Oldie but a Goodie

From Hot Shots:

What should you do with an elephant that has three balls?

Walk him and pitch to the rhino...

A Weekend in Boston Sports

It was a good weekend in Boston. The Red Sox completed the come back and won a spot in the World Series and the Patriots made Miami look like a DIII school.

Boston did what it should have (and the Yankees should have BTW) in beating Cleveland. No disrespect for Cleveland, but I think that the Sox were arguably the better team, though Cleveland may have been the hotter team coming into the Championship Series. Yesterday's game, like many in the playoffs, was not particularly pretty with errors, bobbles and blown calls (Lofton was safe at second...though not from the umps angle and the third base coach should have sent Lofton), but the game did not end up being close. The Rockies are a feel good story, but I say the Red Sox in 5.

Thew pissed me off the other day by saying something to the affect of, "sure...anyone can be as good as Brady with those receivers, show what he does with a lesser team." I replied, "See Super Bowl XXXVI, Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX." Boston sport fans are particularly sensitive about Brady, who is not as self-promoting as Peyton Manning, who talks about team first and is generally humble about his performance. Statistically, Manning has put up bigger numbers then Brady, but Brady has not had the overall receiver core or the run game of Indy. But Tom wins Super Bowls.

Belichick is out to prove something this year though. After everyone dumped on him because of Spygate, he made it his mission to make a simple point: we will crush you anyway. Prior to the Pats first punt Sunday, the 10 prior possessions against the Cowboys and the Dolphins went: TD, field goal, TD, field goal, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD and...wait for it...TD. Sixty-two points. Brady's QB rating is nearly 140 after seven games. The Patriots have scored on EVERY opening drive this year. 16-0 is possible.

Yes, the Pats will play Indy in Indy in two weeks. That will be a game to watch. And, of course, the Steelers, but the real interesting game will be against the Jets. Belichick wants to humiliate Mangini for crying about the camera. December 16 in Foxboro. I expect the Patriots to do everything they can to run up the score....

In the Sports World...

OJ is in a heap of trouble. Any doubt they will throw the book at him? It is a sad story...OJ was a big hero growing up in the 70s and his early biography - USC, Heisman, Buffalo Bills, Hertz - showed glimpses of a class act. But he just lost control. Too bad.

The New England Patriots were caught violating the rules. Peter King is in hysterics. Now every jealous franchise is doubting the authenticity of the Patriots past performances. LaDainian Tomlinson says that is how the Pats beat the Chargers last year and this year would be different. It was: the Chargers were NEVER in the game. Last year's MVP, Tomlinson managed 40 yards rushing.

Donovan McNabb, coming off of two poor performances and in the lower third of QB rankings, has an explanation: he's black, so he is criticized more. Yeah, that's it. He has got a 68.8 QB rating because of whitey. Being black is a factor to McNabb...he is using it as a crutch.

Tiger Woods does not need excuses or a crutch. He is simply the best golfer in the world. When Tiger has a few bad swings he hits the range...not the airwaves. Tiger is an over-dog you can root for because he is a "no excuses" competitor. Black, white, yellow, green...who gives a shit. McNabb are you listening?

USA, USA. The Women's National Team are on to the quarters of the World Cup and will play England Saturday. Go, girls!

And the Yankees continue to close the gap on the Red Sox. The advantage of winning the division is clear...avoid the Angels in the first round. I am also not counting the Tigers out quite yet.

The Scooter

A sad day for Yankee fans as Phil Rizzuto has died. I grew up listening to Phil and Bill White call Yankee games during the Dark Times of the Seventies and, of course, he is famous for his play calling of Meatloaf's backseat in Paradise by the Dashboard Light.

My reaction on hearing the news: "Holy cow!"

RIP.

Myth Busters

I love the show Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel. I bring this up only because one of the recent show was dedicated to baseball myths. Of interest is whether the humidity of the ball affects the length of a hit. They were looking at the Colorado Rockies and noted that the balls are now kept in a humidor to add humidity for more consistent play.

The answer: Sure as hell does. By 14%. A baseball at a humidity of 10% will fly 14% farther then a baseball at a humidity of 90%. For a ball hit 300 feet, that is an astonishing 40 additional feet for a dry ball.

The point is that, like Thew, I have given Bonds more slack. There are too many variables - field size, pitchers, dry balls - to say Bonds would not be the home run king regardless. You can also wonder how many he would have hit had he had a Manny or A-Rod batting behind him. It all evens out.

Thirty years from now nobody will give a shit.

The Last Bonds post...

OK, now that it's over, the pressure is over, the scrutiny about 756 is over, watch Bonds relax and start hitting 'em a little back on his normal pace - as evidenced by hitting #757 last night.

We had a long conversation about Bonds yesterday, and I really think this: if you look at Bonds, he was a quality player, had good power, and won a few MVP awards before his supposed steroid use. He won MVP awards in 1990, 1992, 1993, was the 1994 Outstanding Baseball Player and Male Athlete of the Year for the ESPY's. So him playing high quality baseball is nothing new. I think that what steroids did (or MIGHT have done, let's speculate here) is allow him to CONTINUE to play at the high level he has already established in his career; steroids didn't all of a sudden make Bonds an MVP caliber player. ALSO, let me re-examine Mark McGwire's HR career - from his rookie record of 49 in 1987 until 1996, when he clouted 52 HR's, he never got above 42; as a matter of fact, through injuries and such, he had the following totals: 32, 33, 39, 22, 42, 9, 9, 39 then went for the 52. Sound familiar? Bonds actually had similar totals for those same years: 24, 19, 33, 25, 34, 46, 37, 33, then went for 42 when Mac hit 52. Add 'em up people: Big Mac 225, Barry 251. Truing up Mac's totals by adding projected totals of 34 (average) for those 2 injury years, and you get another 50ish HR's. So Mac 275, Barry 251. An average of a measely THREE HR's a year. BAM, Mac goes for 52 then 70. So why do we vilify Barry and not Mac? Look in the mirror and answer that question...

Also, we started talking about "warning-track shots" becoming HR's, but Tilam brought up a good point of the Stadiums today. Shorter in many cases, especially down the right field lines - what was a 330 warning track 10 years ago is now a 320 warning track today. 10 feet less maybe combined with 5 feet more carry? Home run. And what is the difference between anyone hitting the ball 315 feet versus 330 feet? Perhaps a millimeter on the barrel of the bat? At most? Look at the physics people, there are factors WAY more impacting here than steroids, in my HUMBLE opinion. Look at the polo grounds - less than 300 at the poles (both of them) yet like 450+ down the center - shaped like a frikkin tear drop? How many long homeruns went to center field to completely die as a long out or underachieve as a double or extra base hit? Too much to consider...I challenge anyone to give me specific empirical proof that steroids MADE Bonds a HR hitter.

Do I think he did 'em? Yeah, I think he did.
Do I think they helped? Yeah, I think they did.
Do I think they made him the HR king? No, I'm not so sure anymore. I think they would have allowed him to continue to perform at a high level, but he didn't wake up one day and become an MVP and HR hitter, sorry folks.
Do I think there are other factors to consider that mitigate this? Yeah, I do. The physics of round ball hitting round bat, lesser quality pitching (which we really haven't mentioned), ballpark dimensions, and a few others.

Bottom Line...I find myself cutting Barry a little more slack. Tilam brings up some fantastic points about asterisks in his prior post, I think they are extremely valid to consider. Barry still needs to clean up his lousy anti-media attitude, but with the comments made by Butthead Selig this past week, how can he NOT be defensive.

Bonds Three

No one in this sad episode comes out smelling nice. It would be nice if someone acted classy. (Correction: Hank Aaron did - with a classy video congratulations.)

MLB looked like assholes with Bud Selig not being there. They represent the game and this is a milestone in the game. Let the fans decide its lasting importance to them. I may not like it, but it is my personal opinion...if I were the Commissioner, I have to be all smiles and laughs.

One other point about Selig is that if Selig felt steriods were THAT big of a deal, he should have suspended Bonds pending a final outcome. Instead, he just whines about it.

Did Maris get pegged with an * for hitting 61 in a 162 game season? Ford Frick, the Bud Selig of his time, vowed that the record would have an asterisk next to it if Maris did not hit 61 in 154 games. Classy guy. Did not happen.

Babe Ruth played at a time when some of the best athletes, who happened to be black, could not play in the league. Asterisk? Nope.

It is Bonds' fault, but he is also suffering (if he were Tony Gwynn, imagine the fanfare), deprived of the unfettered adoration of the baseball public. Maybe he does not care, maybe he does.

One last aside, Bonds was asked about the ball caught by Matt Murphy. Bonds responded that he hoped the guy did not get hurt and he had no interest in the ball. He said, "I've never believed a home run ball belonged to the player. If he caught it, it's his." Classy response...just when you thought you hated a guy...

Bonds part deux

So it's happened. Like Tilam, I wish I felt more elation and excitement, but the cloud of speculation hangs over this event like a morning fog in Scotland. My opinion of this event, frankly, vascilates between high and low.

However, I need to say this: I was looking at some of the highlights in Bonds' career, and some of his older home runs, and frankly, even when he was "smaller", he still had a sweet swing and could still smack the ball a ways. It leads me to think that while they provided him with more bulk and power, ultimately they didn't improve his ability to hit the baseball, and maybe didn't have as much impact to his home run totals as we might think...maybe. Making a home run LONGER is still starting with a home run - making warning track shots homers is becoming a smaller effect in my mind.

Let's look at a couple of figures of note:
- since age 35, Bonds has hit 311 home runs, over 40% of his career total (41% actually). At a time when most power hitters experience a drop off in totals, that is significant. Okay, point taken...
- HOWEVER, and I think this is also noteworthy, over that time frame he's hit only 66 more home runs than Aaron did. Look at it this way: Aaron retired in 1976, he turned 35 in 1969 - so that's 7 years. Bonds is 43, so that's 8 years since age 35. So, in 1 more year of playing after age 35, Bonds hit 66 more home runs (66 HR's over 8 years?). That's an average of 8 more HR's per year, which really isn't significant in my opinion, frankly.- aside from the single season record year of 73 (okay, that IS an aberration), he's never hit more than 49. Could THAT be the steroid effect? Maybe. Look at 1993, he his 46 HR's as a "skinny Bonds". 1996 & 1997 he hit 42 & 40, respectively, as a "skinny Bonds".

Somehow, I might be convincing myself that aside from the monumentous 73 he hit in 2001, the HR's he hit in 2000/2002/2003/2004, all in the 40's, might not be as much of an exception as some people might think.

Steroids or not, ya still gotta hit a moving baseball, still IMO the hardest achievement in sports.

Bud Selig is an asshole for once AGAIN, introducing the steroid allegations into his congratulatory press release. Leave it to Mitchell to handle that, Butt, stop being a dick.

Bonds

Barry Bonds passed Hank Aaron last night. Congratulations. I wish I felt more joy for this record performance, but I don't.

Unfortunately, this is a total mess.

The Zombie Watch

Posting has been incredibly lite for both of us for the last month. For me, it was a surprise as summer is normally a slower time at work...but not necessarily this summer.

Anyway, regarding some of Thew's points:

I can't imagine a worse Baseball Commish then Selig. At least in the sense that I just don't think he gives a rat's ass about the average fan. And, as Thew has said, he does not respect the Game. Finally, though, someone has bitch-slapped some sense into him. That said, the Brew Crew has got to be one of the "feel good" stories in the MLB.

The NBA...Nothing But Assholes. When is the NCAA season starting?

My favorite soccer story is not Beckham right now, but the Asian Cup. After beating the South Koreans in PKs, the Iraqis play the Saudis, who beat Japan. Politics aside, this has got to be a tremendous boost to the people of Iraq. (The terrorists expressed their displeasure.) I think its time that the European clubs will take a flyer on a few players.

Any word on Michelle Wie?


In other sports news, Ben Rothisnvhvhnzcm is dating Missy Peregrym of Heroes and Stick It fame. Which is just an excuse to add a picture of her.

Anyway, Yankees are creeping up and the fact that the Red Sox are beating the Indians, leaders for the AL Wildcard, makes the Sox-Tribe series a win-win for the Yankees. They do have a tough stretch coming up though, which will make or break the season. 4 games against Detroit (in NY), travel for 3 against the Angels, 4 more at Detroit after which they come home and play 3 against the Red Sox. 14 straight games against division leaders.


In other sports news, I have a nasty taste in my mouth after my girls' soccer season. No, not because we lost, but we only placed one player on the 2007-08 Select (All Star) Squad. Now let me get this straight: the team mops the floor with the opposition, only has 1 or 2 close games and one ONE All-star Selection? A bitter, bitter pill. I take total blame, of course. They took the team concept to a very high level and did not cut it as individuals in the try-outs.


Well, work calls....

Hold on a Sec

Wait, while I do not agree with the "sue the world" approach and believe Josh Hancock was responsible for his drinking, I understand the towing truck was in the travel lane, not off to the side. I think the towing service has some 'splaining to do.

As for your other "issue", dude, you just got Porky'd. It sucks being a sex object...

A Rolling Stone Gathers No...

Moss. Bill Simmons' comments are funny and dead-on. Favorite line: Brady to Belichick, "COULD YOU GET ME SOME HELP PLEASE! THERE'S A CHANCE MY EX-GIRLFRIEND PULLED THE GOALIE ON ME THIS WINTER, COULD YOU THROW ME ONE EFFING BONE HERE!" "Pulled the Goalie"?! I nearly pissed myself.

I think Moss is thinking two things: One, there are more important things then money. He will never post HoF numbers in Oakland nor will he ever win a Super Bowl in Oakland. Both are quite possible in New England. Two, there is nothing more important then money and I will be worth nothing in two years if I stay in Oakland. Sooooo, where do I go? I need a top quarterback; a deeper receiving core and an offensive line that will give said QB time. And I want to put up numbers in the play-offs. Hmmmmmm.

Count me as optimistic this is a good move for New England and Moss.

Quinn. Two words: Eli Manning. No one wanted to make that mistake again.

Russell. Good fit in Oakland. He needs a year, but won't get it. The question is is he the next Randell Cunningham or Drew Bledsoe.

Landis. Is there reasonable grounds to believ..Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I love to bike, but I hate TDF politics. The French were going to strip him of the title because he is American.

Yankees. Tom Verducci says they are done. We will see. True Yankee fans see April through September as pre-season ball. Let's talk again in October. They are 5 games below .500, but it is very early.

My Girls. Are 3-0 (5-0, if you view split squads as separate games) for the season and are looking pretty solid. This is my last season with this group of kids, so I am hoping to run the table. The games have been relatively close, but we really have not been threaten yet. We are lucky, we have 4-5 very good players who are very good, but our younger girls (first graders) make our team. It is clear that we have a much stronger young squad then the other teams. Normally, you are happy that the youngsters don't mess up too badly, but we have girls who really contribute.

That is Why I am Not on ESPN

I could not have been more wrong if I tried. The Florida-OSU game was over by half-time...just like the BCS Championship. Ohio State might be getting a complex.

All that said, this is how it should have been. The fact that Florida lost some "easy" games shows, in retrospect, a loss of focus, not talent. Hat's off to them.

In other sports news:

1. Yankees bats and bullpen saved Pavano. But A-Rod's error and all the "boos" in the top of the first was the highlight of the game. Good of Jeter to throw one away to make A-Rod feel better.

2. Schilling had a rough go. His control....well, let him tell you. Maybe I am just nuts, but reading him recap a game is like watching 24. Riveting. (Okay, I am officially in complete baseball crazy mode.)

3. Barry Bonds. He will break the record, probably in late-June. Too bad.

4. Back to NCAA Hoops. Billy Donovan becomes one of only four active coaches to have one more then one title. The others: Bobby Knight, Coach K and Jim Calhoun.

5. Peter Crouch scores a "perfect" hat trick for Liverpool against the Arses...I mean Gunners. A perfect hat trick is a left foot, right foot and header. Given the stinginess of goals and the opponent (Arsenal is not some "soon to be regulated" squad), kudos to Crouch.

Baseball HoF

Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn are in the Hall of Fame. McGuire garnered over the 5% needed to stay on the ballot, but, as expected, did not come close. Harold Baines was the only other rookie to receive 5% or more and remain on the ballot.

According to HoF watchers, next year is a "thin" year; offering guys on the cusp their best shot at admission.