A very close friend of mine, DL, passed away last week. He is the reason I am a Giants fan. Before I talk about this upcoming season I will look back for a brief moment.
He was there for the first Giants game that I remember watching. It had to be January 1990. It was the NFC Divisional Playoffs in Giants Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. DL came over to watch the game and brought me a Giants hat. I still remember how he warned me not to talk too much and that if he did not respond to me right away it was because he was into the game. I was not insulted. How could I be, I was six. I now have a greater understanding of what he meant. I do not think I could watch a playoff game of that magnitude with a six year old, but he did. And I appreciate that. In any event, the game was what I now view as typical Giants. They controlled the whole game and the entire time you felt like they would win it. The Rams tied it late in the 4th quarter, and won the coin flip in Overtime. I am not sure if it was the first play from scrimmage, but if not it was very quick, but Flipper Anderson caught a ball up the seam and ran it in for a TD. I still remember him just continuing to run through the endzone and into the tunnel as if he was going to just keep running all the way back to Cali. I am sure DL took it much worse than me, but that was my first taste of Giant heartbreak. This is a feeling that has followed me through my teens and into my 2o's. Up until now I always had DL to talk through that pain and frustration.
As far as this season goes, all of the prognosticators have picked the Giants to finished under .500. I honestly have some guarded optimism for this team. First of all I am not impressed by the NFC East. Secondly, I have to believe that the QB will improve to the point where he can be a difference maker for an entire season. Lastly, I like the fact that for the first time in a couple years everyone is writing this team off at the beginning and not building them up to something they are not. Last year everyone talked Super Bowl. Now they are just consumed with playing hard and shutting up, which is just what we all wanted from them last year. I like the front seven on defense a lot. The secondary will give up some big plays, but with the help of that front seven they should be able to make a few as well. On the offensive side, if the receivers can stay healthy there can be some big plays as well. Droughns and Jacobs will be bruisers and the O-Line looks solid, but unspectacular. I think a good start will go a long way for the success of this team. They play three division foes in the first four weeks, and are starting at rock bottom as far as the media is concerned. Not to mention the fact that much of the fan base has lost faith in the coach and/or the QB.
Lastly, I just want to remind everyone of one thing. Growing up my friend DL taught me about sports. One of the things I always remember hearing was how the Giants would make him ill for years and years. They went 18 years without a playoff birth (1963-1981). Think about that for a second. That is a long long time to be that bad, especially for a franchise of that stature. So while I have had my fair share of Giants heartbreak and disappointment, how can I bitch that much with the Giants coming off two straight playoff births? I know last year was a uniquely bad circumstance with the division and the craziness in the locker room, but remember that the Giants were tied with less than 2:00 left in the Divisional Playoffs. I know I will be thinking of DL a lot this season, I just hope that it is during more good times than bad for those lovable (often laughable) G-Men.
Picks...
AFC East: Pats
AFC North: Bengals
AFC South: Colts
AFC West: Chargers
Wild Card: Bills
Wild Card: Steelers
NFC East: Giants
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Panthers
NFC West: Seahawks
Wild Card: Eagles
Wild Card: Rams
A little wacky on the picks, but when you look at the playoffs teams year in and year out there are not many teams that are there consistently. There is always going to be one or two that no one picked in August and a couple that everyone picked that are sitting home. In any event, I didn't throw anything too crazy like a Browns or a Falcons, but I tried to branch out a little. Plus, I am going to be biased for my Giants.
I like the Patriots over the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
Ammendum:
Sorry for the nostalgia/downer for much of this post, but I just could not write about the upcoming season without mentioning him and I was not about to let the NFL season start without some sort of a preview. Basically, I think the Giants will be better than people are giving them credit for. A lot will depend on the QB, and that is a topic I am not going to touch right now. Starting Sunday we will get a chance to see.
STKAFI
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Hail to the Vict...Greatest College Football Upset of All-Time
Surprisingly, actually not all that shocking at all considering who else writes on this blog, the start of the college football season was not only missed, but was not talked about at all before hand either. With three out of the four consistent bloggers going to Union College (a D-III school known for its basketball team, yeah right. Known for it's D-I hockey team, jappy girls, and somewhat laid back greek life) and myself attending UConn (not exactly college football's holy ground). It's not terribly ridiculous that college football hasn't been brought up. On the other hand, this is a sports blog, so actually, it is.
This past week/weekend was college football kickoff and what is normally a very calm weekend, some might even call it the preseason with big, traditional schools inviting/paying smaller schools from around the country to come into their home stadiums so they can have a live game atmosphere while beating down there opponents. The 2007 kickoff weekend was a little different with one big name school in particular.
In case you hadn't heard, the University of Michigan Wolverines, one of college football's most prestigious programs, invited the small D-IAA school from Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State into the Big House so they could prep their season for Big Ten and National Title runs. The result was anything but predictable. The Mountaineers went into Ann Arbor with back-to-back D-IAA championships, and came out with the greatest college football upset ever, and $400,000 for their troubles.
I don't believe people realize how big of an upset this actually is. Yes, this team has been the best D-IAA team the past two years, but so what? Are you kidding? You could possibly justify this type of upset in basketball, and it has happened, about once every 10 years or so in the NCAA Tournament, but football is different. In basketball, you can get really hot one night and catch a powerhouse in a cold, lazy, and frankly unlucky streak, but in football this just doesn't happen. The talent and size difference in football is just too wide for a D-IAA to compete, let alone win. Numerous of Michigan's players will be vying for draft positions this year and showing their skills in the NFL at the next level, whereas the boys at App St. would be happy if just one of their players gets draft consideration every 5 years. For this to happen, I know I can't really explain it and what makes it worse is that it happened in front of all 110,000 Michigan fans, they all had to watch in disbelief.
A situation like this (and I rarely blame this particular individual for a game) comes from lack of preparation, which comes down from the head coach Lloyd Carr. As joyous as this victory is for the Mountaineers, it's just as embarrassing for the Wolverines.
Other news around the collegiate circuit:
This past week/weekend was college football kickoff and what is normally a very calm weekend, some might even call it the preseason with big, traditional schools inviting/paying smaller schools from around the country to come into their home stadiums so they can have a live game atmosphere while beating down there opponents. The 2007 kickoff weekend was a little different with one big name school in particular.
In case you hadn't heard, the University of Michigan Wolverines, one of college football's most prestigious programs, invited the small D-IAA school from Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State into the Big House so they could prep their season for Big Ten and National Title runs. The result was anything but predictable. The Mountaineers went into Ann Arbor with back-to-back D-IAA championships, and came out with the greatest college football upset ever, and $400,000 for their troubles.
I don't believe people realize how big of an upset this actually is. Yes, this team has been the best D-IAA team the past two years, but so what? Are you kidding? You could possibly justify this type of upset in basketball, and it has happened, about once every 10 years or so in the NCAA Tournament, but football is different. In basketball, you can get really hot one night and catch a powerhouse in a cold, lazy, and frankly unlucky streak, but in football this just doesn't happen. The talent and size difference in football is just too wide for a D-IAA to compete, let alone win. Numerous of Michigan's players will be vying for draft positions this year and showing their skills in the NFL at the next level, whereas the boys at App St. would be happy if just one of their players gets draft consideration every 5 years. For this to happen, I know I can't really explain it and what makes it worse is that it happened in front of all 110,000 Michigan fans, they all had to watch in disbelief.
A situation like this (and I rarely blame this particular individual for a game) comes from lack of preparation, which comes down from the head coach Lloyd Carr. As joyous as this victory is for the Mountaineers, it's just as embarrassing for the Wolverines.
Other news around the collegiate circuit:
- LSU's defense looks mighty tough
- USC's offense lookED unstoppable in preseason and lookS possibly vulnerable after Week 1
- Meant to add this before but forgot: Notre Dame was close to turning the corner 1 or 2 years ago, didn't, hit their crest, and now they are terrible again and back on the downslope.
- Texas isn't any good, neither is Rutgers or Va Tech
- Oklahoma and WVU are the real deal, are Cal and Florida
- The "who knows?" so far: Louisville, Boise St., UCLA, Wisconsin, Penn St., Georgia and Auburn
- Colt Brennan threw for 416 yards and 6 touchdowns in Week 1...he didn't play the second half.
That's my take on the past week, but I could be completely wrong on all my observations because everyone knows you have to take Week 1 of the college football season with a grain of salt. Everyone except the Mountaineers of Appalachian St.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Joba Rules
"We're still going by the same set of rules, but every once in a while we're going to take certain liberties," Torre said.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
To Pull the Plug or not to Pull the Plug
First things first...."He is going to be a starter [next year], and no game is more important than a kid's future," Torre said of the 21-year-old right-hander"
Second... another quote from Torre (something to this effect)... "I have loyalty to each individual, but my loyalty to the 25 guys as a whole has to be bigger"
Now, with all this Mussina talk I wanted to apply it more broadly to sports as a whole. When do you pull the plug on a guy?
Major factors:
1.) Longevity and history with team
Has this guy been a key cog for years? Has he won World Series and other big games? I believe teams are more prone to give leeway to a guy who has been there in the past. Guys like Rivera have basically a lifetime pass with Yankees and the fans. I know Mussina has pitched big games for the Yanks (Game 3 Oakland, Game 7 Red Sox), but to me he is just as much an Oriole if not more so.
2.) Contract
If there are still years left on the contract, pulling the plug makes things more complicated. It would make the player harder to trade because pulling him essentially means you are conceiting that his skills have declined and thus less appetizing to another team.
3.) Age
Is the guy in a rut or has he hit that wall that all athletes do at some point in their career? Is he young enough where taking him out of the rotation or lineup will kill his confidence and set him back? Is it a temporarily loss of mechanics?
4.) Team status
Is this a team in the playoff hunt where keeping the player active is going to hurt the team's chances? Or is this a team where the player means more to the franchise then his actual playing ability?
I don't believe any situation of pulling the plug is answerable without considering all 3 of these elements. For example Mussina, yes he has 7 years, yes he has special moments, yes he has another $11 million dollars on his contract for next year and yes he is getting up there in age.
What about Patrick Ewing's situation? He was the face of the franchise. He made the Knicks an upper echelon team for nearly his entire career. When the plug was pulled on him and he was traded to Seattle, the Knicks spiraled downwards. Was he missed on the court? At that point probably not, he had already missed the playoffs in 1999 and the Knicks made the finals without him. However, it may have had a lasting impact on the franchise. It is never easy to transition from one era to the next.
What about Rick Ankiel? When he lost his control he was still young. The Cardinals had to consider age, contract, longevity, etc. For this situation, age was probably the most influential. They had a serious athlete on their hands and management decided to pull the plug on his pitching career. Looks like it may pay off.
I pull the plug on Mussina, I try and deal him to a contender who needs a starter at the back end. If not, I eat the contract if starting him is going to hinder a younger pitcher's chance to succeed. Their is no leftover effect on the team from losing a guy like Musinna.
I do not pull the plug on a guy like Rivera until an extreme circumstance arises. There are certain guys who as a fan you would love to see walk away on their own terms. Curtis Martin was able to do this and I hope the same for Mo.
Second... another quote from Torre (something to this effect)... "I have loyalty to each individual, but my loyalty to the 25 guys as a whole has to be bigger"
Now, with all this Mussina talk I wanted to apply it more broadly to sports as a whole. When do you pull the plug on a guy?
Major factors:
1.) Longevity and history with team
Has this guy been a key cog for years? Has he won World Series and other big games? I believe teams are more prone to give leeway to a guy who has been there in the past. Guys like Rivera have basically a lifetime pass with Yankees and the fans. I know Mussina has pitched big games for the Yanks (Game 3 Oakland, Game 7 Red Sox), but to me he is just as much an Oriole if not more so.
2.) Contract
If there are still years left on the contract, pulling the plug makes things more complicated. It would make the player harder to trade because pulling him essentially means you are conceiting that his skills have declined and thus less appetizing to another team.
3.) Age
Is the guy in a rut or has he hit that wall that all athletes do at some point in their career? Is he young enough where taking him out of the rotation or lineup will kill his confidence and set him back? Is it a temporarily loss of mechanics?
4.) Team status
Is this a team in the playoff hunt where keeping the player active is going to hurt the team's chances? Or is this a team where the player means more to the franchise then his actual playing ability?
I don't believe any situation of pulling the plug is answerable without considering all 3 of these elements. For example Mussina, yes he has 7 years, yes he has special moments, yes he has another $11 million dollars on his contract for next year and yes he is getting up there in age.
What about Patrick Ewing's situation? He was the face of the franchise. He made the Knicks an upper echelon team for nearly his entire career. When the plug was pulled on him and he was traded to Seattle, the Knicks spiraled downwards. Was he missed on the court? At that point probably not, he had already missed the playoffs in 1999 and the Knicks made the finals without him. However, it may have had a lasting impact on the franchise. It is never easy to transition from one era to the next.
What about Rick Ankiel? When he lost his control he was still young. The Cardinals had to consider age, contract, longevity, etc. For this situation, age was probably the most influential. They had a serious athlete on their hands and management decided to pull the plug on his pitching career. Looks like it may pay off.
I pull the plug on Mussina, I try and deal him to a contender who needs a starter at the back end. If not, I eat the contract if starting him is going to hinder a younger pitcher's chance to succeed. Their is no leftover effect on the team from losing a guy like Musinna.
I do not pull the plug on a guy like Rivera until an extreme circumstance arises. There are certain guys who as a fan you would love to see walk away on their own terms. Curtis Martin was able to do this and I hope the same for Mo.
Look, a Goose!
One of our bloggers had been ranting about how Yankees fans should cut Mike Mussina some slack. It doesn't look like Joe Torre or Ron Guidry agree with him.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2995554
Interesting stat I heard yesterday, in his last three starts, out of the 215 pitches he has thrown, batters have swung and missed 8 times. 8 times! That's it. All means is it's not command, it's stuff. He just flat out doesn't have it right now. Is it just for now? Or is it time to hang his cleats up? Only time will tell.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2995554
Interesting stat I heard yesterday, in his last three starts, out of the 215 pitches he has thrown, batters have swung and missed 8 times. 8 times! That's it. All means is it's not command, it's stuff. He just flat out doesn't have it right now. Is it just for now? Or is it time to hang his cleats up? Only time will tell.
All Over The Ice
- Maybe, just maybe Tom Brady's kid is named John Edward Thomas (J-E-T) because he OWNS the Jets. You could say he took a page out of Chippers' book on this one (Shea hey!).
- I look forward to seeing Joba pitch tonight. Oh wait, he pitched last night?? I guess it'll be automatic Farnsworth in the 8th tonight...
- Mets fans have a lot to be worried about with this bullpen. Mota is a nightmare. Wagner will be fine, but Feliciano has been extremely shakey in the second half after a phenomenal first half. Worst part is, any type of help from the minors in Sept (Joe Smith, Burgos) ain't happenin. They are both hurt right now.
- Can someone name a real complete game the Mets have thrown? I know Glavine and Maine each have one, but both of those were in rain shortened games. Maybe the fact that the Mets relievers have not had a day of from a nine inning game is causing this. Just a thought.
- Stick a fork in the Braves...they're done.
- Phillies are making the NL East interesting. Until they play well in a big spot in Sept (something they have not done in the past 4-5 years) I don't believe in them.
- Can someone explain why Phil Hughes has hyped as such an unreal prospect when at this point he is a two pitch pitcher with a fastball consistantly around 91? I'm not saing he won't develop into something great, but I expected better than this.
- For all my making fun of the Torre, uh I mena Joba Rules, he guy can flat out deal. Crazy nice stuff. Most impressive part is that in each time I've watched him pitch, he loves gonig to the slider on 3-2, did it twice last night. Thats a lot of confidence in a secondary pitch for a youngster.
- Anyone else watch Hard Knocks? Herm Edwards may not be able to understand a game clock, but he sure is good in front of a camera.
- YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME.
- This Jet season just feels like 1999 all over again...huge disappointment. Right up to the point where they get killed in game one and realize a long year is ahead of them.
- Has any other coach been this typed after one season than Mangini(a)?
- I still hate the Knicks.
- Fantasy draft tonight....can I hit the trifecta and get LDT for my third fantasy league?? Don't think so, but I don't think it will matter anyway.
Might have more later. Had to do this early in the morning.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sliding into September
Labor Day weekend is upon us, and with approximately 30 games left in the MLB regular season, it's time to hand out some awards. Many of these can change with changing in the standings, injuries, and either break-out or wipe out performances, but as of today, here is where they stand.
NL Comeback Player of the Year - Rick Ankiel, Stl OF: With a late call up and a quick power surge, this feel good story (which doesn't have drugs or rehab involved) gives this one time pitcher who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn door at one point this award.
Apologies to: Josh Hamilton, Cin OF; Kerry Wood, Chc P.
AL Comeback Player of the Year - Jon Lester, Bos P: The dude came back from cancer and is pitching in the major leagues. If that doesn't define this award, I don't know what does.
Apologies to: Delmon Young, TB OF
NL Rookie of the Year - Ryan Braun, Mil 3B: This guy can flat out rake. .334, 25 HRs, 66 RBIs, 11 SBs in 82 games.
Apologies to: Tim Lincecum, SF P; Chris B. Young, Ari OF; Hunter Pence, Hou OF
AL Rookie of the Year - Diasuke Matsuzaka, Bos P: The second Boston pitcher in two AL awards. 13-10, 3.76 ERA, 172 K's. He may be 27, but he's an MLB rookie.
Apologies to: Kei Igawa, NYY P (Haha, just kidding); Dustin Pedrioa, Bos 2B; Jeremy Guthrie, Bal P; Reggie Willits, LAA OF; Hideki Okajima, Bos P
NL Manager of the Year - Lou Pinella, Chc: I said it at the All-Star break and I'll repeat it again here. This guy is the man. And with Soriano out for the month, the Cubs have taken over first place (albeit in a very weak division).
Apologies to: Bob Melvin, Ari; Bud Black, SD; Tony LaRussa, Stl
AL Manager of the Year - John McLaren, Sea: I know it's a little unfair because he's only coached less than half a season. However, it's his first managerial job, and after Hargrove left, Seattle could have easily packed it in. They didn't, and this team is poised for the wild card. (Plus giving it to Wedge would have made this very boring).
Apologies to: Eric Wedge, Cle; Mike Scioscia, LAA; Terry Francona, Bos
NL Cy Young - Jake Peavy, SD: Jake has been lights out this season: 15-5, 2.18 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 197 K's. Wow.
Apologies to: Brad Penny, LAD; Chris Young, SD; Cole Hamels, Phi
AL Cy Young - Erik Bedard, Bal: What a year, what a second half. Including his last start where he got a little roughed up: 13-5, 3.16 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 221 K's. The most impressive stat being the 13 W's for Baltimore. With so many good candidates, I decided to go for the guy I root for and the underdog.
Apologies to: Johan Santana, Min; Dan Haren, Oak; Josh Beckett, Bos; John Lackey, LAA; Justin Verlander, Det
NL MVP - Eric Byrnes, Ari OF: Let's hear it. Again, I don't care, but with such a close race and no run away winner, I'm going with the little guy who does it all and is holding the young Diamondbacks together through the playoff race. .298, 81 Runs, 19 HRs, 72 RBIs and 37 SBs.
Apologies to: Price Fielder, Mil 1B; Albert Pujols, Stl 1B; Jose Reyes, NYM SS; David Wright, NYM 3B; Jake Peavy, SD P (Yep.)
AL MVP - Alex Rodriguez, NYY 3B: Cooled off after the break, but had one of the best starts to an MLB season as a hitter that he could afford to. And could possibly, if he picks up the run production, join the 150/150 club. .306, 120 Runs, 43 HRs, 123 RBIs, 18 SBs.
Apologies to: Magglio Ordonez, Det OF; Ichiro Suzuki, Sea OF
NL Comeback Player of the Year - Rick Ankiel, Stl OF: With a late call up and a quick power surge, this feel good story (which doesn't have drugs or rehab involved) gives this one time pitcher who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn door at one point this award.
Apologies to: Josh Hamilton, Cin OF; Kerry Wood, Chc P.
AL Comeback Player of the Year - Jon Lester, Bos P: The dude came back from cancer and is pitching in the major leagues. If that doesn't define this award, I don't know what does.
Apologies to: Delmon Young, TB OF
NL Rookie of the Year - Ryan Braun, Mil 3B: This guy can flat out rake. .334, 25 HRs, 66 RBIs, 11 SBs in 82 games.
Apologies to: Tim Lincecum, SF P; Chris B. Young, Ari OF; Hunter Pence, Hou OF
AL Rookie of the Year - Diasuke Matsuzaka, Bos P: The second Boston pitcher in two AL awards. 13-10, 3.76 ERA, 172 K's. He may be 27, but he's an MLB rookie.
Apologies to: Kei Igawa, NYY P (Haha, just kidding); Dustin Pedrioa, Bos 2B; Jeremy Guthrie, Bal P; Reggie Willits, LAA OF; Hideki Okajima, Bos P
NL Manager of the Year - Lou Pinella, Chc: I said it at the All-Star break and I'll repeat it again here. This guy is the man. And with Soriano out for the month, the Cubs have taken over first place (albeit in a very weak division).
Apologies to: Bob Melvin, Ari; Bud Black, SD; Tony LaRussa, Stl
AL Manager of the Year - John McLaren, Sea: I know it's a little unfair because he's only coached less than half a season. However, it's his first managerial job, and after Hargrove left, Seattle could have easily packed it in. They didn't, and this team is poised for the wild card. (Plus giving it to Wedge would have made this very boring).
Apologies to: Eric Wedge, Cle; Mike Scioscia, LAA; Terry Francona, Bos
NL Cy Young - Jake Peavy, SD: Jake has been lights out this season: 15-5, 2.18 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 197 K's. Wow.
Apologies to: Brad Penny, LAD; Chris Young, SD; Cole Hamels, Phi
AL Cy Young - Erik Bedard, Bal: What a year, what a second half. Including his last start where he got a little roughed up: 13-5, 3.16 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 221 K's. The most impressive stat being the 13 W's for Baltimore. With so many good candidates, I decided to go for the guy I root for and the underdog.
Apologies to: Johan Santana, Min; Dan Haren, Oak; Josh Beckett, Bos; John Lackey, LAA; Justin Verlander, Det
NL MVP - Eric Byrnes, Ari OF: Let's hear it. Again, I don't care, but with such a close race and no run away winner, I'm going with the little guy who does it all and is holding the young Diamondbacks together through the playoff race. .298, 81 Runs, 19 HRs, 72 RBIs and 37 SBs.
Apologies to: Price Fielder, Mil 1B; Albert Pujols, Stl 1B; Jose Reyes, NYM SS; David Wright, NYM 3B; Jake Peavy, SD P (Yep.)
AL MVP - Alex Rodriguez, NYY 3B: Cooled off after the break, but had one of the best starts to an MLB season as a hitter that he could afford to. And could possibly, if he picks up the run production, join the 150/150 club. .306, 120 Runs, 43 HRs, 123 RBIs, 18 SBs.
Apologies to: Magglio Ordonez, Det OF; Ichiro Suzuki, Sea OF
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