PTC: Harmon’s Blog With Fantasy Baseball, Bryce Harper, Pop Culture & More
Washington outfielder Bryce Harper crashed into the right field wall while chasing down a flyball off the bat of A.J. Ellis. Harper lay on the field for several minutes receiving attention from the trainers before exiting the game. David Vassegh (@thereal_dv) of FOX Sports Radio advised on Twitter that he’d spoken to agent Scott Boras. [...]
PTC: Harmon’s Blog With Fantasy Notes, Matt Kemp & More
The Red Sox have been one of the great surprises early this MLB season. Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz (you can talk about “cheating” at your leisure) are dealing at the top of the rotation and David Ortiz possesses a 26-game hitting streak dating back to last season. The potential problem that has arisen for [...]
PTC: Harmon’s Baseball Blog W/ Fantasy Notes, Pop Culture & More
Did you bet the Derby favorite? Did you spend your hard-earned dollars on Saturday’s Mayweather PPV? If you enjoy yourself a good Mint Julep, you can dole out a cool $1,000 and procure a beautiful cup. Yu Darvish didn’t extend his modest winning streak against the Red Sox on Sunday. He did, however, rack up [...]
Harmon’s “ITSD” Podcast 5.2: Funeral, Sanchez, Money & Tattoos
Harmon returns to the microphone, free and clear to roam the worlds of sports, entertainment and pop culture. In this episode, Harmon slams the Knicks’ funeral plans and talks about the big topics affecting the NBA Playoffs. Mark Jackson, anyone? The Thunder employed the intentional foul strategy against the Rockets … and failed miserably. Harmon [...]
Painting The Corner: Harmon’s Baseball Blog With Fantasy Notes & More 5.2
Let’s kick things off with a great accessory for grilling season. That’s right. It’s May, so even those still thawing out from mutant snowstorms will be firing up their grills in no time flat. What else needs to be said? You can
Painting The Corner: Harmon’s Baseball Blog With Fantasy Notes & More 4.30
Welcome to an abbreviated version of “Painting The Corner” coming out of Monday’s action. The name of the game is health. It’s late-April, and that means that the injuries are starting to pile up. Several big stars left their respective games on Monday, and fantasy owners welcomed a new hero to the fold in Los [...]
Harmon’s “Inside The Swollen Dome” Podcast for 4.23 MLB, NBA, Fantasy & More
Harmon returned to blogtalkradio.com to discuss Monday night’s action in the NBA Playoffs, MLB milestones and struggles, fantasy heroes and duds, a busy night in Chicago, NFL mock drafts and have a chuckle with Peyton Manning and Shane Battier. Have a listen. Have a chuckle. Mock my brain freeze as I struggle to say “hallucinogenics.” [...]
Painting The Corner: Harmon’s Baseball Blog (And More) 4.23
Congratulations to Felix Hernandez, who earned the 100th win of his career against the Astros on Monday night. Hernandez pitched six shutout innings with nine strikeouts, allowing five hits and a walk. Despite velocity concerns (see below), Hernandez has recorded 37 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings pitched this season. Many sniping 140-character comments have been [...]
Harmon’s “Inside The Swollen Dome” Podcast Returns: 4.22
Monday was a beautiful day here “Inside The Swollen Dome.” The podcast returned after a hiatus – call it a renewal with Vol. 1, Episode 1. I recapped the weekend’s events, got a little bit into the NBA Playoffs, Derrick Rose, early baseball returns, news of the weird and a wee bit of NFL schedule [...]
Painting The Corner: Harmon’s Hardball Notes 4.18
Brett Lawrie made his season debut for the Blue Jays on Tuesday against the White Sox. Lawrie’s gone hitless in seven at-bats with four strikeouts and one RBI. I only felt compelled to put a line on him here because he’s returned to third base. Those salivating about a potential move to second base will [...]
The Power of Language at The Cinema: Harmon’s Look at “42″
For the past two weeks, we (sports media and sports fans) have spent countless hours on-air, online and in our local watering holes debating what is deemed to be “proper” conduct for coaches in the wake of the Rutgers practice footage. Was Rutgers right to fire him? Should the outcry from the media, the Twitterverse [...]
Marmol Loses Closer Job: Wikipedia Vandals Take It To The Extreme
According to The Chicago Tribune , Carlos Marmol has lost his closer role to Kyuji Fujikawa following another terrible performance on Saturday. We’ve been watching this situation and sounded the alarm before the season started, so go check your waiver wire now. On Sunday morning, CBSSports.com noted that vandals had taken to Marmol’s Wikipedia page [...]
Painting The Corner: Harmon’s Hardball Notes 4.4
As I wrote in yesterday’s PTC, Carlos Marmol’s hold on the Chicago closer job is tenuous. His effort against the Pirates on Thursday afternoon didn’t do anything to help solidify things. Marmol inherited a 3-0 lead, but then surrendered two earned runs on three hits and a walk. The fact that he was able to [...]
Painting The Corner: Harmon’s Hardball Notes 4.3
Don’t you just love day baseball? As you ponder TPS Reports and reasons (some legit) to blow off a meeting, you can monitor the diamond and bemoan the early-season exploits of your lineup. Or, you can celebrate “Senior Prom” like the Rays. Let’s get into the notes from Wednesday’s action. I prefer the term “quick [...]
FMC: Yu Darvish, SP, Texas Rangers
At some point, I’ll circle off to the world of hitters and celebrate the mammoth home runs launched by slugging outfielders and first basemen. I’ll applaud Mike Morse, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and try to estimate the distance traveled by Chris Davis’ moon shot. Perhaps we can bust out the stopwatches and time Elvis Andrus [...]
FMC: Jeff Samardzija, Chicago Cubs Starter
On Monday, baseball fans celebrated the rebirth of their beloved sport. Our own Jay Mohr painted a perfect picture of our relationship with the game on “Jay Mohr Sports” live from Dodger Stadium. If James Earl Jones narrates it, Mohr’s passionate ode to baseball could be added to Jones’ soliloquy from “Field of Dreams.” And, [...]
Harmon’s Early-Spring Cheatsheets: Fantasy Baseball 2013
The first run of spreadsheets has been completed and entered into the Dome. I already have a number of players italicized and highlighted for further review as we roll through the second half of spring training. Announcements regarding position battles, rotation slots and closer competitions will necessitate adjustments, of course, and I won’t toss out [...]
Harmon’s 2013 Fantasy Baseball Early Rankings: Outfield 26-60
We love to debate where the big names at the top of the draft board should stack up. After all, everybody knows about the on-field exploits of names like Trout, Braun and CarGo. But, as you drift through the pack, things get interesting, contentious and less certain. The term “Sleeper” (“Ninjas” in my world here [...]
Harmon’s 2013 Fantasy Baseball Early Rankings: Third Base
It seems strange to enter a Fantasy Baseball preseason discussion without the longstanding battle over Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez’s health pushes him to the back of the pack, and a new run of challengers battle toward the top of the pack. That isn’t to say that familiar names have been displaced altogether, but a new crop [...]
Harmon’s 2013 Fantasy Baseball Early Rankings: Shortstop
The long road to opening day has begun. Regular starters are beginning to see at-bats and pitch to live batters. Ardent fans have descended upon spring training sites. The “wait until next year” mentality fades, at least for a short time in the desert or Florida sun. Hope springs eternal, and preparation for fantasy baseball [...]
Harmon’s 2013 Fantasy Baseball Early Rankings: First Base
We’re locked and loaded for another run on the diamond. While the NFL and college basketball continue to occupy some of our attention (with the NHL and NBA Playoffs still off in the distance), fantasy baseball players are working to solidify their cheatsheets. They’re scouring the reports from beat writers in the desert and in [...]
The Freaks Talk Joe Flacco’s Contract On FOX Sports Radio
I understand that two huge events, “March Madness” and Major League Baseball’s opening day, are just around the corner. As a Chicago native, my attention drifts toward the ice and the incredible season-opening streak put forth by the Blackhawks. That’s a long post to come following Tuesday night’s game against the Wild. I digress. Let’s [...]
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Harmon’s 2013 Fantasy Baseball Early Rankings: Catcher
Welcome to the opening salvo of 2013 Major League Baseball coverage here on the Dome. After a successful 2012 fantasy baseball campaign , attention shifted to the power and glory of the NFL. You might think it sad, but I keep a running countdown until pitchers and catchers report on my office wall. Spring training [...]
Harmon’s Fantasy Baseball Preview: Coming Week of March 4
After a strong 7th-place showing on FantasyPros.com for the 2012 draft season, Harmon returns for the 2013 campaign. The full sheet of rankings and player previews will be unveiled during the week of March 4. Keep it locked on SwollenDome.com for complete MLB coverage. Is Mike Trout No. 1? Or is Albert still king? Miggy?
The Dodgers Sign Puig. Can He Hit Right Now?
Yeonis Cespedes, Dayan Viciedo and the The Dodgers reportedly signed Cuban defector Yasiel Puig, a 6-foot-3, 21-year-old outfielder. MLB.com writer Jesse Sanchez reports that the deal is worth an estimated $42 million over seven years and that the Dodgers trumped offers from both Chicago squads. That’s payback for the failed trade attempt to acquire Kevin [...]
