Bleacher Report - Articles by Kevin Luchansky

Indiana Football Player Profile: Matt Mayberry

Kevin Luchansky — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:14:31 -0400

Middle linebacker Matt Mayberry knows he and rest of the Hoosier defense will have their hands full on Saturday with a Ball State offense that features wide receiver Dante Love and quarterback Nate Davis.

Following their early bye week, Indiana has had plenty of time to prepare for one of the top offenses in the FCS. The Cardinals’ average of nearly 490 yards of total offense per game is good enough for 16^th in the NCAA rankings.

Coach Lynch is making sure his team isn’t looking past Ball State and into next week’s conference opener against Michigan State, according to Mayberry.

“Like coach always says, a win is a win and we are really looking forward to playing Ball State, we can’t wait for Saturday,” Mayberry said. “We’ve got to show up every week and keep proving ourselves.”

For Mayberry, proving himself began late last season, when an injury to linebacker Adam McClurg gave the 6’2", 245 pound workhorse the opportunity to contribute.

Mayberry seized the opportunity to be the next starting middle linebacker and hasn’t since looked back.

“The Big Ten conference is all big,” Mayberry explained. “You’ve got to be big, fast, strong and smart; you’ve got to have everything.”

Well aware of this, Matt spent his summer in Naperville, Illinois, training to improve upon his speed and acceleration. Current Cleveland Brown and former Iowa wideout Kevin Kasper, a graduate of the same high school as Mayberry, trains athletes there in his time off.

After spending the summer with Kasper and training with former Notre Dame standout Tom Zbikowski, Mayberry returned to Bloomington in peak physical condition, faster than ever.

Come Saturday, Matt will have a great opportunity to showcase his speed. Mayberry understands that Cardinals head coach Brady Hoke likes to get the ball to Love over the middle of the field, creating the ideal match up for a linebacker with the size and speed that Mayberry possesses.

“My speed is to the top right now and Dante Love is a fast ballplayer, but I’m fast too,” Mayberry added. “We should be going at it pretty good.”

Third on the team in tackles with ten this season, Mayberry may be asked to play an even bigger role this weekend than he has in games past with the possible loss of starting strong safety Austin Thomas. According to Coach Lynch, Thomas’ status is uncertain and his role on Saturday, if any, will be a game time decision.

Luckily for the Hoosiers, Mayberry’s sore ankle, which sidelined him in practice earlier in the week, seems to no longer be an issue.

Other than a few minor differences, the Cardinals essentially run the same spread offense as Indiana. Their strength is in moving the ball through the air, but the ground attack has been almost equally as effective this season.

“(Ball State) does a great job of moving the ball around. Saturday will be the first great test for this defense,” said Mayberry.

Cape Cod League Player Profile: Ricky Bowen

Kevin Luchansky — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:59:48 -0400

Bourne Braves starting pitcher Ricky Bowen grew up in a northern Alabama community that idolized pigskin and football Saturdays. In the town of Jasper, Alabama, it was Auburn or the Crimson Tide of Alabama—nothing else mattered much.

Still, the strong football influence couldn’t keep Ricky away from the baseball diamond, or the place he felt the most comfortable, the pitcher’s mound.

“Baseball was what fit for me,” Bowen said. “I just loved pitching and I grew up with the sport.”

After his eighth grade season, Ricky enrolled in the town’s public high school and was set on contributing as a pitcher.

“After just a few practices the coach called me aside and told me I couldn’t pitch,” the 6'3" right hander said. “He told me that I was a shortstop.”

Not giving up on his dream of one day being a starting pitcher in the MLB, Ricky decided to transfer to a private school in the Jasper area, Sumiton Christian High School.

It’s more than likely that Ricky used his former coach’s criticism as motivation, as the hurler spun himself an impressive career at Sumiton as a starter. In his junior season, Bowen led the team to a state championship title, and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

It was in his junior season that college scouts began to take notice of Bowen and his championship delivering right arm, not long after he had been told that he couldn’t pitch at the high school level.

Then came the offers.

“I was low-key recruit; under the radar. I wasn’t getting much hype from a lot of scouts and I wasn’t at the top of their lists,” Bowen explained.

Ricky received offers from SEC powerhouses Mississippi State and Auburn, and schools such as Troy, Northern Alabama, Samford, and Southeast Missouri State.

Bowen ultimately chose to become a ‘Dawg and play for legendary coach Ron Polk at Mississippi State University.

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play for the coach Polk and the tradition at MSU really sold me,” Bowen added. “Polk is one of baseball’s true originators and helped turn the SEC into the dominant conference that it is today.”

Bowen certainly gets to face top competition playing in the SEC. Bowen further explained that there can be no slacking in conference play and each team has to bring their “A” game every weekend.

“Hands down, it’s the top conference from top to bottom,” said Bowen.

Ricky’s decision to play for Mississippi State certainly paid off in his red-shirt freshman season as the team advanced to Omaha, Nebraska to play in the 2007 College World Series.

Although the Bulldogs didn’t return to Starkville with any hardware, their experience was second to none.

Bowen, primarily a starter, was called from the bullpen and threw two and two-thirds scoreless innings against runner-up North Carolina.

“We didn’t win that game but coming in from the ‘pen and shutting them down was a great experience,” Ricky said. “It’s every kid’s dream to play in the College World Series and it’s almost surreal when you’re playing in Rosenblatt.”

Bowen has had his share of ups and downs with the Braves this year, but reminds himself of what an honor it is just to be on the Cape.

“There is a lot of hype around this league and I keep telling myself that the mound out there is still 60 feet, six inches from home and the bases are 90 feet apart,” Bowen said with a laugh.

When asked where he wanted to be 10 years from now, his answer—that he wanted to be a big league starter, on any team—was no surprise.

Ricky was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds in the 38th round of this past June’s amateur draft as a sophomore eligible.

Bowen explained that he’s unsure of where he will be this fall, whether it be in the Red’s organization, or back in Starkville with his Bulldog teammates, but that he is having a lot of fun in the process.

“I’m being recruited by MSU twice as hard now as I was out of high school because they would like me to stay,” Bowen added.

Bowen will be a crucial piece of the Braves’ puzzle as they head into the final stretch of the season, with hopes of a playoff berth come week two of August.

Brett Favre Could Immediately Contribute to Four Teams in the NFL

Kevin Luchansky — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:25:56 -0400

I'm sure everyone is tired of the whole Brett Favre "Am I retired?" saga. I know that I am.

Brett, and the Packers, who were unfortunately thrust into this position, now must make the decision of whether to keep Brett as a backup to his former understudy Aaron Rodgers or let their icon move elsewhere.

When it was first announced that Favre would make his retirement official, I was a bit skeptical. We are talking about a guy who left the Packers wondering after each season as to whether or not he would return to camp in late summer.

Then I saw the retirement speech: the tears, the choking, and the look on the old gunslinger's face.

It took me a few minutes to take it all in. After all, Brett was the last of the quarterbacks I grew up watching that was still taking snaps under center, and it hurt to see him go.

But the speech was believable, and I finally believed that Mr. Favre was all done.

Thanks to a text message from Brett, hinting that he would like to return, here I am in late July, tallying a list of teams that would benefit from a year or two of Favre.

1. Chicago Bears

I'm not sure which fans, the Packer or Bears' faithful, hate to see Chicago at the top of the list more. After all, seeing Favre in Lambeau, wearing Navy and Orange would devastate the state of Wisconsin. And Chicago fans grew up hating No. 4, so would they ever welcome the man?

The Bears' options this year at quarterback are bad and worse, Grossman and Orton, respectively. While they still have questions about who will be running the ball this season, Favre would make this defensive-minded team immediately legitimate in the NFC North.

2. Miami Dolphins

This pick at No. 2 might surprise a few people, but it could really work well for both the Packers and Favre. Seeing Brett go to an AFC East team couldn't be all that bad, and the situation should be inviting for Brett.

While he wouldn't be playing for a contender, there is no question that Brett would win the starting role. This move could help the Dolphins in the long run, giving them time to develop the likes of 2008 draft pick Chad Henne.

I'm sure Henne wouldn't mind developing his game as an understudy from one of the game's all-time greats.

3. Atlanta Falcons

I know, I know, the Falcons do have Matt Ryan, and they apparently feel that he's worth the money—just take a look at his contract, one that tops Tom Brady's and Peyton Manning's.

You know what I say to that?

BIG DEAL.

Ryan is in no way ready to lead a team in turmoil. Matt put up decent numbers in his career in a mediocre ACC. Somehow those numbers were deserving of the highest-paying contract for an NFL quarterback, one who has yet to take a snap, mind you.

Brett going to Atlanta would give him a chance to move closer to his family and win the starting job without question. Maybe seeing Brett play for the Falcons, the team he got his start with, would be easier to swallow for the Chesseheads.

4. Oakland Raiders

So, Raider Nation believes JaMarcus Russell is the quarterback of the future, and I agree. But, in my honest opinion, Russell isn't ready to lead an NFL team. In other words, the future isn't here yet for JaMarcus. The Raiders could run some interesting offensive schemes this season with the addition of Darren McFadden and Favre could give Russell the time he needs to develop.

So there it is, Mr. Favre. I say go "4" it.

Cape League: Braves Down Mets 9-2

Kevin Luchansky — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:18:22 -0400

The Bourne Braves faced quite the ultimatum on Sunday afternoon at Doran Park: beat the Hyannis Mets and gain sole possession of first place in the Western division, or lose and fall all the way down into fourth.

After dropping an 8-4 decision the previous night at Falmouth, one point was all that separated four teams in the Cape League West.

Thanks to a gutsy performance by Bourne starter Nathan Baker (Ole Miss) and the ever-hot bat of Marc Krauss (Ohio U.) the Braves pounded the Mets by a score of 9-2.

“I felt live my teammates in the infield and outfield did all the work for me,” Baker said. “I wasn’t hitting my spots that well but my fastball was working great when I needed it to.”

Baker, primarily starter, had to work his way back into the rotation after two shaky starts and two weeks on the disabled list due to a nagging hamstring and illness.

Braves manager Harvey Shapiro was confident in the young left-hander, putting the ball in his hand in the biggest game of the season thus far. Entering Sunday’s game, Baker had an 0-2 record with an ERA over 4.0.

On Sunday though, Baker pitched five strong innings, giving up only a no damage two-run home run in the top of the fifth to Matt Nuzzo (Brown) in picking up his first victory of the season.

“I kept my pitches low enough and I got my changeup going,” Baker said of his performance. “I’m very excited about the win, it feels great.”

On a day when the pitching performances by Baker and Kevin Landry (William & Mary) were near perfect, the offense was equally as effective, connecting with 14 base hits.

Krauss was responsible for a lot of the damage as he went 3-for-4 on the day with a two singles, a towering home run to left-center and a walk. The Deshler, Ohio native leads the Cape League in batting average and the Western Division in runs batted in.

First Baseman Kyle Roller (East Carolina) also had three hits, all lined singles. Roller will compete in the 2008 Home Run Derby this Saturday in Chatham.

The Braves face the Falmouth Commodores at Doran Park Monday. The game is their last at home for a week as the players will get some much deserved rest in the upcoming days.

Cape League: Reed, Braves Squander Big Oppurtunities In Loss To Mariners

Kevin Luchansky — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:51:22 -0400

After winning games with late inning heroics the previous two nights at Doran Park, it looked like the Braves were poised to do it again as the ninth inning began with a 7-6 Harwich advantage.

Bourne took a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first on a Marc Krauss (Ohio U.) RBI single and a Jamie Johnson (Oklahoma) sacrifice fly. In the fourth, they added to their lead on a bases loaded two-run single by Ross Wilson (Alabama), but unfortunately for the Braves everything went downhill from there.

Thanks to a violent thunderstorm in the top half of the ninth and handful of errors, the Braves fell to the Harwich Mariners 7-6 and had no opportunity to leave the Mariners standing on the field. Lightning forced a 30 minute delay with one out in the top of the ninth and rain ensued, forcing umpires to call the game.

The sixth inning spelt trouble for Braves pitching. Bourne starter Nate Reed (1-2, Pittsburgh) began the inning with a 4-1 lead but left after allowing a run and recording only one out. Reed was responsible for runners on first and third when he was replaced by middle reliever Bob Revesz (Louisville).

After Harwich tied the game at four, Revesz was one pitch away from getting out of a big jam with two outs when Shaver Hansen (Baylor) hit a flare single to center on a 0-2 count, just over the diving glove of second baseman Pierre LaPage (UConn), scoring two and giving the Mariners their first lead of the game.

The Braves were finally out of the sixth when DJ Belfonte (Nebraska) was caught stealing, but another run had already come around to score when Revesz attempted to pick Hansen off first base.

Krauss continued to swing a hot bat for the Braves, tying the game up at six a piece in the bottom half of the inning on a lined shot to left field that scored Jordan Henry (Ole Miss) from second base.

The Braves didn’t make any noise in their next two at-bats, and the Mariners took advantage of a leadoff triple in the top half of the eighth off of Braves set-up man Dave Erickson (UConn). With one out, Hansen was the hero again for Harwich as he singled home the runner from third and Erickson picked up the loss one night after grabbing a win out of the bullpen.

The appearance was the 15^th of the season for Erickson and he now leads the Cape League in pitching appearances.

Bourne (16-14) remains tied with Hyannis atop the Western Division as the Mets fell at Wareham in dramatic fashion, 1-0. The Braves return to action Saturday when they head south to play the Falmouth Commodores at Guv Fuller Field.

Erik Bedard: Chicago Cubs Should Pursue Him

Kevin Luchansky — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:38:45 -0400

Dear Jim Hendry and Co.,

Congratulations on your stellar season thus far. You're at, or nearing, the halfway point of the season and your Cubbies stand alone in first place in the NL Central Division. At one point, your team even had the best record in all of Major League Baseball.

Much to my surprise, your powerful lineup has done well minus star outfielder (or slugger, I should say) Alfonso Soriano.

What worries me, Jim, is your rotation. Before lashing back, hear me out on this.

Your starting rotation has done very well, up to this point. Carlos Zambrano is 8-3, definite Big Z numbers, Ryan Dempster has been a pleasant surprise, and the young arms have delivered, for the most part, when called upon. Heck, even Kerry Wood is pulling through in the clutch and we all know it has been awhile since that was the case.

What worries me is this: One injury to the starting rotation and your whole season could go down the Wrigleyville drains. The Cubs have been struggling a bit lately, dropping six of their last ten before getting swept by the South Siders.

I don't think its coincidence that the slide began when Big Z placed himself on the DL with a right shoulder strain. Yes, he is only one man and accounts for one of every five starts, but he also happens to be your ace and the face of this franchise alongside Derek Lee and Soriano.

Being the power pitcher that Zambrano is, a right shoulder strain is nothing to mess with. I understand he threw a bullpen session and will pitch against the Cardinals Friday, who just so happen to be only two games back in the division now.

I'm a die hard Red Sox fan, Jim, but in the past few years I've loved pulling for the North Siders. They're the lovable losers, but that wasn't my attraction to the Cubbies.

There is something about Cubdom that gets me: Wrigley Field, Chicago, and perhaps living in Indiana for the past four years. It would be an awful year to come out and say I'm a "Cubs Fan", because that would certainly sound bandwagon. But Red Sox Nation is really making me sick—where were all these fans before 2004? So for now, I'm enjoying the Cubs ride.

My advice is this: Go after Mariners left-hander Erik Bedard. The Mariners are in no position to make a run in the AL West and would love to deal him for some young talent (Felix Pie?).

So far, C.C. Sabathia has been the hot ticket of trade rumor talks as far as starting pitching goes. Forget Sabathia, Bedard is a competitor and adding a talented lefty to the rotation, most likely for a reasonable price, could end the drought at 100 years and not a century plus one.

Good luck the rest of the way, Mr. Hendry. I'll be looking for you in October.

Regards,

Kevin Luchansky

Nick McCully Fires Perfect Game, Braves Top Cardinals 1-0

Kevin Luchansky — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:49:55 -0400

Baseball fans at Doran Park witnessed a very rare Cape League feat Saturday night when the Braves took on the Orleans Cardinals.

Braves starting pitcher Nick McCully approached me prior to taking the mound. McCully told me tonight was the night he was going to do it. Of course, “it” was in reference to throwing a no-hitter.

Well, the Coastal Carolina right-hander was a little off in his prediction, but not by much. McCully was perfect in the fog-shortened five inning game. Not only did he not allow a hit, but he never allowed a Cardinal base runner in his five-strikeout performance, beating the Cardinals 1-0.

It was the first, and likely the only, perfect game of the season in the Cape League.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, which would be the final inning of the game, Braves second baseman Austin Knight (Dallas Baptist) made an outstanding diving grab on a scorching line drive up the middle. The dive and the catch kept McCully’s no-no intact.

McCully and the Braves got all the run support they needed in the bottom of the first when Braves left fielder Rafael Thomas (Oklahoma State) scored from second on a Jordan Henry (Ole Miss) single to center.

With the 1-0 win, the Braves improve to 5-7 overall and McCully to 2-0 on the season. The victory was only the second at Doran Park this season, as the Braves have gone 2-6 at home and 3-1 on the road.

Ross Wilson—Cape Cod Baseball League Player Profile

Kevin Luchansky — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:10:21 -0400

Ross Ingram Wilson came to the Cape Cod Baseball League, like many of the other top talents in the country, with aspirations of improving his overall game, particularly in the field.

So far this season, Wilson has been a mainstay at second base, starting all eight of the Bourne Braves (3-5) contests.

The 6', 185-pound native of Hoover, Alabama earned a spot on the Braves' roster after putting up impressive numbers as a freshman middle infielder for the University of Alabama baseball team.

Wilson, playing in the powerhouse baseball conference that is the SEC, hit .295 in 62 games for the Crimson Tide. Aside from being a solid contact hitter, Wilson also proved he can hit for power, belting 15 home runs and knocking in 47 runs.

Wilson explained that he was honored to be playing for the Braves and in the Cape League. “The Cape League has an unbelievable reputation down south,” Wilson said. “It’s the best league by far.”

So far this season, Wilson has had success at the plate and in the field, hitting .258 with two doubles.

There is a lot of pressure playing in what is known as a pitcher’s league. Players know that they may only get one opportunity to impress scouts, but Wilson is familiar with being in the spotlight and playing in front of the camera.

From 2006-07, Ross starred in the MTV series Two-A-Days, a show that chronicled the lives of the star high school football players for national powerhouse Hoover Buccaneers. During his junior season as the starting quarterback, Ross led the Bucs to the school’s fourth Alabama state championship, passing for 2,950 yards and 31 touchdowns.

“Overall the MTV experience was pretty good, it turned out well,” Ross said. “I’m definitely glad it’s over though.”

If you followed either of the show’s two seasons, you would have thought Ross was poised to accept a scholarship and play football in the SEC, just like his older brother John Parker, the starting quarterback for the University of Alabama.

“I talked to a few schools about playing football, but I decided pretty early on (after his junior season) that I wanted to pursue baseball,” Wilson said.

Ross ultimately chose to play for the University of Alabama, turning down offers from schools such as Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Auburn. Wilson made it clear he chose to play for the Crimson Tide because he felt at home there and really liked the coaching staff.

Wilson commented on the difficulties of transitioning from the metal bats used during NCAA play to the wood bats used in the Cape League. The transition is a frustrating one for many hitters, as wood bats have a lot less pop than metal ones do.

For a middle infielder that hits with power, one can’t help but notice the similarities between Wilson and Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla.

“A-Rod is my favorite player to watch because he’s the best out there, but as a second baseman I really enjoy watching Dan Uggla play the game,” Wilson said. “He’s a guy that has some speed and has some power.”

Ross also added that he is having a great time in the Cape thus far and is adjusting to life in the Northeast quite nicely.

“I couldn’t ask for a better host family,” he said.

Open Mic: Officials Are Human Too

Kevin Luchansky — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:32:42 -0400

I can still recall the day, nearly six years ago, when I arrived at the ballpark to umpire my first game ever. Minutes earlier, when I left the house, both of my parents wished me luck.

Good luck? I wasn’t playing in the game, so what did I need any luck for?

It turns out I needed more luck than had been wished upon me—I was torn apart and questioned after every single call I made.

Maybe I had gone in with the mindset that this would be easy. Maybe I was a little cocky—I had played baseball all my life, how hard could it be to umpire the bases?

I got involved with umpiring because I really missed the game—the fresh cut grass, a new baseball, the smell of the leather, and the feeling that runs through your veins on game day were all missing from my life.

Officiating and umpiring is in my blood, so I can be a little biased in my opinions on the matter—my father has been refereeing college basketball games for years.

As a kid, I was quick to blame any sort of game official when the calls weren’t going my team’s way. As a result, no kid was scolded more often than I was for putting the blame on officials.

One thing I think most fans fail to realize, and I’ve been guilty of this myself, is that officials are humans too. They make mistakes every day, just like you and I.

Baseball players commit errors, football players drop passes, throw interceptions, and fumble the ball, basketball players miss shots and commit turnovers, but umpires and officials aren’t allowed to make mistakes?

The NFL made an excellent move when they decided to implement the “challenge,” which allows coaches to challenge the ruling on the field made by the officials. The Big Ten conference soon followed suit and experimented with reviewing plays, which became a success and was permanently installed around the country.

Football is an extremely hard game to officiate. On any given play there may be a few lineman holding their opponents, players blocking in the back and, cornerbacks interfering with wide receivers—so the “challenge” sits well with me.

When the game is on the line, it’s crucial that the correct call is made.

I will say that I am glad that coaches are limited in the number of red flags they’re allowed to throw; otherwise we would see as many red flags fly as yellow ones.

That being said, I am not for implementing a “challenge,” or anything similar to it, in Major League Baseball.

As fans, coaches, and scouts, we applaud baseball players who hit .300 over the course of a season. Athletes who are succeeding three out of every ten times at the plate are rewarded and make it to the next level.

A good umpire may call a game correctly 98 percent of the time, but is bashed by the coaches and the media for a call or two that they may or may not have botched.

This has been a tough week for Major League umpires. As many as three apparent home runs were ruled ground rule doubles, and upon further review we all know that those baseballs did in fact leave the yard—even if only for a second.

Watching the replays of these “home runs” over and over again has caused me to question my opinion on implementing reviewable plays in Major League Baseball, or any level of the game.

As a result, I feel that the MLB should consider making a few plays “reviewable,” if the umpires agree to it—meaning that the manager would not be able to request a review, but the umpires must collectively agree to check the monitors.

If managers were given the opportunity to challenge the calls on the field, skippers like Lou Piniella and Jimmy Leyland would get more face time than their players.

My only concern with implementing reviewable plays, such as home runs or fair and foul balls, is that this will lead to more and more plays being deemed as reviewable.

What would come next—technology determining balls and strikes?

As for basketball, I feel that these officials do the best work possible. I’m not saying that the work they do on the court is superior to the work umpires do on the diamond or greater than the work referees do on the gridiron.

Simply put, basketball referees must separate acting from competing.

How does a referee determine a blocking foul from an offensive charge when “the flop” happens more now than ever? How can they determine if the contact was significant enough to be deemed a foul?

A lot of times, the so called “best defenders” are actually the best actors.

All in all, I think technology and reviews have improved officiating on all levels. However, it also has the ability to ruin the game, and I hope the MLB doesn’t fall victim.

NBA Draft 2008: My First 10 Picks

Kevin Luchansky — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:34:01 -0400

The Bulls winning the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery really shakes things up a bit. Chicago only had a 1.7 percent chance of winning the lottery, but lo and behold they will pick first on June 26th in Madison Square Garden.

The Bulls made the biggest jump in the draft, coming in at 10th but landing on No. 1. Seattle had the biggest drop, falling from a projected No. 2 pick down to No. 4.

1. Chicago—Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis

This is my “feel good” pick of the ’08 draft. Chicago, like last year with Portland choosing first, is faced with the ultimate task of deciding between Rose and Michael Beasley. Portland ultimately had to decide between two can’t miss players as well, Oden and Durant.

I think the Bulls will go with Rose for a few reasons. He is a big upgrade from current PG Kirk Hinrich. Rose’s game translates well to the fast paced NBA style of play, and he will make an immediate impact on the game, where as Beasley could take some time to adjust.

I know Chicago has had success in drafting “Michaels,” but Rose is Chicago’s own son, and he’s a can't miss prospect.

2. Miami—Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State

Luckily for Miami, the Bulls must decide between Rose and Beasley, and the Heat can patiently wait at the No. 2 spot. Either athlete would benefit Miami.

Beasley is a better fit in Miami than Rose. The Heat is D-Wade’s team and I wouldn’t want to mess with the back court chemistry. Beasley is a perfect complement to Sean Marion, and since the Diesel’s departure, the Heat haven’t had a force down low.

3. Minnesota—Brook Lopez, C, Stanford

The T-Wolves are in desperate need of a true center, and Lopez certainly fits the description. Although the ’08 class is loaded with big men, most are SFs and PFs. Lopez really proved himself this season in a loaded Pac-10 conference. He has the height, the muscle, and the frame to be a force in the NBA.

4. Seattle—Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona

Bayless, the third “one-and-done” to be selected in the ’08 draft, is an exciting player. He will be an excellent fit alongside Durant and his ability to be a scoring PG will have a positive impact on the Sonics' offense from the get-go.

In recent NBA workouts, Bayless has impressed scouts more so than O.J. Mayo has, bumping Bayless up in the draft to No. 4.

5. Memphis—Kevin Love, PF, UCLA

Love really proved his worth and lived up to the hype surrounding him at UCLA this season. The talented big man has post moves for days and can battle down low. With the departure of Pau Gasol, the Grizzlies are in dire need of a big man. Love is tenacious on the low block and is a great windex man.

6. New York—Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas

The consensus among NBA analysts is that the Knicks will go with either O.J. Mayo or Italy’s Danilo Gallinari.

The Knicks certainly don’t need to waste their draft pick with a guard and I’m not sold on drafting a 19-year-old Italian player this high in the draft (or anyone from Europe for that matter).

Arthur is a big man, the best available in my opinion at pick No. 6, and he really showed what he is capable of throughout the NCAA tournament and the Jayhawks National Championship run. Arthur is agile, rebounds well, and moves up and down the court with great speed for a big man.

7. Los Angeles Clippers—O.J. Mayo, PG, USC

The Clippers need a true PG that can run the show and play some perimeter defense. Look no further than O.J. to fill that role in Los Angeles.

They’ll have a tough time deciding between Mayo and Eric Gordon, but Mayo’s ball handling skills are far superior and better fit the role. Mayo claims he chose USC because he wanted to play on a big stage, although we know it was actually for $30,000 and shiny new TV, so L.A. is a good fit.

8. Milwaukee—Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana

As an Indiana fan, I’m happy to see a former Hoosier drafted in the top-10, but I hate to see him go to Milwaukee. Scouts believe an SG with a presence like Gordon’s can really free up Michael Redd and allow the both of them to get their touches.

Look for Gordon to be drafted by Milwaukee, because at No. 8, he’s the highest talent undrafted. Gordon could have really benefited from another year of college ball, as we all saw his numbers plummet in the second half of the season, but his upside is too great.

9. Charlotte—Anthony Randolph, PF LSU

The Bobcats are looking for someone who can produce right away, from an offensive standpoint. Randolph is super-athletic, has great size, and a tremendous upside. It’s Randolph’s athleticism that makes him a sure lottery pick.

10. New Jersey—Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia

New Jersey is in an interesting situation. If a PF like Anthony Randolph or Darrell Arthur is still available, look for the Nets to go in that direction. Alexander has a great mid-range game and he’s athletic in the post. His shooting range has scouts going crazy and his size is a bonus at small forward.

Jon Lester Tallies Another Feat; No-Hits Kansas City Royals with 86 Strikes

Kevin Luchansky — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:54:23 -0400

On a cool New England night in a packed house at Fenway Monday, Jon Lester became the 18th Red Sox pitcher to fire a no hitter and the first Boston left-hander since Mel Parnell in 1956.

The impressive feat came just eight months after then rookie Clay Bucholz fired the 17th no hitter in franchise history, in just his second major league start, powering the Sox to a 10-0 victory over the Orioles.

The ever-struggling Kansas City Royals were the victim Monday, as Lester threw 86 strikes of 130 pitches thrown, by far the highest pitch count of his adolescent career.

Pitch No. 130 was by far the sweetest of them all, as Lester reached back and blew a 96-mph fastball by Alberto Callaspo to seal the deal.

Yes, Lester was still throwing in the mid-90s after eight-and-two-thirds innings of no-hit baseball.

The impressive feat that is a “no-no” could not have been delivered by a more deserving young ball player.

Lester, 24, has already endured more than some people have in an entire lifetime. More important than having endured, Jon has overcome his obstacles with flying colors.

In late August of 2006, the Tacoma, Wash. native had to be scratched from a start against Oakland, due to back soreness. Lester and team doctors believed the lower back pain was caused by a car crash Jon sustained earlier that month.

Just a few days later, doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital diagnosed the southpaw with a treatable form of large-cell lymphoma.

The promising left-hander no-hit cancer, the same way he did the Royals, and was informed by Boston doctors that the disease was in remission by December of the same year.

Lester re-joined the Sox rotation on July 23, 2007 as he picked up the win at Jacobs Field, allowing two runs and five hits against the Tribe.

It was a special game for the Lester family to witness that Cleveland night—for the first time in almost a year, young Jonathan was battling major league hitters and not cancerous cells.

There is no doubt that Lester’s return performance in Cleveland was a gutsy one, but none of his 2007 starts were as impressive as the one Jon delivered in game four of the World Series.

Teammate Curt Schilling called Lester’s win in the decisive game 4 4-3 victory over the Rockies, the “clutch-iest” performance he had ever witnessed.

In February of 2008, Lester showed up to spring training with a fuller, stronger frame, nearly a year removed from cancer treatments that wear any man down, even the strongest.

His numbers haven’t been stellar this season, 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA, at least in comparison to his near-perfect (Lester allowed two walks) performance Monday night.

Lester’s career numbers, one the other hand, a 14-4 record with a 4.28 ERA, are quite stellar for a 24-year-old in just his third season in the majors.

Following a less than impressive pre-game bullpen outing Monday afternoon, Lester wasn’t sure he would make it through the first inning against the Royals.

With a little help from the impressive defense behind him, most especially center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury’s diving catch in the fourth inning, Lester sent down 27 of the 29 batters he faced, walking the other two.

Give some of the credit to crafty veteran Jason Varitek, who caught his fourth career no-hitter on Monday.

But certainly most of the credit must go to the Lester, who was given a gift left arm and the ability to pitch at the major league level, only to have it nearly taken away by a deadly disease.

Chicago Cubs: NL Central Leaders Go as Soriano Goes

Kevin Luchansky — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:23:51 -0400

Almost seven weeks into the season, it’s easy to see that the Chicago Cubs go as Soriano goes.

When the weather heats up, so does Soriano’s bat. When Soriano’s bat is hot, so are the division-leading Cubs.

The converted left fielder led off today’s 7-4 victory over the Pirates with a towering home run over the ivy in left-center. It was third time in four games that Soriano has led things off with a solo home run. The lead-off blast was the 47th of Alfonso’s career—just 34 behind 10-time All Star Rickey Henderson’s record of 81 leadoff bombs.

To add to the Pirates’ troubles, Soriano left the yard again in the second—this time a three-run shot, his eighth of the season.

Cubs young right-hander Sean Gallagher picked up his first career major league victory today (1-0) as the Boston, Mass. native scattered four hits and allowed one run in six innings of work.

There can be several cases made for the Cubs’ success this season—Zambrano’s arm and low ERA, D-Lee’s 10 home runs, “The Riot’s” impressive batting average, Dempster’s surprise success as a starter, or Soto’s 30 RBI’s—but none are as great as the case for Soriano.

Sure, No. 12 is no wizard in the field, we all know that. Who else can injure their calf on a routine fly ball to left? His dismal fielding percentage and high number of errors made the decision to move him from second base to left field and easy one.

Prior to their 7-1 record during their current homestand—which includes a three game sweep of the NL West leading D-Backs—the Cubbies had dropped five of their last seven contests.

With Derek Lee and Geovany Soto driving in runs at will, the pressure isn’t all on Soriano’s back, and the Cubs have proven they can win without him, thanks to an improved pitching staff. For the Cubs to be a legitimate contender this season though, they need Soriano’s bat to stay hot. In the NL, no two teams are as hot as the D-Backs and the Boys in Blue, but the AL has many teams that can contend.

In a cold Chicago April on the North Side, Soriano’s bat was equally as cold, hitting just .192. In May, the leadoff slugger is batting .350 with six jacks and 17 runs driven in. No team in baseball, AL or NL, has a five-tool leadoff hitter like the Cubs do in Soriano. The only counter-argument to this could be the Indians' Grady Sizemore, but his power is no match for Soriano’s.

During the Cubs' current three-game win streak, Sori has been responsible for seven of the eighteen runs driven in. There is no doubt that the Cubs have benefitted from Soriano’s return to the lineup and have felt his presence. If skipper Lou Piniella can get consistent production like this out of Soriano all season, there’s no telling what this Chicago team is capable of.

Hey Chicago, what do you say? If Soriano goes deep, the Cubs are going to win today!

NL Debate: Should Managers consider hitting abilities of Minor League Pitchers?

Kevin Luchansky — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:57:55 -0400

The recent at-the-plate successes of Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano and Arizona’s Micah Owings raises the question: Should NL Managers factor hitting ability when bringing up, or drafting, a young pitcher?

The 9^th spot in the batting order was once reserved for an automatic out and a chance to rejuvenate yourself at the nearest concession stand.

If you got up and left your seat, the most exciting play you might miss was a sacrifice bunt. If you hang around and watch the sac-bunt, you’ll ultimately be disappointed that you didn’t pay a visit to the Budweiser guy, who always manages to deliver a refreshing American lager.

In some NL ballparks, this might still be true. Some managers seem to accept the 9^thslot as a “K” or the ever-exciting weak groundout.

This year, Big Z and Owings are changing all that.

Zambrano’s power on the hill may only be challenged by his power at the place. The 6’5, 255 pound hurler has a vicious swing. Just ask Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo, who surrendered an opposite field home run to Zambrano on May 1^st. The home run was the 13^thof Zambrano’s career, tieing a franchise record for a pitcher wearing Cubbie blue. You can also ask former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, who fell victim to a different type of swing that landed him in San Diego.

So far this season, Big Z is putting up some big numbers at the plate, for a pitcher of course. The 2006 Silver Slugger Award winner has eight hits in 27 at-bats, hitting .296 – not too bad for the ace of your pitching staff. Of the eight hits, three have gone for extra bases (2 doubles and HR).

Carlos’ two RBI’s this season brings up his career total to an impressive 35. In Zambrano’s eight year career, he has eclipsed five RBI’s in five of them. The stat includes Big Z’s first two seasons (2001-02) where the hurler managed to garner only 32 at-bats, and this season, which is far from over.

In the NL West, the 26 year old Owings is gaining attention not only on the mound, but for his performance at the dish.

Owings is as good a hitter as Zambrano, if not better. The only category Owings needs to improve to trump Big Z in the hitting department is his power, according to Zambrano.

Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin has shown a lot of confidence in the Gainesville, Georgia native, using him as a pinch hitter sparingly this season.

Owings has the highest batting average among pitchers this season (.370) with 10 hits in 27 at-bats. Last seasons’ Silver Slugger Award winner has five career homers and 18 runs batted in – including one jack this season and three runs driven in.

Not since the days of a young Tom Glavine, a healthy Mike Hampton or the now non-existent Steve Avery have we seen pitchers with this much presence at the plate. Zambrano’s teammate Jason Marquis, 2005 recipient of the Silver Slugger award, can also hold his own at the plate. It should also be noted that the word “healthy” and “Mike Hampton” have not been used in the same sentence since his 1993 debut with the Seattle Mariners.

More importantly for Owings, Zambrano and their respective ball clubs, they’ve been dominant on the mound. Pitching is, after all, the reason these hurlers made it to the big show.

Zambrano is 6-1 in nine starts this season and has been virtually unhittable, allowing just 14 earned runs in 62 innings of work.

Owings has a similar stature (6’5 – 225) and similar stats in the young marathon season. Micah’s 5-1 record and 3.81 ERA are often overshadowed by teammate Brandon Webb’s explosive 8-0 start.

This article is in no way suggesting that NL talent scouts should pass on young talents that have had no success at the plate. But in the small-ball league that is the NL, a hit here and there from your pitcher could just make the difference in a game.

Milwaukee Brewers' Ninth Inning Struggle: the Eric Gagne Story

Kevin Luchansky — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:17:55 -0400

Where has your right arm gone, Eric?

Ned Yost turns his lazy eyes to you.

In December of 2007, the Milwaukee Brewers signed relief pitcher Eric Gagne. With that contract, the organization adopted Gagne’s closing problems.

Gagne, once considered one of the dominant closers of the post 2000 era, has completely lost his control and ability to close out games.

In 2002, the Dodgers moved Gagne from the starting rotation to the bullpen where he went on to lead the NL in saves that season with 52. The Montreal, Quebec native quickly rose to stardom when he was a perfect 55-for-55 in save opportunities with the Dodgers in ’03.

Gagne holds a few major league records, but none as impressive as his streak of 84 consecutive saves between August 26, 2002 and July 5, 2004. In 2003, Gagne became the first relief pitcher in eleven years to win the Cy Young Award.

In 2005, after battling several injuries and discomfort in his right elbow, Gagne underwent season ending Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers declined to pick up his contract following the 2005 season and Eric signed with the Texas Rangers.

Although it’s a long road to recovery following a serious operation like Tommy John, many pitchers return to the mound with an increased velocity on their power pitches. Several young pitchers are even choosing to undergo Tommy John surgery due to the benefit it can have on a power pitcher’s arm upon full recovery.

In July of 2007, just prior to the trade deadline, the Red Sox acquired the mess that is Eric Gagne.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein was quoted as saying, “I think the bullpen is already a strength of the club, but acquiring a pitcher the caliber of Eric Gagné only makes it stronger and helps give us what we hope will be a truly dominant bullpen for the remainder of the year.”

What a mistake that was.

In Gagne’s first 15 appearances with the Sox, he allowed 14 earned runs in 14 innings of work. Opposing batters hit greater than .350 against the once stud closer.

Sox fans were relieved to see that Epstein had learned from his Gagne mistake and chose not to re-sign the set-up man/closer for the 2008 season.

Somehow Brewer’s GM Doug Melvin saw something left in Gagne and gave the washed-up closer a one year contract worth 10 million for the 2008 season.

Prior to being relieved of his relief duties by manager Ned Yost, Gagne had closed only 9 games in 14 opportunities and blew 5 saves. In 15.2 innings of work Gagne has allowed 12 earned runs, given up 4 home runs, and walked 11 batters!

Milwaukee fans rightfully cringe when they see the scrappy looking closer exit the bullpen and head for the mound in the 9^th.

Will the once dominant closer ever return to form?

Doubtful.

Kelvin Sampson Leaving Milwaukee Bucks, Heading to Verizon

Kevin Luchansky — Sun, 11 May 2008 09:25:46 -0400

Kelvin Sampson, former Indiana University men's basketball coach and NCAA rules violator, has left the Milwaukee Bucks organization.

Sampson was recently hired to be an assistant on Scott Skiles' Milwaukee Bucks staff.

On Sunday, Sampson announced he would be leaving the organization after a very short stay.

"I was approached by another organization and they gave me an offer I couldn't refuse," Sampson said. "They convinced me that my career was in telecommunications, not in coaching."

The organization — Verizon Wireless — convinced Sampson that he would be a perfect fit for their new "Will you play for me now?" campaign.

Sampson cited several reasons for accepting the position, the biggest one being his excellence in persistent phone call use.

"He's no stranger to excessive phone calling and text messaging," a Verizon spokesperson said Sunday. "He'll be a great fit with our company."

Verizon's monthly plan will give Sampson unlimited minutes and text messaging.

"My new monthly plan will allow me to talk to every potential D-1 basketball player and the NCAA can't restrict that," Sampson said. "That way, if I ever get back into coaching, there will be a multitude of recruits I've already been in contact with for years."

Verizon has not placed any restrictions on Sampson regarding future recruiting endeavors.

NL MVP: A Two-Man Race Between Chase Utley and Chipper Jones

Kevin Luchansky — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:14:22 -0400

Yes, it is only May 11, but the NL MVP ballots should list only two candidates this season: Atlanta’s Chipper Jones and Philadelphia’s Chase Utley.

The MLB season hasn’t reached its halfway point yet, and there is no way to tell if these two sweet-swinging sluggers will continue their tears, but they certainly show no signs of cooling off.

Through 34 games and 125 at-bats, Jones is hitting an astonishing .400, tops in the majors. His 10 home runs are good enough for third in the NL and the majors . No AL hitter has hit 10 this season, with Chicago’s Carlos Quentin coming in with nine. Kevin Youkilis, Carlos Pena and Mike Napoli have eight each.

Chipper is the only player in the majors this season in the Top Five in each of the “big three” categories: Runs Batted In, Batting Average, and Home Runs. Entering Sunday’s game against the Pirates, Chipper has batted in 29 runs and has a whopping .685 slugging percentage.

Not to mention that without Chipper, the Braves wouldn’t even sniff .500 this season. Atlanta relies on Jones, Teixeira and Francoeur for their offensive production.

Teixiera, despite hitting his fifth home run last night in a 5-2 loss to the Pirates, has done little and is only hitting .265. Francoeur is second on the team in RBI, but he still needs to lower his strikeout total and have more productive at-bats.

Atlanta’s once-dominant staff has been injury-riddled this season, losing ace John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Mike Hampton (go figure) to the DL.

Chipper, the only switch-hitter in MLB history with a career batting average over .300 and more than 300 home runs, isn’t too shabby at the hot corner either.

Jones’ NL East counterpart, Chase Utley, is also having a monster season. Utley leads the majors with 13 jacks, and his 28 runs batted in are good enough for sixthin the NL.

Utley, whose first career major league hit was a grand slam, is hitting .327 this year with a .407 on-base percentage and an astonishing .687 slugging percentage.

Chase is the main reason why Philadelphia is experiencing success this season. He leads the team in every offensive category except RBI. Outfielder Pat Burrell has 30.

First baseman Ryan Howard is hitting a lowly .169 this season, and his run production has suffered greatly. The Phillies have also had to deal with the loss of All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins virtually all season.

Like Jones, Utley plays solid defense and is a team leader in the clubhouse. These two are a big reason why the NL East, a three-team race alongside the Mets, should be exciting through September.

Should Jones and Utley cool off, the only comparable NL player the baseball writers could pencil in this fall would be Houston’s Lance Berkman, who has heated up of late.

College Tennis: Thrilling Season Ends for Indiana, Bloemendaal

Kevin Luchansky — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:04:57 -0400

The No. 38 Indiana University men’s tennis team lost a heart-breaker on Saturday to the No. 29 Vanderbilt Commodores by a 4-3 score on the campus of Ole Miss in Oxford.

The disappointing result ended the Hoosiers' hopes of continuing their run in the NCAA tournament regional.

After sweeping the doubles competition and earning the match’s first point, the Hoosiers only managed to steal two points in six singles matches.

With the score even after five singles matches had been completed, the outcome came down to the No. 3 singles duel between Phillip Eilers and Vanderbilt’s Vijay Paul. After dropping the first set 7-6, Eilers fought back to win the second 6-4, only to lose in extra sets 7-6 (7).

The loss moved the Hoosiers' record to 16-10 overall. It was their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2001, and the first appearance for first year head coach Randy Bloemendaal.

The No. 2 singles match finished first, as senior Dara McLoughlin lost a straight-set match 6-3, 6-1. Freshman Lachlan Ferguson also went down in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Shortly thereafter, senior Michael McCarthy evened the score in his three-set overtime thriller. The first two sets were decisive; Vanderbilt’s Alex Zotov took the second set 6-1 after McCarthy blew him away 6-1 in the first. Set three required overtime, but in the end McCarthy pulled away with a 7-6(4) victory.

McCarthy sparked some momentum with his rousing victory, as fellow senior Thomas Richter downed No. 53 Ryan Preston in a similar three-set overtime match.

Richter’s hard-fought victory gave the Hoosiers a 3-2 lead with two singles matches to go.

Unfortunately for IU, neither freshman Eilers nor Santiago Gruter were able to pull out a victory as they both fell in three sets, giving the Commodores a 4-3 win.

The match lasted a total of four hours and 53 minutes.

College Basketball: Jeremiah Rivers Flowing to Indiana

Kevin Luchansky — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:30:06 -0400

Georgetown guard Jeremiah Rivers, recently seen wearing a Hoosier jumpsuit in Assembly Hall, is reportedly transferring to IU.

The sophomore guard averaged 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 18.4 minutes of playing time last season under head coach John Thompson III.

Rivers is an excellent defender and ball-handler and fits in well with IU coach Tom Crean's perimeter-based style of play.

Jeremiah, son of Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, took an unofficial visit to Bloomington on Friday and was familiar with Crean after playing against him in the Big East. His father is also familiar with Crean and was a former Marquette standout.

Apparently leaving Georgetown wasn't what the "Doc" ordered, as the older Rivers was not pleased with Jeremiah's decision to leave the Hoya program.

The 6-foot-4 point guard could be a big boost to the Hoosiers when he becomes eligible to play in the 2009-2010 season. IU only returns one guard from the previous season, sophomore Jordan Crawford from Detroit. Crawford averaged 12.5 ppg this season for the Hoosiers. (His brother Joe just completed his senior year at Kentucky.)

Rivers was listed as a three-star, according to Rivals.com, upon graduating from high school in 2006.