Water Cooler – September 1st, 2010
Here we go with today’s sports water cooler talk. Here, you won’t just find the straight news; you’ll find the stuff everyone is talking about – the ice breakers, the Twitter Sports Picks and topics…well, basically all the stuff you discuss at the water cooler.
Enjoy!
September 1 means a slew of exciting youngsters get called up in Major League Baseball today. But it was an August 31 callup that has everyone talking today in the news.
MLB news: Aroldis Chapman lights out in debut; Francoeur traded to Texas
With Stephen Strasburg set for Tommy John surgery this week, the timing couldn’t have been better for Cuban youngster Aroldis Chapman, who gives baseball fans a new blue-chip superstar to get excited about.
Chapman made his major-league debut Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching an inning of relief. He hit 102.7 MPH on the radar gun, tallying the fastest pitch in the majors this season, and mowed through three straight Brewers for the perfect inning.
The powerful Texas Rangers just got a bit deeper. Hours before the deadline for playoff eligibility, they acquired outfielder Jeff Francoeur from the Atlanta Braves for infielder Joaquin Arias. Francoeur hadn’t done a ton with the bat this season, batting .237 with 11 homers and 54 RBI, but his rocket arm remains good as ever; he leads the National league with 11 outfield assists. He’ll give the Rangers a veteran righty bat off the bench.
NHL news: Chris Chelios finally retires at age 48
Finally, finally, FINALLY Chris Chelios is hanging up his skates at 48 years old.
The longest-tenured defenseman in NHL history has retired after 26 seasons and three Stanley Cups. He also snagged three Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman during that time and played for Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta.
Chelios will take a job as an adviser with the Detroit Red Wings. He’ll work in the front office, help with a bit of coaching and work to mentor young players.
Only Gordie Howe (52 years old) was older than Chelios when he retired from the NHL. Chelios is also the league’s all-time leader in playoff games played and fourth in regular-season games.
PGA news: Colin Montgomerie on hot seat for controversial Ryder Cup selections
The European Ryder Cup team looks formidable. On points qualifiers alone, it already boasted Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Peter Hanson, Rory McIlroy and Miguel Angel Jimenez; but Colin Montgomerie had three more crucial picks to make.
Monty went with Edoardo Molinari, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald. The latter two picks didn’t draw much criticism but Monty is under fire for taking Molinari over Paul Casey, the ninth-ranked player in the world, and Justin Rose, who has two PGA Tour wins this season. Monty justified his captain’s choices by explaining that guys like Harrington and the Molinari (who joins his brother) are clutch players who perform their best under pressure.
Corey Pavin will announce his U.S. captain’s picks on September 7 in New York.
Comments are welcome below!
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