If Royals fans are looking for something to brag about, since we clearly can't about our team anymore, and it seems that even Zack Greinke gets robbed of a win every time he goes to the mound (He's still having a Cy Young type year by the way, just doesn't have the wins to prove it), they can now boast one of the greatest divisional races heading toward the playoffs. The Central divisions in both leagues are pretty tight, but you can tell from today's activity that the AL Central's 3 contenders aren't going to go down without a fight.
I must say that I was almost going to write a post about how boring today was for baseball fans, and how overhyped today usually is. But after returning from some errands, it turned out to be a pretty exciting day, especially in the AL Central. The day started with the division leading Tigers acquiring lefty Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners for two left-handed pitching prospects. Washburn will provide a much needed lefty option for the Tigers' starting rotation, and though his 8-6 record doesn't wow you, his 3rd place ERA of 2.64 (3rd in the AL) should turn people's heads. Even more promising for the Tigers is that in his last 5 starts, opponents have only scored 3 runs against him. With Verlander seemingly back to his old form and the addition of a lefty, the Tigers rotation is certainly a force to be reckoned with and it would not be a surprise if they were able to pull away from the division's competition.
Not to be outdone the Chicago White Sox added depth to their starting rotation as well. Although they gave up 4 pitchers to finalize the trade (Only 1 has played in the Majors thus far), the White Sox were able to get Jake Peavy out of his no-trade clause. With Mark Buerhle throwing well right now, and number 2 and 3 starters John Danks and Gavin Floyd pitching a little better than their career ERAs this year, the White Sox rotation was already decent, but the addition of Peavy makes it way above average. More importantly, the 1-2 of Buerhle and Peavy (or the other way I guess) will be quite formidable if the White Sox do end up making the playoffs. If you're a White Sox fan, I would think that you would consider Jake Peavy worth trading 4 players, especially if some of the prospects are not impressing the organization, but it still seems like a lot to give up for a 6-6 pitcher with a 3.97 ERA. We'll see how that gamble pays off, I just don't know if Peavy closes the gap as the White Sox are currently in 3rd place.
Finally, the Twins made an uncharacteristic deadline move (this is their first big deadline trade since 2003), and actually brought in a fairly big name in Orlando Cabrera. Cabrera could be a classic Twins good-not-special player that just works hard for the team and gets things done. Although only an average fielder, most would not consider him a liability defensively, and he is a solid hitter at .280/.318 (BA/OBP). Although this is probably the least glitzy of the trades, I think it could prove to be quite valuable. The Twins are simply plugging a hole here and only gave up one player and got cash for Cabrera. With Joe Mauer second in average in the league, and Justin Morneau leading in homers, the Twins can look forward to being in the race for the long haul.
So as we Royals fans lament our disappointing season, and for all of you general baseball fans, look out for the race for the AL Central lead as only one team will probably make the postseason. My bet is on the Tigers with the addition of Washburn. Feel free to comment with your bets.
July 31, 2009
July 30, 2009
You Really Let Us Down
I'm sure many of you have already heard the news that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez reportedly tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in 2003. Yes, it was technically not banned back then, but the hurt is not gone. I could honestly care less about Manny testing positive, because we already knew he did them, but I am awfully disappointed in Big Papi. Beyond the fact that he ruins the game by taking PEDs, I am more dismayed by the fact that he repeatedly said publicly that he was one of the good guys, that he was one of the ones you could look up to if you were a little leaguer. Big Papi is not even one of my favorite Red Sox players, but everyone likes to believe that their team does it right.
Finding out that your team's legacy may or even should be tainted is a very disappointing discovery. Honestly, I haven't reached any decisions about how I feel about the Red Sox 2004 Championship and what this news will do to that legacy. It hurts too much to even think about right now. But it certainly ruins my opinion of Big Papi.
Finally, I want to talk about our responsibility as fans of the game. Especially in cases like this, the league will not retroactively punish Ortiz, so I think it is our job to let him know how disappointing his actions were. If public disgrace is the only punishment Ortiz and other PED users will face, then it is our duty to at least make them pay for their crimes. Every time I hear about another player caught up in the news, it gets easier and easier for people to rag on baseball, and it wears on us. Baseball is a beautiful game. It would be great to see more players treat it as such.
Finding out that your team's legacy may or even should be tainted is a very disappointing discovery. Honestly, I haven't reached any decisions about how I feel about the Red Sox 2004 Championship and what this news will do to that legacy. It hurts too much to even think about right now. But it certainly ruins my opinion of Big Papi.
Finally, I want to talk about our responsibility as fans of the game. Especially in cases like this, the league will not retroactively punish Ortiz, so I think it is our job to let him know how disappointing his actions were. If public disgrace is the only punishment Ortiz and other PED users will face, then it is our duty to at least make them pay for their crimes. Every time I hear about another player caught up in the news, it gets easier and easier for people to rag on baseball, and it wears on us. Baseball is a beautiful game. It would be great to see more players treat it as such.
July 29, 2009
Superman
So, most people have known for a long time how long I have liked Tim Tebow. I am happy to know that aspiring athletes actually have someone to look up to and that he does it all the right way. It has kind of become a running joke among some of my friends that eventually Tebow will get busted on something and his image will be ruined. And that's exactly why I like him. He knows that a lot of people are looking for that flaw, that chink in the armor, but he still doesn't show it. Am I saying Tebow is a perfect guy? No. Nobody is. But he knows that because he is a role model he has to monitor his behavior.
Growing up, I had a ton of great role models. From friend's dads to scoutmasters, ski trip chaperones to teachers, when I met someone that could make a difference in my life, I tried as hard as I could to foster that relationship. And so, now that I am getting older, I guess it is sort of natural that I would want to be a mentor to the younger generation as well. Because of this, I never grow tired of stories of athletes being great role models. Even more, I am not looking for them to fail. It is easy to grow cynical about the greatness of sports when baseball is infected by steroids, and every college football champion seems to be questioned by BCS haters. So it never gets old to me when Albert Pujols, a guy who plays baseball the right way all the time, gets an MVP, or when Tebow's Gators win the National Title. Fan or not, I would rather people just be happy for people who have shown extraordinary ability and even more colossal effort.
I truly believe that Tebow will turn out to be the real deal. I'd put money on that. And I know that Tebow can handle all of this pressure because he is able to hand it off to someone a lot more powerful than he is. So, sure you can question whether Tebow has the strength and character to stay on the right track. But I know that every once in awhile, God sends these great people down to touch the lives of those that still dream, and I think that a few more of us need to help those dreams come true.
Growing up, I had a ton of great role models. From friend's dads to scoutmasters, ski trip chaperones to teachers, when I met someone that could make a difference in my life, I tried as hard as I could to foster that relationship. And so, now that I am getting older, I guess it is sort of natural that I would want to be a mentor to the younger generation as well. Because of this, I never grow tired of stories of athletes being great role models. Even more, I am not looking for them to fail. It is easy to grow cynical about the greatness of sports when baseball is infected by steroids, and every college football champion seems to be questioned by BCS haters. So it never gets old to me when Albert Pujols, a guy who plays baseball the right way all the time, gets an MVP, or when Tebow's Gators win the National Title. Fan or not, I would rather people just be happy for people who have shown extraordinary ability and even more colossal effort.
I truly believe that Tebow will turn out to be the real deal. I'd put money on that. And I know that Tebow can handle all of this pressure because he is able to hand it off to someone a lot more powerful than he is. So, sure you can question whether Tebow has the strength and character to stay on the right track. But I know that every once in awhile, God sends these great people down to touch the lives of those that still dream, and I think that a few more of us need to help those dreams come true.
July 28, 2009
Mixed Martial Arts
Many of my closest friends are not fans of Mixed Martial Arts (from here MMA), and in particular the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). My mom outspokenly hates it. But I think that it is one of the most misunderstood sports. So without further ado, this is my defense of the sport.
MMA is more than just blood and guts all over the place. Was early MMA simply a brutal bloodsport? Sort of. But as the UFC has come under new ownership the sport as a whole has cleaned up considerably, thanks in part to seeking unified regulations. I'm not saying that there aren't huge cuts still being opened up, but if you take the time to watch the fighters, you can tell the intentions of the strikes are much cleaner now. There is a weight range similar to boxing which prevents unfair fights between a giant and a 155lb ninja from happening. No matter what people say the giant pretty much always crushes that small of a person. I think it is important to take in a fight and just see how skilled these fighters are.
I have always believed that sports point to something greater within us. I suppose that could be a brief synopsis of yesterday's post. And so that's where I started my debate with MMA. I thought that if I could feel inspired in some way by MMA, then I would indeed count it as a sport. And to me it points to one of the most basic and pure facets of humanity: Great things are worth fighting for. Maybe this doesn't do it for some people, but even if all these guys are fighting for is a gold belt and fame, it still captures my attention. One of my favorite fighters, the current welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, always says that he is currently fighting for his legacy, that he wants to be known as the greatest champion ever. Shouldn't that be our goal? To be the greatest champion ever, yeah, that sounds good to me.
Not to mention the shape that these guys have to be in to cut and make weight before a fight, and then turn around and knock each other senseless. There is something beautiful to me about the simplicity and rawness of being in a cage. No, I don't see the UFC as a gladiatoral sport for blood-thirsty fans to go crazy over. I truly believe that the early fans of the bloody free-for-alls would be disappointed by today's matches that are beautiful displays of technique, power, and speed. What I love is the instinctive nature of MMA. Perfect example: when I was watching UFC 100 a couple weeks ago, I was watching Dan Henderson (another favorite, known for his powerful right hand) stalk his opponenet Michael Bisping around the ring like a wolf on the hunt. It was majestic! He was looking for a right hand to throw...knew that Bisping's punches weren't hurting him. And midway through the second round it came...Boom! Like a thunder clap, Henderson's right hand belted Bisping right in the jaw. Out before he hit the mat. To this day, probably the greatest single punch I have ever seen.
This sport gets your blood flowing, pumps you up, makes you want to be dangerous. And that's a good thing! So, give it a try, maybe you will see that this new sport is not so different from the others that you love so much.
MMA is more than just blood and guts all over the place. Was early MMA simply a brutal bloodsport? Sort of. But as the UFC has come under new ownership the sport as a whole has cleaned up considerably, thanks in part to seeking unified regulations. I'm not saying that there aren't huge cuts still being opened up, but if you take the time to watch the fighters, you can tell the intentions of the strikes are much cleaner now. There is a weight range similar to boxing which prevents unfair fights between a giant and a 155lb ninja from happening. No matter what people say the giant pretty much always crushes that small of a person. I think it is important to take in a fight and just see how skilled these fighters are.
I have always believed that sports point to something greater within us. I suppose that could be a brief synopsis of yesterday's post. And so that's where I started my debate with MMA. I thought that if I could feel inspired in some way by MMA, then I would indeed count it as a sport. And to me it points to one of the most basic and pure facets of humanity: Great things are worth fighting for. Maybe this doesn't do it for some people, but even if all these guys are fighting for is a gold belt and fame, it still captures my attention. One of my favorite fighters, the current welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, always says that he is currently fighting for his legacy, that he wants to be known as the greatest champion ever. Shouldn't that be our goal? To be the greatest champion ever, yeah, that sounds good to me.
Not to mention the shape that these guys have to be in to cut and make weight before a fight, and then turn around and knock each other senseless. There is something beautiful to me about the simplicity and rawness of being in a cage. No, I don't see the UFC as a gladiatoral sport for blood-thirsty fans to go crazy over. I truly believe that the early fans of the bloody free-for-alls would be disappointed by today's matches that are beautiful displays of technique, power, and speed. What I love is the instinctive nature of MMA. Perfect example: when I was watching UFC 100 a couple weeks ago, I was watching Dan Henderson (another favorite, known for his powerful right hand) stalk his opponenet Michael Bisping around the ring like a wolf on the hunt. It was majestic! He was looking for a right hand to throw...knew that Bisping's punches weren't hurting him. And midway through the second round it came...Boom! Like a thunder clap, Henderson's right hand belted Bisping right in the jaw. Out before he hit the mat. To this day, probably the greatest single punch I have ever seen.
This sport gets your blood flowing, pumps you up, makes you want to be dangerous. And that's a good thing! So, give it a try, maybe you will see that this new sport is not so different from the others that you love so much.
July 27, 2009
Whisked Away
A couple days ago I read Joe Posnanski's blog post about watching Tom Watson's run at the British Open this year (you can find it at joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog)and completely agreed with his statement about sports taking us to another world. So I just wanted to say a few words of my own about it.
I was at a wedding on Friday night when a friend turned to me, and said "Guess where I was last night?" Knowing we both share a love for baseball I guessed Fenway. Nope. Hmm?...The Royals game? Nope. (Side thought...Who would be bragging about that right now). "I was at U.S. Cellular", he said. It hit me like a ton of bricks how cool that was. For those of you who don't know, my friend watched Mark Buerhle pitch a perfect game. Lucky! And apparently he's seen two no-hitters in person. What I wouldn't give to have that kind of luck!
But that's what happens in sports. This British Open was no different than any other year, except that Tom Watson decided to give every sports fan a dream weekend of what golf used to be: a gentleman's game (and he did it to the very end). Mark Buerhle went out on his normal rest, just wanting to win one for the team; just doing his job. Well, he did it alright. And to the delight of all sports fans he achieved perfection.
It got me thinking about what is majestic about sports. I love how everyone has a favorite play. Sports gives us an adventure, and even better an adventure to live. So yeah, watching the Red Sox finally win in 2004 was amazing, and no, I will never forget the joy that Luis Gonzalez's bloop single on Mariano Rivera in 2001 still brings me, but I love my own sports stories even more. I was just talking with a former teacher about how all of my friends and I would play football at Loose Park on Sundays. I'll never forget how pumped I was, and how some new guys came and dubbed me "Superman". Anyone who has spent 30 minutes playing catch with me has heard the story of the Cigar Catch. Yeah, it is that legendary. It deserves a name like that.
Sports gives joy incomparable to many things in this technology driven world. Sometimes it's nice to get away from being in touch with everybody and take a buddy or two and enjoy a little struggle, a little competition. Believe me, it will make life a little more full.
I was at a wedding on Friday night when a friend turned to me, and said "Guess where I was last night?" Knowing we both share a love for baseball I guessed Fenway. Nope. Hmm?...The Royals game? Nope. (Side thought...Who would be bragging about that right now). "I was at U.S. Cellular", he said. It hit me like a ton of bricks how cool that was. For those of you who don't know, my friend watched Mark Buerhle pitch a perfect game. Lucky! And apparently he's seen two no-hitters in person. What I wouldn't give to have that kind of luck!
But that's what happens in sports. This British Open was no different than any other year, except that Tom Watson decided to give every sports fan a dream weekend of what golf used to be: a gentleman's game (and he did it to the very end). Mark Buerhle went out on his normal rest, just wanting to win one for the team; just doing his job. Well, he did it alright. And to the delight of all sports fans he achieved perfection.
It got me thinking about what is majestic about sports. I love how everyone has a favorite play. Sports gives us an adventure, and even better an adventure to live. So yeah, watching the Red Sox finally win in 2004 was amazing, and no, I will never forget the joy that Luis Gonzalez's bloop single on Mariano Rivera in 2001 still brings me, but I love my own sports stories even more. I was just talking with a former teacher about how all of my friends and I would play football at Loose Park on Sundays. I'll never forget how pumped I was, and how some new guys came and dubbed me "Superman". Anyone who has spent 30 minutes playing catch with me has heard the story of the Cigar Catch. Yeah, it is that legendary. It deserves a name like that.
Sports gives joy incomparable to many things in this technology driven world. Sometimes it's nice to get away from being in touch with everybody and take a buddy or two and enjoy a little struggle, a little competition. Believe me, it will make life a little more full.
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