(As seen on ESPN SportsCenter)
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sportsmanships True Colors
For everything that’s wrong in sports, from steroids and greed in baseball to collegiate amateurism constantly in question and ridiculous rookie contracts in pro football, moments occur that remind us how great sports can be. The story that follows is one of those moments.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Slugging Bonds and beyond
As painful as it is to admit sometimes, I am a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. I grew up with the Pirates memorizing their starting lineups, numbers and positions included.
My favorite Pirate as a kid was center fielder Andy Van Slyke. Andy was hard-nosed 'average Joe' who often sold out to make incredible and ridiculous catches. Today, Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore plays with a similar recklessness that mirrors Van Slyke in his prime, although Sizemore’s got a better stick.
Recently, Van Slyke has reappeared on the baseball landscape teaming up again with manager Jim Leyland and coaching first base for the Detroit Tigers. Yahoo Sport’s David Brown caught up with Andy, who can still spew out quotes like a machine.
If you're looking to kill a few minutes then check this awesome interview with Andy, the man who had the audacity to punch Barry Bonds.
***
Q: There's an urban legend in Pittsburgh that, from center field, you tried to wave Barry in to play more shallow in left before Francisco Cabrera's famous game-winning hit in the 1992 NLCS.
AVS: That's not a legend, that is not a rumor, that is an absolute, 100-percent, truth that I did. (Continue reading)
My favorite Pirate as a kid was center fielder Andy Van Slyke. Andy was hard-nosed 'average Joe' who often sold out to make incredible and ridiculous catches. Today, Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore plays with a similar recklessness that mirrors Van Slyke in his prime, although Sizemore’s got a better stick.
Recently, Van Slyke has reappeared on the baseball landscape teaming up again with manager Jim Leyland and coaching first base for the Detroit Tigers. Yahoo Sport’s David Brown caught up with Andy, who can still spew out quotes like a machine.
If you're looking to kill a few minutes then check this awesome interview with Andy, the man who had the audacity to punch Barry Bonds.
***
Q: There's an urban legend in Pittsburgh that, from center field, you tried to wave Barry in to play more shallow in left before Francisco Cabrera's famous game-winning hit in the 1992 NLCS.
AVS: That's not a legend, that is not a rumor, that is an absolute, 100-percent, truth that I did. (Continue reading)
Power Rankings Return
One month into the MLB season and the dust is starting to settle. Early favorites of Detroit, Seattle and New York (Mets and Yankees both) are struggling. The LA Dodgers, underachieving thus far, but are making a little run, and don’t look but Tampa Bay and Baltimore are both living above the .500 mark.
While it’s way too early to say how things are going to turn out, it is time now to unveil the first FPS MLB Power Rankings:
1. Diamondbacks 20-9 – Arizona boasts the best record in the game. The bats are producing and Brandon Webb has been untouchable. The D-Backs look poised early to win back-to-back division crowns.
2. LA Angels 18-13 – No Lackey, no Escobar, no problem. The Angels are getting key performances from young guns Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana and are establishing themselves at the AL West front runner.
3. Cardinals 19-11 – Ludwick, Schumaker, these aren’t the Cards of old. However, Albert Pujols (.364 Avg, 5 HR, 20 RBI) is still the anchor in St. Lou and has found base in every game so far.
4. Cubs 17-12 – Catcher Geovany Soto is batting with .333 with five home runs, second baseman Ronny Cedeno has a 1.059 OBP as the Cubs are getting production for unexpected sources. If Alfonso Soriano comes around the NL should watch out.
5. Athletics 18-13 – Billy Beane is at it again. After trading away more top talent the A’s are again the best team in the Bay Area. It also helps when relievers Santiago Casilla and Andrew Brown combine for 30 1/3 scoreless innings.
6. Rays 16-13 – You’re not going crazy; the Tampa Bay Rays make this original list. Winners of eight of the last 10, including a sweep of the Red Sox, the young Rays are rolling.
In the Chase: Brewers 16-13 – Still awaiting for outfielder Ryan Braun to start producing with power, but the Brew Crew and Ben Sheets are looking to contend again.
Red Sox 18-13 – Although the defending champs are leading the AL East, their play lately has been anything but stellar. Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are swinging the bats, David Oritz has yet to show up.
Look for updated FPS MLB Power rankings throughout the summer.
While it’s way too early to say how things are going to turn out, it is time now to unveil the first FPS MLB Power Rankings:
1. Diamondbacks 20-9 – Arizona boasts the best record in the game. The bats are producing and Brandon Webb has been untouchable. The D-Backs look poised early to win back-to-back division crowns.
2. LA Angels 18-13 – No Lackey, no Escobar, no problem. The Angels are getting key performances from young guns Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana and are establishing themselves at the AL West front runner.
3. Cardinals 19-11 – Ludwick, Schumaker, these aren’t the Cards of old. However, Albert Pujols (.364 Avg, 5 HR, 20 RBI) is still the anchor in St. Lou and has found base in every game so far.
4. Cubs 17-12 – Catcher Geovany Soto is batting with .333 with five home runs, second baseman Ronny Cedeno has a 1.059 OBP as the Cubs are getting production for unexpected sources. If Alfonso Soriano comes around the NL should watch out.
5. Athletics 18-13 – Billy Beane is at it again. After trading away more top talent the A’s are again the best team in the Bay Area. It also helps when relievers Santiago Casilla and Andrew Brown combine for 30 1/3 scoreless innings.
6. Rays 16-13 – You’re not going crazy; the Tampa Bay Rays make this original list. Winners of eight of the last 10, including a sweep of the Red Sox, the young Rays are rolling.
In the Chase: Brewers 16-13 – Still awaiting for outfielder Ryan Braun to start producing with power, but the Brew Crew and Ben Sheets are looking to contend again.
Red Sox 18-13 – Although the defending champs are leading the AL East, their play lately has been anything but stellar. Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are swinging the bats, David Oritz has yet to show up.
Look for updated FPS MLB Power rankings throughout the summer.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
A-Fraud Watch ‘08
One month into the new baseball season, and means its check-up time on baseball’s million dollar man, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
After last season’s prolific offense assault, Rodriguez opted out of his monstrous $252 million, 10-year deal. Of course that opt-out announcement came obnoxiously from agent Scott Boras during game 4 of the World Series. Unfortunately after giving an ultimatum the Yankees came groveling back.
Jump ahead to 2008 and A-Rod’s boosted salary in the Bronx stands at $28 million. That’s more than the his entire hometown team, the Florida Marlins who’s opening-day 33 man roster had a payroll of just $21.8 million.
So is that extra money paying off?
The Marlins have a two-game advantage over the Yankees thus far, and the men in pinstripes are sitting fourth in the AL East behind Tampa Bay and Boston.
It’s still too early to tell, but I’d say it looks like A-Fraud is making a return. Rodriguez is batting just .286, with 4 homers and a meager 11 RBIs. Oh, and he has a golden sombrero to his credit, coming against Kansas City. That stellar offensive production won’t improve any time soon with A-Rod’s sitting on the DL nursing a strained quadriceps.
Things might get worse before they get better in New York.
After last season’s prolific offense assault, Rodriguez opted out of his monstrous $252 million, 10-year deal. Of course that opt-out announcement came obnoxiously from agent Scott Boras during game 4 of the World Series. Unfortunately after giving an ultimatum the Yankees came groveling back.
Jump ahead to 2008 and A-Rod’s boosted salary in the Bronx stands at $28 million. That’s more than the his entire hometown team, the Florida Marlins who’s opening-day 33 man roster had a payroll of just $21.8 million.
So is that extra money paying off?
The Marlins have a two-game advantage over the Yankees thus far, and the men in pinstripes are sitting fourth in the AL East behind Tampa Bay and Boston.
It’s still too early to tell, but I’d say it looks like A-Fraud is making a return. Rodriguez is batting just .286, with 4 homers and a meager 11 RBIs. Oh, and he has a golden sombrero to his credit, coming against Kansas City. That stellar offensive production won’t improve any time soon with A-Rod’s sitting on the DL nursing a strained quadriceps.
Things might get worse before they get better in New York.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)