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Sparky's Notes: July 3rd News and Notes
by C.W.
on Jul 3, 2009 4:38 PM MST
in General News
2 comments
Not much is happening these days in Sun Devil land, as school is out for the summer, and all sports have wrapped up their postseasons.
ASU is being advised by AZCentral.com to check out these 5 recruits...
Kicker Thomas Weber has, once again, been named a Playboy All-American, despite his mediocre 2008 campaign.
Jeff Pendergraph will be playing on the Blazers' summer league team this July in Las Vegas.
Finally, I answered a very long Q&A from Welcome To Loud City, the Oklahoma City Thunder blog here at SBNation. You can read the entire interview about James Harden following the jump.
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James Harden Goes Third Overall to OKC; Jeff Pendergraph 31st to Sacramento, Traded to Portland
by C.W.
on Jun 25, 2009 4:57 PM MST
in ASU Basketball
2 comments
Pretty big surprise, but Harden is a quality pick. Check back here for a summary of our coverage of James Harden over the past season, Thunder fans.
Jeff Pendergraph went 31st, and was quickly packaged to Portland for Sergio Rodriguez and the 38th overall pick.
Back in the 2009 Pac-10 Championship game, I sat in the Staples Center and followed Harden's every move against USC, and here is the article. It is very long, but you need to read it to get a grip on how the college game had adjusted to Harden's deliberate style of play.
Daniel Hackett definitely had Harden's number, and I can imagine he will need some time to develop against the superior defenses seen in the NBA.
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Realistic Destinations for James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph, NBA Draft Edition
by C.W.
on Jun 23, 2009 8:49 PM MST
in ASU Basketball
0 comments
As many of you know, Washington and Minnesota pulled off a fairly significant trade this afternoon, with the Wizards sending their #5 pick, Etan Thomas, Darius Songalia and Oleksiy Pecherov for Randy Foye and Mike Miller. It is now official: Minnesota owns the 2009 NBA Draft, holding the 5th, 6th, 18th, and 28th picks.
It is theorized that the Timberwolves would like to upgrade to the 2nd overall by packaging the 5th and 18th picks, but right now it appears as though Minnesota would do very well for themselves by holding onto their plethora of pickables.
Why, do you ask? Because the draft is chock full of intrigue and possibilities for an openminded GM with the cajones to make tough decisions and look for the big reward.
Imagine the possibilities.
1. Clippers- Blake Griffin
2. Grizzlies- Hasheem Thabeet
3. Thunder- Ricky Rubio
4. Kings- Tyreke Evans
5. Timberwolves
6. Timberwolves
Quite a few talented players left on the market, wouldn't you agree?
Minnesota has quality bigs (Al Jefferson and Kevin Love), but based on the trade of Foye and Miller, is lacking some depth at the wings and running the point.
Why not draft James Harden? He can be immediately slotted into the starting five, giving you minutes of consistent play. With the next pick, why not give him someone to run with (either Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry or Jrue Holiday). Ideally, Minnesota would pick up Harden and Curry, acquiring two very talented college veterans and some seasoned NBA vets in return for Foye and Miller.
At 18 and 28, it's not out of the question to see the Timberwolves filling their front court even further by drafting Harden's college cohort, Jeff Pendergraph. It makes more sense to fill out the backcourt even further by picking up Ty Lawson/Wayne Ellington, or a PG like Teague from Wake Forest.
Most NBA squads don't overfill their rosters with rookies, so a pick like Nick Calathes would make excellent sense for the 'Wolves at #28. He will be in Greece next season, so let him develop while your core matures stateside.
In the end, where will our ASU alums go?
Harden: Minnesota
Pendergraph: I may be crazy, but I foresee a Oklahoma City Thunder pickup at #25 overall in Jeff's future.
Either way, expect updates on Thursday when their names come off the board.
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Hittin' the Links: Post-Loss Depression Edition
by ASUBoyd
on Jun 22, 2009 12:54 PM MST
in General News
1 comment
Yeah, no ASU sports playing at the moment..unfortunately.. But. Still should be some links out there talking about why that is and whats going on with some of the other sports eh?
- Good news up first. ASU has snagged it's 6th recruit for the class of 2010 in football. Lot of offense so far - TE, RB, RB, QB (6'6), FB, WR.
- A look at the recruits.
- Some scouting reports on the kids.
- A recap of the heartbreak in the CWS.
- Looks like our top four baseball players - Leake, Kipnis, Spence and Ramirez - are all expected to sign. So are two from our recruiting class, second round 3B/C Nolan Arenado and P/1B Jake Barrett 3rd round. There is a look at who is leaving and who is coming back in this story.
- Brent Miller has been hired at Washington as a graduate assistant.
- Finally, Murphy has some VERY nice things to say about Leake. Comparing him to Pedroia and saying this is one of the most special groups he has ever managed.
As CFB starts to gear up we will start profiling the 2009 team, which looks to be awfully good on defense.
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ASU v TEXAS GAME THREAD!!
by ASUBoyd
on Jun 19, 2009 5:46 PM MST
5 comments
We gotta win this one. Hopefully Leake doesn't pull a repeat performance.
Go Sun Devils!
5 comments | 0 recs
GameThread: ASU Leads Texas 3-0 in the 2nd Inning of the College World Series
by C.W.
on Jun 16, 2009 4:49 PM MST
in ASU Baseball
6 comments
Texas just committed a passed ball error, allowing ASU to score another run from third.
Then, McDonald drives in Torrez with a single to right field.
Lets talk about the game! Sign into your account and give us your insights.
GO SUN DEVILS!
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Sun Devils Take Care Of Business, Beat UNC 5-2 in College World Series
by C.W.
on Jun 14, 2009 4:52 PM MST
in ASU Baseball
0 comments
The entire week, Pat Murphy was very secretive regarding his choice of starting pitcher for ASU's first game in Omaha against North Carolina.
It turned out that going against the grain and starting his #2 pitcher paid dividends for the Sun Devil skipper.
Josh Spence went seven strong innings, proving to be a dependable option even against the top competition of the Tar Heels, who looked stymied at the plate against the crafty left hander from Australia.
ASU scored 4 runs in the tenth inning, putting together just enough offense to survive a very tough matchup. Kole Calhoun hit an incredibly clutch home run to put the Devils up for good. UNC was able to add a run in the bottom of the tenth, but that was all they would muster on the day.
Coach Murphy played the lineup card close to his chest, hoping to keep UNC guessing right up until the first pitch. While many expected Mike Leake, the 8th overall selection in this week's MLB Draft, to toe the rubber for ASU, the unorthodox strategy has given ASU a great chance to go far in Omaha.
Spence, despite being injured for two months this season, was able to come back last weekend and help deliver the knockout punch against Clemson in the Tempe Super Regional.
Mitchell Lambson pitched three quality innings in relief for the #4 Sun Devils (50-12), earning his ninth win on the season, but his first College World Series victory.
Raoul Torrez had been struggling coming into the College World Series, but the captain's tenacious baserunning put UNC on their heels. Torrez went 2/3 with a walk.
For the Tar Heels, their superstar Dustin Ackley, the second pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, went 2/5 but was struck out by Lambson in the bottom of the 9th to push the game into extra frames.
All in all, this was an excellent performance by our young team, who played like they truly wanted to win and leave their mark in Omaha.
With the win, ASU will play the winner of Texas/Southern Mississippi on Tuesday.
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ASU in the MLB Draft: First 20 Rounds
by ASUBoyd
on Jun 10, 2009 12:53 PM MST
in ASU Baseball
6 comments
ASU started off awfully strong, with Mike Leake breaking into the top 10 and getting drafted by the Cincinatti Reds at number 8 overall. Most people had Leake pegged at 12-14, but the Reds pulled a mild surprise tapping the wiry righty.
Scouting Report on Leake, via Jason A. Churchill:
Leake is a four-pitch arm who sits in the 89-91 mph range, but with an average or better curve, an average slider and changeup, and rounds it out with plus command and control. He uses a two-seamer regularly, getting tailing action shadowed by good arm speed and a compact delivery that he repeats well.
At Safeco in March, Leake breezed through the UW lineup, sitting at 88 but locating well and inducing dozens of weak swings. He did touch 92 and he profiles as a No. 3 starter. One major concern is that on regular rest, Leake's velocity peaks at 89.
From MLB.Com:
Fastball: Leake threw his fastball from 88-94 mph. It sat comfortably around 91 mph. Fastball movement: There was above-average sink and plenty of side-to-side movement, with some run to it. He changes arm angles for different looks. Slider: It's a hard, downward slider, thrown 79-82 mph. Curve: An average offering ... not an out pitch. He can throw it for strikes in the 73-76 mph range. Changeup: Close to a plus pitch and he'll throw it at any point in the count. Control: He has plus, plus command, perhaps a 70 on the scouting scale. Poise: It's a plus, plus attribute. He has the presence to pitch in the big leagues right now. He's more of a lead-by-example guy -- soft-spoken, but confident. Physical Description: Leake is an undersized righty, but is athletic and strong, kind of like a Tim Hudson type. Medical Update: Healthy. Strengths: Four pitches that are all usable and the ability to command all of them extremelly well. He's extremely durable, having thrown as many innings as just about anyone in the class over the past few seasons. Weaknesses: There's a little hip turn in his delivery, but it doesn't affect him. There will be those who'll be concerned about his size. Summary: As a six-foot righty, people may want to overlook Leake as a big-time pitching prospect, but they might be missing the boat. He can throw four pitches for strikes and his poise is off the charts. He may not be that big, but he's athletic, strong and durable with an extremely efficient delivery. He's done nothing but perform with the Sun Devils and whoever looks past his size could have themselves a steal.
Next guy off the board for ASU was our boy Jason Kipnis. While he played CF for us, rumors have it the Indians, who took him 63rd overall in the 2nd round, will switch him to 2B. Maybe he is the next Pedroia?
Scouting report:
Hitting ability: Kipnis has tightened up his swing, getting the loop that had been an issue out of it. He still uses the whole field, but has been successfully pulling the ball more. He's a big on-base guy. Power: He's got a little power, a guy who could hit 12-15 homers annually. Running speed: Has average speed. Base running: He's a good baserunner and maximizes what speed he does have. Arm strength: Has average arm strength. Fielding: He's able to play all three outfield spots, though he doesn't profile at one particular position. Range: He's got average range, using instincts well to make the most of his tools. Physical Description: Kipnis is strong for his size, but he's not that big and has drawn body-type comparisons to guys like Mark Bellhorn or Todd Hollandsworth. Medical Update: Healthy. Strengths: He plays hard and above his tools. He's very patient and is an on-base machine, something that should appeal to the stats-minded folks. Weaknesses: He doesn't profile well as an everyday guy at one outfield spot. Summary: It's hard to argue with the statistical success Kipnis has had at ASU, particularly in his junior season. But projecting him is a little more difficult. He's got average tools across the board and does tend to play above them. But he doesn't profile as an everyday guy at any one outfield position, making him more of a tweener or fourth-outfielder type. Still, he's tightened up his swing and his on-base ability should appeal to those teams who really value those skills.
I think he could be awfully good at 2nd.
Josh Spence was next, tagged in the third round by the Angels. Much higher than I thought he would go, frankly.
Carlos Ramirez went at the end of round 8, 261 overall, to the Angels. Jared McDonald went in the 21st round to the White Sox.
At this point that does it. If anyone else gets taken, i'll update.
I think they all sign except McDonald.
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Pacific-10 Conference Standings
(updated 4.3.2009 at 9:56 PM MST)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
Washington Huskies
|
14 | 4 | 26 | 9 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
13 | 5 | 26 | 9 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
11 | 7 | 25 | 10 |
|
California Golden Bears
|
11 | 7 | 22 | 11 |
|
USC Trojans
|
9 | 9 | 22 | 13 |
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
9 | 9 | 21 | 14 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
8 | 10 | 17 | 16 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
7 | 11 | 18 | 18 |
| Stanford Cardinal | 6 | 12 | 20 | 14 |
|
Oregon Ducks
|
2 | 16 | 8 | 23 |
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