It's Not Over Yet, But the San Francisco Giants are in a Race Against Time

I had written an article a week or so ago saying that the Giants' playoff push starts on September 1. I said that because of the fact that San Francisco's injury woes would, in a way, be replaced by a new set of players from the 40-man roster.

Darren Ford would be called up, as would Brandon Crawford and many others who could fill the void for the list of DL casualties this season.

Problem solved?

Not quite.

Did anyone think that the World Series champion San Francisco Giants, a team who prides themselves on coming in clutch when it counts, would give up even more ground in the NL West these last few weeks?

Would the Giants even make it to September 1?

Currently, they are six games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks with 26 games to play.

By the way the Giants' line-up is swinging the bat, and the way the Diamondbacks are swinging theirs, San Francisco will need a lot more than 27 games to complete that comeback.

"It's not over until it's over," some smart-aleck once said.

However, can you ignore what the radio listeners were calling in with this morning, and the radio hosts were agreeing with?

The overall consensus is that the Giants are done. A 7-0 loss at the hands of Randy Wells supports that.

Ya......Randy Wells.

Give the 2010 World Series champions until Sunday, though.

The Giants took us fans on a ride last season, and we owe it to them to at least hang on until Sunday night, where we will know how the Giants/Diamondbacks series went, and what the ultimate damage is.

From there, fans can decide for themselves whether there is still a little magic inside.

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San Jose Sharks: 5 Players That Could Surprise in 2011-12

It is almost that time of the year again. With training camp set to drop the puck on Saturday, September 17, many are excited to see what this new-look San Jose team has to offer.

Maybe "new-look" is a bad term. The team still has the same core of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle. They even have the same young stars like Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture.

However, the average Sharks fan may not know who the rest of the supporting players on the roster are, with all the moves that have happened this offseason.

Let me re-cap. GM Doug Wilson traded offensive prowess for much-needed finesse and defense. He also picked up very capable bodies on both ends of the ice.

The result is a strong defense and a still fully capable offense.

On paper, the Sharks are poised for their best defensive season to date. It seems like a far cry from the lack of defense we witnessed down the stretch last season and in the Vancouver series.

Still, there are a few players that must step up if the Sharks are going to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their history.

Here are five players that we might see do just that.

5. Jamie McGinn

How many years have we said that this is going to be the year for Jamie McGinn?

It feels like many, but the fact is McGinn has only been in the NHL for three seasons. However, he has yet to make a significant contribution to San Jose.

This year, he is due, right?

I sure hope so.

This may be McGinn's best chance at his first season of real production in the NHL, though.

The 23-year-old is set to start on the third line with the newly-acquired Michal Handzus and fellow youngster Torrey Mitchell.

McGinn and Mitchell are no strangers to each other, but it is the addition of Handzus that could fuel this line this season.

Handzus brings experience and a savviness for the game that McGinn has not seen before, and it can only help him raise his talent level.

4. Colin White

Colin White is large, that is a known fact. At 6'4" and 220 pounds, he is one of the biggest players on the team and can be compared to a lesser form of Douglas Murray, in a sense.

It is for those reasons that White is poised for a surprisingly productive season in San Jose in 2011-12.

What the Sharks lacked last season was an extra big body that could clear the front of the net. Enter White, who specializes in just that thing.

He also specializes in hitting people very hard. It was another team characteristic that was lacking last season.

With White set to play on the third line with Jason Demers, they can only benefit each other.

The finesse of Demers mixed with the physicality of White can be compared to the Boyle/Murray line two slots above.

There seems to be a sense of unknowing when it comes to White. By the end of the 2011-12 season, people will remember Colin White as a San Jose Shark.

3. Jason Demers

Piggy-backing the last slide on Colin White, Jason Demers is set to have a very good season because of who coach Todd McLellan has him paired with to start the season.

Demers and White are set to be paired together on the third line.

Demers has been growing in his overall skill-set over the past couple seasons. Last year, we saw him make great strides with 24 points, including 22 assists, in 75 games played.

What the Sharks hope for Demers is a future version of Dan Boyle, although they seem to play rather different styles.

One of the better moves made this offseason was the addition of White. The big body defenseman should fit right in to the Sharks' new-found toughness on the defensive side.

It seems as though GM Doug Wilson was just going with what has been working in San Jose. On the first line of the defense, they have Boyle and Murray, a finesse player with skills mixed with a physical presence.

Now on the third line, Wilson has that same formula, just in lesser form.

Demers will thrive off a talented defenseman with physical assets, just as Boyle has done on the that first line.

2. Michal Handzus

Why don't we just put the entire third line on this list, shall we?

The truth is that this line is very capable of being a strong suit for this Sharks team. Two young players looking for break-out seasons, and a crafty veteran fully capable of getting them there.

Handzus is almost a guarantee for excellent production in San Jose based on how many job this guy does well.

He is a veteran, helping out youngsters like Mitchell and McGinn. And he is excellent on the power play, penalty kill and in the face-off circle.

He helps the Sharks in so many facets of the game that the team lacked last season that he will ultimately be one of their best weapons on the ice.

1. Torrey Mitchell

The last piece of the third line, which i claimed in slides two and five as one of the more surprising lines on this team.'

Handzus, McGinn and Mitchell mesh well together on paper. It is just a matter of how they play with each other on the ice.

Mitchell will have a surprising season based on the position that he is in on this team.

The 26-year-old is the scoring weapon on this line, which was held by Devin Setoguchi and others last season.

Setoguchi put up 41 points last season in that role, and i expect Mitchell to tally around 35 points this season.

Most of all, Mitchell is set up to have a good season. He will get more shots at the net than he has ever had the chance to in the NHL, and he is playing with McGinn, who he knows very well, and Handzus, who can only further Mitchell's production on the ice.

There is no telling what line Mitchell will play on through the season, although knowing McLellan's style of coaching, he will be all over the map.

Mitchell will start on the third line, but he will be a huge weapon throughout the season on both the first and second lines.

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A Disgruntled Frank Gore Is A Weary San Francisco 49ers' Offense

San Francisco 49ers' running back Frank Gore did not play Saturday night against the Houston Texans at Candlestick Park.



Instead, he stood dressed on the sidelines with a bit of a disgruntled look on his face.



It needs to be understood that Gore's mean-looking mug is just the way he was made, so maybe there was nothing wrong. However, the 49ers' offense did look flightless on Saturday night, which is why the talks of Gore's contract must be a top priority in Niner Land.



Gore has been publicly unhappy with contract talks between the him and the 49ers over the past few weeks, and it appeared to be a real concern for everyone involved when coach Jim Harbaugh told him that it would be best to sit out Saturday's game.



In summary, the 49ers were blown out of the water by the Houston Texans.



Despite GM Trent Baalke saying he wants to make Gore a "49er for life" and Gore saying he will be there for his team no matter what, there has still not been an extension reached.



Gore remains unhappy, which is not good if the 49ers have an unhappy player in their backfield that pretty much fuels their offense this season.



By the looks of things on Saturday night, in which the Texans man-handled San Francisco, Baalke better act quick.



An unhappy Gore is a terrible offense, which leads to losses -- many of them.

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San Jose Sharks' Focus Should Be On Antti Niemi and the Third, Fourth Lines

There is no hiding the fact that the San Jose Sharks were busy this offseason. The dealings between San Jose and the newly befriended Minnesota Wild have been well-documented, as have both teams' chances at their respective runs in the playoffs next season.



For the Sharks, they needed to address two problems they encountered last season: Speed and defense.



With the help of the Wild, Sharks' GM Doug Wilson managed to pull both off by acquiring speedster Martin Havlat and All-Star defenseman Brent Burns.



Problem solved.



However, what now plagues San Jose may be a tad picky to some, but still remains important if the Sharks intend on advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their history.



The team did just slightly improve on the offensive side, all the while acquiring worthy defensemen, which has some calling this the best defensive squad San Jose has ever had.



But let's get picky, shall we?





Third & Fourth Lines



The Sharks top two lines are two of the best in the NHL, but how they compare with the team's bottom two lines is what has some questioning this squad.



Currently, the third and fourth lines set up as Torrey Mitchell, Michal Handzus, Jamie McGinn, and Andrew Desjardins, Andrew Murray, Benn Ferriero, although nothing has been confirmed.



How those lines complement a second line like Clowe, Couture and Havlat is yet to be known.



On paper, this is a major dent in their quest to become the best in the Western Conference.



It is yet to be revealed as to whether GM Doug Wilson is done dealing, but those third and fourth lines could be important in whether or not the Sharks are one of the elites in the NHL.



With stable third and fourth lines, the Sharks are the best in the West. Without those stable lines, they will remain the second or third best team in their conference.





Antti Niemi



Along those same lines comes the notion that the Sharks will only go as far as their goaltender takes them.



Antti Niemi emerged as the No. 1 man in net last season and proved he belonged there by hitting strides mid-season that propelled the Sharks to the second seed in the Western Conference.



This season, along with the third and fourth lines, comes the questions surrounding whether or not Niemi can do it again.



This season will be different. Niemi has already been handed the keys to this team, as compared to last season when he split time with Antero Niittymaki. What he intends to do with those keys is still up in the air.



With training camp starting on Saturday, the Sharks still have several wildcards situations on their roster. It is how those wildcards resolve themselves that will reveal how far San Jose plans on advancing this season.

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San Francisco Giants' Baseball Is Torture, But Not the Good Kind

Losing is contagious.



You know how I know?



The defending World Series champions, and a team in the middle of a competitive playoff race, are in danger of being swept by the worst team in baseball.



Do you cringe when you watch Giants baseball these days? How about turn away from the television once the opposing team scores over three runs?



You're not alone.



The Giants can blame the ever-growing list of injuries, and so can the fans. But once San Francisco lost on Saturday afternoon in Houston to the last place Astros, who boast a vast array of 'who's who?' in their line-up, those excuses ended.



The NL West was officially a battle of 'who can limp into the playoffs best?'



This Giants' team still sports the infamous "torture" motto. Live by it, and die by it.



However, this year's team has given the term a whole different meaning.



It used to be that San Francisco was known for one-run games and walk-off wins. I even wrote an article about it earlier this season, which shows you how convinced I was.



Now, the "torture" refers to us, at home on our couches, watching these players on television.



They are not out of it yet, which is surprising considering how hot the Arizona Diamondbacks were at one point and how injury-prone the Giants still are and continue to be. Yet, Arizona cannot seem to pull away, no matter how hard the Giants try to give the division to them.



However, this last week has shown us a lot about the fate of the NL West in September. The Diamondbacks are still not a good team, as shown by the fact that they simply cannot keep up with the elites like the Braves and Phillies. Also, the Giants need to get healthy and back on track, because if they do, they will win the West.



San Francisco is the best team in their division. It is just masked by the list of jugular-seeking injuries, horrid at-bats and the fact that this team is simply down on itself.



Other than that, they're fine, right?



Yet to be seen.



September will be a month of torture. It is up to the Giants as to whether they want it to be the good kind or bad kind.

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September 1 Marks the Start of the San Francisco Giants' Playoff Push

Forget about the injuries, forget about the Arizona Diamondbacks, forget even about the fact that the Giants are 2.5 games back in the NL West. The playoff push is not even close to starting yet.

The Giants are a mess. It think we will all agree to that. A few late-inning throw-aways, slew of injuries and the surging Diamondbacks prove that.

Still, San Francisco remains just 2.5 games back after all that with a whole lot of baseball yet to be played.

Several things can happen in the last month of the season. Carlos Beltran and Co. could come back, pitching could continue to carry the team or Arizona could fall back to earth.

However, Beltran has yet to produce significantly as a Giant, pitching cannot carry zero offense for very long and the Diamondbacks seem bound for this year's version of the 2010 Giants.

The playoff push has yet to fully begin, though. September 1 marks that date. That is the time to put your money where your mouth is for baseball teams.

The Giants are poised to do so in September.

Here are two reasons why.

The San Francisco Giants Have Two Series Against the Arizona Diamondbacks

September 2-4 and 23-25 marks that dates the Giants play the Diamondbacks. It does not matter how many games back the Giants are or how many players they have on the DL. If San Francisco can muster four wins during those six games, they should be in good position.

The Giants do not play a single team over .500, other than Arizona, the rest of the season. Of course, that means nothing when several of the Giants' best players are on the DL, but it sure does make it easier.

If the Giants can stick two or three games behind Arizona heading into September, or even closer, there is a great chance San Francisco can pull out on top, given the circumstances.

The circumstances are having a young team like the Diamondbacks playing for everything they have against a Giants team that has been there and done that several times over.

The Giants' motto is not "torture" for nothing.

September 1 Marks the Start of the 40-Man Roster

No team in baseball will welcome the September 1 opening for the 40-man roster more than the San Francisco Giants.

On September 1, rosters expand from 25 players to 40.

That would mean that manager Bruce Bochy would not have to make up fake excuses for Barry Zito or Jonathan Sanchez to go on the DL -- just leave them there.

Up comes Darren Ford, Brandon Crawford, etc.

Brandon Belt has room to stay on the roster and continue producing in this line-up, which means there is no room for excuses to let Aubrey Huff stay at first base.

For how many one-run games the Giants play, having legs like Ford could be huge for San Francisco. Even having a sure-handed shortstop like Brandon Crawford could play dividends down the stretch.

It is what the Giants have been missing, and it is the reason late innings are stressful these days. There is currently no room for Ford, and instead Bochy has to throw a healthy body like Miguel Tejada out there, although his healthy body has never hurt the Giants more.

San Francisco needs change, or maybe a roster move here and there. However, as long as they can stay afloat in the NL West, things will look up for them come September.

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San Jose Sharks: Moves They Still Need To Make Before the Season Starts

The San Jose Sharks have made a flurry of moves this past offseason. They have really changed the dynamic of this team and kept them in contention for the next several years.

To recap: The Sharks traded Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for Brent Burns and Martin Havlat in two separate deals. Also, San Jose acquired Jim Vandermeer and Colin White to help bolster the defense, and they acquired Andrew Murray, James Sheppard and Michal Handzus to fill the open spaces in the third and fourth lines.

However, what the Sharks currently lack is depth.

Murray and Sheppard are great pick-ups, but how much can they contribute to a high-octane offense, such as San Jose?

It is for that reason that the Sharks still have work to do in the free agent department.

Here are definite options for the Sharks before training camp starts up.

2. The San Jose Should Re-Sign Kyle Wellwood

Kyle Wellwood is still on the free agent market, and he can still contribute to the Sharks this next season.

However, if GM Doug Wilson was going to re-sign the forward, it would seem that he would have done it a long time ago. The more days tick away, the less likely this deal seems.

Wellwood contributed a lot to this team last season, especially during the playoffs. He had seven points, including a +/- of six during the playoffs.

Andrew Murray was a nice pick-up by the Sharks, but is he really going to be fourth line center this season?

He had just eight points last season as a part of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Wellwood at least knows this team and has at least a smidgen of chemistry with the rest of the fourth line, which looks like it will be a mixture of Andrew Desjardins, James Sheppard, Benn Ferriero and Andrew Murray.

Whether Wilson is just keeping Wellwood in his back pocket until the season starts or even until mid-season, San Jose needs to act before he is gone.

The worry here is that the Sharks' lack of depth will become a problem come mid-season, and continue to hurt them come the playoffs.

With the amount of experience Wellwood has with this team in the most crucial times, he would be a solid pick-up for Wilson and the Sharks.

1. The San Jose Sharks Need A Veteran Winger

Piggy-backing on the same thought that was noted in the first slide, the Sharks' weakness at the moment is their depth on offense.

The good thing is that several capable solutions still remain in the free agent pool, and there is little doubt that GM Doug Wilson will pass those up.

The Sharks need a veteran winger to help both in the locker room as well as on the ice with some of the younger players on the team.

It is true, they do have veteran Michal Handzus to help with youngsters Jamie McGinn and Torrey Mitchell, but there is something to be said for a third or fourth line veteran that can still produce a good amount of points.

Three available players that fill that description are John Madden, Chris Drury and J.P. Dumont.

The Sharks must act quickly if they want to nab them, though.

The best fit for the Sharks is Dumont. Just two seasons ago, the 33-year-old put up 65 points for the Predators.

After a down season in 2010-11, he would be able rejuvenate his stats with the Sharks' talented offense.

Whether he will play on the third or fourth line is up to coach Todd McLellan, but odds are he produces a whole lot more than what San Jose currently has on either of those lines.

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San Jose Sharks: 5 Players We Can't Wait To See On the Ice Next Season

The San Jose Sharks will be throwing a whole different team out on the ice next season. This summer, it seemed GM Doug Wilson and the Sharks were a little fed up with back-to-back Western Conference Final defeats, and they decided to re-tool.

While many teams would be content with making it to the third round of the NHL playoffs two years in a row, GM Doug Wilson evidently was not. He made that clear when he traded sniper Dany Heatley and young talent Devin Setoguchi to the Wild this past offseason.

In return, the Sharks acquired speed and defense, making them a force to be reckoned with for yet another year.

Here are five Sharks we cannot wait to see on the ice in October.

5. Jim Vandermeer

The Sharks acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer this offseason in order to help solidify the third line and promote a more physical style of play on the defensive end.

His strengths were clear weaknesses for the Sharks last season. They were hits and blocked shots. Vandermeer is able to fill those holes.

It will be interesting to see how much Vandermeer will be apart of this defense. As it stands, San Jose is looking to carry seven defensemen to start the season, with Demers, Vandermeer and recently-acquired Colin White to switch off on the third line.

4. Michal Handzus

Handzus specializes in three things that the Sharks will be happy to welcome to the team this next season. The 36-year-old plays in a ton of games, is great on the penalty kill and thrives in the face-off circle.

Losing Manny Malhotra last offseason was a clear blow to the Sharks in the face-off circle and Handzus helps to bolster that area for the Sharks.

He will also be greatly appreciated on the penalty kill. After losing PK-extraordinaire Scott Nichol during the offseason, Handzus should fill the void left by the pesky forward.

The former LA Kings forward is able to play so many roles for the Sharks that he is expected to be a major focal point on how San Jose is able to contend against the better teams in the Western Conference.

3. Colin White

Colin White is a big boy. Let's make that clear.

The Sharks acquired him for the sole reason that they need someone to get physical in the trenches right in front of the net. White certainly does that, and at 6'4", 220 lbs., he will do that will a little emphasis behind it.

He will be fighting for time on that third line with Demers and Vandermeer, but when the Sharks need a defensive stopper with power, you better believe coach Todd McLellan will have White on the ice.

2. Martin Havlat

The Sharks traded Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for Martin Havlat this offseason, and he is set to change the tone of San Jose's offense.

While Heatley brought a scorer's mentality, Havlat brings speed and finesse to the second line for the Sharks.

He is set to play with two other crafty players in Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture.

Keeping up with the opposing team on the ice became a problem for the Sharks last season and it was obvious in the playoffs. Havlat solves that problem for the Sharks.

The 30-year-old is set for a big season, stats-wise.

In Minnesota, the offense was stagnant at best last season. On the Sharks, offense comes in flurries and Havlat should benefit in a large way from that.

We can expect around 25 goals and close to 70 points from him next season.

1. Brent Burns

For the occasional Sharks fan who does not know about Brent Burns, I will say that they should get familiar with him.

Burns is 6'5" and 215 lbs with moderate speed, physical play and a giant shot from the point. The only thing he needs to do is prove it on a winning team. Thanks to the Sharks acquisition of him in the offseason, Burns will get that chance.

The 26-year-old takes a part of the Sharks' game that was a huge weakness for them, ever since the retirement of Rob Blake, and turns it into a clear strength.

Burns will be playing on the second line with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and the two young defensemen should be able to play off each other and turn it into a shutdown second pairing.

Make no mistake about it, when the power play is on and Burns is on the ice, it will be sheer entertainment watching him get open for a shot and then letting it fly.

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San Francisco 49ers: Jim Harbaugh Is A Head Coach, Not A Miracle Worker

Win or lose in the NFL preseason, the best thing to do is forget about the game. Luckily for the San Francisco 49ers, it will not be hard to forget about their loss to the New Orleans Saints on Friday night.



It is true that fans must immediately put the preseason out of their minds once the regular season begins. Last year, the 49ers went 4-0 during the preseason, then proceeded to lose their first five games of the regular season.



The preseason simply does not matter -- success or failure.



However, as new head coach Jim Harbaugh paced the sidelines on Friday night, you could not help but think that this was the beginning of a new era in 49ers football.



However, let's not jump the gun too quickly.



Harbaugh is good -- really good. He proved that at the University of San Diego and again at Stanford University. But the NFL is a different beast, and in order for a team to have success, there needs to be equal parts mastermind coaching and equal parts talented players.



The 49ers only have the mastermind coach, and even that is a stretch after the 24-3 loss to the Saints in Week 1 of the preseason.



The most disturbing part of the dismantling in New Orleans was the fact that the 49ers did not score a touchdown.



What was more disturbing was that San Francisco's first-string offense could not score against the Saints' second-string defense. Even worse, the 49ers' first-string defense could not stop the Saints' second-string offense.



It was only preseason, and I expect Alex Smith and the 49ers to be much-improved in their next game, but that game may stick in the minds of some for awhile.



However, if anyone can turn this team around, it is Harbaugh.



Evidently, he did not get the memo that the Saints were going to throw relentless blitzes and powerhouse running backs at them in Week 1 of the preseason. Even I was watching the game thinking that there was a hand-shake agreement in place in Week 1 where there was going to be little to no blitzes to secure the safety of the players.



I guess not.



It is a definite low for the 49ers because we expected so much more out of a seemingly revamped team with a seemingly revamped mind-set heading into this season.



What we got was much of the same we have been experiencing for almost a decade now.



Again, preseason does not matter and the safest thing to do is to put it out of the mind and forget it ever happened -- win or lose.



You will not have to tell that to 49er fans, though. They are used to forgetting games, since they have been trying to do it since 2002, the last time the 49ers made the playoffs.

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Tiger Woods: This Type of Monumental Collapse Has Not Been Seen Before In Sports

Tiger Woods was at 3-under par through the first five holes during Thursday's opening round of the 2011 PGA Championship, and final major of the year.



Despite the list of mistresses, critics and Steve Williams' remarks, Woods was back to reclaim is rightful place on the throne of golf.



However, we forgot one thing, he is playing the sport of golf and nothing is guaranteed -- not even for Tiger Woods.



Woods would end up finishing round one of the PGA Championship with a 7-over par 77, and in 88th place on the leaderboard.



The 35-year-old has officially fallen from the golf world in 2011.



When was the last time we saw this in sports, though?



A player at the peak of his sport, completely dominating his game, suddenly cannot find the same talent he had just a year and a half ago?



Woods was the sport of golf. He is to whom golf on the major network stations, Golf Channel and the young guns of the sport should be attributed.



Just two years ago, Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major victories was going to be simple to surpass for Woods. Now, it is slowly fading to more wishful thinking.



We can talk about the fall of Michael Vick or the hated persona of Lebron James, but those players ended up rising above those odds and are currently at the top of their sports yet again.



In golf, it simply does not work that way, at least, not at the moment.



There is no option of hitting rock bottom in the sport and overcoming that to become great once again -- not with the amount of things on Woods' mind these days.



It is a tribute to the sport and the players competing. A clear mind, sweet swing and competitive nature bring competitors success in this game, and Woods currently does not have two out of those three.



Will we ever see Woods' like we saw him years ago?



The more days go by and the more 7-over par 77's are posted, the more Woods' career is just another one that came so close to Nicklaus', even though we know he was much, much more.



We can credit the game, but most of all, credit Woods for a monumental rise and fall from the graces of the golf world.

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Golden State Warriors: Predicting the Stats for the Team's Starting 5 Next Season

What do we have now that the NBA Lockout seems to have no end in sight?



Predictions and speculation.



With the lockout intact, the Warriors' proactive front office cannot extend their "act-first" wings that we got a glimpse of before David Stern laid down his gavel on the NBA season.



Just when things were getting good, too.



The Warriors added Mark Jackson as head coach, a slew of qualified assistant coaches and legend Jerry West as a team advisor.



With those pieces in place, Golden State has hope for a successful future. However, the lockout could severely hinder that from happening this next season.



For now, we can only speculate as to how good this team really is, and what this front office could do once the lockout is lifted.



Here are the projected statistics for the starting five of:



PG - Stephen Curry

SG - Monta Ellis

SF - Dorell Wright

PF - David Lee

C - Andris Biedrins









PG - Stephen Curry



It seems more and more like the Warriors are leaning towards the direction of giving Curry the reigns to the team one day.



An offseason marked by Monta Ellis trade rumors has made that relatively clear. However, since no trades can be made for quite some time because of the lockout, it would seem that Ellis could be in a Warriors' uniform again next season.



That does not mean Curry cannot improve his stats while being the secondary player on the floor.



Curry will be coming into his own next season as a third-year player. I expect him to shoulder the load that Ellis has carried the past years, which will increase his stats next season.



20 ppg

4 rpg

7 apg





SG - Monta Ellis



Trade rumors have to affect a player in some way, right?



I would expect so, but it has been well-documented how much the Warriors have tried to find a suitor that can give the Warriors much in return.



It has not seemed to bother Ellis, though, who put up 24 points and 5 assists per game last season, and seemed to be the Warriors' only weapon towards the end of the year.



However, we can assume that Curry will be playing a much bigger role this next season, and he could possibly shoulder the load for Ellis.



25 ppg

3 rpg

6 apg







SF - Dorell Wright



What a great surprise Dorell Wright was last season. Picked up by the Warriors off the free agent market with little hype, Wright soared to 16 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. He gave Golden State a third weapon shooting from the field, as well.



As young as he is and talented as he could potentially be, it is hard to believe that Wright could stay at the same talent-level next season. However, it is hard to see Wright producing any larger than he did in 2010-11 with the amount of players that need the ball in their hands on this team.



Wright comes fourth in line on who will get the ball when it comes down the court, which is why we should see Wright's numbers stay the same, if not decrease, next season.



15 ppg

6 rpg

3 apg







PF - David Lee



For as much as the Warriors paid the dominant power forward, they seemed to get a lot less in return last offseason.



After Golden State signed the big man to a six-year, $80 million contract, he proceeded to tally 16 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. It was a far cry from the 20 and 10 power forward the Warriors hoped to acquire.



What we learned from Lee's play last season was that Golden State did not get a physical power forward, like they needed and dreamed he would be, but a mid-range shooting, moderate defender that could do nothing to further the Warriors in the Western Conference standings.



Heading into next season, it will be Ellis' and Curry's team yet again, and there may be no room for big production from a free-wheeling forward.



18 ppg

10 rpg

4 apg







C - Andris Biedrins



Taking a glimpse at the Warriors' starting five, it can potentially be good, except for one clear dominating weakness: the center position.



It is a known fact that Golden State can be a real contender in the Western Conference if they had a viable center, but for now they are stuck with the iffy Andris Biedrins.



Do the Warriors plan on going into the season with Biedrins at center?



As long as owner Joe Lacob is running things, I do not see it happening.



However, that is all the Warriors have for now, which is why we can pencil him in at the center position.



It is tough to read Biedrins.



Can he get back to his days of averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per game? Or will he forever be the player we witnessed the past two seasons, going 5 ppg and 7 rpg?



The chances of him being a bust for another season is too great, which is why Lacob may have something up his sleeve when the lockout is lifted.



7 ppg

8 rpg

1 apg

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San Jose Sharks: Updating the Projected Starting Lines For the 2011-12 Season

The San Jose Sharks will be playing a whole new brand of hockey when they take the ice in October. GM Doug Wilson has completely turned this team around from a Stanley Cup contender to, well, a Stanley Cup contender, just in a different sense.

To recap, the Sharks traded Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley for Martin Havlat and Brent Burns in two separate deals with the Minnesota Wild this offseason.

San Jose is now a faster, more defensive-minded team, and Minnesota can now score the puck. It seems like a win-win for both teams.

However, depth may be the biggest problem for the Sharks next season (if we are going to be picky).

Wilson seemed to figure that out this last week with the signings of defenseman Colin White and forward/center James Sheppard.

White will be battling for a spot on the third line of the defense, and Sheppard will most likely find his way onto the fourth line of the offense.

It is unclear if the Sharks are done dealing or signing players, but things have done a complete 180 degree turn in San Jose, as the team is now a complete force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.

Forwards

Marleau - Thornton - Pavelski

David Pollack of the San Jose Mercury News was the first to ignite the discussion of the first and second line order to start the season.

He feels, after talking to some of his sources, that the starting lines could be completely different than the natural immediate first thought.

Marleau, Thornton and Havlat?

Pollack says the Sharks are most likely leaning towards a first line of Marleau, Thornton and Pavelski.

The reason for that would be to split up the two speedsters, Marleau and Havlat, and have them play on different lines in order to spread the wealth around a little bit.

It would make the Sharks a tough team to keep up with on the ice.

Clowe - Couture - Havlat

Logan Couture is as crafty on the ice as they come, Ryane Clowe is a physical presence, and adding Martin Havlat's speed could make this line the most dangerous the Sharks have.

Again, splitting up Marleau and Havlat would make the Sharks a faster all-around team, and Havlat should enjoy playing with playmakers like Clowe and Couture.

The main goal of this line is to get more out of Havlat than what he would bring to the first line. On the second line, Havlat is the go-to guy with speed, while on the first line he is would play a secondary role to both Thornton and Marleau.

Playing Havlat on the second line would allow him to showcase his skills with Couture and Clowe.

McGinn - Handzus - Mitchell

This may finally be the year for the young players Sharks fans have grown up watching. Jamie McGinn and Torrey Mitchell are due to break out this season.

Adding Handzus into the young mix could be just what needed to be ordered for this young pair, as he brings a veteran presence with experience on the ice.

This becomes one of the Sharks' better defensive forward lines, as well.

Desjardins - Sheppard - Ferriero

For now, it is unclear as to how the Sharks will be using recent acquisition James Sheppard. The 23-year-old plays both wing and center positions, but it is his recent battle with injuries that has derailed the ninth overall selection in the 2006 NHL Draft.

Desjardins can also play center on this line, but the fact of the matter comes down to how the Sharks handle free agent Kyle Wellwood.

If signed, Wellwood could play the center position on either the third or fourth lines, which would send Sheppard down to Worcester for a little seasoning after taking last season entirely off.

We will find out sooner or later how the lines will shake out, but pencil in Sheppard at the center position for now.

Defense

Boyle - Murray

There is nothing to divide up the defensive duo of Boyle and Murray. Not even the acquisition of a young stud like Brent Burns.

Boyle's crafty offense and timely defense, mixed with Murray's physical presence, is what makes this line great.

Expect the same old first line on defense to stay exactly the same.

Vlasic - Burns

This could easily be a first line on any other team, but the Sharks have chosen to pair these two up in what could be a lock down line in the NHL.

Vlasic's all-around game should play well with Burns' physical presence and rocket shot from the point.

It is the addition of Burns that has the Sharks looking like a defensively stable team, and Vlasic should benefit from that.

Demers - Vandermeer/White

The third line on defense just got a whole lot more interesting this past week with the addition of Colin White.

The Sharks add another key player on the penalty kill, but where does he fit in the starting lineups?

It is not certain if he does at all.

White is a big man at 6'4" and adds another physical presence on the ice, but the Vandermeer/Demers line could be just what the doctor ordered for the Sharks.

Vandermeer plays more of an all-around game than what White brings. White had just six assists last season in 69 games.

Going forward, it would seem like White and Vandermeer may switch off time at that final spot on the defense, with Todd McLellan carrying seven defensemen to start the year.

Also, Justin Braun will be making occasional appearances on the third line, given injuries or faulty play.

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San Francisco Giants: 5 Reasons Barry Zito Will Not Make the Postseason Roster Again

It is borderline silly that we are talking about a baseball player that signed a seven-year, $126 million contract, and is having a hard time making a team's playoff roster, albeit for the second year in a row.

However, Barry Zito is just that man, and San Francisco knows all too well why the lefty will be hard-pressed to make the 25-man playoff roster.

It has just never clicked for Zito. Signing the richest contract in MLB history for a pitcher at that time is something that player must live up to. The 33-year-old has never even sniffed living up to that contract.

Five years into that lucrative contract, Zito's record is 43-61 and he's has had trouble staying in the Giants starting rotation.

As of late, San Francisco has even taken such measures that Zito has been placed on the DL to either make room for fellow starter Jonathan Sanchez or to just get him out of the way.

Zito's injury diagnosis: Pretendonitis.

However, as we inch closer and closer to playoff time, the lefty may have his way with the Giants' coaching staff and make his way onto the 25-man roster.

In what role?

That has yet to be decided or made up yet.

Here are five reasons why Zito should not make the Giants' playoff roster.

5. Barry Zito's 82 MPH Fastball

In baseball these days, there seems to be two types of starting pitchers. There are the power arms with fastball speeds up to 97 or 98 MPH, and then there are the crafty pitchers with strong changeups and wicked curveballs.

Allow me to introduce Barry Zito, who is his own type of pitcher.

The past few starts, the lefty has thrown fastballs that have been clocked at 82 and 83 MPH, and they do not top 85 MPH at any point.

It is a far cry from what Zito used to be. With the Oakland Athletics, his fastballs ranged from 85 to 89 MPH with that same sick bite to his patented curveball. In the Major Leagues, there is a clear difference from an 82 MPH fastball and an 88 MPH fastball.

However, the main problem with Zito's fastball is that it is as straight as can be. He simply cannot produce consistently on the mound with a fastball that does not move, being clocked at 82-85 MPH.

The Giants cannot expect that either, which is why any pitching role in the playoffs is out of the question.

4. Barry Zito Will Not Be A Starter in the Playoffs

One of the easier questions to answer about Barry Zito is will he start a game in the playoffs?

For the second year in a row, there is not a chance.

As far as the Giants are concerned there are five starting pitchers ahead of him: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong, Madison Bumgarner and Jonathan Sanchez.

The fact is that San Francisco will only need three, maybe four, starting pitchers if they make the playoffs.

Zito is two players out of that possibility.

Why even carry him at all?

The fair answer to that would be to either play the long-reliever role for the playoffs or be a dugout presence.

Guillermo Mota may have the long reliever-role locked up, and Mark DeRosa is probably the lead candidate for the dugout presence position.

3. Benching Barry Zito Worked Last Year



It is hard to forget about a man making $126 million, but fans did just that last season when Barry Zito was left off the 25-man playoff roster.

The Giants went on to win the World Series and Zito played a key role on the bench as an extremely highly-paid fan.

Is he the luckiest man in the world?

You can make an argument. Getting paid $126 million over seven years to root for a team from the bench during the most important time of the season would be a dream come true for me.

Although Zito seemed like a great team guy in the dugout during the 2010 World Series, there had to be a part of him that thought 'this time of the season is exactly why they paid me that amount of money, and I am on the bench.'

It may be something the lefty should get used to because he has done nothing to promote himself onto the 2011 playoff roster.

2. Benching Barry Zito Would Mean Open Spot For Brandon Crawford or Darren Ford

When we talk about players being left off the 25-man playoff roster, there must be a player in his place that should make that team better without him.

In Barry Zito's case, benching him would mean activating someone like Brandon Crawford or Darren Ford.

Crawford is a sure-handed shortstop with incredible range for how young he is, and a solid arm. The Giants could use him from the seventh inning on to solidify the defense up the middle.

Ford could help this team—by being activated for the playoffs—more than any player not currently on the roster.

Ford brings speed and speed, that is about it. However, that speed has won the Giants three games this season, and there is not a batter in that San Francisco lineup who can say they have single-handedly won more.

With Ford, the Giants become a serious threat with a man on first and no outs in the ninth inning. There would be no hesitation to plug the speedy Ford right in as a pinch-runner.

1. No Need For A Long Reliever

If the San Francisco Giants were to make the playoffs, there would not be much need for a pitcher that could eat up long innings out of the bullpen.

The Giants have arguably the second best starting rotation in the National League, and if last season's playoff run was any indication, San Francisco will not be needing a long-reliever for the postseason.

However, say they do need someone to come in and give them a few innings after a bad start by one of the starters.

There would still be two players ahead of Barry Zito.

The odds are that Jonathan Sanchez would still be on the postseason roster and looking for a way to contribute. He could be a viable option.

However, if the Giants wanted to kill two birds with one stone, putting Guillermo Mota into that role would be a knowledgeable move by Bochy.

Mota can both eat up innings if a start goes awry, and he can also be a decent reliever if need be.

Either way, finding roles for Zito during the playoffs is going to be a tough job for Bochy, which is why we may be seeing the lefty and his hefty paycheck on the bench for the second year in a row.

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2011 NFL Schedule: Game-By-Game Break Down of the San Francisco 49ers' Season

It is no secret that the San Francisco 49ers' franchise has taken a tumultuous hit these past few years. The team is a far cry from the dynasty that was Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, etc.

However, it seems like the franchise continues to get hit harder every year, causing the team to push farther and farther back in competitiveness on the field.

Last season, it was Mike Singletary's time to shine with a talented roster and a surprisingly impressive preseason ( whatever that meant). The 49ers followed that up by losing their first five games of that season on their way to a record of 6-10, and no head coach to show heading into the 2011 season.

Then, in a way, we saw a change in the 49ers' thinking.

They hired Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh as head coach and morale seemed to be high in everyone's eyes. Harbaugh is a mastermind when it comes to quarterbacks, and having Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree on your roster can only help in that scheme.

The 2011 NFL Lockout then occurred, and Harbaugh was barred from his players and barred from learning as a first-year head coach.

On top of that, after the lockout was lifted, Frank Gore heldout and Crabtree reminded everyone he is still a diva by missing the start of training camp with injury....again.

Where do the 49ers stand now? And what is the goal heading into this next season?

It is tough to say.

Here is a game-by-game breakdown of the 49ers' 2011 season.




Week 1 vs. Seattle Seahawks

After such a ripping intro into this article, it would be hard to believe that the 49ers would win in Week 1. However, they have a real good chance to.

They split the season series in 2010 with Seattle by winning at Candlestick and losing in ruckus Seattle. That is exactly what they will do here, as the 49ers will get off to a good start with Alex Smith under center.

WIN

Week 2 vs. Dallas Cowboys

Surprising how the 49ers drew two homes games to start the season, and they would be wise to capitalize on it.

However, they will not based on the fact that Tony Romo is too good for that 49ers' secondary to handle.

It is a secondary that lost Nate Clements and is trying to hold on to Dashon Goldson.

Romo should pick them apart.

LOSE


Week 3 at Cincinnati Bengals

It is tough to say what kind of a team the Bengals will be throwing out on the field this season. Also, how the Carson Palmer saga will turn out.

For now, it may be safe to say that Andy Dalton will be starting under center.

Do not underestimate the duo of rookies Dalton and A.J. Green. Also, the force that is Cedric Benson should be too much for the 49ers, as they will lose their first road game and one that they are going to want back.

LOSE


Week 4 at Philadelphia Eagles

I will keep this one short, just because I am cringing at the idea of Alex Smith throwing into the Eagles' secondary.

Philadelphia is proclaiming themselves a dream team, and I am not disagreeing with them.

The 49ers will be lucky to put up a touchdown against the Eagles' defense, and lucky to hold Michael Vick to three rushing touchdowns.
LOSE

Week 5 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 49ers lost to Tampa Bay 21-0 against a barely raw Josh Freeman last year in Week 11. this season, it should be the same story.

Many predict Freeman to continue to break out this next season in the NFL, and San Francisco can only hope to contain him.
LOSE


Week 6 at Detroit Lions

There is no telling i what type of shape QB Matthew Stafford will be in come Week 6, but if he is there it is a whole different story.

However, I still see the 49ers eeking one out here. The Lions' defense should be much-improved with the two-headed monster of Suh and Fairley, but by this time, Harbaugh should be able to figure out that throwing the ball to Vernon Davis may be the most knowledgeable play on the field.

WIN


Week 7

BYE


Week 8 vs. Cleveland Browns

Colt McCoy will be under center in Cleveland, but the bigger story is the beast in the backfield that is Peyton Hillis.

Hillis will be bullying the 49ers' front line for most of that game.

However, the Browns' defense seem to be lacking talent on paper, which is why Smith (or whoever the QB is at this time in the season) may have an easy time getting the ball out of the backfield to Gore or over the top to Davis.

WIN


Week 9 at Washington Redskins

The Redskins had an identical season to the 49ers last year. A talented team that did not live up to the hype at all. Both teams went 6-10.

Rex Grossman and John Beck are the two options for Washington under center, so the 49ers' defense should feel the superior here. The keyword is "should."

Somehow, I see the 49ers pulling off three-straight wins in 2011.

WIN


Week 10 vs. New York Giants

With the 49ers pulling off those three straight wins, morale will be high heading into the toughest part of their schedule all season.

It is hard to make out who the Giants will be this season, but as long as they have Eli Manning under center and a talented receiving core, they will not be stopped in San Francisco.

LOSE


Week 11 vs. Arizona Cardinals

By this time in the season, it will be a two-horse race for the NFC West, with the Cardinals and Rams leading the way and the 49ers pressing at 4-5.

Arizona added the much-hyped Kevin Kolb and all signs point to him being the team's savior, although nothing is proven.

Kolb will not meet expectations in his first season with the Cardinals, but he will have no problem with the 49ers, even on the road.

LOSE


Week 12 at Baltimore Ravens

On the road against a team poised for a deep playoff run is a tough job for any team, but an ever tougher one for the 49ers.

Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense will be all over the 49ers' offense, and Joe Flacco is no slouch on the Ravens' offense either.

Ravens roll all over the 49ers in this one.

LOSE


Week 13 vs. St. Louis Rams

The 49ers split the season series with the Rams last season, and it will be much of the same this season.

Sam Bradford is extremely talented, but still has a lot to learn. With the Rams mashing with the Cardinals for that NFC West division title, the pressure will be on.

However, it will be a hick-up for Bradford and the Rams, as the 49ers will pull one out at home.

WIN


Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals

With the Cardinals in the playoff hunt, it is hard to say that they will lose to the 49ers at home.

Kolb will be maturing into his role as the leader of the team by Week 14, and the he and Larry Fitzgerald should show San Francisco how much more superior they are in the NFC West.

It will be another close game between the two team, but the Cardinals should pull out a huge NFC West win.

LOSE


Week 15 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

By this time, the 49ers should be around 5-8 and looking to either go on a run to finish the season to have a chance at the NFC West title, or mail it in to the Steelers.

As much as the 49ers will try to hang with the defending AFC champs, Roethlisberger will be too much, as will the Steelers' defense.

LOSE


Week 16 at Seattle Seahawks

This will be a battle of two team clearly out of the race in the NFC West.

Both teams will be around 5-9 by Weeks 16, and should be looking towards next season.

The 49ers will receive the bad end of this game. They have never faired well at Qwest Field, looking back to Week 1 of 2010.

It will be much of the same in Seattle for the 49ers.

LOSE


Week 17 at St. Louis Rams

The NFC West may come down to the last game of the season, but it will not contain the 49ers. The Rams may need a win at home against San Francisco to make the playoffs.

Bradford will rise to the occasion and continue his progression towards becoming an elite quarterback in the NFL with an impressive performance in the last game of the season.

By this time, the 49ers will have given up at their season, and a Week 17 game against a team in contention will only rub salt in the wound that is their 2011-12 season.

LOSE


Record: 5-11

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San Jose Sharks: 3 Simple Reasons Why They Are Better A Better Team This Season

The San Jose Sharks and GM Doug Wilson have been extremely busy this offseason, Their flurry of trades and signings have been well-documented throughout the league, and some wonder whether or not they were for the betterment of the team.

The Sharks started off by trading young winger Devin Setoguchi, prospect Charlie Coyle and their first round pick to the Minnesota Wild for All-Star defenseman Brent Burns.

They backed that up a week or so later in another trade with the Wild. This time it was Dany Heatley in exchange for the speedy Martin Havlat.

The main discussion after the trades was how this was to affect the Sharks' odds at another Stanley Cup run next season.

San Jose gave up scoring talent to acquire players that could fill the holes that the team lacked last season.

In all reality, the Sharks got better.

Here are three simple reasons why the Sharks will be better heading into next season.

1. The San Jose Sharks' Defense Is Solid

The acquisition for one of the best young defensemen in hockey today, Brent Burns, is going to notably improve the blueline for the Sharks.

In the 2010-11 season, the Sharks' defense seemed to be lackluster and was undoubtedly the team's weakness throughout the season. It became extremely clear during the playoffs.

Reports are that the Sharks still plan on rolling out the duo of Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray as their first line. That line would be followed by Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Jason Demers and Jim Vandermeer would take up the third line.

Burns is the most notable addition to this defense. He gives the team a physical appearance, something that the team lacked last season and were set on improving this offseason.

The 26-year-old also brings the team a consistent and powerful shot from the point, a loss of which has not been cured since Rob Blake left San Jose and retired form hockey.

The addition of Vandermeer also gives the team a veteran presence with success in the playoffs, as well as a physical presence along the boards.

San Jose's three lines on defense are extremely solid and it will give the team a whole new look and feel next season.

2. A Whole New Look to the Offense

The most obvious issue to take away from both of the Sharks' Western Conference Final defeats were that the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks were just plain quicker than San Jose.

It was an issue that GM Doug Wilson was frankly sick of, but knew that it needed to improve if the team was to have a realistic chance at making it to the Stanley Cup Finals in the coming seasons.

Enter Martin Havlat, whose trade from Minnesota has some loving him and others disliking the exchange.

The pure dislike is at the fact that the Sharks gave up a pure scorer in Dany Heatley for a veteran speedster in Havlat. Heatley's worst season point totals were Havlat's best in 2010-11.

Reports are coach Todd McLellan has a perfect strategy to change the overall skill set and repertoire of the team.

McLellan has reportedly chosen to place Havlat on the second line with Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture, while still having Patrick Marleau play with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski on the first.

The idea is that San Jose would have a speedster in Marleau on the first line and another speedster in Havlat on the second line.

The entire offensive mind of the Sharks will change this next season with that type of strategy, and improve a clear weakness of San Jose dating back to the 2010 Western Conference Finals.

3. In Reality, the San Jose Sharks Did Not Lose Much

The current issue of the offseason for the San Jose Sharks was that they acquired too little for what they gave up.

The two issues are trading the pure scorer Heatley for the veteran second-tier player Havlat, and trading young scorers in Setoguchi and Coyle for an elite, young defenseman. The impression was that they gave up too much in the Setoguchi/Burns deal for Burns to be in the last year of his contract.

The Burns issue has been cleared up, however, with the Sharks signing him on Monday to a five-year contract.

Problem solved.

But why give up Setoguchi, whose future is so bright in the NHL?

The reality of it was that the 24-year-old's future was never going to get brighter in San Jose. There were too many scorers and superstars on this team for him to shine in teal.

At mid-season, the call was for Setoguchi to be dealt at the trade deadline because of his lack of production throughout the first half.

Now that he is gone, suddenly his potential is what matters. However, as long as Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski and Couture are apart of this team, Setoguchi was never going to get his chance.

He will flourish in Minnesota, but his talent-level in San Jose was at its peak.

In return, the Sharks received an All-Star defenseman whose ceiling is so much higher than Setoguchi's.

The Heatley deal is more or less of the same. He never lived up to what others had made him up to be in San Jose, and for that, he was dealt.

He thrives where he is the only option on the ice, and he is sure to do that in Minnesota.

The fact that San Jose got the Wild to take his contract and massive cap hit next season was a win for Wilson and the Sharks, as it will help them financially stay in contention for the Stanley Cup.

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2011 MLB Grades: Evaluating the Top Teams of the MLB Trade Deadline

The MLB Trade Deadline is usually one of the more exciting times of the sports year, and this season's was no different.

Several talented, high-profile players, like Hunter Pence and Carlos Beltran, were dealt, with some teams being overwhelming sellers and other teams buying their way into contention for the World Series.

The winners and losers of the deadline are hard to make out, although some are fairly obvious.

The Houston Astros were definite sellers, trading two of their top players for promising future prospects, while the Philadelphia Phillies benefited from that and scooped up Hunter Pence at the first chance.

The MLB Trade Deadline is where good teams separate themselves from the pack and decent teams become contenders.

This year, we saw a little bit of everything.

Here are the report cards for the most active teams at the trade deadline.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates' surprising season took a mean hit the past three games as the Bucs were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, the Pirates benefited during that time by bolstering their roster with two big bats.

Approaching the MLB Trade Deadline, the Pirates did not have that significant big bat in the middle of their lineup, so it was necessary that they go out and find one.

It turns out they found two, at least potentially.

The Pirates acquired Derrek Lee from the Orioles and Ryan Ludwick from the Padres, giving the team two definite power threats to go alongside Andrew McCutchen.

It was a win for the Pirates, even while they were being swept in Philadelphia.

The team is now 4.5 games back of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, and time may be running out on Pittsburgh's magical season.

However, the Lee and Ludwick acquisitions should improve their chances.

Grade: B

4. Cleveland Indians

With the Indians 2.5 games back of the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, they needed to make a move and prove that a hot start wasn't just that.

Cleveland was proactive and acquired the services of ace Ubaldo Jimenez to shore up their pitching situation.

Jimenez has had a tough season so far in Colorado, going 6-9 with a 4.46 ERA, but there is no doubt that he is one of the better pitchers in the game today.

The 27-year-old instantly makes the Indians rotation one of the best in the AL, as he joins the likes of Justin Masterson, Fausto Carmona, Josh Tomlin, and Carlos Carrasco.

Tomlin leads the team in wins with 11, and Masterson leads the team in ERA with a 2.56.

If the Indians are to make a move and finish atop the AL Central, they started in the right place picking up an ace for the top of their rotation.

Grade: B+

3. San Francisco Giants

It was pretty simple for the Giants. They needed a bat, and they needed it now.

They got it by acquiring the biggest bat available in Carlos Beltran and dealing prospect Zack Wheeler to the New York Mets.

There is a little commotion over the Giants' giving up their top pitching prospect for an aging, injury-prone Beltran, but GM Brian Sabean's strategy is clearly to win now.

Beltran is the big bat that San Francisco has longed for since Barry Bonds, and he instantly makes their offense better.

He is off to a slow start with the Giants, however, but his playoff numbers are outstanding, which is why San Francisco plans on striking it rich come playoff time.

Grade: B+

2. Atlanta Braves

With the Phillies' acquisition of Hunter Pence, the Braves had to answer. They did so by benefiting off the Astros' urge to sell, acquiring the speedy Michael Bourn.

Atlanta has wanted a leadoff hitter for some time, and they definitely got one here.

Also, with CF Nate McLouth on the 15-day DL, it made perfect sense for the Braves to land a center fielder, as well as a leadoff hitter.

The Braves needed to act at the trade deadline if they wanted to stay in contention in the NL East and wild-card races, and Bourn helps them do just that.

He is a game changer and totally alters the Braves' image and style of baseball.

Atlanta currently is six games back of the Phillies in the NL East and 3.5 games up in the wild-card standings.

Grade: A-

1. Philadelphia Phillies

Entering the 2011 baseball season, the Phillies were the favorites to be World Series champs. They had acquired Cliff Lee to add to Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, and had one of the best lineups in baseball.

However, after losing two out of three to the defending-champion Giants, it was evident that things were not so certain in Philadelphia.

That changed when they acquired Hunter Pence from the free-dealing Astros for prospects.

If they were not World Series favorites, then they are most certainly now.

Pence is added to an already talented lineup consisting of Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins, etc.

The Phillies continue to get better, and it is a testament to their front office, as Philadelphia is poised for another World Series run.

Grade: A

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San Jose Sharks Extend Brent Burns; Worst Fears Subsided

The San Jose Sharks signed newly acquired defenseman Brent Burns to a five-year contract worth $28.8 million, according to the San Jose Mercury News' David Pollack.

Burns is set to receive $5.76 million per year.

The 26-year-old was acquired by the Sharks back in late-June in a deal that sent Devin Setoguchi, prospect Charlie Coyle and their 2011 first round pick to the Minnesota Wild.

Another deal the following week dealt Dany Heatley to the Wild for Martin Havlat.

The overall fear was that the Sharks had given up all that firepower in the trade for Burns, who may not even sign with the team after the 2011-12 season.

The fear quickly subsided with the extension of Burns on Monday.

"When we acquired Brent, it was our intention to make sure that he remained an important piece of our organization moving forward and we are very pleased that we have been able to do that, said GM Doug Wilson in the press release on Monday, obtained through Pollack. "As an elite-level defenseman who is just entering his prime, we are looking forward to meshing Brent’s skills with our existing core group."

The original impression was that San Jose gave up too much for a defenseman as raw as Burns, who would become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Setoguchi was supposed to be the young scoring future of the Sharks, but had yet to spark any thought of him ever getting there.

Coyle was originally supposed to be apart of the distant future in San Jose. The 19-year-old has been performing well at Boston University and was considered one of the Sharks' top prospects.

The first round pick that the Sharks gave up turned out to be Zack Phillips, a talented center who turns 20-years old later this year.

However, the plethora of players given to the Wild in exchange for Burns just got a whole lot more equal with the extension.

It was the only thing holding San Jose back from calling this trade a success. Now that the extension is done and Burns will be apart of this team for the next five years, we can call it just that.

Burns is an All-Star in just his first full season in three years. A misdiagnosed concussion resulted in a major setback in his career and limited him to just 106 games played in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

What the All-Star defenseman brings to the Sharks is exactly what San Jose has been missing the past few years.

Burns brings a physical presence on the defensive end, as well as a keen offensive awareness on both the power play and even ice.

He also possesses a mean shot from the point.

What Burns also brings to the Sharks is a stability on defense for the next five years.

It has been well-documented that San Jose's biggest weakness was that of the defense. Since Rob Blake retired in 2010, the Sharks have had a hard time finding a player with Blake's leadership and offensive awareness on the defensive end.

Burns solves that problem, as well as makes the team a physical threat.

He stands 6'5" and 219 pounds, making him the tallest player on the current roster. Joe Thornton is his offensive counterpart in height and weight.

The overall feeling is that he will most likely pair up with Marc-Edouard Vlasic on the second line to start the season. The physicality of Burns and finesse play of Vlasic should prove to be a huge success.

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