06.30.05
Posted in Football
at 9:33 pm
From Dominic Fifeld, Nils Pratley and Matt Scott in Thursday’s Guardian.
The Glazer family’s first visit to Old Trafford ended in ugly and violent scenes last night as police clashed with supporters who had effectively barricaded Manchester United’s new owners inside the stadium.
Malcolm Glazer’s three sons, Joel, Avi and Bryan, were given first-hand experience of the vitriol generated by their controversial takeover as they had to be smuggled down the players’ tunnel and out of the ground in two police tactical aid vans for their own safety.
United fans then sat in the road, forcing the vehicles to stop. When some of the 400 supporters started hammering on the vans and pelting them with stones, police officers used dogs and batons to clear a path.
It provided a farcical if troubling finale to a chaotic day at Old Trafford. United officials had initially indicated that the Glazers – unaccompanied by their father – would not be visiting the stadium following their talks on Tuesday with the sports minister Richard Caborn and officials from the Premier League and the Football Association.
That proved to be little more than a smokescreen and, with confirmation that the three brothers, the chief executive David Gill and the commercial director Andy Anson had arrived at the ground in three silver people carriers at around 6.15 last night, disgruntled fans began gathering.
Their presence prompted a huge security operation. The club employed their own new 8ft high steel gates to keep the increasingly frustrated crowds away from the directors’ entrance, though the fans wasted little time in building their own makeshift barriers across roads, effectively laying the new owners under siege.
Supporters launched angry chants of “Die, die Glazer” and “We’ll be running round Old Trafford with his head” while the Glazers themselves enjoyed a stroll around the pitch and met various members of staff.
Writes ESPN’s Darren Rovell, “Something tells me things will calm down when they see that Glazer wants the team to do well so he can make the most money.”
Rovell ought to remember that Glazer didn’t use his own cash on hand to purchase United. He’s borrowed heavily to increase his stake and there are legit reasons for fans to worry about how that debt will be paid down.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 5:48 pm
After Keith Foulke was smacked around by the Indians in Boston’s 12-8 loss Tuesday evening, Red Sox manager Terry Francona opted to use Mike Timlin in Wednesday’s 9th inning. The New Hampshire Union-Leader’s Alex Speier says this was only a temporary measure.
One night after Foulke (above) transformed an 8-5 advantage into a crushing 12-8 defeat, Timlin steered through a scoreless ninth. Although he yielded a pair of hits, he preserved the 5-2 score that he inherited as the 39-year-old recorded his third save in 171 appearances in his three years with the Sox.
While Timlin’s successful outing will surely pique interest from a Foulke-flaying fandom, however, it did not represent an affront to the embattled pitcher’s job security. Timlin pitched the ninth only because Foulke was unavailable after logging 47 pitches on Tuesday.
“We don’t need a quarterback controversy,” pronounced Francona. “You set up your ballclub where you think they can be most successful. . . . Getting to the ninth isn’t easy either. Sometimes those innings are maybe more important than the ninth. So if you start plugging one perceived hole then you create maybe a bigger one somewhere else. So we need to keep that in mind.”
That belief all but signals the death knell of any challenges to Foulke’s ninth-inning duties. Francona believes in track records and history suggests that no member of the Red Sox bullpen could provide certainty at the back end of the game.
As yesterday confirmed, Timlin represents a fine stopgap measure when Foulke is fatigued. Still, in three different cities (Toronto, Seattle, Baltimore), he got bounced as a finisher after each club determined that he was constitutionally better suited for a setup role.
Moreover, his difficulty against lefties this year (who pounded him for a .328 mark entering yesterday) suggests someone better deployed against particular stretches of the lineup.
If change to the ineffective Sox bullpen is to come, it would have to arrive from outside the big-league roster. That may happen, but given the paucity of established closers on the market (or, for that matter, in the team’s farm system), Foulke’s job does not appear to face any imminent jeopardy.
Instead, the current and future closer of the Red Sox will surely face more taunts from “Johnny from Burger King” and the rest of the booing legions at Fenway. In sickness and in health, the Sox will entrust their fate to Foulke.
Over time, I’ve talked a lot of shit about MLB.TV’s webcast scheme, but being able to watch last night’s Braves/Marlins game on demand is a very good thing.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 2:02 pm
From the Palm Beach Post’s Joe Capozzi.
Slugging right fielder Gary Sheffield would return to the Marlins in a proposed deal that would send right-hander A.J. Burnett and right fielder Juan Encarnacion to the New York Yankees, according to a National League source.
An American League source confirmed that the Yankees are interested in Burnett and Encarnacion and have talked to the Marlins about them. But that source also said connecting Sheffield to the discussions “might be premature.”
Burnett, who was sought by the Yankees in December, also has attracted interest this week from the Baltimore Orioles.
Burnett is a free agent after the season and is not expected to re-sign. But if the Marlins remain in contention, they might be content to keep Burnett all year and then lose him to free agency, as the team did with Carl Pavano last season, in exchange for a first-round draft pick.
The Marlin probably will have a surplus of starters soon. Right-hander Josh Beckett is expected to be activated from the disabled list today, injured right-hander Ismael Valdez is due back after the All-Star break and rookie left-hander Scott Olsen has been impressive.
Lovers of free expression and godly behavior alike will be thrilled to know that the Post is now publishing Todd Jones’ blog.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 1:47 pm
Mets 5, Phillies 1 (top of the 5th)
I’m sure there are more surprises to come as the 2005 season unfolds, but no matter else happens this afternoon, it will be hard to top the eye-rubbing provoked by Cliff Floyd bunting for a base hit, then stealing 2nd. The same Cliff Floyd whom contemplated early retirement last autumn, was a defensive liability for much of last year and whose sour disposition seemed contagious.
I’m already petitioning Bobby Valentine to name him to the All-Star Team.
For a guy who has spent a lot of time in Manhattan, Keith Hernandez seemed particularly troubled by a beer vendor’s tattoos. “Why would you want to do that to yourself?” wondered Mex. I dunno, why would you want to smoke cigarettes, snort cocaine or dye your hair? Less of the lifestyle advice from the finest fielding 1B of his generation, please.
Fran Healy reports that ex-Met Todd Pratt was tossed by home plate ump Alfonso Marquez for uttering “uncomfortable words”. My guess is, it was either “recalcitrant” or “motherfucker” that did the trick.
Jae Seo struck out 9 Mud Hens yesterday, winning his 6th game for the Mets’ Norfolk affiliate. Seo, shown above in one of the ugliest caps in the history of organized baseball, had his photo taken while watching highlights of Kaz Ishii’s outing last night.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 10:56 am
The Daily News’ Sam Borden reports that relievers Paul Quantril and Mike Stanton will be sent packing by the New York Yankees.
One Yankee insider wasn’t certain what method the Yanks might use to cut ties with Stanton and Quantrill, but indicated the Bombers were looking to get younger in their bullpen. Earlier yesterday, reliever Jason Anderson was called up from Triple-A Columbus; he joins Scott Proctor (above), a hard throwing righthander who was also promoted recently.
Adds the New York Times’ Tyner Keppner,
Quantrill and Stanton shook hands and exchanged hugs with teammates and club personnel after Wednesday night’s rainout at Camden Yards. Quantrill would not comment after leaving the clubhouse, and Stanton said, “You can read between the lines.”
I certainly can. Those Yankees are very affectionate.
Permalink
Posted in The World Of Entertainment
at 10:43 am
Aspiring New Jersey talent scout Jon Solomon graciously calls our attention to Melodic Warrior, sadly not the website marking the long awaited Jim Hellwig/Michael Quercio collaboration, but rather the guh-guh-gushy vocal stylings of Mr. Niko Papasideris (above).
Permalink
Posted in Rock Und Roll
at 10:33 am
I’m not a religious person but between this and news of the Smashing Pumpkins reunion, I am begining to suspect there is a Higher Power after all. And He or She is punishing us.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 9:23 am
From the AP :
Japan said Thursday it has tentatively agreed to take part in the inaugural 16-country World Baseball Classic subject to the approval of the Japanese baseball players’ association.
Japanese baseball officials were responding to an end-of-the-month deadline set by Major League Baseball for Japanese owners and players to decide on whether to take part in the World-Cup style tournament set for March, 2006.
The Japanese players’ association will hold a meeting on July 22 to decide whether to take part.
Major League Baseball and its players association have already approved the tournament.
MLB officials and union travelled to Japan earlier this month and set an end-of-the-month deadline for Japan to reach a decision. MLB wants to make an announcement about the tournament on July 11, the day before the all-star game in Detroit.
Masashi Tsunoda, an official with the Softbank Hawks of Japan’s Pacific League, told reporters that a letter sent to the MLB included a counterproposal from Japan’s players on when to hold the tournament.
Players in Japan have proposed holding the qualifying games in March and the finals in July, during the all-star break.
Though I can’t imagine MLB accepting said proposal, the final round(s) of such a tournament would be far more compelling TV than the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, etc.
Permalink
Posted in Basketball
at 12:57 am
Was there a more questionable decision Tuesday night than Toronto’s selection of UConn’s Charlie Villanueva with the 7th overall pick? Other than Stephen A. Smith being allowed to make like an uninformed hoops version of Mel Kiper Jr., that is. The Toronto Star’s Dave Feschuk on the Raptors’ latest gaffe.
As the ESPN analysts vociferously panned the Raptors’ choice — “Absolutely shocked!” hollered the usually rah-rah Dick Vitale — the crowd cheered in agreement. When Villanueva took the podium in New York’s Madison Square Garden for his first interview as a Raptor, Toronto’s fans, saddened via satellite, filled the Air Canada Centre with boos.
“There’s gotta be a trade,” said one distraught fan. “Gotta be,” said another.
But there was no trade brewing behind the scenes, no secret swap to explain the unexpected. A year after defying expectations and selecting the disastrous Rafael Araujo in the No. 8 slot, Raptors general manager Rob Babcock had dropped another out-of-nowhere name.
You’ve heard of out-of-the-box thinking, but this — going with a frequently maligned 20-year-old few experts figured worthy of the top 10 — was out-on-a-limb thinking. And, if it doesn’t pan out the way the Raptors are hoping, it could be, for Babcock, out-of-a-job thinking.
Taking Villanueva (above) was unconventional if you’re being generous, inexcusable if you’re not. Not only does he play the same position as the club’s best young player, Chris Bosh, Villanueva has also compiled a checkered record of blasé performances during his two-year stint at the University of Connecticut.
“The average fan isn’t studying the draft and all the players like we do,” said Babcock.
I heard one explanation on the radio earlier today ; the Raptors had Villenuva work out and “fell in love with him”. In that case, invite Charlie to a Viletones reunion gig. If things go ok, you can both visit Tim Horton’s Donuts in the morning. But for the love of god, don’t draft him at number seven!
Permalink
06.29.05
Posted in Baseball
at 11:44 pm
MSNBC on the Rangers’ Kenny Rogers and his troubles with those pesky TV cameras.
Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers shoved two cameramen Wednesday, sending one to the hospital in a videotaped tirade that included throwing a camera to the ground and threatening to break more. ESPN reported that the man, Larry Rodriguez, filed a police report, claiming assault.
The report also said that police went to interview Rodriguez at about 9 p.m. ET at the Medical Center of Arlington where the cameraman was being examined for possible injuries. Detectives plan to interview Rogers on Thursday.
Rogers, who missed his last start with a broken pinkie he suffered during an outburst earlier this month, erupted at the cameramen as they filmed him walking to the field for pregame stretching before Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.
The 40-year-old left-hander first shoved Fox Sports Net Southwest photographer David Mammeli, telling him: “I told you to get those cameras out of my face.”
Rogers then approached a second cameraman. He wrestled the camera from Rodriguez of Dallas-Fort Worth television station KDFW, threw it to the ground and kicked it.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound pitcher saw two other cameramen who were recording from the Rangers’ dugout and walked toward them. He did not make contact with the men, who were backing away.
“I’ll break every … one of them,” Rogers said before he was escorted to the clubhouse by catcher Rod Barajas.
Rogers’ attack can be viewed here (windows media player required).
Albert Belle and Sean Penn were unavailable for comment. Or, more accurately, I don’t have their phone numbers.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 6:12 pm
From the New York Times’ Tyner Kepner.
Brian Cashman has little flexibility to deal from the major league roster, partly because several players have no-trade clauses. Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada do not have such clauses in their contracts, but Sheffield would essentially create one if the Yankees tried to move him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” said Sheffield, who is signed through 2006. “If I have to go somewhere, I won’t go. If they said, ‘Wouldn’t you want to get paid?’ I’d say, ‘I’ve got plenty of money.’ I’m not playing nowhere else. I can promise you that.”
Speaking with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Yankee right fielder struck a somewhat different tone.
Sheffield, who is reportedly being dangled by the Yankees in a deal with the Mets that would land Mike Cameron in the Bronx, said that if he is traded, his new team better be prepared to extend his contract and give him more money — and whatever else he can think of to make it pay for taking the pinstripes off his uniform.
“It was my first choice to come here,” Sheffield said. “I made a lot of concessions to come here, and I’ll make it very clear. If I have to go somewhere else, a lot of things are going to have to be changed or you’re going to have an unhappy player.
“I’ll ask for everything. Period. You want to inconvenience me, I’m going to inconvenience every situation there is,” he added. “The only reason I’m playing is that I wanted to play for the Yankees. If I don’t get that opportunity, things change.”
Hey, if its concessions Gary wants, no problem. In the Pedro era, the Mets are all about coddling their superstars. Among the special stipulations Omar Minaya should be prepared to add to Sheffield’s contract are the following :
1) a promise from the entire roster that no one will try to steal Gary’s chef.
2) use of the Wilpon private jet so Gary can spend his days off with Roger Clemens’ family
3) all recordings by R. Kelly, Aaliyah, Ronnie Isley or Dave Chappelle parodying R. Kelly, banned from the clubhouse
4) full use of Shea facilities when the inevitable Subway sequel commercials (co-starring Jason Giambi) are ready to shoot.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 5:38 pm
If nothing else, it was a heck of a way for Byung-Hyun Kim to make it to the Hall Of Fame.
I don’t mean to diminish Biggio’s achievement, but craigslist is packed with individuals who have taken just as many balls to the face, and few of them have their own websites.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 4:05 pm
The above charming headline comes courtesy of Ben Schwartz, on today’s clarification from Virgina Congressman Tom Davis, who now denies that he’ll seek legislative redress were MLB to sell the Nationals to billionaire Bush-basher George Soros.
Writes Ben,
It’s not a real political discussion unless someone gets compared to a Nazi, even MLB, as The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins just has to bring up baseball’s ugly Nazi past. Uh, well, Marge Schott’s anyway: ”It was all right for Schott, the racist collector of Nazi memorabilia, to own a baseball team for years, but it’s not for Soros, the billion-dollar philanthropist and Nobel Prize nominee?”
Permalink
Posted in Basketball
at 3:59 pm
From the LA Times’ Mike Bresnahan.
The Lakers are strongly considering waiving Brian Grant, using a clause in the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement that would allow them to release the high-salaried forward acquired last summer in the Shaquille O’Neal trade.
The one-time exemption allows teams that pay the luxury tax to waive one player and erase his salary from their luxury-tax figure. The Lakers would still have to pay Grant’s salary, which would continue to count against the salary cap and keep the Lakers cap-strapped until the summer of 2007.
The Lakers would, however, save almost $30 million in luxury taxes over the next two seasons. Grant, who averaged 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds last season and was bothered by knee and shoulder problems, will make $14.3 million next season and $15.4 million in 2006-07.
A decision on Grant, 33, would be strictly economic and would be made by Laker owner Jerry Buss, who has paid the luxury tax the last two seasons but could avoid a considerable hit for a player of limited value.
The LA Times’ Steve Dilbeck is amongst those puzzled by the Lakers’ selection of center Andrew Bynum with the 10th pick in yesterday’s NBA Draft.
A team needier than a teenage girl, and it uses its first-round pick on a player they all admit will make minor impact next season.
Well, of course.
Mitch Kupchak’s “unlikely” scenario became reality when the Lakers selected Andrew Bynum — who’s had a driver’s license for a whole month now — with the 10th overall pick of the draft.
Bynum is 17 years old. His last game was for St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, N.J.
He’s also a 7-foot, 285-pound center who plays with his back to the basket, has a nice touch and apparently oozes with potential.
“We thought it was an opportunity we could not pass up,” Kupchak said.
A team that a year ago still had the best center of his generation in Shaquille O’Neal is now hoping to find his replacement in a kid too young to vote.
It’s a gutsy pick by Kupchak, who risked further criticism over his drafting expertise and general managerial skills by gambling so much on such a great unknown.
Simple, logical, predictable — it’s all so unlike those zany Lakers.
Jackson, back home on the ranch, is expected to fulfill the three years on his contract and then call it a career. He needs help now. Needs a big man now. Could use a big ballhandler now.
And his top pick is a project.
“Certainly at 17, he has a long ways to go,” Kupchak said. “But at 7 feet, and with the reach of almost 7-6, and his athletic ability … ‘ ”
How could they say no?
Easily, really, what with several highly regarded players still on the board. Fran Vazquez, Sean May, Antoine Wright, Danny Granger, Hakim Warrick and Jarrett Jack were all still available with the 10th selection.
Though rebuilding isn’t Phil’s forte, was there really anyone left at number 10 (or available via trade) that would elevate LA to contender status?
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 12:18 pm
As the buy/sell debate continues to swirl around the NY Mets — winners last night against the Phillies, 8-3, despite the best efforts of Danny Graves, the NY Daily News’ Bill Madden opines on ownership’s optimism.
In the final analysis, it comes down to perspective. Steinbrenner looks at his third-place ballclub, floundering and fluctuating above, below and at .500, some six games back of the Red Sox in the loss column and asks: “Why?” Wilpon looks at his last-place ballclub and then at the four equally flawed teams ahead of it and asks: “Why not?”
Indeed, for all the unsettling aspects about this Mets team – Braden Looper’s psyche, Mike Piazza’s faded skills, the offensive black hole at first base, Jose Reyes’ .287 on-base percentage out of the leadoff spot – there is no reason why it shouldn’t be able to remain competitive in the anyone-can-win-it National League East. Of course, it sure would help to have a productive farm system.
Here’s how one scout who has been following the NL East for the past few weeks assessed the division: “The difference between the Mets and the Braves is that the Braves reach down to their system for help and bring up real prospects. The Mets reach down and bring up Gerald Williams, Jose Offerman and Brian Daubach. To me, that says it all about their system and it figures be an even bigger impediment for them when they want to make deals at the end of the month. Otherwise, the Marlins have their problems that may be deeper than we think, the Phillies can’t seem to make the adjustment on the road from their little ballpark and the Nationals are eventually going to realize their lack of depth, especially when they get hit with injuries.”
It’s hard to argue with that. Who’d have imagined the Braves suddenly playing their best baseball of the season at a time when their best player, Chipper Jones, and three of their top four starting pitchers, Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton and John Thomson, are all on the disabled list? The same scout went on to say: “If the Braves somehow wind up winning the division again this year, Bobby Cox should be allowed to report directly to the Hall of Fame without having to wait until he retires.”
Permalink
Posted in History's Great Hook-Ups
at 12:02 pm
I’m not sure if anyone has ever been nearly this excited to be staring at the U.S. Secretary of State, but as Steve Earle will tell you, there’s never been a Secretary Of State quite like Condoleeza Rice. (pic link courtesy Sam Frank)
(shown above : empty-skull mascot. And Mr. Met)
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 11:29 am
From the New York Post’s Joel Sherman :
Brian Cashman and Omar Minaya have engaged in preliminary talks about a blockbuster trade that would send Gary Sheffield to the Mets for a package headed by Mike Cameron, according to an executive from both an AL and NL club.
The two executives cautioned that talks are in their infancy and filled with major hurdles. After all, this would be the largest trade ever executed between the two New York teams, and neither wants to help the other make the playoffs and be endlessly ridiculed in the city. Nevertheless, the willingness to broach this deal shows the current thinking of both organizations.
The Mets have defined a late-inning reliever and a middle-of-the-order bat as their main needs, and have come to believe a quality bullpen arm at a reasonable return price may never become available. Sheffield, though, would be the run producer the Mets tried and just missed getting in the offseason with Carlos Delgado. Hitting between Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd, Sheffield (above) would give the Mets an elite middle of the order.
I know a few Mets fans who are freaking out over this deal, convinced that Sheffield is an aging, divisive force and that Cameron’s low salary makes him a far more valuable bargaining chip. But consider the following :
1) Sheff has already starred for such successful franchises as the Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves and Yankees — and he’s been a winner with most of ‘em! Would so many clubs be eager to employ Dwight Gooden’s nephew if he weren’t such a hot commodity?
2) Fringe benefits galore! Tasty meals prepared by his world class chef. Cutting-edge training techniques and guidance provided by a veteran leader who has worked with some of the biggest pioneers names in the fitness industry. And as recent incidents at Fenway and Yankee Stadium have shown, he’s a mature, cool-headed dude when the pressure is on. Just don’t mention the words “video” or “R. Kelly” in his presence and everything will be o.k.
Permalink
Posted in Football, The Marketplace
at 2:29 am
Presumably, Durex have already exhausted their marketing budget. From Unibond.com :
Sellotape and QPR are delighted to announce a brand new commercial partnership.
This lucrative deal will see Sellotape’s famous logo on all the player’s shirts until at least the end of the 2006 / 7 season.
This is a first for the Sellotape Brand and a prospect that excites Sales Director Colin Gadd – who says “ This will place our brand at the forefront of peoples minds and target the consumer on a regular basis, through a format they relate to.”
“QPR is a respected club, with a loyal fanbase. They have competed well in their first year back in the Championship and we are looking forward to even greater progress together”
QPR’s club shop are promising, by the way, that the new home shirts will be available this weekend with or without the Sellotape logo, which seems to contradict Mr. Gadd’s lofty ambitions.
Permalink
06.28.05
Posted in Hockey
at 11:49 pm
From the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Tim Pannacio.
Jeremy Roenick said yesterday that audio/video “snippets” in which he said hockey fans can “kiss my [butt]” were taken out of context.
The Flyers center was quoted over the weekend at Mario Lemieux’s charity golf tournament outside Pittsburgh. His remarks about the fans made national headlines.
“Before I went into my rant, I was talking about the game of hockey, about getting it back on the ice, about what we have to do for the fans and telling people it’s not about who wins or loses, it’s about the game,” Roenick said.
“But the media picked out the negative stuff… . Don’t show snippets of the interview; show the whole interview, the whole message. My message during the interview was: How do we make the game more appealing to the fans?”
Roenick said his rant began when someone suggested the NHL lockout was the players’ fault.
“That got my gall,” he said. “We gave more back to the owners in this deal than any other sport has done. Before that question, I was talking about the game, how it was important to make it up to the fans and do something for them, and then that question came.”
A partial video clip from TSN.ca shows Roenick talking very calmly about the game of hockey and even apologizing for its absence.
In the clip, Roenick talks about how much “the players have hurt” hockey and “might not have been right” in the lockout, a position that certainly won’t please the NHL Players’ Association.
Roenick says the new deal has to allow “the owners to make money.” He then says that “fans should realize how much the players gave up” before blaming them as being spoiled.
“We’re going to make the game better for the fans,” he says in the video clip. “If you don’t realize that, then don’t come.”
The next clip jumps to his rant. Roenick said yesterday the question that provoked him was whether fans should blame the players. Roenick also said he left several messages with ESPN yesterday demanding to know why the network didn’t show the full video clip of what preceded his rant.
I dunno, I liked the part where Roenick said “you guys are just jealous.” I can’t imagine why that didn’t make the public fall in love with hockey players.
Permalink
Posted in Basketball
at 11:36 pm
Not this one.
Or this one.
But this one!
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that C Channing Frye (Arizona), a bona-fide shot blocking demon, is gonna have a more impressive NBA career than Frederic Weis.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 6:55 pm
ONE MORE TIME : The clock is ticking on your once in a lifetime opportunity to hobnob with the best and the brightest interweb patrons in the Tri-State Area. Tickets are shipping tomorrow morning. Details below :
I know, it’s hard to believe. There aren’t enough days on the calendar for the New York Mets to acknowledge every blog that routinely takes them to task for any number of crimes against baseball and the paying customer, let alone those that feature little to no original content.
(DISCLAIMER : The Mets haven’t actually proclaimed July 3 as CSTB Day. But I’m confident that once management gets wind of how many tickets we have set aside for this special afternoon, they’ll be rolling out the red carpet, if not asking David Roth to throw out the first pitch.)
Your attendence is requested at The First annual CSTB Salute To Silver Tier Ticket Pricing, when the Mets take on the Marlins at 1:30pm, Sunday, July 3 at Shea Stadium.
Tickets are $14 which entitles the bearer to :
a) an unobstructed view of the diamond from Sec. 5, row F of the upper reserved deck.
b) free use of Shea’s restroom facilities throughout the day
c) “An antique pewter-styled Baseball Glove Key Chain” (admittedly, this isn’t much of a sellng point)
d) if you’re one of the first 25,000 fans in attendance, a Mets Stars & Stripes cap, “sponsored by Delta Airlines”. There’s nothing more patriotic than an airline that lets you use your cell phone on the runway.
e) the opportunity to hurl vicious, xenophobic invective at Carlos Delgado when he refuses to show proper respect for the playing of “God Bless America”.
If Danny Graves makes it into the game, you might be present for the longest home run ever hit. You don’t know for sure what’s going to happen.
If you’d like to atttend, please reply with the number of tickets you’d like, along with your shipping (UPS) address, to
info@cantstopthebleeding.com
The Management on behalf of The New CSTB.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 1:59 pm
From the Sporting News’ Ken Rosenthal :
The Mets were delusional last season, making ill-advised trades for pitchers Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano. A sell-off is highly unlikely under aggressive general manager Omar Minaya, but the Mets might be smart to stockpile young talent in deals for lefthander Tom Glavine, catcher Mike Piazza and a veteran outfielder, either Mike Cameron or Cliff Floyd.
Which contending team in either league is willing to give up young talent to acquire a 36 year old singles-hitting catcher with diminished defensive skills? Were Mike Piazza having the kind of season Cliff Floyd is thus far, such advice would make a little more sense.
The Mets have flaws aplenty, but they’re also only 4 1/2 games out of the wild card spot, with plenty of games remaining against the teams they’re chasing (most of which are in their own division). Carlos Beltran is closer to full strength, the multitude of guys on the DL won’t be there forever and Steve Trachsel should be available for the final two months. Rosenthal can at least wait until the All-Star break before dismissing the Mets’ chances.
Permalink
Posted in Basketball
at 1:18 pm
Once upon a time, I turned down a hot dinner invitation to stay home and watch the NBA Draft.
That’s why no one invites me to dinner anymore. The Bergen Records’ Al Iannazzone rubs his crystal balls and predicts the New Jersey Nets’ likely selections.
When the Nets pick 15th in the NBA draft tonight, they might be feeling blue. Carolina blue, that is.
Vince Carter probably loves that the Nets have fellow North Carolina products Rashad McCants (above) and Sean May on their draft board. Carter would be even happier if one of them is a Net by tonight.
According to league sources, the Nets are strongly considering taking McCants with the No. 15 pick. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard averaged 17.6 points at North Carolina, and along with May, helped the Tar Heels win the national championship.
McCants, power forwards May, Arizona State’s Ike Diogu, Connecticut’s Charlie Villanueva and Kansas’ Wayne Simien; Syracuse small forward Hakim Warrick, Louisville shooter Francisco Garcia and prep point guard Monta Ellis (a very long shot) are on the Nets’ list of potential picks, depending on how the draft plays out.
Conventional thinking says the Nets, who pick No. 43 in the second round, need a power forward. May, Diogu and Villanueva fit the bill. But the Nets plan to address that need in free agency where Shareef Abdur-Rahim is priority No. 1, then Donyell Marshall and Stromile Swift.
McCants is considered good enough to be a lottery pick, but some character issues could be the reason he’s there for the Nets at No. 15. Minnesota, which selects 14th, also was said to like him.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 12:47 pm
The New York Daily News’ Adam Rubin casts a largely disapproving glance at the state of the New York Mets farm system…without even mentioning Benji Gill or Benito Santiago!
Say this about the latest Mets call-ups: They have experience. Jose Offerman, Gerald Williams and Brian Daubach, all promoted from Triple-A Norfolk in the past two weeks, have played a combined 37 big-league seasons.
What they don’t have is “prospect” status. And that’s a major issue, with the Mets wanting to annually infuse their roster with young talent, plus have chips for trades. While it’s not Yankee dire, one Mets official acknowledged the number of sure-fire major-leaguers is slim. Not that the promotions of the 36-year-old Offerman, 40-year-old Williams and 33-year-old Daubach suggested otherwise.
One scout responsible for the NL East, who has watched the Mets’ three highest-level farm teams, said the organization lacks a blue-chip prospect like Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard in the upper minors, but the overall depth – while concentrated in A-ball and in pitching – ranks in the middle among organizations.
“They’ve got kids that aren’t too bad,” the scout said. “They have as many as anyone else, expect for one other I’ve seen. I think they’re wise to call up those veterans. When you bring up the young kids, you don’t know what you’re getting and you can damage their immediate futures.”
(OF Lastings Milledge — too polite to say “please don’t trade me for Jose Mesa”, so we’re saying it for him)
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 12:03 pm
From the Washington Post’s Bob Cohn.
Buck Showalter of the Texas Rangers and Frank Robinson of the Washington Nationals are the two worst managers in major league baseball, according to a poll of 450 players conducted by Sports Illustrated during spring training.
That would be the same Buck Showalter who was named American League manager of the year in 2004 — he also won the award in 1994 with the Yankees — and who has the Rangers in contention in the American League West. And that’s the same Frank Robinson who has Washington atop the National League East in defiance of all those last-place predictions.
What gives?
“A popularity contest,” Robinson said.
True, neither man could be called beloved. Showalter is regarded by many as a micromanager who once criticized Ken Griffey Jr. for wearing his cap backward. Robinson, during his Hall of Fame playing career, was abrasive and a fierce competitor. Now, approaching 70, he can come across as a curmudgeon.
“I rub players the wrong way,” Robinson conceded. “I get under their skin. That doesn’t bother me. I know for a fact Buck Showalter and I are not the two worst managers in baseball.”
But isn’t a manager supposed to do everything it takes to win and stand up for his players? And what about results? Robinson and Showalter are getting results. Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, among others, questioned the validity of polling athletes who carry their own agendas.
“If you’re gonna buy a car, do you talk to players?” he asked. “They’re gonna tell you to buy a car that you can’t afford.”
If only Larry Bowa were still managing, we’d see where he ended up on the list.
Permalink
Posted in Basketball, Ugly New Stadiums
at 1:56 am
Nets owner Bruce Ratner, as interviewed by Deborah Solomon in the Sunday New York Times Magazine (link courtesy Stay Free! Daily).
Q: How do you explain the sudden vogue for stadiums and arenas? So many teams want a new home — the Mets in Queens, the Yankees in the Bronx, the Jets with their doomed project in Manhattan. And you’re building a new arena for the Nets in Brooklyn.
A: It has to do with the economics of sports. The high salaries of athletes drive the whole thing, because it creates a need for revenue. In the case of the Nets, we need an arena that has suites and luxury seating, and where you can put up advertisements all over the place.
Q: Since you’re the principal owner of the Nets and paying Vince Carter $15 million a year, why not just slash players’ salaries, lower ticket costs and preserve the old, historic stadiums?
A: Is that a joke? We have to be competitive.
Q: You and your fellow investors bought the Nets last August for $300 million. Have you always loved basketball?
A: I was never a basketball fan, but I wanted to bring a team to Brooklyn, a team that could be like the Brooklyn Dodgers. There’s something intangible that a team contributes, something as intangible as a soul.
Q: What do you think of the Meadowlands, out in Jersey, where the Nets currently play?
A: It’s hard to get to the Meadowlands if you don’t have a car. There’s no train from New York, and you can’t take the bus because when the game is done, you’ve got to wait.
Q: What’s wrong with waiting for a bus?
A :Nothing. I love waiting for buses! I love Port Authority! I spend my afternoons there! I love panhandlers!
In Ratner’s defense, if someone asked me if I thought the Meadowlands was a historic venue worth preserving, I might think it was a put-on, too.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 1:03 am
Hard to pick the more ghastly highlight from Monday evening, Was it Boston’s Mark Bellhorn and Trot Nixon (above) doing their finest impersonation of. well, the New York Yankees fielders, with mind-blowing gaffes that allowed Cleveland to run roughshod over Bronson Arroyo — Bellhorn dropping a throw that shall we say, hit him the in the bad part of the glove (ie. right inside it), while Nixon turned a 7th inning deep fly by Grady Sizemore into a 2 run HR when the Boston right-fielder knocked the ball into the Indians’ bullpen.
(how many games for slugging your own skipper in the back?)
Or was it twitchy Orioles reliever Steve Kline’s 8th inning balk, putting the Yankees’ Jorge Posada in scoring position…and leaving Kline in line for a probable suspension after Mr. Formerly Filthy Cap when nuclear on home plate umpire Marty Foster (above).
The 2005 Kevin Brown Shit For Brains Award goes to Kenny Rogers of the Texas Rangers, due to miss his next start after busting a bone in his non-pitching hand while punching a water cooler. I’m weary of seeing frustrated pitchers demolish defenseless water coolers. And why couldn’t Kenny take a swing at another inanimate object, like say, Buck Showalter?
Reader B. Hogg from Decauter, GA wants to know when I’ll have something to say about Andruw Jones’ recent exploits. The Braves center fielder has carried his club over the past month and with all due respect to Derek Lee, Cliff Floyd and Dontrelle Willis, is a legit MVP candidate. So presuming you actually follow the Braves, what else is there to say other than, “it’s about time”? Haven’t you been waiting for this kind of breakout season from Jones for what, 9 years?
Permalink
06.27.05
Posted in Baseball
at 11:59 pm
Dusty Baker on Joe Borowski in Monday’s Chicago Sun-Times :
Manager Dusty Baker was asked point-blank Sunday about whether right-handed reliever Joe Borowski was at risk to be a roster cut when Kerry Wood is activated Wednesday off the disabled list to start that day against Milwaukee.
His reply should be less than comforting to Borowski.
“You can’t really say at this point about anybody,” Baker said. “They’re still here. How would you like to hear that your job is in any kind of jeopardy while you’re still in the job?
“You got to wait until these things happen rather than forseeing something bad happening before it happens. I can’t really answer that question.”
Responds Ben Schwartz,
Dusty is reaching Donald Rumsfeldian levels of precise imprecision in his language these days, and all anybody asked him is will Joe Borowski be cut? Exactly what is Dusty trying to avoid by Wednesday? That Joe might choke before a big game that He’s Not In? Btw, “in” the job v. “on” the job?
That said, with Wood coming back into the line-up, this going to be the Cubs best shot at picking games to better lock in the wild card. It’s possible that something could happen between the all-Star break and October with the Cards, but I’m not counting on it.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 6:08 pm
He’s still a millionaire, right?
(UPDATE : the full spiel can be found at Rocker’s very impressive website. I don’t know which is hotter, that he has a link to his PR lady on the front page, or a pic of himself with a kitten)
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 6:00 pm
From the Associated Press :
George Steinbrenner is growing impatient, a sign that changes are ahead for the New York Yankees.
“My patience is a little short by the fact that the team is not performing up to its great capabilities,” Steinbrenner said in a statement issued by spokesman Howard Rubenstein. “The players have to want to win as much as I do.”
Rubenstein said the Yankees owner dictated the statement to him while lifting weights. Steinbrenner wouldn’t discuss the substance of the meetings.
“He hasn’t lost his fighting spirit,” Rubenstein said. “He said, ‘We’ll never give up.’ He wants this message to be conveyed.”
I’m sure Joe Torre and his players will take great inspiration from the thought of the Boss pumping iron.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball, Blogged Down
at 5:42 pm
From today’s Boston Sports Media Watch :
Last Friday, Boston Dirt Dogs ran a headline “Welcome Back Tito” and under the headline was a black and white photo, presumably from the 1950’s, of a black man surrounded by a mob of white men, one of whom was kicking him in the chest. Underneath the photo was the caption “Philly Fans Greet Francona as He Returns Home”. The photo was only up for a short time before it was yanked, and then later on that night the following statement was issued on the site by Boston.com management:
Note to users: Earlier today, Boston Dirt Dogs used a photo on this page that was offensive and inappropriate. There was no malicious intent behind the posting. We removed the photo immediately, and we apologize to any users who saw it during the brief time it was on the site.
I also received copies of emails from several readers who had written in to the Boston.com general manager to protest the use of the photo, and they all received the exact same response, which was very similar to the above statement. The story was significant enough to be mentioned on the FOX25 newscast that night.
(above, the new illustration as it appears on the Dirt Dogs front page).
Permalink
Posted in Basketball
at 5:15 pm
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Art Garcia on the Mavericks’ plans to eliminate one of the most important players in franchise history.
Barring the unexpected, Michael Finley’s career with the Mavericks is effectively over. The financial implications of waiving the longest-tenured member of the team far outweigh keeping Finley, making his release “academic,” according to a team source.
Finley (above) is eligible to be waived under a one-time-only exception in the new collective-bargaining agreement recently agreed upon by the NBA and the players’ association. Teams above the luxury tax threshold, such as the Mavs, are permitted to release one player this summer and avoid the luxury-tax penalty from that player’s contract.
“Whatever decisions [we make] will be made in the best interest of the franchise,” Mavs coach Avery Johnson said Sunday. “That’s pretty much what we promised our players and our fans. The part of the business of losing anyone on our team isn’t a good feeling, especially Finley.”
A player released would still receive his full salary for the length of the contract and count against the salary cap, but that salary would not be used to calculate the luxury-tax penalty. In Finley’s case, he’s on the books for $51.8 million over the next three years.
Assuming the Mavs remain above the luxury-tax threshold — a safe assumption — Finley’s deal would cost the Mavs up to $103.6 million. Waiving Finley would save Mavs owner Mark Cuban up to $51.8 million in luxury-tax payments.
But that’s only part of the savings for the next three years, because Finley’s contract is substantially deferred. The Mavs would pay Finley approximately $5 million of next season’s $15.9 million salary, with the remainder spread out over a number of years. It’s a similar situation for the last two years of his deal, meaning the overall bottom-line savings for the next three seasons could fall in the $80 million range, a figure even the billionaire owner can’t ignore.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 4:10 pm
From the Associated Press.
Bobby Valentine calls the plan for the World Baseball Classic misguided and insulting.
Major League Baseball and its players’ association have approved the 16-nation tournament, a World Cup-style event that would be played in March 2006. But the former New York Mets manager, who is currently managing in Japan, is not sold on the idea and thinks Japan should not take part.
“I’m all in favor of doing anything to help promote baseball internationally,” Valentine said Monday. “But this idea is misguided. As a manager, there is no way I’d want one of my players to take part in a tournament like this before the start of the season.”
Officials of MLB and its union traveled to Japan this month and set an end-of-the-month deadline for an agreement with the Japanese owners and players. MLB has been planning an announcement of the World Baseball Classic for July 11, the day before the All-Star Game in Detroit.
“We told the Japanese we needed their decision by June 30, that was the absolutely outermost limit of time we had,” Gene Orza, the union’s chief operating officer, said a week ago.
Japanese baseball officials have objected to both the timing of the event and the distribution of revenue, which they say overwhelmingly favors the major leagues. Valentine, who manages the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League, agrees.
“It’s just insulting for Orza to come over here and give the Japanese an ultimatum like that,” Valentine said. “The revenue distribution is something like 60 or 70 percent in favor of the major leagues.”
Much as I loathe the prospect of Carlos Beltran tearing up a knee during the WBC, this is the same squeeze that soccer players around the globe find themselves in. Would the World Cup be the planet’s most watched sporting event if top players weren’t allowed to compete? Of course, soccer’s governing body FIFA, for all it’s faults and ethical lapses, represents the interests of more than one national association.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 11:53 am
Currently in last place in the AL West, the Mariners will approach the trading deadline as sellers, writes the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s John Hickey.
The Houston Astros apparently turned down the Mariners last week when the Seattle club offered outfielder Randy Winn for pitcher Brandon Backe, who is 6-6 for the Astros. It’s possible that trade is being revisited.
No deal was in place last night, but Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi spent plenty of time over the weekend talking with his San Diego counterpart, Kevin Towers. The two have been frequent trading partners in the past.
While one Seattle club source said something could happen before tomorrow’s first game of a series in Oakland, another high-ranking member of the Seattle brain trust said after the game no deal is close.
Boone is in the last year of his contract, and he’s known a trade would be a real possibility if the Mariners weren’t in contention. He’s had a down year (.237, six homers and 33 RBIs) but after some time off to work on his swing, Boone had six hits in the three-game series against the Padres, including his first home run in four weeks.
Rookie Jose Lopez (above), the heir apparent at second base, is still on Seattle’s roster. Lopez started four games for Boone last week when Boone was given time off.
The Mariners have made it clear they want Lopez, 21, to play every day, either in Seattle or at Triple-A Tacoma, and the fact he is still on the roster may indicate Boone’s days with the Mariners are dwindling. If no deal is done by tomorrow, it’s likely Lopez would be sent back to Tacoma.
Moyer would be more difficult to trade because he’s a 10-and-5 man, a 10-year veteran who has played the past five years with the same team. Winn has been among the club’s most consistent hitters, and with a relatively modest contract ($3.75 million this year and a possible $5 million next) could be attractive to clubs who don’t have money to burn.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 11:00 am
From today’s Drudge Report (link courtesy Ben Schwartz) :
Despite the Washington Nationals’ successful start to the season, to some Capitol Hill Republicans there is a dark cloud on the Nats’ horizon: the potential that their newly adopted home team could be purchased by billionaire financier George Soros!
Soros has joined an ownership bid being led by entrepreneur Jonathan Ledecky that is angling to take over the Nats, who are currently owned by Major League Baseball.
ROLL CALL reports: Soros pumped more than $20 million in the last cycle into groups seeking to unseat President Bush and elect Democrats and relates that the very prospect that Soros could have a stake in the team is enough to irritate Congressional Republicans.
“I think Major League Baseball understands the stakes,” said Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis (R), who recently convened high-profile steroid hearings.
Davis said that if a Soros sale went through, “I don’t think it’s the Nats that get hurt. I think it’s Major League Baseball that gets hurt.
They enjoy all sorts of exemptions’ from anti-trust laws. Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), vice chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that covers the District of Columbia budget, said if Soros buys the team and seeks public funding for a new stadium or anything else, the GOP attitude would be, “Let him pay for it.”
If MLB went with a buyer willing to pay less than Soros’ group, it wouldn’t be the first time such a thing happened. But there’s been little outcry about the prospect of a consortium led a former member of the Bush cabinet trying to purchase the team, nor has an (illegal) Nixon campaign contributor owning the New York Yankees bothered anyone in a long time.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 9:07 am
From the New York Daily News’ Sam Borden.
George Steinbrenner said through his spokesman that “it’s in Joe Torre’s lap” when asked about the Yankees’ recent run of erratic play, but that doesn’t mean The Boss isn’t actively seeking answers. Steinbrenner has called for a total evaluation of the organization by his executives over the next few days, with potential trades being one of the key issues up for discussion.
As the trading deadline draws nearer, there are always a handful of teams who are described as being “one move away” from legitimacy. The Yankees are not one of those teams.
They believe they need more than that.
“We feel like we’d like to make a few moves,” Cashman said. “Obviously you have to look at one thing at a time, but we feel like there are several areas that can be addressed.”
Although the bullpen might seem like the least of their concerns, there has been discussion about moving Tanyon Sturtze back into the rotation, particularly since Kevin Brown’s balky back is unpredictable and no one is certain when he will return. Torre has said he does not want to use Sturtze as a spot starter, but the righthander could be a viable long-term solution if the Yanks find it easier to deal for a reliever.
As for a bigger deal, names like Oakland outfielder Mark Kotsay and Giants pitcher Jason Schmidt have been floating around, and while Cashman has said numerous times he wouldn’t favor trading either Chien-Ming Wang or Robinson Cano, anyone who has been around the Yankees knows that potential doesn’t mean much if the situation gets dire enough.
Given the Yankees’ reluctance to part with prospects, you’d think they’ve considered bringing in some talent from the indie leagues. John Rocker can ride the 4 train and take Sturze’s spot in the pen, and Rickey Henderson can be the new starting center fielder. With Kevin Brown and Jaret Wright both on the DL, why not take a flyer on Oil Can Boyd and Bobby M. Jones (just signed this past weekend by the Newark Bears)? We all know how much George loves a reclamation project, and if nothing else, bringing some or all of the above names into the Yankee clubhouse would add even more veteran leadership to a team that can’t possibly have too much of it.
Permalink
06.26.05
Posted in Baseball
at 11:06 pm
Yankees 5, Mets 4
3 outs away from sweeping the Yankees in the Bronx, the Mets’ Braden Looper relinquished a one run lead in little time ; walking Tino Martinez to start the home 9th, allowing a double down the left field line to A-Rod, intentionally walking Matsui and then leaving a fat one over the plate for Jason Giambi to drive into the gap, scoring Martinez and Rodriguez. Game Over. Fuck you very much. Looper walking Tino wasn’t a matter of nibbling, either.
Some measure of redemption, then, for AJ Soprano (above right), whose 7th inning miscue (along with that of Robinson Cano) gave the Mets 3 unearned runs in the 7th inning. If you’re counting, the Yankees are now 2-36 when trailing after 8 innings, both comeback wins coming on game-ending hits by Giambi.
First base umpire C.B. Bucknor blew a call when Gary Sheffield beat out Marlon Anderson’s throw in the 7th, but there’s no way Sheff stays in the game after tossing his helmet and hopping up and down. Mr. Creamy Clear Chanel has been around long enough to know as much, but if he doesn’t mind leaving the game in Russ Johnson’s hands, who am I to argue? Hopefully there will be at least one NY Times column tomorrow about Sheffield’s maturity and restraint.
On a night when the Yankees were particularly pathetic in the field, the Mets proved to be nearly as inept. Carlos Beltran allowed Derek Jeter to take 2nd on his RBI single in the 7th (perhaps CF novice Tony Womack can provide a demonstration of hitting the cutoff man. If anyone could find the cutoff man). David Wright’s error to start the 6th led directly to the first Yankee run, the only one Kris Benson would allow.
From the “when it rains, it pours” department, Mets 1B Doug Mientkiewicz joined Kaz Matsui and Miguel Cairo on the disabled list. The Mets have called up Jose Offerman (currently hitting .167) from Norfolk.
That’s right. Jose Offerman. Coming on the heels of Gerald Williams’ promotion, can Benji Gill be far behind?
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 6:07 pm
I’ve got some good news and bad news for my dear friends who live and die with the exploits of the New York Yankees.
The good news is that your 2005 2nd Round Draft Pick, reliever J. Brent Cox just completed a remarkable season for the newly crowned National Champion Texas Longhorns, saving 19 games, two of ‘em in the College World Series. Cox didn’t allow an earned run in any of his 5 CWS appearances, and he recorded the final 5 outs of today’s 6-2 clincher over Florida.
The bad news is, he was stomped to death seconds later (above).
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 5:58 pm
…was giving David Wells the stop sign as the Sultan Of Sloth rounded third base as David Ortiz singled in the 4th inning. To what extent Wells’ adventures on the basepaths left him too tired to compete far into Boston’s 12-8 defeat of Philadelphia, I can’t say for sure. Brett Myers’ conscience will survive allowing a grand slam to Manny Ramirez, butallowing David Wells to make contact twice, however, that’s gonna haunt the Phillies’ starter to his grave.
Philadelphia managed to claw back from a 7-0 deficit, only to see Rheal Cormier serve up a 2 run shot to Jason Varitek (above), part of Boston’s 4 run 8th inning to seal the deal. After vaulting their way into the NL East race, the Phillies have now dropped 5 of their last 6.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 1:54 pm
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf doesn’t mind pedding Mitchell & Ness jerseys with Carlton Fisk’s name and no. 72 on ‘em, but he draws the line at phone sex, writes the Chicago Tribune’s Fred “Don’t Call Me Fred Ex” Mitchell.
Carlton Fisk and White Sox management have not always been battery mates, in a manner of speaking. Which makes the organization’s plans to honor the Hall of Fame catcher with a statue to be placed on the left-field main concourse a significant act of public reconciliation.
An official announcement from the White Sox is expected Sunday.
Fisk (above), who starred for the Sox in 1981-1993, says he is humbled and honored to receive such recognition. But a simple phone call from club Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf might be equally meaningful.
“I have heard from [Sox executive] Bob Grim, but I have not heard anything from Jerry Reinsdorf,” Fisk said Friday.
Asked Saturday about his relationship with Fisk, Reinsdorf tried to diffuse any sense of historical tension.
“If I hadn’t been reading in the newspapers that Carlton Fisk and I didn’t get along, I wouldn’t know it,” Reinsdorf said. “We have never had a cross word with each other. And I have seen him periodically over the years. We have always been cordial to each other. As far as I know, there are no problems.”
Fisk haggled over money with Sox management repeatedly and was miffed when he was released during midseason in Cleveland after breaking the career record for most games by a catcher in 1993. Later that year, Fisk was upset when he was denied access to the Sox’s locker room during the playoffs.
Asked to describe the differences in the game compared to when he played, Fisk said, “Obviously, the pay is so much better and the way the players are treated is so much better. You have to battle within the game, but you don’t have to battle outside the game as much anymore. Every year you used to have to battle for the next year.”
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 1:29 pm
Pittsburgh has called up starting P Ian Snell from their Indianapolis AAA affiliate. Snell, 23, was 9-2 with a 4.06 and was leading the International League with 90 K’s so far in ‘05. Previously, he had no-hit the Mets’ Norfolk Tides on May 15.
Permalink
Posted in Hockey
at 12:38 pm
Flyers C Jermey Roenick spoke with Sporting News Radio’s slow-witted Scott Weitzel on Friday, and expressed doubt that he might return to the ice, when and if a new collective bargaining agreement is signed between the NHLPA and NHL.
“I have to see how my body reacts to some really, really, really hard training regimen here coming up in the latter part of the summer,” Roenick said. “It’s very hard to get motivated without a deal. Once that announcement comes, I think the motivational factor will definitely be lifted.
I know exactly what Roenick is talking about. But when Wayne Root is your motivational guru, anything is possible.
Permalink
Posted in Basketball
at 12:14 pm
The New York Post’s Peter Vescey on the pending Kurt Thomas/Quentin RIchardson swap, and the Knicks’ current search for help at center.
As many tangibles and intangibles as Kurt Thomas offers, and as difficult as it is to surrender the Knicks’ only hombre, his presence proved fairly meaningless in the win column. At this point in his career, Kurt’s biggest contribution to their cause is he’s considered enough of an asset at almost 33 to be worth a 25-year-old compulsive scorer and a first-round draft pick to one of the NBA’s most enchanting teams.
If you’re scoring at home, that reduces the Knicks’ resources, and I’m being kind, to a precious two; Crawford, perhaps, and maybe Mike Sweetney to a lesser degree. Other than that Isiah Thomas is fresh out of genuinely desirable commodities, exempting the No. 8 pick in Tuesday’s draft.
Oh, yeah, and the players on the end of their obscene contracts that the Knick president insists are so coveted. Look, ma, no nibbles on Penny Hardaway and Maurice Taylor, or the stretch jobs belonging to Malik Rose and Jerome Williams; all four fetched to New York by the man with the forever-fluctuating fix-and-repair-daily scam, er, plan.
Given a brief meeting with my cabinet of column castigators, I’m leaning toward liking this latest one:
Assembling a venomous 3-guard rotation like the one Isiah ruled over in Detroit (don’t tell me Bill Laimbeer’s familiarity with the system gives him an edge over Herb Williams) figures to get the opposition’s immediate attention, if not respect; Stephon Marbury, 28, is the oldest of the trio.
Locating a mobile center and a portable power forward is where Isiah must come through (this is where it gets tricky) or else his renovation is going to be time consuming – which is OK, I promise to be very understanding.
If the Knicks intend to take full advantage of their perimeter shooting, it’s somewhat imperative either to obtain (Kwame Brown is worth a gamble; giving the Wizards’ No. 8 doesn’t scare me), sign (I’d offer Reggie Evans or Udonis Haslem the mid-level max), draft (Gerald Green is the most enticing HS player, meaning he’ll probably be gone when it’s Isiah turn), or discover an authentic post up player who’ll force the defense to double.
Idle chatter about working out a deal for Zydrunas Ilgauskas doesn’t get any emptier; Camp Cablevision has nobody that interests the Cavaliers. Even if they could be sufficiently compensated, Isiah doesn’t need to take a chance on a soft 7-foot defender/rebounder with a history of foot problems that can’t be insured.
Permalink
Posted in Basketball, We Aren't The World
at 3:08 am
Granted, the lyrical flow of MC Tony Parker, as replayed continuously on the evening sports news, is not the sort of thing Nas will be losing sleep over. Nor, however, was Parker’s performance “a disgrace”, as characterized tonight by Fox Sports Radio’s Bruce Jacobs, who helpfully suggested that Parker “speak American” in the future.
“The French!” snorted Jacobs. “They don’t like us and we don’t like them. What did the French ever do for us but stab us in the back? And did we do for them except save their ass, time and time again?”
With such a keen grasp of world history, I certainly hope Jacobs considers running for elective office someday. If nothing else, that should get him off the radio.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 2:52 am
To borrow from CSTB entries of July 2-4, 2004, Robert Merrill, Adrienne Shelley, Spike Lee, Suzyn Waldman, Michael Kay, Rudolph Giulliani, Andrew Giulliani, Billy Crystal, Dean Wareham, heck, even Paul Sommerstein…this one’s for you!
Watching Bernie Williams continue to struggle in CF makes me ache for my friends who follow the Yankees. Surely Brian Cashman knows that Roger Cedeno is available?
I hope someone takes the jerk behind the Won’t The Bloodletting Cease blog to task for all of his nasty remarks last year wishing that Cliff Floyd would retire.
John Sterling today claimed that Tom Glavine was “a joy to watch” because the Mets pitcher “does it all with his brain, his arm doesn’t have much left.” Yeah, it’s a thing of beauty. Especially if your eyes are closed.
Permalink
06.25.05
Posted in Baseball
at 5:47 pm
(The Braves’ Andruw Jones, shown hitting the game winner in the bottom of the 9th earlier today against Baltimore’s Todd Williams)
After losing this afternoon to Atlanta, the Orioles have fallen urther behind the Red Soxf in the AL East and ESPN’s Buster Olney wonders why the O’s have been hesitant to make a move.
Baltimore did make a trade for role player Eli Marrero. But to date, the Orioles have made no major acquisitions at a time when they have every reason to be aggressive. They could win back credibility with a fan base that has grown frustrated over the last seven seasons and sway fans who might be lured by the immediate success of the Washington Nationals. And they also are protected financially because of their sweetheart deal with Major League Baseball over the placement of the Nationals, so they are in a position to take risks.
On Friday night, the Orioles lost to Atlanta 7-5. Their record is 12-15 since May 26. The Red Sox moved into first place because they have regained some urgency and started playing much better, just as you knew they would; they have won 17 of their last 26 games. Schilling figures to rejoin the Boston rotation within two weeks. The Yankees, however, haven’t put together a serious run, having gone 11-15 since May 26.
I find it astonishing that the Orioles haven’t been aggressive in making deals, in trying to augment their team. It’s been about seven years since they’ve had a window of opportunity to make the playoffs, and now it’s here, it’s right in front of them. Carpe diem.
Last year, the Mets’ trades for Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson were bad deals because they were the type of moves made by a team ready to contend, and the Mets were decidedly not ready to contend: They were six games out of first place and three games under .500. This is the Orioles’ time. If you have to splurge to get a very good player, you do it; if you have to overpay to get help, in money or in prospects, you do it. The Yankees want Mark Kotsay, and with their season disintegrating, they will probably go all-out to get the center fielder. The Orioles could have even more motivation than the Yankees to be aggressive, to mix it up and trade elbows on the trade market, to make it happen. Right now.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball, Sports Radio
at 3:14 pm
From Friday afternoon :
Mets GM Omar Minaya yacks with WFAN’s Chris Russo and Mike Francesca (Real Player required).
Maura Johnston advises :
Set your webstream to “oh, no.” Mike and the Mad Dog will do a 24-hour show next Thursday-Friday, from 5pm-5pm (or thereabouts). it’s apparently for ‘charity,’ and anyone who donates $5k gets to read the news and ‘hang out on the air’ with the guys. i sure hope Lindsay Lohan is one of the celebrity guests!
You and me, both, Maura. Though I suspect we might have to settle for Ed Coleman and Rudy G. Not that Ed Coleman doesn’t have a lot of teen appeal.
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 2:42 pm
Former Mets OF Roger Cedeno, last seen hitting half his weight for the Memphis Redbirds, has been designated for assignment by the parent St. Louis Cardinals.
On the bright side, there’s no longer anything standing in the way of Cedeno opening his own driving school
Permalink
Posted in Baseball
at 1:25 pm
From the Daily Southtown’s Joe Cowley.
Mark Buehrle is willing to sit down with any Cubs player or coach who had a problem with what he said last week.
As of Friday, there were no takers.
“If there’s anybody on that team that wants to talk to me about it, I’m open,” the White Sox pitcher said. “Whenever and wherever.”
Buehrle made headlines last week during a radio interview in which he was asked about pitchers who cheat. Buehrle said there’s a belief a certain pitcher from the “North Side” was doctoring the ball in some fashion.
“I don’t know personally, but I’m just saying from years of experience that he’s had success that he very well may be using something,” Buehrle said during the interview.
It was believed Buehrle was talking about Cubs veteran Greg Maddux — something Buehrle has since said wasn’t necessarily true. When Maddux was asked about it, he told reporters, “It wasn’t me. Who’s Mark Buehrle?”
“That’s fine if he doesn’t know who I am,” Buehrle said. “I like the fact that no one knows who I am.”
If Maddux (pitching today vs. the White Sox’ Jose Contreras) really doesn’t know who Buehrle is, he could always check out this year’s All-Star Game.
Permalink
Posted in Basketball
at 1:11 pm
Ginobili-mania hits a road block, as covered by the Washington Post’s Mike Wise.
When David Stern, the NBA commissioner, presented the Spurs’ players, owner and coach with the Lawrence O’Brien championship trophy, he proudly characterized the Spurs as “truly an international team of stars.” Having seen and heard Stern export America’s game at the same time the foundation of the product crumbled domestically, a collective groan could be heard from the press room.
At least three players not playing in the Finals spoken to this week on condition their names not be used — black players whose NBA jobs are being outsourced — desperately wanted the Pistons to beat the Spurs. For no other reason than, as one of them candidly said, “We gotta put some of these guys back in their place.”
Rasheed Wallace was asked why Manu Ginobili was so tough to guard earlier in the series. Wallace refused to give Ginobili his due, stopping just short of putting him down as a player while making it clear he did not think Ginobili was a special talent. Sean Elliott, the former NBA forward who now works as a radio and TV analyst for the Spurs, has seen this dismissive behavior before by NBA players when it comes to Ginobili. He believes it goes much further than merely professional jealousy.
“When you have a Dirk Nowitzki or Larry Bird-type players, big guys who play their positions well, there’s not a lot of backlash,” Elliott said. “But when you have a 6-6 white guy beating the black player at his own game, then it’s a little different. Every series he’s been in, guys have been slow to give him respect. It’s an amazing phenomenon.
Added Elliott, “If he was an inner-city kid, if Manu Ginobili was from Chicago or New York, and he was bringing the game like he’s bringing it now, all the players in the league would say, ‘Manu is the truth.’ Instead they say, ‘He throws his arms, he flails.’ Every series in the playoffs this year, it’s been that way. Denver did not want to give him credit in the first round. Seattle, same thing. Now Detroit.”
Permalink
