Here's a link to a great article on the faulty logic behind realignment, written by Tim Marchman:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tim_marchman/04/02/realignment.ideas/index.html?eref=sihp
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
9th inning
The Final Four starts today. I must say, I really don't understand all the Duke-hating. Kids from a great academic school, breaking all the stereotypes in a power conference? For me, Coach K is proof that you can be successful while emphasizing the 'student' part of the 'student-athlete' equation. This isn't like Memphis or USC, where kids are one-and-done. I'm sure Coach K has had kids who have done that, but, seriously. Why is a school being vociferously attacked for producing good students and good athletes? Duke basketball is the model that every school in every sport should seek to emulate. If you're a scholarship player for a major school, you have a responsibility to your coach, your school, and - most importantly, yourself - to achieve as much as possible both in the classroom and out. To me, Duke epitomizes what is good about collegiate sports. This isn't one of the Bob Huggins teams where he graduates 0 players in a four year span. Duke's players seem to realize that they have responsibilities beyond those on the court. I applaud that, and I challenge anyone who thinks differently.
Castro smacks a double. This kid may be coming up sooner rather than later.
Castro on second, 1 down. Tracy flies out to right, Castro advances to third.
Baker now up. Shame about Coco Crisp, who just broke his finger sliding into second the last game before spring training. Crisp had surgery on both shoulders and his hammie in the offseason. Poor guy. You've got to feel for him.
K. On to the bottom of the 9th.
Caridad on for the 9th. Hopefully he will mix in some breaking pitches this time.
96 mph from Caridad results in a groundout, 5-3. Wow. Gas.
78 mph changeup from Caridad. Yow. Where was this in Mesa?
Back with 95. I like Brenly's calls here.
"Give it to a kid!" One of BB's great pieces of advice. If you catch a foul ball, and you're over 22, you give it to a kid. Period.
Base hit up the middle past a sliding Castro. One on, one out. Castro proved he can cover a hell of a lot of ground.
Another basehit through Caridad's legs. Ugh.
Runner one first and second, one out. Hawber up. Tailor-made double-play - 6-4-3. Cubs win!
Castro smacks a double. This kid may be coming up sooner rather than later.
Castro on second, 1 down. Tracy flies out to right, Castro advances to third.
Baker now up. Shame about Coco Crisp, who just broke his finger sliding into second the last game before spring training. Crisp had surgery on both shoulders and his hammie in the offseason. Poor guy. You've got to feel for him.
K. On to the bottom of the 9th.
Caridad on for the 9th. Hopefully he will mix in some breaking pitches this time.
96 mph from Caridad results in a groundout, 5-3. Wow. Gas.
78 mph changeup from Caridad. Yow. Where was this in Mesa?
Back with 95. I like Brenly's calls here.
"Give it to a kid!" One of BB's great pieces of advice. If you catch a foul ball, and you're over 22, you give it to a kid. Period.
Base hit up the middle past a sliding Castro. One on, one out. Castro proved he can cover a hell of a lot of ground.
Another basehit through Caridad's legs. Ugh.
Runner one first and second, one out. Hawber up. Tailor-made double-play - 6-4-3. Cubs win!
8th inning
Apologies. Got distracted by a phone call and the pressing need to replace vanity bulbs. This game, after all, is of crucial importance.
Adduci up again. Len, as he is prone to do, is waxing rhapsodic about the D'backs new pitcher's mustache. The D'backs pitcher, naturally, walks Adduci on 4 pitches.
Great play by the Dbacks first baseman. Double play.
Bob Brenly's son Michael now up. Mikey B takes a four-pitch walk.
Ryan Flaherty batting now, (aka Johnny McRando). Gotta love spring training (ed: exhibition games). Promptly Ks.
Dbacks 8th:
I'm excited that Lowell from Wings is making a real-life comeback as a voiceover guy for commercials. Just like in Sideways. Art imitating life, or vice-versa?
Good pick at Tracy at first - looks like he's the 2010 DeRo. One down. By the way, why in the hell did we trade DeRo?
Pop up to Castro for the second out.
Samardzija works a 1-2-3. Great job.
Adduci up again. Len, as he is prone to do, is waxing rhapsodic about the D'backs new pitcher's mustache. The D'backs pitcher, naturally, walks Adduci on 4 pitches.
Great play by the Dbacks first baseman. Double play.
Bob Brenly's son Michael now up. Mikey B takes a four-pitch walk.
Ryan Flaherty batting now, (aka Johnny McRando). Gotta love spring training (ed: exhibition games). Promptly Ks.
Dbacks 8th:
I'm excited that Lowell from Wings is making a real-life comeback as a voiceover guy for commercials. Just like in Sideways. Art imitating life, or vice-versa?
Good pick at Tracy at first - looks like he's the 2010 DeRo. One down. By the way, why in the hell did we trade DeRo?
Pop up to Castro for the second out.
Samardzija works a 1-2-3. Great job.
5th Inning
Cubs 5th:
Nady Ks.
Castro takes one to deep right-center and ends up with a triple.
Fukudome pops out to short.
Tracy now up. Clean single over shortstop. Good RBI there, and Castro scores.
Another single up the middle. 1st and second, two down.
Enright out of the game. Sidearmer Ellis now in.
Guyer up for the Cubs. Guyer walks, now Adduci up. Bases loaded, two down. Guyer singles, 2 runs in. 6-0 Cubs.
Fly out to right, Cubs out in the 5th.
D'backs 6th:
Cubs retired the side in the sixth.
Nady Ks.
Castro takes one to deep right-center and ends up with a triple.
Fukudome pops out to short.
Tracy now up. Clean single over shortstop. Good RBI there, and Castro scores.
Another single up the middle. 1st and second, two down.
Enright out of the game. Sidearmer Ellis now in.
Guyer up for the Cubs. Guyer walks, now Adduci up. Bases loaded, two down. Guyer singles, 2 runs in. 6-0 Cubs.
Fly out to right, Cubs out in the 5th.
D'backs 6th:
Cubs retired the side in the sixth.
4th inning
Cubs 4th:
Sori now up. Probably his last at bat for the day. He flies out to shallow right. One down.
Fontenot at bat. Flied out.
1-2-3.
D'backs 4th:
Liner out to left. One down.
Young now up. Grounds out to SS. Two down.
Base hit just to the SS. Tough play. Runner on 1st, two down.
Wells gets a third out.
Sori now up. Probably his last at bat for the day. He flies out to shallow right. One down.
Fontenot at bat. Flied out.
1-2-3.
D'backs 4th:
Liner out to left. One down.
Young now up. Grounds out to SS. Two down.
Base hit just to the SS. Tough play. Runner on 1st, two down.
Wells gets a third out.
3rd Inning
Cubs 3rd:
I really hope the Cubs bring Lou back for 2011, and I think they will. Taking the Cubs to the playoffs three times in four years normally would get you in line for sainthood on the Northside, but going 0-6 in two NLDS's doesn't really work in today's Chicago, especially when the Cardinals and White Sox have won the World Series this decade. All signs say that Hendry will re-sign Lou, and I'd be surprised if Sandberg - my favorite Cub of all time, incidentally - wasn't up as a major league coach in come capacity next year - they seem to be grooming him for the future.
Fontenot now up. We really need him to play well this year. MF responds by dropping one over first for a single.
WGN runs a promo which reminds me precisely why I hate the Black-Eyed Peas.
Robinson, a AAA catcher, now up. Robinson pokes one over in the exact same place Fontenot did - good hit. Runner at the corners for Wells. Well-executed hit and run there by Robinson.
Wells up, likely to bunt to eliminate the double-play. Bunt needs to go towards first base. Wells changes his mind and fouls one off. 1-1. This is why I like the NL - there so much more strategy involved in the NL than in the AL. The role of manager involves much more than simply writing out a lineup and making pitching changes. Wells gets down a good bunt. Well done.
The Riot now up looking for some RBIs. This guy has done nothing but win his entire career - college, minors, majors, you name it. He and Fontenot are both LSU products. 1-2 to Theriot after a good slider. Enright is locating really well. Nothing he throws is spectacular, but he knows how to pitch. Theriot goes right up the middle for a base hit, Fontenot scores, Robinson to third. Good at-bat by Theriot.
Kosuke at bat. The Riot may try to swipe second here. Enright seems more concerned with Theriot than Fukudome. Good sign for the Cubs. Fukudome flies out deep to left, RBI. Great to see the Cubs playing some small ball and getting the runners in when they have the chances - they're not trying to hit HRs everytime they have someone on base. Another good sign. Theriot swipes second on the deep fly to left.
Lee now up, runner on second and two down. Lee still having problems recognizing Enrights' slider. I love the way Lee plays - he never seems too worked up about anything, very graceful in the field and at bat. Definite leader of the Cubs.
Len informs us that there are a lot of games at big-league parks this coming week. I consider updating my resume for WGN yet again.
Lee walks, Theriot advances to 3rd on a wild pitch.
Rami now up. This is the situation where Rami needs to produce - he's usually an RBI machine, but he hasn't performed well in spring. But as we all know, spring matters not. Monday is when it matters.
WGN always has one camera dedicated to the 'cute girl cam.' The cute girls are apparently in abundance in Phoenix. I approve wholeheartedly. I consider applying for jobs at the University of Arizona. Then I remember it never rains there and temperatures are 105 in the summer. No thanks.
I'll give Rami this - he never gets cheated on a swing. 2-2. Very interesting power hitter - doesn't strike out much, willing to take a walk, and an RBI machine. Along with Lee, our best clutch hitter. Upton loses the ball in the sun and Rami gets credited for a cheap RBI. 3-0 Cubs.
Byrd rips a grounder to second for the final out.
D'Backs 3rd:
Ramirez, Lee, Byrd, Theriot all done for the day. Starlin Castro, top Cubs prospect, in at short.
Groundout to second - one down.
Wells goes inside and hits Jackson on the wrist - you hate to see that. Hope he's OK. No intent by Wells; two-seamer just got away from him. Jackson will leave the game, but that's to be expected in an exhibition game.
Stephen Drew up. Wells walks him.
Upton now up, looking to make up for his gaffe in the field last inning. Upton is 22 years old - that's scary. The sky's the ceiling for him. Runs well, hits for average, hits for power. Wells has lost his command here. 3-2 to Upton. Upton floats one up to center, Parra is gunned down at the plate by 30 feet. Terrible send by the D'backs third base coach with only one out.
Now two down, runners on first and second, LaRoche up. Grounds out to second. Wells works out of trouble.
I really hope the Cubs bring Lou back for 2011, and I think they will. Taking the Cubs to the playoffs three times in four years normally would get you in line for sainthood on the Northside, but going 0-6 in two NLDS's doesn't really work in today's Chicago, especially when the Cardinals and White Sox have won the World Series this decade. All signs say that Hendry will re-sign Lou, and I'd be surprised if Sandberg - my favorite Cub of all time, incidentally - wasn't up as a major league coach in come capacity next year - they seem to be grooming him for the future.
Fontenot now up. We really need him to play well this year. MF responds by dropping one over first for a single.
WGN runs a promo which reminds me precisely why I hate the Black-Eyed Peas.
Robinson, a AAA catcher, now up. Robinson pokes one over in the exact same place Fontenot did - good hit. Runner at the corners for Wells. Well-executed hit and run there by Robinson.
Wells up, likely to bunt to eliminate the double-play. Bunt needs to go towards first base. Wells changes his mind and fouls one off. 1-1. This is why I like the NL - there so much more strategy involved in the NL than in the AL. The role of manager involves much more than simply writing out a lineup and making pitching changes. Wells gets down a good bunt. Well done.
The Riot now up looking for some RBIs. This guy has done nothing but win his entire career - college, minors, majors, you name it. He and Fontenot are both LSU products. 1-2 to Theriot after a good slider. Enright is locating really well. Nothing he throws is spectacular, but he knows how to pitch. Theriot goes right up the middle for a base hit, Fontenot scores, Robinson to third. Good at-bat by Theriot.
Kosuke at bat. The Riot may try to swipe second here. Enright seems more concerned with Theriot than Fukudome. Good sign for the Cubs. Fukudome flies out deep to left, RBI. Great to see the Cubs playing some small ball and getting the runners in when they have the chances - they're not trying to hit HRs everytime they have someone on base. Another good sign. Theriot swipes second on the deep fly to left.
Lee now up, runner on second and two down. Lee still having problems recognizing Enrights' slider. I love the way Lee plays - he never seems too worked up about anything, very graceful in the field and at bat. Definite leader of the Cubs.
Len informs us that there are a lot of games at big-league parks this coming week. I consider updating my resume for WGN yet again.
Lee walks, Theriot advances to 3rd on a wild pitch.
Rami now up. This is the situation where Rami needs to produce - he's usually an RBI machine, but he hasn't performed well in spring. But as we all know, spring matters not. Monday is when it matters.
WGN always has one camera dedicated to the 'cute girl cam.' The cute girls are apparently in abundance in Phoenix. I approve wholeheartedly. I consider applying for jobs at the University of Arizona. Then I remember it never rains there and temperatures are 105 in the summer. No thanks.
I'll give Rami this - he never gets cheated on a swing. 2-2. Very interesting power hitter - doesn't strike out much, willing to take a walk, and an RBI machine. Along with Lee, our best clutch hitter. Upton loses the ball in the sun and Rami gets credited for a cheap RBI. 3-0 Cubs.
Byrd rips a grounder to second for the final out.
D'Backs 3rd:
Ramirez, Lee, Byrd, Theriot all done for the day. Starlin Castro, top Cubs prospect, in at short.
Groundout to second - one down.
Wells goes inside and hits Jackson on the wrist - you hate to see that. Hope he's OK. No intent by Wells; two-seamer just got away from him. Jackson will leave the game, but that's to be expected in an exhibition game.
Stephen Drew up. Wells walks him.
Upton now up, looking to make up for his gaffe in the field last inning. Upton is 22 years old - that's scary. The sky's the ceiling for him. Runs well, hits for average, hits for power. Wells has lost his command here. 3-2 to Upton. Upton floats one up to center, Parra is gunned down at the plate by 30 feet. Terrible send by the D'backs third base coach with only one out.
Now two down, runners on first and second, LaRoche up. Grounds out to second. Wells works out of trouble.
2nd inning
Cubs 2nd:
Good catch in left retires Rami.
Byrd up, he pops out to first.
Soriano now up, coming off a good game against the Rockies. Naturally, after I speak highly of him, he strikes out.
D'Backs 2nd:
Wells is one of those rare young pitchers who understands exactly how to pitch. He knows he doesn't have the 97 mph fastball to blow people away, so he pitches to contact, keeps the ball down, and gets people out. He doesn't over-think things, he just locates and changes speed very, very well for a young pitcher. I was very impressed with him last year and I hope this year is more of the same.
Wells gets a groundout to first, and then gives up a loopy double over Ramirez at third. Young now up, and he flies out to Byrd in center. Two down.
Johnson, former Brave, now up. I really think if the Cubs wanted to get Big Z to calm down, they just start slipping him some Xanax in his morning coffee. I must admit, though, I like the mean Z - if he would channel his mean streak towards the batters instead of the umpires, I think things would get better for him. Not to be a headhunter, but just to be mean and effective - think Randy Johnson or Clemens, minus the bird-killings or the steroids. Johnson walks.
First and second, two down. Great changeup by Wells, Snyder down on strikes.
Good catch in left retires Rami.
Byrd up, he pops out to first.
Soriano now up, coming off a good game against the Rockies. Naturally, after I speak highly of him, he strikes out.
D'Backs 2nd:
Wells is one of those rare young pitchers who understands exactly how to pitch. He knows he doesn't have the 97 mph fastball to blow people away, so he pitches to contact, keeps the ball down, and gets people out. He doesn't over-think things, he just locates and changes speed very, very well for a young pitcher. I was very impressed with him last year and I hope this year is more of the same.
Wells gets a groundout to first, and then gives up a loopy double over Ramirez at third. Young now up, and he flies out to Byrd in center. Two down.
Johnson, former Brave, now up. I really think if the Cubs wanted to get Big Z to calm down, they just start slipping him some Xanax in his morning coffee. I must admit, though, I like the mean Z - if he would channel his mean streak towards the batters instead of the umpires, I think things would get better for him. Not to be a headhunter, but just to be mean and effective - think Randy Johnson or Clemens, minus the bird-killings or the steroids. Johnson walks.
First and second, two down. Great changeup by Wells, Snyder down on strikes.
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