Miami plucks another recruit out of Alabama as Worsham picks the Canes

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Wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield worked his magic on the recruiting trail and it paid off again as Miami received the verbal commitment of four-star receiver Dazalin Worsham. Worsham attends Hewitt-Trussville High in Alabama and is actually a former Alabama commitment. He posted a video on Twitter on Friday afternoon announcing his intentions.

“Really just like the whole vibe,” Worsham told 247Sports. “The coaches are energetic…I really like the offense and rtes routes and how it can prepare you for an NFL offense.”

This is also marks the second straight year in which the Canes have pulled a high-level recruit out of Crimson Tide territory as they were also able to add safety Christian Williams in 2018.

Stubblefield’s recruitment of Worsham began in the beginning of the summer when he de-committed from the Crimson Tide. Miami was able to get him down to campus for an official visit during Paradise Camp in June and while many thought a commitment to the Hurricanes was imminent, Worsham took his time and even flirted with the Crimson Tide for a bit, before deciding that Coral Gables was the place for him on Friday. 

Worsham had an incredible junior season with 87 catches for 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns when he had the luxury of having Paul Tyson as his QB, who is currently a freshman at Alabama. 

This season, Hewitt-Trussville is rotating QBs and as a result, his numbers are slightly down at 54 catches for 427 yards through 10 games but it is worth noting that he will graduate as the school’s all-time leader in catches.

The Under Armour All-American becomes the 3rd receiver acommitted to Miami in the Class of 2020, joining IMG Academy’s Michael Redding (whom Stubblefield as also played a big role in recruiting) and Deerfield Beach’s Xavier Restrepo and it moves the Canes up one spot as they have currently hold the 16th best recruiting class in the country. 

It is highly possible that coach Manny Diaz may opt to add one more receiver, as it is unclear whether they will continue to recruit ex-commit Marcus Fleming out of Miami Northwestern. One name to keep an eye out for is Douglas Emilien, who is a late bloomer out of American Heritage in Plantation and will take an official visit to Coral Gables on the weekend before the Early Signing Period. 

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler comes up big in homecoming contest

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Jimmy Butler went back to the place where he began his NBA career on Friday night. Much like he did for the Chicago Bulls all those years, he delivered for the Miami Heat in a big way. His efficiency and scoring prowess were on display in Miami’s 116-108 win.

Efficiency was the name of the game for Butler

Butler was efficient with his shots on Friday. In 34 minutes of play, he went seven-of-10 from the field. He also made one of  two three-pointers. Most impressively, he managed to get to the free-throw line. Hitting 12-of-13 tries from the stripe, that equaled out to a 92.3 free-throw percentage.

Butler’s 27 points in a game was the most he recorded since November 7 against the Phoenix Suns when he scored 34.

He didn’t just score points on Friday. He also managed to do the little things well. Recording four steals,  five rebounds and seven assists, he was active in all phases. It is something that is becoming a common sight game in and game out for the former Marquette star.

A very welcome homecoming in big Miami Heat win

Friday, Jimmy Butler went back to where it all began.  drafted with the 30th overall pick in 2011, Butler carved out a nice career in Chicago. While in the Windy City, he was a four-time All-Star, was named to the All-NBA Third Team twice, and picked up other accolades along the way.

Perhaps the most impressive one was his Most Improved Player Award in 2015. The 2014-15 season was extremely successful one for Butler. He recorded 20 points and 38.7 minutes per game. He also started in all 65 games he played in.

Butler also managed to accomplish quite a bit in the playoffs. Particularly in 2015, his impact was felt for Chicago. He played in all 12 playoff games, averaging 22.9 points per game. He also showed his prowess defensively, averaging 2.4 steals per game. There is no doubt that he was a vital part of Chicago’s playoff appearances. now, Hopefully he will be able to bring the same playoff effort to the Miami Heat.

On Friday, Butler showed the same competitiveness he brought in Chicago. There is no doubt his impact has been felt, and despite all of his ups-and-downs throughout his career, he looks truly at home in Miami.

Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov providing consistency to young group

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Aleksander Barkov is having a heck of a season for the Florida Panthers to this point. Not only that, he is proving he can be a player of consistency. Last year, he recorded 35 goals and 61 assists. Totaling 96 points, that marked his second season in a row with at least 70 points. This year, he is on pace for another 70-point season.

With seven goals and 22 assists, he currently has 29 points on the year. There is a lot more beyond the individual numbers. Barkov is getting his points in bunches. Only Jonathan Huberdeau (30) has more points on the year

A scoring machine for the Florida Panthers

Barkov has recorded seven points in his last five games, beginning in Boston on November 12. Scoring two goals in that contest, he was an instrumental figure in the Panthers’ comeback win. Thursday night against Anaheim, he had another great game, recording two assists for two points. As a result, Barkov helped the Panthers secure another comeback win.

In 13 games in the month of October, he did not record a point four times. So far this month, he has been held scoreless only once.  In addition to his even-strength work, Barkov has been very effective on the power play. He has four goals on the year, and nine points in total. The four goals are good enough for third on the ream in that category.

It doesn’t matter what situation you put him in, he is going to be successful. On a young, resilient team like the Florida Panthers, his veteran experience is necessary. So far, he has accolades to prove it. He was named an All-Star in the 2018 season and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as a result of his excellent sportsmanship.

Goals are just a part of the equation

Watching him play is fascinating. He moves well with and without the puck, and his  snap shot is deadly. Particularly when screened, goaltenders have an even more difficult time picking it up. He has precision with his shot and is able to “wow” with his stick handling-skills. It seems routine to Florida Panthers fans, but it’s truly fascinating to watch him do it in real-time.

Hopefully, he can keep up his high level of play. The Florida Panthers have been clawing their way to wins. Led by Barkov and others, they have been a treat to watch, and have put the rest of the National Hockey League on notice.

Miami Marlins designate Wei-Yin Chen for assignment in 40-man roster crunch

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The Miami Marlins have finalized their 40-man roster by Wednesday’s deadline to set their 40-man roster in advance of the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. in order to protect prized prospects from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft a week from today at the conclusion of the Baseball Winter Meetings.

Pricy pitcher Wei-Yin Chen was the odd man out and was designated for assignment. This means the Marlins now have seven days to try to trade him or release him.

Trading Chen will be difficult, as he comes with a salary of $22M in 2020. He finished the 2019 season with a 6.59 ERA in 45 appearances as a reliever.

“This decision was not about money,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said on a conference call. “It was about building the best and deepest 40-man roster, to allow us to compete in 2020 and beyond.”

It may feel like a hard thing to do but it was also the right thing to do. Chen finished the season with a -1.1 WAR. That means any of the minor league prospects that were added to their 40-man roster would have a much more positive impact on their record than Chen.

Having signed a five-year, $80 million contract in 2016, Chen was supposed to be the missing piece to the Marlins’ starting rotation behind Jose Fernandez. Unfortunately, it never materialized. His best year was 2017 when he recorded a 3.82 ERA but that year was curtailed by injury. In 2018, he had a 4.79 ERA but somehow posted a 1.62 ERA in 13 home starts.

The Marlins opted to move Chen to the bullpen in order to load their rotation with young studs such as Pablo Lopez, Sandy Alcantara, Caleb Smith and Trevor Richards to go with Jose Urena at the start of last year. This experiment fell flat from the start and Chen was reduced to being the human white flag. It was better to move on rather than spend another season hiding him in the bullpen only to send him out when the game is already a lost cause.

Chen may end up with another team in spring training and try to capture a starting pitching role. It would most likely be for the league minimum and the Marlins will still be on the hook for vast majority of his 2020 salary.

Not the only expensive dump

Designating and potentially releasing Chen wasn’t the most expensive player to get left off a roster this week. The New York Yankees released Jacoby Ellsbury with $21 million remaining on the seven-year, $153 million contract he signed prior to the 2014 season. The Yankees are also on the hook for a $5 million buyout for the 2021 season. Ellsbury hasn’t played a game in the last two season due to injury.

Who made the Marlins 40-man roster

The Marlins filled their roster openings with pitching prospects Sixto Sanchez, Edward Cabrera, Nick Neidert and Humberto Mejia, along with shortstop Jazz Chisholm and first baseman Lewin Diaz. Those prospects, which the exception of Cabrera and Mejia, were acquired in trades. Sanchez, the No. 1 ranked Marlins prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was acquired in the JT Realmuto trade with Philadelphia. The Marlins got Neidert from Seattle for Dee Gordon, Chisholm from Arizona for Zac Gallen, and Diaz from Minnesota for a Single-A prospect and Sergio Romo.

The Marlins left out Will Stewart, Tommy Eveld, Bryson Brigman, Dylan Lee and Christopher Torres, which leaves them open for selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Eveld and Brigman were acquired in 2018 trade deadline period for veterans Cam Maybin and Brad Ziegler. Torres was a part of the same trade package as Neidert to the Seattle Mariners for Dee Gordan prior to 2018. Stewart was part of the Realmuto Trade and while his stats in Single-A weren’t so hot, he did show flashes of a potential big leaguer.

“It is a challenge, and it’s a good challenge to have,” Hill said. “As we’ve built the layers of talent throughout the system, we still believe he is a very good Major League prospect.”

If a player is taken in the Rule 5 Draft, he would have to make the opening day roster or be sent back to his original franchise.

Miami Heat: Duncan Robinson shoots his way to memorable night

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The Miami Heat got a big boost on Wednesday night.

The Miami Heat have themselves a spark plug. He goes by the name of Duncan Robinson, and his ability to convert from behind the arc was on full display Wednesday night. In a season where unheralded names have stepped up and propelled the Heat to success, Robinson put on a show for an excited AmericanAirlines Arena crowd.

Robinson scored 29 in total, and he had himself quite a night. Then again, it was just another impressive contest in what has been a great season for him. At first glance, his statistics are not eye-popping. In 12 contests the season, he has averaged 9.7 points per contest.

However, he has had three games of at least 20 points. His 21-point outburst against Minnesota on October 27 was his first one. His 23-point outburst against the Houston Rockets was his second one. Wednesday evening, he dominated the Cavaliers for 29 points. Unlike the old adage that goes “bad things come in threes”, this is quite the opposite.

Sure, 29 points is impressive. However, when you break records, it means that much more.

Robinson enters Miami Heat record book

Robinson recorded eight three-pointers in the first half. Prior to Wednesday night, the record for three pointers in a half was six. Wayne Ellington achieved that mark in the second half of a 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors.  Safe to say, it had been a while since that record was broken.

A personal record was also shattered as Robinson’s career-high for points was 23. He recorded that mark under the roof of the Crisler Center at Michigan. It was only fitting that his college coach was there to watch him achieve the feet Wednesday night. However, his coach was not watching from the stands.

John Beilein is in a different role as head coach, having traded in his Michigan Maize and Blue for Cleveland Wine and Gold. It’s funny how things come full circle.

If anything, Robinson’s performance on Wednesday night was a reflection of what the modern NBA has become: Three-pointers are putting a strangehold on the NBA That’s not a knock on what Robinson did Wednesday night either. If anything, it shows that Robinson has the skills to be an impactful player in this league.

With Robinson playing all 41 games for Michigan in the 2017-18 season, there is no doubt he is a fierce competitor.  Having been a part of several successful Michigan teams, Robinson has always been prepared to succeed.

He showed it on Wednesday. He is becoming a key contributor for a team who has received enormous contributions from unexpected sources.  In a season where many have doubted the Miami Heat, he is proof that success comes in many forms.

Inter Miami Adds MLS Talent Through Expansion Draft

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Five selections were made on Tuesday night in the MLS Expansion Draft for Inter Miami, thus bringing more new names to the club’s first ever roster. The draft provided both expansion teams, Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC, the opportunity to add players from other MLS clubs onto their roster. Inter Miami had the first pick.

A breakdown of Inter Miami’s Picks

Ben Sweat went off the board at number one and was just an overall logical pick. Left back in MLS is one of the thinnest positions league- wide. Being able to bring on someone like Sweat is extremely valuable. Although losing his starting role last year for NYCFC, Sweat has proven throughout the years he’s a reliable piece on the backline. He also fills in a position Inter Miami have not yet been able to fill. Sweat is also a Florida native, and having gone to USF and playing in Florida conditions growing up, the climate down in Fort Lauderdale come Spring should serve no issue. The 28 year old has also made two international appearances with the US Men’s National Team, debuting in October of 2018. His experience in MLS with both NYCFC and Columbus Crew will provide Sweat a leadership role on and off the pitch.

After Nashville SC went on to take Abu Danladi with their first pick, Paul McDonough announced that Inter would take a right back with their second pick. Filling out the back line seemed to be the priority for Inter Miami coming into the Expansion Draft as Alvas Powell is set to be making his way down to South Beach. The Jamaican International will most likely start at right back playing across from Sweat, and his youth and experience is something Inter Miami hope to rely on.

Powell debuted for the Jamaican national team in 2012 at 18 years old. Since then he’s gone on to be capped 43 times. It’s a remarkable record at a youthful age. Powell is a player to look forward to for Inter fans as he’s even scored six goals in his MLS career dating back to 2013. From Portland to then the expansion team FC Cincinnati, Powell has gone through the beginning of an MLS franchise before, so that experience will also be valuable.

Inter Miami brings a veteran, MLS star to the fold

A true MLS veteran was next taken by Inter Miami as Lee Nguyen, a name most MLS fans are extremely familiar with, will be joining “La Familia.” Nguyen, the once attacking midfielder saw a much deeper role last season as instructed by Bob Bradley of LAFC. Though it seems from the outside like a good move as LAFC won the Supporters Shield with the best record in MLS, Nguyen’s natural role is playing as a number 10. Throughout his 239 games played in MLS, most of the 54 goals he’s scored has come from that position.

With his experience does come some age. At 33, it was questioned whether or not Nguyen would be the player taken from LAFC in the draft or if it would be Tyler Miller. Inter Miami are confident with taking  Nguyen. He is an experienced player whose also seen time with the National Team. So look for Nguyen to be feeding in balls and sharing some interplay with the likes of Julian Carranza up top from his natural attacking mid position.

McDonough then announced that with Inter Miami’s fourth pick, they’d be taking Luis Argudo from Columbus Crew. This was much of a lesser- known pick by Inter compared to the previous three. Argudo had only entered the league from the MLS SuperDraft in 2018. At 23, Argudo is a young talent with a lot to prove. However, he’ll fit right in Miami. He’s bilingual and claims to represent both Colombian and Ecuadorian heritage along with being American. What also should be noted, Paul McDonough spent time as an assistant at Wake Forest University, which is where Luis Argudo attended college. This pick was influenced by the potential, and most likely the connection to a player from the front office, which gives insight on Argudo’s character.

Meredith will be a valuable piece to team

With Inter Miami’s final pick in the MLS Expansion Draft, they took a Seattle Sounders’ fan favorite in goalkeeper Bryan Meredith. Though he spent a lot of time as a backup in Seattle, Meredith will absolutely compete for the starting goalkeeper spot. He’s also a player any club loves to have around. He was extremely active in Seattle’s community and is also active with the MLSPA.

It’ll be great for Inter Miami to have a guy like this at least in the locker room. Time will tell if he cracks the starting lineup on March 14th against the LA Galaxy. With Tyler Miller becoming a free agent after not being taken in the Expansion Draft, arguably the best keeper in the league is up for grabs. The reports to come out of Los Angeles told that LAFC and Miller were not agreeing to terms. If Inter are willing to throw around some cash, Miller could be headed down to Miami when the free agent period opens up. That would give Meredith the ultimate test, but he surely comes as good insurance.

Inter Miami’s roster features several names

Inter Miami’s roster for the upcoming season now looks like this:

  • Drake Callender – Goalkeeper
  • Bryan Meredith – Goalkeeper
  • Ben Sweat – Defender
  • Alvas Powell – Defender
  • Christian Makoun – Defender
  • Grant Lillard – Defender
  • Lee Nguyen – Midfielder
  • Luis Argudo – Midfielder
  • Jay Chapman – Midfielder
  • David Norman Jr. – Midfielder
  • Victor Ulloa – Midfielder
  • Matias Pellegrini – Midfielder
  • George Acosta – Midfielder
  • Julian Carranza – Forward
  • Jerome Kiesewetter – Forward

 

Reshad Jones, back in 2020?

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With the placement of veterans Bobby McCain and Reshad Jones on IR, speculation as to their futures on the Miami Dolphins has begun.  As for Bobby McCain, his future here is not clear, and he is under contract till 2022 when he will be 29 years old. On Reshad Jones however, the writing has been on the wall for a while, that he does not figure in future plans, and would surely be cut before the 2020 season kicks off.

First of all, I consulted with one-third of the Three Yards Per Carry Podcast, Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot), to explain the machinations of Reshad’s 2020 contract:

“Only $2.1 of Reshad’s 2020 salary is guaranteed. If he’s working anywhere next year, I’d expect that fully offset. So cutting him will definitely save $9.5 million cash owed and probably save the full $11.6 million. The accounting number saved (i.e. ‘cap figure’) will be a little bit less than the above (probably about $8 million) but that doesn’t matter as much because the Dolphins have far more accounting space in 2020 than they could possibly use, thus what matters for the long term health of the team’s salary cap standing is the savings on new cash owed.”

Well, that clears some things up.  So where is the player in all this?  Back in September, Reshad Jones told the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson that he wanted to stay here for the “long haul”, through this rebuild:

But where do the Miami Dolphins land on this?  I can confirm that the Dolphins made repeated efforts to trade Reshad, but only under the most friendly circumstances.  A league source tells us that the most serious of the suitors was the Dallas Cowboys who required Miami to take on “too much” of his salary, which in turn, made the deal not palatable.

Head Coach Brian Flores has repeatedly stated how much respect he has for Jones, but has never offered bouquets as to his future, or standing on the team:

So what does the future hold? Having spoken to somebody close to the situation, not much else has changed, and cutting him this offseason is surely “the leader in the clubhouse.”, while trading him is always preferable. However, new thinking has come in, and there is a growing sense that Reshad Jones could be more valuable in uniform for the Miami Dolphins in 2020, than just a cleaner entry in their balance sheet.

The ultimate decision on whether Reshad Jones sticks here or not, could be Brian Flores’ and if it is, it could bode well for Jones to be here in 2020.  As for the front office, there is plenty of goodwill between them and Reshad Jones since the safety allowed a restructure of his contract in 2018 (he did however collect the same money).  Jones has consistently been accommodating to staff, and is considered “one of the good guys” among team personnel.

It could be as simple as the coaching staff seeing a bit of value in retaining Reshad Jones’ leadership, and experience to go with what is likely to be one of the youngest units on the team in 2020.  A Jones departure as of now, is seen as a loss to many in the organization. Reshad Jones has made a very good impression to many of the new faces in the organization to go with all the good will he retains.

In closing, the balance sheet could dictate the future of the Dolphins’ Safety, and most likely will, but there are many forces at play here that do not rule out a return to the Miami Dolphins lineup in 2020.  If I had to put an arbitrary number on his return, I would put it at 25%, but there are many in the organization, with influence, that do not share my pessimism of Reshad Jones prospects as a roster player on the 2020 Miami Dolphins.


Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Panthers top Flyers, move to 2nd in the Atlantic

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The Florida Panthers entered Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers with a 10-5-5 record and sitting third in the Atlantic division, two points clear of the Buffalo Sabres.

With about 2:30 minutes left in the third period, Mike Hoffman put in the game clinching empty net goal to give the Panthers a 5-2 win, improving their record to an impressive 11-5-5 and now 2nd in the Atlantic.

This marks one of the best starts in franchise history. This start is happening thanks to a high attacking offense who ranked 2nd in the NHL in goals entering play.

“We played well enough to get 2 points,” Panthers forward Brett Connolly said post game. “Guys are starting to get their roles 21 games into the season, and it’s been fun to be part of the team.”

The one downside so far for the Panthers is their big splash free agent goalie, Sergei Brobvosky, who is off to the worst start of his career. Entering play, he had a .882 save percentage, which ranked 57th in the league. He’s also allowed 54 goals so far this season, which is the most amongst goalies. Bobrovsky seems to be on the rebound after saving 35 of 37 shots faced.

The Panthers were in need of a solid 60 minute effort going into the game and after an early goal by Travis Sanheim,  the Panthers started to get the game in their control, dominating puck possession in the first and second period.

The Panthers had a comfortable 4-1 lead most of the way through the second period, until the Flyers’ highly touted prospect Morgan Frost got one past Brobvosky in his NHL debut.

The Panthers finish off the homestand Thursday, then go on the road for a couple games before coming home again for a franchise record nine-game homestand.

 

 

Miami Heat are getting the best version of Jimmy Butler

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Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat have been a perfect match.

You can tell that Jimmy Butler likes the Miami Heat and the organization. You can see by the way he interacts with the media in his press conferences, and just his overall demeanor in practice.  He is just happy to be here. Sometimes athletes’ put on a happy face when they reach their new destination. Underneath the million-dollar smile, they aren’t really happy. That’s not the case with Jimmy Butler.

It’s showing in his statistics as well. On the year, he is averaging 18.4 points per game 7.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. The 7.2 assists are the most he has had in his career to this point. The 18.4 points per game are the most has had in a season since 2018-19, during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has always had the ability to put up numbers and he has always been a solid player whereever he has gone. However, in Miami the ballgame has completely changed for Butler. Unlike in the past, it has changed for the better

For someone who likes winning, going to a team with rookies and unproven players could be a frustrating endeavor. Instead of being frustrated, Butler is leading. The way he carries himself is a complete turnaround from some of his other NBA stops. He rubbed people the wrong way in Chicago, Minnesota, and Philadelphia. Part of it was due to his fierce, competitive nature. On a team that is still looking for a source of direction, Butler is proving to be the leader and he is embracing it.

In talking to the media on Tuesday, Butler acknowledged that he is happy in South Beach. The biggest reason? He’s allowed to be himself.

Butler as himself has been great for Miami Heat

Butler being himself has paid off for Miami so far. He has recorded three games of at least 10 assists, and three games of at least 20 points. He has also logged a fair amount of minutes. In seven games this season, he has logged at least 30 minutes.

Butler is working to his strengths while getting others involved. That’s huge as the team looks to build around guys like Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn. It has undoubtedly helped everybody get touches on the court and we have seen players such as Bam Adebayo really thrive in this offense. Furthermore, he has taken on a leadership role. With the Miami Heat sporting a 9-3 record, it’s safe to say that Butler”s efforts have paid off.

Between moving the basketball, scoring, and getting others involved, Jimmy Butler is thriving. As the Miami Heat look to make headway in a crowded Eastern Conference, they will need  him to keep up this level of play. They need him to continue being the best version of himself.

 

Jerome Kiesewetter Set to Join Inter Miami

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In the week before the MLS Expansion Draft, Inter Miami CF have made multiple moves to bolster up their team going into the club’s first year. They’ve now added their 9th player to the official inaugural roster, Jerome Kiesewetter.

Kiesewetter is no stranger to American soccer or joining clubs in their first year as he spent last season with El Paso Locomotive FC in the USL Championship. El Paso’s inaugural year was quite the success. After making it to the Western Conference Semi-Final, their entire season was led by the 12 goals Kiesewetter scored in 28 games. As the top goalscorer, Kiesewetter went through the year looking like a reliable striker when he was healthy. He did battle injury along the way, but he showed consistent form when he returned to the pitch.

At 26 years of age, Kiesewetter’s experience is well surprising. Before playing with Locomotive last year, he was with Fortuna Düsseldorf of the Bundesliga for two years. And years before that he climbed through the ranks of German soccer starting in youth academies and eventually making his way to the first division.

His 17 caps with the US Men’s U-23 side and 2 caps with the National Team, are another great feat in Kiesewetter’s young career. He’s scored a total of 8 goals playing with various US Men’s sides. This, along with top tier soccer in Germany, seem to prove as worthy experience as Beckham looks to bring in goal scoring threats to his first Inter Miami side.

Inter Miami also went on to acquire Grant Lillard, an experienced MLS defender before the Expansion Draft that takes place this Tuesday. With nine players set to already join, and a potential five more to be added Tuesday, the roster has finally taken shape.

Fans now wait for the much anticipated coach and “star” to be announced.