Which teams will Major League Baseball's top 5 free agents sign with?

Where will the top free agents land? What are the possibilities? The offseason in baseball is always interesting. Every year there are top free agents who will consider offers from different teams. This year is no different. According to MLB.com and other observers, Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Patrick Corbin, Michael Brantley and Craig Kimbrel are the top free agents in baseball. It will be interesting to see which teams they will sign with.

1. Manny Machado - Short Stop/Third baseman. Machado may be the most talented free agent available. He is good hitting infielder who is 26 years of age. He did not play as well as the Dodgers had hoped he would after they acquired him. During the post season, Machado told reporters that he does not hustle. This will probably impact how teams feel about him. One executive, when talking to Bill Madden, of the New York Daily News, said that if Machado talks this way before he signs a big contract, he will probably have a worse attitude after he signs his new contract. Do teams want to sign someone like that? How would that impact team chemistry? These are questions that general managers will have to consider. Machado is arguably the most talented free agent, but teams may be concerned with his attitude.

Grant Brisbee, of sbnation.com, thinks teams should seriously think of signing Machado. Brisbee says "How many players have hit 175 homeruns before their age 26 season? Just 17, including Hank Aaron, with whome Machado is tied. How many players have accumulated 30 wins above replacement before their age 26 season? That would be 32, with Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, and Joe DiMaggio just sneaking on the bottom of the list, behind Machado." So, Brisbee thinks, based on Machado's accomplishments, that a team should give him a chance. Brisbee sees Machado as a very talented player who can make a difference for whatever team he signs with.

Brisbee says "The Phillies just might be interested in spending a chunk of their available money on a young superstar. It was probably the plan to attack this offseason before 2018 even started, and their relative success likely emboldened them. They are near the bottom of the league in attendance, and while I'm not sure if Machado sells tickets on his own , he certainly helps teams win. Winning sells tickets." Brisbee contends that the Phillies have the money and want to build on last season's success. Additionally, Machado would probably help at the box office.

However, Brisbee predicts that the Chicago Cubs will trade Kris Bryant and sign Machado to a 10 year deal worth 330 million dollars. However, this would probably only happen if Bryant is traded. The Cubs may be more interested in signing Machado than in offering Bryant an extension.

According to usatoday.com, sports writers have various opinions of where Machado could wind up. Bob Nightengale thinks Machado will sign with the Yankees because "Machado badly wants to play in New York, and the Yankees need him." Gabe Lacques thinks that he will sign with the Phillies because they have the money to sign him. Ted Berg, like Nightengale, thinks he will sign with the Yankees because of Didi Gregorious' Tommy John surgery, Brian Cashman's ability to get the Yankees below the luxury tax threshold and Berg's opinion that Machado is a better fit for the Yankees than Bryce Harper. Steve Gardner, like Lacques, thinks he will sign with the Phillies because of the money that they have available. Jesse Yomtov thinks the New York Mets will sign him because the Mets have been frugal so they will have money to spend this off season. Finally, Scott Boeck also thinks that Machado will sign with the Yankees because of Gregorious' Tommy John surgery.

Yankees' general manager, Brian Cashman has said that he and the team's representatives will sit down with Machado. Clearly, the Yankees are interested in Machado. However, they are concerned about Machado's lack of hustle and his reputation as a dirty player. Yankees' owner Hal Steinbrenner has said that the Yankees have a strong enough clubhouse to manage a player with a questionable attitude. This is possible, however, Michael Kay and others have emphasized that the Yankees have young players who may be impressionable and could be lead astray by Machado's questionable attitude. Certainly any team, including the Yankees, have to be comfortable with a player before they can offer a long term lucrative contract of close to 300 million dollars.



2. Bryce Harper - Outfielder. Harper rejected a 10 year deal for 300 million dollars from his current team- the Washington Nationals. Harper's agent, Scott Boras, has compiled a 100 page portfolio and a video presentation on Harper. Boras does this for all of his top clients. Boras has argued that Harper should get a 10 year deal for 400 million dollars. Boras believes that Harper is worth that money because he is hitting free agency at age 26, so he could have 10 prime years for his new club. Boras also points out that Harper would have financial value for a team that could make money off of his jerseys, tee shirts and other memorabilia associated with him. Boras bypasses general managers and goes right to the owners for clients like Harper because teams are making such a big baseball and financial investment in someone like Harper.

Supposedly, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees have a chance at signing Harper. Some have mentioned that the Chicago White Sox may have an outside chance as well. The White Sox have money to spend on Harper and could be involved in the Harper sweepstakes. Some have also mentioned the Houston Astros as a possibility. The Astros tried to trade for Harper last year before the Nationals' owner nixed the deal. If Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton sign with other teams, the Astros would have additional revenue to make a play for Harper.

Harper always thought highly of Mickey Mantle and wanted to play for the Yankees. However, New York's acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton last year makes it less likely that New York would sign Harper. The Yankees are also deep at the outfield position. Additionally, the Yankees need pitching, and are more likely to focus on signing two or three pitchers. The Yankees may consider signing Harper if they trade Stanton to the Dodgers- the team that was Stanton's first choice to be traded to when he was with the Miami Marlins. The Yankees were his second choice, however, he helped New York get to the playoffs and was especially important to them when Aaron Judge was injured.

The Yankees may also consider signing Harper if he wanted to play first base. When the Nationals were at Yankee Stadium, Harper was seen taking grounders at first base. No doubt this was a message to the Yankees that he was willing to switch positions from the outfield to first base. Harper switched from catcher to the outfield after he was drafted out of high school by the Nationals. So, Harper knows how to switch positions. He can adapt his game. Nevertheless, the Yankees still seem like a long shot because of their need for pitching.

Nightengale thinks that Harper will stay in Washington because "He loves it there, and they love him." Lacques thinks that Harper will sign with the Dodgers because "They need a franchise player." Berg thinks he will sign with the Astros because Harper "would give them an historically good lineup that'd make them an instant favorite for 2019."

Jon Taylor, of Sports Illustrated, says that the Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers and the Nationals are the favorite to sign Harper. Taylor says "We saw what happened when everything went right for the Cubs in 2016; we've also seen what happened when you throw a wrench in the machine. Few if any teams can match Chicago's ceiling, but even super teams can stumble. Harper would help create distance between from surging Milwaukee and give them another stud under -30 player to extend their window of title contention." So, Taylor thinks that Harper may put the Cubs over the top and make it difficult for the Brewers to catch them. Milwaukee's success last season shows that they are a team to be reckoned with. So, the Cubs need to continue to improve if they are going to stave off the pesky Brewers.

Regarding the Dodgers, Taylor says "Los Angeles almost had Harper in August in a trade that would've sent him to Hollywood and Yasiel Puig to Washington. Now, though, the Dodgers can just play Harper and Puig together." Taylor also suggests that signing Harper makes sense for Los Angeles because the Dodgers have gotten close two years in a row.

Taylor also thinks the Phillies should strongly consider signing Harper. Taylor says "Harper makes so much sense for the Phillies. He provides a steady middle of the order presence in an inconsistent lineup. He puts an end to the Rys Hoskins Experiment in the outfield. He's insurance against Odubel Herrera's inconsistency and the growing pains of Aaron Altherr and Nick Williams. He'd help them contend now and later as the centerpiece of a young , bright roster." So, Taylor suggests that Harper would help them rebuild now and become contenders in the future. Harper would make them better immediately and help them build for the future.

Finally, there are the Washington Nationals. Taylor says "The Nationals may already be out of the running, having made a 10-year, $300 million offer to Harper that he and Boras summarily rejected. Whether or not he's still open to returning to D.C. despite that being Washington's first (and perhaps only) overture is unknown. But I have to imagine that the Nats want him back. He's the face of the franchise, and it's clear that the connection between player and city and fans is deep and vibrant." After all the excitement of Harper's free agent, he may decide to stay in Washington. Maybe he will decide to spend all or most of his career in the nation's capital.



3. Patrick Corbin- Starting pitcher. Corbin is the best free agent starting pitcher available. Corbin, a left hander, is 29 years of age. Last year, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Corbin went 11-7 with an ERA of 3.15. Corbin struck out 246 batters and started 33 games for the Diamondbacks last season. According to riveraveblues.com, "Corbin is a four pitch pitcher, working with a low-90's four-seamer, a low 90's sinker, a low to mid 80's change-up, and a low-80s slider." So, Corbin has a variety of pitchers that should help him to remain a successful pitcher. He can change speeds and he can keep hitters off balance.

The Yankees have been linked to Corbin because he has said that he would like to play for them. Corbin grew up in upstate New York as a Yankee fan. Also, he is left handed, which should make him a good fit in Yankee stadium. The Yankees have the money to make a run at Corbin. They have a need for starting pitching and the fit seems real. Corbin should be the Yankees' number one priority this off season. The Yankees need to add a top notch pitcher to be able to compete with Houston and Boston. Corbin makes sense for the Yankees. Corbin has to decide if he is comfortable pitching in New York for the team that he grew up rooting for.

However, other teams will be interested in Corbin. George Stockburger, of thatballsoutofhere.com, says that the Philadelphia Phillies would also be a good fit for Corbin. Stockburger says "Corbin allowed 15 home runs last year, nine of which were at Chase Field in Arizona. The dimensions for Chase Field and Citizens Bank Park are very similar in terms of distance to the walls. The right field wall in Philadelphia is five feet closer to home than the one in Arizona, and the center field wall in Arizona is a couple of feet deeper than the one in Citizens Bank Park. Nearly half of the home runs given up by Corbin this year went to left field. While the wall in Philadelphia is a foot closer than the one in Arizona, it's three feet taller, which could help with line drive home runs." So, Stockburger thinks Corbin would be good for Philadelphia because of the dimensions of Citizens Bank Park. Corbin may consider this when he evaluates his options.

Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman of MLB. com discussed Corbin's options. They say that he could consider signing with the Anaheim Angels, the team that originally drafted him. He never played one game for Anaheim. He was traded to Arizona in 2010. Mintz and Shusterman said the Angels are in need of rotation assistance and Corbin could be an option. Mintz and Shusterman say that the Milwaukee Brewers could also be an option because they invested heavily last off season in Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. So, perhaps they will continue to improve their team with a big free agent signing this off season. According to Mintz and Shusterman, the Nationals are a possibility to land Corbin if it does not retain Harper, and the Astros could sign Corbin if they lose Dallas Keuchel or Charlie Morton to other clubs.

However, most observers believe that Corbin is headed to the Bronx to play for the Yankees.

Mark Feinsand, of mlb.com, makes a case for Patrick Corbin. Feinsand says "Corbin's big year came at the perfect time, as he's now considered by many to be the top free agent starting pitcher this offseason. He won't turn 30 until next July, and as the top lefty on the market (ahead of Dallas Keuchel and J.A. Happ), he will surely be in demand. Corbin's hits, walks and home runs per nine innings have all gone down in each of the past two seasons, an encouraging sign for his future." So, according to Feinsand, Corbin should be a good signing for a team. He should pitch well in the future for his new team



4. Michael Brantley - outfielder. Brantley is the third best offensive player available this offseason. Brantley hit .309 with 17 home runs and 76 runs batted in. Brantley hits and throws left handed. He is 31 years of age. The Cleveland Indians are the only team he has ever played for.

Mike Axisa, of cbssports.com, reports that Brantley is one of the Atlanta Braves' top priorities. Axisa says that Atlanta could sign Brantley to play left field and move Ron Acuna to right field. Axisa says that Brantley is "regarded as a good defender and a quality veteran presence in the clubhouse." Axisa says that Brantley would probably bat second in the Braves' lineup if they signed him.

According to John Town, the Braves, White Sox and Phillies have already offered deals to Brantley. It will be interesting to see if he signs with one of those teams or another team. According to Towns, Brantley is projected to get a three year deal worth 45 million dollars during this offseason.

Terry Pluto, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, says that Brantley will not return to Cleveland. Additionally, Mark Polishuk, of mlbtraderumors.com, says that "A reunion between the two sides seems unlikely, as Brantley's strong 2018 season has put him in line for a lucrative free agent contract." Pluto and Polishuk both believe that the Indians either do not have the money or are not willing to commit the money to sign Brantley.

Vinnie Duber, of nbcsports.com, says the White Sox could consider signing Brantley. Duber says "The main concern with Brantley is his health. He played in just 101 games over the 2016 and 2017 seasons. But he played in 143 games in 2018, a positive sign." The White Sox may sign him if they think he can continue to stay healthy and avoid injury.

Duber also says The White Sox don't need an outfielder like Brantley, necessarily. They're not expected to contend for a championship in 2019, and the outfield is perhaps the deepest area in their minor league system...But the White Sox current major league outfield leaves a lot to be desired, with subpar offensive seasons from Adam Engel, Nicky Delmonico and Avisail Garcia in 2018 and Daniel Palka seemingly best suited for a DH role. Brantley would be an obvious upgrade from an offensive standpoint." So, while Duber concedes that the White Sox are rebuilding, he still thinks it is possible that Chicago could sign Brantley.

Ryan Fagan, of sportingnews.com, is also concerned with Brantley's injury history. However, if he can stay healthy, Fagan thinks he could be a good signing. Fagan also says "It's worth noting, too, that Brantley is the kind of future-coach-veteran who makes a positive impact in the clubhouse even when he's on the DL." So, Brantley's positive attitude and leadership could sway teams to sign him.


5. Craig Kimbrel- relief pitcher. Last year, Kimbrel went 5-1 with 42 saves and a 2.74 ERA. He helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series. He will be in demand as a closer. He has been a reliable closer who has accumulated 333 career saves and an ERA career ERA of 1.91. His career "Wins Above Replacement" is 20.2. He has been steady and consistent, and figures to be reliable for two or three years more, perhaps longer.

Mintz and Shusterman point out that Kimbrel's career ERA (1.91) is the lowest among relievers in baseball history. The second lowest ERA for relievers is Kelly Jansen's 2.20. So, Kimbrel is head and shoulders above any reliever in history. This certainly bodes well for Kimbrel as he tries to secure a free agent contract.

Mintz and Shusterman say that the New York Mets may be interested. Mintz and Shusterman say "Mets relievers posted an ERA of 4.96 this past season, which ranked 28th in MLB. Kimbrel alone could boost the Mets 'pen all the way up to average, if not better." Mintz and Shusterman say the St.Louis Cardinals could also be interested. Mintz and Shusterman point out that "It's now been three unfathomable seasons without postseason baseball for St.Louis, so the Cardinals may be itching to get back in the October mix with a signing like Kimbrel." Mintz and Shusterman also say that the Anaheim Angles could be interested in Kimbrel because "Ever since the days of Troy Percival and K-Rod, the Angels have struggled to find a shutdown closer of Kimbrel's caliber and consistency." Finally, Mintz and Shusterman suggest that the Phillies may also sign Kimbrel because Seranthony Dominguez was talented, but inconsistent as a closer last season. So, perhaps the Phillies will sign the more consistent Kimbrel.

However, Mintz and Shusterman believe that Kimbrel will ultimately sign with the Braves. Mintz and Shusterman point out that Kimbrel started his potentially hall of fame career with Atlanta and may want to go back to Atlanta. Mintz and Shusterman point out that Kimbrel lead the National League is saves each of his four seasons with the Braves.

The Red Sox offered Kimbrel a one year qualifying offer, which he did not accept. If Kimbrel signs with another team, then the Red Sox will receive a compensatory draft pick.

Matt Collins, of overthemonster.com., says "Kimbrel is an all time great at his position who is still in his prime, and the market has traditionally paid those guys. Last year, Wade Davis was the highest paid reliever and he got a three year deal worth $52 million." Collins seems to believe that Kimbrel will get paid more than Davis did.

Teams are always looking for closers, so Kimbrel should receive much interest from various teams. He will have his choice of teams to sign with.

It will be interesting to see where these 5 players will end up. They will have a busy off season meeting with various teams and mulling different options and offers.

After a single season in the Southern Tier, Tim Tebow shuffles off to Syracuse

The New York Mets have promoted Tim Tebow to Triple A Syracuse. Previously, Tebow played for Double A Binghamton, Single A Columbia and Single A St. Lucie. Tebow is climbing the minor league ladder in hopes that he may one day suite up in City Field for the Mets.

He has suffered growing pains over the last two seasons. However, his game showed some serious improvement last year. Tebow raised his batting average in Binghamton and he became a better all around hitter. His gradual improvement was enough to make New York promote him to Syracuse.

In rookie ball at St. Lucie, Tebow hit .231 with 5 home runs and 29 RBI's. At Columbia, Tebow hit .220 with 3 home runs and 23 RBI's. Last year, with Binghamton, Tebow hit .273 with 6 home runs and 36 RBI's. His fielding percentage has also improved over the last two years. In 2017, with St.Lucie he had a .952 fielding percentage, while with Columbia he had a .879 fielding percentage. Last year in Binghamton, he had a .988 fielding percentage.

Last year, in an interview with the Syracuse Post Dispatch, Binghamton manager Luis Rojas said that Tebow was catching up better with fastballs and that he was doing better with secondary pitches as well. Rojas said that Tebow had improved defensively as well. Tebow's promotion to Syracuse suggests that the Mets' organization has noticed significant improvement in Tebow's game.

Tebow spent 12 years away from baseball. He stopped playing baseball after his junior year in high school. He resumed playing baseball in 2017 at age 29. Considering Tebow had had a long hiatus away from the game, he has done well in the minor leagues. Tebow seems committed to baseball and wants to become a major league baseball player.

If Tebow is eventually promoted to the New York Mets, he would join Deion Sanders, Brian Jordan and Bo Jackson as players who have played both Major League Baseball and in the NFL. A total of 70 athletes have played in the NFL and Major League Baseball. Tebow would be one of the more high profile athletes to do both. Only Jackson garnered as much publicity as Tebow.

Tebow has homered in his first at bat for St. Lucie, Columbia and Binghamton. No doubt his first at bat in Syracuse will attract much attention.

Tebow's presence in Binghamton lead to greater attendance for the Rumble Ponies in road games and in home games. The Rumble Ponies had their best home attendance numbers in 25 years. 220,279 tickets were sold in 2018. Each home game had an average attendance of 3,553 fans. Additionally, jerseys with Tebow's name on the back were sold at the team's gift shop. There was a noticeable "Tebow effect" at the box office, in the stadium and in the community in 2018.

Syracuse is hoping that Tebow can make a similar impact for their club. Last year the Syracuse Mets had 4,202 fans per home game, which was the second lowest average attendance in the International League. The Syracuse Mets will probably sell jerseys with Tebow's name on the back as well.

When the Syracuse Sky Chiefs were the triple A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper played a few games there. However, both Strasburg and Harper were on the fast track to the majors, so neither had a strong impact upon the Syracuse organization or the community. Depending on how long Tebow plays in Syracuse, he should have a greater impact at the box office, on the field and in the community.

Tebow worked hard while he was in Binghamton. He was often the first person and the stadium on game days and for practices. He was often one of the last to leave. Tebow lead by example and by word. Tebow will probably bring the same positive attitude to Syracuse. Any club house can benefit from his character and leadership.

Tebow does not project as a starting major league outfielder. Instead, he figures to be a fourth or fifth outfielder for a big league team. He could also be utilized as a left handed bat off the bench in late innings. At the tripe A level, Tebow will need to continue to improve his ability to hit secondary pitchers. He will have to maintain his bat speed and improve his defense. Tebow has improved his game a lot over the last two seasons. If Tebow wants to reach the big leagues, he needs to continue to improve.

While in Syracuse, Tebow will have to improve his pitch recognition and his ability to hit breaking balls. He needs to continue to improve his defense. Additionally, Tebow needs to maintain his power. He needs to maintain his ability to hit home runs and doubles. He needs to continue to drive runs in and hit well with runners in scoring position. The Triple A level will represent another challenge for Tebow. So, far he has done his best to overcome all challenges that have been put before him.

Scott Hahn's book "The Lamb's Supper" portrays the Mass as an important means of understanding the Book of Revelation. Hahn says "I propose that the key to understanding the Mass is the biblical book of Revelation - and further that the Mass is the only way a Christian can truly make sense of the Book of Revelation." Hahn believes that the Mass and the Book of Revelation are connected. He believes that they shed light upon one another.

Hahn believes that the Mass grants insight into heaven. He believes that the Mass presents a foretaste of heaven. Hahn says "Yet, I insist that we do go to heaven when we go to Mass, and this is true of every Mass we attend, regardless of the quality of the music of the fervor of the preaching." Hahn's belief in the connection between the Mass and heaven is strong. He believes that Christians mystically enter heaven when we attend Mass.

Hahn continues by saying "The Mass- and I mean every single Mass- is heaven on a Earth. I assure you that this is not my idea; it is the Church's. Neither is it a new idea; it's been around since the day John had his apocalyptic vision." Hahn suggests that this is the Catholic Church's position, which is rooted in God himself.

Hahn discusses the first Mass that he ever attended. At first, Hahn was skeptical. So, he went as an observer, not as a worshipper.

However, Hahn was struck by how biblical the Mass was. Hahn says "As the Mass moved on, however, something hit me. My bible wasn't just beside me. It was before me me in the the words at the Mass." Suddenly Hahn saw the connection between the Mass and the scriptures. He saw the Mass as deeply rooted in scripture. Likewise, he saw the scripture in the Mass.

Hahn says "In less than a minute, the phrase "Lamb of God" had rung out four times. From long years of studying the Bible, I immediately knew where I was in the Book of Revelation, where Jesus is called the Lamb no less than twenty - eight times in twenty - two champ tees." Once again, Hahn saw the connection between the Book of Revelation and the Mass. The Mass reminded him of the Book of Revelation.

As Hahn did more research, he discovered that the early Church connected the Mass to the Book of Revelation as well. Hahn says "I plunged with renewed vigor into my study of ancient Christianity and found that the earliest bishops, the Fathers of the Church, had made the same discovery I was making every morning." Hahn understood that the conclusions that he was making had already been made by the Catholic Church centuries ago.

Hahn also connected the Old Testament's appreciation of sacrifice. Hahn says "To ancient Israel, the lamb was identified with sacrifice, and sacrifice is one of the most primal forms of worship." Hahn discusses the offering made by Noah, Abraham, Jacob and others. Hahn also addresses the sacrifices in Genesis made by Mechizedek, Abraham and Isaac.

Hahn points out that "Melchizedek's sacrifice was extraordinary in that it involved no animals. He offered bread and wine, as Jesus would at the Last Supper, when He instituted the Eucharist. Melchizedek's sacrifice ended with a blessing upon Abraham." Perhaps Melchizedek's offering foreshadowed Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.

Hahn also says that "Christians would later look upon the story of Abraham and Isaac as a profound allegory for the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross. The similarities were many. First, Jesus, like Isaac, was a faithful father's only beloved son." Here, Hahn addresses the connection between the Old and New Testaments.

Hahn points out that Israel offered its daily sacrifices to God at the Temple at Jerusalem. Two lambs were sacrificed every day, "one in the morning and one in the evening, to atone for the sins of the nation." So, sacrifice became a part of the daily life of the Jewish people. It started at Passover and then proceeded to the daily lives of the Jewish people.

Hahn emphasized that these sacrifices were not enough. Hahn says that "God demanded an interior sacrifice as well." In a way, the sacrifice of Passover and the daily sacrifices at the Temple prepared the Israelites for the interior sacrifices they would be called by God to make.

Hahn also discussed the parallels between Jesus Christ and the Passover. Hahn says "But, Passover had more than an ordinary importance in Jesus' life; it was central to his mission, a definitive moment. Jesus is the Lamb." Jesus is the Lamb of a God. The offering of lambs in the Jewish faith prefigured the death and resurrection of Christ.

Hahn also discusses the different parts of the Mass. First, Hahn addresses the routine of the Mass. Hahn says "Faithfulness to our routines is a way of showing love. We just don't work, or thank, or offer affection when we really feel like it. Real love are loves we live with constancy, and that constancy shows itself in routine." Hahn is trying to show the importance of routine at the Mass. Hahn makes the point that the early Christians, including St. Paul had "concern with ritual precision and liturgical etiquette."

Hahn says "The rites of the Christian liturgy are the set phrases that have proven themselves over time: the thank- you of God's children, the I-love you of Christ's spouse, the Church. The liturgy is the habit that makes us highly effective, not just in the "spiritual life," but in life generally, since life must be lived in a world that's made and redeemed by God." So, Hahn points out that the liturgy, or the Mass, has been passed down by the Catholic Church over time. The liturgy helps to give scope and definition to our faith in Christ. It helps us to persevere and find order in our faith in Christ.

Hahn also points out that the "Liturgy engages the whole person: body, soul and spirit." At Mass, and perhaps at other Christian liturgies, our body, soul and spirit are involved in the worship of Christ. Our body, soul and spirit are orientated towards Christ.

Hahn points out that the Mass is divided into the "Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist." Hahn explains that "In the Latin Church, the Liturgy of the Word includes the entrance, the introductory rites, the penitential rite, and the readings from Scripture. The Liturgy of the Eucharist could be marked off in four sections: the offertory, the Eucharistic Prayer, the Communion rite, and the concluding rite. Though the actions are many, the Mass is one offering, and that is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which renews our covenant with God the Father." So, as Hahn points out, the primary reason for the Mass is to strengthen our covenant with God, the Father. The goal of the Mass is to strengthen our relationship with God.

Hahn continues by saying "Jesus' sacrifice would accomplish what all the blood of millions of sheep and bulls and goats could never do." The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ fulfills all previous sacrifices. It is the final sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world.

Hahn addresses the battles discussed in the book of revelation as well. When dealing with the battles of revelation, Hahn suggests that we need to consider the "senses of scripture." When dealing with this issue, Hahn says "From the earliest times, Christian teachers have spoken of the Bible as having a literal sense and a spiritual sense. The literal sense may describe a historical person, place or event. The spiritual sense speaks -through that same person, place or event - to reveal a truth about Jesus Christ, or the moral life, or the destiny of our souls, or all three." So, Hahn points out that there are different layers to the scripture. Additionally, there are different layers to the Book of Revelation.

Hahn points out that "Tradition teaches us, however, that the literal sense is foundational. Yet, identifying the literal sense of the Book of Revelation is a most difficult enterprise...Interpreting the book of Revelation is further complicated because the literal and spiritual senses seem to merge in John's vision." So, Hahn admits that understanding and interpreting the Book of Revelation is tough. It is not easy. It requires patience.

Hahn says "In the Apocalypse, John alludes to the severe trials Christians faced in his day. Since he rarely names names - and he never tells you the date, except to say it was "the Lord's day" - interpreters offer a long list of candidates for Revelation's tribulations: the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple (A.D 70); the emperor Nero's bloody persecution (A.D. 64); the later persecution by the emperor Dominition (A.D> 96); the earlier persecution of Christians by Jews (50s and 60s A.D.)." So, there are different persecutions that interpreters could refer to. Hahn points out that different events in history could apply to what John was talking about.

Hahn says "In a sense, of course, - a spiritual sense- all of these interpretations are true, because Revelation does offer encouragement to all Christians who undergo trials or persecution, to any degree. But in a literal sense, Revelation is, I believe, primarily about the fall of Jerusalem." So, Hahn acknowledges that the book of Revelation could apply spiritualy to many events. However, he believes that it points specifically to the fall of Jerusalem. He believes the literal sense of the book of Revelation points to the fall of Jerusalem.

Hahn says "From the very beginning, Revelation has an imminent tone: 'The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place (Rev1:1) The message recurs throughout the book: 'I am coming soon' (see 1:1, 3; 3:11; 22:6-7, 10, 12, 20). Jesus Himself indicated that He would return soon, even before a generation had passed since His Resurrection. "There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom." (Mt 16:28) "This generation will not pass away till all these things take place.' (Mt 24:34) So, Hahn points out that Jesus Christ was saying he would return soon. However, does that mean that his second coming would be imminent or that he would be present in the world and the Church in a special way? Of course, his imminent return refers to this second coming, but it also may apply to his unique presence in the church in in all Christians who believe in him. In a way, Jesus Christ remains in the world through Christians who profess his name and who believe in him. In a unique, way Christ is present in the scripture, the seven sacraments, the teaching of the Catholic Church on faith and morals and in a special way in the Mass. Christ's imminent return has also taken place through the Church. And, Christ is present in a unique way in every Christian who believes in him.

Hahn says "Today, most of us associate the 'soon' with the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the world. And this is surely true; both John and Jesus were speaking about the end of history. I think, however, that they were also- and primarily- speaking about the end of "a" world: the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, and with it the end of the world of the Old Covenant, with it's sacrifices and rituals, its barriers to gentiles, and it's barriers between heaven and earth. Yet the Parousia (or "coming") of Jesus was meant to be more than an ending; it was a beginning, a new Jerusalem, a New Covenant, a new heaven and earth." The Catholic Church teaches that not only has Christ redeemed individual souls. He has also redeemed all of creation. So, in a way Hahn is echoing Catholic teaching with his interpretation of the book of Revelation. Jesus Christ came to inaugurate a new time, a new kingdom of which he is the only head. It is Christ's kingdom. When people follow Jesus Christ on earth, these people contribute to the building up of this kingdom.

Within the context of the "Mass as heaven on Earth," Hahn addresses judgement. Hahn says the following of God's law and covenant: "A covenant is a sacred family bond. We can see that God- by His covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus - gradually extended that family relationship to more and more people. With each covenant came a law; but these were not arbitrary acts of power; they were expressions of fatherly wisdom and love." Hahn bases God's judgement on God's covenant with people. He says that "Sin comes from our refusal to keep the covenant, our refusal to love God as much as he loves us." Hahn continues by saying "Judgement, then, is not an impersonal, legalistic process. It is a matter of love, and it is something we choose for ourselves. Nor is punishment a vindictive act. God's 'curses' are not expressions of hatred, but of fatherly love and discipline. Like medicinal ointment, they hurt in order to heal. They impose a suffering that is remedial, restorative, and redemptive. God's wrath is an expression of His love for His wayward children." So, Hahn suggests that God's love for us is expressed as a covenant, which can never be broken. However, it can be wounded through personal sin that God punishes in order to restore us. Even the punishment is an expression of love.

Hahn emphasizes that this understanding of covenant helps us to understand the Book of Revelation. Hahn says "John's vision is not merely liturgical, or merely royal, or merely military. It is all these, but it is also juridical...To citizens of modern democracies, this combination might seem like chaos; but we should remember that, in ancient Israel, the king was commander in chief of the army, chief justice of the courts, and, ideally, high priest as well. As divine king, Jesus fulfilled all these roles par excellence." So, Hahn emphasizes that some of Christ's roles are present in the Book of Revelation. Ultimately, his role as judge of each person is present in the Book of Revelation.

On some level, we experience a foretaste of heaven and of God's judgement at Mass.

Hahn also addresses the presence of Christ. Hahn says "In Greek, the word is Parousia, and it conveys one of the key themes in the Book of Revelation. In recent centuries, interpreters have used the world almost exclusively to denote Jesus' Second Coming at the end of time...Yet, it is not the primary meaning. Parousia's primary meaning is a real, personal, living, lasting, and active presence. In the last line of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus promises "I will be with you always." So, the liturgy is a unique presence of God. It is an example of Christ's promise to be with us until the end of time.

Scoring in seven seconds - The fast paced game of the modern NBA

Mike Breen and Doris Burke recently discussed the offensive strategy in basketball of trying to score in 7 seconds or less. Breen mentioned that the analytics suggest that defenses are not set within those seven seconds so it becomes easier for an offense to score. Trying to score within 7 seconds is like trying to take advantage of a defense that may be off balance or slow to get back into position.

Trying to score in 7 seconds or less requires that a team be in peek condition. Trying to score quickly with each possession means that a team will be moving up the court faster than if they got into their half court offense. It requires that a team have intense focus and concentration. In addition, to being in good condition the players need to be able to shoot quickly and make quick decisions with the basketball.

A team cannot run this kind of offense unless it has the right players. An offensive strategy depends on the personnel that a team has. A team cannot run certain plays unless it has players who are well suited to that particular kind of offense. So, before a coach implements this approach, he has to make sure that he has the players who can make this approach successful.

As with any offensive approach, the players have to buy into the strategy. They have to have a good attitude and they have to be able to play together on the court and have the proper team chemistry. Collectively, the players have to have confidence in this kind of offense or style of play.

Playing this style of offense may harm a team defensively. For instance, a team may get tired and struggle to back defensively. However, a coach can make frequent substitutions to make sure that players are fresh and rested. A coach can have a good rotation of players who can substitute in and out of the game. This assures that the players on the court can maintain the fast paced nature of the offense. This also assures that the players can get back on defense.

Mike D'Antoni is largely credited with creating this style of play. First, he implemented this style of play with the Phoenix Suns. Then he tried it with the New York Knicks. Currently, the Houston Rockets implement the offense under D'Antoni's guidance.

Krossover.com says that there are 6 basic principles to this offense. First, there are good shots and better shots. In other words, look for the best shot that you can find quickly. Second, it takes only one second to pass the basketball to a player who is in a better position for a good shot. Third, look for an open shot. If the shot is open, then you should take it. Don't shoot contested shots. Fourth, the offensive system has similar plays, but each play is slightly different. In other words, there is a basic theme to the offense, but each play is a variation on that basic theme. Fifth, try to shoot the basketball before the offense gets set. This is the key to the offense. Try and catch the defense off balance. Try to score when the defense it as it's weakest point. Finally, the quicker you play, the less you will turn over the basketball. This offense requires fewer passes, so there should be fewer turnovers.

The offense is well thought out. As long as the players are in good shape and an run the offense effectively, then the offense makes sense.



Scott Davis, ofBusinessinsider.com, says that D'Antoni's style of play was behind the success that the Phoenix Suns experienced between 2004-2008. Davis says "D'Antoni found management that supported his vision. And the key to this vision was the acquisition of All-Star point guard Steve Nash, who gave D'Antoni the engine to his offense. D'Antoni moved Amare Stoudemire, an explosive power forward, to center. Around this dynamic pick-and roll duo, D'Antoni unleashed three sharpshooting, athletic wings, a rare structure at that time...The Suns went 62-20 during the 2004-05 season as D'Antoni won Coach of the Year and Nash won MVP. The "seven seconds or less" Suns - a term used to describe the pass of their offense- went 170-76 over the next three seasons, with Nash winning a second MVP in 2005-06." So, D'Antoni's success with the Suns proved that this offense worked. Nash was the right point guard and Stoudemire and Nash worked well with eachother. Additionally, the team's ability to make three point shots brought everything together for the Suns.

What the Suns started has continued with the Golden State Warriors. Steve Kerr was the general manager for part of D'Antoni's time in Phoenix. Now, Kerr coaches the Warriors. Davis says "The Kerr-led Warriors were like D'Antoni's Suns. Steve Curry was in the Steve Nash role, but was quicker and more deadly of a shooter. The Warriors pushed the pace and spread the floor with shooters, cutters, and defenders in Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, and Andre Iguodala. And more importantly, they had playmaking and defensive big men in Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut, something D'Antoni never had much on in Phoenix." D'Antoni provided Kerr with a blueprint that he could implement in Golden State. D'Antoni showed Golden State and other organizations what could happen with this syle of offense.

When D'Antoni came to Houston to coach the Rockets, he brought his system with him. Davis said "In Houston GM Daryl Morey. D'Antoni found a kindred spirit. Morey's basketball philosophy is analytically driven- three pointers, layups, and free throws are basketball's most efficient shots. Throw out mid range jumpers, deep twos and post ups; there are better shots to be taken. The two systems align." So, D'Antoni and Morey have been able to combine their two philosophies. D'Antoni and Morey are on the same philosophical page. They are in agreement about what works on a basketball court. When the GM and coach of a team are in agreement, an organization has a better chance of building a good team and winning basketball games. This has happened in Houston. Last year the Rockets made it to the Western Conference championship series. Ironically, they lost to the Warriors- the eventual NBA champs.

The Rockets play a little differently than the Suns did. In Houston, the players are more free to play isolation basketball. Chris Paul and James Harden are free to take their defender one on one and try and score in isolation. This is a variation of D'Antoni's system which prizes the pick and roll and quick shooting.

Howard Beck, writing for bleacherreport.com, says that D'Antoni "embraces - or at least tolerates - this version of iso-ball because it starts with his beloved pick and roll set, as opposed to the old school approach, where teams simply dumped the ball to a stationary player, cleared out and let him grind away. Just as important: Both Harden and Paul are elite, willing passers who can turn those isolation moments into playmaking opportunities." So, D'Antoni has been willing to adjust his system to fit the style of the players on his team. His coaching style is flexible enough to make changes and adjustments.

Since the Suns' 2004-05 season the NBA has changed a lot. The Suns may have begun a renaissance in the NBA, but other teams have continued that renaissance. The NBA has changed perhaps permanently. Now, most teams try and score quickly either through three point shots or drives to the basket. Kevin Arnovitz and Kevin Pelton, writing for ESPN.com, say "In the intervening seasons, a league that toiled at a snail's pace for the better part of a decade from the mid - 90's onward has systematically adopted a frenzied, rapid fire style of basketball. That uptick in pace has coincided with crowd-pleasing barrages of 3-pointers and attacks that exist as much in transition or "early offense" as they do in plodding half court sets." So, the fast paced offense of the Suns' in the 2004-05 season has become a staple of today's NBA. Offenses today are more fast paced than they were before the 2004 season.

Arnovitz and Pelton point out that that in the early 2000's the NBA wanted to quicken the pace of the game. During the 1990's, the game had slowed down. Teams were not scoring a lot and the game had become less exciting to many people. Arnovitz and Pelton point out that "As recently as 1987-88, 100 possession games had been the NBA norm. But with the exception of a brief blip upward in the early '80's, the pace of play had inexorably been trending slower for decades. Consider that in 1961-62, when Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points per game and Oscar Robertson a triple double, the average NBA game featured 107.7 shots per game by each team. By 1997-98, the last season before Michael Jordan's second retirement, that had dropped to 79.7 shots per game- a 26 percent decline." So, teams took less shots in the 1990's than in previous decades. Offenses were slower and defenses were able to stop players from taking shots and scoring points. Some may not see this has a problem. Some observers may think that this was due to good defense. However, some league observers felt that this particular trend made the game boring and unwatchable.



Early in 2001, Suns owner Jerry Colangelo talked to commissioner David Stern about changing the pace of play in the NBA. Stern agreed with Colangelo and gave him the authority to implement some changes to the game that would facilitate more offense and encourage a quicker paced game.

Colangelo met with Pete Newell, Jerry West, Jack Ramsay, Rod Thorn and some coaches and general managers to discuss some changes to the game. Anovitz and Pelton said "The committee plowed through the proposals, which included requiring teams to bring the ball over half court in eight seconds rather than 10.(Colangelo had suggested seven seconds.)The NBA's illegal defense rule, which had existed in one form or another to prohibit zone defenses since the league's earliest days , was scrapped. Instead, the committee proposed the defensive three-second rule, preventing defenders from loitering in the paint but allowing them to defend an area rather than an opponent elsewhere on the court." These proposals were made by an ad hoc committee which had the authority to implement the changes. Normally, the coaches would be able to vote on the changes, but the committee was basically informing the coaches that these changes would be implemented during the upcoming season. The changes were designed to quicken the flow of the game and make the game more exciting to watch. These changes helped lead to the Phoenix Suns' efforts to score on each possession in under 7 seconds.

The emphasis on the three point shot also lead to the Suns' success. Arnovitz and Pelton said "D'Antoni's Suns also popularized a trend that would delight players as much as anything since the advent of the NBA charter flight: the 3 pointer in transition. Historically, a team on the break was looking for it's best opportunity for a shot attempt at the rim. In Phoenix, players were not only permitted to hoist the ball from behind the arc in transition but also actively encouraged to do so. After all, the payout on such a successful attempt is 150 percent of a successful layup, and shooters such as Nash, Raja Bell, James Jones, Leandro Barbosa and Tim Thomas could drill wide-open 3s with impressive accuracy." The Suns had at least 5 players who could make three point shots with regularity. They could make the open three point shot quickly before the defense had time to position itself. Shooting the three point shot in transition became a part of the Suns' offense. Today it is a part of most teams' offensive strategy.

The Golden State Warriors may be the team that has implemented this strategy the best. Anovitz and Pelton say "During the 2017-18 season, the Warriors attempted 654 three pointers in the first seven seconds after a change of possession, according to Second Spectrum tracking - more 3s than any of Riley's Lakers championship teams attempted total. The Warriors made 43 percent of those attempts, equivalent to hitting almost 65 percent of 2-pointers." The Warriors' ability to hit a high percentage of three point shots in transition has helped them become so successful in recent years. This gives their offense an added dimension that opponents find difficult to stop or contain. It has helped the Warriors to win multiple championships.

The Warriors' success has lead other teams to follow suite. Other NBA teams want to emulate the success of the Warriors. Anovitz and Pelton said "In two decades' time, a shot that was once regarded as the ultimate act of selfishness has become the octane that fuels the offenses that glide into late spring. Following the Warriors' lead, the league as a whole is pulling the trigger on 3s more quickly. This season, nearly a quarter of all 3s were taken in the first seven seconds of the shot clock after a change of possession, easily the highest rate in the five seasons tracked by Second Spectrum." So, the three point shot has become more popular and more essential to team success.

Due to the rules changes it has become less effective to post up a center or a power forward on the block. In the past, when teams threw the ball to a power forward or center, the player would draw the double team, which meant another player was open. The power forward or the center would shoot or pass the ball to the open player. Arnovitz and Pelton said "Today, offenses still want to draw two defenders to the ball so they can pick up a 4-on-3 advantage, but rather than feed a big man such as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Hakeem Alajuwon or Patrick Ewing, they're utilizing pick and roll actions with guards such as Curry, James Harden or Chris Paul. It's a far easier way to leverage defenses in 2018, to say nothing of the ability of elite point guards to drain a step-back 3-pointer. Even the best post players of past eras didn't have that at their disposal, nor were there 39 percent 3-point shooters along the perimeter primed for a kickout pass. As post ups have declined, the game has sped up." So, teams are trying to score differently today. They are trying a different offensive approach. There is less of a focus on the center or the power forward and more of an emphasis on the guards. Teams are trying to score quicker and more efficiently.

The NBA has evolved and changed over the years. The goal of the game is still to get a ball into a basket. However, while the goal has not changed, the means to accomplishing the goal has changed. Teams are trying to score quicker now than in the past. Offensive strategies have evolved and the pace of the game has picked up.

Basketball has always been an entertaining game. It has always involved athleticism and talent. It will be interesting to see if more changes will come about over time. Will the game slow down? Will the post up come back into vogue? Will the current style of play remain for a while?
Finally, are these changes necessarily good for the game? Did the game need to change as much as it has? Was the game less entertaining when it was slower paced?

These are all questions that will be asked by basketball observers in the future. However, one thing remains certain: Basketball will always be a good and entertaining game.