Hot Stove Roundup
-The Dodgers have talked about Jamey Carroll, says Buster Olney. The Dodgers are interested in Luis Castillo and Javier Vazquez, according to former Reds and Nationals GM Jim Bowden, but MLB.com’s Mark Bowman later said that the Dodgers and Braves were not talking about Vazquez. Bowman said that the Brewers or Angels could have some interest and that the Yankees no longer have interest in a deal for Derek Lowe.
-The Mets, Red Sox, Mariners and Brewers have interest in John Lackey. (Newsday, Boston Herald, MLB.com) Milwaukee today declined the 2010 $6.5 million option on Braden Looper, and talked with Detroit about a trade for Edwin Jackson, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Olney said that Lackey turned down $72 million earlier this year so it would take more than that to get him. Pedro Feliciano, Jeff Francoeur, John Maine, Andy Green, Angel Pagan, Tim Redding, Jeremy Reed and Corey Sullivan will be eligible for arbitration if the Mets tender them contracts, says Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. Omar Minaya said Francouer will be back next year and that he will watch Carlos Delgado play winter ball next month.
-Despite trade rumors, Dan Uggla’s agent told Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown that he wants to stay at 2B. Atlanta was discussing trading for him and putting him in left field.
-The Twins are interested in lefty Jarrod Washburn, says the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and wouldn’t mind bringing back Joe Crede.
-Jim Thome would probably need to sign with an AL team this offseason, and would love to come back to the White Sox, according to the Chicago Tribune.
-The Indians could bring Omar Vizquel back, says Anthony Casstrovince.
-Ben Sheets’ agent told ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick that he will be healthy and ready for Spring Training.
-Colorado will decline the $5 million option on Rafael Betancourt, but hopes to resign him for two years, says the Denver Post. Philadelphia has interest in Ryan Spilborghs, and the Rockies may keep Matt Murton instead of him.
NBA Week In Preview
TNT’s Dynamite Performers- Thursday night in Miami, Dwayne Wade’s 35 points was not enough as LeBron James of the 23 to 6 Cavaliers had 34 points and seven assists and Mo Williams had 25 in Cleveland’s 111-104 win over the Heat for their third straight win. It was the Lakers who cooled off Phoenix for their sixth straight win, 121-102. Kobe Bryant had 29 points and Andrew Bynum returned with 26 and 15 for Los Angeles. The five Suns starters combined for 46 points in 116 minutes.
Robert Frost Report
Fire- LA Lakers, Portland, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indiana, Sacramento, LeBron’s future jersey sales.
Ice- New Jersey, Minnesota, Memphis, Washington, New York, Charlotte, Golden State chemistry.
SprungOnSports’ Friday Top 10
1) Boston Celtics 8-1 (1)- They allow 84.6 points per game and Rajon Rondo averages three steals a game. That’s what I call good defense.
2) Los Angeles Lakers 7-1 (3)- Andrew Bynum’s return is a significant boost for the defending champs.
3) Phoenix Suns 8-2 (5)- Channing Frye, Lou Amundson and Jared Dudley are playing big complimentary roles.
4) Cleveland Cavaliers 6-3 (8)- Beating Miami was a big step in legitimizing a slow start.
5) Portland TrailBlazers 6-3 (N/R)- Four straight wins catapults this team, as does some consistent production from Greg Oden.
6) Atlanta Hawks 6-2 (9)- After a terrible loss to a bad Charlotte team, they rebounded by crushing Denver by 25 and now lead the Southeast.
7) Miami Heat 6-2 (6)- Beating the Nuggets helped, but losing to the Cavs at home did not. Mario Chalmers is coming into his own at the PG spot.
8) Denver Nuggets 6-3 (2)- Losing three of four damages Denver to the tune of 6-3 and a Friday date with the Lakers.
9) Dallas Mavericks 5-3 (10)- Beating Houston head to head gives Rick Carlisle’s team first place in the Southwest with their defense allowing only 95 a game.
10) Orlando Magic 6-3 (4)- Losing to Cleveland can be excused, but a 28 point loss at Oklahoma City cannot. Orlando is now in third place in the Southeast.
Removed From Rankings- Chicago 4-4 (7)
Week In Preview
Friday- The two hottest teams in the east collide at 8 eastern as part of an ESPN doubleheader as Atlanta visits Boston, followed by a western conference finals rematch as the Lakers play the Nuggets. Portland is at New Orleans in the Hornets’ first game after GM Jeff Bower fired Byron Scott and replaced him with himself. Sacramento has won three straight as they host Houston.
Saturday- Gerald Wallace and the 3-5 Bobcats are home in the evening’s feature game against Portland at 7 eastern on NBATV. Indiana has won three straight as they host Boston, underachievers match up as Detroit is at Washington, Utah is at Cleveland, Philly at Chicago and Oklahoma City at slow starting San Antonio.
Sunday- The NBATV feature game has the Clippers travelling east to play Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City at 7 eastern. Dallas will be at Detroit, Toronto is at Phoenix and the Lakers host the Rockets in Trevor Ariza’s return to LA.
Monday- Brandon Jennings and the surprising Bucks host Dallas at 8 eastern on NBATV on a night that also has Portland and Atlanta.
Tuesday- OKC at Miami, Phoenix at Houston, Toronto-Denver and Pistons-Lakers are just some of the matchups on Tuesday.
Wednesday- Cleveland and Washington starts an ESPN doubleheader at 7 eastern followed by the Spurs and Mavericks. Heat-Hawks, Thunder-Magic and Pistons-Blazers are the other good games.
Thursday- Steve Nash and Chris Paul face off at 8 eastern as part of a TNT doubleheader that has the Bulls at the Lakers for the second game. San Antonio and Utah is the only other game.
NFL Week 10 Picks by David Naxon
Buffalo Bills (3-5) at Tennessee Titans (2-6)
With T.O. out of the lineup in this match up, maybe Trent Edwards will play more relaxed and not feel obligated to pass Owens the ball. This week the Titans are hyping up the possibility of them knocking off 10 strait wins despite starting the season 0-6. It’s a fun little thought that will probably give them a few wins that they probably wouldn’t get otherwise, and one of those wins will come against the Bills. Chris Johnson has been unstoppable, and ever since Vince Young took over at QB this looks like a brand new team.
Tennessee 27, Buffalo 23
New Orleans Saints (8-0) at St. Louis Rams (1-7)
This is not even a game worth spending much time on. These two teams are complete opposites and the Saints would probably have a harder time playing the University of Florida or Texas, rather than the Rams. Despite the Rams dreadful start to a season, Steven Jackson will keep them close in some games.
New Orleans 41, St. Louis 16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) at Miami Dolphins (3-5)
Both teams are out of the playoff race, so it could go either way. The Dolphins are clearly the better team, despite that fact that Tampa beat the Packers last week. Look for rookie QB Josh Freeman to have a rookie type game and the Phins running all over the Bucs.
Miami 20, Tampa Bay 9
Detroit Lions (1-7) at Minnesota Vikings (7-1)
This one’s another easy pick. One great team vs. one awful team, look for this one to get out of hand and see Farve sitting on the sidelines in the 4th quarter. This game will be close in the first half as the Vikings fix a few hiccups from their bye week, but Peterson and Harvin will be the big difference in this one.
Minnesota 31, Detroit 6
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) at New York Jets (4-4)
The Jets really needed the bye week last week. They regrouped and need this win of their playoff hopes will be just about gone. The key to the game is stopping the electric Jones-Drew, and if the Jets can do that, they should come away with a win.
New York 13, Jacksonville 9
Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
The Steelers have been red hot, winning their last 5 games and just about everyone thinks the Bengals have no chance in this one. I beg to differ. The Bengals D has been huge all year, and Carson Palmer is looking great. I like the Bengals to come into Heinz Field and make a huge statement to the entire NFL that the Bengals are for real.
Cincinnati 23, Pittsburgh 19
Denver Broncos (6-2) at Washington Redskins (2-6)
The Broncos D looks to be way too much for the Redskins to handle, especially because Clinton Portis will not be playing. The Broncos will take out their frustration against an innocent ‘Skins team, and look for Knowshon Moreno to have his break out game in this one.
Denver 24, Washington 0
Atlanta Falcons (5-3) at Carolina Panthers (3-5)
This looks like the biggest trap game of the week. These division rivals are more even than people think. Atlanta lost their last 2 competitive game to the Cowboys and Saints and if they don’t regroup fast, they will fade away just like the Bears and Packers have already done. Look for DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to combine for over 200 yards rushing in a big upset at home.
Carolina 34, Atlanta 27
Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) at Oakland Raiders (2-6)
Jamarcus Russell is awful, and most likely the worst starting QB in the NFL. The Chiefs released Larry Johnson this week, and the offence will benefit from that. Johnson brought negative energy to that locker room and without him, Matt Cassel and Dwane Bowe can work their magic by pulling out their second win of the season.
Kansas City 26, Oakland 16
Dallas Cowboys (6-2) at Green Bay Packers (4-4)
This is a must-win game for the Packers, and if they lose this game, they can go join the Bears on the losers bench. Would you care to guess which NFL QB has been sacked the most this year? Nope, wrong, its Aaron Rogers. He has been sacked 37 times, which is 10 more than the next QB. This stat alarms me especially when the Packers have DaMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff coming to town. The Cowboys have been rolling, and they will continue to roll.
Dallas 34, Green Bay 21
Seattle Seahawks (3-5) at Arizona Cardinals (5-3)
Which Arizona team will we see this weekend, the team that turn the ball over 6 times, or the team that destroys their helpless opponent? Well with the SHEhawks coming to town, the Cardinals should be soaring high. Look for Fitzgerald to have a big day, and Warner throws 4 TD’s.
Arizona 31, Seattle 13
Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) at San Diego Chargers (5-3)
Both teams had big games last week, but only one of them had the late game heroics to pull away. The Chargers got to ride high this week after the big win, but when DeSean Jackson and company come to town, look for a different outcome. I see the Eagles having several big plays, and when they have big plays, they score in bunches. The Eagles are more talented and have a chip on their shoulder after the loss to Dallas, and I look for them to bounce back this week.
Philadelphia 38, San Diego 27
New England Patriots (6-2) at Indianapolis Colts (8-0)
Indy has been playing so so the past two weeks, and with seemingly their entire defense injured for this one, the Patriots and Randy Moss should have their way. I see this one being a classic shootout where neither team can stop the other, and who gets the ball last wins the game. Unfortunately, the undefeated Colts will fall to the Patriots in another instant classic between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
New England 38, Indianapolis 37
Baltimore Ravens (4-4) at Cleveland Browns (1-7)
What a joke of a Monday night game. The Ravens had their eyes set on a super bowl this year but they have dropped 4 out of their last 5 and its time for them to pick things back up against the horrendous Browns. The Browns announced that Brady Quinn will start this week, but he has not looked good at all this year and the Ravens should feast on his carcass.
Baltimore 20, Cleveland 3
MLB Hot Stove Talk
11:45am Eastern
-Just like the Mets and Mariners are interested in John Lackey, you can count the Red Sox in as well, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
10:50am Eastern
-The Dodgers are interested in Luis Castillo and Javier Vazquez, according to former Reds and Nationals GM Jim Bowden.
-The Mets are talking to John Lackey, says David Lennon of Newsday. His colleague Ken Davidoff says the Angels have talked about a Curtis Granderson trade.
-The Indians could bring Omar Vizquel back, says Anthony Castrovince.
9:20am Eastern
-The Twins are interested in lefty Jarrod Washburn, says the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and wouldn’t mind bringing back Joe Crede.
-Jim Thome would probably need to sign with an AL team this offseason, and would love to come back to the White Sox, according to the Chicago Tribune.
-Milwaukee has until Saturday to decide on Braden Looper’s $6.5 million option for next season or buy him out for one million.
-An excellent look at the Yankees farm system from AOL Fanhouse writer (and SprungOnSports Twitter follower) Frankie Piliere.
-Did John Wetteland try and kill himself? Yahoo! Sports and Joel Sherman have articles on the subject.
-Pedro Feliciano, Jeff Francoeur, John Maine, Andy Green, Angel Pagan, Tim Redding, Jeremy Reed and Corey Sullivan will be eligible for arbitration if the Mets tender them contracts, says Bart Hubbuch.
-Rays Index has an article about Johnny Damon and other Tampa Bay links and how the Yankees may only want Damon for one year so they can sign Carl Crawford after the 2010 season.
