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Ozzie Guillen takes Blame for Lost Season
Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB,
“If this thing doesn’t work, I blame myself,” said Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “It’s my fault. I can say that right now and I can say that tomorrow and I can say it two weeks later. It’s my fault when something goes wrong on the field.”
Guillen said this in regards to the fact that his team sits 7.5 games back of the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers, and 11 games back of the wild card Boston Red Sox. At this time last year, the White Sox were leading a pack of playoff-hungry teams, and eventually squeezed their way into the playoffs, beating the Minnesota Twins 1-0 in a do-or-die 163rd game. Guillen was also at the helm of the 2005 club, who swept the Houston Astros in four to win their first World Series since 1917.
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September Struggles for the Baltimore Orioles
Posted by Adrien Griffin Categories: Editorial, MLB,
The Baltimore Orioles suck at playing baseball in September. The last time they had a winning record during the last month of the season was 2004, when they went an impressive 18-10. Unfortunately for the O’s of yesteryear, not even .643 baseball could get them to a winning season record – or even bring them inside of 20 games of a wild card spot this season. Since 2004, they’ve gone 10-18, 10-18, 10-19, and 5-20 down the final stretch of each year. So far in 2009, they’ve gone 0-2, dropping a pair to the New York Yankees.
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Josh Beckett is the ace of the Boston Red Sox’ pitching staff. He is a former World Series MVP and American League All-Star; and this season had been posting numbers worth of Cy Young consideration. However, just a few weeks ago, all that began to change for the 29-year old right handed hurler.
Since August 12, Beckett has been the exact opposite of what he is expected to be. His ace pitcher status is definitely in question. Over his last five starts, he’s gone 1-1 in 31.1 innings, giving up 33 hits and 7 walks. What has been among the most un-Beckett-like is the fact that he has given up 26 earned runs over that stretch, but the most shocking number is the home runs he has given up. In those give games, he’s allowed 14 home runs. He’d only given up 10 home runs throughout the season prior to then.
Click to continue reading What’s Bothering Josh Beckett?
This is where you will find links to all the picks made in the mock draft thus far. Remember that this mock draft considers players for a head-to-head league using the standard nine categories (FG%, FT%, three-pointers made, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers).
1.1 LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
1.2 Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans Hornets
1.3 Dwyane Wade, PG/SG, Miami Heat
1.4 Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers
1.5 Kevin Durant, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder
1.6 Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
1.7 Danny Granger, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers
1.8 Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks
1.9 Amar’e Stoudemire, PF/C, Phoenix Suns
1.10 Brandon Roy, PG/SG, Portland Trail Blazers
1.11 Chris Bosh, PF/C, Toronto Raptors
1.12 Deron Williams, PG, Utah Jazz
2.1 Al Jefferson, PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves
2.2 Pau Gasol, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers
2.3 Gilbert Arenas, PG, Washington Wizards
2.4 Kevin Garnett, PF, Boston Celtics
2.5 Chauncey Billups, PG, Denver Nuggets
2.6 Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns
2.7 Tim Duncan, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs
2.8 Jose Calderon, PG, Toronto Raptors
2.9 Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers
2.10 Joe Johnson, PG/SG, Atlanta Hawks
2.11 Devin Harris, PG, New Jersey Nets
2.12 Caron Butler, SF, Washington Wizards
3.1 Jason Kidd, PG, Dallas Mavericks
Summertime generates buzz, and the buzz found here and here might have you going “ga ga” over this guy. Is he over his injuries? Can he be trusted enough that you can pick him with confidence in the fourth…third…SECOND round? Let this pick become an exercise in examining this very question.
Round 2, Pick 3: Gilbert Arenas, PG, Washington Wizards
Click to continue reading One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 3
Kevin Garnett. Gilbert Arenas. Yao Ming. Steve Nash. Tim Duncan. Jason Kidd. Be it the injury bug or Father Time shortening the list of tried and true first round fantasy talent, there is a palpable drop in headlining players even though the second round has only just started. Thus, mock draft gurus have this next player going off the board within the top fifteen picks. For a roto league, this center-eligible player deserves early round consideration. In a head-to-head league, consistency remains important, but big game explosions can win match-ups almost by themselves. So let us examine whether drafting this player is merely a safe play; can he ride shotgun on your championship team?
Round 2, Pick 2: Pau Gasol, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers
Click to continue reading One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 2
September is here, and so the home stretch for the 2009 MLB season is upon us. The playoff races will take center stage in sports media, but for the first time in years, the races look as if they might be over before they really get started. Going into Wednesday night’s action, the closest pennant race was the American League Central, where the Detroit Tigers hold a 3.5 game lead over the Minnesota Twins, who, when it comes to playoff races, are a pathetic two games above .500. In the Central’s National League counterpart, the St. Louis Cardinals have already all-but-clinched the division as they hold a 10.5 game lead over the Chicago Cubs. It would take a colossal turn of events for the Cards to miss the playoffs in 2009.
Click to continue reading The So-Called Pennant Races
Every team has its star player; it’s “face of the franchise”. Whether that player is recognized outside of his home city is a different story. Whether that player lasts is another one as well. The one constant you can expect from a baseball franchise is the logo that the players go out and represent everyday. Each team’s logo is unique, and each tries to capture some essence of the city it represents. So in the spirit of the September Road to the World Series, here’s my choices for best logo in baseball.
Click to continue reading The Best Logo in Baseball
The first major injury disclaimer proclaimed in this mock draft, in the 50 games he played last season, this guy delivered. Battling back from an ACL injury can prove to be a tough task indeed, but the word on the street regarding his rehab has been quiet this summer, which hopefully indicates that it has gone well.
Drafting at the turn basically breaks down into two strategies when it comes to the top two picks: 1) Take one guard and one big man so you have the option of tailoring your team depending on what players are available in the later rounds or 2) Stacking two players who have similar strengths in an attempt to become very formidable in a few core categories at the expense of other categories you effectively punt. Generally at the top of a draft, the NBA players are so good that you do not have to give up on a category so early, with the notable exception being Dwight Howard and his free-throw percentage.
A friend of mine we call Dice, tabbed these two guys last year as his top two picks, so in a tribute to him, let’s see how the one guard/one big guy tandem can work out for you.
Round 2, Pick 1: Al Jefferson, PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves
Click to continue reading One Man Mock Draft: Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 1
For Joe Maddon, manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, chemistry is not just a physical science. It is a collective state of mind shared by 25 players who work towards a common goal. For the Tampa Bay Rays of 2008, that goal was almost achieved. Everybody expected another season of mediocrity, but a perfect storm of reasons, including career years from a consistent starting lineup and rookie campaigns among the best in recent seasons lead to a World Series appearance for the club widely considered to be the laughing stock of the American League East.
“I’m a big believer in team chemistry,” said Maddon. “I’m a big believer that it can be created. It’s not just a residue of winning all the time.” No kidding. When it came to the Rays, whom the baseball world knows well had never had a .500 season prior to 2008, losing was a way of life. High draft picks and low expectations were the norm. American League pennants and World Series appearances were about as realistic as snow falling outside of Tropicana Field.
Click to continue reading Chemistry and Baseball with Joe Maddon
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