How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-seven is about the interesting reliever Sergio Romo.
Sergio Romo was born in Brawley, California, on March 4, 1983. He attended Brawley Union High School, where he graduated from in 2001. Originally working as an infielder in high school, Romo transferred to pitching in college. He originally attended Orange Coast College, and then transferred to Arizona Western College. He then moved along to the University of North Alabama in 2004 and Colorado Mesa University in 2005. He was still flying under the radar for the most part, but was drafted in 2005 by the San Francisco Giants in the twenty-eighth round. Romo went to pitching in the Class A Short Season Northwest League for the rest of the season, appearing in fifteen games (fourteen starts) for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in Oregon. He owned a 2.75 earned run average as well as sixty-five strikeouts in sixty-eight and two-thirds innings pitched. In 2006, he was promoted to the Augusta Greenjackets of the Class A South Atlantic League, in Augusta, Georgia. Here, he continued to work as a starter before being converted into a reliever. This resulted in thirty-one appearances, ten of which were starts and ten more that ended the game, with his numbers reading a 2.53 earned run average, ninety-five strikeouts, and 103 and 1/3 innings pitched. In 2007, he again stepped up, moving to the Class A Advanced California League to work as a part-time closer for the San Jose Giants. With a 1.36 earned run average, Romo turned nine saves while striking out a whopping 106 in just sixty-six and one-third innings pitched. Romo continued to work his way up in the Giants organization, starting 2008 in primarily a closer role for the Connecticut Defenders of Norwich, Connecticut of the Class AA Eastern League. He turned eleven saves in twenty-seven innings, as well as thirty strikeouts, composing a 4.00 earned run average. Romo was brought up to the San Francisco Giants on June 24, 2008, and made his debut two days later. He was with the team until August 6th, but returned after being designated for assignment to the Fresno Grizzlies of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and stayed with the team to close the year from August 16th onward. With the major league Giants, Romo had a 2.12 earned run average over thirty-four innings pitched, striking out thirty-three batters. Romo began the 2009 season on the disabled list, and after rehabilitation appearances in San Jose and Fresno, he was in San Francisco on May 30th. Romo was deployed in high-leverage and late-inning situations for most of the season. On July 7th, he turned his first major league save against the Florida Marlins. Overall, he had a 3.97 earned run average over thirty-four innings, striking out forty-one batters and accumulating ten holds. His role expanded in 2010, and Romo became noticed as one of the premier setup relievers in the major leagues during the season. For the year, he had a 2.18 earned run average and seventy strikeouts in sixty-two innings pitched. He also pitched to twenty-one holds during the year, and was an easy choice for the postseason roster. In his first trip to the postseason, Romo didn't fare extremely well, blowing two saves (although neither resulted in a Giants loss). He wasn't a complete detriment either though, improving after getting past the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. In the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, and against the Texas Rangers in the World Series, Romo appeared four times without giving up a run. The rest of the team was good enough to help Romo earn his first World Series title when things were all said and done. Romo's biggest feat in 2011 was throwing ten consecutive perfect innings during a span of fourteen games, only the fifth reliever in history to do so. At the end of the year, Romo had a 1.50 earned run average, seventy strikeouts, twenty-three holds, and just forty-eight innings of work. Alas, it wasn't enough to bring the Giants back to the postseason. Romo's role increased again in 2012 after Brian Wilson's season-ending Tommy John surgery. He was a critical part of the closer committee, working both in a setup role to the tune of twenty-three holds, and as a closer later on, where he turned fourteen saves, with just one blown save all year. Evidence of his talents are on display in his 1.79 earned run average, as well as his sixty-three strikeouts in fifty-five and one-third innings. Romo was the designated closer during the postseason, and he appeared in ten games overall during the playoffs. His only run allowed during the playoffs came against the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Division Series, while he was turning his first save in Game 5. He also earned the win in Game 3 of that series. He made four appearances against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, protecting the lead in non-save situations in all of the games. He was only used in games the Giants won in that series. The star-making moment came in the national spotlight though, as he saved Games 2, 3, and 4 in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He pitched three innings in the World Series, playing perfect baseball with five strikeouts, including the final strikeout of the season against Miguel Cabrera in Game 4, which he then emphatically celebrated before being mobbed by his teammates on the mound. Looking to the future, Romo will be a valuable piece of the Giants bullpen no matter which role he is used in.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
KHL November 24th 2012
Only one game for today, as Metallurg Novokuznetsk hosts Sibir Novosibirsk. Jeff Glass for Sibir and Alexander Lazushin for Metallurg tend the twines. Novosibirsk scored first in the first period as Anton Malyshev potted the puck, with a lone assist from Artyom Voroshilo. This was the only goal in the game, with Sibir winning 1-0. Malyshev, Glass (35 save shutout), and Lazushin (24 for 25 in saves) receive the three stars.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Friday, November 23, 2012
KHL November 23rd 2012
We've got another eleven games on today. I apologize if I can't finish this post before I leave the house for High School Football later. Some of the games are a bit late starting. We begin in...
Ufa, as Salavat Yulaev hosts Donbass Donetsk. Jan Laco for Donbass and Iiro Tarkki for Salavat Yulaev are in front of the nets. Ufa led off with a first period goal by Igor Musatov, assisted by Alexander Stepanov. Donetsk tied it as Clay Wilson scored, with the help of Alexei Ponikarovsky and Sergei Varlamov. Salavat Yulaev took the lead back on an Igor Mirnov goal, passed from Antti Pihlstrom and Alexei Kaigorodov. Ufa extended the lead in the second period as Pihlstrom scored, thanks to Mirnov and Kaigorodov. Salavat Yulaev kept going with a Nikita Filatov goal, set up by Yury Trubachyov and Denis Parshin. Ufa iced the game at 5-1 with a third period goal coming off the tape of Andrei Konev, fueled by Denis Khlystov and Vitaly Parshin. The three stars belonged to Mirnov, Pihlstrom, and Kaigorodov.
Next, we head south, as Metallurg Magnitogorsk hosts Barys Astana. Teemu Lassila for Barys and Ari Ahonen for Metallurg are set to start in goal. Magnitogorsk began with a Cal O'Reilly goal, made possible by Sergei Mozyakin in the first period. Astana tied it as Maxim Spiridonov scored a power play goal, set up by Nikolai Antropov and Brandon Bochenski. Metallurg retook the lead as Nikoali Kulemin scored, with a lone assist from Mozyakin. Magnitogorsk extended the lead in the second period as Dmitry Kazionov scored a power play goal, powered by Mozyakin, who got a sock trick, and Sergei Gonchar. Metallurg padded the lead with a Gonchar goal, and Evgeny Malkin had the only assist on the power play tally. Magnitogorsk struck again with another Kazionov goal, courtesy of Justin Hodgman. This prompted Barys to replace Lassila in net, opting to go with Pavel Poluektov. It worked, as he gave up no goals, but they didn't score either, falling 5-1. Kazionov, Mozyakin, and Gonchar earn the three stars.
A little to the east, Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov for Yugra and Andrei Mezin for Traktor are between the pipes. Chelyabinsk got going with a second period unassisted goal by Yegor Dugin. Traktor added on when Mazim Yakutsenya scored a goal, with a lone assist provided by Evgeny Kuznetsov. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the third period when Maxim Belyaev scored, and Rinat Ibragimov supplied the only assist. They couldn't tie the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars going to Yakutsenya, Mezin (17 for 18 in saves), and Dugin.
Up north, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg welcomes Avangard Omsk. Eduard Reizvikh for Avangard and Evgeny Lobanov for Avtomobilist are given the starting nods. Omsk was first to score in the first period as Pavel Valentenko scored with the help of Dmitry Syomin. Yekaterinburg tied it with a Nikita Tryamkin goal, fueled by Joffrey Lupul and Fyodor Malykhin. Avangard retook the lead in the second period on an Alexander Frolov goal, made possible by Sergei Kostitsyn and Georgijs Pujacs. Avtomobilist retied the game as Rastislav Spirko scored a goal, assisted by Sergei Gusev and Evgeny Lapenkov. Omsk took the lead again in the third period on a Tomas Zaborsky goal, coming off of Alexander Perezhogin. Avangard extended the lead with a Syomin goal, courtesy of Anton Belov and Frolov. Omsk struck again on a power play goal by Kostitsyn, powered by Oleg Piganovich. Avangard continued with another Syomin goal, passed from Kostitsyn and Frolov. Yekaterinburg got one back as Josef Straka scored, with a lone assist provided by Denis Makarov. This produced the 6-3 final in Avangard's favor, with the three stars being Syomin, Kostitsyn, and Frolov.
To the northwest, Ak Bars Kazan brings in Spartak Moscow. Alexei Yakhin for Spartak and Konstantin Barulin for Ak Bars are in the blue paint. Moscow opened with an Alexander Suglobov goal, with a lone assist by Jakub Nakladal on the power play. Kazan tied it in the second period with a Janne Pesonen goal, fueled by Jarkko Immonen. Spartak took the lead when Alexander Romanovsky scored, via Alexander Khokhlachyov. Ak Bars tied it again in the third period with a power play goal from Alexei Yemelin, powered by Immonen and Evgeny Medvedev. The game went into overtime, where Moscow won 3-2 on a Branko Radivojevic, with the only helper coming from Nikita Shchitov. The three stars went to Radivojevic, Immonen, and Yakhin (32 for 34 in saves).
Just a bit to the southeast, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist for Dinamo and Matt Dalton for Neftekhimik are protecting the nets. Riga started in the second period as Paul Szczechura scored, with help from Martins Karsums and Aleksandrs Nizivijs. This was the only goal, leading to a 1-0 Dinamo win, with the three stars belonging to Tellqvist (47 save shutout), Szczechura, and Karsums.
Way to the west, CSKA Moscow hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Vitaly Koval for Torpedo and Rastislav Stana for CSKA have the green light to start. Nizhny Novgorod began with a second period goal from Vladimir Gorbunov, passed from Alexander Semin. Torpedo added on in the third period with a power play goal by Dmitry Makarov, powered by Juuso Hietanen and Matt Ellison. Moscow got on the board as Alexander Radulov scored, with the help of Pavel Datsyuk and Mikhail Grabovsky. CSKA tied the game as Datsyuk scored, and Grabovsky recorded the lone assist. The tie was broken in the shootout by a lone goal from Sergei Shirokov for a 3-2 win by CSKA. Datsyuk, Grabovsky, and Shirokov receive the three stars.
Staying in the city of Moscow, Dynamo hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal and Alexei Volkov for Dynamo tend the twines. Cherepovets struck first early in the second period as Alexander Ryazantsev scored, thanks to Vadim Shipachyov. Severstal added on as Bogdon Kiselevich scored a power play goal, and Shipachyov recorded the only assist. Cherepovets kept going as Teemu Laasko scored, with the help of Evgeny Ketov and Tom Wandell. Moscow replied when Dmitry Pestunov scored a goal, assisted by Denis Kokarev and Ilya Gorokhov. Dynamo pulled closer with an Alexander Ovechkin goal, courtesy of Nicklas Backstrom and Leo Komarov. Moscow tied it with a power play goal by Filip Novak, powered by Komarov and Backstrom. Dynamo took the lead when Ovechkin scored his second goal of the game, helped along by Backstrom, who got a sock trick, and Andrei Mironov. Moscow iced it at 5-3 with a Backstrom goal in the third period, pushed through by Denis Mosalyov and Novak on the power play. The three stars went to Backstrom, Ovechkin, and Novak, while Komarov and Shipachyov get the honorable mentions.
Northwest to St. Petersburg, as SKA welcomes Dinamo Minsk. Pekka Rinne of Dinamo and Ilya Ezhov of SKA are the masked men. St. Petersburg was the first on the board as Vladimir Tarasenko scored, courtesy of the goal Ezhov and Ivan Nepryayev. SKA padded the lead as Tony Martensson scored, and Dmitry Kalinin had the only assist. Minsk got on the board as Charles Linglet scored, thanks to Jere Karalahti and Cory Murphy. Dinamo tied it in the third period when Karalahti scored a goal, assisted by Vladimir Denisov on the power play. St. Petersburg won it 3-2 in overtime as Yury Alexandrov scored, and Patrick Thoresen provided an assist to seal the game. The three stars go to Alexandrov, Karalahti, and Ezhov (36 for 38 in saves with an assist).
Southwest to Prague, where Lev Praha hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford for Lokomotiv and Jakub Stepanek for Lev are in the creases. Praha scored first in the first period as Roman Cervenka potted the puck, with help from Jiri Novotny. Lev added on in the second period as Tomas Surovy scored, courtesy of Ondrej Nemec and Martin Skoula. Praha kept going as Skoula scored, thanks to Marcel Hossa and Nemec on the power play. Lokomotiv pulled Sanford at this time in favor of Vitaly Kolesnik. Lubos Bartecko extended the lead for Lev, pushed through by Jakub Klepis and Mathias Porseland. Yaroslavl got on the board with an Alexei Kalyuzhny goal, set up by Daniil Apalkov. Praha shot back as Klepis scored, and Bartecko and Petr Vrana were credited with the assists. Lokomotiv shot back as Sergei Plotnikov scored, via Emil Galimov and Artyom Anisimov. Sanford replaced Kolesnik for the third period. Yaroslavl answered in the third period on a Yury Petrov goal, coming off of Alexander Chernikov and Mark Flood shorthanded. Lev replied again when Bartecko scored another goal, helped along by Vrana and Klepis. Praha iced the game at 7-3 with an empty net goal by Michal Repik, and Erik Christensen picked up the assist. The three stars went to Skoula, Klepis, and Bartecko, while Vrana and Nemec got the honorable mentions.
Finally, we end in Bratislava, as Slovan hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Anton Khudobin for Atlant and Jaroslav Janus for Slovan are all padded up. Bratislava led off with a first period goal by Peter Olvecky, courtesy of Tomas Mikus. Mytishchi tied it late with an Alexei Mikhnov goal, passed from Sandis Ozolins on the power play. Atlant took the lead on a Viktor Bobrov goal, assisted by Alexander Rybakov and Artyom Dorofeyev. Slovan got it back on a Marko Dano goal, made possible by Ivan Svarny and Olvecky. Bratislava got the lead in the third period on a Roman Kukumberg goal, helped along by Milan Kytnar and Vladimir Dravecky. This held up for a 3-2 win, giving the three stars to Olvecky, Kukumberg, and Janus (33 for 35 in saves).
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Ufa, as Salavat Yulaev hosts Donbass Donetsk. Jan Laco for Donbass and Iiro Tarkki for Salavat Yulaev are in front of the nets. Ufa led off with a first period goal by Igor Musatov, assisted by Alexander Stepanov. Donetsk tied it as Clay Wilson scored, with the help of Alexei Ponikarovsky and Sergei Varlamov. Salavat Yulaev took the lead back on an Igor Mirnov goal, passed from Antti Pihlstrom and Alexei Kaigorodov. Ufa extended the lead in the second period as Pihlstrom scored, thanks to Mirnov and Kaigorodov. Salavat Yulaev kept going with a Nikita Filatov goal, set up by Yury Trubachyov and Denis Parshin. Ufa iced the game at 5-1 with a third period goal coming off the tape of Andrei Konev, fueled by Denis Khlystov and Vitaly Parshin. The three stars belonged to Mirnov, Pihlstrom, and Kaigorodov.
Next, we head south, as Metallurg Magnitogorsk hosts Barys Astana. Teemu Lassila for Barys and Ari Ahonen for Metallurg are set to start in goal. Magnitogorsk began with a Cal O'Reilly goal, made possible by Sergei Mozyakin in the first period. Astana tied it as Maxim Spiridonov scored a power play goal, set up by Nikolai Antropov and Brandon Bochenski. Metallurg retook the lead as Nikoali Kulemin scored, with a lone assist from Mozyakin. Magnitogorsk extended the lead in the second period as Dmitry Kazionov scored a power play goal, powered by Mozyakin, who got a sock trick, and Sergei Gonchar. Metallurg padded the lead with a Gonchar goal, and Evgeny Malkin had the only assist on the power play tally. Magnitogorsk struck again with another Kazionov goal, courtesy of Justin Hodgman. This prompted Barys to replace Lassila in net, opting to go with Pavel Poluektov. It worked, as he gave up no goals, but they didn't score either, falling 5-1. Kazionov, Mozyakin, and Gonchar earn the three stars.
A little to the east, Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov for Yugra and Andrei Mezin for Traktor are between the pipes. Chelyabinsk got going with a second period unassisted goal by Yegor Dugin. Traktor added on when Mazim Yakutsenya scored a goal, with a lone assist provided by Evgeny Kuznetsov. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the third period when Maxim Belyaev scored, and Rinat Ibragimov supplied the only assist. They couldn't tie the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars going to Yakutsenya, Mezin (17 for 18 in saves), and Dugin.
Up north, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg welcomes Avangard Omsk. Eduard Reizvikh for Avangard and Evgeny Lobanov for Avtomobilist are given the starting nods. Omsk was first to score in the first period as Pavel Valentenko scored with the help of Dmitry Syomin. Yekaterinburg tied it with a Nikita Tryamkin goal, fueled by Joffrey Lupul and Fyodor Malykhin. Avangard retook the lead in the second period on an Alexander Frolov goal, made possible by Sergei Kostitsyn and Georgijs Pujacs. Avtomobilist retied the game as Rastislav Spirko scored a goal, assisted by Sergei Gusev and Evgeny Lapenkov. Omsk took the lead again in the third period on a Tomas Zaborsky goal, coming off of Alexander Perezhogin. Avangard extended the lead with a Syomin goal, courtesy of Anton Belov and Frolov. Omsk struck again on a power play goal by Kostitsyn, powered by Oleg Piganovich. Avangard continued with another Syomin goal, passed from Kostitsyn and Frolov. Yekaterinburg got one back as Josef Straka scored, with a lone assist provided by Denis Makarov. This produced the 6-3 final in Avangard's favor, with the three stars being Syomin, Kostitsyn, and Frolov.
To the northwest, Ak Bars Kazan brings in Spartak Moscow. Alexei Yakhin for Spartak and Konstantin Barulin for Ak Bars are in the blue paint. Moscow opened with an Alexander Suglobov goal, with a lone assist by Jakub Nakladal on the power play. Kazan tied it in the second period with a Janne Pesonen goal, fueled by Jarkko Immonen. Spartak took the lead when Alexander Romanovsky scored, via Alexander Khokhlachyov. Ak Bars tied it again in the third period with a power play goal from Alexei Yemelin, powered by Immonen and Evgeny Medvedev. The game went into overtime, where Moscow won 3-2 on a Branko Radivojevic, with the only helper coming from Nikita Shchitov. The three stars went to Radivojevic, Immonen, and Yakhin (32 for 34 in saves).
Just a bit to the southeast, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist for Dinamo and Matt Dalton for Neftekhimik are protecting the nets. Riga started in the second period as Paul Szczechura scored, with help from Martins Karsums and Aleksandrs Nizivijs. This was the only goal, leading to a 1-0 Dinamo win, with the three stars belonging to Tellqvist (47 save shutout), Szczechura, and Karsums.
Way to the west, CSKA Moscow hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Vitaly Koval for Torpedo and Rastislav Stana for CSKA have the green light to start. Nizhny Novgorod began with a second period goal from Vladimir Gorbunov, passed from Alexander Semin. Torpedo added on in the third period with a power play goal by Dmitry Makarov, powered by Juuso Hietanen and Matt Ellison. Moscow got on the board as Alexander Radulov scored, with the help of Pavel Datsyuk and Mikhail Grabovsky. CSKA tied the game as Datsyuk scored, and Grabovsky recorded the lone assist. The tie was broken in the shootout by a lone goal from Sergei Shirokov for a 3-2 win by CSKA. Datsyuk, Grabovsky, and Shirokov receive the three stars.
Staying in the city of Moscow, Dynamo hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal and Alexei Volkov for Dynamo tend the twines. Cherepovets struck first early in the second period as Alexander Ryazantsev scored, thanks to Vadim Shipachyov. Severstal added on as Bogdon Kiselevich scored a power play goal, and Shipachyov recorded the only assist. Cherepovets kept going as Teemu Laasko scored, with the help of Evgeny Ketov and Tom Wandell. Moscow replied when Dmitry Pestunov scored a goal, assisted by Denis Kokarev and Ilya Gorokhov. Dynamo pulled closer with an Alexander Ovechkin goal, courtesy of Nicklas Backstrom and Leo Komarov. Moscow tied it with a power play goal by Filip Novak, powered by Komarov and Backstrom. Dynamo took the lead when Ovechkin scored his second goal of the game, helped along by Backstrom, who got a sock trick, and Andrei Mironov. Moscow iced it at 5-3 with a Backstrom goal in the third period, pushed through by Denis Mosalyov and Novak on the power play. The three stars went to Backstrom, Ovechkin, and Novak, while Komarov and Shipachyov get the honorable mentions.
Northwest to St. Petersburg, as SKA welcomes Dinamo Minsk. Pekka Rinne of Dinamo and Ilya Ezhov of SKA are the masked men. St. Petersburg was the first on the board as Vladimir Tarasenko scored, courtesy of the goal Ezhov and Ivan Nepryayev. SKA padded the lead as Tony Martensson scored, and Dmitry Kalinin had the only assist. Minsk got on the board as Charles Linglet scored, thanks to Jere Karalahti and Cory Murphy. Dinamo tied it in the third period when Karalahti scored a goal, assisted by Vladimir Denisov on the power play. St. Petersburg won it 3-2 in overtime as Yury Alexandrov scored, and Patrick Thoresen provided an assist to seal the game. The three stars go to Alexandrov, Karalahti, and Ezhov (36 for 38 in saves with an assist).
Southwest to Prague, where Lev Praha hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford for Lokomotiv and Jakub Stepanek for Lev are in the creases. Praha scored first in the first period as Roman Cervenka potted the puck, with help from Jiri Novotny. Lev added on in the second period as Tomas Surovy scored, courtesy of Ondrej Nemec and Martin Skoula. Praha kept going as Skoula scored, thanks to Marcel Hossa and Nemec on the power play. Lokomotiv pulled Sanford at this time in favor of Vitaly Kolesnik. Lubos Bartecko extended the lead for Lev, pushed through by Jakub Klepis and Mathias Porseland. Yaroslavl got on the board with an Alexei Kalyuzhny goal, set up by Daniil Apalkov. Praha shot back as Klepis scored, and Bartecko and Petr Vrana were credited with the assists. Lokomotiv shot back as Sergei Plotnikov scored, via Emil Galimov and Artyom Anisimov. Sanford replaced Kolesnik for the third period. Yaroslavl answered in the third period on a Yury Petrov goal, coming off of Alexander Chernikov and Mark Flood shorthanded. Lev replied again when Bartecko scored another goal, helped along by Vrana and Klepis. Praha iced the game at 7-3 with an empty net goal by Michal Repik, and Erik Christensen picked up the assist. The three stars went to Skoula, Klepis, and Bartecko, while Vrana and Nemec got the honorable mentions.
Finally, we end in Bratislava, as Slovan hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Anton Khudobin for Atlant and Jaroslav Janus for Slovan are all padded up. Bratislava led off with a first period goal by Peter Olvecky, courtesy of Tomas Mikus. Mytishchi tied it late with an Alexei Mikhnov goal, passed from Sandis Ozolins on the power play. Atlant took the lead on a Viktor Bobrov goal, assisted by Alexander Rybakov and Artyom Dorofeyev. Slovan got it back on a Marko Dano goal, made possible by Ivan Svarny and Olvecky. Bratislava got the lead in the third period on a Roman Kukumberg goal, helped along by Milan Kytnar and Vladimir Dravecky. This held up for a 3-2 win, giving the three stars to Olvecky, Kukumberg, and Janus (33 for 35 in saves).
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 26
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-six tells us of star pitcher Tim Lincecum.
Tim Lincecum was born on June 15, 1984, in Bellevue, Washington. He attended Liberty Senior High School in Renton, Washington, where he graduated from in 2003 after leading the team to a 3A State Championship. He was originally selected in the forty-eighth round of the 2003 draft by the Chicago Cubs, but elected not to sign, turning his sights to playing baseball for the University of Washington. In 2005, he re-entered the draft and was selected in the forty-second round by the Cleveland Indians, but again chose not to sign. It was later revealed he was holding out for a large signing bonus to allow his father to retire. Lincecum got what he wanted in 2006, being drafted in the first round with the tenth overall selection belonging to the San Francisco Giants. His signing bonus was for over $2 million. Lincecum was widely considered one of the best prospects in baseball throughout his time in the minor leagues. In 2006, he made only eight starts, split between the Class A Short Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the Northwest League and the Class A Advanced San Jose Giants of the California League. His statistics during the season were a 1.71 earned run average, fifty-eight strikeouts, and just thirty-one and two-thirds innings pitched. Lincecum spent the first month of the season with the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies, completely skipping the Class AA level, and in five starts, Lincecum held a 0.29 earned run average, forty-six strikeouts, and just thirty-one innings. An injury in the major league Giants rotation gave Lincecum his debut opportunity on May 6, 2007. He ultimately received a no-decision for his efforts. San Francisco elected to keep Lincecum on the team for the rest of the season, before shutting him down to a high innings count in mid-September. His rookie year ended with a 4.00 earned run average, 150 strikeouts, and 146 and 1/3 innings of work. Noticeably, major league players were giving Lincecum credit, mentioning that he was everything they had heard about him. Future teammate Ryan Theriot said Lincecum's stuff was the best he had seen all year after a game against Theriot's Chicago Cubs. The praises continued in 2008, which turned into a star-making year for Lincecum. He was selected to his first All-Star Game, although he did not play due to flu-like symptoms. On September 13th, Lincecum notched his first complete game shutout, and ten days later he set a team record for strikeouts in a season. Overall, Lincecum's statistics in 2008 included a 2.62 earned run average, 227 innings pitched, and a National League-leading 262 strikeouts. In addition, Lincecum was named the National League Cy Young Award winner, for the best pitcher in the league. Lincecum continued to dominate in 2009, pitching three complete games in June, two of which were shutouts. He had a league-leading four complete games and two shutouts for the season. He was named to his second All-Star Game, and this time he started the game, working two innings. On September 8th, Lincecum missed his first start since joining the Giants, allowing another young, rising-star pitcher to make their debut. That pitcher is Madison Bumgarner. His final line for the season was a 2.48 earned run average, with 261 strikeouts in 225 and 1/3 innings pitched. He again led the National League in strikeouts, and once again took home the Cy Young Award, the first pitcher in history to win two Cy Young Awards in their first two full seasons. He showed signs of vulnerability in 2010, and while still a very good pitcher, he struggled through and on-again, off again slump for the entire season. Regardless of his struggles, he was still playing at a high enough level to make his third consecutive National League All-Star team. At the end of the year, Lincecum's 3.43 earned run average with 231 strikeouts (for a third consecutive National League strikeout title) in 212 and 1/3 innings pitched were enough to help the Giants earn a playoff spot. Lincecum made five starts and one relief appearance in the 2010 playoffs. In the playoffs, Lincecum was a force, pitching a two-hit shutout in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. He continued in the National League Championship Series, winning Game 1 but losing Game 5. He also made a relief appearance in Game 6, earning a hold by preserving the lead before Brian Wilson closed the game out to secure a World Series berth. In the World Series, Lincecum started Game 1 and Game 5. Game 1 was rocky, but good enough for the win, while Lincecum returned to dominant form in Game 5, securing a World Series Championship, the first of his career. For the postseason, Lincecum owned a 2.43 earned run average, with forty-three strikeouts in thirty-seven innings. Lincecum went against the grain in 2011, as San Francisco slumped as a whole, but he rebounded into his usual ace form. In the season, he recorded his eighth complete game and fifth shutout, his 1,000th strikeout, and was named to his fourth consecutive All-Star Game. Despite his 2.74 earned run average, 220 strikeouts, and 217 innings pitched, Lincecum only held a 13-14 record. As is often the case in San Francisco, the pitchers are left out to dry when the offense runs cold, and Lincecum received two runs or less in twenty-one of his thirty-three games. The Giants rebounded in 2012, but Lincecum was merely a passenger for most of the season, struggling throughout a year-long slump. His end of the year numbers of a 5.18 earned run average with 190 strikeouts in 186 innings were very far from what was expected of him. Because of that, Lincecum was not in the postseason rotation, instead working from the bullpen. He pitched in two games during each series of the 2012 playoffs, five of which were relief appearances. His lone start was a disaster against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, pushing the Giants to the brink as they fell to a 3-1 deficit. They fought back in the next three games (with the help of the successful #Rally(pitcher's nickname) Twitter hashtags) to advance, where Lincecum was allowed to shine on baseball's biggest stage. In the World Series, Lincecum was a dominant force from the bullpen, allowing just one walk over four and two-thirds innings during Games 1 and 3. It was this contribution, as well as a great effort from the team, that allowed Lincecum to obtain his second World Series Championship in three years. In 2013 and beyond, Lincecum must return to an ace level of pitching, or soon become an afterthought, albeit one with a colorful personality.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Tim Lincecum was born on June 15, 1984, in Bellevue, Washington. He attended Liberty Senior High School in Renton, Washington, where he graduated from in 2003 after leading the team to a 3A State Championship. He was originally selected in the forty-eighth round of the 2003 draft by the Chicago Cubs, but elected not to sign, turning his sights to playing baseball for the University of Washington. In 2005, he re-entered the draft and was selected in the forty-second round by the Cleveland Indians, but again chose not to sign. It was later revealed he was holding out for a large signing bonus to allow his father to retire. Lincecum got what he wanted in 2006, being drafted in the first round with the tenth overall selection belonging to the San Francisco Giants. His signing bonus was for over $2 million. Lincecum was widely considered one of the best prospects in baseball throughout his time in the minor leagues. In 2006, he made only eight starts, split between the Class A Short Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the Northwest League and the Class A Advanced San Jose Giants of the California League. His statistics during the season were a 1.71 earned run average, fifty-eight strikeouts, and just thirty-one and two-thirds innings pitched. Lincecum spent the first month of the season with the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies, completely skipping the Class AA level, and in five starts, Lincecum held a 0.29 earned run average, forty-six strikeouts, and just thirty-one innings. An injury in the major league Giants rotation gave Lincecum his debut opportunity on May 6, 2007. He ultimately received a no-decision for his efforts. San Francisco elected to keep Lincecum on the team for the rest of the season, before shutting him down to a high innings count in mid-September. His rookie year ended with a 4.00 earned run average, 150 strikeouts, and 146 and 1/3 innings of work. Noticeably, major league players were giving Lincecum credit, mentioning that he was everything they had heard about him. Future teammate Ryan Theriot said Lincecum's stuff was the best he had seen all year after a game against Theriot's Chicago Cubs. The praises continued in 2008, which turned into a star-making year for Lincecum. He was selected to his first All-Star Game, although he did not play due to flu-like symptoms. On September 13th, Lincecum notched his first complete game shutout, and ten days later he set a team record for strikeouts in a season. Overall, Lincecum's statistics in 2008 included a 2.62 earned run average, 227 innings pitched, and a National League-leading 262 strikeouts. In addition, Lincecum was named the National League Cy Young Award winner, for the best pitcher in the league. Lincecum continued to dominate in 2009, pitching three complete games in June, two of which were shutouts. He had a league-leading four complete games and two shutouts for the season. He was named to his second All-Star Game, and this time he started the game, working two innings. On September 8th, Lincecum missed his first start since joining the Giants, allowing another young, rising-star pitcher to make their debut. That pitcher is Madison Bumgarner. His final line for the season was a 2.48 earned run average, with 261 strikeouts in 225 and 1/3 innings pitched. He again led the National League in strikeouts, and once again took home the Cy Young Award, the first pitcher in history to win two Cy Young Awards in their first two full seasons. He showed signs of vulnerability in 2010, and while still a very good pitcher, he struggled through and on-again, off again slump for the entire season. Regardless of his struggles, he was still playing at a high enough level to make his third consecutive National League All-Star team. At the end of the year, Lincecum's 3.43 earned run average with 231 strikeouts (for a third consecutive National League strikeout title) in 212 and 1/3 innings pitched were enough to help the Giants earn a playoff spot. Lincecum made five starts and one relief appearance in the 2010 playoffs. In the playoffs, Lincecum was a force, pitching a two-hit shutout in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. He continued in the National League Championship Series, winning Game 1 but losing Game 5. He also made a relief appearance in Game 6, earning a hold by preserving the lead before Brian Wilson closed the game out to secure a World Series berth. In the World Series, Lincecum started Game 1 and Game 5. Game 1 was rocky, but good enough for the win, while Lincecum returned to dominant form in Game 5, securing a World Series Championship, the first of his career. For the postseason, Lincecum owned a 2.43 earned run average, with forty-three strikeouts in thirty-seven innings. Lincecum went against the grain in 2011, as San Francisco slumped as a whole, but he rebounded into his usual ace form. In the season, he recorded his eighth complete game and fifth shutout, his 1,000th strikeout, and was named to his fourth consecutive All-Star Game. Despite his 2.74 earned run average, 220 strikeouts, and 217 innings pitched, Lincecum only held a 13-14 record. As is often the case in San Francisco, the pitchers are left out to dry when the offense runs cold, and Lincecum received two runs or less in twenty-one of his thirty-three games. The Giants rebounded in 2012, but Lincecum was merely a passenger for most of the season, struggling throughout a year-long slump. His end of the year numbers of a 5.18 earned run average with 190 strikeouts in 186 innings were very far from what was expected of him. Because of that, Lincecum was not in the postseason rotation, instead working from the bullpen. He pitched in two games during each series of the 2012 playoffs, five of which were relief appearances. His lone start was a disaster against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, pushing the Giants to the brink as they fell to a 3-1 deficit. They fought back in the next three games (with the help of the successful #Rally(pitcher's nickname) Twitter hashtags) to advance, where Lincecum was allowed to shine on baseball's biggest stage. In the World Series, Lincecum was a dominant force from the bullpen, allowing just one walk over four and two-thirds innings during Games 1 and 3. It was this contribution, as well as a great effort from the team, that allowed Lincecum to obtain his second World Series Championship in three years. In 2013 and beyond, Lincecum must return to an ace level of pitching, or soon become an afterthought, albeit one with a colorful personality.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
NFL Thanksgiving Games 2012 (Week 12)
As has been tradition in the NFL for recent years, there are three games on Thanksgiving. This marks the unofficial second anniversary of my blogging career. This means that for the two days after Thanksgiving, I will be at the Tacoma Dome watching Washington State High School Football semifinals. We all have our traditions, and that is one of mine. This means that the NFL posts for Sunday may be delayed as I work on my other posting series (KHL hockey and How They Got Here) as well as the semifinals reports. Now that you all are aware of the next few days ahead, let us begin with today's three games, starting with...
The Detroit Lions hosting the Houston Texans. Detroit led off in the first quarter as Mikel Leshoure ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Jason Hanson made the extra point. Houston answered in the second quarter with a 6 yard touchdown run from Arian Foster, allowing Shayne Graham to make the extra point. The Lions retook the lead when Matthew Stafford passed 5 yards to Mike Thomas for a touchdown, and Hanson again supplied the extra point. The Texans replied on a Matt Schaub touchdown pass of 9 yards to Owen Daniels, and Graham's extra point again tied the game. Detroit regained the lead as Stafford found Calvin Johnson for 22 yards and a touchdown, and Hanson tacked on the PAT. The Lions padded the lead in the third quarter with a 46 yard field goal by Hanson. Houston took some back as Justin Forsett ran 81 yards for a touchdown, and Graham again made the extra point. The Texans tied it when Graham kicked a 45 yard field goal. Detroit took the lead back as Joique Bell ran 23 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Hanson was there with the extra point. Houston tied it again as Foster ran in another touchdown from 1 yard out, and Graham made his extra point. The Texans came out on top with just over two minutes remaining in overtime as Graham booted a 32 yard field goal for a 34-31 win. The Texans improve to 10-1 while the Lions drop to 4-7.
Down in Dallas for game 2, as the Cowboys host the Washington Redskins. Dallas started in the first quarter as Dan Bailey kicked a 30 yard field goal. Washington shot back in the second quarter as Robert Griffin III passed 68 yards for a touchdown to Aldrick Robinson, and Kai Forbath made the extra point. The Redskins added on with a 1 yard Alfred Morris touchdown rush, followed by another Forbath extra point. Washington padded the lead as Griffin found Pierre Garcon for 59 yards and a touchdown, and Forbath supplied the extra point. The Redskins extended the lead as Griffin connected with Santana Moss for 6 yards and a touchdown, and Forbath again tacked on an extra point. The Cowboys replied in the third quarter when Bailey made a 33 yard field goal. Dallas got some more back as Tony Romo passed 85 yards to Dez Bryant for a touchdown, allowing Bailey to make the PAT. Washington answered in the fourth quarter as Griffin passed 29 yards for a touchdown to Niles Paul, and Forbath booted another extra point. The Cowboys shot back on a Romo 10 yard touchdown pass to Felix Jones, and then Romo ran in the two-point conversion. Dallas chipped away when Romo found Bryant again, this time for 11 yards and a touchdown, and Bailey supplied another extra point. The Redskins got some breathing room when Forbath made a 48 yard field goal. The Cowboys got them back as Bailey made a 51 yard field goal, but it was too late to avoid the 38-31 loss. Both teams moved to 5-6.
Finally, we end with the third game in New Jersey, as the New York Jets host the New England Patriots to renew a bitter rivalry. New England opened in the second quarter as Tom Brady passed 3 yards to Wes Welker for a touchdown, and Stephen Gostkowski made the extra point. The Patriots added on as Brady connected with Shane Vereen for an 83 yard touchdown play, and Gostkowski again knocked in the extra point. New England struck again as Mark Sanchez fumbled, and Steve Gregory picked up the loose ball, returning it 32 yards for a touchdown, with Gostkowski again handling the extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, the Patriots forced another fumble, this time by Joe McKnight, and Julian Edelman took it back to the end zone for a 22 yard scoring play, allowing Gostkowski to boot the extra point. New England kept up the attack as Brady passed 56 yards to Edelman for a touchdown, and Gostkowski was true on the PAT. New York got on the board with a Nick Folk field goal of 32 yards. The Jets took some back in the third quarter by receiving a safety after a penalty. New York chipped away as Bilal Powell ran 4 yards for a touchdown, and Folk tacked on the extra point. The Patriots extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a Brady 1 yard touchdown rush, and Gostkowski was there with the extra point. New England struck again as Stevan Ridley ran 9 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski ended the drive with an extra point. The Jets took some back with a 1 yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez to Dustin Keller, and Folk made his extra point. This was as close as it got, with the final being 49-19, moving the Patriots up to 8-3 while the Jets fall to 4-7.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
The Detroit Lions hosting the Houston Texans. Detroit led off in the first quarter as Mikel Leshoure ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Jason Hanson made the extra point. Houston answered in the second quarter with a 6 yard touchdown run from Arian Foster, allowing Shayne Graham to make the extra point. The Lions retook the lead when Matthew Stafford passed 5 yards to Mike Thomas for a touchdown, and Hanson again supplied the extra point. The Texans replied on a Matt Schaub touchdown pass of 9 yards to Owen Daniels, and Graham's extra point again tied the game. Detroit regained the lead as Stafford found Calvin Johnson for 22 yards and a touchdown, and Hanson tacked on the PAT. The Lions padded the lead in the third quarter with a 46 yard field goal by Hanson. Houston took some back as Justin Forsett ran 81 yards for a touchdown, and Graham again made the extra point. The Texans tied it when Graham kicked a 45 yard field goal. Detroit took the lead back as Joique Bell ran 23 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Hanson was there with the extra point. Houston tied it again as Foster ran in another touchdown from 1 yard out, and Graham made his extra point. The Texans came out on top with just over two minutes remaining in overtime as Graham booted a 32 yard field goal for a 34-31 win. The Texans improve to 10-1 while the Lions drop to 4-7.
Down in Dallas for game 2, as the Cowboys host the Washington Redskins. Dallas started in the first quarter as Dan Bailey kicked a 30 yard field goal. Washington shot back in the second quarter as Robert Griffin III passed 68 yards for a touchdown to Aldrick Robinson, and Kai Forbath made the extra point. The Redskins added on with a 1 yard Alfred Morris touchdown rush, followed by another Forbath extra point. Washington padded the lead as Griffin found Pierre Garcon for 59 yards and a touchdown, and Forbath supplied the extra point. The Redskins extended the lead as Griffin connected with Santana Moss for 6 yards and a touchdown, and Forbath again tacked on an extra point. The Cowboys replied in the third quarter when Bailey made a 33 yard field goal. Dallas got some more back as Tony Romo passed 85 yards to Dez Bryant for a touchdown, allowing Bailey to make the PAT. Washington answered in the fourth quarter as Griffin passed 29 yards for a touchdown to Niles Paul, and Forbath booted another extra point. The Cowboys shot back on a Romo 10 yard touchdown pass to Felix Jones, and then Romo ran in the two-point conversion. Dallas chipped away when Romo found Bryant again, this time for 11 yards and a touchdown, and Bailey supplied another extra point. The Redskins got some breathing room when Forbath made a 48 yard field goal. The Cowboys got them back as Bailey made a 51 yard field goal, but it was too late to avoid the 38-31 loss. Both teams moved to 5-6.
Finally, we end with the third game in New Jersey, as the New York Jets host the New England Patriots to renew a bitter rivalry. New England opened in the second quarter as Tom Brady passed 3 yards to Wes Welker for a touchdown, and Stephen Gostkowski made the extra point. The Patriots added on as Brady connected with Shane Vereen for an 83 yard touchdown play, and Gostkowski again knocked in the extra point. New England struck again as Mark Sanchez fumbled, and Steve Gregory picked up the loose ball, returning it 32 yards for a touchdown, with Gostkowski again handling the extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, the Patriots forced another fumble, this time by Joe McKnight, and Julian Edelman took it back to the end zone for a 22 yard scoring play, allowing Gostkowski to boot the extra point. New England kept up the attack as Brady passed 56 yards to Edelman for a touchdown, and Gostkowski was true on the PAT. New York got on the board with a Nick Folk field goal of 32 yards. The Jets took some back in the third quarter by receiving a safety after a penalty. New York chipped away as Bilal Powell ran 4 yards for a touchdown, and Folk tacked on the extra point. The Patriots extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a Brady 1 yard touchdown rush, and Gostkowski was there with the extra point. New England struck again as Stevan Ridley ran 9 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski ended the drive with an extra point. The Jets took some back with a 1 yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez to Dustin Keller, and Folk made his extra point. This was as close as it got, with the final being 49-19, moving the Patriots up to 8-3 while the Jets fall to 4-7.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 25
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-five tells us of journeyman infielder Ryan Theriot.
Ryan Theriot was born on December 7, 1979, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Broodmoar High School in Baton Rouge, and graduated in 1998. Along with childhood friends Mike Woods and Trae Duncan, Theriot was named a High School All American, and the three of them were the first three infielders from the same state to do so. Most of the time, Theriot has played second base or shortstop based on the necessity of the team, and has also appeared at third base, left field, and right field. Theriot went on to Louisiana State University, where he helped lead the Tigers to the 2000 National Championship, by scoring the winning run. He was a leader for his team, and crossed paths with multiple future teammates while in college. Theriot was drafted in 2001 by the Chicago Cubs in the third round, and completed the season in the Class A Advanced Florida State League with the Daytona Cubs. He hit only .204, and produced only nine runs batted in. Theriot has never been known as a power hitter, but does possess some speed. Theriot was assigned to the Class A Midwest League for 2002, playing with the Lansing Lugnuts of Lansing, Michigan. Here, he managed to produce a .252 batting average with thirty-two stolen bases and thirty-seven runs batted in. He split hit time in 2003 evenly between Lansing and the Class AA Southern League, where he played with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, in Jackson, Tennessee. In Lansing, he hit .259 with twenty-one stolen bases and seventeen runs batted in, while with the Diamond Jaxx, he posted a .236 average with nine runs batted in and stolen bases each. His numbers so far looked like a draft bust, and Theriot found himself with Daytona again for all of 2004. This proved to benefit him, as he improved to a .273 batting average as well as thirteen stolen bases and thirty-four runs batted in. He returned to West Tennessee in 2005, where he spent most of the season hitting to a .304 average, as well as twenty-four stolen bases and fifty-three runs batted in. He earned a mid-September call up to the Chicago Cubs, and appeared in nine games, mostly as a pinch hitter or a pinch runner. Theriot spent two stints with the Iowa Cubs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as making two trips to the big league Cubs in the 2006 season. In Iowa, he posted a .304 batting average, fourteen stolen bases, and twenty-two runs batted in, while he hit .328 with three triples and home runs each, thirteen stolen bases, and sixteen runs batted in during his time with Chicago. To stay in the Chicago lineup in 2007, Theriot had to embrace a role as a super-utility player, playing five different positions throughout the season. He hit .266, while adding three home runs, two triples, forty-five runs batted in, and twenty-eight stolen bases in his first full season in the major leagues. He also managed a .250 batting average with a run batted in during the playoffs, but Chicago was swept 3-0 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series. In 2008, he was able to settle in to the everyday shortstop role, and improved to a .307 batting average with four triples, one home run, thirty-eight runs batted in, and twenty-two stolen bases. While the Cubs were again swept 3-0 in the National League Division Series, this time by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Theriot was able to hit to a .273 postseason average. Theriot continued to man shortstop for the Cubs in 2009, and finished the season with a .284 batting average, five triples, seven home runs (including his first grand slam on May 1st), fifty-four runs batted in and twenty-one stolen bases. It was particularly admirable that Theriot was able to step up when the team was bit hard by the injury bug, as his power streak demonstrated. For 2010, Theriot was returned to a second base position to make room for highly-touted prospect Starlin Castro, a shortstop, to play. The move didn't disrupt him, as he hit .284 with twenty-one runs batted in and sixteen stolen bases before being traded with Ted Lilly and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Brett Wallach, Kyle Smit, and Blake DeWitt on July 31st. In the next two months with the Dodgers, Theriot hit only .242 with just eight runs batted in and four stolen bases. Theriot was flipped in the offseason to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Blake Hawksworth. With the Cardinals, he played in a near-everyday role, hitting to a .271 batting average, as well as forty-seven runs batted in, but as he has aged, his speed has declined and he has stolen far fewer bases. He split time at second base with Skip Schumaker in the postseason, although in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he was six-for-ten with some minor run production in Game 1 of the series. While his bat went cold against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, his glove was on full display, and he famously robber Prince Fielder of a hit to end an inning, which Fielder responded to with an emphatic high five. After a hitless performance in the World Series, it could be said that Theriot, with a .242 postseason average, was merely along for the ride as the Cardinals won the World Series title. It was the first of his career, but on December 12th, Theriot entered free agency. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants on January 27, 2012, and played largely at second base in the 2012 season. An injury suffered on May 8th led Theriot to the disabled list, a rare occurrence for the usually durable infielder, but he became the everyday second baseman when he returned later in the month. He played well in the role, but it wasn't enough, and he was relegated back to a timeshare role at second base and shortstop when Marco Scutaro was acquired from the Colorado Rockies. He also did a lot of pinch hitting to close out the season with a .270 batting average, thirteen stolen bases, and twenty-eight runs batted in. Theriot only worked as a pinch hitter in the National League Division Series and in the National League Championship Series. In the NLCS, Theriot came up big after Matt Holliday's controversial takeout slide on Scutaro, which shook up the veteran and allowed Theriot to finish the game at second base. He provided two valuable insurance runs in the eighth inning, and then did added his third and final 2012 postseason run batted in during Game 6, again in the eighth inning. He made only two appearances in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers as well, pinch hitting in Game 2 with no success. However, his iconic moment came in the tenth inning of Game 4. With the Giants on the road, the designated hitter rule was in effect, and Theriot was playing at designated hitter for the first time in his career. With the score tied at three in the tenth inning, Scutaro (he who took Theriot's second base job at the trade deadline) hit a single that allowed Theriot to score from second base. Theriot could be seen jumping up excitedly after sliding home, and the only run he scored in the postseason turned out to be the decisive run, allowing San Francisco to sweep and Theriot to get his second World Series title in as many years.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Ryan Theriot was born on December 7, 1979, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Broodmoar High School in Baton Rouge, and graduated in 1998. Along with childhood friends Mike Woods and Trae Duncan, Theriot was named a High School All American, and the three of them were the first three infielders from the same state to do so. Most of the time, Theriot has played second base or shortstop based on the necessity of the team, and has also appeared at third base, left field, and right field. Theriot went on to Louisiana State University, where he helped lead the Tigers to the 2000 National Championship, by scoring the winning run. He was a leader for his team, and crossed paths with multiple future teammates while in college. Theriot was drafted in 2001 by the Chicago Cubs in the third round, and completed the season in the Class A Advanced Florida State League with the Daytona Cubs. He hit only .204, and produced only nine runs batted in. Theriot has never been known as a power hitter, but does possess some speed. Theriot was assigned to the Class A Midwest League for 2002, playing with the Lansing Lugnuts of Lansing, Michigan. Here, he managed to produce a .252 batting average with thirty-two stolen bases and thirty-seven runs batted in. He split hit time in 2003 evenly between Lansing and the Class AA Southern League, where he played with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, in Jackson, Tennessee. In Lansing, he hit .259 with twenty-one stolen bases and seventeen runs batted in, while with the Diamond Jaxx, he posted a .236 average with nine runs batted in and stolen bases each. His numbers so far looked like a draft bust, and Theriot found himself with Daytona again for all of 2004. This proved to benefit him, as he improved to a .273 batting average as well as thirteen stolen bases and thirty-four runs batted in. He returned to West Tennessee in 2005, where he spent most of the season hitting to a .304 average, as well as twenty-four stolen bases and fifty-three runs batted in. He earned a mid-September call up to the Chicago Cubs, and appeared in nine games, mostly as a pinch hitter or a pinch runner. Theriot spent two stints with the Iowa Cubs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as making two trips to the big league Cubs in the 2006 season. In Iowa, he posted a .304 batting average, fourteen stolen bases, and twenty-two runs batted in, while he hit .328 with three triples and home runs each, thirteen stolen bases, and sixteen runs batted in during his time with Chicago. To stay in the Chicago lineup in 2007, Theriot had to embrace a role as a super-utility player, playing five different positions throughout the season. He hit .266, while adding three home runs, two triples, forty-five runs batted in, and twenty-eight stolen bases in his first full season in the major leagues. He also managed a .250 batting average with a run batted in during the playoffs, but Chicago was swept 3-0 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series. In 2008, he was able to settle in to the everyday shortstop role, and improved to a .307 batting average with four triples, one home run, thirty-eight runs batted in, and twenty-two stolen bases. While the Cubs were again swept 3-0 in the National League Division Series, this time by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Theriot was able to hit to a .273 postseason average. Theriot continued to man shortstop for the Cubs in 2009, and finished the season with a .284 batting average, five triples, seven home runs (including his first grand slam on May 1st), fifty-four runs batted in and twenty-one stolen bases. It was particularly admirable that Theriot was able to step up when the team was bit hard by the injury bug, as his power streak demonstrated. For 2010, Theriot was returned to a second base position to make room for highly-touted prospect Starlin Castro, a shortstop, to play. The move didn't disrupt him, as he hit .284 with twenty-one runs batted in and sixteen stolen bases before being traded with Ted Lilly and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Brett Wallach, Kyle Smit, and Blake DeWitt on July 31st. In the next two months with the Dodgers, Theriot hit only .242 with just eight runs batted in and four stolen bases. Theriot was flipped in the offseason to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Blake Hawksworth. With the Cardinals, he played in a near-everyday role, hitting to a .271 batting average, as well as forty-seven runs batted in, but as he has aged, his speed has declined and he has stolen far fewer bases. He split time at second base with Skip Schumaker in the postseason, although in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he was six-for-ten with some minor run production in Game 1 of the series. While his bat went cold against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, his glove was on full display, and he famously robber Prince Fielder of a hit to end an inning, which Fielder responded to with an emphatic high five. After a hitless performance in the World Series, it could be said that Theriot, with a .242 postseason average, was merely along for the ride as the Cardinals won the World Series title. It was the first of his career, but on December 12th, Theriot entered free agency. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants on January 27, 2012, and played largely at second base in the 2012 season. An injury suffered on May 8th led Theriot to the disabled list, a rare occurrence for the usually durable infielder, but he became the everyday second baseman when he returned later in the month. He played well in the role, but it wasn't enough, and he was relegated back to a timeshare role at second base and shortstop when Marco Scutaro was acquired from the Colorado Rockies. He also did a lot of pinch hitting to close out the season with a .270 batting average, thirteen stolen bases, and twenty-eight runs batted in. Theriot only worked as a pinch hitter in the National League Division Series and in the National League Championship Series. In the NLCS, Theriot came up big after Matt Holliday's controversial takeout slide on Scutaro, which shook up the veteran and allowed Theriot to finish the game at second base. He provided two valuable insurance runs in the eighth inning, and then did added his third and final 2012 postseason run batted in during Game 6, again in the eighth inning. He made only two appearances in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers as well, pinch hitting in Game 2 with no success. However, his iconic moment came in the tenth inning of Game 4. With the Giants on the road, the designated hitter rule was in effect, and Theriot was playing at designated hitter for the first time in his career. With the score tied at three in the tenth inning, Scutaro (he who took Theriot's second base job at the trade deadline) hit a single that allowed Theriot to score from second base. Theriot could be seen jumping up excitedly after sliding home, and the only run he scored in the postseason turned out to be the decisive run, allowing San Francisco to sweep and Theriot to get his second World Series title in as many years.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
KHL November 22nd 2012
Our one game for today comes from Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Sibir Novosibirsk. Jeff Glass of Sibir and Alexei Murygin of Amur tend the twines. Khabarovsk opened with a first period power play goal from Alexander Osipov, powered by Perttu Lindgren and Dmitry Tarasov. Novosibirsk tied it in the second period as Arturs Kulda scored, with the help of Igor Velichkin. Amur regained the lead as Timofei Shishkanov notched a power play goal, made possible by Vladimir Loganov and Andrei Stepanov. Khabarovsk iced the game at 3-1 when Jakub Petruzalek put away an empty net goal, with a lone assist from Tarasov. The three stars went to Tarasov, Shishkanov, and Murygin (30 for 31 in saves).
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
KHL November 21st 2012
Eleven games for the KHL today, beginning with...
Amur Khabarovsk hosting Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Alexander Lazushin of Metallurg and Alexei Murygin of Amur are set to play goal. Khabarovsk was first to score with an unassisted second period goal by Juha-Pekka Hytonen. Novokuznetsk replied on a power play goal by Dmitry Kagarlitsky, courtesy of Randy Robitaille. Amur answered on a power play goal by Jakub Petruzalek, made possible by Dmitry Tarasov. Khabarovsk extended the lead as Petruzalek scored another power play goal, again powered by Tarasov. Amur padded the lead in the third period on a Perttu Lindgren goal, assisted by Tarasov, who got a sock trick, and Petruzalek. Khabarovsk iced the scoring at 5-1 as Dmitry Lugin scored, thanks to Nikita Gusev and Mikhail Fisenko. The three stars belonged to Petruzalek, Tarasov, and Murygin (16 for 17 in saves).
Well to the west, Salavat Yulaev Ufa hosts Spartak Moscow. Sergei Borisov for Spartak and Iiro Tarkki for Salavat Yulaev are in the blue paint. Ufa began in the first period as Vitaly Proshkin potted the puck, with the help of Igor Mirnov and Alexei Kaigorodov. Moscow tied it on an Oleg Gubin goal, coming off of Alexander Suglobov and Branko Radivojevic. Salavat Yulaev took the lead back in the second period as Ivan Baranka scored, thanks to Denis Khlystov and Sergei Zinovyev. Ufa added on with a power play goal by Nikita Filatov, assisted by Andrei Konev and Zinovyev. Salavat Yulaev extended the lead in the third period with a power play goal by Konev, powered by Khlystov and Proshkin. This was all for the scoring, with the final being 4-1. Proshkin, Konev, and Zinovyev get the three stars while Khlystov and Tarkki (23 for 24 in saves) are the honorable mentions.
To the south, Metallurg Magnitogorsk hosts Avangard Omsk. Karri Ramo for Avangard and Ari Ahonen for Metallurg are the masked men. Omsk quickly scored first with a first period goal by Alexander Frolov, going in unassisted. Avangard added on in the second period with an Igor Volkov goal, set up by Vladimir Pervushin and Matti Kuparinen. Magnitogorsk got on the board as Sergei Gonchar scored, with the help of Enver Lisin. They failed to tie the game, falling 2-1, with the three stars belonging to Ramo (32 for 33 in saves), Volkov, and Ahonen (29 for 31 in saves).
A bit southeast brings us to Chelyabinsk, as Traktor hosts Barys Astana. Teemu Lassila for Barys and Andrei Mezin for Traktor are the starting goalies. Astana led off in the first period with a power play goal by Roman Starchenko, assisted by Vitaly Novopashin and Victor Hedman. Barys extended the lead on another power play goal, this time from Dmitry Upper, powered by Starchenko and Hedman. Astana struck again in the second period as Nigel Dawes scored, thanks to Dustin Boyd and Hedman. The scoring was silent in the third period, with Barys winning 3-0. Starchenko, Hedman, and Lassila (28 save shutout) earned the three stars.
North to Yekaterinburg, as Avtomobilist hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Edgars Masalskis for Yugra and Christopher Holt for Avtomobilist play in front of the nets. Khanty-Mansiysk opened with a first period goal by Vitaly Sitnikov, courtesy of Marek Troncinsky and Igor Skorokhodov. Yekaterinburg tied the game in the second period on a Fyodor Malykhin goal, made possible by Joffrey Lupul and Denis Sokolov. The game required extra time to determine a winner, although Avtomobilist changed goalies for overtime, subbing Holt out in favor of Evgeny Lobanov. The game was sent to a shootout, where Skorokhodov and Stanislav Bocharov led Yugra to a 2-1 win over Avtomobilist, whose only goal in the shootout came from Lupul. Skorokhodov, Lupul, and Masalskis (32 for 33 in saves) get the three stars.
Northwest to Kazan, as Ak Bars hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist for Dinamo and Emil Garipov for Ak Bars are all padded up. Riga started quickly in the first period on a Jekabs Redlihs goal, passed from Paul Szczechura and Alexandre Giroux. Kazan tied it when Ilya Nikulin scored a shorthanded goal, with a lone assist from Dmitry Obukhov. Ak Bars took the lead as Niko Kapanen scored, thanks to Alexei Morozov and Danis Zaripov. Dinamo tied it with a second period shorthanded goal off the tape of Kristaps Sotnieks, and Gints Meija had the only assist. Kazan regained the lead as Obukhov scored a power play goal, courtesy of Jarkko Immonen and Alexei Yemelin. Ak Bars added on with an Immonen goal, fueled by Obukhov. Kazan kept going as Zaripov scored, with the help of Morozov. Ak Bars ended the scoring at 6-2 in the third period on a Janne Pesonen goal, a power play goal powered by Evgeny Medvedev and Yemelin. The three stars of the game were Obukhov, Zaripov, and Immonen, while Morozov and Yemelin receive honorable mentions.
Just a bit to the southeast, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk hosts Donbass Donetsk. Jan Laco of Donbass and Matt Dalton of Neftekhimik receive the starting nods. Donetsk began in the first period on an Evgeny Dadonov goal, coming on the power play via Clay Wilson and Vaclav Nedorost. Nizhnekamsk tied it in the third period on a Tomas Netik power play goal, powered by Maxim Pestushko and Alexander Seluyanov. Neftekhimik took the lead as Netik scored again, with this goal helped along by Pestushko and Petr Koukal, coming shorthanded. Donbass retied it when Dadonov scored again, thanks to Wilson and Tuomas Kiiskinen on the power play. Nizhnekamsk retook the lead with another shorthanded goal, coming off the tape of Yegor Milovzorov, passed from Seluyanov and Koukal. Donetsk retied it on a goal by Nedorost, made possible by Peter Podhradsky and Sergei Varlamov. The game needed a shootout to determine the winner, and it was Neftekhimik after goals by Nail Yakupov and Milovzorov led to a 4-3 victory, while Donbass got a lone shootout goal from Nedorost. The three stars go to Milovzorov, Netik, and Nedorost, while Dadonov, Pestushko, Seluyanov, Koukal, and Wilson get the honorable mentions.
To the west, SKA St. Petersburg hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal and Ilya Ezhov for SKA are between the pipes. St. Petersburg led off in the first period on a Maxim Chudinov goal, assisted by Anton Burdasov and Alexander Kucheryavenko. SKA extended the lead in the third period as Ilya Kovalchuk scored, with the help of Vladimir Tarasenko. Cherepovets got on the board with a Vadim Berdnikov goal, fueled by Bogdan Kiselevich. Severstal tied the game when Tom Wandell scored, courtesy of Nikolai Stasenko and Mikko Lehtonen. St. Petersburg retook the lead as Ivan Nepryayev scored, with assists provided by Tarasenko and Dmitry Kalinin. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Tarasenko, Nepryayev, and Kovalchuk.
A bit southeast, as CSKA Moscow hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Semyon Varlamov of Lokomotiv and Ilya Bryzgalov of CSKA play in the creases in a battle of NHL goaltenders. Yaroslavl got going with a second period Artyom Anisimov goal, set up by Alexander Chernikov and Sergei Plotnikov. Plotnikov added on for Lokomotiv with a power play goal powered by Sami Lepisto and Mark Flood. Yaroslaval extended the lead as Emil Galimov scored, with helpers provided by Vitaly Vishnevsky and Anisimov. Lokomotiv made it 4-0 in the third period as Plotnikov scored again, thanks to Anisimov and Galimov. The three stars went to Plotnikov, Anisimov, and Galimov.
Over in Prague, Lev Praha hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov for Atlant and Tomas Popperle for Lev are guarding the cages. Praha was first to score with a first period goal by Jakub Voracek, with a lone assist by Martin Skoula. Atlant switched goalies in the second period, pulling Galimov for Anton Khudobin. Mytishchi got on the board as Alexei Mikhnov scored a second period goal, with a lone helper from Sandis Ozolins. Lev retook the lead as Marcel Hossa scored, thanks to Erik Christensen and Skoula. Atlant pulled even again in the third period on a Konstantin Koltsov goal, coming off of Mikhnov and Ilya Kablukov. Praha retook the lead again as Jakub Klepis scored, with the help of Lubos Bartecko. Lev iced the game at 4-2 when Ondrej Nemec scored a goal, assisted by Juraj Mikus and Tomas Surovy. The three stars went to Mikhnov, Skoula, and Klepis.
Finally, in Bratislava, Slovan hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Vitaly Koval for Torpedo and Jaroslav Janus for Slovan are tending the twines. Nizhny Novgorod struck first in the first period on a Juuso Hietanen power play goal, made possible by Martin Thornberg. Torpedo added on as Thornberg scored an unassisted goal. Nizhny Novgorod extended the lead in the second period on a Thornberg power play goal, powered by Dmitry Makarov and Mazim Potapov. Torpedo kept going as Vladimir Gazulin scored, thanks to Semyon Valuisky and Artyom Chernov. Bratislava got on the board in the third period as Tomas Mikus potted the puck, with the help of Andrej Stastny. This only made it 4-1, with the three stars going to Thornberg, Hietanen, and Koval (30 for 31 in saves).
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Amur Khabarovsk hosting Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Alexander Lazushin of Metallurg and Alexei Murygin of Amur are set to play goal. Khabarovsk was first to score with an unassisted second period goal by Juha-Pekka Hytonen. Novokuznetsk replied on a power play goal by Dmitry Kagarlitsky, courtesy of Randy Robitaille. Amur answered on a power play goal by Jakub Petruzalek, made possible by Dmitry Tarasov. Khabarovsk extended the lead as Petruzalek scored another power play goal, again powered by Tarasov. Amur padded the lead in the third period on a Perttu Lindgren goal, assisted by Tarasov, who got a sock trick, and Petruzalek. Khabarovsk iced the scoring at 5-1 as Dmitry Lugin scored, thanks to Nikita Gusev and Mikhail Fisenko. The three stars belonged to Petruzalek, Tarasov, and Murygin (16 for 17 in saves).
Well to the west, Salavat Yulaev Ufa hosts Spartak Moscow. Sergei Borisov for Spartak and Iiro Tarkki for Salavat Yulaev are in the blue paint. Ufa began in the first period as Vitaly Proshkin potted the puck, with the help of Igor Mirnov and Alexei Kaigorodov. Moscow tied it on an Oleg Gubin goal, coming off of Alexander Suglobov and Branko Radivojevic. Salavat Yulaev took the lead back in the second period as Ivan Baranka scored, thanks to Denis Khlystov and Sergei Zinovyev. Ufa added on with a power play goal by Nikita Filatov, assisted by Andrei Konev and Zinovyev. Salavat Yulaev extended the lead in the third period with a power play goal by Konev, powered by Khlystov and Proshkin. This was all for the scoring, with the final being 4-1. Proshkin, Konev, and Zinovyev get the three stars while Khlystov and Tarkki (23 for 24 in saves) are the honorable mentions.
To the south, Metallurg Magnitogorsk hosts Avangard Omsk. Karri Ramo for Avangard and Ari Ahonen for Metallurg are the masked men. Omsk quickly scored first with a first period goal by Alexander Frolov, going in unassisted. Avangard added on in the second period with an Igor Volkov goal, set up by Vladimir Pervushin and Matti Kuparinen. Magnitogorsk got on the board as Sergei Gonchar scored, with the help of Enver Lisin. They failed to tie the game, falling 2-1, with the three stars belonging to Ramo (32 for 33 in saves), Volkov, and Ahonen (29 for 31 in saves).
A bit southeast brings us to Chelyabinsk, as Traktor hosts Barys Astana. Teemu Lassila for Barys and Andrei Mezin for Traktor are the starting goalies. Astana led off in the first period with a power play goal by Roman Starchenko, assisted by Vitaly Novopashin and Victor Hedman. Barys extended the lead on another power play goal, this time from Dmitry Upper, powered by Starchenko and Hedman. Astana struck again in the second period as Nigel Dawes scored, thanks to Dustin Boyd and Hedman. The scoring was silent in the third period, with Barys winning 3-0. Starchenko, Hedman, and Lassila (28 save shutout) earned the three stars.
North to Yekaterinburg, as Avtomobilist hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Edgars Masalskis for Yugra and Christopher Holt for Avtomobilist play in front of the nets. Khanty-Mansiysk opened with a first period goal by Vitaly Sitnikov, courtesy of Marek Troncinsky and Igor Skorokhodov. Yekaterinburg tied the game in the second period on a Fyodor Malykhin goal, made possible by Joffrey Lupul and Denis Sokolov. The game required extra time to determine a winner, although Avtomobilist changed goalies for overtime, subbing Holt out in favor of Evgeny Lobanov. The game was sent to a shootout, where Skorokhodov and Stanislav Bocharov led Yugra to a 2-1 win over Avtomobilist, whose only goal in the shootout came from Lupul. Skorokhodov, Lupul, and Masalskis (32 for 33 in saves) get the three stars.
Northwest to Kazan, as Ak Bars hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist for Dinamo and Emil Garipov for Ak Bars are all padded up. Riga started quickly in the first period on a Jekabs Redlihs goal, passed from Paul Szczechura and Alexandre Giroux. Kazan tied it when Ilya Nikulin scored a shorthanded goal, with a lone assist from Dmitry Obukhov. Ak Bars took the lead as Niko Kapanen scored, thanks to Alexei Morozov and Danis Zaripov. Dinamo tied it with a second period shorthanded goal off the tape of Kristaps Sotnieks, and Gints Meija had the only assist. Kazan regained the lead as Obukhov scored a power play goal, courtesy of Jarkko Immonen and Alexei Yemelin. Ak Bars added on with an Immonen goal, fueled by Obukhov. Kazan kept going as Zaripov scored, with the help of Morozov. Ak Bars ended the scoring at 6-2 in the third period on a Janne Pesonen goal, a power play goal powered by Evgeny Medvedev and Yemelin. The three stars of the game were Obukhov, Zaripov, and Immonen, while Morozov and Yemelin receive honorable mentions.
Just a bit to the southeast, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk hosts Donbass Donetsk. Jan Laco of Donbass and Matt Dalton of Neftekhimik receive the starting nods. Donetsk began in the first period on an Evgeny Dadonov goal, coming on the power play via Clay Wilson and Vaclav Nedorost. Nizhnekamsk tied it in the third period on a Tomas Netik power play goal, powered by Maxim Pestushko and Alexander Seluyanov. Neftekhimik took the lead as Netik scored again, with this goal helped along by Pestushko and Petr Koukal, coming shorthanded. Donbass retied it when Dadonov scored again, thanks to Wilson and Tuomas Kiiskinen on the power play. Nizhnekamsk retook the lead with another shorthanded goal, coming off the tape of Yegor Milovzorov, passed from Seluyanov and Koukal. Donetsk retied it on a goal by Nedorost, made possible by Peter Podhradsky and Sergei Varlamov. The game needed a shootout to determine the winner, and it was Neftekhimik after goals by Nail Yakupov and Milovzorov led to a 4-3 victory, while Donbass got a lone shootout goal from Nedorost. The three stars go to Milovzorov, Netik, and Nedorost, while Dadonov, Pestushko, Seluyanov, Koukal, and Wilson get the honorable mentions.
To the west, SKA St. Petersburg hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal and Ilya Ezhov for SKA are between the pipes. St. Petersburg led off in the first period on a Maxim Chudinov goal, assisted by Anton Burdasov and Alexander Kucheryavenko. SKA extended the lead in the third period as Ilya Kovalchuk scored, with the help of Vladimir Tarasenko. Cherepovets got on the board with a Vadim Berdnikov goal, fueled by Bogdan Kiselevich. Severstal tied the game when Tom Wandell scored, courtesy of Nikolai Stasenko and Mikko Lehtonen. St. Petersburg retook the lead as Ivan Nepryayev scored, with assists provided by Tarasenko and Dmitry Kalinin. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Tarasenko, Nepryayev, and Kovalchuk.
A bit southeast, as CSKA Moscow hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Semyon Varlamov of Lokomotiv and Ilya Bryzgalov of CSKA play in the creases in a battle of NHL goaltenders. Yaroslavl got going with a second period Artyom Anisimov goal, set up by Alexander Chernikov and Sergei Plotnikov. Plotnikov added on for Lokomotiv with a power play goal powered by Sami Lepisto and Mark Flood. Yaroslaval extended the lead as Emil Galimov scored, with helpers provided by Vitaly Vishnevsky and Anisimov. Lokomotiv made it 4-0 in the third period as Plotnikov scored again, thanks to Anisimov and Galimov. The three stars went to Plotnikov, Anisimov, and Galimov.
Over in Prague, Lev Praha hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov for Atlant and Tomas Popperle for Lev are guarding the cages. Praha was first to score with a first period goal by Jakub Voracek, with a lone assist by Martin Skoula. Atlant switched goalies in the second period, pulling Galimov for Anton Khudobin. Mytishchi got on the board as Alexei Mikhnov scored a second period goal, with a lone helper from Sandis Ozolins. Lev retook the lead as Marcel Hossa scored, thanks to Erik Christensen and Skoula. Atlant pulled even again in the third period on a Konstantin Koltsov goal, coming off of Mikhnov and Ilya Kablukov. Praha retook the lead again as Jakub Klepis scored, with the help of Lubos Bartecko. Lev iced the game at 4-2 when Ondrej Nemec scored a goal, assisted by Juraj Mikus and Tomas Surovy. The three stars went to Mikhnov, Skoula, and Klepis.
Finally, in Bratislava, Slovan hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Vitaly Koval for Torpedo and Jaroslav Janus for Slovan are tending the twines. Nizhny Novgorod struck first in the first period on a Juuso Hietanen power play goal, made possible by Martin Thornberg. Torpedo added on as Thornberg scored an unassisted goal. Nizhny Novgorod extended the lead in the second period on a Thornberg power play goal, powered by Dmitry Makarov and Mazim Potapov. Torpedo kept going as Vladimir Gazulin scored, thanks to Semyon Valuisky and Artyom Chernov. Bratislava got on the board in the third period as Tomas Mikus potted the puck, with the help of Andrej Stastny. This only made it 4-1, with the three stars going to Thornberg, Hietanen, and Koval (30 for 31 in saves).
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 24
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-four tells us of controversial outfielder Melky Cabrera.
Melky Cabrera was born on August 11, 1984, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He was an undrafted player, being first signed by the New York Yankees on November 14, 2001. He made his first professional appearances with the Staten Island Yankees of Staten Island, New York, in the Class A Short Season New York-Pennsylvania League. Here, he hit to a .283 batting average with two home runs and thirty-one runs batted in. He moved up to the Class A Midwest League in 2004, appearing in 42 games with the Battle Creek Yankees in Battle Creek, Michigan. Cabrera had a line of a .333 batting average with sixteen runs batted in before a promotion to the Class A Advanced Tampa Yankees of Tampa, Florida, in the Florida League. Here, he closed out the season hitting .288 with eight home runs and fifty-one runs batted in. He continued to progress rapidly, playing much of 2005 in the Class AA Eastern League with the Trenton Thunder in Trenton, New Jersey. Cabrera posted statistics reading .275 in batting average, as well as ten home runs and sixty runs batted in for the season at this level. This earned him a promotion to the Class AAA International League to play with the Columbus Clippers in Columbus, Ohio, where he stayed for nine games before a major league call up. He first appeared for the New York Yankees on July 7, 2005, but quickly wore out his welcome with a defensive miscue and a lack of hitting. He returned to Columbus after the short major league stint, and finished with a .248 batting average, three home runs, and seventeen runs batted in. He was sent back down to Trenton to end the year. In 2006, Cabrera played the beginning of the season with the Clippers, hitting to a sterling .385 batting average, with four home runs and twenty-four runs batted in, before being called up as an injury replacement for left fielder Hideki Matsui. He did not lose the major league job, finishing out the year with a .280 batting average and seven home runs as well as fifty runs batted in. His first home run came on June 15th. He also got his first taste of postseason baseball, appearing in two games against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series, which the Yankees ultimately lost 3-1. For 2007, Cabrera spent the whole year with New York, hitting to a .273 average with eight home runs and seventy-three runs batted in while working as a fourth outfielder before getting the starting job in center field. He also proved himself valuable with a solid bat, strong throwing arm, and ability to draw walks. In 2008, he maintained all of his defensive assets, but his hitting disappeared a bit. He was relegated back to a fourth outfielder role before being sent down to the Yankees' new Class AAA affiliate in the International League, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of Pennsylvania. He spent mid-August there, hitting .333 with five runs batted in, before earning a September call up. He closed out a disappointing season in New York, ending with a .248 batting average, eight home runs, and thirty-seven runs batted in. Cabrera regained his poise in 2009, including hitting the first walk-off hit at New Yankee Stadium on April 22nd. Competing with Brett Gardner for the center field job, Cabrera was able to prove himself despite being the underdog and took the job back. Cabrera's season reached a high point on August 2nd, as he became the first Yankee in nearly fourteen years to hit for the cycle, and to sweeten the day, he also hit his 200th run batted in. He closed out the regular season with a .274 average, thirteen home runs, and sixty-eight runs batted in. Cabrera was an easy choice for the postseason roster, with his biggest playoff game coming on October 20th, when he knocked in all four of his runs batted in against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League Championship Series. His effectiveness in the postseason was about the same as in the regular season, and he finished the playoffs with a .271 batting average, as well as a World Series title when the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. It wasn't enough for New York to keep him, and they traded Cabrera, reliever Mike Dunn, and pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino to the Atlanta Braves for the disappointing starter Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan on December 22, 2009. Atlanta felt like they were on the losing end of this deal though, as Cabrera did not do extremely well in 2010, hitting only .255 with four home runs and forty-two runs batted in. Cabrera was criticized for his size and lack of effort. After going hitless against the San Francisco Giants in the postseason, Cabrera was released. He signed with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent, in an attempt to revitalize his career. It worked, as he hit .305 in 2011, while supplying eighteen home runs and eighty-seven runs batted in. It was truly a career year for Cabrera, who hit new career highs in all of the major statistics categories. The Royals sold high on Cabrera, trading him to the San Francisco Giants for Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo. Initially, this looked like an absolute fleecing in favor of San Francisco, as Cabrera excelled even more in 2012 while Sanchez struggled and was eventually flipped to Colorado. Cabrera's month of May was even more impressive, as he set a team record for any month with fifty-one hits. He earned a trip to the All-Star Game (coincidentally in Kansas City), and earned Most Valuable Player honors in the 8-0 National League win by hitting a two-run home run. However, in one of the crueler plot twists we've seen so far, Cabrera's season was cut short on August 15, 2012, with his final line reading a majors-leading .346 (which he requested be taken out of consideration for the batting title), as well as eleven home runs and sixty runs batted in. His season ended amid a controversy about a positive test for testosterone, indicating performance-enhancing drug usage. He served a fifty-game suspension from Major League Baseball, and was eligible to return for the National League Championship Series, but the Giants elected to not interfere with team chemistry, and Cabrera was not on the postseason roster at any point in the season. While he had nothing directly to do with their World Series title, and is not listed as a champion for the season, Cabrera did evoke memories of another San Francisco left fielder caught up in a performance-enhancing drugs scandal, Barry Bonds. It could be argued that San Francisco would never have gotten to the playoffs without Cabrera's likely tainted assistance, but since it didn't happen we will never know. Cabrera will attempt to move on from the scandal in 2013 by playing with a newly revitalized Toronto Blue Jays club, having signed with them just two days previous to this article.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Melky Cabrera was born on August 11, 1984, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He was an undrafted player, being first signed by the New York Yankees on November 14, 2001. He made his first professional appearances with the Staten Island Yankees of Staten Island, New York, in the Class A Short Season New York-Pennsylvania League. Here, he hit to a .283 batting average with two home runs and thirty-one runs batted in. He moved up to the Class A Midwest League in 2004, appearing in 42 games with the Battle Creek Yankees in Battle Creek, Michigan. Cabrera had a line of a .333 batting average with sixteen runs batted in before a promotion to the Class A Advanced Tampa Yankees of Tampa, Florida, in the Florida League. Here, he closed out the season hitting .288 with eight home runs and fifty-one runs batted in. He continued to progress rapidly, playing much of 2005 in the Class AA Eastern League with the Trenton Thunder in Trenton, New Jersey. Cabrera posted statistics reading .275 in batting average, as well as ten home runs and sixty runs batted in for the season at this level. This earned him a promotion to the Class AAA International League to play with the Columbus Clippers in Columbus, Ohio, where he stayed for nine games before a major league call up. He first appeared for the New York Yankees on July 7, 2005, but quickly wore out his welcome with a defensive miscue and a lack of hitting. He returned to Columbus after the short major league stint, and finished with a .248 batting average, three home runs, and seventeen runs batted in. He was sent back down to Trenton to end the year. In 2006, Cabrera played the beginning of the season with the Clippers, hitting to a sterling .385 batting average, with four home runs and twenty-four runs batted in, before being called up as an injury replacement for left fielder Hideki Matsui. He did not lose the major league job, finishing out the year with a .280 batting average and seven home runs as well as fifty runs batted in. His first home run came on June 15th. He also got his first taste of postseason baseball, appearing in two games against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series, which the Yankees ultimately lost 3-1. For 2007, Cabrera spent the whole year with New York, hitting to a .273 average with eight home runs and seventy-three runs batted in while working as a fourth outfielder before getting the starting job in center field. He also proved himself valuable with a solid bat, strong throwing arm, and ability to draw walks. In 2008, he maintained all of his defensive assets, but his hitting disappeared a bit. He was relegated back to a fourth outfielder role before being sent down to the Yankees' new Class AAA affiliate in the International League, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of Pennsylvania. He spent mid-August there, hitting .333 with five runs batted in, before earning a September call up. He closed out a disappointing season in New York, ending with a .248 batting average, eight home runs, and thirty-seven runs batted in. Cabrera regained his poise in 2009, including hitting the first walk-off hit at New Yankee Stadium on April 22nd. Competing with Brett Gardner for the center field job, Cabrera was able to prove himself despite being the underdog and took the job back. Cabrera's season reached a high point on August 2nd, as he became the first Yankee in nearly fourteen years to hit for the cycle, and to sweeten the day, he also hit his 200th run batted in. He closed out the regular season with a .274 average, thirteen home runs, and sixty-eight runs batted in. Cabrera was an easy choice for the postseason roster, with his biggest playoff game coming on October 20th, when he knocked in all four of his runs batted in against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League Championship Series. His effectiveness in the postseason was about the same as in the regular season, and he finished the playoffs with a .271 batting average, as well as a World Series title when the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. It wasn't enough for New York to keep him, and they traded Cabrera, reliever Mike Dunn, and pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino to the Atlanta Braves for the disappointing starter Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan on December 22, 2009. Atlanta felt like they were on the losing end of this deal though, as Cabrera did not do extremely well in 2010, hitting only .255 with four home runs and forty-two runs batted in. Cabrera was criticized for his size and lack of effort. After going hitless against the San Francisco Giants in the postseason, Cabrera was released. He signed with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent, in an attempt to revitalize his career. It worked, as he hit .305 in 2011, while supplying eighteen home runs and eighty-seven runs batted in. It was truly a career year for Cabrera, who hit new career highs in all of the major statistics categories. The Royals sold high on Cabrera, trading him to the San Francisco Giants for Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo. Initially, this looked like an absolute fleecing in favor of San Francisco, as Cabrera excelled even more in 2012 while Sanchez struggled and was eventually flipped to Colorado. Cabrera's month of May was even more impressive, as he set a team record for any month with fifty-one hits. He earned a trip to the All-Star Game (coincidentally in Kansas City), and earned Most Valuable Player honors in the 8-0 National League win by hitting a two-run home run. However, in one of the crueler plot twists we've seen so far, Cabrera's season was cut short on August 15, 2012, with his final line reading a majors-leading .346 (which he requested be taken out of consideration for the batting title), as well as eleven home runs and sixty runs batted in. His season ended amid a controversy about a positive test for testosterone, indicating performance-enhancing drug usage. He served a fifty-game suspension from Major League Baseball, and was eligible to return for the National League Championship Series, but the Giants elected to not interfere with team chemistry, and Cabrera was not on the postseason roster at any point in the season. While he had nothing directly to do with their World Series title, and is not listed as a champion for the season, Cabrera did evoke memories of another San Francisco left fielder caught up in a performance-enhancing drugs scandal, Barry Bonds. It could be argued that San Francisco would never have gotten to the playoffs without Cabrera's likely tainted assistance, but since it didn't happen we will never know. Cabrera will attempt to move on from the scandal in 2013 by playing with a newly revitalized Toronto Blue Jays club, having signed with them just two days previous to this article.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 23
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-three is about wunderkind catcher Buster Posey.
Gerald "Buster" Posey III was born on March 27, 1987, in Leesburg, Georgia. Attending Lee County High School, baseball was Posey's main sport, and for good reasons. Splitting time between shortstop and pitching, Posey set school records for batting average at .544 and runs batted in with forty-six in just his junior year. He also had a 10-1 record and 1.53 earned run average. In his senior year, he set a school record with fourteen home runs to go with a .462 batting average and forty runs batted in. He had a 12-0 record in thirteen starts, with a 1.06 earned run average and 108 strikeouts as well. His honors from high school include Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, Louisville Slugger State Player of the Year, and EA Sports and Baseball America All-American nominations. Besides being great on both sides of the ball, he was also great in the classroom, finishing high school with a 3.94 grade point average, perhaps the most important statistic he could have from his student-athlete career. He was a 50th round selection in the 2005 draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but he chose to attend college instead. Posey played college baseball at Florida State, and in his freshman year played shortstop. He was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American for his .346 batting average, four home runs, and forty-right runs batted in. As suggested by his coaches in 2007, he started playing catcher, and he was named the second best catcher in Johnny Bench Award voting. He hit .382 with three home runs and sixty-five runs batted in. The 2008 season was even better for Posey, where he won the Johnny Bench Award, hit a stunning .463 batting average as well as twenty-six home runs and ninety-three runs batted in, was named Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year, and achieved a very rare feat. On May 12th, he played all nine fielding positions, striking out two batters as a pitcher and hitting a grand slam in a 10-0 win over Savannah State University. His versatility was never more on display, and although that's not an achievement usually attempted a highly competitive environment, it is a feat worthy of praise. Posey was a first round draft pick in the 2008 draft, where he was selected fifth overall by the San Francisco Giants. Posey began his professional career with ten games in 2008, split between the Rookie-level Arizona League Giants, before moving along to the Class A Short Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League in Salem, Oregon. In the short stint, he hit .351 with one home run and six runs batted in. Posey was fast-tracked to the Class A Advanced California League in 2009, where he appeared in eighty games at catcher for the San Jose Giants, hitting .326 with thirteen home runs and fifty-eight runs batted in. He earned a mid-season promotion to the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. Posey hit .321 with five home runs and twenty-two runs batted in at this level. This earned him a short major league call up, where he played in seven games but struggled early on. Undeterred, Posey went to Fresno for the beginning of the 2010 season, hitting .349 over forty-seven games, while launching six home runs with thirty-two runs batted in before being recalled to the major league Giants on May 29th. He worked at first base for the first month of the season, before going back to catching after a June 30th trade that saw starting catcher Bengie Molina traded to the Texas Rangers. Posey's rookie season was a highlight reel, with a twenty-one game hitting streak, his first grand slam, and a bump in the lineup to the coveted cleanup spot. This was only July, and he proved a force to be reckoned with as the Giants hurtled to a National League West Division title. He closed out his rookie year hitting .305 with eighteen home runs and sixty-seven runs batted in. This earned him the National League Rookie of the Year award for 2010. He was an obvious choice for the postseason roster, where he hit .288 with a home run and five runs batted in, although there was not a particular defining moment as Posey helped the Giants past the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers for a World Series Championship. Sadly, Posey was a poster boy for the San Francisco 2011 season as well, when a controversial play on May 25th resulted in a season-ending injury for the sophomore catcher. The play, still fresh in the minds of many of us, was when Scott Cousins scored a winning run against the Giants and crashed violently into Posey, causing serious ligament damage as well as a fractured fibula. Posey came out publicly when threats were made against Cousins, denouncing such actions while stepping up to acknowledge the vast support he received. He ended the season with forty-five games played, a .284 batting average, and twenty-one runs batted in with four home runs. Uncertainty clouded Posey's 2012 campaign, but he quickly cast doubts aside. He was the catcher for Matt Cain's perfect game on June 13, 2012 against the Houston Astros, resulting in what Posey called one of his most nervous moments on a baseball field. He was an easy selection for the All-Star Game, his first, and at season's end, he won the Willie Mac Award for demonstrating the spirit and leadership that Giants great Willie McCovey showed throughout his career. He hit a major-league leading .336 batting average (as well as a majors best .433 against lefties), with twenty-four home runs and 103 runs batted in en route to the National League batting title (which he won when teammate Melky Cabrera took himself out of the running due to his performance-enhancing drugs suspension). He was a cornerstone for the playoff run by the Giants, appearing in every game. The iconic moment of Posey's postseason was in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, when he hit a grand slam against Mat Latos, and later turned a strikeout-throw out double play to help preserve a lead that allowed the Giants to advance to the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Another key moment was his go-ahead home run in Game 4 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers, which proved vital when Delmon Young hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning. Without those two home runs, Posey and the Giants may not have won the World Series, and because of his clutch power displays, Posey earned his second World Series Championship in three years. Additionally, Posey is the answer to the trivia question "Who is the only Giants player to be on the field for the clinching moments of both the 2010 and 2012 World Series?" Besides the previously mentioned awards, Posey won the following awards for his performance in 2012: National League Comeback Player of the Year, National League Silver Slugger at catcher, National League Hank Aaron Award for best hitter as determined by the fans and media, and the Baseball Writers Association of America National League Most Valuable Player Award. Despite playing a different position and in a different era, parallels between Posey and Giants great Willie Mays have already been drawn, including performance, leadership, and even years missed due to exterior circumstances. Hopefully, Posey can keep the comparisons going, as even with only three years to his name, he already looks like a Hall of Fame-caliber player.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Gerald "Buster" Posey III was born on March 27, 1987, in Leesburg, Georgia. Attending Lee County High School, baseball was Posey's main sport, and for good reasons. Splitting time between shortstop and pitching, Posey set school records for batting average at .544 and runs batted in with forty-six in just his junior year. He also had a 10-1 record and 1.53 earned run average. In his senior year, he set a school record with fourteen home runs to go with a .462 batting average and forty runs batted in. He had a 12-0 record in thirteen starts, with a 1.06 earned run average and 108 strikeouts as well. His honors from high school include Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, Louisville Slugger State Player of the Year, and EA Sports and Baseball America All-American nominations. Besides being great on both sides of the ball, he was also great in the classroom, finishing high school with a 3.94 grade point average, perhaps the most important statistic he could have from his student-athlete career. He was a 50th round selection in the 2005 draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but he chose to attend college instead. Posey played college baseball at Florida State, and in his freshman year played shortstop. He was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American for his .346 batting average, four home runs, and forty-right runs batted in. As suggested by his coaches in 2007, he started playing catcher, and he was named the second best catcher in Johnny Bench Award voting. He hit .382 with three home runs and sixty-five runs batted in. The 2008 season was even better for Posey, where he won the Johnny Bench Award, hit a stunning .463 batting average as well as twenty-six home runs and ninety-three runs batted in, was named Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year, and achieved a very rare feat. On May 12th, he played all nine fielding positions, striking out two batters as a pitcher and hitting a grand slam in a 10-0 win over Savannah State University. His versatility was never more on display, and although that's not an achievement usually attempted a highly competitive environment, it is a feat worthy of praise. Posey was a first round draft pick in the 2008 draft, where he was selected fifth overall by the San Francisco Giants. Posey began his professional career with ten games in 2008, split between the Rookie-level Arizona League Giants, before moving along to the Class A Short Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League in Salem, Oregon. In the short stint, he hit .351 with one home run and six runs batted in. Posey was fast-tracked to the Class A Advanced California League in 2009, where he appeared in eighty games at catcher for the San Jose Giants, hitting .326 with thirteen home runs and fifty-eight runs batted in. He earned a mid-season promotion to the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. Posey hit .321 with five home runs and twenty-two runs batted in at this level. This earned him a short major league call up, where he played in seven games but struggled early on. Undeterred, Posey went to Fresno for the beginning of the 2010 season, hitting .349 over forty-seven games, while launching six home runs with thirty-two runs batted in before being recalled to the major league Giants on May 29th. He worked at first base for the first month of the season, before going back to catching after a June 30th trade that saw starting catcher Bengie Molina traded to the Texas Rangers. Posey's rookie season was a highlight reel, with a twenty-one game hitting streak, his first grand slam, and a bump in the lineup to the coveted cleanup spot. This was only July, and he proved a force to be reckoned with as the Giants hurtled to a National League West Division title. He closed out his rookie year hitting .305 with eighteen home runs and sixty-seven runs batted in. This earned him the National League Rookie of the Year award for 2010. He was an obvious choice for the postseason roster, where he hit .288 with a home run and five runs batted in, although there was not a particular defining moment as Posey helped the Giants past the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers for a World Series Championship. Sadly, Posey was a poster boy for the San Francisco 2011 season as well, when a controversial play on May 25th resulted in a season-ending injury for the sophomore catcher. The play, still fresh in the minds of many of us, was when Scott Cousins scored a winning run against the Giants and crashed violently into Posey, causing serious ligament damage as well as a fractured fibula. Posey came out publicly when threats were made against Cousins, denouncing such actions while stepping up to acknowledge the vast support he received. He ended the season with forty-five games played, a .284 batting average, and twenty-one runs batted in with four home runs. Uncertainty clouded Posey's 2012 campaign, but he quickly cast doubts aside. He was the catcher for Matt Cain's perfect game on June 13, 2012 against the Houston Astros, resulting in what Posey called one of his most nervous moments on a baseball field. He was an easy selection for the All-Star Game, his first, and at season's end, he won the Willie Mac Award for demonstrating the spirit and leadership that Giants great Willie McCovey showed throughout his career. He hit a major-league leading .336 batting average (as well as a majors best .433 against lefties), with twenty-four home runs and 103 runs batted in en route to the National League batting title (which he won when teammate Melky Cabrera took himself out of the running due to his performance-enhancing drugs suspension). He was a cornerstone for the playoff run by the Giants, appearing in every game. The iconic moment of Posey's postseason was in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, when he hit a grand slam against Mat Latos, and later turned a strikeout-throw out double play to help preserve a lead that allowed the Giants to advance to the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Another key moment was his go-ahead home run in Game 4 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers, which proved vital when Delmon Young hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning. Without those two home runs, Posey and the Giants may not have won the World Series, and because of his clutch power displays, Posey earned his second World Series Championship in three years. Additionally, Posey is the answer to the trivia question "Who is the only Giants player to be on the field for the clinching moments of both the 2010 and 2012 World Series?" Besides the previously mentioned awards, Posey won the following awards for his performance in 2012: National League Comeback Player of the Year, National League Silver Slugger at catcher, National League Hank Aaron Award for best hitter as determined by the fans and media, and the Baseball Writers Association of America National League Most Valuable Player Award. Despite playing a different position and in a different era, parallels between Posey and Giants great Willie Mays have already been drawn, including performance, leadership, and even years missed due to exterior circumstances. Hopefully, Posey can keep the comparisons going, as even with only three years to his name, he already looks like a Hall of Fame-caliber player.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
KHL November 20th 2012
Today's lone game is being played in Moscow, as Dynamo hosts Vityaz Chekhov. Ivan Kasutin for Vityaz and Alexei Volkov for Dynamo are the masked men. Chekhov began with a first period power play goal by Vladimir Malevich, powered by Alexei Troshchinsky. Moscow tied it in the second period as Nicklas Backstrom scored, with the help of Alexander Ovechkin and Denis Tolpeko. Vityaz retook the lead in the third period on a Troshchinsky goal, fueled by Anton Korolyov and Josh Hennessy. Dynamo shot back with an unassisted goal by Sergei Soin. Moscow took the lead on another Backstrom goal, assisted by Ovechkin and Tolpeko. This was all they needed for a 3-2 win, with Backstrom, Troshchinsky, and Ovechkin getting the three stars, while Tolpeko earns an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Fantasy Football All-Stars Week 11 2012
Clinching season is in full effect. There are about three or four more weeks of the regular season, and then it's playoff time. I won't be sending many teams to the postseason this year, as I've struggled with effectiveness. Here's the most recent stars.
Quarterback: Matt Schaub
Running Backs: LaRod Stephens-Howling and Marcel Reece
Wide Receivers: Andre Johnson and Justin Blackmon
Tight End: Rob Gronkowski
Kicker: Josh Scobee
Team Defense: New England
Defensive Players: Aldon Smith and Von Miller
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Quarterback: Matt Schaub
Running Backs: LaRod Stephens-Howling and Marcel Reece
Wide Receivers: Andre Johnson and Justin Blackmon
Tight End: Rob Gronkowski
Kicker: Josh Scobee
Team Defense: New England
Defensive Players: Aldon Smith and Von Miller
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Monday Night Football Week 11 2012
Our game this week should be a defensive war between the host San Francisco 49ers and the visiting Chicago Bears. San Francisco opened with a David Akers field goal of 32 yards. The 49ers padded the lead as Colin Kaepernick passed 3 yards for a touchdown to Vernon Davis, and Akers supplied the extra point. San Francisco kept going in the second quarter on a 14 yard Kendall Hunter touchdown run, and Akers again made the extra point. The 49ers struck again on a 37 yard Akers field goal. San Francisco padded the lead in the third quarter as Kaepernick passed 10 yards for a touchdown to Michael Crabtree, and Akers tacked on the PAT. Chicago got on the board when Jason Campbell found Brandon Marshall for 13 yards and a touchdown, and Robbie Gould booted the extra point. The 49ers shot back in the fourth quarter as Akers made a 32 yard field goal. San Francisco got some more as Aldon Smith sacked Campbell for a safety. This produced a 32-7 final, with the 49ers now at 7-2-1 and the Bears falling to 7-3.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 22
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-two tells us of young right fielder Hunter Pence.
Hunter Pence was born on April 13, 1983, in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, where he played in the outfield before playing shortstop in his senior year. He went to Texarkana College for one year before transferring to University of Texas at Arlington, where he was a star playing in the Southland Conference. In his junior year, he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round, and signed this time (Pence previously refused to sign as a 2002 draft fortieth round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers). He ended the 2004 season playing in the Class A Short Season New York-Pennsylvania League with the Tri-City ValleyCats of Troy, New York, where he hit to a .296 batting average with eight home runs and thirty-seven runs batted in. In 2005, he moved up to the Class A Lexington Legends in Lexington, Kentucky of the South Atlantic League, where he hit .338 with twenty-five home runs and sixty runs batted in over the course of eighty games. He was promoted to the Class A Advanced Caroling League to play with the Salem Avalanche of Salem, Virginia. Pence played another forty-one games here, hitting .305 with six home runs and thirty runs batted in. For the 2006 season, Pence earned another promotion, up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks in the Texas League. His numbers dropped a bit at this level, as he hit only .283 with twenty-eight home runs and ninety-five runs batted in for the full season. It was enough to earn him a short stint in 2007 with the Round Rock Express of Round Rock, Texas, in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He spent most of April here, hitting a sterling .326 batting average with three home runs and twenty-one runs batted in, before earning a call up to the Houston Astros. His debut was against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 28th, and he stuck with the Astros, playing center and right field, for the whole season except for from July 23rd to August 20th, when he was out with an injury. His rookie season concluded with him hitting .322 in batting average, as well as seventeen home runs and sixty-nine runs batted in. Pence played the full season with Houston in 2008, hitting to a .269 batting average as well as twenty-five home runs and eighty-three runs batted in, which was a slight regression. The 2009 season treated Pence a little bit better, as he made his first All-Star game en route to a personal line of .282 in batting average with twenty-five home runs and seventy-two runs batted in. He came into 2010 and left very similar results, cementing himself as a key player for the Astros by hitting .282 with twenty-five home runs and ninety-one runs batted in. His time as the face of the franchise was short though, as he began 2011 with the Astros and put up a .308 batting average with eleven home runs and sixty-two runs batted in before being traded during a firesale to the Philadelphia Phillies with cash in exchange for Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Zeid, and a player to be named later (Domingo Santana), all minor league players. None have broken into the major leagues yet. He closed out the season manning right field for the Phillies, where he hit .324 with eleven home runs and thirty-five runs batted in. He was primarily brought in with the intention of being a long-term solution in the outfield, as well as a short-term push in the playoffs, but the Phillies collapsed against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series, and Pence hit only .211 with four runs batted in during the postseason. Nevertheless, he held the job for Philadelphia, and began the 2012 season there, hitting to a disappointing .271 batting average and seventeen home runs with fifty-nine runs batted in. In another deadline deal, the Phillies decimated their outfield while looking far away from the playoffs, making two deals in the same day. One was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Pence deal sent him to the Dodgers' rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for minor league players Seth Rosin and Tommy Joseph, as well as established major league player Nate Schierholtz. While the Dodgers were thought to have made the best deadline deals by acquiring big names and larger contracts, the Giants excelled even as Pence struggled in the orange and black, where he hit .219 with seven home runs and forty-five runs batted in to close out the season. In the end, the Giants made the playoffs while the Dodgers unraveled, and it was Pence who brought something immeasurable to the table in the postseason. When down 2-0 in the National League Division Series to the Cincinnati Reds, Pence gave a speech to his teammates, firing them up, and they won the next three games to advance to the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Here, he had one of the quirkiest moments in recent memory, when he hit a third inning double in Game 7 that hit his breaking bat three times, causing a very unusual spin to be applied to the ball. The hit resulted in two earned runs and an additional unearned run, and put the nail in the coffin on the Cardinals, allowing San Francisco to reach the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He added the last of his four runs batted in during Game 2 of the World Series, a critical eighth inning insurance run to give the Giants a 2-0 series lead before heading to Detroit, where they finished off the Tigers with a four game sweep. While Pence's one home run and .210 batting average were nothing special, his fiery pregame speeches were recognized by teammates as a huge influence and motivation on them to win the championship, earning Pence his first World Series title.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Hunter Pence was born on April 13, 1983, in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, where he played in the outfield before playing shortstop in his senior year. He went to Texarkana College for one year before transferring to University of Texas at Arlington, where he was a star playing in the Southland Conference. In his junior year, he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round, and signed this time (Pence previously refused to sign as a 2002 draft fortieth round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers). He ended the 2004 season playing in the Class A Short Season New York-Pennsylvania League with the Tri-City ValleyCats of Troy, New York, where he hit to a .296 batting average with eight home runs and thirty-seven runs batted in. In 2005, he moved up to the Class A Lexington Legends in Lexington, Kentucky of the South Atlantic League, where he hit .338 with twenty-five home runs and sixty runs batted in over the course of eighty games. He was promoted to the Class A Advanced Caroling League to play with the Salem Avalanche of Salem, Virginia. Pence played another forty-one games here, hitting .305 with six home runs and thirty runs batted in. For the 2006 season, Pence earned another promotion, up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks in the Texas League. His numbers dropped a bit at this level, as he hit only .283 with twenty-eight home runs and ninety-five runs batted in for the full season. It was enough to earn him a short stint in 2007 with the Round Rock Express of Round Rock, Texas, in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He spent most of April here, hitting a sterling .326 batting average with three home runs and twenty-one runs batted in, before earning a call up to the Houston Astros. His debut was against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 28th, and he stuck with the Astros, playing center and right field, for the whole season except for from July 23rd to August 20th, when he was out with an injury. His rookie season concluded with him hitting .322 in batting average, as well as seventeen home runs and sixty-nine runs batted in. Pence played the full season with Houston in 2008, hitting to a .269 batting average as well as twenty-five home runs and eighty-three runs batted in, which was a slight regression. The 2009 season treated Pence a little bit better, as he made his first All-Star game en route to a personal line of .282 in batting average with twenty-five home runs and seventy-two runs batted in. He came into 2010 and left very similar results, cementing himself as a key player for the Astros by hitting .282 with twenty-five home runs and ninety-one runs batted in. His time as the face of the franchise was short though, as he began 2011 with the Astros and put up a .308 batting average with eleven home runs and sixty-two runs batted in before being traded during a firesale to the Philadelphia Phillies with cash in exchange for Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Zeid, and a player to be named later (Domingo Santana), all minor league players. None have broken into the major leagues yet. He closed out the season manning right field for the Phillies, where he hit .324 with eleven home runs and thirty-five runs batted in. He was primarily brought in with the intention of being a long-term solution in the outfield, as well as a short-term push in the playoffs, but the Phillies collapsed against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series, and Pence hit only .211 with four runs batted in during the postseason. Nevertheless, he held the job for Philadelphia, and began the 2012 season there, hitting to a disappointing .271 batting average and seventeen home runs with fifty-nine runs batted in. In another deadline deal, the Phillies decimated their outfield while looking far away from the playoffs, making two deals in the same day. One was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Pence deal sent him to the Dodgers' rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for minor league players Seth Rosin and Tommy Joseph, as well as established major league player Nate Schierholtz. While the Dodgers were thought to have made the best deadline deals by acquiring big names and larger contracts, the Giants excelled even as Pence struggled in the orange and black, where he hit .219 with seven home runs and forty-five runs batted in to close out the season. In the end, the Giants made the playoffs while the Dodgers unraveled, and it was Pence who brought something immeasurable to the table in the postseason. When down 2-0 in the National League Division Series to the Cincinnati Reds, Pence gave a speech to his teammates, firing them up, and they won the next three games to advance to the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Here, he had one of the quirkiest moments in recent memory, when he hit a third inning double in Game 7 that hit his breaking bat three times, causing a very unusual spin to be applied to the ball. The hit resulted in two earned runs and an additional unearned run, and put the nail in the coffin on the Cardinals, allowing San Francisco to reach the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He added the last of his four runs batted in during Game 2 of the World Series, a critical eighth inning insurance run to give the Giants a 2-0 series lead before heading to Detroit, where they finished off the Tigers with a four game sweep. While Pence's one home run and .210 batting average were nothing special, his fiery pregame speeches were recognized by teammates as a huge influence and motivation on them to win the championship, earning Pence his first World Series title.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
KHL November 19th 2012
One game today, as Sibir Novosibirsk hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Alexander Lazushin for Metallurg and Sergei Gaiduchenko for Sibir tend the twines. Novosibirsk got on the board in the first period with a Konstantin Glazachev goal, made possible by Jori Lehtera and Jonas Enlund. Sibir added on in the second period as Enlund scored, with assists provided by Lehtera and Glazachev. The scoring stopped here, so Sibir won 2-0, and the three stars belonged to Glazachev, Enlund, and Gaiduchenko (21 save shutout), while Lehtera gets an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
NFL Afternoon/Night Games Week 11 2012
Four games for the late wave. This post will be finished on November 19th, 2012. We begin in...
Oakland, as the Raiders host the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans led off in the first quarter with a Drew Brees 1 yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham, and Garrett Hartley made the extra point. The Saints added on as Malcolm Jenkins picked off Carson Palmer and took it 55 yards to the house for a touchdown, with Hartley making another extra point. Oakland replied in the second quarter as Palmer passed 1 yard to Brandon Myers for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski booted the extra point. New Orleans answered as Brees threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore, and Hartley made the PAT. The Saints kept going in the third quarter on a 27 yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram, with Hartley making the extra point. The Raiders replied as Janikowski made a 40 yard field goal. New Orleans padded the lead as Brees found Moore again, this time for a 15 yard touchdown connection, and Hartley made his extra point. The Saints padded the lead in the fourth quarter with a 47 yard Hartley field goal. Oakland got some back as Palmer passed 3 yards to Juron Criner for a touchdown, and Janikowski was there with the extra point. This ended the scoring at 38-17, with the Saints now at 5-5 and the Raiders at 3-7.
Over in Denver, the Broncos host the San Diego Chargers. San Diego started as Eric Weddle intercepted Peyton Manning in the first quarter for 23 yards and a touchdown, and Nick Novak handled the extra point. Denver tied it in the second quarter with Manning passing 13 yards to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown, and Matt Prater knocked in the extra point. The Broncos took the lead as Prater made a 19 yard field goal. Denver extended the lead as Manning passed to Brandon Stokley for 31 yards and a touchdown, and Prater again made the PAT. The Chargers got some back as Shaun Phillips sacked Manning for a safety. The Broncos shot back as Manning passed 20 yards to Eric Decker for a touchdown, and Prater handled the extra point. San Diego got some back as Philip Rivers passed 8 yards to Danario Alexander for a touchdown, and Novak was true with the extra point. Denver extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a 30 yard field goal by Prater. The Broncos got some more as Prater made a 32 yard field goal. The Chargers took some back when Rivers hooked up with Alexander for another touchdown, this time from 21 yards, and Novak supplied the extra point. They got no closer, falling 30-23, with Denver now at 7-3 and the Chargers dropping to 4-6.
Further to the east, the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis opened in the first quarter as Delone Carter ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Adam Vinatieri handled the extra point. New England tied it as Tom Brady passed 4 yards to Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown, and Stephen Gostkowski's extra point was the equalizer. The Colts retook the lead on a 14 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck to T.Y. Hilton, and Vinatieri supplied the PAT. The Patriots pulled even again as Julian Edelman returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Gostkowski made another extra point. New England took the lead with an Aqib Talib interception of Luck, which he took back 59 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. Indianapolis got some back as Vinatieri made a 47 yard field goal. The Patriots answered with a Gostkowski field goal from 31 yards. New England extended the lead in the third quarter as Brady passed 2 yards to Edelman for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. The Patriots padded the lead as Brady found Gronkowski for another touchdown, this time a 24 yard connection, and Gostkowski kicked in the extra point. New England kept going in the fourth quarter with another pick-six, as Alfonzo Dennard intercepted Luck for 87 yards and the touchdown, allowing another Gostkowski extra point. The Colts got some back with Luck finding Hilton for 43 yards and another touchdown, and Vinatieri tacked on the extra point. The Patriots replied as Stevan Ridley ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. New England iced it at 59-24 as Shane Vereen ran 4 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. The Patriots go to 7-3 while the Colts drop to 6-4.
Finally, the night game has the Pittsburgh Steelers host their fierce rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.Pittsburgh got going in the first quarter as Byron Leftwich ran 31 yards for a touchdown, and Shaun Suisham made the extra point. Baltimore took the lead when Justin Tucker made a 26 yard field goal. The Ravens took the lead as Jacoby Jones returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, and Tucker handled the extra point. Baltimore extended the lead in the third quarter on a Tucker field goal of 39 yards. The Steelers got some back with a Suisham field goal from 22 yards away. They got no closer, losing 13-10, with Baltimore now at 8-2 and Pittsburgh at 6-4.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Oakland, as the Raiders host the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans led off in the first quarter with a Drew Brees 1 yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham, and Garrett Hartley made the extra point. The Saints added on as Malcolm Jenkins picked off Carson Palmer and took it 55 yards to the house for a touchdown, with Hartley making another extra point. Oakland replied in the second quarter as Palmer passed 1 yard to Brandon Myers for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski booted the extra point. New Orleans answered as Brees threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore, and Hartley made the PAT. The Saints kept going in the third quarter on a 27 yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram, with Hartley making the extra point. The Raiders replied as Janikowski made a 40 yard field goal. New Orleans padded the lead as Brees found Moore again, this time for a 15 yard touchdown connection, and Hartley made his extra point. The Saints padded the lead in the fourth quarter with a 47 yard Hartley field goal. Oakland got some back as Palmer passed 3 yards to Juron Criner for a touchdown, and Janikowski was there with the extra point. This ended the scoring at 38-17, with the Saints now at 5-5 and the Raiders at 3-7.
Over in Denver, the Broncos host the San Diego Chargers. San Diego started as Eric Weddle intercepted Peyton Manning in the first quarter for 23 yards and a touchdown, and Nick Novak handled the extra point. Denver tied it in the second quarter with Manning passing 13 yards to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown, and Matt Prater knocked in the extra point. The Broncos took the lead as Prater made a 19 yard field goal. Denver extended the lead as Manning passed to Brandon Stokley for 31 yards and a touchdown, and Prater again made the PAT. The Chargers got some back as Shaun Phillips sacked Manning for a safety. The Broncos shot back as Manning passed 20 yards to Eric Decker for a touchdown, and Prater handled the extra point. San Diego got some back as Philip Rivers passed 8 yards to Danario Alexander for a touchdown, and Novak was true with the extra point. Denver extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a 30 yard field goal by Prater. The Broncos got some more as Prater made a 32 yard field goal. The Chargers took some back when Rivers hooked up with Alexander for another touchdown, this time from 21 yards, and Novak supplied the extra point. They got no closer, falling 30-23, with Denver now at 7-3 and the Chargers dropping to 4-6.
Further to the east, the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis opened in the first quarter as Delone Carter ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Adam Vinatieri handled the extra point. New England tied it as Tom Brady passed 4 yards to Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown, and Stephen Gostkowski's extra point was the equalizer. The Colts retook the lead on a 14 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck to T.Y. Hilton, and Vinatieri supplied the PAT. The Patriots pulled even again as Julian Edelman returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Gostkowski made another extra point. New England took the lead with an Aqib Talib interception of Luck, which he took back 59 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. Indianapolis got some back as Vinatieri made a 47 yard field goal. The Patriots answered with a Gostkowski field goal from 31 yards. New England extended the lead in the third quarter as Brady passed 2 yards to Edelman for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. The Patriots padded the lead as Brady found Gronkowski for another touchdown, this time a 24 yard connection, and Gostkowski kicked in the extra point. New England kept going in the fourth quarter with another pick-six, as Alfonzo Dennard intercepted Luck for 87 yards and the touchdown, allowing another Gostkowski extra point. The Colts got some back with Luck finding Hilton for 43 yards and another touchdown, and Vinatieri tacked on the extra point. The Patriots replied as Stevan Ridley ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. New England iced it at 59-24 as Shane Vereen ran 4 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. The Patriots go to 7-3 while the Colts drop to 6-4.
Finally, the night game has the Pittsburgh Steelers host their fierce rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.Pittsburgh got going in the first quarter as Byron Leftwich ran 31 yards for a touchdown, and Shaun Suisham made the extra point. Baltimore took the lead when Justin Tucker made a 26 yard field goal. The Ravens took the lead as Jacoby Jones returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, and Tucker handled the extra point. Baltimore extended the lead in the third quarter on a Tucker field goal of 39 yards. The Steelers got some back with a Suisham field goal from 22 yards away. They got no closer, losing 13-10, with Baltimore now at 8-2 and Pittsburgh at 6-4.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
NFL Morning Games Week 11 2012
If you didn't catch it in the KHL post (check it out!), I am out of the house today for a Sounders game. The Late Games post will be delayed until tomorrow as I watch the Sounders fight for their playoff lives. Today's American football begins with eight games, starting in...
Kansas City, as the Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals. Kansas City was first on the board in the first quarter with a Ryan Succop field goal of 34 yards. Cincinnati answered with an Andy Dalton touchdown pass of 4 yards to A.J. Green, and Mike Nugent made the extra point. The Bengals extended the lead in the second quarter as Dalton ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Nugent handled the extra point. Cincinnati padded the lead with a BenJarvus Green-Ellis touchdown rush of 1 yard, and Nugent knocked in the PAT. The Chiefs got some back with a Succop field goal of 33 yards. The Bengals added on in the fourth inning as Dalton passed 14 yards to Mohamed Sanu for a touchdown, and Nugent again made the extra point. This made it 28-6, a final, with the Bengals now at 5-5 and the Chiefs dropping to 1-9.
South to Houston, where the Texans welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston led off with a first quarter Matt Schaub touchdown pass of 9 yards to Keshawn Martin, and Shayne Graham booted the extra point. Jacksonville tied the game as Chad Henne passed 13 yards to Marcedes Lewis, good for a touchdown, and Josh Scobee made the extra point. The Jaguars took the lead in the second quarter on a Henne touchdown pass of 67 yards to Cecil Shorts, and Scobee converted the PAT. The Texans replied when Schaub passed 1 yard to James Casey for a touchdown, and Graham was there with the extra point. Jacksonville gained the lead on a 43 yard Scobee field goal. Houston tied it up again on a 42 yard field goal by Graham. The Jaguars took the lead again in the third quarter with a Scobee field goal from 40 yards away. Jacksonville padded the lead on another Henne touchdown pass to Lewis, for 1 yard, and Scobee supplied the extra point. The Texans got some back as Graham made a 27 yard field goal. The Jaguars replied as Henne unleashed an 81 yard touchdown bomb to Justin Blackmon in the fourth quarter, and Scobee again handled the extra point. Houston chipped away as Schaub passed 1 yard to Garret Graham for a touchdown, and the other Graham made an extra point. The Texans tied it as Schaub found the offensive Graham for 5 yards and a touchdown, which allowed the kicker Graham to make the extra point. Houston took the lead in overtime on a 25 yard field goal by Graham. Jacksonville retied it with a Scobee field goal from 33 yards out. The Texans won 43-37 later in the fifth quarter with a Schaub touchdown pass of 48 yards to Andre Johnson, sealing the victory and a 9-1 record while dropping Jacksonville to 1-9.
Back in Missouri, the St. Louis Rams host the New York Jets. St. Louis struck first with a first quarter Sam Bradford 1 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson, and Greg Zuerlein tacked on the extra point. New York got on the board as Nick Folk made a 51 yard field goal. The Jets took the lead with a Mark Sanchez 25 yard touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens, and Folk was there with the extra point. New York got some more on another 51 yard field goal by Folk. The Jets extended the lead in the fourth quarter as Bilal Powell ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Folk supplied the PAT. New York struck again on another Powell touchdown rush, this time for 11 yards, and Folk made another extra point. The Rams got some back as Bradford passed 2 yards to Gibson for a touchdown, but the two-point attempt was failed and they lost 27-13. New York goes to 4-6 and St. Louis drops to 3-6-1.
Ping-ponging to Texas again, as the Dallas Cowboys bring in the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland got going in the first quarter with a Brandon Weeden 10 yard touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson, and Phil Dawson supplied the extra point. The Browns got some more in the second quarter as Dawson made a 51 yard field goal. Cleveland extended the lead on a Brown 37 yard field goal. Dallas got on the board in the third quarter as Dan Bailey kicked a 44 yard field goal. The Cowboys got some back in the fourth quarter with a 2 yard touchdown run by Felix Jones, and Bailey kicked in the extra point. Dallas took the lead with Tony Romo finding Dez Bryant for 28 yards and a touchdown, and Bailey made another PAT. The Browns retook the lead as Weeden hooked up with Watson for another touchdown, this time a 17 yard connection, and Dawson was true on the extra point. The Cowboys tied it with a 32 yard Bailey field goal. Dallas won 23-20 in overtime as Bailey made a 38 yard field goal. Dallas is now 5-5 and the Browns are 2-8.
To the east, the Carolina Panthers welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay opened with a 3 yard touchdown pass by Josh Freeman to Nate Byham, and Connor Barth knocked in the extra point. The Buccaneers added on as Barth made a 51 yard field goal. Carolina got on the board as Captain Munnerlyn intercepted Freeman and returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown, and Justin Medlock made the extra point. The Panthers took the lead as Jonathan Stewart ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Medlock handled the extra point. Carolina extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a Cam Newton touchdown pass of 29 yards to Brandon LaFell, and Medlock supplied the PAT. Tampa Bay chipped back on a 40 yard field goal by Barth. The Buccaneers got closer as Freeman passed 24 yards to Vincent Jackson for a touchdown, and then found him again to tie the game with a two-point conversion. Tampa Bay took a 27-21 victory as Freeman passed 15 yards to Dallas Clark for a touchdown in overtime, and they improved to 6-4 while the Panthers dropped to 2-8.
Down in Atlanta, the Falcons host the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona quickly got going in the first quarter as LaRod Stephens-Howling ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Jay Feely made the extra point. The Cardinals added on as Feely made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona struck again on a 28 yard Feely field goal. Atlanta got on the board in the second quarter as Matt Bryant made a 51 yard field goal. The Falcons chipped away as Jonathan Babineaux recovered a Ryan Lindley fumble and took it in 15 yards for a touchdown, allowing Bryant to make the PAT. Atlanta tied it on a Bryant field goal of 28 yards. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead on a Feely field goal of 38 yards. The Falcons shot back as Bryant made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona retook the lead in the fourth quarter when Feely booted a 27 yard field goal. Atlanta gained the lead on a 1 yard touchdown run by Michael Turner, and Bryant easily made the extra point. This held up for a 23-19 win, with Atlanta now at 9-1 and Arizona at 4-6.
Well to the north, the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers. Detroit led off with a first quarter Jason Hanson field goal from 30 yards away. Green Bay took the lead in the second quarter as Aaron Rodgers found Jermichael Finley for 20 yards and a touchdown, and Mason Crosby kicked the PAT. The Lions took the lead back when Mikel Leshoure ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Hanson handled the extra point. The Packers jumped ahead in the third quarter as M.D. Jennings picked off Matthew Stafford and returned the ball 72 yards for a touchdown, with Crosby kicking the extra point. Detroit shot back as Stafford threw a touchdown to Calvin Johnson, good for 25 yards, and Hanson made the extra point. The Lions extended the lead as Hanson supplied a 27 yard field goal. Green Bay edged ahead as Rodgers passed 22 yards for a touchdown to Randall Cobb, and Crosby tacked on the extra point to take the lead. The Packers padded the lead as Crosby made a 39 yard field goal. This made it 24-20, a final, with the Packers now at 7-3 and the Lions at 4-6.
Finally, we end this wave in DC, as the Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington began with a first quarter Robert Griffin III touchdown pass of 6 yards to Darrel Young, and Kai Forbath handled the extra point. Philadelphia got some back as Alex Henery kicked a 41 yard field goal in the second quarter. The Redskins extended the lead when Griffin passed 49 yards to Aldrick Robinson for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. Washington got some more as Forbath made a 25 yard field goal. Henery pulled the Eagles closer in the third quarter on a 42 yard field goal. The Redskins replied with a 61 yard touchdown pass from Griffin to Santana Moss, and Forbath iced the play with the PAT. Washington padded the lead in the fourth quarter as Griffin passed 17 yards to Logan Paulsen for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. This ended the scoring at 31-6, with the Redskins now at 4-6 and the Eagles at 3-7.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Kansas City, as the Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals. Kansas City was first on the board in the first quarter with a Ryan Succop field goal of 34 yards. Cincinnati answered with an Andy Dalton touchdown pass of 4 yards to A.J. Green, and Mike Nugent made the extra point. The Bengals extended the lead in the second quarter as Dalton ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Nugent handled the extra point. Cincinnati padded the lead with a BenJarvus Green-Ellis touchdown rush of 1 yard, and Nugent knocked in the PAT. The Chiefs got some back with a Succop field goal of 33 yards. The Bengals added on in the fourth inning as Dalton passed 14 yards to Mohamed Sanu for a touchdown, and Nugent again made the extra point. This made it 28-6, a final, with the Bengals now at 5-5 and the Chiefs dropping to 1-9.
South to Houston, where the Texans welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston led off with a first quarter Matt Schaub touchdown pass of 9 yards to Keshawn Martin, and Shayne Graham booted the extra point. Jacksonville tied the game as Chad Henne passed 13 yards to Marcedes Lewis, good for a touchdown, and Josh Scobee made the extra point. The Jaguars took the lead in the second quarter on a Henne touchdown pass of 67 yards to Cecil Shorts, and Scobee converted the PAT. The Texans replied when Schaub passed 1 yard to James Casey for a touchdown, and Graham was there with the extra point. Jacksonville gained the lead on a 43 yard Scobee field goal. Houston tied it up again on a 42 yard field goal by Graham. The Jaguars took the lead again in the third quarter with a Scobee field goal from 40 yards away. Jacksonville padded the lead on another Henne touchdown pass to Lewis, for 1 yard, and Scobee supplied the extra point. The Texans got some back as Graham made a 27 yard field goal. The Jaguars replied as Henne unleashed an 81 yard touchdown bomb to Justin Blackmon in the fourth quarter, and Scobee again handled the extra point. Houston chipped away as Schaub passed 1 yard to Garret Graham for a touchdown, and the other Graham made an extra point. The Texans tied it as Schaub found the offensive Graham for 5 yards and a touchdown, which allowed the kicker Graham to make the extra point. Houston took the lead in overtime on a 25 yard field goal by Graham. Jacksonville retied it with a Scobee field goal from 33 yards out. The Texans won 43-37 later in the fifth quarter with a Schaub touchdown pass of 48 yards to Andre Johnson, sealing the victory and a 9-1 record while dropping Jacksonville to 1-9.
Back in Missouri, the St. Louis Rams host the New York Jets. St. Louis struck first with a first quarter Sam Bradford 1 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson, and Greg Zuerlein tacked on the extra point. New York got on the board as Nick Folk made a 51 yard field goal. The Jets took the lead with a Mark Sanchez 25 yard touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens, and Folk was there with the extra point. New York got some more on another 51 yard field goal by Folk. The Jets extended the lead in the fourth quarter as Bilal Powell ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Folk supplied the PAT. New York struck again on another Powell touchdown rush, this time for 11 yards, and Folk made another extra point. The Rams got some back as Bradford passed 2 yards to Gibson for a touchdown, but the two-point attempt was failed and they lost 27-13. New York goes to 4-6 and St. Louis drops to 3-6-1.
Ping-ponging to Texas again, as the Dallas Cowboys bring in the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland got going in the first quarter with a Brandon Weeden 10 yard touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson, and Phil Dawson supplied the extra point. The Browns got some more in the second quarter as Dawson made a 51 yard field goal. Cleveland extended the lead on a Brown 37 yard field goal. Dallas got on the board in the third quarter as Dan Bailey kicked a 44 yard field goal. The Cowboys got some back in the fourth quarter with a 2 yard touchdown run by Felix Jones, and Bailey kicked in the extra point. Dallas took the lead with Tony Romo finding Dez Bryant for 28 yards and a touchdown, and Bailey made another PAT. The Browns retook the lead as Weeden hooked up with Watson for another touchdown, this time a 17 yard connection, and Dawson was true on the extra point. The Cowboys tied it with a 32 yard Bailey field goal. Dallas won 23-20 in overtime as Bailey made a 38 yard field goal. Dallas is now 5-5 and the Browns are 2-8.
To the east, the Carolina Panthers welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay opened with a 3 yard touchdown pass by Josh Freeman to Nate Byham, and Connor Barth knocked in the extra point. The Buccaneers added on as Barth made a 51 yard field goal. Carolina got on the board as Captain Munnerlyn intercepted Freeman and returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown, and Justin Medlock made the extra point. The Panthers took the lead as Jonathan Stewart ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Medlock handled the extra point. Carolina extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a Cam Newton touchdown pass of 29 yards to Brandon LaFell, and Medlock supplied the PAT. Tampa Bay chipped back on a 40 yard field goal by Barth. The Buccaneers got closer as Freeman passed 24 yards to Vincent Jackson for a touchdown, and then found him again to tie the game with a two-point conversion. Tampa Bay took a 27-21 victory as Freeman passed 15 yards to Dallas Clark for a touchdown in overtime, and they improved to 6-4 while the Panthers dropped to 2-8.
Down in Atlanta, the Falcons host the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona quickly got going in the first quarter as LaRod Stephens-Howling ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Jay Feely made the extra point. The Cardinals added on as Feely made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona struck again on a 28 yard Feely field goal. Atlanta got on the board in the second quarter as Matt Bryant made a 51 yard field goal. The Falcons chipped away as Jonathan Babineaux recovered a Ryan Lindley fumble and took it in 15 yards for a touchdown, allowing Bryant to make the PAT. Atlanta tied it on a Bryant field goal of 28 yards. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead on a Feely field goal of 38 yards. The Falcons shot back as Bryant made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona retook the lead in the fourth quarter when Feely booted a 27 yard field goal. Atlanta gained the lead on a 1 yard touchdown run by Michael Turner, and Bryant easily made the extra point. This held up for a 23-19 win, with Atlanta now at 9-1 and Arizona at 4-6.
Well to the north, the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers. Detroit led off with a first quarter Jason Hanson field goal from 30 yards away. Green Bay took the lead in the second quarter as Aaron Rodgers found Jermichael Finley for 20 yards and a touchdown, and Mason Crosby kicked the PAT. The Lions took the lead back when Mikel Leshoure ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Hanson handled the extra point. The Packers jumped ahead in the third quarter as M.D. Jennings picked off Matthew Stafford and returned the ball 72 yards for a touchdown, with Crosby kicking the extra point. Detroit shot back as Stafford threw a touchdown to Calvin Johnson, good for 25 yards, and Hanson made the extra point. The Lions extended the lead as Hanson supplied a 27 yard field goal. Green Bay edged ahead as Rodgers passed 22 yards for a touchdown to Randall Cobb, and Crosby tacked on the extra point to take the lead. The Packers padded the lead as Crosby made a 39 yard field goal. This made it 24-20, a final, with the Packers now at 7-3 and the Lions at 4-6.
Finally, we end this wave in DC, as the Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington began with a first quarter Robert Griffin III touchdown pass of 6 yards to Darrel Young, and Kai Forbath handled the extra point. Philadelphia got some back as Alex Henery kicked a 41 yard field goal in the second quarter. The Redskins extended the lead when Griffin passed 49 yards to Aldrick Robinson for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. Washington got some more as Forbath made a 25 yard field goal. Henery pulled the Eagles closer in the third quarter on a 42 yard field goal. The Redskins replied with a 61 yard touchdown pass from Griffin to Santana Moss, and Forbath iced the play with the PAT. Washington padded the lead in the fourth quarter as Griffin passed 17 yards to Logan Paulsen for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. This ended the scoring at 31-6, with the Redskins now at 4-6 and the Eagles at 3-7.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 21
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-one talks about reliever Jeremy Affeldt.
Jeremy Affeldt was born on June 6, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona. In his childhood, he moved to Colbert, Washington, where he attended Northwest Christian High School. He graduated in 1997, and was a third round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in the same year. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League to play with the Rookie-level Royals, working mostly as a starter. He had a modest 4.50 earned run average with thirty-six strikeouts in forty innings pitched. Affeldt spent most of the 1998 season in the Gulf Coast League as well, posting a 2.89 earned run average as well as sixty-seven strikeouts in fifteen innings. This prompted a promotion to the Class A Lansing Lugnuts of Lansing, Michigan in the Midwest League, which was disastrous for Affeldt. The Royals changed Class A affiliates in 1999, and Affeldt played with the Charleston AlleyCats of Charleston, West Virginia, in the South Atlantic League. His numbers were significantly better this time, and he posted a 3.83 earned run average with 111 strikeouts spanning 143 and 1/3 innings pitched. Affeldt was again promoted in 2000, pitching for the Wilmington Blue Rocks of Wilmington, Delaware in the Class A Advanced Carolina League. He pitched a 4.09 earned run average and ninety-strikeouts in 147 and 1/3 innings. Affeldt worked all of 2001 and three starts in the middle of 2002 with the Class AA Wichita Wranglers in Wichita, Kansas of the Texas League. His total numbers in Class AA baseball were twenty-eight starts over 151 and 1/3 innings, with a 3.81 earned run average and 131 strikeouts. His major league debut was on April 6, 2002, working out of the bullpen, which he did for most of his time with the big league Royals. He ended the year with a major league earned run average of 4.64, while striking out sixty-seven in seventy-seven and two-thirds innings. Affeldt made no minor league appearances in 2003, staying with Kansas City for the entire year. He made eighteen starts and eighteen relief appearances, pitching to a 3.93 earned run average with ninety-eight strikeouts in 126 innings. He also had his first major league hit on June 6th, and his time in the bullpen was intended to fix blister problems he had all season. The Royals stated that if the problems persisted, he would permanently work as a reliever. In 2004, he was originally the Royals number three starter, but his ineffectiveness coupled with a thinning of the bullpen pushed him back to a reliever role for the rest of the season, and he was named the closer on May 21st. He suffered a rib injury nearly a month later, having turned eight of ten save opportunities (he added five more after returning from the disabled list). He made his rehabilitation appearances with the Class AAA Omaha Royals of the Pacific Coast League, where he showed he was up to speed. His final numbers of the year were a 4.95 earned run average, forty-nine strikeouts, and seventy-six and one-third innings pitched. Affeldt was confirmed as the closer for 2005, but due to the Royals' lack of winning, he did not have a save chance until April 15th, which he did not convert because he injured a groin that caused him to sit out for about six weeks. He did not regain his closing job, and re-aggravated the groin injury on June 20th, causing another disabled list stint. He made his rehabilitation appearances again with Omaha, but struggled in the nine games he appeared. From July 7th on, he stayed with Kansas City, but his final numbers were not great. He ended the year with a 5.26 earned run average and thirty-nine strikeouts in forty-nine and two-thirds innings. The Royals returned Affeldt to the rotation in 2006, but he again struggled, and his last major league start came on May 27th. He worked out of the bullpen after that, posting a 5.91 earned run average and twenty-eight strikeouts in seventy innings before being traded on July 31, 2006 with Denny Bautista to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Scott Dohmann and Ryan Shealy. In Colorado, he was even worse, pitching to a 6.91 earned run average and twenty strikeouts in twenty-seven and one-third innings of bullpen work. The Rockies used Affeldt in the bullpen for all of 2007, working primarily in a lefty-specialist role, where he posted a 3.51 earned run average, forty-six strikeouts, and fifty-nine innings, while earning a postseason roster spot. He appeared in just three games between the National League Division and Championship Series, with a decent amount of success, before trying to stop the bleeding against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. While Affeldt was used in every game and did not give up a run in the World Series, the Red Sox were still able to prevent Affeldt and the Rockies from earning the championship, finishing them off in a four game sweep. Interestingly enough, Affeldt crossed paths with a future teammate during this World Series, as Javier Lopez was pitching with the winning Red Sox. Affeldt parted ways with the Rockies at the end of the season, signing a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2008 season. He had continued success in the bullpen for the Reds, pitching to a 3.33 earned run average with eighty strikeouts in seventy-eight and one-third innings. He did not resign with Cincinnati, opting instead to sign with the San Francisco Giants on November 17th. In 2009, Affeldt worked out of the bullpen in a set up role to closer Brian Wilson, and he had his best season to date. He had a 1.73 earned run average and fifty-five strikeouts in sixty-two and one-third innings pitched, and was named Set Up Man of the Year. Unfortunately for Affeldt, 2010 was not as good personally, and the low point came on July 24th as he went on the disabled list for the first time in five years. A month later, he returned to finish the season with a 4.14 earned run average and forty-four strikeouts in fifty innings, as well as a postseason roster spot. In the playoffs, Affeldt made five appearances spanning four innings. He had a 4.50 earned run average with four strikeouts, allowing a run to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series and another run to the Texas Rangers in the World Series. His iconic moment from the postseason was his appearance in the third inning, spelling an injured Jonathan Sanchez with two innings of perfect baseball to help the Giants clinch their World Series bid, which they eventually won over the Rangers, giving Affeldt his first championship. Affeldt remained an important member of the Giants bullpen in 2011, where he continued to work in a set-up role at times and he posted a 2.63 earned run average with fifty-four strikeouts in sixty-one and two-thirds innings pitched. However, 2011 had an abrupt end for Affeldt, as he made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He suffered a serious hand injury on September 8th, while infamously trying to separate frozen hamburger patties, and the injury required surgery to address nerve damage. Affeldt was back in tip-top shape for the Giants in 2012, again working in relief, and even garnering time in the post-Wilson closer committee. He ended the regular season with a 2.70 earned run average and fifty-seven strikeouts over sixty-three and one-third innings, easily earning his postseason roster spot. He maintained a strong role in ten postseason appearances, not allowing a single run of any kind in the playoffs, and only eight baserunners made it on Affeldt's watch. While not garnering big headlines in the playoffs, the most critical appearance came in Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, where Affeldt struck out Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, nine-figure earner Prince Fielder, and postseason hero Delmon Young in the eighth inning. This allowed the Giants to keep the game tied, and eventually win it in the tenth inning to put Affeldt on the winning side of a World Series sweep, and he was given his second championship in three years.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Jeremy Affeldt was born on June 6, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona. In his childhood, he moved to Colbert, Washington, where he attended Northwest Christian High School. He graduated in 1997, and was a third round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in the same year. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League to play with the Rookie-level Royals, working mostly as a starter. He had a modest 4.50 earned run average with thirty-six strikeouts in forty innings pitched. Affeldt spent most of the 1998 season in the Gulf Coast League as well, posting a 2.89 earned run average as well as sixty-seven strikeouts in fifteen innings. This prompted a promotion to the Class A Lansing Lugnuts of Lansing, Michigan in the Midwest League, which was disastrous for Affeldt. The Royals changed Class A affiliates in 1999, and Affeldt played with the Charleston AlleyCats of Charleston, West Virginia, in the South Atlantic League. His numbers were significantly better this time, and he posted a 3.83 earned run average with 111 strikeouts spanning 143 and 1/3 innings pitched. Affeldt was again promoted in 2000, pitching for the Wilmington Blue Rocks of Wilmington, Delaware in the Class A Advanced Carolina League. He pitched a 4.09 earned run average and ninety-strikeouts in 147 and 1/3 innings. Affeldt worked all of 2001 and three starts in the middle of 2002 with the Class AA Wichita Wranglers in Wichita, Kansas of the Texas League. His total numbers in Class AA baseball were twenty-eight starts over 151 and 1/3 innings, with a 3.81 earned run average and 131 strikeouts. His major league debut was on April 6, 2002, working out of the bullpen, which he did for most of his time with the big league Royals. He ended the year with a major league earned run average of 4.64, while striking out sixty-seven in seventy-seven and two-thirds innings. Affeldt made no minor league appearances in 2003, staying with Kansas City for the entire year. He made eighteen starts and eighteen relief appearances, pitching to a 3.93 earned run average with ninety-eight strikeouts in 126 innings. He also had his first major league hit on June 6th, and his time in the bullpen was intended to fix blister problems he had all season. The Royals stated that if the problems persisted, he would permanently work as a reliever. In 2004, he was originally the Royals number three starter, but his ineffectiveness coupled with a thinning of the bullpen pushed him back to a reliever role for the rest of the season, and he was named the closer on May 21st. He suffered a rib injury nearly a month later, having turned eight of ten save opportunities (he added five more after returning from the disabled list). He made his rehabilitation appearances with the Class AAA Omaha Royals of the Pacific Coast League, where he showed he was up to speed. His final numbers of the year were a 4.95 earned run average, forty-nine strikeouts, and seventy-six and one-third innings pitched. Affeldt was confirmed as the closer for 2005, but due to the Royals' lack of winning, he did not have a save chance until April 15th, which he did not convert because he injured a groin that caused him to sit out for about six weeks. He did not regain his closing job, and re-aggravated the groin injury on June 20th, causing another disabled list stint. He made his rehabilitation appearances again with Omaha, but struggled in the nine games he appeared. From July 7th on, he stayed with Kansas City, but his final numbers were not great. He ended the year with a 5.26 earned run average and thirty-nine strikeouts in forty-nine and two-thirds innings. The Royals returned Affeldt to the rotation in 2006, but he again struggled, and his last major league start came on May 27th. He worked out of the bullpen after that, posting a 5.91 earned run average and twenty-eight strikeouts in seventy innings before being traded on July 31, 2006 with Denny Bautista to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Scott Dohmann and Ryan Shealy. In Colorado, he was even worse, pitching to a 6.91 earned run average and twenty strikeouts in twenty-seven and one-third innings of bullpen work. The Rockies used Affeldt in the bullpen for all of 2007, working primarily in a lefty-specialist role, where he posted a 3.51 earned run average, forty-six strikeouts, and fifty-nine innings, while earning a postseason roster spot. He appeared in just three games between the National League Division and Championship Series, with a decent amount of success, before trying to stop the bleeding against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. While Affeldt was used in every game and did not give up a run in the World Series, the Red Sox were still able to prevent Affeldt and the Rockies from earning the championship, finishing them off in a four game sweep. Interestingly enough, Affeldt crossed paths with a future teammate during this World Series, as Javier Lopez was pitching with the winning Red Sox. Affeldt parted ways with the Rockies at the end of the season, signing a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2008 season. He had continued success in the bullpen for the Reds, pitching to a 3.33 earned run average with eighty strikeouts in seventy-eight and one-third innings. He did not resign with Cincinnati, opting instead to sign with the San Francisco Giants on November 17th. In 2009, Affeldt worked out of the bullpen in a set up role to closer Brian Wilson, and he had his best season to date. He had a 1.73 earned run average and fifty-five strikeouts in sixty-two and one-third innings pitched, and was named Set Up Man of the Year. Unfortunately for Affeldt, 2010 was not as good personally, and the low point came on July 24th as he went on the disabled list for the first time in five years. A month later, he returned to finish the season with a 4.14 earned run average and forty-four strikeouts in fifty innings, as well as a postseason roster spot. In the playoffs, Affeldt made five appearances spanning four innings. He had a 4.50 earned run average with four strikeouts, allowing a run to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series and another run to the Texas Rangers in the World Series. His iconic moment from the postseason was his appearance in the third inning, spelling an injured Jonathan Sanchez with two innings of perfect baseball to help the Giants clinch their World Series bid, which they eventually won over the Rangers, giving Affeldt his first championship. Affeldt remained an important member of the Giants bullpen in 2011, where he continued to work in a set-up role at times and he posted a 2.63 earned run average with fifty-four strikeouts in sixty-one and two-thirds innings pitched. However, 2011 had an abrupt end for Affeldt, as he made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He suffered a serious hand injury on September 8th, while infamously trying to separate frozen hamburger patties, and the injury required surgery to address nerve damage. Affeldt was back in tip-top shape for the Giants in 2012, again working in relief, and even garnering time in the post-Wilson closer committee. He ended the regular season with a 2.70 earned run average and fifty-seven strikeouts over sixty-three and one-third innings, easily earning his postseason roster spot. He maintained a strong role in ten postseason appearances, not allowing a single run of any kind in the playoffs, and only eight baserunners made it on Affeldt's watch. While not garnering big headlines in the playoffs, the most critical appearance came in Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, where Affeldt struck out Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, nine-figure earner Prince Fielder, and postseason hero Delmon Young in the eighth inning. This allowed the Giants to keep the game tied, and eventually win it in the tenth inning to put Affeldt on the winning side of a World Series sweep, and he was given his second championship in three years.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
KHL November 18th 2012
Ten games for this Sunday, which I'm rushing (no pun) to get out. I'm out at what is likely the last Sounders game of the season, which will delay my late games post by a day. How They Got Here will be out around 1 PM Pacific. That's how it is, now let the games begin with...
Avangard Omsk hosting Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Christopher Holt for Avtomobilist and Eduard Reizvikh for Avangard are playing in goal. Omsk struck first as Dmitry Syomin scored a power play goal, helped along by Tomas Zaborsky. Avangard extended the lead late in the second period as Andrei Ivanov scored, with assists from Anton Kuryanov and Anton Belov. Omsk padded the lead in the third period as Alexander Frolov potted the puck with a lone assist provided by Sergei Kostitsyn. This made the final score 3-0, and the three stars are Reizvikh (31 save shutout), Syomin, and Frolov.
To the north, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk welcomes Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett for Traktor and Mikhail Biryukov for Yugra are the masked men. Khanty-Mansiysk opened with a second period goal by Stanislav Bocharov, assisted by Artyom Bulyansky. This prompted Traktor to change goalies, putting in Andrei Mezin for Holt. Chelyabinsk tied the game late in the third period on a Evgeny Katichev goal, fueled by Dmitry Ryabykin and Yegor Dugin. Yugra took the game 2-1 in overtime as Marek Troncinsky put away the decisive goal, with a lone assist coming from Igor Magogin. The three stars go to Biryukov (34 for 35 in saves), Troncinsky, and Bocharov.
Back south a bit, with Barys Astana hosting Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Ari Ahonen for Metallurg and Teemu Lassila for Barys are in blue paint. Magnitogorsk was first to score in the first period on a Georgy Misharin goal, going in unassisted. Astana evened the score with a Roman Starchenko goal, fueled by Vitaly Novopashin and Victor Hedman. Barys took the lead on a Mikhail Rakhanov goal, with a lone assist by Dustin Boyd. Metallurg retied the game with an unassisted and shorthanded Evgeny Malkin goal. Astana retook the lead with a second period goal off the tape of Nigel Dawes, passed from Brandon Bochenski. Magnitogirsk tied it again with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, guided in by Misharin. Metallurg took the lead on a Viktor Antipin power play goal, powered by Mozyakin and Malkin. Magnitogorsk added on with another unassisted Malkin goal. There was no scoring in the third period, leaving the final at 5-3 in Metallurg's favor. The three stars belong to Malkin, Mozyakin, and Misharin.
Well to the west, Spartak Moscow hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Matt Dalton for Neftekhimik and Sergei Borisov for Spartak are given the starting nods. The scoring began in the third period as Nizhnekamsk's Pyotr Khokhryakov scored, thanks to Stanislav Alshevsky. Moscow tied it with a Eduard Lewandowski goal, set up by Branko Radivojevic and Mikhail Yunkov. Spartak took the lead as Lewandowski scored again, and the lone assist came from Radivojevic. This held up for a 2-1 win, and the three stars went to Lewandowski, Borisov (32 for 33 in saves), and Radivojevic.
Staying in the oblast, we head north to Mytishchi, as Atlant Moscow Oblast hosts Lev Praha. Tomas Popperle for Lev and Stanislav Galimov for Atlant have the green light to start. Alexander Rybakov got things going for Mytishchi in the first period, with a goal helped along by Roman Rukavishnikov. Atlant extended the lead in the second period as Alexei Mikhnov scored an unassisted goal. Praha got one back in the third period with a Petr Vrana goal, set up by Tomas Rachunek. They didn't get the equalizer, falling 2-1 to Atlant, with the three stars going to Galimov (33 for 34 in saves), Mikhnov, and Rybakov.
A touch north to Cherepovets, as Severstal hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Sergei Bobrovsky for SKA and Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal tend the twines. Cherepovets led off with a first period unassisted power play goal by Evgeny Ketov. St. Petersburg tied it as Igor Makarov scored, thanks to Anton Burdasov. Severstal retook the lead in the second period on a Ruslan Nurtdinov goal, made possible by Nikolai Kazakovtsev and Alexander Fedoseyev. SKA tied it with a shorthanded Tony Martensson goal, courtesy of Patrick Thoresen. Cherepovets regained the lead again on a Fedoseyev goal, passed from Nikita Alexeyev. St. Petersburg tied it again in the third period as Evgeny Artyukhin scored an unassisted goal. The game required a shootout to determine the win, and Severstal came out on top 4-3 after Alexei Medvedev scored the only goal in the fifth round of the shootout. The three stars go to Fedoseyev, Medvedev, and Artyukhin.
Across the lake, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hosts CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana for CSKA and Semyon Varlamov for Lokomotiv play between the pipes. Moscow started in the first period as Yakov Rylov scored an unassisted goal. CSKA extended the lead with a Mikhail Grabovsky goal, fueled by Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Radulov. Yaroslavl got on the board in the second period as Sergei Plotnikov scored, with a lone assist by Emil Galimov. Lokomotiv tied it when Yury Petrov scored, thanks to Vitaly Vishnevsky and Alexander Chernikov. Yaroslavl took the lead as Artyom Anisimov potted the puck, and the assist was credited to Galimov. This prompted CSKA to pull Stana in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov. The scoring ended here though, with Lokomotiv pulling out a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Anisimov, Galimov, and Varlamov (31 for 33 in saves).
To the east, as Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus of Slovan and Vitaly Koval of Torpedo are wearing the pads. Bratislava opened in the first period on a Roman Kukumberg goal, with a lone assist by Vladimir Dravecky. Nizhny Novgorod tied it as Mikhail Varnakov cashed in on a penalty shot after being held by Jan Tabacek on a breakaway. Torpedo took the lead as Martin Thornberg scored, assisted by Mikko Kousa and Matt Ellison. Slovan retied the game in the third period as Michel Miklik scored, with the help of Kukumberg and Lubomir Visnovsky. The game needed a shootout to determine the winner, which was Nizhny Novogord after a fourth round shootout goal from Dmitry Makarov. The three stars go to Kukumberg, Makarov, and Thornberg.
Southwest to Minsk, as Dinamo Minsk hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexei Volkov for Dynamo and Pekka Rinne for Dinamo guard the cages. Moscow struck first in the second period as Denis Tolpeko scored, thanks to Ilya Gorokhov and Nicklas Backstrom on the power play. Dynamo added on with another Tolpeko goal, with a lone assist from Backstrom. Minsk got on the board as Tim Stapleton scored, with the help of Geoff Platt and Teemu Laine. Dinamo tied the game with eleven seconds left on a penalty shot, as the net was deliberately knocked off by Maxim Solovyov, and Stapleton converted the shot as an equalizer. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime as Alexander Ovechkin scored, powered by Janne Jalasvaara and Tolpeko on the power play. The three stars belong to Tolpeko, Stapleton, and Backstrom, while Ovechkin gets an honorable mention.
Finally, we end the day to the southeast in Donetsk, as Donbass hosts Ak Bars Kazan. Konstantin Barulin for Ak Bars and Jan Laco for Donbass are in the creases. Donetsk began with a Sergei Peretyagin goal, fueled by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Sergei Varlamov. Donbass extended the lead in the second period on a Denis Kochetkov unassisted goal. Kazan got on the board with Konstantin Korneyev's goal, made possible by Alexei Morozov and Ilya Nikulin. Ak Bars tied it in the third period with a power play goal from Danis Zaripov, powered by Morozov. The game went to overtime, where Donetsk won 3-2 on an Evgeny Dadonov goal, courtesy of Vaclav Nedorost. The three stars go to Morozov, Dadonov, and Kochetkov.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Avangard Omsk hosting Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Christopher Holt for Avtomobilist and Eduard Reizvikh for Avangard are playing in goal. Omsk struck first as Dmitry Syomin scored a power play goal, helped along by Tomas Zaborsky. Avangard extended the lead late in the second period as Andrei Ivanov scored, with assists from Anton Kuryanov and Anton Belov. Omsk padded the lead in the third period as Alexander Frolov potted the puck with a lone assist provided by Sergei Kostitsyn. This made the final score 3-0, and the three stars are Reizvikh (31 save shutout), Syomin, and Frolov.
To the north, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk welcomes Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett for Traktor and Mikhail Biryukov for Yugra are the masked men. Khanty-Mansiysk opened with a second period goal by Stanislav Bocharov, assisted by Artyom Bulyansky. This prompted Traktor to change goalies, putting in Andrei Mezin for Holt. Chelyabinsk tied the game late in the third period on a Evgeny Katichev goal, fueled by Dmitry Ryabykin and Yegor Dugin. Yugra took the game 2-1 in overtime as Marek Troncinsky put away the decisive goal, with a lone assist coming from Igor Magogin. The three stars go to Biryukov (34 for 35 in saves), Troncinsky, and Bocharov.
Back south a bit, with Barys Astana hosting Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Ari Ahonen for Metallurg and Teemu Lassila for Barys are in blue paint. Magnitogorsk was first to score in the first period on a Georgy Misharin goal, going in unassisted. Astana evened the score with a Roman Starchenko goal, fueled by Vitaly Novopashin and Victor Hedman. Barys took the lead on a Mikhail Rakhanov goal, with a lone assist by Dustin Boyd. Metallurg retied the game with an unassisted and shorthanded Evgeny Malkin goal. Astana retook the lead with a second period goal off the tape of Nigel Dawes, passed from Brandon Bochenski. Magnitogirsk tied it again with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, guided in by Misharin. Metallurg took the lead on a Viktor Antipin power play goal, powered by Mozyakin and Malkin. Magnitogorsk added on with another unassisted Malkin goal. There was no scoring in the third period, leaving the final at 5-3 in Metallurg's favor. The three stars belong to Malkin, Mozyakin, and Misharin.
Well to the west, Spartak Moscow hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Matt Dalton for Neftekhimik and Sergei Borisov for Spartak are given the starting nods. The scoring began in the third period as Nizhnekamsk's Pyotr Khokhryakov scored, thanks to Stanislav Alshevsky. Moscow tied it with a Eduard Lewandowski goal, set up by Branko Radivojevic and Mikhail Yunkov. Spartak took the lead as Lewandowski scored again, and the lone assist came from Radivojevic. This held up for a 2-1 win, and the three stars went to Lewandowski, Borisov (32 for 33 in saves), and Radivojevic.
Staying in the oblast, we head north to Mytishchi, as Atlant Moscow Oblast hosts Lev Praha. Tomas Popperle for Lev and Stanislav Galimov for Atlant have the green light to start. Alexander Rybakov got things going for Mytishchi in the first period, with a goal helped along by Roman Rukavishnikov. Atlant extended the lead in the second period as Alexei Mikhnov scored an unassisted goal. Praha got one back in the third period with a Petr Vrana goal, set up by Tomas Rachunek. They didn't get the equalizer, falling 2-1 to Atlant, with the three stars going to Galimov (33 for 34 in saves), Mikhnov, and Rybakov.
A touch north to Cherepovets, as Severstal hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Sergei Bobrovsky for SKA and Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal tend the twines. Cherepovets led off with a first period unassisted power play goal by Evgeny Ketov. St. Petersburg tied it as Igor Makarov scored, thanks to Anton Burdasov. Severstal retook the lead in the second period on a Ruslan Nurtdinov goal, made possible by Nikolai Kazakovtsev and Alexander Fedoseyev. SKA tied it with a shorthanded Tony Martensson goal, courtesy of Patrick Thoresen. Cherepovets regained the lead again on a Fedoseyev goal, passed from Nikita Alexeyev. St. Petersburg tied it again in the third period as Evgeny Artyukhin scored an unassisted goal. The game required a shootout to determine the win, and Severstal came out on top 4-3 after Alexei Medvedev scored the only goal in the fifth round of the shootout. The three stars go to Fedoseyev, Medvedev, and Artyukhin.
Across the lake, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hosts CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana for CSKA and Semyon Varlamov for Lokomotiv play between the pipes. Moscow started in the first period as Yakov Rylov scored an unassisted goal. CSKA extended the lead with a Mikhail Grabovsky goal, fueled by Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Radulov. Yaroslavl got on the board in the second period as Sergei Plotnikov scored, with a lone assist by Emil Galimov. Lokomotiv tied it when Yury Petrov scored, thanks to Vitaly Vishnevsky and Alexander Chernikov. Yaroslavl took the lead as Artyom Anisimov potted the puck, and the assist was credited to Galimov. This prompted CSKA to pull Stana in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov. The scoring ended here though, with Lokomotiv pulling out a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Anisimov, Galimov, and Varlamov (31 for 33 in saves).
To the east, as Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus of Slovan and Vitaly Koval of Torpedo are wearing the pads. Bratislava opened in the first period on a Roman Kukumberg goal, with a lone assist by Vladimir Dravecky. Nizhny Novgorod tied it as Mikhail Varnakov cashed in on a penalty shot after being held by Jan Tabacek on a breakaway. Torpedo took the lead as Martin Thornberg scored, assisted by Mikko Kousa and Matt Ellison. Slovan retied the game in the third period as Michel Miklik scored, with the help of Kukumberg and Lubomir Visnovsky. The game needed a shootout to determine the winner, which was Nizhny Novogord after a fourth round shootout goal from Dmitry Makarov. The three stars go to Kukumberg, Makarov, and Thornberg.
Southwest to Minsk, as Dinamo Minsk hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexei Volkov for Dynamo and Pekka Rinne for Dinamo guard the cages. Moscow struck first in the second period as Denis Tolpeko scored, thanks to Ilya Gorokhov and Nicklas Backstrom on the power play. Dynamo added on with another Tolpeko goal, with a lone assist from Backstrom. Minsk got on the board as Tim Stapleton scored, with the help of Geoff Platt and Teemu Laine. Dinamo tied the game with eleven seconds left on a penalty shot, as the net was deliberately knocked off by Maxim Solovyov, and Stapleton converted the shot as an equalizer. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime as Alexander Ovechkin scored, powered by Janne Jalasvaara and Tolpeko on the power play. The three stars belong to Tolpeko, Stapleton, and Backstrom, while Ovechkin gets an honorable mention.
Finally, we end the day to the southeast in Donetsk, as Donbass hosts Ak Bars Kazan. Konstantin Barulin for Ak Bars and Jan Laco for Donbass are in the creases. Donetsk began with a Sergei Peretyagin goal, fueled by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Sergei Varlamov. Donbass extended the lead in the second period on a Denis Kochetkov unassisted goal. Kazan got on the board with Konstantin Korneyev's goal, made possible by Alexei Morozov and Ilya Nikulin. Ak Bars tied it in the third period with a power play goal from Danis Zaripov, powered by Morozov. The game went to overtime, where Donetsk won 3-2 on an Evgeny Dadonov goal, courtesy of Vaclav Nedorost. The three stars go to Morozov, Dadonov, and Kochetkov.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
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