It’s a question we can seriously consider in the wake of Amare’s sustained tear: is he the best power foward in the league? Thanks to Keaton wondering this aloud, we ponder both the answer and the gravity of the question. Plus, we give thanks to Robin Lopez for doing a better job than Shaq bringing out the best in Amare.
That’s not to say we don’t understand if you disagree. If you do, by all means e-mail your own argument to sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, so we can answer it when we bust open the mailbag this Saturday.
S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.
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March 5, 2010
Milwaukee Brewers - Oakland Athletics
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Phoenix, AZ
(Luke Lapinski, XTRA Sports 910)
Twitter: @LukeLapinski
I won’t lie to you. This wasn’t my favorite ballpark a year ago.
To be fair, there’s very little room to complain when it comes to Spring Training. You’re outside at the best time of the year, ushering in a new season of baseball. Everyone’s happy… birds are singing… Miley Cyrus would probably write a song about it if she knew what baseball was. Or how to write a song. Still, if someone asked me to rank my experience at all 11 parks during last year’s tour (come to think of it, they did), Phoenix Municipal Stadium would have been last. It was the Cactus League equivalent to Shutter Island - I needed government clearance just to get in, had to deal with a bunch of people who were a little… um… out there (in their defense, they’ve had very little to cheer about after May over the last few years), and ultimately I wasn’t sure I’d ever get out. In the end, I was frantically running around the cliffs of nearby Papago Park telling my story to anyone who would listen. Ok, I made that last part up but you get the point.
That said, this is a new year and anything can happen. Well, except the A’s making a legitimate playoff run. The moment I get out of my car, I’m nearly hit by a flying pizza box. Not a great sign. The next piece of trash I see is the A’s roster. What happened to this franchise? They were a powerhouse back in the day and, even when salaries spun out of control and their team payroll started amounting to roughly 10% of what the Yankees spend on breakfast every morning, they still found creative ways to be competitive. Now they’re starting Cliff Pennington at short and they’re excited about it.
The guy at the media entrance once again does not want to let me in, wondering aloud why I don’t have any tickets to go along with my media pass. Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of the pass? It’s the same guy from last year who stared at my credential then back at me six times like I was John Connor and he was the terminator, presumably to see if I matched the photo that isn’t even on my credential. You’d think I’d be burned into his memory after all that. As it turns out, I’m not and I once again have to talk my way in like its CIA headquarters or something. This is the only stadium I’ve ever had a problem getting into and I’m pretty sure I’m not the first media member to ever enter the facility.
The mood turns once I get inside though. Baseball is baseball no matter where it’s played, and Athletics fans are a diehard bunch. They remember the days of Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart and it makes them believe that guys like Lenny DiNardo can return them to glory someday. Sure, that can be kind of sad since the rest of us already know how their season’s probably going to end, but you have to appreciate the teams who have a loyal fan base and Oakland is just that. They don’t really give people a reason to jump on the bandwagon and, consequently, no one really has. The system works. As a result, you’re more likely to see true fans like the out of shape guy with sporadic facial hair wearing a Mark Ellis jersey than someone wearing a designer blue Yankees hat because it matches his Ed Hardy t-shirt. These people know their baseball and that’s why they’re here. In fact, I’ve seen two Jack Cust jerseys today and only one of them is being worn by Jack Cust. It’s refreshing in a scary sort of way.
In all, the general atmosphere is just better than last year. The stadium is one of the few in the Cactus League that doesn’t feature some form of lawn seating, but it makes up for it with a beautiful outfield backdrop of desert rock formations. In other words, it has the stereotypical Arizona look that tourists expect. It’s also the closest facility to Arizona State University so there’s a younger and livelier audience at the game. Many of the fans have clearly seized today’s contest as an opportunity to skip work or class and that alone seems to be making them happy. Even the team shop is much improved from 2009. Last year, they just gave up and had nothing left to sell halfway through the spring. It looked like any store in the mall by noon on black Friday. If you wanted to buy an A’s baseball, the employees looked at you like you were trying to hook up with their daughter in college or something. And don’t try to tell me supply just couldn’t keep up with fan demand due to dramatic signings of players like Dallas McPherson because I’m not buying it. Whatever. It’s better this year and that’s all that matters. They even have Oakland A’s wiffle balls – what more could you possibly ask for?
As if all that weren’t enough, Suns forward Robin Lopez is inexplicably hanging out in the area behind home plate wearing a Ken Griffey jersey that’s at least two sizes too small (how’s that for a random jersey sighting?) and a Mariners cap perched atop his Sideshow Bob-like hair. I don’t care what else happens on this trip, that’s going to be one of the top highlights of the month. Maybe ever.
The A’s fall way behind before rallying with seven runs in the sixth. and for some reason I’ll never truly comprehend, this triggers an elephant noise to be played from all the speakers in the stadium. Don’t ask. At least there wasn’t a stampede.
In the end, Oakland hangs on for a one run victory which I didn’t think was a huge deal until they played “We Are The Champions” over the loudspeaker the instant the final out was recorded. Apparently the standards for A’s baseball are a little lower this year. I’m just glad they didn’t have the elephants singing it.
Ironic Moment of the Game: Ben Sheets taking the mound for the first time in an A’s uniform against the team that made him famous.
Most Random Jersey in the Stands: And the award goes to… the slightly drunk Irish guy wearing the Ruben Sierra jersey. I can’t help but picture a leprechaun with a funny batting stance. I love Spring Training.
Curious Team Shop Item: I’m going with the giant cartoon windsock of a cartoon A’s player who looks like the Incredible Hulk. The resemblance to Jose Canseco is uncanny. No way it’s an accident.
Inexplicable Player Sighting: Jim Edmonds. And John Halama. Both Brewers now. Apparently they’re trying to rekindle some late 90’s AL West rivalries in the clubhouse.
Vegas Odds to Win the World Series: Milwaukee – 50:1 Vegas even considers the Rangers more likely to win it all. On the bright side, that’s not even half as bad as the odds Oakland’s facing. Oakland – 125:1 That means if you put $10 down on the A’s to win the World Series and they actually pull it off… you’ll still lose $10 because you’ll be dreaming.
Final Score: 8-7 A’s. And they are the champions, my friend.
Stadium Capacity: 7,885
Best Food Deal: I’m going with the chicken quesadilla. Sure it’s $8 but come on - it’s a quesadilla. You should probably be a little suspicious anytime you’re not paying that much for a quesadilla.
Year Opened: Would you believe 20 B.C? Okay, then 1964 (renovated in 2003).
ASU Baseball played host to the Auburn Tigers. Auburn, out of the SEC West, came into the contest as the leading offensive team in the SEC and one of the top five in the nation. Coming into the weekend, ASU knew it was going to have to hit early and often to stay in the three ballgames. Game 1 was a college baseball classic. Auburn jumped out to an early lead against Sun Devil starter Seth Blair. Auburn extended the lead to 7-2 after their half of the fifth inning. Two defensive miscues up the middle got that inning going. Five Tigers ended up coming in to score, all with two outs. However ASU responded in kind in their half of the fifth inning, putting up a six spot to take the lead back from the Tigers. Great bullpen work from Mitchell Lambson, Jake Barrett, and Jordan Swagerty closed out the Friday night victory for the Devils. Those three combined for four innings pitched, four hits, one run, and 8 strikeouts. It was the perfect example of the mental toughness this team possesses. Every time Auburn had a quality offensive inning, ASU responded. Every time Auburn made a big pitch, ASU made an adjustment. And that Friday night win was a statement to the type of weekend it would be.
Auburn came out swinging early on Saturday. Scoring six runs in their first six offensive outs. But by the end of the third inning, the Sun Devils had tied the ball game. The Devils scored in six of their eight offensive innings on Saturday, and by the time it was all said and done, ASU had won 16-7.
Sunday was more of the same. Auburn jumped out early, ASU responded. And after one out in the second inning, Auburn would not cross home plate again. The Devils continued their great team offensive approach to the tune of eight more runs on Sunday. The final was 8-3. Jake Borup pitched very well and moved to 4-0 on the season. The Devils ended up scoring 33 runs in the three game series.
Most Impressed With
ASU offensively had eight times this weekend where they came to hit after Auburn had scored a run. Of those eight opportunities to respond, ASU responded an astounding six times. It is so tough on a team to know that every time you score as a ballclub, the guys in the other dugout are going to come right back. The mental toughness that ASU showed this weekend is what you hope to gain by playoff time. For most teams, that never happens. For this team, they have 40 more games to hone that mentality and toughness through a hellish regular season schedule. And when they come out of the regular season, they will be as close to mentally invincible as a team can get. I’m also impressed with not having to mention a single offensive player individually. I could, a lot of players had outstanding weekends. But I know that those guys were proud of how they played as a unit, so let’s recognize them as a unit.
Words of Caution
Defense should have been a big key for ASU this weekend. However, they kicked the ball around way too much. Four errors on the weekend may not sound like much. But against the versatile offensives of the Pac-10, free bases kill teams. That ASU Infield is a very veteran group who knows how important it is to take care of the rock. I expect Head Coach Tim Esmay will be hitting plenty of ground balls this week.
Week Ahead
No rest for the wicked this week. Tuesday and Wednesday our Boys in Maroon head up to Fullerton to play the Titans. Kevin Costner will probably be in the first row with his hat on backwards, screaming at us because For Love of the Game was a terrible movie. It’s like, “Dude, it’s not our fault you just looked old in that movie. Plus you had Cal Naughton, Jr. as your catcher. And don’t be scared to get some tailored baseball pants. After Little League, the real ballers have their pants down past the lower calf area.” But, I digress. It should be a great two-game, mid-week contest between two top 25 programs. On Thursday the Devils will take the day off before coming back to Winkles-Packard-Brock for a three game set against Houston. The Cougars are crazy hot right now. They have won their last six games including a win against Texas, a win against Texas Tech, and a three game sweep of Cal Poly. This will be another hard fought series against a very talented group. This is going to be a fun week to watch ASU Baseball.
Weekend Coverage
Both games at Fullerton and all three games against Houston will be covered on the Fan AM 1060. Sam Eshelman and Randy Policar will call the games out at Fullerton. And myself will be joined by someone who can carry me through three games against Houston. Tickets are still available for this weekend’s ball games. The number for tickets is 480-727-0000. We hope to see you out at the yard.
PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns today assigned rookie forward Earl Clark to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.
The 6-10, 225-pound Clark was selected by the Suns with the 14th overall pick (first round) of the 2009 NBA Draft and has appeared in 45 games this season for Phoenix. Clark will spend his first stint in the D-League.
The three-year standout at the University of Louisville, Clark owns averages of 2.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes this season for the Suns. Clark has scored in double figures three times in 2009-10, including a career-high 14 points off the bench Nov. 27 at Minnesota.
Currently sixth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the Suns (41-26) return to action Tuesday night, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-53) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. Phoenix time. The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.
Here’s a look at what you might have missed Friday, March 12th, 2010 on the local Phoenix sports radio airwaves.
Arizona Diamondbacks 3B Mark Reynolds talks about his approach at the plate, cutting down on strike outs and a possible contract extension.
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Phoenix Suns president Rick Welts talks about his team’s push for the playoffs
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Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver talks about the possibility of signing Amare Stoudemire to a long term deal and how he thinks his team will fair in the NBA playoffs
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Matt Williams former D-Backs third baseman and new first base coach, talks about the challenges of getting into coaching, what he sees from the team defensively and if there was a misconception about his attitude as a player
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Diamondbacks’ closer Chad Qualls talked about coming back from injury and what he expects in 2010
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA — The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes forward Lee Stempniak has been named the NHL’s Second Star for the week ending Mar. 14. Vancouver Canucks forward Mikael Samuelsson was named the first star while Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne was named the third star.
Stempniak scored five goals in three games last week, all victories, helping the Coyotes (42-22-5) continue their roll toward the best regular season in franchise history. Stempniak began the week by notching two goals plus a shootout tally in a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 10. He recorded two goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Mar. 13 and scored once in a 3-2 shootout win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Mar. 14. Since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Mar. 3 trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Matt Jones, a fourth round choice and a seventh round choice in the 2010 Entry Draft, Stempniak has six goals and one assist in five games with the Coyotes, helping the team to a five-game winning streak. Stempniak has also recorded at least one point in each of his five games with the Coyotes, who have won 13 of their last 17 games.
With a 42-22-5 record this season, the Coyotes are just one victory shy of tying the franchise record for wins in a season, set by the Winnipeg Jets in 1984-85 (43-27-10). They have also surpassed the team record for most wins in a season since moving to Phoenix in 1996 (40-27-9-6 in 2001-02).
The Coyotes continue their road trip tomorrow when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 4:30 p.m. Arizona Time. For more information, visit www.phoenixcoyotes.com.
Ok, so I originally wrote this a month ago, but that was BF (before Fanster). I thought that more than 5 people should enjoy it (I think that’s all that read my blogger page).
I will admit- I had no idea who Jackie Earle Haley was or any of his work until I started watch Fox’s The Human Target with my wife (which I greatly enjoy). If you haven’t watched the show before, Jackie Earle Haley is Guerrero. But, have a look- I can see Steve Nash looking just like him in ten years, growing the facial hair and wearing the John Lennon specs. What do you think? How about any other Suns players look-alikes? Send me a tweet (@happytrappedfan) or an email, or just comment below.
Much was made of Lou Amundson’s 11 point, 10-rebound effort off the bench against the Lakers, and deservedly so. He succeeded where Robin Lopez (zero rebounds in 19 minutes) failed miserably, and the hope that Lopez would give the Suns a better chance against the bigger Lakers fizzled quickly amid fouls and other poor decisions.
But in a much more subtle way, another Suns reserve and Stanford alum showed how his deployment in the playoffs might pay some dividends. Playing his first meaningful minutes in months, Jarron Collins didn’t score but showed off a lot of the guile that could make him a useful pawn in a playoff series.
Collins is a master of getting in the way and getting under people’s skin. He draws fouls in a variety of ways and knows how to make opposing big men pay for their own lack of basketball savvy.
Collins drew two charges. He masterfully goaded Kobe Bryant into an early second foul by forcing the two to get entangled early in the second quarter. Every pick comes with a little something to remember, every collision or semi-collision comes with the appropriate body movement and facial expression designed to attract the corner-of-the-eye attention of officials.
And when the Suns capped their rally in the fourth quarter, it was Collins who was on the passing end of the alley-oop that Amundson flushed to forge a brief one-point lead.
“He’s a real pro,” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said. “There’s a reason why he’s stayed in the league and there’s a reason why he’ll stay in the league.
He hasn’t played in a lot of games, but keeps himself in great shape. He’s always ready to go. We told him that we had to have him tonight and he played (12) minutes took a couple of charges, made some defensive stops got some rebounds. It’s all you can really ask.”
There are plenty of limitations in his game as well, but he’s an interesting pawn to have on your bench when the chess match begins in the postseason…
As the Coyotes close in on what could be an exciting postseason (let’s face it any postseason that is your first in almost a decade is pretty exciting), there’s more ominous news from the official franchise newspaper – the Toronto Globe and Mail – tells us that the bid to buy the team is once again in peril and the team’s viability in Glendale beyond this season is again in question.
That’s bad either way you slice it. Either the G&M is right – and they have a hit-and-miss track record over the years – or they are making a mountain out of a molehill just as the Coyotes are starting to turn heads around town.
This team just can’t buy a break:
*Dave Tippett is going to win Coach of the Year – well deserved, but not exactly a coveted award in the NHL since Jack Adams winners have a funny way of getting fired not long after.
*Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is getting a lot of publicity as a Vezina Trophy candidate. The Coyotes are neck and neck with Vancouver, Pittsburgh and New Jersey in the point standings. Take a look at the four rosters and tell me if that makes any sense at all.
*GM Don Maloney appears to have pushed the right buttons at the trade deadline – although Peter Mueller, as was the fear, has seven points in five games with Colorado and doing all the things he flat stopped doing here.
But the Coyotes had lost three straight and were looking to Maloney for help before he made seven deals and brought in a slew of new faces to town. Since then, Phoenix has won three straight and remains in the fight for home ice in the postseason.
Several of the new Coyotes played major roles. Wojtek Wolski beat his old Colorado team with 20 second left in regulation. Lee Stempniak looks like the 27-goal scorer he was in St. Louis (three goals in three games). And the new depth gave Tippett the ability to bench the struggling forwards like Taylor Pyatt, who responded to the banishment with his best game in months in Wednesday’s win over Vancouver.
Now young Viktor Tikhonov, who has regained his confidence and his scoring touch (14 goals in 25 games on the Russian KHL) has joined the team. The skaters are now on notice : Bad shifts will get you benched and bad games will get you scratched. Try to remember the last time that was even an option with this franchise.
There is so much to enjoy about this team, only to hear that behind the scenes that the Valley is again in dire danger of losing its NHL hockey team – now that it finally has one.
A couple inconsolable Suns fans pick apart last night’s lost to the Lakers, breaking down the good (Amundson and Co.), bad (Lopez’s no-show) and ugly (crunch-time no-calls). Has Lou earned more playing time, and does Channing Frye’s versatility open the door for that to happen? Plus, we open the mailbag and address a S.M.O.L. critic.
E-mail your take on where the Suns go from here to sevenminutesorless@fanster.com, and we’ll read and respond on next Saturday’s 24-minute shot clock edition.
S.M.O.L. is a Phoenix Suns podcast for the fans, by the fans, in seven minutes or less. Saturday features a full 24-minute shot-clock for the show, with a more in-depth look at the Suns, including responses to e-mail questions/comments from fans and listeners. If your comment/question is good, you could be asked to make an appearance on the show.
Just when you thought the Phoenix Coyotes’ saga couldn’t get anymore confusing, things took yet another odd turn today.
The Canadian paper “The Globe and Mail”–sounds more like two things you’d find on a desk and than a beacon of journalistic integrity– reported earlier today that Ice Edge Holdings, the group attempting to purchase the Coyotes, won’t even get the funding required to start the buying process.
There is much to admire about the chutzpah of the group of young businessmen who have gathered under the Ice Edge Holdings LLC banner.
Their plan – pipedream, the realists say – to buy the Phoenix Coyotes from the NHL is reminiscent of another audacious play hatched over a few drinks after a beer-league hockey game. Bruce Firestone and his pals did land the Ottawa Senators expansion franchise with no real money, but they crashed and burned.
At this point, it looks as if Anthony LeBlanc, Daryl Jones and the rest of the Ice Edge group will not even get off the runway. Too many problems are coming up, almost all of them because no one in the group appears to have the substantial personal fortune needed to convince a banker or bankers to lend Ice Edge enough money to pull it off. [Globe and Mail]
This doesn’t come as a giant surprise as similar rumors have circulated for months. The difference is the specifics cited in the article and the arguments made (although they seem heavily anti-Arizona and pro “bring the Coyotes to Canada”).
The surprising part is the fact that the same day the piece was published, Ice Edge floated a letter to the fans of Phoenix stating they were as confident as ever about the purchase of the team.
These are exciting times to be fans of the Phoenix Coyotes. Our team sits in the top four of the very competitive western conference, and with less than a month remaining in the regular season, the team is well positioned to bring playoff hockey to the valley for the first time in over half a decade.
We are happy to report that regardless of reports to the contrary, there have been no material changes in the process to date. As we stated from the outset, we fully expected the transaction to take upwards of six months, similar to other recent transactions for other NHL franchises. Ice Edge Holdings continues to work very closely with the City of Glendale and the NHL towards finalizing a lease that will be appropriate for all parties.
The execution of a revised lease is the key outstanding issue, and once completed will allow the transaction to move towards closing. We are neither behind nor ahead of our expected timelines.
Ice Edge Holdings remain committed as ever to the Phoenix Coyotes and to the long term success of the NHL in Arizona. We look forward to joining all of our fellow fans as the Coyotes march towards the playoffs, and participating in white outs when playoff hockey is played for the first time in Glendale.
The fans of the Coyotes have been through more than any sports fan should have to endure. We have said in the past that to be a sports fan is to make a commitment to a team, both emotionally and financially. To do so requires a two way street between the fans and those that own the franchise. Ice Edge Holdings looks forward to showing the great hockey fans of Arizona and the Southwest that commitment for many years to come. We thank you for being the strongest fans in the National Hockey League.
Go ‘Yotes!
Anthony LeBlanc
Chief Executive Officer
Ice Edge Holdings, LLC
Like the old saying goes, “There are three sides to every story. Theirs, ours and the truth.” I’m betting the same can be said for this situation.
Whether or not Ice Edge has the money will become abundantly clear in the near future. One thing that isn’t? Whether or not their are other buyers interested in the franchise.
It’s hard to believe that with Ice Edge appearing to be the favorite to land the club since the end of the bankruptcy hearings, that a second or third interested party would step up. Honestly, would you really want to get in a bidding war for a franchise with as many financial question marks as the Yotes?
The future looks as confusing as it ever has for hockey fans in Phoenix. Just not necessarily as bleak as those in Canada want to paint it as.
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It’s a question we can seriously consider in the wake of Amare’s sustained tear: is he the best power foward in the league? Thanks to Keaton wondering this aloud, we ponder both the answer and the gravity of the question. Plus, we give thanks to Robin Lopez for doing a better job than Shaq bringing out the best in Amare.
March 5, 2010
Most Random Jersey in the Stands: And the award goes to… the slightly drunk Irish guy wearing the Ruben Sierra jersey. I can’t help but picture a leprechaun with a funny batting stance. I love Spring Training. 
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