Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Night To Remember

Wow.

If you are a true baseball fan, you've go to be feeling like a kid in a candy store tonight.  It'll be a cool night in the Bronx, 47 degrees, 9mph winds, and a clear sky that will have the night filled with stars in the air and on the field.  And last but certainly not least, there will be a pair of aces on the mound, and what a pair it will be.

In the Yankee corner - Andy Pettitte, 37 years old, the most experienced postseason pitcher in the history of the game, and notorious for rising to the challenge of a big game.  And in the Phillie corner - Pedro Martinez, 38 years old, storied enemy of the Yankees, and a member of the historic 2004 Boston Red Sox team that banished the Curse of the Bambino at Yankee Stadium.  Between the two of them, they combine for 54 postseason games pitched with a record of 23-12.

Pettitte is a career Yankee (minus a 3-year sabbatical with the Houston Astros) and a no doubt, first ballot hall-of-famer when the time comes.  He also has to be one of the most respected Yankees of this generation - infamous for his glove covering his face, his hat pulled tightly down over his brow, and through the tunnel the two create, peers his overpowering glance of determination.  Any Pettitte is a competitor; he celebrates a big out, but not for himself, rather for his teammate that made the play, he doesn't talk trash, he doesn't guarantee victories, he doesn't make excuses, he gives credit where credit is due, even if to an opponent.  Simply put Andy Pettitte is a true "ballplayer" and one could only hope he remains an ambassador of the game for a long, long time.

And on the other side Martinez - an 18-year veteran of the game who has definitely come full circle.  Another first ballot hall-of-famer, who spent 7 years of his career making his mark on the hearts of Bostonians everywhere as well as on the dramatic history of the Red Sox organization.  Pedro was a go-to pitcher in his prime, and when you saw him on the list of pitching probables for the day you knew the Sox were going to win.  In his time in Bean Town, Martinez posted a record of 117-37, so on average his record was 17-5...wow.  Then he went to the New York Mets where all good careers go to die (i.e. Carlos Baerga, Mike Piazza, Johan Santana, etc...) - he had 4 atypical seasons, plagued by injuries.  But now Pedro is back for perhaps one last chance at glory.  Like Seabiscuit and Red Pollard coming back from injury to obtain past success - it is not necessarily within the realm of physical law to determine the ability of a player like Martinez, that's too shallow.  For what he lacks physically is compensated by his eager heart, his fierce determination, and the immense amount of wisdom he has grown since his time in Boston; making him as formidable an opponent as ever.

Perhaps it is poetic justice that the game of baseball is the only main sport not limited by time, because tonight, in the new Yankee Stadium, time will truly be irrelevant.  Not just in terms of game length, but for the two studs opposing each other on the mound age will be of little, if any significance.  The only role history will play is that each competitor is likely to fuel themselves with powerful memories of the past, where they have faced each other many times before.  There will be no limitations on either pitcher - this is, for a fact, the last game they will pitch in the year 2009, so they will both be prepared to reach back and give it everything they've got, and then some. 

I am prepared to be wrong and disappointed, but to be honest, I don't think the laws of the universe would allow it.  This game is meant to be, and will be, one of the best games in the history of the Major League postseason.  And as a true baseball fan I can honestly say that regardless of who wins, I just can't wait to sit down, turn on the TV, and be a blissful spectator of two guys doing what they love, and doing it exceptionally well.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Take It Like A Man

So after making the decision that I'd rather see Babe Ruth in a speedo than see the New York Yankees win the World Series, I started to realize how difficult it would be to stand by the Philadelphia Phillies.  They aren't making it easy to root for them, that's for sure.  First there was the guarantee by Jimmy Rollins that they'd win in five games, "six if their nice," - well Jimbo if you're going to win it has to be in Game 7, so what happened to your cute little prediction?  Ok, that doesn't even matter, I'm over Rollins' arrogance, and now my frustration is purely centered on the Phils' manager, Charlie "I should read a coaching" Manuel.

If you've seen a Charlie Manuel press conference, you probably agree with me when I say that Charlie needs to take it like a man.  Manuel has developed a nice little routine of heading to the podium after a loss and putting on his cranky pants.  He answers every question with a tone of "how dare you ask me something so dumb," and he also defends every decision he makes like it was the right move and it just happened, coincidently, not to work out.  Well, in trailing the Yankees 3-2 in the World Series, there seems to be quite a few coincidences costing the Phillies their season.  I was really expecting the Yankess to lose this Series as a result of Joe Girardi's mismanagement - but what I underestimated was Manuel's incredible ability to mismanage his own team.

Granted, Manuel is riding high now because the Phils won Game 5 behind ace Cliff Lee, but that's not a big surprise, we all expected Lee to win and he did.  And there's a great chance that the Philadelphia takes Game 6 in a Pedro Martinez vs. Andy Pettitte showdown for the ages.  So where did Skipper Chuck go wrong?  Well we could start with Game 2 when he let Pedro go back out to the mound for the 7th inning, but we'll let that Grady Little-esque moment slide.  Lets look at Game 4.  The Phils had just lost Game 3, at home, with their former ace, Cole Hamels on the mound.  So how does Charlie respond in a must-win game?  He sends out his #4 starter, Joe Blanton, on the mound against the Yankees ace, C.C. Sabathia - genius idea Chuck.  In his post-game cranky pants session, Manuel was asked, "Charlie, Cliff Lee said he was willing to pitch tonight, if he had insisted he wanted to pitch, would you have gone with him?"  Manuel's quick and degrading response was, "Nope, absolutely not."  Wow, how insightful; thanks Chuck, great explanation.

In pregame discussions, many said that Manuel wasn't starting Lee because he had never pitched on three days rest before.  Who cares!?  It's not like he's making him drive blindfolded or something; pitching on three days rest isn't dangerous, it's just uncommon because this generation's pitchers are so pampered.  In the current age of pitch counts, 6-inning starts, and 1-inning saves, we forget that pitchers of previous generations threw until the cows came home, and they didn't even have Tommy-John surgery, or all this medical pampering available!  Regardless, starting a short-rested Lee is still better than a well-rested Blanton.  Many will say "well, Blanton didn't pitch that bad."  Ok, true.  But guess what, he didn't pitch that good, and I guarantee that Lee would've pitched better and probably won.

So now let's look at the big picture.  Let's say Pedro out-duels Pettitte tomorrow, who is on the bump for Game 7?  In the Yankee corner, their ace, at home, Sabathia - and in the Phillie corner, choke artist of the '09 playoffs, the guy who can't even win at home and is now on the road, in the hardest postseason building to win at, Hamels.  Perfect.  Lee will only be on two days rest for Game 7, so even if he is available, there are two concerns - 1, Lee will only be able to pitch limited innings whether it's in a start of in relief.  2, if Manuel is willing to use him on two days rest, why didn't he use him on three days rest in Game 4??

Right, I know - if I know so much and I can complain about the problem, what is the solution?  I'll tell you what it is.  Start Lee in Game 4 and win, tying the series at 2-2.  Then, you save Pedro for Game 6 in the Bronx because he can win there, and in Game 5 you give the ball to...Jamie Moyer.  That's right, old man Jamie Moyer.  I say this for multiple reasons - 1, Moyer has been out of the rotation for a while and the Yankees would have to look back to August to find film on him.  2, it's a great change of pace - all these pitchers, Sabathia, Lee, Hamels, Pettitte, Blanton, even an aging Pedro, rely on bringing some low-to-high 90's heat.  Jamie Moyer changes a hitter's entire approach, first he has to roll his wheel chair out to the mound, then he has to use his cane to stand up, and then he throws a nasty 88 mph fastball...on a good day.  In the same way that Tim Wakefield's knuckleball can baffle any lineup, so can Moyer's finesse.  3, by pulling Hamels out of the rotation, you now have someone reliable in your bullpen, and should probably use him as the closer, this way Lidge can't blow any more games.  The postseason makes us forget, but the Phillies had the most unreliable bullpen in baseball in the 2nd half of the season, they could use a change of pace.  4, Moyer has experience...I mean like dang, he is living proof that dinosaurs once roamed the Earth.  He knows what he's doing on the mound, he knows how to control a game, and how to come through in the clutch.  And 5, by starting Lee in Game 4 that makes him available to start and win a potential Game 7, so even if Moyer loses and the Phils go down 3-2 as they are now, the outlook for the next two games is much better.


Doesn't seem so complicated to me, so why not try it?  Oh that's right, Charlie didn't think of it, so he won't do it...because clearly anything that Chuck thinks of has worked perfectly.  Don't get me wrong, managers will always be second-guessed by fans and media, and it's a lot harder to make the call before you know what will happen.  However, it's not so much Manuel's managing that I'm frustrated at, it's his attitude.  Don't you dare go to that podium and make someone feel dumb for asking you a perfectly valid question.  You got paid big money to make the right decision, and you messed up...big time.  So go to that podium, admit your mistakes, and for crying out loud...take it like a man.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Going Down A Short Road

So did you ever take a second to ponder why they call the the leader of a Major League Baseball team a manager, and not just a head coach?  Well, it's because they manage.  They are supposed to manage the game and talent in a way that will produce a favorable outcome for their team.  Without a good manager, good talent is easily wasted, and with a great manager, sub-par talent is sometimes well utilized to an extent that produces unexpected results.  Why don't other sports have managers?  In football you have a head coach, but then you also have coordinators for offense, defense, special teams, quarterbacks, linebackers, etc.  In basketball you have a head coach and he or she designs plays, coordinates substitutions, and calls timeouts; but the execution of the game is in the hands of the players.  In hockey, it's a similar situation to basketball - line changes, play calling, and timeouts are all coaching responsibilities, but execution resides with the players.  Looking back to baseball, you have many coaches, but one manager.  The manager sets a lineup and pitching rotation that change daily based on matchups, he can stop the game at anytime he wants to adjust the circumstances of the game, and every decision he makes does not just effect one game, but potentially the next four...especially in the playoffs.  Ultimately baseball players have the power to execute a play, but a manager has the power to execute a game, season, or championship run.   The bottom line is that a big league manager makes or breaks a team's season.


Okay, okay, so what's the point?  The point is that Joe Girardi is on the verge of managing the New York Yankees into the end of their season...and not they way that Yankees fans expect it to end.  In my playoff predictions, I got virtually every single thing wrong, but now Girardi is giving me a chance to be right about one thing - his poor managing will be the demise of they Yankees Championship run.  How so?  He is starting A.J. Burnett tonight, and leaving one of the most successful postseason starters in history, Andy Pettitte, on the bench.

It doesn't matter that Pettitte is on 3-days rest, this is what he came to the Yankees for, to pitch big games in the playoffs.  I don't care what Burnett's numbers are at home this year, or how he has better "stuff" then Pettitte.  Pettitte is not a great postseason pitcher because of the amount of wins he has, rather it is because of the type of wins that he has - HUGE wins, wins that bail the Yankees out of a tight spot.  He is notorious for winning after a Yankees loss in the playoffs.  The last time the Yanks were in the Series [2003] they lost Game 1 of the ALDS, ALCS, and the World Series.  Andy Pettitte started, and won Game 2 in all three series.

Okay, there's the backround - fast-forward to present day, Thursday, October 29th.  The Yanks are down 1-0 to the Phillies, after C.C. Sabathia, their high-priced ace came up short in Game 1.  They are going with Burnett because that was the "plan" and he has good numbers at home, but who cares!?  He's going against Pedro, in danger of heading to Philly down 2-0!  I'm sorry A.J. but your very thin playoff resume does not give you much of a chance in such a big game.

Now let's get back to the concept of managing.  Starting Burnett tonight will be felt in more than just one game.  Lets say the Yankees lose tonight, head to Philly down 2-0, win Game 3 behind Pettitte, and C.C. gets bested by Cliff Lee again in Game 4.  Now in a season deciding game on the road, Joe Girardi will have to put the Yankees season in the hands of Burnett, unless Chad Gaudin will get the ball (yea right).  Now let's look at it the smart way, the Yankees win Game 2 behind Pettitte, then Burnett has a better chance against a struggling Hamels in Game 3 and the Yankees could be up 2-1.  Or even if Burnett loses on the road, like everyone is afraid of, and C.C. loses Game 4, putting the Yanks down 3-1, guess who can save the Yanks in Game 5 and bring the Series back to the Bronx - Andy. Freaking. Pettitte.  Really, this isn't rocket science, but Girardi can't seem to put the pieces together.  As a manager, you need to set yourself up so that in the event your back is against the wall, you can put your best team on the field.  And let's face it, the Yankees best team isn't on the field unless #46 is on the mound with his hat pulled down over his head, and his glove covering his face.  

Now, baseball is a game of crazy occurrences, and Burnett could very well win tonight.  But I'll be honest, in my humble opinion, that with Pedro pitching in the Bronx and the Phillies craving a 2-0 lead...he won't.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

A Rock And A Hard Place

So tonight is Game 1.  Game 1 of a World Series matchup that has unbiased fans everywhere scratching their heads.  Who do I root for?  Who do I dislike more?  How did this happen?  These are just a few of the confounding questions that have made their way through the heads of baseball fans around the country ever since Mariano Rivera struck out Gary Matthews Jr. on Sunday night to end the ALCS.

It is no secret that baseball is a game fueled by passion; not just for the players, coaches, or the executives involved, but most importantly for the fans.  People go through the ups and downs of their lives; they go to college, they get married, they have kids, they lose loved ones, they leave old jobs and start new ones, but as James Earl Jones but it in The Field of Dreams, "the one constant has been baseball."  This game, and the team that any one of us decides to cheer for becomes and remains a part of our identity; through wins and losses, summers and winters, joys and sorrows; the game is always there, March through October, year in and year out.

And so as a result of that passion, teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees have developed very strong fan bases; fan bases that are sometimes too strong for their own good.  In fact, the arrogance of Yankees fans over the last few decades, and of Phillies fans for the past few years has grown both groups many enemies.  With that being said, many fans find themselves wondering who they'd like to see win this year's championship for the simple fact that there is no underdog.

Usually, fans who have lost their teams in the playoffs or regular season cling to the underdog because underdogs are unpredictable, their exciting, they play like they've got nothing to lose.  Well the 2009 World Series doesn't have an underdog, you've got the defending Champions of the 2008 season defending their title against...well...the defending champions of the last century.  We could've had Joe Torre and the LA Dodgers fighting to return to past glory, or the LA Angels fighting to win one for their lost teammate Nick Adenhart, or the jump-start Rockies trying to imitate their miracle run of 2007.  But no, instead we've got the Phils and the Yanks.

So no matter who wins, the fans of the underdog lose - it's like a real life version of Alien vs. Predator.  Either way, we'll have to listen to Yankees fans brag about 27 rings or Phillies fans brag about back-to-back Championships.  And to add to the arrogance of fans, you can see it in some players as well - Jimmy Rollins has Phillies fans everywhere calling him a prophet because he predicted that the Phillies would win the division in 2007 and would win 100 games in 2008.  With both predictions coming true, Rollins has taken his arrogance to a new level, now predicting that the Phillies will beat the Yankees in five games or, "six if their nice."

The bottom line is that either way we'll have to listen to someone brag, but at least we'll also get to see someone eat their words.  The point is that let's hope that this never happens again; we all love for our team to be the one in the World Series, but if it can't be us, at least let it be an underdog that we'd all love to see pull off a miracle. 

Until that day comes, as much as we hate it, we've all got to sit down tonight, turn on the TV, listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver welcome us to the broadcast...and for what its worth, enjoy the game.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Best Month Of The Year

From the chill of the breeze to the smell of the air, there is nothing better than walking outside, taking in the atmosphere, and realizing that it's time for playoff baseball. Today is day 1 of the MLB postseason and it couldn't come any sooner. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the front page of today's edition of USA Today says it all. The picture of the Minnesota Twins jumping around in pure excitement, following their 12-inning win in last night's one-game playoff against the Detroit Tigers, is an innocent reminder of how much the game of baseball is defined by passion.

In recent years, Major League Baseball promotions have used the phrases "I live for this," "I love this game," and "This is beyond baseball," to describe the emotional moments that have defined the game's history. These phrases are embodied by every fan who gets chilled to the bone by the voice of a radio broadcaster calling a walk-off homerun. Baseball is a magic that humbles people to their youngest, most innocent form. For the big tough ballplayers who complain about their salaries, they are reduced to childish dog-piles when winning a big game. And as for the people who are spectators, the fans, the businessmen who work endless hours in "big-boy jobs," they are reduced to tears as the game of baseball usually can make or break their year.

No matter who it is, when you walk into that ballpark, hit the power button on your HDTV, or turn the knob on your radio - you have removed yourself from the toils of everyday life, and you have allowed yourself to yet again be captured by this most wonderful game.

With that being said, let's take a look at this year's postseason and join fans around the world in making some bold predictions...


*Division Series*

*Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Rockies win in 5.
As much as the Rockies record is inflated by having 21 wins against the Padres and Diamondbacks, they still have a flare for the dramatic and can take advantage of a dismal Philadelphia bullpen. The Phillies have a rotation that could stifle any lineup, with Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Pedro Martinez leading the way, but unless they each throw complete game shut-outs, the bullpen is going to be a valid concern. The year of the Phillies was 2008 and they don't seem to have the same magic, especially with their 'leader' Hamels complaining about playing back-to-back day games instead of talking about how excited he is for the postseason.

*St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Cardinals win in 5.
Despite having the best record in the National League and claiming home-field advantage, many critics might see the Dodgers as the underdogs in this series. With potential co-Cy Young winners Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter at the front of a 4-man playoff rotation, I find it hard to bet against the Cardinals. Not to mention a lineup that is poised to do damage with one of the best 3-4 combinations around in Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday. The Dodgers struggled down the stretch, losing 5-of-6 to the Pirates and Padres, before taking 2-of-3 against the Rockies to end the season. Manny has yet to find his groove, and the rotation has been confusingly inconsistent. If LA pulls it off, I can guarantee it will be thanks to the arms of Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf.

*Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

Yankees win in 4.
As much as the Twins have shocked the world with their September heroics - winning 17 of 21 - all good things must come to an end. The fact that the Twins could barely inch out the Tigers is a statement of what a mis-match it is for them to try and tackle the Yankees. Simply put, the Yankees are a titan of a competitor and just have two many weapons to fall anywhere short of dominating the Twins. No disrespect to the Twins, they have all the heart in the world, but used 8 pitchers in the 1-game-playoff and are coming into the ALDS with their rotation all out of sorts. The Twinkies will steal a game, but the Yanks will make quick work of this series. This season was a great way to end the Metrodome's lifespan though.

*Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

Red Sox win in 5.
This was a tough call, especially with the Angels having a lot to play for as they continue to remember lost teammate Nick Adenhart. The Angels bring many pluses to the table - a fantasy team for a lineup, the rally monkey, revenge from last year's early exit agains the BoSox - but Boston's pitching will again prove to much to handle for the Halos. The 1-2 punch of Lester and Beckett, plus a rejuvenated Dice-K and the best bullpen of the 8 playoff teams is an equation that equals a Red Sox victory.


*Championship Series*

*Colorado Rockies vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals win in 6.
Unlike 2006 when the Cardinals made it to the World Series on a fluke with an 83-win season, this year they will earn it. The Wainwright-Carpenter tag team is as good as we've seen this decade, comparing to Johnson-Schilling (2001) and Schilling-Beckett (2007). After going 1-6 against the Rockies in the regular season, the Cardinals will find their groove and send the resilient group of athletes packing.

*Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Red Sox win in 7.
We haven't seen this match-up since 2004 when the Sox re-wrote history as they came back from being down 3-0 to the Spankees. This time the teams will take a more balanced path to Game 7. This series will likely be more exciting than the World Series itself, as it promises to have quite the set of pitching duels. We will finally see a balance of competition after the Red Sox posted 8 straight wins in regular season head-to-head contests and the Yankees took 9 of the last 10 I think the Burnett vs. Beckett showdown in August was a great preview of the type of atmosphere we can come to expect in this year's ALCS. The X-factor in this series will be the managerial showdown between Joe Girardi and Terry Francona. In Girardi's first trip to the playoffs as a manager, he needs to earn a few stripes before being able to get into the World Series. Many forget that it was Girardi's poor managing that held back the 2006 rookie Marlins from completing a late-season playoff run. Also, the Sox pitching staff will prove to much for the Yankees to match in a long series like this one.


*World Series - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Boston Red Sox*

Red Sox win in 7.
In a rematch of the 2004 World Series, we may have a contest that goes more than 5 games for the first time since 2003. Pitching will continue to define the 2009 postseason as these two teams of red throw ace-quality pitching on the mound game after game, inning after inning. Not to mention the batting showdowns of David 'Big Papi' Ortiz and Jason Bay opposing the Pujols-Holliday dream team. Count on both teams to bring it, and bring it hard. This will not be an easily won World Series, but the experience of the Red Sox and the passion that their home crowd will bring to Game 7 will be the deciding factor.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Give The Man A Break

So just a few days ago, there was all this buzz in the afternoon about Bud Selig reconsidering Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball. Then by time the evening edition of SportsCenter had come on, they were saying the Bud said "no."


Now I don't know the details of the whole situation - where the rumor came from, why it got squashed, or how everything really played out - but this isn't about that. The fact that the topic even came up, was enough to get me thinking that Pete Rose should be reinstated to Major League Baseball.


What crime can be so wrong that you ban a man from a sport for life? Now maybe back when it happened it seemed terrible and that he should never be allowed near the game again, but things have changed. Let's be honest, if current baseball players can get caught cheating - by taking steroids and intentionally trying to alter their performance, and therefore, the outcome of the game - and if it's their first offense, they receive a 50-game suspension. Then if they get caught again, they still aren't thrown out of the sport.


In comparison, if a lifetime ban is the ultimate punishment, and Pete Rose has that for gambling (never against his team) and lying about it, but other players can cheat and lie about it and only miss out on 50 games, what message does that send? I'll tell you what message it sends, it says that taking steroids "isn't that bad." Right? Is that the message you want to send Buddy Boy?


In my opinion, steroids aside, I think Pete Rose deserves a second chance. People go through life getting 3rd and 4th and 10th chances all the time, but this poor guy makes one mistake, wasn't mature enough to own up to it, and now has to suffer for the rest of his life? Even prisoners with life sentences go up for parole! I think that Bud Selig doesn't have the gahones to make a bold move, and is sitting on "precedent." Well I think that's BS, because Bud is the one with the power to change the status quo, and it's his responsibility to make the decision and own it.


Aside from opinion, the bottom line is that if Bud feels the ban is appropriate, then he has to balance out the standards. If Pete Rose's actions deserve a lifetime ban, then any player who tests positive for steroids should be banned for life; the first time. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.


Lets face it, due to all the negative publicity, and attention there players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGuire face worse chances of making it to the Hall of Fame because of their actions. But at least they have that chance! If the people who have been delegated votes are truly worthy of the responsibility they have been given, then their decision to let Rose in or keep him out of the Hall is good enough for me.


Pete Rose should be reinstated in full capacity - eligibility for the Hall of Fame, eligibility to be around the game, and eligibility to be a big league manager again. I'm on your side Pete, I'm routing for you. And maybe one day when Theo is the new commish, we'll have you back.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

True Heroes

So I waited with great anticipation as the clock hit 11:59 on Tuesday night, June 23rd. It was time for the midnight premiere of Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen - the sequel to the summer 2007 blockbuster hit, Transformers.


In light of the fact that we just celebrated our 233rd year of independence as a nation, I find it fitting to point out a theme that I saw in the movie. Over the last few decades, countless movies have used the concept of the military, or war, as a tool for setting or character development. Most recently, movies like Transformers, Iron Man, Wolverine, and the upcoming G.I. Joe, all use military personnel with some of their main characters.


It's funny because I've always had a personal aspiration to join the military for a period of time and serve my county, but somehow I consistently find myself occupied with a different ambition, and wonder if I will ever take the time to walk the walk and sign up. Without a doubt, the military aspiration resurfaces when watching action-packed, military-themed movies, because quite frankly Hollywood makes it look awesome. I'm sure this is the same for many movie-goers, who watch a military-based action flick and come out with adrenaline pumping through their veins and ready to sign on the dotted line.


This brings me to my main idea. These actors, the ones who play the generals, lieutenants, sargeants, and even basic infantry, they get to take all the credit. They get to provide inspiration. They get to be a young man's motivating factor to join the military. And most unfair of all, they get to be the heroes.


Why do I say unfair? Well it is no doubt that most of us consider U.S. Military personnel to be heroes because of their selfless ways, but we will never know them. Instead, the closest demonstration of heroes that we get are the well groomed, perfectly rehearsed, studs; who get to play soldiers on the big screen. They get to have fun doing stunts and taking credit for the 18-year-olds who are out there truly putting their lives on the line.


And so the point here is not to take away the quality of acting or amount of time that goes into making these blockbuster films so breath-taking and inspiring. In fact, I applaud director Michael Bay, who has used films like Transformers, Bad Boys, and The Rock, to highlight the efforts of civil servants, and probably inspired countless movie-goers to actually sign up with a recruiter. However, it's important not to forget; not to forget the true heroes who don't get the big paycheck, or the big screen popularity. In the aftermath of celebrating Independence Day, let us take time to note that without our men and women in uniform, we would not be an independent nation with the ability to have so many freedoms; freedoms such as being able to go see a movie like Transformers without having to worry for our safety on the way there. Freedoms such as being able to choose between being a high-paid, famous actor, and being an unknown soldier who risks his life everyday for the country he loves.


Never forget. Please, never forget.

Monday, June 15, 2009

The 'J' Factor

Coach Stan 'the man' Van Gundy did an excellent job leading his underrated Orlando Magic past the defending champion Boston Celtics, past King James and Cavs, and into the NBA finals. What wasn't excellent, was Stan's approach when he finally got to the big dance. An approach that lacked the 'J' factor, which would be Van Gundy's inability to allow guard, J.J. Redick to be the X-factor against the Lakers.


The top three players leading Orlando's magical playoff run were Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and Rashard Lewis. The common denominator that the three players shared is that none of them played basketball in college, none of them had experienced the rush of March Madness, and up until the this year's NBA Finals, none of them had ever played for a championship. In fact, the only player on the Magic roster with championship experience was Duke University graduate, J.J. Redick.


With Howard and Lewis entering the NBA draft from high school, and Turkoglu coming over from Turkey, the trio provided plenty of talent, but not much when it came to experience. What is interesting is that while the big three deserved to start every game and play for most of them, also starting every game for the Magic and getting some serious minutes were Rafer Alston (Fresno State) and Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky).


Now, Redick had gotten a lot of playing time earlier in the playoffs, starting every game against the defending champion Boston Celtics, where he only averaged 6.3 ppg, but shot 36% from the 3-point arc and 90% from the free throw line. Redick saw minimal time against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Finals, only playing in one game for 10 minutes. Then in the finals, Redick played in 4 of 5 games, starting none, and averaging 16 minutes - but shot 45% from the arc.


Van Gundy seemed to give his players minutes based on hunches throughout the Lakers series, as he even minimalized Alston's playing time in Game 4 after he led the team to victory in Game 3. The point is that Van Gundy should have had more faith in Redick. If anyone can be trusted to lead a team down the stretch, to be a go-to shooter, to make "the shot," it's J.J.


In his four years at Duke, Redick played in four conference championships, winning three - he played in four NCAA tournaments, with three Elite Eight appearances and one National Championship runner-up performance. I'd go through and list all of his stats, but you can feel free to look them up - it's easy to know that they were exceptional though, because the one stat that I will give you is that Redick is one of only 13 Duke players that has his retired number hanging from the rafters at Cameron Indoor Stadium.


Not only was J.J. a sharp-shooter, he was a competitor. Redick managed to be such an impact player, that only the Duke faithful supported him. Every other fan around the NCAA, particularly those in the ACC, hated him with a passion. I know because I was one of them. As a die-hard JayHawk fan, I didn't have to see J.J. too much, but I would always hope for Duke to lose, because I hated J.J. Now that's power you can't buy. Furthermore, Redick had the fans at College Park, MD cheering "F* you JJ" in the middle of a nationally televised ACC showdown between Duke and Maryland. As much as fans love to hate players, you've got to imagine that being hated only fuels the motivation of a high-calibur player, like Redick. It makes it that much more important to drain the game-winning 3-ball, sink the game-tying free throw, or make the game-saving defensive stop - because now it's not just about winning, it's about making it sting for the other fans.


So let's fast-forward back to the present day situation, leaving the thriving Duke franchise and J.J.'s dominant career in the past. Who is J.J. Redick? Does he still play basketball? What team is he on? J.J. Redick has been forgotten - he's not hated anymore simply because he's not important enough to be hated.


That brings me back to my main point. Stan Van Gundy had a chance. A huge chance to revive J.J. Redick, and potentially secure a Championship Title for the Magic in the process. In the same way that a simple stolen base by low man on the totem pole, Dave Roberts, became the defining moment that turned the Red Sox around from a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees in 2004. Low man on the bench, Redick, could've been the X-factor in turning around a 3-1 deficit against the Lakers. Sure, he should've been starting since Game 1, but I'll even let Stan slide on that. Just go back to Game 5 - why would you put out the same starting lineup that has lost 3 of the last 4 games? Mix it up a little bit. Give J.J. a spot-start. Let the fans of Orlando learn to love him, and give the fans of Los Angeles a legitimate villain to hate. It's a role we know he can play, he played it for four years under one of the best coaches in the history of college basketball. Stop holding him back. How is a one-time college superstar supposed to have confidence in himself when he's getting garbage minutes off the bench? Put him in when his shots can still make a difference, and let him put the team on his back, drawing all defensive attention on himself - opening up the pick-and-roll for Hedo, and the inside lanes for Dwight "Superman" Howard.


But Stan didn't. He put the same lineup back out there. The same lineup that turned losing 3 out of 4 into losing 4 out of 5. Sure he put J.J. in the game...at the end of the 3rd quarter when people were already on there way back to the parking lot outside of Amway Arena. So now all we can do is hope that Stan learns his lesson. It will be a tough one, because it comes at the price of a championship. But if he can have faith, if he can trust J.J. to become hated once again, Redick's confidence will soar, and so will the Magic in the 2010 season. In an offseason where they've already added Vince Carter, they can add another big threat to their lineup by simply taking him off the bench.


This is your chance Stan the man. Give J.J. the rock, let him shine, let him be hated, and let him become an Orlando Magic legend. All the kid needs is a chance, and Stan, you're the one who can give it to him. So don't just do it for me, do it for you, do it for the people of Orlando, and do it for J.J. - let him out of his cage, stop holding him back, and go get that trophy.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Preseason Predictions

These predictions are retroactive to April 1st when they were published in CNU's Captain's Log. This is simply the full version of the article.


Typically heading into the season I will avoid making set predictions and instead opt to rank the 30 teams of Major League Baseball from best to worst. This year however, in my final season writing, I decided to man up and put some solid predictions out there.


AL East.
1. Red Sox 2. Yankees* 3. Rays 4. Orioles 5. Blue Jays


Sticking to last weeks column, I simply think that the Red Sox out-moved the Yankees this off-season. The Yankees focused on names and excitement while the Red Sox focused on filling gaps and role-players. The Yankees will however grab the wildcard; even though I think the Twins will be close, I gave it to the Yanks because I can’t imagine the first year of the new stadium without a playoff game. The Rays will be in the race, but they will come back down to Earth a little bit after last season’s miraculous run. I can’t say I’m too sure why they sent David Price down to the minors though. The Orioles will avoid the cellar this year as in the last three years the Blue Jays have gone from a having a shot at the division title to being back at the drawing board.



AL Central.
1. Indians 2. Twins 3.Tigers 4.Royals 5.White Sox


I think that everyone likes to focus on “last year” too much, and not what is lining up for this year. Who cares that the Indians totally choked last year; if anything it means that they are that much less likely to do it two years in a row. The Tribe should be back at peak form this year with Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona leading the rotation; while Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez are back to full health and will pace the offense. The Twins had four starters win at least 11 games last year, and will continue to be a well-rounded competitor that flip-flops atop the division with the Indians throughout the summer. Expect the Tigers to bounce back in a Cleveland-like way as they were World Series favorites last year. I think their starting rotation will find some 2006 magic and have a competitive season. The Royals are finally rounding out to a contending team, and adding Mike Jacobs’ power and Coco Crisp’s speed to the lineup should help put more runs on the board. The White Sox are getting a little too old and won’t be terrible, but will just be the odd team out in what will be one of baseball’s most balanced division – perhaps with everyone finishing above .500.




AL West.
1. Angels 2. Athletics 3. Rangers 4.Mariners


The Angels won’t walk away with this division as the A’s are at a breaking point for their young talent to flex its ability. However, though Oakland may spend a little bit of time in first, LA is rock solid from its lineup, through the rotation, and to the back of the bullpen – resulting in another AL West title. The Rangers have the same old story of a lineup that is actually getting better – particularly with Nelson Cruz playing for a full season – but a rotation that needs more talent. Finally, the Mariners definitely are much improved from their 100-loss year in 2008, but still will be bringing up the rear.


NL East.
1. Phillies 2. Marlins* 3. Mets 4. Braves 5.Nationals


The Phillies will likely come down to the wire with the Fish, but will use their experience to take the division crown. The Marlins however will land the wildcard as they, like the A’s, are on the horizon of their young talent being in full bloom. Also strangely enough, they won it all in ’97 and six season later won it all in ’03 – and here we are six seasons later, it may be time for another Miami miracle. The Mets did solidify their bullpen beyond any other team in baseball, however their rotation has more holes than a golf course. The Braves will be a close fourth and will build their talent for what should be a run at the division in 2010. Schafer and Anderson will be fun to watch in CF, taking over for Andru. And then there’s the Nats who will be better than most people think. Milledge and Zimmerman will be fun to watch, while Daniel Cabrera has the right stuff to dominate the NL, the way many other AL pitchers have in the past.



NL Central.
1. Cubs 2. Reds 3.Cardinals 4.Brewers 5.Astros 6. Pirates


It will be tough for the Cubbies to get motivated. After all, they did everything right in the regular season last year, so their only motivation this season is not necessarily to play better, but just to get back to the playoffs so they can have another shot. Most surprising of all my picks is probably having the Reds come in 2nd. However the additions of Taveras and Hernandez make their lineup threatening from top to bottom’ while Arthur Rhodes solidifies an above average bullpen that will close out games for a lineup full of young talent. The Brewers, like the Rays will come back from cloud-9 and play at a lower lever, especially without C.C. – it will be tough for each pitcher to throw at a higher spot in the rotation. This is a building year for the ‘Stros as the Tejada issue already puts a damper on their season, but they will beat out the Pirates, who are searching for answers on how to get out of the cellar.




NL West.
1. Dodgers 2. Giants 3. D-Backs 4.Rockies 5.Padres


The Dodgers will claim this division behind the leadership of Joe Torre, the consistent threats throughout their lineup, and the comeback season if Jason Schmidt. The Giants will finally show some life after a few years of dullness as Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Randy Johnson will take the pressure off of Barry Zito, enabling him to have a season similar to his days in Oakland. The Diamondbacks will probably be right around their 82-win mark from last year as they can no longer out-pitch everybody else. At the bottom the Rockies and Padres take their turn bringing up the rear of baseball’s weakest division – both of them wondering how just a few years ago, they were at the top.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

How The East Was Won

Well it's about that time again. Spring is on the verge of erasing the cold Winter weather, we've changed our clocks, the World Baseball Classic is in full stride, and Opening Day is just a stones throw away when the Phillies will host the Braves on Sunday night, April 5th to open up the 2009 season.


Serving as the first of a pair of articles I will use to preview the season, this article is going to take a dive into the off-season dealings and season preview of the ever-popular AL East. Please note that while the Tampa Bay Rays will not be mentioned in this article, that in no way shows that I think they are not going to be fighting for the division crown, this article simply focuses on the competing off-season moves of Boston and New York.


So the New York Yankees spent the month of December negotiating and arranging to make the "big splash" of this off-season. In hindsight, I'm sure they're pretty proud of themselves, as they appear to have made multiple "splashes." They signed former Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia (7 years, $161 mil.), Blue Jays fireballer A.J. Burnett (5 years, $82.5 mil.), and the Angels' all-star slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira (8 years, $180 mil.) Unfortunately for the Yanks what took them a month to coordinate was out-done by their rival, the Boston Red Sox in 3 quick days.


While the Yankees moves are quite impressive, they are also very typical. The Yankees did what they always do, they went after the big names in the free agent market that would get their fans pumped up for the 2009 season. The conclusion of the 2008 season freed them of the contracts of Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina, Bobby Abreu, Andy Pettite, and Carl Pavano - so the Yanks felt the need to spend all of that money right away, and they were successful in spending a good chunk of it.


In the grand scheme of things though, the Yanks picked up two proven, but risky pitchers; and while Teixeira is no doubt a stud, one man can only do so much for an offense. Let's start with C.C. - he put on a great show for the second half of the 2008 season, stifling batters and literally putting the Milwaukee Brewers on his back and carrying them to the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Yanks, that portion of his performance is nearly irrelevant. The two places that the Yankees need Sabathia to perform are against American League opponents, and in the playoffs. So, that 11-2 record and 1.65 ERA that C.C. had against NL opponents doesn't really apply to the Yanks. However, what does apply to the Bronx Bombers is a little more concerning - in the first half of the season with the Indians (against AL opponents), Sabathia was 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA, his highest mark since 2005. Also Sabathia's sub-.500 record was the first of his career.


Now moving to the other applicable venue - the playoffs. After leading the charge into the postseason for Milwaukee, the new Yankees' ace also led the charge out. In his only postseason appearance, he went 3.2 innings giving up 5 runs on 6 hits, while walking four. More concerningly, for his career in the postseason Sabathia has gone 2-3, and given up 22 runs in 25 innings for an ERA of 7.92. Some investment huh?


Then with Burnett, sure the Yanks picked up an 18-game winner, but with a questionable ERA of 4.07. Also, while Burnett through for 221 innings last year and stayed healthy, he has typically been plagued by the injury bug and has never had back-to-back 200-inning seasons in his 10-year career, so I guess the Yanks are counting on Burnett to break some personal records this year. Another interesting note - the last pitcher who the Yanks spent big bucks on after an 18-win season was none other than Carl Pavano - and we all know how that move worked out.


Now let's head a little more north to Massachusettes where the Boston Red Sox didn't sign any big names or team-carrying playoff pushers. What they did sign was proven talent, all in the course of 3 days. Over the span of January 8, 9, 1nd 10th the Red Sox reached agreements with John Smoltz (SP), Rocco Baldelli (OF), Mark Kotsay (OF), Brad Penny (SP), and Takashi Saito (RP). Talk about making an impact - here is another case of Theo Epstein showing Brian Cashman how to really be a GM.


First of all, the BoSox outfield is already set with Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury, and J.D. Drew. Baldelli and Kotsay, are both 5-tool calibur players who are simply insurance, giving the Sox the best outfield depth in baseball. While Baldelli and Kotsay are both coming off injuries, they passed their team physicals, have a clean bill of health, and will be ready to go on opening day.


Now let's look at the pitching staff. You might say, "Smoltz is old and won't be ready to go till mid-season; and Penny and Saito are both coming off of an injury-ridden 2008" - enough to make teams like the Yankees forget about them and not be interested. However, Smoltz has only had an ERA exceeding 4.00 twice in his 20-year career, will be an excellent veteran and a Schilling-like presence down the stretch for the Red Sox. Meanwhile Brad Penny can throw the ball 98 mph and is on a very short list of pitchers who has beaten the Yankees twice in the same World Series (2003). Last but certainly not least, Saito has been the K-Rod of the NL for the last 2.5 years where he's recorded 81 saves in 91 opportunities, posted an ERA of 1.95 and struck out 245 batters in 190 innings - and the Red Sox didn't even get him to close out games!


So with Saito, Hideki Okajima, and Jonathan Papelbon, Boston has three closer-calibur pitchers at the back end of their bullpen. And that bullpen is preceeded by Penny, Josh Beckett, Dice-K Matsuzaka, John Lester and Tim Wakefield, until Smoltz is healthy. So for the first half of the season the Red Sox will have a #1 starter on the hill 4-out of-5 days, and in the second half of 2009, they will have an ace on the hill everyday...wow, eat your heart out A.J. and C.C., New York may love you now, but the Sox are coming for you and they are coming strong.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Playing The Drums

Playing the drums. Something I've always wanted to do, but never really had the time or the patience to learn. I have however, over time, learned some basic concepts of playing the drums incase I were ever to embark on such an endeavor. Recently I've found a new desire to play the drums; except now I hope to master the drums of life instead of the real ones.


I suppose I could qualify as someone who is anal-retentive; I'm a traditional list-maker, I prefer to have a plan more often than not, and the organization of my environment is key to my functionality. The problem with being dependent on organization is that if you become too focused on the idea itself, you lose focus of the things that really matter.


I have narrowed my life tasks down to two categories; things I need to do that are time-sensitive, and things that I want to do that could be time-sensitive, but wind up not being so as an excuse to procrastinate. What kind of way is that to live? It's a terrible way to live. You are letting your tasks define you, and their time-sensitivity dictate your actions...you've essentially become a robot. I look no further than myself to find someone guilty of this crime. I mentioned my two categories that I live by, and I have recently tried to solve my problem of needs-based prioritization. I made one big list, a list with several bullets; one for each commitment in my life (i.e. work, school, club x, club y, club z, etc...). Under each bullet are sub-bullets for specific tasks within that commitment - it is a good way to make sure that nothing gets forgotten. At the bottom of the list is my "other" bullet, which is composed of the things that I want to do. As much as this list is helpful, as much as it keeps me focused, how can I get away from it and stop letting a piece of paper define and predict me?


Enter the drums.


When playing the drums you first need to establish a rhythm. A simple, noticeable, and consistent rhythm. That rhythm is your 'home' for the song, and is always your fallback. In life, your rhythm is your routine; the time you wake up, the place you go on a Tuesday night, the time you eat your meals, the time you go to bed. Now I know that there are those people who hate routines and would curse the idea of them until the end of the world, but I challenge you to bear with me because you see, your routine is just your rhythm, it's not the whole song.


So after you get the rhythm down and you can sit there and jam out with it all day, now what? Now you are free to experiment. You've got your rhythm so set that you can play it with your eyes closed and without even thinking about it; the same way you will feel about your routine once you've made it into habit. Now go ahead and mix it up - hit the cymbals three times, throw in some cowbell, or give the base and extra tap or two. Translate that into your life - rediscover and old hobby, catch up with a long lost friend, try a new activity or distraction that you've always been interested in. Maybe you like that base hit so much that you incorporate it into your rhythm, or maybe you don't so you try something different next time. If you do incorporate it, go back to just playing your rhythm until you've mastered that new part, and then start experimenting again until you've made a whole song. That complete song, the compilation of your rhythm and the experimental hits that allow you to explore the drums and their full capacity...that is your life, and what a life it is.


And so I hope to master my own song, but first I've got to find my rhythm. To do that I am going to do whatever it takes to wipe this to-do list clean. As much as the list dictates and predicts who I am, as long as it exists it remains in control. All I can do is man up, take on the list and finish it. If you don't clean the room, how are you ever going to find your way to the drum set?


Many of us need that rhythm in our lives, but are too busy dwelling in self-pity to clean up the room and get to the drum chair. So clean up that mess, create that rhythm, and then make your song. Once you've done that, then you can start inviting people over and teaching them how to play the drums. Before you know it, you'll be jammin' out like there's no tomorrow. And the fact of the matter is that you'll be so good on those drums that if there really were no tomorrow it wouldn't even matter, because you'll be goin' out playing the song of your life.


So go play your drums and get that rhythm going as soon as you can. Because the truth is that time waits for nobody and it stinks to be owned by a piece of paper; and wouldn't it just be a shame for your time to be up, and the room to still be messy. I can imagine no worse feeling than having to leave the room never knowing how good I might have been on the drums...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Archives #2 - "The End of a Chapter"

This article was published in on September 24, 2008, for Christopher Newport University's Captain's Log, and bids farewell to Yankee Stadium...



I have never liked the New York Yankees. In fact, I have at times hated them. I live one hour north of Yankee Stadium and have spent my whole life surrounded by Yankee fans who constantly brag about their 26 rings. I find multiple flaws in the way that the Yankees run their organization, and the types of players that they choose to sign. I can’t stand that when the Yankees play poorly that they are “just having an ‘off’ year,” but when anyone else plays poorly, they are “just a bad team.” I am frustrated by the fact that more often than not, when ESPN nationally televises a game it is one involving the Yankees.



I’ll tell you one thing though, one of the best radio calls I've heard in 21 years of being a baseball fan, came in 2003 when listening to Yankee broadcaster Charlie Steiner, “…and there’s a fly ball deep to left, there it goes, it’s on its way, and the Yankees are going to the World Series!” In fact, just typing that gives me goose-bumps. I’ll also never forget going to a Yankee game in April of 2007, where Alex Rodriguez hit a walk-off homerun against the Baltimore Orioles, making it his 14th of the month. As much as I have never liked the Yankees, I couldn’t help but be ecstatic about the homer…the atmosphere of the park was intoxicating.



This past Sunday night marked the end of an incredibly amazing chapter in Yankee history…the final game in Yankee Stadium. That building, “The House That Ruth Built,” has housed countless moments in baseball history, from Babe Ruth’s 60-homerun season, to Don Larsen’s perfect game, to Jeffrey Maier’s home run catch, all the way up to Aaron Boone’s unforgettable Game 7 walk-off homer in 2003 against the rival Red Sox.



Even on the other side of the coin, there were amazing non-Yankee performances in the Bronx as well. Including the Red Sox series-clinching game 7 win in 2004 that marked the first 3-0 turn-around in ALCS history. And just one year earlier in 2003 when Josh Beckett threw a championship-clinching 5-hitter in game 6 of the World Series…one of the best series-ending performances of all time.



Love or hate the Yankees, you can’t help but appreciate the mystique, aura, and history that reside in the place they’ve called home for the last 85 years. In fact, all the intangibles that are present at Yankee Stadium are essentially what baseball is all about. It’s about history and tradition, class and respect. It’s about the fact that everyone who has ever been to the ballpark can recall virtually every detail of their visit. It’s about a father being able to take his boys out for the day, and sit with them in the blue folding chairs of this legendary place where Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, and Mickey Mantle once played ball.



And as much as Yankee fans will be disappointed that their team will not be playing in October for the first time in over a decade, I happen to view it as a bittersweet end to an amazing building. Sure it’s more than just a “bummer” that the Yanks won’t be in the playoffs, but at least they could head into Sunday night’s game knowing that it really is the last time, and they can just focus on the atmosphere, truly capturing the moment. However, it also gives way to hope. Hope for a fresh start in 2009, in a brand new home. A hope to Yankees fans for the start of a new dynasty, and new traditions; never forgetting the old all along the way, but also cherishing what is to come.



So farewell Yankee Stadium, in your ruble you will carry all of those amazing moments, and all of the amazing voices that told the stories to fans listening and watching everywhere. And hello to the new Yankee Stadium, I think I speak for the world in saying that we all hope you can deliver the same type of memorable moments that your predecessor did.



I have never liked the New York Yankees, and probably never will. But I always have and always will respect the junk out of them. And so as they open up a new chapter in their storybook history, I will be anxiously watching on opening day 2009, as any true baseball fan would.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Archives #1 - "Win The Crowd"

Every few posts, I will post an archived story that I have written, but is not posted on my newspaper articles page. This article was written in Fall of 2006, for Christopher Newport University's Captain's Log, and addresses the concept of some players being in the right place at the right time...

They say that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Well what happens to the prepared people who are never in the right place at the right time? Are Major League Baseball players simply playing a role that the fans give them? I’m here to tell you that two of the league’s star players may not be as irreplaceable as they seem. Those two players come from separate sides of baseball’s biggest rivalry and are none other than Boston’s Mr. Clutch, David “Big Papi” Ortiz, and New York’s Mr. Clutch, Derek “the Golden Boy” Jeter. They also are competing with one another for the AL MVP award this season…but are either of them really worthy of it?

Over the last few years David Ortiz has become “Big Papi” in the hearts of Red Sox fans. He has been that big lovable bear of a man who comes up to the plate in the clutch and crushes the ball deep to right field as if on cue. Papi has a knack for theatrics, impeccable timing, and has even developed his own trademark “helmet toss” while trotting home after hitting a game winning bomb. What makes his story and aura even sweeter is that he was a “nobody” in Minnesota when Boston decided to take a chance on him. Well it looks like the move paid off in countless ways as the Red Sox found their franchise player who could always be relied on for years to come…or so it seems. Is David Ortiz really that clutch? Statistically, the answer should lean towards a no. Even though it always seems that Papi is getting the game winning hit, as good as he is, maybe it has more to do with the man standing in the on-deck circle. When you look at the numbers, you see that Ortiz is batting a respectable .286 with runners in scoring position, but then take a look at Ortiz’s protection, Manny Ramirez, and see that he is batting an intimidating .325 in the same situations. So maybe Ortiz is getting so many game winning hits because he has a player who is hitting 39 points better then him in clutch situations, waiting in the wings. So that leaves us the question…is David Ortiz in one of the most envious positions in baseball…batting in front of Manny Ramirez? There are hundreds of players who I’m sure would love to hit in the same spot, and may do just as well, if not better, than Ortiz. Two that come to mind are Travis Hafner of the Cleveland Indians and Raul Ibanez of the Seattle Mariners. Hafner is batting .305 with RISP and has 15 homers in such situations…5 more than Papi’s 10. Even more alarming is Ibanez, who is hitting an amazing .343 with 12 homers when there are runners in scoring position…now that is almost as clutch as you can get. So was David Ortiz simply in the right place at the right time when the Sox grabbed him from Minnesota? Maybe if they had got Ibanez or Hafner instead, one of them would don the title “Big Papi” and David Ortiz would just be David Ortiz. It seems as though the fans influence the game more than they know. They made David Ortiz into “Big Papi,” and in their eyes, he can do no wrong. But since “Red Sox Nation” decided to not like Manny…he gets a bad wrap. He’s just “Manny being Manny” instead of “the guy who gets Ortiz good pitches late in the game.” Now I’m not saying that Ortiz isn’t a good player, he’s definitely proven his worth, but all I’m saying is that it’s worth wondering…maybe countless other players are prepared to prove their worth the same way if only provided with the right opportunity.

Next we have Mr. Jeter. The pretty boy of New York who everyone is in awe of (although David Wright is stepping on his toes nowadays). Jeter is an even better example than Ortiz of how the fans have molded him into what they want. The most recent example is with Yankee third baseman, Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod was well known as the greatest all around player in baseball throughout his career, and then he was dealt to the Yankees. Well what were the fans to do, they just received the greatest player, but they already had a face for their team…Jeter. So A-Rod was moved from his natural position of shortstop to third base, in order for the golden boy to keep his prime spot in the infield. Well I don’t think I have to tell you about the heat that A-Rod takes from the home fans for his defense, or lack there of, at third base. What’s funny is that if Jeter were there, they would never dream of booing him. If Jeter were the selfless captain that everyone claims he is, why wouldn’t he be humble enough to give up his position to a better player in Rodriguez? Now Yankee fans would beg to differ, but the fact is that stats don’t lie, so check these out…all time at SS, Derek Jeter has a .975 fielding percentage, while A-Rod has a better .977 fielding percentage at the same position. So it begs the question why do Yankee fans flaunt themselves all over Jeter, but shun the better player in A-Rod? The answer is quite simple, Jeter got there first. It is a clear cut matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Jeter has this entire mystique about him, but is it well deserved? He was given the name “Mr. November” in the 2001 World Series when he hit a game winning home run only 4 minutes into the month. Interestingly enough, his November batting average rounded out at .250 with no other RBI’s than the home run, not to mention the Yankees lost the series. Meanwhile, Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez hit the same .250 in November that Jeter did, but he actually had the hit that won the World Series. And Gonzalez’s teammate, Steve Finley, hit .444 in November, so why wasn’t Gonzalez or Finley given the title of Mr. November when they were clearly better than Jeter? Oh, it’s because they weren’t as popular…but I’m pretty sure they got the rings that year while Jeter got his title. For a man who is supposed to be consistently clutch he also had a poor showing in his most recent World Series appearance in 2003 against the Florida Marlins. He went 6 for 8 in games that they won and had plenty of other offense. But in the rest of the games he hit .166 and that includes an 0 for 4 showing in the final game when the Yankees needed their captain the most against a dominant Josh Beckett. Then again, why should he be perceived as clutch when his most famous postseason moment was a hit that should have been a routine fly ball out, but was instead a home run. That was because Jeffrey Maier decided to lean over the wall (fan interference) and grab it before Orioles outfielder, Tony Tarasco, could make the play. I am not alone in my questioning of Jeter’s fame…this season in the Sports Illustrated players poll, MLB players voted Derek Jeter as the most overrated player in the game. For a player who has never made an all-star team on his own, but instead always needs the fans vote, I don’t find the players’ opinion hard to believe. So is Jeter simply playing a role given by the fans? It seems that he will feed them as long as they will cheer him, like when he made his miraculous dive into the stands. It was a play that is made routinely in baseball, but the difference was that after Jeter caught the ball in fair territory, he took four extra steps to dive into the stands…sure it looked pretty, but it’s just another part of playing the role that the fans give you.

So in final summation it may look like I am discrediting guys like David Ortiz and Derek Jeter, but that is not the case. I am simply crediting the great positions that they have been in, and those players who haven’t been lucky enough to get the same opportunities. Could any other power hitter take Papi’s spot and hit walk-off’s day in and day out? Could any disciplined contact hitter have been drafted in Jeter’s spot and ride coat tails to 4 world championships by having some kid reach over the fence and catch a fly ball? Who knows? I sure don’t, but I’m just putting the facts out there so that you can decide for yourself.

In Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator,” Proximo tells Maximus that to achieve ultimate gladiator status, he must “win the crowd.” Well being a baseball player is just like being a gladiator. Of course there is no killing, but it seems a majority of a player’s success is based on their ability to “win the crowd.”