Yup, two today.
Gary Sheffield. If you say that name around me, I normally respond with, "What an idiot." I remember when he released a press release back with the Yankees where he said, "Yeah, Jeter is our captain, and you see that. But when you're in the locker room, you find out whose really the captain." Yeah, you can't say that in New York. You can't say to the New York media that Jeter isn't the captain they all think he is. Torre didn't like it, Media didn't like it, Sheff ends up in Detroit. Winner, Yankees.
My opinions are changing though. I knew he would bring some of his ego with him, but from what I can tell, he hasn't said anything too dumb. He was ready to be a spot player, but because of injuries he is stepping up and playing everyday. That showed something to the team, and not only is he showing the team how to just go out each day and stand up, he is giving them a bit of that "swagger" that everyone talks about. It's like he is holding the team accountable for each game. It's good when a manager does it, but it is great when a player gets on people and does it. Santana does it during his starts, and now Sheff does it every game. I'm currently loving Sheff on the team.
Sidenote:
I've noticed this, I dunno if others have. When the Mets started collapsing a couple years ago, what was different from that team and the team from the year before that almost made the World Series? One big player change, no Julio Franco. I know that sounds weird, but notice what he did. He was like a player/coach. He told Beltran to go out for curtain calls, and helped him increase his popularity in New York. He mentored Jose Reyes(who had his best season with Franco on the team). He was a player that though he didn't play, he had so much experience and knew how to tell players to quit their whining and gave them an edge. I mention this, because I think Sheff has now started doing that.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
My Mets Update
I like their team, I think their offense is finally showing signs of being consistent. They are also plugging in position players that barely start in AAA. Omir Santos is at the point were Castro was expendable, and getting to the point where he could be the everyday starter instead of Schneider.
Speaking on Castro, Minaya did what I consider a great move in getting rid of Castro while he still has value and got a decent pitcher, Broadway, that they are hoping to make a starter.
He showed nice signs with the Sox in the AL, and in the NL I expect him to be a great backend of the rotation starter for the Mets next year.
So, the Mets are staying consistent. They are producing runs. Most importantly, the starters are keeping them in games(Exception to Tim Redding). Coming into the season, the rotation was predicted to be, Santana-Pelfrey-Perez-Maine-Hernandez. I don't know how Perez was the #3, but they saw him to be. Now the rotation is Santana-Pelfrey-Maine-Hernandez-Redding. If the Mets want to string wins together, they gotta dump Redding. In Boston he couldn't get out of the 4th, and today his start was described as "Forgetable" on Sportscenter. He did get out of the 4th inning, but gave up a 3 run homer to start the 5th and left without recording an out.
Right now, I really like the Mets team, I like the depth, how people are stepping up and in. I like the idea of Murphy at first, eventhough when Delgado comes back he will take his spot back. Murphy should be the first baseman of the future, no doubt in my mind. I never thought I would say this, but I am liking Sheffield... Sheffield has always been arogant, and a headcase. Recently though, he has been great for the team.
Overall, I think the Mets could be great. I give them a B right now, but if they sure up their defense, I would give them an A and say they are better than last time they were in the playoffs
Speaking on Castro, Minaya did what I consider a great move in getting rid of Castro while he still has value and got a decent pitcher, Broadway, that they are hoping to make a starter.
He showed nice signs with the Sox in the AL, and in the NL I expect him to be a great backend of the rotation starter for the Mets next year.
So, the Mets are staying consistent. They are producing runs. Most importantly, the starters are keeping them in games(Exception to Tim Redding). Coming into the season, the rotation was predicted to be, Santana-Pelfrey-Perez-Maine-Hernandez. I don't know how Perez was the #3, but they saw him to be. Now the rotation is Santana-Pelfrey-Maine-Hernandez-Redding. If the Mets want to string wins together, they gotta dump Redding. In Boston he couldn't get out of the 4th, and today his start was described as "Forgetable" on Sportscenter. He did get out of the 4th inning, but gave up a 3 run homer to start the 5th and left without recording an out.
Right now, I really like the Mets team, I like the depth, how people are stepping up and in. I like the idea of Murphy at first, eventhough when Delgado comes back he will take his spot back. Murphy should be the first baseman of the future, no doubt in my mind. I never thought I would say this, but I am liking Sheffield... Sheffield has always been arogant, and a headcase. Recently though, he has been great for the team.
Overall, I think the Mets could be great. I give them a B right now, but if they sure up their defense, I would give them an A and say they are better than last time they were in the playoffs
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Greinke
Zack Greinke is insane this year. Let's compare him to who I consider the best pitcher in Baseball, Johan Santana.
Through their first 5 seasons in the league, they both hit they same number of games played/appeared.
Greinke had 40 wins in his first 150 games, 109 of those games he started.
Through Santana's first 150 games: 43 wins, 75 of those game appearances were starts.
Average ERA through the first 5 seasons, Greinke(04-08): 4.24; Santana(00-04): 3.98. Greinke's highest was an ERA of 5.8, whereas Santana's was 6.5. Santana also got a Cy-Young in '04, Greinke is a year off that pace. While Greinke maynot have the win percentage that Santana had at this point in his career, he may end up being a special pitcher for years to come. Unlike Cliff Lee, who seems to go back and forth from dominating Ace to 3rd starter.
Through their first 5 seasons in the league, they both hit they same number of games played/appeared.
Greinke had 40 wins in his first 150 games, 109 of those games he started.
Through Santana's first 150 games: 43 wins, 75 of those game appearances were starts.
Average ERA through the first 5 seasons, Greinke(04-08): 4.24; Santana(00-04): 3.98. Greinke's highest was an ERA of 5.8, whereas Santana's was 6.5. Santana also got a Cy-Young in '04, Greinke is a year off that pace. While Greinke maynot have the win percentage that Santana had at this point in his career, he may end up being a special pitcher for years to come. Unlike Cliff Lee, who seems to go back and forth from dominating Ace to 3rd starter.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Jay Marriotti
He is a bum. Seemingly hates everything that there is about Chicago, so I don't know why he works there. He is a pessimist and really never has anything constructive to say. I wonder how reports like this keep getting paid? Wait, he "left" the Sun Times. Right, they were as happy to see him go as he was to leave. Blowhards and self serving reports that only point out flaws shouldn't be given a column.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Magic/Cavs
From tonight's game, I have a couple of observations about Cleveland.
1) Continuing from the earlier post about David Stern having a heart attack at the thought of a non Cavs/Lakers finals, the officiating was Cav sided, again. I'm not saying that Stern is telling officials what to do, but I wouldn't be surprised.
2) Lebron is hands down the MVP. Not because of the three that almost didn't go, but because of how his teammates respond to him. Notice the face on the Cavalier's players when Lebron isn't in the game. They all look shell shocked. They can't make shots unless they are dunks, and even then, they can hardly get close enough to the rim to do that.
3) Sasha Pavlavic is the most underrated player on that team. I had mentioned it earlier this year, that I thought he should be in the starting line-up, or at least first off the bench. He was in the starting line-up when the Cavs had their other great season. He is something that Mo Williams and Delante West don't have, self-confidence. West and Williams look like they are constantly waiting for Lebron to do something. If Lebron isn't on the court, they take walk up threes and just launch up bad shots. Tonight I saw Pavlovic play off Lebron, and then when Lebron was out he moved around and made his own shot as well as shots for others.
4) Mo Williams is as overrated as any "All-Star" in the NBA. In his post game he is sitting there making jokes about his pass into Lebron. He jokes about his great(lucky) buzzer beater in game one. Honestly, what has he done anywhere else?
5) Delante West is completely useless. No elaboration, completely useless.
6) Lebron has accepted the Media's labels. He was always seemingly torn in taking any label the media gave him. He used to always play modest(despite all his commercials), but recently he has taken to it. As an example, he admitted in an interview before game 1, that he is the only one that can stop himself right now. The thing is, he's probably right. He took the ball a couple times right into the chest of Dwight Howard and made the shot, or made the shot with drawing a foul. Truly unbelievable.
7) Back on Delante West and Mo Williams, I just have this comparison to make. You know the little minions of the Bully in school. The ones that make the jokes with him, and always seem to be laughing the loudest and cruising down easy street while the Bully beats up kids? These two remind me of those minions. They joke and goof around during the practices/pre-game while Lebron just dominates, and are nothing without him to mooch off of. If you can't tell, I really do not like these guys.
8) Varejao, I almost dislike him more than Williams and West. I think that every time Varejao flops, he should have to pay a fine. Game one he gets hit on the shoulder, and spends the next 5 minutes scaring his coach, teammates, and trainer because he is trying to sell being hit in the throat. Go play soccer.
****With what I have said about these Cavs players, I still like that team.
1) Continuing from the earlier post about David Stern having a heart attack at the thought of a non Cavs/Lakers finals, the officiating was Cav sided, again. I'm not saying that Stern is telling officials what to do, but I wouldn't be surprised.
2) Lebron is hands down the MVP. Not because of the three that almost didn't go, but because of how his teammates respond to him. Notice the face on the Cavalier's players when Lebron isn't in the game. They all look shell shocked. They can't make shots unless they are dunks, and even then, they can hardly get close enough to the rim to do that.
3) Sasha Pavlavic is the most underrated player on that team. I had mentioned it earlier this year, that I thought he should be in the starting line-up, or at least first off the bench. He was in the starting line-up when the Cavs had their other great season. He is something that Mo Williams and Delante West don't have, self-confidence. West and Williams look like they are constantly waiting for Lebron to do something. If Lebron isn't on the court, they take walk up threes and just launch up bad shots. Tonight I saw Pavlovic play off Lebron, and then when Lebron was out he moved around and made his own shot as well as shots for others.
4) Mo Williams is as overrated as any "All-Star" in the NBA. In his post game he is sitting there making jokes about his pass into Lebron. He jokes about his great(lucky) buzzer beater in game one. Honestly, what has he done anywhere else?
5) Delante West is completely useless. No elaboration, completely useless.
6) Lebron has accepted the Media's labels. He was always seemingly torn in taking any label the media gave him. He used to always play modest(despite all his commercials), but recently he has taken to it. As an example, he admitted in an interview before game 1, that he is the only one that can stop himself right now. The thing is, he's probably right. He took the ball a couple times right into the chest of Dwight Howard and made the shot, or made the shot with drawing a foul. Truly unbelievable.
7) Back on Delante West and Mo Williams, I just have this comparison to make. You know the little minions of the Bully in school. The ones that make the jokes with him, and always seem to be laughing the loudest and cruising down easy street while the Bully beats up kids? These two remind me of those minions. They joke and goof around during the practices/pre-game while Lebron just dominates, and are nothing without him to mooch off of. If you can't tell, I really do not like these guys.
8) Varejao, I almost dislike him more than Williams and West. I think that every time Varejao flops, he should have to pay a fine. Game one he gets hit on the shoulder, and spends the next 5 minutes scaring his coach, teammates, and trainer because he is trying to sell being hit in the throat. Go play soccer.
****With what I have said about these Cavs players, I still like that team.
Friday, May 22, 2009
NBA
Denver/LA series is tied 1-1, Magic are up one on the Cavs, game 2 tonight. How pissed would ESPN, David Stern, and the entire sportsworld be if the finals were Denver/Orlando? ESPN would be pissed they just had Justin Timberlake narrate a special about Lebron and Kobe throughout the season, and that they are, "On a collision course" to the finals. I would have aired that during the finals if both teams get there. Now, it's just gonna make ESPN look stupid when the Nuggets win in 6. David Stern's reaction to a Magic/Nugget finals could be summed up in three words, "Shit hits fan". The Sportsworld may not be that upset, they may be surprised about it, because all ESPN will say it, "Lakers/Cavs finals", but I know I wouldn't be upset. I think that would be the better match-up.
Let's face it, Lakers are a decent team with an amazing player, and the Cavs are a less than decent team with an amazing player. Take Kobe away from the Lakers, and you have a maybe .500 team, possibly little less. Take Lebron away from Cleveland though, tell me, what starter you could name on Cleveland before this season? Can you even name their entire line-up now? I can't
Let's face it, Lakers are a decent team with an amazing player, and the Cavs are a less than decent team with an amazing player. Take Kobe away from the Lakers, and you have a maybe .500 team, possibly little less. Take Lebron away from Cleveland though, tell me, what starter you could name on Cleveland before this season? Can you even name their entire line-up now? I can't
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Mets
The current injury to Delgado is a blessing in disguise. As an avid Mets fan, though I love Delgado's resurgence last year, think the Mets will do better with this injury. They be forced to put someone at first. My solution. Daniel Murphy, not this "three pronged first baseman". I know people maynot like this. Why put someone with the most errors at first base, where he will have the most opportunities? He came up through my Minors at 3rd base. He still makes moves in the outfield like he is a corner infielder. I think that's why he is best suited for it.
My ideal line-up right now would be:
SS Reyes
2B Castillo
CF Beltran
LF Sheffield
3B Wright
1B Murphy
C Castro
RF Church
Pitcher
Now, I like Ryan Church, I think he could be higher in the line-up, but I think that with the alternating of lefty - righty - lefty (Murphy-Castro-Church) would be more beneficial.
People may disagree, but I think this'll be good.
My ideal line-up right now would be:
SS Reyes
2B Castillo
CF Beltran
LF Sheffield
3B Wright
1B Murphy
C Castro
RF Church
Pitcher
Now, I like Ryan Church, I think he could be higher in the line-up, but I think that with the alternating of lefty - righty - lefty (Murphy-Castro-Church) would be more beneficial.
People may disagree, but I think this'll be good.
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