Frustrating Sox, Ainge In Denial, B’s In Trouble?
Saturday, May 14, 2011
STRUGGLING SOX STILL IN IT:
As bad as it has been for the Boston Red Sox to start the 2011 season, they are just five games out of first place in the American League East and just 3 games behind the New York Yankees.
Boston opened up a weekend series in the Bronx last night with a 5-4 win over the Yankees. And while the Sox still have yet to reach the .500 mark this season (18-20), they have now won 3 out of 4 against New York this season.
This is not to say that the team does not have its issues. The offense has been inconsistent, the bullpen up and down and the back end of the rotation an absolute disaster. Still, here they are right in the thick of things despite all of those problems.
What’s even more encouraging is the bounce-back performance of Josh Beckett this season and the fact that Adrian Gonzalez has heated up at the plate (.329 avg, 8 HR’s, 31 RBI).
They have yet to perform like the dominant team many thought they would be coming out of spring training but there are some signs that things are getting better. Stay tuned!
DANNY IN DENIAL:
Listening to Celtics GM Danny Ainge on WEEI earlier this week was a bit disturbing for this Celtics fan. I have said many times before that I think that Ainge has done a very good job as Celtics GM and I still believe that to be the case. However, his defense of the Kendrick Perkins trade is not only baffling, it’s flat out wrong.
Ainge stands firmly by the trade that sent Perk to Oklahoma City a few months ago and he is absolutely wrong for doing so. The one and only thing that makes sense about the deal was Ainge’s desire to get something while he could in return for Perkins whom he knew would be gone at season’s end through free agency.
However, no general manager in any sport would break up a team that wasn’t just a championship contender. The Celtics were arguably the favorite to win it all two-thirds of the way through the season. You never, ever break up a team in that position.
Ainge can justify the trade with lame excuses all that he wants but he comes across as someone who is more considered with CHOA (i.e. covering his own _ss).
Ainge clearly underestimated the impact trading Perkins would have on his team both on the court and in the locker room. Perk’s physical presence on defense was a deterrent to opponents wanting to drive to the hoop as Dwyane Wade did all series long against the Celtics. He was also a force on the backboards where the Celtics got crushed by Miami. He was also someone who had to be accounted for in the paint offensively and gave Boston a clear advantage at the 5-spot over the Heat.
It was an extremely poor trade made by Ainge no matter what he says.
B’s STANLEY CUP CHANCES?:
What an exciting postseason it has been for the Boston Bruins and their fans this spring. Today they play game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the TD Garden. The question is: can the Bruins make it to the Stanley Cup Finals?
The short answer to that question is “yes.” But don’t assume that this is a foregone conclusion.
First, the Lightning have the only goaltender that has played better than Tim Thomas this postseason in Dwayne Roloson. Roloson’s has a better goals against average (2.01 to 2.03) and a better save percentage (.941 to .937) than Thomas. And while those numbers are essentially identical, the point is that he could single-handedly stop Boston’s magical run with his play.
Secondly, Martin St. Louis is playing as well as anyone in the playoffs (6 G 13 A). Vincent Lecavalier (5 G 7 A), Steve Downie (2 G 10 A), Teddy Purcell (1 G 10 A) and Sean Bergenheim (7 G 1 A) are also playing great which will put Thomas and the Bruins defense to the test.
The uncertainty of Patrice Bergeron’s status is also a major concern for Boston because of his play-making abilities and, more importantly, his knack of winning faceoffs.
Lastly, Tampa’s 1-3-1 defense may be the next revolution in the NHL similar to New Jersey’s neutral zone trap which was so successful for many years. How Boston handles that could very well determine the outcome of this series.
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It