steveospeak

FRIDAY FOOTBALL FRENZY WELCOMES THE SON OF A LEGEND TONIGHT

March 8, 2013 in NFL

T.G.I.F…..Thank God it’s Frenzy Time on the FANSPEAK RADIO NETWORK.

Please join Alan Zlotorzynski and Stephen Shoup for the FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FRENZY.starting tonight at 8:30.

Tonight, Joe Unitas, the son of legendary Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, joins the show to update us on the production of “Unitas We Stand”. Joe will also reflect on his weekend in New Orleans back in November when Drew Brees broke his dad’s record for touchdown passes in consecutive games.

We will get Joe’s take on playing QB in the NFL today vs. when his father played and get his thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens recent Super Bowl run. Alan and Steve will start the show by analyzing the news from around the world of the NFL.

The franchise tag deadline has passed and now, Free Agency looms on March 12. Alan and Steve will have all of the latest on where potential free agents may be playing next season.

The guys will finish their offseason breakdown of team needs. Tonight, it is the top of the draft board. The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs, all draw analysis from the dynamic duo.

Then it’s onto the college game, so to speak.

Steve will have his updated post NFL Combine Big Board that will include the Top 15 tonight. Instead of breaking down the Draft, Alan and Steve will tell you where each member of Steve’s big board could land.

Alan will continue his look at spring practices by previewing what to look for in the PAC-12.

Time permitting, aside from QB candidates such as Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and Ohio States 2013 Heisman candidate, Braxton Miller, Alan will have the top 5 QB’s to keep an eye on this spring and into camp and Steve will tell us if they are indeed worthy of spring hype.

Showtime is 8:30 and tonight’s episode will run three hours. You do not want to miss tonight’s very special episode.

Tags: Cleveland Browns, JOHNNY UNITAS, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL, NFL Draft, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles Comments Off

by alanzlot

Capitals Fehr Well In Come From Behind OT Win Vs. Boston

March 6, 2013 in NHL

By Alan Zlotorzynski: You can use whatever play on words you want with Eric Fehr's last name, the Caps hero from last night’s 4-3 thrilling come from behind overtime win vs. the Boston Bruins. But this writer is Fehrly certain this was the biggest victory of the season for the Washington Capitals

Teams do not usually scoreboard watch in the NHL just five days into March. That is unless you are the Washington Capitals.

Heading into to their Tuesday night showdown at Verizon Center vs. the Boston Bruins, Washington trailed the Southeast leading Carolina Hurricanes by six points, the second place Winnipeg Jets by four, the third place Tampa Bay Lightning by just two and with 17-points of their own, were tied with the Florida Panthers, last year’s division champs, for last place of the Southeast.

Fehr with the winner

With the Jets playing in south Florida vs. the Panthers, every divisional foe was in action last night. Things did not start well in D.C. last night. Following a first period in which they failed to show up allowing the Bruins to jump out to a 3-0 lead, the Capitals were heading for a possible worst-case scenario ending to their Tuesday night.

Caps fans were not holding out much hope that the home team was going to storm back and win the hockey game last night. And why would they. Washington was 2-5-1 when allowing the game’s first goal, and 2-6-1 when trailing after two periods, which they did, 3-2.

Add into the mix that the Caps were facing a team in the Boston Bruins that owned one of the top four records in the NHL and was 8-1-1 on the road this season, even hoping for a win or a point trailing by one goal seemed like a Everest like task to climb –much less three.

The Bruins own the Southeast division this year with a perfect 6-0 record entering the game. They had outscored opponents by a combined 21-11 in those games while going 6-for-13 (46.2%) on the power play and 25-for-27 (92.6%) on the penalty kill.

The Capitals sure didn’t help their cause by the way they played to start the contest during the first 20 minutes. Before the period would end, Washington would allow the Bruins to score three goals, each of them uniquely different from the previous.

On top of that, team captain Alex Ovechkin committed two lazy penalties, one that led to the Bruins scoring a shorthanded penalty shot goal after Ovie took down the Bruins Brad Marchand on a breakaway during a Caps power play.

In addition, as they have been all season and despite allowing just nine first period Boston shots on goal, Washington was still outshot with just six official shots of their own. The Bruins would score the first, second and third goals of the game and scored the second and third inside the final three minutes of the period and less than 90 seconds apart.

Boston’s All-Star defenseman Zdeno Chara put the Bruins up 2-0 when was allowed to collect his own rebound from his shot inside the blue line beating Braden Holtby five-hole with his own rebound for the two goal lead.

Things worsened when The Great 8 took an interference penalty just 75 seconds after Chara’s tally. Ovie did not have to sit in the penalty box long because 15 seconds later after he was whistled, Dougie Hamilton put the B’s up 3-0 with the power play tally.

That was two goals in the final 2-minutes and 53-seconds of the period, reducing Caps starting goalie Braden Holtby to a .333 first period save percentage. After 20-minutes, the Caps allowed Boston to score shorthanded (and on a penalty shot), at even strength and on a power play—-on home ice.

Even more cause for concern and fearing the worst was that the Bruins simply never blow three goal leads. Blowing a three-goal lead has been a rare thing for the Bruins over the last five seasons. Boston was 89-1-0 since the start of the 2008-2009 season in games in which it led by at least three goals and not one of those games even reached overtime.

Down 3-0, if the Capitals and their fans were indeed scoreboard watching, there had to be anxiety inside the phone booth. The Lightning and Hurricanes both led their games by a combined 5-0 after the first two periods and the Panthers were throttling the Jets 3-1 heading into the final frame. Even if the Capitals could somehow manage to come back and win, the best they would likely do is simply save face and stay right where they were to start the day in the division and conference.

However, a win would be nothing but a best case scenario at this point because by doing so against a great Boston team, a comeback of that magnitude could be the final straw needed to completely turn around the season, one in which the Caps were already heading in the right direction having won three of their last four contests.

Thankfully and through hard work and staying dedicated to new head coach Adam Otaes system, the Capitals did the improbable by coming back to beat the Bruins 4-3 in overtime.

The result was easily the biggest win of the year for Washington.

THE COMEBACK FILLED WITH FIRSTS:

The comeback began as the Capitals 2012-13 MVP to date, got the scoring started. Center Mike Ribeiro scored the Caps first goal of the game. With Caps right-winger Troy Brouwer missing his first game as a member of the team on Tuesday night with an illness, Ribeiro wore the alternate captain’s “A” along with Nicklas Backstrom. His eighth goal of the year made the score 3-1 and was set up beautifully by the man wearing the “C” on his jersey.

With the puck on his stick five feet from Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, Ovechkin forced the B’s net minder to commit to him and then he slid a nice touch pass to Ribeiro, who had nothing but an empty net shoot at. With his goal, Ribeiro recorded his team-leading 25th point of the season, tied for 10th in the league.

The puck was retrieved and saved but not for Ribeiro. Instead, 27-year-old Caps defenseman Steve Oleksy got it. Oleksy, who was signed to a three-year two-way contract earlier in the day, was on the ice making his NHL debut and earned the second assist on the play.

The point was the first of his NHL career. Paired with Tom Poti, Oleksy skated 15 shifts for a total of 10:05 on the night, all of it at even-strength. He finished with two shots on goal, two hits and three blocked shots.

Steve Oleksy

Known for his physical play with the Caps top minor league club, the Hershey Bears, Oleksy leads the Bears with 151 penalty minutes and is the second gritty player Washington has added to its lineup in the last week. The Capitals picked up Aaron Volpatti off waivers from Vancouver on Feb. 28.

To make room on the roster the Capitals placed oft-injured defenseman Mike Green on injured reserve and they waived defenseman Roman Hamrlik. After playing in each of the Caps’ first three games this season, Hamrlik has dressed for just one of the last 17 and has been a healthy scratch for each of the other 16.

Oleksy wasn’t the only Caps player to record an NHL first on a night when many needed to step up. The Capitals were able to close the deficit to 3-2 when Tomas Kundratek scored the first goal of his NHL career. Kundratek spent five games on the Caps roister last season from January 11 through the 20 but was unable to record a point.

The 23-year old native of Prerov, Czechoslovakia not only registered his first NHL goal but also the first multiple point game of his young career, as he earned the second assist on Eric Fehr’s OT winner.

Originally drafted the NY Rangers in the third round (90 overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Kundratek is averaging 15 shifts, 15-minutes, and 45-seconds of ice time this season. He now has one goal to go along with his now six assists this season.

The Capitals felt good about their chances heading into the third period. “I think sometimes when you get behind early,” says Caps coach Adam Oates, “it’s ‘how.’ Boston didn’t really do much tonight early. They get a [short-handed goal] from a penalty shot, but before that, we were playing a very good hockey game. They get a power-play goal. We had a good [first] period.

“I think the guys felt that, ‘We’re still in the game.’ It’s Boston, nothing is going to come easy. You’re going to have to get one at a time. We got one pretty quick in the second which helped us a little.”

While I am not sure what first period Adam Oates was watching, the Capitals managed to outshoot the Bruins 11-9 in the second period and played within the system. They didn’t get sloppy in their own end as they did in the first period (ala Chara goal) and after two costly penalties in the first period did not commit another penalty until Ovechkin was called for his third penalty of the game, a hooking infraction, late in the third.

POWER OUTAGE:

The Capitals did get their chances with the extra man, four of them to be exact– and for the third game in a row, failed to convert. Boston’s league-leading penalty-killing unit held Washington without a shot on goal during their first six minutes of power-play time in Tuesday’s game and managed a score of their own.

The three games without a power-play goal is the first time this season the Caps have gone this long without an extra man tally. The Capitals are now 0-for-their-last-12 with the man advantage, dating back to a Nicklas Backstrom power-play goal in the first period of the team’s Feb. 26 game against the Hurricanes at Verizon Center. However, Washington is still fourth in the NHL converting 24.7 percent of their extra man chances this season.

The last time Caps left-winger Wojtek Wolski scored back on Feb 1 vs. the Flyers, his second of the season ended up being the game winner in the Caps 3-2 victory at Verizon Center. On Tuesday, Wolski scored another big goal, this one to tie the game at three with 6:05 left in the third. Wolski, who is now with his fifth team in eight seasons, is one goal away from matching his total from all of last season. His career high of 23 goals came back during the 09-10 season when he lit the lamp 17 times for the Avalanche and then six times after he was traded to Phoenix.

Wojtek Wolski, Mike Ribeiro

The Capitals had four different goal scorers last night and seven different players register a point. For those of you crying for GM George McPhee’s head, consider this. Three of the four goal scorers last night were elsewhere last season and five of the seven point scorers were also not in a Washington jersey last season. The one goal scorer that was in Washington last season really wasn’t. As I told you earlier, Tomas Kundratek played five games last season for the Caps.

FEHR AND BALANCED:

Eric Fehr is one of those players that came to D.C. this season hoping to jump-start his career. So far, it has been pretty good for the Caps former first round draft pick (18^th overall) of the 2003.

With a beautiful overtime goal and two assists last night, Fehr matched his entire 2011-12 point production in a little less than 20 minutes of ice time on Tuesday night.

The OT winner was setup by center Nicklas Backstrom, who also had a three-point night with three helpers. But once Fehr got the pass, he scored what is arguably the toughest and prettiest Caps goal of the season. Certainly, the most important.

Fehr split the Boston defense and lifted the puck over the right shoulder of Tuukka Rask. Fehr looked to have no chance to make the improbable shot as two Bruins defenders, Dougie Hamilton and Dennis Seidenberg, were clawing at him as they were draped on each side of him. Instead, F-16 fought through it and went top shelf just inside the right post just as he was losing his balance to win the game.

The Capitals have preached all season that they believe in what Adam Oates is teaching them and how his system works. Fehr mentioned the “system” when speaking to reporters following the game last night. "I think it says a lot about our character," Fehr said. "This team believes in ourselves … we're a pretty confident bunch right now and we believe in the system. … We're playing together as a team, and that's why we were able to win today."

While it was not Bobby Orr like, Fehr’s goal is the type that can propel a team into a run that can lead to what Orr’s historic goal accomplished for the Bruins back in May of 1970. A Stanley Cup.

Thats how you split a defense

The OT goal was Fehr’s seventh game-winner as a member of the Capitals, and his first in overtime during his career. The tally also marked the first time Fehr notched a GWG since he did so against the Penguins in Pittsburgh in The 2011 Winter Classic. His three-point game was the second of his career and it came nearly five years to the day after his first, which also came against the Bruins at Verizon Center. Fehr had three assists in a 10-3 Washington romp over the Bruins on March 3, 2008.

Fehr now has a point in seven of his last 10 games, with five goals and 11 points during that span. In addition, for the second game in a row, “F-16” as Caps fans know him, is getting more and more time in the cockpit.

With 19:57 of ice time vs. the Bruins, Fehr established a single-game career high in ice time. Fehr skated 19:26 on Saturday in Winnipeg, which shattered his previous mark by more than two full minutes when he skated 17:20 on Dec. 5, 2009, an 8-2 win over the Flyers. Fehr had two assists in that game.

According to the Washington Capitals media site, with 11 points on the season, Fehr is one of 176 NHL skaters with at least that many points this season. Fehr’s average ice time total of 11:57 per night is the lowest among all 176 of those players.

HOLTBEAST:

Braden Holtby started his 10^th consecutive game on Tuesday against Boston. That matches Tomas Vokoun’s run of 10 straight starts last season as the longest by any Washington goalie in the last nine years. During this stretch, Holtby has gone 7-3 with two shutouts, a 2.20 GAA and a .932 save pct. Olaf Kolzig started 16 straight games from Oct. 17 to Nov. 22, 2003.

According to Mike Vogel, Marchand’s penalty shot goal against the Caps was the third penalty shot Holtby has faced in his career, and the second one on which he was beaten. New Jersey’s Mattias Tedenby scored a penalty shot goal on Holtby in Newark on Nov. 22, 2010 and Holtby shut down the Devils’ Steve Bernier in a penalty shot bid at Verizon Center on Feb. 23, 2013.

Braden Holtby’s three shutouts this season are more than Washington’s team leader had in that department in 23 of the team’s previous 37 seasons of existence. With six career shutouts, Holtby has tied Pat Riggin and Rick Tabaracci for seventh on the franchise’s all-time list. Riggin needed 143 games to get his six shutouts; Tabaracci needed 69 games. Holtby recorded his sixth shutout in his 35th career NHL game.

Marchand becomes the first Bruin to score a penalty shot goal in four Boston tries against the Capitals. He succeeded where Todd Elik, Marco Sturm and David Krejci had previously failed.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

The Capitals held their own against the NHL’s top faceoff team. The Bruins dominate the league in faceoff winning percentage and heading into last night game, held an almost five percent advantage over the second place Phoenix Coyotes.

However, The Capitals managed to win 32 of the games 68 draws. That may only be 47 percent but the Bruins were held to 52.9 percent red dot wins, which is well below their season average of 57.8.

The Capitals outhit the Bruins 23-22 but the Bruins ended up winning the shots total 33-26. The Bruins also edged the Capitals in blocked shots 21-20. John Erskine led the Capitals with five hits, as Oleksy and Matt Hendricks led the way with three blocked shots each for Washington.

FIGHT NIGHT OR NOT:

Erskine battles Thornton

Speaking of John Erskine, he was involved in a first period fight with Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton. According to hockeyfights.com, Thornton won the decision, decided on by a public vote. Eighty votes were tallied and Thornton was handed 59 percent of them with Erskine getting 29 percent and the difference of 12 percent voted a draw.

It was Erskine’s second fight of the season and the Capitals seventh. The Caps rank 26^th in the NHL in the category but that may change now that Oleksy and Volpatti are on the roster with Matt Hendricks who leads the team with four scraps this season.

John Erskine, who signed a new contract extension last week, is playing well this season. He added an assist on the game-winning goal on March 2 at Winnipeg, his second assist of the season and fourth point in 2012-13. Erskine has already surpassed his goal and point totals from last season and his two goals, two assists and four points are the most points he has recorded in a single season since a four goal, seven-assist season in 2010-11. Erskine has averaged 19:35 of ice time per game this season, his highest ice time per game in his 11-season career

IF IT’S CAPS-BRUINS THEN IT’S A ONE-GOAL AFFAIR:

It was the eighth time in the last five seasons that Washington won a game in which it trailed by three or more goals. The only other team with more than four such wins over that span is the Thrashers/Jets with six.

Including the playoffs, the Capitals and Bruins have now met 12 times since last the start of last season. Ten of those contests have been decided by one goal with six of them ending up in overtime. The Capitals are 8-4-0 vs. the big bad Bruins during that span, including a playoff series win last spring. However, Washington trails, 46-65-21-8 after 141 contests (25-29-12-4 at home).

Washington has lost 61 man games due to injury this season. Here is the latest breakdown below.

INJURIES/ILLNESSES

F –Brooks Laich, missed 21 games (1/19-3/2)

D –Jack Hillen, missed 20 games (1/22-3/2)

F –Marcus Johansson, missed 10 games (2/9-3/2)

D –Mike Green, missed 2 game (3/2)

NEXT UP:

The Capitals will host the team their current surge began against when the Florida Panthers come to town on Thursday. Though Washington (9-11-1) and Florida (7-11-5) are tied for last in the Eastern Conference with 19 points, the Panthers have lost 10 of 13 while the Capitals have won seven of 10 since a 2-8-1 start.

The Capitals have an excellent opportunity before them. At 9-11-1, Washington has a chance to be above .500. with three of their next four at home. That must be the first goal, to get to .500 mark. They will not be able to get to the playoffs if they do not hit it.

Falling behind 3-0 and winning 4-3 in overtime is a great story for a single game but it is unlikely to occur again for this team. With only 26 games left in the short 48 game season, the Capitals must start better than they did Tuesday night. There is no margin for error as it is likely they will need to win at least 18 of those 26 games to make the playoffs as an eighth seed.

Tags: ADAM OATES, Alex Ovechkin, Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand, BRADEN HOLTBY, Mike Ribeiro, Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals 3 Comments »

by alanzlot

Capitals Surging But Hardly Moving as Big Bad Bruins Visit Verizon

March 4, 2013 in NHL

By Alan Zlotorzynski: As if a 48-game schedule wasn’t incentive enough to get off to a fast start and play consistent hockey this season, the calendar has now reached March—- and It doesn’t matter if it’s a lockout shortened season or not, time is now of utmost importance to the suddenly surging but hardly moving Washington Capitals.

After starting the first quarter of the season 3-8-1, the Capitals are 5-3-0 in their past eight contests and have won six of their last nine. There is a ton of good news and bad news scenarios facing Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Braden Holtby and the rest of the Caps as the Bruins get set to visit Verizon Center on Tuesday evening.

First, the good news. Washington may be tied for last in the Eastern Conference but at least they are tied with a team from their own division, the Florida Panthers, which the Caps are 2-0-0 against so far this season.

Speaking of their division, Washington, as they always seem to do— continues to play well within the Southeast. After finishing last season 12-8-4 vs. divisional foes, the Caps are 5-2-0 to start the 2013 campaign.

When you consider that Washington must climb over at least two divisional rivals to make the playoffs, this is a bright light at the end of the tunnel, which is not an oncoming freight train. Another beacon of positive light was Saturday’s 3-0 win in Winnipeg.

This victory was huge on so many levels for the Capitals.

First, the third shutout of the season pitched by Caps net minder Braden Holtby, which tied him for the league lead, is helping him regain the form we witnessed during the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.

Holtby’s play (35 saves for the game) in the first period, when he stopped 15 Winnipeg shots, allowed the Capitals to get their legs after they realized the game was not a 7:30 start, instead a local 1:00 p.m. Winnipeg start time. Secondly, the win was another four-point swing game against a team that was playing good hockey, who also happens to be in our division.

Had Winnipeg managed to win their fourth in a row and sixth game in seven tries, they would have opened up an eight-point lead on Washington. As it stands, the Caps now trail the Jets by four points with a huge back-to-back set at the MTS Center in Winnipeg on March 21 & 22 looming.

If there is some bad news to deliver it is that, the Capitals must follow up any loss with a win—period! Washington can ill-afford to lose two and most certainly three games in a row. Losing three times in a row at this point would eat up 10 percent of what is remaining on the schedule.

However, it was good to see that the Caps followed a bad 4-1 setback in Philadelphia last Thursday with the win over a divisional foe on Saturday— and on the road.

The third thing that was good to see, and worth noting is how the Jets did not score to start the game. Washington is notorious for allowing goals during the first five minutes of a period or the last three minutes of one. Winnipeg entered the contest having scored in the first five minutes in five of their previous six games. However, Braden Holtby and his Caps teammates held the Jets down not just for the first five but also for the entire 60-minutes on Saturday.

THE MATH OF IT ALL:

Troy Brouwer celebrates OT goal

This could be the bad news. The Capitals have just 28 games remaining in the 2012-13 season. The eighth and final playoff spot in the conference will probably require anywhere from 54 to 58 points this season. Do the math Caps fans, there is not much room for error.

If the Capitals hope to achieve the low end of that total, factoring three one-point games into the equation, Washington must win 17 of the next 28 games (.600 hockey). That would allow the Caps to finish the season 25-19-4, which should be enough. Should is the operative word here.

The high end of that deal could pose a real problem if Washington is forced to win 19 or 20 of their next 28 games. That means Washington would have to play at the very least .660-point percentage hockey to make the playoffs, as I said—-THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

This is where the Capitals may simply not be deep or consistent enough to endure what the March schedule has lined up for them. With 15 games in the next 26 days, The Great 8 and company cannot disappear for stretches as they have been prone to do or the season will quickly disappear.

WHO IS HOT AND WHO IS NOT:

The Capitals front office is a good place start with this one. With all of the talk around the D.C. and Baltimore area about Baltimore Ravens QB, Joe Flacco’s new contract, the Capitals have been busy handing them out as well. Last Monday, Washington announced they signed goalie Braden Holtby to a two-year contract extension worth $3.7 million and have also signed defenseman John Erskine to a two-year contract extension worth $3.925 million with a $25,000 signing bonus.

Holtby, 23, was set to be a restricted free agent this summer and Erskine, 32, was headed for unrestricted free agency. He has been with the team since 2006. Only Alex Ovechkin, Brooks Laich and Mike Green have been in the NHL with Washington longer.

“We’ve made this city our home, the family, and kids go to school here,” Erskine said. “We enjoy it a lot here.”

Erskine said Caps general manager George McPhee and assistant general manager Don Fishman began negotiating with his agent, Pat Morris, three weeks ago. Unlike last season, when Erskine appeared in just 28 games and assumed his time with the Caps was short, he is now playing top-four defensive pair minutes and is working well with fellow defenseman John Carlson.

These were great moves by Washington. Holtby is obviously going to be the future between the pipes for the Caps and Erskine is playing hard nose, tough as nails old school hockey that the Capitals so desperately need right now.

Erskine with a deserved extension

On Saturday in Winnipeg, Holtby pitched a shutout and Erskine recorded his second assist of the season on the Caps first goal of the game scored by Matt Hendricks. The Caps sturdy defenseman also contributed 19-minutes and 28-seconds of ice time, while leading both teams with five blocked shots.

Mike Ribeiro continues to play lights on. The Caps leading scorer by eight points registered a goal and an assist for his eighth multi point game of the season. Traded to Washington by Dallas for Cody Eakin and Boston's 2nd round choice (previously acquired, Dallas selected Mike Winther) in 2012 Entry Draft, June 22, 2012, Ribeiro has been everything and more the Capitals were hoping to have in a top second line center.

The 32-year old native of is 12^th in the NHL in scoring and tied for sixth with five other skaters with 17 assists so far this season. His seven goals are third on the Capitals behind Troy Brouwer (9) and Alex Ovechkin (8).

Five of Ribeiro’s goals have come on the power play, which has helped the Caps PP unit surge to fourth in the NHL this season after almost two seasons of futility with the extra man. He has 11 points in his last eight games and seems to be able to play on any line combination. On Saturday, he assisted on Matt Hendricks goal and scored a goal while playing on a line with Alex Ovechkin and Eric Fehr.

Of course, Braden Holtby is hot but like I have not mentioned that yet in this blog. So let’s take a different approach with a few fresh stats. You know about his third zero of the season but did you know all three of Holtby’s shutouts this season have come against Southeast Division opponents.

Lifetime, he is 8-3 with three shutouts, a 2.54 GAA and a .923 save pct. against Southeast Division foes. Holtby has recorded three of his six career shutouts in Saturday games. He is now 6-1-1 in eight career Saturday starts with a 1.49 GAA and a .949 save pct.

“Holtbeast” is also posting some solid numbers recently. Since allowing five goals in Florida on Feb 12, Holtby has faced 215 shots. He has stopped 202 of them. That is a .939 save percentage during that span as well as a 1.85goals against average. Since being pulled from a Feb. 27 start against the Flyers, Holtby has stopped 89 of 90 shots in his three starts in between.

When it is going bad, it’s very bad—-just ask Jason Chimera. Chimmy, who has yet to light the lamp this season, after turning it on a career high 20 times last season must be as frustrated as any player in any sport after Jets goalie Ondrea Pavelec flat our robbed him on Saturday of his best scoring chance this season.

With the puck on the sweet black tape of the stick, Chimera had the Jets goalie down on his knees with a shot to fire and fire it Chimera did—–But Pavelec snagged it out of midair with his glove and sent Chimera skating to the corner shaking his head and still goalless on the season.

FOUR LINES WORTH OF STATS:

LINE CHANGE

FIRST LINE STAT: The Washington Capitals claimed left wing Aaron Volpatti off waivers on Feb. 28 from Vancouver. Volpatti is the first player claimed off waivers by Washington since Marco Sturm was claimed from Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2011. The Capitals’ last waiver claim from Vancouver occurred on Oct. 4, 2005, when they claimed goaltender Brent Johnson from the Canucks. Johnson spent the next four seasons with the Capitals.

HOW DID HE DO YOU ASK: Volpatti got into a first-period fight with Winnipeg’s Anthony Peluso (who is three inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than Volpatti), and the newest Capital skated seven shifts totaling 5:24 in ice time on the afternoon. Volpatti also registered one shot on goal and one hit for the afternoon’s work.

SECOND LINE STAT: The Capitals are now 13-7-2 in their last 22 contests against Winnipeg. Washington owns a .636 points percentage all-time against the Jets franchise, the fifth highest against any team in Capitals history. The Capitals have allowed just 2.44 goals per game against Winnipeg in their history, the seventh-lowest amount against any franchise.

THIRD LINE STAT: The Capitals currently own a record of 8-11-1 and went 6-6-0 during the month of February.

FOURTH LINE STAT: Here is breaking news; Mike Green is still out with an injury. According to Katie Carrera of the Washington Post, “Mike Green is still “not feeling 100 percent,” according to Coach Adam Oates, and there’s no real indication as to when the Capitals’ top defenseman might be ready to return to the lineup. He has missed four games this season with a groin injury and I would be willing to bet my house that he will not be on the ice Tuesday night.

Green only missed 60-percent of the season last year, 40 percent the year before—so it is only fitting that he has missed 20 percent of this one. Here is hoping that Green gets back soon because no matter how you feel about him, the Capitals are a better team when he is on the ice.

In better injury news, the same Post report stated Marcus Johansson’s recovery appears to be progressing. He was scheduled to have a test Monday today in order to be cleared for contact, Oates said.

“He’s going to have a test today, and he should be cleared,” Oates said, adding that Johansson looked “a lot better today. He looked like he had jump.”

Johansson has missed nine games with what the team will only describe as an upper-body injury, but he has been skating with the Capitals regularly for a little more than a week now. During the lockout, Johansson reportedly suffered a back injury while playing for BIK-Karlskoga.

UP NEXT: THE BOSTON BRUINS:

The Capitals and Bruins will renew acquaintances on Tuesday night for the first time since the two teams met in last year’s opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Capitals prevailed in seven games when Joel Ward scored in overtime to eliminate the then defending Stanley Cup Champs.

The series set playoff records in that all seven games were decided by a single goal and four of the seven were decided in overtime. There may still be a little unfinished business in terms of some physical play. You play that many games against the same team, you’re bound to not like them, “right wing Troy Brouwer said after Monday’s practice. “We’ve got some pretty good battles and some grudges against certain players. Because of the series last year, there might be some animosity here tomorrow.”

The Capitals also won three of four against Boston during the regular season last year. This year may be a different story and what a huge boost it could be to the Capitals if they could beat the Bruins who are have lost just three times in 19 games this season.

The B’s are 14-3-2 (30-pts) and have points (17) in nine of ten road games this season. As a team, the Bruins are among the leaders in most statistical categories. They have allowed just 2.16 goals per game, the fourth fewest in the NHL heading into Monday night’s games and have scored 2.90 goals per game to rank eighth in the NHL.

Ranked 22 in the NHL, the Bruins still cannot score on the power play but own the league’s No.1 ranked penalty-killing unit. Head coach Claude Julien’s team is also the best in the NHL on the red dot, winning 58-percent of their face offs. To put that into perspective, the Phoenix Coyotes are second, winning 53-perecent of the time.

The Capitals are ninth in the league wrestling 51.2 percent of their red dot draws.

As usual, the Bruins do not boast a prolific scorer but instead get contributions from many. Boston does have a single player in the league top 30 in scoring but instead poses seven players with 11 or more points this season.

Center Patrice Bergeron is leading the team in assists with 13 and points with 18. Bergeron has two goals and five assists during a four-game point’s streak for the Bruins and Tyler Seguin has goals in consecutive games. The annoying Brad Marchand leads Boston with 11 goals.

Now that Tim Thomas has been traded, Tuukka Rask has finally been handed over the reins—And he has not let his team down. Rask is tied for first in the NHL with 11 wins and is fourth with a 1.97 G.A.A. (goalies with at least 10 starts). Under the same criteria, Rask is fifth in the league with a .928 save percentage.

Speaking of goaltending, the Bruins will have to solve Braden Holtby, which they failed to do at critical times during the playoff series. Holtby was 4-3 with a 2.00 GAA and a .940 save pct. during that seven-game series last spring. He saw at least 30 shots in all seven games, and held the Bruins to one goal in four of the seven, all Washington wins.

Holtby’s Tuesday night start against the Bruins is his 10th straight. That matches a 10-game run Tomas Vokoun had as the Caps’ starting goaltender in Dec.-Jan. of last season and the last time a Caps goalie started more than 10 straight contests was a 16-game run with Olaf Kolzig between the pipes from Oct. 17 to Nov. 22, 2003. He was 4-11-0-1.

DOWN ON THE FARM:

THE CLASSIC LOOK

Jeff Taffe scored two goals and added two assists, and Philipp Grubauer stopped all 20 shots he faced in a relief appearance, to help the HERSHEY BEARS defeat the AHL-leading Syracuse Crunch 5-3 on Sunday evening at GIANT Center for the team’s third consecutive win.

The BEARS won their third straight home game for the first time this season, and move into third place in the East Division and sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 28-21-3-5.

The HERSHEY BEARS hit the road for a pair of games against the Norfolk Admirals next weekend. The teams face off at Norfolk Scope on Friday and Saturday. The team returns home on Sunday, March 10 for a 5:00 PM faceoff against the Binghamton Senators.

Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Boston Bruins, BRADEN HOLTBY, John Erskine, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals Comments Off

by alanzlot

Flacco Not Worthy of Money But Certainly Deserves Deal

March 3, 2013 in NFL

By Alan Zlotorzynski: The song Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes may be the unofficial theme song of the Baltimore Ravens players and fans during the past two seasons but an old classic by the Canadian band, Bachman–Turner Overdrive has no doubt proven to be the mantra by which the Ravens front office has operated since the team’s arrival in 1996.

On Friday, the Ravens front office—and as they always seem to do this time of the year were “Taking Care of Business" by agreeing in principal with their franchise quarterback on a new record contract. Following nearly 15 months of on again and off again negotiations, The Ravens and quarterback Joe Flacco agreed on what will be the richest contract in the history of the National Football League.

According to a source within the Ravens organization, as reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports Friday, Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms on a six-year contract worth $120.6 million, with a $20.1 million average, making the Super Bowl MVP the highest-paid player in league history. Heading into his sixth season as the Ravens signal caller, Flacco now owns the contract to which every other contract signed the rest of the NFL free agency, which officially begins March 12, will be compared.

When a player, at any position signs a deal either with his current team, or a new one—you are likely to hear pundits say, “While it’s not Joe Flacco money, it’s still a good deal”—–or “Not a good deal”.

IS ANY PLAYER WORTH THIS TYPE OF MONEY?

Let me first clarify one thing and this is strictly my opinion, no man that plays a game, regardless of television deals, merchandise revenue, ticket sales, or championships won, is worth as much money as Joe Flacco will sign for. No player is worth that kind of money in any sport.

With that said, Joe Flacco deserves the deal he was eligible to receive based on the money his game pays for the top performing players at his position. It is not by any means Flacco’s fault that his profession pays this type of money.

All things considered and based on the numerous sources reporting on the contract, the Ravens have indeed taken care of business by getting this deal done before they had to attach the franchise tag to No.5. They also– and how they did so remains to be seen, have made this a “salary cap friendly” deal for the organization. Stay tuned on that one.

A big key is going to be how the guaranteed money, which is reportedly between $60 million and $70 million, is distributed over the life of the contract.

One thing that cannot be debated is the fact that the timing of the deal is perfect on every level for all parties involved. GM Ozzie Newsome and company now have nearly 11 days to work potential new contracts for some of the other high-tiered free agents.

Once Flacco signs and before the ink dries, Newsome and the Ravens front office will turn their attention towards Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Ed Reed, Carey Williams and possibly even Bryant McKinnie. They may even look to give extensions as well as re-work some deals for players like Anquan Boldin. The Ravens have needs as the defending champions. They must sure up the middle of the offense and especially the defense. The retirement of Ray Lewis and center Matt Birk has left a big void.

LB Dannell Ellerbe is a must re-sign for the Ravens

The deal also creates harmony with the team’s new leader. Ever heard the expression “Happy wife, happy life”. Much the same can be said of having a happy franchise quarterback.

Placing the franchise tag on Flacco may have meant that he skipped mini-camps and OTA’s as Ray Rice did last season while he carried the label of “franchise running back”. Rice was forced to miss but having Flacco at these off-season events ensures a fresh start with new OC Jim Caldwell, who is likely to build on the great success he and Flacco shred during the playoffs with a somewhat new playbook.

MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL:

A contract like this brings some negatives. No longer can Joe Cool remain as cool, calm and collected during the down times. There will be a new sense of urgency for No.5 not to lose the second game of the season and to have a better than below average NFL completion percentage. All of which, if you watched Flacco progress during the postseason, you know he can do.

Flacco will not be allowed to be a top 10 QB on the outside of the top eight looking in. He cannot be an on the cusp of elite status type of quarterback. He is not making on the cusp money. Whether or not you feel the Ravens quarterback is an elite signal caller– or not, there is no debating whether his contract is.

While currently Flacco may not be able to boast passing numbers like the New Orleans Saints Drew Brees or Denver Broncos Peyton Manning for his career, he stands ahead of both in line at the bank. Flacco’s deal is likely to be surpassed by the ones Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers sign eventually but for now, Joe Cool is the man.

Brees signed a five-year, $100 million contract last July that guaranteed him $60 million. The Broncos gave Peyton Manning a five-year deal worth up to $96 million in March 2012. Flacco will average $62 million over the first three years, which is $1 million more than Brees in the first three years of his deal.

Brees and Manning are elite players, and so is Flacco’s contract. Flacco is expected to sign the deal on Monday with the team that drafted him 18th overall out of Delaware in 2008. Based on the $120.6 million deal, he will make an average of $168,908 each day of the regular season for the next six years.

Flacco is behind the eight ball with a contract like this. The contract will always be brought up first if the Ravens or he struggles at any time. Lose three in a row this December this year and things will be a lot louder in the local and national media than it was this past December when Baltimore did just that.

It seems almost impossible that any player could outperform those types of dollars and there will be plenty of critics—far more than usual now that he has become a millionaire at the very least 60 times over. Now this is the NFL and do not be fooled by the $120.6 million total. Only the guaranteed money matters and Flacco will also need to perform to certain incentives. All of the details have yet to emerge such as those incentives and guaranteed money. In all likelihood, Flacco will not have to outperform $120 million.

SB MVP JOE FLACCO

Ask any Yankees or Texas Rangers fan and they will most assuredly tell you Alex Rodriguez never came close to performing up to the expectations his $250 million deal begged. According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Flacco's salary-cap number is $7 million, which is $12 million lower than the cap hit from the exclusive franchise tag.

ELITE OR NOT ELITE AND DOES IT EVEN MATTER:

This is mission accomplished for both sides. Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta told USA Today that the deal was meant to reward and inspire Flacco for the future. "It was reflective of the past, the present and what the expectation is going forward," Linta said of Flacco's contract. "I don't want him to be in a situation three or four years from now thinking, 'I'm underpaid.” "It's nice to be right," Linta said. "Everybody laughed about it when I said he's a top-five guy. When I said he should be the highest-paid player in the NFL, they thought I was a jackass. Hey, I do my job."

Linta told Jay Glazer of Fox Sports on Friday that Joe was conscious of the Ravens needs in free agency. "Joe's not that kind of guy," Linta said. "Joe absolutely wants to work with the Ravens to ensure that they're not impacted cap-wise. Joe doesn't want to see anybody get cut as a result of this deal."

Flacco, Linta and apparently the Ravens agree with each other on one comment that has been the center of attention for the last year and that is where Flacco belongs in the pecking order of NFL quarterbacks.

The date was April 3, 2012 and Flacco was giving an interview with Glenn Clark and Drew Forrester of WNST.net. He was asked if he thought he was elite or one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Flacco did not waiver in his answer, just as Eli Manning did not when Michael Kay asked him the year before.

The question, are you a top five quarterback came after Flacco’s agent, Linta, said he and his client expected to be paid like one last February when negotiations were in their infancy. Debating whether Flacco is elite has become one of the top sports talk show topics of not just the last two months but since the day, Joe spoke those words on WNST.net.

"Without a doubt. What do you expect me to say? … I assume everybody thinks they’re a top-five quarterback. I mean, I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’m top five, I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’d be very successful at my job if I didn’t feel that way. I mean, c’mon? That’s not really too tough of a question. But that doesn’t mean that things are gonna work out that way. It just means that that’s the way it is, that’s the way I feel it is, and that’s the way I feel it should be.".

USA Today’s Jarrett Bell wrote, “The "elite" tag has provided so much background noise for Flacco's journey that — with money, status and power now — he should try to trademark the word”. Even though Eli Manning also won a Super Bowl after making the same declaration two off seasons ago, the Giants QB owes Flacco a debt of gratitude for taking him off the “elite” hook after a season that saw the defending Super Bowl champions miss the playoffs.

Have you added Flacco's head shot to this group?

Flacco will have no such luxury next season; the playoffs will be the least of what is expected from the league’s highest paid player——EVER.

It is hard to argue with Flacco’s production and the contract is more than reflective of his ability to win games than it is to complete passes. However, a contract of this magnitude will require Flacco to do the latter with a lot more consistency than he has during his five-year career.

Many will argue that Flacco is not on the same level, as three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady or four-time league MVP and Super Bowl XLI MVP Peyton Manning in terms of a long-term body of work. Nevertheless, at just 28, Flacco is on the right path to potentially match their exclusive company.

NUMBERS DO NOT LIE:

Since winning Super Bowl MVP, all Joe Flacco has done is appear everywhere from Disney World to David Letterman. All Joe Flacco has done the last five years is win football games. His 63-30 win-loss record ranks best in the league since he entered the league as the 18th overall selection out of Delaware in the 2008 NFL Draft. That is the most by a quarterback in his first five seasons within the Super Bowl era.

You say he is merely an average quarterback. I say he plays average at times. Yes, his 86.3 QB screams average but doesn't his win total more than offset the mediocre passer rating. Joe Flacco may have lost a game or two for his team during his five seasons but as a rule, he does not lose games for his team.

The MVP Stingray Corvette

He has thrown just 56 interceptions in five seasons. His TD to INT percentage according to Pro Football Reference is 2.2 for his career. Meaning, Flacco throws an int just 2.2 percent of the time he throws at least 14 passes during a game. That is a better career average than Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and is slightly less than Tom Brady’s 2.1.

Including the playoffs, he has tossed 121 touchdowns and just 64 interceptions. The percentage evens out attempts, as Flacco averages significantly less than all three.

This season, Flacco set a single-season career high in passing yards, breaking his previous record of 3,622 from 2010. Flacco compiled 3,817 yards, 22 TDs (two more than 2011) and 10 INTs (two less than 2011) on 317-of-531 passing. He also connected on 40 completions of 25-or-more yards, setting a Ravens’ single-season record. The new leader of the Ravens also became first QB in Baltimore football history (Colts and Ravens) to throw for 3,500 yards in four-straight seasons.

Speaking of Manning, wasn't it him and not Flacco that blinked first during the double OT playoff game in January. I know the 70-yard TD play to Jacoby Jones was a miracle and the Ravens had less than a three percent chance to win at that point. However, it was Manning who finally broke and threw the interception that set up the winning field goal. It was the old master, No.18 and not No.5, that audibled to a run when a short pass would have gotten the necessary first down to ice the game for Denver.

A pass Manning likely could have completed against Ray Lewis, who failed to register a single pass defense on eight balls thrown his way during the game. Flacco still had to step up under pressure and throw the ball 60 yards in the air to Jones, while Manning never completed a pass longer than 32-yards in almost six quarters of football.

In fact, Flacco never blinked against Andrew Luck, Manning, Brady and finally the upstart sophomore signal caller, who was running the sexy new option run offense for the significantly better San Francisco 49ers—people said.

A more than Top 10 QB did not deliver the Top 10 on Lettermen

Flacco left the Mercedes Benz Superdome with a brand new shiny Corvette and Colin Kaepernick with nothing more than another great learning experience. All Joe Flacco did during the playoffs was tie another Joe by tossing 11 touchdowns without throwing an interception. Flacco tied Joe Montana’s 1989 postseason effort by throwing two at home vs. the Colts and three against the Broncos, Patriots and Niners.

Flacco tied QB Tom Brady by winning his ninth postseason game in his first five years. All but two have come away from M&T Bank Stadium. His seven road wins are the most by any quarterback on the road in the playoffs—– ever. The Ravens are also paying for Flacco’s durability and toughness. Flacco added to an already impressive consecutive games streak to start his career this season.

Entering 2012, his 73 NFL starts (including playoffs) were already the most to begin a career by a QB in NFL history. Flacco had produced 49 total wins in those contests. The totals are now 93 and 63 respectively, following a 20 game run that ended with a Super Bowl MVP award for No.5.

Yes, Joe Flacco has issues that make him look nothing more than average at best at times. His footwork has been horrible, his decision making with outside blitzers still leaves a lot to be desired and he can flat out leave you scratching your head sometimes as to what the hell he is doing.

Yes, haters I know it’s true that Flacco has never been to a Pro Bowl but ask the nine Pro Bowlers he beat this year how much that matters. In fact, Merrill Hodge, a notorious Flacco detractor said Flacco was the best signal caller in the NFL now after he beat the Niners in the SB.

How is this possible you ask? Well if he beat Luck, Manning, Brady and Kaepernick and Kaepernick beat Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, that leaves only Joe Cool standing, who by the way, destroyed Eli Manning during a game late in the year. He also beat Tony Romo in October, who is on many lists ahead of Flacco– and while you could argue Romo beat himself in that contest, Flacco did not. That is how Flacco has got to this point, by being an elite game manager. There that sounds good doesn't it? He can win one for you before he loses one and I will take that any day.

AN INVESTMENT THAT'S ALREADY PAID FOR ITSELF:

I saw this posted over the weekend and in all honesty cannot think of a better way to end the Flacco argument. If you were an investor of NFL quarterbacks back in 2008, when he was drafted and someone said, for $120 million you are drafting a player that will help lead your team to the playoffs every single year for his first five five years of his career—and win at least one game each time, would you be intrigued to listen to to more?

This quarterback will also help your team win what many consider the toughest division in football not once but twice. For giggles, we will throw in a season in which he helps his team win every home game for the fans and in the same season sweep that tough division for the first time in franchise history. He will also lead a team that finally beats the Colts and Peyton Manning in the same playoffs and he will lead your team past Tom Brady twice in the playoffs, once for a trip to the Super Bowl. He is going to play in three AFC Championships in those five years and out play a future Hall of Famer in two of them.

Sound good so far, ready to write the check, wait—-there is yet more he will deliver.

He will lead game-winning drives against your most hated rival in their house two seasons in a row, while beating them four times in his last six games against them.

Mickey and Joe

Is that enough for your investment—- still yet—there is more. He will also lead you to your best start in franchise history at 9-2 while the defense falls apart because of injuries. He will average 11 wins per season and win the Super Bowl MVP while throwing 11 TDs & 0 INTs in that playoff run while possessing the best deep ball-throwing arm in a pass happy league.

BUT—–and there is always a but isn't there, he will own a completion percentage that ranks in the lower third of the league and he will not yet have played in a Pro-Bowl. Your playoff loses are extremely painful but every team you lost to during the postseason went onto to play in the Super Bowl. Flacco has not ranked higher than 13th in Total QBR (ESPN QBR) in any of the five seasons of his NFL career. Twice, he's ranked 25th or worse. Also, you don't know exactly what will happen from year six on.

Are you writing the check? That’s what I thought.

Luckily for Baltimore football fans, the Ravens are about to do just that. And while Joe Flacco may not be worth the money, he most certainly is worthy of the deal. He's earned it. Congratulations Joe Flacco and good job Ravens front office—–as usual.

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Drew Brees, ELI MANNING, Joe Flacco, NEW CONTRACT, OZZIE NEWSOME, Peyton Manning Comments Off

by alanzlot

Joe Flacco and Ravens Reach New Deal

March 1, 2013 in NFL

According to the Baltimore Sun, potential unrestricted free agent QB Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens have reached a new contract, The Super Bowl XLVII MVP will be at the Under Armour Performance Center on Monday to finalize the deal. Terms of the deal are not immediately known.

The deal was the Ravens top off-season priority and ensures the long-term future of Flacco, who went onto to have one of the best playoff runs of any quarterback during the Super Bowl era after what many considered an average and underachieving regular season.

Flacco was masterful during the Ravens’ title run, completing 73 of 126 passes for 1140 yards, 11 TDs and 0 INTs to produce a 119.7 passer rating. In the Super Bowl, he tossed three first half touchdowns while leading the Ravens to a 28-6 lead over a stout San Francisco 49ers defense before a power outage in the Super Dome cooled down Baltimore's offense.Including playoffs, Flacco has posted 63 total wins in his first five seasons, ranking as the NFL’s most among all NFL QBs since 2008.

Flacco has thrown 102 touchdown passes in 80 career games in Baltimore.His teams have won the AFC North twice during his tenure and he has led Baltimore to three appearances in the AFC Championship Game and now, a coveted Super Bowl ring.

Flacco's playoff success paved the way to a huge deal for Flacco—and rumors say that's what he got. Some are reporting the deal to be worth $19.0 million per with almost $60 million guaranteed total.

SB MVP JOE FLACCO

These numbers are merely rumors and have no confirmation from the Ravens or factual basis but speculating in sports has never happened before has it? Many are wondering if Flacco left the Ravens any money to keep other key pieces in place to defend the Super Bowl title. Flacco's agent, Joe Linta told Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, "Joe's not that kind of guy. Joe absolutely wants to work with the Ravens to ensure that they're not impacted cap-wise. Joe doesn't want to see anybody get cut as a result of this deal." Glazer first reported the deal.

The Ravens front office had until March 4 to reach agreement or apply the franchise tag on Flacco. This deal will allow the Ravens to use the tag on another player they otherwise may not have been able to retain. The Ravens are loaded with what many consider to be prime unrestricted free agents. On defense alone, the Ravens face decisions on linebackers Paul Kruger, Darnell Ellerbee, cornerback Carey Williams and safety Ed Reed.

All are unrestricted free agents. For a list of all Ravens free agents, click here.

On Thursday the NFL announced the salary cap would move to $123 million. The retirements of Ray Lewis and Matt Birk became official when the Ravens added the two players to their “reserve/retired” list. This list allows the team to remove both players from their Salary Cap, while also retaining their contractual rights over the remaining years of both players’ deals. While the team will still have to carry $4.35 million in dead money against the 2013 Salary Cap, this maneuver does open up $6.4 million in additional Salary Cap space for the team.

Currently, and according to the Russell St. Report, the Ravens presently have 47 players (prior to Flacco deal) under contract for a Cap commitment of $105,919,179. With an Adjusted Cap of $123,678,377 (including the workout bonus deduction, but pending the incentives credit/debit), the Ravens currently have $17,759,198 in Cap space.

It will be interesting to hear the terms of the Flacco deal and how much of the of the almost $18 million in cap space No.5's deal chews up. The Ravens may be turning to players like WR Anquan Boldin and DT Haloti Ngata to restructure their contracts to help retain some of the teams high end free agents.

Stay tuned to Fanspeak.com for all updates and of course, log on tonight and listen to the FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FRENZY for all the latest from the NFL and college football. Show time is 8:30.

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Joe Flacco, SUPER BOWL XLVII 2 Comments »

by alanzlot

Nationals Prospects Rendon, Perez & Skole Looking To Make Lasting Impressions

February 25, 2013 in MLB

By Alan Zlotorzynski- Viera Florida: Watching your favorite major league baseball players conduct fundamental drills on a daily basis, listening to the sound of baseballs hitting gloves and bats, all while standing 10 feet away in 75 degree weather with almost daily sunshine is all but a guaranteed rite of spring training.

Another rite of spring training is watching future big leaguers perform while regular starters watch from the bench or attend the Daytona 500, as Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Tyler Clippard and Adam LaRoche did.

Jayson Werth at Daytona 500

So far, through two games, spring training has not disappointed on tradition. The weather has been great, the balls are flying into gloves and off bats on fields, all throughout the Nationals spring home in Viera Florida and many of the starters have yet to play.

Only Denard Span, Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa have seen significant action while players like Werth, LaRoche and Zimmerman have yet to make a plate appearance.

One of the only benefits to losing as badly as the Nationals did when they arrived in D.C. is having the ability to draft higher and the Nats took full advantage by grabbing and signing players like Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg.

However, the Nationals also grabbed some other quality players that will make an impact on this roster as early as this season and for sure by 2014.

While you watch to see if Strasburg, Harper and company are rounding into form, getting ready for April—- you may also want to keep an eye on the up and comers in the Nats organization. Here are several Nats players to watch this spring, as they are likely to make significant contributions to the already stacked N.L. East Champions.

Anthony Rendon has already made an impact this spring. Rendon hit a two-run, opposite-field home run on Sunday providing the Nationals only runs during a 2-2 game that was called after 10-innings. The shot took starter Jordan Zimmermann off the hook as the Nats projected No.3 starter in the rotation gave up a run over three innings in his first spring training start.

Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 27th round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft from Lamar HS (Houston, TX), Rendon did not sign and instead went to Rice University to play for the Owls. Eligible to be drafted once again in 2011, the Nationals nabbed him with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the MLB June Amateur Draft.

He is the highest rated Nationals prospect on the Baseball America prospect-ranking list at No.30. The Nationals possible third baseman of the future certainly knows what the expectations are and is no stranger to accolades. While at Rice, Rendon won just about every major college baseball award including the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy, which is bestowed annually to the national college baseball player of the year. Still though, Rendon is considered an injury risk. As a freshman at Rice, Rendon hit .388 with 20 home runs and 72 RBIs. However, at the end of the season, he broke his ankle and needed surgery.

Rendon recovered and returned to the lineup as a sophomore. His numbers even improved. He hit .394 with 26 homers and 85 RBIs. and earned a place on earned a place on the United States team that competed internationally but another injury would stall his progress once again. In a game against Korea, he again injured the same right ankle. Even considering his injuries, scouts were still considering Rendon as a potential first overall selection.

Then, while a junior, Rendon sustained a strained right (throwing) shoulder muscle. He was forced into DH duties. Even with some of his power limited by the injury, Rendon still hit .327 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. He finished his collegiate career with a reputation as an impact hitter with a tremendous future and even had a day named in his honor when Houston mayor Annise Parker declared June 29, 2010 to be "Anthony Rendon Day in Houston”.

Because of injury once again, Rendon's professional career began with a familiar ring and it did not take long. After only six plate appearances on the pro level, he suffered a fractured left ankle trying to score from second base. For the third time, (two to the right, one to the left) Rendon would face ankle injury rehab. However, Rendon did not give up or even get down. He recovered to play last season, his first overall, and did so at four classification levels in the Nationals' system—-And he did not disappoint.

Despite batting just .233 with four teams in four leagues from the Gulf league to AA, he had 31 hits in 43 total minor league games with six home runs and 12 RBI’s. Rendon was an injury concern (shoulder, ankle) for many scouts during his draft but many still felt he was the best player. Despite not being considered big for a corner infielder (6′, 195), this past Sunday afternoon at Space Coast Stadium, Rendon showed why, even with injury concerns he is considered a five-tool guy. His opposite field home run vs. the Marlins was no fluke shot.

His hands are fast and he has above average wrist control to match great plate discipline. Defensively, scouts like his skills at either 3B or 2B. Rendon is a future .300- 25-100 guy——- if he stays healthy. So far this spring, Rendon has been a joy to watch workout and it may be difficult to keep him out of D.C all season in 2013, especially if injuries and ehemmm—–strikeouts, play a major factor in the performance of a certain second baseman.

If there is one position the Nationals do not want for, especially after trading for Denard Span, it is centerfield. What does it say for the team’s future if the longest tenured player at that position in the organization is just 22? Eury Perez has been around a long time in the Washington Nationals organization. He was signed back in 2007 and has been around for so long in fact, that during the 2012 winter Washington had to put him on the 40-man roster, or lose him.

Perez has been at the top of the Nationals’ top prospect list for several seasons now, and it is hard to believe that when he was called up last September, only Bryce Harper was younger than Perez, who will turn 23 on May 30. In fact, Perez has been a pro for five years longer, but he is four months older than Brian Goodwin, the $3 million dollar 2011 draft pick regarded as the Nationals’ best outfield centerfield prospect.

Perez’s road to the majors has been an up and down one. He did not set the world on fire when he finally made it last September. He didn’t get a ton of time and had just five plate appearances earning one hit. He did steal three bases. But Perez can hit. In all of his time down on the farm, Perez has hit .306 with more stolen bases (217) than RBI’s (207). He hit .314 in 127 games with a .344 on-base percentage and 51 stolen bases, playing primarily for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse last season.

The speed of Perez and athleticism give him chance to become a major league player and it is likely that he will once again, at some time this season see time on the Nats roster in D.C. Keep your eyes on him this spring, he likely to see a lot of action.

While I was standing behind this player on Friday, I was amazed at the resemblance between he and California Angels power hitting outfielder Josh Hamilton in size and mannerisms. Now, Nationals’ fans are hoping the organizations 2012 minor league player of the year, Matt Skole can also emulate Hamilton’s numbers with the bat as well.

Skole’s has been a very pleasant surprise this spring with an extremely dedicated work ethic in his first big league camp. Skole, who batted .291 with 27 home runs, 104 RBIs and a 438 on-base percentage for Class A affiliates Hagerstown and Potomac, has also impressed the front office by improving his footwork at third base.

It helped that he was in great shape, and he arrived at Spring Training this year ready to work extra on the deficiencies of his game.

Speaking to the Bill Ladson, assistant general manager Bob Boone said, “He has a great eye. He really knows where the ball is," "His improvement from the year before to last year, defensively, he really improved at third base. In the Arizona Fall League, he played first base and he likes it. He is going to be a decent defender. I think he is really going to hit. He is a hitter first and the power comes second."

Speaking of first base, on Friday, Skole fielded 75 extra balls at the position——this as Bryce Harper was leaving the facility in his four door pearl colored Mercedes S Class. Skole’s fielding was always seen as the question mark in his game and was once called “horrible” by one scout.

However, Skole is doing everything to avoid the label that one scout tagged him with in saying that “Skole would go as far as his bat takes him”. While in the end that statement is true for many in the game, Skole wants to be more than a fifth round, pick with big bat potential.

He told me that his goal this season is to force Washington into a win-win situation by having him D.C. at some point this season. While speaking to Nats beat writer for MLB.com, William Ladson, on his preference of playing first or third, Skole said, to him, it does not matter.

Again, speaking to Mr. Ladson– Skole said, "We have great corner guys in the big league level with Adam LaRoche and Ryan Zimmerman. I'm just happy to be here. I'm learning from those guys. I see how they go about their business. I'm just trying to learn something new every day."

High Single-A Potomac Nationals manager Brian Daubach told Bryan Kerr of MASN.com recently that Skole’s fielding will help the big leaguers see him as versatile. "That versatility doesn't hurt," Daubach said. "When you are limited to one position, it is harder to get to the big leagues. I thought he played third really well for us and I heard he did a good job at first in the fall league. That can only help. I think the other thing that really helps him is his plate discipline. He takes a lot of walks. He lays off a lot of pitches. I know his strikeout out total is a little high. That will change with his improved plate discipline."

"He can hit, there is no doubt," Daubach said. "I think he can play in the infield, too. He put in a lot of work this year. You could see improvement daily. When he stays in the middle of the field and trusts his swing, you really see the results and that is when he is a tough out."

Does Matt Skole resemble anyone you know?

Skole will likely be teammates this year with outfielder Brian Goodwin and third baseman Anthony Rendon at Double-A Harrisburg. While he is in Major League camp, Skole wants to show manager Davey Johnson that he is all business on the field.

"Obviously, I want to show them I'm here for the team," Skole said. "I want to work hard. I want to go out there every day and bust my butt. I want to show them that I'm honored to have the privilege to be in big league Spring Training, and we'll go from there."

The Nationals had to go outside of the organization last season when Wilson Ramos tore his ACL for a catcher to handle the duties as Washington hit the prime of the pennant race. Not all prospects are five tool guys or destined to be great major league players and that is the current definition of Nats catching prospect Sandy Leon.

Leon will turn 24 on March 13, which is still considered young for a catching prospect in baseball. Leon was signed by the Nats as an amateur free agent in 2007, and is considered a defensive specialist who has an absolute cannon for an arm.

Two seasons ago in Potomac, he caught 53 percent of runners attempting to steal and has nabbed 46 percent for his career. While he wasn’t thrilled with the circumstances and neither was Lou Gehrig when he came in for an injured Wally Pipp, Leon was happy to get his chance at handling a major league pitching staff when Wilson Ramos went down with the injury.

He started nine games behind the plate for the Nats and appeared in 13 total. He batted a respectable .267 with two RBI’s but his inexperience showed, as he struck out 11 times in just 36 plate appearances. His lack of time behind the plate at the Major League level showed as well as Leon caught just one base stealer in six attempts (14%) against.

Leon was hit-less on Sunday for the Nats but he is building on a season that saw him bat .322 in A, AA and Triple A ball. His OPS was .876, up from .675 the year before. Leon, like all of the Nats prospects knows that cracking this roster will not be easy. Hard work and production are necessary if any of these players are to see time this season with the big club.

Sandy Leon makes a play

When you look at the Nationals organization as a whole, they do not appear to be as deep as they were in years past. Last offseason, the Nats traded top pitching prospects Tom Milone, Brad Peacock and A.J. Cole, as well as catching prospect Derek Norris to the Oakland A's last winter for left-hander Gio Gonzalez and RHP Robert Gilliam. At the time, Washington was ranked 14th overall on Minor League Ball's John Sickels' 2012 Baseball Farm System Rankings.

The Nationals reacquired 2010 4th Round pick A.J. Cole in a three-team trade that sent Michael Morse to the Seattle Mariners and C John Jaso to the Oakland A's. Washington needed to deal Morse after re-signing first baseman Adam LaRoche but the move did little to save the Nats from dropping to 25^th on Sickels list in 2013.

According to Sickel, “Graduations and trades have quickly weakened the talent down on the farm over the last year, but Mike Rizzo and company should be able to recharge quickly and the major league roster is young and strong. Strengths: Anthony Rendon and Brian Goodwin have star potential. Considerable raw material for a pitching staff. Weaknesses: They are banking a lot on injured pitchers recovering well. Many prospects are too old for their levels."

Keep in mind Nats fans that what is on the field is likely to be staying for a while into the foreseeable future. At 26.7 years of age, Washington is the seventh youngest team in all of baseball and holds many of the options on most of the contracts.

With prospects like Anthony Rendon, Eury Perez, Matt Skole, Sandy Leon and even prospects we did not evaluate, like Brian Goodwin and Pitchers Lucas Giolito and Nathan Karns, the Nationals will be contenders well into the back half of the 20-teens.

Tags: Anthony Rendon, Eury Perez, Matt Skole, Washington Nationals Comments Off

by alanzlot

The Friday Night Football Frenzy On The Fanspeak Radio Network

February 22, 2013 in NFL, NFL Mock Draft

Join Alan Zlotorzynski and Stephen Shoup on the FANSPEAK RADIO NETWORK for the FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FRENZY tonight at 8:30.

Alan and Steve begin the show with NFL NEWS AND NOTES, including the latest roster moves and rumors from around the league. The NFL Combine started today and runs through Tuesday, the guys tell you what to expect. Alan and Steve will also begin to get you set for NFL Free Agency by telling you (March 12) how the teams in salary cap hell can improve their rosters.

The guys continue their off- season look at the NFL by previewing the needs of the St. Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins.The draft is a little over two months away and Steve is working hard on the FANSPEAK NFL DRAFT GUIDE. Tonight, he updates his big board (10-1) and completes the first round of the NFL Draft by telling us who is likely to go where with picks 21-32.

Texas A&M Tackle Luke Joeckel is listed as the first overall pick on many mock draft boards. Aside from Joeckel—- Tackle Eric Fisher from Central Michigan and Guard Chance Warmack from Alabama are moving up and getting a lot of press. Steve will break down the offensive line draft prospects and tell us where the big men are likely to land in late April.

The Frenzy comes to you live every Friday at 8:30 and now the show runs until 11:00. Be sure to log on and catch the dynamic duo of Alan Zlotorzynski and Stephen Shoup for all of your off-season NFL news, right here on the FANSPEAK RADIO NETWORK.

From a local prospective, Alan and Steve will talk about the impact of Ravens center Matt Birk retiring. The guys will also have the latest from Dr. James Andrews, as he says RGIII is ahead of schedule. Is that really what Skins want to hear?

Tags: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FRENZY, NFL, NFL COMBINE, NFL Draft Comments Off

by alanzlot

The MLB Show on the Fanspeak Radio Network Tonight at 8:30

February 21, 2013 in MLB

Join Alan Zlotorzynski and Stephen Shoup on the FANSPEAK RADIO NETWORK for the MLB SHOW tonight at 8:30.

Tonight, the guys will break down the Central divisions of the A.L and N.L. . They will tell you what ails the defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers and how much of an impact former two-time winning Red Sox World Series manager Terry Franconia will make in Cleveland.

Can Robin Ventura get his top fielding White Sox consistently hitting the ball enough to make a play for the division title again in 2013 and what if anything can the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins do to stop any of these teams? Alan and Steve will have the answers.

Over in the Senior Circuit, the guys will tell you if this could finally be the year the Big Red Machine returns for a full October in Cincinnati. You can never sleep on the St. Louis Cardinals and the guys will tell you why they are still a threat. What about the Brew Crew and can the Pirates end 20 seasons of losing misery? Then of course, how far away are the lovable losing Chicago Cubs? With Theo Epstein running the show probably not long— but Alan and Steve will have their predictions.

The guys will preview the middle infield for the fantasy baseball gurus. The guys will have the sleepers of your fantasy draft and tell you what type of draft strategy you need to land a quality shortstop and second baseman.

The guys will have all of the news and notes surrounding the spring training sites. Alan, who lives in Florida, is covering the Washington Nationals daily and will have an update on the defending N.L.East champions.

Showtime is 8:30 and will run until 11:00 p.m.

Tags: A.L. CENTRAL, Detroit Tigers, MLB SHOW, N.L. CENTRAL, St. Louis Cardinals Comments Off

by alanzlot

NATIONALS LOOK GOOD TO START CAMP

February 20, 2013 in MLB

By Alan Zlotorzynski Viera Florida: Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson made a bold statement about what his team’s goals were for the upcoming 2013 season. During winter meetings this past off-season, the current N.L. Manger of the year and former World Series winning manger with the 1986 NY Mets, proclaimed this to be a “World Series or bust,” season in the nations capital. “That’s probably the slogan this year. But I’m comfortable with that.” Johnson said.

Johnson and his defending N.L. East Champions are in full preparation now in Viera Florida, as Spring training is well underway in the Sunshine State. The Nationals are looking good and while it is early, the goal is clear not just to Johnson, but his players.

I asked several Nats players how they felt about Johnson’s bold prediction and every one of them have their managers back. “How can it be anything but the World Series after last season”, Jayson Werth said. “All Davey said was exactly what everyone knew coming into camp, the World Series is the goal”.

With his son Drake by his side so far this spring, Adam LaRoche also feels the World Series is the only goal for the 2013 Nationals. LaRoche, who signed a new two-year $24 million deal in early January returned to help ensure the Nats accomplish their goal. “I knew this was the place to be and I wanted to be a part of what is going to be something special this season”. “Davey knows what he’s doing and if he feels its World Series or bust, then World Series or bust it is”.

Johnson’s group has come to camp with the right mix of focus and fun. Spring training is a time to get in shape, work on the fundamentals and get your timing down in the cage and on the base paths. Johnson is leaving nothing out of the mix.

On Tuesday, the Nats practiced run-downs, pick off plays as well as different scenarios in terms of outs and runners on base. On another diamond, catchers were practicing fielding bunts and foul pops behind the plate and next to the dugouts. All stuff you hear announcers say in August, “They practiced that in spring training”.

THE STAFF ON PAPER:

What makes this Nationals team uniquely qualified to carry out Johnson’s goal is that they possess arguably the best rotation in all of baseball. Perhaps even the best rotation on paper since the 1985-86 and ’88 New York Mets, the 1996-98 Atlanta Braves and the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies — all of which have gone down in history as great staffs. Each, except for 11’ Phils won a World Series. The Phillies did win one in 08 but not with the staff, they had assembled two short seasons ago.

Ross Detwiler with Steve McCatty looking on

You know you have a great pitching rotation when more fans are watching the pitchers and catchers than the position players at spring training and that is exactly what is occurring on most occasions in Viera. Autograph chasers can be overheard plotting their course on how they are going to get to Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and company before they get into the white cargo van that hauls them up to the stadium complex.

When you consider that this week’s Sports Illustrated cover boy, Bryce Harper is on the field that is saying something. When Dan Haren came to terms with the Washington Nationals on a one-year, $13 million deal, the rest of the National League also probably felt like it was World Series or bust for the Nats.

Haren will join a staff that already helped produce the best winning percentage in baseball last season. At 98-64 in 2012, the Nationals finished as the best team in Major League Baseball last season with an overpowering pitching rotation of Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson, Ross Detwiler and the innings-limited Stephen Strasburg. Washington did not disappoint in regular-season play but the playoffs were a different story. Enter Haren and throw in a full season for Strasburg and you have the makings of greatness as a group.

The Nationals pitched their way to the second-best team ERA in all of baseball and finished with the second-best WHIP and fourth-largest amount of strikeouts in baseball in 2012. The group is young and throws hard as evidenced by the fact that the led league last year with an average 93.1-fastball velocity as a starting staff. They also led the league throwing those fastball 65.4 percent of the time.

Nats starters won 68 games during the regular season but none in the N.L.D.S. Do not worry Nats fans; this club is over the excruciating loss to the Cardinals in the N.L.D.S, Drew Storen especially. I know because I asked them.

When I asked, Storen simply said,” That was a tough learning experience but I’ve moved on”. “The goal is to stay healthy and get back to that spot and well beyond this season”. Storen would be the likeliest Nats player affected the most by the Game 5 collapse. Up 7-5 with two outs in the ninth, Storen had the Cardinals down to their final strike twice but he walked both of those batters and the rest is history.

No other team had ever comeback in a winner-take-all postseason game, according to STATS LLC. No other club in this sort of ultimate-pressure situation had come back from more than four down. The Nationals could have entered this spring understandably shook but they did not.

With a rotation of Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmerman, Haren and Detwiler, plus a bullpen, that has Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen as set-up men for new closer Rafael Soriano, the Nats appear poised to run away with the National League, and that’s the feeling one gets when they watch the Nats work so far this late winter in spring training. I have watched several bullpen sessions and all is well with the arms on the staff. Strasburg, Gonzalez Detwiler, Jordan Zimmerman and Storen are all throwing with velocity and great location.

New Nationals closer Rafael Soriano reported to camp late because of visa issues but showed up Saturday and threw his first bullpen session on Monday. He looked sharp and catcher Kurt Suzuki who caught the session supported that. “He hit every spot, I never moved my glove”, Suzuki told me.

Detwiler has announced he will pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. That now makes two of the Nats starting pitchers heading to play in the World Baseball Classic for Joe Torre and Team USA. Gio Gonzalez will also be there but not before he makes three spring training starts first, according to Nats Skipper, Davey Johnson.

Detwiler, 26, won a career-best 10 games for the Nationals last year and posted an ERA of 3.40. He, along with Dan Haren are expected to anchor the Nats rotation as a fourth or fifth starter. Outfielder Roger Bernadina, who will play for the Netherlands, in the event that begins March 2, makes three Nats players in all.

It is important to note that Detwiler played for Team USA jersey in the 2006 World University Baseball Championship in Cuba. He told Joey Nowak of MLB.com, "It was amazing and we actually won the championship," Detwiler said. "I have the ring on my nightstand, so I see it every night when I'm at home. It's amazing, somebody asking you to represent your country playing baseball."

OH, BY THE WAY—-LINEUP NOT TOO BAD EITHER:

The pitching staff is not the only part of the team that needs to do their part if this team is going to get beyond the division round.

Bryce Harper, the 2012 N.L. Rookie of the Year winner (22-59-18-270/.818ops), also struggled in the playoffs—-But Harper looks bigger, faster and stronger this spring. He reported to camp 15 to 20 pounds heavier than his 215 listed weight and is hitting the ball a ton so far this spring.

According To the Washington Post, “Since mid-November, when he started lifting again, Harper set his alarm for 4:50 a.m. four times a week, was up by 5 and was at Soder’s training facility in Las Vegas by 5:30 to join a group of minor league and major league players. The intense, non-stop workouts last between 90 minutes and two hours, a little longer on leg days. His older brother, Bryan, 23, a Nationals minor league pitcher, accompanied him.

Bryce Harper working the fans at spring training

“It gives me a good time to relax and hang out and clear my mind,” Harper told James Wagner of the Post. “Lifting and stuff really helps me clear my mind. I love it.” Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche are focused leaders that seem to be having fun while preparing for the long 162 game haul.

Even 70-year old Skipper, Davey Johnson is working with players personally. On Tuesday, he spent a great deal of time working with the Nationals new leadoff man, Denard Span.

In November, Nats GM Mike Rizzo ended his teams search for a centerfielder and leadoff hitter by trading pitching prospect and hard throwing right-hander Alex Meyer to the Twins for Span.

The 28-year old former first round pick (20^th overall) of the Twins in 2002, is signed through the 2014 season with a $9 million team option for 2015. This gives the Nationals more flexibility in center field going forward than they would have had they signed a free agent such as Michael Bourn, whom many thought was heading to D.C. The Nationals have tried since 2010 to trade for Span, and now they have their man, a career .284 hitter with a .357 on-base percentage.

Span is working on his swing this spring with Davey Johnson. Johnson is helping him try to regain the form he had back in 2009 when had a career year in several important offensive categories. Span batted .311, with a .392 on base percentage and a .415 slugging percentage with the Twins in 09. He also had a career high eight home runs and 10 triples.

Catcher Kurt Suzuki along with Wilson Ramos, who is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, looks good behind and at the plate. On a breezy Saturday and cold Sunday morning, Suzuki and his backup Ramos hit ball after ball over the fence at the Nats spring training complex. Ramos is catching bullpen sessions and even blocking balls in the dirt, which he initially thought would cause pain.

Ramos told Bill Ladson of the Nationals web site, "The knee feels good. My knee is strong. It didn't get tired at all," Ramos said. "We are going step by step. Today, it was another step. I don't feel any pain."

Manager Davey Johnson is optimistic Ramos will be ready for Opening Day, when he is expected to serve as the backup to Kurt Suzuki. "I just go by what I see," Johnson said. "[Ramos] was blocking balls, bouncing well. He looked normal."

Speaking of hitting them over the fence, at one point on Saturday Bryce Harper took eight straight and 12 out of 16 batting practice balls yard. With his bulked up look, Harper looks primed for a great sophomore season. Maybe an MVP year.

OTHER NATS SPRING NEWS AND NOTES:

Manager Davey Johnson announced that right-hander Stephen Strasburg will start Washington's first Grapefruit League game against the Mets on Saturday afternoon in Port Lucie, Fla., while right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will pitch the second game against the Marlins at Space Coast Stadium on Sunday.

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will start the third game Monday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie. It will be the first of three starts for Gonzalez before he leaves camp for the World Baseball Classic.

General Manager Mike Rizzo said speaking to Bill Ladson: "Nothing has surprised me [during Spring Training]. I'm pleased with the physical conditioning that everyone has showed up in. They are in shape. They are getting their work in. You guys go past the weight room all the time. It's jam packed and guys are willing to go in, they want to go in there. I think it shows on the field where guys can get their throwing in, get their running in. There are very few guys that are curtailed at what they can do."

Tags: Adam LaRoche, Bryce Harper, Davey Johnson, Jayson Werth, N.L. East, Washington Nationals Comments Off

by alanzlot

Join Alan and Steve on the Frenzy

February 15, 2013 in NFL, NFL Mock Draft

Join Alan Zlotorzynski and Stephen Shoup of the FANSPEAK RADIO NETWORK for the FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FRENZY, the offseason edition. But is there ever really an off-season? Not for Alan and Steve.

The NFL is a 365-day operation and that means the guys keep the” Frenzy” alive during the offseason.

Alan and Steve start the show with all of the latest news and notes from around the NFL. The guys will also preview the off-season needs for the teams that just missed being a playoff team in 2012.

Alan and Steve will break down the needs of the Bears (10-6), NY Giants (9-7), Dallas Cowboys (8-8), Steelers (8-8), St. Louis Rams, (7-8-1) and New Orleans Saints.

From the NFL it is on to college football and the latest news and notes. The guys will tell you what impact the expulsion of three Alabama players will have on the upcoming season for the defending National Champions.

Steve will update his big board and tell you what happens in the middle of the first round of the NFL Draft. Mr. Shoup will also tell us what we can expect from the Scouting Combine next week in Indianapolis. Show time is 8:30 and is scheduled until 11:00 p.

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, NFL, NFL Draft Comments Off

steveospeak

FRIDAY FOOTBALL FRENZY WELCOMES THE SON OF A LEGEND TONIGHT

Capitals Fehr Well In Come From Behind OT Win Vs. Boston

Capitals Surging But Hardly Moving as Big Bad Bruins Visit Verizon

Flacco Not Worthy of Money But Certainly Deserves Deal

Joe Flacco and Ravens Reach New Deal

Nationals Prospects Rendon, Perez & Skole Looking To Make Lasting Impressions

The Friday Night Football Frenzy On The Fanspeak Radio Network

The MLB Show on the Fanspeak Radio Network Tonight at 8:30

NATIONALS LOOK GOOD TO START CAMP

Join Alan and Steve on the Frenzy

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

NFL Blogs

NFL Draft

Contact

Follow Fanspeak.com