End of Day One at the NFL Draft

                                  

What a wild day it has been, the almost frugal to a fault New England Patriots move up twice: first trading the (27th and 93rd) picks to Cincinnati for the 21st pick where they took Syracuse Defensive End Chandler Jones, then trading the (31st and 126th) picks to Denver for the 25th pick where they snagged Alabama Linebacker Dont'a Hightower. 

New England Patriot's: First round Recap

I caught up with ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss, WEEI's Christopher Price and Comcast Sports Net: New England's Tom Curran.

Patriots trade up again! Draft Dont'a Hightower at 25

The Pat's pull off a shocker, trading up yet again to take Alabama LB Dont'a Hightower.
 Stay tuned for more reaction on the pick.

Instant Reaction: Chandler Jones

I caught up with Scott Zolak and Brian Lowe for some instant reaction on the Pat's drafting of Syracuse DE Chandler Jones.

The Pats trade up! New England takes Chandler Jones at 21

The Pats trade up for the first time since 2003 and take Syracuse DE Chandler Jones.
More on Jones after the draft is over. (sorry about the quality)

Catching up with season ticket holders

I caught up with a few Patriot's season ticket holders as they headed into the draft party.
It's becoming pretty obvious that the fans want the team to help out last years abysmal defense.

Let the Count Down Begin...

Outside of Gillette 4 hours till the draft starts...

NFL Draft Preview

With the NFL draft fast approaching team scouts, coaches and general managers are taking one final look at the more than two hundred players that will be drafted over the course of next weekend. The New England Patriots hold two first and second round selections and are looking to improve the team that last year went to the Super Bowl.  I’ll be taking a look at the a few of the players that could very well hear their named called by New England.


Safety's:

The Patriots defense was historically bad last season finishing 31^st out of 32 teams in passing yards allowed. With the free agent additions of Brandon Lloyd and former Colt Anthony Gonzalez it seems as though the Patriots are set on offense and might use their multiple early picks to sure up the defense.  One position that could be upgraded is safety. Patrick Chung is the team’s only natural safety, Sergio Brown and Josh Barrett were both cornerbacks in college and have only played safety since playing in the NFL. Experts predict that this year’s safety class is extremely shallow with a large drop off in talent coming after the top two rated players (Mark Barron, Harrison Smith).

Lets take a look at both players:

Player: Mark Barron

School: Alabama

Position: Safety

Listed height/weight: 6-foot-1, 213 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 1st

Draft projection:  Mid- First round

Where could he go: Barron is widely viewed as the top-rated safety in the draft. It’s hard to imagine he will be available when the pats pick at 27, so this is a situation where if he slides within striking range the Patriots may trade-up. Although he is known for trading down and accumulating draft picks, Bill Belichick has actually traded up more then he has moved back. In 2002 he traded up to grab tight end Daniel Graham and in 2003 he did the same to grab D-line man Ty warren. So if the hooded one feels Barron is the next coming of Troy Polamalu he might be inclined to pull the trigger on a trade.

Key stat: At Alabama he won two National Championships and totaled 12 career interceptions, showing he’s more than just a run-support safety.

Highlights: Here is Barron in three games in 2010.

Combine stat: Although he didn’t go to the combine he did work out at Alabama’s pro day. His 4.5 40-yard dash was tied for the best at his position and his Arms measured 33 5/8 inches, which are long for a player at his position.

What does Scouts Inc. think?: "The 6-foot-1 and 213-pound Barron is widely considered the best safety prospect in his class and in this case the hype is deserved. Two aspects of his game stand out on film. The first is his instincts and the second is the way he defends the run. He quickly diagnoses plays and gets into position whether he’s defending the run or in coverage. It’s also worth noting that the awareness and route-recognition skills he shows in zone coverage amplify his range because he rarely has to recover from false steps. In terms of run support, he’s a powerful and reliable tackler that’s big enough to hold his own at linebacker depth and takes sound angles to the ball when he lines up deep. Barron isn’t the kind of safety teams should feel comfortable asking to match up with quicker slot receivers. He’s just not fluid or explosive enough but he’s athletic and fast (ran a 4.57 in the 40 at his Pro Day) enough to stay with most tight ends. Add in his ability to make plays in coverage and Barron doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses as a prospect in terms of his film. In fact, the biggest concern is his durability. He underwent sports hernia surgery in January, an injury limited him during the 2011 Auburn game and he tore a pectoral muscle in the 2010 game."

Player: Harrison Smith

School: Notre Dame

Position: Safety

Listed height/weight:6-foot-1 7/8, 213 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 2nd

Draft projection: Late first or second round

Where he could go: ESPN says “Smith, has ideal NFL size, has played a lot of football at a high level and can do a number of things from the position (including some linebacker-type assignments).” At Notre Dame, Smith was a team captain. He hasn’t had any major injuries over his career and projects as a prospect who should start quickly along with being one of the safer picks in the draft. He’s currently projected as a late first round pick. If the Patriots decide not to trade up for Mark Barron, Harrison Smith should be there at pick at 27. However, with Green Bay, Baltimore and San Francisco picking in between the Patriots two first round selections he may be gone before the 31^st pick.

Highlights: Here is one of Smith's highlight reels from youtube. 

Key stat: He’s played a lot of injury free football. At Notre Dame he totaled 50 games played, with 41 starts. While this may be seen as a detraction when drafting a lineman due to stress on the knees, at Safety the more games you play the more formations you see and the more prepared you are to react.

Workout stat: Lead all safety’s in the three cone drill with a time of 6.63.

What Scouts Inc. thinks: “Smith is a three-year starter who rarely gets caught out of position but he’s more than just a fundamentally sound football player. His 4.57 40-time at the Combine is slightly above average and he accounts for more ground in coverage than prospects with the same kind of speed. He does so because of his ability to diagnose routes better than most, and his long arms (32.5-inches) amplify his range. Although he’s not quite agile or explosive enough to stay with a lot of NFL slot receivers in man coverage, he’s capable of staying with tight ends. In terms of his potential to develop into a playmaker, his failure to intercept a pass in three of his four seasons at Notre Dame is admittedly somewhat concerning. On the other hand, he’s shown that he’s capable by intercepting seven passes in 2010 and he has the tools, in addition to his long arms, to get even better in this area. Smith has big hands (10.2-inches) and he can elevate, recording a 34-inch vertical in Indianapolis. Finally, he’s an excellent run defender who takes sound pursuit angles, tackles well and shown than he can hold his own when moved into the box, as he started nine games at linebacker in 2009.”

A recent ESPN mock draft suggested that the Pats might package both of their first round picks (27 and 31) to move up to select big play safety Mark Barron. While ESPN’s Todd Mcshay predicts the patriots will take Harrison Smith with the 31^st pick.

Pass Rush:
One of the major issues the 2011 Patriots faced was getting after the opposing team's quarterback. The addition of free agents Mark Anderson and Andre Carter helped the team immensely, however Anderson has now left in free agency and Carter isn't expected back at the start of the season due to a torn quad. If the Patriots don't sure up the secondary they may look to help improve a less then average pass rush. Lets take a look at three big men who could find themselves playing in Foxborough next fall. 

Player: Kendall Reyes 


School: Connecticut 


Position: Defensive line 


Listed height/weight: 6-foot-4, 299 pounds 


Scouts Inc. rank: 5th 


Draft projection: Late first round/second round 


Where he could go: The Patriots still haven’t filled the right defensive end void created when Richard Seymour was traded in 2009. Reyes could potentially fit that spot. Drafting and developing big, athletic defensive linemen has worked well for most teams.  He is one of the cleaner prospects in the draft when combining on-field and off-field evaluations. He has been projected to go as early as the last first round and as late as the third. 

Highlights: Here's a highlight reel of Reyes


Key stat: He was at UConn for five years as he redshirted his freshman season, making him one of the more polished defensive linemen in this year’s class.  


Workout stat: Ran a 4.95 in the 40-yard dash, an excellent time for someone his size. 


What scouts inc. thinks: At 6-foot-4 and 299 pounds, Reyes is the prototypical 5-technique in a base three-man front. In addition to his frame he has the arm length (33.3-inches) and upper-body strength (benched 225 pounds 36 times) to lock out and control blockers making him an effective two-gap run defender at end. While he doesn’t have the closing speed teams covet in edge rushers, he uses his quick first step to get under offensive tackles and he has the lower body strength to drive them back to the quarterback once he establishes position. Reyes can also kick inside to defensive tackle. He is carrying a little too much weight right now and he’s never going to be a massive space eater on the inside. However, his quickness can give interior offensive linemen problems and he’s tough enough to hold up at 3-technique even if he sheds some pounds. Finally, there’s a lot to like about his intangibles considering that he is a two-time captain and three-year starter whose production improved with each year."

Player: Shea McClellin 


School: Boise State 


Position: Outside linebacker/defensive end 


Listed height/weight: 6-foot-3, 260 pounds 


Scouts Inc. rank: 2nd 


Draft projection: Late first-Second round 


Where he could go: McClellin has shot up draft boards after having a great day at the combine. The Patriots have some questions at defensive end in the four-man front, and a need for more help at 3-4 outside linebacker. The loss of Mark Anderson in free agency, along with Andre Carter's slow recovery from a torn quad leave the Patriots exposed at pass rush. McClellin could help will sure up the front seven.  McClellin, who has admitted he models  himself after former Patriot Mike Vrabel, has a lot of good things going for him on and off the field (e.g. smart, versatile, high character, size, pass-rush skills). 


Highlights: Boise State's superman


Key stat: He averaged 8 and a half sacks each year over his final two seasons. 


Workout stat: His 19 reps on the bench press raised some questions about strength. 


Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: "As versatile as LSU DL Michael Brockers is, McClellin is even more of a Swiss army knife and Boise State took advantage by using him in a number of different ways. At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, he’s athletic enough to line up at outside or inside linebacker in a 3-4, strong side linebacker in a 4-3 or defensive end in a 4-3 at the NFL level. His greatest strength is rushing the passer. He’s at his best getting under offensive linemen and rocking them back on their heels but it’s not the only thing he does well. While he doesn’t show the ability to shave the edge like a Dwight Freeney, he still flashes the ability to turn the corner thanks to his explosive first step and he closes well when he gets a clear path to the quarterback. He also uses his active hands and quick feet to set up offensive linemen with a variety of moves. He needs to work on his ability to stack and shed as a run blocker but he’s tough, he’s strong for his size, and he’s got enough upper body strength to improve his ability to get off blocks. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding McClellin following a strong workout at the Combine and he’s entered the early second round conversation so it wouldn’t be too much of a reach for New England to take him late in the first."

Player: Michael Brockers


School: Louisiana State 


Position: Defensive tackle 


Listed height/weight: 6-foot-5, 322 pounds 


Scouts Inc. rank: 2nd 


Draft projection: First round 


Where he could go: As versatile a defensive tackle as there is in this draft. Brockers will unlikely to be available at No. 27, he could be someone the Patriots consider moving up to select should be slip within range. Brockers  has visited Patriot Place/Gillette Stadium last week, presumably for a pre-draft visit, which could be viewed as an indication that the Patriots still have a level of interest as the scouting process nears its end. Based on physical make-up and skill set, Brockers fits the Patriots as well as any other lineman in the draft. Brockers has been described as a potential Richard Seymour type of player. The Patriots haven’t decisively replaced Seymour since trading him in 2009. 

Highlights: Here's a draft profile 


Key stat: After redshirting in 2009, Brockers played two seasons at LSU and enters the draft after his sophomore season. Because of this, he is viewed as a raw prospect. 


Workout stat: Following a disappointing showing at the combine, Brockers improved at his Pro Day in late March, reportedly running a 5.15 in the 40-yard dash. 


What scouts inc. thinks: "There’s a great deal to like about Brockers’ scheme versatility. At 6-5 and 322 pounds, he’s big and strong enough to line up at defensive tackle in a four-man front or nose tackle in a base three-man front and he’s even agile enough to play defensive end in the 3-4. He has the long arms (35 inches), upper-body strength and instincts to excel in a two-gap scheme in addition to the quickness and active hands to shine in a one-gap scheme. That’s not to say he doesn’t have his weaknesses. He needs to do a better job of keeping his pads down and he can improve his ability to anchor by developing his lower body strength. Another concern is his lack of ideal experience. While he played at the highest level of collegiate football, he is a redshirt sophomore and one-year starter. The bottom line is that Brockers projects as a Day One starter and his versatility is going to make him an attractive option for several teams. So I think it’s unlikely he slips to pick 27 though Todd [McShay] and Mel [Kiper] both have him going to Denver at 25 so it’s not unthinkable. Should New England draft him they would be getting a player that fits their versatile scheme and has the potential to be an excellent complement to Vince Wilfork."

Two different takes: Bruins vs Capitals game six

After much deliberation I decided to compare two articles from Kevin Paul Dupont and Joe McDonald on the Boston Bruin’s game six victory in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals. 

                                      (Seguin sends the Bruins to game seven with this overtime goal)

Kevin Dupont is a writer for the Boston Globe and the papers hockey expert, covering the Boston Bruin’s beat along with the comings and goings of professional ice hockey.  Joe McDonald is former eighteen year veteran of the Providence Journal who now writes for ESPN Boston.

Both writers take different approaches in recapping and highlighting the game. Tyler Seguin’s game winning over-time goal is the main part of both articles, however Dupont chose to highlight the growth of young 20-year-old Seguin while McDonald focused on Seguin and alternative captain Patrice Bergeron’s willingness to play through injury.

McDonald’s article recaps the game while quoting head coach Claude Julien, Patrice Bergeron and Defenseman Andrew Ference. Dupont recaps the setup of the game winning goal while quoting Seguin, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, Julien, Andrew Ference and forward Milan Lucic.

While both articles by McDonald and Dupont are practically the same length 1,138 and 1,135 respectively. They each give very different perspectives.

McDonald starts by mentioning that less than 21 hours after loosing game five, Patrice Bergeron was the first player to arrive at the Verizon Center for game six. He adds that Bergeron’s dedication and willingness to play is unmatched. McDonald then recaps the game from midway through the third period when it was tied at 2-2, while quotes from coach Claude Julien on the growth of Tyler Seguin and Adrew Ference on his maturity despite his young age. He then uses a Patrice Bergeron quote on the game winning  goal to transition the article to the topic of Bergeron playing the game hurt. He throws in a few more Julien quotes before ending the piece by saying “The Bruins hope that Bergeron and Seguin can keep their momentum going into Game 7 on Wednesday.”

                                                                   (Kevin Paul Dupont) 

Dupont opens his article by writing that the Bruins drafted Tyler Seguin as a one-day game-breaker however in game six he was a season-saver.  He recaps the game-winning play before mentioning that Seguin would be a freshman if he was in college and that this goal may have transitioned him from wunderkid to wily veteran.  He quotes Seguin on how he scored before bringing up how common lucky goals are in hockey. After a further breakdown of the game ending play Dupont asserts that there was no luck Seguin’s goal, just skill.  He quotes Seidenberg and Julien before reviewing some of the scoring chances Seguin has had so far in the playoffs. He throws in a few quotes from Julien on Seguin’s growth and maturity before quoting Seguin and Lucic on how the play developed.  Dupont then compares Seguin’s deek of goalie Braden Holtby to Bruin legend John Bucyk. He closes the piece by adding that regardless of whether or not the Bruin’s win the series, "game six might be the game in which Seguin really grew up."

Although both articles are well written and pointed, I feel that Dupont’s article a better read. Both pieces quote the coach and Andrew Ference Dupont goes the extra mile by quoting Seidenberg, Lucic and of course Tyler Seguin himself.

McDonald’s piece has the feel of something done under deadline that was forced out, while Dupont’s piece has more of a homely feel adding perspective and a bit of history for flavor. While McDonald did focus on Patrice Bergeron’s injury more he missed the main point, the eclectic rise of 20-year-old Tyler Seguin.

Final Project for Sports Reporting

For my final project for Sports Reporting, I would love to cover the NFL Draft on April 26th in Foxborough, Mass.
In the National Football League's current era of free agency and salary caps, winning teams have made their bread and butter in the draft.
The 2011 New York Giants won a Superbowl on a 38 yard reception thrown by a former first round pick (Eli Manning) and caught by a former third (Mario Manningham).
Last year's draft saw number one overall pick Cam Newton re-energizer the Carolina Panthers, while the second pick Von Miller became the cog at the center of Denver's reborn defense.
While teams can't win a title during the draft, they certainly can loose it. A number of bad picks has held the Oakland Raiders back for years. That same fate capsized season after season for the Detroit Lions, until a string of solid picks helped send them to the playoffs for the first time in a decade last year.
However, the most peculiar team in recent drafts has been the New England Patriots. Coach Bill Belichick has made a draft day trade in six of the past seven seasons, generally moving a second round pick for a first round pick next season. This year, the Patriots have four picks in the first two rounds.
I'd love to cover the Patriots draft from Foxborough doing a short package from inside the draft day party, grabbing interviews with any notable players or personalities there. I'd also do a blog post and a post draft story to make this a fully multi-media project.

A week in the heat with the Texas Rangers

Rangers Blog:

After contemplating if I should cover my beloved Red Sox or test my baseball knowledge in another market, I decided to spend this week covering last years American League Champions the Texas Rangers.

 March 13th 10am 

After a stellar season in which he set career highs in: stolen bases, on-base-percentage, batting-average and runs-batted-in, Elvis Andrus looks to make the jump from potential all-star to potential MVP.

Still only 23 years old, Andrus added ten pounds of muscle over the off season and so far leads the team with a .471 batting average and a .706 slugging percentage this spring.

“He’s trying to turn into a man,” Rangers manager Ron Washington told ESPN, adding “The past couple of years he’s been a little boy. I just hope that he can maintain that weight that he has because he certainly showing some strength so far this spring training.”

                                                                 (Short stop Elvis Andrus)

-          March 13^th 12pm

One area the Rangers will look to improve is their fielding. despite winning back to back American League pennants the Rangers are 14^th in the AL in both fielding percentage and Errors since 2007.

-           March 13^th 2 pm

 Monday, Leonys Martin made his first Cactus League start in a 6-1 win over Cleveland. The top prospect hit ninth and played centerfield. Martin, 24, is ranked 79^th in Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list. In his six previous appearances this spring he was 2-12 with two walks and two strikeouts.

March 13^th 9 pm

Pitcher Yu Darvish struggled in his second Cactus League start. Darvish had trouble locating his fastballs and allowed two runs on three hits in three innings against the Cleveland Indians. In his first Cactus League start, Darvish gave up two hits and struck out three batters in two innings against the San Diego Padres. Also of note outfielder Craig Gentry left the third inning with a mild left wrist sprain. X-ray’s were negative.

March 14^th 10 am

Manager Ron Washington wants the Texas Rangers to become more aggressive on the bases. Last year the Rangers were third in the league, taking 157 bases on fly balls, passed balls and wild pitches. They were also the third hardest team to catch stealing, running into only 46 outs all year (the league average is 55).

“We’re going to keep running the bases, but I want them to be more careful late in the game,” Washington told ESPN. “You can still be aggressive, but after the sixth inning you have to be 100 percent sure you can make it.

“Otherwise, you’re taking the bat out of the hands of Hamilton. Or Beltre. Or Young. Or Cruz. Or Napoli. Early in the game, we can live with it. Late in the game we can’t because we don't want pitchers to be able to run from our guys.”

March 14^th 1 pm

Outfielder Craig Gentry will be out 3-5 days with a mild left wrist sprain. Gentry was reviewed by Cleveland Indian’s hand and wrist expert Dr. Thomas Graham after he left the game Tuesday but no break was revealed. Gentry injured his wrist in the third inning while diving for a fly ball in center field. He’ll be re-evaluated by the team after the time out.

March 14^th 5pm

Josh Hamilton is listed as day-to-day after jamming his right heel in the second inning of today’s 6-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Pitcher Neftali Feliz felt his second start went much better then his first, he allowed a run on four hits in three innings against the Rockies this afternoon. Signing closer Joe Nathan allowed the Rangers to move Neftali Feliz into the starting rotation while keeping skipper Ron Washington comfortable by having an established closer. Nathan, the Minnesota Twins all time leader in saves, inked two-year $14.75 million dollar deal with Texas last November.

                                                             (Closer, Joe Nathan) 

March 15^th 12pm

Josh Hamilton is in the lineup today against the Oakland Athletics after jamming his right heel in yesterday’s game. Other news and notes from Surprise, Ariz.

The Rangers made a minor trade earlier today sending minor leaguer Kelvin De La Cruz to the Indians in exchange for cash considerations.

Shortstop prospect Jurickson Profar may see playing time at second base, Rangers director of minor league operations Jake Krug tells Bryan Dolgin of the Rangers Magazine radio show. The 19-year-old Profar was ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the game by Baseball America’s 2012 minor league rankings. The Rangers would prefer to give him time at second base in case Ian Kinsler can’t be signed to an extension, although it may be a waste of Profar’s defensive skills to move him away from short.

Brad Hawpe and Connor Jackson are both trying to keep their Major League careers afloat in Rangers camp. Hawpe and Jackson are both signed to minor league deals and are fighting for jobs on the Rangers’ bench.

March 15^th  8pm

Martin Perez got roughed up in his second Cactus league start. Perez only went two innings and 58 pitches, giving up two runs on five hits.

"I was trying to locate pitches and was a little anxious and desperate," Perez said. "I know that was my problem today, and I know I have to control those things, get ahead in the count and get rid of those things."

Nelson Cruz looks to be in midseason form smashing a bases clearing double in the first inning. Cruz was sixth in baseball last year with runners on base hitting .332

After struggling with control of his fastball for most of the spring, reliever Mike Adams was pleased with his bullpen session Thursday. He threw nothing but heat trying to regain command of the pitch.

ESPN reports that Manager Ron Washington left Surprise on Thursday to handle a family emergency, his brother-in-law passed away Wednesday. Washington will be in New Orleans with his wife for two days and expects to be back with the team on Saturday for their two-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

Bench coach Jackie Moore will be the acting manager during Washington’s absence.

March 16^th 12pm

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish threw a bullpen session Friday, the Japanese phenom has been erratic since arriving in January.

Mike Napoli is back in the lineup after being held out since Saturday with tightness in his left groin.

"I had a little flare up," Napoli said. "It was sore but it’s spring training. They were being easy on it because I don’t need to be ready right now."

Tanner Scheppers impressed Friday throwing two scoreless innings. He came on in relief of starter Greg Reynolds (four runs on seven hits in three innings) Scheppers didn’t allow a hit in two shutout innings

It’s Scheppers’ second consecutive cactus league outing without allowing a run. Scheppers has worked to integrate a changeup into his repertoire that includes a fastball and a plus curveball. While he didn’t strike anyone out with his changeup, the curveball got the job done twice for Scheppers. Dee Gordon Whiffed at the pitch in the dirt and National League MVP runner-up Matt Kemp struck out on it in the fifth.

                                                                  (RP- Tanner Scheppers)

March 17^th  12pm

Mike Napoli who returned to the Rangers lineup yesterday has set a new goal for himself, to catch at least 100 games. Napoli has come close catching ninety six games for the Angels in 2009.

While this may be a goal for Napoli the Rangers probably don't share the same sentiment. The Texas heat wears down most players in July and August and considering he hit .327 with fifteen RBI’s in last year’s post season, the Rangers want him fresh for the playoff run in September.

Plus, Yorvit Torrealba is a solid catcher and the Rangers can get Napoli some rest by using him at designated hitter or first base, positions that aren't as taxing. He started 57 games at catcher, 27 at first base and 18 at designated hitter last season.

                                                                        (C- Mike Napoli) 

March 17^th 5 PM

Derek Holland impressed in Saturday’s game against Arizona yielding just one hit in four quality innings. He told ESPN afterwards, "I had a lot of movement on my fastball, so I just wanted to work off of that," he said. "Even if I got behind 1-0, I wanted to come back and locate the fastball because if you don't that's when you get behind and have to throw certain pitches."

Reliever Mike Adams who had been struggling with his control struck out the side in the seventh inning on twelve pitches.

Second Basemen Ian Kinsler is starting to catch fire. Kinsler blasted a two-run homer in the sixth inning during the Rangers 8-6 loss to the Diamondbacks.

After sitting out most of spring training with a lower back stiffness, Kinsler has gone 7-10 with four RBI’s in the last three games.

After the game Kinsler told ESPN “I’m not too worried about the overall offense chemistry right now because we know what we have," Kinsler said. "It’s selfish time and it’s time to worry about yourself and time to get ready for the season."

                                                                        (SP- Derek Holland) 

March 18^th 3pm

Ron Washington is worried about the high expectations for both Matt Harrison and Derek Holland (who combined for 30 wins last season).

Telling ESPN "I don't want them having 18 or 20 wins on their mind," Washington said. "If they set out to do what they did last year, they'll surpass it without even trying. If they repeat the number of wins they had last year, that's good enough for me - anything else is failure. I don't want them going backward."

With the loss of CJ Wilson to the Angels the two twenty-five-year olds now find themselves as the second and third starters on a Rangers team that has won back-to-back American League pennants.

March 18^th 5 pm

Matt Harrison, just like Derek Holland yesterday, threw a gem of a spring training start going five innings and allowing one run on one hit while striking out five.

"So far, so good," Harrison said. "Hopefully, I can keep doing the same thing: pounding the strike zone and making quality pitches. I want to make them swing the bats because good stuff happens when they do that."

Harrison has been tinkering with his changeup a pitch he seldom used last year. Instead of slowing down his arm speed, Harrison has been working to slow the ball down with his fingertips.

"I've always thought that was his second-best pitch," Ron Washington said. "He worked on it the second half of last season, and he came into spring training, and he's continued to work on it and it's gotten better."

                                                                 (SP- Matt Harrison) 

March 18^th 9pm

As we move closer to the start of the season, the questions about the Texas Rangers starting rotation are starting to become clearer.

Colby Lewis will certainly be the opening day starter but it’s still unclear if the Rangers will use left-handers Derek Holland and Matt Harrison back-to-back in the rotation or if they will move highly touted Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish into the third spot.

The idea of breaking up Harrison and Holland is to make sure hitters don’t get locked into facing the same type of pitcher in consecutive days.

It may also benefit the Rangers to split up Holland and Harrison to make sure the bullpen doesn’t get taxed on back to back days with Darvish and newly acquainted started Neftali Feliz who hasn’t started since the minors.

"We don't now what Nefti is going to give us because he hasn't done it at this level yet," Ron Washington said, "but I expect Darvish to take the ball into the seventh or eighth inning most of the time. He'll have his tough days like everybody else, but he's a horse."

Washington added that the Rangers won’t have a formal discussion about their rotation until everyone goes through one more time. Although, Washington has said that Holland and Harrison deserved to be ranked second and third in the rotation entering spring training. 

Calzone Ciarcia: not your typical baseball player

There are very few places on the east coast that have winters as ruthless as Cape Cod. However, in the summer the distinctive "arm" of Massachusetts transforms into a hotbed for baseball. Amongst the Cape's numerous high schools and colleges stands the illustrious Cape League which attracts the very best collegiate baseball prospects in the country. Cape Cod is New England’s mecca of baseball.
For most young boys in New England, summer means freedom. Three months of sun, relaxation and baseball. Organized football doesn't start till mid-August, basketball and hockey generally don't pick up until well after the leaves have left the trees. So baseball is left alone to capitalize on the summer vacations of boys (and girls) across New England. Even those who hate the game usually play through at least Little League.
Summer's on the Cape however, produce an entirely different baseball atmosphere. Every year hundreds of families across the Cape "foster" a Cape League player for the summer. Each of the League's ten teams are required to provide housing for their players. So families volunteer to house players in spare bedrooms, garages or on the pull out futons. While it's a cute nuance to life on the Cape, it can have a profound effect on for young aspiring baseball players. Cape League players have eighty nine percent chance of playing some form of professional baseball, so to twelve year old boys these talented college athletes are gods.
  For one lanky eighteen year old kid from Dennis Port, it was growing up around Cape League players that inspired him to keep playing baseball even after he wanted to quit. Calzone Ciarcia thought his day's of playing baseball had ended. A senior third basemen at Sacred Heart high school, he was fully prepared to move on from the game he had played for the last dozen years of his life. Calzone planed on going to college for film production and new that most film schools don't have sports teams.
 Enter Emerson College, a division three school, fifty two miles north of the light houses and salt water taffy of Nauset Beach in the heart of Boston. Emerson is a liberal arts school with a strong reputation in film production and journalism. 

For a teenager who was planing on retiring his glove for good, the chance to play college baseball and pursue his dreams of  film production was too good to pass up. 

                                                        (Calzone Ciarcia playing third)

“Once I knew they had a baseball team, Emerson really became my first choice. Every kid in New England dreams of playing baseball in Boston."says Calzone, now twenty and a sophomore at Emerson College.
 While, most Little Leaguers probably imagine Fenway Park, Calzone is perfectly happy with Malden Catholic, a high school field the team uses while planing for a field of their own. High school field or not, a teenage Ciarcia burst on to the scene at Emerson hitting .307 with 20 RBI’s and stole fourteen bases (third in the conference) in thirty six games as a freshman.

                                      (Calzone after stealing a base at Rivier College)

Now a cog in the Emerson lineup the lanky Ciarcia projects to hit cleanup and play third base for a team that finished sixth in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference or GNAC last season. “Last year was great. I was welcomed with open arms and it was one of the coolest experiences ever. This year the team is going be great. We have a lot of good players coming back and a lot of good players coming in, so the confidence is flowing.”

However, for Calzone Ciarcia the road to Emerson could have taken a much different turn, “This surprises some people but for most of my life I wanted to play college hockey.” Growing up on in Dennis-Port, Calzone spent his summer's playing baseball and working for the Cape Leauge's Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Yet, in the winter he was one hundred percent  focused on hockey. “I had a blast playing hockey my senior year of high school, I would have loved to have played in college, it just turned out that my college of choice had a baseball team with some open roster spots.” 

                                              (Calzone at Sacred Heart high school)

Calzone still holds hockey near and dear to his heart, “As far as the fun and excitement, nothing compares to hockey. It’s my favorite sport, with baseball being a close second.”
While hockey may have his heart, baseball had his youth. Calzone’s cites being around so many world class baseball players while growing up as one of the main reasons he committed to playing baseball at Emerson. 

"We never had any stars stay with us but a friend of mine had Brad Hawpe stay with him, which was pretty cool", notes Calzone.
Hawpe a 2009 Major League All-Star, hit .338 in the 2007 NLCS helping lead the Colorado Rockies to their very first World Series appearance.
 "As cool as having baseball players was, I always dreamed of having Adam Oates or P.J. Stock stay at my house", says Calzone.
While in his heart might still belong to hockey player, the rest of body has turned into one of the best baseball players in his conference. In six games so far this year Calzone has seven hits and leads Emerson in run's scored. His heart may always prefer the ice but after growing up on the Cape Cod, Calzone Ciarcia can't out skate the game of baseball.

Jack Edwards is continuing the tradition

Let me start by saying that broadcasters are rewarded when their teams win. 

 

                                                                (Johnny Most- Courtesy Boston Globe)

Johnny Most, probably the greatest broadcaster in Boston sports history called games for the team from 1953-1990, all the while watching sixteen banners be hung from the rafters of the old Boston Garden.

                                                                (Fred Cusack- Courtesy Boston Herald)

Fred Cusack the long time Bruins play-by-play man who called games for the black and gold from 1971-1997 watched the bruins win seventeen division championships and go to nine conference finals. 

 In Boston’s recent success the broadcaster who has benefited the most is probably Gil Santos. The former Patriot and current radio play-by-play announcer has called five super bowls in the past eleven years. However, following the Bruins recent dramatic run through the playoffs last season Jack Edwards has gained a number of fans for his high volume play-by-play work. I decided to focus in on a recent bruins game between Boston and the re-born Winnipeg Jets. Here’s my break down of Jack Edwards performance.

                                                                   (Jack Edwards- Courtesy Twitter)

Pre Game- Edwards calls Winnipeg’s MTS center the craziest little building in the National Hockey league.

“High above the ice – I’m Jack Edwards” – This is an homage to Johnny Most who started every game with “High above court-side – I’m Johnny Most”

Puck Drops

19:50 first period – “Bruins win the draw and the jets are on there second game in two nights and on the season there -0-9 in back to backs” – Edwards does a great job of mixing stats into his play by play work.

18:20 first period- “Chara is getting booed here in Winnipeg as he does in 29 buildings in the national hockey league.” – The biggest knock on Edwards is that he paints the Bruins as underdogs in every game they play even though at 35-18-2 they should be favorites even on the road at 27-26-6 Winnipeg.

15:29 first period- “Here is Josh Hennessy, born in Brockton, grew up south of Boston, went to Milton academy for a couple of years, went the junior route… and here he is playing for the team he adored as a boy he has got to be on a cloud right now, and there are people all over the south shore jumping up and down and screaming at their TV’s” – Edwards has always done a fantastic job of following local New England players and giving insight on the route they’ve taken to the NHL, this is just another example.

5:35 first period-  “Corvo up the wing to Pouliot, Wing to wing for Lucic, he works against Jones lucic goes right past Jones! Closes! works in front and slides it past the front near post. Milan Lucic undressing Randy Jones along the near side boards.” – Edwards has the ability to take a regular play and dress it up as something magical, this is the reason Boston fans love him and die-hard hockey fans can’t stand him.

4:37 first period- “Off glass’s stick and it goes up and over, Tanner Glass had a heck of a bout last night with Darroll Powe. Now of course Powe went to Princeton and Glass went to Dartmouth and you know I don’t know for sure but I got a feeling that Powe said Princeton has a lot more Nobel prize winners then Dartmouth and that just crosses the threshold brick you just can’t tolerate that kind of talk.”

Andy Brickley- “that is trash talking!”

Edwards- “Exactly, they said that’s enough of that and they threw down and there was no defense in that fight that was one of the best tilts we’ve seen in a few weeks.” – It’s moments like this where Edwards fills the casual fan in on something they might not have seen that really elevate Edward’s play-by-play ability.

Second Period

17:45 second period-  Here’s Burmistrov working on that off wing against Chara… here’s the shot.. He Scores! Alexander Burmistrov! The jets are ahead.

Andy Brickley- Well we talked about the Jets and how they like to score off the rush, Burmistrov is going to take this puck back hand to  forehand which lets him get a little more centrally located. Rask is down in the butterfly and Burmistrov just rips that forehand wrist shot old fashion style right up under the cross bar to give the jets the lead. – Every good broadcaster needs a color commentator and former Bruins left winger Andy Brickley is one of the best in the business, he plays his role to perfection constantly breaking down scoring plays so the most novice fan can understand them.

16:10 second period- Go Jets Go the chat from the smallest and loudest building in the NHL right here. – Edwards is consistently reminding fans of senses they can’t feel, we can all see the game but the sounds of the crowd are usually washed out by the announcers voice.

13:50- second period -“Caron Scores! Tukka Rask at one end with a big save and Jordan Caron at the other! With just his third goal of the year, The bruins have tied it 1-1!”

10:53- second period- "Caron… Wellwood picks his pocket he drops it for Kane who’s red hot.. the shot! Glove save by Rask! Tukka Rask let in a shaky one but since then he’s been sensational." – Edwards loves making calls on big saves thankfully the Bruins have two of the better goalies in the NHL.

Third Period

13:40 third period- “Wheeler turns, maneuvers right, in front of Little… who Scores! Brian Little roofs it and it’s a two goal lead for the jets! Two goals in two minutes and four seconds and it’s too much for the Boston Bruins to handle right now!” – Critics say Edwards has liberal uses alliteration, this would be one of those cases.

 10:22 third period-  “Stuart and Hennessy getting into a scrap and Stuart gets a straight left into Hennessy’s face and there has got to be a call here. He certainly gets away with something extra right there.” –Here’s a prime example of Edwards Homer-ness, if you weren’t watching the game almost every post whistle altercation would seem like a mugging.

1:01- Go Jets Go! The crowd chats as it grows louder minute by minute. Deafening here in the MTS center.  Kelly chases it down, wheeler intercepts. Chara fools the hip out of him. They had a hockey team in Atlanta that couldn’t draw flies,  here you can’t get a seat. The jets are going to go two and 0 against the Boston Bruins in this building this year. Listen to the fans in Winnipeg. In the history of the Atlanta Thrasher's they never drew an ovation like this. – Edwards focuses on the volume of the arena and the energy of the fans, two things we can’t see during the game.

              After reviewing this game I’ve found that I not only like Jack Edwards more than I did before but also I have a new appreciation for what he brings to the table as a sportscaster. He’s energetic and yes a bit of a homer but he does his homework he fills the dead time with amusing stories and antic dotes. He might be just another crazy Boston play-by-play announcer to the rest of the country but to us he’s OUR crazy play-by-play announcer.

- Liam Ariel