archive for the ‘Sports’ Category
Tourists Game
posted 26-August-2009 @ 16:31 by plove
Last night I took in my first minor league baseball game and it provided an enjoyable contrast to a Major League Baseball contest.
In a match-up of vicious team mascots, the Asheville Tourists welcomed the visiting Greensboro Grasshoppers. There were plenty of lead changes to keep the action fresh: Asheville got on the board first, Greensboro put up a six-run 3rd inning to make it 6-1, next Asheville charged back to take a 8-7 lead, and finally in the top of the ninth Greensboro scratched one more run across against the Tourists’ closer before their final man was sent down swinging with the score standing at 11-9 in favor of the home team.
As for the quality of play, there were three or four mammoth home runs and there were multiple pitchers throwing in the mid-90s according to the guns. Baseball really is a game of inches, though, and I suppose putting a 94-mph fastball down the middle of the plate may be why some of those balls traveled to another stratosphere and the pitchers who threw them are still playing in single-A. Two Colorado Rockies’ (Asheville is one of their affiliates) scouts sat across the aisle from me during the second half of the game and made notes after every pitch.
There was plenty of history to soak in at McCormick Field as well. Willie Stargell and Eddie Murray both played for the Tourists, and legend has it the layout of the ballpark is what first inspired Murray to transform himself into a switch-hitter. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, and Jackie Robinson have all played as visitors (although some of the games may have been of the barnstorming/exhibition variety) at this ballpark, and in 1972 Cal Ripken, Jr. was a batboy while his father (the elder Cal) was manager of the team. Sparky Anderson also managed the team to a 1968 championship before landing a gig in the bigs. Current major leaguers who cut their teeth as Tourists include Todd Helton and current Texas Ranger Jason Jennings. Even Bull Durham showcases the team as the club Crash Davis joins to finish his career and break the minor-league home run record.
Enough with the glitter. The estimated attendance was 2,596. We got to the box office five minutes before the first pitch and scored sixth row seats behind home plate for $10 each. They didn’t even stop selling beer after the seventh inning like many of the wussy Major League teams do now. The atmosphere was much more like a high school game than anything I’ve ever experienced at big league digs. Well, except for the fact that there was a billboard for the premier local head shop above the seats behind third base. All in all, though, it was a great time and I would go again. As I said, tix were only $10 a piece for the best seats in the house. It is possible to spend $40 a pop, but that comes with the experience of taking BP with the team before the game. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to partake, and besides, I wouldn’t want to embarrass my parents’ new hometown team.
Best of all, I got to see recent South Atlantic League Hall of Fame inductee and current Tourists’ manager Joe Mikulik up close and personal. He even charged out of the dugout to argue a call for us. Alas it didn’t come close to his most famous tirade. Nor could it compete with my favorite minor league managerial explosion of all time. But for $10 it was more than satisfactory.
Baseball Doubleheader
posted 10-August-2009 @ 03:22 by plove
I am the player/co-founder/manager/part owner of a new semi-pro men’s league baseball team in the DFW metroplex. The team is named the Colt .45s, and yes we plan on jamming that Afroman song before every game. We are registered to play in the D.A.B.A. 25+ fall league that plays seven-inning games with wood bats. Yesterday we had our first preseason game against the Mud Cats.
The team’s debut was a rollicking 10-5 victory. I contributed a line of 1-2, HBP, 2 SB, 2 R (including the first run in the franchise’s history), and I also pitched a scoreless seventh with 1 K, 1 hit allowed, and no walks. The 2 steals were more a result of the Cats not exactly having their pitching/catching battery fine-tuned at this point than of any newfound blazing speed on my part.
We participated in the league draft two weeks ago and so today was the first time we really got to see all our guys playing together. The draft itself was a neat process as the other members of our ownership group and I watched the free agents try out while we made notes and rated their abilities before convening with owners of other teams and the commissioner to commence the draft. As it turns out, we got some good players, and thankfully we assembled a squadron of good-natured dudes that seem to get along quite well also. Definitely looking forward to contending for the crown in our inaugural season.
What was that I mentioned about a doubleheader? It was awfully nice to return home and see that Derek Holland hurled a three-hit shutout against the Angels. I don’t think the Rangers will be letting go of him anytime soon, so if the 45’s decide to make a roster addition we may just have to settle for Padilla.
” … and two zig zags, baby that’s all we need.”
College Fantasy Football
posted 9-August-2009 @ 21:20 by plove
Thought I’d try this on for size. I don’t follow college football nearly as closely as the NFL, so I figured joining a league might help me pay more attention to it. 10-team league, draft round in parentheses:
QB [1]: Taylor Potts, Texas Tech (3); Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State (10)
RB [2]: Jahvid Best, Cal (1); DeMarco Murray, OU (5); Chris Brown, OU (11); DuJuan Harris, Troy State (14)
WR [3]: Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State (2); Ryan Broyles, OU (6); Kevin Jurovich, San Jose State (8); Phillip Livas, Louisiana Tech (9)
TE [1]: Cody Slate, Marshall (7)
K [1]: Ross Evans, TCU (12)
DEF/ST [1]: USC (4); Texas (13)
Opening a topic on this in the forum since I’d love to know more about this team’s strengths/weaknesses. Before you even say it, I agree that taking USC so high was a mistake. I saw a couple of other people draft a defense so I thought maybe that was the way to go in the college game.
Three examples of free agents that could be picked up (not sure who I’d want to drop, but I guess DuJuan was my last pick. Obviously Texas is my reserve defense, but USC has two bye weeks … ) are QB Riley Dodge (North Texas), WR Brandon Collins (Texas), and TE Weslye Saunders (USC).
Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates
posted 7-August-2009 @ 22:47 by plove
QB
-Tony Romo, DAL: I often hear people defend their claim that so-and-so is not going to be a great fantasy QB this year because he plays in a “run-heavy offense.” Whether a team runs 40% or 60% of the time hardly matters as much as whether that offense is good and sustains drives. Consistently moving the chains means that team will run more total plays and also will be in scoring position more often. I’m not even sure Terrell Owens was that big of a problem for this team, but whatever negative effect he may have had on Romo (and others) is gone. And as for the positive effect he had? Romo is not lacking for explosive weapons in the passing game with Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, and Miles Austin. ”Smash, Dash, and Tash” will keep defenses very honest, and this team should be lethal when operating out of the two tight end set. Throw in the fact that everyone around training camp this year feels the intense desire radiating from Jerry Jones to open the new stadium with a highly successful campaign, and, yeah, this team will score. A lot.
-Trent Edwards, BUF: Terrell Owens and Lee Evans? That’s hard to cover. Everyone has seen what Evans can do as a deep threat, but defenses have been shading enough help to his side the last couple of years to contain his game-breaking ability. Would you have been overly concerned about Josh Reed? But now, Owens will demand the same treatment, and defenses simply won’t be able to provide it to both sides with the backfield duo of Marshawn Lynch/Fred Jackson also looming.
-Jason Campbell, WAS: The guy is not that bad. Owner Dan Snyder may fantasize about Brett Favre, Jay Cutler, and other big ticket names, but this is a solid player in a solid offense who is being overlooked. He has demonstrated consistent improvement (both statistically and “to the eye”) each year he’s been in the league. He is in a contract year. And this will be his first time entering training camp without a new offensive coordinator/system to learn. There’s a lot to like here.
-Sage Rosenfels, MIN: Should win the battle with Tarvaris Jackson and defenses will have to focus on stopping AP. But it’s always a concern that his head coach looks like a child molester.
-Jake Delhomme, CAR: Oh he’ll make bone-headed mistakes, but this is another guy on a good team with explosive weapons around him.
-David Garrard, JAX: Bounce-back year.
-JaMarcus Russell, OAK: Not saying they’ll be good, but Oakland will not be nearly as embarrassing as in recent memory. Don’t forget, he’s a former #1 overall pick.
RB
-Julius Jones, SEA: Going quite late in drafts, yet he is a featured back! T.J. Duckett might steal some goal-line snaps, but with Maurice Morris now out of the picture, JJ will man the backfield most of the time for the Seahawks. And this Seattle squad is looking like one of the league’s biggest comeback stories, with their receiving corps now healthy and bolstered by the addition of new #1 T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Factor in a healthy Hasselbeck, a solid defense, and a fiery coach in Jim Mora, and this team could end up being a nice place to be a RB.
-Johnathan Stewart, CAR: DeAngelo Williams proved his worth in a huge way last season, but all along the coaching staff was trying to evolve the Panthers’ running game into a “thunder & lightning” attack that featured their two distinct backs. Stewart’s nagging injuries were the only thing that prevented this from happening in full force. DeAngelo will still be the lead back, but don’t let his huge 2008 dispel the notion that Stewart will do even more this year than he did during his rookie campaign.
-Jerome Harrison, CLE: I don’t doubt Jamal Lewis’ heart, but I do doubt that Eric Mangini will want to watch him plod along for 16 games while Harrison is ripping through holes in practice.
WR
-Torry Holt, JAX: Not finished yet. He withered last year amongst the imploding mess in St. Louis, but his precise route-running will make him the apple of David Garrard’s eye. Keep your eye on WR Mike Walker as well.
-Justin Gage, TEN: With a reliable deep threat opposite him in Nate Washington, Gage should have a slightly easier go of it this year as Kerry Collins’ #1 receiver. And with their running game firmly established, the Titans will be looking to throw more to keep opponents off-balance.
-Chaz Schilens, OAK: Big, talented, and more ready than the other Oakland wideouts. Oakland’s defense will get them the ball, and making sure they have at least a respectable passing attack will be priority #1 for new head coach Tom Cable.
-Devin Thomas, WAS: Promoted to the #2 receiver spot over Antwaan Randle El. And while finding A.R.E.’s replacement was becoming a need for the ‘Skins, this is clearly an indication that Thomas showed up to training camp looking ready to make things happen.
-Earl Bennett, CHI: Devin Hester is fast, but he’s not a natural receiver. And Jay Cutler is not the most patient person in the world. Cutler and Bennett lit it up as college teammates at Vanderbilt, and you can bet the Bears’ new QB will be looking Bennett’s direction every time his Hester has run himself out of the play.
TE
-Vernon Davis, SF: Mike Martz does not think tight ends are meant to catch the ball. Davis certainly needed to improve in certain areas upon entering the league (e.g. focus, route running), but Martz was his chief obstacle to success last year. New offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye says, “We would like to use him not as much in blocking in pass situations as we would running routes.” Looking at the other receiving options in San Fran (especially with Michael Crabtree making sure that he’ll be behind from the get-go), Davis is primed for numbers.
-Martellus Bennett, DAL: I’m not sure he’ll catch as many balls as some people are projecting, but he will be on the field a lot and he will have plays called for him around the goal line to take advantage of his basketball frame.
K/DEF
I’m not that bored.
RECENT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ALUMS
This includes Cedric Benson, Roy E. Williams, and Vince Young. I personally watched all these guys play in college, culminating in Young’s 4th-and-5 scramble to win the 2006 Rose Bowl, and trust me (it’s not just all the alcohol speaking here): these are some incredible football players. Now Benson may be a dumbass – I don’t really know. But he is the unquestioned RB on a revitalized CIN team. 1,000 yards and 7 scores is the floor here barring injury. Williams played his high school state championship game in Texas Stadium and he has got to be thrilled to be the go-to WR for the Dallas Cowboys. And Vince may not get a chance to play much this year, but just don’t count him out. He is special. After all, he is now two covers removed from the Madden curse so maybe he’s fianlly getting back on track.
(By the way, other NFL players on that UT team: Jamaal Charles, Brian Orakpo, Michael Huff, Selvin Young, Cedric Griffin, Aaron Ross, Limas Sweed, David Thomas, Quan Cosby, Ahmard Hall, Lyle Sendlein, Tony Hills, Michael Griffin, Johnathan Scott, Justin Blalock, Tarell Brown, Rashad Bobino, Chris Ogbonnaya, Franklin Okam, Kasey Studdard, Brian Robison, Henry Melton, Rodrique Wright, and Marcus Griffin. Colt McCoy will soon join that list. Wow.)
Quick Mavs Look
posted 4-August-2009 @ 14:25 by plove
Things are settling down a bit and at this point we may not see another move until Greg Buckner’s contract is eligible to be traded (September 9). To my chagrin it does look like we will be losing Ryan Hollins (at least if Mark Cuban’s tweet is any indication: “congrats to ryan hollins. wish him the best w twolves #fb“). Don’t get me wrong – I never thought he was the next Amare – but his athleticism and hustle just really seemed to fit here, and I envisioned him potentially emerging as a running partner to JKidd/Marion fast breaks. But the roster is full as it is, so let’s check out who we do have, from biggest to smallest in terms of positional capability:
Dampier
Jawai
Gooden
Nowitzki
Humphries
Nivins
TThomas
Marion
Singleton
Howard
Ross
Buckner
Carroll
Jet
Beaubois
Barea
Kidd
That’s 17 right there. Sure, Buckner + other(s) will probably be moved (which could shake this team up in a big way once again), but this unfortunately already leaves out FA Gerald Green as well as a couple of others. Nevertheless, only 15 can be on the roster and 12 are allowed to be active on gameday anyway.
At the moment, I would imagine the minutes would shake out to (on average):
C: Gooden (24); Damp (17); Dirk (7)
PF: Dirk (29); Marion (10); Gooden (5); TThomas (4)
SF: Marion (26); J-Ho (12); Ross (6); TThomas (4)
SG: J-Ho (22); JET (26)
PG: Kidd (34): Barea (11); JET (3)
IR: Carroll/Buckner
D-League: Jawai/Nivins
Notes:
-Beaubois, Humphries, and Singleton: Two of the three would be active and one would be IR. Being active would not guarantee minutes though.
-Barea (offensively at least) and Ross (defensively at least) would technically be at the 2-guard some of the time despite not being allotted for any minutes there in the depth chart above. This is due to the defensive versatility that is achieved by having people like Kidd at the 1 and Marion/J-Ho at the 3.