This weekend gave us some impressive offensive displays in baseball, the opening week of the Premier League and the PGA Championship.
TOP 5 PERFORMANCES
5. Florida Marlins offense
The Florida offense continued its streak of consecutive 10-hit games to 13 in a split of a doubleheader with the Rockies on Sunday. In game 1 of the doubleheader, the Marlins produced 10 runs off of 17 hits and in game two managed 13 hits but only scored 3 runs.
4. Texas Rangers
The Rangers took the lead in the AL Wild Card after beating Boston in 2 out of 3 games this weekend in Arlington. Powered by a strong bullpen and the return of Ian Kinsler the Rangers have a real chance of making the playoffs and beating the Red Sox in the wild card.
3. Arsenal
The Gunners opened the Premier League season with a 6-1 drubbing of Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday. Scoring against one of the world's best goalies, Tim Howard, Arsenal got goals from Thomas Vermaelen, Eduardo, Denilson, William Gallas, and two from Cesc Fabregas.
2. Usain Bolt
The Jamaican sprinter broke the world record in the 100-meter dash at the World Championships in Berlin by running a 9.58 shattering his own world record by over 10 seconds.
1. Y.E. Yang
Yang played a fantastic final round at the PGA Championship. Playing alongside Tiger Woods, the leader through all 3 rounds, Yang produced a fantastic eagle shot on the 14th hole to clinch the lead and he would never look back. Yang became the first Asian born player to win a major in golf.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Premier League Preview part 2
10. Tottenham Hotspur
Finish last year: 8th
Key additions: D Sebastien Bassong(Newcastle), F Peter Crouch(Portsmouth)
Key losses: M Didier Zokora(Sevilla), F Darren Bent(Sunderland)
The attack for Spurs' coach Harry Redknapp should be no concern this season with the addition of Crouch to a strike force that already boasts Jermaine Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko, and Giovanni dos Santos. However, Spurs will come up short to returning the European play due to the level of competition for spots 5-12 in the table.
9. Aston Villa
Finish last year: 6th
Key additions: D Habib Beye (Newcastle), M Stuart Downing (Middlesborough)
Key losses: M Gareth Barry (Man City), D Zat Knight (Bolton)
The loss of Barry to Man City will hurt, even if Downing has the same amount of talent, his experience and leadership will be missed. Villa's attack will be of no concern if Gabriel Agbonlahor continues his form from last season.
8. Fulham
Finish last year: 7th
Key additions: NONE
Key losses: NONE
Fulham's squad stays the same as last year's and will challenge for a Europa League spot. Clint Dempsey will be in the best form of his live after the summer with American national team. Dempsey's fellow American, Eddie Johnson will also be looking to make his own mark on the pitch after being on loan at Cardiff all of last year.
7. West Ham United
Finish last year: 9th
Key additions: F Luis Jimenez (loan, Inter)
Key losses: NONE
Gianfranco Zola's team is a year away from challenging for a European spot, but don't be surprised if they do clinch a spot in Europe this season. After Zola was hired in September, West Ham took 52 points from 39 games. Zola has instilled confidence in his team's ability to win big games and without a doubt finish in the top part of the league.
6. Arsenal
Finish last year: 4th
Key additions: D Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax)
Key losses: D Kolo Toure and F Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City)
This will finally be the year the big four of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United is broken up and Arsenal will pay the price by falling out of Champions League eligibility. With the loss of their top goal scorer in Adebayor and a veteran on defense in Toure, the young Gunners team will have to earn its spot in the top 6 to stay in European play for 2010-11.
5. Everton
Finish last year: 5th
Key additions: F Jo (loan, Man City)
Key losses: NONE
This team has a real shot to break into the top 4 because they have the best goalkeeper in the Premier League in American Tim Howard. With the same squad from last year's team, expect Everton to make a good run in both cups and the Europa League, as well as giving the top teams a date on the schedule they should fear greatly.
4. Manchester City
Finish last year: 10th
Key additions: D Kolo Toure (Arsenal), M Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), F Carlos Tevez (Man Utd.) F Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), F Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn)
Key losses: GK Joe Hart (loan, Birmingham), F Jo (loan, Everton), M Elano (Galatasaray)
Mark Hughes has plenty of attack options this season with the additions of Tevez, Adebayor, and Santa Cruz to complement Robinho and Craig Bellamy up front. Goals will be scored by Man City, the only thing to be determined is how many they will score. The back four, headed by captain Richard Dunne, is solid and with Shay Given in goal, Man City should take over Arsenal's spot in the big four.
3. Manchester United
Finish last year: 1st
Key additions: M Antonio Valencia (Wigan), F Gabriel Obertan (Bordeaux), F Michael Owen (Newcastle)
Key losses: M Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), F Carlos Tevez (Man City)
After losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez, the Red Devils have a huge mountain to climb due to the loss of two of their top goal scorers. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov need to step up and fill the void. The main struggle United will have is finding a wing player to push the ball upfield consistently.
2. Chelsea
Finish last year: 3rd
Key additions: M Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), GK Ross Turnbull (Middlesborough), F Daniel Sturridge (Man City)
Key losses: NONE
New manager Carlo Ancelotti will ask a lot of his squad and they will succeed. With the return of Joe Cole from injury and Andriy Shevchenko from loan at AC Milan, Chelsea's attack will be more free and will push forward more and with a solid back four and keeper, they should have a great year.
1. Liverpool
Finish last year: 2nd
Key additions: D Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), M Alberto Aquillani (Roma)
Key losses: D Alvaro Arbeloa and M Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
Rafa Benitez replaced Arbeloa and Alonso with Johnson and Aquillani, and his team will reap the benefits. Aquillani is the man on the wing Fernando Torres has been waiting for to feed him the ball. Torres also has a strike partner in Andrei Voronin, who returns from his loan at Hertha Berlin, that take the pressure of scoring off his shoulders. This is the perfect formula for Liverpool to finally win a Premier League title and their first top division title since 1989-90.
Finish last year: 8th
Key additions: D Sebastien Bassong(Newcastle), F Peter Crouch(Portsmouth)
Key losses: M Didier Zokora(Sevilla), F Darren Bent(Sunderland)
The attack for Spurs' coach Harry Redknapp should be no concern this season with the addition of Crouch to a strike force that already boasts Jermaine Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko, and Giovanni dos Santos. However, Spurs will come up short to returning the European play due to the level of competition for spots 5-12 in the table.
9. Aston Villa
Finish last year: 6th
Key additions: D Habib Beye (Newcastle), M Stuart Downing (Middlesborough)
Key losses: M Gareth Barry (Man City), D Zat Knight (Bolton)
The loss of Barry to Man City will hurt, even if Downing has the same amount of talent, his experience and leadership will be missed. Villa's attack will be of no concern if Gabriel Agbonlahor continues his form from last season.
8. Fulham
Finish last year: 7th
Key additions: NONE
Key losses: NONE
Fulham's squad stays the same as last year's and will challenge for a Europa League spot. Clint Dempsey will be in the best form of his live after the summer with American national team. Dempsey's fellow American, Eddie Johnson will also be looking to make his own mark on the pitch after being on loan at Cardiff all of last year.
7. West Ham United
Finish last year: 9th
Key additions: F Luis Jimenez (loan, Inter)
Key losses: NONE
Gianfranco Zola's team is a year away from challenging for a European spot, but don't be surprised if they do clinch a spot in Europe this season. After Zola was hired in September, West Ham took 52 points from 39 games. Zola has instilled confidence in his team's ability to win big games and without a doubt finish in the top part of the league.
6. Arsenal
Finish last year: 4th
Key additions: D Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax)
Key losses: D Kolo Toure and F Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City)
This will finally be the year the big four of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United is broken up and Arsenal will pay the price by falling out of Champions League eligibility. With the loss of their top goal scorer in Adebayor and a veteran on defense in Toure, the young Gunners team will have to earn its spot in the top 6 to stay in European play for 2010-11.
5. Everton
Finish last year: 5th
Key additions: F Jo (loan, Man City)
Key losses: NONE
This team has a real shot to break into the top 4 because they have the best goalkeeper in the Premier League in American Tim Howard. With the same squad from last year's team, expect Everton to make a good run in both cups and the Europa League, as well as giving the top teams a date on the schedule they should fear greatly.
4. Manchester City
Finish last year: 10th
Key additions: D Kolo Toure (Arsenal), M Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), F Carlos Tevez (Man Utd.) F Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), F Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn)
Key losses: GK Joe Hart (loan, Birmingham), F Jo (loan, Everton), M Elano (Galatasaray)
Mark Hughes has plenty of attack options this season with the additions of Tevez, Adebayor, and Santa Cruz to complement Robinho and Craig Bellamy up front. Goals will be scored by Man City, the only thing to be determined is how many they will score. The back four, headed by captain Richard Dunne, is solid and with Shay Given in goal, Man City should take over Arsenal's spot in the big four.
3. Manchester United
Finish last year: 1st
Key additions: M Antonio Valencia (Wigan), F Gabriel Obertan (Bordeaux), F Michael Owen (Newcastle)
Key losses: M Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), F Carlos Tevez (Man City)
After losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez, the Red Devils have a huge mountain to climb due to the loss of two of their top goal scorers. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov need to step up and fill the void. The main struggle United will have is finding a wing player to push the ball upfield consistently.
2. Chelsea
Finish last year: 3rd
Key additions: M Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), GK Ross Turnbull (Middlesborough), F Daniel Sturridge (Man City)
Key losses: NONE
New manager Carlo Ancelotti will ask a lot of his squad and they will succeed. With the return of Joe Cole from injury and Andriy Shevchenko from loan at AC Milan, Chelsea's attack will be more free and will push forward more and with a solid back four and keeper, they should have a great year.
1. Liverpool
Finish last year: 2nd
Key additions: D Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), M Alberto Aquillani (Roma)
Key losses: D Alvaro Arbeloa and M Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
Rafa Benitez replaced Arbeloa and Alonso with Johnson and Aquillani, and his team will reap the benefits. Aquillani is the man on the wing Fernando Torres has been waiting for to feed him the ball. Torres also has a strike partner in Andrei Voronin, who returns from his loan at Hertha Berlin, that take the pressure of scoring off his shoulders. This is the perfect formula for Liverpool to finally win a Premier League title and their first top division title since 1989-90.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Premier League Preview part 1
Team previews will go in order of predicted finish for the 2009-2010 Premier League season.
Part 1: Teams 20-11
Part 2: Teams 10-1
20. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Finish last year: 1st in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key Additions: GK Marcus Hahnemann and M Kevin Doyle (both from Reading)
Key Losses: NONE
Wolves have a slim chance of surviving the drop this year, but if they do stay up striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will be the key after scoring 25 goals last year in the Championship.
19. Burnley
Finish last year: Playoff winners in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key Additions: D David Edgar (Newcastle), D Richard Eckersley (Manchester United), M Fernando Guerrero( Loan, Independiente del Valle)
Key Losses: NONE
Although they impressed with big cup runs last year, Owen Coyle's team still has a hard task in front of them. After the opener with Stoke, the Clarets have to face Man Utd, Everton, Chelsea, and Liverpool in 4 consecutive games. The beginning stretch of the season will give Burnley fans a sense of how the Premier League really is. Unfortuneately, they also a have a great chance of being relegated.
18. Portsmouth
Finish last year: 14th
Key additions: GK Antti Niemi, D Steve Finnan (Free Agents), F Frederic Piquionne (Loan, Lyon), M Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn)
Key Losses: D Glen Johnson (Liverpool), F Peter Crouch (Tottenham)
Manager Paul Hart may be the first manager fired this year, altough new ownership has come in, the squad is small and could be fatigued near the end of the year. Also, the attacking options this year have downgraded since last year. With Jermaine Defoe leaving the winter and Peter Crouch leaving in summer, both to Tottenham, Pompey's attack is weakened and could have even more trouble scoring goals this season.
17. Stoke City
Finish last year: 12th
Key additions: M Dean Whitehead (Sunderland)
Key losses: Seyi Olofinjina(Hull City)
The Potters have a slim chance to survive and make it three years in the Premier League, but they will, like Portsmouth, have to score more goals. The threat of Rory Delap's long throw in remains, but teams will now know how to defend it and Stoke will score less goals off it than last year.
16. Birmingham City
Finish last year: 2nd in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key additions: GK Joe Hart (loan, Man City), M Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Key losses: NONE
Birmingham come in to the 09-10 season with the best chance of the promoted teams to stay for another season. Most of the players that were relegated in the 07-08 season are still with the team and the experience of being in England's top flight will prove valuable.
15. Hull City
Finish last year: 17th
Key additions: M Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke), F Jozy Altidore (loan, Villarreal)
Key losses: NONE
Hull need to repeat their amazing first-half form from last year and then continue to build on it instead of barely surviving the drop. The addition of Altidore will bring a boost to Phil Brown's attacking options. Hull also need to keep D Michael Taylor,who is the subject of rumors to Liverpool, who has been a rock in the back four for the past few years.
14. Bolton Wanderers
Finish last year: 13th
Key additions: D Zat Knight (Aston Villa) D Paul Robinson (loan, West Brom)
Key losses: NONE
Bolton's defense should be a concern for its fans this season with the addition of Knight and Robinson to the back four. Gary Megson's squad will battle to get to the middle of the table, but they will end up close to bottom because the level of play at the top has risen even more this season.
13. Blackburn Rovers
Finish last year: 15th
Key additions: F Franco di Santo (loan, Chelsea)
Key losses: D Andre Ooijer(PSV), M Aaron Mokoena(Portsmouth), F Roque Santa Cruz(Man City)
Sam Allardyce's squad loses its best player in Santa Cruz but gains the removal of a distraction in Santa Cruz. With di Santo coming over on loan from Chelsea, Blackburn add to their attack led by Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts. Rovers should stay near the bottom but with Big Sam at the help who knows what magic he will make with his team.
12. Wigan Athletic
Finish last year: 11th
Key additions: M Scott Sinclair (loan, Chelsea)
Key losses: M Antonio Valencia (Man Utd.), F Amr Zaki (returned to El Zamalek)
New manager Roberto Martinez needs to pick up where Steve Bruce left off, with a team that could challenge for a Europa League spot if they hit good form. The challenge will be harder for Martinez because the Latics lose their top goal scorer, Amr Zaki, who was returned to his club, El Zamalek after a year on loan at the club. The goal scoring will need to be picked up by Jason Koumas, Hugo Rodallega, and Marlon King for Wigan to contend for the top 7.
11. Sunderland
Finish last year: 16th
Key additions: F Darren Bent (Tottenham), F Frazier Campbell (Man Utd.)
Key losses: NONE
After barely surviving the drop last season, Sunderland hired Steve Bruce to be the club's manager from Wigan. Bruce added Bent and Campbell to the attack led by Kenwyne Jones. The Black Cats should be nowhere near the drop zone this season due to the leadership of Bruce.
Tommorrow, the top half of the table will be previewed.
Part 1: Teams 20-11
Part 2: Teams 10-1
20. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Finish last year: 1st in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key Additions: GK Marcus Hahnemann and M Kevin Doyle (both from Reading)
Key Losses: NONE
Wolves have a slim chance of surviving the drop this year, but if they do stay up striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will be the key after scoring 25 goals last year in the Championship.
19. Burnley
Finish last year: Playoff winners in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key Additions: D David Edgar (Newcastle), D Richard Eckersley (Manchester United), M Fernando Guerrero( Loan, Independiente del Valle)
Key Losses: NONE
Although they impressed with big cup runs last year, Owen Coyle's team still has a hard task in front of them. After the opener with Stoke, the Clarets have to face Man Utd, Everton, Chelsea, and Liverpool in 4 consecutive games. The beginning stretch of the season will give Burnley fans a sense of how the Premier League really is. Unfortuneately, they also a have a great chance of being relegated.
18. Portsmouth
Finish last year: 14th
Key additions: GK Antti Niemi, D Steve Finnan (Free Agents), F Frederic Piquionne (Loan, Lyon), M Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn)
Key Losses: D Glen Johnson (Liverpool), F Peter Crouch (Tottenham)
Manager Paul Hart may be the first manager fired this year, altough new ownership has come in, the squad is small and could be fatigued near the end of the year. Also, the attacking options this year have downgraded since last year. With Jermaine Defoe leaving the winter and Peter Crouch leaving in summer, both to Tottenham, Pompey's attack is weakened and could have even more trouble scoring goals this season.
17. Stoke City
Finish last year: 12th
Key additions: M Dean Whitehead (Sunderland)
Key losses: Seyi Olofinjina(Hull City)
The Potters have a slim chance to survive and make it three years in the Premier League, but they will, like Portsmouth, have to score more goals. The threat of Rory Delap's long throw in remains, but teams will now know how to defend it and Stoke will score less goals off it than last year.
16. Birmingham City
Finish last year: 2nd in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key additions: GK Joe Hart (loan, Man City), M Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Key losses: NONE
Birmingham come in to the 09-10 season with the best chance of the promoted teams to stay for another season. Most of the players that were relegated in the 07-08 season are still with the team and the experience of being in England's top flight will prove valuable.
15. Hull City
Finish last year: 17th
Key additions: M Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke), F Jozy Altidore (loan, Villarreal)
Key losses: NONE
Hull need to repeat their amazing first-half form from last year and then continue to build on it instead of barely surviving the drop. The addition of Altidore will bring a boost to Phil Brown's attacking options. Hull also need to keep D Michael Taylor,who is the subject of rumors to Liverpool, who has been a rock in the back four for the past few years.
14. Bolton Wanderers
Finish last year: 13th
Key additions: D Zat Knight (Aston Villa) D Paul Robinson (loan, West Brom)
Key losses: NONE
Bolton's defense should be a concern for its fans this season with the addition of Knight and Robinson to the back four. Gary Megson's squad will battle to get to the middle of the table, but they will end up close to bottom because the level of play at the top has risen even more this season.
13. Blackburn Rovers
Finish last year: 15th
Key additions: F Franco di Santo (loan, Chelsea)
Key losses: D Andre Ooijer(PSV), M Aaron Mokoena(Portsmouth), F Roque Santa Cruz(Man City)
Sam Allardyce's squad loses its best player in Santa Cruz but gains the removal of a distraction in Santa Cruz. With di Santo coming over on loan from Chelsea, Blackburn add to their attack led by Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts. Rovers should stay near the bottom but with Big Sam at the help who knows what magic he will make with his team.
12. Wigan Athletic
Finish last year: 11th
Key additions: M Scott Sinclair (loan, Chelsea)
Key losses: M Antonio Valencia (Man Utd.), F Amr Zaki (returned to El Zamalek)
New manager Roberto Martinez needs to pick up where Steve Bruce left off, with a team that could challenge for a Europa League spot if they hit good form. The challenge will be harder for Martinez because the Latics lose their top goal scorer, Amr Zaki, who was returned to his club, El Zamalek after a year on loan at the club. The goal scoring will need to be picked up by Jason Koumas, Hugo Rodallega, and Marlon King for Wigan to contend for the top 7.
11. Sunderland
Finish last year: 16th
Key additions: F Darren Bent (Tottenham), F Frazier Campbell (Man Utd.)
Key losses: NONE
After barely surviving the drop last season, Sunderland hired Steve Bruce to be the club's manager from Wigan. Bruce added Bent and Campbell to the attack led by Kenwyne Jones. The Black Cats should be nowhere near the drop zone this season due to the leadership of Bruce.
Tommorrow, the top half of the table will be previewed.
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