Forgotten Heat in Miami: Ricky Davis

Let me tell you the story of Tyree Ricardo Davis, you may know him as “Ricky”. Ricky Davis was J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters before there were memes, a misunderstood player with a long NBA career that spanned more than an entire decade and two different stints in Miami.

You think you would remember him more clearly if he was with the Heat twice in his career, wouldn’t you? In fact, he didn’t miss a single regular-season game the second time around during the team’s disastrous 2007-08 campaign. However, you struggle to come up with an image of him in the red-and-white jersey and all you seem to come up with is “Oh yeah, he is that guy that went AWOL for mysterious reasons for a while, isn’t he?”

Maybe this anecdote about his fine money funding a team outing to Atlantic City best sums up what his career was in Miami and elsewhere:

Allow me to introduce you to the kid born in Las Vegas that bet it all on himself, thought he was better than a certain future King and certainly put on a show until time found him destined to become yet another “Forgotten Heat”.

AN OVERLOOKED PRODIGY

Davis spent the first 12 years of his life in Vegas, but it wasn’t until his family moved to the small city of Davenport, Iowa that he truly tapped into the potential he had as a basketball player.

Imagine the buzz around Davenport North High School as the kid who had dunked as an eighth grader in a junior high game was about to join its ranks. Davis was the most exciting thing to happen to a city of fewer than 100,000 people since…well, ever. How many times can you walk up and down the Riverfront before you say “Yeah, this is nice, what else is there?”

Davis played for Davenport’s varsity team since he was a freshman and was named to the All-State squad as a junior, he even played Center for Davenport at one point, but he was never a state champion or named a McDonald’s All-American. The national spotlight eluded him, and the gap between what he perceived himself to be and what others saw him as started to widen along with the chip on the shoulders that carried the weight of expectations.

Heading to the League

Ricky could have emulated fellow prep star Tracy McGrady and entered the 1997 NBA Draft out of high school, but he opted to play for coach Tom Wilson at the University of Iowa, a preseason Top 15 program, instead.

That team had four future NBAers and was led by a determined Davis, who averaged 15.0 points per game to become the highest scoring Iowa freshman of the past 25 years, a mark that still stands to this day.

Iowa went 20-11 in the 1997-98 season with Ricky as its offensive stalwart, but it didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. Davis didn’t garner any individual honors either while Michael Olowokandi, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce hogged the spotlight.

He decided to enter the 1998 Draft after just one year of college basketball anyway. In hindsight, a year or two more of development would have been ideal for him…but he was going to show them. He was going to show them all that fame and glory were his destiny.

HELLO, MIAMI

Olowokandi went first, Jamison fourth, Carter fifth, and Pierce ninth. Davis had to wait until the 21st pick to be selected by the Charlotte Hornets, where he played with future Miami Heat teammate Eddie Jones. In fact, Jones helped him in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, where he was a last-minute addition after Jamison was injured, but he was no match for “Vinsanity”.

Eddie Jones was an All-Star and had asked for a trade out of an underachieving Hornets team, so Davis ended up joining him in a nine-player extravaganza that would become the largest trade in Miami Heat history.

The Heat were poised to contend and reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history during that 2000-01 season, but Davis barely played seven games before breaking his right foot and watching the Heat get unceremoniously swept by his former Hornets teammates in the first round of the playoffs.

That had to hurt.

Davis wouldn’t make long-term plans in Miami. The 22-year-old guard was traded in a multi-team deal to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the 2001-02 season for Chris Gatling, a marginal veteran.

The Cavs would go on to be 29-53 that year, but Davis had a successful individual season playing all 82 games and improving his scoring average from 4.6 to 11.7 points per game off the bench.

He seemed to be finding a home in Cleveland, blossoming as a potential franchise player and getting recognition for highlights such as a beastly dunk on Steve Nash.

 

“I dare him to try that again,” Nash said. Don’t mess with Canada, Ricky.

Davis’s Production

Davis averaged a career-high 20.6 points per game and starting 76 of them.  However, Cleveland was going from bad to worse collectively at 17-65 and Davis was getting a bad reputation.  His misdeeds included butting heads with coach Paul Silas and intentionally missing his own shot to grab a rebound and get a triple-double as time expired in a 120-95 Cavaliers win at home over the Utah Jazz

 

That pissed many people off, including the commonly reserved Jazz coach Jerry Sloan ( “I would have fouled him too. I would have knocked him on his ass”) while some sportswriters even called for his suspension and fans nicknamed him “Wrong Rim Ricky.”

Davis and LeBron

None of that truly mattered anyway. Cleveland was eagerly awaiting the arrival of “The King”, the hometown hero who would make everything right.

Ricky Davis initially thought that LeBron was there to be his sidekick, but the rookie had other plans and averaged 20.9 points as Cleveland’s leading scorer while Ricky averaged 15.3 in 22 games before being traded to the Boston Celtics in December as his lack of on-court chemistry with LeBron was evident and Davis was no mentor for him.

“I knew (LeBron) was the real thing when he came in….it was the era when no boys where allowed.”

 

The Cavs had chosen sides. LeBron was selfless, while Davis was selfish. A self-centered shooting guard that put the emphasis on “shooting”. Davis was becoming a basketball nomad with his fourth team in six seasons.

That wouldn’t change in the upcoming years as he would be traded from Boston to Minnesota in 2006 despite being appreciated by fans, and then back to Miami for an unexpected second stint under Pat Riley that Davis called “life changing.”

That trade was seen as a win for the Heat, which was able to unload the Antoine Walker deal. But in reality it was just exchanging one erratic shooter for another.

“It was a good trade for Miami; I didn’t think it was a good trade for Antoine,” Paul Pierce said at the time, and he was wrong as usual.

Wade’s Wingman

Ricky Davis was supposed to be Dwyane Wade’s sidekick and help lead Miami’s resurgence just two years removed from a championship. However, Wade was hampered by a shoulder injury that would limit him to 51 games that season. The Miami offense ended up running through Davis most of the time.

“We will run all of the things we run for Dwyane for [Davis], so we don’t have to change our offense that much,” Riley said before the 2007-08 season.

Bad idea. Davis played all 82 games for the second time in his career in a sixth man role. He started 47 of them, but barely averaged 13.8 points while playing 36 minutes a game. He also dealt with personal issues, including a five-game suspension for failing the league’s Anti-Drug program.

His lone shining moment came in April, 2008. He went off to tie a Miami Heat record of three-pointers in a single game with nine. His 33 points weren’t enough in a 109-95 loss against the Wizards.

By this point in his career, over a decade in, his demons were stronger than his talent. They would also be his demise.

Just like in Cleveland, Davis’ expanded role didn’t translate into wins. The Heat went 15-67. Davis helped drive Riley into coaching retirement before being traded to the Clippers in July, 2008.

His life as a basketball nomad continued with two forgettable seasons in Los Angeles before being waived in 2010. He would never step foot in an NBA court again.

Ricky Davis: WANDERING AND WONDERING

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 16: Ricky Davis #31 of the Ghost Ballers. (Photo by Rob Carr/BIG3/Getty Images)

The following decade would see him play in Turkey, China, France, Puerto Rico and the NBA D-League between 2011 and 2013, where he suffered one final indignity after being waived by the Erie BayHawks having averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11 games.

He seems to have found a home with the “Big 3” basketball league as the co-captain of the Ghost Ballers. But he also never forgot about Miami. Davis actually made it a point to give back to the South Florida community before playing there in 2018.

If Davis hadn’t had such a big chip on his shoulder, if he had been more about “we” than “me”, then maybe he would have won a ring as a supporting player in a contender. Now he is just a fleeting memory of what could have been.

For the first two chapters of the “Forgotten Heat” saga, click here and here.

How SFCBL players feel about playing baseball during the COVID-19 pandemic

The baseball fields of the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, SFCBL, feel like an oasis these days.

With the COVID-19 pandemic consuming the country and more specifically Florida, playing baseball right now can feel like playing under the eye of a hurricane.

Summer leagues across the country like the SFCBL has provided an outlet for players who worked hard to prepare for the spring season only to see it erased due to the coronavirus.

SFCBL Players

“It was a real bummer,” said former Florida pitcher Justin Alintoff, who plays for the Delray Beach Lightning. “At UF, we were 16-0 then next thing we know, the season is over. I would encourage everyone to wear a mask and stay safe, wash your hands. This is a real shame and it’s good that we’re able to get out and continue to play.”

The players say that baseball has allowed them to free their minds from the threat of the coronavirus, but even that can be difficult because of the need to be cognizant of the new rules and regulations put in place to keep them safe.

“The only time I’m not thinking about [COVID-19] is when I’m on the baseball field,” said Florida infielder Cory Acton, who plays for the West Boca Snappers. “We still have to wear the masks and still be protected but other than that, we’re playing like it’s a normal day.”

“You try to not think about it,” said Florida Atlantic infielder Jared DeSantolo, who plays for the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks. “It’s definitely interesting seeing what they’ve been doing, trying umpires behind the mound and having them all wear masks. At the end of the day, it’s still baseball.”

New Rules

“Now I kind of think about it a lot because of the new rules and regulations they kind of put in,” said LSU outfielder Gavin Dugas, who plays for the Boyton Beach Buccaneers. “It’s kind of weird playing though it but it’s not that bad.”

Georgia outfielder Randon Jernigan, who plays for the West Boca Snappers, said the mask is an important part of the process because the nature of the baseball dugout doesn’t allow for social distancing.

“In the dugout we’re all pretty conscious about it now because everybody is making sure we’re putting on our masks.” Jernigan said. “It’s kind of weird being so hot but I’m getting used to it.

“You have 30 guys in a little space and you have to wear masks because you’re not going to get six feet apart,” he said. “I don’t care who tries to enforce it, it’s not going to work. But as long as we have masks we’ll be okay.”

South Florida Collegiate Baseball League

Every player in the league was tested before the beginning of the season. A few players and at least one coach have already tested positive for the coronavirus. Alintoff said one of the players who tested positive was on his team and everyone who was around said players were then tested after that, and that the protocols in place has been able to keep the game going safely.

Two umpires officiate each game and wear masks at all times. Players don’t have to wear masks while on the field since the nature of the sport keeps them distant. However, when in the dugout, the players are instructed to wear masks and some of them who aren’t playing would watch the games from outside the dugout and field.

“Playing in this outbreak is definitely unlike something I’ve seen before,” said former FIU pitcher CJ Dearman, who plays for the Pompano Beach Clippers. “We have way more rules to abide by like wearing masks on the field and trying to keep a safe distance away for me each other.

“Also our full team is never at the same game,” he said. “Our teams usually split in half and the half playing is the ones who show up to the game. I must admit it’s really weird playing like this and acting as if you can’t touch anyone, but in order to play this game it’s worth following all the rules.”

The Fields

Some fields have made an effort to make social distancing somewhat possible. One example it Little Fenway Park, home of the Lightning and Boca Raton Blazers having reserved the bleachers to players not on the field to watch. The fans the come to those games bring their own chairs to the game which naturally creates its own form of social distancing.

Palm Beach Atlantic University, the only college field used by the league, has their bleachers open for fans to watch. Usually the only people that view these games are a few scouts and the family members of the players who live locally. 

COVID Concerns

According to anonymous player, one of the league coaches contracted the virus and two players are currently quarantining. One of those players who tested positive feels that it could possibly be a false positive test. He feels no symptoms and his family all tested negative.

The players originally would stay with host families during the summer season if they are coming from out of state. This time around, players are staying in hotels and Air BnB’s. One of the best aspects of summer baseball for players is the opportunity to meet and bond off the field.

That hasn’t been as easy this time around.

“It’s a huge adjustment. Obviously you want to get to know the players and everybody and get close and have conversations. But obviously we need to be more spread out,” said Villanova infielder Jeff Manto, who is plays catcher for the Lightning. “I’m just glad that we’re down here playing and I’ll do whatever we can to keep playing. Whatever it is I’ll make an adjustment.”

Some of these rules are sometimes not followed and usually difficult to enforce. However if the league can make it through the season, which runs through July 30 followed by the playoffs, with minimal cases. Then the SFCBL and other summer baseball leagues would serve as an example for how sports can be played safely.

Three heart surgeries can’t keep Austin Matsoff off the mound

Austin Matsoff, a sophomore pitcher at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas, has been through three heart surgeries over the last two years. Yet there he was on the mound on June 13 in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League staring down a hitter from LSU.

Being from a NAIA program, he had no business taking on SEC talent. Which meant he had nothing to lose.

“When I first signed up for the league and I was looking at the rosters from the previous years, my whole mindset was these guys are better hitters than I am pitcher,” Matsoff said. “That’s just proven. They all go to like UCF, Vanderbilt, LSU, all these schools known for baseball and I’m at a small NAIA school in Kansas. So when I came in here, it was really a mindset of what’s the worst that can happen?”

The worst thing never happened. Instead, he struck him out with his submarine delivery.

“That was a big moment for me,” Matsoff said. “It was such a surreal feeling. I never thought of myself being able to be on the same field as these guys like that.”

Clear eyes, full heart, he couldn’t lose. In five appearances so far this summer, Mastoff has allowed only two runs in six innings with three strikeouts and a save. 

“I’ve been pitching well all summer and the idea that I’m out here competing with all these other guys is just huge for me.”

MATSOFF’S HEART CONDITION

Austin Matsoff was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia during his senior year of high school at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale. VT is a condition in which the heart’s lower chambers beat much faster than normal because of a problem with its electrical impulses.

“The main issue with mine is that it beats too fast,” Matsoff said. “It’s a genetic issue. The problem is that there are clusters of electrical nerves attached to it which cause it to beat faster.”

According to Matsoff, the best way he’s been able to treat his heart, ironically, is by making it beat faster. His resting heart rate ranges from 90-120 BPM but when he’s exercising, it ranges between 120-180 BPM, which is actually a normal range when active.

“The problem isn’t when I work out really,” Matsoff said. “It’s when I’m resting that there is a problem. Like I’ll be resting and sometimes it’ll shoot up to 200 BPM.”

Basically his heart is like the bus from “Speed”. He’s got to keep moving or else that’s when tachycardia occurs. It runs in the family. His mother is a triathlete with the same heart issues.

“The way my heart condition works is I actually feel better when I work out,” Matsoff said. “When I work out, my sinus heartbeat rhythm takes over the bad heartbeat and it levels off at 180 BPM. It only gets up to 200+ when I am resting, because that is when the electrical nerves are taking over. So I am always working out because my heart goes into a normal rhythm and makes me feel better as opposed to resting.”

BASEBALL BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY FOR AUSTIN MATSOFF

Matsoff’s first surgery was in December 26, 2018. The second one came on June 5, 2019, a week after his high school graduation. Both procedures were cardiac ablations whereas the third surgery resulted in a monitor implanted in his chest just above the pulmonary valve of his heart.

The surgeries have not prevented his heart from experiencing tachycardia. His most recent episode came on May 29, just before the start of the summer season.

“I didn’t really feel that one,” Austin Matsoff said. “I didn’t find out about it until I went to a doctor and they checked my monitor.”

His worst case of tachycardia occurred while he was in college a few weeks after the third surgery.

“I was at dinner up in kansas after a practice,” Matsoff said. “I started shaking then felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder and my heart rate got up to 220 BPM.”

A fourth heart surgery has not been scheduled nor has it been recommend.

Austin Mastoff pitching for the Boca Raton Blazers

Matsoff pitched on the JV team as a freshman during the fall at MNU. His two biggest games came the day before his third heart surgery, which happened on October 10, 2019, and week after.

“Pitching before the surgury was probably the most energetic I have ever been on a baseball field,” Austin Matsoff said. “We had a night game against our rival school. It was about 40 degrees, but there were a good amount of people at the game. I knew I was only going out for one inning and it was the best inning I threw all fall. Struck out the last batter of the inning and got super hyped up because I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t be throwing again for a while.

“The game after my surgery was a little scary,” he said. “I had pestered my coach all week to let me throw simply because it was the last game of the fall and I wanted the satisfaction of coming back for our last game to end fall on a high note. During warm ups and running around in the outfield, I was feeling a little uncomfortable because I was not used to having the monitor in my chest. When I got on the mound, I was trying to make adjustments to accommodate my discomfort and it was difficult, but I figured it out and put up a zero for my inning.”

HOW AUSTIN MATSOFF ENDED UP AT MNU

How Austin Mastoff ended up at MidAmerica Nazarene is an amazing story in itself. In high school, he went from only six at-bats in junior varsity as a freshman to hitting .400 while starting every game as a sophomore, finishing with two varsity pinch-hit appearances.

He didn’t begin pitching until at the tail end of the fall semester of his junior season, when his coach decided that he will be a submarine pitcher from here on out. The team had a crowded outfield and his switch to pitcher filled a need on the varsity front.

MNU was the only school to take a chance on Mastoff and give him a scholarship.

Boca Raton Blazers pitcher Austin Mastoff working out in his home gym.


WORKING OUT LIKE HIS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT

When he’s not playing baseball, Austin Matsoff hits the gym for olympic weightlifting and boxing. He got hooked on fitness the summer before his senior year of high school. He credits weight lifting for playing a major role in his development.

“One thing in particular I really enjoyed was olympic lifting because it involves strength, speed, and mobility,” Matsoff said. “When I got to MNU, our strength coach was an olympic lifter and she saw me wanting to work and helped me out. She gave me programs and would help coach me whenever I had time in between classes.”

Boxing originally started as a fun way for Matsoff to get in shape. He wasn’t trying to get in a ring and fight but he enjoys the workout immensely. He joined a boxing gym in his college town and saw the sparring in action and his competitive nature took over.

“Before I knew it, I was getting in the ring and sparring on a daily basis,” Matsoff said. “It has been one of the greatest stress releases that I’ve ever experienced other than baseball. The problem with baseball, especially as a pitcher, if you throw too much you risk injury. So as much of a release as baseball is to me, I can only do it so much before I risk hurting my arm or something like that. Boxing is something I can do that gets me in better shape for baseball without risking my arm.”

Matsoff has a garage gym complete with a speed bag and a heavy bag. He also has gym access to through SFCBL, which has a good amount of space and allows him to do keep up his weightlifting.

Between working out eight hours a day and playing baseball against Division I competition in his backyard, Austin Mastoff says, “This is the best I have felt in a long time.”

2021 MLB Draft prospect Mason Black pitches in our backyard

Baseball America recently released a list of 25 college players worth keeping an eye on during the summer league season. The only name on the list that plays in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League is Lehigh pitcher Mason Black.

He previously dominated the competition at the Cape Cod League last summer, leading the league with a 1.47 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 36.2 innings pitched over the course of eight appearances and five starts.

The article said that Black’s hot season at the Cape which included starting in the all-star game after a freshman season that was shorted due to injury, “put him on the map as a player to watch in the 2021 draft and he’ll look to add to that resume this summer.”

And here we are. In just five starts in the SFCBL, Black has a 1.00 ERA and 10 more strikeouts than innings pitched.

“It’s given me a great opportunity to come down here and work on some off-speed stuff and figure out how to shorten up my arm action,” Black said. “I have a lot of stuff to work on but I’m happy with the results so far.”

Not only has his stats been impressive to scouts but also the velocity on his fastball. Boca Raton Blazers pitching coach Colin Murray caught Black throwing 102 mph on his Pitchlogic software. What leads to throwing high heat can be a mystery but Black’s method begins in the gym.

“I’m a big believer in max effort pull-downs,” Black said, “getting in the gym and just staying flexible. There’s a lot of things that go into it. I wish there was a secret formula. I’d tell everyone if I could. I’d sell it and do whatever but there really isn’t one unfortunately.”

Lehigh Contingent in the SFCBL

On his Lehigh athletics online player bio, Black listed professional pitcher as his dream job. Murray originally was supposed to be working in the Los Angeles Angels player development department, but the minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He sees a lot of pro potential in the hulking junior.

“Coming down here, I knew he led he Cape in ERA last year but I’ve never really seen him throw,” Murray said, “I never heard of him before that. When you get up close and you see him, he’s got a fastball that he’ll be humble and tell you that he doesn’t throw it 100 but we had him register at 102 MPH. So even if that is a few miles faster, he’s still one of the best that I’ve seen and all of his off-speeds. We really tried to take his analytics and just map out his movement and his efficiency with it and he’s off the charts from what I’ve seen.”

“I’m a big believer that all different opinions are going to help you in the future,” Black said. “I not only try to pick apart out pitching coach Colin’s brain but also the other pitchers on the team. It’s been really helpful with the analytics side of things and being able to apply them in a game situation.”

Black is not the only Lehigh player in the SFCBL. He has fellow pitcher Will Grisick with him in the Blazers. Matt Svanson is leading the West Boca Snappers with an astonishing 0.00 ERA in four starts. And the North Division leading Palm Beach Diamond Ducks has pitcher Luke Rettig and first baseman Charlie Von Werne.

Black said having his teammates around in the SFCBL has provided comfort to him while pitching away from home but with three Lehigh pitchers on the top two teams in the SFCBL, someone is returning to Allentown with bragging rights.

Mason Black, 2021 MLB Prospect

As good as Mason Black has been in the summer leagues, what he does in Lehigh his junior year next year will truly determine his place in the 2021 MLB Draft. His freshman year was cut short due to injury and his sophomore year was abbreviated because of the COVID-19 crisis. Last year he posted a 4.36 ERA in 10 appearances, and 28 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched. He showed some improvement this spring by posting a 3.68 ERA in four starts with 29 strikeouts in 22 innings.

His performance in the SFCBL indicates that a breakout season is coming next spring. The fact that he’s not the only Lehigh starting pitcher impressing in the summer shows that this will be a team to watch.

 

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes add playmaking, hard-hitting safety to 2021 class

Manny Diaz’s recruiting class in 2020 has welcomed a lot of great prospects. Even with a 6-7 season, the Miami Hurricanes have reloaded the roster with talent. In particular, the safety position has three newcomers who should be able to make an impact.

Saturday, they received a commitment from four-star safety Kamren Kinchens The local product out of Miami Northwestern High announced his commitment to The U on Saturday. In doing so, he becomes the fifth Bull in the 2021 recruiting class. He picked Miami over the likes of Auburn and Texas A&M.

He is also the first safety commitment in his class. The 2021 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class is looking strong. They are ranked 12th nationally and third overall in the ACC per the 247Sports Team Rankings.

Currently, the highest-rated commitment in the ’21 class is wide receiver Romello Brinson. It’s worth noting that the 2021 class is aligning very similarly to last year’s class.

Last year, their class ranked second in the ACC. In terms of the 247Sports average rating, they clocked in with a 0.9006 rating last year. This year, they have an 0.8837 rating.

Last year, he had 74 tackles and 10 interceptions for Miami Northwestern. When you watch his film, he is a hard-hitter. He also possesses tremendous vision. He makes a break for the ball as soon as it is thrown, and often settles underneath it nicely for an interception. Opposing quarterbacks would be wise not to throw his way on the field. He is truly a playmaker on that side of football.

It would be unfair to compare him to Miami Hurricanes great Ed Reed. However, he has that same type of playmaking ability. I’m not saying he will be the next Reed, but he will eliminate the middle of the field for Miami defensively.

This is a another notch in the belt for the Miami coaching staff. Diaz has done a great job of rebuilding this program this entire offseason. it will be intriguing to see what move comes next.

Justin Alintoff graduates from Gators‘ reliever to starter in Rollins

Sometimes it’s crazy how quickly things can change within a year. The Florida Gators started the 2020 season 16-0. Justin Alintoff was contributing to a bullpen that posted a 1.76 ERA with 12 strikeouts in five appearances.

They lose their first game of the season to Florida State on March 10 and the next day the entire spring slate has been cancelled.

“It was a real bummer,” Alintoff said.

Now Alintoff is in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League working time go from reliever to starting pitcher with the Delray Beach Lightning. This is all in preparation for his final chapter as a college pitcher, not in Florida, but in Rollins.

“I could have gone back to Florida but I’m getting an MBA at Rollins College,” Alintoff said. “I value my education greatly.”

Justin Alintoff Transition to Starter

So far the transition to starter has gone well. Alintoff is 3-0 with a 1.28 ERA and 12 strikeouts in five games and four starts. His longest start came on Thursday against the Palm Beach Xtreme where he allowed only one run on four hits in four innings.

He leads the Lightning in starts and ERA, which is a big reason why Delray Beach (13-7) is only a game behind the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks (14-6) in the North Division.

While there are instances in which Alintoff finds himself facing off an Arkansas hitter, a Georgia hitter or one of the handful of LSU hitters prowling in the league, the overall summer ball competition doesn’t make up for the erased spring slate.

“The SEC is a beast of its own,” Alintoff said. “I don’t think there really is too much to compare in those regards. They’re two different intensities. Spring ball is way more intense than summer ball.

“In terms of the players, we have a great group of guys (in the SFCBL), really talented guys and same as the SEC. But the SEC is a grind every game.”

Alintoff Leaning on His Experience

Alintoff made a total of 21 appearances out of the bullpen for Florida as a sophomore and junior. He totaled 37 strikeouts in 39 innings. He credits the rigors of the SEC for setting him up for summer success.

“There’s no rest,” Alintoff said. “The teams in the bottom of the standings can come out and whoop butt. So the SEC is an animal and it has prepared me greatly for this league.”

Alintoff was originally a starting pitcher at Indian Hill Community College. He posted a 4.11 ERA in 57.0 innings with 77 strikeouts during his freshman year.

The SFCBL season runs through July 30 followed by the playoffs. Led by Alintoff as the anchor of the staff, a league title would be a great way to complete the transformation.

Marlins 2020 Schedule

5 Takeaways from Marlins 2020 Schedule

The Miami Marlins have their hands full this season. Thanks the to the coronavirus and the bickering over money between billionaire owners and millionaire players, MLB plans on just a 60 game season. The Marlins 2020 schedule has them playing strictly in the East region. They’ll face their NL East rivals, as well as their AL East counterparts.

Here’s a look at 5 Takeaways for the Marlins 2020 Schedule.

Marlins 2020 Schedule: A Sprint, not a Marathon

Normally, the MLB season feels like a marathon. The 162-game slate stretches from late March to early October most years and has teams crisscrossing the nation. This year, though, a truncated 60-game sprint to the playoffs faces each squad. And for the Marlins, this has both advantages and drawbacks.

The advantages are clear: it’s a pennant race right from the start. The Marlins are tied for first late in July for the first time perhaps ever. Despite a pair of World Series victories, Miami has never won the NL East. In recent years, by late July the team had been mired in the cellar or struggling for a wild card berth.

The 60-game sprint introduces a level of uncertainty unseen in previous seasons.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly recently said: “In a 162-game schedule, the best teams usually win. Those are the teams with depth and over the long haul things even out. But in a 60-game season, there’s a lot of momentum. You go 8-4 out of the gate, you’ve played 20 percent of your season, and you put pressure on teams.”

“Everybody has a chance in this scenario,” Mattingly said, and players have echoed that sentiment with a “Why Not Us” refrain.

The NL East is No Joke

Part of what makes the Marlins 2020 schedule such a gauntlet is that they’re part of the NL East. The division sports three teams that were above .500 and another at .500 in 2019. Other than the Marlins, who were a dismal 57-105, the other teams in the division averaged 89 wins for the year.

The Atlanta Braves won the division with a 97-65 record, but lost in the Divisional Series 3-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Washington Nationals secured a Wild Card, then proceeded to win the entire tournament.

Miami will face their NL East counterparts 40 times in 2020. Last season, the Marlins posted a 24-52 record against the NL East. Their only winning mark came versus Philadelphia (10-9), who they’ll start with in 2020. The Marlins had losing records against Atlanta (4-15), the Mets (6-13) and Washington (4-15).

The defending champion Nationals may have lost their MVP candidate (Anthony Rendon), but they still sport three aces. The Braves built a strong team with stars. And both the Phillies and the Mets are in win-now mode.

AL East Ain’t Much Easier

With MLB’s regional setup for the schedule, Miami also has to face the AL East. 20 of their 60 games will be against their interleague counterparts.

In 2019, Tampa Bay swept the Marlins (0-4). The Rays won 96 games and sport three aces of their own. Miami will face the Rays six times in 2020, on August 28-30 in Miami then September 4-6 in St. Petersburg. Over the last two seasons, the Marlins are 4-6 versus Tampa Bay, but 56-61 all-time.

For the rest of the AL East, the Marlins’ll see Baltimore and Toronto four times apiece, while facing the Red Sox and Yankees three times each. The Yankees have the deepest roster in the AL. Oh, and after winning 103 games, they added Gerrit Cole, who’s coming off a 20-5, 2.50 ERA, 326-strikeout season.

“We know that the National League East is a bear of a division and the American League East is equally as difficult division,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said recently, “and I guess if you look at just from winning percentages from 2019, we’re going to face the toughest schedule. We know it’s going to be a battle.”

Marlins 2020 Schedule: Opening 12 Games

Marlins manager Don Mattingly noted recently that once you’re through the first 12 games of the season, you’ve completed 20 percent of the schedule. That fact alone makes the start of the season integral for any team with postseason aspirations.

For Miami, only four of the first 12 are on the road. They open on July 24th in Philadelphia for a three-game series with the Phillies. In 2019, the Marlins beat Philadelphia 10 times, so they’ll look for similar success this year. From there, they come home for two against the Orioles. Then they travel to Baltimore for two more. In 2018, the Marlins went 2-1 versus Baltimore and hold a whopping 22-8 record against them all-time.

The Marlins return home for a three-game series versus Washington. Miami was a dismal 4-15 versus the Nationals last season. Afterwards, they welcome the Phillies to town for three more games.

Realistically, the Marlins need to target eight wins in their first 12. It’ll be hugely important to bank wins early, so they can ride some of that momentum through mid-August. Eight wins early might mean they have a shot at 20 by the end of August.

“We need to win every game. You got to play like you’re gonna win every game,” Mattingly said of the team’s mindset for 2020. “Every game is important, every play is important, every out is important, and just go after it in that way.”

Marlins 2020 Schedule: Final 12 Games

The true gauntlet for the Marlins 2020 schedule comes in the waning days of the truncated regular season. Miami will close the 2020 campaign with a 7-game road trip through Atlanta and the Bronx. The Marlins’ final 12 games will come against teams that won 84, 93, 97 and 103 games in 2019. Three of those four were playoff teams.

Should the Marlins be in position to make the postseason, their final 12 will force them to earn their spot. There won’t be any backing into the playoffs this season.

Miami has the Braves on their schedule for 10 games in 2020, but their final series will be a four-game set in Atlanta. They were 4-15 versus the Braves with a minus-33 run differential in 2019.

The last series of the year will come in New York versus the Yankees. Historically, Miami has played well versus the Yankees, 13-15 all-time and 4-2 in the 2003 World Series.

The Marlins longest homestead of the season will come in September, overlapping these final 12 games. It’s a 10-game, 11-day stretch that could prove to be the make-or-break homestead of the year.

5 Post-Practice Comments from Miami Heat in Orlando

After the Miami Heat arrived to Orlando on Wednesday, they needed to quarantine before returning to practice. Today, they returned to practicing for the first time since early March.

Here’s some takeaways from interviews with the team…

Miami Heat in Orlando Post-Practice Comment 1:

Miami Heat practice in Orlando, and basketball is back. And it seems as if the players are just as excited as the fans are. Erik Spoelstra mentions that he’s “never seen a team move as fast as this team” on their way to get to the gym this afternoon. He also talks about the teams excitement on the court, discussing such things as each others hairstyles. Coach Spoelstra says “You can feel an incredible genuine sense of enthusiasm.” Like many people have mentioned about this Heat team, they enjoy being around each other, which means this bubble situation helps this Heat team.

Post-Practice Comment 2:

This team is full of many vocal leaders on and off the court. But there’s no one better than Miami’s own Udonis Haslem. He says he was very vocal today in their first day back, and told the guys today “it’s time to work.” And the thing is about this team, we know they all were ready to work. He also uses the words “locked in,” which he means in a couple different ways. He says during the interview that he is only going to keep to his team during his time in the bubble, even with the history of him and LeBron James. This team is indeed locked in and ready.

Post-Practice Comment 3:

While there has been a lot of speculation about this unique postseason, Spoelstra says he will use these scrimmage and regular season games to figure out his lineup. He once again says, “Our depth is going to be a factor,” which has been one of the many advantages for the Miami Heat heading into the playoffs. Even Udonis Haslem says he’s ready to go out their and play if Coach Spoelstra looks his way. Spoelstra also mentions that they will not prepare any differently for this postseason than they would for a traditional playoffs. He says “We will prepare the way a typical Miami Heat team would.”

Post-Practice Comment 4:

Goran Dragic says he felt good today during the first team practice in about four months. But he says it’ll be interesting to see how he feels once they do full contact drills starting tomorrow. It was also told that Meyers Leonard was a “full go” and “he’s moving great.” The team’s health is looking pretty promising according to the coaches and players, which will end up being a major factor once teams work their way back in to 100%.

Post-Practice Comment 5:

And of course the money quote. Udonis Haslem discusses Jamal Crawford getting signed and replacing him as oldest in the league. He replies with “I’m still the sexiest guy in the league.” Seems like Udonis Haslem is in good spirits upon the NBA’s return and is ready to prepare his guys for a postseason run.

We’re Headed for Heat-76ers, Aren’t We?

With Victor Oladipo recently announcing his decision to forego playing the rest of the 2019-2020 NBA season, it seems likely the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat will finish in the 4- and 5-seeds in the East. Currently, Miami is two games ahead of both Indiana and Philadelphia.

Yes, Miami does have a chance to catch the Boston Celtics at the 3-seed. But Miami faces a difficult schedule in Orlando. They’re already 2.5 games back and play Boston on a second night of a  back-to-back. And again, considering their strength of schedule, it’s a must-win if they have any  hope of grabbing the 3-seed.

The 76ers face an easier schedule. Unless all the 76er players forgot how to play basketball during the break (doubtful), they should easily move past the Pacers in the standings.

They only face one team in the top-4 of the standings from both conferences: the Toronto Raptors. It’s hard to predict if Philly can bump the Heat to the 5-seed, considering all the uncertainty of the resumed basketball season.

Either way, the Heat and 76ers will be the 4/5 matchup.

 

Heat-76ers Matchup

Both teams are confronted with lineup and rotation questions. Brett Brown experimented playing Al Horford off the bench, however it was only for three games because point guard Ben Simmons got injured. The sample size is too small to make definitive conclusions, but the spacing on the floor is clearly worse when Joel Embiid and Horford are on the court together.

It’s important the Heat use their seeding games to get lineups and sets aligned, regain team chemistry, and continue to build on the brotherhood.

The Miami Heat have yet to play at full strength after acquiring Jae Crowder, Andre Iguodola and Solomon Hill. With Meyers Leonard, Tyler Herro, and Kelly Olynyk expected to come back fully healthy, Spoelstra is going to be challenged with lineup decisions and rotation options.

After it was announced the Miami Heat were closing its facilities after three players tested positive for the Coronavirus. It is even more important now to use these eight games to adapt to each other’s play style and establish roles.

The Heat are 3-1 against the 76ers this year and hold the tiebreaker against them. After their first matchup getting blown out in Philly, Miami has controlled the matchup. They’ve beat them three straight times including an overtime thriller in Miami.

The Heat use their infamous 2-3 zone against Philly during portions of the game. They pack the paint and force an erratic shooting team to make outside shots. Philadelphia uses their size to exploit Miami’s defense and to get easy points with Simmons leading fast breaks.

What a Show it Would Be

Fans from both cities want and need a Jimmy Butler vs 76ers first round matchup. After Philly refused to sign Butler to a max contract, Butler made it clear he wanted out. He landed in Miami where 76er fans claimed the Heat wouldn’t even make the playoffs.

We should expect a high intensity, competitive matchup between two teams and fan bases that sometimes hate and disrespect each other. Philly has high standards to meet after many expected them to be favorites out of the East before the season started. Miami has exceeded expectations this season and looks to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Ultimately, this matchup won’t be anything less than a brawl.

One View of Where Miami Heat Players Rank

Bleacher Report has been ranking the top 15 players at each position throughout this week. And it’s pretty promising for Heat fans. The Miami Heat players placed three times on these top 15 lists.

Having two starters be placed as small forwards might not make much sense, but this is their list not ours.

Either way, here’s where the Heat players were placed…

#14 Small Forward: Duncan Robinson

Duncan Robinson has been one of the most surprising players in the NBA this season. Coming into the season, nobody even thought he’d be getting playing time, let alone start. As mentioned by Bleacher Report, Stephen Curry and Steve Novak are the only players in league history to match his volume and efficiency from three.

His importance to this team as a Heat player by his outstanding shooting ability is what catapulted him to 14 on this list. As seen throughout the season, even if he’s not helping the offense with his shooting, he helps by opening up the floor for others once he begins to get double teamed out on the perimeter. It should also make Heat fans happy that he was ranked one spot higher than a familiar opponent, TJ Warren.

#3 Small Forward: Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler has been one of the most consistent stars on these lists throughout the last few years. He ranked three on this list, only behind LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. This makes Jimmy the number one small forward in the East this season. It’s great that they acknowledge how great he’s been this season without just viewing stats.

Though he’s had a pretty great stat line this season other than his shooting, his defense and leadership is what puts him in this elite category. The playoffs is what will truly separates him from others since the player ranked one spot behind him, Khris Middleton, seems to shrink in playoff games. And Jimmy being 12 spots higher than TJ Warren truly proves “he’s not in his league.”

#5 Center Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo edging his way into the top 5 centers in only his third season is truly remarkable, especially because he doesn’t really start at center when Meyers Leonard is healthy. The players who ranked above him were Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert. When they did this same exact list at the start of the season, these were the top four centers.

But Bam wasn’t ranked in the top 5. He wasn’t even ranked in the top 15. The jump he made in a matter of months is something you don’t see very often. What makes Bam so intriguing is that he has the ability of being an offensive guy like Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic. And he also has the defensive capabilities of Rudy Gobert. His ceiling is a mixture of the four players listed above him. This has the team, fans, and the league all excited about his future.