A Glimpse into the Future?

Is anyone else excited over the new format of the NHL All-Star game?  This “backyard pickem” format allows the NHL to possibly generate hype into slowly fading league.  Unlike the NFL, you rarely see multiple stars on one team in the NHL; most teams are fortunate to get one star on their team while the rest are mediocre to average hockey players trying to make a living.  The teams that do have multiple stars such as Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Washington are willing to spend their money and spend it wisely on players that have skill and create excitement wherever they go.

The NHL has tried changing the format of the game and equipment in hopes of appeasing current fans while creating newly generated interest from non-NHL followers.  This new format may actually give a glimpse into what the NHL would look like if contraction were to happen, allowing teams to consist of multi-million dollar, high-octane, goal scorers on every team.  Think about it, we get a rare look into seeing the best of the best playing on ice with each other, literally.  This isn’t East vs West or North America vs the World, where players are teamed based on country or conference.

Rivals, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, could potentially play on the same All-Star team – an interesting proposition.  Would the faces of the NHL clash on the same team?  Granted this is an exhibition game, but seeing Patrick Kane, Jarome Iginla, and Mike Green on the same shift of the same team would be an NHL team’s dream.

Obviously, nothing is easy in the world of business and entertainment.  I’m not an expert on how the NHL can dig itself out of the depths of the sports talk and get face time on television – not even ESPN seems to want to show NHL games, only highlights.  But this new format might be a glimpse into the future.

His Decision

We’ve all heard of big time trades, but mainly those kind of trades only happen with high-profile, star athletes.  The talk around the sports world lately has been about the trade talks for the New Jersey Nets to acquire Carmelo Anthony.  This would constitute as a big time trade, but what makes it even bigger is the fact that the trade could entail 3 teams and somewhere around 15 players. Really?! Is that necessary?

Carmelo is one of the best players the Denver Nuggets have ever had in franchise history. Carmelo ranks at the top of many categories; however he still wants out.  You’re probably asking yourself, why would he want to leave when he was on top of the world in Denver?  Doesn’t he have it all?  Apparently not, but that is okay.  We all seek for greener grass.

No one can fault Carmelo for wanting to give himself the best chance of winning a title in the NBA. He has been with Denver since he was a rookie, and all he is looking for is the right opportunity, with the right supporting cast.  Denver has tried to bring in players, such as Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups, but they haven’t been able to help get over the other Western Conference powerhouses.  Does all of this sound familiar?

Carmelo signed a 5 year / $80 Million contract, which ends this season. He will no doubt be making for than that for the next 6 or 7 years to come, but why New Jersey? Is it because they will likely move to Brooklyn in 2 years, or because they have a billionaire for their owner who is willing to spend whatever it takes?  Still, why New Jersey, a team in the Eastern Conference, in the Atlantic Division? I guess Carmelo has his reasons.

In all likelihood it will ultimately be his decision to be traded to New Jersey or some other team; crazier things have happened. But in the end it’ll be his decision, just not ‘The Decision.’

Asomugha Overpaid, and Out of Work

The Oakland Raiders added another notch to the list of recent improvements when they voided the contract of CB on Sunday. His 3 year $45.3 million signing in 2009 had most of the experts rolling eyes, and agents drooling. The move to cut this deal loose is another step in the right direction for Oakland. Certainly Asomugha is a formidable every down staple on this defense, but from a long term standpoint – he was standing in the way of filling in gaps for this team.

With upcoming CBA debates, a possible lockout, and sure to be drastic changes to the business of football, more teams will be re-assessing their current contracts. This was a no-brainer from an organizational standpoint. Look for Asomugha to find a home somewhere in a more developed defense (Baltimore), and for Oakland to utilize the forthcoming rookie cap to draft a talent player for their secondary at a more reasonable price tag.

The full list of NFL Cornerback contracts and salaries can be found here.

Cubs acquire Garza – for the farm.

It took 8 players to do so, but the Chicago Cubs finally got their man in acquiring Matt Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays. What exactly did it take? Only 5 prospects, two of them considered to be top-5 in their organization. Seemingly this appears to be a landslide win for Tampa Bay, moving a #2 pitcher out of their league and gaining a new farm team in return.

But analysts are quick to balance this deal out. The Cubs farm system has been average at best in recent years. Their best prospects land somewhere in the middle in stronger organizations. The bottom line here says the Cubs acquired Garza for 3 more years, and the Rays acquired two possible major league contenders.

Garza centers a rotation including: Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells, Tom Gorzelanny and Carlos Silva.

Beltre makes home on the range

Adrian Beltre selected his next team Tuesday, agreeing to a 6 year $96 million contract with the Texas Rangers. He leaves a Boston team that has made more noise than any this off-season, heading to the defending American League champions. Coming off an overachieved season statistically, he’ll try to maintain his power numbers while entering his 14th season of duty. Beltre will supplant himself into a lineup surrounded by power, speed, and reliability.

Projected everyday lineup for the 2011 Rangers:
Elvis Andrus
Michael Young
Josh Hamilton
Nelson Cruz
Adrian Beltre
Ian Kinsler
Mitch Moreland
David Murphy
Bengie Molina

Dotel heads north to close for Toronto

Octavio Dotel finalized a 1 year $3.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday. He will enter spring training with a chance to compete for the closing job, left vacant by the pending departure of Kevin Gregg to the Baltimore Orioles. Dotel has been a steady, but average relief pitcher over his career, but hasn’t found solid ground with a team in years. He split time with Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and Colorado in 2010. He’ll compete with Jason Frasor, and newly signed Chad Cordero for the full-time closing role this spring.

An Overnight Cliff-Hanger

Cliff Lee will wear the pinstripes in the upcoming 2010-2011 baseball season. Only they’ll be red. Lee shocked the free agency market overnight by agreeing to a reported 5 year $120 million deal with Philadelphia.

He supplants himself into a rotation of superstar arms, offering him the chance to make a big paycheck, pitch his usual workload of innings, and do so on a National League team that he’s already familiar with.

This was one of the more sensible signings in recent memory. Lee, understanding that at age 32, with his soft personality, that it’s better for him to produce in a winning environment where he’ll be expected to perform – not be superman.

He leaves behind him two franchises in New York and Texas who were counting on his signing to benchmark their upcoming rosters. This is the right move for a
family man, and a superstar like Cliff Lee though. He’ll pay immediate dividends, and receive wins back in return.

Click here for more about Cliff Lee and other MLB news

Ray of Hope in Cleveland

With the NBA Free Agency season officially starting today, and one of the deepest list of available superstars, all eyes will focus on Cleveland and their pitch to trap their hometown hero. All signs point to big names being pitched around, but one not being mentioned is Ray Allen. Allen has quietly shot the Boston Celtics into deep playoff runs for continuous years now, and he may be just the right medicine for Lebron to stick around town.

Playoff Hockey :: Western Conference Matchups

The second installment of our NHL Playoff preview continues with a look into the somewhat surprising Western Conference matchups. With the majority of the attention focusing on the superstars of the east, look for a few of the scrappy, hard-working teams in the west to make some noise in the coming weeks.

(8) Colorado at (1) San Jose
Colorado may have stumbled into the playoffs, but much like their hometown baseball counterparts, they possess a scrappy, dedicated roster. The bottom line here is that San Jose is a superior team from top to bottom. They’ve been able to breeze through their recent first round opponents, and all signs point to much of the same here. Look for Colorado to steal one game, but only one.
Spotrac Picks: San Jose in 5

(7) Nashville at (2) Chicago
This matchup brings two young, unproven Finnish goaltenders to the forefront. Pekka Rinne and the Predators will have a fighting chance in this series if they can control the mid-ice game of Chicago. The youth, speed, and ripeness of this Blackhawks squad can score at will with open ice. With a year of playoff experience under their belts, they should be able to adjust to and withstand any Nashville strategy.
Spotrac Picks: Chicago in 6

(6) Los Angeles at (3) Vancouver
The Kings may be the Chicago Blackhawks of last year. They’ve built a speedy, strong foundation of youth in L.A., and have a solid regular season to show for it. If Jonathan Quick can regain early season form, he may steal a game from the wily Cancuks, but no more than that. Vancouver boasts one of the most underrated offenses in the NHL. Combined with a proven world-class netminder in Luongo, this series looks lopsided on paper. The Kings have shown enough durability through this season to string along a few must-have wins though.
Spotrac Picks: Los Angeles in 7

(5) Detroit at (4) Phoenix
Many experts have Detroit as the hottest team entering the playoffs. They’ve certainly held up to expectations in postseasons past, and there’s no reason to believe that a veteran defense, a top-tier goalie, and the ambiance of Hockeytown shouldn’t come through yet again. Phoenix has had a miraculous season considering their patched together roster, and coaching/administrative changes just weeks before the drop of the first puck.
Spotrac Picks: Detroit in 7

Prince Cashing In?

The recent long term deals for Joe Mauer, and teammate Yovani Gallardo have sparked rumors that the Brewers are deep into negotiation with Prince Fielder. Sources say the Mauer deal (8 years / $184 million ) is a starting point with Fielder, 25, who’s become a fantasy fixture with his 40 HR / 140 RBI seasons.