Bleacher Report - Articles by Don Spieles

You Did It, Brett Favre, but You're Still a Twerp!

Don Spieles — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:11:08 -0400

The circle is almost complete now. The plan that was put in motion in the summer of 2008 has all but come to fruition. Brett Favre, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL beat the Packers.

At the helm of their arch rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, Favre played a very solid game in Monday during prime time. All that remains is to go to Lambeau Field in November and beat them in their house.

If there were records for immature behavior or vindictive obsession, Favre would be at the top of those lists, as well as being the all-time prolific passer.

Favre feels slighted by the fact that Green Bay decided last year that they were ready to move on with Aaron Rogers and not interested in the aging QB that they’d had for the past 16 years.

They refused to trade him to a division rival, so Favre accepted a trade to the New York Jets. The Jets released him after a mediocre 2008 season and Brett signed with the Vikings.

Those are the facts, but there is, of course, more to the story. The Packers were not tired of Favre’s playing, they were tired of his stupid nonsense every off-season.

After three years of vacillating between “Yes, I’m retiring.” and “No, I still want to play.” simply got old for the franchise and they decided to decide for him, at least as far as his career in Wisconsin was concerned.

The worst part of the story is that Favre is not remembered solely for his excellence as a football player.

Instead, a large portion of his legacy deals with his tearful press conference where he announced his retirement again only to reverse himself a couple of months later.

We all know that it’s hard to give up something you love. That must be especially difficult when that love comes with fame and fortune.

At some point there comes a moment when you simply must keep your mouth shut. Don’t make a spectacle out of your decision unless you’re sure of it.

It’s obvious that Favre can still play. No one questions that. No one has an issue with his “retiring” because he’s washed up and useless. The problem is that his actions are very annoying and they give rise to suspicions of ulterior motives from the start.

Is it possible that Favre began talking about retirement in hopes that Green Bay would simply release him and free him to go to a team he believed were a legitimate Super Bowl contender?

So, after forcing the issue in Green Bay, he and his agent have orchestrated his move to the Vikings, but with an added facet: a big chip on his shoulder. As much as he tries to deny it, he has managed to talk himself into believing he is the injured party in all of this. He wanted to show the Packers he could still play.

Someone needs to remind him that the Packers did not trade him because he could not play. They traded him because he was unprofessional and childish. They traded him because he was a huge distraction. They traded him because he wanted to be traded.

So, congratulations, Brett. Your performance last night, while actually only marginally better than Aaron Rogers (who, if he actually had an offensive line, would have beaten you) can be considered a success. It is a success not only in terms of the outcome of the game, but also in your overall plan.

You’re showing that you can still play, you’re playing for a contender, and you’ve gotten pay-backs on Green Bay, the team who never did anything to you that you did not deserve.

That, to me, is the definition of a twerp.

Red Sox 2010 Schedule To Include Manny's Return

Don Spieles — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:27:00 -0400

When Interleague play commences next summer, Manny Ramirez will have more than enough reason to look over his shoulder.

Come June 18, Manny will make his return to Fenway—assuming that Boston and L.A. don't somehow meet in this year's World Series—since his contentious exit last season.

MLB released the 2010 schedules this week and the Red Sox will host the Dodgers June 18, 19, and 20.

For all the things said and written about Boston fans, they have a history of being magnanimous where returning "heroes" are concerned. Just this season, Nomar Garciaparra made his first appearance in Fenway since his 2004 trade.

Garciaparra had played with the Chicago Cubs and L.A. Dodgers until this season when his spot on the Oakland A's roster brought him back to Beantown.

Some pundits questioned before hand how the reception would be. The fans welcomed him home, giving him a standing ovation before his first at-bat.

Will the air be filled with a warm feeling in June if Manny takes the field? Probably not.

The departure of Ramirez from Boston was markedly different from that of Garciaparra.

While it's generally assumed that Garciaparra wanted to be traded, he was nursing injuries that season. Manny, who faked nothing other than scruples, simply made himself a pariah in the club house. During the 2008 season, he had decked an aging staffer in an argument over comp tickets.

Manny also had gotten into a fight with Keven Youkilis during a game, reportedly annoyed by Youk's constant intensity. It would be easy to believe that motive since Ramirez was the opposite of intensity over his last weeks in a Red Sox uniform.

Even for a player like Ramirez, who had never been considered "a gamer", the total lack of effort—including a three pitch strikeout against the New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, where the bat never left his shoulder—was shocking to Boston, both fans, front office, and teammates alike.

At the 11th hour, just before the July 31 deadline, Manny was moved to L.A. in a trade that brought Jason Bay to his current spot in front of the Green Monster. Most fans agree that while Bay is not the interstellar hitting talent that Manny can be (when he swings), he was an awesome addition to the Red Sox.

By the time the Dodgers roll into Fenway next summer, most minds will be consumed with the impending All-Star break and the usual combination of standings and stats.

But should Manny still be playing with the Dodgers (because nothing is ever sure where Manny Ramirez is concerned), that Friday in Boston will be one for the scrapbook!

Red Sox-Angels: Brian Fuentes Blames "Scared" Umpires in Boston's Walk-Off Win

Don Spieles — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:46:29 -0400

With the Los Angeles Angles holding a six-game lead over the Rangers in the AL West and the Red Sox sitting 6.5 up in the wild card (also over the Rangers), the only reason LA's current visit to Fenway should hold our attention is because it is, in all likelihood, a preview of one of the two ALDS series this year.

If last night's game was any indication, the two teams' fourth postseason meeting in five years will be controversial, to say the least.

In a baseball fan's kind of game, the two team battled it out last evening for just over four hours. The game saw Boston come back no less then three times to win, 9-8, in the bottom of the ninth. It was that half frame that apparently has a lot of eyebrows raised.

The primary issue, at least for Angels' closer Brian Fuentes, had to do with the usually vocal Fenway faithful and an umpiring crew who Fuentes believes were "scared" to make calls against the home team. (See Fuentes' statements here.)

Whether or not the crowd had anyone afraid, some very questionable calls by home plate umpire Rick Reed toward the end of the game were very much key in the Red Sox' win.

A nine-pitch at-bat for Nick Green (pinch-hitting for Casey Kotchman) ended with a bases-loaded walk on a pitch that was low but very obviously not a ball. Green's battle to a full count had also included a questionable check-swing confirmed on appeal by the first base umpire, Jeff Kellog.

With the game tied, Boston shortstop Alex Gonzalez stepped to the plate. The count at 1-2, he punched a bloop toward Juan Rivera in left field. The ball fell in to score the winning run as Rivera, who did not appear to many to be running very hard for the ball, let it drop without a dive.

As one blogger put it, "I just can't get over Juan Rivera's complete lack of effort..."

With the game on the line, it would certainly seem that Rivera's had enough incentive to make a brasher play on the ball. Considering his team is facing their all-but-definite playoff foes, having a little bit of momentum coming out of this series should have been a lofty enough goal to merit a dirty uni.

Unless something very strange comes to pass (which certainly can in baseball), these two teams will be playing each other come October. The odds-on bet is for a very interesting series.

NFL Week One: Better Than They Looked, Worse Than They Seem

Don Spieles — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:31:04 -0400

With an exciting first week schedule almost over, there is already a lot of talk about surprises and disappointments in the NFL. The bottom line is that it's way to early to tell by only looking at the surface.

Not Nearly as Good as They Looked

New Orleans Saints

Yes. Drew Brees was amazing. He completed over 76 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and only one pick. He had a quarterback rating of 137, second only to Tony Romo. But here's the thing...Brees did this against the Lions. You remember these guys, right. 0-16 last year, the 32nd ranked defense. Next week will be a much better test of the Holy Ones when they meet with the Eagles defense in the Linc.

Seattle Seahawks

Pretty much the same thing on this one. Seattle shut out a St. Louis rams team that went 2-14 last season and had the 31st ranked defense. Are seeing the pattern? Seattle faces a seemingly much improved San Fran squad next week, but the real challenge will come in weeks four, six, and eight when they face Indianapolis, Arizona, and Dallas.

New York Jets

To round out the overrated trifecta, the New York jets fit in perfectly. They played the Houston Texans, who are not as bad as the Rams or Lions, are still pretty bad. Those Jets fans out there (this is for you Greeny) who think that Mark Sanchez is the reincarnation of Poncho Villa and that the Jets are going to win more that seven or eight games this season need to hold your water.

The next three weeks against the Patriots, Titans will show you a better picture of your team.

Honorable Mention: Philadelphia Eagles

This is just a guess, but the injury to McNabb could be big (duh!) The biggest issue? Michale Vick. While Vick cannot start next week, he could start in week three, but he should not. He is no where near ready to be a started and will not be in week three. That leaves Kevin Kolb, whose first play with the first team offense was (again I'm guessing) his first play of yesterday's game.

The pundits have been yammering about trying to get A.J. Feeley back, and even if McNabb does return quickly, he's bound to feel the effects. The Eagles defense looked awesome yesterday, but can they do that against the rest of the league?

Not as Lousy as They Seemed

Arizona Cardinals

No don't get me wrong—the Cards are not going to the Super Bowl again. They are, more than likely, the NFL's 2009 version of the 2009 Tampa Bay Rays. Much hinges on Warner, who dispute his great season in '08, still instills little confidence, especially when things go awry.

The look on his face when he has a bad play makes me wonder if he's looking for a rock to hide under. The 49er team that they faced yesterday has the makings of a true dark-horse in the division. While San Francisco is another team that won't be in the Super Bowl, they are going to be better than many thought.

Cleveland Browns

Two words: Adrian Peterson. Not only did the Vikings running back make the Browns look worse than what they are, he made Brett Favre look a good bit better than what he is. The Browns did well against the pass, allowing only one touchdown from Mr. Retirement, although not getting a pick from him is not a great sign.

As for the running game, giving up 180 yards to Adrian Peterson is not great, either. But it certainly does not speak volumes about how they will fare against less superhuman running backs. Also, with all the ridiculous nonsense that Eric Mangini did related to who was his starter, I think we'll see better things out of Brady Quinn as he gets acclimated to his lead role.

Honorable Mention: Chicago Bears

Even thought Jake Cutler had four picks last night, he still almost managed to win the game. In fact the fourth pick shouldn't even go against him since it was the receiver's fault by stopping on a route in a key situation.

Having said that, Cutler needs to have much better games, but the odds are that he will. With all the hype surrounding his move to the windy city, not to mention the idea that he has a much different (read: less talented) receiving core than he had in Denver, it's not too surprising that there were a lot of miscues in week one.

I would not be surprised if things got better in a hurry for the Bears.

Tate Forcier Rocks Irish in Game Marred By Controversial Ending

Don Spieles — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:27:06 -0400

By midnight tonight, the USC-OSU game that has been talked about ad-nauseum throughout the week will fail in comparison to the classic week two match-up between Michigan (1-0) and Notre Dame (1-0).

In the end, the driving force behind the Wolverine's 38-34 victory over the Irish was true freshman QB Tate Forcier. Even though the end of the game will be remembered for a blown call by the officials, the win could be the sign of huge days ahead for the Maize and Blue.

Forcier put up some impressive numbers, throwing for 240 yards, completing 23 of his 33 passes. He threw for two touchdowns and a pick in his second start for Michgan.

While the numbers are nice, what they don't show was the amazing poise and spunk the diminutive QB (he weighs in at a slim 185 pounds) showed in a high pressure game against an old fashioned rival. He looked like a lot of things out there—a leader, a gunslinger, a true young talent—but what he did not look like was a freshman starting his second game.

Jimmy Clausen had a great game himself, going 25-42 with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was able to pick apart a Michigan secondary that seemed, in the first half at least, pretty lack luster.

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez used his halftime talk to deal with just that problem. In truth, Notre Dame had over 300 of its 490 total yards before the midpoint of the game and lead the Wolverines by three at the half.

Michigan came out firing on all cylinders and lead the Irish 31-26 with just over seven minutes left in the game. The Irish had an impressive eight play drive that resulted in a touchdown. With a two point conversion, they were able to take a 34-31 lead.

After both teams were forced to punt, Forcier lead Michigan down the field in 2:02 in a drive that would make the most ardent Irish fan admit being impressed. Michigan would lead for good, 38-34.

When the ensuing kickoff rolled out of the end-zone, Claussen spoke to the officials to ask to have one second put back on the clock, and it was, giving the Irish exactly eleven seconds.

But somewhere there was a breakdown in communication because by the time Claussen got under center, the clock had been adjusted again, this time down to nine seconds. A completion to Golden Tate ended with the clock at all zeros—or in reality with what should have been two seconds for one more play.

With all the long passes that Claussen has hit receivers for in just two games, one more play would have meant that anything was possible.

Sure, it would have been a full blown miracle if that one more play had scored a touchdown. Notre Dame was on it's own 47 yard line after the Tate reception. But Claussen already has three touchdowns longer than that in the young season. Irish coach Charlie Weis sent his assistant coaches after the quickly exiting officials, but to no avail.

It is certain that Michigan earned the win, but true football fans will always admit that it is a real downer when a game ends on a blown call by the officials.

Week three will see Notre Dame welcome Michigan State (1-1) to South Bend, while Michigan welcomes Eastern Michgan (0-2) to Ann Arbor for the third of its three opening home games.

LeGarrette Blount and Byron Hout's Two Wrongs Deserve Two Punishments

Don Spieles — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:56:55 -0400

The Boise State-Oregon game last night was the first to use the NCAA's new "handshake" policy. Both teams engaged in the totally symbolic gesture of shaking hands prior to the game. But after Oregon lost, all sportsmanship, real or symbolic, went out the window.

When the two teams passed each other on the field after the game, Byron Hout of Boise State sought out Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount to taunt him. After tapping Blount on the shoulder pads to get his attention, Hout then proceeded to say something to Blount. Blount promptly punched Hout in the jaw.

Blount needs to be disciplined, and he will be. He was suspended for a time last year for behavior issues.

However, the reality of the situation is that Hout should be disciplined as well.

It's one thing to "talk smack," as they say, when you're in the game. You're trying to get fired up, to psych out the opposition. But after the game, you're supposed to put the animosity aside and shake hands. Seeking someone out to insult them is repulsive.

Yes, punching someone in the mouth is not appropriate. In the grand scheme of things, it is obviously the much larger of the two infractions. It is not the kind of example I want my kids to see when they watch sports. But neither is what Hout did. The fact that it is the lesser of two evils only means Hout's punishment should be lighter.

According to some sources, Hout's comment consisted of, "How was that ass whuppin'?" Well, the 19-8 victory No. 14 Boise State enjoyed over No. 16 Oregon hardly meets my definition of "ass whuppin'." But even if it had been 116-8, to go and taunt a player from the other team afterward is classless.

If my son came home from school and told me he'd gotten suspended for punching someone in the mouth in the same situation, I would lay into him. I would explain to him that that type of behavior is not to be tolerated and the mature thing to do would have been to walk away.

If my son came home with a fat lip because he got socked in the gob for taunting a player from a team he's just beaten, I would give him the same speech.

Blount needs to be suspended from the team, perhaps even for the season, since this is not his first slip-up. But there are two wrongs in this story and two wrongdoers. My bet is that the other, Hout, won't receive repercussions for his bad decisions.

That is just plain unfair.

Is the N.L. Really That Much Weaker Than the A.L.? (Updated)

Don Spieles — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:17:51 -0400

It was suggested that my sampe size for the original post was simply innaccurate. I've added extra info (seen in blue) to further demonstrate my view. Thank you to P.J. for his input.

John Smoltz, undervalued by the Braves after his latest surgery, signs with the Red Sox. After making a late debut, Smoltz goes 2-5, pitches 40 innings, strikes out only 33 batters, gives up eight home runs, and posts an 8.32 ERA, his highest ever for a 40 inning stint.

Smoltz is released, stating he does not want to go to the bull pen, and is signed by St. Louis. In his first two starts with the Cardinals, Smoltz pitches 11 innings, giving up one run. He allows no jacks in those 11 innings, but instead strikes out 15 batters.

Brad Penny, also dismal in Boston ( 7-8, 5.61 ERA, WHIP 1.534), also not interested in working the Boston pen, ends up with the Giants. In his first start, against arguably the best hitting team in the majors—Philadelphia—Penny pitches eight shut-out innings at Citizen's Bank Park, giving up five hits and only one walk.

Cliff Lee is traded by the floundering Cleveland Indians. He was their best pitcher this season, with his 3.14 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.3. Lee is traded to the Phillies and in his first six starts with the defending world champions, Lee is 5-1, posting a 1.88 ERA, his WHIP is a minuscule .889, and two of his games have been complete games.

Even when you consider the small sample size reflected here, doesn't it lead one to believe that the National League has become the ugly stepsister to the A.L. in terms of hitting?

Last year it was C.C. Sabathia. He's having a good year in Cleveland. The Indians trade him to the Brewers and he turns into Cy Young! In 17 games with a postseason bound Milwaukee squad, Sabathia posted a 1.65 ERA, went 11-2, with a 1.003 WHIP. He struck out 128 batters in 130.2 innings pitched!

So what is the story to be told here. Is the National League the new Minor League? Is it an issue of the parks? Honestly, Fenway is not a friendly place for many hurlers. Is there such a huge difference to be made of the fact that the A.L. uses the DH and the N.L. makes the pitchers hit?

In the case of Smoltz, it has been reported that the future all-star was tipping pitches in Boston. According to one source, the Cardinals caught on to this and were able to address it. Smoltz is no longer a pitcher who can make you miss if you know what's coming. But take the subtle cues out of his stance, or delivery, or whatever it was, and apparently we now have a difference that is eye-popping.

In this decade, of the nine World Series played, the N.L. has won four to the A.L.'s five. In actual World Series Games, the A.L. tops the N.L. 27-20 in the same period. While that may not seem like much, prorated fora 162 game season, that works out to a 93-68 record for the A.L. (pretty respectable) and 68-93 for the N.L. (pretty lousy.)

In interleague play, the A.L. has shown even more dominance. In the graphic below, the orange rows are N.L. leading years, the purple rows are years the A.L. was dominant.

In the past 20 years, the A.L. has gone 16-3-1 in the All-Star Game against the N.L.

As the last surge for the post season plays out, one of the most interesting story lines will be whether the Senior Circuit team that makes the World Series is anyone but Philadelphia, do they stand a chance against lineups like that of the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, or even Tigers?

Front Office Exec Loses Phillies World Series Ring

Don Spieles — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:13:36 -0400

Here's a little quiz for all of you baseball fanatics out there...

Question: If you're lucky enough to get a job with a Major League Baseball team and that team not only wins the World Series, but deems you important enough to get a ring, should you or should you not wear it everyday?

Answer: No

Question: If you do decide to wear your $11,000 ring with 103 diamonds on it everyday, should you take it off in the men's room?

Answer: No

Question: Finally, If you do take it off in the men's room, should you put it back on?

Answer: Duh.

Just such a set of mistakes was made by a Phillies "Executive" (read: "a suit in the marketing department who made the ring list") yesterday. When asked for comment, the individual chose use the word "stolen," which is technically accurate. When you leave a diamond studded World Series ring in the can, someone's gonna take it.

The team has not released the name of the loser...of the ring.

According to news reports the ring is indeed officially considered lost and not stolen. Police are investigating the matter and have apparently reviewed security camera recordings and spoken with other employees.

So far the police have identified no suspects. No word on how anyone could be that stupid and still have a job that cool.

Enough with the Michael Vick Hypocrisy: Many Athletes Have Done Worse

Don Spieles — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:04:59 -0400

Is anyone else tired of hearing about Michael Vick? While I’m sure the answer to that question is affirmative, I bet not many people are fed up with the topic for the same reason I am.

I think he should be left alone and that all the hypocritical, misguided many should simply move on.

Just in case you’ve spent the last three years on Mars, let me explain that Vick has just finished a prison term of roughly two years for his involvement in illegal dog fighting. The cruelty to animals that happened as a result of his involvement, both directly and indirectly, is truly horrible.

Now, he’s signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, adding the next chapter to the second most overplayed topic in sports (the first being Brett Favre, who I wish would go to Mars). Soon, the minions of PETA will be posted outside the Eagles' training facility—PETA, who even the Humane Society and the SPCA think is a bit wacko.

Pay attention, because now it’s time for some direct honesty. Yes, abusing animals is very bad. Here’s the news flash, however: There are many things that are worse.

The NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and other professional sports organizations are peppered with human examples of just what is higher on my list of crimes. There are (both simply accused as well as convicted) wife/girlfriend beaters, child abusers, drug addicts, individuals who have killed people, and felons of every order who play professional sports.

So why do they get special dispensation?

PETA will no doubt be smearing red paint symbolic of spilled K-9 blood around the greater Philadelphia area. Animal lover fans will cry in outrage. It’s Philly—Vick will be lucky if fans at the Linc don’t storm the field and draw and quarter him.

The problem is that there will be no protests over the lineman who killed a woman while driving drunk—and no, I’m not referring to Donte' Stallworth, who’s a receiver. There will be no public outcry over the receiver who has put his paramour in the hospital on numerous occasions and been suspended by the league for domestic violence charges when he takes the field.

What does that say about priorities? Where does that leave common sense?

I’d suggest we all move on, but who’d listen anyway?

What a Meth: My First NASCAR Article

Don Spieles — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:21:25 -0400

I have been ignoring NASCAR long before I began writing posts for Bleacher Report. Pretty much from the first time I was made familiar with the concept—50 or so southerners driving in a circle for several hundred miles—I was not interested.

That has all changed as the news has broken that Jeremy Mayfield has tested positive for methamphetamine.

What channel do I turn to? I can't miss this!

I'm a die-hard baseball fan. I get into football pretty hard as well. Both have their issues with drugs, predominantly steroid use. It would seem though that bigger muscles are not something that the merry-go-rounders find advantageous.

Blurred vision, muscle twitches, increased aggression, or more of the other side effects of meth use? Well that seems like a pretty nifty set of symptoms for a guy driving 200 miles per hour!

Having a driver or two hopped up on crank could be the ticket to pushing NASCAR over the that last hump to make it the most watched sport in America.

Perhaps it could be a lottery system? Before each race, officials could secretly put some white crunch into the Gatorade of a driver or two. By lap 20 or so you'd have something a lot more intriguing that a few dozen adult men driving in a circle in cars that are anything but stock.

Now this plan is not without its drawbacks. Sponsorship may take a hit when these handsome drivers begin to show the signs of meth use. As the currently attractive. commercial-ready "athletes" turn into toothless, emaciated zombies, it seems like marketing could take a hit. Then again, perhaps toothlessness is not something of particular importance to NASCAR fans?

Whatever the next race is that will be televised, viewers may be on the rise. Instead of watching the laps that really matter (that would be the last one), now folks will have incentive to watch from beginning to end. What once had all the drama of watching a washing machine spin, now will hold the ultimate in reality TV!

I'm kidding of course. I still won't be watching.

Scutaro, Not Jeter for All-Star Game AL Shortstop

Don Spieles — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:35:05 -0400

There is always a good deal of popularity factors in All-Star voting. That doesn't mean we have to like it. Knowing how something happens doesn't make it better.

Derek Jeter is loved. What's more, he's loved by a fan base that dwarfs most, that of the New York Yankees. So this is the answer to the question, "Why is Derek Jeter 100,000 points ahead of Marco Scutaro in the All-Star balloting?" Here's why that answer doesn't cut the mustard.

If there are still folks who look at performance or statistics when they fill out a ballot for the midsummer classic, here's what they will find in the case of Jeter and Scutaro.

Jeter is minimally ahead of Scutaro in several areas. Jeter has more home runs (nine to scutaro's five) and more stolen bases (14-7). Jeter also has one less strike out (35-35) and one more RBI (30-29). Their batting average are almost identical—Jeter is batting .301; .300 for Scutaro.

Scutaro leads in every other offensive stat. He has been in more games and has had more plate appearances. He has more official at-bats, more runs, more hits, more triples. He has almost twice as many walks (48-28). Scutaro's OBP is 29 points higher than that of Jeter and his OPS is 12 points higher.

Defensively, Jeter is having a decent first half. He has only three errors. This puts him on pace for about eight for the season, which would be his lowest ever.

Scutaro has zero errors.

Both players are on similarly placed teams. They are in the same division (AL East) and have remarkably similar records. The Yankees are four games out of first at 38-31. Toronto is five games out of first at 38-33.

Not only is Scutaro not first in the balloting where he should be, he's actually fourth! Jason Bartlett and Elvis Andrus are in third and fourth, respectively. I thought about including Bartlett's and Andrus's stats, too. Instead, go here and look them up.

Maybe while you're there you could look up some others and make the All-Star game a little less of a popularity contest.

Fenway Faithful Rise Above for Big Papi

Don Spieles — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:03:13 -0400

Perhaps it was that the AL East leading Blue Jays were in town. Perhaps it was that a rather tough West Coast trip had just ended and it was nice to have the guys back in the friendly confines. Or maybe it had something to do with the need to keep warm with a first pitch temperature around 60 degrees.

Whatever it was, the fans at Fenway park were in a good mood on Tuesday evening. They were active, animated, and involved in a game that was, for the most part, a real yawner. But nowhere was their mood more evident than in their services performed on behalf of David Ortiz.

Most everyone who follows baseball at all has heard the tale of woe associated with Ortiz and his current slump. The biggest issue of all might actually be whether or not it is a slump at all, or rather the bad news that the slugger is officially in the downward slope of a memorable career.

By game's end, Big Papi's line included 161 plate appearances, equalling 133 at-bats and, in what is now the longest such streak of his career, he is without home run number one. What's more, he's batting a minuscule .203 and his slugging percentage of .293 is his smallest ever (for such a sample size.)

Ortiz has been a leader on the Red Sox since joining the organization in 2003. He had come to be known as a clutch player for the seeming frequency of his opportunities for late game heroics—opportunities he usually took advantage of.

His magic reached a crescendo of sorts in the 2004 ALCS where Boston's historic comeback from three games down to the Yankees was made possible in part by walk-off hits in two consecutive games by Ortiz. He batted .387 in that series and posted an OPS of 1.199, tops among teammates with at least 10 at-bats.

Last year saw a marked decline in Ortiz's numbers. He had a sluggish start to the year, which did start to rebound later in the season. He suffered a wrist injury that sidelined him for a chunk of the season.

Then, Manny Ramirez was traded on July 31.

Papi had lost not only his good friend, but his cohort in the lineup. All these things combined for a .264 average, .507 slugging percentage, and only 23 home runs.

The offseason gave Ortiz the chance to rest the ailing wrist, and hopes were high for 2009.

So far, things have not begun well.

So, on Tuesday evening, as Papi came to the plate late in a game that the Sox led by one slim run, the fans took it upon themselves.

No, they did not boo, as is the custom behavior for even small stretches of poor play in places like...oh, I don't know...the Bronx, for instance.

No, the fans at Fenway instead stood and cheered. Cheered like Papi was coming to the plate in search of a hit to complete the cycle, when really he was looking for anything that suggested his sluggish start was coming to an end.

The fans chanted his nickname, and clapped through his walk back to the dugout, shin to chest, after fanning on a low outside slider that would never have gotten him a short time ago.

They clapped even when he was in the dugout, tossing his helmet in an unusual show of frustration—unusual for Ortiz, that is.

It remains to be seen if the fans good vibrations can help pull Papi out of the funk.

This display of team spirit and affection will help those of us not located in New England, but still part of Red Sox Nation.

Those of us who have gravitated to the Red Sox for some intangible reason, that is hard to explain.

It helps us when someone asks us a question like, "Why would you root for the Red Sox?," or when they say, "Aw! The Red Sox are just like he Yankees!" Most of us have answers for them.

Scenes like the one last night at Fenway provide that little lift. Just a small shot in the arm and a validation of loyalty, even for those of us who didn't really feel they needed it.

GO RED SOX!

One Red Sox Fan's Take On Manny's Suspension

Don Spieles — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:44:25 -0400

Since the news broke that Manny Ramirez had tested positive for some PED, I have been tuned into sports talk radio, watching ESPN and MLB Network, and reading what I could find. One recurring thought pattern that I picked up on is that many pundits are wondering out loud if Red Sox fans are happy, sad, or indifferent about the news. So, for what it’s worth, let me tell you about one fan that is anything but happy.

First and foremost, the steroid issue is much bigger than one team. With each new story that comes out, baseball takes a hit. So far, the game has managed to withstand the bludgeoning blows that began with Canseco, Caminiti, continued with Bonds, McGuire, Sheffield, and Palmero, and have continued to grow in intensity with A-Rod and now Manny. As a true fan of the game, not just my team, I can’t help but worry if there will be a breaking point where the assault from the juicers ends up finally damaging the institution irreparably.

I’m sure there are a lot of Boston faithful who grinned and guffawed at the news of Manny’s suspension. I’ve written more than a few words about his behavior last season, his acrimonious departure, and his proof-in-the-pudding burst of prowess once arriving in L.A. I was not one of those fans who found the news somehow vindicating.

If was assume the Manny is just another player who cheated, that means he cheated in Boston. Whatever regime he’s on is not a recent development. A Manny with PEDs taints all he did in Boston. To a certain degree, it taints what they did while he was there. That is nothing that should make a Red Sox fan smile.

Manny signed a $45 million contract with the Dodgers after waiting until the eleventh hour for something better. Now, with a fifty game suspension, he will lose somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 million. The worst part is Manny doesn’t care. If you watched his press conference, he wore the same “Oh well?” smirk as always. Manny does not care about the game. “Manny being Manny” translates ultimately into “Manny serving Manny”.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers, off to one of the hottest starts in the modern era, now lose their prized player for a third of the season. They now get to deal with the circus that ensues, and have, overall, a devalued asset because of Ramirez’s positive test.

Red Sox fans, realistically or not, don’t miss Manny. If you want to know why, look at Jason Bay’s numbers. There are certainly arguments to be made that they could have been to the World Series again had he not left, but I don’t espouse that theory. His negative influence far outweighed his play in 2008 (at least in Boston.)

Now, if there is anything positive to be taken from this situation for Boston fans, it would be that Manny isn’t here and that this disgusting chapter in the PED saga is not being staged at Fenway Park.

In July, Manny will return. Depending on his mood and whim, he’ll probably excel when he comes back because he believes it will offset the damage (much like he thinks his awesome August and September last year made people forget about his disgusting actions in June and July.) He’ll have a less home runs by the end of the season than he would have, and maybe it screws up the Dodgers shot at the post season (though, in that garbage division, they’ll probably still be OK.)

Nothing will be markedly different for Manny after the first week back. The same cannot be said for the game, however, whose camel is carrying one more straw, compliments one of the greatest hitters in the game. Another icon who will struggle to get into the hall of fame because of PEDs.

None of that makes me smile.

What's Wrong with the Yankees

Don Spieles — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:35:30 -0400

Walt Whitman said, “Charity and personal force are the only investments worth anything."

While there have been times that I have tried to conceive a way to exert my personal force on the Yankees or their fans, today I’ll opt for some charity. Even though their current maladies should have me smiling to the point of pain, I’ll offer some thoughts on what the issues are.

I offer no guarantees that they are things that can be fixed.

Bench Issues

As of Tuesday’s game, the Yankees carried 13 pitchers on their 25-man roster. Now, everyone agrees that they need pitching, but the secret is good pitching, not multiple bad pitchers.

Having extra guys who walk the bases loaded is doubly bad when you consider that they are taking the bench spots of guys who might have been used to pinch hit with one out and a runners on second and third.

As it stood, the rookie, Ramiro Pena came to the plate in that spot. There were only two things that could have happened in that spot that would prevent a run from scoring to tie the game at four a piece. One was an infield pop-up, the other was a strike. Pena struck out.

If the Yankees had a extra spot or two on the bench, they might have just one slightly above-replacement-level player who could have gotten bat on ball. After the K, Jose Molina grounded out to end the inning. A ground out that, had it been one batter earlier, would have scored the tying run.

How frustrated must Joe Girardi be?

The Short Porch

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." So does the shallow fence and wind. Whatever is taking the balls off Yankees bats out is also taking them out for opponents.

Things That Expensive Shouldn't Be Sat Upon

The $1.5 million dollar cathedral that they built can't be filled. Not, at least, at the prices they have set on seats. The pinstripers are not used to playing to a less-than-full house. It's weighing on the minds of players, coaches, and owners, regardless of whether they try to minimize it or not.

What's worse about the new stadium is that most people who go there are impressed with all the non-game-oriented stuff. The concourse, the stores, the restaurants, etc. The field looks exactly the same except you have to pay way more to sit and there are, for some reason, lots of home runs.

Leggo-My-Ego

It’s not necessarily that C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira are giant-headed egomaniacs. They are megastars, making a nauseating amount of money, playing in the worst place in the free world to play.

Don’t let anyone fool you—no one plays in New York because it is a great place to play. Guys play there for two reasons. The first is the way the owners like to spend. Like drunken sailors on weekend furlough.

The second is because the Yankees have a lot of great history. They all think that being able to say, “I’m a Yankee” will outweigh the horribly fickle fans, the vitriolic press, and the crazy microscope attention to every single game. No one really believes that it is a great place to be a baseball player.

These guys may or may not be prima donnas, but one thing is for sure, they need special treatment while transitioning into life in the Bronx. That goes double when you start off the way the Yankees and their three Brinks truck drivers have—in a word, lousy.

Joe Girardi is not able to keep these guys heads straight. If they start to do better, they may get straight on their own. Then again, they may not. Look at A-Rod.

Not All Joes Are Equal

Girardi is being out managed, especially by Terry Francona of the Red Sox. The steal of home by Jacoby Ellsbury is the prime example.

That was not a freak occurrence by an overzealous speedster. That was a prime piece of scouting and managing that was pulled together in a perfect storm of coincidence.

Ellsbury was on third, Pettitte was on the mound, and there was a left-handed batter at the plate. There was even the added effect (at least for us watching on TV) of listening to the announcers ramble on about how the Pettitte's pick-off move is second to none.

There are other examples, like the one above with pinching hitting—though Brian Cashman needs to get him more to work with–where Girardi is showing that he is not Joe Torre.

His game stuff is not at Torre’s level. He is not the personnel manager that Torre is, now at time when that is sorely needed. Girardi is a little more likely to lose his temper than Torre was, but it all balances out because I don’t think that Girardi could possibly cry as easy as Torre.

So, are there any answers? Not any easy ones, it would seem.

There are not an abundance of players out there who fit that bench needs that the Yankees have. There are some, if Cashman is smart enough to find them.

The Yankees are stuck with Teixiera, Burnett, and C.C. until they come out of their new-to-town slumps. In the end, I think most fans will be happy that they are on the team, but it could be awhile. And don’t think that this situation won't be made all the more complicated when Alex Rodriguez rolls back into town.

And just in case anyone wonders, you only need to read Torre’s book to know that him coming back is not ever going to happen.

Gary Sheffield's Release About Personality and Performance

Don Spieles — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:54:30 -0400

While most roster moves at this point of the year are unsurprising and routine, we now know that Gary Sheffield will not be a Tiger this season

Sheffield he was released today, just one home run short of 500.

The low premium going around this year for most free agents aside, Sheffield is not always the best guy in a clubhouse, on the field, or in front of a reporter.

Sheffield's dismissal is about attitude and aptitude, not about dollars.

Assuming that Sheffield gets to play somewhere and hit at least one more home run, he will be a bit of an odd-ball in that group by virtue of his path around the majors. If and when he hits that jack, it will be with his eighth different franchise (assuming Detroit doesn't resign him.)

So, while he will be the low man on the totem pole of 500 home run men, he'll immediately be tops in the category of journeyman. No other player on the list had played with more than six unique franchises. Eddie Murray is the only one with six teams on his resume.

Sheffield's ability, or perhaps it should be stated as need, to move has not been due to his stats, but due to his personality. Before he even played in a major league game, he was arrested with his uncle Dwight Gooden for fighting with police in Tampa, Florida.

In 2005, he got into an altercation with a fan in Boston. The drunken fan was ejected, but Sheffield was also fined by the league.

In June of 2007, he made headlines by talking to GQ about how Latino players were easier to control than African-Americans, which to Sheffield explained why there are so many of them in the major leagues.

A month later, Sheffield accused Joe Torre of being a racist who treated black players differently. When asked about Torre's excellent relationship with Derek Jeter, Sheffield explained that Jeter, "ain't all the way black."

In 2008, Sheffield was suspended for four games after a fight with the Indians’ Fausto Carmona. Sheffield's response to the suspension was to state that he, too, would be punishing some Indians players.

All through the specific incidents there has been a fine glaze of controversy that has coated Sheffield's career. He publicly demanded better pay while with the Dodgers. He refused to play in the first World Baseball Classic because there would be no pay.

Sheffield has also been linked to steroids, a charge to which he claims ignorance. While most would not argue that there are few professional athletes more ignorant that Sheffield, the excuse seems typically transparent.

On the flip side, Sheffield has not been a fluke player. For his career he has posted an on-base percentage of .394 and a .909 OPS. He has hit with an average of .292 with 2615 hits. He has averaged 107 RBI per season.

In recent days, his defense has become suspect as it does with any player on the verge of age 40. He has spent the last few years plagued with nagging injuries that have limited playing time. This spring saw more complaints than performance from Sheffield. He made no secret that he was upset at only being considered for DH. His spring training batting average of .198 solved that problem.

The big thing to remember is that the Detroit Tigers are not saving money with this move. The will have to pay Sheffield the $14 million they owe him.

With AAA certainly not an option, you have a guy who can't help the team on the field, will be a distraction if made to be a bench player, so what do you do? You wave goodbye.

It still sucks. As much as Sheffield annoys most, it would still be nice for him to bale to finish his career by making that list above.

The question remains as to whether Sheffield values that enough to eat crow and sing to the fractional amount that he'll be offered.

Mike Marshall's Newest Pitch

Don Spieles — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:50:28 -0400

Ahh! The wonders of the modern age. I changed my cable service to include the MLB Network yesterday. I'll let you know what I think of it in days to come, but for now, let me fill you in on the whereabouts of Dr. Mike Marshall, expert kinesiologist and former Cy Young winning closer.

You see, on the networks flagship show, MLB Tonight, I saw last night an interview with Dr. Marshall who with his medical degree, time spent studying the field of kinesiology, and his experiences on the mound, has become a guru in the burgeoning area of protecting pitchers.

It was rather interesting.

First, let's note that Michael "Iron Mike" Marshall pitched for a variety of major league teams between 1967 and 1981, He became well known for his durability, showed in full effect in Cy Young 1974 season with the Dodgers when he pitched in 106 games, a total of 208 innings.

As Dr. Marshall explained last evening on the show, his ability to do so stemmed from his knowledge of the human body and his particularly well adapted mechanics.

He applied some of his knowledge to the discussion, but with actual demonstrations by an assistant as well as some detailed analysis of last year's Cy Young winner, San Francisco Giant Tim Lincecum.

You can see the videos on the MLB site: Video One Video Two

In the first video, Marshall explains his background and his main issue with Lincecum, that being the movement of his arm. Marshall believe the Lincecum will be a future candidate for Tommy John surgery because the way he throws puts extra strain on his elbow ligaments.

In the second video, Marshall brings out a protege and has him demonstrate dome throwing techniques that Marshall has developed that are designed to limit damage to pitchers.

Pitcher preservation is believed by many to be the next big key in the major leagues. The Bill James driven "Money Ball" concept which has proven to work well for many teams (most notably, the Boston Red Sox) is now being emulated by just about every team to some degree*.

There will be a need for teams to explore a new way to gain advantages and that way might very well be by safeguarding the hurlers.

With all of Mike Marshall's background and logic, he claims to have gotten little or no notice from MLB thus far. Based on what he has to say, I thinking that is going to change soon.

Boston Red Sox's Curt Schilling Ends Legendary Career

Don Spieles — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:29:18 -0400

There are certain iconic phrases and images whose mere mention will produce galvanized memories among most.

The line "I'll be back" makes us all think of Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Terminator." The phrase "Do you believe in miracles?" is forever screamed in Al Michael's excited register and in reference to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

Unless you have lived in a cave since the late 1990s, the image of a bloody sock makes you think of Curt Schilling.

Today, Schilling announced his retirement.

After 23 years in professional baseball, 21 in the major leagues, he has chosen to bow out rather than pitch part of a season for a franchise, as Roger Clemens had done with the Yankees.

Assuming that Schilling does not pull a "Brett Favre" and stays retired, he will have left with 216 wins, 3116 strike outs, and a 3.46 ERA.

Schilling made his major league debut on Sept. 7, 1988 with the Baltimore Orioles. Ironically, that debut was against the Boston Red Sox, the team he would end his career with two decades later.

After three seasons on Baltimore and one in Houston, Schilling landed with the Phillies. He contributed to the 1993 team that made it to the World Series, only to be beaten by the Toronto Blue Jays. Schilling did win in game five of that series for the Phillies.

In 2000, the Phillies traded Schilling to the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he would remain for several years. He and Randy Johnson were the co-MVP's of the 2001 World Series, as Arizona defeated the New York Yankees.

After the 2003 season, Schilling became a free agent. As teams clamored to gain his services, the league’s youngest ever general manager, Theo Epstein, came from Boston and ate Thanksgiving dinner with the Schillings.

In the end, Epstein wanted to convey to Schilling the historical significance of being a key element to ending Boston's 86-year championship drought would be. Epstein did such a good job, Schilling signed with the Red Sox. He told the media he was coming to bring the World Series trophy to Fenway.

Even the most romantic of Red Sox fans could not have envisioned just how historic it would all be.

In 2003, the Red Sox had their latest in a lifetime of heartbreaks.

After giving up a lead in game seven of the ALCS by leaving Pedro Martinez in too long. Grady Little eventually put knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield on the mound, who then gave up a series winning home run to New York Yankee, Aaron Boone.

One year later, the Red Sox found themselves again in the ALCS, again playing their AL East rival Yankees, and again on the verge of elimination.

Schilling, who was 21-6 that season, had pitched poorly in game two of the series. As it turned out, the sheath that held a tendon in place on his right ankle was torn. The muscle was slipping around the ankle bone, causing pain and affecting Schilling's mechanics.

Physicians knew the surgery required for a fix would finish his season. Instead, they opted for a procedure so new that they first practiced it in a cadaver. They sutured the tendon in place temporarily to keep it from moving around. It would help restore his mechanics.

But the question remained, with this team down 3-0 in the ALCS, whether he would get to pitch again that year.

Game four itself was the stuff of legends. A heart stopping ninth inning rally to tie the game, the Red Sox won game four in extra innings. Game five went 14 innings until the Red Sox pulled out a one run victory. Game six was to be Schilling's finest.

Schilling's line on game six would be impressive enough without extra drama.

He pitched seven innings allowing one run on four hits. The Yankees had scored 40 runs in the first five games of the series. There was more drama to be had, though.

During the game, it became clear that the stitches on Schilling's ankle were seeping blood. The blood, clearly visible on his sock, has become the stuff of legend. Some suggest it was all a ruse to throw off the Yankees.

In the end, the sock went to the Hall of Fame, a symbol of the most storied comeback in baseball history.

The Red Sox won that game six, and went on to win game seven, the first team to ever comeback from such a deficit in a seven game series. Schilling was not done in 2004 or in the World Series.

He would win game two against the St. Louis Cardinals, as part of the sweep that Boston performed in that series. He had brought the title to Boston, as promised. Though he had a lack luster 2007 season, one hampered by time on the DL. In the end, he pitched in another post season and did not lose.

Today, Schilling retires with a post season record of 10-2.

He has spent his career being as outspoken as he was efficient on the mound. Schilling has taken much heat from fans and other athletes for his no hold barred approach to candor in interviews.

Perhaps his most famous topic is that of Barry Bonds' alleged steroid use. Schilling later apologized for this quote saying, "He admitted he used steroids. There's no gray area. He admitted cheating on his wife, cheating on taxes and cheating on the game."

While many, if not most, people out there who think Curt Schilling is a blowhard jerk, he was still a player who took his craft seriously and played the game of baseball the way it should be played. He was a rarity in professional sports in terms of caliber of play, desire to win, and honesty at the expense of popularity.

We will see what the powers that be have to say about the Hall of Fame. Whether he is enshrined in Cooperstown, he will be missed by fans of the game, starting today.

Top 10 Ways the Story About Manny's Injury Could Have Been Better

Don Spieles — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:11:06 -0400

(If you haven't got a clue what I'm talking about, read this.)

10. If Manny had said it was a simple case of "hammy being hammy".

9. If there were any real follow-up questions asked by the lame L.A. media

8. If Manny had actually gotten some idiots to sign him for five years at $25 million per.

7. If the Dodgers factored into the life of an east coast baseball fan...ever.

6. If Scott Boras was present for this press conference.

5. If Scott Boras had been beaten bloody by Dodger fans just after the press conference.

4. If Manny had giggled and/or cried during this press conference.

3. If Manny's current contract had a "dumbest thing ever uttered" clause.

2. If it had included a photo of the look on Frank McCort's face when he heard Manny's quote.

1. If Manny had signed with the Yankees.

Excuse-A-Paloooza: At Least A-Rod Goes the Classy Route

Don Spieles — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:26:08 -0500

A-Rod is the latest in a long string of MLB elites to get schnabbed (by proof or logic) for using Performance Enhancing Drugs. Tests done during the 2003 season (A-Rod's last in Texas) which were supposed to remain sealed, have unsealed. The only name so far to surface? Alex Rodriguez. Close on the heels of this announcement, ESPN reporter (and Red Sox fan extraordinaire) Peter Gammons landed the interview of the year: A sit down with A-Roid himself. Alex's statements harken us back to statements of old, and the things that others have said when on the hot seat. How does A-Rod's measure up?

Begin Slideshow

Joe Torre's Book Causes Memory Loss In Yankee Faithful

Don Spieles — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:00:18 -0500

The last thing anybody needs is another windy diatribe on the Joe Torre book and all the barbs it casts at the New York Yankees.

The vilification of the manager that saw such otherworldly success with the most storied franchise in sports history goes beyond his author credits and many find it to be, in a word, disgusting. It’s time someone mentioned it.

First of all, that so many Yankee fans have decided now that Torre had so little to do with the success of the franchise between 1996 and 2006 is shameful.

David Wells stated today on XM that anyone could have managed those teams and had the same result. While it is a moronic statement, Wells is not alone in his delusions.

Torre always dealt with the circus that is managing the Yankees with the utmost dignity and professionalism. He did not engage either prima donna players (a.k.a Wells) or George Steinbrenner in public arguments like managers of the past.

He dealt with the largest set of egos in the history of the game (George Steinbrenner, Wells, Clemens, and A-Rod, just to name a few) better than any other manager could have.

In a recent conversation with Lee Hamilton of XM’s MLB Home Plate, he expressed his awe at how well Torre handled the media crush in the times Hamilton was there for Yankee west coast trips. “Then I thought, ‘Joe does this 162 games a year!’” Hamilton said, putting in a nutshell his opinion of the skippers skills.

All the while, Torre managed to get the most out of the homegrown talent (Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, and such), and put the Yankees in contention just about every single year he was present.

I wonder if those players would share the sentiment of so many angry Yankee faithful or the ultra-bitter Mr. Wells.

I don't think it was the best of moves to air his dirty laundry with the franchise while he is still managing in the league.

Still, the lack of good decision making that this decision may show does not mean the things he tells in the book are false, anymore than it means the things he accomplished during those years in pinstripes any less significant.

Perhaps the Yankee faithful have a bad taste left in their collective mouths for just the same reasons that the rest of us thought Torre was a diamond in the rough. He did not get caught up in petty nonsense and he did not ascribe to the typical Bronx attitude, namely, “Screw everyone, we’re the Yankees!”

While there may be no real argument to support Torre’s timing or his betrayal of former colleagues, there is something to be said for honest portrayals of history. Portrayals that cannot, in good conscience, be altered, because Joe Torre has now made Yankee fans angry.

Mr. Varitek, Make a Decision!

Don Spieles — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:58:11 -0500

By the time this get published, Jason Varitek may have already decided what he's going to do. Will he take the $5 million that the Red Sox have offered him for 2009 or will he sit out the season or retire all-together, as the Globe is reporting this morning?

Either way, I'm hoping that there is resolution, because even though I am a big believer in the value of Jason Varitek to the Red Sox, I am sick and tired of this story.

The bottom line seems to be that 'Tek is not getting what he and Scott Boras believe he should be. There are mo other suitors. There is no option. So now he'd rather sit at home for 2009 or for good rather than make $5 million to play baseball for a team in contention?

Does that sound like lunacy to anyone else?

I'm willing to put most of the blame for this on Scott Boras. His scum quotient needs not be recanted here. But some has to go on Varitek.

Where else can you be as valuable as you will be to the Boston Red Sox? No where. Where else are you going to make $5 million? No where. Where else will you be captain? On the Red Sox or on your living room couch. Is the decision really that difficult?

Varitek is mad at himself (and hopefully Boras) for not accepting arbitration. Had he done so, he would have made about double what he stand to get paid as-is. Plus, now that he turned it down, other teams are forced to give Boston a first round draft pick of they sign him, plus the $10 million that he is asking for.

Does that seem likely?

I will miss seeing 'Tek behind the plate if he doesn't sign. That having been said, I am ready for this story to be over, for better or worse.

Dustin Pedroia’s Family Shame: News or Tabloid Garbage?

Don Spieles — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:56:57 -0500

By now, most readers have probably gotten wind of the story that has broken regarding Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia’s older brother. Brett Pedroia has been arrested on various counts of child molestation involving an eight year old boy.

When the details were posted on the Boston Herald website by Michael Silverman and Richard Weir, the comments came in a rush.The folks commenting at the BH site don’t all agree.

“This is a story for the tabloids and should have no bearing on Dustin. Can't you find something better to write about. Times must be tough when you start digging for family dirt.” - Fbooch

“Silverman your better than this!” - CyekiM

“Disgusting....!!!! We care about this, why??? You two, "journalists" should have thrown this article out with the tabloid trash. Was this meant to embarrass Dustin? To embarrass his family?? To titilate [sic] the reader?? This has nothing to do with us, Red Sox Nation, it should have stayed in California, and you should have been smarter than the average idiot.” - IrishCelts1

Is this story the stuff of check-out aisle tabloid rags or is it a news worthy piece? Even though it isn't pleasant, the latter assertion bears the truth.

While Dustin certainly is deserved of sympathy, the idea that this story is not news seems steeped in emotion rather than logic. Fans of the Red Sox don’t want family troubles, or more to the point, the widespread knowledge of family troubles, to weigh on Pedroia’s mind and affect his season. He was part of the 2007 championship and there is an emotional attachment.

But this is not aliens in the back yard. This is news of a crime, and a heinous one at that. The victimization of a child can and should never be swept under a carpet.

To be sure, most readers would never have heard this horrible story if it were not for the fact that the accused is the brother of a celebrity. But it cannot be denied that the great benefits of celebrity come with potentially painful side effects. When you’re in the public eye, things that happen to you and to those you care about become more interesting.

It is also worth remembering that there is no established guilt at this stage, only charges. Brett Pedroia will get his day in court. Also, according to the Boston Herald, he and his brother had not spoken in years and were apparently not close.

Dustin Pedroia is a talented man, a hard worker, and a fan favorite. But crimes against a child are news worthy, regardless of the details. To say otherwise shows judgment clouded by emotions.

Steeler Fans Breathe Sigh of Relief at Eagles Loss

Don Spieles — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:07:55 -0500

Before the kick-off in Pittsburgh on Sunday, a cheer could be heard from deep in the bowels of the Ketchup Bowl, known as Heinz Field, as the Arizona Cardinals narrowly defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.

Those men in black and gold were able to take the field with lighter hearts knowing that they should beat the Ravens, which they of course did, the birds they face next week will be red and not green. Anyone who calls the Steelers their team, and knows their history, joined their team in a collective sigh of relief.

Not facing the Eagles in the Super Bowl significantly increases the Steeler's chances of victory, which is by about 30 percent to be precise.

For those who doubt me, or are, who are not knowledgeable in the days and years that have made their franchise what it is today, then let me take a moment to verse you.

Since the dawn of time, or pro football, whichever came first, the Eagles and Steelers have squared up exactly 76 times. Of those meetings there have been three ties. For the Steelers, there have been 46 losses, which includes five of the last eight meetings and includes one of only four Steeler losses in their 1979 Super Bowl year.

This meager .370 percent winning average should certainly not hinder the enthusiasm for Steeler fans who are about to watch their team try for a unprecedented sixth Super Bowl Win for the franchise. They should probably keep that stat in in mind when talking to their green and silver neighbors.

Do we need to look so far back? I believe so. So do the Steeler fans, or so they remind me often. Those four Super Bowls in the 70's are still as fresh as yesterday's kielbasa. The past must be considered.

The franchise from Philly is certainly cursed when it comes to the big enchilada, but in terms of the "Battle for PA" it seems clear just who is calling who "Daddy".

Congrats Steelers - Beat those Cards!

Top Ten Reasons I’m Glad the Red Sox Locked Up Kevin Youkilis

Don Spieles — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:34:17 -0500

10. Youkilis was in “Milk Money” with Melanie Griffith. Sure, the movie sucked and it was only one line from a then 14 year-old Youk, but back then Melanie Griffith was hot!

9. Kevin’s Jewish. A very much under-represented group in professional sports.

8. Youk hit 29 homers last season. I like homers.

7. Enza, Kevin’s wife. Not only is she a hottie, he’s not. It give hope to millions of men around the world.

6. According to Wikipedia (source of all knowledge) an on-base plus slugging percentage of .900 puts a player in the upper echelon of offensive ability. Youkilis posted a 1.43 last season and his career thus far shows a 1.19.

5. That crazy batting stance. I don’t know where he developed that, but it makes me think of all those guys over the years who you could identify a mile away of they were at the plate. (Rose, Carew, Clemente, and so on.)

4. Youk holds the record for most consecutive errorless games a first base. Consistency, man.

3. Fire. Remember when Manny took a swing at Youk in the dugout during that Rays game. Do you remember why? It was because Manny got annoyed by Youk’s anger over his own bad at-bat. Imagine that? A player who wanted to do his best every performance regardless of the score? Wow!

2. One word: GOATEE!

And the number one reason I’m Glad the Red Sox Locked up Kevin Youkilis…

1. I’m old enough to remember the end of the era where a player would spend most, if not all, of his career with a team. You would put your favorite player up on a pedestal and know that he would most likely be playing for your favorite team for a long time. From what I can tell, Kevin Youkilis is a hard working ball player who really cares about winning and gives is all no matter what. I’d be satisfied if my son had a Kevin Youkilis poster on his wall that at least he’d picked a decent role model.

Sports Writers Are Crazy: Henderson HOF Vote Proves It (Again)

Don Spieles — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:43:34 -0500

There is the brink of insanity, then there is the abyss.

I've been paying a little less attention to the Hall of Fame balloting this year because I was convinced that Jim Rice was going to get the final snub and I'd just be annoyed. I'm pleasantly surprised and happy to report that Mr. Rice has finally gotten into the Hall of Fame in this his 15th year on the ballot.

It's a shame that the pleasant little ember burning in my heart is dampened because I looked at the vote tally for Rickey Henderson.

First let's looks at the teams he's played for...

He began in Oakland. Then on to the Yankees, back to Oakland in mid '89 until 1995—with half a season or so in Toronto in '93. A season and a half in San Diego, a half season in Anaheim, back to Oakland in 1998. Next, a season and a half with the Mets and a half with Seattle, a little time with the Sea Dogs (huh?), another half in a Padre's uni, then 2002 in Boston. His last shot in the majors ended in a short stint in Dodger blue in 2003, sandwiched between some minor league work.

Finally, after 2005, he finally retired. Whew! This earned him 511 votes for the Hall of Fame?

You always hear a lot about his stats. Henderson was just shy of 11,000 at-bats in the maors and played in over 3000 major league games.

He holds the AL and overall records for most steals in a career, having led the AL in stolden bases 13 times, including 130 in 1982. He is also the all-time leader in runs scored and second in total walks. He earned 10 All-Star selections and one MVP in his 26-year major league career.

He finished in the top five for AL batting average three times. He's fourth on the all-time list for plate appearances. He was in the top 10 for on-base percentage 16 times (twice in the NL) coming in at No. 1 in 1990.

In 1979, he was the eighth youngest player in the AL. From 1998 through 2003 he was one of the 10 oldest, maxing out as the elder statesman in 2002 for the AL. His highest salary was in 1994 when he made $4.8 million.

This guy gets 94.8 percent of the vote?

That leaves me with one burning question: Where in hell are those other 28 or so votes? What exactly were these individuals thinking when they decided that Rickey Henderson was not Hall of Fame worthy?

So we'll listen to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, and the new MLB Network debate ad naseum about whether Mike Mussina or Curt Schilling have the numbers. They'll go in incessantly about if Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, or Roger Clemens will ever get in?

As many have pointed out to me (some seen below), no one has ever been voted in unanimously. No one! What does that tell you?

There'll be millions of conversations about thousands of players, but none of those "no" voters will ever explain what more they would have liked to see from Henderson.

The best part is, no one cares.

Congrats, Mr. Henderson.

Will Work for At-Bats: Why Can't Barry Bonds Find a Job?

Don Spieles — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:35:10 -0500

There are few who could argue intelligently that Barry Bonds is not Hall-of-Fame worthy, but how does one explain the fact that this man whose name ranks up with the greats like Ruth, Mays, Williams, and so on, cannot seem to find a job playing baseball?

Everyone is aware of the detractors.

His fielding sucks a bit, but he did get his hip worked on.

He's going to court in March on perjury charges. He's got, at best, a huge cloud of doubt about steroid use. At worst, he's got a history of rampant blood doping. He's a prima donna who doesn't get along with the media, he's an alleged tax evader, and, by all accounts, he's a lousy husband, to boot.

But there is of course a good side, and man is it good!

Bonds is the all-time home run leader with 762. He is also the single-season homer king, with 73. His average on base percentage (OPB) between 2004 and 2007 was .486. In his last three full seasons, he walked 479 times and he is 395 intentional walks ahead of the No. 2 man, Hank Aaron. His career on base plus slugging (OPS) is a whopping 1.051.

This list of credentials is, mathematically and logically, the best set of numbers in all of baseball, past and present. Yet with all of these things to fill his resume, no one is biting.

After the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira, the next hammer to be talked about ad nauseum is Manny Ramirez. So far he has not been signed to a deal at all, let alone the lucrative one that he claims to merit. His stats are nothing compared to Bonds, but his list of negatives is far shorter, too.

But what about Bonds?

Forget the teams with playoff chances and coffers of cash. Barry wants what Barry has always wanted—more stats.

He needs 37 extra base hits to surpass Hank Aaron's 1,477. If he could get on base 331 more times, he'd pass Pete Rose's 5,929 mark. About 881 total bases would put him at the top of that list, surpassing, once again, Hank Aaron, who had 6,856 at the end of his career. Another 65 hits, measly by Bonds standards, places him in the "3000 Club".

Bonds is willing to play for far less than Manny. Sure, he might only have a year or two left in him (assuming he's not doing five to ten in jail.) Right now it seems like Manny Ramirez is only going to get a two- or three-year deal, anyway.

At first glance, the headline of this article probably had readers thinking, "I know why!" But really, when a guy like Bonds is willing to play anywhere, which is about the case, and he's willing to do so for far less than marquee bucks—what is really the issue?

Teams could include a clause to deal with legal issues (as in time away). They could put clauses in for playing time in general, performance totals, the list goes on. All of this and Bonds would still play.

He would probably fit better with an AL club as a DH. So where are teams like Kansas City, Baltimore, or Texas, who could certainly use the bat as much as the increased butts in the seats? Without having to cover a position, Bonds could focus on the plate and could make a real difference.

It seems that the cards have been dealt and that we've seen Barry Bonds last Major League game. Considering all drama and controversy, I'd be lying if I said I'm going to miss him—I never liked him much. I can't help but be confused, however, at the lack of interest in what would be an interesting last go-round in a profoundly interesting career.

Open Letter to A-Rod: Why Snub US at World Baseball Classic?

Don Spieles — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:50:07 -0500

Dear Alex Rodriguez,

Given your busy schedule, I realize you may not spend as much time on the Internet as many of us, but you must be familiar with it, no? How about Wikipedia? See, Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia through which a Web surfer can look up almost anything, especially when it comes to celebrities.

It took me only about 10 seconds with this site to ascertain that you are an American citizen—natural born, to boot. So, why are you spitting in the face of your country and playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic?

Wikipedia can sometimes give less-than-valid information, so let me check some facts with you. You were born in in New York City in 1975. Although your family did move to the Dominican Republic, it was only for a few years. You spent the rest of your formative years in the Miami area, yes?

Hmmm...interesting.

I certainly mean no disrespect to the nation that you plan to snub the U.S. in favor of. I've never been to the Dominican Republic, but I believe it to be a place with honest, hardworking folks who truly love baseball.

However, the same can certainly be said of these United States. Being that you have chosen the U.S. in which to play your professional ball and earn your gargantuan salary, it seems peculiar that you would thumb your nose at the U.S.A. on this very global stage.

I know that, with your wealth, you have ample opportunity to travel the world. I know you've been to Canada because you made the news that time you had your picture taken with that "professional" gal. Toronto is a wonderful city, so I'm told.

I have not had much chance to travel to world. To be honest, the ticket prices for Major League games are about the upper limit of my entertainment budget. I don't mind, though. I mean, someone has to pay your salary.

I was wondering also if I might be so bold as to ask for your advice on something. I have a nephew who idolizes you. He's confused about how to watch the World Baseball Classic this year. Should he be rooting for the United States, or for his No. 1 role model?

Some have suggested to me that your seemingly un-American choice to play for the D.R. is a slap in the face of sorts to the county that has helped make you the icon that you have become. I argue with them very aggressively. Really, I do.

It would assist me greatly in my efforts to lobby for your good name if you could explain your choice to me. Why is it that you've chosen to play for another team?

Thank you for your time, Mr. Rodriguez. Oh, and tell Madonna I said, "yo!"

Sincerely,

Don Spieles
Proud American

George Steinbrenner and The Truth About the MLB Money Flood

Don Spieles — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:22:53 -0500

When a group of investors led by George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees in 1972, so began a new era in baseball: the Money Flood Era. It was two years after that Catfish Hunter was released from his contract with the Athletics and was picked up by Georgie and the Yankees for $2.85 million over four years.

That amount almost laughable now, but at the time is was an unheard of salary. So began the steady climb of salaries that Alex Rodriguez thanks God for every time he kneels down before bedtime.

In the 1980's, the Yankees now joined their hapless rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in more or less perennial failure. After back to back World Series titles in the late seventies (credited in large part to another money-bucket signing by Steinbrenner, that of Reggie Jackson) the Yankees also experienced a fruitless period after losing the 1981 World Series to Los Angeles.

All the while, Steinbrenner and the Yankees continued spending, picking up players like Dave Winfield and Rickey Henderson.

By the mid nineties, the Yankees owner had been banned from day-to-day operations by the league twice. The first vacation was a result of legal troubles when Steinbrenner was convicted of making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and felony obstruction of justice charges during the investigation.

The second ban came in early nineties when commissioner Fay Vincent suspended Steinbrenner after it came to light that he'd hired Howie Spira to dig into Dave Winfield's private affairs in hopes of digging up dirt which would assist Steinbrenner in his ongoing feud with the star player. This was to be a "lifetime ban," but it lasted only two years.

Ironically, this two year ban is credited by many for the renewed success that the Yankee organization was to experience. General Manager Gene Michael and then manager Buck Showalter were able to shift the emphasis from big dollar free agents and focus again on farm system talent.

This switch was directly related to the eventual rise of Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte. The Yankees were poised for the post season in 1994 when a strike ended the season. The team again was headed for the World Series in 1995 if not for an ALCS loss to Seattle.

By the time 1996 rolled around, Steinbrenner was back from his ban and back to sacking managers, this time Buck Showalter, even though he had the team on the brink of a championship. The Yankees hired Joe Torre as manager.

Steinbrenner also went back to his diamond studded plan of spending money on big names. While the franchise rode the success of the influx of young talent that had begun in Steinbrenner's absence, George next decade picking up stars for huge prices. Since 1994, the Yankees have had the highest payroll in all but two seasons.

The Yankees added to their mystique, winning the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. They made the Series in 2001 to be beaten in the seventh game by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Despite the evidence that big name talent was not the secret, Steinbrenner picked up stars such as David Wells, David Cone, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Jason Giambi, and Alex Rodriguez, all for large sums. While the two former saw success, the four latter have had no real part in any Yankee championships.

In particular, A-Rod has been the center of more controversy than excellence. There was initial backlash because Rodriguez was a shortstop by trade and was being moved to third because short stop spot was Jeter's.

Rodriguez proved to be consistently inconsistent in the post season, and off-the-field issues with women and his agent have been distractions. Meanwhile, his first contract with New York (originally done by the Texas Rangers at 10 years, $252 million) was the largest in history. His second (10 years, $275 million) broke that record.

A-Rod's first year with the Yankees was 2004. It was also the year that they lost, rather embarrassingly, to the Red Sox in the ALCS. Having been up three games to none, they blew four games to end their fourth straight season with no championship. Their consistently huge payroll was not paying off. They have not been to a World Series since.

The salt in Steinbrenner's new millennium wounds is that while the Yankees have been slumping again, their arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox have won it all twice. The first in 2004, saw them go straight through the Bronx to get there.

Boston also won in 2007. This era of success for Boston coincided with a new ownership group and an influx of money. This has prompted the anti-big-money crowd, and, ironically, many Yankee fans, to start accusing Boston of doing what Red Sox fans whined about the Yankees for so long—buying championships.

While the Red Sox have been consistently in the top five payroll list, there is little parallel to be drawn with the Yankees dollars when one uses statistics and not emotions.

Now, George Steinbrenner is no longer responsible for the money purging that the Yankees organization does. These days Hal Steinbrenner. son of the iconic owner, has taken over George's role as grand wizard GM's worst nightmare. But as far as can bee seen from this hot stove season, the apple has fallen extremely close to the tree.

Special thanks to BoSox 4 ever in the FanNation (SI) forum for calling these numbers to my attention.

Manny Being Manny Has Teams' Purse Strings Tight

Don Spieles — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:12:57 -0500

Someone suggested to me the other day that the Red Sox exaggerated the problems with Manny Ramirez this past season in order to get rid of him. I've finally stopped laughing and am able to jot down the reasons why that is silly—and why one of the greatest hitters in baseball history is still waiting on a contract.

First of all, when you are a Major League Baseball franchise, especially one with lots of dough, you don't have to perform any mental gymnastics to figure out a way to get rid of a player. In the specific case of Ramirez, the Red Sox could simply have not picked up the club option for 2009—strangely enough, this is exactly what Ramirez's goal was.

Boston had been on the verge of trading Manny on several occasions over the years, so I think that was always a viable option, regardless of the atmosphere.

Regardless of the options for getting rid of Ramirez, the truth of the matter is that the Red Sox wanted nothing more than for Manny to stop goofing around and play. David Ortiz was in the midst of a lackluster season. Mike Lowell was gimpy. Josh Beckett was not up to snuff, and Jason Varitek was having his worst offensive season of his life.

So the answer is simply, "no." The Red Sox, if anything, were trying to deal with Manny's behavior because he was needed. At least the true version of Manny Ramirez was needed.

In the end, what necessitated his departure was the effect he had on his teammates. It was the team (or some of them) who had finally had enough of Ramirez sitting on the bench for less than real reasons and his lousy attitude with staff, the press, and yes, even his teammates themselves. They were ones who ultimately made the call, and that speaks volumes.

With the atmosphere in professional sports these days, there is a natural division between the players and the management. If you are enough of an idiot that it prompts your fellow workers to go to the bosses to say, "He's gotta go," you have really accomplished something.

The two largest wallets, Boston and New York, are not interested in Ramirez. Boston for obvious reasons, the Yankees because they don't seem to feel the need for Ramirez after the recent huge signings they put together.

The Angels, another big-market team, were the first to say they were not interested in Ramirez, and they said it right after dropping out of the Teixeira race. At that point, picking up Manny for about half of what Tex went for would have been seen as a salve for the team and their fans after not getting Tex. To immediately say that Ramirez was not even a consideration speaks volumes.

As for the rest of the teams, there seems to be a leeriness to throw a deal at Ramirez, especially one of the caliber that he feels he requires. A four-plus-year commitment in the range of $20 million a year is a tall order for most franchises, especially when you may have a player who stops performing, assaults other staff, and sells you out to the press at some point before the contract is over.

And let's not forget who'll be brokering that deal. The fact that Ramirez has Scott Boras as his agent is a factor in the search for a big deal.

Boras' history gives no one the warm fuzzies, especially his recent history. There were the Teixeira dealings that left bad tastes in the mouths of at least Baltimore and Washington. He was fired by arguably the biggest blip on the radar screen, Alex Rodriguez, after the debacle that ensued when he was renegotiating with the Yankees.

While the idea of signing Manny to a big deal gives most teams a nervous feeling, the idea of dealing with Boras to do it is equal to a round of Ipecac shooters.

So congratulations Manny on whatever your deal ends up being, because there will be one. But those of us on the outside looking in, you know us—the fans you claim to love—well, we're grinning just a bit, because it seems like we're not the only ones who think that you're worth a bit less than you think.

L.A. Daily News "Opposites Sketch": Manny Ramirez As Sportsman of The Year

Don Spieles — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:04:59 -0500

This morning I simply wanted to browse some headlines on the Internet. The next thing I know, I’m reading a link to the Los Angeles Daily News that reads, “Manny Ramirez, Sportsman of the Year.” To quote Clark W. Griswold, the master of exterior illumination, “If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now.”

What in the world could the criteria be when Manny Ramirez is even on a list of “Sportsmen”, let alone at its peak. I suppose I’m just looking at it the wrong way. This award cannot have anything to do with actual sportsmanship because Ramirez spent a good deal of time in 2008 trying to be the antithesis of a good sport.

How do you look back on the year where Ramirez dogged it on the field to gain a trade, started a fight with a teammate in the dugout, decked an elderly front office employee, and gave scathing interviews about the team he was a member of and then say to yourself, “Oh, yeah! Manny’s sportsman of the year!”?

What you have is just the latest chapter in what will be the very polarized biography of arguably the best right-handed hitter ever to swing a bat. The same man whose legacy will forever be tainted by the negative just like fellow legends like Bonds, Clemens, and McGuire. They had steroids, Manny has his childish lack of class.

You can’t really blame the LA press for such a transparent move. Ramirez was all sorts of friendly with them after joining the Dodgers. Once his end-of-the-season free agency was assured, he began to play to the level he’s actually capable of instead of the pseudo-Manny that jogged to first (when he played at all) in Boston all July. Plus, it will take a major miracle to keep Manny in Dodger-Blue for 2009 since all he is worried about is the highest bidder.

Not that the LA Daily News "Sportsman of the Year" was ever prestigeous, but it has now fallen to somewhere between Arkansas Times “Best Mullet” award and the Scott Peterson "Husband of the Year" honors.

Sources which must remain anonymous (because I made them up) tell me that runners-up for this not-so-coveted distinction include both juicer Roger Clemens himself, as well as kidnapper O.J. Simpson, and steroid queen turned perjurer, Marion Jones.

You know what the saddest part is? Marion Jones actually was a runner up.