Foxes Down an 0-2 Hole

Yup. This happened 5 times tonight.
There's no point mincing words at this stage of the playoffs. Tonight's game was downright embarrassing. Last month's Sharks would not have let a team score 4 straight times without a response, or at least a change in game-play.

Let's see how the Stars won tonight:

[1st 4:23] Mike Ribeiro scores, assisted by Brenden Morrow and Mattias Norstrom. Morrow dominated Christian Ehrhoff behind the net to set up the play.

[3rd 19:28] Brad Richards scores thanks to a horrendous giveaway by Joe Pavelski.

[3rd 16:21] Mike Modano PP goal, assisted by Sergei Zubov and Brad Richards. In context of overly lenient officiating in playoff games, the penalty against Ehrhoff was questionable at best. No excuse for shoddy powerplay defense, though.

[3rd 6:05] Nicklas Hagman scores, assisted by Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson. Yet another case of puck-fumbling.

[3rd 1:15] Niklas Hagman scores an empty-netter, assisted by Brad Richards. Just the cherry on top of a disappointing performance.

Lincecum's Arsenal: The Slider

During spring training, Lincecum announced that he would add the slider to his repertoire. So far, it doesn’t seem like he’s having any trouble throwing it whenever and wherever he wants too.

I thought it would be pretty interesting to track his slider’s progress throughout the season, so I started during Lincecum’s start against the Cardinals at home. It wouldn’t be surprising if he got smacked around a bit since the slider is a new pitch for him, but the early success he’s had with it speaks volumes about his skill level.

I only have his starts against the Cardinals, but I'll put up the numbers for his previous starts and the one against the Padres.

4/13 @ STL:



4/19 vs STL:

Ring-Around-the-Shortstop

Okay, let's take the SAT's.

Which of these two players would you like to have on your major-league baseball team?

A. .220/.293/.328
B. .258/.281/.306

The correct answer: C. Neither!

Player A is Bocock. Those are his stats from High-A San Jose. I don't think it's the best idea to put a guy who is clearly struggling in the minors on a major-league team to get wrecked by big-league pitchers. Bocock's shown patience at the plate, which I applaud him for, but his stint with the Giants his only going to stunt his development.

Player B is Burriss. If those were his stats from a full season in the majors, then what the hey, give him a starting spot. Unfortunately, those are his AAA stats from about 60 AB's. Keep in mind that this is the same guy who had to be sent back from High-A to Single-A Augusta because he batted .165/.237/.180. He has miles to go as a hitter and should be getting playing time everyday. Now that he is up here, the playing time he would have received in Fresno is essentially halved. That's not good for his nor Bocock's development.

* I realize I'm a tad late with these news.

Holy Toledo, I Actually Learned Something From ESPN

I'm in between ideas right now, so posts will come soon. In the meantime...

While watching Baseball Tonight last night, I picked up a tidbit of interesting information. I'm sure that will never happen again.

4 Telltale Signs if a Pitcher is Tipping His Pitches:

1. Wiggling the glove: Changing from a fastball grip to a curveball grip.
2. Widening the glove: Changing from the fastball grip to a wider changeup grip.
3. Finger-tapping: Signals a breaking pitch
4. Glove angle from perpendicular to parallel to ground: Fastball to curveball
   

Close, But No Cigar

And so ends the the Warriors' 2007-2008 season. It wasn't the way the team or the fans wanted it to turn out, but so goes the nature of the West. In the meantime, we have 6 months, instead of 5 1/2 months, to mull over contract extensions, draft picks, and free agents.

I'm taking a page out of Janny Hu's book and breaking down the scenarios for each Warrior (with some contract help via the Warriors forum on scout.com).

Kelenna Azubuike
Status: Restricted free agent
Contract: $2.0 - $2.3 million (projected)
Comments: Azubuike said that he will opt out this summer. He's played well enough to attract interest for teams who need a rebounding swingman off the bench and will pay part of the mid-level exception.

Matt Barnes
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Contract: $1.0 - $2.0 million (projected)
Comments: Barnes is a one-hit wonder, apparently. The Warriors probably won't try too hard to re-sign him, nor will he generate much interest from other teams.

Marco Belinelli
Status: Signed through 08-09; team options for 09-10 and 10-11
Contract: $1,446,720
Comments: Belinelli turned some heads with a string of good performances at the end of the season. His shot looks on-line again, especially compared to the beginning of the season when he couldn't hit the ocean. He still needs to improve on defense, however.

Andris Biedrins
Status: Restricted free agent
Contract: $9.0 million (projected)
Comments: Mullin declared Biedrins and Monta off-limits a couple of days ago, so that lessens any chance that other teams will lure him away. Hammering out an extension will be one of the top priorities this offseason.

Austin Croshere
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Contract: ?
Comments: I cannot find the terms of Croshere's 07-08 contract, so I'll hold off on projecting his value. His injuries won't help with any potential deals, though.

Baron Davis
Status: Player option for 08-09 season; can opt out
Contract: $17,180,000
Comments: No team in the NBA can afford to pay more than $17 million (even $17 million) if Baron decides to opt out. The present market will probably keep Baron in Oakland, but it's highly unlikely that Mullin will grant him the extension he wants. Baron has enormous trade value, so I'm guessing that Mullin will quietly call around for offers.

Monta Ellis
Status: Restricted free agent
Contract $9.0 million (projected)
Comments: Memphis and Philedelphia have shown interest in Monta, but Mullin already stated that he will not take offers. Again, working out an extension is a top priority.

Al Harrington
Status: Signed through 09-10
Contract: $9,226,250
Comments: Al had a rough year, despite dropping ten pounds last offseason. Mullin would have a difficult time if he wants to trade Al due to the large contract.

Stephen Jackson
Status: Signed through 09-10
Contract: $7,140,000
Comments: Mullin probably will hardball Jackson if he chooses to pursue a contract extension.

Patrick O'Bryant
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Contract: $2.0 million (projected)
Comments: O'Bryant most likely will not return, considering the wall between him and Nelson. It's too bad, because he showed flashes of being a serviceable center.

Kosta Perovic
Status: Signed through 08-09; teams options for 09-10 and 10-11
Contract: $1,800,000
Comments: The $5.0 million contract is a bit of a setback for the Warriors financially, especially since it hinders their ability to sign free agents.

Mickael Pietrus
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Contract: $3.0 - $4.0 million (projected)
Comments: Pietrus now says that he wants to stay with the Warriors, but I hope he doesn't expect a contract significantly larger than the one he received last summer. Perhaps Miami will give him part of the MLE?

CJ Watson
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Contract: NBA minimum (projected)
Comments: He hasn't played enough to generate much interest from other teams.

Brandan Wright
Status: Signed through 08-09; team options for 09-10 and 10-11
Contract: $2,497,320
Comments: Three words- keep this kid. The Warriors have two young big men capable of contending with the towers of the West in the near future.

Finite

This is your last game, boys. Make the most of it.

Welcome Home, Giants

Well, the Giants certainly could have used a couple of bombs from Numero Veinti-Cinco himself.

The Stretch Run 2

Remember when the Warriors were the 8 seed and up two games on Denver a month ago? It's funny how things change.

7. Dallas 6.5
8. Denver 7.0
9. Golden State 7.5

Yeeeaaah.

As a fan, I hate the talent disparity between the Eastern and Western Conferences. A full 22.5 games separate the first and eighth seeds in the East, while a mere 7.0 games divide the West. However, the Warriors can take advantage of the tight playoff race and leapfrog over Denver or Dallas. Unfortunately, the Warriors ceded the ability to control their own destiny with a loss to Denver a week ago, so they'll also need to cross their fingers.

Even if the Warriors spin off a 6-game win streak (which would equal their season-high streak from November 24-December 2, 2007), either Dallas or Denver must drop two of their final games. A 6-game win streak is improbable, but Dallas/Denver have slightly tougher schedules and can realistically lose a couple games.

What the Warriors cannot do is:

1. Give away games against sub-.500 teams. Namely Sacramento, the other LA team, and Seattle.
2. Get lazy and play fly-swatter defense instead of moving their feet.
3. Not get back on defense. See the game at Dallas, for example.
4. Play isolation offense. Also refer to the Dallas game, when the Warriors had 10 total assists.
5. Give up. There is no sense in conceding defeat in what is essentially a 6-game season.

[Update 9:20 PM] The Kings come up HUGE and hold off Denver for a 118-115 win. Remember last season's heroics against the Clippers? Yeah, we owe Sacramento big time (just not any time in the near future).

[Update 4:12 PM] The Warriors lose to the Hornets. The Mavericks officially clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Suns (thanks to a 9-point fourth quarter from the Suns), so now the race is down to Golden State and Denver. Denver plays Seattle tonight