Recent MVN Articles
- Call me, so I can make it juicy for ya - from "Cavalier Attitude"
On Tuesday, I sent an email to the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto about this piece that he wrote on Monday before Game 4. Pluto spent a lot of time explaining the way contracts work in the NBA and how it would be very difficult for a team other than the Cavaliers to lure LeBron James after 2010. Honestly, I thought we were past this point - yes, I know that a lot of.. (Read More)
2008 MLB Draft - Top 5 Pitchers - from "MLB Draft University"You will notice the absence of a high school pitcher - Tim Melville and Gerrit Cole would have come in at 7 and 8 behind Eastern Kentucky LHP Christian Freidrich. Their profiles are up and coming. Overall, the high school pitching crop was not great coming into the year, and less than stellar years from Cole and Melville has not helped things. They are still going to go in the first round as of.. (Read More)
Slowey has ways to go - from "Twins Killings"Kevin Slowey is on a test trial to prove that he can be stay in the rotation. Slowey has done okay, but okay is simply not good enough at this level. Last night, he gets a 1-0 lead, and he gives it away by giving up back-to-back doubles to give Toronto a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. That 1-0 lead was the only Twins lead of the night as the Jays went on to a 5-3.. (Read More)
What's that noise coming from Dallas? Oh its the Fat Lady.... - from "Stars Scene"Well what else is there to say really? As the photo caption says, the Fat Lady was in such a hurry to get to Dallas that she left her hat behind. Regardless if you thought the Red Wings would win this series, did anyone believe that they would possibly sweep?? The.. (Read More)
Game Recaps (5/13/08) - from "Mariners Minors"Tacoma 4, Omaha 1 (KC - 3) LHP Robert Rohrbaugh (5.66) pitched through five and two-thirds innings, allowing a run to score on four hits, two walks, and two Ks. Just for the hell of it, let’s compare Rohrbaugh’s rate stats from last year to this one. In 2007, he was going about 6.2 IP per start, he gave up about a hit per inning, had 2.74 walks per nine and 5.17 Ks.. (Read More)
Quality Defense, Pitching Spark Rangers To 5-2 Win - from "Baseball Time in Arlington"Just nineteen days ago, the rapidly fading season of the utterly hapless Texas Rangers - who were coming off a disastrous 2-7 road trip that had sent their 2008 record plummeting to 7-16, placing them a full seven games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - appeared to be beyond saving. So, too, did Ron Washington's job. In fact, if we are to take Kevin Sherrington's Tuesday column in the Dallas.. (Read More)
Hendrickson struggles, Fish fall to Reds - from "Marlins Today"On Monday, with the tying and go ahead runs on base in the 9th, the red hot Dan Uggla was stranded on deck. On Wednesday, he got his chance against against Reds closer Francisco Cordero, representing the tying run. Uggla struck out swinging to end the game and the Marlins dropped a second straight game for the first time since April 30. Mark Hendrickson got the start and went 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 8.. (Read More)
Integrity in a Pinch - from "The MLB Source"Tuesday wasn't just an anniversary for Stan Musial but for the genuine integrity of baseball, which often enough has to be upheld and defended, if not from conscious debasement then from best-intentioned debauchery. The future Hall of Famer was on the threshold of his three thousandth major league hit, joining a club whose membership before him numbered a mere six, and whose previous initiate had been Paul Waner fifteen years previous. Musial's then-manager, Fred Hutchinson, wanted nothing.. (Read More)
Tuesday’s Best – Guarantee Void in Auburn Hills - from "MVN Outsider"5. Sloppy Fielding – When the game starts with third baseman Adrian Beltre making a throwing error, odds are things are not going your team’s way that night. That theory was proven last night as Seattle’s 4 errors created the difference in a 5-2 loss against Texas. Raul Ibanez dropped a catchable ball in the second to lead to the Rangers’ first run, Gerald Laird scored on a King Felix wild pitch in the fourth,.. (Read More)
Dos Cinco to Ocho Cinco: Shut up and play - from "Thoughts from the Dark Side"Image details: Biletnikoff coaches Porter served by picapp.com Biletnikoff is partial to players that just play the game This morning on the Murph and Mac show on KNBR 680, Fred Biletnikoff was gladly answering some of the tough questions that many might not expect from the legendary Raider. During Biletnikoff's 14 seasons playing and near 20 years coaching, he wasn't the most forthcoming interview normally carrying out the Raiders PR demands. As the questions.. (Read More)
Sliding Sox slip out of first place - from "Fire Brand of the American League"Josh Beckett had no answer for the Baltimore Orioles and the slump the Sox are in as Boston lost 5-4. To add to the damage J.D. Drew will be sidelined with a left wrist injury. Again in back-to-back games the Red Sox offense spotted the starting pitcher a 3-0 lead right out of the gate, but Beckett did not hold down his side of the bargain. Baltimore notched one run home in the bottom of the.. (Read More)
Woman's hockey: growing, but that still isn't enough for some - from "Oil Slick"There are few sports where women have to prove their ability more than hockey. Day in and day out female hockey players have to prove that they can play the game while in other sports a women’s ability is never questioned. For example in tennis, Maria Sharapova never has to prove that she can play tennis. It is accepted every time she steps on the court yet in hockey, female players are constantly criticized for.. (Read More)
Checking In On The Top-10 - from "Pending Pinstripes"We pretty much have a meaningful sample size to evaluate how well our prospects have been performing. Its been a disappointing season so far in the Yankee system. How are the Pending Pinstripes Top 10 doing? 1. Ian Kennedy - He got off to a rocky start in the majors, but everything seemed to click during his minor league furlough. He's done nothing to justify reducing him down a spot. 2. Jose Tabata - His season line.. (Read More)
Nate Robertson's unrequited love - from "Roar of the Tigers"This is just a sad, sad story. We have the lovelorn pitcher, Nate Robertson, who pines for the beautiful bats. "Sweet maple snookums," he says, "don't you love me? I love you so. I will do such nice things for you. I will have a quality start for you!" Because a Nate in love is a Nate who keeps his word, Nate goes out and does just that, pitching 7 innings and allowing.. (Read More)
Wednesday is Quarterfinal Day at World Championship - from "The Bear Cave"Halifax, NS- Eight teams remain in the 2008 IIHF World Championship, and by the end of the night on Wednesday, that number will be down to four. Four quarterfinal matches take center stage Wednesday in Halifax and Quebec. Group E will see Sweden take on the Czech Republic in the afternoon before Russia and Switzerland go in the nightcap. Over in Group F, Canada starts the day with a game against Norway. Norway is coming.. (Read More)
Dodgers Lose Fifth Straight as Offense and Starting Pitching Continue to Struggle - from "Rockin' the Ravine"The Dodgers have played their last six games without Rafael Furcal and with tonight’s 5-3 loss to the Brewers, they have now lost five in a row and are back at .500. Furcal was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday and won’t be eligible to return until May 21. But this Dodgers offense, which has averaged just two runs a game during the losing streak, could really use him now. Of course, it would be.. (Read More)
Bullpen Fails Cardinals...Again! - from "That\'s a Winner"Game # 41   Tues. May 13, 2008 Pirates 8   Cardinals 4 Once again, the Cardinals' bullpen cost the team a win. After tying the game and heading to extra innings, Ron Villone gave up 4 runs in the 10th sending the Cardinals to an 8-4 defeat. Izzy's recent struggles led him to ask for a temporary departure from his closer role. Ryan Franklin has assumed the bulk of the closing duties. But all I know,.. (Read More)
5/13 Recap; Hanson's AA Debut - from "Baby Braves"First Innings' Daily Organizational Report Tommy Hanson got the call up to AA Mississippi and made it a memorable one as he allowed only 1 run in 6.1 innings to get the win 2-1. He struck out 7 and walked 4 (including 2 in the 7th before being pulled) while allowing 5 hits in his 6.1 innings. Basically, he picked up right where he left off in Myrtle Beach. .. (Read More)
Van Benschoten demoted - from "Pittsburgh Lumber Co."John Van Benschoten had the opportunity to make a spot start in the second game of yesterday's doubleheader with the Braves. It did not go well. After a promising start to the game, Van Benschoten was tagged for seven runs in 4+ innings. After the game, he was promptly returned to Triple-A Indianapolis. I think Van Benschoten has proven that, while he can be an effective Triple-A starter, he is.. (Read More)
No Guarantees: Pistons Close Out Magic - from "Pistons Palace"Jameer Nelson may have not been able to come through on his guarantee of a victory tonight in Detroit, but this much is certain. With a big, and smart, off-season the Magic can certainly rule the Eastern Conference. As long as they keep the nucleus of Nelson (6-7, 14 points), Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and Rashard Lewis, Orlando just needs to add the right bench pieces to go along with this year's playoff experienced squad. Tuesday.. (Read More)
