BALLSTON SPA, NY – What a weekend.
From the Masters to the the showdown between the Western Conference’s top two teams and the first full 
weekend of MLB action, it was a jam-packed weekend for sports fans.
The best way to recap it all is with a fresh set of Ebs’ Hot Takes. Here we go!
Jordan Spieth is human. It’s funny, as I laid out Sunday’s edition of The Saratogian Saturday afternoon, I came across an Associated Press story on Nick Faldo’s 1996 Masters win, when he overcame a six-stroke deficit on the final day of the tournament. Well 20 years later, insert Danny Willett.
Sure Jordan Spieth held a five-stroke deficit heading into the final nine holes and a quadruple bogey ended up doing the defending champ in. But it’s not Spieth’s collapse that should be the headline… it’s Willett’s win.
Willett’s epic comeback will be a victory for the ages, and one that will change his career, and life. Look, Spieth’s human and he’ll come back much stronger from this.
The Golden State Warriors will break Chicago’s record. Sunday night’s game in San Antonio was the Golden State Warriors’ toughest game left on their schedule, and they got by the Western Conference powerhouse.
All that stands between Angry Ward’s Golden State and 73 wins is a home match-up against the Memphis Grizzlies. Sure, Memphis is a quality opponent but with a chance to break an NBA record at home in Oracle Arena, isn’t an opportunity the Warriors are going to pass up.
Not to mention the Warriors now have two days off to rest their legs. I wouldn’t want to be the Grizzlies Wednesday night.
Let me tell you a story about a guy named Trevor. Wow. What more can I say about Trevor Story?
Sure, the rookie phenom isn’t going to be able to keep up this historic pace, but it certainly is very impressive.
Impressive enough for me to trade New York Mets stud pitcher Noah Syndergaard for a package that included the Colorado Rockies shortstop.
It’s absolutely incredible that Story has seven home runs in just six games. Incredible.
Story’s outburst also puts the Rockies in an awkward situation when Jose Reyes comes back. If Story keeps even half of his pace up, the Rockies are going to have to play him somewhere because they can’t keep Reyes on the bench and they can’t send Story to the minors.
Interesting Story to watch, for sure.
The Buffalo Sabres are making the playoffs in 2017. By now those of you are all probably aware that I’m a Buffalo Sabres fan and folks, I hate to break it to you, but the Sabres are making the playoffs next year.
Yup, those perennial rebuilding Buffalo Sabres are going to make the playoffs in 2017.
Buffalo has a great core of rookie duo Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, all-star Ryan O’Reilly, stud Evander Kane and even more youth with Rasmus Ristolainen, Zemgus Girgensons and Marcus Foligno.
Buffalo went from a 54-win team last season to a 81-win team in 2016. That’s almost a 30-point difference, and with the Pegulas running the show, you know they’ll spend the money to bring in a winner. It’s not a stretch to think Buffalo could tack on 10 or 15 more points next season, good enough for a playoff spot.
Come back tomorrow to check out Fake Sandy Alderson/Big Al Sternberg.
