Category Archives: Uncategorized

La Dodgers, MLB, Uncategorized

The Dodgers Have Place Hyun-Jin Ryu Back On The DL

Espn’s Doug Padilla has reported that the Dodgers have placed left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu  back on the DL. He went back on DL because of elbow tendinitis.  He has played in only one game so far this season against the Padres about two weeks ago.

Ryu has a had a rough going this year.  He struggled through spring training and most of the season to make a comeback from elbow surgery. The surgery  has kept from the mound for two years.

Since putting Ryu on the DL  again, the Dodgers have activated Joc Pederson who played against the Washington Nationals.

No one has been named to replace him on the mound.

Click here to read Doug Padilla’s whole story.

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La Dodgers, Uncategorized

Nineteen Year Old Julio Urias to Open Up The Dodgers Brewers Three Game Series

Tonight will be one full month for Julio Urias as a starter for the Dodgers as he opens up the Dodgers-Brewers series.  While he has yet to past 5 1/2 innings he has racked up 32 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings.  According to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA, this is the most strikeouts for a Dodgers’ rookie since 2013 when Hyun-jin Ryu had 46 in six starts of his first month. But, Ryu was not technically a rookie at the time because he had seven years  experience in South Korea.

Stephen writes the last real Dodgers’ rookie that had the most in his first month was Hong-Chih Kuo who had 42 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings 2006.

Urias is tied with Ralph Branca for the most strikeouts by a teenager.  Branca had 29 in August 1945 and then topped it with 32 in September according to Stephen.

You can read more of Eric Stephens article about Julio Urias and the upcoming Dodgers-Brewers series by going to this link.

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LA Rams, NFL, sports, Uncategorized

Rumors Have That Rams Quarterback Could be Going to Either the Forty-Niners of the Cardinals

Last week I wrote about Nick Foles’ soon not to be future with the Rams. Well today, I came across an Inquisitr article that claims he could be traded.  According to the article the Forty-Niners or the Cardinals could be possible landing spots.  The article did also mention the Jets if there is no settlement in their stalemate with Ryan Fitzpatrick.

While I have no problem with the Rams and Foles parting ways, I do have some concerns with them just cutting him and not having control of his landing spot.  I don’t like seeing him picked up by one of their divisional opponents so that he comes back to hurt the Rams twice a season. This could be the replay of when Kurt Warner after he went to the Cardinals where for five years he went a total of 8-2 over the Rams.  No, I do not want to go down that road again.

Yet, if he did go to a division rival. let it be the Cardinals. There he would be playing behind starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton, and most likely never set foot on the field.  Where if he goes to the Niners, he could end up as a starting under his former coach Chip Kelly.

Yet, if the Rams are looking for a trade, they could look in the direction of the Jets.  It may not come to fruition, but if the Jets and Fitzpatrick do not break their stalemate, a trade could be possible.  I do not think that Jets are ready to through their season on the back of Geno Smith. Or, they can wait for the start of training camp because teams will be looking for a quarterback.

Whether it is by trade or cut, Nick Foles will not with the Rams at the start of the season.

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LA Rams, Los Angeles Rams, NFL, Uncategorized

The Rams and Nick Foles are on the same page: He’s a Dead Man Walking

Remember back in the winter of  2015 when the Rams and the Eagles swapped their starting? The often injured Sam Bradford went to the Eagles and the Rams received Nick Foles in return.  There was aRams quarterback Nick Foles by 101sports.com

honeymoon period between the Rams and their newly acquired quarterback.  He impressed him so much that they gave him a contract extension.    Well, honeymoons do end and their realities of the marriages begin to take over and you the person that you married has been taken over by some monstrous beast.

The regular season left the Rams in that same predicament. They thought they had a superstar. Someone, who would breathe new life into their almost dead offense.  Instead, Foles turned out to be so bad that they pulled him late in and replaced with Case Keenum.  Unfortunately, they pulled him to late in the season to even be able to try salvage it and at least end up and have their first winning season since the early 2000’s.

This all took place back in St Louis, but now, that they are in Los Angles things there seems that the marriage between the Rams and Foles seem to be ending.  Right now, I would call this a separation before their divorce. Foles has been avoiding the voluntary OTAs.  Why has he been avoiding them?

Because the Rams have found a new interest in younger quarterback named Jared Goff.  Yes, Foles has been replaced.

Let me add that it is not only Goff that seems to be pushing out of the Rams’ home but also another quarterback named Dylan Thompson.  He signed with the forty-niners last year as an undrafted free agent to their practice squad.  They released him last month. Thompson could find a spot on this team should the Rams cut or trade Foles.

At this point, a divorce looks to be on the horizon, and Foles is helping to become a reality by avoiding OTAs.

I would like to share what head coach Jeff Fisher has to say about Foles avoiding OTAs.

“We’re on the same page and trying to work things out.” Said Fisher after the team’s workout. “That’s all I can say…”  He adds “We talked again,” Fisher said. “I think Nick has the feeling that if things stay the same, he’s probably not going to be on the roster.” Josh Webb’s article at the LA Rams Report.   Here is link to that article.

Fisher does also mention that the OTAs are voluntary and they have three quarterbacks to give reps. Fisher’s comment about Foles not  making the roster fits nicely with his comment about them on the same page when you think about it.  The Rams want Foles gone and he knows that they want him gone.  I say they are pretty much on the same page.

Though I must be honest with you, I think the decision that the marriage between the Rams and Foles had been over since the end of last year. He showed them that he could  not be trusted that is to run their offense.  What makes me think so? Recalled that Rams’ GM Les Snead declared that Case Keenum would be the starting quarterback and not the incumbent Nick Foles.  Even though this would be later walked back to going into preseason, it shows that there had been a discussion and decision made that Keenum had been chosen over Foles.  Then the persistent pre-draft trade rumors involving Foles.  Again even though they never materialized, the team never denied them nor was there no reassurance to Foles that he was still welcomed.

Yes, there is enough evidence that the marriage between the Rams and Foles will be ending in a divorce anytime now. The Rams have four quarterbacks now in OTAs and it is pretty crowded.  Now if you add a fifth quarterback, it will be over crowded.  Someone will be gone before camp and that person will be Foles and he knows that he will be the one gone from the team because he already admitted it. So, sometime between now and training camp he will be gone either by trade or cut.  As for the  money the Rams owe him well is another topic for another post.

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LA Rams, Los Angeles Rams, NFL, Uncategorized

Damn if You Do, Damn if You Don’t; the Plight of Fisher and Snead

The Los Angeles Rams traded all their 2016 draft picks to get the Tennesse Titans’ coveted first pick. While we all should be happy and full of hope, but the opposite has happened.

This Titans’  coveted pick cost the Rams their four picks in 2016 draft and their first and third in 2017.

With the first pick, the Rams most likely be picking a quarterback which should make the people who want a franchise quarterback happy but alas.   These people just found another reason to tear into Jeff Fisher and Les Snead.

While they have a point of contention, here with the cost of losing draft picks, but how else do expect to get a franchise quarterback?  Do they expect one to just pop up of the air by magic?

No, the reality is that it cost to have a shot a franchise quarterback, but this just somehow escapes them.

For, I don’t know how many times, I have heard the cries for a franchise quarterback, and now I hear complaints about the cost of getting one.

It is not just the cost, but they are now complaining about whether these the quarterbacks in this draft are worth the cost. Is any player worth what they cost to obtain them? In a trade or a draft, you are taking a risk. The risk is what you take to improve your team.

So, as far as I am concern these people just want to complain period.

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NFL, Uncategorized

Bradford Forget Being Traded

Yes, you have heard it right! Quarterback Sam Bradford wants the Eagles to trade him. Wait a minute, didn’t the Eagles give him a $16  million dollar per year for a possible two-year contract? Didn’t they come out and say that he would be their starting quarterback right after their trade for the Browns number 2 pick the draft?

I know that the Rams made promises to him last year before trading him to the Eagles and I can understand that there could be some mistrust in promises being made.  Yet, you have to look at the fact that the Eagles made a commitment to Bradford for at least two years.  The Rams made no such commitment to him before trading him.  So, there is no reason to use mistrust as a reason for a trade.

Just because the Eagles draft a quarterback this year, it does not mean that this quarterback will start this nor the next which means that Bradford will have his starting role for possibly two years.  Also, there is no guarantee that this draft will ever start.

So, my suggestion for Sam is shut up and report to mini-camp.   Act like you never mentioned any trade and hope that the Eagles forget your momentary lapse of good judgment.

While I may hope the Eagles would forgive him, I believe that Bradford had put a knife in the Eagles back and sometime in the future the Eagles will repay him in kind once Wentz or whoever they picked becomes ready to start. So Sam, take the time the Eagles give you to sharpen your image as a starting quarterback because you will be out in the open market in a year or two.

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La Dodgers, MLB, Uncategorized

Will the Dodgers’ Rotation Get Lucky Against the Giants too?

Do not use the Padres’ series as a standard to judge how well the Dodgers starting rotation will do against the Giants their next opponent.  Rather think of it as an anomaly.  An anomaly that may not repeat itself.

R.J, Anderson of CBS Sports posted a very interesting article (link to article) regarding the Dodgers’ rotation after their surprising performance against Padres which puts everything into the proper perspective,  In the article he points to the Padres’ hitting debacle for the reason their rotation success.  You see during the series, the Padres did not change their lineup even though  it did not produce any runs. A change in the lineup could have a least produce some runs if not a win.

This Lineup debacle could  be the reason that Kazmir won on Tuesday as Aderson put it, We will see how really good he pitches when he faces the Giants on Sunday. So far after their first three games, the Giants rank fourth and have combined total of 17 runs and 28 hits after 103 at bats they have an average of .272.  This is far better than the Padres who are ranked at 15 with 0 runs 11 hits and batting average of .120 and he faced on Tuesday.

The Dodgers have another suspect pitcher Alex Wood  who will be tonight’s starter. He still has to prove that he can win a game. He lost three of his five starts while not garnering a win during spring training.

Their fifth starter Ross Stripling will start against the Giants on Friday which will be his first pro start.  While I would not consider suspect, it would be because I do not have enough information about him to consider him suspect.

So let me break it down this way.  The Dodgers are going into San Fransico with a suspect rotation that got lucky in San Diago,  This rotation who has one known dependable pitcher, Kershaw.  While I like Maeda and I know more about what Kershaw could do. Kazmir and Woods, you know what they can do thus leaving you with an unfavorable impression. Stripling has shown some promise, but there is not enough to be comfortable with him.

Will this be enough to pull off victories?  I only know that the Kershaw pitches will be a winner.

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Uncategorized

This is for Those Wonder Where Former USC Trojan Cody Kessler Stands in the 2016 NFL Draft — thewestcoastsportsblog

What are Cody Kessler’s chances of being taken in this year’s draft? To start with he is not on the Rams’ radar and for that matter there are no rumors of him being on other team’s radar either. If you really care, you may ask why is that? The is the answer is short and simple. […]

via This is for Those Wonder Where Former USC Trojan Cody Kessler Stands in the 2016 NFL Draft — thewestcoastsportsblog

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College Football, Uncategorized, USC Trojan Football

This is for Those Wonder Where Former USC Trojan Cody Kessler Stands in the 2016 NFL Draft

What are Cody Kessler’s chances of being taken in this year’s draft? To start with he is not on the Rams’ radar and for that matter there are no rumors of him being on other team’s radar either.  If you really care, you may ask why is that?  The is the answer is short and simple.

After you enter Cody Kessler for a Google search, you will get a few articles regarding his draft prospects.  All the articles say this same thing.

Kessler has the mental ability but lacks the physical abilities.  They also said that he lacks the arm strength to throw the ball deep downfield.

So he has no problem reading and putting the ball where it’s suppose to be as long as not in a deep place.  This is not too promising, but not enough to keep off someone’s  roster.  If the team had the time and patience he might be a good work in progress.

As, for what round he would  be drafted   He definitely would not be not a higher round pick, but somewhere in the lower rounds probably the sixth or seventh round.  If he does not get picked, some team will sign as undrafted free agent.

So, he will be picked up by some team, and we will not hear about him again unless there is some Tom Brady like a miracle.

Here are the links where can read more about Cody Kessler’s chances in the draft.

Roto World has him a later round pick.

Gang-Green’s scouting report.

CBS Sports scouting report

NFL.Com-Kessler’s draft file

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La Dodgers, MLB, Uncategorized

Meet the Three Starting Pitchers for the Dodgers Opening Series with the Padres

The Dodgers open up their season with a three series in sunny and warm San Diego and I would like to introduce you the Dodgers’ starting pitchers for the three-game series.  The dependable Clayton Kershaw will  be starting  in today’s game.  He will be followed by new acquired Scott Kazmir tomorrow, and also, newly acquired Kenta Maeda on Tuesday.

Kershaw finished spring training 2 wins  and 0 losses in six games. He allowed 23 hits in the 23 innings that he pitched.  He allowed just 5 runs.  He finished with 1.96 ERA.  Yes, he looks ready for today’s game.

While I have no concerns about Kershaw in today’s game, I do worry about tomorrow’s starting pitcher, Scott Kazmir.  Maybe that is because I had grown accustomed to having the other reliable pitcher Zach Greinke in the number two spot in the rotation.  But alas, the Dodgers foolishly let him go to their Western Division rivals the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Don’t think of  me as to being too hard on Kazmir and that maybe I should give a chance.  But then I look at his performance during spring training, I think otherwise. In the 5 games that he started, he gave up 12 runs and 25 hits. He has an ERA of 5.51.  His ERA alone makes you miss Greinke’s under 2.00 ERA one of the lowest in the league last year.  His pitching velocity has dropped below 90.  He has been clocked somewhere between 85 to 89.  Can you imagine his fastball being clocked at 85? All this makes me a little weary  having him pitch in the number two spot.

But in game three, I am very happy with newly acquired Kenta Maeda starting in the third game of the series. Maeda was acquired before spring Training.  He formerly played in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hiroshima Yoyo Carp.   He finished this spring with 1 win and 2 losses in six starts. He gave 18 hits and 9 runs with a 2.35 ERA. This is a lot better Kazmir’s final totals.

As I written above I have no problems with Kershaw and Maeda, but I am not comfortable with  Kazmir starting.  I just hope that Kazmir proves my concerns wrong.

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