MSF Podcast: Rick Telander Can’t Help You Read (Clowns) and Curses the Blank Screen Like the Rest of Us

July 7, 2009 By 7 Comments
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If you just want to listen to the podcast and skip my mumbo-jumbo below, here is the link. Click it to play with your browser audio player or right-click and download the mp3. (And don’t worry, it’s free, for those of you have asked.)

Update: The Midwest Sports Fans podcast is now available via iTunes.

Rick Telander - Chicago Sun-TimesOn Monday afternoon I had the great pleasure of conducting the first ever Midwest Sports Fans podcast, and I could not have been more excited to be joined by a guy I grew up reading and watching: Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times. With almost 40 years in sports media, plus a successful college football career and 8 books on his resume, Rick’s diverse knowledge, experience, and perspective on a wide range of sports is nearly unparalleled by anyone else in his profession.

And contrary to what Bo Schembechler or anyone else might say, Rick is decidedly not a loser. You don’t write a seminal book about the issues plaguing major college athletics, one that was years ahead of its time, if you are a loser. You also don’t write Barack Obama’s (and many others’) favorite book about basketball, “Heaven is a Playground”, which is preparing to be re-released to celebrate its 35th anniversary, if you are a loser. And, of course, you don’t make the eminently wise choice of the White Sox having a better shot at the 2009 playoffs than the Cubs if you are loser.

Rick has always been a guy who has galvanized strong reactions on both sides of his opinions because he is not afraid to speak his mind. He certainly did not disappoint during our wide-ranging conversation in which he tackled the following subjects:

  • His unnecessarily controversial (and apparently widely unread) post in which he dared to mention Ryan Theriot’s name in the same sentence as steroids. (He takes nothing back, by the way.)
  • His thoughts on bloggers, the proliferation of blogs as a relevant and powerful source of information, and the effect this has had on the newspaper industry.
  • Journalism, and why it is not close to being dead even if newspapers may be.
  • How the picture to the right shows just how many similarities there arRick Telander - Midwest Sports Fans podcast interviewe between bloggers and mainstream writers, all of whom must face the intimidation of the blank screen in their quest for quality.
  • His book “The Hundred Yard Lie” and its relevance two decades later.
  • The ups and downs of the White Sox and Cubs and the roles that Ozzie Guillen and Lou Piniella play in their respective clubhouses.
  • His astute prediction (highlighted by a beautiful Hawk Harrelson interlude courtesy of KVB) on which Chicago baseball team has a better chance at making the playoffs.
  • The enormous expectations being placed on new Bears QB Jay Cutler.
  • The “gift from God” that was his experience immersing himself in New York City basketball to write “Heaven is a Playground” 35 years ago.
  • The genesis and current status of his love affair with music and his band Del Crustaceans.

A few quick highlights:

On the reaction to his article about Ryan Theriot:

“If you are in a tainted game, there is something to be said for that. If you want be in a bar, there’s a chance you might be drunk. And that’s what baseball is, and when I spoke to Theriot about this after a lot of people misread the story, which they love to do, and started screaming all over “Rick Telander says Ryan Theriot’s using steroids,” well, come on clowns, I can’t help you read. And if you don’t get nuance, and satire, and you can’t pick out the truth in between all that stuff, well then I can’t help you. But when I did talk to Theriot, even he understood what was going on.”

On whether there is a difference in what topics are fair game between mainstream media writers who have access and bloggers who do not:

“The truth is the truth, and in this country, we write opinions, and if we can no longer write opinions, because, say, for instance, you and I interview Obama’s cabinet, so therefore if you haven’t talked to him, you can’t have an opinion about our President? Well that leads to chaos and other nonsense. On the other hand, I think we do need to be careful and we do need to realize we are dealing with human beings.

And so I didn’t catch all that much flak because, quite honestly, not too many people want to go head-to-head with me in a debate, because I’ll annihilate them and I don’t care who they are. Not many people have been writing about sports in this country for 38 years and have been to five Olympics on three different continents and countless World Series and Super Bowls and NCAA Championships and Masters and the British Open. So if they want to come at me, they better come at me with all their ammo, and they’re not going to have enough.”

In response to a quite by WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg that “journalism is not dead; newspapers are dead.”

“I would say kudos to him for understanding that, and that is absolutely true. If you can’t tell the difference between somebody writing a limerick on a bathroom door, and the poems of Emily Dickinson, well, there is no difference between journalism and just crap. But quality will win out, and true information will win out, and art, and craft. The things beyond just slanderous stuff will rise to the top; I think he’s absolutely right.”

On whether the issues he discussed in “The Hundred Yard Lie” have improved in the 20 years since the book was published:

“They’ve gotten more technological and more devious, but I guarantee you they haven’t gotten better…

…

And ESPN and the other TV networks and the NCAA and the coaches and the boosters, they just keep pushing it and pushing it and pushing it. I just can’t even write about it anymore because it’s that essential thing: people say, “We can’t pay the athletes!” and I say, “Well, why?”

That is just a small taste, and hopefully you’ll take a listen to what was certainly an entertaining discussion to take part in and one that I think you’ll all find interesting and insightful. Once again, here is the link to listen to the podcast:

We don’t have it set up on iTunes yet, but we’ll be getting it there soon. Our goal is to start bringing you a new podcast every couple of weeks starting out, and then gradually make it a weekly or even twice-weekly feature here on the site. Your comments, good or bad, are appreciated as we tweak the podcasMidwest Sports Fans podcast hosted by Jerod Morrist to make them as enjoyable, compelling, and listener-friendly as possible.

I also need to give three huge shout outs.

First, to Cody Dunlap of our sister site Dallas Sports Fans for helping me transcribe the excerpts.

Second, to our very own KVB who edited the raw audio together and ingeniously added the Hawk Harrelson sound bytes to the White Sox discussion. He also made the incredible logo that you see pictured to the right, featuring my pasty whiteness, which keeps in mind an adage that is always true: cut-out heads with no necks are hilarious.

And third, a shout out to another of our very own, Nick Gerlach, whose band The Twin Cats (and their face-melting funk) provided the soothing, melodic saxophone tones you hear in the intro. Song credit:

Photo credits:

And finally, I will send you off with the YouTube video that Rick and I discuss at the end of the podcast. It features Rick’s band Del Crustaceans, and their guest soloist Bill Murray, rocking it out to “Hang On Sloopy.” Enjoy:


Filed Under: CFB, Featured Column, Podcast Tagged With: bloggers, Bo Schembechler, chicago cubs, Chicago White Sox, Heaven Is a Playground, jay cutler, journalism, lou piniella, mainstream media, Midwest Sports Fans podcast, ozzie guillen, Podcast, Rick Telander, Ryan Theriot, The Hundred Yard Lie

My Personal Tribute to the Complex Life and Incredible Legacy of Michael Jackson

July 7, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Michael Jackson - Billie JeanTonight, the world will pay its public tribute to the greatest individual entertainer that has ever walked the Earth. I will be watching, as will millions (billions?) of others across the world, silently paying my last respects to a man who led a deeply flawed life but who, above all else, brought joy and happiness to more people than is even fathomable.

With a full work day still between now and Michael Jackson’s public memorial service tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, I will use my space here at MSF and my daily allotted time for blogging to pay my own personal tribute to my favorite musician of all time.

My apologies in advance to those of you who came here this morning hoping for sports talk, or those of you who may be sick and tired of all the Michael Jackson coverage over the past week and a half. As I drove in this morning, thinking as I always do about what to write, I couldn’t get the Gloved One out of my mind. I have wanted to write something ever since hearing of his passing, but never really considered any of my rapid fire thoughts to be coherent or complete enough to comprise a post. But the way I see it, considering the endless hours of musical friendship I have personally derived from Michael Jackson’s voluminous catalog of sublime songs and videos, I owe the man a public statement of my affection for his incredible career.

That is mainly what this is about: Michael’s career as a musician. Yet, it is impossible to separate the man from his music. And as we all know, discussing Michael Jackson the man is an extraordinarily complicated subject; but we’ll get to that in a bit.

The music is the primary reason why so many people were deeply saddened by the news of Michael’s passing last week. Millions upon millions of people who have never met Michael Jackson, many of whom (like me) who have never even seen him live, found themselves swept up in a maelstrom of melancholy in the aftermath of Michael’s untimely death. As Michael once poignantly sang about Ryan White: gone too soon.

Who could have imagined that Michael Jackson would sing his own eulogy a couple of decades before his own passing?

I have unquestionably been one of those people deeply saddened by Michael’s passing. The reason is that it feels somewhat like the death of an old friend. Granted, it’s a friend that you’ve fallen out of touch with over the years, a friend that you’ve struggled to watch deal with the realities of life and the world, but with all great friendships there was something there at one time that formed a bond. Michael Jackson, like perhaps no other musician ever, had the ability to form bonds with his fans. I don’t know how he would have answered the question, “how many friends do you have?” I suspect that it would have depended on his mood, but I am almost certain he would have greatly underestimated the number.

Michael Jackson had the unique ability and opportunity over some 40+ years making music to build friendships with perhaps more people than any other human being that has ever walked this earth. I challenge you to think long and hard about that statement before you cast it aside as hyperbole. Of course he did not build personal friendships will all of these people; they were friendships formed out of the bonds of music, but friendships nonetheless in my opinion.

Think about how many times you listened to Beat It or Thriller while driving in your car, gyrating around in your seat and belting out the lyrics at the top of your lungs. These are moments that friends share together.

Think about how often you may have been sad or down, and a song like Heal the World or Man in the Mirror lifted you up through the empathy and hope that emanated from every note that came from the singer’s magnificent voice. These are moments that friends share together.

Think about how many times you went out and ended up dancing the night away to songs like Billie Jean, Shake Your Body, and, in his later years, You Rock My World. These are moments that friends share together.

And think about how many times you just wanted to chill out, relax, and enjoy good company…and how many times that included songs like Remember the Time and Rock With You playing in the background. These are moments that friends share together.

As you might expect, I could go on and on. And I could go on for hours listing out all of my favorite Michael Jackson songs and telling you the specific memories associated with them.

I could talk about performing Billie Jean during karaoke night at the bowling alley the first time I hung out with all of my Delta Sigma Pi pledge brothers in college…and then how they always looked over at me for my goofy, uncoordinated version of the moonwalk every time the song came on after that.

I could talk about how every time I feel unsettled, or feel as if my personal choices are holding me back from something, I have thrown on Man in the Mirror and left the song feeling much more confident in my own ability to “make a change.”

I could talk about how I used to play basketball on my little Nerf hoop in the basement when I was younger, and how one day while doing so I stopped and watched the TV mesmerized the first time I saw the video for Black or White, especially the part at the end when the faces morph in and out. I remember thinking about it then, and in years since, how ironic it was that a man who was slowly morphing from black to white wrote a song discussing how it does not matter if you’re black or white; and how despite the irony, he was right.

The memories could go on for days. And I suppose that is my point. My most cherished friends are the ones with whom I’ve shared the most memorable experiences. I can go months, even years in some cases, without talking to these friends, but when we do talk or see eachother those old wonderful memories always come back. And in the best of those friendships, the bonds of those memories are the catalysts for new ones.

That’s how I view Michael Jackson.Michael Jackson - 1993 molestation charges

I still remember the day it all changed with Michael Jackson. It was that sad, bizarre day in 1993 when he went on TV to proclaim his innocence against the first child molestation charges that were brought against him. He looked paler than I’d ever seen him, and his face even seemed to have changed shape from what I most recently remembered. He began describing what he had gone through, including having his nude body investigated and photographed by cops, and, being 11 or 12 at the time, I didn’t know what to think. Here was a guy that looked nothing like the guy on the cover of the Thriller album, and even less like the little kid fronting the Jackson 5, which I was obsessed with listening to at the time, courtesy of my mom. This same guy who I’d heard about doing so many great things for kids was now being investigated for molesting one. Michael Jackson? It just didn’t compute or make sense.

And sadly, it was a precursor to so many other things in his life after that that would not compute or make sense.

We all know what happened thereafter. Michael settled out of court and the charges have since become widely viewed as a ploy from the accusing family to make money. This was not the end of Michael’s legal troubles, however, as he also stood trial for child molestation just a few years ago. This time the scene was even more bizarre, with Michael showing up one day in pajama pants and appearing as frail and weak as I’d ever seen him. Based on what we know about Michael’s two-decades long struggle with painkillers, it would not surprise me to find out that he was high as a kite that day.

Michael was acquitted of the most charges as well, but I think questions about his guilt or innocence still linger in most peoples’ mind. They do even in my own, and no one has wanted to see the “good” in Michael Jackson over the years more than me. But at some point his life and personality reached a level of absurdity where anything become possible.

And I think this is where a lot of debates about Michael Jackson begin. Many people, including a very good friend of mine who I talked about this with recently, claim to have zero sympathy for Michael Jackson. He has achieved such success, made so much money, had so many opportunities, people like my friend say, that empathy and sympathy are unnecessary. He led a tragic life? So be it. He is a man and made his own choices, and why should he deserve any more sympathy than someone else who led a tragic life but did not have 1/100,000th of Michael Jackson’s fame, money, or fortune?

I can see a point in that, to a certain extent. But I also believe that a man who has given so much to so many deserves special consideration. Yes, Michael Jackson had a ridiculous desire to be the best at everything, to make as much money as possible, and he spent it like nobody’s business. But he also gave so much of it away, and so much of his motivation to be successful was to have the opportunity to give back. Think about all of the people who were sick or dying and were touched either personally, or indirectly through his money and music, by Michael Jackson. Think about all of the people across the world who had frowns on their face one minute, and then 30 seconds later were smiling because of a Michael Jackson song.

Getting back to a point from earlier, perhaps the most ironic thing of all about “Black or White” is that there really is nothing black or white about Michael Jackson. So much of his life and legacy will forever live in the gray area, in the world of “yeah, buts.” And while I will always celebrate and cherish Michael Jackson’s career and music for its excellence, I will always look at him — especially in his later years, but even before that — as a sad and sympathetic figure who did undoubtedly lead a tragic life.

Michael Jackson has always seemed bigger than life. Shoot, forget “seemed.” He has always been bigger than life. And while his prodigious talents, diverse life experiences, and magnificent accomplishments make him different from any other person in the history of the world, his struggles to cope with it all make him very, very ordinary.

The abuse Michael suffered as a child, at the hands of his father Joe, has been well documented. And it is easy and legitimate, as it is with so many of us, to trace many of Michael Jackson’s emotional issues to his childhood experiences. Yet, and here is where the gray area comes in again, would Michael ever have become the “King of Pop” without his father’s drive in those early days? I would not argue with you if you called Joe Jackson a heartless, opportunistic scumbag who used his children as pawns in his own personal quest to live out his unrequited dreams of musical stardom. But would his sons have become “The Jackson 5″ without his vision? Would the Jackson family have gotten out of Gary, Indiana and been able to live the life of fortune and opportunity they’ve lived without Joe’s dogged determination and discipline?

Perhaps Michael’s prodigious musical gifts, and those of his brothers, were so great that he and they would have become superstars no matter what. I doubt it though. But might they, especially Michael, have been happier otherwise? Who knows. These are questions that people who read about the Jackson family, like I have, wonder about all the time. And they define the gray area that I believe Michael lived in throughout his life, and that I think contributed to the demons and eccentricities that have made him both the “King of Pop” and the “King of Punchline.”

Would Michael have so easily succumbed to drug addiction had he been happier and more settled on the inside? Who knows. Drug addiction is so prevalent in our society and spans every socio-economic class imaginable that there really is not predictor for it. What I do know, as someone who has personally dealt with the struggles of addiction on a far, far less nefarious scale (nicotine), and who comes from a family that has dealt with addictions similar to Michael’s, is that his addictions and his demons do not make him a bad person. I believe he was an amazingly benevolent and generous person with an enormous heart, just one who was saddled with demons he could not outrun. I will never remove personal responsibility from any discussion of addiction, nor do I want to come across as too strong of an MJ apologist, but at the end of day I do empathize and sympathize with his struggles. And I’ve always tried to understand him before I’ve judged him.

Considering all he’s given to me, I’ve always felt a sense of obligation to do so. My feelings about his life are much more complicated and nuanced now than they were back when I was kid, but just like I’d never give up on a family member or friend who was struggling, I’ve always found it impossible to give up on Michael. Sadly and tragically, I get the sense that he may have, over the years, somewhat given up on himself. Maybe not consciously, and certainly not willingly, but at the end of the day he could never find the help, the solace, the panacea that would allow him to live in peace.

The totality of his life is what makes Michael Jackson one of the most fascinating figures we’ve ever seen. And for those of you who cannot understand the outpouring of love and support and coverage that Michael Jackson’s death has galvanized, that is why. He was a truly unique individual in almost every way. In many ways good, and in many ways not so good (especially for himself). The one request I would make, at the behest of Michael himself, comes right out of one of his songs:

Before you judge me, try hard to love me, look within your heart then ask.

If, after doing so, you still do not care, or cannot empathize, or cannot understand, so be it. But do understand that for so many of us, Michael Jackson is woven into the fabric of our lives like waves in an ocean. True, many of us have been fondly remembering the Michael we all knew from the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, but we are mourning the man. And while the man who passed away in 2009 bore little resemblance to the one we all became friends with and admirers of back in the day, he was still Michael Jackson. No, he never fought in a war, And no, he never cured disease. And no, he never brokered world peace. And yes, in the grand scheme of things, there are issues in the world more important than Michael Jackson. But I defy you to find someone who was not a religious leader of some sort who inspired more joy, smiles, and happiness across the globe than Michael Jackson.

That is absolutely worth celebrating, and the tragic passing of the man responsible is absolutely worth mourning.Michael Jackson from his Jackson 5 days

Fans like myself always looked at Michael Jackson as some sort of superhuman force of nature, a man of this world but not really. And the truth is that this is an image Michael tried to cultivate over the years as a way to receive as much love and adoration as he could. But while he could scale any musical mountain out there, he had Mount Everests in his own life, like we all do, that proved to be a daily challenge. Ultimately, sadly, Michael’s unscalable personal mountains led to him passing way before his time.

As he said, gone too soon, but only after packing 1,000 lifetimes of musical and humanitarian achievement into one short but scintillating 50-year life on this Earth, and with a legacy that will live in perpetuity. Michael Jackson will be missed, and more importantly, he will be eternally loved by so many. I doubt it, but I hope he realized that before he took his final breaths.

Rest in peace Michael. Thank you for giving your life to entertain and enlighten ours.

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I will leave you with my two favorite Michael Jackson performances ever, both of the same song, my favorite of his: Billie Jean.

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* – Michael Jackson when he was young photo credit: Musical Stew Daily

* – Michael Jackson screenshot from 1993 TV conference photo credit: MTV

* – Michael Jackson Billie Jean photo credit: VerboseComa.com


Filed Under: Admin Comments, Featured Column Tagged With: Billie Jean, Heal the World, King of Pop, Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson Memorial

Andy Roddick Earns Respect, Pride of Tennis Nation Despite Wimbledon Loss to Roger Federer

July 6, 2009 By 6 Comments
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Andy Roddick Loses Wimbledon Final to Roger FedererRoger Federer might have won the match but Andy Roddick won the heart of the people.

Roddick put his heart and soul into Sunday’s Wimbledon final only to come so close. The 30 game 5th set was the longest in Wimbledon history, and one of the greatest sets ever played in tennis.

The 4-and-a-half hour match might have beaten last year’s Nadal and Federer final match as the greatest tennis match ever played. Even though the match was long, both players did not look at all tired near the end.  Roddick was still hitting his serve in the 130s, and Federer was still moving around the court with ease.

While it’s nice to see Federer win and break Sampras’s record for most grand slam wins, Roddick is the real winner. After thinking of leaving tennis after last year’s Wimbledon, Roddick hired a new coach, went on a new diet, and it all paid off. He is in the greatest shape of his life, and it has led him to play his greatest tennis. You could see how much he really wanted it. It was heartbreaking to see him lose after his greatest service game. The only time he was broken was in the 30 game in the 5th set, which was also the match-winning break.

While Roddick did have a chance to go up two sets to none, he shouldn’t kill himself over that. He has earned so much respect from tennis fans and observers everywhere. He can now be said to be a top contender in any Grand Slam. A lot of people questioned whether he could win another Grand Slam, and he has proven he can.  The match that went on yesterday will not be forgotten soon, and even though Federer holds the actual trophy, Roddick holds the real trophy: the feeling that he can win another one and play with the best.

Roddick always leaves his heart on the court. The standing oviation was a very nice award, and showed that the spectators highly respected Roddick. Roddick lost to Federer three times now in the WImbledon final, but this year he won more than he lost. Even though it didn’t end up like he wanted it to, Roddick still holds his head high, waiting for the next time.

He said one day his name will be on the wall that shows all the players who won the tournament, and that he will be back. Roddick might have lost but to me he won. He showed his heart today, and that’s all fans can ask for. Sure, I would have loved to see him win, but he won in a different way. Roddick should be happy to be able to play tennis in front of people that love him. We will love him no matter what the outcome. Let this be a lesson to all athletes: people respect you when you put your whole soul into a match.

Andy Roddick, you should be glad.  You have our respect and pride.

[Editor's Note: This article was originally published by MSF contributor Tyler Juranovich at PlayerPress.com and has been republished here at the author's request.]

* Andy Roddick photo credit: AndyRoddick.com


Filed Under: Tennis Tagged With: Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Tennis, wimbledon

To the Chagrin of Indians Fans, Eric Wedge Has Support of Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro

July 5, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Eric Wedge, Indians staff are safe according to GM Mark ShapiroApparently, Cleveland Indians GM Mark Shapiro is no admirer of President Harry S. Truman. That is, when it comes to results and accountability, the “buck (does not) stop here,” as in, with the man at the top.

It was reported Sunday that, despite a team that was a pennant contender in April having the AL’s worst record most of May, June and July, manager Eric Wedge will serve out his term the rest of 2009, and perhaps beyond.

“As I’ve said all along, the responsibility for the disappointments of this season don’t rest on one person,” Shapiro said. “The responsibility is spread equally throughout the players, the front office, Eric and his staff.”

Really? In most jobs, or in politics, the man at the top is rewarded or punished for the company’s or his administration’s successes or failures. In sports, it is often the same, especially in baseball. But apparently, not on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Who knew?

On the surface, sure, the team has been doomed since mid-April after they lost eight of their first nine games, so why bring in an interim skipper at mid-season?

On the other hand, why not? It might spark the team, help them avoid an embarrassing 100 loss season, and maybe that interim manager might stick, as they occasionally do?

In fact, many Indians’ fans believe Joel Skinner, who took over for Charlie Manuel when the current Philly manager was fired seven years ago this week, deserved the job over Wedge, who took over at the outset of the 2003 season.

It’s easy to argue that Wedge’s hire was a mistake at this point. He had a great team built for him to contend for years after the bad 2002-2004 stretch, and has just a .500 record to show for it, one playoff appearance (2007) and three very disappointing seasons (2006, 2008 & 2009.)

Shapiro, disagrees, and has cashed in 2009:

“I thought it was important for the second half to remove a potential distraction that exists from that speculation,” he said.

He then spoke in clichés:

“This is not a vote of confidence, nothing has changed,” said Shapiro. “I have the ability to be decisive about this right now. I want to eliminate distractions and make sure there is accountability.”

Sure, Mark.

Actions speak louder the words.

And what a shame for a city desperate for a winner.

**********

In other non-Indians news…

I should add that, while we all know all-star selections are silly, if Ryan Howard made the NL reserves, so should Adam Dunn or Mark Reynolds, who have better statistics with about 10% of the talent around them.

This is not opinion, but fact. It’s laughable only because it was predictable.

ESPN was so confident and biased toward Ryan that earlier this week they were talking to him about how many ticket requests he had, not about whether or not he deserved to be chosen.

* – Mark Shapiro / Eric Wedge photo credit: AP via MLB.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: Adam Dunn, cleveland indians, Eric Wedge, Mark Shapiro, MLB

Chicago Bears Wide Receivers Not Given Enough Credit

July 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Bears 2009 WR - Devin Hester, Matt Forte, Greg Olson, Desmond Clark, Juaquin IglesiasMore than not I see a lot of comments saying that Jay Cutler has no one to throw to. This really makes me angry. Yes, the Bears don’t have a lights out receiver, but their receivers aren’t that terrible.

The Bears’ first string WR is Devin Hester, a return man turned WR. At first I didn’t agree with the change, but now that the Bears have committed him to at the WR position, Hester has shown a lot of improvment. He is a big threat downfield, and even more now because he has a QB that can hit him farther down the field.

The Bears also have one of the greatest route-running and receiving tight ends in the game today. Greg Olsen has produced great numbers throughout his tenure with the Bears. He has 7 career TDs and his receptions increase every year. He was a great pick in the 2007 draft and his numbers will only improve.

Matt Forte is one of the great all-around running backs in the game. He can run, catch, and block. What a gem from the 2nd round. His catching abilities are one of his greatest assests. He can be counted on to get that extra yard or block that blitzing corner back. Forte is one of the best athlete in the league.

And how can we forget Desmond Clark? He might not produce amazing numbers, but he can be counted on every time his number is called. He is also a great blocking tight end. Clark is the veteran every team should have.

Rookie WR Juaqin Iglesias will need a few years to transition to the NFL, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make an impact this year. He is a sure-handed WR who can run routes very well. Look for him to be a sleeper, as soon as this season.

So I don’t want to hear how the Bears don’t have any good receivers. The offense is a great one that can produce touchdowns. The defense, in fact, needs to be tweaked more than the offense. I am glad Lovie is back to calling the plays and with all of the potential that this team possesses, It seems like it will be an interesting Chicago Bears season in 2009.

BEAR DOWN!!!

* – Devin Hester/Matt Forte photo credit: Paul Sancya / Associated Press via NFL.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Chicago Bears, Desmond Clark, devin hester, Greg Olsen, Juaquin Iglesias, matt forte, NFL, wide receivers

Carlos Quentin Set to Begin Charlotte Rehab Assignment, Podsednik Continues to Own Greinke

July 4, 2009 By 2 Comments
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Carlos Quentin Begins Rehab Assignment in CharlotteThe Chicago White Sox, currently in the midst of their hottest stretch of the season, are one step closer to get their best all-around player back in the lineup. Mr. Porcelain (but also Mr. 2008 Should-Have-Been AL MVP) Carlos Quentin is in Charlotte and set to play for the Knights tonight as he recovers from plantar fasciitis. According to the Sun-Times, TCQ is set to play three innings today.

It is unfortunately important to note that just because Quentin will be taking swings in Charlotte, it is not automatic that his foot will hold up:

The 2008 MVP candidate has been on the shelf with plantar fasciitis in his left foot since May 26. He said two weeks ago that even if the tendon in the foot holds up the rest of the season, he might have surgery after the season.

If it doesn’t hold up?

”We’re aware that if a relapse happens where the tendon ruptures even more, well, that’s major,” Quentin said.

Guillen and the organization want to make sure that Quentin gets to the end of this season without any setbacks. Then they can make a decision on the next step.

”We’ll see what happens,” Guillen said. ”I’m very optimistic about his improvement. But in the meanwhile, I have to see it first, then I’ll get excited.”

Still, for White Sox fans (and especially this one, who banked a lot of pride on Quentin’s eventual healthy return) today is a positive sign. Hopefully the reports from Charlotte will be as good as the reports were from Kansas City yesterday.

The White Sox had one of their most impressive wins of the season against Zack Greinke and the fading Scott Podsednik - White SoxRoyals last night, a 5-0 shutout. A few performances in particular stood out:

  • Scott Podsednik (the 2009 AL MVP? That’s not as ridiculous as it sounds…) went 3-4 with 2 runs and a double and continues to be a stalwart atop the White Sox order. He also continued his impressive and surprising dominance of Zack Greinke. Look at this numbers: 16-30 (.533 BA), 5 2B, 1 3B, 1.342 OPS. Wow.
  • AJ Pierzynski continued his hot hitting by going 3-4 with a home run and evening his average up at .300 for the season.
  • John Danks captured his 7th win of the season, pitching 7 1/3 shutout innings and striking out 5 while giving up only 5 hits and, most importantly, walking no one. Danks now has a 2.70 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP lifetime in 7 starts against the Royals.

Today, Gavin Floyd looks to continue his hot pitching and lead the White Sox to their 8th straight victory of the year. He will be opposed by Luke Hochevar. The White Sox are currently only 2.5 games out of first place with Minnesota and Detroit beating up on eachother this weekend. Either way, a victory for the White Sox will see them get closer to Detroit or put more distance between 2nd and 3rd place. And if Carlos Quentin has a successful first step in Charlotte, even better.

It’s not too greedy to ask for a double-dose of good news on July 4th is it? Let’s see some fireworks White Sox, and a safe, comfortable, healthy return to the field for Carlos Quentensity. (I like this name a lot better than Mr. Pocelain…)


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: AJ Pierzynski, carlos quentin, Chicago White Sox, john danks, Kansas City Royals, ozzie guillen, Scott Podsednik, Zack Greinke

MLB Betting – AL Weekend Rundown

July 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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MLB Betting - AL Weekend RoundupMLB betting: Jays Try To Keep Up With Streaking Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays will make the trip to New York this weekend for a four-game set. The Jays started off the season guns a blazing but have cooled off since. They find themselves in fourth place in the division with a minimal chance of winning it, and we just hit July.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have been the exact opposite. They are as strong as they’ve been in the win column this year and they’ll look to keep on building on it.

They’ll have a couple of hurdles this weekend as both Roy Halladay and Ricky Romero will pitch for the Jays.

MLB betting: Tigers, Twins Square Off Square Off At Metrodome

The Detroit Tigers hold a three-game lead in the American League Central but that lead could shrink to nothing by the end of the weekend.

The Tigers have slowed a little bit as the calendar has flipped to July. While Magglio Ordonez is trying to regain his power (went 150 at-bats in between home runs), the lineup seems to be in flux as manager Jim Leyland is moving batters up and down.

The Twins entire starting rotation is on fire right now from Kevin Slowey, to Nick Blackburn, to Scott Baker, which is more bad news for the Tigers bats. Look for the Twins to take advantage and gain some ground on the weekend. The sportsbook odds makers should have them favored throughout the weekend.

MLB Betting: Last-Place A’s Meet Last-Place Indians

A few years ago, sports picks on this series would handicapping a matchup of two playoff contenders. Not nowadays as both teams are a combined 64-93.

The A’s are usually a scrappy bunch but injuries have taken a big bite out of their production. They have put 12 players on the disabled list already this season and they simply don’t have the depth to compete when it gets that’s bad.

The season hasn’t been much brighter for the Indians who have lost five straight and are just 2-8 in their last 10 games. The Indians are having problems scoring runs, especially with Travis Hafner’s pop disappearing over the last two seasons.

The Indians are off a sweep at the hands of the White Sox and have been outscored 38-13 in their last five games. I’m betting management wasn’t expecting that with a lineup consisting of Grady Sizemore, Victor Martinez and the aforementioned Hafner.


Filed Under: MLB, Sports Betting Tagged With: cleveland indians, Detroit Tigers, minnesota twins, mlb betting, new york yankees, Oakland A's, Sports Betting, Toronto Blue Jays

The Trainer’s Room: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

July 2, 2009 By 7 Comments
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plantar fasciitis symptoms | plantar fasciitis treatment | treatment for plantar fasciitis | plantar fasciitis diagnosis(The Trainer’s Room is a regular column at Midwest Sports Fans by Denver chiropractors Dr. Niall McNally and Dr. Ihsan Erhuy, the pain and rehabilitation experts at the Mountain View Pain Center in Denver, CO.

All treatment options provided in this article should not be taken as specific advice, but rather as a general guide regarding what is typically done to treat the injury being described.

You should always consult your doctor before beginning any pain management or rehab program.)

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Plantar Fasciitiscarlos quentin - plantar fasciitis treatment and recovery

After the recent foot injury suffered by Carlos Quentin, the White Sox’s left fielder, we have come to the topic of plantar fasciitis. Last year’s homerun leader for the White Sox was placed on the 15 day DL on May 29th for pain in the sole of the foot. Plantar fasciitis, one of the most common causes of heel pain, can keep a player sidelined for weeks, and if not properly treated will become a chronic issue. This injury is common in football, basketball, soccer, and running. This type of injury will inhibit a player’s ability to sprint.

Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms and Mechanism of Injury

Someone who suffers from plantar fasciitis usually experiences pain localized to the bottom of the foot on the inside of the heel. In an acute injury the patient may be unable to place weight on the foot due to the intense pain. With chronic plantar fasciitis the first few steps every morning will be painful, as well as any pushing off with the foot, including jumping.

plantar fasciitis symptoms - Denver

Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms (image courtesy of Medline Plus)

The injury is usually a tear of the plantar fascia closest to the heel that causes an area of irritation or a lump to form on the inside of the heel. The plantar fascia is there to help attach the muscles to the bottom of the foot, provide protection to the plantar nerves and vessels, provide shock absorption, and create equal transmission to the biomechanical forces placed upon the foot. With an injury or inflammation to this area any movement that requires a push off of the toes will cause pain.

The injury itself comes from a muscular imbalance in the lower leg, ankle, and foot. The imbalance comes from a weak tibialis anterior (the muscle on the front of your shin) and plantar fascia, as well as a spastic or tight solues and gastrocnemius (the muscles of the calf). This imbalance causes increased tension on the Achilles tendon, which pulls on the plantar fascia causing the stretching and tearing of the muscle. As the micro tears set into the muscle, the pain will develop in the area. If the tears and chronic stretching of the plantar fascia are not treated then the area will become increasingly weakened. In many cases, an athlete will hear or feel a pop in the bottom of the foot followed by intense pain and swelling. This is from the tearing of the fascia.

Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosis

Here are some self tests you can do to determine if you might have plantar fasciitis:

  1. Pain on the inside (medial) portion of the calcaneus.
  2. Pain during the first few steps in the morning.
  3. Localized swelling on the bottom of the foot, or along the plantar fascia.
  4. Standing on the toes causes either a band like pain on the bottom of the foot, or increases the pain symptoms near the calcaneus.
  5. Pain on the bottom of the foot when pushing of with the toe. Ex. sprinting or jumping

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it is a good indication that you might have plantar fasciitis. In order to prevent further injury and pain, this would be a good time to consult your physician and discuss your potential plantar fasciitis diagnosis.

Your doctor may take is an X-ray to rule out any underlying fracture, dislocation, or other abnormality. In about 50% of cases where there is a plantar fasciitis diagnosis, a heel spur can be seen on the X-ray. The spur is the body’s way of trying to protect itself. Over time with the chronic strain and stress on the area the body will begin to lay down calcium in the area for stabilization. Once the spur forms it is common to have pain directly over that area.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

The most commonly misapplied treatment of plantar fasciitis is to stretch and massage the area. As mentioned above the plantar fascia is already stretched and torn, which causes the pain.

treatment for plantar fasciitis in Denver
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis (image courtesy of Spectrum Wellness)

Common sense would tell us that if the fascia is already stretched and torn, that further stretching the area as part of a plantar fasciitis treatment plan would in fact cause more damage than good. When the injury first occurs, applying pressure to the area may actually cause some relief. The reason for this is the pressure on the inflamed, injured area will release endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers. The down side to the unfortunately common plantar fasciitis treatment approach of stretching and massaging is further damage to the injury and a higher probability of recurrent injuries. The stretched fascia is already depleted in oxygen. The increased pressure will further deprive the injured area of essential oxygen.

Plantar fasciitis responds very well to conservative care. If you notice any of these symptoms the best thing you can do is get plantar fasciitis treatment quickly. This condition can easily be resolved with the appropriate care. Many with plantar fasciitis think that they have to live with it, or they are one of the few that plantar fasciitis treatment will not help. This is simply not true. If you get on top of your plantar fasciitis treatment quickly, the pain will generally subside, and the incidence of chronic problems will greatly decrease.

There are several successful treatments for plantar fasciitis. We will now describe the treatments we have success with at Mountain View Pain Center.

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

First and foremost, after the initial injury you must get ice on the area immediately. If you wait and try to “walk it off”, the foot will swell and become increasingly tender over the next few days, making even the simple task of walking a real problem. After you have followed the steps of PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation), get yourself to someone who deals with sports injuries for treatment. Making a trip to the emergency room for this will be an unnecessary and expensive trip. The treatment you receive there will be some sort of pain killer or shot to reduce the pain and swelling, then a referral to either a chiropractor, therapist, or sports medicine doctor.

At Mountain View Pain Center, when a patient first arrives with an acute injury of plantar fasciitis, we apply a therapy called Hi-volt to reduce pain and swelling to the area, and also wrap the foot with an ice pack during the therapy. The next step we take is to apply a taping method called Kinesio-tape across the bottom of the foot. This method we have found to be a integral part of our treatment program. As local doctors we have the opportunity to work with several sports teams and high school programs. When a player goes down from this injury we immediately apply the tape to the area not only for support to shorten the stretched and torn muscle, but to also pump out the edema and in turn decrease pain and increase plantar fasciitis recovery time.

plantar fasciitis treatment in Denver

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment (Image courtesy of Mountain View Pain Center – Denver)

We instruct the patient to leave the tape on for 2-3 days to continue the support and reduction of edema while the patient is at home. This tape can get wet, so the patient can still shower or even apply topical ointment over the tape to help with some of the pain.

At Mountain View Pain Center we have found that within a few weeks the patient will be out of pain and can begin the rehabilitation portion of the plantar fasciitis treatment. As we have stated before, the main cause of plantar fasciitis is from a muscle imbalance in the lower leg. Stretching is still important. However, remember not to stretch what is already stretched.

Part of the imbalance is usually a tight gastrocnemius, so we stretch the calf and Achilles tendon. If you stretch the calf only then the real problem still may not be addressed and a re-occurrence of the plantar fasciitis will occur. You must also address the muscle weakness to correct the problem. You can do this by performing simple toe raises while sitting at your desk at work or while watching TV. Toe raises are not the same as calf raises. This does not mean standing on your toes. You keep your heels on the ground and raise the balls of your feet and your toes off the ground.

If there is a heel spur seen on X-ray, then we can apply some ultrasound to the area to break up some of the calcification. For our athletes who continue to train during treatment for plantar fasciitis, or who have some chronic bouts of plantar fasciitis, we apply the tape to support the area during their events.

Many athletes opt for a quick pain relief and go for a corticosteroid shot in the bottom of the foot. You must be careful here as getting the shot will decrease pain temporarily, but it does not repair the torn tissue or fix the problem. The pain you are feeling is your body’s defense mechanism to protect you from further injuring yourself. If you cannot feel the pain and go out running then you risk damaging the area further. Research has shown that repeated corticosteroid shots actually weaken tendons, damage nerves, and decrease the bone density to the area, which is recipe for disaster.

Supplements as Part of Plantar Fasciitis Recovery and Treatment

  • Inflammatone is a specific supplement that contains ginger, bosweilla, and other natural herbs that helps to decrease swelling and pain.
  • Vitamin C has been shown to help improve the healing process and decrease scar tissue formation.
  • Magnesium is another important supplement for plantar fasciitis as the magnesium helps absorb the calcium into the body and decrease the deposits into the heel(and elsewhere).

If you are interested in any of these supplements, please visit our website. Note: we are still updating the website, so the supplements may not be available immediately. If this is case, find our email address below or leave a comment and we’ll let you know how to get them.

This article contains the opinions and examples of treatment plans for plantar fasciitis from Mountain View Pain Center in Denver, CO, and is not intended as a substitute for specific medical advice from a doctor regarding your individual injury or condition. If you have any further questions or concerns feel free to contact our office or leave a comment below.

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The Trainer’s Room is written exclusively for Midwest Sports Fans by Denver chiropractors Dr. Niall McNally and Dr. Ihsan Erhuy of the Mountain View Pain Center in Denver, CO. You can contact them by leaving a comment below or sending an email to info@mountainviewpaincenter.com.

Dr. Niall McNally is certified in chiropractic neurology and has a strong background in sports iplantar fasciitis treatment Denvernjuries and in the rehabilitation of common nagging athletic problems. Dr. McNally also is trained in pediatrics, orthopedics, and nutrition.

He graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma and successfully completed his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at the Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, TX. A very active athlete, Dr. McNally played hockey up into the junior level. In fact, it was his love for hockey, and the Colorado Avalanche, that originally gave him the idea to one day practice sports medicine and chiropractics in the area.

plantar fasciitis treatment DenverDr. Ihsan Erhuy specializes in motor vehicle accident injures, back, neck, and extremity problems, as well as treating pregnant patients and children. He is certified in the Diversified, Gonstead, Thompson, Upper Cervical, Activator, Sacral Occipital, Applied Kinesiology, Soft Tissue techniques.

Originally from Adana, Turkey, Dr. Erhuy graduated from the University of Arizona and also susuccessfully completed his Doctor of Chiropractic degree, along with his bachelor of science in health and wellness, at the Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, TX.


Filed Under: Featured Column, The Trainer's Room Tagged With: carlos quentin, Mountain View Pain Center, plantar fasciitis, sports injuries, The Trainer's Room

40 Reasons Why The White Sox Are Going to the Playoffs in 2009

July 2, 2009 By 1 Comment
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chicago white sox logoOn Wednesday night the Chicago White Sox did something that they have only done one other time in 2009: complete a sweep. With a 6-2 victory over the hapless Cleveland Indians, led by another stellar outing from Jose Contreras, the much maligned White Sox of ’09 moved to 40-38, tied with the Minnesota Piranhas at 3.0 games behind the Detroit Tigers.

The White Sox only other sweep of the season came at the end of May when the Good Guys swept three on the road against the Kansas City Royals. And as KVB and I lament to eachother all of the time, the White Sox never seem to complete sweeps. It always seems like any time we take the first two or three games of a series there is a letdown in the final game. Either the regular lineup sleepwalks through the game, we get a terrible pitching performance, or Ozzie throws out one of his crazy lineups where Brian Anderson is hitting cleanup.

I’m exaggerating…but not by much.

Not yesterday though. Last night, the White Sox continued playing the solid brand of baseball that has propelled them to five straight wins and 12 wins in their last 17 games. Over that same time span, a fan base — and maybe even a team and an entire organization — has been reborn into one that expects, rather than hopes, to be playing baseball in October.

At least that’s how I feel. And hopefully the rest of the South Side is with me. (And if you’re not, I have a few words from Steve Perry I’d like to share with you. That’s right, I went there.)

Truthfully, what has transpired over the last couple of weeks has renewed my faith that the White Sox will ultimately come out on top in a very competitive AL Central. I have to admit that through the ups and downs of this season it has been hard to maintain that faith. Case in point: Ozzie saying that we are in trouble if we have to bring up Gordon Beckham…and then shortly thereafter Beckham gets brought up.

And yes, I realize that the majority of the recent success has come against the inferior National League (and then the even more inferior Indians), so I will grant you that the White Sox haven’t exactly been mowing down the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays; but, the Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, and Reds are all at least decent teams (especially LA, with our without Manny) so I don’t think you can simply chalk up the White Sox success to playing subpar competition.

No, there are many reasons why the White Sox are winning and the majority of them have to do with the players themselves and the better brand of baseball they are playing.

Will they make the playoffs? I’m not going to make any proclamations and jinx them. (Full disclosure: in preparation for this post I researched Jim Fassel’s infamous playoff guarantee when he was coaching the Giants and had planned on altering it for purposes of my own guarantee here. Then I thought the better of it.) But what seemed like a rather ridiculous conversation a few weeks ago is starting to look more and more realistic.

So in honor of the White Sox 40th victory of the season, and because it is my lucky number (in honor of my favorite basketball player of all-time), here are 40 reasons, in no particular order, why the White Sox have a great shot to win the AL Central and make a return trip to the playoffs in 2009.

1 — Ozzie Guillen. The SI players poll may suggest that other players don’t want to play for him, but his own players do. And they have proven it every year outside of that awful and anomalous 2007. As long as Ozzie is the skipper, I’ll always believe in the White Sox. Paws up.

Scott Podsednik - Chicago White Sox2 — We actually have a productive 1-2 punch at the top of the order! Most White Sox fans had forgotten what that feels like. 2005 hero Scotty Pods and Sexy Alexei have reminded us over the last 50 or so games. If Podsednik can come close to maintaining his .368 OBP, and if Alexei can continue to put his early season woes behind him (and improve upon his .398 SLG), the White Sox will have the run production and speed they need at the top of the lineup.

3 — We get THE Carlos Quentin back around the All Star Break. Remember him? Mr. Porcelain, but also the best player in the American League through the end of August last year? The White Sox offense has fortuitously been able to find its footing over the last month without him, but no one has forgotten how important Quentin is to the overall makeup of our team. Assuming Quentin can even be 80% of his normal self throughout the rest of the season, he will provide a huge presence that has been sorely lacking.

4 — Jose F*****g Contreras. I love this guy. He’s like a phoenix. Every time you think he’s finished he rises again to prove why he was such a hot commodity upon defecting here from Cuba. And there are few guys that I trust more in big spots than Contreras. He was AWFUL to start the year, but since heading down to the minors he has found his touch again and has given up only 9 runs over five starts that have covered a little over 37 innings.

5 — Mark Buehrle is Mark Buehrle. He’s not always pretty, and he’ll get knocked around every now and then, but the numbers are always there. This year he’s 7-2 with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He’s an ace. You have to have one to win division titles, and I’ll just say it: you’re wrong if you don’t think Mark Buehrle is an ace.

6 – Gavid Floyd has become the good Gavin again. Gavin’s season has followed an arc similar to Contreras’. He struggled mightily out of the gate, but look at his game log since May 22. Floyd has not gone less that six innings or given up more than three runs in any start. That’s eight quality starts in a row. Even more exciting is the fact that he hasn’t walked more than three batters in any of those starts either. This guy was the #4 overall pick in 2001 by the Phillies for a reason. We’ve seen why over the past 6 weeks.

7 – John Danks has become the good Danks again. Danks is another pitcher who had an up and down first 6 weeks of the season, but has turned it around. And he’s saved his best outings of the season for his two most important starts thus far: his two outings against the Cubs. Danks gave up one run over 14 innings against the Cubs. Yes, their offense sucks, but Danks has pitched four straight quality starts, going at least seven innings in all four, and the guy proved last year that he’s clutch.

8 – Is the quartet of Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks, and Jose Contreras reminding anyone over the last month or so of another White Sox pitching staff of recent vintage? Eating innings, throwing quality starts almost every time out, and stepping up big in key spots…sounds a lot like the 2005 staff to me. Buehrle and Contreras are the holdovers, but Floyd and Danks have been every bit as good as Garland and Garcia. And remember, neither El Duque or Brandon McCarthy was that great in the fifth spot during the regular season that year. If the pitching continues on its current trend, and we know they are capable, this is a World Series-quality staff.

9 – Gordon Beckham is here and he’s every bit as good as advertised. Yeah, the kid struggled out of the gate, but look at his last seven games: 12-21 with a HR and 6 RBI. We all love Josh Fields and wish he had taken ahold of the hot corner when he had his chance, but Beckham is the future. And he is proving that he just may be the present as well.

10 – Did I mention Carlos Quentin is coming back at the All Star Break?

11 – Aaron Poreda is with the big club now and has not given up a run in his first five innings of work out of the bullpen. He has six Ks and only one BB and has given up only four hits. The Rays received a jolt from their phemon pitcher David Price last year. Could Poreda fill a similar role for the White Sox? He’s certainly had an auspicious beginning.

12 – Bobby Jenks is still one of the best closers in the game, and is as battle tested as anyone not named Mariano Rivera or Jonathan Papelbon. The big man has 18 saves on the season and has 28 Ks in 28 innings this year, a drastic improvement upon his sharply declining K rate from last year. He may not have the same gas he had back in 2005, but he is a much better pitcher now. And he’s already proven his stones on the biggest stage.

13 – Still, there are rumors that the White Sox might trade Bobby Jenks before the trade deadline. I do not want to this happen, nor do I think it will now that we’ve reemerged as a legitimate contender. Closers with Bobby’s stuff, talent, moxie, and proven experience do not grow on trees; and it’s rare to see a team get far in October without one. Regardless, on the off chance that we do trade Jenks, we’ve got a great bullpen filled with guys I would have confidence in to take over the role. (But Kenny…if you’re listening…don’t trade Bobby!)

14 – Matt Thornton has had a few rougher outings of late, but is still holding opponents to a .214 average and has struck out 39 batters in 31.2 innings.

15 – Octavio Dotel is walking way too many guys (21 in 30.2 innings) but has 39 strikeouts of his own through 30.2 innings and has successful closing experience in his past.

16 – D.J. Carrasco has come into his own as a very valuable asset in the bullpen. He’s logged 48.2 innings in 26 games and has an ERA under 3.00. He has given up seven runs over his last six outings though, so he needs to get himself back on track. But, as a former starter, he has the arm strength to be a bullpen savior on days when we need one.

17 – Scott Linebrink has not been great this year, but still has an ERA of 2.17 and averages more than a K per inning. He is not closer material — Thornton or Dotel would pick up that slack if Jenks is moved — but he remains a solid option as a setup man.

18 – Regardless of whether or not Kenny trades Bobby (don’t do it!!!), each of those four guys plus Poreda gives the White Sox an outstanding bullpen that I’d put up against any in the league. Still, I think Kenny will hang onto a proven closing commodity like Jenks, so each of the bullpen guys will get to stay in the roles they have been successful in and form one of the most unsung units in all of baseball.

19 – Ken Williams. He has to be listed as a reason why the White Sox can (and will!) make the playoffs. As White Sox fans we may not agree with all of his moves, but we have to give him this: he never stops being proactive to improve our chances. And I think his gameplan entering this season was brilliant. He put together a vet-laden team with a few new additions that, if everything fell right, had a good chance to make the playoffs. But he also has been restocking the farm system to the point where we can all feel pretty secure that when the Buehrle-Konerko-Dye era ends, the White Sox will be okay.

20 – Let’s get back to the offense, because its resurgence is one of the main reasons why the White Sox have started playing better baseball. And the most important cog in the White Sox offensive machine is still Jermaine Dye. As usual, Jermaine is quietly putting up solid numbers (.294, 18 HR, 48 RBI) and providing a steadying and consistent presence in the middle of the lineup. This guy was a World Series MVP in 2005 and was damn close to being the league MVP in 2006. He’s not quite the same player now — age will do that to you — but he is still good enough to be the second best hitter on a team that makes a deep playoff run.

21 – Carlos Quentin, of course, will hopefully resume his role as the best hitter on the team when he returns. And did I mention that he’s coming back around the All Star Break? My apologies if I didn’t. Quentin is coming back around the All Star Break.Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko

22 – Paul Konerko, like Jermaine Dye, is having a solid season in the heart of the order (.290, 13 HR, 49 RBI). Like Dye, Konerko is not as ferocious as he once was, but is still good enough. And like Dye, Konerko has proven himself in clutch situations. I know that the combo of Dye and Konerko may not be all that sexy or exciting, but there is something to be said for battle-tested veterans who are team leaders and the essence of the term “professional hitters.” Paulie is still getting the job done both at the plate and in the field, as is JD.

23 – Chris Getz sometimes gets lost in the shuffle with all of the hullabaloo about Gordon Beckham, but Getz is providing something that our lineup has sorely lacked over the last couple of years: speed. He, Scotty Pods, and Alexei all have 11 or more stolen bases. Finally the White Sox have some people who can put a little pressure on other teams with the running game.

24 – AJ Pierzynski will never wow you with his stats, and he’ll do things that make you scratch your head sometimes (like his putrid ground out on the first pitch with the bases loaded at the end of one of our games last week), but he’s scrappy and he’s a winner. AJ comes through in the clutch more than often than not, and is underrated behind the plate (except for his arm, which can’t really be rated low enough). You need a good catcher to win, and the White Sox have one in AJ.

25 – The White Sox also seem to have found a backup catcher. Ramon Castro has blasted two home runs in 21 ABs since joining the team a couple weeks ago and is a guy who has always had monstrous power. Playing half of his games at The Cell with the weather warming up may be just the opportunity he needs to show that he can be a 25-30 HR guy someday. We’ll gladly take production anywhere close to that from our backup.

(BTW…all stats for the last six or seven of these have been taken from the White Sox hompage.)

26 – A couple of curses ended last year and we don’t have to worry about them anymore. The Jim Thome Curse and The Curse of the Douche Bag.

27 – Detroit has only three starters worth a crap (Verlander, E. Jackson, Porcello) and one of them is a 20-year old rookie (Porcello). Yes, Porcello has been very good this year, but how is his arm going to be holding up in September? He supposedly has a great makeup, but he’s never been through the pressure of a pennant race. If the Tigers cannot some more starting pitching, they are going to fall back even further to the pack.

28 – Curtis Granderson (.339 OBP, 18 HR, 13 SB) and Miguel Cabrera (.331 BA, 16 HR, 47 RBI) are really good, and Brandon Inge has certainly rebounded this year (18 HR, 52 RBI) from his subpar 2008, but what do the Tigers have after that? Magglio is on the sharp downside of his career and just is not supplying power anymore. Look at the other names that have chewed up the most ABs for Detroit this season: Placido Polanco, Gerald Laird, Adam Everett, Josh Anderson. Call me crazy, but I’ll take our offense for the rest of the season…especially once Quentin gets back.

29 – By the way, Quentin is coming back at The All Star Break.

30 – Minnesota is the Chicago’s other main competitor in the AL Central, and they have as many holes as Detroit. I do think that Minnesota’s pitching is better than what the numbers show (i.e. Baker’s 4.99 ERA and Slowey’s 4.41 ERA despite better peripherals) but this is a team that needed Francisco Liriano to be be an ace. Detroit has its ace in Justin Verlander and we have ours in Mark Buehrle. Who is it for the Twins? Baker and Slowey and very good #2-#3 starters, but the Twins do not have a guy who has proven he can take the ball and throw a gem in a big spot when the team needs it. Argue if you wish Twinkie fans, but that’s how I see it.

31 – Offensively, Minnesota has been surprisingly balanced this season. Look at the their team stats and tell me you aren’t surprised to see five guys with double-digit homers on the 2nd of July. In addition to the usual suspects (Mauer and Morneau), Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, and (*sob*) Joe Crede all have 11 or more dingers. Add in the speed of Denard Span and Carlos Gomez and the Twins have a more dynamic offense than usual that has been able to somewhat compensate for its struggling pitching. However, this is still a team that goes how Mauer and Morneau go, and you may be surprised to learn that both hit below their career averages against the White Sox. In 331 career ABs against Chicago, Morneau (a .284 lifetime hitter) hits only .275. He has a career OPS of .858 that drops to .840 when playing against Chicago. (For the record, his HR rate is almost identical.) As for Mauer, Mr. .400 blah blah blah, he is a .324 career hitter with an OPS of .881. Against the White Sox that drops to .313 and .858. Are Mauer and Morneau terrible against Chicago? No. Have they come up big at certain points against the White Sox in the past? Yes. But they sure as hell didn’t against John Danks in last year’s one-game playoff, and anytime you make those two hit worse than normal you have a great chance to beat Minnesota.

32 – Detroit and Chicago are big-market teams that will make moves at the deadline to improve their chances this year. Minnesota does not have the same luxury. That knocks the Twins down at least a peg in comparison to the Tigers and White Sox.

33 – Take a look at a quick comparison between the aces of the White Sox and the Tigers. In 15 career starts against Chicago, Justin Verlander is 3-9 with a 5.44 ERA. In 27 career starts against Detroit, Mark Buehrle is 14-8 with a 2.99 Mark Buehrle - Chicago White SoxERA and a 1.14 WHIP. And, for the record, Buehrle is 23-13 lifetime against the Twins. So Peter Gammons and all of the other baseball analysts can go into the bathroom with a moist towelette and a mental image of Verlander’s incredible “stuff”, but the fact of the matter is that he doesn’t get the job done against his division rival. The underrated Buehrle, of course, does. So, in review: Minnesota has no ace, the Tigers do but he sucks against Chicago, and the White Sox ace (who many people erroneously don’t consider to be an ace) dominates the two best teams in his division. HUGE advantage White Sox.

34 – The White Sox schedule in the second half of September sets up beautifully for a late charge to pull away from the pack. From September 21-27 the White Sox play the Twins and Tigers three times each, all of which are in Chicago. These six games are sandwiched between three at home against Kansas City and then three on the road at Cleveland to end the season. And there is actually a good chance Cleveland will have just called off the season by then, giving the White Sox a three-game sweep by forfeit.

35 – Since the White Sox have no more games against the Rangers, I most likely will not be able to see them play live for the rest of the regular season. This is good because I think the White Sox have a .200 winning percentage in games I’ve attended over the years. When KVB and I go together it’s even worse than that. (Be thankful that we never moved to Chicago and got season tickets.) If the Sox make the playoffs, however, and especially if they go deep, I may not be able to stay away. My apologies in advance.

36 – I know, I know…I’ve left someone out who deserves mention: Jim Thome. Now that the White Sox are back playing in AL parks, Thome has returned to the lineup. He is by no means the masher he was in Cleveland or Philly, but the guy is still a productive hitter (.402 OBP, 13 HR, 42 RBI) and a tremendous leader in the clubhouse. It took me a while, but I’ve fully embraced him as a true Good Guy and he is another one of our battle-tested veterans who heats up with the weather.

37 – Time to address the elephant in the room: defense. This is the White Sox biggest weakness. Currently, there are only five teams in baseball with more fielding errors than the White Sox. And no one has had worse defense at the hot corner than Chicago (17 errors, .922 fielding percentage). With Joe Crede gone and the combo of Josh Fields-Gordon Beckham over there, that is to be expected. But on the bright side, this has no place to go but up. And considering that Gordon Beckham has only been playing third base for about a month, his struggles were anticipated. Most seem to think that he is a good enough athlete to become very good defensively at third. As the season goes along, I think we’ll see his production in the field improve.

38 – Another area on defense where the White Sox have struggled is at shortstop, where Alexei Ramirez recently drew the ire of Ozzie Guillen for lackluster and unfocused play. I definitely see this improving. Alexei has all of the tools to be not just a good shortstop, but a great one. And there is no way Ozzie will allow that position to be a consistent weakness.

39 – Getting back to pitching because I forgot someone: Clayton Richard. On the season he is 3-1 with a 4.48 ERA in 22 games (10 starts). Immediately after stepping into the rotation when Bartolo Colon went on the DL, Clayton strung together three straight excellent starts. I then picked him up on my fantasy team and he hasn’t thrown a quality start since. White Sox fans will be happy to know that I’ve dropped him again, which means that he will likely turn things back around. All kidding aside, Richard is nothing more than a 5th starter right now, but he is adequate. And when Colon comes back to the rotation (if he even does), he gives the White Sox a veteran presence who is still capable of putting up halfway decent numbers. The point is that while the White Sox don’t have a world beater in the 5th slot of the rotation, the guys they are throwing out there aren’t horrible. And with the offense picking things up, we can win with Richard or Colon on the bump. And who knows, maybe Poreda steps in there at some point and provides Porcello-like production. Either way, this slot will not keep up from winning the Central.Carlos Quentin and Ozzie Guillen

40 – And finally, reason #40 why the White Sox can, should, and I think will win the AL Central: the return of Carlos Quentin. Am I putting a lot on his shoulders? Yes. Is there a chance he comes back and gets injured again? Yes. But is his presence in the lineup necessary for this team long-term in 2009? I believe it absolutely is. The White Sox are proving they can without TCQ, but when you get one of the best players in the AL back after an extended absence it cannot be anything but a boon to your chances. And Carlos will have the entire second half of the season to get his timing back. Perhaps this year will be a reverse of last year in that Quentin will save his best for September in 2009. We missed him in September last year, but still found a way to claw our way to a playoff berth. With Quentin in September this year, I think the White Sox have a good chance of heading into the playoffs with momentum and their best all-around player hitting on all cylinders.

Say what you will about the 40 reasons listed above, but one thing is certain: those who stuck a fork in the White Sox a few weeks back did so prematurely. For some reason, people always seem to underestimate the managerial and leadership ability of Ozzie Guillen and the heart, character, and talent in the White Sox clubhouse. The good thing is that the only people who matter (Kenny, Ozzie, and the team) never doubted. Over the last three weeks we have seen why, and White Sox fans have every reason to believe that a return trip to the playoffs is not only possible but, at least in my opinion, very probable.

So sit back, relax, and strap it down, and let’s all enjoy what should be a great three-team race for the 2009 AL Central crown…one that will be made all the more exciting when the White Sox end up repeating as champions.

* – Scott Podsednik photo credit: MouthPieceSports.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: alexei ramirez, bobby jenks, carlos quentin, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, gavin floyd, jermaine dye, joe mauer, john danks, Jose Contreras, Justin Morneau, Justin Verlander, mark buehrle, minnesota twins, ozzie guillen, paul konerko, Scott Podsednik

White Sox Complete Series Sweep of Indians with 6-2 Victory

July 1, 2009 By 1 Comment
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White Sox sweep Cleveland IndiansKudos for the lovely art work go to KVB, who was so pumped about the White Sox actually completing a sweep (only their second series sweep of the season) that he immediately jumped on Photoshop in the throes of unbridled White Sox optimism and excitement.

And even though the sweep was against the lowly Indians, perhaps the worst team in baseball right now, it was still very important for the White Sox. Tonight’s 6-2 victory put the White Sox two games over .500 for the first time in what seems like forever, and has them only three games back of Detroit in the Central, tied with Minnesota.

I’ll have more on this in the morning (in fact, I’ve already got a draft started) but this picture demanded immediate posting.

Well done White Sox! You can put it on the board…YEEESSS!


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: AL Central, baseball, Chicago White Sox, cleveland indians, MLB, ozzie guillen

PGA: AT&T National Preview – Betting Odds and Prediction

July 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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AT&T National Preview - Betting Odds and Prediction | ATT National LogoIf you follow golf betting, you officially know this weekend’s tournament as the AT&T National. Truthfully, though, we know it as “Tiger’s tournament.” Now in its third year at Congressional, it’s hosted by Mr. Woods himself and, after he missed last year’s tourney due to injury, he’ll be hungry to dethrone Anthony Kim. Let’s look at a few of the favorites to win.

TIGER WOODS
AT&T odds: +150

No surprise here, though I’d almost expect Tiger to offer better value than +150. Still, he leads the Tour in scoring average and he usually excels at courses on which driving distance is advantageous. The last two champs, Kim and K.J. Choi, were long hitters, so Tiger should contend, though he’ll have to start sticking more approach shots.

ANTHONY KIM
AT&T odds: +2200

The defending champion is slowly regaining last year’s form after spending much of this season as a bust. He has back-to-back top-20 finishes, his confidence should be high on his old stomping grounds and his peripherals set him up well for success. He’s a long enough hitter and a strong shot maker who converts birdies more frequently than almost everyone on Tour.

JIM FURYK
AT&T odds: +1600

Furyk’s definitely due, not having won a tournament since 2007. It’s hard not to like him this week. Not only has he finished third in this event two straight years, he’s 10th on Tour in proximity to hole – an important stat at this shotmaker’s tournament. He also has three top-10s in his last four starts, so he’s tough to ignore when you make your sports predictions.

HUNTER MAHAN
AT&T odds: +1800

He’s seriously heating up, with two straight top 10s, and he’s seventh on the Tour in ball striking. If he offered a bit better sportsbook value, he’d be a great pick, but he arguably hasn’t been good long enough to warrant being the No. 3 favorite.

ROBERT ALLENBY
AT&T odds: +3300

If you’re the type of bettor who uses sportsbook software to help you project winners, Robert Allenby will probably be your man. Fourth on Tour in ball striking? Check. Sixth place at the AT&T in 2007? Check. Third place last year, with four straight rounds in the 60s? Check. The stats are there for Allenby. He’s a great pick but he has plenty of competition.

PICK: Jim Furyk. He’s due, he has great history at this event, and the course caters to his strengths. I still think Tiger has some kinks to work out, so I like Furyk here.


Filed Under: Golf, Sports Betting Tagged With: Golf, PGA, tiger woods

Martin Havlat’s Career With Chicago Uncertain as Blackhawks Sign Marian Hossa

July 1, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Chicago Blackhawks sign Marian HossaThe Chicago Blackhawks have one more day to sign either forward Martin Havlat or Nikolai Khabibulin. Free agent signing started today at 11 a.m. If the Hawks are going to sign anybody it will most likely be Havlat. No disses to Khabibulin, but everyone is expecting the Hawks to let him go because of the $22.5 million contract that Huet has. I would love to see Khabibulan stay, but it just doesn’t seem too realistic right now. Even Havlat isn’t a sure thing. Dale Tallon has talked to both players’ agents, but there has been no luck.

Martin Havlat was voted team MVP and was the team leader in points both in the regular season and the playoffs. It would be a big disappointment if Havlat was not re-signed. Havlat has said that he only wants to be in Chicago, and sources say he wants a long-term contract — even if it means having to take a pay cut.

UPDATE (as I write this post!): According to Daren Dreger of TSN.ca, the Blackhawks have signed a multi-year deal with forward Marian Hossa. This news can only mean that Havlat will probably not return with the Hawks. According to TSN, it is a 12-year contract worth $5.2 million a season. This is a huge signing for the Hawks. They are adding some great firepower to their team. New information keeps on coming in as I type this. $53 million will be paid the first 7 years, and a little less than $9 million the last 5 years.Marian Hossa signed by Chicago Blackhawks

The Hawks keep on trying to improve, and with a signing like this, they are on right track to do just that. I really love what Dale Tallon and the other guys are doing with this Hawks team. I am already pumped for the next season. I am sad that Havlat might be going (though that has not yet been confirmed) but at the same time the Hawks have picked up a great forward in Marian Hossa. Hossa had 40 goals last year with the Red Wings.

The Hawks made it to the Western Conference Finals last season, only to be ousted by their rival the Red Wings. With added firepower the Hawks have a chance to hold the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1961. As a die-hard Hawks fan, I am really pleased how the organization is trying so hard to win. They are making great choices. I wish all Chicago teams had great organizations like the Hawks do. (Cubs).

*UDATE: The Hawks also signed Thomas Kopecky to a two year deal at $1.2 million each season.

* – Marian Hossa photo credit: 360Blog.org via Kings Kool-Aid


Filed Under: Featured Column, NHL Tagged With: Chicago Blackhawks, Marian Hossa, NHL

Albert Pujols and the List of Other Players I THINK (Hope) Are Clean

July 1, 2009 By 6 Comments
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So I just checked traffic to the site so far today. Decent, nothing spectacular, just a normal no-link-from-the-Philadelphia-Inquirer (or, excuse me, tweet from @HHReynolds) day here at MSF.

However, something caught my eye that has become a pretty noticable trend.

My stats show me the keyword searches that have driven search engine referrals to the site. I’ve noticed that every time Albert Pujols has a big game, searches involving his name and “steroids” spike. After another two-homer outburst by El Hombre yesterday, here are the search numbers so far today:Albert Pujols steroids

  • “albert pujols steroids” – 53
  • “pujols steroids” – 41
  • “pujols steroid” – 6
  • “is albert pujols on steroids” – 4

And to the right is a snapshot from my Google Analytics tracking since I wrote this post about Pujols on May 15th. These are all search terms and the number of individual visits that have come to Midwest Sports Fans as a result.

I guess some people are wondering about Albert Pujols and steroids, huh?

And keep in mind, at last check my post about Pujols was only #7 on the first page of Google results for “albert pujols steroids”…so the posts above mine are driving significantly more traffic from these types of searches than I am.

And lest you think that the aforementioned post was speculative regarding Pujols being on steroids, I assure you it was not. In fact, I went out of my way to state that Pujols is one of the few remaining guys left that I believe to be clean. There is always doubt — a fact that we’ve all been over ad nauseum in recent weeks — but Pujols gets more benefit of the doubt than anyone in my mind.

A quick excerpt from that post, which was written a few weeks before the now infamous Raul Ibanez post:

I’ve given up hope on most current and former baseball players and stopped giving the vast majority of them any benefit of the doubt. And I don’t blame myself for not being able to withstand the force of pessimism…I blame Major League Baseball and the greed and vanity of the players.

However, one of the few guys that I remain steadfast in defending is Albert Pujols.

…

In fact, I’m done referring to PED’s as performance-enhancing drugs. From now, I’m calling them Pujols Emulation Drugs. Albert Pujols is the standard by which all other major league baseball players should be held, both on and off the field. Anyone caught using PEDs, like Manny for instance, is clearly just trying to reach Pujols’ level. But that’s the greatness of Albert Pujols: he didn’t need to use PEDs to get where he is (good Lord I hope…I really do).

I could go into all of the SEO reasons why this post ended up on the first page for an “albert pujols steroids” search, but I don’t want to bore you. Mainly it’s because those terms are in the <title> tag and the content matches up. It wasn’t necesAlbert Pujols - homerunsarily my intention (not that I’m complaining, mind you) but I am glad that people searching for this information are finding that post.

Just as in the case of the Ibanez post, my discussion about Pujols was completely speculative, completely honest in terms of my thoughts and feelings, and highlighted a continuing problem in Major League Baseball that still requires addressing. The tone of the Pujols piece was more explicit in giving him the benefit of the doubt than the Ibanez article (something I’ve previously recognized as wishing I could do over) but I don’t really see a huge gulf of difference between them.

At the end of the day, Albert Pujols and Raul Ibanez sit atop my list of players that I believe in more than others. Everyone is playing with a cloud of suspicion right now, testing policy or not, and that’s just the reality. And while stories like ARod and Manny continue to frustrate me and many other baseball fans (though many have professed to just not caring anymore, which is fair…I’m just not there yet), I still try to focus more of my attention and appreciation on the guys who I think have always played the game the right way.

With that said, a list was recently published at the site RotoInfo that is supposedly the complete list of the 103 players who failed drug tests prior to the 2003 season. It is accompanied by the statement “Rumored steroid list (UNCONFIRMED)” and no other information is given but names. I find it absolutely amazing that my piece about Raul Ibanez — which accused no one — caused such a huge stir, while this list — which accuses 103 players specifically — has gone relatively under the radar in comparison. Again, I’m not complaining about the exposure generated by the Ibanez post, and I never have. The whole thing just still seems so random to me.

For the record, I don’t really have an opinion one way or the other about the RotoInfo list. I’ve seen other lists that have attempted to guess the identities of the 103 players and I simply lump this in with those. It’s just a speculative list — which I’m fine with — and there is no reason to consider it something more or less than any other list until we have some sort of confirmation. Tommy Craggs over at Deadspin wrote about the list yesterday and offers a more informed opinion about its potential validity than I can provide, as I am not all that familiar with the past work of RotoInfo.

However, after seeing the RotoInfo list and other lists like it, I figured I would try to flip the steroid speculation on its head and focus on the guys I think are clean, rather than waste time worrying about the guys I think may have cheated over the years. I will state again that I firmly believe every player is legitimately under suspicion; not necessarily that they are currently using, as I think testing has to have had a positive impact, but that they might have used in the past during the height of the PED era. With that said, there are guys that I believe in a lot more than others. So even though I’ve somewhat become an icon for negative steroid speculation (fair or not), allow me to tread for a few moments in the much less volatile and Rosenthalless ground of positive steroid speculation.

Here is my own personal speculative list of guys currently playing that I think have always been clean and still are (but that, granted, I still wouldn’t be totally shocked to learn dabbled in PEDs at some point during their careers).

Note: This list is not meant to be exhaustive. It only takes into account players who have played at a consistently above average level for a number of years and that I feel I could make a legitimate statistical and empirical case for in defending. Feel free to argue or add to the list in the comments:

  • Albert Pujols
  • Raul Ibanez (as said in the post linked above, after looking at even more statistical evidence that I’d originally neglected, I believe in his numbers much more than when I initially wrote the post.)
  • Mark Buehrle
  • Derek Jeter
  • Roy Halladay
  • Justin Morneau
  • David Wright
  • Grady Sizmore
  • Mariano Rivera
  • Joe Nathan
  • Johan Santana
  • Ichiro Suzuki
  • Jim Thome
  • C.C. Sabathia
  • Ken Griffey Jr.

If you want to know how I arrived at this list, here you go: I clicked on each of the rosters in my fantasy league and went down the list, just going with my gut reaction. I tried to stick with more veteran guys who were around during the early parts of this decade. There were plenty of guys that “almost made it” (although I won’t name them so I don’t get accused of implicitly accusing them) but the guys above are the ones that I didn’t hesitate to add.

I suppose there are two ways to look at this list. I was actually surprised to find that many guys that I feel relatively comfortable with, but it still looks pretty paltry in comparison to the total number of MLB players. The list is only about half a roster’s worth of players. Congratulations once again Major League Baseball. The rotten fruits of your greed never cease to find new and exciting ways to manifest themselves.

Bringing things full circle, Albert Pujols does, in my mind, stand out as the “last great hope” of baseball fans who want to see records held by guys we believe in. I still consider Roger Maris to be the single-season home run king and I still consider Hank Aaron (my favorite player as a kid, even though he was retired) to be all-time home run king. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, etc., etc.; these guys are not worthy of such lofty status. If Albert Pujols ever achieves one or both of those marks, I believe he will be worthy.

(Good Lord I hope…I really do.)

* – Albert Pujols photo credit: AlbertPujolsFanClub.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: albert pujols, arod, baseball, MLB, PEDs, Raul Ibanez, steroids

The Amazing Albert Pujols Continues Assault on Record Book with 30th HR of 2009

July 1, 2009 By 4 Comments
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Albert Pujols Hits 30th Home RunLast night in Saint Louis, Albert Pujols become the first major league player to hit at least 30 homeruns in each of his first nine seasons. He now has 349 for his incredible 21st century career.

Later this week or early next, he will hit his 352nd homerun, which will allow him to pass Ralph Kiner for the most long balls in the first nine years of one’s career. For reference, Alex Rodriguez hit fewer than 300 his first nine big league seasons.

While A-Rod, steroid issues aside, will now be very hard-pressed to pass Barry Bonds and become the all-time homerun king (Alex, approaching his 34th birthday, hit #565 last night) Pujols, statistically, has a valid shot.

You don’t have to do much math to figure, if the Cards’ first basemen ends 2009 with roughly 380, he is halfway to Barry, and Albert does not turn 30 until January of next year. Averaging just 40 for the next five seasons will give him close to 600 before age 35, when non-drug users generally slow down.

Can he hit another 170 or so from age 35 on? That is the question. (Barry Bonds hit about 350 after age 35, for what it’s worth; while Ken Griffey Jr has only hit 119 due to injuries)

With alleged and confessed steroid use in MLB tainting many HR records in the eyes of fans and media, Pujols, assuming he’s clean (the czars are already doing drug tests on him regularly, which he’s passing), is the Great Hope for baseball fans everywhere.

[Editor's Update: Even more amazing is the fact that Pujols is doing all of this with very little protection in the Cardinals lineup, as discussed earlier today by our good friend Moon Dog in his article Albert Pujols Should Vote His Teammates Off the Island.]


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB Tagged With: albert pujols, arod, MLB, St. Louis Cardinals

Jay Mariotti and the Sports Blogosphere Continue to be BFFs

July 1, 2009 By 2 Comments
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Jay Mariotti - writer for FanHouseAs many of you know, I love Jay Mariotti and I greatly respect his work as a meticulous and humble conduit between sports fans and the sports that he so diligently covers.

(waiting…)

(waiting…)

Are you laughing yet? You should be. I’m not sure that there are two words that describe Jay Mariotti less than meticulous and humble. (And for the record, the picture to the left — courtesy of KVB’s brilliance — is both a picture of Jay Mariotti and an image of his most consistent source for information. Click here for more on this topic.)

Anyway, you may have heard that Jay Mariotti decided to write about the blogger-MSM debate yesterday on the BLOG that he now writes for: FanHouse. Predictably, Jay uses his column to spew his usual nonsensical venom at the usual suspects (bloggers, the Sun-Times) while either not realizing or not caring about the utter hypocricy and downright laughable irony of nearly every sentence in his post.

I made a promise a while back that I would never link to Jay’s work at FanHouse. However, after railing against MSM writers who discuss bloggers’ work but do not mention them by name nor link out to them, I cannot in good faith write a post about Jay without linking to the article. You see, I try my best not to be a hypocrite. So even though it breaks my solemn vow, I feel obligated to provide a link to a story that, while lame, has sparked conversation. So here it is.

Just kidding. Here is the actual link to Jay’s article.

Okay fine, for real…here is the link. Well done Jay. You must be inspired by all of the adoring comments.

Rather than point out all of the ridiculousness of Jay’s column myself, I will allow my friends in the sports blogging community to do it for me. They are probably much more eloquent and effective in doing so anyway. Plus, I have a vendetta against Jay Mariotti…a very strong personal dislike for his work and what he stands for. Let’s allow more objective folks to tackle Jay the Joke‘s latest column. (I encourage you to click over and view the posts in their entirety. All are good reads.)

The Curious Case of Jay Mariotti – Blogger Bashing is Bad Journalism — (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

Here lies the main crux of this column and why I feel so angry and perplexed by the whole issue in general. Like Rosenthal and Buzz before him, Mariotti implores bloggers to uphold the journalistic standards he implies they should have. In doing so, Mariotti is alluding to the idea that bloggers are, in fact, journalists and members of the media- these same individuals he taunts as “wreckless idiots” and stretchers of truth.

Let’s lay it on the table then. Jay, are you willing to accept and treat members of the new media as your peers, uphold them the same rights, encourage your contacts in leagues, news outlets and with teams to treat them equally and fairly as they would any old-school hack, and only then reserve judgment as to whether or not they meet your industry’s self-identified standards?

Mainstream Media Continues to Forget Previous Articles Written About Steroids — (Awful Announcing)

For some reason, mainstream media members continually forget the words they wrote, if not days ago, at least a few years ago. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, what is wrong with speculating? Sports as a whole is speculation, and whether it’s who used steroids?, or will Albert Pujols win the Triple Crown?….What’s the big deal?

…

It’s also funny to me that someone who has been taken for task about doing zero research by both clubs in Chicago, is calling out people for laziness.

Mariotti: Will Leitch Invented Blogging, Bad Journalism — (Can’t Stop the Bleeding)

However, much as I enjoy Jay Mariotti calling out Will Leitch two years after the fact, it goes beyond mere hyperbole to claim what even Will characterized as a huge gaffe, served as any sort of inspiration to Morris. The former threw leaked information (from a less than reputable source) into a public forum and watched the shit hit the fan. The latter engaged in what was meant to be a fairly reasoned analysis of Ibanez’ career trajectory and at no point directly accused the Phillies OF of anything other than getting off to an especially hot start. While Leitch received relatively little flack from the mainstream media or his blog bro’s at the time, Morris was fed to the wolves on national TV.

Creative Writing with Jay Mariotti: ‘Bad Journalism’ — (Alana G.)

I was warned by my “blogging buddies” that Jay Mariotti’s latest piece on FanHouse might make my eyes bleed. 1) It’s an attempted assassination of blogs (on a blog… can’t we stop this blog-on-blog violence please?) 2) It’s completely misguided and about three weeks too late, and 3) It’s 1,800 words long. Well, I’ll let the other buddies tackle points one and two, but below is your solution to the length problem. I’ve taken the liberty of editing Mariotti’s piece down to less than 300 words. All of the words are from Mariotti’s original piece, and they all appear in order. I’ve just cut out a lot of the fat in the middle. You’ll still get the gist: blogs, basements, steroids, desperate media… you know the story.

As far as I’m concerned, the most laughable aspect of Jay’s column is how he lambastes blogs and blogging, yet fails to acknowledge the fact that his current home was built by bloggers. Jay continues to live in his own world where there is no accountability for past statements he has made and seemingly no intent to produce anything other than mindless drivel. Kudos to him for finding a way to get paid for it, but how long before his marriage with FanHouse ends similarly to how his marriage with the Sun-Times ended?

Roger Ebert, his former colleague, said it best last August in an open letter entitled “Jay the Rat”:

…I started here when Marshall Field and Jim Hoge were running the paper. I stayed through the Rupert Murdoch regime. I was asked, “How can you work for a Murdoch paper?” My reply was: “It’s not his paper. It’s my paper. He only owns it.” That’s the way I’ve always felt about the Sun-Times, and I still do. On your way out, don’t let the door bang you on the ass.

Your former colleague,

Roger Ebert


Filed Under: Featured Column, Sports Writers and Reporters Tagged With: Alana G, awful announcing, Can't Stop the Bleeding, Hugging Harold Reynolds, jay mariotti
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