My Thoughts On the NBA Playoffs Part 2

First Round Recap   

The Grizzlies upset of the top seeded Spurs capped off an exciting first round of the NBA Playoffs. Zach Randolph led the way as the upstart Grizzlies became only the second eighth seed in NBA history to knock off a one seed. For Memphis, the win sets up a second round matchup against Oklahoma City (I'll be honest, I would  selfishly prefer Vancouver and Seattle); for San Antonio, a undesirable realization that their days as elite contenders are over. Each  first round series brought an intriguing element to the table every night, even Boston's sweep of the Knicks included Carmelo's historic 42 points - 17 rebound performance and two games that came down to a final shot and Dallas' 4-2 victory over Portland included a memorable and emotional fourth quarter comeback in game four led by Brandon Roy. The second round promises to be even more exciting and provide more great theater.

Eastern Conference

Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Bulls eased past the Pacers in five games and while the games were all competitive, Chicago's ability to score late (Derrick Rose) and more importantly defend proved to be too much for Indiana. The Hawks exacted some revenge from last season's second round embarrassment beating the disappointing Orlando Magic in six games. Two seasons removed from an NBA Finals appearance, the Magic have regressed tremendously, their trademark inside-out game plan rendered ineffective by Atlanta's defense. 

 Defensively, the Hawks will have trouble slowing down Derrick Rose. This could be a series in which he goes off and cannot be stopped, as long as he doesn't settle for three pointers. The best battle will occur down low between Atlanta's big men Josh Smith and Al Horford and Chicago's big men Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. Chicago's defense is anchored by Noah and will be a worthy challenge for Horford. The Bulls hold a significant rebounding advantage over the Hawks, averaging nearly five extra rebounds per game during the regular season (44.2 rpg - 39.3 rpg). Swingman Luol Deng does everything for the Bulls, his versatility is a major plus as Chicago continues in the playoffs. The only match up in which the Hawks have a distinct advantage is at shooting guard. Perennial All Star Joe Johnson and former sixth man of the year Jamal Crawford will have to be Atlanta's consistent scoring options. For the Hawks to compete they will need a superhuman showing from Johnson and serious defensive lapses from the Bulls, which I believe is unlikely to happen. 

Pick: Chicago in 5

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics

This is the series NBA fans have been anticipating since LeBron's "decision", although most figured the winner would advance to the NBA Finals. The Celtics swept the Knicks in the first round and Miami won easily against Philadelphia. Can the Big Three and Company defeat the "team-oriented" Celtics?

The individual match ups are singularly compelling. LeBron James and Paul Pierce meet once again in the postseason, a match up of less importance than in previous seasons (when LeBron was carrying an inadequate Cavaliers team), but a relevant one nonetheless. It will be intriguing to watch who gets the upper hand on a given night. Dwyane Wade's struggles against Boston have been well documented, it will be interesting to see if he continues to be the one to chase Ray Allen off of the off-balls screens Boston consistently use as part of their offense. Wade's field goal percentage was a woeful 28% in four games against the Celtics, down from his season average of 50%. Kevin Garnett remains one of the elite post defenders and how he defends Chris Bosh will have a significant impact on the series. If Bosh can score efficiently and limit Garnett's effectiveness on the glass, the Heat give themselves their best chance at winning the series. The key to the series is the play of point guard Rajon Rondo, who seemed to get his flair back against the Knicks, averaging 19 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 12 assists over Boston's four games. Will Rondo's playmaking abilities knock the Heat onto their heels defensively and hinder their offensive gameplan? Heat/Celtics projects to be a fascinating back and forth series filled with momentum swings and tight finishes.

Pick: Miami in 7

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Lakers were twice surprised by Chris Paul and the Hornets in the first round but the Lakers bigs ultimately made the difference, averaging 7 more rebounds a game than their undersized opponents.Expect more of the same in round 2, as the Lakers big men should exercise their dominance against the Mavericks, who beat the Trail Blazers in six games as well. The Lakers dominated the Mavericks in their final regular season encounter, winning 110-82, and the match ups continue to favor Los Angeles. 

At this point, it's difficult to think any match up would faze Kobe Bryant.The Mavericks will throw an assortment of defenders at the two time Finals MVP in an attempt to slow him down. Jason Terry will get the bulk of the crunch time minutes at the two guard. Over the past 3 seasons the Jet has averaged 18.2 points against the Lakers but the Mavericks are 3-7 in those games. Dirk Nowitzki enjoyed a phenomenal first round against Portland (27 ppg, 7.8 rpg  3.0 apg), but he will be tested physically and defensively in this series, matching up with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Andrew Bynum has been wrecking havoc on the glass, averaging 10.8 rebounds along with 15.2 points and 1.8 blocks in the first round. When Bynum is playing at his best, the Lakers are as close to unstoppable as you will find in this league. The Lakers weakness at point guard will not be exploited by Jason Kidd, who can still be an effective distributor but will not be making many forays into the lane. The Lakers and Mavericks have both qualified for the playoffs every season since 2000-2001, this is the first time they will match up in a best of seven and both sides will want to leave their best impression.

Pick: Los Angeles in 6

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies surprised the basketball world when they knocked off the Spurs, now they move on to face the Thunder, a team that has been billed as San Antonio 2.0. The Thunder knocked the pesky Nuggets in a tightly contested five game series.

Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph will have to contest with the defense of Thunder big men Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka (who has been a monster since Perkins was acquired at the trade deadline). Randolph wad dominant against the Spurs, averaging 21.5 points and 9.2 rebounds. The Thunder go where Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook take them. Durant is the number one scoring option on the team but the Grizzlies have a few reliable defenders to guard him. Durant will likely see some Tony Allen, Shane Battier, and Sam Young guarding him at one point this series. Westbrook is great when he penetrates and either finishes at the rim or kicks to Durant, James Harden, etc.. he is a hindrance when he settles for mid range jumpers and ceases to run the offense. The Grizzlies won't go quietly but the Thunder have more than enough firepower to stop Cinderella's pumpkin wagon.

Pick: Oklahoma City in 6

Regal Barcelona at DKV Joventut, April 25th 2011

 Live Event #6

Palau Olimpic

The Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto is rated as the top domestic basketball league in Europe by the governing body of basketball in Europe (ULEB). Historically, like in football (soccer), the league has been dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid, which can be credited largely to the revenue created by their respective football teams. The team that is recognized as arguably Spain's most important club is Joventut Badalona, an independent club based in Badalona, a smaller city situated just outside of Barcelona. Joventut's Youth Academy has produced many of Europe's top basketball talents including Rudy Fernandez (now with the Trail Blazers) and Ricky Rubio (more on him later). Aside from the Spanish born players, the rosters are filled primarily by Slavic players and Americans who weren't able to stick in the NBA. The caliber is play is not to the level of the NBA but the basketball is fundamentally sound and entertaining. 

The game was of no real importance in the way of the standings  (Barcelona is  in 1st, Joventut in 14th) but the two teams have been rivals for many years. There was also the matter of Ricky Rubio, the 20 year old Spanish point guard who left Joventut in the summer in order to join Barca. Much has been made about Rubio, who drew comparisons to Pete Maravich and Steve Nash when at 17 he joined the Spanish Olympic team for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and was chosen for the prestigious Mr. Europa, awarded to the best European basketball talent (other winners' include Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Toni Kukoc, and Drazen Petrovic). The following season he entered the NBA Draft and was selected fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's rejected multiple offers to join the Timberwolves and he remains in Spain where his flaws become more apparent. The fact is, he cannot shoot, which hinders his ability to succeed in the NBA. If anything he could be compared to Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, another point guard that struggles shooting but is effective in so many other facets of the game that his potentially fatal flaw is overlooked. The one thing that struck me watching Rubio in person was his high basketball IQ. He read the floor extremely well, cutting down passing lanes for tipped balls and steals and making smart decisions with the basketball. As an on ball perimeter defender he's not quite as effective as Rondo who is the best defender of point guards in the NBA. Rubio may not reach the ridiculous expectations that were levied upon him when he was drafted but whenever he decides to join the NBA he can still be a reliable point guard, especially on a team with multiple offensive options.

Like Camp Nou, the Palau Olimpico de Badalona was barren of any sort of activity that would divert eyes away from the game; it's not like there is no corporate advertising, actually there are a large quantity of adverts that surround the basketball court and each team carries a sponsorship in their official name: Regal and DKV (both insurance companies). The Palau seats 12,000 people and nearly every seat was filled in time for tip off. Led by former Memphis Grizzlies guard Juan Carlos Navarro. Joventut made things more difficult, challenging Barca in the second and third quarters but Navarro hit two decisive threes down the stretch that helped Barca hold onto a 68-65 victory.  

Three different sporting events over three days; Barcelona is quite the sports town. My father and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there. There is plenty to do for lovers of food, sport, sun, art, and people. Now we move to London, England for a massive Premier League weekend. Saturday we will be at Stamford Bridge for Tottenham and Chelsea and Sunday at the Emirates for Manchester United and Arsenal.

THW Kiel at FC Barcelona Borges, April 24th 2011

Live Event #5

Palau Blaugrana

If I told you I came to Barcelona and planned to attend a handball match I'd be lying. My father proposed that we walk from our hotel to the Palau Blaugrana (Catalan for palace of blue and deep red), FC Barcelona's handball and basketball arena (capacity 7,550), and try to get tickets to the handball game. Let me make myself clear: my knowledge of handball extends no further than the scrambled 10 v 10 version we play in North American PE class. The general perception is that handball is a non-contact sport, similar to something like ultimate frisbee. I was in for a massive shock.

We purchased two general admission tickets for a combined 26 euros; an affordable price for an hour and a half of entertainment. We arrived just as the rambunctious crowd finished singing their beloved Barca anthem. We sat in the upper corner of the stadium, which provided us with an exceptional view of the court. I soon found out that the handball is played with six "outfield" players and one goalkeeper and that the game is unlike anything I'd ever witnessed. The game is split evenly into two thirty minutes halves and the action is never ending. Substitutions are completed on the fly and are - not unlike basketball in the final minutes of games, determined on an offensive/defensive basis. The object of the game is simple, the team with the most goals wins, not too dissimilar to football (soccer) but with scores occurring at a much higher volume. 

 A diagram of an official handball court (Reference: Government of Western Australia)

The majority of the goals scored come from set play. The six attacking players set up in a shell around the 9 meter line, passing and dribbling around the semi circle, attempting to break through the defence and get a clear shot on goal. Once an attacking players steps over the 9 meter line and enters the defensive zone (a section that stretches 3 meters) he can be forcefully obstructed by the defender. If an attacking player is illegally felled by a defender inside the defensive zone, he is awarded a penalty shot from the 7 meter line. Goals can also come from fast breaks which usually occur following a defensive deflection or steal (like in basketball). The job of goalkeeper is unforgiving, many of the shot attempts are nearly impossible to stop; a save at a crucial moment in the match provokes a massive momentum swing.

The match was important for Barcelona, the first leg of the quarter finals of the European Cup. Led by their captain László Nagy, a 6'10'' Hungarian giant, Barca fought back and forth against their German opponents THW Kiel. Late in the match and up by only one goal, Barca's keeper Danijel Šarić made two incredible saves that preserved Barca's lead and they held on to win 27-25. I'm pleased with our decision to attend the match; it was a thrilling encounter and introduced to me a new sport to appreciate and understand. Monday night we would complete our Barcelona sports trifecta and watch Regal Barcelona face off against DKV Joventut of nearby Baladona in a Spanish league basketball game.

CA Osasuna at FC Barcelona, April 23rd 2011

Live Event #4

Camp Nou

Following over 24 hours in transit, my father and I finally arrived in Barcelona and we had just under 24 hours to recuperate in time for our first football match of our trip in Europe: Club Atlético Osasuna at Futbol Club Barcelona. The match was situated at a difficult juncture for the Catalan giants, the third in a succession of six that included a staggering four against their primary rivals Real Madrid. This would be the second time I would be privileged enough to watch the Blaugrana in person; the club generally recognized as the best team in the world. The first time was in August of 2009, a 3-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao that confirmed Barca as Supercopa de España champions. The squad has undergone minimal change since then, the core group that won the 2009 Champions League remains for the most part intact.

The unmistakable feature of Camp Nou is its sheer size. Europe's largest stadium in terms of capacity has the ability to seat nearly 100,000 spectators for a football match. Once inside the stadium, it is easy to notice the lack of high priced concession options and the absence of the entertainment options that are present in all North American stadiums in an effort to please corporate advertisers and appeal to a larger (non-sports fan) audience. It is refreshing for a sports purist like myself to attend a game where at least 90% of the attending fans' priority is actually watching the game! Shocking! In Barcelona especially, supporting Barca is not so much a choice as a civic duty, a public demonstration of strong Catalan pride. There is nothing quite like a packed stadium singing the Barca anthem in unison before and after the game.

Barca Anthem

With Barca looking ahead to their Champions League semi-final encounter with Real Madrid Pep Guardiola chose to rest many of his key players. Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Lionel Messi started the match on the substitutes bench and center back duo Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique watched from the stands. Even without half of their regular starting XI Barca were no question the superior team. Twenty-three minutes in, Jeffren whipped in a terrific rolling cross that David Villa expertly slide into the bottom corner for his first goal in 11 matches. Osasuna showed some fight at times and nearly had an equalizer that Barca keeper deflected out for a corner. 20 year old Barca midfielder Thiago Alcantara received a surprise start and left a good impression. He demonstrated exceptional skill and an ability to fit into Barca's dynamic attack. The score at halftime was 1-0 for Barca. As a fan I hoped that Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta would eventually make an appearance in the game; it would have been slightly disappointing if they hadn't. Guardiola didn't wait much longer to introduce one of them, inserting Iniesta for the second half. Not too long after, Messi and Xavi appeared on the touch line for warm up to raucous applause. They both would be subbed on with 30 minutes left to go, Messi for goal scorer David Villa and Xavi for the injured center back Gabriel Milito, an alteration that forced midfielder Sergio to join fellow midfielder Javier Mascherano as Barca's two central defenders.

As soon as he entered the game Lionel Messi didn't take long to thrill the Barca faithful. With his first touch he stopped a rolling ball, flipped it over an oncoming defender and darted down the middle of the park leaving the defender in his wake. Barca continued to probe the Osasuna defence and were finally rewarded when Dani Alves sent Messi clear through on goal and the Argentine phenom finished clinically with his right foot to make the score 2-0 with 3 minutes to go. The goal was historically significant: it was Messi's 50th of the campaign - in 49 matches - and broke Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskás’s previous Spanish league best of 49 goals in one season.

Match Highlights

The Camp Nou experience is a must for any fan of the game of football. I was able to take many pictures that I will upload when I return home. Sunday night I attended a match between Barca's handball team and their German opponents THW Kiel which was unlike any sporting event I'd ever attended and Monday night we hope to attend a basketball game between crosstown rivals DKV Joventut and Regal Barcelona.

My Thoughts On the NBA Playoffs Part 1

Eastern Conference 

Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers

Bulls lead 3-0

The Bulls may be in line to sweep the youthful Pacers but it hasn't been as easy had been predicted. The Pacers have successfully challenged the top seed Bulls in each of the first three games, losing each game by 5, 6, and 4 respectively and having the right to rue the results. The key reason for Chicago's 3-0 lead is, to nobody's surprise, Derrick Rose. Despite some inefficient shooting performances (4/18 overall in game 3, 0/9 from three in game 1), Rose has made a habit of drawing fouls, having shot a combined 49 free throws in the first three games at a 90% average and has exhibited the chops of an experienced late game decision maker.

Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Heat lead 3-0

The Heat can match the Bulls and sweep their first round opponent on Sunday. Apart from the dominant 94-73 game 22 victory, the other two wins have been closely contested. The Heat have been carried by their three headliners: Chris Bosh (21.7 ppg and 9.7 rpg), LeBron James (24.7 ppg, 5.6 apg, and 12 rpg), and Dwyane Wade (21 ppg, 5 apg, and 7.7 rpg - despite suffering from a migraine before game 2). The offensive production from the rest of the roster has been non-existent; the highest scoring performance from one game was 10 points from C Zydrunas Ilgauskas from 5/9 shooting in 16 minutes of play during game three. Philadelphia has a plethora of young and athletic swing men but they have been overburdened in their attempts to stop the Heat's All-Stars. Andre Iguodala has struggled to score, averaging more assists (8.7) than points (6.3) this series.  The Heat are undoubtedly in control of this series, but the second round will prove to be a much tougher test. Will James, Wade, and Bosh get enough help from the rest of the Heatles to compete with the defending Eastern Conference Champions in Round 2? 

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks

Celtics lead 3-0

There seems to be a common theme in the Eastern Conference first round. The higher seed hasn't dominated each game but find themselves ahead 3 games to zero. The Celtics were fortunate to win game 1 and game 2 at home, taking advantage of a poor Carmelo Anthony performance in game 1 and injuries to Amar'e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups in game 2 to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Back in New York for the Knicks first home playoff game in six year, the Celtics annihilated the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Paul Pierce scored 38, Ray Allen scored 32 (8/11 from three), and Rajon Rondo recorded another playoff triple-double (15 points, 20 assists, and 11 rebounds). Carmelo Anthony rebounded from his disastrous Knick playoff debut by almost single handedly stealing a game 2 win. Melo dished out six assists, grabbed 17 rebounds, and scored 42 points. The Celtics true challenge lies elsewhere however, and all eyes are already set on their likely second round opponent: the Miami Heat.

Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks

Hawks lead 2-1

The Hawks hold a surprising 2-1 lead over the Orlando Magic in the most evenly contested series in the Eastern Conference.  Despite three monster games from Dwight Howard (33.3 ppg, 68% FG, 17.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg) the Magic haven't been able to compete with the depth of Atlanta. The Hawks have five players averaging more than 10 points per game (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Jamal Crawford, and Kirk Hinrich), Orlando has two (Howard and Jameer Nelson). Atlanta's decision to not double team Howard in the post has impacted Orlando's abilities from distance. The Magic, who led the NBA this season in three pointers per game, have shot just 26% from three so far in the series. This matchup could easily go either way, it will depend on if Orlando can get Dwight Howard any semblance of help?

Western Conference 

San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies 

Series tied 1-1

The Spurs should appreciate the period of rest as they are playing in one of two series that have yet to have played a third game. The Grizzlies won game 1 in San Antonio led by their frontcourt of double-double machine Zach Randolph (25 points and 14 rebounds), and Marc Gasol (24 points and 9 rebounds), and the absence of San Antonio's All-Star guard Manu Ginobili. Ginobili returned for game 2 and he led the Spurs with a game high 17 to a six point victory. Tim Duncan was effective but it can be asked if he is  still physically able of a standout performance. Memphis' abundance of depth and rugged players will definitely push the Spurs veterans but it would still shock me if they indeed won four games before San Antonio did. 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets

Lakers lead 2-1

The Lakers game 1 loss seems to be an anomaly; it appears unlikely that the Hornets will win another game this series. Chris Paul's virtuoso 33 point, 14 assist, 7 rebound, 4 steal performance stunned the Lakers on their home court. The loss awoke the Lakers as they bounced back to take game 2, despite a poor showing from Kobe Bryant (11 points, 3/10 FG). Andrew Bynum (17 points and 11 rebounds), Lamar Odom (16 points and 7 rebounds) and the Lakers defense stymied the Hornets attack. A vintage Kobe performance (30 points, 10/20 FG, 6/7 FT) in game 3 in New Orleans gave the Lakers the lead in the series and essentially extinguished all hope that a David West-less Hornets squad could pull of such a major upset.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Mavericks lead 2-1

Dirk Nowitzki has so far had his way with the Blazers defense. Portland has tried numerous different looks to slow Nowitzki down but have been unsuccessful. Dallas won the first two games at home, both close games but expertly closed by Nowitzki and the Mavericks. 37 year old Jason Kidd performed exceptionally well in both home games (21 ppg and 6 apg). Portland responded in game 3, as Brandon Roy made his first positive impact on the series (16 points, 4 assists), and LaMarcus Aldridge continued to score effectively. Picking Portland to win the series was a trendy upset pick within the NBA community and will be still be a relevant point of discussion if they can win game 4 and force a best 2 of 3.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets

Thunder lead 2-0

The Nuggets felt they were hosed in game 1, when a missed offensive goaltending call on Kendrick Perkins would have given them the ball up 1 with under a minute to go. The Thunder didn't leave any chance for doubt in game 2, easily taking out the misfiring Nuggets. The bottom line is, that Thunder have the two best players in the series and while the Nuggets have surplus of NBA able players, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will win games for the Thunder without the need to rely heavily on role players. The Nuggets could catch fire at home but it appears unlikely that the final result will be anything but the the Thunder advancing into round 2.

Chivas USA at Vancouver Whitecaps, April 16th 2011

Live Event #3

Empire Field

Luckily for me, my first Vancouver Whitecaps would come on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I had watched the previous incarnation of the Whitecaps play in the NASL at Swangard Stadium a half dozen times but the match between the Whitecaps and Chivas USA would my first since the Whitecaps made their move to Major League Soccer. The leap to the MLS legitimized soccer in Vancouver and the move from Swangard to Empire Field created 15,000 more seats for Whitecaps home games. The Whitecaps home opener on March 19th against Toronto FC was a thrilling 4-2 victory and the raucous crowd established the Whitecaps as a hot ticket in Vancouver. It is extremely rare for me to attend a sporting event and not be competently informed but that would be the the circumstance Saturday. I was aware of the key Whitecaps players (and their propensity to receive red cards), their current record, and the expectations of the team heading into the season but I was otherwise in the dark regarding much of everything else.

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Chivas USA with the North Shore mountains in the background

Thanks to the match program I quickly got a feel for the Whitecaps players but I wasn't solely focused on the result on the pitch; I was keen to observe the fans and feel the atmosphere in the stands. I stood in the South Side with the most passionate Whitecaps fans. From the moment the players entered the field of play the chanting began. The chants weren't terribly original and whilst they didn't stretch much farther than the classic "clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap - Whitecaps!" and "We're Blue, We're White, We're F****** Dynamite!" the support was exceptional. The on field talent is nowhere near comparable to that of elite European football but the grit and toughness of the players helps make up for it. Whitecaps striker Eric Hassli was easily the most noticeable player on the pitch due largely to his gigantic stature and he nearly put the Whitecaps ahead thirty minutes in but unfortunately hit the far post on his shot attempt. The Whitecaps were the better team on Saturday but were frustrated as time winded down. Omar Salgado, the 17 year old striker who was the first overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, made a substitute appearance and missed an open header late that could have given Vancouver three crucial points.

Whitecaps fans await a late match corner kick from Nizar Khalfan

The experience was remarkably thrilling. I am definitely looking forward to returning to Empire Field, hopefully for Thierry Henry's visit on May 28th. Thursday my dad and I are leaving for Europe, where we will certainly be attending two football matches (Osasuna at Barcelona, April 23rd and Manchester United at Arsenal, May 1st) and hope to purchase tickets for another (Tottenham at Chelsea, April 30th). I will try between now and Saturday to post a piece I'm currently working on in regard to the NHL's issue with violent conduct as well as some of my thoughts on the NBA Playoffs, which have so far been unbelievable.

Toronto Blue Jays at Seattle Mariners, April 13th 2011

Live Event #2

Safeco Field

Back at Safeco for a day game, the series finale between the Blue Jays and the Mariners. As per usual we arrived at the park two around before first pitch. Getting to the game early is a great opportunity to watch the players warm up and provides the greatest prospects of procuring autographs and even talking to the players. I'm not a fan that heckles or otherwise bothers players on the field, but I do like to get close to the field and watch the players go through their pregame routines and if I am lucky, share a few words with them. When I saw that Michael Pineda, who had earned his first Major League win the night before, was making his way down the foul line to get a few throws in, I positioned myself in the first row down the right field line. He signed autographs and when he signed my ticket stub I told him how well I thought he had pitched the night before, he looked me straight in the eyes and thanked me; I could not be more impressed with the young man.

Mariners SP Michael Pineda

The Blue Jays entered the game on a four game slide and had RHP Kyle Drabek, the key piece of last winter's Roy Halladay trade, on the mound against soft tossing LHP Jason Vargas. The game was even through seven innings; Drabek lasted only 5 and 2/3rds, and had trouble consistently finding the strike zone, walking 4 Mariners hitters, but the inept Seattle offense could only take advantage for two runs off of Drabek including an opposite field leadoff bomb from Justin Smoak. Vargas pitched 6 and 2/3rd innings of one run ball and despite never throwing a pitch over 90 mph, striking out seven. Vargas located his pitches effectively and deserved better than the no-decision he received as the Blue Jays offense came to life in the eighth inning, smashing Mariners reliever Chris Ray for 5 earned runs in 2/3rd innings. Jose Bautista finally made an impact on the series blasting a three run home run deep into left field as the Toronto batted through their order and took a healthy 7-2 lead. The Blue Jays and the Mariners traded runs in the bottom of the eighth and the top of the ninth and the Jays head to Boston to face the surprisingly struggling Red Sox back to winning ways.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista

Until the Mariners can strengthen their offense they will struggle to compete. Switch hitting 1B Justin Smoak can be a middle of the order presence down the road and 2B Dustin Ackley, the second overall pick in 2008, isn't far away from making his Major League debut. Ichiro has been the best leadoff hitter in the league since his arrival in 2001, but he hasn't looked his old self yet this season, hitting a combined 1/9 at both games that I attended. The Blue Jays have shown an aptitude for scoring runs, especially via the long ball, and as their promising pitching staff gains experience the Blue Jays become an increasingly attractive option as an AL sleeper.

Toronto Blue Jays at Seattle Mariners, April 12th 2011

Live Event #1

Safeco Field

My first ballgame of the Major League season was an encounter between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners on a cold Tuesday night. in the Pacific Northwest. This was my 11th trip to Safeco Field; by far the ballpark I have attended the most so far in my life as a baseball fan. Safeco is by any standard, a great place to watch a ballgame but it would be only 32% full on Tuesday night. Some of the empty seats can be blamed on the less than pleasant weather but relevant or not, this sparked a discussion between my friend Jeremy and I about small market teams and big market teams. We agreed that Safeco was probably too big (it has never recorded a sellout for a Mariners game), and that the dip in attendance was clearly a direct result of the Mariners recent struggles. The Mariners cannot compete financially with the likes of the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Phillies but their inability to attract marquee free agents should not completely destroy their likelihood for success. The playing field is not even and nor should it be. A small market team must be managed in a different manner than a team that plays in a larger metropolitan area. The Mariners are committed to a youth movement and while it may not be as attractive an option as signing big name free agents, it is a reality of the small market team.

Michael Pineda on the mound

Highly touted prospect RHP Michael Pineda made his home debut for the Mariners against LHP Ricky Romero. I was excited to watch Pineda pitch, all indications are that he will eventually mature into an elite pitcher; he didn't disappoint. The striking characteristic about Pineda is his size. At 6'7'', 260 lbs, he has a visible presence on the mound. He immediately began challenging the Blue Jays hitters with a high 90's fastball (he topped out at 99 mph and consistently hit 96 mph), and he did an exceptional job establishing the count in his favor early, leaving the game with a 24-6 first pitch strike/ball ratio. The Mariners gave Pineda an early 3-0 lead following a two run home run courtesy of Ryan Langerhans and an RBI single from Milton Bradley in the third inning. The second time through the order, Pineda began making more use of his slider (consistently clocked in the mid 80's), which cuts violently into the hands of left handed hitters, and his changeup (also clocked in the mid 80's). Pineda didn't show any fatigue as he continued deep into the game, still hitting 97 mph in the 7th inning. The only blemish on the 22 year old's Safeco Field debut was a two run single (only one run was earned), that he gave up with one out in the 8th inning. Pineda left the game with 7 strikeouts, two walks, and one earned run, in like for his first Major League victory. Personally I was genuinely impressed by Pineda's performance. He showed veteran chops and his powerful build lends me to believe he is slightly less susceptible of suffering a significant injury. However, he does not throw a curveball or a similar off speed pitch, which could be a cause for concern once opposing hitters get accustomed to his delivery and can sit on a fastball. That being said, I do like his chances of making an impact for the Mariners this season and eventually developing into a household name and a notable player for Seattle in the future.

Michael Pineda video from 04/12/11 win over Blue Jays

Jays LHP Ricky Romero

Ricky Romero pitched well but he was not nearly as electrifying as Pineda. He pitched 8 innings and struck out 8 but he was not particularly sharp against a weak Mariners lineup. Wednesday's series finale was a day game and will be documented tomorrow.