Sports |
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December
14, 2023 |
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For
most of us, the reaction to that is simple. It’s ridiculous.
For a good number of us, possibly even obscene. For
the player and the team, however, you could likely argue
quite well that both sides came out of this with incredibly
decent results.
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March
17, 2023 |
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Allow
me to repeat, on media site after media site, you couldn’t
find any details or article links for the World Series
that was at that moment being played. (Overwhelmingly,
you had to move into sports and then into baseball,
since the general sports page was focused on football
(college from Saturday and NFL for Sunday).)
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August
8, 2021 |
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So
yes, I admit that other possibilities will thin out
the audience. The fact that I did watch other stuff
proves that. But I do believe there’s more to it. You
can’t react to the numbers by placing it on this excuse,
cupping your hands over your ears and humming while
you walk away. That’s like making a horrible movie,
with no part of it even reaching a so-so level of quality
in the production, and then saying the only reason no
one bought a ticket is because they were playing Words
with Friends on their phones. Are some people playing
Words with Friends? Yes. Are some people quite
happy curled up in a comfy chair playing Words with
Friends and not heading out to see your movie?
Yes. But there’s definitely more to the empty seats
than Words with Friends.
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June
20, 2021 |
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ut
the crazier part that came to our mind is that after
sorting out the tennis champions, we really stumbled
to name the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL title holders. The
Super Bowl and Tampa Bay was easy enough. And although
the World Series and Los Angeles took us a moment, it
connected immediately after we remembered the NBA and
Los Angeles. And that left hockey. Who won the greatest
trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup?
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February
22, 2021 |
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I
say two-plus dozen because often several teams don’t
have what we would really call a starting quarterback
starting. Last year, Dwayne Haskins was a starter. Same
with Nick Foles. Tyrod Taylor. Yes, I said Tyrod Taylor.
(And if you don’t understand the joke involved in saying
that Nick Foles was starting, you should probably stop
reading now. You won’t find anything too much clearer
coming up. Actually, take the next test, and then decide.)
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February
19, 2021 |
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Would
you believe Russell Wilson is 32? True. Turns 33 next
November. And reports are floating around that there
might be a bit of a disconnect between him and the organization.
(For the record, I don’t buy it. Seattle is a decent
place to play… he gets elite money without the elite
media scrutiny. They have put playoff teams on the field
with him for the majority of his career. I don’t think
he’s moving any time soon.)
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February
11, 2021 |
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Do
you have any idea what you just watched in the past
four weeks? Tom Brady and the Bucs defeated Drew Brees
and the Saints… in New Orleans. Tom Brady and the Bucs
defeated Aaron Rodgers and the Packers… in Green Bay.
Tom Brady and the Bucs defeated Patrick Mahomes and
the Chiefs… knocking off the defending Super Bowl champions,
and the most talented quarterback currently playing
in the league, in a blowout that wasn’t as close as
the final score indicated.
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January
24, 2021 |
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The
primary camera is off to the side and slightly elevated,
at the center of the field. Basically, it is the typical
mid-field, or mid-court, view that American audiences
have become accustomed to over the years. Because of
the perspective that camera has as it scans the field,
and the presentation of its images as two-dimensional
on a television set, each of these advertisements looks
like a square on the television screen.
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From
the Backpack ~ Likely original posting date October 23,
2003 |
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January
9, 2021 |
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What
we’ve begin seeing discussed a bit more often is how
good pitchers can have poor records. ERA is one measuring
stick, and low run support matters. But it often isn’t
just that simple. What are the batting averages of opposing
hitters? How good or bad is the defense backing that
pitcher up? Does the pitcher tend to average a high
or low number of runners per inning?
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From
the Backpack ~ Likely original posting date November 12,
2003 |
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August
23, 2020 |
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Usually,
when it comes up, in the main discussion points there
is a little bit of bravado involved… swagger… and (more
specifically) complaints about the way things would
be in an old school league. This, after all, according
to reporters and announcers and more, is not the way
they would have done it in another day.
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January
25, 2019 |
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Let’s
all take a step back before demanding quick and definitive
solutions.
Yes,
it’s absolutely possible that incidents can arise in
sporting events exposing problems that should be corrected
as soon as they can be addressed. This does not mean
that each and every scenario should be handled immediately.
Far
too often the action-reaction process is forgotten in
the desire to see action-satisfaction. And then, over
time, it is recognized that the pendulum was swung far
too heavily in the opposite direction.
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January
19, 2018 |
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The
play is ruled an incomplete pass. Replays seemed to
show the ball came out of Garcia’s hand before he began
the throwing motion, which would be a fumble, not an
incomplete pass. Detroit is not allowed to challenge
the call. The reason given? The Lions had not caught
the ball, and it was ruled an incomplete pass. Therefore,
they could not challenge it being a fumble.
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From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted November 12, 2003 |
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January
19, 2018 |
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So,
I’m skeptical. I see this as frosting… as window dressing…
as a smoke screen. Walk up to any official of the NCAA.
Call them on the phone. Contact as many of them as you
like. I’d be willing to bet just about anything… oh
wait, this is college, we don’t gamble… that you can’t
find one that answers the question “do you think academics
are as important as athletics for the student athlete?”
by saying “no.” It won’t happen. Because saying that
is an admission that it is in fact, just a business…
and a joke. They have to say that academics means something.
These are student-athletes and, so goes the claims,
the student part is first.
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From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted May 13, 2004 |
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October
24, 2017 |
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Is
it out of the question that lengthy droughts such as
those experienced by the Red Sox and Cubs will not happen
again? Of course not. Thirty-plus years to get every
team a title if we split them up fairly and evenly…
which is not how it works, but basically means once
in a generation if it did. That never again perspective
actually has difficulties because of course, many things
could happen again.
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October
16, 2017 |
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Rich
Eisen hit ESPN in the mid-1990s. And, during a run of
roughly seven years, he was involved in a bit of everything
for the network… hosting news shows (yes, that does
mean SportsCenter), and radio broadcasts such
as for Major League Baseball. And then… around 2003…
he made a gigantic, and for many an unexpected leap.
He was the first on-air hire and effectively the face
of the NFL Network, which continues with multiple efforts
there to this day. Currently, Rich also hosts a weekday
show that airs on DirecTV and radio.
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April
17, 2017 |
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Often,
people say you don’t remember the losers. They’ll do
things like asking you to name the five teams New England
has defeated in their Super Bowl wins… or to quickly
name four of the last five losers in the World Series.
And there’s a lot of truth in such an accusation. (Because
I’m mean, I’m not giving you the answer. Look it up
on your own.)
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February
25, 2017 |
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I
should probably point out here that I support Rob Manfred—baseball’s
commissioner—in his attempts to speed up the game. It
is played at an appallingly god awful pace now that
defies all ability to be watched on television without
switching channels. If that means making adjustments
such as restricting visits to the mound, putting a timer
on pitches, or modifying the strike zone, then I get
it. While I tend to treasure history and tradition,
I am not going to assume the mantel of a purist. (I
repeat… god awful pace. Borderline unwatchable.)
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January
29, 2017 |
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These
weren’t just amazing professionals with arguments for
consideration as the best to ever play their respective
sports. These are competitors that crushed the will
of those opposing them. Michael Jordan laid waste to
the Utah Jazz in the finals. Tiger Woods often didn’t
win championships so much as opponents wilted, faded
and disappeared when paired with him on a Sunday round.
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August
14, 2016 |
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The
realities are simple enough though… the growing recognition
that hosting the Olympics isn’t worth it, where holding
a public bonfire to burn billions of dollars would prove
a far more sound investment… the cheating and doping
and sense of entitlement from many athletes (often more
than tolerated, and justthisshortof virtually sanctioned
and encouraged by countries)… and the list goes on.
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November
17, 2015 |
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This
is an example of a more pressing concern though… based
on driving revenue and pushing scheduling. Because I
think in a few years, when people are wondering where
the NFL went off the tracks from what currently seems
like an unstoppable run of increasing profits that resembles
printing money on command, this should be a big item
on the list of problems.
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November
12, 2015 |
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Funny
though… because if you think the common, average player
has a chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars
playing, then you might actually be ready to hear about
a bridge that’s up for sale. (Buy some property. I know
a guy. It would be a better investment of your money.)
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October
11, 2015 |
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Think
about how much time the Seahawks have invested, how
many games the Seahawks have played, beyond the normal
demands in the past two seasons. Six playoff games…
and basically an extra ten weeks of practice, games,
and travel. This offseason, we began to see the difficulties
hit from a payroll perspective. Keeping players, losing
players… who to bring in, who to let go… and the formation
of a roster.
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October
11, 2015 |
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I
like the swagger they’re showing this season. It’s a
confidence thing. For me, it’s a result of beating Arizona
in the playoffs last year. Sure… they were 7-8-1 and
a division winner hosting a playoff game. Sure… Arizona
started a quarterback you don’t remember. (It was Ryan
Lindley.) Look at the bigger picture. (Really. It was
Ryan Lindley.) The
2014 Carolina Panthers were the first team in the ten-plus
year history of the NFC South to win the division back-to-back
years. Go ahead. Look it up. No team had won the division
in consecutive seasons until Carolina in 2013 and 2014.
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October
11, 2015 |
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Ok…
before we go crazy here… they scored all of ten points
against the Seahawks, and honestly none of that was
because of the offense. The only thing keeping them
from the bottom third in virtually every statistical
offensive and defensive category is that Seattle only
scored 13 points, so they’re just about middle-of-the-pack
in points allowed. It’s just not possible… unless you
are a fan of the team… to justify being upset about
a loss for a team that is pitiful for 58 minutes, pretty
much doesn’t score for 60 minutes, and then loses a
game where a bad call was made when honestly all that
does is take the focus off of a fumble inside the five
yard line when a field goal would have tied the score.
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October
11, 2015 |
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It’s
not pretty here in the NFC East. The trick is, I’m not
sure any of the three candidates for a playoff slot
from this division will settle down and play decent
football for multiple weeks in a row. Which is important.
Because if they all keep stumbling, scraping their knees,
and hovering around even, then only the division winner
goes to the playoffs and the wild cards are coming from
elsewhere. Shame, too, since I think any of these three
teams… healthy and neutral field conditions… could defeat
any of the second place teams from any other division
in the NFC.
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October
11, 2015 |
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Yup…
in his amazing career, Philip Rivers has been the starting
quarterback in San Diego since 2007, and he’s only won
ten or more games a simply stunning 3 times. 3. Three.
1 – 2 – 3. 2006... 2007… 2009… not once in the past
five seasons… three. Perspective? Ok. Andy Dalton has
won 10 or more the last three in a row, and is likely
to surpass that mark again this year. Just a hunch that
you agree the competition in the AFC North that Dalton
faces has been consistently stronger than that facing
Rivers in the AFC West. (Really? You want to debate
it? Two words… Tim… Tebow. And we’re done.)
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October
11, 2015 |
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Last
year New England got pasted by Kansas City, and had
Cincinnati coming up next. The Bengals were coming off
their bye week, and entered the game with a 3-0 record.
Two weeks to prepare and the Pats looking awful. Result?
The Patriots didn’t beat the Bengals… they didn’t destroy
the Bengals… they humiliated the Bengals.
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October
11, 2015 |
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They
play the Titans, Bengals, and Jaguars. The Jacksonville
game is one of those lovely journey-to-London games,
followed by their bye week. A smart guess is they go
2-1… maybe 3-0 (the Cincinnati game is at home, so there
is a shot, but as I’ve noted home field isn’t something
they’ve defended well this year). But if they are flying
home from England with a losing record… well… all hell
could break out.
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October
11, 2015 |
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The
Bills lost to the Giants this week. Defend it and say
it’s worth excusing since the opponents are decent,
but both of the Buffalo losses have been at home. Yeah…
yeah… New England and New York. Whatever. They are 2-2
on the year and 1-2 at home. Remaining home games include
Cincinnati and Dallas… and Dallas late enough that they
could be healthy and still in playoff contention. Good
teams do not go 4-4 at home.
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October
11, 2015 |
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Last
February, when the Seahawks completed that unreal pass
to close in on a potential go-ahead touchdown, the cry
of New England fans was unanimous: “Holy crap, not again!”
It hasn’t just been an undefeated season taken away
by miraculous and unbelievable catches… it’s been multiple
championships lost to unbelievable catches, and unbelievable
catches have been made late in the last three Super
Bowl games they’ve played.
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October
8, 2015 |
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First
possibility… you didn’t know. You’ve heard good things
about Tennessee (week one against Tampa), you’ve heard
so-so to bad things about Tennessee (both of the other
games), and you’ve heard nothing about Tennessee (bye
week). Houston either has a quarterback, has two quarterbacks,
or has no quarterbacks on their roster, and it’s not
a good sign that the coaching staff doesn’t seem to
know if it’s one, two or none. Jacksonville beat Miami,
which last spring seemed an impossible result since
the Dolphins were headed to the playoffs and even an
AFC East crown if Brady missed time, but we’ve come
to find out is a victory that honestly doesn’t mean
much of anything. And the Colts… well… sure… the Colts.
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September
4, 2015 |
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...Brady’s
reputation is ruined regardless of whether or not we
ever learn the truth in this situation… the NFL doesn’t
seem even the slightest bit inclined to admit their
procedures were at best laughable and of little use,
even though they changed them for future seasons… and
plenty of other instances have come and gone without
a league, other teams, and plenty of fans carrying pitchforks
and torches through the village the way they have over
these footballs.
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August
11, 2015 |
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That’s
right… if you read the Wells report… if you pay attention
to all the work being done… it’s possible that nothing
actually happened. I’m not saying nothing happened,
mind you, I’m just saying that it absolutely is possible
nothing happened. The way things were done was so poorly
managed and undocumented there is a chance that nothing
other than ordinary weather and outside conditions were
involved.
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August
4, 2015 |
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The
point is, this issue is already decided for many people.
Not necessarily a majority of people. But many people.
No matter how it was (or is) investigated, resolved,
punished, or presented… Brady’s image was beyond accusation
and, more accurately stated: “How DARE they say this
about him!”… or… Brady was guilty, and any effort to
say otherwise was yet another campaign to bow down to
the Patriots and give them whatever they want if they
stomp their feet and complain enough.
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July
17, 2015 |
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And
these stories and arguments and debates get emotional,
can be hysterically funny, and often have all sorts
of great sideshow elements featuring Rose signing autographs
in Cooperstown, denying all allegations against him,
denying some allegations but admitting other allegations
against him, releasing interviews and authorized biographies
and more and even more where he argues for and against
all sorts of different levels of admission of his innocence
and guilt. Eventually the senses overload -- Rose admits
he hasn’t admitted what he admitted to not doing when
he did it -- the conversation gets numbing, and we…
again… arrive at a simple concept…
How
do you tell the story of baseball without including
Pete Rose?
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December
5, 2013 |
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My
point is, when we look at the Yankees, there has to
be at least a degree of appreciation for the brand.
You may hate the Yankees. You may not like them or anything
they stand for. And you may have all sorts of reasons
for your beliefs, along with bulleted points that support
your opinions. The thing is… in some conference room…
there is a meeting taking place that consists of those
front office types for the New York Yankees. And they
are absolutely, 100% positively, looking over the landscape
with at least one agenda item pointed at maximizing
revenue.
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November
25, 2013 |
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In
virtually any listing of greatness, Brady and Manning
are two of the five best quarterbacks of all time. I
think if you said to anyone that knows football: “Make
a list of the best five quarterbacks to ever play, in
any order, and I’m just going write Brady and Manning
down to start things off before you say anything”… yeah,
they wouldn’t stop you. While any number of others might
create the rest of the list, Brady and Manning would
be part of their five.
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2013
National Novel Writing Month effort |
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November
2, 2013 |
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In
a few hours… ok, tomorrow afternoon actually… the New
England Patriots will play the Pittsburgh Steelers.
At the risk of jinxing the results, the Pats will win
and move to 7-2 on the year.
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2013
National Novel Writing Month effort |
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April
7, 2013 |
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I
think the AL sends someone from the Angels to this award.
I’m going to pick Albert Pujols, because something tells
me that he is about to turn in the very best year he
will have out of any of those played or to-be-played
with California. Plus, if Hamilton misses any time…
and Trout doesn’t match or improve on his 2012 debut…
a monster Pujols season is tough to top.
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April
6, 2013 |
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I’m
concerned because we’ve seen these splashes in recent
years. The end of 2011 and all of 2012 was awful in
Boston. Many of these same players were with Florida
last year. (And because so many of these players were
part of the Marlins in 2012, you can’t simply say something
like “yeah, but this time the Jays got good team guys
and veteran presence”… they should have provided that
last year.) And for the most part… this isn’t a building
for the future plan. Buehrle and Dickey are not here
for the next three to five seasons. The window is now.
The plan is to get into the playoffs… and there is no
Plan B.
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April
6, 2013 |
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I’m
hoping the Royals get rewarded for being brave enough
to trade Myers. Let’s face it… we’ve been hearing about
how they have some decent parts and young talent on
the way, and it just wasn’t happening. It’s a risky
move. And it would be good to see it pay off. And to
a degree I think it will. They’ve got strong arms in
the bullpen. The starting rotation may not be dominant…
it is now good at the front and decent all the way through
now. The big question will be whether they can find
an offense to support a slightly above average pitching
staff. If they do… 80 wins or more, and third in the
division, is there for them.
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April
5, 2013 |
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I
really do try to stay away from discussing injuries
when I can. And honestly, with Jerod Weaver in place
and Mike Trout ahead of Hamilton and Pujols in the batting
order, this team is about as good as any in the American
League. But they can’t have Weaver start 120-plus games,
and the guys they have lined up do come with history
or concerns. I see them leaning heavily to the offensive
output and defensive play (solid lineup that will score
plenty, and a loaded outfield that should be beyond
brilliant). Unfortunately, the playoffs come down to
pitching. Weaver… C.J. Wilson… Jason Vargas… Hanson…
we shall see.
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April
5, 2013 |
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Trading
away Justin Upton? Well... you know… I like Upton. If
Atlanta figures out how to get past Washington in the
next year or two (or three or more), chances are really
good Justin Upton will be the league MVP when it happens.
But having watched the trade market swirl around Upton’s
name for several seasons, I actually believe this is
a case where he was worth more to the Diamondbacks in
what he could return than he was worth wearing their
uniform. The question becomes whether or not Kevin Towers,
in all his moves, actually ever did get more in return.
Which sends me right back to where I started this section.
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April
4, 2013 |
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What
the Pirates really need is best exemplified by James
McDonald. In his fifth season, the 28-year old has had
flashes of brilliance… high-strikeout games… months
with an ERA under 3 (and even one last year under 2).
Care to guess where things go wrong? Sure… around mid-season.
Look at this breakdown of 2012: April (5 starts – 2.97
ERA), May (5 starts – 1.54 ERA), June (5 starts – 2.93
ERA), July (hold on… here we go… 6 starts – 5.97 ERA),
August (5 starts – 4.45 ERA, and September (3 starts
– 12.75 ERA). 2011 started out poorly, and then improved,
but eventually there was still a rise from July to August
and then August to September.
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April
4, 2013 |
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Considering
that this club is at least a couple of years away from
being relevant in a division with young and loaded teams
like Washington and Atlanta, I don’t get the David Wright
contract. Good player? Sure he is. I’d take him on my
team. But the Mets have been bad and had organizational
troubles with him. (Not from or with him specifically
mind you… he’s by all accounts a good guy to have around.
The point is the Mets haven’t been a good or well-run
club in recent years, and you can lose 88 a year with
him or without him. Heck… they lost with him and
Jose Reyes. I’m not sure the $120-plus million for him
to possibly play out his career in their uniform… especially
with no DH slot available… is worth it, regardless of
the publicity nightmare his departure might have caused.)
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January
5, 2013 |
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I
guess I just find it staggeringly amazing that for the
amount of money they already have invested… again, more
than the Angels have locked up in 2013 salary to begin
the year… the Red Sox have no clear identity. That bothers
me a bit. It makes me wonder… it doesn’t have me thinking
postseason.
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December
27, 2012 |
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Either
you’ve signed a first baseman or you haven’t. Once you
start noting things like having Napoli work out with
the pitching staff during spring training, you’ve lost
me. (I’m not going to source that because you can do
the searches and I saw it in multiple places. Heck…
coming up I’m going to refer to Cot’s, and they have
him listed in their records as catcher – first base.
Besides… in a moment I am going to swing away from this
story because my article does as well. It’s just a part
of the foundation and deserves a note. So… back to it…)
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August
15, 2012 |
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In
one sense, he’s probably right. Because even if, as
we just covered, a team wins three straight gold medals,
the only way to match it would be to go undefeated along
the way and only drop one set. The only way to better
the accomplishment would be to never lose a set. Not
one. Perfection.
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August
15, 2012 |
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So
I feel comfortable saying that more often than not,
especially when discussing quarterbacks that have more
than one championship -- if you had to bet you should
place your money on great quarterbacks winning titles.
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April
25, 2012 |
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Consider…
with Thursday no longer a special event day, but a regular
part of the schedule, games will be steadily played
on three days each week. And, by the end of the regular
season, only Tuesday and Friday will not have hosted
at least one game. (Yup… there are games planned for
a Wednesday and a Saturday.)
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April
7, 2012 |
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Do
I think it matters if Bobby Valentine is making appearances
on New York radio? No. I don’t. I also don’t think chicken
and beer matter. But this isn’t Freud… and we aren’t
talking about whether a cigar is a cigar. Chicken and
beer and interviews are the visible part of the iceberg.
The fact that people will be looking for bottle tops
and buckets in the trash after games… or questioning
Bobby’s investment of time… that’s what matters.
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April
7, 2012 |
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And
by the way… it is a matter of surviving and then having
enough time, because Boston should be horrendous out
of the gate. I mean just plain awful. If you think they
may have some problems off the field… and I have no
way of knowing, but I sure do… then wait until you see
what they have on the field to battle. They travel to
play Detroit and Toronto as their first two opponents
of the year. That should be a lovely 6-games on the
road. It gets worse at home. When they get to Fenway,
Tampa arrives for a 4-game weekend stay, followed by…
yeah, get ready… Texas and New York. (And you think
2011 ended badly? Just wait.)
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April
7, 2012 |
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Here’s
an interesting thought… and I couldn’t believe it when
I read it. Apparently, the Indians don’t have a single
player under contract for more than two years. In other
words… beyond 2013. They control some of their younger
players. But the longest remaining contracts are for
two seasons and that’s it. How’s that for being able
to turn around your roster in a hurry if you want to?
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April
7, 2012 |
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Wilson…
after being touted as a rotation saver and to-be-paid-as-an-ace
question… joins a staff with Jered Weaver and Dan Haren
up front, where he will be asked to simply contribute
with Ervin Santana as part of what may be top to bottom
the best rotation in the American League, if not all
of baseball. (It’s not… I prefer Tampa’s… but it’s still
damn good. And with pitchers like Haren… who simply
walks no one… this rotation won’t tax the bullpen.)
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April
7, 2012 |
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Pitching.
It’s all pitching. I know people are looking at the
lineup, and players like Cabrera and Pagan, and saying
that there is a bit of speed suddenly on the bases,
and maybe even a bit of pop in the order. Don’t
buy into it. The improvements are there. Things are
still so bad offensively for San Francisco that even
with one of the best rotations in baseball they still
will struggle to approach 90-wins. It should still be
enough to win the division.
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April
7, 2012 |
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What
I really like is the addition of Mat Latos. Still young…
very talented… if Latos can give the Reds more than
200-innings of work, then he could be a significant
force in settling down a potentially rocky rotation.
(For a description of the rocky pitching, see: Aroldis
Chapman. Is he a starter? A reliever? A piece to keep
opposing managers guessing? Even the Reds don’t seem
to know yet. So you can love Johnny Cueto all you want…
the reality is that Arroyo had a difficult 2011, and
Bailey may still be young… he hasn’t delivered much
so far. (Check out Bailey’s starts… 20, 19, 22 in the
past three years… struggles to pitch 6 innings in any
start.)
|
|
April
7, 2012 |
|
Reyes,
Ramirez and Johnson have to remain healthy… simple as
that. They are the true source of power for this club…
and success will come from there. If they stay on the
field, the Marlins will field a two MVP candidates and
a serious Cy Young contender. There have been some questions
about the health of expected starters and the depth
of the bench. Shouldn’t be surprising for a club that
has normally based its roster on a restricted payroll.
|
|
February
1, 2012 |
|
The
Patriots have had a very obvious problem… as good as
the defense has looked in two playoff games (and they
have been significantly better here than in the regular
season), they still don’t know how to get off the damn
field. And that folks, is my big observation that people
aren’t mentioning.
|
|
January
20, 2012 |
|
I
have never watched a two-hour display of football even
remotely close to what was shown on Saturday night.
The last five minutes of the Saints-49ers and the first
half of Broncos-Patriots was simply unreal. I know this
statement involves the demolition of Denver… but frankly,
that first half was filled with precision and exceptional
play on the part of New England’s offense. Plus, it
featured some unexpectedly good play from the New England
defense. And the back-and-forth between New Orleans
and San Francisco? Unreal… just incredible.
|
|
January
13, 2012 |
|
Brady
hasn’t played well early in several games this year.
In fact, over the last three weeks of the regular season
the Patriots have looked awful in the early parts of
games. They trailed Denver 13-7 after the first quarter,
trailed Miami 17-0 at halftime, and trailed Buffalo
21-0 early and 21-14 at halftime. And you really don’t
think much about it. Why? Because the Patriots beat
Buffalo 49-21. If you didn’t see the game, and only
got the final score, it probably never even entered
your thoughts that the Patriots scored 49 unanswered
points and at one time were getting spanked.
|
|
January
6, 2012 |
|
Ok,
look, there is no reason to take Denver here. None at
all. Tebow hasn’t been effective at all this season.
His success has essentially been a result of delivering
one or two scoring drives, late in games where the defense
had limited to opposition to low scores. In other words…
the Broncos didn’t win so much as they survived.
|
|
January
6, 2012 |
|
On
one side of the argument, you have the most explosive
offense in the AFC… and nothing else is even close.
They present coverage problems that any other team would
dream of just being able to offer a portion of... Brady…
Gronkowski… Hernandez… Welker. And now signs of a running
game? Yikes. But… there is a dark side.
|
|
September
14, 2011 |
|
Well…
fine… you’re absolutely not wondering about what I saw
in the games. But occasionally I have a couple of observations,
and once in a while I have a good joke to toss in. And
it just so happens, that with some of the things I saw
from the first week, I had some free time and a burning
desire to criticize Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys
for playing stupid, stupid football.
|
|
September
10, 2011 |
|
San
Diego is way too easy to predict as a possible disappointment.
Everyone is anointing Rivers as a giant, and that should
scare us away from him. And if the Rivers bandwagon
doesn’t scare you, the coaching should. The consistency
from that organization under Turner is non-existent.
Of course… they alternate years, and this is set to
be a big one.
|
|
September
8, 2011 |
|
I
think Jim Harbaugh has a chance to be a decent NFL head
coach. (I also have moments when I wonder if Alex Smith
has really been given a fair shot at leading this club.)
Let’s check out the schedule first. Seattle at home,
Dallas at home, the road for Cincinnati and Philadelphia,
Tampa at home, and then the road for Detroit. There
are several teams… St. Louis definitely… that would
trade for those six opponents in a heartbeat. After
that, they have Cleveland and Washington, and unbelievably
then still have five divisional games against this so-so
group. So… yeah… they have no ability to cry about scheduling
problems. If they play well, there is plenty of opportunity
to get into the playoffs.
|
|
September
8, 2011 |
|
The
problem is… well… At New England… at San Francisco (which
shouldn’t be tough, but involves great travel following
a difficult game with the Patriots, and in turn is followed
by…)… Philadelphia… at New Orleans… Green Bay. You
toss in two games against Dallas with a game against
New York (Jets) as three of the four to finish the year,
and I think you can understand why a huge start might
be met by an equally huge collapse.
|
|
September
8, 2011 |
|
I’m
being generous here and expecting Peyton Manning to
play more than half the season. I have to. Just can’t
write it and now in time to give it perfect editing.
If not… well… did you see the rotation the AFC South
has? I mentioned it up above in the Houston section.
How would you expect the Colts to do against the Saints,
Falcons, Buccaneers, Steelers and Ravens without him?
Well… hold on… because the Colts also won the division
last year, which means they get the addition of the
Patriots to that list (road game).
|
|
September
8, 2011 |
|
Ronnie
Brown and Ricky Williams… gone. And hey… look… I’m not
criticizing letting them go. Brown could be injury prone
and Williams isn’t a player I would rely on as a full-season,
no worries, carry the team running back. But when you
take a tandem that has worked so well and give up both
pieces, there’s a certain stability you look to see
for continuity. Miami is not being run by Peyton Manning,
Tom Brady or Drew Brees. There are questions.
|
|
August
19, 2011 |
|
The
long and short of it though is this… are you really
interested in hearing about David Pauley, Doug Fister
and Wilson Betemit? Heck… can you tell me what team
was involved in the transactions to obtain those three
players between July 20th and July 30th?
|
|
August
6, 2011 |
|
Pittsburgh
and Cleveland went out on the market as buyers. Buyers!
The Pirates and Indians! Imagine that. I’m pretty certain
that Pittsburgh and Cleveland and Milwaukee and Texas
all adding parts in moves to improve for the current
season is one of the modern day signs of impending apocalypse.
(Though that could be a slight exaggeration.)
|
|
July
25, 2011 |
|
If
Boston and New York play each other, Boston can right
now say they expect Beckett and Lester to be there first
two pitching options. Hard to say what order… the third
option is Buchholz, and he has to return from the DL…
the opening round would have been played and the length
and usage of staff could possibly adjust who goes when.
But there’s your top two, and with Buchholz, the top
three. New York will send Sabathia and… who?
|
|
July
25, 2011 |
|
Let me toss this one
in… would you believe the Brewers are the scariest of
the four teams in the front of this division? They are
33-14 at home and 21-35 on the road. Pittsburgh, St.
Louis and Cincinnati are all sniffing around even for
home and road records. The Brewers have played significantly
more games on the road so far and have been fantastic
at home.
|
|
May
25, 2011 |
|
I
find that often the best efforts develop from the most
basic of observations. (Stress the word develop. Because
if I want to write articles and opinions and so on,
then I need to try and bring something to the table
other than simple, generic, (and often flawed) arguments.)
The best arguments though… for me… come from moments
that surprise me, startle me, or in some way seem like
something that not everyone is picking up on. That can
mean a very easy and obvious thought that gets twisted
into a different way of observing it… but it still has
to grow from something.
|
|
May
21, 2011 |
|
Ok…
I’m lying. That’s last year’s chart. But check that
out… Tampa with 29 wins. Four teams over .500. Toronto…
a team that would finish with a winning record… was
in third place with 25 wins. And Boston… today they
are exactly where they were one year ago. Wow. And does
it matter? (Yes.) Is it still early? (No, and this shows
it’s not…) The
final AL East standings in 2010… compared to the 40-game
standings last year… involved Toronto and Boston flipping
spots. That’s it.
|
|
April
8, 2011 |
|
Hmm…
here’s a thought. I’ve heard Mark Beuhrle wanting to
be in St. Louis before. Trouble is, I think the White
Sox will be in the race for the AL Central. Still, he
may be the best pitcher available and could bring back
a haul from a team needing a starter… but the Cardinals
would likely be the only place he’d approve, and quick
math and no research has me thinking he can veto any
trade. It would not stun me at all to see Jonathan Papelbon
moved during the season. But planets need to align to
put that in motion. Frankly… there’s not alot that makes
sense to predict right now.
|
|
April
3, 2011 |
|
The
pitching. I’m not sure how this Varitek and Saltalamacchia
situation is going to work out. Since we have switch-hitting
going on and no knuckleballer likely as a regular starter
out of the gate, you would figure there isn’t a ton
to fix in on. However, by mid-May it might be interesting
to see whether… oh, I don’t know… Varitek catches more
often in a day-game-after-a-night-game or when Beckett
is starting. In other words… are they following a system
with the catching, or does it appear that the method
to their madness is comforting a few egos? (By the way…
while I wouldn’t expect this particular scenario… I
could oh so easily see the Red Sox and Rangers on the
phone in late June discussing a trade with Mike Napoli
coming to Boston for some bullpen help. Maybe that won’t
be the particular trade… but catching is simply the
most likely place for Boston to have a need. And I happen
to like that Napoli has a bit of Mike Scioscia in his
history.)
|
|
April
3, 2011 |
|
Last
year the Twins rode Carl Pavano and a nice rotation
to the playoffs. And then, as I recall, the sudden realization
was that Minnesota was entering the playoffs and their
hopes rested on… you got it… Carl Pavano. It’s all nice
to talk about Joe Mauer and Joe Nathan and Justin Morneau
and what will or might be. In the end… same concept…
Pavano. Lots
of teams have very talented players. Doesn’t always
cover for weaknesses.
|
|
April
2, 2011 |
|
I
suppose if I go around giving credit to Texas for Wilson
and Hamilton and Kinsler, I should be willing to react
favorably to Weaver and Hunter here. But I can’t. See…
the Angels never really delivered on their promise.
What we kept hearing was about how brilliant their minor
league system was. And that they had player after player
they didn’t want to give up because… you know… dynamite.
And now everyone else has moved three or four or five
years along… and Tampa has played in the World Series
and Colorado has played in the World Series and Texas
has played in the World Series… and the Angels are still
playing like it’s 2006 or so, telling us to just wait
and see what they have hidden up their sleeve. Boston
traded youth for Adrian Gonzalez. Texas signed Adrian
Beltre while Boston signed Carl Crawford. And for all
the promises of activity, California traded for no one
in particular (sorry Vernon, but it’s true) and signed
no one. They just got older.
|
|
April
2, 2011 |
|
Well…
I’m not sure they can add much if they need to. I may
be wrong… but I don’t see alot of payroll flexibility
or prospects they would be willing to trade. In July
if they are lockstep for a division title or wild card
spot, the roster that completed the first four months
will be virtually identical to the one they plan to
use in the final two of the competition. The club was
awful on the road last year… both in record and performance.
More than 60% of their runs were scored at home last
year. Easily… comfortably… more than 60% of their runs.
|
|
April
1, 2011 |
|
On
a potentially bright note… do you have your own catching
equipment? Because if you show up at any Tuesday or
Wednesday home game in May or June, and have your own
equipment, the Astros are running their “Be a Big Leaguer
for a Day” promotion. Show up around 3pm, get set up
behind the plate, and a coach will throw ten times off
the mound to you. The contestant that drops the fewest
pitches gets a uniform and the start in that night’s
game. They even have a cool slogan. Astros fever… catch
it!
|
|
April
1, 2011 |
|
Want
mixed messages? Ok, here we go. The ever optimistic
group will tell you that for the Mets to succeed, Beltran
needs to play a major role. Beltran has since proven
he can’t play center any more… likely won’t be able
to play without a day or two off each week… and is more
likely right now to be on the disabled list by June
than a viable trade candidate by July. So he has to
succeed for the team to succeed… but realistically the
hope is that he succeeds so someone, anyone, might trade
for him… and most people are counting the days until
he’s off the team’s payroll. Oh yeah, that’s mixed.
But it doesn’t end there…
|
|
February
5, 2011 |
|
About
the only way I like Pittsburgh in this game is if it
becomes a low-scoring and incredibly boring battle.
Say 16-13… or something with even less points being
scored. And with these two defenses… under 20 scored
seems very possible for both clubs.
|
|
January
21, 2011 |
|
I
don’t think either of these clubs will look as impressive
this week as they did last week. Too much going on defensively
to believe either club will clear 30-points or score
with ease. Instead I think the game will be decided
by Green Bay’s defense against Jay Cutler.
|
|
January
14, 2011 |
|
A
few items about Green Bay: (1) Only one team has scored
more than 26 against them all season (New England, with
31). (2) In only seven games have their opponents hit
20 points, and that includes the playoffs. (3) No team
defeated them twice this year.
|
|
January
7, 2011 |
|
The
point is… the stats say Philly can score… and the record
going game-by-game has some examples where that is quite
true. But it also says they are average at home (4-4
on the year), have the worst record of NFC teams against
conference opponents of the playoff teams (oh yeah,
except Seattle), and in the past three weeks they’ve
played just 8 good minutes of football.
|
|
January
7, 2011 |
|
But
let’s keep something in mind… this is not the destroy-all-visitors
Pittsburgh team we saw a few years ago. Last year some
slip ups in games they should have won cost them a playoff
spot. This year… 5-3 at home. And… those three losses
were all to AFC playoff teams. (Baltimore, New England
and New York.) Now… they did win in week one over Atlanta…
so give them credit. And… a win is a win in the NFL,
I suppose. But… 1-3 against playoff teams.
|
|
January
1, 2011 |
|
I… uh… I got nothing. Jacksonville is still technically
fighting for a playoff spot. Houston, in case you haven’t
heard, sucks. (S… U… C… K… S… sucks, sucks, sucks.)
Ah… but this game has some funny side notes. For one,
Jacksonville has a history of collapsing late in the
season. Their most important player… Maurice Jones-Drew…
didn’t play last week because of a knee injury. Not
only is he expected to miss this game, but their quarterback
is taking the week off as well. Houston, as much as
they suck, can score points.
|
|
December
24, 2010 |
|
Ok…
now… slowly… very slowly, consider that New England
has looked inconsistent on the road. I know. I know.
Defeated Pittsburgh on the road. Looking great overall.
Took care of business against Green Bay last week, even
though it was touch and go. But both of their losses
were on the road… and that victory over San Diego wasn’t
exactly a solid pounding.
|
|
December
18, 2010 |
|
I’m
just not of a mind to pick too many big spreads this
week. Well… that’s not true. I’ll be picking New England.
My point instead rests on two ideas. First, I don’t
trust the San Diego head coach. Second, I wonder exactly
how good San Diego is. There is a very realistic chance
they don’t play in the postseason this year. A bit more
depth of research might be deserved for this game, because,
well… did I mention I don’t trust the coach?
|
|
December
11, 2010 |
|
Love the Giants in this game. Love them.
|
|
December
4, 2010 |
|
Here’s
something you may not know… the Redskins have a winning
record when they travel. And if you didn’t know that,
you probably don’t know who they defeated on the road…
Philadelphia, Chicago, and Tennessee. They also have
a winning record in the division right now. The trouble
is, they are a team that scores less than 20 a game,
and that just isn’t going to get it done.
|
|
November
27, 2010 |
|
Last
year on Thanksgiving, Green Bay won by 22. In 2008,
Tennessee beat them by 37. In 2007, Green Bay was there
again, with the Packers taking the contest by 11. In
2006, Miami won by 17. (Holy crap… how far back does
this go?) In 2005 Atlanta beat them by 20. Five straight
Thanksgiving losses, with nothing even remotely close.
Want to go back even more? In 2004 the Colts slammed
them by 32, with a 41-9 final score, and I’ve had enough
of this now. Score one for New England.
|
|
November
20, 2010 |
|
Has
the flying and scoring blitz of the Lions been grounded?
Well… you tell me. They have 20 and 12 in the last two
games. And on the road? Why this club has scored 14…
10… 26… 20… 12. Not exactly marks of consistency. What
we do know is the simple math… Detroit plus road game
equals loss.
|
|
November
13, 2010 |
|
McNabb
in a big game? Let me tell you a little secret… while
it may have been a surprise to watch him get pulled,
the history suggests he has problems under pressure.
|
|
November
6, 2010 |
|
Seattle
is planning on starting the mascot from the University
of Washington at quarterback this week. The Giants are
in the middle of an annual run… where they win at least
5 straight.
|
|
October
30, 2010 |
|
What
do you want me to say? The Patriots are 3-0 at home…
defeated a strong Baltimore team by 3 while trampling
Cincinnati and controlling Buffalo. The Vikings are
spiraling out of control and the Patriots defense looks
faster every week.
|
|
October
23, 2010 |
|
Would
you believe Oakland has won the last two in Denver?
Yup… that’s true. Would you believe they’ve split with
Denver over the past three seasons? Again… true. And…
would you believe that last year’s victory was led by,
I kid you not, JaMarcus Russell? Folks… divisional game.
I’m taking the underdog.
|
|
October
16, 2010 |
|
Frank
Gore doesn’t just have the most receptions on the team…
he’s clear of the second guy by about 2 catches per
game while residing about 30-yards shy of being their
leading receiver by both catches and yardage. Umm… yeah…
that’s effectively their only running back leading the
passing attack. (He has 91 carries… quarterback Alex
Smith comes in second with 8 credited rushes.)
|
|
October
9, 2010 |
|
I
know what you’re thinking… Jay Cutler on the road. Danger!
And normally, you’d be exactly right. I’m expecting
a brutally horrible game. But this time, when it comes
to betting against Cutler on the road and counting your
winnings, don’t do it.
|
|
October
2, 2010 |
|
The
Cardinals are 2-1. Those victories are against St. Louis
and Oakland. They were demolished by Atlanta. San Diego
has kicked off the annual disappointment tour in familiar
fashion, with inexplicable losses, poor play, and, frankly,
mind-boggling stupidity.
|
|
September
23, 2010 |
|
In
the middle of writing this column, having added this
and the next two games with wonderful insight, the computer
crashed and burned. In sort of a half-victory, it did
manage to save the information on this game, the Detroit
against Minnesota one, and most of Dallas at Houston.
But, once I polished it up and bit, saved it and walked
away… I returned to find it was all gone. I suppose
the lesson you can take from this… other than computers
suck… is that some times overanalyzing these games is
worthless. So let’s see if I can share some information
that you might not get with a casual glance.
|
|
September
18, 2010 |
|
Better
head coach… better running back… I’m leaning toward
the Jaguars here. Really. I don’t think San Diego is
feeling any sense of urgency… which is what normally
kicks them in the pants in recent years. And their inability
to beat the Chiefs screams disorganized to me. By the
way… the Chargers have lost the second game of the season
every year Norv Turner has been their head coach. (Last
time they won game number two was in 2006, with Marty
coaching.)
|
|
September
11, 2010 |
|
A
couple of years ago, you could take Pittsburgh at home,
even with the big spreads, and not only sleep at night…
but prepare a deposit slip for your winnings. It was
that easy. They won at home… they won big at home… and
it happened all the time. In 2009 the Bears and Bengals
beat them to begin their home season at 0-2. They could
have lost to the Vikings, and eventually did roll over
against the Chiefs, Ravens, and Browns. 3-5 at home?
Pittsburgh? And to start 2010 we bring in a road favorite?
What the hell?
|
|
September
9, 2010 |
|
But
the Vikings are hurting on offense entering this year…
with their top wide receiver out. And after Minnesota,
the schedule offers up Baltimore and Dallas as the top
offensive threats. I’m not kidding. Other than those
two teams and a guy named Favre, only Ben Roethlisberger
is a consistent top third of the league quarterback.
Tampa Bay… Carolina… Atlanta? I like the Falcons and
Matt Ryan, but let’s not get carried away just yet.
Cincy? Perhaps… but time will tell on how that situation
is working out. After that we have Seattle… St. Louis...
Arizona… and surely you see what I mean by now.
|
|
September
9, 2010 |
|
How
will Kevin Kolb handle adversity? Can you answer that
one? See… in Philly… for a couple of seasons now… the
question was whether or not the Eagles should move on
past McNabb. Somehow… amazingly… this is Kolb’s fourth
year! And he’s been the quarterback-in-waiting since
his draft day.
|
|
September
9, 2010 |
|
They
could come out of the gate 1-4… 4-1… and anything else
in between. That’s Denver, San Diego, Philadelphia,
Indianapolis and Buffalo to start things off. They’ll
get one win. They’ll get one loss. But where either
will happen is a mystery. In reality, all of those games
could go either way. Supply a running attack like the
Jaguars start out with, and you got me on what may take
place each week.
|
|
September
9, 2010 |
|
Maybe
I’m giving New England too much credit. Maybe they are
too old and too young and playing with a different mentality
in the locker room that will never be as focused as
it once was. And in the same regard, maybe I’m approaching
New York with too much “beware of the team everyone
is talking about” on my mind. Maybe.
|
|
May
21, 2010 |
|
The
Mariners right now are playing badly enough to completely
change the trade deadline. For instance… They went out
and got Cliff Lee. Chances are the hope was to win in
2010, try to convince him to stay for a reasonable but
solid contract, and take the draft picks only if forced
to after the season. Well… what we’ve seen is simple.
They aren’t winning. The wild card is gone. And with
Oakland playing well and California 4 games ahead of
them, their playoff hurdles are immense without even
mentioning Texas. Lee has already issued the universally
understood wait-until-after-the-season-and-we’ll-see-but-I-really-like-it-here
quote that means he’s planning on bolting Seattle as
soon as he can empty out his locker without it looking
too suspicious.
|
|
April
17, 2010 |
|
Geez…
did everyone already forget 2009? Anyone want to guess
Boston’s record out of the gate in 2009? They started
with a win and then proceeded to drop 6 of the next
7 games. Yup… they were 2-6 at one point before rallying.
They ran off 11 straight wins… beginning from that 2-6
record on the morning of April 15, 2009… and finished
the month at 14-8. (Keep this in mind for later though…
they went 2-5 in games where they scored 3 runs or less
in April of 2009. Ok? Got that? Seriously… this will
come up again.)
|
|
April
10, 2010 |
|
I
just don’t see another team in the Central that will
run away from the Twins. There is no team capable of
95 wins in the division. And unless that happens, when
September arrives the Twins will be in the race. I suppose
you could argue that Nathan would make a difference…
and even I would attempt to make that argument… but
I just don’t see how it ends their season and finishes
them.
|
|
March
13, 2010 |
|
Drew
is a pink unicorn. (Wait… maybe he’s the magician. No…
no… let’s say he’s the unicorn. Boston management waving
the stats are playing the role of the magician.) For
this season, defense is the unicorn. Because after years
of preaching on-base percentage and smart signings of
low-cost productive players with high reward possibilities,
suddenly… as we turn the pages from 2009 to 2010… the
magician has finished his distraction of telling us
how the way to improve this club was on the field and
not with the batting order, and there, center stage,
is a season where pitching and defense has been assembled.
|
|
March
13, 2010 |
|
Of
course, as you’ve probably figured out… after all, the
geniuses expecting a division title for the White Sox
figured it out… I’m not mentioning Jake Peavy. The White
Sox think they have a surprise for us. They think Peavy
and Buehrle are going to be equal to Beckett – Lester
– Lackey or Hernandez – Lee or any of the other dynamic
duos in baseball. It’s an interesting possibility and
worth considering. It’s a thought that should make you
wonder if things could go right in Chicago. But
the truth is… they’re not that good.
|
|
March
13, 2010 |
|
Of
last year’s American League playoff teams, this is the
only one that is visibly weaker. They no longer have
a true top-notch pitcher in the rotation. And honestly…
if you recall all those years when people used to wonder
when the Angels were going to get some support in the
batting order for Guerrero, then you understand what
things are going to be like for Torii Hunter.
|
|
March
13, 2010 |
|
Amazingly
quiet. They managed to dump Juan Pierre. And that’s
about… hold on… yeah… that’s it. Brought in or signed
a few one-year-flyers… Reed Johnson… Ronnie Belliard…
Vincente Padilla… Brad Ausmus… but nothing stunning
or amazing. Plans seem to be based on getting payroll
stable after a few years of Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt,
and figuring out what Manny is doing. Guess I can’t
blame them for that, but it does raise some questions
if you think things will be a walk into the playoffs.
|
|
March
10, 2010 |
|
This
club is going to score runs by the truckload. By the
time we get to August, the only NL club that’s better
at it should be Philadelphia. Yup… the Phillies… and
that’s it. And… umm… after that they’ve got nothing.
Opposing lineups are going to love seeing the Brewers
take the field, because they should light up Milwaukee’s
staff brighter than the sky over the Statue of Liberty
on the Fourth of July.
|
|
March
10, 2010 |
|
Braves
might have a better rotation… Mets might have a better
offense… and so on. But… those clubs just as easily
might not be better. The Mets, as an example, have all
sorts of health concerns and other questions. The Mets
will be without Beltran to start the year, have Reyes
returning after effectively missing last season, want
Wright to look better in a power role than he did in
2009, need to bring Bay on board… and so on. Does Reyes
– Beltran – Wright – Bay look good in some fashion as
the content of a batting order? Sure does. Given the
past three seasons or so though… I don’t think any part
of that group frightens Philly.
|
|
February
26, 2010 |
|
So
there’s my solution. When it comes to overtime… play
or don’t play. If you’re going to have it… and the NFL
is going to have it… then commit to it fully if you
want fairness. Don’t turn it into a game of alternating
possessions. Keep the clock involved. Play a full extra
period.
|
|
February
26, 2010 |
|
McGwire’s
admitted it. My ability to use him as an example no
longer applies. Do I need that example though? Do I
need McGwire to have never tested positive when the
game still has performance enhancing loopholes that
you could spot from Mars with the naked eye? Do I need
McGwire when the media seems bent on attacking him while
not applying the same standards… the same criteria…
the same research to those that played during these
so-called dark, dark years?
|
|
February
5, 2010 |
|
Look
for halftime to play a huge roll in determining this
game. I’d guess the team that gets the ball first in
the second half will win. And by doing that I’m predicting
a bit of clock management. Let’s say New Orleans is
driving late in the second quarter and kicks a field
goal. Then, they get the ball first after halftime and
score a touchdown. That’s 10-points without Indianapolis
taking the field. With two high-powered offenses hitting
the field, that could be a significant way to change
the flow of the game.
|
|
January
23, 2010 |
|
See
Brett. See Brett lose. See Brett fumble. See Brett throw
interceptions. See Saints win. Last week I told you
I could see Romo or Favre losing the game by playing
horribly or turning the ball over late. I picked Minnesota
to win. Picked Romo to fall apart. This week, I sort
of expect a close, high scoring contest, with Favre
having a chance to win it late… but he turns it over
and the Saints take the victory. Let’s say 38-34 or
something like that.
|
|
January
14, 2010 |
|
First
thought, if you think New Orleans will score… then you
think New Orleans will win. And second thought, if you
think Arizona will score… then you think New Orleans
will win.
|
|
January
6, 2010 |
|
I
would love to see New England win this game. If they
do, they might be able to get on a roll. Heck… stranger
things have happened for teams that didn’t have the
greatest quarterback ever to play the game leading the
way with one of the greatest receivers ever to play
the game taking the field along with a defense that
isn’t special but is definitely underrated. The Patriots
are a talented club that, when healthy, match up with
any other team in the NFL. I’ll be cheering and screaming
for them to win. But I think Ray Rice is going to ultimately
decide this game.
|
|
January
2, 2010 |
|
I
wouldn’t be stunned to see New York win. I really wouldn’t.
I would be surprised if either team scores 20 points.
I’m thinking 19-17 or 16-13 for a final score in this
one. In fact… let’s call it… I say that with less than
a minute to play, the Jets will be lining up for a field
goal attempt that will decide whether or not they go
to the playoffs. Heck, I’ve already explained before
how they seem reliant on the field goal this season…
it would be a perfect ending to see the score 14-13
Cincinnati with 25-seconds to go and New York facing
third or fourth down and a 42-yard attempt.
|
|
December
24, 2009 |
|
Did
you know Jacksonville has been outscored this season
by 60-points? I’m not kidding. That’s hardly rare this
year… for some amazing reason a couple of teams are
at even records while being outscored. Miami… Houston…
Tennessee are the others. And that’s just one reason
I can’t take the Jaguars seriously as a playoff-bound
team.
|
|
December
19, 2009 |
|
There’s
a part of me that thinks maybe I’m being too optimistic
in thinking this will be a snap for New England. Is
it really as simple as saying Buffalo is averaging about
16 a contest and even when struggling, New England puts
up 20 in the first half? Yes… to a degree… it is.
|
|
December
10, 2009 |
|
There
is zero that I can tell you about this game that I would
feel good about. We could examine it fifteen different
ways, using the most important topics, and the reality
is, fifteen other things could easily become more important
in influencing this game. It could be the line play.
It might be the running games. And perhaps one of the
quarterbacks has a career passing effort. I could see
an unheralded player getting a late turnover. Or maybe
it will be rainy and windy and carry the late, last-second
field goal attempt just wide. Look, King Kong could
show up at this game and I really don’t think he would
create any more of a strange event than what eventually
does happen. So, with both teams turning in good and
bad efforts in recent weeks, and even though Philly
is probably playing better, I’m just going to take the
home team here and move on. And is that really what
I think? Nope. One, two, three or more wacky things
are going to happen in this game to decide it, and there
is no way to feel good about that.
|
|
December
5, 2009 |
|
In
the past 3 weeks the Redskins have toppled the Broncos
and scared the crap out of the Cowboys and Eagles. And
for all of their faults, only 4 times this year has
an opponent hit the 21-point mark. Coming off of arguably
the greatest win in organization history… I think New
Orleans wins, and probably big, but I’m going to take
Washington for the surprise (and the points).
|
|
November
25, 2009 |
|
See…
from what I saw during the Philadelphia against Chicago
game… Jay Cutler couldn’t hit a moving car with a football
if he was sitting in the back seat of the car when he
threw it. (Ok… ok… that’s not fair. He probably could
hit a moving car with a football. This week the Bears
are playing the Vikings in Minnesota. If you painted
the car purple and gold, left it undefended about 10-yards
from him, and let him throw at it on Sunday afternoon,
Cutler would hit it without a problem.)
|
|
November
20, 2009 |
|
I
already know how this game is going to play out. Early
in the fourth quarter, New England will have possession
of the ball with a 10-point lead. Let’s call it 24-14.
They’ll drive the length of the field and get inside
the 10-yard line. With roughly 6-minutes to play, the
Patriots will be sitting around the 4-yard line with
a decision to make on fourth down. Might be like fourth
and 2 for a first down inside the 10-yard line… might
be fourth and goal… but the idea is the same… go for
it or field goal. And they’ll go for it.
|
|
November
14, 2009 |
|
The
Bills suck. I know… I know… 2 wins in the last 3 games.
Wow. Not impressed. Check out the stats… the Jets and
Panthers both self-destructed. I believe the Titans
are poised for a late season run that makes you wonder
what was going on in September and October.
|
|
November
5, 2009 |
|
Denver
comes into this game with the better defensive efforts
of the year, and Pittsburgh with the better offense.
The consistency from Denver in not turning the ball
over and playing solid defense has, until last week,
been a steady, reliable factor in their victories. Honestly…
the thing I keep watching is two-fold. Pittsburgh hasn’t
been good on the road. And that can be found first in
that they 1-2 in road games to date. Second, they are
0-3 against the spread when on the road this year.
|
|
October
30, 2009 |
|
This
is the kind of game that screws me up when it comes
to the Texans. But the reality is simple… Buffalo has
won 2 in a row and you can’t trust the results from
either one. Against the Jets, the Bills picked off 5
passes, and still had to hold their breath.
Against Carolina… well… they managed a 20-7 victory,
on the road, while racking up 167-yards of offense to
Carolina’s 425. Some things defy explanation… shake
your head… move on.
|
|
October
24, 2009 |
|
Norv
Turner… how does this guy keep his job? Yeah… Marty…
I know. Can’t coach when the chips are on the table.
Put him in the playoffs and he tightens up, changing
everything that worked for him during the regular season.
But here’s the thing about Marty… there is no way… none…
zero… ain’t happening… that this San Diego roster doesn’t
win between 11 and 13 games every year under his leadership.
|
|
October
16, 2009 |
|
The
Rams are bad at a level that simply can’t be described.
There’s a real chance they could stay at home this year,
forfeit the road games, and not only would the 0-8 record
be pretty much what they’ll have anyway, but they might
only score like 17 fewer total points on the year than
they will by showing up. (Seriously, they should consider
it, save the planet and not travel at all.)
|
|
October
10, 2009 |
|
If
you would like to quarterback an NFL team, please send
your name, address, uniform size, a day-time telephone
number, and a self-addressed 9½” x 11” envelope
with appropriate postage for a 30-page playbook to:
Cleveland Browns, 76 Lou Groza Boulevard, Berea, Ohio,
44017.
|
|
October
3, 2009 |
|
I
expect the unexpected here. Sure… Denver isn’t as good
as their record. But… that Cincy win is looking a bit
better for them, and they are at home. On top of that,
look… Dallas isn’t one of the best teams in the league.
They’re not. They’re an average club, with above average
talent, that can’t concentrate and would do well to
hit 9 wins. So unless they manage to come in here and
destroy the Broncos, don’t expect me to start offering
them respect based on the history of the franchise instead
of the reality of 2009.
|
|
September
26, 2009 |
|
Who
watched the Redskins play the Rams and then installed
them as a 6½ -point favorite? Who? I’m not just
taking the Lions to cover… I’m taking them for the outright
victory. (Calm down… calm down… I know. Insanity.)
|
|
September
19, 2009 |
|
Over
the past 3 seasons, these clubs have split every season
series. And, over those years, each has won two games
on the road. Last season, in the only loss on the road
against Dallas in 3 years, New York had an injured Brandon
Jacobs and an 11-2 record (in other words… no desperation
to win). This is a big game for the Cowboys. Opening
a new stadium… their first divisional game… and, well,
we’ve seen how Dallas does in big games.
|
|
September
10, 2009 |
|
This
game has me stumped. The Cardinals should win this one
without breaking a sweat. Should. The 49ers don’t have
the same talent as the Cardinals. They have questions
that Arizona doesn’t. But something tells me that Arizona
isn’t prepared to take care of business. I think they’ve
been reading their press clippings a bit too much. And
I think the 49ers win this game… and start people talking
(talking way too early) about a Cinderella-story season.
|
|
September
10, 2009 |
|
But
now Orlando Pace is gone… ditto Torry Holt. Marc Bulger
isn’t going to the Pro Bowl unless they need to send
the conference’s seventh or eighth best quarterback.
(Yes… he’s that low. Don’t believe me? Fine. Brees,
Manning, McNabb, Romo, Favre, Rodgers, Ryan, Warner…
see, and that’s eight quarterbacks from the NFC without
entering names you might debate like Delhomme if Carolina
turns in a big year or Cutler (who I think is just a
big baby and I’d take Bulger ahead of him on principle).)
|
|
September
10, 2009 |
|
I
guess it’s like that commercial they did with the yawning
during the play calling. It seems like there is a lack
of focus here in Dallas. Maybe that’s because everyone
is paying attention to big new the scoreboard when talking
about the field as much as they do about Tony Romo not
appearing in a section of People each week.
Why isn’t anyone talking about the team? Did they all
leave for Buffalo?
|
|
September
10, 2009 |
|
Welcome
to year eight of Houston’s 3 to 5 year plan. And following
an 8-8 record in 2008, the team will be looking for
more in 2009. Is it possible? I have my doubts. There
isn’t a single game on their schedule that jumps out
at me as a win. Even something like Oakland… last year
the Raiders beat them 27-16. So we’re dealing with a
team that can win or lose any week.
|
|
September
10, 2009 |
|
I
don’t know if I’m explaining it properly… but I think
there needs to be a proactive element to your team instead
of a reactive element in order to be successful. I think
you need to be able to do something… anything… well.
I think you need an identity. Yeah… that’s it… an identity
defines it about as well as any word does. The Jets
to me look like a team assembled not to do anything
well, but rather assembled because they are concerned
about what other teams do well.
|
|
July
16, 2009 |
|
Penny’s
ERA the first time he goes through the batting order
is 2.13. He’s pitched 38 innings by that description,
given up 34 hits, and struck out 28. (Not dominant,
but pretty darn good. Heck… everyone can’t be Casey
Fossum.) The second time through the order… 32 and two-thirds
so far… the ERA goes up to 4.19, strikeouts still an
interesting ratio at 22, but hits go through the roof
at 53. (Uh-oh. Maybe everyone can be Casey Fossum.)
Third time for the order? 8.23 ERA. NASA scientists
and MIT grad students are still working on his numbers
for the miraculous times he gets to a fourth go against
hitters.
|
|
July
16, 2009 |
|
Seriously…
if you need to bring offense to Boston because Jason
Bay isn’t as hot as he was back in April or May… do
you really think Nick Johnson is a given to produce
after leaving Washington for Boston? Because if you
do, I have a 10-year old used car I’d like to sell you.
About 175,000 miles on it… but only one owner and it
never left on a long drive beyond traveling the east
coast. (Heck… we only drove it to church… and that was
downhill with the engine off.)
|
|
July
8, 2009 |
|
I
feel sorry for the Indians. Not only do they come out
of the gate like a turtle strapped to a concrete block,
but before his suspension Manny was talking about how
lovely a place it would be to end his career. Lucky
them. Of course… we’re now in July… and that turtle
pulled over to the side of the road and came to a complete
stop. 31 – 49? 31 – 49? Do you want to know how hard
it is to go 31 – 49? The Orioles have zero pitching…
a worse road record than Cleveland… and they
play in the American League East, where every other
team has a winning record. They’re 35 – 43. That’s 5
games better than the Indians in the standings. (While
cruising in at 11-18 against the AL East to start, Baltimore
is… 1-11… on the road against divisional foes. Still…
better than Cleveland.)
|
|
July
8, 2009 |
|
What
has been going right for Colorado is simple if you look
though… and Marquis is an example of it… their starting
pitching has been pretty healthy and very consistent.
The five starters have made all but two starts and kept
their combined ERA around 4. And… they’ve even been
completing at least six innings of work per start. (I’m
not kidding. Colorado starters are going deep into games.
Get this one… the Colorado starters have thrown roughly
30 more innings than the New York starters. And yet…
Sabathia has thrown more innings than any pitcher on
the Colorado staff. In fact, as I write this, Colorado
starters have also thrown more innings than the Boston
starters.)
|
|
April
19, 2009 |
|
No
doubt about it… toughest division in baseball. Yes,
Tampa still needs to prove they can deliver another
strong performance, but I actually think 88-90 wins
is quite possible for them without much of a problem
at all. Toss in a man that arguably is the best pitcher
in the division taking the mound for the Blue Jays,
and, you could go a long way while arguing that the
fourth best team in this division could threaten several
of the best teams in baseball during an opening short-round
of the playoffs.
|
|
April
19, 2009 |
|
Every
team except Kansas City has performed well… made the
playoffs… been a disappointment… exceeded expectations…
played well… played poorly… and basically has done anything
they could to make the playoffs and then mess things
up the next year. And Kansas City has a shot not just
in this division, but in the entire American League,
at turning in the most improvement compared to last
season.
|
|
April
19, 2009 |
|
The
trouble is… only California is built to maintain a 90-plus
win pace. That may not mean cruise control as the July
trading deadline closes and the dog days arrive, but
it will mean the division lead… and I don’t expect them
to give it back.
|
|
April
19, 2009 |
|
There
are Cy Young winning arms out here. Some lights out
pitching spread across the teams. Four of the teams
in this division have been in the World Series roughly
over the past decade...
It’s
hard to explain, but this division is just so vanilla…
plain… heck, it is boring. And that just shouldn’t be
the case.
|
|
April
18, 2009 |
|
I
have always loved sports, and my father and uncle, tremendous
influences in my life, fed my appetite with their passion
and support. About the age of eight or nine, I was at
my grandmother’s house, and I found a book in my uncle’s
room. It was The Open Man, by Dave DeBusschere.
He wrote it as a diary about the championship season of
1969-1970. Working with him on the project were Dick Schaap
and Paul Zimmerman, two sports writers that have become
well-known and respected in their field over the years
that followed its publication.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted May 16, 2003 |
|
April
2, 2009 |
|
Look…
the Cubs are the clear favorite. And yet going in to
the last weekend of March, Lou Pinella still hadn’t
decided on a closer… the team doesn’t know what to do
with Kosuke Fukudome… and they signed Milton Bradley,
who would have been a huge risk for a team that could
use him as a designated hitter. There
you have it folks… a highly paid designated hitter on
a team that will play more than 150 of their regular
season games in National League parks... the clear favorites.
Exciting
division.
|
|
April
2, 2009 |
|
That
said… here we are in the NL East. And, truth be told,
it’s pretty darn good and deep as well. Toss out Washington,
and there is some quality play to be turned in by the
other four clubs. The problem? Well… None
of them are great. Certainly not AL East level great.
They’re all just pretty good.
|
|
April
2, 2009 |
|
The
Denver Broncos were considering a quarterback change.
Their current quarterback is ok, but hasn’t accomplished
much. Their new head coach was likely going to install
systems on offense and defense that reflect his philosophy…
and he had a chance to go after a quarterback that had
won and been successful operating an offense not just
based on his system, it was his system.
|
|
March
21, 2009 |
|
Rodriguez
recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right
hip in early March. The 90-minute procedure was intended
to stabilize a torn labrum, allowing him to miss only
a small portion of the 2009 season while hopefully reducing
the possibility of the injury worsening by playing.
|
|
March
7, 2009 |
|
“David
is coming here to be a soccer player. His first priority
is going to be trying to make the Galaxy a better team.”
I love that one. Give me a second… we’ll get to why that
cracks me up.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted August 25, 2007 |
|
March
7, 2009 |
|
As
Owens was walking out on the organization, he basically
did so by walking backwards toward the door while giving
the figurative finger to the San Francisco 49ers. He didn’t
like the organization, the coaches, or the teammates.
Heck, it seemed like he didn’t like anything about the
city if it didn’t involve a paycheck for him from endorsement
money. And when he hit the exit door… he literally smashed
right into it. Turned out he was so involved with hand
gestures and television interviews bad mouthing the 49ers,
he hadn’t noticed that no one… not even his agent… had
opened it for him to leave.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted March 11, 2004 |
|
February
23, 2009 |
|
Oh
absolutely it’s been fun watching players apologize
for what they were caught doing, all while struggling
to make sure they don’t admit to a darker secret that
hasn’t been revealed during their I’m so sorry moment.
But I’ve reached a point… see item number one, tired…
where the reality is setting in with me that this is
much ado about something, but I don’t know if it’s the
really important, life altering, super-duper-incredible
something everyone seems to want to believe it is.
|
|
February
22, 2009 |
|
Sabathia
has pitched in the postseason three times… 2001, 2007
and 2008. Let’s look at the past two years, when he
was counted on as a dominant difference maker… So
he’s 1-3 in 4 starts. He’s pitched a whopping total
of 19 innings in those 4 starts… less than 5 innings
per outing. And, in those 19 innings, there have been
44 base runners.
|
|
February
14, 2009 |
|
The
first comment is that you can never go too far. Considering
the ever-increasing laundry list of stupidity the-pitcher-who-must-not-be-named
has been working on, it’s clear he takes this advice
to heart. (So this first part is pretty good, right?
You can never go too far, and it certainly seems to
apply here. Hold on… part two is even better.)
|
|
February
5, 2009 |
|
What
makes it so different that a player like Harrison… or
Shawn Merriman… gets a pass and a return to the playing
field, when players like McGwire, Bonds and so on seem
to be sparking national outrage? As near as I can tell,
it’s because we are talking about potential immortals
and legendary accomplishments in a game that treats those
as sacred. It’s not purely a difference between the sports
or the media covering them or the cities they play in.
When Babe Ruth and Roger Maris and other players or records
are approached or broken, they reflect treasures of the
game.
|
|
|