Web Analytics and Web Statistics by NextSTAT The Boston Sports Nut: March 2009

Friday, March 13, 2009

Quite a battle

Looks like we have quite a battle for the last playoff spot in the NBA east. Milwaukee has that spot right now, but there are 5 other teams in the running- Chicago, Charlotte, New Jersey, Indiana and New York. It looks like 38-39 wins will get you in.

However, in the West it looks like 50 wins gets you in and the race is all but done. Only 3 1/2 games separate numbers 2-8 and teams will be scuffling for position, each trying to get that first round home court advantage.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Clemens injected

Report: McNamee injected Clemens at hot tub

NEW YORK (AP) Brian McNamee says he injected Roger Clemens with drugs at the Yankee Stadium hot tub and that among the needles he gave government investigators was one he used to inject the pitcher in 2001, according to the Web site sportsimproper.com.

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., is investigating whether Clemens lied when he told a congressional committee last year that he didn't use illegal performance-enhancing substances. McNamee, Clemens' former personal trainer, testified before the same committee and said he repeatedly injected Clemens with steroids and HGH.

"One of the needles I gave the government was used to inject Clemens with steroids in either July or August of 2001," McNamee was quoted as saying by sportsimproper.com in an item posted Wednesday. "The place was his high-rise apartment, which is located off the corner of 90th Street and First Avenue in Manhattan. ... click here to read more

Papelbon calls Manny a 'cancer'

He tries to get out, but they keep pulling him back in.

Manny Ramirez can't seem to stay out of the headlines in Boston.

In the latest go-around in Mannyland, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon takes some shots at Manny and even breaks out the "C" word to describe him in an interview in the April issue of Esquire magazine. In the article, he touches on many Manny topics, including Ramirez's suspicious injuries and the physical confrontation with Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick.

"It just takes one guy to bring an entire team down, and that's exactly what was happening," Papelbon was quoted as saying in the interview with Esquire's Chris Jones. "Once we saw that, we weren't afraid to get rid of him. It's like cancer. That what he was. Cancer. He had to go. It sucked, but that was the only scenario that was going to work."

Papelbon said Ramirez wasn't on the same page as the rest of the team.
"The beautiful thing about our team is, we don't let anybody get above the team," Papelbon said. "He wasn't on the same train as the rest of us....We got rid of him and we moved on without him. That comes from the manager, and it comes from guys like Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz. "

"So Manny was tough for us. You have somebody like him, you know at any point in the ball game, he can dictate the outcome of the game. And for him not to be on the same page as the rest of the team was a killer, man!" Ramirez recently signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers worth $45 million. It will be interesting to see if he responds to Papelbon's comments.

MY TAKE ON THIS: I always said that he was a cancer and hoped that he could change his funky attitude. Somedays we had 'Super-Manny' playing and other days it was 'Manny being Manny'. Just like Cracker-Jax.... surprise in every box, you never know what you're going to get. The 'c' word? First time I ever heard that expression. Pap's is right, but he shouldn't speak for others because the Sox players will eventually get tired of this routine. Just speak for himself without mentioning anybody else's name. I am certain that the Red Sox have sessions on how to deal with the media, etc., and it looks like he is going to need some remedial training. Great, great pitcher, but he should just let his arm do the talking.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Lester Getting Locked in for 6 years.

Jon Lester's fairy-tale story appears to have reached new heights.
The left-hander has agreed to a five-year, $30 million extension with the Red Sox, according to a Yahoo! sports report on Sunday. Boston reportedly holds a $13 million option for 2014.

Lester was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma during his rookie season in 2006. He was declared cancer-free later in the year. He returned in 2007 to appear in 12 regular-season games. The 25-year-old was on the postseason roster and ended up getting the win in the World Series-clinching Game 4 in Denver against the Rockies.

Lester broke through last season, going 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 33 starts. He surpassed 200 innings and, more importantly, his velocity returned to his pre-cancer mid-90s mph level.

On May 19, Lester's feel-good story became more dramatic when he threw a no-hitter against Kansas City at Fenway Park. Lester would not confirm the report to The Boston Globe on Sunday, but he knew that talks had intensified between his agent, Josh Yates, and the Red Sox.
"I know that the past couple days have been pretty good," he said, according to the newspaper

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

NOMAH to sign with As?

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that Nomar Garciaparra is close to signing with the A's.

Rosenthal reported last week that it would either be Oakland or retirement for Garciaparra, and apparently he's decided to keep playing. Nomar will get a one-year deal and serve as the backup to Eric Chavez at third base, perhaps pushing Jack Hannahan off the roster

Sunday, March 1, 2009

AROID Trying to delay meeting with MLB

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is hoping to push back a meeting with Major League Baseball that, according to sources, was planned for Sunday in Tampa, Fla., MLB.com reported Saturday.

The New York Times reported the meeting will take place Sunday.
Despite that, Rodriguez traveled with the Yankees to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., for an exhibition contest Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds. Rodriguez, who was in the starting lineup, didn't talk to reporters after taking batting practice before the game.

Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003 while he was with the Texas Rangers. MLB wants to speak with Rodriguez regarding security issues and his past involvement with performance-enhancing drugs. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Rodriguez would like to push back the date of the meeting. Sunday was to be Rodriguez's final game with the Yankees before he reports to the Dominican Republic squad for the World Baseball Classic.

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