Bleacher Report - Articles by Marcus Moeller

The Players Championship: More Proof That Sergio Garcia Will Never Win a Major

Marcus Moeller — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:45:52 -0400

It took 73 holes, but Sergio Garcia's masterful shot on the first playoff hole (the famed 17th island green of the TPC at Sawgrass) wrapped up a very nice victory at The Players Championship on Sunday.

Garcia's win did a lot to answer the question of whether or not he will ever get rid of the "best player never to win a major" name tag...the answer was a resounding, "No!!!"

Garcia is widely known as the best ball-striker on tour, and this week was no different. He led the field in driving accuracy and greens hit in regulation.

However, it is Garcia's putter that has traditionally let him down. He finished the week 69th in putting but hit great putts at 14, 17 (in regulation), and 18 to force the playoff.

Garcia's game spoke for itself this week. He truly played a masterful four days of golf. Unfortunately for Sergio the tell-tale sign that he will never win a major came at the trophy presentation.

At the ceremony off the 18th green, Sergio was asked to comment about the tournament; the first words out of his mouth were this, "I want to thank Tiger for not being here...that always makes things a little bit easier."

I was absolutely appalled that a competitor would say that about a fellow competitor. The truth of his statement was only made truer by the fact the he vocalized it.

Tiger is in Sergio's head, plain and simple.

Congrats Sergio. You played well....really well. However, enjoy it while it lasts because Tiger's knee is fine, and he is heading to tournament (e.g. the U.S. Open) near you!!!

Tyler Hansbrough to Return for Senior Campaign with Tar Heels

Marcus Moeller — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:41:09 -0400

The North Carolina Tar Heels fan base breathed a collective sigh of relief last Friday when junior forward Tyler Hansbrough announced his intentions to return to Chapel Hill for his senior year.

However, the exhale was short lived due to the announcement that sophomore guards Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington (I’m not even going to touch Danny Green) are leaving school early to test the tumultuous waters of the NBA draft.

Neither player signed with an agent, leaving the option to return for their junior years. This means the Carolina faithful will have to hold their breath until June 16—the last day that early entrants are allowed to pull their names out of the draft.

Tyler made an extremely wise decision. At 6'8" (and most scouts say that is generous), he must expand his game away from the basket to be effective in the NBA.

Yes, I saw the Elite Eight game against Louisville, but I think we can all agree, that was an anomaly rather than a consistent facet of Tyler's game.

If Tyler really does have this never-before-seen work ethic (and I really believe he does) then it will serve him well to focus a lot of that energy on expanding his game to better suit the next level.

In all honesty, I believe Lawson and Ellington are making a big mistake. I realize they might simply be testing the scouts, going to the pre-draft camps, etc. But if their decision leads them all the way to the draft, they will have made a mistake.

Ty Lawson's biggest asset is his floor speed and quickness. He is lighting quick with the ball and seems to have a non-stop motor, but the NBA requires far more out of its point guards.

Lawson is an average (at best) outside shooter, and for all of that speed he seems to be a below-average defender. Lawson is in the perfect system at Carolina to suit his game. As a result, he is able to put up decent scoring numbers.

This won't be the case in the NBA. Lawson will need to be a floor leader and a decision maker. Lawson's decision making must improve to be a consistent point guard at the next level.

Here's the deal. These are all things that can improve. Lawson's game (and draft stock) could really benefit from a year spent working on his perimeter shooting and decision making.

Wayne Ellington is a legitimate perimeter shooter. No doubt and no debate there.

However, I have real issues with the idea that he is NBA ready. He doesn't finish well enough around the rim. His ball handling ability is sketchy (at best). His defense is nothing to write home about.

He will not be able to create his shot against the longer, more athletic defenders that await him at the next level. Wayne, even more than the other two, would really benefit from another year under the tutelage of Roy Williams.

Listen, I am totally cognizant of the fact that these guys can flat out play at the college level. Their presence was obvious as they were the core one of the elite programs in college basketball.

I simply don't buy into any of them being ready to step into the NBA and make an immediate impact.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. There's one more incentive to come back. Come April 6 of next year, Tyler will get to show off those hideous dance moves on center court, while the '09 version of "One Shinning Moment" blares in the background at Ford Field.

Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke's Emergence

Marcus Moeller — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:26:45 -0400

Kansas City Royals fans have been through a lot: the playoff absence since 1985, several years of barely watchable baseball, one winning season from 1995-2007, the false hope of an 11-1 start in 2003, and the pain of seeing former Royals win World Series with other teams.

For years, the greatest thing about going to Kauffman to watch a Royals game was the fountains that provide the landscape beyond the center field fence.

Royals pitcher Zack Greinke has been through a lot.

The beginning of the Kansas City Royals relationship with Greinke looked like a fairy tale. The Royals drafted Greinke with the sixth pick in the 2002 draft and it didn't take long for Greinke to live up to that pick.

He went 15-4 with a sub-2.00 ERA in the Minor Leagues and took home Sporting News' Minor League Player of the Year Award and made his Major League debut in 2004 against the Oakland A's.

However, the fairy tale ended there for Greinke and the Kansas City Royals.

Greinke finished the 2004 season with 11 losses (second most on the team) and nearly a 4.00 ERA. But that was nothing compared to the following season.

The righty went 5-17 with a 5.80 ERA in 2005 and questions surrounded Greinke as he entered Spring Training in the 2006 season. Those questions only intensified when he left the team for "personal reasons."

It was later discovered that Greinke was suffering from social anxiety disorder. When Greinke returned to the organization (three weeks into the season) he was placed in the 60-day DL for psychological issues.

Greinke spent time away from the game before going to Wichita for his rehab assignments. By the time 2007 rolled around Greinke had re-staked his claim in the rotation with a very successful spring.

However, the pitcher’s woes continued as he started the year 1-4 with a 5.71 ERA—the organization sent him to the bullpen where he was fairly successful in the bullpen, but everyone in the organization understood that his value was a starter, not a reliever.

2008 is upon us and again, the Royals talked about Greinke’s great spring training and how he finally has it together, but to Royals fan, it was the same old story and we expected the same old result.

But then something weird happened, on April 3rd, Greinke made his first start of the 2008 season, won and only gave up one earned run.

Was this the year? Is he going to finally realize all of that potential?

Fast forward three weeks and Greinke is 3-0 with a 1.25 ERA. Greinke has been in control on the mound. He has worked deep into games (minus the Oakland outing). He has kept hitters off balance. And most importantly, the Royals are 4-1 in games that he starts.

I realize it is early in the year but Greinke has been terrific on the mound. Royals fans can only hope that the pitcher continues to dominate and that someone can eventually write "and they lived happily ever after" to finish this fairy tale.