Jul 2010
Trades Solidify Division Leaders, Give Little Hope to Also-Rans
07/31/10 12:45 Filed in: Baseball
Chaos is the word to describe the flurry of trades coming seemingly every few minutes as the trade deadline approaches.
As of now, division leaders in the AL West and East and in all three NL divisions seem to have solidified their positions, with at least one cellar organization making a significant improvement in its outlook for the future.
At first look, it seems like the floundering Dodgers have significantly improved with the acquisitions of Scot Podsednik, Ryan Theriot, and Ted Lilly. With the likelihood of Podsednik being a solid replacement for the missing Manny, not to mention getting on base and stealing bases from the leadoff position, of the veteran Theriot solidifying the infield as the new second baseman, and of lefty Lilly providing a solid, inning-eating presence in the starting rotation, one would think the Dodgers are poised to make a real run at the Padres. BUT, look at what the pitching-rich but light-hitting Padres have now done: They’ve added power and run production in both the infield and outfield with the additions of Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tijeda, while, unlike other National League contenders, giving up no players from their major league squad.
In the East, The Phillies have likely improved with the acquisition of Roy Oswalt, but that is not etched in stone. J.A. Happ was a key part of their run to the World Series last year, and his disappearance this season has been a real mystery. As soon as the trade was announced, Happ high-tailed it to the Astros, and pitched 6 shoutout innings, lowering his 2010 major league ERA to 1.27. Given his non-use in Philadelphia, the trade is a plus for the Phillies, but at this stage in their careers, and given their respective ages, I’d rather have Happ than Oswalt. And meanwhile, the first-place Braves have solidified their position with the acquisitions of SS Alex Gonzalez, OF Rick Ankiel, and relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.
In the Central, the Cardinals seemingly have been in the hunt for every available pitcher, and finally landed a good one in Jake Westbrook. If he stays healthy, he could be the difference in their fending off the Reds, who received their own rotation-boost by the return to action of Edinson Volquez after 1-1/2 years of inaction.
In the American League East, the yankee scumstripes landed not one, but two power-hitting outfielder/first basemen/dh-types, in Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns, to solidify their position in first., and Kerry Wood to add yet another are to their bullpen. But, Tampa is inching closer, and the Red Sox may soon have their load of injured players back. Nothing certain in that division, despite what the “experts” say.
In the Central, the White Sox took a giant step backward in trading for the over-rated, ineffective, and overpaid Edwin Jackson. Detroit was able to replace the injured Brandon Inge with Jhonny Peralta, but those other injuries to Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen have not been addressed. The Twins, on the other hand, made the biggest deal among teams in the division, by acquiring a needed closer in Matt Capps. I’m sticking with them to win the AL Central.
And then there is the AL West. I picked the Angels to win the division again, but then when Kendry Morales was lost for the season, I said the Angels were through, that they could not win the division without his bat. Showing real panic, Angels GM Tony Reagins has made some deals that make on shudder, giving up far too much for far too little, and “solidifying” positions that did not need solidifying, all the while ignoring the hole at first base. Trading young starter Sean O’Sullivan for infielder Alberto Callispo may have been an improvement overall, but giving up the talented O’Sullivan when your pitching prospects are few and far between, without a first baseman in the deal, was mistake number one.
The major mistake, however, was the deal with Arizona, for Dan Haren. Haren is a terrific starter, with many excellent years ahead of him. But what did they give up? JOE SAUNDERS AND group of young prospects. You cannot tell me that Joe Saunders, over last three seasons, has not been just as effective a starting pitcher as Haren, and he is one year younger. At best, the trade is a wash, and given the Angels’ other needs, was a huge mistake. Couple all of this with the losses of starters Scott Kazmir and Joel Pineiro, Reagins and the Angels have mortgaged the future to try to win a division title that is out of their reach.
The Rangers, acquiring Benji Molina, Cliff Lee, Jorge Cantu, and now Christian Guzman to replace the injured Ian Kinsler, have a hugh, insurmountable lead, and the Angel organization should have realized that before trading away Joe Saunders.
The other team that did real well in the flurry of trades was the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks. They helped themselves immensely by ridding themselves of Edwin Jackson, and his $4.6 Million contract (How in the world???), and they acquired two young pitchers in the process, and they obtained a front-line lefty starter and a parcel of young talent in the Dan Haren-for-Joe Saunders deal. An added bonus is the fact that Saunders earns about 1/3 of what Arizona was paying Haren. Note their 2008-2010 W-L records: Haren 37-27, Saunders 39-24.
On a final note, with David DeJesus out for the year, and with the trades of Scot Podsednik and Rick Ankiel, who is going to play the outfield in KC for the rest of the season?
As of now, division leaders in the AL West and East and in all three NL divisions seem to have solidified their positions, with at least one cellar organization making a significant improvement in its outlook for the future.
At first look, it seems like the floundering Dodgers have significantly improved with the acquisitions of Scot Podsednik, Ryan Theriot, and Ted Lilly. With the likelihood of Podsednik being a solid replacement for the missing Manny, not to mention getting on base and stealing bases from the leadoff position, of the veteran Theriot solidifying the infield as the new second baseman, and of lefty Lilly providing a solid, inning-eating presence in the starting rotation, one would think the Dodgers are poised to make a real run at the Padres. BUT, look at what the pitching-rich but light-hitting Padres have now done: They’ve added power and run production in both the infield and outfield with the additions of Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tijeda, while, unlike other National League contenders, giving up no players from their major league squad.
In the East, The Phillies have likely improved with the acquisition of Roy Oswalt, but that is not etched in stone. J.A. Happ was a key part of their run to the World Series last year, and his disappearance this season has been a real mystery. As soon as the trade was announced, Happ high-tailed it to the Astros, and pitched 6 shoutout innings, lowering his 2010 major league ERA to 1.27. Given his non-use in Philadelphia, the trade is a plus for the Phillies, but at this stage in their careers, and given their respective ages, I’d rather have Happ than Oswalt. And meanwhile, the first-place Braves have solidified their position with the acquisitions of SS Alex Gonzalez, OF Rick Ankiel, and relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.
In the Central, the Cardinals seemingly have been in the hunt for every available pitcher, and finally landed a good one in Jake Westbrook. If he stays healthy, he could be the difference in their fending off the Reds, who received their own rotation-boost by the return to action of Edinson Volquez after 1-1/2 years of inaction.
In the American League East, the yankee scumstripes landed not one, but two power-hitting outfielder/first basemen/dh-types, in Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns, to solidify their position in first., and Kerry Wood to add yet another are to their bullpen. But, Tampa is inching closer, and the Red Sox may soon have their load of injured players back. Nothing certain in that division, despite what the “experts” say.
In the Central, the White Sox took a giant step backward in trading for the over-rated, ineffective, and overpaid Edwin Jackson. Detroit was able to replace the injured Brandon Inge with Jhonny Peralta, but those other injuries to Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen have not been addressed. The Twins, on the other hand, made the biggest deal among teams in the division, by acquiring a needed closer in Matt Capps. I’m sticking with them to win the AL Central.
And then there is the AL West. I picked the Angels to win the division again, but then when Kendry Morales was lost for the season, I said the Angels were through, that they could not win the division without his bat. Showing real panic, Angels GM Tony Reagins has made some deals that make on shudder, giving up far too much for far too little, and “solidifying” positions that did not need solidifying, all the while ignoring the hole at first base. Trading young starter Sean O’Sullivan for infielder Alberto Callispo may have been an improvement overall, but giving up the talented O’Sullivan when your pitching prospects are few and far between, without a first baseman in the deal, was mistake number one.
The major mistake, however, was the deal with Arizona, for Dan Haren. Haren is a terrific starter, with many excellent years ahead of him. But what did they give up? JOE SAUNDERS AND group of young prospects. You cannot tell me that Joe Saunders, over last three seasons, has not been just as effective a starting pitcher as Haren, and he is one year younger. At best, the trade is a wash, and given the Angels’ other needs, was a huge mistake. Couple all of this with the losses of starters Scott Kazmir and Joel Pineiro, Reagins and the Angels have mortgaged the future to try to win a division title that is out of their reach.
The Rangers, acquiring Benji Molina, Cliff Lee, Jorge Cantu, and now Christian Guzman to replace the injured Ian Kinsler, have a hugh, insurmountable lead, and the Angel organization should have realized that before trading away Joe Saunders.
The other team that did real well in the flurry of trades was the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks. They helped themselves immensely by ridding themselves of Edwin Jackson, and his $4.6 Million contract (How in the world???), and they acquired two young pitchers in the process, and they obtained a front-line lefty starter and a parcel of young talent in the Dan Haren-for-Joe Saunders deal. An added bonus is the fact that Saunders earns about 1/3 of what Arizona was paying Haren. Note their 2008-2010 W-L records: Haren 37-27, Saunders 39-24.
On a final note, with David DeJesus out for the year, and with the trades of Scot Podsednik and Rick Ankiel, who is going to play the outfield in KC for the rest of the season?
theHoundDawg |  |
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Haden v Kiffin: How Long Will it Last?
07/27/10 11:46 Filed in: College Football
On July 20, a short week ago, I mentioned that new brain surgeon ad Pat Haden may want to "box up and mail back" football coach Lane Kiffin, just as had been done to the sc replica of r bush's ill-gotten Heisman.
Now, just a few days before Haden officially takes over, and while m garrett's chair is still warm, Kiffin has got the university sued, due to his well-documented unethical, and potentially if not illegal at least civil-liability-eliciting theft of Tennessee Titan assistant coach Kennedy Pola.
Of course, the brain surgeon athletic department has keep the sc legal staff busy for years, whether it was stepping in to prevent former qb Mark Sanchez from being prosecuted for sexual assault, preventing uncle Petey from having to actually show up at his deposition and testify about the FACTS in the Lloyd Lake v reggie bush civil lawsuit, or defending the university against multii-million dollar damage claims in the civil suit brought by the innocent, injured victim in the motor vehicle accident caused by former assistant football coach Dave Watson while driving a university-owned vehicle and while addicted to and high on prescription meds supplied by the sc medical staff.
Haden, a lawyer himself, may take only so much from his predecessor's most recent big-name hire.
Now, just a few days before Haden officially takes over, and while m garrett's chair is still warm, Kiffin has got the university sued, due to his well-documented unethical, and potentially if not illegal at least civil-liability-eliciting theft of Tennessee Titan assistant coach Kennedy Pola.
Of course, the brain surgeon athletic department has keep the sc legal staff busy for years, whether it was stepping in to prevent former qb Mark Sanchez from being prosecuted for sexual assault, preventing uncle Petey from having to actually show up at his deposition and testify about the FACTS in the Lloyd Lake v reggie bush civil lawsuit, or defending the university against multii-million dollar damage claims in the civil suit brought by the innocent, injured victim in the motor vehicle accident caused by former assistant football coach Dave Watson while driving a university-owned vehicle and while addicted to and high on prescription meds supplied by the sc medical staff.
Haden, a lawyer himself, may take only so much from his predecessor's most recent big-name hire.
| theHoundDawg | |
Basketball - The Great Haven For Egos and Idiots
Over the past few days, a couple of the most well-known names in the world of basketball have opened their collective mouths, and shown the world that they are in fact a couple of the great egos, and idiots, in the world of basketball.
As previously described here, the long-overdue resignation of the brain surgeon AD was a welcome occasion this week, as was the selection of San Marino’s only registered Democrat, Pat Haden, to succeed him. Is there anyone who could possible disagree with this change? Anyone who would, or could, laud the stellar work of of the disgraced mike garrett? Why yes, there is. And that person is: None other than Laker owner and celebrated over-grown preppy, Jerry Buss.
While the world, including the new sc Prez. and AD, have slowly come around to realize the extent of the criminal enterprise run by the garrett-carroll-floyd triumvirate, the good doctor Buss - who oh, so proudly wears his sc ph.d in chemistry as others would an M.D. from Harvard - has seen fit to submit his beliefs to the LA Times, who, strangely enough, printed his message in today’s sports section, to wit:
Then there is the case of the ego of Mr. Chris Paul, registering this week a solid 9.8 on the LeBum-Ego-Meter scale of ten.
What G-d damn arrogance! The mighty Mr. Paul wants to be a Magic, a Knick, or, heaven forbid, a LAKER?
By the way, isn’t he under contract to New Orleans? Why doesn’t that “no tampering” policy stuff apply to players who are under contract, as well as team representatives?
Well, Mr. Paul, with the recent moves the Lakers have made, signing Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff, the two-time NBA Champs are just fine without your services, and, in fact, now possess a roster far stronger than that which, as just noted, has won the NBA Championship the past two seasons WITHOUT YOU!
The very idea, incredibly favored by many equally idiotic commentators, that the Lakers should break up their winning combination by trading the vastly talented and still developing Andrew Bynum for Paul, is absurd.
After painfully enduring the LeBum event (actually, I’m still nauseous from it all), who would have thought that yet another mindless ego would so soon emerge from the pro basketball world, with similar headline-grabing arrogance and impunity.
Come on, it’s BASEBALL SEASON with the trade deadline coming up and pennant races around the corner.
As previously described here, the long-overdue resignation of the brain surgeon AD was a welcome occasion this week, as was the selection of San Marino’s only registered Democrat, Pat Haden, to succeed him. Is there anyone who could possible disagree with this change? Anyone who would, or could, laud the stellar work of of the disgraced mike garrett? Why yes, there is. And that person is: None other than Laker owner and celebrated over-grown preppy, Jerry Buss.
While the world, including the new sc Prez. and AD, have slowly come around to realize the extent of the criminal enterprise run by the garrett-carroll-floyd triumvirate, the good doctor Buss - who oh, so proudly wears his sc ph.d in chemistry as others would an M.D. from Harvard - has seen fit to submit his beliefs to the LA Times, who, strangely enough, printed his message in today’s sports section, to wit:
All I can add is this: Had buss accepted comperable conduct from his LA Laker leadership and athletes, he would have been suspended by the NBA from any participation in the operation of his franchise, the employees directly responsible would have been removed, and the athletes involved fined unprecedented sums.There doesn't seem to be much love shown for Mike Garrett and I would like to correct this if I may. I think in the future, the last 17 years will be known as one of the Golden Ages of USC sports. It is doubtful to me if we will ever win as many NCAA championships in such a short period of time as we have done under Mike. The football was fun; the basketball was fun; the track & field a glimmering of its past glory under impossible circumstances (the limitation of scholarships imposed on USC).I would also like to point out that for 50 years as a loyal Trojan, I prayed for someone with the ability, foresight and courage to attempt to build our own sports arena. This was accomplished by Mike Garrett even though there were numerous predecessors who attempted unsuccessfully to do the same thing.Let's not kid ourselves — things were wonderful under Mike and although I hope things will be even better under Pat Haden, I think we owe Mr. Garrett a very deep debt of gratitude.Jerry H. BussEl Segundo
Then there is the case of the ego of Mr. Chris Paul, registering this week a solid 9.8 on the LeBum-Ego-Meter scale of ten.
What G-d damn arrogance! The mighty Mr. Paul wants to be a Magic, a Knick, or, heaven forbid, a LAKER?
By the way, isn’t he under contract to New Orleans? Why doesn’t that “no tampering” policy stuff apply to players who are under contract, as well as team representatives?
Well, Mr. Paul, with the recent moves the Lakers have made, signing Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff, the two-time NBA Champs are just fine without your services, and, in fact, now possess a roster far stronger than that which, as just noted, has won the NBA Championship the past two seasons WITHOUT YOU!
The very idea, incredibly favored by many equally idiotic commentators, that the Lakers should break up their winning combination by trading the vastly talented and still developing Andrew Bynum for Paul, is absurd.
After painfully enduring the LeBum event (actually, I’m still nauseous from it all), who would have thought that yet another mindless ego would so soon emerge from the pro basketball world, with similar headline-grabing arrogance and impunity.
Come on, it’s BASEBALL SEASON with the trade deadline coming up and pennant races around the corner.
| theHoundDawg | |
Classy Start For New SC AD
07/20/10 23:23 Filed in: College Football | College Basketball
Mike Garrett was still wiping the shoe prints off his ass, when new sc brain surgeon athletic director Pad Haden began making honorable decisions not seen at the brain surgeon hangout since, ... since, ...., well, EVER!
After weeks of “Who, me”, “Why us?”, and “We don’t deserve that!”, Haden accepted the consequences of the Garrett-Carroll-Floyd criminal enterprise, and not only ordered removal of campus idolatry depicting r bush and oj mayo, but further ordered that bush’s ill-gotten Heisman be packed up and shipped back to the NY Athletic Club.
Without them even asking!
Kinda makes you wonder how long Lane Kiffin has before he gets boxed up and mailed back.
After weeks of “Who, me”, “Why us?”, and “We don’t deserve that!”, Haden accepted the consequences of the Garrett-Carroll-Floyd criminal enterprise, and not only ordered removal of campus idolatry depicting r bush and oj mayo, but further ordered that bush’s ill-gotten Heisman be packed up and shipped back to the NY Athletic Club.
Without them even asking!
Kinda makes you wonder how long Lane Kiffin has before he gets boxed up and mailed back.
| theHoundDawg |
Returning Wounded Making Quick Mark
07/17/10 23:21 Filed in: Baseball
Only a couple of days into the season’s second half, some of the returning walking wounded are making their presence felt.
In Chicago, the Phillies were in danger of losing two out of their first three to the pathetic Cubs, when a four run ninth inning gave them a 4-1 win, with the catalyst to the comeback win being a leadoff hit from Placido Polanco, in his first game back.
In Boston, Kevin Youkllis, fighting numerous injuries but staying in the lineup most of the time, doubled in the ninth to tie up their game against Texas, (stealing a win from Cliff Lee) then won the game with a sac fly in the 11th. The winning pitcher? Manny Delcarmen, returning form the DL and making his first appearance of the month.
The big news on the comeback front, however, came in Cincinnati, where Edinson Volquez made his first appearance in one and one-half seasons. In his return from Tommy John surgery, Volquez showed he was really healthy, throwing six innings, allowing only one run, and striking out nine. A healthy Volquez might be what the Reds needed to stay ahead of St. Louis, and make the playoffs for the first time since 1995.
But then, there is the Dodgers’ situation. No Manny, again, and now Russell Martin has joined the hurt list, and the Dodgers have started the second half 0-3 against St. Louis.
In Chicago, the Phillies were in danger of losing two out of their first three to the pathetic Cubs, when a four run ninth inning gave them a 4-1 win, with the catalyst to the comeback win being a leadoff hit from Placido Polanco, in his first game back.
In Boston, Kevin Youkllis, fighting numerous injuries but staying in the lineup most of the time, doubled in the ninth to tie up their game against Texas, (stealing a win from Cliff Lee) then won the game with a sac fly in the 11th. The winning pitcher? Manny Delcarmen, returning form the DL and making his first appearance of the month.
The big news on the comeback front, however, came in Cincinnati, where Edinson Volquez made his first appearance in one and one-half seasons. In his return from Tommy John surgery, Volquez showed he was really healthy, throwing six innings, allowing only one run, and striking out nine. A healthy Volquez might be what the Reds needed to stay ahead of St. Louis, and make the playoffs for the first time since 1995.
But then, there is the Dodgers’ situation. No Manny, again, and now Russell Martin has joined the hurt list, and the Dodgers have started the second half 0-3 against St. Louis.
| theHoundDawg |
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
07/13/10 22:57 Filed in: Baseball
The Good: The National League, as predicted here, tonight snapped their 14-year, 13-concluded All-Star game losing streak, stunning the arrogant American Leaguers, 3-1, in the House that Autry build. The dead steinbrenner insipidness was kept to an acceptable minimum, and lo and behold, a member of the scumstripes was the losing pitcher.
the Bad: Dodger Hong-Chi Kuo's horrible throw halfway to the Honda Ponda cost the NL a run and gave the AL a 1-0 lead, and the Met's David Wright had a fifth-inning meltdown when he stole second and had his head up his ass as an errant throw from Joe Mauer went into right fied. Wright stood scratching his aforementioned ass instead of going to third, and when Dodger Andre Ethier singled to short right, Wright could then only go to third, instead of scoring, and the NL was denied the run when the next two batters made outs. Angel Torii Hunter went 0-2 and left three men on base.
the Ugly: Not since the dulcet tones of Carl Lewis and Roseanne wafted across stadiums and arenas has the National Anthem been so assaulted, diced, sliced, shredded, and crapped out, until this evening, when Fox, in their ever-vulgar self-promotion, put some 18-year-old talentless Fox TV performer center-stage before the sports world to fall miserably on her face.
That had to be the worse performance of the Star Spangled Banner ever performed by a supposed professional singer at a major sporting event.
But the game was, in the words of C. Montgomery Burns, Excellent!.
the Bad: Dodger Hong-Chi Kuo's horrible throw halfway to the Honda Ponda cost the NL a run and gave the AL a 1-0 lead, and the Met's David Wright had a fifth-inning meltdown when he stole second and had his head up his ass as an errant throw from Joe Mauer went into right fied. Wright stood scratching his aforementioned ass instead of going to third, and when Dodger Andre Ethier singled to short right, Wright could then only go to third, instead of scoring, and the NL was denied the run when the next two batters made outs. Angel Torii Hunter went 0-2 and left three men on base.
the Ugly: Not since the dulcet tones of Carl Lewis and Roseanne wafted across stadiums and arenas has the National Anthem been so assaulted, diced, sliced, shredded, and crapped out, until this evening, when Fox, in their ever-vulgar self-promotion, put some 18-year-old talentless Fox TV performer center-stage before the sports world to fall miserably on her face.
That had to be the worse performance of the Star Spangled Banner ever performed by a supposed professional singer at a major sporting event.
But the game was, in the words of C. Montgomery Burns, Excellent!.
| theHoundDawg | |
All-Star Game Tonight
07/13/10 14:57 Filed in: Baseball
With the game only a couple of hours away, I need to say that the managers and their boss made the right choices in adding some really deserving players in the last group of replacements, in particular Dodgers Rafael Furcal and Hong-Chih Kuo, and Angel Jared Weaver.
And the streak will end tonight - NL to win, NL to win!
And the streak will end tonight - NL to win, NL to win!
| theHoundDawg | |
Enough is Enough!
After putting up, seemingly for months, with World Crap pre-emption of real sports all over TV and radio, now for several days, we have been faced with yankee scumstripe babble, again taking over the airwaves, first with tear-stained story after tear-stained story about a guy who spent his life saying “Jeter. Number 2. Jeter”, and now with the the deification of convicted felon and significant financier of richard nixon’s dirty tricks brigade, the dead Steinbrenner.
Listen to ESPN and you’d think Abraham Lincoln had just died.
I can hardly wait for the All-Star broadcast tonight. It figures to be a sappy, sickening tribute to dead scumstripes. OK, give Sheppard a brief moment, but I do not want to hear tributes to the dead steinbrenner - a man who used his inherited fortune to 1) transform baseball into “Lot A goes to the Highest Bidder”, and 2) finance a portion of the illegal activities of Herbert Kalmbach, Donald Segretti, G. Gordon Liddy, Charles Colson, and the rest of Richard Nixon’s band of crooks who disgraced America and stole the 1972 Presidential election.
Put THAT on the Angel Stadium message board!
Listen to ESPN and you’d think Abraham Lincoln had just died.
I can hardly wait for the All-Star broadcast tonight. It figures to be a sappy, sickening tribute to dead scumstripes. OK, give Sheppard a brief moment, but I do not want to hear tributes to the dead steinbrenner - a man who used his inherited fortune to 1) transform baseball into “Lot A goes to the Highest Bidder”, and 2) finance a portion of the illegal activities of Herbert Kalmbach, Donald Segretti, G. Gordon Liddy, Charles Colson, and the rest of Richard Nixon’s band of crooks who disgraced America and stole the 1972 Presidential election.
Put THAT on the Angel Stadium message board!
| theHoundDawg | |
Watch Your Step. Oh No!
07/09/10 23:34 Filed in: Baseball
How about an infield of Vic Martinez at first, Dustin Pedroia at second, Jed Lowrie as short, and Mike Lowell at third. You’ve got Jason Veritek behind the plate, and Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida in the outfield. Starting pitchers are Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz, and there are Manny Delcarmen and Junichi Tazawa in the bullpen. Not to shabby of a major league team.
Well, it’s not a team, it’s the current Boston Red Sox disabled list.
How about this list of players: Jake Peavy, Grady Sizemore, Kendry Morales, Josh Fields, Greg Zahn, Joe Nathan, Kelvim Escobar, Justin Duchscherer, Travis Buck, J.P. Howell, Dustin McGowan, and Joel Zumaya.
Pretty good nucleus for a team? Or two?
Those are some of the major league players who this year have suffered season-ending injuries, some as early as spring training, some as recent as Jake Peavy’s injury this past week.
The Philadelphia Phillies played a big chunk of the season without Jimmy Rollins, and J.A. Happ has pitched 10 innings. Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz, and Chase Utley are currently disabled and will be for some time.
Starting pitchers Brandon Webb, Edinson Volquez, Eric Bedard, Chien-Ming Wang, and Jordan Zimmerman have yet to throw a pitch on a major league field this season, and Carlos Beltran has yet to step foot on CitiField this year.
The Braves are still in first despite injuries to Nate McLouth and rookie sensation Jason Hayward; the Orioles are still last despite injuries to Brian Roberts, Mike Gonzales, Luke Scott, Jim Johnson and Kevin Millwood. Injuries in the past few days have thrown the AL Central askew, with the White Sox losing Peavy and the Tigers losing Zumaya, for the duration, as did earlier the Twins lose Nathan. Had the last place Indians not lost Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera, and now Shin-Soo Chu, they might have been in that race.
I’ll hold off mentioning Dodger starting pitchers, Manny, and the Angels and Morales and Maicer Izturis, and..... Do I really have to go on?
When has there been a season with this number of major injuries? None that I can remember in the more than 50 years that I’ve been a fan.
A final note: HE DID IT AGAIN TONIGHT! Mario Solis on tonight’s late news sports segment, talking about the possibility of Derek FIsher signing with Miami, “quoted” Kobe regarding Fisher being indispensible to the Lakers, thusly: “Fisher’s significance cannot be understated.”
Well, it’s not a team, it’s the current Boston Red Sox disabled list.
How about this list of players: Jake Peavy, Grady Sizemore, Kendry Morales, Josh Fields, Greg Zahn, Joe Nathan, Kelvim Escobar, Justin Duchscherer, Travis Buck, J.P. Howell, Dustin McGowan, and Joel Zumaya.
Pretty good nucleus for a team? Or two?
Those are some of the major league players who this year have suffered season-ending injuries, some as early as spring training, some as recent as Jake Peavy’s injury this past week.
The Philadelphia Phillies played a big chunk of the season without Jimmy Rollins, and J.A. Happ has pitched 10 innings. Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz, and Chase Utley are currently disabled and will be for some time.
Starting pitchers Brandon Webb, Edinson Volquez, Eric Bedard, Chien-Ming Wang, and Jordan Zimmerman have yet to throw a pitch on a major league field this season, and Carlos Beltran has yet to step foot on CitiField this year.
The Braves are still in first despite injuries to Nate McLouth and rookie sensation Jason Hayward; the Orioles are still last despite injuries to Brian Roberts, Mike Gonzales, Luke Scott, Jim Johnson and Kevin Millwood. Injuries in the past few days have thrown the AL Central askew, with the White Sox losing Peavy and the Tigers losing Zumaya, for the duration, as did earlier the Twins lose Nathan. Had the last place Indians not lost Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera, and now Shin-Soo Chu, they might have been in that race.
I’ll hold off mentioning Dodger starting pitchers, Manny, and the Angels and Morales and Maicer Izturis, and..... Do I really have to go on?
When has there been a season with this number of major injuries? None that I can remember in the more than 50 years that I’ve been a fan.
A final note: HE DID IT AGAIN TONIGHT! Mario Solis on tonight’s late news sports segment, talking about the possibility of Derek FIsher signing with Miami, “quoted” Kobe regarding Fisher being indispensible to the Lakers, thusly: “Fisher’s significance cannot be understated.”
| theHoundDawg | |
All-Star Selections - Worse Than Ever?
07/08/10 23:29 Filed in: Baseball
Compare these two sets of stats:
PItcher One: W-L 9-4 IP 116.2 Ks 131 BB 48 ERA 3.16
Pitcher Two: W-L 9-4 IP 112.1 Ks 128 BB 50 ERA 2.96
Pitcher One is a National League All-Star. Pitcher Two will spend the All-Star break fishing back home in Texas.
Pitcher One is two-time NL Cy Young Winner Tim Lincecum. Pitcher two is LA Dodger Clayton Kershaw. Did the “name” Tim Lincecum or all that hardware enter into the selection? Explain that, Charlie Manuel. And while you’re at it, Omar Infante? And Michael Bourne?
Oh, and also compare these stats:
Center Fielder One: HR 15 RBI 59 SB 16 AVG. .267
Center Fielder Two: HR 16 RBI 49 SB 14 AVG .264
Not a whole lot of difference. Neither one screams out “All-Star”. But, while Center Fielder One is All-Star Chris Young, Center Fielder Two is much maligned Dodger Center Fielder Matt Kemp, who has been criticized all season for his underachieving and overall poor play.
Joe Girardi, you’re worse. You left off the AL’s best healthy pitcher, Angel Jared Weaver. (See my July 1, 2010 post.) Who is on the AL staff? Why Matt Thornton is. And Fausto Carmona. No Jared Weaver. And no Felix Hernandez.
You can’t please everyone; there are always worthy players left off, but there are some really bad selections this year - players that do not belong.
PItcher One: W-L 9-4 IP 116.2 Ks 131 BB 48 ERA 3.16
Pitcher Two: W-L 9-4 IP 112.1 Ks 128 BB 50 ERA 2.96
Pitcher One is a National League All-Star. Pitcher Two will spend the All-Star break fishing back home in Texas.
Pitcher One is two-time NL Cy Young Winner Tim Lincecum. Pitcher two is LA Dodger Clayton Kershaw. Did the “name” Tim Lincecum or all that hardware enter into the selection? Explain that, Charlie Manuel. And while you’re at it, Omar Infante? And Michael Bourne?
Oh, and also compare these stats:
Center Fielder One: HR 15 RBI 59 SB 16 AVG. .267
Center Fielder Two: HR 16 RBI 49 SB 14 AVG .264
Not a whole lot of difference. Neither one screams out “All-Star”. But, while Center Fielder One is All-Star Chris Young, Center Fielder Two is much maligned Dodger Center Fielder Matt Kemp, who has been criticized all season for his underachieving and overall poor play.
Joe Girardi, you’re worse. You left off the AL’s best healthy pitcher, Angel Jared Weaver. (See my July 1, 2010 post.) Who is on the AL staff? Why Matt Thornton is. And Fausto Carmona. No Jared Weaver. And no Felix Hernandez.
You can’t please everyone; there are always worthy players left off, but there are some really bad selections this year - players that do not belong.
| theHoundDawg |  |
More Bad Announcers
07/05/10 23:49 Filed in: Baseball
What a Guy!
07/02/10 23:29 Filed in: Baseball
What a guy! What a player. Amazing! Hiroki Kuroda was the Dodger starter tonight in Arizona, and then somehow he managed to get to Angel Stadium to come to the plate in the 10th, and make the final Angel out in their loss to Kansas City!
Well, that’s what Mario Solis told his audience tonight on the Channel 4 late news.
Looking at the film, I could have sworn that last batter was Hideki Matsui.
Well, that’s what Mario Solis told his audience tonight on the Channel 4 late news.
Looking at the film, I could have sworn that last batter was Hideki Matsui.
| theHoundDawg | |
Best Pitcher in the AL May Not Be Enough for Angels, and More Stuff
07/01/10 22:30 Filed in: Baseball
With Zack Greinke having returned to earth, Josh Beckett injured, and Ray Halliday in the National League, the AL's best pitcher could well be the Angels’ Jared Weaver. The 27 year old Weaver leads baseball in strikeouts, has an ERA of 2.82, and is the stopper every team needs to both avoid a long losing streak and prevent three-game sweeps at the hands of the team you’re chasing in the standings. After badly losing two in a row to the first-place Rangers, Weaver was dominant tonight, even to the point of blanking the red-hot Angel-killing Vlad the Destroyer.
The team chose not to re-sign the recently injury-plagued and aging Vlad, and he is paying off big-time for Texas, especially in their showdown with the Angels. But tonight he could not touch Weaver, and the Angels are back to within 3-1/2 of Texas.
Texas made a big move today, though, substantially upgrading their previously weak catching, by acquiring former Angel Benjie Molina from the Giants, for a journeyman middle reliever and a prospect. Vlad’s sensational comeback year coupled with the Angels’ loss of Kendry Morales may be more than even Weaver can overcome. By trading Molina, the Giants open up that spot for their phenom of the decade, Buster Posey, who had been playing out of position at 1B.
In another matter, on May 8, 2009, approximately 14 months ago, I wrote the following:
One bit of nice news out of the newest disaster in AZ., the D’Backs’ interim manager is to be Dodger icon Kirk Gibson.
The team chose not to re-sign the recently injury-plagued and aging Vlad, and he is paying off big-time for Texas, especially in their showdown with the Angels. But tonight he could not touch Weaver, and the Angels are back to within 3-1/2 of Texas.
Texas made a big move today, though, substantially upgrading their previously weak catching, by acquiring former Angel Benjie Molina from the Giants, for a journeyman middle reliever and a prospect. Vlad’s sensational comeback year coupled with the Angels’ loss of Kendry Morales may be more than even Weaver can overcome. By trading Molina, the Giants open up that spot for their phenom of the decade, Buster Posey, who had been playing out of position at 1B.
In another matter, on May 8, 2009, approximately 14 months ago, I wrote the following:
Well, today, Arizona team ownership fired not only Manager A.J. Hinch but also former golden boy GM Josh Brynes. The D’Backs will pay handsomely for last season’s impetuousness. Not only is the team in the dumpster, but they owe Hinch for 2-1/2 years, and Byrnes for 5-1/2 years, respectively, on their contracts.“Bob Melvin - 2007 Manager of the Year is Now Arizona Scapegoat
“In 2007, the season before last, the Arizona Diamondbacks had the NL's best record, and manager Bob Melvin was Manager of the Year. Now, with the team off to a 12-17 start, behind the stellar hitting of Chad Tracy (.221), Stephen Drew (.205), Chris Snyder (.204), Conor Jackson (.191), Chris Young .177), and Eric Byrnes (.139), and a team batting average of .222, plus the loss of ace starter Brandon Webb, on the DL with an era of 13.50, he no longer knows how to manage.“He brought the team back from oblivion in his first season as the Diamondbacks' manager, leading a 51-111 2004 team to 77 wins in 2005. His 2007 team won with mirrors, and Melvin's rare managerial talent, compiling a 90-72 record, despite being outscored for the season, by 20 runs. “GM Josh Byrnes and owners Ken Kendrick, Paul Schloss, and Jason Ellis should be ashamed of themselves. Melvin's replacement, former catcher A.J. Hinch, has zero managerial experience anywhere. Learning on the job, a team batting average of .222, and a disabled list loaded with key players, makes for a long season for Hinch and, unfortunately, for the D'Back fans.“All I can say is that what certainly seemed to be no worse than the second most talented team in the NL west is now no longer a threat to overtake the Manny-less Dodgers.”
One bit of nice news out of the newest disaster in AZ., the D’Backs’ interim manager is to be Dodger icon Kirk Gibson.
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