Blindswipe

Royal Flush

2006-04-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

The Yankees put aside all doubts about their ability to score runs by racking up 30 over the course of a three game sweep of the Kansas City Royals in the Bronx.

Minus the voice of Bob Sheppard for the first home opener since 1950, the Yanks needed some late inning heroics from their hero of heroes, Derek Jeter. The captain delivered a three-run jack to cap a 5 run comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Yanks a 9-7 win.

The next two games were not as suspenseful, as Gary Sheffield powered the lineup from the DH spot by going 3-for-5, with a HR and 4 RBI in Game 2. Yesterday, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon joined Sheff in the HR derby, launching the Yanks to a 9-3 victory.

But before Yankee fans can get exited, the starting pitching was still suspect. While Randy Johnson went five quality innings on Thursday, it was still only five innings due to early season physical conditioning. Game 2 saw Shawn Chacon have a rickety first inning, eventually righting the ship and going six innings while allowing seven hits and five earned runs. That’s not the type of stat line that’s going to win games against quality teams. And even though the opener had a happy ending, Chien-Ming Wang tried his best to throw a couple of cliff-hangers into the mix by blowing a 4-1 lead.

Last season the Royals gave the Yanks fits, so it’s good to see that the Bombers have this quasi minor league team under control and were able to reverse an early April slide. But these were games the Yankees were supposed to win. And they did.

The Minnesota series will be a much more significant challenge as the Twins are coming off of a sweep of the Oakland A’s and have been playing quality baseball early on.

Yanks Squeeze 1 of 3 from the Angels

2006-04-10T11:28:00.000-04:00

The Yankees ended a four game skid by hammering Bartolo Colon and the LA Angels yesterday 10-1. The win ups the team’s record on their opening west coast swing to 2-and-4.

The theme of the road trip could be summed up as all-or-nothing, as the two wins came in huge blowouts against A’s Number One Barry Zito and Angels ace Bartolo Colon. The four losses sandwiched in-between can be characterized by impotent offence, especially with runners in scoring position, and some shaky defense in the field, often leading to pivotal runs. It’s especially frustrating because these close games are the types of games that differentiate playoff teams from bottom dwellers.

New Digs

2006-04-05T23:35:00.000-04:00

Plans for the NEW $800 million Yankee Stadium cleared what many feel to be the most difficult phase of the political tightrope. The city council voted 45-2 to clear the way for the use of the two adjacent parks next to the current stadium as the site of the new complex.

Oh So Close

2006-04-05T10:01:00.000-04:00

It was a frustrating affair in Oakland last night as the Yanks dropped a close one to the A’s by doing all the little things wrong.

Marco Scutaro’s bottom of the ninth line drive over Hideki Matsui’s head sealed the 4-3 win for Oakland. The Yanks can’t say they didn’t have their opportunities; leaving two on in the top of the ninth, third inning base-running blunders, and a Robinson Cano error proved to be the difference.

Yanks Romp on Opening Night

2006-04-04T07:04:00.000-04:00

Last night, despite forecast of inclement weather, the only heavy rain in Oakland came down on Barry Zito and the rest of the A’s pitching staff as the Yankees cruised to a 15-2 Opening Day win.

Randy Johnson yielded only one run over seven innings to pick up his second straight Opening Day win for the Yanks. Every starter except Posada had a hit, including A-Rod’s grand slam and Hideki Matsui’s 4-for-4 output.

Ready, Set, Go!

2006-04-03T12:49:00.000-04:00

Manager Joe Torre announced his lineup to the team on Sunday, and it was prefaced with “Live with it,” leading one to believe that it will be THE lineup for the foreseeable future, barring injuries, suspensions or dismal, long-term slumps.

The most significant change comes with a shuffling of the engine room, as Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriquez, and Jason Giambi will bat 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively. The lineup card is expected to remain consistent regardless of left or right-handed pitching.

Speaking of which, Torre announced his rotation on Friday, deciding to go with Chien-Ming Wang and Shawn Chacon in the third and fourth spots, joining Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina. Jaret Wright will be the odd-man out, relegated to long-relief duties. However, the Carl Pavano back problems will give Wright a couple of starts, maybe more.

Torre felt that Wang and Chacon earned their pinstripes last year and that their 2005 performances factored heavily in his decision this spring.

Book Review: The Last Nine Innings is Pure Baseball Science

2006-03-27T22:56:00.000-05:00

As Opening Day bears down upon us, we are reminded that summer is just around the corner. While the Internet and your laptop may not translate well to the beach and the pool deck, a good old-fashioned hardcover read still ranks at the top of the list of warm weather mental diversions. With The Last Nine Innings, Charles Euchner provides an excellent addition to any baseball fan's must read list.

The author was inspired by another sports classic, John McPhee’s Levels of the Game, a detailed exploration of race, class, sports, business, and psychology as seen through the prism of a 1968 tennis match between Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner. Similarly, The Last Nine Innings doesn’t just re-tell Game Seven of the 2001 World Series. Instead, the play-by-play serves as a well crafted, extended metaphor and a point of departure for a deconstruction of today’s game of baseball.

What gives Euchner’s account a fresh coat of perspective is that instead of focusing on stats and personalities, he vividly illustrates each player’s approach to baseball and the game’s individual components. Crammed with interviews with players like Derek Jeter, Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson, Matt Williams, Jorge Posada, Steve Finley, and even Shane Spencer, to name a few, The Last Nine Innings provides unprecedented mechanical detail as to how each player prepares for the season, a series, a game, and right on down to their routine as the pitcher steps on the rubber. And in doing so, Euchner gives a true peek into the science of baseball at a depth far beyond the tabloid headlines generated by the current BALCO scandal.

But why would a Yankee fan want to relive that game? Simply put, Euchner’s pitch-by-pitch, microscopic account of that gripping and decisive contest proves that the journey supersedes the destination. Each at-bat unearths a wealth of technical nuggets many young ballplayers would spend thousands of dollars on baseball camp tuition for.

For example, we learn about Matt Williams’ “One-Hand Fred” approach to hitting that he picked up from then Giants manager Dusty Baker. We go through Curt Schilling’s meticulous scouting regimen and are reminded that he wasn’t always this prepared to pitch. It would surprise many that Roger Clemens, the opposing starter that night, probably had the most impact on Schilling’s career. And thankfully, we are given an alternative to Barry Bonds’ alleged BALCO cocktails with the novel off-season conditioning regimen Steve Finley used to prolong his career.

And the best thing about The Last Nine Innings is that it is written in simple, clear and concise prose, making it a perfect read for younger aspiring ballplayers – or those of you adult fanatics who sat in the back of class reading box scores instead of Crime and Punishment.

Read The Last Nine Innings and the next game you watch will be the first nine innings of the rest of your baseball life.

Japan Wins!

2006-03-21T10:48:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Japan, who captured the inaugural WBC championship last night with a dominant 10-6 win over Cuba.

A week ago, it looked like Japan’s championship aspirations were pick-pocketed by a bogus late-inning call which handed a crucial second round win to the US. But all was righted by the baseball gods when Team USA was unable to get past Mexico, allowing Japan to back into the semifinal round. To their credit, the Japanese team made good that divine intervention by defeating the two best teams in the WBC.

Looking back on the tournament, one would have to say it’s an unqualified success. With attendance in the neighborhood of 3/4 million and TV ratings coming in beyond initial projections, in spite of March Madness, Bud Selig, for once, deserves a pat on the back for his vision and persistence. Meaningful baseball in March - who’d a thunk?

Despite the all that was right, the tourney still needs some tweaks. MLB hasn’t specified what may be in store for the event in 2009, but that won’t stop me from making a suggestion or two.

The main problem is the timing. I’m sure organizers wrestled with this from day one, as some teams, like Japan, were in the midst of their seasons and were reluctant to take a timeout.

The current schedule proved problematic in a couple of ways. Many of the elite players were reluctant to play because it may disrupt their spring routine, and we know how ballplayers are about their personal rituals. But more importantly, the play of those who showed up was affected by the calendar. Those who watched the games witnessed an odd marriage between post-season intensity and pre-season execution.

Defensive blunders, unreliable pitching, and a void of clutch hitting personified those teams who relied heavily on MLB players. While all of these deficiencies are normal for a spring training game, they are frustrating when there’s stuff on the line.

The end result was that the teams with the fewest MLB players went the deepest into the tournament, culminating in a championship game where Ichiro was the only MLB player in either dugout.

So, what’s the solution? It’s simple, push the tournament back to the first week in April and have the showcase open the season. This way, everyone gets their spring training in and the flow of the season isn’t disrupted, even though the post-season would be extended by two weeks. Moreover, every player can hit the ground running with the best chance of playing their best baseball. Such a move would eliminate the need for pitch limits, reduce the risk of injury, and curtail many excuses for not playing. However, I don’t anticipate as many players bailing the second time around given that just about every participant raves about their WBC experience.

Lastly, the move would get MLB out of the crosshairs of the NCAA Tournament. Even though, for the most part, the WBC was able to dance around college hoops, the first inning of the final was preempted by the double OT Michigan/Notre Dame game. While that contest was a thrill, the typical explosion of late game timeouts drove me insane. Admittedly, though, the preemption was a perfect storm and unlikely to recur on a consistent basis.

With that, I’ll leave you with the All-Tourney Team:

C Tomoya Satozaki (Japan)
1B Seung Yeop Lee (Korea)
2B Yulieski Gourriel (Cuba)
SS Derek Jeter (USA)
3B Adrian Beltre (Dominican Republic)
OF Ken Griffey Jr. (USA)
OF Ichiro Suzuki (Japan)
OF Jong Beom Lee (Korea)
DH Yoandy Garlobo (Cuba)
P Daisuke Matsuzaka (Japan)
P Chan Ho Park (Korea)
P Yadel Marti (Cuba)

Team USA Will Watch from the Clubhouse

2006-03-17T16:53:00.000-05:00

Last night Mexico defeated the United States to allow Japan to advance to the semifinal round of the WBC, joining Korea, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

The 2-1 defeat was a stunner for the country that invented the game of baseball. But, as has been demonstrated over the past two weeks, the rest of the baseball playing world has caught up to the US.

The biggest surprise of the tourney is the only undefeated team, Korea. The fundamentally sound squad, which has been bolstered by exceptional pitching and timely hitting, will have the opportunity to defeat big bro’ Japan for the third consecutive time in the space of a fortnight. Similarly, Cuba has reaffirmed its international dominance and should put to rest any rumors that the isolated island can’t hang with the best that MLB has to offer.

Contrary to popular belief, Team USA’s defeat is good for the tournament and good for baseball, as the competition was designed to spread the gospel internationally. Also, the loss should provide some motivation for marquis players who stayed back at camp to participate the next time around.

We can’t really beat up Buck Martinez and his crew for the early exit, as Spring Training is hit-or-miss anyway. The lineup was pitiful with runners-in-scoring-position and the starting pitching was predictably unpredictable. Hopefully those who participated will have photos and stories to share with their teammates back in spring training that will have them eager to answer the call in 2009.

Down Goes Damon

2006-03-16T12:54:00.000-05:00

The Yanks’ prized winter acquisition will be taking a seat on the bench for tonight’s WBC win-or-go-home game against Mexico. The centerfielder has been diagnosed with a case of tendonitis in his throwing shoulder.

Anyone who’s had any form of this ailment, the most common being tennis elbow, knows that the only cure is inactivity. Damon will likely be limited to pinch running duties for the remainder of the tournament, if he isn’t replaced on the roster in the next round, presuming the US makes it that far.

It would seem as though the injury would give critics like Steinbrenner the green light to say ‘I told you so.’ But so far The Boss has been mum, although Brian Cashman walked up to the edge of the pool, but didn’t dive in.

The hesitancy to criticize might have something to do with the fact that the WBC has been wildly successful so far. If one is a fan of baseball, the passion and intensity of games like these are irresistible. It’s been like watching back-to-back All Star Games where the players actually care. It makes the Mid-Season Classic prize of home field advantage in the World Series look like the chump change that it is.

These revelations over the past week should really make MLB take a second look at how its exhibition season is structured. Will a WBC every four years satisfy the fans’ appetites for international competition? Every year would be overkill, but once every other year or every third year could work. Should the All Star game be phased out for the WBC? Will the tourney make post-season MLB All Star tours of the Far East obsolete? One thing's for sure: the WBC has opened up a whole new landscape for MLB, far exceeding even the most optimistic projections about the competition here in the US. And it comes along just in time to take the wind out of the sails of the latest steroids controversy - at least for now.

I can honestly say that at no time in my baseball life have I been this pumped about March baseball. And it only gets better, beginning tonight when The Rocket will attempt to hurl Team USA into the semis.

Cheaters Sometimes Win

2006-03-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Gotham Books released excerpts from its upcoming book entitled Game of Shadows, a bombshell by San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams that documents uber-slugger Barry Bonds’ use of performance enhancing drugs.

Even though the book confirms many of my (and much of the baseball world’s) long held suspicions about Bonds’ steroid use during his HR record season, the scope and detail is truly alarming.

For me, Barry Bonds represents a myriad of contradictions. On one hand, his prowess prior to the alleged ‘roid use is remarkable and deserving of Hall of Fame recognition. And during the period of abuse, his performance was unprecedented shock and awe along the lines of ‘I didn’t know humans were capable of that.’

However, our society is very fond of extending the hero label from the playing field into athletes’ personal lives. Hey, if he can hit that many homeruns or score that many touchdowns then he must be one heck of a guy. Most athletic icons fall short of that one-to-one ratio of athletic ability/nice guy. And Bonds is no different than figures like Ty Cobb, Pete Rose or even Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan. Off the field they all have issues just like most of us do.

But at the same time, Bonds’ contributions on the field are shoulders above that of anyone else in the game today. So maybe he deserves some special perks or a free pass here and there. Ego? So what. Most professional athletes have and exercise them at will. Mistress? Again, many professional athletes have them. Fights with teammates? It happens all the time in any team situation. Few of the things that annoy me personally about Barry Bonds are specific to him or an athlete of his caliber.

However, most fans and members of the media draw the line at cheating. As was the case with Rose, the public is coming down hard on Bonds because he supposedly violated an unwritten code of trust between fan and sport. With this violation, we end up with a combination of problematic traits: Bonds being an a-hole, Bonds being a cheater, and the combination of the two, meshed together in Bonds’ indignation over what now appear to be valid accusations. We no longer have the counter-weight of his achievements between the lines to offset the personal stuff we don’t dig about him, given that those numbers were the product of cheating.

Supporters of Bonds as well as the slugger himself are quick to point to certain drivers of this story, which should either invalidate any and all evidence against Bonds or excuse his steroid use altogether. This is where things get muddy because these elements are, in fact, present in our society, and are significant factors in how the story is framed. I often liken it to Mark Fuhrman in the O.J. trial, not because of the racial elements, even though they are present here as well, but because of legitimate credibility concerns that arise.

The first, and perhaps the most significant factor, is race. The Game of Shadows excerpt begins with the Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa homerun chase and how Barry felt that “They're just letting him do it because he's a white boy.” The authors then go on to discredit that assertion with:

“As he sometimes did when he was in a particularly bleak mood, Bonds was channeling racial attitudes picked up from his father, the former Giants star Bobby Bonds, and his godfather, the great Willie Mays, both African-American ballplayers who had experienced virulent racism while starting their professional careers in the Jim Crow South. Barry Bonds himself had never seen anything remotely like that: He had grown up in an affluent white suburb of San Francisco, and his best boyhood friend, his first wife and his present girlfriend all were white.”

As an African American who has grown up in the suburbs myself, I can’t begin to tell you how angry this framing of the racial issue made me. The first problem I have with it is that the authors imply that Bobby Bonds and Mays only experienced racism in the Jim Crow South, at the beginning of their careers. You can ask any black person that lived in New York City, Chicago, or any other northern city during that time and they will certainly tell you that overt racial discrimination and segregation were all over the country. The ridiculous assertion that Bonds never experienced racism growing up in the wealthy suburbs carries with it the “anything remotely like that” disclaimer – as if the end results of racism somehow varied with the process. In other words, a cab driver in NYC passing a Black person up is less of an offense than institutional segregation – even though the end result is the same. Therein lies the white liberal fallacy with respects to race. The standard for racial injustice in America isn’t just the Jim Crow South, it’s the entire country which, not only allowed the South to maintain the policies that it did, but embraced most of the ideals behind that policy on an informal level.

It was equally ludicrous to follow it all up with the ‘his best friends are White’ claim, which is somehow meant to discredit any legitimate animosity Bonds supposedly has against collective White America. Because, of course, Bonds’ problems with White society can’t be valid because he befriends and dates White individuals. This, again, illustrates the one dimensional, simpleton understanding of race relations in this country.

In reality, Bonds’ assertion contains some validity, especially when we look at how our society has dealt with both athletes on the back end of their alleged transgressions. Essentially, it took Mark McGwire publicly testifying, or not testifying, to Congress for the baseball community to begin to scrutinize his achievements – even after a bottle of Andro was discovered in his locker during the actual homerun record chase. The standard for Bonds was much lower, as people initially only needed a spike in his stats as well as a perceived increase in body mass and head-size to brand Bonds a cheater.

Similarly, McGwire’s persona never took center-stage in the way Bonds’ personal disposition has. Both stars have had marriage issues leading to divorce and neither had cordial relationships with the media. But somehow, we’ve gotten a deeper whiff of Bonds’ dirty laundry, while many still think of McGwire as a ‘good guy’. At the very least, we can see a clear double standard. But the root of which is, and will always be, debatable.

A friend of mine who is an ardent Barry Bonds supporter floated an interesting analysis of steroid use in our society that I can’t resist. The core of his point is this: Why should we be shocked, outraged, or even surprised that any athlete on any level would use steroids given that we live in a pharmaceutical solution society?

We used to pop pills to solve problems. I have a headache so I take an aspirin. I have high cholesterol, so I get a prescription to lower it. I’m anxious, so I’ll take a Xanax. But we now live in an era where we look to chemicals to enhance our experience. I recall, a short time ago, people taking so-called Smart Drugs to improve memory and mental functions. And of course we can’t forget Viagra, where a large chunk of men who take it do so to improve their performance, not to cure a deficiency, as the medication was originally intended.

So steroids are just another form of our society’s performance enhancement trend. And it’s not just athletic performance that’s enhanced. And here’s where we hit the hypocrisy. The fan experience is enhanced as well. Watching athletes on ‘roids is the sports fan equivalent of the Coney Island Freak Show. We were all amazed and astounded that a human being could achieve such feats. It was so out of proportion to what we’ve previously witnessed that we couldn’t turn away – until we got the first glimpse of what was behind the curtain in the form of the Andro bottle in Big Mac’s locker. And of course MLB didn’t want to declare the emperor as naked either. The ratings were up and the box office was booming in the wake of a very unpopular work stoppage. Baseball was back so why derail the express?

But it was all fun and games until records are broken. Not just the single season variety, which are usually one-upped with each generation of athletes. No, this time, it’s the all-time variety. And we’re not talking all-time steals, or all-time runs scored, but the mother of all sports stats - the all-time homerun record which has been held by essentially only two men over the past century. And, not coincidentally, both Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron transcended the game to become societal icons. Ruth saved the game of baseball from what was perceived to be a fatal scandal while Aaron, a former Negro-leaguer, validated, with an exclamation point, the integration movement started by Jackie Robinson and Rosa Parks.

In the Paris Hilton era of cheap fame, or infamy, what will Barry Bonds’ accomplishments validate? Whatever emerges, to be sure, will pale in comparison to the previous all-time greats. The names above were pioneers who showed us a different way. In Ruth’s case, it was raw talent that forged a new era in baseball while Aaron did it slowly and methodically from the ground up. Will Bonds merely show us that cheaters prosper?

Lastly, there has been much debate since the inception of this controversy over what to do with Bonds and his record. Asterisk or no asterisk? Lifetime ban? Suspend him for long enough to effectively end his career short of the record? Throw him in jail for tax evasion, thus ending his career?

The skinny of the deal is that no remedy would or could be just or consistent, even though an absence of action could lead us to an equally unjust result. We are in this quandary solely because we ignored the Andro bottle when it first surfaced. Owners, fans and MLB didn’t want to stop the long ball battle of ’98. The Union and Owners did all they could to avoid testing and, as a result, we have no idea what statistics were bolstered by steroids. We don’t even know for certainty that Bonds juiced, even though the circumstantial evidence is astronomical. The record on this matter is permanently blurred and we (fans, media, MLB) wanted it that way.

However, there is a steep price to pay for burying our heads in the sand and trumping reality with illusion. The consequence is the destruction of baseball’s precious statistical legacy, which links my experience to that of my father’s and grandfather’s. No more can we look across a spreadsheet and compare numbers from one era to another. Because we have no idea of the extent of abuse, the juiced era discredits the entire record book. How many juicers were on the ‘01 Mariners? I have no clue. So how can their marks compare with the 1906 Cubs? They can never be measured without the same cynicism we now cast upon Barry Bonds.

In the end, my anger is truly reserved for the sports media. Much like the news media’s deference towards the President on just about every issue in his first term, the sports media failed us miserably. Instead of asking the tough questions, they offered apologies, cover-ups and misinformation with the purpose of fanning the headlines to drive up circulation, hits and ratings. They reserved their scrutiny for those who actually knew what steroids were and what they were capable of doing for a baseball player.

And now these jokers who call themselves journalists act as if Bonds cheated them, and not the ticket buying public and the legacy of the game. It’s like a thief being outraged at being double-crossed by his partner. The only question is why?

Whatever the reason, it’s moot now. That’s how much damage the juiced era has done to the game. The only bright side is that the void created by journalists not doing their job is being filled by the blogsphere. And the mere fact you are reading this as opposed to the editorial page of a major newspaper is a testament to how much trust the mainstream media has destroyed.

Leiter: Flame Out!

2006-03-07T11:27:00.000-05:00

After 19 years in the Majors, starter Al Leiter will, in all probability, hang it up after this month’s WBC tournament. The affable southpaw stated that he signed a Major League contract with the intent of getting in shape for the tournament as opposed to the upcoming season. The withdrawal of C.C. Sabathia from the WBC made his dream of pitching for the US a reality.

To be sure, Leiter is a winner – on the field and off. What we fans lose in his retirement, we will undoubtedly regain with him in the announcer’s booth. His guest commentary has been consistently insightful over the past few post seasons. I love it when he shows the kids how to throw various pitches. You see his enthusiasm for the game gushing out in all directions. I hope a major network picks him up in time for opening day. Hey, I’ll settle for one of the two local outlets. I just want to hear what he has to say.

Take it to the Cage

2006-03-03T12:06:00.000-05:00

The Daily News reports that YES is adding another component to its comprehensive Yankee coverage – batting practice. That’s right. Beginning with the Yanks’ opener in Oakland, the YES Network will broadcast both the home and away teams’ batting practice. The half-hour show, entitled “BP Today” will lead into the Yankees Pre-Game Show. For games at Yankee Stadium the coverage will begin at 6:30 PM EDT.

As far as I’m concerned, the more coverage of actual Yankee events, the better. I’d much rather watch BP and some interviews spliced in between than the pre-game show. It feels much more like you’re at the ballpark. I’m sure YES will have to make a couple of tweaks to get it right but the concept is sound.

Start Me Up!

2006-03-02T13:18:00.000-05:00

It should come as no surprise at all that Randy Johnson was named the Opening Day starter for the Yankees. It will be his 14th Opening Day start, two less than record holder Tom Seaver.

The only moderately surprising tidbit out of Tampa is that this afternoon’s Grapefruit League opener will showcase a slightly modified lineup with Bernie Williams starting in RF and Bubba Crosby in LF, sitting in for Iron Man Hideki, who is nursing a sore knee. Gary Sheffield will DH, presumably to give his back a little rest. Of course Torre stated that there’s no rationale behind this lineup. But it does provide an initial, albeit fleeting, glance at the Yank’s outfield flexibility.

Tick-Tock

2006-02-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

March is one of the most difficult months for baseball fans, as it signals the slow countdown to Opening Day. Puff piece after puff piece saturates a fan’s appetite for hype but usually generates little worthy of repeating in the blogsphere – thus the infrequent postings.

Back pain was the theme of the week in Tampa as both Gary Sheffield and Carl Pavano hit the skids. Sheff’s seems like a minor tweak, while Pavano’s will push his 2006 debut back until mid-April, when the Yanks will first need a fifth starter.

Sharpen up your cleats Scott Erickson.

Arms Galorious

2006-02-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

I guess Cash and Co. are still licking their wounds over last year's perfect storm that hit the starting rotation. They’ve gone completely ‘noid and signed starter Scott Erickson to a minor league deal.

I mean this guy could, in the best case, make one 4.2 inning spot start over the course of the entire season, if he makes it past the All-Star Break. That Triple-A roster spot could be put to better use, especially given that Erickson hasn't not seen south of a 5.00 ERA this millennium.

At age 38, Erickson’s pretty much done.

Jeter Should Bat First?

2006-02-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

The guys over at Replacement Level Yankees Weblog have referenced an interesting article from Tom Verducci of SI.com which calls into question the notion that Johnny Damon is the best man for the leadoff role. According to Verducci, Jeter has performed better in that spot for the Yankees than Damon did for the Sox.

This analysis is yet another example of the differences between the game on the field and the game on paper. The problem with deconstructing baseball, and many a critic indulges the recurring temptation to do so, is that we only take into account one aspect of the numbers, while ignoring the many ways in which they overlap with other aspects of the player, team and body of statistics.

The real issue here isn’t whether or not Jeter is a better leadoff hitter but whether the overall Yankee lineup is better with Jeter #1, Damon #9 and A-Rod #2 – as Replacement Level asserts. Because, of course, if you put Jete at the top, A-Rod moves up as well. And I’m not comfortable with Alex’s power that high in the order. There are many reasons why Barry Bonds does not bat at the top of the order even though he has an out-of-this-world OBP.

And while I can digest the late inning matchup argument that Verducci offers, I part ways with his assertion that Damon should bat second in that scenario. The intangible that Damon brings to the leadoff spot is speed. And I’m not talking about stolen bases as much as the threat of stolen bases. Why would you bottleneck that? Damon and Jeter will work best with the former batting ahead of the latter. The only remaining question is if this sequence is best achieved with Damon at the bottom of the order or at the top. The answer should be a no-brainer, given Damon’s .367 OBP, good for third in the league. It’s mathematical stupidity to put such a high on base percentage in the spot which will yield the fewest at bats, thereby giving a lineup substantially reduced opportunities to score runs.

The Torre line on this subject has been that Jeter is not a natural leadoff hitter, not because of his lack of abilities with respects to each battery of leadoff hitter stat categories, but because, over the years, Jeter has been a better #2 guy than anyone else on the squad.

The baseball deconstructionists ignore the ripple effect in their analysis of the game. One cannot justify changes in a baseball lineup based upon a statistical analysis predicated on all things remaining constant. We’ve seen this before from those who advocated that A-Rod should play shortstop over Jeter. What was left out of that assertion was who would play third and if Jeter would make a better third-baseman than Arod.

Baseball is a team sport which, despite the recent sabermetric explosion, relies on many intangibles and relationships that cannot be quantified by a number. It’s too bad that so many in the baseball world take the easy way out. But I guess that’s why managers manage the team and writers write about it.

Arms Galore

2006-02-14T11:09:00.000-05:00

A familiar problem, reminiscent of Yankee championship squads past, has resurfaced in Tampa this spring: too much pitching.

It’s an almost implausible bind coming off of a season where the Yankees utilized a franchise record 28 different arms on the mound in 2005 and a winter which saw the departure of Kevin Brown and Tom Gordon.

But yet, here we are, filled to the brim. So far the starting rotation boasts Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina as locks for the 1 and 2 spots respectively. The final three will be determined by a Spring Training game of Musical Arms, featuring the likes of Shawn Chacon, Chien-Ming Wang, Aaron Small, Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano. Oh yeah, and lefty Al Leiter has also received a non-roster invite to Tampa this March. Heaven only knows where he will eventually settle in.

The rotation looks set compared to the pen, which features two new left-handers in Mike Myers and Ron Villone to compliment righties Tanyon Sturtze, Kyle Farnsworth, Octavio Dotel and stopper Mariano Rivera.

We all know that quality pitching is scarce these days and it makes a fan wonder if Cashman & Co. are loading up on mediocrity just to pad the roster. Nonetheless, as Joe Torre has said in the past, these are problems most managers would beg for.

On the Mend

2006-02-09T10:24:00.000-05:00

I’ve always liked Yankee reliever Ramiro Mendoza and feel he could be a valuable component in any bullpen if used properly. So I’m encouraged by the news out of Tampa that he’s feeling more like the pitcher that was an integral piece of the Yankee dynasty of the 90s.

During that time, Joe Torre was cautious with the right-hander, using him for an occasional emergency start or long relief, but nothing steady. His numbers were pretty impressive in that role, compiling a 3.75 in 2001 and improving to a 3.44 in 2002.

But when he donned a Red Sox uniform in 2003, then manager Grady Little decided Mendoza would work best as a starter. Ramiro’s 6.75 ERA that year (his worst since his rookie season) in a third less innings pitched confirmed that the reliever was being misused. And he hasn’t been the same since, opting for shoulder surgery in January of 2005 and pitching only one inning last season.

While yesterday’s throwing session isn’t necessarily, in and of itself, a harbinger of things to come for the Yanks and Mendoza, the pitcher’s winter ball campaign in Venezuela certainly has the club feeling very optimistic that Ramiro will be able to make a significant contribution in 2006.

Mendoza’s first big test will come in the WBC, as the hurler will take the ball for his native country of Panama.

Sour Grapes

2006-02-08T19:58:00.000-05:00

Seattle Seahawks fans, along with Coach Mike Holmgren, were rebuffed yesterday by the NFL as the league stood by the officiating of Sunday’s Super Bowl. According to league officials, no mistakes were made by the crew.

Of course bitter Seahawks fans, looking to blame anything other than the piss-poor play of their team, including countless drops and penalties in the redzone and the clock mismanagement by Mike Holmgren, disagree and have started a petitition that few outside of the region will care about.

In general, the officiating throughout the playoffs has been sub-par, relative to the already mediocre level we get during the regular season. However the controversy here isn’t about blatant blown calls like Troy’s pick in Indy. It’s about indistinguishably close calls that could have gone either way.

To recap:

The Jackson offensive pass interference call which negated a Seattle TD was, in fact, offensive pass interference. Jackson reached out and nudged Chris Hope. It’s a cheap foul, but a foul nonetheless. To argue for a non-call in a situation where a foul, by the rulebook, was committed is a non-starter.

Did Ben cross the goaline for Pittsburgh’s first TD or not? I have no idea. And you know what? Neither does anyone else who witnessed the play via television and subsequent instant replays. That’s why the call on the field stood. No Seattle fan can say that he/she saw a space between the nose of the ball and the goaline because it was impossible to tell. Even if the TD was overturned, Pittsburgh was looking at a 4th down and less than an inch. Cowher has stated that he would have gone for it and the odds are very slim that an undersized defense like Seattle was going to stop Ben on a QB Sneak or The Bus on a HB Dive. The call, in and of itself, doesn’t necessarily change the complexion of the game as much as it delayed the inevitable. If it was a 4th down play, then that’s another story. But, it wasn’t.

A holding call on Sean Locklear negated a catch by Jerramy Stevens that would have put Seattle on the 1 yardline, with a chance to put Seattle ahead with 12 minutes left to play. The instant replay was inconclusive. However, holding in the NFL is one of those things, much like fouls in basketball that could be called on almost every pass play. NFL officials allow some instances to go un-flagged while flagging the most egregious. This case looked like another close call similar to the pass interference call where the player was technically in the wrong, but officials, nine out of ten times, don’t call it. However, operating in the gray area of the rule book is like playing Musical Chairs, or in this case, Russian Roulette. If you get caught, you still pay. Having been pulled over for doing 59 MPH in a 55 MPH zone, I can relate. But I still had to pay the ticket. Moreover, there were many more blatant holds that the officials didn’t call. Seattle fans aren’t bitching about that. Of course not.

Lastly, there’s the low block call on Hasselbeck which tacked an extra 15 onto the interception runback. Ironically, this is the most irrelevant call of all as well as being the most obviously incorrect. Hasselbeck was clearly going for the ball carrier and never made contact with the player he was supposed to have committed the foul on. Does this change anything? Not really. It was a post-possession foul and only the final spot of the ball would have been influenced. The dagger was the turnover, not the runback. Pittsburgh would have still denied the Seahawks and, given that the Steelers scored on a gadget play where Seattle clearly blew the coverage, the 15 yards wouldn’t have kept them off the scoreboard. At worst, the Steelers kick a field goal to cap that drive and still beat the point spread.

The controversial calls do not change the cold reality that the Seahawks were beaten by three big plays in which a shaky defensive backfield blew assignments. The third down scramble/completion to MVP Hines Ward in the first half, to set up the controversial goaline call was blown coverage. Fast Willie’s 75 yard run was sprung by a defensive back committing too far inside. And lastly, the gadget play suckered a second stringer towards the line, leaving Ward wide open over the top for the game-sealer. These stinkers from the Seahawks could have been expected, given that they were ranked 27th in the NFL defending the pass and suffered injuries to their secondary during the course of the game.

Big plays, dropped passes, and red-zone penalties killed the Seahawks on Sunday, not the refs. To blame others for your own failures as a coach is just irresponsible and classless. Thanks for playing Mike, don’t forget your umbrella.

Supa Dupa

2006-02-07T07:12:00.000-05:00

If you don’t succeed at first, try try again. Such is the mantra of the Bill Cowher era Steelers as the final obstacle came down Sunday night in a 21-to-10 Super Bowl win over the Seattle Seahawks. The ugliest victory of the playoff tournament snared the franchise’s fifth Lombardi Trophy, Bill Cowher’s first, and will hopefully reverse the coach’s big-game curse and cement his legacy.

The run-up to Super Bowl Sunday was relatively uneventful, featuring only a prefabricated trash talk exchange courtesy of Porter, Stevens, and more Porter. When it came time to get serious, neither team appeared ready to play, especially Big Ben and the Steelers’ offense as they failed to make a first-down for the first 19 minutes of the game. While Seattle was able to move the ball effectively, they proved to be their own worst enemies after they crossed mid-field, committing numerous drive-stalling penalties with only 3 points to show for their first-half domination.

When the offense did finally wake up, the Steelers were able to cap off a drive with a crucial, improvised 3rd down conversion by Ben to Hines Ward, which put the ball inside the Seattle 5 yardline. After The Bus failed to punch it in, Roethlisberger did the honors himself by barely, if at all, clearing the goal line on a bootleg. After watching numerous replays courtesy of ABC and Tivo, I still couldn’t tell if he made it. But the ball and the calls were going Pittsburgh’s way (for once) and the TD stood. Seattle was able to mount a challenge late but the clock played tricks on Mike Holmgren, as the Seahawks squandered time, threw into the end-zone one time too many, and were left with nothing to show for their efforts.

Fast-Willie and the Steelers opened up the third quarter with a 75 yard TD run, the longest in Super Bowl history. Suddenly the Steelers were in control of the game, cracking open a 14-3 second half lead. Often when teams win ugly, they’ll take charge in the time around the halftime break, capitalizing on the natural tendency to relax. It worked for them in Denver and it was working again in Detroit.

But just when you think you can kick back, pop the champagne, and watch the offense pound the ball into the endzone for the knock-out blow, we flashback to Indy and Jerome’s fumble. Ben almost managed to duplicate that moment when he threw what was almost The Pick II. But after a slick gadget courtesy, Ike returned the favor at the most opportune moment to close out the most serendipitous sports-fan ride for me since the ’96 Yankees.

Ultimately this day will let the air out of the Cowher haters of Steeler Nation, although it would never eliminate the odor. This select group has hated on the man from day one, angrily defending their hatred on every message board and Yahoo/MySpace group but yet NEVER offering any alternatives. “If not Bill then who?” is always met with silence. To you I say, SHUT UP ALREADY, YOU WERE WRONG. With one win, Bill Cowher gets it all, the ring and a very strong regular season win/loss record. You have to consider him for the Hall of Fame at this point. Only the Packers have won more games over his tenure than the Steelers. Not saying he’s a lock, but he’s knocking on the door.

If there was ever an event made for today’s media saturated times, it’s the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, accompanying over-hype tends to jade a fan’s perspective. Looking over the week, the big stories were Young-Boy Ben’s maturation, the two sides of Troy, and Joey’s WWF audition tape. They were all great stories, but none had anything to do with reality because neither three, however prominent in the previous playoff games, turned in impact performances last night. This disconnect ultimately calls the validity of the hype, which was focused exclusively on a small nexus of players, into question. It’s time to take a step back from the BS, especially when it’s follow the leader on coverage.

One Steeler that cannot get enough hype is Hines Ward. The MVP award is really about more than just this game, as Hines was the first to admit that he left some plays out on the field. You really got the sense that he was surprised at the recognition. He had some key drops but made the plays that needed to be made at pivotal times in the game, namely the third down playground catch to set up the Steelers’ first TD and the TD catch from Randle El for the game-breaker. But this award validates the hard work of every selfless and tenacious player who loves to block off-camera as much as he likes to make big catches. Hines is like Rudy, but with athletic ability.

Lastly, I just want to say thanks to my all time favorite Steeler, Jerome Bettis and congratulate him on a Hall of Fame career. Thanks for making all of our rivals look like pussies when they try and arm-tackle you in the fourth quarter. Thanks for lying about your weight in the program, just so you can have that veil of mystique about you. Thanks for the couple of bonehead fumbles - again, with the suspense thing. But most of all, thanks for being a winner and taking less money to stick around and play second string to a guy we’ll forget about long before you. Even though you were a Cowboys fan growing up, I won’t hold it against you. Peace out and I’ll see you at the lanes - even though I don’t bowl, you get what I mean.

Now, on to baseball.

AFC CHAMPS!!!!!!

2006-01-23T13:59:00.000-05:00

After coming off of a franchise best 15-and-1 season, the 2005 Steelers, while highly regarded initially, dug themselves into a pit of underachievement in the month of November. Yesterday, in the mile high altitude of Denver, the Pittsburgh Steelers dug in and pulled themselves to the AFC peak by dominating the #2 seeded Broncos.

The win capped a 10 year, pothole filled road back to the Super Bowl and a chance for the elusive one-for-the-thumb. Countless times, the Steelers went into the playoffs as the number one seed, only to lose playoff/championship games at home. And then there was “The Pick” in the Super Bowl. The Marty Schottenheimer legacy of never being able to win the big one stuck to Bill Cowher like stale chewing gum to the bottom of a sneaker on a July day. And after the home loss to Cincinnati, which marked the low point of the 2005 season, it didn’t look like the Steelers would make the playoffs, much less contend for the conference title. But that type of adversity was exactly what the club needed.

Prosperity was never a Cowher coached team’s friend. Instead it was a cue to sit back, relax and wait for teams to hand the Steelers playoff wins. But this year was different. Pittsburgh has to earn it and it was clear from the get-go. Underdogs in all three ROAD playoff games, the Steelers responded by dominating the conference’s top three teams in successive weeks, including the consensus paper Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, to become the only 6th seed to ever make it to the Super Bowl.

The big difference this year is Ben Roethlisberger. No longer a rookie making rookie mistakes, Big Ben grew up and answered the call week after week down the stretch. The Bengals, Colts, and Broncos all played the run against the Steeler offense, putting the game into Ben’s hands, bum thumb, bruised triceps and whatever other top secret aliment he has going on. Number Seven responded with an NFL best 124.8 passer rating over the past three games. And in
Denver’s case, it seemed like he could complete almost any pass he wanted. Even Cedric Wilson grabbed a touch.

Dick LeBeau’s defense finally proved to be the real deal, confusing three of the top offensive lines and passers in the AFC. Even now, after the fact, the Bengals, Colts and Broncos still don’t know what hit them. But let’s be real, the ball bounced the Steelers’ way from the Hines Ward catch off the deflection in the first drive of the game. The defection had me thinking ‘here we go again’ as it looked like a sure pick and TD, only it came down in Ward’s arms for a Steeler first down.

The big question mark coming into the game was Jake Plummer. Would he continue his roll or revert back to the self imploding QB that led the Cards and Broncos to nowhere in seasons past? Two fumbles and two picks answered that question. But it should have been academic after Peyton Manning’s inability to solve a Steeler blitz tailor made for slow reading QBs. For me, the deal was sealed at 17-to-3. At that point, the Broncos’ running game had to be shelved, spelling doom for Jake’s Super Bowl dreams.

Lastly, I must say that I’m amazed at how Steeler Nation has grown. Three years ago, it was barely a colony, much less a national movement. The Steelers have become trendy in the same alt/blue collar way the Red Sox became the darlings of the Williamsburg set two years ago. It used to be that I was among maybe two or three guys who would show up for Steelers’ games at the local sports bar here in Brooklyn. This season, it’s safe to say it was a Steelers’ bar, with Pittsburgh games on the main screen, instead of Jets’ games. Some long-time Pittsburgh fans get bitter over bandwagon fans, especially when we get mistaken for them. But in the end, I don’t mind. I’ve always had a personal bond with the franchise that, to me, embodied old-school hardnosed football. They were a team that was a little different - no cheerleaders and a logo on only one side of their helmet. The fan base seemed to be fragmented and low-key. But now I see hipsters and b-boys alike in NYC rockin’ the black and gold US Steel knockoff as well as a sea of Terrible Towels on TV at every road game. It’s amazing. But, this is the type of softie, tear-jerk stuff I should save for my post-Super Bowl victory post in two weeks.

But the Steelers still have work to do. The top team in the NFC along with the NFL’s MVP won’t roll over for us anymore than the New England teams that have frustrated us over the past few years did.

Until then, let’s just lap up the hype and the I-knew-it-all-alongs that will come from every prognosticator who left the Steelers for dead seven weeks ago. Back then, I challenged the Steelers to show us what they’re made of and they’ve done exactly that.

Firepower!

2006-01-17T11:55:00.000-05:00

Team USA announced its initial roster for the World Baseball Classic yesterday. Due to the size of the roster and some no-shows, the team isn’t the equivalent of Olympic basketball’s original Dream Team. Still, it’s a nice mix of HOF bound vets and young turks. My only beef is that the bullpen has only two lefties in Mike Wagner and Brian Fuentes. But I’ll breakdown the roster and matchups later on, as we get closer to the first pitch in March. For now, here’s Team USA:

Starting pitchers
Bonderman, Jeremy, RHP -- Detroit Tigers
Clemens, Roger, RHP -- Free agent (formerly Houston Astros)
Halladay, Roy, RHP -- Toronto Blue Jays
Hudson, Tim, RHP -- Atlanta Braves
Leiter, Al, LHP -- New York Yankees
Peavy, Jake, RHP -- San Diego Padres
Pettitte, Andy, LHP -- Houston Astros
Sabathia, C.C., LHP -- Cleveland Indians
Willis, Dontrelle, LHP -- Florida Marlins

Relief pitchers
Cordero, Chad, RHP -- Washington Nationals
Fuentes, Brian, LHP -- Colorado Rockies
Jones, Todd, RHP -- Detroit Tigers
Lidge, Brad, RHP -- Houston Astros
Nathan, Joe, RHP -- Minnesota Twins
Shields, Scot, RHP -- Los Angeles Angels
Street, Huston, RHP -- Oakland Athletics
Timlin, Mike, RHP -- Boston Red Sox
Wagner, Billy, LHP -- New York Mets
Wheeler, Dan, RHP -- Houston Astros

Catchers
Barrett, Michael -- Chicago Cubs
Lo Duca, Paul -- New York Mets
Mauer, Joe -- Minnesota Twins
Moeller, Chad -- Milwaukee Brewers
Schneider, Brian -- Washington Nationals
Varitek, Jason -- Boston Red Sox

Infielders
Counsell, Craig -- Arizona Diamondbacks
Ensberg, Morgan -- Houston Astros
Hall, Bill -- Milwaukee Brewers
Jeter, Derek -- New York Yankees
Jones, Chipper -- Atlanta Braves
Lee, Derrek -- Chicago Cubs
Rollins, Jimmy -- Philadelphia Phillies
Teixeira, Mark -- Texas Rangers
Utley, Chase -- Philadelphia Phillies
Wright, David -- New York Mets
Young, Michael -- Texas Rangers

Outfielders
Berkman, Lance -- Houston Astros
Bonds, Barry -- San Francisco Giants
Crawford, Carl -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Damon, Johnny -- New York Yankees
Griffey Jr., Ken -- Cincinnati Reds
Wells, Vernon -- Toronto Blue Jays

Baseball traditionalists and franchise partisans alike have poo-poo’ed the tournament claiming that it’s a publicity stunt that won’t result in increased exposure for the game and will lead to key players being injured or fatigued through the course of the regular season.

I was a fan of the game before I became a Yankee fan. As such, I am miles away from defending many of the current objections to this showcase.

Publicity Stunt
Um, yes the tournament, as is the case with every exhibition game, is designed to generate publicity and increase awareness for MLB. Don’t let the nay-sayers fool you, exhibition games are as old as MLB itself. Often, as in the case of the World Series, these exhibitions evolve into meaningful games, leaving many of the original objections to be recycled clichés for the next new exhibition format. Exhibition games, over the course of the 20th century have shown to increase awareness of the sport. The annual MLB All-Star tour of Japan is one such example. Sure, the Japanese were into baseball, but MLB certainly accelerated growth of that sport by having the likes of Babe Ruth tour the country once a year.

The WBC will not only reinforce the game in traditional pockets like the DR, Japan, Puerto Rico, etc., but will give MLB a boost in places like the Netherlands and Italy.

Injury / Fatigue Risk
I’m afraid I don’t see this at all, especially given that the games will be played during what would usually be spring training. Most of the players in the WBC will probably end up getting LESS work during that time than they would in spring training. From what I’ve seen so far, the tourney won’t be having split-squad games. So, on gameday, the reservists will be on the bench instead of on a bus to play an away spring training game.

Obviously, every time any athlete takes the field/court there will be an injury risk. And for some like Aaron Boone (pick-up basketball) or Sammy Sosa (sneezing), the injury risk extends beyond baseball. But the obvious reality is this: ballplayers play ball. That’s what they do. The notion of saving superstars for selective competition is silly. I have said so many times over with respects to football and it goes double for baseball, where the chances of a freak injury a la Carson Palmer are much lower. Moreover, true competitors WANT/NEED to compete. The Derek Jeters of the world will never be in favor of sitting today so that they may preserve themselves for tomorrow, especially since tomorrow isn’t guaranteed in professional sports. Many players don’t have the luxury of knowing in advance when their last game will be.

I reckon that as time passes, many of the current objections will fade away just as those that opposed just about every innovation from the World Series to the Wild Card did. Unfortunately, the status quo crowd will remain, still ignorant of the reality that while the game of baseball is an institution and three strikes should always remain three strikes, the way it’s presented must evolve with our society. If it doesn’t it will surely perish and take the game down the drain with it.

ALMOST Your Bad!

2006-01-16T10:19:00.000-05:00

You were just playin’ Jerome. Right? You were just messin’ with our emotions when you fumbled the ball at the goaline when we were just starting to celebrate one of the biggest Steeler wins since the win against the Colts that sent us to the Super Bowl ten years ago. You just wanted to see us sweat by carrying a loaf into the pile cuz you knew that Ben had your back with Nick Harper. After all, the dude’s girl stabbed him last night. He’s not outrunning anybody. See, I knew you were up on that.

I’m glad you’re such a great showman, JB, because if you would have ended your career like that you would have gone out like one of the biggest bitches in Steelers, no, Pittsburgh sports history - and it would have been tragic. Not only that, but your standing as my favorite Steeler of all time would be in jeopardy. But that’s what makes it great, you keep us on the edge of our seats.

And you had some help too - although Cowher’s fourth down calls were necessary risks that, for once, demonstrated that Cowher was willing to do any and everything to win a big game. The calls didn’t result in any points but shaved precious time off the 4th quarter clock. But if we didn’t get those couple of inches, I don’t even want to think about the blown gaskets all over western PA and beyond.

Those last five minutes reminded me of the equal strength setting on video games that would magically enable one team to catch up at the end of the game, no matter what the deficit. But if the Steelers would have blown it, I would fault the fumble at the goal line as the reason, not the blown pass interference call in the first half nor the overturn of Troy’s pick nor the other second half wierdness. But still, I’m just sayin’.

I’ve never been a fan of resting players for the playoffs. It never pays off because it opens a team up to coming out flat in the first round. It’s happened to teams like the White Sox and Yankees in baseball and it happened to the Colts today. If players could just turn it on, we wouldn’t need pre-season/spring training.

To the Steelers’ credit, they never let Peyton Manning get his feet under him. The highest rated QB in the NFL wasn’t able to get into a rhythm until the 4th quarter. Red flags must have shot up on the Steelers’ bench after the Colts’ first TD drive, as it appeared that Peyton and his front line had figured Dick LeBeau’s trickery out. And it was just a matter of time before he reeled all of Steeler Nation in. But time was something the Steelers were able to chew up as early as the 3rd quarter with an effective ground game. And let’s not forget Cowher’s genius/goat moves on successive 4th downs.

But it was close, right? After the fumble I felt like the frog from bio class, fresh from the formaldehyde bath and pinned spread eagle in the dissection tray, waiting for a gut check. It was the most vulnerable I’ve felt as a sports fan in a long time. If you were like me, you entered today with lowered expectations. You were probably thinking of things the Steelers had to execute so as to just be in the game in the second half - stuff like: no turnovers (so much for that logic), defense has to pressure Manning (riiiight), someone has to make a big play, etc. Most of the prognostication establishment couldn’t even come up with ways the Steelers could possibly have an outside, long-shot chance at making this game interesting, much less winning it.

And when it was 21-3, I don’t know about you, but I was starting to believe in a lot more than just this football game. As Porter dropped Manning at the two yardline on a last gasp 4th-and-16 with a buck-twenty five left on the clock, I was queuing up every Steeler fight song on my i-Pod. Then, as Harper was racing down the middle of the field, I, for a moment, knew the pain of a Red Sox or Bungles’ fan. It was the you-have-got-to-fucking-kidding-me moment of the year, check that, my sports fan career. Yes, it trumps the Red Sox coming back on the Yanks.

As the Colts summarily marched towards their obvious destiny, I begged to be spared this condemnation. And it’s not just being sentenced to live with that awful image of Jerome, a hall of famer in what could have been his last play from scrimmage, forgetting fundamentals they teach you in pee-wee football and putting the ball right on a white helmet, it’s having to watch games from here on out believing it can all fall apart at any moment, no matter how far up we are. But Vander-jerk saved us all with a stinky beef of his own that he kicked closer to the sideline than the goalpost. What got me was his reaction. He slammed his helmet down after missing a game winning kick that he should have never had in the first place. Don’t worry Mike, no one will fault you for losing the game - it was a team effort.

So now, after the fact, I’m wondering what excuse the Steeler-haters in the media are gonna give now. Last week it was the Palmer injury. But this week an even better QB in Peyton Manning played the entire game and the result was the same - a Steeler defense executed an excellent game plan to throw another high-powered offense out of sync. But the Steelers have kinda brought it upon themselves. We’ve underachieved this year and have underachieved in just about every post-season in the Cowher era. I’m gonna have to let go of my respect issues. We were respected last year and the team handled the prosperity poorly. This underdog thing is working well and we’re on a roll, so let’s play it out. It’s how it all started off for the New England Patriots, it’s how it can start here.

Looking ahead to Denver, the grade doesn’t level off at all. Ok, so the Broncos are a softer team than the Colts. And they don’t have the strike at will offense the Bengals and Indy possessed. But they have a strongest defense the Steelers have faced since the Bears and a one hell of a 12th man in the mile high altitude. Anyone who’s stepped off the plane at Denver International for the first time can attest. So Steelers’ fans shouldn’t book their flights to Motown just yet.

When one combines the altitude with an inevitable letdown potential and a sketchy big game coach in Bill Cowher (you didn’t his whole record was erased in one upset, did you?), the one-for-the-thumb quest winds down to one final mythical test. If the Steelers pass it, the Super Bowl, and any team it brings from the NFC, will merely be the epilogue to this run. For the first time since before the Ravens loss, I believe this team can win it all.

Dem Bungles!

2006-01-10T10:38:00.000-05:00

The hype-filled balloon that was the 2005 Cincinnati Bengals came crashing down early Sunday evening, not when QB Carson Palmer left the game after his first pass attempt, but after a botched field goal attempt to conclude an impressive drive to open the third quarter. Up until that special teams faux pas, John Kitna and the Bengals showed surprising resilience, seemingly moving the ball at will while amassing a ten point lead.

But playoff teams can go only so far on hype and emotion. Then, the experience factor takes over, and Cincy was noticeably thin in that department. After the high field goal snap, the Steelers marched down the field for a TD and sucked the air right out of the building. The Bengals were never able to recover. Instead they offered up penalties, picks and sacks. The confident Kitna from the first half could only run for his life in the second.

Hats off to the Steelers though. Down ten points, on the road in a playoff game, Pittsburgh responded by ripping the Bengals for 24 unanswered points. Aside from the lack of experience, the Bengals had another glaring weakness. They couldn’t stop the running game. To overcompensate, Cincy put eight in the box, challenging Big Ben to beat them in the air. And the sophomore did just that by throwing for a typically efficient 14-for-19 with 3 TDs and, most importantly, no picks. The backbreaker came on a flea-flicker to Cedrick Wilson at the end of the third quarter to extend the Steeler lead to 11.

All in all, I’m very pleased with how the team responded to their first 2005 post-season challenge, although I’m a little disappointed with the halftime defensive adjustments. Cincy’s third quarter opening drive was too efficient for my taste, even though they sputtered down to a red-zone flameout.

I’ll go out on a limb and say that the Steelers have the ability to win against Indy on Sunday. In fact, I feel that the Steelers will find themselves in a position to take control of the game in the second half. Whether or not they walk through the open door is another story, but the opportunity will present itself.

It’s important for the Steelers not to fall in to the same trap that the Bengals succumbed to: folding early. In their last encounter with the Colts it was encouraging to see them pick themselves up after the Harrison touchdown catch. The defense seemed to have figured the Peyton Manning express out after the first quarter. But logistical problems on the other side of the ball took over. The noise level inside the dome was too much for a team that did not utilize a silent snap and had so much inexperience on the offensive line that night. I’m somewhat concerned because the noise in Cincinnati caused a slight hiccup.

However, in order to get the opportunity to win, the Steelers must realize that they will have to run the ball effectively no matter what the score may be. The weight will be squarely on the offensive line’s shoulders. Furthermore, Big Ben et al. cannot, under any circumstances, turn the ball over. The turnovers are post-season quicksand. Playoff games are won by teams who are able to run the ball, stop the run, and win the takeaway tally. It’s a tall order against Indy but the Steelers are capable of playing inspired but smart football on Sunday. The point spread should certainly act as a motivator.

Trifecta

2006-01-01T21:06:00.000-05:00

In probably his last home game of his career, Jerome Bettis did the “heavy lifting” for the Steelers by scoring 3 TDs as the Steelers clinched the sixth and final AFC playoff spot with a 35-21 win over Detroit today.

If you didn’t catch the game, trust me, it was a lot closer than the score. And, as such, I have some concerns I’d like to share with someone at the training facility.

I’m concerned about our defense as a whole since they were unable to stop Detroit for much of the first half. The Lions’ 9-for-16 3rd down efficiency harbingers Steeler playoff collapses during the latter half of the Cowher era.

While it’s great that the team came through in a must-win situation at home against an NFC bottom-feeder, we still can’t get too jacked up. Roethlisberger was horrible, going 7-for-16 for 135 and two picks - but he did score head-first (watch the thumb/shoulder/knee!).

What really concerns me is that the Steelers had significant opportunities (chances they can never count on from any of their future opponents) to put the Lions away, especially at the end of the first half. Detroit gift-wrapped the game and the Steelers-refused to accept the present because it wasn’t in our size. Maybe we were on guard because Detroit is a known re-gifter.

Lucky for us the difference between teams like Detroit and teams like Indy come down to more peripheral elements of the game, like special teams execution. And Detroit’s incompetence in that area bailed the Steelers out of a tight spot down the homestretch of this season.

It’s also lucky for us that teams like New England, Indy, and Cincy are ending on low notes. I’ve never been a fan of sitting starting players. First unit guys are used to playing every week. It’s where their rhythm comes from, their intensity. If there are significant injuries then it’s no prob. But if we’re just talking about resting sore bones, I’m not feelin’ it. Money that one of those teams gets beat in their first playoff game, whatever round that may come up in.

It’s sooo lucky for us that we get Cincy in the first round. Talk about an opportunity to lower the team’s psychotherapy bills this week. No doubt, Chad and T.J. didn’t plan on seeing the Steelers again as they were flipping us off in the papers after the last game between these two teams. Baby needs a spanking!

And, oddly, it’s lucky for us that we have to go on the road this year. For some reason, Cowher-coached teams tend to lose focus at home, especially in the playoffs. Going on the road seems to instill an us-against-the-world mentality into the club. When we appear on SI covers and get to sleep in our own beds is when we stumble. Prosperity ? our buddy.

And it’s really lucky for us that we finally seem to know who we are as a team. We are not relying on Ben and his top-secret thumb to win games. Willie Parker went over the century mark again this week and was able to take the ball for 26 of Pittsburgh’s 44 rushing attempts. He showed the type of explosiveness that will work wonders against the Bengals next week.

Lastly I want to thank The Bus for all the memories and for setting a smash-mouth tone that resonates throughout Steeler Nation. It’s a pain-inflicting, old school swagger that takes us back to the Steel Curtain days and has awakened Steeler fans in sports bars across the country. Thanks for giving me some company down-the-local on Sundays.

BODYSLAM!

2005-12-25T10:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday’s 41-0 pummeling of the Cleveland Browns was more of a scrimmage against a JV or practice squad than a measure of the Steelers’ fitness given that the Clowns proved that they are, essentially, still an expansion team.

Domination was the theme of the day as Cleveland served as the Steelers’ punching bag from the opening kickoff to the final gun. During the first quarter, one would wonder if the Browns sent a high school team out onto the field wearing Cleveland uniforms as Pittsburgh outgained the Browns 196-1 and had 162 passing yards to minus-2 for Cleveland while leading 9 to 0 in the first down department.

Roethlisberger ended up 13-for-20 for 226 yards before sitting out the last quarter, while Hines Ward grabbed seven receptions for 105 yards and a TD. Willie Parker’s 80 yard garbage-time TD blast put him well over the century mark for the game and 1,000 yards for the season.

The exclamation point came when a Clown faithful ran out onto the field and LB James Harrison got a chance to audition for a post-NFL, WWE career by bodyslamming him into the turf. It was oh so sweet because, as Stiller fans know, Clown fans love to talk smack endlessly, no matter how poor their team is faring.

While this was another must-win situation for the Steelers, the level of competition was so poor, it’s impossible to gauge where the Steelers stack up against AFC playoff teams. Next week’s matchup against the Detroit Lions at home will be a similar situation. However, if the Steelers win, they clinch a playoff berth. If not, well...let’s not think about that.

It's Official: Bernie's Back

2005-12-22T10:51:00.000-05:00

Bernie Williams’ farewell tour of ’05 will be extended for at least another year as the iconographic Yankee centerfielder agreed to a one year, $1.5 million incentive laden contract. The deal comes as no surprise given the wink-wink deal the Yankees struck with Bernie’s agent earlier this month. When combined with the Damon and Dotel signings, Williams’ return caps a bountiful holiday shopping spree for Cashman & Co.

Yanks Open Up the Wallet for Damon

2005-12-21T13:44:00.000-05:00

Apparently, the Yankee’s earlier hot stove frugality was for the purpose of blowing their bank on free agent CF Johnny Damon. The club has announced a deal similar to last month’s pact with Hideki Matsui - $52 million over four years.

Apparently Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, came to an early realization that the market wasn’t biting on a seven-year term. So much so that the negotiations only lasted 48 hours (with about 40 of those devoted to hair length.)

Damon was at the bottom of my centerfield wishlist mainly because of Boras and his initial posture. Also, Damon is more of what the Yankees do not need - a high priced thirty-something. I was feeling better and better about the front office’s new philosophy of youth and flexibility, while becoming accustomed to Bubba Crosby or some other unheralded defensive specialist roaming centerfield in 2006.

However, Damon fits their needs more than any other player. While I don’t like his rubber-arm, his speed and run scoring abilities are the keystone that the Yankees have been looking for since the departure of Chuck Knoblauch. The other bonus is that he’s a free agent. No young gun sacrifice to the small markets necessary here.

Ultimately it’s a great deal for the Yankees, especially within the context of the American League East. It essentially passes the centerfield buck to Boston, as the Red Sox are now the team on the ropes to acquire a leadoff hitter and a centerfielder.

On the pitching front, the Yankees went out on a limb a little and signed reliever Octavio Dotel. The former closer is recovering from surgery and should be ready to go by April, which put the Yankees in the position of bidding against the Mets sight unseen. I like Dotel a lot. But we will have to wait until a significant portion of the schedule is played before we can determine if he is the same pitcher he was in Houston. Let’s hope he’s not the same as he was in Oakland. But hey, a similar gamble paid off with Jon Lieber. Let’s hope it works out here.

Yanks Acquire Villone

2005-12-17T14:34:00.000-05:00

The Yankees took another step towards fortifying their bullpen by completing a trade with the Florida Marlins for veteran reliever Ron Villone. The Marlins are in the midst of a garage sale and the 36-year-old lefty was priced to move, costing the Yankees RP Ben Julianel, their 26th-best prospect as ranked by Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook.

Villone, who went 5-5 with a 4.08 ERA last year with Seattle and Florida, represents another step towards greater flexibility on the Yankees’ roster. He can start, set-up, do long relief, or function as a lefty specialist.

The icing on the cake for Villone, a tri-State area native, is that he will be working for pitching coach Ron Guidry, his childhood idol.

Not In Our House!

2005-12-15T10:32:00.000-05:00

It was a pretty quiet day in Yankee headlines as everyone awaits Nomar’s decision.

However, the decision by the US Treasury department to block the Cuban team from participating in the World Baseball Classic sent such a jolt through my system that I tossed the rest of my coffee. I’m awake now.

A Treasury spokeswoman offered this:

“Generally speaking, the Cuba embargo prohibits entering into contracts in which Cuba or Cuban nationals have an interest.”

The big question is whether “Generally” is a throwaway or it implies that there are exception to the policy – which was worded more like a guideline than a law.

Gene Ozra, COO of the MLBPA seems confident that the Cubans will play. For me, the current status is ridiculous. But then again, how can we be surprised by anything associated with the Bush Administration. Our Cuba policy isn’t about Communism. If it were, why are we talking and trading with China? And it’s not about repressive regimes. If it were, why are we talking to (insert country here)? Cuba is about pork politics, pure and simple. It’s about Republicans pandering to a constituency in South Florida that has the ability to swing a Presidential swing state in an election.

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to turn blue waiting for the stench of this administration to blow over. I thought it was going to pass quickly, much like the urine smell in the subway or the invisible mini-mushroom cloud sparked by last night’s Mexican food. But I guess I was wrong. Let’s hope a reversal of this decision will, at the very least, dilute the funk.

Face Paint

2005-12-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

I came across this on Flickr. Many face-painters will go for just the colors. Only the bold would go for the full helmet design, stripe and logo (well, minus the text) included.

I wonder how he fared in the snow and sleet.

Torre to Nomar: We’re Interested

2005-12-14T11:06:00.000-05:00

The Nomar rumors kicked into high gear, as Joe Torre put a call in to the free agent to let him know the Yanks want him in the Bronx.

The contestants in the Garciaparra Swiss-Army-Knife-sweepstakes are down to three: Houston, Cleveland and the Yankees. Sources close to the ex-All-Star shortstop believe that he will make a choice this weekend. Both the Astros and Indians have Nomar measured for a corner outfield spot, while the Yankees look to have him primarily at first-base, although the outfield remains a possibility, as centerfield is still unresolved. Garciaparra could find himself, on occasion, in center or left, as Matsui played centerfield in Japan and has subbed admirably for Bernie Williams.

It won’t be the end of the world if Nomar goes somewhere else. But, I hope he’ll sign with the Yankees. He’s a class-act with some mileage left in his tank and would be a solid addition to any roster.

No Letdown!

2005-12-14T10:31:00.000-05:00

Coach Cowher stressed that the Steelers’ approach to this week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings will be no different than their approach to the Bears last week: BACK TO BASICS.

We presume that means full pad practices, which will put a smile on most Stiller fans, as the team was able to manhandle a highly physical Chicago defense last Sunday. However, the Vikings are ripe for underestimation. With both KC and San Diego losing last week, the Steelers playoff hopes have brightened, even though the team remains in a precarious do-or-die bind and still doesn’t control its destiny. The combination of the letdown potential and a dome game against a hot team with a better offense than the Bears should have fans on the edge of their seats on Sunday.

Cowher also took a page from the Scott McClellan playbook and continued his no-comment position on Big Ben’s thumb. The rationale is clear. If Roethlisberger can’t throw the ball downfield, don’t confirm it for your opponent. Let them lose sleep over whether or not it’s true.

Hold ‘Em

2005-12-13T11:30:00.000-05:00

Brian Cashman is holding on to his starting pitching as if his life depended on it. The Daily News offered up one of those devil’s advocate pieces, hinting that the Yankees could improve their centerfield situation by dealing one of their starters.

It’s stupid to assert such at this stage of hot-stove because such a notion is predicated upon the All-Star at every position expectation that many Yankee fans and Yankee-haters alike cannot let go of.

If the Yankees go the entire winter without signing a big name centerfielder, while being able to hold onto young talent like Robinson Cano, Chien Ming Wang, and Shawn Chacon, then so be it. And until the NY jury returns on Carl Pavano, he’s apart of that group as well.

Remember, this is a team that won the 95 games and drew record crowds in the process. It’s not a ship that needs drastic correction, especially in terms of positional players. The only essential tweak is getting this team younger and cheaper, while maintaining the same number of regular season wins (you can’t bank on the post-season tournament).

Ultimately, the un-sexy priorities of the bullpen and minor league depth are more important than signing what mediocre centerfield talent that’s out there this winter. While I liked Juan Pierre when he was available, he’s not worth giving up anything of significance.

It’s refreshing to see a lid on the impulse shopping in the Bronx. Let’s hope it stays that way until, at the very least, we see another generation of Jeters, Bernies, and Pettittes.

MEN OF STEEL!

2005-12-12T11:40:00.000-05:00

Over the past week, every blogger, journalist, and fan, including myself, challenged the Steelers to shake off the rust and re-capture their identity as a physical, run/defense oriented club. And boy did our team respond.

Yesterday afternoon, in the December wind and snow, the Pittsburgh Steelers regained their playoff footing with a 21-to-9 handling of the Chicago Bears. The win is especially sweet as the Steelers did it their way, by running the football 46 times for 190 yards. One-hundred and one of those yards belonged to The Bus, along with two TDs. Bettis managed to turn back the clock once again, looking like the Jerome of old, particularly on the 39 yard scamper and the bruising, shoulders-to-the-grindstone 3rd quarter TD run which dealt the knockout blow to the Bears. The Bus lodged his first 100 yard game of the season.

Roethlisberger was frugal and efficient, eliminating the picks by keeping the pass attempts at 20. His sore thumb and the inclement weather limited the downfield stuff. But Big Ben was able to capitalize on openings underneath, especially in the first half.

The Steelers also caught two breaks from the out-of-town scoreboard, as both the Chargers and Chiefs lost, putting the sixth seed race into a tie. Pittsburgh does not own tiebreaks but will benefit from the schedule, given that KC and San Diego will play one another in two weeks. In addition, the Chargers will have to face the Colts and Broncos before it’s all said and done. The Steelers travel to Minnesota (tricky dome situation) and Cleveland before they close out the season against the Detroit Lions at home.

Denied!

2005-12-12T00:20:00.000-05:00

The Yankees have blocked catcher Jorge Posada from participating in the World Baseball Classic next spring. The veteran Puerto Rican wanted to play for his native country but the Yankees felt that the extra stress of the tournament would drastically increase the risk of injury over the course of the season.

Even though A-Rod, Jeter, Cano and Hideki are expected to suit up for the inaugural world tourney fashioned after soccer’s World Cup, it’s a wise move to hold the Yankees’ every-day catcher. And let’s face it, if Jorge went down, the Yankees’ fragile pitching staff would be on the ropes.

Your Weekend Release: It’s That Time of the Month for Hollywood

2005-12-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

Period pieces everywhere. A few of the notables:

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
(Fantasy)
Take your kids so you can stay up all night with them, warding off their nightmares – I dare you.

Brokeback Mountain
(Western)
Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger give new meaning to “in the saddle”.

Marebito
(Foreign / Horror)
You know Japanese horror movies can get really freaky. Add a subway system to the landscape and you’ll take the bus from now on.

Memoirs of a Geisha
(Period Drama)
A Chinese actress playing a Japanese prostitute...Hey, we stupid Americans aren’t supposed to be able to tell the difference.

Mrs. Henderson Presents
(Period Comedy)
Let’s hope, no pray, Judi Dench keeps her clothes on for this one.

The World’s Fastest Indian
(Period Drama)
A true story about the need for speed. Kinda like The Right Stuff, minus all that space shit.

Yanks Make a Left Turn

2005-12-09T10:10:00.000-05:00

In a move to buttress their bullpen, the Yankees signed lefty Mike Myers for somewhere in the $2.5 million range. Brian Cashman had his finger on the trigger for a couple of weeks, waiting on the Red Sox to offer arbitration to the 36 year-old. When Boston passed, the Bombers pounced, adding the lefty specialist to their pen.

In another move, sure to put joy in the hearts of Yankee fans, Cashman shipped utility-man Tony Womack to the Cincinnati Reds for minor-leaguers Kevin Howard and Ben Himes. Is Nomar on the horizon?

Mariah Leads the Nods

2005-12-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

R&B diva Mariah Carey leads all Grammy nominations with eight, including album of the year for “The Emancipation of Mimi” and song of the year for “We Belong Together”.

My favs on the list include: Kanye West, The Neptunes, U2 (aren’t they always there), Gwen Stefani, Ciara, The Black Eyed Peas, The Killers, Fatboy Slim, LCD Soundsystem, NIN, Beck, and Mos Def.

Welcome Back Bernie

2005-12-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

Even though he never wore another uniform, it seems like Bernie Williams is returning to the team, given that for much of last season Yankee fans were resigned to the centerfield icon’s departure. But that all changed at the arb deadline last night as the Yankees and William’s agent Scott Boras came to a handshake deal of sorts.

The Yankees will offer Bernie arbitration and, by agreement, Williams will decline, thus effectively extending the negotiation period until 1/8. While no actual deal is in place, the intent is out in the open. When we hear Boras’ name attached to any transaction, we fear a long, protracted auction ultimately winding its way up to a record-breaking number.
But the Yankees are thinking out loud in the $1.5 - $2 million plus incentives range. A wink-wink, nudge-nudge later and the Williams era is extended for at least another month and probably another year.

Men of Steel?

2005-12-07T22:26:00.000-05:00

In order to merely save face this season, the Steelers will have to leapfrog over both San Diego and Kansas City to qualify for the final AFC Wildcard spot, as Pittsburgh finds itself dead last in a four team dash for respectability. While the post-season seems just beyond our grasp and serious injuries getting more serious by the day, January football is still mathematically possible.

The Jags are up by two and the tie-break, with four to play and next week’s game at home against Indy. It’s probable that they will lose the Colts but improbable that they will lose to San Fran, Houston or Tennessee. The Steelers, no doubt, will be looking up at these guys the rest of the way. Forget about them.

When we look at San Diego, we can see a crack of daylight. First, the Steelers own the head-to-head tiebreak. Next, the Chargers must play Miami (probable win), Indy (loss), KC (win-win for the Steelers), and Denver, who could falter on the road. It’s very possible the Chargers could lose 2-of-4 down the stretch.

And things get even better with KC, as the Chiefs face three playoff bound teams as well as San Diego, who leads them in the standings. The Cowboys, Giants and Bengals should all be favored against Kansas City. Luckily for the Chiefs they have San Diego and Cincy at home.

So things aren’t as brutal as they felt on Sunday night. However, the one thing stat sticks out in the standings are the streaks. Everyone’s on a roll and Pittsburgh is in the toilet, going into a must win game. If the Steelers can’t beat the Bears at home, then it’s pretty much over. The hole will be too deep, despite a soft landing with Minnesota, Cleveland, and then Detroit at home.

Ironically, Tony Dungy holds the Steelers’ fate in his hands, at least marginally. Will he sit his starters, or at the very least his big guns, after the Colts have clinched everything there is to clinch? My guess is that he will try to win as many games as possible. Sitting may shield from injury, but it’s a magnate for rust.

Revenge of the Creationists

2005-12-06T16:52:00.000-05:00

University of Kansas religion professor Paul Mirecki was thrashed early this AM by a pro-Intelligent Design duo on a rural Douglas County road, south of Lawrence, Kansas.

Mirecki planned to teach a course critical of the theology which espouses that there are divine activities that can’t be explained by science. Beyond the course itself, the professor sent out an inflammatory email introducing the class entitled “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies”. In the announcement he referred to Christian fundamentalists as “fundies” and vowed that the course would be a “nice slap in their big fat face”.

OK, some first impressions here. Calling any religion’s creation story a myth, even though most must be because there is only one actual creation, will always piss (insert religion here) people off, especially “fundies”.

Secondly, if you live by the bitch-slap, you will die by the bitch-slap. Take it from me.

Trimspa Baby!

2005-12-06T15:56:00.000-05:00

Diet spokeswoman and former Guess! model Anna Nicole Smith finds herself in the crosshairs of Live 8 organizers after showing up to the event “scantily clad” and “intoxicated”.

A lawsuit filed in US District Court in Los Angeles contends that Smith’s attire for the event was unbecoming of a family-oriented show and besmirched the reputation of Live 8 within the entertainment industry – even though her get-up was pre-approved by the concert organizers.

The real target of the suit, however, is Trimspa, who stiffed Live 8 officials on a $320,000 promo fee it agreed to pay for four 30 second spots during the broadcast. Smith seems to be thrown in to sex the charges up and to provide some fanfare.

Obviously, it worked.

Must Win

2005-12-06T14:11:00.000-05:00

The road ahead for the Pittsburgh Steelers is a rocky, uphill slog to reach the post-season as the AFC’s lowest seed. It’s a path predicated on perfection the rest of the way. And even if the Steelers get their act together, they will need help from the San Diego Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs, who are each a game ahead of them.

At this point, I’m wondering if the Steelers deserve to get in. I have to disagree with Hines Ward’s contention:

"Why not? We're the same team that went 15-1. We're the same defense. It's the
majority of the same players on offense. It's mental now. No one has physically
beaten us. But mentally, I think with three losses, we just gotta get it going.
It's been a long time since we felt what a win feels like, and that's the
frustrating part, because we know what type of team we have."

I’m wondering what games Hines has been watching of late. We have been beaten physically the past three weeks by Baltimore, Indy and Cincy. All three of these teams of varying overall ability have come out of the locker room with much more intensity and focus than Pittsburgh. Everyone I’ve talked to that has watched all three of these games offers a similar take, along the lines of: the Steelers looked like they were playing in slow motion compared to ___________ .

More importantly, the imposters we’re watching now CAN’T/WON’T RUN THE FOOTBALL. The potential source of this meltdown, the tackles or the backs, is moot at this point, as we’re a long way away from pre-season tutorials. The one thing that can change however is the game plan. This set-up the-run-with-the-pass crap has got to go. Coincidentally or not, it originally surfaced when Maddox first came to town and re-reared its head when the journeyman stepped in for Ben Roethlisberger against the Jaguars.

Wherever it came from, it has to disappear if the Steelers want to make the playoffs. The cause and effect is pretty simple and consistent: if the Steelers throw the ball more than 25 times, they will turn it over and lose. We do not have the personnel for a pass-happy attack, so to attempt such invites defeat – every time. It is truly amazing that the Steelers have three backs and are willing to use none of them to control the football and win games.

The mantra amongst the coaching staff this week, against the Bears’ top rated defense, should be:

1. Run the football
2. Get the defense off the field on 3rd and long.
3. CYA on special teams

But, maybe it’s already too late to salvage this season. A look back at the Steelers’ losses and there are two glaring screw-ups, the kind that disqualify a team from being amongst the best. The Jacksonville game was considered to be an aberration not a foreshadowing. Twenty-five plus pass attempts, 4 turnovers (all committed by Maddox), and 73 yards rushing. Sound familiar? Then there’s the Baltimore blunder. Thirty-six pass attempts, 2 turnovers (both committed by Maddox). And, of course, there’s still the open wound of Sunday’s TKO: 41 pass attempts, 95 yards rushing and 4 turnovers (three Big Ben picks).

The QB spot is the deceptively weak link on the field. The more times we try to throw, the more turnovers we make. I can’t speak for Maddox, but with Roethlisberger, his efficiency comes when teams are looking run and they get play-action. Unlike many other run dominant teams, the Steelers can throw the ball downfield and make a play. But, it doesn’t mean they can live by the pass.

I think many of our assumptions about this team have been obliterated over the past three weeks. I’m left wondering: Is this a good team? Looking back, I’d have to say no. Their schedule has been, in hindsight, soft and their losses have come to playoff bound teams, plus one upset. Teams that occasionally get beaten by sub-.500 clubs, always get beaten by playoff squads, and sport a record that doesn’t qualify them for the post-season (if the season ended today) AREN’T GOOD TEAMS.

I don’t expect much from the Steelers on Sunday, as they are playing the Chicago Bears, one of those playoff bound teams who play like they have something to prove. The Steelers had better quickly recognize that they are one of those teams that has everything to prove on Sunday, much like the Bengals were last week, Indy is every week, and Baltimore is when the play Pittsburgh. Otherwise, the only thing they’ll be contending for is this season’s biggest disappointment – if they haven’t qualified for that trophy already.

Nomar: I’m Down for Whatever, Whenever

2005-12-06T10:35:00.000-05:00

The Daily News is reporting that Nomar Garciaparra’s agent, Arn Tellem has been billing the infielder as MLB’s newest version of a Swiss Army Knife. The SS let the Yankees and the rest of the majors know that he has the skills to play both the infield and the outfield, a la Anaheim Angels utility-guy Chone Figgins - minus the jets.

The key piece of new info here is that Nomar has the desire to fit in, even if it means he’s not in the lineup everyday – which is great news for the Yankees who are in search of just such a guy. GM Brian Cashman is looking to become “more flexible” as a team and Garciaparra would certainly bring that to the dugout.

But (and there’s always one of those this time of year) we can all assume that the power he displayed in his prime with the Red Sox has been sapped by injuries. Moreover, questions about his durability still follow him around winter meetings. And even if the Yankees commit to the auction, there are other teams in the running who can offer him an everyday position, whether it be SS, 2B or 3B. And I don’t see the Yankees playing the cash card on this deal, given their recent belt tightening. Cashman and Co. can no longer afford to absorb contracts of players who can’t suit up.

Spoils of Excess

2005-12-04T21:50:00.000-05:00

Today’s Daily News reports that the Yankees lost in the neighborhood of $50 million to $85 million over the course of 2005. Payroll, revenue sharing, and luxury tax added up to be too much for even a 4 million fan box office to cover.

The Steinbrenner spend-money-to-make-money business model has finally hit a wall, in what is an apparent vindication for revenue sharing and the luxury tax as tools of market control. Furthermore, the balance sheet confirms everyone’s suspicions concerning the Yankees’ sudden frugality this hot stove season and may portend leaner times ahead.

Bungled!

2005-12-04T19:54:00.000-05:00

No matter who the opponent or where we are in the season, four turnovers will disqualify any NFL team from winning a game. The Steelers had the misfortune of that reaffirmation in what was, in effect, the AFC North title game, with the winner earning the inside track to the playoffs while the loser is left to scrap it out with the rest of the AFC’s mediocrity only to, at best, travel to some unfriendly atmosphere like the thin air of the Rockies or the deafening roar of the RCA Dome.

This afternoon, the Cincinnati Bengals showed that they deserve to be considered amongst one of the three or four elite teams of the AFC, if not the NFL. The Steelers showed that they do not. If the Baltimore game had Steelers Nation scratching their heads while the Indy game pushed a Super Bowl ring to the edge of the horizon, today’s game should put Pittsburgh championship prospects out of sight, eclipsed by glaring questions about the running game, the ability of the Steelers’ front-five to drive it and the coaching staff’s resolve to stick with it. Once again, an opposing running back single-handedly out-rushed all three Steelers backs combined, as the Steeler ground game managed only 95 total yards compared to Bengals HB Rudi Johnson’s 98.

Roethlisberger’s 3 interceptons were the fruit of a pass-first, run-second approach, which dragged the Steelers into a shootout, for which they lacked the silver bullet to down the pass-happy Bengals. The illusion of progress, being the 474 net yards from scrimmage by the offense, was just that, a mirage that goaded offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt into playing the Bengals’ brand of fast-break football. Forty-one pass attempts is not the Steeler formula for success. Interceptions are inevitable and two of Ben’s picks were converted into touchdowns - the difference in the game. Moreover, it was on a pass play that he tweaked his already tender thumb. The ensuing interception was a direct result of the injury on the prior play.

The running game did not shoulder the load as it should have, mainly because Willie Parker took himself out of the ballgame with 2 inexpensive, but nonetheless inexcusable, fumbles. It seemed like the Steelers were set up to take control of the game in the third quarter. Time of possession was on their side and the running game had been enjoying moderate success. But Pittsburgh, as a team, was not doing the little things, like the special teams unit giving up a big return to set up a TD right after the Steelers reached paydirt on their first possession of the second half.

To Cincy’s credit, QB Carlson Palmer finally solved the Steelers, especially in the first half, where he slung all three of his touchdown passes. The Bengals were very effective at picking up whatever blitz Dick LeBeau threw at them. While Chad Johnson was kept out of the ‘zone, T.J. Houshmandzadeh proved he could get the job done by grabbing two TDs as Johnson garnered most of Pittsburgh’s attention. Steelers fans will recall that it was Houshmandzadeh’s sour grapes after the first game between the two teams that draped a cloud over the number two wideout’s character.

But TJ and the Bengals erased any doubts today by dealing the Steelers a big blow in the make-or-break game of the season. The Steelers are broken and have lost their way, still struggling to regain their pre-Big Ben injury identity. Or maybe it’s just Whisenhunt who has the identity crisis...

Does anyone have a running game we can borrow for the next three weeks?

Hanging Chad

2005-12-03T19:44:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow’s contest against the Cincinnati Bengals is the biggest game of the season so far for the Steelers. The winner gets first place in the division while the loser has to keep one eye on the out-of-town scoreboard, no longer in control of their destiny.

The key to the game for the Steelers is very simple, as it always is. The offense must be able to run the football. Realistically, with a pair of wobbly guards in the lineup tomorrow, Pittsburgh will probably only have varying success with the running game and will have to rely on some big plays, whether they come from the defense or special teams or the wide receivers or maybe from TE Heath Miller. But the bulk of the offensive load must be shouldered by Parker, Bettis, and, if possible, Duce (what’s up with that dude?).

WR Chad Johnson must be contained. While he can’t be shut down completely, CB Ike Taylor must be able to limit The Chad’s damage. Controlling the ball and the clock will go a long way to keeping QB Carson Palmer off balance. And it will, once again, come back to the running game and the offensive line. The opportunities are there, for the Bengals’ defense gives up 122.6 yards per game.

Big Ben is still struggling to get back into the flow, especially with the guard issues on the line. While I’d expect the QB to be back in the swing by the time the playoffs come around, the season will be determined in this game and the Chicago Bears game. The Steelers must find their game again. If they can’t do it against the Bengals, we can forget any talk about challenging the Broncos or getting a chance at a rematch against the Colts.

Farnsworth Signs...And?

2005-12-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

The Yankees finalized their three year $17 million pact with RP Kyle Farnsworth yesterday. The close seems rather anti-climactic, given Gordon’s departure and Farnsworth’s NL Division Series belch against the Astros.

It’s hard to say if the signing improves the team, especially given that Yankee success is measured by the same type of October situation that Farnsworth just blew. But, considering the market for relievers, the Yankees are lucky to get the deal done. At the very least, the pen gets younger, as Farnsworth is 29 compared to Gordon, at 38.

On the centerfield front, the Rangers seem to have the inside track on Marlins CF Juan Pierre. Too bad if the Yanks can’t sign him. He’s a guy who I think would improve the lineup considerably as well as someone who would only require a short-term commitment, given that he has only one year left on his current contract.

Amped?

2005-12-02T16:39:00.000-05:00

There are allegations that the Indianapolis Colts pumped extra noise through the PA system at the RCA Dome during Monday night’s game against the Steelers.

Steeler insider Ed Bouchette contends that the Colts/RCA Dome positioned microphones along the sidelines and fed the crowd noise back through the PA system. If true, it would be a violation of NFL policy and would possibly explain the abundance of false starts committed by the Steelers’ offensive line.

The Colts have denied any wrongdoing. And because no official complaint was lodged by the Steelers, the NFL will not investigate.
Admittedly, this seems to be a weak excuse for the team’s recent failures. If the Steelers had lost to the Browns, people might be mad/desperate enough to bite on a conspiracy theory. Although I must say, weird conspiracy stuff seems to follow the Steelers around. Usually they are validated by an after-the-fact apology from the League. This time, we should just let it go.

Your Weekend Release

2005-12-02T15:00:00.000-05:00

With the holiday season revving up, documentaries take over, albeit briefly. Here are the new notables in theaters this weekend:

Majors
Aeon Flux

Indies
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
The Boys of Baraka
First Descent
The Kid & I
Transamerica

Dead End, But U-Turns Allowed

2005-12-02T13:31:00.000-05:00

Deadheads across the globe can breathe a sigh of relief now that the band has reversed an earlier shutdown of Internet Archive, a non-profit site dedicated to Grateful Dead concert bootleg downloads.

Last weeks plug pulling left fans of the jam band scratching their dreads, as the Dead has always encouraged recording of their shows and subsequent tape swapping. Faced with outraged fans willing to boycott, the remaining members and their management blinked.

The band has always netted more cash by touring than recording music. But, in the wake of frontman Jerry Garcia’s death in the 90’s, the group has become more dependant upon record and merchandise sales for their income. Both would essentially be squashed by a mass fan boycott.

Stocking Stuffers

2005-12-02T12:20:00.000-05:00

Hip-Hop icon du jour, 50 Cent has plans to foray into your bedroom with a new line of condoms and dildos. Building upon his extensive extracurricular merchandize, including apparel and energy drinks, the urban entrepreneur now seeks to produce a “motorized version of me” that will be waterproof so that it can be used in the tub.

OK, Fiddy, we all know you’re a dick. You can stop now.

Banged Up Ben

2005-12-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

Since Ben Roethlisberger took his first start early on in the 2004 campaign, the Steelers’ fortunes have hinged on his ability to remain healthy. It’s really a strange addiction, given that Pittsburgh is about the running game, with Ben consistently at the bottom of the QB rankings in pass attempts.

This week, Roethlisberger will hobble into Heinz Field against Cincy. Not only is lucky #7 sporting a gimpy knee, but we can now add tender ankle and sore thumb to the list of ailments. Tomorrow, I will preview what should be the AFC North’s title game against the ex-Bungles.

Gone in a Flash

2005-12-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

The NY papers are reporting that Tom Gordon has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for 3 years/$18 million. The Yankees can’t be too upset, as 3 years is too long of a term for a pitcher approaching 40 years of age. Moreover, Gordon will close for Philly. Farnsworth’s camp, in turn, is putting the screws to the Yankee front office. While the two parties are close, it’s still no cigar, as the numbers are now approaching the $18-19 million mark. The money is not expected to be an obstacle, though the Rangers have joined the party.

With Brian Giles off the market, Florida Marlins CF Juan Pierre is looking better and better. I’ve always liked him because he can swipe bags. His OBP and AVG slipped in 2005, but leading off in one of the heaviest hitting lineups in the AL should take some pressure off the speedster. The Phillies are asking for Sean Henn and Scott Proctor in return. Other trade/free agent options, reported by the Post, don’t quite stack up:

Johnny Damon – his requested 7 year term is too long, needs to come down closer to 3

Darin Erstad / Steve Finley – both are well worn and neither could lead off

Milton Bradley – head case

Jason Michaels – has never been a regular and Philly is asking for Chien-Ming Wang in return

Joey Gathright – the fastest player in MLB but is still very green

Keep your fingers crossed.

Limited Relief

2005-12-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

In the end, it was all about haggling. You know, that time and energy wasting, but inescapable ritual to determine a mutually agreeable price. Outfielder Brian Giles re-ups with the San Diego Padres for $30 million over 3 years - figures closer to the player's desires. As far as the Yankees are concerned, Giles represents a mediocre option and only a partial fit in CF. It's probably for the best over the long haul. But the immediate future has Bubba Crosby front and center.

While there has been no official announcement on the Farnsworth front, the reliever has notified the Atlanta Braves that he intends to sign with New York. The reported three year, $17 million pact is a more crucial signing than a potential centerfielder, as the deal represents a safety net for the Flash Gordon sweepstakes as well as an heir to the set-up role. He has a live arm and throws gas. My kind of fireman. Let's hope he works out. But, there are a couple of fuglies at the bottom of the article.