Miami Heat fans need a Herro… and a Xanax

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Prefacing this by saying we love you all.

(We need you, anyway.)

But Miami Heat fans can be a little neurotic at times.

Maybe it was the insanity of the Big 3 years, which raised expectations to an unreasonable level. But lately, it seems like Heat fans are always on edge, and always extreme.

The latest example is the Tyler Herro situation.

When Pat Riley and the Heat made the Herro pick a couple of weeks ago, the majority of Heat fans freaked out. The entire crew of Miami Heat Beat threatened to quit. The poll I posted on @5ReasonsSports ran 70-30 or more against the selection. You all were comparing Herro to Jimmer Fredette and creating new “washed” memes for Riley.

You weren’t very nice.

And now, after a few impressive summer league games — and yes, they’ve been impressive — now I’m being bombarded with questions about why the Heat haven’t signed Herro yet.

Enough that I felt compelled, from out here in Las Vegas, to address it.

Of course, this is why most of you are doing it.

If Herro remains unsigned, he can be traded without waiting out the 30-day window.

Now, I understand the differing opinions about Westbrook. For me, everything should be on the table for Westbrook other than Bam Adebayo, who was out here watching from the Heat bench yesterday — and then wasn’t allowed back in the building right away by security because he wasn’t wearing a name badge (I’m serious; he’s 7-feet tall; and he was polite, of course). I like Justise Winslow a lot, and I’m intrigued by Herro, but Adebayo is the unique piece on the Heat roster, a big who fits the modern game perfectly and is also a perfect Heat culture fit.

But even if you’re against the Westbrook deal under most circumstances (and I get the reasons for that too), let’s have some perspective. I watched Herro struggle to shoot early against a Chinese team that wouldn’t get much run at the local JCC. I’m enamored by his shooting form (high and quick), and I’ve been impressed by his aggressiveness, especially in transition. He appears to be more than a shooter.

Heat officials have told me that Herro is further along than they expected. They’re telling me, not the league, so I don’t think they’re just trying to pump his value. They like him.

But come on.

This is summer league we’re talking about.

And this is an All-Star we’re talking about, in Westbrook.

Let’s let it play out.

And stop freaking out.

 

Most Pleasant Surprise of Marlins’ First Half? Jordan Yamamoto.

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Through all the disappointments and hard times of the Marlins’ first half there were a few bright spots to be excited about. I’m only going to be talking about one exciting bright spot in Jordan Yamamoto.

Acquired in the Christian Yelich trade, Yamamoto was thought of as the least regarded prospect in the trade. Yet, he has outperformed his fellow trade pieces, who have performed very well at the minor league level. He has made his way onto the big league scene before Monte Harrison and Isan Diaz have. *Lewis Brinson is progressing very well.*

Both Harrison and Diaz have had great seasons thus far for Triple-A New Orleans but an immediate need in the rotation due to injury opened the door for Yamamoto to make the big league club out of Double-A Jacksonville.

In five starts for the Marlins, Yamamoto holds a 3-0 record with a 1.24 ERA, yes a 1.24 ERA… I don’t think that’s too bad for a “throw in” piece. In 29 innings pitched, he has allowed 11 hits and he hasn’t allowed more than THREE hits in any of his outings. That makes him only the THIRD pitcher since 1900 to have five straight starts without allowing more than three hits. He also hasn’t allowed a home run this season. (via @DuseReport)

His slider has been his best pitch and it’s un-hittable, literally. Batters are 0-31 with 19 strikeouts against his slider, yes 19 strikeouts. Hitters are having trouble hitting his other pitches also. Batters are only hitting for a .117 average and only have 11 hits against him.

An impressive stat for Jordan Yamamoto is that he holds the longest streak of allowing no more than three earned runs and three hits or less while pitching four innings or more to start a career with five straight starts that meet that criteria. (via @MaxSportsStudio)

He shut down a very hot Atlanta Brave’s lineup in probably his best outing of the season in my opinion, based on who he faced. Video below of his dominance against Atlanta. (via @Marlins)

I think he could be a possible NL Rookie of the Year candidate this year, he would have to beat Mets’ Pete Alonso to win it but he could definitely be a candidate if he keeps pitching the way he has been. 

2018 Marlins draft pick finally debuts

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In Derek Jeter’s first draft as the CEO of the Miami Marlins, the team selected catcher Cameron Barstad out of Serra High School in San Mateo, CA, in the sixth round, despite having an injured wrist.

13 months later, he makes his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

“Man today felt like all my hard work was finally coming together and when I caught the first pitch it was like old times,” Barstad said. “It was go time.”

He said surprisingly that he didn’t experience any jitters going into his first professional game.

“Felt like normal and felt like I did before my injury,” Barstad said. “I mean it was a long comeback, took a lot of hard work to get back.”

April 17, 2018 was when he originally injured his wrist and ended his playing days in high school, two months before the draft. There’s a good chance that he would’ve drafted higher had he’d been healthy going in.

“Yeah I could have gone higher had not been injured,” Barstad said, “but everything happens for a reason and I’m happy the way everything’s worked out.”

After signing, Barstad reported to Jupiter and was rehabbing until October with hopes that surgery wouldn’t be required. He took some time off and and returned for the Instructional League, which is basically extended spring training after the minor league season. The highlight came when he met Jeter during a “be a big leaguer” workout at Marlins Park.

“It felt like talking to just another guy,” Barstad said, “then after I thought to myself, ‘oh wow ok I just met Derek Jeter!'”

Barstad’s wrist never truly healed and he went with surgery on the last day of February of this year and returned to Jupiter for further rehab on March 17. From wrist surgery to Tommy John, rehab is a long grueling road where sometimes it can feel like the end is near but also see light at the end of the tunnel at the same time.

“I think the hardest part was the mental aspect of it and being able to trust that the doctors know what there doing and being able to push through the days when I was sore and just trust that it will subside eventually,” Barstad said. “The worst day felt really soar and I had thoughts somtimes that I wouldn’t be able to swing a bat again pain free. And the best days it reminded me that you know the pain and soarness will subside I just need to trust it and take it Day by day”

Barstad is still working towards his first professional hit and will have until the end of August to get it.

 

The Miami Heat’s Offseason is Not Over Yet!

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Kawhi Leonard leaving the NBA Champion Raptors for the Western Conference opens the door for the Miami Heat to ‘Win-Now’
Jimmy Butler’s introductory press conference with the Miami Heat is yet to happen but that’s not stopping Miami fans from confidently putting together all/any scenarios possible to enhance the current roster. The enthusiasm of course was created this Saturday morning thanks to Paul George forcing his way out of OKC and the domino effect of Russell Westbrook potentially being available via trade. The possibility of Westbrook to Miami has even been discussed on TV by Adrian Wojnarowski!
Russell Westbrook in a Miami Heat Uniform, no way, at what cost?! 
Many will agree that Miami fans are loyal and caring of their remaining young assets; Bam Adebayo, Justise Winslow and newly drafted Tyler Herro. There was a noticeable touch of sentimental loss in the Heat community when Josh Richardson’s name was included in the trade for Jimmy Butler. The common sports fan of course would take Butler over Richardson any day, but watching J-Rich’s growth from a ‘Rook 2’ to a promising young 2-way player, to trade asset, will be remembered as an ultimate sacrifice.
Should Miami fans let their fascination of these young players get in-between the fact that adding former MVP Russell Westbrook would create a WHOLE NEW threat in the Eastern Conference with realistic sights of playing beyond the first round of the playoffs?
Of course there’s the Heat fan that is opposed to Miami trading for 30-year old ‘hot head’ Russell Westbrook and his enormous contract of $38.5mil in 19-20, $41.4mil in 20-21,$44.2mil in 21-22 and $47.1mil in 22-33. These realists understand the ramifications of jeopardizing the team’s future for a not-so young and at times ‘disgruntled’ player — but hasn’t the NBA opened the door for Miami to ‘Win Now’?
Regardless if Miami lands Russell Westbrook (or Bradley Beal) this summer, the Heat fan’s overall intrigue is reminiscent of the ‘LeBron era’ when they were the ‘it team’ and knew players wanted to come to their team to win.
It certainly helps when Miami’s name is being thrown around in talks with big name free agents:

 

 

Miami has recruiters too!

Heat fans also have the pleasure of the recent ‘recruiting efforts’ via Twitter from former NFL Star & Miami Native Chad ‘Ocho-Cinco’ Johnson & former Miami Heat Guard Quentin Richardson.  Ocho-Cinco likely does not have any impact on who Miami lands, but his Twitter attempts to recruit the likes of Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal, DeMarcus Cousins & now Russell Westbrook have been nothing short of heroic!

Miami Fans Are Ready!
Miami sports fans have had it hard recently with respects to their professional teams struggling to make the playoffs; however, noticeable strides are being made from the Miami Dolphins, Miami Marlins, Florida Panthers and evidently the Miami Heat.
The Miami Heat are seemingly once again becoming that ‘dynamic destination’ for players and they have the backing from highly respected Team President Pat Riley, 2x NBA Champion Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and Salary Cap Wizard Andy Elisburg to produce instant credibility.
As we patiently wait for Jimmy Butler’s soon-to-be EPIC introduction as a member of the Miami Heat, we’ll keep refreshing our Twitter feeds knowing that Riley may not be done.

Hey, why not be excited, Miami may just be a ‘recruit tweet’ away from re-gaining Eastern Conference relevance!
-Ryan Lasner
@LasnerSport

Craziest night in NBA history? Tweet recap from Vegas

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While some of you were sleeping….

The NBA never does.

Especially when most of it is in Las Vegas.

I am too, with my phone, so I went on a bit of a tweetstorm after the news came that everyone was waiting for but no one expected (especially a bunch of “insiders” who should be outside the industry at this point).

First, after the Miami Heat essentially won the trade war by dominating China (there goes our Tyler Herro, with 23 points in 23 minutes), and Zion Williamson made his summer league debut (which included a casual 360 degree windmill in warmups and later a minor knee injury) and we had an earthquake here (felt it in my room after I had returned at halftime of the Pelicans game), we had a different kind of Kawhi-nd of disturbance.

Leonard is a Clipper. And so is Paul George. And Jerry West sent the next 3,000 Clippers picks to the Thunder. And the Lakers just gave away the rest of their cap space to continue the KCP era. And the Heat are more likely to act now, I think. And a bunch of other crazy stuff.

I’m too tired to recap the rest, so here are some tweets.

Make of them what you will.

 

 

Dolphins DT Kendrick Norton has arm amputated after catastrophic car crash

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Tragedy has struck as former University of Miami standout and current Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kendrick Norton’s career is likely over before it had a chance to begin. An overnight Thursday car accident found Norton hospitalized with what was described as a “catastrophic arm injury.” The injury was so severe that doctors amputated his left arm on the scene of the accident in order to remove him from the car.

As of now, according to NFL sources, the 22-year old Norton is still at Ryder’s Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital and is in critical condition. Fortunately, though Norton’s career in the NFL is almost certainly over, his life is not expected to be in danger.

His agent confirmed the news over Twitter at 11:07 A.M.

Per the Miami Herald, a close friend of Norton’s family stated that the car was cut off and ended up flipping in a multiple car crash near the intersection of the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836) and the Palmetto Expressway (State Road 826).

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alex Camacho states that at approximately 1:18 A.M., Norton was driving a black 2017 Ford F250 when it rolled over onto its roof after colliding with a concrete barrier for unknown (or unconfirmed) reasons. The other car involved in the crash was a grey 2015 Maserati, which received only minor damage. Its driver, Jessie Pena, was not injured. There was, however, a second passenger in Norton’s truck, who was also injured in the crash and taken to the trauma center. Only Norton’s injuries were deemed critical, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue brought a surgeon onto the scene.

The Dolphins released a statement stating they are aware of the tragic incident.

Norton is a former 2018 seventh-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers, and Miami picked him up off of the Panthers practice squad on December 19 of last year. The 6-foot-3, 314 pound defensive lineman was set to compete for a spot on the Dolphins 53-man roster during the upcoming training camp after being inactive for the remainder of the 2018 season. But now, all that can be hoped for is that Norton will soon be released from the hospital, prepared to cope with the new trials ahead of him.

As a part of the Miami Hurricanes, Norton received honorable mention All-ACC honors at the conclusion of the 2017 season. During his three-year career with the Hurricanes, he played in 37 games, starting 25 out of the 26 games he played as a sophomore and junior. He compiled a grand total of 45 tackles, 18 of them for a loss, and five sacks.

More details will be added as they’re revealed.

Brasil se sacó la espinita en el Mineirao

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Brasil tenía una deuda con su afición desde que fue eliminada cayendo estrepitosamente ante Alemania 1-7 en el Mineirao de Belo Horizonte.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhcCiJvXRZY

Aquella derrota dejó una marca en el corazón de los brasileños, en una goleada histórica que será recordada siempre pues fue un baño de calidad de los alemanes en un marco que quizás mas nunca se repita.

En la Copa América Chile 2015 Brasil fue víctima de Paraguay en los penales, tal y como había sucedido en 2011 en Argentina.

En la Copa América Centenario, la canarinha fue víctima de una injusticia arbitral y quedó fuera en la fase de grupos con un gol de mano de Perú.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q3C2JjVyOY

En el mundial Rusia 2018 Brasil cayó en cuartos de final ante una muy buena selección belga y se esfumó así la posibilidad de quitarse esa espinita que seguía clavada en el corazón de todo un país.

Los ojos inmediatamente se pusieron en la Copa América Brasil 2019.

Brasil espanta los fantasmas del Mineirao

La victoria 2-0 ante Argentina en las semifinales de la Copa América no son un título, pero tiene un significado muy importante para Brasil.

El gigante de América volvía a disputar una semifinal de un torneo importante en este estadio, y ante su máximo rival, no podía fallar.

Una nueva eliminación de Brasil en este estadio probablemente significaría que ese era el último juego del scratch en esas instalaciones.

Sin embargo, liderados por las genialidades e intensidad de Dani Alves y la gran dupla Firmino-Gabriel Jesús, y un poco por la falta de uso del VAR y la suerte del campeón, Brasil se empezó a sacar de encima el peso de la eliminación mas humillante de una selección local en la historia de los mundiales de fúbol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knTBx1e-VuA

 

Un poco de ayuda del VAR

El VAR ha sido uno de los protagonistas de la Copa América Brasil 2019.

En la fase de grupos y cuartos de final se pitaron varios penales bastante rigurosos, incluyendo uno a la propia Argentina de Messi, y se anularon bastantes goles gracias al uso del VAR.

En el partido mas importante, por sus protagonistas, pasó por debajo de la mesa cuando mas se esperaba su presencia. Dos jugadas que podían haber terminado en penales para Argentina y la anulación de uno de los goles de Brasil ni siquiera fueron revisadas por el árbitro principal.

¿Hubo ayuda del árbitro a la canarinha?

 

Escuche el primer episodio de 90′ + Cinco, con Maria Hernández y Octavio Sequera, nuevos integrantes del equipo de Cinco Razones Podcast, en el que se refieren a lo que vive Messi cuando juega con la selección argentina.

 

Foto de Lucas Figueredo / Confederación Brasileña de Fútbol

 

 

Dwyane says hello, J-Rich says goodbye

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It’s not official official until July 6th, when the NBA’s free agency moratorium ends, but everyone knows Jimmy Butler is coming to the Miami Heat — including the guy most responsible for recruiting him here.

So Dwyane Wade, who had warm sentiments for outgoing players Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside on social media, went back to Instagram to let Butler know publicly what he’s surely been telling him privately.

With a little mockery of course.

Meanwhile, Richardson was at the Miami Pro-Am, watching his now-former teammate (but still close friend) Bam Adebayo and others.

Richardson received an ovation.

This came after Rook 2 thanked the Miami fans in a way they always wished that LeBron James had.

That was a little different from Whiteside’s departing thoughts — which the wife of new Heat center Meyers Leonard had some fun with.

Welcome to Miami, Elle.

 

 

Florida Panthers

Bobrovsky Signing Continues Great Offseason for Florida Panthers

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Lost in the wake of NBA free agency, the Florida Panthers have had a tremendous offseason thus far.

The Panthers displayed Heat-like savvy this week signing elite goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

That has been overshadowed of course by the events over the last 24 hours consuming this market.

Perhaps rightfully so.

NHL officials however should look at the timing of their free agency period, which aligns almost exactly with the NBA.

In signing Bobrovsky to a 7-year, 70-million dollar contract, the Cats mean business.

Only Carey Price makes more average salary in terms of goaltenders.

After bringing in veteran head coach Joel Quenneville, Dale Tallon has reloaded the Panthers from the goal line up.

 

The retirement of Roberto Luongo left an immediate need in net for the Cats.

Bobrovsky brings an elite goalie in right away to fill the void, and expectations will be high in Sunrise this year.

A two time Vezina Trophy winner, Bobrovsky will stabilize a position that was troubling last year.

Florida ranked 28th in the NHL  in both total goals allowed (273) and goal per game allowed (3.33) last year.

Bobrovsky spent the last seven seasons in Columbus and in addition to the two Vezina wins is a five-time NHL All-Star.

He has a 255-133-37 record over his nine-year career, with a 2.46 GAA and .919 SV% along with 38 shutouts.

Florida also added what many consider the best goalie to enter the NHL draft recently in Spencer Knight, watch out for a profile on him soon.

More Solid Additions

In front of Bobrovsky the Panthers solidified their blue line corps adding veteran defenseman Anton Stralman who spent the last five seasons across the state in Tampa Bay.

Stralman was a major part of the defense on the Lightning and the 12-year vet will add much needed experience and stability to the Panthers’ blue line.

Florida also added forwards Brett Connolly and Noel Acciari in a busy stretch this week.

Make sure to follow on Twitter @SportsWaveDave for the latest in Miami sports.

El Miami Heat de Butler y Adebayo

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El Miami Heat ha estado muy activo en esta agencia libre.

Pat Riley nos volvió a engañar, y volvió a hacer de las suyas para armarle un equipo a la medida de Erik Spoelstra.

Cuando se pensaba que el Heat iba a ver los toros desde la barrera, nos hemos encontrado con mucho movimiento de parte de la gerencia encabezada por Pat Riley.

Jimmy Butler había dicho desde la temporada pasada que quería venir a Miami. De hecho, en uno de los episodios de Cinco Razones Podcast Stefano Fusaro, de ESPN, nos lo había confirmado.

El Heat pudo hacer malabares y conseguir a la estrella que deseaban, y se deshicieron de la pesadilla que se había convertido Hassan Whiteside.

Ahora, nos podemos concentrar a visualizar el posible quinteto titular del Miami Heat y la rotación que va a utilizar Erik Spoelstra.

En el episodio 43 de Cinco Razones Podcast nos encargamos de analizar ese equipo que se perfila hasta los momentos para la próxima temporada, a la espera de que termine el periodo de agencia libre en la NBA.

¿En qué posición terminará el Miami Heat en la temporada regular? ¿Podrían llegar a una semifinal de conferencia al menos con este nuevo roster?

 

Escucha todos los episodios de Cinco Razones Podcast haciendo click en este link. Ricardo Montes de Oca, Leandro Soto y Alejandro Villegas acuden constantemente a los juegos del Miami Heat en el American Airlines Arena. No hay máquina de helados como en el Marlins Park, pero igual se quedan hasta el final de los juegos, a veces, cuando no se van a Bayside…