Bleacher Report - Articles by Nick Barnowski

Who Is That Man in the Detroit Tigers' Bullpen?

Nick Barnowski — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:38:36 -0400

Take a look at the bullpen for the 2009 Detroit Tigers.

You'll see some of the familiar names—Fernando Rodney, Brandon Lyon, Zach Miner, and Bobby Seay.

You should find a couple of new guys like Freddy Dolsi and rookie Ryan Perry.

Keep scrolling down the list.

Stop.

No. 59? Ni?

Who?

The name you're looking at is Fu-Te Ni, and in his short stint with the Tigers, the Pingtung, Taiwan native has been one of the more consistent members of a rocky Detroit pen.

Ni got his chance to play in the big leagues when left-hander Nate Robertson went on the disabled list on June 29.

While he's only 26, it has been a relatively long journey to Major League Baseball.

In 2005, he was drafted by the Chinatrust Whales of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Ni didn't pitch until 2007, and things were a little shaky.

His 12 losses led the league, but he did post a 3.53 ERA in 122.1 innings of work, striking out 125.

In 2008, Ni again had 12 losses but his ERA lowered to 3.34 while pitching 145.1. He also was the strikeout leader, fanning 132 batters.

The Whales folded after the 2008 season, and that gave Ni the chance to pitch in America.

He signed a minor league contract with the Toledo Mud Hens in the offseason, and pitched to the tune of a 2.60 ERA and holding hitters to only a .240 batting average against him.

When Ni pitched in his first game on June 29, he became only the sixth Taiwanese player (fourth pitcher) to play in MLB, joining Chin-Feng Chen, Chin-hui Taso, Chien-Ming Wang, Hong-Chih Kuo, and Chin-lung Hu.

How did he fare against his first batter? He only struck out slugger Jason Giambi.

Since then, Ni has appeared in seven more games, pitching nine innings. His ERA is 2.00 and his WHIP is 1.00. Opponents are hitting .267 against him and he has struck out nine, walking only one.

While Ni may only see limited action for the rest of the season, the left-hander will hopefully continue to be consistent coming out of the pen.

Which, right now, is exactly what this Tigers team needs.

Detroit Red Wings Prospect Watch: Jakub Kindl

Nick Barnowski — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:42:41 -0400

Ken Holland and the rest of the Detroit Red Wings management team are experts at finding hidden gems in the late rounds of the NHL draft.

But, in 2005, they may have found a first-round gem—Jakub Kindl.

The Czech Republic's Jakub Kindl is set to become a star on the blueline for the 11-time Stanley Cup champions.

"Down the road, I would think he's going to be a top-four guy," says Red Wings Director of Amateur Scouting Joe McDonnell back in October of 2006.

In the 2006 season, Kindl, a defenseman, posted 55 points in 54 games with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League and also had 11 points in nine playoff games.

He is now playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League and has posted respectable numbers (six goals, 27 assists, and 33 points) with the Red Wings' top minor league affiliate.

Kindl sports many tools that will help him succeed as a NHL player.

In the beginning, Kindl struggled to adjust to the North American style of play, but during his time in the OHL, he has made a relatively smooth transition.

While he has excellent size, he isn't extremely physical but can drop the gloves when needed.

Kindl's style of play fits the Detroit system. Still, he needs to stop giving the puck away when heading into the neutral zone.

Moreover, his decision-making ability must improve, but when around a good supporting cast, he steps up his level of play.

He possesses remarkable skating and offensive skills, and he carries the puck effortlessly. Kindl's shot is very accurate from the point, which will make him a valuable asset to the Red Wings' power-play unit.

The Griffins' general manager, Bob McNamara, said that Kindl improved all facets of his game in Grand Rapids.

Kindl is projected to be a top-two defenseman for the Red Wings, but don't expect to see him with the Wings this season.

A consistent year in Grand Rapids would give the 21-year-old a good shot at making the roster in the 2010-11 season.

AL All-Star Game Roster: Right or Wrong

Nick Barnowski — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:36:45 -0400

It's that time of year again, the time when controversy looms and little discussions about who should be in and who should be out bloom like flowers after a rainy season. Oh, we aren't talking about which Republican will cause drama next. We're talking about the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Whether you like it or not, the All-Star Game is one of the high points in the MLB season. We the fans elect the starting lineups, and the reserves and pitchers are penciled in next. With that, it's time to play America's favorite game—no, not "name that Molina"—it's Right or Wrong.

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Base Ball—Vintage Style: Connecting the 1870s and Today

Nick Barnowski — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:40:55 -0400

Sliding, spitting, or swearing will cost you a quarter.

A fan is called a crank, and the men must ask the ladies for permission before they roll up their sleeves.

Have any ideas of what game I’m referring to?

The game is base ball―vintage style.

Yes, base ball, with two spaces, is still being played today. Teams are sprouting all over the state of Michigan with men and women playing our national pastime with rules from the 1870s.

With players who sport nicknames that range from “Iceblock” to “Bender,” these games are competitive yet fun for everybody.

“The game allows the cranks (fans) to get into the action and help cheer the teams on,” said Rob “Iceblock” Berg, manager of the Hartwick Pines Swampers, who are located in Grayling, Michigan.

Indeed it does.

Introduced to this form of baseball a couple of years ago as a fan, I have found it slotted into some of my summer weekends, this time as a player.

My team is the Walker Tavern Wheels, based out of Brooklyn, Michigan. There are around a dozen other teams in the Great Lakes state with clubs located in cities, like Ludington, Rochester, Midland, Mackinaw City, and Northville.

The Swampers regularly advertise in local newspapers, and are always welcoming new players to their club. Advertising isn’t the only way clubs draw new players, though.

“My father plays down state, for the Rochester Grangers team, and he has been an inspiration to me,” said Craig “Splinter” Kasmer, who is the behind (catcher) and self-proclaimed jokester for the Swampers.

“My family and I went to watch a game at Hartwick Pines, and decided to join a team downstate,” says Don “Skeeter” Barnowski, scout (outfielder) for the Wheels (he also happens to be my dad).

To play this game, you must brush up on your vintage base ball rules and lingo.

For example, a ball can be caught on one bounce and still can be considered out. Any ball that’s hit fair, regardless of where it landed, can roll foul and still be considered fair.

“Basetenders,” baseman, are supposed to play within two strides of their respective base. As you can see, the game has changed so much since the 19th century.

Baseball lingo was completely different back in the 1870s. Errors were called muffs, ground balls are daisy cutters, and left-handers were referred to as wronghanders.

Hitters were strikers, and pitchers were hurlers.

Use these words during a game today?

Chances are you’ll get laughed at. At these games, it’s expected.

The ball, commonly referred to as the “lemon peel,” is softer than the present day baseball because the players do not use gloves.

That is just another quirky intangible that makes the game fun and interesting for the players and the fans.

Part of the reason most players are hooked to the game is because of the history that’s involved.

The game of base ball caught on in the Northern Michigan area around the late 1870s. Local newspapers covered these matches, and a quick look at these documents provide for some interesting facts.

The Crawford Avalanche, now the Crawford County Avalanche, was the source for base ball news back in the day, proved by these excerpts:

The earliest quote found was from June 4, 1879. “The boys are thoroughly waked up on the base ball question and will organize immediately.”

This excerpt from July 23, 1879, describes a failed attempt to play between Grayling and Kalkaska:

“A letter from the base ball club of Kalkaska was received in this village last week, containing a friendly challenge to play a match game at ball with the Grayling club, but as the later club is too defunct for a resurrection, we will have to respectfully decline joining issues with them this season, which we regret, as we know it would afford us much pleasure.”

“It’s a great opportunity to have fun playing the game the way it used to be played,” says Barnowski with a smile.

What could be better than that?

Welcome to Major League Lacrosse

Nick Barnowski — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:52:12 -0400

The 2009 Major League Lacrosse season is set to start on Friday, May 15.

Major League Lacrosse? What?

Yes, and in fact, the league founded by Jake Steinfeld, Dave Morrow, and Tim Robertson will be playing in its ninth season this year.

This league has intrigued me to the point where I plan on covering it here on Bleacher Report.

But first, let’s learn some history behind the fast-growing league.

History

MLL was founded in 1999, when “Body by Jake” founder Jake Steinfeld was reading about the rising popularity of lacrosse in North America. Steinfeld, Warrior Lacrosse president Dave Morrow, and business partner Tim Robertson and founded Major League Lacrosse.

Regular season play began in June of 2001, with six teams playing 14 games. The league played with six teams until 2006, when four more teams entered the league.

The league enjoyed much success and expanded to the West. Beginning in 2006, teams were located in Philadelphia (Barrage), Boston (Cannons), New Jersey (Pride), Long Island (Lizards), Rochester (Rattlers), Baltimore (Bayhawks), Denver (Outlaws), San Francisco (Dragons), Los Angeles (Riptide), and Chicago (Machine).

Major League Lacrosse continued to play with 10 teams throughout the 2008 season, but financial problems caused Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Rochester, and San Francisco to fold.

Toronto entered the league at the beginning of 2009, purchasing the rights of the Rochester Rattlers. They thus gained the staff and players of the Rochester squad, but the team name, colors, and history were left behind in New York for a possible team in the future.

Fox Sports Network televised games in 2001 and 2002, and ESPN2 has televised games since the 2003 season. In 2007, MLL and ESPN2 agreed to a contract that will keep Major League Lacrosse on ESPN2 until the 2016 season.

David Gross has been league commissioner since 2004.

Rules

Some of the MLL rules are different that high school and college rules.

Major League Lacrosse uses a 60-second shot clock, installed to keep the game fast and entertaining. Like basketball, if the shot clock expires the other team gains possession.

There is no restraining box in MLL due to the shot clock.

Another unique rule in Major League Lacrosse is the two-point arc. If both of the player’s feet are behind the line when the ball is scored, it is worth two points instead of one.

MLL teams are allowed to dress 19 players for games.

2008 Season

The eighth MLL season was the last in which teams played in separate conferences. The Eastern and Western conferences were eliminated at the end of the season due to the Riptide, Barrage, Pride, Rattlers, and Dragons folding.

In the offseason, there were a number of trades and player announcements. The LA Riptide traded captain Matt Ogelsby to San Francisco.

Former Ivy League player of the year Joe Boulukos announced his retirement.

San Francisco traded former MVP Ryan Powell away to Denver in exchange for a first and second round pick in the MLL Collegiate Draft.

On May 28 the Boston Cannons selected Paul Rabil with the first overall pick in the draft. Casey Powell became the all-time leading scorer in MLL history on June 10, passing Mark Millon. Jesse Hubbard also set a MLL record, becoming the all-time leading goal scorer in league history also passing Millon.

The season ended on August 24 when Rochester defeated Denver 16-6 to win the Steinfeld Cup. Joe Walters was named playoff MVP.

John Grant Jr. (Rochester) took home the MVP and Offensive Player of the Year award, and Los Angeles goalie Mickey Jarboe won Goaltender of the Year.

2009 Season

The 2009 season of Major League Lacrosse will welcome a couple of rule changes. Four long-stick defenseman will now be allowed, just like in high school and college lacrosse. Also, teams will be able to dress 19 players for games instead of 18.

The teams competing for the Steinfeld Cup this year are the Cannons, Machine, Outlaws, Lizards, Washington Bayhawks and expansion franchise Toronto Nationals.

Casey, Ryan, and Mikey Powell, three of the game’s best and most popular players, will all sit out the 2009 season. The brothers did not report to their respective teams as of the April 1 deadline.

ESPN2 will air 11 MLL games, including live broadcasts of the All-Star Game, the first semi-final game, and the championship game.

The 2009 All-Star Game will take place in Denver, Colorado at INVESCO Field at Mile High on July 16.

The season will come to a close on the weekend of August 22 and 23 with the NewBalance MLL Championship Weekend at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (home of the Bayhawks) in Annapolis, Maryland.

Expect team previews next week for all six teams as the Major League Lacrosse season draws closer!

Interview With Three-Time Gold Medalist Gery Kiss

Nick Barnowski — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:47:30 -0400

[Note: This interview was originally conducted back on September 10, 2008.]

Now, you may be asking yourself, who is Gery Kiss?

But after doing some research you may find that Kiss is one of the top water polo—yes, water polo—players in the world. So what does that have to do with this post? Well, Kiss was part of the gold medal winning Hungary water polo team at the 2008 Beijing Games, and I had the opportunity to talk to one of the star players on that team.

Nick Barnowski: You have won three Olympic gold medals in a row for the Hungarian national team. What is it like being a part of those teams?

Gery Kiss: Three gold medals, 21 players. All of them are extraordinary talents and athletes. In Sydney I was the 2nd youngest on the team, but I felt as if I had always been with these great teammates.

NB: In the United States water polo is not followed by many people regularly. If someone asked you, “Why should I follow water polo?”, what would you say to them?

GK: It is a beautiful sport, just for standing in the deep water, you have to practice for years. It is an interesting mixture of swimming, football (soccer) and ice hockey: goals, fights, nice movements in a very healthy atmosphere, like the clean water.

NB: You are known for your domination during the 2004 Athens games, where you scored the game winning goal for your team in the gold medal match. Is there any greater feeling than winning the gold medal for your country?

GK: My four goals out of Hungary's eight remains always a big memory in my mind. But to make a nation of 15 million happy, you can't beat the feeling.

NB: How much of an affect does your coach, Denes Kemeny have on you and your play?

GK: He has a very good gift of teaching. He knows when to say "well done" or "you have to improve a lot in this or that". He always has something in his mind to surprise the other team. He knows when to work you hard and when we need an extra break.

NB: Most people reference to you when talking about the greatest left handed players of all-time. How much of a difference does being left or right handed make in water polo?

GK: Thanks for the kind words! I believe that being a lefty is a big advantage in water polo. Every team needs lefties to play at the right wing, and every goalkeeper is used to seeing shots from the right handed players, because (generally) only 1 out of 10 players are left handed. We often have a special shot, a kind of unexpected, unusual style, and maybe our brain works differently, so we can serve the ball, and preview the situation a little bit better.

NB: What is the atmosphere like before a big game against rivals like Serbia or Montenegro?

GK: You have to be prepared like a mixture of an ancient warrior and a university student: brave, heroic, clever and calm. You and your teammates have to feel the same brotherhood, that special feeling that you are able to suffer, bleeding etc. for the others. This is maybe the only way to beat these very good teams.

Personally I loved his last answer, and I also realized again that what may not be popular here in the United States is very popular in countries like Hungary.

It's not often that you get to talk with a three-time gold medalist, but I enjoyed the experience (although it happened back in September) and I'd like to thank Mr. Kiss once again.

Five Sports I Want To See on TV More Often

Nick Barnowski — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:21:21 -0400

Living in the United States, many of the sports that I love can be viewed on my 50" television screen in my living room. Sometimes nothing can be better than sitting down and watching a football, baseball, or basketball game on a weeknight. But what about the other sports? I'm always open to trying new things out. With that, here are my five sports I'd like to see on TV more.

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Bobby Baun: A True Playoff Warrior

Nick Barnowski — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:01:15 -0400

We have seen our fair share of hockey playoff warriors over the years.

Guys like Mark Messier, Bobby Orr, and Maurice “Rocket” Richard come to mind when thinking about players who step up to another level during the playoffs.

One man, in particular, took it up a couple of notches in the 1964 Stanley Cup Final.

Forty-five years ago, one of the greatest moments in National Hockey League history took place.

"I knew it was broken; I didn't need any X-rays to tell me that. But I didn't want to miss the overtime. I told the trainer he had to do everything possible to get me out there. He gave me a shot of painkiller, which numbed the ankle, and taped it tight. Then I laced up my skate and went back to the bench."

That’s right.

He broke a bone near his ankle.

And he still played.

Bobby Baun is his name, and his lengthy career is defined by Toronto Maple Leaf and hockey fans for one of his three career playoff goals, scored on April 23, 1964 against the Detroit Red Wings.

It was game six in the best-of-seven series for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Halfway through the third period, the score was tied at 3-3, when Baun took a shot from “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe in the ankle.

The hard-hitting defenseman had to be carried out on a stretcher, but that wasn’t going to stop him from playing again that day.

Baun, who later called it (jokingly) “the best break I ever had,” would return to the Detroit Olympia ice in overtime with the score still 3-3.

Just two minutes into overtime, Baun made history, putting the puck past Detroit goaltender Terry Sawchuck off of an intercepted pass from Red Wing defenseman Al Langlois.

The game winning tally forced a game seven, in which the Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings 4-0 to win the Stanley Cup.

While Baun only scored 40 goals, regular season and playoffs, in his 17-year career, none were bigger than his one to cement himself in NHL history.

Detroit Tigers-Seattle Mariners: Detroit Faces Their First West Coast Trip

Nick Barnowski — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:29:58 -0400

After starting last season 1-8, the Detroit Tigers are 5-4 as they encounter their first west coast trip of the season. In this trip they will play the Seattle Mariners in a three-game set, then head down to southern California to face the Los Angeles Angels. They will then head back to the Midwest to play a division opponent, the Kansas City Royals.

The Mariners are 7-3 and are on top of the American League West by two-and-a-half games over the Angels, Oakland Athletics, and Texas Rangers.

It is the first meeting between these two teams this season, and it should be a great pitching series.

Game One: Friday, April 17 @ 10:10 PM(EST)

Justin Verlander will take the hill for the Tigers in game one of the series. The Rangers chased Verlander after five innings and 97 pitches in his last start, although he did show a lot of improvement in his pitches, striking out eight and walking four.

Verlander (0-1, 9.35) has pitched very good in his career against the Mariners. In seven starts, he is 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA, and has only given up one home run to Seattle hitters. At Safeco Field, he is 3-1 with a 3.76 ERA.

Verlander will need to continue to throw pitches for strikes, and it will be important for him to try and go seven innings. Consistency is what this Tigers team needs, and it all starts with the starting pitching.

Franklin Gutierrez has hit the best off of Verlander, with a .294 batting average and a home run and three RBI. Ichiro Suzuki has also hit well off of JV—he hits well off of everybody—as he is 8-22 with a RBI.

Opposing Verlander will be Felix Hernandez. "King Felix" struck out eight in his last start against the A's, but three of his seven hits given up were for extra bases.

He also said that his injured ankle hurt at times on Saturday and that it threw him off early. Look for the Tigers to take whatever advantage they can get off him, because he is stellar against Detroit.

In his career against the Tigers, Hernandez is 3-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. In those 30.1 innings he has recorded 30 strikeouts, something Maggio Ordonez knows, six strikeouts versus Felix.

An interesting stat I found was that in 1-0 counts, Hernandez (1-0, 4.15) has a .413 batting average against and has given up 11 home runs. The Tigers can use this to their advantage as they have been a patient team so far this season.

Curtis Granderson is the only Detroit Tiger with a home run off of Hernandez.

Game Two: Saturday, April 18 @ 9:10 PM(EST)

Consistency is what the Tigers need, and Edwin Jackson has delivered that early on.

Jackson (0-0, 3.38) has thrown 13 innings in his two starts this year, a sign that means the Tigers may have finally found their work-horse.

Jackson kept the Rangers close enough to where the Tigers could make a comeback and win in his last start, and will look to continue his success against Seattle on Saturday.

The 25-year-old is 2-0 versus the Mariners with a 0.60 ERA. Jose Lopez is the only Mariner to hit a home run off the German, but the way the Mariners have been hitting recently means that that might change.

Lefty Erik Bedard would like the Seattle offense to keep hitting. Although he is coming off of his best start as a Mariner versus the A's, Bedard is 1-1 with a 6.32 ERA against Detroit. In 15.2 innings pitched, he has given up 11 earned runs to Detroit.

Bedard (1-0, 2.03) will look to shut down the Detroit offense like he did against Oakland—as he retired 11 of 12 batters in one stretch and then 13 straight in another.

On an 0-1 count, Bedard has given up 15 home runs and three triples, something the Tigers will have to look out for.

Placido Polanco has hit well against Bedard, posting a .300 batting average to go along with one home run and two RBI.

Game Three: Sunday, April 19 @ 4:10 PM(EST)

Tigers rookie right-hander Rick Porcello will make his second career start on Sunday.

Porcello (0-1, 7.20) was supposed to start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, but that game was postponed due to rain in Detroit.

Being a rookie, Porcello has never faced the Mariners before so he will be showing them all of his pitches. He will try and keep the ball down in the zone and will look to get a lot of ground ball outs.

He has had a lot of time to rest between starts, so I expect Porcello to pitch a great game.

On the rubber for Seattle, will be Carlos Silva.

Silva (0-1, 6.00) pitched very well in his last start against the Angels, as he had good command of the strike zone and kept the ball down.

He hasn't had very much success against Detroit. He has a 5-6 record with a 5.98 ERA in 14 starts against the Tigers. His 4.2 SO/9 rate is low, although he isn't a predominately strikeout pitcher.

The Tigers have hit .336 as a team against Silva, and Carlos Guillen has had a lot of success against him. He is 17-for-35 with three home runs and 14 RBI in his career against the Mariners' right-hander.

I think this will be a good series to watch, as the pitching matchups should create some interesting battles that will be fun to watch. Detroit will take two of three from the Mariners and will extend their lead in the American League Central.

The Best Postseason in Sports: My NHL Predictions Special

Nick Barnowski — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:04:57 -0400

While there are many great, great prediction articles out there already, I decided to write this one just to throw another one into the mix. (You can decide if it's great or not.) You may have noticed that I already have a Bruins-Canadiens preview out there—but that was before I realized that the playoffs start tonight and I wouldn't have enough time to write seven more preview articles. With that, let's get to it! Who will win the Stanley Cup this year?

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Bruins-Canadiens: Rivalry Restored Once Again

Nick Barnowski — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:21:51 -0400

Last year, it was Boston vs. Montreal in the first round.

This year it's the same, but a little different.

The Boston Bruins enter the postseason as the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they will battle their bitter rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, who own the eighth seed.

While at first glance it may seem like it would be an easy series victory for Boston—especially with the Canadiens top defensemen Andrei Markov out—history says, "Enough of that!"

This will be the 32nd time these two Original Six teams meet in the playoffs, and the Canadiens have the Bruins number, winning 24 out of the 31 prior series.

But, the Bruins 116 points this season is a number that can lash back at the history in favor of the Canadiens. It's the highest point total the Bruins have recorded since 1972—the last year they won the coveted Stanley Cup.

We will be in store for a great series out of these two teams, let's break it down.

Offense

Entering the 2008/2009 season, Bruins fans were asking many questions about the offense. Would Phil Kessel produce? How would Patrice Bergeron rebound from that horrific concussion that knocked him out for the 2007/2008 season? Would Michael Ryder be a valuable free agency pickup?

Those questions were answered early on in the season, and the B's haven't looked back.

Boston has a very balanced attack, led by Kessel and Marc Savard.

It doesn't stop there.

The Bruins have remarkable depth, and when you think you have stopped their big guns, a new wave comes right out. Bergeron, David Krejci, Mark Recchi, and Blake Wheeler are all big contributors when it comes to the Bruins' offense.

Montreal also has some questions that are still needing to be answered coming into the first round. The main one Canadiens fans are asking is, "Will Alex Kovalev show up in the playoffs?"

His 65 points this season was definitely a step down from last season. To be honest, I have no idea which Alex Kovalev will show up—the one who won the MVP award at this year's All-Star Game or the one that was benched in February for his lack of inspired play?

Canadiens fans better hope that it is the All-Star Game Kovalev or they will have a hard time scoring on the very good Bruins defense.

Chris Higgins, the Kostitsyn brothers, and the captain, Saku Koivu, will all need to be at the top of their games, as well.

Defense

It's no secret that Boston has one of the top defenses in the National Hockey League.

Led by Zdeno Chara, this is a defense that gave up the fewest amount of goals in the league this season (196).

This is a big, bruising defense that will dominate physically against the Canadiens.

Perhaps the biggest factor in this series will be whether or not All-Star Andrei Markov will be able to play.

Montreal's top defensemen has been sidelined with a lower body injury and his status is uncertain.

Goaltending

The Bruins have a Vezina Trophy candidate in Tim Thomas between the pipes, while Montreal has a shaky Carey Price in net.

The other key factor besides Markov's injury will be whether or not Price plays lights out.

If he doesn't, it will be a very quick series. The Bruins have too good of an offense and Montreal won't be able to catch up if they fall behind early in the series.

Thomas posted a 2.10 goals against average to go along with a .933 save percentage, which were tops in the league.

Although Thomas doesn't have much playoff experience, the Bruins will expect that he will be fine in the playoffs, considering he didn't falter at any point during the regular season.

In order for the Canadiens to be successful in this series, they will need Carey Price to play the series of his life.

Boston also has the edge on the power play, as theirs was fifth best in the league. Montreal's penalty killing percentage was at 82.4, so look for the Bruins to take advantage of their power plays.

In the end, I just think that Boston has too much offensive firepower to lose this series. This won't be a quick sweep though, I expect Montreal to fight hard, especially at home (where they are very good).

Prediction: Boston in 5.

Mark Fidrych, Dead at 54

Nick Barnowski — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:43:14 -0400

In stunning and sad news, former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark Fidrych was killed today in an accident on his farm.

"The Bird," as many fans knew him, was found by a family friend underneath a dump truck on his 107-acre farm in Northborough, Massachusetts this afternoon around 2:30.

Fidrych, known for his crazy antics on the field—which included talking to the ball and grooming the pitcher's mound—won 19 games in 1976 for the Tigers as a rookie. His ERA was 2.34 and he was named the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game in the same season.

His first Major League game was a complete game two-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. It was one of 24 complete games "The Bird" would throw during that magical 1976 season.

While I never did get to see "The Bird" pitch, I know many Tigers fans who have and said that he was worth every penny to go watch.

One of Fidrych's memorable quotes is: "When you're a winner you're always happy, but if you're happy as a loser, you'll always be a loser."

"Baseball will miss him. They missed him because he didn't have as long as a career as everybody would have liked in the first place. It's just horrible," former Orioles pitcher and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer said. "He did embrace life. I remember him trying to play golf when he couldn't play golf and enjoying every minute of it."

Mark Fidrych, dead at the age of 54.

(Palmer quote courtesy of ESPN.com)

Tigers-White Sox: How Will the Tigers Follow Up Their Sweep?

Nick Barnowski — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:43:05 -0400

Fresh off a sweep of the Texas Rangers, the Detroit Tigers will turn their attention to the Chicago White Sox for a three-game set at Comerica Park.

The White Sox are coming off a home series with the Minnesota Twins in which they took two of three, including an impressive win against Francisco Liriano.

The Tigers will look to extend their best home start in 16 years against the defending AL Central champions.

Game One: Monday, April 13 @ 1:05 PM ET

Dominant would be the word to describe Gavin Floyd's performances against the Tigers.

In his career, Floyd (0-1, 2.57) is 4-0 against Detroit. Last season, he went 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA against the last-place Tigers, with two of those victories coming at Comerica Park. He also carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning on April 12 against visiting Detroit.

Floyd, who signed a four-year contract worth $15.5 million with the White Sox in March, has a very good fastball that the Tigers, a good fastball hitting team, will need to look for.

Red-hot Brandon Inge, who has four home runs to start the season, has hit a home run and four RBI off Floyd in his career. Some other Tigers who have success against Floyd are Gerald Laird (1-for-2 with a home run) and Placido Polanco (home run, three RBI).

Taking the rubber for Detroit is Zach Miner.

Miner (1-0, 1.59) pitched very well against the Toronto Blue Jays last Wednesday, earning Detroit's first win of the season while pitching five-and-two-thirds innings.

Miner has not pitched very well against the South Siders though.

Versus the White Sox in his career, Miner is 2-5 with a 5.29 ERA. Another mark against Miner is that his home ERA (5.28) is incredibly higher than his road ERA (3.08).

Jermaine Dye has had a lot of success against Mr. Miner, going 5-for-12 with two home runs and five RBI in his career against the Detroit right-hander.

Game Two: Tuesday, April 14 @ 1:05 PM ET

Tigers rookie Rick Porcello, who lost his first major league start against the Blue Jays on Thursday, will pitch against John Danks in Game Two of the series.

The 6' 5", 200 pound right-hander showed Tigers brass that he, indeed, has the stuff to make him a potential ace. Porcello (0-1, 7.20) kept the ball down in the strike zone, and forced a lot of ground ball outs—eight to be exact.

White Sox hitters have never faced Porcello, but they will be looking for his heavy fastball and good changeup.

Danks (0-0, 0.00) pitched a great game against the Minnesota Twins in his first start of the season, tossing six scoreless innings while throwing 95 pitches. In 2008 against the Tigers, he went 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA.

Magglio Ordonez has hit Danks very well in his career, driving in six runners and going 10-for-17.

The key for Tigers hitters will be to get after him early. In innings one through three, Danks has given up 23 home runs, and his OPS+ is a lowly 84.

Game Three: Wednesday, April 15 @ 1:05 PM ET

Armando Galarraga proved on Friday that last season was no fluke, dominating the Rangers. Galarraga (1-0, 1.29) pitched seven innings and gave up only one run in the Tigers' home opener.

Taking the hill for the White Sox will be Jose Contreras.

Contreras (0-1, 7.20) gave up four runs on seven hits in Chicago's 12-5 loss against the Twins on Friday. He will need to establish better control if he wants to be successful on Wednesday, as he will be facing a patient Tigers lineup.

In his career, Contreras is 8-8 against the Tigers with a 4.68 ERA.

Carlos Guillen has three home runs, nine RBI, and 10 walks in 40 at-bats against the Cuban, who wasn't even expected to be in the starting rotation until mid-season after rupturing his Achilles tendon in early August last season.

The White Sox were the only division opponent Galarraga didn't face last season, so he will look to continue his dominance against Carlos Quentin and company in the series finale.

Seeing Red: Boston U Wins NCAA Hockey Championship in Thrilling Fashion

Nick Barnowski — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:09:58 -0400

How sweet it is.

Colby Cohen scored in overtime to give the Boston University Terriers their fifth national championship, winning 4-3.

In arguably one of the best college hockey games in recent memory, Miami took a 3-1 lead over Boston with a little more than four minutes left after Trent Vogelhuber scored.

But as they say, it's not over till the fat lady sings.

Zach Cohen and Nick Bonino each scored with less than a minute left to tie the game at three, sending it into overtime.

Chris Connolly put the biscuit in the basket for Boston, late in the first period for the games first goal.

Gary Steffes and Tommy Wingels scored for the RedHawks to give them the 3-1 lead, which stood until Boston tied it back up.

Boston University-Miami (OH): A NCAA Hockey Championship at Stake

Nick Barnowski — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:17:55 -0400

One game.

That's all it takes. One game to change a program, career, or life.

The Miami University RedHawks will look to win that one game tonight in the NCAA Hockey Championship game against the mighty and powerful Boston University Terriers.

The RedHawks (23-12-5) advanced to the title game on Thursday after defeating College Hockey America champions Bemidji State, 4-1. For Boston (34-6-4), their semifinal game was a bit tougher, but they overcame the Vermont Catamounts for a 5-4 victory.

While both teams are good, this is another episode of David vs. Goliath.

Boston entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Northeast Regional. All year long they have been the best team in the country, winning four tournaments along the way. Their high powered offense includes many NHL prospects, and you can find the 2009 Hobey Baker Award winner, Matt Gilroy, back on defense.

The script is different for Miami. After losing in the CCHA quarterfinals to Northern Michigan, the RedHawks didn't even know if they would make the tournament. They quickly shredded up all doubt that they weren't a tournament ready team, defeating top-seeded Denver and Minnesota-Duluth in the West Regional.

There is no question that Boston has the edge over Miami in the offensive category.

Their four top scorers—Colin Wilson, Nick Bonino, Chris Higgins, and Brandon Yip—all have more points this season than Miami's leading scorer, Carter Camper. If BU's weapons all strut their best stuff, no one can stop them.

Miami's offense sings a different song than Boston's. Not one player on this roster can take over a game. The RedHawks' forwards are all versatile, balanced, and play good in their own end. This offense is a collective effort—eight forwards have more than 20 points, and six of them have 10-plus goals.

The key for Miami is to score the first goal of the game. They are 21-1-2 this year when they score first.

As you would expect, this isn't just going to be an offense show. Both teams boast some of the best defense in the nation.

The Terriers have a man who can score from the point in Gilroy. Complementing the All-American are two juniors, Eric Gryba and Brian Strait, who play a defense-first approach. This is a defense that is big and can move around, something that will be vital in stopping Miami's balanced attack.

Four of Miami's six defensemen were freshman in the win over Bemidji, something Wilson and company will look to take advantage of. Freshman Chris Wideman has 26 assists this season, which account for all of his points. This isn't a defense that will score on you, but they will be ready for Boston's offensive attack.

Look for them to establish their physical presense early and often, something they did very well against Bemidji State.

Saturday's game will feature two freshman between the pipes, something you don't see very often.

Boston University will have Kieran Millan in the net. Millan posted a 1.92 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage to go along with a 28-2-3 record. While he played outstanding during the regular season, his start against Vermont was arguably his worst of the season.

Miami will throw out Cody Reichard. Reichard has a 2.02 GAA and a .917 save percentage, and played very sharp against the Beavers on Thursday night.

Both goalies will need to overcome the mental challenge this game brings early so their team doesn't trail by a goal or two early.

Another key will be special teams. Boston has one of the nation's best power plays, with a plus-21 margin. They also have capitalized on short-handed chances, putting 10 pucks in the back of the net with a man down.

Miami's penalty kill entered the tournament with the country's second-best penalty killing percentage, but gave up two PPG's to Denver. Since then, they have settled down, only allowing one in 11 chances against Minnesota-Duluth and Bemidji State.

This game certainly has all the tools to be an all-time great. Both teams are outstanding in all categories, but I think Boston just has too much offensive firepower for the young Miami defense to stop. Boston will win their fifth NCAA Championship with a win over the Miami University RedHawks at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

If you want to watch the game, it will be airing live on ESPN at 7 PM ET.

Put the Whistle Away, Don Koharski

Nick Barnowski — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:12:41 -0400

No, this isn't Don Cherry I'm talking about.

This is Don Koharski.

The referee of 32 years retired Thursday, ending a storied career that saw him commanding the ice in many big games.

Some of his most notable accomplishments include officiating 11 Stanley Cup Finals, two All-Star Games, and the 1987 Canada Cup Final between Canada and the Soviet Union—at the request of the Russians.

In his 1,965 total games as a referee in the National Hockey League, one stands out for most fans as an infamous moment in NHL history.

During a 1988 playoff game, New Jersey Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld became agitated with Koharski's performance. While Schoenfeld waited for Koharski near the referees' dressing room, Koharski fell (it was believed that Schoenfeld pushed him).

After the two probably exchanged some off-color words, Schoenfeld told Koharski to go "have another doughnut," and called him a "fat pig" numerous times.

While many agree that Koharski was less than stellar as a ref, many also appreciate the dedication he had for the game of hockey.

So here's to you, Don.

Hockey fans around the world will have another doughnut in your honor.

Tigers-Rangers: Detroit Looks To Take First Home Series

Nick Barnowski — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:01:29 -0400

After losing three of four to the Toronto Blue Jays to start the season, the Detroit Tigers will look to rebound against the Texas Rangers in the first home series of the season.

The Rangers swept the Cleveland Indians to start off the year. Their hitting has been dynamic, unlike the Tigers' pitching, which has been less than thrilling.

This three game set will be an exciting one, with two of Major League Baseball's best offenses going at it. Let's take a look.

Friday, April 10, 1:05 PM ET

Kris Benson (0-0, -.--) will take the hill for the Rangers while Armando Galarraga (0-0, -.--) will pitch for the Tigers in the first game at Comerica Park. Jim Leyland rewarded Galarraga with the start in the home opener because his 13 wins were a bright spot on a team that was not very good in 2008.

For Benson, it will be his first start since Sept. 27, 2006, when he was with the Baltimore Orioles. Faced with shoulder problems last year, Benson will look to start the season strong, and he says he is looking to start a new chapter in his career.

In three games against the Tigers, he is 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA and also threw a complete game.

Getting hits off the first pitch was something the Tigers did well against Ricky Romero on Thursday, and they will look to do that again against Benson. He has given up 23 home runs off the first pitch in his career, with a .351 batting average against to go with that.

Galarraga, acquired from Texas in February of 2008 for OF Michael Hernandez, will have a tough time against the Rangers' bats, which have been very hot to start the season. Last season, Galarraga faced the Rangers once and threw a very solid game, defeating Texas in August.

Look for Detroit's offense to capitalize off of Benson's mistakes as it will be his first time pitching in a Major League uniform in quite some time.

Saturday, April 11, 1:05 PM ET

The second game of the series will feature lefty Matt Harrison (0-0, -.--) on the mound for Texas and 2006 Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander (0-1, 19.64) for Detroit.

Verlander is coming off of a horrible start against the Blue Jays in the season opener, where he gave up eight runs in four innings. However, Verlander has pitched very well against the Rangers in his career, sporting a 4-1 record and a 2.30 ERA.

The key for Verlander in this game is to get command of his fastball early and to make sure the Rangers do not hit any home runs. During their sweep of the Indians, Texas scored 29 runs and hit the most home runs in the AL with seven.

Harrison won nine games for the Rangers in 2008, setting a club record for the most number of wins by a rookie left-handed pitcher. While he did go 9-3, his ERA was a gas-price high 5.49.

The Tigers need to be patient at the plate against Harrison, as he won't overpower batters with fastballs or throw them off-guard with breaking balls.

Sunday, April 12, 1:05 PM ET

Kevin Milwood (1-0, 1.29) will be picking up the rosin bag for the Rangers on Sunday, fresh off an Opening Day win in which he threw 113 pitches.

For the Tigers, Edwin Jackson (0-0, 1.23) will look to have another efficient game after going seven-and-one-third innings against the Blue Jays.

In his career against the Tigers, Milwood is 4-4 with a 3.91 ERA, and 2-1 in Detroit.

One Tiger who has had success against Milwood is Miguel Cabrera, who has hit two home runs and has five RBI versus the Rangers ace.

The 25-year-old Jackson is 1-2 in four starts against Texas, although he does have a complete game and a shutout to his credit.

Ian Kinsler and Hank Blalock both have had success against Jackson. Kinsler is three-for-nine with one home run and Blalock is three-for-five with two RBI.

For the Tigers, this series is crucial, so I expect them to finish it off with a win over Kevin Milwood and the Rangers.

Detroit: A City in Shambles Puts on an Unforgettable Basketball Weekend

Nick Barnowski — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:59:39 -0400

The Final Four. It's a sporting event every fan wants to attend once in their lifetime.

In 2003, the NCAA selected Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan to be the host for the NCAA Final Four in 2009. Luckily, I was able to go to all three games and check off another item on my sports bucket list.

My dad and I received our tickets in a small, sleek booklet in early February and ever since then it has been all I have been looking forward to.

I've attended many other sporting events, including some Red Wings playoff games, but nothing can compare to Final Four weekend in my home state.

Detroit is a city that desperately needed the 30,000-plus people that visited to help jump-start a comeback even Joe Montana couldn't orchestrate.

My house is only an hour's drive from downtown Detroit, but we left around 1:00 pm, a full five hours before the tip of the Michigan State-Connecticut game.

First up was Hoop City, the NCAA's fan event, similar to major league baseball's All-Star FanFest. The event was held at Cobo Hall.

We received a free ticket that was included with our game admission and took the People Mover, Detroit's version of a subway, to get there.

On the creaky old rail, we met two North Carolina students who drove up to see their Tar Heels play and eventually win the National Championship.

They told us they were going to the Red Wings game on Sunday against the Minnesota Wild, something a lot of people said they were going to do during their stay in southeastern Michigan.

Walking into the building, a crowd of Michigan State fans was shouting relentlessly, "Go Green," to which the other half of the group would shout, "Go White!"

While we waited in line, three coordinators kept shouting over each other, each trying to convey their message to the line of people.

That, to me, symbolized the whole city of Detroit: a lot of ideas, but no action or result.

To be honest, Hoop City disappointed me. It was aimed more toward a younger audience. There were no coaches or players there signing autographs like it said in the pamphlet.

It was a good way to waste a couple of hours before the first game though, and I nabbed a couple of t-shirts for the games.

After eating lunch, we decided we would follow the ESPN College GameDay bus around town. Unfortunately that didn't work out too well, but we did get to see two of the coolest statues in Michigan—The Joe Louis Fist, and the Spirit of Detroit figure.

Detroit is a very boring city.

The Riverfront and Campus Martius Park are really the only nice places in town. Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings play, is on the Riverfront.

The rest is nothing.

There are just as many abandoned buildings as there are bars. They have been planning to build a centralized bus station for a year and a half, but it's still not done.

You can't compare Detroit to Chicago, San Diego, or even St. Louis—all cities I have been to. There is no shopping district, no high-class restaurants, and especially no activity.

The exception here was Final Four weekend.

Detroit was buzzing with people, inside Ford Field and out. For the first time in what seemed like a century, Detroit was full of life.

Our seats were actually pretty good. They were nosebleeds, but it was right at mid-court and you could see everything.

Next to us there were two older men from Kentucky who were hoping to see their Wildcats in the Final Four. That didn't exactly work out.

Also seated next to us were two Connecticut graduates who made the trip here to watch the Huskies. They ended up leaving after the first game.

The Michigan State game was great right from the opening tip. I consider myself a Michigan Wolverines fan, but I cheer for State when Michigan isn't playing them.

The student section came out in full force, and the "Go Green, Go White" chant was roaring throughout the entire game.

The North Carolina-Villanova game wasn't as exciting, but I liked watching UNC's dominant offense.

Monday was the Championship game. Before the tip, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson presented the game ball, which was very cool.

The game wasn't.

North Carolina's lead was insurmountable and they took home the National Championship. A lot of State fans left early; we stayed.

My thinking was, "How many times do you get to see the Champs cut the nets down?"

The Final Four experience was a great one and I enjoyed every minute of it.

It is an event that everyone should go to at least once and something you will remember for the rest of your life.