16 August 2009
The King Plays - Vikings Get Money's Worth
08/21/09 23:31 Filed in: NFL
In an amazing turn of events, there was a Brett Favre
sighting on a football field, rather than behind a
microphone.
In tonight's game in which the non-existent Kansas City "Chiefs" (maybe they meant to say "Chefs"?) defense made Tarvaris Jackson (12 of 15, 202 yds., 80%, 158.3 QB rating) and John David Booty (6 of 8, 61 yds., 75%, 96.4 QB rating) look like Hall-of-Famers, the King of Interceptions barely escaped with his life, having completed a single pass and a 39.6 QB rating to go along with a 25% completion percentage.
I know exhibition stats don't count, but as of now, the King is getting more money per pass completion then Jason Schmidt got from the Dodgers per start ($12 mil per completion, $4.7 mil per start).
After a thorough perusal of the team's schedule, it would appear that the King chose Minnesota because is seems every rancid defense in the NFL is on the Vikings schedule. In fact, their first five games feature those defensive stalwarts Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis. Granted, they do play Green Bay in game four, so the King may not be around for number five in St. Louis.
In tonight's game in which the non-existent Kansas City "Chiefs" (maybe they meant to say "Chefs"?) defense made Tarvaris Jackson (12 of 15, 202 yds., 80%, 158.3 QB rating) and John David Booty (6 of 8, 61 yds., 75%, 96.4 QB rating) look like Hall-of-Famers, the King of Interceptions barely escaped with his life, having completed a single pass and a 39.6 QB rating to go along with a 25% completion percentage.
I know exhibition stats don't count, but as of now, the King is getting more money per pass completion then Jason Schmidt got from the Dodgers per start ($12 mil per completion, $4.7 mil per start).
After a thorough perusal of the team's schedule, it would appear that the King chose Minnesota because is seems every rancid defense in the NFL is on the Vikings schedule. In fact, their first five games feature those defensive stalwarts Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis. Granted, they do play Green Bay in game four, so the King may not be around for number five in St. Louis.
theHoundDawg
|
|
|
Interesting Developments in Met-Land
08/21/09 12:14 Filed in: Baseball
Very interesting happenings with that other NY team.
When Billy Wagner had Tommy John surgery near the end of last year, two things seemed pretty clear: He would not pitch in 2009 and he would never again pitch for the Mets, if he ever did return to baseball.
Well, the 38-year-old Wagner has made a super-quick recovery, and as of yesterday, was back on the Mets' active roster, and appeared in the Mets' game against the Braves, pitching a shutout inning with two strikeouts. The Mets had previously said, after paying almost the full $10.5 million that Wagner had due for 2009 under his $43 million deal that began with the 2006 season, that they would not pick up his $8 million option for 2010 (they have a $1 million buyout available.) So, if he CAN still pitch, he is likely trade-bait, and it looks like Tampa Bay is the front-runner in the Wagner sweepstakes.
Also, in the past couple of days, the Mets' love affair with the biggest jerk to play in the major leagues in the past three or four decades, gary sheffield, has now ended. He has worn out his welcome with team number eight. Reports (rumors?) are that he has threatened to walk out on the team. (Typical sheffield behavior.) The Mets can easily retain their fourth-place spot through the rest of the season without him.
When Billy Wagner had Tommy John surgery near the end of last year, two things seemed pretty clear: He would not pitch in 2009 and he would never again pitch for the Mets, if he ever did return to baseball.
Well, the 38-year-old Wagner has made a super-quick recovery, and as of yesterday, was back on the Mets' active roster, and appeared in the Mets' game against the Braves, pitching a shutout inning with two strikeouts. The Mets had previously said, after paying almost the full $10.5 million that Wagner had due for 2009 under his $43 million deal that began with the 2006 season, that they would not pick up his $8 million option for 2010 (they have a $1 million buyout available.) So, if he CAN still pitch, he is likely trade-bait, and it looks like Tampa Bay is the front-runner in the Wagner sweepstakes.
Also, in the past couple of days, the Mets' love affair with the biggest jerk to play in the major leagues in the past three or four decades, gary sheffield, has now ended. He has worn out his welcome with team number eight. Reports (rumors?) are that he has threatened to walk out on the team. (Typical sheffield behavior.) The Mets can easily retain their fourth-place spot through the rest of the season without him.
|
theHoundDawg
|
|
Our Last Word on Favre,.... Until He Does Something on the Field
08/20/09 09:45 Filed in: NFL
Managers Brawl in Winnipeg Goldeyes and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Minor League Game
08/19/09 23:34 Filed in: Baseball
Entertaining video from a minor league contest
between the Winnipeg Goldeyes and Fargo-Moorhead
RedHawks. Apparently several batters had been hit in
games between the two teams, and bad blood had been
brewing. Ump warns the benches, and then the managers
have at it:
|
theHoundDawg
|
|
The King of Interceptions Signs with Vikings, Hopes Arm Doesn't Fall Off
08/18/09 17:35 Filed in: NFL
The Circus in Minnesota hit new highs today, with the
King of Interceptions' arrival, televised
"motorcade", coronation, and press conference.
I was tempted to title this post "Daring daylight theft of $12 Million from unsuspecting billionaire team owner", but I'm reasonably sure that Zygi Wilf was a willing participant in this particular million dollar mugging.
The King is in perfect physical shape for the new season, as reported in Yahoo Sports by Jason Cole. In today's article Specialist assured Favre that shoulder is ‘OK’, Cole discusses the fact that the surgery B.F. had a few months ago included the repair of a rotator cuff tear, a surgery that has seen limited success over several decades now, when performed on people who throw a sphere for a living. Cole quotes agent Bus Cole with these overly reassuring words from surgeon James Andrews: “He can’t promise that it won’t get worse, but Dr. Andrews basically said it should be OK to get through the season."
Get through the season? Ok to Get Through the Season? For $12 Million dollars!
My only solace: Should the Vikings be Ed Roski's team of choice and be playing the 2012 season in the City of Industry Stadium, the King really should have heaved his final interception into the arms of a sleepwalking defender a couple of seasons earlier.
I was tempted to title this post "Daring daylight theft of $12 Million from unsuspecting billionaire team owner", but I'm reasonably sure that Zygi Wilf was a willing participant in this particular million dollar mugging.
The King is in perfect physical shape for the new season, as reported in Yahoo Sports by Jason Cole. In today's article Specialist assured Favre that shoulder is ‘OK’, Cole discusses the fact that the surgery B.F. had a few months ago included the repair of a rotator cuff tear, a surgery that has seen limited success over several decades now, when performed on people who throw a sphere for a living. Cole quotes agent Bus Cole with these overly reassuring words from surgeon James Andrews: “He can’t promise that it won’t get worse, but Dr. Andrews basically said it should be OK to get through the season."
Get through the season? Ok to Get Through the Season? For $12 Million dollars!
My only solace: Should the Vikings be Ed Roski's team of choice and be playing the 2012 season in the City of Industry Stadium, the King really should have heaved his final interception into the arms of a sleepwalking defender a couple of seasons earlier.
|
theHoundDawg
|
|
Enough of Favre, Already!
08/17/09 20:57 Filed in: NFL
Yes. No. Yes. No.
Shaddup, already!
The Minnesota Vikings have a great defense, and one of the top running games in the league. Their single big question mark is where it has been for several years now, at quarterack. They had an offseasonto to address the void, and their one actual move was picking up vereran back-up Sage Rosenfels, who, at times during his career, has shown the ability to be a number one guy. Their romance with the King of Interceptions, one B. Favre, has been a painful romance novel for Viking fans, and a major distraction for the majority of basically sane football fans around the country.
Favre's love affair with himself, wherein he has tried to keep the Vikings and the press at his beck-and-call for months, with his "Yes. No. Yes. No." diatribe, and "I'll decide tomorrow" mantra, appeared to finally be over a couple of weeks ago, when he said he would not play again. Now, the deceitful jerk, as reported by Fox and ESPN, has again "changed" his mind, and according to reports, will shortly be in Viking garb.
The play-out of the Vikings' childish crush is as sickening to watch as are Favre's self-centered, immature antics, and they probably deserve each other.
Get this over with already. Give the ball to Sage.
Shaddup, already!
The Minnesota Vikings have a great defense, and one of the top running games in the league. Their single big question mark is where it has been for several years now, at quarterack. They had an offseasonto to address the void, and their one actual move was picking up vereran back-up Sage Rosenfels, who, at times during his career, has shown the ability to be a number one guy. Their romance with the King of Interceptions, one B. Favre, has been a painful romance novel for Viking fans, and a major distraction for the majority of basically sane football fans around the country.
Favre's love affair with himself, wherein he has tried to keep the Vikings and the press at his beck-and-call for months, with his "Yes. No. Yes. No." diatribe, and "I'll decide tomorrow" mantra, appeared to finally be over a couple of weeks ago, when he said he would not play again. Now, the deceitful jerk, as reported by Fox and ESPN, has again "changed" his mind, and according to reports, will shortly be in Viking garb.
The play-out of the Vikings' childish crush is as sickening to watch as are Favre's self-centered, immature antics, and they probably deserve each other.
Get this over with already. Give the ball to Sage.
|
theHoundDawg
|
|
The Bullpen is Everything
08/16/09 11:55 Filed in: Baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies are World Champs because of
Brad Lidge. Their chances of repeating are up to
....... Brad Lidge.
His phenomenal season, playoffs and World Series carried them to last year's title, but for all the Cliff Lees, Pedro Martinezes, and Ben Franciscos they acquire, they will go only so far as Lidge takes them, and with his major league leading eight blown saves, 7.27 ERA, and total unreliability, that does not look like it will be too far.
Similarly, the biggest single reason for the Dodgers' recent slump, has been the bullpen, and specifically, Jonathan Broxton, as last night deomonstrated. They had another good outing from the starter (which ended prepaturely with Hiroki Kuroda's injury), and some timely hitting, but another disasterous outing from Broxton lost the lead and the game.
As I have said before, whether it's his sore toe (most likely), fatigue, or the league just catching up with him, Broxton needs some time away from the closer's role. The Dodgers now do have another option, with an experienced, suffessful closer on the roster, thanks to the asquisition of George Sherrill, and if Broxton is hurting, put him on the DL and let Sherrill close until Broxton is well. If Broxton is not hurt, then just the mental aspect of less pressure for a couple of weeks, setting up instead of closing, may do the trick.
It's no coincidence that the scumstripes recent streak has coincided with the vast imporvement in their bullpenn, in particular remaking Phil Hughes from an awful starter into a valuable set-up man.
His phenomenal season, playoffs and World Series carried them to last year's title, but for all the Cliff Lees, Pedro Martinezes, and Ben Franciscos they acquire, they will go only so far as Lidge takes them, and with his major league leading eight blown saves, 7.27 ERA, and total unreliability, that does not look like it will be too far.
Similarly, the biggest single reason for the Dodgers' recent slump, has been the bullpen, and specifically, Jonathan Broxton, as last night deomonstrated. They had another good outing from the starter (which ended prepaturely with Hiroki Kuroda's injury), and some timely hitting, but another disasterous outing from Broxton lost the lead and the game.
As I have said before, whether it's his sore toe (most likely), fatigue, or the league just catching up with him, Broxton needs some time away from the closer's role. The Dodgers now do have another option, with an experienced, suffessful closer on the roster, thanks to the asquisition of George Sherrill, and if Broxton is hurting, put him on the DL and let Sherrill close until Broxton is well. If Broxton is not hurt, then just the mental aspect of less pressure for a couple of weeks, setting up instead of closing, may do the trick.
It's no coincidence that the scumstripes recent streak has coincided with the vast imporvement in their bullpenn, in particular remaking Phil Hughes from an awful starter into a valuable set-up man.
|
theHoundDawg
|
|