Joe Torre does seem to have an aversion to a particular race...This year's pennant race!!! Bah-dum-bum!
After 27 years as a manager, I have to hear that Torre is a racist from somebody other than a chronic malcontent (Sheffield) and a mercenary that has played on nine teams since 9/11 (Lofton).
Thanks a lot, Gary Sheffield, for making me defend a man, whose life I selfishly wish would end.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Sheffield Crying Wolf
So Gary Sheffield is claiming that the are Yankees a racist organization. Honestly nothing could make me happier than finding out that Torre and Cashman watch "Birth of a Nation" together every Tuesday night, not because I condone such behavior, but rather because I gain happiness from any Yankee embarrassment. Sheffield adamantly feels that while he was a Yankee, African-American ballplayers were treated disparately from white players (Not counting Jeter who is "not all the way black"). Now these are some loaded accusations so I hope Sheffield would have some solid proof to back up his claims, but Sheffield clearly lacks a smoking gun or any type of evidence at all. He tries to cite the treatment of the organization- Torre and Cashman- toward himself, Kenny Lofton, and Tony Womack as examples its racist paradigm, but as you will see below these charges hold less water than New a Orleans leeve. Let's go through each:
Gary Sheffield v. Vlad Guerrero- Sheffield's main gripe is that rather signing him, Cashman and Torre wanted to ink Vlad Guerrero prior to the 2004 season. It's as if he is completely discounting Vlad as a player. Frankly, whether or not to sign Sheffield or Vlad at that point is a complete coin flip. Vlad was coming off a injury riddled season and there were concerns about his back, but he was eight years younger than Sheffield, had strung together five straight Hall of Fame caliber seasons prior to 2003, and those very same injury concerns helped to drive down his market value- making him one of the biggest free agent bargains in the history of the game. So at the time, it was probably a better idea to sign Guerrero over Sheffield, but lets see how it actually turned out. Ok, after putting on my Hindsight 20/20 tm contact lenses, the Yankees would have been better off signing Vlad instead of Sheffield. You can compare their stats yourself (Guerrero and Sheffield), but to sum it up in 2004 and 2005 Guerrero OPS+'d 154 and 156 respectively, while in that same span Sheffield had an OPS+ of 143 and 132. Both players were productive, but Guerrero was clearly better, and let's not forget the anecdotal evidence that Guerrero won the MVP in 2004. Also, 2006 was a lost season for Sheffield as he played in only 39 games, while Vlad was his usual impaling self, throwing up a stat line of .329/.382./.552. This year Sheffield having a productive season...for the Tigers as Guerrero continues to rake for the Angels. So Gary, do you really think that Cashman and Torre were wrong in preferring Vlad??
Kenny Lofton- According to this Ken Davidoff article, Sheffield actually convinced Steinbrenner to sign the aging speedster in 2004. The thought at the time of the signing was that Lofton would take split time with Bernie Williams, who had begun his precipitous career decline in 2003. Torre, when awake, is extremely loyal and according to the Davidoff piece Torre did not like the idea of playing Lofton over Bernie. Lofton was coming off a decent year for Kenny Lofton (.296/.352/.450), but at age 34 he clearly was not the long term solution for the squad. Futhermore, Lofton and Williams posted almost identical OPS+ (109 to 110), so you really can't fault Torre for playing Bernie over Lofton, unless maybe late in games where Lofton was well suited as a defensive replacement for Bernie. So, with all things being fairly equal, Torre choose to play a player that he had coached for ten very productive years over a player that he had no attachment to and who was not an upgrade. I'm still waiting for some evidence of racism.
Tony Womack- Citing that Davidoff article, both Sheffield and Womack think that Tony got that shaft in his lone season with the Yankees. With apologies to Christian Guzman, in 2005 Womack was probably the worst position player in baseball. If you don't believe me, please check out his stat line. In 329 abs Womack posted a anorexic .249/.276/.280, which netted him a quark-sized OPS+ of 47!!!. Womack should be ecstatic that he got a paycheck that year rather than be all salted up for losing his 2b job to Robinson Cano. Also, after Cano came up Torre still found playing time for Womack by moving him to the outfield where he was probably the least productive player in the history of baseball. Tony, the only people that got a raw deal during your tender in the Bronx were the fans who were subjected to watching you swing a wet noodle and misplay fly balls every day.
OK, though it looks like I'm completely trying to dismiss Sheffield's cries of racism in the Bronx, while I obviously can speak on what was actually happening in the locker room, Sheffield is going to need to do a lot better than trotting out Vlad Guerrero, Kenny Lofton, and Tony Womack as examples if we wishes to get a direct verdict in the court of public opinion. Furthermore, wanton claims of racism denigrates instances of actual racism, (see the parable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf") so Sheffield might actually be doing more the hurt the cause than help it.
(Question to Tremont- Before or after being traded, did Sheffield ever state that he wanted to stay with the Yankees?)
Gary Sheffield v. Vlad Guerrero- Sheffield's main gripe is that rather signing him, Cashman and Torre wanted to ink Vlad Guerrero prior to the 2004 season. It's as if he is completely discounting Vlad as a player. Frankly, whether or not to sign Sheffield or Vlad at that point is a complete coin flip. Vlad was coming off a injury riddled season and there were concerns about his back, but he was eight years younger than Sheffield, had strung together five straight Hall of Fame caliber seasons prior to 2003, and those very same injury concerns helped to drive down his market value- making him one of the biggest free agent bargains in the history of the game. So at the time, it was probably a better idea to sign Guerrero over Sheffield, but lets see how it actually turned out. Ok, after putting on my Hindsight 20/20 tm contact lenses, the Yankees would have been better off signing Vlad instead of Sheffield. You can compare their stats yourself (Guerrero and Sheffield), but to sum it up in 2004 and 2005 Guerrero OPS+'d 154 and 156 respectively, while in that same span Sheffield had an OPS+ of 143 and 132. Both players were productive, but Guerrero was clearly better, and let's not forget the anecdotal evidence that Guerrero won the MVP in 2004. Also, 2006 was a lost season for Sheffield as he played in only 39 games, while Vlad was his usual impaling self, throwing up a stat line of .329/.382./.552. This year Sheffield having a productive season...for the Tigers as Guerrero continues to rake for the Angels. So Gary, do you really think that Cashman and Torre were wrong in preferring Vlad??
Kenny Lofton- According to this Ken Davidoff article, Sheffield actually convinced Steinbrenner to sign the aging speedster in 2004. The thought at the time of the signing was that Lofton would take split time with Bernie Williams, who had begun his precipitous career decline in 2003. Torre, when awake, is extremely loyal and according to the Davidoff piece Torre did not like the idea of playing Lofton over Bernie. Lofton was coming off a decent year for Kenny Lofton (.296/.352/.450), but at age 34 he clearly was not the long term solution for the squad. Futhermore, Lofton and Williams posted almost identical OPS+ (109 to 110), so you really can't fault Torre for playing Bernie over Lofton, unless maybe late in games where Lofton was well suited as a defensive replacement for Bernie. So, with all things being fairly equal, Torre choose to play a player that he had coached for ten very productive years over a player that he had no attachment to and who was not an upgrade. I'm still waiting for some evidence of racism.
Tony Womack- Citing that Davidoff article, both Sheffield and Womack think that Tony got that shaft in his lone season with the Yankees. With apologies to Christian Guzman, in 2005 Womack was probably the worst position player in baseball. If you don't believe me, please check out his stat line. In 329 abs Womack posted a anorexic .249/.276/.280, which netted him a quark-sized OPS+ of 47!!!. Womack should be ecstatic that he got a paycheck that year rather than be all salted up for losing his 2b job to Robinson Cano. Also, after Cano came up Torre still found playing time for Womack by moving him to the outfield where he was probably the least productive player in the history of baseball. Tony, the only people that got a raw deal during your tender in the Bronx were the fans who were subjected to watching you swing a wet noodle and misplay fly balls every day.
OK, though it looks like I'm completely trying to dismiss Sheffield's cries of racism in the Bronx, while I obviously can speak on what was actually happening in the locker room, Sheffield is going to need to do a lot better than trotting out Vlad Guerrero, Kenny Lofton, and Tony Womack as examples if we wishes to get a direct verdict in the court of public opinion. Furthermore, wanton claims of racism denigrates instances of actual racism, (see the parable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf") so Sheffield might actually be doing more the hurt the cause than help it.
(Question to Tremont- Before or after being traded, did Sheffield ever state that he wanted to stay with the Yankees?)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
End It With Beckham
Most of us have had the experience of a having a friend enthusiastically try to hip him to a band. Oftentimes, you don't understand what your friend has been raving about. You tell them as much, but they are insistent that you must be missing something. They ask that you listen to give them a few more listens, certain that something will click and you will share their passion. More often than not, it doesn't work. I have been annoyed by such friends many times. I have also been that annoying friend many times.
ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and even non-sports media outlets are that friend right now, with their incessant pushing of David Beckham on us. We really don't care. I played soccer from the ages of 4 to 14 and even refereed for several years as a teenager. I can appreciate the talent and strategy that goes into playing the sport. I just do not care to watch it played professionally. And as dreamy as he is, Beckham is not going to make me any more interested in it.
Nerd Alert
And if you thought our man Kige Ramsey was a little bit of a dork, check out this guy who spends 10 minutes dissecting shitty Super Nintendo basketball games. Keep in mind that this is just part 1.
Down and Out in Flushing Queens (Rickey Henderson In)
Newsday is reporting that Mets hitting coach Rick Down has been replaced by all-time steals leader Rickey Henderson. Henderson has been an instructor for the Mets over the past couple spring trainings and has served as a part-time baserunning coach over the past two seasons. This is a big promotion however, and it will be interesting to see how Ricky can handle it. I'm not saying Rickey can't do the job, but he has no prior experience as a hitting coach on any level. Furthermore, Rickey is widely considered a a third-person referring, arrogant jerk (kind of redundant I know), which is a trait I love in a player, but is not nearly as coveted for a coach. At this point I'm willing to give Omar and Co. the benefit of the doubt based on the decisions they have made to this point, but I'm generally weary of Hall of Famers who go on to become hitting/pitching coaches. The old saying goes, those who can- do and those who can't-teach (I have no clue who to construct that sentence in a grammatically correct manner). Ted Williams couldn't cut it as a hitting coach, and just a few weeks ago Eddie Murray was fired from the position by the Dodgers. Ricky, along with the above mentioned players, all had very special talent, but a lot of times that talent does not lend itself to instruction perhaps because they never had to analyze the mechanics the act like a lesser player would. For example, Ted Williams claimed that he was able to recognize a pitch by seeing the spin of the ball. I've never heard another player make a similar claim of being able to slow the game down to that level. This means that much of Williams success was due to abnormal reflexive and visual ability that simply can't be taught. Because of this there can be a great disconnect between coaches who were some of the best to ever play the game and the average player. The same line of thinking applies to pitching coaches as well. Two of the best pitching coaches in the game today are Rick Peterson and Leo Mazzone, who have thrown a combined zero major league innings. Meanwhile, the Yankees employ former Cy Young Award winner Ron Guidry to middling results. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think teams are better of hiring a coach based on his resume as a coach rather than his resume as a player. The correlation between playing career achievements and coaching success is tenuous at best, while someone who has paid his dues and plied his trade at different levels of the game would be a much safer bet.
I'll leave you guys with my all-time favorite Rickey Henderson story (which unfortunately didn't actually happen):
The setting is Seattle Mariners batting practice. The year 2000.
Rickey Henderson (to John Olerud): Hey, Rickey sees that you wear a helmet in the field.
John Olerud: Yeah
Rickey: Rickey used to play with a guy who wore a helmet in the field.
Olerud: Yeah that was me Rickey.
(Rickey and Olerud had played on the Mets together the season before)
I'll leave you guys with my all-time favorite Rickey Henderson story (which unfortunately didn't actually happen):
The setting is Seattle Mariners batting practice. The year 2000.
Rickey Henderson (to John Olerud): Hey, Rickey sees that you wear a helmet in the field.
John Olerud: Yeah
Rickey: Rickey used to play with a guy who wore a helmet in the field.
Olerud: Yeah that was me Rickey.
(Rickey and Olerud had played on the Mets together the season before)
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
My Last Post Ever
The day after the MLB All-Star Game is agonizing. Without the distraction of a job, the Yankees, and fantasy sports, it is a day that forces the unemployed sport fanatic to reflect on what he has become. This must be how Chris Benoit felt a couple weeks ago.
Boy That Brady Quinn is Photogenic
Mondesi's House first posted this photo of Brady Quinn and ex-Poison lead singer Bret Michaels and while The Big Lead and Deadspin have both given it some lip service, we'd be remiss not to pop it up on our site as well. Why? Because Brady Quinn photos always get us a ton of Google image search hits. How many of those bicurious web surfers do we retain? Probably none unless they enjoy junior high school level writing, puns, Hank Aaron bashing and one-liners. I also wanted to put the photo up for our loyal reader Jimer, whose entire trip into the blogosphere begins and ends with SYHD. Without us, he would never know that Brady is so attracted to lead singers of defunct 80's hair bands (Vince Neil, you're next!). Lastly, this photo is here because I think there is something inherently hilarious about Brady Quinn in pseudo homosexual/homosexual candid photo ops. Has this guy ever taken a straight picture??(Note: Where were Brady and Michaels hanging? Looks like a party in some high school kid's basement. Maybe the photo was snapped in between rounds of Asshole.)
Update: It seems that the Michaels/Quinn picture was just the tip of one big gay iceberg. Video footage has materialized of Quinn and Browns RT Ryan Tucker on stage with Bret Michaels and his back-up band (if Rikki Rockett isn't on stage I refuse to call them Poison) singing "Nothin But a Good Time"- and by singing I mean Brady is moving around awkwardly waiting for the chorus to kick in. God bless you Brady Quinn. Check out the video here. Thanks to Kissing Suzy Kolber for posting this up.
Problem #352 with Boxing
Boxing has 8 (!!) divisions differentiating guys that weigh less than 130 pounds and only 2 for fighters over 175 pounds. Granted, we are a nation of fatsos, but I bet you know ten full grown men that weigh more than 175 for every one that weighs less than 130. Without doing any research, I think I can safely assume that these weight class distinctions, or some close approximation of them, are a relic of the turn of the century. (Are we still calling the late 1800s and early 1900s "the turn of THE century"?) The average man is probably 4 inches taller than he was when these divisions were made (again too lazy to research it) and nutrition and modern strength and conditioning programs lead to more muscled athletes. Boxing is the least reverential major sport in America. It is uniquely unafraid to make a mockery of itself. So why are they still stuck on these goofy weight classes?
At the risk of sounding gay, when I think of the quintessential jock, I imagine a guy that is tall, but not unusually so. He is somewhere in the 5'11 to 6'3" range. He is very muscular, but not to the point where it begins to make him a stiff. He probably weighs between 175 and 215 pounds. I picture NFL running backs or Olympic sprinters. Delicious fantasy aside, I have a point here. These are exactly the types of athletes that are incapable of becoming major boxing stars under the current system.
The Cruiserweight Division, for fighters that weigh between 175 and 200 pounds is almost completely ignored by the boxing fan. It has long been seen as a minor leagues for smaller heavyweights (Evander Holyfield, Chris Byrd). Cruiserweights get no respect.
Making matters worse is the recent dominance of the "super heavyweights" in the heavyweight division. Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis ushered in this dull era in the early nineties and the Klitschkos and other giant creepy Slavs are continuing it for the foreseeable future. Therefore, a guy that weighs less than 220 probably cannot contend for the Heavyweight Championship anymore. The prototypical athletic body, weighing between 176 and 215 cannot attain any relevant titles.
Boxing should cap the Heavyweight Division at 220 and add a legitimate Super Heavyweight division.
At the risk of sounding gay, when I think of the quintessential jock, I imagine a guy that is tall, but not unusually so. He is somewhere in the 5'11 to 6'3" range. He is very muscular, but not to the point where it begins to make him a stiff. He probably weighs between 175 and 215 pounds. I picture NFL running backs or Olympic sprinters. Delicious fantasy aside, I have a point here. These are exactly the types of athletes that are incapable of becoming major boxing stars under the current system.
The Cruiserweight Division, for fighters that weigh between 175 and 200 pounds is almost completely ignored by the boxing fan. It has long been seen as a minor leagues for smaller heavyweights (Evander Holyfield, Chris Byrd). Cruiserweights get no respect.
Making matters worse is the recent dominance of the "super heavyweights" in the heavyweight division. Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis ushered in this dull era in the early nineties and the Klitschkos and other giant creepy Slavs are continuing it for the foreseeable future. Therefore, a guy that weighs less than 220 probably cannot contend for the Heavyweight Championship anymore. The prototypical athletic body, weighing between 176 and 215 cannot attain any relevant titles.
Boxing should cap the Heavyweight Division at 220 and add a legitimate Super Heavyweight division.
Kige Ramsey quick hits
As one of the few who was found worthy enough to make the Kige Ramsey facebook friend cut, I feel obligated to bring you, the American consumer who is frothing at the mouth for more Kige, some of his news and views straight from the mind this up and coming analytical phenom. Not since Jon Benet has a Ramsey held the American public's attention like this. Without further ado, I give you the gospel of Kige:
On immigration:
"I think that immigration is fine if you you do it legally and learn English. If you do these things I will accept you into our country, I would do the same thing if I went to Mexico to live."
On his typical friday night:
"What do you usually do on Fridays? For me I usually have loads of fun. Which includes but is not limited to Wal-Mart trips, Bowling Green trips, or simply hanging out at my house any one of these things, is good enough for me on Fridays. I know that most of you like to go partying, but partying is just not for me."
On the Beatles:
"I think that the best rock band of all time is the Beatles. The Beatles consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Some of their best known hits are I want to hold your hand, twist and shout, here comes the Sun,hey Jude, all you need is love, help, and please please me.
This is the kind of analysis we have grown to love and expect from Kige. Sports may be the man's love, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. And let me leave you with this: Dan Patrick suddenly and abruptly leaves ESPN the same week Kige emerges from his wood-paneled kingdom. Coincidence?
Good Job Tony
Way to not find an at bat for arguably the best hitter in baseball, Albert Pujols. Just because the Cards have no shot at making the World Series doesn't mean that LaRussa can piss all over the rest of the National League hopefuls by holding the former MVP out of action. How about pinch hitting Albert in Aaron Rowand's place for that last at bat? No? Oh, ok you wanted to save Pujols for extra innings? How did that work out for you...jerk.
The Dane of My Existence (An Homage to "The Blaine of My Existence)
Two years ago, the NFL brought us the terrific Don Cheadle Super Bowl ad campaign. Earlier this year, the NBA made us suffer through copycat David Blaine promos. Now, much to the chagrin of every male over 21, it appears that Dane Cook will be Fox's spokesman this season's playoff run. I was mildly intoxicated for the All-Star Game tonight, but it seemed he was trying to play the promo pretty straight. It is the height of arrogance for this son of a bitch to even attempt to turn the corner from "funnyman" and try to be profound.
I really thought I had a good rant in me, but at nearly 2AM I don't think it's going to pan out. Suffice to say, he stinks and I don't like him. These promos will be torture for the next 4 months.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Topical Joke of the Day (Reader Feedback Wanted)
Antonie Walker was robbed at gun point yesterday. Which is the better joke about this incident:
a) 'Toine 'Toine finally found a shot he didn't want to take
b) Good thing that the gunman didn't have Walker's shot selection
c)None of the Above
Antonie Walker was robbed at gun point yesterday. Which is the better joke about this incident:
a) 'Toine 'Toine finally found a shot he didn't want to take
b) Good thing that the gunman didn't have Walker's shot selection
c)None of the Above
Ugh still can't put a headline up for some reason.
Stammerin' Hank
A corollary to Bonds' quest to unseat Aaron as HR king is Aaron's reaction to the whole circus. Aaron has already said that he will not be present when (not if) Bonds breaks the record and Aaron is also conspicuously absent from this week's All-Star festivities. Aaron's behavior is doing more to tarnish his legacy than Bonds will do to it by passing his record. Contrary to his perception, when Bonds belts number 756, Hammerin' Hank doesn't instantly become irrelevant. Did people forget about Ruth's accomplishments after Maris hit 61* or after Aaron surpassed his all-time HR record? No. By taking such a bitter approach towards Bonds, Aaron is giving off the impression that the only thing in his life that matters is the record, and that just makes him look pathetic. Playing dime store psychologist, I believe that Aaron is holding onto to this record with the grip of Man Hands (Seinfeld reference for the unindoctrinated) because he feels slighted by baseball historians and fans who laud Mays, Mantle, Dimaggio, Williams, and even Banks before mentioning Aaron. The record forces Aaron into the discussion, but maybe at the same time the record takes away from his accomplishments. By taking such a rigid stance on Bonds and the record, Aaron shines so much attention on his record that he actually obscures his other career accomplishments. Hank, you weren't Dave Kingman, so stop acting like home runs are the be all and end all.
Aaron was a fantastic ballplayer and has been a great ambassador for the game, but by refusing to give Bonds any credit he looks like a crotchety old man who loves to tell you how great everything was 40 years ago and how everything today is for the birds. Records were made to be broken and you might not like the man breaking it or the suspect way that he did it, but he is going to do it so you can at least acknowledge his existence. Keep this in mind...no one likes angry old men. Why do you think nursing homes were invented?
Stammerin' Hank
A corollary to Bonds' quest to unseat Aaron as HR king is Aaron's reaction to the whole circus. Aaron has already said that he will not be present when (not if) Bonds breaks the record and Aaron is also conspicuously absent from this week's All-Star festivities. Aaron's behavior is doing more to tarnish his legacy than Bonds will do to it by passing his record. Contrary to his perception, when Bonds belts number 756, Hammerin' Hank doesn't instantly become irrelevant. Did people forget about Ruth's accomplishments after Maris hit 61* or after Aaron surpassed his all-time HR record? No. By taking such a bitter approach towards Bonds, Aaron is giving off the impression that the only thing in his life that matters is the record, and that just makes him look pathetic. Playing dime store psychologist, I believe that Aaron is holding onto to this record with the grip of Man Hands (Seinfeld reference for the unindoctrinated) because he feels slighted by baseball historians and fans who laud Mays, Mantle, Dimaggio, Williams, and even Banks before mentioning Aaron. The record forces Aaron into the discussion, but maybe at the same time the record takes away from his accomplishments. By taking such a rigid stance on Bonds and the record, Aaron shines so much attention on his record that he actually obscures his other career accomplishments. Hank, you weren't Dave Kingman, so stop acting like home runs are the be all and end all.
Aaron was a fantastic ballplayer and has been a great ambassador for the game, but by refusing to give Bonds any credit he looks like a crotchety old man who loves to tell you how great everything was 40 years ago and how everything today is for the birds. Records were made to be broken and you might not like the man breaking it or the suspect way that he did it, but he is going to do it so you can at least acknowledge his existence. Keep this in mind...no one likes angry old men. Why do you think nursing homes were invented?
Monday, July 9, 2007
Thoughts while watching the Home Run Derby:
-They need to shorten this thing. It shouldn't as long to play as a Yankee-Red Sox game.
-I really hope Matt Holliday hits a line drive off the head of one of those kids in the outfield who can't catch. At least it would add a little excitement to this borefest.
-Berman needs to put a moratorium on his "Back, back, back, back gone" HR call during a home run derby. It's stale enough as he's been doing it for the past 20 years, but in a derby setting it's downright Excedrin size headache inducing. A Chris Berman derby drinking game would surely induce alcohol poisoning for all who attempt.
-Dusty Baker just said, "I'd love me some Vlad" after Guerrero hit a monster home run. Dusty, that's what we call a questionable statement.
-The camera work is horrible. One camera is so jittery it appears to be operated by a anxiety ridden crack addict who is on his 12th cup of coffee and has just seen the apparition of his dead mother while the another camera is apparently operated by an intern from the Helen Keller Institute as it just pans around the outfield hoping to find the ball.
-Do we really need John Kruk and Steve Phillips in studio to analyze the derby? Do we really need John Kruk and Steve Phillips to analyze anything? Hey here's a scoop, I heard Albert Pujols' secret strategy this year is to hit the ball long and hard (I think that just made Dusty Baker excited) .
-Pujols is eliminated after his valiant rally falls just short. Who is this Jordan Barber guy with the airbrushed shirt who keeps interjecting himself into every photo op as if he is relevant? Also, they showed Pujols' kid during his at bat, but I don't think it was the retarded one...unfortunately.
-The way ESPN covers this event it makes the derby seem much more important and relevant than what it actually is- mindless fun.
-Berman makes a "hanging chad" joke and it's not even during a Jets highlight. He is SOOO hip. The year 2000 called and wants it topical humor back.
-Vlad is being interviewed about not wearing batting gloves, but no mentioned is made of him urinating on his hands. I'm pissed, that's just irresponsible journalism.
-Alex Rios pulls a grounder way foul and almost hits Kevin Mitchell. I wish it hit him so Mitchell could get up, walk over to Rios, tear his esophagus out, and calmly walk back to his seat as if nothing had happened.
-Vlad wins in a final round devoid of drama. Ho hum.
-Geez I can't believe I'm sort of live blogging the Home Run Derby. I really need a life...being a curmudgeon just isn't going to cut it.
-They need to shorten this thing. It shouldn't as long to play as a Yankee-Red Sox game.
-I really hope Matt Holliday hits a line drive off the head of one of those kids in the outfield who can't catch. At least it would add a little excitement to this borefest.
-Berman needs to put a moratorium on his "Back, back, back, back gone" HR call during a home run derby. It's stale enough as he's been doing it for the past 20 years, but in a derby setting it's downright Excedrin size headache inducing. A Chris Berman derby drinking game would surely induce alcohol poisoning for all who attempt.
-Dusty Baker just said, "I'd love me some Vlad" after Guerrero hit a monster home run. Dusty, that's what we call a questionable statement.
-The camera work is horrible. One camera is so jittery it appears to be operated by a anxiety ridden crack addict who is on his 12th cup of coffee and has just seen the apparition of his dead mother while the another camera is apparently operated by an intern from the Helen Keller Institute as it just pans around the outfield hoping to find the ball.
-Do we really need John Kruk and Steve Phillips in studio to analyze the derby? Do we really need John Kruk and Steve Phillips to analyze anything? Hey here's a scoop, I heard Albert Pujols' secret strategy this year is to hit the ball long and hard (I think that just made Dusty Baker excited) .
-Pujols is eliminated after his valiant rally falls just short. Who is this Jordan Barber guy with the airbrushed shirt who keeps interjecting himself into every photo op as if he is relevant? Also, they showed Pujols' kid during his at bat, but I don't think it was the retarded one...unfortunately.
-The way ESPN covers this event it makes the derby seem much more important and relevant than what it actually is- mindless fun.
-Berman makes a "hanging chad" joke and it's not even during a Jets highlight. He is SOOO hip. The year 2000 called and wants it topical humor back.
-Vlad is being interviewed about not wearing batting gloves, but no mentioned is made of him urinating on his hands. I'm pissed, that's just irresponsible journalism.
-Alex Rios pulls a grounder way foul and almost hits Kevin Mitchell. I wish it hit him so Mitchell could get up, walk over to Rios, tear his esophagus out, and calmly walk back to his seat as if nothing had happened.
-Vlad wins in a final round devoid of drama. Ho hum.
-Geez I can't believe I'm sort of live blogging the Home Run Derby. I really need a life...being a curmudgeon just isn't going to cut it.
Overrated Omar
Before I begin this article, I must disclose that I am a complete Mets hater. I begrudge them even the slightest modicum of success. My earliest baseball memories involve the Mets dominating the New York baseball landscape from the mid-80s through the early-90s. I am still traumatized by being one of the very few die hard 9 year old Yankees fans on Long Island (all things being equal, LI is Mets country). Perhaps unhealthy, four Yankees championships have done little to satiate my appetite for Mets failure. So there is my bias. Having admitted that, I must also say that I am fairly adept at removing my personal feelings from my critical analysis.
After that unnecessarily long preface, my thesis is this; Omar Minaya is not a particularly good general manager. While this criticism might seem modest by most standards, it is heretical in New York, where every sports writer and Mets' fan has eaten out of Omar's magical hands for the past three seasons.
In 2005, Omar Minaya inherited a Mets franchise that had the most financial resources in the
National League and arguably the most promising tandem of 22 year old players in baseball. Steve Phillips and Jim Duquette bungled the GM job so badly, that an above .500 season in 2005 garnered Omar Minaya with a great deal of undue praise. Spending over $100 million for an 83-79 team in a subpar National League was seen as a smashing success.
Last year, Minaya reputation as the new millenium Branch Rickey was cemented when the Mets finished the season 97-65. They were a very good team and Minaya did a great job, but the Mets were more than a little lucky to finish with such a record. First, the National League was appallingly bad. The gap between the two leagues was greater than I can ever remember, in 2006. Second, the Mets outplayed their expected win total (based upon their runs scored and runs against) by 5 games. Third, the Mets got surprisingly quality seasons out of bunch of guys in their mid-thirties that had not played well in years. Paul LoDuca, Jose Valentin and Darren Oliver and Guillermo Mota who had stunk in the previous several seasons, played well in 2006, and have predictably returned to their previously established level of stink.
This year, the Mets are vastly underperforming expectations. They are only 9 games over .500 and have only outscored their pitiful National League opponents by 23 runs. The Midas touch Minaya seemed to have displayed last year, appears to have evaporated. He has not been able to repeat his 2006 effort of turning scrap heep finds into major contributors.
Minaya's track record is okay. But the New York media will have you believe he is beyond reproach. Being an affable guy, has made him the teflon general manager. Here are some of the debits and credits on his ledger...
Good Moves
1) Trading Kris Benson for Jorge Julio and John Maine- Although I will never believe that Omar thought he was getting a top of the rotation guy in Maine, this has been an unqualified success.
2) Trading Xavier Nady for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez- Both of the afforementioned trades were with bad organizations. However, good GMs should be swindling bad GMs, so kudos to Minaya for that.
Bad Moves
1) Signing Pedro Martinez- Theo Epstein was smart to let Pedro Martinez go. Pedro gave the Mets a great 2005 season, but was mediocre in the half season he played 2006, and still hasn't had his first rehab start this year. For his 4 year $53 million contract to be near worthwhile, Pedro will have to come back in August and dominate the rest of this year and next like it's 1999.
Also, it's absolute malarchy that the Mets had to sign him to change the culture of the team and attract more Latin players. Horse shit. Show me the guy that came to the Mets for less than top dollar and then we can talk.
2) Signing Carlos Beltran- When you spend $119 million on a ballplayer, you are hoping for more than one great season, one terrible season, and an average one. (This is complete hindsight on my part, as I thought it was a great signing at the time.
3) Trading off bullpen depth for nothing- Heath Bell, Royce Ring, Henry Owens, and Matt Lindstrom could all help the team. Instead Omar traded them all for garbage and replaced them with Ambiorix Burgos and Scott Schoeneweis. Schoeneweis is 33, with a career ERA of more than 5.00. Currently in his ninth season, he has only once posted an ERA below 4.18. How did he sign a 3 year deal worth over $10 million? Based on his track record, he should be a non-roster invitee every year.
After that unnecessarily long preface, my thesis is this; Omar Minaya is not a particularly good general manager. While this criticism might seem modest by most standards, it is heretical in New York, where every sports writer and Mets' fan has eaten out of Omar's magical hands for the past three seasons.
In 2005, Omar Minaya inherited a Mets franchise that had the most financial resources in the
National League and arguably the most promising tandem of 22 year old players in baseball. Steve Phillips and Jim Duquette bungled the GM job so badly, that an above .500 season in 2005 garnered Omar Minaya with a great deal of undue praise. Spending over $100 million for an 83-79 team in a subpar National League was seen as a smashing success.
Last year, Minaya reputation as the new millenium Branch Rickey was cemented when the Mets finished the season 97-65. They were a very good team and Minaya did a great job, but the Mets were more than a little lucky to finish with such a record. First, the National League was appallingly bad. The gap between the two leagues was greater than I can ever remember, in 2006. Second, the Mets outplayed their expected win total (based upon their runs scored and runs against) by 5 games. Third, the Mets got surprisingly quality seasons out of bunch of guys in their mid-thirties that had not played well in years. Paul LoDuca, Jose Valentin and Darren Oliver and Guillermo Mota who had stunk in the previous several seasons, played well in 2006, and have predictably returned to their previously established level of stink.
This year, the Mets are vastly underperforming expectations. They are only 9 games over .500 and have only outscored their pitiful National League opponents by 23 runs. The Midas touch Minaya seemed to have displayed last year, appears to have evaporated. He has not been able to repeat his 2006 effort of turning scrap heep finds into major contributors.
Minaya's track record is okay. But the New York media will have you believe he is beyond reproach. Being an affable guy, has made him the teflon general manager. Here are some of the debits and credits on his ledger...
Good Moves
1) Trading Kris Benson for Jorge Julio and John Maine- Although I will never believe that Omar thought he was getting a top of the rotation guy in Maine, this has been an unqualified success.
2) Trading Xavier Nady for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez- Both of the afforementioned trades were with bad organizations. However, good GMs should be swindling bad GMs, so kudos to Minaya for that.
Bad Moves
1) Signing Pedro Martinez- Theo Epstein was smart to let Pedro Martinez go. Pedro gave the Mets a great 2005 season, but was mediocre in the half season he played 2006, and still hasn't had his first rehab start this year. For his 4 year $53 million contract to be near worthwhile, Pedro will have to come back in August and dominate the rest of this year and next like it's 1999.
Also, it's absolute malarchy that the Mets had to sign him to change the culture of the team and attract more Latin players. Horse shit. Show me the guy that came to the Mets for less than top dollar and then we can talk.
2) Signing Carlos Beltran- When you spend $119 million on a ballplayer, you are hoping for more than one great season, one terrible season, and an average one. (This is complete hindsight on my part, as I thought it was a great signing at the time.
3) Trading off bullpen depth for nothing- Heath Bell, Royce Ring, Henry Owens, and Matt Lindstrom could all help the team. Instead Omar traded them all for garbage and replaced them with Ambiorix Burgos and Scott Schoeneweis. Schoeneweis is 33, with a career ERA of more than 5.00. Currently in his ninth season, he has only once posted an ERA below 4.18. How did he sign a 3 year deal worth over $10 million? Based on his track record, he should be a non-roster invitee every year.
Even though he already had Wagner and Feliciano, Minaya couldn't resist the siren's song of the southpaw. I'll never understand the fascination managers and GMs have with lefty relievers. They forego rational thoughts like "Can he get anybody out?" and revert to their reptilian, "good" baseball man instincts, which always tell them "Need more lefties!"
4) 2006 and 2007 drafts have been subpar by most accounts. Aside from outfielders, the Mets farm system is pretty barren.
5) Stubbornly insisting on carrying a nearly 49 year old player who hasn't had a 100 hit season in ten years. Wow! I know he is a nice guy, but this is the epitome of one of the Met organizations greatest problems; the idea that you have to smile your way to success in the big leagues. All of his teammates love Franco and LoDuca tickles David Wright's belly when he isn't looking and everybody gets along famously. But if chemistry was a substitute for good baseball players, the Oceans 11 cast would make a 100 win team.
Would you believe it if I told you that former NBA player Doug Christie has found a new way to emasculate himself? I bet you would and here it is.
On a side note, I'll be posting a lot less over the next few weeks because I am studying for the Florida Bar and in crunch time mode. Why would I subject myself to this experience again after taking the NY Bar? Masochism, I suppose, but I had nothing else to do so I figured I might as well take another bar. I will still try to throw something up once a day, but the posts might be even less thought out than usual, so I apologize in advance.
(Another side note- For some reason the site is not letting put a title on this post. I will try to rectify the situation later.)
On a side note, I'll be posting a lot less over the next few weeks because I am studying for the Florida Bar and in crunch time mode. Why would I subject myself to this experience again after taking the NY Bar? Masochism, I suppose, but I had nothing else to do so I figured I might as well take another bar. I will still try to throw something up once a day, but the posts might be even less thought out than usual, so I apologize in advance.
(Another side note- For some reason the site is not letting put a title on this post. I will try to rectify the situation later.)
Friday, July 6, 2007
One-liner of the Day
A conversation between Downright Nashty and I:
Me: What do you think of the Grant Hill signing?
Downright Nashty: It's great as long as the Suns trade for a left ankle.
Me: What do you think of the Grant Hill signing?
Downright Nashty: It's great as long as the Suns trade for a left ankle.
Slow Sports Day
With the NBA draft over, baseball in the midst of its Summer doldrums, the NHL irrelevant, and NFL training camp still weeks away, please enjoy this clip of Mr. Belding singing Tom Jones' 'Delilah' at ameteur Karaoke night in Burbank. Hey, its only appropriate to give the guy that inspired all of us to shoot our hopes and dreams a little time in the spotlight.
John Maine = Rodney Dangerfield
Ok, I'm going to try to write this post as if I were a a typical sports journalist. I hope you hate it as much as I will.
Remember the Maine? Well the All-Star voters certainly didn't, but after tonight's performance the Astros won't soon forget him. Maine who was snubbed not only in the fan and player voting but also by All-Star team manager Tony Larussa pitched with an all-star sized chip on his shoulder last night allowing two runs in 7 2/3 innings while striking 9 and walking only two. The polite Virginian farm boy wouldn't admit it, but being left out of the last chance vote in favor of several relievers and someone named Tom Gorzelanny, hurt as well.
Maine gets less respect than Rodney Dangerfield attempting a Triple Lindy. Sure there are other players that have legitimate gripes about being left off the team, namely Hanley Ramirez and Chris Young, but Young has since been named to the team, while unfortunately for Hanley there is a glut of great shortstops this year. At the time of selection, however, Maine had put up better numbers than selection Cole Hamels and similar numbers to Ben Sheets and Brad Penny. Maine also has been having a better season that Pirates starter Tom Gorgonzola or whatever his name is, yet inexplicably Maine was left off of the Final Vote ballot.
Let's all agree that the the All-Star selection process is faultier than the U.S. Justice Department. Fans often pick the big name player over the most deserving one. Managers (see Guillen, Ozzie) will select one of their own players as a show of loyalty. Also because at least one player from each team must be selected we get stuck with Freddy Sanchez, instead of the aforementioned Ramirez. None of this will provide solace to the pitcher nicknamed the Maine Event, who couldn't even make the undercard for this year's all-star extravaganza.
Remember the Maine? Well the All-Star voters certainly didn't, but after tonight's performance the Astros won't soon forget him. Maine who was snubbed not only in the fan and player voting but also by All-Star team manager Tony Larussa pitched with an all-star sized chip on his shoulder last night allowing two runs in 7 2/3 innings while striking 9 and walking only two. The polite Virginian farm boy wouldn't admit it, but being left out of the last chance vote in favor of several relievers and someone named Tom Gorzelanny, hurt as well.
Maine gets less respect than Rodney Dangerfield attempting a Triple Lindy. Sure there are other players that have legitimate gripes about being left off the team, namely Hanley Ramirez and Chris Young, but Young has since been named to the team, while unfortunately for Hanley there is a glut of great shortstops this year. At the time of selection, however, Maine had put up better numbers than selection Cole Hamels and similar numbers to Ben Sheets and Brad Penny. Maine also has been having a better season that Pirates starter Tom Gorgonzola or whatever his name is, yet inexplicably Maine was left off of the Final Vote ballot.
Let's all agree that the the All-Star selection process is faultier than the U.S. Justice Department. Fans often pick the big name player over the most deserving one. Managers (see Guillen, Ozzie) will select one of their own players as a show of loyalty. Also because at least one player from each team must be selected we get stuck with Freddy Sanchez, instead of the aforementioned Ramirez. None of this will provide solace to the pitcher nicknamed the Maine Event, who couldn't even make the undercard for this year's all-star extravaganza.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Fearless Prediction
If Alex Rodriguez is still sidelined with the hamstring pull, and the Yankees manage to average 6 runs per game for the next two days, at least two New York papers will run articles in the Sunday edition saying the Yankees line-up is better without A-Rod.
They Couldn't Just Leave It Well Enough Alone
Was there really a need to bring back Alvin and the Chipmunks? I loved them when I was six, but that was twenty years ago and now I think I'm slightly outside of the targeted demographic for this flick. Seriously, when was the last time they were even on TV? Is a trend forming where 1980's cartoons are reborn 20 yrs later in movie form catering to a nostalgic fanbase as well as to impressionable children who like anything marketed to them? At least Transformers were kickass robots, but looking back on it Alvin and the Chimpmunks were borderline gay and Dave comes off as a bit of a beastial pedophile. So which defunct cartoons will become the next Hollywood movie? Here are the odds:
GI Joe: 2-1. This movie would reign as long as Snakeyes has a large part
The Smurfs: 5-1 . Kids would eat this up and Vanity Smurf could become a gay icon. Dustin Hoffman to play Gargamel?
Thundercats and He-Man, tied at 8-1. I never really liked either of these, but I know plenty of people who did, so I had to include them. Besides, Mumthra and Skeletor would make for pretty awesome villains though.
Voltron: 12-1: Voltron may have been a little obscure for a Hollywood studio to dish out big bucks, but since it is a copycat industry there is a chance someone will take a flier on converting another robot cartoon. The forming of Voltron on the big screen would be worth the ticket price alone. It's also not up for debate that Sven has to be part of the film in some way as he really got a raw deal being killed off in the second episode. (On a side note, how cool is it that someone actually got killed in a cartoon. You never see that happen. Think of how many shots were fired in GI Joe, yet how often would a character die.) I considered Go Bots for this spot, but they were just a cheap Transformers knock-off and are not worthy of a 5 minute short let alone a feature length film.
18-1: The Real Ghostbusters. Oh wait, nevermind.
1000-1: Jabberjaw . Man this Hanna-Barbera cartoon about a cowardly shark sucked. He was part of a rock band which I guess is kind of cool, but their tunes were bland and derivative, so it actually blew.
Perusing the day's celebrity birthdays, as I am wont to do in moments of boredom, I discovered that Katherine Helmond (Mona on "Who's the Boss?") turned 79 years young today. I distinctly remember thinking she wasn't a day under 79, when I first starting watching that show. Should that line of thinking be attributed to the untrained eye of a 7 year old or did dear Ms. Helmond not age particularly well?
Too Bad WWII Didn't Prevent His Birth
After watching him get knocked around again, it has become painfully obvious; The Kei Igawa experiment was a very costly failure. Paying $45 million for a pitcher, doesn't make him a $45 million talent. In the words of Marcellus Wallace, "Now that's a hard mother fuckin' fact of life, but it's a fact of life that (Cashman and Torre's asses are) gonna have to get realistic about. "
Kei Igawa has displayed marginal "stuff", suspect command, and a tendency to keep the ball up in the strike zone. This recipe is significantly less appetizing than this. Next week he turns 28, so there is little reason to expect significant improvement. For any other organization, the Igawa signing would be a crippling blow. However, the Yankees are perhaps the only team fortunate enough to be in a position to survive this mistake virtually unscathed.
It is well-established that the Yankees have the coffers to outspend their mistakes. What is less widely known is that the organization is bursting with alternatives to Igawa's batting practice offerings. Bear in mind that I am only looking for a pitcher who can post a 5.00 ERA and pitch and average 5 or 6 innings per start for the rest of the season. I believe some, if not all, of these man are capable of doing so immediately. Choose one of the following guys, any of these guys, and give him a shot at the fifth starter until Phil Hughes returns...
Guys We Have Already Seen
- Tyler Clippard- features a nice change-up/curveball combination and just enough of a fastball to keep batters honest. Although scouts aren't in love with him, he has quickly climbed the organizational ladder and had success at every level. Despite a 6.33 ERA in his first 27 innings with the Yankees, he was very impressive in stints. Clippard made a good-hitting Mets teams look downright foolish at times in his first start. He struggled with his control in his first stint in the Major Leagues, but nothing in his minor league history suggests that he has trouble throwing strikes. Tyler Clippard deserves another shot.
- Matt DeSalvo- Much like Clippard, he doesn't have great stuff and relies on a funky delivery and pretty good secondary pitches to get batters out. He scuffled a bit in his first exposure to Major League hitters earlier this year. Anecdotally, I recall him being the victim of an inordinate amount of bleeders and bloopers on his way to posting a 5.87 ERA. Joe Torre showed zero faith in him, by pulling him early in a couple of games, in which he was getting punch-and-judied to death.
Scouts don't love him Two months away from his 27th birthday, he is probably nearly as good as he will ever be. His upside is probably limited to the back end of a rotation. Wouldn't you know it, that is exactly what the Yankees need! His 2.33 ERA, and 57 Ks in 54 innings in Scranton tells me that he would make a serviceable 5th starter right now. Perhaps I'm wrong, and the guy is a career Quadruple A pitcher. But at the expense of further kamikaze performances by Igawa, I am willing to find out.
Even More Unknown Quantities (Qualities)
- Ian Kennedy- The Yankees are notoriously cautious with prospects. When you are cruising to 98 wins per year, this approach is commendable. When you are likely to be under .500 at the All-Star break, it is foolhardy. Ian Kennedy was the Yankees' first round pick last year. While he is not thought to have "ace"potential, Kennedy was considered the most polished pitcher in last year's draft. This year, his composite ERA at A and AA 1.63 and he is striking out 10.63 batters per nine innings.
So, they drafted Kennedy out of college last year thinking he would be able to move quickly. He has proven them right with his performance thus far. Why not roll the dice? Tim Lincecum and Andrew Miller, both selected in the same draft, are pitching pretty well in the Majors. Why can't Ian Kennedy?
- Joba Chamberlain- As good as Kennedy has been, scouts think far more highly of Chamberlain. Drafted just after Kennedy, Chamberlain has also reached Double A and is dominating that level. Unlike Kennedy, Chamberlain features one of the best fastballs in the minors and is believed to be a potential ace. He has an ERA of 2.26 at the same two levels and is striking out over 13 per nine(!) and walking less than 3 per nine.
I don't see what can be lost by trying Chamberlain or Kennedy. If one of them is ready, you make a playoff run this year and then plug him into the rotation for the next 6 years. If they need more seasoning, send them back down. If their pysches are so fragile that they will be destroyed by a little failure, they were never going to be good anyway.
Other Better Options than Igawa
- Steven White
- Alan Horne
- Steve Trout
- Steve Blass (and any victim of his "disease")
- A pitching machine
- Dave Dravecky (with his right arm)
- Any recently murdered, pre-pubescent sufferer of "Fragile X" syndrome
Send Igawa on a well-paid 5 year vacation. Paying a man $45 million to do nothing sucks. But it is favorable to paying the same man $45 million to meticulously maim you for half a decade.
Kei Igawa has displayed marginal "stuff", suspect command, and a tendency to keep the ball up in the strike zone. This recipe is significantly less appetizing than this. Next week he turns 28, so there is little reason to expect significant improvement. For any other organization, the Igawa signing would be a crippling blow. However, the Yankees are perhaps the only team fortunate enough to be in a position to survive this mistake virtually unscathed.
It is well-established that the Yankees have the coffers to outspend their mistakes. What is less widely known is that the organization is bursting with alternatives to Igawa's batting practice offerings. Bear in mind that I am only looking for a pitcher who can post a 5.00 ERA and pitch and average 5 or 6 innings per start for the rest of the season. I believe some, if not all, of these man are capable of doing so immediately. Choose one of the following guys, any of these guys, and give him a shot at the fifth starter until Phil Hughes returns...
Guys We Have Already Seen
- Tyler Clippard- features a nice change-up/curveball combination and just enough of a fastball to keep batters honest. Although scouts aren't in love with him, he has quickly climbed the organizational ladder and had success at every level. Despite a 6.33 ERA in his first 27 innings with the Yankees, he was very impressive in stints. Clippard made a good-hitting Mets teams look downright foolish at times in his first start. He struggled with his control in his first stint in the Major Leagues, but nothing in his minor league history suggests that he has trouble throwing strikes. Tyler Clippard deserves another shot.
- Matt DeSalvo- Much like Clippard, he doesn't have great stuff and relies on a funky delivery and pretty good secondary pitches to get batters out. He scuffled a bit in his first exposure to Major League hitters earlier this year. Anecdotally, I recall him being the victim of an inordinate amount of bleeders and bloopers on his way to posting a 5.87 ERA. Joe Torre showed zero faith in him, by pulling him early in a couple of games, in which he was getting punch-and-judied to death.
Scouts don't love him Two months away from his 27th birthday, he is probably nearly as good as he will ever be. His upside is probably limited to the back end of a rotation. Wouldn't you know it, that is exactly what the Yankees need! His 2.33 ERA, and 57 Ks in 54 innings in Scranton tells me that he would make a serviceable 5th starter right now. Perhaps I'm wrong, and the guy is a career Quadruple A pitcher. But at the expense of further kamikaze performances by Igawa, I am willing to find out.
Even More Unknown Quantities (Qualities)
- Ian Kennedy- The Yankees are notoriously cautious with prospects. When you are cruising to 98 wins per year, this approach is commendable. When you are likely to be under .500 at the All-Star break, it is foolhardy. Ian Kennedy was the Yankees' first round pick last year. While he is not thought to have "ace"potential, Kennedy was considered the most polished pitcher in last year's draft. This year, his composite ERA at A and AA 1.63 and he is striking out 10.63 batters per nine innings.
So, they drafted Kennedy out of college last year thinking he would be able to move quickly. He has proven them right with his performance thus far. Why not roll the dice? Tim Lincecum and Andrew Miller, both selected in the same draft, are pitching pretty well in the Majors. Why can't Ian Kennedy?
- Joba Chamberlain- As good as Kennedy has been, scouts think far more highly of Chamberlain. Drafted just after Kennedy, Chamberlain has also reached Double A and is dominating that level. Unlike Kennedy, Chamberlain features one of the best fastballs in the minors and is believed to be a potential ace. He has an ERA of 2.26 at the same two levels and is striking out over 13 per nine(!) and walking less than 3 per nine.
I don't see what can be lost by trying Chamberlain or Kennedy. If one of them is ready, you make a playoff run this year and then plug him into the rotation for the next 6 years. If they need more seasoning, send them back down. If their pysches are so fragile that they will be destroyed by a little failure, they were never going to be good anyway.
Other Better Options than Igawa
- Steven White
- Alan Horne
- Steve Trout
- Steve Blass (and any victim of his "disease")
- A pitching machine
- Dave Dravecky (with his right arm)
- Any recently murdered, pre-pubescent sufferer of "Fragile X" syndrome
Send Igawa on a well-paid 5 year vacation. Paying a man $45 million to do nothing sucks. But it is favorable to paying the same man $45 million to meticulously maim you for half a decade.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Isiah Has Some Huge Artesticles
According to Cnnsi, via fannation, via the NY Post, the NY Knicks are thinking of moving the expiring contracts of Dan Dickau and Freddy Jones for a swingman and that swingman might be..wait for it...wait for it...Ron Ron Artest! Let it be known that Ron Ron is my favorite player in the NBA, largely because he played for St. John's, but also because his bull in the china shop style of play coupled with his volatility makes him immensely entertaining. I wanted to Knicks to draft Artest instead of that posterized Frenchman and have been advocating for the Knickerbockers to acquire him ever since. Artest would be the perfect fit for this Knicks team as he would add toughness and defense to a squad that lacked both last year. Also Artest can hit the open three, handle the ball, and is effective in both the low and high post. Of course, he has some well documented attitude issues, but he has generally been a happy camper for a year before self destructing. Coupling Artest and Randolph would also provide the NY tabloids with endless fodder and NY strip clubs with endless business. It's a win/win any way you look at it.
Yes I'm a Complete Hypocrite
After knocking Sports Center for the frivolity of their "Who's now?" segment, I give you this Jeffrey Ross inspired observation...If Telly from "Kidz" bumped uglies with a "Ferris Bueller" era Alan Ruck, their baby would be Tim Lincecum.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Who's Now? Who Cares?
Sports Center is becoming sillier than this blog. Last week, they ran their excruciating "My Wish" series. Now they have decided to waste more air time, with a completely frivolous 32 athlete tournament to "determine who is the ultimate sports star by considering both on-field success and off-field buzz". Terrific.
Today Stuart Scott and the panel consisting of Keyshawn Johnson, Kirk Herbstreit (Really? Kirk Herbstreit?), and Michael Wilbon debated whether Dwyane Wade or Shaun White was "now". Keyshawn Johnson admitted to not knowing who Shaun White was until today. It's good to see our panel is on the ball. I must report that this was less than compelling television. It seems that Sports Center is planning on investing about 10 minutes per show on this drivel for the rest of the month.
To make matters worse, I bet you could come to a consensus on "who's now" with your friends in about 30 seconds. By the standards they created, Tiger Woods HAS TO be the winner; And I hate golf. I wouldn't even watch the Masters, if Tiger and Phil were tied on the 72nd hole. However, to be fair, I have to admit that nobody comes near his combination of success within his sport and pop culture status.
One could make a case that Roger Federer and Floyd Mayweather (who's not even in the stupid tournament) are as dominant in their sport, but nobody gives a shit about seeing pictures of their babies. Lebron may rival Tiger Woods's celebrity, but he doesn't have the sports credentials to measure up yet.
So there it is. Debate settled. Tiger is "now". Please spare us the hours of bad television.
Today Stuart Scott and the panel consisting of Keyshawn Johnson, Kirk Herbstreit (Really? Kirk Herbstreit?), and Michael Wilbon debated whether Dwyane Wade or Shaun White was "now". Keyshawn Johnson admitted to not knowing who Shaun White was until today. It's good to see our panel is on the ball. I must report that this was less than compelling television. It seems that Sports Center is planning on investing about 10 minutes per show on this drivel for the rest of the month.
To make matters worse, I bet you could come to a consensus on "who's now" with your friends in about 30 seconds. By the standards they created, Tiger Woods HAS TO be the winner; And I hate golf. I wouldn't even watch the Masters, if Tiger and Phil were tied on the 72nd hole. However, to be fair, I have to admit that nobody comes near his combination of success within his sport and pop culture status.
One could make a case that Roger Federer and Floyd Mayweather (who's not even in the stupid tournament) are as dominant in their sport, but nobody gives a shit about seeing pictures of their babies. Lebron may rival Tiger Woods's celebrity, but he doesn't have the sports credentials to measure up yet.
So there it is. Debate settled. Tiger is "now". Please spare us the hours of bad television.
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