Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Things that Drive Me Crazy Being a Baseball Fan

We all have things that we do not agree with when it comes to sports. Whether it be not agreeing  with a coach or manager's decision or having a problem with the way a player carries himself on and off the field. These things are different for everyone.  They are what makes sports great and allow us to discuss sports on a regular basis without talking about the same things over and over again. As I have been watching baseball the past week, I have noticed a handful of things that I either do not agree with or do not understand.

1. Why do fans boo every time a pitcher throws to a base to hold a runner close and keep them from stealing, or call balk on each of these moves? Holding runners is part of the game and is a necessity for pitchers to keep from giving up more runs. It is much harder for a player to score from first base than it is to score from second base. I understand that it is only 90 feet, but with a fast player that extra base is the difference between stopping at third and scoring. As for calling balk on every pitcher's move, you either do not know the balk move or feel the need to be heard during the game. Left handed pitchers have a forty five degree grace period on pickoff  moves to first. As long as they do not cross this barrier, they can make a move to first without a balk and the good ones flirt with this line very well. The fake to third and check first base move is legal and it is just another tool to keep that runner close. Please as fans respect the game a little more and let the professionals, both players and umpires, do their job.

2. I do not understand why players do not run full speed to try to avoid being the second out of a double play. Some of the fastest players in the game will jog to first when they hit a ground ball. There is two problems with this. The first being that if the player makes an error and you are not running there is still a good chance you are still going to be out. The other being that there's no telling what is going to happen the rest of the inning if you beat out a double play. Making it to first can always lead to a run, or drive a good pitcher from the game. Plus, as a player they are making millions of dollars to play a game. This should be enough motivation to play every play like it's their last, because a career is never guaranteed.

3. People that want to institute instant replay into every aspect of the game of baseball. Baseball is already a slower played games that can take 3 to 4 hours to play regardless of what happens in the game. Instant replay will just slow the game down more. The human element is baseball is one of the great things about the game. It allows fans to have something to talk about, and discuss what could have happened. A bad call happens, but the umpires get it right most of the time. everyone is human and makes mistakes. The good thing about baseball is it is open to interpretation. The strike zone changes with every umpire and makes the players have to figure out what the strike zone is every night. Otherwise, one of two things would happen. Either there would be more home runs and the batters would know exactly where it  is a strike and where it is a ball, or every game would be a pitchers' duel do to the fact that they could paint the corners because they are so good. This game has been played the same way fro over 100 years and has worked thus far, no need to change it.

4. I do not understand how batters swing at the same bad pitches over and over again. If you swing at it the first time, most of the time the pitcher is going to throw the same pitch again in the same at bat. These players are professionals and should be able to adjust within the at bat. Stop making yourself look bad swinging at pitches that are nowhere close to the strike zone.

5. Players these days do not seem to have any loyalty to their team they came up with. I understand that more money or winning plays a part in this reality, but is a million extra dollars really worth moving to another team and being speculated about your character? In the past, it took a lot more to get a player to leave a team. The players had a loyalty to the fans and organization and wanted to play their whole career for one team. These days players change teams almost as often as they change clothes. I respect the players that choose to stay with one team, like Derek Jeter and Michael Young. Money is not everything, especially when the players are making as much money as they do these days.

These are just a few things that I have noticed the last few weeks that have really gotten to me. Part of it is not understanding, but it is also things that have changed over the years as the people of the world have changed. Feel free to add your own pet peeves for the game of baseball.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Rise and Fall of Some of the PGA's Players

Over the last year or so, I have noticed that many of the notable players on the PGA Tour have been rather inconsistent, while just a few have been pretty consistent. I realize that golf is one of the more difficult sports on the planet, not because of athletic ability needed, but rather because you are trying to put a 1.62 inch ball into a 4.25 inch cup from two hundred to five hundred yards away, eighteen times. Factor in how the ball is going to play in the wind or rain, and the sport gets much more difficult. The mental aspect of the game is one of the toughest parts to understand. Players play shot to shot and cannot let one bad shot bother them through the remainder of a round or tournament, like a player in baseball cannot let an at-bat affect how he plays in the field. These players are playing against the best one hundred players in the world on a weekly basis, and I understand how hard it is to win any sport week in and week out, but the inconsistency or overhyping of players by the media is just ridiculous sometimes. I am not bashing any of these players because I know how good they are and can be, but it just amazes me how people in the media hype them up and compare them to greats like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods when they are just starting out.

The obvious person to me that has had his ups and downs is Rory McIlroy. He is one of my favorite players on Tour and, at 23, has shown flashes of brilliance and been very bad at other times. It all started at the 2011 Masters, where he shot an 80 in the final round to blow a huge lead and finish fifteenth, when the Green Jacket was basically on his back. He then returned in the U.S. Open to win the tournament, and win his first major. Everyone was ready to compare the young kid to Tiger Woods, but after two majors is a little soon. He finished 2011 strong, but did not win anymore tournaments. He returned in 2012 at the Accenture Match Play and Honda Classic, where he finished second in the Match Play and first in the Honda Classic. the next tournament was the World Golf Championship where he finished third. Then, the downturn started. He barely made the cut at the 2012 Masters and finished fortieth, continued on to The Players Championship and the U.S. Open and missed the cut at both tournaments. Give the kid a chance to prove himself before you start comparing him to Tiger or other greats, he will get there, but the extra pressure won't help.

As for Tiger Woods, he has been pretty inconsistent himself. He went from being on top of the world, to not winning a tournament for over a year. Tiger had some excuses for why he was struggling, from his home situation to firing his swing coach and caddy, but still continued to go out there and fail. It never made sense to me why he did this. He knows how much of a mental game golf is and that if your mind is not on every shot, the course will make it worse. Woods took some time off, but he obviously needed more, but he did prove to us that he is actually human and could lose. But Tiger is returning to form, which is scary for the rest of the field and the more confidence he gains he will continue to win. Those couple of months when Tiger's life fell apart on him, cost him some wins and the quick return did not help either. Golf is one of few games that you can leave on top and come back a couple weeks or months later and be average again.

Bubba Watson is gaining popularity by the minute, after his performance at the 2012 Masters, which he won, he was on top of the world.  But two of the three tournaments after that, the Memorial and the U.S. Open, he failed to make the cut. Bubba has been a decent player for a long time, he has been a middle of the pack guy until this year when he has played better. Over the two seasons prior to 2012, he had 7 total top 10 finishes in over 40 tournaments. But his demeanor and the fact that he taught himself the game of golf has made him a crowd favorite.

Phil Mickelson is another crowd favorite and always has a huge following whatever tournament he plays in. Phil started his career as a very good golfer, with the reputation of not being able to win a major, part of that being that Tiger Woods was usually in the field with him. Mickelson over the years has changed that reputation after a couple of wins at the Masters and other majors. He is also one of the more consistent golfers in the field from week to week. Most of the time you can find him in the top twenty golfers on the leader board.  He still has his times of inconsistency, as does any golfer, but from week to week he is towards the top of consistency.

Luke Donald is probably one of the most consistent golfers on Tour. You may not know his name if you do not follow much golf, but he is currently the number one player in the world. Donald has never won a major, yet holds the number one spot because of his consistency. His finishes in tournaments over the last two years have plenty of top ten and top twenty finishes. Until he wins a major, you may not hear his name or know who he is, but he is quietly racking up his earnings each week with all these good finishes.

Golf is a wonderful game, and just as you think you have it figured out it lets you know that you don't. These players are the best in the world and even their inconsistency is better than our consistency. People say golf is boring to watch, but there are some amazing things that happen in every round if you know what is going on. The Open Championship is on this week and the players are having to fight that European wind to win this weekend. Let's see who is the most consistent player over the next four days and is able to come away with the win.


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Arizona Diamondbacks Interesting Place in the National League West

The Arizona Diamondbacks are currently in third place in the National League West going into the second half of the season. They are currently just six games back of the Giants who are currently in first place. With the trade deadline quickly approaching on July 31st, the Diamondbacks must make a decision on whether to be buyers or sellers at the deadline. The next couple of weeks are very important to this decision. If the D'backs can make a run in the next couple of weeks, they should look to improve their team to make a playoff push. But if they fall off, they could look to trade some of their better players, such as Justin Upton, to improve their farm system and look to the future. Arizona's offense has been the bright spot so far this year, as they are in the top half of the league in most offensive categories. As for their pitching, the Diamondbacks need to see some improvement over the next couple of weeks. They have the arms to do it with Trevor Cahill, Wade Miley, rookie Trevor Bauer, and Ian Kennedy. Kennedy thus far has not produced like he did last year, and it would take a quick turnaround by him to give the Diamondbacks a chance.

If the D'backs fail to produce and fall back in the standings, they will be looking to trade away some of their players at the trade deadline. Justin Upton is the prized piece that many of the contenders will be looking to get from Arizona. Upton, who has had an inconsistent career thus far, has tremendous upside. His numbers are down this year, where he is batting .271 with just seven home runs. Last year Upton, hit .289 with 31 home runs, so he definitely has power potential. At 24, there are still many years to turn this inconsistency around and be a perennial star player for whatever team tries to trade for him. Another star that could be trade bait for Arizona is second baseman Aaron Hill. Hill who is having a great year for a second basemanis batting .301 with a .355 on-base percentage, and has also hit for two cycles already this season.

No matter how the next two weeks go, the Diamondbacks have options and control their own destiny for their season and the future. In a ballpark like Chase Field, anything can happen. Chase Field is one of the most hitter friendly parks in the Majors and can allow the D'Backs to score lots of runs in a short amount of time, which means they are rarely ever out of any game at home. It should be an interesting next couple of weeks in baseball, both for the Diamondbacks and the rest of the NL West, which has been one of the more competitive division races over the last couple of years.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Titans' QB Battle and Chances in the AFC South

Coming off a year where the Tennessee Titans finished second in the AFC East to the Houston Texans with a 9-7 record, and missing the playoffs by being eliminated due to the tiebreaker rules, the Titans are looking to improve in the 2012-2013 season. The biggest story going on with the Titans this year is how long they will keep Matt Hasselbeck as the starting quarterback, and when they will turn the team over to second year quarterback Jake Locker. Matt Hasselbeck is a fourteen year veteran that has a dual role on the team. He is in charge of running the offense, while grooming the younger Locker into a formidable quarterback for the future of the franchise. At 36, Hasselbeck does not have much left in his career, but is still the best option for the team at least for one more year. We got a small dose of Jake Locker last year, while Hasselbeck was hurt, and he did not produce very much as a starter. He went 0-2 as a starter, but those two losses came to the Falcons and Saints, both of which are very good teams. For now, I believe that Hasselbeck's job as a starter is safe, but if he doesn't perform well this year the Titans may play for the future and replace him with Locker, in order to get him game experience.

As for the rest of the Titans team, they return most of their team with just a few changes . Tennessee added wide receiver Kendall Wright from Baylor to a very good receiving core that includes Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, and tight end Jared Cook. Wright brings a deep threat into the equation, and gives the quarterbacks another good target to throw to. You can't talk to about the Titans without talking about running back Chris Johnson. Johnson who has been one of the elite backs in the league the last few years, has a down season last year where he had barely over 1,000 yards, but claims that he is still one of the top backs in the league. The defense stays pretty much the same, but they did lose their top corner in Cortland Finnegan to the Rams. The Titans were able to add linebacker Kamerion Wimbley to help the front seven on the defense.

Tennessee went 9-7 in 2011, with a 3-3 record in the AFC South. Their schedule gets a little easier in 2012 where they only have four games against teams that made the playoffs in 2011. They still have some tough games against teams that have improved, like the Bills and Lions. The Houston Texans are by far the biggest competition in the AFC South, with the Colts and Jaguars both in a rebuilding process. The Titans went 1-1 last year against the Texans last year, their loss a 41-7 beat down and their win a one point win in the last week of the season. The good news for the Titans is the Texans lost Mario Williams on defense and did not get much better in the offseason. The other plus is that the Texans typically under produce and are very inconsistent. With the easier schedule and improved offense the Titans have a very good chance of making the playoffs in 2012, as long as they stay healthy and Chris Johnson returns to his previous form. Hasselbeck is a good leader that should keep the team focused throughout the season and can get the ball to the receiving core to make plays. If they make the playoffs, they probably will not be a championship contender, due to the other top teams in the AFC. They are a young team that has potential to cause problems for other teams this year and have a bright future ahead of them in the years to come.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Louisiana Tech's Season Outlook and Chances to leave WAC with Conference Championship

Coming off a year where Louisiana Tech started with three tough losses in its first four games, then turned it around to win the WAC championship and end the season with a well played game against TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl, the Bulldogs look to continue to make strides to get national attention and defend their championship this year before moving to Conference USA next year. Louisiana Tech did lose freshman quarterback Nick Isham to transfer, but Colby Cameron returns to continue where he left off last year. Quinton Patton and Ray Holley also return to the offense, and the team should still be pretty set on the defensive side on the ball as well. If Tech does get in trouble on offense, the Ray Guy Award winner from last year, punter Ryan Allen, will be back to help them out. The Dawgs start with an interesting non-conference schedule where they have a good  chance to be successful, before entering a depleted WAC schedule that lacks the former powerhouses of Fresno State, Hawaii, and Nevada. Taking a look at the schedule Tech has a very good chance to defend the WAC championship and get a better bowl berth than Tech has seen in a few years. Let's take a look at the 2012-2013 schedule game by game:

Week 1: vs. Texas A&M Aggies

The Dawgs open up week 1 on a Thursday night in Shreveport, LA  against a new look Aggie team. The Aggies are moving into the SEC with a new head coach and new quarterback, since Ryan Tannehill is now in the NFL. New coach Kevin Sumlin comes over from Houston to coach the Aggies, bringing his high octane passing offense with him. This game could be a track meet with a very high score, and will probably come down to which offense plays better that night. With Tech having home field advantage, being only an hour away from Ruston, they have a good chance to walk away with a win in Sumlin's debut.

Week 2: at University of Houston Cougars

Louisiana Tech moves on to week 2 to play Houston at their place. Houston is another team with a new quarterback replacing Case Keenum, who finished a very productive college career last year. The Dawgs should be the favorite in this game and they are going to be looking for revenge after blowing a 34-7 lead to Houston in the fourth quarter last year.

Week 3: vs. Rice University Owls

Sonny Dykes and the Bulldogs play their first home game of the season in Ruston against their future Conference USA opponent, the Rice Owls. Rice is not typically a strong football school and should allow Tech to win their home opener, but this will definitely be a trap game that the Dawgs cannot afford to overlook.

Week 4: at Illinois Fightin' Illini

This will be the first true road test for the Dawgs this season, when they have to travel to Champaign to take on the Illini. Illinois is usually in the middle to the bottom of the Big Ten conference and gives Tech another good chance at a win if they show up and play good offense. This is not going to be a gimme game by any means and would be a huge road win for the Dawgs if they could get it.

Week 5: at Virginia Cavaliers

The Dawgs have their second consecutive road game as they travel to Charlottesville, VA to take on the Cavaliers. Virginia is a scary team because you never know which team is going to show up, the good or the bad. Depending on which Virginia team shows up, depends on if the Bulldogs can leave Charlottesville with the win.

Week 6: vs. UNLV Rebels

Lousiana Tech returns home to face UNLV in Ruston for their sixth game. UNLV is coming off a two win season in 2011, so the Dawgs should have a good chance of getting another win at home and keep their hopes of a good bowl alive.

Week 7: vs. Idaho Vandals

Idaho comes to Ruston to play the Bulldogs in week 7 and this is the first conference game in which Tech begins their WAC title defense. The Vandals are also coming off a two win season, but always seems to give the Bulldogs a good game. I believe Tech will come away with the win and move on to week 8.

Week 8: at New Mexico State Aggies

Tech travels to Las Cruces, NM to play the Aggies which they beat 44-0 in 2011. This should be another easy win for the Dawgs to move to 2-0 in the WAC.

Week 9: vs. UTSA Roadrunners

The Roadrunners are new to the WAC this year, moving up from Division II where they only won four games last season. UTSA gets its first look at the defending WAC champions and first taste of the better part of the WAC. The Dawgs should give the newcomers a rude welcoming, bringing their conference record to 3-0

Week 10: at Texas State Bobcats

Texas State is another newcomer to the WAC. They are coached by new head coach former Texas A&M head coach, Dennis Franchione. The Bobcats come up from Division II as well, coming off a 6-6 record. This could be one of the tougher games in the WAC for the Dawgs, but they should come away with the win, to continue to be undefeated in the WAC.

Week 11: vs. Utah State Aggies

This will be the toughest WAC game for the Bulldogs this season. Utah State comes off a 2011 season where they went 7-5. They gave the Dawgs a good game last season, with Tech coming out on top 24-17. This game could be for the WAC championship, with just one game to go after their meeting. The game is in Ruston this year so at least Tech will have the home crowd behind them.

Week 12: at San Jose State Spartans

For the last game of the regular season, Tech travels west to San Jose to play the Spartans. San Jose State went 5-7 last season, with one loss coming to the Dawgs by 10 points. Tech cannot afford to show up unprepared for this game, or they could very well get beat and end a good season on a bad note.


So looking back on the whole schedule, the Dawgs should end the season 10-2 and win their second consecutive WAC championship as they leave the conference with the trophy. With a 10-2 record, Louisiana Tech should look to get a better bowl than the Poinsettia Bowl by replacing one of the teams that goes to a BCS bowl. The key to accomplishing this is to lose no more than two of their non-conference games. Look for the Bulldogs to be a surprise team this year and accomplish more than any Louisiana Tech team in the last couple of years.



The State of United States Soccer

The sport of soccer in the United States is a very complex one right now. It seems that the American population is gaining more interest and perspective into the sport, yet it is still not one of the top tier sports in America. Most Americans would rather watch football, baseball, basketball, and maybe even hockey before they watch soccer. I am not sure whether this is due to the pace of the game, the lack of soccer superstars that stay to play in America, or just the lack of knowledge of the rules of the game.

People in the United States have some of the greatest pride for their country when it comes to competing against the rest of the world, whether it be in the Olympics or the World Cup. These two competitions get the most media coverage and the hype around U.S. soccer soars while these tournaments are going on. But once these two events end, the sport of soccer in the United States takes its spot back on the back burner of American sports, whereas European soccer fans continue to support their teams and are crazier than any American sports fan about their soccer teams. Many of the people in American society, sports fans or not, could not name an American soccer player besides Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, or Tim Howard. Whereas, other sports stars get plenty of hype and media coverage on a daily basis, soccer stars go unnoticed. Many children in the United States start out playing soccer, but seeing baseball, basketball, and football stars on television makes them want to play these sports in hopes of being that athlete that they see some day.The ones that are lucky enough to play on an elite level want to be appreciated for what they do. This fact causes these American born soccer stars to skip playing in the MLS and head for Europe where the money and appreciation for the sport is much better. This causes the MLS to struggle and not get the media coverage needed to improve its standing in a very competitive American sports society.

Part of the lack of interest could be due to the lack of knowledge of the rules of soccer and that the game play seems slow to spectators compared to sports like basketball and American football. If you took a poll about the offsides rule in soccer, many people would not be able to give you a straight answer to what it entails. Soccer seems like a slow game, but the truth is that if you know what is going on it can be one of the most beautiful and fluent games in the world. It takes extreme skill and even more physical ability to play the game. The players have to be able to run long distances, as well as be able to sprint when the game calls for it for 45 minutes for two halves. Being able to do what many of these athletes do with their feet while controlling a ball is mind-blowing. It may not look like much, but if you ever question it, go get a soccer ball and try to replicate what they are doing.

So next time you see soccer on television, whether it be MLS, European, or International soccer, don't change the channel. Give the sport a chance and learn about it. It is very fun to watch and is very addicting once you know what is going on. Let's begin to change the American view on the sport of soccer, and in return we will be able to put the United States closer to the top of the elite teams in the world.

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

A Look at the Second Half for the Rangers

Well the Rangers ended the first half with a 52- 34 record, and prepare to start the second half tomorrow with a series against the last place Seattle Mariners. Derek Holland will get the second half started, which is good news considering he just returned to the active roster right before the All-Star Break. The keys to the second half are pretty obvious. The Rangers need to stay healthy, which they failed to do in the first half, continue to get good starts out of the starters, which didn't happen as frequently the last few weeks, and continue doing what they are doing on offense.

Health is the major concern for the Rangers in the second half. Three of the five starters in the opening day rotation, along with three key relievers saw time on the disabled list in the first half. With this many pitchers on the disabled list, it puts major stress on the rest of the bullpen as they have to fill in for the guys out, plus usually end up covering more innings for inexperienced starters that get knocked around early.This is not a good thing when trying to make a playoff push for the third straight years. The Rangers were lucky that the offense stayed off the disabled list in the first half and provided some extra run support, when needed. The good news is that most of these pitchers should return within two to three weeks after the break, which should provide some extremely rested arms and bodies to make that playoff push.

The pitchers  for the Rangers had a pretty good first half. Harrison and Darvish both already have over 10 wins, which is a little more than I expected at this point in the season. Meanwhile, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland, the one and two starters on opening day, have both seen the disabled list, but contributed well while on the field. Robbie Ross may have been the biggest surprise so far this season and has provided great pitching the entire season out of the bullpen. Joe Nathan has found his old form again, and has been lights out at the end of the game. If these trends continue, the second half looks promising and another playoff run is almost guaranteed. The only thing that may change any for the pitchers is if the Rangers go out and get another starter, like Cole Hamels or Zack Greinke. I believe this would allow them to send Neftali Feliz back to the bullpen, which would make the rotation and bullpen both stronger. For right now though, the Rangers are still stretching out Feliz to return to the starting rotation. Could you imagine Alexi Ogando, Mike Adams, Ross,Feliz, and Nathan finishing games for the Rangers? That would take all pressure off the starters.

The Rangers offense just needs to continue what they are doing. They currently lead the league in runs, batting average, and on base percentage. As long as the everyday guys can stay healthy, I believe that these trends should continue. They could always add another big bat to the team, but I do not think that this is necessary to winning. But, it would be nice to add an extra bat just for security sake.

The second half should be interesting to say the least. With the Angels and Rangers both playing well, it truly will be a wild west shootout, and it does not get easier once the playoffs began as they will have to go through New York and a good Detroit team again. The Rangers won't back down and will need to pull out all their big guns in order to make a third World Series run.

How Morris Claiborne is Going to Help the Cowboys This Year

Morris Claiborne is the new rookie defensive back for the Dallas Cowboys. He got hyped up in the draft, but before that he played second fiddle to Tyrann Mathieu at LSU. The worst part is that Claiborne is a better defensive back than Mathieu and the only reason Mathieu got all the hype and plays he did was because SEC quarterbacks were too scared to throw Claiborne's way. I am not taking anything away from Mathieu because he made the plays plus some when the opportunity arose. Claiborne was probably the second best player in the draft and will become an elite defensive back if he stays healthy and away from trouble. But, Claiborne brings more to the Cowboys than hype and a first round draft pick.

Let's start with the obvious. Claiborne, along with Brandon Carr, will bring toughness and a new energy to a Cowboys secondary that has been the laughing stock of the NFC East, and NFL for that matter, for the last five or six years. Claiborne has some of the best hands and ball skills in a defensive back since Deion Sanders. He has a knack for making big plays and big hits, though that may not matter with how little hitting is allowed in the NFL today. At almost six foot, he brings the height to cover taller receivers in the league, but also has the speed to contain the faster ones.

Claiborne will also help with the special teams by returning kicks and punts. This will provide a more explosive and tougher athlete back there than the guys that have been back there for the Cowboys the last few years. I'm sorry but Olgetree never really did anything for them back there. It will also keep guys like Felix Jones and Dez Bryant healthier, hopefully. Dez seems to be to fragile to do anything besides catch passes.

The last place Claiborne is going to be able to improve the team is in practice. He will give the receivers, such as Bryant and Miles Austin, better looks the the overrated and underachieving defensive backs of the past, like Terrance Newman who just got to old, and Mike Jenkins, who was another guy who couldn't stay on the field. I believe that Claiborne will give Romo a better look in practice as well and make him rise to a new level having better practices.

Watch out for this rookie defensive back in the years to come, and let's see if he turns into a superstar like Darrelle Revis. The Cowboys have a chance to turn things around this year and compete in the East with the Giants with this new look secondary to go along with a pretty good front seven and a healthy offense.

Here's what the Cowboys are getting with Claiborne:





Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Drew Brees and His Contract Situation

Drew Brees is a top five quarterback in the league, yet the Saints do not seem to see the need to re-sign him to a long term multi-year contract that would allow him to finish his career as a Saint. He is 33 years old and has been a leading passer in the league for the last five years. Over these five years, he has had numbers that are equivalent to the premier passers in the league, such as Tom Brady. If you are not a statistics person, then look at his win-loss record and how many times they have made the playoffs. He may only have one Super Bowl win, but that is equivalent to Peyton Manning, who is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. He has played fifteen or more games the last eight years after returning from one of the most gruesome shoulder injuries that a quarterback has ever had. I do not see why the Saints are so reluctant to give him a long term contract or whatever it is that keeps him from signing on the dotted line whether it be on paper or an Ipad.

Drew Brees is the heart and soul of the Saints and the state of Louisiana for that matter. He brought the city back after the biggest natural disaster in the city's history, Hurricane Katrina. Without him and the Saints, the city may not have rebounded quite as quickly as it did. He has accomplished all these things with little help at all. His best receiver through it all has been Marques Colston who is very good, but would not put up the numbers he does without Brees. Drew Brees turned a seventh round draft pick in Colston into one of the best receivers in the league.

With all the Saints have been through this off-season from the bounty scandal to the wire tapping accusation, the team needs its leader. Drew Brees is that leader, as is the case with most teams and their quarterbacks. You can say that teams have defensive leaders, but how many times do you remember a defensive play throughout the season, unless it is Lawrence Taylor's hit on Joe Theismann that blew out his knee. Plus the Saints defensive leader in the locker room is Jonathan Vilma, who will be sitting out the entire season along with their head coach Sean Payton. My point is that no one knows the offense, team, or city better than Drew Brees. If I were the Saints, I would give the guy what he wants no matter what it is and do not make him question his importance to the team. Being franchise tagged is a joke, and this deal needs to get done. Get your leader back in the workouts and in the locker room as quick as possible, otherwise you may not have much of a future with Chase Daniel leading the team.  

Tyler Clary Questioning Michael Phelps for Lack of Work Ethic

Since the Olympics are coming up, I decided I would do an Olympic post. I was reading an article online today from the USA Today about an Olympic swimmer named Tyler Clary who said that Michael Phelps does not work hard during training and acts like he does not want to be at practice. There are a few things wrong in this article. First off, who is this 23 year old Olympic swimmer to call out maybe the best Olympic swimmer, if not the best Olympian of all time. The second thing is talent can only get someone so far before they have to put in the work to be the best person in the world at their sport. Lastly, Clary has yet to beat him in any events that they both swim in.

Tyler Clary just needs to keep his mouth shut until he can prove that he has the credentials to call out the best swimmer in the world at the moment. Phelps has won sixteen medals in Olympic history, with all but two of the medals being gold medals. He has set numerous world records and is still in position to do more at these 2012 Olympic games in London. Clary has yet to win a gold medal and this is his first Olympics. I just think he should wait until after these Olympics before talking about his teammate and competition. As a competitor, he should not be giving Phelps any extra motivation to beat him any worse than he already will in London.

Just based on what Phelps has done, I cannot imagine that talent alone has got him to the top of his sport and gotten him so many accolades that it is hard to keep up with all he has done. I am sure that some days Phelps may not want to be at practice, but seriously for anyone who has played a sport when is this case. Phelps has been doing this for so long that I am sure he has more days now that he does not want to practice, but still shows up and puts in his work. He put in the work early in his career to get to where he is today and put himself in such an elite class that it has taken the rest of the world longer to catch up, but he is still winning.

After watching Phelps in the USA team trials, he still looks good to me and still has a better chance than most to continue to succeed in London. Tyler Clary needs to spend more time in the pool trying to get to Phelps' level instead of running his mouth about his teammate. Good luck to the Olympic team in London and to Phelps in what could be his last Olympic games.

Here is the article if anyone wants to read it:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/07/training-partner-tyler-clary-calls-out-michael-phelps-/1?csp=34sports#.T_3Zb5GRMTA 

What to do with Josh Hamilton?

The Rangers have a few options on what to do with 31 year old Josh Hamilton between now and the end of the year when he hits the free agent market. The guy who has been a fan favorite since he arrived has had an up and down career with the Rangers. While on the field he has been very good and is having a monster year so far this year, as he leads the league in home runs and RBIs. But most of his downfall has been off the field, where he has faced a lot of injury time in the last few years and also has faced scrutiny off the field for his constant battle with drugs and alcohol. We are all human, so the second of these two do not bother me as much as a fan because the relapses are few and far between. So the question is: What should the Rangers do with their superstar outfielder?

The first option is obviously to re-sign him to a multi-year deal. How much will that cost the Rangers? Looking at Albert Pujols' contract that he signed this year for ten years at $240 million. Pujols who is also 31, is probably the best contract to look at when figuring out how much Hamilton will look for. With the year that Hamilton is having he will probably look for the same type of contract. He may give the Rangers a hometown discount since they have catered to so many of his needs the last couple of years. But the Rangers should still expect to have to pay some where between eighteen and twenty million dollars a year for seven to ten years to keep their slugger. If he continues to produce like he has this season that would be a good investment, but the Rangers have to keep his injury problems and his age in the back of their mind. At 31, his numbers will begin to decrease around 35, as most players do, even if he can stay on the field. So a seven year  front loaded contract may be a better idea so that if his numbers do decrease they will have enough to go out and get younger. Anything more I believe they have to let him walk, and go after a younger free agent such as Melky Cabrera or Michael Bourne.

The next option would be to trade for an outfielder before the trade deadline, using that great farm system to land another premium player. That way you can keep Hamilton until the end of the year to help try to get back to the World Series and you have a back-up plan if he leaves. As I said in another post, Carlos Gonzales may be this player. He is five years younger than Hamilton and has been consistently good for the Rockies over the past few years. While Gonzales would cost the Rangers probably three top prospects and maybe two guys from the current roster, he would have a field day with the right field stands and that jet stream. Plus, he can run a little too. Having him and Hamilton in the outfield and at the dish would significantly help the Rangers chances of winning a championship.

The last and least likely option would be to trade Hamilton before the deadline. It would allow them to get something in return, rather than just letting him walk in free agency. If that were the case, the Rangers may be able to get at least a top third of the rotation starter and a decent replacement for Hamilton in the outfield. But it may also significantly hurt their chances of returning to the World Series, do to the lack of his bat in the lineup. It would also hurt the Rangers' chances of re-signing if he did hit free agency in the Winter.

The Rangers and Hamilton have both said they are not in talks while the season is going on which kind of scares me, because he will probably hit free agency. If he hits free agency, his price may skyrocket with teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers lurking. At some point it will be interesting to see how this all plays out and how it affects the Rangers in years to come.


Robinson Cano Being Booed at Home Run Derby: Fair or Foul?


Monday night, Robinson Cano was booed at the Home Run Derby in Kansas City for not picking the hometown slugger Billy Butler. Did the Kansas City faithful do the right thing? Believe me, I am one of the first to boo a Yankee when given the chance, but this is ridiculous. The fact is that Robinson Cano was trying to win the Home Run Derby for the American League and that does not always mean making everyone happy. Yes, the hometown player should get picked if he has the numbers that the other players picked have, but in this case the only player that he had more home runs than was Prince Fielder. Billy Butler has sixteen home runs so far this season. Mark Trumbo has 22, Bautista has 27, Cano has 20, and Fielder has 15 home runs.  Looking back now, I do not think you can blame Cano for that pick considering that Fielder won the contest for the American League. In fact after the first round of the Derby the only one of Cano’s picks that did not move on to the next round was Cano himself. 

Now the MLB wants to institute a rule that says that a player from the hometown team will have a participant in the Home Run Derby. I believe this rule makes no sense. I believe the most qualified guys that want to participate in the Derby should be the ones chosen. It is called the Home Run Derby for a reason and no one wants to see line drives that do not leave the park. People go to the Home Run Derby to see monster shots, not bloopers that barely get over the wall. I am not saying this would have been the case with Butler, but if the rule is put in effect that means that a shortstop or centerfielder that is the only representative from their team could take part in the Home Run Derby. Some shortstops or centerfielders do have some power, but this is not always the case. I believe that the player could get embarrassed by not hitting any home runs and it would take away from the already dying Derby that needs something to get it back jump started.

The fact is that Robinson Cano is one of the best players in baseball and had to make a decision. Now whether or not you liked the decision, I believe that he picked a pretty good team with established players who have been in the league for awhile, minus Trumbo. Trumbo was brought on to hit bombs and he did. Prince won the contest so you cannot blame that pick, and Bautista has been the home run king in the league the last two years. So Kansas City fans, get over it. You got to see Butler as an All-Star and he will be back in years to come along with Mike Moustakas and probably Eric Hosmer. The American League won the Derby, which is more than they can say for that poor excuse for a baseball game that they called the 83rd All-Star Game.

Texas Rangers Trade Rumors: Good and Bad


Many sources I have seen online have had a few rumors about what the Texas Rangers may do around the trade deadline, July 31st.  Some have said go out and get another starting pitcher like Cole Hamels from the Phillies or Zack Greinke from the Brewers. Others have said go out and get another big bat like Justin Upton. While the possibility of any of these three players added to an already potent first place team sounds great, there are still many issues I have with each of these deals.

Trading for Cole Hamels is a good idea if you are planning on winning this year and then trying to replace another ace like the Rangers had to do with Cliff Lee two years ago. Hamels very well could be the most coveted pitcher on the free agent market this winter and plenty of teams have the money to compete with the Rangers. Magic Johnson’s group with the Dodgers is going to make a big splash in free agency this spring much like the Marlins did this year. They want to put people around Kershaw and Kemp to keep them there. The Yankees and Red Sox still have money and are going to rejuvenate their teams after this year. The Rangers do not really need another starting pitcher without trading away one of their young guns or going to a six man rotation. 

Zack Greinke would be a better pick for the Rangers in the long run than Hamels would. The problem with Greinke is the same story that continues to surface every time he goes to a new team about his anxiety and why he cannot pitch in large markets. Right now I would not consider Arlington to be on the large market scale compared to New York, Boston, Los Angeles, or even say Miami, but it is growing with each win the Rangers pile up. The other idea is how he would respond to the pressure of a postseason, where he may have to pitch in a game 6 or 7 of the World Series. As a fan, I want the ace to want the ball and not be nervous of how he will respond with millions of eyes on every pitch he throws.
As for Justin Upton, I think this is a terrible trade idea. He has been one of the most inconsistent players the last four years. One year he has phenomenal numbers, then the next he is just that next average player that gives you a power surge every now and then. He is a poor man’s Nelson Cruz in my opinion and since the Rangers already have the real one I see no need for another. 

My idea is that since the Rangers have one of the best farm systems in baseball along with some young talent that is expendable they should go after some different guys. With the prospects they have they could go after a top of the line outfielder in Carlos Gonzales from the Rockies. It may take a lot but he could be the replacement the Rangers need if Hamilton leaves with free agency. As for pitchers, if they feel like they need another starter then send Feliz back to the bullpen and go after a Matt Garza or Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs, or Wandy Rodriguez from the Astros. If you want an ace that they should trade for, it should be Felix Hernandez if the Mariners are willing to trade after they got burned in the Cliff Lee deal since Smoak and Beavan haven’t worked out for them, plus the same division thing too.  The Rangers do not need an ace because both Harrison and Darvish are well on their way while Holland still has plenty of potential. I believe they could use a solid third or fourth guy that can eat some innings and save the bullpen.