Jason Haskins's Blog, page 7

Boston Red Sox: Give Jarren Duran his All-Star flowers

 

Expectations for the Boston Red Sox in 2024 mostly were set between abysmal and mediocre. In approaching the midpoint of this season, a winning record for the beloved BoSox has given over to hopes of greater success.

Credit outfielder Jarren Duran as one reason the Red Sox are where they are. And if all goes according to plan, Duran will be rewarded with an All-Star selection in the coming weeks.

In his fourth Major League season, Duran is enjoying his finest output to date. After a tough first two years in the majors, rumblings indicated fans were ready to move on from the outfielder. Too much of a whole lot of nothing came off the bat and in the field. Rightful criticisms, to be sure, but rushed considering the inexperience.

Patience by Duran and the Red Sox has paid off. Signs of improvement arrived in '23 and now, in '24, Duran is ready to have the last laugh.

Having an All-Star season

In 2021 and 2022, Duran was a part-time player who hadn't quite grasped play at the big-league level. He hit in the low .200's and in 91 games struck out 103 times. Coupled with some questionable play and mental lapses in the outfield, one wondered if Duran would rise to meet expectations.

Then, in 2023, Duran started to put it all together. 

It was a season cut short in August thanks to a turf toe injury that required surgery. Prior, Duran enjoyed his best season to-date, where he excelled in the leadoff spot and hit .295. Duran played in 102 games and hit 34 doubles and swiped 24 bases.

In 2024, Duran is on pace to shatter all previous career-highs.

The speedster has played in all of Boston's 80 games and leads the team in batting average (.288), hits (96), runs (55), doubles (23), and triples (10). Duran is second in stolen bases with 20 and has seven home runs to go along with 37 RBI.

In making the case of an All-Star selection, these numbers also put him among some of the best in baseball. Duran is fifth overall in hits and tops in triples. In the American League, Duran is tied for first in doubles, third in hits, tied for fourth in stolen bases, tied for sixth in runs, and is ninth in batting average.

The month of June has seen Duran up his game even more. A 14-game hitting streak only recently came to an end. Thanks in part to 13 multi-hit games in June, Duran raised his average by 31 points.

Duran has been special so far in '24 and he is one of a handful of Red Sox players worthy of an All-Star selection.

Boston Red Sox: Other possible All-Stars

Dealing with injuries galore (Triston Casas and Trevor Story, plus too many players to list who have missed at least some games), the worst could have been expected for the Red Sox. Instead, they have won 11 of 15 and sit eight games back in the A.L. East with a record of 43-37.

Along with Duran, a trio of players are leading the charge in keeping the Red Sox hot.

Rafael Devers was somewhat slow out of the gate and dealt with injuries of his own. But the star has warmed up as of late and looking like the MVP candidate many hope him to be. 

Devers is hitting .285 with 16 home runs, 42 RBI, and 47 runs. The third baseman has a .559 slugging percentage and an OPS of .927. In June, Devers is hitting .300 and has posted an OPS of .984.

Catcher Connor Wong doesn't have quite the eye-popping numbers but he, too, has enjoyed the best season of his career. In 57 games, Wong is hitting .330, collecting 66 hits, 7 home runs, 29 RBI, and has struck out only 42 times in 200 at-bats.

Wong has also achieved greater success behind the plate, throwing out 10 of 29 runners on stolen base attempts (which would be the best percentage of his career if the rate holds).

On the mount, it is starter Tanner Houck who should see an All-Star nod. Houck is 7-5 with a 2.18 ERA, tossing 103.1 innings and 101 strikeouts. Houck has been consistent and allowed only two home runs.

Reliever Brennan Bernardino could get consideration, too, as he has posted a 1.23 ERA. Throwing 29.1 innings, Bernardino struck out 28.

I don't imagine all five will receive All-Star selections. At best, the Red Sox will get three and they could receive only one. Duran has some work to do in the voting, with so many outstanding outfielders in the group. 

Still, it is fantastic to see Duran playing at such a high level at the plate and in the field. Hopefully, the trend continues, and Duran remains a cornerstone of the Red Sox for years to come.

*Update (6/27) - Final results were released and neither Duran or Devers, who were Boston's best shots at being selected, advanced to Phase 2 of voting. Now, they wait things out to be possibly selected as reserves

Next up: Three games at Fenway with the San Diego Padres, starting June 28.

photo credit: Jason Haskins

Boston Celtics: Title town, Al Horford, and banner 18

 

NBA title, meet Al Horford.

In Horford's 17th season and playing in his 186th career playoff game, the tenured forward/center reached the pinnacle of the NBA on June 17. Horford and the Boston Celtics achieved greatness, picking up banner number 18 with a Game 5 victory, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-88.

On their homecourt, after disappointing ends on this very parquet in the 2022 NBA Finals and 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics in 2023-24 left no doubt. A swarming defense, efficient offense, and contributions from starters and bench all defined this title run. Horford wasn't the head of the attack (by measurement of stats) but his leadership and veteran play were on display all season. He was a calming influence in the storm; a storm to rile up the energy.

In a word: perfection.

Claiming their 18th NBA championship capped a fantastic season where the Celtics went 64-18 in the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs. This playoff winning percentage was the second-best of all time, finishing only behind a Golden State Warriors team that went 16-1 in the 2016-17 season.

Spearheaded by a dynamic duo who faced adversity, heavy expectations, and calls for them to be split up, the Celtics earned this championship with honors.

Dynamic duo: Wham, bam, and pow

Find any corner of social media or the talking heads on various sports outlets and you'll find claims of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown never being able to co-exist. That these two players on the same team together will never lead the Boston franchise to a title.

Critics, consider yourselves silenced.

It has been at times a bumpy ride since Brown ('16) and Tatum ('17) joined the Celtics, both as the third overall picks. I am grateful the Celtics rode it out with these two because too often in this day and age, teams are dismantled before truly getting a chance to gel. This was a team teetering on the cusp so often since these two joined forces, reaching six Eastern Conference Finals and now two NBA Finals.

I will openly admit I thought the team(s) from the last two seasons had the players to notch the banner. And I thought the offseason moves heading into this season were sending the Celtics in the wrong direction and would be a detriment to progress rather than helpful.

I am glad I was wrong.

Tatum and Brown were their outstanding selves, each making strides in their game and becoming true leaders this season. Tatum improved defensively and rounded out his offense, keeping teammates engaged while seeing his scoring drop. And Brown proved himself worthy of the huge contract extension in signed in '23.

Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, with Brown contributing 23 points per contest and shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. 

Brown was the most consistent of the duo in the playoffs, but both had their shining moments. Tatum ended up leading the Celtics in playoff scoring at 25 points per game. He also added 9.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists, posted 14 double-doubles, and averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the Finals.

It was Brown who was selected as the MVP Finals, where he averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. Brown struggled from the field in Games 4 and 5 but a huge nod can be given to him on the defensive end in the clincher, where he helped keep Mavericks star Luka Doncic in check.

Tatum and Brown were the focal point but they only helped formed the nucleus and wouldn't have secured a title without the strong play of their teammates.

All-stars, supporting cast rise

Horford stepped into a starting role back in the first round when Kristaps Porzingis exited with a leg injury. Porzingis ultimately worked his way back in the NBA Finals before sidelined by an injury to the other leg.

Both were instrumental to Boston's success.

Horford, almost always on cue, delivered a huge effort when the team absolutely needed it. With the Porzingis injury, Horford averaged 30+ minutes in the playoffs, averaging 9.2 points and 7 rebounds per game.

Porzingis gave the Celtics 57 regular season games and was mostly spectacular, averaging 20.1 points and nearly two blocked shots per game.

Derrick White, outside of Boston fans, often doesn't receive his flowers but his game is instrumental to the Celtics success. Backcourt mate Jrue Holiday is the addition that truly put this team over the edge. His effort on the glass alone in Game 5 could have earned him MVP, where Holiday posted 11 rebounds, most of which on the offensive end.

Holiday also a 26-point, 11-rebound effort in Game 2 and didn't commit a turnover the first three games of the Finals.

A minute, a game, a month, or all year can be singled out among every player on the bench. Not necessary to go that deep into things but Sam Hauser came up huge in Game 5 and Payton Pritchard proved what it means to stay involved mentally, hitting a huge halfcourt shot, only seconds after entering the game.

Xavier Tillman provided strong, valuable minutes in the Finals and Luke Kornet did the same earlier in the postseason. 

The depth fit in perfectly with what this team needed (and apparently non-existent prior to the playoffs, of which I had no idea. Seems like a lot of people didn't watch the Celtics this season). Individuals found ways to contribute, seconds and minutes at a time.

In the end, it was the perfect team for this season. Others who contributed over the years in leading to this moment won't soon be forgotten but recognition belongs to this roster. Years on the brink, the heartache of games gone by, can now be put to rest. Time to revel in the confetti and the joy, the sweat and the tears. To live in the moment of being NBA Champions.

Then?

Back to work, to see if two years in a row will be in the cards. With this roster, anything is possible.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Dallas Mavericks find life in Game 4 wallop over Boston Celtics

 

The emptied the tank in Game 4 on Friday night. Balanced against a Boston Celtics effort that was lackluster and at times disinterested, the makings for a blowout were ripe.

And that's precisely what happened.

Dallas led for the majority of the game and were never really threatened after late in the first quarter, surviving to see another day with a 122-84 victory.

The Mavericks scrapped for every loose ball, dominated the boards 52 to 31, and played exactly like they needed to in staving off elimination.

Boston, on the other hand, was off from the tip in seeing their 10-game playoff winning streak snapped. Cold shooting, bad turnovers, and a step slow on defense all led to their undoing in attempting to secure banner number 18.

Playing only three quarters, Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving combined for 50 points. Dončić posted 29 points, five rebounds, and five assists, with Irving adding 21, four, and six

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 15 points, all coming in the first half.

Dallas, fueled by energetic effort to nearly come back from a huge deficit in Game 3, played a nearly flawless game. The Celtics, however, will be left scratching their heads at being run off the floor.

Mavs out and running

Four lead changes in the early going seemed to point to this game being a close one. Tatum was locked in, as were Irving and Dončić.

Xavier Tillman knocked down two free throws, cutting an early Mavs lead to one, at 15-14. This was the closest the Celtics would be for the rest of the game.

Dallas knocked out a 10 straight points, capping off a stretch where Boston failed to score for 3:07. Three-point shots (2-9) weren't falling and the Mavs gathered a plus ten advantage on the boards.

More of the same repeated in the second quarter, where the Celtics shot only 3-16 from the field. Boston's defense, at this point, was still applying pressure. Long stretches of little offense and foul trouble to Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Al Horford also plagued the Celtics.

Frustrating for Boston, too, were no less than three shots that rimmed out on layups, plus a couple more on three-point attempts.

Dallas, meanwhile, found the offense that made them so successful in this run to the NBA Finals. Dončić pressed the ball forward, offensive rebounding was stellar, and alley oops returned to the Mavs' game.

Dončić had 25 points at halftime, with Irving chipping in 11 and the Mavs held a 61-35 lead.

Brown eight points at the half, on 3 of 10 shooting, with the Celtics only shooting 5 of 19 from deep.

More struggles from Celtics

Energy did not wane for the Mavs while the Celtics were deflated within the opening minutes of the third quarter. Dallas roamed the paint with ease and knocked down a couple of early threes. 

Tatum also picked up his fourth foul at the 10:16 mark. Though he did come back briefly around the six-minute mark, the damage was complete.

The Mavs grew their lead to upwards of 38. Even when the Celtics managed to put in back-to-back buckets, they couldn't find stops and the Dallas momentum train never stopped rolling.

Boston pulled their starters with 3+ minutes remaining and Dallas, who committed zero turnovers in the third quarter, headed into the final frame leading 92-60.

With both teams playing their bench and the game out of reach, Dallas continued to roll on offense. Tim Hardaway Jr. blasted off with four straight three-pointers and the lead swelled to an alarming 48 points.

Dereck Lively II was a force all game, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds (7 offensive). Hardaway finished with 15 points and Dante Exum 10.

Sam Hauser found some positivity in this game, finishing with 15 points. Jrue Holiday added ten but also turned the ball over five times.

Boston, who suffered their first road loss of this postseason, will need to regain some of their physicality if they are to secure the title in Game 5. Dallas picked up theirs and locked up their defense, too. This was a perfect storm of a game and expect things to be much different on Monday night.

Game 5 is set for Monday June 17 in Boston on ABC. 8:30 p.m. (ET)

photo credit: Flickr

Boston Celtics: Complete team effort redux in taking 2-0 lead in NBA Finals

 

One of the outstanding developments in the 2023-24 season for the Boston Celtics is the contributions across the board.

Boston has a dynamic duo who can light up the scoreboard on any given night. But, unlike in season's past, the Celtics don't go only as far as Jayson Tatum's and Jaylen Brown's scoring take them.

This was again on display in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, with five players scoring in double figures to give the Celtics a 105-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Boston picked up their ninth straight playoff victory, having last lost in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. While the Celtics struggled with their outside shots (10 of 39), they came up clutch when needed. Boston also used excellent defense to find quick easy buckets in putting the team two wins from picking up title banner number 18.

Tatum (6 of 22) and Brown (six turnovers) definitely had their frustrating moments throughout the game. Time and again, this season, both have shown off their growth. Tatum nearly had a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high 12 assists. Brown finished with 21 points (on 8 of 15 shooting) and seven assists of his own.

It was the play of Jrue Holiday that carried Boston on Sunday night.

Holiday was a constant recipient of the Mavs focus on Tatum and Brown, finding open shots all night. And Holiday converted, hitting on 11 of 14 shots to finish with a team-high 26 points, locking down a double-double by securing 11 rebounds.

Boston overcame a supreme first half by Luka Dončić. Dončić finished with a triple-double of his own (32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) but it was his first half scoring that had the Mavs rolling early.

First half battle

Dončić, who was questionable with a variety of ailments entering the contest, hit three of his first four shots, helping Dallas to an early seven-point lead.

Despite the Celtics missing their first eight attempts from deep, the Mavs had their own issues on offense, hitting a scoring drought of nearly four minutes. Al Horford finally hit Boston's first three with 3.6 seconds left in the quarter, with Dallas maintaining a 28-25 lead.

The Celtics had some bad turnovers to start the second quarter and Dallas extended their lead to six. Tatum finally found the scoring column, igniting a 9-0 Boston run, part of which saw Derrick White hit a three to give the Celtics their first lead of the game at the 8:01 mark.

Helping matters was another Dallas drought in which the Mavs went nearly five minutes without a point. But they righted the course and battled back and forth the rest of the half, with the second quarter seeing three ties and five lead changes.

A burst at the end of the half gave the Celtics a 54-51 lead at the break.

Dončić posted 23 points by halftime, hitting 9 of 13 from the field. Holiday had 17 at the break, with Kristaps Porzingis coming off the bench to add 10.

Tatum and Brown combined for only 13 first-half points but had 12 assists.

Celtics find second half momentum

Defense held court again in the third quarter. Two quick buckets gave Dallas the lead at 55-54 and the game was tied at 57 after a Daniel Gafford layup.

That, as it turned out, was the last time the two teams would be tied the rest of the way. A Holiday bucket and White three-pointer stretched the lead to five points. Dallas got it back to two but that was the closest the Mavericks would get.

Boston used a 10-0 run to take a 75-63 lead, a stretch where the Mavs nearly went four minutes without scoring. Dallas chipped away, getting the deficit to six before Payton Pritchard banked in a three-pointer to close out the quarter.

The Celtics fourth quarter shooting from deep, plus Pritchard's last-gasp in the third, saw the team finish the game hitting five of their last ten three-point attempts. Boston turned away each Dallas spurt and even extended their lead to 14 with 3:32 left.

Dallas had one final push, closing to withing five at the 1:15 mark. With a chance to close to three under a minute, a blocked shot by White (with some help from Brown) staved off the comeback and provided Boston with the victory.

Free throw shooting provided an edge for the Celtics, hitting 19 of 20 compared to the Mavs, who missed eight of their 24 attempts.

White finished with 18 points and Porzingis 12. Porzingis possibly re-aggravated a calf injury late in the game, so that's a story to keep an eye on in the coming days.

The Mavs had a well-rounded effort from their starting lineup, with all five starters hitting double figures. P.J. Washington finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Gafford added 13 and 9, respectively, with Kyrie Irving scoring 16.

Team efforts like this and finding ways to overcome cold nights from three-point range are among the reasons this Celtics team is better than seasons past. Boston is built different and, despite naysayers, has proven they are the best team in the NBA this season. Now, they are two wins away from putting a stamp on it to make things official.

Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday (June 12) at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on ABC.

photo credit: Flickr

NBA Finals preview: Boston Celtics dancing with Dallas Mavericks

 

Dueling dynamic duos will be at the center of the 2024 NBA Finals, where the Boston Celtics take on the Dallas Mavericks.

In Boston, the "Jays" (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown) have the Celtics back in the Finals for the second time in the last three seasons. On the other bench, the (somewhat) newly minted duo of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving hope to bring the Mavericks their first title since a 2011 championship over the Miami Heat (which was also the franchise's first championship).

A title drought for the Celtics has been longer, last winning the championship in 2008. Here they sit, four wins away from raising banner no. 18 to the rafters, hoping to break a tie with the Lakers for the most all-time in the NBA.

Boston won both regular season contests against Dallas in 2023-24, winning 119-110 and then 138-110 in early March.

Success from the dynamic duos will dictate how each team fares, with plenty of help on either side in determining which franchise walks away champion.

Boston Celtics

The road to the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics has been one of great success, beginning with achieving the league's best record. Boston won each of their first two rounds in five games (over the Heat and the Cavs), then swept the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

For much of the playoffs, they have done so without Kristaps Porzingis, one of the main offseason additions to the club. Porzingis injured his calf in the first-round and has been out since but he expects to play in the Finals, even if not at 100 percent.

Porzingis did miss the first meeting between the clubs in the regular season, scoring 24 points in the later victory.

Tatum had a double-double in the first meeting, with 39 points and 11 rebounds, and added a 32-point, 8-rebound performance in victory number two. Brown scored 59 points in the two games, with Jrue Holiday putting up 17 points, 7 rebounds, and six assists in the first meeting.

Brown and Tatum have been the stars of the playoffs for the Celtics, with Brown selected as the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Brown has been the most consistent during the playoff run, averaging 25 points per game. Against the Pacers, he averaged 29.8 (including a 40-point effort in Game 2) while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. 

Across 14 games in the playoffs, Brown is shooting 54.1 percent. He failed to hit 50 percent in only three games, none of which occurred in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Tatum has seemingly improved with each round and is the team's leading scorer (26 ppg) and rebounder (10.4). For good measure, Tatum is also averaging 5.9 assists per game. 

Shooting the ball has been streaky for Tatum but been better. Overall, Tatum is at 44.2 percent on field goal attempts and 29 percent from deep. Both were better against the Pacers (46.3/30.6), where Tatum averaged 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. 

One concern is turnovers, where Tatum went from having nine in the first round to 13 in the EC Finals.

Holiday and Derrick White continue to prove their worth, with Holiday having his best series against the Pacers. Holiday averaged 18.5 points and shot 58.7 percent from the field. In Games 1 & 2, Holiday was 16 of 23 in going for 43 points.

White has cooled off from his blistering start but still averages 17.8 points per game. In the clincher to send Boston to the Finals, White had 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, three blocked shots and five steals and has 69 assists to only ten turnovers in this year's playoffs.

Al Horford has been as solid as ever averaging 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds, unlocking a huge Game 3 against the Pacers with seven 3's. The core of Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser have seen the most minutes off the bench. Hauser, however, is in a bit of a slump, connecting only once in his last 14 attempts from deep. Luke Kornet, Oshae Brissett, and Xavier Tillman have all contributed throughout the playoffs as well.

The Celtics averaged 111.4 points, shooting 48 percent from the field and 36.8 on three-point attempts in the first three round. Boston pulls down 43.7 rebounds and dishes out 23.6 assists per game.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas delivered similar numbers to the Celtics during their Western Conference run. The averaged 107.9 points per game, shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from deep. The team pulls down 43.1 rebounds with 22.4 assists per game.

The run of the Mavericks to the Finals involved three more games than the Celtics. Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder (each in six games), then took care of the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.

Much of their success has been predicated on the play of their dynamic duo, led by the wonderful play of Dončić.

Aiming for a title in his fifth season, Dončić has been on a triple-double tear, posting six in the postseason. He had two in the meetings with Boston this season, averaging 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists.

In the playoffs, Dončić is putting up 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. The three-point percentage is at 34.3. A little low because of a 4-27 stretch in the final three games of the first round but Dončić hit on 43.4 percent of his attempts against Minnesota.

Irving has been better overall from deep, at 42.1 percent, and is near 50 percent (48.5) from the field. All told, Irving has six games of 30 points or more in the playoffs, averaging 22.8 (upped to 27 against the Timberwolves).

PJ Washington is the only other Maverick who averaged double digits in scoring during the first three rounds. Washington scored 13.6 while also pulling down 6.7 rebounds.

Dereck Lively II is a rising star in these playoffs and can be a huge difference maker, especially if Porzingis is out or limited. Lively is averaging 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, shooting 66.7 percent from the field. Daniel Gafford is also a key component in the paint, shooting 61.4 percent while averaging 9.2 points per game.

Prediction

The Celtics will need to contain Dončić, control the boards (or keep the totals close), and prevent Irving from getting in the paint. More importantly for Boston, I think it's about limiting the damage the role players for the Mavs. Dončić is going to do his thing, and it will take throwing multiple defenders his way to slow him down.

In response, Dallas will need consistent play from a third (and perhaps fourth) player to stand a chance and keep Boston's defense honest. The Mavericks will also need to do their best to not let Boston's other stars shine because Tatum and Brown will get their points.

Porzingis is an x-factor, though only in how far this series goes. I feel his return and health, even playing at 80 percent and 20 minutes per game, will make this a quick series. And if he's out, or only available for a few games, then this might be a series. But the signs seem to be pointing to this being the year of the Celtics. Boston in six

Game 1 is set for June 6 in Boston, with tip-off at approximately 8:30 p.m. (ET) on ABC.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tanner Houck aces first two months of 2024 season

 

Average is a perfectly apt way to describe the Boston Red Sox in the first two months of the 2024 season. And in no way is this a bad thing, considering expectations heading into the season and playing in a competitive A.L. East.

Positives have found their way to this club as June begins. A solid winning streak or two is a solid foundation to build on. Rafael Devers has settled in, with a recent six-game home run streak to his credit. Connor Wong and Wilyer Abreu are enjoying decent starts to the season. Beset by injuries in key spots in the lineup and rotation, the Red Sox being labeled as average is above the line, all things considered.

Among the shiny performances, pitcher Tanner Houck has been a gem among the rest.

Houck (5-5) dazzled again on Friday night in Boston, scattering three hits and one earned run in seven innings of work. The Red Sox won 7-3 behind a 2-HR, 5-RBI night from Ceddanne Rafaela and Houck's performance, where he struck out six and lowered his ERA to 1.85.

This performance closed out the month of May strong, capping a wonderful start to the season for Houck, who settled into the dominant role expected when he first arrived.

Houck: Ace status

Houck arrived with fanfare towards the end of the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season, dominating with a 3-0 record with 21 strikeouts and a 0.53 ERA. Signs were in place for Houck becoming a rotation mainstay for seasons to come.

Except the Red Sox spent the better part of two years trying to figure out exactly where to slot Houck.

Since 2020, he bounced between starter, reliever, and starter again, until the 2023 season. Last year, Houck was made a full-time starter, where he went 6-10 with a 5.01 ERA.

Even heading into this season there was no guarantee Houck was going to be used as a starting pitcher.

Houck earned a spot and responded with a brilliant beginning. In his fifth season, Houck is second in the American League in ERA and fourth in MLB. He has 75 strikeouts and 15 walks. More impressive is that Houck has allowed only one home run in 12 starts.

Houck's two shortest outings so far in '24 have each lasted 5.2 innings. Every other start? At least six innings pitched, including a complete game victory over Cleveland in which he struck out nine and allowed only three hits.

There was a struggle during Houck's first three starts of May, where he allowed 17 hits and 10 runs. But Houck closed strong, pitching 20 innings in his last three starts, allowing 12 hits and only two runs.

Buoyed by pitching coach Andrew Bailey, Houck and the pitching staff, especially the rotation, has been a surprise in the season's first two months.

Surprise rotation success

The rotation has tapered off some in the last two weeks but in the first two months, the rotation was a main reason the Red Sox were winning games.  Or, at the very least, giving Boston a chance to be competitive.

A big bummer is the season-ending injury to Garrett Whitlock. Whitlock gave the Red Sox a nice one, two punch with Houck, making four starts and posting a 1.96 ERA before the injury.

Kutter Crawford (2-4, 3.29 ERA) was also giving a fine performance but has struggled in his last two outings. Crawford in these two starts has pitched 10.1 innings while giving up 11 runs and 11 hits (in both instances, old habits crept in, where Crawford pitched decent except for one horrible inning).

Brayan Bello (6-2, 4.18 ERA) is on track to still be the ace of this franchise but has struggled somewhat since missing a couple of starts. Despite some hiccups, Bello has won his last two starts with victories over the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.

It's been nice to also have Nick Pivetta back and Cooper Criswell has provided valuable innings.

A real test for this group will come in the coming weeks where they play host for six straight to the two best teams (and offenses) in baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees each have 40 wins, with the Phillies the top scoring team. Seeing these starting pitchers succeed against these two clubs will go a long way in determining what to expect as the season plays out.

Keeping the rotation intact and performing well will also be important as the Red Sox get healthy. First baseman Triston Casas should be back later in June and outfielder/DH Masataka Yoshida is taking live batting practice and should be back in the near future, too.

All told, average is pleasant enough at this point in the season. Find more consistency (and less games of three runs or less), and this Red Sox team can stay competitive throughout '24. Especially if Houck keeps coming up aces and continues his pursuit of excellence.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

The great unpackaging post of 2024

 

A stick of bubblegum.

This was the glorious prize to obtain. It's a huge possibility, like many youths back in the day, this was the reason that began a love affair with collecting baseball cards. Sure, the cards were wonderful but the bonus of the hard as a rock, non-flavorful slice of heaven was icing on the cake.

Broken teeth or not.

Moving past the gum, Topps was my favorite brand of choice in the baseball card department.  Memorizing stats of favorite players and imagining myself one day on a card was part of the fun. Tales of placing cards in bicycle spokes warned me of destruction, so I did my best to preserve what cards I could over the years.

This included the haphazard choice to toss various unopened packs into bins and shoeboxes. I recently happened across one of these packs and today, decided to open one in presenting the great unboxing (or, unpackaging in this case) of 2024.

Bring out the mitts and bats

Topps baseball cards were a favorite of mine but I eventually did spread my wings, from Donruss to Fleer and Bowman to Upper Deck. It is a pack from Upper Deck 1992 in which this post is centered, with the bonus of maybe even finding one of the 2500 autographed "Ted Williams Baseball Heroes" cards. Slim odds, I know, but as a fan of the Boston Red Sox, this card of the Splendid Splinter would be marvelous.

The first five cards I grabbed did not deliver on this hope.

A nice little haul, with a couple of stars of the day. I am hard-pressed to remember Bill Wegman. In all likelihood, there's a chance I have at least five of those cards somewhere. The same could be said about pitchers Randy Tomlin and Pat Combs.Cecil Fielder's card once had the promise to be worth big money, especially around that time. Fielder was coming off back-to-back seasons in which he hit 95 home runs and drove in 265. It was also the start of a stretch in which he had 30+ home runs in five of six seasons.
Fielder retired somewhat early due to severe neck injuries, finishing with 319 home runs, 1008 RBI, and an OPS of .827. Though his career was cut short, Fielder enjoyed one of the best six-season stretches in modern history. The loveable first baseman played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Anaheim Angels, and Cleveland, winning a World Series with the Yankees in '96.
The other gem from this group is Heathcliff Slocumb, who enjoyed a 10-year career playing for eight teams. Though he finished with 98 career saves and a 4.08 ERA, I consider him a gem for one reason: He was part of the trade from the Boston Red Sox that brought in eventual World Series icons Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek from the Seattle Mariners.
Within the next group of five, players with steady careers appeared, plus one Hall-of-Fame pitcher. Travis Fryman, Luis Martinez, and Mike Greenwell all had a spectacular season or two throughout their careers. And the fourth card in this batch was a coveted Checklist card, which I know we all loved.
The pitcher in the Hall of Fame is Lee Smith. Smith was a handful of years away from retirement at this point, pitching with the Cardinals at that point. Even as the career saves leader when he retired in 1997, Smith still did not get into the Hall of Fame until 2019 (and is currently third on the all-time saves list with 478).

MVP(s) of the pack

Smith could very well be included in this final group but since he wasn't in the last batch of cards I looked at, he missed the cut.

Terry Kennedy was one, and he is another player who seemed to pop up with a card in every pack, no matter the brand. Albert Belle, a five-time All Star, was another player who had a career cut short due to injuries. And Rob Maurer, well, he has a baseball card.

The final two in this batch includes a Star Rookie card for Jim Thome and a special Ted Williams card. No, not the autographed one, and not the one rated highest among this set (which is valued at over $700). The card I found was one away from this number in the set but will be cherished by me, nonetheless.

Thome's card does bring with it a little value, no doubt because of a Hall of Fame career in which he played 22 seasons and finished with 612 home runs.

In the end, a nice mix of cards presented themselves. There were no double cards, within the pack anyhow, and a nice surprise with the Williams card. Now, to toss them into an album, where I will make room by taking out one of the *452 Dell Curry cards I own.

*I don't really own that many Dell Curry cards. It only seems like it because his card, it seems, was part of every pack I purchased of NBA cards.

**I love Topps. Still buy an occasional pack to this day. And this is in no way a sponsored post. Buy the cards YOU want to buy. Or not.

Boston Celtics: Into the Eastern Conference Finals breach once again

 

Three straight Eastern Conference Finals. A sixth appearance in this round in the last eight seasons. Regular customers in this position, the Boston Celtics are four wins from reaching the NBA Finals, where they would get a chance to win banner 18 and make up for the blown opportunity they had in 2021-22.

First, however, a meeting with the sixth seed out of the East, Indiana Pacers.

Much like after the first round, the Celtics earned some rest while their opponent slugged things out in a seven-game series. Boston, with the Cavs limping (albeit with a valiant fight) at the end, advanced with a 4-1 series victory. It was another series where the Celtics looked invincible at times and lacking in others but performed well enough to play just above the minimum a series required.

The Pacers, meanwhile, have played nearly the maximum number of games through two rounds. Indiana used six games to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks (with no Giannis Antetokounmpo). This before they used a scorching shooting performance to defeat the New York Mash unit, aka Knicks, in seven games.

Indiana will be making their first appearance in the conference finals since 2014, where they lost 4-2 to the Miami Heat.

The Celtics and Pacers met up five times in the regular season, with Boston taking three of five. Boston delivered a thrashing to start the matchups, with a 155-104 victory. Games have been more competitive since and the teams last met on January 30.

Breezy Boston Celtics

One of the intriguing items discussed about these Boston Celtics is a relative breezy approach in the first two rounds, where the team flipped a switch between on and off, especially on defense. A dagger of scoring runs helped this team out, dropping points by the bucketful when needed and honestly, I think the defense has been above average.

The Heat and Cavaliers each had almost franchise defining shooting nights in their victories in each round. Yes, the Celtics could have been better but so far, they have done enough and it's not hard to imagine defense settling into higher intensity in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Possible even without Kristaps Porzingis, who while working his way back, may still not be available for games one and two.

In 10 playoff games this season, Boston has held opponents to under 100 points in all but three games. Two of those three resulted in losses. The Celtics are scoring 108.1 points per game this postseason, shooting 48 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three-point range.

Boston dishes out 22.7 assists and commits 10.1 turnovers while collecting 44.9 rebounds per game.

After a somewhat "lackluster" first round, Jayson Tatum found his way in the conference semis against the Cavs. Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists against Cleveland, capping the series off with a near triple-double (25/10/9) in Game 5.

This improvement vaulted him to the team-lead in playoff scoring, at 24.3 points per game. Tatum is averaging 10.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists, plus one steal per contest. Struggles from deep continue (28.1 percent) for Tatum, hitting on 43 percent of field goal attempts overall.

Jaylen Brown hasn't quite had the same problem from the field, connecting on 55.4 percent. Three-point attempts are also better (36.7) and Brown has been the most consistent scorer in both rounds, averaging 23.1 points per game and scoring 20+ points in six of Boston's 10 games.

There is some turnover concern with Brown, who committed eight in the last two games. And free throw shooting was slightly better against Cleveland, but Brown is only connecting on 61.4 percent in the playoffs this season.

Derrick White is bringing a high-caliber effort on defense though he did cool off on offense against Cleveland. White started (25 points, seven 3's in Game 1) and finished (18 points, 5 rebounds, six assists, two blocks in Game 5) the series strong but had his struggles in between. And after averaging only 7.8 points against the Heat, Jrue Holiday came alive against the Cavs. In the final three games of the series, Holiday scored 47 points on 18-30 shooting (8-16 on three-point attempts) while collecting 18 rebounds and dishing out 14 assists.

It was also nice to see vintage Al Horford in the Game 5 clincher. Horford has been steady in this year's playoffs, averaging 8.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. But against Cleveland, in the first four games, Horford was a combined 4-22 from the field.

Then in Game 5 fans were treated to a Horford performance he likes to put on every tenth game or so. One where his leadership and energy, always on point, ignite the Celtics and backed up by box score totals. Horford filled one up that game, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocked shots, and one steal.

The Boston bench had their moments throughout the series, too. Payton Pritchard found his mark again, connecting on 50 percent from three-point range. Sam Hauser is playing well and Luke Kornet provided solid, successful minutes against the Cavs, including a Game 1 effort of four points and 10 rebounds. Kornet has also been disruptive on the defensive end as well, giving the Celtics extra length in the absence of Porzingis.

Defense from whoever on the floor will be needed this round, especially with a Pacers team capable of lighting up a scoreboard in a hurry.

Indiana Pacers playoff push

An offense that doesn't stop and a deep bench have propelled the Indiana Pacers, especially during the playoffs. Efficiency was on full display in Game 7 against the Knicks, where Indiana shot near 80 percent for most of the first half.

Yes, the Knicks were shorthanded to start and even more so to end the game, but the Pacers took care of business. They are a team that plays fast, can shoot and dish the rock, and is good at avoiding turnovers.

Tyrese Haliburton is the embodiment of all three.

Haliburton is fresh off a series where he knocked down 29 three-pointers. He bounced back nicely from a six-point Game 1 performance and is averaging 18.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in this postseason.

Haliburton has performed well but it is Pascal Siakim who is Indiana's leading playoff scorer. Siakim averages 21.1 points and 7.5 rebounds and started the playoffs with a bang, scoring 73 points 31-48 shooting in the first two games against the Bucks.

The starting lineup is rounded out with Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith. Turner is similar to Porzingis in his ability to stretch the floor, shooting 45.7 percent on three-point attempts this postseason. Turner averages 17.5 points and 6.5 rebound and his production dipped slightly in the New York Series.

Nembhard is averaging 13 points and 4.8 assists and is shooting well. He had 20 points against the Knicks in Game 7 but committed four turnovers. Nesmith is also scores in double figures with 10.5 points per game and is one of the top defenders on the Pacers. Nesmith, the former Celtic, averaged 14.8 points against Boston this season, including a 26-point, 12-rebound, 7-assist effort in the game on January 30.

Indiana's top five scorers, among them Obi Toppin (11 ppg) off the bench, are all shooting over 50 percent from the field. Toppin, TJ McConnell, Ben Sheppard, and Isaiah Jackson combine to score about 32 points and play valuable minutes for the Pacers. 

The Pacers have carried a league-best offense into the playoffs, where they are 6-0 at home. Indiana is averaging 114.2 points per game, shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from deep. Three times the Pacers have been held under 100 in this postseason, all losses.

Prediction

Chances are good fans will be treated to a high scoring affair on more than one occasion in this series, like the 133-131 victory by Pacers in a meeting earlier this season. Across the roster, these teams are evenly matched and, no matter the makeup of the team, Indiana has given Boston fits in recent seasons. 

Ball control and defense will be Boston's keys to advancing to the NBA Finals. Offense with this team usually takes care of itself, with any spot in the rotation capable of putting up 20 points any given day. Defense, especially if Porzingis makes it back, will be the deciding factor for the Celtics. The Pacers ranked near the bottom of the league in many defensive categories and, ultimately, do not have enough to stop the star power of Tatum, Brown, and the excellent players who know their roles and play them well. Celtics in six

Game 1 tips-off on Tuesday May 21 @ 8 p.m. (ET) in Boston.

photo credit: rawpixel

The K-Zone in baseball broadcasts ruined us all

 

Since the dawn of mankind, long before fire struck and the wheel took hold, one set of humans were decried about more than any other. A subset of beings who were bombarded with calls of "get your eyes checked", "c'mon blue, not even close", and "were you even looking at the same play".

Yes.  I am talking about umpires, referees, and officials of sports games.

The above are considered minor insults compared to what can be hurled at officials in person and, these days, online in any number of forums. Complaints, transgressions, nitpicking, and more remain part of the game, right or wrong, directed at those in charge of officiating any number of events.

Amplified to the extreme, thanks to technology, where every perceived missed call, bad call, and no call is analyzed more than a conspiracy theorist breaking down the Zapruder film.  In many ways, advances in technology have helped games at a professional and college level, aiding in correcting mistakes and finding the right call.

Technology, too, can be detrimental. Specifically, the advent of the K-Zone (and its similar representations) and the call for robot umps behind home plate in Major League Baseball.

K-Zone: Every fan is an umpire

Years ago, when the first variant of the K-Zone appeared on a televised ESPN broadcast in 2001, I was intrigued.  Fans finally had something to confirm their bias of strikes and balls and how the game was called. Whether watching on television or via a box score, this neat little square graphic added an element to the game.

As much as I enjoyed this added aspect at the time, and still do on occasion, I'd rather see Fox's "Scooter" explaining to me a pitch in this day and age (see: sweeper).

The K-Zone and the focus of inches and centimeters on called balls and strikes, and our judging eyes, has also affected catchers to an extent. Once, the best catchers were able to frame pitches, a talent and ability of slyly moving the catcher's mitt to affect the umpire's call. Now, within that framework, catchers snap their mitts in dramatic gestures hoping to provide the illusion of a pitch crossing the plate where it didn't.

In turn this, and the lovely box on the screen, has turned fans at home into umpires themselves. More so, as opposed to the past when televised games where appointment viewings (Sunday Night Baseball, Saturday game of the week, a rare weekday affair, or simply watching the Chicago Cubs on WGN or Atlanta on TBS), usually every game is available (blackouts to local markets may apply). The errors and missed calls multiply, umpires are scrutinized even more, and the call for robot umps behind home plate grows with each passing day.

And I am firmly against it.

I will agree there are horrible umps out there, making egregious calls it seems almost daily. And there should be a system in place that further demotes specific umps from doing more games behind the plate. But one of the strategies always employed in my high school playing days was knowing who was behind the plate each game. Players prepared, knowing if an ump called things tight, had a wide strike zone, or were ones who called the game consistently inconsistent. 

Those, of course, are the worst kind and can leave players and fans feeling frustrated. 

Having been out of the game for so long, I wonder, too, if hitters protecting the plate is really even taught/accepted practice in today's baseball. Once upon a time, hitters were taught that with two strikes, you had to swing at anything close. But too many times in a game, K-Zone or not, I watch hitters fail to swing at a two-strike pitch that is way too close to be taking. Then, of course, proceed to complain or offer snide looks to the umpire.

Perfection is hard to reach and I think a robot ump, with an exact strike zone every time, takes some of the fun, excitement, and disappointment out of the game. We'd see a lot more walks or, in looking to adapt, pitchers grooving a lot more balls down the middle. While I enjoy the occasional 11 to 10 game, it's not something I wish to see every outing.

And that's where I fear the game would be headed, if the robot umps get their way. That said, though, there are certain concerns in continuing to go with a human behind home plate making the call.

To ump or not to ump

One of the growing aspects involved in going forward is the love of sports betting. Instances in the NFL and NBA have already seen players suspended for betting. And of course, MLB has its own history with the lifetime suspension of Pete Rose.

When calls by umpires become so outlandish, whispers begin of throwing games on purpose. Or, at the very least, an opportunity is presented to see a certain pitcher succeed or fail. Something that could help be limited by the introduction of a robot ump behind the plate.

With so much scrutiny, too, it is on umpires and refs to be better and not integrate themselves so much into the game. Missed call after missed call doesn't help and they get "known" for all the wrong reasons.

More technology is not the answer. Human officials in a game are an element of the drama I quite enjoy, one way or another. That comes with missing a call or two, whether in a crucial moment or not. Frustrating at times? Yes but officials are an element that keeps things interesting and provides talking points between fans, players, coaches, and leagues alike. It sucks to be on the losing end of such calls and mistakes, but I'd rather see that than the alternative.

K-Zone has its positive attributes and provides clarity in certain instances. Still, I also understand every umpire, even with the general knowledge of the strike zone, will not be perfect. And that's why I will continue to advocate for not delegating the calling of balls and strikes to technology. Because to me, there is beauty in imperfection.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boston Celtics 2024 NBA playoffs: 4 wins down, 12 to go

 

The sweet tunes of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, I'd like to imagine, powered the Boston Celtics to a first-round victory to start the 2024 NBA playoff chase. Taking care of business has its perks, especially when the series determining your opponent goes the maximum seven games. 

Not that the Celtics necessarily needed the rest.

Yes, the delay of the Eastern Conference semifinals is good, especially when it comes to the hopeful return of Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis. Plus, the Cleveland Cavaliers used more energy and effort in a seven-game victory over the Orlando Magic, while the Celtics waited.

Sometimes, though, a team wants to keep the good times rolling.

The opening round wasn't a perfect series for the Celtics, where Boston defeated the Miami Heat 4-1. On paper, no worries were had in winning their four games by an average of 22 points. The Celtics started off each game strong, with somewhat mini lapses in the third and fourth quarters of games. 

A Porzingis calf injury suffered in Game 4 is worrisome, as was a lax defensive effort in a Game 2 loss, which combined with a franchise record shooting performance by the Heat. And Porzingis struggled to really get going prior to the injury, part of a problem shooting that plagued many of the Boston players in the first round.

Journeys to an NBA title always come with obstacles and Boston remained poised. The Celtics are in a good spot, especially thanks to the growing legend of Derrick White.

Boston Celtics

White has consistently been on the rise since his 2021 arrival in Boston. The 2023-24 regular season cemented his status and the first-round performance has White growing into a legend.

Against the Heat, White averaged 22.4 points per game while shooting 57.7 percent from the field. While many of the Celtics struggled in the three-point shooting department, White knocked down 47.7 percent of his attempts.

White closed the series with a bang, scoring 38 points in Game 4 and 25 in Game 5, knocking down 13 three-pointers in the two games.

Jaylen Brown was the top-scorer for the Celtics in the opening round, averaging 22.8 points on an efficient 52.2 percent from the field.

Leading scorer Jayson Tatum had trouble, shooting 41.6 percent from the field and a frigid 29 percent on three-point attempts. But the All-Star still managed 21.8 points per game, adding 10.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Tatum's struggles from deep are a concern but he has rounded out his game so well this season, and has stellar help around, that the Celtics can overcome stretches of Tatum not scoring.

Sam Hauser delivered on 48 percent of three-point attempts against Miami and notched 17 points in Game 5. Al Horford slides into the starting lineup for Porzingis and brings consistency. Payton Pritchard has his first-round struggles, too, in knocking down only 27.3 percent from deep. The Celtics will certainly need that to improve for Boston to keep winning.

Boston averaged 107.8 and held Miami to 92.2. The Heat scored over 100 only once, in their lone victory. Intensity on defense really picked up after Game 2, helping to overcome the slight shooting struggles from deep (38.5 percent).

The Celtics shot 47.4 percent from the field and averaged 45.6 rebounds and 22.8 assists in the five games.

Cleveland Cavs at a glance

The Celtics won two of three from the Cavs in the regular season. Boston played with their regular starting five on each occasion against Cleveland, winning twice in December. The Cavs were able to pick up a 105-104 victory in Cleveland back in March.

Tatum led the charge for Boston, averaging 26 points and 11.3 rebounds. All five starters scored in double figures each game for the Celtics, except for White. In the loss, White scored only three points but totaled 31 in the victories.

The Cavs are also dealing with injuries to major contributors. Center Jarrett Allen is dealing with bruised ribs and missed the last three games of the opening round. In the first four games of the series, Allen averaged 17 points and 13.8 rebounds. And in three games against Boston this season, Allen totaled 43 points and 27 rebounds.

Dean Wade has also been out since March 13 with a right knee strain. Wade had 23 points and 8 rebounds off the bench in Cleveland's lone victory over Boston.

Cleveland, the conference's fourth seed, won all four games at home and lost all three in Orlando. The Cavs won three of those four games by double digits and lost the road games by an average of 22.6 points.

Star Donovan Mitchell was outstanding in the final two games, scoring 89 points. A 50-point performance in the Game 6 loss was followed up by 39 in the series clincher. 

Mitchell scored 60 points between the two losses to Boston in the regular season and did not play in the Cleveland victory.

Evan Mobley had a decent Game 7 against the Magic with 11 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots, but the big man also had six turnovers. Mobley missed the two losses to Boston earlier this season and had only four points and six rebounds in the victory.

Darius Garland enjoyed success against the Celtics in the regular season with 61 points and 21 assists. He averaged 14.9 points against the Magic but suffered through a 3-13 performance from the field in Game 7.

Prediction

The Cavs have a superstar in Mitchell and a nice supporting cast to give the Celtics some trouble. But depth is in issue and questions linger as to who will consistently score along with Mitchell. 

Boston, even without Porzingis, has the advantage in overall talent. With Porzingis, it's possible the Celtics could have completed a sweep. Without him, well, Cleveland can extend the series and Mitchell is capable of completely going off to carry the team to a victory or two. I will take Boston in six.

Game 1 is on Tuesday May 7, at 7 p.m. (ET) on TNT.

Other semifinal in the East: (6) Indiana Pacers vs (2) New York Knicks. Knicks in six

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons