It's Monday afternoon. After gracing the 20 mile radius of Scranton attempting to get interviews with just about every golf course in existence, I was in the golf mode.
Of course, thanks to Tiger Woods, there is golf on the television today. After his Pierce like comeback[sorry, that was required] yesterday to tie Rocco Mediate on the 18th hole, he and Rocco are in a duel.
Now, I'm not the biggest golf fan in the world. Quite frankly, I'd rather go play the sport. When you look around Torrey Pines in this US Open, however, there isn't an empty spot to stand. It's amazing one one man can do for a sport. And I don't mind a one man wrecking crew like Tiger. It's not like it's a team sport like the NBA where I could careless for Mr. Kobe Bryant.
Woods currently holds a two stroke lead, but is in danger of losing a stroke or two after he drove the ball into the bunker on the 8th hole. Rocco should gain a stroke on this hole, making it a one stroke lead going into the 9th hole.
I'll stick to watching Golf today, and keep you posted on the action as it continues.
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So here we stand, the 15th hole and both players are at +2. Tiger held a lead of three strokes not that long ago, and now stands in danger of losing the lead after missing the fair way on 15.
Tiger has given Rocco all the chances in the world today. If Rocco was in the Elite of the golf world, he'd have already won this. Tiger is lucky that he's still in this today. While I'm finding it hard to not cheer for Rocco, it's been frustrating watching him miss huge putts in this tournament. The announcers have it exactly right. Tiger handles the pressure, and he sinks the key putts. That's what truly separates Tiger from the rest of the world.
Oh, he also draws quite a bit of people. I wonder why the PGA likes him so much?
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Go Rocco go! Gorgeous putt and now the pressure is on Tiger. It's very rare you see Tiger put under pressure. Three holes left to go go following this putt and Tiger is being given a run for his money.
While in the end, I'd still put my money on Tiger, it's been entertaining. Needless to say, after missing a putt to the right, Tiger is now one stroke down to Rocco Mediate. Three holes to go.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Five reasons to fire Willie
1) The Mets' starters don't go a full nine innings every game
2) The Mets' relief pitchers can't record three outs without giving up three or more hits with rainbow sprinkles on top
3) Moises Alou can't stay healthy
4) Moises Alou's five backups can't stay healthy
5) The Mets are five games out of first (in the loss column). Better fold the season now--IT IS June, afterall.
Five things that can save Willie:
1) Leave Johan in for 8 innings in his next start
2) Convince Omar Minaya to trade Aaron Heilman. Don't care for who.
3) Trot Nixon.
4) New York media (ha, good luck)
5) Pedro Martinez, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado.
2) The Mets' relief pitchers can't record three outs without giving up three or more hits with rainbow sprinkles on top
3) Moises Alou can't stay healthy
4) Moises Alou's five backups can't stay healthy
5) The Mets are five games out of first (in the loss column). Better fold the season now--IT IS June, afterall.
Five things that can save Willie:
1) Leave Johan in for 8 innings in his next start
2) Convince Omar Minaya to trade Aaron Heilman. Don't care for who.
3) Trot Nixon.
4) New York media (ha, good luck)
5) Pedro Martinez, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
ESPN-ization!
ESPN gets a really bad reputation for taking things that are popular, lacing them with Disney advertisements, and shoving them down our throats until we think we're in hell. Today, though, they got something right.
ESPN is handling their coverage of the U.S. Open exactly how USA, NBC, and CBS want to cover golf, but are afraid to. Almost half the field has teed off, but for the last 45 minutes, they have only shown Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott, who are all grouped together. Once, just once, did they show the full leaderboard, and only ONCE did they show a golfer other than those three---and that was after he made an 80-yard chip in for birdie.
I disagree with them not showing the full leaderboard--when I first tuned in, they only showed Woods', Mickelson's, and Scott's scores, leading me to believe they were the only group that had teed off.
All of the other networks that cover golf are afraid to do this, and ESPN is really taking a risk by doing this, but I'm loving it. We need to be honest with ourselves, golf is golf is golf. If you like watching golf, chances are you're either watching because you love the game and don't care who is taking the shot, as long as you get to watch...or you're watching for Tiger.
It will be interesting to see how ESPN handles the rest of the weekend, because none of these three will be flirting with the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
My pick to win? Mark O' Meara.
*Update - 12:07 p.m.*
I take back my complete and utter praise of ESPN. Though I love that they admit what they're doing, calling it "Coverage of 'The Big Three'," instead of "Coverage of the U.S. Open," this leads to a lot of downtime where rather than showing us the other 153 golfers in action, they maul us with sob stories of the qualifiers and their tragedy-to-triumph tales of how they got here. Oh well. Maybe The Price is Right is still on.
ESPN is handling their coverage of the U.S. Open exactly how USA, NBC, and CBS want to cover golf, but are afraid to. Almost half the field has teed off, but for the last 45 minutes, they have only shown Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott, who are all grouped together. Once, just once, did they show the full leaderboard, and only ONCE did they show a golfer other than those three---and that was after he made an 80-yard chip in for birdie.
I disagree with them not showing the full leaderboard--when I first tuned in, they only showed Woods', Mickelson's, and Scott's scores, leading me to believe they were the only group that had teed off.
All of the other networks that cover golf are afraid to do this, and ESPN is really taking a risk by doing this, but I'm loving it. We need to be honest with ourselves, golf is golf is golf. If you like watching golf, chances are you're either watching because you love the game and don't care who is taking the shot, as long as you get to watch...or you're watching for Tiger.
It will be interesting to see how ESPN handles the rest of the weekend, because none of these three will be flirting with the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
My pick to win? Mark O' Meara.
*Update - 12:07 p.m.*
I take back my complete and utter praise of ESPN. Though I love that they admit what they're doing, calling it "Coverage of 'The Big Three'," instead of "Coverage of the U.S. Open," this leads to a lot of downtime where rather than showing us the other 153 golfers in action, they maul us with sob stories of the qualifiers and their tragedy-to-triumph tales of how they got here. Oh well. Maybe The Price is Right is still on.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
GRIFFEY, GRIFFEY, GRIFFEY!
Through all the steroid fuss, through Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and Jose Canseco, there has been Griffey.
Ken Griffey, Jr. has never had a drop of bad media in relation to steroid allegations. He has always played the game the right way, and if it weren't for a plethora of injuries over the last eight years, The Kid could be challenging Barry Bonds for the most coveted and most controversial record in the game.
If Griffey owned that record, there would be no asterisk. Unfortunately, this is why you play the games, and injuries are a part of baseball.
Still, it's great to see The Kid reach the 600 home run milestone. Throughout the 90's with the Mariners, Griffey received the hype that Alex Rodriguez has now. At the time, he was the quickest to many home run milestones (300, 350, 400, 450), now he places second on those lists, surpassed only by A-Rod.
There are other lists that Griffey tops in my opinion, that are more important that quickest to 300 home runs.
1) Sweetest swing in baseball. There's only one swing I've seen come remotely close to as perfect and as beautiful as Griffey's, and that's John Olerud. Both were prolific offensive machines in their prime, both batting from the left side, and both know how to play the game.
2) Most respected player in the game. I can't say Griffey is atop the list, but he belongs up there with the best of them. When he finally made his return to Seattle in '07, the standing ovation he got was only rivaled by the one Mike Piazza received when he returned to New York. Sosa wasn't treated like that when he went back to Chicago. Bonds never got royal treatment when he played as a Giant in Pittsburgh, and the list can go on.
Griffey flies under the radar because of everything else going on in the game, but the list of his accolades are ridiculously long. Here's to Griffey, here's to a few more healthy years, and here's to one of the best players of this generation.
Ken Griffey, Jr. has never had a drop of bad media in relation to steroid allegations. He has always played the game the right way, and if it weren't for a plethora of injuries over the last eight years, The Kid could be challenging Barry Bonds for the most coveted and most controversial record in the game.
If Griffey owned that record, there would be no asterisk. Unfortunately, this is why you play the games, and injuries are a part of baseball.
Still, it's great to see The Kid reach the 600 home run milestone. Throughout the 90's with the Mariners, Griffey received the hype that Alex Rodriguez has now. At the time, he was the quickest to many home run milestones (300, 350, 400, 450), now he places second on those lists, surpassed only by A-Rod.
There are other lists that Griffey tops in my opinion, that are more important that quickest to 300 home runs.
1) Sweetest swing in baseball. There's only one swing I've seen come remotely close to as perfect and as beautiful as Griffey's, and that's John Olerud. Both were prolific offensive machines in their prime, both batting from the left side, and both know how to play the game.
2) Most respected player in the game. I can't say Griffey is atop the list, but he belongs up there with the best of them. When he finally made his return to Seattle in '07, the standing ovation he got was only rivaled by the one Mike Piazza received when he returned to New York. Sosa wasn't treated like that when he went back to Chicago. Bonds never got royal treatment when he played as a Giant in Pittsburgh, and the list can go on.
Griffey flies under the radar because of everything else going on in the game, but the list of his accolades are ridiculously long. Here's to Griffey, here's to a few more healthy years, and here's to one of the best players of this generation.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
I hate the Yankees
It's always brewing inside of me, but when the Mets lose 2-1 THREE straight days, then I really start to get pissed. I need to take my anger out on something other than my team's inept offense.
I don't really know where to start, so maybe I'll just work my way backwards. Whenever I'm watching the Yankees with my dad, a Yankee fan, we make bets every so often--be it a key point in the game, or any Derek Jeter at-bat since he knows how much I hate him.
Anyway, Joba is starting today on a low pitch count again. He had a decent first inning with a strikeout to end it (OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOH!!) so of course Yankee fans get all hot and bothered. Give him the Cy Young already.
So then Jeter gets up in the bottom of the first and my dad and I make a bet. I say he flies out to right, he says he gets a base hit. Mind you, we're watching on TV, but my dad also has his headphones on and he's listening to Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling on the radio, about five seconds ahead of the image on the televison. So he hears Jeter's single before I do, so he rubs it in that he was right before I even know what's about to happen. Then in typical Yankee fashion, Bobby Abreu steps up and hits it into the upper deck. I've had enough of the Yankees for today and we aren't even through the first inning. I decide to go write a nasty blog about how much I hate the Yankees. Congratulations, you can beat the Royals. Let's throw a party. Michael Kay is a scumbag.
YESTERDAY was a prime example of everything I hate about the Yankees. They won 12-11...AGAINST THE ROYALS. On a walk-off hit by Johnny Damon who went 6-for-6. I give him credit, six hits in a game is impressive. But I still hate the Yankees, and they shouldn't be giving up 11 runs to the Royals. I hate the Yankees.
I didn't watch Friday's game, and of course the Yanks lose. What, you can't beat the big bad Royals? Man, I hate the Yankees!
THURSDAY was probably the worst of the worst. I was in and out of the room...if you know me, you know I'm a pretty supersticious person when it comes to sports. If I wear my Mets hat on a given day and the Mets lose, I'm not wearing that hat again for awhile on days they play. Like many fans, I think the shampoo or deodorant I use affects the outcome of games. If the Mets don't allow a run in the field while I'm watching, I watch every inning they're in the field. It sounds fine, but it gets complicated when I leave the room while they're at-bat and they score. Then I have to leave the room while they're up so they can score, but be in the room when they're in the field so they don't allow any runs.
Back to Thursday against Toronto, the Yankees grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, so I had to leave the room so they would stop scoring. I came back and the Blue Jays had tied it, 2-2. So I left the room again, and I came back and the Jays were winning 7-2! I decided to stay a bit, but then a couple of long balls later, it was 7-6. It lasted that way until late in the ballgame where Farnsworth got in some trouble, allowed a run, could have allowed more but didn't, everyone is talking about how Joba should still be in the bullpen, things are looking good for Toronto.
Then my dad came home.
Bottom 9, this happens, that happens, Matsui gets an RBI, it's 8-7 Jays, and my dad asked if the Yankees would lose or go to extras. I told him it wouldn't come down to extras because Giambi was coming up, swinging for the fences. I don't know what it is about Giambi, but he's like Tino Martinez...you just get that gut feeling when he's about to go deep. Sure enough, it is high, it is far, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIT IS GOOOOOOOOOONE. Game over, congrats, you beat the Blue Jays.
I hate the Yankees.
I don't really know where to start, so maybe I'll just work my way backwards. Whenever I'm watching the Yankees with my dad, a Yankee fan, we make bets every so often--be it a key point in the game, or any Derek Jeter at-bat since he knows how much I hate him.
Anyway, Joba is starting today on a low pitch count again. He had a decent first inning with a strikeout to end it (OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOH!!) so of course Yankee fans get all hot and bothered. Give him the Cy Young already.
So then Jeter gets up in the bottom of the first and my dad and I make a bet. I say he flies out to right, he says he gets a base hit. Mind you, we're watching on TV, but my dad also has his headphones on and he's listening to Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling on the radio, about five seconds ahead of the image on the televison. So he hears Jeter's single before I do, so he rubs it in that he was right before I even know what's about to happen. Then in typical Yankee fashion, Bobby Abreu steps up and hits it into the upper deck. I've had enough of the Yankees for today and we aren't even through the first inning. I decide to go write a nasty blog about how much I hate the Yankees. Congratulations, you can beat the Royals. Let's throw a party. Michael Kay is a scumbag.
YESTERDAY was a prime example of everything I hate about the Yankees. They won 12-11...AGAINST THE ROYALS. On a walk-off hit by Johnny Damon who went 6-for-6. I give him credit, six hits in a game is impressive. But I still hate the Yankees, and they shouldn't be giving up 11 runs to the Royals. I hate the Yankees.
I didn't watch Friday's game, and of course the Yanks lose. What, you can't beat the big bad Royals? Man, I hate the Yankees!
THURSDAY was probably the worst of the worst. I was in and out of the room...if you know me, you know I'm a pretty supersticious person when it comes to sports. If I wear my Mets hat on a given day and the Mets lose, I'm not wearing that hat again for awhile on days they play. Like many fans, I think the shampoo or deodorant I use affects the outcome of games. If the Mets don't allow a run in the field while I'm watching, I watch every inning they're in the field. It sounds fine, but it gets complicated when I leave the room while they're at-bat and they score. Then I have to leave the room while they're up so they can score, but be in the room when they're in the field so they don't allow any runs.
Back to Thursday against Toronto, the Yankees grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, so I had to leave the room so they would stop scoring. I came back and the Blue Jays had tied it, 2-2. So I left the room again, and I came back and the Jays were winning 7-2! I decided to stay a bit, but then a couple of long balls later, it was 7-6. It lasted that way until late in the ballgame where Farnsworth got in some trouble, allowed a run, could have allowed more but didn't, everyone is talking about how Joba should still be in the bullpen, things are looking good for Toronto.
Then my dad came home.
Bottom 9, this happens, that happens, Matsui gets an RBI, it's 8-7 Jays, and my dad asked if the Yankees would lose or go to extras. I told him it wouldn't come down to extras because Giambi was coming up, swinging for the fences. I don't know what it is about Giambi, but he's like Tino Martinez...you just get that gut feeling when he's about to go deep. Sure enough, it is high, it is far, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIT IS GOOOOOOOOOONE. Game over, congrats, you beat the Blue Jays.
I hate the Yankees.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Is Josh Hamilton going to slow down??
Now that I've had a day to let the world of MLB sink back into my blood, there's some crazy stuff going on. It has BEEN going on, but now it's June, we might have to start taking some of these things seriously.
Josh Hamilton
.329, 17 hr, 67 rbi
-Last year when I was shadowing Sean T. McMann at a Hudson Valley Renegades' game, the giveaway that night was a baseball with Josh Hamilton splurged all over it from his 15 games with the 'Gades in 1999 and his 16 games with them in '06. He barely hit .200 with them either season, had no homers, and there was really nothing significant about his stay there. He just made the majors so they had to rub it in. At the time, the only significance about the ball was its uncanny ability to yield a joke about advocating cocaine use. Now I might actually be able to pawn it off to a six-year old at a HVR game for like $5. If he wins the triple crown, I'm putting it up on eBay. Now that's a thought.
What happened to the D'Backs?
When I left, they were the best team in the bigs. Now they're only in first because every other team in the West is playing like it's the '05 season all over again. Now the Cubbies are on nine-game run and they're the best team in the majors.
The Rays are HOW MANY games over .500???
12 of them. And in first place! Patience is a virtue when you have to fold your first 10 seasons because you play in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees. Maybe the Orioles and Blue Jays should take a page out of Tampa Bay's book. A few smart trades (a la Victor Zambrano for Scott Kazmir) and a timely front office change has really changed the fate of the lovable losers.
Or maybe it was just the name change. The old (only) people in St. Pete didn't like the connotation "DEVIL" brought to the team. Maybe they're God's team of the MLB!
Where's the offense?
The Yankees are 7th in the A.L., and 20th, that's right, TWENTIETH in the Majors in runs scored. They won't score 1000 runs this season, nor will the Tigers, nor will any team. I'm not saying 10 pitchers will keep their E.R.A. below 3.00 the entire season, but it's a good year to be on the hill.
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
When I left on May 22, he was hitting .412, now he's hitting .409. Is he going to slow down?
If the season ended today:
AL 1 - Angels
AL 2 - Rays
AL 3 - Chi Sox
AL WC - Red Sox
NL 1 - Cubbies
NL 2 - Phils
NL 3 - D'Backs
NL WC - Cards
wait, what??
Oh yeah, and if the Rays stay in the race for the next month or two, look for their 2007 #1 pick, a southpaw, David Price to be called up. He's the real deal. More hype than a young Scott Kazmir, and able to produce similar, if not better, results.
Josh Hamilton
.329, 17 hr, 67 rbi
-Last year when I was shadowing Sean T. McMann at a Hudson Valley Renegades' game, the giveaway that night was a baseball with Josh Hamilton splurged all over it from his 15 games with the 'Gades in 1999 and his 16 games with them in '06. He barely hit .200 with them either season, had no homers, and there was really nothing significant about his stay there. He just made the majors so they had to rub it in. At the time, the only significance about the ball was its uncanny ability to yield a joke about advocating cocaine use. Now I might actually be able to pawn it off to a six-year old at a HVR game for like $5. If he wins the triple crown, I'm putting it up on eBay. Now that's a thought.
What happened to the D'Backs?
When I left, they were the best team in the bigs. Now they're only in first because every other team in the West is playing like it's the '05 season all over again. Now the Cubbies are on nine-game run and they're the best team in the majors.
The Rays are HOW MANY games over .500???
12 of them. And in first place! Patience is a virtue when you have to fold your first 10 seasons because you play in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees. Maybe the Orioles and Blue Jays should take a page out of Tampa Bay's book. A few smart trades (a la Victor Zambrano for Scott Kazmir) and a timely front office change has really changed the fate of the lovable losers.
Or maybe it was just the name change. The old (only) people in St. Pete didn't like the connotation "DEVIL" brought to the team. Maybe they're God's team of the MLB!
Where's the offense?
The Yankees are 7th in the A.L., and 20th, that's right, TWENTIETH in the Majors in runs scored. They won't score 1000 runs this season, nor will the Tigers, nor will any team. I'm not saying 10 pitchers will keep their E.R.A. below 3.00 the entire season, but it's a good year to be on the hill.
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
When I left on May 22, he was hitting .412, now he's hitting .409. Is he going to slow down?
If the season ended today:
AL 1 - Angels
AL 2 - Rays
AL 3 - Chi Sox
AL WC - Red Sox
NL 1 - Cubbies
NL 2 - Phils
NL 3 - D'Backs
NL WC - Cards
wait, what??
Oh yeah, and if the Rays stay in the race for the next month or two, look for their 2007 #1 pick, a southpaw, David Price to be called up. He's the real deal. More hype than a young Scott Kazmir, and able to produce similar, if not better, results.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Maybe something has changed!
Apparently Joba is already being thrusted into the Yankees' rotation! I guess he's on a 65-70 pitch maximum tonight so he'll probably go 4-5 innings.
The Blue Jays are one of those teams that can always give you a hard time. I figure Joba will probably give up two runs and be tagged with a tough loss because the Yanks are facing Roy Halladay. Joba should be up to full strength and going 6-7 innings per start within two or three weeks.
But that leaves a giant hole in the 7th and 8th inning for the Yankees' bullpen now...
The Blue Jays are one of those teams that can always give you a hard time. I figure Joba will probably give up two runs and be tagged with a tough loss because the Yanks are facing Roy Halladay. Joba should be up to full strength and going 6-7 innings per start within two or three weeks.
But that leaves a giant hole in the 7th and 8th inning for the Yankees' bullpen now...
Little has changed.
I left and the Mets were 22-22. I come back and they're 28-28.
Eh.
Pedro's back tonight. About two months sooner than I anticipated. This ought to be interesting.
Eh.
Pedro's back tonight. About two months sooner than I anticipated. This ought to be interesting.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Piazza HOF debate
Am I the only one shocked to hear that Mike Piazza might be wearing orange and blue into the Hall of Fame in five years?
He had some great years as a member of the Mets, but given his background and the fact that he owes his entire career to Tommy LaSorda, I never thought for one second that he would go in as a Met instead of a Dodger.
I didn't get to see the press conference, nor have I read anything out of L.A. papers, but the national wire stories I've read indicate that Piazza focused more on his time spent in New York when looking back on his career.
The numbers are close--he hit 209 homers as a Dodger and 220 as a Met. He had six all-star appearances as a Dodger, six as a Met. 674 rbis with L.A., 655 with New York. Five silver slugger awards with the Dodgers, four with the Mets, and one in 1998 when he played for the Dodgers, Mets, and Marlins.
Since all the numbers are this close, I just feel like it should come down to his choice--and I'm just shocked that he would choose New York. Nothing against the Mets, since that's the cap I'm wearing into the Hall of Fame, but as I said before, Piazza owes his career to the man who bleeds Dodger Blue.
I can't name another 62nd round draft pick who made a name for themselves quite like Mike Piazza has.
(by the way, I leave for Europe tomorrow, so hopefully Mr. Clark and Mr. Barrows will hold down the fort while I'm gone. I'll be back June 9 with a greater understanding for Manchester United, Chelsea, and the rest of the futbolers!)
He had some great years as a member of the Mets, but given his background and the fact that he owes his entire career to Tommy LaSorda, I never thought for one second that he would go in as a Met instead of a Dodger.
I didn't get to see the press conference, nor have I read anything out of L.A. papers, but the national wire stories I've read indicate that Piazza focused more on his time spent in New York when looking back on his career.
The numbers are close--he hit 209 homers as a Dodger and 220 as a Met. He had six all-star appearances as a Dodger, six as a Met. 674 rbis with L.A., 655 with New York. Five silver slugger awards with the Dodgers, four with the Mets, and one in 1998 when he played for the Dodgers, Mets, and Marlins.
Since all the numbers are this close, I just feel like it should come down to his choice--and I'm just shocked that he would choose New York. Nothing against the Mets, since that's the cap I'm wearing into the Hall of Fame, but as I said before, Piazza owes his career to the man who bleeds Dodger Blue.
I can't name another 62nd round draft pick who made a name for themselves quite like Mike Piazza has.
(by the way, I leave for Europe tomorrow, so hopefully Mr. Clark and Mr. Barrows will hold down the fort while I'm gone. I'll be back June 9 with a greater understanding for Manchester United, Chelsea, and the rest of the futbolers!)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Umpires are great quotes
"I f---ed it up. I'm the one who thought it was a f---ing foul ball. I saw it on the replay. I'm the one who f---ed it up so you can put that in your paper. Bolts and nuts, I f---ed up. You've just got to move on. No one feels worse about it than I do." -Bob Davidson on blowing a call when he reversed a Carlos Delgado home run to a foul ball.
I didn't know umpires faced the press after games. Especially in the situation where YEAH, he blew the call, but Delgado still singled and got an RBI, and then the Mets went on to romp the Yankees, 11-2.
I guess it gives us something to write about since normalcy isn't at a premium yet in the MLB. The Rays, as good as they are, are only a game out of first, but let's be honest, they aren't that good.
The Marlins are still in first--don't even get me started. They're going through the Seattle/Texas syndrome where you dump your star player and suddenly you have team chemistry and you can win. It won't last much longer.
I think deep down we all knew that the Rockies were a fluke last season. They got hot at the perfect time in a crappy division. They're bottom dwellers again.
At least they'll always have the Giants to be in front of in the standings. San Fran is a team that will NOT go through Seattle/Texas syndrome. The changes that need to be made there have to start in the front office before that team starts winning.
The Cubs appear to have made one of the smarter acquisitions (so far) in the offseason by signing Kosuke Fukudome. I trashed that deal nonstop, but with a .416 on-base percentage, he can hit #2 in my lineup any day of the week.
Are the Yankees this bad? NOOOOOOO, but it's fun to watch them suffer in the first half of the season these past few years. They'll probably be the hottest team in the second half and finish with a respectable enough record so that Joe Girardi doesn't get the axe. Cashman, however, won't get a new contract.
The A.L. Central might be the most fun to watch down the stretch. Even though I picked them to win, the Tigers have been way too inconsistent. The Indians may have the best shot to run away with the division.
How are the Angels in first place? Neither of their top two pitchers have thrown a single inning this season. Scary to think how good they might be if Escobar and Lackey were healthy. Something tells me that the 3-4-5 pitchers who are now 1-2-3 pitchers wouldn't be putting up such outstanding numbers if they didn't have to rise to the occasion, though.
Arizona is goooood. Scary good.
Rafael Furcal can't carry the Dodgers all season offensively. On the mound, Penny and Lowe really need to find a groove.
That is all.
I didn't know umpires faced the press after games. Especially in the situation where YEAH, he blew the call, but Delgado still singled and got an RBI, and then the Mets went on to romp the Yankees, 11-2.
I guess it gives us something to write about since normalcy isn't at a premium yet in the MLB. The Rays, as good as they are, are only a game out of first, but let's be honest, they aren't that good.
The Marlins are still in first--don't even get me started. They're going through the Seattle/Texas syndrome where you dump your star player and suddenly you have team chemistry and you can win. It won't last much longer.
I think deep down we all knew that the Rockies were a fluke last season. They got hot at the perfect time in a crappy division. They're bottom dwellers again.
At least they'll always have the Giants to be in front of in the standings. San Fran is a team that will NOT go through Seattle/Texas syndrome. The changes that need to be made there have to start in the front office before that team starts winning.
The Cubs appear to have made one of the smarter acquisitions (so far) in the offseason by signing Kosuke Fukudome. I trashed that deal nonstop, but with a .416 on-base percentage, he can hit #2 in my lineup any day of the week.
Are the Yankees this bad? NOOOOOOO, but it's fun to watch them suffer in the first half of the season these past few years. They'll probably be the hottest team in the second half and finish with a respectable enough record so that Joe Girardi doesn't get the axe. Cashman, however, won't get a new contract.
The A.L. Central might be the most fun to watch down the stretch. Even though I picked them to win, the Tigers have been way too inconsistent. The Indians may have the best shot to run away with the division.
How are the Angels in first place? Neither of their top two pitchers have thrown a single inning this season. Scary to think how good they might be if Escobar and Lackey were healthy. Something tells me that the 3-4-5 pitchers who are now 1-2-3 pitchers wouldn't be putting up such outstanding numbers if they didn't have to rise to the occasion, though.
Arizona is goooood. Scary good.
Rafael Furcal can't carry the Dodgers all season offensively. On the mound, Penny and Lowe really need to find a groove.
That is all.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Celtic Pride II
Scene: The Marriott Marquis, Cleveland OH, Room 1B. Doc Rivers is watching gametape with his wife Kristen.
DOC: See there! That's where LeBron tells his mama to sit his ass down.
KRISTEN: I know, honey. You've showed me this like ten times.
DOC: Are you kidding me? This has almost as many hits as Sue Simmons dropping the F bomb.
KRISTEN: I understand, babe. But shouldn't you be more focused on game plan?
DOC: Babe, do you not read the newspapers? We won yesterday. The series is 3-2. The pressure's off us.
KRISTEN: But don't you want to put Cleveland away? You know how great LeBron can be on any given day. Why don't you just have James Posey cover him these last two games?
DOC: Last time I checked, James Posey isn't a part of the Big Three. Plus, he doesn't even have a ring.
KRISTEN: 2006 with Miami, actually.
DOC: Enough of this arguing, babe. What do you say we put out the Do Not Disturb sign on our door and have some happy time?
CUT TO: 5 minutes later, Doc and Kristen lying in bed
KRISTEN: Wow. That was pretty awful.
DOC: God, that's so unlike me.
KRISTEN: I know! You're so great back home.
DOC: I just don't understand it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scene: Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, Wally Sczerbiak, and Delonte West playing poker.
WEST: (after winning big pot) Wow. Kevin, we've been playing cards together for years and I've never realized how bad your tell is.
GARNETT: I don't have a tell.
SCZERBIAK: Yeah, you do actually. I've never noticed it before either.
CASSELL: I don't see anything.
SCZERBIAK: I'm just happy that I'm making a lot of the money back that I lost to the two of you last week. What a crazy game, this poker.
Cassell goes all in, called by West. Cassell turns up a 2-3 offsuit, West turns up pocket queens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scene: Ray Allen walks out of his hotel room, sees that Denzel Washington entering the room across from him
RAY: Denzell! How are you man, I haven't seen you since we did the movie together!
DENZEL: Hey Ray. Congrats on getting this far in the playoffs.
RAY: I know! I'm not used to it. So what are you up to?
DENZEL: Here shooting a movie with Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey. I was just about to head to the gym to shoot the ball around. Wanna come with?
Cut to: Denzel and Ray standing outside Bally's Total Fitness.
DENZEL: Wow. So that was a role reversal from the movie, huh?
RAY: I can't believe I lost to you, old man.
DENZEL: Not only did you lose, but you lost 11-2. What's up with that?
RAY: I have no idea
DOC: See there! That's where LeBron tells his mama to sit his ass down.
KRISTEN: I know, honey. You've showed me this like ten times.
DOC: Are you kidding me? This has almost as many hits as Sue Simmons dropping the F bomb.
KRISTEN: I understand, babe. But shouldn't you be more focused on game plan?
DOC: Babe, do you not read the newspapers? We won yesterday. The series is 3-2. The pressure's off us.
KRISTEN: But don't you want to put Cleveland away? You know how great LeBron can be on any given day. Why don't you just have James Posey cover him these last two games?
DOC: Last time I checked, James Posey isn't a part of the Big Three. Plus, he doesn't even have a ring.
KRISTEN: 2006 with Miami, actually.
DOC: Enough of this arguing, babe. What do you say we put out the Do Not Disturb sign on our door and have some happy time?
CUT TO: 5 minutes later, Doc and Kristen lying in bed
KRISTEN: Wow. That was pretty awful.
DOC: God, that's so unlike me.
KRISTEN: I know! You're so great back home.
DOC: I just don't understand it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scene: Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, Wally Sczerbiak, and Delonte West playing poker.
WEST: (after winning big pot) Wow. Kevin, we've been playing cards together for years and I've never realized how bad your tell is.
GARNETT: I don't have a tell.
SCZERBIAK: Yeah, you do actually. I've never noticed it before either.
CASSELL: I don't see anything.
SCZERBIAK: I'm just happy that I'm making a lot of the money back that I lost to the two of you last week. What a crazy game, this poker.
Cassell goes all in, called by West. Cassell turns up a 2-3 offsuit, West turns up pocket queens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scene: Ray Allen walks out of his hotel room, sees that Denzel Washington entering the room across from him
RAY: Denzell! How are you man, I haven't seen you since we did the movie together!
DENZEL: Hey Ray. Congrats on getting this far in the playoffs.
RAY: I know! I'm not used to it. So what are you up to?
DENZEL: Here shooting a movie with Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey. I was just about to head to the gym to shoot the ball around. Wanna come with?
Cut to: Denzel and Ray standing outside Bally's Total Fitness.
DENZEL: Wow. So that was a role reversal from the movie, huh?
RAY: I can't believe I lost to you, old man.
DENZEL: Not only did you lose, but you lost 11-2. What's up with that?
RAY: I have no idea
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Mia-esque
In just two days, the sports world has suffered two dramatic punches to the gut as Annika Sorenstam announced her retirement from golf yesterday, effective at the end of the year, and then today, Justine Henin announced her retirement from Tennis, effective immediately.
Sorenstam is arguably the greatest female golfer of all time. While there is Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer who are really nice to look at, Sorenstam hits the course and does one thing: Win.
She is third all time in career wins with 72 (three this year), by far the active leader. She is also tied for fourth in career wins in Majors with 10. She was the first woman to play with the men in a PGA Tour event in over half a century when she teed it up in 2003 at the Colonial and also holds the record for lowest round in an LPGA event when she carded a 59 in 2001.
Henin was the top-ranked player in women's tennis. Only 25, she ranked 11th all-time with 41 wins in singles action and 7 grand slams. With such a competitive field in women's tennis, this is quite a feat. She has outlasted Serena, Venus, Hingis, and Maria Sharapova at one point or another. Not many can brag about that.
Simply put, they have both quietly made themselves the top female athletes in the world. It's a shame that they had to go through their careers without receving the attention that Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and other top male athletes get. Hopefully upon announcing their retirements, they finally get some recognition for outstanding careers.
Sorenstam is arguably the greatest female golfer of all time. While there is Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer who are really nice to look at, Sorenstam hits the course and does one thing: Win.
She is third all time in career wins with 72 (three this year), by far the active leader. She is also tied for fourth in career wins in Majors with 10. She was the first woman to play with the men in a PGA Tour event in over half a century when she teed it up in 2003 at the Colonial and also holds the record for lowest round in an LPGA event when she carded a 59 in 2001.
Henin was the top-ranked player in women's tennis. Only 25, she ranked 11th all-time with 41 wins in singles action and 7 grand slams. With such a competitive field in women's tennis, this is quite a feat. She has outlasted Serena, Venus, Hingis, and Maria Sharapova at one point or another. Not many can brag about that.
Simply put, they have both quietly made themselves the top female athletes in the world. It's a shame that they had to go through their careers without receving the attention that Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and other top male athletes get. Hopefully upon announcing their retirements, they finally get some recognition for outstanding careers.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
MOM! Sit yo @$$ down!
LeBron James has looked more human than ever since the NBA playoffs started last month. The media has been killing him, opponents have been killing him, hell, even Papa John's has been killing him!
But last night, he was fantastic. I'm not a huge NBA fan, nor do I watch the playoffs--I actually think it lasts way too long, but the highlight of the entire playoffs happened last night.
The Cavs were beating the Celtics in Cleveland, and LeBron was on a breakaway. Paul Pierce wrapped his arms around James to intentionally foul him so as to not give him the easy deuce. It happens a lot in basketball, and he wasn't rough, didn't elbow him in the face, nothing of that sort, just wrapped his arms around LeBron and gently kept him on the ground, but momentum carried them both into the stands. Kevin Garnett went to make sure everything was okay, but there was a woman in the stands SCREAMING at Paul Pierce. KG went over to calm the woman down, when suddenly the whole world finds out it's LeBron's MOTHER screaming at Pierce for fouling her baby boy!
As KG was trying to calm her down, LeBron looks over and screams "MOM! SIT YOUR ASS DOWN! SIT YOUR ASS DOWN, MOM!"
LeBron apologized publicly after the game, and made light of the situation, being the day after Mother's Day, not the day of.
That, my friends, will be the best part of the NBA playoffs. LeBron screaming at his mother on live television.
But last night, he was fantastic. I'm not a huge NBA fan, nor do I watch the playoffs--I actually think it lasts way too long, but the highlight of the entire playoffs happened last night.
The Cavs were beating the Celtics in Cleveland, and LeBron was on a breakaway. Paul Pierce wrapped his arms around James to intentionally foul him so as to not give him the easy deuce. It happens a lot in basketball, and he wasn't rough, didn't elbow him in the face, nothing of that sort, just wrapped his arms around LeBron and gently kept him on the ground, but momentum carried them both into the stands. Kevin Garnett went to make sure everything was okay, but there was a woman in the stands SCREAMING at Paul Pierce. KG went over to calm the woman down, when suddenly the whole world finds out it's LeBron's MOTHER screaming at Pierce for fouling her baby boy!
As KG was trying to calm her down, LeBron looks over and screams "MOM! SIT YOUR ASS DOWN! SIT YOUR ASS DOWN, MOM!"
LeBron apologized publicly after the game, and made light of the situation, being the day after Mother's Day, not the day of.
That, my friends, will be the best part of the NBA playoffs. LeBron screaming at his mother on live television.
Monday, May 5, 2008
This is it for Dodger fans...
Just kidding. They do have a hot little three-game set with the Mets starting tonight, though!
Monday - Oliver Perez vs. Chad Billingsley
Tuesday - Nelson Figueroa vs. Hiroki Kuroda
Wednesday - John Maine vs. Brad Penny
The only marquee matchup here is on Wednesday. Most Dodgers (and Mets) fans should know that the Mets own Brad Penny, who is 5-11 career against the Mets with a 5.66 earned run average, but he's 5-5 since 2003 with a slightly lower E.R.A., so anything can happen.
The Mets will probably lose the middle game. Historically, they're terrible against pitchers they've never faced before. I don't have statistical evidence to back this up, but I'm a Mets fan, I've been noticing these things all my life.
If things go as they should, the Dodgers will win games one and two (the Mets have only seen Billingsley once before--for a single inning), and the Mets will take game three.
The teams split 10 games last year. Dodgers won 4 of 7 in L.A. (including a series sweep), and the Mets won 2 of 3 at Shea.
If Ollie is on his game, which he hasn't been, the Mets might be able to win the series. They definitely aren't winning the middle game, though.
Another thing that makes this series interesting is there are many storylines. Joe Torre's familiar foes--he certainly knows how to manage against the Mets. Furcal and Kent have decent career numbers against the Mets...and then there's Andruw Jones. This is his chance to break out of his season-long slump, because he has owned the Mets in past years.
Monday - Oliver Perez vs. Chad Billingsley
Tuesday - Nelson Figueroa vs. Hiroki Kuroda
Wednesday - John Maine vs. Brad Penny
The only marquee matchup here is on Wednesday. Most Dodgers (and Mets) fans should know that the Mets own Brad Penny, who is 5-11 career against the Mets with a 5.66 earned run average, but he's 5-5 since 2003 with a slightly lower E.R.A., so anything can happen.
The Mets will probably lose the middle game. Historically, they're terrible against pitchers they've never faced before. I don't have statistical evidence to back this up, but I'm a Mets fan, I've been noticing these things all my life.
If things go as they should, the Dodgers will win games one and two (the Mets have only seen Billingsley once before--for a single inning), and the Mets will take game three.
The teams split 10 games last year. Dodgers won 4 of 7 in L.A. (including a series sweep), and the Mets won 2 of 3 at Shea.
If Ollie is on his game, which he hasn't been, the Mets might be able to win the series. They definitely aren't winning the middle game, though.
Another thing that makes this series interesting is there are many storylines. Joe Torre's familiar foes--he certainly knows how to manage against the Mets. Furcal and Kent have decent career numbers against the Mets...and then there's Andruw Jones. This is his chance to break out of his season-long slump, because he has owned the Mets in past years.
Friday, May 2, 2008
This is it for Met fans...
We're in Arizona this weekend. This might as well be our World Series.
We've owned the Diamondbacks, ESPECIALLY on the road, to the tune of 11-1 in the last 12 meetings in the desert.
The way Arizona's team is looking, the tides may change this year.
Fri - Maine vs. Owings
Sat - Pelfrey vs. Webb
Sun - Santana vs. Haren
Luckily, it's a hitter's ballpark, which is why the Mets have flourished there over the years. But with Micah Owings on his A-game this season, and Webb off to such a great start, this is a series to watch.
For all of Webb's success over the past few years, he has had little against the Mets. He's 2-6 in nine starts. His E.R.A., however, is 2.26. He may get some run support Saturday with Pelfrey on the mound. It's the D'Backs best shot to put runs on the board.
I've got the Mets winning (at least) 2 of 3 here. I won't go out on a limb and guarantee a Santana win, but Friday and Sunday are our best opportunites to grab a W.
We've owned the Diamondbacks, ESPECIALLY on the road, to the tune of 11-1 in the last 12 meetings in the desert.
The way Arizona's team is looking, the tides may change this year.
Fri - Maine vs. Owings
Sat - Pelfrey vs. Webb
Sun - Santana vs. Haren
Luckily, it's a hitter's ballpark, which is why the Mets have flourished there over the years. But with Micah Owings on his A-game this season, and Webb off to such a great start, this is a series to watch.
For all of Webb's success over the past few years, he has had little against the Mets. He's 2-6 in nine starts. His E.R.A., however, is 2.26. He may get some run support Saturday with Pelfrey on the mound. It's the D'Backs best shot to put runs on the board.
I've got the Mets winning (at least) 2 of 3 here. I won't go out on a limb and guarantee a Santana win, but Friday and Sunday are our best opportunites to grab a W.
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