Tuesday, June 15, 2010
How About Some Facts with that Statement, Buster Olney?
I really do get tired of the talking heads on TV and the radio siting things that have no factual basis. Buster Olney from ESPN was asked his thoughts on why there have been two perfect games this eyar and really a third, but for the blown call. Olney indicated that since MLB instituted steroid testing, which I’ve concluded from a quick search on the internet started in the Spring of 2004, power numbers are down and that’s what’s contributing to the perfect games and recent no-hitters, including Ubaldo Jimenez no-no earlier this year. So, when I hear stuff like this I start to think of what goes into a no-hitter or perfect game. First of all, it has little to do with power numbers; it’s all about hits and getting on base from the offensive perspective, and defense behind the starting pitcher. So thanks to baseball Reference.com I did a little research on my own, and determined that there has been little to no change in the number of hits/9 innings over the course of the last 15 years. Sure power numbers have fluctuated over this time period, but a hit is a hit is a hit, so who cares if a guy drives a ball 500 feet over a wall or dribbles a ball off the plate, down the 3rd base line and beats out an infield hit. Personally, I think that the increase in no hitters and perfect games recently is an aberration, and more luck than anything. Go back and do some research Buster, and then let me know what your theory is! Go O’s, heading to the top of the AL East in the next half century!
Worst Team Ever?
When you think the worst is over, think again, b/c this O's team is sinking to new lows on a daily basis. Tillman looks like a 4A starter, and the O's offense is more inept than ever. Bobby Valentine will NOT be the O's next manager, and while of course all potential managers want a "challenge", but this manager’s job is more than a challenge, it's like trying to put a man on the moon using a bottle rocket. The development of this team seems to not only have stopped, but dramatically regressed. I can't recall a season in which I became so apathetic so quickly and thank God I have the World Cup as a distraction. Good luck O's, it's going to be a very long summer!
Down With Jim Calhoun!
Jim Calhoun is, as has been expected for some time, for lack of a better term, a dirt bag. We all knew it, but at least the general public is beginning to realize it, along with the NCAA, finally! We knew he wasn’t much of a straight shooter when Rudy Gay decided to go to UCONN after a basketball game was scheduled through Gay’s AAU coach whose organization got something like $25K for playing the Huskies, Connecticut Huskies that is. It stunk then and it still stinks now, but I feel like the 8 violations that the NCAA has cited is a little vindication. As the NCAA continues to investigate Calhoun’s basketball program for recruiting violations, I found this story very interesting: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5272784
It concerns a former business advisor to NBA player Richard Hamilton, and UCONN”s compliance officer issued a memo back in 1999 saying that no contact should be made with Nochimson and that he was off limits. So, this kind of shadiness has likely been going on, at some level or another, since 1999! That’s over a decade, and man, it was a pretty successful decade for UCONN. I wouldn’t want to speculate (though I will), but my guess is that there are other players who played at UCONN who received some type of illegal benefit. How else did Calhoun put UCONN’s men’s basketball program on the map? Of course I might be way off base here, but having watched and listened to Calhoun for many years now, I suspect that this is the tip of the iceberg. UCONN has already fired their basketball operations director along with one of the assist coaches who had improper contacts with recruit Nate Miles. And, in trying to get my facts straight, I did a Google search for “UCONN basketball firing” and I found this: http://jay-mariotti.fanhouse.com/2010/05/28/calhoun-should-be-fired-amid-the-uconn-stench/
Great minds think alike I suppose, though Mariotti’s story is a bit more substantive than my rant (but I got the facts right! they weren’t both asst coaches who got fired, I mean resigned, Jay) but still went so far as saying that Calhoun should be fired. And I agree, he should. But whether the NCAA has the balls to demand it, or the University has the balls to do it, I won’t speculate (yes I will, again!), but my guess is no. Here’as another one from the local CT paper too.
http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-men/hc-jacobs-column-calhoun-ncaa-0610-20100609,0,557333,print.column
It concerns a former business advisor to NBA player Richard Hamilton, and UCONN”s compliance officer issued a memo back in 1999 saying that no contact should be made with Nochimson and that he was off limits. So, this kind of shadiness has likely been going on, at some level or another, since 1999! That’s over a decade, and man, it was a pretty successful decade for UCONN. I wouldn’t want to speculate (though I will), but my guess is that there are other players who played at UCONN who received some type of illegal benefit. How else did Calhoun put UCONN’s men’s basketball program on the map? Of course I might be way off base here, but having watched and listened to Calhoun for many years now, I suspect that this is the tip of the iceberg. UCONN has already fired their basketball operations director along with one of the assist coaches who had improper contacts with recruit Nate Miles. And, in trying to get my facts straight, I did a Google search for “UCONN basketball firing” and I found this: http://jay-mariotti.fanhouse.com/2010/05/28/calhoun-should-be-fired-amid-the-uconn-stench/
Great minds think alike I suppose, though Mariotti’s story is a bit more substantive than my rant (but I got the facts right! they weren’t both asst coaches who got fired, I mean resigned, Jay) but still went so far as saying that Calhoun should be fired. And I agree, he should. But whether the NCAA has the balls to demand it, or the University has the balls to do it, I won’t speculate (yes I will, again!), but my guess is no. Here’as another one from the local CT paper too.
http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-men/hc-jacobs-column-calhoun-ncaa-0610-20100609,0,557333,print.column
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Throwing Another Game Away, But It Happens!
When I got home from dinner I couldn’t bear to watch the O’s game, knowing full well the outcome. So I turned on Baseball Tonight to see David Price blowing Blue Jays away and the D-Rays (they’ll always be the D-Rays to me!) reeling off another impressive victory, further cementing MLB’s best record. Next up were the Yanks v. O’s highlights, and as they began to show them, the disastrous 6th inning to be exact, with an error and a failed DP (or more, I have tried to block it out), John Kruk says “Orioles baseball at its finest!”
Poor defense and not making plays has been one of many things this team has consistently done at a little league level for years now. It's an absolute disgrace! Fundamental baseball should be ALL this team talks about but it can't even get out of its own way! This quote from Wigginton, describes perfectly why the O’s are by far the worst team in MLB.
"Tillman did his job," Orioles first baseman Ty Wigginton said. "You have an inning like that, it happens. But at the same time, we have to find a way to get the job done."
Talk about a defeatist attitude. It just seems like this team simply accepts losing. “It happens”? It doesn’t just happen Wigginton, you players make it happen by seemingly not caring! There is no fight at ALL on this team, top to bottom. There is no leader. This team is disgraceful, and I still think there is a ton more talent than their record indicates, but until they prove me right, we will remain the laughingstock of MLB. Tillman pitched a pretty damn good game under the circumstances, and this is how our defense plays behind one of our young pitchers? It happens? I just want to scream! And Lugo’s error was inexcusable too. Actually, I just looked at the play by play on ESPN and it was actually ruled a hit! OMG I am going to have a coronary. Anyway, real baseball people know it was an error. He let the ball play him on Teixeira’s grounder and it hit the edge of the infield grass so Lugo didn’t make the play. THINK!!!!! Maybe that’s the problem, these players don’t have their respective heads in the game and don’t think about what they need to do if a ball is hit to them. They don’t think about what happens when they are on the base paths, and a ball is hit to RF, do I go halfway, tag up, what do I do?? This has to be one of the dumbest teams I have ever seen in my life. And, it’s as much or more the veterans than the young guys, but when young guys see veterans make these types of plays, it doesn’t help the youth movement and their professional baseball growth. I can’t write any more about this, it’s far too upsetting and downright depressing. Go Jake Arrieta (that means get out of the organization ASAP!) Go O’s!
Poor defense and not making plays has been one of many things this team has consistently done at a little league level for years now. It's an absolute disgrace! Fundamental baseball should be ALL this team talks about but it can't even get out of its own way! This quote from Wigginton, describes perfectly why the O’s are by far the worst team in MLB.
"Tillman did his job," Orioles first baseman Ty Wigginton said. "You have an inning like that, it happens. But at the same time, we have to find a way to get the job done."
Talk about a defeatist attitude. It just seems like this team simply accepts losing. “It happens”? It doesn’t just happen Wigginton, you players make it happen by seemingly not caring! There is no fight at ALL on this team, top to bottom. There is no leader. This team is disgraceful, and I still think there is a ton more talent than their record indicates, but until they prove me right, we will remain the laughingstock of MLB. Tillman pitched a pretty damn good game under the circumstances, and this is how our defense plays behind one of our young pitchers? It happens? I just want to scream! And Lugo’s error was inexcusable too. Actually, I just looked at the play by play on ESPN and it was actually ruled a hit! OMG I am going to have a coronary. Anyway, real baseball people know it was an error. He let the ball play him on Teixeira’s grounder and it hit the edge of the infield grass so Lugo didn’t make the play. THINK!!!!! Maybe that’s the problem, these players don’t have their respective heads in the game and don’t think about what they need to do if a ball is hit to them. They don’t think about what happens when they are on the base paths, and a ball is hit to RF, do I go halfway, tag up, what do I do?? This has to be one of the dumbest teams I have ever seen in my life. And, it’s as much or more the veterans than the young guys, but when young guys see veterans make these types of plays, it doesn’t help the youth movement and their professional baseball growth. I can’t write any more about this, it’s far too upsetting and downright depressing. Go Jake Arrieta (that means get out of the organization ASAP!) Go O’s!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Thanks Griffey Jr!
The news of Ken Griffey Junior's retirement has made me surprisingly sad, but not b/c it wasn’t time, more b/c it ends a brilliant career of a guy who was easily my favorite player who never wore an O’s uni. More than that though, I’m sad for him, that he never got the chance to take the ceremonial bows at each and every stadium the M’s visited this year. He deserves that, despite everything else that may have tainted one’s feelings towards him. Junior always had this infectious smile and played the game with incredible enthusiasm. He was by far the best CF I have ever seen play, and was as good an athlete as anyone who ever played the game.
Aside from saving baseball here in Seattle with the comeback from 0-2 down against the Yankees in ’95, my fondest memory of him was in 1999. I attended the last game at The Kingdome on June 27th, and after Freddy Garcia fell behind early 2-0 in the 1st, in the bottom of the inning Junior hit a 3 run HR to go ahead 3-2. Then, in the bottom of the 4th with 2 on and 2 outs, Juan Gonzalez hit a bomb to LCF that Junior caught above the wall, preserving the 3-2 lead. The M’s went on to win the finale at the Kingdome, one of the biggest dumps in all of sports, was as loud and raucous as ANY arena/stadium I have ever been to in my life! It was magical!
I also recall him making a ridiculous catch against the O’s in 1995, I think, breaking his wrist as he crashed into the wall but still holding on to the ball. He was a daily highlight reel in CF, and a joy to watch whether I was cheering for the Mariners or my O’s. I hope he has an opportunity to look back on his career and smile, b/c he brought so much happiness to Mariners fans, and baseball fans generally, and he’s still bringing joy to Mariners fans (even as the team struggles), b/c he’s the reason there is still a baseball club in Seattle. Best of Luck Junior and thanks for all the memories!
Aside from saving baseball here in Seattle with the comeback from 0-2 down against the Yankees in ’95, my fondest memory of him was in 1999. I attended the last game at The Kingdome on June 27th, and after Freddy Garcia fell behind early 2-0 in the 1st, in the bottom of the inning Junior hit a 3 run HR to go ahead 3-2. Then, in the bottom of the 4th with 2 on and 2 outs, Juan Gonzalez hit a bomb to LCF that Junior caught above the wall, preserving the 3-2 lead. The M’s went on to win the finale at the Kingdome, one of the biggest dumps in all of sports, was as loud and raucous as ANY arena/stadium I have ever been to in my life! It was magical!
I also recall him making a ridiculous catch against the O’s in 1995, I think, breaking his wrist as he crashed into the wall but still holding on to the ball. He was a daily highlight reel in CF, and a joy to watch whether I was cheering for the Mariners or my O’s. I hope he has an opportunity to look back on his career and smile, b/c he brought so much happiness to Mariners fans, and baseball fans generally, and he’s still bringing joy to Mariners fans (even as the team struggles), b/c he’s the reason there is still a baseball club in Seattle. Best of Luck Junior and thanks for all the memories!
So Long, Dave
Yesterday was another dark day for the Orioles franchise, and while it probably was time to see a new manager leading the O’s, Trembley never stood a chance to succeed and now Andy McPhail should also be on a short leash. Not having a manager in place before the O’s fired Trembley makes little sense to me, though I hope that, at a minimum, Trembley feels some sense of relief, b/c he gave it his all. I’m not saying he was a great ML manager b/c I don’t think I know enough to say that, and of course we could question moves that he made, but show me a manager whose moves you don’t question sometimes? When you make a move that works, you are a genius. When it doesn’t work, you are an idiot. It’s just a really tough business and job. There were moves that Trembley made recently that baffled me, but I’m sure he was willing to try anything as the results continued to be abysmal. The mental errors and poor base running continued this year though, and that alone was grounds to fire Trembley in my opinion. He wasn’t able to get through to the players, but he also has a coaching staff that is culpable on some level too. Juan Samuel whoI’m sure is a good baseball man could hardly coach 3B, so he isn’t the answer.
Injuries doomed this team from the start, at least offensively, when Brian Roberts discovered he had a herniated disc in his back, but I still don’t understand the lack of development and struggles of Adam Jones, Matt Wieters (though he has the toughest job of anyone), and Reimold. I begin to think they may not be as good as I think, an even more depressing thought. But, these certainly weren’t all Trembley’s fault, and the lack of depth is both a product of Andy McPhail and the curse of the O’s, Peter Angelos. The division we play in certainly steers players to other teams, both inside the division in Boston and NY, but also to other teams throughout the league. It’s just a very tough situation, but Tampa bay and Toronto are doing it, and I hope that we have enough talent in the minors so that as the next few years go by, we see the fruits of this talent in the win column at the major league level.
At this point, this season ranks as the most disappointing season I have experienced. I had high hopes, and by that I mean a team who showed improvement in fundamentals, seeing the young players develop and approaching .500 in what is easily the best division in baseball. But here are so few positives so far and I feel like we’ve regressed dramatically, which is the most depressing thing of all. It will be interesting to see how the last 100+ games play out, but I’ll confess right now, that it’s become increasingly more difficult to stomach watching this team. It’s really sad, but it’s only a game. Go O’s!
Injuries doomed this team from the start, at least offensively, when Brian Roberts discovered he had a herniated disc in his back, but I still don’t understand the lack of development and struggles of Adam Jones, Matt Wieters (though he has the toughest job of anyone), and Reimold. I begin to think they may not be as good as I think, an even more depressing thought. But, these certainly weren’t all Trembley’s fault, and the lack of depth is both a product of Andy McPhail and the curse of the O’s, Peter Angelos. The division we play in certainly steers players to other teams, both inside the division in Boston and NY, but also to other teams throughout the league. It’s just a very tough situation, but Tampa bay and Toronto are doing it, and I hope that we have enough talent in the minors so that as the next few years go by, we see the fruits of this talent in the win column at the major league level.
At this point, this season ranks as the most disappointing season I have experienced. I had high hopes, and by that I mean a team who showed improvement in fundamentals, seeing the young players develop and approaching .500 in what is easily the best division in baseball. But here are so few positives so far and I feel like we’ve regressed dramatically, which is the most depressing thing of all. It will be interesting to see how the last 100+ games play out, but I’ll confess right now, that it’s become increasingly more difficult to stomach watching this team. It’s really sad, but it’s only a game. Go O’s!
Samuel's First Game as Manager Looks Hauntingly Familiar
Got home about 2 hours after last night’s game started and couldn’t stomach much after the first inning. Some observations and random thoughts:
Tillman - no command and no impressive pitches at all; he’s got a nice curve but doesn’t command it right now which is all you need to know about his future success at the major league level
Wiggy - worst base runner ever? Why did he stop on the ball to Pedroia with 2 outs? I actually looked to see how many outs there were and thought that I may have had it wrong. If I can stay in the game, why can’t he? The base running gaffes continue, and why wouldn’t they? Juan Samuel, you are really going to enjoy managing this team!
I’m starting to think that we have a bunch of AAAA pitchers. The disappointment in player development continues, and the losses pile up at a 1962 Mets pace, or better (after checking, the Mets had a .250 winning percentage so the O‘s are Way ahead of that, streaking to a .275!). Hell, even Dave Trembley’s teams beat the Sox this year!
Tillman - no command and no impressive pitches at all; he’s got a nice curve but doesn’t command it right now which is all you need to know about his future success at the major league level
Wiggy - worst base runner ever? Why did he stop on the ball to Pedroia with 2 outs? I actually looked to see how many outs there were and thought that I may have had it wrong. If I can stay in the game, why can’t he? The base running gaffes continue, and why wouldn’t they? Juan Samuel, you are really going to enjoy managing this team!
I’m starting to think that we have a bunch of AAAA pitchers. The disappointment in player development continues, and the losses pile up at a 1962 Mets pace, or better (after checking, the Mets had a .250 winning percentage so the O‘s are Way ahead of that, streaking to a .275!). Hell, even Dave Trembley’s teams beat the Sox this year!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
O's Seeking new Lows.....
Apologies to AB for not being around here for 6 weeks! Very busy and very apathetic....
Another pathetic loss for the O’s last night as these types of games continue to pile-up. Nobody hits with RISP and we don’t make enough plays to win close games. It’s as ugly as I can ever recall, and consider this season the most disappointing I have ever witnessed. I had a great deal of optimism that this team would continue to improve; that we’d see better years from Wieters and Reimold as they began to settle in, that Jones would continue to develop as an All-Star caliber CF with power, that Tillman and Matusz would be making steps forward and showing us why we believe that this young roster had the makings of a contender, with some added parts. While Matusz has certainly pitched very well at times and I believe he will be a #2 starter for us, Tillman was sent down and it seemed like that was the beginning of the end to this season. And we are only 1/3 of the way complete. Pathetic. Here are some additional observations from last night’s game:
- We made Vasquez look like he pitched last year in the relatively weak NL, minus the World Champs
- I still find it hard to believe that this team is this bad, but they continue to do the same things they’ve done for many years running, poor base running and poor defense. And, there’s been some personnel turnover so it’s leading me to believe the coaches are evidently the problem or the players have tuned them out. Either way, McPhail better be on the horn looking for a replacement manager ASAP, b/c we’ve got to get something out of this season that is wasting away quickly, though perhaps not quick enough!
- 2B into the gap in RCF showed just how strong A-Rod is. Wow! And now Jones is holding his hand.
- Cano is just a pure hitter. Wonderful to watch
- 6th inning - 2-0 change-up Matusz threw to Thames was sick, then got him to pop-up with 2 runners on
- Matusz got out of the jam striking out Granderson looking. Wieters framed the strike perfectly, b/c I don’t think it caught any of the plate. The angle that the Yes Network showed going to commercial was a beautiful view of Wieters framing the pitch, and the pitch being outside.
- Home plate ump was calling brutally low strikes, in particular, the 2nd strike on Jones in the ?th which was across his shins! Put him in the hole and then he K’d
- Miggy’s poor throw and the lack of a defensive first baseman in Wiggy, cost the O’s a chance to win; good teams don’t make those plays in those circumstances, and the margin for error in baseball can be so small that you simply can’t get away with those kind of mistakes against good teams, like the Yankees. There’s a reason the O’s are 22 games under .500 a mere 52 games into the season: they don’t make enough plays that they should, both in the field and at the plate. I think they have a lot more talent than their record indicates, but even that I am beginning to wonder about. This franchise has created a losing atmosphere over the course of a dozen seasons, and I don’t really know how that is going to be changed at this point.
- In showing the O’s vs. Yanks highlights on Sportscenter this morning, Linda Cohen said “it’s amazing that the game was tied in the 7th against Baltimore!” It’s so depressing how bad we are, and while I don’t think we are this bad, or as bad as our record indicates, until we start winning we will continue to hear constant jabs at this inept team. And man, it makes for a very, very LONG and depressing summer!
- I’m not sure why Dave Trembley even wants to be here, and perhaps he doesn’t, but until McPhail lines up a replacement, why would you fire him? It’s all so pathetic it makes my head spin. Go O’s!
Another pathetic loss for the O’s last night as these types of games continue to pile-up. Nobody hits with RISP and we don’t make enough plays to win close games. It’s as ugly as I can ever recall, and consider this season the most disappointing I have ever witnessed. I had a great deal of optimism that this team would continue to improve; that we’d see better years from Wieters and Reimold as they began to settle in, that Jones would continue to develop as an All-Star caliber CF with power, that Tillman and Matusz would be making steps forward and showing us why we believe that this young roster had the makings of a contender, with some added parts. While Matusz has certainly pitched very well at times and I believe he will be a #2 starter for us, Tillman was sent down and it seemed like that was the beginning of the end to this season. And we are only 1/3 of the way complete. Pathetic. Here are some additional observations from last night’s game:
- We made Vasquez look like he pitched last year in the relatively weak NL, minus the World Champs
- I still find it hard to believe that this team is this bad, but they continue to do the same things they’ve done for many years running, poor base running and poor defense. And, there’s been some personnel turnover so it’s leading me to believe the coaches are evidently the problem or the players have tuned them out. Either way, McPhail better be on the horn looking for a replacement manager ASAP, b/c we’ve got to get something out of this season that is wasting away quickly, though perhaps not quick enough!
- 2B into the gap in RCF showed just how strong A-Rod is. Wow! And now Jones is holding his hand.
- Cano is just a pure hitter. Wonderful to watch
- 6th inning - 2-0 change-up Matusz threw to Thames was sick, then got him to pop-up with 2 runners on
- Matusz got out of the jam striking out Granderson looking. Wieters framed the strike perfectly, b/c I don’t think it caught any of the plate. The angle that the Yes Network showed going to commercial was a beautiful view of Wieters framing the pitch, and the pitch being outside.
- Home plate ump was calling brutally low strikes, in particular, the 2nd strike on Jones in the ?th which was across his shins! Put him in the hole and then he K’d
- Miggy’s poor throw and the lack of a defensive first baseman in Wiggy, cost the O’s a chance to win; good teams don’t make those plays in those circumstances, and the margin for error in baseball can be so small that you simply can’t get away with those kind of mistakes against good teams, like the Yankees. There’s a reason the O’s are 22 games under .500 a mere 52 games into the season: they don’t make enough plays that they should, both in the field and at the plate. I think they have a lot more talent than their record indicates, but even that I am beginning to wonder about. This franchise has created a losing atmosphere over the course of a dozen seasons, and I don’t really know how that is going to be changed at this point.
- In showing the O’s vs. Yanks highlights on Sportscenter this morning, Linda Cohen said “it’s amazing that the game was tied in the 7th against Baltimore!” It’s so depressing how bad we are, and while I don’t think we are this bad, or as bad as our record indicates, until we start winning we will continue to hear constant jabs at this inept team. And man, it makes for a very, very LONG and depressing summer!
- I’m not sure why Dave Trembley even wants to be here, and perhaps he doesn’t, but until McPhail lines up a replacement, why would you fire him? It’s all so pathetic it makes my head spin. Go O’s!
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