Many baseball fans are in the similar position as me in trying to think of reasons why they should still watch the MLB playoffs after their teams have either been eliminated or never even made it. So I did my best to come up with 10 reasons as to why a fan of a team other than the Sox, Tribe, Snakes, or Rox might wanna watch the League Championship Series and onward.
10. Kaz Matsui- one of the biggest disasters in Met history is getting a chance to show exactly why the Mets paid him all that money. Except now he is on the Colorado Rockies and killing the ball. Is it possible this man can actually win the Rockies a pennant for the first time in their short history?
9. Watch the D'Backs succeed without a superstar player- Sure Justin Upton and Stephen Drew will become top talents one day, but right now the state of this team is a bunch of blue collar players who love the game. They seemingly find a way to win ball games. Yes they have Brandon "Lockdown" Webb, but after him name 3 other pitchers they have on their active playoff roster. Do the same for the position players sans Drew and Upton. Makes you wonder why a team like the Pirates can't win with unspectacular players.
8. The Yankees have been eliminated- It's always a joyous occasion when the highest spending team is weeping and getting an early start on their golf games. Especially for the 3rd consecutive year. This team has a ton of unanswered questions for next season, including who the manager is going to be.
7. Only because it fits with the number it's at is why it's not lower on this list. But the potential for the two greatest words in sport: GAME 7. Now with series being best of 7, there is a chance that heroes can be born in the clutchest of situations.
6. Can the Rockies stay hot?- This team's improbable run can add another chapter if they can stay hot and defeat a superior Diamondbacks team. As shown with the Cardinals in last years NLCS, it's not always the best team who wins, but who's playing the best. The Rockies are riding a Tsunami of Momentum right now that just might lead them to a World Title.
5. Football is only on tv on Sunday's and one game on Monday. So the sports fan can get their fix of exciting action multiple times during the week with baseball while being able to quickly feed their need for some gridiron greatness on Sunday.
4. Two teams, whose inception into the league occurred after my birth, have a chance to win the world series- Usually teams with already storied histories look to add to their resumes, but this time a team with a fairly naked resume has a chance to add a large ink blot to it should they win it all. Yes the D'backs have already won a world series, but honestly, what else have they done prior to or after that. Nada.
3. A chance to see just how badly closers Joe Borowski, Jose Valverde, and Manny Corpas can possibly blow it- I give John Papelbon a pass here because he has been dominant since being turned into a closer. It's very possible he could melt down in the postseason as well, but with these other 3 it's much more likely. Joe Borowski led the AL with 45 saves, but had a 5 plus ERA. Valverde is a head case and has never been here before, and Corpas has been a closer for all of two and a half months. None of them are at Trevor Hoffman like levels of sucking in huge situations, but they have the chance to gain ground on him this year.
2. Manny being Manny- Not only are his antics worth watching, but he is starting to swing a lethal bat again. When Manny is on, he is a monster at the plate. Arguably the greatest run producer of our generation has the ability to put on a clinic that will bring smiles to the eyes of of everyone in Red Sox Nation and many a souvenir to people up in the Monstah seats.
1. Touch Em All Joe, the ball gets by Buckner, Mr. November- The potential for a history making moment for the ages. Kaz Matsui taking Paps deep into the cold Colorado night while they cap off one of the most improbable runs in sports history. Asdrubal Cabrera grounds one softly down to first only for it to go through the legs of 7'5" first basemen Tony Clark to keep the Tribe alive for another day.
Hey it could happen.......again!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen
I remember as a fellow sports illustrated for kids subscriber looking forward to receiving my sports cards and posters each week. One poster stands out to me a little more than some others. It was a poster of this female athlete who excelled in basketball and track and field at the University of North Carolina. Her name was Marion Jones.
Marion Jones was the first real big time women's athlete of my time. Sure there was Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova before her and the Williams' sisters right after her but, but Marion Jones was the next big thing. Deciding to pursue track and field, Jones left great impression on the sport. At the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney, Jones won an impressive 5 medals including 3 golds. Jones dominated the sport and won the prime events such as the 100 meters. Jones became a much celebrated female athlete and she was very deserving of the praise. Now after seven years plus removed from her triumph in Australia, Jones is now one of the biggest frauds in the history of sport. Why is this? Three simple words: performance enhancing drugs.
After pleading guilty last week for lying to federal investigators and simultaneously retiring from the sport that put her on the athletic map, Jones is now fighting for the rest of her reputation. The news of a major Olympic athlete doping should not come as a surprise nowadays. How often do we here of athletes dominating in the Olympics' only to be caught cheating sometime thereafter? It is very unfortunate, but leads me to think how many Olympic athletes actually dope. If its a near majority, then why not just make it legal and be every man or women for themselves. By enabling everyone to be on a level playing field, but not actually being on a level playing might be the only thing that can prevent track and field and other dominant Olympic sports from being completely destroyed.
And I don't want to just single out Marion Jones. There are other instances where athletes have dominated a sport and have had doping allegations against them (i.e. Barry Bonds). Bonds is in a very similar situation to Jones because he has been dominating in his sport, has been accused of doping, and has gone in front of a federal grand jury and denied knowingly taking steroids. The only thing keeping Bonds' very large head above water is an extremely loyal friend named Greg Anderson.
So am I surprised that a successful athlete has done this? Absolutely not. And I think there are many more athletes that have doped or are currently doping. And what happened to Jones can just as easily happen to them, but if they are not as prominent then they will get nowhere near the same amount of media coverage (Tim Couch). Under no circumstance do I support or promote doping and would be very devastated if one of my favorite athlete's on my favorite teams got caught doping (Mota doesn't count).
Where does the sporting society go from here in terms of the consequences that will be faced by Jones? The IOC is still deciding whether or not to strip her of her 5 medals from 2000, but a possible statute of limitations, which is 8 years, may play into that. Jones is also going to face an uphill legal battle. Not to mention the irreparable damage done to her reputation in the court of public opinion, possibly the "biggest fraud ever" to quote IAAF President Lamine Diack.
Another interesting note about this issue that I have noticed in at least the earlier coverage of this story is that race and gender really haven't played an overbearing role. I think this is primarily because doping is doping, there is no two ways about it. If you get caught doping, it doesn't matter who you are, where you are from, or what sport you play, the persecution will be equally as tough. Now some athletes may get more coverage like Bonds or Jones, but the punishments are the same. Just ask Jason Grimsley, Mark McGwire, and Brady Anderson who have all been either accused or caught doping. They all have forever tarnished reputations and have fallen off the face of the earth. In very extreme cases, doping mixed with other illegal drugs can lead to death, like with the case of Ken Caminiti.
This is not the last time we will hear of a major sports star either accused or caught doping. The only thing we can hope for with Jones is that she is able to get past this and get her life and credibility back, the latter is much more unlikely. I don't want another day where I have to lose respect for an athlete who's poster from Sports Illustrated for Kids went up on my wall.
Marion Jones was the first real big time women's athlete of my time. Sure there was Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova before her and the Williams' sisters right after her but, but Marion Jones was the next big thing. Deciding to pursue track and field, Jones left great impression on the sport. At the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney, Jones won an impressive 5 medals including 3 golds. Jones dominated the sport and won the prime events such as the 100 meters. Jones became a much celebrated female athlete and she was very deserving of the praise. Now after seven years plus removed from her triumph in Australia, Jones is now one of the biggest frauds in the history of sport. Why is this? Three simple words: performance enhancing drugs.
After pleading guilty last week for lying to federal investigators and simultaneously retiring from the sport that put her on the athletic map, Jones is now fighting for the rest of her reputation. The news of a major Olympic athlete doping should not come as a surprise nowadays. How often do we here of athletes dominating in the Olympics' only to be caught cheating sometime thereafter? It is very unfortunate, but leads me to think how many Olympic athletes actually dope. If its a near majority, then why not just make it legal and be every man or women for themselves. By enabling everyone to be on a level playing field, but not actually being on a level playing might be the only thing that can prevent track and field and other dominant Olympic sports from being completely destroyed.
And I don't want to just single out Marion Jones. There are other instances where athletes have dominated a sport and have had doping allegations against them (i.e. Barry Bonds). Bonds is in a very similar situation to Jones because he has been dominating in his sport, has been accused of doping, and has gone in front of a federal grand jury and denied knowingly taking steroids. The only thing keeping Bonds' very large head above water is an extremely loyal friend named Greg Anderson.
So am I surprised that a successful athlete has done this? Absolutely not. And I think there are many more athletes that have doped or are currently doping. And what happened to Jones can just as easily happen to them, but if they are not as prominent then they will get nowhere near the same amount of media coverage (Tim Couch). Under no circumstance do I support or promote doping and would be very devastated if one of my favorite athlete's on my favorite teams got caught doping (Mota doesn't count).
Where does the sporting society go from here in terms of the consequences that will be faced by Jones? The IOC is still deciding whether or not to strip her of her 5 medals from 2000, but a possible statute of limitations, which is 8 years, may play into that. Jones is also going to face an uphill legal battle. Not to mention the irreparable damage done to her reputation in the court of public opinion, possibly the "biggest fraud ever" to quote IAAF President Lamine Diack.
Another interesting note about this issue that I have noticed in at least the earlier coverage of this story is that race and gender really haven't played an overbearing role. I think this is primarily because doping is doping, there is no two ways about it. If you get caught doping, it doesn't matter who you are, where you are from, or what sport you play, the persecution will be equally as tough. Now some athletes may get more coverage like Bonds or Jones, but the punishments are the same. Just ask Jason Grimsley, Mark McGwire, and Brady Anderson who have all been either accused or caught doping. They all have forever tarnished reputations and have fallen off the face of the earth. In very extreme cases, doping mixed with other illegal drugs can lead to death, like with the case of Ken Caminiti.
This is not the last time we will hear of a major sports star either accused or caught doping. The only thing we can hope for with Jones is that she is able to get past this and get her life and credibility back, the latter is much more unlikely. I don't want another day where I have to lose respect for an athlete who's poster from Sports Illustrated for Kids went up on my wall.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Amazin Mess
Can I fix the amazin mess? Probably not. I can, however, as a die hard and extremely disappointed Mets fan, offer my perspective on the teams' new direction for 2008 and beyond. So we are going to play a little Here today, Gone tomorrow.
Here Today:
David Wright-became the team's leader and best player since the start of the season. Had a 30/30 season, hit well over .300, and had a great on base percentage. He's not even 25 years old yet. Says all the (W)right things and plays hard. Will be the face of the franchise and possibly the sport for years to come.
Jose Reyes-when going well, he is the game's most exciting player and arguably the NL's most valuable player. When he goes, the Mets go, when he struggles, the Mets struggle, bottom line. Also at 24 years old, set the club record for stolen bases this season with 78 and scored 119 runs. He is a very good defensive player as well. After the dreadful end of the season fans wanted Reyes traded for the likes of Johan Santana. Hold your horses people, we need Reyes on this team. 2008 will be a bounce back year for Reyes and him and Wright will anchor the left side of the Mets infield into the glory years of the new Citi Field.
Carlos Beltran-great all around player. Led the Mets in homers and RBIs for the second straight season. Stole 23 bases as well. Gold glove center fielder. Not to mention he is being paid $119 million. At age 30 is in the prime of his career and is the anchor to the outfield. Trading him is not the answer. Provides a very capable bat and good protection for Wright. We will see Beltran finish out his contract with the Mets.
Pedro Martinez-He's the reason for the revival of the Mets franchise. Stole the show when he came here in 2005 and part of 2006 until he got inured. Came back in September of this year after major surgery and went 3-0 and still knows how to pitch. Even if he can only pitch 6 innings, he will still be the anchor that this rotation needs.
John Maine-showed flashes of brilliance all season. Won a career high 15 games, had an era under 4 and 180 strikeouts. He struggled in the second half but showed the Mets they have a solid number 2 starter.
Oliver Perez-thrived in his first full year as a Met, winning 15 games like his teammate John Maine. He struck out 174 batters. He's the perfect lefty compliment to this rotation and will be our third starter next year. Has the stuff to be a number 1.
Billy Wagner-in an area of tremendous weakness, the bullpen, Wagner was a lone bright spot. Wagner dominated almost the entire season, but had some struggles toward the end. Doesn't always say the right things and is owed a lot of money. But he has to be back next year, as a dominating closer is not easy to come by these days.
Gone Tomorrow:
Tom Glavine: It's unfortunate that he will always be remembered by Met fans for his lousy last start, and not for winning his 300th game here or being a first class professional. His post game reaction from his last start was very surprising for Glavine's standards and it's time to move on. Thank you Tom for the 4 years of work you put in here.
Carlos Delgado: As much as I hate to say this, Carlo Delgado may have played his last game as a Met. He left the season's final game with a fractured wrist which is a pretty serious injury and that may reduce his value in management's eyes. Said some pretty staggering remarks given the situation at the end of the year and overall had a down year statistically. He could definitely be back, but don't be surprised if Omar tries very hard to move him to an American League team.
Paul Lo Duca-the Met with the most fire and passion is most likely not going to be a part of the team in 2008. He is a free agent who wants to come back, but I don't know if the Mets will pay him what he wants. He's getting up in age and offensively, even though had more homers and RBI's as compared to last year, he is not what he once was and same defensively. It will be interesting to see where the Mets go at the Catching position next year, as backup Ramon Castro is not under contract next year either. Jorge Posada? Pudge?
Aaron Heilman-wants to start. Free agent. Will probably take less money from a team to start. Adios.
Shawn Green-Much like Glavine, a consummate professional, who unfortunately has been relegated to a part time role. Will be passed up in favor of younger talent in the corner outfield spots.
Aaron Sele, Guillermo Mota, Jorge Sosa-all maddeningly inconsistent and none made any case to be brought back next year. Anything this team can get for Mota will be a welcome addition.
JURY IS STILL OUT:
Lastings Milledge-his antics and attitude frustrate many, but he clearly has the tools to be a good major league player. I want him to stay and play everyday next year, but if he can be packaged in a deal for pitching then by all means pull the trigger.
Moises Alou-team's best hitter down the stretch. Incredibly fragile at age 41. Has an option for next year and wants to comeback. A possible platoon with Endy Chavez or Carlos Gomez could happen next year.
El Duque-has showed signs of brilliance, but like Alou is very fragile. My gut says he will be back either in a long relief role or a short relief role.
Luis Castillo-wants to return, is a free agent and there were rumors of him being a bad influence on Reyes. Has a bum knee and is getting up in age. Reason to bring him back is because of the lack of a better all around alternative at second base.
Jose Valentin-very interesting case. Will not under any circumstance come back as a player, but I can see the Mets offering him a coaching position to help work with younger players. Was said to be a great influence for Reyes.
Mike Pelfrey-is way closer to Here Today rather than to Gone Tomorrow. Showed signs of dominance and could win a job as the 4th or fifth starter. But also could as easily be packaged in a trade for a Roy Oswalt or Johan Santana. If he's not dealt, will be on the opening day roster next year.
Pedro Feliciano, Scott Schoeneweis, Marlon Anderson, Damion Easley, Ramon Castro, Endy Chavez, Carlos Gomez, Joe Smith, Philip Humber are all up in the air for returning next year. Although I believe Feliciano has the best chance of being back.
Only time will tell how the 2008 Mets turn out. You can expect big changes to be made and a revamped bullpen. The team's expectations are still very high and in Shea Stadiums' last year of existence, expect the magic of 2006 to return to the friendly confines. Let's go Mets in 2008.
Here Today:
David Wright-became the team's leader and best player since the start of the season. Had a 30/30 season, hit well over .300, and had a great on base percentage. He's not even 25 years old yet. Says all the (W)right things and plays hard. Will be the face of the franchise and possibly the sport for years to come.
Jose Reyes-when going well, he is the game's most exciting player and arguably the NL's most valuable player. When he goes, the Mets go, when he struggles, the Mets struggle, bottom line. Also at 24 years old, set the club record for stolen bases this season with 78 and scored 119 runs. He is a very good defensive player as well. After the dreadful end of the season fans wanted Reyes traded for the likes of Johan Santana. Hold your horses people, we need Reyes on this team. 2008 will be a bounce back year for Reyes and him and Wright will anchor the left side of the Mets infield into the glory years of the new Citi Field.
Carlos Beltran-great all around player. Led the Mets in homers and RBIs for the second straight season. Stole 23 bases as well. Gold glove center fielder. Not to mention he is being paid $119 million. At age 30 is in the prime of his career and is the anchor to the outfield. Trading him is not the answer. Provides a very capable bat and good protection for Wright. We will see Beltran finish out his contract with the Mets.
Pedro Martinez-He's the reason for the revival of the Mets franchise. Stole the show when he came here in 2005 and part of 2006 until he got inured. Came back in September of this year after major surgery and went 3-0 and still knows how to pitch. Even if he can only pitch 6 innings, he will still be the anchor that this rotation needs.
John Maine-showed flashes of brilliance all season. Won a career high 15 games, had an era under 4 and 180 strikeouts. He struggled in the second half but showed the Mets they have a solid number 2 starter.
Oliver Perez-thrived in his first full year as a Met, winning 15 games like his teammate John Maine. He struck out 174 batters. He's the perfect lefty compliment to this rotation and will be our third starter next year. Has the stuff to be a number 1.
Billy Wagner-in an area of tremendous weakness, the bullpen, Wagner was a lone bright spot. Wagner dominated almost the entire season, but had some struggles toward the end. Doesn't always say the right things and is owed a lot of money. But he has to be back next year, as a dominating closer is not easy to come by these days.
Gone Tomorrow:
Tom Glavine: It's unfortunate that he will always be remembered by Met fans for his lousy last start, and not for winning his 300th game here or being a first class professional. His post game reaction from his last start was very surprising for Glavine's standards and it's time to move on. Thank you Tom for the 4 years of work you put in here.
Carlos Delgado: As much as I hate to say this, Carlo Delgado may have played his last game as a Met. He left the season's final game with a fractured wrist which is a pretty serious injury and that may reduce his value in management's eyes. Said some pretty staggering remarks given the situation at the end of the year and overall had a down year statistically. He could definitely be back, but don't be surprised if Omar tries very hard to move him to an American League team.
Paul Lo Duca-the Met with the most fire and passion is most likely not going to be a part of the team in 2008. He is a free agent who wants to come back, but I don't know if the Mets will pay him what he wants. He's getting up in age and offensively, even though had more homers and RBI's as compared to last year, he is not what he once was and same defensively. It will be interesting to see where the Mets go at the Catching position next year, as backup Ramon Castro is not under contract next year either. Jorge Posada? Pudge?
Aaron Heilman-wants to start. Free agent. Will probably take less money from a team to start. Adios.
Shawn Green-Much like Glavine, a consummate professional, who unfortunately has been relegated to a part time role. Will be passed up in favor of younger talent in the corner outfield spots.
Aaron Sele, Guillermo Mota, Jorge Sosa-all maddeningly inconsistent and none made any case to be brought back next year. Anything this team can get for Mota will be a welcome addition.
JURY IS STILL OUT:
Lastings Milledge-his antics and attitude frustrate many, but he clearly has the tools to be a good major league player. I want him to stay and play everyday next year, but if he can be packaged in a deal for pitching then by all means pull the trigger.
Moises Alou-team's best hitter down the stretch. Incredibly fragile at age 41. Has an option for next year and wants to comeback. A possible platoon with Endy Chavez or Carlos Gomez could happen next year.
El Duque-has showed signs of brilliance, but like Alou is very fragile. My gut says he will be back either in a long relief role or a short relief role.
Luis Castillo-wants to return, is a free agent and there were rumors of him being a bad influence on Reyes. Has a bum knee and is getting up in age. Reason to bring him back is because of the lack of a better all around alternative at second base.
Jose Valentin-very interesting case. Will not under any circumstance come back as a player, but I can see the Mets offering him a coaching position to help work with younger players. Was said to be a great influence for Reyes.
Mike Pelfrey-is way closer to Here Today rather than to Gone Tomorrow. Showed signs of dominance and could win a job as the 4th or fifth starter. But also could as easily be packaged in a trade for a Roy Oswalt or Johan Santana. If he's not dealt, will be on the opening day roster next year.
Pedro Feliciano, Scott Schoeneweis, Marlon Anderson, Damion Easley, Ramon Castro, Endy Chavez, Carlos Gomez, Joe Smith, Philip Humber are all up in the air for returning next year. Although I believe Feliciano has the best chance of being back.
Only time will tell how the 2008 Mets turn out. You can expect big changes to be made and a revamped bullpen. The team's expectations are still very high and in Shea Stadiums' last year of existence, expect the magic of 2006 to return to the friendly confines. Let's go Mets in 2008.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Give Chad a Chance
At the end of the first Vinny Testaverde era in New York, things were looking up. A boyish, charismatic young man was waiting in the wings. He was one injury away from getting the opportunity to show many what he was able to do. In 2002, Chad Pennington got his first real shot at NFL stardom and boy did he make the most of it. Playing in 15 games that year and starting 12, Pennington threw for 3120 Yards 22 Tds and a meager 6 ints. Not to mention he complete 69% of his passes and ran for another 2 touchdowns. Most importantly the Jets made the playoffs. Who did they beat that year in the playoffs? A guy named Peyton. Whooped him. 41-0. A guy who is arguably the greatest and most efficient QB ever was beaten handily by a man who has a weak arm. Well doubters here is where I prove you wrong when you say Chad Pennington doesn't belong or that his time is up.
Consider the following:
Despite the lack of arm strength, Chad has completed 65% of his career passes making him one of the most accurate passers in NFL history. He has 30 more TDs than INTs and his career passer rating is 90.1. These are stats are of, if nothing else, a productive NFL starting quarterback.
Chad brings way more to the table than just some pretty gaudy stats. He brings leadership, a positive influence in the locker room and many other intangibles. So why am I writing this piece? Here's why: because I have a friend who knows who he is and won't be mentioned god help his soul, that said Chad Pennington is a bust. I don't usually lose sleep over too many things said about athletes or teams, but this was a new level for me. When I think of the word bust I think of guys like Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Andre Ware, Gino Toretta, and other guys with huge expectations that get a couple chances and then are out of a job. The aforementioned never did anything in the NFL and now are all afterthoughts and where is he now conversation pieces. As far as I know, as of September 26, 2007 Chad Pennington still has a job as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Okay, so he plays in the biggest sports market in the world, where fans can get impatient and always have high expectations. He's never won a super bowl, and has only gone as far as the second round of the playoffs. The icing on the cake, he was given a huge contract to be the franchise. Unfortunately, NFL quarterbacks are judged heavily by the ice on their fingers, to which Chad has none. But to call him a bust, shame on you.
Chad Pennington has played with 1 hall of fame player in his entire career, Curtis Martin. He's made the most of the talent around him (Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Chris Baker and Anthony Becht) and won with it. Now the Jets have never had a super bowl caliber team around Pennington but have still made the playoffs and won. And every time the Jets have made the playoffs they have been heavy under dogs, just ask everyone's boy Bill Simmons who had the Chargers crushing the Jets by 40 points only to have the Jets actually win the game and then the following week be 1 40+ yard field goal away from playing the hated Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Did I mention Chad Pennington is a calming influence and a consummate professional in the locker room? In a time where NFL players seemingly can't ever stay out of trouble, never is Chad negatively in the news. Now here is where his hero status comes in. Not once, but twice, Chad has had major surgery on his throwing shoulder. Remember limited arm strength to boot, he persevered and came back twice to reclaim his starting job. I guarantee that if the same thing happened to Ryan Leaf he would have quit and wined like a little girl about how the media hates him. Tim Couch clearly would have used HGH to get back in the league. And Chad's large contract, o yea, he deferred a ton of that money, in order to stay on the Roster and win his job back.
So call him what you may. Underachiever, bust, not a franchise quarterback, but just think of everything he has dealt with and ask yourself how your team's starting QB would have handled it. Also realize, that as I'm writing this Chad led the Jets to another hard fought victory and STILL is the starting QB. So when Jet fans cheer his injuries or boo his incompletions put into perspective everything that Chad Pennington has given to the New York Jets organization, literal blood, sweat, and tears, and appreciate the man for what he's worth.
Next week at BUFFALO.....J E T S Jets Jets Jets and go # 10.
Consider the following:
Despite the lack of arm strength, Chad has completed 65% of his career passes making him one of the most accurate passers in NFL history. He has 30 more TDs than INTs and his career passer rating is 90.1. These are stats are of, if nothing else, a productive NFL starting quarterback.
Chad brings way more to the table than just some pretty gaudy stats. He brings leadership, a positive influence in the locker room and many other intangibles. So why am I writing this piece? Here's why: because I have a friend who knows who he is and won't be mentioned god help his soul, that said Chad Pennington is a bust. I don't usually lose sleep over too many things said about athletes or teams, but this was a new level for me. When I think of the word bust I think of guys like Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Andre Ware, Gino Toretta, and other guys with huge expectations that get a couple chances and then are out of a job. The aforementioned never did anything in the NFL and now are all afterthoughts and where is he now conversation pieces. As far as I know, as of September 26, 2007 Chad Pennington still has a job as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Okay, so he plays in the biggest sports market in the world, where fans can get impatient and always have high expectations. He's never won a super bowl, and has only gone as far as the second round of the playoffs. The icing on the cake, he was given a huge contract to be the franchise. Unfortunately, NFL quarterbacks are judged heavily by the ice on their fingers, to which Chad has none. But to call him a bust, shame on you.
Chad Pennington has played with 1 hall of fame player in his entire career, Curtis Martin. He's made the most of the talent around him (Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Chris Baker and Anthony Becht) and won with it. Now the Jets have never had a super bowl caliber team around Pennington but have still made the playoffs and won. And every time the Jets have made the playoffs they have been heavy under dogs, just ask everyone's boy Bill Simmons who had the Chargers crushing the Jets by 40 points only to have the Jets actually win the game and then the following week be 1 40+ yard field goal away from playing the hated Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Did I mention Chad Pennington is a calming influence and a consummate professional in the locker room? In a time where NFL players seemingly can't ever stay out of trouble, never is Chad negatively in the news. Now here is where his hero status comes in. Not once, but twice, Chad has had major surgery on his throwing shoulder. Remember limited arm strength to boot, he persevered and came back twice to reclaim his starting job. I guarantee that if the same thing happened to Ryan Leaf he would have quit and wined like a little girl about how the media hates him. Tim Couch clearly would have used HGH to get back in the league. And Chad's large contract, o yea, he deferred a ton of that money, in order to stay on the Roster and win his job back.
So call him what you may. Underachiever, bust, not a franchise quarterback, but just think of everything he has dealt with and ask yourself how your team's starting QB would have handled it. Also realize, that as I'm writing this Chad led the Jets to another hard fought victory and STILL is the starting QB. So when Jet fans cheer his injuries or boo his incompletions put into perspective everything that Chad Pennington has given to the New York Jets organization, literal blood, sweat, and tears, and appreciate the man for what he's worth.
Next week at BUFFALO.....J E T S Jets Jets Jets and go # 10.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Misery Loves Company
I find myself constantly asking WHY? Why do my favorite sports teams never win a championship? Is it Karma? Are they just not that good? Should I take a new found interest in Art? Whatever the reason is I find myself sitting on the couch at the end of a season hanging my head (a la Yadier Molina's home run in the 9th inning of game 7 of last year's NLCS). A Met team that had so much promise had quite the let down. Growing up the Mets stunk, then they trade for Mike Piazza, got real good, and made the playoffs 2 years in a row, 1999 and 2000. In 99 they lost a heartbreaking playoff series to the Braves (Kenny Rogers is still not welcome in my home) and in 2000 went to the World Series only to meet a cross town juggernaut that pretty much took them to the proverbial tool shed. This year they have played up and down but still find themselves in first place BARELY over the Fightin Phils. Please don't do this to me!
The New York Jets surprised everyone last year by making the playoffs. I believe the quote from Shannon Sharpe on the opening week of CBS's football coverage last year was "if the Jets win 4 games this year, the city should throw them a parade." Well Shannon, they won 10. Take Chad Pennington out to dinner why don't you. The Jets overachieved so much last year that us fans got what we called a "free" football game in the first round of the playoffs against some team in New England. Do we have audio and video of that game too? Okay, so be it the Jets lost and arugably shouldn't have even been there, but they were. This brings back eerie memories of the 1998 season, when the Jets were one of the NFL's Elite. They had a 12-4 regular season record led by the Tuna and Vinny behind center. Oh yea, they also had some guy at running back who they got from the Patriots the previous off season. You da man Curtis. Anyway after rolling through the playoffs and into the AFC Championship game against Denver and that Elway person things were looking up. A blocked punt touchdown by then legendary third string tight end Blake Spence put the Jets up 10-3 at the half. Come the second half it was a different story. Someone flipped the "Zach Switch" on meaning that his favorite sports teams must disappoint again. Mr. Elway went on a rampage and decided to destroy the Jets en route to his second of two SB's. The worst part of the defeat was that had the Jets actually won that game, I would have bet my arms and legs and eyes and ears, and some money that they would have beaten a much inferior Atlanta Falcons team in that years Superbowl; Dirty Bird!!!!! To start the 2007 campaign, the Jets have a surprise, surprise hurt starting QB and of course they can't block or rush the passer. I'm used to this by now I tell ya. 0-2 against two superior AFC teams (fair or not) should have been expected now that the Jets actually have higher expectations this year. Now the schedule evens out and let's hope the Jets can do some damage.
The Knicks and Rangers are going to share a paragraph because I like to share and if there is one thing I learned in life it is that sharing is caring. The Knicks are a joke and will continue to be. Growing up when Ewing, Starks, Oakley, and Derek Harper were on the hard court things were different. Those Knick teams had heart, passion, fire and a will to win, not to mention a coach with really slicked back hair who was pretty damn good. Of course, and I think solely because I am a Knick fan, they came sooo close yet sooo far from winning a title. Now I am lucky if I see the current Knicks make a bounce pass correctly. Oh and their head coach is currently involved in a civil suit against a former employee alleging that she was sexually harassed by him. Glad all his attention can be focused on building a winner. The Rangers have won a Stanley Cup in my life time. The bad news: I barely new hockey existed when it happened. I root for the Rangers and would call myself a modest to knowledgeable fan. I watched their playoff games against Atlanta and Buffalo this year. Of course they lost and didn't win a title. Theme here anyone? I like goalie Henrik Lundqvist, I like JJ, and I like Sean Avery who I sincerely think has actually murdered opposing players on the ice, but thats not why I like him, its because he plays hard. They signed Scotty Gomez and Chris Drury which is eerily familiar to them signing Eric Lindros and Bobby Holik, both of whom skated down Broadway and kept going until they were both out of town. If the Rangers win it all one day, I will be happy...........
.......Not as happy, ecstatic, or UBER EMOTIONALLY ecstatic as I will be if the Mets or Jets win it all in my lifetime. So with Pedro back, and a very good offense and hunger for revenge from last year, hopefully, just maybe the METS can end my RIPKEN like streak of misery this year. If not, and you can relate to everything I just wrote about, then please join me because Misery sure does love some company.
The New York Jets surprised everyone last year by making the playoffs. I believe the quote from Shannon Sharpe on the opening week of CBS's football coverage last year was "if the Jets win 4 games this year, the city should throw them a parade." Well Shannon, they won 10. Take Chad Pennington out to dinner why don't you. The Jets overachieved so much last year that us fans got what we called a "free" football game in the first round of the playoffs against some team in New England. Do we have audio and video of that game too? Okay, so be it the Jets lost and arugably shouldn't have even been there, but they were. This brings back eerie memories of the 1998 season, when the Jets were one of the NFL's Elite. They had a 12-4 regular season record led by the Tuna and Vinny behind center. Oh yea, they also had some guy at running back who they got from the Patriots the previous off season. You da man Curtis. Anyway after rolling through the playoffs and into the AFC Championship game against Denver and that Elway person things were looking up. A blocked punt touchdown by then legendary third string tight end Blake Spence put the Jets up 10-3 at the half. Come the second half it was a different story. Someone flipped the "Zach Switch" on meaning that his favorite sports teams must disappoint again. Mr. Elway went on a rampage and decided to destroy the Jets en route to his second of two SB's. The worst part of the defeat was that had the Jets actually won that game, I would have bet my arms and legs and eyes and ears, and some money that they would have beaten a much inferior Atlanta Falcons team in that years Superbowl; Dirty Bird!!!!! To start the 2007 campaign, the Jets have a surprise, surprise hurt starting QB and of course they can't block or rush the passer. I'm used to this by now I tell ya. 0-2 against two superior AFC teams (fair or not) should have been expected now that the Jets actually have higher expectations this year. Now the schedule evens out and let's hope the Jets can do some damage.
The Knicks and Rangers are going to share a paragraph because I like to share and if there is one thing I learned in life it is that sharing is caring. The Knicks are a joke and will continue to be. Growing up when Ewing, Starks, Oakley, and Derek Harper were on the hard court things were different. Those Knick teams had heart, passion, fire and a will to win, not to mention a coach with really slicked back hair who was pretty damn good. Of course, and I think solely because I am a Knick fan, they came sooo close yet sooo far from winning a title. Now I am lucky if I see the current Knicks make a bounce pass correctly. Oh and their head coach is currently involved in a civil suit against a former employee alleging that she was sexually harassed by him. Glad all his attention can be focused on building a winner. The Rangers have won a Stanley Cup in my life time. The bad news: I barely new hockey existed when it happened. I root for the Rangers and would call myself a modest to knowledgeable fan. I watched their playoff games against Atlanta and Buffalo this year. Of course they lost and didn't win a title. Theme here anyone? I like goalie Henrik Lundqvist, I like JJ, and I like Sean Avery who I sincerely think has actually murdered opposing players on the ice, but thats not why I like him, its because he plays hard. They signed Scotty Gomez and Chris Drury which is eerily familiar to them signing Eric Lindros and Bobby Holik, both of whom skated down Broadway and kept going until they were both out of town. If the Rangers win it all one day, I will be happy...........
.......Not as happy, ecstatic, or UBER EMOTIONALLY ecstatic as I will be if the Mets or Jets win it all in my lifetime. So with Pedro back, and a very good offense and hunger for revenge from last year, hopefully, just maybe the METS can end my RIPKEN like streak of misery this year. If not, and you can relate to everything I just wrote about, then please join me because Misery sure does love some company.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
NFL WEEK 1: Spying Cameras, Shattered Expectations, and Picking Up Where they Left Off
NFL WEEK 1
It was a week filled with marquis match ups, the injury bug, tragedy, and some shenanigans, all will be addressed in this post.
Let's start off talking about the marquis match ups this past week. There were a pair of potential Superbowl previews with Indy and New Orleans and San Diego Chicago, with the AFC teams winning both games. The Colts picked up right where they left off last season, as the best football team in the world, defending Superbowl 41 champs. San Diego made a statement showing they didn't need to score 40 points and win. And they did it against the best defense, arguably, in the league DA BEARS.
There were two other divisional match ups of interest on Sunday and they were the Patriots against their rivals the Jets and the G-men taking on the Cowboys. Neither New York team fared well in their respective games, with the Jets getting blown away by the loaded Pats and the Giants getting injured at the 2 most important positions on the field in QB and RB in their loss against Dallas. Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning has a hurt shoulder said to keep him out about a month (Byron Leftwich, stay by your cell phone) and starting running back Brandon Jacobs out a month or more with a knee injury. The Jets QB Chad Pennington also suffered a foot injury after taking a sack and falling awkwardly. His status is up in the air. Two other side notes from the Jets Pats game was the re-emergence of the NFL's best receiver (yes best, when he wants to be) Randy Moss, 9 catches for a buck 83 and 1 score and the tactical mischief by New England. The Pats were reported to have had a camera used to spy on the Jets defensive coaches and this wasn't the first time this happened either. HEY GUYS.....you don't need all this garbage to help you win games, you already have the best on field personnel in the league. Nothing will come of this but if future occurrences of this arrive then serious punishment needs to take place.
Tragedy also struck on the gridiron on Sunday. Bills backup tight end Kevin Everett suffered what some doctors have called a life threatening neck injury during a head on collision. Doctors say that he will most likely not regain full movement in his limbs. It's very unfortunate that every 10 or so years we get an injury like this. In 1997, Lions linebacker Reggie Brown was carted off the field with a neck injury against the Jets. Luckily he managed to almost fully recover. We will see how this injury to Kevin Everett evolves and I wish him well.
The Steelers, with new coach Mike Tomlin, proved they are back in full force. Granted they played a horrible Cleveland team (who just today dealt Charlie Frye to the Seahawks), the Steel Curtain was dominant. Ben Roethlisberger threw 4 td's en route to a 41 point outburst. Brett Favre used his magic on the field to lead the Packers to a grind it out, thrilling victory over the Eagles 16-13. Donovan McNabb returned behind center for the Iggles after missing much of last season and played fairly well. I would not be concerned if I were an Iggles fan because they will work the kinks out and win at least 10 games as they perennially do under the leadership of head coach Andy Reid.
Adrian Peterson had his welcome to the NFL and to my fantasy team moment in his first NFL game as he had a 60 yard catch for his first career touchdown. He also ran for over 100 yards. Calvin Johnson made some noise, as the projected by starting QB John Kitna 10 win Detroit Lions, made a quiet statement on opening day beating the Raiders (FYI JaMarcus Russell has finally signed).
Now looking at this recap of week 1, it is way to early to forecast the success and failures of all 32 NFL teams. With all the parity in this game, anything can happen. So don't go crying over spilled milk if your team disappointed you in week 1 very much like I did, but I learned my lesson. There are 15 games left and every team is still in the playoff hunt. I say this now, but its only a matter of time before major injuries and off the field issues become prevalent and the landscape in the league completely changes. So here's to a fun and competitive 2007 NFL season and may the best team win without the use of spy cameras of course.
It was a week filled with marquis match ups, the injury bug, tragedy, and some shenanigans, all will be addressed in this post.
Let's start off talking about the marquis match ups this past week. There were a pair of potential Superbowl previews with Indy and New Orleans and San Diego Chicago, with the AFC teams winning both games. The Colts picked up right where they left off last season, as the best football team in the world, defending Superbowl 41 champs. San Diego made a statement showing they didn't need to score 40 points and win. And they did it against the best defense, arguably, in the league DA BEARS.
There were two other divisional match ups of interest on Sunday and they were the Patriots against their rivals the Jets and the G-men taking on the Cowboys. Neither New York team fared well in their respective games, with the Jets getting blown away by the loaded Pats and the Giants getting injured at the 2 most important positions on the field in QB and RB in their loss against Dallas. Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning has a hurt shoulder said to keep him out about a month (Byron Leftwich, stay by your cell phone) and starting running back Brandon Jacobs out a month or more with a knee injury. The Jets QB Chad Pennington also suffered a foot injury after taking a sack and falling awkwardly. His status is up in the air. Two other side notes from the Jets Pats game was the re-emergence of the NFL's best receiver (yes best, when he wants to be) Randy Moss, 9 catches for a buck 83 and 1 score and the tactical mischief by New England. The Pats were reported to have had a camera used to spy on the Jets defensive coaches and this wasn't the first time this happened either. HEY GUYS.....you don't need all this garbage to help you win games, you already have the best on field personnel in the league. Nothing will come of this but if future occurrences of this arrive then serious punishment needs to take place.
Tragedy also struck on the gridiron on Sunday. Bills backup tight end Kevin Everett suffered what some doctors have called a life threatening neck injury during a head on collision. Doctors say that he will most likely not regain full movement in his limbs. It's very unfortunate that every 10 or so years we get an injury like this. In 1997, Lions linebacker Reggie Brown was carted off the field with a neck injury against the Jets. Luckily he managed to almost fully recover. We will see how this injury to Kevin Everett evolves and I wish him well.
The Steelers, with new coach Mike Tomlin, proved they are back in full force. Granted they played a horrible Cleveland team (who just today dealt Charlie Frye to the Seahawks), the Steel Curtain was dominant. Ben Roethlisberger threw 4 td's en route to a 41 point outburst. Brett Favre used his magic on the field to lead the Packers to a grind it out, thrilling victory over the Eagles 16-13. Donovan McNabb returned behind center for the Iggles after missing much of last season and played fairly well. I would not be concerned if I were an Iggles fan because they will work the kinks out and win at least 10 games as they perennially do under the leadership of head coach Andy Reid.
Adrian Peterson had his welcome to the NFL and to my fantasy team moment in his first NFL game as he had a 60 yard catch for his first career touchdown. He also ran for over 100 yards. Calvin Johnson made some noise, as the projected by starting QB John Kitna 10 win Detroit Lions, made a quiet statement on opening day beating the Raiders (FYI JaMarcus Russell has finally signed).
Now looking at this recap of week 1, it is way to early to forecast the success and failures of all 32 NFL teams. With all the parity in this game, anything can happen. So don't go crying over spilled milk if your team disappointed you in week 1 very much like I did, but I learned my lesson. There are 15 games left and every team is still in the playoff hunt. I say this now, but its only a matter of time before major injuries and off the field issues become prevalent and the landscape in the league completely changes. So here's to a fun and competitive 2007 NFL season and may the best team win without the use of spy cameras of course.
Monday, September 3, 2007
The Return of Pedro
September 3, 2007 marked the return of Pedro Martinez to a Major League mound. After more than 11 grueling months of rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, the Mets have their "ace" back. In the offseason before the start of the 2005 Major League Baseball season the Mets made a move that would forever change the foundation and direction of what was then a very sorry baseball team. Subtract Art Howe as manager and Jim Duquette as General Manager and add Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya to those positions respectively. And it was Minaya's perseverance that landed the Mets one of the prized free agents in all of baseball, Pedro Martinez. Coming off 7 plus dominating seasons as a SAWK, the Mets were getting the ace and the face they needed for their franchise. And amid reports of a bum toe and the always dreadful old age, Pedro delivered a 15 win Pedro-esque season. He also put fans in the seats, something the Mets hadn't had from a pitcher since a young Doc Gooden.
2006 was a very different year for the Mets and for Pedro. Pedro started the year where he left off in 2005, going 5-1. The ailing toe, however, along with a bad hip eventually led to strain on the shoulder and of course the season ending surgery. The Mets did not crumble when Pedro did. They won 97 games and as announcer Gary Cohen put it on the day they won the division "ran rough shot through the National League." These new Mets were young, feisty, and most important talented. The 2006 team was often described as a team with "IT." Much of that "IT" can be attributed to the arrival of Pedro to Queens only a year earlier. The magical season of 2006 was derailed in the playoffs on an Adam Wainright curveball in game 7 of the NLCS. That is all that will be mentioned from here on out about that game.
2007 was going to be the year the Mets proved to everyone that they were for real. They had their established talent in Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran. They had their new veteran acquisitions in Moises Alou and Damion Easley, and they had a solid core of starting pitchers led by the now 300 game winner Tom Glavine and the ageless Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. Mix those 2 with solid youngsters John Maine and Oliver Perez and throw in a makeshift number 5 starter and the Mets pitching would overachieve. They were missing that something they had all of 2006 though. After a dominating start to the 2007 season, the Mets struggled with a stretch of rather indifferent play. Now as we have marked the return of Saint Pedro back to the team, the Mets find themselves once again as the best team in the National League and with a division lead that can be considered comfortable.
With Pedro back, all the pieces are now in place for this team to soar to even greater heights than it did last season. Talk about full circle, Pedro's first start as a Met was against the Reds in Cincinnati in April 2005 and Pedro's return to the Mets was against those same Reds in that same Great American Smallpark. Pedro pitched well even though he was on a very limiting pitch count of 75. He ended up throwing 76 pitches in 5 gutsy innings. He got the win and recorded his 3000th career strikeout. Pedro's command was there and as expected the velocity dial was not turned up all the way. But as I stated earlier, Pedro was gutsy. Less than a year removed from a surgery that usually takes way more than a year to pitch effectively from again, Pedro toed the rubber and gave the Mets everything he had in a game that was the most publicized Met game since the debut of Mike Piazza. Even with Pedro being anywhere from 70-90 percent, just his presence alone is enough to make opponents tremble. And hopefully now that he will be around in October the Mets won't need a 7th game to try and win a pennant and can bring home a world title, the first since 1986.
The Mets now have a great dilemma as to what to do with their rotation come playoff time. If and when they make it to October, the Mets will have 5 quality starters all deserving of a shot to start in the playoffs. Maine and Perez proved last year they can pitch in the big spot and this year proved they can have productive full seasons as Major League Starters. Duque and Glavine have been the crafty veterans who always show they can pitch that must win game. And then there's that X factor. Mr. Martinez. The Mets organization and all their fans would love to see Pedro start a playoff game for them as that was the key reason for bringing him to Shea in the first place. You don't have 5 starters in the playoffs so one of the aforementioned will be in the pen, and if it turns out to be Pedro, just ask the Cleveland Indians what Pedro can do out of the pen in long relief, in the postseason.
2006 was a very different year for the Mets and for Pedro. Pedro started the year where he left off in 2005, going 5-1. The ailing toe, however, along with a bad hip eventually led to strain on the shoulder and of course the season ending surgery. The Mets did not crumble when Pedro did. They won 97 games and as announcer Gary Cohen put it on the day they won the division "ran rough shot through the National League." These new Mets were young, feisty, and most important talented. The 2006 team was often described as a team with "IT." Much of that "IT" can be attributed to the arrival of Pedro to Queens only a year earlier. The magical season of 2006 was derailed in the playoffs on an Adam Wainright curveball in game 7 of the NLCS. That is all that will be mentioned from here on out about that game.
2007 was going to be the year the Mets proved to everyone that they were for real. They had their established talent in Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran. They had their new veteran acquisitions in Moises Alou and Damion Easley, and they had a solid core of starting pitchers led by the now 300 game winner Tom Glavine and the ageless Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. Mix those 2 with solid youngsters John Maine and Oliver Perez and throw in a makeshift number 5 starter and the Mets pitching would overachieve. They were missing that something they had all of 2006 though. After a dominating start to the 2007 season, the Mets struggled with a stretch of rather indifferent play. Now as we have marked the return of Saint Pedro back to the team, the Mets find themselves once again as the best team in the National League and with a division lead that can be considered comfortable.
With Pedro back, all the pieces are now in place for this team to soar to even greater heights than it did last season. Talk about full circle, Pedro's first start as a Met was against the Reds in Cincinnati in April 2005 and Pedro's return to the Mets was against those same Reds in that same Great American Smallpark. Pedro pitched well even though he was on a very limiting pitch count of 75. He ended up throwing 76 pitches in 5 gutsy innings. He got the win and recorded his 3000th career strikeout. Pedro's command was there and as expected the velocity dial was not turned up all the way. But as I stated earlier, Pedro was gutsy. Less than a year removed from a surgery that usually takes way more than a year to pitch effectively from again, Pedro toed the rubber and gave the Mets everything he had in a game that was the most publicized Met game since the debut of Mike Piazza. Even with Pedro being anywhere from 70-90 percent, just his presence alone is enough to make opponents tremble. And hopefully now that he will be around in October the Mets won't need a 7th game to try and win a pennant and can bring home a world title, the first since 1986.
The Mets now have a great dilemma as to what to do with their rotation come playoff time. If and when they make it to October, the Mets will have 5 quality starters all deserving of a shot to start in the playoffs. Maine and Perez proved last year they can pitch in the big spot and this year proved they can have productive full seasons as Major League Starters. Duque and Glavine have been the crafty veterans who always show they can pitch that must win game. And then there's that X factor. Mr. Martinez. The Mets organization and all their fans would love to see Pedro start a playoff game for them as that was the key reason for bringing him to Shea in the first place. You don't have 5 starters in the playoffs so one of the aforementioned will be in the pen, and if it turns out to be Pedro, just ask the Cleveland Indians what Pedro can do out of the pen in long relief, in the postseason.
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