Why does anybody want to be President of the United States? Between the personal mauling that all candidates, their families and close associates undergo, and the godawful mess they will inherit from the current gang of incompetents, why take the hassle? Surely not for the fabulous salary that is about $50,000 above the Major League minimum.
It seems, on this day before September, that the National League's division leaders are having a similar soul-searching meltdown. Who wants the hassle of an extra month of work and going to all of those dinners and parties that the World Series champions have to put up with? Much like Boomer Wells after his Padres' release, wouldn't everyone rather just go surfing?
The indifference of the leaders is clear:
Mets, 73-60, 2 games up; only 3-7 in their last 10 games.
Cubs, 68-64, 2.5 games up; only 5-5 in their last 10 (and trailing the Astros 4-0 right now).
D'backs, 75-60, 1 game up but even on the loss side; 4-6 in their last 10.
Right, the Red Sox are in mortal danger following a three game sweep at the Death Star, but their lead is only 1/2 game less than the TOTAL leads of NL division heads.
Let's not write this off to the natural ebb and flow in the balance of power between the leagues (truth); let's just say that it all means that it will be a very, very competitive September for National League clubs and fans (spin). For the right to get killed by the AL representative in the World Series. Unless the Cardinals take their division with 83 wins again. And as long as the Cubs are the Cubs, and the Brewers are the Brewers, don't bet against the Cards!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
In Praise of LaRussa
Chris Carpenter left his Opening Day start early, hasn't thrown a pitch since, and won't this year. Mark Mulder hasn't thrown a pitch this year. Jim Edmonds has been old all summer. Scott Rolen is damaged goods, perhaps permanently. David Eckstein's body isn't as strong as his incredible heart. Adam Kennedy apparently left all of his bats in Los Angeles of Anaheim. Encarnacion? Hurt. Taguchi? Fourth outfielder at best. Duncan? Pretty good bat, remniscent of Ryan Klesko in the outfield. And that's not a compliment.
Josh Hancock was killed in a drunken driving accident. His family filed, and later dropped, a lawsuit against Mike Shannon's Seafood and Steaks, and Mike's daughter who runs the restaurant. Mike's wife, Judy, died of her cancer a couple of weeks back.
Walt Jockety has apparently tired of St. Louis, and is said to be making eyes at Cincinnati for next year. And Tony LaRussa was arrested for drunk driving in Florida during Spring Training.
I've probably left several things out, but when you're discussing the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals, there's just so much that I can't remember it all.
Here's what I do know:
Adam Wainwright
Braden Looper
Anthony Reyes
Kip Wells
Joel Pineiro
Mike Maroth
Quiz: How many Major League Starting Pitchers do you see on that list? My count is 1. That's ONE. Adam Wainwright has been their best starter this year. Without periodic help from Looper-a career reliever until this year, a man who owns the record (really? there's a record for that?) for most relief appearances to start a career before making a first start-Adam would have been the only starting pitcher they've had. Not sure I'm right? Consider:
Reyes, 2-13, 5.33
Wells, 6-15, 5.50
Maroth, 5-6, 6.79
Pineiro, signed after being released by the Red Sox
Looper, 11-10, 4.66
This team won the World Series last year.
There are two bright spots, of course. Rick Ankiel is back. As an outfielder. And in 15 games, he has 4 homers, 10 RBIs, a .321 average, and an OPS of .966. You just can't help but feel good for this guy if you remember anything about the 2000 postseason. Or the 2001 regular season. Or the 2002 elbow strain that stole the whole season. Or 2003's Tommy John surgery. Or 2005's retirement as a pitcher to learn the outfield. Or 2006's knee surgery that took another season. Are you in tears for this guy yet? Well, don't, because the story has the (so far) happy ending described above.
Then there's Albert Pujols. When Abner Doubleday first envisioned the game (I know, I know), he pictured Albert Pujols. Conventional wisdom: Albert won't be nearly as good this year without Rolen and Edmonds in top form. You think? As of 8-29, the numbers report:
Pujols, 30 HRs, 84 RBIs, .321 avg, .987 OPS.
Only about 99.7% (everybody but ARod, Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard) would trade their numbers for his, and he hasn't had runners on ahead of him or protection behind him. Just picture where Albert would be with Jimmy Rollins, Derek Jeter or JJ Hardy batting ahead of him, or Hideki Matsui, Chase Utley, Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixeira batting behind him. Albert has extended his record of years to start a career with .300 or better average, 30 or more homers, and soon he will add 100 plus RBIs and Runs Scored to all that. Go ahead; clear his place in Cooperstown now and avoid the rush later.
Tony LaRussa has Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright and the Little Sisters of the Poor in third place, just two games out of first. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's the National League Central, but until MLB adopts European soccer league rules and drops abominable teams down to the minor leagues for poor performance, they still get to send their champion to the playoffs. And last year, with their record-setting (although not in any way anyone would be proud of) 83 wins, the Cardinals won the whole thing.
LaRussa is, plain and simple, one of the handful of all-time great managers in baseball history. He stands third on the managerial wins list, and of all those managers who didn't have an ownership interest in their team, he is already Number 1. He has won with the White Sox, the A's and the Cardinals. And last night he tied Red Schoendienst as the winningest Cardinals manager ever. You know the Cardinals: the franchise with the second highest total of World Series wins in all of baseball? The greatest franchise of the National League? Tony's next win makes him number one with that team!
Everyone knows the knocks: he's smug, sort of arrogant, often thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, and he burns up pitchers. My answers: he's earned the right to a certain self-confidence, he usually is the smartest guy in the room, and he's very loyal to Dave Duncan, his long-time partner with whom he has achieved those 12 playoff appearances, 11 Division Championships, 5 pennants and 2 World Series championships. And four Manager of the Year awards.
But for all of that, he may have saved his best for this year. Having this team in contention is incomprehensible.
Tony is one of the three genuine managerial successes of this generation, along with Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. They will all land comfortably in Cooperstown, and Tony won't have to take a backseat to anybody.
Josh Hancock was killed in a drunken driving accident. His family filed, and later dropped, a lawsuit against Mike Shannon's Seafood and Steaks, and Mike's daughter who runs the restaurant. Mike's wife, Judy, died of her cancer a couple of weeks back.
Walt Jockety has apparently tired of St. Louis, and is said to be making eyes at Cincinnati for next year. And Tony LaRussa was arrested for drunk driving in Florida during Spring Training.
I've probably left several things out, but when you're discussing the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals, there's just so much that I can't remember it all.
Here's what I do know:
Adam Wainwright
Braden Looper
Anthony Reyes
Kip Wells
Joel Pineiro
Mike Maroth
Quiz: How many Major League Starting Pitchers do you see on that list? My count is 1. That's ONE. Adam Wainwright has been their best starter this year. Without periodic help from Looper-a career reliever until this year, a man who owns the record (really? there's a record for that?) for most relief appearances to start a career before making a first start-Adam would have been the only starting pitcher they've had. Not sure I'm right? Consider:
Reyes, 2-13, 5.33
Wells, 6-15, 5.50
Maroth, 5-6, 6.79
Pineiro, signed after being released by the Red Sox
Looper, 11-10, 4.66
This team won the World Series last year.
There are two bright spots, of course. Rick Ankiel is back. As an outfielder. And in 15 games, he has 4 homers, 10 RBIs, a .321 average, and an OPS of .966. You just can't help but feel good for this guy if you remember anything about the 2000 postseason. Or the 2001 regular season. Or the 2002 elbow strain that stole the whole season. Or 2003's Tommy John surgery. Or 2005's retirement as a pitcher to learn the outfield. Or 2006's knee surgery that took another season. Are you in tears for this guy yet? Well, don't, because the story has the (so far) happy ending described above.
Then there's Albert Pujols. When Abner Doubleday first envisioned the game (I know, I know), he pictured Albert Pujols. Conventional wisdom: Albert won't be nearly as good this year without Rolen and Edmonds in top form. You think? As of 8-29, the numbers report:
Pujols, 30 HRs, 84 RBIs, .321 avg, .987 OPS.
Only about 99.7% (everybody but ARod, Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard) would trade their numbers for his, and he hasn't had runners on ahead of him or protection behind him. Just picture where Albert would be with Jimmy Rollins, Derek Jeter or JJ Hardy batting ahead of him, or Hideki Matsui, Chase Utley, Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixeira batting behind him. Albert has extended his record of years to start a career with .300 or better average, 30 or more homers, and soon he will add 100 plus RBIs and Runs Scored to all that. Go ahead; clear his place in Cooperstown now and avoid the rush later.
Tony LaRussa has Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright and the Little Sisters of the Poor in third place, just two games out of first. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's the National League Central, but until MLB adopts European soccer league rules and drops abominable teams down to the minor leagues for poor performance, they still get to send their champion to the playoffs. And last year, with their record-setting (although not in any way anyone would be proud of) 83 wins, the Cardinals won the whole thing.
LaRussa is, plain and simple, one of the handful of all-time great managers in baseball history. He stands third on the managerial wins list, and of all those managers who didn't have an ownership interest in their team, he is already Number 1. He has won with the White Sox, the A's and the Cardinals. And last night he tied Red Schoendienst as the winningest Cardinals manager ever. You know the Cardinals: the franchise with the second highest total of World Series wins in all of baseball? The greatest franchise of the National League? Tony's next win makes him number one with that team!
Everyone knows the knocks: he's smug, sort of arrogant, often thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, and he burns up pitchers. My answers: he's earned the right to a certain self-confidence, he usually is the smartest guy in the room, and he's very loyal to Dave Duncan, his long-time partner with whom he has achieved those 12 playoff appearances, 11 Division Championships, 5 pennants and 2 World Series championships. And four Manager of the Year awards.
But for all of that, he may have saved his best for this year. Having this team in contention is incomprehensible.
Tony is one of the three genuine managerial successes of this generation, along with Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. They will all land comfortably in Cooperstown, and Tony won't have to take a backseat to anybody.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
He's Still The Hammer
It is often hard for me to understand the state of our society. I am not a dog lover. I suppose that I am still too few generations away from farm life to think that it's a good idea to have animals in the house. But how do you breed and train dogs to fight? What is the thrill of watching dogs attack, main and often kill one another? How do you decide to take your dog who lost but lived and choke it to death, electrocute it or hang it? What has to be absent in a man's soul to think that this behavior is recreation?
I despise football, but I agree with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's drive to rid his league of bad behavers. Employment in a sport is not a right; it is a privilege. It does not put you above the law, although far too many of those so employed have put themselves outside the law in recent years. No, Michael Vick hasn't been convicted of anything. But his decisions and associations have made him bad for business. At least for the time being, he has lost his job with the Atlanta Falcons. If he is convicted, he won't be an issue for the NFL. But they should go ahead and cut ties with him now. Rawlings got it. So did his shoe company. So should the NFL.
The Bears had the integrity to cut Tank Johnson. The Titans should terminate Adam Jones, and the Falcons should do the same with Vick.
Which leads to the home run record.
I want to like Barry Bonds, based on my childhood encounter with his father. I can't.
Barry has been a jerk. He has been a jerk to fans, teammates, opponents and the media. He has been the posterchild for spoiled athletes who will sign autographs only for those who pay, must be consulted by his managers for which rules he will tolerate and which he won't and even when it suits him to play and when it doesn't.
I want to admire his achievement. I can't.
The substances that Bonds is presumed to have taken, and that he apparently told the grand jury that he took without awareness of what they were, improve a person's eyesight. Discerning between fastball, curve and slider becomes easier. They add muscle and shorten the recovery time required after muscles are worked. As an athlete moves into their mid and late 30's and then 40's the value of that assistance cannot be overstated.
But just at a moment when sports is adding up to a great big "Yuck," someone steps up and reminds us all that grace and generosity and integrity are still around.
Hank Aaron taped a message for Bonds after a number was posted on Tuesday night. The Hammer talked about the history of the game, and the home run's place in that history. He expressed his pride at holding the record for 33 years. He acknowledged Bonds' accomplishment. Then he put sports and athletes in marvelous perspective: ""My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams." This is precisely what athletics does, at its best. Whether it is Tiger Woods inspiring more black kids to take up golf, Jim Valvano inspiring people to perservere through all kinds of challenges, Rick Ankiel making it back to the majors after falling apart in 2001, or Hank Aaron completing the process that Jackie Robinson started on the baseball field in 1947, athletes are role models, regardless of what Charles Barkley says. They do enable us regular folk to dream bigger dreams and hope wider hopes.
When Mike Vick and Barry Bonds want to drag us all into gutter with them, Hank Aaron, Tom Glavine, Dale Murphy, Peyton Manning, David Ortiz, Tiger Woods, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shane Battier and Derek Jeter lead a long, long line of those who lift us up, show us what's possible, and make us feel a part of something wonderful.
I despise football, but I agree with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's drive to rid his league of bad behavers. Employment in a sport is not a right; it is a privilege. It does not put you above the law, although far too many of those so employed have put themselves outside the law in recent years. No, Michael Vick hasn't been convicted of anything. But his decisions and associations have made him bad for business. At least for the time being, he has lost his job with the Atlanta Falcons. If he is convicted, he won't be an issue for the NFL. But they should go ahead and cut ties with him now. Rawlings got it. So did his shoe company. So should the NFL.
The Bears had the integrity to cut Tank Johnson. The Titans should terminate Adam Jones, and the Falcons should do the same with Vick.
Which leads to the home run record.
I want to like Barry Bonds, based on my childhood encounter with his father. I can't.
Barry has been a jerk. He has been a jerk to fans, teammates, opponents and the media. He has been the posterchild for spoiled athletes who will sign autographs only for those who pay, must be consulted by his managers for which rules he will tolerate and which he won't and even when it suits him to play and when it doesn't.
I want to admire his achievement. I can't.
The substances that Bonds is presumed to have taken, and that he apparently told the grand jury that he took without awareness of what they were, improve a person's eyesight. Discerning between fastball, curve and slider becomes easier. They add muscle and shorten the recovery time required after muscles are worked. As an athlete moves into their mid and late 30's and then 40's the value of that assistance cannot be overstated.
But just at a moment when sports is adding up to a great big "Yuck," someone steps up and reminds us all that grace and generosity and integrity are still around.
Hank Aaron taped a message for Bonds after a number was posted on Tuesday night. The Hammer talked about the history of the game, and the home run's place in that history. He expressed his pride at holding the record for 33 years. He acknowledged Bonds' accomplishment. Then he put sports and athletes in marvelous perspective: ""My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams." This is precisely what athletics does, at its best. Whether it is Tiger Woods inspiring more black kids to take up golf, Jim Valvano inspiring people to perservere through all kinds of challenges, Rick Ankiel making it back to the majors after falling apart in 2001, or Hank Aaron completing the process that Jackie Robinson started on the baseball field in 1947, athletes are role models, regardless of what Charles Barkley says. They do enable us regular folk to dream bigger dreams and hope wider hopes.
When Mike Vick and Barry Bonds want to drag us all into gutter with them, Hank Aaron, Tom Glavine, Dale Murphy, Peyton Manning, David Ortiz, Tiger Woods, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shane Battier and Derek Jeter lead a long, long line of those who lift us up, show us what's possible, and make us feel a part of something wonderful.
Monday, August 06, 2007
My Favorite Pitcher Turns 300
Thanks, Tom!
I'm grateful for the way you have gone about your whole career, and since you spent the bulk of it with the Braves, I've seen the whole thing. You and Smoltz started out together, kids on a terrible, terrible team. But Hank Aaron saw something when he was head of Player Development. Bobby Cox saw it when he came back south from Canada as the Braves' General Manager; it was enough to make him leave the desk job for John Schuerholz, and return to the dugout.
It started with a cup of coffee in 1987. Then came the dreadful 1988. You weren't ready. The team around you was a joke, and not a very funny one. Terry Blocker? Dion James? Andres Thomas? Anyone? Anyone? You were only 22 years old. But you went out there every time they gave you the ball, and you showed the grit and determination that are the keys to your professional life, qualities that have taken you to two Cy Young Awards, five twenty-win seasons, and now, your 300th victory.
I always preferred you. John had, and on the good days still has, the fire. He could rain down strikeouts on any team any time. Maddux was the diva. Grace in motion. Perfection around the next corner. But through his whole pitching life, when Greg feels like he's through, he's through. There were times when it looked like he told Bobby Cox that he wanted out. Not you.
When Bobby came to remove you from a game, he had to bring a crowbar. You never willingly let go of the ball. Because you believed (and still do) that you can get it done. You looked disgusted when Willie Randolph came calling last night, one out and one hit into the seventh inning. Classic Glavine.
You didn't blow anyone away. You never pitched a 76 pitch complete game. You just poured your whole heart and soul into every game, because when you're on the mound, it's you taking on the world, and you mean to win. And because you've been smarter, more committed and more determined, you are now the 23rd pitcher, and only the fifth left-hander, in baseball history to accomplish 300 wins.
You have indicated pretty clearly that this will be your last season. I hope not. But if it is, I will be marking my calendar, in ink. I can never remember how the Hall of Fame keeps time, but I believe that the clock starts on your five year wait on January 1, 2008. If that's accurate, I'll be vacationing in Cooperstown, NY, in late July or early August of 2013. But don't worry; whatever year you become a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I'll be there to celebrate with you and all your fans. Fans of a guy who brought hockey player toughness to the pitching mound, and made us all proud.
I'm grateful for the way you have gone about your whole career, and since you spent the bulk of it with the Braves, I've seen the whole thing. You and Smoltz started out together, kids on a terrible, terrible team. But Hank Aaron saw something when he was head of Player Development. Bobby Cox saw it when he came back south from Canada as the Braves' General Manager; it was enough to make him leave the desk job for John Schuerholz, and return to the dugout.
It started with a cup of coffee in 1987. Then came the dreadful 1988. You weren't ready. The team around you was a joke, and not a very funny one. Terry Blocker? Dion James? Andres Thomas? Anyone? Anyone? You were only 22 years old. But you went out there every time they gave you the ball, and you showed the grit and determination that are the keys to your professional life, qualities that have taken you to two Cy Young Awards, five twenty-win seasons, and now, your 300th victory.
I always preferred you. John had, and on the good days still has, the fire. He could rain down strikeouts on any team any time. Maddux was the diva. Grace in motion. Perfection around the next corner. But through his whole pitching life, when Greg feels like he's through, he's through. There were times when it looked like he told Bobby Cox that he wanted out. Not you.
When Bobby came to remove you from a game, he had to bring a crowbar. You never willingly let go of the ball. Because you believed (and still do) that you can get it done. You looked disgusted when Willie Randolph came calling last night, one out and one hit into the seventh inning. Classic Glavine.
You didn't blow anyone away. You never pitched a 76 pitch complete game. You just poured your whole heart and soul into every game, because when you're on the mound, it's you taking on the world, and you mean to win. And because you've been smarter, more committed and more determined, you are now the 23rd pitcher, and only the fifth left-hander, in baseball history to accomplish 300 wins.
You have indicated pretty clearly that this will be your last season. I hope not. But if it is, I will be marking my calendar, in ink. I can never remember how the Hall of Fame keeps time, but I believe that the clock starts on your five year wait on January 1, 2008. If that's accurate, I'll be vacationing in Cooperstown, NY, in late July or early August of 2013. But don't worry; whatever year you become a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I'll be there to celebrate with you and all your fans. Fans of a guy who brought hockey player toughness to the pitching mound, and made us all proud.
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