Bleacher Report - Articles by John Lewis

Can We Really Believe Manny Ramirez?

John Lewis — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:24:42 -0400

Jose "Nostradamus" Canseco said he suspected Manny Ramirez was taking steroids long ago and now Major League Baseball has stuck Manny on his rear end for 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance.

The only problem is that the banned substance was a women's fertility drug that helps women who are ovulating or want to lose weight.

Manny...is there something you want to tell us? And why are you taking Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)?

Manny said he was having problems in the bedroom and that's why he went to a doctor to get help and hCG is supposed to build testosterone. The only problem with that is according to steroid experts hCG is taken because of the shrinking testicles and the use of steroids.

It's also taken to help mask steroids in order to pass urine tests...which Manny has passed over the years. However this time around MLB discovered that Manny had a high testosterone level and decided to figure out why.

So with Manny's problems in the bedroom did he develop ED (erectile dysfunction) as a result of taking PED's (performance enhancing drugs)?

This goes to show you that Canseco was right again...which is not all that surprising because the steroid taking baseball world is so small.

There also were whispers that Manny was holding out so long so he didn't have to go to spring training thus riding his body of PED's. And anyone the follows baseball knows that Manny has never been big on going to spring training.

While Manny never had spikes in his home run production during his career I have to believe that's because steroids don't necessarily make you a power hitter but rather allow you to enjoy a longer career free from serious injury.

This just proves two things...cheating does pay off and players today don't care about their lasting image.

Manny was able to cash in with his Dodgers contract this late in his career and signed a $45 million two year agreement before the season started. He's not the only one that's gone straight to the bank as a result of PED's. Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, A-Rod and Sheffield...a who's who list of the top home run hitters of all-time.

This begs the question...are we really that surprised anymore when a big name player gets caught with his pants down? It's like we want to see these players get caught so we can have something to talk about.

I for one still love baseball and there are other players to watch and root for like Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard. But now everyone will be focusing their attention on these two and wondering if they're really clean. No one can predict that...not even Canseco.

The one real question I have is how did the top players from decades past like Ruth, Aaron, Mays, Robinson, Killebrew etc play over 20 years without PED's? If players today need them to sustain a long and productive career how did the hero's from our past do it?

Are we to truly believe that those guys didn't take anything? Hank Aaron played 23 seasons and the most unhealthy player in history, Babe Ruth, played 21 seasons on hot dogs and beer!

If you just take the players with 500 home runs, 25 guys, seven of them have either been suspected or have tested positive for PED's. That's a large chuck and I think it's pretty obvious that the guys taking the PED's would never have played this long without them. They would've just retired or faded off into the sunset.

I'm certainly not saying that the greatest players of all-time were on PED's but it is a known fact that speed pills were provided to many players over the years.

If I'm someone like Albert Pujols or Ryan Howard and I'm truly clean I would have a live press conference, pee in a cup and have MLB test me in front of the entire nation. That way everyone knows I'm completely clean.

However, the real skeptics will always say that even the ones taking PED's passed urine tests. So I guess we'll never really know what happens behind closed doors.

What do you think?

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High Schooler Jeremy Tyler Will Skip Senior Year to Play Overseas

John Lewis — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:09:26 -0400

What do you do if you're 6'9'' (listed as 6'11'' on other sites) and weigh 225 pounds and are dominating high school basketball? If you're Jeremy Tyler you say no more high school and you sign to play overseas.

His defense for leaving high school early...he wasn't getting any better playing with these kids and he wants to grow as a player in a more professional setting. Hey can you blame the guy? If I was that big and that good I may have done the same thing. However, I'm 5'9'' instead of 6'9''.

Tyler's father has been quoted by the New York Times as being on board with this decision saying that if 18-year-old kids can join the military and fight for our country than why can't his son play professional basketball.

Scout.com has Tyler listed as the seventh best basketball player in the 2010 recruiting class and he signed to play for Rick Pitino at Louisville. Tyler is looking to join Brandon Jennings and become only the second high school basketball player to elect to play overseas instead of the mandatory one year out of high school rule.

It's hard to see how successful it's been for Brandon Jennings, but he's averaging just over five points per game in the Italian league. However, the $1.65 million guaranteed money he earned plus the $2 million Under Armour deal didn't hurt.

Does Jennings' seemingly lack of success mean he wasn't ready for the NBA? Does it mean he needed a year of college under his belt before making the leap? We'll never know, but with a year of basketball coaching he appears to be ready to play at the next level.

But what will this move do for the rest of the high school basketball players that don't want to stay in school any longer? It now looks like the perfect option to play overseas, earn a few dollars, get some professional coaching, and when eligible put your name in the NBA draft.

What about other sports...football in particular? Will high school football players want to play in the Canadian Football League, or even NFL Europe? I don't know if there are any eligibility rules prohibiting them from doing so.

In a world where money is thrown around quickly I have to say I would advise my child to do the same and play professionally if possible. Some people will say but what about friends and enjoying being 18. I say with millions of dollars you can buy friends and easily have a good time.

What do you think?

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Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy Lead Arms Race to Heisman

John Lewis — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:19:00 -0500

First it was Colt McCoy telling the country that he would be back for his senior season to finish what he started. We all thought, put his name on the Heisman and put Texas in the national title game for sure, especially since Sam Bradford was supposed to put his name in this year's NFL draft.

Then when Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford both made their "I'm coming back" speeches, we all thought, "Wow!" and, well, you can put the Gators and Sooners in the National Championship Game.

So now, with the top three candidates from the past Heisman Trophy voting all returning, what can we expect to see?

The good, the bad, and the ugly for Sam Bradford returning to Oklahoma!

The Good

By coming back to the Sooners, he will have a chance to avenge his national title game loss and win a championship in what should be a deep field of teams.

The Bad

He most likely would've been the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, signed to millions, and would've had a great shot at playing every day his rookie season. Also by returning, his stock can only go down. He had four games in which he threw five touchdowns and had four games where he threw four touchdowns. To top it off, he most likely won't win the Heisman, either.

The Ugly

While it sounds great to be the top pick in the draft, the Detroit Lions are terrible and Bradford would've been running for his life in the backfield...so maybe his decision wasn't so bad after all.

As long as he doesn't get hurt, he will still be one of the top quarterbacks taken in next year's NFL Draft.

The good, the bad, and the ugly for Colt McCoy returning to Texas!

The Good

By returning to the Longhorns, he has a legitimate shot at getting to the national title game...a game most experts believe he should've been in this year. His completion percentage and running ability made him a Heisman Trophy candidate, and he could win it in his senior year.

The Bad

While McCoy had no idea Tebow and Bradford would return for another college season, had he put his name into the draft, he would've been a first-round pick. Having your name called in the first round is worth millions and makes it much easier to concentrate on just playing football and learning a pro-style offense.

The Ugly

McCoy was like Harry Houdini on the field because he had two marginal wide receivers in Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley, and he led his team in rushing yards and was second in rushing touchdowns. Well, one of his two top WRs graduates, and the running game leaves much to be desired.

The good, the bad, and the ugly for Tim Tebow returning to Florida!

The Good

With Tim Tebow coming back for his senior year, he has a chance to go down as the greatest college player of all time. He has a chance to win another national championship. He has a chance to win another Heisman Trophy and has a chance to stamp his name on college sports forever.

The Bad

Tebow's stats fell from his Heisman Trophy campaign two years ago, and they can fall again. He threw for 539 fewer yards, had two fewer passing touchdowns, and fell to third in this year's Heisman Trophy voting.

The Ugly

His stats could continue to fall, and he could go from a projected third or fourth-round pick to much later and never have the opportunity to show his athleticism at the next level. I have made the point before that players need to cash in on their name when the time is right. Tebow could've done just that, but what happens if he doesn't play as well his senior year? NFL scouts will look the other way when his name comes up in the draft.

Whatever happens in the 2009 college football season, it should be exciting to watch with Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy all in uniform.

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College Football: Tim Tebow Needs To Enter NFL Draft!

John Lewis — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:30:38 -0500

Fresh off his BCS National Title win against the Oklahoma Sooners, Tim Tebow should say thank you, and good bye, to the Florida Gators and enter the NFL draft.

Before everyone slams me and says I'm crazy for thinking that, let me make a few points to support the argument.

First Tebow needs to strike when the iron is hot. His last two seasons he's won the Heisman and won a national title...not a bad couple of years. Too many college athletes have stayed a little longer which hurt their draft status when they finally left.

While I do understand that his quarterback skills will be limited in the NFL, some teams will take a chance on him. Just look at the next level and the need for QB's! Even Daunte Culpepper was signed and he's out of shape and has lost quite a few steps over the years.

Teams will ultimately take a chance and that chance taken on Tebow will net him millions of dollars. Anyone remember Kordell Stewart? He was given chance after chance to play QB and when the Pittsburgh Steelers realized that he was terrible he was thrust into new offensive positions like receiver and punter.

The second point is with the new wildcat offense teams like the Miami Dolphins are running and others are trying to copy, Tebow could be a great fit. He's a good runner and can obviously throw the ball as well. I'm thinking if Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown can play QB in the wildcat, Tebow could play a similar role as QB/RB for another team.

I'm not saying Tebow could be an every down back or QB, but he could provide some kind of spark for teams that need a few tricks to win. For example what about the Detroit Lions? Hey we all know they need a lot more than a few tricks at the QB and RB positions but with a bad offensive line the wildcat could prove useful.

Lions QB's are usually scrambling a lot anyway, why not do it with a QB that can run and pass. Maybe a team like the Cleveland Browns, who desperately need something in order to actually get into the end zone, could use a guy like Tebow.

The point is, while you don't have to be a genius to see that Tebow will not make a great QB at the next level with his non-pocket passing skills and his 10 minute release of the football, he could still offer something that most athletic players in the league can't: the ability the throw the football and keep opponents off balance.

The third and most important point is the money. Every prominent college athlete has to from time to time think about the money. It's out there and because Tebow is coming off two great seasons he will be on the minds of many NFL owners and scouts on draft day.

Think about all the great college players that have stayed one more year and hurt their draft status. Matt Leinart anyone? Not that he fell too far but if he left a year earlier he would've been a much higher pick. Switching sports just for a second, but Tyler Hansbrough has killed his draft position by staying at UNC.

If he decided to leave after his freshman or sophomore years he would've been a top five pick in the draft. Now NBA scouts see that he's really not made any significant additions to his game and last draft was projected as a late first, early second round pick.

Back to college football now, remember Vince Young? He was hot off the press after single handedly beating USC in the championship game and the next year was the third pick in the draft. We can all see that he's definitely not worthy of anything close to a third pick but he knew his name was still hot and teams would take a chance.

What happens next season if Tebow gets hurt with all his running around? Why take the chance of getting hurt and getting nothing in return, except for of course an education, but whatever.

Point blank: Tim Tebow could really hurt is draft status if he stays another year. Timmy boy if you're listening leave now. You're third round pick this year would be a whole lot better than the alternative.

Maybe I'm wrong and Tebow comes back next year and wins a Heisman and another national title and looks just as impressive as the two previous seasons. But why take the chance if you don't have to.

What do you think?

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Should the New England Patriots Keep Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, or Both?

John Lewis — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:53:37 -0500

With the New England Patriots now beginning their offseason as we speak, let the rumor mill begin. Should the Patriots keep Tom Brady and his surgically repaired knee and let Matt Cassel go off into free agency? Or should they sign Cassel in the event that Brady isn't 100% by the start of next season?

Hey why not sign Cassel and trade Brady? This might sound ridiculous, but think of all the players and draft picks the Pats could get from the sale of Brady! Remember Hershel Walker? On October 12, 1989 the Cowboys were able to get five players and six draft picks from the Minnesota Vikings for the now infamous running back.

Players like Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, and Darren Woodson were drafted and three Super Bowls later the Cowboys came out on top of the most lopsided trade in NFL history...now only referred to as "The Trade".

Think of how many teams would covet a quarterback like Tom Brady and what they would give up to get him. Hey the Vikings are only a QB away from making a Super Bowl run and they have a history of giving away the farm to get what they want.

Let's just run down the list of reasons why the Pats could sign Cassel and trade Brady:

First, has Tom Brady gotten too big for the rest of his team? His offseason has looked like this...have knee surgery, get an infection in knee, supposedly get engaged, buy a huge home, and fall behind on rehabbing schedule according to several reports.

Not that I blame Brady for wanting to be with Gisele Bündchen forever, but rehabbing is a must and I'm sure the rest of the Pats organization is wondering what he's doing with this time off.

What happens if Brady isn't ready to go by the start of next season? They can't rely on another new QB and risk falling behind until Tom is ready. Cassel is the perfect answer...he's ready now and could be had for less than the $8 million Brady will make for 2008 and another $8 million for 2009.

Let's also not forget that Brady's contract runs out in 2010 and Cassel could be signed long term without the hassle of a contract negotiation.

If you compare the season Cassel had to Brady's career they are pretty similar. Until Moss and Welker showed up, Brady averaged 3,593 yards passing, 24.5 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Put that side by side with Cassel and he had 3,693 passing yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 int's.

Let's not forget that in the beginning, Cassel did nothing but hand off and as he learned his role he began the throw the ball more so his numbers could have been better. This easily proves that the Pats can win with Cassel.

As if the above doesn't show why Brady could be traded here's more!

New England can't sign both Cassel and keep Brady...they would be paying too much for the position and they have glaring holes in their defense. Which is another reason why trading Brady would be good...getting better defensive players.

The Pats fell short in several key areas defensively, one in particular being third down and in turnover differential.

They finished 26th out of 32 teams in third-down defense. They recorded only one more takeaway than giveaway which ranked 15th in the NFL. They were awful in the red zone defensively, finishing 31st in touchdown percentage.

This would allow them the ability to upgrade at several positions all the while keeping their offense in place, thus making guys like Randy Moss happy...and we all know what that means.

The Pats also have, according to some draft experts, a decent backup in Kevin O'Connell. He was described by some as a draft sleeper...much like Cassel who didn't even start a college game.

On a side note, Belichick has worked his magic on Cassel and now knows he can win games with him. While Brady has three Super Bowl rings and always seems cool under pressure, he was an unknown as well when he entered the league and look what happened.

The same could be true for Matt Cassel...the Patriots need to pull the trigger on Brady and sign Cassel.

What do you think?

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MLB: Greatest Players From Alaska And Arizona

John Lewis — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:57:58 -0400

Continuing with the theme of the greatest Major League Baseball players in each state in alphabetical order. While Alaska is the next state, there were only two notable athletes to make an appearance in the majors.

I've decided to combine Alaska and Arizona...so up next is The Last Frontier state followed by the Grand Canyon State:

Curt Schilling

While his career may be over, Schilling will go down as one of the greatest post-season pitchers who ever lived. In 19 playoff games, he has an 11-2 record with a 2.23 ERA and 120 strikeouts.

If he never pitches again he will finish with 216 wins, a 3.46 ERA, 3,116 strikeouts, six All-Star selections, three World Series rings and a World Series MVP award in 2001. He also led the National League in wins in 2001, led the American League in wins in 2004 and led the NL in strikeouts in two other seasons.

Shawn Chacon

Chacon is the only other baseball player to be born in Alaska and started his career with the Colorado Rockies after being a third round selection in 1996. He made his big league debut in 2001 and has turned into a decent pitcher.

Chacon is known for his altercation with Houston Astros General Manager Ed Wade. Chacon was suspended indefinitely for insubordination and is currently a free agent. He has a 45-61 record with a 4.99 ERA and has played with four teams.

Bob Horner

Horner was a star the moment he stepped on a baseball diamond and set numerous records at each level. He was awarded the 1977 College World Series MVP and the 1978 Golden Spikes award, which is given to the best amateur athlete.

Horner was the first pick in the 1978 draft and also made his debut that same year. That year he was Rookie of the Year, in 89 games he hit 23 HRs and drove in 63 runs. He finished his, injury plagued, 10 year career with 218 HRs and 685 RBI.

John Denny

Denny pitched in the Major Leagues from 1974 to 1986 and his career highlight came in 1983 when he won the National League Cy Young Award. That year he went 19-6 with a 2.37 ERA.

Denny also won game one of the 1983 World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Baltimore Orioles. He compiled a career record of 123-108 with a 3.59 ERA. Along with his Cy Young Award, that same season Denny also won the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year and the Comeback Player of the Year.

Hank Leiber

Leiber roamed the outfield for the Chicago Cubs and New York Giants from 1933 to 1942. His best season came in 1935 with the New York Giants when he hit 22 HRs, drove in 107 runs, hit .331 with a .389 on-base percentage and a .512 slugging percentage.

In 10 seasons he compiled 101 HRs, 518 RBI, .288 batting average, .356 on-base and a .462 slugging percentage.

Ron Hassey

Hassey played for six different teams from 1978 to 1991. Hassey holds the distinction of being the only player to catch two perfect games in the major leagues. On May 15, 1981, Hassey caught Len Barker's perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

On July 28, 1991, he caught a perfect game pitched by Dennis Martinez against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played for the Athletics in three World Series from 1988-1990 winning one and losing two.

Bill Hatcher

Hatcher played for seven different teams from 1984 to 1995. Known as more of a platoon player, he hit 54 HRs, 399 RBI, batted .264 with a .312 on-base percentage and a .364 slugging percentage.

His best season came with the Houston Astros in 1987 when he hit 11 HRs, 63 RBI, batted .296 with a .352 on-base and a .415 slugging and scored 96 runs. Hatcher did respond big in the post-season with a .404 batting average in three playoff series.

Alex Kellner

Kellner pitched for three teams from 1948 to 1959. Kellner was a solid pitcher in his first seven seasons, averaging 206 innings and 11 wins. His best came in his first full season with the Philadelphia A's when he went 20-12 with a 3.75 ERA.

That year he pitched in 38 games, with 27 starts, 19 complete games, nine games finished and one save. He would never win more than 12 games in a single season and in 12 years he went 101-112 with a 4.41 ERA.

Tom Pagnozzi

Pagnozzi played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1987 to 1998. Known for his defense, Pagnozzi was impressive enough behind the plate that the Cardinals moved Todd Zeile to third base.

He won three gold gloves and made the All-Star team in 1992. Pagnozzi retired in 1998 at the age of 36, after being released by the Cardinals in August, with a career batting average of .253 with 44 home runs and 320 RBI.

This completes the list of great Major Leaguers from Alaska and Arizona.

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MLB's Assault on the Record Books

John Lewis — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:53:12 -0400

Last night, Randy Johnson allowed just two runs over six innings to beat the Colorado Rockies, and he struck out seven while giving up five hits and one walk. This gave the 44-year old 10 wins for the season, just six shy of 300 career wins.

If Johnson can hang on just a little bit longer, he will hit a number that is becoming more and more difficult as teams are cutting back on the number of innings their aging superstars throw.

Not that Johnson needs 300 wins to solidify a Hall of Fame career, but the hard-throwing lefty isn't the only one chasing history.

The resurgence of Mike Mussina has people wondering if he has enough left in the tank for 300 wins. Sitting on 265 and counting, the 39-year old is on pace for 20 wins, making him 30 shy. It's certainly possible to win 15 each of the next two seasons in New York.

Several other players, like Gary Sheffield, Carlos Delgado, Chipper Jones, and Jason Giambi are reaching for a milestone that could punch their ticket to the Hall.

For Sheffield, he needs just eight HRs to join a small list of only 24 other players to hit 500 career dingers. Unlike Johnson, however, Sheffield more than likely needs this magical number to be an automatic Hall of Famer.

Carlos Delgado is in a similar situation and needs 44 HRs to be in elite company. Delgado has shown signs of slowing down over the last two seasons and could finish with a slugging percentage under .500 in back-to-back seasons, something he hasn't done since his first full season in the majors.

Does hitting 500 HRs in a career automatically guarantee a Hall of Fame bid?

Right now, I think it does, but as time goes on, and players like Alex Rodriguez make the ballparks look small, that number may be much higher.

Chipper Jones is a little further back with 405 HRs and may need some good fortune to get to the hallowed mark.

It's the same with Jason Giambi. He would need a miracle to hit the 113 HRs needed for 500. I just don't see the 37-year old hanging on long enough, but he could end up around 475, which I don't think would get him into the Hall.

Some of the other notable players closing in on a few records are Ken Griffey Jr., who only needs 349 more hits for 3,000. Two more seasons and he just might do it.

Mike Mussina is making a push for the other 3,000 number: strikeouts. He needs just 236 more for the milestone.

And the one that everyone will be watching will be Alex Rodriguez and his assault on the records books as he swings for 600 HRs. The big righty only needs 55 more to become the seventh player with that stat. A-Rod should be there toward to the end of next season...scary.

Not sure how much he has left, but Jim Thome needs just 69 HRs for 600. Just to put it in perspective, Thome is on pace for 33 HRs, which would give him 540 and only 60 shy. I can see him playing two more seasons with 30 plus HRs.

Just think, 10 years ago, the number 600 wasn't on anyone's checklist. Now it's been done three times and could be done another two times in the next two seasons.

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Top Five NBA Players That May Never Win a Title

John Lewis — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:26:19 -0400

LeBron James

L.J. is without a doubt one of the greatest players to ever lace up the high-tops. He's a manchild, and from the age of 19 he was already one of the game's best. With points-per-game averages of 21, 27, 31, 27, and 30 he's been a force each season.

But as long as he's in Cleveland, I don't see him bringing home the title anytime soon.

James did put the team on his back and was four games away from an NBA title, but it certainly was a surprise to see them there. There's always the possibility of him signing somewhere else and may win a title—but until that time he's just a great player with no ring.

Allen Iverson

A.I. has always been one of the top players in the league, and did come close to claiming a title—but the Lakers put an end to that dream. Iverson has put up some serious numbers throughout his career, with a points-per-game average of almost 28, nine All-Star game appearances and an MVP award.

He certainly has the talent in Denver—but again, I don't see the city celebrating anytime in the near future. At six feet, he could lay claim to the best NBA player ever under 6'1" with his heroics on the court.

Gilbert Arenas

Agent Zero has been one of the top players in the league for the past six seasons. and has certainly proven his ability to make big shots. That's the good news—the bad news for Arenas is that he's stuck in Washington for six more years.

Sorry Arenas, I don't see Washington bringing home a title and walking with the President. The Wizards were a playoff team last season, and with a healthy Arenas could build on that. In my mind they are still a top acquisition away from being a top-tier team in the league.

Vince Carter

In 10 years, the high-flying Carter has wowed crowds with his amazing leaping ability. However, jumping out of the building doesn't win NBA titles—and Carter has been viewed as a selfish player that puts himself over the team.

When he's in it, no one can stop him—but if he's occupied with something else, he's no good to his teammates. All that aside, he's averaged nearly 24 points per game and has a good all-around game. But I don't see Carter and New Jersey cutting down the nets in the near term.

Tracy McGrady

One of the more gifted players ever to grace the hardwood, but can't seem to get out of the first round of the playoffs. McGrady is still in hot pursuit of his first title and has put up the kind of points you would expect from a team's best player.

But in crunch time McGrady is nowhere to be found—and is often the one criticized for not getting his team to the other side. Maybe with the addition of Ron Artest, McGrady can finally get out of the first round of the playoffs.

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MLB: Cardinals Get Swept and Now Sit Four Games Behind Cubs

John Lewis — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:13:02 -0400

If you're a St. Louis Cardinals fan you have to be sick at what is going on in the bullpen these days. With an opportunity to gain ground on the Chicago Cubs, the Cards instead get swept by the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and fall four games back.

St. Louis has gone into the later innings with the lead more times than any other team in baseball and has now blown 24 save opportunities, clearly the highest number in the league.

For the front office it's clear, fail to make a bullpen addition or two and fail to make the playoffs.

It looks as though the relievers are making good pitches but just seem to get hit pretty hard when it matters. Jason Isringhausen is just a scary option and Ryan Franklin has given up a lot of hits and has an ERA close to four.

The other problem facing the Cards is who to trade to bring in the coveted relief?

Chris Duncan is on the DL, Adam Kennedy has an inflated salary for a terrible player and Anthony Reyes has just been a shell of his former self. Maybe Reyes can become a home run hitting outfielder because he clearly has lost his ability to pitch.

In the minors there are a couple of prospects that could be dealt, but the asking price for some of the marquee relievers out there may be too much for the shoe string budget Cardinals.

The other option is waiting for Carpenter to come back, scheduled to return around August 10, and wait for Wainwright who is scheduled to come off the DL around August 20. With these two back in the rotation the Cards could move some of the back of the rotation starters to the bullpen.

While that's not a bad idea, what about until these two come back from injury? August 10 is still two weeks away and if St. Louis keeps losing they could be too far back to make a serious run at the hot Cubs and Brewers.

St. Louis now goes on the road where they'll play 17 of their next 24 games. To me that's a good thing because believe or not the Cardinals have the best road record in the National League.

However the season turns out, Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan have done a remarkable job with all the injuries and surprise stars on the club.

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Greatest Players Never To Win A Championship

John Lewis — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:35:33 -0400

OK, so I'm on my greatest players kick, but there is just so much history to be told in each sport. This list is a collection of the greatest players who fell short of just one goal, to win a title.

Here's the list of the greatest players never to hoist a championship trophy in order of greatness:

Ted Williams

Nicknamed The Splendid Splinter and Teddy Ballgame, Ted Williams was perhaps the greatest pure hitter that baseball has ever seen. Williams holds the highest batting average of anyone with at least 500 home runs and in 1941 he batted .406 with 37 HRs and 120 RBI.

He's a two-time MVP, 17 time All-Star, a record .482 career on-base percentage, six batting titles, two Triple Crowns, and finished with 521 HRs, 1,839 RBI, .344 batting average and his career was interrupted twice to serve his country in the Marine Corps.

Barry Bonds

People can say what they want about Bonds, but there is no doubt the man could hit. With or without performance enhancing drugs, he finished with (so-far) seven MVP awards, 14 All-Star appearances, eight gold gloves, 762 HRs, 1,996 RBI, 2,558 walks, 2,227 runs, 514 stolen bases and a .607 slugging percentage.

Dan Marino

Marino was one of the great QBs to come out of the class of 1983 when he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the 27th pick. All he would do is go on to set or break most of the passing records in the NFL.

Marino set 22 records and tied four others, and he finished with 61,361 passing yards, 420 touchdowns, nearly 5,000 completions, and a 59.4 completion percentage. Seven of his passing records have been surpassed by Brett Favre, but he still holds the record for most passing yards in a season with 5,084.

Barry Sanders

Sanders was arguably the most elusive runner in NFL history, and will always be known for retiring early with the all-time rushing yards title was within reach. Of the top 30 yards leaders in history, Sanders ranks second only to Jim Brown in yards per carry.

Sanders was a 10-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro, and rushed for over 1,000 yards in every season he played in. He's only one of five runners in history to rush for over 2,000 in a season and finished with 15,269 yards and 109 touchdowns.

Ken Griffey Jr.

Griffey has one of the sweetest swings in all of baseball, and was the first pick in 1987 by the Seattle Mariners. If not for injury, Griffey would be looking up at only Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds on the home run list. However, Junior has 606 career home runs, 1,749 RBI, 2,631 hits and has one MVP award.

Griffey is a seven-time silver slugger, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, and has 13 All-Star selections. He has hit more than 40 HR seven times and more than 50 twice, when he had back-to-back 56 HR seasons in 1997 and 1998.

Elgin Baylor

Baylor played 13 seasons for the Minneapolis/LA Lakers, and was the No. 1 pick in the 1958 NBA draft. Baylor averaged 31.3 points per game in college, and is one of only a few NBA players to finish with 23,149 career points and 11,463 career rebounds.

He was an 11-time All-Star and was the 1959 rookie of the year, the 1959 All-Star game MVP, and was named on both the 35th anniversary and 50th anniversary All-Time team. His best season came in the 1961-1962 campaign when he averaged 38.3 points per game.

Ty Cobb

Cobb is widely considered to be the best dead-ball era player and considered by some to be the best hitter of all-time. He's also credited with having set 90 records over his entire career. Always known for his erratic temper, Cobb finished with a .367 batting average, 4,191 hits, 2,245 runs, 723 doubles, 297 triples, 117 HRs, 1,938 RBI, 892 stolen bases, 12 batting titles, one MVP award, and stole home 54 times.

Despite the hatred others had for him, he finished with the highest number of votes in the first Hall of Fame ballot in 1936. Cobb has the distinction of hitting over .300 23 straight seasons, and only hit below that number once, his first year in the league when he only played in 41 games.

Y.A. Tittle

Tittle began his pro football career with the Baltimore Colts of the All-American Football Conference in 1948. The AAFC later joined the NFL in 1950, and Tittle bounced around before he found a home with the New York Giants. In 1963, he would set a then-record with 36 touchdown passes, a record that stood until 1984 when Dan Marino broke it.

Tittle is also one of only seven QBs to have consecutive 30 touchdown passing seasons and finished his career with 33,070 yards passing and 242 touchdowns, combining both his AAFC and NFL career.

Fran Tarkenton

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Tarkenton in the third round of the 1961 NFL draft. He was given the nickname "Scramblin Fran" for his ability to move around in the pocket, waiting for open receivers. During his 18 years he helped lead the Vikings to three Super Bowls and promptly lost all of them.

He finished his career with 47,003 passing yards, 342 touchdowns, 3,674 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, nine Pro-Bowls, one MVP award and a QB rating of 80.4.

Jim Kelly

Kelly was a first round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 1983 and began what some may call an underrated career. He helped lead the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, 1990-1991-1992-1993, and of course lost all of them.

The K-Gun finished his career with 35,467 passing yards, 237 touchdowns, an 84.4 QB rating, and threw for an additional 9,842 yards and 83 touchdowns in two seasons in the USFL.

Ernie Banks

Known as Mr. Cub, Banks began his pro career playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League in 1950, before he would break through to the Major Leagues in 1953 with the Chicago Cubs. Banks would earn back-to-back MVP awards in 1958 and 1959, but of course never won the big one.

He would finish his career with 512 HRs, 1,636 RBI, 11 All-Star selections, one Gold Glove, and is one of only four Cubs to have their number retired.

Eric Dickerson

Dickerson was the No. 2 overall pick in 1983 by the Los Angeles Rams. He had a break-out rookie season with 1,808 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. But he wasn't done yet. His second season would prove to be record breaking, as he set the all-time single season rushing record with 2,105 yards to go along with 14 touchdowns.

Dickerson would rush for over 1,000 yards in his first eight seasons and finished with 13,259 yards rushing, 96 touchdowns, six Pro-Bowls, one NFL Player of the Year award and a 4.4 yards per carry average.

Karl Malone & John Stockton

Malone was a first round pick in 1985 by the Utah Jazz, and went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career with one missing piece; a title. He can thank Michael Jordan for that, but what Malone did was become the second highest number of points in NBA history. Only looking up at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he finished with 36,928 points and 14,968 rebounds.

Malone will also be known for his teammate John Stockton, who holds the all-time career assists mark. It's hard to name Malone without mentioning Stockton, because the two were what made the Utah Jazz great. Malone was also a two-time MVP thanks to great passing by Stockton, who led the league in assists nine times.

With every list there has to be an honorable mention. These players, without a doubt, belong among the greatest to ever suit up.

Charles Barkley, Robin Yount, Patrick Ewing, Dan Fouts, Warren Moon, Marcel Dionne, Dominique Wilkins, OJ Simpson, Earl Campbell, Gale Sayers, Thurman Thomas, Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly, Ryne Sandberg, Reggie Miller, Pete Maravich, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, LaDainian Tomlinson.

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Best Father-Son Combos of All-Time

John Lewis — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:22:23 -0400

As Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds play out what appear to be their final years in baseball, I'm reminded of the all-time greatest father-son duos to ever suit up.

The obvious ones are the Bondses, Griffeys, and Mannings, but over time there have been many more than just three families to grace the record books.

Without further adieu, here's the list in order of greatness.

Bobby and Barry Bonds

Bobby Bonds was signed as a free agent by the San Francisco Giants in 1964 and made his pro debut in 1968. He would go on to hit more than 300 home runs and steal more than 400 bases. Barry Bonds picked up where his father left off as a slugger with speed.

Barry would set numerous records, including the most coveted in all of sports by passing Hank Aaron, and is sitting at 762 home runs. The seven-time National League MVP is just 65 hits shy of 3,000 and is four short of 2,000 RBI for his career.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Sr. was the epitome of hard work. As a member of the Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Machine in the 1970s, he was the table setter with great speed and defense. He played 19 seasons in the big leagues and finished with a .296 batting average, .359 on-base average, and 200 steals.

Ken Jr., much like his father, had the speed and defense, but his sweet swing gave him much more power than his father. If not for five injury-plagued seasons, Junior would more than likely be on the other side of 700 home runs. Nonetheless, he's a Hall of Famer with 606 dingers, nearly 500 doubles, and 2,700 hits.

Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning

Sandwiched between Jim Plunkett and Dan Pastorini, Archie was drafted second overall in the 1971 draft by the New Orleans Saints. The eldest Manning played 13 seasons compiling 23,911 career passing yards with 126 touchdowns.

Peyton was drafted No. 1 overall in the 1998 draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He has certainly surpassed his father in every statistical category and is coming into his 11th season with 41,626 yards passing and 306 touchdowns.

Eli, like his older brother, was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2004 draft by the San Diego Chargers and was promptly traded to the New York Giants. Eli spent his first year learning the system and has started every game since 2005. He is the QB of the defending Super Bowl champions.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

From his first race to his last, Dale Sr. won a total of 76 races, seven Winston Cup Championships, and 22 poles Known for his aggressive driving, he finished in the top ten 428 times and is arguably one of the three best drivers in NASCAR history.

Dale Jr. hasn't had quite the career his father had but is certainly one of the most popular drivers in the sport. He was the 1998 and 1999 Nationwide Driving Champion and finished third in the NASCAR points standings in 2003. Currently he has 18 wins and eight poles.

Rick, Jon, Brent, Scooter, and Drew Barry

Rick Barry, by some, is considered the best small forward ever because of his ability to shoot, rebound, pass, and execute plays. Rick amassed a total of 25,729 points, 6,863 rebounds, and 4,952 assists, and he won an NBA championship in 1975. He's also a six-time All-NBA first team and eight-time All-Star member.

Jon was drafted 21st overall in 1992 by the Boston Celtics and played with eight NBA teams. Jon played 14 seasons and scored 4,715 points with a career high nine points per game in 2001-2002 with the Detroit Pistons.

Brent was drafted 15th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 1995 and has played with five NBA teams. He will be best remembered for winning two NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs, making he and his father just the second father-son duo to win an NBA title.

Scooter played his college basketball at Kansas and was on the 1988 team that won the NCAA title. After college he played in the CBA, France, Germany, and Spain. He briefly played in the NBA Australian league.

Drew graduated as Georgia Tech's all-time leader in assists and after college played professionally with the Atlanta Hawks, Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors, and the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury.

Ken Norton Sr. and Ken Norton Jr.

Known as the Black Hercules or Jaw Breaker, Ken Sr. went on to win the NABF Heavyweight Championship in 1973 with a win over Muhammad Ali. He broke Ali's jaw during the fight and won by a split decision. Six months later the two fought again and Ali took the title back. Ken Sr. compiled a 42-7-1 record.

Ken Jr. was drafted in the second round in 1988 by the Dallas Cowboys. Ken Jr. would help the Cowboys win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993, then went on to play with the 49ers in 1994 and won another title. That made him the first player to win three consecutive Super Bowls. He is currently the linebackers coach at USC.

Ray, Bob, Bret, and Aaron Boone

Ray began his big league career with the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and helped them win a World Series that season. He also was a two-time All-Star and the 1955 AL RBI champ. Ray had four seasons with over 20 HRs, two seasons with over 100 RBI, and two seasons in which he batted over .300.

Bob made his major league debut in 1972 as a catcher with the Philadelphia Phillies and went on to play 19 seasons. He set the all-time record for most games caught, with 2,225, that was later surpassed by Carlton Fisk. Bob was a four-time all-star and won seven Gold Glove awards.

Bret made his major league debut in 1992 with the Seattle Mariners and played 14 seasons. His best season came in 2001 when he had 37 HRs, 141 RBI, a .331 batting average, and scored 118 runs. That year he finished third in the American League MVP voting.

Aaron will always be known for his walk-off home run against the Boston Red Sox in Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS that sent the New York Yankees to the World Series. Aaron currently plays for the Washington Nationals. His best season came in 2003 when he hit 24 HRs and had 96 RBI.

Calvin and Grant Hill

Calvin is a 12-year NFL veteran who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Cleveland Browns. Calvin was a four-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro selection and ran for 6,083 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Grant decided to go in the opposite direction and play professional basketball, where he was the third overall pick in 1994 by the Detroit Pistons. Grant was the 1995 Co-Rookie of the Year winner and is a seven-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection. Grant has averaged nearly 20 points per game for his career.

The honorable mentions were tough because there are so many great father-son tandems out there, but here goes nothin'.

Bobby and Brett Hull, Joe and Kobe Bryant, Howie and Chris Long, Henry and Mike Bibby, Bob and Brian Griese, Bill and Luke Walton, Gus and Buddy and David and Mike Bell, Mario and Michael and Jeff Andretti, Bruce and Brody Jenner, Yogi and Dale Berra, Cecil and Prince Fielder, Felipe and Moises Alou, Kellen and Kellen Winslow, Nolan and Reid and Reese Ryan, Walter and Jarrett Payton, Pete and Pete Rose, Mel and Mel and Todd Stottlemyre, Jim and Chris Perry, Lee and Richard and Kyle and Adam Petty, Darryl and D.J. Strawberry, Roger and Koby Clemens, Tony and Tony Gwynn, Dave and Chris and Shelley Duncan, Mike and Mike Dunleavy, Ozzie and Ozzie Virgil, Cal and Cal Ripken, AJ and AJ Foyt, Rocky and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Dave and Don Shula, Marty and Brian and Kurt Schottenheimer.

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MLB: Which Teams Will Fade As Division Races Heat Up?

John Lewis — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:41:29 -0400

The start of the second half of the Major League Baseball season is only five days old and several teams have pulled close to their division rivals. But as history tells us, most teams will fade as the season ends, but which teams will they be?

As we start in the American League, two of the three division races are tighter than Joan River's face and damn near as frightening.

The Tampa Bay Rays have recovered from a seven game slide to end the first half and lead the Boston Red Sox by a game-and-a-half. Meanwhile the New York Yankees have made some adjustments and have seen more ups and downs than a Viagra conference.

The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are separated by just a half game and begin a four game series that starts July 28-31. Losers of their last three games, Chicago is apparently making a run at closer Brian Fuentes of the Colorado Rockies.

Minnesota, on the other hand, could use another starter to bolster their rotation if Francisco Liriano doesn't return to form. Their team ERA is a respectable ninth in the AL, but their opponents batting average is 13th and their home runs allowed is 14th.

Over in the National League the Mets and Phillies are in a dead heat as they begin a three game series tonight. The Mets have won 14 of their last 20 games and are now tied with the Phiiilies who need their offense to get back on track. Philadelphia has played .500 ball winning 10 of their last 20.

Don't count out the Florida Marlins who sit a game back. However, with their youth and inexperience, unless they make a trade for a quality pitcher I don't see them continuing in the charge. They are 14th in the NL in runs allowed and ERA and 12th in home runs allowed.

In the NL Central the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals are separated by only two games. Tell Grandma to take her teeth out of the glass because this one will be a nail bitter.

The Cubs made the move to acquire Rich Harden while the Brewers countered with the CC Sabathia trade. The Cardinals are standing firm on the return of Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter as their trade deadline move.

But the one that has the whole country watching is the NL West race where both teams are fighting it out for the best record under .500. The Arizona Diamondbacks and LA Dodgers both are sitting one game under .500 and they have a four game set the starts July 31st.

This race will be a crotch-grabber folks, and I'll bet you a handful of nuts this one won't be over anytime soon.

So which team will continue the charge and which team will fall as the end nears?

My bet in the AL East is that the Tampa Bay Rays will stumble as the post season nears. One reason is they don't have any playoff experience and they may read too much press about their great season.

I see the Chicago White Sox winning the AL Central because they will make some moves before the trade deadline. They already have a solid offense but a move will put their decent pitching over the top.

The NL East will see the Phillies take home the division crown simply because they have the better team than the oft-injured Mets and young Marlins. Their offense is already great but if Joe Blanton can pitch well, the Phil's should make the post season.

As for the NL Central, the Cubs will win the division simply because they have more weapons. The Cardinals will more than likely flop if their bullpen continues to let them down and the Brewers struggle on the road.

It's anyone's guess who will win the NL West. Early on, the Diamondbacks looked to be the favorites but with a lackluster offense they will continue to struggle. The Dodgers on the other hand have given up the least amount of runs and home runs and have the lowest ERA in the NL.

Until next time.

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Mets-Phillies NL East Race Heating Up

John Lewis — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:16:42 -0400

Don't look now but the streaking New York Mets have not only climbed back into the National League East pennant race, but have forged a tie with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The slumping Phillies now have a three game set with the Mets starting Tuesday with first place on the line. Philadelphia has been fading fast as they have lost 20 of their last 34 games.

Their offense hasn't been much better during this time either and their late inning loss to the Florida Marlins Sunday night now puts a team with three MVP candidates on the ropes in the NL. This is a place the Phillies have been familiar with in the past, but with last season's heroics and this season's good start, the Phils were hoping their offense would slow down any slump.

Manager Charlie Manuel is left shaking his head and wondering if the team is trying to hard to win the division with so many games left, or just forgot to come back after the All-Star break.

For the Mets, it's been a tale of two teams.

Basically left for dead a month ago, they have found their winning ways and reeled off a 10 game winning streak and are 13-4 in the month of July.

One key contributor, Carlos Delgado, has found his stroke of late and is hitting .419 with 15 runs, four HRs and 12 RBI. And the table-setter, Jose Reyes is hitting like his old self with a .338 batting average, 11 runs and nine RBI.

Now the Mets just look to get healthy as Pedro Martinez is saying he is feeling great as he looks to return later in the week and Billy Wagner is day-to-day with a left shoulder injury.

The Mets seem to have control of their own destiny as their next nine games are all against teams with winning records. They have a three game series against the Phillies, then a three game set against the St. Louis Cardinals, and then three on the road against the Florida Marlins.

Philadelphia has a little easier schedule to end the month with a three game series at New York, three at home against the Atlanta Braves, and three at the Washington Nationals. Either way, this series should be huge for both teams.

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MLB: Halfway Point Awards

John Lewis — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:05:32 -0400

So far, the Major League Baseball season has had several great stories like Josh Hamilton, Kerry Wood and Ryan Ludwick, but as we cruise into the halfway point, who should get the midseason hardware?

The usual suspects are at the top fighting for the first half MVP, CY Young and Rookie of the Year awards but I have a new prize to give out this year.

So to kick things off, the first half awards go to...

Maddest Coach: Willie Randolph

The Randolph coached Mets were the underachievers of the National League. With one of the highest payrolls and young talent, they were unable to shake off their historic collapse from last season. Since Randolph was fired, the Mets have been a totally different ball club, and with their nine game winning streak, they have climbed back in the pennant race.

NL MVP: Albert Pujols

I give the nod to Pujols for one reason: because he has so many young and inexperienced leaders on the team. Sure you can say Troy Glaus and Adam Kennedy have playoff experience but if you look up and down the lineup you see mostly unknowns like Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan.

But pound for pound, Pujols is the best pure hitter in the league and is the only player in the lineup that is guaranteed to produce.

AL MVP: Josh Hamilton

This was a tough choice because there are several deserving players but Hamilton has been arguably the biggest story in all of sports. He is putting MVP numbers with his .310 avg, 21 HRs and 95 RBI and is on pace for 160 RBI. He was able to shake off the demons that haunted him earlier in his career and now showing why he was the No. 1 pick overall in 1999.

With his surprising first half the Rangers sit just six games out of the wild card race as they look to build on their first half success.

NL CY Young: Ben Sheets

This is another tough choice because Brandon Webb and Kyle Lohse are deserving of this as well. Sheets has been the steady performer the Brewers needed to stay in the playoff race. He has a 10-3 record with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP (Walks + Hits divided by Innings Pitched).

Sheets needs to be equally as effective the second half for Milwaukee keep pace with the Chicago Cubs.

AL CY Young: Justin Duchscherer

This reliever turned starter has guided the shoestring budget Oakland A's to a 51-44 first half record and just four-and-a-half games out of the wild card. He has a 10-5 record with a 1.82 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP.

During his first season as a starter, Oakland would be nowhere near the top without him and will have more pressure on him than any other pitcher down the stretch.

NL Rookie of Year: Geovany Soto

This is an easy one to pick so far as Soto has been steady behind the plate for the NL Central division leader. Soto has 16 HRs, 56 RBI and a .288 batting average. Soto was also named to the starting lineup for the NL All-Star team and has been a huge offensive improvement for the Cubs at that position.

AL Rookie of Year: Evan Longoria

This was an equally easy name to pick as Longoria had paced the hot hitting Tampa Bay Rays with 16 HRs, 53 RBI and a .275 batting avg. Playing the hot corner, he's been steady with the glove as well. His bat has helped put the Rays in the division race and should keep them there the second half.

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NFL: Most Overrated Players of The Past 40 Years Part 2

John Lewis — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:10:34 -0400

While my first article about the NFL's most overrated players of the Super Bowl era received some interesting feedback, I decided to put together another list of over hyped players from around the league.

I kept the same parameters, players of the last 40 years and that they must be considered great players to be considered overrated.

That said here's the list...

Joe Namath

Broadway Joe was cocky and is best known for his prediction of a Super Bowl victory over the highly favored Baltimore Colts and Johnny Unitas. The brash Namath went into Super Bowl III with a swagger and came out a hero.

Unfortunately, Namath was unable to build on any of that success, throwing a lot more interceptions than touchdowns, 220-to-173 to be exact. In fact, only twice did he ever pass for more than 3,000 yards and both of those seasons he led the league in interceptions. Joe, we love your bold predictions but you're overrated.

Orenthal James Simpson

O.J. or "The Juice" was drafted No. 1 out of the University of Southern California by the Buffalo Bills in 1969. It took him a few years to crack the 1,000 yard mark as he could only average 622 yards in his first three seasons.

He did however rush for over 2,000 yards in 1973 but truly only had three great seasons in his career. He only scored 61 rushing touchdowns, was never really a threat to catch many passes out of the backfield and played on just three winning teams in his career.

To put it in perspective, Barry Sanders played on some really bad teams and still managed to help the Lions have more winning seasons than Simpson.

Warren Moon

Moon was the prototypical QB, good arm, great numbers, and 49,325 career passing yards. However, he couldn't seem to get it done in the playoffs. Moon and the Houston Oilers made the playoffs in seven of his 10 years but managed to lose in the first round of the playoffs in four of them.

With very little running game, Moon helped bring the franchise out of six consecutive losing seasons. He threw for more than 4,000 yards in a season four times but could only look good on paper as he could never beat the Broncos or Bills in the post season.

Dan Fouts

Fouts was a lot like Warren Moon, good arm, great numbers, 43,040 career passing yards but never really managed to help his team compete for a Super Bowl. Fouts and the Chargers only made the playoffs four times.

Lacking a true running game, Fouts had to go to the air a lot and had three straight 4,000 yard passing seasons with the receiving corps of Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joyner, and Wes Chandler. But, in the end he only threw 12 more touchdowns than interceptions.

Bob Griese

Griese had the benefit of a great running game, great defense, and arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history. His first three seasons were losing years but the fourth year he had Don Shula, Larry Czonka, and Paul Warfield. This is when the Dolphins began winning.

What makes Griese overrated is during the Dolphins 1972 undefeated season, is the fact that 38-year-old backup Earl Morrall came in and helped keep the team from losing a game. During those years, all the Dolphins needed was a QB that managed the game and didn't turn the ball over.

As I've always said, no list is perfect but these players were definitely overrated.

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Billy Beane: GM Genius Or Trigger Happy Fool...You Decide

John Lewis — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:18:59 -0400

Watching Mark Mulder leave after just three hitters last night reminded me of how good Oakland A's General Manager Bill Beane can look at times.

Let's see, he traded Mulder, who had one good year and has never been the same. He let Barry Zito ride into free agency and the lefty has gone 15-25 with an ERA close to five.

Beane has pulled of some other bizarre looking trades that have worked out for the cash strapped A's. Here's a list of his most successful over the last ten years.

In 1999 he traded reliable closer Billy Taylor to the Mets for Jason Isringhausen, a guy who only had one season with an ERA under four.

Izzy went on to save 75 games in just over two seasons with Oakland before moving on to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002. Taylor flamed out and only managed 13.3 innings and an 8.10 ERA.

In 2000 he traded Randy Velarde to the Rangers for Aaron Harang. While Harang didn't pitch well in Oakland, he certainly turned into a great talent for the Reds. Velarde, on the other hand, was traded by the Rangers the next year.

In 2001 Beane traded Ben Grieve to the Tampa Bay Rays, Angel Berroa and A.J Hinch to the Royals for Cory Lidle, from Tampa and Johnny Damon and Mark Ellis, from K.C.

Grieve was a solid player coming off three good seasons and rookie of the year award in Oakland, but could only muster two lackluster years in Tampa before flaming out. Berroa won the rookie of the year award in K.C. in 2003, but since has been mediocre at best, and Hinch has been a career back up.

Lidle provided two solid seasons while Damon and Ellis have been far more productive in their careers.

In 2001 Beane managed to trade Todd Beiltz, Mario Encarnacion and Jose Ortiz for Jermaine Dye. Dye continued to be a solid player while the A's prospects were never heard of again.

2001 was a busy year for Beane as he traded Miguel Cairo to the Cubs for Eric Hinske and then traded Hinske and Justin Miller to the Toronto Blue Jays for Billy Koch. Hinske turned in a pretty solid player while Koch went 11-4 with 44 saves in 2002.

That off-season Koch and two other prospects were traded to the White Sox for Keith Foulke, Mark Johnson, Joe Valentine and cash. Koch never had a good season again while Foulke went 9-1 with 43 saves in 2003.

Foulke of course played for Boston the following year and helped win a World Series before getting hurt every year after.

In 2004 Mark Mulder was the latest trade victim as he was shipped to the Cardinals for Dan Haren, Kiko Calero and Daric Barton. Mulder had one really good season in 2005 but has since had a history of injuries that may force him to retire.

Haren has become a great pitcher, winning 43 games in three seasons, before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Calero gave Oakland two very good seasons before falling off the planet.

Beane has had his fair share of mediocre trades but has continued to draft and trade for solid talent. With Oakland being a small market franchise, he's had to be creative trying to wheel-and-deal when the time is right.

It's too early to tell, with the Rich Harden trade, how well it will work out. But I know one thing's for sure, he will make more trades.

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MLB: St. Louis Cardinals Need Some Relief

John Lewis — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:34:58 -0400

As the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs are adding marquee names like CC Sabathia and Rich Harden, the St. Louis Cardinals are sitting back waiting for their marquee names to return.

Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder are all set to make their return to the rotation in the next month. Mulder is set to pitch tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies. So the debut of Carpenter, return of Wainwright and return to form of Mulder is the equivalent to landing a big trade before the deadline.

However for the Redbirds, it's not that easy because of the lack of relief pitching, mainly closers, that have troubled them all season. It started with Jason Isringhausen who is 1-5 with a 5.34 ERA in 30 games.

Ryan Franklin was then assigned to replace Isringhausen and has done a solid job with a 3-2 record, 12 saves and a 3.12 ERA.

But where do the Cardinals go from here?

The one answer is Brian Fuentes of the Colorado Rockies. He could definitely fit in well at the back end of the bullpen and provide needed relief pitching as well as become the closer.

He's saved 95 games over the last three-and-a-half seasons and has a respectable ERA even though he pitches in Colorado. He has playoff experience and is a must if the Cards expect to see postseason action.

Obtaining a relief pitcher or closer is more important now more than ever because Milwaukee is standing only a half game behind them and the Marlins and Mets are closing the gap.

Right now the Rays appear to be the frontrunner in the Fuentes sweepstakes, with the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox and Angels among the other clubs interested.

I say pull the trigger St. Louis, that is if you want to see the post season.

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Mark McGwire: Remember Me?

John Lewis — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:06:36 -0400

The last time we saw Mark McGwire he was raising his right hand at the 2005 Congressional Hearing and not talking about the past. Since that time he's stayed away from all things baseball waiting for the steroids controversy to die down.

Well, we may see him in uniform as early as next year, this time as a hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. According to sources, McGwire almost took the job two years ago but decided at the last minute not to accept it.

This time around, things may change. He's said to be the front runner for the struggling team in an effort to get them back on track.

During the winter, Big Mac is coaching names like Matt Holliday, Chris and Shelley Duncan, and Skip Shumaker, so a transition to hitting coach would be pretty easy.

Those close to him are amazed at how much he truly knows about hitting, just ask the pitchers he faced over the years. He did manage to hit 583 home runs during his 16 year career.

Injuries certainly slowed down his pursuit for 600 or even 700 home runs. It's estimated he lost 320 games which could've translated into around 156 dingers, easily putting him over the magical 700.

Whether McGwire will ever get into the Hall of Fame still remains a mystery. He received just 23.5 percent in his first year and 23.6 percent in his second time on the ballot.

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The Most Overrated NFL Players from the Past 40 Years

John Lewis — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:23:17 -0400

Here is the list of the most overrated NFL players from the Super Bowl era. It's hard to rate NFL players as overrated before then, simply because the game has changed so much over the years to make it easier for QBs and WRs.

Remember, you have to be considered a great player to be called overrated.

Here we go.

Michael Vick

Vick went first in the 2001 NFL draft, and from there, the bumpy ride to stardom began. Blessed with blazing speed, in 2006 he became the first QB to rush for 1,000 yards. Also that year he teamed up with RB Warrick Dunn to become the only QB/RB to rush for 1,000 yards in same season.

That's the good news. Now for the bad: For all of his agility and speed, he couldn't find a way to consistently win games. Though Vick has been in the league for six seasons, he's only played four full years and has averaged 8.75 wins.

The rest of his four full season averages are: 2,533 passing yards, 16.2 touchdowns, 11.5 interceptions, and a 54.7 percent completion percentage. These are not exactly first-overall-pick numbers.

Keyshawn Johnson

Johnson was drafted first in the 1996 NFL draft by the New York Jets. He played 11 seasons and could only muster three Pro Bowls, one All-Pro selection, and was kicked out shortly after winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His temper continually wrote checks that his performances couldn't cash. He was traded away from the Jets, traded away from the Buccaneers, released by the Dallas Cowboys, and released by the Carolina Panthers after just one season.

While his career numbers are pretty solid, they are certainly not among the top WRs ever. His career averages were 74 receptions and 961 yards per season.

Lynn Swann

Swann was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, 21st overall in 1974. While he had some of the greatest hands in the game, he certainly didn't put up the stats that would put him on the best WR list.

He never had a 1,000-yard season, and he only scored 10 or more touchdowns twice. In his nine seasons, he only averaged 37.3 receptions, 606 yards, 5.6 touchdowns per season and 47.5 yards per game.

We all know the game has changed over the years to be more pass happy, but his QB, Terry Bradshaw, had over 3,700 yards passing in 1979 and over 3,300 in 1980. Swann's receiving yards in those seasons were 808 and 710.

Terry Bradshaw

This one may get a few eyebrows, but just look at the teams he played on. During their great years, the Steelers had the best defense, a great offensive line, and a great running game.

Sure, the first couple of years in Pittsburgh weren't the best, but just look at the defensive rank from 1972-1979. The Steelers had the second, eighth, second, second, first, 17th, first, and fifth-ranked defense during those years. Then throw in Franco Harris and his seven 1,000-yard rushing and five double-digit-scoring seasons.

Not to mention Bradshaw threw a lot of interceptions, 210, to 212 touchdowns, and he only completed 51.9 percent of his passes.

Jeff George

George was drafted first overall in 1990 by the Indianapolis Colts. He only managed four seasons in Indy. He was then traded all over the place, played for six other teams, and could never win consistently.

He did help the Atlanta Falcons make the playoffs in 1995 with the run-and-shoot offense that had him pass for 4,143 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, the following year he was suspended and traded because of his constant arguments with the head coach.

He only had one good season over the next five, and he decided to retire after the 2001 season. For some reason, several teams tried to get him out of retirement, and George signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2002, with the Chicago Bears in 2004, and in 2006 by the Oakland Raiders. He never saw action with any of these teams.

To sum it up, George never made the Pro Bowl, was never an All Pro, and only had a passer rating above 90 just twice.

Look, no list is perfect, but this is a good start to the most overrated NFL players.

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MLB: Most Overrated Players of All Time

John Lewis — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:07:29 -0400

Trying to write about the most overrated baseball players of all time is tough. The sport has been around since before the 1880s. As I did my homework, several names that were mentioned by so-called "experts" shocked me.

One name in particular I've seen is Pete Rose! I understand that his ridiculous amount of hits comes from playing for such a long time, but there's no way he can be called overrated.

He made the All-Star team at four different positions, has the most hits ever, and even has over 3,300 singles. He played hard, never gave up on any play, and even took out Ray Fosse in the All-Star game. You never see players play that hard in the All-Star game.

Anyway, my list consists of players that some may consider great. But, as I learned from the "is Jeter overrated" topic, you have to be considered a great player to be called overrated.

Here we go.

Nolan Ryan

The fireballer had 324 wins, 5,714 strikeouts, and seven no-hitters. That's the good news. Now for the hard facts. Ryan has the lowest winning percentage of any 300-game winner. He only won 20 games twice, and this was at a time before set-up men. It was also a time when pitchers started more than 40 games in a season.

Look at it this way: Ryan's win percentage was only slightly higher than the other pitchers he played with, .526 compared with .499. He never won a Cy Young award and only finished in the top three in voting three times in his 27 years. He also has the highest walks per nine innings of all 300-game winners, at 4.67.

Don Drysdale

While his earned run average was 2.95, he only had two years where he won more than 20 games. His win percentage was .526 and he played for a team, the Dodgers, that had the best team win-percentage in the National League during his tenure.

He also only had two full seasons where he lost fewer than 10 games, not exactly stats from a Hall of Famer that played on a great team his entire career.

Okay, I've been reading a lot of Jayson Stark, but he does make some good points.

Phil Rizzuto

Nicknamed Scooter, he has the most baseball quotes of anyone other than Yogi Berra, but he may just be the most overrated player in the Hall of Fame. He played 13 seasons with the New York Yankees, and, while his career was interrupted by World War II, and only managed a career batting average of .273.

While he was spectacular with the glove, he was rarely a great hitter. Yet he finished second in MVP voting in 1949 with a .275 batting average, .352 on-base percentage, and a .358 slugging percentage. And he won the award the following year with a respectable .324 batting average, .418 on-base percentage, and .439 slugging percentage.

Denny McLain

We all know about his legal troubles: McLain was suspended for consorting with gamblers, and he was convicted of racketeering, loan-sharking, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. But he also only had two dominant seasons.

His earned run average was slightly better than the league average during his career. He also only had five good seasons, even though his team, the Detroit Tigers, won 90 or more games three times and won the World Series in 1968. In 1970, he was suspended by Major League Baseball, and when he came back the next season, he posted a 10-22 record.

Reggie Jackson

This one may get some question marks, but Mr. October was only a one-dimensional player. While his one dimension was pretty good, he played the outfield and there are dozens of better outfielders.

He was only a .262 career hitter and only managed a .490 slugging percentage, and this is a guy that was supposed to crush the baseball. He only scored over 100 runs once in 21 seasons, and he could only muster an average of 134 games played a year.

Mr. October only finished in the top three in MVP voting twice and only struck out less than 100 times twice. Okay, so he delivered once in the postseason, but he wasn't a good teammate and was paid a lot of money.

Who's on your list?

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NFL: The Coaches Are Speaking Out

John Lewis — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:19:32 -0400

There's nothing like a good survey to spark a great debate. The NFL coaches were asked to name names as to who's the smartest and dirtiest in the league.

The votes are in.

The athlete that was voted dirtiest player in the league is none other than Rodney Harrison, safety for the New England Patriots. No surprise here as Harrison has appeared on this list a few other times. He toped the list in 2004 and 2006 as well, and since 2002, he's toped $200,000 in fines.

Voted smartest offensive player, non-QB, was Hines Ward. Not necessarily known as one of the best WRs, he's quietly put up good numbers. Ward is a four-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro selection, and Super Bowl XL MVP.

Last season, Ward became both the all-time leader in touchdowns and receiving yards in Steelers' history.

The man who was voted as the smartest defensive player was Zach Thomas. He signed this past offseason with the Dallas Cowboys, and he certainly has plenty of accolades to back up the vote. Thomas is a seven-time All Pro and has been named to seven Pro Bowls.

Voted most reputable owner was Dan Rooney, owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The son of team founder and owner Art Rooney, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

He also helped negotiate the collective bargaining agreement that helped end the 1982 strike, and he was instrumental in the implementation of the salary cap in 1993. The Steelers have always been a model franchise, and since 1972, they have 18 division championships, six AFC Championships, and five Super Bowl wins.

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NBA Draft: Who Will Be the Best Late Pick This Year?

John Lewis — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:41:56 -0400

The NBA draft went off as predicted—Derrick Rose No. 1, Michael Beasley No. 2, O.J. Mayo No. 3, and so on. Next came the dozens of experts trying to determine the winners and losers, and who will make the biggest impact, etc.

But if you look a little deeper at who was drafted late, you might find some hidden gems.

Who will be the darling of the draft, the one player that makes other teams shake their heads for passing over him? Beginning with the second-round picks, there are a host of quality players that could make an immediate impact:

Mario Chalmers

Chalmers was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 34th pick, then traded to the Miami Heat for two future second-round picks and cash. All he did was average 12.8 points per game for Kansas, get named to the all-Big 12 second team and all-Big 12 defensive first team.

However, we will always remember him for hitting the game-tying three-pointer against Memphis in the National Championship game.

Kyle Weaver

Weaver was chosen by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 38th pick, and at 6'6", his size should be a nice addition for new head coach Larry Brown. He played all four years at Washington State, so with his age and maturity he should be ready to contribute. He averaged 12.2 points per game, and was fourth in the Pac-10 in steals.

Chris Douglas-Roberts

Douglas-Roberts was chosen by the New Jersey Nets with the 40th pick. It was a big mystery to me why he fell so far. He averaged 18.1 points per game, was picked for the all-NCAA tournament team, and was voted Conference USA player of the year.

CDR shot a team-best 41.3 percent from the three-point line, and at 6'7", he has the size and quickness to compete in the league.

Trent Plaisted

Plaisted was chosen by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 46th pick and then sent to Detroit to complete the D.J. White trade. Though not a shot blocker, his 6'11", 245-pound frame should be a plus at the next level.

He has been criticized for losing focus at times—but make no bones about it, Plaisted can score. He needs to improve his free-throw shooting, but has shown the ability to put the ball in the basket with either hand.

Bill Walker

Walker was chosen by the Washington Wizards with the 47th pick, then shipped to the Boston Celtics for cash. Few people know about him because he played second fiddle to Michael Beasley at Kansas State, but Walker managed to average 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

If you're a Celtics fan, you have to like this guy. Under the tutelage of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, he should work out just fine. He's 6'6", 220 pounds, and can jump out of the building.

Richard Hendrix

Hendrix was chosen by the Golden State Warriors with the 49th pick. He averaged a double-double at Alabama with 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He shot 59.8 percent from the field—and at 6'9" and 255 pounds, he has the build to play in the NBA.

Shan Foster

Foster was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks with the 51st pick. While he needs to add some weight at the next level, he can certainly score. He averaged 20.6 points per game and scored 32 points in a win against No. 1 Tennessee, as well as 42 against Mississippi State.

He also shot nearly 80 percent from the free throw line during his four years at Vanderbilt.

James Gist

Gist was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs with the 58th pick. At 6'9" and 235 pounds, he certainly has the size to compete. He averaged 15.9 points per game while at Maryland and runs the floor well.

He has the ability to shoot from the outside, hitting 31 percent from behind the arc and almost 74 percent from the free throw line. He is also a shot blocker who averaged 2.3 swats per game.

Gist would need to add a few pounds but is definitely strong, and with some work he could fit nicely in the team concept in San Antonio.

There's the list of players that could make an impact sooner rather than later. There could be a few more, but this is a good start.

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MLB: Derek Jeter Most Overrated Player...Really?

John Lewis — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:27:14 -0400

Anyone out there catch the Sports Illustrated report on Major League Baseball's most overrated players? Published a few days ago, this report surveyed 495 other players in the league to determine who they thought was tops on the list.

The first name on the list was a surprising, at least to me. It was Derek Jeter, the New York Yankees captain, eight-time all-star and four-time World Series champ.

While I think Jeter needs to step it up in the leadership category, I in no way think he's the most overrated player in baseball. At least he delivers when it counts...the playoffs.

In his career he's been in 25 post season series' and has a combined average of .309 with a .377 on-base average and a .469 slugging percentage. These are not exactly hack numbers he's put up.

He has a lifetime batting average of .316, 200 hits six times in his career, averages 32 doubles, 16 HRs, 77 RBI, 22 SB and a career .387 on-base percentage.

Okay, so he makes more money than the entire Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins payroll and he has a low defensive efficiency rating, but he plays in New York so he can get away with that.

I can find other big names that haven't lived up to their billing like Barry Zito, who finished second on this list. Zito was given a huge contract in December 2006, and has been the biggest flop in baseball. It's not like he can blame it on injuries or that he's still learning a new system. He just plain sucks.

Finishing out the top five on the list were Alex Rodriguez and J.D. Drew tied for third, David Wright was fourth and Kevin Youkilis was fifth.

Don't even get me started on A-Rod and David Wright! These guys are arguably the top two hitters at their position and A-Rod is considered to be the best hitter in all of baseball. How can you consider a guy overrated when he has 532 homeruns at the age of 32?

This list makes absolutely no sense because I could start a team with all these names but Zito and be really competitive. Maybe it's jealousy. Maybe it's a conspiracy. Who knows. But there is no way these players are the most overrated.

The only other explanation would be that maybe I don't know what the word overrated really means.

All I can say is give me an infield of Rodriquez, Wright, Jeter and Youkilis to go along with J.D. Drew in the outfield and I can build a pretty good team. I might have to sell off some organs to pay for them, but they are quality players.

What do you guys think?

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Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z Can Be Wrong Two Years in a Row!

John Lewis — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:33:15 -0400

I'm sure everyone on the planet has heard that Sports Illustrated NFL writer Paul Zimmerman, Dr. Z, has picked the Minnesota Vikings to win the Super Bowl this year.

I'm not sure, out of all his analysis, why he picked the Vikings to win it all? They have a question mark at QB, they have a question mark at WR, and they have yet to establish themselves as a great team.

I hate to point this out, but last year he picked the New Orleans Saints to win it all, and they didn't even make the playoffs. While Dr. Z has been at this a long time, I think he needs to freshen up on his selection process.

I can see several teams winning the Super Bowl, and they don't include the Vikings. In fact, there are a few teams in the NFC that would be rated higher than his pick.

First of all, we have the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys who should've been in the Super Bowl last season, Seattle Seahawks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all look like a better pick.

I will give Minnesota their due; they have a great running game and arguably the best run-blocking offensive line in the league. They have improved this offseason and should win the division. However, let's not give them that much credit, because their division has gotten a lot worse.

But is that enough to win the big one?

We all know there have been teams that have won the Super Bowl without a great offense or a great QB. But these are teams with record-setting defenses, like the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens. The one key to these teams, their QB's didn't turn the ball over and could control the offense enough not to make mistakes.

I don't see the Vikings having a record-setting defense or a QB that can control the game and not make mistakes.

Prediction time!

I see the Vikings winning the division with a 10-6 record, but I don't see them going deep. Remember, this was a team that went 3-5 on the road and 6-6 in their own conference a year ago.

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MLB's Most Unbreakable Records

John Lewis — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:33:17 -0400

I'm sure there have been many articles written over the years about the best baseball achievements and what can or can't be broken. But as I sit here, looking at my autographed picture of Pete Rose, I'm reminded at just how great he was.

So how do you measure what constitutes the best records of all time?

The obvious choice would be that a career statistic is more impressive than a single-season one, and that some sports are regarded as more superior than others.

So without further adieu, here's my list of top sports records broken down by career and season.

1. Cal Ripken's streak of 2,632 straight games played

For anyone to actually challenge this record, they would have to play every game for nearly 17 seasons to break it. With the length of each season, and length of each postseason, the wear and tear on a player's body would eventually catch up with him.

2. Pete Rose's 4,256 career hits

Everyone thought Ty Cobb's hit total was unbreakable, but Rose passed it and added a few more to the total. If you averaged 200 hits for 20 years, that gets you to 4,000, then you are still 256 behind the record. Maybe if you play long enough, you can come close, but that's your only hope.

3. Cy Young's 511 wins

This doesn't deserve the top spot because he played in an era where you pitched every other day, and you pitched the entire game. Just as remarkable, Young also had 749 complete games. So, with set-up men and closers, there is no way anyone will win 500 games.

One small note on the number of complete games, only two pitchers have even started more than 749 games, Nolan Ryan 773 and Don Sutton 756.

4. Nolan Ryan's 5,714 career strikeouts

Ryan was an amazing story. He's one of the few hard throwers to pitch in his 40s. Currently, he's nearly 1,100 ahead of second place Randy Johnson, who's 44-years old. I think it's safe to say no one will catch this record in the next 1,000 years...if baseball survives that long.

5. Ty Cobb's .366 lifetime batting average

Even though Cobb retired in 1928, well before the era of offense, he's stood the test of time. One of his records was broken, but I don't see anyone ever reaching this, even with the steroids and other PEDs.

It's hard to include all the best career marks so here's my honorable mentions:

Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters, Walter Johnson's 110 career shutouts, Hank Aaron's 6,856 total bases, Babe Ruth's .690 percent career slugging percentage, Rickey Henderson's 1,406 career steals, and Pete Rose's 3,215 career singles.

1. Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak

The streak began on May 15, 1941 and ended on July 17. The next closest streak is Willie Keeler and Pete Rose at 44 games, and he had 22 multi-hit games, 15 HR, and 55 RBI. What is incredible is when the streak ended, he hit safely in the next 16 games.

2. Mike Marshall's 106 games and 208.1 relief innings in 1974

In the set-up and closer age, there is no one that could come close to this record. Only one other pitcher has approached the number of relief innings, Bob Stanley had 168.1 in 1978. The amazing part is that this was accomplished a short time ago, and as workloads are less and less, this stat will hold up.

3. Carl Hubbell's 24 straight regular-season wins

He accomplished this over a two-season span from July 17, 1936-May 27, 1937, which may be tougher to do. Forget the fact that he lost Game Four of the 1936 World Series, he won 24 straight games.

4. Eric Gagne's 84 consecutive saves

Gagne saved 84 straight from August 28, 2002-July 3, 2004, and while it didn't take place over one season, it's still an amazing stat. The next closest is 54, by Tom Gordon. Several closers have put together remarkable seasons, but 84 straight will be tough to challenge.

5. Johnny Vander Meer's two consecutive no-hitters

In 1938, Vander Meer had two no-hitters in consecutive starts on July 11 and 15 and is of course the only player to do so. It's hard enough to throw one no-no, take Nolan Ryan out of the conversation, much less back-to-back.

Honorable mention: Rickey Henderson's 130 steals, Ed Reulbach's two shut-outs in one day, Ichiro Suzuki's 225 singles, Billy Hamilton's 192 runs scored, Owen "Chief" Wilson's 36 triples, Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourn's 59 wins, Barry Bonds' .609 percent on-base percentage, Bonds' 120 intentional walks, and Hack Wilson's 190 RBI.

I'm sure there are other impressive stats you feel belong.

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Do The Chicago Cubs Have What It Takes To Get To The World Series?

John Lewis — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:18:11 -0400

As the Chicago Cubs try to end the month of June without any more devastating injuries, they have the best record in baseball and sit atop the National League Central Division by four and a half games. They have also won six times in their last ten contests.

Meanwhile, they have been able to slide players in to fill the holes left from their big weapons Carlos Zambrano and Alfonso Soriano. But even when they come back can the Cubs go deep in the playoffs? Do they have a team with leaders that can take them to the World Series?

The Cubs have few players with deep post-season success and among their top starters and reserves they have only 15 World Series appearances between them. Other than maybe Zambrano, they just don't have that one go-to guy that will put the team on their shoulders.

Of the players with post-season success, they are mostly guys who have yet to truly provide the leadership skills needed to push a team past adversity. Guys like Jason Marquis, Jim Edmonds, Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee have not been locker room motivators.

The other problem facing the Cubs is the age of their team. Right now they have an average age of 30.1 and 12 of their players have more than ten years in the majors. While that doesn't sound too old, they may need a win now or never attitude.

When age doesn't provide a team with more leadership, they are doomed for another first round playoff defeat at the hands of a team younger and more disciplined.

All of this coupled with the fact that the Cubs are cursed, makes for an interesting and nail biting run to the end of the year. But hey, why not this year during the 100 year anniversary of the last World Series win.

My prediction is the Cubs will get through the first round but fall short in their pursuit of a World Series title.

What do you think?

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The 15 Best Late NBA Draft Picks In The Past 20 Years!

John Lewis — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:13:04 -0400

The 2008 NBA draft should see a host of freshman get chosen in the first round, so who will it be, Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley as the first pick?

But most importantly who will be that late first or second round pick that proves to be the gem of the draft? Over the years there have been many great late picks taken that had NBA executives shaking their heads.

So in the spirit of Thursday night's NBA draft here's my all-time best late picks. Just to clarify, a late pick in my opinion should be someone taken 28th or later.

Monta Ellis - He was drafted in 2005 out of High School by Golden State with the 40th overall pick. This season Ellis averaged 20.2 points per game for the Warriors.

Carlos Boozer - He was in 2002 out of Duke by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 35th overall pick. This season Boozer averaged 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game for the Utah Jazz.

Gilbert Arenas - He was drafted in 2001 out of Arizona by the Golden State Warriors with the 31st overall pick. He wears the number 0 because a high school coach once told him he would play 0 minutes in college at Arizona. This season he averaged 19.3 points per game but was limited to just 13 games. He'll be back and ready to score.

Mehmet Okur - He was drafted in 2001 out of Turkey by the Detroit Pistons with the 38th overall pick. Now with the Utah Jazz, Okur is a mainstay in the lineup and this season he averaged 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Michael Redd - He was draft in 2000 out of Ohio St. by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 43rd overall pick. This season he averaged 22.6 points per game and is expected to be named to the Dream Team for this year's summer Olympics.

Rashard Lewis - He was drafted in 1998 out of high school by the Seattle Super Sonics with the 32nd overall pick. In 2007 Lewis signed a six year deal with the Orlando Magic worth $118 million. This season he averaged 18.2 points per game.

Cuttino Mobley - He was drafted in 1998 out of Rhode Island by the Houston Rockets with the 41st overall pick. Now with the Los Angeles Clippers he averaged 12.8 points per game.

Stephen Jackson - He was drafted in 1997 out of Community College by the Phoenix Suns with the 43rd overall pick. Jackson bounced around from team-to-team as he played for four teams in his first five seasons. Now a scorer he averaged 20.1 points per game for the Golden State Warriors.

Voshon Lenard - He was drafted in 1994 out of Minnesota by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 46th overall pick. He played in the CBA and signed a free agent contract with the Miami Heat in 1995. He ended is career with an average of 11.9 points per game.

Nick Van Exel - He was drafted in 1993 out of Cincinnati by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 37th overall pick. He would spend five seasons in L.A. and moved around to five other teams in his career. Nick the Quick averaged 14.4 points per game in his career.

Cedric Ceballos - He was drafted in 1990 out of Cal St. Fullerton by the Phoenix Suns with the 48th overall pick. He had a career average of 14.3 points per game that was highlighted by two seasons with the LA Lakers in which he averaged 21.7 and 21.2 points per game respectively.

Tony Kukoc- He was drafted in 1990 out of Yugoslavia by the Chicago Bulls with the 29th overall pick. Kukoc didn't actually report to the Bulls until 1993 and while there he showed his versatility by playing all five positions. He has a career average of 11.6 points per game but averaged a career high of 18.8 in the 1998-1999 season.

Dino Radja - He was drafted in 1989 out of Yugoslavia by the Boston Celtics with the 40th overall pick. He joined the Celtics in 1993 and in his first season averaged 15.1 points and 7.2 rebounds, earning All-NBA Rookie Second Team honors. He would only play four seasons in Boston and averaged 16.7 points per game.

Anthony Mason- He was drafted in 1988 out of Tennessee St. by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 53rd overall pick but was later cut. He would play in the CBA and USBL before signing with the New York Knicks in 1991. His career would turn around with Pat Riley as head coach and he would go on to play 13 seasons and average 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Sarunas Marciulionis - He was drafted in 1987 out of the Soviet Union by the Golden St. Warriors with the 127th pick in the 6th round. He started playing for the Warriors in 1989 and would play seven seasons in the NBA. His first four in Golden St. saw him average nearly 15 points per game. He would end his career in Denver and had a career average of 12.8 points per game.

My honorable mention team would be:

Daniel Gibson - He was drafted in 2006 out of the University of Texas by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 42nd pick. This season he averaged 10.4 points per game.

Leon Powe - He was drafted in 2006 out of Cal by the Denver Nuggets with the 49th pick. Scored 21 points in 15 minutes during game three of the NBA finals and was called Leon Powell by Phil Jackson.

Ronny Turiaf - He was drafted in 2005 out of Gonzaga by the LA Lakers with the 37th pick. He started 21 games this season and averaged 6.6 points in 18.7 minutes.

Luke Walton - He was drafted in 2003 out of Arizona by the LA Lakers with the 32nd pick. He averaged 11.4 points per game two seasons ago but this season saw his minutes drop. Key contributor averaged 7.2 points per game.

Kyle Korver - He was drafted in 2003 out of Creighton by the New Jersey Nets with the 51st pick and traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Has a career average of 10.4 points per game.

Eric Snow - He was drafted in 1995 out of Michigan St. by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 43rd pick. Now a 13 year veteran he has a career average of 6.8 points per game.

Gheorghe Muresan - He was drafted in 1993 out of Romania by the Washington Wizards (Bullets) with the 30th pick. Standing 7'7'', he averaged 9.8 points per game for his career.

PJ Brown - He was drafted in 1992 out of Louisiana Tech by the New Jersey Nets with the 29th pick. This 15 year vet came out of retirement to help the Celtics win the NBA title. He was a career average of 9.1 points per game.

Cliff Robinson - He was drafted in 1989 out of UCONN by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 36th pick. This 16 year veteran averaged 10.3 points per game for his career.

Sherman Douglas - He was drafted in 1989 out of Syracuse by the Miami Heat with the 28th pick. This 12 year veteran averaged 11 points and 5.9 assists per game for his career.

Steve Kerr - He was drafted in 1988 out of Arizona by the Phoenix Suns with the 50th pick. He played 15 seasons in the NBA and averaged 6 points per game. Of course he's famous for his last second game-clinching three point shot in the 1997 Finals against the Utah Jazz. He won three titles with the Bulls from 1996-1998 and then won a fourth straight ring with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.

I'll be watching Thursday night to see when my favorite players are chosen.

www.rawsportsblog.com

MLB: The Real Power Rankings!

John Lewis — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:40:35 -0400

So you're sitting there, looking through the Major League Baseball standings, trying to decide which teams are the best from each league. You can see the obvious choices, Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs, but I have a new theory.

This could truly determine the top teams.

If you look back on the last 10 World Series winners, only two of them have ever won the title with a losing record on the road entering the playoffs. 2006 the St. Louis Cardinals won with a 34-47 record, and the 2003 Florida Marlins had a 38-43 road mark.

That said, based on the current standings, only four teams have a winning home and road record. They must be the best teams...right?

What would you say if I told you the best two teams from the American League are the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees? Or that the two best teams from the National League are the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Angels of Anaheim are easily in the argument as the best team in the American League, with or without this theory, and the Yankees have been streaking of late.

The Angels have won 22 at home and 21 on the road, pretty balanced. The Yanks have made some waves in the past week and have fought back to 21 wins at home and 19 wins on the road.

With Curt Schilling out for the season, and Daisuke Matsuzaka rehabbing, the Angels have arguably the best one-two-three punch in baseball. The Yanks are a different mystery, but they have worked hard to make a run. With Joba Chamberlain pitching well and Mike Mussina winning 10 games, they're back in the mix

The Phils, on the other hand, could also, without a doubt, be the top National League team. They have 22 wins at home and 20 wins on the road. The scrappy Cards could be the biggest surprise team, as they have 23 wins at home and 19 on the road.

Philadelphia has a good balance of young and experienced pitchers with Hamels, Moyer and Kendrick, and St. Louis, once Adam Wainwright comes back, can lay claim to the best one-two-three-four rotation in baseball.

The fact of the matter is, teams that win the World Series are well balanced at home and on the road, and while it's still very early to be talking about the championship, it's never too early to be discussing the top teams.

www.rawsportsblog.com

PGA Tour: Tiger Woods Is Done for the Season...Good for Golf?

John Lewis — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:42:16 -0400

As the world's No. 1 golfer packs it in for a little surgery and rehab, is it good for golf if Tiger Woods isn't playing?

We all know about how the ratings will suffer, as golf won't be able to grab the casual fan but hey, there was a PGA tour before Tiger and there will be one without Tiger.

The general consensus in the Woods camp is that he'll come back stronger than ever and pick up where he left off. It's just hard to fathom that he won the U.S. Open, widely considered to be the toughest test, with one leg.

It was also reported that on the Monday of playoff against Rocco Mediate, there was a nine percent dip in trading on the stock market. This may be pure coincidence but from the hours of 12-4 p.m. Eastern Time, people weren't trading.

That said, now is the time for the other top golfers in the world to step it up knowing the majors are now there for the taking. So who will it be and where will it come from?

We start with world's No. 2, Phil Mickelson, and his inability of late to even contend in the majors. At one point Mickelson looked as if he would give the world a rival to Tiger Woods when he won back-to-back majors at the 2005 PGA and the 2006 Masters.

But ever since his epic collapse at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, "lefty" has been looking up to the rest of the field. Last season Phil made the change to legendary swing coach Butch Harmon, but will this translate into wins?

Next we look at world's No. 3 Adam Scott, who is also coached by Butch Harmon. Scott's best finishes in the majors are a tie for third in the 2006 PGA Championship and a tie for eighth at the 2006 British Open.

The Australian's biggest career victory came at the 2006 Tour Championship and he has won at least one tour event ever year since 2003. However, Scott has yet to become a true force at the majors.

So will world's No. 4 Geoff Ogilvy become the next favorite in the last two majors of the year? Ogilvy has one major win on his resume, the 2006 U.S Open, and has five top 10's in the past four seasons.

Or will it be world's No. 5 Ernie Els? Els has three major wins under his belt and has 27 other top 10 finishes. At the start of the 2007 season "The Big Easy" laid out a three-year plan to challenge Tiger Woods as the top player in the world.

So if it doesn't come from the rest of the top five, than who? Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk have both won majors. Or will it be someone like Sergio Garcia who finally broke through this year with a win at the Players Championship?

Look, I know there's a lot of talk about Tiger but for good reason. He seems to be the only one that can consistently challenge victory every time he tees it up.

www.rawsportsblog.com

Tiger Woods Done For The Rest Of The Year

John Lewis — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:04:58 -0400

According to sources, at noon today, Tiger Woods is expected to announce he's going to have season-ending knee surgery. The announcement will come just two days after outlasting Rocco Mediate for his 14th major tournament victory.

There is also speculation that Woods will have surgery on his ACL, which he may have injured two weeks before the U.S. Open. Sources close to Woods said that he had a setback in his rehabilitation workout, and may have injured himself even more.

The world's No. 1 had arthroscopic knee surgery just two days after a second place finish at the Masters. Then out of nowhere, the entire world witnessed one of the gutsiest performances by Woods and often saw him bend over in pain.

This, of course, means that Woods will miss the British Open and PGA Championship as well as the Ryder Cup, which is being played at Valhalla, just outside Louisville.

Woods has the Buick Invitational next week and his own tournament, the AT&T National, which he will now miss.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has got to be sick with this news, because this will certainly hurt ratings for the rest of the season. However, this will most definitely give the rest of the tour players a shot at winning a major and winning the season ending Fed-Ex Cup.