Category: Uncategorized

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Daniel Norris is finding consistency and the Detroit Tigers are happy

Embed from Getty Images Oft injured Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris was always thought of as a pitch who could…if only. Daniel, has always been thought of as a middle of the rotation pitchers. Inconsistency and injuries have kept him from reaching his potential. Until this spring.

Daniel Norris fresh off of three scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox starters, has Daniel Norris and the Detroit Tigers satisfied with how far the pitcher has come.

Norris finally over three injury plagued seasons has made an adjustment to his overall pitching delivery. It has helped the pitchers velocity. A velocity that now sits 90-93 mph according to spring training radar guns.

Heading into spring training Norris was both a question mark and he was uncertain to make the final cut. Thanks in large part to promising young pitchers in the Detroit system. Daniel Norris would have to earn a spot.

Norris’s spring resurgence has put him in the conversation to break camp with the Tigers and not be assigned to Toledo. Once a starting pitcher. Detroit is looking to place the left hander in the bullpen.

In part this would help to keep the pitcher healthy. As he would only pitch a 1-3 innings. This way he can better serve the team.  Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire is going to let the pitching sort itself out.

Starter, relievers, closer. Gardenhire said all decisions will be made in the best interest of the team. Daniel Norris does not care when and where he pitches from. The fact that he has been rapidly improving is positive.

The fact that after a few rough spring outings, Norris is even in the Tigers pitching plans is remarkable. He seems to have a new found confidence with his consistent performances. Daniel Norris has worked hard to get full extension on his delivery.

Being a team player, Daniel said he talked with Gardenhire and Tigers pitching coaching Rick Anderson about his role. “I told them I just want to help the team.”

Finally healthy, finding consistency Daniel Norris is ready to help his team.

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Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Michigan’s John Beilein agree

Embed from Getty Images Not only are Michigan and Michigan State rivals, they are in-state rivals with rabid fan bases. Thanks to the expanded conference slate the two schools meet twice a year because it is a “protected rivalry game.” Now both Tom Izzo and John Beilein want to take it to the max.

“Like football season ends with Michigan and Ohio State, I want to see our season end with Michigan State every year.” Michigan Wolverines head coach John Beilein said. Spartans head coach Tom Izzo  is in full agreement.

Before this seasons bump to 18 games Michigan State and Michigan met just once during the regular season. For a rivalry that is the Big Ten’s version of North Carolina and Duke (who meet every season on the last regular season game) that is where the Spartans and Wolverines should go.

“The atmosphere that surrounds this game is electric,” Izzo said. “This should absolutely be the last game every season,” he continued.

Both Tom Izzo and John Beilein will plead their case to the head of the Big Ten basketball committee. God willing they will agree. The conferences two top basketball programs should be spotlighted.

There should be no issues with making this the season ender every season. Yet, it is difficult to know exactly what the powers that be will agree with, and what they will not agree with. Although this seems logical.

Michigan State and Michigan is golden for t.v. ratings , something that is important to the conferences. It is sure to be taken into consideration as the two coaches go before the committee. Also just how electric the crowds are will be looked at as well.

This should be a slam dunk. Pun intended.

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The imortance of Ish Smith to the Detroit Pistons

Embed from Getty Images Ish Smith missed games due to a groin injury. During that time he was a vocal leader on the Detroit Pistons bench. In fact he would cheer for 19 games due to the injury. Detroit went 5-14 with Smith out of the lineup. The Detroit Pistons are a better team with Ish Smith on the court.

26-14 that equates to a .650 winning percentage. That is the Detroit Pistons record when they have Ish Smith at their disposal. Now healthy, the Pistons are on a 12-4 run with Smith back.

He lacks size and is not a very imposing looking player. At 6 feet and barely 175 lbs, Ish Smith bounced around the league. Playing on 10 different teams in 9 seasons. His last contract was a three year deal with the Detroit Pistons.

It has been a God-send for both player and organization. Ish provides the Pistons with a energy off the bench. When he comes in the Pistons play more up-tempo. The team feeds off of Smith’s play.

Offense, defense, the Pistons can count on Smith for doing both well on game days. Head Pistons coach Dwane Casey said “He both sets the tone and changes the way we play when he’s out there.”

Averaging 8.7 points, 3.5 assists with 35% three point shooting are far from great numbers. Sometimes, as in the case with Ish Smith numbers deceive. You see, the energy and all-out style of play Smith brings that is what his teammates feed off of. That is his value to Detroit Pistons basketball.

The numbers do not lie. Since coming back after a prolonged layoff, Both Luke Kennard and Langston Galloway have suddenly turned red-hot for the Pistons. That is because they come off the bench with Smith.

Blake Griffin offered high praise for a guy with modest numbers “he makes our second unit, it is hard to guard his speed.” So big numbers be damned, Ish Smith has the intangibles the Pistons need. The greatest is just being on the court.

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Detroit Tigers Christian Stewart ready for take off

Embed from Getty Images On a steamy spring training day, Detroit Tigers rookie outfielder Christian Stewart steps up to bat. Atlanta Braves left handed pitcher Sean Newcome on the mound. This encouraged the Detroit Tigers coaches and front office. Stewart a left hander himself was facing a left handed pitcher.

This was a big knock on Stewart coming out of college. He was good against right handed pitchers. In fact Christian was almost deadly against righties. His big struggle was left handed on left handed.

Yet, here he was. Having mastered hitting lefties last season while in Toledo with the Mud Hens.  Newcome fired a 94 mph fastball towards home plate. Smack! Christian Stewart lined it in the gap for a two out, two R.B.I. double.

The great Ted Williams once said “you only get one pitch to hit in an at-bat, don’t take it, don’t miss it, don’t foul it off.” Christian Stewart, has adopted the Hall of Famers philosophy.

The best part of Christian Stewart’s development is that He can bat second in the lineup or fifth. When asked Stewart said he does not care where his name is on the lineup card. That he is going to do his job.

In a 17 game callup last September, Stewart amassed 72 at bats, hitting .267 with 2 home runs. This spring Christian is hitting .320 with 2 home runs.

Stewart looks more relaxed this spring. Detroit is handing the masher the leftfield job. While defense is well below average, hitting is well above average. Stewart projects as a mid 30’s home run hitter. Once Detroit develops their minor league outfielders and the rebuild is over Stewart will most likely be moved to D.H.

Make no mistake Christian Stewart, is part of the Detroit Tigers long range plans. He will be a middle of the order bat. He is a home run and R.B.I. machine.

This will be his first full season in Detroit. Stewart is ready. It is one more step in the rebuild. Detroit Tigers fans should get ready for some moon-shots. While in Toledo, Christian hit a ball out of the park. As in out in the parking lot. This spring he hit the light tower at Joker Merchant Stadium.

Christian Stewart is reason Tigers fans should tune in. The guy is good for something special every game.

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The Detroit Lions make big,bold moves first day of free agency

Embed from Getty Images Bob Quinn put his end of the season stamp on the Detroit Lions 2018 season by saying “I did not put us in a position to win.” While that was true, Quinn also followed it up by saying “We need playmakers on both sides of the ball.” That also was a true statement. Yesterday, the first day of NFL free agency, Quinn put his words into action.

While signing top flight free agents is nice, it by no means guarantees success right off the bat. That needs to be stressed first and foremost.Team chemistry is the key to winning games. Last season the Detroit Lions did not have enough players who bought into head coach Matt Patricia’s system. Those players are now gone.

Detroit has needs all over the place. They address slot receiver early in the morning by grabbing Danny Amendola,  from the Miami Dolphins. It is some what a ho-hum signing because Amendola has never had 1,000 yards receiving. He has not even broken 700 yards. But he will be a safety valve for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Next Detroit went with a bigger signing. Netting Justin Coleman a cornerback with the Seattle Seahawks. One of the top CB on the market. Coleman is not a CB2. The Lions still need to find one. What Justin Coleman is, is a very good nickel-package cover guy. In fact the best nickel corner in the league. He fits Patricia’s defense perfectly.

Then we get to the final two signing. They were HUGE additions for the Detroit Lions. Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit’s top pass rusher was not coming back. Enter Trey Flowers, New England Patriots. This is a monster get for the Lions. Flowers is a very good player. His value is not so much rushing the quarterback. It is his ability to slide into a 3T/0T alinement. Flowers quickness  gives offensive linemen a ton of problems. He is excellent at finding creases on stunts.

Next the Detroit Lions, in desperate need of a tight end, agreed to terms with the best one on the open market. Pittsburgh Steelers Jesse James. At 6′ 7″ James is a huge target. The Lions like him because Jesse James is the best blocking TE in the NFL. Be it on the line of scrimmage or down field.

Of the four players Detroit signed, three are former New England Patriots. Amendola, Coleman, Flowers. They all have connections to Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia. All three players are “by-in” players. Flowers said yesterday he would “run through walls to play for Patricia again.”

It is those players who Detroit has focused on. In one day the Lions got three of the top players at their positions. Flowers, Coleman and James. Playmakers. Just like Bob Quinn said.

 

 

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What to expect from Michigan State’s spring football practice

Embed from Getty Images The Michigan State Spartans football team will reconvene Tuesday to start spring drills. After a season that fell well below expectations in East Lansing, the Spartans have more questions than answers.

First and foremost Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio, must find some offensive production to go along with one of the countries stingiest defenses. The Spartans offense was abysmal for long stretches last season.

Finding offensive linemen who can stay healthy and play with a united consistency will go along way in getting MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke back on track. The quarterback himself suffered an right shoulder injury against Penn State. He played through the pain and it showed.

In a very un- Michigan State season the Spartans finished 114th in rushing in the country. 124.8 yards per game. While the Spartans were hurt when starting running back LJ Scott missed most of the season due to injury. What hurt Michigan State most was lack of quality depth at the tailback position.

One thing for fans and media to monitor is in the Red Box Bowl loss to Oregon, Michigan State went to no-huddle, up-tempo offense. It is unclear if that is the direction Dantonio plans to explore more of.

While defense is not usually an issue, Michigan State does have some depth concern. Gone to graduation are defensive tackle Gerald Owens, safety Matt Morrissey, linbackers Byron Bullough and Grayson Miller along with defensive end Dillon Alexander. That is a lot to have to replace.

It is a real head scratcher that Dantonio did not bring in new coaches. But he simple reshuffled existing coaches already on his staff. There are time new coaches and fresh voices are what is needed. This is the single most fascinating part of the Spartans spring practice.

How will player react to the same coaches in a new role? Sometimes it goes bad. Once in a while it works for a short time.

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Michigan spring football, all eyes will be on Josh Gattis

Embed from Getty Images After yet another disappointing end to the season, change came to Ann Arbor. Jim Harbaugh said he did not think any changes would be made. He then changed his mind and brought in Alabama and former Penn State coordinator Josh Gattis to run his offense.

By now you know the drum Josh Gattis has been beating “speed in space.” Gone is Tim Drevno and Pep Hamilton. Harbaugh purged his offensive staff. He also insists Gattis will have full control of the offense. That allows Harbaugh to manage the game.

The Michigan Wolverines football team is set to open spring practice this coming Sunday. The new offense is the focal point. Part mystery, while also being the single most fascinating group puts the unit under fan and media microscope.

The biggest issue for Michigan the past two years has been offensive consistency. At times the Wolverines looked dynamic at times often in the same game, they fell apart. So new coaches were brought in. In part for a new voice, in part a new direction.

Michigan has the pieces and parts to be a solid offensive driven team. Ed Warinner has brought the Wolverines running game into the modern college football landscape.

Josh Gattis said that it is his job to get players to “be explosive, while working around a well coaches running game.” A breath of fresh air for the Michigan faithful to hear.

For the first time at Michigan under any head coach. The Wolverines will bring and lineup in multiple formations. Keeping defense honest and on their heels.

Josh Gattis has yet to speak at great length to the media. He has appeared on Harbaughs weekly pod-cast. Jim Harbaugh wants his new coordinator completely focused of improving an offense that is sure to improve under the coach that Nick Saban was upset to lose.

With spring football starting in days. All eyes will be on the new offense. While it goes without saying Michigan will not show off all of their new formations, they will give a look into what is to come. Sort of to wet the appetite.

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Tanking was not an option for the Detroit Pistons

Embed from Getty Images Ed Stefanski blocks all negatives out. Social media, talk sports radio, news papers, t.v.. That turned out to be good news for the team Stefanski oversees. The Detroit Pistons.

Ed Stefanski, has a belief in the Detroit organization. The Pistons winners of 12 of their last 15 games are the product of Stefanski’s faith. Even though the noise outside was screaming for a teardown and total rebuild.

There are two thought processes, if you tank you win. If you do not there is a good chance the team will be stuck in mediocrity. The Pistons took an educated chance and went with not tanking.

Stefanski, sought advice from Sachin Gupta the Pistons assistant general manager and a person who is widely considered around the NBA as a analytic specialist.

They saw that some of the teams players who struggled if the first half of the season were due for a breakthrough. It is a daring place to venture. If wrong the Detroit Pistons season would have ended very poorly.

The calculated move has paid off. Struggling players are red hot during the Pistons turnaround. It has been well documented the moves the Pistons made during the trade deadline.

The team has also been greatly helped by star Blake Griffin who takes his role seriously. He wants to help the Pistons get back to the playoffs. Griffin was asked about the Detroit front office and his role. “I am not a general manager, I am a player. I focus on my job, the front office focuses on their job.”

Fair enough. But from the time Griffin took over as team leader, the team, front office and coaching staff all seemed to find a unifying consistency.

One more point Ed Stefanski, does not like the idea of tanking. Ever. “I do not believe in losing games to get better draft picks, I want to compete every night. I want to win every game.”

As long as Ed Stefanski has a say in the Motor City, it is a safe bet Detroit will never tank. They will kick, scream and fight. Just the way Stefanski likes it.

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Michigan State wins a share of the Big Ten title

Embed from Getty Images Tom Izzo somehow managed to rally his Spartans basketball team. Losing at home to Michigan things looked bleak for the Green and White. Izzo said “We had a character check at halftime.”

“I asked the team if they wanted to pack it in or play for a championship.” In the second half Izzo would get his answer. Spartans all-everything team leader Cassius Winston would spearhead the Michigan State turn around. Great players, elevate their play in tough times. Winston is that guy for his team.

Winston, was able to overcome a rough first half shooting to score 23 points along with 7 assists. It put the Spartans on a 25-4 run. The Wolverines were unable to regain any momentum.  The Spartans would not look back.

The win earned the Michigan State basketball team a share of the Big Ten title with Purdue. It also secured a No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament next week in Chicago.

“I am proud of my guys, they figured it out.” Izzo beamed at a post game press conference.  After the performance last night Izzo has every right to be proud of his team.

For the Michigan Wolverines the loss was crippling. Michigan who looked like a powerhouse early in the season, controlled the first half. When the Spartans started heating up in the second half Michigan had no answers. The Wolverines seem to pack it in. It was embarrassing to watch.

What is worse, was no in-game adjustments were made by the Wolverines coaching staff. Michigan suffered a total and complete implosion. Head coach John Beilein failed his team.

Thanks in large part to the Big Ten’s best coach, Michigan State did not fold, did not buckle. When the going got tough, the Spartans got going. Earning the co-championship.

This has a familiar ring to it. This is Michigan State’s 9th Big Ten title under Tom Izzo. There is no undervaluing what Izzo has done during his time in East Lansing. He has built a powerhouse.

Something the Michigan Wolverines can only dream of doing.

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Detroit Tigers Pitcher Matt Boyd is making a difference

Embed from Getty Images As a member  of the Detroit Tigers pitching staff, Matt Boyd is doing some important work off the field. As a God-fearing devote Christian, Boyd and his wife are making the difference in the lives of 36 Uganda girls.

Trying to save 36 girls from the sex slave industry, has given Matthew Boyd and his wife Ashley a new purpose. Matt and his wife buy food and clothing and sandals for the girls. They also pray with them. They are looking at the bigger picture.

It is a massive undertaking. Boyd has set up a nonprofit charity, “Kingdom Home.” They are working on expanding the charities land in Uganda. The plan is to add more homes on the property to house more girls. Boyd calls 36 girls a nice start.

Matt and Ashley have the total backing of the Detroit Tigers organization. During spring training Boyd has been given permission byTigers manager Ron Gardenhire to walk around Joker Merchant Stadium and ask fans for donations.

Boyd says the goal is to raise $50,000 and go from there.  Matt Boyd is heading into his third season in Detroit. While he is far from a super star. His heart is bigger than many in the game. Making the pitcher an All-Star person.

The Boyd’s make regular visits to Uganda. They said they were compelled to jump in and help after their first visit. Saying they could not know what was going on and do nothing. Something more people in place of importance should do.

“We can and we will end sex trafficking in Uganda,” Matt Boyd said. He is as focused on making life better for young ladies as he is when he is on the mound.

Matthew Boyd is a player fans should be rooting for. Regardless of the team fans pull for.