Mar 2009
Four Left
03/29/09 22:08 Filed in: College
Basketball
It isn't exactly Duke, Oklahoma, Missouri and
Louisville (March 17 post), but a Final Four of
Michigan St., Villanova, North Carolina and
Connecticut still isn't four number ones, or three
and a number two as the "experts" picked.
The Bruin loss to Villanova doesn't look quite so bad a week later, and combine that with seeing daily NBA box scores with the names Love, Westbrook and Mbah a Moute all pro starters as rookies, this should have been the year.
There isn't a great team anywhere out there, and the "I want it NOW" attitude of 19 year old millionaire wanna-bes, driven by corrupt agents and fueled by NBA money, has made the Tournament a CBS and ESPN media extravaganza, rather than a competition of great amateur basketball. As Dave Letterman has said about Stupid Human Tricks, "It's an exhibition, not a competition, no wagering, please."
theHoundDawg
The Bruin loss to Villanova doesn't look quite so bad a week later, and combine that with seeing daily NBA box scores with the names Love, Westbrook and Mbah a Moute all pro starters as rookies, this should have been the year.
There isn't a great team anywhere out there, and the "I want it NOW" attitude of 19 year old millionaire wanna-bes, driven by corrupt agents and fueled by NBA money, has made the Tournament a CBS and ESPN media extravaganza, rather than a competition of great amateur basketball. As Dave Letterman has said about Stupid Human Tricks, "It's an exhibition, not a competition, no wagering, please."
theHoundDawg
Angels' Pitching Strength Now Major Worry
03/26/09 17:24 Filed in: Baseball
Despite losing Jon Garland and Frankie Rodriguez to
free agency this past off season, pitching still
remained an Angel strength coming into the 2009
season.
As the start of the season fast approaches, holes in the starting staff are reaching epoch proportions.
First, it became clear that Kelvim Escobar is not yet fully recovered from last year's surgery, and will not be ready at the start of the season. Then, we learned of Ervin Santana's arm problems and his status remains totally unclear. Now ace John Lackey has been shut down, and will not be available to start the season. That's 60% of the starting staff on the shelf! It is now clear that the Angels' rotation in in worse shape than the Dodgers', with only a few days left before opening day.
On another, slightly related note, I stumbled upon a very interesting article today, Rouen Huskies Sign Former LA Angels Pitching Prospect, detailing how former Angel minor leaguer Travis Stanton has signed to pitch for the Rouen Huskies of the French Baseball League. I find this fascinating not becasue of Travis Stanton, but becasue of the fact that there is a baseball league in FRANCE!
theHoundDawg
As the start of the season fast approaches, holes in the starting staff are reaching epoch proportions.
First, it became clear that Kelvim Escobar is not yet fully recovered from last year's surgery, and will not be ready at the start of the season. Then, we learned of Ervin Santana's arm problems and his status remains totally unclear. Now ace John Lackey has been shut down, and will not be available to start the season. That's 60% of the starting staff on the shelf! It is now clear that the Angels' rotation in in worse shape than the Dodgers', with only a few days left before opening day.
On another, slightly related note, I stumbled upon a very interesting article today, Rouen Huskies Sign Former LA Angels Pitching Prospect, detailing how former Angel minor leaguer Travis Stanton has signed to pitch for the Rouen Huskies of the French Baseball League. I find this fascinating not becasue of Travis Stanton, but becasue of the fact that there is a baseball league in FRANCE!
theHoundDawg
Numbers Game Means Goodbye to Some, Hello Again to Other Former Dodgers
03/23/09 14:55 Filed in: Baseball
The numbers game has apparently hit the 2009 Dodger
outfield hard, as it looks like Joe Torre will be
carrying only four outfielders to start the season.
Starters Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier
will be joined by only one more outfielder, and that
will have to be the un-deserving but big-buck
contracted Juan Pierre. The more deserving and
eventual major league regular Delwyn Young is thus on
the way out, as is super-talented but injury-prone
Jason Repko.
All this because Torre feels he needs seven infielders. The inf now figures to include the four regulars, Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Orlando Hudson, and James Loney, plus free-agent pinch hitter, inf and of sub Mark Loretta, slick-flelding Doug Mientkiewicz, who can also play third and right field as well as first, and the return of middle infielder Juan Casto, who came up with the Dodgers seemingly decades ago. Thus, on the outs are Chin-lung Hu and last season's rookie sensation at third (and later second), Blake DeWitt.
The starting staff seems still in limbo, though the Dodger stay for Shawn Estes was short and un-sweet. Former Dodger Randy Wolf has solidified his spot in the rotation, and apparently Eric Milton has impressed Torre enough to still be in the running for a spot, though it seems that James McDonald now has the edge over the earlier front-runner Jason Schmidt, for the fifth rotation spot.
The Dodgers unloaded Andruw Jones. but they are sabotaging this year's roster by keeping big-contract under-producers like Pierre and Schmidt, causing talented players like Young, Repko, and others to find work elsewhere. With Manny's big contract and this off-season's acquisitions, the Dodgers look like they can go really far this season, and by signing Manny, Wolf, Hudson, and others, it seems like management was doing all it could for that end. They need to pull the plug on some other contracts if the players involved cannot contribute as much as others could, and put the best 25 in the dugout.
theHoundDawg
All this because Torre feels he needs seven infielders. The inf now figures to include the four regulars, Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Orlando Hudson, and James Loney, plus free-agent pinch hitter, inf and of sub Mark Loretta, slick-flelding Doug Mientkiewicz, who can also play third and right field as well as first, and the return of middle infielder Juan Casto, who came up with the Dodgers seemingly decades ago. Thus, on the outs are Chin-lung Hu and last season's rookie sensation at third (and later second), Blake DeWitt.
The starting staff seems still in limbo, though the Dodger stay for Shawn Estes was short and un-sweet. Former Dodger Randy Wolf has solidified his spot in the rotation, and apparently Eric Milton has impressed Torre enough to still be in the running for a spot, though it seems that James McDonald now has the edge over the earlier front-runner Jason Schmidt, for the fifth rotation spot.
The Dodgers unloaded Andruw Jones. but they are sabotaging this year's roster by keeping big-contract under-producers like Pierre and Schmidt, causing talented players like Young, Repko, and others to find work elsewhere. With Manny's big contract and this off-season's acquisitions, the Dodgers look like they can go really far this season, and by signing Manny, Wolf, Hudson, and others, it seems like management was doing all it could for that end. They need to pull the plug on some other contracts if the players involved cannot contribute as much as others could, and put the best 25 in the dugout.
theHoundDawg
First Round Blues
03/22/09 23:06 Filed in: College
Basketball
Well, the First Round is history and overall I'm a
totally unimpressive 33-15, but the brain surgeons
lost their game two, and all of my Final Four picks
are alive and well, as we await the Sweet Sixteen.
My concerns now are Missouri having enough to survive Memphis, and Oklahoma beating Syracuse. The Duke-Villanova game will be my major interest, however, as it will be very interesting to see my pick to win it all, Duke, against a team that so out-muscled and so overpowered the Bruins. Can Villanova really be that good, or have Ben Howland's Bruins fallen that far back?
theHoundDawg
My concerns now are Missouri having enough to survive Memphis, and Oklahoma beating Syracuse. The Duke-Villanova game will be my major interest, however, as it will be very interesting to see my pick to win it all, Duke, against a team that so out-muscled and so overpowered the Bruins. Can Villanova really be that good, or have Ben Howland's Bruins fallen that far back?
theHoundDawg
Tournament Day Three
03/21/09 08:57 Filed in: College
Basketball
My overall numbers are only so-so after Thursday and
Friday games, and the disappointment of BC's falling
apart against the brain surgeons, is staggering.
Other teams that failed theHoundDawg and themselves,
include upset losers West Virginia, California and
Clemson, and lower seeds Utah St. and Tennessee that
I thought would win their openers.
It will be nasty in Philadelphia this morning if the Bruins again shoot 37% from inside the arc and if Darren Collison and others again get in foul trouble. As Eric Maynor did his best trying to lead VCU over the Bruins with Collison on the bench, today could be a repeat against Villanova and Scottie Reynolds, but given Nova's overall talent, the result is likely to be different.
It will be hard for today's games to match the excitement yesterday with those two late overtime finishes.
theHoundDawg
It will be nasty in Philadelphia this morning if the Bruins again shoot 37% from inside the arc and if Darren Collison and others again get in foul trouble. As Eric Maynor did his best trying to lead VCU over the Bruins with Collison on the bench, today could be a repeat against Villanova and Scottie Reynolds, but given Nova's overall talent, the result is likely to be different.
It will be hard for today's games to match the excitement yesterday with those two late overtime finishes.
theHoundDawg
Thoughts on the Tourament
03/17/09 23:58 Filed in: College
Basketball
While I have been down on UCLA, especially of late,
they should get by VCU, and looking at the match-ups,
give Villanova a tough game. As good as 'Nova is,
they do not out-size the Bruin frontcourt, and Aboya
should have some measure of success guarding the
slightly shorter Wildcat top scorer, Dante
Cunningham. Scottie Reynolds is a very similar player
to Collison, but despite both being seniors, you
can't discount Collison's three final fours of
experience. The winner of this game will likely have
little chance again a Duke team that has peaked just
as the tournament begins. I think Duke will defeat
Pittsburgh for a Final Four berth.
In the West, I'm picking Missouri to upset Memphis and then Connecticut, and get to the Final Four, and to beat Louisville in the Final Four semi.
To me, the South bracket was the toughest to complete, with tough second-game match-ups between Western Kentucky and Gonzaga, and Arizona St. and Syracuse. I think a great player will carry a "surprise" team pretty far this year, the way Stephon Curry did with Davidson last year, and that player is Blake Griffin who will get Oklahoma to a Final Four match-up, and loss, to Duke.
Less surprises in the Midwest, where Louisville will defeat West Virginia in the regional final.
So, in a year where every commentator says the Big East is the greatest conference ever, my Final Four has one Big East team, Louisville, and they will lose to Missouri. Duke will take Oklahoma, and defeat Missouri for the title.
theHoundDawg
In the West, I'm picking Missouri to upset Memphis and then Connecticut, and get to the Final Four, and to beat Louisville in the Final Four semi.
To me, the South bracket was the toughest to complete, with tough second-game match-ups between Western Kentucky and Gonzaga, and Arizona St. and Syracuse. I think a great player will carry a "surprise" team pretty far this year, the way Stephon Curry did with Davidson last year, and that player is Blake Griffin who will get Oklahoma to a Final Four match-up, and loss, to Duke.
Less surprises in the Midwest, where Louisville will defeat West Virginia in the regional final.
So, in a year where every commentator says the Big East is the greatest conference ever, my Final Four has one Big East team, Louisville, and they will lose to Missouri. Duke will take Oklahoma, and defeat Missouri for the title.
theHoundDawg
Thoughts the Day Before Selection Day
03/14/09 17:42 Filed in: College
Basketball
A lot of good to excellent teams are limping into the
NCAA tournament, having suffered unexpected defeats
in their conference tournaments. In a major upset in
the ACC, Florida State today defeated Number One
North Carolina, in the Big-10, Michigan St., hoping
for a number one tourney seed, lost to Ohio State,
and in the SEC, No. 20 LSU lost to Mississippi State.
Yesterday, No. 25 BYU lost to bubble team San Diego St., Baylor defeated Texas, and Arizona State reached today's ill-fated Pac-10 final game by outplaying Pac-10 regular season champion Washington.
The Pacific-10 has been a total disaster, with the top four teams, Washington, UCLA, Arizona State, and California, all going down, and to clearly inferior, but over-achieving, teams.
A couple of teams winning tough, close games leading up to the tournament, may be poised to do better than expected a few weeks ago, These include Duke, who goes into the ACC final game with hard-fought wins over BC and Maryland, the aforementioned Ohio State, and up-and-down Tennessee, who will be playing for the SEC Tourney title against Mississippi State.
After more reflection, UCLA will most likely win no more than one Tournament game; maybe two.
theHoundDawg
Yesterday, No. 25 BYU lost to bubble team San Diego St., Baylor defeated Texas, and Arizona State reached today's ill-fated Pac-10 final game by outplaying Pac-10 regular season champion Washington.
The Pacific-10 has been a total disaster, with the top four teams, Washington, UCLA, Arizona State, and California, all going down, and to clearly inferior, but over-achieving, teams.
A couple of teams winning tough, close games leading up to the tournament, may be poised to do better than expected a few weeks ago, These include Duke, who goes into the ACC final game with hard-fought wins over BC and Maryland, the aforementioned Ohio State, and up-and-down Tennessee, who will be playing for the SEC Tourney title against Mississippi State.
After more reflection, UCLA will most likely win no more than one Tournament game; maybe two.
theHoundDawg
Pistons Owner and World-Class Philanthropist Bill Davidson Has Died
03/13/09 23:47 Filed in: NBA
Bill Davidson, self-made billionaire, noted sports
owner, and one of the great philanthropists of his
era, died today at age 86.
At various times, he owned several different professional sports teams, most notably the Detroit Pistons, which he bought in 1974, turning leadership over to basketball professionals, resulting in a long, successful run as one of the top teams in the NBA, winning three NBA titles during his tenure.
He also build several successful businesses, most notably, Guardian Industries Corp.
His greatest achievements, however, were in making the lives of other people better, with his extravagant philanthropy, his donations totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, and $75 million alone to establish the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.
Rich sports-teams owners are a dime a dozen. Men like Bill Davidson are few and far between.
theHoundDawg
At various times, he owned several different professional sports teams, most notably the Detroit Pistons, which he bought in 1974, turning leadership over to basketball professionals, resulting in a long, successful run as one of the top teams in the NBA, winning three NBA titles during his tenure.
He also build several successful businesses, most notably, Guardian Industries Corp.
His greatest achievements, however, were in making the lives of other people better, with his extravagant philanthropy, his donations totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, and $75 million alone to establish the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.
Rich sports-teams owners are a dime a dozen. Men like Bill Davidson are few and far between.
theHoundDawg
SHAME at Staples
03/13/09 23:19 Filed in: College
Basketball
In 2006, UCLA lost the NCAA Tournament final by 24
points, and in 2007 they lost the semi-final by 10,
both times to great, great Florida teams. Last year,
they lost the semi-final to an excellent Memphis
Tiger team. Embarrassing losses all, but nothing as
out right disgusting as losing tonight's Pac-10
tourney semifinal to a horrible group of brain
surgeons, who should not have been allowed on the
same court as the Bruins.
Coached by a deceitful, rule-breaking jerk, somehow this band of criminals ran away with a game UCLA should have breezed through.
This was Ben Howland's worst game ever as UCLA coach, letting his talented, previously defense-oriented squad self-destruct, throwing any semblance of coaching out the window, while firing up misguided shot after shot, with no teamwork, no "plays", no conscience. They shot an unbelievable 27% (19 of 70)! The brain surgeons did not win this game - UCLA gave it away.
My thoughts the past few weeks were that the Bruins might get to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. With miserable play like this, they will be lucky to escape that first weekend and get to the Sweet Sixteen, especially as their seeding took a major nosedive tonight.
theHoundDawg
Coached by a deceitful, rule-breaking jerk, somehow this band of criminals ran away with a game UCLA should have breezed through.
This was Ben Howland's worst game ever as UCLA coach, letting his talented, previously defense-oriented squad self-destruct, throwing any semblance of coaching out the window, while firing up misguided shot after shot, with no teamwork, no "plays", no conscience. They shot an unbelievable 27% (19 of 70)! The brain surgeons did not win this game - UCLA gave it away.
My thoughts the past few weeks were that the Bruins might get to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. With miserable play like this, they will be lucky to escape that first weekend and get to the Sweet Sixteen, especially as their seeding took a major nosedive tonight.
theHoundDawg
Best Joke of the NFL Off-Season: Kurt Warner in the Hall of Fame
03/06/09 17:52 Filed in: NFL
During the oh-so-painfull to observe Kurt Warner
contract negotiations of the past few weeks, I have
been dumbfounded by hearing more than one commentator
say that "Kurt Warner is a future Hall-of-Famer".
Huh?
Here's a guy that has spent more than a decade in the NFL, and who has had four really good seasons. Four out of Ten. As a starting QB in the NFL, more than half the time his performance can barely be labeled mediocre. More like pathetic. In the four good seasons, his teams' total won-lost record has been 44-15. But, for the rest of his career, his teams' record with Warner as the starting QB stand at 13-29. THIRTEEN WINS AND TWENTY-NINE LOSSES. Over Six seasons.
He lost his job with St. Louis, he couldn't compete in New York, and he was handed back the starting job in Arizona when the Cardinals realized they drafted an oozing pile of brain surgeon goo in matt leinart. Granted, he played extraordinarily well for them, but, that was good season number four, out of TEN.
In some of those other years, Warmer compiled QB ratings in the 60s, 70s, and into the 80s, and had TD/Interception ratios the likes of 3-to-11, 6-to-5, and 11-to-9.
Maybe four fabulous seasons could possibly put a player into Hall of Fame consideration, if those composed pretty much his career, and if something monumental prevented the player from staying around, like a career-ending injury or death. But when what there is is an up-and-down career with high highs and even more frequent and lower lows, that guy shouldn't be allowed to polish the brass handles on the Hall-of-Fame door.
theHoundDawg
Huh?
Here's a guy that has spent more than a decade in the NFL, and who has had four really good seasons. Four out of Ten. As a starting QB in the NFL, more than half the time his performance can barely be labeled mediocre. More like pathetic. In the four good seasons, his teams' total won-lost record has been 44-15. But, for the rest of his career, his teams' record with Warner as the starting QB stand at 13-29. THIRTEEN WINS AND TWENTY-NINE LOSSES. Over Six seasons.
He lost his job with St. Louis, he couldn't compete in New York, and he was handed back the starting job in Arizona when the Cardinals realized they drafted an oozing pile of brain surgeon goo in matt leinart. Granted, he played extraordinarily well for them, but, that was good season number four, out of TEN.
In some of those other years, Warmer compiled QB ratings in the 60s, 70s, and into the 80s, and had TD/Interception ratios the likes of 3-to-11, 6-to-5, and 11-to-9.
Maybe four fabulous seasons could possibly put a player into Hall of Fame consideration, if those composed pretty much his career, and if something monumental prevented the player from staying around, like a career-ending injury or death. But when what there is is an up-and-down career with high highs and even more frequent and lower lows, that guy shouldn't be allowed to polish the brass handles on the Hall-of-Fame door.
theHoundDawg
Why Have Announcers if They Ignore the Game?
03/05/09 20:56 Filed in: College
Basketball
In watching the UCLA/Oregon State game this evening,
I was appalled by the announcing.
I've come to expect that while action is going on on the court, the FOX Sports West Prime Ticket Blah Blah Blah Regional Sports Network Cable System Blah Blah cameras will be showing close-ups of players on the bench, coaches, and fans, instead of focusing on the court. But maybe even worse, during the first half of tonight's game, there were stretches of play, including one that had to go on for a good five minutes, where announcers Bill Macdonald and Don MacLean went on and on about the Oregon State team, coach Robinson, their new offense, their recent success, and more, TOTALLY IGNORING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE COURT.
There was also a long segment of hype for the UCLA woman's gymnastic team, all the while the game was being played, with absolutely no mention of what was happening by anyone supposedly hired to ANNOUNCE the game to the viewers.
When the announcers actually returned to the GAME, there was virtually no recap of what was missed.
Let me add that this all occurred before UCLA took their commanding lead, and while the score was close.
Why bother to employ announcers when they cannot be bothered to actually pay attention to, and describe, THE GAME?
theHoundDawg
I've come to expect that while action is going on on the court, the FOX Sports West Prime Ticket Blah Blah Blah Regional Sports Network Cable System Blah Blah cameras will be showing close-ups of players on the bench, coaches, and fans, instead of focusing on the court. But maybe even worse, during the first half of tonight's game, there were stretches of play, including one that had to go on for a good five minutes, where announcers Bill Macdonald and Don MacLean went on and on about the Oregon State team, coach Robinson, their new offense, their recent success, and more, TOTALLY IGNORING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE COURT.
There was also a long segment of hype for the UCLA woman's gymnastic team, all the while the game was being played, with absolutely no mention of what was happening by anyone supposedly hired to ANNOUNCE the game to the viewers.
When the announcers actually returned to the GAME, there was virtually no recap of what was missed.
Let me add that this all occurred before UCLA took their commanding lead, and while the score was close.
Why bother to employ announcers when they cannot be bothered to actually pay attention to, and describe, THE GAME?
theHoundDawg
nim-rod to Have Surgery - Will His "Cousin" Do It?
03/05/09 08:39 Filed in: Baseball
Word this morning is that nim-rod's hip (read "ass")
is sore and he needs surgery and will miss at least
the next ten weeks, which will include at least the
WBC, the rest of the grueling spring training
schedule, and hopefully much of the season.
'Roid medicos have said that a cyst like this is consistent with all those "roid" injections in the ass. Will his cousin actually do the surgery, like he did the injections, or will he just bring in the scalpels and band-aids, fresh off the streets of Santo Domingo?
Since I wrote about being unable to enjoy spring training, this is the second uplifting story to develop.
This video could have been shot in the scumstripes', or or the Giants', clubhouse:
theHoundDawg
'Roid medicos have said that a cyst like this is consistent with all those "roid" injections in the ass. Will his cousin actually do the surgery, like he did the injections, or will he just bring in the scalpels and band-aids, fresh off the streets of Santo Domingo?
Since I wrote about being unable to enjoy spring training, this is the second uplifting story to develop.
This video could have been shot in the scumstripes', or or the Giants', clubhouse:
theHoundDawg
Manny Is Signed - Let the Season Begin
03/04/09 19:46 Filed in: Baseball
| Well, it took an extra month from
when I said it should happen, but the deal is
done, and on the same basic terms as were on
the table then, and months earlier.
Months of aggravation for the fans, gamesmanship by Boras, and lounging by Manny. All just a ploy for Manny to avoid spring training? Can we enjoy spring training now? No, but the season looks a bit more promising. Rafeal Furcal Orlando Hudson Andre Ethier Manny Ramirez Matt Kemp James Loney Russell Martin Casey Blake Not too bad a lineup. The bench as well looks powerful, with Mark Loretta, Blake DeWitt, Juan Pierre, Brad Ausmus, Jason Repko, and Delwyn Young. Now about that starting staff ......... |
Manny Ramirez Dodger T-Shirt $21.95 |
theHoundDawg
We Should Be Enjoying Spring Training - Why Not?
03/01/09 15:54 Filed in: Baseball
We should be enjoying spring training -
seeing the prospects play above their heads, visions
of "This Year" in our heads, the thought of Opening
Day!
But we are not; at least, I'm not.
What am I thinking about?
The hole in left field and in the batting order, that may only be filled by paying out as much as $55 million over the next two years to the spawn of Scott Boras. The stigma of steroids that has totally eveloped baseball. Jim Bowden's resignation in light of allegations of skimming of bonus money from third world prospects. The scumstripes new rotation. The Dodgers no longer in Vero Beach. The Brad Penny-Larry Bowa he-said-he-said absurdity.
Some things are, however, as they normally are: Andruw Jones struck out in eight of his first nine abs with Texas and Milton Bradley is injured.
Somehow, that's just not enough to make it good.
theHoundDawg
But we are not; at least, I'm not.
What am I thinking about?
The hole in left field and in the batting order, that may only be filled by paying out as much as $55 million over the next two years to the spawn of Scott Boras. The stigma of steroids that has totally eveloped baseball. Jim Bowden's resignation in light of allegations of skimming of bonus money from third world prospects. The scumstripes new rotation. The Dodgers no longer in Vero Beach. The Brad Penny-Larry Bowa he-said-he-said absurdity.
Some things are, however, as they normally are: Andruw Jones struck out in eight of his first nine abs with Texas and Milton Bradley is injured.
Somehow, that's just not enough to make it good.
theHoundDawg