This Pudge-Farnsworth trade really bothers me.
"This is absurd," said a longtime baseball scout. "It's a slap in the face of Detroit Tigers fans. No one else wanted Farnsworth." ~Detroit News
Here's what I know:
-We needed bullpen help.
-The Yankees needed a catcher.
-Pudge was unhappy this year (Rightfully so. Have you seen us play?)
-The Yankees had Farnsworth on the trading block.
So logically, this trade makes sense for both teams, right? As Leyland was quoted as saying, "It really wasn't all that difficult. A common sense situation for us." But here's why this trade baffles me, and all Tiger fans.
1) Pudge Rodriguez was Detroit Tiger.
Yes, he wore the uniform. He came to Detroit four years ago the year after we had 119 losses. But Detroit accepted him. They embraced him as their guy. It hasn't been like that with everyone...Sheffield, Renteria, Cabrera, to name a few. He is the face of the Tigers' resurgence, and he partly responsible for influencing other free agents to sign with Detroit, like Ordonez. And now "our guy" is gone...to the Yankees.
2) Kyle Farnsworth?
It's bad enough we gave Pudge to the Yankees, but for Farnsworth? The Kyle Farnsworth we had on our team in 2005 and then traded to Atlanta because he wouldn't sign a long-term deal with us. Why? He didn't like Detroit. He said as much. He didn't want to play in Detroit. So we send one of the faces of our franchise to the Yankees for a guy who wasn't happy the first time he was here. Grrrrrrreat.
3) A Reliever for a Starting Catcher- Straight Up?
Could happen. But not when you're catcher is red-hot and hitting .290 for the season. A catcher that can hit and play gold-glove caliber defense? Those are ridiculously hard to come by. You have Joe Mauer, Russell Martin, Brian McCann...and that's it! Even at Pudge's old age, he's better than 90% of the catchers in the league. Sure there are others that can hit better. Sure there are others that may play defense a little better. But if you're looking for the total package, few have it like Pudge. Which is why it's so perplexing you would trade him for a single reliever who has a history of under-performing. Relievers are a dime a dozen. You can get them from a thousand different places, which is why I'm still scratching my head.
4) We Fixed Our Bullpen, Right?
Really? Last time I checked, Rodney will still be the closer, Jones will still be ineffective, and Zumaya will still be Zumaya (you have no clue what you'll get). So throwing in an unhappy Farnsworth means our bullpen will be better? By how much? How can one reliever (the caliber of Farnsworth) make that much of a difference? I just don't see it. And now we have a hole at catcher/third base. It's going to be a revolving door at both of those positions for the rest of the year. We tried giving stability to the bullpen, and now we are unstable at two other positions. Sigh.
***
I just feel like we're giving up in a way. I don't feel like our team got better with this acquisition. Normally I can see the benefits with trades and am willing to give them a chance. This one I can't see the benefits. The cost seems to outweigh the return.
Which makes me question Dombrowski. Yes, the guy that built the team that took us to the World Series in '06. He brought in Pudge, Rogers, Ordonez, Guillen, Polanco, Casey, and helped harvest Granderson, Verlander, Robertson, and Zumaya. He hired Leyland to be our leader, which seems to have worked out fantastically.
But that all seems so distant now. In the past two years he's emptied our farm system and brought in questionable guys. Gary Sheffield hasn't panned out. Neither has Edgar Renteria. Jacques Jones failed miserabely. He would trade Renteria or Sheffield for a bag of balls if a team were to offer that.
He traded for Willis and Cabrera, which I admit I was thrilled with at the time. But strangely he offered both gigantic, long-term contracts before they even played an inning in a Detroit uniform. Now Willis has shown he may be the next Rick Ankiel (which we can only hope now) and Cabrera has shown he's our own personal Manny Ramirez. Boy can Cabrera hit, and if this is a "down year" for him, I look forward to better years to come. But other than the hitting, he does nothing on the field or the clubhouse.
Quick sidenote. I watched Cabrera play two games against Baltimore a couple weekends ago, and I cannot tell you how embarrassed I was. The guy did not run out a single ball. I must have yelled, "Run you fat fuck, run!" a thousand times. On defense he is a mess. There were two occasions, once on a low throw and the other on a ball he had to range to his left, where he lost his balance and fell on his ass. Literally stumbled over and fell on his butt. Both times the Oriole's hitters reached base. And instead of hearing the cheers of Baltimore fans, I heard laughter. They were too busy laughing at Cabrera to cheer for their guys reaching base. I was embarrassed.
The point is, Dombrowski's decision making lately has been questionable to say the least. He's loaded up on veteran position players without addressing needs in the bullpen and the rotation. We've been walking out with the same fragile pitching staff for the last two years. You cannot just cross your fingers and hope that everyone will stay healthy, which is what Dombrowski has essentially done. And now he's forced to trade Pudge for a reliever (I say forced because what else would make him make an awful trade like this). I didn't pick the Tigers to win the division or the wild card this year for that reason alone. I thought the offense would be spectacular (wrong) and I thought the pitching would be decent (wrong), but I didn't think they had the depth to stay with the rest of the AL (right).
I just don't know where we go from here. We have the 3rd highest payroll in baseball and an empty farm system again. Yes, I like guys like Rayburn and Joyce, and I hope they develop into everyday guys for us. But what's our plan? How are we really going to fix the pitching staff and bullpen? More high priced free agents? Are rejects like Farnsworth really the answer???
I want answers, and I want them now. Don't bullshit me with, "this is common sense." It's not common sense because it makes no sense. What are you, the Detroit Tigers organization, doing? What is your plan, not just for the next month, but for the next year or two??? Where are we going, and what should I expect as a fan???
Dave, I'm lost here. Tiger fans would like some answers.
~Mikey D
Two thumbs up!
I know I'm a little behind the times, being that it came out two weeks ago, but Grace and I took in a matinee on her day off today.
First, we finally saw the "Watchmen" preview. Grace and I both gave it two thumbs up. The minute the words "graphic novel" and "from the visionary director of 300" appeared on the screen, I figured I'd like it. The preview was enough for me to get excited about its release...and perhaps actually go buy the graphic novel. Perhaps. But definitely will be seeing it in the theater.
The Dark Knight. Like I said, two thumbs up. I actually liked it better than "Batman Begins", and Grace liked them equally the same. As I sat and watched I thought to myself, "My, Batman sure has come along way from the half-hour TV show I used to watch." Not a bad thing, as this was damn good.
Props to Grace to calling Aaron Eckhart Two-Face the minute he brought out a coin in the courtroom. I don't think he even flipped the coin before she leaned into me and whispered, "Ooo he's going to be Two-Face!" Right on.
Speaking of Eckhart, I thought he was fantastic! I am an Aaron Eckhart fan, so perhaps I'm a little bias, but he was my second favorite character in the movie...
...My favorite being Heath Ledger. He was a fantastic Joker, and Grace and I both think he was so much like Jack Nicholson in this movie. It was uncanny, actually. My only problem was I wish he had more face time in the movie. He was a great character, I wish we could have seen more of him! All that said, not an Oscar winning performance, but damn good.
I did not like Maggy Gyllenhaal. I just don't care for her as an actress, and was actually happier to see Aaron Eckhart's character live and hers die. Why? She insists upon herself. Haha, Family Guy reference.
Questions: Did that Chinese guy burn to death on the pile of money? And did the guy who was going to expose Batman die in the truck? I'm going to assume yes on the first, no on the second...
Can't wait for the next one.
~Mikey D
So on our fantasy homepage they have a cool (well, I'm a fantasy dork, so cool to me) new tab that has all of our all-time league results. Yup, all the standings, playoff brackets, team rosters, and winners going back to our league's creation in 2004.
And after careful examination (remember, I have all day to do nothing...), there were some interesting things I came across.
1) The best record of one of Kevin's team has been 7-7 (twice) and he has never finished higher than 4th place.
2004- 3-11, 6th place
2005- 7-7, 6th place
2006- 7-7, 4th place
2007- 3-11, 8th place
And for fun...
Kevin's All-Time Dud Roster:
QB- Joey Harrington (2004)
QB- Vince Young (2007)
WR- Michael Clayton (2005)
WR- David Givens (2004)
WR- Musin Muhammed (2005)
RB- Ahman Green (2005, I still remember "The Fumble")
RB- Rudi Johnson (2007)
It's not even like Kevin drafted bad either (well, Harrington...and Vick that one year...okay, and Vince Young wasn't exactly...fine I'll stop), he just had the WORST luck. Last year is the perfect example. He gets Larry Johnson, Willie Parker, and Rudi Johnson in his first three picks! Then he pawns off Jon Kitna and gets Adrian Peterson! Before last year, if I had those four backs, I'd be on cloud nine. Except none of them performed well, except for Peterson for first part of the year. I just feel bad for his teams, because they've almost always underperformed for him.
I also noticed another pattern...Kevin's team names always start with "Kevin_____". Interesting...Or should I say "Kevinteresting"??? (yes, I am playing dumb here. And yes, Kevin, I am playing dumb)
2) The Adam and Mike Pattern.
2004: Adam Champ
2005: Mike Champ
2006: Adam Champ
2007: Mike Champ
To add to the pattern, in years that Adam has been champ, I've finished in 5th place each time.
Strangely, Adam and I have never faced one another in the playoffs...
Prediction for 2008? Adam wins the league, I finish 5th, and Kevin decides that next year will be the year he drafts all Johnsons and Jones'. Oh and Stacey finishes third and someone who has never played in our league before finishes second (read below).
3) Stacey is awesome at finishing in 3rd place.
In only one year did Stacey fail to make the playoffs, but in the other three years she carried a number one seed (2004, 2007) or a number two seed (2006). Unfortunately, that first round of the playoffs she gets bulldozed, and ends up taking third place. She is the Atlanta Braves of fantasy football: typically great regular seasons, fades away in the post season.
4) Beware the one-year wonder.
Adam and I could consider them championship fodder, but they are always there in that championship game! They are the newbies to the Knob Hill Fantasy League, and they don't last long. They usually play one year, grab their second place finish and hit the road.
2004- Greek Angels (Larissa's one and only year)
2005- Raven's Nest (My dad's one and only year)
2006- 4th Meal Lovers (My friend Jared's one and only year)
2007- Macktastics (Stacey's step-dad's...one and only year [tbd]?)
I really do hope that Stacey's step-dad can play, and I'm hoping my dad will play as well. Otherwise someone new will step-in and grab 2nd place.
5) If we had made our league a keeper league from day 1, 'This Is a Fake Team' might have been owning our asses for years.
Roll call, please:
QB- Marc Bulger
QB- Trent Green
WR- Chad Johnson
WR- Tory Holt
WR- Hines Ward
RB- Shaun Alexander
RB- Edgerin James
TE- Jason Witten
K- Josh Brown
DEF- Tampa Bay
BN- Jeff Garcia
BN- Alge Crumpler
BN- Keyshawn Johnson
BN- Chad Pennington
Okay, last year might have been a down year for that roster, but the previous three, sheesh. Thank god that team was only around one year to destroy Kevin and I.
6) On the homepage it says, "Anyone who spends an hour looking at the history of their fantasy league is a loser to the nth degree."
Dammit.
~Mikey D
Sometimes I make myself laugh:
Grace: Why do you feel so warm?
Me: I dunno.
Grace: You feel like you're on fire.
Me: Well, I just made three straight baskets in NBA Jam, maybe that's why.
Grace: You're such a dork.
He's on fire!!!
My favorite commercial right now:
~Mikey D
Look, we all love our families. For better or for worse, we're always there for them, and always will be. And when favors are asked by family members, we are, more often than not, willing to oblige.
Coincidentally, Grace and I have been asked by each of our families for favors this past week, and we've obliged, but in each case we can't help but feel taken advantage of.
First me. I'll try to keep this story short and to the point. My brother Colin has moved out of D.C. and back home with my dad. He's been unable to find a job, and with a dwindling supply of money, he had no choice but to come back home. Colin, being accustomed to city living now, was disappointed (to say the least) to leave his city life behind. Well his disappointment has turned into motivation, as he's been hitting the streets trying to find a D.C. job.
Okay, in steps Grace and I. We first agreed to help Colin move out of his D.C. apartment with my dad. When we arrived, he had two boxes packed, and nothing was taken apart. Apparently instead of packing and getting things ready, he was out drinking all night (and didn't care that hardly anything was packed...). Sigh. So Grace helped Colin clean his apartment from top to bottom, while trying to get his shit organized. My dad and I started taking apart furniture and loading it into the moving truck. In fact, my dad and I loaded the entire moving truck ourselves without Colin taking one load down. But, family is family, so it's all good.
We unloaded the moving truck back at my dad's, and by this time it was close to dinner. So we went to the Arby's down the street...and I ended up paying for the meal. Not a big deal, but since we helped move him out (and I think the word help is an understatement), it would have been a nice gesture for my brother to pick up the tab. Then again he blew all his money at the bar the previous night, so I guess it was foolish of me to expect anything.
Later I told my brother, since he didn't have a car, that I would be willing to drive him to any interviews he had in the future. I know, I know, I'm a nice guy. So sure enough a few days later, Colin had lined up an interview with a company in D.C. My dad dropped him off at my place and I helped him get prepared for his interview. I examined his resume and made corrections. I printed off copies for him on nice resume paper. I let him use my steamer for his suit and I made him coffee. I let him borrow a professional folder to carry his resumes in. Basically, I hooked him up.
Then I drove him to the metro station that would take him into D.C. When we got there, Colin informed me he forgot his money at home. Deep sigh. So reluctantly I lent Colin my credit card, and told him not to put any other charges on it other than the metro fare. He gave me his word that he wouldn't, and even told me I could check my online statement at home if I was that worried.
After his interview I drove out to the metro and picked him up where he again told me he only used my credit card for metro fare. The next morning I looked online, and sure enough he used my credit card to go out to lunch, as well as for more metro fare. I was disgusted. I called him, and his exact words were, "It's just lunch, get over it." Grrr....
***
Now Grace's sister Amber is moving down from Philadelphia to the Maryland area, and Grace and I have been more than willing to assist in the process. A couple weeks ago she brought down her initial load of belongings, and I left straight from one of my workshops to her new place to help her unload her stuff.
Then, two weekends ago, she came down to do some furniture shopping at IKEA. Grace and I went along to help pick out stuff with her, as well as to help her carry stuff in (she was basically buying everything you need to furnish an apartment). We did just that, and when everything was inside the apartment we began to put some of the furniture together. Her dad helped, Grace helped, I helped, even Grace's other sister and brother-in-law were down to help. Everyone helped...except Amber. She just watched. Grace commented later, and I agreed, that it was weird that she didn't even offer to help, as it was her stuff.
A few days later, Amber asked if I would help paint her living room...with her dad. Not her. Just her dad. Apparently she wasn't making the trip down, but her dad was. Whatever, I've got all summer to sit around and do nothing, not a big deal to pitch in and help. So I did. Her dad and I painted her mammoth living room in one full day. I was proud of us for being so efficient.
Then this past week Amber asked if I would help paint her bedroom...with her dad. Not her. Just her dad. Apparently she wasn't making the trip down, but her dad was. Whatever, I've got all summer to sit around and do nothing, not a big deal to pitch in and help. So I did. Her dad and I painted her bedroom in one day. We even put together some IKEA furniture for her!
Now tonight Grace and I will be heading down to Amber's place because she has a headboard in her car that she needs help taking up to her apartment. Now Grace and I live a half hour away, and Grace works till 7, and with gas prices....but family is family, right??? So even if she lives a half-hour away and it's just a headboard, we should be there to do it. Still, I feel like Grace and I have done sooo much of the grunt work in helping her move down. I mean, we are happy to help, but the problem I have is that she isn't helping, at least not to the degree we are. It is her place afterall...
***
So is there a point where we should stand-up and say enough, or are these just two of those instances where you just have to turn the other cheek and do it all for the love of your family? Is our feeling of being taken advantage of completely unfounded? Is it a feeling that we've fabricated in our heads?
I confronted my brother, as I was genuinely pissed about my credit card. I told him that he was taken advantage of Grace and I, and he scoffed at the notion. As of right now, we aren't really on speaking terms, which hurts. I feel taken advantage of, and he feels that I should just let it go because we are family.
Grace hasn't confronted her sister, but I can tell she's getting a little annoyed. "That's why I love you both," was her sister's text to Grace last night in response to our willingness to help her move her headboard. I'm sure her sister doesn't even realize that we feel taken advantage of. Still, do we say something, or just let it ride? Is this something to make an issue out of, like I did with my brother, or just keep the peace that currently exists?
I guess whether we are being taken advantage of or not, it sure feels like it. I just don't know how to deal with it when it's family that's involved.
~Mikey D
Hey, did you notice something different about my blog?
Yup, trying a new look. Also putting some pictures up as well as showing some love to the underrated (yet spectacular) sitcom, "Intergalactic Gophers".
So whether you like the new look or not, I do, so just love it along with me =).
~Mikey D
"We went from worst to almost first, and that's something we're pretty proud of." ~Frank Robinson, 1989 Baltimore Orioles Manager
That is a quote from one of my favorite sports videos- the 1989 Orioles Season, "Why Not?". It is also the quote Kevin laughs at. Yes, those 89' Orioles didn't win the World Series, much less win the division. They finished second in a heated race to the Blue Jays. Still they were a team that was supposed to finish dead last, and somehow ended up spending the most days in first place out of any team in the division (unfortunately they weren't there on the last day, when it mattered).
While the video can be laughed at now, I still admire that team. A bunch of young nothings mixed with a few veterans, and presto, a contending team that just played hard. They were exciting and fun to watch, and the city got behind them 100%. Every night they had a chance to win, even though they might have been on the short end of the stick talent wise. What more could you ask for? One could draw the similarity from them to the 06' Tigers. A perennial loser, but for some reason or another banded together to make a run.
In my mind, those types of teams are more fun to watch than the Yankees or the Red Sox (and perhaps now the Tigers). The fans seem to appreciate the moment more, and the teams aren't composed of last year's hot free agent crop. The players are home grown talents or outcasts that didn't "fit" with the major market clubs. They play with a chip on their shoulders, with something to prove.
Last night I was at the Tigers-Orioles game (heartbreaking, by the way), and I couldn't help but enjoy the way the Orioles played baseball. In fact, I've enjoyed them all year long. Before the season they were supposed to challenge the record for the most losses in a season, and now they are hovering around .500 in a ridiculous AL East. In Baltimore, after ten straight losing seasons, the fans are excited. Not because they feel their team is going to make a run at the division or wild card, but because there's passion and heart on the field, and every night the people know their team has a chance. I think, as a baseball fan, you will take that from your team. I know I'd like to see it from the Tigers...
Last night was also a promotional night. They gave out a DVD entitled, "Orioles Magic". Back in the late 70's the Orioles composed a cheesy song called, well, "Orioles Magic". It's ridiculously awful, but for some reason they've brought it back this year. They play it now as the players run out onto the field to start the game. Not the greatest pump-up, but hey, it brings back some memories.
I watched the DVD with Grace when we got home after the game, and I was jealous. The video is awful, the song is awful...but there is just something in it that makes me wish my team would do the same. The idea for the video came from the Orioles players (Millar and Guthrie) and was directed by them. They got guys, young guys who haven't been Orioles for too long, to be in the video. You can just tell this team has great comradery and enjoy playing together (baseball, not instruments). I would want my team to be a little silly, to reach out to the fans, and act like a team more. I think the baseball would be better, and I think I'd like watching the team more.
~Mikey D
This makes me laugh. I must have listened to it 1092347983 times.
Almost that time...
~Mikey D
So Drew Neitzel is a Minnesota Timberwolve (however you say it). He's hoping to catch on and make the team, but his chances are pretty slim. Suffice to say, you probably won't see a picture like this coming out of Minnesota:
He's played in two summer league games thus far, getting 4 points on 2-3 shooting (13 minutes) and 10 points on 4-5 shooting (2-2 3-pointers, 15 minutes). He's even got a bio on the NBA Summer League page which has a photo I can't load and gives all his stats. It even says that he went to college at Oklahoma. Oops.
He might not be getting any love from the Summer League website, but he is on the Timberwolves home page. Neitzel is on the homepage doing an interview. A six minute inteview! Unfortunately it's with a gigantic douche who spends three minutes talking about the Hard Rock Cafe and Vegas nightlife. I'm pretty sure Neitzel wanted to stab him.
Probably more than most other Spartan grads, I want to see Neitzel succeed. He gave a lot to MSU basketball, and I just want to seem make it at the next level.
Good luck, Drew.
~Mikey D
I watched all 15 innings last night/this morning, and I have to say...
That was the BEST All-Star game in the history of MLB.
And, without a doubt, one of the ten best baseball games I have seen in my lifetime.
It was awesome, just awesome.
~Mikey D
Jonathan Papelbon (pronounced pap-a-lap-pa-lap-pa-bom) stated (before retracting) that he thinks he should be called upon in the 9th to close out tonight's all-star game if the situation arose.
Apparently he thinks he is more deserving of the closer's role than Rivera. Well, let's let the numbers do the talking!
Jonathan Papelbon:
3-3 record
2.43 ERA
28 saves
4 blown saves
40.2 innings
32 hits allowed
51 strikeouts
7 walks
Mariano Rivera:
4-3 record
1.06 ERA
23 saves
0 blown saves
42.1 innings
23 hits allowed
50 strikeouts
4 walks
Record, innings, and strikeouts about the same. Even Steven. Saves: Papelbon has more, but has had 9 more chances than Rivera. The telling statistic is blown saves. Rivera has held EVERY GAME. Papelbon? Blew FOUR games. 100% save percentage to 87.5%.
Through approximately the same amount of innings, Rivera has given up 1/3 less hits than Papelbon and about 1/2 the number of walks. Meaning, less guys are getting on base, which means opposing teams have less of a chance of coming back.
Papelbon is sporting a nifty 2.43 ERA. Only thing is that Rivera has an even niftier 1.06 ERA. A full run and a half better. That's a good ERA, Papelbon, but just not a great one. 1.06...now that's a great one.
The numbers don't lie. Rivera is a better choice. Love the cockiness, Jonathan, but you aren't the most deserving. Even if you were dead even with Rivera in stats, it's Yankee Stadium. It's the last year. How could you still think you're the most deserving for that moment???
And how big of you to say, "I feel I owe a lot to this game and that's one of the things I owe to this game, to let an elder statesman go ahead of me." Oh, you're letting him go ahead of you?
I admire your work fella, but shut the fuck up.
~Mikey D
There is a sports story today about a guy from Nebraska who posted on a messageboard that two of Oklahoma's QBs had been busted on drug charges and were arrested. The story was picked up by two local television stations and ran. The story, however, was erroneous and fabricated, and the guy who posted it is getting a lot of heat, as well as the stations who ran it (and rightfully so).
Well the sports talk show hosts on ESPN Radio have had a field day with this story. The two television stations have been blasted. The guy who created the story has been blasted. And most surprisingly, each show I've listened to today has blasted people who post on messageboards. The messageboard community is getting ripped on as a whole. Scott Van Pelt even had a debate on who is a bigger dork, the fantasy football player or the person who posts on the messageboard.
The more I listened to, the angrier I got, and I actually turned off my sports talk radio. I never turn off sports talk radio. Today, however, I was really upset.
Let's start with the messageboard posters. Cowherd and Van Pelt ripped on them for having no life and being unproductive with their time. First off, you guys are sports talk show hosts. Now I am a sports fanatic in every sense of the word, but even I realize that in the grand scheme of life, you are not that important to society. You are there for my amusement, and that's it. I'd say much like a messageboard. To me, messageboards aren't places for people to get facts and stories, but rather to communicate and converse. Are some ridiculous? Yes, or course. Just as ridiculous as talking about A-Rod's divorce for an hour on the radio I'd say. But they aren't to be taken seriously. Do I agree that some people spend too much time on them? Sure (although time is relative)! Would I say they don't have a life? Emphatically no. I don't have the right to. And neither do these ESPN radio personalities. What do they know about having a life? What makes them all-knowing? They are paid to talk about sports. They are paid to talk about games. Games. And they are going to criticize ALL messageboard posters, not just the knuckleheads, by calling them losers?
Secondly, they don't know the first thing about messageboards. Some can be quite useful. As I expand my knowledge in the field of culinary arts, I find myself visiting messageboards frequently. Not sure how long and the best temperature to cook a meatloaf? A simple post on a messageboard on a recipe website, and I have five answers from people across the country giving me their opinion. Am I a loser for asking? Am I wasting my life? Now I understand they probably meant just those extreme few who make multiple postings throughout the day on sports messageboards and have to make fun of the other people who post and have to use crude language. But they didn't say that. And even if they did, they're wrong for saying it. Because even those extreme few, who can be assholes sometimes, have the right to say what they want in the medium they choose. Radio show hosts have the radio. I use my blog. Some people like messageboards. That's their outlet. So even though I might wish they'd stop posting, they're not losers for wanting their voice heard.
Moving on to fantasy football. I can admit I am a fantasy dork. I like it, what can I say? I am a dork because I spend way too much time looking at stats and following games. And I will allow anyone else who has played fantasy football to tell me so. I'm fine with that. But for Scott Van Pelt to sit on his radio show and tell people he's never played fantasy football in his life and then call the fantasy community a bunch of dorks and losers I cannot stand. It's downright ignorant, and I hate it. Don't knock something you have no understanding of and have no knowledge of. Just like messageboards. How can you rip a group of people who have a sincere interest in something without first knowing about that interest? How ignorant, uninformed, and shallow can you get?
So call the guy an idiot who posted the story about the two Oklahoma QBs being arrested. He was dumb for making up something so serious. And rip on the two television stations that reported the story as fact. They should never get their information from messageboards. But leave it at that. Don't call messageboard posters losers. Don't rip on fantasy sports. You are not given a mic and a radio show to do so. You are to comment on what you know about the world of sports, conduct insightful interviews, and spark fun sports conversation with your listeners. But remember, you are not an all-knowing human being. Everything you think is not always true. Even you, ESPN and your merry band of radio show hosts, are not perfect.
I'm officially boycotting sports talk for a week, which for those who know me will be hard. Although I suppose I won't be missing much. A-Rod's divorce, Favre's comeback, and the such. Who cares about that stuff?
Oh, right. Losers.
~Mikey D
"This is the greatest match I have ever seen." ~John McEnroe
Always one for the dramatic, McEnroe's words stuck with me yesterday as I watched the entire (yes, all seven hours of TV coverage) Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer. It's been awhile since I've been glued to my television to watch a tennis match (the French Open lost my interest after the second game I do believe), and these guys made the longest match in Wimbledon finals history worth watching.
The greatest match ever? The greatest Wimbledon final? Perhaps. All the tennis commentators ESPN and NBC paraded out after the match agreed that it was, so who am I to argue and disagree with them? Extraordinary level of tennis played on the world's grandest stage by the world's two best players.
But not the greatest match ever. Not the greatest Wimbledon final ever.
First and foremost, let me preface my reasoning by stating a known fact: I am a sports traditionalist. I don't like change, I like history. If I ever go to see a Wimbledon in my lifetime, you better believe I'm enjoying my strawberries and cream as I sit on Henman Hill to watch the final (lord knows I'll never be able to afford a seat inside at court one). It's part of the history! It would be blasphemous if I went and enjoyed a Denny's Grandslam (perhaps appropriately named for the occasion, though) and then watched the match on a big screen in a pub. There are certain things you do at certain places that are just tradition.
Before I get to my point, let's talk surfaces. The French is played on clay, Wimbledon on grass, and the Australian and U.S. are played on hard courts. A clay surface slows the ball down- allowing for long, drawn-out points that last forever. Hard servers are somewhat neutralized by clay. This is why guys like Sampras, Federer and company have such a hard time winning on clay. It allows those scrappy, ultra-athletes whose game might not be the prettiest achieve greatness for their attrition and all-around play. On grass the ball moves fast- real fast. This is where the serve and volley tactic is used to perfection by guys like Sampras. Monster serve that gets to the oppenent in a hurry, weak returns, and finishing volleys. Bing-bang-boom- point over. The hardcourt surface is a combination of the two. Servers can use their serve to their advantage, but clay court athletes aren't overwhelmed by it. That is why you hardly see repeat U.S. open or Australian champions. It's a wide open competition every year.
Right, my point. I was getting to it. Because I am a traditionalist, I expect a certain brand of tennis- and I didn't get it yesterday with Federer and Nadal. I expected serve and volley, because that's the best way to win on grass. If I was colorblind, I would have sworn they were playing on a hardcourt surface, or even clay. Yes Federer attacked the net more than Nadal, but that's the case in every match they play. I was baffled at how little both men served and volleyed...and neither man was serving poorly! I found it really interesting that Nadal at the end of the match started to serve and volley and won points easily. Bing-bang-boom. I watched returns from both men on serves go straight to the middle of the court, no angles and no spin. Right down the middle. Perfect for a serve and volley player. Yes, Nadal and Federer played some great points together, but they should have never happened. I sat and told Grace, "Sampras, in his prime, would smoke both of these guys," not because he was more skilled, but because he knew how to play on grass.
This is what it should look like. This is Sampras versus Agassi at Wimbledon in 99'.
I chose this video because Agassi reminds me most of Nadal and Federer. He doesn't have the serve that those two have, but he plays like them...meaning he's not much of a net player. Do you see how much Sampras dominates him??? Every point on his serve he gets to the net if possible. There are no long rallies. Now he could have stayed at the baseline and rallied with Agassi, and perhaps they would have ended up playing the "greatest Wimbledon final ever", full of crazy shots and emotions. Instead Sampras decided to just steamroll him.
Like I said, great tennis between Nadal and Federer yesterday, but not the type of play I expected from a Wimbledon final. I can't concede that it's the best Wimbledon final when it wasn't played the way it should have been. The traditionalist in me can't admit that. Think of it this way: A horse race that ends in a photo-finish, but instead of both horses running the shortest and straightest path to the finish line, they decide to swerve and zig-zag all over the track. Greatest race ever? You had a photo-finish, but you know deep down better races had been run. Nadal and Federer had a great race with a great finish, but how they got there...I know there's been better.
But like I said, who am I to argue? I am not nearly the tennis expert others claim to be. Just one man's opinion. I still say Ivanisevich/Rafter in 2001 was the greatest (another five set classic), with McEnroe/Borg in 1981 a close second. Ivanisevich, winning the tournament he dreamed about winning as a little boy, as a wild-card entrant, by knocking off top-ranked player after top-ranked player in five-set match after five-set match was remarkable.
Wimbledon 2008: A great tennis match between two great players, but not the greatest match ever, and not the greatest Wimbledon ever. If anything it was a statement on the state of men's tennis and how, outside of Nadal and Federer, there are few good to great players.
~Mikey D
You knew the All-Star game starters are being announced this Sunday, right? Haha, right. Well since I have nothing to do all day now, I decided to pour over the stats and come up with my All-Star line-up from top to bottom. Now last year each squad had 32 players, so I'm going off that. I tried to keep it similar and realistic by including the same number of position player and pitchers that were on the teams last year.
Anyway, I looked at all stats and tried to pick players that excelled in multiple categories. If you were a hitter, I wanted a well-rounded player who hit for average, power, and knocked in runs. If you were a pitcher, I wanted a solid ERA along with a decent number of innings pitched. Strikeouts, saves, and wins were all plusses. I also tried to look at players who made valuable contributions to the success of their respective team.
So, without further ado...
AL Starters:
C- Joe Mauer (MIN)- .326, 3 HRs, 36 RBI (AL Batting Leader)
1B- Justin Morneau (MIN)- .310, 12 HRS, 63 RBI
2B- Ian Kinsler (TEX)- .323, 13 HRs, 50 RBI, 114 hits (1st in AL, 2nd in MLB)
SS- Michael Young (TEX)- .288, 7 HRs, 45 RBI
3B- Alex Rodriguez (NYY)- .317, 17 HRs, 47 RBI (in only 66 games!)
OF- Milton Bradley (TEX)- .320, 17 HRs, 51 RBI
OF- Josh Hamilton (TEX)- .308, 19 HRs, 82 RBI (MLB League Leader)
OF- Jermaine Dye (CWS)- .305, 19 HRS, 52 RBI
DH- Aubrey Huff (BAL)- .283, 17 HRs, 52 RBI
SP- Cliff Lee (CLE)- 11-1, 2.26 ERA, 93K, 111.2 IP
AL Reserves:
Pitchers:
SP-Justin Duchscherer (OAK)- 9-5, 1.96 ERA (MLB League Leader), 59 K, 92 IP
SP- Joe Saunders (LAA)- 12-4, 3.04 ERA, 58 K, 112.1 IP
SP- Ervin Santana (LAA)- 9-3, 3.28 ERA, 106K, 115.1 IP
SP- Roy Halladay (TOR)- 9-6, 2.90 ERA, 106K, 130.1 IP, 6 Complete Games
SP- Felix Hernandez (SEA)- 6-5, 2.83 ERA, 93K, 108 IP
RP- Francisco Rodriguez (LAA)- 1.93 ERA, 35 K, 34 Saves
RP- George Sherrill (BAL)- 3.62 ERA, 38 K, 27 Saves
RP- Joe Nathan (MIN)- 1.30 ERA, 38 K, 23 Saves
RP- Joakim Soria (KC)- 1.22 ERA, 41 K, 23 Saves
RP- Mariano Rivera (NYY)- 0.96 ERA, 42 K, 22 Saves
RP- Jonathan Papelbon (BOS)- 2.00 ERA, 47 K, 24 Saves
Fielders:
C- Dioner Navarro (TB)- .312, 4 HR, 33 RBI
1B- Kevin Youkilis (BOS)- .308, 13 HRs, 51 RBI
2B- Dustin Pedroia (BOS)- .309, 9 HRs, 39 RBI
SS- Derek Jeter (NYY)- .279, 4 HRs, 35 RBI
3B- Mike Lowell (BOS)- .300, 12 HRs, 49 RBI
3B- Evan Longoria (TB)- .275, 15 HRs, 50 RBI
OF- Magglio Ordonez (DET)- .307, 12 HRs, 50 RBI
OF- Manny Ramirez (BOS)- .279, 16 HRs, 53 RBI
OF- JD Drew (BOS)- .304, 16 HRs, 51 RBI
OF- Grady Sizemore (CLE)- .267, 21 HRs (AL league leader), 47 RBI, 20 SB
OF- Carlos Quinten (CWS)- .276, 19 HRs, 61 RBI
AL's "I Wanted To, But I Just Didn't Have Room" List:
1) C- A.J. Pierzynski (CWS)- .303, 7 HRs, 32 RBI
2) 2B- Brian Roberts (BAL)- .291, 6 HRs, 31 RBI, 22 SB
3) OF- Jose Guillen (KC)- .280, 13 HRs, 64 RBI
4) OF- David DeJesus (KC)- .321, 9 HR, 43 RBI
5) RP- Bobby Jenks (CWS)- 1.95 ERA, 19 K, 18 Saves
Observations:
I think the AL's roster is more debatable (stat wise) than the NL. I included some guys whose numbers might not have been as good as others (but were fairly close), but have meant a lot to their individual team, like Carlos Quentin, Evan Longoria, Dioner Navarro, or George Sherrill. I was shocked when I looked at the AL starting line-up and discovered I had four Texas Rangers starting. Even more shocking was the fact that I have only one Yankee and Red Sox (Alex Rodriguez) and the fact that only one starter is on a team in first place (Jermaine Dye). At the same time, however, every player in the batting line-up is on a team .500 or better. Kind of interesting.
I shocked myself by putting Aubrey Huff as the starting DH. I had no idea he was having the kind of year he was. With Matsui and Ortiz shelved, he has the best numbers of all the DHs. Giambi is comparable (who I thought I was going to start), but Huff has hit for a higher average. Hey, it's not a sexy pick, but he's the most deserving.
The AL starting pitching this year makes you go "who?", but it's the relief pitching that is lights out. If you're an NL batter, you do not want to see a single one of those filthy mother fuckers. The AL could use their starters for three innings and let the bullpen take over, which is absolutely scary.
Seven Red Sox and Yankees on the bench (6 Red Sox (6!), only 1 Yankee). Chill out Boston and New York. You got represented.
And just one Tiger...and it was hard to find one deserving...
NL Starters:
C- Brian McCann (ATL)- .295, 14 HRs, 46 RBI
1B- Lance Berkman (HOU)- .353, 22 HRs, 68 RBI, 12 SB
2B- Chase Utley (PHI)- .300, 24 HRs (MLB League Leader), 67 RBI
SS- Hanley Ramirez (FLA)- .299, 20 HRs, 41 RBI, 21 SB
3B- Chipper Jones (ATL)- .389 (MLB League Leader), 17 HRs, 47 RBI
OF- Carlos Lee (HOU)- .292, 19 HRs, 65 RBI
OF- Xavier Nady (PIT)- .323, 12 HRs, 52 RBI
OF- Corey Hart (MIL)- .292, 14 HRs, 52 RBI, 12 SB
DH- Albert Pujols (STL)- .345, 17 HRs, 47 RBI
SP- Tim Lincecum (SF)- 10-1, 2.49 ERA, 122 K (MLB League Leader), 115.2 IP
NL Reserves:
Pitchers:
SP- Edinson Volquez (CIN)- 10-3, 2.24 ERA (NL League Leader), 113 K, 104.2 IP
SP- Brandon Webb (ARI)- 12-4 (MLB League Leader), 3.43 ERA, 100K, 118 IP
SP- Ben Sheets (MIL)- 9-2, 2.83 ERA, 91 K, 111.1 IP, 3 CG
SP- Aaron Cook (COL)- 11-5, 3.38 ERA, 59 K, 125.1 IP
SP- Dan Haren (ARI)- 8-4, 2.85 ERA, 96 K, 110.2 IP
SP- Cole Hammels (PHI)- 9-5, 3.22 ERA, 110 K, 128.2 IP (NL League Leader)
SP- Carlos Zambrano (CHC)- 8-3, 3.13 ERA, 68 K, 106.1 IP
RP- Kerry Wood (CHC)- 2.38 ERA, 53 K, 21 Saves
RP- Brad Lidge (PHI)- 0.79 ERA, 47 K, 19 Saves
RP- Billy Wagner (NYM)- 1.85 ERA, 40 K, 19 Saves
RP- J.C. Romero (PHI)- 4-1, 40 G, 1.91 ERA, 30K
Fielders:
C- Russell Martin (LAD)- .306, 9 HRs, 40 RBI, 8 SB
1B- Adrian Gonzalez (SD)- .288, 21 HRs, 68 RBI
1B- Derek Lee (CHC)- .296, 15 HR, 52 RBI
2B- Dan Uggla (FLA)- .289, 23 HRs, 58 RBI
2B- Brandon Phillips (CIN)- .289, 14 HRs, 54 RBI, 17 SB
SS- Christian Guzman (WAS)- .317, 5 HRs, 27 RBI, 116 Hits (MLB League Leader)
3B- David Wright (NYM)- .292, 16 HRs, 65 RBI
OF- Matt Holliday (COL)- .336, 10 HRs, 40 RBI, 10 SB
OF- Ryan Ludwick (STL)- .292, 16 HRs, 56 RBI
OF- Patt Burrell (PHI)- .278, 21 HRs, 52 RBI
OF- Nate McClouth (PIT)- .282, 15 HRs, 53 RB
NL's "I Wanted To, But I Just Didn't Have the Room" List:
1) 1B- Ryan Howard (PHI)- .219, 22 HRs, 72 RBI (NL League Leader)
2) SP- Ryan Dempster (CHC)- 9-3, 3.24 ERA, 93 K, 111.0 IP
3) C- Geovany Soto (CHC)- .283, 13 HRs, 50 RBI
4) SP- Johan Santana (NYM)- 7-7, 3.01 ERA, 103 K, 113.2 IP
5) SP- Jair Jurrjens (ATL)- 8-4, 3.09 ERa, 75 K, 105 IP
Observations:
The NL's starting pitching is RIDICULOUS. The entire pitching staff could have been composed of starting pitchers. There were a lot of starters I left off this roster, and I'd have a tough time arguing against people who'd say they should be on. Despite the strenght of the starting pitching, the NL bullpen was relatively weak. There were only a few dominate closers, and a lot of mediocre guys, which is why I gave Romero the last spot on the staff (I think he is the best set-up man in baseball).
First base was the deepest position for the NL. You can pick and choose a half dozen guys for that spot. The outfield was definitely the weakest...I really struggled finding guys to fit in there. There were about ten guys with all similar stats, but none of them that just jumped off the page.
Looking at the NL reserves is like looking at a second starting line-up. Any of those guys could be argued as starters, and their numbers prove it. That's a legit bench.
All-Star Game Prediction:
If I went by stats alone, I'd have to go with the National League...but I'm not doing that. First, the American League may not have as strong of starting pitching as the NL, but in a game where pitchers are asked to pitch only 1 inning apiece, I'd rather have a team of strong relievers than starters. They just know how to pitch in short time frames, unlike starters who need time to warm-up and prepare.
Second, this game is New York's Yankee Stadium. The farewell. I would hope these AL guys have a little pride in sending Yankee Stadium out in style.
Third, the AL has quite the win streak going. The last time the NL won was 1996. Do you bet against recent history? And remember, the AL just finished spanking the NL in interleague play...
I still go back to the pitching. I trust those relievers. I'll ride them to victory.
Prediction: American League 8, National League 3.
Game MVP: Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox
***
WARNING: Depressive Stats Below.
After going through all of the stats, I stumbled across our bullpen from last year (Okay, Jurrjens was a spot starter...but he did do some long relief!). Ummm...what the hell? Where was all this last year!?!? Notice, however, they are all on NL clubs...but still.
Tim Byrdak (HOU)- 2-0, 30 G, 1.67 ERA
Jason Grilli (COL)- 2-1, 30 G, 2.79 ERA
Chad Durbin (PHI)- 2-1, 32 G, 1.58 ERA
Jair Jurrjens (ATL)- 8-4, 3.09 ERA, 75, 105 IP
Fucking A.
Happy 4th.
~Mikey D
All the coverage on television and sports talk radio on a possible return to football for Brett Favre makes me want to vomit. Is there anyone still out there (outside of Green Bay) that gives two shits and a fuck if this guy comes back anymore? I think I can safely say that America, as a whole, respects what Brett Favre has meant to football and his accomplishments in football but are sick and tired of seeing and hearing of his retired ass.
So here's what I purpose, Mr. Goodell. The Brett Favre Rule, aimed specifically to deter players in the future from doing what Brett Favre is doing right now. Yes, I am a genius.
The Brett Favre Rule:
1) Any player that announces his retirement is automatically ineligible to play in the upcoming season and postseason. There, no second guessing three months after you said you were done forever. This part of the rule is designed to make the player actually think about making the decision to retire. You better be damn sure you're done before you say you are. Thinking about something before doing it...Novel idea, I know.
2) If a player decides to unretire, he must make his intention known by April 1st. This is, of course, after being retired for one full season. Why April 1st? For one, it's an entire month before the NFL Draft. This gives teams ample time to figure out their draft plans. Would a team waste a pick on a QB in the draft knowing they'd be getting their veteran QB back from retirement? No, of course not, which is why imposing a deadline would allow teams to plan for such instances. It also prevents players showing up halfway through training camps. If you're coming back, then you're coming back fully committed.
3) You are allowed one comeback. No multiple comebacks. Period. You're lucky you're getting one.
All in favor say 'I'. I!
Unanimous. Rule instated.
~Mikey D
