Ah... fun times again last night (Feb. 1st) for Canucks Haters like myself.
The Vancouver Canucks again fell to an inferior team, dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Florida.
And this time, the Canucks found new ways to lose.
Vancouver, who has had to play from behind recently--they just endured a six-game stretch at the end of January in which they failed to hold a lead at any point--and had let the opposition score first in seven straight before breaking the streak earlier this week, never trailed against Florida.
In fact, this time the Canucks blew three one-goal leads and fell to 2-6-2 in their last ten games with this latest defeat. And the defensive-minded Canucks were badly outshot in the third period (15-5), allowing Stephen Weiss to get the tying goal with 6:14 remaining.
Second, overpaid Canucks captain Markus Naslund was awarded a penalty shot with time winding down in overtime, but couldn't beat Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun for the winner. Oh, isn't Naslund paid boatloads of money to score big goals? Yup, 17 goals and 41 points in 53 games for the $6-million-a-year captain. Incredibly, the SportsNet.ca and TSN websites are listing Naslund as "hot" for his measily three points in his last three games, randomly assigning those useless labels without looking at the big picture. But then, I guess that point-per-game pace in his last three sure beats his season totals.
Third, the Canucks continued to let defenseman Alexander Edler partake in shootouts, and the goat from the previous night's loss in Tampa Bay--he made a bad pass which led to the Lightning's go-ahead goal--couldn't deliver. Yes, Edler had gotten two shootout game-winners in January, but if the Canucks are counting on him on a nightly basis, they are in big trouble.
Fourth, the Canucks were brutal on face-offs, winning only 35% off the draw. And they allowed 43 shots, making Roberto Luongo busy in the Vancouver net.
Ah yes...Luongo. The Canucks' superstar in goal, who played five seasons in a Panthers uniform, was supposed to be the difference in the game. After all, Luongo, the $6.5-million man, was a finalist for both the Hart and Vezina Trophies. And he was playing in Florida for the first time since being acquired by Vancouver to boot. Athletes returning to their former stomping grounds in a new uniform often found ways to stick it to their old club.
And the Panthers came into the contest tied for 13th place out of a 15-team Eastern Conference with a 22-25-5 record, just two points ahead of last-place Tampa Bay, who by the way, took care of the Canucks a night earlier.
Yes, Luongo did his job with 40 saves. However, he couldn't prevent his team from losing yet another game.
Nonetheless, despite the loss, the Canucks still managed to move ahead of Nashville in the standings, tied for 7th place with the Avalanche in the Western Conference because the NHL has a dumb rule about rewarding shootout losers with a sympathy point. (Really now, why on earth should a losing team get a point? But that would be the topic for another day.)
But hopefully the Canucks' recent slump will stop dellusional fans in B.C. from continuing their nonsense Mats Sundin (Leafs) or Peter Forsberg (unrestricted free agent) daydreams.
And if either Sundin or Forsberg really had any inclination of wanting to play in Vancouver, surely those thoughts have evaporated by now. Why on earth would Forsberg sign with a non-contender like the Canucks if he wants to win another Stanley Cup? And I wouldn't say that being a 7th or 8th-place outfit is a selling point to convince Sundin to waive his no-trade clause and head out to the West Coast. Surely neither Forsberg nor Sundin would go the Curtis Joseph route, with Cujo choosing to sign with the Calgary Flames, not exactly a legitimate Cup contender.
In the meantime, Canucks fans will always laugh at Florida for giving away All-Star Luongo to Vancouver in exchange for forward Todd Bertuzzi (now with Anaheim), goalie Alex Auld (now with Boston), and defenseman Bryan Allen in the June 26, 2006 trade. That could go down as one of the most one-sided deals in hockey history, right up there with the acquisition of Naslund from Pittsburgh for the immortal Alek Stojanov (6 points in 45 NHL games after the deal).
Come to think of it, maybe the value of those two trades mentioned above are over-stated by Canucks fans. Luongo, who I predict will never lead the Canucks to a Stanley Cup, was outplayed by rookie Karri Ramo a night earlier and couldn't protect a third-period lead last night. And Naslund, the Canucks' all-time leading scorer who is over the hill, was on the bench during the shootout, passed over for the great Edler.
Okay, all the joking aside, the Canucks clearly won the Luongo trade.
At least for one night, the Panthers get the last laugh.
Canucks Haters like myself, also get another good laugh as well for another night.
Unfortunately, the fun stops for a few days. The Canucks have three days off before taking on the Stars in Dallas on Tuesday night, meaning there will be no good times for at least half a week.
But come Tuesday night, hopefully there will be another post on the Canucks by this Canucks Hater.
The Hockey Farmer / Showing Their Scales
Saturday, February 2, 2008
2008: Litsch a key for the Blue Jays?
I never thought I would say this, but I actually feel sorry for the Toronto Blue Jays. I have been for years now.
There was a time when I hated the Blue Jays, and that was during their back-to-back championship years (1992-1993) when they had the resources to outspend everyone and pick up expensive free agents (Jack Morris, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, to name a few) and hired guns (David Cone, Rickey Henderson). And whatever trades they pulled off seemed to benefit them (Devon White, Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter).
But the Blue Jays, who have not made it back to post-season play since 1993, have been stuck playing in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees.
As a fan who roots for underdogs, my hatred for Toronto fizzled away. After all, my Red Sox had already won it all in 2004 (before winning again last year), so there was no reason to dislike the Blue Jays.
Toronto seemed to have made progress in 2006 finishing in second place above the Red Sox. And the Jays also started 2007 well, and they were in contention and had a shot--albeit a long one--at the AL Wild Card in the final months because of their pitching.
Toronto eventually finished with a 83-79 record in 2007, winning four fewer games than a year earlier.
And it looks like their pitching will have to be a key once again if they are to contend in 2008. Unless realignment happens, the Blue Jays will probably not make the playoffs again, given that the Red Sox and Yankees have taken to try and one-up each other during the past few years.
Of course, games are played on the field and not on paper, and if Toronto gets decent pitching, they will have a shot at the Wild Card.
It would be a nice contrast for sure, though, say if the Yankees miss the post-season. I, for one, am tired of seeing the pinstripers play October baseball annually.
Back to Toronto's pitching, long-time Jays radio broadcaster Jerry Howarth said on the Fan 590 this week that he believes Jesse Litsch (7-9 record, 3.81 ERA) is the best fifth starter in major league baseball.
That's a huge compliment, a bold statement actually, considering Litsch was a rookie in 2007, and didn't make his debut until May 15th. Litsch had his moments, and one highlight came against Josh Beckett and the Red Sox, a 2-1 win in July.
Litsch will no doubt be a huge upgrade over the train wreck that was Josh Towers (5-10, 5.38). I mean, anyone can do better than Towers, right? However, Litsch will probably not duplicate the numbers of A.J. Burnett, who despite being unable to stay healthy, still managed a 10-8 mark and 3.75 ERA.
Baltimore lefty Erik Bedard, who at one point was mentioned as a possibility with the Blue Jays, probably won't be traded to Toronto. Though the Jays probably wouldn't need him anyway, if the optimism for Litsch's contributions is legit.
So, if Litsch is going to deliver as the fifth starter, as Howarth predicted, what about the rest of the staff?
The top three in the rotation seem to be as solid a 1-2-3 punch as any in baseball, if they all stay healthy and pitch the way they did last season.
Here's a look at what those top three did for Toronto last season:
Blue Jays ace Roy "Doc" Halladay had an off-year by his own standards, going 16-7 with a rather high 3.71 ERA (for a staff ace) in 2007. "Doc", who started the season well, ran into problems in the middle of the year. He had a span of three outings in a four-start stretch where he gave up seven runs or more each time out, and also went on the DL on May 11th. However, Halladay rebounded in the second half, going 6-3 with a 2.75 in his final 14 starts and averaging 7.95 innings per outing over that span with 5 complete games.
While Halladay is no longer a strikeout pitcher and may never regain his 2003 Cy Young form, he is still capable of winning 15 to 18 games in 2008, provided that he stays healthy and gets enough run support. Halladay has shown that he could still go deep in ballgames, pitching a total of 7 complete games and averaging over 7 innings per start.
Dustin McGowan (12-10, 4.08) showed flashes of brilliance, tossing a near-no-hitter against Colorado at the Rogers Centre on June 24th. McGowan also had 15 quality starts (6+ IP, 3 R or fewer), and had 6 outings in which he allowed one or fewer runs. For the season, he allowed fewer hits than innings pitched (7.74 H/9 IP) and struck out 144 in 169.2 innings. And McGown showed that he could at least pitch against the beasts of the AL East, going a combined 3-3 against the Yankees and Red Sox. McGowan posted a respectable 7-5 record and a 3.29 ERA over his final 14 starts of the year.
Shaun Marcum (12-6, 4.13 overall) was another Blue Jay that impressed in 2007, although it didn't start out that way. Marcum began the year in the bullpen, pitching to a 6.06 ERA in 13 appearances. On Mother's Day (May 13th), Marcum was put into the rotation, and he delievered with 6 no-hit, no-run innings with seven strikeouts against the Devil Rays, but the Blue Jays lost 2-1. Ironically, Marcum would have five starts during the year without allowing any runs in 6+ innings pitched, but would have only a 2-0 record with three no-decisions in those appearances. Marcum, who remained in the rotation the rest of the way (and made 25 starts), was 9-2 with a 2.91 ERA as a starter after a 2-1 win over the Angels on August 15th. He faded a bit down the stretch, posting a 7.47 ERA in his final 7 starts, but still won 11 games (with a 3.91 ERA) as a starter.
Halladay is a "given", a starter who would give the Jays a shot every five days, and if McGowan and Marcum can duplicate their 2007 successes, that would give Toronto three dependable arms in the rotation.
So, as long as Halladay, McGowan, Marcum, and Litsch do their jobs, the Blue Jays will have a shot. If stopper B.J. Ryan can make a comeback from Tommy John surgery, and Jeremy Accardo (2.14 ERA), Scott Downs (2.17) and Casey Janssen (2.35) can come through again out of the pen, that would take a lot of pressure off the starters.
And if newcomer Scott Rolen (acquired in the Troy Glaus trade two weeks ago) can chip in offensively along with David Eckstein, Alex Rios, and Aaron Hill, all the better for the Jays. Toronto will also need old-timers Matt Stairs and Frank Thomas to deliver long balls and solid batting averages again as they did in 2007.
Lyle Overbay (10 HR, .240), who was re-signed to a four-year deal two weeks ago, and Vernon Wells (16 HR, .245), who had signed a contract extension prior to the 2007 season, were two busts last season. Both will have to have big comeback years.
But the pitching has to come together, and assuming Howarth is right, Litsch will have to be one of the keys.
If so, the Jays might contend for the Wild Card.
If not, GM J.P. Ricciardi's tenure in Toronto will be looked upon as a bust.
There was a time when I hated the Blue Jays, and that was during their back-to-back championship years (1992-1993) when they had the resources to outspend everyone and pick up expensive free agents (Jack Morris, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, to name a few) and hired guns (David Cone, Rickey Henderson). And whatever trades they pulled off seemed to benefit them (Devon White, Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter).
But the Blue Jays, who have not made it back to post-season play since 1993, have been stuck playing in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees.
As a fan who roots for underdogs, my hatred for Toronto fizzled away. After all, my Red Sox had already won it all in 2004 (before winning again last year), so there was no reason to dislike the Blue Jays.
Toronto seemed to have made progress in 2006 finishing in second place above the Red Sox. And the Jays also started 2007 well, and they were in contention and had a shot--albeit a long one--at the AL Wild Card in the final months because of their pitching.
Toronto eventually finished with a 83-79 record in 2007, winning four fewer games than a year earlier.
And it looks like their pitching will have to be a key once again if they are to contend in 2008. Unless realignment happens, the Blue Jays will probably not make the playoffs again, given that the Red Sox and Yankees have taken to try and one-up each other during the past few years.
Of course, games are played on the field and not on paper, and if Toronto gets decent pitching, they will have a shot at the Wild Card.
It would be a nice contrast for sure, though, say if the Yankees miss the post-season. I, for one, am tired of seeing the pinstripers play October baseball annually.
Back to Toronto's pitching, long-time Jays radio broadcaster Jerry Howarth said on the Fan 590 this week that he believes Jesse Litsch (7-9 record, 3.81 ERA) is the best fifth starter in major league baseball.
That's a huge compliment, a bold statement actually, considering Litsch was a rookie in 2007, and didn't make his debut until May 15th. Litsch had his moments, and one highlight came against Josh Beckett and the Red Sox, a 2-1 win in July.
Litsch will no doubt be a huge upgrade over the train wreck that was Josh Towers (5-10, 5.38). I mean, anyone can do better than Towers, right? However, Litsch will probably not duplicate the numbers of A.J. Burnett, who despite being unable to stay healthy, still managed a 10-8 mark and 3.75 ERA.
Baltimore lefty Erik Bedard, who at one point was mentioned as a possibility with the Blue Jays, probably won't be traded to Toronto. Though the Jays probably wouldn't need him anyway, if the optimism for Litsch's contributions is legit.
So, if Litsch is going to deliver as the fifth starter, as Howarth predicted, what about the rest of the staff?
The top three in the rotation seem to be as solid a 1-2-3 punch as any in baseball, if they all stay healthy and pitch the way they did last season.
Here's a look at what those top three did for Toronto last season:
Blue Jays ace Roy "Doc" Halladay had an off-year by his own standards, going 16-7 with a rather high 3.71 ERA (for a staff ace) in 2007. "Doc", who started the season well, ran into problems in the middle of the year. He had a span of three outings in a four-start stretch where he gave up seven runs or more each time out, and also went on the DL on May 11th. However, Halladay rebounded in the second half, going 6-3 with a 2.75 in his final 14 starts and averaging 7.95 innings per outing over that span with 5 complete games.
While Halladay is no longer a strikeout pitcher and may never regain his 2003 Cy Young form, he is still capable of winning 15 to 18 games in 2008, provided that he stays healthy and gets enough run support. Halladay has shown that he could still go deep in ballgames, pitching a total of 7 complete games and averaging over 7 innings per start.
Dustin McGowan (12-10, 4.08) showed flashes of brilliance, tossing a near-no-hitter against Colorado at the Rogers Centre on June 24th. McGowan also had 15 quality starts (6+ IP, 3 R or fewer), and had 6 outings in which he allowed one or fewer runs. For the season, he allowed fewer hits than innings pitched (7.74 H/9 IP) and struck out 144 in 169.2 innings. And McGown showed that he could at least pitch against the beasts of the AL East, going a combined 3-3 against the Yankees and Red Sox. McGowan posted a respectable 7-5 record and a 3.29 ERA over his final 14 starts of the year.
Shaun Marcum (12-6, 4.13 overall) was another Blue Jay that impressed in 2007, although it didn't start out that way. Marcum began the year in the bullpen, pitching to a 6.06 ERA in 13 appearances. On Mother's Day (May 13th), Marcum was put into the rotation, and he delievered with 6 no-hit, no-run innings with seven strikeouts against the Devil Rays, but the Blue Jays lost 2-1. Ironically, Marcum would have five starts during the year without allowing any runs in 6+ innings pitched, but would have only a 2-0 record with three no-decisions in those appearances. Marcum, who remained in the rotation the rest of the way (and made 25 starts), was 9-2 with a 2.91 ERA as a starter after a 2-1 win over the Angels on August 15th. He faded a bit down the stretch, posting a 7.47 ERA in his final 7 starts, but still won 11 games (with a 3.91 ERA) as a starter.
Halladay is a "given", a starter who would give the Jays a shot every five days, and if McGowan and Marcum can duplicate their 2007 successes, that would give Toronto three dependable arms in the rotation.
So, as long as Halladay, McGowan, Marcum, and Litsch do their jobs, the Blue Jays will have a shot. If stopper B.J. Ryan can make a comeback from Tommy John surgery, and Jeremy Accardo (2.14 ERA), Scott Downs (2.17) and Casey Janssen (2.35) can come through again out of the pen, that would take a lot of pressure off the starters.
And if newcomer Scott Rolen (acquired in the Troy Glaus trade two weeks ago) can chip in offensively along with David Eckstein, Alex Rios, and Aaron Hill, all the better for the Jays. Toronto will also need old-timers Matt Stairs and Frank Thomas to deliver long balls and solid batting averages again as they did in 2007.
Lyle Overbay (10 HR, .240), who was re-signed to a four-year deal two weeks ago, and Vernon Wells (16 HR, .245), who had signed a contract extension prior to the 2007 season, were two busts last season. Both will have to have big comeback years.
But the pitching has to come together, and assuming Howarth is right, Litsch will have to be one of the keys.
If so, the Jays might contend for the Wild Card.
If not, GM J.P. Ricciardi's tenure in Toronto will be looked upon as a bust.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Another Brilliant Game by the Canucks..... and Canucks Lovers such as me Love it!
Thursday night (Jan. 31st) was another great one for a self-proclaimed "Canucks Hater" like myself.
The Vancouver Canucks blew another game, falling 4-3 to the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Lightning squad went into the game dead last in the Eastern Conference (and only two points ahead of the NHL's worst team, the Los Angeles Kings), sporting a 20-26-5 record despite playing in the Southeast Division, the league's weakest quintet.
The 2003-04 champion Lightning had won only 5 of their previous 16 games going in.
Yet there were Tampa Bay's big guns coming out firing, with Brad Richards (1 goal, 2 assists), Martin St. Louis (3 assists), and Vincent Lecavalier (go-ahead goal late in the second period) all contributing offensively.
Lecavalier even got involved in a skirmish early in the game with the Canucks' Alex Burrows--and won.
Meanwhile, the Canucks' so-called top guns, the Sedin's, weren't a factor, with Daniel Sedin picking up a cheap assist on Alex Edler's goal with 25 seconds left when the game was pretty much over--in Tampa Bay's favor. Henrik was held without a point.
Edler had that late goal, but was the goat who led to Lecavalier's go-ahead tally. Lecavalier's 31st goal came from a pass from St. Louis, who intercepted Edler's clearing attempt late in the second.
Oh, this time the Canucks scored first, with overrated defenseman Luc Bourdon scoring just a couple minutes into the game. Of course, they blew a couple of one-goal leads and fell behind 4-2 by the third period.
Don't people say that defense and goal-tending trumps offense? Wasn't Vancouver's defensive style and goalkeeping supposed to shut down the Lightning's vaunted offense? Nope, not this round.
The Canucks' $6.5-million goalie Roberto Luongo, who opted to skip the All-Star Game last weekend and got permission from the team to miss Vancouver's previous game with Dallas, was outplayed by a rookie (Karri Ramo) in the Tampa goal. And by the way, the rookie earns ten times less money than Luongo, at $650,000 per year.
On a recent radio talk show in Vancouver, fans were asked if they cared that Luongo was allowed to stay in Florida to be with his pregnant wife--who by the way, isn't due until playoff time in April--for the Dallas game.
And an overwhelming majority (around 80%) supported the goalie's request and the team's grant. Luongo deserved that time off, fans said, especially since this was for family reasons.
Put it this way: if the Canucks miss the playoffs by one or two points, we can all look back and say that perhaps missing their goalie against Dallas game cost them. And who knows, perhaps this is the midst of a long slump for Vancouver, who could have avoided this had their most expensive player (Luongo) decided to play against the Stars.
Injuries? Yes sure, the Canucks and their fans can cry about a host of players not in the line-up, such as D-men Sami Salo and Willie Mitchell, to name a few. But please, let's not use that as an excuse.
Didn't Dallas miss a number of players too in the last game, most notably defenseman Sergei Zubov and forward Jere Lehtinen?
And didn't the Stars vanquish the Canucks?
So this injury excuse doesn't wash.
Vancouver is now tied for eighth in the Western Conference with Nashville. Both have 26-21-5 records and 57 points after 52 games after the Predators beat Columbus, who has 56 points.
As a Canucks Hater like myself, last night was another beauty.
Vancouver doesn't have time to lick its chops, with another game tonight against the Florida Panthers (22-25-5), who are no better than Tampa Bay in the standings.
The Vancouver Canucks blew another game, falling 4-3 to the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Lightning squad went into the game dead last in the Eastern Conference (and only two points ahead of the NHL's worst team, the Los Angeles Kings), sporting a 20-26-5 record despite playing in the Southeast Division, the league's weakest quintet.
The 2003-04 champion Lightning had won only 5 of their previous 16 games going in.
Yet there were Tampa Bay's big guns coming out firing, with Brad Richards (1 goal, 2 assists), Martin St. Louis (3 assists), and Vincent Lecavalier (go-ahead goal late in the second period) all contributing offensively.
Lecavalier even got involved in a skirmish early in the game with the Canucks' Alex Burrows--and won.
Meanwhile, the Canucks' so-called top guns, the Sedin's, weren't a factor, with Daniel Sedin picking up a cheap assist on Alex Edler's goal with 25 seconds left when the game was pretty much over--in Tampa Bay's favor. Henrik was held without a point.
Edler had that late goal, but was the goat who led to Lecavalier's go-ahead tally. Lecavalier's 31st goal came from a pass from St. Louis, who intercepted Edler's clearing attempt late in the second.
Oh, this time the Canucks scored first, with overrated defenseman Luc Bourdon scoring just a couple minutes into the game. Of course, they blew a couple of one-goal leads and fell behind 4-2 by the third period.
Don't people say that defense and goal-tending trumps offense? Wasn't Vancouver's defensive style and goalkeeping supposed to shut down the Lightning's vaunted offense? Nope, not this round.
The Canucks' $6.5-million goalie Roberto Luongo, who opted to skip the All-Star Game last weekend and got permission from the team to miss Vancouver's previous game with Dallas, was outplayed by a rookie (Karri Ramo) in the Tampa goal. And by the way, the rookie earns ten times less money than Luongo, at $650,000 per year.
On a recent radio talk show in Vancouver, fans were asked if they cared that Luongo was allowed to stay in Florida to be with his pregnant wife--who by the way, isn't due until playoff time in April--for the Dallas game.
And an overwhelming majority (around 80%) supported the goalie's request and the team's grant. Luongo deserved that time off, fans said, especially since this was for family reasons.
Put it this way: if the Canucks miss the playoffs by one or two points, we can all look back and say that perhaps missing their goalie against Dallas game cost them. And who knows, perhaps this is the midst of a long slump for Vancouver, who could have avoided this had their most expensive player (Luongo) decided to play against the Stars.
Injuries? Yes sure, the Canucks and their fans can cry about a host of players not in the line-up, such as D-men Sami Salo and Willie Mitchell, to name a few. But please, let's not use that as an excuse.
Didn't Dallas miss a number of players too in the last game, most notably defenseman Sergei Zubov and forward Jere Lehtinen?
And didn't the Stars vanquish the Canucks?
So this injury excuse doesn't wash.
Vancouver is now tied for eighth in the Western Conference with Nashville. Both have 26-21-5 records and 57 points after 52 games after the Predators beat Columbus, who has 56 points.
As a Canucks Hater like myself, last night was another beauty.
Vancouver doesn't have time to lick its chops, with another game tonight against the Florida Panthers (22-25-5), who are no better than Tampa Bay in the standings.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Warner: Mr. Underappreciated
--Also posted by KP Wee on Bleacher Report.com)--
Eight years ago this week (Jan. 30, 2000), the St. Louis became the first ever dome team to win the Super Bowl.
Kurt Warner led the once-dreadful franchise to the memorable victory in Super Bowl XXXIV, claiming MVP honors in the big game.
Warner, who has also won two NFL MVP awards (1999, 2001), is currently third all-time--behind Steve Young and Peyton Manning--in career passer rating (93.2), and is the second-most accurate QB in league history, with a career mark of 65.1% in pass completion.
Warner has also been to three Pro Bowls, and ranks fourth all-time with a mark of 8.1 yards per pass attempt.
And Warner took the Rams back to the Super Bowl two years after winning it all, ultimately falling short to the underdog Patriots. Still, two trips to the Super Bowl in three years--with one victory--after a decade long of mediocrity for the Rams organization is a great feat.
And in Warner's first year as a starter in the NFL in 1999, he helped turned the Rams, once a laughing stock in the NFL, to a winner. After all, the Bengals and Rams were the two losingest teams of the 1990s heading into that final year of the decade. And the Rams organization (45-99 going into Warner's first year) didn't make the playoffs even once during the '90s -- that is, until Warner showed up.
Despite all those accomplishments, it seems Warner's career has been underappreciated by the media and his teams.
Yes, backup pivot Marc Bulger came along when Warner got injured, and played well. After all, Bulger was six years younger, and showed he could lead "The Greatest Show on Turf" as well as Warner.
Warner was finally released by the Rams in 2004, and he moved on to the Giants. Warner was certainly not horrible for the G-men, and the two-time MVP led New York to a 5-2-0 record in their first seven games. But a two-game losing streak (in which Warner threw two TDs and two picks, not really enough to bench him) ensued, and head coach Tom Coughlin gave the starting role to rookie Eli Manning. Of course, at the time, the Giants were 5-4-0 and in contention, but after the QB switch, the team finished 6-10-0.
Warner was gone following the season, and signed on with Arizona Cardinals. Injuries again hampered Warner, but in 2006, Warner was healthy. However, after a Week One, 301-yard performance against the 49ers, the Cards lost three straight. Head coach Dennis Green also benched Warner in favor of rookie Matt Leinart.
Same deal as in New York.
Yes, the Cardinals had a poor record with Warner at the helm -- but remember, these were the Cards after all -- but why was a two-time MVP shown such disrespect? Yes, he has not been able to stay healthy throughout his career, but still, he was a proven veteran and his stats backed him up. Yes, younger QBs were able to step in -- well, Eli did go 1-6-0 as Warner's replacement. But still.
I again have to look at the 2004 season. Warner led the Giants to a 5-2-0 record and then lost two straight. Then he was basically banished. And you look elsewhere in the league, and you wonder why. In the same season out in Green Bay, Brett Favre led the Packers to a 1-4-0 record -- including a Week Four loss to Warner and the Giants at Lambeau Field -- and yet he was allowed to continue playing, protecting his consecutive-games streak. (For the record, Favre lost his first four starts and began 1-7-0 the next season, and yet played on.)
Warner lost his jobs in St. Louis, New York, and Arizona. Favre, on the other hand, didn't in Green Bay. Was it because Favre had one more MVP than Warner (3-2)? Just looking at those two QBs as an example, both led their teams to two Super Bowl appearances, winning once -- with Warner's not coming in New York, of course. So that part of it was a wash. Was it because Warner had better backups waiting to make a difference? Well, out in Green Bay, the Packers of course have had Aaron Rodgers, a guy at one point thought of as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick -- who actually became the 24th pick in 2005 -- still waiting for his shot behind Favre. (Why didn't Rodgers take over for Favre in 2005 after a disatrous 4-12 campaign?)
Warner's Rams in 2002 even manhandled Favre's Packers in the playoffs, but no one seems to remember that.
Warner did gain a measure of respect in 2007, a season in which he started out as Leinart's backup. Warner played when Leinart was ineffective and later injured, and had 27 TDs for the year. And the Warner-led Cardinals, who were in playoff contention, gave the NFC West leaders, the Seattle Seahawks, a scare late in the year before ultimately falling short.
Still, the Kurt Warner story is still one that could have been much better. Too many teams haven't given him a fair shake the way other QBs have received in the NFL.
But, let's celebrate Warner this week because of that great Super Bowl XXXIV performance that he delivered eight years ago in temporarily turning the Rams franchise around.
Who are some other underappreciated players in sports (relatively speaking, of course, since these guys are paid pretty well to begin with)? Discuss.
Eight years ago this week (Jan. 30, 2000), the St. Louis became the first ever dome team to win the Super Bowl.
Kurt Warner led the once-dreadful franchise to the memorable victory in Super Bowl XXXIV, claiming MVP honors in the big game.
Warner, who has also won two NFL MVP awards (1999, 2001), is currently third all-time--behind Steve Young and Peyton Manning--in career passer rating (93.2), and is the second-most accurate QB in league history, with a career mark of 65.1% in pass completion.
Warner has also been to three Pro Bowls, and ranks fourth all-time with a mark of 8.1 yards per pass attempt.
And Warner took the Rams back to the Super Bowl two years after winning it all, ultimately falling short to the underdog Patriots. Still, two trips to the Super Bowl in three years--with one victory--after a decade long of mediocrity for the Rams organization is a great feat.
And in Warner's first year as a starter in the NFL in 1999, he helped turned the Rams, once a laughing stock in the NFL, to a winner. After all, the Bengals and Rams were the two losingest teams of the 1990s heading into that final year of the decade. And the Rams organization (45-99 going into Warner's first year) didn't make the playoffs even once during the '90s -- that is, until Warner showed up.
Despite all those accomplishments, it seems Warner's career has been underappreciated by the media and his teams.
Yes, backup pivot Marc Bulger came along when Warner got injured, and played well. After all, Bulger was six years younger, and showed he could lead "The Greatest Show on Turf" as well as Warner.
Warner was finally released by the Rams in 2004, and he moved on to the Giants. Warner was certainly not horrible for the G-men, and the two-time MVP led New York to a 5-2-0 record in their first seven games. But a two-game losing streak (in which Warner threw two TDs and two picks, not really enough to bench him) ensued, and head coach Tom Coughlin gave the starting role to rookie Eli Manning. Of course, at the time, the Giants were 5-4-0 and in contention, but after the QB switch, the team finished 6-10-0.
Warner was gone following the season, and signed on with Arizona Cardinals. Injuries again hampered Warner, but in 2006, Warner was healthy. However, after a Week One, 301-yard performance against the 49ers, the Cards lost three straight. Head coach Dennis Green also benched Warner in favor of rookie Matt Leinart.
Same deal as in New York.
Yes, the Cardinals had a poor record with Warner at the helm -- but remember, these were the Cards after all -- but why was a two-time MVP shown such disrespect? Yes, he has not been able to stay healthy throughout his career, but still, he was a proven veteran and his stats backed him up. Yes, younger QBs were able to step in -- well, Eli did go 1-6-0 as Warner's replacement. But still.
I again have to look at the 2004 season. Warner led the Giants to a 5-2-0 record and then lost two straight. Then he was basically banished. And you look elsewhere in the league, and you wonder why. In the same season out in Green Bay, Brett Favre led the Packers to a 1-4-0 record -- including a Week Four loss to Warner and the Giants at Lambeau Field -- and yet he was allowed to continue playing, protecting his consecutive-games streak. (For the record, Favre lost his first four starts and began 1-7-0 the next season, and yet played on.)
Warner lost his jobs in St. Louis, New York, and Arizona. Favre, on the other hand, didn't in Green Bay. Was it because Favre had one more MVP than Warner (3-2)? Just looking at those two QBs as an example, both led their teams to two Super Bowl appearances, winning once -- with Warner's not coming in New York, of course. So that part of it was a wash. Was it because Warner had better backups waiting to make a difference? Well, out in Green Bay, the Packers of course have had Aaron Rodgers, a guy at one point thought of as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick -- who actually became the 24th pick in 2005 -- still waiting for his shot behind Favre. (Why didn't Rodgers take over for Favre in 2005 after a disatrous 4-12 campaign?)
Warner's Rams in 2002 even manhandled Favre's Packers in the playoffs, but no one seems to remember that.
Warner did gain a measure of respect in 2007, a season in which he started out as Leinart's backup. Warner played when Leinart was ineffective and later injured, and had 27 TDs for the year. And the Warner-led Cardinals, who were in playoff contention, gave the NFC West leaders, the Seattle Seahawks, a scare late in the year before ultimately falling short.
Still, the Kurt Warner story is still one that could have been much better. Too many teams haven't given him a fair shake the way other QBs have received in the NFL.
But, let's celebrate Warner this week because of that great Super Bowl XXXIV performance that he delivered eight years ago in temporarily turning the Rams franchise around.
Who are some other underappreciated players in sports (relatively speaking, of course, since these guys are paid pretty well to begin with)? Discuss.
Modano finally makes difference for Dallas...barely
(Also posted by me on Bleacher Report.com)
Last spring featured one of those unbelievable playoff feats you'll never see again for a long time. A goalie gets his team three shutouts in a seven-game series, and they still lose.
That's right. That was Marty Turco getting three goose-eggs for the Dallas Stars in their first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks. However, Vancouver won Game Seven 4-1 (it was actually 2-1 until the Canucks scored two late empty-netters to make it seem like a blow-out), rendering Turco's achievements meaningless.
There was another story about that series. The top two draft picks in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft--the Stars' Mike Modano and the Canucks' Trevor Linden--were still playing. Modano looked like he still had it, as he had tallied his 500th career NHL goal and also became the career leading goal-scorer among American-born players just a month prior to the series. Meanwhile, Linden, who seemed to have been signed by management merely because of sentimental reasons, was long removed from being a dominant offensive threat, finishing with just 12 goals in 80 games.
But it was Linden who got the last laugh, potting the series-winner seven minutes into the third period in Game Seven, his second game-winning goal in a span of a week. Meanwhile, Modano was shut out in the finale, finishing with a disappointing two points for the series.
And those two teams hooked up again at GM Place last night, in what was Vancouver's 200th straight sellout at the building also known as The Garage. And it was the first game for both teams following the All-Star break. Radio color commentator Tom Larschied proclaimed before the game that Linden usually plays his best hockey in the second half of the season, seemingly promising big things for the ex-captain for the rest of the year.
But while Linden was shut out this time around, it was Modano who got a big goal for Dallas. Actually, it was more like a fluke, but they all count. Modano's slap shot from just inside the blue line early in the second stanza somehow eluded goaltender Curtis Sanford, who just waved at it. It gave Dallas a 2-1 lead, and the Stars would build a 4-1 cushion and hang on for a 4-3 victory.
For Modano, it was a big goal (and part of a two-point night), but let's not call it a clutch play. Had the Canucks' No. 1 goalie Roberto Luongo--who was still in Florida to be with his pregnant wife--been in net, that puck might not have gotten in. And though Modano has been productive this season (15 goals, 36 points, third in team scoring), he is also a dreadful -12, worst (by far) on the team.
For the Canucks, it was the seventh straight game in which the opposition scored first, and the sixth in a row in which they have not even had the lead at any point during the contest. Seventh place in the Western Conference with 57 points, just one more than three other teams battling for the final eighth spot. If the Canucks go on to miss the playoffs, they can lament Sanford waving at that Modano shot.
The Stars, battling for first in the Pacific Division--they have 63 points, same as the Sharks--can look at Modano's goal as a positive, the fact that they took advantage of a struggling Canucks team that was missing its top goalie.
Nine months after that playoff series between the two teams, it appears that the Stars are in much better shape. They can keep that going if they continue to get timely goals from their 500-goal man.
Last spring featured one of those unbelievable playoff feats you'll never see again for a long time. A goalie gets his team three shutouts in a seven-game series, and they still lose.
That's right. That was Marty Turco getting three goose-eggs for the Dallas Stars in their first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks. However, Vancouver won Game Seven 4-1 (it was actually 2-1 until the Canucks scored two late empty-netters to make it seem like a blow-out), rendering Turco's achievements meaningless.
There was another story about that series. The top two draft picks in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft--the Stars' Mike Modano and the Canucks' Trevor Linden--were still playing. Modano looked like he still had it, as he had tallied his 500th career NHL goal and also became the career leading goal-scorer among American-born players just a month prior to the series. Meanwhile, Linden, who seemed to have been signed by management merely because of sentimental reasons, was long removed from being a dominant offensive threat, finishing with just 12 goals in 80 games.
But it was Linden who got the last laugh, potting the series-winner seven minutes into the third period in Game Seven, his second game-winning goal in a span of a week. Meanwhile, Modano was shut out in the finale, finishing with a disappointing two points for the series.
And those two teams hooked up again at GM Place last night, in what was Vancouver's 200th straight sellout at the building also known as The Garage. And it was the first game for both teams following the All-Star break. Radio color commentator Tom Larschied proclaimed before the game that Linden usually plays his best hockey in the second half of the season, seemingly promising big things for the ex-captain for the rest of the year.
But while Linden was shut out this time around, it was Modano who got a big goal for Dallas. Actually, it was more like a fluke, but they all count. Modano's slap shot from just inside the blue line early in the second stanza somehow eluded goaltender Curtis Sanford, who just waved at it. It gave Dallas a 2-1 lead, and the Stars would build a 4-1 cushion and hang on for a 4-3 victory.
For Modano, it was a big goal (and part of a two-point night), but let's not call it a clutch play. Had the Canucks' No. 1 goalie Roberto Luongo--who was still in Florida to be with his pregnant wife--been in net, that puck might not have gotten in. And though Modano has been productive this season (15 goals, 36 points, third in team scoring), he is also a dreadful -12, worst (by far) on the team.
For the Canucks, it was the seventh straight game in which the opposition scored first, and the sixth in a row in which they have not even had the lead at any point during the contest. Seventh place in the Western Conference with 57 points, just one more than three other teams battling for the final eighth spot. If the Canucks go on to miss the playoffs, they can lament Sanford waving at that Modano shot.
The Stars, battling for first in the Pacific Division--they have 63 points, same as the Sharks--can look at Modano's goal as a positive, the fact that they took advantage of a struggling Canucks team that was missing its top goalie.
Nine months after that playoff series between the two teams, it appears that the Stars are in much better shape. They can keep that going if they continue to get timely goals from their 500-goal man.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Ex-Bostonians and their revenge
A couple things made me write this post.
First, no Super Bowl this past weekend, as the NFL has decided to do the skip-a-week routine this year again. What a letdown though in the AFC title game, as the Indianapolis Colts choked against the San Diego Chargers one week earlier in the divisional round, meaning that the Colts didn't get to play the New England Patriots, and ex-Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri didn't get a chance to haunt his old team and break the undefeated streak. Thankfully.
Second, this past week was Bob Sweeney's birthday. Sweeney is a native of Boston and played for the Bruins from 1987 to 1992. He was a decent player, but one thing that has always bugged me was the fact he couldn't get a goal in the 1990 playoffs and the Bruins lost to the Oilers in the Finals. Had he popped a couple in in the Edmonton series--he had chances in the triple-OT game--the Bruins would have won the Cup that year. At the start of the 1992-93 season, the Bruins waived Sweeney, and he was picked up by the Buffalo Sabres. And Sweeney came back to Boston Garden in Game One of the playoffs with the Sabres, scoring the OT winner. He later added a crucial goal in Game Three in Buffalo. The Bruins fell in a four-game sweep.
Ah yes… those ex-Boston players coming back to haunt us.
I decided to take a look back at some of the recent “traitors” to stick it to the Boston teams.
There was 1991, when the Red Sox were just two games out of first place on September 26th with 11 to play following a victory in the first game of a doubleheader in Baltimore. The Orioles (63-88) were down 4-0 and 5-1 in the second game, but managed to pull to within 5-4 going into the last of the ninth. With two outs, Cal Ripken Jr. singled home the tying run. The Orioles loaded the bases, and there was former Red Sox great Dwight Evans at the plate, with the game—and the Red Sox’s season—on the line. And there was Evans taking ball four from Boston reliever Greg Harris to drive in the winning run. The Red Sox never recovered, and finished seven games out at season’s end.
Evans, of course, had spent the first 19 seasons of his major league career with Boston—bashing 379 homers with over 1300 RBIs—before joining the Orioles in his final year in 1991.
In 1993, the Red Sox were again in contention, tied with both Toronto and the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Winners of ten straight and holding a 2-1 lead in Milwaukee on July 26th, the Red Sox were one out away. And there was former Sox right fielder Tom Brunansky (1990-92), hitting a two-out, two-run home run off Jeff Russell in the bottom of the ninth to beat Boston 3-2, ending the ten-game streak and knocking the Bosox out of first place for good.
Tony Pena (1990-93) did one better than Brunansky. In the opener of the 1995 American League Division Series, Pena, a backup catcher with the Cleveland Indians, got into the game in the late innings and proceeded to hit a game-winning, solo home run in the bottom of the 13th, to beat the Red Sox, 5-4. The Red Sox ended up getting swept. Were the Red Sox better than the powerful Indians (100-44) back then? No. But did the Red Sox have a chance in the series. Definitely. However, Pena changed all that with one swing.
March 1988. The Bruins sent winger Geoff Courtnall and goalie Bill Ranford to the Edmonton Oilers for goaltender Andy Moog. Fast forward to March 9th, 1989, just a year and two days later. Courtnall, now with the Washington Capitals, returned to Boston Garden and scored three goals on three shots on Moog. Then in the spring of 1990, it was Ranford who brought his Oilers back to Boston Garden and won three games on Garden ice. Ranford’s MVP puck-stopping performance helped Edmonton capture the Stanley Cup. (And Ranford was mediocre when he returned to the Bruins in 1995-96 for a second tour of duty.)
Dennis Eckersley (1978-84). A 20-game winner for the Red Sox in 1978, Eckersley became a closer in Oakland for the great A’s teams in the late ’80s. In the 1988 ALCS, the former Red Sox star picked up four saves in four games against Boston without yielding a run. In 1990, Eckersley got two more saves against the Red Sox in the ALCS, again having a 0.00 ERA. So, Eck was essentially perfect when it mattered in the post-season against Boston. And yet when Eckersley returned to the Red Sox for one final big-league season in 1998, it was a different story. The Red Sox made the playoffs. In Eck’s first post-season appearance with Boston in Game Three at Fenway, he gave up a ninth-inning home run to the first man he faced—Manny Ramirez. The Red Sox rallied but lost the game by one run. Bummer. It was his only playoff appearance in a Boston uniform.
Ah yes, The Rocket. Roger Clemens (1984-96) left the Red Sox and went to the Blue Jays. In his first start back at Fenway, on July 12, 1997, Clemens gave up just four hits and struck out a Blue Jays record sixteen in only eight innings, and the Blue Jays beat the last-place Red Sox, 3-1. Since leaving the Red Sox, Rocket Roger has gone 8-5 against Boston while pitching for the Jays and Yankees. With the Yankees, Clemens won two championship rings. It was only after he went to Houston, that the Sox finally got past New York in the post-season.
And of course, everyone knows the Babe Ruth story. No need to rehash it here.
But what about the rest of you? Any Toronto stories? Any other "traitors" that haunted your home teams? Discuss.
First, no Super Bowl this past weekend, as the NFL has decided to do the skip-a-week routine this year again. What a letdown though in the AFC title game, as the Indianapolis Colts choked against the San Diego Chargers one week earlier in the divisional round, meaning that the Colts didn't get to play the New England Patriots, and ex-Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri didn't get a chance to haunt his old team and break the undefeated streak. Thankfully.
Second, this past week was Bob Sweeney's birthday. Sweeney is a native of Boston and played for the Bruins from 1987 to 1992. He was a decent player, but one thing that has always bugged me was the fact he couldn't get a goal in the 1990 playoffs and the Bruins lost to the Oilers in the Finals. Had he popped a couple in in the Edmonton series--he had chances in the triple-OT game--the Bruins would have won the Cup that year. At the start of the 1992-93 season, the Bruins waived Sweeney, and he was picked up by the Buffalo Sabres. And Sweeney came back to Boston Garden in Game One of the playoffs with the Sabres, scoring the OT winner. He later added a crucial goal in Game Three in Buffalo. The Bruins fell in a four-game sweep.
Ah yes… those ex-Boston players coming back to haunt us.
I decided to take a look back at some of the recent “traitors” to stick it to the Boston teams.
There was 1991, when the Red Sox were just two games out of first place on September 26th with 11 to play following a victory in the first game of a doubleheader in Baltimore. The Orioles (63-88) were down 4-0 and 5-1 in the second game, but managed to pull to within 5-4 going into the last of the ninth. With two outs, Cal Ripken Jr. singled home the tying run. The Orioles loaded the bases, and there was former Red Sox great Dwight Evans at the plate, with the game—and the Red Sox’s season—on the line. And there was Evans taking ball four from Boston reliever Greg Harris to drive in the winning run. The Red Sox never recovered, and finished seven games out at season’s end.
Evans, of course, had spent the first 19 seasons of his major league career with Boston—bashing 379 homers with over 1300 RBIs—before joining the Orioles in his final year in 1991.
In 1993, the Red Sox were again in contention, tied with both Toronto and the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Winners of ten straight and holding a 2-1 lead in Milwaukee on July 26th, the Red Sox were one out away. And there was former Sox right fielder Tom Brunansky (1990-92), hitting a two-out, two-run home run off Jeff Russell in the bottom of the ninth to beat Boston 3-2, ending the ten-game streak and knocking the Bosox out of first place for good.
Tony Pena (1990-93) did one better than Brunansky. In the opener of the 1995 American League Division Series, Pena, a backup catcher with the Cleveland Indians, got into the game in the late innings and proceeded to hit a game-winning, solo home run in the bottom of the 13th, to beat the Red Sox, 5-4. The Red Sox ended up getting swept. Were the Red Sox better than the powerful Indians (100-44) back then? No. But did the Red Sox have a chance in the series. Definitely. However, Pena changed all that with one swing.
March 1988. The Bruins sent winger Geoff Courtnall and goalie Bill Ranford to the Edmonton Oilers for goaltender Andy Moog. Fast forward to March 9th, 1989, just a year and two days later. Courtnall, now with the Washington Capitals, returned to Boston Garden and scored three goals on three shots on Moog. Then in the spring of 1990, it was Ranford who brought his Oilers back to Boston Garden and won three games on Garden ice. Ranford’s MVP puck-stopping performance helped Edmonton capture the Stanley Cup. (And Ranford was mediocre when he returned to the Bruins in 1995-96 for a second tour of duty.)
Dennis Eckersley (1978-84). A 20-game winner for the Red Sox in 1978, Eckersley became a closer in Oakland for the great A’s teams in the late ’80s. In the 1988 ALCS, the former Red Sox star picked up four saves in four games against Boston without yielding a run. In 1990, Eckersley got two more saves against the Red Sox in the ALCS, again having a 0.00 ERA. So, Eck was essentially perfect when it mattered in the post-season against Boston. And yet when Eckersley returned to the Red Sox for one final big-league season in 1998, it was a different story. The Red Sox made the playoffs. In Eck’s first post-season appearance with Boston in Game Three at Fenway, he gave up a ninth-inning home run to the first man he faced—Manny Ramirez. The Red Sox rallied but lost the game by one run. Bummer. It was his only playoff appearance in a Boston uniform.
Ah yes, The Rocket. Roger Clemens (1984-96) left the Red Sox and went to the Blue Jays. In his first start back at Fenway, on July 12, 1997, Clemens gave up just four hits and struck out a Blue Jays record sixteen in only eight innings, and the Blue Jays beat the last-place Red Sox, 3-1. Since leaving the Red Sox, Rocket Roger has gone 8-5 against Boston while pitching for the Jays and Yankees. With the Yankees, Clemens won two championship rings. It was only after he went to Houston, that the Sox finally got past New York in the post-season.
And of course, everyone knows the Babe Ruth story. No need to rehash it here.
But what about the rest of you? Any Toronto stories? Any other "traitors" that haunted your home teams? Discuss.
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