Category Archives: cruzserrano

Remembering Jose Fernandez

Posted on September 26, 2016 by | Leave a comment
Rest in peace Jose Fernandez, a life taken away too soon. (Getty Images)

Rest in peace Jose Fernandez. (Getty Images)

– Cruz Serrano

Sometimes it’s hard to fathom the amount of energy and passion fans dump into players, teams, and sports in general. I have laughed, cried, screamed and experienced everything in-between when watching games and matches. I have watched my favorite players go to other teams, fade into oblivion as time wore them down, and even retire on a high note, off to enjoy a lifetime with a little less spotlight. But I can honestly say that the emotions I have felt while being a sports fan has never quite struck the same chord as the news of Jose Fernandez’s passing.   Continue reading →

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Baseball’s Back! A NL West Preview

Posted on April 14, 2016 by | Leave a comment
The Dodgers won the division last year. Can they repeat and make the next step this season? (Getty Images)

The Dodgers won the division last year. Can they repeat and make the next step this season? (Getty Images)

– Cruz Serrano

The seasons still early, and the hope of spring still burns on for almost all 30 major league teams outside Minnesota and Atlanta. As things start to heat up, the races will follow suit. The Wild West will be no exception, with at least three possible contenders in that division (sorry Rockies and Friars, maybe next year?).

Mike Tolsma and I have decided to take turns previewing divisions, and I would like to thank him for his awesome format for doing so. Like Mike, I also value depth, but I will also try and look at things from an analytical standpoint as I am often prone to doing. Continue reading →

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Baseball’s Back! – NL Central Preview

Posted on March 28, 2016 by | Leave a comment
Jason Heyward was among the Cubs big acquisitions this offseason. (Getty Images)

Jason Heyward was among the Cubs big acquisitions this offseason. (Getty Images)

– Cruz Serrano

As I’m typing this, I’m watching the Atlanta Braves play in one of their split squad games against the Houston Astros. The chill is still in the air here in Buffalo, but the spring equinox has passed and regular season baseball is less than 10 days away.

Mike Tolsma and I have decided to take turns previewing divisions, and I would like to thank him for his awesome format for doing so. Like Mike, I also value depth, but I will also try and look at things from an analytical standpoint as I am often prone to doing. Continue reading →

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Hard Foul Sports Podcast Ep. 48: NCAA Tourney, Adam LaRoche’s Son, Spurs/Warriors Aftermath

Posted on March 21, 2016 by | Leave a comment
Thomas Walkup and his #14 seed Stephen F. Austin team gave us a thrill by beating West Virginia before falling to Notre Dame in the 2nd round. (Getty Images)

Thomas Walkup and his #14 seed Stephen F. Austin team gave us a thrill by beating West Virginia before falling to Notre Dame in the 2nd round. (Getty Images)

This week on the podcast Evan Sally was joined by Cruz Serrano and Jim Bearor. The guys talked about the majesty of the NCAA Tourney; is it the best sporting event out there? What makes it so special? What do we look for as the tourney continues?

They then spoke about the controversy surrounding the Chicago White Sox, Adam LaRoche and his son. Did the White Sox overreact by banning his son from the clubhouse? Did LaRoche over react by retiring and giving up $13 million?

They finished the show talking about the NBA. Should the Warriors fear the Spurs? Should the Cavaliers fear the Heat?

Two Ways to Listen:

iTunes

SoundCloud

If you have an Android device and don’t want to use SoundCloud there are several apps on the Play Store that our show is available on. We recommend Podcast and Radio Addict. Continue reading →

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Hard Foul Sports Podcast Ep. 47 – Brackets on the Brain

Posted on March 14, 2016 by | Leave a comment
The University of Buffalo has a bad case of March Madness. (Getty Images)

The University of Buffalo celebrates winning their second straight MAC Championship. (Getty Images)

Brackets. Brackets. Brackets.

Tis the season for Bracketology. The country has March Madness and so does Hard Foul Sports. On this episode of the podcast Cruz Serrano, Mike Tolsma, Zack El-Sharif and Evan Sally all share their brackets, along with their upsets and who’s going to make the Final Four along with their opinions on St. Bonaventure getting snubbed, Buffalo’s matchup with Miami and some other Selection Sunday stories.

Two Ways to Listen:

iTunes

SoundCloud

If you have an Android device and don’t want to use SoundCloud there are several apps on the Play Store that our show is available on. We recommend Podcast and Radio Addict. Continue reading →

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Posted in cruzserrano, evansally, miketolsma, ncaa, zackelsharif

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Hard Foul NFL Playoff Predictions

Posted on January 8, 2016 by | Leave a comment

– Zackary El-Sharif

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What a time to be alive. The country has Powerball fever and the sports world’s excitement for the NFL playoffs is heating up, luckily for the people of frigid Minnesota. That’s right it’s the time of the year where Tom Brady sits on the throne and the Buffalo Bills stay at home. Tom Brady is going into the month of January searching for his 5th Super Bowl ring, while the Seattle Seahawks hope to return to the Super Bowl for the 3rd consecutive season. Have no fear, there are some interesting teams that could pose a threat to the teams that have reigned supreme the past few seasons. Continue reading →

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Hard Foul Sports Podcast: Episode 35

Posted on December 23, 2015 by | Leave a comment

lebron-james-stephen-curryIn a loaded pre-Christmas edition of the podcast Evan, Steve and guest co-host Cruz Serrano talk about Rex Ryan and Doug Whaley’s future, the biggest surprises from baseball’s hot stove and examine some of the teams that will be playing in the NBA Christmas Special, especially Golden State – Cleveland.

Merry Christmas from everyone at Hard Foul Sports.

How to Listen:

iTunes

SoundCloud

If you have an Android device and don’t want to use SoundCloud there are several apps on the Play Store that our show is available on. We recommend Podcast and Radio Addict.

Continue reading →

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Tommy Hanson: Gone Too Soon

Posted on November 13, 2015 by | Leave a comment

– Cruz Serrano

Former Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson recently passed away at the far too young age of 29. (Getty Images)

Former Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson recently passed away at the far too young age of 29. (Getty Images)

As a young fan, it was sometimes hard to understand the importance of prospects in baseball. All players, even the most inexperienced, seemed like larger than life figures in a sport that I naturally loved. The first time I appreciated development and youth was when Tommy Hanson was flying through the Braves’ minor league system. Continue reading →

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Cruz Serrano’s World Series Preview

Posted on October 27, 2015 by | Leave a comment

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In a sport that is known for its randomness and unpredictability, it is sometimes hard to say that baseball surprises us. That’s not to say that some outcomes don’t seem random, but it’s just that there’s a tendency to brush those outcomes off to the nature of the sport. Randomness like Joe Mauer’s 28 home runs in 2009, or the dominance of Oliver Perez in 2004 when he accumulated 4.6 WAR for the Pirates. Baseball is random, and most of the time, that doesn’t surprise. However, this season has been exceptionally random, especially considering the pool of postseason teams. And as we come to the proverbial crescendo, the unpredictability of baseball has been particularly highlighted with our final two.

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Cubs-Mets: An NLCS Preview

Posted on October 17, 2015 by | Leave a comment

– Cruz Serrano

Jake Arrieta will try to translate a dominate end of the season to take his team to the World Series (Getty Images)

Jake Arrieta will try to translate a dominate end of the season to take his team to the World Series (Getty Images)

Despite the efforts of two teams with a wealth of postseason experience, talent and youth prevailed in the National League Division Series’. Two teams that have been known by their fan bases as ‘lovable losers’ prepare to faceoff as the Amazin Mets get set to take on the team from the North Side of Chicago: the Cubs. Back in April it seemed in unfathomable that these two teams would meet in the NLCS, but to say each team hasn’t changed since then would be vastly incorrect. The Mets added to their pitching depth, calling up some of their young arms and also added some much needed offense in the form of Yoenis Cespedes. The Cubbies have grown as a team, going from a roster of young raw talent, to a balanced roster that has shown they are ready for the limelight. Their pitching staff has been anchored by John Lester and the late blooming vet Jake Arrieta. With each team coming into their own in the second half of the season, their early season matchups in which the Cubs went 7-0 are worthless in terms of any value in predicting what might happen.  Continue reading →

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