Archives for March 2021

Spring Training: Red Sox Snap Two-Game Skid with Win Over Pirates

March 28, 2021 by Terry Lyons

BRADENTON – The Boston Red Sox snapped a two-game skid with a 7-4 win at Pittsburgh, to continue their trend to not lose more than two consecutive games at any point this spring. Boston went 3-5 in their first eight Grapefruit League games but have since gone 11-5-1.

Since March 10, Boston’s 11 wins rank second in MLB behind only the Oakland A’s (12-4-1). The only teams with more than 14 wins this spring are Toronto(15) and Oakland (15).

Sox 1B Bobby Dalbec leads the majors in runs scored (15) and RBI (16) and is tied for the lead with seven HRs (also Joc Pederson). Dalbec ranks No. 2 in SLG (.822) and No. 3 in OPS (1.214). He also leads the Red Sox in Batting Average (.311) while Kiké Hernández ranks eighth in the majors in OBP (.442) and has recorded more walks (9) than strikeouts (8).

Utility man Michael Chavis ranks in a tie for third in the majors with six HRs (tied with Corey Seager and Josh Bell).

Chavis’ 36 total bases rank 5th in MLB spring training.

Celtics Rally for Win at OKC

March 28, 2021 by Terry Lyons

OKLAHOMA CITY – Jayson Tatum scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half and the Boston Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-94. Celtics All-Star swingman Jaylen Brown added 25 points to help the Celtics close out a four-game trip and even their season record. Boston had lost five of six before winning at Milwaukee on Friday and at Oklahoma City on Saturday.

OKC’s Moses Brown scored a career-high 21 points and tied a Thunder record with 23 rebounds. The team announced before the game that veteran center Al Horford will be inactive the rest of the season while the team’s young players develop. Brown moved into the starting lineup and set a franchise record for rebounds in a half with 19 before the break.

Theo Maledon chipped-in with 22 points for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder led 80-76 heading into the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown kept the Celtics in it with 13 points in the third.

Bruins Hand Sabres 17th Straight Loss

March 28, 2021 by Terry Lyons

BOSTON – Back on February 23, 2021, the weather bureau issued warnings for the Northern Plains, there was a report on the decline on exports and soybean futures rose on news of the virus woes in Brazil. That Tuesday evening, the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Devils, 4-1, in New Jersey. It was their last win.

The Buffalo Sabres lost their 17th consecutive game Saturday, twice blowing a single goal lead before Boston’s Craig Smith scored with 3:50 left to snap a third-period tie and give the Bruins a 3-2 victory. The fact that the Sabres have not won since Feb. 23, ties the 18th longest losing streak in NHL history. It was just the fifth time during that span that the Sabres have managed to lose by only one goal.

The Sabres have been without former Boston U star Jack Eichel since early March and had been forced to use a fourth-string goalie, Dustin Tokarski before Linus Ullmark returned tonight. Kyle Okposo had missed three games with an injury.

The Bruins play New Jersey today at TD Garden.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook

March 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

While We’re Young (Ideas) of March 28

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The price tags of each NBA expansion franchise over the last 40-plus years are etched in the mind of this NBA-lifer gone fishing’ in New England back in 2008. Yes, this column construction worker began as an intern at the NBA league office in 1980 and a lot was going on. Namely:

It was the same year Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird began their (paid) NBA internships as league rookies.
It was the same year the NBA adopted the “gimmicky” Three-Point Field Goal made popular in the ABA.
It was the same season the New Orleans Jazz became the Utah Jazz.
It was the same year that Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers and The Fabulous Forum from Jack Kent Cooke.
It was the same year that the late, great Darryl Dawkins broke two glass backboards.
It was the same year David Stern was promoted to Executive Veep – Business and Legal Affairs, under Commissioner Lawrence F. “Larry” O’Brien.
And, it was the same year the NBA laid the foundation for the Dallas Mavericks to become the NBA’s 23rd franchise, beginning the following season – 1980-81.

The purchase price for the Mavericks was a cool $12 million.

When it came time to expand again, in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons, the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic gained entrance to the NBA at the cost of $32.5 million.

The Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies bought in as expansion teams in 1995-96 at the cost of a then-whopping $125 million.

The Charlotte Bobcats joined the NBA party for a cool $400 million in 2009-10.

It seemed ridiculous until the Los Angeles Clippers were sold by disgraced team owner Donald Sterling to an anxious to join the club Steve Ballmer for $2 billion in the summer of 2014. That franchise purchase (not via expansion) changed everything across every professional sports franchise.

Nowadays for the NBA, Commissioner Adam Silver is floating a $2.5 billionexpansion fee as a starting point for discussion. Undoubtedly, someone will pay it, most likely to replace the Seattle SuperSonics in the Emerald City.

Now! Sit down for this!

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Our good friends at Sportico issued franchise valuations for the Major League Baseball this week. Read it and weep if your family name isn’t Steinbrenner, Angelos or Illitch.

Here’s the Top 10:

1 New York Yankees – $6.75 billion

2 Boston Red Sox – $4.80 billion

3 Los Angeles Dodgers – $4.62 billion

4 Chicago Cubs – $4.14 billion

5 San Francisco Giants – $3.49 billion

6 New York Mets – $2.48 billion

7 Los Angeles Angels – $2.46 billion

8 Atlanta Braves – $2.38 billion

9 St. Louis Cardinals – $2.36 billion

10 Philadelphia Phillies – $2.28 billion

(Note: The New York Mets were just purchased by Steve Cohen for a record $2.475 billion.)

Sportico last did the NFL franchise valuations for the 2020 season.

Here was the Top 10 of American Footy:

1. Dallas Cowboys – $6.43 billion

2. New England Patriots – $4.97 billion

3. Los Angeles Rams – $4.10 billion

4. New York Giants – $4.00 billion

5. New York Jets – $3.70 billion

6. San Francisco 49ers – $3.63 billion

7. Washington Football Team – $3.58 billion

8. Chicago Bears – $3.41 billion

9. Philadelphia Eagles – $3.35 billion

10. Houston Texans – $3.34 billion

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World Golf Championship Reaches Final Four(somes)

March 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

AUSTIN – Today is the Final Four of the World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play tournament. The Semifinals to be played this morning, followed by the Championship Match and Consolation Match (third place) this afternoon.

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WGC “Final Four(some)” Notes:

The Final Four(somes) Match Play begins with Tee Times at 10:05am EDT/9:05am (local) with Victor Perez facing Billy Horschel and continue at 10:20am EDT/9:20am (local) with Matt Kuchar and Scottie Scheffler – (link)

Semifinals Matches

9:05 a.m. – Victor Perez (31) vs. Billy Horschel (32)

9:20 a.m. – Scottie Scheffler (30) vs. Matt Kuchar (52)

Single-Elimination Format

Sunday morning: Semifinals; Sunday afternoon: Championship Match and Consolation Match

Weather: Warm and humid with a high of 85. Wind S 8-16 mph.

Notebook:

With a 4-and-3 victory over Sergio Garcia, Victor Perez is trying to become the first player since Geoff Ogilvy (2006) to win the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in his tournament debut.

With wins by Scottie Scheffler and Perez, the total jumps to five players who’ve advanced to the Semifinals in their tournament debut since Austin Country Club began hosting the event in 2016: (Lucas Bjerregaard/2019/4th, Jon Rahm/2017/2nd Hideto Tanihara/2017/4th).

With Jon Rahm’s loss, the Semifinals will not include one of the top-16 seeds for the first time since the event introduced the group play format in 2015.

Billy Horschel outlasted Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff, with Horschel making a par-5 on the 12th hole to advance after an errant Fleetwood tee shot cost him a stroke penalty.

Of the 17 countries represented in the field, only two remain:

o United States – Billy Horschel, Scottie Scheffler, Matt Kuchar

o France – Victor Perez

Match Play Recaps:

Round of 16 Matches

Tommy Fleetwood (21) def. Dylan Frittelli (64), 4 and 3

Billy Horschel (32) def. Kevin Streelman (53), 3 and 1

Sergio Garcia (39) def. Mackenzie Hughes (48), 2 and 1

Victor Perez (31) def. Robert MacIntyre (41), 5 and 4

Scottie Scheffler (30) def. Ian Poulter (60), 5 and 4

Jon Rahm (3) def. Erik van Rooyen (62), 3 and 2

Brian Harman (54) def. Bubba Watson (55), 2 and 1

Matt Kuchar (52) def. Jordan Spieth (49)

Quarterfinal Matches

Billy Horschel (32) def. Tommy Fleetwood (21), playoff

Victor Perez (31) def. Sergio Garcia (39), 4 and 3

Scottie Scheffler (30) def. Jon Rahm (3), 3 and 1

Matt Kuchar (52) def. Brian Harman (54), 2 and 1

PGA Tour: Corales Championship Round-Up

March 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Tournament co-leader Joel Dahmen has played the back nine in 9-under this week in search of first Tour title in his 111th start.

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The 2016 Masters Tournament champion, Danny Willett, shot a (67) and seeks his second Tour title to join his triumph at Augusta National.

After shooting an opening round (73), Michael Gligic carded his second consecutive bogey-free round while seeking first Tour title in his 36th start. He and Willett are only one stroke back.

Puntacana Resort ambassador Emiliano Grillo (T-5) at (-8) carded nine birdies in first 15 holes, tying his career-most in a round, before closing bogey-par-bogey en route to 7-under (65). The round marked his sixth outing of 65 or better this season.

Leaderboard at Corales Championship

Joel Dahmen 67-71-68—206 (-10)

Rafael Campos 68-69-69—206 (-10)

Danny Willett 70-70-67—207 (-9)

Michael Gligic 73-66-68—207 (-9)

NBA: Celtics Strike Buck

March 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

MILWAUKEE – Boston struck Buck, errr … back.

A night after the Boston Celtics lost to the Milwaukee Bucks at the TD Garden in New England, Jayson Tatum scored 34 points and added six rebounds, Marcus Smart had 23 and the Boston Celtics beat Milwaukee 122-114 on Friday night and snapped a Bucks’ eight-game winning streak and spilt the two-game home and home mini-series.

The Celtics, who led 60-55 at the half, hit nine of 14 three-pointers in the third quarter to build the lead to 103-89 entering the final period.

Newly acquired Celtics bigman Moe Wagner and veteran Celtics guard Smart extended Boston’s lead to 118-97 with three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Boston’s All-Star guard Kemba Walker added 21 points, and All-Star swingman Jaylen Brown had 18 for the Celtics.

Boston finished 22 of 47 from beyond the arc. Smart was 7 for 10, and Brown and Tatum added four apiece.

PGA Tour: World Golf Championship

March 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

World Golf Championship Dell Tech Match Play

Today is the Round of 16 of the World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play tournament along with the Quarterfinals to be played this afternoon. The Semifinals will be Sunday morning, followed by the Championship Match and Consolation Match (third place) on Sunday afternoon.

WGC “Sweet 16” Notes:

The Round of 16 Matches with Tee Times begin at 8:35am EDT/7:35am (local) with Tommy Fleetwood taking on Dylan Frittelli and continue until Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth tee-it-up at 9:52am EDT/8:52am local – (link)

A tournament-record eight playoffs were needed to decide group winners (previous record: 5, 2017).

In dramatic fashion, Sergio Garcia aced one from 161 yards on the fourth playoff hole (No. 4) to defeat Lee Westwood and earn his third consecutive trip to the Round of 16.

Jon Rahm (3) is the only top seed from the 16 groups to advance to the Round of 16.

Eight of the 16 groups were won by the lowest-seeded player.

Five of the 22 players making their first appearance at the event won their group: Scottie Scheffler (30), Victor Perez (31), Robert MacIntyre (41), Mackenzie Hughes (48) and Erik van Rooyen (62).

PGA Tour: Moving Day in the D.R.

March 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

Rafael Campos (-7) posted a bogey-free 3-under (69) to hold second 36-hole lead/co-lead of his career (2016 Puerto Rico Open T-8). Campos is seeking his first Tour win in just his 37th start as he’s among a three-way tie for lead after two rounds.

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Paraguay native Fabrizio Zanotti and sponsor exemption Justin Suh hold 36-hole lead/co-lead for first time in their careers while Andrew Yun is attempting to become third Monday qualifier to win on Tour in last 35 years. Yan is T-6 (-5), only two strokes back.

Following a 6-under (66) in round one that included a hole-in-one at No. 2, Stephan Jaeger sits T-6 at 5-under along with Yun.

Tyler Duncan (T-4) at (-6) shot back-to-back rounds of (69), marking his best start at the event (MC/2018, T-59/2019).

Leaderboard at Corales Championship

Rafael Campos 68-69—137 (-7)

Fabrizio Zanotti 69-68—137 (-7)

Justin Suh 68-69—138 (-7)

Tyler Duncan 69-69—138 (-6)

Joel Dahmen 67-71—138 (-6)

As Spring Training Winds Down, Boston Red Sox Lose to Minnesota Twins

March 26, 2021 by Terry Lyons

FORT MYERS – Minnesota Twins SP Randy Dobnak gave up one hit in five innings, a solo homer by Boston’s Bobby Dalbec, as Minnesota prevailed as spring training winds down. The Twins’ Josh Donaldson and the Red Sox’s Jonathan Arauz and Cesar Puello also homered as the Twins snapped a three-game Boston win streak with last night’s 7-4 decision. Boston is (6-3) in their last 9 games and 10-4-1 in their last 15.

Boston remains one of six teams with 13 wins (or more). The only teams with more wins are the Royals (14-7- 3) and Blue Jays (14-8-2). Boston has five games remaining in spring training before opening the regular season at home on Thursday, April 1, against the Orioles.