7 AM: Wake up DeAnna to tell her that I haven't decided if I'm going to the store today.
8:30 AM: Shower. Opt not to shave so I can keep the grizzled veteran stubble.
9:00 AM: Watch SportsCenter and pray that I get mentioned within the first five minutes.
9:15 AM: Shoot John Anderson a text thanking him for bringing up my name in a completely unrelated story. Suck on that, Milwaukee Brewers!
10:00 AM: Grab quick bagel as I head off to train with a bunch of high school kids.
12:00 PM: Lunch break! Shoot Aaron Rodgers an e-mail that just says "Watch ur back. Brett"
4:00 PM: Arrive home, check voicemail. Hope that Berman and Madden aren't the only ones that have called me.
4:15 PM: Curse as I realize that all 30 voicemails are from Berman and Madden
4:30 PM: Wake DeAnna up from her nap to tell her that I still haven't decided if I'm going to the store today.
5:00 PM: Watch Around the Horn and PTI to see what Woody Paige and Michael Wilbon think about me.
6:00 PM: Contemplate taking the Packers offer to stay retired for 20 million. Stop seriously considering it when Mike Greenberg brings up that I'd be a hypocrite for taking it on the 6:00 SportsCenter.
7:00 PM: Finish my Aaron Rodgers voodoo doll.
7:15 PM: Eat dinner with DeAnna. Pray that she asks me about coming back to the Packers.
7:50 PM: Announce to DeAnna that I will be going to the store.
7:55 PM: Announce to DeAnna that I will not be going to the store.
8:45 PM: Turn on ESPN Classic to see if I'm on it.
9:00 PM: Crank call Mike McCarthy.
10:00 PM: Announce to DeAnna that I have yet to decide if I'm going to bed.
10:30 PM: Tearfully tell DeAnna that I've had a great run, but it's time for me to go to bed.
1:00 AM: Go to bed.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Best trading deadline in recent memory
It's just too bad my Manny BoSox jersey is now retro.
The winners at the deadline this year are all easy to figure out. Cubs, Brewers, ChiSox, Dodgers, Yankees, and Angels.
The losers? Tampa Bay and Arizona primarily, with honorable mention given to Boston, Florida, Philly, and the Mets.
Each winner made vast improvements to its team. The Dodgers and Angels each added necessary power to home run-deprived lineups, giving up minimal prospects to win now. The Dodgers really saved their own asses here, making up for that Casey Blake trade. The White Sox picked up Ken Griffey, Jr., which gives them another left handed power threat. The Cubs and Brewers each added a star pitcher they can keep for awhile. Brian Cashman was a flawless artist in July, bringing back memories of the '06 offseason when he unloaded Jaret Wright and Randy Johnson, and actually getting value for them. Picking up Sexson for virtually nothing, landing Nady and Marte from the Pirates, and then trading for Pudge (doesn't excite Yankee fans off the bat, but Cashman traded Farnsworth while his value was at its absolute HIGHEST)---the Yankees have been given the best possible opportunity to take the A.L. East.
Oh yeah, and when is the next time the Yankees ever have to face Manny Ramirez??
Tampa Bay loses since no moves were made to solidify the offense or bullpen. Arizona loses because they failed to keep pace with the Dodgers by landing another bat. The D'Backs apparently were in the hunt for Teixeira again, but were outbid the second year in a row.
I'm shocked Manny was traded, which is why Boston gets an honorable mention as a deadline loser, but getting Bay from the Pirates limits the losses offensively and upgrades the outfield defense in Bean Town. Bay is right-handed, so the Monster will juice up his numbers (Lowell-esque) , and he can hit 3rd, 4th, or 5th in any lineup. You just need to wonder what this drastic change does to the ball club and the fans. Psychological advantage in the East lays with the Yankees. Too bad for them they're playing the Angels right now and may not be able to act on that advantage until next week.
Finally, the top three N.L. East teams all get honorable mention as losers because none of them made a move to improve the roster. Sure, the Marlins picked up Arthur Rhodes, a lefty specialist from the A.L. West. He wasn't exactly facing Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in those situations. The Phillies picked up Joe Blanton...give me a break. He's pitched eight innings total since the trade, six against the Mets and two against the Braves (rain delay knocked him out), and he's given up seven earned runs to the tune of a 7.88 earned run average. Philly isn't exactly preparing a parade for him. Then there's the Mets, who did absolutely nothing. Hopefully they'll make a waiver move by the middle of August to sure up the outfield or bullpen. We'll see.
The winners at the deadline this year are all easy to figure out. Cubs, Brewers, ChiSox, Dodgers, Yankees, and Angels.
The losers? Tampa Bay and Arizona primarily, with honorable mention given to Boston, Florida, Philly, and the Mets.
Each winner made vast improvements to its team. The Dodgers and Angels each added necessary power to home run-deprived lineups, giving up minimal prospects to win now. The Dodgers really saved their own asses here, making up for that Casey Blake trade. The White Sox picked up Ken Griffey, Jr., which gives them another left handed power threat. The Cubs and Brewers each added a star pitcher they can keep for awhile. Brian Cashman was a flawless artist in July, bringing back memories of the '06 offseason when he unloaded Jaret Wright and Randy Johnson, and actually getting value for them. Picking up Sexson for virtually nothing, landing Nady and Marte from the Pirates, and then trading for Pudge (doesn't excite Yankee fans off the bat, but Cashman traded Farnsworth while his value was at its absolute HIGHEST)---the Yankees have been given the best possible opportunity to take the A.L. East.
Oh yeah, and when is the next time the Yankees ever have to face Manny Ramirez??
Tampa Bay loses since no moves were made to solidify the offense or bullpen. Arizona loses because they failed to keep pace with the Dodgers by landing another bat. The D'Backs apparently were in the hunt for Teixeira again, but were outbid the second year in a row.
I'm shocked Manny was traded, which is why Boston gets an honorable mention as a deadline loser, but getting Bay from the Pirates limits the losses offensively and upgrades the outfield defense in Bean Town. Bay is right-handed, so the Monster will juice up his numbers (Lowell-esque) , and he can hit 3rd, 4th, or 5th in any lineup. You just need to wonder what this drastic change does to the ball club and the fans. Psychological advantage in the East lays with the Yankees. Too bad for them they're playing the Angels right now and may not be able to act on that advantage until next week.
Finally, the top three N.L. East teams all get honorable mention as losers because none of them made a move to improve the roster. Sure, the Marlins picked up Arthur Rhodes, a lefty specialist from the A.L. West. He wasn't exactly facing Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in those situations. The Phillies picked up Joe Blanton...give me a break. He's pitched eight innings total since the trade, six against the Mets and two against the Braves (rain delay knocked him out), and he's given up seven earned runs to the tune of a 7.88 earned run average. Philly isn't exactly preparing a parade for him. Then there's the Mets, who did absolutely nothing. Hopefully they'll make a waiver move by the middle of August to sure up the outfield or bullpen. We'll see.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
WATCH OUT A.L.!!
It's being reported that Mark Teixeira has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim! With Vlad and Teix hitting back-to-back mixed with that pitching rotation and bullpen, I think we've got a new World Series favorite.
Ernie has a new reason to hate the Angels.
And there goes my pick for NL MVP.
Ernie has a new reason to hate the Angels.
And there goes my pick for NL MVP.
Monday, July 28, 2008
The BoSox won't trade Manny.
Period.
He's too much of an integral part of that team, regardless of his attitude or his off-field remarks. He knows how to do his job, and he knows that he needs to perform in order to get paid. It's not like he's going to stop playing like he always does just because he's pissed off at Boston's front office.
On the side of the front office, they'd be absolutely insane to trade him. When you're a buyer at the trade deadline, you don't trade your stars--you don't even trade any of your starting eight (unless you're the 2006 Mets. Trading Xavier Nady did land them Oliver Perez, but I still don't think it should have been the starting right fielder that should have been used for bait, the Pirates would have taken farmhands.).
The Red Sox need Manny. He obviously doesn't need the Sox, but he's not the one in control of his own destiny. Whatever happens in the offseason will happen in the offseason, but Manny isn't going anywhere until then.
*UPDATE 6:00 p.m.*
I have to back off a little bit. The media is tearing the Manny storyline to shreds. If he does, in fact, get traded, I'll be completely shocked--but if he does get traded, it's probably because the media won't leave it alone and is making a much bigger story out of it than it should be.
He's too much of an integral part of that team, regardless of his attitude or his off-field remarks. He knows how to do his job, and he knows that he needs to perform in order to get paid. It's not like he's going to stop playing like he always does just because he's pissed off at Boston's front office.
On the side of the front office, they'd be absolutely insane to trade him. When you're a buyer at the trade deadline, you don't trade your stars--you don't even trade any of your starting eight (unless you're the 2006 Mets. Trading Xavier Nady did land them Oliver Perez, but I still don't think it should have been the starting right fielder that should have been used for bait, the Pirates would have taken farmhands.).
The Red Sox need Manny. He obviously doesn't need the Sox, but he's not the one in control of his own destiny. Whatever happens in the offseason will happen in the offseason, but Manny isn't going anywhere until then.
*UPDATE 6:00 p.m.*
I have to back off a little bit. The media is tearing the Manny storyline to shreds. If he does, in fact, get traded, I'll be completely shocked--but if he does get traded, it's probably because the media won't leave it alone and is making a much bigger story out of it than it should be.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I LOVE TITLE IX!!!!
As much as I love and respect women's sports, there is still the other half of me that loves some aspects for all the wrong reasons. You know...Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, etc...
Well I may have a new love on my dark side! The NCAA announced the newest women's sport being considered at schools is Sand Volleyball! I don't know if the implications include bikinis, but I'll take my chances.
Credit solely and completely goes to Title IX here, since colleges are RARELY Title IX compliant, meaning the ratio of male-to-female athletes is not consistent with the ratio of male-to-female students. The only instances where schools can even become close to being Title IX compliant are when a school a) doesn't have a football team, b) is all girls or all guys, or c) is a tech school where the male population actually dominates.
The only reason it is uncommon for schools to be sued or investigated over Title IX violations is because there are loopholes. As long as a school is "making progress" towards becoming Title IX compliant, they're given a break. Plus, these lawsuits are long and arduous. However, if ONE female student wants to compete in ANY sport, the school is required to offer it, risking the chance of being sued, a suit which the school has a slim-to-none chance of winning.
Well I may have a new love on my dark side! The NCAA announced the newest women's sport being considered at schools is Sand Volleyball! I don't know if the implications include bikinis, but I'll take my chances.
Credit solely and completely goes to Title IX here, since colleges are RARELY Title IX compliant, meaning the ratio of male-to-female athletes is not consistent with the ratio of male-to-female students. The only instances where schools can even become close to being Title IX compliant are when a school a) doesn't have a football team, b) is all girls or all guys, or c) is a tech school where the male population actually dominates.
The only reason it is uncommon for schools to be sued or investigated over Title IX violations is because there are loopholes. As long as a school is "making progress" towards becoming Title IX compliant, they're given a break. Plus, these lawsuits are long and arduous. However, if ONE female student wants to compete in ANY sport, the school is required to offer it, risking the chance of being sued, a suit which the school has a slim-to-none chance of winning.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I forgot a word
"Bullpen"
I hate the Phillies.
and p.s. I hate the Yankees, Mariano Rivera, and his one-out, four-run saves.
I hate the Phillies.
and p.s. I hate the Yankees, Mariano Rivera, and his one-out, four-run saves.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Do I really have to get into this?
Jayson Stark has apparently jumped aboard with Skip Bayless on the "hate the Mets" bandwagon.
We can go through the Mets', Phillies', and Marlins' rosters, position by position and add it up...but that doesn't do us much good because somebody will get hurt down the stretch. Somebody will slump. Somebody will get hot. The Marlins lead the majors in home runs, the Phillies have Utley, Howard, and Rollins, and the Mets have Wright, Reyes, and Beltran. All three teams have role-players. Bottom line is all of these teams can score runs.
But offense doesn't win championships.
Johan Santana
John Maine
Oliver Perez
Mike Pelfrey
Pedro Martinez
Cole Hamels
Joe Blanton
Jamie Moyer
Kyle Kendrick
Brett Myers
Ricky Nolasco
Scott Olsen (my boy!)
Josh Johnson
Chris Volstad
That takes care of step one, the Marlins can be crossed off this list if I asked you to eliminate one cluster of names.
Now let's cross Brett Myers and Pedro Martinez off because those two will have more health issues than starts in the second half.
Cross off Santana and Hamels because I don't feel like getting into that discussion. That leaves us with six names.
Mike Pelfrey
Oliver Perez
John Maine
Joe Blanton
Jamie Moyer
Kyle Kendrick
Say what you will about Pelfrey's track record, and how Perez and Maine have pitched this year, but Pelfrey finally seems to be coming around and Maine and Perez can come up huge in big-game situations. They've proven it. That's why I'll take the Mets' mid-three any day.
We can go through the Mets', Phillies', and Marlins' rosters, position by position and add it up...but that doesn't do us much good because somebody will get hurt down the stretch. Somebody will slump. Somebody will get hot. The Marlins lead the majors in home runs, the Phillies have Utley, Howard, and Rollins, and the Mets have Wright, Reyes, and Beltran. All three teams have role-players. Bottom line is all of these teams can score runs.
But offense doesn't win championships.
Johan Santana
John Maine
Oliver Perez
Mike Pelfrey
Pedro Martinez
Cole Hamels
Joe Blanton
Jamie Moyer
Kyle Kendrick
Brett Myers
Ricky Nolasco
Scott Olsen (my boy!)
Josh Johnson
Chris Volstad
That takes care of step one, the Marlins can be crossed off this list if I asked you to eliminate one cluster of names.
Now let's cross Brett Myers and Pedro Martinez off because those two will have more health issues than starts in the second half.
Cross off Santana and Hamels because I don't feel like getting into that discussion. That leaves us with six names.
Mike Pelfrey
Oliver Perez
John Maine
Joe Blanton
Jamie Moyer
Kyle Kendrick
Say what you will about Pelfrey's track record, and how Perez and Maine have pitched this year, but Pelfrey finally seems to be coming around and Maine and Perez can come up huge in big-game situations. They've proven it. That's why I'll take the Mets' mid-three any day.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Gotta give 'em credit
Brian Cashman made one of the best moves by ANY team this season by picking up Richie Sexson. He was terrible with Seattle since they signed him, but with the kind of lineup around him that he's going to have in the Bronx, I expect him to put up impressive numbers in pinstripes. He's hitting in between Jorge Posada and Robbie Cano tonight and already has a hit.
The roster move is also paying other dividends as Cano is actually hitting! Sexson provides ample protection for Posada, and if Can, o starts hittingit's a "pick your poison" type of lineup expected of Yankee squads. Straighten out that pitching and this is a team poised to make a run. Even if they don't straighten out the pitching, we all know they can win 15-14 day-in and day-out.
They're also lucky to be facing the A's coming out of the All-Star break. Oakland is only six games out of the division, four and a half out of the Wild Card race, and they're seven games over .500, yet they dump Rich Harden and Joe Blanton as if they're 20 games under .500 and in last place. I'd criticize the moves more, but let's be brutally honest--Oakland isn't going anywhere this season, even if they make the playoffs. Maybe GM Billy Beane is facing that reality and preparing for his next move, whatever it may be. You never know with him. A's fans have pretty much learned just to accept that his roster moves work out eventually, more often than not...the championship banners hanging from the rafters is the only hole in his tenure.
The roster move is also paying other dividends as Cano is actually hitting! Sexson provides ample protection for Posada, and if Can, o starts hittingit's a "pick your poison" type of lineup expected of Yankee squads. Straighten out that pitching and this is a team poised to make a run. Even if they don't straighten out the pitching, we all know they can win 15-14 day-in and day-out.
They're also lucky to be facing the A's coming out of the All-Star break. Oakland is only six games out of the division, four and a half out of the Wild Card race, and they're seven games over .500, yet they dump Rich Harden and Joe Blanton as if they're 20 games under .500 and in last place. I'd criticize the moves more, but let's be brutally honest--Oakland isn't going anywhere this season, even if they make the playoffs. Maybe GM Billy Beane is facing that reality and preparing for his next move, whatever it may be. You never know with him. A's fans have pretty much learned just to accept that his roster moves work out eventually, more often than not...the championship banners hanging from the rafters is the only hole in his tenure.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
July predictions
1) Tiger will win the British Open
[quote of the week] "I just hope they've taught the engraver how to put an asterisk on [the Claret Jug]. Then everyone will know what the tournament was all about." - Geoff Ogilvy
2) Lance Armstrong will win the Tour de France
3) Britney Spears' new album will reach #1 whenever it is finished and released
[quote of the week] "I just hope they've taught the engraver how to put an asterisk on [the Claret Jug]. Then everyone will know what the tournament was all about." - Geoff Ogilvy
2) Lance Armstrong will win the Tour de France
3) Britney Spears' new album will reach #1 whenever it is finished and released
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Respect.
Marist Red Foxes: Charlie Creme's preseason #20. What now? He probably knows squat about this team, but hopefully because of this, the coaches and writers will have the same respect for proven mid-majors such as the Red Foxes coming into the season.
The '08-'09 schedule isn't out, but when it comes out we'll have a pretty good idea of how close Marist can come to repeating that 32-3 mark from the '07-'08 season.
My humble guess is that Marist goes undefeated and brings the NCAA title to Poughkeepsie.
The '08-'09 schedule isn't out, but when it comes out we'll have a pretty good idea of how close Marist can come to repeating that 32-3 mark from the '07-'08 season.
My humble guess is that Marist goes undefeated and brings the NCAA title to Poughkeepsie.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Live All-Star blogging
Disclaimer: If you can't handle extreme scrutiny of Joe Buck and the New York Yankees, chances are good that you probably shouldn't read this.
8:52 p.m. - The game finally started at 8:47, I guess they warned us that the ceremony would take so long, but they probably could have cut it in half while getting their point across. I'm really dejected about how the game is going so far. Not only did the pre-game ceremonies take too long, but there was WAY too much Joe Girardi. I understand he's the Yankees' manager, but please. Also, the New York fans are booing 75% of the players who are announced. Ridiculous. They even booed Terry Francona, who just announced that Mariano Rivera would close the game for the AL if the opportunity arose. They should at least show some respect for everyone involved in the game, especially considering they're all kind of on the same side here.
Cliff Lee had a DOMINANT first inning. He deserves to pitch another.
Joe Buck announced Derek Jeter as the man who has "done nothing but win" since putting on pinstripes. Then Tim McCarver states that the Yankees haven't won the World Series since 2000. Good teamwork, guys.
8:55 p.m. - DAMNIT why did Jeter have to get the first hit? That was the last thing I wanted to happen. Great, now he stole a base. Showoff. May-Rod probably just got booed for not driving in the captain.
9:07 p.m. - Great work by Lee. I am not going to see "Swing Vote," nor will I rent it, nor will I watch it if it is ever on TV.
9:10 p.m. - Sheets' curveball is nasty tonight. Buck just apologized for screwing up Justin Duchscherer's name in the pre-game ceremony. Then he also mentioned that he was filling in for Bob Sheppard. Too bad Sheppard couldn't make the game, that would have added to the pageantry of the night to have him be the P.A. announcer. I didn't think of that before Buck said it.
9:28 p.m. - Yogi Berra just called Joe Buck "Jack," his father's name. Beautiful.
9:33 p.m. - That's more like it. It turns me on when Jeter grounds into double plays! They really love to be blunt about Josh Hamilton's addictions. Last night it was shooting heroin, tonight it's smoking crack.
9:48 p.m. - I wasn't sure if I wanted to see "Pineapple Express" when it comes out, but the preview just had M.I.A. "Paper Planes" playing in it. Now I'm definitely seeing it.
9:53 p.m. - Good thing Matt Holliday went deep to get the NL on top--Dan Haren is coming in, the AL has seen plenty of him and can feast on his pitching.
10:00 p.m. - I hope they don't keep playing that Heineken Light commercial all night or else I'll be singing "It's love. It's love. It's love. It's la-la-la-la-la-la-la-love!" for the next week.
10:10 p.m. - They need to get Jeter out of there. He's really dragging the AL down. Grounds into a double play then leaves two on base? If they want to win, they need to get Michael Young in there.
10:13 p.m. - I'm normally not an advocate of pimping MLB to movies and such, but the graphics for that "X-Files" segment were pretty cool and apparently Gillian Anderson is as hot as ever despite being 40. Nice.
10:15 p.m. - $20 says Utley goes deep in this at-bat.
10:18 p.m. - I owe someone $20. But the NL is about to break this game open.
10:24 p.m. - And by "break this game open," I mean "take a 2-0 lead." At least Jeter is out of there. George Steinbrenner doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. Tim McCarver and Joe Buck are tools for thinking that unless Fox has manipulated that idea because of its partnership with the Yankees. Conspiracy? I think so.
10:29 p.m. - Joe Torre should be on Clint Hurdle's coaching staff instead of GlenAllen Hill. Just a thought.
10:41 p.m. - Joe Nathan and Russel Martin got great recognition from Joe Buck for their underrated accomplishments not just this season, but the past several seasons.
Who the hell is Josh Groban? Not that I care, his rendition of "God Bless America" is much better than that excuse for singing in the pre-game when Sheryl Crow performed the National Anthem. That was horrendous. I know it was promoting cancer research, but they could have done better than that.
10:42 p.m. - They just showed Derek Jeter crying in the dugout during "God Bless America." What a terrible facade. He's an ass.
10:48 p.m. - The advantage here in the late innings has to go to the A.L. Even though the N.L. has a 2-0 lead, Terry Francona is sending out seasoned veteran closers out to the mound the rest of the way while Clint Hurdle is still putting young starting pitchers in the game for the late innings.
10:53 p.m. - That didn't take long. 2-2. I don't think they're going to boo J.D. Drew as bad as he rounds the bases.
10:57 p.m. - No. I'm gonna be optimistic. The N.L. is going to break the hearts of all Yankee fans and win the game against Mariano! Rivera will get the loss tonight!
11:00 p.m. - Yankee fans are classless. Booing Papelbon for misconstrued remarks spun by New York media. He was already mad about that, then Yankee fans threatened his pregnant wife during the fan fest. Now they're chanting "Papelbum" and "overrated." This is pathetic and is taking everything away from the game.
11:03 p.m. - Okay, they're half right. He gave up the hit but the run was unearned and was because of the throwing error on Dioner Navarro. 3-2, N.L. and Papelbon is in line to lose. I hope Mariano gets shelled so they forget about Papelbon.
11:16 p.m. - AH! Why is Wagner in?! I know I'm supposed to have faith in my team's closer...but let's be honest. He can blow this thing.
11:19 p.m. - Apparently I'm having techinical difficulties, but this is a sped up version of my reaction to Billy Wagner screwing up. Not sure how this got put on a mega fast forward, but you get the idea.
11:24 p.m. - K-Rod is in, but if he pitches the whole 9th and the A.L. wins in the bottom, Mariano doesn't get in! Drama! Francona will probably put Mo in with two outs or something.
11:26 p.m. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Here comes Mo with one out and Ludwick coming to bat. If Rivera gives up the game-winning hit, Rodriguez will get the loss since he left a runner on base. This is crap.
11:32 p.m. - New conspiracy theory. This whole game is staged so Mariano would come in and get a huge strike 'em out, throw 'em out double-play. He's obviously gonna get the win in the bottom of the ninth. I hate the Yankees.
11:37 p.m. - Stop showing Derek Jeter. He's not in the game, he has no bearing on the outcome.
11:42 p.m. - Nobody wants extra innings. Blah.
11:48 p.m. - They really want to get Mo the win. Sending him out again? I hope he loses.
11:51 p.m. - Mariano can blow this! You gotta believe!!!!
11:53 p.m. - WHY WHY WHY MUST YOU GROUND INTO A DOUBLE PLAY, DAN UGGLA?!!!
12:01 a.m. - We all know what's gonna happen. I'm done blogging.
12:04 a.m. - WOW! I can't believe Cook got out of that! This is a great game. Too long though. Way too long.
12:12 a.m. - There has got to be some crisis management plan after what happened in Milwaukee a few years back. I can't see this game going much longer if the A.L. doesn't win here in the bottom of the 11th. Advertisers are getting a steal by the game going this late while their commercials get such a huge audience.
12:19 a.m. - This is great baseball now. They're actually using strategy. Navarro thought about a sac bunt, there was a pitch out, a blown call, a walk, and now a base hit. AND NOW...Michael Young is up. This is excellent.
12:22 a.m. - It's moments like these that make you think this whole thing is staged, like the games are scripted. These guys are all proving why they're All-Stars and this is an epic ending. Everyone expected Young to get a hit and win the game, but then Navarro gets thrown out at home. The twists won't stop coming!
12:29 a.m. - This is a great strategy for McLouth. The All-Stars don't have time to go over late inning strategy with each other since the break is so short and there is so much other stuff for the players to do leading up to the game. The miscommunication on playing his bunt may turn out to be crucial if Uggla can come through here, making up for his two errors that nearly cost them the game earlier. You can't write a better story. That's why he'll probably get out! It's not what we expect...but McLouth has proven he's an All-Star since he got in the game. I'd vote for him for MVP is nothing dramatic happens to win the game and the NL prevails.
12:33 a.m. - You have to appreciate how seriously this game is being taken now. Going to Sherrill, the lefty, to face a lefty, Adrian Gonzalez. It only takes 11 innings for the All-Star game to start to be taken seriously. It should start in the 11th inning every year!
1:28 a.m. [Travis] - Is it just me or does Scott Kazmir have more acne than the front row at Backstreet Boys concert?
1.33 AM [Clark] That was Dioneer Navarro's biggest hit since he left Jane's Addiction.
1:35 a.m. [Travis] - I no longer want nor expect this game to end.
1:36 a.m. [Travis] - Until I found out Michael Young was up. Everything has come full circle. I understand the meaning of life now.
1:38 a.m. [Travis] - Speaking of full circle, I hate my life again because Derek Jeter found his way into the replay. I thought we were over him. HIS REPLACEMENT WON THE GAME! So I should be saying "I'm glad Jeter got voted in so Young could replace him!"
NO! I'm saying Jeter shouldn't even be in the game at all!! Young should have started and played the whole thing! He's earned it!
1:40 am [Barrows] - What a game. There's so many things to say, but nothing that hasn't been said. Amazing.
1:42 a.m. [Travis] - Agreed.
8:52 p.m. - The game finally started at 8:47, I guess they warned us that the ceremony would take so long, but they probably could have cut it in half while getting their point across. I'm really dejected about how the game is going so far. Not only did the pre-game ceremonies take too long, but there was WAY too much Joe Girardi. I understand he's the Yankees' manager, but please. Also, the New York fans are booing 75% of the players who are announced. Ridiculous. They even booed Terry Francona, who just announced that Mariano Rivera would close the game for the AL if the opportunity arose. They should at least show some respect for everyone involved in the game, especially considering they're all kind of on the same side here.
Cliff Lee had a DOMINANT first inning. He deserves to pitch another.
Joe Buck announced Derek Jeter as the man who has "done nothing but win" since putting on pinstripes. Then Tim McCarver states that the Yankees haven't won the World Series since 2000. Good teamwork, guys.
8:55 p.m. - DAMNIT why did Jeter have to get the first hit? That was the last thing I wanted to happen. Great, now he stole a base. Showoff. May-Rod probably just got booed for not driving in the captain.
9:07 p.m. - Great work by Lee. I am not going to see "Swing Vote," nor will I rent it, nor will I watch it if it is ever on TV.
9:10 p.m. - Sheets' curveball is nasty tonight. Buck just apologized for screwing up Justin Duchscherer's name in the pre-game ceremony. Then he also mentioned that he was filling in for Bob Sheppard. Too bad Sheppard couldn't make the game, that would have added to the pageantry of the night to have him be the P.A. announcer. I didn't think of that before Buck said it.
9:28 p.m. - Yogi Berra just called Joe Buck "Jack," his father's name. Beautiful.
9:33 p.m. - That's more like it. It turns me on when Jeter grounds into double plays! They really love to be blunt about Josh Hamilton's addictions. Last night it was shooting heroin, tonight it's smoking crack.
9:48 p.m. - I wasn't sure if I wanted to see "Pineapple Express" when it comes out, but the preview just had M.I.A. "Paper Planes" playing in it. Now I'm definitely seeing it.
9:53 p.m. - Good thing Matt Holliday went deep to get the NL on top--Dan Haren is coming in, the AL has seen plenty of him and can feast on his pitching.
10:00 p.m. - I hope they don't keep playing that Heineken Light commercial all night or else I'll be singing "It's love. It's love. It's love. It's la-la-la-la-la-la-la-love!" for the next week.
10:10 p.m. - They need to get Jeter out of there. He's really dragging the AL down. Grounds into a double play then leaves two on base? If they want to win, they need to get Michael Young in there.
10:13 p.m. - I'm normally not an advocate of pimping MLB to movies and such, but the graphics for that "X-Files" segment were pretty cool and apparently Gillian Anderson is as hot as ever despite being 40. Nice.
10:15 p.m. - $20 says Utley goes deep in this at-bat.
10:18 p.m. - I owe someone $20. But the NL is about to break this game open.
10:24 p.m. - And by "break this game open," I mean "take a 2-0 lead." At least Jeter is out of there. George Steinbrenner doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. Tim McCarver and Joe Buck are tools for thinking that unless Fox has manipulated that idea because of its partnership with the Yankees. Conspiracy? I think so.
10:29 p.m. - Joe Torre should be on Clint Hurdle's coaching staff instead of GlenAllen Hill. Just a thought.
10:41 p.m. - Joe Nathan and Russel Martin got great recognition from Joe Buck for their underrated accomplishments not just this season, but the past several seasons.
Who the hell is Josh Groban? Not that I care, his rendition of "God Bless America" is much better than that excuse for singing in the pre-game when Sheryl Crow performed the National Anthem. That was horrendous. I know it was promoting cancer research, but they could have done better than that.
10:42 p.m. - They just showed Derek Jeter crying in the dugout during "God Bless America." What a terrible facade. He's an ass.
10:48 p.m. - The advantage here in the late innings has to go to the A.L. Even though the N.L. has a 2-0 lead, Terry Francona is sending out seasoned veteran closers out to the mound the rest of the way while Clint Hurdle is still putting young starting pitchers in the game for the late innings.
10:53 p.m. - That didn't take long. 2-2. I don't think they're going to boo J.D. Drew as bad as he rounds the bases.
10:57 p.m. - No. I'm gonna be optimistic. The N.L. is going to break the hearts of all Yankee fans and win the game against Mariano! Rivera will get the loss tonight!
11:00 p.m. - Yankee fans are classless. Booing Papelbon for misconstrued remarks spun by New York media. He was already mad about that, then Yankee fans threatened his pregnant wife during the fan fest. Now they're chanting "Papelbum" and "overrated." This is pathetic and is taking everything away from the game.
11:03 p.m. - Okay, they're half right. He gave up the hit but the run was unearned and was because of the throwing error on Dioner Navarro. 3-2, N.L. and Papelbon is in line to lose. I hope Mariano gets shelled so they forget about Papelbon.
11:16 p.m. - AH! Why is Wagner in?! I know I'm supposed to have faith in my team's closer...but let's be honest. He can blow this thing.
11:19 p.m. - Apparently I'm having techinical difficulties, but this is a sped up version of my reaction to Billy Wagner screwing up. Not sure how this got put on a mega fast forward, but you get the idea.
11:24 p.m. - K-Rod is in, but if he pitches the whole 9th and the A.L. wins in the bottom, Mariano doesn't get in! Drama! Francona will probably put Mo in with two outs or something.
11:26 p.m. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Here comes Mo with one out and Ludwick coming to bat. If Rivera gives up the game-winning hit, Rodriguez will get the loss since he left a runner on base. This is crap.
11:32 p.m. - New conspiracy theory. This whole game is staged so Mariano would come in and get a huge strike 'em out, throw 'em out double-play. He's obviously gonna get the win in the bottom of the ninth. I hate the Yankees.
11:37 p.m. - Stop showing Derek Jeter. He's not in the game, he has no bearing on the outcome.
11:42 p.m. - Nobody wants extra innings. Blah.
11:48 p.m. - They really want to get Mo the win. Sending him out again? I hope he loses.
11:51 p.m. - Mariano can blow this! You gotta believe!!!!
11:53 p.m. - WHY WHY WHY MUST YOU GROUND INTO A DOUBLE PLAY, DAN UGGLA?!!!
12:01 a.m. - We all know what's gonna happen. I'm done blogging.
12:04 a.m. - WOW! I can't believe Cook got out of that! This is a great game. Too long though. Way too long.
12:12 a.m. - There has got to be some crisis management plan after what happened in Milwaukee a few years back. I can't see this game going much longer if the A.L. doesn't win here in the bottom of the 11th. Advertisers are getting a steal by the game going this late while their commercials get such a huge audience.
12:19 a.m. - This is great baseball now. They're actually using strategy. Navarro thought about a sac bunt, there was a pitch out, a blown call, a walk, and now a base hit. AND NOW...Michael Young is up. This is excellent.
12:22 a.m. - It's moments like these that make you think this whole thing is staged, like the games are scripted. These guys are all proving why they're All-Stars and this is an epic ending. Everyone expected Young to get a hit and win the game, but then Navarro gets thrown out at home. The twists won't stop coming!
12:29 a.m. - This is a great strategy for McLouth. The All-Stars don't have time to go over late inning strategy with each other since the break is so short and there is so much other stuff for the players to do leading up to the game. The miscommunication on playing his bunt may turn out to be crucial if Uggla can come through here, making up for his two errors that nearly cost them the game earlier. You can't write a better story. That's why he'll probably get out! It's not what we expect...but McLouth has proven he's an All-Star since he got in the game. I'd vote for him for MVP is nothing dramatic happens to win the game and the NL prevails.
12:33 a.m. - You have to appreciate how seriously this game is being taken now. Going to Sherrill, the lefty, to face a lefty, Adrian Gonzalez. It only takes 11 innings for the All-Star game to start to be taken seriously. It should start in the 11th inning every year!
QUICK ADDITION BY MICHAEL J:
Here's why I love Grady Sizemore. He's got Grady's Ladies, he's not that hard on the eyes, he rakes for my fantasy team, and most importantly, if he ever married Tom Brady, they would become either a) Grady Brady or b) Tom Sizemore. I think I prefer Tom Sizemore.
12:44 a.m.- Still Clark. Kinsler will win this game right here, following on Hank Blalock and Michael Young's footsteps
12:46 a.m.-Please disregard previous prediction. That is why I'm a hack, ladies and gents. (Who am I kidding? Gents.) A few quick questions. Do you think Elvis deserves "Viva Viagra"? How rough of a game is Dan Uggla having? Poor guy. When will Ernie send Russell Martin his promise ring? When did Christian Guzman stop sucking? How crazy would it have been if George Sherrill threw the bat shard at David Wright on his way to first?
12:51 a.m. [Travis] - I have no idea how this game is going to end. But I imagine it will be exactly what we don't want to happen and we'll be really upset with the ending, forgetting about the glamour of this game.
12:53 a.m. - In reference to the Sizemore/Brady affair, I prefer Grady Brady. That would be a good looking love child, no? Guzman didn't stop sucking: Zimmerman, Dmitri Young, Nick Johnson, Lastings Milledge, and Elijah Dukes all got snubbed for the team! Imagine an all Nationals All-Star team! That would be like...the Nationals...eew, nevermind. But if Sherrill threw the shard at Wright, the Yankees would acquire him by the deadline.
12:51 a.m. [Travis] - I have no idea how this game is going to end. But I imagine it will be exactly what we don't want to happen and we'll be really upset with the ending, forgetting about the glamour of this game.
12:53 a.m. - In reference to the Sizemore/Brady affair, I prefer Grady Brady. That would be a good looking love child, no? Guzman didn't stop sucking: Zimmerman, Dmitri Young, Nick Johnson, Lastings Milledge, and Elijah Dukes all got snubbed for the team! Imagine an all Nationals All-Star team! That would be like...the Nationals...eew, nevermind. But if Sherrill threw the shard at Wright, the Yankees would acquire him by the deadline.
12:58 a.m.- [Clark] How much does Rich Harden hate Carlos Marmol after what he did against the Giants? Probably as much as Roy Halladay hates his offense. If I were Halladay, I would never speak to Adam Lind.
1:00 am- [Clark] This isn't fun anymore. This is really Dan Uggla's worst nightmare. He's so much better than what he's doing tonight. I really feel for the guy. I hope he has a huge second half.
1:02 A.M. (Barrows) Dan Uggla's worst nightmare alright. It certainly isn't Josh Hamilton's dream.
1:02 A.M. (Barrows) Dan Uggla's worst nightmare alright. It certainly isn't Josh Hamilton's dream.
1:05 AM (Clark) Hey, Carlos Quentin. You kiss your mother with that mouth?
1:07 a.m. [Travis] - Wow...all those thoughts I had about McLouth having an amazing game wasn't enough to will that ball to 315 feet...only 312. I still have my conspiracy theory that this is scripted to make the legendary Yankee Stadium highlight reel, but I'm truly enjoying this game...don't tell anyone I said that.
1:09 AM (Clark) I've seen a lot of games at Yankee Stadium. I thought Nate McClouth was going upper deck with that shot. He'll be a Yankee in three years. I can see why Travis hates us.
1:10 a.m. [Travis] - I have to give credit to Buck and McCarver now, too. They're really rising to the occasion and getting into the game.
1:09 AM (Clark) I've seen a lot of games at Yankee Stadium. I thought Nate McClouth was going upper deck with that shot. He'll be a Yankee in three years. I can see why Travis hates us.
1:10 a.m. [Travis] - I have to give credit to Buck and McCarver now, too. They're really rising to the occasion and getting into the game.
1:11 AM (Clark) Joe Buck just asked Tim McCarver if he had Carlton's cell phone number. I know he probably meant Carlton Fisk, but how funny would it be if Tim McCarver had Alfonso Ribiero's phone number?
1:12 AM (Barrows) I still say they can bring in Boggs to pitch if they have to save Kazmir. He threw a scoreless inning once and they say knuckleball pitchers can throw forever...he has one of those.
1:14 a.m. [Travis] -I fully support bringing Boggs in to pitch for the A.L. This game would end QUICK!
1:12 AM (Barrows) I still say they can bring in Boggs to pitch if they have to save Kazmir. He threw a scoreless inning once and they say knuckleball pitchers can throw forever...he has one of those.
1:14 a.m. [Travis] -I fully support bringing Boggs in to pitch for the A.L. This game would end QUICK!
1:16 A.M. (Clark) Very upset about Jake Taylor striking out like that.
1:17 a.m. [Travis] - I finally figured out how this game is going to end. Jeter will be let back in the game because he's the captain and he'll hit a walk off home run.
1:18 a.m. [Travis] - OH! OR WILL JOE GIRARDI BE ALLOWED TO PINCH HIT AND HIT A HOME RUN?! HE'LL FINALLY BE A TRUE YANKEE!
1:17 a.m. [Travis] - I finally figured out how this game is going to end. Jeter will be let back in the game because he's the captain and he'll hit a walk off home run.
1:18 a.m. [Travis] - OH! OR WILL JOE GIRARDI BE ALLOWED TO PINCH HIT AND HIT A HOME RUN?! HE'LL FINALLY BE A TRUE YANKEE!
1:20 a.m. [Clark] Jimmy Leyritz is sitting at home right now incredulous that he's not at this game. Because the All-Star game should be Jimmy Leyritz's greatest concern right now.
1:22 a.m. (Barrows) Don Zimmer is going to storm the AL dugout, and take out Francona for using Kazmir. The Yankee Stadium crowd will go crazy.
1:22 a.m. (Barrows) Don Zimmer is going to storm the AL dugout, and take out Francona for using Kazmir. The Yankee Stadium crowd will go crazy.
1:23 a.m. [Joe Morgan] So I was talking to my good friend Pete Rose who I was on the Big Red Machine with and we think there should be instant replay. Jaret Wright having a great at bat.
1:28 a.m. [Travis] - Is it just me or does Scott Kazmir have more acne than the front row at Backstreet Boys concert?
1:28 a.m. [Clark] I know the State Farm commercial where the guy gives up the ball to young kid is supposed to show selflessness and being a good neighbor, but every time I see it, I totally keep thinking that that selfish little kid has his whole life to catch a home run ball. Freeloading son of a bitch.
1:31 a.m. [Travis] -After that Ludwick catch, that reminded me...is Jeffrey Maier at this game?
1:31 a.m. [Travis] -After that Ludwick catch, that reminded me...is Jeffrey Maier at this game?
1.33 AM [Clark] That was Dioneer Navarro's biggest hit since he left Jane's Addiction.
1:35 a.m. [Travis] - I no longer want nor expect this game to end.
1:36 a.m. [Travis] - Until I found out Michael Young was up. Everything has come full circle. I understand the meaning of life now.
1:38 a.m. [Travis] - Speaking of full circle, I hate my life again because Derek Jeter found his way into the replay. I thought we were over him. HIS REPLACEMENT WON THE GAME! So I should be saying "I'm glad Jeter got voted in so Young could replace him!"
NO! I'm saying Jeter shouldn't even be in the game at all!! Young should have started and played the whole thing! He's earned it!
1:40 am [Barrows] - What a game. There's so many things to say, but nothing that hasn't been said. Amazing.
1:42 a.m. [Travis] - Agreed.
1:45 a.m. [Clark] My theory is that if only Corey Hart embraced his name and wore his sunglasses at night, he would have thrown out Justin Morneau. God damn you, Corey Hart the baseball player! You need to hang out with Adam Jones, the Oriole. Just go by Pacman already.
1:49 a.m. [Travis] - My final thoughts. Jeanie Zelasco would look much better if she were Erin Andrews, and pardon J.D. Drew for not being excited about winning a Hybrid SUV. He has three Hummers sitting in the driveway at home.
1:51 a.m. [Barrows] - I'm going to end on this note. Since JD Drew has a car he has no use for, he should donate it to the Make A Wish Foundation. I'm sure there's a 16 year old who wished he could receive a car from the MVP of the All-Star game.
1:49 a.m. [Travis] - My final thoughts. Jeanie Zelasco would look much better if she were Erin Andrews, and pardon J.D. Drew for not being excited about winning a Hybrid SUV. He has three Hummers sitting in the driveway at home.
1:51 a.m. [Barrows] - I'm going to end on this note. Since JD Drew has a car he has no use for, he should donate it to the Make A Wish Foundation. I'm sure there's a 16 year old who wished he could receive a car from the MVP of the All-Star game.
NFC North power shift
Daaaaaa Bears signed Kevin Jones---that's right, my boy KJ, to a deal today to bring him to Chi Town.
Considering the Brett Favre drama, the inept offensive play calling in Detroit, and the distracting sexy parties in Minnesota, this move gives Chicago a good enough running game to open up WR routes. Chicago's defense is already among the best in the league, so I'm looking for them to take the NFC North this season. Minnesota will finish second, Green Bay third, and Detroit will be in the basement. They deserve it for letting him go and not giving him the ball last season.
I'm not starting on my NFL previews yet, but I gotta give KJ some love. His career has been ridden with injury, so he hasn't had a legitimate chance to show off how good he can be.
Considering the Brett Favre drama, the inept offensive play calling in Detroit, and the distracting sexy parties in Minnesota, this move gives Chicago a good enough running game to open up WR routes. Chicago's defense is already among the best in the league, so I'm looking for them to take the NFC North this season. Minnesota will finish second, Green Bay third, and Detroit will be in the basement. They deserve it for letting him go and not giving him the ball last season.
I'm not starting on my NFL previews yet, but I gotta give KJ some love. His career has been ridden with injury, so he hasn't had a legitimate chance to show off how good he can be.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Home Run Hamilton
Josh Hamilton-28 homeruns, 2nd most in Home Run Derby history.
One problem history books, that was only the first round.
If you aren't watching the Home Run Derby, what's wrong with you?
One problem history books, that was only the first round.
If you aren't watching the Home Run Derby, what's wrong with you?
Great A-Rod article
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar08/news/story?id=3487298
He's not such a bad guy!
He's not such a bad guy!
Prediction turns guarantee
I am so confident that the NL is better than the AL this year that I am not just predicting the NL to win the All-Star Game...I'm GUARANTEEING it.
Pitching is better, offense is better, and our manager is...ok well our pitching and offense are superior to that of the American League. The AL doesn't have the Giambi-stache to save it, doesn't have Vladdy, and Michael Young is probably going to ride the bench so Jeter can play the whole game for the fans at Yankee Stadium. The AL has no chance.
Pitching is better, offense is better, and our manager is...ok well our pitching and offense are superior to that of the American League. The AL doesn't have the Giambi-stache to save it, doesn't have Vladdy, and Michael Young is probably going to ride the bench so Jeter can play the whole game for the fans at Yankee Stadium. The AL has no chance.
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