I have not written for a long time. I have been super busy with whatever. In this edition of the Sweet Up and Down I want to discuss 4 topics. On the plate today, we have Duke basketball, a stupid rule in basketball, Tiger Woods, and Major League Baseball.
1. Duke won the title in 2010. Whoop de do. Has there ever, in the history of the tournament, been a less-deserving champ? Over the course of the 3 week tournament, Duke beat the likes of Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Cal, Purdue, Baylor, West Virginia, and Butler. On the other hand, Butler, this year's runner-up beat the likes of UTEP, Murray St, Syracuse, Kansas St, Michigan St, and then lost in the final by 2 to Duke. I think it is safe to say Butler deserved the title and would have had it had they gotten a call or two go their way. Specifically, Jon Scheyer drew a charge midway through the second half. It was easily the worst call I have ever seen and had it been called the right way, Butler would have gotten an 'and 1' from the play. Boom, 2 points, tie game.
2. A stupid rule in basketball. This rule works in both college and the NBA. Let's picture a late game scenario. Let's say you are LeBron James. You are down by 3 points late in the game. You have one last chance to hit a shot to possibly tie the game. As you take the ball down the court, you are fouled before you get the chance to take a shot. The other team is not letting you get the chance to tie the game. Instead of playing defense, they foul. Is that good for the game? Is it good for the fans? No and No. I can understand when you are losing at the end of a game, the need to foul. A team that is trailing needs possessions. In this situation, a foul is justified as a way to try to steal. BUT when you are winning the game and you foul someone so blatantly, how is that justified? I think this is the single dumbest rule in the game and it should be changed. A foul at the end of a game that is intentional in nature by the team that is winning should be called intentional. The best way to fix it.
3. Tiger Woods is presently playing his first round at Augusta. Yesterday, the Chairman of the Masters, Billy Payne, decided to read a statement about Tiger Woods. He basically said things like Tiger has let us down and that he is sincerity is what we must now look to. And on and on. I can only think that is just not the place or the time or even the person to be saying these sorts of things. Who the F cares what Billy Payne, Chairman of the Masters, thinks we need to feel about Tiger? Who is he to judge? I thought his comments were wholly inappropriate and at best misguided.
4. MLB. I just read the quotes from Jerry West about the length of the Yankees-Red Sox games. What the hell is going on here? Their games last for nearly 4 hours? Last night Angel Hernandez had to deny 4 (yes, 4) timeout requests. Why does everyone need a damn timeout after every pitch? I saw a few days ago that there was some research done in this and they went and looked at a game from 1957, I believe, and in that game they found that not one batter ever stepped out of the box once they had stepped in. No one batter, not one time during an entire game. Nowadays, people step out of the box after every pitch for every at-bat for an entire career, much less a season and even more lesser, a game. This isn't just a Yanks Sox problem. It's league wide and needs to stop. Now, please.
Showing posts with label mlb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mlb. Show all posts
1.16.2010
The Curse of the Era
The 'steroids era' lasted roughly from 1989 to 2003. During this time, more players hit more homeruns more frequently. This is a statistic that can be proven. Hundreds of players were using either steroids, HGH or some other PED. Big name players have either come out or gotten caught using. Players like Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, David Ortiz, Rafael Palmero, and others that are suspected like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. Are these players all bad people? Were they chosen to play in this era and use drugs? No and No. I am sick and tired of hearing from other older players who ridicule the steroid users. As if the players not playing in the era are somehow morally superior. I heard Matt Holliday who plays now, after the era, talk about how he does not approve of McGwire using. Of course you don't approve. If he had played in the era, he could have easily been a user. I can say the same for Hank Aaron, Jack Clark and whoever else. Babe Ruth? This guy was an alcoholic, womanizer. If there were steroids, would he have used? How can we give moral superiority to those who were lucky enough to play outside of the era? It is unfair and I can't stand it anymore. The point is this: No one outside of the era can possibly understand what it was like to play in the era. So judging those within the era is wrong and needs to stop.
11.02.2009
Deserving Sports Fans
I read a blog on Yahoo! about Green Bay Packers fans and how they didn't deserve to lose to Brett Favre twice. The post goes into really no detail about why they did or did not deserve to lose to Favre twice. He does say, though, some things....
"Most of us will never see our hero, arguably the best player in the history of our franchise, come back in the colors of our arch-rival and then destroy us, cementing the fact that his new football team is now clearly better than his old one."
This might be true. But what other things will most of us never see? Let's see. The Detroit Lions, from 2007-09 lost 19 games in a row. Not many cities get this privilege. The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold the record for most consecutive losing seasons at 17. This record is ongoing and I don't see an end in sight. Most fans won't see this happen, either. So, who really cares what most of us will ever see. In sports, anything can happen.
"Karma failed us. After everything that's happened, all the breathless media reports, all the spin, all the lies, all the hurt feelings ... Brett Favre gets to come out on top, both times? This time, in your own front yard? That is not right. That is not just."
Karma does not care about Packers fans or Vikings fans or Yankees fans. Justice and karma and 'things working out right' don't exist, especially not in sports. There is no justice in sports. There is just sports. Karma doesn't help out a franchise. Things just happen.
"I guess "deserve" is a concept that doesn't apply here, though. Things happened the way they did because Minnesota has a better football team. They have a better defense and a better running attack. In this case, that means they win. It sucks, but that's how it works."
This last quote negates the entire article. If only the author would have come to this realization at the beginning of the article, he could have stopped writing. He finally understands. The Red Sox were never cursed. They had inferior teams. The Cubs are not cursed. They might be a bit unlucky. But overall, they have not had the best team. In sports, justice, fairness, karma, 'getting what's yours' and whatever else do not exist. The best team usually wins, no matter the colors on the uniform.
"Most of us will never see our hero, arguably the best player in the history of our franchise, come back in the colors of our arch-rival and then destroy us, cementing the fact that his new football team is now clearly better than his old one."
This might be true. But what other things will most of us never see? Let's see. The Detroit Lions, from 2007-09 lost 19 games in a row. Not many cities get this privilege. The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold the record for most consecutive losing seasons at 17. This record is ongoing and I don't see an end in sight. Most fans won't see this happen, either. So, who really cares what most of us will ever see. In sports, anything can happen.
"Karma failed us. After everything that's happened, all the breathless media reports, all the spin, all the lies, all the hurt feelings ... Brett Favre gets to come out on top, both times? This time, in your own front yard? That is not right. That is not just."
Karma does not care about Packers fans or Vikings fans or Yankees fans. Justice and karma and 'things working out right' don't exist, especially not in sports. There is no justice in sports. There is just sports. Karma doesn't help out a franchise. Things just happen.
"I guess "deserve" is a concept that doesn't apply here, though. Things happened the way they did because Minnesota has a better football team. They have a better defense and a better running attack. In this case, that means they win. It sucks, but that's how it works."
This last quote negates the entire article. If only the author would have come to this realization at the beginning of the article, he could have stopped writing. He finally understands. The Red Sox were never cursed. They had inferior teams. The Cubs are not cursed. They might be a bit unlucky. But overall, they have not had the best team. In sports, justice, fairness, karma, 'getting what's yours' and whatever else do not exist. The best team usually wins, no matter the colors on the uniform.
10.07.2009
MLB Postseason Predictions
Ahh, the postseason is upon us. What a time. October baseball. This is what I love, right here. I love it even more when my team, the St. Louis Cardinals, are part of the tournament. So, with that bias in mind, let's get to the predictions....
We'll start with Colorado and Philadelphia. The season series went to Philly 4-2. Philly really dominated the season series with the Rockies only able to win the first game of each 3-game series. The second series featured Cliff Lee's first home game in a Philly uniform. He pitched extremely well. They threw out J.A. Happ and he pitched a complete game 4 hitter. In the Rockies wins, though, they outscored Philly 18-6. So I can't count out Colorado just yet. Game 1 today at 1:37 central time. It will be Jimenez v Lee. Jimenez hasn't faced the Phillies this season and Lee had that great performance shortly after coming to Philadelphia. The offense is a similar story. In beating Colorado 4-2 in the season series, Philly only outscored Colorado 31-28. That's real close for having 4 wins and only 2 losses. I expect this series to be a close one with Colorado winning at least one game and possibly two, pushing it to a decisive 5th game. Tonight though, I am going with Philly. Cliff Lee is too good and the Philly lineup is too good. It's a rough series and Colorado is dangerous, winning tons of games in the second half of the season. They give Philly a fit but not enough to overcome what they face. Philly in 5.
The second game of the night, starting at 5:07 central, is where you'll find my first complaint of the post. Minnesota vs. NY. Minnesota just defeated the Tigers to make it to the ALDS. They had to play a decisive 163rd game. MLB was waiting to set the American League series dates and times until after this decisive game. Then, after the game, one that lasted 4 hours and 37 minutes, they schedule the Twins to play at Yankee Stadium in 20 hours. How can that make any sense? It's so ridiculous. I can't believe MLB would do that. Actually, I can. They do things that don't make sense all the time. So, this is right within their character. So stupid. Ok so the prediction....New York won the season series 7-0. The just dominated in all accounts. The Twins are under matched and now tired. They were outscored 41-25 in those 7 games. They are really going to have a hard time holding down the Yankee offense and even more trouble scoring against the Yankee pitching which includes a determined CC Sabathia. Yankees in 4.
The 3 game of the day, starting at 8:37 central, pits the St. Louis Cardinals against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's a story of two of the most storied franchises in the National League. It's a rivalry that goes back decades. And it's a series that features two of the best hitters in the game in Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez. It also features two Cy Young candidates in Chris Carpenter (my vote) and Adam Wainwright. Carpenter gets the start for St. Louis and Randy Wolf gets the nod for LA. In the 5 wins versus LA this season, the trio of Carpenter, Wainwright and Pineiro have combined for 38 innings pitched and given up only 6 earned runs. That's ridiculously good. It's an ERA of 0.95. I think this stat is the story of the series and possibly the rest of the postseason. I have St. Louis in 4 games.
The last game, taking place on Thursday at 8:37 central, is Boston vs. LAA of A. LA won the season series 5-4 and outscored Boston in those games 43-40. It's extremely tight between these two teams. Boston has tons of depth at starting pitching but has injury question marks. LA has imporved their offense but has pitching questions. I think this series is the closest of all and it goes to a 5th game. I'm taking LA in a decisive 5th game back in Anaheim.
NLCS matchup of St. Louis and Philadelphia
ALCS matchup of LAA of A and NYYankees
I want to continue the predictions but I'm afraid it would be a waste of time if I am wrong, which is a strong possibility. Getting to the postseason is extremely hard. Winning in the postseason is even harder. The 8 teams are so close in their abilities, it makes predicting these playoffs almost impossible. Can Minnesota actually knock of New York? Probably not but you can't rule it out. Can LA beat the NL Central two years in a row? Can Manny hit? Can the Angels actually overcome an AL East opponent? What about Colorado? Philly is going for a repeat. It seems like a strong possibility at this point. Who knows? We'll have to wait and see.
We'll start with Colorado and Philadelphia. The season series went to Philly 4-2. Philly really dominated the season series with the Rockies only able to win the first game of each 3-game series. The second series featured Cliff Lee's first home game in a Philly uniform. He pitched extremely well. They threw out J.A. Happ and he pitched a complete game 4 hitter. In the Rockies wins, though, they outscored Philly 18-6. So I can't count out Colorado just yet. Game 1 today at 1:37 central time. It will be Jimenez v Lee. Jimenez hasn't faced the Phillies this season and Lee had that great performance shortly after coming to Philadelphia. The offense is a similar story. In beating Colorado 4-2 in the season series, Philly only outscored Colorado 31-28. That's real close for having 4 wins and only 2 losses. I expect this series to be a close one with Colorado winning at least one game and possibly two, pushing it to a decisive 5th game. Tonight though, I am going with Philly. Cliff Lee is too good and the Philly lineup is too good. It's a rough series and Colorado is dangerous, winning tons of games in the second half of the season. They give Philly a fit but not enough to overcome what they face. Philly in 5.
The second game of the night, starting at 5:07 central, is where you'll find my first complaint of the post. Minnesota vs. NY. Minnesota just defeated the Tigers to make it to the ALDS. They had to play a decisive 163rd game. MLB was waiting to set the American League series dates and times until after this decisive game. Then, after the game, one that lasted 4 hours and 37 minutes, they schedule the Twins to play at Yankee Stadium in 20 hours. How can that make any sense? It's so ridiculous. I can't believe MLB would do that. Actually, I can. They do things that don't make sense all the time. So, this is right within their character. So stupid. Ok so the prediction....New York won the season series 7-0. The just dominated in all accounts. The Twins are under matched and now tired. They were outscored 41-25 in those 7 games. They are really going to have a hard time holding down the Yankee offense and even more trouble scoring against the Yankee pitching which includes a determined CC Sabathia. Yankees in 4.
The 3 game of the day, starting at 8:37 central, pits the St. Louis Cardinals against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's a story of two of the most storied franchises in the National League. It's a rivalry that goes back decades. And it's a series that features two of the best hitters in the game in Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez. It also features two Cy Young candidates in Chris Carpenter (my vote) and Adam Wainwright. Carpenter gets the start for St. Louis and Randy Wolf gets the nod for LA. In the 5 wins versus LA this season, the trio of Carpenter, Wainwright and Pineiro have combined for 38 innings pitched and given up only 6 earned runs. That's ridiculously good. It's an ERA of 0.95. I think this stat is the story of the series and possibly the rest of the postseason. I have St. Louis in 4 games.
The last game, taking place on Thursday at 8:37 central, is Boston vs. LAA of A. LA won the season series 5-4 and outscored Boston in those games 43-40. It's extremely tight between these two teams. Boston has tons of depth at starting pitching but has injury question marks. LA has imporved their offense but has pitching questions. I think this series is the closest of all and it goes to a 5th game. I'm taking LA in a decisive 5th game back in Anaheim.
NLCS matchup of St. Louis and Philadelphia
ALCS matchup of LAA of A and NYYankees
I want to continue the predictions but I'm afraid it would be a waste of time if I am wrong, which is a strong possibility. Getting to the postseason is extremely hard. Winning in the postseason is even harder. The 8 teams are so close in their abilities, it makes predicting these playoffs almost impossible. Can Minnesota actually knock of New York? Probably not but you can't rule it out. Can LA beat the NL Central two years in a row? Can Manny hit? Can the Angels actually overcome an AL East opponent? What about Colorado? Philly is going for a repeat. It seems like a strong possibility at this point. Who knows? We'll have to wait and see.
9.29.2009
Indisputable Evidence
The Colorado Rockies beat the St. Louis Cardinals in an important game this past Sunday. The play that ended the game was a double play. Clint Barmes made what seems like an amazing play. He went over his shoulder and had the wherewithal to double Albert off first. The replays looked legit. Well here are some still photos from the stands.....
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