Trading Day

Some thoughts on today's trades in the NBA and MLB:

Garnett to the Celtics: So I've revised this analysis three times in the past hour. First I destroyed the trade since it leaves the Celtics with nothing besides the big three. Then, I hesitatingly approved of it, since the Ray Allen trade had gotten the team stuck somewhere between rebuilding and going all out, and this trade officially put them in the going all out category. Now, I'm going to have to admit I have no right saying anything on the trade. I always bash ESPN commentators for not knowing what the hell they're talking about, and when it comes to the NBA, I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. I couldn't recognize Al Jefferson if he was standing right in front of me with a Celtics jersey on.

I stopped intensively following basketball when the Knicks started sucking. All that TNT ever shows is the West, and that's pretty much all I ever watch (since I go to school outside the New York region). Now, I'm no longer an NBA fan; I'm a Gilbert Arenas fan.

Louis Castillo to the Mets: At first, this trade really bummed me out. Ruben Gotay has been playing great as of late, and I've loved to watch his Reyes like excitement. Just yesterday, I started to imagine a Gotay, Wright, Reyes infield for the next decade. However, nothing gold can stay, and this move is a great insurance policy should anything go wrong with Gotay. We know what we're getting in Castillo--a great fielder who can get on base, maybe show some speed, and has playoff experience. Can't argue with that, considering we only gave up two fringe prospects. (Sorry I used "we" so much).

Mark Texiera to the Braves: Bring it on Atlanta.

Kyle Lohshe to the Phillies: Loshe's Stats: 6-12 with a 4.58 ERA. Bring it on Philly?

Barry Who?

Barry Bonds is two home runs away from tying Hank Aaron's all time mark. He is on the verge of breaking sport's most sacred record.

I couldn't care less.

About two months into the season, I gave up hope that Bonds would simply fall apart physically and fall short of the record. Since then, I've resigned myself to a world in which Bonds is the home run king, and thus I haven't had to follow the quest towards 755. When he does break the record, I won't feel anything.

Tom Verducci has a great article in this week's Sports Illustrated, not about Bonds, but Hank Aaron. It gave me a very good sense of who Hank Aaron is, and what he went through on the road to 755. Verducci also adds some much welcomed editorializing:

"Even when Barry Bonds holds the record, Hank Aaron can still be the people's home run king--and 755 can still be the number in which we believe," Verducci concludes.

I have to agree.

25 years from now, on ESPN Classic, you'll be more likely to see Hank Aaron running around the bases surrounded by chaos than Barry Bonds jogging around the bases alone.

As for Bud Selig, I think he has to go watch Bonds break the record. If he does not watch Bonds, then what's to be done with the record books at Cooperstown? By ignoring Barry, Selig will set a precarious precedent. He will tacitly admit that Bonds cheated and that his record is illegitimate.

Was Selig at Busch Stadium to watch Mark McGuire break the single-season home run mark? I'm not sure. But if he was, then I think he has to go to Bond's games. Either that or Bond's numbers should be erased from the record books.

Up Comes L-Millz, Down Goes Franco

Guess who got cut from the Mets today?

48 year old, .200 hitting, oatmeal eating Julio Franco!

As much as I want to show respect for the aged veteran, I am so relieved to see Franco go. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see someone cut. Usually there is a tinge of sympathy--maybe the player just wasn't given the right chance to succeed.

This is not the case with Franco. On the field, Franco contributed nothing. He was essentially a coach for both the Mets and their opponent. He'd provide the Mets advice in the clubhouse/dugout and give ground ball practice to the opponent's infield during the games (the few times he was permitted to hit).

Thanks to MetsBlog for the info. According to the site, Franco wanted out as well--he felt he wasn't getting enough playing time.

I applaud Franco for the incredible perseverance and commitment he's put forth to continue his baseball career. However, it was clearly time for him to go. Julio Franco does not belong on a World Series caliber team.

Lastings Milledge, on the other hand, clearly does. Every team needs a player to provide some post-game music. Not to mention the fact that the kid can hit.

Barry Bonds Once Struck Out While Standing on 1 Foot Eating Broccoli

A couples weeks ago, I read an article in The New York Times Magazine about the unpaid administrators who are obsessed with keeping Wikipedia up-to-date and accurate.

Apparently, they are not doing the best job.

This evening, a kid on my floor told me to take a look at Barry Bond's Wikipedia page. Here are some highlights:

-"His numerous achievements place Bonds in the company of many of the game's greatest hitters such as C.C. Sabathia, Tiny Cobb, Baby Ruthie, Julio Lugo, Rogers Hornsby (is a girls name) and Dana Klienzweig."

-"Bonds was left on a cargo ship by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 1900s. After batting .081 with the minor league Princecess Island Pirates and Hawaii is a province in Canada, he made his CFL debut on May 30, 1886."

-"Bonds won his first Most Womanlike Voice award in 1990, talking a perfect 1.001 decibles with 33 glasses shattered and 114 killed. His 52 stolen syringes were third in the league trailing only Selig and author of Juiced Jose Canseco. He won his first Plastic Glove and Paper Slugger Awards."

-"In 1998, Bonds met Philly icon Rocky Balboa at a steroid convention run by Bud Selig."

-"With 2 out in the 9th inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 28, 1998, Bonds became the third player in history to strike out while standing on 1 foot eating broccoli"

Some of its funny, most of it simply doesn't make sense. As a kid on my floor suggested, it's almost reads like a mad-lib.

Unfortunately for you, the page has since been corrected. I have the old page saved on my desktop, but I'm not sure how to post it.

That Got Exciting Quickly

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, I turned to the kid I was watching the All-Star game with and said, "Even though this wasn't a great game, I still really enjoyed watching it."

Then Da Meat Hook got on with a single and all hell broke loose. The NL still lost anyway, falling 5-4 with the bases loaded in the ninth.

If someone can tell me why Aaron Rowand batted rather than Albert Pujols (the best hitter in the NL), please let me know. It seems like Tony LaRussa is bitter towards the Mets and doesn't want them to have home field advantage for the World Series. What a jerk.

On a side note, how did Ichiro change into a suit so quickly? The MVP presentation game less than five minutes after the end of the game, and he was already in a full suit. That was a Roger Federer like clothes-change.

The NL Kind of Sucks

With the exception of the Mets, Ken Griffey Jr., and Eric Bryne's dog, the NL is pitiful.

They are about to lose their tenth consecutive All-Star game.

In the eighth inning, the following three players made consecutive outs:

Orlando Hudson:
Aaron Rowand
Freddie Sanchez


Enough said.

Also, why hasn't Pujols gotten in the game yet?

(On a side note, the actor in the Miller High Life commercials is awesome)

Please Retire Julio Franco

Today the Mets were down 5-3 to the Phillies with a runner on first and two outs in the ninth inning. Up to the plate walked Julio Franco (he's 48 years old, in case you hadn't heard). Was there anyone in the stadium who thought Franco would get a hit? Probably not. And they were all right. Franco grounded out to second to end the game.

Not only did he record the final out, but he leisurely jogged down to first, even though Chase Utley, the Phillies 2nd baseman, bobbled the ball. He jogged to first like a 48 year old, not like a major league baseball player.

That was last straw for me. No matter what he does this season, I want Julio Franco to retire now. I know he adds so much to the clubhouse, but he adds absolutely nothing to the baseball field, besides arthritis and back pain.

Here's a list I compiled for Julio that will hopefully convince him that it's time to hang up the cleats:

-There's a lot of great food out there. A diet of oatmeal and egg whites can get kind of old.

-You're 48 years old. The right side of the Mets infield is a combined 48 years old. Omar Minaya, the Mets general manager, is 48 years old. Shea Stadium is 42 years old. Play golf, not baseball.

-Bob Barker just retired. You're a shoe-in to take his spot on "The Price is Right.

-You might get hurt.

-Go to a George Benson concert. Then you'll see what it means for someone to be over the hill and what pain that person can cause (to the ears in his case, to the fans in your case).

-You can become a coach. That why you can continue to be a great presence in the clubhouse and give your roster spot to someone who can hit the ball beyond the infield.

-You're not good anymore. You're batting average is .188 and you can hardly move. How many times have you come up in a big spot this year and failed miserably?

-I think you're a great guy. But your time has come. Please Julio, retire already!

That Felt Really Good: Mets Take Game One

How do you beat one of the greatest pitchers of all time?

Bunt, steal, defend, and pitch even better than him.

The Mets needed a win in the worst way, and they got it. Hopefully this will start streaks of different kinds for both the Yankees and Mets.

Here are some thoughts on tonight's game:

-It is great to watch Oliver Perez pitch. I love his playful, relaxed style; how he tosses the ball up between pitches and skips over the baseline at the end of innings. When it comes to pitching, the guy seems to have split personalities. For one inning, he can't find the plate, and then the next one, he's masterful. Ollie pitched this game on a tight rope, and he did not fall.

-With due time, I think Carlos Gomez is going to be my favorite player. I love how he bunted for a single in his first at-bat ever the intimidating, old Clemens. And what a great catch in the outfield with two men on; if he missed the catch, I doubt the Mets would have won.

-How does Jose Reyes remember all those handshakes? He has one with Wright, Delgado, Franco...The man is amazing. Best player in the league, best handshaker in the World. Though I have to admit that it does get a little old seeing handshake after handshake in the dugout.

-In tonight's game Roger Clemens passed Randy Johnson for the 2nd most strikeouts in Major League History. It is an unbelievable coincidence that with more than 4000 strikeouts apiece, they are both active, and separated by just a few ks. Every time one passes the other, the game should stop and a standing ovation should ensue-as a fan, I thoroughly enjoy participating in standing O's.

-The Mets have got speed, some coming from surprising places. We all knew about Reyes and Gomez, but Wright? He now has 15 steals on the season, and has yet to get caught. Where did this speed come from? But then in the eighth inning Julio Franco tried to steal a base. Apparently he thought speed was contagious. Come on Julio-raw oatmeal can only do so much for you.

Well that was a fun game to watch; hopefully it will lead to greener pastures for the Mets and browner(?) pastures for the Yankees.

New York's State of Mind: Subway Series Version 2.0

What a difference a month can make.

On May 18, the New York Yankees came to Shea Stadium desperate. They were hurting in the body, in the standings, and in the tabloids.

The Mets were flying sky high. They had a comfortable lead in the NL East. Their allegedly old, shaky pitching rotation was dominating. Everything seemed bright for the fans at shea.

Now, the Mets are strugling like its 2004, and the Yankees seem to be back. The Mets have lost five in-a-row, the Yankees have won nine in-a-row.

Last year's Mets team gave off such an unbelievable vibe. There was never a time I thought they were going to lose. Even during tough times, I had no doubt they'd come back and win. It hurt so much when they lost because, for me at least, they weren't supposed to lose.

This year's team does not have that vibe. I don't trust them like I did last year's team. I don't put nearly as much hope in them.

Hopefully, by the end of the season, that trust will come back.

I was planning on writing much more and better, but the game has started, and I have to watch.

Enjoy the Series, and Lets Go Mets!


(Is that Julio Franco I see starting?!)

Vin Scully Quote of the Day

Tonight, during the Mets v. Dodgers Broadcast:

“They are killing a lot of worms, they have not yet hit a ball to the outfield.”

Vin Scully is the Real Deal

Much has been said about Vin Scully, the Dodger Broadcaster since 1950. Though I have heard so much praise directed towards him, before yesterday, I had never heard him broadcast a game at length. Yes, I have heard some of his famous calls, but never a routine, regular season game.

Thanks to MLB TV, I have listened to Vin Scully for the past two days, and the guy is legit.

The Dodgers are playing the Mets in a three-game series and MLB TV is only feeding me the LA broadcast. I suppose I am grateful for this, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to hear the living legend.

Vin Scully is a one-man broadcast team. He has no color commentator. He has no reporter roaming the stands.

The man has so much knowledge, not to mention a made-for-TV voice. Here are some highlights from the past two nights:

-Scully told a story of how Carlos Beltran once bought a monkey. When Carlos heard that Monkeys could live for over 40 years, however, he promptly returned it.

-He called a triple a "bellywhopper"

-He explained how the big wave of Cuban defections to play baseball in the states only came after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Before then, conditions for baseball players in Cuba were so favorable they had no reason to leave. I didn't know this.

The best aspect of Scully is that at a time when there are so many talking heads on TV who don't back up there statements (see Morgan, Joe), Scully uses a wealth of statistics to analyze the teams and players. Whether analyzing the Mets woes at home, or a batters woes at the plate, Scully does a great job of balancing stats and commentary.

He knows so freaking much, both about history as well as the current league, and I learned a ton from the few innings I listened to him. If you ever can watch a Dodgers game on TV, I highly recommend it, regardless of who they're playing.

Now, if only the Mets would start playing some good ball.

The Jinx is in Full Effect

Above is this week's cover of Sports Illustrated.

Below is the Mets' record for the past eight games:

2-8.

Ouch.

At least this cover debunked the El Duque age controvery.
There is no way that guy is in his 40s. He is clearly 12; check out his smile.

(Thanks to Metsblog.com for first alerting me about the cover)

Play Ball

A few days ago, while I was playing tennis with my older brother, I suddenly got very sad. It wasn’t because I was losing (I beat him for the first time in years). It was because I had come to a terrible realization.

Beyond the fence of the tennis courts, there was a Babe Ruth League baseball game going on. The kids weren’t great—there were errors, collisions, base running blunders. Yet, I wanted to be playing with them. I wanted to be the man on first, distracting the pitcher like Jose Reyes. I wanted to be the runner who should have plowed into the catcher, but instead meekly trotted home.

I grew sad, because I realized I would probably never play baseball again.

Instead, I would play softball. Softball intramurals, softball summer leagues, softball picnic outings. Softball is so black and white. There is no stealing, no situational hitting. You go for a homerun every time up—at least that is what I do.

Within the past year or so, I have watched more and more baseball and realized what a complex, thoughtful, game it is.

When I was in the Little League, and actually played baseball, I was somewhat bored by the sport. Sure, hitting was fun, but it didn’t make up for the hours spent sitting in the dugout, chewing gum and waiting for something to do.

I was missing out on so much. While on the bench, I could have been thinking about what pitch the pitcher should throw next, or whether the infield should be in, mid-way, or all the way back. Sadly, all I thought about was spitting my sunflower the furthest.

And now I’m condemned to slow-pitch softball for the rest of my life. Sure it’s fun, it’s social, but it’s not baseball.

Though this first post is about sports, I promise that not all of my posts will be.