Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt St. Jean

Trade Deadline: What Should The Red Sox Do?

Matt St. Jean — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:10:15 -0400

The trade deadline is arriving at the end of the month and baseball has yet to see any really significant moves from the big players in the game, notably the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets and Red Sox.

There are plenty of rumors flying around the Boston Red Sox and it has the Fenway Faithful constantly speculating on who the Red Sox could acquire. Recently it has been Roy Halladay, and how dominating Red Sox pitching would be with Halladay, Beckett, and Lester as a three-headed demon devouring batters at will.

This would be very intimidating but would it be necessary? Acquiring Halladay would mean the Clay Buchholz would be left in the minors for the rest of the season where he is currently dominating. This would also mean that the Red Sox would not be big players in next offseason's free agent market with so many big contracts already on their plate.

However, with the recent news of Buchholz arriving in the big leagues the move for Halladay is highly unlikely... sorry pitching gurus of Boston, you will have to remain drooling over Beckett and Lester and complaining about Dice-K and Smoltz.

More rumors have involved hitters such as Garrett Atkins, Miguel Tejada, and Victor Martinez. These rumors are a response to the dilemma that is facing the Red Sox third basemen Mike Lowell and the doubts that management has that he will come back and be one-hundred percent for the rest of the season.

Garrett Atkins is having a horrendous season for the Rockies this season in the hitter friendly Coors Field. He is current platooning with fellow third basement Ian Stewart who is beating him out with a .223 batting average. But, there is something about playing in Boston that reignites hitters to becoming fan favorites and sometimes even legends in Boston folklore (see David Ortiz).

With Nick Green playing as well as he has and Lowrie soon recovering from his injury and move for more power in the shortstop position would be unlikely. The Tejada trade rumor spread for a little while because Red Sox nation was uneven at having journeyman Nick Green at shortstop. In usual Boston fashion all that it takes to win us over is a walk-off home run, solid fielding performances and a humble attitude and now we want Nick Green to stick around for good.

Victor Martinez is an interesting rumor because as much as I love Tek he needs to leave or at least assume a back up role. Victor Martinez would bring a solid bat to the lineup and can play both first base and catcher. He would allow both Lowell and Varitek days off if they needed it.

However, what the Red Sox need to do before the trade deadline is...nothing. There is a man named Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins that is going to be a free agent at season's end and if the Red Sox go and get high money players they will not be able to attain Mauer's services. Mauer is going to sign with a big market team and the only other big market team that has a glaring need for a catcher is the Yankees.

The Red Sox have the second best record in baseball right now and hold a solid three game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. They have the best bullpen in baseball and one of the best farm systems as players constantly get called up and produce almost immediately (See Aaron Bates).

They need to save their money so that they can go out and make a lucrative offer to Joe Mauer in the off-season so that they do not lose him to the Yankees like they lost Teixeira, A-Rod and Randy Johnson before him. Mauer would be a perfect fit for the Red Sox and would be loved by Boston immediately.

The Red Sox cannot fall into the trap of buying big name players and trading away prospects like the Yankees did (and look what happened to them). I mean look what happened when the Red Sox traded for Gagne... nuff' said.

This trade deadline the Red Sox need to be patient and rely on the talent that they already have and the talent that they have coming up from the minors. Although the big name players would help, being patient will aid the Red Sox in the long run.

With a team that is poised to make a World Series run anyway getting any additional help would be futile. Plus, Joe Mauer needs to be in a Red Sox uniform in 2010 or Red Sox nation will be very, very disappointed.

UFC 100: Power Versus Finesse

Matt St. Jean — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:25:50 -0400

Ever since the card came out a few months ago, every mixed-martial-arts fanatic has been impatiently waiting for July 11 to arrive. A day from now, it is going to arrive and millions of people will drop what they are doing to flock to the nearest sports bar or recline the lazy boy and press the buy button on their pay-per-view box.

With all these high expectations surrounding the three marque bouts, is there any chance for a letdown? Not a chance.

What can we expect out of this fight between two complete opposite fighters from the Ultimate Fighter captains?

Bisbing is going to be moving around a lot to try to avoid the one hit wonder power of Henderson who will be looking for the knockout and was quoted during the season of TUF that we could not wait for the fight to arrive to let his fists do the talking and shut Bisbing.

It will be an uphill battle for Henderson, as very few people have been able to figure out how to stop the quick onslaught of punches that Bisbing brings to table. As inaccurate as Henderson can be throwing his punches, it could be tough for him to connect with one to send Bisbing reeling.

However, if Henderson does manage to catch the fleet footed Bisbing with a punch, then it could be a short night for Bisbing, as Henderson is vicious on the ground and pound. I paid pretty close attention to the Ultimate Fighter, and a few fights that I have seen Henderson and Bisbing and it is really a toss up.

Since it is a battle of two different styles it is going to be the man who gets into the Octogon and asserts his style as the dominant one. If Bisbing keeps this fight off the ground, he will have a good chance to take the unanimous decision at the end of the fight, because I cannot see Bisbing winning by submission or knocking Henderson out.

Henderson is obviously looking for the knockout and if he gets the slightest chance to put Bisbing's eyes in the back of his head he will not waste the opportunity. Henderson also holds an advantage on the ground and if he gets the fight to the ground he can really exert his power and his ground and pound game.

This will be a tough one to win for Bisbing, and I am going to take the power of Henderson over the quickness and finesse of Bisbing. It is only a matter of time before the heavy hands of Henderson catch the darting Bisbing, and Henderson will win this one via knockout in the second round.

The next fight has the potential to be the fight of the night when the underdog Thiago Alves faces off against Georges St. Pierre. Alves is one the quickest rising superstars in the UFC and has been tearing through his division, landing knockout after knockout. He will be the toughest opponent that GSP has faced yet.

People have said, "Well what about BJ Penn?" Penn fights in a very similar way as GSP, but GSP is the best at what he does and is more powerful then Penn as he completely dominated him in the two fights they had against each other.

Alves will arrive at the Octogon a solid 20 to 30 pounds more than GSP, and as a result, GSP will be forced to rely on his outstanding technical skill to cancel out Alves' advantage in power.

Alves' stand up is fantastic, the knockouts that I have watched were just ruthless. Matt Hughes did not stand a chance and he is one of the better fighters to have fought in the UFC.

No matter how good Alves's stand up is, I just cannot believe that GSP will be as easy to be knocked out. GSP is diabolical when it comes to fights, that if Alves makes one mistake, it could mean the end of him.

I have watched many fights where GSP just puts on a clinic in submissions and he throws vicious elbows. With all the hype surrounding Alves with his knockout power and his great ground game it almost feels like he is the favorite, unfortunately for Alves it will not be enough.

Since Alves has to spend all of his time and energy before the weigh in to try to make weight GSP will have a conditioning advantage of Alves which will be turn out to the crucial turning point in the fight.

Alves is going to make an aggressive mistake, GSP is going to catch it and make him pay. GSP wins via submission in the third round in a thriller.

Now on to the main event that has everybody buzzing, ever since Frank Mir defeated Nogueira by a knock out after dominating him the entire fight.

However, Brock Lesnar is not Minotauro. Lesnar's meteoric rise to the top of the UFC heavyweight division has been partly because of his increasing skill as an MMA fighter and because he draws huge crowds.

Brock Lesnar likes to see himself as part fighter, part entertainer. This could be a result from his days in the WWE. No matter where he came from the man is a force to be reckoned with. I have never seen a man with such size, pure strength and quickness in my life.

In the Couture fight, Lesnar landed a jab behind the Natural's ear that sent Randy sprawling across the mat, and then not a split second later, Lesnar was on top of him, landing his signature hammer fists before the ref had to step in and stop the fight.

Anybody else's punch Couture would have shrugged it off and kept on fighting, but Lesnar put him flat on the canvas.

Frank Mir poses the biggest threat in Lesnar's early career in the MMA simply because he exposed his weakness in UFC 81 when Lesnar got too aggressive and got submitted by a simple leg lock.

Many months and two victories later Lesnar is ready to avenge his victory but Mir is more difficult to figure out in the Octagon as well as out. Lesnar being the showman as he is has been trash talking and Mir has not missed a beat.

Mir has not backed down from Lesnar and after the victory over Nogueira he pointed right at Lesnar in the front row and shouted, "You're next!" A fan of anything has got to love this because it takes you back to your days on the playground when you are talking trash to the kids in the knockout line or firing a shot past the goalie and letting them know what's good.

When the ref (hopefully Big John because he is the man) claps his hands and shouts, "GET IT ON! COME ON!" Mir will not stand a chance. This is going to be the quickest fight of the night. Lesnar is still to powerful and quick for Mir and now he has more experience and will not fall into a stupid submission like he did the first time around.

Lesnar's striking has increased exponentially over his past fights and he will not even have to rain down hammer fists on Mir because Mir will be knocked out standing up. Part of me wants to see Lesnar submit Mir, but that would be a very stupid attempt as Mir's Jiu-Jitsu is the best in the heavyweight division.

Lesner is going to win this fight by knockout in the first round and will become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in the UFC after only five fights.

I am so pumped for tomorrow night. Dana White has outdone himself in this one and he will leave the arena with his typical, "My name is Dana and I am the s***." Get your popcorn, beer, vodka, Jack, weed or whatever your thing is ready because tomorrow night will be a night to remember.

BC Eagles: What Is in Store for the Maroon and Gold?

Matt St. Jean — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:27:03 -0400

Hepatitis shots, bee stings, getting a backhand to the face—these are all painful things to go through at any point in your life. As a Boston College football fan, take those irritable pains and multiply them by 1,000.

I can't tell you how many games I have been to or watched throughout which I have been genuinely excited, only to have the life ripped out of me in the last few minutes.

Every year my father and I sit down to watch the first game in our double U seats at Alumni Stadium and he says to me, "Matty kid, this year is our year. If we make it to a BCS bowl game we're going!"

Every year...for the past 10 years.

Let me just give you an example of the pain and suffering that I went through when I was a child growing up on BC.

When all hope was lost against Miami, we roared back in the fourth quarter. But it only seemed like a matter of time before the offensive juggernaut led by Ken Dorsey and Clinton Portis would score and put us out of our misery.

But wait!

Clinton Portis fumbles, BC ball! The always quiet Boston College crowd gets to their feet, even the 90-year-old men at the 50 yard line sit up straight in their chairs!

Not only did BC get the ball back but they are driving! They are down inside the 10, poised to go into the maroon endzone and upset the No. 1 team in the nation. Brian St. Pierre drops back, he looks like he has got a man on the slant, he throws...it seems like the receiver has a chance...

Off his knee and into the outstretched arms of a Miami defensive lineman. Alumni Stadium immediately deflates, but if this weren't bad enough, the defensive lineman shuffles the ball to Ed Reed who sprints down the field (almost caught by an up and coming running back Derrick Knight) and scores.

This marks the only game where I cried after it was over. Yeah, I'm man enough to admit it. I'm dedicated. This was my chance to see history. My Eagles defeating the tyrannical Miami Hurricane—a team against which we hadn't sniffed victory since Doug Flutie.

Anyway, I told that story to get to this story. Remember when BC was one win away from clinching a Big East title and a BCS berth their last year in the Big East? They could have told the Big East, "Yeah we are ready to get out of the crappy Big East, HEEEELLLLLOOOO ACC." And the team they had to beat was SYRACUSE?!

What happened?

The biggest choke ever in Boston since Bill Buckner.

Guess what? I was there.

I told you that story to get to this story. Remember last year when BC looked better than ever and they had arguably the best QB in the nation in Matt Ryan? Remember when they got all the way to No. 2 in the nation, the highest ranking in program history?

What happened?

They lost to Florida State! Drew Weatherford could barely tie his own shoelaces at that point in his disappointing collegiate career, but he still managed to carve up the BC defense like Thanksgiving had come early.

So where does that leave us? Oh, the 2008 season. I have to be honest, I have had zero expectations this coming season because I know it is a rebuilding year. We do have some promising prospects coming up in Josh Haden and Jeff Smith at running back.

What is so disappointing about this season is that the BC Eagles defense is probably the best it has been in years. Brian Toal is coming off his neck injury and heads up a linebacking core that is both experienced and quick. And yes, if you are curious, Francois is back! It seems like he has been at BC forever but I assure you this his last season. Not to mention my favorite player on BC, Mark Herzlich. One word, stud.

The defense line is another story. The ends are good but a tad inexperienced, but BC has the two biggest men in the middle, BJ Raji and Ron Brace, and they are athletic as well. These two gentlemen will go to town on a buffet and then smash unexpecting running backs.

The secondary is very inexperienced, but still shows some promise despite losing DeJuan Tribble and Jamie "Mad Dog" Silva.

Overall I gave the BC defense an A-.

I can always tell how an offense is going to do by who the impact players are in the new NCAA 2009 game. This year it is just one person: Ryan Purvis. I laughed out loud. Purvis is a great tight end in the BC system. He has sure hands and runs well with the ball after the catch, but a tight end can only get you so far.

Chris Crane has waited behind Matt Ryan and now he finally has his chance. Although he has nowhere near the arm strength that Matt Ryan possesses, he is more athletic, and this gives Jags something to work with at the QB position. Expect to see a lot roll out passes so they get Crane out of the pocket and into more open space to make throws.

The running back situation is a work in progress. Josh Haden is BC's prize recruit for 2007 and Jeff Smith is recovering from a series of concussions that kept him out all of last year. There was a possibility that he would never play again. Haden is supposed to be a play maker and is good catching the ball out of the backfield, so look for him to improve this year, but I am looking for him to reach his prime next year.

BC's offense is not going to be able to produce as much as they did last year, which may get them into trouble and they will lose some close games as Crane, aside from Purvis, does not have a solid target at wideout. Brandon Robinson and Rich Gunnel are their primary targets, but dropped a lot of balls last season, which cannot happen this season.

Overall I rated BC's offense with a generous C+.

Special teams, two words: Steve Aponavicious. Nuff' said.

This year started out against a cupcake opponent in the Kent State Golden Flash. BC pitched a shutout against their MAC 10 opponent to start the year on a good note.

The next game was a big one: Georgia Tech. This was a must win for BC. GT was predicted to be about middle of the road in the ACC and in order for BC to establish some kind of momentum this year a win on the road against GT would be HUGE.

I couldn't watch the game because I go to school in Florida, and of course ESPN wasn't covering so I couldn't watch it on 360 and was thoroughly upset. I watched the game on game channel, so that was bad luck from the start.

BC was in the lead for most of the game, but could not capitalize in the red zone, which resulted in Aponavicius field goals from 36, 34, and 26.

BC at least showed that they could move the ball on GT, but if they turned one of those FGs into points they would have won (John Madden moment).

BC was up in the fourth quarter when...signature BC...they choked. The stud defense that I drooled over in this article gave up a 43 yard touchdown run and BC could not recover.

They are at a measly 1-1, which could have easily been 2-0 if it hadn't been for the lack of red zone offense. Crane did throw two picks, but he still had a chance to win the game, so in my mind those picks are irrelevant.

They have UCF coming up to Alumni this weekend and this for me is the make or break game of the season. UCF is coming off a heartbreaking loss to USF at home a couple weeks ago. It was a great game and the Knights have had two whole weeks to think about it.

Look for this game to be a close one, but BC is going to come out on top.

As for the rest of the season, this is a year where BC could actually find itself in contention for an ACC title game. Every team in the Atlantic Division is beatable, but in reality BC is going to come out of this season with six or seven wins and will go to try to defend that illustrious bowl winning streak of beating crappy teams in crappy bowl games.

My expectations are pretty low this season so at season end I probably will not find myself screaming f-bombs at the television set when BC blows it once again. But you never know, BC will most likely find a way!

I'll trash BC all I want, but I will still cheer 'em on until the day I die. This year is no different. Give 'em hell, Eagles!

Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

Matt St. Jean — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:36:51 -0400

As a Boston fan, I think I lost about 20 pounds worth of sweat during the first round series between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics.

Celtics fans were supposed to lean back in their recliners, crack open a cold one, and enjoy four blowout wins against an inexperienced Hawks squad. We got our wish, initially, as game one and game two were decisive Celtic victories.

We were all singing Bon Jovi, "Whoa we're halfway there!"

Until the least expected outcome happened in game three—the Celtics lost. Not only did the Celtics lose, they got absolutely spanked by the Hawks.

Something about being on home court just flipped the switch in Josh Smith's head. It was like watching a slam dunk contest. Smith torched the Celtics for 27 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Smith made NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett look like fool as he posterized him on more than a few occasions. That combined with Joe Johnson's being en fuego from beyond the three point line, the Celtics had no answers in game three.

Game four was no different as Smith was playing like a man possessed and Johnson was money.

I just sat up in my chair and put my hands in my head and thought that the Celtics are going to choke and I am never going to hear the end of it.

Who wins 66 games during the regular season and then goes out to the team with the worst record in the playoffs?

My mind was put to ease as the Celtics looked to be back in top form in game five and they smoked the Hawks, beating them 110-85. KG got sick of the posterizing and ripped the Hawks for 20 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

After a blowout victory like the Celtics just had, all you have to do is ride the wave and meet King James and the Cavs in round two, right? Wrong.

Celtics blow it in the fourth quarter and the upstart Hawks force a game seven on a brilliant all-around team performance by Atlanta.

This may sound corny but I do not care, the Celtics got shipped up to Boston to fans sitting on the edge of their seats.

Winning the game seven was not a victory, it was a must or every Boston Celtic fan ( ban-wagon or die-hard) would pull a Saint Peter and deny that they ever were associated with the Celtics, but hey we still have the Sox right?

Anyway, are minds were put to rest as the game was over before the halftime buzzer.

The first round of the NBA playoffs for the Celtics begs me to ask the question—was this a fluke or can the Celtics be beaten?

Well, they have the Cleveland Cavaliers in their way now and in my unbiased opinion the Celtics should sweep the series or lose one game maximum.

The Cavaliers have the King, but what else?

Delonte will be bogged down by a much improved Rajon Rondo, Way Back Wally will be defended by veteran Ray Allen, Ben Wallace is virtually a non-factor on the offensive side of the ball and Illgauskas is so streaky that there is no way that the Cavs can put faith in him against a physical defender like Kendrick Perkins.

The Celtics bench has been force to be reckoned with all season and the Cavaliers bench is lackluster to say the least.

What could bring the Celtics down is a, and I hate to say it, lack of heart.

They took the Hawks for granted and they almost were guilty of the biggest choke in the history of the NBA. The first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs would have put on the Boston Wall of Shame right in between Bill Buckner and the 2008 Super Bowl.

I doubt they will make the same mistake twice, but in the first round of the playoffs they almost conceded one-quarter of their total losses all season!

There is no single person to blame, and I know everyone is quick to question Doc Rivers but these are grown men playing basketball and if they cannot find the motivation in the playoffs, no coach in the world can instill that.

Trust me, now that the Big Three had the sour taste of defeat in their mouths they will not want to taste it again.

The Celtics will bounce back against a shallow Cleveland Cavaliers team, smother LeBron the best that they can, and take the series in five games.

Tampa Bay Rays: Resurging Veterans, Upstart Youngsters

Matt St. Jean — Sun, 04 May 2008 06:02:03 -0400

Can this be the year that the youth movement in Tampa Bay actually pays off?

Is this the year that they come out of the basement and begin to compete with the likes of the Red Sox and the Yankees?

The biggest difference in the Rays this season is not the new prospects or young guns, but some revived veterans who are giving the Rays a much needed boost.

Troy Percival has six saves on the season and has not given up an earned run. Most people thought that Percival was finished after K-Rod replaced him in Anaheim.

In the past seasons that was the Rays' biggest issue: closing out ballgames. Now with Percival in the back of the lineup as well as Dan Wheeler setting up, the Rays have a formidable bullpen, which any baseball fan knows is just as important as hitting and the starting rotation.

Another seasoned veteran paying dividends and lending experience to the younger Rays is first basemen Carlos Pena. Carlos had a career year last season batting .282 with 46 home runs and 126 RBI and if it weren't for A-Rod's ridiculous season and the Rays not doing so hot, Pena would have been a serious candidate for MVP.

A lot of people have been throwing around the term, "flash in the pan," when they talk about Pena this season, but the numbers speak for themselves. He is tied for the team lead in home runs (six) and third on the team in RBI (16).

Wait a second, how can we begin to talk about the Rays and not talk about the young talent on the team?

It almost seems that the Rays’ organization has an endless supply of talent as they brought up top prospect Evan Longoria. The Dirtbag from Long Beach State is hitting a measly .239, but has 11 RBI and three home runs.

The biggest impact on the season so far has been center fielder B.J. Upton, who has 21 RBI and is hitting .294. Upton seems to have an infinite upside, playing second base as well as center field and a swing that will make a grown man blush.

We have yet to see Rocco Baldelli, but after three years of nagging injuries, it is doubtful that we are ever going to see him at 100 percent. Also, Tampa's ace, Scott Kazmir, hasn't been around either.

The Rays are currently two games out of first place behind the Red Sox and close to the lead in the wild card. Should we as fans expect the Rays to continue their winning ways? Or are they going to run out of gas and show the Tampa Bay that we have known and laughed at year after year since the beginning of their existence?

Based on newfound veteran leadership in the clubhouse and young players coming into their prime, the Rays have one more year before they can get and good whiff of the playoffs, but they will be in front of the Orioles and Blue Jays at seasons end.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Tampa Bay Rays as they have crawled out of the basement and have become a contender in Major League Baseball.