NFL Training Camp Just Around the Corner

It's been a while since we've talked football here at the Bay Area Sports Journal, but with training camp just around the corner, and the exhibition season set to begin in just about a month, it's time to start getting back into football mode.

Things have been extremely quiet though lately on the 49ers and Raiders front though anyway, so there really hasn't been and still isn't many new happenings to report on. I'm just starting to get anxious to see how Alex Smith and the 49ers take to actually having an offseason to work together and get some kind of cohesion. There are still a bunch of people who aren't quite sold on Smith as the QB of the future, and the Niners went out and added David Carr this spring in order to provide some depth in case Smith struggles or gets hurt. I was kind of hoping that the Niners would give Nate Davis a shot at QB 2, but that's not happening now that Carr's aboard. The Niners also added another element to their offense this spring in getting Ted Ginn Jr. from Miami, and he's a guy who I will be covering closely throughout camp and the preseason. He's a guy who could really help this Niners offense stretch the field, and I think he's in a prime situation now where there isn't all that pressure on him. Ginn will have an oppotunity to play alongside Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree and provide the Niners with a vertical threat in the passing game. Not too mention, he'll hopefully provide some stability to a Niners return game that has been a revolving door throughout the last few years.

The Niners also will have a much different look on their offensive line this year, and that's another area that I'll be watching closely this July and August. The Niners selected two premiere O-lineman in April's draft, and both are expected to start and pay immediate dividends. I really think that line holds the key to the Niners offensive success. They're the ones that will determine how well the Niners run game and ultimately pass game produces, and it's key they get in synch before the seasons starts. Defensively, the Niners are returning much of the same unit, they're just hoping to get better health and hoping the addition of a couple of solid rookies will help to improve an up-and-coming unit. Not too mention, they'll also be getting a full, playing season out of Ahmed Brooks, who didn't get steady playing time until the 2nd half of the year, but produced with 5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles over the final 6 games of the season. They should have an improved pass rush this year, even though they really didn't add anyone. Parys Haralson is primed for a 10+ sack season, and I think Manny Lawson, Ahmed Brooks and Justin Smith all have that capability too with an all-around improved defense. Definitely a lot of things too look forward to with the Niners this year.

Raiders Update: Things aren't quite looking as good for the Silver and Black. Now that JaMarcus Russell is officially off the roster though, I think they can start to move forward now. Like I said when they added him this spring, I think Jason Campbell is a nice fit here in Oakland and could provide the Raiders with a Rich Gannon type, but they need the pieces around him to fall into place in order for them to be watchable this year. What I really want to see is a full year out of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush and have them take over the Raiders rushing attack. Secondly, I want to see a group of 3 or 4 receivers emerge as reliable targets. They now have an accurate arm behind center who should be able to deliver, so there are no more excuses. Derious Heyward-Bey needs to step up and Louis Murphy and Chaz Schillens need to play all year like they did the 2nd half of 2009.

Warriors Add David Lee In Sign-and-Trade

The Warriors made their first, and probably their only, splash on the free agent market this summer, as they've agreed to trade Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike to the New York Knicks in exchange for David Lee. The Knicks first had to sign Lee, then do the deal since the Warriors didn't have the cap space to add him without them being able to ditch Turiaf's contract.

Now, the Warriors have a legit power forward for the first time ever to team up with Andres Biedrins in the front-court. I really liked the player that Kelenna Azubuike had become and I think there was still some growing room for him, and Anthony Randolph still has tremendous upside, but I actually do really like this move for Golden State. They've needed size and a skilled big man for years. They even tried to bring Chris Webber out of retirement a few years ago in attempt to fill the void, but they just keep swinging and missing when it comes to the power forward position. So, instead of waiting for the injury prone youngsters to pan out, Larry Reilly got pro-active and went out and added a 27 year-old all-star power forward/center. The only small negative I can think about regarding this deal is the fact that the Warriors lose a lot of depth with the 3 players they gave away, but the return is well worth it. Lee averaged 20.3 points, 12 boards and 3.5 assists per game in the 'o9/'10 season, all career highs. He was the one player on the Knicks who they could consistently count on, night in and night out over the last few years and I think Warrior fans are going to really like what they're getting in Lee.

After they drafted Epke Udoh last month, the Warriors felt like they had a legit replacement for Randolph, but now I'm curious to see what goes on at small forward with 'Buke gone and Anthony Morrow on his way to Jersey. Reggie Williams, who played very well for Golden State after they added him from the D-league in mid-season, is penciled in there right now and could win that spot, but there is still a lot of time between now and training camp, so it wouldn't surprise me to see Reilly go out and add another player. If they don't and Williams gets the nod, it won't be such a bad thing though. Reggie Williams is just 23 years-old, and averaged about 15 points and 5 boards last year, but he's sized more for the shooting guard position rather than the small forward position. With the roster as is now though, I don't really see a better option. They did add Dorrell Wright over the weekend, who could enter the starting mix, but I'd honestly rather have the undersized Williams out there. So, as they stand now, the W's lineup is looking a little something like this:

Starters:
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Reggie Williams
PF: David Lee
C: Andris Beidrins

Reserves:
G: CJ Watson
F: Brandon Wright
C: Dan Gadzuric
F/C: Anthony Tolliver
G: Charlie Bell
F: Dorrell Wright

BASJ'S MLB All-Star Selections

Since every year, there seems to be a handful of deserving players left out of the mid-summer classic, I always like to make out how the roster should look. Setting aside politics and popularity, here is how the starting lineups would look for both squads

National League:

1. SS Hanley Ramirez Fla.
2. 2B Brandon Phillips Cin.
3. 1B Albert Pujols Stl.
4. DH Joey Votto Cin.
5. 3B David Wright NY
6. CF Carlos Gonzalez Col.
7. RF Corey Hart Mil.
8. LF Adam Dunn Was.
9. C Miguel Olivo Col.

SP: Josh Johnson Fla

This year I actually like the NL's chances to break their 12-year losing streak this time around. They are stocked with starting pitching, starting Johnson, then bringing Ubaldo Jimenez, Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum after that. Gonzalez and Hart are both having huge seasons and really should be starters. Olivo is the only catcher in the NL really worthy of an all-star selection, it's just too bad Buster Posey didn't start a month earlier, or else it would probably be him.

American League:

1. LF Carl Crawford TB
2. 2B Robinson Cano NY
3. CF Josh Hamilton Tex.
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera Det.
5. DH Vladimer Guerrero Tex.
6. 3B Evan Longoria TB
7. RF Alex Rios Chi.
8. C Joe Mauer Min.
9. SS Derek Jeter NY

SP: David Price TB

The AL has some surprises for sure. If you would have told me Vlad Guerrero would have 75 RBI by the all-star break, I would have called you crazy, but he's having an MVP type season for the Rangers. As is Josh Hamilton. This years AL squad just doesn't seem as deep and dominant as they usually are. David Price is having a great year, but the AL is used to starting guys like Roger Clemens and Roy Halladay in these events and Price just isn't in that class yet. The AL is thin at catcher as well, where Joe Mauer's "off year" is still better than any other overall season other AL catchers are having.

NBA Free Agency Starts, Warriors Quiet

The NBA free agency period is starting to materialize, and some of the top free agents in the league are setting meetings with different teams, and this year their is no shortage of premiere-level free agents.

The 2010 free-agent class is quite possibly the best one to date. The two big dogs of the bunch, Dwayne Wade and Lebron James are both set to visit New Jersey and Chicago, and apparently have mutual interest in trying to land at the same destination. Wade is also apparently keeping a close eye on what happens with Chris Bosh, one of the premiere big men on the market this summer. Among the other free-agents available right now are Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, David Lee, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. That list also included Rudy Gay up until this afternoon, but the 24 year-old swingman signed a 5-year, $82 million deal to stay in Memphis. I think Nowitzki will end back up in Dallas, and it looks like Joe Johnson is headed back to Atlanta as they're trying to do all they can to bring back their leader. Other than those guys though, things look wide open right now for the rest of the bunch.

Although there are a handful of guys available that could come right in and help the Golden State Warriors, It doesn't appear as if Larry Reilly and Co. are ready to go down that road. The last time they dipped into free agency with big dollars, they ended up with Corey Maggette, and I think that may have scared them away from spending big in free agency. It's just that this year, there is are a couple of guys that could really help steer this franchise in the right direction, much like Baron Davis did for them after coming over in 2006. Those two guys are Carlos Boozer and/or Amare Stoudemire. I personally would like to have Stoudemire, as he's a 27 year-old. just entering his prime, with monster talent and the size/strength that this team needs. I think a bold move like that would not only put them back in the playoff hunt, but make them a factor in the Western Conference. It's definitely worth keeping an eye on at the very least, as I hope Nelson and Reilly are doing the same.

Warriors Take Ekpe Udoh at 6

The 2010 NBA draft has completed it's first round, and with their first round pick (number 6 overall) the Warriors selected a guy who likely enters the 2010-11 season as a third-string power forward.

Needless to say, there weren't a whole lot of people too ecstatic with Larry Reilly's choice or Ekpe Udoh with 6th overall pick, granted, this draft class isn't exactly a loaded with A-list talent. After John Wall, Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins and Evan Turner, there aren't a lot of guys in this class who I see coming in and making immediate impacts for their team. Still though, I just don't get why the Warriors would go after another slender-sized power forward when they have two young guys on their roster who need to be getting playing time. One option that comes to mind regarding the new log-jam at the power forward spot would be the Warriors possibly dealing one of the three in a package for help in another area. Let's just say for example that the Warriors are looking to trade Monta Ellis; if they could put together a Brandon Wright/Monta Ellis package, that is going to bring them something in return. There has been whispers of Monta Ellis' interest in playing for his hometown Grizzlies and I'm sure an Ellis/Wright combo may land the W's a Rudy Gay. I like O.J. Mayo as well, but I think Ellis is just as valuable if not more valuable of a player than Mayo. An addition of Gay would leave the Warriors with a lineup looking something like this:

Starters-

PG Stephen Curry

SG Anthony Morrow

SF Rudy Gay

PF Anthony Randolph

C Andris Biedrins

Reserves-

G Kellana Azubuike

F/C Ronny Turiaf

G/F Reggie Williams

F Anhtony Tollivers

G Charlie Bell
G C.J. Watson

Now, the chances of them actually dealing Ellis for Gay aren't very high, but I see it making sense for both parties. Ellis is a highly-efficient scoring guard who would probably team up well with O.J. Mayo and Zach Randolph. Gay would give the Warriors a fundamentally sound player who can score and defend and would help bring some stability to their starting lineup. I like Monta and would like to see him and Curry figure out how to feed off of each other, but it just seems like Ellis doesn't want that. Whether it's a blockbuster deal like a Monta Ellis trade, or just a deal to clear up roster/cap space, like the Correy Maggette to Milwaukee deal, they have to do something with their logjam up front.

Giants Get Revenge on A's

Last month, the A's embarrassed the Giants over at the Colosseum by sweeping them and doing it in convincing fashion. However, the Giants got their revenge over the weekend at AT&T Park by taking sweeping the A's and making it look relatively easy.

It really shouldn't come as much of a surprise for A's fans though. The A's are nowhere near the team that faced the Giants in Oakland a month ago. They have fallen below .500 for the first time all season and are now in 3rd place in the AL East. At first, it was mainly an offensive issue with the A's, but now they aren't getting consistent performances out of their starting rotation either. They're badly missing Brett Anderson and Justin Duchscherer, but they still have enough quality in their rotation that they should be able to weather the storm. Trevor Cahill continues to deal, and Gio Gonzalez has gotten a lot better, but Dallas Braden and Ben Sheets keep getting hit around pretty good. For the most part though, if the A's were getting more consistent clutch hits and playing more fundamentally sound offensively, the rotation wouldn't be so bad. However, if you give up 4-5 runs per start like Braden and Sheets have been, this team is pretty much dead in the water. They just don't have a team that can climb back from big deficits. Still though, the A's are just 4 games out of first right now and it's hardely time to throw in the towel. I'd just like to see some kind of move made to help jump start the offense. Not necessarily a trade, but maybe a promotion of Chris Carter or maybe even Michael Taylor (solid last few games) even though he's not having a great year in Sacramento. I also think it's time Jemile Weeks gets his promotion up to AAA Sac as he shouldn't be too far away either.

The Giants had the same issue as the A's did with their offense all the way up until a few weeks ago. Now all the sudden the Giants have an offense that's putting up runs night in and night out and they're looking pretty darn good in the process. The addition of Pat Burrell has done wonders, as has the promotion of Buster Posey. Also, Juan Uribe is having an all star type year. The Giants are doing all this without two of their more clutch hitters, Bengie Molina and Pablo Sandoval, doing a whole lot. Sandoval, who hit .330 with 25 homers and drove in 90 runs in 2009 has just 4 homers and 24 RBI to go with a .283 average halfway through June and it's starting to cause some concern. Sandoval has even been dropped down to as low as 8th in the batting order recently to try and jump start him. He'll have a good 3-hit game, then he'll go 1-9 over his next two. I think he's going to find his rhythm, I just hope it's while the Giants are getting this output from guys like Burrell, Posey, Uribe, Torres and Sanchez. For much more Giants talk, check out our affiliate, The Giants Baseball Blog

Warriors Could Trade Ellis

Their season just ended a little over a month ago, and it looks like big changes could be on the horrizon for the Golden State Warriors.

It's no secret that the team is currently for sale and should have new ownership by the end of the summer. Everybody's hoping the wealthy and business savy Larry Ellison get's hold of this organization. It's the general consensus that Ellison will put his magic touch on the team and turn around a franchise that has generally been one of the worst in the NBA over the last 15 years. Only one playoff appearance in that span will do that to a fanbase though. Whover the new owner is, he's going to be coming into a rocky situation. The Warriors have a lot of talent on their roster (when they have everyone healthy), and should be in a better situation then they are right now. They have turmoil going on with the coaching staff, where many feel Don Nelson is just sleepwalking through this last phase of his career and doing it mainly for his hefty paycheck. The Warriors have a lot of questions to answer this summer, and have some things to figure out before they get ready to head into the draft next month.

The big personnel decision they are tampering with right now is whether or not they're going to move forward with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry in the same back-court. Everybody thinks those two should be fine together except for Ellis. Monta is unhappy sharing the rock with Curry and wants out, and there has been a lot of speculation over the last few months about him possibly returning home and playing for the Grizzlies. Apparently Ellis recently bought some property and a house in Memphis. After that, rumors started to fly about how Don Nelson, a guy who's been a huge supporter of Ellis over the years, said he would have been thrilled to obtain a package of Hasheem Thabeet and O.J. Mayo in exchange for Ellis, a deal that was supposedly discussed at the trade deadline in February, and re-started after the season. I think it's pretty clear that Ellis wants out, and just like they did with Steven Jackson, the Warriors are going to have to grant him his wish if they want to keep this core together. We saw how disruptive it was for Jackson playing out his games in a Warriors uni earlier in the season, and we don't need a repeat of that in 2010-11. The W's need to decide this summer if they're going to go forward with the Ellis/Curry guard combo, or they need to begin 2010 without it and not drag it on any further.

Also, we will be mentioning the 2010 summer olympic games here at the BASJ, especially the Soccer World Cup. We also encourage you to check out our partners over at Docs Sports for World Cup brackets, World Cup betting odds and World Cup soccer picks!