Random Thoughts About Sports
It looks like Ndamukong Suh is going to get at least 2 games for his Thanksgiving Day Stomp. Good. He deserves at least a day for his pathetic explanation to the media after the game. Now he’s calling Goodall to apologize? Whatever. Idiot……
_________________________________________________________________
Luck is supposedly still in the running to win the Heisman. Of course, I hope he wins it but there are several deserving candidates for the award—- Richardson and Griffin both could win. Barkley has 17 td’s in his last 4 games but probably has no shot with most of the West voting for Luck. Fitzgerald noted in the Chron what I observed the other day: Luck hasn’t been spectacular, especially in the 2nd half of the season. He’s played against inferior competition (as opposed to Richardson), he doesn’t have a signature win (like Griffin has over Oklahoma) and he’s hasn’t even been the best QB (stats wise) in his conference (Barkley has been phenomenal in the last month).
________________________________________________
I love that Neuheisel gets fired after his embarrassing 50-zip spanking. What happens if they somehow beat Oregon? Half that team would have to get injured in the first quarter, but it’s at least a possibility that they upset the Ducks. Then they play in the Rose Bowl? Ha, I’m almost rooting for that to happen, that would be quite a circus……..
___________________________________________________
Retro Game ‘o the Day! September 26, 1978
It’s the last homestand of the year and the Giants are playing the Padres. The COunt was going up against Gaylord Perry in a Tuesday night game. Exactly 6,227 showed up to watch. Perry would win his 21st game of the season, easily the last great year of his HOF career. Roger Craig managed the Pad’s and this loss knocked us 7.5 back with 4 to play. Rollie Fingers got the save.
The Padres are playing at least 4 guys I’ve never heard of (Perkins, Turner, Evans and Almon) while Altobelli goes with a similar LU (except for Dwyer at 1st base) that he’s gone with most of the year……
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Barry Evans I don’t recall, but Bill “Toasted” Almon was a good utility guy who could play OF as well as 2b and SS. He was around for a long time, few years with A’s I think.
Ah, Gaylord and his famous country sinker…regardless of how exactly he did it, this guy sure knew how to pitch. How many games did he win after SF dumped him off? entertaining to listen to as well.
Got me doing some research. Found it interesting that The once very promising Giant, John DAcquisto was in the Padres pen that yr. He had been acquired from STL in a trade for Butch Metzger, a former G draft pick, who had been traded along with Tito Fuentes to San Diego for Darrell Thomas. Metzger proceeded to win the ROY In 76 , but was out of baseball after 78. John D hung around till 82.
For many years, the Giants were in the unfortunate situation where their owner (Stoneham family) had the Giants as their primary income. It’s a bad situation for fans when your favorite team’s owner’s income source is the team.
Oops- I meant that post to be sort of connected to Willie’s post about Gaylord Perry, and in general how the Giants didn’t hang onto their talent very well in those days.
Darrell Thomas? That trade was up there with the FA signing of Rennie Stennett . . . . . .
BLEEP!
Richardson would be a deserving winner, but I’m pulling for Luck. The award should be about more than just flash and stats.
I would like his academic achievements to be factored into this. This is an award for college athletes. I don’t know what the other contenders GPA’s are or how difficult their classes are (or if they are even going to classes) but Luck is a model for what a college student–athlete should strive to be.
Look, I WANT him to win it, I just don’t think he’s going to.
This is another game I went to. Mainly because Perry was pitching for the Pads. Perrry was on fire that year IIRC . . .
Jim Dwyer? Don’t remember him. Was Ivie off his meds?
and how about McCovey? He was jsut straight platooning at this point in his career, I think, but Perry was righthanded, so what gives? Maybe he was hurt.
topical: check it out.
Chris Jaffe
8:18 AM (1 hour ago)
to me
Craig,
Hi. This is Chris Jaffe from The Hardball Times, and I’ve got a new historical item up that you and your readers might like. Today is the 40th anniversary of maybe the greatest day for offseason trading in baseball history, in which three teams engaged in big deals. All six teams involved received at least one past or future All-Star player including two Hall of Famers – and one of those teams trading away a Hall of Famer was the Giants.
40 years ago today, Cleveland shipped Sudden Sam McDowell to the Giants for Gaylord Perry and Frank Duffy. That could’ve worked out better. Cleveland as Perry won a Cy Young and Sudden Sam suddenly imploded. If it’s worth anything – the Astros did even worse that day, sending Joe Morgan and Cesar Geronimo and Jack Billingham and two others to the Reds for Lee May and little else.
The piece lists other events having their anniversary today, including the Giants trading a young Steve Stone to the White Sox.
If you’re interested, here’s the link:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_article/40th-anniversary-best-day-ever-for-off-season-trades/
I was SOOOO pissed when I heard about this trade.
Of course at the time I didn’t know Sudden Sam’s real nickname was Six-pack Sam . . .
SOOOO BLEEPED!
Richardson may win the Heisman but Luck is still the best QB and will the number 1 pick in the draft. As Shaw said, he simply does more at the line of scrimmage than other college QBs- and he doesn’t have top receivers. In the Heisman, a top runner like Richardson has an avantage in that he can be bottled up all day but make 3 or 4 good runs and it’s a great day. Luck did show he was human but 9 interceptions vs. 35 TDs and a 70 percent completion percentage is Heisman worthy. Barkley, BTW, was very comparable but he had Woods-and Luck did win the showdown.
And Luck has the better QB rating than Barkley. Bottom line- Richardson edges out Luck for the Heisman due to his conference, Andrew is the number one pick in the draft, he’ll go to the Colts. Where Barkley and Griffin factor in is that they reduce the Colt’s leverage if they decide to roll with Manning and deal Luck for a shitload of players.
Stanford played a soft schedule…… that hurts LUCK. SEC is perceived as a tough league.
Manning is going to be 36 when he next steps on the field as an NFL QB. He’s coming off a serious neck injury. And they are coming off what looks to be, at best, a 1-15 season.
He’s got 4 years left on the deal he signed this offseason. Having the chance to get another long-term QB is something Indy has to be seriously considering. Manning certainly last through that deal, but a couple seasons of Luck under Manning would be up there, and possibly surpass, the Montana/Young combo.
That being said, Indy’s defense is struggling majorly without Peyton controlling the ball, and putting up points. Would they trade that pick for a ton of other picks/players? I don’t think so.
Weird, because you just gave a good reason why they would trade the pick.
Agreed. Pats D isn’t very good either, but Brady makes up for it, and so does Brees. No way they pass up an opp like this, even with all the other weaknesses.
So you think you they draft Luck and keep Manning? Don’t see that at all . The folly of making the QB the be all and end all has just been completely proven.If Manning can go, they have to trade Luck. Comparison to Brady and the Pats doesn’t wash- Colts are 0-11 w/o Manning, Pats went 11-5 w/o Brady.
Or maybe I’m misunderstanding, very conceivable these days.
Just catching up with yesterday’s thread. First, thanks pawlie and second a belated Happy Birthday to sandawg. My birthday was just Sunday the 27th. Same day as Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee. Where I fit in with that duo is anybody’s guess. Not exactly The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. More like The Cool, the Jewel and the Tool
Was this already noted: Sabean and Bochy extended through 2013, club options for 2014.
wonder how this goes over on bagg’s blog for play the kids crowd that complained these two ruined everything last year.
Phillies just signed Misch and Franny to minor league deals– I guess they needed some AAA filler. But you never know, Downs produced a decent year and I thought he was just AAA filler……
Yes, Twin I think that’s exactly what colts will do: keep Manning and draft Andrew Luck. All other things aside, QB is the single most imp position to fill on the field. Luck has everything going for him and imo Manning’s days are numbered. They can work Luck in without hopefully having to throw him to the dogs right off the bat, assuming Manning is fully recovered and ready to play next year. Plus, with Manning rep the team won’t have to listen to the typical go with the back up BS. Manning probably a class enough act to retire gracefully.
Well, as I said, the Colts have proven that their strategy is total disaster if the #1 QB goes down. Plus Manning would probably demand a trade if they drafted Luck and kept him. Luck is ready to be a starting QB NOW, but for a team that hasn’t stupidly neglected the other positions.
Maybe John can trade him to the Colts- the Bible thumbers there out number the Denver ones.. throw in a couple #1’s, and a couple of the guys that don’t help Tebow win in Denver… and come out with Luck. The Colts have shown they’re dumb enough to take Tebow. Perfect.
I’m fine with Bochy and Sabean getting extended. They had some misfires last year (playing O-Cab as long as they did, Huff too) but it’s not like there are 2 sure fire guys sitting around unemployed waiting to take over. They won a WS for us. And the important thing to remember is that Sabean HAS learned over the years, he’s come a million miles from the “Michael Tucker” days……
Well, there was never a question that they’d be re-upped. You don’t win a WS, win 86 games the next year with your opening day starting LU missing over 20% of the season, and get fired for your efforts.
Well, there’s been unsubstantiated grumbling that Peyton would somehow block Indy from drafting Luck. Or what, throw a hissy fit? I think Indy would be pretty stupid to pass up on Luck. Luck may be ready to start now, but that doesn’t mean it has to happen.
Really, though, to be in the spot to get Luck would be ideal if not for the egos involved. I have no idea how Manning would react, but Peyton has to know that he’s nearing the end of his career. 3 years is about the max life expectancy for him (he’s got 4 years left on his deal). A perfect amount of time for Luck to absorb the offense. Does Manning really think he’s going to bring Indy a ring when he’s 40?
I guess he does, but Indy, having seen what happened without Peyton, has to look to the future rather than the present. I’m sure they could get a boatload of swag for that #1 pick, but they could also get the next Peyton Manning for the next 12-15 years.
The thing is, losing Manning and having no backup has put all the pressure on the defense. And they can’t take the constant 3-and-outs, turnovers, and such that the offense is saddling the defense with. Much like the Niners of the past 6 years. The D can play well and still lose.
Agree absolutely that Luck is a slam dunk to go to the Colts, should the Colts have the numero uno draft pick. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. If there is one thing that the NFL has shown a lack of – it’s sympathy for aging players. More reason why I admire Barry Sanders for being on “Sanders time” versus the Detroit Lions dysfunctional time piece. In short, thank you very much Mr. Manning . . . and umm . . . don’t let that door hit ya in the ass.
Luck is ready to start- but he isn’t good enough right away to turn around a team that might go 0-16 this year- if he has a brain he makes it known that if Indy doesn’t trade the pick, he ain’t going there.
No way a talent like Luck sits around for 3-4 yrs.
He won;t have to. Manning will get dinged and hurt over the next couple years.
They are 0-11. I think adding some pieces that would prevent a complete meltdown as a result of losing one player is more more important . And there’s not just Manning’s ego- I’m not so sure Luck is going for 2-3 years of clipboard duty.
I think what transpired deflated Indy to the point of them giving up. And I mean before the season started. And since they didn’t have a viable backup, it all has just become a nightmare of ineptitude and losses.
If Luck wants to go somewhere where there’s an established coaching staff and a solid front office, then Indy’s the ticket. If he wants to go some clusterfuck nightmare and start right away, then hello Cleveland, Miami, or Jacksonville.
Colts would not be totally insane to not take Luck. They could give him up as #1 to somebody for a coupla high picks in this draft, then drop down a few if they were assured of the draft order, and take one of the other top QBs, say Barkley or Griffin. But, they need to pick a QB. Manning has had 3 surgeries on that neck within the last two years. No guarantees he can go anymore. They have a big contract with him, but they have exits on it that limit their financial exposure if he can’t physically perform. If he throws a hissy when they draft a successor QB, big deal. Favre dissed Rogers for a few years, look how that turned out for the Packers. I think Manning would be more respectful of his legend status in Indy, and wouldn’t make a spectacle of himself on exiting like Favre did,,,
Manning could very go a few more years and they’ll know if he’s fit well before the draft. Luck ain’t going for sitting for years on the bench.
Put it this way. If the Niners had lost Alex Smith on play #1 this year, what would our record be? I’d say somewhere in the range of 3-8 or 4-7 at best.
Granted, the falloff is a bit steeper with Indy, but the point remains, with the same defense and a different QB, the Niners are a much shittier team. Indy’s defense isn’t as bad as their record shows. They just aren’t getting any help from their offense.
With Manning and then Luck, they are set at the QB position for likely 15 more years. They can ease Manning out, show Luck the ropes for a couple years, and then do what they must with Manning when the time comes. Say 2014.
You mean slightly better than most predicted *with* Alex…
An unnamed ‘team source’ has said that Burrell (shocker) and Ross won’t be offered arbitration.
That news was released on KNBR and other outlets yesterday…
KNBR? What’s that?
Something you don’t listen to when the Giants and Niners aren’t on?… 🙂
Bingo . . .
Actually it was reported last week..
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7275856/san-francisco-giants-decline-offer-arbitration-cody-ross-pat-burrell
Snarkk himself gave the link on the Ross/Burrell story on the 23rd…
Or I’m going insane, could be.
So, I scooped myself?
I’ve either had too many bourbons, or not enough…
Yeah Chuck hasn’t been paying attention. Too many BLEEPS and not enough listening!
Pete Rose now reportedly selling, for $500 a pop in some souvie show in Vegas, signed and notarized copies of the papers wherein he admitted to MLB that he bet on baseball. Wow, wouldn’t that look good framed, and hanging on the wall of your den? I would think if you’re into baseball that much and you’re in Vegas, just take that $500 and actually bet on baseball YOURSELF…
What a fricking maroon Rose is. Great ball player? Sure. Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Sure. Did I love watching the guy play? Hell yeah. Will he ever get in? Nope. Not until he dies and stops embarassing himself.
All the guy had to do was admit he gambled 30 years ago. Instead he waits until 20 years after the fact to come clean as a promo to shill the book he ‘wrote.’ Duhhhhhhh. Smooth move, skippy. Is stupidity enough to keep you out of the hall?
Yup.
He and Lenny Dykstra (among many others) should open up their own Hall of Lame . . .
You can head it Chuck!
BLEEP to the bleep king!
Glad to get email from the team telling me that Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy are on board through 2013 with an option for 2014. How come the announcement mentioned that Sabes is 55 but did not mention Bruce’s age? Hunh?
The only thing I’m slightly sore about is that neither Neukom nor Sabean nor anyone from the Giants even acknowledged my handwritten WS congratulatory notes last year. That’s not good manners.
On a more gracious note, learned today that my nuclear cardiac stress tests and chest X rays from yesterday all came out “perfectly normal.” The poet William Carlos Williams used the phrase “so much depends” in his famous poem about the little red wheel barrow. Yes, “so much depends” on simple phrases and such simple phone calls from a physician.
“So much depends. . . ”
I am grateful.
Good news, Pawlie.
I’m waiting for my doctor to say: “Go buy Depends”…
buy dry and sell wet? no no no no sell low buy high? no no no no …”Go, buy Depends” — Horace Greeley’s maxim revisited? [sometime I just should leave well enough alone]
LQTM . . . Good one Snarkk 😉
Weird Pawlie, that we both had physicals yesterday (you) and today (me). Key Twilight Zone music. We need to set up a Skype call in regard to Panama . . . Not going to Panama City now, but to Boquete (much better locale . . . and world famous coffee).
awrighty…plus I want one of your famous stock tips
so, your results good, we trust?
Maybe someone can suggest another game from 2010 for me to watch, Snarkk’s was awesome. I had said said I didn’t give shit a about the NBA, now I can’t wait for them to start. Other than a few food shows, I can’t stand regular TV. Speaking of food shows, anyone hear of Alton Brown? I’ll all for a show where the contestants vie for the opportunity to pair him with fava beans and a fine Chianti…
For the game, I’m leaning to the Rockies road game where my main man Ishikawa hit a slam off of Ubaldo. They had lost 5 in row, including 3 to the Bums- then they went 7-3 on what could have been a make or break trip. He had 12 hits on the trip and 11 RBI. It was that trip that began the extended run that would culminate in the WS victory…they were just one over .500 before the trip- it was the turning point in the season. Can’t find anything on his shoulder surgery, just hope it doesn’t end his career.
5/18 or 5/19 2011…
Pawlie and Blade- congrats on your good news-yours was good, wasn’t it, Steve?
thanks, Twin; no one has to tell you how sweet the words “perfectly normal” — or even just-plain-old-fashioned normal (though anyone who knows me knows I ain’t all that normal)
Mike, thank you for asking . . . I think so, i.e., the blood work hasn’t been analyzed yet, but I don’t expect any problems. I had her (my physician) check out this small red spot on my forehead – not noticeable to anyone except me (been there for months) and she said it was “burst blood vessels” caused by too much sun . . . I only heard not cancerous. Whew!
I know you are a foodie and I am attempting (emphasis on attempt) to eliminate all processed meats, cheeses, etc., from my diet. I would bet dollars to donuts, you are also the ONLY person on this blog that knows what an emmulsifier is . . . Otherwise known as a commercial blender (Blendtec and Vitamix). I bought a Blendtec from Costco and it has been a blast experimenting with soups, smoothies, green drinks, sorbet, and yes, occasionally, ice cream.
you belong in Marin County
My hometown homey Bobby V to manage the BoSox.
I hear Yankee fans rejoicing…
Not absolutely certain, but I think my physician stuck her finger in my “adenoidal” after asking me to bend over today.
if you took pleasure in it, then it was a sin
Not sure I am the “Lone Ranger” here, but I’ve always liked Valentine. Yes, he is occasionally pompous, but I like the fact that he marches to his own drum beat. His mentor was (drum roll please) . . . Tommy Lasorda. OH OH!
Seriously though, he was the obvious choice to me insofar as straightening out that mess in Bean Town.
if nothing else, he’ll be fun to watch; I think he’ll be fine
Yes, he will be fun . . . Never a dull moment with Bobby.
he’s smart, his own man, and commands respect…plus, he knows the pressure. That said, he’ll be on a short leash in that town. (He was a bit too adenoidal for announcing.)
Twin’s 5:15pm post . . . Why can’t Flav pick this game for RGOTD? I actually attended this game and Ishi’s parents were in attendance too!
Selected games from 2010 would pretty cool, I think.
Travis just hit the slam to put them up 7-1. They would actually lose the lead before rallying to win it..
I think a very overlooked factor in the 2011 fall off was the bench. Travis and Nate were two of the best role players in the game in 2010. Nate went on to play pretty well as a starter but he wasn’t replaced adequately on the bench .
Yeah, and the friend I was with (a Rockies fan) was very deflated afterwards. Grin.
Actually, they had lost 7 in a row going into this- Rocks tied it 7-7 ( and later went ahead) in the 6th and Bochy got himself tossed- not with Valentine-like histrionics, needless to say.
You be slammin’ my Bobby already? flash to ’78 in Montreal: I was drunk, Mets at Expos, yelling for Bobby V to get a hit. He pops out. A Quebecker turns to me, thick accent, and says: Well, what do you think of your Bobby now, eh?
Just noted he’s a tad more animated than Bochy..
True. Actually, I’ve come to revere Bochy’s steadiness. He saves it for when it counts.
Can’t wait for that Bruce Bochy Show on KNBR!
…just a quick shout out thanking those of you who wished me a feliz cumpleanos yesterday. Roy Tarpley, John Burkett, and I all turned 47. Celebrated a day early with the kids on our way back from Thanksgiving in Redding by stopping at The Pantry in downtown LA (as much as I hate all of their sports teams, I dig downtown LA) for an olde-school breakfast followed by a visit to “Occupy LA” at City Hall. Quite an eye-opening experience for the kids as we walked around in there hoping to not get pepper sprayed. Bought a piece of artwork from a guy named Tony B Conscious that shows 2 contrasting monopoly men (I think it is the “Pay Poor Tax of $50” and “Bank Error in Your Favor–Collect $200” guys) with the caption of “People Over Profits”
I think MLB is more interesting with Bobby V at the helm of a club—especially in a market like Boston.
Flav—I can forgive Barry Evans and Broderick Perkins, but you don’t remember Billy Almon and Jerry Turner?
ps I thought we got Frank Duffy when we traded George Foster. Please tell me we didn’t trade for that loser twice. I seem to remember Howard Cosell taking a crack at the Giants on TV saying of Foster “…and to think they had to give up Frank Duffy to get him. ”
I couldn’t stand Howie.
Happy Belated B-Day TedSpe!
San dawg- once the coffee kicked in I recalled Almon– I’m usually half asleep when I write these morning threads. But I’ve got recollection of Turner…
I don’t like managers or coaches who think the game is all about them. It’s why I don’t like Rex Ryan. And maybe Bobby V isn’t all about himself. If so, I’ll be surprised. He’s a “look at me guy” at least that’s my impression of him…
I missed Ted’s birthday? So sorry- wishing you many more, my friend. And now to bed for me.
That should say “no recollection of Turner.” on my dumb ph right now.
And Twin, I plan on ending the Winter with some 2010 r-gotd’s. We’re just through ’78 today (I’ll probably move to ’79 or ’80 tomorrow. I’m likely to skip a year or 2 along the way. But I’ll time it perfectly to end when ST starts. I’m having a ball with the RGOTD
My bad too – Happy belated birthday Ted . . . I hope you and yours’ did something fun for your special day 🙂
I agree Bobby V likes to put himself front and center and has a huge ego. I don’t like those type of coaches/managers either, but it does make the games more interesting for me having guys like that around.
I’ve mentioned this fun fact before, but my brothers like to remind me that despite growing up in a home of Giants fans, the first player they can remember me knowing by name was scrub Dogger Bobby Valentine. To this day I think he has a fucking cool name and I guess I felt the same way when I was 6 or 7 and it just stuck in my head.
Have you guys already covered the Joe Kapp thing on here? I’m a Cal guy, so I’ve always liked Joe, but I thought he was clearly at fault for that mess. First he tried to give the guy flowers that were basically weeds, then he sticks them in his face and takes the first swipe at the guy. Love the other guy for telling him to shove the flowers up his ass and then taking a swipe at him with his cane. Laughing my ass off just typing this.
Dawg — Here’s a link where Joe gives a version that puts the instigation on Mosca. The truth is probably somewhere in between, looked to me like Mosca was saying something not too nice as he tried to get up to the stage, then Joe stuck the flowers in his face as a faux peace offering, which was rejected with a swipe of the cane to Joe’s face, followed by Kapp’s pretty dang good right cross. Nobody got hurt apparently, so I’m laughing. Go Bears!!…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/29/SPO51M5A6L.DTL
Old dudes in action!
Snarkk would have bit their ankles.
I would have told them to sit down, shut up, and have a few more drinks since the ones they already had clearly weren’t enough…
There’s a good youtube version of the event, and it’s clear that when Kapp offers the weird little flower, Mosca says, “Stick it up your ass.” Mosca’s seated at the time. Kapp backs away, then move forward and shoves the flower at Mosca’s mouth. (Get it?) Mosca then rises and the fracas ensues, cane swing, etc.
I looked at the youtube vids, and my memory was off. Kapp first offers the weird flower as Mosca is taking the stage. Mosca grabs the mic and says “Stick it up your ass” into the sound system, and the audience responds. Then he sits down, and then Kapp moves to put the flower in Mosca’s mouth. Who was the idiot who planned on having them sit next to each other on the stage in the first place?
I give Valentine two seasons, max, before getting fired.
The Boston baseball press corps is already foaming at the mouth…
Two seasons might be all anyone could take up there. I think their organization is in some disarray; it’ll take more than any one guy to right the ship. Concerning comments above, I just feel compelled to say that all the anecdotal evidence I have from back in Stamford is good stuff about Bobby Valentine. Yeah, he has his own colorful style, but from what I know and can discern, he’s a decent guy. Now that doesn’t make him a decent manager or instant success. Of course not. But, man, they loved him over in Japan — at least while that ride lasted.
TedSpe, happy birthday, belated — or early for next year. “You’re aces,” is how Holden Caulfield might’ve put it.