Connor Nielen
@ConnorNielen
Connor has been writing for Rant Sports since March of 2011. He is a meticulous Fantasy Sports enthusiast, currently attending Wilfrid Laurier University's School of Business & Economics. His favourite teams include the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Red Sox, Tennessee Titans, Michigan Wolverines football program, and Houston Astros. Formerly the site's Houston Astros Featured Columnist, Connor currently serves as a part-time freelance contributor due to personal obligations.
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Recent News
It’s An Issue: Soria Blows Save, Royals Fall To Rangers Again
K.C. closer Joakim Soria’s issues this year have been well acknowledged as of late, including his most recent gaffe in which he couldn’t get it together in Baltimore and ultimately took the loss, serving up a 2-run walk-off homer to Adam Jones. On Sunday, in the Royals weekend rubber-match with the Rangers, Kansas City jumped [...]
TweetSnake-Bitten: Astros Swept Aside By Visiting Diamondbacks
After dropping the initial two games of their series with Arizona at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros sought to salvage the weekend with a Sunday afternoon victory to close out the set. With starter J.A. Happ helping his own cause by way of a solo home run, the team looked to be in good [...]
TweetUnleash The Beast: Houston Astros Promote Jordan Lyles!
With the unfortunate news of Wandy Rodriguez’ precautionary placement on the 15-day disabled list with elbow discomfort, the Houston Astros have elected to fill their vacant rotation slot by making the move that every fan has been waiting for – 20 year-old pitching phenomenon has been called up from AAA. Lyles will make his MLB [...]
TweetKansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers Series Preview & Tidbits
What’s there to say? Things are not good with the Royals right now, not good at all. After dropping yet another series, a sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, the teams travels cross-country to Texas for a weekend series with the revamped Rangers, now trailing the division-leading Cleveland Indians by a full 9 [...]
TweetHouston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Series Preview & Tidbits
Carrying the momentum of back-to-back series victories, including J.R. Towles walk-off hit in their most recent game against the Dodgers, the Houston Astros will look to build on what they’ve got going with some more wins as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a weekend series at Minute Maid Park: Fri. May. 27. 7:05 [...]
TweetPay The Towles: Astros Grab Second Walk-Off Win From L.A.
In an ultra-competitive pitching duel between Aneury Rodriguez and Ted Lilly, the Houston Astros finished their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the same fashion they started it – with a walk-off victory! Catcher J.R. Towles, mired in a frustrating 0-for-31 slump (dating back to the early-May Pittsburgh series) came through in the bottom [...]
TweetSoria Badly Beaten & Bruised By Birds Of Baltimore
As Kansas City approached its series with the Orioles this week, this piece was posted on Royals Treatment regarding some red flags surrounding the effectiveness of closer Joakim Soria right now: http://www.royalstreatment.com/20110523-is-joakim-soria-tipping-his-pitches/ For the most part, it was generally disregarded by Royals fans, brushed aside with a simple ,”it’s Soria, he’s fine” – well take [...]
TweetRoyals vs. Orioles Series Preview & Tidbits
After dropping the finale of a tightly interleague series with the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City embarks on another road-trip with its first stop at beautiful Camden Yards for a 3-game set against the Orioles: Tues. May. 24. 6:05 pm CT – Danny Duffy (0-0, 4.50) v. Zach Britton (5-2, 2.14) Wed. May. 25. 6:05 [...]
TweetBourn Again: Astros Rise Up To Stun Dodgers In The 9th!
Clayton Kershaw was magnificent over 6 innings in Houston on Monday night, seeking his 6th win of the season, out-dueling Astros starter Bud Norris to a 3-1 lead upon exit. Norris wasn’t too bad himself, limiting the L.A. offense to just 3 runs over 7 innings – chucking yet another ‘quality start’. As mentioned in [...]
TweetIs Joakim Soria Tipping His Pitches?
An interesting column from ESPN Fantasy Baseball analyst AJ Mass on Monday afternoon mentioned Royals closer Joakim Soria as a player who fans should not be overly confident about in regards to regaining once-dominant form. The piece can be read here: http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?id=6578990 Acknowledging Soria in it, Mass states that [he] has fallen in love with the [...]
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