All 409 pages of the Mitchell Report are available to be viewed, and you need to skim through all of them to find the names we were all clamoring to see. There is no "list", as many hoped, but paragraphs dedicated to each player accused of wrongdoing. Among the major offenders, all the BALCO characters (Bonds, Sheffield, Giambi) appear, as well as Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. The report failed to include juicy names floating around this morning such as Albert Pujols and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Aside from Manny Alexander and Brendan Donnelly, there is a startling lack of Red Sox. I'm intrigued to hear Senator Mitchell's reponse to the numerous questions directed at him for such omissions. There are several things to take in to account while reviewing the document, if you have the time. First and foremost, the findings are predicated largely on the testimony of former trainers who supplied the drugs to the athletes. Several of the players have paper trails, including checks to said trainers for large sums of money to purchase performance enhancing drugs, that pretty much seals their fate. However, there is a lack of support for several players included.
One player that I quickly followed up on was Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte. I'll be forthright in saying that my biases are difficult to hide concerning Pettitte, but take in to account the following. The alleged injections of human growth hormone administered by his personal trainer Brian McNamee occurred during the summer of 2002. MLB did not ban this substance until 2003. Therefore, he did nothing against the rules. Which brings us to the underlying issue in this "retroactive policing"; if there were no rules prohibiting the use of certain substances at the time, how can we punish players now for taking them? There's reason to believe that the drugs positively affected their performance and may leave some of their accomplishments tainted, but do we even know that for sure? It's an ethical dilemma that anyone can relate to. If there was a way for you to advance in your job that was morally questionable, yet technically by the books, would you do it? Almost everyone would say yes. Doesn't that make critics more than a little bit hypocritical?
Finally, now the question becomes, who to blame? Some will blame the players, some will blame the trainers, some will blame the coaches and executives. The report finds that everyone's to blame; one point I whole-heartedly agree on. However, I place most of the blame with greedy MLB executives. We've all KNOWN this is going on for years. The sport nearly died in 1994, and guess what saved it? The power surge of chemically enhanced Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire in 1998. If not for Victor Conte and BALCO, the startling details of the operation in "The Game of Shadows", or the increasingly accurate auto-biography "Juiced" by Jose Canseco, the MLB execs across the street on Park Ave would have never addressed this issue. Their league became flushed with cash. Revenues are soaring, attendance is through the roof, and baseball is second fiddle only to the NFL. They thrived on turning a blind eye to their problems and were hoping to ride the wave for as long as possible.
With that being said, it's not fair to put all the blame on MLB. Clearly the players who not only risked their own health, but set a poor example for America's youth, should not have gone down this path. But can you really expect some of the most competitive people in the world not to look for avenues to be more successful? Instead, I find the players union as culpable as the big wigs in Manhattan. For years they met drug testing policy with such resistance that it became impossible for any decent legislation to pass. It wasn't until 2003, when it became clear the sport needed to do something to save face, that they reached an agreement on a more stringent drug testing policy. Even then, players and trainers continued to find loopholes. Many turned to hGh, a drug undetectable by the league's testing procedures.
Sadly, there's one irrefuitble truth. No matter what laws get passed, or how sports attempt to clean themselves up, there will always be a market for athletes looking to gain a competitive advantage. That's why we think of them as super heroes. It's in their DNA. It's what makes them great. But it's also what makes them human.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Black Cloud Over Manhattan; Mitchell Report to be Revealed Today
Three hours from now, the sports world will turn its attention to midtown Manhattan where up to 80 players will be denounced for steroid use by former Congressman George Mitchell. At this point, it is tough to determine whether the list is comprised of players with failed drug tests or merely find themselves there by matter of heresay. Early reports suggest that the Yankees will suffer the greatest indignity with "several prominent players" being mentioned. Articles have already surfaced that cite a former Yankee trainer who has confirmed that Roger Clemens will appear in the report due to testimony given by the ex-employee. Herein lies one of the greatest flaws of this investigation, Clemens name will be run through the muck presumably without a failed drug test. I'm not suggesting he did not use performance enhancing substances (in fact, his body transformation would certainly provide evidence in support of these claims), but in the absence of a positive test result, the findings will have a lot of grey area. However, before getting to the more specific problems with this 20 month investigation, let's evaluate the man chosen to spearhead these efforts.
Senator Mitchell has been lauded for his superb congressional records and his knowledge of baseball certainly made him a prime candidate. But Mr. Selig, how do you possibly select a man with direct ties to an individual organization? Not only does he hold a cushy position with the Boston Red Sox, many reports suggest he is a passionate fan with strong allegiances to the ball club. I fancy myself as a man of integrity, but you better believe if I was running this thing that Derek Jeter's name would not appear on that list even if I had 10 failed drug tests in my pocket. For his sake, and the sake of the integrity of this report, there better be a fair representation of Red Sox on the list. Preliminary lists floating around the internet have pegged Jason Varitek, the Red Sox captain, as well as former Sox stars Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon. It is important to emphasize PRELIMINARY, and may not be accurate. If these hold to be true, it will give more credence to the report. However, Mitchell's ties to the Red Sox will be a tough obstacle to overcome. He's already come under fire for the announcement of Paul Byrd's abuse of hGh just prior to pitching a pivotal playoff game against the Sox. But since Selig decided to take the investigation out of "baseballs" hands and turn it over to "government", it is important to note how undemocratic this process appears to be.
First of all, where's the due process? Has every player whose been listed been notified and had a chance to plea their case before their names get sullied? What recourse will the players have to defend themselves? In the absence of a positive test, can MLB justify any suspensions or docking of pay? If this report is predicated on testimony from ex-trainers and clubhouse attendants, what if they just don't like someone in the clubhouse? Are these men of great character? Is a drug peddler like Kirk Radomski to be trusted? The findings of this report must be questioned and deemed credible beyond reasonable doubt.
The efforts of baseball to retroactively police themselves is shallow at best. It's still tough to rationalize this tremendous undertaking by Mitchell and his staff, especially given the lack of cooperation from players. Only one active player has testified before the committee, and it is widely believed he only spoke of his own drug habits. Despite one's personal feelings on steroid use, I personally despise it, it is unconscionable to hold people accountable for taking substances that weren't illegal in the sport until 2003. The executives at MLB just needed to give a "mea culpa", take all the heat for turning a blind eye to their sports perversions, and move on. Major League Baseball is flush with cash, generating over $6 billion in revenue. For them to try and become beacons of moral integrity to save face at this point is hypocritical at best, more appropriately depolorable. Let's just hope that no player is falsely accused because I sense a lot of counter-suits are in the making. Baseball should have just taken the money and run. By attempting to "take this issue head on", they will run in to a lot more problems than they can possibly solve. Bud Selig was hoping December 13, 2007 would read on baseball's epitaph as "The day the black cloud was lifted". It seems that the storm is just beginning.
Senator Mitchell has been lauded for his superb congressional records and his knowledge of baseball certainly made him a prime candidate. But Mr. Selig, how do you possibly select a man with direct ties to an individual organization? Not only does he hold a cushy position with the Boston Red Sox, many reports suggest he is a passionate fan with strong allegiances to the ball club. I fancy myself as a man of integrity, but you better believe if I was running this thing that Derek Jeter's name would not appear on that list even if I had 10 failed drug tests in my pocket. For his sake, and the sake of the integrity of this report, there better be a fair representation of Red Sox on the list. Preliminary lists floating around the internet have pegged Jason Varitek, the Red Sox captain, as well as former Sox stars Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon. It is important to emphasize PRELIMINARY, and may not be accurate. If these hold to be true, it will give more credence to the report. However, Mitchell's ties to the Red Sox will be a tough obstacle to overcome. He's already come under fire for the announcement of Paul Byrd's abuse of hGh just prior to pitching a pivotal playoff game against the Sox. But since Selig decided to take the investigation out of "baseballs" hands and turn it over to "government", it is important to note how undemocratic this process appears to be.
First of all, where's the due process? Has every player whose been listed been notified and had a chance to plea their case before their names get sullied? What recourse will the players have to defend themselves? In the absence of a positive test, can MLB justify any suspensions or docking of pay? If this report is predicated on testimony from ex-trainers and clubhouse attendants, what if they just don't like someone in the clubhouse? Are these men of great character? Is a drug peddler like Kirk Radomski to be trusted? The findings of this report must be questioned and deemed credible beyond reasonable doubt.
The efforts of baseball to retroactively police themselves is shallow at best. It's still tough to rationalize this tremendous undertaking by Mitchell and his staff, especially given the lack of cooperation from players. Only one active player has testified before the committee, and it is widely believed he only spoke of his own drug habits. Despite one's personal feelings on steroid use, I personally despise it, it is unconscionable to hold people accountable for taking substances that weren't illegal in the sport until 2003. The executives at MLB just needed to give a "mea culpa", take all the heat for turning a blind eye to their sports perversions, and move on. Major League Baseball is flush with cash, generating over $6 billion in revenue. For them to try and become beacons of moral integrity to save face at this point is hypocritical at best, more appropriately depolorable. Let's just hope that no player is falsely accused because I sense a lot of counter-suits are in the making. Baseball should have just taken the money and run. By attempting to "take this issue head on", they will run in to a lot more problems than they can possibly solve. Bud Selig was hoping December 13, 2007 would read on baseball's epitaph as "The day the black cloud was lifted". It seems that the storm is just beginning.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
"Idiot" Democratizing the Fate of 756
Outside of San Francisco, it's hard to find anyone who believes Barry Lamar Bonds' recent 756th home run is the new standard for baseball's most treasured record. A fashion industry kingpin, Marc Ecko, is determined to find out what America truly thinks of Bonds and his place in history. Ecko recently purchased the ball for over $750 K and has created a website that allows people to vote on its fate. While many fans applaud the move, Mr. Ecko has been called out by one harsh critic. It is being reported in a news story on ESPN.com that the new home run king has labeled the ball's new owner as "stupid, an idiot." Unfortunately (or, as an anti-Bonds crusader, fortunately) he couldn't be farther from the truth. What is being done is a stroke of marketing brilliance by the clothing line entrepeneur. At the very least, he and his brand are getting recognition for being tied with sports' most polarizing record. At best, he is being championed a hero of the people who hope to see the record viewed for what it is: a chemically produced farce. Not to mention Mr. Bonds himself has completely fallen in to the marketing trap. By opening his mouth, he has simply stoked the flames on this hot story and provided even more coverage to Ecko's efforts. No publicity is bad publicity, so he just made the plan look a whole lot smarter. And Ecko's bottom line a whole lot wealthier.
Regardless of the outcome, people are genuinely interested in the balls' fate. Whether they believe it should be handed over to the Hall of Fame, branded with an asterisk, or shot in to space (as the three options allow), people want to feel that they had some voice in how this conflict should be resolved. Personally, I'm rooting for it to be branded, and not just because I think of Mr. Bonds as a despicable figure. My reasons are far more sadistic. Could you imagine the predicament MLB and the Hall of Fame would be in? If the ball is publicly branded, how could they attempt to display a pristine one? How about Mr. Bonds' reaction to the Hall displaying the original in its altered state? Quite honestly, it would serve them right. If not for baseball's blatant encouragement of performance enhancing drugs, the game's integrity may still be intact. The sad truth is that most people believe all baseball stars are dopers, and it doesn't help that Bonds has a callous, abrasive personality to supplement his "alleged" use. So vote early, vote often, and hopefully the true results will be carried out in the upcoming weeks.
Regardless of the outcome, people are genuinely interested in the balls' fate. Whether they believe it should be handed over to the Hall of Fame, branded with an asterisk, or shot in to space (as the three options allow), people want to feel that they had some voice in how this conflict should be resolved. Personally, I'm rooting for it to be branded, and not just because I think of Mr. Bonds as a despicable figure. My reasons are far more sadistic. Could you imagine the predicament MLB and the Hall of Fame would be in? If the ball is publicly branded, how could they attempt to display a pristine one? How about Mr. Bonds' reaction to the Hall displaying the original in its altered state? Quite honestly, it would serve them right. If not for baseball's blatant encouragement of performance enhancing drugs, the game's integrity may still be intact. The sad truth is that most people believe all baseball stars are dopers, and it doesn't help that Bonds has a callous, abrasive personality to supplement his "alleged" use. So vote early, vote often, and hopefully the true results will be carried out in the upcoming weeks.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
WANTED: Capable Outside Linebacker
No team ever likes to lose a player, but the Giants may have gained an opportunity when reserve DE Adrian Awasom suffered a potentially season ending injury on Sunday. If he is put on Injured Reserve (which all reports indicate), the Giants will be in a position to add a player to the roster. With the shaky play of the linebackers in the seasons' opening weeks, an outside addition would be welcomed with open arms. Despite having seven players on the current roster listed at that position, bringing in another would allow the Giants to terminate the ill-advised Mathias Kiwanuka experiment. He could transition back to his natural defensive end position which is in need of a boost with the loss of Awasom, and the Giants could attempt to upgrade their greatest weakness during its first two games.
During the offseason, many feared the linebacker position would be a weakness. Many people were looking for the Giants to draft college standouts Jon Beason or Paul Pozluszny with their top pick. However, we were assured that with the signing of Kawika Mitchell and switch by Kiwanuka, the linebacking corps would be fine. After two standout performances by tight ends, it is apparent an upgrade is necessary. They failed to obtain Al Wilson via trade this offseason, but he remains a free agent. If he could be deemed physically fit, he always excelled in pass coverage. It would at least be wise of the Giants to re-visit this option.
Two games in to the season, there's many reasons for concern. With 14 left to play, there's plenty of time to right the ship. However, the long term issues bother me the most. New general manager Jerry Reese has proven very capable on draft day but has left this roster with many question marks. He's sat by in recent weeks as many veterans (Donovin Darius, Jeremiah Trotter) who could have helped this team tremendously were signed at low prices. As it stands, the Giants are dangerously thin at safety and have received no positive contributions from the linebacking corps. Reese looks to suffer from Isiah Thomas syndrome; great eye for amateur talent, but no ability to form a cohesive roster. Hopefully he uses this new opportunity to start turning things around.
During the offseason, many feared the linebacker position would be a weakness. Many people were looking for the Giants to draft college standouts Jon Beason or Paul Pozluszny with their top pick. However, we were assured that with the signing of Kawika Mitchell and switch by Kiwanuka, the linebacking corps would be fine. After two standout performances by tight ends, it is apparent an upgrade is necessary. They failed to obtain Al Wilson via trade this offseason, but he remains a free agent. If he could be deemed physically fit, he always excelled in pass coverage. It would at least be wise of the Giants to re-visit this option.
Two games in to the season, there's many reasons for concern. With 14 left to play, there's plenty of time to right the ship. However, the long term issues bother me the most. New general manager Jerry Reese has proven very capable on draft day but has left this roster with many question marks. He's sat by in recent weeks as many veterans (Donovin Darius, Jeremiah Trotter) who could have helped this team tremendously were signed at low prices. As it stands, the Giants are dangerously thin at safety and have received no positive contributions from the linebacking corps. Reese looks to suffer from Isiah Thomas syndrome; great eye for amateur talent, but no ability to form a cohesive roster. Hopefully he uses this new opportunity to start turning things around.
Monday, September 17, 2007
New York In Need of Giant Shake-Up
In getting off to their worst start since 1996, the Giants defense has surrendered an astounding 80 points in just two games. To avoid a devastating 0-3 start, the Giants will need to make some dramatic changes to a defensive unit that looks among the worst in team history. As has been the case in the Tom Coughlin era, they've struggled to get teams off the field on 3rd down. Along with attrocious tackling, lack of a pass rush, and a staggering inability to cover the middle of the field, opposing offenses will continue to score in droves. If the Giants are to salvage their season (isn't it awful to think it may be done in September?), they should seriously consider doing the following:
Give up on the Kiwanuka experiment. Did the organization think he could make the transition based on zone schemes that had him drop in to coverage a year ago? Many teams institute packages where the DE will shift in to coverage to throw off a quarterback's reads. Just because he was fortunate enough to have a couple interceptions hit him between the numbers, didn't mean he was capable of doing it on a regular basis. Kiwanuka is certainly extremely athletic and a gifted football player...with his hands on the ground. He needs to go back to his natural position instead of watching tight ends roam free.
Replace Kawika Mitchell until further notice. Mathias is not the only one LB getting burned in coverage. "Major" free agent acquistion Mitchell has been far slower than advertised. He's been lined up on the weak side, a position he's been unfamiliar with. Late in games, the Giants have turned to Reggie Torbor in passing situations, but he has not made much of an impact. The Giants are waiting for the return of Gerris Wilkinson, which could send Mitchell to the bench or to his more familiar SAM role.
Sign a veteran safety. Outside of Gibril Wilson, the Giants are extremely thin at safety. Giving the Free Safety position to James Butler and releasing Will Demps was a flat out mistake. Butler has struggled with his tackling and in coverage. Unfortunately, the Giants have no options behind him. The inconsistent rookie undrafted free agent Craig Dahl sits behind him on the depth chart, and seventh round pick Michael Johnson is the only other safety on the roster. Not making a run at Donovin Darius or Lamont Thompson (both of whom recently signed with the Dolphins) was another in the series of questionable decision making by the front office.
Get Aaron Ross on the field. I realize he was lifted in the 3rd quarter for cramps, but if the secondary is going to get torched, at least let him get some valuable game experience. Corey Webster has failed to show any progress, Sam Madison has shown hes on his last legs, and R.W McQuarters has never been anything more than a nickel back. The defending Jim Thorpe award winner for top college CB, Ross has a promising future in this league. That future could be now. Despite being beaten on the play, his deflection of a Brett Favre pass led to the Packers only turnover of the game. In a defense struggling to make plays, his presence could be instrumental in righting the ship.
However you slice it, the Giants need a major face lift. Whether that's the current starters looking themselves in the mirror and making a change (totally unintentional MJ pun) or some hungry back-ups proving they can play in this league, the defense needs to start showing a little pride. Rookie coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has shown his aggressiveness, but the defense's inability to get to the passer or cover the voids filled by blitzers' is alarming. The vaunted front four have registered zero sacks, with the team's only 2 coming from back-up Justin Tuck.
The offense has demonstrated it can move the football and will only improve with the return of Brandon Jacobs. Still awaiting word on Plaxico's bum ankle and the early diagnosis for rookie Steve Smith is not encouraging (fractured shoulder blade), but fortunately they have capable back-ups in Sinorice Moss and Anthony Mix. The offensive line has looked great in creating a pocket for Eli Manning and opening up holes for Derrick Ward. Without dumb mental errors by Shockey and Toomer, the Giants would have put up a bunch more points in yesterday's loss. It's hard to imagine the defense is this bad with a solid front four and some capable players behind them. Hopefully they can get everything clicking soon and turn this season around.
Give up on the Kiwanuka experiment. Did the organization think he could make the transition based on zone schemes that had him drop in to coverage a year ago? Many teams institute packages where the DE will shift in to coverage to throw off a quarterback's reads. Just because he was fortunate enough to have a couple interceptions hit him between the numbers, didn't mean he was capable of doing it on a regular basis. Kiwanuka is certainly extremely athletic and a gifted football player...with his hands on the ground. He needs to go back to his natural position instead of watching tight ends roam free.
Replace Kawika Mitchell until further notice. Mathias is not the only one LB getting burned in coverage. "Major" free agent acquistion Mitchell has been far slower than advertised. He's been lined up on the weak side, a position he's been unfamiliar with. Late in games, the Giants have turned to Reggie Torbor in passing situations, but he has not made much of an impact. The Giants are waiting for the return of Gerris Wilkinson, which could send Mitchell to the bench or to his more familiar SAM role.
Sign a veteran safety. Outside of Gibril Wilson, the Giants are extremely thin at safety. Giving the Free Safety position to James Butler and releasing Will Demps was a flat out mistake. Butler has struggled with his tackling and in coverage. Unfortunately, the Giants have no options behind him. The inconsistent rookie undrafted free agent Craig Dahl sits behind him on the depth chart, and seventh round pick Michael Johnson is the only other safety on the roster. Not making a run at Donovin Darius or Lamont Thompson (both of whom recently signed with the Dolphins) was another in the series of questionable decision making by the front office.
Get Aaron Ross on the field. I realize he was lifted in the 3rd quarter for cramps, but if the secondary is going to get torched, at least let him get some valuable game experience. Corey Webster has failed to show any progress, Sam Madison has shown hes on his last legs, and R.W McQuarters has never been anything more than a nickel back. The defending Jim Thorpe award winner for top college CB, Ross has a promising future in this league. That future could be now. Despite being beaten on the play, his deflection of a Brett Favre pass led to the Packers only turnover of the game. In a defense struggling to make plays, his presence could be instrumental in righting the ship.
However you slice it, the Giants need a major face lift. Whether that's the current starters looking themselves in the mirror and making a change (totally unintentional MJ pun) or some hungry back-ups proving they can play in this league, the defense needs to start showing a little pride. Rookie coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has shown his aggressiveness, but the defense's inability to get to the passer or cover the voids filled by blitzers' is alarming. The vaunted front four have registered zero sacks, with the team's only 2 coming from back-up Justin Tuck.
The offense has demonstrated it can move the football and will only improve with the return of Brandon Jacobs. Still awaiting word on Plaxico's bum ankle and the early diagnosis for rookie Steve Smith is not encouraging (fractured shoulder blade), but fortunately they have capable back-ups in Sinorice Moss and Anthony Mix. The offensive line has looked great in creating a pocket for Eli Manning and opening up holes for Derrick Ward. Without dumb mental errors by Shockey and Toomer, the Giants would have put up a bunch more points in yesterday's loss. It's hard to imagine the defense is this bad with a solid front four and some capable players behind them. Hopefully they can get everything clicking soon and turn this season around.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Oden, Durant, then ?
The two most talked about stars in College Basketball are headed to the Pacific Northwest after sensational freshman campaigns, but after they are off the board, it's anyone's guess what will transpire in tonight's NBA draft. Portland has reportedly tabbed Oden as their man with the top overall pick, which all but guarantees Kevin Durant to the SuperSonics. Will it be Oden's longtime teammate Mike Conley Jr to the Hawks at three? More likely it will be Chinese sensation Yi Jianlian or Florida's Al Horford, but there is very little consensus on how the rest of the lottery will shape up.
Any amateur draft has its uncertainties, but the unsettled future of superstars such as Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Jermaine O'Neal, whose names are all linked to trade rumors makes this one espeically tricky to figure out. The Celtics #5 selection has been involved in a host of trade talks, but they publicly pronounce they are reluctant to rid themsleves of their lofty pick. With two picks in the top 11, the Atlanta Hawks should be the major swing team of the night. Whether they offer the picks in a package for a superstar or look to acquire more picks, they have the most influence over how the draft will shape up.
Sure-fire lottery picks Durant, Oden, Conley Jr., and the Florida trio of Horford, Corey Brewer, and Joakim Noah have been spotted all over New York City promoting the game. Most of them are sure to get their autograph seekers, but there's one player who doesn't get enough attention. As a member of the two-time defending champion Florida Gators, it's hard to imagine a player being overlooked, but this guy will be special. I'm not talking about Noah or Horford, but rather the 6'8' swingman Brewer, who has an impressive skill set and a non-stop motor. His tremendous wingspan has made him a defensive stopper, as well as being a versatile offensive threat from on the wing. A sure-fire top 10 pick can hardly be described as a sleeper, but Brewer should immediately help any team he ends up on. I'd love to see what he could do in an uptempo system that likes to put a lot of pressure on the ball. He can get a bit too aggressive and be caught out of position on defense, but most of the time he ends up with the ball and an easy two on the offensive end. For selfish reasons I hope he inexplicably pulls a Brady Quinn to the Knicks, but some team will be lucky to have him in the top 10.
With their lottery pick dealt to the Bulls, who could be in the Brewer sweepstakes at 9, the Knicks have to wait until pick 23 for their only selcrtion of the night. According to most reports, the Knicks have locked in on DePaul junior Wilson Chandler. The words most often associated with Chandler are "athletic and versatile", two areas that would greatly improve any team. He's more polished offensively than last year's first rounder Renaldo Balkman and gives the team a much needed boost in the front court. A concern is whether he is enough of a presence on the defensive end to compensate for offensive minded Center Eddy Curry. With that in mind, the Knicks initially had interest in shot blocking specialist Shaun Williams. It's unclear whether he will fall to the Knicks because several teams ahead of them, including the Nets, have him on their radar. The Knicks have no second round pick, which like their first round swap is thanks to the ridiculous Eddy Curry deal, but with 14 players under contract a late draft choice would have a tough time sticking with the team. However, by signing Kentucky's Randolph Morris in March, they essentially picked up an extra first rounder.
For all the heat Isiah Thomas feels as an unsuccessful coach and general manager, draft night is where he shines. He has an undeniable talent of finding less sought after talent, yet inexplicably makes a lot of foolish moves through free agency and trades. While Eddy Curry has grown in to an offensive force, he's too one dimensional to ever warrant the package the Knicks gave up. The slew of picks they forfeited (and are giving away through next year's draft) to acquire him should be reserved only for the most elite, and even then it's questionable. Even with some shaky decision making in the front office, the Knicks have assembled a team capable of winning in a weak Eastern Conference. They've asserted tonight's pick will not be expected to make an immediate contribution, but he will need to do so if the Knicks are to end their playoff drought.
Any amateur draft has its uncertainties, but the unsettled future of superstars such as Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Jermaine O'Neal, whose names are all linked to trade rumors makes this one espeically tricky to figure out. The Celtics #5 selection has been involved in a host of trade talks, but they publicly pronounce they are reluctant to rid themsleves of their lofty pick. With two picks in the top 11, the Atlanta Hawks should be the major swing team of the night. Whether they offer the picks in a package for a superstar or look to acquire more picks, they have the most influence over how the draft will shape up.
Sure-fire lottery picks Durant, Oden, Conley Jr., and the Florida trio of Horford, Corey Brewer, and Joakim Noah have been spotted all over New York City promoting the game. Most of them are sure to get their autograph seekers, but there's one player who doesn't get enough attention. As a member of the two-time defending champion Florida Gators, it's hard to imagine a player being overlooked, but this guy will be special. I'm not talking about Noah or Horford, but rather the 6'8' swingman Brewer, who has an impressive skill set and a non-stop motor. His tremendous wingspan has made him a defensive stopper, as well as being a versatile offensive threat from on the wing. A sure-fire top 10 pick can hardly be described as a sleeper, but Brewer should immediately help any team he ends up on. I'd love to see what he could do in an uptempo system that likes to put a lot of pressure on the ball. He can get a bit too aggressive and be caught out of position on defense, but most of the time he ends up with the ball and an easy two on the offensive end. For selfish reasons I hope he inexplicably pulls a Brady Quinn to the Knicks, but some team will be lucky to have him in the top 10.
With their lottery pick dealt to the Bulls, who could be in the Brewer sweepstakes at 9, the Knicks have to wait until pick 23 for their only selcrtion of the night. According to most reports, the Knicks have locked in on DePaul junior Wilson Chandler. The words most often associated with Chandler are "athletic and versatile", two areas that would greatly improve any team. He's more polished offensively than last year's first rounder Renaldo Balkman and gives the team a much needed boost in the front court. A concern is whether he is enough of a presence on the defensive end to compensate for offensive minded Center Eddy Curry. With that in mind, the Knicks initially had interest in shot blocking specialist Shaun Williams. It's unclear whether he will fall to the Knicks because several teams ahead of them, including the Nets, have him on their radar. The Knicks have no second round pick, which like their first round swap is thanks to the ridiculous Eddy Curry deal, but with 14 players under contract a late draft choice would have a tough time sticking with the team. However, by signing Kentucky's Randolph Morris in March, they essentially picked up an extra first rounder.
For all the heat Isiah Thomas feels as an unsuccessful coach and general manager, draft night is where he shines. He has an undeniable talent of finding less sought after talent, yet inexplicably makes a lot of foolish moves through free agency and trades. While Eddy Curry has grown in to an offensive force, he's too one dimensional to ever warrant the package the Knicks gave up. The slew of picks they forfeited (and are giving away through next year's draft) to acquire him should be reserved only for the most elite, and even then it's questionable. Even with some shaky decision making in the front office, the Knicks have assembled a team capable of winning in a weak Eastern Conference. They've asserted tonight's pick will not be expected to make an immediate contribution, but he will need to do so if the Knicks are to end their playoff drought.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Why The Rocket Will Re-Launch in NY
Yankee fans were floating on cloud nine for 6 1/3 innings last night. The future of the franchise looked the role by no-hitting a dangerous Texas lineup, the bats awoke to the tune of 9 runs, and the Bombers were en route to a crucial victory. Then Phil Hughes clutched his hamstring after an 0-2 delivery and all the good feelings washed away. In a 9-0 game, with the mounting injuries, it was a no-brainer to pull the kid. Later on we learned the injury will cost him 4-6 weeks. Another devastating blow in a rough early season.
The natural question on everyone's minds is will this latest injury expedite the Roger Clemens process? One would have to think so, but his agent Randy Hendricks remains tight lipped on the situation. There are really a multitude of reasons I believe he'll be back, but I'll get in to a few major ones with one caveat...we must remain at least on the heels of the Sox. He's not coming back to watch the playoffs on TV.
1) The Yankee organization remains largely in tact from his last trip here (Steinbrenner, Cash, Torre, Jeter, Posada, Mo) and he loves those guys. He'd welcome the chance to suit up for the execs and despite Rivera's early season troubles, would love handing the ball to him late in games.
2) He would love to be reunited with his best-friend Andy Pettitte. Pretty much the same as above, but deserves special mention due to their special relationship.
3) Boston embarrassed him last time he was there by saying he was in "the twilight of his career". Granted the man largely responsible for the decision, as well as the quote, is gone, Roger has too much pride for that not to hurt. I think there's more of a grudge there than people embrace.
4) He wants to wear a Yankees cap in to the HOF. What better way to justify that than to punctuate his career with another ring in NY, and another season (well, half) to put on his resume as a Pinstriper.
5) Not that he's the mentoring type, but if he could be considered "instrumental" in the progress of Mini-Rocket Phil Hughes, his legacy grows even greater. A man who names his kids all K's to recognize his strikeout wizardry clearly has the ego to take that in to account.
FOX will broadcast a Saturday Subway Series tilt in the Bronx on Saturday June 16th. The man making his season debut on the mound for the Bombers will be wearing #22.
The natural question on everyone's minds is will this latest injury expedite the Roger Clemens process? One would have to think so, but his agent Randy Hendricks remains tight lipped on the situation. There are really a multitude of reasons I believe he'll be back, but I'll get in to a few major ones with one caveat...we must remain at least on the heels of the Sox. He's not coming back to watch the playoffs on TV.
1) The Yankee organization remains largely in tact from his last trip here (Steinbrenner, Cash, Torre, Jeter, Posada, Mo) and he loves those guys. He'd welcome the chance to suit up for the execs and despite Rivera's early season troubles, would love handing the ball to him late in games.
2) He would love to be reunited with his best-friend Andy Pettitte. Pretty much the same as above, but deserves special mention due to their special relationship.
3) Boston embarrassed him last time he was there by saying he was in "the twilight of his career". Granted the man largely responsible for the decision, as well as the quote, is gone, Roger has too much pride for that not to hurt. I think there's more of a grudge there than people embrace.
4) He wants to wear a Yankees cap in to the HOF. What better way to justify that than to punctuate his career with another ring in NY, and another season (well, half) to put on his resume as a Pinstriper.
5) Not that he's the mentoring type, but if he could be considered "instrumental" in the progress of Mini-Rocket Phil Hughes, his legacy grows even greater. A man who names his kids all K's to recognize his strikeout wizardry clearly has the ego to take that in to account.
FOX will broadcast a Saturday Subway Series tilt in the Bronx on Saturday June 16th. The man making his season debut on the mound for the Bombers will be wearing #22.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Best Sports Week of The Year?
Perhaps the greatest attraction to sports fanaticism is that it gives you a platform to assert your convictions. If your a Yankee fan, you'll talk to your face turns blue about why they're better than Boston. Drive down Tobacco Road to ask about what Coach K can do with his national championships, and you'll get vastly different answers over the course of just a few miles. Everything is up for debate and rarely will you find unanimity. So when I heard the first week of April dubbed "the best sports week of the year", I had to evalute whether the argument held any weight. I whole-heartedly agree with this statement and I dare anyone to convince me otherwise.
Let's get in to the specifics. First of all, the week kicks off with MLB Opening Day and the Men's Basketball NCAA championships, arguably two of the finest spectacles in sport. As people relish the fact baseball is back, a new (or in this year's case, repeat) champion is crowned in the culmination of THE best tournament in sports. Some golf nuts may argue with me on the latter half, but even if they do, the week concludes with the premiere golf event of the calendar year down in Augusta. Not enough? Check out the next generation of hoop stars at the U-19 Hoops Summitt with the best our country has to offer on the prep level and international gems waiting to be discovered. Even though the NHL can hardly be considered part of the "big 4" following its lockout, the regular season is coming to a close with exciting races for the final postseason berths.
What other single week has this much to offer? Last week in October with the World Series and the NFL hitting midseason form? Close, but not quite. First week of January with BCS games and NFL playoffs? Heaven if your a football fan, but no variety. There is no other individual week where 3 major sports are at peak interest. You can even make a good argument that opening day is more exciting to baseball fans than the World Series. Growing up a Yankee fan that hasn't been the case with me, but if you're team is a perennial bottom feeder, day 1 could be the only enjoyable game of the year.
So now I encourage any takers to find a better Sunday-Sunday than the week we're currently in.
Let's get in to the specifics. First of all, the week kicks off with MLB Opening Day and the Men's Basketball NCAA championships, arguably two of the finest spectacles in sport. As people relish the fact baseball is back, a new (or in this year's case, repeat) champion is crowned in the culmination of THE best tournament in sports. Some golf nuts may argue with me on the latter half, but even if they do, the week concludes with the premiere golf event of the calendar year down in Augusta. Not enough? Check out the next generation of hoop stars at the U-19 Hoops Summitt with the best our country has to offer on the prep level and international gems waiting to be discovered. Even though the NHL can hardly be considered part of the "big 4" following its lockout, the regular season is coming to a close with exciting races for the final postseason berths.
What other single week has this much to offer? Last week in October with the World Series and the NFL hitting midseason form? Close, but not quite. First week of January with BCS games and NFL playoffs? Heaven if your a football fan, but no variety. There is no other individual week where 3 major sports are at peak interest. You can even make a good argument that opening day is more exciting to baseball fans than the World Series. Growing up a Yankee fan that hasn't been the case with me, but if you're team is a perennial bottom feeder, day 1 could be the only enjoyable game of the year.
So now I encourage any takers to find a better Sunday-Sunday than the week we're currently in.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Wang To Miss A Month
The Yankees will be without number one starter Chien Ming-Wang for about a month according to statements made by GM Brian Cashman. Their Taiwanese ace tweaked his hamstring while running during a spring training workout a couple days ago. Young pitchers Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner are expected to fill the "short-term" void. Karstens has had a terrific spring and was believed to be in serious competition with Kei Igawa for the final spot in the rotation. It's likely that he's the front-runner. The injury also opens the door for Andy Pettitte to take the mound on opening day. He's been sidelined with back spasms, but both he and Cash seem optimistic the veteran lefty will be ready by April 2.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Eli Engaged
A month and a half ago Peyton Manning made big news when he finally got his ring. Now his kid brother is in the news for giving one out. The fourth year QB proposed to his long time girlfriend Abby Crews, a girl he's been dating since their days at Ole Miss. With older brother in town to host SNL, Eli popped the question he's been waiting to ask for months according to family friends. Hopefully his brightened personal future will translate in to greater success on the football field.
In March Madness action two games have gone final, and two more higher seeds have moved on. Kansas and Memphis won tight games to advance to the Elite Eight. The number one Jayhawks survived a close battle with Southern Illinois despite a pace that favored the Salukis. As for Memphis, an unlikely missed layup by Acie Law IV with A&M up one opened the door for the clinching free throws. With A&M eliminated, my brackets have been officially busted. Like this country, I placed my faith in Texas (with UT and A&M) and have been sorely let down.
In March Madness action two games have gone final, and two more higher seeds have moved on. Kansas and Memphis won tight games to advance to the Elite Eight. The number one Jayhawks survived a close battle with Southern Illinois despite a pace that favored the Salukis. As for Memphis, an unlikely missed layup by Acie Law IV with A&M up one opened the door for the clinching free throws. With A&M eliminated, my brackets have been officially busted. Like this country, I placed my faith in Texas (with UT and A&M) and have been sorely let down.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Giants on Verge of First Move
Shortly after publishing an entry yesterday, reports surfaced that the Giants had reached an agreement with restricted free agent FB Vonta Leach. The Texans have a week to match the offer, but if they don't, would receive no compensation for his departure. Since Leach went undrafted and the Texans tendered him at the lowest level, the Giants can essentially acquire him as an unrestricted free agent. The only hook is that the Texans have the one-week window to match. Leach is regarded as a terrific, power-run blocker. With the RB tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns, that is exactly the type of football the Giants will look to play. In that regard, the signing makes sense. But a fullback, with all of their needs? It doesn't seem like Reese has attacked the free agency period with a clear plan.
This offseason the Giants have said goodbye to their all-time leading rusher, two offensive tackles, two outside linebackers, a wide receiver, a cornerback, a kicker, and kick returner. They've filled those holes with one running back, and potentially his lead blocker. I'm a firm believer in building through the draft, but it's only 7 rounds long. With the free agent pool dried up, there don't seem to be many moves Big Blue can make. It appears the Giants will take a step backwards in 2007.
This offseason the Giants have said goodbye to their all-time leading rusher, two offensive tackles, two outside linebackers, a wide receiver, a cornerback, a kicker, and kick returner. They've filled those holes with one running back, and potentially his lead blocker. I'm a firm believer in building through the draft, but it's only 7 rounds long. With the free agent pool dried up, there don't seem to be many moves Big Blue can make. It appears the Giants will take a step backwards in 2007.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Tourney, Giants, and More
I've been MIA the past week, but my commentary from March Madness can be found at http://mvn.com/ncaa-syracuse. Opening weekend featured some thrilling overtime games, but most of the higher seeds have survived. In other words, the people who know the least about college basketball are probably winning your office pool. My brackets were busted when the rest of the Texas Longhorns decided not to help out freshman sensation Kevin Durant. While he put together one of the finest seasons ever for a freshman, he can't compete with '03 Melo without that national championship.
With the sport's world transfixed on the Big Dance, there's not too much for NY sports fans to get excited about. The Giants are one of six teams in the NFL not to have signed a free agent and the Yankees are playing well but it's only spring training. On brighter notes, the Knicks and Rangers have played themselves in to playoff position. The Knicks thoroughly dismantled divison leading Toronto at the Garden yesterday and received a huge boost from rookie Renaldo Balkman.
Just a few hours after the Knicks win, the Garden hosted the city basketball championship. The game was broadcast on MSG and I tuned in to check out sophomore sensation Lance Stephenson. Stephenson plays for the Lincoln Railsplitters, the same high school team that made Sebastian Telfair a NYC legend, and many think the sophomore is the next Coney Island great. He did not disappoint, showing off great range and an ability to score in many ways. The biggest knock is his attitude. He showed no defensive intensity and looked very unhappy when he didn't get touches on the offensive end. In short, in many ways he showed that he's still a young kid. Lincoln dominated Boys and Girls High School to take home the city title, their fifth in six years. Remember the name though. Lance Stephenson will be playing elite D-I ball in a couple years.
With the sport's world transfixed on the Big Dance, there's not too much for NY sports fans to get excited about. The Giants are one of six teams in the NFL not to have signed a free agent and the Yankees are playing well but it's only spring training. On brighter notes, the Knicks and Rangers have played themselves in to playoff position. The Knicks thoroughly dismantled divison leading Toronto at the Garden yesterday and received a huge boost from rookie Renaldo Balkman.
Just a few hours after the Knicks win, the Garden hosted the city basketball championship. The game was broadcast on MSG and I tuned in to check out sophomore sensation Lance Stephenson. Stephenson plays for the Lincoln Railsplitters, the same high school team that made Sebastian Telfair a NYC legend, and many think the sophomore is the next Coney Island great. He did not disappoint, showing off great range and an ability to score in many ways. The biggest knock is his attitude. He showed no defensive intensity and looked very unhappy when he didn't get touches on the offensive end. In short, in many ways he showed that he's still a young kid. Lincoln dominated Boys and Girls High School to take home the city title, their fifth in six years. Remember the name though. Lance Stephenson will be playing elite D-I ball in a couple years.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Tourney Field Set With Some Glaring Omissions
The field of 65 teams competing in this year's March Madness was revealed on Sunday, but a lot of attention has been focused on several of the teams who were not selected. As you can tell from this entry on my Syracuse basketball blog, the Orange could take the honor of most slighted. Instead of dwelling on that, if we re-visit Sunday's entry, I accurately projected 31 of the 34 at large bids. To put that in perspective, ESPN's bracketologist pegged 32 of the 34. Not bad for my first stab. All further "bracket banter" will take place at the aforementioned Syracuse blog. Please feel free to visit and engage in some discussion via the comments section.
Just to offer a sneak peek, my early national Champion is the University of Florida. I know, not really going out on a limb by choosing the defending champion and overall number one seed, but they feature one of the most talented starting fives in recent NCAA history. Also, consider the last team to repeat as champions were the Duke Blue Devils of 1991-1992 that feautred one of the best collegiate tandems (Bob Hurley and Christian Laettner) of all time. With their balanced scoring and unparalleled front court, the Gators are certainly the team to beat.
Just to offer a sneak peek, my early national Champion is the University of Florida. I know, not really going out on a limb by choosing the defending champion and overall number one seed, but they feature one of the most talented starting fives in recent NCAA history. Also, consider the last team to repeat as champions were the Duke Blue Devils of 1991-1992 that feautred one of the best collegiate tandems (Bob Hurley and Christian Laettner) of all time. With their balanced scoring and unparalleled front court, the Gators are certainly the team to beat.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Projecting the Field
With the CBS Selection Show just a few minutes away, I wanted to post my projected field. The 31 automatic bids have all been handed out, and there is sure to be plenty of controversy over the final 34. Below is my list for the 34 at-large teams (in no particular order):
Southern Illinois-MVC
Butler-Horizon
Wisconsin-Big 10
UVA- ACC
Virginia Tech-ACC
Duke-ACC
Boston College-ACC
Kentucky-SEC
Pitt-Big East
Louisville-Big East
Notre Dame-Big East
Marquette-Big East
Syracuse-Big East
Maryland-ACC
Texas A&M- Big 12
Michigan St- Big 10
UCLA- Pac-10
Washington St.- Pac-10
USC- Pac-10
Xavier- A-10
Tennessee- SEC
Vanderbilt- SEC
Texas- Big 12
Arizona- Pac-10
Nevada- WAC
Indiana- Big 10
BYU- MWC
Stanford-Pac-10
Drexel- Colonial
Purdue- Pac-10
Kansas St- Big 12
Old Dominion- Colonial
Georgia Tech-ACC
Apologies to:
Texas Tech- Very conflicted on this one. They have several huge victories, but the blowout loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 could have cost them a berth.
Florida St.- Like Texas Tech, several big wins. But they struggled a bit down the stretch and didn't advance far enough in the ACC tournament
Appalachian St.-Bowed out of the Southern Conference tourney early. Once considered a lock, played themselves out in their conference tournament.
Missouri St- Aside from their Wisconsin win, struggled against the RPI top 50. Didn't play well enough down the stretch.
Air Force- Early season darlings who even spent significant time in the top 25. Played terrible basketball down the stretch.
West Virginia-Played a weak Big East schedule and their signature win came against a Darren Collison-less UCLA team.
Oklahoma St-Like several other teams, started off hot but cooled down the stretch. Played well in the Big 12 tourney, but many thought they'd need to make the finals in order to be selected.
Arkansas-Run to the SEC title game not enough for the Razorbacks. Below .500 record in SEC will be downfall
Brackets are about to be announced, let's see how it turns out
Akron-
Southern Illinois-MVC
Butler-Horizon
Wisconsin-Big 10
UVA- ACC
Virginia Tech-ACC
Duke-ACC
Boston College-ACC
Kentucky-SEC
Pitt-Big East
Louisville-Big East
Notre Dame-Big East
Marquette-Big East
Syracuse-Big East
Maryland-ACC
Texas A&M- Big 12
Michigan St- Big 10
UCLA- Pac-10
Washington St.- Pac-10
USC- Pac-10
Xavier- A-10
Tennessee- SEC
Vanderbilt- SEC
Texas- Big 12
Arizona- Pac-10
Nevada- WAC
Indiana- Big 10
BYU- MWC
Stanford-Pac-10
Drexel- Colonial
Purdue- Pac-10
Kansas St- Big 12
Old Dominion- Colonial
Georgia Tech-ACC
Apologies to:
Texas Tech- Very conflicted on this one. They have several huge victories, but the blowout loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 could have cost them a berth.
Florida St.- Like Texas Tech, several big wins. But they struggled a bit down the stretch and didn't advance far enough in the ACC tournament
Appalachian St.-Bowed out of the Southern Conference tourney early. Once considered a lock, played themselves out in their conference tournament.
Missouri St- Aside from their Wisconsin win, struggled against the RPI top 50. Didn't play well enough down the stretch.
Air Force- Early season darlings who even spent significant time in the top 25. Played terrible basketball down the stretch.
West Virginia-Played a weak Big East schedule and their signature win came against a Darren Collison-less UCLA team.
Oklahoma St-Like several other teams, started off hot but cooled down the stretch. Played well in the Big 12 tourney, but many thought they'd need to make the finals in order to be selected.
Arkansas-Run to the SEC title game not enough for the Razorbacks. Below .500 record in SEC will be downfall
Brackets are about to be announced, let's see how it turns out
Akron-
Friday, March 09, 2007
Giants Make First Move
The Giants finally got their feet wet in the 2007 offseason, but not through free agency. Big Blue sent oft-injured WR Tim Carter to the Browns for RB Reuben Droughns. With the departure of Tiki Barber, GM Jerry Reese has made RB a top priority for the offseason. After unsuccessfully entertaining Dominic Rhodes, Reese acquired Droughns who was on his way out of Cleveland regardless. After the Browns signed Jamal Lewis, and are likely to draft Adrian Peterson with the 3rd pick, there was no way they'd pick up the pick roster bonus Droughns was set to make. The trade marks the end of the Tim Carter experiment in New York. There were high hopes for the speedy wideout whom the Giants made their 2nd round selection in the 2002 draft. They envisioned Carter being able to stretch the field with his track star sprinting ability, but injuries and inconsistency characterized his tenure.
The deal seems very low-risk, moderate reward for both teams. The Giants wanted a complimentary back to Brandon Jacobs, and Droughns is capable of handling a big work load. It would have been preferable to bring in a change of pace guy, especially with a smallish offensive line, but he's a quality back. Now that they brought in a veteran to share the load with Jacobs, hopefully they can start to turn their attention on their glaring defensive needs. For the Browns, Carter is a risk worth taking. If Carter could stay healthy, his ability to stretch the field could increase production from TE Kellen Winslow. They already have a solid starting WR duo of Joe Jurevicius and Braylon Edwards, and Carter's addition would offset the loss of Dennis Northcutt. Overall, not the blockbuster move Giants fans were looking for, but it's an upgrade with low risk involved. It's still puzzling why they've been passive in their pursuit of defensive help, but hopefully those answers will unfold in the next few weeks.
The deal seems very low-risk, moderate reward for both teams. The Giants wanted a complimentary back to Brandon Jacobs, and Droughns is capable of handling a big work load. It would have been preferable to bring in a change of pace guy, especially with a smallish offensive line, but he's a quality back. Now that they brought in a veteran to share the load with Jacobs, hopefully they can start to turn their attention on their glaring defensive needs. For the Browns, Carter is a risk worth taking. If Carter could stay healthy, his ability to stretch the field could increase production from TE Kellen Winslow. They already have a solid starting WR duo of Joe Jurevicius and Braylon Edwards, and Carter's addition would offset the loss of Dennis Northcutt. Overall, not the blockbuster move Giants fans were looking for, but it's an upgrade with low risk involved. It's still puzzling why they've been passive in their pursuit of defensive help, but hopefully those answers will unfold in the next few weeks.
Giants Continue To Wait and See
It's a great time to be a mediocre athlete in professional sports. On the heels of a baseball offseason that heaped riches on back-end starting pitchers, the NFL free agency period has matched their absurdity. Deals in excess of $7 million a year are going to unproven offensive lineman, a cornerback who didn't even make this year's Pro Bowl became the richest defensive player in NFL history, and somehow the Redskins continue to be buyers on the market. The free agency period, just a week old, has been curious to say the least. From the Giants standpoint, one has to wonder why Jerry Reese continues to sit on his hands. On the record, there have been only two confirmed visits and one (Dominic Rhodes) has already signed with another team.
The only thing that Giants fans have learned about Reese is that he refuses to overpay. As a result, the Giants have lost K Jay Feely and almost said goodbye to Shaun O'Hara. Unfortunately, the market has been set by inflating players' values. Perhaps Reese should be commended for standing his ground, but I put this question out. Is it a bigger sin to overpay for talent or to not put your football team in a better position to win football games? I'd say the latter, and if he continues to let the roster dwindle, he's committing a far greater sin. With a long string of cuts and retirements, the Giants have been left with gaping holes that have yet to be remotely covered. In fairness, only a week has passed and there is plenty of time until training camp. Unfortunately, most of the talent worth having has been signed.
The most puzzling thing to me has been their focus on offense. The two visitors, Dominic Rhodes and Kevin Curtis, are skill position offensive players. A great way to improve the offense would be to field a defense that can get them on the field. Last year the defense couldn't stop a jay-vee team from converting a third down, which took away from offensive production. With two outside linebackers departed, and a third likely on his way out (Brandon Short), the Giants need to bring in some bodies. Cato June and Donnie Edwards have been prominent names on their radar, but it is also believed Ike Reese would like to make the Meadowlands his home. Reese is a solid special teams contributor and would give depth to the linebacking corps, but he's not the impact player the Giants need. As for getting the defense off the field on third downs? A lock down corner is necessary, but unfortunately unavailable unless the Broncos meet Dre Bly's trade demands. Even so, his likely landing spot is Washington. Many Giants fans have been on the Roderick Hood bandwagon, but it's tough to envision him as anything more than a nickel back. Departed GM Ernie Accorsi attempted to re-tool key areas (think Secondary) with second-tier players last season and it didn't work. It looks like Jerry Reese has been priced out of this market and doomed to repeat the shortcomings of his predecessor.
The only thing that Giants fans have learned about Reese is that he refuses to overpay. As a result, the Giants have lost K Jay Feely and almost said goodbye to Shaun O'Hara. Unfortunately, the market has been set by inflating players' values. Perhaps Reese should be commended for standing his ground, but I put this question out. Is it a bigger sin to overpay for talent or to not put your football team in a better position to win football games? I'd say the latter, and if he continues to let the roster dwindle, he's committing a far greater sin. With a long string of cuts and retirements, the Giants have been left with gaping holes that have yet to be remotely covered. In fairness, only a week has passed and there is plenty of time until training camp. Unfortunately, most of the talent worth having has been signed.
The most puzzling thing to me has been their focus on offense. The two visitors, Dominic Rhodes and Kevin Curtis, are skill position offensive players. A great way to improve the offense would be to field a defense that can get them on the field. Last year the defense couldn't stop a jay-vee team from converting a third down, which took away from offensive production. With two outside linebackers departed, and a third likely on his way out (Brandon Short), the Giants need to bring in some bodies. Cato June and Donnie Edwards have been prominent names on their radar, but it is also believed Ike Reese would like to make the Meadowlands his home. Reese is a solid special teams contributor and would give depth to the linebacking corps, but he's not the impact player the Giants need. As for getting the defense off the field on third downs? A lock down corner is necessary, but unfortunately unavailable unless the Broncos meet Dre Bly's trade demands. Even so, his likely landing spot is Washington. Many Giants fans have been on the Roderick Hood bandwagon, but it's tough to envision him as anything more than a nickel back. Departed GM Ernie Accorsi attempted to re-tool key areas (think Secondary) with second-tier players last season and it didn't work. It looks like Jerry Reese has been priced out of this market and doomed to repeat the shortcomings of his predecessor.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Jets Steal Jones
Michael Smith of ESPN is reporting that the Bears and Jets have reached an agreement that would send Thomas Jones to New York. The deal would also involve the teams swapping their second round picks. It's hard to rationalize this one from Chicago's standpoint. Jones had vocalized his displeasure with his contract and the Bears are notorious for being cheap. After the Super Bowl it became apparent he'd be available for trade, but this seems to be a steal for the Jets. Even so, they gave up a 1300 yard rusher to simply move up to the top of the second round. It's hard to imagine they couldn't have gotten a better package for Jones.
Now I'm certainly the furthest thing from a Jets sympathizer, but this is a brilliant move. They did not have to sacrifice any draft choices, and received a former top 10 selection in exchange for dropping 26 picks in the second round. Not only that, he's been incredibly productive for the past several seasons. If you throw in the extension they recently gave Jerrico Cotchery, the offense will be a force. Thomas Jones is the every down back they desperately needed, and it will allow Leon Washington to serve as the change of pace back. It will also take a lot of pressure off Chad Pennington, who amazingly continues to get the job done despite having no arm strength. The Jets got an absolute steal which should allow them to threaten the Patriots reign at the top of the AFC East.
Now I'm certainly the furthest thing from a Jets sympathizer, but this is a brilliant move. They did not have to sacrifice any draft choices, and received a former top 10 selection in exchange for dropping 26 picks in the second round. Not only that, he's been incredibly productive for the past several seasons. If you throw in the extension they recently gave Jerrico Cotchery, the offense will be a force. Thomas Jones is the every down back they desperately needed, and it will allow Leon Washington to serve as the change of pace back. It will also take a lot of pressure off Chad Pennington, who amazingly continues to get the job done despite having no arm strength. The Jets got an absolute steal which should allow them to threaten the Patriots reign at the top of the AFC East.
Igawa Shaky in Debut
Japanese import Kei Igawa, slated to be the Yankees fourth or fifth starter, had mixed results in his first action of the spring against the Tigers. In a little over an inning, Igawa walked three batters and gave up a couple of runs. On the bright side, he countered his lack of control with three strikeouts. The former Japanese strikeout leader struggled to spot his fastball, but demonstrated that his 0ff-speed stuff will certainly be dangerous to major league hitters. It can't be stressed enough that spring training is not a true indicator of success. Many pitchers will struggle with control, as we've seen with Igawa and Hughes. Also, it's important to take in to account that Igawa has had very little time to work with catcher Jorge Posada. As they gain familiarity, Posada will be able to put his pitcher in to better situations. There were a few pitches today where they didn't seem to be on the right page. That should fade with time. The Yankees will also benefit by having Hideki Matsui to consult on the field if problems arise. Posada has already suggested that he will bring Matsui in for mound meetings if he feels the situation calls for it.
Both teams played many of their starters, but the real fireworks came from a couple of young guys. Down a run with two outs in the ninth inning, Josh Phelps roped a single in to left field to set up Bronson Sardinha's walk-off homerun. Phelps will battle Andy Phillips all spring to be the right handed batter in the first base platoon with Doug Mientkiewicz. Sardinha has been limited to September call-up work and will almost certainly be headed to Triple A Scranton. Since wins and losses are basically irrelevant in spring training, the nicest part of the walk-off homerun was the celebration afterwards. The Yankees are known as an uptight, business-first group. Centerfielder Johnny Damon has infused some energy, but for the most part, displays of emotion are rare. Sardinha was greeted at home plate by the usual array of exuberant teammates you would expect from a mid-season walk-off victory. This may seem to be an insignificant observation, but the youthful Tigers taught the Yankees an important lesson in last season's playoffs. They came out and stole the series by playing with intense passion. If the Yankees can not find ways to get up for big games, they'll continue their World Series drought. Hopefully today's display is a sign of things to come.
Both teams played many of their starters, but the real fireworks came from a couple of young guys. Down a run with two outs in the ninth inning, Josh Phelps roped a single in to left field to set up Bronson Sardinha's walk-off homerun. Phelps will battle Andy Phillips all spring to be the right handed batter in the first base platoon with Doug Mientkiewicz. Sardinha has been limited to September call-up work and will almost certainly be headed to Triple A Scranton. Since wins and losses are basically irrelevant in spring training, the nicest part of the walk-off homerun was the celebration afterwards. The Yankees are known as an uptight, business-first group. Centerfielder Johnny Damon has infused some energy, but for the most part, displays of emotion are rare. Sardinha was greeted at home plate by the usual array of exuberant teammates you would expect from a mid-season walk-off victory. This may seem to be an insignificant observation, but the youthful Tigers taught the Yankees an important lesson in last season's playoffs. They came out and stole the series by playing with intense passion. If the Yankees can not find ways to get up for big games, they'll continue their World Series drought. Hopefully today's display is a sign of things to come.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Upon Further Review, Teams Making Moves
A couple of hours ago it seemed as though teams were in no hurry to upgrade. As the day has progressed, teams have started to announce some major signings. Leading the way have been a few offensive lineman cashing in to the tune of over 7 million per season. The Browns will pay OT Eric Steinbach $49.5 million over seven years, a package that is worth $500,000 more over the duration than the seven years the Bills locked up Derrick Dockery for. In Atlanta, the Falcons upgraded their backfield by agreeing to terms with FB Ovie Mughelli.
Reports are surfacing on profootballtalk.com that Nate Clements will become the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. It is believed that the 49ERS have offered the former Bills conerback an eight year deal worth $80 million dollars. Elsewhere on the cornerback front, rumors are circulating that Fred Smoot will re-join the Washington Redskins. On a side note, how the hell are the Redskins always buyers in the market? They're the likely landing spot for top MLB free agent London Fletcher-Baker and in the running for others. While they have been unsuccessful in their past shopping sprees, it's still amazing they can afford to splurge every offseason. If both Smoot and Clements are indeed off the market, there's very little to get excited about with the remaining crop.
This means one of two things for the Giants. They can attempt the piece-meal solution to the secondary that Accorsi adopted with little success last season or hopefully turn their attention to other needs. If they do decide to bring in a few lesser pieces, there is a strong feeling that Eagles CB Roderick Hood would be an option. Personally, the Giants need to bring in a top notch corner whether it was a Clements type in free agency or an early draft pick. Trying to bring in a series of nickel-back types won't have the impact they need on the outsides. Free agent RB Dominic Rhodes was in town today, but a complimentary running back should be less of a priority than a LB or CB. Unlike other running backs, he's content being one part of a two pronged attack. That is a big plus considering how many egos the Giants currently have on their offense.
Reports are surfacing on profootballtalk.com that Nate Clements will become the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. It is believed that the 49ERS have offered the former Bills conerback an eight year deal worth $80 million dollars. Elsewhere on the cornerback front, rumors are circulating that Fred Smoot will re-join the Washington Redskins. On a side note, how the hell are the Redskins always buyers in the market? They're the likely landing spot for top MLB free agent London Fletcher-Baker and in the running for others. While they have been unsuccessful in their past shopping sprees, it's still amazing they can afford to splurge every offseason. If both Smoot and Clements are indeed off the market, there's very little to get excited about with the remaining crop.
This means one of two things for the Giants. They can attempt the piece-meal solution to the secondary that Accorsi adopted with little success last season or hopefully turn their attention to other needs. If they do decide to bring in a few lesser pieces, there is a strong feeling that Eagles CB Roderick Hood would be an option. Personally, the Giants need to bring in a top notch corner whether it was a Clements type in free agency or an early draft pick. Trying to bring in a series of nickel-back types won't have the impact they need on the outsides. Free agent RB Dominic Rhodes was in town today, but a complimentary running back should be less of a priority than a LB or CB. Unlike other running backs, he's content being one part of a two pronged attack. That is a big plus considering how many egos the Giants currently have on their offense.
Free Agency Period Starts Slow
With a flurry of activity yesterday, people were anticipating active general managers during today's first day of free agency. Instead, not many signings were made. The biggest news of the day surrounds the potential retirement of Jake Plummer. After the Broncos announced they had reached a deal to send the veteran QB to Tampa Bay, Plummer responded by saying he'd rather retire than switch cities. If he had agreed to go, it would have marked the second big trade in consecutive days. The Lions and Broncos agreed to a deal yesterday that sent coveted cornerback Dre Bly to Denver. In exchange, the Lions received Tatum Bell, George Foster, and a late round draft pick.
Although no signings have been made, early indications are that the 49ERS will be the most aggressive shoppers. Reports have surfaced that they are leading candidates to land CB Nate Clements and LB Adalius Thomas, perhaps the two most sought after free agents. It is likely they will land at least one of the defensive standouts. The bigger news has been the massive league wide cuts. Yesterday the Steelers cut ties with LB Joey Porter and the Saints with Joe Horn. Teams around the league kept trimming their rosters today, which should strengthen a "weak" free agent class. Hopefully the activity will pick up in the next few days.
Although no signings have been made, early indications are that the 49ERS will be the most aggressive shoppers. Reports have surfaced that they are leading candidates to land CB Nate Clements and LB Adalius Thomas, perhaps the two most sought after free agents. It is likely they will land at least one of the defensive standouts. The bigger news has been the massive league wide cuts. Yesterday the Steelers cut ties with LB Joey Porter and the Saints with Joe Horn. Teams around the league kept trimming their rosters today, which should strengthen a "weak" free agent class. Hopefully the activity will pick up in the next few days.
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