Bleacher Report - Articles by austin murphy

Signing the Sedins: Double Trouble For Vancouver

austin murphy — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:21:51 -0400

The Vancouver Canucks will have some pocket-digging to do if they want to keep their two prized players Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Reports out of Vancouver say that the twins both want identical contracts: 12-years at $63 million.

This contract is similar to their fellow countryman Henrik Zetterberg who won the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup last year. The twins are at the same skill level I mean as him (Zetterberg), but have a little more leadership because they were the ones the young ones looked up to and followed (Alex Burrows who played on there line).

They both led their team (Vancouver) with 82 points and 10 points in the Canucks' playoff run this past season, which ended with disappointment.

Honestly, I thought they would make the Final, but lost to a less-experienced but rising team: the Chicago Blackhawks. They were the first to sweep a team in the playoffs (St.Louis Blues).

Well this sure will be a tough task for the GM of Vancouver, Mike Gillis, to get done. I honestly don't think it will get done unless they come to an agreement with the Sedins. You're going to have to get something done with both of them because you are definitely not getting one and without the other!

The Dany Heatley Demand: A Great Call in My Eyes

austin murphy — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:29:59 -0400

What do I think of the Dany Heatley shocking trade out of Ottawa. Senators General Manger Bryan Murray says to the media that "he wanted to talk to Corey (Clouston) but there were also a couple of issues, they were mainly were just finger pointed at each other he was shocked and disappointed."

Honestly I don't care about Dany Heatley anyway, he was a disappointment in Ottawa. Last season, Heatley recorded 39 goals, his lowest total since he arrived in the nation's capital. Seriously, like come on, you sign a six-year $45 million contract and one year into the contract demand a trade?

I think he should either go to recently crowned Stanley Cup Champions Pittsburgh Penguins. Get a first round draft pick (No. 30 overall), a top line defencemen (Kris Letang), and a top six forward (Jordan Staal). Also,the New York Islanders for the No. 1 draft pick and top six forward (Blake Comeau).

This is my opinion for this great call for a Senator's Fan because I didn't like him at all in Ottawa! Disappointment in my eyes all the way! BOOOOO...

Ted Nolan Gets the Boot as New York Islanders Head Coach

austin murphy — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:52:13 -0400

Well, Ted Nolan had his time in the NHL once again come to an end. After two years with the Islanders, he gets the boot after having a 75-68-21 record.

In his first year as head coach, he took them to the playoffs and lost in the first round to the Buffalo Sabres. Then he couldn't do the same this year missing the playoffs and finishing 13th in the standings with 79 points in 82 games!

Come on this guy can do better if he had the right players. The only good players he had were Satan, Comrie, Guerin, and Witt on defense, but he's an overrated player.

They did bring in Mark Streit from free agency, who didn't get an offer sheet from the Canadians which he was hoping to. So if they had kept Nolan as coach they probably would have made the playoffs!

Nolan said, "I want to thank the Islanders organization for giving me a chance to coach in the NHL again. I have tremendous respect for what the team is trying to do and I wish them well."

Look out. Nolan might be a gamble for a coach, but he will be a good gamble guaranteed!

MLB: 2009 Free Agents

austin murphy — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:26:29 -0400

Presenting...your 2009 free agent class. It's fun to look ahead, even if many of these guys will be off the market a year from now. Just to clarify, the players below are eligible for free agency after the 2008 season.

I've categorized them by position; the player's 2009 age is in parentheses. If I saw someone as a possibility at more than one position I put them at both.

Catchers
Rod Barajas (33)
Michael Barrett (32)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Jason Kendall (35) - club option for '09; vests with 110 games played in '08
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM club option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38)

First basemen
Ben Broussard (32)
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) - $16MM mutual option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with a $5MM buyout
Scott Hatteberg (39)
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)

Second basemen
Ray Durham (37)
Mark Ellis (32)
Marcus Giles (31)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Aaron Miles (32)
Jose Valentin (39)

Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera (34)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Cristian Guzman (31)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Juan Uribe (30)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout

Third basemen
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Morgan Ensberg (33)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) - $3.75MM club option for '09
Chipper Jones (37) - $8-11MM vesting option for '09
Dallas McPherson (27)

Left fielders
Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Jacque Jones (34)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) - $5MM club option or $2MM player option for '09
Manny Ramirez (37) - $20MM club option for '09
Juan Rivera (30)

Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Mike Cameron (36) - $10MM club option for '09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jacque Jones (34)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)

Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Milton Bradley (31)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - $16.5MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Jacque Jones (34)
Bobby Kielty (32)
Brad Wilkerson (32)

DHs
Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37) - $20MM club option for '09
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41) - $10MM option for '09; vests with 376 PAs in '08
Jim Thome (38) - $13MM club option for '09 with $3MM buyout
Jose Vidro (34) - vesting option for '09

Starting pitchers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Tony Armas Jr. (31)
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (32)
Chad Durbin (31)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37) - $7.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.375MM buyout
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) - $12MM club option for '09
Brett Tomko (36)
Josh Towers (32)
Steve Trachsel (38)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Woody Williams (42)
Randy Wolf (32)

Closers
Joe Borowski (38)
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brad Lidge (32)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Kerry Wood (32)

Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Doug Brocail (42) - club option for '09
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (28)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Keith Foulke (35)
Aaron Fultz (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
Eddie Guardado (38)
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Matt Herges (39) - club option for '09
Bob Howry (35)
Steve Kline (36)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Juan Rincon (30)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Stanton (42)
Mike Timlin (43)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
David Weathers (39)
Dan Wheeler (31)
Matt Wise (33)

Rob Blake Signs One Year Deal with Sharks

austin murphy — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:40:38 -0400

Rob Blake signed a one-year deal for $5 million with the San Jose Sharks, The Sporting News reported Thursday.

He is an 18-year veteran going into his 19th season, but still has power and speed, which will help the Sharks out after Brian Campbell's departure. Campbell, who left after San Jose acquired him from the Sabres at the trade deadline last year, signed with the Chicago Blackhawks for $56.8 million over eight years (he wasn't worth that much money; the Hawks just went over the top with him).

Blake just had nine goals and 22 assists and was a minus-19 last year. He will likely join a top unit with Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo. What this former Norris trophy winner has is leadership, character for his team, and strength to help out the defense. If Brian Campbell had stayed in San Jose, this team would have had a great back end with Craig Rivet, whom the Sharks acquired at the 2006-07 trade deadline. Blake is a skilled defender who can and probably will help out with offence if he's on the right line with someone. This guy can produce when he wants to.

Last year he wasn't playing with the same caliber, as Blake he was playing for the last-place team in the West for three seasons in a row...come on! Well, his time in Los Angeles is probably over, because I think the guy wants to go the postseason, not go golfing every May!

But Blake is happy were he's ended up for next season, and so is his new head coach, Todd McLellan, who was the Red Wings assistant coach last year. I don't know much of this guy and I really don't care for this guy; there were better coaches out there than this guy, but, if they like him, then let them have them! Still, I wish all the best to Blake and the Sharks!

Im out...
Murphy

Cubs might be shopping around for a new starter this month

austin murphy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:01:08 -0400

Cubs are in the search for a starting pitcher. They need someone who can give them 7-8 innings a game, and throw around 110-120 pitches. Here's some candidates they are thinking about bringing in!

C.C. Sabathia- The Cubs don't believe they have enough to get him. But if they bring him in, they would have a great five starting pictchers, and they have a good bullpen too.

Rich Harden- Peter Gammons didn't specifically say the Cubs are interested, just that they're monitoring Oakland.

Randy Wolf- The Cubs have interest, and Gammons says Wolf would waive his no-trade to go to a contender. Plus, Wolf treated the Cubs well when they courted him in the 2006-07 offseason. Gammons adds that the Padres still like Matt Murton. History has shown that Jim Hendry and Kevin Towers work well together on trades.

A.J. Burnett - The Cubs "also keep looking" at him. Last Thursday, Gammons' colleague Jayson Stark hadn't found "any indication that the Cubs have even batted his name around."

Aaron Cook- Gammons says the Cubs would love him, but Rockies' GM Dan O'Dowd said earlier this month, "We're not doing anything with Cookie."

Bronson Arroyo, Kevin Millwood- Gammons says the Cubs have "kicked around" these names.

My 2008 MLB postseason prediction's

austin murphy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:55:27 -0400

Here's my 2008 playoffs for the MLB

    AL Wild Card
New York Vs Detroit                             Los Angeles Vs New York
Winner: New York 4-2                            Winner: New York 4-3

AL Wild Card
Minnesota Vs Oakland Tampa Bay Vs Minnesota Winner:Minnesota 4-1 Winner:Tampa Bay 4-2

AL Division Championship
New York vs Tampa Bay
Winner: New York 4-3

NL Wild Card
Arizona vs Los Angeles                         Philadelphia Vs Arizona
Winner Arizona 4-2                               Winner: Philadephia 4-2

NL  Wild Card
St. Louis Vs Florida                                  Los Angeles Vs Florida
Winner Florida 4-1                                   Winner: Los Angeles 4-3

NL Division Championship
Philadelphia Vs Los Angeles
Winner Philadelphia 4-1

World Series
New York Vs Philadephia
Winner: Philadelphia 4-3