(Sorry for such a gap in between posts. It's tough devoting the time I want to posts now that I'm working. Then again, I don't think I want to be unemployed again...)
This Bruins bunch has really given me a rough go the past few weeks. I can't decide if I like the direction they're in or not. Don't get me wrong; I don't think the team that was out there tonight against Nashville can win the Cup, but I like where things are going. Remember everyone: this is a Boston team that by no means was a favorite after the first few weeks of the 2008-09 season.
And then something happened. They got behind a "rough and tough and whatever gets the job done" attitude and decided they weren't going to lose in late-November/December. And that's exactly what it'll take for this new crew wearing the B to turn a 3-3 squad into the League's elites.
Some side story lines since my last post will probably end up as a turning point when Kathryn and Barry are recapping the season next spring, either positively and negatively:
Chucky's Out - In reality, this didn't shock me as much as I thought it would. Kobasew got ditched for what may only be explained as a salary dump. The Bruins get yet more draft leverage in exchange for a mediocre, overpaid forward. There is a surplus of average forwards in Boston, and if one leaves, Providence as a bunch of guys who, odds have it, will end up as other average forwards. Which brings me to my second point...
Vladdy! - The shuffling of lines that's come from injuries (we'll get to those another day) has made room for Pruins center Vladimir Sobotka to take on a daily role for the big boy club. The problem with Sobotka in his limited time in playing up last year is that his lack of a defensive game completely contradicts Julien's style. Rather than spend time honing his skills in Boston last year, he was seen as expendable and shipped back to R.I. The longer he calls the Garden his home, the better he'll get...hopefully. But if not, there's always...
P. Burgerrrr - As much as I have against guys named "Patrice," I am amazed by what he's doing this season (not just that goal he scored tonight that he worked his ass off for that everyone else is going to be talking about). After coming back from a tough injury to where he was supposed to be back at his prime last season, he by no means was a star. So while I thought he was on a downhill spiral, he has come out since scoring the lone goal on opening night as the ice time leader he was supposed to be that past few years. Let's hope he's not the only guy stepping up with the absence of Marc and Milan.
Go B's! See you tmw night in Philly!!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Great Video - Fired Up for Game 2
I just saw this video again this morning and was immediately compelled to buy tickets to tonight's game vs. the 'Canes. See you there...
Friday, October 2, 2009
The B's Are Back -- Kind Of...
As I wait for baseball games to start mattering again, I've had a lot of time to get amped up for the start of the Bruins season. For the second year in a row, I've been able to go to the home opener at the Garden ice, and for the second year in a row, I've watched the Bruins disappoint a sell-out crowd that was completely drunk with excitement (or just drunk).
A big problem for the B's last year, the lack of a consistent, go-to goal scorer, got much worse this off-season with the loss of Phil Kessel, the young-gun who looked ready to take on that role. However, when you have the reigning Vezina winner between the pipes (not to mention the Norris winner in front of him) and, oh yeah, the Jennings Trophy on display at the pre-game kick-off event, maybe you can get by without as much offense. It brought Boston the best regular season record in the East just six months ago, hopefully it will work again.
Last night, though, it was almost impossible to pick out the weakest area on the team: not because there were none, but instead too many. Of course the horrible passing and lack of speed through the neutral zone made me sick, but I don't think that did the most damage as the Bruins fell to the Capitals 4-1. The bad luck Boston has had this year (and last year against the Penguins) is opening at home against a team with a superstar forward.
Despite the individual accolades, the B's get their strength as a unit; being able to push out four effective lines and never giving up an easy side on defense. The team that took the ice last night adorning the black and gold lacked any hint of these strengths that brought so much hope to Boston hockey fans. The flaw in giving up these big holes with lack of communication and cohesiveness was that last night (like last year) they were across the ice from one of the elite players of this decade.
As much as you can hate Ovechkin (especially in the home-opener after hitting Savard well behind the play and out of a ref's sight and then making sure to wimp-out and just draw the penalty when Chara went in for a retaliatory fight), it's impossible to note that his ability of ALWAYS being open is anything less than genius. The only way to keep him (or Crosby) in check is to put a Lucic or a Wheeler on him. Without a physical player glued to the #8 on his back wherever he roves all over the ice, the Bruins don't beat the Caps--not to mention any other team.
But the biggest hope I can draw on is that the B's started with a home opener loss last year, they had the same struggles finding the right line-mates, and their special teams were a weakness even on a power play. Still, they found a way to prove all the doubters wrong. My guess is that it had something to do with the other trophy holder on the squad: the Jack Adams winner on the bench. Let's just hope Claude can work some magic in a season that has the bulls-eye square on Boston's back.
A big problem for the B's last year, the lack of a consistent, go-to goal scorer, got much worse this off-season with the loss of Phil Kessel, the young-gun who looked ready to take on that role. However, when you have the reigning Vezina winner between the pipes (not to mention the Norris winner in front of him) and, oh yeah, the Jennings Trophy on display at the pre-game kick-off event, maybe you can get by without as much offense. It brought Boston the best regular season record in the East just six months ago, hopefully it will work again.
Last night, though, it was almost impossible to pick out the weakest area on the team: not because there were none, but instead too many. Of course the horrible passing and lack of speed through the neutral zone made me sick, but I don't think that did the most damage as the Bruins fell to the Capitals 4-1. The bad luck Boston has had this year (and last year against the Penguins) is opening at home against a team with a superstar forward.
Despite the individual accolades, the B's get their strength as a unit; being able to push out four effective lines and never giving up an easy side on defense. The team that took the ice last night adorning the black and gold lacked any hint of these strengths that brought so much hope to Boston hockey fans. The flaw in giving up these big holes with lack of communication and cohesiveness was that last night (like last year) they were across the ice from one of the elite players of this decade.
As much as you can hate Ovechkin (especially in the home-opener after hitting Savard well behind the play and out of a ref's sight and then making sure to wimp-out and just draw the penalty when Chara went in for a retaliatory fight), it's impossible to note that his ability of ALWAYS being open is anything less than genius. The only way to keep him (or Crosby) in check is to put a Lucic or a Wheeler on him. Without a physical player glued to the #8 on his back wherever he roves all over the ice, the Bruins don't beat the Caps--not to mention any other team.
But the biggest hope I can draw on is that the B's started with a home opener loss last year, they had the same struggles finding the right line-mates, and their special teams were a weakness even on a power play. Still, they found a way to prove all the doubters wrong. My guess is that it had something to do with the other trophy holder on the squad: the Jack Adams winner on the bench. Let's just hope Claude can work some magic in a season that has the bulls-eye square on Boston's back.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
August Update/Millar Factor
While I had some brief fun with Ortiz last week, including adamantly booing him during his six at-bats I saw while at the Yankees game last Thursday (his first game in the Bronx since the Times article came out), there's so much more to talk about. I, unlike the Boston media, was more interested in how dominating the Bombers were over the four-game series than what Papi had to say in his press conference Saturday.
Let me just say that I am now more than ever looking forward to another sports talk radio station in Boston. If I have to hear another moronic caller on WEEI go on about how Ortiz probably never knowingly took as much as a Red Bull to help him get up to the Majors, I might go crazy. I'm sorry Big O but you are and idiot if you think that Ortiz knew any less about what he was taking than A-Rod, so stop acting like it. You are an embarrassment to sports radio.
The real issue in Boston is that there is no Kevin Millar. That is to say that there is no personality in the clubhouse. Maybe it was just the fact that they were held scoreless for 31 consecutive innings, but the visiting dugout at new Yankee Stadium this weekend looked pretty abysmal compared to years when the Sox even thought they had a chance. That's where the Kevin Millar factor steps in.
In '04, Millar's antics, which I admittedly criticized over and over again, really showed how much his team liked what they were doing. As much as I'm not the ideal employee example at the moment, I think it's safe to say that when you like what you're doing you do your best work. In '07, when the Sox won their second Series of the decade, Manny Ramirez's comic relief role was as big if not bigger than his bat. He was the Millar for the clubhouse that year.
One thing the Yankees have shown us over the past few years is that you can have the best players in the league, but without a Millar, you won't win a ring. Enter Nick Swisher. (This could have gone to A.J. with his shaving cream pies, but he's too much of a stud on the mound.) Swisher was never supposed to be an everyday player, but with his increased playing time as a result of injuries to Gardner and Nady, his personality has had a lot more time to shine. His Swish-hawk, his tweets, and his occasional home runs have given the Yankees the life they've been lacking for too long.
As I was correct about the August Sox slump in my previous post, let's see if I can go 2 for 2 on the Yanks going back where they belong, back to the World Series, and all because of the Kevin Millar factor (and maybe with some help from acquisitions of Sabathia, Burnett, and Texiera).
Let me just say that I am now more than ever looking forward to another sports talk radio station in Boston. If I have to hear another moronic caller on WEEI go on about how Ortiz probably never knowingly took as much as a Red Bull to help him get up to the Majors, I might go crazy. I'm sorry Big O but you are and idiot if you think that Ortiz knew any less about what he was taking than A-Rod, so stop acting like it. You are an embarrassment to sports radio.
The real issue in Boston is that there is no Kevin Millar. That is to say that there is no personality in the clubhouse. Maybe it was just the fact that they were held scoreless for 31 consecutive innings, but the visiting dugout at new Yankee Stadium this weekend looked pretty abysmal compared to years when the Sox even thought they had a chance. That's where the Kevin Millar factor steps in.
In '04, Millar's antics, which I admittedly criticized over and over again, really showed how much his team liked what they were doing. As much as I'm not the ideal employee example at the moment, I think it's safe to say that when you like what you're doing you do your best work. In '07, when the Sox won their second Series of the decade, Manny Ramirez's comic relief role was as big if not bigger than his bat. He was the Millar for the clubhouse that year.
One thing the Yankees have shown us over the past few years is that you can have the best players in the league, but without a Millar, you won't win a ring. Enter Nick Swisher. (This could have gone to A.J. with his shaving cream pies, but he's too much of a stud on the mound.) Swisher was never supposed to be an everyday player, but with his increased playing time as a result of injuries to Gardner and Nady, his personality has had a lot more time to shine. His Swish-hawk, his tweets, and his occasional home runs have given the Yankees the life they've been lacking for too long.
As I was correct about the August Sox slump in my previous post, let's see if I can go 2 for 2 on the Yanks going back where they belong, back to the World Series, and all because of the Kevin Millar factor (and maybe with some help from acquisitions of Sabathia, Burnett, and Texiera).
Friday, July 31, 2009
Justice
I've been waiting for this day ever since Alex Rodriguez's name came out in February the media as one of the players who tested positive in supposedly anonymous, research-gathering steroid tests in 2003. No more than three minutes after the story broke, every one of my Red Sox-loving friends (which is a majority, living near Boston) had some clever thing to say about "A-Roid" or "A-Fraud." Not only was Red Sox Nation already overzealous about they're run of success over the past five years, but now they had this to gloat about.
Come to think of it, I've been waiting for this ever since the Sox mysteriously had a swelling of offense to win their first World Series in 86 years. Since 2004 I've been waiting for this kind of doubt, this kind of dumbfounded response, from these Boston fans. And now I have it...
Mark July 30, 2009 on your calendar as the first day of Red Sox Nation demise. That day will go down as the day Papi was known to "disrespect" his narrow-sighted fans. How does a guy who knowingly tested positive in the same test that broke about A-Rod in spring training respond by saying he's better than that because he cares about the game, his family, and his fans? How can he still get cheered so feverishly by the Fenway Faithful? How can he get curtain-called for powering a go-ahead home run to center field hours after it was finally confirmed that his power was derived from more than "rice and beans?"
More to come on this topic later...
Come to think of it, I've been waiting for this ever since the Sox mysteriously had a swelling of offense to win their first World Series in 86 years. Since 2004 I've been waiting for this kind of doubt, this kind of dumbfounded response, from these Boston fans. And now I have it...
Mark July 30, 2009 on your calendar as the first day of Red Sox Nation demise. That day will go down as the day Papi was known to "disrespect" his narrow-sighted fans. How does a guy who knowingly tested positive in the same test that broke about A-Rod in spring training respond by saying he's better than that because he cares about the game, his family, and his fans? How can he still get cheered so feverishly by the Fenway Faithful? How can he get curtain-called for powering a go-ahead home run to center field hours after it was finally confirmed that his power was derived from more than "rice and beans?"
More to come on this topic later...
Monday, July 27, 2009
Bruins Summer Vacation
So I just heard Aaron Ward on the Toucher and Rich show for probably one of the last times in a while. For those of you who don't listen, "Ward Wednesdays" was a regular segment on WBCN's morning show during the Bruins season. His phone-in relationship and extracurricular events with Fred, Rich, Crash, and Adolfo made Aaron a cult favorite among Boston hockey followers.
Late last week, all those fans (yours truly included) got a shot in the gut when the Bruins sent Ward packing in order to bring in a more solid blue-liner. While I think a lot more people will be missing Ward's presence than Peter Chiarelli could ever imagine, I don't think a lot of people can hate on the fact that Ward is heading back home to play in Raleigh.
So, what's left for the Bruins to do this off-season? They've just filled Ward's spot with Derek Morris and the only remaining loose end is Phil Kessel. To be honest, signing a guy like Morris who's going to command $3mil+ against the cap seems like a bad sign for Kess's future in Boston. He should be getting close to Krejci's salary of upwards of $3.6mil. With only $1.6mil of room left, I think the Bruins might be shooting for a less-proven 2nd-3rd year guy who hasn't broken out yet to replace Kessel. I hope I'm wrong.
Needless to say, I'm still excited about the B's 2009-10 campaign. With such a disappointing stoppage in play this past spring, I can't wait for opening night at the Garden. Also, if anyone is selling their Winter Classic seats, name your price.
Late last week, all those fans (yours truly included) got a shot in the gut when the Bruins sent Ward packing in order to bring in a more solid blue-liner. While I think a lot more people will be missing Ward's presence than Peter Chiarelli could ever imagine, I don't think a lot of people can hate on the fact that Ward is heading back home to play in Raleigh.
So, what's left for the Bruins to do this off-season? They've just filled Ward's spot with Derek Morris and the only remaining loose end is Phil Kessel. To be honest, signing a guy like Morris who's going to command $3mil+ against the cap seems like a bad sign for Kess's future in Boston. He should be getting close to Krejci's salary of upwards of $3.6mil. With only $1.6mil of room left, I think the Bruins might be shooting for a less-proven 2nd-3rd year guy who hasn't broken out yet to replace Kessel. I hope I'm wrong.
Needless to say, I'm still excited about the B's 2009-10 campaign. With such a disappointing stoppage in play this past spring, I can't wait for opening night at the Garden. Also, if anyone is selling their Winter Classic seats, name your price.
Friday, July 17, 2009
2nd Half MLB Preview
Tonight marks the end of a draining drought of sports to watch. (NL fans, I know you guys started last night, but you really need to win an All-Star Game for anyone to give a damn.) The highlight of my week may have been Andy Richter going yard (or, for the ladies, Brian Littrell getting face time) in the Legends/Celebs. I started watching the HR Derby, but after I saw players taking 10 bp pitches waiting for "the one," I decided I'd tune back in a few hours when they might be out of the first round. No, the ASG was not a complete blowout and the NL had a huge opportunity, just like last year, when overrated Papelbon took his rightful place as a 7th inning man and, like last year, almost blew it. But the 9th inning went to Mo and, like always, he said good night. (BTW, did anyone else think that Joe Buck was sounding extra peanut buttery calling Rivera's record setting 4th ASG save?)
Anyway...this has got to stop. No, I don't want to watch summer league basketball; I have a tough enough time dealing with the NBA. And why can't Comcast SportsNet broadcast a soccer game in HD? I've come to terms with the fact that NE Revolution games are poorly attended. Don't try to fool me by lowering the resolution. And don't get me started on the Versus Network and their ability to make the Tour de France feel like a peloton of old people in scooters at Wal-Mart racing to a rollback on tapioca pudding. VS kills sports (see also: NHL).
So, I'm open for suggestions. How do we make this week better? By making a bunch of dumb Celtics fans wait outside the Garden (and every TD Bank in the Commonwealth) for a candy bar and a chance at winning Bruins tickets that they don't care about and are just going to sell on StubHub? Here's an idea, instead of having the Winter Classic and Fenway in January, why not have it during the all-star break? It definitely won't do as much damage to the field as an Aerosmith concert, no one in the stands will have to wear a parka, and there's no chance of snow making any visibility on television nearly impossible. Sure you won't sell as much in concessions as you would at a Phish show, but I think we're all desperate for something other than the Major League Lacrosse "Old School vs. Young Guns" to take us through the break.
Anyway...this has got to stop. No, I don't want to watch summer league basketball; I have a tough enough time dealing with the NBA. And why can't Comcast SportsNet broadcast a soccer game in HD? I've come to terms with the fact that NE Revolution games are poorly attended. Don't try to fool me by lowering the resolution. And don't get me started on the Versus Network and their ability to make the Tour de France feel like a peloton of old people in scooters at Wal-Mart racing to a rollback on tapioca pudding. VS kills sports (see also: NHL).
So, I'm open for suggestions. How do we make this week better? By making a bunch of dumb Celtics fans wait outside the Garden (and every TD Bank in the Commonwealth) for a candy bar and a chance at winning Bruins tickets that they don't care about and are just going to sell on StubHub? Here's an idea, instead of having the Winter Classic and Fenway in January, why not have it during the all-star break? It definitely won't do as much damage to the field as an Aerosmith concert, no one in the stands will have to wear a parka, and there's no chance of snow making any visibility on television nearly impossible. Sure you won't sell as much in concessions as you would at a Phish show, but I think we're all desperate for something other than the Major League Lacrosse "Old School vs. Young Guns" to take us through the break.
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