SB Nation Bay Area: All Posts by Pete Holby

#Panquake: Thoughts on settling in

2013-06-11T23:45:36Z

I've been at SB Nation for more than a year, and Bill just had to walk me through what to click to update a StoryStream. "I've got pancakes on my brain," I explained.

Through the first hour, Bill and I were both on pace to consume somewhere around 240 pancakes. This turned out to be a pace that was considerably less than sustainable, and as we work though Hour Four, things have slowed down. Bill's taken to lifting the pancake by hand and taking large bites, while I'm experimenting with angling the fork such that it produces an optical illusion tricking me into thinking I'm eating less than I am. Results are mixed.

Bill stands at 10 flapjacks, I'm at nine. We've got 20 hours to go, hangouts with rad guests lined up, and we'll keep to Twitter (@Sundownmotel and @Sorryeveryone), Instagram (@Sundownmotel and @Sorry_Everyone) and Vine to keep everyone updated. We're just shy of 75 percent of the way to our goal, so thank you to everyone who donated, especially the very generous folks at Denny's. If you haven't, head over to Crowdrise and see what you can do.

MLB Draft 2013 scouting report round-up: LHP/OF Trey Ball

2013-06-03T18:02:27Z

Drawing attention as both a pitcher and an outfielder, Trey Ball is one of the top-rated players coming out of the Midwest and is looking like a first-round pick. His fastball has been clocked at 94 mph, but he's shown some raw talent as a hitter, and that has some wondering what kind of power he could develop. Ball was named the Gatorade Indiana Baseball Player of the Year after finishing the year with a 0.76 ERA and an average of over 14 strikeouts per seven innings pitched.

Vital Statistics

Trey Ball
Pos	High School	Consensus Rank
LHP	New Castle	1st round
B/T	Birthdate (age)	Height / Weight
L/L	6/27/94 (18)	6'6 / 190

What They're Saying

Coast to Coast Prospects: "His future is almost certainly on the mound where his combination of projection and athleticism are sure to interest several teams."
Jim Callis, Baseball America: "He has put the [pitcher/outfielder] debate to rest by showing a 91-94 mph fastball and an improved curveball this spring, but he also would merit a second- or third-round selection as a position player."

PGA Money List 2013: Matt Kuchar closes in on Tiger Woods

2013-06-03T14:00:07Z

Matt Kuchar took home $1,116,000 after a final-hole birdie gave him the win at the 2013 Memorial Tournament, but that wasn't enough to catch Tiger Woods. Woods may have had a forgettable tournament, finishing tied for 65th, but he's still at the top of the PGA Tour money list. Even more significantly, Tiger got there while playing in six fewer tournaments than Kuchar.

Kuchar did manage to move from third place into second. That knocks Brandt Snedeker down to third, made possible by Snedeker's failure to make the cut at the Memorial. D.A. Points also failed to make the cut, but he managed to hold on to the final spot in the top 10. Adam Scott is the big mover in the top 10, jumping from eighth to sixth with a 13th-place, 3-under finish.

Neither Woods nor Kuchar will be at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, so if the two are going to have a showdown over the top spot on the money list, it will have to be at the U.S. Open.

Here's the current top 10 in earnings:

2013 PGA Tour Money List Leaders
Rank	Player	Earnings YTD	Tournaments	Wins
1	Tiger Woods	$5,862,496	8	4
2	Matt Kuchar	$4,333,082	14	2
3	Brandt Snedeker	$3,388,064	11	1
4	Billy Horschel	$2,588,447	14	1
5	Kevin Streelman	$2,572,989	15	1
6	Adam Scott	$2,327,550	7	1
7	Boo Weekley	$2,269,568	15	1
8	Phil Mickelson	$2,220,280	11	1
9	Bradley Keegan	$2,169,199	15	0
10	D.A. Points	$2,151,022	17	1

For the full list, click here.

More on golf

• Matt Kuchar wins The Memorial

• How has Tiger’s swing changed?

• ’It’s between my ears,’ Rory tells Jack

• Tiger dominating like it’s 2000

• Historically ‘rough day’ for Tiger at Jack’s place

FedEx Cup standings 2013: Matt Kuchar trims Tiger Woods' lead

2013-06-03T12:30:02Z

Tiger Woods is holding on to the No. 1 spot in the 2013 FedExCup standings, but Matt Kuchar is closing in. Kuchar took the victory at the 2013 Memorial Tournament, giving him 500 points and moving him into second place, just 423 points behind Tiger. Tiger has the top spot despite playing in six fewer tournaments than Kuchar, thanks to Tiger's four wins (to Kuchar's two.)

Tiger had some serious struggles at the Memorial, and with 500 points on the line in each tournament, Kuchar is within striking distance. Both men will be at the 2013 U.S. Open, so June may see a showdown over the top spot in the standings.

Brandt Snedeker was bumped from second to third by Kuchar's win, but for the most part the top 10 held steady. Keegan Bradley climbed up a notch despite finishing 4-over and tied for 50th, thanks to D.A. Points failing to make the cut.

Here's the current top 10:

2013 PGA FedEx Cup Season Points Leaders
Rank	Player	Points	Tournaments	Wins	Top 10s	Pts Behind
1	Tiger Woods	2,345	8	4	5	---
2	Matt Kuchar	1,922	11	2	6	423
3	Brandt Snedeker	1,474	11	1	5	871
4	Kevin Streelman	1,234	15	1	5	1,111
5	Billy Horschel	1,231	14	1	5	1,114
6	Boo Weekley	1,114	15	1	4	1,231
7	Phil Mickelson	1,003	11	1	3	1,342
8	Keegan Bradley	994	15	0	6	1,351
9	D.A. Points	985	17	1	2	1,360
10	Adam Scott	977	7	1	3	1,368

The full FedEx Cup standings are here.

More on golf

• Matt Kuchar wins The Memorial

• How has Tiger’s swing changed?

• ’It’s between my ears,’ Rory tells Jack

• Tiger dominating like it’s 2000

• Historically ‘rough day’ for Tiger at Jack’s place

U.S. Open sectional qualifying 2013: Tee times, pairings, courses and more

2013-06-03T12:00:09Z

The 2013 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying is already underway, but the United States portion begins on Monday, June 3, spread across 11 sectional sites. Each site hosts a tournament where golfers play 36 holes in competition for a limited number of spots, based on the quantity and quality of the field at a given sectional. Longer and more taxing than an average day in the life of a professional golfer, the events present unique challenges and can see some big surprises come out of the field.

The 17-year-old Beau Hossler is one of the players to watch. The young man led the field during the second round of the 2012 U.S. Open, the second time he had qualified for the event. He'll be playing in Newport Beach, Calif. The Brookside Golf & Country Club has the most spots on the line, 15, and features a field with 2002 U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes, 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir, and Davis Love III.

A list of Sectional Qualifying courses is below, with starting tee times, a few of the notable names from some of the fields, and a link to complete tee times and pairings for each. All times are Eastern.

Big Canyon Country Club & Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.

Notable name: Beau Hossler

Tee times: beginning at 10 a.m.

Spots available: Five

Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, Bradenton, Fla.

Notable name: Nick O'Hern

Tee times: beginning at 7:15 a.m.

Spots available: Three

Hawks Ridge Golf Club, Ball Ground, Ga.

Notable names: Billy Andrade, Heath Slocum

Tee times: beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Spots available: Three

Woodmont Country Club, Rockville, Md.

Notable names: Lee Janzen, Fred Funk, Rich Beem

Tee times: beginning at 7 a.m.

Spots available: Eight

Old Warson Country Club, St. Louis, Mo.

Tee times: beginning at 8 a.m.

Spots available: Two

Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club, Purchase, N.Y.

Tee times: beginning at 7 a.m.

Spots available: 3

Brookside Golf & Country Club and The Lakes Golf & Country Club, Columbus, Ohio

Notable names: Ricky Barnes, Mike Weir, Davis Love III

Tee times: beginning at 7 a.m.

Spots available: 15

Springfield Country Club, Springfield, Ohio

Notable names: Derek Ernst, James Hahn

Tee times: beginning at 7 a.m.

Spots available: Two

Colonial Country Club, Memphis, Tenn.

Tee times: beginning at 7:50 a.m.

Spots available: Nine

Lakewood Country Club, Dallas, Texas

Notable names: Tom Kite, Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton

Tee times: beginning at 8 a.m.

Spots available: Four

Tumble Creek Club, Cle Elum, Wash.

Tee times: beginning at 10 a.m.

Spots available: Two

More on Golf

• Matt Kuchar wins The Memorial

• How has Tiger’s swing changed?

• ’It’s between my ears,’ Rory tells Jack

• Tiger dominating like it’s 2000

• Historically ‘rough day’ for Tiger at Jack’s place

NFL news roundup: Carson Palmer and other potential breakouts in 2013

2013-06-03T11:52:19Z

You can feel the pressure building for the coming NFL season, with teams starting to take shape and more and more players figuring out where they stand with their team. More than a few players felt like they didn't make the most of 2012, but 2013 might be different for some:

Carson Palmer and the deep ball

Carson Palmer will be starting fresh in Arizona, and his ability to throw it deep may bring a new dimension to the Cardinals' offense. Cardinals blog Revenge of the Birds has two detailed breakdowns of Palmer's ability and how the team might best take advantage, one focusing on 2012 and one looking beyond that. It's been a while for fans of quality quarterback play in Arizona, but it remains to be seen if Palmer can deliver.

Ed Dickson wants more in the Baltimore offense

Ravens tight end Ed Dickson knows he's playing with a high quality quarterback in Joe Flacco, and he wants more attention from the man. Dennis Pitta is a more favored target and it's tough to argue with results, but Dixon knows he can contribute. Ravens blog Baltimore Beatdown takes a look at Dickson's comments and how realistic they might be.

Is Mark Ingram a bust in New Orleans?

Mark Ingram rushed for 37.6 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry in 2012, one a career low and the other a tie for a career low. Saints blog Canal Street Chronicles has some insight into what might have been, as well as how the Saints might best utilize their stable of running backs in 2013. Entering his third year in the league, Ingram may be running out of time to live up to his potential.

More from SB Nation:

• NFL un-power rankings: Raiders still No. 1

• Tim Tebow's NFL career isn't over, says his dad

• Look who I met, bro! An Eagles Twitter story

• NFL player survives attempted carjacking, gun pointed to face

• Meet Eli Manning's newest weapon | Cowboys' 2013 draft board leaked

2013 French Open: Matches and TV schedule for Monday at Roland Garros

2013-06-03T10:00:05Z

The fourth round of the 2013 French Open is underway and Monday's schedule features some of the biggest names in the tournament. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic will take on 16-seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the men's singles draw, and No. 3 seed Rafael Nadal is in action against No. 13 Kei Nishikori. Both matches will take place at 5 a.m. ET. Djokovic has yet to drop a set at the 2013 Roland Garros, and another chapter in the rivalry between him and Nadal may be in the cards. The two have faced off 34 times, with Nadal picking up the win in 19 of those matches.

The women's singles draw also moves into the quarterfinals, as Monday will see unseeded Francesca Schiavone face No. 3 Victoria Azarenka and second-seeded Maria Sharapova face No. 17 Sloane Stephens. Those matches will also take place at 5 a.m. ET.

The complete schedule, including men's and women's singles and doubles draws, can be found by clicking here.

Notable matches

Men's singles

No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 16 Philipp Kohlschreiber
No. 3 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 13 Kei Nishikori
No. 7 Richard Gasquet vs. No. 9 Stanislas Wawrinka

Women's singles

No. 2 Maria Sharapova vs. Sloane Stephens
No. 3 Victoria Azarenka vs. Francesca Schiavone
No. 12 Maria Kirilenko vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Television coverage of the event is provided via ESPN2 and ESPN3, with streaming of some matches provided via WatchESPN.

NFL news roundup: Percy Harvin, Emmanuel Sanders help drive big expectations on offense

2013-05-31T12:00:06Z

49ers' offense shaping up

49ers blog Niners Nation takes a look at players who are returning for the 2013 season, and they like what they see. Kendall Hunter is on the mend from an Achilles' tear, but they see his speed and vision adding depth to San Francisco's power running game. It won't happen automatically, though, and they lay out what it would take to make sure Hunter is adding everything he's capable of adding.

Seahawks can create mismatches for Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin is another player capable of contributing big things to the offense, and Seahawks blog Field Gulls has an incredibly detailed look at how that might happen. Formations, plays and the defensive schemes the Seahawks are likely to see are all diagrammed out, and they see a lot of possibility for Harvin in Seattle. Harvin didn't come cheap, but a close look shows he might be worth the high price.

Steelers still have fearsome passing game

Steelers fans would be forgiven for not being as optimistic as Seahawks fans. Mike Wallace is plying his trade in Miami, and there are some questions as to where that will leave Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh passing game. Steelers blog Behind the Steel Curtain considers the issue, and finds reason for optimism. They expect Emmanuel Sanders to step up in his new role as the No. 1 receiver, and players like Jerricho Cotchery to have career years.

Jacksonville the "perfect place" for rookie OT

In more modest takes on the offense, Jaguars blog Big Cat Country has a long piece on rookie offensive tackle Roderick Tomlin. Coming from Murray State, Tomlin faces a bigger jump in competition than many rookies. He isn't expected to contribute immediately, but the team likes what they see and there could be big things down the road.

More from SB Nation:

• Can the Jets move forward?

• Gronk needs surgery, Foster gets MRI

• Rams must bend offense to fit Tavon Austin

• The Maurice Jones-Drew incident: What actually happened?

• Which AFC team could go from worst to first? | Which NFC team?

• Behind the scenes with NFL rookies | More from the NFLPA Rookie Premiere