| 11 August 2010
So when are the Portland Trail Blazers going to make a move?
It’s hard to really say, even after all the speculation.For the past couple of weeks we’ve heard murmurs and read headlines of Rudy Fernandez’s departure from the Blazers, and “reports” that it’s a big deal – maybe with Chicago; maybe with Boston. It was also believed that something was going to go down on Monday. We are still waiting.
And there is a good chance we will continue to do so. As General Manager Rich Cho rounds out his cabinet – with Cho expected to name Bill Branch and Steve Rosenberry his co-assistant GMs – there could be a waiting period to consider once contracts are finalized. Once the offices of "Cho, Branch and Rosenberry" are open for business, they’ll go about their plan of adjusting and finalizing Portland’s roster methodically – this according to one person familiar with Portland’s new front office strategy. There is a lot of time before the start of training camp. So, sit back and relax.It may be a while.
It’s official: John Spencer was introduced to the media this morning as the new head coach of the MLS Portland Timbers. Yesterday, Ben Bradea - who will be covering the Timbers for Beyond the Beat - gave us the goods on Spencer who will surely bring plenty of grit and experience to the novice franchise. Based on his personality, there is likely to be some comedy involved too.
The Portland Beavers may be leaving town, but Wily Mo Peña isn’t about ready to give it all up.
The Beavers first baseman helped beat the Iowa Cubs, 7-4, with a home run and three RBIs, going 4 for 5 on the road at Principal Park. Since joining the team back on July 20, Wily Mo is batting .385 with 19 RBIs in 18 games and is showing some scouts he belongs back in the bigs.
The 28-year-old minor league free-agent, last played for the Washington Nationals in 2008 after spending parts of his eight-year career with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox.
As head coach Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks prepare to move forward from a scandal filled season and a Rose Bowl defeat to Ohio State, Jeremiah Masoli is also trying to move on.
The mercurial quarterback now with Ole Miss may give Mississippi the chance to make some rebel noise if he can mature on and off the field. That’s really the focus now for Masoli – or least it should be.
Ryan Katz will quarterback the Oregon State Beavers and Jacquizz Rodgers is already pulling down Heisman praise and mentions. But how much of Rodgers success this season is placed in Katz’s hands? Will it be a smooth handoff this season?
Katz – at 6-1 and 209 pound sophomore - fills the void left by Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao, and as camp gets underway for Oregon State, Katz is ready for what comes his way.
In the minors, the Eugene Emeralds and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes meet up for a three-game series starting tonight in Salem in Class A Northwest League play. Former University of Portland catcher, Rocky Gale – who now plays for Eugene and grew up in North Salem – makes a homecoming appearance and his roots run deep in the game: his dad Paul Gale is a major league scout for the Houston Astros. Don Larson – the famed New York Yankees pitcher who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series – will also be on hand to throw out the first pitch and sign autographs.
photo: celticspride
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