Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval signed a huge deal with Boston after his championship runs in San Francisco where he gained the nickname Panda after his rotund figure. After signing with the Red Sox Sandoval's weight hurt his production by keeping him off the field. Sandoval only played 3 games for the Red Sox last year and 126 after being over 140 all the seasons before that except for two. There something to be said about performing at a weight especially when your team wins not just one World Series but three. Was Sandoval out of shape yes. Was Sandoval a vital member of those Giants at the time the answer is also yes. Sandoval dedicated himself to getting in better shape and has. He looks better than he's ever had, but the question I have is will it work for him?
New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia had the same weight issue that Sandoval had going into the 2014 season. Sabathia blamed eating large amounts of cereal for his weight issues and like Sandoval made it a goal to lose weight. In 2013 when Sabathia was still overweight he pitched in 32 games he did have a then career high 4.78 era but he still logged 211 innings after losing the weight Sabathia in 2014 pitched in 8 games. Was that all because of the weight, or lack there of, I doubt it, but when Sabathia was overweight he knew what he had to do to make his weight work for him since he was a workhorse. Sabathia made logging over 200 innings a season a tradition. Am I predicting a drop off for Sandoval, not necessarily, but this is something to keep an eye on because as a big man he was a part of a team that won several World Series he's yet to prove what kind of player he is as a thin man.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Monday, February 13, 2017
Circus on 34th Street
It has been a trying week for New York Knick fans. Between Phil Jackson trying to get Carmelo Anthony upset enough to demand to be shipped out of town (which hasn't happened yet) to owner James Dolan having New York Knick legend Charles Oakley banned from Madison Square Garden. Fan favorite Charles Oakley at that. The same Charles Oakley who was an enforcer with the late Anthony Mason in all those heated showdowns with the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers back when NY Knick basketball actually meant something. New York Knicks owner James Dolan just made himself more the villain to the fans of the Knicks than he already was. From hiring Isiah Thomas who ran a muck in the front office to the revolving door that has been the NY Knick coaching position (11 coaches have been hired and fired since 1999). The Knicks have been a circus of a team and Dolan has been the ring leader.
Phil Jackson is hiding behind the rings he has won as a coach with the Bulls and Lakers to justify the shenanigans he's pulling with Anthony. No one can approach the great "Zen Master" because he was so great at making all the talent he was blessed with go in the right direction to double digit championships. Jackson needs to come off his high chair and see that Anthony is ultimately the one who decides where and when he is to be moved thanks to the no trade clause in his contract and the trade kicker that are in Anthony's contract. Dolan didn't help anything when during an interview on the radio he threw Jackson under the bus by pretty much blaming him for giving Anthony that contract. If more evidence is needed for Dolan to sell the Knicks this week should pretty much answer that for him, but of course Dolan won't sell so the circus will continue down on 34th St.
Phil Jackson is hiding behind the rings he has won as a coach with the Bulls and Lakers to justify the shenanigans he's pulling with Anthony. No one can approach the great "Zen Master" because he was so great at making all the talent he was blessed with go in the right direction to double digit championships. Jackson needs to come off his high chair and see that Anthony is ultimately the one who decides where and when he is to be moved thanks to the no trade clause in his contract and the trade kicker that are in Anthony's contract. Dolan didn't help anything when during an interview on the radio he threw Jackson under the bus by pretty much blaming him for giving Anthony that contract. If more evidence is needed for Dolan to sell the Knicks this week should pretty much answer that for him, but of course Dolan won't sell so the circus will continue down on 34th St.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Chuck V. Bron
In the newest drama that has engulfed the NBA LeBron James has come to beef with NBA legend Charles Barkley. It started last week when LeBron James started making demands of Cleveland Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert over needing more players to support the chase to repeat as Champions. Several media members have either supported LeBron or spoken out against him and Charles Barkley has spoken out against him in usual Charles Barkley form, but what wasn't expected was the LeBron James response. LeBron James, in an interview with Dave McMenamin for ESPN, went on a verbal lashing of Barkley bringing up various incidents from Barkley's playing days that has reminded folks that Barkley's reputation isn't all that clean. Lucky was Barkley that his glory days reached its peak when there were no social media outlets where his indiscretions could be aired out in the way that today's athlete have to deal with.
Personally I believe Barkley had this coming. The way in which Barkley uses his platform to be critical of players as if he were squeaky clean was always interesting to me. Just because you're getting paid to be a gas bag on TV doesn't entitle you the right to throw around insults and speak down to players. Eventually Barkley's words were going to come back and that they did in the shape of LeBron James calling him out for amongst other things chumming up with Michael Jordan during a playoff game something that Barkley has criticized LeBron for since in his day Barkley and other stars weren't so friendly with other stars. I'm surprised more stars haven't gone after Barkley since his criticisms of players have been so harsh. Maybe because Barkley is a legend in the game so players don't think they can go against him, but LeBron is a big enough name where clearly that isn't an issue.
Personally I believe Barkley had this coming. The way in which Barkley uses his platform to be critical of players as if he were squeaky clean was always interesting to me. Just because you're getting paid to be a gas bag on TV doesn't entitle you the right to throw around insults and speak down to players. Eventually Barkley's words were going to come back and that they did in the shape of LeBron James calling him out for amongst other things chumming up with Michael Jordan during a playoff game something that Barkley has criticized LeBron for since in his day Barkley and other stars weren't so friendly with other stars. I'm surprised more stars haven't gone after Barkley since his criticisms of players have been so harsh. Maybe because Barkley is a legend in the game so players don't think they can go against him, but LeBron is a big enough name where clearly that isn't an issue.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
And Then There Were Two
The Super Bowl match up has been decided. The Atlanta Falcons will face the New England Patriots in SB LI in Houston Texas. Both teams won decidedly continuing the theme of these NFL playoffs. Except for one game these playoffs have been a disaster. No losing team put up a fight except for the Dallas Cowboys who lost to the Green Bay Packers by 3 points and the Kansas City Chiefs, who lost their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite the fact they didn't allow a touchdown. The loss by the Cowboys may have been the biggest upset in these playoffs. Considering that going into the game the Cowboys were favored to come out of the NFC as champs.
The Patriots had an easy run through these playoffs. No real team in the AFC stood up to the Patriots as they cut through their opponents like a warm blade through butter. The Steelers were supposed to be their biggest obstacle, but once LeVeon Bell got hurt it made it easier for Belichick to lock down star wide receiver Antonio Brown and that ended their run at Super Bowl glory. This Falcons' offense is supposedly the biggest obstacle for the Patriots, but that was said about the Steelers. I believe the Falcons have too much on offense and will overwhelm the Patriots to the score of 42-21. The Falcon defense has been playing better as of late and will disrupt the flow of the Pats offense by focusing on the slant receivers which have been what has really been the difference in these games for the Patriots.
The Patriots had an easy run through these playoffs. No real team in the AFC stood up to the Patriots as they cut through their opponents like a warm blade through butter. The Steelers were supposed to be their biggest obstacle, but once LeVeon Bell got hurt it made it easier for Belichick to lock down star wide receiver Antonio Brown and that ended their run at Super Bowl glory. This Falcons' offense is supposedly the biggest obstacle for the Patriots, but that was said about the Steelers. I believe the Falcons have too much on offense and will overwhelm the Patriots to the score of 42-21. The Falcon defense has been playing better as of late and will disrupt the flow of the Pats offense by focusing on the slant receivers which have been what has really been the difference in these games for the Patriots.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Second Round with the Save
As America's favorite sport starts its playoff rounds there has been nothing but disappointment. Blow outs in the first round has made these games almost unwatchable (even though I did sit down and watched the majority of these games). Six of the eight games that have been played in these playoffs have been won by over 13 points and the closer games were close because of garbage time points. The problem I see goes back to the overexertion of players. Thursday night games can't help players be ready when needed. This is watered down football and even so the amount of damage players are going through has to effect these playoff games. The short turn around from Sunday night/afternoon to Thursday night has to take an immense toll on players and since the NFL is making bank on the Thursday night game those games are not going anywhere.
The games between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys may have saved these playoffs. Both games were tight, full of drama and going for it on 4th downs. Compared to the blowouts of the first round these two games have given validation to just how good the NFL can be. The problem I see is with how much the NFL wants to increase its exposure it's all at the cost of the player. Between midseason trips to Europe and games on short rest the toll on the player is at an all time high. A team has the potential to go from California to London to play a Sunday 1pm game to then travel back to play a game in a random city in America and then play a Thursday game after that with just a bye week (rest week) between those 3 games. That's going to hurt the game, the playoffs, and the player, but as long as the NFL cashes in there's no rest for the weary.
The games between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys may have saved these playoffs. Both games were tight, full of drama and going for it on 4th downs. Compared to the blowouts of the first round these two games have given validation to just how good the NFL can be. The problem I see is with how much the NFL wants to increase its exposure it's all at the cost of the player. Between midseason trips to Europe and games on short rest the toll on the player is at an all time high. A team has the potential to go from California to London to play a Sunday 1pm game to then travel back to play a game in a random city in America and then play a Thursday game after that with just a bye week (rest week) between those 3 games. That's going to hurt the game, the playoffs, and the player, but as long as the NFL cashes in there's no rest for the weary.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Do it For the Fans
Professional sports rely on fans buying tickets to the games, buying concessions, and overall fan attention. Now imagine you buy tickets to your favorite team to go see your favorite player and it turns out that the 24 year old superstar is not playing because he needs "rest". Why does a 24 year old need rest in December? The NBA season is 82 games long a player that young shouldn't need rest 20 or so games into the season. The number of players that have played 82 games has dwindled from mid-50's to about 8 to 10 and considering how the rules have changed and the advancement of the modern athlete one would think that more players would be able to play all 82.
San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich started this by resting his players, but they were older players who had more than 10 years in the association. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker can be argued needed the rest. Kyrie Irving doesn't. This generation of basketball player has been described as "soft" by some of the legends of the game and more proof of that keeps being evident. If 40 year old Michael Jordan played 82 games when he played for the Washington Wizards why can't Irving play through his "tired legs"? I heard an interesting solution from Tracy McGrady on ESPN, if a player is out because of "rest" they shouldn't get paid for the game. Fans go to watch the stars shine, not sit on a bench in an expensive suit.
San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich started this by resting his players, but they were older players who had more than 10 years in the association. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker can be argued needed the rest. Kyrie Irving doesn't. This generation of basketball player has been described as "soft" by some of the legends of the game and more proof of that keeps being evident. If 40 year old Michael Jordan played 82 games when he played for the Washington Wizards why can't Irving play through his "tired legs"? I heard an interesting solution from Tracy McGrady on ESPN, if a player is out because of "rest" they shouldn't get paid for the game. Fans go to watch the stars shine, not sit on a bench in an expensive suit.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Cowards Everywhere..
The ratings for the NFL have been down this season and the blame is going around as to why, but my opinion is that the sport is suffering from a major crisis in confidence. Coaches in every game, or at least it seems like are passing up opportunities for the big play down field for these miserable check down passes to running backs or tight ends or any eligible player that stays closer to the line of scrimmage. No team is more guilty of that than the Kansas City Chiefs. If Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith throws a ball passed 12 yards down field that's considered a hail mary for him. It has to be frustrating for most wide receivers in the NFL this season. Only about a handful of teams try to eat yards over the air most coaches would rather "play it safe" and be cowards than make a worthwhile play down field.
Let's forget about going for it on 4th and short. When it would keep their team on the field and help the team win the game, these cowards would rather punt the ball away or kick a field goal instead of trying for the fresh set of downs and potentially ice the game. Nowadays unless you're watching coaches with tenure a la Bill Belichick or Mike Tomlin, who are the only coaches who I've seen take risks on 4th and inches or 3rd and long, these highly paid cowards are going to dink and dunk to "line up the field goal or punt" this is why some folks are changing the channels or not even turning on the game in general. If your quarterback isn't good enough then bench him for one that has the skills to make the plays necessary for exciting football. Making football exciting again shouldn't be a term for the most popular sport in America.
Let's forget about going for it on 4th and short. When it would keep their team on the field and help the team win the game, these cowards would rather punt the ball away or kick a field goal instead of trying for the fresh set of downs and potentially ice the game. Nowadays unless you're watching coaches with tenure a la Bill Belichick or Mike Tomlin, who are the only coaches who I've seen take risks on 4th and inches or 3rd and long, these highly paid cowards are going to dink and dunk to "line up the field goal or punt" this is why some folks are changing the channels or not even turning on the game in general. If your quarterback isn't good enough then bench him for one that has the skills to make the plays necessary for exciting football. Making football exciting again shouldn't be a term for the most popular sport in America.
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