08 February 2009
Dodger Starting Staff Ages Quickly
02/12/09 08:53 Filed in: Baseball
I've written a few posts this off-season about the
makeup of the Dodgers' starting staff, basically
referring to the lack of experience and depth. In the
past week, Ned has gone the other extreme, signing
every out-of-work cast-off he could find.
This characterization does not include Randy Wolf, who is a capable starter, and should fit well as the number four or five starter. His one prior year with the Dodgers started well, but ended early due to injury, but given his effectiveness and history, I felt then he should have been re-signed despite his missing half of that 2007 season. He was decent last year with a bad Padre team, and then went 6-2 down the stretch with Houston.
The same cannot be said for the other two out-of-work re-treads signed this week, neither of whom saw the majors last year - Jeff Weaver and Eric Milton. Milton was 0-4 with a 5.17 ERA in Triple-A last year, and Weaver, who went 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA with Seattle in 2007, sat out last season altogether. The chances of either making the team and contributing are below minimal, but the cost is low, and who knows, it might be worth the gamble.
Meanwhile, there appears to be no progress with Manny, and Adam Dunn is off the boards.
theHoundDawg
This characterization does not include Randy Wolf, who is a capable starter, and should fit well as the number four or five starter. His one prior year with the Dodgers started well, but ended early due to injury, but given his effectiveness and history, I felt then he should have been re-signed despite his missing half of that 2007 season. He was decent last year with a bad Padre team, and then went 6-2 down the stretch with Houston.
The same cannot be said for the other two out-of-work re-treads signed this week, neither of whom saw the majors last year - Jeff Weaver and Eric Milton. Milton was 0-4 with a 5.17 ERA in Triple-A last year, and Weaver, who went 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA with Seattle in 2007, sat out last season altogether. The chances of either making the team and contributing are below minimal, but the cost is low, and who knows, it might be worth the gamble.
Meanwhile, there appears to be no progress with Manny, and Adam Dunn is off the boards.
theHoundDawg
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Scumstripe a-rod is a Liar and a Cheat
02/09/09 11:09 Filed in: Baseball
With the report of a-rod's positive 2003 test for
illegal steroid use, we had to go back and post the
video of his interview with Katie Couric, where he
DENIED ever using the stuff:
Breaking
News
See Peter Gammons' exclusive interview tonight on ESPN Sportscenter
where rodriguez admits to three years of illegal steroid use!
theHoundDawg
See Peter Gammons' exclusive interview tonight on ESPN Sportscenter
where rodriguez admits to three years of illegal steroid use!
theHoundDawg
Alfred Aboya - the Second Coming of Brad Wright
02/08/09 18:54 Filed in: College
Basketball
In 1980, UCLA recruited two highly sought after
centers, Stuart Gray, and Brad Wright, who both came
to UCLA in 1981, playing for coach Larry Farmer.
Stuart Gray won the starting center spot for the
1981-2 season, and kept it for three years,
underachieving all along the way. He then decided to
leave after his Junior season, and Wright stepped in
as the starter for the 1984-5 season, under new coach
Walt Hazard. Wright not only played significantly
better than he ever had in his three seasons as a
back-up, but oh so much better than Gray ever did.
Wright averaged 10.5 points per game, and brought
down 8.7 boards per game that senior season. Gray's
best efforts were 9.9 points per game, and 7.9
boards. The Bruins missed all the tournaments in
Gray's junior season, and thought they also missed
the NCAA tourney in Wright's one season as the
starter, they did win the NIT.
For three years, Alfred Aboya played behind Lorenzo Mata and Kevin Love, and in the shadow of fellow countryman and front-liner, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Well, Mata graduated and Love was one and out, and Luc Richard left early as well, and Aboya is the starting center, and playing lights out - solid defense, stellar rebounding, and providing offense that most who watched him the last three years never imagined, much like the situation with Wright was almost 25 years ago.
The similarities are striking, and maybe there will be a tournament title - and not that "other" tournament - in the offing this season as well.
theHoundDawg
For three years, Alfred Aboya played behind Lorenzo Mata and Kevin Love, and in the shadow of fellow countryman and front-liner, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Well, Mata graduated and Love was one and out, and Luc Richard left early as well, and Aboya is the starting center, and playing lights out - solid defense, stellar rebounding, and providing offense that most who watched him the last three years never imagined, much like the situation with Wright was almost 25 years ago.
The similarities are striking, and maybe there will be a tournament title - and not that "other" tournament - in the offing this season as well.
theHoundDawg
Lakers Hit Stride and Dominate on Key Road Trip
02/08/09 15:07 Filed in: NBA
The end of January saw the Lakers begin a key 6-game
road trip, with key stops in New York, Boston, and
Cleveland. One game into the trip, and they lost
Andrew Bynum for much, if not all, of the rest of the
season. However, with Lamar Odom re-joining the
starting five, he has brought renewed enthusiasm to
the team, and with his brilliant third-quarter this
afternoon against Cleveland, the Lakers finished the
trip 6-0.
Down 10 points at halftime, and with a flu-ridden Kobe Bryant at half strength at best, Odom put in 15 points and hauled down 10 rebounds, as the Lakers outscored the Cavs by 13 in the 3d, and never looked back, as they won by 10, handing Cleveland their first home loss of the season.
The Lakers made a statement on this road trip, most emphatically in Cleveland and in Boston, as they wrapped up tie-breakers against both teams, which could be the difference come playoff time.
The Lakers now sit on top of the NBA, both with the league's best record, and with talent, depth, enthusiasm, and the confidence that they'll be back in the finals this year, but with a far different result.
theHoundDawg
Down 10 points at halftime, and with a flu-ridden Kobe Bryant at half strength at best, Odom put in 15 points and hauled down 10 rebounds, as the Lakers outscored the Cavs by 13 in the 3d, and never looked back, as they won by 10, handing Cleveland their first home loss of the season.
The Lakers made a statement on this road trip, most emphatically in Cleveland and in Boston, as they wrapped up tie-breakers against both teams, which could be the difference come playoff time.
The Lakers now sit on top of the NBA, both with the league's best record, and with talent, depth, enthusiasm, and the confidence that they'll be back in the finals this year, but with a far different result.
theHoundDawg
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