Denver Nuggets Seek Luck
Apr 22nd
On May 20, each of the 14 lottery teams will have a chance to draw into the top-three slots in the draft. The worse record you had, the better chance you have of garnering a great pick.
For example, the Milwaukee Bucks finished with the NBA’s worst record at 15-67. Therefore, they will have the best chance at the top pick (25 percent), second pick (21.5 percent) and third pick, (17.8 percent). Overall, the Buckaroos have a 64.3 percent chance to secure one of the top three picks. The worst they can do is drop to fourth.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, will have a 0.8 percent chance at the No. 1 pick, a 1 percent chance at the second pick and a 1.2 percent chance at pick No. 3. So overall, the Mile High Crew has a 3 percent chance to land one of the three top selections.
Our new best-est buddies are the New York Knicks because Denver owns their pick as well. They are aligned in the 12th slot, just behind the Nuggets. The Big Apple Crew has a 0.7 percent chance at the top pick, 0.8 percent for the second and 1 percent for the third. Overall, NYC has a 2.5 percent chance to land a top-three pick.
Keep in mind that the Nuggets and Knicks are in cahoots for this lottery. So some scenarios for fans to ponder…
If the Knicks draw into the top three and the Nuggets don’t, Denver gets that pick! If they draw No. 1 and we draw No. 3, we get their pick. If we draw first and they draw second, we keep our pick. Finally, if neither team gets into the top three, we would keep our pick, and the Knicks selection goes to Orlando as part of the Arron Afflalo trade in 2012.
Bottom line numbers: the Nuggets are going to have a 1.5 percent chance of obtaining the No. 1 overall pick!
They will also have a 5.5 percent overall chance of landing a top-three selection.
If they don’t rabbit’s foot into the top three, the Nuggets will still get an excellent player at 11 or 12!
The 2014 NBA Draft Lottery takes place the night of Tuesday May 20.
Source: NBA
Denver – Rockies are 11-10
Apr 22nd
The Rockies have only had six better starts in franchise history. Thanks to an 8-2 win against the Giants on Monday night at Coors Field, combined with the Dodgers getting beat by Philadelphia, the Rockies are just a half-game back of the second-place Giants and 1 1/2 behind the division-leading Dodgers in the NL West.
That’s with starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin having opened the season on the disabled list, and still most likely having rehab starts with Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday and April 29 before a possible activation.
It’s with major offseason rotation addition Brett Anderson out for at least two months after suffering a broken finger while batting in his third start.
It’s with All-Star left fielder Carlos Gonzalez in a 5-for-35 slump that has seen him drive in one run in the last 10 games, defending NL batting champ and heart of the clubhouse Michael Cuddyer on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain, and Jorge De La Rosa not earning his first victory until Monday’s win over the Giants.
De La Rosa could only make it through five innings in that game, allowing one run but laboring through a 102 pitch effort that included only 59 strikes. He did, however, ease some concerns when he pitched out of a two-on, nobody-out threat in the fourth and escaped unscored upon with Giants runners on first and third with one out and the middle of the order coming up in the fifth.
“It was a good sign to see him pitch out of those jams,” manager Walt Weiss said. “It’s what was a staple for him last year, but early on [this year] he hasn’t been so good at it.”
What’s been good about the Rockies, though, is the help they have received from throughout the roster.
Source: MLB
Denver – Rockies Loose 10-9
Apr 21st
A relentless lineup from Philadelphia was due and determined to turn the tables, ultimately battling to a 10-9 victory to put the skids on the Rockies’ three-game winning streak and bring Colorado back to .500.
Morneau knocked in five runs on Sunday, including at least one in each of his first four trips to the plate. He drove in the tying run three times: in the first, third, and — with a two-run home run off southpaw Jake Diekman — the seventh.
“Mo’s pretty locked in right now,” manager Walt Weiss said. “That was a big homer off a really tough lefty in Diekman. A huge home run for us. Unfortunately we came up short, but we battled back a couple times. Both teams battled all day. It’s a tough game, but the guys fought hard.”
Morneau’s prowess didn’t keep the Phillies from pitching around Troy Tulowitzki in the eighth to face the first baseman again with the game on the line — the tying run on second — and left-hander Antonio Bastardo on the mound.
“That was Bastardo’s all the way,” manager Ryne Sandberg said of the decision. “Tulo, Morneau, pick your poison. But Tulo — one swing and he’s the tying run, even as the hitter. It worked out. But this is a special place where you have to do things a little different.”
Colorado pitching had been dominant through the first two games of the series, allowing neither an earned run nor even an extra-base hit Friday or Saturday. But Philadelphia put the kibosh on that stat right away Sunday as Jimmy Rollins went yard in the game’s first frame, sending a Juan Nicasio offering into the seats above the right field scoreboard for a solo homer and an early lead.
Source: MLB