It seems like the 2010 World Cup just ended, doesn't it? Nevertheless, FIFA in all its wackiness held the preliminary draw for the 2014 tournament in Brazil on Saturday. In fact, qualifying has already started. There are more than 200 countries in FIFA and some of the lowest-ranked ones have already been eliminated by nations that are ranked slightly higher (but still pretty low) and also have no chance of actually making it to Brazil.
Of course, all of the best countries don't have to start qualifying until next summer at the earliest (the European teams don't start until after Euro 2012 is over), and Brazil, as host, doesn't have to qualify at all. But since the draw has been made and I can't think of anything else to blog about today, looking ahead three years and trying to figure out who might be there sounds like fun.
Africa (5 places): In the final round, there are 10 groups. The group winners are drawn into five home-and-home series for places in the World Cup.
Group Winners: South Africa, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Gabon, Nigeria, Egypt, Mali, Cameroon, Senegal
World Cup Qualifiers: Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon
Asia (4.5 places): Final round is two groups of five. Top two in each go to the World Cup, the third place teams play a home-and-home, and the winner of that plays a team from South America for another spot.
Final Round: China, Iraq, South Korea, Kuwait, Japan, North Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar
World Cup Qualifiers: Japan, Australia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia (Third-place playoff: Iran def. North Korea)
CONCACAF (3.5 places): This is the fancy name for the USA's zone. The final round is six teams. Three go to the World Cup, whoever finishes fourth plays a team from Oceania.
Final Round: United States, Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama
World Cup Qualifiers: United States, Mexico, Costa Rica (Playoff Qualifier: Honduras)
Europe (13 places): There are 53 teams in UEFA, which divides nicely into nine groups (one only has five teams because they don't seem interested in having a nice, even 54). The nine group winners advance. The top eight second-place teams play home-and-homes for four more spots.
World Cup Qualifiers: (Group Winners:) Serbia, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Slovenia, Portugal, Slovakia, England, Spain, (Second-place teams:) Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, France
Oceania (0.5 places): Soccer in Oceania is so bad, they don't even get a guaranteed spot in the World Cup (which is one of the reasons why Australia competes in Asia). Whoever wins the four-team final round goes to a playoff with a CONCACAF team.
Final Round: Vanuatu, American Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand
Playoff Qualifier: New Zealand
South America (4.5 places): There are only 10 teams in the region, and Brazil doesn't have to qualify, so half of the remaining nine teams will advance to either the World Cup or a playoff. They'll play 16 games, a home-and-home with everybody.
World Cup Qualifiers: Brazil (host), Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile (Playoff Qualifier: Colombia)
Playoffs: Iran vs. Colombia: Iran qualifies, Honduras vs. New Zealand: New Zealand qualifies
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Not All About the Suits Anymore
On Thursday in Shanghai at the World Swimming Championships, Ryan Lochte beat Michael Phelps in the final of the 200 meter individual medley. It was the second time Lochte beat Phelps at the World Championships, establishing him as a real threat for London next summer. But the fact that he beat Phelps is only part of the story. Lochte broke the world record in the race. Why is that significant? Because it was the first world record broken in Shanghai. In fact, it was the first swimming world record in over two years!
At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, a ridiculous 43 world records were broken. In 40 events! Ordinarily that would make for a very exciting meet. Only it didn't. Part of what makes a world record so special is the fact that it's supposed to be hard to do. In Rome, frankly, it got boring. World records were only lasting from one heat to the next, and random swimmers who were no threat for the gold were the ones breaking them. The meet wasn't at all entertaining.
Of course, there was a reason for all the world records falling at such an alarming rate: the suits. For years, competitive swimsuits were fairly standard. The men wore Speedos and the women wore the standard one-piece bathing suit. In the early 2000s, the suits gradually became longer and as times went down, more and more swimmers went to the longer suits. By the Beijing Olympics, the old style suits were obsolete. The full-length Speedo LZR, which Phelps wore in each of his record-setting eight gold medal swims, was the suit du jour. Not wanting to let Speedo completely monopolize the market, all of the other swimsuit compaines started to develop their own version of the high-tech racing suits.
These suits were in widespread use by the start of the 2009 season. And that's when all the records started falling. First, a little bit of an explanation about what made these suits so fast. Essentially, they were made of rubber. Rubber is buoyant. So, a swimmer clad head-to-toe in a material that water effectively bounces right off is naturally going to move through water faster than a swimmer wearing something that will absorb some of it. As a result, an assault on the world records begins. And the swimmers breaking them are random swimmers from random countries who have no business even being in the discussion. Meanwhile, the best swimmers in the world are being left in the dust. Sometimes those records lasted a matter of minutes until somebody in the next heat broke it. Watching world-record swims was no longer entertaining.
I like a world record as much as the next guy, but it was getting ridiculous, and not in a good way. Fortunately, FINA, swimming's international governing body, agreed. They banned the high-tech suits starting on January 1, 2010. And those suits have to be made out of an actual textile material. In addition, they established rules saying how long the suits can be. No more full-length suits. Men's suits can only go from the waist to the knees, while women's suits can only go from the shoulder to the knees. Other factors came into play as to why the suits were banned (such as the fact that they were extremely expensive, they took forever to put on, and you could only wear them a few times), but it was essentially because of the world records. (Phelps saying after the Rome World Championships that he wouldn't swim competitively again until the suits were banned probably came into play, as well.)
Anyway, in swimming circles, 2009 has been labled the "Suit Era" much like the '90s and early 2000s are known as the "Steroid Era" to a lot of baseball fans. In the year and a half since the suits were banned, the intended result is indeed what's happened. Swimmers are winning races because they're better than their competitors. The racing has improved. But unfortunately, the times weren't going down. No world records were broken. Some people thought they couldn't be. The high-tech suits had that much of an effect on the sport.
Thanks to Ryan Lochte, that all changed on Thursday. Once again, we have a world record that shouldn't have an asterisk attached to it. And now that people have seen it can be done, I'm sure others will follow. With that awesome aquatic center that was recently completed and just opened, there's bound to be records that fall at the London Olympics. But not all of the records. The "Suit Era" is over. World records are no longer diluted.
Personally, I think swimming should go all the way back. Make them go back to wearing regular bathing suits and Speedos like all competitive swimmers did before the turn of the century. That's what they wear in training, so why not have it be the same in the actual meet? Ian Thorpe started this whole mess when he wore a full bodysuit in Sydney. Fortunately, that's over now. It's no longer about the suits. It's about the swimmers. Like it should be.
At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, a ridiculous 43 world records were broken. In 40 events! Ordinarily that would make for a very exciting meet. Only it didn't. Part of what makes a world record so special is the fact that it's supposed to be hard to do. In Rome, frankly, it got boring. World records were only lasting from one heat to the next, and random swimmers who were no threat for the gold were the ones breaking them. The meet wasn't at all entertaining.
Of course, there was a reason for all the world records falling at such an alarming rate: the suits. For years, competitive swimsuits were fairly standard. The men wore Speedos and the women wore the standard one-piece bathing suit. In the early 2000s, the suits gradually became longer and as times went down, more and more swimmers went to the longer suits. By the Beijing Olympics, the old style suits were obsolete. The full-length Speedo LZR, which Phelps wore in each of his record-setting eight gold medal swims, was the suit du jour. Not wanting to let Speedo completely monopolize the market, all of the other swimsuit compaines started to develop their own version of the high-tech racing suits.
These suits were in widespread use by the start of the 2009 season. And that's when all the records started falling. First, a little bit of an explanation about what made these suits so fast. Essentially, they were made of rubber. Rubber is buoyant. So, a swimmer clad head-to-toe in a material that water effectively bounces right off is naturally going to move through water faster than a swimmer wearing something that will absorb some of it. As a result, an assault on the world records begins. And the swimmers breaking them are random swimmers from random countries who have no business even being in the discussion. Meanwhile, the best swimmers in the world are being left in the dust. Sometimes those records lasted a matter of minutes until somebody in the next heat broke it. Watching world-record swims was no longer entertaining.
I like a world record as much as the next guy, but it was getting ridiculous, and not in a good way. Fortunately, FINA, swimming's international governing body, agreed. They banned the high-tech suits starting on January 1, 2010. And those suits have to be made out of an actual textile material. In addition, they established rules saying how long the suits can be. No more full-length suits. Men's suits can only go from the waist to the knees, while women's suits can only go from the shoulder to the knees. Other factors came into play as to why the suits were banned (such as the fact that they were extremely expensive, they took forever to put on, and you could only wear them a few times), but it was essentially because of the world records. (Phelps saying after the Rome World Championships that he wouldn't swim competitively again until the suits were banned probably came into play, as well.)
Anyway, in swimming circles, 2009 has been labled the "Suit Era" much like the '90s and early 2000s are known as the "Steroid Era" to a lot of baseball fans. In the year and a half since the suits were banned, the intended result is indeed what's happened. Swimmers are winning races because they're better than their competitors. The racing has improved. But unfortunately, the times weren't going down. No world records were broken. Some people thought they couldn't be. The high-tech suits had that much of an effect on the sport.
Thanks to Ryan Lochte, that all changed on Thursday. Once again, we have a world record that shouldn't have an asterisk attached to it. And now that people have seen it can be done, I'm sure others will follow. With that awesome aquatic center that was recently completed and just opened, there's bound to be records that fall at the London Olympics. But not all of the records. The "Suit Era" is over. World records are no longer diluted.
Personally, I think swimming should go all the way back. Make them go back to wearing regular bathing suits and Speedos like all competitive swimmers did before the turn of the century. That's what they wear in training, so why not have it be the same in the actual meet? Ian Thorpe started this whole mess when he wore a full bodysuit in Sydney. Fortunately, that's over now. It's no longer about the suits. It's about the swimmers. Like it should be.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
One Year to Go
Well kids, it's official. The Olympic year has begun. Exactly one year from today (almost to the minute if you consider the time difference and the time of this post) will be the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. An Olympic Opening Ceremony is one of those once-in-a-lifetime events, and each is truly special in its own way. After all the pomp and circumstance, there are always two great mysteries at the end of the Opening Ceremony. What's the cauldron going to look like, and who's going to be the final torchbearer? Other than the fact that it's going to be somebody British, we won't know the answer to the latter until a year from now. But in a country that has such a great Olympic tradition, there are plenty of worthy candidates.
I think one of the favorites for the honor will be Sir Steve Redgrave. A rower, Redgrave is hailed as Britain's greatest Olympian. He's one of only four athletes to win gold medals at five successive Games. After winning the coxed four in Los Angeles, Redgrave three-peated in the coxless pair (1988 with Andy Holmes, 1992-96 with Matthew Pinsent). He and Holmes also won the bronze in the coxed pair in Seoul. Redgrave then capped his Olympic career by rowing on Britan's victorious coxless four in Sydney. In addition, he won a total of 12 medals (nine gold) at the World Championships.
Another candidate is somebody who very well could be competing in London: sailor Ben Ainslie. If he does, Ainslie has a chance of joining Redgrave as a medalist in five straight Olympics. He took the silver in the Laser class in Atlanta, then won the gold in that event in Sydney. In 2004, Ainslie switched to the larger Finn class boat, and he's the two-time defending Olympic champion in that event. After his gold medal in Beijing, Ainslie was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
If they want to have a woman light the cauldron, Virginia Wade would be an appropriate choice. As everyone knows, Wimbledon is the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. As everyone knows, the pressure on Andy Murray to win it every year is immense. No British man has won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. Why am I bringing all this up? Because the last British woman to win Wimbledon was Virginia Wade in 1977, which also happened to be Wimbledon's centennial year. She also won the first US Open (in 1968) and 10 Grand Slam doubles titles, but that Wimbledon championship defined her career (and rightfully so).
A British athlete that has a chance to make quite a splash (literally) in London is swimmer Rebecca Adlington. Adlington won gold medals in the 400 and 800 meter freestyle events in Beijing, breaking the 19-year-old world record in the latter. With that, she became the first British swimmer to win Olympic gold in 20 years, the first British woman to win gold since 1960, and the first Brit to win multiple gold medals in swimming since London hosted for the first time. In 1908! Adlington's currently competing in the World Championships in Shanghai, and she should be favored again in both events in London.
Since Great Britain is perhaps the world's best-known monarchy (maybe you heard about that family wedding they had back in April), there will definitely be a royal presence at the Opening Ceremony. As the head of state, the Queen will officially open the Games. Wouldn't it be cool if a few minutes later, her daughter, Princess Anne (a former Olympian), capped the Ceremony by lighting the Olympic cauldron? The Princess Royal was an accomplished equestrian competitor in her day, winning a European championship in 1971 and competing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Her daughter, Zara Phillips, has a chance to make the British equestrian team for the London Games.
But the sport in which Great Britian has had its most Olympic success is track & field, which is why I think that's the sport the final torchbearer will come from. Sir Sebastian Coe, a four-time Olympic medalist, would be a candidate if he wasn't organizing the entire London Games. There's Linford Christie, who won silver in the 100 meters in Seoul, then won the gold in Barcelona (and at the 1993 World Championships). Kelly Holmes is a three-time Olympic medalist, including her impressive double gold medal performace in the 800 and 1500 in Athens. I think a serious candidate will be Daley Thompson. Thompson twice won the Olympic decathlon (1980-84), and he set the world record in the grueling 10-event competition four times.
However, my choice has remained the same since London was awarded the 2012 Olympics six years ago. He never won an Olympic medal, but is revered worldwide for being the first to achieve a sporting milestone that was once considered impossible. On May 6, 1954, he ran a mile in less than four minutes. Sir Roger Bannister then retired from track to pursue a medical career. He had a long and distinguised medical career, but will forever be remembered for the four-minute mile. It was truly one of the greatest sporting achievements of the 20th Century.
Any of the other candidates I mentioned have merit, and they're all worty of entering the discussion. But the decision should be easy. There's only one right choice as to who should get the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron one year from now in London: Sir Roger Bannister.
I think one of the favorites for the honor will be Sir Steve Redgrave. A rower, Redgrave is hailed as Britain's greatest Olympian. He's one of only four athletes to win gold medals at five successive Games. After winning the coxed four in Los Angeles, Redgrave three-peated in the coxless pair (1988 with Andy Holmes, 1992-96 with Matthew Pinsent). He and Holmes also won the bronze in the coxed pair in Seoul. Redgrave then capped his Olympic career by rowing on Britan's victorious coxless four in Sydney. In addition, he won a total of 12 medals (nine gold) at the World Championships.
Another candidate is somebody who very well could be competing in London: sailor Ben Ainslie. If he does, Ainslie has a chance of joining Redgrave as a medalist in five straight Olympics. He took the silver in the Laser class in Atlanta, then won the gold in that event in Sydney. In 2004, Ainslie switched to the larger Finn class boat, and he's the two-time defending Olympic champion in that event. After his gold medal in Beijing, Ainslie was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
If they want to have a woman light the cauldron, Virginia Wade would be an appropriate choice. As everyone knows, Wimbledon is the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. As everyone knows, the pressure on Andy Murray to win it every year is immense. No British man has won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. Why am I bringing all this up? Because the last British woman to win Wimbledon was Virginia Wade in 1977, which also happened to be Wimbledon's centennial year. She also won the first US Open (in 1968) and 10 Grand Slam doubles titles, but that Wimbledon championship defined her career (and rightfully so).
A British athlete that has a chance to make quite a splash (literally) in London is swimmer Rebecca Adlington. Adlington won gold medals in the 400 and 800 meter freestyle events in Beijing, breaking the 19-year-old world record in the latter. With that, she became the first British swimmer to win Olympic gold in 20 years, the first British woman to win gold since 1960, and the first Brit to win multiple gold medals in swimming since London hosted for the first time. In 1908! Adlington's currently competing in the World Championships in Shanghai, and she should be favored again in both events in London.
Since Great Britain is perhaps the world's best-known monarchy (maybe you heard about that family wedding they had back in April), there will definitely be a royal presence at the Opening Ceremony. As the head of state, the Queen will officially open the Games. Wouldn't it be cool if a few minutes later, her daughter, Princess Anne (a former Olympian), capped the Ceremony by lighting the Olympic cauldron? The Princess Royal was an accomplished equestrian competitor in her day, winning a European championship in 1971 and competing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Her daughter, Zara Phillips, has a chance to make the British equestrian team for the London Games.
But the sport in which Great Britian has had its most Olympic success is track & field, which is why I think that's the sport the final torchbearer will come from. Sir Sebastian Coe, a four-time Olympic medalist, would be a candidate if he wasn't organizing the entire London Games. There's Linford Christie, who won silver in the 100 meters in Seoul, then won the gold in Barcelona (and at the 1993 World Championships). Kelly Holmes is a three-time Olympic medalist, including her impressive double gold medal performace in the 800 and 1500 in Athens. I think a serious candidate will be Daley Thompson. Thompson twice won the Olympic decathlon (1980-84), and he set the world record in the grueling 10-event competition four times.
However, my choice has remained the same since London was awarded the 2012 Olympics six years ago. He never won an Olympic medal, but is revered worldwide for being the first to achieve a sporting milestone that was once considered impossible. On May 6, 1954, he ran a mile in less than four minutes. Sir Roger Bannister then retired from track to pursue a medical career. He had a long and distinguised medical career, but will forever be remembered for the four-minute mile. It was truly one of the greatest sporting achievements of the 20th Century.
Any of the other candidates I mentioned have merit, and they're all worty of entering the discussion. But the decision should be easy. There's only one right choice as to who should get the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron one year from now in London: Sir Roger Bannister.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Well kids, the NFL lockout is over. And we didn't miss any football! (The Hall of Fame game doesn't count.) I guess the owners and players aren't as stupid as I thought they were. In fact, they actually taught us a very valuable lesson here: if you're going to have a work stoppage, do it during the offseason. That way, all you're going to miss while fighting over $9 billion is the stuff the players don't really want to do ("voluntary" mini-camps, etc.) without sacrificing any of the things the fans (you know, the people who pay to see the product) want to see (games).
Of course, now they have to cram an entire offseason into a week, which means a whirlwind of trades and free agent signings over the next couple of days. But I, for one, think that could be a lot of fun. Tomorrow, teams can start making trades, signing rookies and negotiating with free agents. However, they can't sign those free agents until the end of the week, when the NFLPA actually exists again and the CBA goes into effect. Then training camps start next week, 15 days before each team's first preseason game.
I give both sides credit for realizing that missing regular season games would go a long way towards making sure the $9 billion they were fighting over would decrease significantly. Both sides also took a bit of a PR hit, but not enough for it to damage the NFL's position as king of American sports. It would've been a different story, though, if we'd all had to find something else to do with our Sunday afternoons from September to January (let alone what CBS, FOX and NBC would have to do). Now we're not going to have to worry about that for at least the next 10 years.
Our basketball-playing friends should take note of how this all worked out. Of course, the situation in the NBA is completely different. Those owners evidently seem content to sacrifice the season just like the NHL did seven years ago. I'm sure most NBA fans will probably be disappointed when that season doesn't start on time (if at all), but sometimes that's what has to be done in order to fix a broken system. And who knows? Maybe the end product will end up being better, just like the post-lockout NHL.
The NFL lockout wasn't about a broken system. It was about how to split a ridiculous amount of revenue. I still think the owners were more at fault for the impass than the players were, but that's beside the point. In hindsight, both sides had legitimate issues that needed to be resolved. And with this new CBA, it looks like they both gave a little to get a little. The owners get a greater split of the total revenue (53 percent) and a rookie-wage scale (which the veteran players wanted, too). The players get unrestricted free agency sooner (four years), contracts that are somewhat guaranteed and a longer offseason. Most importantly, the salary cap is back in place (which the owners wanted), but there's also a salary floor, which should help teams like Buffalo and Cincinnati stay competitive. The ridiculous, unnecessary 18-game schedule that the owners were really pushing for was tabled until at least 2013.
Even better, it was the owners and players that got a deal done, not the lawyers. That was the most annoying part of this whole mess. For a while, neither side was doing any actual negotiating. It was just a back-and-forth from one legal maneuver to another. Once they actually sat down at the bargaining table, look what happened. It's not being left up to a judge in Minneapolis to decide if the lockout is legal, and the Brady/Manning lawsuit has been dropped. Of course, one slight issue remains. But the NFLPA will be reestablished as a union within the next couple days, and that'll clear the way for the league year to officially begin.
Releasing the schedule and holding the draft at their normal times in the midst of a workout seemed really silly, but now I can see why they did it. It would be a little difficult to plan things if they waited until now to release the schedule, and at least some rookies (those who were drafted) know where they're going to play. Besides, now we're all free to make our plans for Thursday night, September 8, when the Packers begin the defense of their Super Bowl title against the Saints at Lambeau Field. That's what we all wanted. And, frankly, the way it should be.
Are you ready for some football? Yes. We all are. Owners, players, and especially fans. We don't care which side got what percentage of the pot. We just wanted football. The two parties actually at the table were able to get things done and avoided screwing the third. For that, they deserve a ton of credit. Now let's play some football!
Of course, now they have to cram an entire offseason into a week, which means a whirlwind of trades and free agent signings over the next couple of days. But I, for one, think that could be a lot of fun. Tomorrow, teams can start making trades, signing rookies and negotiating with free agents. However, they can't sign those free agents until the end of the week, when the NFLPA actually exists again and the CBA goes into effect. Then training camps start next week, 15 days before each team's first preseason game.
I give both sides credit for realizing that missing regular season games would go a long way towards making sure the $9 billion they were fighting over would decrease significantly. Both sides also took a bit of a PR hit, but not enough for it to damage the NFL's position as king of American sports. It would've been a different story, though, if we'd all had to find something else to do with our Sunday afternoons from September to January (let alone what CBS, FOX and NBC would have to do). Now we're not going to have to worry about that for at least the next 10 years.
Our basketball-playing friends should take note of how this all worked out. Of course, the situation in the NBA is completely different. Those owners evidently seem content to sacrifice the season just like the NHL did seven years ago. I'm sure most NBA fans will probably be disappointed when that season doesn't start on time (if at all), but sometimes that's what has to be done in order to fix a broken system. And who knows? Maybe the end product will end up being better, just like the post-lockout NHL.
The NFL lockout wasn't about a broken system. It was about how to split a ridiculous amount of revenue. I still think the owners were more at fault for the impass than the players were, but that's beside the point. In hindsight, both sides had legitimate issues that needed to be resolved. And with this new CBA, it looks like they both gave a little to get a little. The owners get a greater split of the total revenue (53 percent) and a rookie-wage scale (which the veteran players wanted, too). The players get unrestricted free agency sooner (four years), contracts that are somewhat guaranteed and a longer offseason. Most importantly, the salary cap is back in place (which the owners wanted), but there's also a salary floor, which should help teams like Buffalo and Cincinnati stay competitive. The ridiculous, unnecessary 18-game schedule that the owners were really pushing for was tabled until at least 2013.
Even better, it was the owners and players that got a deal done, not the lawyers. That was the most annoying part of this whole mess. For a while, neither side was doing any actual negotiating. It was just a back-and-forth from one legal maneuver to another. Once they actually sat down at the bargaining table, look what happened. It's not being left up to a judge in Minneapolis to decide if the lockout is legal, and the Brady/Manning lawsuit has been dropped. Of course, one slight issue remains. But the NFLPA will be reestablished as a union within the next couple days, and that'll clear the way for the league year to officially begin.
Releasing the schedule and holding the draft at their normal times in the midst of a workout seemed really silly, but now I can see why they did it. It would be a little difficult to plan things if they waited until now to release the schedule, and at least some rookies (those who were drafted) know where they're going to play. Besides, now we're all free to make our plans for Thursday night, September 8, when the Packers begin the defense of their Super Bowl title against the Saints at Lambeau Field. That's what we all wanted. And, frankly, the way it should be.
Are you ready for some football? Yes. We all are. Owners, players, and especially fans. We don't care which side got what percentage of the pot. We just wanted football. The two parties actually at the table were able to get things done and avoided screwing the third. For that, they deserve a ton of credit. Now let's play some football!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
He Shouldn't Be Allowed to Compete
Today I'm going to be a little controversial. I'm going to talk about South African runner Oscar Pistorius, who recently qualified for next month's World Championships. Look at the below picture of Pistorius and you'll notice something very obvious about him.
As you can see, Pistorius doesn't have lower legs. They were both amputated below the knee when he was a baby. He "runs" on carbon fiber blades, which have earned him the nickname "The Blade Runner." He quickly became one of the best Paralympic sprinters in the world. In 2007, he started competing against able-bodied athletes with the goal of competing at both the Olympics and Paralympics the following year. This is what makes Pistorius such a notable, and polarizing, figure.
There has been some criticism/debate that Pistorius' blades give him an unfair advantage over able-bodied runners (more on that later). Without getting into all the technical mumbo-jumbo, the IAAF, track & field's international governing body, ran tests and determined that they DID give him a slight advantage. Pistorius appealed the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the decision was reversed in May 2008, clearing him to attempt to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in the 400 meters. However, despite numerous attempts, he failed to reach the Olympic standard of 45.55 seconds. A month later he went to Beijing for the Paralympics and won three gold medals.
Fast forward three years. Pistorius still has the dream of competing in both the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. He's a "story"/gate attraction, so he has continually been invited to run the 400 in most of the major professional meets. However, Pistorius, frankly, isn't as good as the top world-class able-bodied 400 meter runners. He'd run these meets (normally from lane 1, the worst lane draw possible) and consistently finish in the back of the field (I saw him finish seventh at the New York Diamond League meet in June). In addition, he consistently was coming up short of the London Olympic standard, 45.25.
That qualifying standard is the same for this year's World Championships, which will be held in Daegu, South Korea at the end of August. In order to compete in Daegu, athletes have to run that time by August 1 (the Olympic qualifying period started on May 1, so it automatically qualifies you for both if you achieve it in that time). After consistently coming up short, Pistorius had one last chance at a meet in Lignano, Italy. In my opinion, the quality of this meet was highly questionable. It seemed like the whole purpose of this race was to get Pistorius an "A" standard. Anyway, after never having run faster than 45.61 (which is better than be "B" qualifier of 45.70, by the way), Pistorius won the race in a personal-best time of 45.07 seconds to qualify for both Worlds and the Olympics. To me, this time seems like an abberation, but that's not why I don't think he should be competing at the able-bodied World Championships/Olympics.
I'm in the minority, but I agree with the original findings. I think the carbon-fiber blades DO give Pistorius an advantage. To be clear, I'm not some massive insensitive jerk. I don't think that not having the bottom half of your legs is an advantage. However, the technology Pistorius uses to compete gives him a benefit that those he races against cannot utilize.
I know nothing of the technical studies that were done, nor do I really want to. Rather, I'm speaking from the experience of somebody who used to sprint competitively (not very well, but still). The 400 is one of the hardest events in track. You're going all-out for a full lap. It's a grind to finish. Over the final 50 meters of the race, your legs are burning. More specifically, your lower legs are burning. Pistorius doesn't have lower legs. Thus, it's impossible for him to have those muscles tighten up. Likewise, he'll never develop shin splints. Or have foot or ankle problems. All of that stuff comes with the territory for able-bodied runners. (Think about it, your feet are the only things that make direct contact with the track, and the muscles in the lower leg repeatedly absorb those blows.) But not Pistorius. And that's where he has an advantage.
The Pistorius story was a great human interest story. Four years ago when he was trying to qualify for the Beijing Games. But it's soooooooooooooo played out by now that, frankly, I'm sick of it. That's beside the point, though. I don't think he should be allowed to run at Worlds. I told you why. But there are also competitive reasons that have nothing to do with whether or not his prosthetics give him advantage. I think his time in Italy was a fluke. I wouldn't be surprised if he's eliminated in the first round in Daegu. He's certainly not going to win a medal. It'll be the same story in London.
Go ahead and criticize me for not being P.C. or tell me how "wrong" you think I am. It doesn't change my opinion of Oscar Pistorius. Qualified or not, he shouldn't run at Worlds. Sorry. Feel free to disagree.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Top 15 Yankees Pitchers Ever
I was all set to do something commemorating today's 15th anniversary of the Opening Ceremony of the Atlanta Olympics, which are (and for the forseeable future will remain) the last Summer Games to take place on American soil. But then I got an e-mail from Mr. Jim with his list of the 15 greatest pitchers in Orioles history that didn't eventually become underwear models. Since I'm not at all opposed to shamelessly stealing other people's good ideas, I decided that instead I'll do a list of my own counting down the top 15 pitchers in Yankees history.
How hard was it to narrow down this list? Well, the Yankees are the only franchise that's had three perfect games, yet Don Larsen, David Wells and David Cone all didn't make the cut. Neither did Roger Clemens, who, "enhanced" or not, had six pretty damn good years in pinstripes. (The mistrial will get its own blog post at some point.) Nor did CC Sabathia, who might end up in the Top 10 by the time he's done (he's only 30), or Vic Raschi, who had a .706 career winning percentage. Jim's list also didn't feature any active players (I don't know if that was a conscious decision or just because the current Orioles pitching staff isn't very good), but obviously a Yankees list wouldn't be complete without that guy who pitches the ninth inning. And now, without further ado, here's my list of the 15 greatest pitchers in Yankees history.
15. Spud Chandler (1937-47)
He's probably one of the least heralded great pitchers in franchise history. Chandler was the AL MVP in 1943 when he went 20-4 with a 1.64 ERA, the best in team history. He never had a losing record in 11 seasons and had a career record of 109-43. His .717 winning percentage is the best in Major League history. Chandler was also a four-time All-Star and three-time World Champion.
14. Sparky Lyle (1972-78)
The Yankees have had four great closers in franchise history, and he was the first. He finished third in AL MVP voting in 1972, then became the first reliever in history to win the Cy Young in 1977, when he went 13-5 with a 2.17 ERA and a league-leading 26 saves. But the Yankees got Goose Gossage that offseason and traded Lyle after the 1978 season.
13. Bob Shawkey (1915-27)
He started the first game in the history of the original Yankee Stadium, so that's enough to qualify for the list. Shawkey was the ace of the staff when Babe Ruth got there and pitched in the Yankees' first five World Series (1921-23, 1926-27). His 15 strikeouts in a game was a franchise record until broken by Whitey Ford and his 168 wins are the sixth-most in franchise history.
12. Catfish Hunter (1975-79)
The lowest-ranked Hall of Famer on the list (he was inducted in 1987), Hunter was one of the first big free agent signings in baseball history. And he was one of the last pieces of the puzzle for the Yankees teams that won three straight pennants (1976-78) and back-to-back World Series (1977-78). Hunter led the AL with 23 wins in 1975, made the All-Star team in 1976 and was the ace of the staff on the championship teams.
11. Goose Gossage (1978-83)
Arguably the greatest closer in history until No. 42 came along, he pioneered the role. Gossage sometimes pitched as many as three innings to finish off a game. He led the AL in saves twice and made the All-Star team five times while a Yankee, and his 2.14 ERA is the best in franchise history among pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched. The Goose was only a Yankee for six seasons, but still managed to compile 151 saves in pinstripes. And he's wearing a Yankees hat on his plaque in Cooperstown.
10. Dave Righetti (1979, 1981-90)
Righetti began his career as a starter, winning the AL Rookie of the Year in 1981 and throwing a no-hitter (the first by a Yankee since Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series) against the Red Sox on the 4th of July in 1983. The following season, he moved to the bullpen and became arguably the best closer in the American League, setting the then-AL record for saves with 46 in 1986. The first player ever to both throw a no-hitter and lead the league in saves, he ended up with 224 saves, the second-most in franchise history (behind you know who). He's now the pitching coach for the World Champion Giants.
9. Jack Chesbro (1903-09)
The first great pitcher in franchise history, he technically was never a "Yankee" (they were the "Highlanders" until 1913). He pitched the first game in franchise history, then had one of the best seasons ever in 1904. He won a franchise-record 41 games (no pitcher has even won 30 games in a season since 1968), posted a 1.82 ERA and struck out 239 (second-most in franchise history) while almost leading the Highlanders to the pennant. Chesbro was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.
8. Andy Pettitte (1995-2003, 2007-10)
What to say about Andrew Eugene Pettitte? One of the "Core Four," he won five World Series and holds the Major League record with 19 postseason wins. He also holds the records for postseason starts and innings. Pettitte led the AL with 21 wins and finished second in Cy Young voting in 1996 and won more games in the 2000s (148) than anybody. He's second in franchise history in starts (396) and third in wins (203). Pettitte started the final game at the old Stadium in 2008 and became the first player in history to start and win the clinching game in all three postseason series the following year.
7. Mel Stottlemyre (1964-74)
Better known to this generation as Pettitte's pitching coach, Stottlemyre was the ace of the team when it wasn't very good in the late '60s. As a rookie, he started Game 7 of the World Series in 1964. That would be the Yankees' last pennant-winning season until 1976, but Stottlemyre was a rare bright spot during the next decade, winning 164 games, including three 20-win seasons, and making five All-Star teams. Stottlemyre is seventh in franchise history in wins (164) and strikeouts (1259) and tied for second with 40 shutouts. He was also a good hitter and once hit an inside-the-park grand slam.
6. Red Ruffing (1930-42, 1945-46)
His 231 wins and 40 shutouts are both the second-most in franchise history. Oh by the way, he also holds the franchise record with 261 complete games and ranks fourth with 1,526 strikeouts. Ruffing came to the Yankees from Boston in a midseason trade in 1930, and it went about as well for our "friends" from New England as the Babe Ruth trade. With the Yankees, he won six World Series (1932, 1936-39, 1941) and made the All-Star team six times. Ruffing had to wait until 1967 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, though.
5. Allie Reynolds (1947-54)
Of the 11 no-hitters in franchise history, Allie Reynolds is the only guy to throw two of them, and they both came in 1951. Reynolds is 10th in franchise history in wins (131), fifth in shutouts (27) and fourth in winning percentage (.686). During his eight seasons in pinstripes, the Yankees won the World Series six times. The numbers probably don't support him being this high, but he was the ace of the staff for the only team in history to win five consecutive championships (1949-53). Only four pitchers have a plaque in Monument Park and he's one of them.
4. Lefty Gomez (1930-42)
I wish I had seen Lefty Gomez play because even I'm not sure how good this guy was. He usually got overshadowed because he played with guys named Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio, but Gomez won 189 games during his 12-year Yankee career. He won 20 games four times (including 26 in 1934) and won the pitching triple crown (wins, ERA, strikeouts) twice. A member of the first seven American League All-Star teams, he holds records for All-Star starts (five, including the first three) and wins (three). He also had the first RBI in All-Star Game history in 1933, when he was the winning pitcher. Gomez won six straight World Series games from 1932-38 and was a part of five championship teams. He's had a plaque in Cooperstown since 1972.
3. Ron Guidry (1975-88)
The Yankees have only retired the numbers of two pitchers, and Gator's No. 49 was the most recent of the 16 put on the wall. Where do we start? How about 1978, when he won the Cy Young Award after going 25-3 with a ridiculous 1.74 ERA. Guidry had 248 strikeouts that season, including a franchise-record 18 in one game against the Angels, as the Yankees won their second straight World Series. He also won the Gold Glove every year from 1982-86 and was the Yankees captain from 1986-88. Guidry's 170 wins are the fifth-most in franchise history and he ranks third with 1,778 strikeouts.
2. Mariano Rivera (1995-Present)
No. 42 is going on the wall as soon as Mo retires, and not just because he's the last player in Major League history allowed to wear the number. I could go on for days about his greatness. Without a doubt the greatest closer in history, he's closing in on the all-time record of 601 saves. But as incredible as his regular season numbers are, it's the postseason where Mo has truly shined. In 94 career postseason games, he's 8-1 with 42 saves and a 0.71 ERA. Without Rivera, there's no Yankee dynasty in the late '90s. Oh yeah, he's also a 12-time All-Star. Even at 42, he still strikes the fear of God into opposing hitters. And as a fan, there's nothing like sitting in the Stadium, seeing that bullpen door swing open and hearing "Enter Sandman" as he jogs out to the mound in the top of the ninth.
1. Whitey Ford (1950-67)
Just as there's no debate about who's the greatest pitcher in Orioles history or Dodgers history (Sandy Koufax) or Cardinals history (Bob Gibson), there's no debate about who the greatest pitcher ever to don the pinstripes is: Edwin Charles Ford. While Mantle and Maris were busy chasing the home run record in 1961, he quietly won the Cy Young Award and the Yankees won the World Series. Ford started Game 1 of the World Series eight times, and the Yankees won six championships during his career. Ford's 10 World Series victories are an all-time record, and his streak of 33.2 consecutive scoreless innings in World Series play is the best ever. His 236 wins are a franchise record, and his career .690 winning percentage is the best in baseball history (for pitchers with at least 300 decisions). He also had an impressive career ERA of 2.75. Ford's No. 16 was retired in 1974, the same year he and good friend Mickey Mantle went into the Hall of Fame together.
How hard was it to narrow down this list? Well, the Yankees are the only franchise that's had three perfect games, yet Don Larsen, David Wells and David Cone all didn't make the cut. Neither did Roger Clemens, who, "enhanced" or not, had six pretty damn good years in pinstripes. (The mistrial will get its own blog post at some point.) Nor did CC Sabathia, who might end up in the Top 10 by the time he's done (he's only 30), or Vic Raschi, who had a .706 career winning percentage. Jim's list also didn't feature any active players (I don't know if that was a conscious decision or just because the current Orioles pitching staff isn't very good), but obviously a Yankees list wouldn't be complete without that guy who pitches the ninth inning. And now, without further ado, here's my list of the 15 greatest pitchers in Yankees history.
15. Spud Chandler (1937-47)
He's probably one of the least heralded great pitchers in franchise history. Chandler was the AL MVP in 1943 when he went 20-4 with a 1.64 ERA, the best in team history. He never had a losing record in 11 seasons and had a career record of 109-43. His .717 winning percentage is the best in Major League history. Chandler was also a four-time All-Star and three-time World Champion.
14. Sparky Lyle (1972-78)
The Yankees have had four great closers in franchise history, and he was the first. He finished third in AL MVP voting in 1972, then became the first reliever in history to win the Cy Young in 1977, when he went 13-5 with a 2.17 ERA and a league-leading 26 saves. But the Yankees got Goose Gossage that offseason and traded Lyle after the 1978 season.
13. Bob Shawkey (1915-27)
He started the first game in the history of the original Yankee Stadium, so that's enough to qualify for the list. Shawkey was the ace of the staff when Babe Ruth got there and pitched in the Yankees' first five World Series (1921-23, 1926-27). His 15 strikeouts in a game was a franchise record until broken by Whitey Ford and his 168 wins are the sixth-most in franchise history.
12. Catfish Hunter (1975-79)
The lowest-ranked Hall of Famer on the list (he was inducted in 1987), Hunter was one of the first big free agent signings in baseball history. And he was one of the last pieces of the puzzle for the Yankees teams that won three straight pennants (1976-78) and back-to-back World Series (1977-78). Hunter led the AL with 23 wins in 1975, made the All-Star team in 1976 and was the ace of the staff on the championship teams.
11. Goose Gossage (1978-83)
Arguably the greatest closer in history until No. 42 came along, he pioneered the role. Gossage sometimes pitched as many as three innings to finish off a game. He led the AL in saves twice and made the All-Star team five times while a Yankee, and his 2.14 ERA is the best in franchise history among pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched. The Goose was only a Yankee for six seasons, but still managed to compile 151 saves in pinstripes. And he's wearing a Yankees hat on his plaque in Cooperstown.
10. Dave Righetti (1979, 1981-90)
Righetti began his career as a starter, winning the AL Rookie of the Year in 1981 and throwing a no-hitter (the first by a Yankee since Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series) against the Red Sox on the 4th of July in 1983. The following season, he moved to the bullpen and became arguably the best closer in the American League, setting the then-AL record for saves with 46 in 1986. The first player ever to both throw a no-hitter and lead the league in saves, he ended up with 224 saves, the second-most in franchise history (behind you know who). He's now the pitching coach for the World Champion Giants.
9. Jack Chesbro (1903-09)
The first great pitcher in franchise history, he technically was never a "Yankee" (they were the "Highlanders" until 1913). He pitched the first game in franchise history, then had one of the best seasons ever in 1904. He won a franchise-record 41 games (no pitcher has even won 30 games in a season since 1968), posted a 1.82 ERA and struck out 239 (second-most in franchise history) while almost leading the Highlanders to the pennant. Chesbro was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.
8. Andy Pettitte (1995-2003, 2007-10)
What to say about Andrew Eugene Pettitte? One of the "Core Four," he won five World Series and holds the Major League record with 19 postseason wins. He also holds the records for postseason starts and innings. Pettitte led the AL with 21 wins and finished second in Cy Young voting in 1996 and won more games in the 2000s (148) than anybody. He's second in franchise history in starts (396) and third in wins (203). Pettitte started the final game at the old Stadium in 2008 and became the first player in history to start and win the clinching game in all three postseason series the following year.
7. Mel Stottlemyre (1964-74)
Better known to this generation as Pettitte's pitching coach, Stottlemyre was the ace of the team when it wasn't very good in the late '60s. As a rookie, he started Game 7 of the World Series in 1964. That would be the Yankees' last pennant-winning season until 1976, but Stottlemyre was a rare bright spot during the next decade, winning 164 games, including three 20-win seasons, and making five All-Star teams. Stottlemyre is seventh in franchise history in wins (164) and strikeouts (1259) and tied for second with 40 shutouts. He was also a good hitter and once hit an inside-the-park grand slam.
6. Red Ruffing (1930-42, 1945-46)
His 231 wins and 40 shutouts are both the second-most in franchise history. Oh by the way, he also holds the franchise record with 261 complete games and ranks fourth with 1,526 strikeouts. Ruffing came to the Yankees from Boston in a midseason trade in 1930, and it went about as well for our "friends" from New England as the Babe Ruth trade. With the Yankees, he won six World Series (1932, 1936-39, 1941) and made the All-Star team six times. Ruffing had to wait until 1967 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, though.
5. Allie Reynolds (1947-54)
Of the 11 no-hitters in franchise history, Allie Reynolds is the only guy to throw two of them, and they both came in 1951. Reynolds is 10th in franchise history in wins (131), fifth in shutouts (27) and fourth in winning percentage (.686). During his eight seasons in pinstripes, the Yankees won the World Series six times. The numbers probably don't support him being this high, but he was the ace of the staff for the only team in history to win five consecutive championships (1949-53). Only four pitchers have a plaque in Monument Park and he's one of them.
4. Lefty Gomez (1930-42)
I wish I had seen Lefty Gomez play because even I'm not sure how good this guy was. He usually got overshadowed because he played with guys named Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio, but Gomez won 189 games during his 12-year Yankee career. He won 20 games four times (including 26 in 1934) and won the pitching triple crown (wins, ERA, strikeouts) twice. A member of the first seven American League All-Star teams, he holds records for All-Star starts (five, including the first three) and wins (three). He also had the first RBI in All-Star Game history in 1933, when he was the winning pitcher. Gomez won six straight World Series games from 1932-38 and was a part of five championship teams. He's had a plaque in Cooperstown since 1972.
3. Ron Guidry (1975-88)
The Yankees have only retired the numbers of two pitchers, and Gator's No. 49 was the most recent of the 16 put on the wall. Where do we start? How about 1978, when he won the Cy Young Award after going 25-3 with a ridiculous 1.74 ERA. Guidry had 248 strikeouts that season, including a franchise-record 18 in one game against the Angels, as the Yankees won their second straight World Series. He also won the Gold Glove every year from 1982-86 and was the Yankees captain from 1986-88. Guidry's 170 wins are the fifth-most in franchise history and he ranks third with 1,778 strikeouts.
2. Mariano Rivera (1995-Present)
No. 42 is going on the wall as soon as Mo retires, and not just because he's the last player in Major League history allowed to wear the number. I could go on for days about his greatness. Without a doubt the greatest closer in history, he's closing in on the all-time record of 601 saves. But as incredible as his regular season numbers are, it's the postseason where Mo has truly shined. In 94 career postseason games, he's 8-1 with 42 saves and a 0.71 ERA. Without Rivera, there's no Yankee dynasty in the late '90s. Oh yeah, he's also a 12-time All-Star. Even at 42, he still strikes the fear of God into opposing hitters. And as a fan, there's nothing like sitting in the Stadium, seeing that bullpen door swing open and hearing "Enter Sandman" as he jogs out to the mound in the top of the ninth.
1. Whitey Ford (1950-67)
Just as there's no debate about who's the greatest pitcher in Orioles history or Dodgers history (Sandy Koufax) or Cardinals history (Bob Gibson), there's no debate about who the greatest pitcher ever to don the pinstripes is: Edwin Charles Ford. While Mantle and Maris were busy chasing the home run record in 1961, he quietly won the Cy Young Award and the Yankees won the World Series. Ford started Game 1 of the World Series eight times, and the Yankees won six championships during his career. Ford's 10 World Series victories are an all-time record, and his streak of 33.2 consecutive scoreless innings in World Series play is the best ever. His 236 wins are a franchise record, and his career .690 winning percentage is the best in baseball history (for pitchers with at least 300 decisions). He also had an impressive career ERA of 2.75. Ford's No. 16 was retired in 1974, the same year he and good friend Mickey Mantle went into the Hall of Fame together.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
U-S-A! U-S-A!
There's just something about those three letters put together on the front of a red, white and blue jersey. It doesn't matter the sport. It doesn't matter the event. The national pride comes out every time I see Team USA play. That's probably why I love the Olympics so much. And it's why I feel such a sense of disappointment that the incredible run by the Women's World Cup has ended in silver, not gold.
Keep in mind, I'm disappointed. Not upset. There's a big difference between disappointing and upsetting. I don't think I could ever be upset with an American team for losing. Or, for that matter, upset that an American team lost. The story being written by this World Cup squad (last team to qualify, lost to Sweden, left for dead against Brazil, 3 minutes away from the title) was almost too good to be true. As it turns out, it was too good to be true. And all credit goes to Japan. Eventually, perspective will tell us that second place was an incredible effort. Being the second best in the world in anything ain't to shabby.
Of course, women's soccer is one of those sports where the U.S. is expected to win, which is why anytime they win silver it's viewed as not gold. Compare that to the men's team at last year's World Cup. Simply qualifying is no longer acceptable. Now, the expectation is making it out of the group stage. Anything after that is gravy. After Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria meant the U.S. not only advanced, but won the group, the 2010 World Cup went from incredibly disappointing to a great success. A win over Ghana would've been nice, but no one thought the U.S. was going to win the tournament. Those expectations being different is why last year's men's World Cup was considered a success while some might foolishly label the 2011 Women's World Cup a failure.
Fast-forward 10 months. It's the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Now the American men are expected to win. They don't. Archrival Mexico does, and qualifies for the 2013 Confederations Cup in the process. So, in the face of different expectations, the 2011 U.S. men's team is a disappointment. However, all that will be easily forgotten once qualifying for the 2014 World Cup begins.
Or take basketball. This is the one sport where the U.S. is always expected to win. That was the case at every Olympics until 1972, when the Soviet Union beat the Americans for the gold. They took bronze in Seoul in 1988, but then a rules change allowed the U.S. to start fielding a team made up of NBA players. The "Dream Team" cruised to the gold in 1992 and 1996, as well as the 1994 World Championships, before actually running into some competition in 2000. They won that Olympic gold in Sydney, then put forth an embarrassing performance at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis, finishing sixth. It couldn't happen again at the 2004 Olympics, could it? It could. Two losses and bronze. Then another bronze at the 2006 World Championships. I'd never been more embarrassed for Team USA. Not because of the losses, but because the guys wearing the red, white and blue simply didn't care.
That's what made the 2008 Olympic team so refreshing. USA Basketball gets a lot of credit for actually making the best player want to play, as well as for putting together an actual TEAM instead of the 12 best individual players they could find. Unlike the 2004 squad, that team was proud to represent the USA. And they made me proud to be American. That gold medal was so refreshing. Just like the one at last year's World Championships. Especially after the entire Olympic team decided found one reason or another not to play in the World Championships. The USA won anyway.
The only sport where it's somewhat different is hockey. On the women's side, Canada and the U.S. are clearly the two best teams in the world, which is why Sweden's victory over the Americans in the 2006 Olympic semifinals sent shockwaves through the sport. But on the men's side, everyone is on seemingly equal footing. The Olympic men's hockey tournament is the best out there because it features NHL players from all over the world. As a result, the expectations are immense on all seven teams that include primarily NHL players. Not coincidentally, the first three Olympics to feature NHL players (1998, 2002, 2006) saw six different nations (six of the seven with NHL guys) win gold and silver medals. The U.S. won silver in 2002, then lost in the quarterfinals in 2006. A disappointing result to those that had ridiculous expectations. The expectations weren't as high for the American hockey team last year, which made their surprise silver medal an unexpected delight.
What I'm getting at here is that the performances have nothing to do with expectations. As an American, I'm going to root for Team USA no matter what. I obviously want them to do well, but I'm not going to look at every loss as an abject failure. Today's soccer game is a perfect example. They were supposed to win, but didn't. So what? Can any of you really say that team didn't make you proud to be an American? I didn't think so.
Keep in mind, I'm disappointed. Not upset. There's a big difference between disappointing and upsetting. I don't think I could ever be upset with an American team for losing. Or, for that matter, upset that an American team lost. The story being written by this World Cup squad (last team to qualify, lost to Sweden, left for dead against Brazil, 3 minutes away from the title) was almost too good to be true. As it turns out, it was too good to be true. And all credit goes to Japan. Eventually, perspective will tell us that second place was an incredible effort. Being the second best in the world in anything ain't to shabby.
Of course, women's soccer is one of those sports where the U.S. is expected to win, which is why anytime they win silver it's viewed as not gold. Compare that to the men's team at last year's World Cup. Simply qualifying is no longer acceptable. Now, the expectation is making it out of the group stage. Anything after that is gravy. After Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria meant the U.S. not only advanced, but won the group, the 2010 World Cup went from incredibly disappointing to a great success. A win over Ghana would've been nice, but no one thought the U.S. was going to win the tournament. Those expectations being different is why last year's men's World Cup was considered a success while some might foolishly label the 2011 Women's World Cup a failure.
Fast-forward 10 months. It's the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Now the American men are expected to win. They don't. Archrival Mexico does, and qualifies for the 2013 Confederations Cup in the process. So, in the face of different expectations, the 2011 U.S. men's team is a disappointment. However, all that will be easily forgotten once qualifying for the 2014 World Cup begins.
Or take basketball. This is the one sport where the U.S. is always expected to win. That was the case at every Olympics until 1972, when the Soviet Union beat the Americans for the gold. They took bronze in Seoul in 1988, but then a rules change allowed the U.S. to start fielding a team made up of NBA players. The "Dream Team" cruised to the gold in 1992 and 1996, as well as the 1994 World Championships, before actually running into some competition in 2000. They won that Olympic gold in Sydney, then put forth an embarrassing performance at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis, finishing sixth. It couldn't happen again at the 2004 Olympics, could it? It could. Two losses and bronze. Then another bronze at the 2006 World Championships. I'd never been more embarrassed for Team USA. Not because of the losses, but because the guys wearing the red, white and blue simply didn't care.
That's what made the 2008 Olympic team so refreshing. USA Basketball gets a lot of credit for actually making the best player want to play, as well as for putting together an actual TEAM instead of the 12 best individual players they could find. Unlike the 2004 squad, that team was proud to represent the USA. And they made me proud to be American. That gold medal was so refreshing. Just like the one at last year's World Championships. Especially after the entire Olympic team decided found one reason or another not to play in the World Championships. The USA won anyway.
The only sport where it's somewhat different is hockey. On the women's side, Canada and the U.S. are clearly the two best teams in the world, which is why Sweden's victory over the Americans in the 2006 Olympic semifinals sent shockwaves through the sport. But on the men's side, everyone is on seemingly equal footing. The Olympic men's hockey tournament is the best out there because it features NHL players from all over the world. As a result, the expectations are immense on all seven teams that include primarily NHL players. Not coincidentally, the first three Olympics to feature NHL players (1998, 2002, 2006) saw six different nations (six of the seven with NHL guys) win gold and silver medals. The U.S. won silver in 2002, then lost in the quarterfinals in 2006. A disappointing result to those that had ridiculous expectations. The expectations weren't as high for the American hockey team last year, which made their surprise silver medal an unexpected delight.
What I'm getting at here is that the performances have nothing to do with expectations. As an American, I'm going to root for Team USA no matter what. I obviously want them to do well, but I'm not going to look at every loss as an abject failure. Today's soccer game is a perfect example. They were supposed to win, but didn't. So what? Can any of you really say that team didn't make you proud to be an American? I didn't think so.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Making Some Hypothetical Deadline Deals
With so many teams in contention for playoff spots, this year's trade deadline is certainly going to be interesting. Traditional sellers (like the Pirates) might end up being buyers, meaning there won't be as many options for those looking to add a piece down the stretch. Then there are teams like the Mets where you don't really know what's going on. It was the Mets that got the wheels in motion when they traded closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers shortly after the All-Star Game, but GM Sandy Alderson swears he wasn't waving the white flag. Still, don't be surprised if they take some sort of half-and-half approach. Carlos Beltran's probably gone.
Some likely contenders are addressing their needs via free agency (such as the Yankees signing left-handed reliever J.C. Romero), but there will still definitely be worthwhile players available that will be dealt. Here are some of my proposals (these are all strictly hypothetical):
Padres closer Heath Bell to the Reds
The Reds have a tremendous offense and a solid starting rotation, but their bullpen definitely needs an upgrade. Cincinnati's closer is Francisco Cordero, who's decent, but isn't going to win you a World Series. And the rest of that bullpen isn't anything to write home about. Trading for Bell, making him the closer and shuffling Cordero into a setup role might be all Cincinnati needs to come out of that NL Central race. If they're smart, the Reds will also make Chris Heisey their everyday left fielder instead of Jonny Gomes. In fact, since so many teams will want Bell, Gomes might be the perfect trade chip.
Mariners second baseman Chone Figgins to the Tigers
Chone Figgins has worn out his welcome in Seattle. He stopped being good the second he put on a Mariners uniform, and they have Dustin Ackley playing second now, so it's not like Figgins fits into Seattle's future plans. Maybe a pennant race will bring the real Chone Figgins back. The Tigers planned on having rookie Will Rhymes play second base this year. That didn't work out. And Carlos Guillen's been on the DL all year. They can solve their second base problem by adding the switch-hitting Figgins, who's also a nice fit in that two-spot between Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera.
Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez to the Indians
In order to stay with Detroit, Cleveland has to get another starter at the deadline. The veteran Rodriguez can fit right in there behind Fausto Carmona. That way, the Indians don't need to rely on Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin as much. The Indians also need a bat (preferably one that plays third base), but they need to pounce on a starting pitcher first.
Royals infielder Wilson Betemit to the Angels
The Royals are (correctly) working their talented young players into everyday roles. Eric Hosmer has taken over at first and Mike Moustakas has taken over at third. As a result, Betemit has become expendable. A switch-hitter who can play anywhere on the field, he'd be a great addition to the Angels. Despite having many flaws, the Angels have somehow managed to stay with the Rangers thus far. They also need pitching, but Betemit plugs (at least puts a band-aid on) some of their offensive holes. They could put him at third, in the outfield, or as a nice option off the bench.
Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants
Even though they're not throwing in the towel, the Mets will trade Beltran. Brian Wilson was practically begging him to come to San Francisco during the All-Star Game, and it makes a lot of sense. This team is built on pitching. That can win you a championship. They proved that last year. But with Buster Posey out for the season, they need a hitter. Beltran can do a lot of things offensively, and putting him in right field and moving Cody Ross to left also upgrades the Giants' defense. I'm sure they wouldn't mind renting a veteran catcher for two months, either, but the Giants don't need to do much to win the NL West.
White Sox starter Edwin Jackson to the Cardinals
The White Sox have six starting pitchers. You only need five. That means one of them is expendable, and Jackson makes the most sense. St. Louis needs another starter to stay with Milwaukee (which is also going to make some moves) and Cincinnati, which are both better teams. Jackson's a guy they can plug in there behind Chris Carpenter and Jamie Garcia to instantly improve their rotation. This would clearly be a two-month rental, since Adam Wainwright will be back next year. As always, the Cardinals could probably upgrade their lineup, as well, but they've still got that guy named Albert.
Athletics outfielder David DeJesus to the Yankees
Signing Romero and the return of a healthy, not-crappy Rafael Soriano might takes care of the bullpen needs. Knowing Brian Cashman, he'll still try to make a splash and land somebody like Bell or fellow Padres reliever Mike Adams, but I think the most glaring need is actually a left-handed bat off the bench. For some reason, Chris Dickerson has been on the Scranton shuttle all season, which means the only reserve outfielder on the roster is Andruw Jones. Andruw Jones isn't very good anymore. DeJesus is better and left-handed, which makes him a much better option off the bench in October.
Dodgers outfielder Tony Gwynn, Jr. to the Red Sox
The Dodgers don't have any money. Frank McCourt spent it all. As a result, they're in the position where they'll have to be sellers at the deadline. One of the easiest guys for them to get rid of is Gwynn the Younger. He's not his Hall of Fame father, but he is a decent young outfielder. He's the type of guy that would fit perfectly as a backup in Boston's system. This trade won't actually happen, though. Gwynn isn't a first baseman or starting pitcher, and those are the only positions Theo Epstein trades for at the deadline, whether he needs them or not.
Padres reliever Mike Adams to the Red Sox
This one might happen. Boston's probably going to be in the market for a setup man, and Adams is the best one that's going to definitely be available. I thought he should've been the Padres' All-Star. He's having that good of a year. And look how well things turned out for the last guy Boston got from San Diego. Of course, going from Petco Park to Fenway Park might not be as easy for a pitcher. Even still, it's scary to think about Adams in front of Jonathan Papelbon in that bullpen.
Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena to the Rangers
Yes, I do recall being one of the first people to bitch about how royally Michael Young was being screwed by this franchise when they signed Adrian Beltre, but he seems to have made peace with his stupid starting DH/super utility role (and made the All-Star team), so I guess I can as well. Pena's probably going to be traded and he's better than Mitch Moreland. He doesn't make sense for a lot of other teams, which is why I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up in Texas. However, adding Pena would also make the Rangers extremely vulnerable to left-handed pitching.
Some likely contenders are addressing their needs via free agency (such as the Yankees signing left-handed reliever J.C. Romero), but there will still definitely be worthwhile players available that will be dealt. Here are some of my proposals (these are all strictly hypothetical):
Padres closer Heath Bell to the Reds
The Reds have a tremendous offense and a solid starting rotation, but their bullpen definitely needs an upgrade. Cincinnati's closer is Francisco Cordero, who's decent, but isn't going to win you a World Series. And the rest of that bullpen isn't anything to write home about. Trading for Bell, making him the closer and shuffling Cordero into a setup role might be all Cincinnati needs to come out of that NL Central race. If they're smart, the Reds will also make Chris Heisey their everyday left fielder instead of Jonny Gomes. In fact, since so many teams will want Bell, Gomes might be the perfect trade chip.
Mariners second baseman Chone Figgins to the Tigers
Chone Figgins has worn out his welcome in Seattle. He stopped being good the second he put on a Mariners uniform, and they have Dustin Ackley playing second now, so it's not like Figgins fits into Seattle's future plans. Maybe a pennant race will bring the real Chone Figgins back. The Tigers planned on having rookie Will Rhymes play second base this year. That didn't work out. And Carlos Guillen's been on the DL all year. They can solve their second base problem by adding the switch-hitting Figgins, who's also a nice fit in that two-spot between Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera.
Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez to the Indians
In order to stay with Detroit, Cleveland has to get another starter at the deadline. The veteran Rodriguez can fit right in there behind Fausto Carmona. That way, the Indians don't need to rely on Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin as much. The Indians also need a bat (preferably one that plays third base), but they need to pounce on a starting pitcher first.
Royals infielder Wilson Betemit to the Angels
The Royals are (correctly) working their talented young players into everyday roles. Eric Hosmer has taken over at first and Mike Moustakas has taken over at third. As a result, Betemit has become expendable. A switch-hitter who can play anywhere on the field, he'd be a great addition to the Angels. Despite having many flaws, the Angels have somehow managed to stay with the Rangers thus far. They also need pitching, but Betemit plugs (at least puts a band-aid on) some of their offensive holes. They could put him at third, in the outfield, or as a nice option off the bench.
Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants
Even though they're not throwing in the towel, the Mets will trade Beltran. Brian Wilson was practically begging him to come to San Francisco during the All-Star Game, and it makes a lot of sense. This team is built on pitching. That can win you a championship. They proved that last year. But with Buster Posey out for the season, they need a hitter. Beltran can do a lot of things offensively, and putting him in right field and moving Cody Ross to left also upgrades the Giants' defense. I'm sure they wouldn't mind renting a veteran catcher for two months, either, but the Giants don't need to do much to win the NL West.
White Sox starter Edwin Jackson to the Cardinals
The White Sox have six starting pitchers. You only need five. That means one of them is expendable, and Jackson makes the most sense. St. Louis needs another starter to stay with Milwaukee (which is also going to make some moves) and Cincinnati, which are both better teams. Jackson's a guy they can plug in there behind Chris Carpenter and Jamie Garcia to instantly improve their rotation. This would clearly be a two-month rental, since Adam Wainwright will be back next year. As always, the Cardinals could probably upgrade their lineup, as well, but they've still got that guy named Albert.
Athletics outfielder David DeJesus to the Yankees
Signing Romero and the return of a healthy, not-crappy Rafael Soriano might takes care of the bullpen needs. Knowing Brian Cashman, he'll still try to make a splash and land somebody like Bell or fellow Padres reliever Mike Adams, but I think the most glaring need is actually a left-handed bat off the bench. For some reason, Chris Dickerson has been on the Scranton shuttle all season, which means the only reserve outfielder on the roster is Andruw Jones. Andruw Jones isn't very good anymore. DeJesus is better and left-handed, which makes him a much better option off the bench in October.
Dodgers outfielder Tony Gwynn, Jr. to the Red Sox
The Dodgers don't have any money. Frank McCourt spent it all. As a result, they're in the position where they'll have to be sellers at the deadline. One of the easiest guys for them to get rid of is Gwynn the Younger. He's not his Hall of Fame father, but he is a decent young outfielder. He's the type of guy that would fit perfectly as a backup in Boston's system. This trade won't actually happen, though. Gwynn isn't a first baseman or starting pitcher, and those are the only positions Theo Epstein trades for at the deadline, whether he needs them or not.
Padres reliever Mike Adams to the Red Sox
This one might happen. Boston's probably going to be in the market for a setup man, and Adams is the best one that's going to definitely be available. I thought he should've been the Padres' All-Star. He's having that good of a year. And look how well things turned out for the last guy Boston got from San Diego. Of course, going from Petco Park to Fenway Park might not be as easy for a pitcher. Even still, it's scary to think about Adams in front of Jonathan Papelbon in that bullpen.
Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena to the Rangers
Yes, I do recall being one of the first people to bitch about how royally Michael Young was being screwed by this franchise when they signed Adrian Beltre, but he seems to have made peace with his stupid starting DH/super utility role (and made the All-Star team), so I guess I can as well. Pena's probably going to be traded and he's better than Mitch Moreland. He doesn't make sense for a lot of other teams, which is why I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up in Texas. However, adding Pena would also make the Rangers extremely vulnerable to left-handed pitching.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Now They Have to Win It All
It's amazing how in a matter of about 10 minutes on Sunday afternoon, the American public, by and large, went from not caring at all about the Women's World Cup (or, in some cases, not even knowing it was going on) to completely galvanized by the event. Of course, the reason for the change was that simply amazing quarterfinal game against Brazil. The game was, in a word, incredible. And that was one of the most unbelievable finishes I've ever seen. But it's all for naught if they don't finish the deal.
First a recap of that amazing quarterfinal for the four of you who don't already know the key details. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead on an own goal in the second minute. Rachel Buehler received a red card midway through the second half and Brazil was awarded a penalty kick. Hope Solo made the save, but the officials said that some sort of violation was committed and ordered a re-kick, which Marta converted. It went to overtime and Marta scored a sensational goal that should've been waived off for an offsides that wasn't called. For the most part, I think the fact that overtime in international soccer isn't sudden death is really stupid, but I was obviously OK with it in this case. Late in overtime, the Brazilians resorted to cheap stall tactics. A defender named Erika faked an injury, then, as soon as the stretcher took her off the field, was magically healed. She ran right back on the field and was given a (deserved) yellow card. In a bit of poetic justice, Abby Wambach scored on a gorgeous header after a brilliant cross from Megan Rapinoe in the 30 seconds of stoppage time that was added while Erika rolled around on the field. The U.S. then won in a shootout.
In a matter of seconds, the Americans went from out of the World Cup to the prohibitive favorites. Not only that, they've become the tournament's darlings. Marta was getting booed unmercifully every time she touched the ball, and the chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" (from the mostly non-American crowd) in the stands were clearly audible on television. With Germany out, this is the side that's been adopted by the world. Especially after coming back in such a way to defeat two opponents (Brazil and the officials) on Sunday.
The last time the women's soccer team captured the nation's attention in such a way was in 1999, which, not coincidentally, was the last time they won the World Cup. If you remember, that World Cup was held in the U.S. and every game was sold out, including the thrilling final against China in front of 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl (which is still the largest crowd ever to attend a women's sporting event), capped by Brandi Chastain and her sports bra in one of the most memorable postgame celebrations ever. (By sheer coincidence, the Brazil game took place on the 12-year anniversary of that final against China.)
The members of that 1999 squad became household names: Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Briana Scurry, Michelle Akers and, of course, the greatest of them all, Mia Hamm. The nation got so consumed by the Women's World Cup that the entire team was named Sports Illustrated "Sportswomen of the Year." It was because of them that a professional women's soccer league in the U.S. was created. It was because of them that countless numbers of young girls in this country wanted to become soccer players, including some of the members of the 2011 squad.
The U.S. has won two Olympic gold medals since 1999, including one in 2004 in the last hurrah for the remaining key members of the '99 squad. But they lost in the semifinals of the World Cup in 2003 and again (in embarrassing fashion) in 2007, and neither one of those World Cups garnered any attention in the U.S. (even though the U.S. hosted again in 2003). For two weeks, the 2011 World Cup had been ignored just as much as the last two editions. Until Sunday.
But America's watching now, and Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Christie Rampone, Shannon Boxx, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly and Co. have a chance to become this generation's version of that transcendent '99 team. Solo and Alex Morgan certainly have the cross-over appeal of Hamm. Wambach played with Mia and Co. in 2003 and won a gold medal with them in 2004. She knows what it was like for them. They were the face of the sport, and embraced that role. That's why it comes as no surprise that Wambach's the vocal leader of this year's group. She wants to be remembered in the same way.
After that Brazil game, it certainly seems like this is a team of destiny. That's why they have to beat France, then the Sweden-Japan winner. If they don't, one of the greatest World Cup games ever (men or women) will be just a tournament footnote and all the buzz that the game created will disappear as quickly as it arrived. But if they do, they'll take their rightful place alongside that great 1999 squad.
First a recap of that amazing quarterfinal for the four of you who don't already know the key details. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead on an own goal in the second minute. Rachel Buehler received a red card midway through the second half and Brazil was awarded a penalty kick. Hope Solo made the save, but the officials said that some sort of violation was committed and ordered a re-kick, which Marta converted. It went to overtime and Marta scored a sensational goal that should've been waived off for an offsides that wasn't called. For the most part, I think the fact that overtime in international soccer isn't sudden death is really stupid, but I was obviously OK with it in this case. Late in overtime, the Brazilians resorted to cheap stall tactics. A defender named Erika faked an injury, then, as soon as the stretcher took her off the field, was magically healed. She ran right back on the field and was given a (deserved) yellow card. In a bit of poetic justice, Abby Wambach scored on a gorgeous header after a brilliant cross from Megan Rapinoe in the 30 seconds of stoppage time that was added while Erika rolled around on the field. The U.S. then won in a shootout.
In a matter of seconds, the Americans went from out of the World Cup to the prohibitive favorites. Not only that, they've become the tournament's darlings. Marta was getting booed unmercifully every time she touched the ball, and the chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" (from the mostly non-American crowd) in the stands were clearly audible on television. With Germany out, this is the side that's been adopted by the world. Especially after coming back in such a way to defeat two opponents (Brazil and the officials) on Sunday.
The last time the women's soccer team captured the nation's attention in such a way was in 1999, which, not coincidentally, was the last time they won the World Cup. If you remember, that World Cup was held in the U.S. and every game was sold out, including the thrilling final against China in front of 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl (which is still the largest crowd ever to attend a women's sporting event), capped by Brandi Chastain and her sports bra in one of the most memorable postgame celebrations ever. (By sheer coincidence, the Brazil game took place on the 12-year anniversary of that final against China.)
The members of that 1999 squad became household names: Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Briana Scurry, Michelle Akers and, of course, the greatest of them all, Mia Hamm. The nation got so consumed by the Women's World Cup that the entire team was named Sports Illustrated "Sportswomen of the Year." It was because of them that a professional women's soccer league in the U.S. was created. It was because of them that countless numbers of young girls in this country wanted to become soccer players, including some of the members of the 2011 squad.
The U.S. has won two Olympic gold medals since 1999, including one in 2004 in the last hurrah for the remaining key members of the '99 squad. But they lost in the semifinals of the World Cup in 2003 and again (in embarrassing fashion) in 2007, and neither one of those World Cups garnered any attention in the U.S. (even though the U.S. hosted again in 2003). For two weeks, the 2011 World Cup had been ignored just as much as the last two editions. Until Sunday.
But America's watching now, and Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Christie Rampone, Shannon Boxx, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly and Co. have a chance to become this generation's version of that transcendent '99 team. Solo and Alex Morgan certainly have the cross-over appeal of Hamm. Wambach played with Mia and Co. in 2003 and won a gold medal with them in 2004. She knows what it was like for them. They were the face of the sport, and embraced that role. That's why it comes as no surprise that Wambach's the vocal leader of this year's group. She wants to be remembered in the same way.
After that Brazil game, it certainly seems like this is a team of destiny. That's why they have to beat France, then the Sweden-Japan winner. If they don't, one of the greatest World Cup games ever (men or women) will be just a tournament footnote and all the buzz that the game created will disappear as quickly as it arrived. But if they do, they'll take their rightful place alongside that great 1999 squad.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
First Half Awards
Hope Solo has officially entered Pippa Middleton territory, and we now have a contender for "Game of the Year." But today's blog isn't about that incredible women's soccer game between the USA and Brazil. Nor is it about Derek Jeter, the newest member of baseball's 3,000-hit club (what a way to do it, huh?). No, with the All-Star Break upon us, it's time to hand out the midseason awards.
Let's start in the American League:
MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox-This is an easy one. This is what happens when you get a guy out of San Diego and put him in Fenway Park. Boston's the best team in the American League, and Gonzalez has been their best player. He leads the AL with a .352 batting average and the Majors with 77 RBIs. He's also the Major League-leader in doubles (28) and hits (126), and has added 17 home runs for good measure. Plus, he's a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman. Curtis Granderson, Jose Bautista, Asdrubal Cabrera and Miguel Cabrera are the runners-up, but none are even close.
Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Tigers-Unlike AL midseason MVP, there are plenty of contenders for he half-year Cy Young. But I'm going with the Tigers' ace. The raw numbers are impressive: 11-4, 2.26 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 143.1 innings. Then you add on the opponent batting average (.187) and WHIP (0.88) to see just how dominant Verlander's been. And, more importantly, name another starting pitcher on the Tigers. He's the only guy in that rotation that's worth anything, yet Detroit is in first place. The argument can be made for Jered Weaver, Josh Beckett or CC Sabathia, but the Angels aren't very good and the Red Sox and Yankees both possess other quality starters. Not so in Detroit, which is why I give the edge to Verlander.
Rookie: Michael Pineda, Mariners-Another easy one. The Mariners still have no lineup to speak of, yet are in contention in the AL West. The reason is their pitching, which now consists of more than just Felix Hernandez. Pineda gives Seattle a pair of aces, and he makes the Mariners dangerous if they're still in it in September. His record is only 8-6, but Pineda has a 3.03 ERA and an impressive 113 strikeouts (compared to a mere 36 walks) in 113 innings with an opponent batting average of .198. Pineda's also a rather large fella, so I'd be hesitant to go against him. Runner-up honors go to Jeremy Hellickson and J.P. Arencibia. I'm not sure if Alex Avila qualifies as a rookie, but if he does, he's in the discussion too. And if his next three months are as good as his first six weeks in the Majors, the Royals' Eric Hosmer could also be in the discussion at the end of the year.
Manager: Manny Acta, Indians-Who expected the Indians to be good this year? I certainly didn't. I picked them last in the AL Central. And who expected the guy leading the charge to be a manager that was once fired by the Nationals? Yet here we are at the All-Star break with Cleveland squarely in contention. Acta deserves his share of the credit. This is the toughest of the four American League awards to pick right now. The arguments can be made for Eric Wedge (Mariners), Joe Girardi (Yankees), Joe Maddon (Rays) and Terry Francona (Red Sox), but Cleveland's success has been the most unexpected, which gives Acta the edge.
Now we move on to the National League:
MVP: Jose Reyes, Mets-I was tempted to go with the Dodgers' Matt Kemp, who's emerged as a Triple Crown contender despite that ridiculous situation in L.A. But no player in the National League means more to his team than Jose Reyes. I'm spoiled getting to watch him in New York, which is why it's such a disappointment he's going to miss the All-Star Game. Possibly the only guy who likes hitting in Citi National Park, he's got a ridiculous 15 triples! Reyes leads the Majors with a .354 batting average and National League-bests with 124 hits, 65 runs and 30 steals, despite missing the last week with a hamstring injury that's put him on the DL. Did I mention he'll be a free agent at the end of the year?
Cy Young: Jair Jurrjens, Braves-This is a Roy Halladay World and we're all just living in it, but consider Jurrjens' numbers for a minute. 12-3 record, 1.87 ERA, 1.07 WHIP. He only has 65 strikeouts compared to Halladay's 138, but the record and ERA are both better. Sure, the Braves still have Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson, but they aren't having anywhere near the type of ridiculous season that Jurrjens is having. That's why Atlanta leads the wild card race and is within striking distance of Halladay and his pitching buddies up in Philly. Without Halladay, the Phillies would be just fine. Without Jurrjens, the Braves wouldn't be in the position they're in.
Rookie: Danny Espinosa, Nationals-With Stephen Strasburg out for the year and Bryce Harper still in the minors, we all thought it would be at least another year before all of Washington's young talent got together to start making the Nationals relevant. We were all wrong. Espinosa put together a borderline All-Star candidacy by crushing 16 homers and driving in 52 runs. He's already the first rookie second baseman to crush 16 home runs in a season, and 30 looks like a real possibility. And he's played a decent second base. He hasn't locked up this race by any means, but Espinosa's numbers are slightly better than Freddie Freeman's right now.
Manager: Clint Hurdle, Pirates-Ladies and gentlemen, miracles do happen. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a winning record at the All-Star Break! They have a talented young roster, but in a division with the Cardinals, Reds and Brewers, nobody would've expected the Pirates to be contending in the NL Central. But leave it to the man who took the Rockies to an unexpected World Series appearance four years ago to change the attitude in Pittsburgh. Kirk Gibson (Diamondbacks), Tony La Russa (Cardinals) and Terry Collins (Mets) all deserve a mention, but when was the last time we were talking about the Pirates in July? Exactly.
There you have it. Of course, this is all subject to change over the next three months.
Let's start in the American League:
MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox-This is an easy one. This is what happens when you get a guy out of San Diego and put him in Fenway Park. Boston's the best team in the American League, and Gonzalez has been their best player. He leads the AL with a .352 batting average and the Majors with 77 RBIs. He's also the Major League-leader in doubles (28) and hits (126), and has added 17 home runs for good measure. Plus, he's a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman. Curtis Granderson, Jose Bautista, Asdrubal Cabrera and Miguel Cabrera are the runners-up, but none are even close.
Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Tigers-Unlike AL midseason MVP, there are plenty of contenders for he half-year Cy Young. But I'm going with the Tigers' ace. The raw numbers are impressive: 11-4, 2.26 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 143.1 innings. Then you add on the opponent batting average (.187) and WHIP (0.88) to see just how dominant Verlander's been. And, more importantly, name another starting pitcher on the Tigers. He's the only guy in that rotation that's worth anything, yet Detroit is in first place. The argument can be made for Jered Weaver, Josh Beckett or CC Sabathia, but the Angels aren't very good and the Red Sox and Yankees both possess other quality starters. Not so in Detroit, which is why I give the edge to Verlander.
Rookie: Michael Pineda, Mariners-Another easy one. The Mariners still have no lineup to speak of, yet are in contention in the AL West. The reason is their pitching, which now consists of more than just Felix Hernandez. Pineda gives Seattle a pair of aces, and he makes the Mariners dangerous if they're still in it in September. His record is only 8-6, but Pineda has a 3.03 ERA and an impressive 113 strikeouts (compared to a mere 36 walks) in 113 innings with an opponent batting average of .198. Pineda's also a rather large fella, so I'd be hesitant to go against him. Runner-up honors go to Jeremy Hellickson and J.P. Arencibia. I'm not sure if Alex Avila qualifies as a rookie, but if he does, he's in the discussion too. And if his next three months are as good as his first six weeks in the Majors, the Royals' Eric Hosmer could also be in the discussion at the end of the year.
Manager: Manny Acta, Indians-Who expected the Indians to be good this year? I certainly didn't. I picked them last in the AL Central. And who expected the guy leading the charge to be a manager that was once fired by the Nationals? Yet here we are at the All-Star break with Cleveland squarely in contention. Acta deserves his share of the credit. This is the toughest of the four American League awards to pick right now. The arguments can be made for Eric Wedge (Mariners), Joe Girardi (Yankees), Joe Maddon (Rays) and Terry Francona (Red Sox), but Cleveland's success has been the most unexpected, which gives Acta the edge.
Now we move on to the National League:
MVP: Jose Reyes, Mets-I was tempted to go with the Dodgers' Matt Kemp, who's emerged as a Triple Crown contender despite that ridiculous situation in L.A. But no player in the National League means more to his team than Jose Reyes. I'm spoiled getting to watch him in New York, which is why it's such a disappointment he's going to miss the All-Star Game. Possibly the only guy who likes hitting in Citi National Park, he's got a ridiculous 15 triples! Reyes leads the Majors with a .354 batting average and National League-bests with 124 hits, 65 runs and 30 steals, despite missing the last week with a hamstring injury that's put him on the DL. Did I mention he'll be a free agent at the end of the year?
Cy Young: Jair Jurrjens, Braves-This is a Roy Halladay World and we're all just living in it, but consider Jurrjens' numbers for a minute. 12-3 record, 1.87 ERA, 1.07 WHIP. He only has 65 strikeouts compared to Halladay's 138, but the record and ERA are both better. Sure, the Braves still have Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson, but they aren't having anywhere near the type of ridiculous season that Jurrjens is having. That's why Atlanta leads the wild card race and is within striking distance of Halladay and his pitching buddies up in Philly. Without Halladay, the Phillies would be just fine. Without Jurrjens, the Braves wouldn't be in the position they're in.
Rookie: Danny Espinosa, Nationals-With Stephen Strasburg out for the year and Bryce Harper still in the minors, we all thought it would be at least another year before all of Washington's young talent got together to start making the Nationals relevant. We were all wrong. Espinosa put together a borderline All-Star candidacy by crushing 16 homers and driving in 52 runs. He's already the first rookie second baseman to crush 16 home runs in a season, and 30 looks like a real possibility. And he's played a decent second base. He hasn't locked up this race by any means, but Espinosa's numbers are slightly better than Freddie Freeman's right now.
Manager: Clint Hurdle, Pirates-Ladies and gentlemen, miracles do happen. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a winning record at the All-Star Break! They have a talented young roster, but in a division with the Cardinals, Reds and Brewers, nobody would've expected the Pirates to be contending in the NL Central. But leave it to the man who took the Rockies to an unexpected World Series appearance four years ago to change the attitude in Pittsburgh. Kirk Gibson (Diamondbacks), Tony La Russa (Cardinals) and Terry Collins (Mets) all deserve a mention, but when was the last time we were talking about the Pirates in July? Exactly.
There you have it. Of course, this is all subject to change over the next three months.
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Actually Unbreakable Marks
As Derek Jeter's quest for 3,000 hits continues, the questions surrounding the impending milestone are becoming more and more ridiculous. The YES Network poll question on the Yankee game the other night actually asked people if they thought he'd be the last player to reach 3,000. This is possibly the stupidest poll question in the history of the YES Network. The answer is a resounding "NO!" In fact, of the six other active players with at least 2,500 career hits, three of them (Pudge Rodriguez-2842, Alex Rodriguez-2762, Johnny Damon-2662) have a good/reasonable chance of getting to 3,000. And Ichiro gets 200 a year and is currently at 2342, so he'll probably get there, too.
If Jeter were a pitcher on the verge of his 300th win, the "Will he be the last one?" question would make a little more sense. There isn't a single active pitcher that's even at 200 career wins (sorry, but Jamie Moyer doesn't count). Tim Wakefield's the current leader at 198, but he's pitched forever and he's 98 years old, so it's not like he's going to be around long enough to get 102 more. Guys like Roy Halladay (180) and CC Sabathia (169) have a chance to get there, but it's reasonable to assume they might not. So, even though I don't think it's likely, it is at least possible that Randy Johnson will be the last 300-game winner. That's certainly more likely to be the case than Jeter being the last to 3,000 hits.
While we're at it, here are some other benchmark statistics that aren't going to be touched (this is career records only...single-season marks like Ted Williams' .406 average, Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak and Hack Wilson's 191 RBIs will be tackled in another blog entry):
If Jeter were a pitcher on the verge of his 300th win, the "Will he be the last one?" question would make a little more sense. There isn't a single active pitcher that's even at 200 career wins (sorry, but Jamie Moyer doesn't count). Tim Wakefield's the current leader at 198, but he's pitched forever and he's 98 years old, so it's not like he's going to be around long enough to get 102 more. Guys like Roy Halladay (180) and CC Sabathia (169) have a chance to get there, but it's reasonable to assume they might not. So, even though I don't think it's likely, it is at least possible that Randy Johnson will be the last 300-game winner. That's certainly more likely to be the case than Jeter being the last to 3,000 hits.
While we're at it, here are some other benchmark statistics that aren't going to be touched (this is career records only...single-season marks like Ted Williams' .406 average, Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak and Hack Wilson's 191 RBIs will be tackled in another blog entry):
- 600 saves: Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer ever. He's still 20 away and will probably get his 600th early next season. That will put a grand total of two closers (Rivera and Trevor Hoffman) in the 600-save club. They're also the only two in the 500-save club. Only three others even have 400 saves. Who's next on the active list? Francisco Cordero at 307.
- 3,000 strikeouts: There are a couple active hitters who might get to 3,000 strikeouts (Mark Reynolds, Adam Dunn), at least it seems, but this is a milestone only for pitchers. You've got to be dominant for a long time to get to 3,000 K's. Only 16 have done it, most recently the likes of Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and John Smoltz. Of the 16, 10 are in the Hall of Fame and the other six aren't eligible yet. The active leader is that incomparable superstar Javy Vazquez with 2,440.
- 50 shutouts: Seeing as pitchers are rarely allowed to throw complete games these days, it seems unlikely anyone will even get to 30 career shutouts. Roy Halladay's the active leader with 19, and he's probably the only starter you can think of who's actually allowed to go out there in the ninth inning. Only 19 players have recorded 50, the youngest of which is Nolan Ryan. Walter Johnson's unfathomable 110 career shutouts is right up there with Cy Young's 511 wins as two of the most unbreakable baseball records.
- 600 stolen bases: Chalk up Rickey Henderson's 1,406 steals as another unbreakable record. Baseball's a different game now. Even the 600-steal mark (less than half of Henderson's total) seems hard to reach. In fact, just 16 men period have gotten there. The active leader is Juan Pierre (540), who's speed isn't what it once was. Carl Crawford (417) and Ichiro (405) have a chance, but I think they'll end up a little bit short.
- 150 triples: Another casualty of the modern game is the triple. Ever since Babe Ruth started crushing the ball out of the ballpark, the triple has been a lost art. Baseball likes its round numbers, but 200 is too exclusive (only seven). To even further prove the point, of the 49 men with 150 those whose careers ended most recently are Stan Musial and Roberto Clemente. Only two active players have hit 100 triples (Carl Crawford-109, Johnny Damon-103), although Jimmy Rollins (99) and Jose Reyes (98) both will this season.
- 600 doubles: The 600-home run club gets a new member every year, but with home runs, 500 has always been the magic number. 600 doubles is a different story, though. This group of 14 of the greatest hitters in baseball history includes 11 Hall of Famers, two future Hall of Famers (Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds) and Pete Rose. Another future Hall of Famer, Pudge Rodriguez, has a chance to join them (he has 572), but he's the only one of the five active guys with 500 that does. Todd Helton has been the Rockies first baseman forever and has 543 career doubles, but will he play long enough to get 57 more?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Olympic Decision Day
Tomorrow is the biggest day on the Olympic calendar in 2011. In odd-numbered years, the biggest news on the Olympic front is the election of the host city for the Games that will be held seven years later. In this case, it's the 2018 Winter Games that are up for bid. There are three candidates, all of which made their final presentation to voters today ahead of tomorrow's vote in Durban, South Africa. I think there's a clear favorite and would be very surprised if that city doesn't win, but the IOC has surprised us before. Here's a closer look at the three bids:
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PyeongChang, South Korea: This one has to be considered the odds-on favorite for several reasons. PyeongChang is bidding for the third straight time, and won the first round of voting in each of the previous elections before losing the final vote to Vancouver (2010) and Sochi (2014). This time, it looks like the Korean bid will be successful. They've already completed most of the venues and have a very compact plan. Most of the venues are no more than 10 minutes apart, and the mountains are less than 30 minutes from the heart of the city. The Korean people are also very determined to get the Games, and the bid has support by more than 90 percent of the country. The PyeongChang Games would also be the first held in mainland Asia, opening a whole new market for both winter sports and the Olympic movement. Another thing in PyeongChang's favor is Olympic politics. There's no official policy of continental rotation, but a lot of European cities want to bid for the 2020 Summer Games. That, combined with the fact that the 2014 Winter Games are in Russia, means the third time is likely the charm for PyeongChang.
Munich, Germany: PyeongChang's biggest competition is expected to come from Munich, which is seeking to become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games (the 1972 Summer Olympics were in Munich). I've been to Munich and absolutely love the city, but that's why I don't think it should win. There are only a handful of cities/countries that are capable of bidding for the Winter Games. If you're able to pull off the Summer Olympics, give those cities a chance to host in the Winter. My other problem with the Munich bid is the fact that they want to use the Bavarian mountain resorts of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the Alpine events. There's nothing wrong with that, but Garmisch-Partenkirchen hosted the 1936 Winter Olympics, and if the same city is bidding again, it should be included in the bid's name. The people in Garmisch-Partenkirchen don't want the Games, either, which can definitely hurt Munich's chances. As for the bid's pros, Munich plans to use a number of existing venues (both from 1936 and 1972), and the area regularly hosts World Championships and World Cup events in a number of winter sports. Plus, Katarina Witt, one of the most popular Winter Olympians ever, is the bid chairman. These would also be the first Olympics held in Germany since reunification.
Annecy, France: Just like PyeongChang is the clear favorite, Annecy is the clear bronze medalist in this trio. This bid is plagued by the same problems every French Winter Olympic bid has to deal with: the venues in the Alps are too spread out. Another city in the region, Albertville, hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics, which were widely criticized for the same reason. In response, they re-drew their plan and put everything in two main clusters: Annecy and Chamonix, which are less than an hour apart. However, like I said about Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, ditto about Annecy and Chamonix. Chamonix was the host city for the first Winter Olympics in 1924. It shouldn't be relegated to the role of simply holding some events in an Olympics "hosted" by another city. The French government supports the bid, but the people in the Alpine towns don't. And their budget is entirely too low. It would be a bigger upset than Chicago losing in the first round two years ago if Annecy somehow manages to pull off a successful bid.
Eight years ago, PyeongChang, then an unknown Korean city, almost pulled off the upset of all upsets, losing to Vancouver 53-51. They were co-favorites four years ago, but Sochi, Russia, was picked. It's PyeongChang's time. If either European city is chosen, it would be an incredible surprise. Not to mention a tremendous upset, in more than one sense.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Starters, Subs and Some Strange Selections
The rosters for the 82nd All-Star Game have been announced and, as always, there are some deserving guys who were left off the team, as well as some questionable picks among those who did make it. But before we get going, I have to preface everything by saying that, for the most part, the fans nailed it this year. All those morons who complain about the number of Yankees and Red Sox on the team or say that the fans shouldn't be the ones picking the starters yet still max out all 25 of their online votes can't really dispute that. There might be one questionable starter in each league (Derek Jeter and Placido Polanco), but that's really about it. And deserving guys like Jose Reyes, Matt Kemp and Alex Avila pulled it out in the end (no doubt thanks to those fans who save all 25 of their votes for Thursday night).
The questionable selections are mostly courtesy of our friend Bruce Bochy, aka the manager of the World Champion San Francisco Giants and this year's National League all-star team. The all-star pitching staffs consist of 13 guys, eight picked by the players and five picked by the manager. The five pitchers Bochy picked included the token Padre (Heath Bell) and the token National (Tyler Clippard), which means he was left with three spots...and all three of those selections were Giants starters. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, not really any complaints. While their numbers aren't that great this season, they were two of the main people responsible for the Giants winning the World Series last year, so they both get a pass. But this year's Omar Infante Award (least deserving All-Star selection) goes to Ryan Vogelsong. Who? Can you say nepotism to the extreme?
Vogelsong has good numbers, but so do a whole bunch of National League players that are on other teams and people have actually heard of. Just to throw a few names out there: Atlanta's Tommy Hanson, Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo, Florida's Anibal Sanchez (who could've easily been the token Marlin), Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals. Or how about Arizona's Ian Kennedy? You know, a guy from the team that's hosting the game! The Phillies and Giants are the two best teams in the National League, but they shouldn't both have 60 percent of their starting rotations going to Phoenix (OK, the Phillies should).
Albert Pujols not winning the fan vote probably pissed off whatever NL first baseman that would've been the injury replacement, but that's a small issue that isn't really worth talking about. Chipper Jones was chosen as the backup third baseman, a nice gesture in what's probably his final season. The only questionable player selection was the Reds' Jay Bruce, who has good power numbers (18 HR, 51 RBI), but he's hitting only .265. The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen was snubbed for the second straight year and should've gone over Bruce. In fairness, Bochy used three of his four position player choices on token selections (the Cubs' Starlin Castro, the Marlins' Gaby Sanchez and Arizona's Justin Upton), so he was left with only one spot. He gave that to the Mets' Carlos Beltran, who's deserving, but probably not as much as McCutchen or the Dodgers' Andre Ethier (who's on the Final Vote ballot).
In the American League, they have the starting and backup DH, which gave manager Ron Washington only two position players that he can add. So after taking Michel Cuddyer (Twins) and Matt Wieters (Orioles, although my choice would've been Adam Jones) to fulfill the one from every team rule, he didn't have places for guys like Paul Konerko, Mark Teixeira, Victor Martinez or Dustin Pedroia (although, that might be rectified on the Final Vote). Otherwise, I really have no issues with the AL squad. Sure Russell Martin only looked like an All-Star in April and hasn't since, but he's the only questionable guy in the lot.
My favorite All-Star selection? Easily Michael Young. The guy who was so completely screwed over by his team in the off-season responded by making the All-Star team at yet another position (that makes three). He's technically the backup DH (the most necessary position on any baseball team), but I highly doubt that Young enters the game as a pinch hitter for David Ortiz. With Young, the AL has three guys (Cuddyer, Howie Kendrick) who fit that utility role (it'll become four if Ben Zobrist wins the Final Vote).
Among the pitchers, the only real "snub" is CC Sabathia, who's tied for the Major League lead with 11 wins. Washington's five pitching picks were two token selections (Oakland's Gio Gonzalez and Kansas City's Aaron Crow), Tigers closer Jose Valverde (the AL Omar Infante Award winner), and left-handed starters David Price of Tampa Bay and C.J. Wilson of the Rangers. Of course, CC's pitching Sunday and wouldn't be able to pitch anyway, but that makes the fact he wasn't selected even stupider. If a starting pitcher starts on Sunday, he's automatically replaced on the roster. Thus, Washington easily could've picked CC, then named Wilson as the replacement. Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander are also scheduled to start on Sunday, so that could open up spots for guys like Jon Lester or Michael Pineda.
Speaking of Michael Pineda (at least his team), it's hard to picture an All-Star Game without Ichiro. Technically he's not a snub since his numbers don't really support a selection, but no Ichiro and no Albert is just weird. Another future Hall of Famer that WILL be in Phoenix is Derek Jeter. Criticize his selection all you want. Jeter should be there. Sometimes guys make the All-Star team based on reputation alone. It's never a problem when that happens. Besides, if not for his recent trip to the DL, he'd be the only active player with 3,000 career hits (he still might get there by the All-Star break). 3,000-hit fever was going to hit Phoenix one way or another. Jeter comes back tomorrow, so he should be available to play in the All-Star Game. I just hope he doesn't bring Trenton's hideous Fourth of July uniform (see below) with him.
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The questionable selections are mostly courtesy of our friend Bruce Bochy, aka the manager of the World Champion San Francisco Giants and this year's National League all-star team. The all-star pitching staffs consist of 13 guys, eight picked by the players and five picked by the manager. The five pitchers Bochy picked included the token Padre (Heath Bell) and the token National (Tyler Clippard), which means he was left with three spots...and all three of those selections were Giants starters. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, not really any complaints. While their numbers aren't that great this season, they were two of the main people responsible for the Giants winning the World Series last year, so they both get a pass. But this year's Omar Infante Award (least deserving All-Star selection) goes to Ryan Vogelsong. Who? Can you say nepotism to the extreme?
Vogelsong has good numbers, but so do a whole bunch of National League players that are on other teams and people have actually heard of. Just to throw a few names out there: Atlanta's Tommy Hanson, Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo, Florida's Anibal Sanchez (who could've easily been the token Marlin), Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals. Or how about Arizona's Ian Kennedy? You know, a guy from the team that's hosting the game! The Phillies and Giants are the two best teams in the National League, but they shouldn't both have 60 percent of their starting rotations going to Phoenix (OK, the Phillies should).
Albert Pujols not winning the fan vote probably pissed off whatever NL first baseman that would've been the injury replacement, but that's a small issue that isn't really worth talking about. Chipper Jones was chosen as the backup third baseman, a nice gesture in what's probably his final season. The only questionable player selection was the Reds' Jay Bruce, who has good power numbers (18 HR, 51 RBI), but he's hitting only .265. The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen was snubbed for the second straight year and should've gone over Bruce. In fairness, Bochy used three of his four position player choices on token selections (the Cubs' Starlin Castro, the Marlins' Gaby Sanchez and Arizona's Justin Upton), so he was left with only one spot. He gave that to the Mets' Carlos Beltran, who's deserving, but probably not as much as McCutchen or the Dodgers' Andre Ethier (who's on the Final Vote ballot).
In the American League, they have the starting and backup DH, which gave manager Ron Washington only two position players that he can add. So after taking Michel Cuddyer (Twins) and Matt Wieters (Orioles, although my choice would've been Adam Jones) to fulfill the one from every team rule, he didn't have places for guys like Paul Konerko, Mark Teixeira, Victor Martinez or Dustin Pedroia (although, that might be rectified on the Final Vote). Otherwise, I really have no issues with the AL squad. Sure Russell Martin only looked like an All-Star in April and hasn't since, but he's the only questionable guy in the lot.
My favorite All-Star selection? Easily Michael Young. The guy who was so completely screwed over by his team in the off-season responded by making the All-Star team at yet another position (that makes three). He's technically the backup DH (the most necessary position on any baseball team), but I highly doubt that Young enters the game as a pinch hitter for David Ortiz. With Young, the AL has three guys (Cuddyer, Howie Kendrick) who fit that utility role (it'll become four if Ben Zobrist wins the Final Vote).
Among the pitchers, the only real "snub" is CC Sabathia, who's tied for the Major League lead with 11 wins. Washington's five pitching picks were two token selections (Oakland's Gio Gonzalez and Kansas City's Aaron Crow), Tigers closer Jose Valverde (the AL Omar Infante Award winner), and left-handed starters David Price of Tampa Bay and C.J. Wilson of the Rangers. Of course, CC's pitching Sunday and wouldn't be able to pitch anyway, but that makes the fact he wasn't selected even stupider. If a starting pitcher starts on Sunday, he's automatically replaced on the roster. Thus, Washington easily could've picked CC, then named Wilson as the replacement. Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander are also scheduled to start on Sunday, so that could open up spots for guys like Jon Lester or Michael Pineda.
Speaking of Michael Pineda (at least his team), it's hard to picture an All-Star Game without Ichiro. Technically he's not a snub since his numbers don't really support a selection, but no Ichiro and no Albert is just weird. Another future Hall of Famer that WILL be in Phoenix is Derek Jeter. Criticize his selection all you want. Jeter should be there. Sometimes guys make the All-Star team based on reputation alone. It's never a problem when that happens. Besides, if not for his recent trip to the DL, he'd be the only active player with 3,000 career hits (he still might get there by the All-Star break). 3,000-hit fever was going to hit Phoenix one way or another. Jeter comes back tomorrow, so he should be available to play in the All-Star Game. I just hope he doesn't bring Trenton's hideous Fourth of July uniform (see below) with him.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Today's Headlines
Happy Canada Day everybody! It was on this date 141 years ago that Queen Victoria decided that our friendly neighbours to the north would be an independent country rather than a British colony. Canada Day weekend is also the traditional start to the CFL season. In other words, starting this weekend, there will be professional football played somewhere on the continent in 2011 (the UFL doesn't count).
As for sports here in the U.S., we've now reached a point where half of the major professional leagues have voluntarily shut down. The NBA owners have joined their friends in the NFL by locking out the players. I don't really know that much about the NBA labor situation (my not caring really comes into play as one of the main reasons), but evidently it's worse than the NFL's problems. The way I understand it, the NFL owners simply want more money, while the NBA owners would like to stop losing money. (If they don't want to lose money, maybe they shouldn't ante up those ridiculous free agent contracts.) Anyway, there's now a possibility that we'll lose games in both leagues once their respective seasons start. The last time that happened was the last time we had simultaneous work stoppages--1994-95. We all know what happened with baseball back then, but the NHL also had a lockout that reduced the regular season to 48 games.
But this was a big sports news day for non-labor-issue related reasons, too. First, let's jump across the pond. Novak Djokovic moved into his first Wimbledon final and, with that became the No. 1 player in the world. Monday marks the first time in seven years that somebody not named Rafa or Roger will be ranked No. 1. Who was it you might ask? Andy Roddick. Roddick was actually the year-end No. 1 in 2003. Oh how times have changed. (Andy Roddick fun fact: he's never been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but his wife, Brooklyn Decker has.) Djokovic will play Nadal, who beat the great British hope, Andy Murray. Murray won the first set before Nadal turned it up a notch. And with that, the British drought at Wimbledon continues. The last native son to win the title was Fred Perry in 1936.
Maria Sharapova's in the women's final. No complaints about that here. And in a pleasant surprise, the number of Pippa sightings on Centre Court have been numerous. Will and Kate were there on Monday, but Pippa's been there every day since. I'm not sure if she'll be at the women's final, but if she is, they might need to develop some sort of Maria/Pippa split screen for me.
Across the Chunnel from England, the Tour de France gets underway tomorrow. Alberto Contador is the defending champion, but (sadly not surprisingly) is currently embroiled in a doping scandal, becoming the latest big-name cyclist accused of doping. That sport simply can't get away from doping problems. Contador is still allowed to compete for the time being, and will be in France to defend his title. But I like Andy Schleck, who's finished second to Contador in each of the last two years, to ride down the Champs Elysses wearing the yellow jersey at the end of this year's Tour.
Moving further west to Germany, the Women's World Cup is still going strong. I think. They sold out Berlin's Olympic Stadium (74,000) for the opening game between Germany and Canada, but the USA-North Korea game had more than a few empty seats. The Americans play again tomorrow against Sweden. Maybe someone will actually notice.
I'm not sure how many people know or care about the Women's World Cup, so I'll bring it back Stateside. All of last summer's conference jumping is now official. Nebraska is now officially the 12th member of the Big Ten, while the Pac-10 is now the Pac-12 after adding Colorado and Utah. Meanwhile, Boise State is the newest member of the Mountain West. So, just to keep track of the math: the Big Ten now has 12 members and the Big 12 is made up of 10 schools. The Pac-10 is no more, since the conference probably decided that it was easier to rename it reflecting the actual number of schools in the league rather than confusing all the smart people at Stanford.
Speaking of the Pac-12, one of my favorite things about this year's College World Series was the appearance by Cal. This is a program that was dropped (along with several others) by the Cal athletic department back in October, meaning 2011 was supposed to be its final season. However, the boosters came up with enough money to keep the program going, so this wasn't Cal's swan song. But imagine if it was. That would've been some way to go out.
Lastly, this weekend marks the conclusion of Interleague Play for 2011. The marquee matchup is round two of the Subway Series, but it's rivalry weekend all across baseball. The Cubs are playing the White Sox at Wrigley, the Dodgers are visiting the Angels, and the Indians are in Cincinnati. But I'm more excited that everybody's playing on Monday. For once, they actually scheduled 15 games on the Fourth of July (one of three days where every team should play regardless) AND remembered to have the Blue Jays play on the road. Although, come to think if it, Fourth of July baseball means those stupid patriotic hats, so scratch that.
As for sports here in the U.S., we've now reached a point where half of the major professional leagues have voluntarily shut down. The NBA owners have joined their friends in the NFL by locking out the players. I don't really know that much about the NBA labor situation (my not caring really comes into play as one of the main reasons), but evidently it's worse than the NFL's problems. The way I understand it, the NFL owners simply want more money, while the NBA owners would like to stop losing money. (If they don't want to lose money, maybe they shouldn't ante up those ridiculous free agent contracts.) Anyway, there's now a possibility that we'll lose games in both leagues once their respective seasons start. The last time that happened was the last time we had simultaneous work stoppages--1994-95. We all know what happened with baseball back then, but the NHL also had a lockout that reduced the regular season to 48 games.
But this was a big sports news day for non-labor-issue related reasons, too. First, let's jump across the pond. Novak Djokovic moved into his first Wimbledon final and, with that became the No. 1 player in the world. Monday marks the first time in seven years that somebody not named Rafa or Roger will be ranked No. 1. Who was it you might ask? Andy Roddick. Roddick was actually the year-end No. 1 in 2003. Oh how times have changed. (Andy Roddick fun fact: he's never been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but his wife, Brooklyn Decker has.) Djokovic will play Nadal, who beat the great British hope, Andy Murray. Murray won the first set before Nadal turned it up a notch. And with that, the British drought at Wimbledon continues. The last native son to win the title was Fred Perry in 1936.
Maria Sharapova's in the women's final. No complaints about that here. And in a pleasant surprise, the number of Pippa sightings on Centre Court have been numerous. Will and Kate were there on Monday, but Pippa's been there every day since. I'm not sure if she'll be at the women's final, but if she is, they might need to develop some sort of Maria/Pippa split screen for me.
Across the Chunnel from England, the Tour de France gets underway tomorrow. Alberto Contador is the defending champion, but (sadly not surprisingly) is currently embroiled in a doping scandal, becoming the latest big-name cyclist accused of doping. That sport simply can't get away from doping problems. Contador is still allowed to compete for the time being, and will be in France to defend his title. But I like Andy Schleck, who's finished second to Contador in each of the last two years, to ride down the Champs Elysses wearing the yellow jersey at the end of this year's Tour.
Moving further west to Germany, the Women's World Cup is still going strong. I think. They sold out Berlin's Olympic Stadium (74,000) for the opening game between Germany and Canada, but the USA-North Korea game had more than a few empty seats. The Americans play again tomorrow against Sweden. Maybe someone will actually notice.
I'm not sure how many people know or care about the Women's World Cup, so I'll bring it back Stateside. All of last summer's conference jumping is now official. Nebraska is now officially the 12th member of the Big Ten, while the Pac-10 is now the Pac-12 after adding Colorado and Utah. Meanwhile, Boise State is the newest member of the Mountain West. So, just to keep track of the math: the Big Ten now has 12 members and the Big 12 is made up of 10 schools. The Pac-10 is no more, since the conference probably decided that it was easier to rename it reflecting the actual number of schools in the league rather than confusing all the smart people at Stanford.
Speaking of the Pac-12, one of my favorite things about this year's College World Series was the appearance by Cal. This is a program that was dropped (along with several others) by the Cal athletic department back in October, meaning 2011 was supposed to be its final season. However, the boosters came up with enough money to keep the program going, so this wasn't Cal's swan song. But imagine if it was. That would've been some way to go out.
Lastly, this weekend marks the conclusion of Interleague Play for 2011. The marquee matchup is round two of the Subway Series, but it's rivalry weekend all across baseball. The Cubs are playing the White Sox at Wrigley, the Dodgers are visiting the Angels, and the Indians are in Cincinnati. But I'm more excited that everybody's playing on Monday. For once, they actually scheduled 15 games on the Fourth of July (one of three days where every team should play regardless) AND remembered to have the Blue Jays play on the road. Although, come to think if it, Fourth of July baseball means those stupid patriotic hats, so scratch that.
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