Friday Baseball

A great weekend of baseball ahead.  Went to the Dodgers game last night and for the life of me I can't figure out why a lineup that has A-Gone, Hanley, Ethier can't generate offense.
Here is a look at some of tonight's games.

All times are pacific

11:20
Giants at Cubs
Looks like a game where the Giants should be able to pick up an easy win with Madison Bumgarner (14-8) going up against Chris Volstad (1-9) who put to bed a 24 game winless streak in his last start vs the Rockies

Chisox at Tigers
A huge series in the AL Central kicks off tonight has Jake Peavy (9-9) taking on Doug Fister (7-8).  Peavy has struggled against the Tigers this year going 1-3, giving up 15 ER in 26 2/3IP while Fister has lost all 4 decisions against the Chisox

Rangers at Indians
Two pitchers going in opposite directions as Ryan Dempster comes into the game with a 1.93 ERA in his last two starts and a 2-0 record while Ubaldo Jimenez is 1-6 in his last 9 starts with a hefty 7.96 ERA

Rays at Jays
Jays starter, Brandon Morrow has been knocked around by the Rays this year, 12ER in 11IP

Mets at Marlins
R.A. Dickey (16-4) is the Mets first 16 game winner since Johan Santana in 2008 and will look to become the first 17 game winner since Al Leiter in 1998

Phils at Braves
Roy Halladay has looked better in recent starts.  Tonight he goes up against a Braves lineup that has knocked him around this year...11ER in 11 2/3IP

Angels at Mariners
The Angels send Dan Haren (8-10) to the mound tonight against Kevin Millwood (4-11).  Millwood is 1-7 in his last 16 starts while Haren is 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA vs the M's

D'Backs at Dodgers
Zona is 3-1 vs the Dodgers with tonight's starter, Trevor Cahill.  Cahill's last win ironically came against the Dodgers and tonight's starter, Aaron Harang.  Cahill has given up just 5 ER in 19IP vs LA

NHLers at Toyota Center

It was another intense day of practice for an impressive group of NHLers, led by Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby.  Despite the lockout looming just weeks away, Crosby and company continue to put themselves through an intense 75 minute skate that features skating, puckhandling and shooting drills and is always capped off by a 3 on 3 game.

 Matt Greene - LA Kings

 Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins

 Ryan Miller - Buffalo Sabres

 Sam Gagner - Edmonton Oilers

Matt Duchesne - Colorado Avalanche

Wednesday, August 29 Baseball Notes

Dodgers at Rockies

Joe Blanton has been abysmal as a Dodger going 0-3 with an ERA of over 7.  For whatever reason the Dodgers can't seem to exercise the Rockies demons having lost 5 straight and they may have to do it this afternoon without Matt Kemp who had to leave yesterday's game.

Braves at Padres
Good pitching match up as Tommy Hanson (12-6) faces Eric Stults.  Stults, the former Dodger is on a roll going 3-0 in his last 8 starts with an ERA just above 2.

Mets at Phils

Cole Hamels is scratched tonight with food poisoning.
The Mets counter with Matt Harvey, who in his last 13 2/3IP has given up just 2 runs and whiffed 17

A's at Tribe
Oakland should try to put this game away in the 1st inning.  Tribe starter, Corey Kluber has an ERA of 19.80 in the 1st inning and a 1.45 ERA after that.

Tigers at KC
The Royals knocked around Justin Verlander last night. No reason those bats can't do the same against Anibal Sanchez who has given up 5ER's or more in 3 of his 5 AL starts.

Tuesday Baseball Preview

With baseball season heading into the stretch drive, Westcoasthky will provide it's readers with a daily look of select games.  Enjoy!


CHISOX AT ORIOLES
Sale (15-4) is coming off a 13 strikeout performance against the Yanks en route to win number 15.  The Chisox will look to get back on the winning track after blowing a 3-2 lead in the 8th last night to the Orioles

METS AT PHILS
Two pitchers with losing records face off tonight in Philly when Chris Young (3-7) goes up against Vance Worley (6-9).  The Phils are 0-2 vs the Mets this year with Worley on the mound as he has been pounded for 10 earned runs in his 10 innings pitched.

CARDS AT PIRATES
The Cards are 2-6 with Westbrook vs the Pirates and 1-3 this year.

NATS AT MARLINS
The Marlins go up against Stephen Strasburg  tonight who has yet to surrender a run in 18 innings against to the "Fish".

BREWERS AT CUBS
Milwaukee sends Yovanni Gallardo to the mound against the Cubs tonight.  Gallardo has been on a role since the Brewers shipped Zack Greinke off to the Cubs going 5-0 with an ERA at 2.02.
The Brewers are 9-4 vs the Cubs when Gallardo starts.

GIANTS AT ASTROS
Nothing better than putting a halt to a losing streak (2 games) than a game against the pathetic Astros.  Houston's 40-88 record is worst in the majors and there is no reason to believe they should improve on that tonight when they face Matt Cain and the Giants.  Cain is 2-0 with a 0.58 ERA vs the Astros this season.  Oh ya, that also includes a perfect game that he tossed against them earlier this season in San Fran.

TIGERS AT KC
Justin Verlander takes the hill against the Royals tonight.  He is 14-2 lifetime with a 2.36 ERA

REDS AT ZONA
CY Young candidate, Johnny Cueto (16-6) locks up against Rookie of the Year candidate, Wade Miley (14-8)

BRAVES AT PADS
The Braves will look to even the series up against San Diego tonight when Kris Medlen (5-1, 1.86 ERA) takes on Pads rookie Andrew Werner.  The Braves have won an incredible 16 straight games that Medlen has started.  He is also on a 21 IP scoreless innings streak.

Emerson Etem Interview

I had a chance to recently sit down with Anaheim Ducks draft pick and Long Beach native Emerson Etem following an off-season workout with some of the NHL's best.

For you, still looking to crack the Anaheim ducks roster.  What’s it like skating with likes of Crosby, Matt Duchesne, Dan Cleary and other NHL stars?

It’s great for Southern California hockey.  It is great for youth hockey.  Back when I was growing up you would never see anything like this a local rink (in Socal) and it’s really special to be doing it a rink where I grew up playing.  I’m really happy to be a part of it.

Do you ever catch yourself saying, holy crap, I’m on the ice with Sidney Crosby?

You got to respect him as a person, as a player, especially with what he has accomplished at such a young age.  The biggest thing is you just make sure you are keeping up with them. If you find yourself in awe of these guys you’ll be trailing the play and that’s not a good thing.  I’m just going out and having a fun time.

Conditioning, dieting,  both are so important.  But there has to be times when you say that diet has to take a rest.  What is that forbidden food you’re going to?

I’m going to that quick snack of gummy worms.  That is my food weakness.  TR would kill me if he found out.

I’ve heard that there is nothing worse than getting a call from TR Goodman (your trainer) if he feels you’re not working out hard enough or eating right.  Have you ever had that call?

I’ve heard about the calls but I haven’t had the “pleasure”.  If TR is going to be there to train me then I’m going to be there to do the training.

It’s game night and you are getting ready to play.  What’s your song to get you pumped up?

I put on a little Pandora to get the blood flowing.

Looks like the days of you rollerblading, taking trains and buses as your way of transportation are a thing of the past.

The days of “two” workouts each day are gone.  Got myself a BMW 5 series.  Kept it simple.  Didn’t trick it out.  Just kept it classy.

Last time you were on the wrong end of a bodycheck?

It was probably in Prince Albert.  Can’t remember who rung my bell.  I was kind of dizzy. I do a pretty good job of not putting myself in a vulnerable position and take advantage of my big body frame.

Favorite city?

Los Angeles is my favorite city. Something is always going down.  It is always sunny.  Just don’t think there is another place like LA.

What do you remember most about your first game in Anaheim?

Just tried not to make a mistake.  It was a great experience.  It was nerve racking.  The wild thing was that I had never been to a Ducks game prior to that night.

Stranded on a desert island.  Who you hoping shows up?

Hopefully someone with an In and Out Burger

Favorite movie?

American History X

Favorite band?

Sublime.  From my hometown of Long Beach. 

NHL STARS SKATING IN LA

If you're dying for hockey than just some of the best NHLers, Los Angeles is the place to be.  This afternoon at Toyota Sports Center (practice facility of the LA Kings) the ice was flooded with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchesne, Stanley Cup Champions, Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene, Dan Cleary of the Red Wings, Ryan Whitney and Shawn Horcoff from the Oilers and future Anaheim Duck, Emerson Etem just to name a few.

The group of 20 players skated for an hour going through various drills.  While the threat of a lockout looms these guys want to be ready if and when the season starts.

NHL.... Who am I

In today's edition, I will give you some clues to an NHL player and on Wednesday I will give you the answers.  Test your knowledge.

Who am I?????.....

  a two time Hart Memorial Trophy winner (2008, 2009 MVP)

  Prior to the 2010-11 season (32 goals) he had never scored  less than 46 goals and four times had surpassed the 50 goal mark.

In 1998-99 I became the first player to win the Hart, Art Ross, Maurice Richard and Lester B Pearson trophies in the same season

My 106 points in 2005-06 is the most ever by a Russian born rookie

I am  the only player to be named to the NHL First All Star Team in his first 5 seasons

Answer:??????????

---------------

Who am I???

 I was selected 13^th overall in the 1997 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks

 In my 5 seasons playing for Edmonton,  I scored a total of 31 goals

 I scored 53 goals and 115 points in his sophomore season with the Belleville Bulls (OHL)

 In the 2006-07 playoffs I became the first Red Wings player to record a penalty shot goal while the team was shorthanded.

Answer:  ?????????????

-----------------------------

Who am I ???

I scored my first NHL goal in his first game and on my first shot

I have a lake and a hockey arena named after him in my home province of Manitoba.

I am fluent in both English and French

In addition to my Stanley Cup ring, I have has 5 gold medals 

Answer:??????

---------------------------

Who am I???

 In 2007, I scored the first ever regular season goal in Europe

I scored the 20,000^th goal in Montreal Canadiens history.

I was the last player to lead the Calgary Flames in goal scoring in a season other than Jarome Inginla

I scored 7 goals in 7 games for Canada at the 2001-02 World Jr. Championships

Answer: ??????

----------------------------------

Who am I????

My dad was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1984 but never played in the NHL

My team leading 66 points in 41 games is the fewest games played by a team’s leading scorer

I am the first rookie to earn 100 Penalty Minutes and 100 Points in the same season.

I am the youngest captain in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup

MARK CUBAN INTERVIEW

What was the best pick up line a woman ever used on you?
"Wanna Fuck?"

Two numbers on your speed dial that would interest our readers?
Michael Jordan and Courtney Love.  She has a kick ass attitude that I love.

I hear you were a frequent diner at 7 Eleven?
When I'm hungry, rather than going to a restaurant, I am happier doing what I have always done:  I go to 7-Eleven and order a Diet Coke and tuna fish sandwiches.  Lately, I've expanded to the burritos because they are only 280 calories.

Do you cry at movies?
Sure....I cried in Something About Mary when Ben Stiller got his nuts caught in the zipper.

What is the Worst thing a girl has done to you?
Before getting married this girl told me she didn't like the way I went down on her.  But the learning how was good.

Think back.  What was the strangest thing a girl has asked you to do during sex?
This one girl wanted me to let her bite me while she was giving me head.  I yanked her off so hard, I thought I would get sued for causing whiplash.

What was your worst date experience?
It was a blind date set up by a rugby buddy.  She was a model/actress who spent an hour telling me about her astrological sign and how her moons were the reason she didn't make it in Hollywood.  Five drinks later, I was in a cab, preferring to go home and get sick.

What was one of the best pieces of advice you have ever received?
It came from the legendary coach, Bobby Knight.  Everyone has the will to win.  On those with the will to prepare will win.

Biggest pet peeve?
People who eat with their mouths open.

Bobby Ryan

For the life of me I just don't understand why the Anaheim Ducks just don't come out and say, "We are not trading Bobby Ryan!!" How do you trade a guy that has scored no fewer than 31 goals in each of the past 4 seasons.  He has scored 131 goals in his four full seasons with the Ducks.  The past two seasons Ryan has lit the lamp 65 times and only 8 of those goals came with the man advantage.  So 57 even strength goals.  Not to shabby.
I get the fact that the Ducks are weak down the middle.  Not much depth after Ryan Getzlaf so Ryan is the one guy the team can move who has value (other than Corey Perry).  In a 3-2 league (according to Kings coach Darryl Sutter), how can you move one of the few guys you can count on for offense.  I know it is important to be strong down the middle as the LA Kings showed in their march to their first Stanley Cup but unless Ryan Getzlaf makes the necessary improvements to become better on winning face off along with putting to rest last years totals of 11 goals and 46 assists and showing why he was selected to play for Team Canada at the Vancouver Olympics he won't be enough to compensate for loss of Bobby Ryan.

Devils Sale

A source close to the negotiations have told Jonathan Davis of Westcoasthky that Canadian businessman, Bill Gallacher is close to a deal to purchase the New Jersey Devils from current owner, Jeff Vanderbeek.  Gallacher has strong ties to the hockey community and is the owner of the Portland Winterhawks.