July 2009: Week 1 (MLB All-Star Special)
With over 30,000 downloads since 2007, The NOR CAL Report (at NorCalProSports.com) brings insightful coverage and exclusive interviews to the savvy Northern California pro sports fan. The NOR CAL Report isavailable through the iTunes store (search: NOR CAL Report) and digitaloutlets from Podbean to Technorati — with special features onlyavailable at NorCalProSports.com.
** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
Happy birthday, Uncle Sam! It's time to celebrate Mom, apple pie, and The NOR CAL Report! On this week's Report, it's an All-Star breakdown, as Jess and Lex face off with their own personal picks for the pasture in Minny. Plus, the local NBA squads draft needs and draft picks are both high as the summer sun!
The Giants arrive back home a Wild Card contender, balancing a middling road record with some recent routes in the W column. But can the bats hold up in the improved N.L. West?
The A's continue to struggle with the injury virus, losing a spate of games, plus young hurler Josh Outman to Tommy John surgery. Is their something catching in that deep Oaktown sod?
The Sharks bid goodbye to several role players, even as they re-sign one key man — and soul-search about the team's core...
The Warriors, in desperate need of defensive help and another big, wave off the Amare rumors and draft... a high-scoring combo guard. Has the front office brass outsmarted Jess and Lex, or just itself, by drafting without a true plan?
The Kings, too, draft a backcourt body, a big slasher to compliment slithery Kevin Martin. But even with two first-round picks and a new coach, can Sac's ills be cured during the hardball months?
We always ask the tough questions — only on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT: The NBA draft fallout continues, while the NFL minicamps heat up and the Earthquakes are back in session. Plus, the Giants try to keep morale high, while the A's hope a third wave of talent staves off the summer doldrums.
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
Yes, by necessity, this NBA Draft was about potential, not track record. So while a Ricky Rubio or Brandon Jennings might be a stretch in other years, for other teams, I can't see why the Warriors and Kings, of all people, cling to low-risk, low reward approaches...
Three months ago, the A's Vin Mazzaro was supposed to be the most Major League-ready, but least successful long-term, of Oakland's trio of baby-faced hurlers. Now, not only was Mazzaro the last of the three to see big league time — he's also being hailed by scouts as the next Cris Carpenter. High praise, indeed...
Lex is right that the A's injury bugs seem to arrive in swarms. The A's must pinpoint the cause before they can embark on fixing it...
Just as the promotion bell was cued to ring, Buster Posey got beaned in the head and has missed four games in San Jose. The good news: the pitch was a curveball, everyone insists he's okay, and the Giants are just being extra cautious. Sources with the Giants confirm Buster's stick is ready now, making a promotion to Fresno, to work with more experienced AAA pitchers, the logical move...
Some extra All-Star notes: A.L. 1B is indeed a two-horse race. But the Teixiera-Youkilis seesaw just shows the drastic East Coast bias in this proceeding. I'm talking about Miguel Cabrera and the only MVP winner in this group, Minnesota's Justin Morneau... At N.L. 3B, I'll admit that David Wright's 20 steals and superior defense do propel him over Pablo "Panda" Sandoval. But if you need more reasons to write off strikeout king Mark Reynolds (.268-21-54), how about the well-rounded Ryan Zimmerman (.298-13-44) and Casey Blake (.291-11-48)... Is there any question Albert Pujols is the best player in the world? Just ask Prince Fielder, whose monster 1.024 OPS and 73 RBI won't even sniff the starting lineup.
Clint Dempsey, Ray Ratto, and all the pundits are right: a victory for U.S. Soccer against Brazil would be a darn sight better than a 3-2 flop and a pat on the back after the thrilling Confederations Cup final. But since we can't say congratulations to Coach Bradley's squad, let's say kudos — for making the U.S.'s first-ever FIFA final the kind of game we'd love to see again. Hope is, next year right back in Johannesburg, we will.
Speaking of the yankee pitch, if you're among those wondering where the Beckham-Galaxy experiment went awry— and looking for more insight into the star-crossed golden child of the U.S. game, Landon Donovan — you can preview a bold new book on the subject...
And if Lex gets to send off the King of Pop with a well-picked hit on the show, I'd like to add this YouTube classic to the lex-icon. Truly, only Michael himself could inspire such bizarre and wonderful choreography! Whatever problems he may have had, R.I.P. to one of the hardest-working and best-loved pop icons in the game.
Thanks as always for tuning in. It's always a joy to bring you the best in Bay sports and beyond — on The NOR CAL Report!
** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
Happy birthday, Uncle Sam! It's time to celebrate Mom, apple pie, and The NOR CAL Report! On this week's Report, it's an All-Star breakdown, as Jess and Lex face off with their own personal picks for the pasture in Minny. Plus, the local NBA squads draft needs and draft picks are both high as the summer sun!
The Giants arrive back home a Wild Card contender, balancing a middling road record with some recent routes in the W column. But can the bats hold up in the improved N.L. West?
The A's continue to struggle with the injury virus, losing a spate of games, plus young hurler Josh Outman to Tommy John surgery. Is their something catching in that deep Oaktown sod?
The Sharks bid goodbye to several role players, even as they re-sign one key man — and soul-search about the team's core...
The Warriors, in desperate need of defensive help and another big, wave off the Amare rumors and draft... a high-scoring combo guard. Has the front office brass outsmarted Jess and Lex, or just itself, by drafting without a true plan?
The Kings, too, draft a backcourt body, a big slasher to compliment slithery Kevin Martin. But even with two first-round picks and a new coach, can Sac's ills be cured during the hardball months?
We always ask the tough questions — only on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT: The NBA draft fallout continues, while the NFL minicamps heat up and the Earthquakes are back in session. Plus, the Giants try to keep morale high, while the A's hope a third wave of talent staves off the summer doldrums.
Played: 239 | Download | Duration: 00:54:58
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
Yes, by necessity, this NBA Draft was about potential, not track record. So while a Ricky Rubio or Brandon Jennings might be a stretch in other years, for other teams, I can't see why the Warriors and Kings, of all people, cling to low-risk, low reward approaches...
Three months ago, the A's Vin Mazzaro was supposed to be the most Major League-ready, but least successful long-term, of Oakland's trio of baby-faced hurlers. Now, not only was Mazzaro the last of the three to see big league time — he's also being hailed by scouts as the next Cris Carpenter. High praise, indeed...
Lex is right that the A's injury bugs seem to arrive in swarms. The A's must pinpoint the cause before they can embark on fixing it...
Just as the promotion bell was cued to ring, Buster Posey got beaned in the head and has missed four games in San Jose. The good news: the pitch was a curveball, everyone insists he's okay, and the Giants are just being extra cautious. Sources with the Giants confirm Buster's stick is ready now, making a promotion to Fresno, to work with more experienced AAA pitchers, the logical move...
Some extra All-Star notes: A.L. 1B is indeed a two-horse race. But the Teixiera-Youkilis seesaw just shows the drastic East Coast bias in this proceeding. I'm talking about Miguel Cabrera and the only MVP winner in this group, Minnesota's Justin Morneau... At N.L. 3B, I'll admit that David Wright's 20 steals and superior defense do propel him over Pablo "Panda" Sandoval. But if you need more reasons to write off strikeout king Mark Reynolds (.268-21-54), how about the well-rounded Ryan Zimmerman (.298-13-44) and Casey Blake (.291-11-48)... Is there any question Albert Pujols is the best player in the world? Just ask Prince Fielder, whose monster 1.024 OPS and 73 RBI won't even sniff the starting lineup.
Clint Dempsey, Ray Ratto, and all the pundits are right: a victory for U.S. Soccer against Brazil would be a darn sight better than a 3-2 flop and a pat on the back after the thrilling Confederations Cup final. But since we can't say congratulations to Coach Bradley's squad, let's say kudos — for making the U.S.'s first-ever FIFA final the kind of game we'd love to see again. Hope is, next year right back in Johannesburg, we will.
Speaking of the yankee pitch, if you're among those wondering where the Beckham-Galaxy experiment went awry— and looking for more insight into the star-crossed golden child of the U.S. game, Landon Donovan — you can preview a bold new book on the subject...
And if Lex gets to send off the King of Pop with a well-picked hit on the show, I'd like to add this YouTube classic to the lex-icon. Truly, only Michael himself could inspire such bizarre and wonderful choreography! Whatever problems he may have had, R.I.P. to one of the hardest-working and best-loved pop icons in the game.
Thanks as always for tuning in. It's always a joy to bring you the best in Bay sports and beyond — on The NOR CAL Report!
Comments