Kurt Thomas to be a supersonic

First off what's a supersonic? And yes I already know the answer I'm just being facetious.

Moving on!

This comes from Paul Coro over at AZ central....



The Suns traded center Kurt Thomas this morning in a move that relieves some salary-cap pressure.

Thomas goes to the Seattle SuperSonics, along with the Suns' own 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks in exchange for a future conditional 2nd round pick and a trade exception, worth about $8 million.

The league's new luxury tax threshold -- the number at which teams would begin to be taxed -- came in different from what the Suns expected, at $67.9 million, and would have left Phoenix more than $10 million over that number.

ASU get top 2008 prospect in baseball

This coming from AZ Central.

Eric Hosmer, rated by some as the nation's top 2008 high school prospect, has committed to sign with Arizona State.

The 6-foot-4 Hosmer is a first baseman from Cooper City, Fla. He will play in the AFLAC All-American Classic, Aug. 11 in San Diego. Hosmer could seriously consider college no matter how high he is drafted in the 2008 major league draft.

Hosmer signs with ASU...........(azcentral.com)


ps. will he actually stay or go pro?

Suns get Grant "over the" Hill

Excuse the poor Berman-ism but the Suns landing Grant Hill doesn't have me all that excited. Paul Coro has written a nice piece about it over at AZ Central and allow me to share a excerpt from that with you.

He averaged 14.4 points last season on 51.8 percent shooting and played 30.9 minutes per game. When he has played, Hill has shot 49 percent or better in the past four seasons but he does not have three-point range. Once one of the league's best rebounding swingmen, Hill averaged a career-low 3.6 rebounds last season.

But Phoenix relishes his versatility, court smarts, high character and late-career motivation to win a championship. Hill had pondered retiring before working the NBA Finals for ABC made him want to pursue a championship. His teams have never advanced past the first round in five playoff appearances, including Orlando's first-round sweep to Detroit in April.

Wait a minute, 14.4ppg, 52% shooting? I'll take that. Oh wait, no three point range? Career low 3.6 rebounds? And those five ankle injuries? I'm sorry but I'm not running out to buy a Hill jersey any time soon.

I understand the need for a veteran player on a team, someone who can lead you during tough times. Someone who has been there. Allow me to go back to Mr. Coro's article. "His teams have never advanced past the first round in five playoff appearances, including Orlando's first-round sweep to Detroit in April." Well then...

Do I agree that it was good to get someone to give you minutes off the bench and be a solid role player? Yea I do, good call by the Sun's coaching staff. Wait, what's that Paul you have something to say about that in your article? "Hill, who will turn 35 in October, could start for Phoenix with Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Shawn Marion and Amaré Stoudemire. "

COULD START? No thanks. I was fine seeing Grant Hill as a bench man but we all know he won't be happy in that position. So now where do we go from here? Will this be the Grant Hill who can pull a 15-8 every night? Or will this be the Grant Hill who rolls and ankle and spends 45 games in rehab.

Try again Sun's staff, you can do better than this.

Well then....

It's been a few days now of thinking about this defeat in the CWS. ASU fans had every reason to hope for a National Championship. YOu still have to be happy with the Pac-10 Championship but this team could have gone on to better things. The blowout loss to Oregon St. the night before is what sealed our fate. And betwenn Jarvis self destructing and Brett Wallace not even showing up and getting a hit, well we should have seen this coming.

So from now on this blog will be mostly D'backs for the summer, and of course any Suns, Cards, ASU, Coyotes news that is important.

Turn back the clock....in Omaha

During todays elimination game against UC Irvine, ASU baseball pulled out the throwback uniforms. These are the uniforms from the eary 80's back when Barry Bonds played on the team among other players.

The uniform is a maroon top with a yellow devils across it with the number underneath. They have a bright yellow hat, white pants and yellow socks with a maroon stripe down the side.



Click the pics for a full size shot. Yes they suck, they're off my crappy tv.

Elimination Game

ASU v. UC Irvine 4pm ESPN2

this is it. Win or go home. Story after the game.

It's been a while...

I know I know I've been slacking on my updates. Sorry about that.

Today at 4 p.m. the Sun Devils face Oregon State in the winners bracket over in Omaha.

For today's game SeattleSunDevil previews the matchup.

This can also be found on www.devilsdigest.com


OMAHA, Neb. - Oregon State University arrived in Omaha for the third year in a row, this time however, with an unfamiliar monkey on their backs – this trip marks the first time they will have the distinguished title of “defending national champions.”
After defeating Cal State Fullerton in their first game of the 2007 College World Series, the Beavers pushed themselves into a meeting with a rather well known nemesis – the Arizona State Sun Devils.

The regular season match-ups between the current (ASU) and former (OSU, 2006) champions of the Pacific-10 Conference point to this being a game with epic possibilities with both teams dominating each other at one point.

The Beavers struck first blood in the season series with the 12-4 non-conference beat down of ASU during the Coca-Cola Classic in Surprise, Ariz. The offensive explosion against the Sun Devil pitching was the fifth-highest output against that group during the entire season. However, the runs scored are misleading to a point as the five pitchers used by Pat Murphy in the game (Joey Parigi, Dustin Brader, Matt Trink, Scott Mueller and Ted Aust) would see just 12 innings combined on the mound during conference play.

When the Devils traveled to Corvallis, Ore. to reap revenge on the Beavers, (May 18th – 20th) the offense was clicking, the pitching staff was nails and the defense stellar as the maroon and gold earned the series sweep – outscoring the Beavers 15-4 in the three-game set.

All familiarities aside, the upcoming winner’s bracket game on Monday evening carries the distinction of moving the winning team one game away from the championship series. As with all single game series’ in the College World Series, the outcome may be decided on a handful of opportunities and skill sets.

“For the Beavers, it's their offense. If their bats don't show up, the Beavers won't do any damage.” Said Jake Bertalotto, the main contributor to BuildingTheDam.com. “Our team lives and dies with their offense.”

The offensive potential for Oregon State shines through with the names and balance through the lineup even though none truly present a match up problem for Murphy and the Devils.

Catcher Mitch Canham presents the biggest threat on the Oregon State team, hitting nine home runs while driving 54 runs – good for second on the team – and a team high .521 slugging percentage. He also has seen his name show up on various award lists.

Canham sees his name pop up on the Golden Spikes semifinalist list (ability and sportsmanship award,) Dick Howser Trophy Watch List (top collegiate player,) Johnny Bench Award (top catcher) along with the Wallace Award Watch List (top collegiate player.)

“Mitch Canham has been our leader for much of the season at the plate.” Bertalotto said.

Behind the plate as well as Canham has thrown out nearly 40% of the runners that have tried to steal against him.

Other team leaders on offense: Mike Lissman (sr.) – 57 RBIs, Chris Hopkins (jr.) – 15 SBs and 52 runs scored, Darwin Barney (jr.) – 19 doubles and 77 hits.

With Canham and his .322 batting average leading the team, any college baseball fan could immediately assume the pitching staff is to ‘blame’ for the third straight trip to Omaha – and they would be right. Despite losing two-thirds of the starting rotation (Dallas Buck and Jonah Nickerson) and their closer (Kevin Gunderson) from the championship team in 2006, the Beavers hurlers hold strong thanks in part to junior Mike Stutes, who coming into the Monday winner’s bracket game, dominated hitters to the tune of 120 strikeouts in 121 innings. The next highest total on the team? 76 by fellow starter Joe Paterson.

Following in the late inning footsteps placed down last season by Gunderson is Eddie Kunz. The junior earned preseason All-American honors in 2007 and more than lived up to the hype as he shuts down opposing rallies late in games with ease, earning 12 saves so far in his 31 appearances. Should the Beavers garner a late lead from the Sun Devils, Kunz and the Oregon State team have the ability to send ASU down into the loser’s bracket as Kunz has not yet allowed a home run.

The Pac-10 showdown takes place Monday evening at 4 p.m. Arizona time at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium.

We're IN.

1:	Start out going EAST on E APACHE BLVD toward S MARTIN LN.	1.0 miles	Map
	2:	Turn LEFT onto S PRICE RD.	1.0 miles	Map
	3:	Take the AZ-101-LOOP N ramp.	0.2 miles	Map
	4:	Merge onto AZ-101 LOOP N.	27.6 miles	Map
	5:	Take the I-17 S / 1-17 N exit- EXIT 23C-B- toward PHOENIX / FLAGSTAFF.	0.5 miles	Map
	6:	Merge onto I-17 N toward FLAGSTAFF.	124.9 miles	Map
	7:	Merge onto I-40 E via EXIT 340A toward WINSLOW / ALBUQUERQUE (Crossing into NEW MEXICO).	322.7 miles	Map
	8:	Merge onto I-25 N via EXIT 159BC toward SANTA FE (Crossing into COLORADO).	429.8 miles	Map
	9:	Take the E-470 TOLLWAY / CO-470 W exit- EXIT 194- toward GRAND JCT / LIMON / AIRPORT.	0.1 miles	Map
	10:	Take the E-470 TOLLWAY exit.	0.4 miles	Map
	11:	Merge onto E 470 N (Portions toll).	34.4 miles	Map
	12:	Merge onto I-76 E via EXIT 35 toward FT MORGAN (Crossing into NEBRASKA).	169.6 miles	Map
	13:	I-76 E becomes I-80 E.	348.6 miles	Map
	14:	Merge onto I-480 E via EXIT 452 toward EPPLEY AIRFIELD / DOWNTOWN.	3.2 miles	Map
	15:	Take the CAPITOL AVE / 20TH ST exit- EXIT 2D.	0.1 miles	Map
	16:	Take the 20TH STREET ramp.	<0.1>	Map
	17:	Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto N 20TH ST.	0.1 miles	Map
	18:	Turn LEFT onto DOUGLAS ST / US-6 E.	0.2 miles	Map
	19:	End at Omaha, NE US		Map
Total Est. Time: 20 hours, 23 minutes Total Est. Distance: 1465.41 miles

ASU wins 7-1. Story to come later.

GUILTY

A long and tragic ordeal has finally been put to rest as jurors found Loren Wade guilty of second degree murder. The initial charge was first degree which would be life in prison. The jury couldn't come to agreement on this though. It's been a sad few years since the fateful night in Scottsdale. The range for second-degree murder is 10 to 22 years in prison. Personally I hope he serves all 22 years. It's horrible to see a kid throw his life away like this, especially one that was as talented as Loren was. God bless the Falkner family and everything they have had to deal with, the same can be said for the Wade family. It was a horrible situation all the way around.

Loren Wade guilty.....(azcentral.com)

Arizona's draft choice

This coming from his hometown paper, the Indianapolis Star.

Norwell High School pitcher Jarrod Parker was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the ninth overall selection in the major league draft today.

Parker is the second-highest Indiana high school player selected in the draft. Kokomo pitcher Pat Underwood was selected by Detroit with the second pick of the 1976 draft.

The right-handed Parker is 10-0 this season with a 0.12 ERA for Norwell, which is 32-0 and the state’s top-ranked team in Class 3A. He has committed to play collegiately at Georgia Tech, but now is expected to sign with the Diamondbacks.