Who I Think Will Win the NBA MVP

Who I Think Will Win the NBA MVP

In this article I will not only be covering who I think will win the NBA MVP, but also the Rookie of the Year, 6th Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, Coach of the year, Defensive Player of the Year. Although the NBA has already released a few awards, such as the last six awards listed, I will still cover who I think should win.

The NBA has already released the Defensive Player of the Year award, the Clutch Player of the Year award, the Sixth Man of the Year award, the Most Improved Player award, the Rookie of the Year award, and the Coach of the Year award. The winners are as listed above; Jaren Jackson Jr., De’Aaron Fox, Malcolm Brogdon, Lauri Markkanen, Paulo Banchero, and Mike Brown. I won’t cover the Clutch Player of the Year because the statistics were too confusing for me to understand.

 

MVP

  1. Joel Embiid

While NBA.com has Nikola Jokic being the frontrunner for an MVP, I believe that Joel Embiid will take home his first MVP. Joel Embiid is an offensive force. After winning 2 straight NBA scoring titles, and no MVP’s, I believe its his time to take home an MVP. He is currently averaging 33.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.2 apg. Most points per game plus 10.2 rebounds in my opinion is an MVP caliber stat line. NBA.com has him 2nd in the Kia MVP ladder.

2. Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic may become the first player to “three-peat” an MVP award since Larry Bird did so in 1983-86. He may join the 4 player club as an MVP “three-peater”. He is currently averaging 24.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 9.8 apg. He is averaging the most assists by a center this year(3rd in NBA), and the 2nd most rebounds by a center and all players. NBA.com has him as 1st in the Kia MVP ladder.

3. Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum co-led the Celtics to a 2nd place spot in the Eastern Conference, only 1 game behind NBA.com’s 3rd place MVP contender, Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is averaging 30.1 ppg, 8.8 ppg, 4.6 apg. A near double-double from this year’s All-Star game MVP with a NBA record 55 points. NBA.com has him 4th in the Kia MVP ladder.

4-10

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo

5. Donovan Mitchell

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

7. Domantis Sabonis

8. Luka Doncic

9. Kevin Durant

10. James Harden

The winner of the 2023 MVP award is yet to be announced, but hopefully will some time in May.

 

Rookie of the Year (ROTY)

The Rookie of the Year award has been dominated since day 1 by one person: Paolo Banchero. He was the consensus 1st overall pick. The only player that could’ve stolen it from him was injured rookie Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

1.Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero was the consensus first overall pick of last year’s draft to whoever had it. The Magic were the lucky winners and, of course they picked Banchero. Averaging 20 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.7 apg, he leads all rookies in scoring. NBA.com has him 1st for ROTY.

2. Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict popped off in his first few games as the Pacers 6th man. In those first couple of games he averaged 24 ppg. Overall, Mathurin averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg. NBA.com has him 4th for ROTY.

3. Jalen Williams

Jalen Williams was a standout at Santa Clara, and became a prolific scorer for the Thunder in the second half of the year. He averaged 17.24 ppg in the second half of the year. Overall, he averaged 14.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg. NBA.com has him 3rd for ROTY.

4-10

4. Walker Kessler

5. Jaden Ivey

6. Keegan Murray

7. Jabari Smith Jr.

8. Jeremy Sochan

9. Malaki Branham

10. Shaedon Sharpe

The winner of the 2023 ROTY award was Orlando Magic forward Paulo Banchero.

 

MOY

1. Bobby Portis

Bobby Portis is currently second in the 6MOY runnings. He is on the Bucks team that s looking to claim their second title in 3 years. He is averaging 14.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.5 apg.

2. Malcolm Brogdon

Malcolm Brogdon is the 6th man for the Boston Celtics. His team is looking to claim their first title since 2008, and edge out the LA Lakers in the race for the most titles. They are both currently tied at 17 rings. Malcolm is averaging 14.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.7 apg.

3. Immanuel Quickley

Immanuel Quickley is the 6th man for the surprising Knicks team. The Knicks are currently hoping to get past the Cavaliers in the first round, which would be the first time in 10 years they won a round in the playoffs. Quickley is averaging 14.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.4 apg.

The winner of the 2023 6MOY award was Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon.

 

MIP

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai has upped his number from last year(24.5 ppg, 45.3 FG%, 30.0 3pt%, 5.0 rpg, 5.9 apg) to 31.4  ppg, 51.0 FG%, 34.5 3pt%, 4.8 rpg, 5.5 apg. He is also sixth in the MVP runnings. He led the Thunder to a play-in berth, and a 9/10 game win versus the Pelicans with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. This year he was a first time all-star.

2. Lauri Markkanen

Lauri has made a huge improvement from last year. Last season he averaged 14.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.3 apg on 44.5 FG% and 35.8 3pt%. This season he is averaging 25.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.9 apg on 49.9 FG% and 39.1 3pt%. He is well deserving of the award he took -although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should’ve won. However, he failed to bring the Jazz to a play-in berth, finishing 12th place in the Western Conference.

3. Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson is- in my opinion- one of the most underrated players in the league. Averaging 24.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 6.2 apg on 49.1 FG% and 41.6 3pt% he is a top 20 scorer. He is the bringer of Julius Randle’s comeback(even though he won MIP in 2019-2020). Last year his stats were: 16.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.8 apg on 50.2 FG% and 37.3 3pt%.

The winner of the 2023 MIP award was Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen

 

COTY

1. Mike Brown

After winning in a literal landslide, Mike Brown coached the Sacramento Kings to their very first playoff berth since the 2005-2006 season. He had help from the Clutch Player of the Year award winner De’ Aaron Fox, and the rebound title winner Domatas Sabonis.

2. Mark Daigneault

“Coach D” -as many people abbreviate his name- led the OKC Thunder to a play-in berth after a horrible losing season last year. Without the 2nd overall draft pick from 2022, his team was led by 12th overall Jalen Williams and Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander.

3. Joe Mazzulla

He was supposed to be the Celtics assistant coach after Will Hardy moved to the Utah Jazz, but after the Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was fired, he took the reigns of one of the most dominant teams ever.

The winner of the 2023 COTY award was Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown.

 

DPOY

1. Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Grizzlies PF/C led the Grizzlies to a 2nd seed berth in the 2023 playoffs. He averaged 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. The Grizzlies were the 2nd best rated defensive team during the playoffs. The Grizzlies were the 7th best defensive team during the regular season.

2. Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez was the 3rd star for the Milwaukee bucks this year. He averaged 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. In the playoffs, the Bucks were the 14th best defensive team, but during the season, they were the 5th best team.

3. Evan Mobely

This year for Cleveland he averaged 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers were the best defensive teams with the defensive rating. During the regular season, they were the best team.

The winner of the 2023 DPOY award was Jaren Jackson Jr.

Football Positions

                 What do different positions in football do

The eleven players of the offense can be separated into two main groups: the five offensive linemen, whose primary job is to block opponents and protect their quarterback, and the other six backs and receivers, whose primary job is to move the ball down the field by either running with it or passing it.

A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball, and block.

In modern American football, the quarterback is usually considered the leader of the offense, and is often responsible for calling the play in the huddle. The quarterback also touches the ball on almost every offensive play, and is almost always the offensive player that throws forward passes.

The defensive team, simply known as the “defense”, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage without possession of the ball. The objective of the defensive team is to prevent the other team from scoring and win possession of the ball for their side.

A linebacker (LB) is a defensive player that lines up directly behind the line of scrimmage. They are responsible for making tackles on run plays and covering short passes. Linebackers must be both athletic to play the pass and also big enough to stop the run.

The defensive line makes up the first line of defense. They are responsible with stopping the run and rushing the quarterback. The positions played on the defensive line depend on the type of defensive formation the team is running.

The wide receiver’s principal role is to catch forward passes from the quarterback. On passing plays, the receiver attempts to avoid, outmaneuver, or simply outrun the cornerbacks or safeties typically defending him. If the receiver becomes open on his pass route, the quarterback may throw a pass to him.

What is the Safety Position in Football? A safety is a defensive back who typically is positioned deeper than any other position on the defense and serves as the last line of defense against a big play.

5 basic rules of soccer

5 basic rules of soccer

 

In this article, you will learn 5 awesome soccer rules and some fun facts about soccer positions.

Rule 1: NO HANDS.

Soccer is a sport using your feet. Your goal is to pass around and play through the defense to score a goal and your other job is to defend your goal. But while defending and playing you CAN NOT use your hands UNLESS you are a goalie or you are throwing the ball in. Goalies can use their hands to grab the ball before it goes into the goal. And when the ball goes out of bounds you can grab it and throw it in.

Rule 2: Throw-ins

Throw-ins happen when the ball goes out of bounds. If your team kicks the ball out then the other team gets to throw it at one of their teammates. And if their team kicks the ball out then you get to throw it into one of your teammates. The three rules that go with throw-ins are: It has to be over your head. You have to throw the ball in over your head or they will blow the whistle and the other team gets the ball. You also cannot step over the line and into the field when you throw it in or it will be the other team’s ball. The last rule for throw-ins is you cannot lift your leg. Both legs have to be on the ground or, you guessed it, it will be the other team’s ball.

Rule 3: Free Kicks and Corner Kicks

Free kicks happen when a foul occurs if someone fouls you(Which I will explain in the next paragraph) then you get to kick the ball from where the foul happened, and this is a good thing because you can kick it to their side so you can get a head start and score. Also if free kicks happen in the goal box then you get to kick the ball into the goal, and the only person stopping you is the goalie, the other players have to stand outside the box, so it’s really easy to score. How corner kicks occur, is when the ball goes out of bounds in the corner of the goal. If the other team kicks it out you place the ball on the corner of the field and kick it. And if you’re lucky one of your teammates will be in the center and they will kick it into the goal.

 

Rule 4: Fouls

As I explained in the previous paragraph, foals give people a big advantage in soccer so make sure you try not to be too aggressive. Fouls are when someone hurts another player or they grab onto their arm or something like that. Fouls can happen in a lot of different ways. And if you get too many fouls the referee will give you a yellow card which means you have to sit out for the rest of the game. So make sure you’re careful when taking the ball from other people because you don’t want to hurt them too much.

Rule 5: Offsides

Offside is something a lot of people don’t understand or don’t get so I am going to try to explain this very well. When you play an upper position it can be hard to see where the half line is. And offside can happen a lot for you. Offside is when one of your teammates has the ball and you are behind the defense on their side, that’s not offside until your teammate passes to you. When your teammate passes to you and you are behind the defenders the referee will call an offside and the other team gets a free kick.

Rule 6: Positions

This isn’t a “rule”. But there must usually be 11 players on the field when you are ages 11 and up. The positions are forwards, midfielders, defenders, goalies, and wings. And there are multiple of those positions. I could explain what all of the positions are and do but that would take up too much space.

In conclusion, I hope you learned a lot about soccer and now you can get better and grow with these rules. These rules will help you to succeed and I hope you use them well.

 

                          

Super bowl

Super bowl

The super bowl is a world wide known NFL football game. Football teams from all around the US play against each other in a tournament that leads up to the super bowl. There are thirty-two NFL teams that play to get the one and only superbowl trophy. This game will be played in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday February 12.

NFL Teams

The National Football League is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. (NFL Teams) All these teams work super hard to get to the super bowl, now some of these teams have not made it to the super bowl in a long time or not even at all.

The Fun Times Together

This event brings family and friends together for fun times. Usually these include-without doubt good food, drinks, lots of talking, and LOTS of football watching, and even some smack talk about the teams in the super bowl. Some known foods to usually have at these super bowl parties are, some sort of fish/meat, chips and dip, hot dogs, something with bbq sauce, and lots more. This event once a year is so much fun.

This Years Big Game

This year for the super bowl the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will be playing it out to see who gets the trophy this time. The Kansas city chiefs have won two super bowls in the past, will they make it three? The Philadelphia Eagles have won only one super bowl, will they tie the score with the Chiefs? It is all up to how they perform super bowl night.

Super Bowl Predictions

People make predictions about what team they think is going to win the super bowl that year. Some people make bets, some people win those bets, some loose. For example this year the percentage of the bets of the chiefs winning is 87%! Some people will most likely  think to themselves who they think is going to win. Super bowl predictions though can honestly be tough because there are lots of teams to choose from.

Half Time Show

At every super bowl there is a big half time show, there is always some famous singer or dancer that is involved in this show. This year Rihanna is the star of the show. Rihanna is an iconic singer, actress and fashion mogul, and will be taking the stage this Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. These halftime shows are talked about a long time after and before the super bowl, they are sometimes even more entertaining than the actual game. 

National Anthem

This year the national anthem will be sung by a country singer named Chris Stapleton. Chris Stapleton is an eight time grammy winner, and will be joined by Troy Kotsur, the Oscar-winning star of last year’s best picture winner, “CODA.”

Commercials 

Between all the football that goes around during the super bowl, there has got to be commercials. For a thirty second super bowl commercial it costs about seven million dollars! The most common commercials for 2011, 2012, 2016, and this year, is some sort of chip brand. For 2011, 2012, and 2016 the chip brand that was most used was Dorito. This year, 2023’s most common commercial is the Tortilla chip brand, but this year it had a twist-it features Jack Harllow. This year’s commercials have a lot to do with famous actresses, singers, and musicians. You better watch out for the best of the best in these seven million dollar commercials. 

The life of Simone Biles

The life of Simone Biles

Do you know who Simone Biles is? Simone Biles is the best gymnast in the world. Lots of people call her the goat. She had a rough childhood growing up. But look where she made it. She has won many medals being at the Olympics and different gymnastics meets. In this article, you will also learn some fun facts about her like how much she loves Pizza! Stick around to learn more about Simone Biles.

 

Early life

 Simone biles was born march 14, 1997 in Columbus Ohio. She has 4 siblings Ron, Ashley, Adria, and Adam. Simone’s parents struggled with Alcohol and Drug addiction. Her birth dad left her and her family when she was very little. Witch left her mom with 4 young kids to take care of. After a while, her mom couldn’t take care of her and her siblings. So she sent them to stay with her sister Nellie and Ron biles. Simone and Adria were adopted by them. The rest of her siblings stayed with their mom. One day Simones stepbrother took her to the Gymnastics place, and she started doing flips and tricks. A few weeks later Her step-parents put her in gymnastics. She was one of the best for her age. She was one first in many competitions. Simone stayed at Bannon’s Gymnastix for 11 years.

 

Adult life

 In 2013 Simone made the USA women’s gymnastics team. In 2016 she went to the Rio Olympics and won four gold medals and 1 bronze. In 2018 Simone went to the University of the people majoring in Business administration. In the 2020 Olympics, She was diagnosed with twisties and wasn’t able to compete. She still competed in a couple of the competitions. She won 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. In 2021 after the Olympics she went on the gold over America tour with her team. Traveling around the united states showed off her and her team’s skills. 

 

Awards

 Simone biles has won many awards through her years of gymnastics here are some of them. Over Simone’s career, she has had a total of 32 Olympic medals. in 2016 she won the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the year. also, in 2016 she won the Glamour Award for The Record Breaker. in 2017 she won many awards. Best Female Athlete ESPY Award. Shorty Award for Best in Sports. Teen Choice Award for Choice Female Athlete. and Best Female U.S. Olympic Athlete ESPY Award. in 2019 she won the People Choice Award for Favorite Game Changer. in 2020 She got the BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year. in 2021 she won the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Female Sports Star. Also, in 2020,2019, and 2017 she won Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman. Simone has won many more awards in her lifetime and is adding to that list every day. 

 

Fun facts

 Simone has many fun facts about her here are some of them. She has won 32 Olympic medals in her career. she was the first woman to win World All-Around 3 times in a row. Started doing gymnastics after a field trip to the gymnastics training center. She has ADHD. She thinks of it as a superpower. She has a Gymnastics move named after her called “the Blues” Simone loves to shop. Her favorite kind of food is Italian. her nickname is $imoney. in the Rio Olympics, she was the shortest athlete of all the Olympians. Her sister also did gymnastics. Is 24 years old right now. Since she was 8 has had the same coach. She is scared of bees. The best event is floor. Owns a german shepherd dog. She loves pizza. After every meet she orders pizza. in the 2018 world championship, she had a kidney stone while competing. she is dating an NFL player named Jonathan Owens. This is Simone’s Instagram if you want to follow her @simonebiles. Simone is 4ft 8 in tall. She knows she is the best and isn’t afraid to say it. She has a goat on almost all her gymnastics suits. She has many books were written and movies about her. Majored in Business administration. Her full name is Simone Arianne Biles. She loves doing different things with her makeup. She was homeschooled most of her life so she could do gymnastics. Simone started doing gymnastics when she was 6. She is Roman Catholic. She has also premiered in Dancing with the stars. Simone Biles has many more facts about her.

 Simone biles is an amazing Gymnast and person. She is very close to her siblings. Simone loves doing gymnastics. She has been doing gymnastics since she was 6 years old. She is now 24 and still doing gymnastics. Throughout her life, she has won many awards more than anyone will ever win. She had a hard childhood with her dad leaving and her mom doing drugs and had to leave. For college, she went to the university of the people. Simone is an awesome gymnast and will continue to impress us. 

 

Rocket League: The Ultimate E-sport

Rocket League: The Ultimate E-sport

Rocket League

If someone mentions to you the name “Rocket League”, unless you have heard of the game, you will most likely think it’s a game that has “rockets” and it’s some sort of league. Nope, not even close. 

 

Rocket League is a game that essentially could be named “car soccer”, let me explain. “Car soccer” is essentially a game where you are placed in the third-person view of a car. This car can do many things your normal car can’t such as; (double) jumping, flipping, boosting, and flying in the air. 

 

The game arrived in stores for $20 in mid-2015 and was a small game. A sequel to the infamous game, with the infamous name, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars. or SARPBC, try pronouncing that.

 

The entire game was placed inside a boxed-off stadium and had little “egg” people in the stands cheering and bouncing up and down. Customizable cars and goal explosions are also an option. These customizable items have different rarities, starting from uncommon, then going to rare, very rare, import, exotic, and finally, black market. The game’s currency is called “credits” and is $1 for 100 credits.

 

The game just recently went out in stores as “Free To Play” and that brought an UNHEARD amount of players, sometimes having over 1 million players online at a time! Since then the game has declined in popularity, but still racks in more players a day than before the game went free to play. 

 

Mechanics

The game has many mechanics that involve such things as I mentioned before. The basics of these mechanics are:

 

  •  Ariels, hitting the ball while in the air
  •  Wave-dashes, front flipping before you hit the ground to propel yourself forward
  • Double taps, hitting the ball into the back wall of the opponents net
  • Air dribble, dribbling the ball in the air
  • Dribbles, carrying the ball on top of your car without it touching the ground
  • Flicks, flicking the ball while dribbling.

 

Now, these are the bare bones, almost anyone can do these things mechanics. Some of these are harder than others, but most anyone above the rank of platinum can do ALL (or should be able to). 

 

Speaking of ranks, in the competitive playlist, depending on how good you are, the game will give you a rank. Every win you get, you get a certain amount of MMR (MatchMaking Rank). The higher in the ranks you go, the harder it gets, or longer it takes to get to that next rank. Ranks have levels to them, there is division 1-4, and different levels for the actual name of the rank.

 

Rankings (From worst to best)

 

  • Bronze 1 Division 1-4
  • Bronze 2 Division 1-4
  • Bronze 3 Division 1-4
  • Silver 1 Div 1-4
  • Silver 2 Div 1-4
  • Silver 3 Div 1-4
  • Platinum 1 Div 1-4
  • Platinum 2 Div 1-4
  • Platinum 3 Div 1-4
  • Diamond 1 Div 1-4
  • Diamond 2 Div 1-4
  • Diamond 3 Div 1-4
  • Champion 1 Div 1-4
  • Champion 2 Div 1-4
  • Champion 3 Div 1-4
  • Grand Champion 1 Div 1-4
  • Grand Champion 2 Div 1-4
  • Grand Champion 3 Div 1-4
  • Super Sonic Legend (Max)
  • Ranks.jpeg

 

A lot to take in, I know. But this is the thing you say when someone asks you, “What rank are you?” 

 

The Pros

Now the juicy stuff, the actual Esports. Rocket League has had some form of Esport since the first year it came out (mid-2015) and has had many graphics, mechanic, and community changes. This includes changes to the pros, and their level of skill compared to the “Average Joe” Over time the number of pros has increased, and with that, it brought more and more teams.

 

Top 3 Teams From Each (Main) Region

North America

  1. The General NRG
  2. G2 Esports
  3. FaZe Clan

South America

  1. True Neutral
  2. The Tree Sins
  3. Ellevens Esports

 Europe

  1. Team BDS
  2. Guild Esports
  3. Team Vitality

 

Now there are many other teams in the league, but none as important as these. Of course, every team has its players, and some are better than others, and some hit historical shots that we will never forget (looking at you Justin).

 

Top 10 Players Worldwide

  1. GarrettG
  2. SquishyMuffinz
  3. Jstn
  4. Monkey Moon
  5. Extra
  6. Marc_by_8
  7. Fairy Peak
  8. Kaydop
  9. Alpha54
  10. Firstkiller

 

This will change over time, teams and players will get better over time, and so will the community. With the new RLCS coming soon, we know what to expect (kind of) and will be rooting for our favorite teams.

Softball Facts, History, and More!

Softball Facts, History, and More!

 Softball is a very popular sport! Lots of people enjoy playing it. There are 65 million people that play softball around the world! Here are some facts and history about softball!

 History

 The history of softball is very interesting! The man who created softball was George Hancock. It all started in the Farragut Boat Club in November 1887. He was at a Yale football game. Yale had defeated Harvard and when somebody heard that they got so excited that they threw a boxing glove at another student and the other student tried to hit it with a stick! This gave George the idea of a new game! George wanted to play indoor baseball but with a bigger ball. Other people just thought that he meant outdoor baseball but he certainly did not. He used what he could and tied the laces of a boxing glove to use as a ball. To mark the bases, home plate, and where the pitcher should stand he used chalk. Soon later that sport grew and many people started to play it. After more people started to play it George took the game outdoors where other teams would go against each other. Now more than 65 million people play softball around the world!

 

Facts

 There’s a lot of facts that you may not know about or probably already do because some of the facts are already well known. The first official game of softball was in 1887. It was an indoor game as well. Before softball got its name it was called kitten ball. Then later the Minneapolis Park Board named it diamond ball. Softball then officially got its name in 1927. Softball is played in 140 countries! That’s insane! In the diamond field, each base is 60 feet apart from the other. That’s a little smaller than a baseball field because each base is 90 feet apart. In softball, pitchers pitch underhand and baseball pitchers pitch overhand. Also in baseball, pitchers always have to look behind them because runners can steal bases at any time but in softball, runners can’t do that. So softball pitchers are never looking behind themselves but baseball pitchers are. Baseball pitchers have to pitch on a mound which makes them stand up higher than softball pitchers because they have no mound. That’s all the facts!

 

Jennie Finch 

Jennie Finch was considered one of the best softball players in the world. She was a fast pitch pitcher and a first baseman. Jennie started to play softball when she was 5! She is an Olympic gold medalist. She started to play for the Arizona Wildcats in 1999. She and her team got a gold medal in 2004 in Athens for the Olympic Games. In 2008 in Beijing for the Olympic games, they got a silver medal. Jennie has an N.C.A.A record for having 60 consecutive pitching wins over three seasons. Within those three seasons, she struck out people 1,028 times! Jennie could also throw at 70, which is 98-99 in baseball. Jennie Finch retired in 2010 at the age of 29. 

Sources:

https://olympic.ca/2019/08/23/what-are-the-differences-between-baseball-and-softball/

 

https://www.rulesofsport.com/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-softball-and-baseball.html

 

https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/about-usa-sb/history

 

https://facts.net/lifestyle/sports/softball-facts/

 

https://www.britannica.com/facts/Jennie-Finch

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/sports/olympics/biofinch.html#:~:text=record%20with%2060%20consecutive%20pitching,season%20to%20set%20another%20N.C.A.A.

Why is team chemistry more important than overall talent?

Why is team chemistry more important than overall talent?

The 2021-2022 Lakers squad has had a very dissapointing start to this season, as of writing this article they are 10-11. What is the reason for their struggle, and has this happened before?

 

There are 2 keys to success in the NBA nowadays. The first one is skill and stardom. Every team should be built around a superstar, a guy you see as the future and leader of the squad. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is that guy. A guy who draws a lot of attention and night in and out consistently puts up very good numbers.

 

The second key is chemistry. All of the talent you may have means nothing if none of it works together. A team like the Phoenix Suns may not have the biggest stars in the league, but they still made it to the NBA Finals last season due to their impressive chemistry. A team that plays better together is better than a team that plays the best by themselves. Kevin Durant once said, “Chemistry is important. If you like your teammates, it’s going to be easier to play with them on the court”.

 

Going into this season, the Lakers were the team to watch. They were expected to match up against the Nets in the NBA Finals for a fantastic matchup. However, the Lakers have been very disappointing thus far. The Lakers are a measly 10-11, and it seems every week they play worse and worse teams and continue to lose. What is the reason for these losses, you may ask?

 

It’s quite noticeable when you watch Lakers games what their issue is: they don’t know how to play as a unit. I don’t even watch basketball, and even I can notice it. There is too much stardom in Los Angeles and not enough chemistry to go around. Guys like Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook all on the same team are not working well. All 4 of those guys are players to build a team around. All of them would be leading scorers on most teams in the league. All of them want the ball, and when one player takes too many shots, the other guys become useless. They need to learn how to distribute all of their talents equally around and use all of their strengths to combine them.

 

Unfortunately, if everyone can’t figure it out, they may end up trading people away. Fill some weaknesses the Lakers have and not have as many stars on the floor at once. This is the unfortunate route they may have to take, but it is very much an option.

 

Now, the Lakers are not the only example of this. In the NBA’s entire history this happens essentially every year. The Nets are last season’s example and have had the same issue this season as well. The Big 3 the Nets traded for and signed, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have not played well together. All 3 of them shoot the ball too much. However, James and Kevin have started to figure it out, Kyrie has left them behind. Kyrie has not been allowed to play due to his unwillingness to get the COVID-19 Vaccine, and Kevin and James are being good teammates and not being negative towards Irving. Kevin says, “He’s a part of our team”.

 

It begs the question, does chemistry mean more than talent? Yes, teams that have very good chemistry have always done better than extremely talented teams. Take the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks for example. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the biggest name in the Finals for that squad, but other than that, there was not much star power. But, everyone knew their role. Jrue Holiday knew he was not going to be the scoring point guard, and so he focused on his biggest strength, that being his defense. The same is not said for Khris Middleton however, as he was expected to be the best 3 point shooter on that team, and he was. All of these parts came together and formed a championship team. Even their opponents in the Finals had great chemistry and were built similarly to Milwaukee, but the Bucks were bigger and stronger and ended up winning.

 

Time and time again it has been proved that teams with better chemistry will win more games than a team with extraordinary talent. If all the parts come together, they can form a special squad. But, the teams that have the right amount of talent and chemistry, become dynasties and can go down as some of the greatest teams of all time.

 

The 2021 Atlanta Braves: a perfect example of why good coaching goes a long way

The 2021 Atlanta Braves: a perfect example of why good coaching goes a long way

The Atlanta Braves were perhaps more of a surprise this season than the Giants were. An unsuspecting National League East squad that was expected to finish in the middle of a somewhat competitive division, who ended up beating the big bad Dodgers and Astros, and winning the World Series. This team was expected to be good, but not good enough to win the World Series. But yet, after all the doubts and a bad record for most of the season, they overcame it all. One reason I often point to is the coaching quality Atlanta has to offer. They are perhaps the best in the National League, maybe in all of the MLB. They coached and built this squad from scratch, and pulled them to the top. Let’s dive into how coaching can influence players to be great, and exactly how these guys got so good.

 

Believe in your ability

If you have ever played Retro Bowl before, you know that you can easily win it all in the first season with a team. You spend all your money on the best players right off the bat to replace the bad players and go from a one-star team to a five-star team and win the Retro Bowl after only one season. 

An actual front office for a sports franchise does not work that way. It takes many years of making small, smart decisions to slowly build up your team to the point where then you can spend a good amount on the best players. For some teams, it may take 20-30 years. That’s an absurdly long amount of time, but they do what is necessary to build up to greatness. Atlanta was patient and did not spend all their money on top free agents, they decided to take the long and gritty route, which ended up being the right choice. 

Essentially, Atlanta coached up all of their players to the point where they could flip 2 or 3 of them for better players. They draft carefully to replace what they lost and coach them up as well. The ones with the best potential keep around to further their growth and progression, and they turn into recognizable names. The ones that aren’t quite good enough to become huge names are traded away for either household names or guys they see have very good potential. It’s a long and egregious process, but when done correctly builds the foundation of a team. But, without proper coaching, this will never be done correctly.

 

The Beginning of Something Great

2018 Atlanta was the future of the Braves. These were the guys they wanted to take to the next level. Freddie Freeman was who this squad was built around. Freddie was drafted as a top California prospect, and Atlanta developed him into an MVP. Ronald Acuna Jr was drafted before this season, and he had begun his development into what he is today, an MVP candidate. Ozzie Albies at Second Base was beginning to become a top Second Baseman, Dansby Swanson was being worked on to become a Gold Glove stud shortstop, Austin Riley at Third Base started to turn into a top Third Baseman. This was Atlanta’s core they would continue to build around. 

The level of coaching in Atlanta opened up opportunities for better players to come into the organization to contribute. The Braves would look for guys with potential or had success prior, and just needed a few tweaks to become household names. One example would be Travis D’Arnaud, who had success with the Mets a few years prior but was becoming worse every year. Atlanta signed him in 2019 and worked with him and gave him the confidence he needed to become their starting catcher. 

Another example is the 3 outfielders Atlanta traded for in 2021 to replace the injured outfielders Atlanta had developed. They traded for Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, and Eddie Rosario. Atlanta was all in to win this season and decided to fill some holes with well-known players to further increase their chances of winning later in the season. Eddie Rosario had just been DFA’d by the Twins, Soler was not producing like his 2019 self, and Joc Pederson did not want to be on a down-spiraling Cubs team. The Braves made little tweaks in their game, and they ended up being colossal contributors to the Braves in the postseason. Eddie Rosario ended up winning WS MVP, Soler hit the big home run in game 6 to seal the deal against Houston, and Joc Pederson delivered time and time again throughout the season.

The Braves coaches were the cause of all this success. They built up the core and opened up these opportunities for the Braves to continue to get better, and even after these big additions they progressed them as well to make their additions even more valuable.

Now, who exactly are we to praise for all of this? It’s time I introduce you to the people responsible for the progression of this franchise.

 

Manager: Brian Snitker

One of the most respected managers in the league. Brian has been with Atlanta for 40 years and is now getting his first taste of success. An old-school approach to the game, which you will find all Braves coaches do. Brian makes the right moves in the game and has commanded everyone in his grip extremely well. Brian has run this organization beautifully, and his hard work is now paying off.

 

Bench Coach: Walter Weiss

Former Major League shortstop who is the Robin to Snitker’s batman. These two think brilliantly alike and are always on the same page at all times. He influences a lot of decisions Snitker makes. If you ever watch a Braves game, you can constantly see Snitker and Weiss gelling together, making decisions to help the Braves have success.

 

Third Base Coach: Ron Washington

Ah yes, Ronnie Washington, another former ballplayer who has spent 50 years in baseball. Washington is very knowledgeable and is the infield coach for the Braves. He is responsible for turning guys like Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies, and Freddie Freeman into Gold Glove-winning infielders. Here he is explaining his mindset and drills he goes over with his players (MLB Network). Ron says, “After a while when the playing time stop(s), you become a giver. People gave it to you, and to keep the game going in the direction you want it to go in you have to give back”. Perfectly said, Ron.

 

First Base Coach: Eric Young

Eric has assumed the role of the outfield coach for Atlanta, and he has contributed beyond necessary. He has turned Ronald Acuna Jr into an absolute monster and kept guys sharp who are veteran defensive players such as Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis, Marcell Ozuna, and Adam Duvall. Eric has coaching experience with the Rockies and Rangers and has finally won his first ring.

Now, these are not the only men responsible for the success and progression of the Braves core I don’t have enough time in a day to talk about everyone. But, without that great coaching and development, the Braves would be lost and would not be the power franchise they are today.

 

Brusdar Graterol is so much fun to watch pitch in the MLB

Brusdar Graterol is so much fun to watch pitch in the MLB

With the future of the game of baseball’s stars coming from foreign countries, many countries are famous for the players who are born there. The big counties are and are not limited to: Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Venezuela. These countries are known to pound out Major League stars. One, in particular, I have had my eyes on for a few years now, is Brusdar Graterol, a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brusdar is a special kind of athlete, and it’s time people were introduced to him.

 

Started from the Bottom

Brusdar Javier Graterol was born on August 26th, 1998 in Calabozo, Venezuela. Brusdar had no father growing up, so he was raised by his mother and grandparents. Brusdar played baseball in Venezuela as a kid until 2014, when he signed with the Minnesota Twins. 

In 2016 Graterol underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season. However, when he returned from the injury he pitched very well, going 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA while pitching in low A with the East Coast Twins. Minnesota saw the crazy potential in him and promoted him to high A to play with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. 

Now, what did they see in him exactly? A big, strong, 6’0 kid that can throw 100 MPH with ease. His mechanics allowed him to throw these high speeds very effortlessly. Throw in a wipeout slider in the mix, and you have a top prospect in the Twins organization. Take a look at it yourself, here is a video of Brusdar clocking in at 99 MPH while pitching for Cedar Rapids. 

Brusdar immediately became a Twin’s top prospect, and many were excited to see him at the major league level.

Finally, Brusdar got his long-awaited wish, making his MLB debut on September 1st, 2019 in a save appearance for the Twins against the Detroit Tigers, and he looked very sharp, touching 99 MPH and closing the game out on a double play.

Brusdar continued pitching for the Twins in the bullpen for the rest of the year and finished the season to the tune of a 4.66 ERA. During the offseason after the Twins were swept by the Yankees in the ALDS, Brusdar worked his butt off. Brusdar was frustrated with the stats he finished with and wanted to do something about it. He and everyone else around him had realized the crazy potential he had, and he pursued to find it

In February of 2020, Brusdar was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers had fantasized about having a player of this caliber and potential in their bullpen, it was their one weakness they needed to address. The Dodgers saw the crazy potential, and fine-tuned Brusdar as their little toy to add to the bullpen. 

 

The beginning of a legacy

2020 was the season Brusdar made a name for himself. Although the stats may not completely jump off the page, that’s not what brings him attention. What attracted all the fans towards him was the crazy things he did while pitching.

Brusdar raised his fastball 2 MPH during that offseason, and it was on display throughout the entire season. Brusdar dominated Baseball Savant’s leaderboard in 2020 for velocity, as he is in second place behind Aroldis Chapman in velocity for a sinker, and in fourth place for a four-seam fastball. 

Not only is his fastball extremely tough to hit, but they have a crazy run on them. Run is when a fastball moves from side to side. A fastball could start at the middle of the plate, but when it hits the catcher’s glove may be on the inside half of the plate to a right-handed batter, which means that the pitch ran inside. This video by Pitching Ninja shows exactly what I am talking about, watch where the pitcher releases the ball, and where it ends up on the plate. Brusdar makes a few appearances in this video if you notice. Here is another example of what Brusdar looks like with his fastballs, watch the absurd amount of depth his pitches have on them.

But no pitcher is successful without a secondary pitch, a pitch to change speeds and eye level with. Even though you may throw 102 MPH, you still need a secondary pitch to slow down the hitter and throw off their timing. For that, Brusdar throws a wicked slider off of his fastballs, as well as a changeup to add even more variety. Watch this video and watch how the fastball (up) and the slider (down) go in different directions of each other. As a hitter seeing 102, it’s extremely tough for them to recognize the pitch. To go from 102 to 88 is very tough to adjust to as a hitter.

But yet the most impressive part of it all is he does it without even trying. Just watching Jomboy Media’s video on his outing against the Astros shows how easily he releases the ball, almost as if he doesn’t try. It’s amazing to watch.

Brusdar is also an amazing personality. Every time he strikes someone out he gets fired up.Watch Graterol’s reaction after the ball is caught. He is so passionate and is such a show to watch every time he goes out to pitch.

Just speaking on how special of an athlete Graterol is quite frankly is not enough. You just have to watch and understand to realize how gifted this young kid is. Although he struggled due to injury in 2021, I predict he will have a phenomenal season once more in 2022 and will become the Dodgers regular closer for the season. Brusdar has blown up social media because of how talented and ridiculous he is. Look up Brusdar Graterol on Youtube and you will scroll for days finding videos on all of his pitching and how he is so good. This young man will light up the league, and we have yet to see all of his potential come to light.

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