Chimpanzee Rodeo

Whitlock addresses the state of sports journalism

2009-05-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

My Literature of Latin American independence class that is about to wrap up, but I wanted to pass along this Jason Whitlock column I have been reading to pass the time.

The title is "Time to rethink the role of sports journalists," and it's a worthy read.

It's got some salacious material.

"My jabs are never personal," Whitlock writes. "As little respect as I have for Lupica, the Barry Bonds of sports writing, I've never shared all that I know about his despicable treatment of the support people he sees as easy-to-replace underlings."

Anyway, if anyone's still reading Chimpanzee Rodeo, take a look and let me know what you think in the comments.

How'd I miss this back in March?

2009-05-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

Our venerable professor was answered 10 questions on Feb. 26 as part of an interview series on RealClearSports.

The first question hits kind of close to home.

RCS asks: "What is more enjoyable: shouting at Reali, Paige, Mariotti, Cowlishaw and the rest of the Around the Horn panelists, or shouting at the eager young minds in your classroom?"

Here is the answer from our fearless leader, block quoted for posterity.

Blackistone: I don't think I've shouted at the next generation's sports journalists yet, save for the first time they missed deadline. I gave them the old Dave Smith treatment, my legendary longtime boss in Dallas. The students are still full of the right kind of questions rather than the wrong kind of answers.
But I've really come to enjoy the banter with my ATH comrades. It's as much fun as it appears... I've always been in need of a little levity in my approach to sports journalism.

Beaten by Bill Plaschke in a popularity contest? It's a sad day indeed.

To be fair though, this was before our magical van ride to USA Today. And maybe if Kevin had grabbed a bite at Jason's deli, we could have enjoyed some banter of our own.

Either way, it's nice to get a shoutout for missing deadline. Never again.

A winning streak of 1

2009-04-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

The Nats are on a winning streak!

That's right, one win for a team that only has five on the season qualifies as a streak.

For the first time all season, a pitcher other than Jordan Zimmerman and Shairon Martis recorded a win. This hurler was Scott Olsen who pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up only one run with 6 SO and 2 BB.

Olsen was not the only player to have a big day though. The bullpen, who has frankly been atrocious thus far this season, held the Phillies scoreless after Olsen left the game.

Similarly, Ryan Zimmerman hit safely in his 18th straight game, a team record and the longest such streak in the majors thus far this year.

The games result, which was preceded by terrible losses, is indicative of the Nats young club. They will lose a devastating game 13-11 one night and come back two days later and look great winning 5-1.

Still, Nats fans should not rejoice once. The team still is not good and this win came when Brett Myers was on the hill for the Phils.

Phillies fans, you know what I'm talking about. He's....not good.

The Great Bat Debate

2009-04-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

You thought I would let the Chimpanzee Rodeo die? I didn't find that monkey riding a dog for nothing, folks.

Anyway, I just wanted to pass along this Kansas City Star article (ed. note: Starticle?) comparing the merits of a pair of baseball bat materials.

Ash v. Maple. Let's get it on.

As New Englander and fan of syrup, I was saddened by the results.

Smith said ash likes to grow in a long straight grain, which is fairly easy to see. So if you look at a piece of ash, it’s evident if the grain is parallel to the length of the board.
“That’s what you want to have,” said [Washington State University Sports Science Lab' Lloyd] Smith, who is with the school of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. “That’s where the strength is. If your grain is not parallel then you’ve introduced a weakness in the material.”
However, maple generally does not like to grow in a straight grain. Also, the grain doesn’t have as much contrast, so it doesn’t stand out as much as ash.
This is important, because it makes it easier to detect a crack in an ash bat.

This is a great example of a unique and interesting sports story. And the Star uses the internet to its advantage with a nice graphic to accompany the piece.

It's too bad the text on the graphic is barely legible, even when the picture is enlarged.

Finally, the article answers the obvious question: If ash is better, why is maple the popular choice among major leaguers.

Blame it on Barry Bonds. Smith estimated that about 5 percent of baseball players used maple bats before Bonds broke the single-season home run record in 2001.
“There’s much more superstition in baseball than there is science,” Smith said, “so people started saying, ‘Aha, here’s the magic formula. It’s not Barry Bonds, it’s maple.’”

Of course, we all know it's not maple. It's the steroids.

Suck Meter: April 29

2009-04-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Surprise! It's a last-second blog so I don't fail. Also, sadly, it is the last Suck Meter reading. So let's see who "won"!

After a hard-fought battle between the Nats and O's this year, the overall loser is... area fans! Congrats everybody, we did it again!

Nationals. After making a serious run at a winless season, the Nats have been on fire lately, going 3-7 in their last 10 games. Jordan Zimmermann is a pitcher who also has a pulse AND can get people out, which is either a late April Fool's joke or a sign of the impending apocalypse.

Bad Clubhouse Guy Adam Dunn has six homers and is OPSing over 1100. And don't look now but Ryan Zimmerman has had a pretty good start to the season too. Unfortunately, even with all this promise, the team is still 4-15. Just imagine what happens if these guys cool off. It's going to be a really long summer full of empty stadiums.

One major reason the Nats are so bad is the bullpen. The only guy who looked like he was going to be able to throw baseballs at major league hitting, Joe Beimel, is hurt. That leaves guys like Saul Rivera (who has given up an abysmal 11 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings), Joel Hanrahan (8 ER in 8 1/3) and Wilfredo Ledezma (6 ER in 5 2/3). Awful, awful, awful.

This is going to be a bad, bad year. We'll see you at Steven Strasburg.

Verdict: Ugh. 1.

Orioles. Now here's a team that sucks gloriously. Our "loser" for the I-95 Suckfest, the Orioles actually show some promise before blowing games in any number of heartbreaking fashions.

The Orioles certainly have a major league lineup this year. Adam Jones, Aubrey Huff, Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis have been tearing it up this year. Too bad there has been absolutely no pitching to speak of, or else this team would be cared about outside of Baltimore.

"Staff Ace" Jeremy Guthrie has a 5.20 ERA in his first 27 2/3 innings, and he's been the bright spot. So far in the young season, only three pitchers on staff have ERAs lower than Koji Uehara's 4.56. Three! That's unconscionable. And those three guys have pitched a combined 23.1 innings. Yikes.

This is going to be a bad, slightly-less-worse-than-the-Nationals year. See you at Matt Wieters.

Verdict: Barf. 1.

Overal Verdict: Since this is the last post, I've gotta call it for the Nationals. The O's gave a valiant effort to suck as hard, but they've been streaky. Washington fields a team that is consistent in how terrible it is, and for that reason, your 2009 I-95 Suckfest Champion is the Washington Nationals.

Nats stink, but so do a lot of other teams

2009-04-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Things just keep getting worse for the woeful Nats. The day after they scored 11 runs and still lost to the Phillies in their bandbox stadium, supposed Ace John Lannan led the team to yet another victory on the season.

In that 13-11 loss on Monday, the Nats hit five home runs, two by Ryan Zimmerman, who is having an unusually hot start to the season. Last season, the Nats major malfunction was their inability to score runs and hit home runs. Now, with the addition of Adam Dunn and, the health of Nick Johnson, the maturation of Elijah Dukes and the comfort that a new contract has apparently given Zimmerman the team is hitting home runs at a seemingly much higher rate.

Still, as it is often said with teams, such as the Detroit Lions who hold the top picks in the NFL draft, will fixing one problem solve the team's overall issues. In the case of the Nats, obviously not.

The team needs a lead off hitter, three more starters, a closer, a set-up man, the rest of a bullpen. The laundry list is long.

It really should come as no surprise to fans and pundits, however. Everyone knew that this team lost 102 games last year. Do the additions of Dunn, Daniel Cabrera, Josh Wllingham and Scott Olsen really add a significant number of wins to the team? Obviously not.

Perhaps it is the fault of the team and its management, not in the way that people think though. The team seemingly worked overtime to hype their spring training optimism this year. Yeah, they have to sell tickets, but even with the hype they barely sold out opening day after pimping out Nationals Park to Phillies fans. Because of the team's start on the road, they were found out to be awful before home fans even got to see them play in person.

So, the team, its manager, the majority of players, and even the equipment managers seem to be over matched this season. Still, I am completely sick of hearing people make jokes at the Nats expense. Particularly fans of teams like the Orioles, who have not been good for 13 years. Just because you finally have a team to make fun of doesn't mean you should do it. The majority of fans can still make fun of you too.

Cano Answering Doubters

2009-04-29T07:20:00.001-07:00

The story had become familiar around the American League. Robinson Cano's batting average dropped from .342 in 2006, to .306 in 2007, and then finally .271 in 2008. His on-base percentages in those years: .365, .353, .305. Those low numbers were due to walk totals of 18, 39 and 26. The word around the division was that Cano had no patience, and there was no reason to throw him good strikes. He didn't seem to get the message no matter how apparent it was to the world that he could not hit a double on a slider six inches off the outside corner.

But this year, Cano's approach has changed, and the early results are very encouraging. He has walked six times in his first 20 games, which puts him on pace for 48 walks this season. While that may not sound like much of an improvement, he has been having better plate appearances. He has been working the count into his favor, fighting off tough pitches and making contact. He has only struck out eight times so far, which is right on par with his career numbers. The kid makes contact. But this year, he is waiting for his pitch to do so.

The results so far are staggering. Cano is hitting .381 with a .418 OBP, and his slugging percentage has jumped from .410 last season to .619 so far this year. If Cano can keep hitting quality strikes, he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the Yankees' offense.

His newfound patience was illustrated last night in an outside-the-boxscore way. He had great at-bats against a dominant Edwin Jackson in the fourth and sixth innings. The first at-bat was a 12-pitch infield single, and the second a 10-pitch strikeout. Neither result was particularly awe-inspiring, but if you can take 22 pitches out of a pitcher's arm on a day when he is shutting your team out, you are doing your job. The Yankees reaped the benefits in the seventh, when they jumped all over the Tigers' bullpen.

Hughes Impressive in Season Debut

2009-04-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

Over the last weekend, the New York Yankees were unable to hold large leads against the Boston Red Sox en route to an embarrassing sweep that made the Bombers look very vulnerable.

As New York talk radio went crazy, I took a deep breath and convinced myself that a four-game losing streak is nothing to worry about. They happen to every team, but it is important that someone steps up and delivers a quality pitching performance when a team is scuffling.

Phil Hughes did just that in his first start of the season. Replacing the ineffective Chien-Ming Wang in the rotation for the time being, Hughes looked the part of rookie phenom in his 2009 debut. Against the formidable Detroit Tigers lineup, Hughes threw six innings of two-hit shutout ball. Along the way, he walked two and struck out six. It was Hughes first big league win since 2006, and it had to take a lot of pressure off of him after his 0-4, 6.62 ERA experience in the Majors last season.

Joe Girardi made it sound as though Hughes could be making an extended appearance with the big league club.

"I don't want him to think that no matter what happens, he could possibly go back," Girardi said. "We want him to pitch great and stay in the rotation."

Hughes fastball touched 96 miles per hour last night. With the increased velocity, the youngster has all of the tools necessary to set up his impressive off-speed stuff and assume the role of phenom that he temporarily separated himself from last season.

It will be interesting to see how the rotation plays out. But between Hughes' strong start at AAA and now a clear sign of success in the American League, it is pretty clear that the Yankees should still be optimistic about this kid's future.

Rajon' Cajon, and Big Baby Gets Bigger

2009-04-28T23:20:00.001-07:00

Can you believe the nerve of Rajon Rondo?

Rondo came out of nowhere. A former Kentucky Wildcat, Rondo's in his third year in the league, and he's showing exactly why Doc Rivers loves him so much. He can do it all: He can assist, rebound, and now he's become an efficient and quick scorer, constantly driving down the lane like a bowling ball. And he's gotten so good in these three areas, last night he came close to his third triple-double in five games. In last night's thrilling finale, Rondo led his team in scoring with 28 points. With Ray Allen having fouled out, and Paul Pierce struggling from the field for most of the game, Rondo's become the go-to guy.

Luckily, Rondo isn't the only unexpected player to step up. Glen "Big Baby" Davis has taken the pacifier out for good. Finally becoming the toddler he was meant to become, Davis is standing on his own two feet, storming up and down the court and drenching the basket with mid-range jumpers. Pretty impressive, considering the former LSU Tiger was more effective as a post player.

Point is, if these two played the way they did with a Garnett, they would be simply unstoppable. So regardless if they lose in the Eastern Conference playoffs or the National Championship, or even end up winning it all, just imagine this team with another 6'10 energy boost, averaging 15+ and 10+ a game.

***

NBA PREDICTION UPDATE: Looks like the Blazers hit a bump in the road, but they managed to push the Rockets into a game 6 tonight. Watch out, Brandon Roy's looking hungry.

Enjoy the show!

-Davius "Heyward-Bey" Smith

Raul Ibanez Paying Dividends

2009-04-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning last night to cap a 6-run inning that turned an 11-7 deficit into a 13-11 win.

Nevermind that Nationals reliever Joel Hanrahan was absolutely awful and anyone could have smelled Ibanez's blast coming from about three batters before it happened. Ibanez is on fire, and he is already proving to be well worth the 3-year $30 million deal the Phils signed him to in December.

Ibanez is leading Phillies regulars in hits, runs, home runs, total bases and OPS through April 27.

He's also been clutch. In addition to last night's bomb, he hit a walk-off home run to give the Phils a come-from-behind 5-4 win against San Diego on April 19.

Many so-called experts, most notably ESPN's Keith Law, were extremely critical when the Phillies' signed Ibanez to replace Pat Burrell, pointing out his advanced age of 36 and that he would make the Phillies' lineup too left-handed.

But Jayson Werth has hit well enough to stay in the five hole and create a right-handed buffer between Chase Utley and Ryan Howard and Ibanez, and the lineup has been producing all season.

Ibanez has hit just .182 so far against lefties, but he's still been able to produce and the left-handed tilt to the lineup hasn't really had much effect on the offense.

The Phils lead the major leagues in runs scored per game, and Burrell has worse numbers than Ibanez is virtually every statistical category.

As the immortal Scott Graham used to say, "Put this one in the win column for the Fightin' Phils."

Let's call them the Cardiac Kids

2009-04-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

That seems to be the nickname of choice for D.C. United's so far this year, as this group of youngsters (over half the roster is under the age of 25) has now stolen 4 points in stoppage time over the last two matches. Following Ben Olsen's game-tying strike in the 91st minute to force a 1-1 draw with New England in the game prior, D.C. again came from behind Sunday against New York to get a result in added time.

After taking the lead on Rodney Wallace's first career goal in the 21st minute (Wallace, interestingly enough, beat former Maryland teammate and current New York defender Jeremy Hall to the ball on the play), United failed to capitalize on a number of opportunities before halftime. At the break, New York inserted Venezuelan playmaker Jorge Rojas, whose presence gave the Red Bulls life. Setting up strikes by Juan Pablo Angel in the 68th minute and Dane Richards in the 74th, Rojas looked like he had led New York to victory.

But Santino Quaranta's expertledly served onetime ball from the left side found Luciano Emilio in the 90th minute, whose shot glanced off the bottom of the crossbar before crossing the line and tying the game 2-2. Then, less than two minutes later, a major miscommunication between New York defender Alfredo Pacheco and goalkeepr Jon Conway allowed D.C. substitute Boyzzz Khumalo to sneak in and collect a seemingly harmless ball sent into the box by Marc Burch. Khumalo shanked his shot as he fell off balance, but Pacheco slipped as well, at which point D.C. rookie Chris Pontius dashed into the box to slot the ball into an empty net.

The dramatic strike gave D.C. a 3-2 victory, its first on the road this year. Barring a play-off rematch, it marked the last time D.C. will ever have to play on the concrete turf of Giants Stadium, as the Red Bulls are moving in a new, soccer specific stadium next season.

Here are the highlights from the game. For fans of overly enthusiastic Spanish-language commentary, they are a must-see.

Major League Baseball: What isn't the problem

2009-04-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's easy to jump to conclusions in these trying economic times.

And it seems that a recent Washington Examiner column by Jim Williams about the economy and baseball does just that.

Williams relies on well-respected sources and broad conclusions to tie most of the game's recent attendance shortcomings, especially not being able to fill up the new stadiums in New York, into an economic issue.

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. says he expects many Minor League parks to break attendance records because they are more affordable than the Major League venues. Political analyst David Gregory paints an idyllic and outdated picture of baseball as a summer right of passage. And CBS Sports President Sean McManus says the recent increases in sports TV ratings are related to people wanting cheap entertainment and staying home more.

Only the last one of those makes a whole lot of sense to me, and even that isn't a baseball issue.

The popularity of the Minor Leagues, which Ripken has become heavily invested in as an owner of multiple teams, has been growing in recent years because they can offer a more fun, family friendly experience in an intimate setting. Sure, cost has a lot to do with this, but attendance has been increasing every year anyway, and I don't think this is a new phenomenon.

Gregory's take is definitely outdated. Baseball has been passed by the NFL and at the very least, caught by sports like the NBA and NASCAR in popularity. In a long regular season while other pro sports are winding down with playoffs, it's logical to think that MLB should take a back seat during its first two months before getting a virtual monopoly on the market until football rolls around.

McManus' point is well-taken. It's understandable that major sporting events like the NCAA basketball tournament and The Master's will get more viewership in this tough economy. If a guy can't even afford the gas to take his family on a Sunday drive, he's more apt to flick on the TV and watch the Master's final round. But I don't think it's possible to turn it into a baseball issue because there are so many games on a given day that viewership gets spread out and more meaningful national numbers can be harder to compile, especially when there are teams like the Nationals out there.

Baseball has surely been hit by the economy, but I don't think it's fair to make the connections that Williams has attempted above. By the time summer rolls around, baseball will have its monopoly on the sports world and this column will be an afterthought.

But if the Yankees and Mets lowered their ticket prices for premium seats, that might also help this situation.

Zimmermann shines

2009-04-26T20:19:00.002-07:00

On a team loaded with "prospects" and major league fill-ins, starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, 22, has provided actual talent and victories for a team devoid of both.

Jimmermann recorded his second win in as many starts Sunday after being called up from AAA Syracuse April 20. This victory was the team's first on the road all season.

Zimmermann has accounted for half of the team's wins thus far this season. He has accomplished this feat, which admittedly sounds better than it really is, with the help of a fastball of four solid pitches.

Dave Sheinin of The Washington Post included in his Nationals Journal blog on April 22 a major league scout's impressions of Zimmerman:

"I really like him. Everybody talks about his velocity, but I like the potential for both of his breaking balls. His slider is very good. Once he finds his true velocity, I think he'll eventually pitch at 92 [mph] wth two very good breaking balls. His change up is his worst pitch, but he has the potential to be a true four-pitch pitcher.

"I had him topped out at 95, but he was really comfortable at 92, 93, and I think that's where he's going to settle in. The one thing that bothers me in his delivery is [that] he flies open a little bit. And his command in the strike zone -- he throws a lot of strikes, but they weren't all necessarily quality strikes. He was getting hit hardest on his fastballs. His fastball command was a little less consistent than I'm sure he would've liked.

"I think he's going to be a solid rotation guy -- or maybe better than that. He has the potential to be a [number] 1 or 2. If I had to pencil him right now, I'd call him a 2. But I tell you, if they draft [Stephen] Strasburg and get him signed, and if this kid [Zimmermann] does what he's supposed to do, that's a hell of a back-to-back. If they come up with a third pitcher, they're the Florida Marlins. They could really have something here."

Zimmermann's stats for the season (2-0, 2.38 ERA, 8 SO, 3BB in 11.1 IP) compare favorably to those of the rest of the team's pitchers, who have a combined ERA of 5.09.

While many players on the Nats current roster have been labeled as having "potential," none, save for the other Zimmerman, Ryan, have come through the Nationals system as quickly or with as much success as Jordan Zimmermann.

The Nationals drafted Zimmermann in the second round in 2007. He then split time between A and AA in 2008 and was named to the Eastern League All-Star team. MLB.com also tapped him as the Nationals' organizational pitcher of the year.

During a bleak season, Zimmermann is a sign of hope for Nats fans. While they watch the loss total climb higher and higher, they can dream of the team's potential 2011 rotation and feel a modicum of comfort.

Such dreams take shape as:

1. Steven Strasburg
2. Jordan Zimmermann
3. Colin Balester
4. Shairon Martis
5. John Lannan.

Nats fans, keep flipping the pages on those calendars.

Seeing Red: The Pistons And Bulls Story

2009-04-26T20:19:00.001-07:00

Today made one thing clear, for the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, one era is over, while one era is only beginning.

The Detroit Pistons were swept away by the Cavaliers in an easy four games. It's hard to believe that just last year, the Pistons were an Eastern powerhouse, according to most. The Pistons thought it would be addition through subtraction when it came to Flip Saunders, and they thought they found their Answer in Allen Iverson; but in reality, they gave up the two components that made up the glue--Flip and Mr. Big Shot--keeping the Pistons together.

Now, you can see how all over the place they are. Without Rip Hamilton having a 30 or 40-point game, the Pistons are rusted. Sad to see 'em fail, but until the Motor City turns it around and grows an optimistic disposition, it looks like their sports teams are doomed. Just a guess, but I'm pretty sure sports reflect the cities, and the other way around.

If that's the case, I might recommend moving to Chicago. The Bulls are looking up, doing twice in one year what the organization has never been able to do: Beat the Celtics in the playoffs.

Hand it to Derrick Rose for the much-needed burst of energy Chicago needed. Without him, Salmons or Gordon still wouldn't be enough to get this team over the hump. But thanks to their energetic point guard, Bulls fans finally have something to cheer about. It wasn't easy to get over Michael's departure, but it's good to see that this team is coming up.

After all, the success of teams comes in cycles. So in the future, maybe you'll see an NBA Final between the Chicago Bulls and the Portland Trail Blazers, two young teams that have the powerful parts they need; they just need experience. Hey, it won't be Jordan's Bulls versus those unbeatable Blazers of old, but it's definitely an interesting matchup.

The show the Bulls put on today was great (I might argue that the Celtics imploded, but hey, credit where credit's due), and the show that Detroit put on was equally telling. No matter how you slice it, both teams are mad. One with hunger for more, another wondering how their Answer could've been the wrong one after all.

- The Notorious D.A.V.

Pena Hits Two Home Runs to Support Kazmir

2009-04-25T08:48:00.001-07:00

Amidst the Tampa Bay Rays' slow start, Carlos Pena is mashing the ball. Yesterday, Pena clubbed home runs off of Trevor Cahill and Dan Giese of the Oakland A's to help Scott Kazmir earn his third win. The first baseman has eight home runs and 21 RBI in his first 67 at-bats. The Rays have to be excited to see the big lefty continuing to improve. He is quickly establishing himself as one of the most potent lefties in the AL East given the decline of David Ortiz. If the Rays are going to right themselves, they are going to need Pena to continue being productive.

Evan Longoria is also tearing the cover off of the ball to the tune of five early home runs and 16 RBI. Akinori Iwamura, Ben Zobrist and Jason Bartlett are getting on base very well. But B.J. Upton, Gabe Kapler, Dioner Navarro and Pat Burrell are all underperforming. Upton and Navarro have been absolutely atrocious, and they are both very important to the team. What made this team so strong last season was the everyone-can-be-the-hero mentality that they took to the ballpark every day. The Rays offense needs to get in sync so that all the pressure isn't on their big two power guys.

But the bigger problem with this team has been pitching. Scott Kazmir and James Shields have been playing almost up to their skill level. Shields is 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA and a stellar 1.11 WHIP. Kazmir is 3-1 with 3.97 ERA and a decent 1.32 WHIP. But Matt Garza, the unsung hero of that rotation last year, is off to a slow start at 1-1 with a 4.58. His WHIP is actually better than Kazmir's at 1.27, so it is somewhat safe to assume that his numbers will improve and that there is not a larger problem except for luck. But his 10 walks in 19.2 innings are simply too much.

The back end of their rotation is another story. Andy Sonnanstine is having a lot of trouble pitching effectively this year. He is 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA and a ridiculous 1.53 WHIP. It may be that his stuff is not effective enough to survive another tour through the league. When they got rid of Edwin Jackson this offseason, they decided to stick with Sonnanstine's control over Jackson's ace-type stuff and unpredictability. But Sonnanstine is averaging around four walks per nine innings right now, which is way too much for someone with his stuff.

Jeff Niemann has had similar problems. He has compiled a line of 1-2, 5.40 ERA, 1.50 WHIP. He is walking just under 4.5 men per nine, and giving up nearly two home runs per game. You have to wonder how long David Price is going to stay in the minors if Sonnanstine and Niemann don't hit their stride, because it is very hard to win games like the two of them are pitching right now.

The bullpen is probably the biggest concern, as it was last year. J.P. Howell is off to a solid start with a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. So is Brian Shouse, who has a 1.59 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. After that it gets ugly. Newcomer Joe Nelson has been the next best thing with a 3.52, but his 1.43 WHIP is too high. Lance Cormier's numbers are 4.09 and an unacceptable 1.82. Troy Percival hasn't pitched much, but he has a 4.91 ERA and a 2.18 WHIP. Grant Balfour has walked six men in 5.1 innings, his ERA is 8.44 and his WHIP is 2.06. Dan Wheeler has given up three home runs in 5.2. His ERA is an unsightly 11.12 to go along with his 1.59 WHIP.

If some of these guys don't straighten themselves out [If I'm the manager, I'm looking at Wheeler and Balfour, and it's not a warm gaze] the Rays are going to have a tough time holding leads this season. Joe Maddon needs to hold a clinic on strike-throwing or something, because pitchers that walk a lot of batters don't win much in the major leagues. Unless they have A.J. Burnett-type stuff and can overcompensate. And of course unless their managers have pacemakers.

Wang to DL, A chance for Hughes

2009-04-25T08:39:00.001-07:00

New York Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang is headed to the disabled list. I had blogged about his ineffectiveness earlier, but this development is interesting.

The question of whether Wang is actually injured is a fair one. Doctors say he has weakness in his hip muscles stemming from his foot injury last season, but this strikes me as something entirely different. It's pretty clear that the Yankees just wanted a chance to send him to the minor leagues without exposing him to waivers.

Phil Hughes will come up and pitch on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers. Their ballpark is one of the best to pitch in in baseball, though they do have a tough lineup. With Hughes' early success in the minors, this makes all the sense in the world. Let Wang figure his issues out, and give the once-jewel of the organization a chance to show how he has matured since his struggles last season. I lobbied heavily on my other blog for the Yankees not to re-sign Andy Pettitte and give the rookie a spot.

With Pettitte pitching effectively so far, I can't still hate the move. But Hughes is still very talented, and there is no reason to bury him in the minors. Every start he gets in the majors adds to his knowledge, and even if he has a tough time, it's good for the organization to get him the experience. Since Wang was a batting tee for his first three starts, this is a win-win for the organization until the Taiwanese righty can return to form.

Say it ain't so, Lenny

2009-04-23T17:11:00.001-07:00

In today's struggling economy, the line between athletes being stupid and unlucky seems like it can be increasingly blurred.

Make some bad investments and trust some of the wrong people, and it's just bad luck.

Blow all your savings frivolously a la Mike Tyson, and it's plain stupid.

I'm going to give former Major Leaguer Lenny Dykstra a break on this one and say he falls somewhere in between.

ESPN.com put investigative reporter Mike Fish on the case after several articles were published detailing Dykstra's erratic behavior and money problems.

Just a few years ago, Dykstra was being praised for his handling of life after baseball, which was rich with car washes, a recently-launched athlete-specific magazine and lots of big dreams. MSNBC's Jim Cramer has and does support the former Phillie as a genius investor.

The picture painted by Fish is equal parts sad and disappointing. Dykstra's personal and financial life are spiraling into ruin, according to Fish, done in by the struggling economy and overambitious real estate maneuvers.

There doesn't seem to be a happy ending in sight for Dykstra, who doesn't seem to realize he has a problem despite mounting legal trouble and a thirst for chartered jets.

He stands to lose millions on his investment of Wayne Gretsky's former home, and that's at the bottom of his list of worries behind alienating his family and facing legal trouble.

As a Phillies fan, it's tough to watch 'Nails' struggle like this. With the steroid allegations and now this, it is hard to believe he has any positive legacy left, completely overshadowing his tremendous work in the 1993 playoffs.

But in this struggling economy especially, there's a lesson to be learned from Dykstra for former players that they won't find in the glossy pages of his magazine:

You need to be smart with your money and surround yourself with people who aren't afraid to disagree with you.

The Dude found out the hard way, and at this point, his problems are far from over.

Tough Day For the Phils

2009-04-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

While I watched the first few innings of the Phillies vs. Brewers game on MLB.tv during my JOUR 350 class this afternoon, I was encouraged by Cole Hamels.

He cruised through the first three innings, had the velocity on his fastball up in the low 90s, and was spotting his developing curveball nicely.

Then I come back to my apartment after my next class to see Hamels got knocked out of the game by a line drive off his shoulder shortly after I stopped watching.

Plus Brewers starter Dave Bush took a no-hitter into the 8th.

The Phils are currently trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the eighth, and it's looking like they're about to drop their second straight game to fall to 6-8 on the season.

It's obviously way too early to get seriously concerned, but it's definitely that the Phillies seem to struggle in April year after year after year.

The Phils had the worst starting rotation ERA in the major leagues heading into today, and taking a line drive off his pitching shoulder certainly isn't going to help Hamels.

Luckily the Mets and Braves are also struggling, and it looks like the Marlins might be regressing to the mean after their 11-1 start, but days like today just aren't ballin'.

The Phils really just need to wake up.

Rose Ain't No Bull...

2009-04-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

...He's the real deal.

(See what I did with that?)

This weekend, Derrick Rose single-handedly showed everyone in Boston his ass, as he wiped it all over the Celtics defense, closing them out in their first playoff game on their home court.

OUCH. And you thought Garnett's absence hurt 'em.

But how 'bout them Bulls?

Even though the Bulls finished the regular season at .500, the Bulls have shown their moments of brilliance at times, especially in the hands of Ben "Out Of His" Gordon, Derrick "That Morning He" Rose, and new addition John "It's Sahllmons, not Salmons" Salmons.

They're young and they're not so flashy as the other teams, but this team's got drive. Joakim "Yes Ah" Noah has been surprisingly good on defense, blocking shots and pumping up his team. Sound familiar, Kevin Garnett fans?

And while the Celtics have tied up the series 1-1, you've still got to worry if you're a Celtic fan like me. They won because Ray Allen hit his shot from 3, but if you watched the game, you'd know that the Celtics must play their best to even do that. They're missing Garnett, they're missing Scalabrine (he went to USC, remember?), and now they're going to miss Powe like his name misses that 'R' at the end of it. In case you're too tired to go over that last riddle, Powe brought power to the team.

(See what I did there? Tell me you're not impressed.)

In any case, I feel that if the Celtics can discover a line-up that works for them, and maybe if Marbury gets out of this slump, they've got a chance to get to Round 2. And if the match-ups are right, maybe they'll go back to the finals. Maybe.

The Cavs are too good on their home court (even with a team of riled-up Pistons they wipe the floor with 'em), and the two teams with the only real shot at the Cavs, in my humble opinion, are the Magic and the 76ers (I'm an Iguodala fan). Unfortunately, only one of those teams will make it past this round. Tee hee.

Either way, looks like the playoffs are gearing up for some good fun. Like the NHL, some first day upsets, and a huge fan turnout. Looks like fun. Stay tuned ya'll.

-Dave "UConn Makes Good Players, and Connecticut Makes Good Insurance" Smith

Can't blame anyone for not caring enough to spell the team's name right

2009-04-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

If it seems like I haven't blogged in a few days, there is a very good reason. The despair of actually being a fan of the dysfunctional Natinals (yeah, i meant to spell it like that) has left me with no desire to discuss the team.

This club, following its first and only win of the season, blew two ninth inning leads in a row and now sports a majors' worst record of 1-10. Following their most recent bullpen disaster, the Nats also decided to blow up their bullpen and see if more pitchers who should not yet be in a Major League uniform can do the job that their opening day roster could not.

Poor play is not the team's only problem, however. In fact, their performance might be the easiest of the many worries to swallow. A team of such inexperience and dubious talent cannot act its age. Players, including Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes, have been late to work, evoking punishment from the organization. Milledge was demoted to AAA Syracuse because of the combination of his tardiness and poor on-field performance. Dukes received a warning that if he is late again, he will join Milledge in the minors.

It also appears that the Nationals management is losing control of the team. The front office wanted to sit Milledge after he was late to a team meeting before the first game, but Manny Acta decided that a fine was sufficient. Now, when Dukes was five minutes late after an appearance at a Little League function, he was warned that if it happens again, he will be sent down. Either there is more to Dukes' conduct this season than has been announced, or the team overreacted. They did not act strictly with Milledge and overcompensated with Dukes. You cannot send mixed messages to a player with Dukes' past. Yes, he should be kept on a short leash, but punish him for punishable offenses not trivial tardiness which was caused by laudable actions that should be a means of revamping his image not tarnishing it further.

Additionally, the team's performance must be blamed on the front office. After their rough start against the Marlins, the club with MLB's best record, the Nats either blew leads or lost close games in many of their following contests. It is obvious that they do not yet know how to win. With such an inexperienced team, a veteran who can teach this is imperative. Adam Dunn doesn't cut it. He has never won anything. Yeah, he's a start, but the team shouldn't be surprised that they are losing with a team whose pitching staff is probably more suited to AA than the bigs.

Just look at the Rays. Last year, they had Troy Percival, who had won a world series with the Angels, and this year they added outfielder Pat Burrell who helped the Phillies beat them in the World Series last year. A blend of talented youth and veterans who have won before is requisite for success. The Nationals don't have the calming veteran presence, and it remains to be seen if the promise of their young players will materialize into actual talent and victories.

As of right now, the Nats simply appear dysfunctional-from the equipment managers to the owner. To solve the problems, the team has gotten even younger, bringing up top pitching prospect Jordan Zimmerman, as planned, and Justin Maxwell among others from the minors. For, now Nats fans have to continue taking their medicine and hoping that a Rays-like revitalization will follow sometime in the team's future.

Suck Meter: April 19

2009-04-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a difference five days make. The worldbeating Orioles are now the mediocre Orioles. Coming soon to a theater near you: The irrelevant Orioles! Thanks for playing, guys.

Today's Suck Meter provides a first: I can't go on keeping the 2009 Nationals out of the all-time baseball cellar. In fact, at this point, I'm starting to consider if they're an even worse baseball abomination than Major League III: Back to the Minors.

Nationals. The only words that can be used to describe the Nationals this year can't be used on a family-friendly blog. Flat-out, this team sucks. After another loss to the surprising Marlins today, the Nats are sitting on an abominable 1-10. One win. Ten losses. If you extrapolate that out to a 162-game season, that's 15 wins. And honestly, I can't see this team winning even another 14 games.

The only time the Nats have won this season was last Thursday against Philadelphia and I don't think this team is ever going to win again. There's absolutely no reason to think that if this team comes into a game in Major League Baseball that they're going to come out with a win, unless the entire other team gets injured or has to forefeit or something. This is a baseball disaster.

Coming into today, somehow, Christian Guzman was the NL leader in batting average, just proving that sometimes some things just don't make sense. This is inconsequential and is in no way relevant to how this baseball team could or should perform. But for what it's worth, the guy was hitting .515 coming into today. The fact that we have a guy who is getting more hits than outs and one win just goes to show how few wins we're going to have when he evens out.

Lastings Milledge remains in the minors, so for all of you who had him in your headcase outfielders pool, congratulations. Sorry to those of you who had Elijah Dukes.

There's not much more that I can say for this team. Steven Strasburg isn't going to help. Larry Bird isn't walking through that door. Harmon Killebrew isn't walking through that door. This franchise just needs some kind of massive overhaul or huge lucky strike of some kind.

Verdict: This team will challenge to be the worst ever. Scratch that. This is going to end up being the worst team ever. 0.

Baltimore Orioles. Unlike the team down the road, at least these guys have a...pulse. Or I mean like, more than one win. But the weekend series against Boston just goes to remind us of the difference between a successful franchise and a franchise that is going to struggle. Namely, this difference is pitching.

The Orioles just plain have no pitching. And if Guthrie goes through a bad stretch, these guys are really going to feel it. Guthrie not on his game + Koji being a guy who is exceedingly hittable + whichever three homeless people are dragged into the stadium to pitch on the other three days + another not-so-good outing from Guthrie and you're looking at huge potential losing skids.

But at least we've got a team at .500 for now, which, in contrast to the Nationals is like a world champion. And one pitcher's better than none. And on top of that, Sleepy Jones has become a bona fide fantasy baseball superstar.

The Orioles are going to be all downhill from there, make no mistake. But this is a franchise with the pieces in place, sort of. As soon as some of these guys come through the farm system, we're going to have a much better idea of where this team is going in the coming years.

Verdict: Blowing the 7-0 lead was ugly, getting swept by Boston was ugly and there are a lot more ugly things awaiting this team this season. But again... at least it's not the Nationals. 5.

Surviving a Recession, NBA style

2009-04-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

Kudos to the major sports leagues and owners who get it.

Sometimes that means making decisions with the fans' best interest in mind, rewarding players who work hard and contribute to the community, or taking other steps to positively craft the image of a league or team.

The latest additions to the list are the NBA and the owners who met with JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon this week to discuss the impact of the economy on their sport.

According to Bloomberg, owners from the 30 NBA teams met with Dimon in a New York hotel for more than an hour, delivering an "interpretation of the economy" based on data the company has collected. JP Morgan Chase is one of 14 banks that are involved in lending to the League as part of a $200 million line of credit it has taken out to help teams deal with the recesssion.

NBA Commissioner David Stern is forcasting a decline in league revenue next season. That is really significant in an era that has been marked by increased growth in many of the major sports leagues. Given that truth, even a leveling off of revenue has implications for the way franchises are run.

The League has a salary cap, so unlike Major League Baseball, which began to see the impact of the economy on its free agent market this season, there should'nt be too much of an impact on the team's personnel. But several teams are losing money and will depend on these NBA loans to stay afloat until the economy turns around.

That means that all the owners are kind of in this thing together. It's refreshing to see them meet and get on the same page, so that they can move forward unilaterally. They picked a good place to start meeting with Dimon, who has been influential on the national economic landscape recently.

It's not an unprecedented move. Major League Baseball owners met with former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker in November and learned that the ills of the economy would take a while to fix.

But it's clear that the NBA is not going to sit back and let this turn into a major problem. By working proactively and consulting with the best in the world, they might be better suited to solve their problems in a way that will not effect their fans nationwide.

That is the best-case scenario right now because fans are the lifeblood of the league. Keeping them happy (and subsequently the advertisers who want to reach them) is important, and major changes as a result of the league's money problems won't be good for anybody.

The NBA obviously gets that.

Lowrie Injury Bad News for Sox

2009-04-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

Boston Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie went to see a specialist to get his ailing wrist examined yesterday. He first injured it last May, and was hampered by it all year. He thought, albeit without professional input, that he needed surgery and could miss the year. If he is lost for an extended period of time, it is bad news for the Sox.

Julio Lugo has been very disappointing in his Red Sox career. The Fenway Faithful will likely not be enthused to see him assume the starting role once he returns from extended spring training, where he is himself recovering from an injury.

I think Lugo is a pretty solid shortstop, but his recent injury is troubling. If that should recur, the Sox would be stuck with a combination of journeyman Nick Green and Gil Velazquez at the most important infield position. Lowrie was only hitting .056 in his first 18 at-bats, but he is a serious upgrade over Nick Green in every element of the game. The Sox better be praying to the baseball gods that either Lowrie can come back sooner than he thinks, or that Lugo can stay healthy and regain some of his old form.

The Sox seem to be doing fine without Lowrie so far. They've won three in a row to improve to 5-6. But the shortstop problem could hang the team out to dry in their spiffy new hanging Sox uniforms over the course of the season.

Ben Olsen: Heart of a Lion

2009-04-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know much about D.C. United veteran midfielder Ben Olsen (and let's face it, I assume that's all of you), I would like to give you a history of the player's career. After playing at Virginia from 1995-1997 (and being named by Soccer America Magazine the national player of the year), Olsen joined D.C. United as a speedy outside midfielder, racking up four goals and eight assists en route to winning 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year honors.

Those numbers rose to five goals and 11 assists during his sophomore campaign with United, and Olsen topped the year off by winning the MLS Cup MVP after scoring the second goal in D.C.'s 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. With former D.C. United and Virginia coach Bruce Arena taking over the U.S. National Team, Olsen became a prominent player for the red-white-and-blue as well. Simply put, Olsen was as promising a young American soccer prospect as there was at the time.

In 2000, however, Olsen suffered a major ankle injury in a collision with Chicago Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton and missed much of the season. After recovering, however, Olsen was loaned to England First Division side Nottingham Forest and immediately impressed. The side was ready to offer MLS a transfer fee for Olsen's permanent rights before the young midfielder suffered another devastating ankle injury.

Over the course of the entire 2001 and 2002 MLS seasons, Olsen started a grand total of seven games. He completely fell out of the U.S. National Team picture and watched from home as the Yanks made a Cinderella run to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals without him. On November 17, 2002, in the U.S.'s first game since World Cup, Olsen returned to the national team by getting the start against El Salvador at RFK Stadium. Olsen made his comeback an emphatic one, scoring the game's first goal in an eventual 2-0 U.S. win. In 2003, Olsen continued his career revival, starting 26 games after returning to his right midfield slot.

Olsen, however, missed the 2003 MLS play-offs after yet another ankle injury. Under new United coach Peter Nowak, Olsen was moved from his traditional outside midfield position to a new central midfield slot. Having lost much of the speed that once made him one of the league's fastest players, the move into the middle of the park suited Olsen well. Embracing the role of a hard-nosed, defensive-minded veteran whose scrappy play compensated for a lack of physical prowess (Olsen, aside from having lost his speed to injuries, only stands 5-8), Olsen earned MLS All-Star honors and was a key contributor to a United side that won the 2004 MLS Cup.

Although he was no londer the prolific goal scorer and playmaker that once sprinted up and down the outside of the pitch, Olsen's continued to be one of MLS's best players, even if his contributions didn't show up in the box score.

Despite his play, Olsen was considered a long shot at best to make the World Cup team since he did not play in a single 2006 World Cup qualifier. But the veteran scored twice for the U.S. in the team's warm-up games and, thanks to his versatility and reputation as an extremely positive locker room presence, Olsen earned a presitigious spot on Arena's 23-man roster. After not playing in the first two games in Germany, Olsen came on as a first half sub in the Americans' final game against Ghana. Later on, Olsen would repeatedly cite this as the most proud moment of his career.

In 2007, with Olsen having been free of injury for several years, new United coach Tom Soehn moved him back to his old outside midfield spot and the grizzled veteran responded with the best season of his career. Scoring seven goals (including his first professional hat trick in a 4-2 win over Red Bull New York), tallying seven assists and earning MLS first team honors, Olsen was back to the player he used to be. Playing again for the U.S. at the 2007 Copa America tournament, Olsen was regarded as arguably the Americans' best player.

For a player whose career was so devastated by injuries, who had to go from relying on speed and energy to depending on his soccer IQ, leadership and grit - to see Olsen make the World Cup team and then have that kind of MLS season was one of my most satisfying experiences as a fan.

That off-season, however, saw Olsen's faultly ankles again give him trouble. He publicly contemplated retirement and missed the entire 2008 season, aside from one appearance as a substitute on June 28 in D.C.'s 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. In a game where over 40,000 people packed into RFK Stadium to see David Beckham play, Olsen received the loudest ovation (the Olsen stuff starts at 6:40) upon enterting the match and being handed the captain's armband. The United supporters exuded their appreciation of Olsen, unveiling a banner that read "Ben Olsen: Heart of a Lion."

Olsen has returned to United this season, again moving back to central midfield. Few think Olsen has the fitness to play a full 90 minutes anymore, but on Friday against the New England Revolution, injuries forced United to use all three of its subs and Olsen had no choice but to play the whole game. In the second half, Olsen and Revs midfielder Wells Thompson had confrontation that ended with each player earning a yellow card. With United trailing 1-0 in second-half stoppage time, Olsen leaped over Thompson to head home (goal is just after 3 minute mark of that video) a Jaime Moreno freekick and salvage a 1-1 draw for the home side. After scoring the goal, Olsen gave some choice words to Thompson amid his celebration.

Following the game, Olsen gave this gem to the Washington Post about his feud with Thompson:
"Ah, he's a good kid," the DCU veteran said. "Look, it's New England-D.C. I figured I would try to start a fight to get us moving (laughing). It's a heated game. No hard feelings."

For a bit more about Olsen, check out Mike Wise's fantastic column (and great making the column video)

Damon Airs Out Wang

2009-04-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

You never like to see a team start with infighting this early in the season.

After Chien-Ming Wang (0-3, 34.50) fell apart for the third consecutive start en route to a 22-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians, Johnny Damon had some choice words for the former ace. "He's making it real tough on our bullpen right now. We have to count on guys in our 'pen to go seven or eight innings. We have six losses on the year right now, and he's got three of them. In all three of those games, we've been blown out and we've had to go to our bullpen, so maybe our bullpen's not sharp the following days. I don't know what more to say, but hopefully he can figure it out, because it'd be tough to keep on going like this," the outfielder said.

The Yankees are concerned about Wang psychologically right now. His mechanics are clearly off, and his sinker is not the biting pitch that it used to be. It is very alarming considering the fact that an opposing hitter once described hitting Wang's sinker as akin to smacking at the ball with a wet newspaper.

Damon should probably have kept his mouth closed. Nothing he said is inaccurate, but the last thing the Yankees need is for Wang to start feeling like an outcast on the team, or like a burden on his teammates. The guy won 19 games each in 2006 and 2007, years the Yankees were desperately thin in the starting rotation. He didn't mouth off about other pitchers who struggled, and he definitely didn't air out Damon during his forgettable 2007 season. Say what you want to about his current performance, but Wang is a soft-spoken, classy athlete. He doesn't deserve Damon's lacerating comments in a public forum.

Everyone in New York is very aware of Wang's ineffectiveness without Damon pointing them out. Last night at an artsy bar in Brooklyn, it was a recurring topic of conversation around the room. On Twitter, New York celebrities like Artie Lang and Joe Budden were weighing in on Wang's struggles.

The Yankees are talking about skipping Wang's next start, in Fenway Park, where he has struggled in his career. They have a day off before then, so it would not affect the other pitchers' rest. But what will likely need to happen if Wang doesn't pitch a gem in his next outing is a AAA assignment. Phil Hughes (2-0, 2.31) is off to a hot start with the 10-0 Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees, and Wang clearly needs to make some adjustments.

It would be a real shame if he really has lost his touch. Watching him pitch at the height of his game is a joy. No one hits the ball out of the infield. He is a master of inducing weak contact. No one expected this.

BL finally picks up a BS

2009-04-19T06:53:00.001-07:00

Brad Lidge blew a save for the first time as a Phillie last night, allowing four runs to the Padres to turn a 5-4 ninth-inning lead into an 8-5 loss.

Lidge had converted 47 consecutive save opportunities dating back to 2007--and also went 7-for-7 during the Phils' 2008 postseason run--but Lidge allowed a lead-off double to Jody Gerut who later scored on an RBI groundout, then allowed two two-out walks before leaving a fastball up to Kevin Kouzmanoff who hit a three-run home run.

Despite the performance, the crowd at Citizens Bank Park gave Lidge a loud ovation after manager Charlie Manuel took Lidge out after the home run. Whatever the public perception is about Phillies fans, you probably wouldn't see that in too many other ballparks.

It was certainly an unfortunate performance, but not something that you didn't really see coming. Lidge has looked solid but not untouchable in his first several appearances this season, and it seemed inevitable that an opponent was going to catch up with him eventually.

It's not helping that the Phillies have now lost three games in a row, and the bullpen has looked terrible in all three losses. But it's better that this is happening in April rather than in September. Just ask the New York Mets.

I'd certainly rather see Lidge blow a one-run lead in Game 2 against the Padres than have seen him blow a one-run lead in Game 5 against the Rays.

The key here is to see how Lidge responds to this.

It took him about two years to get over the monstrous home run he gave up to Albert Pujols in the 2005 NLCS, and if he blows a couple more saves here the fans won't be clapping for much longer.

Lidge still has nasty stuff, and nobody's perfect forever. But as the Phillies have now fallen 5.5 games behind the red-hot Florida Marlins, Lidge and the rest of the bullpen is going to have to pick it up for the Phillies to stay close.

IN OTHER NEWS: The ceremony honoring Harry Kalas on Saturday morning looked like a really nice event. It was touching to see all the players walk by and touch the casket as it sat behind home plate.

With Nady Injured, Yanks' Overstock Turns Precarious

2009-04-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

Now that Xavier Nady is likely out for the season, the Nick Swisher addition seems providential despite the Mark Teixeira signing. Besides the fact that Swish has been mashing [and pitching scoreless relief], how happy must Brian Cashman be that he does not need to start Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner for the remainder of the year?

An outfield of Johnny Damon, Cabrera and Gardner could have been one of the least productive Yankees' outfields since the dead ball era. And to the fans: don't even mention Hideki Matsui as an outfield solution. He is clearly not right, and I am relatively sure that he can not play the outfield regularly ever again.

Swisher now becomes a very important cog in that lineup. His attitude has been good for the Yankees so far. They desperately needed to be loosened up, and if there is any chance that Swisher can contribute at the level of his potential, the trade that sent Wilson Betemit to Chicago looks like a steal.

Austin Jackson is apparently on a tear in AAA, and thanks to Swisher, he will likely get the full year to develop. As the Yankees' heir apparent in center field, this can mean nothing but good things for the organization. Thankfully, they will not need to rush him because they accumulated some depth. This injury could have cost them the season in a parallel universe. But the peace in Yankeeland is precarious. An injury to Damon or Matsui could seriously hinder their ability to produce on offense.

New Yankee Stadium Allays my Fears

2009-04-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

Watching the New York Yankees get pounded 10-2 by the Cleveland Indians at the New Yankee Stadium was tough to swallow. I was relieved that the Yankees picked up the first strikeout [C.C. Sabathia on Victor Martinez in the 1st inning], first hit [Johnny Damon single in the bottom of the frame], and first home run [Jorge Posada, who deserves it as much as Derek Jeter did], but it was definitely disappointing that Sabathia didn't pick up the win. The bullpen is becoming a concern for the Yankees, but I am not here to talk baseball.

During the YES Network telecast [thank you MLB.TV] I got to see a lot of the different parts of the ballpark for the first time. The biggest concern that I, and probably most Yankees fans, had about the new ballpark is that it would leave behind the sense of history that I became so accustomed to feeling the second I entered the old building. Monument park is still out there. There are 2,000 or so photos from the New York Daily News archives sprayed around the park, representing every era of Yankees greatness. In the bar in center field, giant baseball cards of all the great Yankees adorn the ceiling. Throughout the Great Hall, banners of the same titans rest high on the wall [including one for Paul O'Neill, which is awesome]. Monument Park even looks about the same out there. The famous Yankee Stadium facade now rings the back of the park, like in the pre-renovation days.

And then there are the modern amenities. High-definition big-screen TVs are everywhere. The jumbotron is one of the most impressive and terrifying creations made thus far by man [excluding nuclear weapons]. No one should see Derek Jeter's pores that clearly. But I kid. It is an awesome, impressive stadium, and I no longer feel like my youth was snatched away from me by corporate greed [though it was].

All in all, the place holds onto more than enough of the past to feel like home, and the modern amenities are breathtaking. It is a crown jewel for the organization, and I can't wait to get out there and see it myself [I have tickets for a game in June]. Unfortunately, the place seems to be cursed, because the Yankees have never won a regular season game there [sike, I'm not one of those fans].

NBA SPECIAL EDITION: Roses For Portland

2009-04-15T21:58:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do, don't listen to NBA "analysts" on ESPN who think they know basketball. Trust me, instead. I'm unemployed.

So from my beggar hat, I pick the lottery winner, and that winner happens to be...

THE PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

That's right, kiddies. Not the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics or Magic. The Blazers.

And I've never supported them before this year, but here's why the Blazers will be bringing that shiny gold trophy back to the Rose Garden Arena.

The Portland Trailblazers (54-28 on the year) are hot, and they've only been heating up as the season's been coming to a close. This is a good sign for Portland.

Here are some facts that will make you sign up for the Portland bandwagon, when it rolls through College Park this Saturday:

Portland has the most blow-out wins in the NBA this season. They're dangerous. Hot to the touch.
The Rose Garden is LOUD. Oregon arenas and stadiums have a nasty effect on visitors (see: Oregon State vs. No. 1 USC)--just good craftsmanship, is all.
Because of this, Portland has 33 wins out of their 38 games on their home court. Both times they played the Lakers at home, they won.
Rudy Fernandez. The boy wonder set the NBA all-time record for amount of 3-pointers by a rookie in a season. He made 159 3's this year. So you can count on him to make at least 2 from the land down under.
This team's got Mos Depth. Tonight against Denver's Nugnuts (No. 2 seed, btdubs), Portland's bench scored 72 of the game's 104 points. No starter had double figures. Tonight, Portland also had 29 total assists. As Boston showed everyone last year, helpers win championships.
Portland swept the reigning champs of Boston this year (that was with Garnett playing). They lost both games to the Cavs, but you want to know the margin? One game by 6, another by 5 in overtime.
Brandon Roy. Need I say more?

In the first round, Portland opens up against the Houston Rockets. If they use their speed, they can beat chop Yao, arrest Artest, and chew on Wafer. Portland has home-court advantage for this game, which could prove especially useful.

After that, should they get so far as to meet the Lakers, you can expect a great series. While Kobe will play his heart out (he will not be embarrassed again by the Eastern Conference), there's a good chance that Phil Jackson may overlook this team as a legitimate threat. It's always the team you least expect. Well don't forget, Phil, your Lakers got beaten in two very rough and tumultuous games in Portland this year. Portland will want to win as a point of contention. Watch yo'self.

Portland is one of those teams that has the ability, if they play well together, to beat any team in the NBA. They know the Lakers, they've beaten the Celtics, and they've made it close with the Cavs.

Watch out, these Portland stars look to blaze a trail straight to the playoffs. Better hope your team isn't first.

Sorry Houston.

Now to get myself a job...pirates are making a comeback, I hear.

-Dave "Tax Refund" Smith

Suck Meter: April 14

2009-04-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

The year is young on the Beltway but there's some early hope out of Baltimore. And the Nationals are also a team.

Let's take a look at the Suck Meter.Nationals. My preseason underdog has really stepped it up in the first week of the season, going an unprecedented 0-7. With a combination of a nonexistent pitching staff, unfulfilled potential and just a downright lack of talent, the Nats might contend for the worst season in baseball history.

Only one team in the majors has given up more runs than the Nats' 54 (Cleveland, 55. And they have an offense. And they're still 1-6). This is bound to happen when you're airing commercials showcasing a guy getting delirious because of a worthless game where "ace" John Lannan struck out seven Mets last year. This is a franchise grasping at straws. Your current rotation: Lannan, Scott Olsen, Daniel Cabrera, Jordan Zimmermann and a JUGS machine built in 1964 that the Nats stole from a Florida trainers' room. Yuck. At least the ESPN Nationals site has a sense of humor, showcasing the team "Wins Leader" on the right side of the page. Here's a hint: it's a tie!

Here's some breaking, cutting-edge news for you, Blackistone. Hope-of-the-Franchise Lastings Milledge was sent down to the minors a few hours ago. So... so much for that. Is it possible to be eliminated from playoff contention in May? We're about to find out.

The talk is that the Nationals have to draft Steven Strasburg in June, but knowing them, they'll screw that up too. Besides, to say this team is going to use their pick to fill a need is basically a given. Everything on this team is a need. What a failure of a franchise and everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves. Verdict: Last time, I said, "Terrible, but not otherworldly terrible." This time? Otherworldly terrible. 1.

Orioles. This has been a team on a mission, and I've even started tricking myself into thinking that the Orioles might stay relevant all year. Of course, they won't, and they'll have another historically bad August where they go 1-24 or something like that, but for now it's been pretty nice.

The thing is, the Orioles have shown that they at least are smarter than the Mariners, and at best they have a competent offense. Seriously, as time moves on, that Bedard trade is looking smarter and smarter. Pac-Man Jones is your next big thing, and Goofy George Sherrill is locking down games like Mo Rivera. Which is wonderful, because Chris Ray has been an abomination so far.

But how about that offense? Aubrey Huff, Nick Markakis, Pac-Man and Brian Roberts. Those are four legitimate baseball humans. Sidenote on Roberts: I went to the game on Saturday and I was depressed that his at-bat music wasn't "Stanky Legg." I thought that was going to be a given.

But I digress. The lineup is for real, and once Wieters comes up we could see the best offense Baltimore has had in a decade. On top of that, it's been a hot start for the O's, who find themselves behind the Blue Jays somehow for second in the East at 5-2. As I'm typing this, they're in the eighth inning in Texas, tied at 3-3. Certainly not a bad start to the season.

Unfortunately, that offense is going to have to hold up, because we're not going to see too many 3-3 games with this team. Guthrie is a nice player and Uehara has shown that he at least understands how to use his arm to propel a baseball forward, but I can't say that much about anyone else currently on the major league roster. But you never know, maybe if they're hanging around mid-season, one of the big prospects (Tillman, Matusz, etc.) comes up and pitches okay, maybe there's someone out there on the waiver wire (Ben Sheets?), maybe this pitching staff gets patched together.

Oh, wait, Peter Angelos still owns this team. Crap.

But as for right now, this team is relevant. And that's more than I can say for the Nationals. Verdict: This is very close to the best we could possibly hope for as Orioles fans. 7.5.

Nats play as expected

2009-04-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

The Nationals play Monday during the team's home opener was representative of the realistic expectations for this year's squad and led to the team maintaining its season opening winless streak.

In the game, Adam Dunn walked, hit an RBI double and a home run, made a questionable defensive play and struck out in a key situation. This performance just about sums up what Dunn brings to the table. Walks, sure. Power hitting, yep. Lotta K's, oh yeah. Lumbering, insufficient defense, you bet.

Additionally, the Nationals pitching presented no surprises. Starter Daniel Cabrera had a fine outing, but threw a lot of pitches and had to be removed after the fifth inning following three spectacular plays on hard hit line drives. This took the Nats to their bullpen, one of the team's many question marks.

The pen proved to be the team's destruction against the defending champion Phillies. Saul Rivera gave up a three-run home run and a solo shot in the seventh inning, busting a tied game wide open.

The offense while explosive at times thanks to a revamped middle of the order could not keep up with their pitchers' tendencies to give up dingers and their young defense's inclination to make mistakes.

In all, while this team has not yet tallied a win this season. There are reasons for hope. The offense, led by Dunn and shortstop Christian Guzman, kept fighting back after their pitching lost a lead.

Notes: Christian Guzman injured his left hamstring yesterday while rounding first base. He is day-to-day/

Nats fans, including me, experienced long lines for concessions, sparking the ire of many.

Barack Obama broke a long-standing tradition of the President throwing out the first pitch at the D.C. franchise's home opener.

Lastings Milledge was sent down to AAA following his tardiness to a team meeting and a slow start at the plate.

And now for something completely different

2009-04-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Today has been unexpectedly depressing.

As Schimmel pointed out, we lost Harry Kalas. Also passing today were former Detroit Tiger Mark Fidrych and porn legend Marilyn Chambers.

I don't know enough about Fidrych to eulogize him in this space, and Chambers is regrettably beyond the scope of this blog.

Instead, I can only offer a simple photo. I was going to sit on this today, but with the growing sadness I felt moved to liberate this image.

Hopefully it'll bring a smile to your face.

Kenny Albert, lost in mix of fright and awe. Time for a new stylist, Eric.

[via The Sporting Blog]

RIP Harry Kalas

2009-04-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Harry Kalas died today.

The Voice of the Phillies passed out in the press box at Nationals Park hours before the Phillies played the Nationals, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly thereafter.

As strange as it may sound to be so attached to an announcer I never met, this is kind of hard for me to take.

Because other than perhaps my father, nobody is more responsible for my profound love of baseball than Harry the K.

Some of my earliest memories of the sport involve waiting for my dad to get home from work, turning on the old PRISM network and listening to Harry call a few innings before I had to go to bed.

I had his trademark home run call down pat by the time I was five:

"A LONG DRIVE...WATCH THIS BABY...OUTTA HERE!...HOME RUN DARREN DAULTON..."

I wore out my VHS copy of "Whatever it Takes, Dude" the video retrospective of the 1993 season that he narrated, and loved the scene where he sang "High Hopes" with the team in the training room.

After I moved to Connecticut, I'd try to catch the fourth inning of the Phillies game on 1210 WPHT on nights the station was powerful enough, because that was the inning Harry would switch to the radio booth.

More recently, when I watched big games on national networks or on opponent's stations, I'd always have to go and listen to Harry's important, dramatic calls on the internet after the game.

Driving back to school after Game 5 of the World Series last year, I kept thinking how I couldn't wait to listen to Harry's call on the Web once I got back.

My dad introduced himself to Harry at one of the World Series games in Tampa last year, and when my dad called me to tell me he saw Harry again the next day--and Harry remembered him--he spoke with the enthusiasm of a starstruck child.

As a coordinating producer on Baseball Tonight, my typically stoic father has spoken to dozens of current and former players, but he never reacted to me like he did when he encountered Harry. "He called me 'MISS-ter. KIM-mel' though," my dad said, imitating Harry's baritone as you always had to when recounting any kind of story about Harry. "But I didn't even bother to correct him."

Sports fans across the country were probably more familiar with Harry as the voice of NFL Films or from his Chunky Soup Commercials. His voice was distinctive enough that I'm sure you knew it even if you didn't know it was Harry.

But Harry Kalas belonged to Philadelphia.

He was a constant figure in the Philadelphia sports scene for the past 38 years. You don't last 38 years in the most passionate, unforgiving city in the country unless you really bring something special.

And you don't last 38 years in Philadelphia without becoming a part of the fabric of the city.

Harry called all 548 of Mike Schmidt's home runs, the Phillies' last four National League Championships, and the entire 2008 World Series run in his last full season.

When national broadcast rights prohibited him from calling the Phillies' first World Series title in 1980, the resulting public outcry led to a revision of the rights to allow for local radio broadcasts the following year. He was that good.

It may sound cliche, but without Harry Kalas, watching a Phillies game will truly never be the same.

You're 'Outta Here,' Harry. Rest in peace.

Eastern Conference and the Electric Mayhem

2009-04-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone's had an eccentric Easter and a passé Passover! I know I have.

To celebrate the final day of the Masters, I watched basketball!

We're getting near the playoffs folks, and while No. 1 and No. 2 in the East are locked, loaded, and ready to play (so there was nothing tremendous on the line), LeBron didn't get the memo. I swear, I'm gonna fire my memo guy. I'm pretty sure no one's getting my hundreds of memos.

LeBron's well-defined Calves faced off against Paul "Simon" Pierce, Ray "Garfunkel" Allen, and Rajon "Cajon" Rondo in Cleveland. Both Boston and Cleveland had their respective winning streaks--congratulations, gentlemen--and they hoped to use this game to build some steam before diving headfirst into the long, twisty, dark waterslide known as the NBA Playoffs.

So while the game would seem like another great game between the two titans of the East, LeBron literally force-fed each of the Celtics until they puked. I know I almost did. The score after the first quarter was 31-9. Boston was so manhandled that Samuel Adams felt it, right before he rolled over in his grave, reached into his mini cooler and popped open another cold one. (Wouldn't it be weird if Samuel Adams drank Coors? I think imagining him still alive in his grave is probably weirder.)

Like I said in my last post: No Garnett + No Powe = No Eastern Playoffs Championship = No Awesome Christmas Party at Danny Ainge's House Next Year. The best thing about the Celtics is that Marbury--like I mentioned in a previous blog post--has stepped up like I told him to. At least one guy gets my memos. But that's the bottom line of that. Moving on!

Is anyone paying attention to Dwayne Wade? This guy is the Rodney Dangerfield of basketball. Lovable, but still gets no respect.

In an attempt to wrangle some respect, he put up 55 points on the Knicks. While the Quest hasn't been the greatest of teams this year, this was the same Knick team that just took out the Orlando Magic on their home court, so they ain't just whistlin' dixie.

Dwayne "The Rock" Wade had 55 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and a block, but you know what? He'd probably average a triple double like LeBron if he had anybody to pass to. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Wade won't win the MVP race over LeBron, but he better get second place among voters, cause DAMN.

While this isn't what I should be talking about, just one note about the Masters. Angel's win is great, but this is his second major he's won because the leader blew it. Again, don't get me wrong, props to Angel, but it's terrible that Perry blew it, especially since he had so many chances to redeem himself.

-Dave Smith, "The Jewish Jay-Z"

An up-and-down first week.

2009-04-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

The first week of the Phillies' season is in the books, and despite terrible starting pitching and falling behind in all six of their games, the Phils' head to Nationals Park tomorrow with a satisfactory 3-3 record.

In honor of arguably my favorite talk show on WMUC, I'm going to put together a "Rose-Bud-Thorn" for the first week of the season. Here's two things I liked, two things I didn't like and two things I'm looking forward to about the Phils.

Rose: The bullpen. The Phils' starters have been terrible (see below), but the pen has kept the team in games so far. In 24 innings pitched, eight relievers have combined to allow just seven earned runs. Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, Jack Taschner and Scott Eyre have combined to pitch 10.2 innings WITHOUT ALLOWING A BASERUNNER. That's more than perfect game for those guys. Brad Lidge is 2 for 2 in save opportunities, and Madson especially has shown tremendous stuff in the eighth inning. I'd take Lidge and Madson over Rodriguez and Putz right now and I don't care what you have to say about that.

Rose: Chase Utley. It wasn't clear whether the stud second baseman would even be ready to start the season after offseason hip surgery, but clearly he's good to go. Utley hit .476 in the first six games, and hit the game-tying home run in the 8th inning of the Phils' win over the Rockies today. He also made at least one diving play that I can remember on a ground ball up the middle, so clearly he is not limited by his injury.

Thorn: The starting rotation. Each of the Phillies starters has been pretty terrible, except arguably Brett Myers who settled down after his first two innings in the season opener and pitched a decent game in his first win of the year Saturday night. Collectively though, the Phils' starters are 1-3 with an 8.41 ERA the first time through the rotation plus a second start by Myers. Chan Ho Park sucked today in his first start, giving up five runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings. Joe Blanton gave up seven runs on nine hits on Wednesday, and Cole Hamels gave up seven runs on 11 hits on Friday. There have been no quality starts through the first six games, and only Myers has made it into the sixth inning. The offense and bullpen can only bail the club out for so long.

Thorn: Jimmy Rollins. The 2007 MVP is off to a terrible start, and is in one of those stretches where he just looks uncomfortable at the plate. This happens to him from time to time, and you usually just have to wait it out. When he's not going well he often chases pitches out of the zone and that's what he's doing now. Rollins is hitting 3-for-28 (.107) right now. One just needs to appreciate his defense until he snaps out of it.

Bud: The Hamels situation. The 2008 World Series MVP was terrible in his first start on Friday, and his stuff wasn't nearly where it was at the end of last season. His command was spotty, and his fastball, which usually sits in the low 90s, was stuck around 86 or 87. It's possible he just isn't up to speed yet after missing time in spring training with elbow stiffness, and hopefully that's the case as opposed to a more serious injury. Our esteemed colleague Eric Detweiler seems to think the Phils should send Hamels to the DL to make sure he is fully healthy, but I'm not ready to believe in that yet. Hamels has maintained he is OK, and hopefully he'll work his way into form soon enough. The Phils are going to need him to pitch well if they are going to compete this season.

Bud: The Phils in DC this week. I'll be at the ballpark for some Phillies-Nationals action Monday and probably either Wednesday or Thursday as well, and Barack Obama is scheduled to throw out the first pitch Monday afternoon. Nationals President Stan Kasten invited Phillies fans to invade the ballpark , so I don't want to let him down. The Nats have looked good so far by the way. Almost got that first win today.

Swisher Making his Case for Playing Time

2009-04-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Yankees fans are breathing a lot easier after C.C. Sabathia's second start. The lefty went 7.2 strong innings, allowing no runs, six hits, no walks and six strikeouts against the Kanssas City Royals yesterday afternoon.

Sabathia was supported by Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher, who knocked in three runs apiece in the Yankees' 6-1 victory. Swisher connected on his second home run of the season, and added a triple. Swisher is stealing the show among the Yankees' new acquisitions so far, and is making a serious case to be a regular starter.

Through 13 at-bats, Swisher has seven hits, including six for extra bases, and nine RBI. His slugging percentage is a robust 1.385 thus far. He has also drawn three walks, pushing his on-base percentage to .625. If the Nick Swisher of old has come to play for the Yankees, Xavier Nady could find himself in a new uniform before long. His contract expires following the season, and the Yankees apparently think that his agent, Scott Boras, is going to demand too much money for Nady's worth, which is diminished by his low on-base percentage.

As much as I have campaigned for Nady, I also recognize that Swisher had an extraordinarily unlucky season last year. His batting average on balls in play (BABIP) was .248, which was the fourth lowest in the pros. That is not characteristic for someone who hits the ball as hard as Swisher does, and at his best levels, he is a far superior offensive player to Nady. If Swisher continues to play like his old self, it might be time to check the phones and see what the Yankees can get for a season of Nady.

A Little Recession Recreation

2009-04-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

Watching sports is a great way to escape the troubles of everyday life. That's why although times are tough economically across the nation, pro sports leagues have not suffered too terribly. (They've taken a hit to be sure, but overall attendance numbers remain strong for the biggest entities.)

However, playing sports can be an even greater release. This idea was brought up in a recent New York Times article about "Recession Soccer" in Hoboken, N.J.

Basically, a laid-off transportation engineer decided that with so many people out of work right now, they might want to get together regularly. He started the meetings in the winter, and it has taken off with an ever-increasing attendance at the Friday afternoon sessions in Frank Sinatra Park.

“I knew there had to be other people who needed to take a break from looking at Monster.com and sending out résumés," the event's creator, Ian Sacs, told the paper.

The economy is in a recession. Unemployment is at a 25-year high. And there doesn't seem to be a clear end in sight to the problems.

The article mentions that most of the players in these particular games are young and without children, making them better prepared to survive the economic turmoil for the time being. Others may not have the time to take a break from the job hunt.

A future employer may not care how good your foot skills are or what you were thinking when you buried a clutch jumper yesterday, but sports can offer a psychological confidence boost to the recently-unemployed.

I have a feeling that this practice is more wide-spread than just this New York City suburb. It's tough to think about it, but it's refreshing these all-too-similar people can find a silver lining in their troubles. When times are tough, it's nice to have something familiar to fall back on.

For some, that means watching the Lakers on TV or scalping a cheap Orioles ticket. For others, it's the chance to get out on the field and blow off a little steam in some friendly competition.

And if you have to wait a little longer to get on the basketball court at your local park these days, blame the economy.

Goodbye Nick Adenhart

2009-04-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

I remember reading a Bill Simmons article that discussed the quirkiness of the conversations held by announcers during baseball games.

His thesis, as best I remember, was basically to point out that the conversation is always oddly interrupted by the flow of the game. Balls and strikes, batted balls, etc.

It creates an odd flow — an anti-flow really — that is unique to baseball. I thought of that when I read this transcription from former deadspin editor Will Leitch.

It's the Dodger's Vin Scully on Adenhardt.

And if there is one thing I’ve learned in all my years — and I haven’t learned much — but the one thing I’ve learned: Don’t even waste your time trying to figure out life.
Ground ball through for Andre Ethier, and life continues for those who still have it. And with a leadoff single, Russell Martin will be coming up.
But I would say, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a moment and say a prayer in memory for Nick, especially for his parents. What a shock to lose a twenty-two-year-old.
Andre Ethier at first base, Russell Martin the batter, James Loney on deck, and the Dodgers try to strike in the second inning against Kevin Correia.

Leitch calls it simple baseball poetry. But it seems inappropriate to me.

Or maybe the line, "Groundball through for Andre Ethier, and life continues for those who still have it," just seems a little callous.

What do you guys think?

Adenhart's Death a Shocker

2009-04-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

I just heard during the O's/Yankees game that Nick Adenhart, a rookie starter for the Los Angeles Angels has been killed in a car crash. The story is up on ESPN.com. What a horrible, horrible story.

The kid was one of the finest pitching prospects in baseball. I was excited to see what he was going to do in the Angels' rotation this year. But this story is way more important than the baseball side. It hurts to see someone my age (I was also born in 1986) rise so high and see them get it all senselessly torn away because some jerk in a hurry couldn't be bothered to drive safely.

This type of thing happens every day. People are so selfish, so caught up in their own personal zone, that they never think of the consequences. The other day, I was on my way out of the Metro on a long escalator. I was on crutches with a broken ankle, and some idiot businessman almost knocked me down face first so that he could get to the top 10 seconds quicker. He wasn't even running to catch a train. He just couldn't wait five extra seconds or maybe even slow down when he was trying to pass the guy on crutches, perched precariously on a step. Are people really that egotistical? Why do we allow others to have that kind of attitude and be self righteous about it?

There are tens of thousands of deaths on the roads every year. A good portion of them may be unavoidable. Machines fail. Vehicles have blind spots. Lighting isn't always perfect. And sometimes the roads are very chaotic and too many people move at the same time in a tightly-packed area. But another large portion is made up of people behaving selfishly who endanger others' lives for the hope of getting to the movie theater five seconds earlier. Drive safely, for the sake of society. This is real life. A wonderful 22-year-old talent just got stolen from baseball, and a 22-year-old man with his priorities straight just got taken from a family. Let's at least examine the part of this story that our culture is responsible for and address it.

Celtics Need Luck Of The Irish In Playoffs

2009-04-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

I'm a Celtic fan.

One summer at camp, I remember playing an ice breaker with our basketball counselor. Say your name, where you're from, and your favorite basketball player.

"My name's Matt, I'm from Dobbs Ferry, NY, and my favorite player's Michael Jordan."
"My name's Alex, I'm from Westchester, NY, and my favorite player's Michael Jordan."
"My name's Dave, I'm from West Hartford, CT, and my favorite player's Paul Pierce."
"Who?"
"He plays for the Celtics. He's really good."

I was a smart little squirt. No one knew Pierce's name, and those who knew it dismissed it until last year, when Garnett, Allen, Posey and Rondo helped the Celtics win a championship, and end a decade of Celtic despair.

One year later, the Celtics must share their dominance with the Magic and the Cavs, but they've had to face more challenges than these two other games.

Sure, the Magic lost Jameer Nelson, arguably one of the country's best point guards, but at least they didn't lose Howard, the heart and soul of the team. This is the very role player that the Celtics lost in Kevin Garnett.

For awhile, it looked like the Celtics would be okay. Earlier this year, they played one day when Garnett had a bad flu and spread 20-point buttah on the opposition's bread. But that was a short leave for Garnett.

Now, we finally get to see what happens to the Celtics over months without their power player. They struggle against teams they used to blow out. It's not Garnett's play; Garnett averaged about 15 and 8, which isn't that important. But it was his presence. His energy. That's what plugged the Celtics into the NBA Finals.

But lately, every game is a struggle. A gauntlet to get through to the playoffs when their franchise player will return. I gotta admit, it's not like the team has become less entertaining. It's always fun to see which of the Different 3 will step up. Ray Allen one night, Glen Davis' bandaid another night, Rajon Rondo tonight.

But can they win a 7-game series against these East teams that will push them around without inside presence from Garnett, or even Powe? It's a troubling question for a Celtics fan like me. They'll need to reach deep to get that Pot o' Gold at the end of this playoffs rainbow. While three have stepped up, they need that extra person. If they only got someone in free agency...

...OH WAIT. THEY DID.

Maybe it's time that Stephon Marbury stepped his game up, and proved why he was the big deal he was this past year.

And if Marbury fails in that department, we've always got our man Pierce.

-Dave "Ladykiller, but I'm no Tom Hanks" Smith

In which The Daily Tar Heel documents hooliganism

2009-04-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Dan Groot is a midfielder for the Terrapin men's lacrosse team. For some reason, despite his Upstate New York origins, he is a Tar Heels basketball fan.

After Carolina cut down the nets Monday in Detroit, Groot said he wished he could celebrate on Franklin Street.

Unfortunately, Groot has a busy week getting ready for a weekend date with Johns Hopkins. But thanks to The Daily Tar Heel, he can watch the rumpus from the comfort of home.

Franklin Street: The Celebration from The Daily Tar Heel on Vimeo.

Almost as fun, and no fear of rubber bullets. Phew.

But the real reason I point this out is that The Daily Tar Heel seized a unique opportunity with this video. It's exactly the type of content that thrives on the web.

In the olden days, you could read a story about the celebration on Franklin Street, sure. Here we get to see it with our own eyes.

It's a really cool thing. It's the future. And it's comforting to see that at least these college kids get it.

Around the AL East 4/8/09

2009-04-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

All five AL East teams were active for the first time today. Here is a look around the league at the results.

New York Yankees (0-1) at Baltimore Orioles (1-0)
Final: Orioles 7, Yankees 5

BALTIMORE:

Looking Sharp
Nick Markakis, OF. He is very hot starting off the year. He followed up a solid performance on opening day with a 3-for-3 to improve his batting average to .714 through two games. He hit his first home run of the season off Chien-Ming Wang and knocked in three to increase his season total to five RBIs. He will play the entire season at age 25, and still has a couple of years before he hits the typical peak seasons. He is going to be very, very scary for a long time. This year, expect him to take a step forward after a slight step back last year.

Adam Jones, OF. Jones didn't manage to draw any walks today after a surprisingly patient effort yesterday, but he did go 1-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly. He also knocked in his third run and scored for the fourth time so far. At age 23, it's hard to say what he is going to do this season, but the kid is a 5-tool talent. If Felix Pie is able to channel some of his skill, the Orioles will have one of the best outfields in baseball for the better part of a decade. Thank Erik Bedard for his one dominant season if you're an O's fan. Seattle gave up a lot for what Bedard has produced so far.

Koji Uehara, SP. I didn't know what to expect from Uehara this season. It's always hard to project out players from Japan, but Uehara pitched solidly today. He went five innings, allowing five hits, one walk and a run on the way to his first Major League victory. I see one scary thing in his line though: Uehara got three outs on ground balls, none on strikeouts and 12 on fly balls. According to NPB Tracker, the Japanese baseball blog of record for Americans seeking scouting, the biggest thorn in Uehara's side has been the home run ball throughout his career. If his fly ball rate stays close to what it was tonight, the bandbox that is Camden Yards could exacerbate these problems and give him major headaches as hitters adjust to him.

Also of note: Danys Baez, RP. Baez pitched two perfect innings, striking out one, in relief. Baez threw only 20 pitches over the two frames, 14 of them for strikes. He has always had good stuff, but has yet to really put it together and dominate. This is a good sign for Baltimore.

Off the Mark
Dennis Sarfate, RP. After helping shut down the Yankees' comeback attempt on Opening day, Sarfate imploded in the ninth with the Birds up 7-2. He allowed two runs on a Derek Jeter home run and another on Mark Teixeira's first hit with the Bombers, an RBI double that finished the team's scoring with two outs.

NEW YORK:

Looking Sharp
Derek Jeter, SS. Jeter followed up a three-hit Opening Day effort with another strong performance. Jeter went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base and two RBIs. The Yankees have to be happy to see Jeter off to such a strong start after his struggles last year. Seeing him get on base and swipe bases bodes well for the lineup now that Jeter is the leadoff hitter. The Yanks are clearly trying to avoid station-to-station play.

Robinson Cano, 2B. A day after drawing what could be his only walk of the season, Cano went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a steal. If he can use his speed to swipe some bags, this team will really move with Alex Rodriguez, Jeter, Johnny Damon and Brett Gardner all in possession of some serious wheels. Joe Girardi seems to be sending the runners more, too, as Johnny Damon also picked up a steal today. This goes a long, long way in helping the Yankees rely less on the home run now that steroids aren't an option...

Edwar Ramirez, Jonathan Albaladejo, Jose Veras, RPs. These three stepped in and were very strong in relieving Chien-Ming Wang after only 3.2 innings. They combined for 4.1 hitless innings, but allowed three walks. Ramirez went 1.1 innings, walking two and striking out one. His control was poor, throwing only 12 of his 26 pitches for strikes, but he managed to get people out. He has one of the better changeups in the game. Albaladejo pitched two, walking one on only 21 pitches. He has allowed three baserunners over 3.1 scoreless innings so far. He can make a good Yankees bullpen even better. Veras pitched a perfect eighth, striking out one batter while throwing eight of 11 pitches for strikes. I have a strong feeling that Veras will replace Brian Bruney in the eighth inning role at some point this season.

Also of Note: Jorge Posada, C. Posada went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored today, continuing to show extra base power in his surgically repaired shoulder. More importantly, he threw out Brian Roberts stealing for the second consecutive game. The Yankees win at least five more games this season with a healthy Posada.

Off the Mark
Chien-Ming Wang, SP. I didn't think it was possible, but Wang managed to outstink C.C. Sabathia's start today. He lasted only 3.2 innings, but allowed nine hits [including five for extra bases], seven runs and three walks while striking out nobody. He got six groundouts and only three flyouts, which is good, but you expect better results from a guy with such a dominant sinker. The extra base hits are very perplexing, and have to make you wonder how he is feeling on the mound coming off of his injury last season. I expect the Yankees pitchers will be very happy to leave Camden Yards this weekend. It hasn't treated them well so far.

Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at Boston Red Sox (1-0)
Final: Rays 7, Red Sox 2

TAMPA BAY:

Looking Sharp
Evan Longoria, 3B. Longoria went 2-for-5 with a solo home run off of Takashi Saito and a double off Jon Lester. Seeing the kid mash against a quality lefty like Lester has to make Rays' fans feel confident that there won't be a sophomore slump. He is a very important piece of the offense because he is the righty complement to their two best hitters, lefties Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena. Pat Burrell eases the load against lefties somewhat, but there is no question that despite Burrell's formidable pop, this kid is their premier right-handed hitter.

Carl Crawford, OF. Check that whole bit about the Rays needing Longoria to hit the tough lefties. Crawford went 3-for-5 with an RBI today, picking up two hits off Lester and one off of fellow lefty Javier Lopez. His awesome speed was a factor, allowing him to pick up two infield hits. He is just such a complete hitter. Even if you manage to overpower him, there is no guarantee you are going to get him out.

Scott Kazmir, SP. Kazmir outdueled one of the better pitchers in baseball today in Lester. His final line: six innings, five hits, one earned run, three walks, four strikeouts. You would like to see Kazmir walk less batters, but he threw 68 of his 111 pitches for strikes. That isn't too bad, and the Red Sox are a tough offensive team. The Rays will take six innings of one run ball against them any day. When David Price finally joins this rotation of Matt Garza, Kazmir and Shields, the sky is the limit.

Also of Note: Carlos Pena, 1B. Speaking of Crawford's job hitting Lester, Pena's first hit of the season was a two-out, two run blast off of the lefty that sealed his fate in the fifth inning. If the big bopper is healthy all year, this team is even better than last season at another position. Where is the ceiling? Jason Bartlett, SS. The light-hitting shortstop added to the Rays' display today with three hits of his own in five at-bats. He scored once, and knocked a man in. If he hits too, this team is flawless [except the bullpen?].

Off the Mark
Pat Burrell, DH. Burrell went 0-for-3 for the Rays with a walk today. He is 0-for-7 so far on the year and is yet to drive in a run or score one for his new team. I will chalk up his struggles to switching leagues and facing Lester and Josh Beckett as a greeting card. He also doesn't need to hit for a high average. The team got him for his power, so as long as he hits his 30 home runs and knocks in somewhere near 100 runs, the Rays will not complain.

Dioner Navarro, C. Navarro went 0-for-4, and while he isn't the Rays' most important hitter, I do see some warning signs here. Navarro's numbers average jumped from .227 in 388 at-bats in 2007 to .295 in 427 in 2008. The big difference seemed to be a decrease in strikeouts for the 25-year-old catcher. Up until last season, Navarro averaged a strikeout every 5.98 official appearances. Last year, that number dropped to every 8.71 trips to the plate, but his patience apparently got slightly worse. He went from walking every 10.04 at-bats in his prior career to every 12.56 times up. That does not strike me as the kind of numbers a typical .295 hitter puts up, so I would expect a decline here. The three strikeouts in eight at-bats may just be the beginning to a frustrating season for a player with a flawed approach at the plate.

BOSTON:

Looking Sharp
Kevin Youkilis, 1B. Youkilis is one of the toughest competitors in the game, and he's a pretty darn good hitter, too. Today he went 3-for-4. As context, the Red Sox only had eight hits as a team. He picked up one of the team's two RBIs, but that shouldn't surprise anyone. This guy is a machine. On the flipside, he made a costly error today in the field, but I am pretty sure that will not become a trend.

Ramon Ramirez, RP. I think that Ramirez is an underrated commodity with a high upside. He is certainly a nice arm to add to an already-good bullpen. Considering how little the piece (Coco Crisp) the Red Sox had to give up to get him fit with the team, a solid season from Ramirez could be a real coup. He looked sharp today, pitching a perfect inning and striking out a batter while putting 10 of 13 pitches in the zone.

Off the Mark
Jon Lester, RP. The line speaks for itself: five innings, five earned runs, eight hits, two walks and five strikeouts. He got beat up a little today, but he will be fine. The five strikeouts show how tough his stuff is, even when he isn't at his best. He threw 60 of his 94 pitches for strikes, and had only allowed one run when he blew up for four in the fifth. This looks to me like a case of a guy running out of gas early out of spring training.

Mike Lowell, Jed Lowrie, Jason Varitek, 3B, SS, C. The bottom third of the Red Sox order went 0-for-10 today with two strikeouts and six left on base. The three are hitting a combined 3-for-22 over the first two games. Add in Jacoby Ellsbury's 1-for-9 and that is a 4-for-31 start for the seven through one hitters. That is too many automatic outs, and the Sox need at least two of these guys to be productive this year to contend in a tough division.

Toronto Blue Jays (2-0) at Detroit Tigers (0-2)
Final: Tigers 5, Blue Jays 1

TORONTO:

Looking Sharp
Marco Scutaro, SS. Scutaro went 2-for-4 today with a double and the Jays' only run scored. He has always been a pretty strong hitter for a middle infield guy. And with the Aaron Hill/Alex Rios/Vernon Wells/Adam Lind crowd forming in line behind him, a decent season would provide a lot of run scoring opportunities. He could be a sparkplug for that offense.

Off the Mark
Jesse Litsch, SP. Litsch got burned by the longball today, simply put. He gave up two home runs to Miguel Cabrera and one to Brandon Inge over six innings. He allowed five earned runs, walking one and allowing seven hits. He did manage to strike out five batters along the way, and 64 of his 106 pitches were strikes, which is a good sign.

Phillies 12 Braves 11

2009-04-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

Yep.

If you're panicking about the Phillies, you are an idiot.

2009-04-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

Seriously. Everybody needs to calm down.

I'm writing this with the Phils losing 9-3 in the sixth inning of their third game of the season after they dropped their first two, but I'm still not too worried about it.

Message boards and columns are abuzz this week about the honeymoon being over and the Phillies falling back to the pack after their World Series win last season.

Their starters suck, their hitters aren't ready, and it's all going to shambles.

But honestly, it's only been three games, and they haven't even lost this third one yet.

People like to make a big deal about the first games of the season because they've been waiting five months for them. If a couple games like the Phils' first two happened in mid-June, nobody would think twice about it.

But because they scored one run in their first two games, people are getting ready to write the Phillies off because of another bad start.

The thing is, they haven't even played enough games to constitute a "start". If the Phils start the year 12-3, it will turn out to be a very good start.

A couple of stats to keep in mind:

The Phils started the season 4-6 in 2008, and 2-8 in 2007. They ended up winning a World Series and a division title, respectively.

The only defending champion to start a regular season by scoring fewer than one run in its first two games was the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals. They finished 105-49.

Win First, Spend Later

2009-04-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd slide into Greg's territory a little bit with an economy-related note found on phillies.com.

The Phillies' payroll increased 25 percent this season to a franchise-record $132.3 million after winning their first World Series title in 28 years.

This is curious because 14 of the 30 Major League teams' payrolls decreased in the midst of the economic recession. However, this article places the credit for the Phillies ability to spend directly on the fans. Luckily for them, the Philadelphia-area hasn't been hit as hard by the recession as some parts of the country, and season ticket sales spiked nearly 19 percent for the World Champs. Add in increased sponsorship interest and merchandise sales, and the Phillies clearly had some money to play with in the offseason.They didn't just sit on it, either. They signed several of their free-agents-to-be to long-term contracts and brought in free agent outfielder Raul Ibanez (3-years, $31.5 million for the 36-year old).

With some other big-time players forced to take lesser deals this year (ie: new Washington National Adam Dunn), it begs the question if bigger is always better. The article notes that the Phillies will need some of their promising minor leaguers to start producing at the big league level soon to keep their payroll from going out of control. Without a salary cap in baseball, the economics of the sport will never truly make sense, but you wonder if other clubs are saying, "If we had only won the World Series, we might've been able to afford to overpay an aging outfielder." (For the record, according to USA Today's salary database, World Series runner-up Tampa Bay's payroll spiked nearly $20 million this year with its median salary jumping more than $800,00.)

Baseball seems to still be going relatively strong. (Monday's Orioles' Opening Day that I attended set a record for Opening Day attendance at Camden Yards.) But there's no doubt players who are free agents to be this offseason will be pushing harder than ever to have the career year that will land them a big contract when there might be fewer big contracts to go around. The Yankees, whose payroll actually went down $8 million this year despite committing more than $400 million to free agents, made their free agent spending binge to coincide with the opening of their new ballpark, so next year's free agents won't be able to fall back on them, either.

But in this economic era of uncertainty, the message right now to Major League teams is clear: Winning cures all woes.

Finding the Silver Lining in Yanks' Opening Day Loss

2009-04-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Baltimore Orioles hammered the New York Yankees and C.C. Sabathia on Opening Day to the tune of a 10-5 defeat. Not much needs to be said about the game as a whole from the Yankees side. It was a sloppy performance from nearly every pitcher who hit the mound. But some good things happened for both ballclubs on the field that could prove interesting for both teams' chances this season. Some other scary developments appeared for both sides, as well. Let's start with the Orioles.

Baltimore Orioles
GOOD SIGNS:

1) Adam Jones, OF. Jones is an incredible talent. He is a true five-tool prototype outfielder, but he is very young and people still question his ability to be patient at the plate. Yesterday he drew two walks in the process of reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. That may not sound like a big deal, but the kid only walked 23 times while logging 477 official at-bats last season. His selectiveness clearly paid off as he picked up three hits and knocked home two runs.

2) Nick Markakis, OF. Markakis is establishing himself as one of the premier outfielders in Major League Baseball. Not too much needs to be fixed about this guy's game, but he still is probably reaching his potential. A 2-for-4 performance with a couple of RBIs in the opener doesn't hurt.

3) Dennis Sarfate, Jim Johnson, George Sherrill, RPs. These three guys really put out the fire when the Yankees were making a comeback. The Yanks were down 6-1 after the fifth, but they struck back for two runs in each of the next two innings to make it a one-run game. Once Sarfate entered the game with one out in the seventh, it was lights out for the New York offense. They combined for 2.2 innings, one hit, two walks, one strikeout and most importantly, no runs to close the game out.

4) Cesar Izturis, SS. Izturis is a defensive whiz at the 6 position. He made a play in this game that changed the momentum. With the Orioles up 6-1 in the sixth, Jorge Posada homered, Robinson Cano walked, and Xavier Nady hit an RBI double. After two outs were recorded, Derek Jeter hit a ground ball up the middle that seemed destined for the outfield and an RBI. Izturis managed to stop the ball, and gun down Nady who had rounded third base too hard, assuming the ball would go through. Izturis proceeded to hit a two-run home run off of lefty Phil Coke to expand the lead to 8-5 in the four-run Baltimore eighth. Not bad for a guy who hit one home run last year. He also had a single in the third and scored a run.

5) Brian Roberts, 2B. Roberts is heading toward the end of his peak years, but Baltimore decided to keep him in the offseason. There was one moment in the offseason when a rumored Roberts-for-Gavin Floyd deal popped up, and I vociferously called for the O's to make the trade. Roberts went 3-for-4 with two runs, a walk and a double. If he has some superstar gas left in the tank, this group of kids that Baltimore is assembling could turn out to be impressive.

BAD SIGNS:

1) Jeremy Guthrie, SP. Though Guthrie cruised through the first five innings, he clearly ran out of gas in the sixth, when he gave up two runs before recording an out, and was saved from another by the aforementioned Izturis play. I wouldn't worry too much if I were a Baltimore fan, but they really need innings out of him this season if the bullpen is going to have a chance to gel and rest. I'd probably chalk it up to an early season adjustment that needs to be made.

2) Chris Ray, RP. Ray could turn the O's bullpen from a midlevel group to a plus group if he exhibits the kind of stuff he had as the team's closer. Yesterday, he gave up a two-run bomb to Hideki Matsui that pulled the Bombers within one. Not what the O's are hoping for from him in a close game.

3) Team performance. The Orioles basically blew a 6-1 lead, and could have easily lost last night's game despite a bad start from the opposing pitcher and a pretty good one from their own. Teams have to intimidate their opponents when they have a large lead. The Yankees clearly never felt out of the ballgame until Izturis' bomb. Holding leads is a big key for this team, especially considering the state of the pitching staff.

New York Yankees
GOOD SIGNS:

1) Brett Gardner, OF. Gardner went 1-for-3 yesterday, which isn't overwhelming, but his speed had an impact. He nearly beat out a bunt, something I anticipate him doing a lot this year. He also succesfully sacrificed over some baserunners, executed a hit-and-run with Derek Jeter and threw out a runner at home plate. The Yankees could definitely use an intangibles guy, and the speedy little rookie looked the part yesterday.

2) Johnny Damon, OF. Damon went 2-for-3 yesterday with a triple. His slugging in that 2-hole could prove a real strength. With Jeter and Gardner ahead of him, he could be a serious X-factor in this lineup's production.

3) Derek Jeter, SS. If there is any need for an indicator of this player's importance to this team, just look at last season. Jeter slumps, the Yankees miss the postseason for the first time since he was called up late in 1995. The new leadoff hitter went 3-for-5 yesterday, and looked comfortable at the top of the order. The aforementioned hit-and-run with Gardner highlights a new solution for Jeter's propensity to hit into double plays. This section of the offense strikes me as potentially really good. Teixeira and A-Roid should have a lot of good chances.

4) Jorge Posada, C. Posada went 1-for-3 with a walk and a mammoth home run off of Jeremy Guthrie last night. With his injured shoulder last season he displayed almost no power. Seeing him comfortably cream a pitch off of a good pitcher yesterday made my little heart pitter-patter. Posada also gunned down the speedy Brian Roberts on a steal attempt yesterday, eliciting similar feelings of elation throughout New York. He also apparently made a good throw on Cesar Izturis' stolen base, despite C.C. Sabathia's notoriously slow time to home plate. What I said about Jeter's importance to the Yankees applies doubly to Posada because of the weak position that he plays and the fire he brings to the team.

5) Hideki Matsui, OF. Matsui only went 1-for-5 yesterday, which is not good. But he also hit a home run off of Chris Ray. Now that he is unfit to play the field, a lot relies on his ability to drive the ball and back up the two big boppers in the Yankees' lineup. He is a huge question mark because of the knee injuries he has sustained over the last couple of seasons, so seeing him hit a ball out is a very good sign for the Bombers.

Honorable Mention: Robinson Cano, 2B. Cano went 1-for-3 yesterday, but drew a walk. His batting average has dipped precipitously over the last 2 seasons, and the obvious reason is his lack of patience. If he can work the count, he could play a huge role on this team, because he sure can hit when he doesn't get himself out.

BAD SIGNS:

1) C.C. Sabathia, P. I have almost nothing to say about his performance. He struggled to throw strikes with his fastball and his breaking ball. He walked five batters, including one with the bases loaded, in 4.1 innings while allowing eight hits. He didn't strike anyone out. He looked uncomfortable in his mechanics and failed to bend his back on his release. It was just ugly. He has a reputation of blowing up in the playoffs, and I am officially concerned about his mental toughness. He can shut me up by dominating over his next several starts.

2) Mark Teixeira, 1B. 0-for-4 with a walk. The patience is nice, but without Alex Rodriguez for a month, the Yanks need Teixeira to not leave five runners on base. He needs to carry the load, and he looked uncomfortable yesterday. I am nowhere near as concerned about him, however, because I like his mentality and Atlanta and the Los Angeles Angels both relied on him down pennant runs before.

3) Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, RP. These two blew up in the eighth inning to squash a Yankee comeback. Coke was dominant last September and this spring. It was his second inning of work when Cesar Izturis took him deep, but that home run is simply unacceptable. The guy has no power, and it was a tight situation. Such things happen though, and I think the kid has a high ceiling. Final line: 1.2 innings, two runs, one walk, two hits, two strikeouts. Bruney, on the other hand, gave up two runs in .1 innings. He looked lost, walking two and giving up a hit. He is supposed to pitch for the Yanks in the eighth inning this year, and he did not look good yesterday. Jose Veras better be ready to step into his role if this continues.

Dunn goes deep, pitching struggles

2009-04-06T15:12:00.001-07:00

So, I'm sitting here watching the Nationals opening day game and already the team's off season moves have made an impact. Down 8-2 to the Marlins in the sixth, Adam Dunn hit a huge three-run home run to pull the team within three. However, the off season trade that sent Emilio Bonifacio and others to the Fish in return for Scott Olsen and Troy Willingham has hurt the Nats on this day as Bonifacio has gone 4-4 with three steals thus far.

Additionally, the Nationals young pitching has had a rocky opening day, with a bottom of the sixth Hanley Ramirez taking the marlins' run total to 12. "Ace" John Lannan only managed to pitch three innings, giving up six runs.

It looks as if the Nats' spring honeymoon of optimism is over, and it ended rather abruptly for me. I returned from coaching baseball to find that my hometown team was already losing by six. As much as this hurt, perhaps worse was hearing the kids talk about the Orioles, the Red Sox, Rays, Michigan State and UNC and not hearing the Nats mentioned once. With this type of performance, they won't be in the future either. Still, it s along season and the games not even over yet. Lets see if Adam has a few more RBIs in his bat.

Can the Spartans save Michigan? Um, no.

2009-04-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

Finally, a beacon of hope in these bleak times.

No, it's not Michigan State. It's Newsday's Arthur Staple, and he's calling out the pandering locals and cheesy carpetbaggers.

Detroit is suffering. But the Spartans run to the final four will not save the motor city from the army of hybrid Toyotas and incompetent CEOs that have besieged the region's economy.

Take it away, Arthur:

It makes for a nice story that Michigan State is winning in this tournament for the downtrodden state of Michigan, which had the highest unemployment rate in the nation, 12 percent, in February.

General Motors has the tallest building in town, and it probably isn't filled with happy employees these days.

But let's not get too sentimental. Izzo makes more than $1.8 million a year -- more than UConn's Jim Calhoun who famously got into it with a muckraker earlier this season regarding his $1.6-million salary, with Connecticut hit hard by the recession. No one's railing against Izzo's salary in the current climate, only praising the Spartans for lifting the spirits, if not the incomes, of the jobless and homeless here.

It's a dangerous story, and a disingenuous one.

I don't know why people write this stuff. Does it make for too good a story? Are they too lazy to find something better? Or worst of all, can they actually believe this nonsense?

Maybe it's a mix of all three. In the meantime, I'll just make sure to wait until 9:21 p.m. to tune into tonight's championship game.

Lord knows what kind of poignant poppycock CBS will pull out for a pre-game puff piece.

Cavs Wipe Away Bad Streak With Teepee Defense

2009-04-05T23:48:00.000-07:00

Approaching this weekend, the Cavs looked like there was some cause for concern. Their usually steely defense was missing, and their offense looked anemic at best. James couldn't spark his team with a million Zippos, and their 13-win flame got extinguished by some rejuvenated Wizards magic. Lookin' good Arenas.

And after a 29-point loss to a different Magic (this time, of the Orlando variety), analysts began to question whether or not the Cavs might face difficulties as the playoffs begin.

I'll be honest. The Cavs look pretty one-dimensional. Lock down perimeter shooting and limit James' offense like the Magic did, and you've got the Cavs spanked like Mrs. Vitale.

Today's game against the Spurs proved why that must be true. The Spurs weren't able to shut down James or any perimeter shooting from Mo "Money, Problems" Williams or Delonte "Kanye, Jerry, Jim" West. The Spurs are a great team, but let's face it, they're far from a real threat. They play like a team made of your dad's friends against you and your friends. They're old guys and they've figured the game out methodically, but they're slow and easy to manipulate. Pit the Cavs against another young team like the Magic, Pacers or Blazers, or even an expert team like the Lakers or Celtics, and watch the Cavs sink like 'NSYNC.

So yeah, they won a game at home. Congratulations, you blew out the Spurs. Yee haw. Now Dad and his friends can go back to San Antonio to sit on the porch for a little while longer and drink some Pabst Blue Ribbons and talk about their medals and their barbers. You may beat out the East--even haters gotta admit that this season is property of LeBron--but as soon as you face the Lakers, don't get too glum when you're out in five, chum. I'm a LeBron fan, but the Cavs don't have what it takes to win it all after the Eastern Conference Final.

LeBron's team has shaped up, but if he doesn't win this year, he's about to ship out. He's so obsessed with Kobe and trying to beat his idol in his own game, I wouldn't be surprised if he moved into a Western Conference team. Maybe the Spurs will relieve some salary cap and suck the youth outta him. Maybe Jerry Sloane will charm him with his Jazz. And yeah, maybe LeBron goes to New York to play at MSG like the showtime man he is.

Or maybe he'll revive the franchise of the man he's been chasing all season, and maybe he'll don the red and black of the Bulls.

That, or he could remain the Cleveland franchise man.

Pffffft.

Sporting Pardise Lost..and Found

2009-04-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

An item popped up on CNN.com on Friday about Hawaii focusing on sports to boost its struggling economy. That caught my attention for a pair of reasons:

A) It has to do with the NFL and the Olympics, two of the world's biggest sporting entities.
B) It deals with sport's place in society.

The main crux of the story is simple. Tourism is far and away Hawaii's most important industry (accounting for between $10-12 billion annually according to the article). Three-quarters of the state's population lives in the town of Honolulu, so the article focuses on recent troubles in that city caused by the decreased tourism.

Honolulu's mayor Mufi Hannemann is taking action by focusing on a pair of initiatives: bringing the NFL Pro Bowl back to the city and actively supporting Chicago as the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The Pro Bowl will be played in Miami in 2010, but the city's tourism authority voted to shell out the $4 million necessary to bring the game, which has sold out Aloha Stadium each year since 1980, back to Hawaii in 2011.

As for Chicago's role in bumping Honolulu's tourism industry? Hanneman believes he can lure international tourists to Hawaii as part of their trips to the States and also provide a haven for athletes to train before heading on to Chicago or relax after their Olympic experience.

It's a novel concept, but some people aren't sold on this sport-centric approach. They say that public money could be best spent elsewhere to bolster the local economy. For example, a new multi-billion dollar city rail transit system could create 9,100 new jobs, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.

Yet for a city to put its fate into sporting institutions, Honolulu could do much worse than the NFL and the Olympics. The city definitely occupies a unique place in the American sporting landscape, and Hanneman says he's supporting these projects to raise the morale of the Honolulu citizens if nothing else.

Plus, the plans seem to make sense, offering the chance to bring a lot more money into the economy than they cost. The mayor's support for sports might pay big dividends, even if he takes some heat from some of his constitutuents in the short term.

If it were as simple as choosing between allowing citizens the opportunity to see Peyton Manning once-a-year or creating a new public transportation system, Hanneman's job would be easy. Instead, he's got to get creative.

Opening Night in Philadelphia

2009-04-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Phillies play the Braves tonight in the first meaningful baseball game since this one.

(I was sitting in right field that night by the way.)

It's almost bittersweet that baseball is starting up again, as no matter what happens with the Phils in 2009, the '08 season will never be topped.

That said, it will be nice to start watching some meaningful games again, and Brett Myers takes the hill for his third consecutive opening day start tonight. Derek Lowe has the ball for Atlanta.

The Phils finalized their opening day 25-man roster Saturday, and so this is the crew they will set out with to defend their second World Championship.

Pitchers (12): Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre, J.A. Happ, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Jack Taschner, Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Brett Myers, Chan Ho Park

Catchers (2): Chris Coste, Carlos Ruiz

Infielders (7): Ryan Howard, Miguel Cairo, Chase Utley, Greg Dobbs, Eric Bruntlett, Jimmy Rollins

Outfielders (4) Raul Ibanez, Matt Stairs, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth

Even after they won the World Series last year, I realize many people will continue to underrate the Phils as is the general custom around the country. But in my opinion there are very few if any teams that are definitively better on paper than this one.

Thoughts on that?

It should be another fun season.

D.C. picks up first win

2009-04-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

D.C. United overcame some sloppy play and red card from captain Jaime Moreno moments after he entered the game to defeat the Houston Dynamo tonight, giving the squad it's first win of the season after drawing its first two contests against Los Angeles and Chicago.

With one tenth of the MLS regular season now in the books, let's break down how D.C. has looked by position.

Goalkeepers
Starter Louis Crayton missed the first two games with lingering preseason injuries so newly acquired back-up Josh Wicks stepped in. Wicks' sheer athleticism earned him one highlight reel save against Chicago, but shoddy decision-making cost him on both goals he allowed against the run of play. Crayton earned the shutout in his start against Houston and should provide the team with stability the rest of the season.

Defenders
Though he has been steady for the most part, Canadian import Dejan Jakovich did get beat by Chicago's Patrick Nyarko for the Fire's only goal against United last week. Veteran Bryan Namoff has been his usual solid-if-unspetacular self while switching between left and right back. And after starting center back Greg Janicki was injured in United's first game, Marc Burch has stepped into the backline well for United.

Midfielders
Little changed during the offseason for United iron man Clyde Simms, who has stepped back into his customary holding midfield slot without missing a beat. U.S. World Cup vet Ben Olsen missed all but one game last season with a recurring ankle injury, so his resrugence as a pesty defensive presence in the middle of the park for United has been a pleasant surprise. Playmaker Christian Gomez converted a penalty kick against the Galaxy, though he has really yet to get going offensively. With starters Fred and Santino Quaranta relegated to the bench due to injury, rookies Rodney Wallace and Chris Pontius have filled in admirably on the flanks.

Forwards
2007 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner Luciano Emilio appears to have regained the scoring touch he lost for long stretches last season, striking in each of United's last two games. On the other hand, the team's captain Moreno has not looked particularly sharp. The MLS' all-time leading scorer was off in a starting effort against Chicago and then received the aforementioned red card shortly after coming on as a sub in tonight's match. Pontius started the first match up top and scored a beautiful goal, so look for him to get major minutes at striker once Quaranta and Fred return from injury and his services are no longer need there. Francis Doe and Ange N'Silu have both logged some minutes up front for United, but neither has really impressed yet in this still very young season.

Wake's James Johnson gone...

2009-04-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

...So says the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Johnson, Wake Forest's talented 6-foot-8 swingman, is from Wyoming, in case you were wondering.

I'm not so sure about this one. He's a borderline first round prospect- you shouldn't leave early unless you are a first round lock in my opinion.

He's attractive because he's an above average college scorer and ball handler for his size. But while that combination gets you attention in the ACC, it doesn't automatically translate to the NBA.

Let's be honest, it seems like 6-foot-8 swingmen grow on trees in the league.

So, I'm not real sure about this move. If he had to go, this was the right time to do it. Better get your name out there now before Wake freshman Al-Farouq Aminu (pound for pound the better prospect at the same position) declares for himself.

It'll be interesting to see what fellow Demon Deacon Jeff Teague does as well. He got a lot of hype during the first half of this season while guiding the Deacs to their No. 1 ranking.

But as Wake gradually fell back to earth, so did Teague's game. I know he did THIS, and I will always be grateful to him for allowing me to witness such an incredible act of athletic dominance, but come on.

Teague really was one of the most overrated players in the ACC this season. Feel free to argue this with me, just be prepared to lose that argument- kind of like Dino Gaudio seemed prepared to lose against Cleveland State last month.

Jeter to lead off for Yankees

2009-04-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

Since March 26th, manager Joe Girardi has been batting Yankees' captain Derek Jeter first and leftfielder Johnny Damon second. The flip-flop allows Jeter to utilize his on-base skills to create more runs and Johnny Damon to increase his run production. Girardi recently announced that the move would continue during the regular season.

Ultimately, I expect little impact on the offense. Jeter has a better career on-base percentage [OBP] than Damon [although Jeter's dipped last season with his average], but Damon clearly has more power at this phase in their careers. Girardi must be hoping that Johnny Damon's solo home runs will turn into two-run shots at least some of the time this year. And Damon is likely to still be good for 15-22 home runs this season if he is healthy.

I also expect the move to mean more runs scored for Jeter. He will get on base with nobody out more often, and this will impact his scoring opportunities especially when he can get extra-base hits. It never hurts to have a lefty up with a runner on second and nobody out. A ground ball to the right side of the infield places the runner at third and gives Mark Teixeira a chance to drive him in with a fly ball. The Yankees need to generate more offense without the solo home run, so this strikes me as a useful juggle.

Expect to see Jeter steal some more bases this season as well. Last year, he went 11 for 16 [68.8 percent], a career low in steals and attempts for a full season. But Jeter still has not lost much speed, so it is likely that with more opportunities, he will fare better. In his career he is 275 for 350 in stolen base attempts [78.6 percent].

Call me crazy, but I also expect Jeter to have a better season than he did last year. He looked much more comfortable at the plate in the second half of the season, and I attribute his early struggles to injury more than decline [Jeter has a nasty habit of getting hit in the hand with pitches because he dives out over the plate when he is getting ready to swing]. I expect his numbers to be much lower than the premium Jeter seasons [1998, 1999, 2000 and 2006 come to mind] but still considerably better than his 2008 average of .300.

And on a less baseball-influenced note, the move means that Derek Jeter will have the first Yankees' at-bat in the new Yankee Stadium. In terms of cosmic correctness, it seems only fair that the man with the most career hits at the old ballpark gets the first crack at getting the first one in the new park. And let's be real, if the last stadium was the House that Ruth Built, the new facility is the House that Jeter Built.

Phils Name Chan Ho Park Fifth Starter

2009-04-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Phillies announced on Tuesday that Chan Ho Park will be their fifth starter when the season begins this week.

The Phils signed the former All-Star to a one-year $2.5 million deal back in December with the promise they would give him a shot to earn a spot in the rotation.

Park started just five of his 54 appearances for the Dodgers last year, but he was primarily a starter most of his career.

He is perhaps best known for giving up a home run to Cal Ripken, Jr. in the 2001 all-star game, or for screwing the Rangers by completely sucking for four seasons after they signed him to a five-year $65 million deal in January 2002.

Park beat out J.A. Happ, and theoretically Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco for the job.

To be honest, I'm not particularly thrilled with this move.

Aside from the general bad vibes and unshakable visions of the inevitable trainwreck Park is about to become, Happ just has a much greater upside.

Happ was solid in a few spot starts last season, and he also pitched well this spring. He'd have given the Phils a third left-handed starter.

Plus, Happ has no experience in the bullpen, which is where he will likely be if he makes the team at all. When the Phils traded for Jack Taschner last week, it gave them another left-handed arm in the bullpen, and should have allowed them to stick with Park in a role he pitched decently in last season.

So the Phils head into the season with a rotation of Hamels, Myers, Moyer, Blanton and Park, except not in that order because of Hamels' tender elbow.

That's a solid group, but I think it could be better. I don't think Chan Ho is going to make it through the season.

Boston And Orlando Play Musical Chairs

2009-04-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

Last night, the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats looked like equals. While that doesn't bode well for Beantown, at least Charlotte looks like one of those teams that could fight for a playoff spot in the near future.

Either way, it made for a great game.

D.J. Augustin, the former Texas star, said that Boston muscles you and tries to intimidate you, but if you don't show fear, they'll flop like Shaq against Howard.

Well, it took 2 overtimes to decide the see-saw battle between Jordan's 'Cats and Doc's Irish, but in the end, the Bobcats were tamed by veteran Celts Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Boston's rivals in the Sunshine State couldn't keep away the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors, who definitely seemed like a playoff team in the preseason, slathered mustard all over that Magic sandwich. But before the Raptors could make it to Quizno's to really toast that sub, the Magic bared their teeth and defensive prowess in the second half. But in the end, it was Olympian Gold Medalist Chris Bosh that long-jumped and pole vaulted the Magic, draining long shots like a girl celebrating her 21st birthday.

In the end, Toronto prevailed over Orlando (and not just because of their healthcare), and Boston won out against that Charlotte team, bolstered by sorely-missed Suns players Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. This puts Boston one game ahead of Orlando, removing the deadlock that kept these two teams attached at the hip. If Boston can hold onto that 2-spot, they might put themselves in a greater position without Garnett. Whoever gets lucky No. 3 will likely have to face off against the NBA's scoring leader, Dwayne "Doris Day" Wade. Good Luck.

-Dave "Paul" Piersmith

Staying or going?: Greivis Vasquez

2009-04-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting a bunch of these "staying or going" NBA Draft analysis pieces in the upcoming days, but I thought why not start with the guy you care most about.

His name is Greivis Vasquez, aka, the "Vivacious Venezuelan." He's a 6-foot-6 point guard (no matter what Gary says) for the University of Maryland. He's a junior and he has yet to hire an agent. His stated intention is to try out the pre-draft camps, see how he stacks up and go from there.

You know the rest, let's get started.

CURRENT PROJECTIONS: Very little. He's not listed on most mocks because nobody believes he's leaving and he's not seen as a first-round prospect. DraftExpress has him going late in Round 2.

STRENGTHS: NBA-ready passing skills and vision on the break. Ability to finish with contact in the lane. Passion and charisma.

WEAKNESSES: Perimeter jump shot. His quickness driving through the lane isn't ideal either. This year he was able to out muscle smaller, slower defenders in the paint. He'll have no such advantage in the league.

NBA COMPARISON: Manu Ginobili. Whoa. Stick with me here. Before you go and comment on how crazy I am for writing that, just hold on. He'll probably never be as good as Ginobili, but their styles are similar.

They both take those long strides while driving the lane and often go off of the wrong foot or use the wrong hand for layups at the basket.

They're both South American. That counts too right. Oh, and hey, they both have guarded Kobe Bryant. Just ask GV about it. I'm sure he'll be glad to talk to you about it for a couple minutes, errr couple hours.

PREDICTION: He's staying. I hear his family may not be in the best financial situation. I hear this means he might be willing to take the money in Europe, even if he can't somehow get into the first round with his camp performance. I hear he's waiting to hear what recruit Lance Stephenson is doing.

That's all fine and dandy. But a man who invested as much physical and emotional energy as Vasquez did this season isn't just going to get up and leave on a whim.

A guy who says the following about his head coach, isn't just packing his bags and leaving College Park with one more year of eligibility:

"He's a tough guy, who never gives up and always tries hard," Vasquez said. "It's just a privilege to play for him. ... I mean, if I got to go to war with him, I would die for him before he dies."

Plus, Gary thinks he's coming back. And what would he do without Boris the Puerto Rican Barber? And he's never actually gotten the chance to carry out that very serious threat against Greg Schimmel.

He should come back, at least for that.

The Blotter

2009-04-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Sporting News

A quick modification as to contents of the blotter: though this section will predominantly deal with legal issues, I'll occasionally broaden the scope when interesting stories come along that involve teams or players violating league rules, since though these situations don't necessarily involve the court system, they still have the basic premise of a law being broken.

Leading things off isn't technically a matter for the courts to decide, but it's still an interesting accusation involving sports and rule-breaking. The Titans have asked the NFL to look into the contract Albert Haynesworth signed with the Redskins after agreeing to terms with Danny Snyder just five hours into the free agency period. The best part of the story comes near the bottom, though: A quote from Haynesworth about the process.

"All I know is the Redskins called my agent at 11:04 p.m. Nashville time and they started negotiating then,'' Haynesworth said last month. "They weren't anywhere close in the first couple of hours and then they got serious. Chad worked the deal then and it worked out." (emphasis added by Chimpanzee Rodeo)

Let's think about that statement for a moment in light of the contract Haynesworth agreed to, a seven-year, $100 million deal that included a league-record $41 million in guaranteed dollars. Taking into account Haynesworth being the acknowledged big fish on the market, and the Redskins propensity to overpay to get stars through free agency and trades, I can only imagine what the Skins opening offer actually was. DeAngelo Hall received a six-year deal for $54 million from Washington, and Haynesworth is seen as among the most dominant defensive players in the league, so the initial offer must have been well north of that figure. But remember, Haynesworth refers to the Skins' initial offerings not being "anywhere close." So with the economy in the tank, Detroit imploding on itself and our entire banking system going through the equivalent of a financial forest fire, just how much money did Albert scoff at? Seven years and $80 million? $85 million?

I typically side close to 100 percent with the players when negotiating with owners across all sports, and particularly football, where players have the shortest careers, least leverage and worts union among the major sports. In truth, Haynesworth probably won't make even close to the $100 mil figure, as injuries/age/performance will inevitably lead the Redskins to cut him before he finishes the deal (though the $41 mil guarunteed should cushion that hardship.) But Haynesworth's comment just sort of illustrates how different athletes are from the normal person. Just something to think about.

Next up, Donte' Stallworth is being charged with DUI manslaughter, and if convicted could face up to 15 years in prison. Stallworth killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes while driving with a blood alcohol level of .126, above the legal limit of .08. Meanwhile, Joba Chamberlain pled guilty to a DUI for driving with a blood alcohol level of .138 back in October. Though the date of the stories is coincidental, it serves to illustrate what a serious issue drunk driving is, and just goes to show it can have very real, immediate consequences.

The Blotter

2009-04-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

So I'm coming in a little late to the game here, but I'll be doing a daily roundup of the legal problems facing athletes, from basic criminal charges to financial issues to messy family struggles that boil over into the media.

First on the docket today: Jonathan Vilma might want to rethink who he asks to house-sit for him. Apparently, a couple of Vilma's family members used his condo to get rid of a couple of members of a failed cash smuggling scheme — the bodies were dumped in Queens and Brooklyn. For those of you not from the NY-area, this officially means these guys cover a lot more ground than the Jets' secondary.

Next up: A former University of Georgia star peed all over the backseat of a police car after being arrested for DUI. Kelin Johnson couldn't make up his mind on whether to take a breathalyzer, presumably because he vacillated on whether or not it would exonerate him. I think his bladder took care of that problem for him.

Finally: Austria continues in its quest to eliminate doping from the world's most popular sport, professional cycling, by arresting Stefan Matschiner, the former manager of Danish rider Michael Rasmussen. Of course, everyone remembers Rasmussen from his 2007 ... OK, seriously, is Lance's collarbone healed yet?

As the wheels start turning, the NBA early entry list grows...

2009-04-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

With the Final Four and annual college coaching carousel about to get under way, what better time than now to check out which underclassmen are going to the league, and which are staying.

With John Calipari's exit from Memphis and hiring at Kentucky now complete (WOW THAT'S A LOTTA MONEY) the focus was on Tigers freshman guard Tyreke Evans, for at least a day.

Evans, a slick ball handling 6-foot-6 monster in his freshman year for Memphis was going to leave no matter what happened with Calipari. Now, that's confirmed.

No way NBA agent/mentor/entourage ring leader Worldwide Wes was going to let one of his Philly-area kids waste a chance at the big money next season.

Is Evans future in the NBA as a 2-guard, or at the point? And does it really matter?

You'll remember how Evans took over the point guard duties for Memphis in the middle of the season and generally changed the team's fortunes for the better. Let that debate begin. It's hard to see Evans drop out of the lottery either way.

He's a terrific talent, strong to the hoop and almost unstoppable in his penetration game. The outside shooting is another story, but that will almost certainly come. NBA comparison- Larry Hughes.

The next dominoes to fall will be Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson and teammate Jodie Meeks. If they leave (it's rumored Meeks will return while Patterson might be leaving regardless) then that will just add to the already intriguing early entry list.

Of course, there will be a lot more posts on this subject in the upcoming days. Included at some point will be a thorough analysis of Greivis Vasquez's future. I promise.

Phils Release Jenkins, Interested in Sheffield?

2009-03-31T12:57:00.000-07:00

The Phillies released veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins this afternoon, and apparently are interested in signing Gary Sheffield, whom the Tigers released earlier in the day.

Many scouts reportedly say Sheffield won't be able to regularly play the outfield anymore, but the borderline hall of famer could be a tremendous addition as a right-handed bat off the bench.

Buster Olney said this afternoon on Baseball Tonight he spoke to several American League clubs who were not interested in signing the nine-time All-Star, and said Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro said the Phillies would be interested.

Because the Tigers owe Sheffield $14 million this year, the Phillies would only have to pay him $440,000.

Making this move seems like a no-brainer to me.

The Phillies could add a 499-home-run hitter to their bench, and even out a corps of hitters that leans heavily to the left.

If the Phillies have one weakness heading into this season it is they have a glut of left-handed hitters which could be vulnerable against strong left-handed pitchers.

Sheffield would give the Phils some serious right-handed pop off the bench, even at age 40. If it doesn't pan out, they would be spending virtually no money on him anyway.

Right now, the Phils' best right-handed option off the bench is 36-year-old backup catcher Chris Coste, who has hit 478 fewer home runs in his career than Sheffield has.

This move needs to happen.

Dimitri Bouncing Back

2009-03-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

Dimitri Young is set to return to the Nats' lineup today in the team's exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers. Young has been out since March 1st with a back injury.

It is not expected that Young will begin the season with the team because, as Bill Ladson on Nationals.com writes, he is not in game shape as of yet. However, his is a bat that has the potential to make a big impact of the bench in an offense that was anemic in 2008. That is, if he can remain healthy. Young, after winning the starting first baseman job last year, only played in 50 games because of complications from his diabetes.

This setback came two years after Young battled issues with alcohol and substance abuse and depression following a divorce. He was also sentenced to a year's probation stemming from a domestic violence incident. Then, after this, came Young's discovery that he had diabetes.

Still, it is a testament to Young that he has fought through all of this and continued to play at a major league level. Much was made of Josh Hamilton's resurgence to prominence after his struggle with drug addiction and deservedly so, but Young also deserves his fair share of recognition for his achievements.

I once met Dimitri Young at a spring training game in Viera, Fla., and his attitude and demeanor to fans endeared him to me. As fans do when they seek autographs from players, we called out, "Mr. Young, Mr.Young" will you sign this, will you sign that. Many players sign autographs like zombies, but Dimitri Young was engaging with fans and responded to their requests by accepting and replying, "man, call me Dimitri."

Baseball players have said before that they hustle so that the kid who only sees them play once leaves impressed with their effort. Well, this was my only run-in with Dimitri Young, and I left impressed.

By most accounts, Young is one of baseball's good guys, but it remains to be seen if his play can be as big as his personality in 2009.

Who let the (watch)dogs out

2009-03-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm abandoning the NBA and turning my blogging attention to sports media. No one is safe.

I was inspired by this story written by Kyle Weidie for the Washington affiliate of NBC. Yes, it was written 10 days ago — an eternity on the web. Whatever.

The question Weidie poses is as follows:

But as far as Wizards beat reporters from both the Washington Post (the soon to be departing Ivan Carter, who is leaving print for television...go figure) and the Washington Times (Mike Jones), the money just wasn't there to send them romping through Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver.
Both scribes cite budget issues for not being on the road trip. But what's the real reason? Is it "in this economy" or "this team is crappy"?

I'm inclined to believe it's a bit of both.

Cop out? Sure. True? Probably.

It'd be hard to believe WaPo wouldn't send someone if the Wiz were contenders this year. And, sure enough, Washington dropped all four games on the trip.

But it's even harder to imagine that in past years one of the country's premier papers wouldn't have sent someone, regardless of the situation. It just goes to show how the flailing economy and failing newspaper industry have converged to dilute coverage.

At least these dead-tree distributors can take solace in Gilbert Arenas' return to action Saturday. Now even if the on-court product continues to stink, there might be some antics worth paying people to report.

Fresh Arms

2009-03-29T21:34:00.001-07:00

The Washington Nationals’ 2009 rotation is set. The decision to option right-handed pitcher Collin Balester to AAA Syracuse on Saturday ended the spring training competition to make the Nats’ starting rotation. This move leaves John Lannan, Scott Olsen, Daniel Cabrera, Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmerman as the team’s starters.

Manager Manny Acta was quoted in an article on the Nationals’ Web site saying that he prefers the admittedly young rotation to the mix of inexperience and veteran retreads that have become a staple of the Nationals’ inept starting pitching the last few years.

In fact, the Nationals have not had a legitimate front-line starter since their move to Washington. The closest they have come was Livan Hernandez, who became a fan favorite as much for his ability to hit home runs as for his skill in getting batters out.

Perhaps the Nationals’ bad luck in the starting pitching department is the curse of Pedro Martinez, who the organization (as the Montreal Expos) traded in 1997. Since then, Martinez has compiled a record of 139-60, was named to six All-star teams and won two Cy Young Awards. However, there is hope because Martinez is still a free agent, and one of the teams rumored to be considering the aging righty is, you guessed it, the Washington Nationals. Maybe, a signing of Martinez would reverse the curse.

Another, less superstitious, option for the transformation of the Nationals’ rotation could actually be a product of the Nats’ embarrassing play during their time in Washington. This potential savior is named Stephen Strasburg and is a 20-year-old junior right-handed starter from San Diego State University. In 2008, Strasburg was the only collegiate player to represent the United States in the Beijing Olympics. However, this is not what has the scouts abuzz and many predicting that the Nationals will pick him with the number one pick that they owe to their 59-102 record in 2008. It is his ability to light up radar guns and his immediate front-of-the-rotation potential that has him on everybody’s radar.

Here’s hoping that the Nationals improve on their 2008 record, that the curse of Pedro is reversed and that they pay the money necessary to sign Strasburg and bring his 103 mph heat to Nationals Park.

Will Pole Vault for Pants

2009-03-29T10:45:00.001-07:00

Blogging about the economy and sports has proven really easy because lately news has been breaking daily on the subject. The hardest part has been deciding which stories to include.

Today, courtesy of an Olympic pole vaulter from France, was one of the easier decisions. It seems Romain Mesnil, a three-time Olympian, subscribes to the theory that there is no such thing as bad publicity.

After his sponsorship agreement with Nike ended, Mesnil could not find a new backer. He decided to make a video featuring himself running naked with his pole at French tourist destinations to draw some attention to his plight. Here's the video.

Mesnil blames the economy for the situation. (Maybe he couldn't afford pants?)

"It was probably for budgetary and strategic reasons. It's the crisis," he wrote on his website.

Mesnil doesn't have a new deal yet, but it's hard to believe that he won't get something out of this (Lee's dungarees maybe). Is this the wackiest athlete publicity stunt ever? Probably not, but it certainly makes the list.

Imagine Clinton Portis sprinting around the Washington monument wearing only a football helmet. On second thought, maybe Mesnil won't get a new deal, and maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the economy.

Red Sox are Crazy Deep

2009-03-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Recent injury problems have recently reminded me of just how deep and how good the 2009 Boston Red Sox are. John Smoltz and Mark Kotsay will both start the season on the disabled list for the Boston Red Sox, but it doesn't seem to matter. If this had happened when both players were with Atlanta, the Braves woud have been dead in the water.

But the Red Sox outfield also features J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jason Bay. Rocco Baldelli is also available for occasional play despite his mitochondrial disorder. Kotsay was a star with the Braves, but in Boston, he is a fourth outfielder at best, and depending on Baldelli's play, a fifth outfielder and backup first baseman. That is really impressive depth.

The Red Sox will open the season with Josh Beckett, to be followed in some order by Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Brad Penny, who has recently impressed. If anyone else goes down, Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson are waiting in the wings. How many teams would take that rotation from Matsuzaka on, and exchange it for their actual one? John Smoltz, who?

In the infield, besides Kotsay, Julio Lugo will serve as the backup to Jed Lowrie. The only weak spot on the whole roster is catcher. Why they didn't flip some of that depth for the heir to Jason Varitek during the offseason is a complete mystery to me. They may live to regret it during the season.

Utley, Feliz to Be Ready for Opening Day

2009-03-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel announced earlier this week that second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Pedro Feliz should both be ready for opening day.

Utley had surgery on his right hip on Nov. 24, and Feliz had back surgery a few days before that.

Utley originally was feared to be out for as much as the first two months of the regular season, but he made quicker-than-expected progress in his rehabilitation.

This is obviously very good news for the Phils.

In addition to having the best offensive second baseman in the game's production for the entire season, and Feliz's defense at the hot corner, it really just makes the Phils' entire lineup a lot deeper.

Jayson Werth likely would have been moved up to Utley's third spot in the batting order, but now Manuel can keep Werth hitting either fifth or sixth depending on whether the opposing starter is a lefthander or a righthander.

Werth and Raul Ibanez will be counted on to protect Utley and Ryan Howard.

Feliz and his 15-20 homers will fit nicely in the No. 7 hole.

This also likely means Miguel Cairo and Marcus Giles, both non-roster invitees to spring training, will not be on the opening day 25-man roster.

Suck Meter: March 28

2009-03-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

The season may yet be a week away, but the race to the number one draft pick in 2010 is already heating up between the Orioles and the Nationals. Let's take a look at where they rank on the Suck Meter: Nationals. The Nats have been resting on their laurels so far, confident that the roster they've fielded is so hideously awful that there's nothing the O's could do to compete. A glimmer of hope came in the form of this MLB.com headline: "Martis, Zimmerman round out rotation." Sadly, however, the Nationals have not decided to add their only good position player to the pitching rotation, instead it's just another guy named Zimmerman.

The Nats' rotation is going to be John Lannan, Scott Olsen, Daniel Cabrera, Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmerman. A solid maneuver picking up the the Orioles' trash and plugging him into their No. 3 slot, but unfortunately Olsen actually has the potential to be a competent major league pitcher.

On the hitting side, the addition of Country Strong Adam Dunn to a terrible lineup means that there will be at least one legitimate baseball player in the field for DC. And despite the glaring flaws, everyone playing the field at least has tricked me into believing that they might be good at playing baseball one day.

The big news for the Nats lately has been the saga of Stephen Strasburg, the greatest baseball player who ever lived. The Nationals (naturally... nationally?) hold the first pick in the June draft but might not take Strasburg because he probably won't sign for less than a government bailout package. DC can't spend the money because... well, no reason really. They're just stingy.

Verdict: Terrible, but not otherworldly terrible. The Nationals rate as a 3.

Orioles. Now here's a team that is awfully good at being awful. The pitching rotation for the O's looks like the last few baseball cards you get in the pack. You know, after there's like a Barry Bonds and a 1985 Milwaukee Brewers commemorative card, there's five bums that you don't recognize. That's the essence of Uehara-Eaton-Penn-Hill. The "other" Japanese pitching import, two people I have literally nothing to say about, and a guy who has less control than Courtney Love at an all-you-can-smoke crack rock buffet. It's Jeremy Guthrie and pray for four days of rain.

But at least the Orioles have Hall of Famer Matt Wieters coming up to hit baseballs into stands and bring hope back to Baltimore.

Whoops.

In a move that surprised exactly no one, Wieters was reassigned to Triple-A Norfolk yesterday. Obviously it was due to his lack of a minor league pedigree (.355 batting average in the minors last year, minor league player of the year), bad spring (.333 batting average), and the fact that we've already got a guy.

Even though it's not unprecedented, it's still a shame to see a team putting the arbitration clock before the desire of the fans to see a baseball team that doesn't suck. For that, the Orioles are your early leaders for your I-95 Suckfest 2009 Championship.

Verdict: Overtly, disgustingly terrible. And I didn't even mention Cesar Izturis. 1.5.

Good Luck WPS..You'll Need It

2009-03-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

You have to hand it to Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). The league, which kicks off its inaugural season tomorrow, not only has its heart in the right place, but it is working to raise its profile. (Kobe Bryant's unabashed support for Brazilian star Marta gave a big boost.) If the economic climate wasn't making major sporting entities such as the NFL and NBA sweat a little bit, it might even seem like a good idea.

It should be noted the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) lost about $100 million in three seasons before folding in 2003. With the sharp economic downturn since then, it's hard to imagine how this project got greenlighted. But the reality is there has been extensive planning for this moment almost since the minute the WUSA folded. They're keeping the tickets cheap and will hold the league's eight teams to a very well-defined $565,000 salary cap. Plus they have an exclusive television broadcast deal with Fox Sports Soccer Channel.

Today's Houston Chronicle offers an interesting take on the state of women's sports. Houston knows a thing or two about the topic. Although the city has not been represented in the WUSA or WPS, it was home to one of the most successful WNBA franchises (Houston Comets) until they folded in 2008 when a new owner could not be found.

The new league's chief operations officer was upbeat in her interview with The Chronicle, talking about the chance to create 200 jobs for talented women and urging people to wait until they see the product on the field before making judgements.

But it's not that easy. Despite all the league has going for it, it will be a minor miracle if this league can entrench itself in a sports landscape that continues to struggle. People in this country support women's soccer, maybe even more so than men's in a lot of ways. But they also seem content to save their passion for major semi-annual tournaments like the Olympics and World Cup (thanks Brandi Chastain). The evidence of the consistent support this league will need is not there. There is no reason to believe Americans will open up their wallets to support this effort.

It's a shame, but women's soccer fans need to enjoy the WPS while they have the chance. I know Kobe will.

Howard Works His Magic

2009-03-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

I love the music they play at Orlando home games nowadays. Big, epic, sweeping music from John Williams: the catchiest themes, featuring Star Wars and Superman among others.

Howard brought his Superman tonight, getting a double-double in the first quarter, throwing down some emphatic jams against the defending champion Celtics, who continue to suffer from injury-related issues.

While Leon Powe couldn't bring powe-r to the Celts, and Garnett's minutes limited his ability to get hot, the Celtics turned on the hot mustard to bring the game within a point in the last thirty seconds. Paul Pierce tried his MVP-best, but his magic couldn't outdo the home team's. One of the final plays of the game sums this sucker up: Pierce weaves among Magic defenders, goes for a leaning shot, and gets blocked by Howard. It was this momentum swing that brought down the Big Green.

Howard finished his fantastic game with 24 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He talked pre-game about how important this game was for his team, and he did not disappoint. He was on point the entire game, bringing energy to his team and his home crowd, especially with a sweet backwards alley-oop to finish out the half. Though he's out of the MVP race at this point between the King and his Wadeness, he's definitely be in talks for defensive MVP of the year, unless LeBron rains on that parade too.

Now, the Celtics and Magic are tied for second within the competitive Eastern Conference, and it looks like the second seed will come down to the wire like David Simon. No one can catch the calves of the Cavs, especially since no one has found an answer for LeBron and Mo "Nique" Williams, so second is the consolation prize.

Doc Rivers has said time and time again he'd rather have a seventh-seed with a healthy Garnett instead of the first-seed with an injured Garnett. I hope he's right. It looks like the Jameer Nelson-less Magic have got enough tricks up their sleeve to tie up the second spot.

Thoughts? Questions? Prayers? Bueller?

-Dave "Money" Maysmith

Hamels Should Be Ready for First Week

2009-03-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

A positive update about Cole Hamels and his tight left elbow.

The Phillies' ace pitched 3 and 2/3 solid innings against Class A hitters Tuesday, his first game action since he left Clearwater, Fla. to get examined by the team doctor in Philadelphia a week ago Monday.

According to The Philadelphia Daily News, Hamels said he is back on track to pitch the first week of the regular season.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee hasn't officially ruled out that Hamels will be able to start opening night on April 5, but as of now Hamels is penciled in to start the fourth game of the season April 10 against Colorado.

My educated guessing leads me to believe the Phillies will then enter the regular season with a starting rotation of Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, Hamels and Chan Ho Park/J.A. Happ in that order.

Park and Happ have emerged as the two frontrunners for the fifth spot in the rotation after as many as five pitchers were in the conversation when spring training started.

There will be more on that development in later posts.

For now I would just like to relate the Phils' pitching situation to Rob's post, and point out my amusement that the Orioles signed one-man disaster Adam Eaton, a fringe-at-best candidate for the Phils' fifth starter job at the beginning of spring.

If Eaton can't make the Orioles he should probably just give up pitching.

The I-95 Suckfest 2009

2009-03-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hi. I'm Rob Gindes and my focus on this blog is going to be the eternal battle between my two favorite baseball teams, the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles, to see who's worse at being a baseball franchise.

We're going to be keeping score with the handy Suck-Meter:

This will help keep track of the performance of both teams on a scale from zero (a baseball abomination as bad as Major League III: Back to the Minors) to 10 (The 1927 New York Yankees). At the end of the season, I'll figure out the winner and the loser.

Spoiler alert: the loser is area baseball fans.

Price is not Right for Rays

2009-03-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, the Tampa Bay Rays are likely going to give David Price some more time to cook down at AAA Durham at the start of the season.

If the Phil Hughes experiment has taught me anything, it is that calling up a young pitching phenom before his command is completely settled can do nothing but bruise his confidence. As much as Price has dominated along every step of the way [including spring training and the 2008 Postseason,] the Rays feel that he still needs to learn to be more efficient. And apparently he is making strides with his changeup that could turn it into another excellent pitch to add to his sick repertoire with some more time.

There is also wisdom with trying not to increase his innings from 129 1/3 straight to the 200 threshold. The bottom line is that this guy is as close to a sure thing as you get with pitching prospects. One of the only things that could get in his way is injury, and the Rays are right to move with trepidation.

Their pitching staff returns the big three: Scott Kazmir, James Shields and Matt Garza. Andy Sonnanstine will be back as well. And the talented Jason Hammel or Jeff Niemann will get a shot at the fifth spot until Price reaches for the baseball. It's a good situation to be in, if you're Tampa.

Andrew Friedman continues to prove himself an outside-the-box General Manager. He knows what he is doing, and seems to operate entirely unemotionally. Kudos to the kid for having the stones to send down the presumptive pre-season AL Rookie of the Year Award. It may frustrate some folks who saw him blow J.D. Drew away last season in the playoffs, but in the long run, I am not sure that this can do anything but help Price

Schilling Retirement the End of an Era in AL East

2009-03-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

It's not that I don't remember Curt Schilling's greatness as Mr. Phillie. Of course I do. That nasty splitter. The hard gas. The big old wad of chewing tobacco. I was too young to appreciate his NLCS MVP award and World Series performances in 1993.

But the Curt Schilling I remember vividly was a Yankee killer and a champion late in his career. It all started with the 2001 World Series, when Randy Johnson and he teamed up to form one of the most devastating 1-2 punches in the history of postseason baseball. That final year of the Yankee dynasty had the most exciting Fall Classic I have ever seen, and resulted in a disproportionate number of victories coming in the last at-bat of the game.

Then, of course, as if Yankees fans hadn't seen enough of him, he had to move to the Boston Red Sox, where he shrugged off an 86-year championship drought and re-stratified the division. The bloody sock game (whether theatrics or not) was one of the gutsiest performances I have ever witnessed, and has to be looked at on par with Kirk Gibson's miracle home run. In 2007, he won three more playoff games with no gas left in the tank and led the Sox to another World Series.

As famous for his candid nature as for his determination on the mound, Schilling never shied from the spotlight. He addressed every issue that came up in baseball during his career. I am sure he will continue to do so on his blog, even after retirement. One day, I hope to see him in Cooperstown. He belongs there, and I think that most Yankee fans agree with me. Quoting a memorable scene between Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell from "Anchorman," we hate him, but, damn it, do we respect him. He will be remembered by the game for years to come.

Curt Schilling's Retirement

2009-03-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

Curt Schilling announced his official retirement this morning on his blog, and I don't really know how I feel about that.
The three-time World Series champion pitched for the Phillies from 1992 until 2000, and was really the lone bright spot on some terrible Phillies teams in the late '90s.
After he was traded to Arizona for assorted spare parts shortly before the '00 trade deadline, the Phils didn't have a true ace until Cole Hamels emerged in his first full season in 2007.
In 1993, he was the ace of the staff for the best pre-2008 Phillies team of my lifetime. He won 16 games that year, pitched a five-hit shutout in Game 5 of the World Series, and sat with a towel over his head as Mitch Williams pitched the ninth inning and eventually gave up the infamous home run to Joe Carter in Game 6.
Those two games perfectly exemplify why I have always had mixed feelings about Schilling.
He was a great pitcher, and probably deserves to be in the Hall of Fame with 216 wins and 3,116 strikeouts to go with his World Series titles.
But he was personally annoying and immature for most of his career, rubbed a lot of his teammates the wrong way, and was definitely an attention hog.
His blog is unreadable, and I hope he stops writing it now that he's retiring, even though I'm sure he won't.
I did like to watch Schilling pitch, though, and loved the way he attacked the strike zone and challenged every hitter. I admired the way his repertoire evolved as he got older.
Yet I hated that he pitched for the Red Sox, and often hoped that he would lose.
So now that he's in retirement, I have serious mixed feelings.
I'm glad he won't be pitching for the Sox anymore, even though they have at least five solid starters anyway and possibly six if John Smoltz is healthy, but I'm disappointed I won't get to watch him pitch anymore. I always secretly hoped he'd pitch one more year in Philadelphia before he retired.
I'm perturbed the only time he'll be in the public eye from now on is if he is saying something annoying when it isn't his place to do so.
And I'm bitter that if he does get voted into Cooperstown in five years, he probably isn't going to choose to go in as a Phillie.
I don't really know what I'm trying to get at here, other than Schilling was a great pitcher but an obnoxious person as far I could tell.
I wish him well in retirement, and mainly I just hope he doesn't become a part of the Phils' broadcast team.

Living La Vida NFL

2009-03-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

The annual NFL owners' meetings kick off Monday at a swanky resort in California. And when people with that much money get together to talk about a league that brings in more than $8 billion in annual revenues, the failing economy has got to be a major point of conversation.

According to many, including USA Today's Jim Corbett (who outlines the issues to be discussed in a very fan-friendly way), that's absolutely true. At the Super Bowl, Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that the league is not immune to the economic pressures facing the world. In fact, he's taking a pay cut on his scheduled $11 million salary (and he's not even giving it to Anquan Boldin).

But it's not simply an issue of rich people sitting around a table and talking about how poorly their 401k's are doing. Much of the business to be discussed is directly related to the economy. The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is set to expire after the 2010 season. If they don't come to a new agreement before the next free agency period, there will be no salary cap for the 2010 season.

In an era where it's hard to know how much they can sell a nose-bleed seat for, how are owners going to be able to set the market for a Pro Bowl wide receiver without a salary cap.

DeMaurice Smith was just elected as Executive Director of the NFLPA after a period of instability following the passing of longtime representative Gene Upshaw. According to an NFL spokesman, the owners will discuss "preparing and planning" for a new CBA. Hopefully, that means getting all the owners (who voted 30-2 last year to opt out of the old agreement) on the same page in moving forward quickly. The time is now for owners and players to get together and make some stability on the CBA, so there is one less thing to worry about in these uncertain times.

Then there is the issue of just running franchises. It would be interesting to hear what the owners have to say to Redskins owner Dan Snyder about laying off dozens of members of his operations staff one day and then shelling out $100 million to Albert Haynesworth the next. When there is this much money involved, all the math can't really add up logically, but it's important for the league to have a united plan for moving forward.

As Goodell said, the NFL isn't immune to the economy. Let's just hope the NFL owners can realize that while kicking back in luxurious Dana Point, Calif.

The Wade-ing Game

2009-03-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

It's only a matter of time until the season is over and the NBA's MVP is decided.

In the meantime, Dwayne Wade is going to go ahead and score a little bit.

Today, while his alma mater fell out of the NCAA race, the Marquette star brought it at the Pistons on their home court and sufficiently smacked them with some Wadeness. He dropped 39 points and 4 very notable blocks, including one special "gimme that!" block with the much taller Antonio "Shoot Some" McDyess.

The Heat were kept cool until D-Wade went into his Wade Bank and made a Wa-deposit all over the Pistons in the third quarter, dropping 14 Wadepoints (similar to Disney Dollars).

The Heat sneaked by in the end, and although they played a starless Pistons team (sans Iverson, Hamilton and Wallace), you cannot dispute Wade's great year.

While the game was a great Wade to see some Wade, it was the game's halftime clip that highlighted the man's Wadetivity.

The clip showed how a young boy, who had lost his hands and feet to a bacterial infection that nearly claimed the boy's life, was treated by a special Wade visit to his house. This visit took place the morning after Wade's emphatic 3 OT win against the Bulls, mind you. The smile on that kid's face when he saw your man Wade, and Wade's demeanor around the kid and his family, was too awesome. Could the man be any cooler? Maybe, if he were also a filmmaker. But that's the only way.

So sure, LeBron had a day against the Nets (just another 30 point, 11 rebound, and 8 assist day--boooooooring), but I'll take Wade any day of the week. I don't care much for the MVP race--LeBron will win it, unless something crazy happens and Chris Paul drops 60+ for the last games of the season--but I'm behind Wade all the way...de. I can't wait for the playoffs for him to do what he did in 2006. And WIN.

But until then, we play the Wade-ing game.

-Dave "317" Wadesmith

D.C. United

2009-03-22T07:51:00.001-07:00

So as you may have guessed based on this blog's title, I'm going to be writing about D.C. United. I'm a pretty big soccer fan and I've had D.C. United season tickets for a few years now, so I figured they would be a good topic for me to cover. The black-and-red kick off their season today in Carson, Calif., when they take on the David Beckham-less Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. The beginning of the year will be big for Head Coach Tom Soehn, who came under fire during the offseason after the team, which had won the Supporters Shield (best regular season record) two years in a row, missed the play-offs entirely for the first time since 2003. With the first match of the campaign only a few hours away, I'm going to ask five burning questions about the team's player personnel.

1. Will D.C. United's youthful center backs be able to anchor the defense?

When D.C. won the Supporter's Shield two years ago, the center back pairing of Bobby Boswell and Greg Vanney was considered that strong team's weakness. Come the offseason, management traded away Boswell and Vanney and replaced them with Argentine Gonzalo Peralta and Columbian Gonzalo Martinez. Both players were more or less miserable failures, so D.C. once again revamped their defense by releasing those two players.

Enter Dejan Jakovich, a 23-year-old Canadian international who previously played for storied club Red Star Belgrade, and Greg Janicki, a 24-year-old who signed with the team at the end of last season after playing with Pittsburgh of the United Soccer League. If neither of these young players pan out, D.C. also has fourth-year veteran Devon McTavish (who started 25 games last year) and towering 6-5 rookie Anthony Peters. No matter what pairing Soehn lands on, though, he needs to make sure they are more effective than last year's defensive unit.

2. Who will be the left back?

D.C. had to trade probable starting left back Ivan Guerrero in the offseason to acquire playmaker Christian Gomez, leaving a pair of Maryland alums to fight it out for that spot. Marc Burch is in his fourth season out of the university and has been a great freekick threat off the bench for the D.C., but whether he has the defensive chops to be a regular left back remains to be seen.

Competing with him is the speedy Rodney Wallace, who D.C. selected sixth overall in the MLS SuperDraft. Look for Burch to begin the year in the starting 11, but for Wallace to take over the spot later in the summer.

3. How will Christian Gomez fit back in with the team?

The 2006 MLS MVP scored 39 goals in four season with D.C. and won an MLS Cup with the team in 2004, always giving the team energy from his attacking midfield spot. But the front office felt the need to revamp the team last offseason after the club continued to fizzle int he play-offs and traded him to Colorado.

The move made room for D.C. to sign Argentine star Marcelo Gallardo as its designated player, but Gallardo departed at the end of one injury plagued season. Gomez, meanwhile, fell out of favor in Colorado and spent much of last year on the bench. When D.C. traded back for Gomez this offseason, it was a move that was welcomed by both sides. Whether he is same player who was once MLS MVP, though, is still a mystery.

4. Will Ben Olsen be back healthy?

Olsen is, without a doubt, the heart and soul of this United team. The 31-year-old is entering his 12th season with the club, but was limited to just one game last season after having continued ankle problems throughout the season. A member of the 2006 U.S. World Cup squad, Olsen was playing the best soccer of his career before the injury.

The outside midfielder tallied seven goals and seven assists in 2007 en route to being named to the MLS First XI team, and registered his first career hat trick in a 4-2 win over the New York Red Bulls on June 10. If he is back and playing anywhere near that level, it would be a massive boost to the team.

5. Can United get continued production up front?

United boasts a frontline consisting of 2007 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner Luciano Emilio and MLS all-time leading scorer Jaime Moreno. Those two, are 30 and 35-years-old, respectively, and coming off of somewhat disapointing seasons (they only scored 21 goals after combing for 28 the previous year).

If their scoring production continues to decline, it could another long season for United. That is, unless one of D.C.'s young, African strikers (Ange N'Silu or Francis Doe) steps up to help carry the burden.

These are Blackistone's comrades

2009-03-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist.

No, I'm not focusing on obnoxious newspaper columnists or bizarre youtube videos (is it too late to change topics?). Nevertheless, I thought I'd pass along this video from the Los Angeles Times, which I stumbled upon over at Awful Announcing.

It's Bill Plashke. It's March Madness. It's upsetting.

I pray this (or this) is not what it takes to survive in the evolving world of journalism. If so, I'll gladly try my hand at real estate.

Break Griffin

2009-03-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

My efforts in this space will concern the NBA, future employer of Oklahoma's Blake Griffin. That is, of course, assuming the super Sooner can survive the NCAA tournament in one piece.

Draft scouts have fallen for Griffin, the consensus cream of the 2009 lottery crop. But Thursday it was Griffin who went head over heals, courtesy of Morgan State forward Ameer Ali.

I witnessed the bizarre body slam from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., where initial confusion gave way to indignation from Sooner fans. Thankfully, Griffin was unharmed.

Credit the officials for immediately issuing Ali a rightful ejection. Clearly, this was not an incidental inversion like the DeJuan Blair v. Hasheem Thabeet tango from earlier this season.

But I can't completely blame Ali for his WWE-worthy suplex. After all, the Bears had no other answer for Griffin, who shot 11-for-12 from the field and finished with 28 points and 13 boards.

Still, for Griffin's sake, I hope no one in the association was taking notes.

Cole Hamels' Elbow Makes Me Nervous

2009-03-18T14:08:00.001-07:00

Following the evolving news about Cole Hamels' sore left elbow has become very taxing this week.

First came the disconcerting news Monday that the Phillies' 25-year-old ace was leaving the Phils' spring training site in Clearwater, Fla. to have his sore arm examined by team doctor Michael Ciccotti.

Then came the slightly-more-upbeat news Tuesday that Ciccotti examined Hamels and found no structural damage in the elbow, only inflammation.

But then Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said later Tuesday that Hamels would be a long shot to start the Phils' season opener against Atlanta on April 5.

And now Hamels is saying today he is still focusing on being ready to start Opening Day, and fans "don't need to jump on the bandwagon of freaking out."

I am trying not to freak out, and in the big picture of this season, whether Hamels is ready to pitch on April 5 isn't going to make or break the season as long as he isn't out for too long.

Brett Myers started the opener last season, and everything worked out pretty well.

But the Hamels news is the latest in a string of bad omens this offseason.

Chase Utley needed surgery on his hip in November and while his recovery has been quicker than originally anticipated, it is still is not 100 percent certain he will be ready to start the season. Pedro Feliz has a bad back, and J.C. Romero got suspended for 50 games for using a banned substance.

All of these things could turn out to be much ado about nothing, but they could also be the first signs of a World Series Hangover season.

Cheap Seats

2009-03-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of talk about how the failing economy has and will impact the world of sports. It's been very negative. Major League Baseball and the National Football League cutting their workforces to save some cash, and NBA teams taking out loans to shore up their financial situations.

Those type of stories show how sports doesn't exist in a bubble independent of the rest of us. That's why I'll be blogging on sports and the economy.

But to start I want to focus on a column written by ESPN's Rick Reilly earlier this month. Using the Internet, he realized it was possible to snag tickets to 14 sporting events for under $100 total.

This was a striking contrast to conventional wisdom. All the new stadiums have been driving ticket prices through the roof. When I do get to go to a game, I'm finding cheap hot dogs outside a stadium or I probably don't eat. But Reilly set out to prove that with a little work, it's possible to turn the situation positive.

The heart of this issue is also negative. The most astute point that Reilly makes is that "Some fans with season tickets can't afford the parking, the $7 Cokes or even the razor to shave beforehand." It makes sense. For once, it isn't the rich getting richer. When it becomes much more economical for season ticket holders to stay at home and watch the game on TV, the result is $3 NBA tickets and $4.50 seats in MLB stadiums.

There are flaws with Reilly's plan, and he tries to get around them with jokes, such as packing hamburger buns and loading them up with free condiments for food. But obviously season ticket holders will encounter games that they can't or don't want to go to, and right now, the potential buyers hold the upperhand.

It's still possible to get $5 upper deck game day seats at Nationals Park (which also lowered prices for about 14,000 other seats for its second season). That's like getting a Cy Young season from a cheap rookie pitcher, a bargain in every sense of the word.

And in this economic climate, you have to look for bargains wherever possible. A little work on the Internet could pay big dividends. Just remember the person who had to sell the seat you're sitting in for less than the price of a McDonald's Happy Meal.

-Eric Detweiler

A Moment of Appreciation for the World Baseball Classic

2009-03-17T22:59:00.001-07:00

I just finished watching Japan play Korea on the brand new MLB Network for a spot in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. Korea won 4-1, upsetting the 2006 champs. Japan will play Cuba for the final spot in the semis. This one wasn't an elimination game, but I am still overwhelmed by how awesome this event is, and how many bright spots there are for baseball these days on the world map.

Earlier, I watched with my father as the United States came back from a 5-3 ninth inning deficit to eliminate Puerto Rico. Kevin Youkilis, Brian Roberts, and Derek Jeter manned two thirds of the infield and batted during the decisive frame. Inter-divisional rivalry flew out the window when David Wright's blooper fell in and scored the tying and winning runs. The Americans ran on the field in joy, piled on Wright and behaved like elated Little Leaguers. This tournament embodies all of the most beautiful parts of the game.

As an AL East blogger, I should probably be writing about Jon Lester's contract, or condemning the Classic for [mildly] injuring Chipper Jones, Dustin Pedroia and Ryan Braun. But the Classic simply means more. As a Yankee fan, I should be thanking the baseball Gods for keeping C.C. Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain, Chien-Ming Wang and A.J. Burnett away from the competition.

But baseball is an international sport. And I hold a deep pride that I am from the country that invented it (although I may hold a deeper pride in being from the mile-square New York border town of Hoboken, New Jersey, where the first game was played). As a baseball fan, I want to see my country's best compete against the world's best. The kid in me wants to see C.C. take the ball in the finals or semifinals, and hand the ball over to Joba in the seventh or the eighth. And I am sure that the kids in Jeter, Roberts and Youkilis feel the same way.

Cole Hamels should be in Miami. Brandon Webb and Danny Haren should be in Miami. Rich Harden should be in Miami. Tim Lincecum should be in Miami. Lester should be in Miami. Grady Sizemore should be playing center field. And they should be facing Carlos Zambrano and Johan Santana when they play Venezuela in the pool championship game tomorrow.

As a Yankee fan, I hate Kevin Youkilis. From the visceral depths of my humanity. But as an American, I cheered my head off when he homered against the Commonwealth. And when he fought out an RBI walk during the comeback rally. And I know that somewhere in Boston, a Red Sox fan felt the same way I did when a ball kicked off Jeter's glove in the top of the inning, allowing Puerto Rico's insurance run to score. And when the long fly ball he hit in the ninth was caught.

This is, pardon my heresy, bigger than the Major League season. For soccer fans, when their team wins the league championship, they go bonkers. But when their country wins the World Cup, they lose their minds, party and riot for a week. That is what I want the World Baseball Classic to be [except for the acts of violence]. It is that for some of the other nations of the world. The Latin American players seem to mostly get what they are representing [with the possible exception of the star-studded Dominican Republic]. The Netherlands definitely did. The Asian teams do, too. But in order for that to happen in the U.S., we need our best guys to go play for us. Club teams be damned. There will be the occasional injury, but that didn't stop our players from fighting in World War II, where the risks were considerably higher. We need to get our pride back.

This is for our place in the baseball world. Here America has a chance to show the world what we can do on the diamond. And I challenge anyone to tell me that watching the U.S. rise from the ashes like a hackneyed metaphoric fiery bird of Middle Eastern lore was not just as exhilarating as a game seven in the playoffs. The U.S. team didn't seem to notice the difference in the middle of the mob.

These colors may not run, but Jimmy Rollins, Roberts, Shane Victorino and Jeter sure did when it was time to tackle Wright and scream.

Yankees' Third Base Battle Getting Interesting

2009-03-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

Alex Rodriguez is apparently walking on his own two feet again [I am envious]. Yankees fans must be hoping for a speedy [natural] recovery. But the Yankees are still in need of a nice pair of crutches for the first month of the regular season to cover third base. If spring training is any indication [skepticism appreciated], there are a couple of nice options developing for the Yankees.

Cody Ransom, who hit .302 with four home runs and eight runs batted in [RBI] over 43 at-bats [AB] for the Bombers last season, is following up his cup of tea with an impressive Grapefruit League showing. He is currently hitting .364 with three doubles, a triple and two RBI's through 33 AB's. He has even stolen two bases without being caught. Maybe there is some magic in those 33-year-old journeyman legs after all. Defensively, Ransom has committed one error in 10 chances at third base over the course of his brief time in the big leagues.

And then there is his competition, 2003 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award Winner Angel Berroa. Berroa was last seen hitting .230 with one home run and 16 RBI's for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season after being traded by the Kansas City Royals for a washing machine and an autographed copy of ex-President Bush's autobiography. But the air in Florida seems to be doing the former prospect well. He is hitting a robust .438 with two home runs and eight RBI's through his first 32 trips to the plate. Unfortunately, he had a lower fielding percentage at shortstop last season than the much-maligned Derek Jeter, and has yet to see an attempt at third base in his Major League career.

As well as these guys have performed in March, the Yankees are ultimately going to have to go with a subpar option at third base for the first month or month-and-a-half of the season. Rodriguez is obviously a big bat to replace, as well. Which is why I think that they would probably be better served by getting creative. Xavier Nady apparently played some third base in college, and was six-for-six in fielding opportunities at the hot corner over 18 innings at the position for the 2005 Padres.

No matter what the Yankees do, they are going to be playing someone out of position. Nady can't be much worse than Berroa or Ransom, and if he is even close to their level defensively, moving him out of right field would allow Nick Swisher to play until Rodriguez returns. Swisher was poised to play first for the Yankees until they swooped in and grabbed Mark Teixeira. Offensively, this is by far the best answer for the Yankees. Berroa has only gotten three chances at third this spring, and Ransom has an error in 16 tries. What do they stand to lose by giving Nady a look right now?

LeBron pulls ahead for MVP

2009-03-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

My topic will be the Eastern Conference of the NBA. The first post is about MVP.

Well, if you weren't watching the madness going on in the Big East tonight (you should have been, since that Syracuse-UConn game was one of the most impressive games ever), you might've been watching one of only two NBA games of the night. The Lakers beat the Spurs, and the Cavs beat the Suns. While Kobe had another great night, making clutch spots, LeBron edged ever closer to that MVP title.

This has been Wade's week, to be sure. Putting up consecutive monster games in points and assists, it seems that no one can beat Dwayne Wade. Except for maybe LeBron. James put up his third consecutive triple-double last night, with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. He also had three steals and three blocks, including a great block against a mid-360 dunk Jason Richardson. Impressive block.

It looks like LeBron's going to take the MVP. Kobe is great, as he's always been, but he's surrounded by a great team. Gasol's gotten so much better this year, so you can't really say Kobe's leading his team. He's had several great games, including that ridiculous game in Madison Square Garden (speaking of that 'Cuse-Conn game, another post on that arena coming soon), and a game where he led his team completely by assisting others. Nice guy.

Wade is beyond great this year, he's uninjured, and he's being impressive. But, when push comes to shove, he's not on a great team. He's got Beasley (who will be great, I promise, just give him some time) and now he's got Jamario Moon, an awesomely underrated player, but that won't save his record, which is only 35-29 at the moment.

Or what about Chris Paul? A triple-double two nights ago, arguably the only force putting his Hornets over the top. But no, it's got to be LeBron. Sure, he's got Mo Williams, but beyond that, LeBron is keeping his team in it. He inspires his teammates, and while his assists are almost exclusively to Williams, you can't argue against his effort, especially on defense this year. How many highlight reels have we seen with LeBron blocking a shot that would surely go in, if the team weren't playing Cleveland that night? Too many.

So that's my thoughts. Feel free to disagree.

On a completely different note. Completely different. Quick thoughts on the UConn-Syracuse game. With the exception of our lovable dopey Terps, Syracuse has been, by far, the most entertaining team to watch. Not North Carolina, not Oklahoma, definitely not Duke, and not Pitt. While all of these teams are refined teams and interesting to watch, none is more fun that a good Syracuse game. Between the quick adrenaline point guard Jonny Flynn, the shooter who shoots his mouth off as much as the ball Eric Devendorf, the big man who couldn't buy a foul shot Arinze Onuaku, and so many others, Syracuse has something that other teams don't have, or only have sometimes. Syracuse has flourish. They pass the ball brilliantly, as demonstrated in their deconstruction of Seton Hall, and they've got everything you want from a great ball club. Inside shooting from Flynn, outside shooting from Devendorf and Rautins, and post play with Jackson and Onuaku, they are too much fun to watch. I'm glad they won, and I hope they go a long way in the Big East tourney, but more importantly, the NCAA tournament. Go Orange.

That's all.

-Dave "Big Poppa" Smith

The Fightins' and the WBC

2009-03-12T17:13:00.000-07:00

I guess I'll kick this thing off.

I'll be blogging about the Philadelphia Phillies, and I wanted to start by discussing the members of the Phils who turned down invitations to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

To me, the ideal situation regarding your favorite team and the WBC is to have players turn down spots. That means they are good enough to participate, yet they are not going to get hurt playing in a glorified exhibition.

Brad Lidge, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard all withdrew themselves from consideration to play for Team USA.

The Phils are still well-represented in the event, with Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino playing for the U.S., Carlos Ruiz playing for Panama, J.C. Romero pitching for Puerto Rico and Matt Stairs playing for Canada.

But the Phils' four marquee names are sitting out, and that's for the best.

You don't want Lidge or Hamels blowing out his arm in March, you don't want to see Utley rush back from his hip injury before he's ready, and you don't really need to see Howard over-exert himself either.

Let everybody else's stars tire themselves out in the WBC. The games are entertaining enough that you don't need to see the players from your preferred teams to make them worth watching.

The Phils will be ready to go April 5.