Joe Crede cost the White Sox two straight games at Rogers Centre. Somehow I decided not to take shots at the third baseman in my somewhat clean recap.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/21225-Blue-Jays-White-Sox-Litsch-wins-Crede-wears-goat-horns-again
The Hockey Farmer / Showing Their Scales
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Philly should have ...
Three NHL conference semi-final series saw the first three contests won by the same team, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings all going up 3-0 in their respective series.
Of course, the Red Wings polished off the Colorado Avalanche with ease to complete the sweep, while the Penguins and Stars both lost their fourth games and have to win one more to advance.
What about the Montreal-Philadelphia series?
The Flyers are up three games to one after winning three in a row following their Game One collapse.
Yes, the Habs have dominated the series, and with a few breaks could actually be up 3-1 instead.
In fact, there are some in the media who think the Habs have a chance to make a comeback, based on their strong play thus far.
However, my contention is that this series might well have been over already.
All four series should have been 3-0 after three games.
Don't forget, the Flyers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Game One, saw the Canadiens rally to tie it, before going back up early in the third thanks to Joffrey Lupul.
But a questionable penalty call late in regulation put the Habs on the power play, and the NHL's best PP team capitalized. Alexei Kovalev tied it with 28.6 ticks remaning, and Montreal went on to win in overtime.
If not for that collapse by Philadelphia, the series might well have ended in a sweep for the Flyers, as they've been riding the hot play of Martin Biron the entire series.
Also, the Flyers have gone up 2-0 in every single game thus far, forcing the Habs to have to play catchup in every game.
Of course, in the third game the Habs totally outplayed the Flyers and outshot them 34-14, including a 17-2 edge in the final 20 minutes, had a long power play thanks to Derian Hatcher's ejection, and still lost.
Still, give the Flyers a lot of credit. They've been able to win three games already, although it should have already been over.
We'll see what they can do when the series resumes Saturday at the Bell Centre.
Of course, the Red Wings polished off the Colorado Avalanche with ease to complete the sweep, while the Penguins and Stars both lost their fourth games and have to win one more to advance.
What about the Montreal-Philadelphia series?
The Flyers are up three games to one after winning three in a row following their Game One collapse.
Yes, the Habs have dominated the series, and with a few breaks could actually be up 3-1 instead.
In fact, there are some in the media who think the Habs have a chance to make a comeback, based on their strong play thus far.
However, my contention is that this series might well have been over already.
All four series should have been 3-0 after three games.
Don't forget, the Flyers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Game One, saw the Canadiens rally to tie it, before going back up early in the third thanks to Joffrey Lupul.
But a questionable penalty call late in regulation put the Habs on the power play, and the NHL's best PP team capitalized. Alexei Kovalev tied it with 28.6 ticks remaning, and Montreal went on to win in overtime.
If not for that collapse by Philadelphia, the series might well have ended in a sweep for the Flyers, as they've been riding the hot play of Martin Biron the entire series.
Also, the Flyers have gone up 2-0 in every single game thus far, forcing the Habs to have to play catchup in every game.
Of course, in the third game the Habs totally outplayed the Flyers and outshot them 34-14, including a 17-2 edge in the final 20 minutes, had a long power play thanks to Derian Hatcher's ejection, and still lost.
Still, give the Flyers a lot of credit. They've been able to win three games already, although it should have already been over.
We'll see what they can do when the series resumes Saturday at the Bell Centre.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Solving New York's problems...
I weigh in on why Bonds should be a Yankee.
And thanks to the Blue Jays (12-17), New York (14-16) isn't in last place--yet.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20931-Why-Isn-t-Bonds-a-Yankee-Yet-
And thanks to the Blue Jays (12-17), New York (14-16) isn't in last place--yet.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20931-Why-Isn-t-Bonds-a-Yankee-Yet-
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Rick's in third place!
Well, looks like Rick's slumping this year with his picks.
I'm leading the way right on the overanything pool with 110 points, followed closely by "I-Pick-Corners", trailing by four points.
Rick, aka "Slacks"? Third place with 102 points.
Haha! I wonder how Rick's taking it with bronze, and with Splatking (Detroit?) just one point back. Rick may not finish in the top three!
I'm leading the way right on the overanything pool with 110 points, followed closely by "I-Pick-Corners", trailing by four points.
Rick, aka "Slacks"? Third place with 102 points.
Haha! I wonder how Rick's taking it with bronze, and with Splatking (Detroit?) just one point back. Rick may not finish in the top three!
Sharks lose again!
Here's my editorial on the San Jose Sharks:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20522-Sharks-going-down-like-92-93-Bruins
All right, zonk mates, no negative comments out of me this time around... ;-)
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20522-Sharks-going-down-like-92-93-Bruins
All right, zonk mates, no negative comments out of me this time around... ;-)
The Cain Watch Part 2 - April 29, 2008
The Giants' hard-luck Matt Cain finally wins for the first time this season, but his performance was overshadowed by his manager and teammate-starter-turned-reliever.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20406-Giants-Matt-Cain-Finally-Wins-but-Victory-is-Overshadowed
I'll try to keep track of the "Cain Watch" on here regularly.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20406-Giants-Matt-Cain-Finally-Wins-but-Victory-is-Overshadowed
I'll try to keep track of the "Cain Watch" on here regularly.
Alou Part 2
...By the way, as far as Alou's San Francisco career was concerned, I don't blame the Giants' failures in 2003 on the manager.
The Jints made it to the post-season after their 2002 World Series berth under former skipper Dusty Baker.
San Francisco would have beaten the Fish (haha, take that- Trout!) in the Division Series, but I blame two people:
- Sidney Ponson
- Jose Cruz, Jr.
Ponson was acquired down the stretch from the Orioles in order to provide an extra dependable arm to follow ace Jason Schmidt in the rotation. Ponson, however, was rocked in Game Two as the Marlins gained a split going to Miami.
Cruz, whom I'm sure all the zonk mates will remember since he's a former Blue Jay, was the goat in Game Three. He failed to get a hit with the bases loaded in the middle innings of the contest, and then dropped an easy fly ball in extra innings--with his team ahead by a run and three outs away from winning--and the Giants lost when Pudge Rodriguez hit a two-run single.
And the muff came after Cruz had failed to get a clutch hit to drive in an insurance run in the top half of the inning.
The Jints made it to the post-season after their 2002 World Series berth under former skipper Dusty Baker.
San Francisco would have beaten the Fish (haha, take that- Trout!) in the Division Series, but I blame two people:
- Sidney Ponson
- Jose Cruz, Jr.
Ponson was acquired down the stretch from the Orioles in order to provide an extra dependable arm to follow ace Jason Schmidt in the rotation. Ponson, however, was rocked in Game Two as the Marlins gained a split going to Miami.
Cruz, whom I'm sure all the zonk mates will remember since he's a former Blue Jay, was the goat in Game Three. He failed to get a hit with the bases loaded in the middle innings of the contest, and then dropped an easy fly ball in extra innings--with his team ahead by a run and three outs away from winning--and the Giants lost when Pudge Rodriguez hit a two-run single.
And the muff came after Cruz had failed to get a clutch hit to drive in an insurance run in the top half of the inning.
What do the Zonk House mates think about Felipe Alou?
Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants moved past Felipe Alou as the winningest foreign-born manager in baseball when his team defeated Colorado 4-0.
Alou, of course, is not managing in the big leagues right now.
Most Zonk mates on OA know that Moises' dad used to be the Montreal Expos skipper during the 1990s, and often had to deal with a lack of talent on the big-league roster. Guys like Ken Hill, John Wetteland, Jeff Fassero, Mel Rojas, his own son Moises, Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez, and on and on, all left Montreal as free agents or via trades because the Expos couldn't afford to pay all of them.
Alou's Expos never made the post-season, although as most remember, they were the best team in baseball when the strike of 1994 wiped out the rest of the season. Then they lost Walker, Hill, Wetteland, and Marquis Grissom. Ouch.
Unfazed, Alou led the '96 Expos to within two games of winning the NL wild card, but unfortunately the Padres and Dodgers--who both finished two games better--won the NL West and wild card, respectively.
In 1997, they started out well but collapsed down the stretch when other teams--even the non-contending ones--were acquiring the big stars (ie. the Cards getting Mark McGwire) but the Expos were getting only the immortal Mike Johnson.
Some in the media have said that Alou was not a great manager for failing to win with the Expos. Most notable was Bob Kemp, who used to host his own show on Sporting News Radio, and he would often bash Alou for not being innovative with his lineups, etc. (And this was around 2001-2002, before Alou got the Giants gig.)
So, my question to House, Trout, Rick, and Cliff, is: Was Alou one of the elite skippers in the big leagues? Or was Bob Kemp accurate in his accessment?
Let's hear some answers on the zonk!
Alou, of course, is not managing in the big leagues right now.
Most Zonk mates on OA know that Moises' dad used to be the Montreal Expos skipper during the 1990s, and often had to deal with a lack of talent on the big-league roster. Guys like Ken Hill, John Wetteland, Jeff Fassero, Mel Rojas, his own son Moises, Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez, and on and on, all left Montreal as free agents or via trades because the Expos couldn't afford to pay all of them.
Alou's Expos never made the post-season, although as most remember, they were the best team in baseball when the strike of 1994 wiped out the rest of the season. Then they lost Walker, Hill, Wetteland, and Marquis Grissom. Ouch.
Unfazed, Alou led the '96 Expos to within two games of winning the NL wild card, but unfortunately the Padres and Dodgers--who both finished two games better--won the NL West and wild card, respectively.
In 1997, they started out well but collapsed down the stretch when other teams--even the non-contending ones--were acquiring the big stars (ie. the Cards getting Mark McGwire) but the Expos were getting only the immortal Mike Johnson.
Some in the media have said that Alou was not a great manager for failing to win with the Expos. Most notable was Bob Kemp, who used to host his own show on Sporting News Radio, and he would often bash Alou for not being innovative with his lineups, etc. (And this was around 2001-2002, before Alou got the Giants gig.)
So, my question to House, Trout, Rick, and Cliff, is: Was Alou one of the elite skippers in the big leagues? Or was Bob Kemp accurate in his accessment?
Let's hear some answers on the zonk!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Seattle & Thomas bashing
Thomas is 1-for-10 for the A's. Seattle's DHing stinks. How long will each continue?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/19976-A-s-Mariners-Bedard-Dominates-Oakland-allowing-two-hits
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/19976-A-s-Mariners-Bedard-Dominates-Oakland-allowing-two-hits
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