Friday, January 27, 2012

Sports Blog Net

Sports Blog Net

The Full Court Press Network's Early All-Star Voting

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 08:36 AM PST

  Recently, the members of the Full Court Press Network have been conducting their own All-Star voting while the league's best have been at it. As of January 27th, here are the voting results (three points for first-team, two for second, and one for third): Western Conference All-Stars STARTERS G- Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers (38 points) G- Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (41 points) F- Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder (42 points) F- LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers (29 points) C- Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers (30 points) BENCH G- Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (33 points) G- Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (19 points) G- Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves (16 points) G- Kyle Lowry, Houston Rockets (9 points) F- Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves (28 points) F- Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (23 points) F- Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (17 points) F- Danilo Galinari, Denver Nuggets (10 points) C- DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers (19 points) C- Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (17 points) Also receiving votes: Marcin Gortat, Phoenix Suns, C (11 points); Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors, SG (8 points); Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies, SF (7 points); Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, PF (7 points); Al Jefferson, Utah Jazz, C (5 points); Kevin Martin, Houston Rockets, SG (1 point); Lamar Odom, Dallas Mavericks, SF (1 point); Gerald Wallace, Portland Trail Blazers, SF (1 point); Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers, PG (1 point); Luke Ridnour, Minnesota Timberwolves, PG (1 point); Shannon Brown, Phoenix Suns, SG (1 point). Eastern Conference All-Stars STARTERS G- Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls (42 points) G- Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (35 points) F- LeBron James, Miami Heat (38 points) F- Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks (30 points) C- Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (42 points) BENCH G- Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets (25 points) G- Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics (21 points) G- Ray Allen, Boston Celtics (16 points) G- Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers (7 points) F- Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks (19 points) F- Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls (16 points) F- Chris Bosh, Miami Heat (12 points) F- Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics (11 points) C- Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls (17 points) C- Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks (16 points) Also receiving votes: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks, PF (9 points); Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks, PG (9 points); Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors, PF (8 points); Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers, SF (5 points); Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers, PG (4 points); Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, SG (4 points); Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons, C (4 points); Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics, SF (3 points); Kris Humphries, New Jersey Nets, PF (3 points); Rip Hamilton, Chicago Bulls, SG (3 points); JaVale McGee, Washington Wizards, C (2 points); John Wall, Washington Wizards, PG (2 points); Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, C (2 points); Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic, PF (2 points); Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers, C (1 point); DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors, SG (1 point); Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers, SF (1 point); Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, PF (1 point); Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors, PG (1 point). Follow @JosephFafinski

Clippers hold off Grizzlies for bounce-back win

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:28 AM PST

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Just 16 games into their new partnership, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul are already capable of grinding out victories for the Los Angeles Clippers on nights when nothing seems to work properly. They are both certain the Clippers will find their flow pretty soon. Griffin scored 20 points, Paul added 18 points and seven assists in his second game back from injury, and the first-place Clippers hung on in the fourth quarter for a 98-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. Mo Williams scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and Griffin added nine rebounds and eight assists as the Clippers maintained a narrow lead throughout the final period despite feeling little cohesion on either end of the court. "That's how we have to execute down the stretch," Griffin said. "It's a good win against a great team. We shouldn't be down on this win at all. They're not all going to be pretty." The Clippers' new nucleus is still learning how to respond to adversity, and Paul thinks this gritty win over a strong playoff contender should help. "Sooner or later we're going to learn, because these little opportunities can slip away from you," Paul said. "We've got to build up as many wins as possible, and it feels good for me to be out there. I've got to keep the energy going. Every game means so much." The Clippers stayed atop the Pacific Division even during Paul's absence, and they bounced back solidly from Wednesday's emotional loss to the Lakers, but a tougher schedule looms for a franchise with just one winning season in 19 years. No team in the Western Conference has played fewer games than the Clippers — including 11 in front of sellout home crowds. Los Angeles did it this time with defense, holding the Grizzlies under 36% shooting and scoring 24 points off Memphis' 17 turnovers. "We kept them at a low field-goal percentage, but they made us earn everything," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "I was pleased with the way we got stops at the end when we needed to. Different guys stepped up." Rudy Gay scored 24 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost two in a row following a seven-game winning streak. Marc Gasol added 18 points and 11 rebounds on Memphis' third stop on a four-game West Coast trip. Gasol's two free throws trimmed the Clippers' lead to 91-89, but Butler hit a driving layup, and Paul made two free throws after a steal with 45 seconds left. Although Griffin didn't score in the fourth quarter, the Clippers scored seven consecutive points in the final minute to seal their third straight win over Memphis. "None of it was their defense," Gay said. "It was us. I mean, they do have some long athletic big men that alter a couple of shots. But for the most part, we were getting good shots and just weren't knocking them down." The Grizzlies had a day off after their loss in Portland on Tuesday in their fourth game in five days. Gay managed just 11 points against the Trail Blazers, but surpassed that well before halftime against the Clippers. Paul made a four-point play during an early 11-0 run by the Clippers, who jumped out to a 27-11 lead late in the first quarter. Gay made a 50-foot shot at the first-quarter buzzer as the Grizzlies made a 14-0 run of their own, keeping it close into the fourth quarter. "We couldn't get any stops down the stretch," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "We were within three, and every time they came back down, they got it back to five. We never got a stop where we could get a chance to take the lead."

Boston.com: Cambridge/Somerville-Masconomet Girls' Hockey Story Live

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:00 AM PST

For my fourth Boston.com freelance story I went to the freezing Simoni Skating Arena to watch the Cambridge/Somerville Falcons play the Masconomet Chieftains (a five-school co-op) in Wednesday afternoon girls' hockey game. Check it out!

Is Yoenis Cespedes next in line?

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 07:34 PM PST

The next big thing has arrived. 26 year old Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes has officially become a free agent, and the Miami Marlins are positioned to make a run for him. On Tuesday, Cespedes established residency in the Dominican Republic and the Marlins are considered to be the front runners for his services by multiple sports outlets. Even representatives for the Marlins have made it well know that they are going to try extremely hard for arguably the best prospect/talent to come out of Cuba in history. Cespedes, who recently played winter ball in the Dominican Republic, had a rather disappointing showing for the Aguilas where he hit just  5-for-35 with no walks, 10 strikeouts and a homer. What would you really expect though? Cespedes hasn't played professional baseball for over a year so to see him show mediocrity at the plate is no surprise. Cespedes poor showing shouldn't affect his asking price much. He should be getting anywhere in the neighborhood of  $32M, with four-to-six years. One of the main questions regarding Yoenis Cespedes is where he would play. Some teams view him as a CF and some teams as a corner OF. In all likelihood the Marlins view Cespedes as a CF. Putting Cespedes in a corner OF spot definitely isn't in the picture especially with Mike Stanton in RF, and Logan Morrison playing LF. Emilio Bonifacio is the Marlins current CF and did a remarkable job. Bonifacio lead the team in average and steals in his breakout season with the fish. Some people may think trading Bonifacio would be the teams only choice if the club signs Cespedes but not so fast. Before last season Bonifacio was a super utility guy. A job he is familiar with. While I do think he has earned a starting job with the team, he might have no choice but the bench with a five tool talent like Cespedes. Before we get ahead of ourselves, you must realize that Cespedes will not be MLB ready at the start of spring training. He is going to need time to adjust to professional pitching that could take as little as a few weeks, or as much as a few months. Either way Bonifacio will be a key part to the Marlins in 2012, either starting for a majority of the season, or a top notch bench piece providing crucial playing time when he is asked. While we wait for Cespedes to sign with a team. One thing is for sure, he will be a genuine talent. -Alex

Any player/Any era: Gene Tenace

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 05:12 PM PST

Editor's note: Please welcome another "Any player/Any era" from Albert Lang. ________________ What He Did: You mean aside from being born Fury Gene Tenace? Well, he finished his 15-year career with a .241/.388/.429 line with 201 HRs, playing primarily catcher and first base. He appeared in 846 games at catcher (.245/.396/.437) and 582 at first (.242/.382/.428). His .388 career OBP is tied for the 33rd best by a right handed batter (min. 5,000 PA) in MLB history. He walked 984 times, the 41st most by a righty. He had six seasons of 100+ walks, the 20th most seasons of 100+ walks in baseball history. (The above from the SABR Baseball List & Record Book, 2007). All of that and Tenace didn't become a regular until he was 26 in 1973 (shades of Jorge Posada?). From 1969-1972 Tenace served primarily as Dave Duncan's back-up (a no-hit, lead-the-staff kind of guy). However, with Duncan batting .163/.200/.302 in August of '72, Tenace was given the starting job down the stretch and throughout the play-offs. While Tenace batted miserably in the ALCS, his one hit drove in the winning run in the deciding game. Then he hit .348/.400/.913 in the World Series, including homers in his first two World Series at bats (the first player to do so). He earned the MVP (and first of four World Series rings). Duncan was embroiled in a contract dispute during the following off-season and subsequently traded. And that's how you take over a starting catching job: brute force! Tenace did split time at catcher and first over the next few years, which would serve as his peak. From 1973-1980 (including four seasons in San Diego's cavernous ballpark), Tenace averaged 147 games with a .241/.391/.434 line and 21 HRs per year. During that time, Tenace accumulated 39.9 WAR (Fangraphs), tied with Bobby Bonds for the 16th most among hitters during that stretch. When it was all said and done, Tenace's career looks somewhat similar to Adam Dunn. Dunn has 365 HRs (certainly more than Tenace) but a .243/.374/.503 line (surprisingly a worse OBP than Tenace). If you translate Dunn's line to the 1975 Oakland Athletics, he would have 347 HRs and a .234/.362/.484 line. Tenace…just about Adam Dunn as a catcher. In addition, Tenace's 47.4 career WAR (Fangraphs) is 17th all time for a catcher (and that includes the likes of Brian Downing, Buck Ewing and others (who might not qualify at catcher) ahead of him). Certainly, his contemporaries, Ted Simmons and Johnny Bench, had better careers, but that shouldn't take away from Tenace, much the same that Alan Trammell shouldn't have been hurt by playing during the same era as Cal Ripken and Barry Larkin. Era he might have thrived in: If ever there were a player from an older era that would have thrived in the "modern" game, it's Tenace. For that reason, I'm putting him in the early part of the 2000s. If you place his numbers on the 2001 Oakland Athletics, his career line would be .270/.424/.475. His 1975 season, translated, would be a masterpiece: .269/.412/.486 with 31 HRs. Indeed, during his prime, he would have posted OBPs over .400 ever year but his translated 1974 season (his OBP on the 2001 A's would have been a measly .398). Why: The Oakland Athletics were perennial contenders from 2000-2006. However, they didn't have a serviceable catcher until Ramon Hernandez blossomed in 2004. Tenace would have made Hernandez expendable (and trade-able) in a meaningful way. Replacing Hernandez in 2001 (when Hernandez batted just .254/.316/.408) with Tenace would have improved an already lethal line-up. Could you imagine a team sending out: Johnny Damon/Gene Tenace/Jason Giambi/Eric Chavez/Miguel Tejada/Jermaine Dye/Jeremy Giambi/Terrence Long/Frank Menechino? That line-up would have no holes and include two players with .400+ OBPs. Really, if you think about it, Tenace could have been the face of Moneyball. Follow me on twitter (@h2h_corner): https://twitter.com/h2h_corner
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