The New Baseball Offseason System:
Fangraphs explains the new world of qualifying offers, average salaries, and what is going to happen in the next week or so.

posted by grum@work to baseball at 02:47 PM - 3 comments

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 22 comments

9 Charged with Gambling on Youth Football Games: Nine youth football coaches or associates in Florida are facing felony charges in connection with a system of rampant high-dollar gambling on little league football. Up to $100,000 was bet on championship games, said Broward County Det. Solomon Barnes.

posted by rcade to football at 01:10 PM - 6 comments

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments

MLB Post-Season Pick 'Em, Final Standings: SportsFilter generated about as much offence as any team facing Barry Zito in October in the World Series. Final standings are inside!

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 08:17 PM - 10 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 19: This is it! Nineteen weeks of gruelling decision making all boils down to one last set of picks. Wrap that knee and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 07:05 PM - 11 comments

NBC Grabs Premier League for $250 Million: NBC Universal has acquired the U.S. broadcasting rights to all 380 Premier League soccer matches for the next three years, beginning in August, after outbidding a ESPN/FOX joint offer. The reported $250 million bid is considerably larger than the $23 million Fox currently pays. The NBC Sports Network will be the primary channel to watch games, but NBC Chairman Mark Lazarus said every game will be available through an NBC TV or online platform. "FOX Soccer has been the primary US voice of EPL for almost two decades, and has done much over the years to increase its popularity, value and availability," Fox Sports sighed. "We wish them well."

posted by rcade to soccer at 12:25 PM - 8 comments

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 4 comments

Giants Sweep Tigers to Win World Series: Marco Scutaro knocked in the winning run with two outs in the 10th giving the Giants a 4-3 win and their second championship in three years. Pablo Sandoval was voted World Series MVP.

posted by justgary to baseball at 02:22 AM - 14 comments

Thunder, Rockets swap big names.: Unable to agree on a contract extension with James Harden, OKC sends him to Houston along with Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Haywood. In return, the Thunder acquire Kevin Martin, rookie and 12th overall draft pick Jeremy Lamb, and three future draft picks. The Rockets have already announced plans to offer Harden a 4-year, $60 million extension.

posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 11:44 AM - 21 comments

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 13 comments

South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore Suffers Knee Injury: A severe injury to South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore against Tennessee Saturday led to an unexpected show of sportsmanship. Lattimore, considered a likely first round NFL pick if he leaves college early, suffered a hit to the right knee as he was tackled and it swung awkwardly (and gruesomely) as he fell to the turf. As he was being tended to, both teams came out to wish him well.

posted by rcade to football at 04:54 PM - 12 comments

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 10 comments

"Worst. Uniforms. Ever.": "Inspired" by another Florida High School's fancy uniforms, "rapper" Flo Rida contacted the same "design firm" to make new uniforms for his old stomping grounds, Miami-Carol City. Response has been "mixed".

posted by Ufez Jones to football at 07:07 PM - 10 comments

With small ball, Giants win 2-0 for 2-0 WS lead: And everything seems to be going their way.

posted by justgary to baseball at 10:50 AM - 1 comment

'Honey Badger,' 3 other former LSU players arrested: Four former LSU football players, including 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu and former starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson, were arrested Thursday on drug-related offenses, according to police in Baton Rouge

posted by BornIcon to football at 10:48 AM - 5 comments

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 4 comments

Legendary boxing trainer Emanuel Steward dies at 68 : Hall of fame boxing trainer Emanuel Steward, who directed the careers of several champion fighters including Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis and current heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, has died.

posted by BornIcon to boxing at 06:55 PM - 2 comments

Sandoval Hits 3 Homers as Giants Take Game 1: Pablo Sandoval hit three home runs, two against Justin Verlander and one off Al Alburquerque, to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 8-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in game 1 of the World Series. Sandoval joins Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols as the only players to hit three in a Series game. Verlander allowed five runs and six hits in four innings, his shortest start all season.

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:32 AM - 5 comments

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 7 comments

Dodgers to Play 2014 Season Opener in Sydney: according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

posted by owlhouse to baseball at 05:06 AM - 5 comments

Islanders head west: by 21 miles. The New York Islanders, winners of four consecutive Stanley Cups in the early '80s but no playoff series since 1993, have signed a 25-year lease with Brooklyn's new Barclays Center, home of the NBA's Nets. They have two more years at the moribund Nassau Coliseum.

Though originally planned to be NHL-compatible, Barclays Center was built as an NBA arena. It holds 14,500 for hockey -- fewest in the NHL (Winnipeg's MTS Centre holds 15,004; Hartford's XL Center, formerly the Civic Center, holds 15,365) and 1,750 fewer than the Nassau Coliseum. The proposed seating layout is that of a horseshoe, with no seats behind one goal.

The team is to keep its name (Brooklyn is, after all, part of Long Island), thus avoiding such possible travesties as this.

posted by Mookieproof to hockey at 09:43 PM - 4 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 18: Two weeks left and I still have no idea what's going to happen. Maybe you do. Make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 06:31 PM - 10 comments

Sixth Man Infraction Spotted, 19 Years Later: In 1993, in the waning seconds of overtime in game 7 of a second-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Seattle Supersonics (sigh), Hakeem Olajuwon had five different players he could pass to. Not four. Backup Winston Garland stood up and walked onto the court, ready to bury a three from the corner. "Garland moved so quickly, so decisively that you would assume he belonged in the play," writes Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN.Com.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:57 AM - 8 comments

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 12 comments

MLB Post-Season Pick 'Em, World Series Edition: The NLCS went to seven games, presumably just to shorten the Pick 'Em turnaround time and spite all the professional pickers around the world. But we're not here to talk about the past; it's time for the Worldest of Series.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 06:45 PM - 18 comments

Marlins Fire Guillen After Only One Season: Just weeks after a season that began in controversy and ended in baseball misery for the Miami Marlins, the team fired Manager Ozzie Guillen on Tuesday. Guillen’s fate was about the only open question left after the Marlins finished 69-93, last in the National League East, after having gone on a spending spree last off-season that included signing Guillen to a four-year, $10 million contract and Jose Reyes, the 2011 National League batting champion, to a six-year, $106 million contract.

posted by BornIcon to baseball at 05:24 PM - 5 comments

UCI claims 'moral authority' to lead cycling: Agreeing that wrong-doing uncovered by other investigators after years of denial (and possibly coverup) enables one to retain "moral authority." Mmmkay!

posted by billsaysthis to culture at 12:07 PM - 3 comments

Giants Reach World Series: The San Francisco Giants, once down 3 games to 1 to the St. Louis Cardinals, take decided game 7 to win the National League pennant. They face the Detroit Tigers in game one of the World Series Wednesday night.

posted by justgary to baseball at 07:49 AM - 1 comment

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 18 comments

Giants beat Cardinals 6-1 to force NLCS Game 7: Vogelsong strikes out a career-best nine to bring the Giants back even with the Cardinals. Game 7 is tonight with the Cardinals Kyle Lohse facing the Giants Matt Cain.

posted by justgary to baseball at 10:46 AM - 10 comments

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 16 comments

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 40 comments

Giants Win Game 5: Barry Zito, considered a major disappointment since coming to the Giants from the Athletics in 2007, gave up six hits an no runs while striking out 6 in 7 2/3 innings. The series returns to San Francisco for game 6 sunday.

posted by justgary to baseball at 09:01 AM - 11 comments

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments

Detroit 8, New York 1: Made-to-order rout of Yankees sends Tigers to 11th World Series : The Tigers won their 11th AL pennant and returned to the World Series for the first time since 2006 by defusing the powerful Yankees in inconceivable fashion. If you subtract the four runs Jose Valverde gave up in Game 1, the Tigers limited the Yankees to two runs in four games.

posted by tommytrump to baseball at 07:39 AM - 20 comments

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 11 comments

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 20 comments

Tigers One Game Away from World Series: Justin Verlander goes 8 1/3 innings allowing 3 hits and 1 run for the win. The Yankees turn to ace CC Sabathia tonight to try and stave off elimination.

posted by justgary to baseball at 09:35 AM - 16 comments

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 5 comments

Giants Even Series with Cardinals: Giants not real happy with Matt Holliday's late slide into second baseman Marco Scutaro, while the Cardinals are frustrated by a missed call. Game three is Wednesday evening.

posted by justgary to baseball at 04:44 PM - 0 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 17: Three weeks left and the lower rungs are getting desperate as the playoff picture solidifies. Meanwhile, perhaps bender and his nickel aren't quite as home and cool as we thought. Dispel the intrigue and make your picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 09:47 AM - 11 comments

Swisher Knocks 'Negative Attitude' of Yankees Fans: New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher is upset about the "negative attitude" Yankees fans have displayed during the team's recent playoff woes, even suggesting the road trip to Detroit for game 3 of the ALCS might be beneficial: "I'm one of those guys that if you give me a hug, I'll run through a brick wall for you, man. It just seems right now like there's just a lot of... I'm trying to find a way to word this the right way. ... It's tough. It's really tough. You want to go out and play for your city, play for your team. Right now, it's just really tough." A New York Daily News sports editor's comment accidentally made it into the story when posted online: "Should go right on the web. He's out of his mind for saying this stuff now."

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:17 AM - 28 comments

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 8 comments

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 22 comments

Jeter Fractures Ankle in Yankees Game 1 Loss: New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter fractured his left ankle fielding a grounder in the 12th inning, ending his playoffs. The Yankees also lost the game, 6-4, spoiling an epic four-run ninth inning comeback. "We go from being elated -- we're back in this thing -- to losing Jeter," said Raul Ibanez, whose two-run homer tied the game in the ninth. On Sunday, the Yankees will play their first postseason game without Jeter since 1995.

posted by rcade to baseball at 11:55 AM - 14 comments

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 18 comments

The Wizard of Koz: From a six-run hole, the Cardinals emerged with a 9-7 victory in a win-or-go home National League Division Series Game 5 on Friday night. It was the largest comeback in a winner-take-all game in postseason history.

posted by BoKnows to baseball at 08:55 PM - 2 comments

MLB Post-Season Pick 'Em, LCS Edition: Holy cow, what a week. All fives series go five games, which is very exciting for television viewers, but incredibly stress-inducing for Post-Season Pick 'Em players, who now have a turnaround time shorter than the amount of silence in a three-man broadcast booth. Games start tonight!

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 08:27 AM - 21 comments

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 9 comments

Verlander Dominates as the Tigers Advance to the ALCS: I think this is number one," Verlander said. "The two no-hitters are obviously up there, but that's something a little bit different. This is win or go home. My team needs me. And I was able to go out there and have one of the better performances I've had.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia to baseball at 03:16 PM - 5 comments

A-Rod Dropped from Starting Lineup: The New York Yankees will play game 5 against the Baltimore Orioles without Alex Rodriguez in the lineup. He's batting .125 (2-for-16) with nine strikeouts in the series (but has hit 8-for-22 lifetime against Baltimore starter Jason Hammel). Eric Chavez will play third base and bat ninth. Game 3 hero Raul Ibanez will DH and hit fifth.

posted by rcade to baseball at 02:33 PM - 20 comments

And on the 13th Pitch, Jayson Werth ...: Strike, strike, ball, ball, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, ball, foul, boom.

posted by rcade to baseball at 10:17 AM - 1 comment

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 21 comments

Raul Ibanez Pinch Hits for A Rod, Hits Two Homers in Yankees Win: With his team trailing in the bottom of the ninth, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi benched Alex Rodriguez and put in pinch hitter Raul Ibanez. Ibanez responded with a game-tying home run and a game-winning walk off in the 12th inning over the Baltimore Orioles, giving New York a 2-1 series lead. Ibanez, 40, is the oldest player to homer in the postseason and the first substitute to hit two home runs in the playoffs. "He just made himself a legend in Yankee eyes," said teammate Nick Swisher.

posted by rcade to baseball at 08:44 AM - 16 comments

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 14 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 16: We're officially into the home stretch with four weeks to go. Can anyone catch bender?

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 03:49 PM - 11 comments

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 22 comments

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 25 comments

Yankees Blow Up Jim Johnson, Win Game 1 Over O's: The New York Yankees scored five runs in the ninth to break open a 2-2 game over the Baltimore Orioles, taking a 1-0 lead in their American League Division Series. Orioles closer Jim Johnson hadn't given up a run since Sept. 8, but four scored on a Russell Martin home run and run-scoring hits from Ichiro Suzuki and Robinson Cano.

posted by rcade to baseball at 09:09 AM - 6 comments

Cascadia Cup: In front of a national audience on ESPN with a 66,000 plus crowd last night Seattle beat Portland 3:0 in MLS competition. When will the national mainstream media, both print and electronic, give the sport the recognition it deserves? For instance the LA Times with two teams MLS teams in LA doesn't even list soccer in its sports section banner. Just one of many examples.

posted by trueblueroo to soccer at 08:48 AM - 10 comments

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 3 comments

"We are athletes, OK? We are athletes. We are not gladiators. This is not the Roman Coliseum": Kansas City Chiefs OT Eric Winston has something to say to Chiefs fans who cheered after Matt Cassel leaves the game with a concussion.

posted by kokaku to football at 10:08 PM - 10 comments

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 10 comments

MLB Post-Season Pick 'Em, LDS Edition: No time for chit-chat! Games start tonight!

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 12:44 PM - 15 comments

Infield Fly Call Helps Cards Oust Braves: "An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. ... When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare 'Infield Fly' for the benefit of the runners."

posted by rcade to baseball at 08:34 AM - 31 comments

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 16 comments

Dwight Howard to Shaq: 'Your Time is Up': After ignoring criticism by Shaquille O'Neal for years, new Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard responded with anger after O'Neal recently compared him unfavorably to Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez. "Shaq played the game and he is done," Howard told reporters Thursday. "It's time to move on. He hated the fact when he played that older guys were talking about him and how he played. Now he's doing the exact same thing. Just let it go. There's no sense for him to be talking trash to me. He did his thing in the league. Sit back and relax. Your time is up."

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:58 AM - 3 comments

Boxer Orlando Cruz: I'm a 'Proud Gay Man': Orlando Cruz, 31, the fourth-ranked featherweight in the world, announced this week that he's gay. "I have always been and always will be a proud gay man," he said. "I want to be me. I want to be Orlando Cruz, and I don't want to pretend." Cruz faces Jorge Pazos in his next bout Oct. 19 in Kissimmee, Fla.

posted by rcade to boxing at 09:25 AM - 6 comments

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 18 comments

Red Sox Fire Bobby Valentine: The Boston Red Sox fired Bobby Valentine Thursday after he went 69-93 in his only year as skipper. The Sox were 7-22 in September and October to wrap up their worst season since 1965, including losses in their last eight games.

posted by rcade to baseball at 06:44 PM - 9 comments

The SpoFi Fantasy Baseball 2012 crown goes to...: bperk's team, Soul on a Roll!

posted by ursus_comiter to fantasy at 03:52 PM - 7 comments

MLB Post-Season Pick 'Em, Wild Card Edition: It's back! After a one-year hiatus, Bud Selig has legislated a brand-new edition of the hallowed ritual of picking who the heck you think will win.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 12:54 PM - 28 comments

Next year the streak will be old enough to buy a drink.: EPIC FAIL. The Pirates just finished up their 20th losing season in a row after being 16 games over .500 earlier in the year. I first posted this 3 years ago when they set the record and will every year until the streak ends. The franchise is a JOKE not just in Pittsburgh but around the league, Ownership is a JOKE, The plan to turn this team into "Baseballs Hells Angels" is a JOKE. After 20 years of sucking, there is no end in sight. O by the way, the team made $20 million this year and had a top 3 attendance in history. SO Much RAGE

posted by Debo270 to baseball at 12:05 PM - 9 comments

Miguel Cabrera Wins Triple Crown: For the first time since 1967, baseball has a Triple Crown winner. Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers finished with a .330 batting average (.004 more than Mike Trout), 44 home runs (one more than Josh Hamilton and Curtis Granderson) and 139 RBI (11 more than Hamilton). "He's a once-in-a-lifetime player," said Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski.

posted by rcade to baseball at 08:50 AM - 21 comments

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 15 comments

Stop The Flop: The NBA officially adopts an anti-flopping policy, announcing a new rule that will fine repeat offenders this season.

posted by tron7 to basketball at 02:13 PM - 10 comments

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 18 comments

CFL Pick 'Em, Week 15: The last maple leaf has fallen into the maple pudding, which means it's time to talk turkey. Take off your scarf and make your Thanksgiving picks inside.

posted by DrJohnEvans to fantasy at 04:11 PM - 11 comments

Dez Bryant Isn't Catching On in Dallas: Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant caught a career-high 105 yards against the Chicago Bears Monday night but had one of his worst games in three seasons as a pro. In the blowout loss, Bryant appeared to run the wrong route on one play, leading to an easy pick-6 interception. He also dropped several other passes, including a crucial 3rd-and-6 and a long bomb that sailed through his fingers. His post-game assessment of his performance: "Very, very, very, very, very, very average."

posted by rcade to football at 08:39 AM - 23 comments

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 15 comments

Ryder Cup 2012: Medinah miracle comes to pass for Europe: Unbelievable collapse by the Americans with, once again, Mr. T. Woods leading the way. From the scoreline: "T Woods: Played 4 Won 0 Lost 3 Halved 1"

posted by billsaysthis to golf at 12:01 PM - 8 comments

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 28 comments