I agree, totally.
Great player, an "uber" shortstop before the era of Garciaparra, A-Rod and Jeter. Great numbers, much better than his peers, a first-ballot Hall of Famer in my book.
He didn't get the hype, and neither did other shortstops. He didn't toot his own horn, take steroids or hang out with stars or starlets. He also didn't play in New York or Boston, and the Reds for much of his career weren't exactly an elite team. But he played hard and well every day, and his numbers don't lie.
I hope that those who can vote for the Hall of Fame will agree with Stark.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Temple Owls Stand Tall, Fade at the Finish
The Temple Owls' football team figured it would have a big advantage yesterday in the EagleBank Bowl against UCLA. No, it wasn't the presence of Temple alum Bill Cosby, but the cold mid-Atlantic weather that saw a 4:30 game played in frigid weather.
That advantage worked for a half. The Owls came out of the gate hot, led by 21-10 at the half and were playing well enough on both sides of the ball to win the game.
They just couldn't finish what they started. Their wunderkind running back Bernard Pierce got hurt and missed the second half, and their starting QB, Vaughn Charlton, made too many of the type of mistake that caused head coach Al Golden to sit him down for the last four regular season games. Atop that, the Owls' defense looked a bit light (as in light enough to get pushed out of the way frequently enough to lose), and in the last 6 minutes the chariot that people thought Temple football was this season (and I still do) turned into a pumpkin. 31-20, UCLA.
I watched the entire game and enjoyed almost all of it. As readers of this blog know, my father played a little for the Owls a long time ago, and I spent much of my youth watching the Owls play on Saturdays, watching quarterbacks like John Waller, Tommy DeFelice, Marty Ginestra and Steve Joachim, to name a few. Yes, I saw Wayne Coleman play linebacker, Chris Fletcher play defensive back, Jim Cooper play offensive line, Randy Grossman play tight end and Joe Klecko play defensive line. Among many others. More importantly, I went with my dad, who was a very busy guy, and it was something that we did together.
My father's been dead for over two decades. While I haven't followed Temple football as closely as I did when he was alive, I always check the box scores and read the write-ups, hoping against all hope that the Owls could have a winning season (and, perhaps at some point, find their Holy Grail by beating Penn State, an event which would rival the parting of the Red Sea). This year, they had their winning season and made their first bowl appearance in 3 decades (they beat Cal in the Garden State Bowl in 1979 -- and we were there -- on a day about as cold as yesterday's match-up against UCLA). Sure, they still have to beat Penn State, but I am patient enough to take one piece of good news at a time.
Nothing can bring my father back, but yesterday's appearance by the Owls in a bowl game brought back vivid memories of good times that I shared with him. It was too bad that the Owls couldn't win the game, but getting there for a team with as bad a recent history as that of the Owls was quite the accomplishment. Al Golden is building a tough program in Philadelphia, and next year I look forward to more success on the gridiron.
And to recall more fond memories.
That advantage worked for a half. The Owls came out of the gate hot, led by 21-10 at the half and were playing well enough on both sides of the ball to win the game.
They just couldn't finish what they started. Their wunderkind running back Bernard Pierce got hurt and missed the second half, and their starting QB, Vaughn Charlton, made too many of the type of mistake that caused head coach Al Golden to sit him down for the last four regular season games. Atop that, the Owls' defense looked a bit light (as in light enough to get pushed out of the way frequently enough to lose), and in the last 6 minutes the chariot that people thought Temple football was this season (and I still do) turned into a pumpkin. 31-20, UCLA.
I watched the entire game and enjoyed almost all of it. As readers of this blog know, my father played a little for the Owls a long time ago, and I spent much of my youth watching the Owls play on Saturdays, watching quarterbacks like John Waller, Tommy DeFelice, Marty Ginestra and Steve Joachim, to name a few. Yes, I saw Wayne Coleman play linebacker, Chris Fletcher play defensive back, Jim Cooper play offensive line, Randy Grossman play tight end and Joe Klecko play defensive line. Among many others. More importantly, I went with my dad, who was a very busy guy, and it was something that we did together.
My father's been dead for over two decades. While I haven't followed Temple football as closely as I did when he was alive, I always check the box scores and read the write-ups, hoping against all hope that the Owls could have a winning season (and, perhaps at some point, find their Holy Grail by beating Penn State, an event which would rival the parting of the Red Sea). This year, they had their winning season and made their first bowl appearance in 3 decades (they beat Cal in the Garden State Bowl in 1979 -- and we were there -- on a day about as cold as yesterday's match-up against UCLA). Sure, they still have to beat Penn State, but I am patient enough to take one piece of good news at a time.
Nothing can bring my father back, but yesterday's appearance by the Owls in a bowl game brought back vivid memories of good times that I shared with him. It was too bad that the Owls couldn't win the game, but getting there for a team with as bad a recent history as that of the Owls was quite the accomplishment. Al Golden is building a tough program in Philadelphia, and next year I look forward to more success on the gridiron.
And to recall more fond memories.
The Mets Roar Back
Come Opening Day, four of the top five slots in their lineup will be populated with Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Wright and now Jason Bay. How many teams in the majors have four guys whose offense is better than that of this quartet?
Not many. Even in baseball's version of the Grand Canyon, Citi Field, the Mets' offense will scare a lot of teams. This looks to be a good move by the Mets, even though in recent years on the pitching side they've made questionable signings (giving too many years to Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine and Billy Wagner and well as signing Oliver Perez to what looks to be a disastrous three-year deal last year, and, they have to be worried, at least privately, about the durability of Johan Santana).
Few expected the Mets to stay put. They need to keep pace with the Phillies and the Braves, and they have to knock the Yankees out of the headlines every now and then. With the Bay signing, they did just that.
Before last season, Baseball Prospectus and others posited that the Mets were in a good position to win the World Series. I'm not sure whether their pitching will be strong enough to make that deep a run, but make no mistake about it, the race to win the NL East just got a lot more interesting.
Ruben Amaro -- it's your move.
Not many. Even in baseball's version of the Grand Canyon, Citi Field, the Mets' offense will scare a lot of teams. This looks to be a good move by the Mets, even though in recent years on the pitching side they've made questionable signings (giving too many years to Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine and Billy Wagner and well as signing Oliver Perez to what looks to be a disastrous three-year deal last year, and, they have to be worried, at least privately, about the durability of Johan Santana).
Few expected the Mets to stay put. They need to keep pace with the Phillies and the Braves, and they have to knock the Yankees out of the headlines every now and then. With the Bay signing, they did just that.
Before last season, Baseball Prospectus and others posited that the Mets were in a good position to win the World Series. I'm not sure whether their pitching will be strong enough to make that deep a run, but make no mistake about it, the race to win the NL East just got a lot more interesting.
Ruben Amaro -- it's your move.
Study Confirms the Obvious: Recruited Athletes Are Much More Likely to Get Into College than the Average Applicant
Someone actually studied this to confirm what most of us have known for and discussed for years.
What would be more interesting would be to get data on the money that schools spend on recruiting -- whether donated by boosters or put up by the universities themselves -- and, also, the monies spent on those student-athletes while they're on campus and how those students fare academically on campus (including whether they specialize in "joke" majors). All of this data would demonstrate which schools really care about their student-athletes and which ones don't.
Some policy wonks out there would argue that this money is especially wasted given a) that America's high school students match up poorly against the rest of the developed world's and b) that given the limit on H1-B visas, the best talent from China and India is not going to come to America any more and help us continue to lead the way in the world's economic development. At the same time, they'll also make sure that they get to homecoming and cheer when their team beat's Yale's. Or North Carolina's.
What would be more interesting would be to get data on the money that schools spend on recruiting -- whether donated by boosters or put up by the universities themselves -- and, also, the monies spent on those student-athletes while they're on campus and how those students fare academically on campus (including whether they specialize in "joke" majors). All of this data would demonstrate which schools really care about their student-athletes and which ones don't.
Some policy wonks out there would argue that this money is especially wasted given a) that America's high school students match up poorly against the rest of the developed world's and b) that given the limit on H1-B visas, the best talent from China and India is not going to come to America any more and help us continue to lead the way in the world's economic development. At the same time, they'll also make sure that they get to homecoming and cheer when their team beat's Yale's. Or North Carolina's.
Monday, December 28, 2009
English Premiership Team of the Decade
From Soccernet.
Lots of good players to choose from, and it's hard to argue all that much with these choices, especially if you're operating under the theory that "they had to pick someone."
I read recently in the book "Made to Stick" that people are better able to make choices if you offer them fewer alternatives. Put differently, "paralysis by analysis" could set in if the menu is too vast. That said, the selectors did a fine job when you consider how many players they had to choose from. Read the linked article and then decide for yourself what changes, if any, you would have made to this list.
Lots of good players to choose from, and it's hard to argue all that much with these choices, especially if you're operating under the theory that "they had to pick someone."
I read recently in the book "Made to Stick" that people are better able to make choices if you offer them fewer alternatives. Put differently, "paralysis by analysis" could set in if the menu is too vast. That said, the selectors did a fine job when you consider how many players they had to choose from. Read the linked article and then decide for yourself what changes, if any, you would have made to this list.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The First Iranian Hoopster in Division I
Arslan Hazemi plays for Rice. His coach, Ben Braun, is Jewish. Despite all of Iran's anti-Israeli (and sometimes correspondingly anti-Semitic) rhetoric, the cocktail of the coach's religion and the player's ethnicity doesn't seem to be an issue. Apparently, Braun's record with international players -- including an Israeli or two while at Cal -- helped Kazemi select Rice. Click here for Luke Winn's fascinating article at SI.com on Hazemi and his journey to play college basketball in the United States.
As Yogi Berra once said, "Only in America."
As Yogi Berra once said, "Only in America."
Mark Titus, Blogger
Titus, who was recruited to hoop for Harvard, rides the bench as a walk-on for Ohio State. He also blogs here, and both this article and the blog are pretty amusing.
The guy who coached basketball at my high school said that it would be nice to coach smart players. Well, Thad Matta agrees, obviously, but to a point. A team full of players like Mark Titus is more likely to make him the former coach of Ohio State, but having one around adds to the team's spirit, flavor, levity and cumulative grade point average.
There are players on rosters all over the country who had feelers from the Ivies or were actively recruited by them. There are virtually no players on Ivy hoop rosters who turned down scholarships to big-time hoops schools. Perhaps that happened three decades ago, but it doesn't seem to happen now.
The guy who coached basketball at my high school said that it would be nice to coach smart players. Well, Thad Matta agrees, obviously, but to a point. A team full of players like Mark Titus is more likely to make him the former coach of Ohio State, but having one around adds to the team's spirit, flavor, levity and cumulative grade point average.
There are players on rosters all over the country who had feelers from the Ivies or were actively recruited by them. There are virtually no players on Ivy hoop rosters who turned down scholarships to big-time hoops schools. Perhaps that happened three decades ago, but it doesn't seem to happen now.
Urban Meyer Pulls a Billy Donovan (Of Sorts)
He's baaaaack.
Un-resigned, is what he did, but he will take a leave of absence.
Again, of sorts.
Read the whole thing.
Un-resigned, is what he did, but he will take a leave of absence.
Again, of sorts.
Read the whole thing.
Urban Meyer to Resign; Stirs Memories of Another Famous Resignation -- About 45 Years Ago
You might never have heard of John Wooden had this guy not resigned. Unless you're over 55, a basketball lover or insider, Bob Knight or knowledgeable about Knight, you probably haven't heard of the guy. But he was a heckuva coach, as this book (which I recommend), will tell you. So good that his teams contended for national titles and to the best of my recollection won at least one and perhaps two. So good that when his teams went head to head with John Wooden's from 1960-1964 -- twice a year -- they won all them.
So good that you have to remember that Wooden got to UCLA in 1949 but didn't win his first national title until 1965 -- the year after this guy retired. After that, Wooden's teams won national title after national title, cementing Wooden's legend as a great coach. (And this is not to dispute Wooden's legacy or his greatness as a coach; I'm a big Wooden fan and have read many of his books and learned much from them). But it does make you wonder what the national college basketball landscape would have looked like had Pete Newell not retired atop his game in the early 1960's.
As the linked book will tell you, he did so because his doctor told him that he was a walking heart attack, smoking too many cigarettes and drinking too much coffee. So he quit -- cold turkey. Basketball, that is. He went on to found his big man's basketball camp, for which he was well known in basketball circles, and he remained in the spotlight because of that and because of his relationship with Bob Knight, who revered him as a mentor. Make no mistake, though -- Newell retired because of the toll his job was taking on him.
Urban Meyer announced that he's leaving his head coaching position at Florida after coaching in the Sugar Bowl. His reasons are similar to the ones that Newell gave -- the job just was taking too much out of him, to the point where he couldn't remain healthy enough to achieve a proper balance in life. Meyer is leaving the Gators atop his game. Okay, so they're not playing for a national title this year, but he's accomplished a great deal in his career at both Utah and Florida, and, in his mid-40's, he's leaving the game -- as a head coach -- way too young.
Head coaching in college football is one of the ultimate exercises of survival of the fittest. You begin your career as a volunteer or lowly paid assistant on the fringes of a coaching staff, and your goal is to move up to positions of greater responsibility in higher-profile programs, ultimately trying to attach yourself to some of the biggest names, where you can learn a lot and brand yourself better for the next big job. You go from being a graduate assistant breaking down films to a quality-control assistant to an assistant position coach to a position coach to a coordinator to a head coach, or something like that. Along the way you spend a year here, two years there, never putting down roots. The money does get better, but the hours do not. You're always on -- recruiting, working with your current players, working on offensive or defensive schemes (depending on which side of the ball you're on), very much absorbed in your work. My guess is that the average 50 year-old head football coach has put enough time in the office and on the road to fill up the career of three guys working 40 hours a week in jobs where that's all that's required of them.
You probably don't get the 8 hours of sleep a night that doctors recommend. You're probably not eating meals regularly or in a balanced fashion, and you don't always get the time to exercise that you need. You sit a lot, you don't get much down time to simply watch movies on cable for two or three days or spend a week on vacation with the family on the phone. No, you're twittering for your recruiting class five minutes before you walk on the field for your're homecoming game, calling a recruit from the sidelines of a bowl game to show him how loud your fan base is, you're traveling to recruits' homes, visiting other coaches to see how their innovative defense works, appearing before alumni groups -- heck, you're the head football coach at Florida, but your schedule sounds like you're running for President of the United States.
It takes its toll, as do most jobs where you put your heart and soul into it. Urban Meyer is a great coach, but now he must get off the fast-paced head coaching treadmill to live life a little bit -- at least the aspects of life that justify how hard we work to provide for the ones that we love - -his family. He'll come back -- rested and refreshed -- in some important capacity, but he'll have to avoid the temptation of going full throttle right away or returning to a pace where all he knows is to push the throttles as far forward and as hard as he can. That will be difficult, but he'll do it.
Pete Newell found a good existence for himself after stepping down from one of the best basketball jobs in the country. Urban Meyer should be able to do the same thing.
It won't be easy, but it's well worth the effort -- and the same could have been said to him or about him as he tried to ascend to the highest levels of the coaching ranks in college football.
So good that you have to remember that Wooden got to UCLA in 1949 but didn't win his first national title until 1965 -- the year after this guy retired. After that, Wooden's teams won national title after national title, cementing Wooden's legend as a great coach. (And this is not to dispute Wooden's legacy or his greatness as a coach; I'm a big Wooden fan and have read many of his books and learned much from them). But it does make you wonder what the national college basketball landscape would have looked like had Pete Newell not retired atop his game in the early 1960's.
As the linked book will tell you, he did so because his doctor told him that he was a walking heart attack, smoking too many cigarettes and drinking too much coffee. So he quit -- cold turkey. Basketball, that is. He went on to found his big man's basketball camp, for which he was well known in basketball circles, and he remained in the spotlight because of that and because of his relationship with Bob Knight, who revered him as a mentor. Make no mistake, though -- Newell retired because of the toll his job was taking on him.
Urban Meyer announced that he's leaving his head coaching position at Florida after coaching in the Sugar Bowl. His reasons are similar to the ones that Newell gave -- the job just was taking too much out of him, to the point where he couldn't remain healthy enough to achieve a proper balance in life. Meyer is leaving the Gators atop his game. Okay, so they're not playing for a national title this year, but he's accomplished a great deal in his career at both Utah and Florida, and, in his mid-40's, he's leaving the game -- as a head coach -- way too young.
Head coaching in college football is one of the ultimate exercises of survival of the fittest. You begin your career as a volunteer or lowly paid assistant on the fringes of a coaching staff, and your goal is to move up to positions of greater responsibility in higher-profile programs, ultimately trying to attach yourself to some of the biggest names, where you can learn a lot and brand yourself better for the next big job. You go from being a graduate assistant breaking down films to a quality-control assistant to an assistant position coach to a position coach to a coordinator to a head coach, or something like that. Along the way you spend a year here, two years there, never putting down roots. The money does get better, but the hours do not. You're always on -- recruiting, working with your current players, working on offensive or defensive schemes (depending on which side of the ball you're on), very much absorbed in your work. My guess is that the average 50 year-old head football coach has put enough time in the office and on the road to fill up the career of three guys working 40 hours a week in jobs where that's all that's required of them.
You probably don't get the 8 hours of sleep a night that doctors recommend. You're probably not eating meals regularly or in a balanced fashion, and you don't always get the time to exercise that you need. You sit a lot, you don't get much down time to simply watch movies on cable for two or three days or spend a week on vacation with the family on the phone. No, you're twittering for your recruiting class five minutes before you walk on the field for your're homecoming game, calling a recruit from the sidelines of a bowl game to show him how loud your fan base is, you're traveling to recruits' homes, visiting other coaches to see how their innovative defense works, appearing before alumni groups -- heck, you're the head football coach at Florida, but your schedule sounds like you're running for President of the United States.
It takes its toll, as do most jobs where you put your heart and soul into it. Urban Meyer is a great coach, but now he must get off the fast-paced head coaching treadmill to live life a little bit -- at least the aspects of life that justify how hard we work to provide for the ones that we love - -his family. He'll come back -- rested and refreshed -- in some important capacity, but he'll have to avoid the temptation of going full throttle right away or returning to a pace where all he knows is to push the throttles as far forward and as hard as he can. That will be difficult, but he'll do it.
Pete Newell found a good existence for himself after stepping down from one of the best basketball jobs in the country. Urban Meyer should be able to do the same thing.
It won't be easy, but it's well worth the effort -- and the same could have been said to him or about him as he tried to ascend to the highest levels of the coaching ranks in college football.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Mets Make a Move
They signed former starter Kelvim Escobar, who's missed most of the past 2 seasons, to a 1-year deal to set up K-Rod.
This move isn't as crazy as it seems. There's a theory out there -- attributed to, among others, the Phillies' front office -- that signing relievers (other than closers) is somewhat of a crapshoot. The problem -- sign a guy with a three-year track record to a big deal (say 3 years, $10 million or so), and he could be so used up from 70 games a season (plus all the times he was warmed up) that he might blow out his arm and have nothing left. So, the theory goes, sign a guy who has a good arm who's coming off a year where he was underused or where he was injured, give him an incentive-laden, one-year deal with a club option, and, voila, you could have instant set-up man. That's what the Mets did here. And, so it seems, that's what other clubs are looking to do, too. What's puzzling is that some good relievers with track records are out there, probably demanding more money than Escobar did. It could well be that teams just don't want to spend the money on anyone in their bullpen other than their closer and perhaps one other guy.
The Mets remain in limbo, apparently, on Jason Bay and Bengie Molina and might be looking at other options. Bay apparently is getting cold feet about playing in a park that favors pitchers as much as Citi Field does. The linked article doesn't say what the hold up with Molina might be. So far, the Mets haven't given those two players deadlines, and the guess here is that the club's front office believes that with about 6 weeks to spring training, there is still plenty of time to make a few more moves. That the Mets will do more is a given, as the Phillies and Braves have already taken significant steps to fortify their rosters for the 2010 season.
This move isn't as crazy as it seems. There's a theory out there -- attributed to, among others, the Phillies' front office -- that signing relievers (other than closers) is somewhat of a crapshoot. The problem -- sign a guy with a three-year track record to a big deal (say 3 years, $10 million or so), and he could be so used up from 70 games a season (plus all the times he was warmed up) that he might blow out his arm and have nothing left. So, the theory goes, sign a guy who has a good arm who's coming off a year where he was underused or where he was injured, give him an incentive-laden, one-year deal with a club option, and, voila, you could have instant set-up man. That's what the Mets did here. And, so it seems, that's what other clubs are looking to do, too. What's puzzling is that some good relievers with track records are out there, probably demanding more money than Escobar did. It could well be that teams just don't want to spend the money on anyone in their bullpen other than their closer and perhaps one other guy.
The Mets remain in limbo, apparently, on Jason Bay and Bengie Molina and might be looking at other options. Bay apparently is getting cold feet about playing in a park that favors pitchers as much as Citi Field does. The linked article doesn't say what the hold up with Molina might be. So far, the Mets haven't given those two players deadlines, and the guess here is that the club's front office believes that with about 6 weeks to spring training, there is still plenty of time to make a few more moves. That the Mets will do more is a given, as the Phillies and Braves have already taken significant steps to fortify their rosters for the 2010 season.
Robbery in Birmingham Today
That's Birmingham, England, site of today's Premiership match between Chelsea and host Birmingham. Chelsea is the very well-financed frontrunner in the Premiership (England's top league for the uninitiated), while Birmingham, in the middle of England (again, the Midlands to those in the know) is having a good year and right now is in the top 10.
It's true that for much of the first half Chelsea was on the attack, but there was a moment when Birmingham striker Chucho Benitez got in the midst of a tangle Chelsea defense and scored a goal. Or so it appeared, but the assistant referee called Birmingham off-side. Replays showed that this wasn't the case, and the announcers on ESPN2 said as much. The game ended in a 0-0 tie.
Premiership officials shouldn't permit results like this to happen. Given how few goals are scored in soccer matches, they should adopt an instant replay process where goals are disallowed (or allowed if there is a controversy) to ensure that the referee and the assistant referees get the result right. The assistant referee blew the call, the goal was disallowed, and Birmingham didn't get the points in the standings alloted for a victory.
Birmingham fans should be livid, especially since the game ended in a draw. That goal would have been the difference maker, and it was taken away. That's especially frustrating to see in the elite leagues. Referees are human and make mistakes, too, so why not have a quality-control system to prevent mistakes from determining a game's outcome? That system would make the results above reproach.
Birmingham fans -- you were robbed. Unfortunately, most cities put up traffic lights or stop signs after an accident has taken place. The Premiership should do the same -- so that accidents like this do not recur.
It's true that for much of the first half Chelsea was on the attack, but there was a moment when Birmingham striker Chucho Benitez got in the midst of a tangle Chelsea defense and scored a goal. Or so it appeared, but the assistant referee called Birmingham off-side. Replays showed that this wasn't the case, and the announcers on ESPN2 said as much. The game ended in a 0-0 tie.
Premiership officials shouldn't permit results like this to happen. Given how few goals are scored in soccer matches, they should adopt an instant replay process where goals are disallowed (or allowed if there is a controversy) to ensure that the referee and the assistant referees get the result right. The assistant referee blew the call, the goal was disallowed, and Birmingham didn't get the points in the standings alloted for a victory.
Birmingham fans should be livid, especially since the game ended in a draw. That goal would have been the difference maker, and it was taken away. That's especially frustrating to see in the elite leagues. Referees are human and make mistakes, too, so why not have a quality-control system to prevent mistakes from determining a game's outcome? That system would make the results above reproach.
Birmingham fans -- you were robbed. Unfortunately, most cities put up traffic lights or stop signs after an accident has taken place. The Premiership should do the same -- so that accidents like this do not recur.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Invictus
Not as good as The Blind Side, but this seemingly hastily put together movie (by Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman, among others) is worth going to see. It's the story about Nelson Mandela's ascendancy to the presidency of South Africa and his support of the Springboks, the rugby team that to all non-whites was a symbol of apartheid prior to the fall of the white minority government. Morgan Freeman excels as Nelson Mandela, and the story is worth witnessing.
Baseball America's Top 20 Prospects
Are listed right here.
Good news for Phillies fans -- the guy whom you refused to give up is #13.
Other news for Phillies fans -- the guy you gave up for Roy Halladay is #16, and two guys you probably tried to pry away from the Mariners in the Lee trade are #s 3 and 19. Additionally, the Indians' #1 catching prospect is #11, which means that the catcher you traded to Cleveland in the first Lee deal is a placeholder in 2010 until this guy arrives. For what it's worth.
Good reading. If you're a Giants' fan, a Mariners' fan or a Rangers' fan you should be happy. Each team has 2 prospects in this Top 20.
Good news for Phillies fans -- the guy whom you refused to give up is #13.
Other news for Phillies fans -- the guy you gave up for Roy Halladay is #16, and two guys you probably tried to pry away from the Mariners in the Lee trade are #s 3 and 19. Additionally, the Indians' #1 catching prospect is #11, which means that the catcher you traded to Cleveland in the first Lee deal is a placeholder in 2010 until this guy arrives. For what it's worth.
Good reading. If you're a Giants' fan, a Mariners' fan or a Rangers' fan you should be happy. Each team has 2 prospects in this Top 20.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Princeton Names Bob Surace Its New Head Football Coach
Princeton wanted to act quickly, and it did, taking only about a month to name an alum and current Bengals' assistant, Bob Surace, as its new head coach. You can read the university's release here.
Early returns on the hiring won't come in until after the New Year, because that's what typically happens when you announce anything on the eve of Christmas Eve -- people just aren't paying attention to anything much other than preparation for the holiday.
Early returns on the hiring won't come in until after the New Year, because that's what typically happens when you announce anything on the eve of Christmas Eve -- people just aren't paying attention to anything much other than preparation for the holiday.
Whither the Mets?
The Phillies have upgraded their bench.
The Phillies have wheeled and dealed to be in two World Series in a row and to ink one of baseball's best pitchers for the next 4 plus years.
The Nationals have signed a starting pitcher who should bolster their rotation.
The Braves have been on the move, too.
But what about the Mets? We heard hot-stove talk about both Jason Bay and Bengie Molina, but so far nothing has materialized with either player. Last year, they got hit with a tsunami's worth of injuries, an amount so great that no team in the Majors could have suffered equivalents and remained competitive. They should be better if Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran can remain healthy for an entire season. But they still need David Wright's swing to return and Johan Santana to return to form. They need bullpen help before K-Rod, they need starting pitching and a first baseman.
And, so far?
Nothing.
Is it because talks with Bay and Molina have bogged down? Or is it because someday soon we'll finally learn how much money the Wilpons lost because they trusted their old friend Bernie Madoff? It's hard to say.
Right now, I view the Mets as sleeping giants who are not likely to stand pat. I would look for a few big signings and a trade, all of which should improve the team but still leave some holes in their starting rotation. That said, we're about 6 weeks away from spring training, and the clock is ticking.
The Phillies have wheeled and dealed to be in two World Series in a row and to ink one of baseball's best pitchers for the next 4 plus years.
The Nationals have signed a starting pitcher who should bolster their rotation.
The Braves have been on the move, too.
But what about the Mets? We heard hot-stove talk about both Jason Bay and Bengie Molina, but so far nothing has materialized with either player. Last year, they got hit with a tsunami's worth of injuries, an amount so great that no team in the Majors could have suffered equivalents and remained competitive. They should be better if Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran can remain healthy for an entire season. But they still need David Wright's swing to return and Johan Santana to return to form. They need bullpen help before K-Rod, they need starting pitching and a first baseman.
And, so far?
Nothing.
Is it because talks with Bay and Molina have bogged down? Or is it because someday soon we'll finally learn how much money the Wilpons lost because they trusted their old friend Bernie Madoff? It's hard to say.
Right now, I view the Mets as sleeping giants who are not likely to stand pat. I would look for a few big signings and a trade, all of which should improve the team but still leave some holes in their starting rotation. That said, we're about 6 weeks away from spring training, and the clock is ticking.
Enough Already
And I supported the Eagles' decision to sign Michael Vick.
Today the Eagles announced that Vick won their Ed Block Courage Award, which is given to the player who shows commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.
The decision was the right move. I'm not in the clubhouse, so I have no idea of telling whether Vick deserves this award or not. That said, as an observer of the Eagles, and particularly the public statements of owner Jeffrey Lurie and coach Andy Reid, they're a little to, well, close-to-the-vest about many things, self-righteous about some others. Should they now give him an award for supporting these principles? Sure, if the award is for recent converts or born-agains, as oppposed to those who have walked the talk for much longer periods.
Such as wide receiver Jason Avant, whose life story is compelling and who, along with his wife, is raising a teenaged cousin even though Avant himself is in his mid-20's.
Notoriety is one thing. Carrying life's lunch pail day to day and doing much more than the right thing is another. Michael Vick still has a way to go to rehabilitate both his image and himself. The Eagles, today, put the former before the latter, and, in so doing, overlooked a hero in their midst -- and a pretty good possession receiver, while we're at it.
So, enough already, Philadelphia Eagles. You did a good deed by giving Michael Vick a chance. Don't use your public relations machine to overdo the situation.
Today the Eagles announced that Vick won their Ed Block Courage Award, which is given to the player who shows commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.
The decision was the right move. I'm not in the clubhouse, so I have no idea of telling whether Vick deserves this award or not. That said, as an observer of the Eagles, and particularly the public statements of owner Jeffrey Lurie and coach Andy Reid, they're a little to, well, close-to-the-vest about many things, self-righteous about some others. Should they now give him an award for supporting these principles? Sure, if the award is for recent converts or born-agains, as oppposed to those who have walked the talk for much longer periods.
Such as wide receiver Jason Avant, whose life story is compelling and who, along with his wife, is raising a teenaged cousin even though Avant himself is in his mid-20's.
Notoriety is one thing. Carrying life's lunch pail day to day and doing much more than the right thing is another. Michael Vick still has a way to go to rehabilitate both his image and himself. The Eagles, today, put the former before the latter, and, in so doing, overlooked a hero in their midst -- and a pretty good possession receiver, while we're at it.
So, enough already, Philadelphia Eagles. You did a good deed by giving Michael Vick a chance. Don't use your public relations machine to overdo the situation.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Bob Knight Throws John Calipari Under the Bus
CBS's Seth Davis, responding to Knight, criticized the former Indiana mentor, in essence saying that he's one to talk, given some of his behavioral issues. In doing so, however, Davis looks a bit foolish, because it's almost as if he deliberately missed the issue. Sure, it's hard to argue that Knight's eruptions of the years are worth emulating. That said, Knight held his program to the highest ethical standards in terms of recruiting and graduating his players. That's not in dispute. Davis apparently equates ethics with temper, and that's his right, but I would argue that I'd rather have a coach who erupts (and don't most of them, even if not as publicly and frequently as Knight did) than one who leaves program under a cloud (which Calipari has done now twice). That Davis missed this point is a) troubling and b) calls into question why he said what he said. Did he say what he said because he thinks it to be true, did he say what he said because CBS expects Kentucky to have a high profile and wants that profile without taint (which means that Davis was flacking for Calipari, Kentucky and CBS) or does Calipari provide Davis with great access, so much so that Davis thought at the time Calipari needed a friend in the media? The second and third alternatives are not acceptable, and having watched Davis over the years I conclude -- at least for now -- that he legitimately believes what he said. I just think that he's wrong.
I've offered my views of Calipari before (here and here), and I tend to agree with Coach Knight (whom I've also criticized before for his temper and interactions with school officials and Indiana). By the way, if you link on my first linked post about Calipari, you'll find that John Feinstein, who spent a season with Knight and is far from a Knight apologist, previously took the same view as Knight.
Basketball is very important at Kentucky, which paid a king's ransom for Calipari.
The question is -- what's the true cost?
Whatever that cost is, Bob Knight, for one, thinks it's too high to pay.
I've offered my views of Calipari before (here and here), and I tend to agree with Coach Knight (whom I've also criticized before for his temper and interactions with school officials and Indiana). By the way, if you link on my first linked post about Calipari, you'll find that John Feinstein, who spent a season with Knight and is far from a Knight apologist, previously took the same view as Knight.
Basketball is very important at Kentucky, which paid a king's ransom for Calipari.
The question is -- what's the true cost?
Whatever that cost is, Bob Knight, for one, thinks it's too high to pay.
Calling Out Newsweek
Perhaps it's on life-support, but I erred greatly when I re-upped a while back for two more years. I wish I could get a refund and stop my subscription.
There are a few reasons for this. First, it's very thin on coverage of any type. Second, it offers as many opinions as news articles, or so it seems. Third, most of those opinion writers are defenders of, or apologists for, the Democratic Party. So, not only do you not get much reporting, you don't get a balanced look at life in the U.S. And that's not right.
I'll bet that the owners of Newsweek and Newsweek's editors wouldn't agree with me. They'll swear on the governing documents of the finest journalism schools in the land that they're offering balanced coverage. They'll also say that there are many reasons for the magazine's decline, among them the immediacy of news on the internet and the fact that such quickly available media is free. Deep down, they'll lament that the public has turned into a group of almost ungovernable Neandarthals with a mob mentality that doesn't appreciate good journalism or fine writing. Accordingly, they'll offer that the number of available customers has shrunk, and that instead of writing for the average American they're writing to an ever-shrinking elite of people who appreciate the stringing of two good sentences together. Or something like that.
But what they fail to realize is that instead of staying relevant, they permitted market forces to overtake them. The country needs solid journalism more than ever -- journalism that is fair, journalism that doesn't take sides (which, through slanted reporting, it all too frequently does) and journalism that appeals not to the next sound byte but to a greater sense of the country and its possibilities. Instead, Newsweek is as into playing games of "Gotcha!" and "Class Envy" as any other publication.
The thin size of the magazine is akin to an older person withering with age. At this point, the excessive weight loss might be irreversible. I can get opinions anywhere, and my local, county newspaper does a better job of offering all points of view than Newsweek does. And that speaks volumes about what Newsweek has become.
For what it's worth, I'm rather apolitical, a centrist at heart, and someone who would rather see the private sector create jobs than the public sector. So, I really like to see the balance. At one time, I thought that providing balance was what journalism was all about.
There are a few reasons for this. First, it's very thin on coverage of any type. Second, it offers as many opinions as news articles, or so it seems. Third, most of those opinion writers are defenders of, or apologists for, the Democratic Party. So, not only do you not get much reporting, you don't get a balanced look at life in the U.S. And that's not right.
I'll bet that the owners of Newsweek and Newsweek's editors wouldn't agree with me. They'll swear on the governing documents of the finest journalism schools in the land that they're offering balanced coverage. They'll also say that there are many reasons for the magazine's decline, among them the immediacy of news on the internet and the fact that such quickly available media is free. Deep down, they'll lament that the public has turned into a group of almost ungovernable Neandarthals with a mob mentality that doesn't appreciate good journalism or fine writing. Accordingly, they'll offer that the number of available customers has shrunk, and that instead of writing for the average American they're writing to an ever-shrinking elite of people who appreciate the stringing of two good sentences together. Or something like that.
But what they fail to realize is that instead of staying relevant, they permitted market forces to overtake them. The country needs solid journalism more than ever -- journalism that is fair, journalism that doesn't take sides (which, through slanted reporting, it all too frequently does) and journalism that appeals not to the next sound byte but to a greater sense of the country and its possibilities. Instead, Newsweek is as into playing games of "Gotcha!" and "Class Envy" as any other publication.
The thin size of the magazine is akin to an older person withering with age. At this point, the excessive weight loss might be irreversible. I can get opinions anywhere, and my local, county newspaper does a better job of offering all points of view than Newsweek does. And that speaks volumes about what Newsweek has become.
For what it's worth, I'm rather apolitical, a centrist at heart, and someone who would rather see the private sector create jobs than the public sector. So, I really like to see the balance. At one time, I thought that providing balance was what journalism was all about.
Monday, December 21, 2009
For Phillies Fans Who Don't Like the Trade
Please read Baseball Prospectus.
Yes, Cliff Lee had a great post-season for the Phillies. Terrific. Clutch. Cool.
Yes, he pitched well since he was acquired (although there was a three- or four-game stretch when his ERA for that stretch was over 7, and perhaps as high as 9).
It's hard to say anything bad about Cliff Lee at all. Which is rare for a Philadelphia fan, because the average Philadelphia-area fan isn't known for being positive.
That said, Roy Halladay is a better pitcher. His career numbers bear that out. He's done a great job in the AL East for a team that pretty much has no chance of making the playoffs, and he's pitched well against the Yankees and Red Sox. He's won almost twice as many games as he's lost. Review the numbers, read last year's entry in Baseball Prospectus's annual guide, and then tell yourself it's okay to both like Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.
Of course, the "recency" factor can cloud someone's view of anyone. And recency suggests that Cliff Lee is perhaps the best pitcher in baseball not named Tim Lincecum. But that recency isn't right, and if you review both Lee's and Halladay's bodies of work, with all due respect to a guy who showed up very big, Halladay's the better of the two. By how much? Only their future performance will tell us. It's okay to miss Cliff Lee -- he did a great job. He's a terrific pitcher.
But the Phillies got a great one in Roy Halladay.
And for 4 or 5 more years, too.
Which you weren't going to get out of Cliff Lee, because he's determined to get a C.C. Sabathia-like contract when he tests free agency after the 2010 season.
Give Ruben Amaro some credit, and give Roy Halladay a chance.
Both are terrific.
Yes, Cliff Lee had a great post-season for the Phillies. Terrific. Clutch. Cool.
Yes, he pitched well since he was acquired (although there was a three- or four-game stretch when his ERA for that stretch was over 7, and perhaps as high as 9).
It's hard to say anything bad about Cliff Lee at all. Which is rare for a Philadelphia fan, because the average Philadelphia-area fan isn't known for being positive.
That said, Roy Halladay is a better pitcher. His career numbers bear that out. He's done a great job in the AL East for a team that pretty much has no chance of making the playoffs, and he's pitched well against the Yankees and Red Sox. He's won almost twice as many games as he's lost. Review the numbers, read last year's entry in Baseball Prospectus's annual guide, and then tell yourself it's okay to both like Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.
Of course, the "recency" factor can cloud someone's view of anyone. And recency suggests that Cliff Lee is perhaps the best pitcher in baseball not named Tim Lincecum. But that recency isn't right, and if you review both Lee's and Halladay's bodies of work, with all due respect to a guy who showed up very big, Halladay's the better of the two. By how much? Only their future performance will tell us. It's okay to miss Cliff Lee -- he did a great job. He's a terrific pitcher.
But the Phillies got a great one in Roy Halladay.
And for 4 or 5 more years, too.
Which you weren't going to get out of Cliff Lee, because he's determined to get a C.C. Sabathia-like contract when he tests free agency after the 2010 season.
Give Ruben Amaro some credit, and give Roy Halladay a chance.
Both are terrific.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)