Patriots Training Camp: Candidates that could be cut

It’s opening day for Patriots training camp! Woohoo! I honestly don’t get that excited for training camp. I’ve actually only been once to training camp. It’s fun to watch the players come out onto the fields, watch a couple scrimmages. The worst part is sitting out in the sun, watching a bunch of grown men doing stretches while everyone cheers. Only in New England…

Every year, the Patriots cut one or two guys and even trade one or two guys that no one could have expected. I remember in 2003 when the Patriots cut Lawyer Milloy. In hindsight, it made sense as the Patriots were trying to cut back on the salary cap hit, but no one would have guessed Milloy before it happened. Last year the team traded Jamie Collins midseason. In 2015, the Patriots traded Logan Mankins before the season started. In 2010, they traded Randy Moss during the season.

Bill Belichick often gets rid of veteran players that are complacent. He likes to keep players on the edge, leading to some good speculation every year about who will he cut this season. Well, here is my list of three potential Patriots that have potential of being cut before the start of the regular season that fans would not expect.

TE Dwayne Allen

The Patriots acquired Allen during the offseason from the Colts for a fourth-round pick. After the Patriots acquired Martellus Bennett the previous offseason for the same price and fans saw how good the tandem was, they immediately figured Allen would have high potential to do the same with the Patriots. However, reports are saying that Allen has struggled throughout camp. He dropped multiple passes and missed more. The price wasn’t a lot for Allen, so it isn’t hard to move away from him if he continues to struggle. I don’t think Allen’s roster spot is as much as a lock as most would think and the struggle raises whether he could be cut.

FB James Develin

Develin plays a position that is being phased out of the NFL but also a position that Belichick loves. It makes it a little less likely Develin will get the axe, but the Patriots backfield is rather crowded. They added Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee to Brandon Bolden, Dion Lewis, James White and others. The Patriots roster doesn’t have enough spots for all these guys. It wouldn’t surprise me if they cut Develin.

WR Danny Amendola

Amendola has had ups and downs every year with the Patriots, catching 53 passes in 2013 for the Patriots, 27 in 2014, 65 in 2015 and then 23 last season. Amendola took a pay cut this offseason, making it easier financially to move on, however cruel that would be. But with Brandin Cooks now on the team and Malcom Mitchell emerging as a target while Julian Edelman has been a staple to the Patriots’ offense, Amendola could find himself the odd man out of the pack. Another candidate could be WR Chris Hogan, but Hogan isn’t as redundant as having Amendola on the roster. Amendola is a slot receiver and the Patriots have multiple slot receivers on the roster. Hogan is bigger and runs deep routes, which could be a good pairing with Cooks.

Dombrowski neglects relief help yet again with deal for Nunez

Red Sox's latest addition Eduardo Nunez

If you haven’t heard by now, the Red Sox traded minor leaguers Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos for Eduardo Nunez. It’s not that I don’t like this deal. The prospects don’t mean anything in this deal and Nunez’s bat is better than anything the Red Sox have gotten all year. What I don’t like is that Dombrowski has watched another three relievers get traded (Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter to the Royals and Anthony Swarzak to the Padres) and Dombrowski decides he will go get a third baseman. It just doesn’t make sense. The bullpen blew the game twice on Tuesday night. They’re giving valuable innings to Brandon Workman and Ben Taylor out of the bullpen. Heath Hembree has been terrible this month, allowing 10 hits and four walks in 8.2 innings this month. I mean, what is Dombrowski waiting for. Shaun Anderson is the equivalent to Ryan Cordell, the prospect the White Sox got in return from the Brewers for Swarzak. He’s just what the Red Sox need too. He would fit right into the 8th inning role for the Red Sox. Barnes could go back to the middle of the bullpen, that 6th, 7th inning guy and the bullpen could finally stop losing games for this ball club. It almost makes too much sense for the team. He’s cheap, he’s good and he fills a need. Dombrowski has had a history of building incomplete bullpens full of misfits and anybody that can throw partially hit the side of a barn. The bullpen has always been his weakness on his team. The way that he has treated this trade deadline makes sense for his personality. He gets the bat over the pitcher. Always has, always will. He got Ivan Rodriguez in 2008. He got Jhonny Peralta in 2010. He got Jose Iglesias in 2013. Dombrowski has always elected to go for the bat over the pitcher. So this type of neglection doesn’t surprise me. But it’s tormenting to see such an apparent need be neglected. And it’s worse to see it neglected for Eduardo Nunez. They have three other guys that can play better defense than Nunez and Rafael Devers who will probably hit better than him too, not to mention he just smashed a home run to center field in today’s game. Devers is going to be a huge power threat for this team. The move to get Nunez is not a terrible one. It’s the moves that Dombrowski neglects to make is what makes this vexing. Your biggest problem is relief help. Worry about that before you add another infielder to this team.

The Lewis Locker Room Episode 11

Lewis Locker Room. Episode 11. Myself, Alan and Ben breakdown the Red Sox's need for a relief pitcher and we learn a little more about Alan. We discuss Drew Pomeranz and get into a little about the relief pitching market and who the Red Sox should be in. Give it a listen below!

Boston Sports Journal provides different take on sports media on day one of launch

This morning at 6 a.m. launched a new sports media outlet. In a market with overflowing voices and outlets the Boston Sports Journal (www.bostonsportsjournal.com) hopes to bring a new model to sports coverage. Designed similarly to DK Pittsburgh sports’ model, the BSJ provides daily Q&As with beat writers, videos, in-game chats and more. Subscriptions can be purchased for $4.99 per month or $34.99 per year, with discounts to students and military.

The website has had a lot of hype leading up to its launch, something it could only accomplish with the "big name" reporters joining the staff. With Greg Bedard, former writer of the Boston Globe sports section and Sports Illustrated, is Sean McAdam, formerly of the Providence Journal and CSN New England. Along with two of the bigger names in sports media is Chris Price formerly of WEEI and Brian Robb, known as “B-Robb in the closet” at 98.5 the sports hub.

It’s the credibility of these reports that will allow this website to succeed. As Bedard has been a go-to source for New England Patriots news and analysis for years, people will migrate to the site for this reason. If this were a team of start-up bloggers and reporters, forget about any kind of success. At least in the beginning phases of the project.

Content-wise, the website has an easy to read and navigate approach. Users can easily click on the “Home” button at the top of the page and will be directed to the most recent articles. Users can easily navigate the different teams and content. It even provides direct links to scores, standings and articles, a pesky job when on nfl.com, mlb.com and the other professional sports league websites.

Along with daily articles, reporters will provide podcasts and videos. McAdam has already posted one video to the site. Although it is rather boring as it is a shaky video of no one at Angels stadium and one person doing grounds work, it still is fun for fans to get this type of content. It’s fun for fans to feel like they’re at the game from their couch. This section looks promising as the site develops and reporters find a niche and a variety of different videos to create.

Podcasts are also an up-and-coming sports content. With podcasts becoming more successful and establishing a solid base of listeners looking for podcasts, it makes sense that the BSJ provides them. However, the content is sub-par with the only podcasts available are re-runs of sports radio shows. If the website does not end up providing their own content and podcasts, providing new content for listeners to enjoy, I see this part of the website failing.

The staff pages are also detailed and make it inviting for first-time users like myself. If you read any biography of any of the reporters, you get personal stories and funny tid-bits that invite the reader into the reporters’ lives. It makes readers feel more connected to the reporter, like they are having a conversation with a person and not some robot or bland response when it comes to Daily Q&As and live chats. It makes readers feel like the reporter cares about them and that they don’t feel above the fans because of their title.

A huge downside to the site is its lack of an Application on smart phones. It’s inconvenient for readers to have to log into the desktop to access content with everything and everyone on the go in today’s world. It makes sense that readers would like an App on IPhone and Android stores and BSJ has failed to provide this, on day one that is. Maybe the site plans to have one in the future, but no plans have been detailed or mentioned on the site.

In such an infancy stage, the BSJ shows promise on day one. It has a group of well-respected reporters giving it a solid reputation from the beginning. The BSJ provides an alternate way for fans and readers to experience sports content with its daily mailbag, Q&As and more.  It’s hard to see the BSJ take over the sports media seen, but if it maintains its staff of reputable reporters and different take on sports content, the BSJ surely could find a spot in the crowded field of opinions and content.

My case for Drew Pomeranz

Drew Pomeranz has pitched well as of late, going 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA in July so far.

I’m not just saying this because I have him on my fantasy team, but Drew Pomeranz is turning into an asset for the Boston Red Sox and right now, he’s pitching like their No. 2 starter behind Chris Sale.

You would call me crazy if I wrote about that at the end of last year. The numbers don’t lie though. After getting the win last night, Pomeranz has thrown at least sixth innings in his fourth straight start, posting a 2.12 ERA in those starts. The team has won all four. He was 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts in June. He’s 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA in July. He’s 10-4 on the year and has struck out 108 batters in 102.2 innings.

You can’t ask for more than that out of Pomeranz.

Now, the playoffs are far away and who knows if the Red Sox actually make the playoffs, even if they have the second best record in the MLB and currently have a three game lead in the AL East. I’m not the kind of person that locks things in months in advance. But we all dream and speculate and like to pretend we run the Red Sox. Hell, I even have over 40 hours logged in Out of the Park Baseball, a baseball simulation game (a great one too), as the general manager of the Boston Red Sox. So just for fun, who would be the Red Sox second starter if the playoffs were to start today?

If it were up to me, I would have Pomeranz as my No. 2 starter.

Chris Sale goes without say. He’s the No. 1 guy. A lot would say David Price No. 2. Those people have good reason. He’s pitching effectively (5-2 record with a 3.39 ERA with 61 innings in 10 starts) but that 2-8 playoff record with his 5.54 ERA just doesn’t do it for me. He got shelled in just 3 1/3 innings against Cleveland last October and you know Pomeranz wasn’t half bad out of the bullpen last year. He struck out seven guys in just 3.2 innings.

Price has deserved respect with the way he has pitched so far this season. I’m not trying to take away from Price’s year. To me, Pomeranz has just been consistent, the same reason why Rick Porcello got the nod in Game 1 of the ALDS. Wouldn’t going against the reason now be solely because Price is a bigger name with bigger expectations making $30 million?
I can’t take anything away from Price, but Pomeranz has pitched consistently well. It’s the reason why Porcello pitched Game 1 last year and it’s the reason why I believe Pomeranz should pitch Game 2 starter this year.

Yankees trade for Frazier, Robertson. What does that mean for the Red Sox?

I have mixed emotions about the Yankees acquiring Todd Frazier and David Robertson. Yes, the Yankees basically swept in and took Frazier from the Red Sox (The Red Sox were linked to Frazier all the way until the Yankees acquired him). That part hurts because the Yankees came in and stole a piece that could make the Red Sox better. But I’m not heartbroken that the Red Sox lost out on him. Frankly, I’m not sure how much Frazier would improve the Red Sox or the Yankees. He’s batting only .207. The Yankees first base situation (Frazier will probably move to first with Chase Headley at third) is batting a combined .208. His on-base percentage isn’t much better (.328 vs Yankees’ combined .295) and neither is his slugging (.432 vs .391).

For the Red Sox, sure Frazier will hit another 10-15 home runs throughout the rest of the season and they need that right now but I don’t think their third base situation is so bad that they will lose games because of it. How many games have the Red Sox lost because Deven Marrero, Tzu-Wei Lin or any other player manning the hot corner was there? Maybe a couple when Pablo Sandoval was on the team. How many have they lost because of their bullpen? 10.

Shouldn’t a team’s goal be to win games? So, shouldn’t the Red Sox be in on acquiring a reliever?

That’s why I think missing out on Robertson is a bigger loss. I think Dave Dombrowski was never seriously, even though reports surfaced the Sox were going to acquire Frazier and Robertson. With Joe Kelly out and anybody not named Craig Kimbrel have all been let downs, there is no pitcher capable of pitching the eight inning every day. To let the Yankees, your toughest competition, to get one of the most consistent relief pitchers in baseball while your team has deficiencies at the position is unacceptable. I’ll laugh when the Red Sox lose a playoff spot because the bullpen implodes down the stretch, meanwhile the Yankees are basically playing seven inning games.

Robertson makes sense for the Red Sox, so why was Dombrowski not in on him?

Would Dombrowski have taken on the money owed to Robertson this year and the $13 million owed next year? Probably not. Ownership doesn’t want to go over the luxury tax and acquiring Robertson and Frazier would have put them over the tax. And I don’t think acquiring just Robertson was available. The White Sox want to get rid of Frazier the most and they probably told teams to get Robertson, they must take on Frazier too.

So, say the luxury tax had Dombrowski out on Robertson. Does the luxury tax mean they can’t acquire any relief pitcher? Tony Watson and Pat Neshek will be available, Dombrowski could acquire them. But Dombrowski doesn’t seem to be interested in any relief pitching. He’s watched four pitchers go in the last couple days without have any interest in any of them.

It will be interesting to see what happens at the July 31 deadline. There’s still some time so I can’t put blame on Dombrowski yet, but as a Red Sox fan, it’s hard to see four top relief pitchers get traded without Dombrowski having any interest when the bullpen is the team’s biggest liability. And this trade by the Yankees does one thing if any for the Red Sox, it puts pressure on them to get better.

The Lewis Locker Room Episode 10

After some time away from the podcast, we are bringing it back today with episode 10 of the Lewis Locker Room! We've got a special guest, Ryan Berry, a blogger who has appeared as a guest on other sports podcasts before. We're discussing the Red Sox and their worst signings of our time in celebration of the DFAing of Pablo Sandoval. We also have a spot performance by a rather famous man so this episode is one for the listeners. Enjoy.

With Hayward, Celtics rebuild is over. Is it enough though?

Boston (sports media) got the player they wanted. For several years now, most of the Boston sports media were speculating and hypothesizing that the Celtics would sign Gordon Hayward, reuniting him with his college coach, Brad Stevens. Yesterday, they got their wish as Hayward signed a four year, $128 million contract with the team.

Hayward is an elite player in the NBA. After making his first all-star team last season, Hayward’s field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage and points per game have all gone up every year he has been in the league. Although Hayward now blocks players such as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum from playing their true position, Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens agree that this is a position-less league now. I believe that myself.

What this move indicates, however, is that the Celtics team you see today is the Celtics team for the future. After Ainge made the Pierce/Garnett trade, the build up was that the Celtics would have the number one overall pick in either or both of this year’s draft and next year’s draft. They would have cap space for two max contracts as well.

Well both of those things have come.

The team had the number one overall pick in this past draft—traded it—and took Jayson Tatum. They signed Al Horford and Hayward to max contracts.

So this is your team built for now and the future. There is no more building hold out on max contracts and waiting on draft picks. After next year’s draft where the Celtics have the Brooklyn first round pick and the potential Lakers’ pick, the rest of the picks Ainge has acquired are duds. They've basically maxed out their payroll. This is it Celtics fans. The rebuild is done.

Although I’m not sure if Isaiah Thomas factor into the Celtics’ future, I was surprised by his play during this year’s playoff run. Horford is a good player, probably not a max player, but since everyone gets a lucrative contract in today’s NBA, the Celtics had to give him that kind of money to lure him to Boston. Hayward is a solid all-around player that fits into today’s NBA. It isn’t a bad core to have if a team is trying to make it to the NBA finals, especially in the Eastern Conference.

But I don’t think this team is without its flaws. The team has no one that can rebound, a huge problem for a team that came in 26 out of 30 teams in rebounding last season. Teams are generally trying to copy how the Golden State Warriors play basketball and isn’t there something to be said about Draymond Green’s presence underneath the basket that helps create more scoring chances while also limiting opponent’s ability to get multiple shot attempts each drive? It’s extremely basic thinking and probably goes without say, but I think it’s a huge problem for this Celtics team. If you can’t limit your opponent, you can’t win big games.

Hayward is a step in the right direction for the Celtics. He’s a solid player for today’s NBA. But with the signing of Hayward, the Celtics’ rebuild is over. This is their team built for now and the future. They still need a rebounder. They still need to make a decision on Thomas. Can they beat Cleveland right now? Maybe three out of every 10 times. But can they beat Golden State? I’m not so sure about that one.