All across the blogosphere and, seemingly, the entire net, scumstripe fanatics are laying claim to having won the 2009 World Series.

NY Daily News Blogger Jesse Spector, and others, are pulling for more deadsteinbrenner dollars to sign Manny, for added insurance for this inevitability. While you're at it, Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn are still available, and so is Trevor Hoffman. How about Milton Bradley, and Joe Crede? There's also Ken Griffy and Jim Edmonds, as well. Just sign everyone out there, and continue your efforts to destroy major league baseball. As the bronx pseudo-brain surgeons (sorry, sc) continue their best efforts to price real fans out of major league stadiums, the rest of mlb, and probably even Scott Boras, sit dumbfounded.

This holiday season, I'm thankful that the Cashmans and Steinbrenners, and the others pulling the scumstripe strings are such incompetents. If anyone with actual baseball knowledge or expertise had that kind of $$$$$ to spend, they would be working on a string of world championships, rather than acting out of desperation to crawl back into the playoffs.

With over 100 free agents still unsigned, two things are for sure: teams will continue to overpay, and overpay considerably, for mediocre talent, and it's far too early to make any 2009 predictions.

Oh, and by the way, Manny will re-sign with the Dodgers.

theHoundDawg

Tags: Dodgers |scumstripes

We've just unveiled our Bruins in the NBA section, thought it's not quite complete yet, just as further news of the knee injury suffered by Laker guard and former Bruin Jordan Farmar is released. It seems he has a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, and surgery is likely. This type of injury normally sidelines the player one to two months, so the Lakers likely will looking to pick up a point guard to fill in while Farmar recovers. Derek Fisher could play some extended minutes for awhile, but that would likely take a toll over the long season, and he needs to be energized at playoff time.

The Lakers play New Orleans and Boston in the next two days, and will be facing the likes of Chris Paul, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo, so the lack of depth at guard could be a significant factor in how the Lakers match up. Maybe they'll have a new body in uniform by Thursday's Boston game.

But, Mitch, this is a short-term problem, and there is no need to go overboard and give up too much to fill this regular season hole. Farmar will be back, and retain his key minutes during the regular season.

theHoundDawg

Tags: UCLA |Lakers

The Angels cut off Frankie R and have a giant hole at Closer. For years, they nursed Casey Kotchman along through false starts, injuries, and illness, and just as he became a consistent major league regular, they traded him for the 2 month rental rights to Mark Teixeira. That would have been a solid deal if they retained Teixeira's rights beyond last October, but they did not, and now they have ended their efforts to resign him, leaving Kendry Morales as the number one roster candidate to play first base.

The rest of the infield is solid and deep, as is catching. If Kelvim Escobar comes back healthy, despite the loss of Jon Garland, the starting staff is still solid, as is the outfield. But, those big holes at first and in the bullpen could mean another disappointing season in southeast LA.

If Bill Stoneman were still in charge, you'd have to think he had a plan B lying in wait. But, Tony Reagins has no track record yet, and while he seems to have learned pretty well from Stoneman, what he and Arte do in the next few weeks will be keys not only to the 2009 season, but the Angels long-range success with Reagins at the personnel helm.

theHoundDawg




Edit - not 60 seconds after publishing this post, I heard ESPN report that Mark Teixeira had agreed to terms on a contract with the scumstripes of the bronx. Crap.

Tags: Angels |scumstripes

The bull-pucky love-fest for Pete Carroll on 60 Minutes tonight was a disgrace.

He is the highest ranking piece in the chess game of the University of Spoiled Children, running the biggest scam in college sports, flouting the rules of the impotent NCAA, and committing the most flagrant rules violations of any school in the country. sc influence and payoffs have kept them from the highest levels of NCAA sanctions despite the single biggest scam in NCAA football annals - Reggie Bush and his family receiving more than 1/2 million dollars in illegal benefits (free rent for more than a year in a luxury home, debt payoffs, all-expense paid trips and luxury hotels) have been well documented, and the subject of civil lawsuits, but no NCAA sanctions. Any other program and Bush would have had his Heisman taken away, sc stripped of its national championship (they only won ONE under Carroll, not two as they claim).

Combine this with the OJ Mayo's flagrant violations in Tim Floyd's dirty little basketball program, and sc should long ago have received the NCAA death penalty. Yet, Floyd and his thugs like Leonard Washington are allowed to continue their cheap shot assault on other players, risking serious injury to unsuspecting players around the country.

CBS and 60 Minutes need to investigate the real sc sports department and not pull the wool over the eyes of the public. Take a look at the evidence, take a look at how sc has subverted the NCAA and curtailed any investigation of the NCAA violations and rampant criminal activity in the sc sports department.

Facts:

Bush:
The Reggie Bush Investigation: ESPN Ignores Potentially the Biggest Story in College Football History
Reggie Bush Investigation: Cash and Carry
Reggie Bush Investigation: : The Timeline
Reggie Bush and The NCAA: How will it all end?
Reggie Bush Investigation

Mayo:
NCAA investigating allegations involving USC’s Mayo
OTL probe: Mayo received money, perks from agent reps
The Mayo Investigation

and many more.

theHoundDawg

Tags: sc brain surgeons |Crime |pete carroll

Amongst the singular Cleo, Tarvaris, JaMarcus, and Sage, all of a sudden there seems to more NFL quarterbacks named Matt than any other name.

There are currently eight, yes 8, NFL quarterbacks named Matt, including current starters Matt Schaub, now back in good health at Houston, Matt Cassel, Sir Tom's fill-in at New England, Matt Hasselbeck occasionally actually healthy enough to play at Seattle, and the best rookie qb in years, Matt Ryan at Atlanta. In addition, there are four more backup Matts, Flynn at Green Bay, Gutierrez at New England, Moore at Carolina, and former first round over-rated brain surgeon Leinart, who spends his time on the Phoenix bench writing child support checks.

So, personnel guys, keep your eyes open for Matts around the college scene, and dads-to-be/formerqb-wanna-bes, name your kid Matt.Dress like a Matt:

Atlanta Falcons #2 Matt Ryan Jersey

Houston Texans #8 Matt Schaub Jersey

Seattle Seahawks #8 Matt Hasselbeck Jersey

theHoundDawg

Tags: sc brain surgeons

Just yesterday, I gave a vote of confidence to Rick Neuheisel. Today, I feel maybe I made a big mistake.

No, I haven't changed my opinion of his coaching abilities, nor have I suddenly given up on the future of the football program under his tutelage.

Rather, I feel very strongly that his giving up a timeout in Saturday's sc game is an abomination. The Bruins are out-manned, out-talented, and likely out-coached, and all of Bruindom is angry enough over this situation. We do not need our coach ceding one small advantage back to the brain surgeons; an unexpected advantage handed Neuheisel and the Bruins on a silver platter, by carroll as a bi-product of his egotism in desiring to flaunt his cardinal and yellow brain surgeon colors in the Bruin's house.

I also have it on good authority that the decades-old tradition of both teams wearing home uniforms, contrary to carroll, the LA Times' Bill Plaschke, and apparently Neuheisel, is not so "traditional" after all, only being a short-lived trend in the 1960s and 1970s (maybe extending until about 1982 or so).

Go ahead, Buy College Team Gear Here!

theHounddawg

Tags: UCLA |sc brain surgeons |Rick Neuheisel

I've said before that Rick Neuheisel was the right choice and that his chance of success in his first year, coming in with little to work with, and then beset by injuries, was unlikely. I've also mentioned that Ben Howland was 11-17 in his first year, so give Neuheisel some leeway.

That said, some of the other candidates for the job have fared pretty well, others, not so well. Boise State's Chris Petersen has an undefeated season so far, but Al golden has had a disappointing 5-7 year at Temple, and a candidate who was met with skepticism and disbelief when discussed, John Harbough, has had a tremendous season as a rookie head coach in the NFL, taking the Baltimore Ravens, led by first-year and unheralded QB Joe Flacco, to 8-4, 2d place, and a probable playoff spot, coming off last year's 5-11 and total housecleaning, which included Neuheisel. Of course Norm Chow and DeWayne Walker are part of this year's painful UCLA experience.

That pain promises to get far, far worse, on Saturday. sc figures to dominate the Bruins, and the brain surgeons will not be satisfied with a 35 point win, as they were against ND. The sc coach may call of the dogs on offense, but given the sc defense and the disaster masquerading as an offense for the Bruins, it will be much more difficult to keep the sc defense from scoring at will, especially in the later stages, where the Bruin offense will be weary from all that time on the field, and the sc 3d string defense will be out to impress the coach.

theHounddawg

Tags: UCLA |sc brain surgeons |Rick Neuheisel

On another forum on which i am an active member, someone posted how he feels that it is time for Pete Rose to be welcomed to the Hall of Fame.

Despite my being an almost life-long Dodger fan, I always admired Pete Rose as a player and manager, and I believe that had his gambling been the key factor, that would not have kept him from the Hall of Fame. However, it was his reluctance to admit to his gambling on baseball, and his outright lying about it, that was the nail in the Hall of Fame coffin, that will likely keep him from the Hall, forever.

He chose denial, in his efforts to remain active in baseball, and he lost that bet, badly. That wager turned out to be not a job in baseball, but rather, the Hall of Fame. Well, he cannot get his wager back now, and he is unlikely to in the future.

For the 2009 Hall of Fame election, the BBWAA voters have the following players on their ballots:

First timers: Rickey Henderson, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Jay Bell, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn and Matt Williams.

Holdovers: Jim Rice, Mark McGwire, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.

The regular Veteran's Committee will have the following 10 old-timers to vote on: Gil Hodges, Joe Torre, Ron Santo, Jim Kaat, Dick Allen, Luis Tiant, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Maury Wills, and Vada Pinson.

In addition, the Pre-World War II Special Veteran's Committee that votes only once every 5 years will be voting on additional inductees in 2009.

It is about time that Jim Rice and Bert Blyleven make the Hall of Fame, and Gil Hodges should have made the Hall long ago, but among first-time eligible ex-players, I feel that only Rickey Henderson deserves induction.

The holdover list includes a lot of great players, and I could see any of them among Andre Dawson, Tommy John, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell getting close or making the cut. Mark McGwire, on the other hand, probably has about as much chance as Charlie Hustle has to gain entry. Unlike with Rose, though, time might make a difference with McGwire.

theHoundDawg