Billy Packer was let go from CBS Sports as lead analyst of college basketball sitting alongside Jim Nantz. (Read the AP story here.)
This is bittersweet news.
Sweet because I thought Packer came across as arrogant and overconfident and I disagreed with many of his views. I thought there were many CBS teams who called the game better than Nantz and Packer (more on that later)
Bitter because he is replaced by Clark Kellogg. Kellogg comes across a bit clueless and gutless in the studio. Not willing to tell it like it is and seems a bit lacking in knowledge despite being a former player, often stating the obvious.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
More ranting on MLB All Star game
This is a common rant but I have to say it... attaching home field advantage for the world series to the all star game is one of the most illogical, ridiculous ideas in MLB. Having home field advantage for the world series is important - not THE most important thing - but given the choice, any manager would choose home field.
The all star game is one of the most worthless exhibitions in sport.
#1: most of the players in the game will have nothing to do with the world series, yet they will decide home field advantage.
#2: (another rant for another post) fans are choosing the starters. So the players who determine home field advantage are there by popularity rather than talent.
#3: (another rant for another post) the players who are there by popularity are there by ballot box stuffing. So I may vote once to have Nate McLouth start as NL outfield and a teenage girl may want Alfonso Soriano. Equal popularity right? Nope, because the girl voted 100 times for Soriano. So the semi-popular players start the game.
#4: The supposed best players don't get to finish the game - they play 3 innings and sit. And the home field advantage is determined by the bench.
#5: They call it real game because home field is at stake but the players attitude shows they don't care. Barry Bonds tackles Tori Hunter because he robbed his home run?! They don't care. Alex Rodriguez slows up going around 3rd and is tagged out standing up. They don't care. Careless players are deciding home field.
#6: MLB managers do not want their players caring and playing hard because they do not want them injured for the real games.
#7: Just because they "make the game matter" doesn't mean they won't have another tie. Bud Selig played the fool on '02 when the all star game ended in tie after 11 innings. What happens if the game goes 16 innings this year? The managers are forced to get just about everyone in the game - they can't assume a tie. They WILL run out of pitchers after 16 innings - then what? Is Joe Torre going to want one of his position players pitching in the all star game and risking injury? No.
#8: Selig says they won't use best record to determine home field advantage because they need to know the 2-3-2 city set-up far in advance...even though you still have to wait for the LCS to end before you can set it all up.
Ugh... Bud Selig
The all star game is one of the most worthless exhibitions in sport.
#1: most of the players in the game will have nothing to do with the world series, yet they will decide home field advantage.
#2: (another rant for another post) fans are choosing the starters. So the players who determine home field advantage are there by popularity rather than talent.
#3: (another rant for another post) the players who are there by popularity are there by ballot box stuffing. So I may vote once to have Nate McLouth start as NL outfield and a teenage girl may want Alfonso Soriano. Equal popularity right? Nope, because the girl voted 100 times for Soriano. So the semi-popular players start the game.
#4: The supposed best players don't get to finish the game - they play 3 innings and sit. And the home field advantage is determined by the bench.
#5: They call it real game because home field is at stake but the players attitude shows they don't care. Barry Bonds tackles Tori Hunter because he robbed his home run?! They don't care. Alex Rodriguez slows up going around 3rd and is tagged out standing up. They don't care. Careless players are deciding home field.
#6: MLB managers do not want their players caring and playing hard because they do not want them injured for the real games.
#7: Just because they "make the game matter" doesn't mean they won't have another tie. Bud Selig played the fool on '02 when the all star game ended in tie after 11 innings. What happens if the game goes 16 innings this year? The managers are forced to get just about everyone in the game - they can't assume a tie. They WILL run out of pitchers after 16 innings - then what? Is Joe Torre going to want one of his position players pitching in the all star game and risking injury? No.
#8: Selig says they won't use best record to determine home field advantage because they need to know the 2-3-2 city set-up far in advance...even though you still have to wait for the LCS to end before you can set it all up.
Ugh... Bud Selig
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
MLB sellout
Say it ain't so. There are big trade rumors about where the Indian's C.C.Sabathia will be dealt. What!? The Indians get off to an average first half and that's it? Trade the defending AL Cy Young Award? To the Yankees?!
The Indians were one win from the World Series last year, meaning, one win from winning it all (No way the NL could be the AL last year). 8 months later after some big injuries and you are going to trade your best player?
This is the trend in baseball for more and more teams. Win now. No time to build. And if you have experience winning recently, then there is no time to lose.
The Indians are not even out of it yet. The AL Central is playing mediocre this year - 85 wins could take it. DON'T TRADE C.C.!
The Indians were one win from the World Series last year, meaning, one win from winning it all (No way the NL could be the AL last year). 8 months later after some big injuries and you are going to trade your best player?
This is the trend in baseball for more and more teams. Win now. No time to build. And if you have experience winning recently, then there is no time to lose.
The Indians are not even out of it yet. The AL Central is playing mediocre this year - 85 wins could take it. DON'T TRADE C.C.!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Another questionable baseball rule
Here is a head-scratcher concerning official statistics. A starting pitcher cannot receive a Win unless he pitches at least 5 innings, but a reliever can get one out a receive the win.
Consider this scenario:
Orel Hershiser pitches for the Dodgers and his offense gives him an early 10-0 lead to work with. He pitches 4 2/3 innings and with a runner on first the manager decides to pull his starter and give him some rest. Alejandro Pena comes in for relief. Pena immediately picks the runner off first for the final out of the 5th inning. Tim Leary comes in to pitch the 6th inning and finishes the game.
Hershiser pitches 4 2/3
Pena pitches 1/3
Leary pitches 4
The win goes to Pena who didn't even throw a pitch!
Consider this scenario:
Orel Hershiser pitches for the Dodgers and his offense gives him an early 10-0 lead to work with. He pitches 4 2/3 innings and with a runner on first the manager decides to pull his starter and give him some rest. Alejandro Pena comes in for relief. Pena immediately picks the runner off first for the final out of the 5th inning. Tim Leary comes in to pitch the 6th inning and finishes the game.
Hershiser pitches 4 2/3
Pena pitches 1/3
Leary pitches 4
The win goes to Pena who didn't even throw a pitch!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
