Pitching Help for Diamondbacks, Rising FC and MLS, Suns Coach

Arizona Sports News online

Twenty games into the season the Diamondbacks have one of the best records at 14-6. Allowing just 62 runs in those 20 games may be even more impressive, considering there’s been some sloppy play in the field in recent days. Torey Lovello hasn’t gotten offensive production from his catchers, Jake Lamb has been on the DL and there hasn’t been a Steven Souza Jr. sighting yet because of his injury. The front office may have to pursue a veteran pitcher like John Lackey to fill the void of Tijuan Walker. Shelby Miller may end being one of the most important pieces to the rotation, if/when he gets activated sometime in June. All of the above are reasons why baseball is such a great game. Who pushes the right buttons at the right time?…

 Greinke vs Kershaw a week from Monday at Chase Field…

Dropped in on Phoenix Rising FC Saturday night. Another sold out match. Another seamless night of sports entertainment. Easy to park, easy to get in the gates, good food, fun atmosphere, diverse crowd, easy to get out afterwards. The organization is putting on a major league product, while still playing in the USL. Major League Soccer will decide if Phoenix gets an MLS franchise by the end of this year. Try dropping in for a night and you’ll likely want to come back…

I was having a conversation with my 13-year-old son and one of his friends about NBA playoff basketball. In the midst of talking about how things used to be around the Suns, it hit me that these two kids were 5 years old the last time the Suns were in a playoff game. They have no idea how great April and May were for fans of the NBA here in Phoenix.  The playoffs were built into the thoughts of the youth. If you’re reading this and you’re in your twenties or older, the idea of the Suns not making the playoffs in eight straight years would be absurd. What’s more disconcerting to me is Dan Majerle and Mike Budenholzer not jumping at the chance to  become head coach of a roster that has a couple of young players  who APPEAR to have big futures in front of them, in Booker and Jackson. Majerle and Budenholzer may have also had the number one overall pick in the draft to build around as well. Instead, Majerle chose to stay at Grand Canyon University and Budenholzer will reportedly meet with the New York Knicks after pulling out of conversations with the Suns. So the Knicks have a better situation for Budenholzer than the Suns? 

If Kevin McHale were to be named the next head coach of the Suns, I’m guessing that the likely MVP of the League,  James Harden wouldn’t be lining up to ever play in Phoenix as long as McHale were head coach. Harden referred to McHale as ‘a clown” last October. McHale coached Harden for three-and-a-half seasons in Houston. I wonder what Devin Booker was thinking when he saw McHales name on a list of potential Suns coaches? Players around the League talk…

Quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line,  corner, safety. That about sums up the list of what the Cardinals need to address in this Thursdays NFL Draft. Sounds to me that  trading down for extra picks would be the smartest play…