The Los Angeles Dodgers have started its season on a slow pace, but with 14 games in the new 2010 MLB season and going 7-7 in them, the Dodgers look to its sluggers to lead them into the playoffs again.
Matt Kemp, center fielder, has been explosive in the early season, in the last 10 games, he has blown away seven baseballs over the fence for seven home runs.
Andre Ethier, right fielder, has contributed alongside Kemp, having four home runs and a walk off game winning hit thus far in the season.
Manny Ramirez, left fielder, has been batting .432, with a pinch hit two-run home run and multiple runs based in.
The three players have been caring most of the load for the Dodgers, with the role players like James Loney, Russel Martin and Casey Blake adding on the extra small stats that don't show up on the stat sheet.
The big bats must continue for the Dodgers if they want to make another chase to make the world series this year.
A reason why the big bats have to stay the way it has been for the first 14 games, because the Dodgers pitching is unreliable.
With a decent starting five rotation and a lousy bullpen, the Dodgers have to rely on its hits and runs to win ball games.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
2010 NBA postseason predictions
The 2009-10 NBA regular season has came to screeching end, and it came down to the 82nd game to determine the seedings for the playoffs.
In the western conference, No. 2 through No. 7 were up for grabs, and all eight western conference teams winning 50 or more games.
In the east, the eighth and final playoff spot was a snail race between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.
The games came and gone and here are the official playoff matches:
Western Conferences playoff bracket.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No 6. Portland Blazers
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
In the Lakers/ Thunder series, I am going with the Lakers in four games. I don't think the Thunder will be able to steal one game against the defending champs because I am confident the Lakers will finally flip the switch and be the team they were last postseason.
In the Nuggets/ Jazz series, I am leaning towards the Jazz in seven. I think this series will be fun and full of emotion from both teams. The two teams are evenly balance and this series can go all seven games and can go to either team. I will mark this series as a toss up but for now I will go with the Jazz because they have made a late run in their season.
In the Suns/ Blazers series, I am going with the Suns in five games. I don't think the Blazers can recover and win this series without Brandon Roy. They had a great season, but the Suns have been on fire for all of the second season, and if the Suns can continue that, they have a easy chance of making it to the western conference finals.
In the Mavericks/ Spurs series, I am going with the Mavericks in six games. I think this series can be like the Nuggets/ Jazz series because the Spurs are old but not out. The Spurs can definitely challenge the Mavericks and take them to seven games, but I am not sold if they can go the extra mile to win the series. I would not be surprise if the Spurs can do it.
The Eastern Conference bracket.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
No. 3 Atlanta Hawks vs. No 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
In the Cavaliers/ Bulls series, I am going with the Cavaliers in five. I think the Bulls can sneak a win but I am sure they will not push the Cavaliers to seven games like they did last year against the Celtics. (I would love to see them go seven, but that is just impossible.)
In the Celtics/ Heat series, I am going with the Celtics in six. I think this can be a fun match up, and if the Heat can make it close, than I am sure it will be a home run for the NBA.
In the Hawks/ Bucks series, I am going with the Hawks in five. The Bucks were the team to look out for this postseason, but with the loss of their big man Andrew Bogut, they are a dead fish in the pond. They will be luck to get one win, but they have the rookie of the year, Brandon Jennings to give them something!
In the Magic/ Bobcats series, I am going with the Magic in five. It can be another interesting series because the Bobcats are no kittens to be missed with. They are on fire after getting Stephon Jackson and they can push the Magic to the limits. Dwight Howard will be too much for the cats to handle and that is why I am giving them one game in this series.
Stay tune and check out my second round NBA playoff picks after the excitement of the first round is over.
In the western conference, No. 2 through No. 7 were up for grabs, and all eight western conference teams winning 50 or more games.
In the east, the eighth and final playoff spot was a snail race between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.
The games came and gone and here are the official playoff matches:
Western Conferences playoff bracket.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No 6. Portland Blazers
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
In the Lakers/ Thunder series, I am going with the Lakers in four games. I don't think the Thunder will be able to steal one game against the defending champs because I am confident the Lakers will finally flip the switch and be the team they were last postseason.
In the Nuggets/ Jazz series, I am leaning towards the Jazz in seven. I think this series will be fun and full of emotion from both teams. The two teams are evenly balance and this series can go all seven games and can go to either team. I will mark this series as a toss up but for now I will go with the Jazz because they have made a late run in their season.
In the Suns/ Blazers series, I am going with the Suns in five games. I don't think the Blazers can recover and win this series without Brandon Roy. They had a great season, but the Suns have been on fire for all of the second season, and if the Suns can continue that, they have a easy chance of making it to the western conference finals.
In the Mavericks/ Spurs series, I am going with the Mavericks in six games. I think this series can be like the Nuggets/ Jazz series because the Spurs are old but not out. The Spurs can definitely challenge the Mavericks and take them to seven games, but I am not sold if they can go the extra mile to win the series. I would not be surprise if the Spurs can do it.
The Eastern Conference bracket.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
No. 3 Atlanta Hawks vs. No 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
In the Cavaliers/ Bulls series, I am going with the Cavaliers in five. I think the Bulls can sneak a win but I am sure they will not push the Cavaliers to seven games like they did last year against the Celtics. (I would love to see them go seven, but that is just impossible.)
In the Celtics/ Heat series, I am going with the Celtics in six. I think this can be a fun match up, and if the Heat can make it close, than I am sure it will be a home run for the NBA.
In the Hawks/ Bucks series, I am going with the Hawks in five. The Bucks were the team to look out for this postseason, but with the loss of their big man Andrew Bogut, they are a dead fish in the pond. They will be luck to get one win, but they have the rookie of the year, Brandon Jennings to give them something!
In the Magic/ Bobcats series, I am going with the Magic in five. It can be another interesting series because the Bobcats are no kittens to be missed with. They are on fire after getting Stephon Jackson and they can push the Magic to the limits. Dwight Howard will be too much for the cats to handle and that is why I am giving them one game in this series.
Stay tune and check out my second round NBA playoff picks after the excitement of the first round is over.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Lakers clinch the West for a third time
The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up the Western Conference against the Minniesota Timberwolves in a 97-88 victory at the Target Center Arena.
With what many believe was going to be a easy accomplishedment by the Lakers, turned to be a never ending trail of when the team was going to claim the conference of their own.
This year the Lakers have been riding a roller coaster that has no direction to guide it; the team has had its share of injuries, bad games and more bad games, but with the NBA playoffs starting on April 18, Los Angeles has some issues to take care of.
The on going unconsistant contributation by the Lakers' bench and the long minutes the starters have had all season, many believe the Lakers doesn't have what it takes to win the championship again this year.
On the other hand, the team has all the players (minus Trevor Ariza and the addition of Ron Artest) to make a strong run for another NBA championship.
The Lakers are either going to shut up the critics come playoff time, or just make the critics feel proud of themselves once they are able to say, "I told you so."
The Lakers are unpredictable, but if they are just crusing towards the postseason, then they are doing a good job keeping everyone on their each of their seats to see what's on the next episode of Lakersland.
With what many believe was going to be a easy accomplishedment by the Lakers, turned to be a never ending trail of when the team was going to claim the conference of their own.
This year the Lakers have been riding a roller coaster that has no direction to guide it; the team has had its share of injuries, bad games and more bad games, but with the NBA playoffs starting on April 18, Los Angeles has some issues to take care of.
The on going unconsistant contributation by the Lakers' bench and the long minutes the starters have had all season, many believe the Lakers doesn't have what it takes to win the championship again this year.
On the other hand, the team has all the players (minus Trevor Ariza and the addition of Ron Artest) to make a strong run for another NBA championship.
The Lakers are either going to shut up the critics come playoff time, or just make the critics feel proud of themselves once they are able to say, "I told you so."
The Lakers are unpredictable, but if they are just crusing towards the postseason, then they are doing a good job keeping everyone on their each of their seats to see what's on the next episode of Lakersland.
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