LOTD: Comments by Jose Canseco Lead to Steroid Speculation About…Cal Ripken Jr.?

July 31, 2009 By 4 Comments
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steroid speculation about cal ripken jr.Talk about a name I never thought I’d hear uttered in the same sentence as steroids.

Apparently Cal Ripken Jr. is now fair game for steroid speculation based on some comments made by Jose Canseco yesterday in the wake of the New York Times report regarding Big Papi and ManRam being on the 2003 list.  

Here are the comments made by Canseco that are causing a few of the biggest sports blogs out there to engage in the kind of “reckless steroid speculation” that might cause Ken Rosenthal to develop an aneurysm:

Canseco says MLB facing bigger issue — (Pedro Gomez at ESPN.com)

 “When you tell me something I didn’t already know, I’ll be surprised,” Canseco told ESPN. “And I’ll tell you this, Major League Baseball is going to have a big, big problem on their hands when they find out they have a Hall of Famer who’s used.”

“…What I speak out of my mouth is the truth. It burns like fire. Just remember, I have never lied about this subject.”

And directly below is one example of the leap in logic that Canseco’s comments have led some bloggers to take, plus a pretty telling screen grab of the poll at Sports By Brooks. Seriously, when the question of whether Cal Ripken — CAL FREAKING RIPKEN! — was or was not clean generates a 50/50 response, it’s pretty clear the MLB continues to have a major problem. 

Is Canseco Trying To Tell Us Cal Ripken Juiced? — (Sports By Brooks)

Baseball’s 2007 HOF induction featured the impeccable class of Tony Gwynnand baseball’s iron man, Cal Ripken, Jr.

Now if steroids were derived from Outback Bloomin’ Onions, then I’d be all over Gwynn in this instance. But based on the longtime Padre’s alarmingly wide waistline and lack of power, I think it’s safe to assume he wasn’t juicing.

Ripken though? *Uncomfortable squirm*

cal ripken jr steroid speculation

To be fair, Brooks goes on to say that he is not accusing Ripken of using and that he hopes such speculation is way off base. But, based on a prior experience of mine, I was under the impression that it was completely outside the realm of all reasonable standards to even put the thought out there, regardless of if other people are talking about it or not, or if certain circumstantial evidence could lead someone to wonder.

Of course, it wasn’t only Brooks jumping on the should-we-now-suspect-Ripken bandwagon.

Canseco Claims There’s a Dirty Hall of Famer, Scary If True — (Ty Duffy at The Big Lead)

Canseco said Henderson was not the Hall of Famer. If he is truthful and you move down the list, it gets scary.

Cal Ripken played on Orioles’ teams with Rafael Palmeiro and Brady Anderson. The two combined for 89 home runs in 1996, the year all seven Orioles’ hitters who played full seasons hit more than 20 HR.

Ty also provides evidence of a curious statistical jump made by Kirby Puckett back in the day.  The Puckett paragraph includes a link to a post at Bugs and Cranks that discusses the book The Bill James Gold Mine 2008.  Here as excerpt from that post:

And finally, item 12, which concludes the essay about Atypical Seasons: “Two of the greatest home run under-producers of all time were teammates: Kirby Puckett and Gary Gaetti in 1984. Puckett hit no home runs (-16), Gaetti hit only 5 (-19). Suggesting the possibility that the Twins’ two World Championships may have been aided by their team being among the first to discover…well, I’d better not go there. Nor will I point out that Gaetti was bald and had acne and Puckett died young.”

The writer at B&C goes on to chastise James for tossing out such speculation without proof. In fact, his comments regarding James’ statements are similar to posts that were critical of my Ibanez article in June. 

To wrap all of this up into a neat, tidy little bow, here are my points in posting this:

1. There is absolutely no way that I think Cal Ripken Jr. was on steroids. But is there some circumstantial evidence that makes it at least reasonable to discuss the possibility? Sure, and much of it has been cited on other posts like the ones linked above.

  • He played Major League Baseball in the 1990s.
  • HGH has often been cited as a tool for recovery and health more than for producing bulky muscles. No one obviously had better health or a more consistent ability to recover than Cal Ripken.
  • He played on Baltimore teams that included a lot of guys already implicated and who have been proven to be users.

And I’m sure there are other thin lines of association that can be drawn, as there is for every baseball player. But from my own personal standpoint, I’d add Cal Ripken Jr. to the list of guys that I don’t think ever used. And despite being desensitized to the whole thing like everyone else because of the constant stream of new players being explicitly implicated, I’d still be pretty stunned if anything like that ever came out about Ripken. No way.

2. Things obviously have not, and are not, getting better in regards to steroids in baseball and the rampant speculation that accompanies every player. With each new name that is leaked, or each new statement from Jose Canseco, someone else gets mentioned as a potential user. Who would have ever thought that Cal Ripken Jr.’s name would start getting bandied about in the process?

3. The only way for things to get better is for past and even present users to man up and be honest. The fallout will not be as bad as they think, and it’s the only way to truly achieve any semblance of closure and protect the people who are actually innocent (whoever they are).

4. I’m even more convinced that all of the attention MSF got after the Ibanez post really was just a case of this site winning some strange sort of mainstream media lottery. Somehow we got held up as an icon of irresponsible steroid speculation, but really we are just one of many, many sites that expresses its honest thoughts, opinions, and feelings regarding steroids and baseball. And we will continue to do just that. You don’t have to read very far into our archives to see how genuinely I and the writers of this site love and appreciate the game of baseball. 

One quick note for clarity: I am in no way calling Brooks or Ty out for being wrong or off base in writing their post about Ripken. Neither one is making any kind of specific accusation and I think they are well within their right to have such a discussion even if it does name specific names, and even if that name isone as exalted as Cal Ripken Jr. But I have to admit I chuckled a little bit when I saw their posts. It was pretty easy for guys in the mainstream media to pick on little ‘ol Midwest Sports Fans back in June; we’ll see if anyone has the cojones to call out two of the bigger and more powerful blogs for doing pretty much the exact same thing I did.

Anyway, lots of activity around the web today, obviously, as baseball’s trading deadline came to a furious close.  I was going to link to stories about each trade, but I figured I could be much more efficient and just link you to MLB Trade Rumors, where they have the latest news and notes on everything trade-related in Major League Baseball.

Here are some other non-trade deadline links to carry you through the afternoon and weekend:

* – Cal Ripken Jr. photo credit: AstrosDaily.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: baseball, Bill James, Cal Ripken Jr, Jose Canseco, MLB, Sports By Brooks, steroids, steroids in baseball, The Big Lead

An Open Letter to Baseball’s Cheating Liars

July 31, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Manny Ramirez and David OrtizDear past or present MLB performance enhancing drug user,

So I’m guessing by know you’ve heard about the report in the New York Times that Manny and Big Papi tested positive for a performance enhancing substance back in 2003. Actually, seeing as how you are on the “inside,” this probably was not news to you. And honestly, I think I speak for the overwhelming majority of baseball fans and observers when I say that it wasn’t really news to us either.

Just like the sun rising in the East every morning, and people complaining about taxes come March and April, and the White Sox struggling to win in the Metrodome…reports of great individual baseball feats from the 90s and early 00s being tainted by drug use are just something we’ve all come to expect. We’re numb to it now.

When the reports about ARod came out earlier this year, there was still some shock and surprise left. Remember when everyone thought that ARod would be the one to supplant all of the cheaters in the record books and restore integrity to the top of the home run charts? Yeah, not so much.

And even when Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games earlier this year, the news was met with some jaw drops only because it was the first time that a star of Manny’s magnitude had been suspended for PED use under the new testing policy. The surprise was not really that Manny was using, only that he’d be foolish and/or arrogant enough to use with the knowledge that he’d be tested. But still, there was at least some surprise.

But yesterday is the day when news of performance enhancing drug use in baseball finally reached the tipping point where it stopped really being “breaking news” in the sense that we intrinsically think about breaking news. You don’t see TV reporters covering the sunrise each morning do you? Of course not. We just expect it. It would be news now if the sun didn’t rise.

That is exactly where I feel like we are with PEDs and baseball.

Sure, it’s “news” that someone leaked the assertion that Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were on the infamous 2003 list. But stories such as these now have the same ho-hum quality as watching the recap of a baseball game during the morning SportsCenter that you watched the previous night. When I saw Dewayne Wise’s walk-off single from last night’s game this morning, I didn’t flinch. I just watched and enjoyed it for a brief moment.

When the story broke yesterday that Manny and Papi tested positive in 2003, it was the same thing (minus the enjoyment). I didn’t flinch. I just read the story and shrugged my shoulders, and realized that I wasn’t even really mad, upset, or disappointed that they tested positive in 2003. I was numb.

What I remain mad, upset, and disappointed about it is the continued arrogance and complete dearth of respect that so many of you have for me and my fellow fans. Yeah, remember us? The ones who indirectly pay all of your baseball salaries?  The ones who fawn over you like gods, thus making your endorsement income possible too?

I know, there are millions of us and only a few of you, which makes it much easier for you all to carry on your self-aggrandizing notions of invincibility and omnipotence. But do you think that, just once, you could close your lying mouths, open up your eyes and ears, and listen to the thoughts, words, and feelings of the people whose opinions should mean as much or more to you as anyone?

And if you want to know what the growing and perhaps nearly complete consensus is among baseball fans when it comes to who did or did not use steroids, here it is:

We don’t fucking care anymore!

That’s right. We don’t care. Or maybe a more apt way to put it is that we can’t care and shouldn’t care anymore. 

We know that you played in an era in which being on a level playing field meant using, not the other way around.

We know that for many of you baseball is all you know, and that sticking needless in your rear might have been the only way to hang onto your chosen lot in life.

We know that many of you can probably relate with Jim Parque, who saw the best opportunity he had to give his family a great life slipping away.

We know that part of the reason for your greatness is the massive ego and pride that drives you…and that those two factors also drive the decision to use performance enhancers.

I could go on and on. But what’s the point? By now, it’s really just the obvious; or at least, what should be the obvious. But the sad part is, I don’t think the vast majority of you PED users get it. 

Because if you did, you’d stop the sad, pathetic charade of lies and rationalizations and faux outrage…and just be honest. Yes, honest. I realize that for many of you this is a foreign concept, or at least a concept that can be conveniently forgotten when it serves your personal self-interest, but bear with me, if you will. I’ve done the same for you through this whole shady mess of an era, so I don’t think it’s too much to ask.

Mark McGwire

How about instead of going into hiding and shirking your responsibility to the fans who cheered you, and supported you, and bought jerseys with your name stitched on the back, you step up and just tell us what you did? How about instead of offering a consistent stream of outright lies before and after reports like yesterday’s come out, you simply offer one forthright statement of fact?

I mean really, what the hell are you so afraid of?

Years and years of lies and yanking the proverbial carpet from underneath our feet has numbed us to all feelings of outrage and surprise anyway. And perhaps that was the unspoken collective goal among you  all along.

Well guess what, if that is the case then you have succeeded.

For so many of us who love baseball, we’ve found a way to rationalize PED use in our mind so that we can still enjoy the game. A major part of that rationalization is simply accepting it all as a way to move forward.

The final element of truly moving forward is forgiveness, as is the case in any situation in which deceit has led to a breach of trust. We have done our part, by reaching a level of acceptance. Now you need to do your part by giving us an opportunity to forgive. And there is only way to achieve forgiveness in the wake of lying, cheating, and dishonesty:

Tell the truth. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth. 

I think you’ll all be pleasantly shocked at the outcome.

Ask yourself how David Ortiz would have been received had he, at some point before yesterday, called a press conference to say that yes, he did in fact use steroids at one time. If he had explained that at 27, after being released by the Twins, he saw his career flashing before his eyes and felt compelled to jumped on the steroids train in an effort to save his fledgling career. And then how becoming “Big Papi”, and receiving so much love from the fans, and experiencing so much success, blurred his sense of reality and made him rationalize his use as okay and his lies as the only path he saw to sustain it and protect his image.

Really ask yourself, how do you think people would have responded?

Harsh, bad, and disappointing truths, especially those that revolve around the uncovering of deceit, always hurt when you hear them for the first time. But in the grand scheme of it all they usually hurt and disappoint a lot less when being explained directly from the source. One of the main reasons why is that when the deceiver is doing the explaining, he or she is also simultaneously taking the first step towards the remedy for all involved. And the remedy, of course, is forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a two-way street. It requires contrition and the swallowing of pride on one side, then understanding, acceptance, and an open mind on the other side. Some things cannot be forgiven, all depending on the individual and their values and beliefs. But most things can and are forgiven when the two-way street of forgiveness is walked with genuine steps by both parties.

Performance enhancing drug use in baseball and all sports is, as I see it, a very forgivable offense. And I think if more of you really respected the fans, rather than simply paid lip service to it, you would realize that.

We want to root for you, we want to believe in you, we want to cheer for you, and we want to forgive you. But you can’t expect us to walk a one-way street to get there. The only possible outcome of that would be to forget. Yet, considering how much we all care about the game, plus the fact that names will continue to be leaked, forgetting is not likely.

steroids in baseball

The story of performance enhancing drug use in baseball will not go away. The only question is whether the true reason why it remains a story will ever go away. And the answer to that question lies solely with you, because it is entirely a function of your deceit and lies.

So all I am asking you is this: if you used PEDs in the past, just come forward and admit it before your name gets leaked or you are forced to address specific allegations. Take the lead and take control. Let us hear it from your mouth first. And even if your name has already been whispered or bandied about as a probable user, just step up and explain it honestly.

I guarantee you that while you may face an initial wall of negative reaction or consternation, it will pass quickly.

Most importantly, be honest about your reasons for using (we’ll understand) and honest about how it helped you (we already know). Not only will it lift what has to be a huge weight from your shoulders, as well as hopefully provide leadership that compels others to do the same, it will be one more step down the two-way street we all have to travel to get past this tired, annoying, and disheartening story. 

We respect your talents and achievements enough to continue loyally supporting a game that provided you with a lucrative career, and one that most likely fulfilled all of your wildest dreams. Is it that much to ask for you to respect us enough to simply step up and be honest? I don’t think it is, but you are the only one who can answer that question.

If you care only about yourself, you’ll keep on lying and hoping the truth is never uncovered or that the rumors are never confirmed. If you care about the fans and integrity, however, you’ll step forward and be honest on your own accord.  Either way, I’ll keep loving baseball today, tomorrow, and forever. But the game will never be as great as it should and could be until the relationship between the players and fans is repaired.

There is a tear that was created by lies and deceit, and it can be patched back up with honesty and truth. It’s really that simple. So I, and every other baseball fan, will just be here waiting like we’ve always been for either a) the next name to be leaked or b) someone to actually step forward and be honest. The former will set us all back again while the latter can actually help us move forward.

The choice is yours.

Hopefully you’ll make the right one. Sadly, with history as my guide, I have no faith that any of you will.

 

Sincerely,

Jerod Morris

Update: Time to give a little credit where credit is due. Just caught an article on ESPN.com in which Bronson Arroyo says that he wouldn’t be surprised if his name was on “the list” because of substances he took (andro) which we were found to be laced with steroids.

“Arroyo, who pitched for the Red Sox from 2003 to 2005, said he took androstenedione, which was banned in 2004, as well as amphetamines, which were banned in 2006, according to the Herald report. He said he gave up taking andro, a steroid precursor, when a rumor spread through baseball that due to lax production standards, some of it was laced with steroids.

Mandatory testing for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball began in 2004.

‘Before 2004, none of us paid any attention to anything we took,’ he said, according to the Herald. ‘Now they don’t want us to take anything unless it’s approved. But back then, who knows what was in stuff? The FDA wasn’t regulating stuff, not unless it was killing people or people were dying from it.’

Arroyo said he started taking taking andro after 1998, after a season with the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate. ‘Andro made me feel great, I felt like a monster. I felt like I could jump and hit my head on the basketball rim,’ he said, according to the report.”

Hmm…I wonder what the reaction will be now if Arroyo’s name does someday come out on the list. Is it really so difficult to just step up and explain things exactly how Arroyo did here? Hopefully more players will follow suit.

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* – Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz photo credit: MLBToday.net

* – Mark McGwire photo credit: StatFace.com

* – Baseball & syringe photo credit: Star Burbs blog


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: baseball, David Ortiz steroids, Manny Ramirez steroids, MLB, steroids in baseball

Fantasy Football 2009 Draft Day Tips & Advice: Winning Starts With the Right Draft Strategy and Preparation

July 30, 2009 By 5 Comments
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fantasy football 2009 draft advice, tips, trendsIt is almost here: your Fantasy Football Draft.  With the right tools, you could be well on your way to fantasy greatness, and depending on what you spent, a nice payoff.  You could also blow your season before it ever starts.  Here’s how to avoid disaster and and guarantee a playoff spot.  (For those participating in the Midwest Sports Fans Fantasy Football League, please read this AFTER our draft!)

1.  Leave your heart at home.  This is the most important rule!  If you take nothing else from this article, take this.  The theory behind this is simple, but I promise you, you will see this at your draft.

Some tool box at your draft, maybe this has even been you in the past, will draft the bulk of his team off of the same NFL team, usually his favorite team.  His favorite player will be his first round pick, which is usually taken three rounds too early.  This person will then follow the next four rounds up by drafting the remainder of the team’s offensive threats, then the defense, then their kicker.

This is done for one of two reasons.

First, this person is so blinded by the off-season that they truly believe that their team is going to be first in every statistical category; or, they truly lack football knowledge and do not have the diversity to draft outside of the team they follow.  Regardless, you don’t want to be this person, and you love it when this person, or persons, is at your draft.

This “strategy,” more often then not, is a recipe for disaster.

2.  Draft Starters.  Sounds simple, yet this principle is rarely followed.  Those that do, however, are the ones playing for something in week 16.

fantasy football 2009 draft advice, tips, trends

When drafting, know what positions are required to start in your league, then draft those positions.  Do not take three quarterbacks before locking up other key positions, unless you can start three quarterbacks.  Positions where fantasy owners often shoot themselves in the foot are tight ends and defenses. If you want a top 3 tight end, draft them in the 4th round.  If you want a top 3 defense, take them in the fifth round.  Depending on your league and its scoring setting, a lousy defense can be an automatic loss.

In the same breath, make syre you draft NFL starters as well.  Do not draft Matt Leinhart over another NFL starting quarterback on the wimb that Kurt Warner will be hurt or benched at some point.  If there is a starter available, take him over a backup.  Again, it seems simple, yet this is another common error thatoccurs at every draft.

3.  Wait forever on a kicker.  This is the only exception to #2.  Kickers are a dime a dozen, and rarely does the number one rated kicker going into the NFL season finish as the number one kicker.

Look at Shane Graham last year.  He was thought of highly, but the Bengals could not cross the 50 yard line for the majority of last year, killing Graham’s fantasy value and numbers.  Another example: Rob Brionas.  I am sure that he was taken in the bottom 10 of NFL kickers last year, yet he had a very good season, including a 6 FG performance one week, which was worth more than 90% of the rest of the league that day.

Unless your league gets sucked into #4 below, kickers will be there in the later rounds.

4.  Avoid the “Trend Setters” trap.  There are owners who go into drafts looking to be the trend setter, or want to set the tone of the draft.  Why do they want to do this? I not really sure. Maybe they don’t have control of anything else in their life and want to control the draft, or they are looking to screw other owners by holding a heavy hand in draft negotiations.

Regardless of their reasoning, do not let this individual control your team.   Lock up your starters, and key backups who also “start.”  Need an example? Here you go:

Owner Smith drafts a quarterback in the first, second and third round, attempting to force quarterbacks off of the board.  Owner Smith then drafts a TE in the fourth round, starting the TE trend.  Owner Smith then drafts a Defense in the fifth and sixth round, starting the defensive trend.  Owner Smith then takes a kicker in the seventh round, starting the kicker picks. The question is, do you follow the trend or make sure that you are drafting for value at each slot and systematically compiling a balanced roster?

Go into your draft with a plan, take the best players available that can be used, and do not be geared or driven by position alone.

5.  Do your homework the night before or morning of the draft.  My favorite part of the draft to watch lies in this topic.  LOOK AT THE INJURY REPORTS BEFORE THE DRAFT.

A few years back, Marcel Shipp was thought to be the Cardinals’ workhorse.  In preseason, he suffered a season ending injury.  One owner who did not do his homework, drafted Shipp in the later part of the second round.  Laughter ripped through the bar as everyone knew that he could have drafted a high school player’s rights and had the same success out of that pick.  Do not let this happen to you.

fantasy football 2009 draft advice, tips, trends

Also, players who are suspended for the first two to four games of the regular season still have value, just not as high.  Make sure you are aware of who is in Roger Goodell’s dog house.  If these players are taken early, great, this helps you.  If they are available for you in later rounds, take them, this will too help you.

Finally, if all else fails, be a beast on the waiver wire.  If you got your teeth kicked in Week One, tear up the waiver wire and fix your draft day disasters, or your Week One “Tom Brady” injuries that can instantly kill your team…unless you drafted a handcuff like Matt Cassel.

There is much more than this which goes into a successful draft, but these keys will get you going in the right direction.  Looking for more? Find me on facebook at Pro Football Insight, or use the following link and become a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ProFootballInsight/87454057557

Kurt Fraschetti

Senior Fantasy Football Writer

MidwestSportsFans.com

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* – Matt Leinart photo credit: TheDirty.com via Deadspin

* – Roger Goodell photo credit: St. Louis Sports Stream


Filed Under: Fantasy Football, Fantasy Sports, Featured Column Tagged With: 2009 fantasy football, fantasy draft, Fantasy Football, fantasy football draft advice, fantasy football draft day trends, fantasy football draft tips

Fire Dusty Baker: Epic Failure of Reds Since All Star Break Should Result in Manager’s Dismissal

July 30, 2009 By 6 Comments
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fire dusty bakerAfter the Cincinnati Reds lost all six games on their recent, “key” road trip, they came home to take on the 2nd worst team in baseball — and lost 3 of 4.

They’re 5-16 in the last 21 games, and just 3-11 since the all star break.

Dusty Baker should be fired tomorrow. Period. Just like Eric Wedge.

If not, and of course he won’t be fired, true fans should not attend Reds games the rest of the season.

Just a thought.


Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: baseball, Cincinnati Reds, Dusty Baker, fire Dusty Baker, MLB

LOTD: New York Times Reports Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz Tested Positive for PEDs in 2003

July 30, 2009 By 5 Comments
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NYT Report: David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez tested positive for PEDs in 2003The Big Lead put it perfectly: the lawyers who keep leaking information about the confidential 2003 MLB drug test results are just “twisting the knife in baseball.” And the knife twisted again today as the New York Times reported that both Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during that 2003 round of testing.

The report does not identify the substance that they tested positive for.

I have a feeling that the level of surprise at this report among baseball fans will be the equivalent to what most of us feel each morning when the sun rises: something along the lines of same $hit, different day.

Anyway, here is your link of the day, and then some other links for your daily perusal.

Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List — (New York Times)

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the sluggers who propelled theBoston Red Sox to end an 86-year World Series championship drought and to capture another title three years later, were among the roughly 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.

…

The information about Ramirez and Ortiz emerged through interviews with multiple lawyers and others connected to the pending litigation. The lawyers spoke anonymously because the testing information is under seal by a court order. The lawyers did not identify which drugs were detected.

Unlike Ramirez, who recently served a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy, Ortiz had not previously been linked to performance-enhancing substances.

Scott Boras, the agent for Ramirez, would not comment Thursday.

Asked about the 2003 drug test on Thursday in Boston, Ortiz shrugged. “I’m not talking about that anymore,” he said. “I have no comment.”

Here is some other relevant reading on the topic of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz reportedly testing positive for PEDs in 2003, including an old Bill Simmons column that looks even more prescient now.

Quick excerpt from the Deadspin post by Dash:

As everyone will gladly point out, 2003 was Ortiz’s first season in Boston. It was also the season he saw a significant improvement in his stats. He set then career highs in HR and RBI and saw his .OPS jump about 130 points. 

And some other links:

* – Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz photo credit: MLBToday.net


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: David Ortiz, David Ortiz steroids, links, manny ramirez, Manny Ramirez steroids, MLB, steroids in baseball

Cliff Lee Trade Another Example of Baseball’s Rich Getting Richer

July 30, 2009 By 19 Comments
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I seek to preface this column by noting that baseball is by far my favorite sport. Despite the media narrative, I personally believe baseball is still America’s most popular sport and has fewer issues that need remedied than the other major sports. I have defended baseball to my friends on issues from steroids to competitive balance to many others for at least the past decade and a half. When folks say “Yankees/Red Sox/Mets/Phillies/Dodgers/Angels,” I reference the successes of the “Rays/Twins/Athletics/Indians” this decade.

I should also note — and those who know me would concur in a heartbeat — I am a fiscal conservative, a capitalist to the core who abhors socialism and redistribution of anything to those who have not earned it.

Cliff Lee Traded to Philadelphia PhilliesThat said, the trade deadline looms, and if you have not noticed, the “rich are getting richer.” On the flip side, year after year, my teams (Padres, Reds, Indians, Pirates) stink, and constantly lose prime players, while the teams in the major coastal cities — where my friends live — get better and keep winning.

One, a “suffering” Dodger fan, emailed me after the Phillies acquired Cliff Lee (reigning Cy Young winner, just like Sabathia was when Cleveland traded him last July):

“Dodgers need to get Halladay if they plan on going to the World Series.”

Well, we all want Roy Halladay, but only a few can even dream of this, sir. It must be nice to reside in your (baseball) world.

The Dodgers and Phils are surely the class of the NL, but what if they were unable to acquire the Manny Ramirezes and Raul Ibanezes of the world like 90% of baseball? (I should note these teams have also drafted sagaciously with respect to Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney et al.)

As I drove back through very late Monday night from Pads-Reds in Cincy, I had the same suggestion (of “cry me a river”), however, for the Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, Cubs, Phils, and a few others.

Truly now, what team has actually built a winner out of nothing the past decade?

Tampa Bay, Minnesota, and to some degree, Milwaukee, Colorado and Florida. Kudos to them. It can be done, but it’s tough. Everything must click and you must capitalize on all chances.

Joe Torre and Terry Francona (c.f. Phil Jackson in the NBA) need not worry about such ancillary matters. Brian C. and Theo E. will make sure of that. I’d like to see those two win in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, San Diego, Washington, or Kansas City sometime, though.

{Addendum: The unions are major culprits in this “system” as well, but that’s been thoroughly documented for more than a quarter-century. As is too often the case with unions these days, their employees benefit while the profession and society (in this case, it’s paying customers) suffers. I don’t need to spell much more out, do I?}

* – Cliff Lee photo credit: Cleveland.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: baseball, cleveland indians, Cliff Lee, MLB

LOTD: Bobby Wade Says Brian Urlacher Called Jay Cutler a “Pussy”, Blogger Quarrel Ensues

July 29, 2009 By 4 Comments
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Bobby Wade says Brian Urlacher called Jay Cutler a pussyAh, back to sports reality after a brief afternoon trip elsewhere. But you know, a wise man once said that “sometimes to maintain your sanity, you have to lose it for a moment.” (Actually, that’s not true…I just made it up and no wise men ever said it as far as I know.)

A lot of interesting stories have broken this afternoon, but none more interesting than the fallout from Bobby Wade’s contention that Brian Urlacher called Jay Cutler a pussy.  From PFT:

Wade told our pal Paul Allen of KFAN within the hour that, during an offseason trip to Vegas with Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, Urlacher expressed a not-so-flattering opinion of new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

Basically, Wade said that Urlacher said that Cutler is a “pussy.”

Predictably, Bears supporters have rallied against Pro Football Talk for even mentioning the Bobby-Wade-said-Brian-Urlacher-called-Jay-Cutler-a-pussy story:

You’d think with ProFootballTalk’s heralded move under the NBC peacock’s plumage that they would up the ante in providing smart, in-depth coverage of the NFL.

Nah.

This then prompted a hilarious retort from Pro Football Talk in discussing Tommie Harris’ tweet about the issue and defending itself for reporting the Bobby-Wade-said-Brian-Urlacher-called-Jay-Cutler-a-pussy story:

Look, all we’re doing is reporting what Wade said on the air. So even if some dude who uses his best contemplative senior picture (he should have stuck with the “ninth grade dorky smile mom plastered down my hair with a handful of spit” pose) at the Chicago Sun-Times thinks that it’s not newsworthy, it was — and it is.

Especially if it’s true.

Final verdict? Who the hell cares if Urlacher said it or not. Wade said that he said it, it’s news, and it’s going to make the first meeting of the two teams pretty damn interesting. (Besides, it’s not like Cutler hasn’t been called derogatory names before.)

And now, onto other links from around the sports world today, beginning with updates on the flurry of trade activity that’s gone down.

MLB Trade Links:

Other Links:

* – Jay Cutler photo credit: Newscom via Every Joe


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Bobby Wade, Brian Urlacher, Brian Urlacher called Jay Cutler a pussy, Chicago Bears, jay cutler, Minnesota Vikings, NFL, Pro Football Talk

My 90s What If Nightmare Involving Brian Austin Green and Frank Thomas

July 29, 2009 By 5 Comments
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I don’t know why I am about to do what I am about to do.

There are lots of interesting, Midwest sports specific posts I could be writing right now. Cliff Lee may get traded to Philly and be out of the White Sox hair for the foreseeable future. SportsbyBrooks has a great story about what Mark Buehrle is doing for Dewayne Wise to thank him for saving his perfect game. For crying out loud, this story at least deserves some mention on a site that has previously proclaimed its pride in this, doesn’t it?

But no, rather than expound upon those compelling stories I am about to indulge in what I can only describe as a self-masochistic flight of nightmarish fancy.  Why?  I guess the best explanation I can give is that sometimes as bloggers we don’t write the stories…they just kind of write themselves. (At least that is the excuse I will use to rationalize what you are about to read.)

It all started about a half hour ago when, after eating lunch here at the office, I decided to shirk a few of the day job responsibilities to write a post here at MSF.  And I didn’t feel like simply taking a hot story and adding my own personal second-hand commentary about it.  I wanted to do something stupid, unnecessary, and lame different, original, and unique. And I wanted it to somehow revolve around White Sox savior rookie Gordon Beckham.
Gordon Beckham looking like Zack Morris
I’m not sure what exactly prompted me to want to write about Beckham, although I’m sure it had something to do with the short debate I got into earlier with a few of the Texas Rangers fans who also inhabit our offices. Basically, they said that they wouldn’t trade Elvis Andrus straight up for Beckham. I said they were fools and would, but just wouldn’t admit it, and then uttered a few of my usual derogatory statements about them just being desperate Rangers fans who are drunk with giddiness at finally being able to watch July baseball games that have some meaning.

Of course, I was right on all fronts.

Anyway, I wanted to write about Gordon Beckham, and I remembered seeing a picture of him a few days ago after which a thought flashed into my head that his tightly coiffed blonde hair made him somewhat resemble my childhood hero Zack Morris. So I thought that perhaps doing a tale of the tape between the 1990s badass and the future 2010s badass could make for a compelling blog post. 

And in the initial research for said post is when I stumbled upon one of the most horrific, terrifying, and downright dumbfounding facts that I never knew I didn’t know. Fellow former Saved By The Bell fans, prepare to have your heart stop momentarily and for oxygen to be cut off from your brain for a brief instant when I share with you this frightening thought:

Brian Austin Green was originally cast as the lead character in the pilot for Good Morning Miss Bliss, the original incarnation of Saved By The Bell.  Here is the proof:

In the pilot, the main “student” character was played by Brian Austin Green (of Beverly Hills, 90210 fame), but his character’s name wasn’t Zack Morris. Instead, Green played a super-serious student who always wore business suits. Another student character was played by Jaleel White (of Family Matters fame).

Ostensibly, from the way the above referenced page is written, this fact was contained in the E! True Hollywood story about Saved By The Bell. I don’t watch E!, however, so I was never made aware of this information. 

Brian Austin Green in original Saved By the Bell Cast (Good Morning, Miss Bliss)

While it appears as if the original main student character played by Green was nothing close to the Zack Morris character that we all came to know and love, the idea of this guy playing the lead role of the most seminal show about growing up in the 1990s is mind-boggling. I mean, back then Brian Austin Green was a hell of a lot closer to being Screech than he was to being Zack.

And there is always this. That clown couldn’t have even sung backup vocals for the Zack Attack:

[Editor's Note: Couldn't find video of the actual episode where Casey Casem introduces the Zack Attack and you see the actual band playing. However, during his recent appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show, Mark-Paul Gosselaar did an updated version of the song with the roots. Watch it below.]

Anyway, while Green has obviously redeemed himself in recent years by dating Megan Fox, he wouldn’t have had a shot in hell back then with Kelly Kapowski. No way. Furthermore, while Green gets some bonus points for the Fox relationship, he doesn’t exactly have that on lockdown, if you know what I mean. From The New York Daily News:

OK! claims that Megan Fox and on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Austin Green have worked out a deal. “They’ve agreed to an open relationship where Megan can see other men but Brian can’t date anyone else,” says the mag, and she has six months to decide if she wants to marry him.

What?

Look, she’s attractive, and as dudes sometimes you gotta do what you have to do, and then do a little extra for the really hot ones, but you better believe that Mark-Paul Gosselaar would either have those loose ends sewn up…or be done with it. (Plus, no level of hotness can compensate for significant levels of crazy…and the more I read about Megan Fox, the more she qualifies for crazy.)

Anyway, I think Steve Stifler put it best when he said:
Blank

And if someone can direct that quite at you legitimately, then you are not and never were worthy of the lead role in Saved By The Bell.

I shudder to think about what kinds of lessons the impressionable youths of the 90s would have learned from a Brian Austin Green-led Saved By The Bell. Would he have taught us about the importance of environmental conservation and the evils of unbridled greed? Would he have been able to save the Max? And damnit, would Brian Austin F’ing Green have been man enough after being fleeced by the ultra-cool facade of Rod Belding to swallow his pride and admit he was wrong, and that Mr. Belding was definitely the better Belding?

I don’t think so. And a generation of 90s kids would be worse off because of it.

So all I have to say is Halelujah that the original pilot fell flat on its face and was retooled before being rolled out again. I’m not sure I’d want to live in a world in which Zack Morris never existed, and his only incarnation was some business-suit-wearing, white-boy-gangsta-rapping, girlfriend-has-his-bits-in-a-jar hack.

But…somehow…that’s not even the most harrowing What If thought I had today. Quite the contrary actually.  After reading about the original cast of Good Morning Miss Bliss, I wondered to myself if there was anything else that could possibly have made the 1990s more drastically different. My first thought: Frank Thomas not being on the Chicago White Sox.

So I decided to go back to the 1989 draft and see what other players the White Sox could have taken with their 1st round selection that year, the 7th overall, and then where The Big Hurt might have ended up had the White Sox passed on him. And the likely outcome is so much worse than Brian Austin Green starring in Saved By The Bell that I’d rather do this in my office right now than even think about it:

Here are picks 7-15 from the 1989 MLB draft:

  • 7 – Frank Thomas, 1B, White Sox
  • 8 – Earl Cunningham, OF, Cubs
  • 9 – Kyle Abbott, LHP, Angels
  • 10 – Charles Johnson, C, Expos
  • 11 – Calvin Murray, 3B, Indians
  • 12 – Jeff Juden, RHP, Astros
  • 13 – Brent Mayne, C, Royals
  • 14 – Steve Hosey, OF, Giants
  • 15 – Kiki Jones, RHP, Dodgers

I would have to assume that had the White Sox passed on Thomas, they likely would have picked one of the next 10 or so guys. Other than Charles Johnson, who was an All Star as an above-average defensive catcher, there was not another good player picked until 23rd when the Red Sox took Mo Vaughn. 

Now, if I’m being optimistic and said that the White Sox were committed to taking a 1B in 1989, Vaughn was the next 1B selected after Thomas. So perhaps the White Sox would have simply swapped one gargantuan, power-hitting first baseman for another. But still, Vaughn had a relatively short peak and then fell victim to the sharp decline that so many huge power hitters face. He may have been comparable for a few years, but he’s no Frank Thomas.

Even worse, look at what moribund, pathetic franchise was slotted right behind the White Sox in the 1989 draft: the Cubs.

Even though the Cubs drafted Mark Grace in 1985, and he made his MLB debut in May of 1988, isn’t it conceivable that they could have plucked The Big Hurt at #8 anyway? Grace was a high school basketball player, so you would think he had decent athletic ability back then. Maybe they move him to third or to a corner outfield spot, paving the way for Frank Thomas and Ryne Sandberg to own the city of Chicago and all of baseball in the early 90s as one of the greatest 1B-2B combos in MLB history.

The one silver lining to this nightmarish thought is that Ryne Sandberg had the best year of his career in 1990 (40 HRs, 100 RBI, 116 R, .306 BA), the same year that Frank Thomas broke into the Bigs and played in 60 games. So at least Sandberg’s peak would not have overlapped with Thomas’. The Cubs finished 77-85 in 1990.

However, what might have happened in 1991 and 1992?

The Cubs went 77-83 and 78-84 respectively in those two seasons, with Sandberg still playing very well. Although Thomas had not yet reached his peak (which would come between 1993-1997, five of his top six OPS seasons), he still went .318-32-109-104 in 1991 and .323-24-115-108 in 1992. Might that have made the Cubs good enough to compete for the NL East pennant and possibly *gasp* a World Series?

And though Sandberg started to decline in 1993, the Cubs actually improved to 84-78. Can you imagine if they had gotten an MVP season from Frank Thomas on top of that? 

I am breaking out into hives just typing this.

Honestly, none of this is even remotely likely, even if the White Sox had passed on Big Frank. Mark Grace was the 1B of the future and we all know that the Cubs suck too much to have ever stumbled onto such fortuitous serendipity. Plus, maybe Frank would have ended up like the Cubs actual selection in 1989, Earl Cunningham, and never made it to the Majors. (Okay, now that is what is not even remotely likely.)

Regardless, the thought of Frank Thomas having been a star on the North Side is enough to give any White Sox fan a sleepless night or two. As will the next thought, as I tie together the two seemingly disjointed What If scenarios posited above.

Remember Steve Bartman? Of course you do.  What Chicago baseball fan could forget him. Well, according to Wikipedia, the most notorious Chicago baseball fan in history graduated high school in 1995 and was 26 years old at the time of “The Incident.” This means that Bartman was in middle school and his first few years of high school during the heydey of Saved By The Bell. Naturally, we can only assume that Bartman watched Saved By The Bell regularly, because…well…didn’t everyone?

Saved By The Bell What If

But in a bizarro world as described above, in which the essence of cool (Zack Morris) is replaced by Brian Austin Green and in which Frank Thomas is a Chicago Cub, isn’t possible that Steve Bartman might have become a White Sox fan instead?  Think about it: Bartman obviously reveled in rooting for a losing franchise, and with Frank Thomas on the other side of town it would have been the White Sox, not the Cubs, that were pathetic throughout the 90s.

As Marty McFly once taught us, when you start messing with the Space-Time Continuum, things can get f’d up that you never imagined.

And to take it one terrifying step further, if Steve Bartman were a White Sox fan he probably would have attended Game 2 of the 2005 ALDS between the White Sox and Angels. And maybe he would have had seats behind home plate instead of down the third base line. And maybe when that infamous third strike bounced, and the ump signaled out with his hand, Steve Bartman — unable to control the level of his voice because he was wearing headphones — would have yelled “OUT!” at the top of his lungs. And maybe AJ Pierzynski would have heard him, thought it was the ump, and not hustled to first base. If so, the White Sox would have lost, would have been down 0-2 as they headed out West, and perhaps the South Siders would be the Chicago team still lamenting the fact that they haven’t won a World Series in over a century.

My apologies to any Good Guys who read this post and are unable to remove such a frightening hypothesis from their subconscious. But now do you see why it’s so important why Mark-Paul Gosselaar ending up playing Zack Morris in Saved By The Bell, and — although it’s obvious — why it’s so important that the White Sox drafted Frank Thomas one spot ahead of the Cubs?

So, now that I have outlined my two biggest What If Nightmares from the 1990s — both of which thankfully never happened, but both of which would have fundamentally changed an entire decade of my life had they been a reality — help me determine what would have been worse. I’m leaning towards Big Frank being a Cub…but the influence of Zack Morris should not be overlooked nor understated.

What do you think?

Which What If 90s Nightmare would have been worse?

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* – Gordon Beckham photo credit: AJRoxMyWhiteSox


Filed Under: Featured Column, Random Thoughts Tagged With: Brian Austin Green, chicago cubs, Chicago White Sox, frank thomas, Saved By The Bell, zack morris

Buick Open Betting Odds – Furyk, Verplank, Austin are best non-Tiger choices this week

July 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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When you’re making this week’s Buick Open betting choices, it’s easy to pick Tiger Woods (unnecessary explanation coming up). But here’s a look at the other golfers that are worth a shot in your offshore sportsbook when the PGA Tour heads to Warwick Hills.

Buick Open Odds – Thursday, July 28

Tiger Woods is the favorite at +150, and he’s won this event two times, once in 2002 and again in 2006. He has a remarkable seven top-10s in eight trips to Warwick Hills, and if things weren’t bad enough for the field, Woods will be angry as he’s coming off just the second missed cut in a major of his career at the British Open. It should be a romp for the world’s No.1….if he can keep his shaky driver in the fairway.

Jim Furyk poses the biggest threat to the Tiger Show, as he comes in with golf odds of +1200. Furyk won this event in 2003, and players like Furyk and last year’s winner, Kenny Perry (who isn’t in the field) are showing that you don’t need to bomb it 300 yards off the tee to be successful. Furyk’s made the cut in 13 of 15 starts in 2008, and he’s made the top 10 in seven of those 13 outings.

Scott Verplank is usually somewhere on Sunday at the Buick Open with eight top-25 finishes in nine years. He is another golfer that relies on accuracy rather than distance, and his eighth-place result at the Canadian Open was his third consecutive finish in the top 10. The veteran has odds of +2800, and his consistency makes him a favorite of those who make sports picks.

If you’re looking for a risk before you head to your sports betting software, Woody Austin would be a solid choice at +3300 despite missing the cut in his last two starts. Austin has six top-10s in 14 Buick Opens, including runner-up finishes in the last two years here. If he’s going to get hot, this will be the place.

So those are the guys that you should go with if you’re feeling risky on the sports wagering tip, but we’re sticking with the safe bet, Tiger Woods. The world’s No.1 has all the motivation in the world, and this will be the first of three straight tournaments for him. Also, Buick is lifting their sponsorship of this event after 32 years and Woods, an ex-Buick pitchman, would love to put on a show. Make Tiger Woods your sports betting choice this week.


Filed Under: Golf, Sports Betting Tagged With: Buick Open, Golf, Jim Furyk, Scott Verplank, tiger woods

So, Where Will Brett Favre End Up Signing Midseason?

July 29, 2009 By 6 Comments
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handicapping possibilities for where brett favre will sign midseason in 2009: vikings, packers, texas, panthers, jaguarsThat’s right: no if; no and; no but. Just a simple, declarative question: where will Brett Favre end up signing and playing midseason?

Yesterday, Brett Favre announced publicly what the Vikings have apparently known for a little over a week now. According to 1310 The Ticket in Dallas while I was driving in this morning, Favre told the Vikings ten days ago that he was having severe second thoughts about a return, at which point Vikings coaches and key players put the “full court press” on him in an effort to convince him to reconsider.

How’s that for confidence in Sagevaris Jacksonfels!?

But alas, Favre decided that the daily grind was too much for him. So after another offseason of constant Favre speculation, we head into the 2009 season with no Brett Favre, no John Madden, and complete confidence in the fact that at least one of them will actually stay retired.

As I said when he retired, we’ll miss you John Madden.

As for Favre? Well, I don’t think you can blame any NFL observer for not being 100% sure that #4 is actually hanging up the cleats for good. Perhaps if he’d given an emphatic, no-wiggle-room, fist-pounding “I’m done, that’s it, it’s over” we could all move on (or not). But of course he didn’t. Here is what Favre said to ESPN’s Ed Werder:

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre said. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans.”

…

“I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons,” Favre said. “They were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you’ve got to finish it off.’ But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I’m 39 with a lot of sacks to my name.” [Editor's note: But does this one really count?]

It is telling that in the same post in which he relayed the quotes above, that PFT’s Mike Florio actually spends more time speculating about the very real possibility — because it is Brett Favre after all — that this will end up being just another retirement false start:

So what’s next for Favre?  If/when another high-profile quarterback blows out an ACL, like Tom Brady did in Week One of the 2008 season, things could get interesting.

The later it happens in the year, the more interesting it’ll would be, given that with each passing week the grind that Favre would face over the balance of the year will shrink.

Things could get even more interesting if the guy who goes down for the year is named “Aaron Rodgers.”

And if it happens in December, with the Packers in the hunt for the NFC North title.  

And lest you think such speculation is all hogwash and tomfoolery, there is this, also courtesy of my favorite NFL site:

Favre told Mariucci that he was retired, but he’s going to keep throwing and continue to work out.  (NFL Network’s Scott Hanson relayed the news on television and his Twitter account.)  

When Mariucci asked how Favre would feel about his decision Wednesday morning, Favre reportedly said, “I’m wondering that myself.”

Oh, and then there is this, just posted a few minutes ago for those of you who feel like stepping even further into the speculation and rumor mill churn:

Amid mounting evidence that Brett Favre is interested in playing football if he can find a way to shorten the season as it applies to him, there are some in the Vikings organization who are convinced that Favre will attempt to join the team after the first two weeks of training camp.

But surely Brett Favre, the simple country boy with the faded Wranglers and the tractor, wouldn’t make a public declaration with the intention of gaining leverage for his own future means, right? No, surely not.

So can we all at least agree that the only thing we really know after Favre’s announcement yesterday is that he isn’t reporting to the Vikings today? Because, honestly and realistically, that’s all we know. And if you think any differently, my only question is where the hell have you been for the last five or so NFL offseasons?

Thus, I will now attempt to do what some may call a waste of time but what most NFL fans (at least those who are not totally sick of the Favre saga) will understand is a very worthwhile endeavor: attempt to handicap where Brett Favre will end up signing midseason.

Think about it:

  • Favre had the necessary arm surgery and every report has indicated that he’s throwing well.
  • It is well documented that he’s not a big fan of training camp, and as a 40-year old QB he is too old to go through the rigors of an entire NFL season.
  • The Vikings and Favre have to realize that a QB his age has never played a full season and led a team to a Super Bowl title. And that is the only goal for both in this entire flirtation. Is it possible that both are sandbagging so that Favre can come in fresh near midseason, have enough gas to play well down the stretch (like he did through the first half of last season), but avoid at least some of the internal and external scrutiny of Favre not being at camp and/or as committed to non-gameday stuff as the rest of the team?

Seriously, think long and hard about that last one. Favre’s friend and old offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is running the Vikings offense. And Favre is an improvisor and someone who is notorious for doing his own thing on the field anyway. Would it really require that much preparation for him to be able to provide more value and spark at the QB position than Sagevaris Jacksonfels? Besides, he’d have a great running game and a great D to lean on while he worked out some rust over a few games.

That is why the handicapping for where Favre will end up signing midseason begins, and nearly ends, with the Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings – 2:1

First, take a look at the Vikings schedule:

  • Week 4: vs Green Bay
  • Week 5: @ St. Louis
  • Week 6: vs Baltimore
  • Week 7: @ Pittsburgh
  • Week 8: @ Green Bay
  • Week 9: BYE
  • Week 10: vs Detroit
  • Week 11: vs Seattle
  • Week 12: vs Chicago
  • Week 13: @ Arizona
  • Week 14: vs Cincinnati
  • Week 15: @ Carolina
  • Week 16: @ Chicago
  • Week 17: vs New York Giants

If he comes back during the Vikings’ bye week, for instance, Favre achieves all of the following:

  • Misses all of the training camp and the preseason while he continues throwing and building up his arm strength.
  • Keeps his body fresh and would only have to play a maximum of 12 games, if the Vikings were a Wild Card team and ultimately made a four-game Super Bowl run.
  • He would avoid the toughest two-game stretch of defenses the Vikings face this season: Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
  • He would come back for three straight home games against teams whose defenses were porous last year: Detroit, Seattle, and Chicago.
  • MOST IMPORTANTLY: He would avoid having to play Green Bay. I know that people have said part of his reasoning for coming back would be to stick it to the Packers, but I really don’t think Favre wanted to play in Lambeau wearing purple. He may be selfish and self-obsessed, but he appreciates the support of Packers fans. Even though he’s not fond of Ted Thompson or Mike McCarthy, I can’t see him actually enjoying being a visitor in Lambeau. This is purely speculation on my part, but I can’t imagine I’m that far off base.

Honestly, if I were the Vikings and Favre, and seriously considering a one-year marriage in the hopes that it would lead to a fruitful postseason, I think this scenario is actually far more advantageous than Favre trying to make a go of it from the beginning. He’s too old and would break down like he did last year. In this scenario, however, Favre achieves everything I laid out above while the Vikings get the first eight weeks of the season to see if Sagevaris can actually lead the team competently. And we pretty much know how that will turn out.

If the Vikings are 6-2 or 7-1, maybe the Favre flirtation ends. If they’re 4-4 or 5-3, they can bring in a fresh Favre to give their season a shot in the arm. Their second half schedule is not all that tough — hell, Sagevaris might even be able to get them into the playoffs down the stretch — but I think we can confidently say that Sagevaris is not winning playoff games against good teams. A fresh Favre, however, very well could.

The more I get into this, the more it all makes sense.

Green Bay Packers – 7:2

It is important to note before delving into this one that Favre, quite obviously, would only be an option if Aaron Rodgers were to get hurt. But every season we see teams lose their starting QB to injury, so it’s not like Rodgers going down is out of the question. Where would the Packers turn if they did lose Rodgers? Their current backups are second-year guys Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm, neither of whom have taken a meaningful NFL snap. Where’s the Majik Man when you need him?

The reality of this season for Green Bay, however, is that they have to win. After making it within minutes of the Super Bowl two years ago with Favre, the Packers fell flat on their faces last year despite strong stats from Rodgers. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy will always be known as the guys who chose Aaron Rodgers over Brett Favre (regardless of Favre’s culpability in the whole ordeal), and that is a primary reason why fan patience will be limited.

handicapping possibilities for where brett favre will sign midseason in 2009: vikings, packers, texas, panthers, jaguars

And as big an ego as Favre has, and as much as he loves reveling in the fawning of his adoring fans, how could he possibly turn down the opportunity to run onto Lambeau field, donning his old #4, to perhaps the greatest fan ovation in the history of sports? I realize that he has beef with Thompson and McCarthy, but Favre loves him some him and would love the love that would be showered down upon him if he came galloping in on a white horse to save the Packers season.

Because this one is contingent on an injury, and on Thompson swallowing his own massive pride and ego, the odds have to be lower than Favre playing for the Vikings; but if Rodgers ends up going down, the odds become a hell of a lot closer.

The rest of these are all pretty unlikely, but in the Not For Long NFL coaches and GMs will make desperate decisions to save seasons…and their jobs. For Favre to play for a team other than the Vikings or Packers, the following criteria all have to be in place:

  • Teams whose fans and ownership expect to win now.
  • Teams with enough talent to be legitimate playoff contenders, otherwise Favre wouldn’t bother.
  • Coaches/GMs on the hot seat who might be compelled to make a desperate move if their teams struggle out of the gate.
  • Teams without young, high draft choice QBs waiting in the wings behind the starter.
  • Note: I realize that there are salary cap implications too, because Favre would not come back and play for nothing. Here is an old post at AskTheCommish.com from January detailing each team’s salary cap situation at that time. These numbers will obviously be different now, but it’s at least a gauge of what could be possible.

Houston Texans – 25:1

Obviously if Matt Schaub stays healthy, this one isn’t happening. But if he gets hurt…as he always does…the Texans only have Dan Orlovsky and some dude named Alex Brink as backups. Houston has been a “team on the rise” for a couple of years now, and both ownership and the fan base are itching for potential to be turned into playoff appearances. With Indy and Jacksonville both appearing more vulnerable than usual this year, another 8-8 close call might not be enough to save Gary Kubiak’s job. And you have to think that Favre would be enticed by the possibility of throwing to Andre Johnson, one of the best WRs in the NFL. Houston also has lots of cap space to be able to throw a bunch of $$$ Favre’s way for a partial season.

Carolina Panthers – 25:1

Jake Delhomme is coming off one of the worst playoff performances by a QB in NFL history. John Fox is also feeling a little bit of heat after the team flamed out at home against Arizona last year and has been inconsistent since their Super Bowl run. This is a team that still has a lot of talent, but one that always seems to fall a little bit short when expectations are high. Sitting behind Delhomme currently are Josh McNown and Matt Moore, neither of whom are looked at as QBs of the future.

What happens if Delhomme struggles out of the gate? He’s pretty much used up all of the goodwill he built in leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl earlier this decade. Delhomme also is not the most durable QB, having played only 41 games over the past three seasons (he missed time in 2006 and 2007).

After a strong regular season last year, the Panthers expect to win. They also have a very strong running game, plus Steve Smith to throw to, which would have to be enticing for Favre.

Jacksonville Jaguars – 45:1

The Jags were awful last year and Jack Del Rio is feeling the heat. Plus, one of the main reasons Jacksonville struggled (in addition to all of the O-Line injuries) was inconsistency at the QB position. After signing David Garrard to a big contract, the team expected more out of its field general. Make no mistake: this is Garrard’s team, and he would have to get hurt to be benched (or be REALLY awful), but all Jacksonville has behind him are Cleo Lemon and Paul Smith.

But you know the Jags can smell blood with all of the turnover in Indy, and this is still a team that has some solid players on defense and the explosive MJD in the backfield.  Plus, Jack Del Rio has proven that he’s not afraid to make bold decisions at the QB position, which is why Garrard is the starter now in the first place. If Garrard goes down, or sucks badly, Del Rio and the Jags won’t be able to just sit back and endure another losing season with terrible attendance…especially in this economy.

I’m not sure if Favre would really consider Jacksonville a Super Bowl contender, especially in the AFC, but if the Jags get off to a decent start and he’s really itching to play, then I think you have to at least consider this one within the realm of possibility no matter how unlikely.

Washington Redskins – 100:1

They don’t have much cap space and have a guy in Jason Campbell that everyone in the organization wants to succeed. Plus, Todd Collins proved to be a capable backup in case Campbell is ineffective or gets hurt. There honestly is no logical reason why the Redskins would even be in any Favre sweepstakes, except for one fact: Daniel Snyder runs his team like a fantasy football owner…and he’s desperate to win. With an enticing possibility like Favre out there on the “waiver wire” you cannot discount even something as head-scratching as this would be. It’s the longest shot for a reason, but look me in the eye right now and tell me that you’d be that shocked if it happened.

Ultimately, here is what I think:

  • Brett Favre broke down around midseason last year and understands that his body can’t take a full NFL season with training camp, preseason games, and a 16-game schedule. Plus, he hates everything but gameday. So he’s not coming back right now this very second.

    • handicapping possibilities for where brett favre will sign midseason in 2009: vikings, packers, texas, panthers, jaguars

  • However, Favre has worked this offseason to get into playing shape, and still loves Sundays…and will miss them even more once the season starts and he’s twiddling his thumbs on his tractor. He’s even reportedly stated that he’s going to keep throwing.
  • If the right situation comes along midseason, he won’t be able to say no: to Sundays; to the chance for one last run at Elway-like glory; to the money; and to the attention that another comeback would bring him.

If you told me right now that I had to bet my entire savings account (despite it’s miniscule size) on whether Favre will come back at some point this season or not, I would bet that he does. For now, we can enjoy a momentary reprieve from the constant Favre speculation…but the speculation is not over, because Favre does not want it — or his NFL career — to be over.

He just wants to come back his way and on his terms.

Truth be told, it is probably much more prudent for the old graybeard to do it this way. He does not want a repeat of his late-season flameout from 2008, nor does whatever team he plays for. I say he still ends up with the Vikings at some point this season. Now we just have to wait and see.

Update: Just caught this in Peter King’s latest column:

There’s no sense in asking the question about whether this is it for Favre. He said he was finished 17 months ago in Green Bay, and he insisted he was finished five months ago after leaving the Jets. Even he knows his gut feeling can’t be trusted right now.

“Very unlikely,” he said. “I really believe this is it. I truly, truly believe it’s over. But if someone calls Nov. 1, who knows?”

That’s the maddening part of Favre, and the part that makes fans hate his waffling. The fact that he’ll keep throwing the ball at Oak Grove (Miss.) High, just down the street from his home, and continue working out is going to fan the flames that he’s not done. He knows that. “I’ll toss the ball around, but I ain’t tossing it to keep in shape to play,” he said.

We’ll see.

What do you think?

Will Brett Favre end up playing in 2009?

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* – Brett Favre throwing photo credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis via the Washington Post

* – Brett Favre in Lambeau photo credit: Sun-Times blogs

* – Brett Favre out of focus photo credit: Rick Chapman photography


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: brett favre, Brett Favre Packers, Brett Favre Vikings, football, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, NFL

Chicago Bears Almost Escape Offseason Without Injury; Back Surgery for Charles Tillman

July 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Charles Tillman - Chicago Bears - injuryThe Bears almost got out of the offseason with no major injuries. Until now. Charles Tillman has had back surgery to remove a disc fragment. Tillman is prone to back problems, as it has sidelined him before in previous years.

The main concern is will he be able to play the opener? The Bears management believes so. Injury in the defensive backfield for the Bears is not new. Mike Brown has missed most of the past 4 seasons, with Achilles, calf, and Lisfranc injuries.

What could hurt the Bears is if Tillman does miss some of the first few games, especially when they play Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Those two teams have very good passing quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger. These dangerous quarterbacks could throw all over the Bears, just like last year, without the right leadership in the secondary.

The Bears passing defense wasn’t all that great last year to begin with, even with a healthy Tillman. They ranked 30th out of 32 teams in passing defense. An injury like this, if it is prolonged or nagging, could be devastating to the Bears defense. With the possibility of Mike Brown getting injured also, as he has every year since 2004, and the possibility of Tillman missing a few games, the Bears playoff chances could be hindered by a limping set of DBs.

But Tillman missing games is still unsure. He could be totally fine by the time the season starts. We will just have to wait and see.

Injuries are what every team wants to avoid, but you can never avoid it completely during any season. The key is to have your team ready to play without the injured player. New guys need to step up and take charge when a leader gets injured.

With Jay Cutler now taking the reins, the Bears have a chance to compete in the NFC. Defense will still be key though, just like it always has been. They need to stay away from major injuries, get a lot of wins, and hopefully get a second chance this decade at the Super Bowl.

* – Charles Tillman photo credit: Suzy Allman for The New York Times


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears, football, jay cutler, mike brown, NFL

Breaking News: After Reveling in Another Offseason of Attention, Brett Favre Decides to Retire

July 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Just caught on the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (via the good folks at Deadspin) that Brett Favre has reportedly told Vikings coach Brad Childress that he will stay retired. And we know this because Brad Childress says so.

An excerpt from the article:

Brett Favre won’t be joining the Vikings.

Vikings coach Brad Childress told the Star Tribune late this afternoon that the quarterback informed the team he has decided to remain retired. Childress cited the daily grind both mentally and physically as part of the reason why Favre remained retired.

“I just think it was a rare opportunity to explore a Hall of Fame quarterback who had background in the NFC and in this division,” Childress said. “He knows our system inside out … This doesn’t change anything about how I feel about our football team.”

Could this really, possibly be the last we hear of 40-year old Brett Favre? Surely not.

We’ll see though. There is still an entire season for him to be sitting on his tractor wishing he was playing again. At least for this year and maybe even next year, any time a QB gets injured Ed Werder will surely be scurrying to Hattiesburg to see what Favre is thinking and how he is feeling.

I have to admit, I was kind of hoping he’d come back and play, just for the sheer drama and theater of it all…especially on the two weekends when he’d be going up against the Packers. Even the most jaded Favre hater would have to admit that those games would be intriguing.

If this is it (and we’ll have to couch statements about Favre retiring with “if” until the end of time it seems) then congrats to Brett on a great career. Somehow, some way, I’m sure we’ll all find a way to survive without he and Madden.


Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: Brad Childress, brett favre, Brett Favre retiring, Brett Favre Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

LOTD: More Losers in Wrigleyville – Northwestern Hoping to Schedule Football Game at Wrigley Field

July 28, 2009 By 2 Comments
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That’s right, you read the headline correctly. Two organizations defined by their tradition of perpetual sucking losing are in talks to merge their “lovable” losing together. 

Apparently Northwestern is attempting to schedule a football game or two at Wrigley Field during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Naturally, the proposed opponent for the game appears to be the Illinois Fighting Illini and their water-skiiing maniac of a coach Ron Zook.

Zook Eyes Game at Wrigley Field – (ESPN Chicago)

Zook, appearing on the “Waddle and Silvy” show on ESPN 1000 on Monday morning, said he would love the chance for the two Big Ten rivals to square off in the “Friendly Confines.”

“Well, to be honest with you, we were there last night and walking around with the people there and I just think it would be an awesome venue,” Zook said. “Obviously, until just a couple years ago, there had been more NFL games played in that stadium than any other stadium, and there hasn’t been a game played there since 1970.

“And can you imagine the national media? I think it would be great to have that opportunity. I’m probably speaking out of turn, the higher-ups make the decisions, obviously.”

Playing a football game at Wrigley would certainly not be unprecedented, as the Bears played there from the 1920s through the building of Solider Field in 1970. Additionally, Northern Illinois played Iowa at Wrigley Field back in 2007.

Northwestern Pushes for Football Game versus Illinois at Wrigley Field — (Chicago Tribune)

We are continuing a dialogue with Illinois,” Phillips said. “Within the next month or so, we’ll decide if it’s something that can work. There are a lot of moving parts, but it’s something I will pursue aggressively.



“I thought of how good the Northern Illinois-Iowa game was at Soldier Field. This may be the next great venue for a special game.”



As NIU’s athletic director at the time, Phillips was the point man for the Huskies-Iowa game, which sold out Soldier Field on Sept. 1, 2007. Iowa won 16-3, and Hawkeyes fans filled at least two-thirds of the 61,500 seats.

Northwestern-Illinois may play football game at Wrigley Field

Among the details still to be worked out (ALERT! Someone please notify the AP that I am about to link to them and send traffic their way…) for any Northwestern-Illinois game at Wrigley are the financial considerations and the logistics of turning Wrigley Field into a stadium where the home team actually wins venue fit for a college football game. One of the biggest questions is about player safety and about whether there is enough space behind the end zones and on the sidelines to ensure the well-being of the players.

We’ll see what happens with this one. All kidding and Cubs hatred aside, I think this would be a pretty damn cool thing for Northwestern, Illinois, the Big Ten, and sports fans in Chicago. Plus, no one would have to worry about Northwestern or Illinois winning a National Championship and spoiling the history of home team futility at Wrigley.

* – Football at Wrigley Field photo credit: Tribune File Photo

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Other links:


Filed Under: Big Ten Football, CFB, Featured Column Tagged With: Big Ten football, CFB, Illinois, links, Northwestern, ron zook, wrigley field

The Anchor’s Desk: Video of Garrett Jones-Delwyn Young Catch Proves MLB Needs Better Replay

July 28, 2009 By 1 Comment
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video of garrett jones-delwyn young catch, mlb replay policyMonday night in San Francisco, Delwyn Young and Pirates teammate Garrett Jones teamed up for an incredible play. The Giants’ Randy Winn flied to shallow right. The ball hit Jones in the leg, but he was able to kick it up in the air, allowing Young to lay out and make a bare hand snag. 

It truly was a  “did you see that” moment! 

Unfortunately, the umpires didn’t see it.

They ruled the ball hit the ground.

If you haven’t seen the replay yet, here it is below, found via Detroit4Lyfe.com. (The play happens at the 0:23 mark.)

Video: Incredible Catch by Delwyn Young off Garret Jones’ Leg

What’s that? A replay?  Oh yeah, something we have at our disposal but are ignoring.  Why are we not using replay again?

Too bad for the Pirates duo.  The catch of the year. The blooper of the year. The “oh wait, there’s no instant replay so it’s just another cool play” of the year.  Damn.  This “highlight to end all highlights” lost some luster just because baseball wants to dip its toes in the replay pool before jumping all the way in.

Currently baseball uses replay to verify home run calls. Plus, it’s up to the umpires to check.  On the other end of the replay spectrum is the NFL, the new American pastime. The NFL uses every camera angle available on all sorts of calls. Just get it right, that’s what counts.

Baseball is already too long, you say?  How about we go halfway.  Don’t add any replay unless a red flag is thrown. Yeah that’s right, a flag. Minnesota skipper Rod Gardenhire wants to borrow a page from the NFL rulebook and give each manager a challenge flag.

Works for me.  If we had that in place, maybe the Pirates would have had their one moment in the sun this year (they of course lost the game by the way). Fans just want the call right.

Please comment on the current baseball replay system below.

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Scott Reister is a featured contributor to Midwest Sports Fans.  He is a Sports Anchor for the NBC affiliate in the Tri-Cities and Spokane, WA. To learn more about Scott, visit the Scott Reister bio page on Midwest Sports Fans or check out the Local Sports page on KNDU.com.

To contact Scott: sreister@hotmail.com


Filed Under: Anchor's Desk, Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: MLB, scott reister, The Anchor's Desk, video

Video: Mark Buehrle Does Top 10 List on David Letterman Show

July 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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A few days after completing the first perfect in the Majors in a half decade, Chicago White Sox lefty ace Mark Buehrle joined David Letterman to deliver last night’s Top 10 List. Watch the video below (found via a link at today’s Hot Clicks), or just skip straight to the list, which I’ve painstakingly taken the liberty of transcribing for you after the video.

And congrats to Josh Fields and Dewayne Wise for their cameo. If you blink you might miss it, but it’s nice to see the two unsung heros of Buehrle’s effort get the credit they deserve.

Video: Mark Buehrle Does David Letterman Show Top 10 List

And here is the list in case you’re at work and can’t watch:

video - mark buehrle letterman top 10 list

Top 10 Things Going Through Mark Buehrle’s Mind While Throwing His Perfect Game:

10. I did it! I did! Oh wait, it’s only the 4th inning.
9. If this doesn’t get Kate Hudson to notice me, nothing will.
8. Too bad I’m not on my own fantasy team.
7. My brother-in-law bowled a perfect game. (then laughs)
6. We’re going to Disney World (with Josh Fields and Dewayne Wise)…and I’m running for the governor of Alaska.
5. Did I remember to TiVo “So You Think You Can Dance.”
4. I’m leaving after the 7th inning to beat the traffic.
3. Should I shave my back?
2. Sunflower seed…lodged in my windpipe…get help!
1. Maybe I’ll give up one hit so I don’t have to appear on Letterman.


Filed Under: Featured Column Tagged With: David Letterman, dewayne wise, josh fields, mark buehrle, mark buehrle perfect game, Top 10 List, video
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