New York Knicks, Shaking Things Up a Bit More?

Will Selva’s lastest blog post.

The New York Knicks are suffering through another dismal season. At 10-41, they not only sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference, they’re also in the basement of the entire NBA. While it’s not all Derek Fisher’s fault, the first year head coach does need to shoulder some of the blame. The Knicks lost many players throughout the regular season to injury and there was never a rotation that clicked. While Carmelo Anthony has missed some time, so has Amare Stoudemire, Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, Pablo Prigioni, and recent cast offs Iman Shumpert and JR Smith. The new look Knicks have recently been putting a lineup on the floor that features some sort of combination of Anthony, Calderon, Lou Amundson, Lance Thomas, Jason Smith, Langston Galloway, and Tim Hardaway Jr. To say it has not clicked is an understatement. Now the Knicks face another obstacle.

Amare Stoudemire signed a 5 year $100 million deal following the 2009-2010 season with the Knicks and many thought there were good days ahead for the Knicks. Amare certainly delivered in that first season posting 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game while suiting up for 78 games, a great feat for the oft-injured Stoudemire. Things turned for the worse following that season however. Amare has played in just 175 games over the last 4 seasons and is currently battling an ankle injury.

With the All-Star weekend in New York this coming weekend, Stoudemire is going to take the time off to think about his future. Stoudemire wants to play for a contender and may ask for a buyout. A buyout may be best for the two sides at this stage of the contract. With under a half year left on the deal, both sides should be able to reach a deal amicably and Stoudemire can play for a contender while the Knicks can fill his roster spot with a young player to audition to play for the Knicks in 2015-2016. One prime candidate to fill Stoudemire’s roster spot is 2014 2nd round draft pick Thanasis Antetokounmpo who is currently playing with the Knicks D-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks. The Knicks and Amare certainly have a decision to make in the coming week. Look for a decision early next week following the All-Star weekend festivities.

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James Shields Lands In San Diego

Will Selva’s latest blog post.

James Shields

The top of the crop has officially dried up in Major League Baseball free agency. James ‘Big Game’ Shields signed a 4 year $75 million deal with the San Diego Padres. A bit of a surprise to some as he was expected to be after something near the 7 year $210 million deal Max Scherzer received from the Washington Nationals. Fact of the matter is this, at age 33, James Shields is roughly 3 and a half years older than Scherzer. While Shields age may be worrisome, it has also been a great representation of his durability as he has thrown over 200 innings in each of the last 8 seasons.

While Shields has proven to be a durable starting pitcher in the majors, many teams were scared off due to how he would hold up in the latter years of his career. While what he has done is impressive, it’s also a sign of what is maybe to come, arm fatigue or injury. The market cooled off on him and he ended up with a 4 year deal for $75 million with a team option for the 5th year.

Shields holds a career mark of 114-90 with many of those years. He’s logged 1,910 career innings pitched to go with 1,626 strikeouts. For spending the majority of his career in the AL East facing the bats of the Yankees, Red Sox, and even the Blue Jays of late, Shields has managed a respectable career ERA of 3.72. The Padres hope that his numbers can only get better as he’ll face one less DH and one more pitcher at the plate.

Shields best year was in 2011 when he finished 16-12 with 225 strikeouts in 249 innings, 11 complete games, and an ERA of 2.82. Shields has struggled to live up to the name ‘Big Game’ in the playoffs of late but the Padres hope he can find his groove in a new environment in San Diego.

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