The Braves avoided the sweep thanks to the pinch-hitting clutchness of Brooks Conrad (I expect him to hit home runs in that spot...he has an uncanny ability to come off the bench with a bit hit) and some help from the Mets in the 10th (poor defense on Schafer's grounder, balk to win).
The Braves pounded out 14 hits, but none came from Dan Uggla who went 0-5 and left five men on base. Awesome. Uggla went 1-13 for the series and his ineptness at the plate seems to be contagious as Freddie Freeman looks lost at the plate.
Ugh-la Watch - .174.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Ugh-La Watch
Whoa - Uggla goes 2-3 with a homer in the 1st. We might not have the Ugh-la Watch much longer. The Braves get dingers from Uggla and then McCann and fourteen strikeouts from Tommy Hanson (and my closer Jonny Venters shut 'em down in the 9th with two strikeouts) to win its sixth straight. The Braves are leading the wild card with one more game in hapless Houston.
Ugh-la Watch - .183
Ugh-la Watch - .183
MLB Playoffs & Realignment?
First, as a Houston, Texan for three years, it is tough to watch the Astros team on the field with the Braves right now. I lived in H-Town when Houston went to the World Series in 2005 and attended two playoff games against the Braves (including the 58-inning games - thanks, Kyle Farnsworth). It is a great baseball city. It is a great professional sports town in every way, but especially baseball. I had no idea how much the city loved the 'Stros until I got there, but the franchise owns the city. It must be killing them to be so hapless.
Now, to the prospective changes to the divisions, leagues and playoffs. I love 95% of it.
Let's start with the 5% I don't love - I will miss the division rivalries with the Phillies and Mets that have developed over the years. That is the same reason I didn't like the move to three divisions - I hated losing meaningful games with the Dodgers and Giants.
Now we have way too many divisional games. It feels like the Braves are playing the Marlins every third series. In turn, it feels like the Cubs, Reds and Pirates are on another planet as little as Atlanta sees them. Getting rid of the divisional games would remedy today's scheduling problems.
What about adding a 5th wildcard team? Again, I love it. The wildcard has been a winner - more playoff games, good teams getting into the playoffs despite playing in tough divisions, etc. The Braves can hopefully compete with the loaded Phillies, but if the Phils run off with the division then Atlanta can still get to the post-season via the wildcard (like last year). It makes for a more interesting regular season when there is a real chance multiple teams can get to the post-season.
I think about Toronto Blue Jay fans - imagine playing in the same division as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. It must feel like the up-coming season is over as soon as free agency begins in the off-season. Tampa Bay found a way to break up the BoSox/Yanks monopoly once, but otherwise those two have had a stranglehold on the division and usually the wildcard. The new proposal means the Torontos and Baltimores of the world have a real chance to get to the post-season.
Will the post-season be diluted with good, but not great teams? I don't think so. Right now, you're adding either Cleveland or Detroit and St. Louis. Those aren't bad teams at all. We aren't talking about the Seattle Seahawks or Indiana Pacers here.
I'm guessing the two wildcard teams would play a one-game or three-game series to meet the league champion. Then it goes 5 games to 7 games in the league championship series to 7 in the World Series. I think a one-game playoff between wildcard winners is perfect. You are in, but you are also one game from elimination. You would also be down your best pitcher going into the a series with the champions (a nice advantage the league champion has earned). I think you give home field advantage to the wildcard with the better record who then hosts the league champion for the opening game of the series. The next four games would be in the champ's ballpark. That eases travel, give the champs a great advantage and gets the playoffs going quickly even while expanding it.
Finally, what about realignment? The report is Houston to the American League. This works, though I don't know why Arizona wouldn't be considered as well. Houston has more history in the N.L., but Arizona has actually won a World Series for the National League. You could also move Milwaukee back to the A.L., but my understanding is that Bud Selig won't let that happen. I'm guessing the impending sale of the Astros is the key - they can make moving leagues part of the sale agreement so that there is no hassle on the ownership side of the transaction.
So Houston moves, you get a decent rivalry with the Rangers (nobody in Texas cares about that rivalry right now, but it might take going forward). Each league would have five "west" teams if you consider Houston to be west. It works for me.
This seems like a no-brainer. More playoffs, no divisions, even leagues - I like it all. Now to just get rid of the DH...
Now, to the prospective changes to the divisions, leagues and playoffs. I love 95% of it.
Let's start with the 5% I don't love - I will miss the division rivalries with the Phillies and Mets that have developed over the years. That is the same reason I didn't like the move to three divisions - I hated losing meaningful games with the Dodgers and Giants.
Now we have way too many divisional games. It feels like the Braves are playing the Marlins every third series. In turn, it feels like the Cubs, Reds and Pirates are on another planet as little as Atlanta sees them. Getting rid of the divisional games would remedy today's scheduling problems.
What about adding a 5th wildcard team? Again, I love it. The wildcard has been a winner - more playoff games, good teams getting into the playoffs despite playing in tough divisions, etc. The Braves can hopefully compete with the loaded Phillies, but if the Phils run off with the division then Atlanta can still get to the post-season via the wildcard (like last year). It makes for a more interesting regular season when there is a real chance multiple teams can get to the post-season.
I think about Toronto Blue Jay fans - imagine playing in the same division as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. It must feel like the up-coming season is over as soon as free agency begins in the off-season. Tampa Bay found a way to break up the BoSox/Yanks monopoly once, but otherwise those two have had a stranglehold on the division and usually the wildcard. The new proposal means the Torontos and Baltimores of the world have a real chance to get to the post-season.
Will the post-season be diluted with good, but not great teams? I don't think so. Right now, you're adding either Cleveland or Detroit and St. Louis. Those aren't bad teams at all. We aren't talking about the Seattle Seahawks or Indiana Pacers here.
I'm guessing the two wildcard teams would play a one-game or three-game series to meet the league champion. Then it goes 5 games to 7 games in the league championship series to 7 in the World Series. I think a one-game playoff between wildcard winners is perfect. You are in, but you are also one game from elimination. You would also be down your best pitcher going into the a series with the champions (a nice advantage the league champion has earned). I think you give home field advantage to the wildcard with the better record who then hosts the league champion for the opening game of the series. The next four games would be in the champ's ballpark. That eases travel, give the champs a great advantage and gets the playoffs going quickly even while expanding it.
Finally, what about realignment? The report is Houston to the American League. This works, though I don't know why Arizona wouldn't be considered as well. Houston has more history in the N.L., but Arizona has actually won a World Series for the National League. You could also move Milwaukee back to the A.L., but my understanding is that Bud Selig won't let that happen. I'm guessing the impending sale of the Astros is the key - they can make moving leagues part of the sale agreement so that there is no hassle on the ownership side of the transaction.
So Houston moves, you get a decent rivalry with the Rangers (nobody in Texas cares about that rivalry right now, but it might take going forward). Each league would have five "west" teams if you consider Houston to be west. It works for me.
This seems like a no-brainer. More playoffs, no divisions, even leagues - I like it all. Now to just get rid of the DH...
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Ugh-La Watch
Atta boy, Uggla - 2-3 with two walks. Maybe hitting in the #2 spot will get him going. Big hits from Hinske, then McCann as the Braves win in extras. Afternoon game tomorrow.
Ugh-la Watch - .176
Ugh-la Watch - .176
Ugh-La Watch
The Braves exploded for 11 runs and 14 hits with Uggla batting second, but he only managed to go 1-5 with a double, three strikeouts and left two runners on base.
Ugh-La Watch: .170
The Braves have now won four in row and it looks like McLouth and Heyward are getting close to being back (they both hit of tees yesterday). The bad news is that Martin Prado went to the D.L. with staph. He is really the heart and soul of the team these days, so every win without him is a bonus.
The key to this four-game winning streak? The pitching is real answer, but Freddie Freeman's hot bat is what is sparking the offense. There isn't much fire to go along with him yet, but it looks like the rookie might be figuring things out at the major league level. He went 3-5 with a home run last night and is now .279 for the season.
Mike Minor vs. Astros tonight at 7 as the Braves go for their fifth in a row.
Ugh-La Watch: .170
The Braves have now won four in row and it looks like McLouth and Heyward are getting close to being back (they both hit of tees yesterday). The bad news is that Martin Prado went to the D.L. with staph. He is really the heart and soul of the team these days, so every win without him is a bonus.
The key to this four-game winning streak? The pitching is real answer, but Freddie Freeman's hot bat is what is sparking the offense. There isn't much fire to go along with him yet, but it looks like the rookie might be figuring things out at the major league level. He went 3-5 with a home run last night and is now .279 for the season.
Mike Minor vs. Astros tonight at 7 as the Braves go for their fifth in a row.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Ugh-La Watch
Uggla benched, but pinch-hit and struck out.
0-1 - .170 avg.
Who needs him? Or Prado, Heyward, McLouth or Moylan? The Braves finished off a sweep of the Marlins, whose offense is actually worse than Atlanta's, and head to Houston with a chance to catch the Phillies this weekend. As frustrating as this team has been to watch hit, the pitching continues to be brilliant and they keep finding ways to win.
And how great did Jonny Venters look as the closer last night? Kimbrel in the 8th, Venters in the 9th. Please.
0-1 - .170 avg.
Who needs him? Or Prado, Heyward, McLouth or Moylan? The Braves finished off a sweep of the Marlins, whose offense is actually worse than Atlanta's, and head to Houston with a chance to catch the Phillies this weekend. As frustrating as this team has been to watch hit, the pitching continues to be brilliant and they keep finding ways to win.
And how great did Jonny Venters look as the closer last night? Kimbrel in the 8th, Venters in the 9th. Please.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Some Things I Learned Today: Those Guys Have All the Fun
I'm almost all the way through the ESPN oral history by Jim Miller and highly recommend it. Below is what I've learned so far (spoiler alert, sort of):
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*Chris Fowler acknowledged the hatred and animosity he received after Peyton Manning lost the Heisman. He plays innocent, but I remember it feeling like every week he was finding flaws in Manning and pointing out why Woodson was an alternative. He says he voted for Manning.
*There was a time when ESPN secretaries were turning tricks in a nearby apartment building for extra cash. Oh, and there was a huge sexual harassment problem at ESPN.
*And Mike Tirico seems to be the creepiest harasser.
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*I miss Australian rules football.
*I don't miss most of Mark Shapiro's ideas, though PTI is consistently good sports television. Shapiro's story is cool - from nobody to running the place based on undeniable brilliance, but also a tool who took the NHL off ESPN and kept trying to find programming that would bring women to ESPN. I'm glad he no longer works for ESPN.
*He got his start on Jim Rome's show. The Jim Everett thing was a) not fake and b) a huge regret for Rome as it has stayed with him forever. I would have bet against both of those things.
*Jim Nantz is Jim Nance. Not once, but throughout the whole book.
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*I didn't have ESPN2 when it first came out, but do remember when Duke/UNC was put there. I had no idea about the Keith Olbermann (who is a genius) leather jacket thing.
*ESPN wasn't cool with "Master Batter" as a home run call, even from Linda Cohn. I kind of like it.
*Chris Berman is a horribly unlikable, egotistical narcissist throughout the book. You can forgive one bad quotation, but every time he gets space in the book he pats himself on the back. I remember once really liking him, then souring and now I'm likely to change the channel when I see him.
*I don't remember the Ron Artest/ESPN saga - that the announcers in the studio immediately defended Artest and blamed the fans. John Saunders is also African-Canadian.
*I miss the days when SportsCenter was highlights instead of incessant analysis of things that don't need analyzing from people incapable of providing interesting analysis. Maybe that's just me.
*Charley Steiner makes a decent argument for why golf isn't a sport - a sport must have defense. I'm exploring that in a blog post at some point.
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*The brilliance of the SportsCenter commercials is played out perfectly. They were kind of stupid on the surface (why promote a show that's on every night on the channel it is on and is the main thing the network is known for?) but brilliant (totally different, really funny, the perfect branding for the company).
*ESPN is clearly less likable than it used to be. That pours off the pages. It is a monopoly at this point and monopolies consistently suck. There are some interesting parallels in my mind between the WWE's monopoly on pro wresting these days and ESPN's monopoly on sports (another future blog topic?).
*Speaking of wresting, the book mentions the AWA on ESPN (which was terrible), but doesn't mention World Class wrestling (which was awesome). Nobody cared about Nick Bockwinkel, but we loved the Von Erichs and hated the Freebirds. That was some good wrestling.
*It is still real to me, dammit.
*I have never understood why Suzy Kolber interviewed a clearly-intoxicated Joe Namath on live TV. Easy answer - she hadn't talked to him beforehand.
*Why put sports on ESPN that nobody watches? Because even though the ratings for softball might be terrible, there are people who, back in the day at least, made sure to have ESPN just so they could watch softball. That was interesting - they went away from the ratings, ratings, ratings formula and it was brilliant.
*My favorite people in terms of their oral histories: Keith Olbermann (genius), Charley Steiner, John Walsh, Jeremy Schaap, Tony Kornheisser.
*Least favorites: Chris Berman, Mark Shapiro, Rush Limbaugh (nothing wrong with Dan Patrick, but his stuff is pretty bland for the most part).
*Short but sweet: Bobby Knight's take on the Jeremy Schaap inteview.
I'm haven't entered the Bill Simmons era yet, but am looking forward to reading it. More than I'm looking forward to Grantland after yesterday's launch.
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*Chris Fowler acknowledged the hatred and animosity he received after Peyton Manning lost the Heisman. He plays innocent, but I remember it feeling like every week he was finding flaws in Manning and pointing out why Woodson was an alternative. He says he voted for Manning.
*There was a time when ESPN secretaries were turning tricks in a nearby apartment building for extra cash. Oh, and there was a huge sexual harassment problem at ESPN.
*And Mike Tirico seems to be the creepiest harasser.
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*I miss Australian rules football.
*I don't miss most of Mark Shapiro's ideas, though PTI is consistently good sports television. Shapiro's story is cool - from nobody to running the place based on undeniable brilliance, but also a tool who took the NHL off ESPN and kept trying to find programming that would bring women to ESPN. I'm glad he no longer works for ESPN.
*He got his start on Jim Rome's show. The Jim Everett thing was a) not fake and b) a huge regret for Rome as it has stayed with him forever. I would have bet against both of those things.
*Jim Nantz is Jim Nance. Not once, but throughout the whole book.
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*I didn't have ESPN2 when it first came out, but do remember when Duke/UNC was put there. I had no idea about the Keith Olbermann (who is a genius) leather jacket thing.
*ESPN wasn't cool with "Master Batter" as a home run call, even from Linda Cohn. I kind of like it.
*Chris Berman is a horribly unlikable, egotistical narcissist throughout the book. You can forgive one bad quotation, but every time he gets space in the book he pats himself on the back. I remember once really liking him, then souring and now I'm likely to change the channel when I see him.
*I don't remember the Ron Artest/ESPN saga - that the announcers in the studio immediately defended Artest and blamed the fans. John Saunders is also African-Canadian.
*I miss the days when SportsCenter was highlights instead of incessant analysis of things that don't need analyzing from people incapable of providing interesting analysis. Maybe that's just me.
*Charley Steiner makes a decent argument for why golf isn't a sport - a sport must have defense. I'm exploring that in a blog post at some point.
*Keith Olbermann is a genius.
*The brilliance of the SportsCenter commercials is played out perfectly. They were kind of stupid on the surface (why promote a show that's on every night on the channel it is on and is the main thing the network is known for?) but brilliant (totally different, really funny, the perfect branding for the company).
*ESPN is clearly less likable than it used to be. That pours off the pages. It is a monopoly at this point and monopolies consistently suck. There are some interesting parallels in my mind between the WWE's monopoly on pro wresting these days and ESPN's monopoly on sports (another future blog topic?).
*Speaking of wresting, the book mentions the AWA on ESPN (which was terrible), but doesn't mention World Class wrestling (which was awesome). Nobody cared about Nick Bockwinkel, but we loved the Von Erichs and hated the Freebirds. That was some good wrestling.
*It is still real to me, dammit.
*I have never understood why Suzy Kolber interviewed a clearly-intoxicated Joe Namath on live TV. Easy answer - she hadn't talked to him beforehand.
*Why put sports on ESPN that nobody watches? Because even though the ratings for softball might be terrible, there are people who, back in the day at least, made sure to have ESPN just so they could watch softball. That was interesting - they went away from the ratings, ratings, ratings formula and it was brilliant.
*My favorite people in terms of their oral histories: Keith Olbermann (genius), Charley Steiner, John Walsh, Jeremy Schaap, Tony Kornheisser.
*Least favorites: Chris Berman, Mark Shapiro, Rush Limbaugh (nothing wrong with Dan Patrick, but his stuff is pretty bland for the most part).
*Short but sweet: Bobby Knight's take on the Jeremy Schaap inteview.
I'm haven't entered the Bill Simmons era yet, but am looking forward to reading it. More than I'm looking forward to Grantland after yesterday's launch.
Ugh-La Watch
1 for 5 with four left on base in an extra innings victory over the Florida Marlins (Craig Kimbrel continues to give me ulcers...this time giving up two runs with two outs. Awesome outing from Derek Lowe and great game from Jordan Schafer and Brian McCann).
Uggla's average: .170
Why was he batting sixth above Hinske last night? Can we accept who he is right now instead of who he was or who he was supposed to be?
Uggla's average: .170
Why was he batting sixth above Hinske last night? Can we accept who he is right now instead of who he was or who he was supposed to be?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Something I Learned Today
Something I learned today (a quick & easy daily posting + a shout out to Husker Du): DeShaun Stevenson was right about LeBron and his acting. Did you see LeBron's phony "I got hit in the head" as he dribbled sideways around a pick & roll hedge by Brendan Heywood?
I'm with Jeff Van Gundy that that kind of European soccer flopping will ruin the NBA and ought to be fined post-game in an effort to eliminate it. The game is too fast for referees to always be able to tell what is real and what is flop, but when it is clear post-game I think a small fine would send a message that this isn't how we want basketball to be played.
I always learn something from Van Gundy, by the way. And I never learn anything from Magic Johnson.
I'm with Jeff Van Gundy that that kind of European soccer flopping will ruin the NBA and ought to be fined post-game in an effort to eliminate it. The game is too fast for referees to always be able to tell what is real and what is flop, but when it is clear post-game I think a small fine would send a message that this isn't how we want basketball to be played.
I always learn something from Van Gundy, by the way. And I never learn anything from Magic Johnson.
Dwyane vs. Dirk
In an earlier post, I tried to see you on why you should be watching these Finals. My #5 reason was LeBron vs. Dirk - I had the match-up wrong.
The key is Dwyane vs. Dirk. On the Miami side of the ball, there have been three important storylines playing out for me:
1) Dwyane Wade is much, much better than I have given him credit for being. He is a ridiculous athlete who gets to the rim at will, blocks shots out of nowhere and is clearly the leader on the floor for Miami.
2) LeBron James is lost. He is so passive it has become indefensible. He isn't just playing defense or facilitating - he is invisible in this series. These are the Finals and he is a no-show.
3) Mario Chalmers might be the difference in this series. He keeps hitting big shots and I keep thinking I'd rather have him than Jason Kidd or J.J. Barea right now.
Back to Wade vs. Dirk - these guys are both playing their guts out for a title. Wade is part of everything both offensively and defensively. He had a tremendous block on Tyson Chandler last night and another on Jason Terry. He got out in transition and was able to stop on a dime in order to not only avoid going out-of-bounds, but to draw a foul (though he did miss one of the free throws). The final play of the game was drawn up for Wade as well - this is clearly his team and his Finals.
Then you've got Dirk - he woke up with a 102 fever, but came out 3-3 in the opening minutes and then battled through what was clearly a debilitating illness. I don't want to get myself a glass of juice when I have a 102 fever - can you imagine playing in a sport like basketball? In the NBA Finals? I don't think Dirk is getting enough credit for last night's performance. Unbelievable.
It is a three-game series now. Dallas needs Game 5 or else it will have to win two games in Miami. I still think Miami wins in six, but I'm not counting this Dallas team out. What happens if Jason Kidd or J.J. Barea show up for the rest of the series? This thing could turn Dallas's way before it is all said and done.
The key is Dwyane vs. Dirk. On the Miami side of the ball, there have been three important storylines playing out for me:
1) Dwyane Wade is much, much better than I have given him credit for being. He is a ridiculous athlete who gets to the rim at will, blocks shots out of nowhere and is clearly the leader on the floor for Miami.
2) LeBron James is lost. He is so passive it has become indefensible. He isn't just playing defense or facilitating - he is invisible in this series. These are the Finals and he is a no-show.
3) Mario Chalmers might be the difference in this series. He keeps hitting big shots and I keep thinking I'd rather have him than Jason Kidd or J.J. Barea right now.
Back to Wade vs. Dirk - these guys are both playing their guts out for a title. Wade is part of everything both offensively and defensively. He had a tremendous block on Tyson Chandler last night and another on Jason Terry. He got out in transition and was able to stop on a dime in order to not only avoid going out-of-bounds, but to draw a foul (though he did miss one of the free throws). The final play of the game was drawn up for Wade as well - this is clearly his team and his Finals.
Then you've got Dirk - he woke up with a 102 fever, but came out 3-3 in the opening minutes and then battled through what was clearly a debilitating illness. I don't want to get myself a glass of juice when I have a 102 fever - can you imagine playing in a sport like basketball? In the NBA Finals? I don't think Dirk is getting enough credit for last night's performance. Unbelievable.
It is a three-game series now. Dallas needs Game 5 or else it will have to win two games in Miami. I still think Miami wins in six, but I'm not counting this Dallas team out. What happens if Jason Kidd or J.J. Barea show up for the rest of the series? This thing could turn Dallas's way before it is all said and done.
Ugh-la Watch
Let's track Dan Uggla's effort to reach the Mendoza Line:
Uggla went 0-3 with a strikeout to drop his average to .170.
Uggla went 0-3 with a strikeout to drop his average to .170.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Mike Hamilton Reaction
I'm numb to this by now. Three football coaches in three years, an embarrassing basketball scandal, a horrible baseball coach and now the A.D...not to mention things like Nuke Richardson, Tyler Smith and his boys' New Year's ride, Bryce Brown, or accusing Urban Meyer of cheating.
Thank goodness for Pat Summitt.
I will always be a Vol and pull for them, but I'm sick of them right now. I'm tired of bad news, bad news and more bad news. Is there any doubt at this point the hearings on Friday are going to be disastrous? Maybe the NCAA will say, "The Vols have suffered enough embarrassment and humiliation in the last three years...let's let it slide."
My feelings on Hamilton in particular are mostly positive. I never understood the whole "Fire Hamilton" movement unless it was out of loyalty to Phil Fulmer. Lane Kiffin was a lousy fit, but he was a good coach for a year and I didn't think it was a hiring that ought to get an A.D. fired.
The Bruce Pearl hire was a home run even with the dubious ending. We went to the Dance regularly, were #1 in the country for a week, were a basket from the Final Four - all worth the problems of 2011 in my book. We'll see about Cuonzo Martin.
The worst hire was Todd Raleigh. Tennessee baseball is a joke for no good reason. There is plenty of homegrown talent in Tennessee and Raleigh couldn't get any of it to Knoxville. He was a disaster, but nobody really cares about college baseball.
The biggest indictment on Hamilton is that he is leaving Tennessee athletics in far worse shape than he found it. I don't blame him for most of it, but that is the reality.
Thank goodness for Pat Summitt.
I will always be a Vol and pull for them, but I'm sick of them right now. I'm tired of bad news, bad news and more bad news. Is there any doubt at this point the hearings on Friday are going to be disastrous? Maybe the NCAA will say, "The Vols have suffered enough embarrassment and humiliation in the last three years...let's let it slide."
My feelings on Hamilton in particular are mostly positive. I never understood the whole "Fire Hamilton" movement unless it was out of loyalty to Phil Fulmer. Lane Kiffin was a lousy fit, but he was a good coach for a year and I didn't think it was a hiring that ought to get an A.D. fired.
The Bruce Pearl hire was a home run even with the dubious ending. We went to the Dance regularly, were #1 in the country for a week, were a basket from the Final Four - all worth the problems of 2011 in my book. We'll see about Cuonzo Martin.
The worst hire was Todd Raleigh. Tennessee baseball is a joke for no good reason. There is plenty of homegrown talent in Tennessee and Raleigh couldn't get any of it to Knoxville. He was a disaster, but nobody really cares about college baseball.
The biggest indictment on Hamilton is that he is leaving Tennessee athletics in far worse shape than he found it. I don't blame him for most of it, but that is the reality.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Why Basketball Games Are So Hard to Finish
How can a professional basketball team on the brink of a championship blow a 15-point lead in under seven minutes?
Easy.
Basketball games are incredibly tough to finish, especially in the NBA. Everyone wants to immediately say the Miami Heat "blew it" (Dwyane Wade even said it), but history says it has little to do with choking and more to do with the game of basketball.
The dilemma for teams with leads is how to play offensively in the final minutes. There are two theories: keep playing the way that got you the lead or try to kill the clock. The former means you give your opponent more chances with the ball to catch up. It makes sense to slow the game down (and Dirk talked post-game about trying to speed it up). The latter theory does just that, but it can result in bad shots (which leads to transition basketball which opens up good shots for the trailing teams as well as speeding up the game).
The Heat are being criticized for shooting so many jumpers in the final minutes of the game, but that is mostly a reflection of their end-of-game philosophy. Up 15, they went into clock-killing mode. What happens? The offense stops moving because it is much safer to have Wade or James hold the ball than pass it around, then it results in isolation shots because there is not time to drive & dish. The bad shots the Heat took towards the end were caused by trying to run out the clock.
So why not continue to play like normal? Remember Tennessee's 20+ point lead over Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen a few years back? The Vols came out for the second half and continued to shoot 3's early in the shot clock - what had worked in the 1st half. Those shots stopped falling and now Ohio State was getting extra possessions to come back (which they did).
Beyond the difficulty of how to play, there is a psychological disadvantage to having a late lead. Nobody wants to blow it. That makes simple shots much tougher. It makes free throws tighter. It also loosens up the opposition. If you are down 15, who cares if you shoot a three and it doesn't fall. At that point, you are losing anyway. It frees you up to play without pressure. All the pressure ends up on the leading team's side and, in basketball, shooting under pressure makes a big difference.
Finally, people underestimate how long 7:00 in the NBA is with a 24-second shot clock. If the winning team runs the clock down 20 seconds each possession and the trailing team plays fast and shoots after just 10, that is four possessions (two per team) in one minute. For the sake of argument, play that ought for the rest of the seven minutes. That means fourteen possessions left in the game - time enough for the trailing team to score 28 points if it gets two points/possession during that time.
But there is no way there will only be fourteen possessions - with the trailing team playing fast and at some point probably fouling to stop the clock and increase the number of possessions, there might be twenty or even thirty possessions left at the end of the game. Twenty possessions to make up fifteen points? That isn't so tough.
The way I coach being down a big margin is to win little victories. "Let's cut this to ten by the 4:00 mark. Then we'll have the momentum and they will start tightening up." "Let's get it to six with 2:00 to go." "Let's win the next minute and give ourselves a chance." The key is to present an idea that is do-able instead of focusing on how high the mountain is. We did this successfully in Houston down 20 in the first half. We managed to tie the game and part of it was the mental game we won by giving them small steps to accomplish. You can see it in the faces of guys during timeouts - the "we can do that" recognition when you ask them to shave four points off a lead in the next two minutes.
I don't know if Miami should have continued to play fast in the final minutes. Obviously they were unable to kill the clock and gave up too much transition to the Mavs. The two thing Miami would definitely re-do are to put LeBron instead of Bosh on Dirk (what happened there?) and to use their foul-to-give when Dirk caught the ball at the top of the key and stared down Bosh. It is a bit risky to do it because Dirk could try to get into a shot and get himself to the line (where he is nearly automatic), but if successful it means the Mavs have to come up with a side-out play for a quick shot (and there is no way Dirk gets that touch).
Historic comeback by the Mavs, but don't fall into the historic collapse narrative. Holding leads in basketball is much tougher than it seems.
Jair Jurrjens
The vastly under-appreciated (by me too) Jair Jurrjens was named N.L. Pitcher of the Month. Jurrjens has become the staff ace on a team with four potential aces. His stuff isn't overpowering, but it seems to dance in the strike zone. I remember Andy Benes used to throw 98 mph but it was dead straight. Jurrjens is a low 90s guy whose velocity and movement has made him a great pitcher.
The Braves pitching continues to be stellar and is what makes the team a World Series contender even with its pitiful offense.
The Braves pitching continues to be stellar and is what makes the team a World Series contender even with its pitiful offense.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Shaq Retires
Michael Wilbon nails down Shaq's legacy as the big man retires. I have never understood how playing basketball in the post could be fun - constant banging, unrealistic expectations from fans who are not 7 feet tall, little beauty or appreciation - but Shaq had fun with it.
For a guy who began his career on my Most Hated List (remember the Carlus Groves fight in the SEC tournament?), then played on a Lakers team I always wanted to lose, I ended up really liking Shaq.
Try reading this list of Shaq quotations without laughing out loud at least three times.
How soon until Shaq is on TNT next to Barkley and Kenny Smith?
For a guy who began his career on my Most Hated List (remember the Carlus Groves fight in the SEC tournament?), then played on a Lakers team I always wanted to lose, I ended up really liking Shaq.
Try reading this list of Shaq quotations without laughing out loud at least three times.
How soon until Shaq is on TNT next to Barkley and Kenny Smith?
Booing Dan Uggla
One of the greatest days of my childhood was "Get Your Picture Taken With the Braves" Day at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Braves were pretty awful at that point, so the only lines were for Dale Murphy and Chief Knockahomer.
My parents thought my brother and I should have our pictures taken with every Brave, but as we approached relief pitcher Jim Acker (who I never once saw get a batter out) I told my dad, "I don't want my picture with him - he's terrible!" Acker heard it. I don't remember him laughing either. Without actually making the sound, I believe that was my first "booing" of an Atlanta Brave. It might have also been the only time I had ever done it.
Until yesterday.
Last night, I made my first trip of the year to Turner Field to watch the Braves avoid being swept by the Padres (thanks, Jordan Schaffer). I told my friends that I was going to boo Dan Uggla and assumed I would be one of many expressing frustration about Uggla's .175 average and unique ability to leave runners in scoring position stranded.
And yet I was the only booing Braves fan within earshot.
In fact, there was a guy sitting in the row in front of me wearing an Uggla shirt. Seriously.
Why haven't Atlanta fans turned on Ugh-la at this point? The big off-season acquisition has been a big bust at the plate. He is currently in a 4-47 slump, which is actually worse than the horri-awful (Shaq tribute) start he got off to initially. He has 16 RBI right now - two more than Eric Hinske despite 121 more plate appearances. When runners are on base, Uggla is driving them in 7% of the time (the MLB average, which takes into account every horrible hitter in the league, is 15%). He is doing nothing positive for the Braves' offense right now.
And still isn't getting booed.
Last night, after being benched for two games and dropped to seventh in the batting order, Uggla came up in the 1st inning with the bases loaded and one out.
I booed.
He popped the first pitch he saw up in the infield. Rally killed.
I booed again. Alone.
There isn't much Fredi Gonzalez can do with Uggla other than move him down the order and hope his bat comes around. The Braves aren't winning in the playoffs with Brooks Conrad at second base (see: 2010).
I realize Atlanta is a pretty passive crowd. I also realize booing Uggla isn't going to make him start playing better (I don't question his effort, though I hate his approach at the plate that he hasn't altered). But I don't understand why there isn't more frustration among the fan base towards a guy we all expected so much from and are getting so little.
If Uggla was in New York or Philadelphia hitting like this, he'd be hearing about it every at-bat from more than just one idiot along the third baseline. I also wonder if Uggla's reception would be cooler if he wasn't white. Somehow Uggla doesn't seem like a $9 million off-season bust. He is more Brooks Conrad than Jason Heyward. There is no swagger or aura surrounding Uggla, but statistically he was supposed to produce like someone who had some. And he isn't.
Until he starts to come around, I'm booing.
My parents thought my brother and I should have our pictures taken with every Brave, but as we approached relief pitcher Jim Acker (who I never once saw get a batter out) I told my dad, "I don't want my picture with him - he's terrible!" Acker heard it. I don't remember him laughing either. Without actually making the sound, I believe that was my first "booing" of an Atlanta Brave. It might have also been the only time I had ever done it.
Until yesterday.
Last night, I made my first trip of the year to Turner Field to watch the Braves avoid being swept by the Padres (thanks, Jordan Schaffer). I told my friends that I was going to boo Dan Uggla and assumed I would be one of many expressing frustration about Uggla's .175 average and unique ability to leave runners in scoring position stranded.
And yet I was the only booing Braves fan within earshot.
In fact, there was a guy sitting in the row in front of me wearing an Uggla shirt. Seriously.
Why haven't Atlanta fans turned on Ugh-la at this point? The big off-season acquisition has been a big bust at the plate. He is currently in a 4-47 slump, which is actually worse than the horri-awful (Shaq tribute) start he got off to initially. He has 16 RBI right now - two more than Eric Hinske despite 121 more plate appearances. When runners are on base, Uggla is driving them in 7% of the time (the MLB average, which takes into account every horrible hitter in the league, is 15%). He is doing nothing positive for the Braves' offense right now.
And still isn't getting booed.
Last night, after being benched for two games and dropped to seventh in the batting order, Uggla came up in the 1st inning with the bases loaded and one out.
I booed.
He popped the first pitch he saw up in the infield. Rally killed.
I booed again. Alone.
There isn't much Fredi Gonzalez can do with Uggla other than move him down the order and hope his bat comes around. The Braves aren't winning in the playoffs with Brooks Conrad at second base (see: 2010).
I realize Atlanta is a pretty passive crowd. I also realize booing Uggla isn't going to make him start playing better (I don't question his effort, though I hate his approach at the plate that he hasn't altered). But I don't understand why there isn't more frustration among the fan base towards a guy we all expected so much from and are getting so little.
If Uggla was in New York or Philadelphia hitting like this, he'd be hearing about it every at-bat from more than just one idiot along the third baseline. I also wonder if Uggla's reception would be cooler if he wasn't white. Somehow Uggla doesn't seem like a $9 million off-season bust. He is more Brooks Conrad than Jason Heyward. There is no swagger or aura surrounding Uggla, but statistically he was supposed to produce like someone who had some. And he isn't.
Until he starts to come around, I'm booing.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Heat Take Game 1
Pretty rough game to watch last night as the defenses dominated. The Mavericks had an opportunity to take Game 1 in Miami, but got nothing off its bench (which has been great these playoffs) and gave up 16 offensive rebounds.
This was a worst-case scenario in several ways for the Mavericks: they lost a winnable game, they couldn't get good looks against Miami's defense, they can't keep Chris Bosh off the boards and Dirk tore a tendon in a finger.
It was hard to picture Dallas winning the series going into last night's game, but it is much, much harder to picture it after it.
This was a worst-case scenario in several ways for the Mavericks: they lost a winnable game, they couldn't get good looks against Miami's defense, they can't keep Chris Bosh off the boards and Dirk tore a tendon in a finger.
It was hard to picture Dallas winning the series going into last night's game, but it is much, much harder to picture it after it.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
R.I.P. Atlanta Thrashers
Off to Winnipeg. I cannot name a single player in the history of the Atlanta Thrashers. Maybe that is a reason they are gone.
Five Reasons to Watch the NBA Finals
I know my audience (literally, I know each and every person who visits this blog. All twelve, okay four, of you) and I know it is not an NBA crowd. I live in a city that puts the NBA behind college football, professional football, NASCAR, college basketball, MLB, professional wrestling, the PGA tour, and probably high school sports in terms of interest level. For that reason, I feel obligated to sell this year's NBA Finals to my skeptical audience.
Here are five good reasons to tune in to Game 1 tonight:
1) Good vs. Evil - The Mavericks aren't good as much as Miami is evil. There are few villains in the world like the Miami Heat. They represent what is wrong with professional sports. Everyone remembers the horribly self-important "Decision" where LeBron broke an entire state's heart by taking his talents to South Beach (it hasn't been a good year for Ohio, huh?). The collusion of Wade, Bosh and LeBron rubbed everyone outside of Miami wrong. Instead of battling against one another, they decided to take the easy way out and join forces. They had a victory celebration for sighing together. And who was Chris Bosh to be hanging with these two? He is a thinner Horace Grant. Every bit of it was lame, insulting and the opposite of what we want from our athletic heroes.
Which is what is going to make pulling against them so much fun. Pulling against the Yankees is fun, but there are plenty of reasons to like them. Jeter, Rivera, Posada are all good guys who came up through the system. Pulling against the Lakers is fun, but there is no getting around Kobe & Phil's greatness and the Laker lore. Pulling against the Patriots is fun, but Tom Brady is a machine and their ability to get something out of guys discarded by other teams makes it hard to hate them.
The Heat are hate-able. LeBron turned his back on his hometown...on national television. Bosh is an overrated wannabe. Wade is a warrior, but it is hard to forget how he pinballed himself into Maverick defenders in 2006 to get free throw attempt after free throw attempt in a pitiful display of basketball savvy. The rest of the team are opportunists hoping to get a ring on the Big 2 + Bosh's back. Mike Miller? Eddie House? Mike Bibby? Juwon Howard? These guys weren't in Miami last year. The only guy I have a hard time disliking is Udonis Haslem, but he is a Florida Gator. They are all hate-able. To swipe Bill Simmons's idea, they are the NWO of the NBA. If Pat Riley pulled Dirk's leg out from under him on an inbounds play, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
2) Dirk - In the last month, Dirk Nowitzki has gone from a choker, a fraud, an overrated European jump shooter into a Top 10 all-time professional basketball player. It is not because of his play in the last month that he is earning such accolades, but his play in the last month is validating a career that has been overlooked because of two colossal failures (the 2006 Finals and the first-round upset to Golden State in 2007).
Here is what Dirk has done in these playoffs: 28.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 52% FG%, 93% FT%, 52% 3P%.
He is having one of the greatest post-seasons in NBA history. And it isn't just statistics-driven: he led the Mavs to a win over the Blazers when everyone was picking Portland in an upset (and remember the monumental Dallas collapse in Game 4 of that series that is now a forgotten bit of playoff history). Dirk then orchestrated a sweep of the two-time defending champion Lakers by making big shot after big shot before burying the Thunder in the conference finals.
When you look at this Mavericks roster, it isn't easy to figure out how they are in the finals. Jason Kidd is past his prime. Same for Shawn Marion. Tyson Chandler has been terrific this year, but there is no history of greatness there. Jason Terry is a good player, but not a superstar. They are missing their second best offensive option in the injured Caron Butler. How are they doing this?
Simple: Dirk.
3) 2006 Rematch - The 2006 NBA Finals featured these same two organizations. It was Dirk vs. Shaq & D-Wade. The Mavericks seemed to have a hammerlock on the series, up 2-0 and ahead in Game 3. Then it all fell apart. Dirk missed a free throw to clinch it, the Heat got phantom call after phantom call and the series ended in six games with a Miami banner. It felt a little like robbery to most of the nation; it felt a whole lot like robbery to Mark Cuban, Avery Johnson and the city of Dallas, TX. So the Mavericks get a second chance not only at the NBA title, but also the Miami Heat. That makes for an interesting storyline.
4) Jason Kidd - the 38-year old point guard is clearly at the end of a great NBA career and this is probably his last shot at a championship. After taking New Jersey to the finals multiple times but losing to the superior Spurs and Lakers, J-Kidd has looked like his young self in these playoffs. If he adds a championship to his resume, he enters into the "second greatest point guard of all-time behind Magic Johnson" conversation with guys like Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Oscar Robertson and Steve Nash. Kidd is one of the greatest rebounding point guards to ever play the game, runs a crisp fast-break even today and makes 2-3 heady plays per game to help his team. This series could cement his legacy if he can help lead the Mavericks to a victory.
5) LeBron vs. Dirk - LeBron won't guard Dirk for most of the series, but he definitely will in crunch time - the same way he guarded Derrick Rose of the Bulls. When he does, will he be able to lock down Dirk the same way he locked down Rose? LeBron is an amazing defensive player - big enough to block shots, but quick enough to guard the perimeter. You cannot back him down because he is too strong. And, yet, Dirk has been unguardable in these playoffs. He gets off his one-legged fade-away whenever he wants (it helps to be seven feet tall). What will happen when there are three minutes left in a tight game and LeBron gets the Dirk assignment (which he will)?
Prediction: My heart says Dallas, but my head cannot picture LeBron & Wade losing four times in seven games. Miami in six.
Here are five good reasons to tune in to Game 1 tonight:
1) Good vs. Evil - The Mavericks aren't good as much as Miami is evil. There are few villains in the world like the Miami Heat. They represent what is wrong with professional sports. Everyone remembers the horribly self-important "Decision" where LeBron broke an entire state's heart by taking his talents to South Beach (it hasn't been a good year for Ohio, huh?). The collusion of Wade, Bosh and LeBron rubbed everyone outside of Miami wrong. Instead of battling against one another, they decided to take the easy way out and join forces. They had a victory celebration for sighing together. And who was Chris Bosh to be hanging with these two? He is a thinner Horace Grant. Every bit of it was lame, insulting and the opposite of what we want from our athletic heroes.
Which is what is going to make pulling against them so much fun. Pulling against the Yankees is fun, but there are plenty of reasons to like them. Jeter, Rivera, Posada are all good guys who came up through the system. Pulling against the Lakers is fun, but there is no getting around Kobe & Phil's greatness and the Laker lore. Pulling against the Patriots is fun, but Tom Brady is a machine and their ability to get something out of guys discarded by other teams makes it hard to hate them.
The Heat are hate-able. LeBron turned his back on his hometown...on national television. Bosh is an overrated wannabe. Wade is a warrior, but it is hard to forget how he pinballed himself into Maverick defenders in 2006 to get free throw attempt after free throw attempt in a pitiful display of basketball savvy. The rest of the team are opportunists hoping to get a ring on the Big 2 + Bosh's back. Mike Miller? Eddie House? Mike Bibby? Juwon Howard? These guys weren't in Miami last year. The only guy I have a hard time disliking is Udonis Haslem, but he is a Florida Gator. They are all hate-able. To swipe Bill Simmons's idea, they are the NWO of the NBA. If Pat Riley pulled Dirk's leg out from under him on an inbounds play, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
2) Dirk - In the last month, Dirk Nowitzki has gone from a choker, a fraud, an overrated European jump shooter into a Top 10 all-time professional basketball player. It is not because of his play in the last month that he is earning such accolades, but his play in the last month is validating a career that has been overlooked because of two colossal failures (the 2006 Finals and the first-round upset to Golden State in 2007).
Here is what Dirk has done in these playoffs: 28.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 52% FG%, 93% FT%, 52% 3P%.
He is having one of the greatest post-seasons in NBA history. And it isn't just statistics-driven: he led the Mavs to a win over the Blazers when everyone was picking Portland in an upset (and remember the monumental Dallas collapse in Game 4 of that series that is now a forgotten bit of playoff history). Dirk then orchestrated a sweep of the two-time defending champion Lakers by making big shot after big shot before burying the Thunder in the conference finals.
When you look at this Mavericks roster, it isn't easy to figure out how they are in the finals. Jason Kidd is past his prime. Same for Shawn Marion. Tyson Chandler has been terrific this year, but there is no history of greatness there. Jason Terry is a good player, but not a superstar. They are missing their second best offensive option in the injured Caron Butler. How are they doing this?
Simple: Dirk.
3) 2006 Rematch - The 2006 NBA Finals featured these same two organizations. It was Dirk vs. Shaq & D-Wade. The Mavericks seemed to have a hammerlock on the series, up 2-0 and ahead in Game 3. Then it all fell apart. Dirk missed a free throw to clinch it, the Heat got phantom call after phantom call and the series ended in six games with a Miami banner. It felt a little like robbery to most of the nation; it felt a whole lot like robbery to Mark Cuban, Avery Johnson and the city of Dallas, TX. So the Mavericks get a second chance not only at the NBA title, but also the Miami Heat. That makes for an interesting storyline.
4) Jason Kidd - the 38-year old point guard is clearly at the end of a great NBA career and this is probably his last shot at a championship. After taking New Jersey to the finals multiple times but losing to the superior Spurs and Lakers, J-Kidd has looked like his young self in these playoffs. If he adds a championship to his resume, he enters into the "second greatest point guard of all-time behind Magic Johnson" conversation with guys like Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Oscar Robertson and Steve Nash. Kidd is one of the greatest rebounding point guards to ever play the game, runs a crisp fast-break even today and makes 2-3 heady plays per game to help his team. This series could cement his legacy if he can help lead the Mavericks to a victory.
5) LeBron vs. Dirk - LeBron won't guard Dirk for most of the series, but he definitely will in crunch time - the same way he guarded Derrick Rose of the Bulls. When he does, will he be able to lock down Dirk the same way he locked down Rose? LeBron is an amazing defensive player - big enough to block shots, but quick enough to guard the perimeter. You cannot back him down because he is too strong. And, yet, Dirk has been unguardable in these playoffs. He gets off his one-legged fade-away whenever he wants (it helps to be seven feet tall). What will happen when there are three minutes left in a tight game and LeBron gets the Dirk assignment (which he will)?
Prediction: My heart says Dallas, but my head cannot picture LeBron & Wade losing four times in seven games. Miami in six.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Posey Problem
(Sorry for the lack of posts recently. The end of the school year means strange schedules and random busyness that has put the blog on the back burner).
I have been fascinated by the reaction to Buster Posey's season ending injury last week blocking the plate. There have been multiple calls to look at changing the rules from baseball people in the wake of losing one of the game's young stars. I don't blame them - it seems like a stupidly dangerous play.
But compare this reaction to the concussion reactions in football and hockey. Both of those sports have been hypersensitive to suggestions that the physicality of their respective sports is getting guys unnecessarily hurt. Both sports have resisted rule changes even when the safety of their players is being protected.
Have you heard a single baseball player freak out about the possibility of a rule change? I have not, even though the play with Posey was one that a) doesn't happen that much b) doesn't usually result in serious injury and c) has been a part of the game forever.
There has been no "slippery slope" argument offered about breaking up double plays or pitching inside.Why not? Why does it seem that nearly every baseball person wants to reexamine the rules that allowed the play instead of defending it as good, hard baseball?
Here is why: baseball does not need an occasional violent collision to attract fans or sell itself. Nobody goes to a ball park to see the catcher get plowed over. When it does happen, and it is not often, nobody likes it. It looks dirty and feels dirty. And when a guy like Buster Posey is out for the year, it makes people second-guess it.
Here is why football and hockey should follow suit: they don't need the violence either. I do not understand the argument that says limiting the violence of either sport would ruin it. I don't watch football or hockey because of the violence. I watch because I enjoy the game. I like the skills, the strategies, the pageantry, etc. Could I live without seeing guys crossing the middle of the field/ice getting creamed and concussed?
YES.
The misnomer that violence is what brings people to the NFL and NHL is ridiculous. Football is more popular than ever and is less violent than ever (hockey's lack of popularity has more to do with a terrible television deal and too many teams than any rule changes). Guys used to clothesline each other without penalty. Guys used to play hockey without helmets and get slammed into boards less forgiving than today's. While there is surely a segment of the NFL & NHL fan base that is drawn to the violence, there is a much larger segment that finds the violence troubling and frustrating.
I find it harder and harder to be an NFL and NHL fan when I see guys getting seriously injured and little being done about it. Two of my all-time favorite athletes are Troy Aikman and Sidney Crosby - both sufferers from multiple concussions playing their respective sports. My love of Muhammad Ali makes it tough to watch boxing these days.
If baseball can figure out a way to keep players like Buster Posey safe without radically changing the game or its integrity, I hope it does so. And I hope other sports will follow its example.
I have been fascinated by the reaction to Buster Posey's season ending injury last week blocking the plate. There have been multiple calls to look at changing the rules from baseball people in the wake of losing one of the game's young stars. I don't blame them - it seems like a stupidly dangerous play.
But compare this reaction to the concussion reactions in football and hockey. Both of those sports have been hypersensitive to suggestions that the physicality of their respective sports is getting guys unnecessarily hurt. Both sports have resisted rule changes even when the safety of their players is being protected.
Have you heard a single baseball player freak out about the possibility of a rule change? I have not, even though the play with Posey was one that a) doesn't happen that much b) doesn't usually result in serious injury and c) has been a part of the game forever.
There has been no "slippery slope" argument offered about breaking up double plays or pitching inside.Why not? Why does it seem that nearly every baseball person wants to reexamine the rules that allowed the play instead of defending it as good, hard baseball?
Here is why: baseball does not need an occasional violent collision to attract fans or sell itself. Nobody goes to a ball park to see the catcher get plowed over. When it does happen, and it is not often, nobody likes it. It looks dirty and feels dirty. And when a guy like Buster Posey is out for the year, it makes people second-guess it.
Here is why football and hockey should follow suit: they don't need the violence either. I do not understand the argument that says limiting the violence of either sport would ruin it. I don't watch football or hockey because of the violence. I watch because I enjoy the game. I like the skills, the strategies, the pageantry, etc. Could I live without seeing guys crossing the middle of the field/ice getting creamed and concussed?
YES.
The misnomer that violence is what brings people to the NFL and NHL is ridiculous. Football is more popular than ever and is less violent than ever (hockey's lack of popularity has more to do with a terrible television deal and too many teams than any rule changes). Guys used to clothesline each other without penalty. Guys used to play hockey without helmets and get slammed into boards less forgiving than today's. While there is surely a segment of the NFL & NHL fan base that is drawn to the violence, there is a much larger segment that finds the violence troubling and frustrating.
I find it harder and harder to be an NFL and NHL fan when I see guys getting seriously injured and little being done about it. Two of my all-time favorite athletes are Troy Aikman and Sidney Crosby - both sufferers from multiple concussions playing their respective sports. My love of Muhammad Ali makes it tough to watch boxing these days.
If baseball can figure out a way to keep players like Buster Posey safe without radically changing the game or its integrity, I hope it does so. And I hope other sports will follow its example.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Chronicling a Fantasy Baseball Season, Part III: Week 7 Picks
There are some really big matchups this week. Emerson takes a five game lead into his head-to-head with Flynner and his third place Honey Badgers. Also Thriller and his second place Let Timmy Smoke’s take on Dr. Dunk and his third place Gangstas. For right now, I’m just going to get my picks in. No analysis.
Explosive Renteria (36-34-2)
Havyouseenmywiener (29-39-7)
My pick: Renteria. We’re getting on a Winning streak.
Doc Halladay (42-27-3)
The Lobster (16-47-9)
My Pick: Doc. Sorry Lobster, I just don’t think it’s in the cards for you this year. The good news is that this is a keeper league. Unfortunately, that’s also the bad news.
Ruppert Mundys (21-47-4)
Tacoby Bellsbury (35-34-3)
My pick: Tacoby. I still like BobbyJ’s lineup, but I refuse to pick him anymore until he gets some actual pitching that has the possibility of contributing in more than (maybe) two categories.
Carry On Heyward Son (24-44-4)
Purple Tigers (33-39-0)
My pick: Heyward. It’s a coin flip. I don’t know if Chipper is going to be healthy, so I’m taking Trambo. He picked up Anibal Sanchez, who Brandonwood dropped, so one of the two will look good for it and one of the two will look.
Honey Badgers (42-26-4)
Wuertz Case Scenario (47-19-6)
My pick: Honey Badgers. Note that I thought about making another SEC reference, but with these two Bammers playing against each other, I thought their world might explode if they had to argue over who was who. If they’d have played each other last week, Honey Badgers would have won 10-2. Honey Badger don’t give a shit.
Let Timmy Smoke (42-24-6)
Gangstas (41-25-6)
My pick: Let Timmy Smoke. If you were to look at the “smack talk” option on our yahoo league, you would see that Dunk, in his never ending quest for perfecting douchebaggery 16 year old Valley Girl style, has talked the following “smack” to Flynner from last week: “My dog asked me to mucho take it eazzzzzzzzy on his red-headed brother.” Disappointing, Dunk. I would have expected emoticons to go along with all those z’s.Friday, May 13, 2011
Read All About It - Games That Deserve Their Own Books
ESPN's Page 2 has a fun story about individual games that deserve their own books. The article goes sport-by-sport, but I'm going to tackle it team-by-team from the SCSB's perspective.
Tennessee Vols football: There are two games that jump out to me as great books - the 1986 Sugar Bowl victory over Miami and the 1998 comeback win over Arkansas. The former is the most obvious choice with its impact on Tennessee fans, the size of the upset and the unique cast of characters involved. The latter saved the Vols' National Championship season as the Razorbacks dominated the game before the Clint Stoerner fumble and proceeding Vols offensive drive for victory. I think most people would think of the Florida OT victory in 1998 (which was pretty miraculous itself and was when Tennessee finally figured out how to beat Spurrier), but the Arkansas game was when UT could feel the title slipping out of its hands only to fall on the most unlikely of fumbles.
(Honorable mentions: the miracle comeback at South Bend, the 1998 Florida win, the 2001 LSU SEC title game loss, the Peyton Manning 41-14 win over Alabama)
Tennessee Vols basketball: It isn't as easy to find games worth remembering in the history of Vols hoops and the end of the Pearl era puts a taint on some of his great wins. Regardless, the 2010 Kansas game is my choice. With the Vols down four players from the infamous New Year's Eve arrest of Tyler Smith, Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins, the Vols played one of the most inspired games in college basketball history against the #1 ranked Jayhawks. Renaldo Woolridge and Skylar McBee played crucial minutes against the best team in the country...and won. Insane game that would have made for a good book (the arrest, the odds, McBee's miracle shot) before Pearl's exit.
(Honorable mention: the Greg Oden/Mike Conley Ohio State loss)
Atlanta Braves: The Francisco Cabrera/Sid Bream game vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates is the winner here. Not only was it a dramatic end to a dramatic series, but it was also the end of the Pirates who have not had a winning season since. The bottom of the ninth itself deserves an entire book - Drabek's brilliance, Lind's error, the choice to bring in Stan Belinda (who never recovered), the decision to pitch-hit Cabrera, Bonds' throw, Bream's slide...I used to watch this half inning on a video tape over and over just to hear Sean McDonough's call. Brilliant book.
(Honorable mentions: Game 7 vs. the Twins, the Jim Leyritz/Mark Wohlers Game 3 vs. Yankees, the Braves/Astros marathon playoff game...all Braves losses, by the way).
Atlanta Hawks: Um...the only possibility here is a book about the Nique/Bird shootout in Boston Garden. I suppose something from the Jon Koncak era might have an audience, but I don't see much else from the Hawks' history.
Atlanta Falcons: I'm going to cheat here and pick the 1980 playoff game vs. the Dallas Cowboys. I'm cheating because I'm a Cowboys fans and don't care much about the Falcons. I don't imagine there is much of any audience for this book - a Falcons' loss, a win that didn't translate into a Super Bowl for the all-or-nothing Cowboys franchise - but it is the only Falcons book I can imagine reading.
(Honorable mention: 1999 playoff win over Minnesota)
Tennessee Titans: No doubter - the Music City Miracle game vs. Buffalo gets its own book. The storyline before the game was Wade Phillips' decision to replace Doug Flutie with Rob Johnson before a playoff game. Then, of course, the play. The squib kick, Lorenzo Neal's pitch back to Frank Wycheck, Wycheck's controversial backwards lateral to Kevin Dyson, and then the historical run and radio call from Mike Keith. There is no other choice from the Titans' history and it would make an interesting read.
(Honorable mention: 1999 Super Bowl loss to Rams)
Memphis Grizzlies: Nothing. Maybe the Game 4 3OT thriller, but probably not.
Did I miss any?
Tennessee Vols football: There are two games that jump out to me as great books - the 1986 Sugar Bowl victory over Miami and the 1998 comeback win over Arkansas. The former is the most obvious choice with its impact on Tennessee fans, the size of the upset and the unique cast of characters involved. The latter saved the Vols' National Championship season as the Razorbacks dominated the game before the Clint Stoerner fumble and proceeding Vols offensive drive for victory. I think most people would think of the Florida OT victory in 1998 (which was pretty miraculous itself and was when Tennessee finally figured out how to beat Spurrier), but the Arkansas game was when UT could feel the title slipping out of its hands only to fall on the most unlikely of fumbles.
(Honorable mentions: the miracle comeback at South Bend, the 1998 Florida win, the 2001 LSU SEC title game loss, the Peyton Manning 41-14 win over Alabama)
Tennessee Vols basketball: It isn't as easy to find games worth remembering in the history of Vols hoops and the end of the Pearl era puts a taint on some of his great wins. Regardless, the 2010 Kansas game is my choice. With the Vols down four players from the infamous New Year's Eve arrest of Tyler Smith, Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins, the Vols played one of the most inspired games in college basketball history against the #1 ranked Jayhawks. Renaldo Woolridge and Skylar McBee played crucial minutes against the best team in the country...and won. Insane game that would have made for a good book (the arrest, the odds, McBee's miracle shot) before Pearl's exit.
(Honorable mention: the Greg Oden/Mike Conley Ohio State loss)
Atlanta Braves: The Francisco Cabrera/Sid Bream game vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates is the winner here. Not only was it a dramatic end to a dramatic series, but it was also the end of the Pirates who have not had a winning season since. The bottom of the ninth itself deserves an entire book - Drabek's brilliance, Lind's error, the choice to bring in Stan Belinda (who never recovered), the decision to pitch-hit Cabrera, Bonds' throw, Bream's slide...I used to watch this half inning on a video tape over and over just to hear Sean McDonough's call. Brilliant book.
(Honorable mentions: Game 7 vs. the Twins, the Jim Leyritz/Mark Wohlers Game 3 vs. Yankees, the Braves/Astros marathon playoff game...all Braves losses, by the way).
Atlanta Hawks: Um...the only possibility here is a book about the Nique/Bird shootout in Boston Garden. I suppose something from the Jon Koncak era might have an audience, but I don't see much else from the Hawks' history.
Atlanta Falcons: I'm going to cheat here and pick the 1980 playoff game vs. the Dallas Cowboys. I'm cheating because I'm a Cowboys fans and don't care much about the Falcons. I don't imagine there is much of any audience for this book - a Falcons' loss, a win that didn't translate into a Super Bowl for the all-or-nothing Cowboys franchise - but it is the only Falcons book I can imagine reading.
(Honorable mention: 1999 playoff win over Minnesota)
Tennessee Titans: No doubter - the Music City Miracle game vs. Buffalo gets its own book. The storyline before the game was Wade Phillips' decision to replace Doug Flutie with Rob Johnson before a playoff game. Then, of course, the play. The squib kick, Lorenzo Neal's pitch back to Frank Wycheck, Wycheck's controversial backwards lateral to Kevin Dyson, and then the historical run and radio call from Mike Keith. There is no other choice from the Titans' history and it would make an interesting read.
(Honorable mention: 1999 Super Bowl loss to Rams)
Memphis Grizzlies: Nothing. Maybe the Game 4 3OT thriller, but probably not.
Did I miss any?
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Closing the Door on Kimbrel
When the season began, the Braves were supposedly going to close games with a committee of two: left-handed Jonny Venters and right-handed flamethrower Craig Kimbrel. Instead, Fredi Gonzalez gave the closer role exclusively to Kimbrel and made Venters the set-up man.
Time to flip them.
Kimbrel blew another save last night (his third blown save in his last seven appearances). He throws a nasty fastball when it finds the strike zone, but it doesn't do that enough. He seems scared to throw strikes - scared to pitch to contact.
Meanwhile, Venters' ERA is .87 and he has only walked five batters in twenty innings. More importantly, he isn't a rookie anymore. He knows how to get big leaguers out. Kimbrel is learning on the job...in the 9th inning...on a World Series contending team.
I don't know what it will do to Kimbrel's confidence, but for the good of the other 24 guys on the roster it is time to make Venters the closer and put Kimbrel into the set-up role. It actually fits the bullpen better anyway because Eric O'Flaherty is a perfectly acceptable left-handed set-up man.
Take some pressure off Kimbrel and put the ball in Venters' hands in the 9th.
Time to flip them.
Kimbrel blew another save last night (his third blown save in his last seven appearances). He throws a nasty fastball when it finds the strike zone, but it doesn't do that enough. He seems scared to throw strikes - scared to pitch to contact.
Meanwhile, Venters' ERA is .87 and he has only walked five batters in twenty innings. More importantly, he isn't a rookie anymore. He knows how to get big leaguers out. Kimbrel is learning on the job...in the 9th inning...on a World Series contending team.
I don't know what it will do to Kimbrel's confidence, but for the good of the other 24 guys on the roster it is time to make Venters the closer and put Kimbrel into the set-up role. It actually fits the bullpen better anyway because Eric O'Flaherty is a perfectly acceptable left-handed set-up man.
Take some pressure off Kimbrel and put the ball in Venters' hands in the 9th.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Chronicling a Fantasy Baseball Season, Part III: Week 6 Preview
I’m late again, I know. We already have a whole day of stats in the book and here I go doing a “preview” of the week’s games. So, to the 1-2 other people who read this gibberish, I apologize for it being tardy.
Anyway, we have a logjam at the top of the standings. Wuertz Case reclaimed sole possession of first place last week, but only leads Gangsta by a game. Doc Halladay, who is now someone’s huckleberry, Honey Badgers, and Let Timmy Smoke are all tied for 3rd and 2 games behind Wuertz Case.
1. Wuertz Case Scenario 38-19-3 .658 –
2. Big Dick Gangsta 36-19-5 .642 1
3. Let Timmy Smoke 35-20-5 .625 2
4. doc halladay 36-21-3 .625 2
5. Honey Badgers 36-21-3 .625 2
6. Tacoby Bellsbury 29-28-3 .508 9
7. haveyouseenmywiener 26-30-4 .467 11.5
8. explosive renteria 27-32-1 .458 12
9. Purple Tigers 24-36-0 .400 15.5
10. Carry on Heyward Son 20-37-3 .358 18
11. ruppert mundys 18-38-4 .333 19.5
12. The Lobster 14-38-8 .300 21.5
| pos | Explosive Renteria | The Lobster |
| C | Wieters | McCann |
| 1b | Fielder | Cabrera |
| 2b | Pedroia | Uggla |
| 3b | Bautista | A Rod |
| SS | Drew | Andrus |
| OF | Cargo | Ethier |
| OF | Pence | Fuld |
| OF | Markakis | Byrd |
| UTIL | Lind | Ruiz* |
| UTIL | Smoak | Infante |
| SP | Johnson | Bucholtz |
| SP | Marcum | Garcia |
| SP | Scherzer | Arroyo |
| RP | Marmol | Fuentes |
| RP | Hanrahan | Nunez |
| P | Pineda | Cain |
| P | Sanchez | Narveson |
| P | Chacin | Franklin |
Explosive Renteria is getting back in the W column this week. I hope. This is our best shot. I think we will dominate the pitching categories and at least split the hitting categories this week (assuming Adam Lind’s back starts feeling better and he can produce at or near the level he’s been at lately). The Lobster’s pitching is just not that great and ours is pretty good. The Lobster has a pretty good lineup and I think that Uggla will get back on track this week, but Sam Fuld is playing like a 4th outfielder right now and has been for the lat couple of weeks. Carlos Ruiz is on the DL, Omar Infante is a great utility man in real life, but he doesn’t put up number in enough categories to be a big fantasy threat and Marlon Byrd is not going to be the savior. If we can avoid a huge week from Cabrera, I think we can win this week easily and make up some ground.
| pos | Carry On Heyward Son | Let Timmy Smoke |
| C | Santana | Buck |
| 1b | Davis | Howard |
| 2b | Johnson | Sanchez |
| 3b | Wright | Reynolds |
| SS | Cabrera | Jeter |
| OF | McCutcheon | Braun |
| OF | Granderson | Werth |
| OF | Swisher | Berkman |
| UTIL | Gordon | R. Davis |
| UTIL | Sizemore | Gardner |
| SP | Lester | Lincecum |
| SP | De La Rosa | Haren |
| SP | Gallardo | Lilly |
| RP | K Rod | Street |
| RP | Broxton | Wilson |
| P | Anderson | Cahill |
| P | Liriano | Romero |
| P | Madson | Chapman |
Thriller has a lot of speed in his lineup this week. He’s substituted Rajai Davis for Maybin. Add Davis to Gardner and I think Let Timmy Smoke wins steals. I still really like Trambo’s staff, and I still think that his staff will be really good over the long haul. But, Thriller’s staff is just a little better, right now.
Look, I know that Liriano threw a no-no last week. But, he walked 6 only struck out 2. His fantasy line was good, but not great. His K/9 would have been a killer and while his WHIP was good, when a pitcher doesn’t give up a hit, you expect his WHIP to be better than his was. Think about it this way. In Lincecum’s last start, he gave up 5 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings. His WHIP was a little over 1.00. But, he struck out 10 more than Liriano did. He and Liriano would have tied in ERA. Liriano would have won WHIP, but not by too much. Lincecum won convincingly in both K’s and K/9. This is why I think Smoke’s staff is better than Heyward Son’s. Plus, Gallardo is not pitching as well as he can and should right now.
All in all, I’m taking Let Timmy Smoke.
| pos | Doc Halladay | Tacoby Bellsbury |
| C | Arencibia | Napoli |
| 1b | Gonzalez | Helton |
| 2b | Phillips | Kinsler |
| 3b | Young | Longoria |
| SS | A. Ramirez | Castro |
| OF | Upton | Ellsbury |
| OF | Upton | Vitorino |
| OF | Zobrist | Holliday |
| UTIL | Polanco | Ortiz |
| UTIL | Vlad | Hafner |
| SP | Halladay | Weaver |
| SP | Billingsley | T. Hudson |
| SP | Garza | Peavy |
| RP | Perez | Papelbon |
| RP | Cordero | Farnsworth |
| P | Shields | Tomlin |
| P | Morrow | Masterson |
| P | Storen | Wakefield |
Brandon Morrow had a pretty bad night last night, but he’ll have another chance to make up for it later in the week. Jacob, having picked up Josh Tomlin and Wakefield, is playing the hot hands in his rotation this week. Tomlin is on fire right now, but he’s capable of having a blow up or two at any time. Jacob is also starting Jake Peavy, who is set to make his season debut Wednesday. When Peavy pitches like Peavy, he is dominant. He can carry a whole fantasy pitching staff on his back. But, he’s coming off another injury and it remains to be seen if he can return to the form that has made him great. We shall see. If it was me, I would have watched at least one of his starts before putting him in my lineup, but Jacob kicked my ass last week, so I don’t know why he would listen to me.
All pitching aside, I like Doc Halladay in this matchup. I think they pull out a close one.
| pos | Ruppert Mundys | Purple Tigers |
| C | Posey | Posada |
| 1b | Pujols | Butler |
| 2b | Kendrick | Cano |
| 3b | Ramirez | Chipper |
| SS | Rollins | Reyes |
| OF | Rasmus | Bruce |
| OF | Hunter | Huff |
| OF | Gomes | Bay |
| UTIL | Teixeira | Y. Escobar |
| UTIL | Francoeur | Soriano |
| SP | Felix | Kershaw |
| SP | Price | Jimenez |
| SP | Drabek | Nolasco |
| RP | Sanches | Putz |
| RP | Chen | Feliz |
| P | Wood | Zambrano |
| P | Ramirez | Lowe |
| P | Axford | Jurrjens |
BobbyJ has got to go out and get some quality pitching. When he does that, his team is going to be formidable. He has a good lineup and two excellent frontline starters in Felix and David Price. Drabek is a good 4th or 5th starter, especially in a keeper league, but he has to get somebody to replace Ramirez and Sanches because neither of them is contributing in any counting category. Sure, they may help out in ERA and WHIP, but neither of them has a K/9 over 7.5 and you cannot count on Ws or Ss from either one of them.
Brandonwood’s staff is really pitching well right now. His staff is, like explosive renteria, the strongest part of his team. His hitters are not as good as those on Ruppert Mundys. This one is going to be close, but I’m going to take Ruppert Mundys.
| pos | Haveyouseenmywiener | Wuertz Case Scenario |
| C | Y. Molina | V Mart |
| 1b | Wallace | C. Lee |
| 2b | Weeks | Espinosa |
| 3b | R. Roberts | Valencia |
| SS | O. Cabrera | Tulo |
| OF | Crawford | Kemp |
| OF | Quentin | Coghlan |
| OF | Bourn | Beltran |
| UTIL | Youkilis | Murphy |
| UTIL | Scott | Smith |
| SP | Lee | Hamels |
| SP | Sabbathia | D. Hudson |
| SP | Wolf | CJ Wilson |
| RP | Venters | Bell |
| RP | McClellan | Stauffer |
| P | Rivera | Burnette |
| P | Oswalt* | Santana |
| P | Norris | Latos |
Walter has completely revamped his lineup in hopes of providing a spark. Emerson had 3 pitchers on the hill last night (CJ Wilson, Latos and Santana) and none of posted an ERA under 6.00, so Haveyouseenmywiener should have some room for winning ERA and WHIP. Haveyouseenmywiener’s counting numbers will suffer with Oswalt on the DL, though and with 3 pitchers making 2 starts this week, I think it is safe to say that Wuertz Case has the inside track on winning Ws and Ks.
I think Haveyouseenmywiener will win steals. They should, but Kemp is running a lot these days, so I’m not counting Wuertz Case out. With Beltran playing well and Coghlan hitting everything he sees, I have to pick Wuertz Case to win.
| pos | Honey Badgers | Gangsta |
| C | Martin | Avila |
| 1b | Votto | Konerko |
| 2b | Walker | Izturis |
| 3b | Beltre | Prado |
| SS | Aybar | Ramirez |
| OF | Stubbs | Boesch |
| OF | Heyward | Choo |
| OF | Stanton | Ichiro |
| UTIL | Roberts | Tabata |
| UTIL | Aviles | C. Young |
| SP | Carpenter | Verlander |
| SP | Grienke | Hanson |
| SP | Loshe | Beckett |
| RP | Soria | Kimbrel |
| RP | Valverde | Capps |
| P | Kuroda | Walden |
| P | Volquez | Gonzalez |
| P | Floyd | Farnsworth |
If this league were the SEC, this game would be on CBS at 3:30. Despite the adition of Grienke, I still think Gangstas has a better top 3 SPs. Verlander, Hanson and Beckett (who is pitching well this year and pitched well last night) are, I think, better than Carpenter, Grienke, and Loshe. I like Gonzalez’s ability to strike people out and I think that starting 4 closers solidifies his Gangstas in saves, but gives Honey Badgers an edge in the counting numbers, especially with their two best pitchers going twice this week. I think that Honey Badgers will win the counting stats (other than Ss) and K/9.
Cruz going on the DL is a big blow for Gangstas. Cruz is better than Boesch by a facto of 10. Look, I hate Mike Aviles for costing me in Week 1, and he may be splitting time and giving up some at bats in that lineup, but he’s not a bad player to have in your lineup if your Flynner. Hanley Ramirez is better than he has played all year. He will have a huge week soon. If that is this week, Ganstas will win. If it’s not this week, Honey Badgers will win. I don’t think Hanley will play badly this week, but I don’t think he’s going to have the type of week like Tulo did in Week 2 either. So, I’m going with Honey Badgers this week.
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