Friday, July 29, 2011

Robert Kubica

Renault’s Robert Kubica was fastest in opening practice on Friday ahead of the weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

The Polish driver clocked a fastest lap of one minute 26.927 seconds out of the 22 laps he completed on the Albert Park street circuit in fine, dry conditions.

Kubica was 0.199secs quicker than German Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg (1:27.126) with reigning world champion Jenson Button third fastest in 1:27.482 in his McLaren Mercedes.

Ferrari’s Brazilian racer Felipe Massa came in fourth best in 1:27.511 ahead of Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (1:27.686) in a Red Bull-Renault.

Spanish two-time world champion Fernando Alonso clocked the sixth best lap time of 1:27.747 in his Ferrari ahead of the 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren Mercedes in 1:27.793.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, making a comeback this season with Mercedes GP Petronas, came in 12th fastest in 1:28.550 in his first tilt around Albert Park this week.

Australian Mark Webber, bidding to win his home GP in his Red Bull-Renault, was 14th quickest in 1:28.683.

The red flag came out twice in the session with Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi striking trouble with his BMW-Sauber

Kobayashi lost his front wing after hitting a kerb and then the wing appeared to come loose and break away in his second stint in practice.

The drivers will have a second practice session later on Friday ahead of Sunday’s Australian GP.

John Smoltz Base Ball Player

John Smoltz is progressing along just fine from June 2008 right shoulder surgery. Smoltz has a 1.59 ERA in 3 rehab starts so far. Smoltz has pitched 11 1/3 innings in those 3 starts and has not walked a batter while striking out 10. On Sunday, Smoltz pitched 5 innings at Class A Greenville – 73 pitches, 52 strikes, 1 run on 4 hits with 6 strikeouts.

Assuming continued pain-free sessions for Smoltz, he will make 2 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket and then join the Red Sox at the major league level. Should be interesting to see how GM Theo Epstein and Manager Terry Francona juggle the pitching staff with the addition of Smoltz. Smolt is very positive and optimistic about his ability to pitch well at the highest level for the rest of the season: “I felt really good. And for the most part, I tried to establish my fastball. I had a cranky beginning, but it worked itself out and I got into a nice little groove. I think I’m going to get a little more complete each time. For the most part, I’m really pleased with today’s effort. I felt really fresh in the 5th inning, even though it’s the longest stint I’ve had.

Good news Red Sox fans. Especially with the Yankees clicking on all cylinders right now, it will be great to have Smoltz make his Red Sox debut sooner rather than later – it’s almost like making a pre-trade deadline trade for a top-notch pitcher in June. Let’s hope it all works out OK.

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John Smoltz and his beard may be done forever.

Published on June 4, 2008 by The Sloth · No Comments

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, who in addition to being one third of the 3 sure-fire Hall of Fame inductees to come up with the team during the 80′s (Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux being the other two) also rocks one the longest running beards in all of sports, and he may be done pitching forever as of today.

The 21 year vet who has spent his entire career with the same team said his shoulder has been troubling him all year and he just can’t take it anymore. He is going to have immediate surgery by Dr. James Andrews, who has operated on pretty much every pitcher at one point in their career. After watching the got the feeling that he thinks he isn’t going to pitch anymore, and that he would be happy just to be able to lift his arm above his head.

I’m not a Braves fan or anything, but they have been doing it about as right as a team can do it for the past 20 years or so. They have held on to all of their stars for a as long as they could without ever crippling the franchise by over paying to keep them, they made the playoffs for over a decade straight, and in the age where managers get fired like Taco Bell employees, they have held on to Bobby Cox since I didn’t even know how babies were made, so I root for him to pull of a miracle.
I doubt Smoltz can come back from major shoulder surgery at 41 years old. But the dude has more scars on his pitching arm than a cutter goth chick and he’s been able to come back from all of his previous surgeries successfully, so who knows?

Red Sox John Smoltz, is setting to return off the disabled list this season on June 25th. John Smoltz has not started a game since June 2nd of 2008. For now John Smoltz is going to start for the Triple-A Pawtucket team. Before joining the Red Sox last year Smoltz was a starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves for 21 years, he has a career record of 210-147 with 3,011 strikeouts.
Since Smoltz's injury his replacement has been Daisuke Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka has struggled alot since replacing Smoltz, but that would all end on next Thursday. Coach Terry Francona says,"He's spent a lot of time getting ready to come back and help us and he's been unbelievably cooperative.He's been tremendous. He wants to help us win and he hasn't gotten caught up in just coming back to make an appearance for the Red Sox. He understands the big picture, which we're appreciative of. I think as an organization we'll be rewarded for that, because I think he's going to pitch well."
John Smoltz said this on Tuesday,"I'm going to have an abbreviated game tomorrow and then next week; it looks like Thursday against the Nationals will be my first start,That gives me plenty of time to figure everything out, get situated and anxiously await my first start." As for the rest of the Red Sox fans we will just have to what happens next Thusday.