Friday, July 12, 2013
Erm.............Techinical Dificulties??
Okay, I apologize. I've dropped the ball on keeping this up-to-date, but I've been burnt from work, had a few trips to go on and the last article I started to write made the anchor from "Network" look sane. I promise to touch on all of the things I wanted to get to and post them hopefully in some chronological order. For how many (little) of my readers are out there, you deserve better and I will get better to get to the level of standard I have for myself and that you should expect. Now then, back to the show....
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Yallop out at Buck Shaw
Wow.
Did not see this coming at all.
For those who follow MLS soccer, last year's supporters shield winner is now in the tank. Just surviving the table and likely out of the playoffs. Even though questions were being asked in every direction, not many questioned if coach Frank Yallop was the reason for the struggle. Most agreed it was early season injuries, poor player performance, that stuff.
Now, Yallop has "left" the team in a "mutual agreement."
Smell something fishy? Yeah, me too.
First, it's mid-season. Not a lot of coaches quit mid-season. Second, as good as last year was, Yallop's overall record with the Quakes is near .500 over the course of several years. Third, Yallop hasn't made an interview since the announcement. He's being awfully tight-lipped about all this.
Hey, if the guy wanted to pack it in for whatever reason, that's on him. He can do as he pleases just like any other. But I can't help the feeling like this is the scene in the beginning of "Skyfall," y'know, Ralph Fiennes says retirement planning to Judy Dench and she replies "you're firing me?" I'm sure that's how this went down, it's all too peculiar.
I wish Yallop the best and hopefully and change will turn this team around. With Champions' League coming up, they'll need a boost back to the better of times.
Did not see this coming at all.
For those who follow MLS soccer, last year's supporters shield winner is now in the tank. Just surviving the table and likely out of the playoffs. Even though questions were being asked in every direction, not many questioned if coach Frank Yallop was the reason for the struggle. Most agreed it was early season injuries, poor player performance, that stuff.
Now, Yallop has "left" the team in a "mutual agreement."
Smell something fishy? Yeah, me too.
First, it's mid-season. Not a lot of coaches quit mid-season. Second, as good as last year was, Yallop's overall record with the Quakes is near .500 over the course of several years. Third, Yallop hasn't made an interview since the announcement. He's being awfully tight-lipped about all this.
Hey, if the guy wanted to pack it in for whatever reason, that's on him. He can do as he pleases just like any other. But I can't help the feeling like this is the scene in the beginning of "Skyfall," y'know, Ralph Fiennes says retirement planning to Judy Dench and she replies "you're firing me?" I'm sure that's how this went down, it's all too peculiar.
I wish Yallop the best and hopefully and change will turn this team around. With Champions' League coming up, they'll need a boost back to the better of times.
MLB needs to clean up its act, Part 2
No less than just a few days after I mentioned MLB's issues with umps, it's second cousin with buckteeth from Arkansas came back to visit unannounced. Yeeeees, it's everyone's favorite baseball problem: PEDs!
This time, MLB wants to punish at least 20 players for 100 games in direct connection to a PED distributor in Florida. I have two very distinct feelings on this story. First, get the goddamn PEDs out of baseball for good, period. I'm sick of this. I don't like how these guys think it's ok. I don't like how the union hides behind the players who are guilty because of the money involved. Point blank, all players should be subject to random tests, all failed tests should be disclosed and any player caught multiple times should be ineligible for the Hall. Plain and simple. Get the cheats out!
What gets me is MLB supposedly cleaned up it's act, but here we are talking about it again and talking about players still getting access to the PEDs and haven't tested positive. I'm sure there are other players out there who don't want it in the game and it's time they stepped up, went public and stood against cheating. Only then will a stop be put to it. I'd take out the 50 game step and make the lifetime ban the second step and the 100 game step the first.
Which brings me to the second feeling: why?
Well, not in the sense of why are they thinking of bans. I'm not that stupid. It's more like why ban them on association alone. Look, we've hit a double edged sword here. On one hand, they have been connected to a lab that supplies PEDs and that makes them look like cheaters who just haven't been caught. But they also HAVEN'T BEEN CAUGHT. Just because you are at the scene of the crime doesn't mean you committed said crime. It'll sure make you suspect number one, but you still have to prove that being there also means being there when it counted most. This is the category I'd place A's pitcher Bartolo Colon in. He's served a 50 for PED's and now you want to do 100 just for his connection to this? He's served his time and (as far as we know) has quit the stuff and has learned his lesson.
Then there's the "we got you by the balls" class. This is where A-Rod and Ryan Braun belong. A-Rod has not failed a test, but admitted to using. Braun did test positive, but because a package boy somewhere didn't do his job, he walked away scott free. They both used and are laughing they didn't get pinched. Time for them to pony up. If they care ANY BIT about the game they allegedly love and die for, step up, be a man and recuse yourself before MLB does it for you. But of course, they'd lose money and money talks. It'd be a hell of a PR move though, can you just imagine the press on it?
MLB, get the PEDs out NOW, get dirty players out NOW and end the steroid era NOW. Before the game is tainted too far to save it.
This time, MLB wants to punish at least 20 players for 100 games in direct connection to a PED distributor in Florida. I have two very distinct feelings on this story. First, get the goddamn PEDs out of baseball for good, period. I'm sick of this. I don't like how these guys think it's ok. I don't like how the union hides behind the players who are guilty because of the money involved. Point blank, all players should be subject to random tests, all failed tests should be disclosed and any player caught multiple times should be ineligible for the Hall. Plain and simple. Get the cheats out!
What gets me is MLB supposedly cleaned up it's act, but here we are talking about it again and talking about players still getting access to the PEDs and haven't tested positive. I'm sure there are other players out there who don't want it in the game and it's time they stepped up, went public and stood against cheating. Only then will a stop be put to it. I'd take out the 50 game step and make the lifetime ban the second step and the 100 game step the first.
Which brings me to the second feeling: why?
Well, not in the sense of why are they thinking of bans. I'm not that stupid. It's more like why ban them on association alone. Look, we've hit a double edged sword here. On one hand, they have been connected to a lab that supplies PEDs and that makes them look like cheaters who just haven't been caught. But they also HAVEN'T BEEN CAUGHT. Just because you are at the scene of the crime doesn't mean you committed said crime. It'll sure make you suspect number one, but you still have to prove that being there also means being there when it counted most. This is the category I'd place A's pitcher Bartolo Colon in. He's served a 50 for PED's and now you want to do 100 just for his connection to this? He's served his time and (as far as we know) has quit the stuff and has learned his lesson.
Then there's the "we got you by the balls" class. This is where A-Rod and Ryan Braun belong. A-Rod has not failed a test, but admitted to using. Braun did test positive, but because a package boy somewhere didn't do his job, he walked away scott free. They both used and are laughing they didn't get pinched. Time for them to pony up. If they care ANY BIT about the game they allegedly love and die for, step up, be a man and recuse yourself before MLB does it for you. But of course, they'd lose money and money talks. It'd be a hell of a PR move though, can you just imagine the press on it?
MLB, get the PEDs out NOW, get dirty players out NOW and end the steroid era NOW. Before the game is tainted too far to save it.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no no-no.
Many of baseball's experts and analysts have said that baseball is currently in an era of the pitcher. I, quite frankly, agree. The last couple of years have shown us some great pitching performances and despite the desire to see the long ball or high scoring offense, I can't get enough of a pitcher who goes out there and just shuts down 9 guys for 9 innings. It's just so satisfying to have that feeling when a guy strikes out and is walking back to the dugout and you know he didn't have a chance from when he stepped into the batter's box. I'm sure it's been contagious because pitchers keep giving us what we want and more of it. Before the last five years, a perfect game has only come along once every couple of years or so. In 105 years of modern day baseball, there were only 15 perfect games. Since 2009, there have been six.
Well, seven if you ask me. Galarraga got screwed and it should have counted.
Anyways, as rare as perfect games are, no-hitters are not as rare but still a challenging feat none-the-less. Last year, there were seven and three of them were before June 2nd. So far, there have been eight games where no-hit bids were taken deep into the game, only to fall short. Quite remarkable.
I don't know if these games are an anomaly, a trend in better defense, a trend in poorer offense, or whatever the case. All I know is I'm loving the thrill. A 162 game season is quite hard to keep full focus on and yes, I still want perfect games to be rare and special. On the other hand, I've been to a few almost no hit games and the suspense is fantastic. Sure, most don't pan out, but I still love getting that feeling of a pitcher climbing to the top of the pitching excellence mountain and whether or not he gets there is not the point. It's the fact he's going for it.
Hopefully, they'll crack the code soon.
Well, seven if you ask me. Galarraga got screwed and it should have counted.
Anyways, as rare as perfect games are, no-hitters are not as rare but still a challenging feat none-the-less. Last year, there were seven and three of them were before June 2nd. So far, there have been eight games where no-hit bids were taken deep into the game, only to fall short. Quite remarkable.
I don't know if these games are an anomaly, a trend in better defense, a trend in poorer offense, or whatever the case. All I know is I'm loving the thrill. A 162 game season is quite hard to keep full focus on and yes, I still want perfect games to be rare and special. On the other hand, I've been to a few almost no hit games and the suspense is fantastic. Sure, most don't pan out, but I still love getting that feeling of a pitcher climbing to the top of the pitching excellence mountain and whether or not he gets there is not the point. It's the fact he's going for it.
Hopefully, they'll crack the code soon.
MLB needs to clean up its act
Last week Tuesday, during the heated set of games between the Giants and the Athletics, there was yet another moment of sheer lunacy by the umpire crew. But I may be getting ahead of myself.
Exhibit A: A's vs. Indians. Adam Rosales hits a ball to center field, appearing to strike a railing above the yellow home run line. After the umpires looked at it on video, they instead called the play a double and the A's, who would have tied the game, wind up losing 4-3.
Exhibit B: Astros vs. Angels. THE VERY NEXT DAY, Umpires allow Wesley Wright to be relieved by Hector Ambriz despite Wright never facing a batter, a clear rules violation and resulting in the umpire being suspended for two games. The Angels played the remainder of the game under protest, but wound up winning despite the advantage gained by the Astros.
And now this. In the sixth, Andres Torres hit a line drive toward the umpire who ruled the ball fair. As the ball skipped toward the Giants bullpen, an overzealous fan tried to reach over and grab the ball. On replay, the ball strikes the fan on the forearm. Meanwhile, Gregor Blanco went from first base, around second and third and went in to score for the Giants. The play appeared to be called dead and due to the fan interference, the ground rule double applied. Meanwhile, security detail, who happened to be sitting right where the whole thing happened, worked on dismissing the fan in question.
So here's the thing. Did the umpire really call fan interference? If so, he botched the call since the Blanco run still counted and given the ground rule double, would have only been awarded third otherwise. If not, why did the play just stop? The only thing I can figure is that the players held up since the ball was secured, but it doesn't seem that way. Remember I mentioned the security guy? Why was it none of the umps noticed him? If he's busy ejecting a fan for touching the ball, wouldn't it occur to the umps that the fan TOUCHED THE BALL? Bob Melvin came out to argue the call but it was pretty evident the umps were saying no fan interference.
So let's recap. One ump can't see a home run even after watching it on HDTV, one ump doesn't know the basic rules of baseball, one ump can't ask a security guard if he's ejecting a fan because he touched a ball in play. This all in the span of less than a month. THIS is what drives me crazy about baseball. Sure, one ump got suspended, but when do we hear about other blown calls and the such leading to suspension? Not to mention the replay rule is right now for home run calls only, and even then, aren't getting them right.
MLB needs to take a page from what other leagues are doing and forget the cries of the traditionalists. From the NHL, set up a war room with all games in play under supervision. If there is a dispute and the umps are looking at replay, have someone from the war room on the phone with the umps during the replay to offer a final call on the matter. From the NFL, all scoring plays are reviewable. Give the managers of both benches two challenges for base calls. Pitchers either on the field or in the bullpen cannot throw warmup pitches during a challenge. Some final suggestions, high speed cameras trained on the bases for help with bang-bang plays. Also, balls and strikes remain at the discretion of the plate ump and cannot be challenged.
I know that MLB has closed doors meetings with umps and the like and don't make things public to protect the integrity of those that officiate the game. Wake up MLB, umps are losing integrity right in front of everyone's eyes.
Exhibit A: A's vs. Indians. Adam Rosales hits a ball to center field, appearing to strike a railing above the yellow home run line. After the umpires looked at it on video, they instead called the play a double and the A's, who would have tied the game, wind up losing 4-3.
Exhibit B: Astros vs. Angels. THE VERY NEXT DAY, Umpires allow Wesley Wright to be relieved by Hector Ambriz despite Wright never facing a batter, a clear rules violation and resulting in the umpire being suspended for two games. The Angels played the remainder of the game under protest, but wound up winning despite the advantage gained by the Astros.
And now this. In the sixth, Andres Torres hit a line drive toward the umpire who ruled the ball fair. As the ball skipped toward the Giants bullpen, an overzealous fan tried to reach over and grab the ball. On replay, the ball strikes the fan on the forearm. Meanwhile, Gregor Blanco went from first base, around second and third and went in to score for the Giants. The play appeared to be called dead and due to the fan interference, the ground rule double applied. Meanwhile, security detail, who happened to be sitting right where the whole thing happened, worked on dismissing the fan in question.
So here's the thing. Did the umpire really call fan interference? If so, he botched the call since the Blanco run still counted and given the ground rule double, would have only been awarded third otherwise. If not, why did the play just stop? The only thing I can figure is that the players held up since the ball was secured, but it doesn't seem that way. Remember I mentioned the security guy? Why was it none of the umps noticed him? If he's busy ejecting a fan for touching the ball, wouldn't it occur to the umps that the fan TOUCHED THE BALL? Bob Melvin came out to argue the call but it was pretty evident the umps were saying no fan interference.
So let's recap. One ump can't see a home run even after watching it on HDTV, one ump doesn't know the basic rules of baseball, one ump can't ask a security guard if he's ejecting a fan because he touched a ball in play. This all in the span of less than a month. THIS is what drives me crazy about baseball. Sure, one ump got suspended, but when do we hear about other blown calls and the such leading to suspension? Not to mention the replay rule is right now for home run calls only, and even then, aren't getting them right.
MLB needs to take a page from what other leagues are doing and forget the cries of the traditionalists. From the NHL, set up a war room with all games in play under supervision. If there is a dispute and the umps are looking at replay, have someone from the war room on the phone with the umps during the replay to offer a final call on the matter. From the NFL, all scoring plays are reviewable. Give the managers of both benches two challenges for base calls. Pitchers either on the field or in the bullpen cannot throw warmup pitches during a challenge. Some final suggestions, high speed cameras trained on the bases for help with bang-bang plays. Also, balls and strikes remain at the discretion of the plate ump and cannot be challenged.
I know that MLB has closed doors meetings with umps and the like and don't make things public to protect the integrity of those that officiate the game. Wake up MLB, umps are losing integrity right in front of everyone's eyes.
Did I miss anything?
Sorry about that sportsfans. I had to take a week off to attend to personal matters. I'll comment on the stories that happened in the last week hopefully in the order they happened. If not, my apologies. Anyways, back to the show.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Still no shake to the Quakes
Jeez, now I'm pissed off. Just pissed off. No good reason of course, but the San Jose Earthquakes are now, officially, completely lost. Last night in their first US Open Cup game, they lost 1-0 to the Charleston Battery and bounced out of the tournament after just 90+ mins. Frustration doesn't even begin to describe what the Quakes are about now. At a 3-5-6 record, you have to start asking what's wrong. Last year, the team was flying high and could do largely no wrong as game after game they came back and took points they would have left on the table. But this year, it was known injuries would give this team a rough start and for awhile, it looked like they would be ok. Well alarm bells, injuries are gone, all starters are available, and the team has yet to win a game by more than a one goal difference. Not to mention this year goonie time has been to get the tie, last year it was mostly to get the win.
Now I could complain about refs and whatnot, but as I'm watching these guys, I think it's just sheer stupidity. During the game against Colorado, I kept asking myself why the Quakes weren't getting the 50-50 balls. During SEVERAL games, I asked why <insert players' name here> made that ridiculously stupid pass to nobody and see the ball go off for and opponent throw-in, killing the offensive push in the process. Yallop has finally realized the 4-4-2 formation that was used all of last year isn't working anymore and introduced a 4-1-4-1 (!?!), but formations aren't the problem I think. It's getting back to basics. Last year, we saw the potential of this team in a goal scored @ Chivas when five passes completely baffled the defense and the goal was low hanging fruit. Perhaps it led to a false sense of EPL type passing because I see the Quakes time and again try to pull it off instead of, y'know, SHOOTING THE BALL AT THE NET! I see Cronin, Martinez and Jahn starting to realize this and they are getting some good cracks at the net, if they keep it up, some are bound to go in and maybe they can turn the season around.
Somehow though, I feel like all these Men's Warehouse ties are going to strangle the Quakes' postseason chances.
Now I could complain about refs and whatnot, but as I'm watching these guys, I think it's just sheer stupidity. During the game against Colorado, I kept asking myself why the Quakes weren't getting the 50-50 balls. During SEVERAL games, I asked why <insert players' name here> made that ridiculously stupid pass to nobody and see the ball go off for and opponent throw-in, killing the offensive push in the process. Yallop has finally realized the 4-4-2 formation that was used all of last year isn't working anymore and introduced a 4-1-4-1 (!?!), but formations aren't the problem I think. It's getting back to basics. Last year, we saw the potential of this team in a goal scored @ Chivas when five passes completely baffled the defense and the goal was low hanging fruit. Perhaps it led to a false sense of EPL type passing because I see the Quakes time and again try to pull it off instead of, y'know, SHOOTING THE BALL AT THE NET! I see Cronin, Martinez and Jahn starting to realize this and they are getting some good cracks at the net, if they keep it up, some are bound to go in and maybe they can turn the season around.
Somehow though, I feel like all these Men's Warehouse ties are going to strangle the Quakes' postseason chances.
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