Thursday, June 15, 2017

NHL/NBA Wrap-Up & Baseball

June 6, 2017

A lot has happened since we last looked at the world of sports:


The Pittsburgh Penguins won their second straight Stanley Cup with a scintillating game six victory, scoring the game winning goal with about two minutes left in regulation.  Unlike the Chicago Blackhawks their stars showed up. The Nashville Predators did put up a good fight, demonstrating that playoff hockey may be the most exciting of all sports
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What wasn’t so exciting was the NBA Finals. Two years ago the Warriors won. Last year the Cavaliers came back after losing three of the first four games. The Warriors obtained the second best player, Kevin Durant to improve an already great team that shoots 3-pointers like lay ups. That said, they routed the Cavaliers, Durant averaging 30 points per game. These teams will probably meet again next year, while other teams play just to make it to the playoffs.

Chicago Cubs – By now fans should realize 2016 is in the past. This a little better than average team in a terrible National League. There only 5 teams with records over .500. First off, the Milwaukee Brewers will not last. The Dodgers and this year’s surprises Colorado and Arizona are playing .600 baseball.  The Senators are running away in their division, however they are in desperate need for closer. David Roberson? The Cubs should still win their lousy division and won’t even need to win 90 games. They say once you reach the playoffs anything can happen. However, when playing good teams, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Rockies the Cubs have been awful, which does not bode well for the post season. 

Chicago “loyalty trumps winning” White Sox – I was in Cleveland last weekend. I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the home where they filmed A Christmas Story and a beautiful ballpark, Progressive Field. The only bad thing I saw was the White Sox. Surprisingly, they did win the game I went to. They tried to give the game away, having multiple runners thrown out running the bases. Manager, Rick Renteria, went away from the safety to a squeeze bunt with the batter popping into a double play. Why can’t major league players bunt? This isn't just a White Sox problem. Bunting has become a lost art. Maybe they should saw the bats in half and make them try bunting in batting practice?  After playing 38 games on the road (14-24) versus 22 at home they return for a 4 game home stand and then go back on the road? Kudos for drafting a good looking third baseman. Can’t wait for 2019.




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