Steve Ballmer’s energy level is a sight to behold.
Steve Ballmer may have caffeine secretly injected into his bloodstream at all times.
The Tennessee Titans have the highest paid safety in the NFL….and you’ve never heard of him before today.
I don’t often trust crying adults, but when I do, I trust Taylor Lewan.
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I’m sorry, can you please repeat that??
No, I heard you, I just don’t understand….
Sports have never been complicated. Most things are easy to understand. But today, I am legitimately confused:
Win A Championship And….Quit?!
Barry Trotz, head coach of the Washington Capitals, won the Stanley Cup on June 7th. And resigned as head coach of the Washington Capitals on June 18th.
No Ron Burgundy, that doesn’t make sense.
Trotz spent four years as the head coach of the Capitals. During his tenure, the Capitals had the best record in the NHL (205-89-34). And Monday, just 11 days after bringing the Capitals their 1st Stanley Cup in franchise history, Trotz said this:
“After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I am officially announcing my resignation as the head coach of the Washington Capitals.”
It appears this was a dispute over what else; money. Trotz made $1.5 million last season, less than 25% of the highest paid coaches in the NHL. Trotz probably feels disrespected, as he feels he deserves an extension and a sizable raise. While there was an extension clause written into his contract, if they won the Stanley Cup, the raise allegedly wasn’t walking ‘hand-in-hand’ with the extension.
Which means Barry Trotz will be the next head coach of the New York Islanders — hopefully.
Win THREE Championships….And QUIT?!?!
Zinedine Zidane shocked the world when he left Real Madrid just five days after winning his 3rd consecutive Champions League championship. Zidane is creating a pattern here:
“I want to end with Real Madrid when everything is going well,” he concluded. “I did it as a player, and now again as a coach. This the right moment to end things well.”
Great players often go out on a high note. Barry Sanders retired immediately following a nearly 1,500 yard rushing season (1,491 yards). Jim Brown led the NFL in rushing in his final season (1,544 yards). But this isn’t often a move for great coaches. Zidane, just 45 years old, seemed to have a bright coaching future ahead of him. Instead, he’ll be….actually, I have absolutely no idea what he’ll be doing.
The Mets Scored A Run?!?!
The New York Mets applied to have their logo permanently placed next to the word anemic in the dictionary. They may have to rescind their application.
After scoring just 21 runs in their previous 13 games (1-12 record), the Mets have now scored 22 runs in their past 3 games (3-0 record). That’s hard to explain. Their latest offensive outburst came in the form of a 12-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies Monday night. Because nothing cures a putrid offense like some Colorado air.
Brandon Nimmo’s 4-for-6 performance, with 2 home runs, and 4 rbi didn’t hurt either. One of those home runs was of the inside the park variety:
The Mets may revert back to their hapless ways real soon, but you HAVE to respect Brandon Nimmo’s hustle!!
Can you explain any of the above?? Good luck….
You can find me on the Radio as well. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’m on live, every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. Each show is also broadcast on Facebook Live via: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.
Since you LOVE my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! NOW GO TELL ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!
Nowadays, there’s a National Day for everything:
National Bring Your Kid To Work Day. National Siblings Day. National Pizza Day. The list goes on, and on, and on.
Well, no one told me Wednesday was National Hit Multiple Home Runs Day.
I must have missed that memo.
Four gentleman took to the streets with their baseball bats and decided one wasn’t enough. It’s like a slice of pizza. One is NEVER enough!
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday after a four day hiatus. Betts tweaked his hamstring during Saturday’s game, and the Red Sox, as always, were extra cautious with their star outfielder. Betts wasted no time reinserting himself into the AL MVP conversation. Betts cranked not one, not two, but three home runs against the Kansas City Royals. The Red Sox would need every last home run, as they eked out a 5-4 victory, remaining atop the AL East.
Edwin Encarnacion
Edwin Encarnacion has gotten off to an extremely slow start this season. Prior to Wednesday’s matinee, Encarnacion was hitting a pathetic .171. After Wednesday’s three home run, six rbi performance, Encarnacion is finally heading in the right direction. Encarnacion accounted for half of his teams runs, as the Cleveland Indians routed the Texas Rangers 12-4. Speaking of slumping power hitters, Wednesday’s power surge couldn’t have come at a better time for the newest member of the New York Yankees….
Giancarlo Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton may be under the most pressure of any athlete in New York. While donning pinstripes is the ultimate baseball honor, Yankee Nation can become a player’s worst nightmare in a hurry. Stanton found that out in his FIRST game at Yankee Stadium, carrying ‘boo birds’ back to the dugout. Yankee fans are already tired of watching Stanton swing and miss. With 47 strikeouts in just 121 at bats, Yankee fans have been anxiously awaiting the reigning NL MVP to step up to the plate. Well, ask, and you shall receive. Stanton went 3-for-4, mashing home runs in consecutive at bats Wednesday night. He accounted for all of the Yankees’ runs, en route to another 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros.
Nolan Arenado
Nolan Arenado and slump don’t often collide in the same sentence. And this season is no different. At this point, Arenado should change his middle name to ‘The RBI Man’. Over the past three seasons (combined), Arenado has 48 more rbi than the next closest run producer, Edwin Encarnacion (393-345). That’s impressive! And Wednesday, he did what he does. Two home runs, and five rbi, leading his team to an 11-2 whoopin’ of the Chicago Cubs.
Do you, like chicks, dig the long ball???? If you do, tell me about your home run obsession in the comment section below.
You can find me on the Radio as well. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’m on live, every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. Each show is also broadcast on Facebook Live via: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.
Since you LOVE my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! NO GO TELL ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!
The world has been waiting….
Waiting for the dominoes to start falling in Major League Baseball. Who knew that first domino would be a fake report?! Wednesday morning, multiple sources reported Gerrit Cole had been traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Houston Astros. By Wednesday afternoon, we had learned this report was as make believe as the Easter Bunny. Sorry parents. Apparently, some journalists prefer being 1st and wrong over being 2nd and right.
See, this is a fun time for MLB; the offseason. The time when rumors fly, money gets tossed around, and players potentially relocate. Until Wednesday, this offseason had been notoriously slow. Just 30 of the 160 potential free agents had signed with their respective teams. Over the past 2 days, free agency has built up speed. It turns out, all it needed was a little nudge from a fake report.
These new deals are 1-year contracts in order to avoid arbitration:
Arbitration is a legal process used when a player (prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent) and team can’t come to terms on a 1-year contract. Both the player and team submit their proposed salary contracts to a 3rd-party, neutral arbitrator. The arbitrator then determines a fair salary based on the player’s statistics. Despite retaining the rights to said player, arbitration isn’t generally the 1st step in a long-term, healthy relationship.
While everyone’s attention turned to 1-year contracts, and a fake report, the New York Mets swooped in and ACTUALLY signed a contract paying out more than $12 per year. On Wednesday, the Mets came to terms with Jay Bruce on a 3-year, $39 million contract. While Bruce isn’t a hop on my back and ride to the playoffs type of guy, he’s a solid offensive outfielder. On a team (as cheap as the Mets) lacking offense, I like this deal for the Mets.
Only 2 bigger contracts have been signed, so far, than Bruce; Carlos Santana and Wade Davis. Santana signed a 3-year, $60 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on December 20th. This makes the Bruce deal look even better. As for Davis, his 3-year, $52 million contract with the Colorado Rockies makes him the highest paid relief pitcher (per year) of all-time. We’ll see how he enjoys the “comfort” of pitching in Coors Field.
With just over a month until pitchers and catchers report, expect an avalanche of dominoes to fall in the near future. Here are the biggest, unsigned names:
J.D. Martinez, Jake Arrieta, Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, and Yu Darvish.
MLB Free Agency, a time when wildly overpaying players has become America’s new pastime.
What do you think of the Jay Bruce contract?? Does Wade Davis deserve to be the highest paid reliever of all-time?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
This is the best time of the year in sports. Football, Baseball, Hockey, and Basketball. It’s like Christmas in October….
NL Wild Card Game
Another Wild Card Game, another 3-run lead in the 1st inning. Thanks to Paul Goldschmidt’s 3-run home run, the Arizona Diamondbacks jumped out to an early lead Wednesday night.
Paul Goldschmidt is the 2nd best baseball player in the world.
They led by as many as 6 runs, before the Colorado Rockies came storming back with a 4-run 4th inning. The Rockies ‘kept hanging around’, as they trailed just 6-5 in the 7th inning. And then, Diamondbacks’ relief pitcher Archie Bradley did something unexpected. He hit a 2-run triple, providing insurance, with his bat. The Diamondbacks would go on to win 11-8, advancing to the NL Division Series. Now, they have the great pleasure of taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB Best Record). Yay!
The Dodgers had a phenomenal season, but don’t sleep on the Diamondbacks. They CAN win this series, and they will….
Diamondbacks in 5
You heard it here first.
WNBA Finals
In case you didn’t notice, there was a decisive Game 5 played last night in the WNBA Finals. The Los Angeles Sparks took on the Minnesota Lynx. The Minnesota Lynx may be the quietest dynasty in the history of sports. New England who?? Alabama who?? The Lynx have now won 4 championships in the last 7 years. They were led by Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore. Fowles became the 1st player in WNBA history to win the MVP in the regular season and finals.
NHL Drops The Puck
Speaking of things you didn’t notice, the NHL season started last night, with 8 teams in action. The Toronto Maple Leafs stormed out of the gate, dominating the Winnipeg Jets to the tune of 7-2. Interestingly, the Maple Leafs and Arizona Diamondbacks simultaneously took 6-0 leads.
There was 1 overtime thriller last night, between the St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blues nearly blew this one, as the Penguins came back from a 4-2 deficit in the 3rd period. The Blues would ultimately take down Sidney Crosby and the defending champs 5-4 (F/OT).
The New York Rangers open their season at home, tonight, against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Islanders open their season Friday night at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Let’s Go Islanders!!
Thursday Night Football
And then, there was football. Those who stay up to watch horrid matchup after horrid matchup on Thursday Night Football, are finally being rewarded. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the New England Patriots tonight. Expect New England, who I hate, to bounce back after last week’s home-loss to the Carolina Panthers. I’d say they’re going to blowout the Bucs, but a defense this bad doesn’t do blowouts. Expect Jameis Winston and the Bucs to put up impressive offensive numbers, but fall short of victory.
Patriots 31, Buccaneers 24
AL Division Series
New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians. That’s what I’ll be watching tonight. The Yankees have announced that Sonny Gray will get the ball in Game 1 against Trevor Bauer, and CC Sabathia will pitch Game 2. In a surprise move, the Indians will opt to hold their ace, Corey Kluber, until Game 2. Indians’ manager, Terry Francona, said he wants Kluber to pitch on normal rest. If this series goes the distance, Kluber will be available to start Game 5.
Game 1 is the game for the Yankees to steal. While Bauer had a nice year, the Yankees’ lineup will be pleased not to see Kluber on the bump. The Yankees will carry the momentum from a fantastic Wild Card Game into tonight….
Yankees 5, Indians 4
What will you be watching tonight?? Will the Yankees win Game 1 of the ALDS?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:10 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
Some would say the west coast is the best coast. I wouldn’t say that, nor would anyone with a brain, but it applies to the world of baseball — for now. The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed themselves firmly in the record books this season. They’ve accomplished something that hasn’t been done in 105 years. Before Sunday night’s game, the Dodgers were 43-7 over their last 50 games, matching the 1912 New York Giants for the best record over a 50-game stretch in MLB history.
The Dodgers beat the New York Mets (duh) last night, completing a 3-game sweep of the Mets. The Dodgers posted 2 shutouts in the series, outscoring the Mets 21-4. The Dodgers are now 44-7 over their last 51 games, and are in the midst of a 4-game winning streak. Along the path to the record books, they had 3 lengthy winning streaks of 9, 10, and 11 games. They currently have the best record in baseball and have a strangle-hold on the NL West division.
Their record of 79-32 gives them a winning percentage of .712. Since MLB expanded to a 162-game season, that is the 2nd best winning percentage only to the 2001 Seattle Mariners who finished with a record of 116-46 (.716). This is all the more impressive because the NL West is currently the best division in baseball. If the season ended today, the Arizona Diamondbacks (63-48) and Colorado Rockies (64-48) would be the 2 Wild Card Playoff teams in the NL. Side note: The Dodgers have also lapped the San Francisco Giants about 5,000 times on the racetrack, as the Giants stand 36 games back in the NL West. 36 GAMES BACK!! You’d have to try to be that bad.
Let’s meet the cast of characters on the Los Angeles Dodgers:
Cody Bellinger
Bellinger is the rookie sensation who, like Aaron Judge from the AL, is in the running for Rookie of the Year and MVP. He currently has 32 home runs, 75 r.b.i.’s while hitting .264.
Justin Turner
The bearded one is hitting .349. Need I say more?? Apparently leaving the Mets is the best career move anyone can make. Just ask Daniel Murphy….
Yasiel Puig
Just when you thought he was going to go Brady Anderson on us, and disappear into the sunset, Puig has had a nice resurgence this season. His 21 home runs are a career high, through just 111 games.
Pitching Staff
Despite being on the DL, Clayton Kershaw is having an incredible season. He stands at 15-2, with a 2.04 e.r.a. Yeah, he’s decent.
The Dodgers have as stable a closer as a team could hope for in Kenley Jansen. He has 28 saves in 29 chances. Oh yeah, and he throws 101 m.p.h!!
The most underrated starting pitcher in MLB is Alex Wood. Wood started the year in the bullpen, but even the Dodgers injuries bring forth good fortune. Rich Hill’s early season blister problem opened up a rotation spot for Wood. Wood ran with the job and never looked back. He’s now the owner of a 13-1 record, and a fashionable 2.33 e.r.a.
And just over a week ago, the Dodgers traded for Yu Darvish. Sounds fair. Sounds totally fair.
Will the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series this season?? Post your World Series prediction in the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
While July usually starts with a bang, Major League Baseball made sure to end July with their own kind of fireworks. July 31st, also known as Trade Deadline Day, should be a National Holiday too — haha. Many teams were active buyers and sellers, while others sat on the sideline afraid to play ball. And of course, in any trade there must be a Winner and a Loser….
Winners:
New York Yankees
Los Angeles Dodgers
Washington Nationals
Losers:
Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles
Texas Rangers
Let’s start with the Losers. The Boston Red Sox made 1 notable move yesterday. They acquired bullpen arm, Addison Reed, from the New York Mets. This move, on the surface, is decent. It bolsters the Red Sox weak bullpen and seemed necessary. So why are they losers Dave?? Well, I think we all know the answer to that!! But no, seriously, they aren’t competing with themselves. They are competing with the Yankees. And solely adding Addison Reed won’t be enough to keep up with the Yankees following their additions this past month.
The Baltimore Orioles seem like a lost puppy. They’re roaming the streets unsure of where their home is. The Orioles should have been sellers this year, however, they traded FOR Jeremy Hellickson and Tim Beckham. Hellickson is a mediocre starting pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies and Beckham is a middle infielder from the Tampa Bay Rays. I don’t get it….
And then there’s the Texas Rangers. Sure, they traded Yu Darvish for prospects, but I can argue that haul was one-sided. They also traded Jonathan Lucroy to the Colorado Rockies. Again, while selling was the way to go for the Rangers, players shouldn’t be traded for a bucket of chicken (George Costanza style). When Lucroy was acquired by the Rangers, they gave up a major prospect (Lewis Brinson). Yesterday, they traded Lucroy, for a player to be named later. Nice work!!
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Now, we shall move on to the smart people, the Winners. We may as well start with my beloved New York Yankees. They’ve had an extremely successful season and it should only get better. They acquired Sonny Gray from the Oakland Athletics for 3 prospects (Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian, and Jorge Mateo). These are all nice prospects, but when you add the uncertainty of a prospect to the major surgeries Fowler and Kaprielian are recovering from, you may as well close your eyes and swing. Gray has a career e.r.a. of 3.42 and is 44-36 in his 5-year career. He should help get the Yankees’ starters into the 8th inning for the first time in 1700 years.
The Los Angeles Dodgers also find themselves in the W column. While everyone is talking about Yu Darvish, I’m talking about Tony Watson. Watson is a very solid bullpen arm. This was the Dodgers most glaring need, and they plugged up that hole in 1 move. Yes, Yu Darvish is nice because he’s a household name, but Watson is the prize for the Dodgers. You’ll see what I’m talking about come October.
And last but certainly not least, the Washington Nationals. Talk about bolstering your bullpen. Reminiscent of the Yankees’ farm system in 2016, the Nationals bullpen went from worst to first overnight. They added Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle, and Brandon Kintzler. All have closing experience, and all are having good seasons. The Nationals are my new World Series favorite. Hopefully, the Yankees have the honor of staring down that barrel.
What is your take on the MLB Trade Deadline?? Who were the biggest Winners and Losers?? Type your reaction into the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
Dave Talks Sports 