Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Joel Sherman says the Yankees have reached a one-year deal with Randy Winn. Looks like that’s the extra outfielder.
Winn is coming off one of his worst seasons when he hit just .262/.318/.353 with San Francisco. His right-handed splits were even worse — .158/.184/.200 — which is curious considering the Yankees were said to be in the market for a right-handed outfielder to balance Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson.
The Yankees are clearly hoping for a rebound.
Winn hit at least .300 with double-digit steals and double-digit home runs in both 2007 and 2008. He hit .289/.343/.470 as a right-handed batter in ‘08, .351/.399/.535 as a right-hander in ‘07. If he returns to those numbers, he’s a great addition. Of course, he also turns 36 in June.
He has extensive experience at all three outfield positions, and is generally considered a good defensive player. (more…)
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Friday, January 22nd, 2010
She has talked about needing to overcome her evil side, described herself as neither smart nor pretty, let her face be a mirror for every emotion she feels.
Mirai Nagasu is not easy on herself, even if she swears most of what she says is not meant in a “self-deprecatory way” but comes from a sarcastic sense of humor that leaves her words open to misinterpretation.
For all that, her answers remain blunt. Asked to describe herself, Nagasu replied, “Talented but lazy.”
It is the tension between those characteristics that Nagasu feels has kept her from building on the promise she showed two years ago, winning the senior women’s national figure skating title at age 14. (more…)
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Friday, January 22nd, 2010
Sanity prevailed, and those in the NBA office exhaled.
Phoenix’s Steve Nash overtook Houston’s Tracy McGrady in the fan voting Thursday to earn the second West All-Star berth at guard. McGrady has played 45 minutes all season, a total Golden State guard Monta Ellis has equaled or exceeded in 23 games this season (sorry, Monta, you still won’t be an All-Star).
Alas, Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson was able to hold on to second place and be named an East starter. But Iverson at least has gotten into 19 games this season, and he just might be so humbled by the fans selecting him that he won’t complain at all about the All-Stars having to practice before the Feb. 14 game in Dallas.
So only one All-Star position has been pilfered from a much more deserving player. Then again, the chances of the formerly durable Iverson getting hurt between now and All-Star Weekend are very possible. So commissioner David Stern better have his list of possible injury replacements in his jacket pocket. In the meantime, here’s a look at who should be named All-Star reserves when they are announced next Thursday. NBA head coaches must have their ballots in early next week, and they can’t vote for players on their own teams.
Coaches must vote for a center, two forwards, two guards and two other players at any position. A coach is permitted to slide a player over to a position he sometimes plays even if he doesn’t start there.
The starters in the East are Orlando’s Dwight Howard at center, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Boston’s Kevin Garnett at forward and Miami’s Dwayne Wade and Iverson at guard.
The starters in the West are Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire at center, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan at forward and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Nash at guard. (more…)
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