I think I've solved the issue with the lack of content/posts on the site. I've decided to bring in a partner. TRE from www.stillgothope.com. He's a pretty funny dude and a good writer, he's a Twins and Gopher fan, and this should increase the amount of Gopher football coverage on this site by eleventy billion percent. He's already written one post, on a weekend no less, and basically called me stupid so he should fit in here just fine. I've always thought I had a tougher road because I'm the only Gopher blog with only one writer and especially lately I haven't been bringing the quantity or quality, but now we don't have to worry about that anymore. So welcome aboard, TRE. If you suck you won't just be fired, you'll be killed.
WHO WAS AWESOME
1. Justin Morneau. His batting average last week was actually pretty crappy at .240, but of his 6 hits four of them were HR bombs which is a great sign, and his batting average on balls in play was just .125 which says he was pretty damn unlucky last week, outside of hitting the ball 1000 miles a few times. If you remember last year, before captain softhead was put down for the season the big problem was that he wasn't hitting the ball with any kind of power. His ISO (which is slugging-batting average and measures raw power without it being a function of a high average) was .106, which was less than half his career average and nowhere near what he usually does and was a huge reason many people, myself included, were wondering if perhaps the head injury had broken his brain enough where he had turned into a slap hitter. Well I'm not really worried about that anymore. Now I'm just hoping they can trade him for BOATLOADS.
2. Stephen Strasburg. I've never made it a secret that I'm desperately in love with the Stras but he's kind of like Natalie Portman and the more you learn about him the more you love him and now apparently he can hit, too. No, I won't waste your time drooling over his pitching again because you already know he's basically unhittable, but after going 1-2 with a monster dinger and 2-2 in his last two games he's .389 this year with an OBP of .421, slugging of .722, and OPS of 1.143. To put that in perspective he'd lead the Twins in every offensive category and it wouldn't even be fucking close which is actually pretty depressing. I mean, it's probably a bit fluky considering he was 1-26 in his career before this year and was hitting just .143 six games ago, but since then he's gone 6-11 and four of those six hits have been for extra bases, plus he hit .400 in his (admittedly short) minor league career. I guess what this really does is beg the question, "could Strasburg get Strasburg out?" We should ask that tootsie pop owl guy, he seemed pretty sharp.
3. Mike Stanton. I'm not going to call him Giancarlo just because somebody tells me to even if it's this guy himself and even if there's a good reason. I honestly don't know if there was a good reason because I didn't really pay attention and when I first saw the Giancarlo thing I wondered if they were brothers because I'm stupid but the point of this story is that Stanton destroyed the ball this week and even broke the scoreboard off Jamie Moyer (and watch him pimp this home run):
Dude's 22 years old and hitting .291 with 12 dingers already after hitting 34 last year and 22 in his half season rookie year. Take notes, Twins' fans. This is what we need to hope Sano is.
4. Anaheim Angels. Maybe it's stupid to write nice things about the Angels on the same day Jered Weaver gets pulled because of an injury after pitching to just three batters and getting none of them out, but the Angels seem like maybe they've kind of figured this shit out - finally. Dan Haren, who had been knocked around all year by such horrendous offensive teams as the Twins and the Twins, finally looked like the Dan Haren we used to know by throwing a complete game shutout against Seattle with 14 whiffs (yes Seattle but still), Albert Pujols is hitting the ball again like a man, and Kendrys Morales is hot. If they could figure out how to get Morales, Pujols, and Trumbo in the lineup at the same time or just trade one of them they'd be in better shape, but after a pretty lackluster start to the year they've won six straight, and even if it's against crappy teams like Oakland and Seattle it still counts and those teams are in their division too so it counts double. Plus these guys used to lose to the Twins, so you know.
5. Kevin Garnett. I know he's probably always been an ass and he's definitely become an ass since he won that title with the Celtics, but for some stupid reason I find myself rooting for him, again, and he was probably the biggest reason Boston made the finals, because outside of game 4, KG was a monster in the entire series against the 76ers. He outscored his season average in six of the seven games (averaged 19.7 vs. 15.8 reg season) and grabbed more boards in six as well (11.0 vs. 8.2) and shot 50% from the floor. Basically he completely raised his game in a big spot, which is something I'm not sure he's ever done - or at least not very often. I have a feeling KG, Jesus Shuttlesworth, and Pierce know this is probably their last shot since they all have been worn down like a porn star when she hits age 30. Time for one last shot at glory, no reason to hold back now. I also predict if they get bounced at some point KG loses his mind a decks somebody - probably Rondo.
WHO SUCKED
1. Jason Marquis. We all saw this coming, right? I know it only cost $3 million or whatever, but what exactly was the point? What was his upside? He hasn't hit 150 innings since 2009, hasn't finished a year with an ERA under four since 2004, and gives up almost as many base runners as Nick Blackburn over the course of their careers. Then he missed spring training, as understandable as that was, and jesus what a disaster. An ERA of 8.47 and WHIP of 1.94 in his seven Twins' starts, which really shouldn't have been a surprise considering his performance in three starts after being traded to Arizona late last year, where he actually put up worse numbers than he did for the Twins (ERA 9.53, WHIP 2.29). I know the Twins have a tendency to try to grab guys who are looked at as old and mediocre and sign them on the cheap and hope they get solid production, but lately it always seems to be a Marquis or a Tony Bautista or a Nishioka, and I can't remember the last time they hit on somebody but I'm gonna say Chili Davis. That was 100 years ago. That was the same year Dahmer was arrested and the Super Nintendo was released. That's how long it's been since the Twins made a really good free agent signing (although Willingham seems promising at this point). Chicks who were born that year can now go out and get drunk legally. Kinda hot, now that you mention it.
2. Hakeem Nicks. Hakeem Nicks is one of my favorite receivers. In our keeper league I took him with the 3rd overall pick his rookie year and everyone was like dude what? and I was like, this guy is going to be a rock star. And mostly I was right. He's easily one of the most talented receivers in the entire NFL, and has put up over 1,000 yards each of the last two years. But there's a minor problem - he's always hurt. He has yet to play a full season (14, 13, and 15 games in his three years) and although he hasn't ever come up with a major injury that's kept him out an extended period of time he's always freaking dinged up to the point where you never know if you can put him in your lineup until like, right up until the game when they announce he's going to play and if he plays Monday night you end up starting somebody else like Mike Sims-Walker instead you sucks and then Nicks does well and you lose. Sucks. And now he's got a broken foot (suffered at an offseason workout for god's sake) and could be out up to 12 weeks which I'm not really sure when that is but it seems like it won't affect the season but whatever. He's pissing me off. I'm gonna trade him now. If you're in my league and read this blog please ignore this entry and pretend I wrote something about Jamey Carroll instead.
3. Chicago Cubs. I heard something on the radio about how the Cubs won today and it was like their first win in the last 10 games. Then I just looked it up and they did win today, but this was actually their first win in 13 games so it was even worse, which is kind of funny but makes sense because the Cubs suck and are still paying Alfonso Soriano ten trillion dollars and I can't guarantee it but I bet they're still on the hook for Zambrano as well. So yeah, they're really bad. Until today they hadn't scored more than four runs in nine straight games, which included four games with 1 or 0 runs. Earlier this week the Cubs had 10 hits in a game against Pittsburgh but managed to not have an extra base hit and got shutout. They also lost a game on a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the ninth. Things aren't going well. But this will happen when you're counting on Brian LaHair as your clean-up hitter and Paul Maholm features prominently in your rotation. Oh who am I kidding, I'd kill for Maholm on the Twins right now. He'd be the freaking ace.
4. Joe Blanton. I've always disliked Joe Blanton and routinely bet against him. He looks like a fat baby, he has one of those goatee things that's all shaggy but doesn't have the mustache part, and he's a right-handed junkballer with shitty stuff who can't break 90 but won a lot of games when the A's were good despite terrible stats and everybody thought he was good because most people are morons and now he's making $8 million per year. And then it almost kind of looked like he had maybe figured it out this year with an ERA under 3 and at least 6 innings pitched in six of seven starts this year. Then this week happened. In games against St. Louis and Boston he never made it out of the fifth with a combined statline of 8.2 ips, 19 hits, 13 earned runs, and 6 homers to balloon his ERA to a much more Blanton-like 4.55. It's kind of creepy how much better I feel now.
5. Oakland A's. I'm a Billy Beane fan and I mostly think the "moneyball" related criticisms of him are pretty ridiculous, but I just have no idea what that team is doing, and now they've lost six straight (including one to the Twins lolololol) and have gone 4-10 to suddenly drop off the map. Mostly I'm just confused with how they're handling pitching. Why trade Trevor Cahill when he's only 24 and looking like a future 2/3 type? Why trade Gio Gonzalez at age 26? Why trade Josh Outman (age 27) and Guillermo Moscoso (age 27) for Seth Smith who completely sucks? Cahill and Gonzalez, especially, and they had just hit arbitration so they weren't looking at the big-time expensive franchise killing contracts yet (Mauer -> hi). Beane used to make turning vets into prospects into an art form, but the A's won because Giambi, Tejada, Chavez, Hudson, Zito, Mulder, etc. were able to mature into great players before they were shipped out. Seems now like those same types of guys are getting moved before they even have a chance to develop. Can't win that way. Moneyball? More like Stupidball, amiright?
Showing posts with label Kevin Garnett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kevin Garnett. Show all posts
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, June 27, 2011
Week in Review 6-27-2011
I know I had mentioned that I was going to try to do a retro live blog of the NBA draft since I couldn't watch it myself, but I just couldn't do it. I already knew what happened. It's kind of like tivoing a Gopher basketball game, finding out the lost by 10, and then watching it anyway. You just wouldn't do that, because the fun of watching sports is watching an event with an uncertain outcome in which you are emotionally invested in the result. Knowing what happens and then watching is stupid. I know there are people who would tivo a game and then watch it even if they know the end result already. Those people are psychopaths.
WHO WAS AWESOME
1. Minnesota Timberwolves. I think they'd have been better off using #20 by either keeping Motiejunas or grabbing Marshon Brooks (or trading it for a veteran SG or C - Brad Miller is retiring) but I can be talked into Kahn's madness because #1 - it's fun and #2 - they did get a future 1st. The real reason I'm going to praise the mad man here is because, despite himself, he did the right thing and picked Derrick Williams - and kept him (at least thus far). In my opinion Irving is the surest thing - his downside is probably a long-time starter - but I think Williams has the most upside in the draft. I suppose this belongs in the back-handed insult department, but kudos to Kahn for not outsmarting himself even though it became abundantly clear he wanted to. So hurray for competence, accidental or otherwise.
2. JaJuan Johnson. The awesome thing for him is that he managed to get himself drafted in the first round, so like, congrats. What I'm really fascinated about, however, is that the player Snake and I have been calling "College KG" for four years because his skill set was so similar to KG (and Hakim Warrick, FYI) will now be playing with the real KG. I'd say he couldn't find himself in a better situation with the perfect player to pattern himself after on the same team, but the word "mentor" doesn't exactly come to mind when you think about Garnett. How is he going to react to a young, new player showing up who has the same game KG himself had 15 years ago? Fights? Verbal assaults? Undermining his confidence? Or maybe he'll actually see an opportunity to sort of live on after he retires by doing everything he can do help Johnson. I doubt it, and I'm thinking more of the pushing and yelling is likely, but I'm totally fascinated here. I've never watched Hard Knocks or whatever, but if they did a show like that on the Celtics this year I would totally watch. And just fast forward to the KG/JJ parts.
3. Evan Longoria. Big sexy is back, in case you missed him. Longoria struggled so far this year after returning from injury, but he finally broke out this week. Well, maybe not a total breakout, but in his last four games he has two 2-HR games, including Sunday's game against the Astros where he went 4-6 and missed he cycle by a triple. Interestingly enough, this little hot streak has started ever since Longo dropped the batting gloves which reminds me of this dude I played amateur baseball with. See, I hit with no batting gloves because I like to feel the wood (insert your own joke here). Snacks played on the team too, and he liked to wear eye black because it was the most effective way for him to keep the sun out of his eyes in the outfield. We had another guy who used a ton of pine tar, another guy who wore two big wristbands around his forearms, and another guy who wore his hat slightly cocked to the left. All these things were done because they worked for people. But then we had this one little weiner dork on on our team who did all of them - no batting gloves, eye black, pine tar, wrist bands, and hat cocked. God he was such a little idiot, and he sucked too. This really has nothing to do with Evan Longoria any more.
4. J.J. Hardy. Well the Twins didn't need him now did they? While the revolving door of Tolbert/Casilla/Nishioka/Plouffe has put up a combined .225 batting average and a whopping .339 slugging, Hardy hit as many home runs this past week (3) as Twins' shortstop have all year. He also has multiple hits in 6 of his last 7 games, and for the season has the 4th highest average of all MLB shortstops (.304), the second-highest OBP (.369), the highest slugging (.538), the highest OPS (.907), and the fourth most homers despite only playing in slightly more than half the team's games. Basically he'd be the best hitter on the Twins: only Kubel has a a higher average and he'd lead the team in both on-base and slugging and be tied with Cuddy for the HR lead at 10. Meanwhile Jim Hoey's averaged more than 2 base-runners allowed per inning in his 17 shitty innings. I hate you, Bill Smith.
5. Justin Verlander. I think he's a cyborg of some kind, sent from the future to rescue major league baseball from crappy, wussy pitchers who both suck and are marshmallow soft. Him and Roy Halladay (and maybe a couple of others) are just a completely different species. I've always wondered what would happen if Gardy was managing Verlander. Say it's the bottom of the 7th and the Twins were up 2-0, Verlander is at 98 pitches and just gave up back-to-back singles with Mijares warm in the bullpen. When Gardy goes out there to try to get the ball from him do you think they would actually get in a fist fight? Is there any way we can make this happen?
WHO SUCKED
1. Minnesota Twins. Well it's over. I hope you didn't get sucked into believing this team actually had the ability to turn around that 13-29 start or whatever it was. I know the weak division and sliding Indians and everything made things look possible, but all you had to do was keep looking at that lineup. 50% of that lineup every game should be hitting ninth, which, based on the rules of baseball as set down by the great Abner Doubleday, is illegal. I know injuries have played a huge part of it - the team only has four guys who have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title for christ's sake - but there were some pretty bad decisions made this offseason. Specifically not looking for a viable back-up catcher when you know your starter is a china doll who only plays 2 out of every 3 games when he is healthy, deciding, "yeah, we'll go to war with Alexi Casilla as an everyday regular even though he's failed year after year after year" and not getting someone, anyone, to be insurance in case Morneau wasn't ready. The season was set-up to be a high-wire toward success, and the team tipped over and has gone splat on the city street below. When you dig yourself a hole you can't weather a 5-game losing streak. 2 or 3, yeah. Five? It's over.
2. Sacramento Kings. Let me get this straight. First, the Kings trade the only guy on their roster who ever considers passing for John Salmons, a gunning ballsink with an absolutely enormous contract and the right to move down in the draft. Then they usually their newly acquired 10th pick to draft Jimmer Fredette so they can team him up with Tyreke Evans in their back court. This means their two starting guards both need the ball in their hands at all times and are both shoot first kind of guys, and their first man of the bench shoots the ball every time he touches it. I think the two second round picks they made in Tyler Honeycutt and Captain Circus Ball himself were solid, but that can't over shadow this insane roster. Fredette, Evans, Salmons, and DeMarcus Cousins? Is anybody ever going to pass the ball? And how quickly do you think Jimmer asks for a trade, before or after he's threatened with bodily harm by Cousins and/or Evans?
3. Adam Dunn. I'm going to admit that I was terrified when the White Sox signed Dunn. Since he basically only hits homers, walks, or strikes out and the Twins' pitchers don't walk or strike out anyone I figured he basically just stand at home plate and hit tape measure home runs all day. Turns out, however, the he's decided to completely suck instead. This entire week he managed all of 2 hits (which both came in a game where he got 7 at-bats) and struck out 14 times. 14 times in one week! I'm not a guy who looks at strikeouts as a huge negative, especially when balanced out with power, but holy crap that's ridiculous, especially when he's now struck out in his last seven consecutive at-bats and is now hitting .179 on the year with an OPS nearly identical to Luke Hughes. Of course, it's still higher than Justin Morneau's so there's that. Plus Morneau is a huge girl.
4. Madison Bumgarner. It already feels like it happened 100 years ago, but you remember Captain Stripper Name's game against the Twins, don't you? Let me refresh you: single, double, single, double, single, double, single, double, strikeout, double, gone. 1/3 ip, 9 hits, 8 runs allowed. Now he did bounce back with a good game last night against Cleveland, but I feel like when you get shredded in such an epic way these things need to be mentioned whenever possible. Especially when the team that shredded you ranks in the bottom 7 of all of MLB in runs scored, batting average, OBP, slugging, and OPS. God what a fun year this has been. I'm going to become a Lynx fan.
Just kidding.
5. All the idiots who shouldn't have entered the NBA Draft. There are always plenty of idiots who get bad advice and/or have an overinflated ego who go into the NBA Draft despite everyone knowing they have no chance of getting drafted or maybe a slight prayer at getting snagged in the second round except for them. Some of those geniuses this year include Terrence Jennings of Louisville, who could have been a major player in the Big East next year, Jereme Richmond of Illinois who had a ton of potential but didn't bother to let it develop, Willie Reed of St. Louis who never had a prayer, Josh Selby of Kansas, who did get picked in the late second but probably could have been a lotto pick in a year or two, and Jordan Williams of Maryland, who was also picked in the late second but, like Selby, could have ended up a lottery pick in another year or two. Well done, gentlemen. Well done. All of you will be awarded an Anderson Hunt Memorial Award for terrible draft decisions.
I finally started watching Game of Thrones. Best show on TV, and it's not even close. If you don't have HBO do yourself a favor and order it, download all the Game of Thrones episodes on HBO on Demand, watch them, realize how good this show is and how you've been wasting your time, and then cancel HBO after a month. Brilliant.
WHO WAS AWESOME
1. Minnesota Timberwolves. I think they'd have been better off using #20 by either keeping Motiejunas or grabbing Marshon Brooks (or trading it for a veteran SG or C - Brad Miller is retiring) but I can be talked into Kahn's madness because #1 - it's fun and #2 - they did get a future 1st. The real reason I'm going to praise the mad man here is because, despite himself, he did the right thing and picked Derrick Williams - and kept him (at least thus far). In my opinion Irving is the surest thing - his downside is probably a long-time starter - but I think Williams has the most upside in the draft. I suppose this belongs in the back-handed insult department, but kudos to Kahn for not outsmarting himself even though it became abundantly clear he wanted to. So hurray for competence, accidental or otherwise.
2. JaJuan Johnson. The awesome thing for him is that he managed to get himself drafted in the first round, so like, congrats. What I'm really fascinated about, however, is that the player Snake and I have been calling "College KG" for four years because his skill set was so similar to KG (and Hakim Warrick, FYI) will now be playing with the real KG. I'd say he couldn't find himself in a better situation with the perfect player to pattern himself after on the same team, but the word "mentor" doesn't exactly come to mind when you think about Garnett. How is he going to react to a young, new player showing up who has the same game KG himself had 15 years ago? Fights? Verbal assaults? Undermining his confidence? Or maybe he'll actually see an opportunity to sort of live on after he retires by doing everything he can do help Johnson. I doubt it, and I'm thinking more of the pushing and yelling is likely, but I'm totally fascinated here. I've never watched Hard Knocks or whatever, but if they did a show like that on the Celtics this year I would totally watch. And just fast forward to the KG/JJ parts.
3. Evan Longoria. Big sexy is back, in case you missed him. Longoria struggled so far this year after returning from injury, but he finally broke out this week. Well, maybe not a total breakout, but in his last four games he has two 2-HR games, including Sunday's game against the Astros where he went 4-6 and missed he cycle by a triple. Interestingly enough, this little hot streak has started ever since Longo dropped the batting gloves which reminds me of this dude I played amateur baseball with. See, I hit with no batting gloves because I like to feel the wood (insert your own joke here). Snacks played on the team too, and he liked to wear eye black because it was the most effective way for him to keep the sun out of his eyes in the outfield. We had another guy who used a ton of pine tar, another guy who wore two big wristbands around his forearms, and another guy who wore his hat slightly cocked to the left. All these things were done because they worked for people. But then we had this one little weiner dork on on our team who did all of them - no batting gloves, eye black, pine tar, wrist bands, and hat cocked. God he was such a little idiot, and he sucked too. This really has nothing to do with Evan Longoria any more.
4. J.J. Hardy. Well the Twins didn't need him now did they? While the revolving door of Tolbert/Casilla/Nishioka/Plouffe has put up a combined .225 batting average and a whopping .339 slugging, Hardy hit as many home runs this past week (3) as Twins' shortstop have all year. He also has multiple hits in 6 of his last 7 games, and for the season has the 4th highest average of all MLB shortstops (.304), the second-highest OBP (.369), the highest slugging (.538), the highest OPS (.907), and the fourth most homers despite only playing in slightly more than half the team's games. Basically he'd be the best hitter on the Twins: only Kubel has a a higher average and he'd lead the team in both on-base and slugging and be tied with Cuddy for the HR lead at 10. Meanwhile Jim Hoey's averaged more than 2 base-runners allowed per inning in his 17 shitty innings. I hate you, Bill Smith.
5. Justin Verlander. I think he's a cyborg of some kind, sent from the future to rescue major league baseball from crappy, wussy pitchers who both suck and are marshmallow soft. Him and Roy Halladay (and maybe a couple of others) are just a completely different species. I've always wondered what would happen if Gardy was managing Verlander. Say it's the bottom of the 7th and the Twins were up 2-0, Verlander is at 98 pitches and just gave up back-to-back singles with Mijares warm in the bullpen. When Gardy goes out there to try to get the ball from him do you think they would actually get in a fist fight? Is there any way we can make this happen?
WHO SUCKED
1. Minnesota Twins. Well it's over. I hope you didn't get sucked into believing this team actually had the ability to turn around that 13-29 start or whatever it was. I know the weak division and sliding Indians and everything made things look possible, but all you had to do was keep looking at that lineup. 50% of that lineup every game should be hitting ninth, which, based on the rules of baseball as set down by the great Abner Doubleday, is illegal. I know injuries have played a huge part of it - the team only has four guys who have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title for christ's sake - but there were some pretty bad decisions made this offseason. Specifically not looking for a viable back-up catcher when you know your starter is a china doll who only plays 2 out of every 3 games when he is healthy, deciding, "yeah, we'll go to war with Alexi Casilla as an everyday regular even though he's failed year after year after year" and not getting someone, anyone, to be insurance in case Morneau wasn't ready. The season was set-up to be a high-wire toward success, and the team tipped over and has gone splat on the city street below. When you dig yourself a hole you can't weather a 5-game losing streak. 2 or 3, yeah. Five? It's over.
2. Sacramento Kings. Let me get this straight. First, the Kings trade the only guy on their roster who ever considers passing for John Salmons, a gunning ballsink with an absolutely enormous contract and the right to move down in the draft. Then they usually their newly acquired 10th pick to draft Jimmer Fredette so they can team him up with Tyreke Evans in their back court. This means their two starting guards both need the ball in their hands at all times and are both shoot first kind of guys, and their first man of the bench shoots the ball every time he touches it. I think the two second round picks they made in Tyler Honeycutt and Captain Circus Ball himself were solid, but that can't over shadow this insane roster. Fredette, Evans, Salmons, and DeMarcus Cousins? Is anybody ever going to pass the ball? And how quickly do you think Jimmer asks for a trade, before or after he's threatened with bodily harm by Cousins and/or Evans?
3. Adam Dunn. I'm going to admit that I was terrified when the White Sox signed Dunn. Since he basically only hits homers, walks, or strikes out and the Twins' pitchers don't walk or strike out anyone I figured he basically just stand at home plate and hit tape measure home runs all day. Turns out, however, the he's decided to completely suck instead. This entire week he managed all of 2 hits (which both came in a game where he got 7 at-bats) and struck out 14 times. 14 times in one week! I'm not a guy who looks at strikeouts as a huge negative, especially when balanced out with power, but holy crap that's ridiculous, especially when he's now struck out in his last seven consecutive at-bats and is now hitting .179 on the year with an OPS nearly identical to Luke Hughes. Of course, it's still higher than Justin Morneau's so there's that. Plus Morneau is a huge girl.
4. Madison Bumgarner. It already feels like it happened 100 years ago, but you remember Captain Stripper Name's game against the Twins, don't you? Let me refresh you: single, double, single, double, single, double, single, double, strikeout, double, gone. 1/3 ip, 9 hits, 8 runs allowed. Now he did bounce back with a good game last night against Cleveland, but I feel like when you get shredded in such an epic way these things need to be mentioned whenever possible. Especially when the team that shredded you ranks in the bottom 7 of all of MLB in runs scored, batting average, OBP, slugging, and OPS. God what a fun year this has been. I'm going to become a Lynx fan.
Just kidding.
5. All the idiots who shouldn't have entered the NBA Draft. There are always plenty of idiots who get bad advice and/or have an overinflated ego who go into the NBA Draft despite everyone knowing they have no chance of getting drafted or maybe a slight prayer at getting snagged in the second round except for them. Some of those geniuses this year include Terrence Jennings of Louisville, who could have been a major player in the Big East next year, Jereme Richmond of Illinois who had a ton of potential but didn't bother to let it develop, Willie Reed of St. Louis who never had a prayer, Josh Selby of Kansas, who did get picked in the late second but probably could have been a lotto pick in a year or two, and Jordan Williams of Maryland, who was also picked in the late second but, like Selby, could have ended up a lottery pick in another year or two. Well done, gentlemen. Well done. All of you will be awarded an Anderson Hunt Memorial Award for terrible draft decisions.
I finally started watching Game of Thrones. Best show on TV, and it's not even close. If you don't have HBO do yourself a favor and order it, download all the Game of Thrones episodes on HBO on Demand, watch them, realize how good this show is and how you've been wasting your time, and then cancel HBO after a month. Brilliant.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Can You Feel the Excitement?
NBA Finals, Game 7. It feels like it's been a while since we've had one of these, or at least one between teams that mattered. See, I generally always watch the NBA Playoffs (although I skip the regular season), but I wouldn't say I really ever get excited for them - more like "interested." I would say my usual level of excitement for them is somewhere between waiting in line at the DMV and watching an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the 800th time (unless it's the one with the dragon, that one rocks). So why do I watch every year? I guess I'm waiting to get excited.
As you can then imagine, I'm pretty thrilled that my current level of excitement has reached "hearing the ice cream man's bell" levels going into this game. If we get something good here, I'm hoping to at least approach "Audrina just asked me to join her in the shower" levels. At this point I don't really even care who wins (although I'd prefer the Celtics, and I'd prefer Ray Allen win the MVP at 8-1), I just want a good, exciting game. Hopefully somebody will hit a big shot with time winding down in the fourth or a buzzer beater of some kind. I'll even take a big shot by Kobe, even though he's pretty much a dickmitten. I just want to see something good.
This won't be a live blog of the game per se, but I'll be watching and tossing out random thoughts as I think of them. Try to stay with me here.
8:44 1Q - Lakers are looking to pund it low to Gasol and Bynum. That is a really good strategy, which means bad news for the Celtics. And by the way, I am no longer rooting for a close game if i tmeans the Lakers win. It took 3 minutes of watching Kobe, who is now whining about a Rondo foul, to hate them again.
6:54 1Q - I love how they're playing Kobe. Ray Allen playing tough, in-your-face one-on-one, and they're doubling him every time. But they aren't sending the double until he puts it on the floor and starts his move. He seems to be in "I'm Michael Jordan" mode tonight, and he's taking his sweet time getting a shot up so teh double is really affecting him. He's like, 0-3 with couple turnovers already, and the last time down he tried a turnaround fade-away with both Pierce and Allen on him from about 18 feet and hit the top of the backboard. I love it.
5:10 1Q - Wallace out for Boston, Glen Davis in. This is where it gets interesting, because Davis can't score on Bynum, and he can't stop Bynum. Due to Bynum's knee injury though, he can only play limited minutes. I'm a little surprised Rivers is going to Davis already, but I guess with Wallace's bad back and explosive temper you have to pick your spots.
3:52 1Q - Kobe ended up on KG on a switch, fell asleep, and gave up an easy alley-oop dunk. He's really not having a very good first quarter. If this double-teaming defense can frustrate him and get in his head, this could get ugly for the Lakers.
1:36 1Q - My bad, Glen Davis now has 6 points in about 3 minutes, all against either Bynum or Gasol. Now Odom's in. He's a huge key for LA. If he's dialed in, he can destroy either Davis or Wallace. If he's just floating around, dreaming about candy and women who are built like men, he's going to get killed by either of them.
0:00 1Q - 23-14 Celtics after one. Really couldn't have gone much better.
10:43 2Q - Rondo takes a jumper from the elbow and misses. They're going to give him that shot for infinity and if he can't make them pay it's going to be tough for the Celtics to win. He's got to be able to hit that shot.
9:24 2Q - The Lakers have 12 offensive rebounds already, and they're still down 4 after scoring the first five of this half. Incredible. Celtics are playing amazing defense, but just can't get the rebound.
8:44 2Q - So I have some bad news. It seems my body can no longer handle jalapenos. At work the cafeteria has an awesome taco salad, but it's best with jalapenos and this jalapeno salsa. But it destroys me. Like, it wrecks my whole night and I can barely walk by the end of the evening. I've tried with just jalapenos and no salsa, and with just salsa and no actual jalapenos, but no matter what I almost die every time. That is not an exaggeration. It's similar to taking a bunch of Taco Bell's fire sauce, dumping them into a shot glass, sprinkling Ex-Lax on top, and then using it wash down a meal of White Castle and fire.
6:34 2Q - Ray Allen can no longer shoot. This is the most depressing thing I've ever seen. It's like in Superman II, when Superman decides he loves Lois Lane so much that he gives up his powers for her for some stupid reason (probably because all women are evil) and then they go to that diner and he gets beaten up by that hick guy who probably loves "muddin'" in his crappy jeep.
8:18 2Q - And we're tied. 9 straight for LA.
4:22 2Q - Artest seems to be under the impression that he can shoot. That is good news for the Celtics. At this point he's like the guy at open gym who got lucky and hit a couple of threes one day, so now he's convinced he's a shooter, and so you just dare him to shoot and it's like watching Snake and Dawger play a game of HORSE. Clang clang clang.
2:48 2Q - Wow does Derek Fisher whine. WonderbabyTM whines less when you take away her little fairy wand. I mean baseball. Her baseball.
1:22 2Q - Artest goads Pierce into a double-technical. Not smart - at all - by Pierce.
0:41 2Q - I'm not sure who these announcers are, but one of them has the exact cadence of Trent Tucker. It's awesome. "What the Timba-wooves need to do hea, is take the ball........to the bas-ket." Also I think I lied, this is definitely a live blog. I didn't mean it.
HALF - Celtics up 40-34. In a game this ugly, it's easy to expect the Lakers to kick it in gear in the second half, but that would be discounting the Celtics incredible defense. It would be like blaming the Twins for only scoring 1 run against Ubaldo Jimenez this afternoon instead of crediting his pitching. What's that? Mauer sat out because he "took too many foul tips?" That can't be possible. I don't believe you. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. It's far too preposterous to be true. That would mean Butera, Valencia, Punto, and Tolbert all would have had to play against Ubaldo. They did? Wow. I gotta say, in that case scoring 1 run is basically a victory, no?
10:55 3Q - Allen misses again. I'm going to go ahead and consider that MVP bet a loss. Damn dude. Big State will never want you now.
10:30 3Q - Kobe launches one from about 6 feet behind the three-point line. Getting desperate, and activating Chucker ModeTM despite the fact that he can't get any open looks. Maybe Allen needs to be considered for MVP after all.
9:45 3Q - Celtics up 11 now after a Rondo floater. Also we have Tornado and Thunderstorm warnings all over the place tell you to "take shelter in a structure that is not a mobile home." Sorry Nickelback fans.
8:20 3Q - 49-36 Celtics, and Rondo has the MVP sewn up if Boston doesn't blow this. And what's funny about that, is if the Lakers were up 13 right now, I'd be tempted to just turn the game off and chalk up as a win for evil (like Empire Strikes Back). But it's so hard to believe the Lakers won't make a run, so I'm actually nervous for Boston. Like right there Ray Allen threw a pass that was intercepted by Derek Fisher. Do you know how terrible a pass has to be to be intercepted by Derek Fisher? Let me put it this way, it would take Brett Favre's career-worth of Brooks Bollinger playing QB to have Fisher pick one off. Also, related - hey Pete Rose of basketball - go ahead and hang 'em up anytime.
7:34 3Q - Wait, the NBA draft is next Thursday already? Awesome. That is always a fun time.
6:20 3Q - Gasol can't guard KG. That's at least the third time KG has just blown by him from the perimeter. God damn I still love that insane mofo. I'm willing to bet at least 50 bucks he's killed somebody at some point. Also mini-Laker run, lead down to 6.
3:25 3Q - Rasheed has been ridiculously good tonight. This would be like if Adam Morrison came off the Lakers bench and hit a bunch of threes. Admit it, you giggled thinking of Morrison.
2:12 3Q - Ray Allen with a huge steal against Kobe. Man, if he was playing any offense at all he'd have MVP wrapped up thanks to some pretty incredible defense on Kobe in the series, particularly in the fourth quarters. I don't know what the numbers are, but he's been awful in fourth quarters. Hopefully that continues.
1:24 3Q - Allen now 1-9. Other than his monster game 2 and a good game 6, he's been brutal. Time to bring it in Q4. Luckily Kobe is 5-20. I hated Jordan, but anybody who compares Kobe to him ever again should probably just have their throat ripped out, Dalton-style.
0:00 3Q - C's up 57-53. Best replay ever is Garnet screaming "mother fu...." right after scoring on Gasol and right before ABC cut away. Very nice. Pretty sure this one is coming down to whoever decides to actually make shots, Ray Allen or Kobe. Fingers crossed for Ray.
Also what happened to Heath Slocum? The guy was looking like a genius longshot pick, and now I look and he's at +4. Which is 3 shots better than my pick to win, since Hunter Mahan shot a 78! And Ben Crane, maybe the hottest golfer on the planet, shot an 80! Good god, and 80! I thought this US Open would be a little more reasonable since it was at Pebble. I couldn't have been more wrong. I'm betting -4 ends up taking this thing in the end. Hopefully it ends up being Karlsson or Furyk.
10:22 4Q - Pierce making some horrendous decisions when it comes to shot selection. Honest to god it's like Pierce and Kobe are filming a Bad Idea JeansTM commercial. "Normally I wear protection, but I figured, when am I going to be in Haiti again?"
8:23 4Q - Allen with a floater over two Lakers to put the Celtics up 61-58. Maybe that's the shot he needs to get going. Come on Jesus. I love you Jesus.
7:13 4Q - Kobe actually has sex with Ray Allen as he goes up for a jumper. When he's called for the foul, he reacts as I'm sure O.J. did when they told him he was accused of murder. One difference: Kobe was guilty, while O.J. was innocent.
5:56 4Q - Tied at 64. Kobe heading to the line. I don't like where this is going. Celtics offense has disappeared. Come on, Ray. This is sick.
5:56 4Q - I thought about it, and even though it's over, I'm going to tell my wife about the afffair.
5:33 4Q - Allen misses another jumper. Kobe hits one on the other end. Lakers by four. This feels over. I also think Mark Jackson (announcing the game) is likely retarded in some fashion.
5:33 4Q - They use an Eminem song in the trailer for the video game Call of Duty? I....I....I....I literally can't think of anything to say. I am completely stupified right now. Completely.
Well, he's an ex free-base addict, and he's trying to turn it around, and he needs a place to stay for a couple of months.
4:38 - I don't mean to sound like some crybaby chowderhead or anything, but the refs are clearly handing this to LA at this point.
4:13 - Allen with a missed layup. Jesus.
3:05 - You can really tell the Lake show is feeling it. They're playing better defense now than they have all game. Three point Laker lead, Gasol going to the line. Hopefully the Lakers win by less than seven.
2:20 - Lakers up 74-68, and they've made about 20 free throws thsi quarter. Thanks refs. Lakers up 32-15 in free throw attemps. I don't even know why I watch this crap. Let's all cheer ourselves up for a moment:
Better? Better.
1:30 - Ballgame.
1:23 - Rasheed 3 pointer. 76-73. Interesting.
1:01 - Artest with a 28-footer. Clearly it's meant to be. Or, Allen answers with a three. Crazy right now. Like a typical sorority after I show up.
0:26 - Kobe misses a three, but Gasol with the rebound and Kobe ends up getting fouled. As was clear early, LA offensive boards are the key. Fuck this sucks. I really hate that guy. Congrats David Stern. No matter how much you orchestrate it ( and the refs made it clear their was a mandate) this dickmitten will never be another Jordan. And I hated Jordan.
0:00 - Gay.
As you can then imagine, I'm pretty thrilled that my current level of excitement has reached "hearing the ice cream man's bell" levels going into this game. If we get something good here, I'm hoping to at least approach "Audrina just asked me to join her in the shower" levels. At this point I don't really even care who wins (although I'd prefer the Celtics, and I'd prefer Ray Allen win the MVP at 8-1), I just want a good, exciting game. Hopefully somebody will hit a big shot with time winding down in the fourth or a buzzer beater of some kind. I'll even take a big shot by Kobe, even though he's pretty much a dickmitten. I just want to see something good.
This won't be a live blog of the game per se, but I'll be watching and tossing out random thoughts as I think of them. Try to stay with me here.
8:44 1Q - Lakers are looking to pund it low to Gasol and Bynum. That is a really good strategy, which means bad news for the Celtics. And by the way, I am no longer rooting for a close game if i tmeans the Lakers win. It took 3 minutes of watching Kobe, who is now whining about a Rondo foul, to hate them again.
6:54 1Q - I love how they're playing Kobe. Ray Allen playing tough, in-your-face one-on-one, and they're doubling him every time. But they aren't sending the double until he puts it on the floor and starts his move. He seems to be in "I'm Michael Jordan" mode tonight, and he's taking his sweet time getting a shot up so teh double is really affecting him. He's like, 0-3 with couple turnovers already, and the last time down he tried a turnaround fade-away with both Pierce and Allen on him from about 18 feet and hit the top of the backboard. I love it.
5:10 1Q - Wallace out for Boston, Glen Davis in. This is where it gets interesting, because Davis can't score on Bynum, and he can't stop Bynum. Due to Bynum's knee injury though, he can only play limited minutes. I'm a little surprised Rivers is going to Davis already, but I guess with Wallace's bad back and explosive temper you have to pick your spots.
3:52 1Q - Kobe ended up on KG on a switch, fell asleep, and gave up an easy alley-oop dunk. He's really not having a very good first quarter. If this double-teaming defense can frustrate him and get in his head, this could get ugly for the Lakers.
1:36 1Q - My bad, Glen Davis now has 6 points in about 3 minutes, all against either Bynum or Gasol. Now Odom's in. He's a huge key for LA. If he's dialed in, he can destroy either Davis or Wallace. If he's just floating around, dreaming about candy and women who are built like men, he's going to get killed by either of them.
0:00 1Q - 23-14 Celtics after one. Really couldn't have gone much better.
10:43 2Q - Rondo takes a jumper from the elbow and misses. They're going to give him that shot for infinity and if he can't make them pay it's going to be tough for the Celtics to win. He's got to be able to hit that shot.
9:24 2Q - The Lakers have 12 offensive rebounds already, and they're still down 4 after scoring the first five of this half. Incredible. Celtics are playing amazing defense, but just can't get the rebound.
8:44 2Q - So I have some bad news. It seems my body can no longer handle jalapenos. At work the cafeteria has an awesome taco salad, but it's best with jalapenos and this jalapeno salsa. But it destroys me. Like, it wrecks my whole night and I can barely walk by the end of the evening. I've tried with just jalapenos and no salsa, and with just salsa and no actual jalapenos, but no matter what I almost die every time. That is not an exaggeration. It's similar to taking a bunch of Taco Bell's fire sauce, dumping them into a shot glass, sprinkling Ex-Lax on top, and then using it wash down a meal of White Castle and fire.
6:34 2Q - Ray Allen can no longer shoot. This is the most depressing thing I've ever seen. It's like in Superman II, when Superman decides he loves Lois Lane so much that he gives up his powers for her for some stupid reason (probably because all women are evil) and then they go to that diner and he gets beaten up by that hick guy who probably loves "muddin'" in his crappy jeep.
8:18 2Q - And we're tied. 9 straight for LA.
4:22 2Q - Artest seems to be under the impression that he can shoot. That is good news for the Celtics. At this point he's like the guy at open gym who got lucky and hit a couple of threes one day, so now he's convinced he's a shooter, and so you just dare him to shoot and it's like watching Snake and Dawger play a game of HORSE. Clang clang clang.
2:48 2Q - Wow does Derek Fisher whine. WonderbabyTM whines less when you take away her little fairy wand. I mean baseball. Her baseball.
1:22 2Q - Artest goads Pierce into a double-technical. Not smart - at all - by Pierce.
0:41 2Q - I'm not sure who these announcers are, but one of them has the exact cadence of Trent Tucker. It's awesome. "What the Timba-wooves need to do hea, is take the ball........to the bas-ket." Also I think I lied, this is definitely a live blog. I didn't mean it.
HALF - Celtics up 40-34. In a game this ugly, it's easy to expect the Lakers to kick it in gear in the second half, but that would be discounting the Celtics incredible defense. It would be like blaming the Twins for only scoring 1 run against Ubaldo Jimenez this afternoon instead of crediting his pitching. What's that? Mauer sat out because he "took too many foul tips?" That can't be possible. I don't believe you. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. It's far too preposterous to be true. That would mean Butera, Valencia, Punto, and Tolbert all would have had to play against Ubaldo. They did? Wow. I gotta say, in that case scoring 1 run is basically a victory, no?
10:55 3Q - Allen misses again. I'm going to go ahead and consider that MVP bet a loss. Damn dude. Big State will never want you now.
10:30 3Q - Kobe launches one from about 6 feet behind the three-point line. Getting desperate, and activating Chucker ModeTM despite the fact that he can't get any open looks. Maybe Allen needs to be considered for MVP after all.
9:45 3Q - Celtics up 11 now after a Rondo floater. Also we have Tornado and Thunderstorm warnings all over the place tell you to "take shelter in a structure that is not a mobile home." Sorry Nickelback fans.
8:20 3Q - 49-36 Celtics, and Rondo has the MVP sewn up if Boston doesn't blow this. And what's funny about that, is if the Lakers were up 13 right now, I'd be tempted to just turn the game off and chalk up as a win for evil (like Empire Strikes Back). But it's so hard to believe the Lakers won't make a run, so I'm actually nervous for Boston. Like right there Ray Allen threw a pass that was intercepted by Derek Fisher. Do you know how terrible a pass has to be to be intercepted by Derek Fisher? Let me put it this way, it would take Brett Favre's career-worth of Brooks Bollinger playing QB to have Fisher pick one off. Also, related - hey Pete Rose of basketball - go ahead and hang 'em up anytime.
7:34 3Q - Wait, the NBA draft is next Thursday already? Awesome. That is always a fun time.
6:20 3Q - Gasol can't guard KG. That's at least the third time KG has just blown by him from the perimeter. God damn I still love that insane mofo. I'm willing to bet at least 50 bucks he's killed somebody at some point. Also mini-Laker run, lead down to 6.
3:25 3Q - Rasheed has been ridiculously good tonight. This would be like if Adam Morrison came off the Lakers bench and hit a bunch of threes. Admit it, you giggled thinking of Morrison.
2:12 3Q - Ray Allen with a huge steal against Kobe. Man, if he was playing any offense at all he'd have MVP wrapped up thanks to some pretty incredible defense on Kobe in the series, particularly in the fourth quarters. I don't know what the numbers are, but he's been awful in fourth quarters. Hopefully that continues.
1:24 3Q - Allen now 1-9. Other than his monster game 2 and a good game 6, he's been brutal. Time to bring it in Q4. Luckily Kobe is 5-20. I hated Jordan, but anybody who compares Kobe to him ever again should probably just have their throat ripped out, Dalton-style.
0:00 3Q - C's up 57-53. Best replay ever is Garnet screaming "mother fu...." right after scoring on Gasol and right before ABC cut away. Very nice. Pretty sure this one is coming down to whoever decides to actually make shots, Ray Allen or Kobe. Fingers crossed for Ray.
Also what happened to Heath Slocum? The guy was looking like a genius longshot pick, and now I look and he's at +4. Which is 3 shots better than my pick to win, since Hunter Mahan shot a 78! And Ben Crane, maybe the hottest golfer on the planet, shot an 80! Good god, and 80! I thought this US Open would be a little more reasonable since it was at Pebble. I couldn't have been more wrong. I'm betting -4 ends up taking this thing in the end. Hopefully it ends up being Karlsson or Furyk.
10:22 4Q - Pierce making some horrendous decisions when it comes to shot selection. Honest to god it's like Pierce and Kobe are filming a Bad Idea JeansTM commercial. "Normally I wear protection, but I figured, when am I going to be in Haiti again?"
8:23 4Q - Allen with a floater over two Lakers to put the Celtics up 61-58. Maybe that's the shot he needs to get going. Come on Jesus. I love you Jesus.
7:13 4Q - Kobe actually has sex with Ray Allen as he goes up for a jumper. When he's called for the foul, he reacts as I'm sure O.J. did when they told him he was accused of murder. One difference: Kobe was guilty, while O.J. was innocent.
5:56 4Q - Tied at 64. Kobe heading to the line. I don't like where this is going. Celtics offense has disappeared. Come on, Ray. This is sick.
5:56 4Q - I thought about it, and even though it's over, I'm going to tell my wife about the afffair.
5:33 4Q - Allen misses another jumper. Kobe hits one on the other end. Lakers by four. This feels over. I also think Mark Jackson (announcing the game) is likely retarded in some fashion.
5:33 4Q - They use an Eminem song in the trailer for the video game Call of Duty? I....I....I....I literally can't think of anything to say. I am completely stupified right now. Completely.
Well, he's an ex free-base addict, and he's trying to turn it around, and he needs a place to stay for a couple of months.
4:38 - I don't mean to sound like some crybaby chowderhead or anything, but the refs are clearly handing this to LA at this point.
4:13 - Allen with a missed layup. Jesus.
3:05 - You can really tell the Lake show is feeling it. They're playing better defense now than they have all game. Three point Laker lead, Gasol going to the line. Hopefully the Lakers win by less than seven.
2:20 - Lakers up 74-68, and they've made about 20 free throws thsi quarter. Thanks refs. Lakers up 32-15 in free throw attemps. I don't even know why I watch this crap. Let's all cheer ourselves up for a moment:
Better? Better.
1:30 - Ballgame.
1:23 - Rasheed 3 pointer. 76-73. Interesting.
1:01 - Artest with a 28-footer. Clearly it's meant to be. Or, Allen answers with a three. Crazy right now. Like a typical sorority after I show up.
0:26 - Kobe misses a three, but Gasol with the rebound and Kobe ends up getting fouled. As was clear early, LA offensive boards are the key. Fuck this sucks. I really hate that guy. Congrats David Stern. No matter how much you orchestrate it ( and the refs made it clear their was a mandate) this dickmitten will never be another Jordan. And I hated Jordan.
0:00 - Gay.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Oh no! What's wrong with Joe Mauer!
This week I've heard from a couple of different radio programs that something must be wrong with Joe Mauer. He must be injured and we don't know about it. He must be pressing too hard because of the new contract. He must be coasting because of the new contract. There's something wrong.
How about he's playing exactly the way we should expect? You didn't really think he'd hit .365 with 28 home runs every year, did you? Even though his career averages suggest he's more of a .325 hitter with 15 homers? You didn't really, did you? Oh my god, you did. How embarrassing for you.
He's hitting .312 this year at this exact moment as I type this thanks to his 1-2 so far tonight. That's not exactly terrible. That still ranks in the top 15 in the AL. And would you be happier if he was hitting .350? Do you know the difference between .312 and .350 at this point in the season? Seven hits. Or, one extra hit every seven games. That's it. And I've got news for you: Batting average will fluctuate wildly for a non-power hitter.
That one hit every seven games could be a liner hit at somebody, a diving catch, or a blooper that just doesn't quite fall in. At some point those are going to fall. His line drive percentage is up quite a bit this year (27.6% to 22.6%), and his BABIP is down from a ridiculous .373 last season (though still high at .337). He's going to be fine.
Oh. Wait. You probably thought he was suddenly going to turn into a power hitter thanks to that ridiculous stretch of games last year. Did you know that last year, according to hittracker.com (which is awesome) that 11 of Mauer's homers were classified as "just enough?" Meaning they barely cleared the wall. Did you also know that last year his HR per Fly Ball spiked to a ridiculous 20.4%, a number which ranked him with guys like Adam Dunn, Albert Pujols, and Alex Rodriguez? Did you know his career number is around 10%?
So process all that. Is it really realistic, in the least, to expect him to hit 30 homers? Or even 25? Using his career fly-ball rate and his career HR/FB rate (including last year's ridiculous number), you can expect Mauer to hit about 14 home runs per year. You can also expect him to hit around .325-.330 ever year.
And this is a disappointment? No, those numbers aren't worth the contract he just signed, but if you thought the contraction was just for his production, you probably think he'll hit 40 HRs in a season, too.
No, you're not dumb. You're a visionary.
- As long as I'm here, I might as well weigh in on Strasburg's debut. I watched the first six innings, and there is no doubt I came away impressed. He was hitting 97-98 with his fastball all game, and I expected the radar gun to be a little juiced, but the way some of those Pirates were swinging at the ball (and yes, granted they are the Pirates) I think I believe it. You can read more about Strasburg than his mom would even want to if you go to basically any website, so I won't belabor it here, but I'm going to make two points.
First, just this line: 7ip, 4 hits, 2 runs, 0 bb, 14k. 14 strikeouts, no walks. Wow.
Second, watching him strike out 5 of 6 batters in the fifth and sixth was like watching a dominant closer come in and shut the door. Except it was two innings, and it was his fifth and sixth frame of the night. Wow.
He had a lot of hype, and it's going to get worse, but for tonight at least (and I'm sure there will be rough patches) he absolutely lived up to it.
And he's on our fantasy team.
- By the way, those of you who thought I was an idiot for calling out that there was something wrong with Zack Greinke can suck it (Dharma Bum -> hi).
- Also Kobe Bryant is absolutely playing like a man possessed tonight. He has been so impressive in this postseason. Like, a whole new level. At this point, I have to say he's the fourth best guard I've ever seen behind Magic, Jordan, and Glen Rice.
- UPDATE: Celtics making a nice little run here, cutting the lead down to four. Getting murdered by the refs though. I didn't think the "Lakers must win" mandate would come down until Game 5, four at the earliest. Also, Rondo is very, very good with the ball, but he's passing up 15 footers out there. He should be in the gym four hours a day this offseason figuring out how to shoot. He'd be unstoppable. Like Big Baby is now, apparently. Wow did he come to play.
- UPDATE: These refs are just brutal either way. Baby goes up for a layup, a little bit of contact. He missed, and now there's a whistle and a foul on the Lakers. Really just terrible officiating. Story of the finals, unfortunately.
- UPDATE: Kobe in "Operation Chucker" mode. Fisher carrying the Lakers right now. Also, Kevin Garnett is not dead yet, having a monster game. If Ray Allen could hit anything (just missed another open three and I think he's 0-12 now) Celtics would have this.
- UPDATE: Garnett 25 points, 11-15 shooting.
- UPDATE: Ray Allen 0-13. Denzel Washington is sad.
- UPDATE: This constant reviewing of out-of-bounds calls is killing this game.
- UPDATE: Ray Allen just missed a layup, although it didn't count because KG was called for a moving pick. John Thompson would be so proud.
- UPDATE: Still hate the Lakers.
How about he's playing exactly the way we should expect? You didn't really think he'd hit .365 with 28 home runs every year, did you? Even though his career averages suggest he's more of a .325 hitter with 15 homers? You didn't really, did you? Oh my god, you did. How embarrassing for you.
He's hitting .312 this year at this exact moment as I type this thanks to his 1-2 so far tonight. That's not exactly terrible. That still ranks in the top 15 in the AL. And would you be happier if he was hitting .350? Do you know the difference between .312 and .350 at this point in the season? Seven hits. Or, one extra hit every seven games. That's it. And I've got news for you: Batting average will fluctuate wildly for a non-power hitter.
That one hit every seven games could be a liner hit at somebody, a diving catch, or a blooper that just doesn't quite fall in. At some point those are going to fall. His line drive percentage is up quite a bit this year (27.6% to 22.6%), and his BABIP is down from a ridiculous .373 last season (though still high at .337). He's going to be fine.
Oh. Wait. You probably thought he was suddenly going to turn into a power hitter thanks to that ridiculous stretch of games last year. Did you know that last year, according to hittracker.com (which is awesome) that 11 of Mauer's homers were classified as "just enough?" Meaning they barely cleared the wall. Did you also know that last year his HR per Fly Ball spiked to a ridiculous 20.4%, a number which ranked him with guys like Adam Dunn, Albert Pujols, and Alex Rodriguez? Did you know his career number is around 10%?
So process all that. Is it really realistic, in the least, to expect him to hit 30 homers? Or even 25? Using his career fly-ball rate and his career HR/FB rate (including last year's ridiculous number), you can expect Mauer to hit about 14 home runs per year. You can also expect him to hit around .325-.330 ever year.
And this is a disappointment? No, those numbers aren't worth the contract he just signed, but if you thought the contraction was just for his production, you probably think he'll hit 40 HRs in a season, too.
No, you're not dumb. You're a visionary.
- As long as I'm here, I might as well weigh in on Strasburg's debut. I watched the first six innings, and there is no doubt I came away impressed. He was hitting 97-98 with his fastball all game, and I expected the radar gun to be a little juiced, but the way some of those Pirates were swinging at the ball (and yes, granted they are the Pirates) I think I believe it. You can read more about Strasburg than his mom would even want to if you go to basically any website, so I won't belabor it here, but I'm going to make two points.
First, just this line: 7ip, 4 hits, 2 runs, 0 bb, 14k. 14 strikeouts, no walks. Wow.
Second, watching him strike out 5 of 6 batters in the fifth and sixth was like watching a dominant closer come in and shut the door. Except it was two innings, and it was his fifth and sixth frame of the night. Wow.
He had a lot of hype, and it's going to get worse, but for tonight at least (and I'm sure there will be rough patches) he absolutely lived up to it.
And he's on our fantasy team.
- By the way, those of you who thought I was an idiot for calling out that there was something wrong with Zack Greinke can suck it (Dharma Bum -> hi).
- Also Kobe Bryant is absolutely playing like a man possessed tonight. He has been so impressive in this postseason. Like, a whole new level. At this point, I have to say he's the fourth best guard I've ever seen behind Magic, Jordan, and Glen Rice.
- UPDATE: Celtics making a nice little run here, cutting the lead down to four. Getting murdered by the refs though. I didn't think the "Lakers must win" mandate would come down until Game 5, four at the earliest. Also, Rondo is very, very good with the ball, but he's passing up 15 footers out there. He should be in the gym four hours a day this offseason figuring out how to shoot. He'd be unstoppable. Like Big Baby is now, apparently. Wow did he come to play.
- UPDATE: These refs are just brutal either way. Baby goes up for a layup, a little bit of contact. He missed, and now there's a whistle and a foul on the Lakers. Really just terrible officiating. Story of the finals, unfortunately.
- UPDATE: Kobe in "Operation Chucker" mode. Fisher carrying the Lakers right now. Also, Kevin Garnett is not dead yet, having a monster game. If Ray Allen could hit anything (just missed another open three and I think he's 0-12 now) Celtics would have this.
- UPDATE: Garnett 25 points, 11-15 shooting.
- UPDATE: Ray Allen 0-13. Denzel Washington is sad.
- UPDATE: This constant reviewing of out-of-bounds calls is killing this game.
- UPDATE: Ray Allen just missed a layup, although it didn't count because KG was called for a moving pick. John Thompson would be so proud.
- UPDATE: Still hate the Lakers.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
DWG's NBA Preview (ok not really, just some stuff)
I was going to write an NBA preview, but I got bored after one division and plus I think this blog has been a bit "preview-y" lately. Instead I'll just say that the Wolves suck but Jonny Flynn wins the Rookie-of-the-Year, Lebron just misses averaging a triple-double (something like 30-9-9) but the Cavs don't make the finals, and the remaining Nets fans (assuming there are some) revolt after they don't get Lebron despite having completely gutted their team to make a run at him. Oh, and Magic over Spurs in the finals.
- Since I just got back from a nice dinner with the in-laws at the 5-8 Club (Garlic cheeseburger, jojo potatoes, cole slaw, + a couple Mich Golden Draft Lights), and I have a few Miller High Lifes in the fridge, I think I will continue typing things for a little while.
- It's finally happened. The usually positive and upbeat Daily Gopher has cracked, with JG writing this 1,000 word rant going after Tim Brewster. Needless to say, it's my favorite post ever. How he was able to write that many words on Brewster and not use the word "suck" even once is a mystery to me. If I wrote that long a piece about him, I'm pretty sure it would just be "Tim Brewster really sucks" except instead of one really there would be 997 of them.
- Since I'm linking things, go ahead and try to read this Rick Reilly article without chocking on it's combination of sickly sweet cheesiness and irrational shitheadness. I've written in here before, but Reilly has morphed from a pretty good, funny, and entertaininig journalist to some kind of unholy chimera-like combination of Sid Hartman, Patrick Reusse, a broken robot that only speaks in metaphor, and your upbeat super-religious aunt who has to spin everything in a positive light. This one here might be the worst (it's the entry from 10/23, in case it's been pushed down), where he gives a whole ton of credit for the Yankees' great season to Nick Swisher - not for his play, but for his clubhouse fun demeanor, his hair styles, and his handshakes. He actually states that the Yankees wouldn't go this far in the playoffs without Swisher. Actually, I would have said Derek Jeter's resurgence, A-Rod not slumping in the playoffs, Jorge Posada's succesful return from injury, the best bullpen in the majors, and the additions of Mark Texeira, C.C. Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett have a lot more to do with it, especially considering his stats are nearly identical to what Bobby Abreau put up last year in the same position.
Look, I like Swisher, really I do, and he's a good player and by all accounts is a swell guy, but this is just another example of a journalists going out of their way to write a "human interest" piece where one doesn't belong, simply because the unwashed and uninformed masses eat this garbage up because it's too hard to understand statistics. This kind of crap actually makes me angry, second only to when sharks roar in movies. Of course, when the article started out comparing Nick Swisher being on the Yankees to Wanda Sykes being elected to the supreme court, I should have known this wasn't going to be an enjoyable (or in any way informative) read. And what's with the shot at Kate Hudson? Totally worthless.
- I made a couple of NBA bets tonight, seeing as how I'm totally into THE LEAGUE right now: Rockets +8.5, Mavericks -8.5, Cavs -5, Cavs/Celtics OVER 183, Nowitski OVER 33.5 pts + rebs, and Clippers +12. Right now the Cavs are up 28-21 at the end of the first quarter - sounds good so far.
- Speaking of the Clips, that really sucks that Blake Grifin broke his kneecap or whatever. I was looking forward to seeing what he could do - I really think he can be an all-star from day one. And on that note, don't you find it interesting that Bill Simmons constantly writes about the Clippers Curse, but also ripped any journalist who talked about the Red Sox Curse? Interesting. I'm still planning on getting his NBA book.
- Shawn Marion is on the Mavericks? I had no idea. That guy has been passed around like Lindsay Lohan since he inexplicably forced his way off a contending team with the perfect system for him and a point guard who loved nothing more than sharing the ball. Seriously, Marion was in a perfect situation in Phoenix. He had a steady diet of Prime Rib, and switched it for Dinty Moore. Hi was vacationing in Vegas and swapped it for Detroit. He had a PS3 and turned it in for a Turbo Graphix. He was humping Audrina and downgraded to Spencer's sister. And keep in mind this was all voluntary. Basically Audrina was laying on the bed in lingerie and waiting and he jumped in the car and drove across town for Spencer's ugly sister in her sweatpants eating ice cream out of the bucket and her four cats.
I'm pretty sure just having this picture on here is going to triple the traffic I get from google image searches.
- Well, Lebron did manage to score 15 in the fourth, but he (and the rest of the Cavs) decided not to guard Paul Pierce and the Celtics ended up winning 95-89 (which covered the over, but not the spread). It seems I may have underrated the Celtics, since they beat the Cavs with a uninspiring performance from KG, in a game that may have highlighted how bad his knees are right now (he missed a big time hammer dunk). Obviously Boston was just fine, thanks to a big time performance off the bench by Rasheed. I'm telling you man, that Rasheed signing might have been the most important move anybody made this offesason. Those two can tandem at the PF so well, Boston might not have much of a fall-off, even if KG's legs are all broken and such.
- I was going to stay up and watch the whole second game (Lakers/Clippers), but it's now 20 minutes past the starting tip time and they still haven't gotten going. I'm a very busy man, and can't just be held up by this, so I'm gonna sign off.
- Since I just got back from a nice dinner with the in-laws at the 5-8 Club (Garlic cheeseburger, jojo potatoes, cole slaw, + a couple Mich Golden Draft Lights), and I have a few Miller High Lifes in the fridge, I think I will continue typing things for a little while.
- It's finally happened. The usually positive and upbeat Daily Gopher has cracked, with JG writing this 1,000 word rant going after Tim Brewster. Needless to say, it's my favorite post ever. How he was able to write that many words on Brewster and not use the word "suck" even once is a mystery to me. If I wrote that long a piece about him, I'm pretty sure it would just be "Tim Brewster really sucks" except instead of one really there would be 997 of them.
- Since I'm linking things, go ahead and try to read this Rick Reilly article without chocking on it's combination of sickly sweet cheesiness and irrational shitheadness. I've written in here before, but Reilly has morphed from a pretty good, funny, and entertaininig journalist to some kind of unholy chimera-like combination of Sid Hartman, Patrick Reusse, a broken robot that only speaks in metaphor, and your upbeat super-religious aunt who has to spin everything in a positive light. This one here might be the worst (it's the entry from 10/23, in case it's been pushed down), where he gives a whole ton of credit for the Yankees' great season to Nick Swisher - not for his play, but for his clubhouse fun demeanor, his hair styles, and his handshakes. He actually states that the Yankees wouldn't go this far in the playoffs without Swisher. Actually, I would have said Derek Jeter's resurgence, A-Rod not slumping in the playoffs, Jorge Posada's succesful return from injury, the best bullpen in the majors, and the additions of Mark Texeira, C.C. Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett have a lot more to do with it, especially considering his stats are nearly identical to what Bobby Abreau put up last year in the same position.
Look, I like Swisher, really I do, and he's a good player and by all accounts is a swell guy, but this is just another example of a journalists going out of their way to write a "human interest" piece where one doesn't belong, simply because the unwashed and uninformed masses eat this garbage up because it's too hard to understand statistics. This kind of crap actually makes me angry, second only to when sharks roar in movies. Of course, when the article started out comparing Nick Swisher being on the Yankees to Wanda Sykes being elected to the supreme court, I should have known this wasn't going to be an enjoyable (or in any way informative) read. And what's with the shot at Kate Hudson? Totally worthless.
- I made a couple of NBA bets tonight, seeing as how I'm totally into THE LEAGUE right now: Rockets +8.5, Mavericks -8.5, Cavs -5, Cavs/Celtics OVER 183, Nowitski OVER 33.5 pts + rebs, and Clippers +12. Right now the Cavs are up 28-21 at the end of the first quarter - sounds good so far.
- Speaking of the Clips, that really sucks that Blake Grifin broke his kneecap or whatever. I was looking forward to seeing what he could do - I really think he can be an all-star from day one. And on that note, don't you find it interesting that Bill Simmons constantly writes about the Clippers Curse, but also ripped any journalist who talked about the Red Sox Curse? Interesting. I'm still planning on getting his NBA book.
- Shawn Marion is on the Mavericks? I had no idea. That guy has been passed around like Lindsay Lohan since he inexplicably forced his way off a contending team with the perfect system for him and a point guard who loved nothing more than sharing the ball. Seriously, Marion was in a perfect situation in Phoenix. He had a steady diet of Prime Rib, and switched it for Dinty Moore. Hi was vacationing in Vegas and swapped it for Detroit. He had a PS3 and turned it in for a Turbo Graphix. He was humping Audrina and downgraded to Spencer's sister. And keep in mind this was all voluntary. Basically Audrina was laying on the bed in lingerie and waiting and he jumped in the car and drove across town for Spencer's ugly sister in her sweatpants eating ice cream out of the bucket and her four cats.
Good call Shawn.
- We're heading to the fourth, the Celtics leading the Cavs 72-65. Want to be Lebron goes crazy in this quarter and the Cavs end up covering the five? I would be willing to wager that Lebron (right now with 23 points, 1 rebound, and 7 assists) ends up scoring 20 this quarter.
- No comments about Sano and the Twins? Really? And speaking of no comments, where the hell has the Sidler been. I'm a bit concerned at this point.
- If any of you go see this Robin Williams/John Travolta horrible thing of a movie that I just saw a trailer for, we can no longer be friends. Not even a little bit. They should just take every theater that is showing that, and after the coming attractions, burn the place down. It's for the best.
- Right now we are watching the Scream Awards, which are basically the Oscars for Sci Fi and Horror films. The best actress in a Sci Fi award was just given to Megan Fox. Come on. Yes, she's hot. I have no argument with that, but this is supposed to be taken seriously, right? Then this should be for acting ability, not just hotness. I don't think Megan Fox would be a standout actress at a high school production of Fiddler, but now that you mention it this picture:
- Well, Lebron did manage to score 15 in the fourth, but he (and the rest of the Cavs) decided not to guard Paul Pierce and the Celtics ended up winning 95-89 (which covered the over, but not the spread). It seems I may have underrated the Celtics, since they beat the Cavs with a uninspiring performance from KG, in a game that may have highlighted how bad his knees are right now (he missed a big time hammer dunk). Obviously Boston was just fine, thanks to a big time performance off the bench by Rasheed. I'm telling you man, that Rasheed signing might have been the most important move anybody made this offesason. Those two can tandem at the PF so well, Boston might not have much of a fall-off, even if KG's legs are all broken and such.
- I was going to stay up and watch the whole second game (Lakers/Clippers), but it's now 20 minutes past the starting tip time and they still haven't gotten going. I'm a very busy man, and can't just be held up by this, so I'm gonna sign off.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Here's What Happened - 4/16/2009
WHO WAS AWESOME
1. Roy Halladay. Well it's not exactly impressive to shut down the Twins, but since Halladay is the first pitcher this year to get to three wins he deserves some mention. He's been very solid, if not spectacular, this season, with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.05, with 17 strikeouts in 19 innings. Plus I love the guy, so big thumbs up to Roy.
2. Joe Saunders. Yeah, he's pretty boring. Even the name is boring. But he's pitching really well this season, and kept it up last night, going 6 2/3rds against maybe the hottest team right now in Seattle, and giving up just three hits while allowing no runs as the Angels won 5-1. Saunders has been quality in all three starts so far this year, sporting a 2-1 record and an ERA of 2.18 and a WHIP of 0.92. I'd write more, but honestly I barely know who he is and he's so boring I just can't quite make the effort.
3. Mayim Bialik. Yes, I'm talking about TVs Blossom right here. I thought she had retired from acting, but last night on the TV show "Bones" (which I can't recommend more highly) Blossom showed up as a guest star and I must say was totally awesome. Of course, she was only on the screen for about a minute and her only line was "Please find who did this to my sister", but still. Blossom!
"Where has she been?", you probably are dying to know. Thankfully, I'm here to tell you. Since Blossom was canceled, Bialik attended UCLA where she obtained degrees in Neuroscience and Jewish studies, and completed her PHd in Neuroscience in 2008. Mega hot and a nerd? Sign me up. Blossom was awesome, and it's hard to believe it was only on for five years. And how hot was Six? Seriously.
WHO SUCKED
1. The Minnesota Suck Twins. Oof. Sitting at 4-7 now, and a 2 games out of first, things have really not gone according to plan, particularly after going 1-3 against Toronto. Other than getting their asses beat by the fourth best team in the East, the season has been going horribly as well. The team ranks 20th in runs scored, and 28th in runs allowed. 28th in runs allowed. Mauer can fix some of the offensive issues when he comes back, but if the team is going to find it's way back into any kind of pennant race, the pitchers (other than Perkins) really need to get this turned around. And it once again looks like the bullpen is going to be an absolute mess (other than Nathan). Good lord it's like nothing has changed, except I think I might be bored already.
2. Boston Celtics. More specifically, Kevin Garnett's knee, which will keep him out of the first round of the playoffs, and maybe the entire thing. KG missed 25 games this year with the injury, and it was expected he would be back for the last few games of the regular season and then the playoffs, but alas, it is not to be. Now, with Pierce, Rondo, and Shuttlesworth, the Celtics still have a pretty good team, and were actually pretty successful when KG was out, going 18-7 this season, but also allowing 8 more points per game. And this isn't the regular season, it's the playoffs, and the competition is going to be much better. If KG can't come back at all, do you see any way they can make any kind of run with a front line of Kendrick Perkins, Big Baby Davis, and Leon Powe? Do you realize that this means Mikki Moore (#302 on the PER rankings I referenced yesterday) will be prominently involved? I'd say this makes a Cavs/Lakers final pretty much a lock - in fact I just checked Betus.com and the line on those two teams being in the finals is now 11-10. That's insane.
3. Yankees bullpen. There isn't much sweeter than the sound of Yankee fans booing their own players, and, as it turns out, that can even be topped by the sound of Yankee fans booing their own players in the first game in their stupid new stadium. Yesterday was the opener for the new Yankee Stadium, and it started as a pretty good pitcher's duel between the Indians' Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia. And then the 7th inning happened. Cleveland put up a nine-spot in the seventh, destroying relievers Jose Veras and Damaso Marte in the process. Veras, who I had actually never heard of, actually was a pretty reliable reliever for the Yanks last season, but has been a complete disaster this season, putting up an ERA of 13.50 and a WHIP of 1.80 after giving up four baserunners and three earned runs without bothering to get an out. Marte, one of the more reliable relievers over the last eight seasons, put had only pitched a total of one inning before yesterday, which will make his six earned runs allowed in one inning rather difficult to overcome, making his season era a robust 27.00. Any time the Yankees fail it makes me smile, and failing in their big hullabaloo about the new stadium makes it even sweeter. Plus, Cliff Lee got the win, and he's on my fantasy team so that helps.
Sorry about the subpar effort, but I'm a little bit hungover this morning. I haven't actually decided what I'm going to do with these updates over the weekends, so I might be posting and I might not. Check back often.
1. Roy Halladay. Well it's not exactly impressive to shut down the Twins, but since Halladay is the first pitcher this year to get to three wins he deserves some mention. He's been very solid, if not spectacular, this season, with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.05, with 17 strikeouts in 19 innings. Plus I love the guy, so big thumbs up to Roy.
2. Joe Saunders. Yeah, he's pretty boring. Even the name is boring. But he's pitching really well this season, and kept it up last night, going 6 2/3rds against maybe the hottest team right now in Seattle, and giving up just three hits while allowing no runs as the Angels won 5-1. Saunders has been quality in all three starts so far this year, sporting a 2-1 record and an ERA of 2.18 and a WHIP of 0.92. I'd write more, but honestly I barely know who he is and he's so boring I just can't quite make the effort.
3. Mayim Bialik. Yes, I'm talking about TVs Blossom right here. I thought she had retired from acting, but last night on the TV show "Bones" (which I can't recommend more highly) Blossom showed up as a guest star and I must say was totally awesome. Of course, she was only on the screen for about a minute and her only line was "Please find who did this to my sister", but still. Blossom!
"Where has she been?", you probably are dying to know. Thankfully, I'm here to tell you. Since Blossom was canceled, Bialik attended UCLA where she obtained degrees in Neuroscience and Jewish studies, and completed her PHd in Neuroscience in 2008. Mega hot and a nerd? Sign me up. Blossom was awesome, and it's hard to believe it was only on for five years. And how hot was Six? Seriously.
WHO SUCKED
1. The Minnesota Suck Twins. Oof. Sitting at 4-7 now, and a 2 games out of first, things have really not gone according to plan, particularly after going 1-3 against Toronto. Other than getting their asses beat by the fourth best team in the East, the season has been going horribly as well. The team ranks 20th in runs scored, and 28th in runs allowed. 28th in runs allowed. Mauer can fix some of the offensive issues when he comes back, but if the team is going to find it's way back into any kind of pennant race, the pitchers (other than Perkins) really need to get this turned around. And it once again looks like the bullpen is going to be an absolute mess (other than Nathan). Good lord it's like nothing has changed, except I think I might be bored already.
2. Boston Celtics. More specifically, Kevin Garnett's knee, which will keep him out of the first round of the playoffs, and maybe the entire thing. KG missed 25 games this year with the injury, and it was expected he would be back for the last few games of the regular season and then the playoffs, but alas, it is not to be. Now, with Pierce, Rondo, and Shuttlesworth, the Celtics still have a pretty good team, and were actually pretty successful when KG was out, going 18-7 this season, but also allowing 8 more points per game. And this isn't the regular season, it's the playoffs, and the competition is going to be much better. If KG can't come back at all, do you see any way they can make any kind of run with a front line of Kendrick Perkins, Big Baby Davis, and Leon Powe? Do you realize that this means Mikki Moore (#302 on the PER rankings I referenced yesterday) will be prominently involved? I'd say this makes a Cavs/Lakers final pretty much a lock - in fact I just checked Betus.com and the line on those two teams being in the finals is now 11-10. That's insane.
3. Yankees bullpen. There isn't much sweeter than the sound of Yankee fans booing their own players, and, as it turns out, that can even be topped by the sound of Yankee fans booing their own players in the first game in their stupid new stadium. Yesterday was the opener for the new Yankee Stadium, and it started as a pretty good pitcher's duel between the Indians' Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia. And then the 7th inning happened. Cleveland put up a nine-spot in the seventh, destroying relievers Jose Veras and Damaso Marte in the process. Veras, who I had actually never heard of, actually was a pretty reliable reliever for the Yanks last season, but has been a complete disaster this season, putting up an ERA of 13.50 and a WHIP of 1.80 after giving up four baserunners and three earned runs without bothering to get an out. Marte, one of the more reliable relievers over the last eight seasons, put had only pitched a total of one inning before yesterday, which will make his six earned runs allowed in one inning rather difficult to overcome, making his season era a robust 27.00. Any time the Yankees fail it makes me smile, and failing in their big hullabaloo about the new stadium makes it even sweeter. Plus, Cliff Lee got the win, and he's on my fantasy team so that helps.
Sorry about the subpar effort, but I'm a little bit hungover this morning. I haven't actually decided what I'm going to do with these updates over the weekends, so I might be posting and I might not. Check back often.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day
To me. After an excellent Father's Day breakfast of donuts and bacon (jealous?), I'm now planted on the couch with the little one with plans to watch the Twins/Brewers, US Open, and NBA Finals.
- Enough with the bunting. Enough.
- I love how when Mauer sits Gardy doesn't have the energy to bother shuffling the batting order and just plugs Redmond in the three hole. I don't know if it's laziness or stupidity (such as, "I can't move anyone else around it'll throw them off!!) I don't know which would be worse, but what I do know is that Gardy is not a good manager.
- Unfortunately, Delmon Young has the day off so I don't get to watch him flail about, but I want to mention that Snacks is a huge Young fan. This weekend I was called a "hater" and told "he's only 22." So please, next time you watch Delmon chase a ball a foot outside, go after the slider in the dirt, or hit a groundball nine consecutive at bats, just remember that Snacks is in love with him.
- I'm going to write something about college basketball next week, I promise.
- Scottie Baker "The Touchdown Maker" just gave up a double to the Brewer's pitcher. That seriously has to be the worst thing in the world. Even worse than giving up a hit to Adam Everett.
- I chose Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia over Tiger for fantasy golf this week. That's looking like a pretty major mistake. Dammit. I hope his knee falls off.
- On Channel 101 on DirectTV is the "Championship Gaming Series Draft Show." This is a group of teams, drafting people to play on their video gamer teams to compete in the North American Gaming series. Sample analysis, "So do you go with a DOA Male to compliment your female, or do you go with a driver here to fill out your squad." Chris "NinjaCW" Harris was just picked, and he goes up to a podium and gets a hat and shirt and all that. Totally surreal.
- US Open has now officially been on for fifteen minutes and we have yet to see a single shot. Enough with the blah blah already.
- How about the choke job by Appleby yesterday? Nobody's talking about it due to Tiger's brilliance and the fact that it was Saturday and not Sunday, but tossing up a +8 when you're leading the US Open is Normanesque. And not just the +8, but the way he did it. He missed AT LEAST four putts under five feet. I'm guessing he doesn't recover for a while, he's kind of a sensitive emo dude and probably cried himself to sleep last night.
- The front page of the leaderboard sucks. You have Tiger (boring), Lee Westwood (commie), Rocco Mediate (probably gay), Geoff Ogilvy (definitely gay), DJ Trahan (I barely know who this is), Camilo Villegas (the most annoying golfer on tour), Robert Karlsson (commie), and Miguel Angel Jimenez (gay commie). I'm going to have to root for someone on page two to make a miracle run. Let's go with, um, say, Sergio Garcia.
- Also Scott Baker is very good. 8 K's through five, including four in the third inning alone. Jason Kubel is awesome too. Where are all the haters now? HATERS!!1 He should probably be an all-star.
- Mrs. W's contribution, "Cuddyer doesn't look like a Michael. He looks like an Andy." Weirdly, I agree.
- I understand it's sad that Tim Russert died or whatever, but do we really need a ten minute segment on him during the US freaking Open? I don't mean to be an insensitive ass, but there's a time and place people, a time and a place. They better break into news tonight whenever somebody birdies a hole. Meanwhile I see Brian Bass is in with the Brewers up 3-2, so I'm going to go ahead and mark down a Brewers' win here.
- The dream is over right away, as on the par 3 third hole Sergio pumps in right into some crap, then sails it over the green on shot two and ends up with a double. I'm now officially rooting for Lee Westwood. God I'm so sick of Tiger. They've spent more time on the telecast thus far talking about stupid Tiger crap than they have showing any of the other golfers. He's like Brett Favre, but actually good. It's just like, enough already, there are other golfers out there. I really don't need to know about Tiger and his mom's spiritual relationship.
- Dennys Reyes is the new Rich Garces.
- Tiger doubles the first, hitting a tree twice. Of course, his very first hole of the tourny was a double as well, so this doesn't necessarily mean much, except that it was to watch him struggle like a weekend hacker.
- He follows that up with another shanked tee shot and a three putt to bogey number 2, including a missed four foot par putt. So far he's looking like Appleby from yesterday, hopefully he'll keep it up. He's already wincing and making fake grimaces when the camera is on him, just so he can blame the knee if he ends up not winning. What a prima donna. Oh, so the knee is fine when he shoot -3 through three rounds, but two bad holes and suddenly it hurts? You're no Lance Harbor, sir. If only somebody would make a run, but Garcia can't seem to make a birdie anywhere.
- In case you missed it, Jordan Crawford is leaving Indiana. This now leaves the Hoosiers and new coach Tom Crean with exactly two returning players and one scholarship player in Kyle Taber, who averaged 1.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last year. What a mess.
- Luke Donald officially withdraws from the Open after injuring his wrist on the fourth hole. How do you get hurt playing golf you ask? I wouldn't have believed it either, but a friend of mine, we'll call him Park, once hurt his wrist golfing and had to sit out an entire summer of baseball. And he was a baseball stud, and was lucky to break 120 golfing. Of course, he was always the kind of kid who, despite being an incredible natural athlete, could also manage to get hurt doing just about anything. He was like Fred Taylor or, if you prefer something a bit more provincial, Michael Bauer.
- Sergio sucks.
- Lee Westwood just had a birdie putt that would have put him up 2 on Tiger here on the 8th hole, and Tiger stood in his line of sight. Seriously, like right there. While prima donna Tiger backs off his shot if a bird chirps or the wind blows. So he's a baby, a faker, a whiner, and a cheater. Real role model there. What an ass.
- Naturally, Westwood misses. Seriously, nobody can putt today. And Tiger takes the lead. So, there's that. It's pretty much over. I can't wait for the basketball.
- Wow, I just came back and somehow Mediate is back in front of Tiger by a shot. How'd that happen? Go Rocco! Also, if you live in the North St Paul area, you should order Rocco's Pizza. Thin crust, sausage and pepperoni. It's very thin and cut into squares. Money.
- Here's a new one. Tiger missed a par putt by a few millimeters left, and announcer guy says, "It hit something. It hit something on the green and didn't break as much as it was supposed to." Then we go over the replay, and he narrates how it hit something. But it didn't. It never hit anything. It just didn't break that much. It was seriously just like Madden making excuses for a Brett Favre interception. The guy is the greatest golfer in history, but he does actually miss putts without anything crazy happening. He just missed. It's ok. It happens. Sheesh.
- El Tigre sinks his birdie putt on 18, and he and Mediate will be playing 18 tomorrow to determine the winner. Wow. That's a bit of a mismatch. Tiger by 6 strokes.
- Basketball prediction: Due to being down 3-1, the Lakers are demoralized. Since their leader, Kobe, is not from the "inspirational leader" school of leadership and is more from the "I'm a complete dick" school, they struggle from the get go. In the second quarter (or earlier), Kobe is done with his teammates and goes into full on ballhog take over the game mode. It might work, and it might not, but expect Kobe to take over 30 shots tonight, for good or for ill.
- Rajon Rondo has officially become Jacque Vaughn. Drove all the way into the lane and had a wide open layup, but for some unknown reason kicked it out to Paul Pierce instead - who missed. He apparently has decided he has the shooting touch of Jonathan Williams.
- Well, the Lakers certainly haven't come out flat nor demoralized, up 24-12 quickly. Kobe does have 8 shots in under 8 minutes, so that prediction is looking good, unlike pretty much every other prediction I've ever made. Go JP Losman!
- Ray Allen has, without question, the prettiest jumpshot ever. Look:
See?
- Whatever happened to former Big Ten POY Brian Cook? The dude from Illinois? He was a Laker for a while, and seemed to be kind of being not terrible, but now the Lakers are playing super stiff Chris Mihm over him.
- Here's your answer. He has his own website (actually I don't know if it's by him, but it's certainly dedicated to him) and he was traded in the offseason from the Lakers to Orlando. He pretty much sucked, averaging 5 points and 2 rebounds per game in 12 minutes, and got hurt right before the playoffs. I guess there's not that much of a market for a seven foot tall three point specialist, unless you're Sam Perkins.
- I keep forgetting to mention that Brendan Harris is my new favorite Twin. Sports Illustrated does a thing in each episode where they ask four athletes some pop culture/everyday life types of questions. In this one mag, Harris was one of the guys and the question was, "What do you never leave the house without?" and some of the answers were like "My wallet" or "pictures of my family", but Harris's answer was "My flask." You gotta love that.
- 55-52 at half. Kobe has slowed down, with only 12 attempts. Expect that number to sky rocket in the second half, as he feels more and more of a sense of urgency.
- Semi-Pro is a gigantic turd of a movie. Don't waste your time. Watch Anchorman again instead.
- No matter how hard I try, I just cannot get into NBA basketball. Is impossible.
- You can tell Vujacic is a Euro, after a jump ball he goes down hard, and curls up in the fetal position like a European Soccer Player. Very girly.
- Lakers up two with five minutes left, and Kobe doesn't touch the ball the entire possession. Inconceivable. I thought Phil Jackson was some kind of genius.
- I really don't like Will Smith. Does that make me a racist? I'm ok with that, just wondering.
- KG misses two free throws that would have tied it up with 2 and a half remaining. Sigh. Let the anti-clutch opinions keep coming - he keeps living up to them, sadly.
- Those shooting sleeves are the gayest things ever. EVER.
- Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah Lakers! Great, now I'll have to force myself to watch at least one more game. Awesome.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
It's been a while
Yes, I know, sorry. 33 Hours of meetings in four days, followed each night by a company outing, then coming home to a baby and a wife who was alone with that baby for four nights doesn't leave a lot of time to write semi-witty, mainly nonsensical comments about the wonderful world of sports. I would have hoped one of the other contributors to this blog would have chipped in here somewhere, but it turns out they're lame. I have some time here as I take a break from mowing my far too large lawn with my far too small mower while mom & baby are at relatives, so let's see what's what.
- First thing, the Phillies/Reds game on Tuesday was pretty good, and the only worthwhile thing that came out of the week in Philly. Griffey didn't start, and wasn't going to play, so that took some of the wind out of the sails, but he did pinch hit in the 8th or 9th. The whole crowd stood and applauded, and then my new least favorite pitcher, replacing Mark Buehrle, Tom Gordon walked him on four pitches, none of which even sniffed the strike zone. What a giant pussy. His home crowd booed him. I hope that bear from that book with his name in it finds him and eats his face off. Overall, Citizen's Bank Park was good. I wouldn't say great, there's nothing here that blows your skirt up - Player T-shirts are $25 (we got a voucher, so I picked up a Hamels shirt, but the beer flowed like wine and a good time was had.
- I suppose the biggest news is the 1-0 lead the Celts took on the Lake Show in the Finals, after Paul Pierce recieved some Bud Kilmer Juice in the locker room and came back after being carted off in a wheelchair. I LOVE the conspiracy theorists who think it was an intentional bit to fire up the crowd and the team. We didn't land on the moon either. I'm torn in this series, because I'd love for KG to win a title, but I'd hate for the Sports Guy to have another of his teams win. I guess the Kobe hatred that still courses through my veins is the big tiebreaker. I can't stand that son of a bitch. Him, Michael Jordan, and Emmitt Smith make my triumvirate of hate, and I can't think of another player in the history of any sport that I hated anywhere near as much. Minnesota athletes exempt, they are a whole different category.
- Can't Buy Me Love was a truly excellent movie. Did you know the dude who turned into Rico Suave was in this? Kenny Fisher, too.
- My golf picks for this week, which I didn't get a chance to post so you'll just have to believe me, were Brandt Snedeker and Robert Allenby. Snedeker is currently Even and in 17th, Allenby is +1 and 26th. Not bad. Does anybody want to write up a US Open preview for the site next week? Anybody? Bueller?
- I read something the other day about how Greg Maddux and Ken Griffey are the opposite of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, and I couldn't agree more. Maddux and Griffey aged, showed their age and injuries, and had some fairly poor seasons, but there isn't a question out there about if they stayed natural. Griffey is number six on the all-time homerun list, and two of the guys above him were clear Roids guys, so let's call him fourth all-time behind Aaron, Ruth, and Mays. Griffey also missed the equivalent of about three full seasons, but still managed to hit 30 home runs last season at 37 years old. Honestly, I think he is the best overall non-roided baseball player of my generation. It's between him, A-Rod, a pre-roid Bonds, and Brian Harper.
- You know who else is pretty underrated actually, at least by me: Larry Jones. I've never liked him, mostly because the guy voluntarily goes by Chipper. That's something people should call you behind your back if they don't like you, and choosing it as your moniker is suspect. But with Jones hitting .421 this season, he's been in the limelight quite a bit and in looking at his career numbers, they're pretty impressive. Career batting averge of .310, with 2208 total hits. Behind just Wade Boggs and Pie Traynor in average among third basemen, and with a total of 400 homeruns, he's behind just Mike Schmidt, Eddie Matthews, and Darrell Evans amongt primary third basemen. So I guess he's not that bad. Although Jeff Bagwell is still gay.
- Lastly, before I start the stupid mower back up, the MLB draft was this past week. The Twins had three first rounders, making two very good picks and one horrible, T-Wolves like choice. Their first pick, at #14 was high school outfielder Aaron Hicks. Hicks is known as a five-tool player, and was also a pitcher with a 90+ mph fastball in high school and has first round talent as either a pitcher or a center fielder. Rumor has it the Twins will start him off in the outfield, which is what he prefers, although many teams think his future lies on the hill. With Gomez, Ben Revere, and Joe Benson all in the system, pitcher might be the way to go. Hopefully they figure it out. He's being favorably compared to Darryl Strawberry - the hitting/fielding/running, not the partying/drinking/drugs, although if he can hit, what do I care?
- The other good pick was the awesomely named Shooter Hunt, a pitcher (naturally) out of Tulane. Baseball America ranked Hunt the #11 prospect, and the Twins got him at 31, so if he's as good as BA thinks, he's a definite steal.
- The bad pick was closer Carlos Gutierrez out of Miami, universally looked at as a horrid first round pick. Expert Keith Law didn't even have him in his top 75. He's a college closer, with a 90-94 mph sinking fastball. It's looked at as a very good pitch, but it's also his only pitch. As the 27th pick in a draft, you need to have a second pitch at a minimum, if not a third. He's probably a pretty stellar third round pick.
- That's all I have time for. Go F yourself.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Charley Walters is Dumber than I Thought
I haven't read any of the local columns in a while, due to being stuck in New Jersey for work which was not awesome, so I just saw Charley Walters reaction to the KG trade, which was this:
In exchange for Garnett, the Wolves will receive Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes and two first-round draft picks from the Celtics. If the Wolves got just Jefferson in return, they would have gotten the best of the deal.
That last part has to be a joke, right? Jefferson is a nice, young player who will probably be very good. KG is a top five player over his career, and is probably still top 10 right now. Maybe this is the beginning of the unfortunately inevitable bashing of Garnett that will take place to make idiots feel better about the fact that he's gone.
Or maybe Charley Walters is a stupidhead.
In exchange for Garnett, the Wolves will receive Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes and two first-round draft picks from the Celtics. If the Wolves got just Jefferson in return, they would have gotten the best of the deal.
That last part has to be a joke, right? Jefferson is a nice, young player who will probably be very good. KG is a top five player over his career, and is probably still top 10 right now. Maybe this is the beginning of the unfortunately inevitable bashing of Garnett that will take place to make idiots feel better about the fact that he's gone.
Or maybe Charley Walters is a stupidhead.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Garnett Gone?
I'm out of town for work and between meetings but just heard that it is basically a done deal that Garnett is heading to the Celtics. I'm hoping it's the deal I heard which is Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green, Sebastien Telfair, Ryan Gomes, and 2 1st round picks(one of which used to be the Wolves).
That would be pretty sweet.
UPDATE: This is about as official as you can get without actually being official. I have lots to say but it's late, and I'm drunk in New Jersey and have to get up for a stupid meeting tomorrow.
The Sports Guy likes it for the Celts.
I honestly like it a lot for the Wolves. It was pretty clear KG needed to be traded, and they got a potential franchise type player in Jefferson, two first rounders (I think the second one from the Celts will be pretty worthless), and some other stuff that will be helpful. Maybe Gerald Green will be good, I don't know, I don't watch the NBA.
But I am very, very sad to see KG go. Basically the face of Minnesota sports for the last however many years. One of the ten best players in the NBA, maybe five best, and an absolutely outstanding citizen. We were lucky to have him, and it's a shame it couldn't work out. Nothing would make me happier than to see the Celts and the Big Ticket win a title next year. Probably not, but that would be sweet.
And for the Wolves, Foye, Brewer, Jefferson, and what ever other crap we have is not a bad starting place for a rebuilding situation.
Especially since Brewer will be the best player out of this draft other than Durant and Oden.
That would be pretty sweet.
UPDATE: This is about as official as you can get without actually being official. I have lots to say but it's late, and I'm drunk in New Jersey and have to get up for a stupid meeting tomorrow.
The Sports Guy likes it for the Celts.
I honestly like it a lot for the Wolves. It was pretty clear KG needed to be traded, and they got a potential franchise type player in Jefferson, two first rounders (I think the second one from the Celts will be pretty worthless), and some other stuff that will be helpful. Maybe Gerald Green will be good, I don't know, I don't watch the NBA.
But I am very, very sad to see KG go. Basically the face of Minnesota sports for the last however many years. One of the ten best players in the NBA, maybe five best, and an absolutely outstanding citizen. We were lucky to have him, and it's a shame it couldn't work out. Nothing would make me happier than to see the Celts and the Big Ticket win a title next year. Probably not, but that would be sweet.
And for the Wolves, Foye, Brewer, Jefferson, and what ever other crap we have is not a bad starting place for a rebuilding situation.
Especially since Brewer will be the best player out of this draft other than Durant and Oden.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Newest Garnett News
The latest, as reported by Chad Ford at ESPN.com, is that the Charlotte Bobcats have been contacted to be the third team to work out a KG deal with the Wolves and Suns.
The Wolves would receive the #8 pick and undisclosed players from Charlotte, KG would go to the Suns, and Amare Stoudamire and Marcus Banks would head to Charlotte.
Rumors have been swirling around Charlotte trading the #8 pick, since they have a nice base of young players and were looking for veteran help. However, I'm not so sure the Bobcats have the salaries to get this trade done.
It would have to involve some kind of sign and trade with Gerald Wallace and maybe Jake Voskuhl. Of the players the Bobcats have under contract, the only guys I can see them parting with are Othella Harrington ($2.2 mil), Brevin Knight ($4.4 mil), and Primoz Brezec ($2.8 mil). That's not enough money to get it done. I don't really know how sign and trades work and all that, but I think that would be the only option here.
ALSO: There's a rumor that there is already a trade in place to get rid of Ricky Davis as well, but now I can't freaking remember who they said he was going to get traded to.
The Wolves would receive the #8 pick and undisclosed players from Charlotte, KG would go to the Suns, and Amare Stoudamire and Marcus Banks would head to Charlotte.
Rumors have been swirling around Charlotte trading the #8 pick, since they have a nice base of young players and were looking for veteran help. However, I'm not so sure the Bobcats have the salaries to get this trade done.
It would have to involve some kind of sign and trade with Gerald Wallace and maybe Jake Voskuhl. Of the players the Bobcats have under contract, the only guys I can see them parting with are Othella Harrington ($2.2 mil), Brevin Knight ($4.4 mil), and Primoz Brezec ($2.8 mil). That's not enough money to get it done. I don't really know how sign and trades work and all that, but I think that would be the only option here.
ALSO: There's a rumor that there is already a trade in place to get rid of Ricky Davis as well, but now I can't freaking remember who they said he was going to get traded to.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
KG to Suns back on?
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, over at yahoo.com, KG is very close to being a Phoenix Sun once again.
This version of the trade would send KG to Phoenix, Amare Stoudamire to Atlanta, and the #3 and #11 picks along with Zaza Pachulia and Anthony Johnson to the Wolves.
I like getting the #3 and #11, but the last Atlanta rumor I heard had former top 10 picks Josh Childress and Shelden Williams as the players involved, not mediocre players like Pachulia and Johnson. (well, Childress and Williams' stats aren't that great yet, but at least they are mediocre with upside.)
The Wolves also don't get rid of any of their bad contracts with this deal, but it's become pretty apparent at this point that KG needs to be moved after all of this.
Maybe the #3 and #7 would be enough to move up to #2 and get Durant..........
This version of the trade would send KG to Phoenix, Amare Stoudamire to Atlanta, and the #3 and #11 picks along with Zaza Pachulia and Anthony Johnson to the Wolves.
I like getting the #3 and #11, but the last Atlanta rumor I heard had former top 10 picks Josh Childress and Shelden Williams as the players involved, not mediocre players like Pachulia and Johnson. (well, Childress and Williams' stats aren't that great yet, but at least they are mediocre with upside.)
The Wolves also don't get rid of any of their bad contracts with this deal, but it's become pretty apparent at this point that KG needs to be moved after all of this.
Maybe the #3 and #7 would be enough to move up to #2 and get Durant..........
Friday, June 22, 2007
A Big Damn Mess
It seems this KG trade is becoming a giant mess.
Apparently, McHale and Ainge had agreed to trade KG and Troy Hudson (woo-hoo) to the Celtics in exchange for Al Jefferson, Wally, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and the #5 pick. But KG said no.
He doesn't actually have a no-trade clause, but he can opt out of his contract after next season, and all he has to do is threaten to do that and Boston backs out.
It sounds like the one place he wants to go is Phoenix. Only problem is, it sounds now like Phoenix won't trade Stoudamire, but will only trade Shawn Marion.
So best case scenario would be KG to Phoenix for Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, and next year's pick (from Atlanta), which could be lottery, and maybe one of Phoenix's picks this year (they have 24 and 29).
That trade sucks. Phoenix doesn't even have any bad contracts we could get for salary cap relief, except Marcus Banks, and he's only 3.6 per.
And if we don't end up trading him, I'd say there's a pretty decent chance he opts out after next season, and we lose him and get nothing in return.
Super.
Apparently, McHale and Ainge had agreed to trade KG and Troy Hudson (woo-hoo) to the Celtics in exchange for Al Jefferson, Wally, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and the #5 pick. But KG said no.
He doesn't actually have a no-trade clause, but he can opt out of his contract after next season, and all he has to do is threaten to do that and Boston backs out.
It sounds like the one place he wants to go is Phoenix. Only problem is, it sounds now like Phoenix won't trade Stoudamire, but will only trade Shawn Marion.
So best case scenario would be KG to Phoenix for Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, and next year's pick (from Atlanta), which could be lottery, and maybe one of Phoenix's picks this year (they have 24 and 29).
That trade sucks. Phoenix doesn't even have any bad contracts we could get for salary cap relief, except Marcus Banks, and he's only 3.6 per.
And if we don't end up trading him, I'd say there's a pretty decent chance he opts out after next season, and we lose him and get nothing in return.
Super.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
This is Totally what Should Happen
Thanks to ESPN.com's Trade Machine, I've engineered the world's most perfect trade:
WOLVES: get Lamar Odom, Ben Gordon, Al Jefferson, Wally Szczerbiak (give KG, Jaric, Hassell)
LAKERS: get Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Luol Deng, Ben Wallace, #5 pick this year, #9 pick this year (give Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom)
CELTICS: get KG, Trenton Hassell (give Jefferson, Green, Ratliff, Wally, #5 pick)
BULLS: get Kobe Bryant, Marko Jaric (give Deng, Gordon, Wallace, #9 pick)
Genius.
WOLVES: get Lamar Odom, Ben Gordon, Al Jefferson, Wally Szczerbiak (give KG, Jaric, Hassell)
LAKERS: get Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Luol Deng, Ben Wallace, #5 pick this year, #9 pick this year (give Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom)
CELTICS: get KG, Trenton Hassell (give Jefferson, Green, Ratliff, Wally, #5 pick)
BULLS: get Kobe Bryant, Marko Jaric (give Deng, Gordon, Wallace, #9 pick)
Genius.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
KG being Shopped?
I've heard now in a few different places two different rumors about KG being traded from the Wolves. As I've said before, I'm in favor of trading him for two reasons, even though he is my favorite player ever, with the possible exception of Magic.
The first reason is so the Wolves can get younger and start over, since the way they are built and the assets they have will never make the team a winner unless they blow the whole thing up and start over.
Second, and somewhat related, is that KG deserves better. Much better.
The two trades I've heard are:
1) KG to the Suns for Amare Stoudamire and Marcus Banks (to make salaries work) - first brought up by Bill Simmons but now sounds like an actual possibility.
2) KG to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastien Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and the #5 pick this year.
I don't like the first trade at all. Banks is worthless, and is on the hook for three more years at $3.5 per. He'd just be another worthless, overpaid guard under contract for way too long on a team with too many of them.
Additionally, getting one player back isn't going to fix anything. Stoudamire is younger, is under contract for five more years, and is an all-star level player, but that's not much different than what the Wolves have now. And with first-round picks owed to Boston and the Clippers, there's no way to build. It's a lateral move. This trade is worthless.
I love the second trade. Jefferson is the best young PF in the East other than Dwight Howard, Green has a lot of potential, the #5 pick to go with the #7 this year would be awesome, and Ratliff is a large contract that will be off the books, I believe after next season, to free up some cap space. Telfair is an idiot.
As much as I would hate to see KG go, and I would die a little inside, this lineup has real potential:
PG Randy Foye/Troy Hudson
SG Ricky Davis/Rashad McCants
SF Gerald Green/Corey Brewer
PF Al Jefferson/Juwon Howard
C Mark Blount/Spencer Hawes
There's a lot of young pieces there, and who knows if it would work out, but with a stagnant team, no draft picks, and only one movable asset, who is very valuable and only under contract for two more years, I think it has to be done.
The first reason is so the Wolves can get younger and start over, since the way they are built and the assets they have will never make the team a winner unless they blow the whole thing up and start over.
Second, and somewhat related, is that KG deserves better. Much better.
The two trades I've heard are:
1) KG to the Suns for Amare Stoudamire and Marcus Banks (to make salaries work) - first brought up by Bill Simmons but now sounds like an actual possibility.
2) KG to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastien Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and the #5 pick this year.
I don't like the first trade at all. Banks is worthless, and is on the hook for three more years at $3.5 per. He'd just be another worthless, overpaid guard under contract for way too long on a team with too many of them.
Additionally, getting one player back isn't going to fix anything. Stoudamire is younger, is under contract for five more years, and is an all-star level player, but that's not much different than what the Wolves have now. And with first-round picks owed to Boston and the Clippers, there's no way to build. It's a lateral move. This trade is worthless.
I love the second trade. Jefferson is the best young PF in the East other than Dwight Howard, Green has a lot of potential, the #5 pick to go with the #7 this year would be awesome, and Ratliff is a large contract that will be off the books, I believe after next season, to free up some cap space. Telfair is an idiot.
As much as I would hate to see KG go, and I would die a little inside, this lineup has real potential:
PG Randy Foye/Troy Hudson
SG Ricky Davis/Rashad McCants
SF Gerald Green/Corey Brewer
PF Al Jefferson/Juwon Howard
C Mark Blount/Spencer Hawes
There's a lot of young pieces there, and who knows if it would work out, but with a stagnant team, no draft picks, and only one movable asset, who is very valuable and only under contract for two more years, I think it has to be done.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
McHale to Return as Wolves VP.
Oh goody.
I am so excited. What's even better, is that he says he's going to overhaul the roster and make some trades to improve the team.
Who are you going to trade? There's almost nobody tradeable on this team. Let's look (I have no idea where to find specific contract information, so this might not be perfect. Deal with it):
NOT TRADEABLE BECAUSE OF SUCKING: Bracey Wright, Justin Reed, Mark Madsen, Trenton Hassel
NOT TRADEABEL BECAUSE OF CONTRACT: Ricky Davis, Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson, Mike James, Mark Blount
Now, any of these guys could be included as a throw-in in a different deal, but none of them could really be a centerpiece, unless we get the same kind of crap back.
So that leaves four guys with any kind of trade value: KG, Randy Foye, Craig Smith, and Rashad McCants.
McCants and Smith won't get much of anything, at all, because they are relative unknowns at this point. Better off keeping them.
Foye is the future. You'd be an idiot to trade him. So he''s probably as good as gone with McHale.
KG. McHale said in the same interview that he won't trade KG. As much as I love the Big Ticket, the only way you can do anything with this team at this point is to trade him. You just have to. There's no other assets on this team, other than the 1st round pick this year, and he better damn well not trade that.
I've heard things like KG to the Bulls for Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and a couple of first rounders from Chicago, one of which will be around number 5 this year. Why not do that? There would have to be some throw-ins to make salaries work, and I'm too tired to work that all out, but I really think it's time to trade KG. If not to make the Wolves better, at least to get the poor guy somewhere he can have a chance to win. This crappy roster will never do anything. And don't forget, not only do we still owe the Clippers a pick (not this year, good job losing last night boys), we also owe the Celtics our pick in 2009. Sweet.
I am so excited. What's even better, is that he says he's going to overhaul the roster and make some trades to improve the team.
Who are you going to trade? There's almost nobody tradeable on this team. Let's look (I have no idea where to find specific contract information, so this might not be perfect. Deal with it):
NOT TRADEABLE BECAUSE OF SUCKING: Bracey Wright, Justin Reed, Mark Madsen, Trenton Hassel
NOT TRADEABEL BECAUSE OF CONTRACT: Ricky Davis, Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson, Mike James, Mark Blount
Now, any of these guys could be included as a throw-in in a different deal, but none of them could really be a centerpiece, unless we get the same kind of crap back.
So that leaves four guys with any kind of trade value: KG, Randy Foye, Craig Smith, and Rashad McCants.
McCants and Smith won't get much of anything, at all, because they are relative unknowns at this point. Better off keeping them.
Foye is the future. You'd be an idiot to trade him. So he''s probably as good as gone with McHale.
KG. McHale said in the same interview that he won't trade KG. As much as I love the Big Ticket, the only way you can do anything with this team at this point is to trade him. You just have to. There's no other assets on this team, other than the 1st round pick this year, and he better damn well not trade that.
I've heard things like KG to the Bulls for Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and a couple of first rounders from Chicago, one of which will be around number 5 this year. Why not do that? There would have to be some throw-ins to make salaries work, and I'm too tired to work that all out, but I really think it's time to trade KG. If not to make the Wolves better, at least to get the poor guy somewhere he can have a chance to win. This crappy roster will never do anything. And don't forget, not only do we still owe the Clippers a pick (not this year, good job losing last night boys), we also owe the Celtics our pick in 2009. Sweet.
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