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As an out-of-market Yankee fan, I don't get to watch as many games as I'd like to during the year. I realize I don't have much to complain about, as ESPN/FOX love to show the Bombers whenever they can. However, I don't get to see my team play nearly all their games like I would if I rooted for the Cubs, White Sox, or Reds here in Indiana. (My thanks again to Jake's for their satellite TV.)
What did I get to witness during this game against the Royals? I got to see that 36 year old Andy Pettite is still able to throw good stuff and record outs like he did during the Dynasty run.
But can we really look ahead to a whole season based on a single start? If I were to behave like every other Yankee fan and baseball analyst, then of course I would. You see, Pettite was amazing in his season debut. His line (7IP, 3H, 6SO, 1.29ERA) was amazing and to be honest if Nick Swisher is a half step faster and plays that pop-up in the second inning better, Pettite likely gets a 2 hit shutout. If he pitches every game of the year like this, ESPN has him projected to start 41 times, winning all of them, throw 243 strikeouts, and keep his ERA below 2.00. What?!? Obviously, Pettite nor any other player this season is going to live up to those projected stats. This is what happens when you project that far forward based on one game.
As ridiculous as this example with Andy Pettite is, people have had no problem doing the exact same thing with CC Sabathia and believing his horrible projected numbers. CC pitched a terrible game on April 6th. His Yankee debut was atrocious (4.1IP, 8H, 6ER, zeroSO, 12.46ERA). I hope that CC never pitches another game like that again. But to think that this one bad start means his season is a failure and that he is going to be a bust is idiotic. His one bad start is no more evidence of a potentially bad year than Pettite's gem is an indicator that he'll defy the odds and his age and put up Cy Young-caliber numbers.
What will happen? I'm no psychic (see below for the real deal) but I'm guessing that Andy Pettite won't start 41 games and that CC will bounce back. Is he going to be a bust? No one knows, but it is too early to make that decision. If he's still stinking it up in July, then we've got a problem. However, I'm guessing that when that time comes and he's leading the league in strikeouts and the Yanks are in first place everyone will magically forget his bad debut and how they wrote him off for the rest of the season.
March Madness is in full swing. The NBA regular season is winding down, headed for the playoffs. Baseball is also ready to get underway. While you watch the lack of underdogs in the Dance, notice the lack of parity in the NBA this year, and warm up to a long summer of scandal-ridden baseball here are some great links from around the web to keep you satisfied.
Alyssa Milano, Author and Scholar: Friend of the Cartel, Alyssa Milano, has decided to take her love of the game of baseball and her love of its stars and turn it into a book. [Moon Dog Sports]
Brilliant Speech, But To No Avail What if the coach from Hoosiers had spoken to the Boilermakers prior to Thursday's game against Connecticut? [Boiled Sports]
Bulls Finally Get Sidekick for Rose John Salmons hasn't been in Chicago long after being traded from the Kings, but he has made the most of it so far and is putting up some solid numbers. [Pippen Ain't Easy]
Durant is a Beast, Says He Likes Oklahoma Superstud Kevin Durant is pleased with the direction that the OKC franchise is taking. He sees a bright future, and as long as he wears one of those atrocious OKC unis, the Thunder could be dangerous.[The Boston Globe]
This past week has been a roller coaster for the Purdue Boilermakers. They've had stellar first half performances, that end with late game meltdowns and they've won their last two games by only a combined score of 7 points (after a combined halftime lead of 23). Now, they face UCONN and must deal with the most athletic team they've faced all year.
But should Purdue even be in this situation? Should they be going up against the giants from Storrs? I say no, if only they could get a little respect.
Other than the Arizona Wildcats (a 12 seed), the Boilermakers are the lowest seed left in the dance. This might not seem like such a bad deal, other than you have to look at their resume. Not only did they compile a 25-9 record in one of the major BCS conferences, but they won the league's tournament. Though I'm a purist and don't consider the end-of-year tourney to be the championship, in some leagues Purdue would be considered that. And what did the Boilers get out of all this success? They received a 5 seed and had to go clear to the west coast to play in Portland.
This might not seem too bad. All teams have to travel great distances, especially if they're not a top seed, right? Nope.
Purdue's second opponent in the dance was Washington (located in Seattle, not too far from Portland). Neutral site, I think not. Well, at least the Huskies were a 4 seed. It makes sense that they might get preferential treatment, but how does that explain 8-seeded Ohio State (defeated by Purdue in the conference tourney) getting to play in their own state?
Geographic anomalies aside, seeding makes a huge difference of who you even have to face on your way to the Final Four. Let's face it, you don't have to be the best team in the country to win it all. All you have to do is win 6 games in a row. What teams wind up in your quadrant/side of the bracket make a huge difference. Now is UCONN the highest rated and most dangerous team in the tourney? I'd say no. But they are still a force to be reckoned with and quite a match up for a team that did as well during the season as Purdue did. Let's compare the Boilers' Sweet 16 draw with a similar squad. Kansas (25-7) only won one version of the Big 12 championship, but wound up with a 3 seed. Only being 2 seeds higher than the Boilers, the Jayhawks get to ride in the bottom side of the Midwest bracket and match up against a very beatable Michigan State squad. Meanwhile by virtue of being a 5, the boilers are forced to play the 1 seed a round earlier than teams like Kansas and Villanova.
I realize that as a Purdue fan I should just be ecstatic that they are in the Sweet 16 and leave it at that. But I can't help but feel that Purdue is rarely thought of amongst the nation's elite basketball programs, despite its great history, and often it appears to get little respect.
Billynho writes the truth. My lack of commitment to the Cartel has brought down its quality over the last month or so. Besides my sporadic posting, I've even been neglecting some of the webmaster duties. For all of this, loyal fans, I apologize. Though I feel I must set the record straight since my honor has been called into question by that roguish Billy & Ho (AKA Tony Kornheiser?).
Billynho writes about how he wishes to "settle back into a pattern". Yet what he fails to mention is that this "pattern" is him MOVING! Yeah, that's right. The man who talks of commitment to a project and of the unity of the Cartel is leaving beatiful central Indiana for California.
It is indeed a sad day, sports fans. It looks like The Siets will be your only source for level-headed Midwestern takes on all the big sports issues. Billynho will probably be too busy driving his Prius and selling crack to orphans (or building microscopes) to care about our loyal readers. I can just see it now; he'll be attending Lakers games with Jacko, rooting for the Galaxy, and just generally promoting a solid West-Coast bias on this site. Heck he might even try the newspaper gig again. I hear Bill Plaschke is looking to take on an apprentice.
In all honesty though, I wish my good friend Billynho the best as he looks to start a new chapter out west. To our readers, the site may still be crazy for a brief time, but we will return in full strength soon. Thanks to all who take time to read this site and we hope you've enjoyed our work so far.
After being called out for the 20th time and even receiving a few data entries asking what up (try it sometime!), I'll bend at the whim of public pressure and explain what's been going on around here.
"A whole lot of nothing, loser," all some of you are probably saying, and you'd be right. But there's a perfectly good explanation for the lack of posts.
It'd be easy to say that it's The Siets's (King's English around here) fault and leave it at that. And it'd be fair. Hell, that sounds 100% right to me.
As for me, I've been really busy doing things you wouldn't believe if I told you. I can't really believe it myself. And there will probably be a few more weeks of turmoil (or lack thereof) on this site, but I do plan to settle back into a pattern of openly lusting for overglorifying Drew Brees, Ricky Rubio, and Anfernee Hardaway again soon. So bear with Billynho, and he'll be back with you before you noticed he was gone. Assuming you did. Which you probably didn't. Because you thought he was Tony Kornheiser, didn't you? You think this is Tony Kornheiser right now, don't you? You know who I blame for that?
The Siets.
Until then, we appreciate you reading our site. Or at least I do. I can't speak for The Siets except to say The Siets doesn't care about anyone. Except beating the guy in the picture above at what that guy and The Siets do best. To think, I would've backed The Siets in that battle at one time. Ha, that was before I remembered that THAT DUDE would've definitely posted more than once in the past 29 days.
I'll be thinking of you when I'm doing what I've been doing and will soon be doing again.
Somebody has to, because it's clear The Siets won't.
With the NFL season coming to an end, the NBA and college hoops in full swing, and the ongoing A-Rod scandal it can sometimes be hard to figure out what's going on with your favorite baseball teams and players. Here's a quick recap of some of the bigger moves that have occurred recently. 2/21/09 - Twins sign Joe Crede to 1 year deal. Crede had previously been with the White Sox.
2/20/09 - Braves resign Tom Glavine to a 1 year deal. Glavine was 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA last season. He is still recovering from the elbow injury that cut that season short.
2/19/09 - Mariners sign Ken Griffey Jr. to a 1 year deal. Griffey is returning to the team that he started his future HOF career with. He played with the M's from 1989-1999 prior to leaving for Cincinnati.
Brewers resign Eric Gagne to a Minor League deal. Gagne will also not be wearing his trademark goggles after having laser eye surgery.
2/15/09 - Angels sign Bobby Abreu to a 1 year deal. Bobby was one of the few people in baseball to not be offered a fat contract by the Yankees, though he put up a .296 average, 20 HR and 100 RBI in 2008.
2/12/09 - Nationals sign Adam Dunn to a 2 year deal. Dunn had been with the Diamondbacks at the end of last season after being traded by the Reds.
Other than the Gagne deal (Gagne hasn't mattered since his days with the Dodgers), I give all of the GMs that made these deals gold stars.
Dunn, Abreu, and Crede are going to improve the rosters of the teams that they head to. The Nats and Angels get sluggers (LA working to replace the power they lost in Teixeira) and the Twinkies get a solid all-around player in Crede (assuming he can stay healthy for once).
The Griffey and Glavine deals are more sentimental than practical, but I applaud them nonetheless. Griffey has only one more year in him, and it's nice to see him head back to the Emerald City rather than add another cap to his closet. Since he will likely don a Mariner cap on his HOF plaque, it's good to see him end his career there. Glavine is equally washed-up. However, if he is able to return to the Bravos, then perhaps he can end on a solid note for the team that he helped turn into a powerhouse of the 90's. [Editor's Note: Braves are often considered the team of the 90's; Braves titles: 1 Yankees:3, including 2 over Braves...hmm?]
The nicest thing by far about all of these deals is that they are short-term. Rather than the long term contracts that the Yanks, Mets, and others were throwing around like candy this year these teams have chosen to play it conservatively and sign big names to short contracts. We all know that players play harder in a contract year. It's a fact. It looks like these GMs pay attention.
I love baseball. I always have and probably always will. I remember watching Yankees and Cubs games with my dad and cheering on my favorites: Mattingly, Grace, Tartabull, Leyritz, and Jeter. I respected the Gwynns, Ripkens, Sandbergs, and Big Hurts of the world.
Now I can't help but wonder if the sport that I love is dying? I thought that the strike in '94 would kill baseball. Had it not been for McGwire and Sosa's slugfest in '98 that death sentence would have likely been true. But it seems we are now paying the price for that magical summer at the end of the last millennium. Every day it seems a new star or another living legend is being connected with this horrible black eye that is steroids/performance-enhancing drugs. I have not yet made up my mind as to where I stand on issues such as the legitimacy of Bonds' records or the place of some of these athletes in the Hall. I will continue to wrestle with these issues as a fan of the game and will post them on here as they come to light. There are even some who argue that most of these so-called issues are moot (Billynho being one, and I hope he will expand the conversations we've had into full articles). Regardless of my stance or anyone else's on the issue of sterioids, I do stand by one thing...
In any case involving scandal or alleged scandal, I think that humor is one of the best ways to expose and shed light on the issue and I think it is one of the best uses of our freedom of speech to lampoon and satirize the issues of our day. With that said, I came across a very funny picture on ESPN's Page 2 today. The original can be found here. Click the image below to see it in full size.
Does it answer all of the questions we have about this dark time in baseball? No. Is it 100% fair to all parties? No. But, does it make us laugh a little and maybe not feel so horrible about the direction that baseball has taken? I hope.
My beloved Boilermakers eked out a win today in Iowa City. With Play like that they'll likely be slaughtered by the Spartans on Tuesday. With that said, and in honor of how crazy the Big Ten season has been, I've decided to keep a Midwestern flavor in my recap of the web's best.
John Paxson ousted in the Windy City: With the Bulls being basement dwellers practically ever since His Airness left town, everybody saw this coming. Here we have a good recap of his stellar moves and signings. [Luol's Dong]
AL Central Preview Even though it's only February, diehard baseball fans are already looking towards the the upcoming season. I have to agree with picking the Twins, though the ChiSox may give them a run. With the AL East as stacked as ever, there will only be one playoff spot coming from the Central. [Midwest Sports Fans]
Tom Crean Continues to Bring Respectibality to Bloomington The Cartel has long been a fan of Crean. We loved what he did at Marquette and hoped that he might help heal IU after the disastorous exits of Knight, Sampson, and to a lesser extent Davis. It seems that he might be living up to this reformer hype. Though we will never be IU fans, we are glad to see this kind of action. [Larry Brown Sports]
Bears Make Roster Changes Long time Bears will be seen elsewhere next year. Mike Brown and Marty Booker were not offered new contracts. Also it appears that John Tait will retire. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The Siets will be wolfing down nachos and various other foodstuffs tomorrow at Weisolas' during the big game and not caring in the slightest who wins the game. For the rest of you who may or may not care about the contest in Tampa, here are some links to get you through the weekend. International Super Bowl Coverage: For all of our readers who are outside the states tomorrow, here's a list of broadcasters that will be airing SB XLIII. [Fang's Bites]
Holy European Point Guards, Batman! The Cartel's love of Ricky Rubio is well documented (here and here). The Kings have always been one of the more global NBA teams and one of their very global fans gives us Yanks a glimpse at two of Europe's best. [Sactown Royalty]
Will we ever get a break from TO? VH1, that bastion of fine programming, is creating a "reality" show starring Terrell Owens.[tonyblogs]
In honor of Detective Roc Hoover, please post your favorite Mark Schlereth quotes/moments in our forum.
NBA News - Eastern Conference Edition Danny Granger, Pleasant Surprise: New Mexico isn't usually known for producing superstars, nor is the 17th pick in the draft. However, Danny Granger has risen to be one of the premier players in the league and is in the top 5 in scoring. [Indy Cornrows]
Motown Math: A look at how Detroit's performance stacks up now that they've switched to "small ball". [Detroit Bad Boys]
Improved Magic Shooting: During the first 18 games of the year, the Magic couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Since then, their shooters have lit up and are complementing Superman. [Third Quarter Collapse]
Charles Oakley! Charles Oakley now has an internet cooking show. The fact that this is not the most shocking news I've heard this week just goes to show what a crazy world this is. [Posting and Toasting]
A sunset over the Pacific. Due to Indiana's crappy weather, The Siets & Billynho are both wishing we could go back to Cali.
NBA News - Western Conference Edition Spurs Mid-Seasonish Recap: Are the Spurs' roleplayers studs or simply playing out of their minds as of late? [Pounding the Rock]
Nuggets Not Done Trading: Denver made headlines with the AI for Chauncey trade, but they've continued to deal and might not be done. [Rocky Mountain News]
Oden's O-Fon: Our favorite Portland big man is releasing a special edition phone. [Blaze of Love]
Christmas Comes Late in Utah: A fan blew a loud whistle in Salt Lake City causing the Warriors to stop play... a Kyle Korver dunk ensued. [Ball Don't Lie]
Mutombo! Mutombo! Mutombo gives his take on the current state of the Rockets. [BallerBlogger]
We've got music, and, and videos, and a profile... and all kinds of stuff that TRUE Kornheiser's Cartelians need to check out. Real fans only.
I don't know, maybe you should come add us... then, when we confirm (we'll probably hire an intern to handle that bullshit, so not actually "we" but somebody will confirm, we promise)... post on our wall... maybe something like: "thx 4 tha add homey! i luv luv LOVE ur blog so much... i sometymz stay home on tha weekends and just refresh dat shit all nite u kno bc omg u just rock, especially dat Billynho... and The Siets, he's not bad either, but i heard he like likes Johnny Cash and Nicholas Cage movies, so he's so so not my type 'n shit, ya know? but rite hurr r muh digits, call the cell baby, okay? okay!? okay. buh-bye. u better call! mwah"
Yeah, that'd be good. That's how MySpace works right? We're gonna get, like, soooo much new traffic OMG, LOL!
Congratulations to the Utah Utes. Utah handily defeated the Crimson Tide to win the 2009 Sugar Bowl. You finished the football season undefeated (13-0) and if a national title must be handed out to Div-I football then I believe you should receive that honor.
The Alabama Crimson Tide were a quality opponent, finishing the year with only 2 losses (the other coming to Florida in the SEC championship game). Yet this just goes to prove my point that teams from non-BCS conferences can compete with and beat the teams from BCS conferences. This was the 4th time that a team from outside the BCS conferences were allowed to play in a BCS bowl and marks the 3rd victory (.750 winning percentage). Everyone likes to point to Hawaii's embarrassing performance in last year's Sugar Bowl, but why not look at Utah and Boise State's victories?
I realize that many will disagree with my opinion that Utah is the rightful national champion but until college football figures out this BCS nonsense, they shouldn't be removed from consideration. Taking advice from a commenter on my previous BCS article, why do we need to crown a National Champ? My only problem is that either Florida or Oklahoma will be given this honor. The thing that seperates these squads from the Utes? One loss.
Before Billynho and The Siets cruise out for a totally heterosexual night to cruise in the New Year, we thought it'd be apropos to wish you a Happy New Year's and thank you for cruising our site in 2008. Try to find it in your heart to keep cruising back in 2009? We're way down to see you tomorrow and beyond.
GET DRUNK IF YA MUST... but don't if you can help it (yes we mean YOU).
As I watched my Spurs play on Christmas Day, I was distraught as they were down by as many as 13 in the first quarter. Slowly the boys in black were able to battle their way back and found themselves with a lead early in the second half. However, with only 4.3 seconds left in the game, San Antonio was down by 2.
The Spurs had the luxury of being able to run a set play from half court. Sitting in my grandparents' basement, my family and I made various predictions as to who would take the last shot. Many in the room felt that future HOFer Tim Duncan would get the nod. Others felt that sporadic Manu Ginóbili would slash to the hoop. The most vocal opinion came from yours truly. Being the only actual Spurs fan in the room, I shouted "Anybody but Mason!"
Then as the play unfolded, I watched in amazement as Parker passed to a wide open Mason in the corner. The shot was up and in, and I shouted with excitement as the Spurs walked away with a 91-90 victory. Despite the victory for my favorite NBA franchise, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth.
Last season the defending champion San Antonio Spurs made it back to the Western Conference Finals, yet they were clearly overmatched in terms of youth and speed against the Lakers. Spurs fans eagerly looked forward to the offseason and hoped that the team would work towards getting younger and possibly signing another star to complement "The Big 3". Instead, R. C. Buford chose to retain older-than-dirt Michael Finley, keep hope in "World's Largest Ginger" Matt Bonner, and sign/draft Roger Mason and George Hill.
Although Brent Barry and Robert Horry departed (making the team a little younger), I had my reservations about Mason. George Hill looked to be a solid draft pick. He was a standout player at IUPUI and averaged over 21 ppg in his last year with the Jaguars. As a rookie, he is putting up solid numbers even on a team that usually values experience and rarely plays true rookies. Mason, on the other hand, has bothered me since he was signed. Many heralded him as the answer to the Spurs' quickness and shooting issues, but I was highly unimpressed with his stint in Washington. While with the Wiz he did put up 9.1 ppg in '07-'08, but this was the only season he played more than 62 games. Despite his limited résumé, analysts were quick to anoint him as the second coming of Sean Elliott.
Well, let me be the first to admit that Mason has in fact delivered as advertised. He is averaging 12.8 ppg (only 2 behind Manu) and has slid in well as the fourth leading contributor on the team. He also adds 3.4 rebounds and 2 assists a game. Coupled with Hill's 8.8 ppg and 2.7 apg, this duo could prove to be a solid addition to San Antonio's backcourt. They, along with like-clockwork stellar play from Duncan and Parker, have the Spurs in second place in the West. If these two, especially Mason, can continue to improve then the Spurs might be poised for another title run.
With a phenomenal season record like that, you would think that your team would have a shot at playing for the national title. You knocked off several ranked opponents and won not only your conference, but beat your rivals and teams from the power conferences.
Yet the Utah Utes and the Boise State Broncos will not be playing for the crystal football in South Florida on January 8.
Instead, that night college football fans will watch as the Oklahoma Sooners play the Florida Gators in a less than neutral Dolphin Stadium. Their records (12-1 and 12-1) are blemished. I'll be the first to admit that the Big 12 (especially its South Division) and the SEC were the best conferences in college football this year. However, what makes these two one loss teams any better than USC, Penn State, Texas, or Texas Tech (all with 11-1 records)? If these teams had played in conference championships then they too would likely have 12-1 records.
In addition to these snubbed BCS squads, my original point still rings true. Boise State and Utah are UNDEFEATED. I have no reason to root for these squads. I'm a Purdue Boilermaker fan from the Midwest and have never been to Utah or Idaho. Yet I can't help but want to pull my hair out when I see that these two undefeated squads are locked out of the championship. In fact, Boise State will even be locked out of the BCS altogether.
What else can these schools do? They have won every game that they have played this year (something that no other schools can claim). Yet they happen to play in conferences that the NCAA has deemed inferior. To be fair, there are a lot of bad teams in the WAC and MWC. Idaho, New Mexico State, San Diego State, and Wyoming were atrocious. But, schools like TCU, BYU, and Nevada help bring in balance. The SEC and Big 12 are not without their doormats either. Baylor, Iowa State, Mississippi State, Auburn, and even Tennessee were awful as well.
Even if you feel, for some odd reason, that the Utes and Broncos shouldn't be playing for the national title, I think you have to admit that they deserve to be a part of the most prestigious bowls, the BCS. And yet, the Broncos look to be excluded from this group in favor of the ACC and Big East champions. Virginia Tech has an extremely impressive 9-4 record against the stellar ACC this year and the Cincinnatti Bearcats, although 11-2, played in a Big East that was arguably no better than the MWC or WAC this year.
Ultimately it boils down to the same point that I have been making over the last few years. In college football, if the only metric we have for truly comparing teams is wins and losses, then how can teams with better records than those in the championship be denied their shot at glory? To say they can't compete is ludicrous, all you have to do is look at Utah in 2004 and Boise State in 2006. Sadly those two teams won't get a chance to play each other to decide who is the best team in football this year.
Now that college basketball has officially begun, The Siets and the rest of the staff here at the Cartel couldn't be more excited. For one thing, our Boilers are looking sharp in the preseason NIT and are headed to NYC. Secondly, is there a more exhilarating sport to watch than college hoops? About the only way college hoops could get better is if some drastic change were made.
Nonetheless, this week has already caused some interesting basketball news to hit the internet and we're here to show you the best...
If there is one thing that the Cartel can't stand in sports, it's cheating. After all, we hated Kelvin Sampson long before he started coaching in Bloomington. Dana O'Neil, writing for a site you might have heard of, brings to light how shady and conniving some college coaches have become. My dad always says, "whenever a program starts to win, you don't have to wait long before the evidence starts to prove they were cheating." Looking at some of the teams that Ms. O'Neil cites, it seems like my dad might be right again. [ESPN]
New Jersey Institute of Technology is not a very good basketball program. In fact, they are one of the worst programs ever (at least as of late). Some records should never be broken. [ABC-11 Raleigh/Durham]
Matt Painter proves his genius once again! Only a mastemind of his caliber would have had the foresight to see that stud recruit Tyler Zeller would break his wrist and miss the entire season. I'm glad we got Lew Jack instead. [FOX Sports]
A very bizarre situation occurred the other night during the NIT Season Tip-off. Loyola's coach found a very creative way to avoid ejection, seemingly having to deal with a biased and unprofessional ref (based on Patsos' story). [SportingNews]
It's here. Actually it's been here for awhile now, I just write articles too sporadically. The it that I am referring to? The Fall Classic of course. So in today's installment of the best of the web, we look exclusively to that greatest of pastimes and take one final look at what's being said about baseball on the internet this season.
A Braves' fan rooting for the Phils? Next you'll tell me that Guy Ritchie has season tickets next year for Yankee Stadium along the third base line. Actually this is one extremely well written piece if you are a National League enthusiast, hate indoor ballparks, or just like your franchises to be old enough to vote. [The Launching Pad]
Counter the above article with a Rays' fan who has conceded defeat, but doesn't regret a thing. [DraysBAY]
Could ESPN be breaking up John and Joe on Sunday Night? Whether you love them or hate them (or hate how one always compares every great team to the Big Red Machine), there is no denying that it would be weird to see a change after almost 20 years. [NY Daily News]
It always amazes me how when there is a big name on the market, everybody (and this article proves that I mean everybody) feels they have a shot. Guess what? Johnny Damon wasn't leaving the Red Sox to go to Minnesota, Santana wasn't going to play for the Nationals, and Peavy will not have a KC on his hat come April either. [Royals Mailbag]
The New York Yankees failed to make the postseason for the first time since 1993, which also means that this is the first year in which Derek Jeter will not be playing in October.
Kornheiser's Cartel recently spent a day with the Yankees' shortstop, and we were able to record his routine.
8:00 AM - Wake up after a good night's sleep. Roll over. Shit... Mariah. I've had all of the pressure of not making the playoffs and the closing of the Stadium placed on my exquisitely cut shoulders being the captain and all. I don't know how Varitek was able to handle sitting at home 4 different seasons, but he does have a beard and a "C" on his jersey to get him through the tough times.
8:05 AM - Flip on my XM radio, chug a Gatorade, and head to the bathroom. After a quick shave using my Gillette Fusion, I hop in the ol' shower. When I'm done I throw on my Nike gear and slip on my Jumpman shoes. 8:30 AM - Breakfast Time! Even though I keep trying to tell myself that everything's alright, I can't help but feel a little blue. So, to cheer myself up I think I'll eat Wheaties from my private stash of Yankees World Series Champions boxes. '98 looks good, after all we were the greatest team to ever play baseball (suck on that Varitek). ARod wasn't on the Yanks in '98 as I recall.
9:15 AM - Flip on the tube and watch some SportsCenter. A video montage of great playoff performances? Wow, I was in over half those shots...totally need to fire my agent because I haven't seen a dime from ESPN.
9:30 AM - Phone Call. Bud Selig. Yawn. He wants to make sure that even though I'm not playing right now, I'll still make an appearance in Tampa or something. I tell him sure thing, after all I am the face of the entire league. Plus I know a few Buccaneers cheerleaders.
9:45 AM - Plop down on the couch and bust out my cell phone. I usually play about 2 hours of Derek Jeter Pro Baseball 2008 every morning. Since they named it after me, I get special cheat codes that allow me to unlock historical players. I put my boy Brosius in at 3rd and Bernie back in center. Believe me, they're improvements on the current players.
12:00 PM - Lunch downtown at Masa with The Boss. Seriously, that's what he makes even me call him. Not Mr. Steinbrenner. Not Your Excellency. Not even Papa Georgie (that's what Cashman always calls him).
He starts off by saying that he doesn't blame me at all for our failure to make the playoffs. In fact I'm pretty much the only guy he doesn't blame. He tells me he's fired half of our scouts, sold the Trenton Thunder to some Japanese investment firm, and that the guy who sells hot dogs in Section 126 better watch his back. For some reason he is super pissed at Alex too. I tell him nobody was to blame. Except Alex.
After going over what I want my plaque in Monument Park to read, The Boss says he has to use the restroom.
35 minutes later - Obviously The Boss isn't coming back. He always sticks me with the check. Yogi warned me, but nobody ever listens to that old crackpot. He's such a sellout too. The way he turned his old phrases into an Aflac commercial, not cool. I pay with my Visa card and hop in my Ford.
5:00 PM - I'm a guest on a radio talk show. This show doesn't even begin to compare to the stellar analysis and up-to-the-minute score alerts that can be found on XM radio. But my PR guy says it's good for me to mingle with the people. They ask me my thoughts on offseason moves and I mention that we should look at signing Teixeira and converting him to 3B. The hosts seem perplexed, but I tell them that Posada will likely be moved to 1st, so we don't need anybody at 1B. They still argue that we're set at 3rd as well, but I've tuned them out by now. I plug a charity or two and then I'm gone.
7:30 PM - Dinner with Pettitte, Mariano, and Posada. We reminisce about the good old days and none of us can figure out how Jorge's former backup has become our skipper. We all text Torre saying we miss him and he responds with a huggie bear emoticon. He's so adorable.
9:45 PM - Pettitte knows of a sick party going on, so we all head out, like in Swingers. I'm obviously the Vince Vaughn of the group, since these other guys are super lame and have wives they have to get back to.
11:30 PM - As I'm leaving the party the valet starts riding my ass for not leading the Bombers to another World Series. I run my hand (with those 4 large rings) through my hair, tell him it'll be alright, and help Miss New Jersey into my car. I don't think I'll have as restful a night tonight.
The internet is abuzz with all things sport lately, which makes writing articles like this fairly easy. In fact, I was able to churn this out in about the time it took Kimbo to get knocked out (too soon?).
Read on to see the best the internet has to offer (at least for the time being). Baseball:
The ALCS and NLCS are set! Games will begin on Thursday in Philly. The superbly written and designed Phillies Nation points out that usual stud Chase Utley has been less than stellar so far in the playoffs. For the Phils' sake, I hope he can rebound. [Phillies Nation]
One of the Cartel's favorites, Core-Pat, will be looking for work. [Red Hot Mama]
Apparently it's not just Prince Fielder and CC. Baseball Reference tells us that the big leagues are getting even bigger as of late. [Baseball Reference]
Football:
My buddy pointed out to me that the 'Cats of N'western are undefeated, but only after a cupcake first 5 games. With that said, they may stun the superior Spartans and there is no doubt that they'll knock off my Boilers in Evanston. As for their schedule to date, check it out. [ESPN]
BYU is rolling. But, will the Cougs stumble even before they play their toughest on-paper opponent (not to mention hated rival) in Salt Lake City? [Salt Lake Tribune]
Marvin Lewis may be a bad coach, but this little gem makes us chuckle. [Stripe Hype]
Billynho and I watched the 'Aints lose to the Vikes last night and we couldn't help but slightly disagree with some of the officiating decisions. Looks like the NFL is sending their cleanup crews around to tidy up this mess, including the Saints' homepage. [ProFootballTalk]
On September 21, 2008 Yankees fans witnessed the final Major League Baseball game that will ever be played in the Cathedral known as Yankee Stadium. Despite hosting numerous other tenants over the course of its 85 year history (New York Giants, New York Cosmos, Army/Fordham/NYU College Football), the Stadium was built for and is most famous for its namesake franchise: the New York Yankees.
Much will be written about this period in time due to the changing of venues, but let us not forget that this year also marks the 85th anniversary of the Yankees' first World Series victory which would be the first of a record 26 titles over the 85 year span. So in honor not only of 85 years in the House That Ruth Built, but 85 years of World Championships, I present my personal picks for an 85th Anniversary Team.
First Team
C
Yogi Berra
Aside from his 3 MVPs, 10 WS titles, and 15 All-Star game selections, Yogi earns this spot for being the face of the franchise for almost 60 years. Even with his own personal issues with The Boss, no other player has had such an association with one team for so long. Ruth will always be king, Gehrig and Munson will always be the fallen heroes, but Yogi embodies the soul of the greatest team in North American sports history.
1B
Lou Gehrig
He will forever be known for his streak, his speech, and sadly his death, but what I think eludes many members of my generation is how great of a player he truly was. 493 HR, .340 BA, 2x MVP (finished 2nd twice) all while sharing the Babe's spotlight for most of his career. Following his death, the distinction of Captain would not be issued for 35 years to honor his memory.
2B
Willie Randolph
Upon researching this article, I couldn't help but notice that this was a somewhat weak position for the Bombers over the years. However for 13 years the Yankees did have a great one in Willie Randolph. A five-time All-Star while wearing pinstripes, Randolph started 1688 games at second base for the Yankees. He later joined the team's coaching staff and during his 11 years as a base and bench coach helped oversee the most recent Yankee dynasty.
3B
Alex Rodriguez
Perhaps one of the more controversial picks on this list, it should be noted that at the end of next season A-Rod could be third amongst Yankees for games started at 3rd base. Despite putting up a majority of his gaudy personal statistics in Seattle and Texas, Rodriguez has the potential to shatter every major hitting record in baseball. Thanks to his massive contract, it looks like he will finish his historic career in pinstripes. He has already won two MVPs while in New York (the first since Mattingly in '85) and could easily win a couple more. Currently he has hit 553 HR, and he's only 32 years old.
SS
Derek Jeter
One of only 4 players to play on all of the most recent dynasty's championship teams and still wear pinstripes. On a team that is often criticized for its lack of a farm system, Jeter is one of the glaring exceptions. Drafted by the Yankees in 1992, he played 15 games in '95 but '96 was his true rookie season. He won the ROY, and in 2006 was narrowly beat out for the MVP. A 4-time world champion and 8-time All-Star, he has risen to not only be the Yankee's captain and leader but has positioned himself as one of the faces of MLB.
OF
Joe DiMaggio
When Paul Simon and Ernest Hemmingway allude to you in their art, chances are you have transcended your sport and you are a national treasure. When he wasn't busy marrying possibly the most famous actress of all time, and despite missing 3 years because of WWII, Joltin' Joe compiled a 56-game hit streak, won 3 MVPs, and 9 world titles. The epitome of grace on the field, it was once said that the only way to get a hit against the Yankees was to "hit 'em where Joe wasn't".
OF
Mickey Mantle
For anyone who had any doubts about his inclusion on this list, I believe that Mickey's wikipedia page says it best:"He played his entire 18-year major-league professional career for the New York Yankees, winning 3 American League MVP titles and playing for 16 All-Star teams. Mantle played on 12 pennant winners and 7 World Championship clubs. He still holds the records for most World Series home runs (18), RBIs (40), runs (42), walks (43), extra-base hits (26), and total bases (123)."
OF
Bernie Williams
His statistical accomplishments speak for themselves, but Bernie's reception at the final game speaks volumes for what he meant to the team during the 90s and into the new millennium. Another home-grown player, Bernie played in 2076 regular season games and 121 playoff games, all of them for the Yankees. He currently hold the record for most postseason games (121), doubles (29), RBI (80) and extra base hits (51). He also is in the top 6 in Yankee all-time categories, such as hits, HR, and RBI. 4 world titles and 5 All-Star selections round out his phenomenal list of accomplishments.
DH
Babe Ruth
I realize that the Babe played pitcher and outfield (with a little 1B), but I have extrapolated this anniversary team to play in the modern era. With that concession, I think everyone knows what position the Bambino would be filling in a modern roster: DH. Since that's clarified, I think the fact that Ruth is the greatest player of all-time is reason enough for inclusion on this list.
SP
Whitey Ford
The best Yankee pitcher of all-time. He recorded 236 wins for New York, a team record that still stands. The Chairman of the Board won six World Series (he was the MVP of the 1961 WS), was selected to 8 All-Star teams, and won the Cy Young Award in 1961 (25-4 record).
SP
Ron Guidry
Louisiana Lightning not only pitched for the World Championship teams in '77 and '78, but won the Cy Young Award in 1978 (he finished second in the MVP ballot). He won 170 games with a 3.29 ERA, playing his entire career in the Bronx.
SP
Lefty Gomez
Lefty was a 7-time All-Star, won the World Series 5 times, and played for the Yankees for 13 seasons. He pitched in seven World Series games, with a 2.86 ERA, 31K, and 6 Wins. He won the pitching Triple Crown in '34 and '37. The Yankee sluggers may have gotten most of the attention during the 30s and 40s, but together with Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez supplied the high-caliber pitching needed to win championships.
SP
Red Ruffing
Charles Ruffing played 14.5 seasons with the Yankees, and recorded 216 wins while wearing pinstripes. He was a six-time All-Star, six-time World Champion, and led the league in strikeouts in 1932. He won 20+ games 4 times during his career and recorded a 2.63 ERA in World Series play.
RP
Mariano Rivera
481 career saves. 2.29 ERA over 1022+ IP. All while with the Yankees. No one has done so much with only one pitch in the history of the game. His cutter has a legend of its own, rivaling the likes of Nolan Ryan's fastball and Randy Johnson's slider. Arguably the greatest relief pitcher ever.
Second Team
C
Elston Howard
This spot on the roster was without a doubt my hardest decision. Bill Dickey and Thurman Munson deserve to be considered, though I chose to go with the player that combined Munson's explosive statistics with Dickey's longevity. Howard was the 1963 MVP, won 2 Gold Gloves, was named to 9 All-Star teams, and won 4 titles. He broke the Yankee's color barrier and would go on to notch a career fielding percentage .993. Howard still ranks amongst the top 25 all-time for catchers in OPS.
1B
Don Mattingly
1985 MVP. 1984 batting title. 9 Gold Gloves. 14 seasons with the Bombers. Sadly he never played in a World Series, but was the leader of the squad for a decade and a half.
2B
Tony Lazzeri
An All-Star and a 5X World Champion, Lazzeri had seven seasons with 100+ RBI and batted .300+ five different seasons. He started 1441 games for the Bombers at 2B, second to only Willie Randolph.
3B
Graig Nettles
Nettles started 1509 games at 3B for the Yankees, the most in franchise history. He made 5 All-Star teams while with the Yankees and was the 1981 ALCS MVP. He won 2 Gold Gloves and 2 World Series (both in '77 and '78).
SS
Phil Rizzuto
1950 AL MVP, 5x All-Star, he started 1647 games for the Yankees at SS (second only to Jeter). After his stellar playing career, he would continue to be a part of the Yankee family by being a broadcaster for 40 years.
OF
Paul O'Neill
4x All-Star with the Yankees, won 4 rings with the Bombers, and won the 1994 AL batting title. More than his stats, Paulie was one of the leaders and veterans that helped turn the Yankees from mediocre to legendary in the 90s.
OF
Dave Winfield
One of the greatest athletes to ever live, Winfield chose baseball over basketball and football for his career. He played 8.5 years for the Bombers (mostly in RF), making 8 All-Star teams. He batted .340 in 1984 and tallied 226 HR during his time in New York.
OF
Roger Maris
2x MVP, 3x All-Star with the Yankees, and 61 HR in '61. Forever overshadowed by Mantle, but a solid player in his own right.
DH
Reggie Jackson
He was notoriously bad in right, which is why Mr. October would be a perfect fit for a DH spot. His powerful swing helped lead to world titles in '77 and '78. While with the Yankees he hit 144 HR, 461 RBI, and finished 2nd in the 1980 MVP race.
SP
Catfish Hunter
Though he only played 5 seasons in New York, Catfish made the most of them. His record-setting contract ushered in an entirely new era of free agency that has come to be the Yankees' hallmark. On the field he lived up to his hyped billing. With the Yankees, he won 23 games in 1975 (finishing second in the Cy Young race) and won two World Series titles.
SP
Don Larsen
He only played 5 years for the Yankees, but he was able to cement his legacy. He pitched on two World Series championship squads and threw the only perfect game in World Series history.
SP
Andy Pettitte
Pettitte was oh-so-close to making my first team. The only starting pitcher to play on all four of the most recent championship teams, he went on to be known as one of the best lefties to ever play and one of the most feared pickoff men to ever set foot on the mound. ROY, 2nd in Cy Young voting, and ALCS MVP are just some of his career accolades. If not for his stint in Houston, he might not only be a member of my first team, but go down as the greatest pitcher in Yankee history.
SP
Roger Clemens
Won 2001 Cy Young (first Yankee to win Cy Young since Ron Guidry in '78). Key part of pitching rotation for two world championship teams.
RP
Goose Gossage
151 saves while with the Yankees. 4-time All-Star. HOFer. 33 saves in 1980.
Playoffs begin today! Wednesday's games include Boston@Anaheim, Dodgers@Cubs, and Milwaukee@Philadelphia [MLB]
Looks like Charlie Hustle might have been right to always slide head-first. [LiveScience]
Padres say that stud pitcher Jake Peavy could be wearing a new uniform next year, if the price is right. [San Diego Union-Tribune]
Basketball:
It should have probably been expected, given their horrible name, but OKC's unis are awful. [Ball Don't Lie]
A look at the beginning of the Michael Curry era in MoTown, probably the least heralded of all the coaching changes that occurred off-season. [True Blue Pistons]
Dr. J-Water is making me doubt that he actually holds an advanced degree. The reason? He thinks the Nuggets are legit. Maybe one of his fellow Hoop Doctors is a shrink and can hook him up with some meds. If you boys and girls are lucky our own sage, Billynho, might just weigh in on the Nuggets himself. [Hoop Doctors]
Contrary to what another writer on this site has alluded to, people besides Billynho do still contribute to The Cartel.
I present to you some cool stuff living on the interwebs:
Baseball:
Video of a young Jason Giambi swinging for the fences. [Today's Big Thing]
My pick for the NL West, the D'Backs, finally got eliminated, humorous analysis ensues. [AZ Snakepit]
To add further insult to my Yanks not making the postseason, the stud sabermetricians over at Baseball-Reference point out how historically futile the Hughes-Kennedy experiment has been to date. [Baseball-Reference]
Football:
The best take on the awesome upset last night in Corvallis. [MoonDogSports]
In honor of the 2008 Lions and Rams, a look at some of the worst NFL teams ever. [Page 2]
Ty Willingham thinks the Huskies will play in a bowl game?[Seattle Times]
Basketball:
The Cartel's favorite Rocket, Carl Landry, is staying in Houston and getting PAID! We love to see Boilermakers dominating the bigs. [Inside Hoops]
Kornheiser's Cartel loves retro tees (more on this in the future), but until then check out these sweet Grandma-ma shirts. [Breezy Excursion]
1979-Indiana State (current enrollment of 10,568, less in 1979) finishes as national runner-up in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
1985-Old Dominion national champions, winning the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
1988-Louisiana Tech national champions, winning the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
These are 3 examples taken from basketball, where schools from "non-BCS" conferences were able to play in, and often win, the national championship game. Currently in the FBS division of college football, every school (except Southern California) has played at least 3 games. Therefore, most teams are at least a quarter of the way through the season, and I feel we can begin to make some real judgments on the season.
I am a firm believer that, if at all possible, the national championship game should be played between two undefeated teams. However the BCS has screwed this up on several occasions, most notably when undefeated Boise State did not play against undefeated Ohio State in 2007, but finished as the only undefeated team in Div-A football. Were they awarded a national championship trophy or even a share of the prize (like Southern California in 2003-04)? No, because they play in the WAC.
Why does the BCS hate the likes of the WAC, MAC, MWC, C-USA, and Sun Belt so much? Doesn’t college football pride itself on rabid fan bases and intense rivalries? I believe that teams like Boise State, Fresno State, Utah, Tulsa, and Central Florida (as well as others) have rivalries just as intense and fans that are just as energized as the doormats of the BCS conferences (Indiana, Baylor, Stanford, Duke - I’m talking to you).
What brings about my annual anti-BCS tirade? Here’s the reason:
This is a list of all the teams in FBS football that are still undefeated. Teams in black are from BCS conferences and teams in red are from non-BCS conferences.
One of the MWC teams could go undefeated (BYU is my pick) and so could Boise State. When you look at their schedules, you don’t get disappointed.
Both teams play two opponents that are currently ranked (Boise State already defeated Oregon), and they each beat all of their Pac-10 opponents, one of which could upset USC, whom many are calling the best team of this decade, like last season. Speaking of USC, they currently have no more ranked teams left on their schedule and they still have 10 games left. So for those who call WAC/MWC/C-USA/etc. schedules soft, how do they legitimately stack up against “powerhouses”? Will USC beat UCLA by 59 points like the Cougars did? How can anyone imply that these “mid-majors” can’t run with the big boys when we’ve seen Utah and Boise State win their previous BCS games and seen teams like Illinois from BCS conferences get embarrassed on the big stage?
I’m not taking anything away from teams on this list that may finish with a loss or two. I realize that the SEC is tough, as is the Big 12 (don’t count out the Big 10 either). But with college football’s refusal to adopt a playoff system for the FBS (the only NCAA sanctioned sport where this occurs), the one metric that we have to go on is wins and losses. Qualitative issues like strength of schedule and “quality wins” should have no place in the process.
Ultimately the question that I ask is that if at the end of the season only two teams stand undefeated (or one for that matter), will they get a shot at the title like Indiana State or Old Dominion regardless of their conference affiliation, or will they be shut out like every year before?
I realize that this entire argument depends on a great deal of what-ifs and speculation, but no more than the preseason pick of Georgia at #1 simply because they beat Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl; a Hawaii team that by typical BCS standards shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
Here are a few facts about this particular no-hitter:
-Zambrano is the first person whose last name begins with the letter "Z" to throw a no-hitter.
-This is the first no-hitter pitched by a National League pitcher since Florida's Aníbal Sánchez in 2006. Zambrano is also the first Venezuelan since Sánchez to achieve the feat.
-A Cubs pitcher hadn't thrown a no-hitter since Milt Pappas on September 2, 1972.
-This is the 8th no-hitter thrown by the cubs since 1900 and Zambrano is the 7th man to accomplish this (Ken Holtzman threw 2). The Cubs franchise also recorded 5 no-hitters between 1880-1898, however the franchise was known by a different moniker.
-Since Hurricane Ike forced Houston to leave Minute Maid Park and play in Milwaukee, this is the first no-hitter to be pitched in a neutral site.
Quentin definitely didn't hit a wall, just his bat. In addition to shattering his wrist, he may have also shattered the South Siders' chance at playing in October.
ECU looked really good against West Virginia. They were more physical, their offense was more in sync, and it looked like Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium was rocking. Hopefully they can continue to have success despite their head coach having some unfortunate ties to an idiot and Rece Davis' stupid nicknames.
Speaking of idiots... Why is the world so afraid to admit that "mighty" Notre Dame is awful. Every program goes through its down periods. Although I am the furthest thing from a Notre Dame fan, even I'll admit that no program can truly match their legacy. However, pieces like this and the comments of former coaches only cheapen that legacy by trying to account for or ignore this current bad team.
When are athletes going to learn that it is their bodies that make them all that fat cash. I get tired of hearing stories like this, when guys like David Teague are struggling to find a gig.
Thanks to the guys over at BaseballReference.com, it has now come to my attention that Major League Baseball is on the verge of its 250,000th home run of all time.
That's a quarter of a million dingers for those of you who get flummoxed by numerous zeroes.
It all started on May 2, 1876 when Ross Barnes (pictured) of the Chicago White Stockings (Chicago Cubs) took Cherokee Fisher of the Cincinnati Reds yard. BR doesn't count postseason homers in this stat, as far as I can tell, so some may argue that we have already eclipsed this milestone. However if you go with their numbers we stand at 249,810 through the end of August 31st.
Who will hit the historic shot? Only time will tell, but an interesting side note to these numbers is that 1/5th of the 250,000 have been hit since 1999, only 9 years ago.
We are now less than one week from opening kickoff of the 2008-2009 NFL season.
Will the Giants be able to defend their title? Will the Brett Favre situation distract every media outlet from teams that are actually good? Will Rex Grossman finally be demoted to NFL Europa (nobody has to tell him that it's now defunct)?
Hopefully these and other questions will be answered as this new season begins. Look for season previews from the Cartel staff this week and here is a listing of the opening week matchups.
Just this summer as I was watching some of the cattle show at the Indiana State Fair, I made the comment to my dad, "Wouldn't it be cool if the Pacers would play a preseason game back here in Pepsi?".
Sure enough my prayer was answered by GodLarry Bird. It has been announced that the Pacers will play their first preseason game this year in the venue where it all began. Located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Pepsi Coliseum was the original home of the Pacers when they were still in the ABA. The building itself is almost 70 years old and has hosted concerts, livestock shows, and ice hockey. Aside from the livestock of the Indiana State Fair, the building's most famous tenants were the Pacers who were able to hang 3 ABA Titles from the rafters before moving across town to Market Square Arena.
The Pacers are making a wonderful gesture by playing this game in this venue. Not only are the proceeds from the tickets going to charity, but the Pacers are acknowledging their history and their fans who have followed the team since the ABA. This game will also give younger fans an appreciation for what stadiums were like years ago, before the ABA/NBA became a global entity.
Short of the Pacers finding a way to play at the state's historic college arenas (Mackey Arena, Assembly Hall, Hinkle Fieldhouse), this is absolutely the best way for this beleaguered franchise to try and win back some of the fans that poor management and even poorer play have scared away. Hopefully other teams will see this as an opportunity to honor either their own old stadiums (barring they haven't been demolished) or to reach out to other communities that might fall within their fan-base. Maybe the Pistons could come back to Fort Wayne for a game, the Timberwolves could play in Fargo, or the Warriors could don their "The City" jerseys, and play one last time in the Cow Palace before it's bulldozed. After all, there is no better mixture than NBA basketball and livestock venues.
The 2008 MLB All-Star Game was a unique one. In terms of actual playing time, none before had ever taken as long. This scenario provided fans and analysts with a true sense of what can become a major problem in a baseball "exhibition" game.
The starters for the evening were voted on by fans and are theoretically the most popular, if not most talented, players the game has to offer in a given year. However, in an effort to try and be fair to all players, and allow everyone some playing time, most of these starters are pulled early.
In a game that only lasts the standard nine innings, or in a timed game without strict substitution rules (basketball or hockey),this is a great idea. Fans are able to see the maximum number of players, and with MLB's rule that all teams must be represented, every fan will get to see someone from their favorite team.
Yet, a year like this one proves how this philosophy can't really carry over from basketball/hockey to baseball. With no time limit, baseball games are theoretically endless and can drag on for several innings and hours past the original nine.
Therefore, by taking out your starters (and best players, at least in theory) early if a game heads to extra innings, a bulk of the playing time, and most of the late-inning heroics, is performed by All-Stars, but not the same ones who are usually on the covers of videogames or breaking home-run records.
This is not an entirely bad situation.
Most people get tired of hearing about the same dozen players over and over again, and it is refreshing to see the unique spectacle of an All-Star game being played by what can only be referred to as second-tier All Stars.
However, is it a good marketing move for the already beleaguered MLB to have guys like Dan Uggla and Russell Martin playing the exciting final innings while household names such as Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, and Manny Ramirez have all been removed from play?
I must admit that I don't have a solution. The real problem is that if the game is only going to last nine or so innings, the current strategy adopted by all managers makes sense. Fans are happy because they get to see everybody play, less experienced players are excited to get some playing time on a national stage, and the starters are allowed to rest.
However, if the game drags on, and with the added incentive of World Series home-field advantage, there is an ever-increasing likelihood that this might happen. There either aren’t enough players to comfortably field the team and/or the players that are still playing are excellent athletes, but not ones that draw in huge audiences through name recognition alone.
Ultimately, I don’t think either way is totally right or totally wrong, and I’m glad that the All-Star Game means something and isn’t called a draw after a set number of tied innings.
As this new “This One Counts” approach to the Midsummer Classic continues I think that managers will begin to better know how to handle this situation and perhaps MLB will grant an extra roster spot or two to the teams.
In the end, now that ties are no longer an option, we as fans will be treated to more and more exciting finishes like this year’s, whether it’s being played by future Hall of Famers or those guys simply glad to be a part of the second-tier.
Living in Indiana, it hasn’t been a secret that for the last four or more years Jermaine O’Neal has been phoning in his play, and that the All-Star center wanted to relocate to L.A. or New York. Despite his lackluster and injury-shortened 2007-2008 season, Pacers fans do remember that J.O. was the best center in the East for several years. At only 30, it seems that O’Neal could bring that former excellence with him as he travels north of the border.
Jermaine may not have been sent to his ideal city, but the Raptors look to potentially have one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. O’Neal will join All-Star Chris Bosh and former No. 1 overall draft pick Andrea Bargnani to complete a forward/center trio that includes no one shorter than 6′10″. While height isn’t everything (see Carl Landry or Charles Barkley), these players’ collective talents are. Bosh has developed into a near-clone of what O’Neal was in his Pacer prime and is considered by most to be one of the premier big men in the Eastern Conference behind Kevin Garnett and possibly Dwight Howard. His numbers from last year look a little something like this: 22.3 PPG (24.0 in playoffs), 8.7 RPG, and 2.6 APG. He’s been putting up these same numbers for the last 3 years, and he is at the top of his game physically and mentally.
Bargnani is somewhat of the wild-card here, aside from O’Neal’s passion for the game and his new city. He’s put up just 10.8 PPG/3.8 RPG in his two seasons. However, even with Bargnani as the weak spot, this starting trio could be churning out 50+/20+ nightly. This stacks up with league leaders. The Lakers’ frontcourt trio of Gasol, Odom, and Bynum only mustered 46.2/29.0 last season, and they won the stacked Western Conference (even with Bynum out for the playoffs).
These Raptors do have one glaring difference when compared with a team like the Lakers: Kobe Bean Bryant. If the Raptors aren’t going to acquire or develop a high scoring swingman, they are going to meet the same fate as other teams that “look good on paper.” Teams like the Nuggets and Kidd/Carter Nets had several All-Stars on the roster and should have won lots of games. However the balance of attack and deep rosters that contenders like Boston, San Antonio, and Detroit bring to the table were eerily absent for those two squads, just as they are for the Raptors.
Toronto, in an attempt to build this current team, has let go of strong supporting players and potential stars in the likes of T.J. Ford, Charlie Villanueva, and Roy Hibbert. Rather than adding another low post scorer, it seems the more logical approach would have been to seek out a high-scoring shooter (Michael Redd?) or deepen the reserves with role-players and attempt to shore up the Raptor’s abysmal defense. Without a stronger bench and an explosive guard, this squad will continue to make the playoffs (even the Washington Generals could make it in the East). They will also likely be contending for the Atlantic title with Boston, but they’ll continue to get pummeled in the playoffs when they match-up against the deeper teams that dominate that conference.
I finally got to watch a game on the YES network.
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