding Charlton gives Dallas a long, highly athletic, stout rusher who can help stop the run and continue to develop his pass-rush arsenal, which remains unrefined. Going to a team that badly needs a rusher is a good landing spot. The pass rusher are starting to go quickly. Grade: B-
29) Cleveland Browns: TE David Njoku, Miami – The Browns moved up four spots for a third first-round pick — is this truly “Draft Day” playing out in real life? This was a savvy move for the player many believed was the second-best tight end in this class behind O.J. Howard but who went after Evan Engram. Njoku is starting to scratch the surface and has insane athletic gifts. Is he the next great Miami Hurricanes tight end in the NFL? He certainly has the skills to do that in time … once the Browns add a QB, anyway. The cost of a fourth-rounder to move up was a pittance. Grade: B+
30) Pittsburgh Steelers: LB T.J. Watt, Wisconsin – The Watt family can make their Christmas plans now: Its T.J. at J.J. How perfect is that? The Steelers were lucky to find one of the few remaining pass rushers worthy of a Round 1 selection. He’s still an ascending player. This might take a bit, but Watt could be very good in a few years and from Day 1 he’ll impact the special teams units. Grade: B-
31) San Francisco 49ers: LB Reuben Foster, Alabama – The 49ers dealt the 111th pick to move up three slots and took the free-falling Foster, who was a talented player that had issues — off-field concerns and health worries being the biggest ones. If he’s properly insulated and well managed there, the 49ers got one of the best players in the draft at the end of Round 1 for a cheap trade up. If he gets off track or can’t stay healthy, Foster carries a bust concern. But with the extra picks the 49ers nabbed from the Bears earlier, this makes it worth the risk. What a wild first day for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Grade: A-
32) New Orleans Saints: OT Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin – This was unexpected. But like the Andrus Peat pick a few years ago, the Saints felt there was value to be had here — and there was a run on pass rushers prior to this pick. Ramczyk is a very skilled run and pass blocker. The biggest worry is his health, coming off postseason hip surgery, so he might be a PUP list candidate. The Saints are not dying for OL help right now, but Zach Strief does turn 34 next season and Terron Armstead has been a bit banged up. Peat appears to be moving to guard now. In the twilight of Drew Brees’ career, the offensive line should be in good shape. Grade: B+
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Five Things to Watch: Bulls battle Celtics in Game 6.
By #BullsTalk
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
1. The point guard carousel. It's been something to watch all year, and with the Bulls desperately searching for answers it will continue to be one heading into Game 6. Isaiah Canaan actually played well against Isaiah Thomas, and Dwyane Wade looked comfortable initiating the offense. That'll need to continue simply for the Bulls to have a chance, with Rajon Rondo ruled out for the game.
2. What's Jimmy Butler's health status? Jimmy Butler attempted just two free throws in the fourth quarter of Game 5. He only went to the free throw line one time, in the second quarter. This goes without saying, but the Bulls' only chance to win Games 6 and 7 is for Butler to be playing like his old self. With his back against the wall, maybe we'll see that "Jimmy Game" where he wins it by himself.
3. Is Isaiah Thomas heating up? The smallest player on the court is starting to heat up in the series. While his shooting hasn't been great, he was super in Game 3, took over in Game 4 and made plenty of plays in Game 5 that led to a win. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see him continue this, as his eyes seem to light up every trip down the floor with Rondo on the sideline.
4. Who's the next surprise contributor? Bobby Portis, Paul Zipser, Isaiah Canaan and now Anthony Morrow have all made surprising contributions in the series. At this point that's what it's going to take to compete against a deep Celtics team that's healthy and rolling with some momentum. Could it be Cris Felicio playing big? Perhaps Portis gets hot again from deep? Either way, it's got to be someone helping Butler and Wade.
5. The Bulls' backs are against the wall. It's simple. Win or go home. How will the Bulls respond in this type of situation, with Boston holding all the momentum and looking to end this before it goes back to Boston for a do-or-die Game 7. The Bulls don't have a lot of pressure on them from a national standpoint, but you can bet their expectations for themselves are large. How they respond early will say a lot about the job Fred Hoiberg did getting them ready.
Bulls lose composure in Game 5 loss to Celtics, falling one game from elimination. (Wednesday night's game, 04/26/2017).
By Vincent Goodwill
(Photo/USA TODAY)
After a long miss, a battle of strength ensued underneath the Bulls basket as Jimmy Butler, Robin Lopez and Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas dug deeper to snarl the loose ball and was fouled by Bobby Portis.
The smallest player on the floor flexed with swagger, unleashing a devilish smile before giving the Chicago Bulls hell on the other end.
Thomas broke loose during a critical stretch to help the Celtics shake the Bulls in Game 5 of their first-round series with a 108-97 win at TD Garden, with the Celtics now leading three games to two and with a chance to clinch the wild series Friday night at the United Center.
Thomas' 24 points was certainly a tangible, but the Bulls will lament losing their cool midway through the fourth quarter after every button they pushed up until that point seemed to work, keeping them in contention.
Needing a leader to settle things, the Bulls were missing Rajon Rondo, who could only aid from the sidelines as a de-facto coach. The Bulls needed calm, they needed leadership.
Instead they came up empty at the worst time, being outscored 29-16 in the fourth quarter and turned it over six times, 16 overall. The turnovers prevented them from taking a decent-sized lead in the first half and doomed them in the end.
"We got off to a really good start then obviously they took over the last ten minutes," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "I love the way our guys competed."
It was part of a Bulls unraveling when they needed to keep their composure, after they kept their composure for the better part of 40 minutes in a hostile environment.
Dwyane Wade picked up a technical, followed by Robin Lopez' complaining about being caught in a leg hold from Jae Crowder earned him one as well. Lopez' sarcastic clapping at official Ed Malloy did him in.
"I was trying to be supportive of my teammates; I was trying to be supportive of Mr. Malloy," Lopez said. "I think he misconstrued it; I think he took it the wrong way."
Wade warned his teammates there would be a game where very little would go their way by way of the officials, and his team would have to play through it. Wade said he commented to official Danny Crawford that Thomas was getting a lot of calls and that's why he was tagged with a tech.
"Well I've definitely been a 1 seed before, playing against an 8 seed and I understand what it means, especially on the road," Wade said. "It's a lot of these guys' first time in it, that we're not going to get a call on the road, to our liking. Not saying we don't get any calls, but to our liking, the home team is gonna get a little more cooking than you, and the emotions run high in the game."
Considering the Bulls rarely lost their cool, even in instances this season where more fire would've been good to see, Wade was encouraged by the passion and investment.
Even if it cost them.
"I'll take that. I'd rather see that than see nothing," Wade said. "It shows that people care. I'm fine with everything that happened."
At the end of it, the Bulls were behind 104-89 with four minutes left and Al Horford again continued his low-key but effective play with a dunk by twisting Nikola Mirotic with a fake that opened up the baseline and sent the Garden crowd into a frenzy, part of a 21-point nine-rebound, seven assist performance.
Reserve Kelly Olynyk scored a playoff-high 14 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes as the Celtics routinely used one big with four wing players all night, giving the Bulls fits again.
But that four-minute stretch was costly and now the Bulls find themselves one game away from playoff extinction.
Thomas' circus layup and foul put the Celtics back on top and he looked ultra aggressive from the start of the fourth, as Jimmy Butler got a rare rest in the opening minutes but it didn't translate, as he went scoreless on just two shots.
He took what the double teams gave him and will probably lament putting up just 15 shots, especially after he finished the third with a flurry, including a buzzer-beating 30 footer in front of the Celtics' bench.
Wade scored 26 with 11 rebounds and eight assists in 34 minutes, and the Bulls even shot 50 percent from the field, but put up just 74 shots. Lopez scored 14 and Butler 14, but Butler missed both of his attempts in the fourth and didn't get aggressive.
Lopez again made the parquet floor his own, going through a stretch in the third where he was hitting 20-footers and even manipulated the defense when it was scrambling to find Butler for a triple near the top of the key that was the most open look since Rondo injured his thumb.
Hoiberg went to his bag of tricks by pulling out Anthony Morrow for significant minutes in the first half, and unlike the last two games neither team could get away from the other.
Morrow scored eight in 16 minutes and Canaan scored 13 in 36 minutes, holding Thomas to just one of 10 shooting before Thomas managed to break loose later.
The Bulls repeatedly answered the Celtics' surges with calm execution and shot-making, hitting 53 percent in the first half. Keeping Thomas in check was the objective and although he made some pretty passes in traffic his teammates couldn't convert on wide-open shots, shooting 24 percent on 25 3-point attempts.
Thomas didn't get his first basket until the last minute of the first half, a triple off an offensive rebound. It was Avery Bradley who helped carry the Celtics when Thomas needed assistance, scoring 17.
In the end the Bulls needed assistance from somewhere, and it was nowhere to be found, as they head back to Chicago with their bodies wounded and spirits fractured.
The smallest player on the floor flexed with swagger, unleashing a devilish smile before giving the Chicago Bulls hell on the other end.
Thomas broke loose during a critical stretch to help the Celtics shake the Bulls in Game 5 of their first-round series with a 108-97 win at TD Garden, with the Celtics now leading three games to two and with a chance to clinch the wild series Friday night at the United Center.
Thomas' 24 points was certainly a tangible, but the Bulls will lament losing their cool midway through the fourth quarter after every button they pushed up until that point seemed to work, keeping them in contention.
Needing a leader to settle things, the Bulls were missing Rajon Rondo, who could only aid from the sidelines as a de-facto coach. The Bulls needed calm, they needed leadership.
Instead they came up empty at the worst time, being outscored 29-16 in the fourth quarter and turned it over six times, 16 overall. The turnovers prevented them from taking a decent-sized lead in the first half and doomed them in the end.
"We got off to a really good start then obviously they took over the last ten minutes," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "I love the way our guys competed."
It was part of a Bulls unraveling when they needed to keep their composure, after they kept their composure for the better part of 40 minutes in a hostile environment.
Dwyane Wade picked up a technical, followed by Robin Lopez' complaining about being caught in a leg hold from Jae Crowder earned him one as well. Lopez' sarcastic clapping at official Ed Malloy did him in.
"I was trying to be supportive of my teammates; I was trying to be supportive of Mr. Malloy," Lopez said. "I think he misconstrued it; I think he took it the wrong way."
Wade warned his teammates there would be a game where very little would go their way by way of the officials, and his team would have to play through it. Wade said he commented to official Danny Crawford that Thomas was getting a lot of calls and that's why he was tagged with a tech.
"Well I've definitely been a 1 seed before, playing against an 8 seed and I understand what it means, especially on the road," Wade said. "It's a lot of these guys' first time in it, that we're not going to get a call on the road, to our liking. Not saying we don't get any calls, but to our liking, the home team is gonna get a little more cooking than you, and the emotions run high in the game."
Considering the Bulls rarely lost their cool, even in instances this season where more fire would've been good to see, Wade was encouraged by the passion and investment.
Even if it cost them.
"I'll take that. I'd rather see that than see nothing," Wade said. "It shows that people care. I'm fine with everything that happened."
At the end of it, the Bulls were behind 104-89 with four minutes left and Al Horford again continued his low-key but effective play with a dunk by twisting Nikola Mirotic with a fake that opened up the baseline and sent the Garden crowd into a frenzy, part of a 21-point nine-rebound, seven assist performance.
Reserve Kelly Olynyk scored a playoff-high 14 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes as the Celtics routinely used one big with four wing players all night, giving the Bulls fits again.
But that four-minute stretch was costly and now the Bulls find themselves one game away from playoff extinction.
Thomas' circus layup and foul put the Celtics back on top and he looked ultra aggressive from the start of the fourth, as Jimmy Butler got a rare rest in the opening minutes but it didn't translate, as he went scoreless on just two shots.
He took what the double teams gave him and will probably lament putting up just 15 shots, especially after he finished the third with a flurry, including a buzzer-beating 30 footer in front of the Celtics' bench.
Wade scored 26 with 11 rebounds and eight assists in 34 minutes, and the Bulls even shot 50 percent from the field, but put up just 74 shots. Lopez scored 14 and Butler 14, but Butler missed both of his attempts in the fourth and didn't get aggressive.
Lopez again made the parquet floor his own, going through a stretch in the third where he was hitting 20-footers and even manipulated the defense when it was scrambling to find Butler for a triple near the top of the key that was the most open look since Rondo injured his thumb.
Hoiberg went to his bag of tricks by pulling out Anthony Morrow for significant minutes in the first half, and unlike the last two games neither team could get away from the other.
Morrow scored eight in 16 minutes and Canaan scored 13 in 36 minutes, holding Thomas to just one of 10 shooting before Thomas managed to break loose later.
The Bulls repeatedly answered the Celtics' surges with calm execution and shot-making, hitting 53 percent in the first half. Keeping Thomas in check was the objective and although he made some pretty passes in traffic his teammates couldn't convert on wide-open shots, shooting 24 percent on 25 3-point attempts.
Thomas didn't get his first basket until the last minute of the first half, a triple off an offensive rebound. It was Avery Bradley who helped carry the Celtics when Thomas needed assistance, scoring 17.
In the end the Bulls needed assistance from somewhere, and it was nowhere to be found, as they head back to Chicago with their bodies wounded and spirits fractured.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Verdict: Blackhawks don't need to rebuild, just redecorate.
By Bob Verdi
(Photo/chicagoblackhawks.com)
As Stan Bowman assessed the weak that was, you could have landed a small plane on his lower lip. The Blackhawks' senior vice president/general manager seethed during a press briefing on Saturday at the United Center, where Game 5 was not necessary. His mood likely will linger for quite a while.
Unacceptable. Bowman used that word more than once, in case we didn't hear the first time, to describe his team's polite surrender in the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators. He promised significant changes and oozed anger. Perhaps Bowman intended to imply that his players, albeit belatedly, might share that emotion after being knocked down and out in four straight.
"A complete failure," continued Bowman, who sported something of a beard, obviously begun before the Blackhawks embarked on their cameo postseason appearance. He utterly dismissed 50 victories, 109 points and a Western Conference championship during the regular season as immaterial. That's probably a bit harsh, but again, he's mad. Madder than he's ever been, at least in public.
Unacceptable. Bowman used that word more than once, in case we didn't hear the first time, to describe his team's polite surrender in the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators. He promised significant changes and oozed anger. Perhaps Bowman intended to imply that his players, albeit belatedly, might share that emotion after being knocked down and out in four straight.
"A complete failure," continued Bowman, who sported something of a beard, obviously begun before the Blackhawks embarked on their cameo postseason appearance. He utterly dismissed 50 victories, 109 points and a Western Conference championship during the regular season as immaterial. That's probably a bit harsh, but again, he's mad. Madder than he's ever been, at least in public.
If Nashville moves onward and upward -- perhaps even a first Stanley Cup for the franchise -- maybe their shocking exit will wear better on the Blackhawks. But for now, the cold facts are chilling. They dropped the opener at home, 1-0. They lost Game 2 at the United Center 5-0 and were lucky to get 0. They botched a 2-0 lead in Game 3 at the Bridgestone Arena, and bowed in overtime.
Then, with their backs against the wall in Game 4, the Blackhawks again literally played with their backs against the wall as they were pinned to the perimeters and checked off their normal share of premium looks. Even a resounding hit by Duncan Keith on Viktor Arvidsson resulted in a fitting touché. The electric Nashville forward laughed at himself for skating with his head down, then assisted on a goal and scored into an empty net. It only hurt for a little while.
Head Coach Joel Quenneville begged for desperation, but his request was denied. The Blackhawks did not willingly abjure their preferred style of crisp passing and puck possession. It was simply disallowed by a team that was faster, better, hungrier. The Blackhawks don't own the patent on those qualities anymore.
For all its value on the ice, however, desperation is a tool best ignored off it. Bowman, a meticulous man, knows that. He also knows that accidents happen, even when you think you're driving a Rolls-Royce with several high-character, world-class individuals and future Hall of Famers on board. The Blackhawks don't need to be rebuilt, only redecorated.
Just recently, the proverbial championship window on the Pittsburgh Penguins was deemed closed. They were top-heavy with a few contracts, and dealt futures in quest of immediate excellence. But it wasn't happening. Then, they brought in a new general manager (not going to happen here), acquired support pieces and depth, hired a different coach in mid-season (Quenneville is going nowhere, according to Bowman), won the Cup last year and might repeat.
Bowman rejected the salary cap as an excuse for current events, reasoning that every team endures it. But three Stanley Cups in six years means rewarding stars accordingly, with money and security. No movement clauses can be an issue, especially if players choose to exercise the option during actual games.
As Hall of Fame journalist Kevin Allen wrote in USA Today, the Blackhawks are "paying their tab" now for success. One drawback of the reign: They have not drafted higher than 18th in the first round since 2008. Bowman chided his own performance, but he operated this season as he always has. Win now. The Blackhawks did not get swept because of Johnny Oduya. Or Brian Campbell.
Before fans veer perilously close to the ledge, they might want to consider the inherent nature of the playoffs. Montreal, with 103 points during the winter and without a Stanley Cup since 1993, is out. Minnesota, with 106 points and in first place for much of the season, gone. Columbus, 108 points in the National Hockey League's most competitive division, eliminated. San Jose, in the Final last spring, over.
Here's another aspirin for loyal supporters of the Blackhawks. Absolutely, the team bombed comprehensively against Nashville, but the same members of the ownership and executive branch who resurrected this organization into a model franchise of professional sports -- from Chairman Rocky Wirtz to President and CEO John McDonough to Bowman -- are in place. Nobody left, and rest assured, everybody is irritated.
These aren't your father's Blackhawks, who were just happy to make the playoffs. This front office has earned a high degree of trust. If the boys of winter felt entitled or comfortable, important men in suits are neither. The window is not necessarily closed, but the people behind it are steaming. It's still about One Goal. Not One Round.
Then, with their backs against the wall in Game 4, the Blackhawks again literally played with their backs against the wall as they were pinned to the perimeters and checked off their normal share of premium looks. Even a resounding hit by Duncan Keith on Viktor Arvidsson resulted in a fitting touché. The electric Nashville forward laughed at himself for skating with his head down, then assisted on a goal and scored into an empty net. It only hurt for a little while.
Head Coach Joel Quenneville begged for desperation, but his request was denied. The Blackhawks did not willingly abjure their preferred style of crisp passing and puck possession. It was simply disallowed by a team that was faster, better, hungrier. The Blackhawks don't own the patent on those qualities anymore.
For all its value on the ice, however, desperation is a tool best ignored off it. Bowman, a meticulous man, knows that. He also knows that accidents happen, even when you think you're driving a Rolls-Royce with several high-character, world-class individuals and future Hall of Famers on board. The Blackhawks don't need to be rebuilt, only redecorated.
Just recently, the proverbial championship window on the Pittsburgh Penguins was deemed closed. They were top-heavy with a few contracts, and dealt futures in quest of immediate excellence. But it wasn't happening. Then, they brought in a new general manager (not going to happen here), acquired support pieces and depth, hired a different coach in mid-season (Quenneville is going nowhere, according to Bowman), won the Cup last year and might repeat.
Bowman rejected the salary cap as an excuse for current events, reasoning that every team endures it. But three Stanley Cups in six years means rewarding stars accordingly, with money and security. No movement clauses can be an issue, especially if players choose to exercise the option during actual games.
As Hall of Fame journalist Kevin Allen wrote in USA Today, the Blackhawks are "paying their tab" now for success. One drawback of the reign: They have not drafted higher than 18th in the first round since 2008. Bowman chided his own performance, but he operated this season as he always has. Win now. The Blackhawks did not get swept because of Johnny Oduya. Or Brian Campbell.
Before fans veer perilously close to the ledge, they might want to consider the inherent nature of the playoffs. Montreal, with 103 points during the winter and without a Stanley Cup since 1993, is out. Minnesota, with 106 points and in first place for much of the season, gone. Columbus, 108 points in the National Hockey League's most competitive division, eliminated. San Jose, in the Final last spring, over.
Here's another aspirin for loyal supporters of the Blackhawks. Absolutely, the team bombed comprehensively against Nashville, but the same members of the ownership and executive branch who resurrected this organization into a model franchise of professional sports -- from Chairman Rocky Wirtz to President and CEO John McDonough to Bowman -- are in place. Nobody left, and rest assured, everybody is irritated.
These aren't your father's Blackhawks, who were just happy to make the playoffs. This front office has earned a high degree of trust. If the boys of winter felt entitled or comfortable, important men in suits are neither. The window is not necessarily closed, but the people behind it are steaming. It's still about One Goal. Not One Round.
Blackhawks' Trevor van Riemsdyk to play for USA at 2017 World Championship.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Trevor van Riemsdyk has accepted Team USA's invitation to represent his country at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, the club announced Wednesday.
It will be his first career appearance in the tournament, which begins May 5 and runs until May 21 in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France.
Van Riemsdyk joins Danny DeKeyser, Noah Hanifin, Charlie McAvoy, Connor Murphy and Jacob Trouba as NHL defensemen to join the Americans' blue line group. The roster also includes Jimmy Howard, Dylan Larkin, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson, and sits at 22 players (12 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders).
The 25-year-old Blackhawks defenseman set career highs with five goals, 11 assists, 16 points and a plus-17 rating in 58 games during his third professional season. He missed six weeks with an upper-body injury at the beginning of the year.
The Blackhawks' deep postseason runs and an opportunity to rest from them have prevented players from going in years past, but an early exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs gives them a chance to play for their countries — especially with the league already announcing its lack of participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Marcus Kruger (Sweden) and Artemi Panarin (Russian) are the only two other Blackhawks participating in the tournament, having accepted their countries' offers. Patrick Kane recently declined after giving it serious consideration.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
It will be his first career appearance in the tournament, which begins May 5 and runs until May 21 in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France.
Van Riemsdyk joins Danny DeKeyser, Noah Hanifin, Charlie McAvoy, Connor Murphy and Jacob Trouba as NHL defensemen to join the Americans' blue line group. The roster also includes Jimmy Howard, Dylan Larkin, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson, and sits at 22 players (12 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders).
The 25-year-old Blackhawks defenseman set career highs with five goals, 11 assists, 16 points and a plus-17 rating in 58 games during his third professional season. He missed six weeks with an upper-body injury at the beginning of the year.
The Blackhawks' deep postseason runs and an opportunity to rest from them have prevented players from going in years past, but an early exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs gives them a chance to play for their countries — especially with the league already announcing its lack of participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Marcus Kruger (Sweden) and Artemi Panarin (Russian) are the only two other Blackhawks participating in the tournament, having accepted their countries' offers. Patrick Kane recently declined after giving it serious consideration.
Blackhawks' Nick Schmaltz added to USA's roster for 2017 IIHF World Championship.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Nick Schmaltz will be joining Blackhawks teammate Trevor van Riemsdyk on Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, the club announced Thursday.
It will be his first career appearance on the U.S. men's national team and third time representing his country in world-championship play, most recently winning a bronze medal at the 2016 World Juniors. He scored two goals and added six assists in seven games during that tournament.
Schmaltz just completed his first professional season with the Blackhawks, where he tallied six goals and 22 assists in 61 games.
After the year ended, he spoke about the possibility of playing for USA in this tournament and what it would mean to him.
"I think it's a great tournament," Schmaltz said. "You get to play with a lot of great players. Look like a lot of great players are going to the tournament, so it's definitely a big stage. It would be a fun tournament."
The roster now includes 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders. Among the other NHLers going for the Americans: Danny DeKeyser, Noah Hanifin, Jimmy Howard, Dylan Larkin, Anders Lee, Charlie McAvoy, Connor Murphy, Brock Nelson and Jacob Trouba.
Blackhawks forwards Marcus Kruger (Sweden) and Artemi Panarin (Russia) will also compete in the tournament, which begins May 5 and runs until May 21 in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France.
Blackhawks agree to terms with Nathan Noel on entry-level contract.
By Chris Roumeliotis
It will be his first career appearance on the U.S. men's national team and third time representing his country in world-championship play, most recently winning a bronze medal at the 2016 World Juniors. He scored two goals and added six assists in seven games during that tournament.
Schmaltz just completed his first professional season with the Blackhawks, where he tallied six goals and 22 assists in 61 games.
After the year ended, he spoke about the possibility of playing for USA in this tournament and what it would mean to him.
"I think it's a great tournament," Schmaltz said. "You get to play with a lot of great players. Look like a lot of great players are going to the tournament, so it's definitely a big stage. It would be a fun tournament."
The roster now includes 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders. Among the other NHLers going for the Americans: Danny DeKeyser, Noah Hanifin, Jimmy Howard, Dylan Larkin, Anders Lee, Charlie McAvoy, Connor Murphy, Brock Nelson and Jacob Trouba.
Blackhawks forwards Marcus Kruger (Sweden) and Artemi Panarin (Russia) will also compete in the tournament, which begins May 5 and runs until May 21 in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France.
Blackhawks agree to terms with Nathan Noel on entry-level contract.
By Chris Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks strengthened their organizational depth Thursday, announcing the signing of forward Nathan Noel to a three-year entry-level contract that kicks in next season and runs through the 2019-20 campaign.
Noel, a fourth-round draft pick (No. 113 overall) in 2016, tied a career high with 24 goals — including six game winners — and added 26 assists for 50 points in 52 games during his fourth regular season with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was sidelined for a little more than a month in December and January due to an upper-body injury.
The 19-year-old center has raised his game in the postseason, racking up eight goals and 18 assists in 33 games from 2015-17, including six assists in 12 contests so far during the 2017 QMJHL playoffs. Across four years at Saint John, he amassed 208 points (85 goals, 123 assists) in 242 career regular-season games.
Noel is teammates with forward Matthew Highmore, who leads the Sea Dogs in scoring and was signed by the Blackhawks in March to a three-year deal as an undrafted free agent.
Noel is an undersized forward at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, but he's a fast skater with offensive upside. He'll likely start the 2017-18 season in the American Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs, who desperately needed scoring last year.
Blackhawks make another change, fire Rockford coach Ted Dent.
Noel, a fourth-round draft pick (No. 113 overall) in 2016, tied a career high with 24 goals — including six game winners — and added 26 assists for 50 points in 52 games during his fourth regular season with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was sidelined for a little more than a month in December and January due to an upper-body injury.
The 19-year-old center has raised his game in the postseason, racking up eight goals and 18 assists in 33 games from 2015-17, including six assists in 12 contests so far during the 2017 QMJHL playoffs. Across four years at Saint John, he amassed 208 points (85 goals, 123 assists) in 242 career regular-season games.
Noel is teammates with forward Matthew Highmore, who leads the Sea Dogs in scoring and was signed by the Blackhawks in March to a three-year deal as an undrafted free agent.
Noel is an undersized forward at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, but he's a fast skater with offensive upside. He'll likely start the 2017-18 season in the American Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs, who desperately needed scoring last year.
Blackhawks make another change, fire Rockford coach Ted Dent.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Ted Dent was another longstanding member of the Blackhawks' organization. On Tuesday, he was the latest to be let go.
Dent, head coach of the Rockford IceHogs for the past six seasons, was fired on Tuesday morning. Dent spent a total of 11 years in the organization; he was the IceHogs' assistant coach for five seasons before taking the head coaching job for the 2011-12 season.
Just over a year ago, the Blackhawks gave Dent a three-year contract extension that was set to run through the end of the 2018-19 season.
"The Chicago Blackhawks thank Ted for all of his contributions throughout his tenure with the organization," Blackhawks general Manager Stan Bowman said. "He played a major role in helping a number of players reach the NHL level with the Chicago Blackhawks, many of whom became Stanley Cup champions. We wish Ted and his family the best."
The IceHogs didn't have the depth this season they had in previous years, and they struggled all season en route to a 25-39-9-3 record. The struggles got worse after the March 1 trade deadline, when the Blackhawks sent Spencer Abbott and Sam Carrick to the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate). At the time, Abbott led the IceHogs in points with 35 (15 goals, 20 assists) and Carrick was second with 28 points (11 goals 17 assists).
After the two were traded, the IceHogs went 4-12-1.
It was the second consecutive day in which the Blackhawks fired a member of their organization's coaching staff. Mike Kitchen, the Blackhawks' assistant coach since 2010, was fired on Monday. Kitchen and head coach Joel Quenneville have been friends going back to their NHL playing days, when the two were teammates with the Colorado Rockies and the New Jersey Devils. Kitchen was also part of Quenneville's coaching staff in St. Louis.
Dent, head coach of the Rockford IceHogs for the past six seasons, was fired on Tuesday morning. Dent spent a total of 11 years in the organization; he was the IceHogs' assistant coach for five seasons before taking the head coaching job for the 2011-12 season.
Just over a year ago, the Blackhawks gave Dent a three-year contract extension that was set to run through the end of the 2018-19 season.
"The Chicago Blackhawks thank Ted for all of his contributions throughout his tenure with the organization," Blackhawks general Manager Stan Bowman said. "He played a major role in helping a number of players reach the NHL level with the Chicago Blackhawks, many of whom became Stanley Cup champions. We wish Ted and his family the best."
The IceHogs didn't have the depth this season they had in previous years, and they struggled all season en route to a 25-39-9-3 record. The struggles got worse after the March 1 trade deadline, when the Blackhawks sent Spencer Abbott and Sam Carrick to the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate). At the time, Abbott led the IceHogs in points with 35 (15 goals, 20 assists) and Carrick was second with 28 points (11 goals 17 assists).
After the two were traded, the IceHogs went 4-12-1.
It was the second consecutive day in which the Blackhawks fired a member of their organization's coaching staff. Mike Kitchen, the Blackhawks' assistant coach since 2010, was fired on Monday. Kitchen and head coach Joel Quenneville have been friends going back to their NHL playing days, when the two were teammates with the Colorado Rockies and the New Jersey Devils. Kitchen was also part of Quenneville's coaching staff in St. Louis.
Cubs tinker with rotation for series in Boston.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
With all the off-days in the season's opening month, it's given the Cubs an opportunity to tinker with their rotation.
They're shaking things up with the order again ahead of the three-game set against the Red Sox in Boston. The Cubs will roll with Jake Arrieta Friday on CSN, John Lackey Saturday and Kyle Hendricks Sunday.
Hendricks just threw Tuesday night in the second game of the Pirates series in Pittsburgh. He enjoyed the best start of his 2017 season, allowing six baserunners in six shutout innings, lowering his ERA to 4.50 and WHIP to 1.27.
Despite the strong start, the 2016 MLB ERA leader wasn't willing to say he's "back."
"It's just one start," he told reporters Tuesday night. "It's not a "back" thing. I'm not in the zone, dialed in like I was last year. That was a completely different feeling and sensation.
"[But I] felt a lot better. It's more on track."
Brett Anderson will get an extra day and is on track to start the first game back at Wrigley against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday.
Assuming there are no other changes to the rotation, Jon Lester will follow Anderson before the Arrieta-Lackey-Hendricks trio goes again.
The Cubs won't have another off-day until Thursday, May 11 and are set to play 13 games in 13 days.
They're shaking things up with the order again ahead of the three-game set against the Red Sox in Boston. The Cubs will roll with Jake Arrieta Friday on CSN, John Lackey Saturday and Kyle Hendricks Sunday.
Hendricks just threw Tuesday night in the second game of the Pirates series in Pittsburgh. He enjoyed the best start of his 2017 season, allowing six baserunners in six shutout innings, lowering his ERA to 4.50 and WHIP to 1.27.
Despite the strong start, the 2016 MLB ERA leader wasn't willing to say he's "back."
"It's just one start," he told reporters Tuesday night. "It's not a "back" thing. I'm not in the zone, dialed in like I was last year. That was a completely different feeling and sensation.
"[But I] felt a lot better. It's more on track."
Brett Anderson will get an extra day and is on track to start the first game back at Wrigley against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday.
Assuming there are no other changes to the rotation, Jon Lester will follow Anderson before the Arrieta-Lackey-Hendricks trio goes again.
The Cubs won't have another off-day until Thursday, May 11 and are set to play 13 games in 13 days.
Cubs bullpen finding its form after early-season struggles.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
It was just over a week ago when Cubs fans were freaking out about the bullpen's struggles in a weekend series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It was understandable, given Cubs relievers allowed 11 runs in the course of blowing two late leads to end that three-game sweep at the hand of the Bucs.
But since then, the Cubs bullpen has been fantastic.
In eight games entering Wednesday night's series finale with the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Cubs bullpen is working on a stretch where they've posted a 1.56 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over the last 28.2 innings.
In that span — in which the Cubs are 6 — relievers have allowed six runs (five earned) while striking out 33 batters and surrendering just one homer.
They've been especially stingy over the last three games, allowing just five baserunners in eight shutout innings, including three straight scoreless frames to close out a 1-0 victory Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
Wade Davis has been the anchor at the back end of the bullpen the Cubs were hoping he'd be when they traded Jorge Soler for him over the winter. Davis is a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities and has not allowed a run in 9.1 innings, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks in the season's first month.
Setting up in front of Davis, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. have combined to allow one run and three hits in 15.1 innings.
Brian Duensing — who started the year on the disabled list after a back issue sapped his spring training — is still searching for a rhythm and has surrendered six runs and 10 hits in 6.1 innings on the season. Over the last week-and-a-half, the 34-year-old southpaw has allowed more runs (three) than the rest of the Cubs bullpen combined.
Take Duensing's numbers away from that same eight-game stretch and the Cubs bullpen has been even more fantastic — 0.73 ERA and 0.81 WHIP.
Of course, it's still not even May yet, so this stellar stretch is just another small sample size.
But just like that, the Cubs suddenly have a Top 10 bullpen, tied for the Colorado Rockies for ninth in Major League Baseball with a 3.07 relief ERA.
It was understandable, given Cubs relievers allowed 11 runs in the course of blowing two late leads to end that three-game sweep at the hand of the Bucs.
But since then, the Cubs bullpen has been fantastic.
In eight games entering Wednesday night's series finale with the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Cubs bullpen is working on a stretch where they've posted a 1.56 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over the last 28.2 innings.
In that span — in which the Cubs are 6 — relievers have allowed six runs (five earned) while striking out 33 batters and surrendering just one homer.
They've been especially stingy over the last three games, allowing just five baserunners in eight shutout innings, including three straight scoreless frames to close out a 1-0 victory Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
Wade Davis has been the anchor at the back end of the bullpen the Cubs were hoping he'd be when they traded Jorge Soler for him over the winter. Davis is a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities and has not allowed a run in 9.1 innings, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks in the season's first month.
Setting up in front of Davis, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. have combined to allow one run and three hits in 15.1 innings.
Brian Duensing — who started the year on the disabled list after a back issue sapped his spring training — is still searching for a rhythm and has surrendered six runs and 10 hits in 6.1 innings on the season. Over the last week-and-a-half, the 34-year-old southpaw has allowed more runs (three) than the rest of the Cubs bullpen combined.
Take Duensing's numbers away from that same eight-game stretch and the Cubs bullpen has been even more fantastic — 0.73 ERA and 0.81 WHIP.
Of course, it's still not even May yet, so this stellar stretch is just another small sample size.
But just like that, the Cubs suddenly have a Top 10 bullpen, tied for the Colorado Rockies for ninth in Major League Baseball with a 3.07 relief ERA.
Cubs can't complete rally against Pirates in series finale. (Wednesday's game, 04/26/2017).
Associated Press
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Gift Ngoepe might not have had the weight of the world on his shoulders but he felt like a continent was counting on him.
Ngoepe was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and entered the game in fourth inning as part of a double switch and finished 1 for 2 with a walk. The 27-year-old South African, who signed with the Pirates in 2008 as an amateur free agent, led off the fourth with a hit off winless Cubs ace Jon Lester.
"To accomplish this only for me but for my country and my continent is something so special," Ngoepe said. "There are 1.62 billion people on our continent. To be the first person out of 1.62 billion to do this is amazing."
It was so special that Ngoepe nearly broke into tears when he trotted from the dugout to take his positon at second base.
"I told myself not to cry because I'm in the big leagues and I'm a big guy now," Ngoepe said with a smile. "(Catcher Francisco) Cervelli hugged me and I could feel my heart beat through my chest."
A year after winning 19 games in helping the Cubs win their first World Series title since 1908, Lester (0-1) is still looking for his first victory after five starts. The left-hander was tagged for six runs - five earned - and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"It's probably the best I threw the ball all year," Lester said. "That's baseball."
Wade LeBlanc (1-0), who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of rookie Tyler Glasnow, got the win.
The fifth leadoff home run of Harrison's career keyed a two-run first that included an RBI double by Cervelli. Andrew McCutchen and Phil Gosselin hit run-scoring doubles in a three-run third that pushed the Pirates' lead to 5-1.
After the Cubs got within two runs, Josh Bell gave the Pirates a 6-3 lead with a solo home run in the sixth inning off Lester. The rookie first baseman has reached base in 11 straight games.
Anthony Rizzo's two-run homer deep into the right-field stands in the eighth inning off Daniel Hudson drew the Cubs within 6-5. Tony Watson then got the last four outs for his seventh save in as many chances.
Glasnow remained winless in nine career starts, allowing three runs in 3 1/3 innings and requiring 89 pitches to get 10 outs.
Rizzo had four RBIs and Kris Bryant had three hits as the Cubs lost for just second time in eight games while stranding 13 runners. The Pirates won for the third time in nine games.
WHITE SOX: How Jose Quintana's silent leadership resonated with Michael Kopech.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
He absorbed a ton of information in spring camp, but perhaps it’s what Michael Kopech observed watching Jose Quintana that could help most.
For five weeks in big league camp, the extremely motivated White Sox pitching prospect gleaned every piece of information he could from more experienced teammates.
Kopech and veteran starting pitcher James Shields discussed pitch sequencing and the importance of the changeup. Infielder Tyler Saladino talked with the No. 14-ranked prospect in baseball about visualizing success. Catcher Geo Soto told Kopech pretty much everything about life in the majors.
But even though he didn’t say much, Quintana’s practice sessions may have provided the most valuable lesson of all. The key takeaway, Kopech said, is how Quintana performs every action with a purpose. The young pitcher knows how critical the example Quintana provided is to his development and wants to implement a similar approach.
“(Pitching coach Don Cooper) likes to call it focused practice,” Kopech said. “For me that’s one thing I haven’t done well, is get locked in. You have to be locked in all the time. That’s something that came from Coop and all the big leaguers I was around. Quintana is a great guy to watch when it comes to stuff like that.
“That’s a guy that is a definition of a silent leader. He doesn’t talk about much. He goes and gets his work in and you can just watch him and know that’s the way the game should be played.”
Kopech took a nice step forward in his development on Tuesday night when he pitched a season-high six scoreless innings for Double-A Birmingham. He struck out eight and allowed a hit while walking four and lowered his ERA to 2.50. The Texas native had only compiled 12 innings in his previous three outings because of “hit-and-miss” fastball command that led to 10 walks.
Along with perfecting his fastball command, one of the keys to Kopech reaching the majors is an increase in workload. Kopech — the 33rd overall pick of the 2014 draft — has never pitched more than 78 2/3 combined innings he produced last season. The White Sox would love for Kopech to reach the 180-inning mark by 2019.
“He doesn’t have a lot of innings under his belt,” player development director Chris Getz said. “He hasn’t been able to have that build up so that’s something we’re going to make sure he can focus on. We’re going to make sure he’s in the right spot so we can do that properly.”
In order for Kopech to eventually hit that mark, he’d need to pitch between 110-130 innings this season and then throw around 160 innings in 2018. But to reach those figures, Kopech must first pitch deeper into games.
Through his first three starts, Kopech worked on a strict pitch count that varied based on performance. If he was on, he could throw as many as 85 pitches. But if he ran into command issues, Kopech might only throw 75.
On Tuesday, Kopech pitched well enough to throw 95 pitches (65 strikes) against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He thinks the key to consistency in games is directly tied to his effort in between. It’s yet another area where Kopech — who reads self-help books, is into Cryotherapy and salt baths and eats meals on the road pre-prepared by his nutritionist — strives to improve.
“From Day 1 to Day 4, you need to be just as focused as Day 5,” Kopech said. “I can’t stress that enough. If my bullpen tomorrow I lose a little focus, then I know I need to get right back into it to prepare for my next start. That’s something that’s going to have to kick in sooner than later.”
Birmingham manager Julio Vinas likes how Kopech has handled himself early in the season. Vinas thinks Kopech has the proper mindset and tools to be a special pitcher.
‘He’s got the right mentality and now it’s executing and it’s going to be there,” Vinas said.
He may have been there this spring, but Kopech preferred to not be seen or heard by his veteran teammates. Kopech couldn’t do anything about the onslaught of attention the media paid to him after he came over with Yoan Moncada in the Chris Sale trade. But he could control the rest of his time around teammates. Little by little, he’d engage the veterans without drawing too much attention.
“I just didn’t want to make it about me,” Kopech said. “It was my first big league camp and a lot of those guys are getting ready for a big league season and I’m competing for a job that’s not necessarily on a big league roster right away. I was just trying to take care of my business. All ears, not really any talk and take away as much as I could without pissing anybody off, really.
“I got the chance to face some good hitters and take away a lot of knowledge from older guys and I think that’s the best I could do to prepare for the season.”
But Kopech agrees the best preparation came from watching Quintana, who Cooper always lauds for his practice effort. Kopech hopes to be able to emulate how the 2016 All-Star pitcher handles himself soon enough.
Kopech thought he focused well from the second through the fourth inning in an April 20 start at Tennessee. But he wasn’t as pleased with his effort in the first and fifth innings.
“That’s the way I want to lock in when I’m on the mound,” Kopech said of Quintana. “I haven’t been doing that, but it’s something I’m going to work on going forward.
“I have to remind myself to stay locked in even though I’m doing what I always do because I need to have the same focus (in practice) I do when I’m pitching on the mound.”
For five weeks in big league camp, the extremely motivated White Sox pitching prospect gleaned every piece of information he could from more experienced teammates.
Kopech and veteran starting pitcher James Shields discussed pitch sequencing and the importance of the changeup. Infielder Tyler Saladino talked with the No. 14-ranked prospect in baseball about visualizing success. Catcher Geo Soto told Kopech pretty much everything about life in the majors.
But even though he didn’t say much, Quintana’s practice sessions may have provided the most valuable lesson of all. The key takeaway, Kopech said, is how Quintana performs every action with a purpose. The young pitcher knows how critical the example Quintana provided is to his development and wants to implement a similar approach.
“(Pitching coach Don Cooper) likes to call it focused practice,” Kopech said. “For me that’s one thing I haven’t done well, is get locked in. You have to be locked in all the time. That’s something that came from Coop and all the big leaguers I was around. Quintana is a great guy to watch when it comes to stuff like that.
“That’s a guy that is a definition of a silent leader. He doesn’t talk about much. He goes and gets his work in and you can just watch him and know that’s the way the game should be played.”
Kopech took a nice step forward in his development on Tuesday night when he pitched a season-high six scoreless innings for Double-A Birmingham. He struck out eight and allowed a hit while walking four and lowered his ERA to 2.50. The Texas native had only compiled 12 innings in his previous three outings because of “hit-and-miss” fastball command that led to 10 walks.
Along with perfecting his fastball command, one of the keys to Kopech reaching the majors is an increase in workload. Kopech — the 33rd overall pick of the 2014 draft — has never pitched more than 78 2/3 combined innings he produced last season. The White Sox would love for Kopech to reach the 180-inning mark by 2019.
“He doesn’t have a lot of innings under his belt,” player development director Chris Getz said. “He hasn’t been able to have that build up so that’s something we’re going to make sure he can focus on. We’re going to make sure he’s in the right spot so we can do that properly.”
In order for Kopech to eventually hit that mark, he’d need to pitch between 110-130 innings this season and then throw around 160 innings in 2018. But to reach those figures, Kopech must first pitch deeper into games.
Through his first three starts, Kopech worked on a strict pitch count that varied based on performance. If he was on, he could throw as many as 85 pitches. But if he ran into command issues, Kopech might only throw 75.
On Tuesday, Kopech pitched well enough to throw 95 pitches (65 strikes) against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He thinks the key to consistency in games is directly tied to his effort in between. It’s yet another area where Kopech — who reads self-help books, is into Cryotherapy and salt baths and eats meals on the road pre-prepared by his nutritionist — strives to improve.
“From Day 1 to Day 4, you need to be just as focused as Day 5,” Kopech said. “I can’t stress that enough. If my bullpen tomorrow I lose a little focus, then I know I need to get right back into it to prepare for my next start. That’s something that’s going to have to kick in sooner than later.”
Birmingham manager Julio Vinas likes how Kopech has handled himself early in the season. Vinas thinks Kopech has the proper mindset and tools to be a special pitcher.
‘He’s got the right mentality and now it’s executing and it’s going to be there,” Vinas said.
He may have been there this spring, but Kopech preferred to not be seen or heard by his veteran teammates. Kopech couldn’t do anything about the onslaught of attention the media paid to him after he came over with Yoan Moncada in the Chris Sale trade. But he could control the rest of his time around teammates. Little by little, he’d engage the veterans without drawing too much attention.
“I just didn’t want to make it about me,” Kopech said. “It was my first big league camp and a lot of those guys are getting ready for a big league season and I’m competing for a job that’s not necessarily on a big league roster right away. I was just trying to take care of my business. All ears, not really any talk and take away as much as I could without pissing anybody off, really.
“I got the chance to face some good hitters and take away a lot of knowledge from older guys and I think that’s the best I could do to prepare for the season.”
But Kopech agrees the best preparation came from watching Quintana, who Cooper always lauds for his practice effort. Kopech hopes to be able to emulate how the 2016 All-Star pitcher handles himself soon enough.
Kopech thought he focused well from the second through the fourth inning in an April 20 start at Tennessee. But he wasn’t as pleased with his effort in the first and fifth innings.
“That’s the way I want to lock in when I’m on the mound,” Kopech said of Quintana. “I haven’t been doing that, but it’s something I’m going to work on going forward.
“I have to remind myself to stay locked in even though I’m doing what I always do because I need to have the same focus (in practice) I do when I’m pitching on the mound.”
The Garcia and Garcia Show: Avisail, Leury keep swinging as White Sox complete sweep of Royals.
By Vinnie Duber
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
You probably couldn’t have predicted this before the season started: that a pair of Garcias would be leading the offensive charge for the surging White Sox.
But here we are, still in 2017’s first month, and Avisail and Leury Garcia are swinging the biggest sticks for a White Sox team that’s scored 33 runs during a four-game winning streak.
Avisail, who’s earning way-too-early virtual MVP chants on Twitter on a nightly basis, delivered the biggest blow Wednesday, breaking a short-lived 2-all tie with a two-run blast to center field to put his team back in front for good. Leury added his own solo shot an inning later to make it a 5-2 score, the eventual final in the South Siders’ win over the visiting Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Avisail Garcia remains the biggest talking point around this team, resurgent in his performance this season after struggling during his first couple years in a White Sox uniform. Last season he slashed .245/.307/.285 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in 120 games.
After Wednesday, he’s hitting .373 this season with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 20 games.
“His approach hasn’t changed,” third baseman Todd Frazier said. “He had an 0-for-4 day the other day and he kept it simple again. Kept his hands in tight and driving the ball, not just feeling for it, driving the thing and you see the hustle out of him, man. He made a nice play in the outfield, too, and he is playing the game of baseball.”
“What I think I've seen a little bit more this year, he's making good contact but now he seems to be driving the ball a little bit more, too,” manager Rick Renteria said. “It's a good thing.”
But don’t forget about Leury Garcia, who’s cranked his production up to 11 in the last few games. He’s 8-for-15 in the last four games with a pair of extra-base hits and four RBIs.
Jacob May was pegged as the team’s everyday center fielder when camp broke. But Leury Garcia’s bat is forcing Renteria to keep writing his name in the lineup. And that, Leury Garcia said, has been the key to swinging such a hot bat.
“Yes, it was a matter of time. Because once you start getting more game time, more at-bats, you are feeling more comfortable with your approach and you are getting to know your team and what you have to do during the games,” Leury Garcia said. “For me, that has been the key, the playing time, the at-bats, the repetition. And that’s good.”
“Just his overall play. Obviously, he's getting on base, he's getting on whether through a hit or hustling down the line. He's making some plays in the outfield,” Renteria said. “Just his overall game is kind of coming together a little bit. I think it's part of who he is, and it's nice to see.”
Whether you want to believe that old baseball maxim that hitting is contagious or you don’t, there’s no doubt that the hits and runs have come from up and down the White Sox lineup during this stretch. Wednesday, Jose Abreu and Frazier got things going with back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning.
That 2-0 lead held until the Royals chipped away at White Sox starter Jose Quintana, first with a run on a Jorge Bonifacio fifth-inning single and then with a run on a game-tying Alcides Escobar groundout in the sixth. Quintana had a pair of wild pitches in that sixth inning.
But then came Avisail Garcia’s heroics, the White Sox lineup finally providing some run support for Quintana, who won for the first time this season.
“The old saying hitting is contagious,” Frazier said. “You know to come out and get two quick runs with two outs, I think we got all the runs with two outs — spectacular. We had to keep pounding a little bit. Looked like both teams a little sluggish, quick turnaround after last night’s game and to get on top early kind of put a damper on the other team.”
The White Sox will take their four-game winning streak to Detroit for the start of a 10-game road trip that swings through the Motor City, Kansas City and Baltimore.
Or maybe we should be calling it The Garcia & Garcia Show World Tour.
But here we are, still in 2017’s first month, and Avisail and Leury Garcia are swinging the biggest sticks for a White Sox team that’s scored 33 runs during a four-game winning streak.
Avisail, who’s earning way-too-early virtual MVP chants on Twitter on a nightly basis, delivered the biggest blow Wednesday, breaking a short-lived 2-all tie with a two-run blast to center field to put his team back in front for good. Leury added his own solo shot an inning later to make it a 5-2 score, the eventual final in the South Siders’ win over the visiting Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Avisail Garcia remains the biggest talking point around this team, resurgent in his performance this season after struggling during his first couple years in a White Sox uniform. Last season he slashed .245/.307/.285 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in 120 games.
After Wednesday, he’s hitting .373 this season with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 20 games.
“His approach hasn’t changed,” third baseman Todd Frazier said. “He had an 0-for-4 day the other day and he kept it simple again. Kept his hands in tight and driving the ball, not just feeling for it, driving the thing and you see the hustle out of him, man. He made a nice play in the outfield, too, and he is playing the game of baseball.”
“What I think I've seen a little bit more this year, he's making good contact but now he seems to be driving the ball a little bit more, too,” manager Rick Renteria said. “It's a good thing.”
But don’t forget about Leury Garcia, who’s cranked his production up to 11 in the last few games. He’s 8-for-15 in the last four games with a pair of extra-base hits and four RBIs.
Jacob May was pegged as the team’s everyday center fielder when camp broke. But Leury Garcia’s bat is forcing Renteria to keep writing his name in the lineup. And that, Leury Garcia said, has been the key to swinging such a hot bat.
“Yes, it was a matter of time. Because once you start getting more game time, more at-bats, you are feeling more comfortable with your approach and you are getting to know your team and what you have to do during the games,” Leury Garcia said. “For me, that has been the key, the playing time, the at-bats, the repetition. And that’s good.”
“Just his overall play. Obviously, he's getting on base, he's getting on whether through a hit or hustling down the line. He's making some plays in the outfield,” Renteria said. “Just his overall game is kind of coming together a little bit. I think it's part of who he is, and it's nice to see.”
Whether you want to believe that old baseball maxim that hitting is contagious or you don’t, there’s no doubt that the hits and runs have come from up and down the White Sox lineup during this stretch. Wednesday, Jose Abreu and Frazier got things going with back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning.
That 2-0 lead held until the Royals chipped away at White Sox starter Jose Quintana, first with a run on a Jorge Bonifacio fifth-inning single and then with a run on a game-tying Alcides Escobar groundout in the sixth. Quintana had a pair of wild pitches in that sixth inning.
But then came Avisail Garcia’s heroics, the White Sox lineup finally providing some run support for Quintana, who won for the first time this season.
“The old saying hitting is contagious,” Frazier said. “You know to come out and get two quick runs with two outs, I think we got all the runs with two outs — spectacular. We had to keep pounding a little bit. Looked like both teams a little sluggish, quick turnaround after last night’s game and to get on top early kind of put a damper on the other team.”
The White Sox will take their four-game winning streak to Detroit for the start of a 10-game road trip that swings through the Motor City, Kansas City and Baltimore.
Or maybe we should be calling it The Garcia & Garcia Show World Tour.
Golf: I got a club for that..... Spieth/Palmer share lead in New Orleans.
By Golf Channel Digital
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer combined for an alternate-shot 6-under-66 to share the first-round lead with Kyle Stanley and Ryan Ruffels in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Here's how things stand going into the second round in Avondale, La.:
Leaderboard: Stanley/Ruffels (-6), Spieth/Palmer (-6), K.J. Choi/Charlie Wi (-5), Ben Martin/Ben Crane (-5), Jonas Blixt/Cameron Smith (-5), Charley Hoffman/Nick Watney (-5)
What it means: It's a tightly bunched leaderboard in this first playing of the Zurich Classic as a team event. Eighteen teams are within three shots of the lead.
Rounds of the day: After making birdies only on the two front-nine par-5 holes to turn in 2 under, Spieth and Palmer doubled up on the back, with four circles in a bogey-free round. Stanley and Ruffels burst out of the gate on the back nine, beginning their round with four straight birdies. They dropped a shot with a three-putt on the par-3 17th, but added four more birdies on the front nine before finishing with another bogey on a par 3, this time failing to get up and down after missing the green.
Best of the rest: Hoffman and Watney were surprise finishers at 5 under, making eagle on their final hole as Watney pitched in from 59 feet on the par-5 18th.
Biggest disappointment: The format wasn't kind to Smylie Kaufman and Harold Varner III, as they failed to make a birdie, made two bogeys and a double and shot 76.
Shot of the day: Palmer's tee shot on the par-3 14th came up 36 yards short of the flagstick, but not to worry, because Spieth sank the alternate shot.
Main storyline heading into Friday: The format shifts to best ball for Round 2 (as well as Round 4), while alternate shot will be played again on Saturday.
Leaderboard: Stanley/Ruffels (-6), Spieth/Palmer (-6), K.J. Choi/Charlie Wi (-5), Ben Martin/Ben Crane (-5), Jonas Blixt/Cameron Smith (-5), Charley Hoffman/Nick Watney (-5)
What it means: It's a tightly bunched leaderboard in this first playing of the Zurich Classic as a team event. Eighteen teams are within three shots of the lead.
Rounds of the day: After making birdies only on the two front-nine par-5 holes to turn in 2 under, Spieth and Palmer doubled up on the back, with four circles in a bogey-free round. Stanley and Ruffels burst out of the gate on the back nine, beginning their round with four straight birdies. They dropped a shot with a three-putt on the par-3 17th, but added four more birdies on the front nine before finishing with another bogey on a par 3, this time failing to get up and down after missing the green.
Best of the rest: Hoffman and Watney were surprise finishers at 5 under, making eagle on their final hole as Watney pitched in from 59 feet on the par-5 18th.
Biggest disappointment: The format wasn't kind to Smylie Kaufman and Harold Varner III, as they failed to make a birdie, made two bogeys and a double and shot 76.
Shot of the day: Palmer's tee shot on the par-3 14th came up 36 yards short of the flagstick, but not to worry, because Spieth sank the alternate shot.
Main storyline heading into Friday: The format shifts to best ball for Round 2 (as well as Round 4), while alternate shot will be played again on Saturday.
Punch Shot: Should viewer call-ins be disallowed?
By Golf Channel Digital
The USGA and R&A released a new decision to the Rules of Golf Tuesday morning that will limit the use video, but it does not eliminate viewer call-ins. Should such feedback be disallowed to report possible infractions? Our writers weigh in.
By WILL GRAY
Golf as a sport has plenty of unique characteristics, with self-imposed penalties near the top of that list.
It makes for a tricky situation, then, when you try to find the line in the sand where valid sources of information stop in the event that a player misses an infraction.
The situation has negatives on both sides. Limit call-ins and you could potentially have a tainted title if a player goes un-penalized for what in hindsight is a clear infraction. Let the calls flood in, and you have major titles decided by 8-handicaps on the couch.
This morning, the NBA announced that LeBron James got away with a travel on a go-ahead shot in a close playoff win. But that announcement didn’t change the outcome of the game. I think that’s golf’s best option: limit the sources and put the trust in the players and on-site officials, even if it merely serves as the lesser of two evils.
By REX HOGGARD
Consider it an early shot across the bow of technology, with the USGA and R&A announcing on Tuesday that the use of video technology will now include a measure of “reasonable judgment.”
Common sense has long been a missing component to the Rules of Golf, and anything that includes more prudence is an improvement. Where the “working group” appears to have strayed into dangerous ground is in regards to what is labeled “information from sources other than participants.”
Viewer call-ins, emails and social media posts appear to have become public enemy No. 1, with many players criticizing the practice in the wake of the Lexi Thompson ruling earlier this month at the ANA Inspiration.
Although it appears the rule makers may be leaning in this direction, not all of golf’s institutions share the same sentiment.
“I don’t think we would do away with call-ins,” Andy Pazder, the Tour’s chief of operations, told GolfChannel.com earlier this month. “Our current attitude is we will accept information from all sources.”
Golf doesn’t have officials poised with yellow flags or whistles to call penalties when a player, be it intentional or otherwise, runs afoul of the rules. The central tenets of the game require the integrity of the competition to be protected, regardless of where that information comes from.
By RYAN LAVNER
Yes, but it’ll require a fundamental change in how golf is perceived. It’s always been a game of integrity and honesty and character and sportsmanship … and getting rid of viewer call-ins would put golf in the uncomfortable position of being like every other sport.
There are blown calls in every sporting event. A lineman commits an obvious holding penalty. A forward commits an obvious foul in the paint. An umpire misses an obvious third-strike call.
Wailing against the officiating is part of what makes sports so great, but there’s also a serious undercurrent there – that whatever happened on the field or on the court has in some way been compromised by human error.
Getting rid of viewer call-ins sounds like a good idea in theory, because it’s not a level playing field with only a dozen or so players shown on a broadcast. But what about when a player commits an obvious penalty – like a hold or a foul or a blown third strike coal – and is not held accountable?
Golf might have to find out if being like other sports is actually worth it.
By RANDALL MELL
No, but put the armchair referees on a clock.
When the first round ends, it’s closed out and becomes official when the second round begins. No viewer interventions can affect the first round once that second round begins. And it keeps going like that, with each round becoming official once the next round begins, limiting viewer interventions to that time clock. In cases where rounds overlap, because of suspended play issues, make a round official as soon as it ends. And make the tournament official once the final scorecard is signed.
That’s pretty much the plan Stacy Lewis proposes, and while there’s no perfect answer to golf’s great armchair referee headache, there’s logic and symmetry in giving each round a life of its own.
It seems to be all about pain management in dealing with viewer interventions, and 24 hours makes sense as a tourniquet.
By WILL GRAY
Golf as a sport has plenty of unique characteristics, with self-imposed penalties near the top of that list.
It makes for a tricky situation, then, when you try to find the line in the sand where valid sources of information stop in the event that a player misses an infraction.
The situation has negatives on both sides. Limit call-ins and you could potentially have a tainted title if a player goes un-penalized for what in hindsight is a clear infraction. Let the calls flood in, and you have major titles decided by 8-handicaps on the couch.
This morning, the NBA announced that LeBron James got away with a travel on a go-ahead shot in a close playoff win. But that announcement didn’t change the outcome of the game. I think that’s golf’s best option: limit the sources and put the trust in the players and on-site officials, even if it merely serves as the lesser of two evils.
By REX HOGGARD
Consider it an early shot across the bow of technology, with the USGA and R&A announcing on Tuesday that the use of video technology will now include a measure of “reasonable judgment.”
Common sense has long been a missing component to the Rules of Golf, and anything that includes more prudence is an improvement. Where the “working group” appears to have strayed into dangerous ground is in regards to what is labeled “information from sources other than participants.”
Viewer call-ins, emails and social media posts appear to have become public enemy No. 1, with many players criticizing the practice in the wake of the Lexi Thompson ruling earlier this month at the ANA Inspiration.
Although it appears the rule makers may be leaning in this direction, not all of golf’s institutions share the same sentiment.
“I don’t think we would do away with call-ins,” Andy Pazder, the Tour’s chief of operations, told GolfChannel.com earlier this month. “Our current attitude is we will accept information from all sources.”
Golf doesn’t have officials poised with yellow flags or whistles to call penalties when a player, be it intentional or otherwise, runs afoul of the rules. The central tenets of the game require the integrity of the competition to be protected, regardless of where that information comes from.
By RYAN LAVNER
Yes, but it’ll require a fundamental change in how golf is perceived. It’s always been a game of integrity and honesty and character and sportsmanship … and getting rid of viewer call-ins would put golf in the uncomfortable position of being like every other sport.
There are blown calls in every sporting event. A lineman commits an obvious holding penalty. A forward commits an obvious foul in the paint. An umpire misses an obvious third-strike call.
Wailing against the officiating is part of what makes sports so great, but there’s also a serious undercurrent there – that whatever happened on the field or on the court has in some way been compromised by human error.
Getting rid of viewer call-ins sounds like a good idea in theory, because it’s not a level playing field with only a dozen or so players shown on a broadcast. But what about when a player commits an obvious penalty – like a hold or a foul or a blown third strike coal – and is not held accountable?
Golf might have to find out if being like other sports is actually worth it.
By RANDALL MELL
No, but put the armchair referees on a clock.
When the first round ends, it’s closed out and becomes official when the second round begins. No viewer interventions can affect the first round once that second round begins. And it keeps going like that, with each round becoming official once the next round begins, limiting viewer interventions to that time clock. In cases where rounds overlap, because of suspended play issues, make a round official as soon as it ends. And make the tournament official once the final scorecard is signed.
That’s pretty much the plan Stacy Lewis proposes, and while there’s no perfect answer to golf’s great armchair referee headache, there’s logic and symmetry in giving each round a life of its own.
It seems to be all about pain management in dealing with viewer interventions, and 24 hours makes sense as a tourniquet.
Report: 'Off-course' participation fuels golf growth.
(Photo/Golf Channel Digital)
Golf participation is on the rise, thanks in large part to a growing subsection of individuals who play miles from any course.
According to a Forbes report, the National Golf Foundation recently announced golf's consumer base as 32 million people, up from 31.1 million a year ago. That jump comes despite the fact that actual on-course participation declined 1.2 percent in 2016.
The difference reportedly comes from "off-course" areas of participation, which are now counting into golf's total participation numbers for the first time. Chief among those are indoor simulators and TopGolf, the nationwide chain of outdoor driving ranges that helped boost overall off-course participation by 11 percent last year.
Previously, the qualification of a golf participant in the eyes of the NGF was anyone over 6 years old who played an on-course round at least once a year. That definition has now been broadened to include anyone who hit a golf ball with a club, excluding mini-golf putters.
It shows that individuals are getting more creative with how they tackle the game, but it wasn't all bad news on the on-course participation front. The NGF reported that last year a record 2.5 million people played on a course for the first time, breaking the prior mark of 2.4 million that was set in 2000 when Tiger Woods was in the midst of winning four straight majors.
According to a Forbes report, the National Golf Foundation recently announced golf's consumer base as 32 million people, up from 31.1 million a year ago. That jump comes despite the fact that actual on-course participation declined 1.2 percent in 2016.
The difference reportedly comes from "off-course" areas of participation, which are now counting into golf's total participation numbers for the first time. Chief among those are indoor simulators and TopGolf, the nationwide chain of outdoor driving ranges that helped boost overall off-course participation by 11 percent last year.
Previously, the qualification of a golf participant in the eyes of the NGF was anyone over 6 years old who played an on-course round at least once a year. That definition has now been broadened to include anyone who hit a golf ball with a club, excluding mini-golf putters.
It shows that individuals are getting more creative with how they tackle the game, but it wasn't all bad news on the on-course participation front. The NGF reported that last year a record 2.5 million people played on a course for the first time, breaking the prior mark of 2.4 million that was set in 2000 when Tiger Woods was in the midst of winning four straight majors.
NASCAR: Weekend NASCAR Cup, Xfinity schedule at Richmond.
By Jerry Bonkowski
(Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series move to Richmond International Raceway for this weekend’s racing action.
The track hosted its first NASCAR race in 1953. The 0.75-mile facility is challenging and a driver and fan favorite.
Jimmie Johnson goes for his third consecutive victory after winning at Texas Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway this month.
Here’s the weekend schedule, complete with TV and radio info.
(All times are Eastern)
Friday, April 28
9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
11:30 a.m. – 12:55 p.m. – Cup practice (Fox Sports 1, MRN)
1 – 1:55 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
3 – 3:55 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
4:45 p.m. – Cup qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1, MRN)
Saturday, April 29
6:30 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Cup garage open
9 – 9:55 a.m. – Cup practice (FS1, MRN)
10:05 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1)
11:15 a.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. – Final Cup practice (FS1, MRN)
12:30 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1 p.m. – Toyota Care 250; 250 laps/187.5 miles (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, April 30
8:30 a.m. – Cup garage opens
12 p.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting
1:20 p.m. – Driver introductions
2 p.m. – Toyota Owners 400; 400 laps, 300 miles (Fox, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Power Rankings: Jimmie Johnson ascends to No. 1.
By Nick Bromberg
The track hosted its first NASCAR race in 1953. The 0.75-mile facility is challenging and a driver and fan favorite.
Jimmie Johnson goes for his third consecutive victory after winning at Texas Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway this month.
Here’s the weekend schedule, complete with TV and radio info.
(All times are Eastern)
Friday, April 28
9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Cup garage open
10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Xfinity garage open
11:30 a.m. – 12:55 p.m. – Cup practice (Fox Sports 1, MRN)
1 – 1:55 p.m. – Xfinity practice (FS1)
3 – 3:55 p.m. – Final Xfinity practice (FS1)
4:45 p.m. – Cup qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1, MRN)
Saturday, April 29
6:30 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens
7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Cup garage open
9 – 9:55 a.m. – Cup practice (FS1, MRN)
10:05 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying; three rounds/multi-car (FS1)
11:15 a.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting
11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. – Final Cup practice (FS1, MRN)
12:30 p.m. – Xfinity driver introductions
1 p.m. – Toyota Care 250; 250 laps/187.5 miles (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday, April 30
8:30 a.m. – Cup garage opens
12 p.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting
1:20 p.m. – Driver introductions
2 p.m. – Toyota Owners 400; 400 laps, 300 miles (Fox, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Power Rankings: Jimmie Johnson ascends to No. 1.
By Nick Bromberg
(Photo/www.41nbc.com)
1. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 3): Johnson’s second win of 2017 was just his second win in 31 starts at Bristol. He said in victory lane that he and crew chief Chad Knaus found something during Saturday’s practices. We of course don’t know the details of what that exact something is, but Knaus said after the race that it helped that other teams were struggling for setup edges because of the sticky stuff Bristol laid down in the bottom groove.
“Now, the thing that’s difficult is he drives a race car way different than other people do, and what he likes to feel in the race car is significantly different than what a lot of other drivers like to have,” Knaus said. “The track surface being the way that it was I think is exactly what we needed because everybody was searching, people were sliding all over the racetrack, they were complaining and nobody was really in a comfortable state of mind, and that’s when I think the 48 team excels is when there’s chaos. I think between Jimmie’s experience, his driving ability and what we can do with the race car, that’s what we excel.”
Knaus — like always — is likely on to something with that. Teams were very unfamiliar with the tricky new surface at Texas and look what the No. 48 team pulled off there.
2. Kyle Larson (LW: 2): Larson threw away his chances at winning the race when he sped on pit road with 77 laps to go. If you were watching the Fox broadcast, you would have thought he sped leaving the pits despite having the final pit stall on pit road. After Larson’s penalty, Fox broadcaster Mike Joy tried to explain to fans that Larson got caught speeding because he went “straight out” of his pit stall and he got “caught speeding in this last 50 lap segment that is pie-shaped,” whatever the hell that actually means.
Anyway, Larson was not penalized for speeding after he pitted. He was caught speeding on pit entry. Once again, take everything that Fox tells you with a grain of salt. Their broadcasts can have a very hard time getting basic facts right.
Larson finished sixth after a two-tire pit stop gave him some track position after the speeding penalty. It’s fair to wonder if he would have had something for Johnson at the end of the race if he had four fresh tires.
3. Brad Keselowski (LW: 1): Keselowski wasn’t very fast all day and had to take his car behind the wall for rear brake and steering issues. He finished 34th.
4. Clint Bowyer (LW: 8): Bowyer got past Larson and teammate Kevin Harvick for second in the final laps but had nothing for Johnson, who coasted to victory.
“It was one of those deals where I gained on him a little bit in the first few laps that I got in second, and I was really hard on my stuff, and then you start doing stupid stuff, trying to free it up, putting more rear brake in it and stuff that you know is probably not going to work, but you’re just desperate and trying anything you can possibly do,” Bowyer said. “Started getting loose in, and I just kind of had to protect the ride. It is frustrating, you could see him out there, but dammit, you’d think he’d get tired of winning all these races.”
Bowyer, who hasn’t won in over four years, will get to victory lane soon enough if the performance of his No. 14 team stays where it is.
5. Kevin Harvick (LW: 7): Harvick had a revealing quote about the speed of his car at the end of Monday’s race. He stayed out on old tires to gain track position on the final set of pit stops and inherited the lead. But because he had old tires he was no match for the drivers who had fresh tires behind him.
“I thought our Jimmy Johns Ford was the fastest car, we just needed track position. I think we showed how fast it was there on no tires and kind of able to hold our own. You just never know where you’re going to come out on those restarts.”
6. Chase Elliott (LW: 4): Elliott finished seventh, his sixth top-10 finish in eight races. He’s having a start to the season that would get a lot more attention if it wasn’t for Larson, the driver ahead of him in the points standings.
In true Elliott form, he called his seventh-place finish and his race that led to it “alright.” It’s a description that Elliott may end up using for his first career win whenever it happens.
“It was alright we just kind of got behind through those mid-stages and fought back a little bit, just not enough.”
7. Joey Logano (LW: 5): The sport’s forgotten young gun — he’s never mentioned as one of its young drivers despite being a month younger than Austin Dillon — finished fifth. Logano hasn’t had the right combination of speed and luck yet in 2017 but he’s fourth in the points standings.
He was passed for the lead by Johnson after a restart with just over 100 laps to go and said it was because his car wasn’t effective immediately after restarts.
“Yeah, we weren’t a restarter today,” Logano said. “Kind of non-typical for the 22. It’s usually a short-run speed car. I started out hitting the splitter, up the race track, I was all over the place. I couldn’t even retain the lead when we had it. That probably cost us the race when we lost the lead to the 48. Good long run car, just didn’t have enough long runs.”
8. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 6): Truex beat Johnson off pit road after the final pit stops of the race. But he sped leaving his pit stall and had to restart at the end of the field.
That allowed Johnson to be the first car restarting on four fresh tires and also cost Truex any shot at the win. He worked his way through the field to finish eighth.
“This is the best run we’ve had here in a long time,” Truex said. “It’s bittersweet, I wish we could have seen if we could have beat the 48 (Jimmie Johnson). We were close there before that last caution, but it is what it is and you try to get what you can get and sometimes you cross the line and today we crossed the line. All in all, it was an awesome day and a lot of fun. Had the VHT not worn out quite as bad then we would have really killed them.”
9. Jamie McMurray (LW: 11): That sneaky McMurray is tied for sixth with Jimmie Johnson in the points standings. He finished 12th on Monday.
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (LW: NR): Another Bristol race, another good finish for Stenhouse, who finished ninth. The trick for Stenhouse over the last few years has been to get the same results at other tracks that he’s been getting at Bristol. And he’s well on his way to doing that this year. After six top-10 finishes in 36 races last season, Stenhouse has three already in 2017.
11. Trevor Bayne (LW: NR): Bayne is four spots ahead of Stenhouse in the standings and finished two spots behind Stenhouse at Bristol. Bayne’s best finish of the season is a 10th at Daytona; but his worst has been a 23rd at Auto Club. That’s very Paul Menardish and we all saw how that type of performance got Menard into the playoffs before.
12. Kyle Busch (LW: 9): Busch had one of the fastest cars on Monday but he also had one of the more incident-prone cars too. Two right-front tire issues led to two smacks of the wall and ultimately, a retirement from the race.
Lucky Dog: Denny Hamlin finished 10th and it seems only a matter of time before he’s contending for a win regularly.
The DNF: Chris Buescher’s day ended after Kurt Busch spun.
Dropped Out: Ryan Blaney, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Long: Amid anxiety over retiring NASCAR drivers, a new era emerges.
By Dustin Long
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
It’s easy to lament where NASCAR is headed with Dale Earnhardt Jr. retiring from the Cup series after this season.
Fans have bid farewell to Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards (well, he may return) since last year. Then came Tuesday’s news about Earnhardt.
And it won’t be long before seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and former champions Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick reach the end of their careers.
For long-time fans, this is crushing news. Drivers they have grown accustomed to seeing on TV nearly every weekend from late February to the middle of November are leaving. In comes a new crop of drivers that fans are not as comfortable with or knowledgeable about.
Picking a new favorite driver isn’t made on a whim for many fans. If you’re going to pledge your loyalty, one has to be all in.
And that’s why this could be one of the greatest times in the sport for young drivers.
Now is your time Kyle Larson. Now is your time Chase Elliott. Now is your time Ryan Blaney.
Now it is time for all the young drivers to make their mark on the sport, reach out to the fan base and become the leaders who will guide NASCAR for the coming years.
From 2000-02, fans fretted about the transition NASCAR went through. That period brought Earnhardt, Johnson, Harvick, Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch into the series.
They combined to change the sport on the track — with how they raced — and off the track — with how they presented themselves.
Their roles increased as Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd and others retired. Many fans worried that the new drivers could never replace their favorites.
But it’s not about replacing. It’s about moving forward. Just as it is now.
No driver can replace Earnhardt. No one can or will be asked to shoulder so much of the sport as Earnhardt has throughout his career.
No driver can replace Gordon, who helped usher in the sport’s most popular era — not bad for a kid who was known to crash often his rookie year.
No driver can replace the cantankerous Stewart, who became a fan favorite for his gruff, tell-it-like-it-is manner and his fearlessness on the track.
That’s the thing. The young drivers just need to be themselves, not someone else.
They also must win. That will grow their fan base and give them a powerful voice for years to come.
They’re starting to gain power.
Consider the drivers age 26 and under. It includes Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, Larson, Elliott and Blaney.
That doesn’t even include those in the Xfinity Series, which features William Byron, Ryan Reed, Daniel Hemric and Cole Custer, among others.
And in the Camping World Truck Series, there’s Christopher Bell, Todd Gilliland, John Hunter Nemechek, Harrison Burton and Kaz Grala.
No one could have anticipated that Johnson, who had one Xfinity win before moving to Cup, would go on to tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most championships.
Somewhere in this group of young drivers there’s a multi-time champion. Maybe a couple of them. Maybe one who wins more than five championships.
Maybe one who changes the sport in ways one can’t even imagine.
SOCCER: Dax McCarty ready to 'soak in the moment' in his return to Red Bull Arena.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/USA TODAY)
When Dax McCarty was traded from the New York Red Bulls to the Chicago Fire in January it was the third time in his 12-year MLS career that he had been traded, but this was the one that affected him the most.
McCarty had been with the Red Bulls for five and a half years, the longest he had been with any team, and leaving New York was not easy for him even though he had been traded before. So when McCarty's new team, the Fire, visit the Red Bulls on Saturday, it won't just be an ordinary game for the 29-year-old midfielder.
"I'd say the Red Bulls meant more to me than any other team that I've been on so far," McCarty said. "In that sense it will probably be a little bit different, but I think the key to just trying to make it as normal as possible is just to treat it like another game, treat it like another three points that you have to try to win against a good team on the road. I just want to make sure that the game doesn't become too big about my return."
When McCarty was traded he had just gotten married and was immediately after headed to training camp with the U.S. national team. He was initially vocal about his frustration in how the Red Bulls handled the trade, but soon after that he didn't want to talk about that aspect of the trade anymore.
With Saturday's match marking his return to Red Bull Arena, the focus shifts back to McCarty and the trade. Now, he wants to focus on the personal side of the trade, the people that are no longer an everyday part of his life. He mentioned security guards, chefs and maintenance crew among the people he will be happy to see again.
"I don't think I got to say a proper goodbye to a lot of the guys on the team and I don't think I got to say a proper goodbye to the fans and the way that they treated me when I was in New York so I'll soak in the environment, I'll soak in the moment," McCarty said. "Hopefully I don't get too many boos.
"Whether we win, lose or draw I want to take in the time after the game to make sure the Red Bull fans know how much they meant to me in my time there. I'll try to go around the stadium and whatever few fans stick around after the game I'll wave and say thank you for supporting me during my time there."
He said his former Red Bulls teammates are some of his best friends and he keeps in touch with many of them. Going up against them and heading to the other locker room will be different.
"Those are guys I went to battle with for a long time and those are guys that I'll probably be friends for life with some of them," McCarty said. "Certainly seeing them on the other side, it will be weird, but it's going to be an enjoyable moment I think. Once the 90 minutes hits and once we step on the field it's going to be a dog fight."
McCarty's two previous trades, from Dallas to D.C. via Portland's expansion draft pick after the 2010 season and from D.C. to the Red Bulls in June of 2011, were very different. After spending five years in Dallas, he was traded by D.C. United after less than half a season.
"I'd say the only time it really was kind of a little bit surreal and kind of emotional was when I went back to Dallas because I was in Dallas for a really long time," McCarty said. "That club meant a lot to me. I wasn't really in D.C. for very long and we played New York so much. It was weird because I got traded from D.C. to New York and I think we played them two or three games after the trade and it was in the middle of the season so that was kind of just a whirlwind.
"Going back to Dallas for the first time, being back in the stadium and seeing the fans and going into the visitors' locker room, all that stuff that comes with it is definitely strange.
Despite his experience with being traded and returning to a former team, McCarty is still expecting it to hit him on Saturday.
Man City 0-0 Man United: Mourinho’s “masterclass” tiresome.
By Andy Edwards
Sergio Aguero has now attempted 7 shots in this game; more than any other player in a single game against Man Utd this season. Knocking. (Photo/twitter.com)
Thursday’s Manchester derby, which was supposed to provide a bit of clarity in the battle between Manchester City and Manchester United as the two sides vie for a place in the Premier League’s top-four, saw one side set out to play soccer and score, while the other executed another of Jose Mourinho’s disciplined defensive performances.
The affair ended a 0-0 draw at Man City’s Etihad Stadium.
The game’s first chance came and went after 10 uneventful minutes. Kevin De Bruyne whipped in a ball of his typically high standard and found Sergio Aguero at the back post. The Argentine, who entered Thursday’s showdown in irresistible form (a goal scored in six straight games – all competitions; 12 goals in his last 12 games), hit the outside of the post from three yards out, and Red Devils the world over exhaled.
Aguero would be active and heavily involved throughout, piling up a season-high number of shots against United only five minutes into the second half.
It was De Bruyne who sent City fans into premature raptures not long before the hour mark, as the Belgian unleashed a powerful, dipping strike from 25 yards out that bulged the side and back netting from the outside. David De Gea likely had his near post covered should the strike have been on target, but the chance was a sign of things to come.
Wave after wave of City counter-attacks followed, and City would ultimately out-shoot United, who it should be noted were without an injured Paul Pogba, by a final tally of 19-3 (6-1 on target).
The evening’s most notable event occurred in the 84th minute. Marouane Fellaini had been booked about 30 seconds earlier, and the Belgian committed a nothing foul on Aguero as he raced through midfield. Aguero took exception to Fellaini’s challenge and voiced his displeasure as he got to his feet. Fellaini responded with a headbutt (above video) five yards in front of referee Martin Atkinson, who was looking directly at the confrontation.
City finally put the ball past De Gea in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, but Gabriel Jesus, who returned to action after missing nearly three months with a broken foot, was correctly flagged as offside.
With the draw, United remain a point back of City in their bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Perhaps more importantly, though, 1) their unbeaten run in PL play is now 23 games; 2) they have moved to within two points of third-place Liverpool, and have a game in hand on the Reds. While Mourinho says publicly that wining the Europa League is United’s most likely path into next season’s CL, multiple avenues for qualification through the PL have presented themselves.
Three things we learned from Man City v. Man United.
By Joe Prince-Wright
The affair ended a 0-0 draw at Man City’s Etihad Stadium.
The game’s first chance came and went after 10 uneventful minutes. Kevin De Bruyne whipped in a ball of his typically high standard and found Sergio Aguero at the back post. The Argentine, who entered Thursday’s showdown in irresistible form (a goal scored in six straight games – all competitions; 12 goals in his last 12 games), hit the outside of the post from three yards out, and Red Devils the world over exhaled.
Aguero would be active and heavily involved throughout, piling up a season-high number of shots against United only five minutes into the second half.
It was De Bruyne who sent City fans into premature raptures not long before the hour mark, as the Belgian unleashed a powerful, dipping strike from 25 yards out that bulged the side and back netting from the outside. David De Gea likely had his near post covered should the strike have been on target, but the chance was a sign of things to come.
Wave after wave of City counter-attacks followed, and City would ultimately out-shoot United, who it should be noted were without an injured Paul Pogba, by a final tally of 19-3 (6-1 on target).
The evening’s most notable event occurred in the 84th minute. Marouane Fellaini had been booked about 30 seconds earlier, and the Belgian committed a nothing foul on Aguero as he raced through midfield. Aguero took exception to Fellaini’s challenge and voiced his displeasure as he got to his feet. Fellaini responded with a headbutt (above video) five yards in front of referee Martin Atkinson, who was looking directly at the confrontation.
City finally put the ball past De Gea in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, but Gabriel Jesus, who returned to action after missing nearly three months with a broken foot, was correctly flagged as offside.
With the draw, United remain a point back of City in their bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Perhaps more importantly, though, 1) their unbeaten run in PL play is now 23 games; 2) they have moved to within two points of third-place Liverpool, and have a game in hand on the Reds. While Mourinho says publicly that wining the Europa League is United’s most likely path into next season’s CL, multiple avenues for qualification through the PL have presented themselves.
Three things we learned from Man City v. Man United.
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/Getty Images)
Manchester City and Manchester United fought out a 0-0 draw in the Manchester Derby on Thursday as two teams battling for the top four canceled each other.
City had the better chances with Sergio Aguero hitting the post and going close on multiple occasions but Pep Guardiola‘s men couldn’t break through and Jose Mourinho’s United — who finished the game with 10-men after Marouane Fellaini was sent off — remain one point and one place behind them in the table.
Here’s what we learned from a tight, tense derby.
RASHFORD RAMPANT
It seems like each and every week Marcus Rashford is improving drastically. The 19-year-old was the standout player on the pitch in the Manchester Derby at the Etihad, once again.
13 months ago Rashford scored a superb game-winner for United at City but as impressive as he was on that day, his game and body have developed drastically since then.
His sheer pace left City’s defenders for dead on multiple occasions with Nicolas Otamendi and Aleksandar Kolarov often given a 10-yard head start but not able to catch Rashford.
An audacious flick over Otamendi with this back of his heel while he was on the move was the pick of his moment. Rashford is maturing rapidly and after he tore Chelsea apart just 10 days ago, he was United’s biggest attacking threat all evening.
Manchester United will miss Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s penchant for popping up at the right place at the right time — as he’s done on 28 occasions this season before having his season ended through injury — but if Rashford is given enough time on the pitch, his rapidly development will surely see him flourish into one of the finest forwards in the game.
GUARDIOLA, MOURINHO OVERCAUTIOUS
All three games between Man City and Man United this season have been tight, tense encounters. This was no different.
City ripped United apart in the first half of their 2-1 win at Old Trafford back in September and then United edged things in a 1-0 home win in the EFL Cup a month later.
Guardiola’s City once again did all the pressing in this game as Aguero hit the outside of the post from a wonderful ball from the brilliant Kevin De Bruyne and the Argentine ace had an off day in front of goal, blazing off target on multiple occasions as United stayed compact but let him have a glimpse of the goal from distance.
With City just one point ahead of United with five games to go for both teams, Pep will probably still be feeling the more confident of the two managers about finishing in the top four given the respective run-in’s for both clubs. Yes, United have gone 24 games unbeaten in the Premier League but they aren’t exactly impressing.
Mourinho set his team up to counter with Rashford, Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in attack but United never truly got hold of the ball as City’s high-pressing surprisingly unnerved season campaigners such as Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Fellaini with the latter head-butting Aguero stupidly late on to see red.
Considering all of their injuries and plenty of games coming up, United will be happy with a point to stay in the top four hunt and so will City. The final encounter between Guardiola and Mourinho this season didn’t live up to the hype and with so much on the line in their debut campaigns in Manchester, just four goals across the three Manchester derbies proves that neither has lost face locally.
Then again, neither have impressed much this season either.
Here’s what we learned from a tight, tense derby.
RASHFORD RAMPANT
It seems like each and every week Marcus Rashford is improving drastically. The 19-year-old was the standout player on the pitch in the Manchester Derby at the Etihad, once again.
13 months ago Rashford scored a superb game-winner for United at City but as impressive as he was on that day, his game and body have developed drastically since then.
His sheer pace left City’s defenders for dead on multiple occasions with Nicolas Otamendi and Aleksandar Kolarov often given a 10-yard head start but not able to catch Rashford.
An audacious flick over Otamendi with this back of his heel while he was on the move was the pick of his moment. Rashford is maturing rapidly and after he tore Chelsea apart just 10 days ago, he was United’s biggest attacking threat all evening.
Manchester United will miss Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s penchant for popping up at the right place at the right time — as he’s done on 28 occasions this season before having his season ended through injury — but if Rashford is given enough time on the pitch, his rapidly development will surely see him flourish into one of the finest forwards in the game.
GUARDIOLA, MOURINHO OVERCAUTIOUS
All three games between Man City and Man United this season have been tight, tense encounters. This was no different.
City ripped United apart in the first half of their 2-1 win at Old Trafford back in September and then United edged things in a 1-0 home win in the EFL Cup a month later.
Guardiola’s City once again did all the pressing in this game as Aguero hit the outside of the post from a wonderful ball from the brilliant Kevin De Bruyne and the Argentine ace had an off day in front of goal, blazing off target on multiple occasions as United stayed compact but let him have a glimpse of the goal from distance.
With City just one point ahead of United with five games to go for both teams, Pep will probably still be feeling the more confident of the two managers about finishing in the top four given the respective run-in’s for both clubs. Yes, United have gone 24 games unbeaten in the Premier League but they aren’t exactly impressing.
Mourinho set his team up to counter with Rashford, Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in attack but United never truly got hold of the ball as City’s high-pressing surprisingly unnerved season campaigners such as Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Fellaini with the latter head-butting Aguero stupidly late on to see red.
Considering all of their injuries and plenty of games coming up, United will be happy with a point to stay in the top four hunt and so will City. The final encounter between Guardiola and Mourinho this season didn’t live up to the hype and with so much on the line in their debut campaigns in Manchester, just four goals across the three Manchester derbies proves that neither has lost face locally.
Then again, neither have impressed much this season either.
KOMPANY BACK TO HIS BEST
On three occasions in the first half Vincent Kompany stepped in to make superbly timed interceptions.
City’s skipper is well and truly back to his best.
After two injury ravaged campaign the Belgian star, 31, led from the back and was always willing to step high and engage United’s attacks to try and stop them at source.
Question marks will still remain about Kompany’s fitness for the foreseeable future but after playing three games in 10 days he finally seems to have not only regained his fitness but also his form.
It remains to be seen whether Kompany will still be at City next season but you have to think him remaining is essential after the shaky play of both Otamendi and John Stones for much of this season.
Since Kompany returned to fitness in early April, City have conceded just three goals in the four games he’s played with the skipper having two clean sheets.
On three occasions in the first half Vincent Kompany stepped in to make superbly timed interceptions.
City’s skipper is well and truly back to his best.
After two injury ravaged campaign the Belgian star, 31, led from the back and was always willing to step high and engage United’s attacks to try and stop them at source.
Question marks will still remain about Kompany’s fitness for the foreseeable future but after playing three games in 10 days he finally seems to have not only regained his fitness but also his form.
It remains to be seen whether Kompany will still be at City next season but you have to think him remaining is essential after the shaky play of both Otamendi and John Stones for much of this season.
Since Kompany returned to fitness in early April, City have conceded just three goals in the four games he’s played with the skipper having two clean sheets.
La Liga wrap: Real, Barca boast blowouts.
By Nicholas Mendola
(Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
La Liga isn’t exactly competitive from top to bottom, and both Real Madrid and chasing Barcelona took advantage of weaker competition on Wednesday.
Deportivo de la Coruna 2-6 Real Madrid
When your “B Team” includes James Rodriguez and a certain Alvaro Morata, life is pretty good.
Zinedine Zidane watched as Real took another step toward a first La Liga title since 2011-12 behind a James brace and markers from Morata (below, with style), Lucas Vazquez, Casemiro, and Isco.
Barcelona 7-1 Osasuna
Barca effectively relegated Osasuna. Despite braces from Lionel Messi, Paco Alcacer, and Andre Gomes, the headlines were stolen by Javier Mascherano.
The Argentine scored his first ever Barca goal in just his 318th appearance for the club.
Elsewhere
Leganes 3-0 Las Palmas – Luciano Neves bags brace.
Valencia 2-3 Real Sociedad – Visitors build 3-0 lead.
Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS |
| Barcelona | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 101 | 33 | 68 | 13-3-1 | 11-3-3 | 78 |
| Real Madrid | 33 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 90 | 38 | 52 | 12-4-1 | 12-2-2 | 78 |
| Atlético Madrid | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 60 | 25 | 35 | 12-2-3 | 8-6-3 | 68 |
| Sevilla | 33 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 58 | 39 | 19 | 12-3-1 | 7-5-5 | 65 |
| Villarreal | 34 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 49 | 27 | 22 | 10-3-4 | 7-6-4 | 60 |
| Real Sociedad | 34 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 52 | 47 | 5 | 9-4-4 | 9-0-8 | 58 |
| Athletic | 33 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 46 | 37 | 9 | 12-3-2 | 5-2-9 | 56 |
| Eibar | 33 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 52 | 45 | 7 | 9-3-5 | 5-5-6 | 50 |
| Espanyol | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 45 | 44 | 1 | 8-5-4 | 5-6-6 | 50 |
| Celta Vigo | 32 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 48 | 52 | -4 | 9-1-6 | 4-4-8 | 44 |
| Alavés | 33 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 32 | 40 | -8 | 5-7-4 | 6-4-7 | 44 |
| Valencia | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 49 | 59 | -10 | 7-4-6 | 4-3-10 | 40 |
| Las Palmas | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 52 | 61 | -9 | 9-6-2 | 1-3-13 | 39 |
| Málaga | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 40 | 49 | -9 | 8-2-6 | 2-7-9 | 39 |
| Betis | 33 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 36 | 51 | -15 | 6-6-5 | 4-1-11 | 37 |
| Deportivo | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 37 | 57 | -20 | 6-5-6 | 1-5-11 | 31 |
| Leganes | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 30 | 51 | -21 | 4-5-8 | 3-4-10 | 30 |
| Sporting de Gijón | 34 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 37 | 67 | -30 | 4-3-10 | 1-6-10 | 24 |
| Granada | 34 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 27 | 72 | -45 | 4-4-9 | 0-4-13 | 20 |
| Osasuna | 34 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 35 | 82 | -47 | 1-6-10 | 2-3-12 | 18 |
NCAAFB: Travel stipends for families remain in place for 2017 playoff semifinals, title game.
By John Taylor
(Photo/Getty Images)
At least on one level, common sense will continue to prevail in big-time college football.
Ahead of the first College Football Playoff championship game after the 2014 regular season, the CFP announced that it would provide a travel stipend of $2,500 for the parents/guardians of up to 100 players from each team playing in the title game. The past two years, those stipends were expanded to include the playoff semifinals as well.
Moving into the fourth year of the playoff structure, the stipend will remain in place.
It’s assumed that the travel stipend will again be extended to 125 parents/guardians for the two semifinal games as well as title tilt, the same number that’s been in place each of the last two years.
For the 2015 playoffs, a total of $1.5 million was doled out to players’ families. There was a similar figure for the 2016 playoffs.
Over the 12-year life of the contract it reached an agreement on in November of 2012, it’s believed ESPN will pay in excess of $7 billion for the right to broadcast the playoffs as well as the so-called New Year’s Six bowl games.
One final bit of CFP housekeeping while we’re here as the dates for the releases of the 2017 playoff selection committee rankings were announced. The first set of Top 25 rankings will, appropriately enough, be released on Halloween night.
Ahead of the first College Football Playoff championship game after the 2014 regular season, the CFP announced that it would provide a travel stipend of $2,500 for the parents/guardians of up to 100 players from each team playing in the title game. The past two years, those stipends were expanded to include the playoff semifinals as well.
Moving into the fourth year of the playoff structure, the stipend will remain in place.
It’s assumed that the travel stipend will again be extended to 125 parents/guardians for the two semifinal games as well as title tilt, the same number that’s been in place each of the last two years.
For the 2015 playoffs, a total of $1.5 million was doled out to players’ families. There was a similar figure for the 2016 playoffs.
Over the 12-year life of the contract it reached an agreement on in November of 2012, it’s believed ESPN will pay in excess of $7 billion for the right to broadcast the playoffs as well as the so-called New Year’s Six bowl games.
One final bit of CFP housekeeping while we’re here as the dates for the releases of the 2017 playoff selection committee rankings were announced. The first set of Top 25 rankings will, appropriately enough, be released on Halloween night.
Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson frowns upon Group of Five playoff idea.
By Kevin McGuire
(Photo/AP)
The chances a team from the Group of Five ever gets selected to play in the College Football Playoff range from slim to none. As such, talk from within the Group of Five has kicked up from time to time, especially over the last year, about a possible Group of Five-only version of the College Football Playoff. The reactions to that idea has been mixed, but add Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson to the group of people who thinks that idea should be tossed aside.
While attending meetings for the College Football Playoff, Benson told reporters he would prefer to see conference champions from the Group of Five (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) receive better bowl bids instead of playing in a minor version of the College Football Playoff.
“It’s time to have a realistic conversation about creating a playoff for the Group of 5,” NIU athletic director Sean Frazier told Brett McMurphy, then of ESPN.com, back in December. “Why not?”
Well, there are a number of reasons. First, not everybody seems to be on board with playing the college football version equivalent of the NIT. Sure, it would be on TV and would get ratings, but the reward at the end of the JV playoff would mean little. Nobody would consider it a national championship. That’s what the FCS is for.
Benson is not alone in his anti-Group of Five playoff stance. MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher also has been on record saying he is not interested in such a plan, and he oversaw a member from his conference go undefeated last season and play in the Cotton Bowl (Western Michigan).
“My initial reaction is that’s not something I’m interested in,” Steinbrecher said, according to MLive.com in December. “We’re part of the (College Football Playoff) system, and it’s done a lot of very good things for the Mid-American Conference.”
Without the support from two of the Group of Five commissioners (and you can almost be guaranteed you can add Mike Aresco of the American Athletic Conference to the list given the conference’s push to be considered a power conference), this idea is pretty much dead on arrival.
While attending meetings for the College Football Playoff, Benson told reporters he would prefer to see conference champions from the Group of Five (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) receive better bowl bids instead of playing in a minor version of the College Football Playoff.
“It’s time to have a realistic conversation about creating a playoff for the Group of 5,” NIU athletic director Sean Frazier told Brett McMurphy, then of ESPN.com, back in December. “Why not?”
Well, there are a number of reasons. First, not everybody seems to be on board with playing the college football version equivalent of the NIT. Sure, it would be on TV and would get ratings, but the reward at the end of the JV playoff would mean little. Nobody would consider it a national championship. That’s what the FCS is for.
Benson is not alone in his anti-Group of Five playoff stance. MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher also has been on record saying he is not interested in such a plan, and he oversaw a member from his conference go undefeated last season and play in the Cotton Bowl (Western Michigan).
“My initial reaction is that’s not something I’m interested in,” Steinbrecher said, according to MLive.com in December. “We’re part of the (College Football Playoff) system, and it’s done a lot of very good things for the Mid-American Conference.”
Without the support from two of the Group of Five commissioners (and you can almost be guaranteed you can add Mike Aresco of the American Athletic Conference to the list given the conference’s push to be considered a power conference), this idea is pretty much dead on arrival.
NCAABKB: If you think 137 players declaring for the draft is stupid, you’re probably stupid.
By Rob Dauster
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
137.
For 60 spots in the NBA Draft, only 30 of which guarantee you a contract in the NBA.
And that’s before you factor in the 45 international players that also declared for the NBA Draft, as well as the crop of seniors — Josh Hart, Monte’ Morris, Jaron Blossomgame, Alec Peters — that are going to end up hearing their names called. All told, there are going to be roughly 200 players competing to be one of the 60 people that end up getting drafted on June 22nd, and you don’t have to be any good at math to realize that 200 is a much, much bigger number than 60.
This unleashed a torrent of bad takes on the decision of these players.
And bad may not be doing those takes justice.
Because the bottom-line is this: You cannot paint the decision on whether or not to go pro with a broad brush.
For some players, making money of any kind is something they need to do to support their family, whether it’s what they’ll get with a first round guarantee, the $75-100,000 they’ll get for making a training camp roster to subsidize their time in the D-League while teams develop them or the money they can make in the D-League or overseas. You don’t know what their financial situation is. Maximizing their ability to capitalize on every available dollar they can make off of their athletic gifts may be more important than working towards a degree.
And it’s worth noting here that a guaranteed contract isn’t the only way to make a living in professional basketball. To say nothing of the money that can be made overseas or the number of second round picks and undrafted players that make guaranteed money — which is more than you probably realize — it needs to be noted that D-League salaries are getting a bump this year with the new CBA.
The NBA has also instituted something new called a “two-way contract”. Without getting into the legalese, it’s essentially a retainer worth well into the six figures that they will be able to give to two players that will allow them to retain that player under contract while sending them between the D-League and the NBA roster. In a sense, it creates an extra 60 NBA roster spots for players that have 0-3 years worth of professional basketball on their résumé.
Some players are simply declaring without signing with an agent because they want to get feedback directly from NBA personnel on what their professional prospects. Some will hear that they need to return to school to work on their body, or work on their jumper, or mature as a person to be able to handle everything that comes with being a professional. Others will be told they’re going to make a lot of money by staying in the draft, or that they need to go back to school because, frankly, they are not professional basketball players. Not getting invited to the NBA combine is a pretty good indication of where you stand in the eyes of NBA teams.
Still other players are putting their name into the draft to leave their options open should they be recruited over by the program they are a part of. Take Frank Jackson, for example. If he can return to school and thrive as Duke’s point guard, maybe he turns into a top 20 pick. But what happens if Trevon Duval, the best point guard in the Class of 2017 and a top five pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, picks Duke? Would it be in Jackson’s best interest to come back to Duke when he won’t be playing the position that he needs to learn to play to turn himself into a lasting NBA player?
Jackson, like the roughly 100 underclassmen that have declared without an agent, has until May 24th to make his decision on whether or not he will keep his name in the draft. Until then, he can return to school without damaging his eligibility.
The entire reason that the NCAA changed their rules to allow players to test the waters is so that they can make the most important decision of their lives with as much information as humanly possible. This thing exists for the sole purpose of allowing the kids to have as much knowledge about their options as possible.
And that is exactly what these kids are doing.
So the idea that this rule, or players taking advantage of that rule, however high that number may be, is a bad thing is stupid.
Follow-Up: D-League salaries, two-way contracts increase NBA Draft early entries.
By Rob Dauster
(Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Yesterday, I wrote a piece about how it’s dumb to criticize players for entering the NBA Draft without costing themselves their collegiate eligibility when the NCAA’s new NBA Draft rules are specifically designed for said players to be able to do that.
In that column, I mentioned that D-League salaries are on the rise and that the NBA’s new CBA instituted something called “two-way contracts,” and I wanted a chance to elaborate and clarify a couple of the points that I made.
Let’s start with the “two-way contracts,” which NBA teams each get two of. They are essentially a retainer that those teams can place on younger players they want to be the 16th and 17th men on their roster, holding their rights as they bounce between the D-League — where they will likely spend the majority of the year — and the NBA. The catch is that those players have to have less than three years service as a professional, and the point of it is to provide a financial incentive for younger players with the potential to reach the NBA to remain stateside while allowing those NBA teams to develop them.
That financial incentive is fairly large, as well: Two-way players will make $75,000 guaranteed and will be able to make up to $275,000, depending on the amount of time they spend with the NBA team.
That means there are an extra 60 jobs this season that can end up paying players with less than three years of professional basketball experience upwards of a quarter-of-a-million dollars.
That’s not a bad starting salary.
The other point that I wanted to address is the rising D-League salaries which, technically, will not be rising. There are still going to be Tier A and Tier B players, who make $26,000 and $20,000 respectively. But the NBA has something called affiliate players, which each of the now-25 NBA teams with a D-League affiliate can pay up to $50,000 for training camp. NBA teams are allowed a maximum of four affiliate players, who will still make their $26,000 salary from their D-League team.
In other words, that’s 100 more jobs available in the United States where a
professional basketball player can make $76,000, and that’s before you consider that the five NBA teams that do not yet have a D-League affiliate will still have to play players to get them into training camp.
That $76,000 is not a life-changing amount of money. Neither is the $275,000 that a two-way contract can pay. But it’s a pretty damn good paycheck to make for an entry-level job into the industry that you always dreamed of being in.
Athletes have an unbelievably small window where they can capitalize monetarily on their gifts.
If a 21-year old sophomore decides that he wants to continue to develop his game and chase his NBA dream by making $76,000 as a D-League player, is that really all that crazy?
After all, 135 of the 450 players, or 30 percent of the roster spots, on NBA’s opening night were taken by guys that had spent time in the D-League.
There’s more than one way to make a dream come true.
In that column, I mentioned that D-League salaries are on the rise and that the NBA’s new CBA instituted something called “two-way contracts,” and I wanted a chance to elaborate and clarify a couple of the points that I made.
Let’s start with the “two-way contracts,” which NBA teams each get two of. They are essentially a retainer that those teams can place on younger players they want to be the 16th and 17th men on their roster, holding their rights as they bounce between the D-League — where they will likely spend the majority of the year — and the NBA. The catch is that those players have to have less than three years service as a professional, and the point of it is to provide a financial incentive for younger players with the potential to reach the NBA to remain stateside while allowing those NBA teams to develop them.
That financial incentive is fairly large, as well: Two-way players will make $75,000 guaranteed and will be able to make up to $275,000, depending on the amount of time they spend with the NBA team.
That means there are an extra 60 jobs this season that can end up paying players with less than three years of professional basketball experience upwards of a quarter-of-a-million dollars.
That’s not a bad starting salary.
The other point that I wanted to address is the rising D-League salaries which, technically, will not be rising. There are still going to be Tier A and Tier B players, who make $26,000 and $20,000 respectively. But the NBA has something called affiliate players, which each of the now-25 NBA teams with a D-League affiliate can pay up to $50,000 for training camp. NBA teams are allowed a maximum of four affiliate players, who will still make their $26,000 salary from their D-League team.
In other words, that’s 100 more jobs available in the United States where a
professional basketball player can make $76,000, and that’s before you consider that the five NBA teams that do not yet have a D-League affiliate will still have to play players to get them into training camp.
That $76,000 is not a life-changing amount of money. Neither is the $275,000 that a two-way contract can pay. But it’s a pretty damn good paycheck to make for an entry-level job into the industry that you always dreamed of being in.
Athletes have an unbelievably small window where they can capitalize monetarily on their gifts.
If a 21-year old sophomore decides that he wants to continue to develop his game and chase his NBA dream by making $76,000 as a D-League player, is that really all that crazy?
After all, 135 of the 450 players, or 30 percent of the roster spots, on NBA’s opening night were taken by guys that had spent time in the D-League.
There’s more than one way to make a dream come true.
Fourteen Things You Might Not Know About the Kentucky Derby.
By Christina Moore
More than 167,000 fans attended the Kentucky Derby in 2016. (Photo/Eclipse Sportswire)
The Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands is almost here, and next Saturday, May 6, marks the 143rd edition of the most exciting two minutes in sports. Make sure you’re ready for your Kentucky Derby party with these 14 fun facts about the race:
1. The Kentucky Derby is one of the highest-attended sporting events in the world. Last year more than 167,000 fans packed Churchill Downs, and the average attendance over the last 10 years is 160,820.
3. No horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby from post position No. 17. Each of the other 19 posts has had at least one winner.
4. Historic Calumet Farm has eight wins in the race and finished in the top three another five times. Now with a different owner, the farm is back with at least two runners in this year’s Kentucky Derby: Hence, Patch and possibly Sonneteer.
5. California-based horses have won the race four out of the last five years (2012, 2014-16) after a six-year winless drought.
6. There are 400 red roses in the winner’s garland. Another 60 are in the winning jockey’s bouquet, and 2,100 adorn the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle.
7. The most expensive horse to win the race is Fusaichi Pegasus, who cost a cool $4 million. Seventeen Kentucky Derby starters in the race’s history sold for $1 million or more at auction. Fusaichi Pegasus is the only winner from that group.
8. No horse has won the Kentucky Derby without racing the year prior (as a 2-year-old) since Apollo in 1882. This year Malagacy will try to end the “Curse of Apollo.”
10. Derby winner Donerail (1913) won at record odds of 91.45-1. He paid $184.90 for a $2 win bet.
11. The last time a horse bred in New Jersey ran in the Kentucky Derby was 1992. Jersey-bred Irish War Cry will be one of the top betting choices this year, but a New Jersey-bred hasn’t won since 1934.
12. Racing fans bet $192,587,197 on Kentucky Derby day in 2016. That is but a small fraction of the $10.7 billion total amount bet on racing in North America last year.
13. The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously run major sporting event in the country. It’s been run annually since 1875, as have the Longines Kentucky Oaks and the Clark Handicap (also at Churchill Downs, in November).
14. Eleven Kentucky Derby winners since 1966 spent Derby week housed in Barn 42, one of 47 barns on the Churchill Downs backside. Stall 21 in Barn 41 is the winningest stall, with four Derby victories.
On This Date in Sports History: Today is Friday, April 28, 2017.
Memoriesofhistory.com
1930 - The first organized night baseball game was played in Independence, Kansas.
1961 - The NFL chose Canton, Ohio, as the site for the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
1967 - Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army and was stripped of boxing title. He cited religious grounds for his refusal.
1971 - Hank Aaron hit his 600th career home run.
1985 - Billy Martin was named the manager of the New York Yankees for the fourth time.
1987 - It was announced that the NBA expansion teams would be in Charlotte and Miami in 1988.
1988 - The Baltimore Orioles lost for the 21st consecutive time. It was the longest streak to start a season in major league baseball.
1993 - Dale Hunter (Washington Capitals) executed a blindside check on Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders). On May 4 Hunter was given a 21 game suspension.
1961 - The NFL chose Canton, Ohio, as the site for the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
1967 - Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army and was stripped of boxing title. He cited religious grounds for his refusal.
1971 - Hank Aaron hit his 600th career home run.
1985 - Billy Martin was named the manager of the New York Yankees for the fourth time.
1987 - It was announced that the NBA expansion teams would be in Charlotte and Miami in 1988.
1988 - The Baltimore Orioles lost for the 21st consecutive time. It was the longest streak to start a season in major league baseball.
1993 - Dale Hunter (Washington Capitals) executed a blindside check on Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders). On May 4 Hunter was given a 21 game suspension.
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