Report: Freddy Sanchez to Start Year on DL; Nowhere Close to Being Ready

San Francisco Giants' second baseman Freddy Sanchez will reportedly start the year on the disabled list, but even worse news for the Giants is that it appears Sanchez is nowhere close to suiting up and taking his place at second base for this team.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman confirmed the speculated news that Sanchez was DL-bound on Thursday, and it appears Sanchez' shoulder that was injured last season has not progressed to the extent that the Giants organization would have liked.

Sanchez has been limited to designated hitter duties so far, and has been extremely limited in the field in practice.

NBC Hardball Talk's D.J. Short reported earlier this week that not only is Sanchez going to start the season on the DL, but that he is nowhere close to being able to fully play the field.

Freddy sanchez, whose shoulder hasnt responded as quickly as hoped, will begin year on disabled list. #SFGiants

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) March 29, 2012

This report was a long time coming, though.  Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's Andrew Baggarly gave us a hint as to the condition of Sanchez's shoulder nearly a week ago, but the report was merely Baggarly's speculation at the time.

The fact is Sanchez is obviously struggling out there.  It seems as though his progress with the injury while swinging at the plate is not the problem, but the throwing motion is.  The hardest part for a shoulder injury would be to throw across the body when turning a double play, and Sanchez cannot accomplish that without pain just yet.

So where does this leave the Giants?

At first glance, there would seem to be no problem with Sanchez starting the season the DL.  Emmanuel Burris is having a very nice Spring, showing speed and an actual ability to swing the bat.  With the Giants currently shopping Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot, Burris would appear to be a lock for the second base job on Opening Day.  

Judging by Sanchez's progress with that shoulder, Burris could be holding that position for much longer than expected.

A clear concern for San Francisco is that Burris has been able to hit at lesser levels in the organization.  It is when he finally achieves Major League status that his bat fails to produce.  He has speed on the base paths, but what the Giants need this season is his bat, especially if Sanchez is nowhere near playing the field just yet.

For now, maybe the Giants should hold off on trading Theriot and Fontenot.  They are simply utility players at this point in their careers, but they could fill a very large hole that the Giants now have at second base.

Of course, the hole is only as big as Burris makes, but judging by Burris' MLB career to this point, GM Brian Sabean may hold off on the infield trade market for now.

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San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Jacobs Was Team's Best Free Agent Acquisition This Offseason

As if the San Francisco 49ers could not do any more to bolster their already impressive offseason, they added a little depth to their backfield on Tuesday by signing running back Brandon Jacobs and making this team lethal in a variety of different aspects of their game.


The knock on the 49ers last season was in two categories -- succeeding in the red zone and converting on third down.  Both weaknesses can be attributed to quarterback Alex Smith, but equal weakness can be added to Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, who were most often unlikely to grab the extra yardage or bust open big runs when the opposing team expected it and taking the pressure off Smith.

Now, the 49ers have added weapons on offense.  Instead of the pressure being on Smith to convert on third down or to lead a successful finish to a drive inside the red zone, the pressure will now be on the opposing defense.  Smith now has weapons in Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, along with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis.  He also has Gore out of the backfield for quick passes for short gains.

Most notably, he now has Jacobs in the backfield for short yardage and red zone help that will ultimately take the pressure off of Smith.

The common misconception here is that because of his build, Jacobs is a great short-yardage runner.  However, he is not, and it should be noted that he has the running mechanics of an east and west runner, but with the physique of a north and south runner.  Although his build supports a successful short-yardage gain, his upright mechanics leave him susceptible to being tackled easily.

However, what many miss in this recent acquisition is that the 49ers are not asking Jacobs to run the bal 20 times a game.  In fact, San Francisco may not ask him to run the ball 10 times in one game.  Jacobs' goal while in San Francisco is to switch up the look on offense and convert when called upon.

The 49ers now have a moderate threat through the air with Moss, Manningham, Crabtree and Davis.  But they also have a hard-nosed runner in Gore and a physical runner in Jacobs to alternate carries.  The opposition now has just that one more aspect of the 49ers to game-plan for.

Another note: Jacobs and the 49ers are only committed to each other for one season.  Like the Moss acquisition, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Ultimately, the goal of the 49ers this offseason was to take the pressure off of Smith.  Gore is not a player that can take over games by himself.  He needs a clear mix of pass and rush on offense in order for him to be successful.  GM Trent Baalke acquired two of the best wide receivers on the free agent market and a running back that can take on the load when the 49ers come just that close to either the end zone or the first down marker.

There is no longer pressure for Smith to throw for 10 yards or more per play because he has Gore and Jacobs in the backfield with the ability to convert on short yardage when called upon.

The 49ers continue to upgrade their team from last season, and only a few weeks into next season should prove that Jacobs was the most-needed acquisition of them all.

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San Francisco Giants: A Look at the Projected 2012 Opening Day Lineup

It seems like so long ago now that the team is in Spring Training, but the San Francisco Giants had quite an offseason.

They traded away a promising pitcher in Jonathan Sanchez for speed and offense in Melky Cabrera, and they trade pitching relief and aging speed in Ramon Ramirez and Andres Torres for an iffy Angel Pagan.

The team did all that while hunting for just the right amount of money to lock up their two franchise starting pitchers for several years.  One was locked up, and the other's tenure in San Francisco is still hanging in the balance.


After all that, here is the projected Opening Day lineup for the Giants:

1)  Angel Pagan OF
2)  Melky Cabrera OF
3)  Pablo Sandoval 3B
4)  Buster Posey C
5)  Brandon Belt OF
6)  Aubrey Huff 1B
7)  Brandon Crawford SS
8)  Emmanuel Burris 2B
9)  Pitcher's spot

And what it should look like:

1)  Gregor Blanco OF
2)  Melky Cabrera OF
3)  Pablo Sandoval 3B
4)  Buster Posey C
5)  Brandon Belt OF
6)  Brett Pill 1B
7)  Brandon Crawford SS
8)  Emmanuel Burris 2B
9)  Pitcher's spot

Of course, Freddy Sanchez would assume the No. 2 spot in the batting order once he returns.  For now, it looks like we may be seeing a lot of Burris, who is having a tremendous Spring Training so far.  We should save our judgements about him until after the first week of the season, though, as he has yet to hit consistently when called up to the majors.

Another note is that Pagan should be nowhere near the Giants' Opening Day lineup, given his terrible hitting woes in Spring Training.  He just snapped an 0-24 streak at the plate on Tuesday.  However, his speed and the fact he was a notable offseason acquisition for this team means that he is dead-set to start in the outfield on Opening Day.

The man who should replace him is Gregor Blanco, who has had as good a Spring as any of the Giants.  We can make a great case that Blanco, Hector Sanchez and Cabrera have been the hottest players on the team in Spring Training.

For how many disagreements we all should have with the projected Opening Day lineup, it needs to be understood that this rsoter is so much more apt to putting up runs this season, as compared to last.  Of course, last season's lineup at year's end was historically unimpressive, so adding a healthy Sandoval and Posey mixed with a consistent Cabrera should make this team vastly improved on offense from last season.

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San Jose Sharks: Reasons Why the Team Is Playing Playoff Hockey

You can call it desperation, or you can call it panic, but the San Jose Sharks are playing terrific hockey right now.  It just happens to be at the exact right time, as well, as the Sharks are in an ever-changing playoff scenario with five other teams to make the NHL playoffs.


The trade of Jamie McGinn to the Avalanche for T.J. Galiardi and Daniel Winnik is not looking so good from the Sharks' angle, but both Winnik and Galiardi are starting to make significant progress in producing for this team.  Their added production would only further the Sharks' chances of making the playoffs.

However, neither one of the NHL Trade Deadline acquisitions are even a factor in why the Sharks are currently playing well and making a case for why they should be in the playoffs.  In fact, the reasons why the Sharks are playing so well have been on the team or have been characteristics of the team the entire season.



Martin Havlat

Who knew getting one of the team's best offensive players back would make such an impact, right?

Of course Havlat coming back was going to juice this team up.  When he went down with injury months ago, Ryane Clowe, Logan Couture and Havlat were the ultimate line that no team could stop.  Back again, Havlat makes that line better and this entire offense better.  He can move the puck like no one else on the Sharks can, and that has been a huge addition late in the season.


Team Chemistry

Hockey is a game of momentum, and nothing fuels the Sharks' chemistry on the ice more than just that.  Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau have played together for what seems like forever and so have Clowe and Couture.  So when suddenly the team starts winning and momentum ensues, good things start to happen.

Again, Havlat is a major reason for that because of the Clowe, Couture and Havlat line that was so potent mid-season.  Now it seems Havlat has taken that chemistry to whatever line he plays on these days.  His game is awfully easy to play with on the ice.

Aside from those top lines, the bottom two have also played increasingly well over the past week or so, with Michal Handzus and Winnik clearly leading the way.  It was a consistent problem for the Sharks before the trade deadline.  Since then, the bottom six have produced on a consistent basis for San Jose.


Joe Thornton

The captain always has had that feel for the puck and making things happen, but it seems that his production has really picked up over the last 10 games.  Maybe it is because he is the captain and needs to lead that desperate and panicked attempt at making the playoffs. Whatever the reason, he is doing a great job of getting positive results from this team these days.

Thornton has two goals and 10 assists in his last 10 games.

His patience around the net is what differentiates himself from other players in this league, and his use of the body only furthers the development of the play.  With the chemistry he has developed with Pavelski, Marleau, Couture and Havlat (and whoever else he is playing with him these days), the Sharks continue to produce on both the power play and equal strength when Thornton is on the ice.


Todd McLellan's Line Changes

McLellan might have just saved his job with some of the personnel changes he has made late in the season, when lineups are supposed to be well intact.

Most notably, his changes to the bottom two lines have made the biggest difference in the last few games for this team.

The line of Winnik, Andrew Desjardins and Wingels has been tagged lethal over the past couple games, with Winnik scoring two clutch goals against the Bruins and Coyotes, followed by a goal from Desjardins on Monday.

They have obviously found some comfortability with each other.  Winnik is the big body of the line with somewhat of an offensive game, but most likely will hold down the fort on defense.  Also, Desjardins will play that scrappy role, which has made Wingels the scoring option on this line.

McLellan was searching for a spark to light up this team, and he may have just found it in his latest set of line changes.

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San Francisco 49ers: Josh Johnson Signing Sends Clear Message to Colin Kaepernick

It does not require much deep thinking to comprehend what a clear message the San Francisco 49ers' newest free agent signing sent on Thursday.

The 49ers signed their second free agent quarterback of the offseason, locking up former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Josh Johnson to a two-year deal.  The signing assumed to have
something to do with coach Jim Harbaugh's connections to him at the University of San Diego, as well as Johnson growing up in Oakland.

The signing also had a lot to do with other more important things.  Most notably, it had to do with the quarterback situation.

No, Johnson will not fight Alex Smith for the starting quarterback position in Week 1.  I am pretty sure last season's trip to the NFC Championship was enough for Smith to land that gig.

However, it is who sits behind Smith that is causing the biggest stir throughout the organization right now.  Who is the back-up quarterback?

In most cases, arguing about who the back-up quarterback is nearly pointless and poses zero discussion towards the actual success of this team heading forward.

However, the 49ers are a unique situation, and the Johnson signing gives us a clear insight into how the 49ers are thinking about their future under center.

Not sure what to make of #49ers signing QB Josh Johnson. My logic says they aren't sold on Kaepernick.

— Kyle Bonagura (@KyleBonagura) March 23, 2012

Until now, Colin Kaepernick was the quarterback in waiting and the next player to line-up under center.  But we have yet to see him either play in the NFL, nor see any inclination of just how good he is or possibly could be.

The 49ers' acquisition of Johnson on Thursday told us plain and simple -- Kaepernick is not the team's quarterback of the future, and he is definitely not NFL-ready.

The #49ers sign Josh Johnson. Let's face the facts they basically told Colin Kapernick he's a SaberCat.

— TheGreenRoomCSN (@TheGreenRoomCSN) March 23, 2012

Of course, it is hard to see how a quarterback coming out of Nevada and the pistol offense could become NFL-ready that quick.  It took Smith seven years, seven offensive coordinators and Harbaugh to help him get into a true NFL offense and away from the spread offense at Utah.

Kaepernick has the athleticism, strong arm and build to be an NFL quarterback, but the 49ers obviously see something with his accuracy or awareness in the pocket that turns them off.

So just in case, they brought in Johnson, a quarterback with a similar set of skills, just further along in his NFL progression.

The gut feeling with the acquisition is that at the best, the 49ers positioned themselves to have two athletic quarterbacks competing against one another and getting better in the process.  At the worst, San Francisco has zero faith that Kaepernick can one day become the franchise quarterback judging by the progress he has made so far.

With the 49ers' recent roster moves, it is safe to assume the latter.

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San Jose Sharks Control Their Own Destiny in Final Eight Games of the Season

So we know the San Jose Sharks have at least a little fire left in them.  A gritty and determined win against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference will do that to a team, though, as the Sharks beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night at the HP Pavilion.


But as we look to the rest of the games this season, there is a clear idea that the Sharks must win, and win when it matters.

There are eight games left in the NHL season, and every game seems to be that much more important to the Sharks, who are in dire need of a break down the stretch to ease their way in the Western Conference playoffs.

The teams that stand in their way are the Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings.

Put them in any order you want to, but including the Sharks, the six teams are separated by three points and are battling for three spots with eight games remaining.

One beat guy's guess: Scoping out the schedule ahead as #sjsharks likely need to go 6-3-0 to reach the post-season. See mercurynews.com/sports/ci_2023…

— David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) March 22, 2012

For better or worse, the Sharks control their own destiny the rest of the season.

With seven of the eight remaining games against the Pacific division, and one against the playoff contending Avalanche, the Sharks hold their playoff hopes on their shoulders in a desperate attempt to make this season somewhat of a success.

However, desperation is exactly what the rest of this season will entail.  We finally saw a sense of that against the Bruins on Thursday night.  The urgency, the grit and determination were all there, and it was like the season finally clicked for this team that needed to be in desperation mode about three weeks ago.

The defense and hustle was great, the goaltending was what we expect from Antti Niemi in big games and the offense was getting shots to the net against a superb Boston defense.  It felt like the beginning of the season again, or last season at this time.  Whatever it felt like is how we should feel about this team because they are built to succeed this time of year.  It simply has not clicked this season.

One of the reasons for the sudden burst in productivity on the ice is Martin Havlat, who returned from injury and has provided speed and offense to a team in desperate need of a pick-me-up.  It is because of him that the Sharks are still in a good position to make the playoffs.

How?  I do not know.

This team has played so terrible over the last few weeks that they should not even have a chance to salvage their season, yet we see them in a late-season playoff push for the first time in what seems like forever.

The win against Boston came in a big game with playoff-type pressure.  If the Sharks can apply that type productivity against the Pacific division foes in these final eight games, then we should be seeing them slide their way into the playoffs.  But if this was simply the usual flash in the pan that we have become so accustomed to over the past couple months, then terrible things are bound to happen to this franchise at the conclusion of this season.

For now, they control their own destiny in these final two weeks.

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Golden State Warriors Must Attempt to Re-Acquire Lottery Pick in 2012 NBA Draft

The Golden State Warriors have reportedly been in talks with the Utah Jazz in regards to getting their first-round pick back for the 2012 NBA Draft.

Owner Joe Lacob said the team is confident they can re-acquire that pick and have been working with the Jazz for the last few months on a proposed deal.


The pick is the property of the Jazz (via New Jersey Nets) now, after the Warriors acquired Marcus Williams from the Nets in exchange for a conditional first-round draft pick.

The conditions surrounding a conditional draft pick are confusing, but the main point to understand is that the Warriors only re-acquire the pick if they finish with one of the top-7 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft.  Any pick after means the pick belongs to the Jazz.

However, this is a serious situation for the Warriors, one that Lacob knows can shape this team for the future.

Literally one day after he was booed by his own team's fans, Lacob is attempting to re-acquire a draft pick that he had no involvement in trading away.  It is not his mess, yet he is the one cleaning it up.

Where is Marcus Williams anyway?  And whoever thought that he was good enough to trade a first-round pick for?

The Chris Cohan regime, that's who.

Years later, he is still causing this franchise heartache.

The draft pick is significant in many ways for the Warriors.  The first is that the 2012 NBA Draft is perceived to be one of the deepest drafts in the last several years.  The players predicted to be selected within the first five picks of the draft are potentially franchise-type players with the ability to lead a team with the amount of talent they have.

Second, the Warriors need another lottery pick player that can help boost this team's talent on the roster.  The Monta Ellis trade for Andrew Bogut took a whole lot out of this team offensively, and a scorer within the first 10 picks of the draft could be useful in rounding this team out for next season.

Lacob knows that, or has been told how much this team needs a pick like this.  It may have even played into the logistics of trading a player like Ellis for an injured center that is likely out for the rest of the season.  Lacob never said the ownership wanted this team to tank for the rest of the season, but it was made particularly clear through that trade.

The best thing is that Lacob and the Warriors' front office are determined to make this happen and re-acquire that lost pick, saying "We think we can get our pick back" on Tuesday.  Even better, Golden State may have the goods to complete a trade between them and the Jazz.

Lacob on the Draft "We've had discussions with Utah and it isn't a done deal, but we think we have a good chance to get (our) pick back."

— KNBR (@KNBR) March 20, 2012

The Warriors acquired a first-round pick of their own in the Richard Jefferson deal with the San Antonion Spurs, and they also have two second round picks in their back pocket.

Contra Costa Times' Marcus Thompson III said the Warriors have no need for any more young players on their roster, so adding those additional draft picks would be of no use to them anyways.

Of course, we will not know the entirety of both the probable trade discussions, nor the destination of the draft pick until May, which is when we are sure to see some kind of a deal go down between the two teams.

A deal sending the Warriors' three 2012 draft picks and a boat-load of cash to the Jazz could pull this trade off.  The Jazz do not need another young player on their team either, however, this is a draft class for the ages.  If Lacob can pull one over on Utah, they might just save next season and set this franchise up for years to come.

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Report: Alex Smith, 49ers Finalize Three-Year Deal

The San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Alex Smith have reportedly finalized a contract for three years and $24 million, NBC's Pro Football Talk is reporting.

The deal was the same one offered by the 49ers just two weeks ago that Smith was reportedly unhappy about.


The finalizing of the contract comes just one day after the 49ers lost out on free agent Peyton Manning, who committed to the Denver Broncos on Monday.  Smith reportedly was in Miami over the weekend talking to the Dolphins, who signed quarterback David Garrard on Sunday.

49ers, Alex Smith finalizing contract wp.me/p14QSB-1HiB

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 20, 2012

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and Smith were reportedly "ironing things out" on Monday, which seems to have led to the signing of Smith on Tuesday.

Read the rest of the article HERE

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Report: Alex Smith, Jim Harbaugh "Ironing Things Out," 49ers' Offer Still Stands

It looks like the two sides are closer to kissing and making up, as Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's Matt Maiocco is reporting that Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith are "ironing things out."

The 49ers have an offer on the table for Smith for three years and $24 million, including $10 million guaranteed.  The Miami Dolphins reportedly had been negotiating with Smith on Sunday, but the team signed David Garrard on Monday.

Other reports say that Smith left Miami Monday afternoon and was headed back to the 49ers.

Hearing that Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith are talking, ironing things out -- first step in making sure Smith remains with 49ers.

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) March 20, 2012

Read the rest of this article HERE

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Report: Alex Smith Leaves Miami Without A Contract, Headed to 49ers

NFL Network's Rebecca Haarlow is reporting that free agent Alex Smith has left Miami and is headed to Santa Clara to meet with the 49ers.

Smith was reportedly upset with the 49ers after they were in hard pursuit of Peyton Manning over the last week.  Additionally, Smith was unhappy with San Francisco's first offer of three years for $24 million, including $10 million guaranteed.


The Dolphins, who Smith met with Smith for five hours on Sunday and have reportedly begun contract negotiations, are said to have made a similar offer of $8 million per year, but for more than three years.

The Dolphins signed quarterback David Garrard on Monday, though.

However, if Smith wants to continue is NFL career, there is only one destination he needs decid upon.

He needs to put aside the indifferences and hard feelings and come back to San Francisco.  It is the site of where he took the 49ers to an NFC Championship.  Coach Jim Harbaugh is also the only coach to have success with Smith, which is the main reason for why Smith should return to San Francisco, feelings aside.

This is a decision that will shape Smith's career.  Success lies with Harbaugh, not with a Dolphins team desperately in search of anyone to light a spark under their team.  Manning snubbed them and Matt Flynn snubbed them, so what makes you think Smith sees something in this organization that the best quarterbacks on the free agent market do not?

Money is the issue here.  Smith wants to get paid and he wants to be locked up in a contract with guaranteed money in a place where he can start.  Miami offers that, but the championships lie with Harbaugh and the 49ers.

San Francisco restocked a team lacking a reliable wide receiver this offseason, only furthering the temptations of Smith to the 49ers.  Not only did the 49ers get a reliable wide receiver, they got two in Randy Moss and Mario Manningham.

Stick with what works, and what works is the 49ers and another deep run in the playoffs.

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San Francisco 49ers Still Want Alex Smith; Offer Still Stands

The 49ers’ offer to free-agent QB Alex Smith remains on the table and has not been lowered or revoked, league sources said Monday. The sources said the team is confident Smith will opt to stay in San Francisco.

Smith visited Miami and is in contact with the Dolphins, but that move is being perceived around the league as a play for leverage. Other agents and GMs believe that the 49ers’ offer of $8 million per year is fair. San Francisco also presents the best chance for Smith to prosper on the field and off, with a system and roster suited to him and relatively weak divisional competition.

Read the rest of the article at the HERE

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NFL Rumors: Alex Smith, Miami Dolphins in Contract Negotiations

It looks like Alex Smith was not messing around after all, as Pro Football Talk is reporting that Smith and the Miami Dolphins have begun contract talks.

Smith was reportedly working out for the Dolphins today, and the meeting lasted a reported five hours.

The free agent took the 49ers to the NFC Championship last season, but San Francisco has shown interest in free agent quarterback Peyton Manning over the last week.  Manning worked out for the 49ers at Duke University on Tuesday, as well as took a physical.

Read the rest of this article HERE

Alex Smith, Dolphins are negotiating wp.me/p14QSB-1H2h

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 19, 2012

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NFL Free Agency 2012: 49ers Sign Mario Manningham; Peyton Manning Next?

The 49ers made their second free agent signing at the wide receiver position on Saturday night, signing Mario Manningham a deal with the team.

NBC's Pro Football Talk is reporting that Manningham has signed a two-year deal with San Francisco.

Manningham played last season for the New York Giants, making a clutch game-changing catch to extend the Giants' season on their way to a Super Bowl victory.  He finished last season with 39 receptions for 523 yards.

The signing comes at a good time, after the 49ers reportedly flew to North Carolina to watch free agent quarterback Peyton Manning workout, as well as take a physical.

With San Francisco adding Manningham along with their signing of Randy Moss last week, the table is set for the Manning era in San Francisco.

How can Manning turn this opportunity down right now?

With Manning at the helm, this is the best team in football, hands down.

Even without Manning, the 49ers are set to be Super Bowl contenders.  They just need a quarterback to steer the way.

The Broncos have reportedly offered Manning a five-year deal worth $90 million, bu given the right deal, it would be hard Manning to turn down equal money for a team with the Super Bowl in clear sight.

The 49ers' defense is arguably the best in the NFL, the special teams was terrific last season, the running game has the potential for a breakout year and all San Francisco is missing is the right player under center.

All signs are pointing to Manning being that guy and the 49ers having one terrific stab at taking the NFL by storm.

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NFL Free Agents 2012: What Alex Smith Changing Agents Means for 49ers

Free agent quarterback Alex Smith is reportedly considering changing agents and it could meant the end of his career in San Francisco.

Smith, who took the 49ers to the NFC Championship last season, was not happy with San Francisco's contract offer last week and is now deciding on whether or not to pursue other opportunities with a different organization.


On Friday, it was reported that the 49ers were the third team in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, after Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman flew to Duke University to watch Manning workout, as well as take a physical.

Read the rest of this article HERE

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Report: Peyton Manning Worked Out For 49ers This Week

In the saga that is Peyton Manning's next destination, a new team has arisen as a possible sleeper to acquire the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that the 49ers worked out Manning this past week, and he took a physical, as well.

Manning has not visited the 49ers' facilities.

Up until now, the front-runners to land Manning were the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans.  Because of the time at which this is occurring, the 49ers are assumed to be a viable contender to acquire Manning.

Filed to ESPN: Third team in Manning race that has emerged is49ers - Manning worked out for Harbaugh &took physical this week #NFL32

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 16, 2012

This report about Manning and the 49ers surfaces as free agent quarterback Alex Smith is reportedly not happy with San Francisco's contract offer.

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San Francisco Giants: Who's Hot and Who's Not in Spring Training

Spring Training is an excellent measure of how a team is currently built and will be built for the future.  Many teams will plug in their future stars and prospects into the line-up rotation just to see if they can measure up to the hype against professional players, granted it is only Spring Training baseball.


Good examples of this are the San Francisco Giants' substantial depth at the catcher position.  We have seen five catchers this year in Spring Training: Andrew Susac, Tommy Joseph, Hector Sanchez, Eli Whiteside and Buster Posey.

Posey is the obvious starter, but there is a nice battle between Whiteside and Sanchez for that back-up spot in San Francisco, as Sanchez is having one terrific spring so far.

Here are the three hottest Giants' players in Arizona and the not-so-hot Giants' players so far.



HOT

1.  Melky Cabrera

What a start Cabrera has had in Arizona for the Giants.  One of the newest Giants' acquisitions has been terrific at the plate, with an average of .433 this spring.

Melky Cabrera has hit safely in all 7 of his spring games this season. He also has 5 multi-hit games so far. #SFGiants

— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiantsFans) March 12, 2012

The main assets he brings to the ball club is hitting for contact and getting on base, and he has done both moderately well so far.  He leads the team in Spring Training with 13 hits, but we would like to see his .433 OBP to be a bit higher, especially in the spring.

Expect to be leading off come Opening Day.


2.  Hector Sanchez

Sanchez came into Spring Training with Fresno most likely on his mind and in his future.  However, after the spring he is having, he may be rivaling Whiteside for the back-up catcher role behind Posey.  It would be up to manager Bruce Bochy to decide if he would rather Sanchez get consistent at-bats in Fresno to start the season, but Posey will need some breaks from catcher this season to play first base.

Hector Sanchez just told me yesterday was the first time he ever homered from both sides in the same game. Surprised me. Said his power ...

— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) March 12, 2012

Sanchez is batting .444 this spring, with eight hits in 18 at-bats and already has eight RBI, which is in second place to only Cabrera (9 RBIs) for the team lead.  Again, Sanchez only has had 18 at-bats so far in Spring Training.


3. Brandon Crawford

The man with the smooth glove-work at shortstop has been doing extraordinarily well at the plate this spring.  He has seven hits in 18 plate appearances with six RBI, which is good enough for a .389 batting average.  The main thing here is that he has four walks out of those 18 at-bats, so i would assume his patience and eye at the plate is getting increasingly better.

Crawford only has one extra base hit this spring, but as long as he hits for anything above .260 this season, we should be calling him a success based on the defensive stability he brings to the left side of the infield.


4. Gregor Blanco

Blanco is making a great case for why he should be in San Francisco to start the season for the Giants.  He has been arguably the hottest player for the team so far this spring, batting .500 through 26 at-bats, which is tied for third on the team for most at-bats.

Blanco has speed around the base paths, with the team lead of six stolen bases, and he also has nothing to lose out there.

It will be hard for Bochy not to turn down Blanco has the fourth or fifth outfielder entering the 2012 season.



NOT

1.  Angel Pagan

The other Giants' acquisition this offseason has shown glimpses of what he can do at the plate, but he has also shown what the fans are already worried about.

He was supposed to bring speed to this Giants line-up, yet he only has the one stolen base.  He was also in a 5 for 22 slide this spring and is now hitting just ..269.

We should expect him to start picking up his game, but do not be alarmed to see him become the fourth outfielder to start the season.


2.  Pablo Sandoval

All the discussion about his weight entering Spring Training should be thrown out the window -- he looks great.  However, his bat does not.  He is now batting just .222 through 27 at-bats this spring with four strikeouts.

Of course, it does take awhile for Sandoval's bat to show up, but he is arguably the X-factor for this team this season.  His bat could do wonders for a line-up that will most likely struggle to bring runs to the plate again this season.


3.  Gary Brown

I am not sure what we were expecting Brown to do this spring, but it sure was not to go two for your first 11 at-bats to start Spring Training.

This is sure to be a wake-up call for the young player with promise.

He does have good speed on the base paths, which we have seen a few times this spring, but he just has not seemed to have an eye for professional pitching so far in Spring Training.  Look for him to improve on what he has not been able to do this spring.

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Lack of Urgency Dooms San Jose Sharks

We have become so accustomed to winning in San Jose.

So when a team with the notable history of terrific regular seasons and consistent playoff appearances, like the San Jose Sharks have, suddenly stops winning, people start freaking out.

They should be worried, the Sharks are outside of the Western Conference playoff picture for the first time in I don’t know – we are just not accustomed to that.


With 14 games to play in the NHL season, San Jose sits in ninth place, one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the last spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Read the rest of this article HERE

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Warriors Trade Monta Ellis to Bucks for Andrew Bogut in Five-Player Deal

The Golden State Warriors have agreed to send Monta Ellis and others to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for center Andrew Bogut.

The deal first reported on Twitter by Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski has the Warriors sending Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown to the Bucks for Bogut and Stephen Jackson.

Y! Sources: Golden State trades Monta Ellis to Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson as part of 5-player deal. tinyurl.com/8xyrdyx

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 14, 2012

Read the rest of the article HERE

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Randy Moss Signs One-Year Deal With 49ers

Randy Moss signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, the same day in which he participated in a workout with the team in Santa Clara, CA.

Moss did not play last season and last played for the New England Patriots in 2010. He
last played in the Bay Area when he suited up for the Oakland Raiders from 2005-07.

Read the rest of this article HERE

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NCAA Bracket 2012 Predictions: Upset Picks for Round of 64

So we begin the long week before the field of 64 teams tips off on Thursday.  Meanwhile, we speculate, predict and pray that the team you picked will win their respective game.

With Selection Sunday now behind us and the NCAA Tournament bracket set, now is the time grab that Sharpie and fill out that sheet of paper.


Now, let the uncertainty begin.

Right off the bat, this bracket is chalk full of upsets from three-seeds to eight-seeds on potential upset alerts in the second round, which is the field of 64 teams.  Several teams with prominent runs this past month will have no picnic with the teams the selection committee has chosen for them to play.

See the picks HERE

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NBA Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors Interested in Andrew Bogut

The Golden State Warriors' search for a big man to play in the paint has officially made a stop with the Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bogut.

According to Marcus Thompson III of the Contra Costa Times, the Warriors are reportedly interested in the center to address their need in the post, a position that has not been legitimately filled for several years.

Bogut reportedly requested a trade from the Bucks last week.

Read the rest of this article HERE

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Randy Moss to Workout for 49ers on Monday

The 49ers went into this offseason needing a wide receiver, whether it was via free agency or the NFL Draft.  Sunday, we found out that it may be via free agency, as the 49ers reportedly plan on working out Randy Moss in Santa Clara on Monday.

Moss has been out of football since 2010 when he played for the New England Patriots.


Read the rest of this article HERE

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Bracketology 2012: Latest Predictions for 2012 NCAA Tournament

This is my first time ever doing this and it is not as easy as ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi makes it look........

The madness is just about upon us—Selection Sunday is right around the corner.

Conference Week is traditionally the week we see teams' true colors, and this year is no different, with several schools falling from grace and others surging up the rankings.


Bubble teams have also been pressed to impress the committee, hoping their resumes are just good enough to squeak in and make it to the Big Dance.

Here is the latest predictions for where teams will land when all is set in stone on Sunday night.

View the predicted bracket HERE

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San Jose Sharks: Where Is Rock Bottom?

Rock bottom is such a harsh word to use for a team with so much talent and the playoff normality that this franchise and fan base have come to expect, but the word describes exactly how it feels these days to be around the San Jose Sharks.


Watching the Sharks' Joe Pavelski score a goal with just under two minutes to play in a crucial Pacific Division battle with the Dallas Stars Thursday night was as hyped as this team has been in just over a month.  However, when it rains it sure does pour on this team that is clearly in a mental and physical rut.

Moments later, the Stars responded with a game-tying goal, as has been per usual as of late for Dallas, and coincidentally per usual for the Sharks, as well.

Again, the Sharks had an opportunity to strike on a power play late in overtime, yet could muster nothing despite several great opportunities in front of the Dallas net.

Low and behold, the game went to a shootout, and it was then that we all knew what was coming next.

What were the odds a team with a lackluster mental game was going to pull out a win in a shootout on the road against one of the hottest teams in the NHL?

It did not matter at that point.  We all knew the loss was coming sooner or later for this team on Thursday night.

The Stars added to their Pacific Division lead, which is now a four games, and the Sharks continue to cling to the seventh or eighth spots in the Western Conference.

Sharks getting some help tonight from MN Wild beating Phx & Columbus beats LA Kings! Going to be a great finish in the West!

— Bret Hedican (@BretHedican) March 9, 2012

It is simply the way things are going for this San Jose team.  When things seem to go right, they tend to go wrong quickly.  It has become the norm these days.

But the Sharks did not play bad on Thursday, and that is the point of this whole ordeal.  They outshot a screaming hot team 48-35 on their opponent's home ice in the middle of a road-trip that has no choice but to come out a success.

Finally, we saw some significance from the Sharks, finally we saw some urgency and finally we saw some hard-nosed hockey.  It was the best game the Sharks have played since their Feb. 28 game against the Philadelphia Flyers, and i cannot remember when the best game before that occurred, and for good reason.  The important part is that the game against the Stars on Thursday night -- the best game they have played in recent memory -- still ended in a loss and a drop in the point standings in the Pacific Division.

Has panic set in for this team yet?

Better yet, where do we consider rock bottom to be?

No, the Sharks are not at rock bottom.  However, when a team has a handle on the division at the mid-season point, then proceeds to drop several games in a row while the rest of their division starts playing aggressive and competitive hockey, it might be just about time.

San Jose is a playoff hockey team, and despite these losses that seem to be inevitable to some extent, we can expect the Sharks to be playing in the Western Conference playoffs at one of the eight seeds, no matter how unlikely that seems to be these days.

But rock bottom is not far off, which shows you just how far this team has collapsed since they embarked on that miserable nine-game road-trip in mid-February.

Changing the momentum of this season starts with defeating their own division, and there are a lot of chances for that coming down the stretch of this season.

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Buster Posey To Start At Catcher on Friday For San Francisco Giants

After the 2011 season was left in shambles and a key piece of the future of the franchise wavering in the balance, the wait is over for the San Francisco Giants.  Buster Posey will reportedly be starting behind the plate on Friday when the Giants take on the Cincinnati Reds.

Posey sat out most of last season, after a collision at home plate with Miami Marlins' outfielder Scott Cousins left Posey with a left leg injury that sidelined him from any physical activities until recently. Now, the Giants plan on testing that left leg in Spring Training and see how it reacts.


According to Comcast SportsNet's Andrew Baggarly, Bruce Bochy plans on starting Posey behind the dish on Friday, seven games into San Francisco's Spring Training schedule.

Bochy plans to debut Posey at catcher Friday: Welcome back, kid. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he plans for Bu... bit.ly/yhBFHx

— Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) March 8, 2012

All eyes are sure to be on Posey, that left leg and his bat that is so dearly needed if the Giants are to hang tough in the National League West this season.

He is clearly the heart and soul of this Giants ball club.  In his rookie season, Posey played a significant role in helping the Giants get their first World Series title in San Francisco.  Last season, we saw just how much he really meant to this team.

After he went down with injury, the team seemed mentally drained down the stretch when a playoff push was needed.  The team was dismal on the offensive side of the ball and lacked that middle of the order bat to help drive in runs and take meaningful at-bats.

With Posey assuredly back in the Giants' line-up for Opening Day 2012, the Giants should feel like a new team, and the news that we are going to see him back on the field calling pitches behind the plate on Friday only further adds to the team's hyped morale.

Look for the Giants to take several precautions on Friday, but just seeing him with the mask on Friday should be enough to get the baseball juices flowing back in San Francisco.

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Peyton Manning Out in Indianapolis; 49ers Make Offer to Alex Smith

For a 49er fan, you had to wake up in a good mood this morning.  Peyton Manning was officially done in Indianapolis and looking for a home, and the 49ers could use a reliable gift at quarterback, since Alex Smith is a free agent.

Then you probably cam across a little tid-bit on the internet saying the 49ers have an "offer on the table" for Smith and that they plan on moving ahead with him under center.

GM Trent Baalke hinted at it yesterday when he mentioned the 49ers were not particularly willing to pursue the future Hall of Famer,
despite the pleads of Jerry Rice and others.

Manning simply does not fit into the 49ers' plans, which means they are pretty adamant about signing Smith yet again after a trip to the NFC Championship game last season.

Peyton Manning gets off plane n has Dolphings owner waiting for him. Let the games begin!Peyton taking his talents to South Beach? #cmon

— BASportsTalk (@BASportsTalk) March 7, 2012

Read the a similar article HERE

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2012 NFL Free Agents: San Francisco 49ers and Teams That Must Make A Splash

There is a lot of pressure for teams to go out this offseason and find free agents to either replace or bolster certain areas of their team, but overpaying may be the name of the game this offseason and some teams have no choice but to comply with those standards.

The San Francisco 49ers may be one of those teams this offseason.


Read the rest of this article HERE

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San Francisco Giants Kick Off 2012 Season With Intrasquad Game

San Francisco Giants baseball is back and just in time, if i may add.  Since the San Francisco 49ers ended their season, Bay Area fans have been forced to watch a struggling San Jose Sharks team and the miserable Golden State Warriors.  Fans have been more intrigued with the 49ers' offseason and free agency than the Warriors, as they should be.

But that all changes now.

The Giants tipped off their annual intrasquad game on Thursday, a sign that the Bay Area better get ready for the biggest sports phenomenon of each and every year in the area.


However, instead of seeing the usual starters showcase what we are sure to see this season, fans got a taste of the future.  The future includes several prospects whose ceilings are high, and it will not not take long to see them in action at AT&T Park.

With the box score of the intrasquad game not available, all i can tell you is who won and who i have heard were the standouts in the game.

First of all, Team Shawon Dunston beat down Team J.T. Snow, 7-2.

As for the stand-outs, that is where it gets fuzzy, as i can only give you the updates of the significant plays of the game that were told to me.

Center fielder Gary Brown was the first overall selection in the draft, which matched Team Snow against Team Dunston.  Dunston made Brown the No. 1 overall selection of the players included in Thursday's intrasquad game.  Brandon Belt was selected No. 2.

Brown did not disappoint, as he managed a ground-rule double in his first at-bat, although reports are he was flying around the bases.

Another impressive player was Gregor Blanco, the 28-year-old center fielder, who might be the Giants' No. 5 outfielder, and he hit an RBI triple while showing off his speed around the bases.

The other asset that stood out about this group of Giants' potential was the surplus of catchers this club has. Buster Posey is the starter, Eli Whiteside will back him up for a good portion of this season and Hector Sanchez is waiting in the wings.  But then there is 20-year-old Tommy Joseph and 21-year-old Andrew Susac, who are making great cases for the next big behind the dish in San Francisco.

Joseph stands 6'1" with a big bat, drawing comparisons to Paul Konerko from AAA-Fresno head coach Steve Decker.  He had an RBI on Thursday.

Both he and Susac were evidently the buzz around the ball park.

The rest of the buzz was directed toward promising prospect Joe Panik, who is as much of a sure thing as the Giants have in their system, according to several sources.  He will split time between second base and shortstop in spring training, but he started at shortstop for Team Snow on Thursday.

He is evidently a very nice contact hitter with good fundamentals in his game and a lot of promise.  There is a possibility we see him up in San Francisco at some point this season, depending on how the season goes.  The 21-year-old should look a lot like how Brandon Crawford was projected last season, except that Panik may be a little further ahead in nearly every category minus fielding, which Crawford is a master of.

ESPN's baseball expert Keith Law ranked the Giants' farm system No. 26 in the MLB, which makes him obviously uninformed.

Judging by the buzz around the organization about their prospects and the promise these players have shown and will reportedly continue to show, San Francisco was severely underrated by ESPN.

Here is Law's explanation:

"The Giants don't go much over MLB's recommended draft bonuses, never seem to acquire any prospects in trades and haven't had success on the international front yet. Their amateur staff has done a great job finding value in later rounds without going over budget, including Brandon Belt and Heath Hembree."


I guess time will tell, but this is without a doubt a top-15 farm system in the MLB right now.  Brown and Belt will prove that shortly, Panik will not disappoint when he arrives in San Francisco and Joseph and Susac will get their respect in the upper end of the Giants' farm system this season.

Baseball is back.

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