You Might Have A Bad Offense When....

Your staff can toss a no-hitter (on a technicality) and lose.

No one's ever questioned whether the Angels had enough arms to hang in contention for the A.L. crown but whatever doubts we had about their offense were answered Saturday night when Jered Weaver and Jose Arredendo combined for an 8-inning no-hitter, but still lost 1-0 to the Dodgers thanks to errors from Weaver and Jeff Mathis. Even more baffaling is that the Angels managed just one run in the series, and yet still did not get swept, which more speaks to the lack of offense for both L.A. teams.

The Angels' depth in pitching have been a fixture since their out-of-nowhere world championship in 2002. But as seen in 2004, '05 and last October, the Angels do not have enough timely hitting (or sometimes any for that matter) to be a legitimate title contender. On paper, it doesn't make sense with power hitters like Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson and Torii Hunter ina ddition to good contact hitters like Chone Figgins, Howie Kendrick and Gary Matthews Jr. The problem as demonstrated in their last 3 postseason appearences, Guerrero and Figgins vanish when the calendar turns over to number 10.

One of the key factors that ultimately led to Bill Stoneman's ouster in Anaheim was the fact that every year at the trade deadline he was reluctant to tap into the Angels' abundant farm system to trade for a big bat. Given the offensive embarrasment that occured in Chavez Ravine, I wonder if the new regime will follow suit.

Welcome To The Fold Courtney

I have to commend Steve Kerr and Ed Stefanski for taking Robin Lopez and Marreese Speights and making this a much easier decision for Otis Smith. In all seriousness, a job well done taking Courtney Lee on Thursday night and adding a potentially valuable piece for next season.


Like most new 2-guards, he slashes very well and hes a pretty good spot-up shooter, which makes him valuable in the SVG offense. He probably won't start since Hedo will be moving back to the 2, but he could be a huge lift off the bench. From what I've heard off the court and in his conference yesterday, he doesn't look like he'll be trouble. Plus, he led a 12-seed to the Sweet 16 and gave UCLA a run for their money, so that's gotta count for something, right?

You won't hear me say this too often but, good job, Otis.

Tremendous Potential Season

I should've seen those 2 embarrassments coming, and given the upcoming schedule, this team could be finished by the all-star break. Also, if Scott Boras can still get Oliver Perez a lucrative deal if Ollie keeps this season up, then he is officially the greatest agent of all time.

But enough of that, time to cover what will be dominating the sports media for the next 3 days. It appears the Bulls have all but handed Derrick Rose his jersey and rumor has it that the Heat may pass on Michael Beasley for O.J. Mayo. Really? O.J. Mayo in Miami? That doesn't spell off-court disaster at all.

Anyway, time for me to give my two cents on who the Magic should take with their only pick of this year's draft at #22. The backcourt seems to be pretty much set with Jameer Nelson, Keyon Dooling and Carlos Arroyo at point and Maurice Evans, Keith Bogans and a possible return of Hedo Turkoglu to the 2 spot depending on what happens with the frontline. Although, the Magic have expressed interest in Western Kentucky sharpshooter Courtney Lee, and while he could evetually develop into a solid starter, he would be a great fit off the bench in the SVG offense that is based on outside shooting. The frontcourt is set for the foreseeable future with Rashard Lewis and The Daily Double holding down the fort.

The only question mark in the starting lineup is at center, a hole that thanks to a pre-season injury to Tony Battie, kept Hedo, Lewis and Howard out of their natural positions for the etnire season. With not much on the free agent market and the majority of the Magic's focus this offseason being to re-sign Hedo, it is imperative the Magic get a big in the draft.

Some of the names that have been floating for the Magic's pick include Marreese Speights of Florida and Stanford's Robin Lopez. The thought of either one sutitng up in the blue and white makes me about as comfortable as Brian Lawrence making a start in September. Living in the heart of Fatty Nation, I have seen many a Gator game with Speights the last 2 seasons. He barely made a mark during the title season of 2007 and only lifted his stats for an underachieving team in 2008 that missed the NCAA Tournament altogether and Billy Donovan seems all too thrilled to coach next season. There was nothing about his game that made me think that he could translate to the pro level. Robin Lopez is best served being picked by the Raptors so they can become the top contender to the Detroit Pistons' title as the Most Annoying Team in the NBA. Lopez is nothing more than a poor man's Joke Noah. An energy player who is effective in the open court, but has less defense than Noah.

In my opinion, they would be best served taking Memphis' Joey Dorsey. I would consider Dorsey to be a less polished version of Ben Wallace, he may not give you too much on offense save for a few cleanups, but he certainly makes his presence felt on the defensive end, averaging almost 10 rebounds and 2 blocks per game this past season for the national runner-up. Putting Dorsey at center allows Howard to move back to power forward, and give him some extra help on the glass on both ends of the floor. He also gives them another legit shot-blocker which has to count for something.

With all that said, Otis Smith has yet to have a successful draft during his tenure as Magic GM, which is now in its 5th sason. I'd put the odds of him bungling this pick at 85% and the topic of Smith being a brain-dead dummy will be a fixture here.

Gangsta's Paradise

After threatening to "go gangster" and cut Jose Reyes, the Mets have won 3 of 4 under Jerry Manuel, thanks to another solid outing from Mike Pelfrey (walks aside) yesterday. Things look good as the Mets return home for a 3-game set against the major-league worst and the reminder that we're not as much of a disappointment, Seattle Mariners.

The thing that has stood out the most to me so far is the hands-on approach from Manuel. From defining roles in the bullpen to making sure Wright and Reyes get days off to be ready for the stretch run, which all of a sudden doesn't seem so unrealistic, Manuel has done more in 5 days than the Randolph Administration did in its final 12 months.

A sweep of Seattle would be nice, but to get 2 out of 3 for the rest of the month would work just fine.

NBA Draft preview on Tuesday or Wednesday.

R.I.P. George Carlin

It's never a good start to the week when the first thing you hear is the death of George Carlin.

Many consider Richard Pryor to be the greatest stand-up comedian of all-time, but in my humble opinion, it's Carlin. While they were similar in their syles and few could go from fart jokes to everyday observations to political humor like they could, Carlin's delivery remains unmatched.

Still disturbing in a way that my introduction to him was as Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station.

Rest In Peace George: A Legend, pioneer, and an influence.

BOHICA Kobe

That means Bend Over Here It Comes Again.

Props in order to the Celtics for leaving no shadow of a doubt who the better team was in this series. Congrats to The Truth, KG and Shuttlesworth on finally getting the title.

But that's not what this is about. This is about the ESPN hyperbole (future post down the road)on Vail, CO's most infamous resident finally being put to a rest.

Not counting Sunday night's victory, here's how Kobe's teams have fared the last 5 times they have faced elimination: Lost by 28 (vs. SA 2003), 13 (2004 NBA Finals at DET in a game that was much more lopsided than the final score), 31 (2006 1st round at PHX after a 3-1 lead), 9 (2007 1st round vs. PHX), and 39 (last night)

Kobe's performance in those games:
2003: 20 points, 9/19 FG
2004: 24 points, 7/21 FG
2006: 24 points, 8/16 FG
2007: 34 Points, 13/33 FG
2008: 22 points, 7/22 FG

In any of Jordan's elimination games in his career, MJ's Bulls never lost by more than 19, and that was Game 7 of the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals in which Scottie Pippen went 1-10 and removed himself with a "migraine". Regardless, MJ lost to 2 title teams before he started his era of dominance, but never allowed himself to suffer the kind of 1 and 2 asswuppin that the Lakers received last night. If Kobe really could impose his will in the same way Jordan was notorious for, he would not have let an embarassment like that happen, whether his teammates had shown up or not.

Now I do have my issues wiith Kobe, but this isn't what this about. This is about going toe to toe when your team needs you and Kobe basically resigned himself to defeat by the time the C's concluded their 26-6 run to close the 1st half.

And for one more parting shot. You gotta hand it to ESPN, '05 USC, '07 Pats and now Kobe, yet they refuse to quit. Even Wily. E. Coyote is impressed.

Much thanks to Colonel Angus at SOTSG for helping to supply some of the material for this post.

Same Mets, Different Day

Well, other than a possible injury to Reyes, arguing with the new manager, Santana getting hit, Old Yeller continuing to provide stellar defense at 1st base all in the course of the 1st inning, I'd say the Jerry Manuel Era's been a success so far. And it's not as if Oliver Perez is completely unpredictable every time out, so tonight's in the bag. Eeeeeeeesh.

Memo to Jose Reyes: It's not 2006 anymore, you can't do whatever you feel like doing. Feel free to dial it down a notch or two.

Willie Gets Whacked

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The Willie Randolph Era ended at 3:15 A.M. this morning following another solid outing from Mike Pelfrey in a 9-6 win over the AL West leading Los Angels of Anaheim of Orange County yadayadayada.

Only after the Mets had won 3 of 4, went 3,000 miles away from the circus of the New York media, won, let him talk to the media, did they have the balls (or lack thereof) to fire Willie. This management certainly hasn't reached the levels of incompetence of M. Donald Grant and pals back in the '60s and '70s but it is certainly worth mentioning.

As I have said before, had the Mets wanted to fire Willie and co. after the trauma that was The Collapse, I wouldn't have held it against them given what had happened. But to fire him at 3:15 in the morning is so many levels of disgraceful, Isiah Thomas thinks it's wrong.

What? You didn't get a chance to fondle his wife and punch his children while you were at it? Did you get to pants him on SNY to make it extra special? If he really was the good guy they always made him out to be and really had respect for him like they say, they would've done this already. These guys also think it's cool to dump a chick via text. Please. They could've done this at any point in time in the last 8 months, yet they left him swinging like a tree tire in a tornado.

The man who's also partly to blame for this is Omar Minaya, who, in time, will face a similar countdown clock and the chopping block. Omar and the rest of the baseball management are at fault for thinking that the glass case of skill that is Moises Alou and the completely finished Carlos Delgado could carry this linueup. They're at fault for thinking that a bullpen that was largely responsible for the September disaster was acceptable as it was in 2007.

What a fucking joke. Congrats to The Wilpons, I hope it was worth it. I hope the beating they take in the New York and national media is as bad as I think it's gonna be.

Jimmy Rollins, Guillermo Mota and Tom Glavine are still to blame for all of this.

Thoughts From The Weekend

Before we begin the usual nonsense, my condolences to the Russert family. Tim Russert was one of the last bastions of integrity in a new industry that's been reduced to shock journalism. He was always fair, did his research and never felt the need to force his views on his audience as so many of his colleagues have. R.I.P. Tim.

- As I type this, Tiger leads the U.S. Open Playoff by 1 stroke after 8 in Torrey Pines. Whether or not he holds off Rocco Mediate today, this is Tiger's second best performance behind his absolute demolition of the field at Pebble Beach in 2000. To go 5 rounds on a bum knee and have a real good chance to win is just inhuman. The look on his face after his last ridculous putt on Saturday says it all. He's better than everyone, he knows it, you know it and he knows that you know it.

-Brandon Marshall is a weirdo

- The NBA really didn't help the perception that the officials have ulterior moves with the way the last 2 minutes of Game 5 went down last night.

-Speaking of, not counting the free throw contest he had at the end, Kobe had exactly 5 points after the 1st quarter. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure MJ would've had more than 5 after the 1st quarter of a do-or-die game. We can stop the comparisons now, Kobe may be the best we've had since Jordan hung it up (with LeBron a very close 2nd), but he cannot shine Jordan's shoes.

- Taking 2 of 3 from a mediocre Texas team, Willie Randolph still doesn't have a genuine endorsement from Omar Minaya. The Mets make what seems like their 20th trip to the west coast this week for a three-game set against the AL West leading Angels and another set in Denver against the Rockies, inculding a great matchup on Tuesday between Johan Santana and John Lackey. The good news for the Mets is that the Angels can be a streaky team especially on offense, so it is imperative that the Met offense come to play in this series. As proven in the Game 1 loss yesterday, they have the ability to get out of large deficits, but to have any realistic chance of catching Philadelphia, they must be consistent on a nightly basis.

- If they can continue to get efforts like they did out of Oliver Perez on Friday night and (knock on wood for tonight) Mike Pelfrey, this season is not a lost cause just yet. Also imperative are moves to upgrade the bullpen, something I've been preaching for almost 8 months.

Were We Right All Along? The Hosejob Revisited

An old conspiracy (or wound if you're from Sactown) was revisited this week when Tim Donaghy alleged that the NBA ordered that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals have the calls largely benefit the L.A. Lakers and force a Game 7 ultimately won by Shaq/Kobe and friends.

Even if you didn't know of said conspiracy or didn't believe in them, you had to at least think something wasn't right as the Lakers went to the line 27 times in the 4th quarter as opposed to the Kings going 9 times. Not to mention, Mike Bibby fouling Kobe Bryant while Kobe re-aligned Bibby's septum.

While it is entirely possible that Donaghy is throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks and throwing Game 6 on that list hoping it may give him some crediblity, there's nothing to make me believe he's making this up. Given that the ratings were low for what ended up being a very forgettable sweep between the Lakers and Nets, the ratings between Sacramento and New Jersey, regardless if the series went longer and probably better to watch, probably would've been worse than the all-time low set the next year.

While fixing any game is an insult to the fans, fixing playoff games is a federal crime. Regular season games are conjecture depsite the ticket prices and everything else that goes with it, but the playoffs are another matter altogether. The playoffs are the reason we all become fans in the first place and the reason we watch sports. To rig what was an epic series that ultimately produced the eventual champ and probably would've anyway had the Kings hung on is just a little disheartening.

It also changed the fortunes of two franchises. The Kings haven't been to the WCF since, being halted by a C-Webb injury in '03 and an epic Game 7 from KG in '04 and the nucleus of that '02 crew has since moved elsewhere or called it a career. The idea of the Maloofs moving to Vegas still reaches the surface every once in awhile, I wonder if that idea even gets on paper had the Kings brought it home. The Lakers meanwhile were able to easily coast to their 3rd straight championship and while that cast would blow up 2 years later, their place in history had already been set in stone. Had the alleged fix not been in and the Lakers fell short, maybe the Shaq-Kobe drama reaches its boiling point earlier and this team would've been viewed a lot differently. Other than Portland outright tanking in Game 7 of the '00 WCF, this had been the Lakers biggest test during their championship run. Had the Lakers fell short, they would've been viewed as a team that had faced relatively easy competition (no disrespect to those Spurs teams) and couldn't get it done against an equally-matched team.

The only way we'll ever know if the fix was in is if Doug Christie and Peja Stojakvic admit to being ordered to fire up air balls like they were going out of style.

And I leave you for the weekend with the 2002 WCF highlight reel, a report from the Florida State League All-Star Game on Monday...

You Have To Be Kidding

Thanks to the heroics of Billy Wagner, the D-Backs were able to snatch victory from the Mets this afternoon, 5-4. It was the third consecutive blown save for Wagner, including last night's which absolutely sucked the joy out of the eventual victory and Mike Pelfrey's surprisingly dominant performance, and third in four days, and had the bullpen not imploded on Monday, he probably would've handed that one over too.

For someone who routinely runs his piehole like Billy does, you better do your damn job, especially when your team absolutely needs a win as the Mets have these past few weeks. Now closers have bad nights, even Mariano Rivera and K-Rod have days where they're not in control, but to go 3 of 4 with 2 and 3 run leads is inexcusable.

Billy honestly has got to step up and know that we've just got two outstanding efforts from our starters. He can't come in and come out there and decide that he doesn't have it today, and so be it.

Sound familiar, Wags? In the words of the great Floyd Mayweather Jr., STEP YA GAME UP!

Oh well, it's not as if the Mets are facing a team that's crushing everything this weekend. What's that you say? Damn.



ahhhhhhhhhhh, much better.

And I leave you with a priceless Brett Myers rant from last year that never ceases to entertain.

Willie Watch Round 2

Thanks to a blown 4-run lead last night to the recent struggling D-Bags, the New York Mets suffered their 5th consecutive loss and with Arizona machine Brandon Webb on the mound against the white Ollie (aka Mike Pelfrey), the odds of it stopping don't look so good. By extension, the 2nd edition of the guillotine hanging over Willie Randolph's head in 3 weeks returns.

The debate on whether Willie should go or not is as heated as the recent Democratic nomination race, with the fervent belief on each side intense. Those who want to keep Willie say that he's not the one blowing leads late, not hitting in the clutch and not hitting a curveball to save his life (21, we're looking at you) and that he can only do so much. The Willie haters point to his lack of emotion during the event that we shall not mention that led to this blog, the its not the end of the world attiude/entitlement that his team his carried for the last 12 months and his frequent mishandling of the bullpen. While I see both sides of the argument and each raise valid points, I have become of the opinion that Willie's time has come.

When Willie was on the hot seat last October after The Event That Shall Not Be Mentioned, it seemed unfair that Willie could be punished for having 2 bad weeks after 2 years of bringing the Mets back to contention. That being said, I wouldn't have entirely faulted Minaya and Co. for giving Willie the axe after such a traumatic event that obviously is still haunting this team and fanbase a la Grady Little in 2003 (other reasons aside). I also don't blame them for letting Willie stay and try to dig his way out of such a hole, but the way Met management is handling this situation is laughable.

As the players have echoed as much, either you fire Willie and get the circus over with, or you give him the season and ride it out. But to let the speculation hover around does no good for all parties involved. Despite all their eveidence to the contrary, the season can be saved as witnessed by the Phucking Phils last year and the Red Sox and Astros in 2004 (which should be noted, fired Jimy Williams around the All-Star break), each of whom kicked it around for a couple months.

As far as Willie acting like a cyborg during games. I don't expect him to be Lou Piniella, there's only a handful of managers like that in the league. But at some point, you have to get on your players for mailing it in as the Mets have done so often these past 12 months, even "Clueless" Joe Torre did it every so often. While it's true Willie isn't at fault for Beltran turning into Flushing's A-Rod, Delgado becoming the real life Pedro Cerrano and Oliver Perez reverting back to his 2006 Pittsburgh form, at some point, he becomes like any other boss, eventually the company's failures become your reponsibility. There is plenty blame to go around for the last 12 months (Brian Bannister for Ambiorix Burgos, anyone?), but ultimately, Willie is the general and needs to be relieved of his duties before this turns into the '96-'01 California/Anaheim Angels.


On a related note, the Mets said follwing a players-only meeting last night they plan to go 62-38 to finish the season and make the playoffs (uh,playoffs?). In related news, I plan to have Carrie Underwood's baby by June '09.



Yeah, she can get it.

The Kid Gets 600

Ken Griffey Jr. finally got his 600th career home run after what must have felt like a lifetime from 599 last night in Miami in front of a packed crowd of
16,000 at Dolphin Stadium in a 9-4 Reds victory.

For the baseball fans of my generation, it was a bittersweet moment. It was nice to see "The Kid" join such elite home run hitting company after years of struggling to stay on the field, but it was also symbolic of what should've happened years ago.

I'll cover first the angle that has been largely covered today. The basis of many a great sports argument is "what if?" and while it makes for great conversation, it rarely can be definitvely applied. Baseball provides two of the best exceptions in Junior Griffey and Mickey Mantle. We can pretty much take it to the bank that if Mantle didn't tear his leg on the Yankee Stadium sprinkler and didn't go Reginald Denny on his liver that he would've likely been the all-time home run leader possibly until Barroids. The other is that if Griffey doesn't miss almost 4 years of his prime, we're not talking about whether Bonds' record should have an asterisk next to it or not. In each of his seasons in Cincinnati where he played at least 100 games, he hit 25+ and in an 83-game 2004, he managed to hit 20. THE MAN MADE THE ALL-CENTURY TEAM AFTER PLAYING 10 SEASONS! Given a clean bill of health, Griffey can still produce consistently while puhsing 40.

The other side of last night's milestone is that me and the other baseball fans who grew up in the '90s are getting just a little bit older. As I became a baseball fanatic during Griffey's peak years, he remains the most incredibly gifted player I've ever watched. In addition, from about 1992-2000, he was the epitome of cool in baseball. If you didn't mimic Junior in your swing (even as a righty)or try to slide like him in the outfield when you were playing in Little League, you really didn't pay attention to baseball. I can remember wasting many summer afternoons playing Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball on my Nintendo64, which says something sad about me, but that's a different story altogether.

With Griffey's injury-induced decline and the rise of A-Rod, Pujols, Manny, Big Papi, ANdruw Jones, David Wright, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and others, Griffey's feats have become nothing more than a footnote and a friendly reminder of childhood. Whenever he would pass someone on the all-time home run list the last few years, I know I was not the only one saying things along the lines of "Oh yeahhhhhhhh, Griffey! I forgot about him! Good for him!" and then go on a brief trip down memory lane of Griffey in Seattle white and navy blue.

With Griffey now achieving the coveted 600 mark with the team he grew up with and in the final year of his deal he signed in 1999, he is all but likely to be traded in the coming weeks to a contender, at least I hope he does. Griffey hasn't sniffed the playoffs in a decade and with the end in sight, I hope he gets one more chance on the national stage to remind us of the magician he once was. Just not with the Phillies or Yankees.

They're Goin' Back to Cali

The Celtics thanks to the possibly gritty play of Paul Pierce (arguably the series MVP to this point) and the unexpected contributions of Sir-Mix-A-Lot (aka Leon Powe) have taken a 2-0 lead to the Staples Center and a chance to bury the Lakers in Game 3.

Many point to the reason that the Celtics have largely dominated the first two games have been because of the passion exhibited on both ends of the floor and lackthere of by the Lakers, largely by Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Conventional thinking by analysts seems to be that the Lakers now know what they need to do and will be ready to be physical against the C's in L.A. I'm not so sure.

Physicality is something entirely different than attitude. It's not like they can be like the Shaq-Kobe Lakers and flip the switch, when to be honest, that switch was never there to begin with. This team as constructed cannot play rough against team whose whole attitude is built on it. While the Lakers may get an energy burst from the Staples crowd and the sense of desperation in Game 3, it may not be enough.

The Celtics know this may be there best and possibly only shot at a title and are playing like a team possessed right now. That's not to throw dirt on the Lakers, but with the Spurs and Suns aging fast and the Mavs' window all but closed, the Lakers, with a hypothetically healthy Andrew Bynum, which adds a new dynamic to a team that hasn't had him in their starting 5 since the Gasol trade and will likely add some bruisers in the offseason, essentially have just New Orelans and the Spurs to hurdle for the next 4 or 5 years (Kobe's likely peak years), so while the Lakers desire for a title is certainly there, it is definitely not what the Celtics are displaying at the moment.