GET READY FOR THE STANTON/JUDGE HR-METER CHARTS
It probably won’t take long for at least one of the New York City tabloids to begin displaying a daily Home Run-Meter chart to chronicle the Giancarlo Stanton/Aaron Judge quest to break the Major League Baseball record for the most home runs combined by two teammates in one season.
Five teammates have combined for at least 100 HRs in a season:
1—114 HRs, Roger Maris (61) and Mickey Mantle (54) 1961 Yankees
2—110 HRs, Barry Bonds (73) and Rich Aurilia (37) 2001 San Francisco
3—107 HRs, Babe Ruth (60) and Lou Gehrig (47) 1927 Yankees
4—101 HRs, Mark McGwire (70) and Ray Lankford (31) 1998 St. Louis
5—100 HRs, Alex Rodriguez (57) and Rafael Palmeiro (43) 2002.
Ruth and Gehrig deserve extra credit. The 1927 Yankees played 154 games (not 162). The third-most home runs by a Major League Baseball player that season was 30 by Cy Williams (Phillies) and Hack Wilson (Cubs). In 1927, 24 MLB players hit at least 10 HRs. In 2017, 242 players hit at least 10 HRs.
A-Rod and Palmeiro deserve no credit. They both – in all probability – were juiced.
Stanton (59 with Miami) and Judge (52 with the Yankees) combined for 111 HRs last season.
DUKE MIGHT NOT BE AS CONFUSED BY SU’s ZONE AS THE THREE VICTIMS WERE
One of the hot topics in this NCAA men’s basketball Tournament has been Syracuse’s aggressive 2-3 zone. And rightly so. It was the obvious key to upset victories over Arizona State, Texas Christian and Michigan State.
(I wonder if any other team in NCAA Tournament history has won three straight games the underdog).
Here’s how the Sun Devils, Horned Frogs and Spartans fared this season compared to their losses to the Orange:
Final numbers for the season:
Points per game – ASU 82.7...TCU 82.1...MichSt 80.2
Field-goal percentage – ASU 46.3...TCU 49.6...MichSt 49.6
3-Point FG percentage – ASU 36.3...TCU 39.5...MichSt 40.0
Numbers in the Tournament losses to SU:
Points – ASU 56...TCU 52...MichSt 53
Field-goal percentage – ASU 40.3 (21-for-52)...TCU 39.6 (19-for-48)...MichSt 25.4 (17-for-67)
3-Point FG percentage – ASU 34.4 (11-for-32)...TCU 17.6 (3-for-17)...MichSt (8-for-37).
Duke figures to be by far SU’s toughest test yet. The immensely talented young Blue Devils were playing lousy man-to-man defense in the first half of the season. Coach Mike Krzyzewski decided to try buddy Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone. It worked. Duke has been a much better defensive team since the switch.
Bob’s prediction: The one thing SU can’t afford – other than an untimely injury – is any starter fouling out. SU’s Paschal Chukwa and/or Bourama Sidibe will be in deep against Duke terrific big men Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter Jr. Coach K isn’t going to coach as poorly against SU as Michigan State’s Mike Izzo did. I hope I’m jinxing the Blue Devils with my pick – Duke 68, Syracuse 54.
UNDERDOGS BARKED LOUDLY THURSDAY NIGHT
Syracuse is hoping to join the success of the underdogs in Thursday night’s four games in the Sweet 16.
Underdogs were 3-1 outright and against the Las Vegas point spread:
#11 seed Loyola, a 1-point underdog, upset #7 seed Nevada 69-68
#9 seed Kansas State, a 5-point underdog, upset #5 seed Kentucky 61-58
#9 seed Florida State, a 6-point underdog, upset #4 seed Gonzaga 75-60.
The only winning favorite Thursday night was #3 seed Michigan, favored by 2 ½ points, over #7 seed Texas A&M 99-67.
Entering Friday night, Las Vegas favorites are 35-17 straight up and 23-27-2 against the spread.
QBs EXPECTED TO BE THE STARS OF THE 2018 NFL DRAFT
A popular theme heading into the 2018 NFL draft is that at least two, probably three and perhaps even four quarterbacks will be among the first five overall picks.
Here’s a primer on the QBs selected among the top five overall picks since 1970:
The first three picks – Only twice...In 1971, Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning and Dan Pastorini went 1-2-3...in 1999, Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith went 1-2-3.
1-2 overall picks (besides 1971 and 1999) – Five other times; Drew Bledsoe/Rick Mirer in 1993...Peyton Manning/Ryan Leaf in 1998...Andrew Luck/Robert Griffin III in 2012...Jameis Winston/Marcus Mariota in 2015...Jared Goff/Carson Wentz in 2016.
Other times 2 of the top 5 picks – Art Schlicter 4th/Jim McMahon 5th in 1982...Steve McNair 3rd/Kerry Collins 5th in 1995...David Carr 1st/Joey Harrington 3rd in 2002...Eli Manning 1st/Philip Rivers 4th in 2004...Matthew Stafford 1st/Mark Sanchez 5th in 2009.
In the 48 NFL drafts since 1970, the top five picks included zero QBs 16 times.
A quarterback was the No. 1 overall pick 22 times. Here’s how they turned out in the NFL (in my opinion):
A+ Terry Bradshaw (1970)...John Elway (1983)...Troy Aikman (1989)...Peyton Manning (1998)
A Eli Manning (2004)
A- Drew Bledsoe (1993)
B+ Jim Plunkett (1971; won two Super Bowls)...Alex Smith (2005)...Andrew Luck (2012)
B Vinny Testaverde (1987)...Carson Palmer (2003)...Matthew Stafford (2009)...Cam Newton (2012)
B- Michael Vick (2001)...Jameis Winston (2015)...Jared Goff (2016; may soon better rating)
C+ Sam Bradford (2010)...Steve Bartkowski (1975)
C/C- Jeff George (1990)
D/D- Tim Couch (1999)...David Carr (2002)
F JaMarcus Russell (2007).
BASEBALL 2018 OVER/UNDER WINS: ASTROS TOPS AT 97.5
The 2018 Major League Baseball season opens Thursday.
Here are the over/under win totals courtesy of Bovada:
Astros 97.5...Dodgers 96...Indians 94.5...Yankees 94.5...Nationals 93.5...Cubs 93...Red Sox 92...Cardinals 85.5...Diamondbacks 85.5...Angels 84.5...Giants 84...Brewers 84...Twins 83...Rockies 81.5...Mariners 81.5...Mets 81.5...Blue Jays 81...Phillies 78...Rangers 76.5...Rays 75.5...A’s 75.5...Braves 74.5...Reds 74.0...Pirates 73.5...Orioles 73...Padres 71.5...Royals 70.5...White Sox 70.5...Tigers 67.5...Marlins 64.
Bob’s most tempting “overs” – Yankees 94.5...Nationals 93.5...Angels 84.5......Cubs 93...Twins 83...Mets 81.5.
Bob’s least-tempting “overs” – Diamondbacks...Giants...Phillies...Rays.
TWO MORE QUALITY ARMS FOR RED WINGS’ BULLPEN
The Minnesota Twins on Thursday assigned right-handed relief pitchers Tyler Duffey and Alan Busenitz to the Red Wings. An impressive-on-paper bullpen just got two arms deeper.
The Twins also sent first baseman Brock Stassi (batted .391 for Minnesota this spring) and outfielder Jake Cave to Rochester.
Minnesota told veteran shortstop Erick Aybar he didn’t make the team and he was expended to leave camp Friday. Veteran outfielder Chris Heisey asked for his release and his wish was granted. He would’ve had a tough time getting work in Rochester’s deep outfield.
The last outfielder spot in Minnesota was between hot-hitting Ryan LaMarre and Zack Granite.
LaMarre is leading the Twins in most offensive categories this spring. He entered Friday batting .484 (15-for-31), with 10 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs and 10 RBI. Granite, the International League all-star center fielder for Rochester last season, is batting only .135 (5-for-37) this spring but is faster than LaMarre and better defensively.
Former Red Wings switch-hitter Kennys Vargas, out of options, was claimed off the waiver wire by the Cincinnati Reds.
Twins manager Paul Molitor announced his starting rotation to start this season: Jake Odorizzi in the opener Thursday at Baltimore, Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios and Lance Lynn with Phil Hughes long relief/fifth starter if needed.
FRANK GORE IS A SURE PRO FOOTBALL HALL-OF-FAMER
Frank Gore was born and raised in Miami, played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a free agent Thursday.
I don’t know about you, but I always respected Gore as a running back (10 seasons with San Francisco + 3 seasons with Indianapolis) but honestly never viewed him as a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
I obviously was wrong.
Here are the NFL’s 12 all-time leaders in career yards from scrimmage Yards rushing + yards receiving):
1-Jerry Rice 23,540 yards...2-Emmitt Smith 21,579...3-Walter Payton 21,264...4-Marshall Faulk 19,154...5-LaDainian Tomlinson 18,456...6-Barry Sanders 18,190...7-Frank Gore 17,698...8-Marcus Allen 17,654...9-Curtis Martin 17,430...10-Thurman Thomas 16,532...11-Tony Dorsett 16,293...12-TerrellOwens 16,185.
11 of those 12 players already are Pro Football of Famers. For that reason alone, Gore deserves to be elected.
Gore will turn 35 on May 14. Last season, he had 261 carries for 961 yards (just missed his 11th season with at least 1,000 yards rushing) and 29 catches for 245 yards.
He’s still durable (played in all 16 games in each of the last seven seasons) and figures to pass Sanders and Tomlinson for the No. 5 spot on the all-time yards from scrimmage list before he retires.
SHORT SHOTS
The Syracuse Orange could use power forward Tyler Lydon Friday night against Duke. He left for the 2017 NBA draft after his sophomore season at SU. He was the 24th overall pick by Utah and was traded to Denver. He appeared in one game with the Nuggets (scoreless in a cameo appearance November 20) before being assigned to the Rio Grande Vipers of the NBA’s G League. He averaged 12.6 points and 8.5 rebounds in 15 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in late January.
FiveThirtyEight (538) computer’s win probabilities for Friday night’s four NCAA men’s Tournament Sweet 16 games: Kansas 63 percent versus Clemson 27 percent...Villanova 70 percent versus West Virginia 30 percent...Duke 85 percent over Syracuse 15 percent...Purdue 62 percent versus Texas Tech 38 percent.
2017Date to circle for Rochester Rhinos fans: May 5, 2018, former Rhinos coach Bob Lilley will being his United Soccer League Pittsburgh Riverhounds to play the “host” Toronto FC II at Capelli Sport Stadium.
ON THIS DATE IN SPORTS...
March 23 – 80 years ago (1938), baseball Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis “freed” 74 St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers who felt trapped by Cardinals personnel director Branch Rickey..27 years ago (1991), the first three games were played in the World League of American Football: Lomdon 24, Frankfurt 11; Sacramento 9, Raleigh-Durham 3; 34 years ago (1994), Wayne Gretzky set an NHL record with his 802nd goal.
March 24 – 57 years ago (1961), the New York State Senate approved $55 million for a baseball stadium at Flushing Meadows...43 years ago (1975), Muhammad Ali beat Chuck Wepner for the heavyweight boxing title.
March 25 – 122 years ago (1896), the Modern Olympics began in Athens, Greece...46 years ago (1972), UCLA won its sixth consecutive NCAA men’s basketball title...23 years ago (1995), Mike Tyson was released after serving three years.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Friday, March 23
Kyrie Irving (26)...Gordon Hayward (28)...Dellin Betances (30)...Maurice Jones-Drew (33)...Brandon Marshall (34)...Mark Buehrle (39)...Jason Kidd (45)...Mark Maddox (50)...Amerks Hall of Famer Darren Puppa (53)...John Tonelli (61)...Geno Auriemma (64)...Moses Malone (64)...Ron Jaworski (67)...Gail Goodrich (75).
Saturday, March 24
Myles Turner (22)...Chris Bostick (25)...Starlin Castro (28)...Chris Bosh (34)...T.J. Ford (35)...Corey Hart (36)...Mike Adams (37)...Peyton Manning (42)...Aaron Brooks (42)...Philippe Boucher (45)...pro wrestler The Undertaker (53)...Penny Hammel (56)...Renaldo Nehemiah (59)...Scott Bruner (61)...Doug Jarvis (63)...Pat Bradley (67)...Denny McLain (74).
Sunday, March 25
T.J. McConnell (26)...Mike Zunino (27)...Kyle Lowry (32)...Marco Belinelli (32)...Danica Patrick (36)...Wladimir Klitschko (42)...Lawrence Moten (46)...Sheryl Swoopes (47)...Magnus Larsson (48)...Debi Thomas (51)...Tommy Glavine (52)...Avery Johnson (53)...Lee Mazzilli (63)...Pat Hughes (63). Sarah Jessica Parker (53), Elton John (71) and Aretha Franklin (76) are invited to the birthday party.