CARMELO TO THE ROCKETS – WOULD IT BE A GOOD FIT?
The New York Knick and Houston reportedly are deep into a variety of trade scenarios that would send Carmelo Anthony to the Rockets.
Thumbs up to Carmelo for finally agreeing to waive his no-trade clause. He’s never going to win an NBA championship in New York and the Knicks would benefit by getting a few younger players and/or draft picks in return.
But could you see Houston becoming a serious title contender with Anthony joining James Harden and Chris Paul?
The Rockets would be a popular draw on the road and on network TV, but they’d also be a miserable defensive team. They might make a habit of scoring 130 points against Golden State and losing by 20.
WHO IS THE NFL’S ALL-TIME BEST RUNNING BACK?
This has always been a popular debate among NFL fans. Of course, there is no definitive list.
I’m passing on the latest version I’ve come across, partly because I very much liked two of the picks.
Talk Of Fame Sports Network polled NFL historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal and Hall of Fame voters Rick Gosselin, Clark Judge and Ron Borges and this week distributed the results. Here they are in reverse order:
10—Ladainian Tomlinson
9—Earl Campbell
8—Marshall Faulk
7—Eric Dickerson
6—O.J. Simpson
5—Emmitt Smith
4—Gale Sayers
3—Walter Payton
2—Barry Sanders
1—Jim Brown.
Brown received all four first-place voters and I was glad to see it. His legacy appears secure. He would’ve been a great football player at many other positions.
And also was glad to see O.J. get his fair recognition as a great running back.
My major complaint is the absence of Thurman Thomas from the top 10. He would not have been out of place.
THE ROCHESTER STRONG WINGS
Rochester’s International League baseball team is called the Red Wings. Strong Wings also would be appropriate so far this season.
At the All-Star break, Rochester leads all 46 Triple-A baseball teams (IL, Pacific Coast League and Mexican League) with a 3.27 earned-run average.
The top 10 ERAs in Triple-A:
1-Rochester (IL) 3.27
2-Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL) 3.49
3-Tijuana (Mexican) 3.49
4-Durham (IL) 3.51
5-Indianapolis (IL) 3.55
6-Memphis (PCL) 3.71
7-Toledo (IL) 3.76
8-Yucatan (Mexican) 3.79
9--Pawtucket (IL) 3.80
10—Lehigh Valley (IL) 3.83.
The Red Wings have issued the fewest walks (209) and have the second-lowest WHIP (walks + hits per inning; 1.23).
Rochester leading the IL in pitching is a fairly big deal because it so seldom has happened. Since the International League began tracking earned-run average in 1964, the Red Wings have led the league in ERA only twice – 1974 (3.06) and 1976 (3.51).
The Red Wings have already used 34 pitchers this season, including 19 different starting pitchers. Bartolo Colon in Lehigh Valley Thursday night will become the 35th pitcher and 20th starting pitcher. Manager Mike Quade and pitching coach Stu Cliburn obviously are doing a great job with an ever-changing pitching staff.
When the season began, the Red Wings were expected to be a hitting machine with plenty of power. Pitching was the big question mark. The hitting has been OK (.262 batting average fifth in the 14-team IL), eighth in OPS (.722; on-base percentage + slugging percentage) and 10th in runs (365) and HRs (61). Rochester also has struck out the second-fewest times (619).
DODGERS AND ASTROS LOOKING LIKE SUPER TEAMS – SO FAR
The Los Angeles Dodgers hit the All-Star Game break with a 61-29 record.
The Houston Astros are 60-29.
The Dodgers (+163) and Astros (+162) rank 1-2 in Major League Baseball in run differential.
There clearly are the two-best teams in MLB and there are few reasons to believe either will wilt in the next few months.
Here’s how they measure up (MLB rank in parentheses):
Records – Dodgers 61 (1st), 39-11 home and 22-19 road...Astros 60-29 (2nd), 27-18 home and 33-11 road
Run differential – Dodgers +163 (1st) 463-300...Astros +162 (527-365)
Home runs – Astros 148 (1st)...Dodgers 127 (7th)
Total bases – Dodgers 1,348 (7th)...Astros 1,553 (1st)
Batting average – Dodgers .256 (14th)...Astros .289 (1st)
On-base percentage – Dodgers .342 (4th)...Astros .855 (1st)
Slugging percentage – Dodgers .789 (6th)....Astros .500 (1st)
OPS (OB % + SL %) – Dodgers .784 (4th)
Times struck out – Dodgers 793 (8th most)...Astros 6-2 (fewest in MBL)
Walks – Dodgers 793 (9th most)...Astros 291 (17th)
Stolen bases – Astros – 52 (11th)...Dodgers 44 (t16th)
Earned-run average – Dodgers 3.15 ERA (1st)...Astros 3.93 (5th)
Fewest hits allowed – Dodgers 702 (3rd)...Astros 662 (1st)
Most strikeouts by – Dodgers 868 (2nd)...Astros 902 (1st)
Batting average against – Dodgers .223 (1st)...Astros .234 (2nd)
Errors – Dodgers 52...Astros 53.
The Dodgers and Astros both are well-balanced and deep teams. The Dodgers have better pitching and the Astros have more hitting.
The home-field advantage for the World Series will go to the team with the best regular-season record. The Dodgers have been great at home (39-11) and the Astros have been awesome on the road (33-11).
Many baseball fans already are looking forward to a Dodgers vs. Astros World Series.
The multi-tiered playoffs make it far less likely that the Dodgers and Astros will meet in the 2017 World Series. But it would take a tremendous performance in by an opponent in either league to foil the dream Fall Classic.
“BASEBALL PROSPECTUS” WORLD SERIES PROJECTIONS
Here are the latest up-to-date projections from “Baseball Prospectus” to win MLB’s six divisions and the 2017 World Series:
American League East – Red Sox 59.3 percent to win the division...Yankees 26.8 percent...Rays 12.9 percent...Blue Jays 0.7 percent...Orioles 0.3 percent
American League Central – Indians 90.8 percent...Royals 4.3 percent...Twins 3.9 percent...Tigers 0.9 percent...White Sox 0.1 percent
American League West – Astros 99.9 percent...Rangers 0.1 percent...Mariners, Angels and A’s all 0 percent
National League East – Nationals 96.8 percent...Marlins 2.0 percent...Mets 0.7 percent (no thank you) ...Braves 0.5 percent...Phillies 0 percent
National League Central – Brewers 47.6 percent...Cubs 31.0 percent...Cardinals 16.5 percent...Pirates 4.5 percent...Reds 0.5 percent
National League West – Dodgers 98.3 percent...Arizona 1.4 percent...Colorado 0.3 percent...Padres and Giants both 0 percent.
Projections to win the 2017 World Series: Dodgers 26.4 percent...Astros 18.9 percent...Indians 15.5 percent...Nationals 11.1 percent...Red Sox 6.4 percent...Yankees 4.8 percent...Diamondbacks 4.1 percent...Cubs 3.6 percent...Rays 2.1 percent...Rockies 1.8 percent...Cardinals 1.3 percent...Rangers 0.7 percent...Mariners 0.4 percent...Royals 0.3 percent...Twins 0.3 percent...Blue Jays 0.1 percent...Marlins 0.1 percent...Pirates 0.1 percent.
CODY JAMIESON MAKING PROGRESS
Rochester Knighthawks superstar Cody Jamieson has yet to play in this summer’s Ontario indoor box lacrosse but he is training coming off knee surgery and hopes to be ready for the start of the 2018 National Lacrosse League season.
Rochester will have three of the nine picks in September’s NLL entry draft, including the No. 2 overall pick. A productive draft + Jamieson could = a significant re bound from last year’s disappointing non-playoff season.
SHORT SHOTS
A few juice baseball trade rumors: Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen to the Dodgers...Chisox third baseman Todd Frazier (he’d be an upgrade over Chase Headley)...Marlins first base man Justin Born to the Yankees.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is right on with this point regarding the lack of parity in the NBA: “If we were in the (Eastern Conference), we would not be rebuilding. I think I*’d kidnap (NBA Commissioner) Adam Silver and not let him out until he moves us (the Mavericks) to the Eastern Conference.”...Dallas was 33-49 last season, the franchise’s first losing season since 1999-2000.