Name: Steven
Bio: I am die-hard sports fan who is a fan of the Mets, Giants, Nets, Bobcats, Rutgers Football and Duke Basketball.I am also a die-hard tennis fan who attends the U.S. Open every year in New York. My work has been featured on many prestigious sites such as the official site of the United Football League, NHL.com, USAToday.com, TNT.tv, NYDailyNews.com and MSG.com. I have had the great pleasure of interviewing former MLB catcher Rob Bowen and Angels OF Chris Pettit. You can find my articles daily on Footbasket.com and on http://bleacherreport.com/users/130913-steven-merriam.
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Mike Stanton’s Debut Overshadowed By Strasburg’s
June 9th, 2010
Two of baseballs’ most touted prospects premiered in the MLB tonight but sadly one was quite overshadowed by the other. Mike Stanton, the young Marlins outfielder who was just called up today went 3-5 with two runs was the one who was sadly overshadowed by the toast of town in Washington, Stephen Strasburg.
Stanton is ranked the third prospect in the game according to MLB.com, while Strasburg is touted as the top prospect in all of baseball by bassically every scout. What is also interesting is that yesterday the Nationals drafted another higly touted prospect in Bryce Harper.
In the next couple of years, the NL East could become an MLB powerhouse. Just think the Phillies are already a powerhouse, the Nationals have Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, the Marlins have Mike Stanton, the Mets have a young Ike Davis, who hit a walk-off home-run tonight and Jenry Mejia and the Braves who have Tommy Hanson.
Strasburg, the number one pick in the 2009 MLB draft also made his MLB debut tonight. Strasburg pitched 7.o innings giving up two earned runs and threw an astounding fourteen strikeouts, the most since 1900. Strasburg struck out every member of the Pirates roster.
It is quite disappointing that two of baseballs’ most promising prosepects had to make there MLB debut due to the fact that both could have been the event that Strasburg’s debut.
2010 NBA Mock Draft, Picks 1-10: Early Season Edition
January 27th, 2010
Recently, with seeing all of the NFL Mock Drafts all over Bleacher Report, I decided to be one of the first people to make an early season 2010 NBA Mock Draft.
Many people may think it is a bit early to be writing this article, but this is strictly predictions so far based on overall play so far this season.
Throughout the 2009-2010 college basketball season, I will update the mock draft for the half season mark and after the 2010 NCAA Tournament. This slide is the first 10 picks of the 2010 NBA Draft. There will be articles for picks 11-20 and 21-30 in the near future.
First Pick, New Jersey Nets: John Wall, PG, Kentucky
Wall has been having an amazing beginning of the season for the Wildcats. Wall, along with Duke PG Jon Scheyer, have played great and have become, in my opinion, the two best point guards in college basketball.
So far, Wall has averaged 7.1 assists per game this season, along with 17.3 points per game. Wall has helped the Wildcats become one of the elite teams in college basketball, and the Wildcats could even be the team to beat in this year’s NCAA tournament.
Second Pick, Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson, SG/SF, Syracuse
Before attending Syracuse, Johnson attended Iowa State. Johnson can shoot from the outside quite well, and he can also get it to the hoop pretty well.
The Timberwolves already have an established big man in Al Jefferson, but the T-Wolves are in need of a scorer who can play along with the likes of Jonny Flynn and Al Jefferson. I think Johnson could be that guy for the Timberwolves for years to come.
Third Pick, Philadelphia 76ers: Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina
Many may feel that this is too high of a place for Davis to go in the draft, but I personally feel that Davis could be the best power forward in college basketball. Davis is practically the perfect power forward. Davis has the three key attributes that Philadelphia needs—he can score pretty well, averaging almost 15 points per game; can play great defense, averaging almost three blocks per game; and is a great rebounder, averaging almost 10 a game.
Davis could be a great pick for the 76ers. Davis would bring a big man to a 76ers team that has not had a good three-attribute big man in a long time. Davis, along with Andre Igoudala, could become one of the best scoring/defensive tandoms in the NBA.
Fourth Pick, Indiana Pacers: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
The Pacers are in dire need of a big man other than Danny Granger, who is basically a small forward. After Ed Davis, I feel that Favors is the best power forward in college basketball.
Favors has not played as well as originally expected this year, only averaging about 12 points per game, but Favors still has played good defense and has played well around the rim, averaging almost nine rebounds and two blocks per game. The Pacers may not go after Favors, though, because he may not have hit his greatest potential yet.
Fifth Pick, Golden State Warriors: Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State
Evan Turner, along with Xavier Henry, may be one of the best shooting guards in college basketball. I feel Turner would be the better choice for the Warriors over Henry because Turner is a much more experienced player.
Turner is one of the players I feel has been most surprising this season in college basketball. Turner has established himself as one of, if not the best, player in college basketball. Turner averages almost 19 points per game. Turner also has almost six assists per game.
Sixth Pick, Detroit Pistons: Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas
As I said before, Xavier Henry, along with Evan Turner, have become the two best shooting guards in college basketball. The Pistons are also in need of a scorer, as are the Warriors, the possible team before them in the draft. I feel that Henry could be the second-best scorer in this year’s NBA draft class.
Henry has not played as well as Turner, but Henry has had a great freshman year in averaging 15 points per game and five rebounds per game. Henry would be a great pickup by the Pistons, but if Turner were available, I would take him over Henry.
Seventh Pick, Washington Wizards: Donatas Motiejunas, PF, Lithuania
Motiejunas is just the newest foreign prospect coming to the NBA. NBA teams definitely hope that Motiejunas does not pull what Ricky Rubio did last year in staying in Europe.
According to many, Motiejunas could be a great NBA power forward someday, but I would personally take a known player first, such as Derrick Favors or Ed Davis, over him—though I also do feel that Motiejunas could be the starting power forward for the Wizards in a couple of years after the end of Jamison’s long period on the team.
Eighth Pick, Sacramento Kings: Avery Bradley, SG, Texas
Bradley, in my opinion, is the best shooting guard available in this year’s draft class, other than Xavier Henry and Evan Turner. Bradley could bring a good scoring threat to the Kings to complement Jason Thompson and Kevin Martin.
Bradley may be a player some teams skip because he is a freshman and has yet to show amazing skills, but he still looks quite good. Bradley has averaged around 13 points per game, along with around three rebounds and assists per game.
Ninth Pick, Utah Jazz: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
Aldrich is probably the best center in college basketball. The Jazz already have two established power forwards in Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer.
Aldrich also has the three biggest impacts you need to be an NBA center. Aldrich can block, almost averaging four blocks per game; score, averaging around 11 points per game; and rebound, averaging around 11 rebounds per game.
10th Pick, Chicago Bulls: Devin Ebanks, SF, West Virginia
Ebanks is probably the second-best small forward playing in college basketball other than Wesley Johnson, depending on what position you consider him. Ebanks could be a great backup for Luol Deng for a year or two and then become possibly the starter. Ebanks could even possibly play power forward because of the Tyrus Thomas rumors.
Ebanks is quite a good rebounder for a small forward, averaging 8.3 per game. Ebanks is a bit low in scoring for a small forward, only averaging 12 points per game, but he could be a great replacement for Tyrus Thomas if they ever decided to play him at power forward.
A Spark In The Outfield: My Interview With Angels’ Rising Star Chris Pettit
January 27th, 2010
I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing Los Angeles Angels‘ rising star outfielder Chris Pettit. Pettit made his MLB debut this season where he batted .286. I personally expect to see Pettit become a starter for the Angels in the near future.
Chris and I talked about his MLB debut, his former university, Loyola Marymount, Mike Scioscia, and much, much more.
Steven Merriam: Who has had the biggest impact in your baseball career?
Chris Pettit: I would say my dad because when I was younger he’d always take me out, work with me, and he always any time I wanted to play or anything, he was always there for me.
SM: Who were your favorite players growing up?
CP: Growing up my favorite players were Darin Erstad, Jim Edmonds, and Mike Piazza.
SM: You, Jeff Stevens, Billy Traber, Josh Whitesell, and C.J. Wilson all attended Loyola Marymount University. Why do you think the university had such MLB success?
CP: I think it’s a solid program, you know we always play against real good competition, anywhere in Southern California, you always have the chance to go on and play at the next level. The guys work hard, and it’s a good place to go to school and play baseball.
SM: You were born in California and are a member of the Angels. How rewarding is it to be playing so close to home?
CP: It’s like a dream come true playing close to home, it was the stadium I’ve been going to since I was a kid, it’s a completely different feeling being out in that stadium.
SM: Which current or former MLB player do you believe plays most similarly to the way you do?
CP: I really like the way Torii Hunter plays and goes about his business. I don’t know if it’s similar to me exactly but I like the way he plays and goes about his business and really anyone that plays hard.
SM: Speaking of Hunter, has he been a mentor to you?
CP: Yeah, he’s real nice to me and the other guys, he takes care of us and shows you the ropes a little bit. He doesn’t care that were really young, he likes to have a good time and pretty much treats us as equals.
SM: You have hit amazingly in the minors batting .313. What do you think makes you such a good hitter?
CP: I’ve been trying to be patient and wait for a pitch. I think my approach has kept me fairly consistent with waiting for a good pitch to hit. I also think another big thing is the amount of work I put in the cages. I like to put in a lot of work and if I can get a good pitch to hit then I should be able to continue doing that.
SM: Who is the toughest pitcher you have ever faced?
CP: I would say Tim Lincecum or Tommy Hanson, both of those guys are pretty good. I faced Lincecum in the Cape and in Spring Training, and he has a nasty curve ball. Hanson I faced in the Fall League, not this past offseason but the offseason before. He was a really good pitcher; he just knew had to pitch with a real good slider.
SM: How great did it feel to make your MLB debut this season?
CP: It was awesome, especially being at home. It was front of a lot of people I knew, and that was really cool. My parents were able to be there, my sister.
SM: Your manager, Mike Scioscia is currently the reigning AL Manager of the Year, how great is it to have him as a manager?
CP: He treats the players real well so I enjoy playing for him. He’s real low-key, but he wants you to go by your business the right way. I think that’s good in helping you grow as a player.
SM: The Angels won the AL West this season, do you expect the team to repeat next season?
CP: I think you always have to go into the season expecting to repeat, so I would say yes.
SM: What would you like to see the front office do this offseason?
CP: I think they’re doing a good job and working on putting together a team for next year. There’s going to be some new pieces obviously, and they will be doing their part in putting the best players on the field.
SM: How do you feel about the Hideki Matsui signing?
CP: He’s a good ball player, he should help out the team you know he hit amazingly in the playoffs and should be a good addition to the ball club.
SM: Do you like the offseason or can you smell the grass in Arizona for Spring Training?
CP: I like the offseason, it’s nice to get a little break, but around the holidays you kind of start to get the itch to go back and get back and play again.
SM: What are your goals for the upcoming season?
CP: In the upcoming season I look to be consistent and have good at bats consistently, that’s the biggest thing I think. The numbers will come if I can have good at bats and be consistent.
Thanks a lot to Chris for doing this. Baseball fans, remember the name Chris Pettit, he will play a key role for the Angels this season.
Comparing Mark Ingram Jr. to Mark Ingram
December 13th, 2009
Yesterday, Alabama running back Mark Ingram Jr. received the Heisman trophy in the closest voting in the trophy’s history. Toby Gerhart finished second while Colt McCoy finished third.
Today, I decided to write an article comparing the Alabama running back to his father, Mark Ingram, a former New York Giants Wide Receiver.
Ingram was a member of the Michigan State Spartans in 1986, when current Alabama head coach Nick Saban was an assistant.
Why Patrick Willis Should Be the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year
December 13th, 2009
49ers captain, Patrick Willis is currently having the best season in his young NFL career. Willis currently leads all the NFL in tackles.
Willis, originally the 11th player taken in the 2007 NFL Draft has played better this year than he ever had before and he played well even in those years.
Dallas Cowboys Face Tough Schedule Ahead: Will Wade Phillips Be Coach In 2010?
December 13th, 2009
So far in the Wade Phillips era the Dallas Cowboys have yet to win a playoff game. Though this may not be his fault he is frequently jabbed at by comments by Jerry Jones and the media.
Don’t Give Up: The Five Most Inspirational Coaches in Sports History
December 10th, 2009
Coaches can be either a positive or a negative to a team, but there are always those coaches that go above and beyond and inspire everyone around them—and not just their players.
These such coaches were amazing, and their teams would not have been the same without them.
I felt that this was a great time to write this article because it is Jimmy V week in college basketball, and Jim Valvano is one of the most inspirational coaches in sports history.
Read the rest of this entry “
