Thursday, May 27, 2010

Leyland

Bonderman - one of the bright spots
What was Leyland thinking?

Two days ago, Justin Verlander took the mound in the 8th inning with the game tied 3-3. Verlander gave up a double and a walk. Milton Bradley was next who already homered off Verlander earlier in the game. Leyland opted to stick with Verlander.

Bradley then singled and plated the winning run.

Yesterday, Bonderman pitched a 1-2-3 7th and was sitting pretty at 93 pitches and a 4-1 lead. Leyland decided to take him out and put in Ryan Perry. Not a horrible decision but somewhat questionable. Perry quickly gave up a single and then struck out the next batter. Then came former Tiger killer, Mike Sweeney. He took a Perry slider and sent it into the seats for a 2-run homer. The next batter hit a single. You'd think at this point Leyland would consider taking Perry out. Nope. The next guy doubled. Still nothing from Leyland. Seattle was the weakest hitting team in the league coming into the game, but they clearly had no trouble with Perry, who obviously did not have his good stuff.

So, with the tying run on 3rd and the winning run on 2nd, the next batter singled, and Seattle had a 5-4 lead. Perhaps three batters too late Leyland finally took Perry out. Phil Coke got the next two outs. Too little too late.

Leyland has managed the bullpen well throughout this season, but the past two games were just headscratchers. Why stick with Verlander? Why stick with Perry? If a doofus like me can see they're struggling, why can't the manager?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Soccer

What's not to like about American soccer fans?
While this blog normally adheres to professional Detroit teams only, I do enjoy delving into international sports on occasion, such as the US Olympic hockey team and the masterful Kim Yu-Na. With the World Cup quickly approaching, it's time for some soccer discussion.

I'm an unabashed soccer fan and have been since birth. The stereotypical image of the soccer fan in this country is a social outcast, draped in an English, Irish, Italian, or Mexican flag (take your pick). I'm a diehard fan of football, hockey, baseball, hoops, AND soccer. That's just the way it is. And I know there are others like me. If not, ESPN wouldn't have swooped up broadcast rights for every World Cup game. To some extent, soccer has arrived in this country. The US will likely never have a domestic league of note, but the international team is at least somewhat decent. And I follow them with as much interest as my hometown squads. So, with the disclaimer out of the way, let's get down to business...

Last night, a substandard Czech team soundly routed the yanks. The final score was 4-2, but the Czech's had a 5th goal incorrectly ruled offsides. Both squads left most of their key players on the bench. So that means that either the Czech's B-team is world class, or the US subs are dreadful. After watching those US subs for the better part of a year (most played in the Gold Cup '09), it's clear to me that the US has serious depth issues. That's awful news for coach Bradley since many key starters are nicked up, or, in the case of Charlie Davies, not even on the roster.

Onyewu is coming off a ruptured patella tendon. His replacement, Jay Demerit, has a groin injury. Same with GK Tim Howard. Another starting defender, Carlos Bocanegra, recently (as in three weeks ago) had hernia surgery. That's 4/5 of the US defense. The only good news is that midfield is healthy, and Donovan and Dempsey are in fine form.

Neither played last night, though. Bradley used the game to test the fringe players and test the game fitness of Onyewu and Stuart Holden, who spent most of March and April on the mend. The first half ended 1-1, with Maurice Edu notching the US's lone goal. The Czech's controlled much of the game and were rewarded with the late equalizer. In an ominous sign, the US's strongest and tallest player, Onyewu, was easily beat for the header goal. He's not even close to 100%.

In the second half, Bradley subbed in five new players, including two new defenders. Proving that the defense is only as good as its weakest link, the Czech's repeatedly manhandled weak link (and left defender) Heath Pearce. Pearce was responsible solely for the Czech's 2nd goal and partially for the 3rd. The 4th goal was Edu's fault, but, in his defense, he was playing out of position. Perhaps sensing the dire need for healthy central defenders, Bradley moved Edu from midfield to defense in the 65th minute. I'd say it was a failed experiment.

The US offense, however, was quite exciting in the 2nd half (unlike the first, when Edson Buddle and Eddie Johnson did little). Brian Ching and Hercules Gomes worked well together up top. They created a ton of scoring opportunities and cashed in on one, momentarily tying the game at 2. Robbie Rogers was another bright spot at left midfield, showing much more flash than Damarcus Beasley. Yet, the efforts of Ching and Rogers apparently did not impress Coach Bradley.

After the game, Bradley trimmed the 30-man roster to the required 23, and neither Ching nor Rogers made the cut. The omission of Ching is especially surprising, since he looked great and has extensive international experience. In his place is Robbie Findlay, who has all of 2 caps to his name. Bradley did include underwhelming Damarcus Beasley, perhaps because he offers more defensive skill than Rogers. With a rotating door of pylons at left defense, the left side can use the help.

The rest of the squad offered no surprises. On Saturday, the US plays Turkey in another tune-up friendly. Bradley will likely trot out his preferred World Cup starting lineup for this one. If the US puts on another Czech-like performance, it'll officially be time for this.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Brand not worth it

The town was abuzz yesterday, as word leaked that Philly was shopping the #2 pick. To get that #2 pick, you must also take on Elton Brand's $51million salary. That's a three year commitment.

Folks in Detroit are, for some reason, eager to take on Brand's salary for the chance to draft yet another shooting guard:



The trade postulated by blogger Dan Feldman would send Tayshaun and Detroit's #7 for Brand and the #2. The Pistons would then have $140million tied up between Rip, Little Ben, and Elton Brand. No thanks.

People are falling prey to the sexiness of the new young player. There is no guarantee the #2 pick will pan out any more than Darko. Taking on that Brand contract is way too steep a price. Now, I do believe there is talent in this draft. I'm a big fan of Turner and Cousins. I think either would vastly improve the Pistons. I just don't want to mortgage the future for a rookie. And Turner makes no sense with this current roster anyway. Hamilton, Gordon, and Stuckey eat up all the guard minutes. Two of those guys would have to go, and only one of them is trade-able (Stuckey).

To get Cousins, the Pistons might only have to trade up two spots. Or they could trade down, and still land Ekpe Udoh, the power forward/center with the best Piston pedigree (defense/shot-blocking).

My guess is that Dumars will stand pat on Draft Day and take Greg Monroe at #7. Later in the summer, after Lebron and Bosh sign with their respective teams, the rejected teams will still have tons of cap space available. They'll want to sign some talent. Dumars would then be able to shop Hamilton and Prince to much more willing listeners.

Friday, May 21, 2010

The Rotation - After 40 games

Who knew?
Back in February, I wrote a fairly in depth review of the Tigers' proposed rotation. I had serious concerns. Now that the team is 40 games into the season, let's see how my predictions fared.

Justin Verlander
What I said in February: Nothing. I conceded he was set as the #1.
Result so far: He started incredibly slow but since settled into his role as the ace. The past few games he's been Cy Young worthy, lowering his ERA to an impressive 3.43, with a 1.1 WHIP. And he's 5-2 to boot.

Rick Porcello
What I said in February: "Porcello has only one season under his belt. Nevertheless, he showed enough last year to prove he's mentally tough and has All-star potential."
Result so far: He may be an All-star someday, but it won't be this year. The kid has been rocked. And hard. And often. Perhaps the only good thing about his year so far is that he's kept his pitch count down... because he rarely gets out of the 6th inning. In his 8 starts, he's had just 2 quality starts. His ERA is a robust 5.9, with an alarming 1.68 WHIP. He had a great win against the Yankees, but he followed that by getting pummeled by the White Sox. I fear he's dangerously close to Toledo.

Max Scherzer
What I said in February: "He's pitched a grand total of 56 more innings than 21 year-old Porcello... I do like his potential, but locking him as the #3 is a bit of a stretch."
Result so far: If I was dead-wrong about Porcello, I at least called this one. Scherzer is, by far, the biggest disappointment of the season. His year has gone in direct contrast to Verlander. Scherzer started great and then quickly unraveled. He's now down in Toledo hoping to find his groove. He may have a difficult time getting back. I'm sure the current senior roster will need some Mud Hen assistance, whether through poor performance or injury, but I think Scherzer is currently pretty low on the pecking order.

Jeremy Bonderman
What I said in February: "An even bigger gamble (than Scherzer)... Bonderman will spend more time on the DL."
Result so far: He's stayed off the DL. That's good. He's also pitched competently as a #4 starter, with a respectable 4.43 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He's had 4 quality starts and really only got rocked one time. So you gotta be happy. The problem is that he reminds me of ol' Nate Robertson, like he's living on borrowed time. Bondo's velocity is way down from his early years of throwing upper-90s. Strangely, his velocity slowed even prior to this shoulder injury, but it's down even more this year. To contrast that, he's added a change-up to his fastball/slider arsenal. Yesterday, he had the Athletics all off-balance and looked good. I'm still not sold on him, though. He's reinventing himself as a crafty, location-first pitcher, and that may take more than a year of adjustment.

The D-Train
What I said in February: "..." Nothing. I didn't even list him as one of the four candidates for the final spot in the rotation! I had zero faith this dude would make the team.
Result so far: He doesn't have eye-popping stats by any means, but, considering what he showed the past two seasons, he's pitched remarkably well. He's even managed 3 quality starts, including six shutout innings against the dreaded Twins. Can he keep it up? Well, that's the million dollar question. Every fan in Detroit is waiting for the other shoe to drop. For now, though, it's fun riding the D-Train. He's a super-nice guy, extremely amicable. It would be great to see him turn his career around as a Tiger. Which brings me to my next question... objectively speaking, what would it take for Dontrelle to earn another contract from the Tigers? Dombrowski has sunk $30million into this cat with practically zero return. Even if Dontrelle had a Cy Young-caliber season, would he warrant a new Tiger contract? I doubt it.

Conclusion
My predictions were, at best, pessimistic, and, at worst, downright wrong. I suppose that's the unpredictable nature of baseball. With Scherzer down at Toledo, Galarraga has a chance to cement that 3rd spot in the rotation. I have more confidence in Armando than either Bondo or D-Train. He pitched five solid innings in his one start thus far. If he keeps it up, the Tigers might actually keep pace with Minnesota in the Central.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Feels like Old Times...

Yesterday, the Tigers couldn't get a clutch hit, the bullpen sucked, and the White Sox won easily. I had to check a calendar to confirm it still wasn't 2009.

It didn't matter the Sox were 15-22. They beat up on the Tigers as if it's their second nature. Porcello, coming off his awesome start against the Yanks, struggled all day. The Tigers offense showed some signs of life by regularly getting on base, but they simply could not plate the man on third. They were a dreadful 1-11 with runners in scoring position. Most of the clutch at-bats fell to the 6-9 batters. All season long, the Tigers top-half of the lineup has carried the offense. They've covered for the absolutely dreadful hitting of Gerald Laird (.153, 5RBI), Adam Everett (.200, 2RBI), Alex Avila (.140, 2 RBI), and since-demoted Ryan Raburn (.213, 5RBI). Last night, the Tigers were exposed, as not even the almighty Brennan Boesch (this year's Avila) could save the day.

I suppose I should take some of the blame by praising the bullpen in yesterday's post. The 'pen allowed the dreaded tack-on runs, essentially sealing the victory for Chicago. Yet, the Tigers showed no ability to hit in the clutch - something they've done with regularity in 2010. The good news is the Sox already left town, as did the Tigers, en route to a bizarre 2-game set with the A's.

In other bad news, the Pistons failed to crack the top-3 in the lottery. The silver lining is that they didn't fall either. They secured their spot at #7 in the draft. Many Piston fans are cursing the team's late season surge, where they passed Washington, Philadelphia, and Golden State in the draft standings. I am not one of those fans. Sure, I'd love for them to get a high pick, but I will never pull for the team to lose. Washington somehow won the John Wall lottery, and Philly leap-frogged everyone but Washington for the #2 spot. The top two big men available are DeMarcus Cousins and Derrick Favors. Both will be gone by the 7th pick. The Pistons need to hope Georgetown's smooth shooting Greg Monroe is still around. He's no defensive powerhouse, but what college star works on defense? Or Dumars could trade up 2-3 spots to land Cousins/Favors.

Other possibilities at #7 are Cole Aldrich and Ekpe Udoh. The biggest knock on Aldrich is the color of his skin. As this year's 7ft white dude, Aldrich must bear the weight of all the prior Great White Busts. He may actually not be a bad pick, as he's coming off a disappointing year. His numbers dropped as a junior. Had he come out after his sophomore season, he was projected to go top-5. If Dumars sees this kid as inheriting the Laimbeer-throne, he could likely trade DOWN, landing another player plus Aldrich. That might not be a bad play considering the Pistons are more than just one body away.

As for Udoh, he was actually a University of Michigan player whose NBA-stock rose dramatically once he transferred to Baylor. Like Aldrich, he may go as high as #7 or fall into the teens. Dumars has options. But he desperately needs to upgrade the Pistons' muscle.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

5-2

Major props to the Tigers for an impressive 5-2 record against the Yanks and Red Sox. With the big boys of the East coming to Comerica Park, I figured the Tigers would be brought down to Earth. Truth be told, their bats were inconsistent, but the decent starting pitching and continued bullpen excellence carried the day.

In the first game against the Yanks, the bullpen pitched a whopping six innings (thanks to D-train's illness) and gave up just two runs. The next day, the Yanks exploded for six runs against just-called-up Figaro and Coke. Yet, for the five other games in the home-stand, the bullpen pitched 17 innings, allowing just 3 runs (1.58 ERA). Solid.

The Tigers have built a reputation for finding a way to win this season. They've twice come back from six run deficits, against solid competition. These comebacks are in large part due to the bullpen. They just aren't allowing the dreaded tack-on runs. It's truly a helluva start for what's traditionally a weakness for the Tigers. Leading the charge is refreshed Joel Zumaya. The kid has a 1.9 ERA with a 1.0 WHIP. He's throwing 101 mph, down just 2 mph after his shoulder surgery. (Apparently, Zumaya's doctor is way better than Bonderman's.) And Valverde hasn't allowed a run since the second game of the season. It's an astonishing run.

I've held off on praising Valverde for fear of the TBDL curse (in reference to my old blog "That Ball Don't Lie"). If Valverde blows a save tonight, feel free to blame me.

As someone who was extremely critical of the Tigers during the offseason, I have to give credit to Dombrowski for assembling a solid 'pen. Despite missing the key lefty, Bobby Seay, the 'pen hasn't missed a beat.

Lottery
The Pistons find out tonight whether they'll be in the playoffs next season. Tonight is the NBA Draft Lottery! Whoo-hoo!

If the Pistons somehow land in the Top-3, they'll get a true talent. While this draft is better than last year's, it's not terribly deep with regard to big men. If the Pistons draft #7 or worse, their chances of finding a difference-maker drop significantly. In other words, a top 3 pick means a potential All-star; outside of top 3 means Jason Maxiell.

I suppose I'm not being fair. Many great players fall outside the top 3 every year. Recent success stories like Omri Casspi (#23), George Hill (#26), and Marc Gasol (#48) illustrate increased draft depth, mainly due to the European influx. And Joe D has shown a penchant for unearthing talent with the late picks (Memo, Tayshaun, Jerebko). Yet, those later picks tend to - at best - be role players. The Pistons need a star. A leader. A friggin' big man.

They got an 18% chance of landing a top-3 pick. Cross your fingers.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Big Ten. Er... 16

Big Ten expansion will happen. Despite reports that no official offers have been made, the Big Ten did make public their plan to at least consider expansion.

As a native Michiganian who attended Northwestern, I'm Big Ten through-and-through. Despite this blog focusing almost exclusively on pro sports, I do find college football to be the most exhilarating live event in the country. College basketball is not far behind. Yet, the gap between professional and amateur is shrinking.

It wasn't long ago that Chris Webber gazed into the stands at the University of Michigan and saw thousands of kids wearing "Webber" jerseys. He wanted a piece, and, at the time, he was vilified for it. People didn't want to tarnish the sanctity of the amateur athlete. Why should the athletes make money when the school can use their image and keep everything? Why should the NCAA hoops tournament stick to the 64 team format when they can expand it to 96 teams and make 50% more money? Why should the Big Ten remain at 11 schools when they can place the Big Ten Network in Missouri, Nebraska, and New York just by inviting those schools into the league?

We live in an age when college sports (at least the big two) can no longer hide under the "amateur" blanket. It's a big money enterprise. The transition from amateur to professional was a slow burn until the debut of the Big Ten Network. Despite its cable-access-level production value, the Big Ten Network earned $22million for each school. That's more than double what the SEC schools made for their TV contract. Why would the Big Ten want to share the wealth? Because more TV markets means more basic cable subscribers. And if the school just happens to be a ratings winner (Nebraska), then that means more advertising dollars to boot.

The league is about to flex its muscles and prove it's still the big boy on the block, despite a subpar product on the football field that simply can't compete with the SEC, Pac-10, and Big 12. As a Big Ten fan, that makes me a bit embarrassed. Our league is paving the way for a more commercialized product (if that's possible).

While I would love to see a powerhouse like Nebraska enter the fold, a small part of me will die. It's the part that remembers waltzing into the stadium for $5... celebrating with the players after the game... recruiting the starting left tackle to be the pitcher for our softball team. It's quite sad to me, but that's the reality of modern sports. If you value the sanctity of the amateur athlete, go to the Ivy League, where tradition, for better or worse, remains king.

One bright spot of expansion is that it will pave the way for a playoff. While I do value the traditions of college sports, the bowl system is not one of them. There are simply too many of them. They are a dime-a-dozen. The BCS and rankings are completely arbitrary, so I welcome a playoff, in almost any format. When the Big Ten expands to 16, the ACC will likely expand too, pillaging the rest of the Big East. The Pac-10 will move in on Texas, Colorado, Texas A&M and any other Big-12 school of value. Then there will only be four major conferences - ACC, Big 10, SEC, Pac-10. The winner of each conference moves on to a 4-team playoff.

Schools that are not in the major conferences basically get screwed. The rich get richer, I suppose. Love it or hate it, that's the direction we're going.

Monday, May 10, 2010

With a whimper

I had so thoroughly moved on after the Game 3 loss that the Wings official bowing out on Sunday morning was no big blow. Perhaps it's the pessimist in me, but the actual end of the series game is rarely the most painful. Whether it's the Pistons losing to the Celtics or the Tigers losing to the Twins, the writing is usually on the wall. When the Wings couldn't hold on to that two-goal lead in Game 3, the writing was on the wall.

With Game 5, I was just happy San Jose won the game on a good goal. It was set up by a faceoff win, some hard work on the boards, and a great pass (again) by Thornton to Marleau. The Wings are a bit sour that the goal occurred on the heels of an egregious non-call to a hit-to-the-head on Franzen. Yet, after this series, how can anyone be surprised by inconsistent officiating? The Sharks won the game by outplaying the Wings for longer stretches. In the clutch, one team stood tall. Every hockey fan knows the Sharks are perennial playoff under-performers so I'm happy for them and their fans. They've had a great team for many years now, and perhaps it's finally their turn. Other than those embarrassing dives in Games 1 and 2, I've got no qualms with this squad. They're incredibly disciplined, and the coach is a Babcock mentee.

The Sharks will have their hands full with either the Hawks or Canucks. Both teams, in my humble opinion, are stronger playoff contenders. But only on paper. Besides, I don't care who wins as long as the Western Conference champ beats the Penguins.

As for the Wings, they get a few extra weeks off this offseason. This grueling season may serve to recharge the batteries for Datsyuk and Z. It may also signal the departure for Nick, who has yet to make his decision. My gut tells me he'll be back. But my gut also told me Holland would find a way to re-sign Hossa, so clearly the gut is about as good a guide as "Satipo" from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The Wings already received some excellent news with the return of Jiri Hudler. So, buck-up, Wings fans. Hope remains.

Los Tigres
I wish I could say the same for Tiger starting pitching. It's now May 10, and the Tigers have two reliable starting pitchers. One of those reliable starters is a guy who spent the past two years in Single-A and on the DL with an anxiety disorder. With dreadful starting pitchers and the worst defense in the American league (28 errors), the team has relied solely on the heroic bat of Miguel Cabrera and a shockingly stingy bullpen.

Baseball sage Pat Caputo of 97.1 likes to say that "water finds its level." That may apply to a guy like Verlander who opened the season with an inflated ERA. Yet, Porcello and Scherzer, though, are both so young that we don't quite know what their "level" should be. With Bonderman, my guess is that we're seeing the real Jeremy Bonderman. He's a guy who's spent the majority of the past two years with a massive shoulder problem. He's lost 7-10 mph on his fastball and has become a one-pitch pitcher - slider. Scherzer has given up 21 earned runs, 27 hits, and 7 walks his past three starts. He averaged only four innings per start. That's alarming.

On the flip-side, Miguel Cabrera remains red-hot with a .370 average and an eye-popping 33 RBIs. This is a guy who simply could not knock runs in outside Comerica Park. Those days are long gone. Austin Jackson and Damon continue to get on base, and the team is near the top of the league in doubles. They can hit. But it's all for naught if the pitching gives up 16 hits/game.

There are options in triple-A. Galarraga took his demotion in stride. After a sizzling start, he's cooled off slightly but still sports a 3.8 ERA (1.1 WHIP). Alfredo Figaro also may be ready for another go-round, with a 2.5 ERA. Both pitchers are more MLB-ready than Bonderman right now. Scherzer's handful of good starts in early April warrant a long leash, but the big question mark is Porcello. He's walking around with a 1.8 WHIP and has exhibited none of the elite-level stuff from his rookie campaign. Obviously, it's too early to go alarmist on young Rick, but he may benefit from some time in Triple-A. If he's struggling consistently, the Tigers aren't doing him any favors by lining him up against Justin Morneau.

Friday, May 7, 2010


"Last night illustrated the frustration we feel as Red Wings fans. I have little faith they'll keep up the effort in Game 5.
They have a hard enough time stringing two periods together, let alone two games."

- WDFN's Sean Baligian, reading a Red Wing fan's email this morning

I guess we should enjoy it while we can, because that fan is right. The Wings have obvious motivation issues. When their pride is at stake, they seem to rise to the occasion. When they simply need to win the game, they're maddeningly inconsistent.

Make no mistake, though, I did truly enjoy last night. For the first time in a year, I donned my Yzerman jersey prior to the game. Win or lose, I was going to pay my respects to the team that has offered so many hours of entertainment the past few decades.

Lidstrom's potential retirement added a bizarre subplot to the series as well. Lidstrom hasn't hinted one way or the other on what he'll do. Yet, when he coughs the puck up like he did in Games 2 and 3, I wonder if he's starting to believe his skills are diminishing. Would he want to hang on as a less-than Lidstrom? I doubt it. Having watched the dude most of this season, I don't see much of a dropoff. It's true that he's not Norris-caliber anymore, but he's still the team's top defenseman.

As for last night's game, the Wings made damn sure they would not get swept. They completely overwhelmed the Sharks, thanks to a world-class performance from Johan Franzen. Four goals in a playoff game? That's elite-level ability. The dude is special. And the Sharks looked frazzled. It was a wonderful sight. I commented to Mrs. Nofrownmotown, "I don't care if they blow their wad in just one game... this is awesome."

I'm a firm believer that momentum does not carry between games. Who can forget the '97 playoff series against the Avs? The Wings demolished the Avs 6-0 in Game 4, only to watch the Avs turn the tables with an exact 6-0 win of their own in Game 5. So, yes, expect to see a different Sharks team in Game 5. They'll be angry, bitter, determined. About the only thing the Wings have is the "nothing to lose" mentality. Sometimes, albeit rarely, that's enough.

Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Wings still managed to take their fair share of stupid penalties. I'd feel a bit better heading into Game 5 if they curtailed the stupid penalties by at least 33%. I do understand that the players are helpless with the arbitrary "goalie interference" and "holding" calls. But the Wings need to avoid any retaliation and/or roughing penalties. Don't get baited. Don't give the refs an opportunity to put you in the box. I imagine Babcock's been saying this all series long. With zero margin for error, let's hope the words stick this time.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Your 2010/2011 Red Wings

Next stop Detroit?
Cliff's Notes brought up some good points yesterday with regard to next season's Red Wings' roster.

I've been clamoring for a new defenseman to come in and instill some new life, but the Wings are set on Jakob Kindl. With Meech and Lebda already biding their time, the Wings actually have too many bodies already. The organization is high on Kindl, so they'll try him in the top-6 like Ericsson this past year.

My guess at pairings:

Lidstrom-Ericsson (I hope)
Stuart-Kronwall
Rafalski-Kindl

They'll resign Lebda & Meech for depth but let (the more expensive) Lilja walk. So, unless Lidstrom retires, I can't imagine the Wings signing yet another defenseman.

Sidenote: One reason to watch tonight is that it's possibly Lidstrom's last game. I pray that's not the case, but it's definitely possible.

As for the forwards, Cliff's Notes pointed out that Datsyuk, Z, Franzen, Filppula, Cleary, and Hudler have six of the twelve forward spots. Holland will definitely re-sign Helm and Abdelkader, and he'll likely re-sign Homer, Eaves and Drew Miller too.

Kris Draper is under contract. While most fans would like to see him ride into the sunset, my guess is the Wings will honor his years of service and grant him one of the final spots. He's not factored in the playoffs, but he played well with the Helm/Eaves unit in the regular season. With Draper in the mix, there are no forward spots remaining, but they must add a scorer.

One problem with this year's Red Wings is their 3rd and 4th liners were often liabilities. In past seasons, they could roll out four lines of top-tier scorers (like Robitaille, Hull, Kozlov). The addition of Hudler will help, but they need more.

The Helm/Draper/Eaves line poses energy/physicality problems for the opposition. Yet, if the Wings also trot out Miller/Abdelkader/Hudler, they've in essence got two grind lines. They need an upgrade. I vote that they move Miller to the bench and replace him with a veteran 20 goal scorer. Who would fit that bill?

The top free agent forwards are Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrick Marleau. My guess is that both will re-sign with their current teams. Next up would be Tomas Plekanec and Lee Stempniak. We just saw Stempniak in the Phoenix series, and he was a bit of a non-factor. I can't say I've seen Plekanec much (thank you, NHL, for forcing the Wings into the Western Conference), but his stats show a consistent knack for points. Plekanec made $2.75M last year, and the Wings should be able to offer close to $4M. With Plekanec in the fold, the Wings replace that firepower lost when Samuelsson bolted.

Make it happen, Holland.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Hard night for a Hard City

This man won't go quietly

Just a brutal night for Detroit. On the heels of losing Game 3 to the Sharks, the Tigers lost in the bottom of the 9th to the hated Twins. The Metrodome may be gone, but the Twin mystique remains. Somebody may need to remind these two teams that it's May, because they're playing as if it's Game 163 all over again. I've never seen such intensity this early in a baseball season.

Maggs hit a sharp single to right field, and Cuddyer tried to throw him out at first. Maggs hurried to beat the throw and then shot Cuddyer a I'm-not-amused look. If I were a Twins fan, I'd love to see my team take advantage of the opposition loafing it. Yet, Maggs' disparaging look makes me wonder if there's some unwritten rule amongst the players that you just don't do that. No love loss between these two squads, folks.

I must give the Twins organization credit for a very classy tribute to Ernie Harwell during the 7th inning stretch. Word spread throughout the baseball community late last night that Ernie passed away after a fight with cancer. As a 92 year old man, Ernie opted to not receive treatment, so this day was unfortunately expected. I'm one of the millions of kids who grew up with Ernie. His voice was synonymous with summer. I'll always remember my Grandpa sitting on our porch swing, listening to Ernie on an old transistor radio. It's a scene that played out in a million homes across Metro Detroit. I'll have more on Ernie later... he will be missed.

As for the Wings, 10 hours have passed, and the reality is settling in. I know a Game 4 win won't do much for their chances, but I do hope they pull it out. It'll be damn tough to motivate. A sweep, though, just doesn't seem right for this series. Every game has been 4-3. So, so close. Right now, the Wings seem old and slow. But mark my words, they'll be back. This bitter series may just serve as a springboard for a return to prominence next season.

I'm thinking Babcock may want to split up Rafalski and Lidstrom. They had major problems with the aggressive Phoenix and San Jose forwards. Babcock also experimented a bit, pairing Ericsson with Lidstrom the past few games. That pairing may benefit both players, as Ericsson seems to settle down with Lidstrom. Rafalski should pair up with the new free agent signing... perhaps this guy. Or this guy. Both should fit under the Wings' cap.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Hit the tees

Well, folks, it's all but officially over. With a two-goal lead in the third period, the Red Wings simply could not put this game away.

Thanks to some extremely shaky goaltending and defense, the Sharks tied it up. Then in OT, Jason Williams fired a missile that missed the net. The rebound caromed all the way to an open Shark and led to a 2-on-1 break. A perfect pass led to the OT winner for San Jose.

They are now inexplicably up 3 games to zero. The series is theirs. Good for them. They've waited a long time for this. I maintain that they've yet to distinguish themselves on the ice, but the scoreboard says all I need to know. They've found a way to win three straight. I don't know how, but they've done it.

I posted earlier that I'd be able to stomach this loss. I didn't know it would be a 2-goal lead choke job and OT heartbreaker. This is another bitter pill.

Eesh.

Borrowed Time

Count me as one Wings' fan who is not really sweating Game 3. If they win, sweet. If not, no massive disappointment.

Sure, I'll be bummed for a little while, but let's be honest... this was never really the Wings' year. Never once did I get the impression this season that this Wings team was ready to do something special. When they fell down in the standings, the season became more about redemption. Their late season surge told the league, "Hey! We're not dead yet!" It didn't make them title contenders.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

You can't win the Cup every year. For these current players, it's amazing they've made it this far. What can possibly motivate Nick Lidstrom after winning four Cups, a Conn Smythe, and six Norris Trophies? These guys are surviving on pride. They've got nothing left to prove.

That's one of the reasons I was a bit bummed Hossa signed elsewhere. Despite his playoff disappearance, he's the type of personality who can inject new energy into this static roster. The current squad doesn't have that one super hungry dude who will inspire the team.

So, whether they win or lose tonight, I'm going to try and just enjoy the ride. I was ecstatic they made the playoffs. When they beat Phoenix, they proved they're still borderline elite. Anything more from this point is just gravy. This offseason, they've got some financial wiggle room to tweak the roster.

Thirteen players are under contract for the 2010/11 season, leaving $14M in cap space. A big chunk of that will go toward re-signing Lidstrom (hopefully) and Homer. Abdelkader, Helm, Drew Miller, and Eaves will also need new contracts. Depending on how much Lidstrom signs for, the Wings could have between $2-4M left over. $4M could land a very nice free agent. It likely won't be someone of Hossa's ability, but Ken Holland has been known to impress.

Monday, May 3, 2010

No lucky charm

NHL Referee Kevin Pollock dancing the YMCA
Watching the game was like chewing a baked coffee bean. Or chomping unsweetened chocolate. The final score showed the Sharks ahead 4-3, with a 2-0 lead in the series, but I refuse to believe they've distinguished themselves in any facet other than faceoffs.

The Red Wings lost last night in inglorious fashion. As John pointed out in the previous post, San Jose benefitted from a shocking 10 power plays. Yet, it's not the sheer number that leaves the bitter taste. It was the way the San Jose players were rewarded for embellishing every hit, check, nudge, and push. The worst offender was goalie, Evgeni Nabokov. When Bertuzzi and Abdelkader charged the net, Nabokov crumbled to the ice as if he received a body blow from Clubber Lang. Bertuzzi also received a holding penalty when a Shark player apparently slipped in front of him.

Folks, I make no bones about being a Red Wing fan. No doubt I'm especially angry about these calls going against my team. But as Grissom says on CSI, "I tend not to believe people. People lie. The evidence doesn't lie." The evidence showed a dive-happy Shark team taking full advantage of the gullible referees. And it won them the game. I should say, shamefully won them the game.

The Wings entered the third period with a 3-2 lead. The Bertuzzi "holding" call gave the Sharks a power play. Then Kronwall broke Pavelski's stick - a no-brainer penalty that was deserved. Another 5-on-3 for the Sharks. After a few stops by Howard, the Sharks finally tied it. Minutes later, with the Red Wings pressuring, Lidstrom reached back for a blue-line slap-shot. His stick shattered on contact. The Sharks quickly intercepted the puck and raced down the ice for a 3-on-1. Howard stopped the first shot, and Thornton buried the rebound.

That was the game.

10 power plays and Lidstrom's shattered stick. Hard to feel good about this series. Most of the time, when my team loses -- after the initial disappointment wears off -- I see the game more objectively and appreciate that the better team won. Last season's series against the Penguins was a true heartbreaker. It was a massive blow losing Game 7, but I have to give the Penguins credit. They were the better team. When it mattered most, they took it to the Wings.

Last night was a different story. With twenty minutes - a full period - of power play for the Sharks, the Wings had no chance to win. Not against a top team like the Sharks.

I've railed against the refs often on this blog. If you come here often, you know that I not only accept bitching about the refs, but I encourage it. They may not decide the result, but they do influence it. The refs allowed the diving Sharks to turn a competitive game into a joke. For shame, refs. For shame, Sharks. Soccer players got nothing on you:



Sunday, May 2, 2010

NHL Sucks

10-4. The score of the game was 4-3 in favor of the San Jose Sharks, but continuing the inexplicable power play bias the Sharks have received this post-season, the Red Wings had 10 penalties to the Sharks 4. I thought my Avalanche friends were simply spouting sour grapes when they whinged about a 3-1 power play advantage to the Sharks in the first round series, but having watched the first two games of the this series, something definitely stinks. Half the calls on the Wings were complete non-penalties. I know the NBA is fixed, but et tu NHL, et tu?