It seems like many of the pundits are favoring the Yankees. There appear to be three main reasons for this: 1) the Yankees pitching is better than the Phillies from top to bottom; 2) the Yankees' hitting is formidable; and 3) the Yankees are very hot at home and have the home field advantage. All are good reasons.
That said, the Phillies played well on the road this year and in Yankee Stadium. Their hitting is formidable too, and they have a knack for being resilient and coming from behind. Their pitching, on paper, isn't as strong as that of the Yankees, but, then again, they don't have Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Ryan Franklin, either, not to mention the dynamic combination of Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday. Yes, Cole Hamels is a question mark, yes, three good post-season appearances doesn't sell many that Brad Lidge is the same as he was in 2008, and, no Phillies' fan can say with great certainty whether Pedro Martinez the future Hall of Famer will show up in Game 2 or whether either Joe Blanton or J.A. Happ will pitch better in this series than they did in either the NLDS or NLCS.
So, if you live in Central New Jersey or north, the Phillies shouldn't have a chance. The AL is the superior league, A-Rod is showing up in the post-season, Jeter and Posada have been their before, Andy Pettitte is clutch, Mark Teixeira is awesome and who has a better #1 starter than C.C. Sabathia? All good points.
But, the Phillies are the defending national champions. Their lineup resembles that of an American League team. Rollins more than holds his own against Jeter, Carlos Ruiz is a good field general and clutch hitter, Cliff Lee has been good in the post-season, Ryan Howard has far out-hit Teixeira in the post-season, and the Phillies' outfield is (much) better than the Yankees'. Also, the much-criticized bullpen has bent but not broken, Brad Lidge seems more relaxed, and somehow they find a way to win -- they keep coming at you. That will be the view espoused from northern Delaware through south Jersey, Philadelphia and the four counties surrounding it.
This ought to be a great series. This year the best team in each league is representing its league in the World Series. Both have great players, both have great fan bases, and both represent large cities. It's a match-up of the defending world champs against the most-heralded franchise in baseball. What more could a fan ask for?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Next Big-Time College Football Coach Hire
Temple is now 5-2, having won 5 straight in the MAC. This is great news for the football program, but perhaps bittersweet as well. You have to believe that if the Owls keep up their roll, that head coach Al Golden will be in line for a bigger gig, perhaps in a BCS conference. If that were to be the case, here's to hoping that the Owls will be able to promote his defensive coordinator, Mark D'Onofrio, to head coach.
And, yes, for those who were wondering, in honor of my father's memory, I'd consider buying Temple gear and making the trip to wherever they're playing in a bowl game.
Go Owls!
And, yes, for those who were wondering, in honor of my father's memory, I'd consider buying Temple gear and making the trip to wherever they're playing in a bowl game.
Go Owls!
Is Darren Sharper a Hall of Famer?
The vote here is yes.
He's in the top 10 on the all-time interceptions list and #2 (behind Rod Woodson) all time for the number of interceptions returned for a touchdown.
Perhaps he hasn't had the ink during his career that others have had, but he's worthy of consideration, to say the least.
He's in the top 10 on the all-time interceptions list and #2 (behind Rod Woodson) all time for the number of interceptions returned for a touchdown.
Perhaps he hasn't had the ink during his career that others have had, but he's worthy of consideration, to say the least.
Report: Mark McGwire to Become Hitting Coach of the Cardinals
This is reminiscent of the reports on December 7, 1941, when wire transmissions from Pearl Harbor said "Air Raid, Pearl Harbor, this is no joke."
What's next? Will Jose Canseco be named the Athletics' hitting coach? Will Rafael Palmeiro do the same for the Cubs?
How can Major League Baseball continue to ban Pete Rose and permit an uncontrite McGwire to return? He and Sammy Sosa made a mockery of the game when they had their chase to break Babe Ruth's record.
This is ridiculous, and I'll tell you one thing, if Roger Goodell were the Commissioner of Baseball, he wouldn't permit it for a moment.
This is an outrage.
What's next? Will Jose Canseco be named the Athletics' hitting coach? Will Rafael Palmeiro do the same for the Cubs?
How can Major League Baseball continue to ban Pete Rose and permit an uncontrite McGwire to return? He and Sammy Sosa made a mockery of the game when they had their chase to break Babe Ruth's record.
This is ridiculous, and I'll tell you one thing, if Roger Goodell were the Commissioner of Baseball, he wouldn't permit it for a moment.
This is an outrage.
Indians Made a Great Choice
I like Manny Acta. He didn't have much talent in Washington, but his teams played hard. If GM Mark Shapiro can get Acta enough talent, the Indians should be able to challenge in the AL Central. Given what I've seen in the AL Central, any team that makes the investment should be able to challenge for the title. From what I've read, the Royals are a dark horse to contend for that division's title next year.
Look, not every manager does well in his first gig. Terry Francona skippered an undermanned Phillies' team before Larry Bowa replaced him, and he learned enough to morph into a manager of world champions. Okay, so the BoSox provided him with sufficient talent, but he managed well enough to win two World Series. Acta is a good manager -- Indians' fans will be happy with the choice.
Look, not every manager does well in his first gig. Terry Francona skippered an undermanned Phillies' team before Larry Bowa replaced him, and he learned enough to morph into a manager of world champions. Okay, so the BoSox provided him with sufficient talent, but he managed well enough to win two World Series. Acta is a good manager -- Indians' fans will be happy with the choice.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Book Review: "Fading Echoes" by Mike Sielski
Mike Sielski is a young sports columnist for the Bucks County Courier Times (I'd suggest that the trio of Reuben Frank, Randall Miller and Sielski are as good if not better than any trio the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News have to offer.) He's also very good and insightful, and a major example of his ability is in the book Fading Echoes, about two former high school football stars, Bryan Buckley of Central Bucks West and Colby Umbrell of Central Bucks East. Both were outstanding players and captains of their teams in 1998, both played college football, and both went into the military.
They went to the same middle school in the Central Bucks School District, one of the ten largest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The school district is in the Philadelphia suburbs; about half a century ago I think it would have been fair to categorize the area as mostly farm country (the population boom meant the construction of many developments in the four-county area surrounding Philadelphia, Bucks among those counties). At the time they were in middle school, they had a choice of which high school they could attend -- East (which is in Buckingham, Pennsylvania) or West (which, unlike East, has its own football stadium; East played its home games at West's stadium).
For certain aspiring football players, the choice would have been a no-brainer. At the time, West was perhaps the premier high school football program in the state and found itself nationally ranked in USA Today's polls. Mike Pettine, Sr. was the head coach, and he would retire with multiple state championships and a career record that was mind-boggling -- well over 300 wins and less than 50 losses. (For the cognoscenti, Pettine is the father of Mike Pettine, the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets). East, on the other hand, lacked the same football tradition. But Colby Umbrell decided easily to follow a tradition -- he went to East because his father, Mark, had played there. Bryan Buckley headed to West.
The book would have been easier and more Hollywood-like to write had Buckley and Umbrell been buddies since kindergarten and then decided to go in different directions after middle school, like twins separated at birth. They knew each other in middle school but were in different groups. Both turned out to be outstanding high school football players -- "program kids", not necessarily the superstars, but the leaders, those who enforced discipline among their own ranks, and those who led by their determination and level of effort.
Buckley's West team won state championships his junior and senior year (and, for good measure, the year after he graduated from West). He went to prep school in Massachusetts for a post-graduate year, hated it (in part because he believed that the coach who recruited him had misled him and his father into believing that he'd get enough carries as a running back to impress college coaches; instead, he found himself in an offense that threw the ball 90% of the time). He ended up at UMass under heralded coach Mark Whipple, had his moments in the football program (first as a linebacker and then as a fullback), but all the while was thinking about what challenges he wanted out of life. After 9/11, he solidified his thinking. He wanted to join the military. (To do so, he ended up transferring to Villanova University to enroll in their Naval ROTC program and didn't play football again).
Umbrell's East team didn't come close to West's success. With future Penn Stater and NFL defensive back Bryan Scott, East got off to a good start in Umbrell's and Scott's senior season (Scott was perhaps the premier running back in the state). But then Umbrell tore his anterior cruciate ligament, thereby putting the two-way lineman on the bench (Buckley was also a linebacker and a ferocious hitter at that; he was in a rotation of running backs but saw his playing time at running back diminish as the season went on). It's hard to say that East would have made it to the state playoffs had Umbrell not gotten hurt, but without him and then with him playing injured, they didn't have a chance.
Buckley wasn't the best student, but neither was Umbrell, although the latter had more natural ability as evidenced by his test scores. Umbrell has hoped to play football for West Point, but once he hurt his knee his chances to draw the attention of college scouts and scholarship money diminished. So he, too, went off to prep school, to Wyoming Seminary in northeastern Pennsylvania, where he could show college scouts that he could play and get more serious about tapping into his potential as a student. After his post-graduate year at "Sem", he ended up going to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, an elite academic school whose claim to fame in NCAA athletics is its top drawer Division I men's lacrosse team (he passed on Division I-AA Lehigh).
Umbrell's career was shortened by a combination of injuries and the fact that Hopkins was enjoying one of its best football teams at the time he was there (and the defensive tackles ahead of him were good). That combination meant very little playing time by the time he was a junior, and he left the team somewhere around that time, also to focus on life after college. During that time, he, too, decided he wanted to join the military.
Both became officers, and both looked for the hardest challenges that they could attempt en route to leading platoons in Iraq. Buckley became a Marine; Umbrell was in the Army, an Army Ranger. Their personalities were different -- Buckley the more serious type, Umbrell more the prankster, but both excelled in preparing themselves and their men for whatever the insurgents and al-Qaeda had to offer.
One came home; the other did not.
Sielski does a great job in telling the story of how two leaders on their high school football teams in towns with strong values and outstanding parental support made their way to helping lead other young men in combat. Regardless of whether you supported the war or not (and Sielski does reference Quaker protesters of the war in nearby Doylestown in the book), this book gives you a glimpse into America's backbone and soul, as to how the lights on weekend nights illuminate a stage for even greater roles and opportunities for boys like Bryan Buckley and Colby Umbrell, how coaches like Larry Greene and Mike Pettine, Sr. play a role in shaping these young men, and how many others encourage and coach our boys into trying to achieve something more.
Buy this book.
They went to the same middle school in the Central Bucks School District, one of the ten largest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The school district is in the Philadelphia suburbs; about half a century ago I think it would have been fair to categorize the area as mostly farm country (the population boom meant the construction of many developments in the four-county area surrounding Philadelphia, Bucks among those counties). At the time they were in middle school, they had a choice of which high school they could attend -- East (which is in Buckingham, Pennsylvania) or West (which, unlike East, has its own football stadium; East played its home games at West's stadium).
For certain aspiring football players, the choice would have been a no-brainer. At the time, West was perhaps the premier high school football program in the state and found itself nationally ranked in USA Today's polls. Mike Pettine, Sr. was the head coach, and he would retire with multiple state championships and a career record that was mind-boggling -- well over 300 wins and less than 50 losses. (For the cognoscenti, Pettine is the father of Mike Pettine, the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets). East, on the other hand, lacked the same football tradition. But Colby Umbrell decided easily to follow a tradition -- he went to East because his father, Mark, had played there. Bryan Buckley headed to West.
The book would have been easier and more Hollywood-like to write had Buckley and Umbrell been buddies since kindergarten and then decided to go in different directions after middle school, like twins separated at birth. They knew each other in middle school but were in different groups. Both turned out to be outstanding high school football players -- "program kids", not necessarily the superstars, but the leaders, those who enforced discipline among their own ranks, and those who led by their determination and level of effort.
Buckley's West team won state championships his junior and senior year (and, for good measure, the year after he graduated from West). He went to prep school in Massachusetts for a post-graduate year, hated it (in part because he believed that the coach who recruited him had misled him and his father into believing that he'd get enough carries as a running back to impress college coaches; instead, he found himself in an offense that threw the ball 90% of the time). He ended up at UMass under heralded coach Mark Whipple, had his moments in the football program (first as a linebacker and then as a fullback), but all the while was thinking about what challenges he wanted out of life. After 9/11, he solidified his thinking. He wanted to join the military. (To do so, he ended up transferring to Villanova University to enroll in their Naval ROTC program and didn't play football again).
Umbrell's East team didn't come close to West's success. With future Penn Stater and NFL defensive back Bryan Scott, East got off to a good start in Umbrell's and Scott's senior season (Scott was perhaps the premier running back in the state). But then Umbrell tore his anterior cruciate ligament, thereby putting the two-way lineman on the bench (Buckley was also a linebacker and a ferocious hitter at that; he was in a rotation of running backs but saw his playing time at running back diminish as the season went on). It's hard to say that East would have made it to the state playoffs had Umbrell not gotten hurt, but without him and then with him playing injured, they didn't have a chance.
Buckley wasn't the best student, but neither was Umbrell, although the latter had more natural ability as evidenced by his test scores. Umbrell has hoped to play football for West Point, but once he hurt his knee his chances to draw the attention of college scouts and scholarship money diminished. So he, too, went off to prep school, to Wyoming Seminary in northeastern Pennsylvania, where he could show college scouts that he could play and get more serious about tapping into his potential as a student. After his post-graduate year at "Sem", he ended up going to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, an elite academic school whose claim to fame in NCAA athletics is its top drawer Division I men's lacrosse team (he passed on Division I-AA Lehigh).
Umbrell's career was shortened by a combination of injuries and the fact that Hopkins was enjoying one of its best football teams at the time he was there (and the defensive tackles ahead of him were good). That combination meant very little playing time by the time he was a junior, and he left the team somewhere around that time, also to focus on life after college. During that time, he, too, decided he wanted to join the military.
Both became officers, and both looked for the hardest challenges that they could attempt en route to leading platoons in Iraq. Buckley became a Marine; Umbrell was in the Army, an Army Ranger. Their personalities were different -- Buckley the more serious type, Umbrell more the prankster, but both excelled in preparing themselves and their men for whatever the insurgents and al-Qaeda had to offer.
One came home; the other did not.
Sielski does a great job in telling the story of how two leaders on their high school football teams in towns with strong values and outstanding parental support made their way to helping lead other young men in combat. Regardless of whether you supported the war or not (and Sielski does reference Quaker protesters of the war in nearby Doylestown in the book), this book gives you a glimpse into America's backbone and soul, as to how the lights on weekend nights illuminate a stage for even greater roles and opportunities for boys like Bryan Buckley and Colby Umbrell, how coaches like Larry Greene and Mike Pettine, Sr. play a role in shaping these young men, and how many others encourage and coach our boys into trying to achieve something more.
Buy this book.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Free Carlos Ruiz!
I've had four comments already to my post about the absence of Carlos Ruiz t-shirts and Carlos Ruiz jerseys from any Philadelphia-area sporting good stores or at Citizens Bank Park.
Write your congressman, write your local newspaper, write the Phillies! Let them know that they need to remedy this injustice. There are plenty of wannabe Chase Utleys, Ryan Howards, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lees out there. And there are even some J.A. Happs, Shane Victorinos, Jayson Werths, Jamie Moyers, Brad Lidges and someone even spotted an Antonio Bastardo of all people.
But where is Carlos Ruiz?
C'mon, Phillies, we all want to know! Free up Carlos Ruiz shirts and jerseys! Urge people to take the "Chooch" train to the World Series, but, gosh darn it, produce Ruiz t-shirts and now!
An admiring public wants to wear them.
Write your congressman, write your local newspaper, write the Phillies! Let them know that they need to remedy this injustice. There are plenty of wannabe Chase Utleys, Ryan Howards, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lees out there. And there are even some J.A. Happs, Shane Victorinos, Jayson Werths, Jamie Moyers, Brad Lidges and someone even spotted an Antonio Bastardo of all people.
But where is Carlos Ruiz?
C'mon, Phillies, we all want to know! Free up Carlos Ruiz shirts and jerseys! Urge people to take the "Chooch" train to the World Series, but, gosh darn it, produce Ruiz t-shirts and now!
An admiring public wants to wear them.
The Silly Sports Story of the Day
At least in my local newspaper was that Rutgers' freshman QB Tom Savage could set a school record by being the first freshman to win on the road were Rutgers to beat Army in West Point tonight.
Now, that's really digging.
Now, that's really digging.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Scene at Modell's
At lunchtime I went to this sporting goods chain to buy a pair of locker room t-shirts commemorating the Phillies' victory in the National League Championship series. Modell's advertised in the morning paper "Open Now", which I read at 6:50 a.m., and that implied that perhaps they were open all night after the Phillies beat the Dodgers 10-4 last night. Which means that they were probably open at midnight in the Philadelphia area.
Modell's and the Phillies are printing money right now (which isn't all that unusual in the United States at this point in our history, as the government probably will be printing a bunch of money to satisfy the country's staggering amount of debt). At least the retailer and the ball club are printing their money on merit. Okay, so I've digressed, but there was tons of championship wear -- toddler shirts, youth shirts, women's shirts, grown-ups shirts, the standard shirts with a player's name and number on the back and "Phillies" on the front, a shirt that referenced the back-to-back titles, a shirt that said "He's Werth It" and a shirt that said "UnbeLeeavble" or something like that. Still no tips of the cap, so to speak, to Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz, but there should be Ruiz wear at some point soon.
There were magnets, pennants, flags, hats, sweatshirts, uniform jerseys, you name it, they were flying off the shelves. People can lose a sense of rationality when they go into a smorgasbord, and the Phillies were happy to enable the provision of a cornucopia of championship togs and trinkets.
So, if you're looking for that special shirt, go to Modell's. They do a great job of providing what you need -- and more.
Modell's and the Phillies are printing money right now (which isn't all that unusual in the United States at this point in our history, as the government probably will be printing a bunch of money to satisfy the country's staggering amount of debt). At least the retailer and the ball club are printing their money on merit. Okay, so I've digressed, but there was tons of championship wear -- toddler shirts, youth shirts, women's shirts, grown-ups shirts, the standard shirts with a player's name and number on the back and "Phillies" on the front, a shirt that referenced the back-to-back titles, a shirt that said "He's Werth It" and a shirt that said "UnbeLeeavble" or something like that. Still no tips of the cap, so to speak, to Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz, but there should be Ruiz wear at some point soon.
There were magnets, pennants, flags, hats, sweatshirts, uniform jerseys, you name it, they were flying off the shelves. People can lose a sense of rationality when they go into a smorgasbord, and the Phillies were happy to enable the provision of a cornucopia of championship togs and trinkets.
So, if you're looking for that special shirt, go to Modell's. They do a great job of providing what you need -- and more.
Chase Utley and Boog Powell
The former is the slick-haired, hard-working second baseman for the Phillies. The latter was and is a friendly man -- he played first base for the Orioles during their glory days in the 1960's and early 1970's and runs "Boog's Barbecue" at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
So what do they have in common?
Last night Utley tied Powell for the record for getting on base in the most post-season games. They now share the record at 25 games, and Utley can set it in Game 1 of the World Series.
So what do they have in common?
Last night Utley tied Powell for the record for getting on base in the most post-season games. They now share the record at 25 games, and Utley can set it in Game 1 of the World Series.
Who Will Met Fans Root for in a Phillies-Yankees World Series?
My early returns say the Phillies.
I know that may seem hard to believe, but many Met fans feel that they get treated like second-class citizens in New York, that they're reduced to "cupboard under the stairs" status when compared to the caviar and single malt types who support the Yankees. They have a chip on their shoulder about it, and they keep grudges.
True, they do not like the Phillies. They probably unite with Yankee fans in their disrespect if not dislike for Philadelphia, which many in the Big Apple to be consider a violent, backwoods town whose sports citizenry cannot resist yielding to primal urges. Truth be told, they dislike the Philadelphia sports scene because what they see 90 miles to the south strongly resembles what they enjoy in their neck of the woods, with one exception -- their teams overall have been much more successful in the past 25 years than teams in Philadelphia.
Yet, they dislike the Yankees more (a few of my Met fans friends even have acknowledged that they admire the way the Phillies play, even if they finish the comment with "I still don't like Philadelphia teams."). Perhaps much more. It's as though the rivalry between the Met and Yankee fans resembles an old, long-lasting Pashtun vendetta that has lasted for centuries because of something one's ancestor allegedly did to another's in the Stone Age. And the think of it is, there's no one reason, there are many, and they all hit raw nerves.
I ask that Met fans weigh in on this musing, as talking to three people who happen to be Met fans is by no means a way to achieve a statistical sampling. So, who would you root for -- or would you sit it out and go follow the Giants or the Jets?
I know that may seem hard to believe, but many Met fans feel that they get treated like second-class citizens in New York, that they're reduced to "cupboard under the stairs" status when compared to the caviar and single malt types who support the Yankees. They have a chip on their shoulder about it, and they keep grudges.
True, they do not like the Phillies. They probably unite with Yankee fans in their disrespect if not dislike for Philadelphia, which many in the Big Apple to be consider a violent, backwoods town whose sports citizenry cannot resist yielding to primal urges. Truth be told, they dislike the Philadelphia sports scene because what they see 90 miles to the south strongly resembles what they enjoy in their neck of the woods, with one exception -- their teams overall have been much more successful in the past 25 years than teams in Philadelphia.
Yet, they dislike the Yankees more (a few of my Met fans friends even have acknowledged that they admire the way the Phillies play, even if they finish the comment with "I still don't like Philadelphia teams."). Perhaps much more. It's as though the rivalry between the Met and Yankee fans resembles an old, long-lasting Pashtun vendetta that has lasted for centuries because of something one's ancestor allegedly did to another's in the Stone Age. And the think of it is, there's no one reason, there are many, and they all hit raw nerves.
I ask that Met fans weigh in on this musing, as talking to three people who happen to be Met fans is by no means a way to achieve a statistical sampling. So, who would you root for -- or would you sit it out and go follow the Giants or the Jets?
The Phillies Have Done It Again!
Last year, the pre-post-season talk was all about Manny Ramirez's amazing dash through National League pitching (hitting almost .400), C.C. Sabathia's carrying the Brewers on his back, and the 100-year drought of the Cubs, who had the best record in the National League. Somehow, the Phillies were just another team, there, but with no special mojo according to the cognoscenti. In the post-season, much of the talk focused on the Tampa Bay Rays, with their great farm system and their exciting young lineup. Funny how the team that got the least attention going into the post-season ending up getting the most.
Because they did their talking on the field and didn't have to reply upon know-it-alls in the booth, on the internet or in the print media play the games for them.
This post-season took a similar path, although to be honest the Phillies deserved less attention going into the post-season this year. The reason -- they didn't hit well with men on base, their bullpen was beset with injuries, and their closer had a record more worthy of an about-to-be-released rookie-league baller than that of the team's most valuable player from the previous season. In comparison, the Cardinals had the one-two punch in their lineup of Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday, and two of the best three starters in the National League in Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. The Dodgers boasted a strong lineup and one of the best bullpens in baseball, along with the best record (by a hair) in the National League. And the Colorado Rockies played at a clip of 35 games over .500 after mid-June.
And that was just in the National League. In the American League, the Yankees were bashing everyone, the Angels once again were a perennial stalwart, the Red Sox boast great pitching and the Twins were the comeback story, winning their division after being down 3 with 4 to play (the only comeback of that type ever to happen in Major League Baseball history).
But that's the beauty of the post-season -- those who go in as favorites can and frequently do emerge as also-rans. You'll read about the Phillies' triumph last night elsewhere. All I'll say on the subject is that those who are quick to anoint the New York Yankees as World Champions must understand that the Yankees locomotive must run through tough tracks in the Cradle of Liberty.
And recent history says that the Phillies don't believe a word of what people say or write about them.
Yes, Derek Jeter is an icon and future Hall of Famer, Alex Rodriguez is a great hitter, Jorge Posada has had a great career, Mark Teixeira is an awesome first baseman, C.C. Sabathia is a dominant pitcher and Mariano Rivera is the best closer of all time. I and all Phillies fans get all that. The Yankees are a great team, worthy of great respect. They have had a great season and deserve to be on the cusp of returning to the World Series for the first time in 8 years.
But the Phillies have a most formidable lineup. The names Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth and Ibanez scare everyone, and, if they don't, they should. Pedro Feliz led the team in the category of batting average with runners in scoring position, and Carlos Ruiz is one of the most dangerous .250 hitters in all of baseball. Their defense is outstanding, and in Cliff Lee they, too, have an ace. True, their bullpen has been beaten up and a question mark, and, yes, doubts remain about Brad Lidge despite his good post-season to date and his looking more relaxed now than any time all year. Cole Hamels has had a disappointing year, and Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ haven't pitched great in the post-season. In contrast, Pedro Martinez wowed everyone with his effort against the Dodgers.
On paper, the Yankees might just rate a slight edge -- at least according to the pundits that cover baseball 365 days a year. But at this time of the year "on paper" doesn't mean very much. The Phillies have taken the past two plus weeks to show that 100% of baseball life is all about showing up -- under the bright lights, on the big stage -- and playing the game to the very end. The team has a lot of pluck, a lot of patience, and a lot of fight in it. It will take a great team to beat them.
Sure, I'm a partisan, and, yes, I'm picking the Phillies. But my reasoning is quite simple: they're the defending champions, and, by definition, because they've returned, they are the team to beat.
Because they did their talking on the field and didn't have to reply upon know-it-alls in the booth, on the internet or in the print media play the games for them.
This post-season took a similar path, although to be honest the Phillies deserved less attention going into the post-season this year. The reason -- they didn't hit well with men on base, their bullpen was beset with injuries, and their closer had a record more worthy of an about-to-be-released rookie-league baller than that of the team's most valuable player from the previous season. In comparison, the Cardinals had the one-two punch in their lineup of Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday, and two of the best three starters in the National League in Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. The Dodgers boasted a strong lineup and one of the best bullpens in baseball, along with the best record (by a hair) in the National League. And the Colorado Rockies played at a clip of 35 games over .500 after mid-June.
And that was just in the National League. In the American League, the Yankees were bashing everyone, the Angels once again were a perennial stalwart, the Red Sox boast great pitching and the Twins were the comeback story, winning their division after being down 3 with 4 to play (the only comeback of that type ever to happen in Major League Baseball history).
But that's the beauty of the post-season -- those who go in as favorites can and frequently do emerge as also-rans. You'll read about the Phillies' triumph last night elsewhere. All I'll say on the subject is that those who are quick to anoint the New York Yankees as World Champions must understand that the Yankees locomotive must run through tough tracks in the Cradle of Liberty.
And recent history says that the Phillies don't believe a word of what people say or write about them.
Yes, Derek Jeter is an icon and future Hall of Famer, Alex Rodriguez is a great hitter, Jorge Posada has had a great career, Mark Teixeira is an awesome first baseman, C.C. Sabathia is a dominant pitcher and Mariano Rivera is the best closer of all time. I and all Phillies fans get all that. The Yankees are a great team, worthy of great respect. They have had a great season and deserve to be on the cusp of returning to the World Series for the first time in 8 years.
But the Phillies have a most formidable lineup. The names Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth and Ibanez scare everyone, and, if they don't, they should. Pedro Feliz led the team in the category of batting average with runners in scoring position, and Carlos Ruiz is one of the most dangerous .250 hitters in all of baseball. Their defense is outstanding, and in Cliff Lee they, too, have an ace. True, their bullpen has been beaten up and a question mark, and, yes, doubts remain about Brad Lidge despite his good post-season to date and his looking more relaxed now than any time all year. Cole Hamels has had a disappointing year, and Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ haven't pitched great in the post-season. In contrast, Pedro Martinez wowed everyone with his effort against the Dodgers.
On paper, the Yankees might just rate a slight edge -- at least according to the pundits that cover baseball 365 days a year. But at this time of the year "on paper" doesn't mean very much. The Phillies have taken the past two plus weeks to show that 100% of baseball life is all about showing up -- under the bright lights, on the big stage -- and playing the game to the very end. The team has a lot of pluck, a lot of patience, and a lot of fight in it. It will take a great team to beat them.
Sure, I'm a partisan, and, yes, I'm picking the Phillies. But my reasoning is quite simple: they're the defending champions, and, by definition, because they've returned, they are the team to beat.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Humble Pie: The Eagles were the Jokers this Weekend
I've bashed on the Raiders long enough -- about JaMarcus Russell, about Al Davis, about, well, almost anything. And I honestly thought that the Raiders would fall to the Eagles by three touchdowns.
Boy, was I wrong.
First, the Raiders came to play. Their defense dazzled the Eagles' overmatched offensive line all day, with Donovan McNabb getting hit more than your average pinata on Cinco de Mayo. To be fair, the Eagles' offensive line is 4/5 depleted from what was to be their opening-day roster. Still, every team in the NFL has injury problems, and the Eagles looked inept across the offensive line.
Second, the Eagles' defense didn't do all that badly, but the experiment with Jeremiah Trotter has to end soon. Coach Andy Reid cannot be the sentimental type, for if he were he wouldn't have jettisoned FS Brian Dawkins (who is on the 6-0 Denver Broncos) and many other veterans from recent years past. If that's the case, he's letting his heart lead his head, and Trotter simply cannot cover the pass. Holding the Raiders to 13 points should have been good enough -- the biggest struggles were on offense.
The irony is that for years the Eagles worked hard to solidify their offensive line, had McNabb and Brian Westbrook, but were deficient at wide receiver. This season, they abound in very good to potentially great wide receivers, their tight end is good, but Westbrook is aging, McNabb is recovering from an injury and the offensive line hasn't been together that long and looks unsynchronized. Going into the season, some pundits had them going to the Super Bowl. With this offensive line, it's hard to see them making the playoffs.
The Giants didn't help the Eagles, either. True, any NFL team would want to come back smoking after getting blown out the week before and the Giants smoked the Raiders in New Jersey the week before. But the Giants also said it was like a scrimmage, thereby offending Oakland's pride and dignity. To the Raiders' credit, they played smart, and they beat a heavily favored team.
It's still somewhat amazing that despite all the Phillies' success the sports talk shows were flush with people ventilating about the Eagles. I was at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night, very happy that the Phillies were shellacking the Dodgers. After all, the fan base was somewhat glum and hostile because of the Raiders game, and they needed something to channel their energy positively. The Phillies were an antidote to the frustration, scoring more runs (11) than the Birds did points (9). Who would have predicted for that to happen?
So the Eagles are now home in Philadelphia licking their wounds and preparing for the Redskins, who, during the first weeks of the season, have played a winless team in each and every week. Perhaps they'll rise to the occasion against the Eagles, perhaps they'll lose by four touchdowns, or, more than likely, they'll fall in a war of attrition, something like 10-6.
Suddenly, the NFL East doesn't look to be all that formidable, at least for right now.
Boy, was I wrong.
First, the Raiders came to play. Their defense dazzled the Eagles' overmatched offensive line all day, with Donovan McNabb getting hit more than your average pinata on Cinco de Mayo. To be fair, the Eagles' offensive line is 4/5 depleted from what was to be their opening-day roster. Still, every team in the NFL has injury problems, and the Eagles looked inept across the offensive line.
Second, the Eagles' defense didn't do all that badly, but the experiment with Jeremiah Trotter has to end soon. Coach Andy Reid cannot be the sentimental type, for if he were he wouldn't have jettisoned FS Brian Dawkins (who is on the 6-0 Denver Broncos) and many other veterans from recent years past. If that's the case, he's letting his heart lead his head, and Trotter simply cannot cover the pass. Holding the Raiders to 13 points should have been good enough -- the biggest struggles were on offense.
The irony is that for years the Eagles worked hard to solidify their offensive line, had McNabb and Brian Westbrook, but were deficient at wide receiver. This season, they abound in very good to potentially great wide receivers, their tight end is good, but Westbrook is aging, McNabb is recovering from an injury and the offensive line hasn't been together that long and looks unsynchronized. Going into the season, some pundits had them going to the Super Bowl. With this offensive line, it's hard to see them making the playoffs.
The Giants didn't help the Eagles, either. True, any NFL team would want to come back smoking after getting blown out the week before and the Giants smoked the Raiders in New Jersey the week before. But the Giants also said it was like a scrimmage, thereby offending Oakland's pride and dignity. To the Raiders' credit, they played smart, and they beat a heavily favored team.
It's still somewhat amazing that despite all the Phillies' success the sports talk shows were flush with people ventilating about the Eagles. I was at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night, very happy that the Phillies were shellacking the Dodgers. After all, the fan base was somewhat glum and hostile because of the Raiders game, and they needed something to channel their energy positively. The Phillies were an antidote to the frustration, scoring more runs (11) than the Birds did points (9). Who would have predicted for that to happen?
So the Eagles are now home in Philadelphia licking their wounds and preparing for the Redskins, who, during the first weeks of the season, have played a winless team in each and every week. Perhaps they'll rise to the occasion against the Eagles, perhaps they'll lose by four touchdowns, or, more than likely, they'll fall in a war of attrition, something like 10-6.
Suddenly, the NFL East doesn't look to be all that formidable, at least for right now.
Is Chase Utley Playing Hurt?
Former Phillies' closer and MLB Network broadcaster Mitch Williams thinks so.
Utley played hurt for most of last year, had surgery on a torn labrum in his hip right after the season, rehabbed in record time, and then battled a foot injury late in the season after fouling a ball off it. Utley's insistence on suffering in silence frustrated skipper Charlie Manuel, who at the time had said he wished Utley had fessed up so that he could have given the second baseman some rest. Utley, for the uninitiated, prepares more intensely on a daily basis than probably any player in the game. When you consider the nicks that baseball players suffer, that Utley gets hit by pitches an average of about 24 times a year, that he prepares hard, that he was coming off major surgery and that he plays almost every game, no wonder the second baseman might have some health and fatigue issues.
Late in the season Manuel addressed the issue by expressing his hope that the front office would sign a utility infielder who can play a bunch of games as a regular without the team's giving up a whole lot offensively or defensively, so that he can give Utley and Jimmy Rollins some more time off. One name that surfaced was that of University of Pennsylvania product Mark DeRosa, who has played well in many stops, most recently for the St. Louis Cardinals. Getting DeRosa would enable Utley to rest about 15 games a year at second, provide outfield depth and give DeRosa a chance to contribute at third base. Third baseman Pedro Feliz is going to be 35 and a free agent, and while he's generally excellent defensively and had the best average with runners in scoring position for the team this year, he has an awful on-base percentage (and always has). Adding DeRosa would help fortify the bench at a minimum (although it wouldn't answer the question about finding an above-average shortstop to spell Rollins for about 15 games a year).
Utley is a gamer and an All-Star, beloved in Philadelphia. Objectively, he hasn't been the same player since the beginning of 2008, when he got off to a torrid start, hitting about .340 early on and cementing himself in the early lead for the MVP award. Getting him fully healthy and an able backup will help him and the Phillies maximize his contributions, making him more like Ryne Sandberg (a Hall of Famer) than Pete Reiser (a would-be Hall of Famer with the Dodgers who kept on suffering injuries). That, perhaps, is not a perfect analogy, but Utley is too valuable to the team to not have some more meaningful support from the bench.
Utley played hurt for most of last year, had surgery on a torn labrum in his hip right after the season, rehabbed in record time, and then battled a foot injury late in the season after fouling a ball off it. Utley's insistence on suffering in silence frustrated skipper Charlie Manuel, who at the time had said he wished Utley had fessed up so that he could have given the second baseman some rest. Utley, for the uninitiated, prepares more intensely on a daily basis than probably any player in the game. When you consider the nicks that baseball players suffer, that Utley gets hit by pitches an average of about 24 times a year, that he prepares hard, that he was coming off major surgery and that he plays almost every game, no wonder the second baseman might have some health and fatigue issues.
Late in the season Manuel addressed the issue by expressing his hope that the front office would sign a utility infielder who can play a bunch of games as a regular without the team's giving up a whole lot offensively or defensively, so that he can give Utley and Jimmy Rollins some more time off. One name that surfaced was that of University of Pennsylvania product Mark DeRosa, who has played well in many stops, most recently for the St. Louis Cardinals. Getting DeRosa would enable Utley to rest about 15 games a year at second, provide outfield depth and give DeRosa a chance to contribute at third base. Third baseman Pedro Feliz is going to be 35 and a free agent, and while he's generally excellent defensively and had the best average with runners in scoring position for the team this year, he has an awful on-base percentage (and always has). Adding DeRosa would help fortify the bench at a minimum (although it wouldn't answer the question about finding an above-average shortstop to spell Rollins for about 15 games a year).
Utley is a gamer and an All-Star, beloved in Philadelphia. Objectively, he hasn't been the same player since the beginning of 2008, when he got off to a torrid start, hitting about .340 early on and cementing himself in the early lead for the MVP award. Getting him fully healthy and an able backup will help him and the Phillies maximize his contributions, making him more like Ryne Sandberg (a Hall of Famer) than Pete Reiser (a would-be Hall of Famer with the Dodgers who kept on suffering injuries). That, perhaps, is not a perfect analogy, but Utley is too valuable to the team to not have some more meaningful support from the bench.
Ron Darling Didn't Do His Homework
And you'd think he would, since he went to Yale.
He praised the Phillies' bench last night as being excellent. Phillies' fans know that the bench has been a weakness all year.
He praised Matt Stairs as being a good power hitter off the bench and Greg Dobbs as being a good average hitter. Actually, both had bad years.
Was it me, or was the TBS team just not very good. They didn't seem to know the Phillies all that well, and there was miscue after miscue. Buck Martinez gets a passing grade, but Darling seemed unprepared and Chip Caray didn't seem quite ready for the prime time.
While historically I haven't been the biggest fan of the Fox pairing of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, I thought they did a good job in last year's World Series, and those guys do their homework.
He praised the Phillies' bench last night as being excellent. Phillies' fans know that the bench has been a weakness all year.
He praised Matt Stairs as being a good power hitter off the bench and Greg Dobbs as being a good average hitter. Actually, both had bad years.
Was it me, or was the TBS team just not very good. They didn't seem to know the Phillies all that well, and there was miscue after miscue. Buck Martinez gets a passing grade, but Darling seemed unprepared and Chip Caray didn't seem quite ready for the prime time.
While historically I haven't been the biggest fan of the Fox pairing of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, I thought they did a good job in last year's World Series, and those guys do their homework.
Ryan Howard and Lou Gehrig
The Phillies' first baseman tied the Yankee Hall of Famer's record for knocking in runs in nine straight post-season games.
Howard is inked through 2011. If he keeps hitting at this pace, there will be quite the bidding war for his services. Given their lack of a big-name hitter (which they'll need to rectify before 2011), you can imagine that the Red Sox will be among the bidders for what could be an astronomical contract. Great temperament, heats up when the going is the toughest, improved vastly at first base.
When the clock strikes September, this guy finds an extra gear.
Howard is inked through 2011. If he keeps hitting at this pace, there will be quite the bidding war for his services. Given their lack of a big-name hitter (which they'll need to rectify before 2011), you can imagine that the Red Sox will be among the bidders for what could be an astronomical contract. Great temperament, heats up when the going is the toughest, improved vastly at first base.
When the clock strikes September, this guy finds an extra gear.
Winston Churchill and the Philadelphia Phillies
"We shall fight them in the streets. . . we shall fight them in the hills. . . we shall never surrender."
They don't call them the "Fightin' Phillies" for nothing.
Two outs, bottom of the ninth, and Jimmy Rollins was up, patient, cool, collected.
Only the third game-ending hit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in NL post-season history. The others: Kirk Gibson and Cookie Lavagetto.
Great drama in South Philadelphia last night.
They don't call them the "Fightin' Phillies" for nothing.
Two outs, bottom of the ninth, and Jimmy Rollins was up, patient, cool, collected.
Only the third game-ending hit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in NL post-season history. The others: Kirk Gibson and Cookie Lavagetto.
Great drama in South Philadelphia last night.
The Phillies Should Start Selling Carlos Ruiz Jerseys and T-Shirts
The Phillies' catcher is a great field general, steadier of pitchers, good game-caller and clutch hitter. His on-base percentage is good, and he's a core part of the Phillies' success.
But right now at Citizens Bank Park, while you can purchase jerseys or t-shirts with the names and numbers of the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez, as well as Cole Hamels, Brad Lidge and Cliff Lee (and, I think, Jamie Moyer), you can't get anything with Ruiz's name on it.
The Phillies should change this -- soon.
But right now at Citizens Bank Park, while you can purchase jerseys or t-shirts with the names and numbers of the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez, as well as Cole Hamels, Brad Lidge and Cliff Lee (and, I think, Jamie Moyer), you can't get anything with Ruiz's name on it.
The Phillies should change this -- soon.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Headline: Washington Redskins Sue Season Ticket Holders
Shouldn't it be the other way around? Read this article from the Washington Post for more details.
The team is playing so badly that they just stripped the head coach of the responsibility of calling plays. Fair enough, but the guy they replaced him with only two weeks ago was calling bingo games and delivering meals to senior citizens. True, he has NFL bona fides, but how desperate are the Redskins?
As for the lawsuits, well, people did make long-term commitments, and, to a large degree, a deal's a deal. But, then again, there's the old Chinese proverb that says that you don't always win by being right all the time. In the case of the bankrupt 72 year-old real estate agent, perhaps the Redskins could have picked their spots a bit better as to how to make up their revenue shortfall, especially since they play in the largest (and perhaps hardest to get to) stadium in the NFL.
While the Giants, despite their loss to the Saints yesterday, are formidable, the Eagles are struggling (owing, in some part, to injuries on the offensive line and to their starting middle linebacker), and the Cowboys don't seem poised to make a deep run in the playoffs with a) Tony Romo as their starting quarterback and b) a lack of weapons on offense. So, you would have thought that with his big bucks owner Daniel Snyder could help get the Redskins into a position to contend in the NFC East. Instead, they're having all sorts of problems all over the place.
How do things get this bad? Especially, seemingly, with all the money in the world.
All sports owners should remember that fans do vote with their feet, either because of a bad team, a bad economy, or both.
Even in the NFL.
The team is playing so badly that they just stripped the head coach of the responsibility of calling plays. Fair enough, but the guy they replaced him with only two weeks ago was calling bingo games and delivering meals to senior citizens. True, he has NFL bona fides, but how desperate are the Redskins?
As for the lawsuits, well, people did make long-term commitments, and, to a large degree, a deal's a deal. But, then again, there's the old Chinese proverb that says that you don't always win by being right all the time. In the case of the bankrupt 72 year-old real estate agent, perhaps the Redskins could have picked their spots a bit better as to how to make up their revenue shortfall, especially since they play in the largest (and perhaps hardest to get to) stadium in the NFL.
While the Giants, despite their loss to the Saints yesterday, are formidable, the Eagles are struggling (owing, in some part, to injuries on the offensive line and to their starting middle linebacker), and the Cowboys don't seem poised to make a deep run in the playoffs with a) Tony Romo as their starting quarterback and b) a lack of weapons on offense. So, you would have thought that with his big bucks owner Daniel Snyder could help get the Redskins into a position to contend in the NFC East. Instead, they're having all sorts of problems all over the place.
How do things get this bad? Especially, seemingly, with all the money in the world.
All sports owners should remember that fans do vote with their feet, either because of a bad team, a bad economy, or both.
Even in the NFL.
Phillies 11 Dodgers 0 (Notes from Citizens Bank Park)
I sat upstairs in rightfield (on the foul territory side of the foul pole last night) for the Phillies-Dodgers game. To paraphrase Keith Jackson, "It was a wonderful autumn evening for football, I mean, baseball." As I said to a ticket taker as my son and I walked into the stadium, "This is the baseball life we chose, living in the Mid-Atlantic region."
Most of the day we thought about what we would wear, and we had sufficient layers on. My son wore his cold weather Under Armour under his Ryan Howard jersey, and atop that combo he wore a Phillies' sweatshirt. Atop that he wore his winter jacket, had a wool cap underneath his Phillies' hat and wore gloves. He also wore a red-and-white scarf, and by the middle of the game, when the temperatures dropped a few degrees, he had a Phillies' fleece blanket over him (we also put the outdoorsman's toe warmers in his sneakers). Needless to say, this was the coldest outdoor event he's attended. Dad dressed similar, but without the wool hat beneath the Phillies' cap and without the fleece blanket. I wore L.L. Bean hunting shoes with wool socks (9 year olds don't usually have wool socks available for purchase, so perhaps my feet were a little wawrmer). Oh, and one more thing, we sat on old Barron's newspapers, which are thick enough to provide some decent insulation against the cold from the plastic seat. In addition to the scarves, fleece blanket, warmers, woold hats and newspapers, our backpack also held two portable umbrellas and some rain gear (thankfully, we didn't need to deploy that stuff).
Preparation, of course, is much of the effort, and last night the Phillies came into the game very well prepared, so much so that they came out of the starting gate smoking. Starting pitcher Cliff Lee showed why he's a #1 starter, mowing down Dodger after Dodger, going eight strong innings, striking out ten, walking none, and dazzling the Dodgers. On the other hand, the Dodgers' pitching wasn't strong, and after a triple from Ryan Howard and a two-run home run from Jayson Werth, the Phillies led 4-0. They added two in the second, and unless Cliff Lee was going to combust, the ball game seemed all but over after two innings. As a Philadelphia sports fan, rare is the occasion when you can go on autopilot so early in a game, but somehow last night was as much the Phillies' night as yesterday afternoon was not the Eagles'. (As an aside, it would have been hard to predict that the Phillies would have scored more runs last night against a formidable Dodger team than the Eagles scored against an undistinguished Oakland team, but that's precisely what happened).
It was a very fun night, high-fiving people you don't know, eating peanuts (as always), cheering loudly and booing on occasion, happy to see Jamie Moyer get a rousing ovation when introduced, waving the white towels and getting caught up in the moment.
But that's just one game, even if, as with every game in a post-season, an important one. Tonight the Phillies have a great opportunity to close the vise on the Dodgers even tighter, with Joe Blanton on the mound against former Phil (and lefty) Randy Wolf. Win tonight, and the Dodgers will be fighting for their post-season lives on Wednesday. Win tonight, and winning on Wednesday means that clinching the NLCS in L.A. is not a possibility -- you'll get to win it at home. Joe the Pitcher has a great World Series effort to draw on, and he's been the consummate team player in the post-season despite being relegated to the bullpen even after having been -- perhaps outside J.A. Happ -- the Phillies' most consistent starting pitcher for much of the 2009 season.
Wolf is a cagey lefty, formidable, pitching against a team that is not as good against lefties (particularly Ryan Howard) as it is against righties. Yet, Wolf is a bit like Jamie Moyer, as he must paint the lines well in order to have a chance against a good-hitting lineup. If Wolf fails to do that, falls behind and locates as well as Kuroda did on Sunday night, he, too, will have an early exit. Something tells me, though, that he'll have a good effort in store for his former team, and that his teammates will be especially charged up after their poor outing.
But something also tells me that the Phillies will be ready. And that's why they play the games -- anything can -- and in baseball, usually does -- happen.
Most of the day we thought about what we would wear, and we had sufficient layers on. My son wore his cold weather Under Armour under his Ryan Howard jersey, and atop that combo he wore a Phillies' sweatshirt. Atop that he wore his winter jacket, had a wool cap underneath his Phillies' hat and wore gloves. He also wore a red-and-white scarf, and by the middle of the game, when the temperatures dropped a few degrees, he had a Phillies' fleece blanket over him (we also put the outdoorsman's toe warmers in his sneakers). Needless to say, this was the coldest outdoor event he's attended. Dad dressed similar, but without the wool hat beneath the Phillies' cap and without the fleece blanket. I wore L.L. Bean hunting shoes with wool socks (9 year olds don't usually have wool socks available for purchase, so perhaps my feet were a little wawrmer). Oh, and one more thing, we sat on old Barron's newspapers, which are thick enough to provide some decent insulation against the cold from the plastic seat. In addition to the scarves, fleece blanket, warmers, woold hats and newspapers, our backpack also held two portable umbrellas and some rain gear (thankfully, we didn't need to deploy that stuff).
Preparation, of course, is much of the effort, and last night the Phillies came into the game very well prepared, so much so that they came out of the starting gate smoking. Starting pitcher Cliff Lee showed why he's a #1 starter, mowing down Dodger after Dodger, going eight strong innings, striking out ten, walking none, and dazzling the Dodgers. On the other hand, the Dodgers' pitching wasn't strong, and after a triple from Ryan Howard and a two-run home run from Jayson Werth, the Phillies led 4-0. They added two in the second, and unless Cliff Lee was going to combust, the ball game seemed all but over after two innings. As a Philadelphia sports fan, rare is the occasion when you can go on autopilot so early in a game, but somehow last night was as much the Phillies' night as yesterday afternoon was not the Eagles'. (As an aside, it would have been hard to predict that the Phillies would have scored more runs last night against a formidable Dodger team than the Eagles scored against an undistinguished Oakland team, but that's precisely what happened).
It was a very fun night, high-fiving people you don't know, eating peanuts (as always), cheering loudly and booing on occasion, happy to see Jamie Moyer get a rousing ovation when introduced, waving the white towels and getting caught up in the moment.
But that's just one game, even if, as with every game in a post-season, an important one. Tonight the Phillies have a great opportunity to close the vise on the Dodgers even tighter, with Joe Blanton on the mound against former Phil (and lefty) Randy Wolf. Win tonight, and the Dodgers will be fighting for their post-season lives on Wednesday. Win tonight, and winning on Wednesday means that clinching the NLCS in L.A. is not a possibility -- you'll get to win it at home. Joe the Pitcher has a great World Series effort to draw on, and he's been the consummate team player in the post-season despite being relegated to the bullpen even after having been -- perhaps outside J.A. Happ -- the Phillies' most consistent starting pitcher for much of the 2009 season.
Wolf is a cagey lefty, formidable, pitching against a team that is not as good against lefties (particularly Ryan Howard) as it is against righties. Yet, Wolf is a bit like Jamie Moyer, as he must paint the lines well in order to have a chance against a good-hitting lineup. If Wolf fails to do that, falls behind and locates as well as Kuroda did on Sunday night, he, too, will have an early exit. Something tells me, though, that he'll have a good effort in store for his former team, and that his teammates will be especially charged up after their poor outing.
But something also tells me that the Phillies will be ready. And that's why they play the games -- anything can -- and in baseball, usually does -- happen.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
A Mess Up in Binghamton
Read here for a headline. And read here for more details. And if you want more detail, click on some of the linked articles that appear next to the articles that I highlighted.
It's all hard to figure, to a degree. After all, a few years back Binghamton hired Kevin Broadus, formerly an assistant to John Thompson III at Georgetown, to become its head basketball coach. Now you've all read probably more than you wished about the Princeton coaching family, from Pete Carril to Gary Walters, the late Bob Dukiet, Armond Hill, Bill Carmody, Joe Scott, Chris Mooney and, of course, Thompson, about Carril's insistence on integrity and excellence, honesty with one's self and doing things the right way. And this is a pretty outstanding group of guys, not perfect, but very good. So, it stood to reason for Binghamton that Broadus, as a distant relative of that family tree, would bring the same principles to bear in Binghamton.
Except things didn't turn out that way. Last year, there was controversy in Binghamton's league, when rival coaches refused to vote for guard D.J. Rivera as player of the year because they didn't like Binghamton's recruiting practices. And then, as the second linked article points out, Binghamton recently dismissed a bunch of basketball players from the team. So, as the investigation will determine, either a bunch of kids with questionable histories somehow passed through the filters of the admissions office, Broadus had some dumb luck, there was awful communication between Broadus and the admissions office, Broadus deliberately pushed the admissions envelope to win, or a combination of the above.
The whole thing is a mess, and one that you traditionally wouldn't expect to see at a school like Binghamton or from a coach like Broadus, given who his most recent mentor was (Thompson III). It's a story that's hard to believe, and now former John Chaney favorite Mark Macon is the acting head coach in an most unenviable situation.
It's all hard to figure, to a degree. After all, a few years back Binghamton hired Kevin Broadus, formerly an assistant to John Thompson III at Georgetown, to become its head basketball coach. Now you've all read probably more than you wished about the Princeton coaching family, from Pete Carril to Gary Walters, the late Bob Dukiet, Armond Hill, Bill Carmody, Joe Scott, Chris Mooney and, of course, Thompson, about Carril's insistence on integrity and excellence, honesty with one's self and doing things the right way. And this is a pretty outstanding group of guys, not perfect, but very good. So, it stood to reason for Binghamton that Broadus, as a distant relative of that family tree, would bring the same principles to bear in Binghamton.
Except things didn't turn out that way. Last year, there was controversy in Binghamton's league, when rival coaches refused to vote for guard D.J. Rivera as player of the year because they didn't like Binghamton's recruiting practices. And then, as the second linked article points out, Binghamton recently dismissed a bunch of basketball players from the team. So, as the investigation will determine, either a bunch of kids with questionable histories somehow passed through the filters of the admissions office, Broadus had some dumb luck, there was awful communication between Broadus and the admissions office, Broadus deliberately pushed the admissions envelope to win, or a combination of the above.
The whole thing is a mess, and one that you traditionally wouldn't expect to see at a school like Binghamton or from a coach like Broadus, given who his most recent mentor was (Thompson III). It's a story that's hard to believe, and now former John Chaney favorite Mark Macon is the acting head coach in an most unenviable situation.
The Temple Owls are 4-2 and Have Their First 4-Game Winning Streak Since the Beginning of Ronald Reagan's Second Term
Read all about it here.
You have to believe that if the Owls have a winning season and even go to a bowl game that head coach Al Golden will get more feelers than he did last year, when he was a serious candidate for the UCLA job. He's working wonders on North Broad Street, and those wonders will get him noticed.
From a personal standpoint, it's great to see the revival of Temple football. My father played there generations ago, and I spent a good part of weekend Saturdays going to games at the old Temple Stadium, Vet Stadium and even Franklin Field. It's been hard for the Owls to find a following. Philadelphia is an Eagles' town, and since Penn joined the Ivies in the mid-1950's Philadelphia hasn't had big-time college football (which it did with Penn before that). Because of its size, the quality of its program and its huge alumni base, Penn State overshadows Temple, Villanova and Penn combined in Philadelphia. With all that, Al Golden has excelled, and Temple football is much healthier than it's been for a long time.
You have to believe that if the Owls have a winning season and even go to a bowl game that head coach Al Golden will get more feelers than he did last year, when he was a serious candidate for the UCLA job. He's working wonders on North Broad Street, and those wonders will get him noticed.
From a personal standpoint, it's great to see the revival of Temple football. My father played there generations ago, and I spent a good part of weekend Saturdays going to games at the old Temple Stadium, Vet Stadium and even Franklin Field. It's been hard for the Owls to find a following. Philadelphia is an Eagles' town, and since Penn joined the Ivies in the mid-1950's Philadelphia hasn't had big-time college football (which it did with Penn before that). Because of its size, the quality of its program and its huge alumni base, Penn State overshadows Temple, Villanova and Penn combined in Philadelphia. With all that, Al Golden has excelled, and Temple football is much healthier than it's been for a long time.
What Will MLB Subject Phillies' Fans To Tonight?
Last year, there was a two-hour rain delay for Game 3 of the World Series followed by the debacle that was the two-part Game 5. Today, the forecast for Philadelphia is a high of 41, a low of 36, and intermittent rain. The last thing that anyone wants to do is to sit in a rainstorm for 3+ hours watching baseball. So. . .
I am headed out to local sporting goods stores today to look for the following: rain pants, warmers (the packets that heat up when exposed to air) and panchos to put over our warm weather gear. It's not quite cold enough to wear thermal gear, but with winds gusting from 10-20 miles per hour, it's darn close. Sounds like I'm preparing more to sit for hours in a deer blind than I am to watch baseball.
The sad reality is that Fox drives this as much as Major League Baseball, which means that there is some likelihood that we'll get dragged down to South Philadelphia only to a) have the game postponed, which means we'll already have paid for parking and perhaps some concessions or b) we'll get there, they'll play 4 1/2 innings, and then they'll postpone the game, meaning that we'll have to readjust our schedules for Monday to go back down to Citizens Bank Park to watch Part II (and deal with traffic for the Bruce Springsteen concert at the Spectrum as well).
So, c'mon Phillies, Major League Baseball and Fox -- do something sensible before people have to leave the warmth of their own homes to venture out into the could soup that is a Nor'Easter.
I am headed out to local sporting goods stores today to look for the following: rain pants, warmers (the packets that heat up when exposed to air) and panchos to put over our warm weather gear. It's not quite cold enough to wear thermal gear, but with winds gusting from 10-20 miles per hour, it's darn close. Sounds like I'm preparing more to sit for hours in a deer blind than I am to watch baseball.
The sad reality is that Fox drives this as much as Major League Baseball, which means that there is some likelihood that we'll get dragged down to South Philadelphia only to a) have the game postponed, which means we'll already have paid for parking and perhaps some concessions or b) we'll get there, they'll play 4 1/2 innings, and then they'll postpone the game, meaning that we'll have to readjust our schedules for Monday to go back down to Citizens Bank Park to watch Part II (and deal with traffic for the Bruce Springsteen concert at the Spectrum as well).
So, c'mon Phillies, Major League Baseball and Fox -- do something sensible before people have to leave the warmth of their own homes to venture out into the could soup that is a Nor'Easter.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Phillies-Dodgers Last Night
Observations:
1. The broadcast crew pulled out every cliche and wasn't always accurate (or, they were about as good on the facts as umpire Randy Marsh was with the strike zone last night). For example, in the first inning, Ron Darling said that Ryan Howard gets overshadowed by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, his "flashier" teammates. Anyone who has watched the Phillies know that Chase Utley isn't flashy in the least; he lets his play do the talking. If Jimmy Rollins is flashy, it's because he's the vocal team leader and talks more than Utley and Howard. And, by the way, Howard's numbers and size combine to prevent him from being overshadowed.
2. I question whether Charlie Manuel teed up the right rotation. Look, Cole Hamels had a great year in 2008, but he pitched more innings that year by far than he had previously. He had some injury problems earlier this season, and hasn't been the same pitcher he was last year. He also has had a habit of throwing about 5 good innnings before the other team figures him out and puts up some good numbers. Either Charlie left him in too long last night or he shouldn't have had him as the #1 starter for the series. I realize that because of when the NLDS ended Cliff Lee couldn't have gone first, but I would have considered going with the following in order of preference: Lee, J.A. Happ (forgiving his iffy outing in the Colorado cold), Joe Blanton (the forgotten man) and Cole Hamels. Sure, Hamels had an outstanding post-season in 2008, but he's just not the same guy this year.
3. Carlos Ruiz is an unsung hero for the Phillies. I know that Baseball Prospectus has questioned his bat, but he hit over .250 in 322 at bats with 9 homers and over 40 RBI's. He's a tough out, he has the confidence of the pitchers (and more than any other catcher I've seen, he takes charge out there), and he's a power threat. And last night, the #8 hitter came up big in the clutch. That's how teams win series.
4. There's an eerie and good parallel to 2008 for the Phillies. Last season, the pundits all talked about how dominant the Cubs were, how good the Dodgers were with Manny Ramirez and how well C.C. Sabathia had pitched for the Brewers. The Phillies weren't the story. In this post-season the story has been the dominant hitting of the Yankees, the 1-2 combination of Wainwright and Carpenter for the Cardinals, how the Dodgers are a year older, have lots of come-from-behind wins and have a great bullpen, and how hot the Rockies were coming into the season. The big Phillies story? How beat up their bullpen has been and how bad a year Brad Lidge had. Could it be that despite being defending World Champions they'll fly under the radar screen and get to the World Series again? After all, the oddsmakers give the Phillies the worst chance to win the Series of the remaining teams (at least they did going into last night's game).
5. Did Joe Torre leave Clayton Kershaw in too long last night? Perhaps, but managers tend to leave their starters in for longer periods when they're struggling than they do relievers. Look, had the Phillies lost, I would have expected the Philadelphia media to have questioned why Manuel didn't relieve Hamels earlier than he did. It does seem at times that managers let their starters remain in the game for a couple of batters more than they should.
6. How clutch was Manny Ramirez's home run? The guy will hit .270 when he's 80. He looks smaller and not as robust as in past years, but he can still swing the bat. He's not my favorite player (especially because of the way he quit on the Red Sox last year), but he can flat out hit.
7. Is Brad Lidge back? I'm not as giddy as Lidge or some of the Phillies' faithful. It's not as though he's looking like Mariano Rivera out there.
At any rate, this should be one tough series. The Dodgers are a gritty team and a formidable opponent. The question is whether they have enough starting pitching to win four games. As for the Phillies, the question is whether they'll have enough pitching, period, to do the same.
1. The broadcast crew pulled out every cliche and wasn't always accurate (or, they were about as good on the facts as umpire Randy Marsh was with the strike zone last night). For example, in the first inning, Ron Darling said that Ryan Howard gets overshadowed by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, his "flashier" teammates. Anyone who has watched the Phillies know that Chase Utley isn't flashy in the least; he lets his play do the talking. If Jimmy Rollins is flashy, it's because he's the vocal team leader and talks more than Utley and Howard. And, by the way, Howard's numbers and size combine to prevent him from being overshadowed.
2. I question whether Charlie Manuel teed up the right rotation. Look, Cole Hamels had a great year in 2008, but he pitched more innings that year by far than he had previously. He had some injury problems earlier this season, and hasn't been the same pitcher he was last year. He also has had a habit of throwing about 5 good innnings before the other team figures him out and puts up some good numbers. Either Charlie left him in too long last night or he shouldn't have had him as the #1 starter for the series. I realize that because of when the NLDS ended Cliff Lee couldn't have gone first, but I would have considered going with the following in order of preference: Lee, J.A. Happ (forgiving his iffy outing in the Colorado cold), Joe Blanton (the forgotten man) and Cole Hamels. Sure, Hamels had an outstanding post-season in 2008, but he's just not the same guy this year.
3. Carlos Ruiz is an unsung hero for the Phillies. I know that Baseball Prospectus has questioned his bat, but he hit over .250 in 322 at bats with 9 homers and over 40 RBI's. He's a tough out, he has the confidence of the pitchers (and more than any other catcher I've seen, he takes charge out there), and he's a power threat. And last night, the #8 hitter came up big in the clutch. That's how teams win series.
4. There's an eerie and good parallel to 2008 for the Phillies. Last season, the pundits all talked about how dominant the Cubs were, how good the Dodgers were with Manny Ramirez and how well C.C. Sabathia had pitched for the Brewers. The Phillies weren't the story. In this post-season the story has been the dominant hitting of the Yankees, the 1-2 combination of Wainwright and Carpenter for the Cardinals, how the Dodgers are a year older, have lots of come-from-behind wins and have a great bullpen, and how hot the Rockies were coming into the season. The big Phillies story? How beat up their bullpen has been and how bad a year Brad Lidge had. Could it be that despite being defending World Champions they'll fly under the radar screen and get to the World Series again? After all, the oddsmakers give the Phillies the worst chance to win the Series of the remaining teams (at least they did going into last night's game).
5. Did Joe Torre leave Clayton Kershaw in too long last night? Perhaps, but managers tend to leave their starters in for longer periods when they're struggling than they do relievers. Look, had the Phillies lost, I would have expected the Philadelphia media to have questioned why Manuel didn't relieve Hamels earlier than he did. It does seem at times that managers let their starters remain in the game for a couple of batters more than they should.
6. How clutch was Manny Ramirez's home run? The guy will hit .270 when he's 80. He looks smaller and not as robust as in past years, but he can still swing the bat. He's not my favorite player (especially because of the way he quit on the Red Sox last year), but he can flat out hit.
7. Is Brad Lidge back? I'm not as giddy as Lidge or some of the Phillies' faithful. It's not as though he's looking like Mariano Rivera out there.
At any rate, this should be one tough series. The Dodgers are a gritty team and a formidable opponent. The question is whether they have enough starting pitching to win four games. As for the Phillies, the question is whether they'll have enough pitching, period, to do the same.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Live Blogging: Good Show on ESPN on the Baltimore Colts' Band
Having family in Baltimore, I understand the reverence for the Colts. This show is worth watching.
Does Anyone Take Keith Olbermann Seriously?
Why is he so angry at just about everything?
The nastiness he displays on MSNBC can't help his trademark on the pretentiously named "Football Night in America."
Also, note to NBC: it's one thing if you want to permit Olbermann to display his opinions -- unvarnished and frequently impolite -- on MSNBC. But do you think it's a good idea to let such an idealogue be your front man on "Football Night in America"?
Dick Enberg or Ray Scott he is not.
Most of us look to the sporting world for relief from the troubles of our daily lives, and not for a constant reminder.
Jettison Olbermann.
Give us someone in the mold of Jim McKay, Jack Whitaker and the like.
The nastiness he displays on MSNBC can't help his trademark on the pretentiously named "Football Night in America."
Also, note to NBC: it's one thing if you want to permit Olbermann to display his opinions -- unvarnished and frequently impolite -- on MSNBC. But do you think it's a good idea to let such an idealogue be your front man on "Football Night in America"?
Dick Enberg or Ray Scott he is not.
Most of us look to the sporting world for relief from the troubles of our daily lives, and not for a constant reminder.
Jettison Olbermann.
Give us someone in the mold of Jim McKay, Jack Whitaker and the like.
Didn't His Family Shaft Baltimore in the Middle of the Night?
Colts' owner Jim Irsay said that he will vote against any sale of the Rams that includes Rush Limbaugh as an owner.
He did say something about Limbaugh's divisive commentary.
So what do you call taking a beloved team out of an amazing football town in the middle of the night? Unifying? Uplifting? Righteous? Innovative? Thoughtful?
Hardly. That act of the Irsays was one of the most ignominious in the history of professional football, compounded by the fact that the league wasn't bright enough to keep the Colts' name and records in Baltimore.
So now, Jimmy Irsay (the son of the man who wreaked that horror on Baltimore) is now an arbiter of what's good and just after he's benefited from his father's benificence toward Baltimore. What's next, Al Davis will try to take some moral high ground and opposed Limbaugh's ownership too?
Since when have the term "character" and the term "sports team owner" been a perfect match?
I'm closing ranks here with my adopted Baltimoreans, as I have relatives who live there.
I'm not sure how I feel about Limbaugh's owning part of an NFL team (or all of one), but the opposition had better rally the most righteous of owners to lead their group. Also, as an aside, the NFL Players Association had better be careful here. It's interesting that despite failing to seriously address the issues of post-career dementia, concussions and benefits for needy former players (whose numbers grow by the day, apparently, at least according to an article in Sports Illustrated that appeared within the past six months that indicated that 75% of NFL players are broke, divorced or jobless within 5 years after leaving the game). Instead, though, they find time to express their opinion on who should be an owner.
Okay, fair enough, they're entitled, they represent the players, and the First Amendment guarantees their right to speak their minds. I get that. And Jim Irsay is saying what he thinks is right.
But would Rush Limbaugh be the NFL's biggest problem?
Not by a longshot.
He did say something about Limbaugh's divisive commentary.
So what do you call taking a beloved team out of an amazing football town in the middle of the night? Unifying? Uplifting? Righteous? Innovative? Thoughtful?
Hardly. That act of the Irsays was one of the most ignominious in the history of professional football, compounded by the fact that the league wasn't bright enough to keep the Colts' name and records in Baltimore.
So now, Jimmy Irsay (the son of the man who wreaked that horror on Baltimore) is now an arbiter of what's good and just after he's benefited from his father's benificence toward Baltimore. What's next, Al Davis will try to take some moral high ground and opposed Limbaugh's ownership too?
Since when have the term "character" and the term "sports team owner" been a perfect match?
I'm closing ranks here with my adopted Baltimoreans, as I have relatives who live there.
I'm not sure how I feel about Limbaugh's owning part of an NFL team (or all of one), but the opposition had better rally the most righteous of owners to lead their group. Also, as an aside, the NFL Players Association had better be careful here. It's interesting that despite failing to seriously address the issues of post-career dementia, concussions and benefits for needy former players (whose numbers grow by the day, apparently, at least according to an article in Sports Illustrated that appeared within the past six months that indicated that 75% of NFL players are broke, divorced or jobless within 5 years after leaving the game). Instead, though, they find time to express their opinion on who should be an owner.
Okay, fair enough, they're entitled, they represent the players, and the First Amendment guarantees their right to speak their minds. I get that. And Jim Irsay is saying what he thinks is right.
But would Rush Limbaugh be the NFL's biggest problem?
Not by a longshot.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Eagles-Bucs at Lincoln Financial Field
Today marked my first time ever visiting Lincoln Financial Field to watch the Eagles play. Here are some observations:
1. NFL Fans Have Created a Tribal Culture All to Themselves. I asked a bunch of people how early I'd have to leave the house to get decent parking near the Linc, and each said to drive into Center City (that's downtown Philadelphia for the uninitiated), park there, and take the Broad Street Subway to the stadium complex. That was wise, because the parking lots are full of tailgaters. From what I gather, some get there by 9 a.m., even when game time is 4 p.m. They set up, eat breakfast and then lunch, then head to the game and repair to their setups for a post-game libation. All of this on asphalt, with the whirr of traffic on I-95 in the close background (thankfully, the odors of the sewage treatment plant, while in Southwest Philadelphia and close to the airport, don't travel far enough to affect the football faithful).
2. Jerseys. All sorts, among them: many McNabbs and Westbrooks, and I spotted a Sav Rocca, which made me wonder why anyone would buy a jersey of the punter. There were white jerseys, green jerseys, black jerseys, vintage jerseys (replicas, of light blue and yellow, of what the team wore 75 years ago). I saw several Randall Cunninghams and a Kevin Kolb, and that also made me wonder why someone would buy the jersey of the back-up quarterback. Takeo Spikes was in the house, as were Steve Van Buren, Michael Lewis, Jeremiah Trotter (more on him later), L.J. Smith, many DeSean Jacksons, a few David Akers (as if the kicker is the most important guy on the team) and so forth. Name a former player, and the odds were that someone was wearing a replica jersey with his name on it.
3. You Get Ripped Off on Parking in Center City Philadelphia. Sure, it's great to park in Center City and take the subway to the game, because you avoid huge traffic jams getting out of the stadium area after the game. The agony of the experience is paying $20 plus for parking in Center City. My wife and I haven't gone into the city for years for dinner, and we like good food and are willing to pay for a great experience. Our protest is that you can get gauged on parking. Sorry, fans and apologists for the city, but all city parents need to figure out a better way to get suburbanites to want to come back into the city instead of getting clipped for parking.
4. The People Who Work at The Linc are Very Nice. They are warm and welcoming and give you a warm goodbye when you leave. A greeter insisted that I take my son to guest services to get a certificate that he attended his first Eagles game. He was so nice about it that we could hardly refuse his good cheer.
5. It's a Great Stadium to Watch a Game In. We sat at about the 30 yard-line on the home side of the field, not far from Mayor Michael Nutter's box. The sight lines are great, and if you yell hello to the mayor, he'll wave back to you.
6. It's Pretty Impressive When 60,000 Fans Sing "Fly Eagle, Fly." They do this after each Eagle touchdown, and the song concludes with the chant "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!" So loud is the demonstration that even the most jingoistic English soccer fan would be impressed.
7. Michael Vick Looks to be a Distraction. He doesn't appear to have any meaningful role in the offense.
8. The Fans are Friendly. Okay, so they weren't that nice to the guy in the Tampa Bay jersey with Ruud's name on the back, but he invited the banter because he bragged about the Bucs' Super Bowl victory and asked how many the Eagles had. At which point the fans around him and I asked him where his cow bell is. No fisticuffs from anyone, no profanity, no, well, anything. And he disappeared after halftime, presumably to wonder about that Super Bowl team, because this year's model isn't very good.
9. Josh Johnson Will be a Good NFL Quarterback. Mel Kiper and others loved him a couple of years ago coming out of San Diego State, and you can see why. He can run out of trouble, he can hit the short passes and thread deeper ones, he has a good arm and he stayed composed despite all sorts of blitz packages being thrown at him. Yes, he threw 3 picks and his QB rating for the day was about 58.3, but he did a lot of good things out there today. If you don't believe me, find a podcast of Andy Reid's post-game comments and listen to what he said.
10. Jeremy Maclin Had His Coming-Out Party Today. Bucs CB Aqib Talib might have kept DeSean Jackson quiet, but Tampa Bay had no answer for the Eagles' first-round pick. Maclin got open all day and scored 2 touchdowns.
11. I am Not Sure That the Eagles are a Playoff Team. Look, they backed into the playoffs last season after 3 dreams came true on the final day of the season, one of which was an upset win by Oakland. They had 11 penalties today for about 110 yards, and if you do that against the Giants you'll probably lose by 3 touchdowns. The defense looked bad against the pass. Tampa Bay ran many screen plays and did so effectively, and the better teams will run those plays even more. In fairness, not all QBs can move like Johnson, but the young QB impressed the fans in the stands by his ability to get rid of the ball quickly. Also, the offensive line hasn't run-blocked well yet.
12. Donovan McNabb Looked Healthy Today. He ran out of trouble, threw the ball pretty well and had a good game.
All in all, a great experience, the parking cost notwithstanding. I was outside in great fall weather with my son, watching the hometown football team win by 19. And, yes, we did eat the Crab Fries from Chickie's and Pete's. That's becoming something of a tribal ritual too.
1. NFL Fans Have Created a Tribal Culture All to Themselves. I asked a bunch of people how early I'd have to leave the house to get decent parking near the Linc, and each said to drive into Center City (that's downtown Philadelphia for the uninitiated), park there, and take the Broad Street Subway to the stadium complex. That was wise, because the parking lots are full of tailgaters. From what I gather, some get there by 9 a.m., even when game time is 4 p.m. They set up, eat breakfast and then lunch, then head to the game and repair to their setups for a post-game libation. All of this on asphalt, with the whirr of traffic on I-95 in the close background (thankfully, the odors of the sewage treatment plant, while in Southwest Philadelphia and close to the airport, don't travel far enough to affect the football faithful).
2. Jerseys. All sorts, among them: many McNabbs and Westbrooks, and I spotted a Sav Rocca, which made me wonder why anyone would buy a jersey of the punter. There were white jerseys, green jerseys, black jerseys, vintage jerseys (replicas, of light blue and yellow, of what the team wore 75 years ago). I saw several Randall Cunninghams and a Kevin Kolb, and that also made me wonder why someone would buy the jersey of the back-up quarterback. Takeo Spikes was in the house, as were Steve Van Buren, Michael Lewis, Jeremiah Trotter (more on him later), L.J. Smith, many DeSean Jacksons, a few David Akers (as if the kicker is the most important guy on the team) and so forth. Name a former player, and the odds were that someone was wearing a replica jersey with his name on it.
3. You Get Ripped Off on Parking in Center City Philadelphia. Sure, it's great to park in Center City and take the subway to the game, because you avoid huge traffic jams getting out of the stadium area after the game. The agony of the experience is paying $20 plus for parking in Center City. My wife and I haven't gone into the city for years for dinner, and we like good food and are willing to pay for a great experience. Our protest is that you can get gauged on parking. Sorry, fans and apologists for the city, but all city parents need to figure out a better way to get suburbanites to want to come back into the city instead of getting clipped for parking.
4. The People Who Work at The Linc are Very Nice. They are warm and welcoming and give you a warm goodbye when you leave. A greeter insisted that I take my son to guest services to get a certificate that he attended his first Eagles game. He was so nice about it that we could hardly refuse his good cheer.
5. It's a Great Stadium to Watch a Game In. We sat at about the 30 yard-line on the home side of the field, not far from Mayor Michael Nutter's box. The sight lines are great, and if you yell hello to the mayor, he'll wave back to you.
6. It's Pretty Impressive When 60,000 Fans Sing "Fly Eagle, Fly." They do this after each Eagle touchdown, and the song concludes with the chant "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!" So loud is the demonstration that even the most jingoistic English soccer fan would be impressed.
7. Michael Vick Looks to be a Distraction. He doesn't appear to have any meaningful role in the offense.
8. The Fans are Friendly. Okay, so they weren't that nice to the guy in the Tampa Bay jersey with Ruud's name on the back, but he invited the banter because he bragged about the Bucs' Super Bowl victory and asked how many the Eagles had. At which point the fans around him and I asked him where his cow bell is. No fisticuffs from anyone, no profanity, no, well, anything. And he disappeared after halftime, presumably to wonder about that Super Bowl team, because this year's model isn't very good.
9. Josh Johnson Will be a Good NFL Quarterback. Mel Kiper and others loved him a couple of years ago coming out of San Diego State, and you can see why. He can run out of trouble, he can hit the short passes and thread deeper ones, he has a good arm and he stayed composed despite all sorts of blitz packages being thrown at him. Yes, he threw 3 picks and his QB rating for the day was about 58.3, but he did a lot of good things out there today. If you don't believe me, find a podcast of Andy Reid's post-game comments and listen to what he said.
10. Jeremy Maclin Had His Coming-Out Party Today. Bucs CB Aqib Talib might have kept DeSean Jackson quiet, but Tampa Bay had no answer for the Eagles' first-round pick. Maclin got open all day and scored 2 touchdowns.
11. I am Not Sure That the Eagles are a Playoff Team. Look, they backed into the playoffs last season after 3 dreams came true on the final day of the season, one of which was an upset win by Oakland. They had 11 penalties today for about 110 yards, and if you do that against the Giants you'll probably lose by 3 touchdowns. The defense looked bad against the pass. Tampa Bay ran many screen plays and did so effectively, and the better teams will run those plays even more. In fairness, not all QBs can move like Johnson, but the young QB impressed the fans in the stands by his ability to get rid of the ball quickly. Also, the offensive line hasn't run-blocked well yet.
12. Donovan McNabb Looked Healthy Today. He ran out of trouble, threw the ball pretty well and had a good game.
All in all, a great experience, the parking cost notwithstanding. I was outside in great fall weather with my son, watching the hometown football team win by 19. And, yes, we did eat the Crab Fries from Chickie's and Pete's. That's becoming something of a tribal ritual too.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Read and Subscribe to the Princeton Basketball News Blog
Great blog, especially if you want all the news on Princeton's team, Princeton's recruiting, Princeton's basketball alumni and Princeton basketball's diaspora (read: Georgetown, Oregon State, Richmond, Denver, Northwestern, Mercer County Community College).
Jon Solomon does an excellent job, and if you're a Princeton fan, you'd be well-served to subscribe.
Jon Solomon does an excellent job, and if you're a Princeton fan, you'd be well-served to subscribe.
Jeff Garcia Further Compels the View that Oakland is Jokeland
Read here and see what I mean.
Garcia was critical of the atmosphere in Oakland, but he didn't throw starting QB JaMarcus Russell, he of the 39 or so QB rating, under the bus.
That was left for Peter King of Sports Illustrated, who offered in a short blurb that he thinks tha Russell could be the next Ryan Leaf.
Which, of course, points out a major flaw in the scouting systems of NFL teams -- how could so many people be so wrong -- including Mel Kiper, Jr. -- in their rating of players. All had Russell very highly rated. And all blundered.
There has to be a very smart team of people out there who can create tests for those eligible for the draft and get a sense from their answers as to whether they'll perform well in the NFL or not. Just because someone can throw the ball 85 yards on his pro day doesn't mean that he can throw an eight-yard slant accurately when behind by four points with 1:17 to go, the ball on his own 35 yard-line and the other team's very fast defensive end flying in his face.
Oakland would have been better off with Jeff Garcia as its starting QB.
Garcia was critical of the atmosphere in Oakland, but he didn't throw starting QB JaMarcus Russell, he of the 39 or so QB rating, under the bus.
That was left for Peter King of Sports Illustrated, who offered in a short blurb that he thinks tha Russell could be the next Ryan Leaf.
Which, of course, points out a major flaw in the scouting systems of NFL teams -- how could so many people be so wrong -- including Mel Kiper, Jr. -- in their rating of players. All had Russell very highly rated. And all blundered.
There has to be a very smart team of people out there who can create tests for those eligible for the draft and get a sense from their answers as to whether they'll perform well in the NFL or not. Just because someone can throw the ball 85 yards on his pro day doesn't mean that he can throw an eight-yard slant accurately when behind by four points with 1:17 to go, the ball on his own 35 yard-line and the other team's very fast defensive end flying in his face.
Oakland would have been better off with Jeff Garcia as its starting QB.
Blue Jays' GM Fired; Failure to Trade Roy Halladay Had to be a Reason
J.P. Ricciardi is out as the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays.
He had worked in Toronto for 8 years, but was unable to get the Jays to prevail over the Yankees or the Red Sox. As the linked article points out, most of Ricciardi's major moves did not work, including his heavy-handed attempts to trade ace Roy Halladay before the trading deadline this past July. Halladay blundered mightily, figuring that there would be plenty of buyers and, as a result, he could get the Philadelphia Phillies into a "we gotta have 'em or bust" mentality that would have compelled Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro to trade the elite set of players that Ricciardi demanded in his first counter to the Phillies and wouldn't budge from.
Most negotiators know that you don't start with where you want to settle. As a result, Ricciardi became stubbornly entrenched, and two (bad) things happened. First, the other potential suitors for Halladay never materialized (and it seemed that the Phillies sensed this) and, second, the Phillies actually found their own competitive bidder for their prospects -- Cleveland -- which had an ace to peddle in Cliff Lee. So, in essence, Amaro turned the tables on Ricciardi, who never figured that out, and, as a result, failed to lower his offer in an effort to trade his ace to the one team that had plenty of good prospects to package -- Philadelphia. In the end, Amaro came away with an ace for a much better price than Ricciardi demanded for Halladay. Sure, you can argue that Halladay would have commanded a higher price than Lee, but there were no other bidders out there offering sufficient packages for aces (with the possible exception of Boston, which apparently considered a late bid for Halladay).
The result for Toronto: another bad season and they're left with an ace who has less value now than he did at mid-season. After all, the team that acquired Halladay in July would have had him for two pennant races. Now, the team that acquires him in the off-season only will have him available for one, and he'll be a free agent after this season.
That failure, and the admission that the signing of Alex Rios to a long-term deal was such a bust that the Jays gave him to the White Sox, had to have sealed Ricciardi's fate.
Of course, the Jays have a tougher question to answer -- how the heck will they ever return to prominence, given the muscle of the Yankees and the Red Sox, the talent pool of Tampa Bay and the core of good young players that Baltimore has. Even the best GM in the league will have trouble climbing that mountain.
He had worked in Toronto for 8 years, but was unable to get the Jays to prevail over the Yankees or the Red Sox. As the linked article points out, most of Ricciardi's major moves did not work, including his heavy-handed attempts to trade ace Roy Halladay before the trading deadline this past July. Halladay blundered mightily, figuring that there would be plenty of buyers and, as a result, he could get the Philadelphia Phillies into a "we gotta have 'em or bust" mentality that would have compelled Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro to trade the elite set of players that Ricciardi demanded in his first counter to the Phillies and wouldn't budge from.
Most negotiators know that you don't start with where you want to settle. As a result, Ricciardi became stubbornly entrenched, and two (bad) things happened. First, the other potential suitors for Halladay never materialized (and it seemed that the Phillies sensed this) and, second, the Phillies actually found their own competitive bidder for their prospects -- Cleveland -- which had an ace to peddle in Cliff Lee. So, in essence, Amaro turned the tables on Ricciardi, who never figured that out, and, as a result, failed to lower his offer in an effort to trade his ace to the one team that had plenty of good prospects to package -- Philadelphia. In the end, Amaro came away with an ace for a much better price than Ricciardi demanded for Halladay. Sure, you can argue that Halladay would have commanded a higher price than Lee, but there were no other bidders out there offering sufficient packages for aces (with the possible exception of Boston, which apparently considered a late bid for Halladay).
The result for Toronto: another bad season and they're left with an ace who has less value now than he did at mid-season. After all, the team that acquired Halladay in July would have had him for two pennant races. Now, the team that acquires him in the off-season only will have him available for one, and he'll be a free agent after this season.
That failure, and the admission that the signing of Alex Rios to a long-term deal was such a bust that the Jays gave him to the White Sox, had to have sealed Ricciardi's fate.
Of course, the Jays have a tougher question to answer -- how the heck will they ever return to prominence, given the muscle of the Yankees and the Red Sox, the talent pool of Tampa Bay and the core of good young players that Baltimore has. Even the best GM in the league will have trouble climbing that mountain.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Then Again, It's the NFL with the Dementia Problem
According to one study, retired NFL players are 5 times more likely to suffer from dementia than the average, hypothetical non-football playing men of a similar age.
Read the whole thing and see what you think. It strikes me that the reporter caught NFL spokesman Greg Aiello offguard, but the findings are serious and not surprising. Football is a collision sport, and it's hard to imagine that retired players won't suffer from some sort of problem after having played the game since they were six, seven or eight years old.
You would think that not only would the NFL do research on the effects of the physicality of the game, but that they also would sponsor research as to much better equipment. For example, I could imagine within 10 years players dressing in full-length body suits made of a combination of UnderArmour, Kevlar and the materials used in airbags that are designed to absorb the shock of blows that other players deliver. Then again, given that so many seem so willing to sacrifice a lot, even for a cup of coffee in the NFL, perhaps career-lengthening or career-saving togs aren't worth the investment. Translated: there are plenty more players willing to take the place of fallen ones. Still, with all the money poured into the NFL, you would think that perhaps the league would show more initiative in this area.
This story just won't go away for the NFL.
Read the whole thing and see what you think. It strikes me that the reporter caught NFL spokesman Greg Aiello offguard, but the findings are serious and not surprising. Football is a collision sport, and it's hard to imagine that retired players won't suffer from some sort of problem after having played the game since they were six, seven or eight years old.
You would think that not only would the NFL do research on the effects of the physicality of the game, but that they also would sponsor research as to much better equipment. For example, I could imagine within 10 years players dressing in full-length body suits made of a combination of UnderArmour, Kevlar and the materials used in airbags that are designed to absorb the shock of blows that other players deliver. Then again, given that so many seem so willing to sacrifice a lot, even for a cup of coffee in the NFL, perhaps career-lengthening or career-saving togs aren't worth the investment. Translated: there are plenty more players willing to take the place of fallen ones. Still, with all the money poured into the NFL, you would think that perhaps the league would show more initiative in this area.
This story just won't go away for the NFL.
Why You Shouldn't Trust Congress on Health Care
The average member of Congress gets much, much better health care than you ever will -- by paying $503 per year, with the taxpayers' absorbing all other costs. Read here and then wonder how the average members of the House or Senate can preach to anyone about what type of health care you and your family should or should not receive when s/he is far from experiencing the type of health care decisions that the average American has to make. That is, of course, if the average member of Congress were to venture and read any of the proposed bills.
Okay, I've ventured off topic for this blog, but isn't it hard to ask people to make sacrifices that you don't even begin to show a willingness to make?
Okay, I've ventured off topic for this blog, but isn't it hard to ask people to make sacrifices that you don't even begin to show a willingness to make?
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Jokeland Raiders
The hits keep on coming for the Pirates of Penury. Read this about their rift with former QB Rich Gannon, and draw your own conclusions.
Regardless of whether they loved or hated Rich Gannon, now that he's a broadcaster they have to let him do his job. Even if he's leveled withering criticism at the Oakland organization.
First, he's far from the only one.
Second, the Oakland organization should listen to what people have said and allow for the doubting. Either they're geniuses and the rest of us just don't get it, or, alternatively, they've blundered mightily and for a while. I mean, how many GMs who seek to preserve their jobs would have chosen JaMarcus Russell, he of the million dollar arm and ten-cent head over savvy veteran Jeff Garcia? How many head coaches get into dust-ups that almost result in criminal charges with their assistant coaches? Is there something in the water?
Third, does it really pay to trash your alumni once they're gone? Many players will view such a public trashing this way -- that what's to prevent management from saying the same things about them once they're gone?
The Raiders created a tempest in a teapot, perhaps under the theory that even bad publicity is good publicity because without bad publicity most folks wouldn't pay much attention to the silver and black. This once proud franchise is now a shadow of its former self -- and it's been so for much too long.
Regardless of whether they loved or hated Rich Gannon, now that he's a broadcaster they have to let him do his job. Even if he's leveled withering criticism at the Oakland organization.
First, he's far from the only one.
Second, the Oakland organization should listen to what people have said and allow for the doubting. Either they're geniuses and the rest of us just don't get it, or, alternatively, they've blundered mightily and for a while. I mean, how many GMs who seek to preserve their jobs would have chosen JaMarcus Russell, he of the million dollar arm and ten-cent head over savvy veteran Jeff Garcia? How many head coaches get into dust-ups that almost result in criminal charges with their assistant coaches? Is there something in the water?
Third, does it really pay to trash your alumni once they're gone? Many players will view such a public trashing this way -- that what's to prevent management from saying the same things about them once they're gone?
The Raiders created a tempest in a teapot, perhaps under the theory that even bad publicity is good publicity because without bad publicity most folks wouldn't pay much attention to the silver and black. This once proud franchise is now a shadow of its former self -- and it's been so for much too long.
Confidence
Which MLB team will go into the season on the biggest roll, the most confident that it can march through the playoffs and win the World Series? I'm not totally sure, but here's a recipe for that confidence:
1. Having at least two top-of-the-rotation starters who are pitching well going into the post-season.
2. Having a healthy and settled bullpen, strong in set-up men and the closer. The latter group needs to be pitching well going into the post-season.
3. Having a healthy everyday lineup that's produced consistently, especially in the last couple of months. Take away points if you have a middle-of-the-lineup star who is in a prolonged slump or a top-of-the-lineup player who's on-base percentage has dipped in the past 6 weeks.
4. Having some oomph on your bench, a guy who can hit the pinch-hit home run, steal the base or get the clutch hit. It's always nice to have a pinch hitter who scares a reliever just a bit.
5. Calmness and good decisionmaking from the bench. All managers make mistakes; you just don't want yours to make the big one in the middle of a pivotal game.
The winner? We'll see, but it doesn't necessarily end up being the team that had the best record during the regular season. Yes, you play who you play, but fattening up excessively on the Nationals, Pirates and Padres during the regular season could give the fan and his team a false sense of the art of the possible.
1. Having at least two top-of-the-rotation starters who are pitching well going into the post-season.
2. Having a healthy and settled bullpen, strong in set-up men and the closer. The latter group needs to be pitching well going into the post-season.
3. Having a healthy everyday lineup that's produced consistently, especially in the last couple of months. Take away points if you have a middle-of-the-lineup star who is in a prolonged slump or a top-of-the-lineup player who's on-base percentage has dipped in the past 6 weeks.
4. Having some oomph on your bench, a guy who can hit the pinch-hit home run, steal the base or get the clutch hit. It's always nice to have a pinch hitter who scares a reliever just a bit.
5. Calmness and good decisionmaking from the bench. All managers make mistakes; you just don't want yours to make the big one in the middle of a pivotal game.
The winner? We'll see, but it doesn't necessarily end up being the team that had the best record during the regular season. Yes, you play who you play, but fattening up excessively on the Nationals, Pirates and Padres during the regular season could give the fan and his team a false sense of the art of the possible.
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Sin of the No Apology Apology
We've all seen it before, the star athlete who does something stupid and then gives a faux apology because his team or his league required it. You all know the words, "if I offended someone, I apologize." Or, "I never intended to offend anyone," when your average third-grader knows by rote that the precise conduct in question is offensive out of the gate. It's almost as if when sports agents go to school they take a course of a "Mad Lib" nature where they get forms to fill in to cover the (sometimes prodigious) rear ends of their clients.
What I didn't figure is that this type of apology would happen in my community. I'm not going to go into the details, but as I blogged before in recent months there was a huge donneybrook in my community about the governance and leadership of an extracurricular organization. One of the leaders of one of the sides got particularly nasty during the dispute and wrote some pretty incendiary stuff in a series of emails (among his other transgressions). Reasonable minds can always differ, but localities should transcend the commonplace vindictiveness of many on both sides in the national political arena by mandating that such disputes are civil and orderly. Unfortunately, what transpired in this organization was (un)civil war -- a war of intrigue and words that resulted in an assault on decency, dignity and the truth. This particular guy was one of the aggressors -- emboldened by email.
All this happened in the May-early July time frame, and he decides that now -- after his side has prevailed (albeit at great cost, as the membership of this organization has shrunk to the point where it's in danger of operating at a deficit). Many of those who were displaced have moved on; the time for healing is at best in the danger zone. So anyway, this guy sends an email that he believes makes a strong case for burying the hatchet and moving on. He also believes it's his apology. It's reasonably written, but there's one word at issue, because in the text, after he wrote that the big blowup occurred, he offered "we all acted poorly." We. Not "I", but we. He wrote this to the people who were on the other end of his aggression, took a stance that differed from his, and said "we all acted poorly."
I ask you, is that any way to offer a sincere form of apology? Wouldn't he have done a better job had he written that he acted poorly, regretted it, and asked for forgiveness? Even if, perhaps, it's too late to repair the rift and restore the organization to what it was like before the dust up. What's the "we" all about? So none of this would have happened if it weren't also for the recipients' conduct? Is that it? Cannot this man, who seemingly wants to apologize, fully own up to the fact that he erred, that he transgressed, and that he is sincerely offering an apology. And can an apology be sincere if the offeror writes that while he's making his apology, hey, you and I were both equally wrong? Does that work?
Heck no. You can cloak your apology in all the words and eloquence you want, but you're not truly in the clear unless you say, "hey, this was a really bad situation, I'm not happy with the way I acted, I didn't treat you properly, I failed in upholding my standards, and I'm sorry." Isn't the clear path to growth and betterment when you can look people in the eye and say, "hey, that behavior was my fault?" What comes of "we all acted badly; I apologize?"
Not much good. Suppose Mike is acting goofy, Joe says that he thinks the American League is better than the National League, Mike roots for the Red Sox, and then Mike throws a baseball and hits Joe in the hand with it, breaking a finger. Mike owes Joe an apology, right? Isn't the best way to say, "Hey, Joe, I lost my cool, I'm sorry, I did a really dumb thing. I apologize, can you forgive me?" Or would you advise Mike to say, "Joe, we both acted badly, because you know I'm a big American League fan, but I think I need to apologize to you because I know I shouldn't have thrown that ball?" What would you say is the right way to respond?
Apologies must be from the heart, they must be sincere, they must be complete, and they shouldn't blame or implicate the recipient. In this particular situation, this incomplete and flawed apology might only service to stir up the embers of what had been only several months ago a spectacular combustion. The "victors", as it were, will argue that the recipients are being sore losers and not graceful in refusing the apology. The vanquished will counter that a clear reading of the apology reveals its shortcomings and the flaws of the group that won the contest through uncivil means. And then the whole dialogue can begin again.
And, meanwhile, the organization over which they fought will continue to see interest in it and its membership dwindle.
Because no one wants to join an organization that is an extracurricular version of a slaughterhouse, particular with a group of people who had a taste of participating in a rout that was an unfair fight and might have enjoyed it.
Apologies must be full and complete.
No ands, ifs or buts.
What I didn't figure is that this type of apology would happen in my community. I'm not going to go into the details, but as I blogged before in recent months there was a huge donneybrook in my community about the governance and leadership of an extracurricular organization. One of the leaders of one of the sides got particularly nasty during the dispute and wrote some pretty incendiary stuff in a series of emails (among his other transgressions). Reasonable minds can always differ, but localities should transcend the commonplace vindictiveness of many on both sides in the national political arena by mandating that such disputes are civil and orderly. Unfortunately, what transpired in this organization was (un)civil war -- a war of intrigue and words that resulted in an assault on decency, dignity and the truth. This particular guy was one of the aggressors -- emboldened by email.
All this happened in the May-early July time frame, and he decides that now -- after his side has prevailed (albeit at great cost, as the membership of this organization has shrunk to the point where it's in danger of operating at a deficit). Many of those who were displaced have moved on; the time for healing is at best in the danger zone. So anyway, this guy sends an email that he believes makes a strong case for burying the hatchet and moving on. He also believes it's his apology. It's reasonably written, but there's one word at issue, because in the text, after he wrote that the big blowup occurred, he offered "we all acted poorly." We. Not "I", but we. He wrote this to the people who were on the other end of his aggression, took a stance that differed from his, and said "we all acted poorly."
I ask you, is that any way to offer a sincere form of apology? Wouldn't he have done a better job had he written that he acted poorly, regretted it, and asked for forgiveness? Even if, perhaps, it's too late to repair the rift and restore the organization to what it was like before the dust up. What's the "we" all about? So none of this would have happened if it weren't also for the recipients' conduct? Is that it? Cannot this man, who seemingly wants to apologize, fully own up to the fact that he erred, that he transgressed, and that he is sincerely offering an apology. And can an apology be sincere if the offeror writes that while he's making his apology, hey, you and I were both equally wrong? Does that work?
Heck no. You can cloak your apology in all the words and eloquence you want, but you're not truly in the clear unless you say, "hey, this was a really bad situation, I'm not happy with the way I acted, I didn't treat you properly, I failed in upholding my standards, and I'm sorry." Isn't the clear path to growth and betterment when you can look people in the eye and say, "hey, that behavior was my fault?" What comes of "we all acted badly; I apologize?"
Not much good. Suppose Mike is acting goofy, Joe says that he thinks the American League is better than the National League, Mike roots for the Red Sox, and then Mike throws a baseball and hits Joe in the hand with it, breaking a finger. Mike owes Joe an apology, right? Isn't the best way to say, "Hey, Joe, I lost my cool, I'm sorry, I did a really dumb thing. I apologize, can you forgive me?" Or would you advise Mike to say, "Joe, we both acted badly, because you know I'm a big American League fan, but I think I need to apologize to you because I know I shouldn't have thrown that ball?" What would you say is the right way to respond?
Apologies must be from the heart, they must be sincere, they must be complete, and they shouldn't blame or implicate the recipient. In this particular situation, this incomplete and flawed apology might only service to stir up the embers of what had been only several months ago a spectacular combustion. The "victors", as it were, will argue that the recipients are being sore losers and not graceful in refusing the apology. The vanquished will counter that a clear reading of the apology reveals its shortcomings and the flaws of the group that won the contest through uncivil means. And then the whole dialogue can begin again.
And, meanwhile, the organization over which they fought will continue to see interest in it and its membership dwindle.
Because no one wants to join an organization that is an extracurricular version of a slaughterhouse, particular with a group of people who had a taste of participating in a rout that was an unfair fight and might have enjoyed it.
Apologies must be full and complete.
No ands, ifs or buts.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming!
One of the Russian oligarchs is rumored to have bid $700 million to buy the New Jersey Nets.
U.S. hoops fans should take note that before the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought English Premiership soccer team Chelsea, Chelsea was a lesser performing boring team from one of London's tonier neighborhoods. Since that time, Chelsea has fared very well in the Premiership and accumulated a starting lineup of all-stars. They've done so to such a degree that most people in England root against them. Of course, the Premiership doesn't have a salary cap like the NBA does.
Still, Mikhail Prokhorov's entry into the NBA will turn a lot of heads. The question is whether he and his billions can transform the Nets.
U.S. hoops fans should take note that before the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought English Premiership soccer team Chelsea, Chelsea was a lesser performing boring team from one of London's tonier neighborhoods. Since that time, Chelsea has fared very well in the Premiership and accumulated a starting lineup of all-stars. They've done so to such a degree that most people in England root against them. Of course, the Premiership doesn't have a salary cap like the NBA does.
Still, Mikhail Prokhorov's entry into the NBA will turn a lot of heads. The question is whether he and his billions can transform the Nets.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
When Everything Goes Right
For the Phillies right now, everything isn't going right. And, it didn't go right for much of the 2008 season, either. Starter Kyle Kendrick flamed out after mid-season. Starter Brett Myers flamed out early and went to the minors, only to return and redeem himself. All-Star second baseman Chase Utley played much of the year on a bad hip, shortsop Jimmy Rollins was benched twice, Pat Burrell didn't hit anything in August and September, and first baseman Ryan Howard suffered from the dreaded "I can't lay off the outside breaking ball" disease. The team didn't hit for 10 weeks in the summer, only to combust its engine in early September (by sweeping the Brewers and taking the lead in the wild-card race) and then finishing 24-6 (including the post-season).
Much went right, too. The bullpen excelled and stayed healthy all season. The bench made contributions. Jamie Moyer won 16 games and Cole Hamels emerged as a #1 starter. Closer Brad Lidge was "lights out" Lidge, saving every game he had a chance to. Howard had a torrid September. Shane Victorino proved himself to be a big-time catalyst. The team hit when it needed to (although overall 2008 wasn't as good a hitting year as 2007), the team pitched great, and they won the World Series.
Fast forward to today. The bullpen is on life support. Lidge's ERA is 7.11, J.C. Romero, one of the top lefty set-up men last season, was suspended for the first 50 games and has been on the disabled list for most of the rest. Scott Eyre, another good lefty, has battled injuries, long man Clay Condrey, who had a great season last year, might be out for the year, Chad Durbin hasn't pitched the way he did in 2008 and lefty Jack Taschner pitched poorly. Only Ryan Madson and veteran journeyman (and call up) Tyler Walker have pitched well, and Chan Ho Park has had his moments, particularly after the All-Star break. Collectively, though, this is not the 2008 bullpen. The most important part, Lidge, remains in limbo.
The team hits inconsistently, but they're dangerous the way the Willie Stargell/Dave Parker/Bill Madlock Pirates were dangerous -- live bats, with anyone able to deliver the kill blow on any given night. The problem for this team right now is that they're getting killer hits -- home runs -- but not hitting well with men on base. Raul Ibanez, who got off to a torrid start, has sunk into the throes of a Pat Burrell-like existence (except that he gets to more balls in left field). Pedro Feliz, who is about 35, is still good in the field but really doesn't hit for enough power or have a good enough on-base percentage (about .320) to start for a champion. He's a free agent after this season, and I'd be surprised if the Phillies didn't look for an upgrade, especially with some more money to spend after jettisoning some key contractual commitments (Adam Eaton, Jim Thome, Geoff Jenkins, among others). Rollins got off to a terrible start, jump-started his game after the All-Star break, but has slumped lately. The bench has been terrible.
Yet. . . the team is 6 games up on the Marlins and headed for the playoffs absent a Mets-like collapse a la 2007. They have good starting pitching, even if rookie-of-the-year candidate J.A. Happ is on the shelf with a strained oblique. Hamels has pitched better in his last several starts, perhaps sensing the post-season. Joe Blanton might not be having the years that Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are, but he's pitched great. Pedro Martinez looks very solid, and while Cliff Lee has had a bumpy road in last three starts, he's bound to rebound.
Also. . . the team usually plays well in September and October, and they shined under the brightest of lights in last year's post-season.
But. . . they are bumping along, showing their warts, and not putting it all together on the mound, in the field and at the plate. Then again, they could get red hot right now the way they did around the same time last year, and they could take the World Series again.
Or. . . they could manifest all their weaknesses in the NLDS and bow out there. Right now, it's hard to predict what will happen with this team.
Except. . . unlike 2008 from about this day on, everything is not going right for the Phillies right now.
And. . . to win the World Series, most things had better go right.
Much went right, too. The bullpen excelled and stayed healthy all season. The bench made contributions. Jamie Moyer won 16 games and Cole Hamels emerged as a #1 starter. Closer Brad Lidge was "lights out" Lidge, saving every game he had a chance to. Howard had a torrid September. Shane Victorino proved himself to be a big-time catalyst. The team hit when it needed to (although overall 2008 wasn't as good a hitting year as 2007), the team pitched great, and they won the World Series.
Fast forward to today. The bullpen is on life support. Lidge's ERA is 7.11, J.C. Romero, one of the top lefty set-up men last season, was suspended for the first 50 games and has been on the disabled list for most of the rest. Scott Eyre, another good lefty, has battled injuries, long man Clay Condrey, who had a great season last year, might be out for the year, Chad Durbin hasn't pitched the way he did in 2008 and lefty Jack Taschner pitched poorly. Only Ryan Madson and veteran journeyman (and call up) Tyler Walker have pitched well, and Chan Ho Park has had his moments, particularly after the All-Star break. Collectively, though, this is not the 2008 bullpen. The most important part, Lidge, remains in limbo.
The team hits inconsistently, but they're dangerous the way the Willie Stargell/Dave Parker/Bill Madlock Pirates were dangerous -- live bats, with anyone able to deliver the kill blow on any given night. The problem for this team right now is that they're getting killer hits -- home runs -- but not hitting well with men on base. Raul Ibanez, who got off to a torrid start, has sunk into the throes of a Pat Burrell-like existence (except that he gets to more balls in left field). Pedro Feliz, who is about 35, is still good in the field but really doesn't hit for enough power or have a good enough on-base percentage (about .320) to start for a champion. He's a free agent after this season, and I'd be surprised if the Phillies didn't look for an upgrade, especially with some more money to spend after jettisoning some key contractual commitments (Adam Eaton, Jim Thome, Geoff Jenkins, among others). Rollins got off to a terrible start, jump-started his game after the All-Star break, but has slumped lately. The bench has been terrible.
Yet. . . the team is 6 games up on the Marlins and headed for the playoffs absent a Mets-like collapse a la 2007. They have good starting pitching, even if rookie-of-the-year candidate J.A. Happ is on the shelf with a strained oblique. Hamels has pitched better in his last several starts, perhaps sensing the post-season. Joe Blanton might not be having the years that Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are, but he's pitched great. Pedro Martinez looks very solid, and while Cliff Lee has had a bumpy road in last three starts, he's bound to rebound.
Also. . . the team usually plays well in September and October, and they shined under the brightest of lights in last year's post-season.
But. . . they are bumping along, showing their warts, and not putting it all together on the mound, in the field and at the plate. Then again, they could get red hot right now the way they did around the same time last year, and they could take the World Series again.
Or. . . they could manifest all their weaknesses in the NLDS and bow out there. Right now, it's hard to predict what will happen with this team.
Except. . . unlike 2008 from about this day on, everything is not going right for the Phillies right now.
And. . . to win the World Series, most things had better go right.
Shawne Merriman Vindicated
That whooshing sound you hear is a collective sign of relief from the Chargers' front office.
Still, you would think that Merriman has enough drama in his daily routine to avoid drama queens like Tequila, who are more famous for being famous than for substantive accomplishments. You would think that after all these years athletes with inclinations like Merriman's would have learned from experiences like Merriman's.
But they don't, and with the omnipresence of the media, we're going to hear more stories along the lines of this one as the seasons go on. Is the NFL so boring otherwise that we've come to think of less flashy players such as Dwight Freeney and Peyton Manning as nerds?
Still, you would think that Merriman has enough drama in his daily routine to avoid drama queens like Tequila, who are more famous for being famous than for substantive accomplishments. You would think that after all these years athletes with inclinations like Merriman's would have learned from experiences like Merriman's.
But they don't, and with the omnipresence of the media, we're going to hear more stories along the lines of this one as the seasons go on. Is the NFL so boring otherwise that we've come to think of less flashy players such as Dwight Freeney and Peyton Manning as nerds?
Richard Seymour to Venture to Irkutsk
The five-time All-Pro defensive lineman apparently is traveling to Oakland.
The reason: he's scheduled to make $3.4 million or so this year and will be a free agent in the possibly uncapped 2010. Oakland apparently hasn't made any promises to him, other than perhaps suggesting that he couldn't make as much trading derivatives on Wall Street for a TARP-constrained investment bank.
Sure, Seymour is a professional, and, yes, his union's collective bargaining agreement doesn't provide anything other than Seymour should report to Oakland. But still, going to play for the Raiders after having played for the Patriots (and at All-Pro status) is a huge letdown, even for the most professional of players.
The reason: he's scheduled to make $3.4 million or so this year and will be a free agent in the possibly uncapped 2010. Oakland apparently hasn't made any promises to him, other than perhaps suggesting that he couldn't make as much trading derivatives on Wall Street for a TARP-constrained investment bank.
Sure, Seymour is a professional, and, yes, his union's collective bargaining agreement doesn't provide anything other than Seymour should report to Oakland. But still, going to play for the Raiders after having played for the Patriots (and at All-Pro status) is a huge letdown, even for the most professional of players.
Line of the Day
Scroll down to the subheading "Makin' Some Noise" in Kate Fagan's NL Notes column in today's Philadelphia Inquirer.
Good news for a Pittsburgh Pirates alum, but it results in a pretty funner one-liner at the expense of the Buccos.
Good news for a Pittsburgh Pirates alum, but it results in a pretty funner one-liner at the expense of the Buccos.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Phillies Must Avoid Deja Vu from 1993
We all heard it.
Repeatedly.
From the unhealthy looking skipper with too deep of a permanent tan, the guy who wore the cold-weather jacket on the hottest and most humid of summer days.
Jim Fregosi.
C'mon, now, Phillies' fans, say it with me. Consider it Part II of an exorcism.
"Mitch pitches the ninth."
It wasn't that long ago when a Phillies' skipper of a team vying for a championship stood steadfastly by a closer nicknamed "Wild Thing," the kid with the mullet who more often resembled a wrecking ball broadsiding a large building than a Swiss watchmaker. He pitched the ninth come hell or high water, and he gave up a walk-off home run to Joe Carter in Game 6 of the 1993 Series -- a Series-ending walk-off home run.
Phillies fans still haven't forgiven Fregosi for his stubbornness, because Williams struggled mightily. The problem was, most of the bullpen struggled, and there really wasn't a closer in waiting. The best of the bunch at season's end, Roger Mason, didn't have a closer's stuff. Or so it didn't appear. Still, Phillies' fans were left wondering why a guy who brought a gas can to a brush fire was given opportunity after opportunity to close a game.
So frustrated were Phillies' fans that many help up signs after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series exclaiming, "Mitch We Forgive You." The number of the signs -- and their exclamation -- surprised me. I had forgiven Williams a long time ago. He was an immature kid presumably doing the best he could on a mostly unlikable team. That he failed was a fact of baseball life. That Fregosi didn't have any clue as to alternatives was much more unforgivable.
So, fast forward to 2008. Charlie Manuel was doing his best Jim Fregosi imitation by repeatedly saying that Brad Lidge, his pitcher-version of a Mendoza Line-like 7 plus era notwithstanding, was his closer. Some of us were frustrated that the Phillies didn't add a back-up closer by either the July 31 trade deadline or the August 31 waiver-wire deadline. Then our frustration continued when Manuel persisted in making public announcements backing his closer (of course, what the heck was he supposed to say?). The problem, of course, is that having Lidge at the back of the bullpen all but guarantees losing in the NLDS. The reason: the four teams that make the playoffs are good enough to magnify an opponent's weakness. Translated, they'll murder Lidge if he closes. (As an aside, I wonder whether the Phillies' hitters have been struggling because they've been trying to hard to hit home runs and whether that straining is a direct consequence of having a poorly performing closer, which subsconciously is causing the hitters to try to mash the ball in order to build as big a lead as possible. The problem is that if you try too hard, you can magnify your failures).
Well, apparently today Charlie Manuel decided that at the moment he doesn't want to follow precisely in Jim Fregosi's footsteps. Click here for an article on ESPN.com which reports that the Phillies' skipper has backed off his endorsement of the Phillies' MVP in 2008. If that's so, that's good news, insofar as the Phillies need to consider alternatives to Lidge. Ryan Madson, the set-up man, didn't fare well in his stint as the closer when Lidge was on the disabled list earlier in the season. The closer for most of 2007, Brett Myers, is back from spending most of the season on the DL, so the speculation mounts whether the team will shelve Lidge as closer and ask Myers to carry the load. Myers certainly loves the spotlight, but he'd fit in more with the 1993 team than the 2008 team when it comes to maturity and deportment. Still, if he can finish ballgames, he turns the Phillies into a different team.
Fans will most certainly give the Phillies a break if they don't repeat as world champions. It's hard to win a World Series, let alone to win two in a row. That said, if they get to the post-season and combust because Lidge continues to fail, Phillies' fans won't be shy in venting their disappointment. After all, they're still not over hearing "Mitch pitches the ninth," and they won't suffer whatever conjured logic suggests that "Lidge pitches the ninth," 7 plus ERA and all.
The good news for Phillies' fans is that it seems that the front office and Charlie Manuel appear to have one or two alternatives to Brad Lidge, who should go on the shelf and then try to get it all back next year. Given Lidge's track record in 2008, it's hard to believe that he'll be able to turn it around and turn into "Lights Out Lidge" in time for the post-season.
Unfortunately and sadly, the only tune that Charlie Manuel should be contemplating now for Lidge is "Turn out the lights, the party's over. . ." at least insofar as Lidge is the closer for the rest of 2008. It's a sad situation, to be sure, but Manuel must turn the problem into an opportunity for someone else.
Or else risk repeating what happened at the end of the 1993 season.
Repeatedly.
From the unhealthy looking skipper with too deep of a permanent tan, the guy who wore the cold-weather jacket on the hottest and most humid of summer days.
Jim Fregosi.
C'mon, now, Phillies' fans, say it with me. Consider it Part II of an exorcism.
"Mitch pitches the ninth."
It wasn't that long ago when a Phillies' skipper of a team vying for a championship stood steadfastly by a closer nicknamed "Wild Thing," the kid with the mullet who more often resembled a wrecking ball broadsiding a large building than a Swiss watchmaker. He pitched the ninth come hell or high water, and he gave up a walk-off home run to Joe Carter in Game 6 of the 1993 Series -- a Series-ending walk-off home run.
Phillies fans still haven't forgiven Fregosi for his stubbornness, because Williams struggled mightily. The problem was, most of the bullpen struggled, and there really wasn't a closer in waiting. The best of the bunch at season's end, Roger Mason, didn't have a closer's stuff. Or so it didn't appear. Still, Phillies' fans were left wondering why a guy who brought a gas can to a brush fire was given opportunity after opportunity to close a game.
So frustrated were Phillies' fans that many help up signs after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series exclaiming, "Mitch We Forgive You." The number of the signs -- and their exclamation -- surprised me. I had forgiven Williams a long time ago. He was an immature kid presumably doing the best he could on a mostly unlikable team. That he failed was a fact of baseball life. That Fregosi didn't have any clue as to alternatives was much more unforgivable.
So, fast forward to 2008. Charlie Manuel was doing his best Jim Fregosi imitation by repeatedly saying that Brad Lidge, his pitcher-version of a Mendoza Line-like 7 plus era notwithstanding, was his closer. Some of us were frustrated that the Phillies didn't add a back-up closer by either the July 31 trade deadline or the August 31 waiver-wire deadline. Then our frustration continued when Manuel persisted in making public announcements backing his closer (of course, what the heck was he supposed to say?). The problem, of course, is that having Lidge at the back of the bullpen all but guarantees losing in the NLDS. The reason: the four teams that make the playoffs are good enough to magnify an opponent's weakness. Translated, they'll murder Lidge if he closes. (As an aside, I wonder whether the Phillies' hitters have been struggling because they've been trying to hard to hit home runs and whether that straining is a direct consequence of having a poorly performing closer, which subsconciously is causing the hitters to try to mash the ball in order to build as big a lead as possible. The problem is that if you try too hard, you can magnify your failures).
Well, apparently today Charlie Manuel decided that at the moment he doesn't want to follow precisely in Jim Fregosi's footsteps. Click here for an article on ESPN.com which reports that the Phillies' skipper has backed off his endorsement of the Phillies' MVP in 2008. If that's so, that's good news, insofar as the Phillies need to consider alternatives to Lidge. Ryan Madson, the set-up man, didn't fare well in his stint as the closer when Lidge was on the disabled list earlier in the season. The closer for most of 2007, Brett Myers, is back from spending most of the season on the DL, so the speculation mounts whether the team will shelve Lidge as closer and ask Myers to carry the load. Myers certainly loves the spotlight, but he'd fit in more with the 1993 team than the 2008 team when it comes to maturity and deportment. Still, if he can finish ballgames, he turns the Phillies into a different team.
Fans will most certainly give the Phillies a break if they don't repeat as world champions. It's hard to win a World Series, let alone to win two in a row. That said, if they get to the post-season and combust because Lidge continues to fail, Phillies' fans won't be shy in venting their disappointment. After all, they're still not over hearing "Mitch pitches the ninth," and they won't suffer whatever conjured logic suggests that "Lidge pitches the ninth," 7 plus ERA and all.
The good news for Phillies' fans is that it seems that the front office and Charlie Manuel appear to have one or two alternatives to Brad Lidge, who should go on the shelf and then try to get it all back next year. Given Lidge's track record in 2008, it's hard to believe that he'll be able to turn it around and turn into "Lights Out Lidge" in time for the post-season.
Unfortunately and sadly, the only tune that Charlie Manuel should be contemplating now for Lidge is "Turn out the lights, the party's over. . ." at least insofar as Lidge is the closer for the rest of 2008. It's a sad situation, to be sure, but Manuel must turn the problem into an opportunity for someone else.
Or else risk repeating what happened at the end of the 1993 season.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Who's the Next Matt Cassel?
I frequently wonder how many guys out there could play quarterback in the NFL and succeed. After all, many teams blunder greatly with their first-round selections, and late-round picks such as Tom Brady and Cassel have succeeded, the former into the conversation of "who is the best quarterback ever?" and the latter just by leading his team to an 11-5 season after the former went down with a season-ending injury. For some, it's a question of being in the right place at the right time and getting a shot (heck, Joe Montana, who some consider to be the best QB ever, wasn't even a first-round pick).
Thankfully, John Clayton of ESPN.com recently wrote this article. You probably would be surprised at his conclusion -- that the next hidden gem is the third-string quarterback of the Browns, who have a QB controversy going between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.
Thankfully, John Clayton of ESPN.com recently wrote this article. You probably would be surprised at his conclusion -- that the next hidden gem is the third-string quarterback of the Browns, who have a QB controversy going between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.
Shawne Merriman Accused of Choking Tila Tequila
Roger Goodell will have a field day with this one.
Just when he thought that he had been sending a message to NFL players about their conduct, this happens.
Perhaps when someone suggested that the Chargers' All-Pro lineman needed to take a swig of tequila, he took a swing at Tequila -- Tila Tequila, his girlfriend, that is.
Whew. The NFL doesn't lack for the wrong kinds of headlines, does it?
Just when he thought that he had been sending a message to NFL players about their conduct, this happens.
Perhaps when someone suggested that the Chargers' All-Pro lineman needed to take a swig of tequila, he took a swing at Tequila -- Tila Tequila, his girlfriend, that is.
Whew. The NFL doesn't lack for the wrong kinds of headlines, does it?
Reflecting on the Eagles and Brian Dawkins
You still hear every now and then commentary on Philadelphia talk radio that dings the Eagles' management for not re-signing safety Brian Dawkins. Yes, I liked Dawkins an awful lot, and, yes, I think he was a great player. But, truth be told, I also winced as some of Dawkins' play last season -- where he appeared to be a step or too short of making the play. (I also winced and would-be replacement Quentin Demps' play in last year's NFC Championship Game, too).
Here are a few points in defense of the Eagles:
1. Andy Reid has a pretty solid track record of success, even if he hasn't won a Super Bowl. (He and Marv Levy are probably the two best NFL coaches not to win a Super Bowl).
2. Andy Reid usually is right about when a player's time is up. Somehow, the Eagles goofed on DE Derrick Burgess (and some free-agent signings in the inbound lane), but for the most part they've known when to let go of key players -- such as Hugh Douglas, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Jeremiah Trotter (both times) and others.
3. Dawkins' play wasn't all that good last year. While I share concerns that the only way a team should let a player go is if they have a better replacement, it seemed that for the Eagles to continue at an elite level, they needed an upgrade at safety. Yes, I also share concerns that Dawkins' leadership will be hard to replace (but I still give him and Trotter, among others, demerits for not standing steadfastly by Donovan McNabb in his fractured relationship with Terrell Owens. Had leaders like Dawkins and Trotter taken Owens to the woodshed and told him that his antics would not be tolerated, the Eagles might not have lost that particular season and the horrible drama that ensued might not have). The latter point might or might not be a major one, but overall I'll remember Dawkins as a great player and a good leader. There is no doubt that he will be missed.
4. The Eagles have gone to 5 NFC title games in the past 10 seasons. That's a pretty amazing record. Sure, they haven't climbed the mountain totally yet, and it could be that Andy Reid's ways of handling personnel matters might prevent the team from getting to the summit. That said, Eagles' fans, because of his presence, have a better chance of seeing a Super Bowl victory from him than they would from most other coaches in the NFL.
Here are a few points in defense of the Eagles:
1. Andy Reid has a pretty solid track record of success, even if he hasn't won a Super Bowl. (He and Marv Levy are probably the two best NFL coaches not to win a Super Bowl).
2. Andy Reid usually is right about when a player's time is up. Somehow, the Eagles goofed on DE Derrick Burgess (and some free-agent signings in the inbound lane), but for the most part they've known when to let go of key players -- such as Hugh Douglas, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Jeremiah Trotter (both times) and others.
3. Dawkins' play wasn't all that good last year. While I share concerns that the only way a team should let a player go is if they have a better replacement, it seemed that for the Eagles to continue at an elite level, they needed an upgrade at safety. Yes, I also share concerns that Dawkins' leadership will be hard to replace (but I still give him and Trotter, among others, demerits for not standing steadfastly by Donovan McNabb in his fractured relationship with Terrell Owens. Had leaders like Dawkins and Trotter taken Owens to the woodshed and told him that his antics would not be tolerated, the Eagles might not have lost that particular season and the horrible drama that ensued might not have). The latter point might or might not be a major one, but overall I'll remember Dawkins as a great player and a good leader. There is no doubt that he will be missed.
4. The Eagles have gone to 5 NFC title games in the past 10 seasons. That's a pretty amazing record. Sure, they haven't climbed the mountain totally yet, and it could be that Andy Reid's ways of handling personnel matters might prevent the team from getting to the summit. That said, Eagles' fans, because of his presence, have a better chance of seeing a Super Bowl victory from him than they would from most other coaches in the NFL.
Patriots Exile All-Pro Defensive Lineman to Siberia
The Patriots traded Richard Seymour, a five-time Pro Bowler, to the Oakland Raiders for the Raiders' first-round draft pick in 2011.
All Seymour really gets out of this is a nice quote from Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick, about Seymour's being a pillar for the Patriots' franchise and a great player. Because other than that, he's now thrust into being a competitor into the one NFL team that is its own freak show, circus and vaudeville theater rapped up into one. Richard Seymour really doesn't deserve that fate, does he?
Meanwhile, the Patriots get younger, as is their wont (see the Eagles' roster for a demonstration of the grim reality that if a player ages too much, he doesn't get offered a new contract -- Jon Runyan, Tra Thomas and Brian Dawkins are prime examples of the Eagles' philosophy). They'll still be good, probably very good, even without Richard Seymour. Perhaps Belichick and company are taking a page out of Branch Rickey's book -- trading a player slightly past his prime for maximum value.
Whether the Pats will fare better without Seymour remains to be seen. The linked asked the same question of Pats' linebacker O.J. Mayo.
His response: "Ask me after the first game."
Will the Raiders be better with Seymour?
Of course, but, then again, how could they be any worse?
All Seymour really gets out of this is a nice quote from Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick, about Seymour's being a pillar for the Patriots' franchise and a great player. Because other than that, he's now thrust into being a competitor into the one NFL team that is its own freak show, circus and vaudeville theater rapped up into one. Richard Seymour really doesn't deserve that fate, does he?
Meanwhile, the Patriots get younger, as is their wont (see the Eagles' roster for a demonstration of the grim reality that if a player ages too much, he doesn't get offered a new contract -- Jon Runyan, Tra Thomas and Brian Dawkins are prime examples of the Eagles' philosophy). They'll still be good, probably very good, even without Richard Seymour. Perhaps Belichick and company are taking a page out of Branch Rickey's book -- trading a player slightly past his prime for maximum value.
Whether the Pats will fare better without Seymour remains to be seen. The linked asked the same question of Pats' linebacker O.J. Mayo.
His response: "Ask me after the first game."
Will the Raiders be better with Seymour?
Of course, but, then again, how could they be any worse?
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Navy Excelled Today
Benjamin Franklin once said that there is no such thing as a good war or a bad peace. My guess is that some coach once said that there is no such thing as a good loss or a bad win. However. . .
Navy took it to Ohio State today before falling 31-27 in Columbus. The Middies were down two scores with about 6:30 to go when they scored on a long pass and then on a 30+ yard run by their quarterback, who outplayed Ohio State's highly touted Terrelle Pryor.
It was an amazing fourth quarter performance from Navy, which botched a 2-point conversion after scoring the second of their two late scores. At that time, the score was 29-27, Ohio State, and a conversion would have tied the game. As fate would have it, an Ohio State defender intercepted the pass on the conversion and ran it back all the way for two points for the Buckeyes.
Compelling football. The Middies did not win the game, but like Rocky Balboa they won everyone's hearts with their grit today.
Navy took it to Ohio State today before falling 31-27 in Columbus. The Middies were down two scores with about 6:30 to go when they scored on a long pass and then on a 30+ yard run by their quarterback, who outplayed Ohio State's highly touted Terrelle Pryor.
It was an amazing fourth quarter performance from Navy, which botched a 2-point conversion after scoring the second of their two late scores. At that time, the score was 29-27, Ohio State, and a conversion would have tied the game. As fate would have it, an Ohio State defender intercepted the pass on the conversion and ran it back all the way for two points for the Buckeyes.
Compelling football. The Middies did not win the game, but like Rocky Balboa they won everyone's hearts with their grit today.
Would Charlie Manuel Call out Tony LaRussa?
There's a swirling controversy in European soccer surrounding Arsenal's recent 3-1 victory over perennial Scottish Premier League power Celtic. UEFA, the governing body, has suspended Arsenal's Eduardo for two games for "deceiving the referee" to earn an award of a penalty kick. Eduardo is appealing, and his coach, the well-respected Arsene Wenger, stands steadfastly behind his player.
And that, you'd figure, would be all that you'd hear from team officials (except perhaps some commentary from the Celtic management, which would be understandable). The press, of course, anywhere, would be a different story.
But what's interesting about this is that Manchester United's Alec Ferguson decided to speak to the subject -- taking the side of UEFA and, as a result, getting a strong dig in at his coaching rival, Wenger, and his team's Premiership rival, Arsenal. Click here and read the story for yourself.
And that, to an American, seems odd and, well, "just not done" in our sport.
Imagine a bench-clearing brawl in a baseball game between playoff contenders St. Louis and Los Angeles over brushback pitches. Suppose punches were thrown and even landed. Further assume that players were ejected and that one of the team's had a player with a reputation for throwing at hitters who was suspended for a second time -- for a long enough period that he have to miss one and perhaps two starts.
Yes, the commentators would have a field day, the video would be replayed, but would rivals' managers publicly comment or take a side? Would Charlie Manuel, if asked his opinion on it, say something like "the league did the right thing, that type of stuff has to stop, and the pitcher in question is a known headhunter who was going to get someone hurt." I don't think so. I think that Manuel would have said that he has enough to worry about with his own team that he didn't have any comment on business between two other teams. He certainly wouldn't say anything that would motivate one of those two teams to play harder to defeat the Phillies because he gave that team something to put on their bulletin board and stare it. There would be no upside at all.
I know that players' diving to get refs to call penalties is a problem in soccer, the same way that some teams want to protect hitters who get repeatedly thrown at. But wouldn't there have been a way for other teams to weigh in with UEFA other than publicly taken on a well-respected coach and a well-known rival? Shouldn't Alec Ferguson simply have declined comment or not gone out of his way to jump into a controversy that didn't involve his team?
Arsenal's nickname is "The Gunners", and, most certainly, they'll be gunning for Manchester United (not that they need any extra special motivation) when Man U next visits Emirates Stadium. And lest you would worry, my guess is that the falls that Man U players take in that game won't need to be dives -- the play will be as contentious as usual.
And that, you'd figure, would be all that you'd hear from team officials (except perhaps some commentary from the Celtic management, which would be understandable). The press, of course, anywhere, would be a different story.
But what's interesting about this is that Manchester United's Alec Ferguson decided to speak to the subject -- taking the side of UEFA and, as a result, getting a strong dig in at his coaching rival, Wenger, and his team's Premiership rival, Arsenal. Click here and read the story for yourself.
And that, to an American, seems odd and, well, "just not done" in our sport.
Imagine a bench-clearing brawl in a baseball game between playoff contenders St. Louis and Los Angeles over brushback pitches. Suppose punches were thrown and even landed. Further assume that players were ejected and that one of the team's had a player with a reputation for throwing at hitters who was suspended for a second time -- for a long enough period that he have to miss one and perhaps two starts.
Yes, the commentators would have a field day, the video would be replayed, but would rivals' managers publicly comment or take a side? Would Charlie Manuel, if asked his opinion on it, say something like "the league did the right thing, that type of stuff has to stop, and the pitcher in question is a known headhunter who was going to get someone hurt." I don't think so. I think that Manuel would have said that he has enough to worry about with his own team that he didn't have any comment on business between two other teams. He certainly wouldn't say anything that would motivate one of those two teams to play harder to defeat the Phillies because he gave that team something to put on their bulletin board and stare it. There would be no upside at all.
I know that players' diving to get refs to call penalties is a problem in soccer, the same way that some teams want to protect hitters who get repeatedly thrown at. But wouldn't there have been a way for other teams to weigh in with UEFA other than publicly taken on a well-respected coach and a well-known rival? Shouldn't Alec Ferguson simply have declined comment or not gone out of his way to jump into a controversy that didn't involve his team?
Arsenal's nickname is "The Gunners", and, most certainly, they'll be gunning for Manchester United (not that they need any extra special motivation) when Man U next visits Emirates Stadium. And lest you would worry, my guess is that the falls that Man U players take in that game won't need to be dives -- the play will be as contentious as usual.
When in Doubt, Fire Your Offensive Coordinator in a Hurry
There could be two schools of thought on the pre-season firings of Chan Gailey, Jeff Jagodozinski and Turk Schonert, the offensive coordinators of the Chiefs, Bucs and Bills, respectively.
The first is that their head coaches are decisive men; they see that they've made mistakes, and they worked quickly to correct them by firing their offensive coordinators and showing a willingness to go into a grueling season with an understaffed (and perhaps under-experienced) group of coaches to run the offense.
The second is that they're not all that secure or patient, that they're not good at judging who their assistant coaches should be, so they are gambling, took a stab, tried to do something, perhaps if only to mask the fact that they blundered badly in picking the particular coach in the first place. By doing so, they might be misreading how bad their coordinators really were and could be compounding the initial blunder by leaving a gap in their organization bigger than the problem that the now-fired coordinator created.
Of course, we're not close enough to the situation to know whether these three coordinators failed miserably, don't fit in with the head coach, or whether the head coach is shifting blame from himself to a key coordinator. But it's curious that there have been three such firings in a league where more time is spent on personnel decisions than perhaps any other and where more goof-ups seemingly get made than in any other too (you can read an academic study of the NFL draft which demonstrated last year how badly teams have erred using the early picks in the first round of the NFL draft). You would have thought that the head coaches would have picked their coordinators carefully and would have made their changes before the first organized team activity took place after the season ended, as opposed to within a few weeks (in the case of Gailey) or days (in the case of Jagodozinski and Schonert) of the final cutdown day (which is today).
Management faces tough decisions when key people at the top are struggling. On the one hand, you don't want to let a bad situation fester. After all, the person in the position could do more damage by remaining, and morale could sink if the top leaders fail to address a bad situation in the ranks. On the other hand, you should have a solid pyramid of performers underneath your top deputies so that if a top deputy were to depart or falter, you'll have someone to replace him. All of this holds true, of course, if the problem really was with the coordinator and not the head coach. The lateness of the firings seems to suggest -- at least in two instances -- that rookie head coaches made poor decisions early on (at least as to compatability) and to a degree are either being very decisive or are panicking. Few are that close to the situation to tell. The Buffalo situation is more puzzling because Dick Jauron has been a head coach for a while.
It's hard to believe that the Chiefs, Bucs or Bills will have good seasons with all of the turmoil. Major changes like this should occur after the regular season, so that there is plenty of time to plan a new offense, and not right before the season and after much or all of training camp has concluded. Even if these head coaches thought they had little choice, the decisions they found themselves making don't bode well for this season -- for their teams or themselves.
The first is that their head coaches are decisive men; they see that they've made mistakes, and they worked quickly to correct them by firing their offensive coordinators and showing a willingness to go into a grueling season with an understaffed (and perhaps under-experienced) group of coaches to run the offense.
The second is that they're not all that secure or patient, that they're not good at judging who their assistant coaches should be, so they are gambling, took a stab, tried to do something, perhaps if only to mask the fact that they blundered badly in picking the particular coach in the first place. By doing so, they might be misreading how bad their coordinators really were and could be compounding the initial blunder by leaving a gap in their organization bigger than the problem that the now-fired coordinator created.
Of course, we're not close enough to the situation to know whether these three coordinators failed miserably, don't fit in with the head coach, or whether the head coach is shifting blame from himself to a key coordinator. But it's curious that there have been three such firings in a league where more time is spent on personnel decisions than perhaps any other and where more goof-ups seemingly get made than in any other too (you can read an academic study of the NFL draft which demonstrated last year how badly teams have erred using the early picks in the first round of the NFL draft). You would have thought that the head coaches would have picked their coordinators carefully and would have made their changes before the first organized team activity took place after the season ended, as opposed to within a few weeks (in the case of Gailey) or days (in the case of Jagodozinski and Schonert) of the final cutdown day (which is today).
Management faces tough decisions when key people at the top are struggling. On the one hand, you don't want to let a bad situation fester. After all, the person in the position could do more damage by remaining, and morale could sink if the top leaders fail to address a bad situation in the ranks. On the other hand, you should have a solid pyramid of performers underneath your top deputies so that if a top deputy were to depart or falter, you'll have someone to replace him. All of this holds true, of course, if the problem really was with the coordinator and not the head coach. The lateness of the firings seems to suggest -- at least in two instances -- that rookie head coaches made poor decisions early on (at least as to compatability) and to a degree are either being very decisive or are panicking. Few are that close to the situation to tell. The Buffalo situation is more puzzling because Dick Jauron has been a head coach for a while.
It's hard to believe that the Chiefs, Bucs or Bills will have good seasons with all of the turmoil. Major changes like this should occur after the regular season, so that there is plenty of time to plan a new offense, and not right before the season and after much or all of training camp has concluded. Even if these head coaches thought they had little choice, the decisions they found themselves making don't bode well for this season -- for their teams or themselves.
Friday, September 04, 2009
How Good are the Phillies?
Or not.
A sign of a good team is that when they're not in high gear they still win. So, you have to admit that taking 2 of 3 from the Giants (who arguably have the best pitching in baseball) while only scoring 3 runs over three games is pretty impressive. That means that the Phillies can pitch, too, and that they know how to win, especially against good teams. That's good.
But. . . the bottom of their lineup doesn't scare anyone, does it? We've heard a lot in the past couple of days about how the AL teams have tougher lineups, as evidenced by how well John Smoltz and Brad Penny have fared since getting exiled from Boston and landing in St. Louis and San Francisco, respectively. Well, Pedro Feliz is pushing 35 and still doesn't really know the strike zone (I wonder whether the Phillies will re-sign him after this season), Carlos Ruiz is having a decent year (with about a .340 on-base percentage) but won't hit more than .250, and, well, the pitchers can't hit. Also, the Phillies' bench is languishing, with the exception of Ben Francisco. Matt Stairs is about 0-28 since July, Greg Dobbs is having a bad year and on the DL, Eric Bruntlett, unassisted walk-off triple play and all, is still 50 basis points or so from reaching the Mendoza line, and back-up catcher Paul Bako isn't on the Major League roster because of his bat. Are these fatal flaws?
Perhaps not. The biggest question is the bullpen. From what I gather, J.C. Romero won't be able to help in the post-season, leaving the Phillies with one bona fide lefty option in the bullpen (Scott Eyre), unless you count Jack Taschner, who will be eligible for the post-season because the team called him up on August 31 (and who fared poorly in Philadelphia during a longer stint at the beginning of the season) and Jamie Moyer (who, because he now looks to be the 6th starter on a team that only will need four, might not even make the post-season roster). Middle reliever Chad Durbin has struggled, long reliever Clay Condrey is rebounding from an injury and closer Brad Lidge is about as reliable as a bank that remains on the critical list even after having received TARP money. The pluses -- righty set-up man Ryan Madson is very good, Lidge has pitched reasonably well in the past three games, and Brett Myers came off the disabled list today and will be available for late-game action (he also served well in the closer's role in 2007).
Another question is the timeliness of the team's hitting. They rely upon the home run more than any other team, and, they don't hit well with runners in scoring position. Yet, they are among the NL leaders in runs scored and can score runs. In droves. So, another question is whether any team wilts under the light of a bright microscope, or do all of these concerns combine to present flaws big enough to prevent another World Series victory?
The answer: that's why they play the games. The Phillies still have to seal up the NL East in September and try to get the best record in the NL so as to seal up home-field advantage for all playoff games. If they do that and go into the post-season strong, they have a solid chance to return to the World Series and, yes, repeat.
A sign of a good team is that when they're not in high gear they still win. So, you have to admit that taking 2 of 3 from the Giants (who arguably have the best pitching in baseball) while only scoring 3 runs over three games is pretty impressive. That means that the Phillies can pitch, too, and that they know how to win, especially against good teams. That's good.
But. . . the bottom of their lineup doesn't scare anyone, does it? We've heard a lot in the past couple of days about how the AL teams have tougher lineups, as evidenced by how well John Smoltz and Brad Penny have fared since getting exiled from Boston and landing in St. Louis and San Francisco, respectively. Well, Pedro Feliz is pushing 35 and still doesn't really know the strike zone (I wonder whether the Phillies will re-sign him after this season), Carlos Ruiz is having a decent year (with about a .340 on-base percentage) but won't hit more than .250, and, well, the pitchers can't hit. Also, the Phillies' bench is languishing, with the exception of Ben Francisco. Matt Stairs is about 0-28 since July, Greg Dobbs is having a bad year and on the DL, Eric Bruntlett, unassisted walk-off triple play and all, is still 50 basis points or so from reaching the Mendoza line, and back-up catcher Paul Bako isn't on the Major League roster because of his bat. Are these fatal flaws?
Perhaps not. The biggest question is the bullpen. From what I gather, J.C. Romero won't be able to help in the post-season, leaving the Phillies with one bona fide lefty option in the bullpen (Scott Eyre), unless you count Jack Taschner, who will be eligible for the post-season because the team called him up on August 31 (and who fared poorly in Philadelphia during a longer stint at the beginning of the season) and Jamie Moyer (who, because he now looks to be the 6th starter on a team that only will need four, might not even make the post-season roster). Middle reliever Chad Durbin has struggled, long reliever Clay Condrey is rebounding from an injury and closer Brad Lidge is about as reliable as a bank that remains on the critical list even after having received TARP money. The pluses -- righty set-up man Ryan Madson is very good, Lidge has pitched reasonably well in the past three games, and Brett Myers came off the disabled list today and will be available for late-game action (he also served well in the closer's role in 2007).
Another question is the timeliness of the team's hitting. They rely upon the home run more than any other team, and, they don't hit well with runners in scoring position. Yet, they are among the NL leaders in runs scored and can score runs. In droves. So, another question is whether any team wilts under the light of a bright microscope, or do all of these concerns combine to present flaws big enough to prevent another World Series victory?
The answer: that's why they play the games. The Phillies still have to seal up the NL East in September and try to get the best record in the NL so as to seal up home-field advantage for all playoff games. If they do that and go into the post-season strong, they have a solid chance to return to the World Series and, yes, repeat.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Jerome Allen Returns to Penn as Assistant Coach
Too bad that the former Ivy Player of the Year and one of the best to play in the Ivies in the past two decades can't suit 'em up for the Quakers.
Just joking (especially to you, Penn fans). The Quakers are usually formidable, but last season under Coach Glen Miller was anything but crisp. Which means, of course, that there will be increasing pressure on Miller to win the Ivy title, which should be no easy task against the likes of Cornell and rapidly improving Harvard and Princeton.
By all accounts, Allen's a terrific guy, and Penn should be thrilled to have him back.
Should Miller falter, I doubt that right now Allen would be the guy that they would tap to replace him (if only because he lacks the experience that first-time head coaches have before they get tapped for the job). Instead, the Quakers probably would look no further than to North Broad Street, where Penn alum and current Temple assistant Matt Langel looks like a head coach in waiting
Just joking (especially to you, Penn fans). The Quakers are usually formidable, but last season under Coach Glen Miller was anything but crisp. Which means, of course, that there will be increasing pressure on Miller to win the Ivy title, which should be no easy task against the likes of Cornell and rapidly improving Harvard and Princeton.
By all accounts, Allen's a terrific guy, and Penn should be thrilled to have him back.
Should Miller falter, I doubt that right now Allen would be the guy that they would tap to replace him (if only because he lacks the experience that first-time head coaches have before they get tapped for the job). Instead, the Quakers probably would look no further than to North Broad Street, where Penn alum and current Temple assistant Matt Langel looks like a head coach in waiting
The Agony of Defeat?
A Phillies' executive left his 2008 World Series ring, worth about $10,500, in a rest room at Citizens Bank Park yesterday.
So far, it hasn't turned up.
Ouch.
Here's to hoping that this executive and his ring are reunited. . . soon.
So far, it hasn't turned up.
Ouch.
Here's to hoping that this executive and his ring are reunited. . . soon.
Betting Your Career on the Decisons of 18 Year-Olds
The first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, has decided to remain in Spain for two more seasons.
You have to believe the Minnesota's front office erred when they thought that they could get Rubio to come to the U.S. right away to join the team. Now, they won't get him until the fall of 2011. Somehow, at #5, there were many other players who could have helped the T-Wolves immediately.
Oops.
Memo to the file: Draft kids with no options other than the NBA, with relatives who are willing to move across the ocean to join a European teenager, or kids who have solidly committed (whatever the heck that means) to leaving their European teams and joining your NBA team. Failing that advice, take note of where your local burn unit is. You'll need it.
You have to believe the Minnesota's front office erred when they thought that they could get Rubio to come to the U.S. right away to join the team. Now, they won't get him until the fall of 2011. Somehow, at #5, there were many other players who could have helped the T-Wolves immediately.
Oops.
Memo to the file: Draft kids with no options other than the NBA, with relatives who are willing to move across the ocean to join a European teenager, or kids who have solidly committed (whatever the heck that means) to leaving their European teams and joining your NBA team. Failing that advice, take note of where your local burn unit is. You'll need it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)