tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61322472011-04-21T13:29:49.281-07:00From Back Bay to the Promised LandOne fan's long, long, boring journey to the summit of Sports. . . . . . . . chrisfont9@yahoo.comChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comBlogger2901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1136414527676480472006-01-04T13:05:00.000-08:002006-01-04T15:04:35.893-08:00Playoffs Power Guide, Bloggie-StyleThis marks year #3 for the FBBTTPL re-analysis of the conventional wisdom with regard to NFL teams. You'll recall in the past that I have come up with a vaguely-representative formula based on the BCS to assemble a ranking that looks at records, schedule strength, quality wins, and a subjective poll ranking. The formula is as follows: A + B + C - D = score, Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1136361699239905262006-01-03T21:56:00.000-08:002006-01-04T00:01:39.320-08:00It Has To HappenFive reasons why the Sox need Miguel Tejada:5. The obvious one -- three infielders just can't get it done.4. The other obvious one -- Manny must go. At this point, he is either of no value to the Sox, if we are to believe he won't even report in the spring, or is of almost no value, having burned every bridge in sight this time even if he does show up. All I can say is, I Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1135260941158440132005-12-22T06:12:00.000-08:002005-12-22T06:15:41.170-08:00Shorter Bob Ryan"Don't be your usual pathetic selves and blame Damon, after all he did for us."[Apologies to Atrios.blogspot.com, inventor of this format of condensed column, wihch I plan to be stealing a lot.]Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1135223982361724692005-12-21T19:27:00.000-08:002005-12-21T19:59:42.413-08:00OK, What Just Happened??Like most of you, I woke up to be unexpectedly cracked on the head, not unlike the time Pat Patterson hit Bruno Sammartino on the head with a chair during an interview.Like most of you, I had the traditional response to a Sox player going to New York: hoping he gets injured.The emotional impact of Damon's leaving is hard to address, at least beyond what's already in print.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1134416362491566392005-12-12T11:28:00.000-08:002005-12-12T11:39:22.503-08:00So Many Rumors, So Little Time* Do the Sox have an organizational plan? Apparently we're going to find out in an hour or two. Of course, I'm in DC and our hosts don't have NESN, so maybe I'll know by tonight. The question on everyone's mind, of course, is not what Ben Cherington and Jed Hoyer will be doing but Theo. Nobody's saying whether Theo is part of today's shindig.* Evidence that they Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1134113907657351702005-12-08T23:20:00.000-08:002005-12-08T23:38:27.666-08:00The AftermathJust a couple quick notes. So now it appears the Sox want Marte for themselves, which sounds like great news to me. I had said earlier that maybe Lugo was a decent substitute for Renteria, if that deal had gone through, but because of Tampa's utter stupidity the Sox wind up with a far better deal: Marte, and whoever else they can get to play short, including a semi-incumbent Alex Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1134077596701949782005-12-08T13:18:00.000-08:002005-12-08T14:58:05.826-08:00Shortstop Carousel Pt. III: Now What?Yesterday and earlier, we looked into the relative strengths and weaknesses of incumbent Sox SS Edgar Renteria versus a couple rumored options. But we failed to compare him to his current real-life replacement: nothing. Had we done so, we might have seen those 30 errors as a small price to pay for Renteria's value-above-a-warm-body factor.But now that we Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1134027298828319112005-12-07T23:07:00.000-08:002005-12-07T23:37:44.906-08:00How Can This Have Happened?Someone in the Sox' office has nude photos of all the other owners. That's the only way to explain some of the trades we've been on the receiving end of in the last 8 years. Pedro for Armas and Pavano? Schilling for ... what was his name again?? Varitek and Lowe for Slocumb? And now... Mark Loretta for Doug Mirabelli? [I'll hold off on grading the Beckett trade, IChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1133941779731469442005-12-06T22:38:00.000-08:002005-12-07T00:08:47.043-08:00The Shortstop Carousel, Part IIJust to prove that I am a topical fellow, along comes the shocking news that the Red Sox are contemplating trading Edgar Renteria for either Julio Lugo, or some other set of deals that would bring back Orlando Cabrera. Given that the Yankees are supposedly looking to complete their acquisition of the former Holy Trinity by putting Nomar in center, I guess nothing Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1133908580253709932005-12-06T14:34:00.000-08:002005-12-06T14:36:53.636-08:00Sign of the Apocalypse?Should I be disturbed that the Globe is leading off an article on the Patriots by quoting Keats?Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1133827694592065552005-12-05T15:59:00.000-08:002005-12-05T16:08:25.240-08:00The Red Sox' Ride on the Shortstop CarouselNewsflash! Rafael Furcal signs a blockbuster 3-year, $39 million deal to become the new Dodger shortstop, one of the big-name signings in one of the hottest free-agent battles of the new offseason.It also makes him about a million shy of the riches the Red Sox bestowed on Edgar Renteria a year ago -- in one less year. For what figures to be about the Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1133424435511104472005-12-01T00:05:00.000-08:002005-12-01T00:07:15.520-08:00Manny revolutionApparently Sox fans are so desperate that they are trying to use the democratic process to keep Manny Ramirez in red hose. As if democracy ever got us anywhere...Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1133330857027561152005-11-29T21:44:00.000-08:002005-11-29T22:07:37.036-08:00Sizing Things UpI am currently reading "Mind Games," a Baseball Prospectus deconstruction of the 2004 Red Sox and their blueprint for success, if such a thing exists. I'm not at the end yet, so I don't know exactly what the thesis is. Did the Red Sox invent a new system for winning?I don't know, but I do know that this is a current issue. I've read a lot of speculation about whether Josh Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1132646759956617132005-11-21T23:54:00.000-08:002005-11-22T00:05:59.986-08:00Hooo-Leee Sheeite!!!!There is a poll on the Boston.com sports page asking, what do you think of the deal to land Josh Beckett? To which there is only one answer: what do you freaking think I think??? Let's see, 25-year-old, wicked fastball and other pitches, proven winner, and killed the Yankees in their house in the World Series at age 23. I'm not sure but I think there might be some materialChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1130913335123429122005-11-01T22:20:00.000-08:002005-11-01T22:35:35.140-08:00Innocence LostFace it, the Theo Epstein story was too good to last. Local boy grows up (slightly) and leads the Sox in from the wilderness. The fact that some 99.9% of Bostoninans not named Shaughnessy are siding with Theo over Lucchino in the purported rift suggests we all bought into the feel-good story.And we should have, up to a point. Last year's win was the mother of all sports feel-goodChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1130803410696839182005-10-31T15:55:00.000-08:002005-10-31T16:03:30.710-08:00Blindsided!!!What the F?? I don't know Theo Epstein, you don't know Theo Epstein, and maybe he's decided that there are better things to do with your life than run the Red Sox. It's arguable, no doubt. Gammons suggested Theo thinks he should maybe be doing social work, which is one of those ideas that no responsible person should try to talk him out of. That said, beyond this grain of Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1130739299115406322005-10-30T22:05:00.000-08:002005-10-30T22:14:59.190-08:00Fun While It LastedHope you enjoyed the ride of the last few years. With the Sox snoozing, Manny packing his bags, etc., we hoped to have the Patriots to fall back on. Fat freakin chance.Last night was one of the ugliest wins by a championship defending franchise I've ever seen. Note that I didn't say "defending champion," since the team that won the Super Bowl can largely be found in a Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1130362021694261322005-10-26T13:54:00.000-07:002005-10-26T14:27:01.760-07:00Five Reasons Nobody is WatchingThere are a few basic parallels between this year's WS and Our Glorious Victory a year ago, the biggest one being that the team in charge is about to win its first championship since the Wilson Administration. There is also the AL dominance, the presence of what looked like an NL Central juggernaut, and a big market town which should guarantee big ratings.But, lastChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1130265985018472872005-10-25T11:39:00.000-07:002005-10-25T11:46:25.026-07:00The New MathAs we know all too well, the Red Sox ended 86 years of frustration with a world series title last year, their first since... well, you know. Now comes the White Sox, seemingly lasered in on their first title since 1917. This is a pretty incredible coincidence... maybe too incredible. The long-suffering 1918 winners break through in '04, followed by the long-suffering 1917 winners Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1130180619738240222005-10-24T11:33:00.000-07:002005-10-24T12:51:25.980-07:00WS '06: Small MindsThe White Sox look pretty invincible right now, and there is every reason to crown them the Patriots of the next half-decade. Solid all around, with an affordable formula... there is no reason they won't be the team to beat for a while.But contrary to certain media reports, it will have nothing to do with -- and even be in spite of -- the manager. Ozzie Guillen is a decent Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1129867149743034782005-10-20T20:32:00.000-07:002005-10-20T21:01:41.660-07:00Sweet MemoriesIf you've been reading the Globe, or maybe if you've just had a funny feeling in your system, you're probably aware that this week is the one year anniversary of the greatest baseball moments we ever witnessed. In fact, if you've been somewhere other than trapped under something heavy, you're probably aware that tonight, October 20, is the anniversary of the greatest moment in Red Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1129185022905752702005-10-12T23:00:00.000-07:002005-10-12T23:30:22.910-07:00News and NotesThe lead story this past week isn't what you think...* When Tom Brady lashed out at the media and Marty Schottenheimer last week, I didn't really get it, it seemed a bit over the top. Bad games happen, as do injuries. But in retrospect it all makes sense: Brady didn't like the idea of pity from the conquering coach, possibly sensing that pity begets self-pity, which begets an Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1128376702378208962005-10-03T14:42:00.000-07:002005-10-03T14:58:22.386-07:00What Works?ESPN has a column examining the last 20 World Series participants, effectively culling the winners from the Wild Card era, and looking at where they stood in pitching and runs scored. Of the 20 WS participants, 15 were ranked in the top three in their respective league in ERA. 75%. Four were ranked #1 overall. So you can win without great pitching, but it's an uphill climb. By (Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1128360699035816952005-10-03T10:12:00.000-07:002005-10-03T10:31:39.066-07:00We Love A-Rod!Would David Ortiz ever, EVER, waste an ounce of breath whining about the fact that the Rangers pulled their stars and lost to the Angels, who then got home field advantage in round 1? A-Rod can't help but point out what a non-"Yankee" he is, using that term in the most complementary way, as in 1996-1999 Yankees. As in, guys who just play the game. A-Rod plays well enough to Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1128113460180489872005-09-30T13:50:00.000-07:002005-09-30T13:51:00.186-07:00Pop QuizTrue or false?The Patriots are still in existence and actually have a big game this weekend in Foxboro.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1128059142634787312005-09-29T22:13:00.000-07:002005-09-29T22:45:42.640-07:00Two or Four To GoNot sure what those last 159 games were for, really. It all comes down to four games for the title, or two if the Yankees win them both. Sox need to win three before the Yankees win two. Thank god for the Papi, I can hold off on that epitaph for a while. Some thoughts coming into the showdown:* Friday's Wells vs. Wang is probably the best matchup for the Sox. Wang is decent,Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1127966183606441522005-09-28T20:38:00.000-07:002005-09-28T20:56:23.633-07:00Leaking OilThey might just make it, of course, but the Red Sox look more like a team that is about to fall short. The same hopelessly inconsistent pitching that has plagued them all year is as present as ever. Tonight was Arroyo's turn. It is what it is.It's nice to see Renteria suddenly find his stroke. He got a lot of advanced billing as a clutch player, and now that they need him most, Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1127456730816756722005-09-22T23:11:00.000-07:002005-09-22T23:25:30.823-07:00Still Giving ThanksI've been complaining regularly that this Red Sox team has sapped my inspiration to write about them for a while now. And it's never been worse than it is today. Think about it: yeah, we did them in last year, but this year we really had the chance to finish off the Yankees for good, bury them, get Torre and Cashman fired, and start the mass exodus from the SS Steinbrenner asChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1127336878426105102005-09-21T13:56:00.000-07:002005-09-21T14:07:58.433-07:00Oh, and another thing...As mentioned previously, I tend to regard September as an extension of preseason in the NFL, where you don't really get to know too much about a team, even if you think you do. With that, and the obvious ocean of goodwill they have built, I am reserving judgment on the Patriots. Maybe they have some glaring problems, but maybe it's just an adjustment, and even if it's Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1127336137189991332005-09-21T13:55:00.000-07:002005-09-21T13:55:37.196-07:00Primed TimeAs hard as it has been to say anything about the Red Sox, I must admit that I'm completely engrossed in baseball right now. Basically, the team is obviously very inconsistent due to its pitching, and the maddening circumstances of their playoff run (being depleted and exhausted thanks to scheduling quirks) makes me not want to discuss them at all. But that's not to suggest they Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1126464626716083012005-09-11T11:37:00.000-07:002005-09-11T22:20:31.236-07:00Showdown UpdateSage is sleeping, so I am indulging in a few innings of Sox-Yanks, where a 1-0 deficit looks larger than normal. So, assuming the worst, we can nonetheless say that the Sox accomplished some big milestones this weekend.* The games: one win in this series would be enough to ensure that the Yankees didn't make any serious ground on the Sox, while two wins (not out of the question Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1126292483081897782005-09-09T11:38:00.000-07:002005-09-09T12:01:23.090-07:00Here We Go Again...No, this is not a post about the Patriots' start of another victorious march through the NFL. Rather, it's an even more repetitive subject: the media's fascination with the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning.Once again, the Colts are a consensus favorite among experts to win it all, although we're talking a subtle plurality rather than some supermajority. Still, taking Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1126244768218366202005-09-08T22:33:00.000-07:002005-09-08T22:46:08.226-07:00Drip... Drip... DripNot the most impressive opener for the Patriots. Here are three things that concern me:Run D: Suffering from the loss of their jam master Bruschi, the Pats saw the Raiders raise some hell in their backfield. OK, that's enough. Anyway, the Patriots had questions coming into this season about how they were going to replace their two inside backers, and those questions aren'tChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1126155526739006432005-09-07T21:48:00.000-07:002005-09-07T21:58:46.746-07:00The Magic Heath BarWhile wrapping up a rather lengthy, if thoroughly excellent, New England vacation, I found myself musing over the mediocrity of the current Sox... no great shakes on the mound, plenty of outs to be had in the lineup (at least if you're a rookie nobody's seen before)... etc. Another promising game was rapidly grinding to a halt as the Angels came back to tie the Sox, and with Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1123891221761016052005-08-12T16:54:00.000-07:002005-08-15T13:03:49.540-07:00Al Leiter Rotator Cuff Watch: Update!... Where this space chronicles the heroic and incomprehensible suffering of Al Leiter's rotator cuff, as gauged through his pitch counts.You will recall that when we left off, Al and his heroic appendage were seen trudging off the mound after two-plus innings and 73 pitches, a new high/low. Since that time Al's rotator cuff and accompanying owner checked in Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1123688543968708292005-08-10T08:30:00.000-07:002005-08-10T08:42:23.993-07:00Nothing Comes for FreeSo last night's affaire, another slippery win aided almost entirely by offense, included the spectacle of the Sox blowing a five run lead late in the game. But all that proves is that players get designated for assignment for a reason. Mike Remlinger made his way into Fenway not because of some coup by Theo and Byrnes, but because he got himself run out of Wrigley. But Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1123606437434668462005-08-09T09:22:00.000-07:002005-08-09T09:55:20.313-07:00Taking OffenseThe softball-like success of the Red Sox these days raises questions as to how unreliable a team's pitching can be while still playing winning baseball. Scanning the rotation, it's hard to identify anyone who inspires true confidence: Clement is in a tailspin, ditto Miller, Wakefield is horribly streaky, ditto Arroyo, and Wells, while being the closest thing to an ace right now, isChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1123028704502657332005-08-02T17:12:00.000-07:002005-08-02T17:25:04.506-07:00Al Leiter Rotator Cuff WatchThis space will attempt to chart the weekly achievements of Al Leiter's rotator cuff, as its owner throws an increasingly astounding number of pitches per inning, in his valiant attempt to restore the glory of Ruth, Gehrig, Rivers, Winfield, and Wetteland to the Bronx. In case you haven't been following, here are the numbers before Today's start in Cleveland:July 10, Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1118784958597525402005-06-14T14:34:00.000-07:002005-06-14T14:35:58.596-07:00Power UpAs you can see from below, I am starting to get interested in this baseball season, finally. Count me as one of those RSN types who view last year's breakthrough as an opportunity to get on with life. And yet, I can't shake this buzzing feeling in my brain every time I forget to record the Sox when Clement is pitching...Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1118781042306865552005-06-14T13:11:00.000-07:002005-06-14T14:28:42.490-07:00Diva UpdateBy any measure, Pedro Martinez has quickly established himself as one of -- if not the -- premier NL starting pitchers. He's fourth in ERA, first in strikeouts, third in innings, has a respectable seven wins, and allowed a ridiculous 52 hits in 95 frames. Hard to score runs when you're getting one knock for every six outs.Still, I watched Pedro Sunday against the Angels, and there Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1118704123429994262005-06-13T16:00:00.000-07:002005-06-13T23:10:48.900-07:00The Ghost in HimOK, I'm not sure what that means, except that this is a column about how shitty Alex Rodriguez is. I've been traveling for work frequently and given to the temptations of AM sports radio, where the demise of the Yankees and the failures of their $25 mil golden boy are weekly fodder. Of course, the frequency with which such a topic arises is alarming, from Bud Selig's twisted Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1118460699004009392005-06-10T20:25:00.000-07:002005-06-10T20:31:39.010-07:00not dead yetThe plan for this space is to keep it pretty mellow until August. First, my Cycling Blog is the priority during the spring and up through July and the Tour. Secondly, I accept the Billy Beane description of the baseball season as consisting of the first two months seeing what you have, the next two months seeing what you can do to address issues, and the final two months meant to Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1115604231430109962005-05-08T18:38:00.000-07:002005-05-08T19:03:51.490-07:00So Who Are They?The Sox don't exactly look like the fun loving idiots on my WS DVD these days:* Wade Miller acquitted himself pretty well today, mostly cuffing around a weak Seattle lineup at home. Perfect way to ease himself back into major league pitching. I don't want to get too excited yet: it's Seattle, and there's still this new delivery he's airing out. That said, it sure was nice to Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1115187368891418412005-05-03T23:11:00.000-07:002005-05-05T12:55:30.710-07:00Quick Check InThe Sox' start has seemed slightly, um, uninspired... as stud batter after batter fails to produce in the clutch, as the bullpen gives up run after run, as Edgar Renteria's average plummets and Bellhorn's strikeouts rise. That and injuries are much of what's gone wrong.But uninspired? They just won their fourth of six on the road in Texas and Detroit, with 3/5 of the rotation and Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1115161786466439492005-05-03T16:06:00.000-07:002005-05-03T23:10:58.846-07:00I Did It!I have officially changed Red Sox policy with regard to their lineup!! After a determined, fire-sucking campaign that spanned the entire offseason, I have successfully coerced Tito to use Mirabelli as the DH against lefties!! Seriously, this is a winning strategy (OK, I hope I have this opinion three hours from now) because he KILLS lefties, and because benching either Nixon or Ortiz Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1114202943128331482005-04-22T13:39:00.000-07:002005-04-22T13:49:03.130-07:00Offensive Trends: Final TallyOK, to recap here: I score the Sox having upward potential at right field, shortstop (slight), third and catcher, and flat everywhere else. This is a calculation of how much offense the Sox can expect at each position compared to last season, and all of the "upgrades" except for catcher reflect some assumption that, unlike last year, the Sox won't be filling gaps Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1114151914693527362005-04-21T23:22:00.000-07:002005-04-22T14:52:27.710-07:00Sweeps WeekAnother notes column...* Despite being outscored 9-0 in two nights, the Orioles still look like a team that might hang around a long time. Primarily because their pitching is significantly less awful than I had suspected. OK, I didn't see Bedard and Ponson and whoever else they run out there, but the Os have a decent bullpen, and Chen and Lopez looked pretty tough. Yes, these guys Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1114025249036231172005-04-20T12:06:00.000-07:002005-04-20T12:27:29.036-07:00Trend #6: Outfield[In a continuing series where, between diaper changes and training on the bike, the author tries to stay awake long enough to justify his claim that the Sox will score 1000 runs this year, because last year they got to 948 and surely this year they'll be better, right?]I'll lump these three positions together because so little time is needed to look at the individuals. Will anyChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1113804873303005992005-04-17T22:52:00.000-07:002005-04-17T23:14:33.303-07:00Yankees Suck!Well, maybe, maybe not... and I hate to give credence to the least original expression of angst in the many-million-year-old history of the impenetrable chunk of rock known as New England. But in starting the season 4-8, the Yankees have certainly driven their peeps to openly question if the Great Yankee System is finally breaking down, despite all of Steinbrenner's expensive flashyChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1113547721057029952005-04-14T23:27:00.000-07:002005-04-14T23:51:12.983-07:00Armageddon, UpdatedFirst off, the "fan incident." Clearly the Red Sox and Yankees need to spend a couple seasons apart, because the nonsense level is becoming hard to take. A few years ago two psychopaths brutally assaulted a Royals coach at Comiskey Park... and I swear it didn't draw the outrage I'm hearing after some numbnuts lightly cuffed Sheff (hello children) across the face while diggingChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1113521935938837782005-04-14T16:03:00.000-07:002005-04-14T16:38:55.940-07:00Trend #5: ShortstopOK, let's get this exercise moving again and wrap it up. Remember, the question before us is, will this Red Sox team score 1000 runs? Last year's total was 948, and IMHO the revised lineup, if healthy, should be even better.Then: With the gloomy spectre of Nomar Garciaparra looming in the clubhouse whirlpool, the Sox spent most of the first half of the season running Pokey Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1113411204977338552005-04-13T09:29:00.000-07:002005-04-13T09:53:54.320-07:00Derek and the JerseyToday's Globe has an article headlined Lowe Tries to Iron Out Jersey Flap. The "flap" refers to the notion that people in LA are upset because he wore a Sox jersey during Monday's ceremony, despite having signed with the Dodgers over the winter. Unfortunately, although the media is waiving this notion around, nobody in LA has stepped forward to say they are upset. Exactly Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1113283657786961582005-04-11T22:26:00.000-07:002005-04-11T22:27:37.790-07:00Everyone Gets a 2004 World Champions Ring DayWhat struck me as I watched the Happiest Day in Red Sox History today, conveniently stuck at home with our virus-ridden little boy, was my continuing sense of disbelief...* Was that Derek Lowe in a Sox uniform? Davey Roberts? The decisions the team made were sound overall, but it's still touching to see the castoffs around one last time. And for theChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112986264443244142005-04-08T11:31:00.000-07:002005-04-08T11:51:04.446-07:00Trend #4: Third BaseWe discussed at length during the 2003-04 offseason whether Bill Mueller would slump after winning the 2003 batting title (one of the least accurate distinctions in the game, now that the discovery of OPS has been scientifically assured). Well, Mueller did slump, if you just read the newspapers: his .283 average was nine points shy of his respectable career mean and down 34 Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112852099108743942005-04-06T22:27:00.000-07:002005-04-06T22:38:52.660-07:00Salvage JobJust a few ideas about the opening series...* There is no way the Red Sox think they have Mariano's number. Unlike the writers and most of the fans, the players have to live through the grind of a long season. So they alone know all too well that a bad week doesn't really mean bubkis. Neither does four consecutive games. At least, not when the player has an otherwise unblemished Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112214735646341092005-03-30T12:25:00.000-08:002005-03-30T12:38:17.886-08:00Links UpdateI added a slew of new single-team links, all of which were pirated from DailyKos.com, my favorite polit-blog. But the selection has nothing to do with politics, other than the fact that Kos is a political force precisely because his blogsite is so technically advanced and interactive: you can read, comment, write a diary, trade comments back 'n forth, and track your activity. AnywayChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112209710149788502005-03-30T10:57:00.000-08:002005-03-30T11:16:37.863-08:00Trend #3: Second BaseLast year at this time 2B was a platoon job between Pokey Reese's magic mitt and Bellhorn's booming bat, not unlike first base, and along similar lines for this season the glove got tossed aside and the bat takes over virtually full time. Ramon Vazquez arguably takes over as the new Pokey, able to fill in at both middle infield spots, except he brings a little less leather Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112169544360627802005-03-29T23:43:00.000-08:002005-03-30T13:50:12.796-08:00Trend #2: First BaseLast year's platoon of class clown Millar and resident gold glover Mientkiewicz has been subdivided into the former without the latter. It was defense that had been killing the team prior to the Mientky trade, and they won the World Series after the fact, so arguably Mientky's exodus to Queens bodes ill for the Sox. But though he played in 47 games, Mientky got in only 100 Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112168579445057442005-03-29T23:37:00.000-08:002005-03-29T23:42:59.446-08:00Trend #1: CatcherVaritek is 32, Mirabelli is 34, and both are essentially hitting their strides at the plate. Neither will improve defensively against the running game, but both can fling the leather, and Varitek is generally considered a fine receiver, by no less an authority than David Wells. Also, Kelly Shoppach is waiting in the wings, although his status as a top prospect has been Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112168132236643152005-03-29T23:10:00.000-08:002005-03-29T23:35:47.833-08:00Red Sox Trajectories, Part INothing could be more banal than writing a summary of the Sox' offseason, weighing it against where they were and what the competition has done, and calling a finish for the AL East. Yet every day, hundreds if not thousands of people do just that, in major publications (circulation-wise), on TV, radio, and of course the inter-nets. The number of times, each day, thatChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112166596247257802005-03-29T23:05:00.000-08:002005-03-29T23:09:56.246-08:00FBBTTPL's National League PreviewNL East: AtlantaNL Central: CubsNL West: PadresWild Card: DodgersNL Champion: CubsI know almost nothing about the NL, since I really don't make an effort to follow it, although I am proud to have gone on record calling the Cardinal rotation a disgrace shortly before they melted down in the World Series. Anyway, the fact that I know nothing, and say almost nothingChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1112037772918903002005-03-28T11:04:00.000-08:002005-03-28T11:25:34.420-08:00Language BarrierToday's Globe has an interesting piece on Byun-Hyung Kim, finally speaking frankly with the media about his status. It's a sympathetic piece, showing Kim finally getting with the program to speak to the fans (ignoring us doesn't seem to work, not even for mythical figures like Manny), and also baring his soul a bit on life as a distant outsider. No doubt he has greater barriers Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1111562690931020992005-03-22T23:01:00.000-08:002005-03-22T23:24:50.933-08:00Go! Cats! ... GoneIt's taken me a couple days to get to this task, that of admitting that I won't win everything I want this year. Sure, the Sox broke through at last, the Patriots and Lance Armstrong are dynasties, Bode Miller won the world cup, the Bruins lived up to expectations for once, the Celtics are supposedly fun to watch again, and my roto football team made the finals on smoke and Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1111561249127218372005-03-22T22:56:00.000-08:002005-03-22T23:59:51.770-08:00All Broth, No FrothI've been reading lots of baseball previews -- so you don't have to. No, no, don't thank me. Anyway, there are two universal principles to previewing the upcoming baseball season.1. When picking the winning teams, agonize in print as much as possible before relenting "on a hunch" that the team which won last year will win again this year.2. When looking at individual Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1111099895939618532005-03-17T14:47:00.000-08:002005-03-17T14:51:35.946-08:00Pols-on-Roids: the Oscars (#1)And the award for best performance by an athlete desperately scrambling to preserve his last thread of integrity goes to... Mark McGwire!! Yes, McGwire, a man known to open the tear-spigots on national TV from time to time, chokes back his emotions in vain during his opening statement... approximately three hours after the panel hears from doctors and parents who Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1111097731602218422005-03-17T14:12:00.000-08:002005-03-17T14:58:04.176-08:00Politicians on Steroids: the HighlightFrom ESPN:Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.) asked Bunning if he thought Congress should consider repealing Major League Baseball's unique antitrust exemption if they don't cooperate with the standards that government officials hope to uphold. "If you are going to grant an exemption and they don't honor the exemption that they have and respect the fact that they have Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1111097501334643642005-03-17T14:05:00.000-08:002005-03-17T14:54:17.496-08:00Politicians on Steroids: the Lowlight (so far)From ESPN:Former Major League pitcher and current U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) said the penalties under Major League Baseball's current drug policy are "puny." He advocates a first discovery of steroids should yield a one-month suspension, a second should be a year suspension and the third should be an automatic expulsion from the game. "Mr. ChairmanChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1110501344361752722005-03-10T15:36:00.000-08:002005-03-10T16:50:38.490-08:00Why Are They Doing This?Everybody is wondering why the U.S. House of Rep's has decided to hold hearings on steroids in baseball. Actually, they are not merely attempting a hearing on steroids, but trying to subpoena various big name players and admitted steroid foils to compel their testimony. Why are they doing this? House members make vague statements about trying to deal with an issue that Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1110234353599200672005-03-07T14:00:00.000-08:002005-03-07T15:31:51.593-08:00Dollars and SenseIn one way the national mags, the good, bad and ugly, seem to agree on two things: that the Sox overpaid for Varitek and Renteria, and that the rest of their offseason moves look solid.The manipulators of statistics all seem to think that Matt Clement is a lot better than his record with the Cubbies, and only the most cursory reviewers are hung up on his poor win totals. SubjectChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1110180768572552402005-03-06T22:57:00.000-08:002005-03-06T23:32:48.576-08:00Crumbling Empire?Having flown across the country a couple times last week, I have had time to get away from the blog and do some preseason research, and while I'm not sure how much I learned about baseball, I can say I learned a fair amount about the incredibly decrepit quality of baseball writing out there among national publications. Apparently ESPN has locked up everyone who doesn't already Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1109574208375712202005-02-27T22:52:00.000-08:002005-02-27T23:03:28.376-08:00Giambi Presser: updated!When Jason Giambi got up before the press and apologized for a transgression that he said he couldn't identify because his lawyers wouldn't let him, I went predictably batty. Not one for the ol' responsibility hall of fame. More specifically, I blamed his lawyers for hiding behind some real or imagined legal interest and sending Giambi up there to make an ass of himself.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1109360035759223512005-02-25T10:51:00.000-08:002005-02-28T10:51:36.396-08:00Go Cats Go!Thus far I have resisted plugging my alma mater, but I can no longer ignore them. The University of Vermont basketball team is, according to ESPN, the most lovable, exciting little basketball team in the country. Never mind that they are one Cameroon import away from being the whitest team in the NCAA tournament's modern history -- their recruiting base is Vermont and Ontario, and byChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1109296157859589212005-02-24T17:47:00.000-08:002005-02-24T17:49:17.860-08:00New LinksFor the first time in, well, ever, I have revamped the Links somewhat. If you're bored and love baseball, you can get lost for hours in this maze of opinion, fact, numbers, analysis, snarky remarks, and general merriment. To say nothing of what happens when you start looking at their links.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1109294340709428522005-02-24T17:06:00.000-08:002005-02-25T15:46:10.613-08:00In With a WhimperThe paucity of entries this week, other than another flu bout, owes to the fact that I am finding it almost impossible to say anything interesting about anything. Despite the media's daily reportage that generally focuses on rehashing last year with the conclusion that 2005 holds more fireworks in store, the fact is there is virtually nothing happening that counts as news. Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1109040305601693462005-02-21T18:38:00.000-08:002005-02-21T18:46:51.260-08:00Enough AlreadyOK, I get it, A-Rod is a jerk. And it's been fun to take pot-shots at him in the offseason, especially after his loathsome interview last month. But the media's attempts to draw in the players on both teams to a Red-Sox-versus-A-Rod wrestlemania conflict is getting ridiculous. Worse, it plays into the pettiest tendencies of Red Sox fans to really hate a Yankee or two. Things areChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1108941455453917992005-02-20T14:52:00.000-08:002005-02-21T10:40:57.456-08:00Left WonderingI've said it once and will say it many more times: if this Sox lineup stays happy and healthy, they will score 1000 runs. But opposing lefthanded pitchers won't be to blame. As deep and powerful as this Sox lineup is, the Sox as a whole are geared up to beat righthanded pitching -- which, thankfully, covers about three-quarters of the leage. But the following players' OPS Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1108617326536256772005-02-16T20:09:00.000-08:002005-02-17T10:33:35.800-08:00At First GlanceMuch of the spring handicapping in the AL will justifiably focus on the relative strengths of the Sox, Yankees, Angels and Twins pitching staffs. In fact, it says here that the Sox do face significant questions in their pitching -- not because they hired a bunch of chumps, but because there are just a lot of unknowns. So be it.So that half of the game remains shrouded in mystery.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1108581182415747622005-02-16T11:09:00.000-08:002005-02-16T11:13:02.420-08:00Intercat AggressionThis is so sweet. Sheff goes after Giambi. Actually, he may have been speaking more "matter of fact," but there is no way this goes for less than three New York news cycles, concluding with a summit consisting of at a minimum, Steinbrenner, Torre, Sheff (hello children), Giambi, and if there is any justice, Victor Conte of BALCO Labs.If I've said it before... the newly Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1108416334508818412005-02-14T13:04:00.000-08:002005-02-14T13:25:34.510-08:00The JuiceLots of ink spilled on Jose Canseco's book. Personally I think the guy is pretty strange and all, but I can't imagine him exposing himself so much if he's just making it all up.A threshold question here: there seems to be enough evidence, or at least logic, to say that steroids give baseball players an unfair advantage, either through bat speed or leg drive or maybe just confidence. Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1108415017116539772005-02-14T13:01:00.000-08:002005-02-14T13:03:37.116-08:00BedtimeThis is the last Patriots thread before the draft. They seem to be well on their way to reconstructing the staff they need, and the personnel decisions are pretty uneventful. So I will leave you with one last experience. I was reading Sports Ill yesterday, and at the back they had a nice piece on how Deion Branch called all his coaches, one by one, all the way back to junior high, on Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1108154039221690202005-02-11T12:17:00.000-08:002005-02-11T13:52:09.550-08:00Rites of Spring: Yankee BashingAnd so it begins anew... with a juicy topic: Jason Giambi's Chinese finger trap of an existence. He is an incredibly sad figure right now, trying to look contrite and evasive at the same time in order to quiet the bad news. Giambi's predicament is that, along with Bonds, he is the first active player to confess to steroid usage. Well, in the grand jury; he won't Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107821217086885312005-02-07T15:35:00.000-08:002005-02-07T16:06:57.086-08:00...And So On
The Pick: Philly learned one hard lesson about the Patriots, or should have, early on. Don't piss off the Patriot defense with cheap bullshit plays. Namely, the pick someone (Mitchell?) threw on Gay to spring Owens for a long gain down to the red zone. Unless I misread the rules, an offensive player is not allowed to tackle a DB in man coverage on another receiver, even on Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107819173868679062005-02-07T15:15:00.000-08:002005-02-07T15:32:53.870-08:00Second Best
Now that we won, I will gladly offer my respect to the Iggles. They were clearly the second-best team in football this year, the best-equipped team to beat the Patriots, if anyone could do it. Granted, the Patriots didn't turn in their best effort, holding themselves back with penalties and one amateurish turnover. But for 20 minutes of football the Eagles brought a complete game Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107818081512529812005-02-07T15:04:00.000-08:002005-02-07T15:14:41.513-08:00No Way Never
So yeah, I respect the Iggles. But Donovan McNabb will never beat the Patriots. Not during this run.
They can be beaten, of course. In the last two years, the Patriots have lost four times, all days on which they beat themselves with turnovers. So they can throw games, but sitting around waiting for them to do that in a big game seems pretty futile. The other option is to beatChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107816555908842952005-02-07T14:30:00.000-08:002005-02-07T14:49:15.906-08:00Dynasty.com
I understand why Belichick doesn't like to use the word. Each team is different, every season is its own adventure, and invariably the team that gets together in July is not the same as the one that walked off with the trophy six months earlier. This is not only technically true, but is also a means for Belichick to motivate the latter group. Sure, 85% of you won a trophy last Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107660870418771262005-02-05T19:15:00.000-08:002005-02-05T19:34:30.416-08:00One Last Pregame Note
I did find one final morsel to discuss -- not about the game, which is long since overanalyzed, and the Patriots are almost impossible to break down anyway, besides saying "they don't beat themselves." Not on Sunday, at least.
No, this came from Jerome Bettis doing an appearance on ESPN. His comment on the AFC Championship was, in effect, losses aren't hard to swallow Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107477912289342172005-02-03T16:44:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:45:12.290-08:00Last Super Bowl Post
Pre-game at least. I have completely given up on saying anything worthwhile about the game. Others really should follow suit. Anyway, I'd call it Patriots 28, Eagles 10. You??
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107476694357859842005-02-03T15:56:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:53:41.783-08:00A-Rod's Descent into Madness
On Jan. 31, ESPN.com ran an update on A-Rod wherein he makes the following comments:
* "My approach is to win championships. The only way to do that is to be myself, and to take care of my world. With my talent people will follow naturally."
* "I was brought here as the final piece of the puzzle, and we were supposed to win," A-Rod said. "For that, I accept the Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107415665691532212005-02-02T23:23:00.000-08:002005-02-02T23:27:45.690-08:00Energy
My favorite thing about Brady is his almost child-like energy when the Pats score, or win. I love it when he tackles his teammates in the end zone. It's pure joy. It also is, I am guessing, a clue to his success. Brady always has the exact right amount of energy and emotion. All week long he is sedate, not expending a drop of his precious resources any sooner than he has to. By gameChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107415395028130102005-02-02T23:15:00.000-08:002005-02-02T23:23:15.030-08:00The Best Call
On HBO's Inside the NFL, the team wags went around making their final predictions, all of which were for the Pats except Cris Collinsworth, who wouldn't say because he's working the game for some network. But Marino and Carter both talked about balance on offense, or turnovers, or some other factor, and Collinsworth threw in a few more. Then Costas summed it up better than all ofChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107297455774763932005-02-01T14:35:00.000-08:002005-02-01T14:37:35.773-08:00Drought!
97 days without a major sports championship, and counting. Seriously, something has to give. Come on Pats!
If you aren't hungry for another title, click here.
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1107155786411925872005-01-30T22:28:00.000-08:002005-01-30T23:16:26.410-08:00Leftover Tuna
An ESPN-roster wag ran a column arguing that Tom Brady doesn't compare to Joe Montana at this point, because he's only 27 and hasn't carried the water as long, or something like that. Fine by me, Brady may be my favorite QB ever, but I don't feel the need to lionize him as if it were all about Tom. And I am quite sure he would agree. But the columnist, Skip Bayless, steps over Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1106899047558937912005-01-27T23:40:00.000-08:002005-01-27T23:57:27.560-08:00Undefeated
So Tom Brady is 8-0 in playoff games? That's great, but why doesn't anyone dig a little deeper here? If they did, they might discover that David Patten and Kevin Faulk are also 8-0. Matt Light too? Or that Richard Seymour is 6-0, while a flotilla of bodies are 5-0 (Pass, Branch, Givens, B. Johnson, Samuel, Warren, Wilson...). Harrison is something like 8-1, Vrabel maybe 11-2? Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1106720886504221462005-01-25T22:02:00.000-08:002005-01-25T22:47:45.503-08:00Pace Ourselves
PORTLAND, Ore.-- Yes, that's right, blogging from the road. I not only pulled myself away from a great book on Stalin, I even resisted the temptation to start my forthcoming Stalin blog -- which would be the world's first. And all to bring you this...
* The early Terrell Owens distraction is playing out nicely so far for the Patriots... but let's face it, they are generally theChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1106552826574839082005-01-23T23:08:00.000-08:002005-01-23T23:47:06.573-08:00Endless Loop
Some thoughts:
* How do you finish the sentence, "I knew it was over when..."? For me, it was when the Steeler players spent the first quarter, already down 10-0 at home, celebrating every mundane play. How many times did a linebacker exult after stopping Dillon for a 3-yard gain? How many Jerome Bettis runs that didn't result in first downs or scores did Bettis woof about? Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1106122726426661412005-01-18T23:57:00.000-08:002005-01-19T00:18:46.426-08:00Gaining Ground
With Roethlisbergermacherstiller on the wane, or so they say, much of the focus this week is on how Pittsburgh will rely on their running attack to lead them to the win. Seems logical enough: the Steelers' robotic reliance on the run yielded the NFL's highest gross rushing total, 2464 yards, on 618 carries (about 40 percent more carries than the average team). Good ball control Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1106121396721452442005-01-18T23:36:00.000-08:002005-01-18T23:56:36.720-08:00Overdogs
I spent almost all of Tuesday on the road, which meant I got plenty of time to sample the national tradewinds on next Sunday's game. And I can tell you, the battle for lack of respect is well underway.
Patriots fans persisted in calling Dan Patrick and the Fox idiots insisting that the team was getting far less respect than it deserved. The Sports Guy has a nice breakdown on exactly Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1105984008176786942005-01-17T09:46:00.000-08:002005-01-17T09:46:48.176-08:00The Sound of Awe
shhhhh.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1105983977453465072005-01-17T09:01:00.000-08:002005-01-17T09:46:17.453-08:00What We Learned
Once again, several members of the international football punditry called it for the Colts, possibly even a majority. Vegas had the Pats a mere two point favorite. And, I admit, I was nervous. But more than ever the Pats' domination of the Colts proved several key points.
* One, good defense beats good offense. The mistake was in wondering whether the Patriots still had aChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132247.post-1105981247651902842005-01-17T08:48:00.000-08:002005-01-17T09:00:47.653-08:00Cut That Meat! Cut That Meat!
* Much credit to the Pats fans for the year's best mocking chant, directed at the league's most deserving target. Also the sign "Make Vacation Plans" is clever and a propos on about five levels.
* Borges' column today is a mix of boxing language and classic piling on homerism. Not pretty if you're neutral. But I watched that game yesterday and totally love Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254673556934217892noreply@blogger.com