Sox win 50th game: Boston wins in walk-off error

I will ask you this: when the MLB season began 91 days ago, could you possibly fathom that just 2 games after the halfway mark of the season, the Boston Red Sox, the "F*****g Boston Red Sox" as Dustin Pedroia famously said through his anger over last season's brutal under performance, would be 50 and 34? I certainly didn't.

Yet regardless of how crazy it is, the Sox defied preseason expectations today reaching a plateau many believed it would take much longer to achieve. They have become just the 2nd team in Baseball to win 50 games this year: hers how they got that elusive completion of their half centennial of victories.

Opening the scoring late in the second inning, the Sox quickly jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead before seeing that forceful advantage nearly erased by a second inning surge by the frantic Jays. With the Sox still up by one, Boston’s beloved rallying point continued to fight, as they gained yet another tick on the scoreboard in their first opportunity to follow up on the Jay's 2 run 4th inning.

Nevertheless it was after that addition to their advantage that things turned sour for Boston. Fact is the Red Sox were just 2 outs away from winning the game when midway through the top of the 9th a crucial game tying blast by Jose Bautista sent things to the bottom of the frame with the Sox and Jays now notated at 4. 

Long story short, with two teams livid with vast assortments of skill and hitting strength you think it would be a play by such a player that would seal the game: wrong. After 9 innings of a crucial rubber match in a sires already dominated by the Red Sox, and with pinch runner Johnathan Diaz sitting on third, a routine ground-ball up the middle of the field was bobbled by substitute first basemen Josh Thole and allowed to bounce into right field. 

Seeing what was going to happen perhaps a second before it did, Diaz exploded off the second base bag and forcefully roared down the line before sliding along towards home. The Red Sox were winners again, again being for the 50th time all year and you know, after a week of some of the worst days in Boston sports history we needed this one. 

Bruins offseason moves flying a mile a minute: Horton gone, Seguin also enveloped in trade talks

In the span of about an hour, a previously dormant Boston trading block has almost literally blew up.

Coming into today, we all knew the stories surrounding Jaromir Jagr and Andrew Ference. Jagr: gone in reaction to a lifeless score sheet. Andrew Ference: a guy who the Bruins would love to retain but with their intent to resign Tuukka Rask and the pressure of the falling cap, the B's were willing to let their veteran blue liner go.

In addition to that as time went on and while guys like Danny Briere and Vincent Lecavalier were announced as buyout opportunities in the NHL, the Bruins were quick to express interest in not only Lecavilier but also Briere (although they were most interested in Lecavilier).

Nevertheless at exactly 1:00 this afternoon, coveted Bruins insider Joe Haggerty came out with a jaw dropping report that the Bruins were "interested in listing to trade proposals for Tyler Seguin." As that report circulated the web, it was quickly backed up by TSN reporter Bob Mckenzie up in Onterio. McKenzie then went on to add that the basic framework for an offer the Bruins may accept would include: an all-star player in addition to a top 10 draft pick. Well that narrows this down.

Following that criteria, the 10 teams that could give a top 10 pick for Seguin would be: the Stars, the Devils, the Sabers, the Oilers, the Flames, the Hurricanes, the Predators, the Lightning, the Panthers and the Avalanche. Yet when you look at that, really only teams like the Sabers and  Oilers would be able to boast that criteria of a top 10 pick AND an all-star forward although for both those teams, neither of them would likely be willing to give up both their pivotal rebuilding tool (the draft pick) and any of the few pieces they already have to build around (the all star player the bruins would need in exchange for Seguin).

Regardless of that, the only definitive story coming out of this fire storm of roomers today has been that of Nathan Horton. In the minutes following the Seguin story, one of the speculations about the possible trade was that, the Bruins were looking to get rid of Seguin in order to open up some money to resign winger Nathan Horton yet at 1:37 today, the same Bob McKenzie out of TSN reported that Horton's agent Paul Krepelka had told the media that "Nathan has told BOS he wants to explore free agency. It's not a financial issue, just a decision to move on." So. Now what. With Horton gone, you begin to think that, much like their  game six loss, things look to be falling from Boston’s fingertips yet when you look into the reports and twitter blasts of this crazy afternoon, this may be a carefully orchestrated plan on the part of the Bruins front office.

After the Jaromir Jagr trade back in April, the Bruins ended up surrendering their 1st round pick to Dallas and while after going on to become the second best team in the league, that pick would end up turning out be a pathetic 29th selection, this draft has been dubbed by many as one of the deepest drafts since 2003 and not having a pick until the end of the second round (61st overall) is not a good idea. So with that in mind, according to yet another Haggerty report, the Bruins are "Desperately trying to move up in the draft" which is without a doubt a huge factor in the Seguin roomers.

But now after learning about the Horton departure and the Bruins thirst for draft picks, you may ask: why don't you trade Horton for picks if he is already leaving? The main answer for that question is that: you can't. With 5 and a half million dollars paid to him this year, reports said that with Horton going into free agency, he was looking for a pay day around 6 or 7 million dollars,  meaning that unless the Bruins were willing to give that to him, he would not be their ticket to a top pick: Seguin would be.

Yet after examining the stories of what the Bruins plan to do with Seguin, another question surrounding Horton begins to arise. Why leave a team that was 2 wins away from giving you your 2nd Cup in 3 years. One reason suggested by radio show Jonsten and Flyn, included that, that "the style that the Bruins employ with such a skill and flood of success in largely based around beating the cr*p out of an opponent" and, after several injuries sustained on brutal body checks (the shoulder injury in this playoff and both concussions in and around the 2011 cup run) and a crippling hand injury he was given when he punched the helmet of Jarome Iginla during a late April fight, Horton would not want to risk a career ending injury by staying in the physical atmosphere and style of the Bruins organization thus opting to get out of his longtime relationship with the city. 

Horton is gone, Tyler Seguin might be hot pursuit, and the B's are looking to trade the rights of fleeting D-man Andrew Ference. Long story short, this has been a crazy week in Boston sports and time will only tell if this week will get any weirder as at least for the talks surrounding draft picks they must be completed before 3 pm tomorrow when the draft commences.

On a normal day I would say go Bruins with a gleeful ease but after what may turn out to be a mega roster turnover over 24 hours or so, this Bruins team might not be the Bruins we came to become acquainted with after the 2011 Cup Run.

The Bruins and Blackhawks: The saving grace of the NHL

The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks: two teams that began the year as completely unrelated clubs, separated by hundreds of miles, completely different cultures, and vastly separate conferences, yet in the end these two Original Six teams would end it all locked into one of the greatest Cup Finals in league history.

After 61 games for Boston and one more than that for the Blackhawks, these 2 teams literally picked their league up from the ashes and brought it back to the awe and splendor that it once maintained. The Bruins and Blackhawks are the saving grace of the NHL: and that’s a fact.

The NHL Lockout

On Monday June 11^th, 2012, the LA Kings were Stanley Cup Champions. They had won it all, they had become the first 8^th seed to win the cup yet as NHL commissioner Gary Bettmen gingerly walked onto the ice to present the Stanley Cup he crossed the thresh hold leaving his office of safety behind and stepping into a firestorm of controversy and unofficially signaling the end of the 2011-2012 NHL season and the beginning of the 2012-2013 NHL lockout.

For almost 4 months, America’s hockey league was a good a nonexistent as during that time players were forbidden to indulge in team practices and coaches would be penalized for making any comments in relation to the work stoppage.

Players left the continent, fleeing to Europe and well any other major hockey league on the face of the earth only in hope to maintain their scouring, defensive and hitting touch in the world of pro hockey.

Coaches laid low and owners duked it out over countless different CBA proposals, yet still the lockout went on. Standard games were cancelled and soon the Winter Classic and All Star weekend followed woeful suit yet still the lockout went on. Players and coaches fumed, businesses suffered and as time went on tempers ran thin.

Mike Babcock, coach of the Detroit Redwings was fined for comments he made on the mammoth duration of the lockout and at one point Alex Ovechcen even threatened to stay in the KHL if the lockout was not terminated immediately. (although that threat was later termed meaningless when it was pointed out that while he may have been able to get out of his contract with the Capitals, there is no way his pending agreement with Nike would permit him to be the MVP of the KHL rather than the most valuable player of the NHL.)

Nevertheless when the calendar flipped to January 6^th 2013: after a marathon bargaining session, estimated to have lasted over 16 hours: a deal was reached. Many jumped for joy yet all was not at rest for the league as at that point in time the pending deal was only “tentative” meaning basically that: it was not set in stone.

Yet as hockey fans at least for a moment forgave their team’s owners and prayed for a season, their pleas were finally answered as on January 9^th the final draft of a slew of big contracts and agreements was ratified and  10 days later, hockey had returned: the season was on.

The Season Begins: Streaks are formed

 2 years after winning it all, in 2011, the Bruins were back in town looking for redemption after their disappointing loss in the first round of last year’s NHL playoffs. Still with nearly everything from their cup run firmly intact, it seemed the only hint of negativity hanging over the Bruins was their situation in net. After seeing their relationship with their 2 time Vesna winning goaltender Tim Thomas literally fall apart before their very eyes, up to the plate came Tuukka Rask as he and his Bruins fought to regain the approval of a questioning Bruins nation.

You see across the league, and even after the pain of the lockout was quenched, fans were mad and as the Twitter sphere blew up as people reacted to the conclusion of the suffocating lockout one major theme emerged. People weren’t just mad they were enveloped in a complete and total hatred of the NHL. Fans were done and threatening to “boycott” the NHL. After opening the season 5-0-1 with 4 wins on their home ice, the Bruins were playing great and were ranked by many as the number one team in the league.

Nevertheless, as quickly as the Bruins climbed to the top of the league, that acclaimed status was lost as even though the Bruins would go to the 3^rdof March before they were served their 3^rd loss of the year, a different streak of dominance would soon take control of the headline.

24 games into the year, exactly half of the season, the Blackhawks still had not lost a single game in regulation as they had literally launched themselves to the top of the rankings, and quickly became the runaway favorites to win the Cup come late June.

Bombs are detonated: a city rallies

On March 8^ththe Blackhawks failed to either win or at least bring a loss to overtime, for the first time all year. 36 days later, a tragedy far more gut wrenching that a pathetic loss, struck. At exactly 2:49, just after 4 hours after the beginning of the 2013 edition of annual Boston Marathon, 2 pressure cooker bombs detonated mere seconds apart killing 3 and driving Boston into sheer panic.

The Bruins cancelled their game scheduled for that night, yet over the next few hours the Bruins captivated the world as they fought hard to help their fellow Bostonians  climb from the ashes of broken glass and exploded gun powder, perhaps the more heartwarming moment of the 2013 season was born. Right as Rene Rancort TD Garden anthem singer strode onto the carpet path set fourth for him, and as he sung the first few lines of America’s Star Spangled Banner, the 17,000 fans assembled before him, rose to their feet and did just what he intended to do only louder. 

Like they did with their early season streak of success, the Bruins helped their city up when they really could care less about hockey.  Like the Hawks did with their 24 game stretch of excellence, over the next few days, the Bruins allowed their city to rally around them as over the next 2 weeks, a series of heartwarming tributes by the Bruins seemed to ease the pain of that brutal tragedy.

Playoffs begin: Bruins make history

With their city still reeling from the tragedy of the Marathon Bombing, many Bostonians, even ones who previously had no knowledge or interest in hockey used the Bruins and a rallying point. And for the Bruins, they used their flood of devoted fans to quickly ride to a decisive 3-1 lead in their first round series against Toronto. 

Yet as quickly as they had developed that lead,  it evaporated as after 3 consecutive wins for the leafs forced a decisive game seven in Boston. Yet as we will now be reminded time and time again, while the Bruins did win that game it wasn't so easy, it was historic in fact.

After falling behind 4-1 off a Phil Kessel goal, the Bruins finally found the feet in the third, as a Nathan Horton goal still with over 10 minutes to go would bring the Bruins within 2 goal. Yet even with  their season on the line the still found themselves down by 2 with mere minutes to go in the game, thus forcing perhaps the most exciting coaching move in hockey: the empty net.

With Rask pulled it didn't take long for Milan Lucic to score his second goal with the goalie pulled in as many games. 4-3 now for the Leafs.

We all know what happened next. When many counted them out, when many said they couldn't do it, Patrice Bergeron scored and the game was tied. We were in for one crazy OT.

Nevertheless as crazy as it may have been when Bergeron sent the Garden into pandemonium just 7 minutes after tying the game, you got this simple feeling in the back of your mind: no matter how mad fans may have been at the beginning of the year, the Bruins had made it impossible to not watch hockey in Boston. To paraphrase Jack Edwards’ famous call of the Bruins semifinal win in 2011, “New England had Stanley Cup fever again!”

Amazing conference finals: Even better cup final

June 7^th: the Bruins win game 4 over the Penguins to sweep the regular season conference champions out of the playoffs.

June 8^th: Patrick Kane scores in double OT to win Game 5 over the defending cup champion Kings.

2  amazing victories by two amazing teams to set up ONE amazing final. For the first time since the late 1970’s, the last 2 teams competing for Lord Stanley’s hardware were both original six teams. So: long story short, we were in for one crazy cup finals and well, things did not disappoint.

After 3 overtime games, it took a miracle for the cup to be won. It took a triple OT win in game 1, a 6-5 OT contest in game 4 for the two teams in this 6 game cup to clench the win. Yet perhaps the most amazing moment of the years and really, the last moment of the year occurred over a 17 second span in the final minute and a half of game six.

The Season over: Bruins and Blackhawks, the saving grace of the NHL

On January 19^th, the few fans who stuck around through the anger of the lockout, were thrilled. Yet for the countless others that took to social media, screaming profanity and words of rage at the league the NHL knew very well that it would take a miracle to bring the fans back.

Long story short, in the Bruin and Blackhawk organizations, that’s happened time and time again.

There is no arguing, without the intriguing comebacks, the thrilling checks and unexpected performers, of this 2013 NHL season, hockey would be stuck in a really tough place. Without the 24 game points streak, the game seven comeback or the original 6 cup final, the thrill of watching pro hockey would not be enough to outweigh the anger induced by 4 months of men in suits arguing over stuff that for many didn't make since at all.  

The Bruins and Blackhawks made it fun to watch hockey again. They made you forget 4 of the worst months in NHL history. In 61 short games, these two teams became the saving grace of the NHL. End of story. 

Bruins season recap: top 3 moments of the year

1) Patrice Bergeron ties game Seven of Toronto Sires then wins it in OT

I have written it time and time again. It is without a doubt the greatest moment in recent Bruins history. Down 3 goals with 7 minutes to go in the game, Horton scores. Minutes later with the goalie pulled, Lucic scores before finally with 52 seconds to go in the game, Patrice Bergeron rifles one past Reimer to tie the game and send it to OT. 6 minutes later the Bruins had won, the Leafs were science, and Boston's hockey team was on to the semifinals. 

2) Gregory Campbell breaks leg then finishes penalty kill

Gregory Campbell has since been epitomized as the model Bruin. After diving in front of a Evgeni Malken shot, Campbell jumped back to his feet and spent the next 45 seconds killing the remainder of the current Pittsburgh power play on basically one leg. It was later reviled that Campbell had done it all with a broken leg. 

3) Bruins score 2 goals with the goalie pulled  in game with Rangers

After falling behind 3-0 with 11 minutes to go in the game, David Krejci scored with just over 10 minutes to go in the game. 8 and a half minutes later the Bruins struck again as Nathan Horton struck again to put Boston within one. Less than 40 seconds after that Brad Marchand put one home to tie the game with less than 50 seconds to go in the game. The Bruins would go on to loose in a shootout.  

Aaron Hernandez charged with murder: Are Patriots overestimating their ability to change at risk players?

For the first time in 8 long days, the veil of secrecy imposed by police when talking and investigating this Aaron Hernandez murder case has been lifted. For the first time in 8 long days of unsure confusion and conflicting reports, the truth has been reviled: Aaron Hernandez has been charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd and is now being investigated in a brutal triple shooting last July. He has been linked to a law suit in Miami and according to Sports Illustrated pointed a gun at someone in Providence. He has a long history of violence and what’s more; Hernandez is not legally allowed to carry a firearm. Whopie. So    long story short, at this point in time Aaron Hernandez might very well be a psychopath. Just let that sink in.  

Nevertheless, while Hernandez' gun violence problems do showcase a pattern: a slightly lesser but still negative pattern regarding the drafting habits of Bob Kraft himself. 

Long regarded as the best owner in sports, Robert Kraft has long been the owner of the pats as after his inaugural 1994 season, Kraft picked his team up from the ashes and would eventually lead them to three Super Bowls in less than 5 years. Nevertheless while Kraft's style has paid its dividends it does come with a price tag and at times that price tag can verge on illegal activity. Now while I am not accusing this multi billionaire NFL owner of criminal actions what I am doing is reporting on the shady side of several players whom Hernandez has worked hard to draft. 

Aqib Talib. July, 2008, after being drafted as a rookie, he and fellow rookie Cory Boyd seemingly got involved in an altercation and eventually began throwing punches at one another. 1 year later, Talib was brought back into court on terms of assaulting a taxi driver and then resisting prosecution yet even after 2 years after when Talib was charged on terms of shooting an assault rifle at his sister’s boyfriend, the Patriots payed big money to bring him into their acclaimed football team. And then there's Moss.

September 24th 2002, Miniapolis Minnisota, Randy Moss runs over a traffic officer simply for getting in his way. Yet perhaps a lasting aspect of Moss' troubled time in the NFL was his lasting struggles with Marijuana as he failed multiple drug test from college all the way up to his final days with the Patriots. 

So with that in mind and now as more and more comes out about the violent ways of Aaron Hernandez you begin to wonder. Are the Patriots putting to much faith in skillful players? Yes. Is Robert Kraft's belief that he can change troubled players for the better naive, arrogant or even  pathetic? Loosely: yes.

Jaromir Jagr and Andrew Ference "Not returning next season"

"They probably don't want me back.... Maybe if is scored 20 goals this playoff I would be back but I fell 20 short!" ~ Jaromir Jagr

Okay so let me get this straight: you fight so passionately to get Jaromir Jagr yet after a playoff season where he notched 10 assists but no goals you announce he will not be returning next year?! I don't really see you logic there. Nevertheless, for Jagr, this 33 game stint with Boston may end up going down as his last hurrah. In less than a year, Jagr will be 42 and has as of now made his NHL debut over 23 years ago meaning that well, a lot has changed since then. Over the past few years, Jagr's intense scoring touch has tailed off as his once acclaimed 12 year streak of more than 30 goals scored back in 2003, with the exception of a 54 goal campaign in 2005 and a 30 goal season a year later Jagr has failed to surpass 25 goals in 4 seasons since the 30 goals streak died. Nevertheless, as the NHL has changed, so has Jagr's role in the league that he is a part of.  

In 2 seasons, playing for 3 different teams Jagr has scored just 35 times, (that is 10 less than Tyler Seguin) yet in his games played for the Flyers and Stars it has been his power play scoring and work to set up players for goals that has really become the highlight of his game. 73 games for Philidelphea 8 out of his 19 goals were scored on the power play. One year later in 34 games in Dallas this season he put up 6 of his 14 goals on Dallas power plays. Regardless of that, once Jagr transitioned to a more balanced Boston team, his goal scoring completely tapered off as with the exception of a completely all luck, off -the foot goal in his first game as a Bruin the future hall of famer put just one goal past opposing goaltenders. 

After so many years of NHL offensive excellence, 2013 might very well be Jagr's last as a pro hockey player. As great as he is, all good things come to an end, yet nevertheless that same phrase can be applied to yet another Bruin not expected to return next year. 

"With the current cap, Peter [Chiarelli] is not going to be able to keep me," Ference said, referring to the Bruins' general manager. "He's got to resign Tuukka [Rask] and obviously do his side of the business....With the new CBA he is restricted. I wish it wasn't so." ~ Andrew Ference

After being acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames, Andrew Ference has been a key part of the Bruins team despite him very rarely acting as a scoring part of this Bruins offence yet almost always serving as a backup to the shutdown style of Zdeno Chara. Nevertheless unlike the situation Jagr is in, Ference does not need to score to be useful. He blocks shots, he puts shots to the net, and he delivers hits and his team wins hockey games when he does just that and nothing more. 

With that in mind, after the salary cap was lowered following this recent lockout, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli will be forced to make some tough choices that really might not go down as being that tough. With goalie Tuukka Rask as well as Ference both now restricted free agents and the Bruins pressed against the salary cap there will be no way for both Rask AND  Ference to be re-signed for next year begging the question who is more valuable? I got my money on Tuukka. 

Aaron Hernandez arrested: still yet to be read charges

After putting out 4 posts in the span of about 2 and a half days on this subject, I haven't written anything on the Aaron Hernandez situation in about 5 days. Why: because there really hasn't been anything definitive to report. 

Back on the 21st of June, it was reported that a warrant for the arrest of Hernandez had been issued yet mere hours later, that report was forcefully shot down as the local police denied allegations that Hernandez had been charged with "obstruction of justice" 

Nevertheless after 5 days of continued searching and a few various confiscations of evidence, the news surrounding this case blew up as just before 9 am this morning, 5 police officers marched up to the front door of Hernandez' 1.7 million dollar home ringing his buzzer doorbell once before waiting about 5 minutes with no answer from Hernandez. After buzzing the home once again, Hernandez finally came to the door and appeared surprised at the police’s presence as he had no shirt on.

Officers walked into the home handcuffing Hernandez' all before he emerged from the home now with a shirt on and was placed inside the confinement of one of the black police sedans in his driveway. 

Yet less than 2 hours later perhaps the most current piece of news was made. Exactly 90 minutes after the arrest, a statement released on the Patriots website stated the shocking truth that after being drafted deep in the 4th round the star Patriots tight end has been released from the team’s roster simply because "it is the right thing to do".

At this point in time, the charges presented against Hernandez have not been named as he is still yet to be arraigned and is expected to be brought to local court at some point in either the next hour or early afternoon. 

Hernandez was brought into this situation about 9 days ago after a teenage jogger reported finding the bloodied body of a 27 year old semi pro football player who was later identified as a man named Odin Lloyd. As more and more news came out regarding the death, the situation was ruled a homicide, and it was made evident that Hernandez had been drinking with Lloyd the night of his death. 

Hernandez was signed to a 5 year 40 million dollar contract last August.

Red Sox drown Rockies 11-4: First Fenway game between the two teams since 07 world seris

Papelbon on the mound, the 2-2 pitch, swung on and missed! 3rd out of the 9th, 4-3 Boston in the game and now 4-0 in the series, and for the second time in 4 years, the Boston Red Sox were World Champions. Nevertheless that was 6 years ago, and in the half decade or so a lot has changed. Francona is gone, Manny Ramirez, Varatek, Papelbon, they have all moved on to bigger and better places yet one piece of that 2007 World Series was renewed last night. One piece and in fact, the biggest piece of the Sox 07 win was brought back to Boston last night: that piece was the Rockies.

Born the brainchild of John Antonucci the Rockies joined the MLB as part of a 1993, 2 team expansion (the other team that joined that year was the Miami Marlins). In their early years of existence the Rockies struggled as in the 14 years before their 2007 World Sires run they won just one playoff game. Nevertheless that all changed in 2007 when after finishing the year in sole possession of the NL wild card, Colorado stormed through the playoffs going 7 and 0 on their run to the World Sires.

Nevertheless, once the Rockies got to play for the title things changed as in the span of just a few days their perfect record evaporated and the Red Sox managed to strike them out of the World Sires.

Yet now 6 long years later the Rockies have returned to Fenway as the two teams played their first such game together since 2007, in a 9 inning affair last night.

Long story short, the 2013 Sox picked up right where the 07 ones left off. In the blink of an eye the Red Sox exploded as one man in particular who was on that 2007 team exploded carrying his team for the entire duration of the night. 2 runs in the 1st, 3 runs in the 2nd, 2 runs in the 3rd, 1 run in the 4th, 2 in the 7th and 1 in the 8th all amounted to an 11-4 rout of the Rockies.

Just 1 day after Boston was shrouded in sadness defeat and shock after the Hawks dismantled the Bruins in the span of just 17 seconds, the Red Sox picked their city up from the ashes and well sent the Rockies down into the ashes.

The Red Sox have now improved to a 46 and 33 regular season record and have now won 4 more games than the Yankees yet are only 2 and a half games up on the shockingly tight AL east. But regardless of that, the Sox won last night and should they continue to hit like they did on a less than inferior Rockies team these Red Sox will not have a tough time retaining their current position in the playoff race.

Tuukka Rask erasing the pain of Tim Thomas' departure

In the wake of the Bruins Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Blackhawks in addition to now focusing more on the Red Sox, I will be periodically releasing general posts that I will put together into a recap of this 2012-2013 Boston Bruins Conference Championship season. Here is the first of those posts:

It seems like ages ago that after winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years “they pour on to celebrate with Tim Thomas their heroic goaltender” (Doc Emeric NBC). Yet in truth that gleeful day was only a mere 3 years ago. It seems like ages ago that Timmy dove to rob Marten St Louis in game seven of the 2011 conference finals yet in truth that was only 2 weeks before he won the cup in that same season 3 years ago.

Yet now after the ups and down of one of the most storied seasons in NHL history, Tim Thomas Jr is now nothing more than a distant memory. After all that has transpired, Bergeron’s epic clincher in game seven of the Toronto series, the excruciating pain of Chicago’s game six comeback in the Cup Finals. After so much triumph yet so many days of doubt and distaste, a new era of Boston goaltenders has been ushered in. Thomas is gone, but now no one really notices. In 2011 and 2012, fans would rise to their feet and scream “THOMAS!” now when a man, whose face lies shrouded behind the plastic and foam restraint of a goalie mask, when he robs an opposing shooter, the 17,000 faithful fans of their beloved Boston hockey team rise to their feet and yell “TUUUUUUKKA!”

Born 2 years after the Bruins won the cup in 1972, the only time Thomas saw the Bruins win the Stanley Cup was from the blue paint of the Rodgers center as he was a member of that historic team. Nevertheless, Thomas spent 6 years prior to that 2011 win with the Bruins as even though he was drafted by the Avalanche, his low status in the draft meant that he was transferred to the Bruins before he ever played in the Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques system.

Nevertheless, through those 6 years of Bruins goal-tending  all mighty Timmy won the Vesna not once but twice, as he went 196-121-45 through 378 career regular season games. Yet once the calendar flipped into 2012 Thomas seemed to throw all that down the drain all with a slew of controversy and strange habits. Less than 23 days after the first day in 2012 Thomas skipped on the traditional visit to the white house following a cup win stating.

"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL. This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"

From that point on, Thomas was never the same as over the course of that quick 7 game exit at the hands of the Capitals he allowed 16 goals with a less then Thomas like 2.14 GAA. And that was not even all of it. Less than 2 weeks after the Joel Ward goal that eliminated the Bruins from playoff contention Thomas announced via Facebook that he planned to sit out the entire duration of this 2012-2013 NHL season.

So here was his chance, Tuukka Rask who had been waiting in the wings ever since his 2010 Bruins were bounced in the second round after the Flyers epic 3-0 series comeback, was going to be the starter yet as the lockout dragged on questions began to develop. “Is Tuukka Rask really the starter the Bruins need?” Nevertheless those questions soon evaporated as Rask dominated his opponents going 7 and 1 in the month of February playing 8 of his best games of his career that month. Yet from then on, Rask seemed to flop as he among the rest of his team literally fell apart in the ensuing month of March, going 4 and 7 allowing 24 goals and a less than perfect GAA of 2.18.

Yet much like he did to start the year, once the Bruins got out of the first round and marched into their second round Rangers series Rask literally set the league on fire as with the exception of a game 4 OT loss, Rask allowed just 6 goals through 4 games. Yet even then people still questioned Tuukka’s starting ability and while you could make that strange case then, Rask made anyone who doubted him look foolish as he and his team marched through the Conference Finals allowing just two goals against and posting not one but 2 shutouts.

It seemed the largest blemish in Rask’s spectacular postseason was when it mattered most. In that pivotal game 4 match-up in the cup finals, Rask allowed 6 goals against all in a game that should it have ended with a Boston win would have put Rask and company just one win away from winning the cup.

Fact is the bruins fell just 2 wins short of winning the cup this year and even when they watched tears welling in their eye’s as Chicago celebrated their 5^thChampionship in franchise history Bruins fans finally realized that these gut wrenching loses were not to be pinned on the likes of “Tuuuuukka”. Instead mighty Rask must be praised for what he did for the Bruins as without his calming presence on the back end, there is no way on earth these Boston Bruins would have done what they have these playoffs.

So after 69 games (including playoffs) in a season that for many teams ended after 48 matchups, here’s to a man who will finally get the credit he deserves. Here’s to screaming Tuuuuuuukaaaa for many years to come, here’s to the man between the pipes, here’s to Tuukka Mikael Rask

No Next Game: Bruins and Hawks play historic game six, Hawks win Stanley Cup

For the first time since January 19th there is no tomorrow.

For the first time in what seems like ages, there will be no "next game" no next meeting for Tuukka Rask rebound, no next meeting for Luchic to wake up and be more physical. For the first time in what seems like ages, the Bruins have lost loss that sting more than any other. At exactly 10:52 eastern time, the Chicago Blackhawks eliminated the Boston Bruins from the Stanley Cup Finals. This one is going to hurt for a long time.

Last night was really a what goes around comes around night for the Bruins I mean with a 1 goal lead with 1:30 left in the game who would have thought that Chicago would score to tie the game then blast one in to take the lead just 17 seconds later. But then again who imagined that in the final minutes of game seven against Toronto the Bruins would be able come back and tie the game to win in OT. Regardless of that, this series and this playoff season began as one of epic comebacks an unexpected wins and losses meaning that it is only fitting for it to end that way.

Opening the scoring just 7 into the game, Bruins Tyler Seguin and Chris Kelly snapped into a marginal 2 on one with 4 Hawks racing back into the play. Now with 2 Hawks in front of the crease Tyler Seguin somehow managed to shoot the puck across to Kelly who, with the puck on his stick, didn't miss. The Bruins were up one nothing going into the second frame but it could have been far worse for the Blackhawks as in the first 20 minutes of the game, Cory Crawford was spectacular literally robbing the game for Chicago.

Nevertheless, while Crawford was making the stops, just under 5 minutes into the second period he was finally given some scoring support. After a bad pass by Zdeno Chara right as time expired on a Boston power play, Johnathon Toews took the puck up ice and ripped one through the five hole to Tuukka Rask to tie the game and one and plan a seed of doubt in Boston's bench.

The game was tied and while it would remain that way for the reminder of the second period, about 13 minutes left in the period that tie would be broken all by Milan Lucic. With David Krejci camped out behind the Chicago net, Milan Luchic  rotated to the front as Krejci lofted the bouncing puck in the direction of his hard hitting teammate. Settling the pass, Lucic took his time before smacking the puck along the post past Crawford and in for a 2-1 lead.

Was this what it would take for the Bruins to win game six? Nope. As close as they were, as close as the Boston Bruins were to repeating history and forcing Game Seven, last night was a game of, like I said before, what goes around comes around and also one of nearly every negative emotion on the face of the earth.

I do not need to repeat what many already know but regardless of that I will. With Boston up by one with a minute and 30 seconds left on the clock, Brian Bickell took a pass off the pads from Jonathon Toews and smacking the shot in past Rask to tie the game at 2. "So okay game goes to overtime" one thought as the time continued to tick off the clock, but Less than 20 seconds later we were proven wrong. At exactly 10:52 time seemed to stop as Doc Emeric screamed in shock, announcing the this game had flipped into Chicago's favor. At exactly 10:52 the Bruins season might as well have been regarded as over. I mean we all knew that while the Bruins had made epic comebacks before, but when the Hawks took the lead in the third you knew this game was over.

Over the next few weeks, consolation will be a word that will get thrown around like a beach ball in Boston. But one underlying fact remains the same. Second place is not first. Little kids across the world don't dream of going to the Olympics and winning the silver medal: they dream of snagging to gold. And when you play hockey you play to win the Stanley Cup not just play in it.

Bruins game six preview: What it will take for the Bruins to force game seven

Desperation. One word to summarize every single one the Bruins coaches roster members and fans will be speaking tonight. One kind of motivation the Hawks will look to cancel out tonight. But one word the Bruins have become amazingly familiar with. In the 3 years, 9 different series and a total of 52 playoff games, the Bruins have played a total 7 elimination games yet they have lost just one. Nevertheless, the Bruins will be playing only their 2nd elimination game of the playoffs tonight and when you think about it they came just 52 seconds away from losing that first elimination game of the playoffs to a team without a doubt inferior to the Hawks. Winning tonight will be no easy task for the Bruins but regardless of that, if Boston falls short for a 3rd straight game, there will be no next game. If the Boston Bruins loose tonight the Toronto comeback, the Lunquvist dismantling and the Pittsburgh sweep will all be for not, if the Boston Bruins loose tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks will be Stanley Cup Champions again. Here's how they can keep the Hawks from doing that. 

1) Tuukka Rask needs to steal the game  

It seems crazy to ask Rask to do anything more for this team but regardless of that he will need to play one of the best games of these playoffs for the Bruins to win as when you think about it, it might take yet another shutout for the B's to win this one. 

2) Patrice Bergeron must be healthy enough to make an impact 

There's no arguing, Chara may be the captain but Patrice Bergeron is the rock that drives this entire Bruins team. Yet he went down midway through the second period of game 5 the Bruins seemed to lose the will to win. As crazy as it seems, tonight's game might be as simple as this: if Patrice Bergeron plays, the Bruins might win, if Patrice Bergeron sits out, the Bruins might lose. 

3)  Bruins defense needs to limit Chicago's shots to the perimeter

It’s a fact, the Bruins cannot will not win game six if they allowed more than 2 goals and it’s a fact, Tuukka Rask will not allow more than 2 goals if Chicago cannot get bodies of the front of the net. So with that in mind the Bruins defense's role is simple. Do not worry about scoring goals, simply hit Chicago and own the blue line. Don't let them get behind you and most importantly if anyone gets in front of Tuukka Rask, chuck that Blackhawk to the ice. 

4) Bruins must limit neutral zone turnovers 

It has been a presence all series long. Bruins taking the puck up the ice give the puck up to the Hawks who take it up the ice and punch the puck past Rask. You see at best, Tuukka Rask can stop 2 thirds of the breakaways the Hawks manage and when you think about it if they snatch up 4 or 5 in Game Six which really isn't that far-fetched that would be around 2 goals right there. The Bruins must eliminate those neutral zone turnovers. 

5) Jaromir Jagr, Brad Marchand or Tyler Seguin needs to have a good game

It’s that simple, the Bruins under preforming stars must score. Nothing more nothing less; put the puck in the back of the net. 

1,500 up: Dare devil Nik Wallenda captures the attention of a nation by walking across a tightrope over the grand canyon, all on live national television

"This walk, 5 football fields long, it doesn't make since in you mind. I look at this, that's 1500 feet high but there's no cars over there, there's no people over there, nothing to kinda relate to so you cant grasp the magnitude of it.....Definitely the first couple steps are the hardest, the anticipation, the hard part of doing live TV is waiting for the director to say go!..... Once I get on that wire I get very peaceful, as long as that cable is engineered properly, I hear crowds, I hear people in the audience and I really focus on that" ~ Nik Wallenda 

Right as the clock struck 8 o'clock a 34 year old 193 pound man named Nik Walenda stepped out on to a 1 quarter mile long taut cable all sitting above a 1,500 foot deep section of the mighty Grand Canyon. 40 pound balancing pole in hand, everyday jeans covering his legs and with a bright blue air wicking shirt emblazoned with the Discovery Channel logo he captivated the minds of a nation as five different cameras watched his labored steps and cringed as their stomachs churned and they ears registered Nik's anxious pleading for Jesus to "calm the winds and keep the wire steady."

Nevertheless, once the sickening shots of Nik's middle aged body rampant against a gray sky and a jagged background of brown and orange cliff walls were finally pulled from the air, morphing into images of Wallenda running the last few feet of the walk, jumping from the cable and kissing the ground as he passionately hugged his gathered family and friends you could finally stop holding your breath long enough to ask: who is this man? 

Born a 7th generation member of the "Flying Wallendas", Nik resides in Sarasota Florida and has been tightrope walking at age 13 as he had already joined his family in multiple high wire pyramids before making his wire walking solo debut in the early 2000's. According to Wallenda, in the years leading up to the commencement of his career, he would train with his family as his dad would pelt him with dodge-balls and him mom would occasionally shoot him with BB guns to help him learn how to deal with distractions. 

Nevertheless, after 34 years, his family has given him countless gifts far more useful than the bruises and welts from BB rounds colliding with his skin. They have given him the knowledge of history, the pure legacy of the greatest group of dare devils in recorded history. For over 200 years now the most trademark aspect of a Wallenda stunt, has been the sheer fact that for the pro-former of the stunt the only thing preventing them from falling to their death is the 2 inch wire on which their feet trek. 

"Safety nets offer a false sense of security, the only sure fire way to stay safe on a wire is to stay on the wire."              

Nevertheless while that quote to live by may work most of the time, it is not flawless and in 1978, that sometimes flawed belief was showcased in a terrible way. On that day, a 73 year old, Karl Wallenda the great grandfather of Nik was caught stuck in the middle of a wobbly wire. Attempting to sit down, Karl's ageing body slipped, falling 121 feet to his inevitable death. 

"He is my number one role model in life; he is the greatest wire walker to ever walk the earth."  Nik has said time and time again yet last night, the spotlight was not on the memory of Karl, last night the weight of the earth's eyes was on Nik as for 22 minutes he walked the hardest quarter mile a human could walk. 

Nik Wallenda is an athlete, a son, a wife, a figure of bravery and now the only man on earth to wire walk across the Grand Canyon. 

Strange call in 8th inning of Sox Tigers game sinks Boston late: Tigers win 7-4

Things don't always turn out the way they seem. Before the Red Sox could even secure a single out in the bottom of the 8th inning of a 4-4 tie game, a reasonably easy fly ball shot in the direction of Danial Nava seemed to be caught by the speeding right fielder but was called a drop by the second base umpire allowing a double to the Tigers lead off man. Don Orsillo groaned, Nava screamed, and John Farrell came racing out of the dugout all to get ejected mere seconds later for arguing.

"When you spend the rest of the gamein the clubhouse, you have a difference in opinion. Clearly the call was missed, he caught it and he drops it on the transfer..... kinda weird that you could clearely see it from the dugout and three umpires didn't see it. The 2nd base umpire shouldn't be making that call and its the fault of the 1st base ump that he didn't make that call." Farrell said about a half hour after the loss. "Every game is tough to loose."

Yet as things progressed the situation rapidly went for bad to worse for the Sox as on the very next batter, a ball grounded back to Andrew Bailey on the mound could not be played correctly meaning that Bailey's ensuing rushed throw sailed over the bag forcing supplemental 1st basemen Dustin Pedroia leap into the air yet failed to come down in time to notch the out. The bases were loaded and as Detroit continued to fight to gain a lead they finally broke through off a sac fly deep to center field. Nevertheless, 2 runs later the Sox finally notched that crucial 3rd out off a wonderful double play.

Yet by then, the damage had been done and while Boston would get one run back off a Joney Gomes double, a diving catch  by Torii Hunter would eventually seal the fate for the Sox. 

"Playing the Red Sox, its playoff atmosphere, I mean if were gonna face them in the playoffs, might as well battle during the regular season." Hunter said post-game. 

Bruins Blackhawks game 5 recap: Chara scores but Bruins fall 3-1 off 2 goals by Patrick Kane

For the first 2 periods of last nights game 5 with Chicago, the Blackhawks dominated yet in the blink of an eye they went from ripping apart the Bruins to fighting for their life with just a 1 goal lead.

The Bruins fell 2-1 to the Hawks last night (not including an empty netter late in the 3rd) yet for the entire first period, the Bruins were literally doing everything that they hadn't done in game 4. Fore-checking, back-checking, really every kind of checking and you know what it was working. 11-8 in shots in favor of Boston, hit after hit against Chicago and once again quite a few vital saves for Tuukka Rask were all glorious facets of a pretty acceptable first period for Boston, that is until Patrick Kane did what he does best.

With 2:34 left in the first, Johnney Oduya of the Hawks caught Kane riding towards the front of the Boston net. Looking for a rebound, Oduya blasted the shot on nets right as Dennis Sidenberg for the Bruins dove in front looking to block the shot. Not getting all of it, Sidenberg only slowed it down fooling Rask and preventing him from freezing the puck all with Kane literally breathing down his neck. With just 2:33 left in the first, the Blackhawks were up by one, but nevertheless while Chicago did have the lead, anyone who has watched this series so far couldn't help but think, "yeah the Bruins could come back."

But regardless of that, just 5 minutes into the following 2nd period, that deficit that the Bruins would have to erase would end up getting doubled by yet another Patrick Kane dart. With 5:13 elapsed in the 2nd frame, and the Bruins pressing for an equalizing goal, a marginal 3 on 2 developed up ice all as Nathan Horton fought to get back into position. Brian Bickell delivered the shot pass right to the stick of Johnathon Toews who's ensuing shot was padded away by Rask. Rotating around the back of the net, Toews slid it back to the front of the net where mighty Kane smacked it home for his second of the game and 3rd goal in 2 games. 

Nevertheless, the Bruins had crawled out of 2 goal holes before, (they did it twice in Game 4 to send it to OT) so like the attitude at the conclusion of the first period, when Chicago got out of the second frame still up by two, Bruins fans watching last nights game neglected to let go of their hollow insistence of "yeah the bruins can STILL come back."

Nevertheless, when it was pointed out by Piere McGuire that Patrice Bergeron had not played since a very short shift in the second period, your heart sank. The Bruins were now without Mr Money himself yet as has been true all playoff long when the star goes down all that does is showcase Boston's insane

depth offensively.

With the game clock reading 16:27 to go in the third period, and with Zdeno Chara working the blue line the rebound of a great shot by the Bruin captain was picked up and played by David Krejci via a mighty saucer pass back to Chara who easily wristed in under the crossbar of the Chicago net.

The Bruins had scored and as time winded down an aura of pressure began to radiate out of Boston's beloved hockey team yet as they rifled shot after shot on Crawford and none went in you could since that the Bruins were beginning to panic. Regardless, the Bruins came just inches away from tying the game with mere minutes left on the clock. After an easy takeaway at center, Brad Marchand of the Bruins forcefully took control of the blue line an accelerated his line into a threatening 3 on 3 rush on Crawford. With Jager on his right Marchand slid the puck to the 41 year old future hall of famer who fired the shot on goal only to be blocked by a diving Brandon Saud. 2:33 left in the game and with the puck dribbling back towards the Chicago goal, Danial Pallie, scorer of 2 game winning goals already in this series, swung frantically at the puck only to have his potential tying goal blocked by the right pad of Cory Crawford.

In the span of just 2 games the Bruins went from harboring a chance to take a 3-1 series lead to, after two consecutive losses finding themselves now just 1 loss away from being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Finals.

In just over a day, the Bruins and Blackhawks will begin game six each team harboring one simple intention. For Chicago: win the game therefor winning the cup. For the Bruins: don't let that happen.

Soderberg to skate on 4th line: The issues holding Soderberg back

In July of 2007, Carl Soderberg was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Hannu Tonivonen, a Bruins goalie who played a total of 38 games for the big club over two seasons. A little less than 6 years later, secured a multi-year deal to officially bring Soderburg onto their roster. 2 days after that, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association blocked the deal basically saying "HE'S MINE!". In the immediate wake of that, Soderburg came right back refusing to play for any Swedish team therefore forcing the SIHF to allow the trade to go through. 

So after all that why did we fight so hard for this guy? After a total of 5 seasons as a Swedish Elite League player, Soderburgh was widely regarded as the Sidney Crosby of Swedish Hockey. 143 goals, to compliment a career points total of 382. Yet once he crossed oceans something changed. In the 6 games he played for the Bruins this year, Soderburg did basically nothing save for 2 meager assists in games against 2 teams that failed to make the playoffs this year (Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers). Through those six games, Soderberg managed just 6 shots on goal and was a minus three in the  +/-  category. What up with that? 

Well here you go. Reason number one: goalies and defenders are better in the NHL then they are in the SEL, it’s just a  fact you go from a seemingly amateur league where it's champion could easily be beaten by the Calgary Flames to a league where those same Flames went 19-25-4 last year there is going to be a drop-off  No argument there.  

Reason number two: rink size. With a width of 100 feet and a length of 200 feet, the SEL's 20,000 square feet of ice, is almost 3,000 square feet larger than that of the NHL's rinks. With those boards now closer together, things were completely thrown off for poor Soderberg as the puck bounces faster, players are on you faster and really everything is faster.  

In his first 6 games as an NHL'er, his adopted league has not treated Soderberg well. Regardless when the line combinations for tonight's game five of the Cup Finals came out it was Soderberg that was in and in a surprising move it was Jager that would be sitting out. In just a few hours, Carl Soderberg will be inserted into the game of his life, playing on the 4th line of a Boston Bruins team that will be playing for a win that would put them just 1 win away from a Stanley Cup Championship. How bout that for nerves?

Go Bruins #Burythebrid 

The case for using backups in playoff games: Why Anton Khudobin should have started a playoffs game this year

                                                               

Anton Khudobin, Ray Emery. Two guys that proved themselves admirably during the regular season yet still cannot manage to secure a start in these playoffs. Not to diminish the success of guys like Tuukka Rask or Cory Crawford but  when you look back at the first 3 rounds of the playoffs there are countless instances where you would have a pretty good argument to say, why on earth would a coach be so stubborn as to stick to their "starting" goaltender.

The Pittsburgh, Boston series: now granted at that point their backup (Marc Andre Flurry) wasn't very good but nevertheless, after allowing 9 goals in the first 2 games alone, one would assume that Flurry would be given the right to start game 3. Wrong! Vocoun started both game 3 and 4 as the Penguins went on to be swept out of the playoffs.

The Philadelphia Boston series back in 2009, a series now immortalized as the first time in a long time that a pro sports team came back from a 3-0 series deficit to win in a 7th game. At that point in time, Tuukka Rask was the Bruins starter yet even after winning the first 3 games of that year's semifinal, the Bruins collapsed surrendering 5 goals in game 4 to allow the Flyers to at least for a time stave off elimination. So okay, when you have a 3-0 its not terrible to have an off day yet when Boston was blasted 4-0 in game five then you got to wonder if it was time for a change. Also, just a little addition to that, Tim Thomas was the backup that year. Imagine what could have happened if the Bruins had played Thomas in any of the 4 games in with the Flyers instituted their comeback? Well chances are the Bruins would have snagged that crucial 4th win in that series meaning that they would have moved on to the conference finals to play... the Montreal Canadians who they would beat in the playoffs one year later. Who knows, if the Boston Bruins had deviated from their struggling Tuukka Rask Boston could have gone to the cup in 09, imagine that. 

So the evidence is there that coaches are more stubborn when it comes to playoff starters but why? I mean we have all witnessed the ongoing saga of Luango or Schneider in Vancouver where whenever a guy even loses a single game his job is in jeopardy yet when Tuukka loses his mind in the 2009 2010 playoffs even with a guy who won the Vesna that same year breathing down his neck coach Claude Jullian never pulls him. 

So here we are in 2013, Tuukka Rask fresh off perhaps the worst game of his season and Cory Crawford looking to rebound after a almost equally terrible outing you got to wonder is a change in net imminent? Well not for Boston.

You see while Rask did allow on more goal then Crawford did back in game 4 when you look through the 11 tallies in that game all had different themes if you will. All but 1 of the goals scored on Rask were either through intense screens or hopeless 2 on ones while for Crawford, all but the Bergeron goal at the end of the second period were ones where Crawford was square to the shooter and really had no business letting in.  

In addition to that while when you look at regular season stats it is true that the Bruins backup Anton Khudobin is probably not a Stanley Cup caliber goalie, the Hawks bench warmer Ray Emery is. In the 19 games Emery played this season he allowed just 36 goals to complement a 17-1-0 win-loss-OT loss record. 

So Emery: a guy who allowed 5 or more goals just once all year, or Crawford: a guy who once allowed 6 goals in back to back games and someone who allowed 5 in game 4 alone. I'd pick Emery.  

It's a strange truth that to an outsider is difficult to understand. Nonetheless, when you think about it for some strange reason this strange flood of league wide coaching stubbornness seems to pay off as each of the last 3 Stanley Cup champions have had the same goalie in every single one of their playoff games. 

So with that knowledge, let’s all just hope that Ray Emery starts game 5 :)

Andrew Bailey continues to struggle: John Farrell "change in closer imminent"

“It’s hard, man. But the hardest thing is to watch a guy like Bailey struggle. That guy has a lot of enthusiasm and he works hard. He goes out there with an attitude. It’s just hard to watch him like this.” ~ David Ortiz

What is wrong with Andrew Bailey? At the beginning of the year he was spectacular, stealing the job for main closer right out of the grasp of former all-star Joel Hanrahan.  3 months later he has collapsed blowing 3 saves in 5 opportunities.

Nevertheless he has had his high points. In the entire month of April, a total of 12 innings pitched for Bailey, the closer notched 5 saves and allowed just 2 runs on 6 hits. In May, his success was no different: 1 for 1 in save opportunities as the Sox went 3 and 0 in games in which he was inserted into. Nevertheless once the calendar flipped into June things turned ugly for Bailey. 8 games, 5 different teams yet 3 blown saves, and a June ERA of 9.00 have all basically shot him out of the sky.

"I'm just not being myself out there. I've got to pitch better." Bailey said last night after surrendering a walk off home run for the Tigers that prompted play by play man Don Orsillo to yell "This is a problem for the Red Sox!"

Yet while the fact that Bailey has basically forgot how to pitch cannot be ignored, this recent slump may not have been entirely his fault. You see while, all season long we have been singing the praises of John Farrell, a Red Sox manager who has picked his team up from the doldrums of baseball, he has made a quite a few questionable decisions of late posing the question does he have TO much faith in his asserted closer?

To back up that theory you don't have to look very far as, as recent as June 10th, Bailey's first blown save in this lowly month of June, the evidence of over confidence is clear. The 10th inning: after being put in for the 9^th inning, Clayton Mortonson excelled, throwing 12 strikes on 15 pitches and was expected to return for the 10th. Nevertheless with Boston up by two going into the bottom of the inning, Farrell automatically called in Bailey who promptly allowed 3 walks and 2 hits to tie the game at 8 and caused Bailey to allow just his 2nd blown save of his 2013 season.

Yet that wasn't even the worst of it. 3 games later with the Sox up 1-0 in the top of the ninth, Felix Dubront had been on fire and was still in the game as he hoped to complete a 3 hit no walk shutout. Yet after pitching one of the best games of his career, Dubront was pulled and in came Bailey. Long story short, one home run later, the game was tied and Bailey had blown yet another save.  

Last night was no different. With the Sox up once again, Farrell pulled a pitcher who was on a roll all to put in his struggling closer. The only difference was this time when Bailey allowed a 2 run homer, it was in the bottom of the ninth inning meaning that once that ball left the yard this game was over.  

Warrant issued for the arrest of Aaron Hernandez: The police don't like it when you mess with their evidence

Lesson number one: when the police list you as a possible suspect in a homicide case, don't mess with their evidence.

Simple, right? Well apparently Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez didn't get that memo and now he is going to be arrested for it.  

It seems like months ago when this all began: a semi pro football player, Odin Lloyd is found in an industrial park with a bullet wound through his head. As things quickly developed, the case was linked back to Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez via a rental car under his name, before, 24 hours later it was reported that for almost three hours, Massachusetts State Police descended on the home where Hernandez lives picking through undergrowth on both sides of the as well as moving inside the home and returning a few hours later with a large box. 

And then there was Thursday. From sunrise on, Hernandez' home was a media circus as it was soon reported that while a cell phone was given to the police as evidence, it was "in pieces." But that's wasn't even the worst of this all. As you may assume, this near muti million dollar residence was, leading up to this homicide, livid with an intense security system. The keyword in sentence: was. Immediately after officers left his house it was reported that Hernandez had destroyed his security system as well as hired a team of professional cleaners to scrub his house. The police of course did not like that.  

At this point in time it has been widely confirmed that a warrant for the arrest of Aaron Hernandez has been issued all based on a charge of obstructing justice. Now what does this mean for Hernandez? Obviously, the past few days for Patriots fans have not been fun as for almost 4 years now, Hernandez has been a monster compliment to the killer scoring punch of fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski. Nevertheless, while having a warrant for your arrest is never a good thing, the situation could be worse for Hernandez as he could already be deemed lucky for not having additional charges pinned against him. 

As said before, police did remove a box from Hernandez' home and while we don't know what was in that box an additional piece of prime evidence has recently been made public. According to officials, Lloyd and Hernandez had been good friends for several years and were seen partying in a bar just hours before Lloyd was murdered.  

It confirmed via a text sent out by Lloyd, that the 4 men supposedly left the bar in the same car all destined for Hernandez' home.  According to a Fox 25 report released a few hours after Hernandez was linked to the murder, "It is unclear where the car went or what happened during the ride, but according to the source only three men returned to Hernandez’s home at the end of the night and Lloyd was not one of them." 

So: you have the homicide case but still Hernandez should be counting his blessings that he is only getting sued for an incident outside a Miami club that resulted in Hernandez allegedly shooting a man in the face causing the loss of an eye.  

I have said it once and I'm going to say it again. Aaron Hernandez is in some real trouble and this time it’s because the police don't like it when you mess with their evidence. 

Aaron Hernandez case once again developing: tight end is "destroying evidence" according to ABC

Okay so let’s get this straight: Aaron Hernandez is not legally allowed to carry a gun, he has shot a man in the face and is getting sued for it, Aaron Hernandez seems to have gone on a destructive spree and appears to be attempting to hide or destroy evidence linked to the homicide he is assumed to be involved in. Long story short, this 245 pound NFL star is a mess. 

In a report published by ABC sports earlier today, it was reported that Hernandez stopped cooperating with police and even after police requested possession of his phone; while it was given to them it was broken and pulverized by supposedly Hernandez. To compliment that, addition details have surfaced surrounding even more unnerving attempts to destroy evidence. Immediately after being notified that the police held a search warrant, Hernandez ran through his house, breaking the screens and lenses of his vast security system which supposedly held many hours of surveillance video. In addition to that reports have been made that over the weekend, a team of house cleaners were hired to scrub his house. Wow. 

Regardless of it all as more and more attention is directed at Hernandez' current and past actions you begin to wonder, why on earth did the Patriots draft this guy. As many hard core Pats fans have known for a long time now, in the days leading up to the 2010 draft in which Hernandez was drafted in the 4th round, it was reported that Hernandez had failed multiple drug tests relating to Marijuana use yet even then the Pats drafted him. Next in line is the fact that even before we knew about the marijuana it was widely reported that  Hernandez had a gun problem. 

In 2007 after his team lost a college football game to Auburn, Hernandez was interview in yet another possible homicide that was linked to his name. And even there things are still just getting started. 

Of course there is the Miami law suit. A man claiming he was shot in the face by Hernadez back in February yet for some reason he is only fighting along the grounds of a civil law suit and still has not pressed charges against the Patriot tight end. And now reports are surfacing surrounding obvious gang affiliations centered around a Providence incident where he was caught illegally carrying a gun.   

Nevertheless is is this current homicide case that has him in real trouble. If Hernandez is in fact taken to court, he could be charged with any number of crimes. Conspiracy, gang violence, illegal possession of a firearm, homicide, obstructing a police investigation, harboring fugitives but that's not all. Even if Hernandez somehow worms his way out of all this, he will run right into the grasp of NFL commissioner Rodger Godell. 

Rodger Godell a commissioner, dubbed by the radio show "Felger and Mazz" on 98.5 The Sports Hub, a "law and order" commissioner will inevitably dish out some major suspensions and fines surrounding the incident. Long story short, for Aaron Hernandez, there is no escape. 

 I have said this time and time again but I'm going to repeat it again, Aaron Hernandez is in some huge trouble all because it is illegal to shoot people. 

You wanted goals, YOU GOT EM!: Bruins and Blackhawks put up 11 in game 4 win for Chicago

Coming into last night's Game 4 between the Bruins and Hawks the two teams had combined for 12 goals through the first 3 games. After last night, that goals scored total had nearly doubled.

Playing the highest scoring cup finals game since, Game 5 of the 2010 championship, the Hawks and Bruins tallied 11 goals, scoring 5 in the 2nd period alone. Leader-boards were shattered, trends were broken yet above all the Hawks managed a much needed win last night to get them back into the series and turn this Cup Finals into a best of 5 series.

Opening the scoring just under 7 minutes into the game Chicago finally broke through on a power play. The only problem was it was Boston's power play. 

Regardless, after an interference minor assessed to Johnny Oduya and the Hawks on the kill, a costly giveaway for Bruin winger Tyler Seguin led to a weak 2 on 1 rush for the Hawks. Racing over the blue line with Chara in defense, the two on one continued to develop and right as the puck was slid along the hash marks, a pass was sent along to Hawk Michael Handzus who promptly roofed the shot over Rask to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. 

As time went on, Boston pressed, fighting back before finally breaking through on the power play goal by  Rich Peverly.

With mere seconds to go on a crucial late period odd man situation, and with the puck blocked down at the line, the shot was fired into a pile of 3 penalty killers crowding around the right circle. Yet another bad clearance by the Hawks allowed Bruin center Rich Peverly to pinch in and fire a seemingly confusing shot past Crawford all to tie the game with 5 minutes to go in the 1st. For only the second time this playoff season, Rich Peverly had scored and while at that point in time it seemed that, like the previous few games, this game would be one of defensive battles and hard hitting: it wasn't.

Through a mega 5 goal exchange in the 2nd period, Chicago would come out on top as even after a Patrice Bergeron power play goal with under 3 minutes to go in the frame they held onto a 4-3 lead going into the final 20 minutes of the game.

"You know we did have a chance" Peverly said regarding their position going into the 3rd, and really, that chance only got greater when like he did at the end of period two Patrice Bergeron struck again. 

Puck in the corner, dropped back to Seguin and with Bergeron rotating towards the top of the circles,  the pass was returned to him in a near golden feed that would inevitably result in a goal. Neglecting to touchthe puck until he shot it, Bergeron ripped a quarter slap-shot past a diving Cory Crawford to tie the game at 4.

But Chicago was not done yet. About 10 minutes after the Bergeron goal, Blackhawks break through yet again this time scoreing on THEIR power play. Nevertheless, much like the various ties and leads held by these two teams throughout last night’s contest, that 3rd period advantage would end up being short lived as, less than a minute later, Johnny Boychuck served one to Chicago tying the game with about 8 minutes to go. 

Now eventually, that game got into overtime and even while, eventually, Brent Seabrook would end the day, smile on his face and teammates crowding around him all after winning game 4 for Chicago, you got to give Boston credit for their admirable resilience. 

The Chicago Blackhawks, still regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the NHL held a 2 goal lead with less than a half hour of play to go in the game. Yet Boston powered back. The Chicago Blackhawks, still regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the NHL even owned a one goal advantage with less than 10 minutes left on the clock but oh! Never mind, a minute later, the lead was erased by a rocket of a shot from Johnny Boychuck.

The Bruins didn't play perfectly last night but they still gave themselves a chance to win the game, and you really hope that after all they have done this isn't the game the breaks their spirit and allows the Hawks to win   the cup.

Lets go Bruins!!! Win game five and #burythebird in game six!!! :)