Adam Lind, apparently one of the MLB jerseys few players to not have a problem with manager Cito Gaston, was rewarded for his breakout season (.305 AVG, 46 doubles, 35 HR, 114 RBI), having been named the top hitting designated hitter in the American League.
Aaron Hill (.286 AVG, 37 doubles, 36 HR, 108 RBI), already named the A.L. Comeback Player of the Year after returning from post-concussion syndrome that robbed him of the final four months of 2008, was feted as the junior circuit’s top hitting second baseman.
On Monday, both leagues named their Rookies of the Year. In the N.L. it was Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan (.321 AVG, 9 HR, 47 RBI, .390 OBP) and in the A.L., it was Oakland Athletics reliever Andrew Bailey (6-3, 1.84 ERA, 26 saves). No problem here with either of those selections as I was able to see both perform last season. Coghlan came into Toronto during Interleague and was a one-man gang, going 7-for-14 with four runs scored and three doubles as Florida swept the Jays in a three-game weekend series in June.
With the World Series now in the rear view mirror, MLB continues to keep itself in the news as awards are starting be handed out to honour those whose seasons were of note.
Last week, the silver sluggers were named and while panning through the silt of the Blue Jays forgettable 2009 campaign, a pair of hitters were singled out for their offensive exploits.
As for Bailey, he was perfect in three appearances against the Jays with two saves and a win, facing 15 hitters with not one reaching base while striking out seven.
From my seat in the broadcast booth, it seemed that he lost his arm slot due to fatigue and had trouble consistently hitting the strike zone. And over those final dozen starts, Ricky was throwing almost 20 pitches per inning which kept him from going deep into games. Building up his stamina in 2010 should be paramount.
And for Roy Halladay, it had to be a disappointing fifth place finish when the Cy Young results were announced on Tuesday, coming in behind winner Zack Greinke of Kansas City, Felix Hernandez of Seattle, Detroit’s Justin Verlander and the Yankees’ CC Sabathia. Halladay was the early-season favourite after winning 10 of his first 13 starts, but a groin injury in early June set him back followed by unneeded trade rumours and his general manager throwing him under the bus. Greinke was worthy of the award based upon his MLB-best 2.16 ERA and the fact that he won 16 games for one of the worst teams in baseball.
Many thought that Jays’ rookie left-hander Ricky Romero had a shot, certainly at mid-season, but in the end he didn’t receive a single vote. Unfortunately for the 24-year-old he, like his team, fell off the radar in the second half. After his first start in August, Romero sported a sparkling 10-4, 3.53 ERA. Then the dog days of the season kicked in and Romero seemingly ran out of gas. Over his final 12 starts, he went 3-5, with a 5.53 ERA, while opponents hit him at a .310 clip. That and the fact that his team rarely strung two wins together did in Romero’s chances at some silverware.
2010年5月15日星期六
2010年5月13日星期四
Ask Buck Martinez: No match for Mauer
BUCK: Joe Mauer is a once in a lifetime player. He has already won three batting titles and an MVP. I don't think we will see too many like Mauer. Most championship clubs have a good leader back there and Mauer brings the leadership for sure. But I don't know if we have ever seen a 6'5" catcher that can play every day, call a great game, throw out runners and lead the league in hitting. Johnny Bench was about as close as you can get to Mauer, but he didn't hit for the high average. With all of the beating a catcher takes during the course of a season, Joe Mauer is truly exceptional.
ADRIAN ASKS: World Cup Soccer Jersey Hi Buck, when I was growing up and became a huge Jays fan back in '84 and '85, the Jays had great success with platoons. Specifically, Garth Iorg and Rance Mulliniks at third base and Ernie Whitt and yourself behind the plate. Is the platoon player a thing of the past or could it work for the Jays now?
BUCK: There were a number of players that Bobby Cox would use in a platoon situation. You mentioned Ernie and I behind the plate, Rance and Garth at third, but how about Dave Collins and Barry Bonnell? I think Fred McGriff and Cecil Fielder split some time early on as well. Every team has a different make up and you would like to have "regulars" at most positions. I guess if you look at the Angels behind the plate with Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis and the Rays with Dioner Navarro and Kelly Shoppach you could say they were a platoon, but you don't see it that often. I don't think Cito has those types of options with this team.
PAT ASKS: Hey Buck, good to have you back with the Jays. Watching Mark Buehrle's fielding play the other day I think he should get the pitching Gold Glove right there. Which leads to my question: Jimmy Key was good fielding pitcher. Who do you think is the best fielding pitcher now and in the past?
BUCK: Shaun Marcum is a former shortstop and is pretty good off the mound. Kenny Rogers, Mark Langston and Mike Mussina all come to mind. Greg Maddux was good as well. Maybe the best of all time was Jim Kaat. "Kitty" moved around and won a boat load of Gold Gloves, 16 straight from 1962 to 1977.
With over 40 years as a major league player, manager and broadcaster, Buck Martinez has experienced baseball from all angles. Now in his new role as the Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer, Buck is taking your questions in a weekly blog for sportsnet.ca, Behind the plate with Buck.
WARREN SNIDER ASKS: Hey Buck, great to hear you again. You've been a great part of my childhood and this city. How, if any, has the position of catcher changed from the time you were behind the plate. Is it evolving with such players as Joe Mauer - as the shortstop position has over the last 10 years?
MICHAEL ASKS: Given his numbers vs. lefthanders, why does Lyle Overbay continue to start at first base with a lefty on the mound? I understand it's a rebuilding year, but is this not giving at-bats away?
SCOTT PULLES ASKS: Hi Buck, I was watching the Jays second game on Sportsnet and I noticed that when Brian Tallet throws a pitch he sometimes uses different arm angles. I was wondering why he does this and if this tips off his pitches to batters in any way?
BUCK: I think Brian tries to repeat his delivery on every pitch. When he drops his arm angle the movement tends to "flatten out". He is 6'6" and has the downhill angle to the hitters which creates problems at the plate. In my mind, against the Rangers he was pretty good in repeating the angle. The only problem he had was the back-to-back homers to Vladdy Guerrero and Nelson Cruz. He doesn't light up the gun but he will give you a chance to win every night.
CARTER ASKS: I'm curious, after 17 years as a Major League player and two as a manager, what sort of mementos have you kept from your days in a big league uniform?
BUCK: I have a few important baseballs. My first home run from my days in Kansas City. I have a couple of bats and my last catcher's glove. From my managing days I have my opening day hat from 2001 in San Juan and second base from the 2006 World Baseball Classic second round game, Korea vs. USA. I also have some interesting lineup cards. I don't have a lot of bats but I have a George Brett bat from 1976 when he won his first of three batting titles, a Reggie Jackson bat and a Harmon Killebrew bat as he was my teammate in K.C. for a year.
JEFF ASKS: Hey Buck, welcome back! Can you give me an idea on how pitchers read the signs the catchers are throwing at them when there is an opponent at second base? How does the pitcher know what the call is when the catcher is waving a variety of fingers at him? Thanks!
BUCK: The signs are more simple than they look. There are several options to camouflage which pitch the catcher wants thrown. How about a couple of easy ones? First sign after two. When I flash two fingers, the next signal will be "hot." One is a fastball, two a curve, three a slider and four a change. If I flash 1-1-3-2-2-3-1, I want a curve. The first sign after "2" was 2, a curveball.
Another more advanced set is, "ahead, behind, even." Ahead in the count, first sign, behind in the count, second sign, even count, third sign. This may allow you to have a different "hot" sign on every pitch, and is very tough for a runner on second to figure out.
There are many options a catcher may choose from depending on the pitcher. Some are very protective of their signs and don't want anything so simple, that a runner may solve the sequence and pass along the information to the hitter.
BUCK: When you go back to 2000 and check out left-handed batting first baseman you'll be surprised where Overbay ranks against them. He is fifth behind Todd Helton, Nick Johnson, Justin Morneau and Jason Giambi. He is ahead of Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Jim Thome, Ryan Howard and Carlos Pena in batting against lefties. I will not tell you Overbay is the same type of run producer as Howard, Morneau and Gonzalez, but he holds his own in average. The Jays feel he is the best they have right now and don't underestimate the value of his glove as you try to bring a good pitching staff along this year.
ADRIAN ASKS: World Cup Soccer Jersey Hi Buck, when I was growing up and became a huge Jays fan back in '84 and '85, the Jays had great success with platoons. Specifically, Garth Iorg and Rance Mulliniks at third base and Ernie Whitt and yourself behind the plate. Is the platoon player a thing of the past or could it work for the Jays now?
BUCK: There were a number of players that Bobby Cox would use in a platoon situation. You mentioned Ernie and I behind the plate, Rance and Garth at third, but how about Dave Collins and Barry Bonnell? I think Fred McGriff and Cecil Fielder split some time early on as well. Every team has a different make up and you would like to have "regulars" at most positions. I guess if you look at the Angels behind the plate with Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis and the Rays with Dioner Navarro and Kelly Shoppach you could say they were a platoon, but you don't see it that often. I don't think Cito has those types of options with this team.
PAT ASKS: Hey Buck, good to have you back with the Jays. Watching Mark Buehrle's fielding play the other day I think he should get the pitching Gold Glove right there. Which leads to my question: Jimmy Key was good fielding pitcher. Who do you think is the best fielding pitcher now and in the past?
BUCK: Shaun Marcum is a former shortstop and is pretty good off the mound. Kenny Rogers, Mark Langston and Mike Mussina all come to mind. Greg Maddux was good as well. Maybe the best of all time was Jim Kaat. "Kitty" moved around and won a boat load of Gold Gloves, 16 straight from 1962 to 1977.
With over 40 years as a major league player, manager and broadcaster, Buck Martinez has experienced baseball from all angles. Now in his new role as the Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer, Buck is taking your questions in a weekly blog for sportsnet.ca, Behind the plate with Buck.
WARREN SNIDER ASKS: Hey Buck, great to hear you again. You've been a great part of my childhood and this city. How, if any, has the position of catcher changed from the time you were behind the plate. Is it evolving with such players as Joe Mauer - as the shortstop position has over the last 10 years?
MICHAEL ASKS: Given his numbers vs. lefthanders, why does Lyle Overbay continue to start at first base with a lefty on the mound? I understand it's a rebuilding year, but is this not giving at-bats away?
SCOTT PULLES ASKS: Hi Buck, I was watching the Jays second game on Sportsnet and I noticed that when Brian Tallet throws a pitch he sometimes uses different arm angles. I was wondering why he does this and if this tips off his pitches to batters in any way?
BUCK: I think Brian tries to repeat his delivery on every pitch. When he drops his arm angle the movement tends to "flatten out". He is 6'6" and has the downhill angle to the hitters which creates problems at the plate. In my mind, against the Rangers he was pretty good in repeating the angle. The only problem he had was the back-to-back homers to Vladdy Guerrero and Nelson Cruz. He doesn't light up the gun but he will give you a chance to win every night.
CARTER ASKS: I'm curious, after 17 years as a Major League player and two as a manager, what sort of mementos have you kept from your days in a big league uniform?
BUCK: I have a few important baseballs. My first home run from my days in Kansas City. I have a couple of bats and my last catcher's glove. From my managing days I have my opening day hat from 2001 in San Juan and second base from the 2006 World Baseball Classic second round game, Korea vs. USA. I also have some interesting lineup cards. I don't have a lot of bats but I have a George Brett bat from 1976 when he won his first of three batting titles, a Reggie Jackson bat and a Harmon Killebrew bat as he was my teammate in K.C. for a year.
JEFF ASKS: Hey Buck, welcome back! Can you give me an idea on how pitchers read the signs the catchers are throwing at them when there is an opponent at second base? How does the pitcher know what the call is when the catcher is waving a variety of fingers at him? Thanks!
BUCK: The signs are more simple than they look. There are several options to camouflage which pitch the catcher wants thrown. How about a couple of easy ones? First sign after two. When I flash two fingers, the next signal will be "hot." One is a fastball, two a curve, three a slider and four a change. If I flash 1-1-3-2-2-3-1, I want a curve. The first sign after "2" was 2, a curveball.
Another more advanced set is, "ahead, behind, even." Ahead in the count, first sign, behind in the count, second sign, even count, third sign. This may allow you to have a different "hot" sign on every pitch, and is very tough for a runner on second to figure out.
There are many options a catcher may choose from depending on the pitcher. Some are very protective of their signs and don't want anything so simple, that a runner may solve the sequence and pass along the information to the hitter.
BUCK: When you go back to 2000 and check out left-handed batting first baseman you'll be surprised where Overbay ranks against them. He is fifth behind Todd Helton, Nick Johnson, Justin Morneau and Jason Giambi. He is ahead of Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Jim Thome, Ryan Howard and Carlos Pena in batting against lefties. I will not tell you Overbay is the same type of run producer as Howard, Morneau and Gonzalez, but he holds his own in average. The Jays feel he is the best they have right now and don't underestimate the value of his glove as you try to bring a good pitching staff along this year.
2010年5月11日星期二
10 observations
I'm calling this week's blog, 10 Observations from the 2009 Stanley Cup final:
1. Pittsburgh is trying to become the first city to ever win the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup in the same year. If the Red Wings win, Detroit will become the first city to win the Stanley Cup and have a winless football team in the same year.
2. Three days ago, I would have told you it was more likely that Jim Balsille would be using an iPhone than Justin Abdelkader having scored more goals than Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined in the Cup Final
3. Marian Hossa is going to hear it from the Pittsburgh fans in Games 3 & 4 at Mellon Arena. I'm thinking some of their most nasty chants might sound an awful lot like his last name spelled backwards.
4. Barry Melrose is here at the 2009 Stanley Cup final. How many of you predicted that to happen when he started the season as Tampa Bay Lightning head coach?
5. Johan Franzen has scored more goals than any player in the last two playoff years, but nobody talks about this fact: The guy looks exactly like Ron Howard. His nickname should be Opie or Richie C. and not Mule.
6. Does the Vachon company have to pay for partial naming rights to Joe Louis Arena?
7. During his annual Stanley Cup press conference, Gary Bettman said the league was investigating the allegations that a Florida steroids dealer sold PEDs to Washington-based sports teams, including the Capitals. I'm not sure why the NHL would bother to check this guy out. He says he sold steroids to the Washington Nationals. I'm pretty sure this guy is only handing out placebos.
8. Is there any chance that Jiri Hudler is related to Rex Hudler?
9. Red Wings co-owner Marian Illitch has had her name on the Stanley Cup four times in the past 11 years. If the Wings win the Cup in 2009, it will be the first time ever that two people named Marian have their name on the Cup.
10. There was a lot of buzz around Don Cherry's entrance to Game 2 at Joe Louis Arena, where he came in on a Coast Guard boat and was greeted by hundreds of fans. Gene Principe and I were wondering why nobody was there to see us when we showed up 20 minutes later in NFL jerseys an inflatable raft
Good morning from somewhere in between Detroit and Pittsburgh, as we do the drive to Pennsylvania for Game 3 tomorrow. (In case you're wondering, the scenery between these two cities is just as breathtaking as you would imagine and the potholes only add to that charm).
1. Pittsburgh is trying to become the first city to ever win the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup in the same year. If the Red Wings win, Detroit will become the first city to win the Stanley Cup and have a winless football team in the same year.
2. Three days ago, I would have told you it was more likely that Jim Balsille would be using an iPhone than Justin Abdelkader having scored more goals than Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combined in the Cup Final
3. Marian Hossa is going to hear it from the Pittsburgh fans in Games 3 & 4 at Mellon Arena. I'm thinking some of their most nasty chants might sound an awful lot like his last name spelled backwards.
4. Barry Melrose is here at the 2009 Stanley Cup final. How many of you predicted that to happen when he started the season as Tampa Bay Lightning head coach?
5. Johan Franzen has scored more goals than any player in the last two playoff years, but nobody talks about this fact: The guy looks exactly like Ron Howard. His nickname should be Opie or Richie C. and not Mule.
6. Does the Vachon company have to pay for partial naming rights to Joe Louis Arena?
7. During his annual Stanley Cup press conference, Gary Bettman said the league was investigating the allegations that a Florida steroids dealer sold PEDs to Washington-based sports teams, including the Capitals. I'm not sure why the NHL would bother to check this guy out. He says he sold steroids to the Washington Nationals. I'm pretty sure this guy is only handing out placebos.
8. Is there any chance that Jiri Hudler is related to Rex Hudler?
9. Red Wings co-owner Marian Illitch has had her name on the Stanley Cup four times in the past 11 years. If the Wings win the Cup in 2009, it will be the first time ever that two people named Marian have their name on the Cup.
10. There was a lot of buzz around Don Cherry's entrance to Game 2 at Joe Louis Arena, where he came in on a Coast Guard boat and was greeted by hundreds of fans. Gene Principe and I were wondering why nobody was there to see us when we showed up 20 minutes later in NFL jerseys an inflatable raft
Good morning from somewhere in between Detroit and Pittsburgh, as we do the drive to Pennsylvania for Game 3 tomorrow. (In case you're wondering, the scenery between these two cities is just as breathtaking as you would imagine and the potholes only add to that charm).
2010年5月10日星期一
Spending Time at a Muay Thai Training Camp in Phuket
Spending time at a Muay Thai training camp in World Cup Soccer Jersey Phuket can be exhaustive but at the same time fascinating. Most of the people around you will be involved in kickboxing and other exercises included in Muay Thai for at least 6 hours per day and 6 days per week. When played in the ring it is considered one of the deadliest sports. So you need to be really tough and strong!
So how does a day at such a camp look like? Let us have a close look. A member of a Muay Thai training camp, Phuket wakes up at around 7-8 am and does some warm exercises like skipping, running, weight training and stretching or even yoga.
Next, they are made to do some technical exercises directly linked to the sport such as kickboxing, shadow boxing, heavy bag kicking, clinching and sparring etc. The schedule in most camps is divided into 2 parts 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening. When you are a novice it may be a little difficult for you to adjust, but as time goes on, gradually this strenuous schedule will become a part and parcel of your life. The fitness training program includes teaching the trainees ring skills and disciplines which they would require during professional fights.
If you do not plan to take up Muay Thai as a professional activity and are just interested in engaging in this activity as a hobby, training camps in Thailand especially Phuket ensure that they are worth the amount you are spending on them. Some reasons to go for these camps are- weight loss, fitness training, and mental stimulation and even to throw away addictions. f you are looking forward to go on a fitness trip then joining a Muay Thai training Camp in Phuket, Thailand would be a great idea. Indulge in an exhaustive training program in a lovely ambiance and get the experience of your life! When you look for a Muay Thai training Thailand, Phuket is a natural choice among locations. Make the right investment by choosing a reputed camp for yourself and enjoy the sun and the wonderful beaches as you train in a Muay Thai Training Camp Phuket.
If you are martial art lover or if you are planning to take up any combat sport as a hobby then you must visit the tropical island of Phuket in Thailand at least once. Muay Thai is growing as a sport each day and what can be a better place to learn it than the country where it originated from. Though many ‘Muay Thai’ training camps have come up in other countries as well, still Phuket is considered as a heaven for enthusiasts of this sport. The increasing number of camps in Phuket region shows the mounting popularity not only among the aborigines but also among people coming from all parts of the world.
?3 months is the ideal time to spend n a Muay Thai training camp to turn into a professional fighter. Even in 1 or 2 months you will be able to observe miraculous results and your physique as well as mental fitness will not go unnoticed once you return to your home.
A sportsperson can enhance their punching ability by few tips
So how does a day at such a camp look like? Let us have a close look. A member of a Muay Thai training camp, Phuket wakes up at around 7-8 am and does some warm exercises like skipping, running, weight training and stretching or even yoga.
Next, they are made to do some technical exercises directly linked to the sport such as kickboxing, shadow boxing, heavy bag kicking, clinching and sparring etc. The schedule in most camps is divided into 2 parts 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening. When you are a novice it may be a little difficult for you to adjust, but as time goes on, gradually this strenuous schedule will become a part and parcel of your life. The fitness training program includes teaching the trainees ring skills and disciplines which they would require during professional fights.
If you do not plan to take up Muay Thai as a professional activity and are just interested in engaging in this activity as a hobby, training camps in Thailand especially Phuket ensure that they are worth the amount you are spending on them. Some reasons to go for these camps are- weight loss, fitness training, and mental stimulation and even to throw away addictions. f you are looking forward to go on a fitness trip then joining a Muay Thai training Camp in Phuket, Thailand would be a great idea. Indulge in an exhaustive training program in a lovely ambiance and get the experience of your life! When you look for a Muay Thai training Thailand, Phuket is a natural choice among locations. Make the right investment by choosing a reputed camp for yourself and enjoy the sun and the wonderful beaches as you train in a Muay Thai Training Camp Phuket.
If you are martial art lover or if you are planning to take up any combat sport as a hobby then you must visit the tropical island of Phuket in Thailand at least once. Muay Thai is growing as a sport each day and what can be a better place to learn it than the country where it originated from. Though many ‘Muay Thai’ training camps have come up in other countries as well, still Phuket is considered as a heaven for enthusiasts of this sport. The increasing number of camps in Phuket region shows the mounting popularity not only among the aborigines but also among people coming from all parts of the world.
?3 months is the ideal time to spend n a Muay Thai training camp to turn into a professional fighter. Even in 1 or 2 months you will be able to observe miraculous results and your physique as well as mental fitness will not go unnoticed once you return to your home.
A sportsperson can enhance their punching ability by few tips
2010年5月9日星期日
Flyers earn final playoff spot, Crosby nets 50th
Both the Flyers and Rangers faced the NFL jerseys same Game 7 reality on Sunday in Game 82 of the season. Win and you're in. Lose and go home. Henrik Lundqvist starred for New York by making 46 saves through overtime, but he was beaten twice in the shootout and took a 2-1 loss.
"Both teams had to go through it, they are not going to whine about it. That's how it is," Rangers coach John Tortorella said. "When we got to that point we thought we had the advantage. No disrespect to their shooters, but with Henrik there we felt good."
Philadelphia clinched the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and became the NHL's last participant to qualify for the playoffs. The Flyers went from early season Stanley Cup contenders to nearly missing the postseason. Now they will face the second-seeded New Jersey Devils in the opening round and will try to live up to previous expectations.
"Hopefully, we can do something with our lifeline here and use the excitement and euphoria from this win and from our last little stretch of games here to propel us and do good things here in the playoffs," Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger said.
That brings us to Sid the Kid, who closed the regular season in style.
One night after the Pittsburgh Penguins' disappointing 1-0 loss at Atlanta wrecked the defending Stanley Cup champions' bid for the Atlantic Division title, Crosby gave them something to celebrate. The 22-year-old captain hit the 50-goal milestone for the first time in his already brilliant five-year NHL career.
Crosby didn't stop there. His second goal against the Islanders, scored 55 seconds into the middle period, gave him a league-best 51 goals and his first Maurice Richard Trophy. He is the co-winner with Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, whose empty-netter in the closing seconds Sunday of the Lightning's 3-1 win over Florida was his 51st goal.
(AP) - While the rest of the NHL wrapped up the regular season, the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers got a jump start on the playoffs.
Sidney Crosby put on a show of his own Sunday and nearly skated off with another scoring title. He settled for a share of his first goal championship.
For Philadelphia, the season will continue through at least one playoff round. The Rangers are done. A late-season surge fell a shootout short.
"That's probably the fastest I've skated all year," said the 20-year-old Stamkos, who finished his second NHL season. "After all the posts I've had, sometimes you get one like that. It's nice either way. I'll take it. I guess it was meant to be, to get that one in the empty net."
Word reached Crosby on the Penguins bench that Stamkos got even. Pittsburgh was leading 5-4 with about 10 minutes left in regulation, but couldn't get Crosby another goal.
It certainly wasn't for lack of trying.
"Oh yeah, for sure," Crosby said when asked if he was pushing to score again. "There is nothing wrong with scoring a goal. There is nothing wrong with wanting to do that. I was trying not to cheat out there. The main thing was we were up 5-4 at the time. We were trying to get that goal. It wasn't like we were up 5-2."
Crosby passed Stamkos _ at least momentarily _ and two-time defending league MVP Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, who both began the day with 50 goals. Crosby had two goals and three assists in Pittsburgh's 6-5 overtime victory Sunday.
"It's nice. I put a lot of hard work into it," Crosby said.
The fourth-seeded Penguins will start their playoff defense of the Cup against fifth-seeded Ottawa.
"We know that we've got to start right away, not wait a couple of games to get into it," Crosby said. "We know what is expected of us."
Ovechkin, the NHL's top goal scorer the past two seasons, and Crosby finished tied for second in the overall points race behind Vancouver's Henrik Sedin.
Sedin had four assists to regain the lead Saturday night when the Canucks played their final game and won the Art Ross Trophy with a franchise-record 112 points _ including 83 assists. That left him three points ahead of Crosby and Ovechkin, who was shut out in the Capitals' 4-3 shootout loss to Boston in Sunday's finale.
Now, Alex the Great can turn his attention to the playoffs, where the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals will look to make noise. They were stopped last year by Crosby and the Penguins and are looking to get to the finals for the first time since 1998.
Washington, which earned an NHL-best 121 points, will open against Montreal. The Canadiens dropped to the No. 8 seed when Philadelphia beat the Rangers.
Buffalo, the Northeast Division champion, could have moved up to the second seed in the East with a win in regulation at New Jersey on Sunday, but the Sabres lost 2-1 and dropped to No. 3 and into a first-round matchup against Boston.
Martin Brodeur made 22 saves to earn his 45th win of the season and secure his fifth William Jennings Trophy as the goalie for the team that gives up the fewest goals.
Brodeur played in 77 of New Jersey's 82 games, and the Devils yielded only 191 goals. Brodeur is tied with Patrick Roy for the most Jennings Trophy wins since the award was introduced in the 1981-82 season.
The San Jose Sharks finished first in the West for the second straight year and will try to turn that into postseason success that has often eluded them. Last season they captured their first Presidents' Trophy, but were knocked out in the first round by No. 8 seed Anaheim.
This time the Sharks will take their chances with eighth-seeded Colorado. Central Division champion Chicago will take on Nashville in the 2 vs. 7 series, and the third-seeded Canucks will face the No. 6 Los Angeles Kings, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
"Both teams had to go through it, they are not going to whine about it. That's how it is," Rangers coach John Tortorella said. "When we got to that point we thought we had the advantage. No disrespect to their shooters, but with Henrik there we felt good."
Philadelphia clinched the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and became the NHL's last participant to qualify for the playoffs. The Flyers went from early season Stanley Cup contenders to nearly missing the postseason. Now they will face the second-seeded New Jersey Devils in the opening round and will try to live up to previous expectations.
"Hopefully, we can do something with our lifeline here and use the excitement and euphoria from this win and from our last little stretch of games here to propel us and do good things here in the playoffs," Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger said.
That brings us to Sid the Kid, who closed the regular season in style.
One night after the Pittsburgh Penguins' disappointing 1-0 loss at Atlanta wrecked the defending Stanley Cup champions' bid for the Atlantic Division title, Crosby gave them something to celebrate. The 22-year-old captain hit the 50-goal milestone for the first time in his already brilliant five-year NHL career.
Crosby didn't stop there. His second goal against the Islanders, scored 55 seconds into the middle period, gave him a league-best 51 goals and his first Maurice Richard Trophy. He is the co-winner with Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, whose empty-netter in the closing seconds Sunday of the Lightning's 3-1 win over Florida was his 51st goal.
(AP) - While the rest of the NHL wrapped up the regular season, the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers got a jump start on the playoffs.
Sidney Crosby put on a show of his own Sunday and nearly skated off with another scoring title. He settled for a share of his first goal championship.
For Philadelphia, the season will continue through at least one playoff round. The Rangers are done. A late-season surge fell a shootout short.
"That's probably the fastest I've skated all year," said the 20-year-old Stamkos, who finished his second NHL season. "After all the posts I've had, sometimes you get one like that. It's nice either way. I'll take it. I guess it was meant to be, to get that one in the empty net."
Word reached Crosby on the Penguins bench that Stamkos got even. Pittsburgh was leading 5-4 with about 10 minutes left in regulation, but couldn't get Crosby another goal.
It certainly wasn't for lack of trying.
"Oh yeah, for sure," Crosby said when asked if he was pushing to score again. "There is nothing wrong with scoring a goal. There is nothing wrong with wanting to do that. I was trying not to cheat out there. The main thing was we were up 5-4 at the time. We were trying to get that goal. It wasn't like we were up 5-2."
Crosby passed Stamkos _ at least momentarily _ and two-time defending league MVP Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, who both began the day with 50 goals. Crosby had two goals and three assists in Pittsburgh's 6-5 overtime victory Sunday.
"It's nice. I put a lot of hard work into it," Crosby said.
The fourth-seeded Penguins will start their playoff defense of the Cup against fifth-seeded Ottawa.
"We know that we've got to start right away, not wait a couple of games to get into it," Crosby said. "We know what is expected of us."
Ovechkin, the NHL's top goal scorer the past two seasons, and Crosby finished tied for second in the overall points race behind Vancouver's Henrik Sedin.
Sedin had four assists to regain the lead Saturday night when the Canucks played their final game and won the Art Ross Trophy with a franchise-record 112 points _ including 83 assists. That left him three points ahead of Crosby and Ovechkin, who was shut out in the Capitals' 4-3 shootout loss to Boston in Sunday's finale.
Now, Alex the Great can turn his attention to the playoffs, where the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals will look to make noise. They were stopped last year by Crosby and the Penguins and are looking to get to the finals for the first time since 1998.
Washington, which earned an NHL-best 121 points, will open against Montreal. The Canadiens dropped to the No. 8 seed when Philadelphia beat the Rangers.
Buffalo, the Northeast Division champion, could have moved up to the second seed in the East with a win in regulation at New Jersey on Sunday, but the Sabres lost 2-1 and dropped to No. 3 and into a first-round matchup against Boston.
Martin Brodeur made 22 saves to earn his 45th win of the season and secure his fifth William Jennings Trophy as the goalie for the team that gives up the fewest goals.
Brodeur played in 77 of New Jersey's 82 games, and the Devils yielded only 191 goals. Brodeur is tied with Patrick Roy for the most Jennings Trophy wins since the award was introduced in the 1981-82 season.
The San Jose Sharks finished first in the West for the second straight year and will try to turn that into postseason success that has often eluded them. Last season they captured their first Presidents' Trophy, but were knocked out in the first round by No. 8 seed Anaheim.
This time the Sharks will take their chances with eighth-seeded Colorado. Central Division champion Chicago will take on Nashville in the 2 vs. 7 series, and the third-seeded Canucks will face the No. 6 Los Angeles Kings, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
2010年5月8日星期六
Questions galore for Capitals after quick exit
They wanted the Stanley Cup. Writing on his blog Thursday, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis referred to aiming for a championship and wrote, "To fall short so early in the process this year is quite humbling."
Instead, 2010 World Cup Jerseys that other trophy, the one signifying regular-season excellence, is all the Capitals have to show for 2009-10. They became the first top-seeded team to blow a 3-1 series lead against a No. 8 and were eliminated in the first round by goalie Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal Canadiens with a 2-1 loss in Game 7 on Wednesday night.
"If someone came to your work and stepped on your desk or punched you in the head _ that's how I feel," Capitals forward Jason Chimera said. "You come for a long playoff run, and it doesn't happen, it's tough."
Thursday marked Day 1 of a much lengthier offseason than the Capitals anticipated, an offseason that begins with questions:
_Is this a team built for the regular season?
_Can its go-go, high-flying system succeed in the playoffs?
_Are changes needed? How extensive?
"It looks like we're not good enough," center Nicklas Backstrom said.
All four of Washington's playoff series over the past three seasons have gone to a Game 7, and the club is 1-3 in those contests, only once reaching the second round.
After Wednesday's setback, Boudreau bristled at a pointed query about whether the latest disappointment validates criticisms that his team's style of play doesn't work in the playoffs.
"It doesn't validate anything," Boudreau replied. "I think the way we play is the way we were built, and if we had to make all these guys into checkers and play a trap game, I think it would have been a pretty boring team to watch, and we wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful as we were."
The Capitals won a third consecutive Southeast Division title. They set franchise records for victories (54) and points (121). They tied the club mark for home victories (30). They scored more goals in the regular season than any team since the 1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ovechkin became only the third player in history with 50 goals in four of his first five seasons and was one of three finalists for the Hart Trophy as league MVP announced Thursday; Backstrom topped 100 points for the first time; Alexander Semin notched his first 40-goal season; Mike Green led NHL defensemen in goals and assists.
Yet they are well aware that they fell short in the part of the year that counts the most.
Semin didn't score a goal against Montreal, stretching his playoff drought to 14 games. Green didn't put the puck in the net during this series, either, and he also was called for a cross-checking penalty Wednesday that gave Montreal a 4-on-3 opportunity, setting up the game's first goal. The Capitals had the NHL's top power-play unit in the regular season, converting 25 percent of chances, but went 1 for 33 on the man-advantage against the Canadiens.
"Maybe we didn't work hard enough. We were scoring a thousand goals in the regular season, and we can't even score in the playoffs," Backstrom said. "That's kind of not acceptable for our team."
"I think we all know we have a pretty good team," Ovechkin said. "We didn't win when we have to win."
After being held to one or zero goals a total of three times in their first 86 games of 2009-10, including the playoffs, the Capitals were limited to one goal in each of the last three games against Halak.
Now comes the time to look forward, for Leonsis and general manager George McPhee to decide if the club that so quickly went from the bottom of the NHL to the top _ in the regular season, anyway _ is capable of a prolonged playoff run.
And if it's not, they must decide what needs to be done to change that.
On his blog Thursday, Leonsis wrote: "I believe our hockey IQ seemed low this series and we didn't adjust well on the ice to the new schemes coming our way." The owner also promised: "We won't do anything rash or make any
That last part might be comforting to Boudreau, who sounded convinced that Ovechkin & Co. are heading in the right direction.
"We're still young. ... We've just touched the surface on how good the team can play. You make little bit of improvements every year, and I think we'll be a better team next year," Boudreau said. "Hopefully this is a lesson. It's a tough lesson to learn, because you thought after last year that you're going to win the cup. Not that we took anybody for granted. At all."
WASHINGTON (AP) - Say this for Alex Ovechkin's Washington Capitals: They hardly can be accused of hiding their aspirations.
When NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly presented Ovechkin with the Presidents' Trophy during an on-ice pregame ceremony nearly three weeks ago, the league's two-time MVP refused to touch the award. He didn't even glance at it, saying later: "We just wait for the big things coming."
And Washington coach Bruce Boudreau made his team's hopes clear that night, too, noting: "It's not the one we want."
Instead, 2010 World Cup Jerseys that other trophy, the one signifying regular-season excellence, is all the Capitals have to show for 2009-10. They became the first top-seeded team to blow a 3-1 series lead against a No. 8 and were eliminated in the first round by goalie Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal Canadiens with a 2-1 loss in Game 7 on Wednesday night.
"If someone came to your work and stepped on your desk or punched you in the head _ that's how I feel," Capitals forward Jason Chimera said. "You come for a long playoff run, and it doesn't happen, it's tough."
Thursday marked Day 1 of a much lengthier offseason than the Capitals anticipated, an offseason that begins with questions:
_Is this a team built for the regular season?
_Can its go-go, high-flying system succeed in the playoffs?
_Are changes needed? How extensive?
"It looks like we're not good enough," center Nicklas Backstrom said.
All four of Washington's playoff series over the past three seasons have gone to a Game 7, and the club is 1-3 in those contests, only once reaching the second round.
After Wednesday's setback, Boudreau bristled at a pointed query about whether the latest disappointment validates criticisms that his team's style of play doesn't work in the playoffs.
"It doesn't validate anything," Boudreau replied. "I think the way we play is the way we were built, and if we had to make all these guys into checkers and play a trap game, I think it would have been a pretty boring team to watch, and we wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful as we were."
The Capitals won a third consecutive Southeast Division title. They set franchise records for victories (54) and points (121). They tied the club mark for home victories (30). They scored more goals in the regular season than any team since the 1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ovechkin became only the third player in history with 50 goals in four of his first five seasons and was one of three finalists for the Hart Trophy as league MVP announced Thursday; Backstrom topped 100 points for the first time; Alexander Semin notched his first 40-goal season; Mike Green led NHL defensemen in goals and assists.
Yet they are well aware that they fell short in the part of the year that counts the most.
Semin didn't score a goal against Montreal, stretching his playoff drought to 14 games. Green didn't put the puck in the net during this series, either, and he also was called for a cross-checking penalty Wednesday that gave Montreal a 4-on-3 opportunity, setting up the game's first goal. The Capitals had the NHL's top power-play unit in the regular season, converting 25 percent of chances, but went 1 for 33 on the man-advantage against the Canadiens.
"Maybe we didn't work hard enough. We were scoring a thousand goals in the regular season, and we can't even score in the playoffs," Backstrom said. "That's kind of not acceptable for our team."
"I think we all know we have a pretty good team," Ovechkin said. "We didn't win when we have to win."
After being held to one or zero goals a total of three times in their first 86 games of 2009-10, including the playoffs, the Capitals were limited to one goal in each of the last three games against Halak.
Now comes the time to look forward, for Leonsis and general manager George McPhee to decide if the club that so quickly went from the bottom of the NHL to the top _ in the regular season, anyway _ is capable of a prolonged playoff run.
And if it's not, they must decide what needs to be done to change that.
On his blog Thursday, Leonsis wrote: "I believe our hockey IQ seemed low this series and we didn't adjust well on the ice to the new schemes coming our way." The owner also promised: "We won't do anything rash or make any
That last part might be comforting to Boudreau, who sounded convinced that Ovechkin & Co. are heading in the right direction.
"We're still young. ... We've just touched the surface on how good the team can play. You make little bit of improvements every year, and I think we'll be a better team next year," Boudreau said. "Hopefully this is a lesson. It's a tough lesson to learn, because you thought after last year that you're going to win the cup. Not that we took anybody for granted. At all."
WASHINGTON (AP) - Say this for Alex Ovechkin's Washington Capitals: They hardly can be accused of hiding their aspirations.
When NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly presented Ovechkin with the Presidents' Trophy during an on-ice pregame ceremony nearly three weeks ago, the league's two-time MVP refused to touch the award. He didn't even glance at it, saying later: "We just wait for the big things coming."
And Washington coach Bruce Boudreau made his team's hopes clear that night, too, noting: "It's not the one we want."
2010年5月7日星期五
Oilers slip past Canucks 3-2
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - Tom Gilbert had a goal and an assist and the Edmonton Oilers earned their third consecutive victory with a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. soccer jerseys
Robert Nilsson and Andrew Cogliano also scored for the last-place Oilers, who were coming off consecutive wins over Detroit and San Jose and have won seven of their past nine at home.
Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin scored for the Canucks, who have lost two in a row.
The Canucks are five points ahead of Colorado for first place in the Northwest Division.
Edmonton scored on its first shot at 3:02 of the first when Gilbert sneaked out from the corner and lifted a puck that got between Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo's pad and the post.
The Oilers made it 2-0 at 6:58 as Nilsson staved off Vancouver defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and cut in on net for his 11th goal of the season.
Vancouver got on the board when Michael Grabner slid the puck through the top of the crease to Raymond who had a wide open net to make it 2-1.
Edmonton made it 3-1 at 8:01 of the second as Cogliano fluttered a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that slipped through Luongo's legs.
Vancouver narrowed the gap once again at 16:12 of the second period as Henrik Sedin sent a pass to twin brother Daniel during a scramble in front and he got his 200th career NHL goal to make it 3-2.
Edmonton goalie Devan Dubnyk, who had got his first two NHL wins in the Oilers past two games, missed Tuesday's game. He came down with flulike symptoms on Tuesday morning and the team opted to keep him under quarantine, setting off a frantic search for a backup goalie for Jeff Deslauriers. The Oilers called in Nathan Deobald, a 5-foot-8 third-string goalie with the University of Calgary that has played one game for the Dinos this year.
Notes: Oilers forward Ales Hemsky resumed skating on Monday after season-ending shoulder surgery and reports that his recovery is going well. ... Vancouver forward Pavol Demtira missed the game due to personal reasons. ... Mason Raymond took his spot on the second line. ... Defenseman Dean Arsene was called up by Edmonton to replace injured Theo Peckham for the game. ... It was the sixth and final meeting between the two teams with Edmonton winning the first game before Vancouver bounced back to win the next four. ... It was the Canucks' first road game since their 14-game road trip surrounding the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Robert Nilsson and Andrew Cogliano also scored for the last-place Oilers, who were coming off consecutive wins over Detroit and San Jose and have won seven of their past nine at home.
Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin scored for the Canucks, who have lost two in a row.
The Canucks are five points ahead of Colorado for first place in the Northwest Division.
Edmonton scored on its first shot at 3:02 of the first when Gilbert sneaked out from the corner and lifted a puck that got between Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo's pad and the post.
The Oilers made it 2-0 at 6:58 as Nilsson staved off Vancouver defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and cut in on net for his 11th goal of the season.
Vancouver got on the board when Michael Grabner slid the puck through the top of the crease to Raymond who had a wide open net to make it 2-1.
Edmonton made it 3-1 at 8:01 of the second as Cogliano fluttered a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that slipped through Luongo's legs.
Vancouver narrowed the gap once again at 16:12 of the second period as Henrik Sedin sent a pass to twin brother Daniel during a scramble in front and he got his 200th career NHL goal to make it 3-2.
Edmonton goalie Devan Dubnyk, who had got his first two NHL wins in the Oilers past two games, missed Tuesday's game. He came down with flulike symptoms on Tuesday morning and the team opted to keep him under quarantine, setting off a frantic search for a backup goalie for Jeff Deslauriers. The Oilers called in Nathan Deobald, a 5-foot-8 third-string goalie with the University of Calgary that has played one game for the Dinos this year.
Notes: Oilers forward Ales Hemsky resumed skating on Monday after season-ending shoulder surgery and reports that his recovery is going well. ... Vancouver forward Pavol Demtira missed the game due to personal reasons. ... Mason Raymond took his spot on the second line. ... Defenseman Dean Arsene was called up by Edmonton to replace injured Theo Peckham for the game. ... It was the sixth and final meeting between the two teams with Edmonton winning the first game before Vancouver bounced back to win the next four. ... It was the Canucks' first road game since their 14-game road trip surrounding the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
2010年5月5日星期三
Caps hold on to beat Blue Jackets 3-2
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Alexander Semin, soccer jerseys Tomas Fleischmann and Mike Green scored first-period goals and that was enough for Jose Theodore as the Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday night.
Theodore had 34 saves and improved to 18-0-3 with a goals-against average under 2.70 since Jan. 13, extending his own Capitals record for decisions without a regulation loss.
Washington set a franchise record with its 51st win of the season. The victory also drew the Capitals nearer to clinching the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the NHL. They need only another win or a San Jose loss to grab that trophy for the first time _ and home ice throughout the playoffs.
Antoine Vermette had two goals and Rick Nash two assists for the Blue Jackets.
The Caps added to their franchise record for points in a season (114) and also set a new mark for road wins (23).
The Caps led 3-1 for almost 40 minutes until Vermette picked up his second goal of the night off Nash's feed from the back wall to Vermette, alone in the slot.
Theodore made several strong saves in the waning moments, the Caps preserving the lead when R.J. Umberger's shot slid just wide of the far post with 3 minutes left.
The vaunted Washington offense, the most prolific in the league at 3.80 goals per game, flexed its muscles three times in the opening period.
After Theodore turned aside a couple of quality Columbus chances in the opening minutes, Semin took a short bump pass from Brooks Laich, settled the puck and rocketed a shot past goalie Mathieu Garon for his 38th of the year.
Garon was knocked to the ice by former teammate Jason Chimera _ traded by Columbus to the Capitals in a December deal _ with the Blue Jackets' Anton Stralman picking up a penalty on the play. Garon was on the ice for several minutes before play resumed.
Just seconds after that power play ended, the Capitals struck again when Eric Fehr dug the puck off the back wall with a blind behind-the-back pass to Mike Knuble, who then saucered a setup pass for Fleischmann.
That was it for Garon, who had two saves on four shots. He was replaced by Steve Mason, held out of the lineup while recovering from a slight shoulder injury sustained in a 3-2 loss at Detroit on Thursday night. Mason finished with 22 saves on 23 chances.
The Capitals made it 3-0 on a 5-on-3 advantage, Green scoring unassisted on a hard slap shot from the top of the right circle. The goal gave him a career-best 74 points.
But the Blue Jackets got on the board at the end of that two-man disadvantage. Nash chipped the puck away from defenseman Joe Corvo between the penalty boxes, then swooped up the right wing. He waited for a sliding Corvo to clear out of the way before feeding Vermette for a jam shot for his 26th goal.
The Capitals, unlike the Blue Jackets, were able to kill a lengthy 5-on-3. Columbus had almost 1 1/2 minutes with two extra men in the second period, but never really threatened.
NOTES: With just one goal in his last six games, Alexander Ovechkin remains stuck on 133 career goals at home and 133 on the road. He didn't have a shot in the first two periods and finished with two. ... Umberger's six-game points streak came to an end. ... Columbus RW Derek Dorsett played in his 100th NHL game.
Theodore had 34 saves and improved to 18-0-3 with a goals-against average under 2.70 since Jan. 13, extending his own Capitals record for decisions without a regulation loss.
Washington set a franchise record with its 51st win of the season. The victory also drew the Capitals nearer to clinching the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the NHL. They need only another win or a San Jose loss to grab that trophy for the first time _ and home ice throughout the playoffs.
Antoine Vermette had two goals and Rick Nash two assists for the Blue Jackets.
The Caps added to their franchise record for points in a season (114) and also set a new mark for road wins (23).
The Caps led 3-1 for almost 40 minutes until Vermette picked up his second goal of the night off Nash's feed from the back wall to Vermette, alone in the slot.
Theodore made several strong saves in the waning moments, the Caps preserving the lead when R.J. Umberger's shot slid just wide of the far post with 3 minutes left.
The vaunted Washington offense, the most prolific in the league at 3.80 goals per game, flexed its muscles three times in the opening period.
After Theodore turned aside a couple of quality Columbus chances in the opening minutes, Semin took a short bump pass from Brooks Laich, settled the puck and rocketed a shot past goalie Mathieu Garon for his 38th of the year.
Garon was knocked to the ice by former teammate Jason Chimera _ traded by Columbus to the Capitals in a December deal _ with the Blue Jackets' Anton Stralman picking up a penalty on the play. Garon was on the ice for several minutes before play resumed.
Just seconds after that power play ended, the Capitals struck again when Eric Fehr dug the puck off the back wall with a blind behind-the-back pass to Mike Knuble, who then saucered a setup pass for Fleischmann.
That was it for Garon, who had two saves on four shots. He was replaced by Steve Mason, held out of the lineup while recovering from a slight shoulder injury sustained in a 3-2 loss at Detroit on Thursday night. Mason finished with 22 saves on 23 chances.
The Capitals made it 3-0 on a 5-on-3 advantage, Green scoring unassisted on a hard slap shot from the top of the right circle. The goal gave him a career-best 74 points.
But the Blue Jackets got on the board at the end of that two-man disadvantage. Nash chipped the puck away from defenseman Joe Corvo between the penalty boxes, then swooped up the right wing. He waited for a sliding Corvo to clear out of the way before feeding Vermette for a jam shot for his 26th goal.
The Capitals, unlike the Blue Jackets, were able to kill a lengthy 5-on-3. Columbus had almost 1 1/2 minutes with two extra men in the second period, but never really threatened.
NOTES: With just one goal in his last six games, Alexander Ovechkin remains stuck on 133 career goals at home and 133 on the road. He didn't have a shot in the first two periods and finished with two. ... Umberger's six-game points streak came to an end. ... Columbus RW Derek Dorsett played in his 100th NHL game.
D-Day For World Cup Wannabes
The time has come for the decisive ties for World Cup Jerseys spots at 2010’s World Cup with a number of important clashes this Saturday night.
Indeed, this is the ideal time to preview the matches and assess who might get through to South Africa next year.
Indeed, this is the ideal time to preview the matches and assess who might get through to South Africa next year.
2010年5月4日星期二
Brazil
Trading places with Spain at the top of the world rankings, Brazil are one of the favourites to win the world cup this year. An excellent qualifying campaign later, Dunga may have been rubbing his hands, waiting in eager anticipation for the draw. But the results may have left him somewhat dismayed as Brazil find themselves in, clearly, the "Group of Death".
North Korea must be wondering what they did wrong as they were piled into a group with one of the strongest teams in Africa, one of the strongest teams in Europe and one of the strongest teams in South America & easily the world. They will probably end their campaign at the bottom of the group with their "Goals Against" column looking like a cricket scorecard. Brazil will breeze through them for sure.
Portugal are a threat! They may have barely qualified for the World Cup but that can be attributed to their group and performances, rather than the quality of their team. Capable of beating anyone on their day, they will be a match for the Brazilian flair and skill, countering it with their own. Also, they have a certain CR9 in their lineup. Brazil can claim to counter that with their own midfield fireball in Kaka. But Brazil just might have too much quality to beat these Europeans in a battle of skill and wits.
The toughest opponents in the group for all the rest, Cote d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast will be the ones to watch out for. Strong, quick, extremely good in the air, prolific scorers and tactically strong, the Ivorians have everything it takes to win the whole thing, including Didier Drogba. They are definite favourites for the World Cup and if Brazil manage to get anything out of this game, I will be pleasantly surprised.
From the looks of things in South America, the happiest people out there would be the ones who struggled to qualify. Argentina and Paraguay will have fought hard in qualifying but their World Cup groups are certainly easier than they would have expected. Uruguay and Chile can say the same however the favourites to win the title, Brazil may find it difficult to make it out of their group, let alone win the NFL jerseys whole thing.
North Korea must be wondering what they did wrong as they were piled into a group with one of the strongest teams in Africa, one of the strongest teams in Europe and one of the strongest teams in South America & easily the world. They will probably end their campaign at the bottom of the group with their "Goals Against" column looking like a cricket scorecard. Brazil will breeze through them for sure.
Portugal are a threat! They may have barely qualified for the World Cup but that can be attributed to their group and performances, rather than the quality of their team. Capable of beating anyone on their day, they will be a match for the Brazilian flair and skill, countering it with their own. Also, they have a certain CR9 in their lineup. Brazil can claim to counter that with their own midfield fireball in Kaka. But Brazil just might have too much quality to beat these Europeans in a battle of skill and wits.
The toughest opponents in the group for all the rest, Cote d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast will be the ones to watch out for. Strong, quick, extremely good in the air, prolific scorers and tactically strong, the Ivorians have everything it takes to win the whole thing, including Didier Drogba. They are definite favourites for the World Cup and if Brazil manage to get anything out of this game, I will be pleasantly surprised.
From the looks of things in South America, the happiest people out there would be the ones who struggled to qualify. Argentina and Paraguay will have fought hard in qualifying but their World Cup groups are certainly easier than they would have expected. Uruguay and Chile can say the same however the favourites to win the title, Brazil may find it difficult to make it out of their group, let alone win the NFL jerseys whole thing.
2010年5月2日星期日
Bayern Munich Are Suddenly The Title Favourites
After appearing in MLB jerseys crisis earlier this season, Bayern Munich have moved to within two points of leaders Leverkusen and could lead the Bundesliga table at the winter break.
It has been quite the turn-around for Louis van Gaal’s men in the last few weeks, and it hasn’t only been isolated to the league.
Who could forget their dramatic qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with a 4-1 win at Juventus on Matchday Six.
But focusing back on the Bundesliga, Bayern have won their last three matches including an emphatic 5-1 rout at Bochum on the weekend.
And while it should be acknowledged Bochum are a side battling down the wrong end of the table, Bayern were brilliant on Saturday.
The Bavarians tore apart their opponents in ominous style suggesting this is a side ready to give the title a real tilt.
And with challengers Leverkusen, Werder Bremen, VfL Wolfsburg and Hamburg SV wavering of late, Bayern loom large.
Perhaps Felix Magath’s impressive Schalke 04 will have something to say about that, but Bayern are in form right now.
Energetic Bayern striker Ivica Olic has been brilliant with his tireless displays and he could easily have had a hat-trick at Bochum. His front partner, Mario Gomez, continues to find the net too.
Outstanding defender Philipp Lahm has settled down on the left-side and provided plenty for the forwards to feed off on Saturday, while Danijel Pranjic deservedly broke his Bundesliga duck.
Bayern’s Dutch boss said after the game, "My players concentrated very hard in the build-up to the match, and kept their concentration once it kicked off.
“It was a big ask after the 4-1 win in Turin, but I'd say winning 5-1 here in Bochum isn't too bad.
"We prepare well for every match, with videos, team talks and individual chats. I think we saw some of that coming through today.
“We're back to within two points of Leverkusen now. I'm very satisfied."
Indeed, he should be satisfied as Bayern were on the verge of an early European exit and languishing down in eighth on the Bundesliga table just a few weeks ago.
It has suddenly turned around for Bayern and van Gaal must claim some credit for that.
He has remained stubborn in his appraisal of Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose’s worth to the side and van Gaal’s preferred front pairing have been brilliant of late.
And the Dutchman continues to encourage youngsters like Holger Badstuber and Thomas Mueller, as well as his own signings like Pranjic.
Bayern face newly promoted FSV Mainz next weekend and a win in that fixture could see them lead the Bundesliga table going into the winter break, which would be an unbelievable feat.
But looking ahead with more important things in mind, Bayern’s title hopes have multiplied big time recently. And to think of the impact Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben will make when they return to full fitness, Bayern are ominously poised.
Van Gaal suddenly seems the right man for the job and with rumours he may be signing Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos in the transfer window, Bayern could just have the stock to go all the way.
Schalke continue to look a realistic title candidate, but Bayern look ominous. They’ve certainly turned the corner.
It has been quite the turn-around for Louis van Gaal’s men in the last few weeks, and it hasn’t only been isolated to the league.
Who could forget their dramatic qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with a 4-1 win at Juventus on Matchday Six.
But focusing back on the Bundesliga, Bayern have won their last three matches including an emphatic 5-1 rout at Bochum on the weekend.
And while it should be acknowledged Bochum are a side battling down the wrong end of the table, Bayern were brilliant on Saturday.
The Bavarians tore apart their opponents in ominous style suggesting this is a side ready to give the title a real tilt.
And with challengers Leverkusen, Werder Bremen, VfL Wolfsburg and Hamburg SV wavering of late, Bayern loom large.
Perhaps Felix Magath’s impressive Schalke 04 will have something to say about that, but Bayern are in form right now.
Energetic Bayern striker Ivica Olic has been brilliant with his tireless displays and he could easily have had a hat-trick at Bochum. His front partner, Mario Gomez, continues to find the net too.
Outstanding defender Philipp Lahm has settled down on the left-side and provided plenty for the forwards to feed off on Saturday, while Danijel Pranjic deservedly broke his Bundesliga duck.
Bayern’s Dutch boss said after the game, "My players concentrated very hard in the build-up to the match, and kept their concentration once it kicked off.
“It was a big ask after the 4-1 win in Turin, but I'd say winning 5-1 here in Bochum isn't too bad.
"We prepare well for every match, with videos, team talks and individual chats. I think we saw some of that coming through today.
“We're back to within two points of Leverkusen now. I'm very satisfied."
Indeed, he should be satisfied as Bayern were on the verge of an early European exit and languishing down in eighth on the Bundesliga table just a few weeks ago.
It has suddenly turned around for Bayern and van Gaal must claim some credit for that.
He has remained stubborn in his appraisal of Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose’s worth to the side and van Gaal’s preferred front pairing have been brilliant of late.
And the Dutchman continues to encourage youngsters like Holger Badstuber and Thomas Mueller, as well as his own signings like Pranjic.
Bayern face newly promoted FSV Mainz next weekend and a win in that fixture could see them lead the Bundesliga table going into the winter break, which would be an unbelievable feat.
But looking ahead with more important things in mind, Bayern’s title hopes have multiplied big time recently. And to think of the impact Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben will make when they return to full fitness, Bayern are ominously poised.
Van Gaal suddenly seems the right man for the job and with rumours he may be signing Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos in the transfer window, Bayern could just have the stock to go all the way.
Schalke continue to look a realistic title candidate, but Bayern look ominous. They’ve certainly turned the corner.
Mutu: I Am Not Joining Manchester City
Friday, NBA jerseys January 22, 2010 -- Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has dismissed all reports suggesting that he would be leaving the Viola for Premier League side Manchester City this month.
Mutu told Prosport.ro:
"Manchester City? We will see, but I wouldn't believe in that too much. I am only thinking about Fiorentina and to do well with them this season."
Mutu has been in great form recently and scored twice for Fiorentina against Lazio in midweek's 3-2 victory in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.
Hernan Crespo: I Am Not Leaving Genoa
Friday, January 22, 2010 -- Genoa striker Hernan Crespo has dismissed all reports linking him with a move away from the club World Cup Jerseys .
Crespo joined Genoa in the summer but has struggled to start regularly in Serie A. There have been recent reports suggesting that he could be on his way out of Genoa.
However, the former Inter striker has dismissed all rumours, telling pianetagenoa1893.net:
"My future is with Genoa until the end of the season. Unless the club tell me they have lost confidence in me, then I will finish the season here."
Mutu told Prosport.ro:
"Manchester City? We will see, but I wouldn't believe in that too much. I am only thinking about Fiorentina and to do well with them this season."
Mutu has been in great form recently and scored twice for Fiorentina against Lazio in midweek's 3-2 victory in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.
Hernan Crespo: I Am Not Leaving Genoa
Friday, January 22, 2010 -- Genoa striker Hernan Crespo has dismissed all reports linking him with a move away from the club World Cup Jerseys .
Crespo joined Genoa in the summer but has struggled to start regularly in Serie A. There have been recent reports suggesting that he could be on his way out of Genoa.
However, the former Inter striker has dismissed all rumours, telling pianetagenoa1893.net:
"My future is with Genoa until the end of the season. Unless the club tell me they have lost confidence in me, then I will finish the season here."
2010年5月1日星期六
David Cameron tries to capitalise on debate success with voter 'contract'
David Cameron moved today to build on the momentum from his performance in last night's final televised campaign debate by publishing a "contract" with voters designed to reassure them that a Conservative government would deliver on its promises. soccer jerseys
The Tory leader has long been criticised for failing to "seal the deal" despite his consistent lead in the opinion polls, but party strategists believe he has finally turned the corner and is on course for a majority after next Thursday's election.
To underline, the first "contracts" were sent out this afternoon, e-mailed to supporters. A printed version will be sent to millions of households in target seats around the country.
The document - which has echoes of the 1094 "Contract with America" which helped the Republicans gain control of Congress during Bill Clinton's first term - sets out 16 key pledges on issues such as political and economic reform, social welfare and education.
Titled “A contract between the Conservative Party and you” It is accompanied by a personal pledge from Mr Cameron, who tells voters that the contract "couldn't be clearer".
"If we don't do the things it sets out, if we don't deliver our side of the bargain: vote us out in five years' time," adds the Tory leader, who is shown in a photograph signing a piece of paper.
Although the mood in the Tory camp was increasingly upbeat, Mr Cameron repeatedly warned supporters not to take any vote for granted as he kicked off the final week of campaigning by visiting a primary school in the Cannock Chase constituency - one of those seats the Tories believe may now be within their grasp.
“I do not take anything for granted and we have got to fight a very hard campaign in these last six days to really win people over and say: change is possible, change can happen," he said.
“But... we are fighting not just Labour and the Liberals, we are fighting cynicism and apathy and deep, deep unhappiness with all politicians. I understand that and that’s why we are going to be setting out a contract with the British people saying 'This is our side of the bargain, we know how unhappy you are, how doubtful you are that anyone will achieve anything or change anything’.”
As Mr Cameron hit the campaign trail, Mr Brown was joined by no fewer than nine Cabinet colleagues for a poster launch designed to put family support on the agenda for the final week of the campaign.
The event, in the car park of a Birmingham community centre, was interrupted by a loud crash as a VW Golf was clipped by a dust cart and smashed into a bus shelter nearby - providing the inevitable "car crash" headlines.
But Mr Cameron and the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg were also up against a rather more polished campaigner, the former premier Tony Blair, who made his first appearance of the campaign only hours after Mr Brown trailed in third place in the final leaders' debate,
The most effective election-winner in Labour history advised voters to forget "who's up, who's down" after the drama of the TV debates and focus on policy, not personality.
Visiting Harrow in northwest London, Mr Blair explained that he would have come earlier but he was “stuck in the Middle East because of the volcano”. He denied that Mr Brown had been failure as Prime Minister. "I don't think he has failed at all," he said.
The former premier, now working as a peace envoy and highly-paid business speaker, said that he thought Labour had "every chance" of winning a fourth term in power as voters focus on what the country needs.
After having his blood pressure taken at a polyclinic in the Labour-held constituency, Mr Blair said that Mr Brown had the “energy and drive” to take Britain forward.
“I think if people actually look and listen to the substance they will see somebody who is completely honest, who knows his facts, knows exactly the policies that the country should follow," he said.
"I think the question is for people... look, when you start in an election campaign, particularly when you have got a new thing, which is the debates, then it will all revolve around a bit of who’s up, who’s down and all the rest of it.
“But once you get into the final days, I think people will really focus their minds on who has the best answers for the future, who has got the energy, the drive to take the country forward, who has got the answers to the questions the future is posing.”
He added: “The thing that I think is really, really important is in the general election, suddenly the politicians aren’t the decision-makers any more, the people are the decision-makers.”
The Tory leader has long been criticised for failing to "seal the deal" despite his consistent lead in the opinion polls, but party strategists believe he has finally turned the corner and is on course for a majority after next Thursday's election.
To underline, the first "contracts" were sent out this afternoon, e-mailed to supporters. A printed version will be sent to millions of households in target seats around the country.
The document - which has echoes of the 1094 "Contract with America" which helped the Republicans gain control of Congress during Bill Clinton's first term - sets out 16 key pledges on issues such as political and economic reform, social welfare and education.
Titled “A contract between the Conservative Party and you” It is accompanied by a personal pledge from Mr Cameron, who tells voters that the contract "couldn't be clearer".
"If we don't do the things it sets out, if we don't deliver our side of the bargain: vote us out in five years' time," adds the Tory leader, who is shown in a photograph signing a piece of paper.
Although the mood in the Tory camp was increasingly upbeat, Mr Cameron repeatedly warned supporters not to take any vote for granted as he kicked off the final week of campaigning by visiting a primary school in the Cannock Chase constituency - one of those seats the Tories believe may now be within their grasp.
“I do not take anything for granted and we have got to fight a very hard campaign in these last six days to really win people over and say: change is possible, change can happen," he said.
“But... we are fighting not just Labour and the Liberals, we are fighting cynicism and apathy and deep, deep unhappiness with all politicians. I understand that and that’s why we are going to be setting out a contract with the British people saying 'This is our side of the bargain, we know how unhappy you are, how doubtful you are that anyone will achieve anything or change anything’.”
As Mr Cameron hit the campaign trail, Mr Brown was joined by no fewer than nine Cabinet colleagues for a poster launch designed to put family support on the agenda for the final week of the campaign.
The event, in the car park of a Birmingham community centre, was interrupted by a loud crash as a VW Golf was clipped by a dust cart and smashed into a bus shelter nearby - providing the inevitable "car crash" headlines.
But Mr Cameron and the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg were also up against a rather more polished campaigner, the former premier Tony Blair, who made his first appearance of the campaign only hours after Mr Brown trailed in third place in the final leaders' debate,
The most effective election-winner in Labour history advised voters to forget "who's up, who's down" after the drama of the TV debates and focus on policy, not personality.
Visiting Harrow in northwest London, Mr Blair explained that he would have come earlier but he was “stuck in the Middle East because of the volcano”. He denied that Mr Brown had been failure as Prime Minister. "I don't think he has failed at all," he said.
The former premier, now working as a peace envoy and highly-paid business speaker, said that he thought Labour had "every chance" of winning a fourth term in power as voters focus on what the country needs.
After having his blood pressure taken at a polyclinic in the Labour-held constituency, Mr Blair said that Mr Brown had the “energy and drive” to take Britain forward.
“I think if people actually look and listen to the substance they will see somebody who is completely honest, who knows his facts, knows exactly the policies that the country should follow," he said.
"I think the question is for people... look, when you start in an election campaign, particularly when you have got a new thing, which is the debates, then it will all revolve around a bit of who’s up, who’s down and all the rest of it.
“But once you get into the final days, I think people will really focus their minds on who has the best answers for the future, who has got the energy, the drive to take the country forward, who has got the answers to the questions the future is posing.”
He added: “The thing that I think is really, really important is in the general election, suddenly the politicians aren’t the decision-makers any more, the people are the decision-makers.”
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