Freakish Gamble

The San Francisco Giants resigned starting pitcher and former two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum (10-14, 4.37 ERA, 193 Ks in 2013) to a two year, $35 million extension that will keep The Freak in San Francisco through the 2015 season. Lincecum is getting ace pitcher money. While he has demonstrated ace pitcher potential, many of his performances have been drawn from the bottom of the deck over the last two years.

She won't be taking that shirt off any time soon, possibly to the chagrin of many Bay Area men.

WHY? 

Lincecum has won consecutive Cy Youngs in the past (2008-09). Lincecum has shown he can be nearly unhittable over extended periods of time. This was literally the case last season, in which he threw his first career no-hitter. In spite of drifting into mediocrity (if not liability) in 2012 and 2013, Lincecum appeared to get some of his groove back after the All-Star break. He was 5-3 in August and September. His batting average against was only .212 in July and .235 in August.

He also chews up a lot of innings. The Giants starting pitching did not do a good job of keeping its starters viably in the game, wearing down the bullpen. Lincecum, on the other hand, has pitched 186 innings or more the last six consecutive seasons, every year of his career following his rookie season. That kind of durability is invaluable from an otherwise average pitcher with otherwise average potential, let alone a former Cy Young winner with a high ceiling. 

Lincecum pitched a no-hitter in the second half of the year. The potential is evident. The results have been questionable. 1

LOYALTY BONUS

All negotiations are about leverage. I doubt, given Lincecum’s 5.18 and 4.37 ERAs in 2012 and 2013, respectively, that many other teams were willing to throw $35 million in The Freak’s direction. The Giants are rolling the dice on Lincecum’s and track record of good health, youth, he’s only 29 years old, and the chance that he can regain the form that made him a nightmare for opposing batters for several years.

For the money, they could typically sign an older pitcher with a more stable, productive resume in recent years. If this pans out, however, the Giants may be able to lock up Lincecum, and the innings he can deliver, for the remainder of his career after 2015. If not, it’s only money. Worse deals have been signed (see Alex Rodriguez).

FREAK! 3

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Timmy!

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim “The Freak” Lincecum (5-9, 4.26 ERA, 125 Ks) won back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009. Before last season, he never finished a season with an ERA greater than 4.00. His career ERA as of this morning is 3.40. Prior to 2012, he appeared to be on track to a potential Hall of Fame career and, minimally, was expected to be a dominant starter for the next several years.  Last year, the wheels appeared to come off. On Saturday night, he pitched his first career no-hitter.

Hotties are still rocking the Lincecum jerseys. 3

WHAT HAPPENED?

In 2012, Lincecum had, far and away, the worst season of his Major League career, en route to a World Series championship. He finished with a bullpen-demotion-worthy 5.18 ERA and a 10-15 record. He was taken deep by opposing batters for 23 home runs last year. For the first time since his rookie year of 2007, he had neither a complete game nor a shutout all season. Lincecum, once the ace of the Giants’ rotation, only started one game in the 2012 postseason, thought he pitched very effectively in his almost 18 innings of October baseball last year.

Speculation about what was wrong with Lincecum went rampant. Some speculated that perhaps he had shoulder problems or some physical ailment. Some speculated that opposing batters finally figured him (and his unorthodox delivery) out. Some opined that Lincecum simply got off to a slow start and he was pressing. I think it was some combination of “all of the above”. 

Lincecum came back to life in the 2012 playoffs. 2

DOES HE STILL HAVE “IT”?

The 2013 season didn’t appear to treat Lincecum much better than last year. Lincecum was touched up several times early in the season with his ERA over 5.00 at the end of May. Since then, it appeared The Freak began to get his groove back.

Five of his next eight starts since the start of June were quality starts. Unfortunately, the Giants only scored 12 runs in those eight games started by Lincecum, not helping his win-loss record much. However, he gave up far fewer home runs, and gradually increased his frequency of strikeouts. 

Lincecum’s road to recovery peaked on Saturday with a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres. Not only has he improved, but he notched an achievement that all MLB pitchers covet and he had yet to attain during his Cy Young winning years. While he issued four walks, Lincecum gunned down 13 Padres batters with strikeouts. He threw 148 total pitches.

TURNING A CORNER

Saturday’s no-hitter is a critical confidence builder for The Freak. At age 29, he should be entering the prime of his career, not the downside. The light-hitting Giants needed the performance from Lincecum in the worst way. They’ve won two of the past three World Series based on pitching. The pitching has just not been there this season, particularly against power hitting, in the way it has in recent years. They are a small ball offensive team. It wasn’t working. The Giants free-fell from second place for much of April and May all the way into fourth place heading into the All-Star break. 

If Lincecum can pitch like “The Freak” we got to know in the late 2000s (like he did on Saturday) with more regularity, it will lighten the load off of everyone else on the team – the bullpen…the batting order…Manager Bruce Bochy…everyone. It can plug a hole, which has been gaping for quite a while, in the Giants’ starting rotation. It could make for a very heated second half race in the National League West.

Major League Baseball is best when its stars are shining. Lincecum took a big step in returning to glory over the weekend. Let’s see if he continues to put one foot in front of the other.       

Lincecum carrying the Giants: a familiar sight we haven't seen in a while. 1

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MLB - Halfway Point - National League

In early June, we looked at where all 16 National League ball clubs stood at the one-quarter point in the season. With the All-Star game tonight, we will follow up on yesterday's American League evaluation and discuss their National League counterparts.

My original comments are in black. The current 2012 record and my one-quarter mark comments are in blue. My halfway mark comments are in green.


NATIONAL LEAGUE

N.L. East

Philadelphia Phillies (37-50, 5th place) – In 2010 and 2011, I said that MLB may as well skip to the World Series and hand the Phillies the National League pennant. Both years, the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants reminded me: THAT’S WHY THEY PLAY THE GAMES. The addition of closer Jonathan Papelbon did not encourage me to change my ways. Not having completely learned my lesson, I’ll modify that to say that MLB may as well skip the regular season hand the Phillies the N.L. East division title.

Let me modify my early season remarks to say that Philadelphia had better get its last place butt in gear. That said, they are only 3 games back, so I am sticking with my pre-season expectation that they will win the N.L. East.

The words: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? The Phillies first half debacle defies all logic and reason. Cliff Lee's (1-5, 3.98 ERA, 98 Ks) inability to bribe his way to a win until last week and the overall ineptitude of the starting rotation as a unit is a big reason. The absolute incompetence of the middle relievers and their inability to keep the ball in the yard is another reason. And the absence of Ryan Howard from the lineup until this past weekend due to injury is a third factor. I will not say, "Stick a fork in them" because this team does have the talent and experience to make a furious second half run. Just don't hold your breath, Phillies Fan.


Washington Nationals (49-34, 1st place) – With some big offseason moves the last two seasons and the return of a healthy Stephen Strasburg the Nationals are the Detroit Lions pre-season pick of Major League Baseball. If they stay healthy, I expect them to be second in the East and to be in the Wild Card race.

Many said the Nationals were a year away from making a serious run for the post season. Not I! Then again, even a broken clock is right twice per day.

The Washington Nationals franchise has played 43 seasons of baseball prior to 2012, dating back to their inception as the Montreal Expos in 1969. In 43 years, this woeful franchise has only made the playoffs once, in 1981. It has only finished the season in first place twice, the 1981 season and in 1994. Unfortunately, there were no playoffs in 1994 due to the players' strike. During their seven seasons (prior to this year) as the Washington Nationals, the Nationals have finished last in five of those seasons (finishing fourth in 2007 and third last year).

Barack Obama deserves no credit, but change is coming to Washington. Their starting rotation of Stephen Strasburg (9-4, 2.82 ERA, 128 Ks), Gio Gonzalez (12-3, 2.92 ERA, 118 Ks), Jordan Zimmerman (5-6, 2.61 ERA), Edwin Jackson (5-4, 3.73 ERA), and Ross Detwiler (4-3, 3.43 ERA) is lock down, lights out, and just plain nasty! Rookie outfielder Bryce Harper (.282, 8 HR, 25 RBI) is the most exciting young player in the National League. Manager Davey Johnson looks like a genius who is ready to party like it's 1986, when he managed the New York Mets to the World Series championship. 

Congress could solve the deficit by loading up on Nationals stock because this team is at the very beginning of a rapid rise to the top of the National League!


Atlanta Braves (46-39, 2nd place) – Top flight pitching and weak hitting equals a lot of regular season wins and no room for error in the playoffs.

Still waiting on that top flight pitching.... Braves Fan should send flowers and fruit baskets to Dan Uggla (.267, 8 HR, 31 RBI) and Martin Prado (.322, 3 HR, 22 RBI) for keeping the team within striking distance.

The Braves pitching really tightened up with a 3.53 ERA in the month of June. The bats also heated up, hitting .264 as a team and with a team on base plus slugging percentage of .728 last month. Jair Jurrgens' (3-2, 4.97 ERA) recent return to the rotation is going to give the Braves a tremendous boost in chasing down the surprising Nationals in the N.L. East.


Miami Marlins – (41-44, 4th place) Ozzie and the Fish are going to experience growing pains. I expect a circus in year one, but not a train wreck.

And...the Ozzie Circus started (almost) with the opening pitch of the season. However, there is a reason GMs put up with Ozzie; he's that good. Miami is off to as good of a start through 40-plus games as they have been in years.

The Fish have gone into a horrific tailspin since June and cannot seem to stop the bleeding. The formula is quite simple. Small ball plus small batting averages times wimpy power hitting divided by good starting pitching minus a bullpen that gives it up more than a punk in prison equals deep doo doo at the All-Star break. 

Bullpens do not get better as the season progresses, they get worse because they get tired from increased wear and tear. The only sliver of light in the Marlins 'pen is that Heath Bell (2-4, 6.75 ERA, 19 SV, 8.5 K/9 IP) appears to have awaken and realized that he is a major league closer. Bell had a 3.86 ERA, no blown saves, and a whopping 12 strikeouts per nine innings pitched last month.


New York Mets – (46-40, 3rd place) There’s the train wreck!

Or perhaps not.... The Mets have been the epitome of "dysfunction" over the previous five seasons. Yet disciplined batting, anchored by a rejuvenated third baseman David Wright (.365, 5 HR, 30 RBI), and a healthy Johan Santana (2-2, 2.75 ERA, 60 Ks) leading the pitching staff, have the Mets looking like a legitimate MLB team!

The feel good story that is the 2012 Mets continues. The big story in Mets camp has been hard throwing knuckleballer R.A. Dicky (12-1, 2.40 ERA, 123 Ks, pitched a one-hitter in June). Using the words "hard throwing" and "knuckleballer" together are a big part of why he is such a big story. Third baseman David Wright (.351, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 1.004 OPS) is making another push for his first, ever batting title. Can the bullpen pick up its weight? That appears to be the only weakness on this team.     

THE "HAAARPER"! 1

N.L. Central

Cincinnati Reds – (46-38, 2nd place) The opposite of the Atlanta Braves. If they can just tighten up their pitching to the tune of 0.30 earned runs per game, I think they win the division. I love the promotion of Aroldis Chapman to the top of the starting rotation. Big risk…big reward? I like the Reds in the Central.

While Chapman (4-0, 0.00 ERA, 44 Ks, 26.0 IP) did not get the promotion I expected, he and the entire Reds' pitching staff have held their own. Joey Votto (.325, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 1.060 OBPS), so far, is earning his keep from his L..O..N..G (near) quarter-billion dollar contract extension.

The Reds fell back into second place not so much because of their failures as much as the Pittsburgh Pirates' red hot surge. The Reds are a team that opponents cannot hit against. They have the best first baseman in the National League in MVP contender Joey Votto (.348, 14 HR, 48 RBI, 1.089 OPS, .994 Fld%). Cincinnati is living by the long ball. That is fine as long as your pitching staff continues to support your habit. But if the Reds have to enter the playoffs as a Wild Card, they could die by the homer. 

St. Louis Cardinals – (46-40, 3rd place) Adding Adam Wainwright minus Albert Pujols equals a net loss. The Redbirds snuck into the playoffs last year. Not happening in 2012….

Carlos Beltran (.294, 15 HR, 42 RBI) happens. Interpret that as you will.

Great hitting plus solid staring pitching minus crappy bullpen equals no successful defense of the World Series title. 


Milwaukee Brewers (40-45, 4th place) – The pitching is still uninspired and now there is no Prince Fielder. BO-RING baseball and a boring season is upon the MLB fans of Wisconsin.

Performing as I expected. It's Ryan Braun (.309, 14 HR, 36 RBI) and eight guys whose names could be replaced with "Lorem Ispum" on the scorecard and nobody would be the wiser. Whatever magic they captured last year appears to be gone.

Very little has changed since the one-quarter mark, so I will say very little about the Brewers. My only commentary is that the bullpen, save for K-Rod (Frankie Rodriguez - 1-4, 3.96 ERA, 17 Hld) conjures up phrases like, "abject failure", "comic-tragic", and "abominable".


Pittsburgh Pirates (48-37, 1st place) – I think the Pirates continue with the improvement they made last year. However, pitching is a massive liability. I think they don’t even sniff either of the NL Wild Card spots.

Did I say "pitching" was a massive liability? I meant "hitting". I whiffed on the means (much like the Pirates have in many of their at-bats this year), but not the ends. Respectable record...not on track to be in the playoff race. James McDonald (4-2, 2.20 ERA, 63 Ks) should be in the early National League Cy Young discussion and Andrew McCutchen (.331, 8 HR, 21 RBI) continues to be a shining star. It won't be enough.

Don't get too excited, Pirates Fan! You guys were near the top of the division at this time last year. I, personally, would love to see the Pirates return to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. I think it would be good for baseball. The problem is that I think the 2012 Pirates are just an improved version of the 2011 squad. 

Centerfielder Andrew McCutchen (.362, 18 HR, 60 RBI, 1.039 OPS) is a mid-season front runner for the National League MVP award. James McDonald (9-3, 2.37 ERA, 100 Ks) is a legitimate N.L. Cy Young Award candidate. The bullpen is probably one of the top five in the league, arguably top three. 

The vulnerabilities for the Pirates are that they are not getting enough innings from their starting rotation and other than McCutchen, they don't have a single big threat with the stick. In fact, other than Neil Walker (.291, 6 HR, 41 RBI), I wouldn't consider any of their hitters to be "above average".

You can win the National League without good hitting when you have great pitching. However, the Pirates' relievers are not going to have enough gas in the tank late in the season to support the anemic contribution of the starting rotation to the pitching workload. Playing in the same division with the Reds and Cardinals, the Pirates have a very tall order in the second half of the season.


Houston Astros – (33-53, 6th place) MY TEAM! THE ASTROS!!! Gonna be another long year…. Gonna get even better when next year when they move into the same American League division as the two time A.L. champs. If I had an Astros crystal ball, I think I’d break it after looking into it.

The Astros are much improved over last year. They have a legitimate budding star in shortstop Jose Altuve (.309, 3 HR, 18 RBI) and a pitching staff that appears to be developing nicely. Keep an eye on this team. They could be next year's Washington Nationals.

These guys found a way back into the cellar when the Cubs had the cellar secured like a bank vault. The lineup is laced with developing, but very inexperienced hitters who are going to take time before solving National League pitching. What I would find absolutely laughable were I not a fan is that the bullpen has dubbed itself "The Regulators", complete with Warren G intro music at Minute Maid Park when they enter the game. 

REGULATE WHAT? The audience's bowel movements? Because that bullpen is CRAP!


Chicago Cubs – (33-52, 5th place) They were bad last year. Their bats have gotten worse. Their sub standard pitching is about the same. Enjoy the cellar, Cubbies!

Stick a fork in 'em...again. They're done...again

The Cubs Forrest Gumped their way out of the N.L. Central's urinal by accidenting their way to winning nine of their last 13 games. Enjoy the peek of sunlight, Cubs Fan because it won't last long. Back into the cellar you go after the All-Star break.

Jump to the 8:00 mark to see the final post season play in the history of the Pirates' franchise, also one of the greatest single plays in the history of baseball. 2

N.L. West

San Francisco Giants (46-40, 2nd place) – Buster Posey is back. Their pitchers are beastly. Arizona was a fluke last year.

Posey (.294, 6 HR, 27 RBI) looks great. Melky Cabrera (.373, 4 HR, 25 RBI) appears to be having a breakout season, in the 8th year of his career. The pitchers continue to be beastly except for the one person who one would expect to be a beast, Tim Lincecum (2-6, 5.82 ERA, 1.57 WHIP), who has been abysmal. They aren't turning hits into runs and it is weighing them down.

Two things have to change if the Giants want to stop this tit-for-tat with the Los Angeles Dodgers and firmly take over 1st place in the West. 

1) They absolutely must find some kind of power in their lineup. Their brand of small ball is as efficient as a man trying to dig a grave with a tablespoon. 

2) Tim Lincecum (3-10, 6.42 ERA, 102 K) has got to get some control of his pitches. There are 16 year old boys who could be dropped in a hot tub with Megan Fox, wearing nothing but a skimpy white t-shirt, with more control of themselves than Lincecum has had of his pitch location this year.


Los Angeles Dodgers (47-40, 1st place) – Magic Johnson and Don Mattingly – two sports icons of the 80s…both invested in the Dodgers’ fate…both may be looking for a window to jump out of by September. I have read a lot of speculation of how much better they are supposed to be, but I just don’t see it in their lineup. Both men had to leave their sports due to medical ailments that are aggravated by stress. WHY oh WHY did they get hooked up with the Dysfunctional Dodgers?

Donnie Baseball for Manager of the Year...Magic Johnson's group for Executive(s) of the Year, if there is such an award. This team finds a way to keep winning. There is no way I could run down all of the things this team is doing right in one paragraph. This is great for baseball and I couldn't be happier to be wrong.

It appears that the Dodgers have put the brakes on a vicious slump in June, winning four of their first five games in July. In spite of the hard knocks experienced last month, the Dodgers pitching staff is among the best in baseball. Their hitters exercise good plate discipline but have limited power. MVP candidate Matt Kemp (.355, 12 HR, 28 RBI) cannot return from the D.L. (hamstring) soon enough for Dodgers Fan.


Arizona Diamondbacks (42-43, 3rd place) – The irony is that the Snakes have the talent and the schedule to recapture the lighting in a bottle they caught in 2011. I am still a believer the lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice.

No lightning...no bottle...no striking. In fact...not a lot of strikeouts from the pitching staff. Wade Miley (6-1, 2.41, 32 Ks) has been a pleasant exception to that trend.

The Snakes keep hanging around and hanging around within striking distance. I don't think they have the pitching to make the second half push they need, but much stranger things have happened.


Colorado Rockies – (33-52, 5th place) Decent bats plus suspect pitching plus high altitude equals shootouts which equals a worn out bullpen. That won’t fly in the West for 162 games.

They are pounding my Astros, en route to a four game sweep, as I write this, so perhaps I should temper my criticism. Or not.... 

They can bang out runs, especially at home, and especially when Carlos Gonzalez (.332, 14 HR, 44 RBI) is involved. They can't pitch their way out of a wet paper bag. When 49 year old Jamie Moyer (2-5, 5.70, 36 Ks) is second on your team in strikeouts and innings pitched, you've got problems!

The Rockies have the best starting lineup, one through eight, in the N.L. West (one of the better ones in the National League) and the worst pitching staff of the decade, possibly the worst I have ever seen in my entire life through one half of a season.   


San Diego Padres – (34-53, 4th place) They have an outfielder named Blanks, which is what they can expect to be hung on the scoreboard after many of their halves of innings this year.

Endison Volquez (2-5, 3.46 ERA, 55 Ks) is having his best season in years...on the worst team one may ever witness. He must be missing Cincinnati.

I think the Rockies hitters could come to the plate with wiffle ball bats and out hit the Padres. As for the pitching, perhaps if this were college baseball the Padres could get by with just two legitimate major league starters on their roster - Endison Volquez (5-7, 3.52 ERA, 98 Ks) and Clayton Richard (6-9, 3.91 ERA). They sure are playing like a college team.

Maybe Lincecum needs to borrow a page from Ricky Vaughn from Major League with some eye wear. 3

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Must See Sports – Second Weekend of June 2011

Thursday, June 9

NBA Finals – Game 5
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Tonight is the pivotal Game 5. The winner will have two chances to win one more game and be NBA Champions. The loser will have its back against the wall in Game 6. While either team will claim a significant strategic advantage with a win, this game, tonight, is more critical to Dallas than Miami.

Should the Mavericks lose, they would face the daunting task of having to win back-to-back games in Miami, including a Game 7. Seventh games are rarely won on the road. The last time it happened in the NBA Finals was 1978, when the Washington Bullets beat the Seattle Supersonics in Seattle.

Miami has outplayed Dallas for the majority of all of the games in this series, but has inexplicably taken its foot off the gas pedal late in games. The problem for the Mavericks is that Miami has more talented players and if the Heat are focused for all 48 minutes, they are extremely difficult to beat. I think LeBron James will play with a sense of urgency tonight and I don't think the Mavericks can stop The King in that mode.

Advantages - Game: Heat Series: Heat  

The King hasn't quite gone this far, but he and the Heat only have themselves to blame for not yet planning the victory parade. 1

Friday, June 10

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 5
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks

I have absolutely no read on this series. The home team has won every game. Vancouver has slipped by Boston on its home ice while the Bruins have obliterated the Canucks in Boston. Vancouver had the best regular season record in the NHL, with 117 points. Yet the Canucks have never really solved the Bruins in any of the first four games. No game is played in a vacuum, but if a couple of unlucky bounces were removed from the equations of games 1 and 2, the Bruins could have swept this series and hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972.

Home ice has dictated this series thus far. Vancouver is the better team on paper. The absence of injured Bruins forward Nathan Horton, who was lost for the series after a blindside hit from Aaron Rome (suspended for the series) of the Canucks will not help the Bruins cause. I think the Canucks regain control of the series on Friday.

Advantages - Game: Canucks, Series: Canucks

Michael Ryder of the Bruins chipped in one of several goals in Game 4. 2

Saturday, June 11

MLB
Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
Mike Leake (5-2, 4.63 ERA) – Reds vs Tim Lincecum (5-4, 2.85 ERA)

The defending World Series champion (and first place in the NL West) Giants host the defending NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds, who have cooled down considerably after a hot start to the season. Tim Lincecum will get the ball for the Giants. He has kept on rolling this season, with 93 strikeouts so far and reaching his 1000th career strikeout in his last start. Lincecum will match wits with Mike Leake of the Reads. Leake is riding a string of three straight quality starts.

The Reds have suffered from porous pitching, in spite of getting a solid number of innings from starting pitchers. Their monster bats have kept them in the hunt. Joey Votto (.335, 8 HR, 38 RBI), last year's National League MVP and Jay Bruce (.299, 17 HR, 47 RBI) continue to anchor a strong lineup. However, in baseball, particularly the National League, strong pitching usually trumps strong pitching. The Giants will need a strong performance from Lincecum, though, as their bats continue to be anemic.

Advantages - Game: Giants, Series: Giants

I KNEW it! Hey! Two Cy Youngs? 1000 career strikeouts at age 26? Don't criticize! Leagalize!

Sunday, June 12

NBA Finals – Game 6
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat

Someone could hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy on Sunday night. I expect that to be Heat. I think Dallas has used all nine of their lives in the playoffs.

Advantages - Game: Heat, Series: Heat




Monday, June 13

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 6
Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins

The NHL playoffs have had a lot of close games and seventh games during this post season. This series appears to be indicative of that pattern. Vancouver has yet to dominate the Bruins in any game in this series and has had no answer for them in Boston. I think this series goes 7 games.

Advantages - Game: Bruins, Series: Canucks

Not really ebony & ivory, but cute. 3

MLB

Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees
Carlos Carrasco (5-3, 4.52 ERA) – Indians vs A.J. Burnett (6-4, 4.37 ERA) – Yankees

The Cleveland Indians, in first place in the AL Central, have come down to Earth, a little. The Indians had the best record in the American League for most of the season, but were recently passed by the Boston Red Sox. The New York Yankees are only a game behind the Red Sox and trail the Tribe by only a half game in the American League. The Detroit Tigers are only a game and a half back of Cleveland in the American League Central. That makes this series both compelling and critical to standing in the league.

Carlos Carrasco has won four of his last five starts for the Indians, but has been prone to occasionally giving up runs in bunches. He will continue to need the support of red hot Astrubal Cabrera (.302, 12 HR, 42 RBI) and the Cleveland lineup. In contrast, A.J. Burnett of the Yankees was rocked in his last start yesterday, giving up seven earned runs in less than 6 innings of work in a loss to the Red Sox. In addition, it has been difficult to predict how many innings the Yankees can expect to get from Burnett. Sometimes he can last into the late innings, sometimes he barely lasts past the 5th inning. The Yankees will need to rely on their power hitting in this game. Mark Teixeira (.258, 18 HR, 43 RBI) has continued to offer support to a gradually resurgent Yankees lineup, but has been feast or famine in the month of June, thus far.

Consistency is key. Neither team offers it, lately. I'll defer to home field advantage in this series matchup.


Advantages - Game: Indians, Series: Yankees

C.C. has had a lot of fat jokes made at his expense, but I'd rather be "Captain Cheeseburger" or "Charleston Chew" than be lampooned like his teammate, Joba Chamberlain. 4

Tuesday, June 14

NBA Finals – Game 7 (if necessary)
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat

Miami has lost once at home in this postseason, to Dallas. No team has won a Game 7 of the NBA Finals on the road in over 30 years. I do not expect lightning to strike twice if a Game 7 is necessary.

Advantages - Game: Heat, Series: Heat


MLB

Texas Rangers at New York Yankees
Alexi Ogando (7-0, 2.10 ERA) – Rangers vs C.C. Sabathia (7-3, 2.80 ERA) –Yankees


Though not technically a rookie because of the number of innings pitched in relief last season, Alexi Ogondo is off to a fantastic start to his career as a starter in the Major Leagues. He is undefeated in all of his starts for the Rangers, in first place in the AL West, and continues to be hot on the mound, only giving up two earned runs in his last 15-2/3 innings pitched. His unbeaten string will face a challenge from C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees. The big guy has won his last four consecutive starts and pitched 8 or more innings in those starts.

Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz (.237, 14 HR, 33 RBI) has been on a tear of late, hitting four homeruns in the past week. In concert with the consistent Michael Young (.310, 3 HR, 37 RBI) and Adrian Beltre (.257, 12 HR, 45 RBI), Sabathia will face a tough challenge of his own. Whether or not Ogando gets a decision, I do not think he gets a win in Yankee Stadium, opposing a red hot former two time Cy Young winner in Sabathia.

Advantages: Game – Yankees, Series: Yankees

 
Wednesday, June 15

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 7 (if necessary)
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks

I think this game will be necessary and the rule of thumb in seventh games is that, absent some other momentum shifting change, such as an injury, the home team has a tremendous advantage. The Pittsburgh Penguins won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals at Detroit in 2009. The last time a team won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the road was 1971, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks on their own ice.

Advantages - Game: Canucks, Series: Canucks

If a seventh game is necessary, it will all be on the line. 5

MLB

Florida Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies
Anibal Sanchez (5-1, 2.97 ERA) - Marlins vs Kyle Kendrick (3-4, 3.78 ERA) - Phillies 

Anibal Sanchez has continued to be on a roll, with 79 strikeouts on the season and having won five consecutive decisions. Sanchez was touched up in his last start, against Milwaukee (5 ER in 5 IP), but had a string of five straight quality starts, including a complete game shutout, prior to that. Kyle Kendrick is making his fifth start of the season for the Phillies.


The Marlins are in the midst of a vicious slump, having lost nine of their last ten games and falling into third place, behind both the Phillies and Atlanta Braves, five games back of the NL East leading Phillies. In addition, Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez (.310, 10 HR, 38 RBI), who is having a breakout year, so far, has cooled off in the month of June, hitting only .231 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs during the month.

The Phillies have also cooled somewhat, having lost five of their last eight games. Their bats have simply not gotten the job done, hitting only .214 with 1 homerun as a team in the month of June. Still, the Phillies have the clear advantage over almost every other team in the National League, except for possibly the Braves and Giants. They are at home and the Marlins are struggling to find themselves right now.

Advantages - Game: Phillies, Series: Phillies

If you wanna win, put Billy in! 6

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!
 
To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.
 
1) Image from dallasobserver.com
2) Image from usatoday.com
3) Image froom boston.com
4) Image from thebestdamnsportssiteever.com
5) Image from legendsofhockey.net
6) Image from blogs.trb.com

Sports Look Alikes

The Daily Hat Trick often describes the overlaps between the sports world and the rest of the world. Today, we look at the resemblance between some sports personalities and other known people.

Chicago Bears Coach Lovie Smith and James Evans from Good Times (John Amos)

DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!

San Francisco Giants ace pitcher Tim Lincecum and young Professor Snape from Harry Potter

Foliculus longevitous! 2

Former NBA Player Robert Horry and Will Smith

Yo homes! To Belaire! 3

NBA point guard Jason "White Chocolate" Williams and Rapper Eminem

Slim Chocolate? 4

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin and The Thing

Blake Griffin: forcing people to acknowledge the Clippers' existance 5

Internet fighting sensation/MMA fighter Kimbo Slice and rapper Rick Ross

Like Sampson, their strength is in their (facial) hair. 6

Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid and jolly, old St. Nick

I always thought Andy Reid looked like a Christmas ham with a mustache, myself.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and pop singer Justin Bieber

I don't get what chicks dig about either of these dudes, but they dig 'em. Betcha Justin steals Tom Terrifc's old lady in 10 years when he grows some short hairs and Tom is in the broadcast booth. 8

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and actor Luke Wilson

Better than being compared to OWEN Wilson 9

And...Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and actor Omar Epps

If there is ever a movie about Coach Tomlin and the casting director does not approach Epps first, that person should be fired on the spot! 10

Happy Monday, Hat Trick fam!

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

1) Image from sportsblogs.star-telegram.com

2) Image from educatedcheese.blogspot.com

3) Image from terezowens.com

4) Image from usatoday.com

5) Image from hoopsjournal.com

6) Image from infosport.onsugar.com

7) Image from phoenicianse.wordpress.com

8) Image from styleite.com

9) Image from cheezburger.com

10) Image from polkadotsuitcase.com