Come October, Expect Rejuvenated Marlins to Compete

Once considered a team that could never compete, the Miami Marlins are aiming to take over the NL East division.

After signing hometown star Giancarlo Stanton to the biggest contract in Major League Baseball history, the team acquired all-star second baseman Dee Gordon and veteran starter Dan Haren in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shortly after, the team acquired Cincinnati ace Matt Latos. The two deals favor building a team around Stanton that can compete next year.

“We are going to be surrounding [Stanton], we have already started to surround him, with All-Star-caliber players,” said Jeff Loria via the Miami Herald.

The NL East is up for grabs and arguably is the easiest one to take. With these two trades, the Marlins took full advantage of that.

Last season, the Washington Nationals won the division with 96 wins. Second place went to the Atlanta Braves with 79 wins.

The Nationals are favorites to win the division again, but the Marlins can very well be contending for a wild card spot. No one else in the division seems like they will be getting better.

Atlanta traded away outfielder Jason Heyward for pitcher Shelby Miller while signing Oriole outfielder Nick Markakis. Not much of an upgrade at either position to warrant a winning percentage above .500 for the Braves.

The New York Mets are a mess. Amidst young, talented arms is aging veteran in 41 year old Bartolo Colon, injury plagued David Wright, disappointing Curtis Granderson and a mess of a lineup filled with below average players. Look for the Mets to digress from their 79-win season last year.

The Philadelphia Phillies finished last in the division last year. They too, are plagued by aging veterans on the downside of their careers. Looking to rebuild, the Phillies do not seem like a threat in the NL East.

Now inserts the rejuvenated Marlins. In trading for Gordon, Haren and Latos, while also signing underappreciated outfielder Michael Morse to a two-year deal, the Marlins have filled many of their holes in last year’s roster.

Gordon is inserted into the leadoff role while moving outfielder Christian Yelich into batting second. With Gordon’s league leading 64 stolen bases and Yelich’s .362 On-base percentage, the team can score early and often.

Morse also solidifies Miami’s three-four-five spots in the lineup when combined with Stanton and outfielder Marcell Ozuna. Morse also expects to play first base as well as the outfield for the Marlins, which solidifies the position after a dismal year from Garrett Jones.

The Marlins also have a potent staff when combining Latos and Haren with young guys Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart and Jose Fernandez.

Expect Latos to pitch close to his career average 3.34 ERA and 200 innings post-knee and elbow injuries and Haren to provide leadership for the rest of the staff.

And if Fernandez comes back from Tommy John Surgery pitching like he did before the surgery, expect 85-90 wins from this team.

The Marlins have taken advantage of a lowly NL East. They acquired talented players to go along with their young core of guys that immediately fill most of their needs. By playing the Braves, Mets and Phillies 54 times throughout the season, expect the Marlins to be a contender come October.

With Rice's Reinstatement, Should Patriots Give Him a Try?

NFL running back Ray Rice won his appeal against his suspension and can now sign with any NFL team.

So, why not the New England Patriots?

With running back Stevan Ridley all but out the door at this point and no indication that Shane Vereen will resign or not, the Patriots could be down two backs next season. With Jonas Gray and LaGarrette Blount the only two running backs penciled in to the Patriots 53-man roster next season, they will most likely need to obtain a more versatile back.

The Patriots should consider Ray Rice to fill the position. Rice’s down year in 2013 and now his fiasco with his suspension and domestic charges will keep the price low in order to obtain his services. At a price that could be as low as the league minimum, players that have ran for over 1,000 yards four seasons in a row and caught for over 700 yards in one season twice are almost never up for grabs.

The Patriots also have a history of taking on troubled players. Their list includes Corey Dillon, Aaron Hernandez, Randy Moss, Rodney Harrison and Chad Ochocinco. Adding Rice to that list would not be an abnormality.

Ray Rice also has the potential to become one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL once again. At the age of 27, Rice has now had an entire year off to recuperate and come back stronger and better. A change of scenery could also help his situation and get back on track to dominance.

Rice stays away from injury as well. Since becoming a starter in 2009 and minus his lost 2014 season to date, Rice has played every game but one. After Ridley’s injury and the rotation of backs, the Patriots could use some of that consistency in their backfield.

After the initial phase of awkwardness once Rice returns to the NFL, he could reinstate himself as one of the best running backs in the game. With the unclear futures of half of the Patriots running backs and Rice’s incredibly low price, the Patriots should take a hit on Rice’s potential.

Through Thick and Thin: Athletic Director Nick Smith Still Comes Out On Top

WORCESTER—“This is not an I thing, this is a team thing,” resonates as the anthem for Assumption College Athletic Director Nick Smith.

And how a team effort it was to get Smith to where he is today.

 Not only did Smith put his family in financial instability for years, he left a quality job working at Gillette Stadium for a contemporary service company to do so.

“Sometimes you don’t realize what you miss until you leave it. I had left college athletics for about a year and a half and decided that this [job] was not for me and I wanted to go back to college athletics,” said Smith.

            So Smith went back to being an equipment manager, the same job he had prior to working at Gillette Stadium. He quit his cushioned job for a pay-cut, title-cut and long hours of work. Newly married, Smith’s family inherited his burden.

            “It was tough because you work a lot of hours, I just got married and then you don’t get to see your wife very much,” said Smith. “In this job, there’s a lot of hours so my family sometimes suffers because of that. I now have a seven and a four year old daughter and it can be difficult but I couldn’t do my job without them. I wouldn’t get to come home until two in the morning sometimes but that is what you sign up for.”

            But then Smith’s time had come. There was an opening at Assumption College for an athletic director and Smith was awarded the job.

            However, there came a price with taking the position.

            Assumption was the worst ranked team in the conference, ranked 16 out of 16. Mediocrity was the consensus on campus along with their players and personnel.

            “In my interview, I did say we were going to win the President’s Cup while I was here and people thought I was joking,” said Smith. “Some actually left. I wasn’t joking and I still remain not joking. We will win the President’s Cup before my time is over.”

            The first thing that needed to change on campus, according to Smith was the culture.

            “When I first came here, there was a culture, from my understanding, a culture of mediocrity, borderline losing,” said Smith. “I don’t know if they had the vision or the support of whether it be the administration, whether it be the resources or things of that nature and I think that there was doubt. On my interview, they wouldn’t show me the football locker room. I’m pretty sure I know why now.”

            Smith’s first course of action was to change up the coaching staff. By the end of Smith’s first year as athletic director, 11 out of 18 head coaches were fired and replaced. Smith stressed that the changes were made because of opposing vantage points.

            “Unfortunately certain things happen and you have to make some judgment calls,” said Smith. “What happened was I think it was kind of a blend of a few things. I think the first year there was a couple of identifiable problems that we needed to make and we made those adjustments there. But there were other things where I might have had a vision [and] I don’t know if [coaches] agreed with the direction of things so they chose that maybe this wasn’t the right thing for them.”

            Along with the changes in head coaches, the administration hired eight new people within their own sector. There are only 15 jobs total within the athletic administration.

            However, Smith believes that the changes have made athletics better.

            “I truly believe that we have the best staff in the NE-10 and the reason I say that is because we are hungry to get things moving in the right direction and that’s what is exciting,” said Smith. “You see a lot of passion and a lot of dedicated, hard-working individuals all working towards the improvement of Assumption College.”

            The campus and athletes seem to believe Smith. Winning is now the general consensus amongst both groups.

            “We know that we may not have the best facilities, we may not have the most money, but we know that we’re going to outwork everybody else,” said Smith. “Our student athletes are committed, our coaches, our staff are all committed to improving what we have here at Assumption College.”

            Even through all of the improvements, Smith’s ultimate goal is still to win the President’s Cup.

            “My favorite [memory] hasn’t happened yet,” said Smith. “Because I know what it is going to be”

Royals Continue to Impress During October

KANSAS CITY, Miss.—You could have tried to analyze what has occurred this postseason, manipulate your favorite statistics and show how lackluster power would turn into offensive juggernauts, threatening to take the American League pennant and possibly the World Series. You were probably unsuccessful.

            Welcome to the story of the Kansas City Royals, the dark horse team dominating the 2014 Major League Baseball Postseason, stealing away the hearts of America.

            Admit it. The last time you fell for someone like this was freshman year of high school at the school dance. You squeaked and squealed then and you are doing it now for the Royals as they play Lorde’s hit song “Royals” along the way.

            The Royals went into Camden Yards like bullies on the playground. After a 10-inning 8-6 win in Game one, they took Game two in similar fashion with a 6-4 win in the ninth inning, sending them back home with a 2-0 series lead against Baltimore.

            The road was rather slippery for the Royals along the way. They went into the last game of the regular season unsure as to whether they would actually make the playoffs or not. They finally clinched a spot after the Seattle Mariners lost their final game. It was all but over when they trailed the Oakland A’s 7-3 in the eighth inning of the one-game wild card playoff. Seven stolen bases later, the team walked off to “Royals” once again. Kansas City nine, Oakland eight.

            Then they shut down Mike Trout and the team with the best record in baseball in the Angels with a three game sweep. The Angels’ three best players (Pujols, Hamilton and Trout) batted a combined three for 37 (.081 Batting Average).

            And don’t forget the Royals’ sudden high power offense.

            The Royals have more runs, doubles, triples and stolen bases than any other postseason team. They have eight home runs and 61 hits— both good for second place. They have become extra inning masterminds, winning four extra-inning games so far.

            In contrast, the Royals hit the fewest home runs in the big leagues during the season. The San Diego Padres, who play at Petco Park (the biggest ballpark dimensions-wise) with a pitcher batting once out of every nine at-bats, hit 14 more home runs than them. The last-place Red Sox beat them six out of seven times during the regular season.

            To put it into perspective, Third baseman Mike Moustakas ended the year with one home run in his final 163 at-bats. So far he has four in 22 at-bats this postseason.

            Energy. Want. Two of the greatest and unquantifiable characteristics that show up during October baseball.

            Out of the dark depths have come three emerging stars in Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, and Lorenzo Cain. Eric Hosmer, the under-performing first baseman who had rumors surface around his release all season, was the winning run against the A’s. He has batted .435 so far this postseason with 10 hits and 5 runs, along with 2 home runs and 7 runs batted in. Gordon, who was hit in the back of the neck by Orioles reliever Andrew Miller with a 97-mph fastball has strived ever since. He has one home run, eight runs batted in and three doubles throughout the postseason. Fan favorite and late bloomer Lorenzo Cain has been stellar on both sides of the ball. Along with his great defense that has single-handedly decided multiple games, is batting .370 with eight runs.

            It is impossible to measure the effect of having every game, every pitch count no matter what people say. Just believe what the games show us— baseball players don’t necessarily play the way their regular season statistics suggest. The Kansas City Royals look great this October. They run-wild, never give up and play well on both sides of the ball. Now in Kansas City, everyone knows who they are.

             So let “Royals” fill those streets and party like its 1985, Kansas City.

Keys to Patriots 41-14 loss: The Good, The Bad, and They Ughly

The Good: WR Brandon LaFell, 6 catches 119 Yards and 1 Touchdown.

            While there were not many positive things about the Patriots Monday night loss, one positive was wide receiver Brandon LaFell. LaFell had no targets from Brady in the first two games of the season and then only four catches for 45 yards in the third game. LaFell seemed like another botched wide receiver signing in the same column as Danny Amendola and Chad Ochocinco. Then all of a sudden between Brady and Garopollo, LaFell gets 10 targets for six catches, along with a great 44-yard touchdown (play is shown here). Brady and LaFell seemed as if they were finally on the same page.  With the Bills, Jets, and Bears coming up after a hard Cincy matchup, look for more out of LaFell within the coming weeks.

The Bad: Tom Brady being benched for the fourth quarter and Jimmy Garopollo outplays him.

            Tom Brady was awful last night and it was not because of the offensive line. He was overthrowing targets, forcing passes and looked scared to be outside of the pocket. His own awful play led to his benching after a Kansas City interception returned for a touchdown. What makes it worse is that backup quarterback Jimmy Garopollo entered the game and outplayed Brady. Three time Super Bowl champion, two time Super Bowl MVP, along with two time league MVP was outplayed by a rookie out of Eastern Illinois. Garopollo came in and had an opening drive touchdown to Rob Gronkowski, going six for seven on the night for 70 yards and a touchdown. Although Brady will not be replaced, it is never good when your backup out performs your franchise quarterback and future hall of famer.

The Ugly: The Patriots defense giving up 207 rushing yards, 443 total yards, and 41 points.

            The Patriots have seven first round picks playing on the defensive side of the ball and they still looked atrocious. They let running back Jamaal Charles do whatever he wanted. Even backup Knile Davis got in on the fun with 107 yards on 16 carries. The Patriots defense had no way of stopping the run last night and it doesn’t look any better going into the future. They ranked dead last against the run last year and rank 23^rd this year through four games. And they still have to face the likes of Giovani Bernard, CJ Spiller, Matt Forte and Eddie Lacy. If the Patriots want to improve upon last night’s performance and their 2-2 record, it starts with defending the run game.

The Future of Washington: Kirk Cousins

On Sunday, the Washington Redskins were not supposed to have any chance at winning. Not without their franchise quarterback.

In fact, if it were not for poor special team’s play that led to a kick returned for a touchdown, along with a missed 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, the Redskins would have won the game.

The fact that the Redskins lost due to special teams indicates that quarterback Kirk Cousins is the team’s future.

In his spot start for Robert Griffin III, Cousins had 427 passing yards along with three touchdowns and an 81-yard touchdown pass to receiver DeSean Jackson. The previous week Cousins came in after Griffin III went down to injury. He had 250 passing yards and two touchdowns en route to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-10.

This kid needs to be the future.

Part of his success could be due to new head coach Jay Gruden. Gruden runs the West Coast offense, which fits Cousins’s play style perfectly. He looks more comfortable than Griffin III does taking snaps. Cousins also has a rocket for an arm and great football instincts. He isn’t some do-good backup like Matt Cassel was when Tom Brady went down during the 2008 season.

While Cousins has played, the Redskins have scored 75 total points. Yes, 75 points in two games. Previously the Redskins had only scored 110 points in their last eight games, all while Griffin III started. Cousins has gone three-and-out only twice this season as well.

He also has uncanny speed when releasing the ball. The guy never waits, leading to zero sacks the entire game, the second time since the start of the 2013 season.

Cousins hasn’t been perfect, seeing he has only 284 career passing attempts in a limited amount of games, but he shows signs of a soon-to-be great quarterback. He has exceptional decision-making skills. He rarely tries to jam passes to receivers. It should also be noted that Cousins began the game 12 for 13 when passing and then went 18 for 35 after that stretch. Cousins does have some things he needs to work on.

But with all that said, Cousins has more positives than Robert Griffin III. As long as Cousins continues to progress, there is no reason why he can’t take over the starting role and the franchise. The only thing in his way is three first round picks and a second.

Guest Writer: Keys to Patriots Loss; Preview for Week Two

This article was written by guest writer Abdul Rauf, a sophomore at Assumption College and New England Patriots Fan. This article was written solely for the purpose of lewisandsports.blogspot.com

By Abdul Rauf

What happened Sunday? A common question amongst Patriots fans. The Patriots 33-20 loss to the Dolphins was a game of two halves. The first was about a stout defense and an efficient offense. The second half was about an offense that could not even muster up 100 yards and a defense that allowed 23 unanswered points. The following is my breakdown of what went right and wrong for the Pats on Sunday.

Quarterback- Despite Tom Brady leading the Patriots to 20 first-half points and a 10 point lead, he never looked comfortable. Brady had too many underthrows, overthrows and even a few lobs that, lucky enough, were not intercepted. For me, there were two big problems.

One: Brady kept trying to jam passes to Tight End Rob Gronkowski and Wide Receiver Julian Edelman. This was highlighted by Brady clearly overthrowing Edelman, and then proceeding to show his frustration. On an earlier play, Brady proceeded to throw at Gronkowski’s feet in double coverage, but to no avail. The frustration showed in the second half when Brady had several key chances, but ultimately could not put together a meaningful drive. Although the receivers did a valiant job, “Tom Terrific” could not find an open receiver. When he locked onto a receiver, Miami’s defense knew and took advantage.

Two: Body language. We have all seen Brady frustrated. I think he does this out of his frustration knowing he can do better. On Sunday, Brady did not look frustrated, he looked defeated. This would of course be fine in the playoffs, but not week one against Miami (not exactly the Broncos there). These are all areas that Brady needs to fix and although I will always believe in him, I cannot say he believes in himself. Can someone say declining? Whoops.

Offensive Line- Lets cut to the chase, they were bad. The amount of times Brady got rushed by Miami’s defense would kill any quarterback. I do not understand why they traded Logan Mankins and then kept Marcus Cannon not starting, but that is a discussion for another day. Whoever makes these decisions has to do a better job than this. The second half was brutal to watch Brady try to get a drive together, all while the o-line did not do him any favors. The o-line has to step up, or at least try to do their jobs. While coach Belichick will blame it on executions, he should be given some of the blame for the offensive line.

Defensive Line- I worry the most about the defensive line. The d-line was getting beat regularly, and not because they were blowing assignments. The Dolphins faced almost no pressure in the second while Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill had more than enough time to execute his passes. As sports radio host Mike Felger said on his show, it is not like they did anything wrong, they just did not play well enough. We shall truly see what the defense is made of against the Vikings’ receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and running game. Once again, I do not understand the coaching assignments. Why is Chandler Jones two-gapping? Vince Wilfork by himself? My hope this was only an assignment problem and not a problem of personal ability. If not, the Pats could be in trouble.

Coaching- Where do I even begin? I do not understand any of the coaching decisions on Sunday. What is going on with the offensive line rotation? Why is there so much passing and abandonment of the run? What happened to the aggressive defense? Why all the zone play? It does not even stop there. It seemed as in the first half the defense had the ability do what it wanted, but then had to play so conservative in the second half? I was hoping for a smash-mouth Patriots defense, but what I received was a confused ball of mess. The coaching needs to get back to the basics and let everybody play aggressive and smart. No more unnecessary complex plays. Josh McDaniels said he did not his offense throwing as much, so why did he not do anything about during the game? The Patriots certainly had enough drives to attack with a balanced approach. The coaching looked as though they were adapting with the times, but in the second half they looked like more the Patriots defense of the past.

Looking Towards Next Week- I expect the Patriots to get much better. Despite the poor play on defense and turnovers, the receivers made good plays, especially receiver Kenbrell Thompkins. Brady needs to take more chances in order to succeed. There were too many short passes and predictable offensive situations. The receivers need to continue to do what they do best. The o-line needs to get back to the basics and the defense needs to put on pressure. Both performances on Sunday were unacceptable. The Vikings will test the Patriots in both offensive versatility and with a stout defense. Hopefully the Patriots are able to get firing on all cylinders and win decisively on this Sunday.

Any disagreements? Comments feel free to comment below or contact me at abdul.rauf@assumption.edu