Jan 14, 2008
So, here’s the great thing about getting older — it comes at you in ways you could never see coming. It’s not just a cliche: I turned 41 this week, and I can tell you young guns from experience that you really do think you will stay young, you will fool the world, you [...]
So, here’s the great thing about getting older -- it comes at you in ways you could never see coming. It’s not just a cliche: I turned 41 this week, and I can tell you young guns from experience that you really do think you will stay young, you will fool the world, you will cheat time, you will be the one. And then, when you least expect it, you will get blindsided and realize, “Uh, no, actually, I’m ancient.” Once ... Read More
Jan 13, 2008
In 2006, Jhonny Peralta sucked. I say this from first hand experience — all summer I had pretty much daily conversations with a Cleveland friend of mine that typically began, “My God, Jhonny Peralta sucks.” Peralta had been such a masher in 2005 — he hit 35 doubles, 24 homers, slugged .520 — and he [...]
In 2006, Jhonny Peralta sucked. I say this from first hand experience -- all summer I had pretty much daily conversations with a Cleveland friend of mine that typically began, “My God, Jhonny Peralta sucks.” Peralta had been such a masher in 2005 -- he hit 35 doubles, 24 homers, slugged .520 -- and he was only 23 years old, and while he was not exactly Omar Vizquel with the glove, he seemed OK, at least to my buddy who watched him ... Read More
Jan 12, 2008
I’m really not much for awards. I mean, of course, everyone likes winning them (and you already know it’s an honor just being nominated) but one of my core professional beliefs is that if I put a lot of stock in awards, I also have to put a lot of stock in the people who [...]
I’m really not much for awards. I mean, of course, everyone likes winning them (and you already know it’s an honor just being nominated) but one of my core professional beliefs is that if I put a lot of stock in awards, I also have to put a lot of stock in the people who daily write in to say that I’m the single biggest idiot who ever walked on the face of the earth. And anyway, I’m just a goofball who ... Read More
Jan 10, 2008
I made a mistake the other day … one of many, no doubt. I was doing a quick synopsis of Joe Carter to illustrate a point, and I mentioned that over a 12-year period he led all of baseball in homers and RBIs, and that he played centerfield for a while, and that he stole [...]
I made a mistake the other day ... one of many, no doubt. I was doing a quick synopsis of Joe Carter to illustrate a point, and I mentioned that over a 12-year period he led all of baseball in homers and RBIs, and that he played centerfield for a while, and that he stole some bases -- all true -- and then pointed out that he hit one of the three greatest home runs ever.
I had not really put much thought ... Read More
Jan 10, 2008
The question — and I think it is one that everyone is asking these days — is simple: Did Rob Reiner have a good enough peak to get into the Hall of Fame?
This question comes up now because it appears from early reviews that The Bucket List — a seemingly can’t-miss movie starring Jack Nicholson [...]
The question -- and I think it is one that everyone is asking these days -- is simple: Did Rob Reiner have a good enough peak to get into the Hall of Fame?
This question comes up now because it appears from early reviews that The Bucket List -- a seemingly can’t-miss movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two old farts trying to live out their greatest aspirations before they die -- missed badly. Seriously, how could you put Nicholson and ... Read More
Jan 10, 2008
Well, not sure I quite made the intended point with the earlier post … I wanted to show that there are a LOT of good players outside the Hall of Fame with not a whole lot to choose between them. I listed off 26 and left off numerous really good players like Joe Torre, Vada [...]
Well, not sure I quite made the intended point with the earlier post ... I wanted to show that there are a LOT of good players outside the Hall of Fame with not a whole lot to choose between them. I listed off 26 and left off numerous really good players like Joe Torre, Vada Pinson, Rocky Colavito, Ted Simmons, Ken Boyer, Graig Nettles, Frank White, Steve Garvey, Maury Wills, Joe Carter, Darryl Strawberry, Jack Clark, Dave Concepcion, Boog Powell, Dolph Camilli, ... Read More
Jan 9, 2008
First off, congratulations to Goose Gossage, a deserving Hall of Fame candidate. Congratulations to Jim Rice for getting so close — I feel certain that he will get in next year — and it now looks like Andre Dawson made enough of a move that he too will get in. I will be happy for [...]
First off, congratulations to Goose Gossage, a deserving Hall of Fame candidate. Congratulations to Jim Rice for getting so close -- I feel certain that he will get in next year -- and it now looks like Andre Dawson made enough of a move that he too will get in. I will be happy for him. Class act. Bert Blyleven, I think, is on the cusp but I think he will get in also. Mark McGwire went backward, I think. And nobody ... Read More
Jan 8, 2008
Talking about stuff that makes my teeth hurt …
I’m sitting here in the New Orleans airport looking at this:
Ohio State is ranked fifth in the final AP poll.
Kansas is ranked seventh in the final AP poll.
I know that I’m missing something. I know it.
Talking about stuff that makes my teeth hurt ...
I’m sitting here in the New Orleans airport looking at this:
Ohio State is ranked fifth in the final AP poll.
Kansas is ranked seventh in the final AP poll.
I know that I’m missing something. I know it.
Read More
Jan 8, 2008
OK, we’ve already talked too much about Jim Rice, Jack Morris, the Hall of Fame and all that. Tuesday, the Hall of Fame will announce some new inductees, and I feel pretty sure that Goose Gossage will get in, I predict that Jim Rice will get in, I suspect that Bert Blyleven will get closer, [...]
OK, we’ve already talked too much about Jim Rice, Jack Morris, the Hall of Fame and all that. Tuesday, the Hall of Fame will announce some new inductees, and I feel pretty sure that Goose Gossage will get in, I predict that Jim Rice will get in, I suspect that Bert Blyleven will get closer, and the world will keep on spinning. This blog will move on to some more important issues, such as what the hell happened to Francis Ford Coppola ... Read More
Jan 6, 2008
Brilliant Reader Dan Gould has thrown out a challenge … and you know how we LOVE challenges.
Ursus makes a good point about the hitters behind Rice. Naturally IBBs are going to be less frequent when there are few Punch & Judy hitters in a lineup. As for the made-up stat, I am wondering where Rice’s [...]
Brilliant Reader Dan Gould has thrown out a challenge ... and you know how we LOVE challenges.
Ursus makes a good point about the hitters behind Rice. Naturally IBBs are going to be less frequent when there are few Punch & Judy hitters in a lineup. As for the made-up stat, I am wondering where Rice’s contemporaries fall, since none of them are in the top 25. Where’s Reggie? Where’s Brett or Darrell Evans or for that matter, Dewey?
Whatever happens on Tuesday, I’ll ... Read More
Loading ...