The Giants Need to Build Their Roster Around Their Farm System

Quick, who are the top two pitchers on the Giants’ staff who possess the lowest Earned Run Average and own the most victories? The answer to that question of course is Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, who arguably form the best 1-2 punch in the league.

Quick, name the pitcher who threw the first no-hitter in the major leagues this season. The answer to this question is surprisingly Jonathan Sanchez, who stood on top of the baseball world after his legendary performance on the night of July 10 against the San Diego Padres.

Quick, who has been far and away the most prolific hitter in the Giants’ lineup? Pablo Sandoval earns the title of this position, as he has provided a spark to an otherwise hapless, overmatched offense. Sandoval leads the team in all three of the triple crown categories, which consist of batting average, home runs, and runs batted in.

What do all four of these players have in common? They are all homegrown talent, whom the Giants have built through the draft and developed through their farm system. In addition, these four players COMBINED cost the Giants less than $ 5.5 million. To put that into perspective, Barry Zito makes over $18 million annually, which is over THREE times what Sandoval, Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez combine to make. Unbelievable! Thus, the primary reason that the Giants, even though they are a fairly big market team, have continuously failed to reach the postseason over the last five years is because of their desire to pursue several expensive, overrated players who are well past their prime.

Between 2004 and 2007, which were Barry Bonds’s final four years of his illustrious and controversial career, the Giants signed several aging veterans in a last grasp attempt to win a championship with Bonds on the team. However, the team had absolutely no consideration for the future as they surrendered a majority of their top draft picks to pick up veteran players. In fact, the Giants did not own a first round pick between 2003 and 2005 and when they finally were forced to keep their first round pick in 2006, they ended up with a pretty nice player in Tim Lincecum. Consider some of these veterans whom the Giants have signed this decade: Ray Durham, Dave Roberts, Steve Finley, Moises Alou, Rich Aurilia (in 2008), Mike Matheny. These were all failed experiments, as the Giants ratcheted out millions of dollars to each of these players, who spent a considerable amount of time on the disabled list during their tenures with the Giants.

This year, although they have made considerable strides, the homegrown players are clearly outperforming the free agent pickups on the team, yet the Giants continuous trot out the veterans on a regular basis. Eugenio Velez and Nate Schierholtz have been the two most complete outfielders during the second half of this season, both in terms of overall defense and hitting, yet Randy Winn, who is hitting a paltry .264 and is showing limited range defensively, is taking some meaningful at-bats away from either Velez or Schierholtz on a regular basis. As for the pitching staff, including the bullpen, Lincecum, Cain, and Brian Wilson have been the team’s strength all season while Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner are quickly developing into premier and elite pitchers. It’s unfortunate that these FIVE guys combined make even less money than Randy Johnson, who will not even pitch for this team for the remainder of the year. On the infield, both Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa are defensive stalwarts, and while Sandoval has already established himself as an offensive juggernaut, Ishikawa is quietly developing into a productive hitter. They only problem is that the middle infield cannot find a way to stay healthy and productive, as Freddy Sanchez has been injured throughout his brief tenure with the Giants while Edgar Renteria has simply been unbearable to watch, both at the plate and on the field. To add insult to injury, Renteria, with his $ 8 million salary, makes more than Ishikawa, Sandoval, and Sanchez combined.

The Giants are simply overspending on players who simply are not as effective as they used to be. In fact, if you look at the seven most expensive players on the Giants roster, who are Zito, Aaron Rowand, Winn, Randy Johnson, Renteria, Bengie Molina, and Noah Lowry, all of these players are either on the downsides of their careers or are out for the remainder of the season with an injury, as with the case for Lowry and Johnson. Consider this, the Giants are paying SEVEN million dollars to Dave Roberts, who is not even currently with the team. The irony of all this is that the two most productive free agent acquisitions, Juan Uribe and Jeremy Affeldt, just happen to be two of the more inexpensive additions, with both of them combining to make $ 4.5 million. The bottom line is this; the Giants simply will continue to suffer if it maintains its philosophy of depending and acquiring free agents to help lead their team. It’s no accident that the Giants’ most productive and talented players are ones who they’ve drafted and developed over a period of time.

College Basketball: Big 12 is Currently the Premier and Most Underrated Conference in America

The Big 12 has lost a tremendous amount of talent in these past three years, as players such as Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, and Blake Griffin have been drafted within the first two picks of the past three drafts. Yet, this conference has established itself as the preeminent in conference in America this season, as it is strong from top to bottom. In fact, as of Saturday, January 23, every single team in the conference has a winning record, while eight out of the 12 teams have at least eight more wins than losses.

First, the Big 12 is absolutely stacked at the top of the conference, with the Kansas Jayhawks, the Texas Longhorns, and the Kansas State Wildcats all currently ranked in the top ten in the country. Each of these teams presents the rare combination of having an elite guard pairing up with a top-notch forward/center. The combinations of Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich of Kansas, Damion James and Dexter Pittman of Texas, and Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly of Kansas State have terrorized opponents all season long. These three lethal duos have helped the Jayhawks, Longhorns, and Wildcats each average over 80 points per game, which rank among the top ten scoring offenses in the nation.

In addition to the superior players on the team, Kansas, Texas, and Kansas State have all beaten quality opponents this year and have a combined four losses up to date. Kansas, while losing to an undermanned Tennessee, has already defeated Memphis, Michigan, California, and Temple. Texas has already defeated two top ten teams (at the time of the victory) in Michigan State and North Carolina. Kansas State, the most surprising Big 12 team, has defeated top-ranked Texas (at the time of the victory), UNLV, and Dayton. With extremely potent offenses and a tremendous mix of size and speed, the Jayhawks, Longhorns, and Wildcats are all poised to make a deep tournament run in March.

While the Big 12 is stacked at the top of the conference, it is additionally strong at the middle of the conference, with the Missouri Tigers, the Texas A&M Aggies, and the Baylor Bears developing into formidable teams. First, the Missouri Tigers, which reached the Elite Eight last year under Mike Anderson’s high octane offense, has improved drastically since the beginning of the season. Following the key losses of DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons, the Tigers needed time to develop their new players and establish an identity. After a 5-3 start, the Tigers won nine straight games, including an upset victory over Kansas State. Furthermore, they have become an explosive offensive team, averaging over 82 points per game.

Along the same lines, Texas A&M and Baylor have quietly flown under the radar this season. The Aggies have already defeated two ranked teams in Clemson and Minnesota, while they only surrendered a five point loss to Texas. The Bears, meanwhile, won 13 of their first 14 games, including a 31 point domination of Oklahoma and a 23 point victory at Arkansas, while only losing by six points to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. These two teams have shown the ability to compete effectively against the nation’s best teams, with multiple quality wins on each of their resumes.

With six upper-echelon teams, including three of the best, in the nation, the Big 12 should be getting more recognition than it has received. How can there be only three ranked teams in this conference, when multiple unranked teams in the Big 12 have already gathered high-quality, impressive non-conference wins? When every single team in a conference has a winning record at this point in the season, each of these teams should be getting more respect than they are currently receiving

Moreover, while the Big East currently has six ranked teams out of 16 teams, the conference is not as solid from top to bottom as it is in the Big 12. Big East teams like Rutgers, South Florida, and DePaul have very unimpressive resumes and could be considered “easy” wins. In the Big 12, every game is a grind, since every team has double figure wins and quality players on to be reckoned with. Additionally, the Big 12 teams currently have a greater scoring margin of victory than the Big East teams. Therefore, the Big 12 conference as established itself as the top conference in America, yet it is still underappreciated by the general public.

Arenas Suspension a Blessing in Disguise for Wizards

Gilbert Arenas is undoubtedly one of the most talented and productive players the NBA has seen since he entered the NBA. He briefly instilled hope into the Golden State Warriors franchise during his final season there and has helped revitalize the Washington Wizards franchise. In addition, Arenas, a former second-round pick, has had an all-star caliber career in terms of stats, averaging 22.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.72 steals in eight years of action.

However, despite all of his accolades and three all-star selections, he has never been worth that six-year $111 million contract the Wizards signed him to following the 2007-08 season. To make matters worse, the Wizards signed him to a contract the year after he missed the majority of the season with severe knee injuries. Furthermore, Arenas has always been one of the most outspoken and egocentric players to play in the NBA.

First, the Wizards should have never given Arenas a contract the year after he essentially missed an entire season with severe knee problems. During his contract year, he missed 66 total games after undergoing multiple surgical knee operations. After his first surgery, Arenas never completely healed, as he overworked his knee during rehabilitation. Following his second surgery, he returned for the final 13 games of the Wizards season, but had to shut himself down for the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which the Wizards wound up losing 4-2. Knee injuries are devastating, and the overwhelming majority of athletes who sustain these types of problems are unable to return to full strength.

Next, the Wizards did a phenomenal job of playing without Arenas during the 2007-08 season, as they accomplished a 43-39 overall record, with a 36-33 record without Arenas. This team was able to garner the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs that year, before falling in an extremely competitive six game series against the Cavaliers, while playing the majority of that series sans the star guard. Without Arenas, the Wizards distributed the ball tremendously, as they had a balanced scoring attack, with Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson all averaging double-figure points per game.

While Arenas is an extremely prolific scorer and gifted athlete, he often dominated possession of the ball, so he would never concentrate on creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. He is a player who needs the ball in his hands to be successful, so both Butler and Jamison average a combined eight fewer points per game when Arenas plays alongside them. Butler and Jamison are two of the most underrated players in the NBA, as they can play both with the ball and without the ball in their hands. Arenas, unfortunately, failed to take advantage of their presence, along with help from Haywood and Etan Thomas in the interior, due largely to his inability to create for his teammates. For players who deserve to make the amount of money Arenas received, they must be able to both create for themselves and make their teammates better, which will in turn lead to consistent playoff success. In his career, Arenas has only made three playoffs while only winning one playoff series.

After signing his monstrous contract, Arenas has been a tremendous disappointment, as he only played in a paltry 2 games in the 2008-09 season, which was the first year of his contract, and they finished with a conference-worst 19-63 record. His knee has never really recovered, and Arenas’ monstrous contract has hindered the team from signing other quality players to play alongside Arenas. This team is often overmatched in the front line, with no true developed post player, and Jamison and Butler have both been injury-prone ever since Arenas signed the contract.

Even this season, with Arenas and his teammates fully healthy, the Wizards jumped to an extremely disappointing 11-21 record in the 32 games Arenas played in. He never brought any kind of defensive intensity or mindset to the team, as the Wizards have allowed an average of 102.4 points per game.

Ever since they signed Arenas to the long-term contract, the Wizards have done everything they could to make Arenas happy and record his stats. Now that he received a vicious, indefinite suspension by the NBA, the Wizards will unquestionably be allowed to void his contract and finally establish an identity as a team. They will finally have the cap room to sign players that fit into their system; more importantly, they will finally be able to play as a cooperative, coherent team without the contagious presence of Arenas.

Women's Hockey: Terriers look Poised, Determined to Compete for Hockey East Championship and Beyond

Things were looking bleak at the end of 2009, as the Boston University Terriers had just closed the year losing back-to-back games to the Connecticut Huskies. The Terriers finished 2009 a distant sixth place in the Hockey East standings, eight points behind the league-leading Northeastern Huskies. In addition, the Terriers displayed several glaring weaknesses at the end of the calendar year, including a lackluster penalty-kill, an inability to protect leads and come back from deficits, and an overmatched defense.

Now, after a critical 3-1 victory over the Boston College Eagles on Tuesday night, the Terriers have vaulted themselves back to contention, after they have opened the 2010 calendar year on a thunderous note. This team has notched up victories over the Yale Bulldogs in addition to the Eagles and secured a dramatic come-from-behind tie against the Brown Bears. Furthermore, the Terriers have jumped to fifth place in the Hockey East standings, just one point behind Boston College and New Hampshire, three points behind Providence, and six points behind Northeastern. While still ranked low, the Terriers have played fewer games than Boston College, Providence, and Northeastern, so BU can make up even more ground in the coming weeks.

The primary reasons for the team’s turnaround have been stellar offensive production, improved penalty kill, and a drastic reduction in penalties. First, the Terriers have already collected a combined 12 goals and 91 shots through the first three games in 2010, and they have been able to generate quality shots through effective puck movement. Regarding the team’s offensive play, coach Durocher noted, “We have been able to control and dictate the tempo of the game over these past three games. In particular, the team is finally attacking the net and getting as many shots as possible from a closer range. Every offensive line has been playing phenomenally, so I have been able to get fresh wings to enter the game every time.”

Next, the penalty kill, which ranks dead last in Hockey East, has drastically improved over these past three games, as the team has pursued the puck in a more aggressive manner. Senior forward Laurel Koller (’12), who accumulated the game-winning goal over Boston College, noted regarding the penalty kill, “Our team has a whole has emphasized on improving the penalty kill. We worked on that over the break, and we have done a better job of limiting the opponents’ scoring chances.” Along the same lines, coach Durocher stated, “I think the biggest improvement we made over the time off was improving the special teams, especially the defense. We made an adjustment to this unit, as we have flooded all four players onto one side of the rink. This has enabled us to become more aggressive with the puck and has put the players in a better position to succeed.” The Terriers have not allowed a power play goal in 2010.

Lastly, the team, which has already received 114 penalties this season, has emphasized on committing fewer penalties In particular, senior forward Melissa Anderson (’12) has already encountered a team-leading 21 penalties, but she is becoming more self-conscious on the ice. She noted, “I am admittedly an aggressive player, but I need to focus on controlling my aggression on the ice. Coach has been harping on me all season about being in the penalty box too often, so I have to find a way to stay on the ice.” In the past three games, Anderson has only received one penalty. Regarding Anderson’s knack of receiving penalties, coach Durocher added, “Melissa [Anderson] has been putting our team in a terrible position every time she commits a penalty. She has been better, however, in controlling herself on the ice and not committing silly penalties.”

Even the players and coaches have begun to believe in this Terriers team, who are finally starting to gain a rhythm. Regarding the team’s outlook, coach Brian Durocher noted, “Look, I am extremely confident in my team right now. The one month break could not have come at a better time for us, as several of these players needed a mental break away from the ice, and they have all come away fresh and rejuvenated. Also, we got players like [sophomore forward] Jenelle Kohanchuk (’12), [senior forward] Melissa Tetreau (’10), and [sophomore defenseman] Tara Watchorn (’12) back, which has significantly boosted our team. All three of these people are world-class hockey players, who are important contributors to this team, so having them back has been big for us. Right now, the goal for this team is to compete for the one or two ranking in Hockey East, and I think we have the talent to do that right now. We have to just take this one game, one period at a time.”

Senior Melissa Anderson is additionally expecting great things from this Terriers team, as she stated, “I think this team has a realistic shot right now at doing some great, historic things. We are playing well in all facets of the game, and I am really confident that we can win the Beanpot, Hockey East, and even make the Frozen Four. This is clearly the best team that I’ve been on during my tenure here, and I feel we have the makeup to make a deep run this year.”

If the Terriers continue to improve and play well in every game, they will continue to position themselves into attaining future success.

BU Women's Ice Hockey: Second Half Preview

Despite finishing the 2009 calendar year on a disappointing note with consecutive losses to the Connecticut Huskies, the Boston University Terriers still proved to be a formidable squad in the Hockey East conference. Overall, the team finished the year ranked tenth overall in the country, posting an 8-6-8 overall record, with a 4-4-3 record in conference play.

One significant reason for the Terriers success this season has been the exceptional play from their underclassmen. In particular, sophomore forward Jenelle Kohanchuk and freshman forward Jill Cardella have instilled toughness, tenacity, and energy into the Terriers front line, which ranks as one of the premier offenses in the league. They are currently the two leading goal scorers on the team, with Kohanchuk scoring twelve goals and Cardella adding on ten. Additionally, both women have been extremely aggressive with the puck, as they have already combined to fire 149 shots on goal.

Furthermore, the dazzling contributions from the underclassmen can be attributed to the impressive play of senior forward Melissa Anderson, who is the unquestioned captain of this team. First, she has already tallied a team-leading 23 points, while orchestrating a Terrier offense that ranks second overall in the Hockey East conference. More notably, her leadership has fostered the growth and development of the other forwards on the team, as she has been very vocal and animated throughout the season. Coach Brian Durocher characterized Melissa Anderson as “a player who makes everyone around her better through her commitment, dedication, and leadership both on and off the ice.”

However, despite the tremendous offense the Terriers have been able to generate this season, they have only been able to salvage a mediocre record this year. The Terriers are currently fifth in the conference and have endured multiple heartbreaking losses. For example, the Terriers have already allowed top-tier teams like the Connecticut Huskies, the UNH Wildcats, and the Ohio State Buckeyes to come back and salvage either a draw or a victory late in regulation.

Therefore, while the Terriers have displayed the potential to become an elite team, they still have some glaring issues and weaknesses. Here are the top five keys for the Terriers in the second half of the season, in order to improve their position in the Hockey East conference :

1. Penalty Kill: Special teams defense has been an Achilles Heel for this team throughout the season, as the Terriers rank dead last in the conference in penalty killing, allowing a goal approximately every five power plays. Far too often, this unit has been unable to control the puck during the opponents’ power plays, which has resulted in numerous scoring opportunities for the opposition.

2. Turnovers: During the latter stages of the year, the Terriers committed several costly turnovers in their own zone and near center ice that led to numerous breakaway opportunities for the opponents. For example, while leading 2-0 in Connecticut, the Terriers committed an inexplicable four turnovers in their own zone in the second period alone that allowed the Huskies to score three goals and eventually come back and defeat the Terriers. On the other hand, the Terriers have been able force several turnovers of their own and capitalize on them, especially during the critical win at Princeton, where junior forward Lauren Cherewyk scored the game-winner off a turnover. Thus, the Terriers need to focus on winning the turnover battle in every game from here on out.

3. Goaltending: Starting senior goalie Melissa Haber has done an adequate job during the first half of the season. She has had a number of sensational games throughout the season, including two shutouts over rival Boston College and Vermont. In addition, she has bailed out the defense a number of times with spectacular saves off quality scoring opportunities. However, despite her successes, she has also been inconsistent at times, as she has allowed too many savable shots to enter the net. This has contributed to her mediocre goaltending, as she has allowed an average of 2.30 goals per game. Over the second half of the season, the Terriers need Melissa Haber to establish consistency and keep the team in every game with solid goaltending.

4. Ability to Overcome Adversity: Too often this season, the Terriers have had an emotional breakdown after allowing a goal, which has resulted in a number of defeats. For instance, the Terriers allowed three goals in a six minute stretch in a loss at Clarkson, three goals in a three minute stretch in a loss at Providence, and two goals in a one minute stretch in a loss at Connecticut. Instead of changing their identity and becoming a passive team after allowing a goal, the Terriers need to maintain their aggression and stick to their game plan once making a mistake.

5. Puck Possession: The strength of the Terriers team lies in the front line, where the Terriers have absolutely terrorized opponents this year. Their most complete efforts this season have come when they have controlled the puck, made crisp passes, and have garnered quality scoring opportunities. For example, in clearly their best win over the season over #3 ranked New Hampshire, the Terriers secured the puck for the majority of the game and ultimately wore down the UNH defense over the course of the game. Controlling the puck will additionally enable the defense to remain sharp at the end of games and ease the pressure on goaltender Melissa Haber.