Category Archives: Everything Else

Winter X Games are Upon Us

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If your anything like me, the Winter X Games may be the only thing to get me through this winter with no snow. Maybe it’s the lack of snow and winter-like weather conditions around here this year, but the Winter X Games kind of snuck up on us. The 16th edition of the winter games kicked off today in Aspen and as always should make for an exciting week on the slopes. Regardless of the results at the end of the weekend, the highlight of the Winter X Games 2012 will be Sarah Burke and remembering her legendary presence. RIP Sarah

 

L.A. Divided

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Sorry for a bit of an absence in my BSB presence, but I was taking some much needed vacation time out of the spotlight.

Anyway, looks like the Lakers may have a new rival in the cross-town Clippers. Finally emerging from the depths and putting together a formidable squad this year, the Clippers obviously have some serious talent on their roster. Last night there was obvious hostility between the two, led by none other than Ron Meta Worldpeace (or whatever his name is now). I still find his name a bit ironic for a person who is a pretty dirty basketball player, someone who answers interview questions with statements about baby teeth, yet changes his name to promote peace among men. Anyway, even Pau Gasol got into it a little last night with Chris Paul, which is flat out bullying if you ask me, even though I think CP3 could actually take him.

Regardless, the Lakers are proving to be a pretty serious squad this year, and Kobe is confirming he still has plenty left in the tank (even surpassing some of Jordan’s numbers in the beginning of 1996). Needless to say, this year’s NBA has some pretty fresh talent and a whole new approach to rivalries.

What are your thoughts on the new NBA balance of power?

(Fast Forward to 0:55 Mark)

 

TOB$ Time: Toss Up Round 2

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Monster free agent signing in the MLB yesterday. Prince Fielder joined Miguel Cabrera and the reigning AL Cy Young and MVP Justin Verlander in Detroit. I thought two things when I saw this signing. First, was HOLY SHIT. This was simply due to Fielders NINE year $214 million dollar contract. I can’t believe the Tigers agreed to  such a long contract with a 27 year old guy like Prince.

Second thing I thought of (and the point of this article) was that this has created one of the best 3-4 batters in a lineup in a while. Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder have a chance to do something real special over in Detroit. I immediately thought of Manny-Big Papi for the Red Sox in 2004 and 2005. They were the best in business (maybe steroids had a bit to do with it) and they were a force for years. More importantly, they were consistent and incredibly clutch, clutch enough to break an 86 year old curse.

Here is the 2004 and 2005 seasons in stats for Manny and Ortiz and Feilder and Miguel Cabrera’s individual stats for last year:

GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP
Manny 2004 BOS 152 568 108 175 44 0 43 130 82 124 2 4 0.308 0.397
Ortiz 2004 BOS 150 582 94 175 47 3 41 139 75 133 0 0 0.301 0.38
GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP
Manny 2005 BOS 152 554 112 162 30 1 45 144 80 119 1 0 0.292 0.388
Ortiz 2005 BOS 159 601 119 180 40 1 47 148 102 124 1 0 0.3 0.397
GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP
Cabrera 2011 DET 161 572 111 197 48 0 30 105 108 89 2 1 0.344 0.448
Fielder 2011 MIL 162 569 95 170 36 1 38 120 107 106 1 1 0.299 0.415

Before anyone gets on my case, I understand Prince just came from a pretty good 3-4 punch on the Brewers with Ryan Braun, but Miguel has never batted around the type of talent Prince has, thus inflating his stats in future years (and no Victor Martinez, who batted behind Cabrera last year, does not count). Braun has had the protection of Prince for 5 years and I like to think this has influenced his stats a great deal. Don’t get me wrong, he is a great player, but I like Miguel Cabrera as a hitter more than steroid boy Braun.

After throwing up this comparison, in some ways I feel stupid. The numbers from Ortiz and Manny are jaw dropping. That’s all that can be said. Granted they may have had some help from a few friendly needles up their ass, but those numbers are rediculous. I think Cabrera will have an incredible year this year and Fielder might even have a better year in hitter friendly Comerica Park, but who knows if they can touch Manny and Papi’s numbers. The big factor will be whether they can win a couple World Series rings together, like the former two led the Sox to do.

Raiders Fire Hue Jackson After Just One Season

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With new management coming in, the Raiders have decided to part ways with Head Coach Hue Jackson after just one season.

To me this makes absolutely zero sense. Jackson had looked to have the franchise headed in the right direction until a couple of key injuries really hurt their playoff chances. After showing he was one of the top running backs in the NFL through the first half of the season Darren McFadden went down with an injury that plagued him for the remainder of the season, as well as starting quarterback Jason Campbell going down with a broken collarbone. Jackson was forced to take what he was given.

How many first round busts can a team draft before they realize it isn’t the coaches’ fault? For a team that seems to always pick in the top 10 they don’t exactly have the best recent draft history. Since 2005 here are their top draft picks in order: Fabian Washington (2005) Michael Huff (2006) Jamarcus Russell (2007) Darren McFadden (2008) Darrius Heyward-Bey (2009) Rolando McClain (2010). So throughout their past six draft picks they end up with one franchise player, a few average players, the biggest bust in NFL history (Russell) and a guy that believes its okay to run others over with his cars (McClain).

To add to their terrible draft picks, they seem to always make absolutely terrible trades. Randy Moss for a 4th rounds picks? Giving a team two first round picks for a 32-year-old Carson Palmer? I guess the only defense they have for making the Palmer trade could be… Well we don’t really draft that great anyways right?

Every time the Raiders make a coaching change, (which I swear happens like every year or so) I think to myself; how can they not see that the coach isn’t the issue? The real issue is the front office and their absolutely unintelligent moves. Hopefully for the sake of those insane Raiders fans new management will also mean new results.

 

Sox sign Cook, Larkin Gets Hall Pass

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Late last night, the Red Sox inked a minor league deal with Aaron Cook. Most readers are probably saying, “Who the F**k?”, which I can definately understand. Aaron Cook has been a member of the Colorado Rockies rotation for the last 9 years. Yeah, Cook played pretty solid in 2008 (3.98 ERA, 16-9 record), but the guy has battled injuries ever since and it seems as if his time is up.

Signings like this are what gets me most mad about the Red Sox. It seems every year we decide to buy 3 to 4 shit-bum, washed up pitchers to minor league deals and hope that one will pan out and help the major league roster (Rich Hill, Erik Bedard, Kevin Millwood, Boof Bonser, etc.). I don’t understand why we can’t just commit to our farm system with the end of the rotation pitchers, instead of signing these has-been veterans as a temporary fix.

In other MLB news, 1995 NL MVP Barry Larkin was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame today. First off, I’d like to state that Barry Larkin was a clear cut choice for every one of my Backyard Baseball 2001 squads. Guy could play second, shortstop, or third in the game and was fast, a good fielder, and was a solid batter. Even though Derek Jeter might have been a better choice, I could never bring myself to putting him on my virtual squad back in the day. The only other thing worth talking about in regards to the Hall election is that it again looks like the voters are very against the steroids era. Larkin was the only one elected and Mark McGwire and former  Viagra spokesman Rafael

Palmerio each received less than 20% of the vote (you need 75% in order to be elected). Should be very interesting to see how the voters treat Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds next year in their first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame.

 

Tradition Ruined?: Winter Classic Not on New Years Day

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This year, the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers will match up against each other in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park. Along with the past Winter Classics, this one should prove to be another great game. The problem is that this year the game will be played on January 2nd.

In the last few years, the Winter Classic has become synonymous with New Years Day. They go together like spaghetti and meatball, or lamb and tuna fish if you are Rob Schneider in Big Daddy. I feel as if the Winter Classic has proven to be one of the major things that put the NHL back on the map, perhaps even vaulted it ahead of the NBA as an organization. It has become an incredible tradition for sports fans around North America to wake up on New Years Day and turn on the hockey classic. Something about being hungover makes outdoor hockey a great idea. But truly, that’s not it. The NHL has really done this one right. Play the game between two well-matched teams in an outdoor MLB or NFL stadium, and while we are at it, let’s air it on NBC before the BCS bowl games start up. Oh yeah, and the month before the game lets have HBO film 24/7, a must-see TV series showing an in-depth look at the two teams in the month leading up to the game. Everyone is tired on New Years Day and sitting down to watch a good hockey game is a perfect way to spend it.

I’m not really sure why the NHL changed the date from the prior years to the 2nd this year. NHL chief operating official John Collins had mentioned that the games “kind of landed on Jan. 1 because frankly NBC had a big window on a big day, why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?” I have a question John: Why wouldn’t you take advantage of your established fan base on New Years Day?

 

Player’s Gonna Play

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Deion Sanders is the man. Enough Said.  But in case you don’t know why, let me elaborate.  Deion Sanders came out the other day and announced to the world the following:

“Pilar (his wife) and I have decided to end our marriage and move on to the next phase of our individual lives with mutual respect… We arrived at this decision prayerfully and carefully in order to be able to pursue what is in both of our best personal interests.”

Just one problem, he forgot to inform his wife first.  She was under the impression that Deion and her gold-digging self would work things out.  However, he decided to become a divorcee for the second time and test out his game on the market.  I’m sure he will do fine for himself.

Intro to TOB$ Time- Toss Up

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Nothing better than an introduction blog. My name is Dan Tobin and I will be dealing with coverage for the Red Sox for the site. I could write a big spiel about how I F’in love the Sox, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be writing about them if I didn’t so I’ll spare you guys a cheesy paragraph.

I want to start things off on a little toss-up question: Which Major League Pitcher had a better 7 year stint during the steroid-era? Player A or Player B.

Interested to seeing the responses.

PLAYER A
GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO W L WHIP ERA
35 9 4 268 201 68 65 70 199 20 11 1.01 2.18
36 8 1 267 228 85 70 52 197 20 10 1.05 2.36
25 10 3 202 150 44 35 31 156 16 6 0.9 1.56
28 10 3 209.2 147 39 38 23 181 19 2 0.81 1.63
35 5 1 245 225 85 74 28 172 15 11 1.03 2.72
33 5 2 232.2 200 58 57 20 177 19 4 0.95 2.2
34 9 5 251 201 75 62 45 204 18 9 0.98 2.22
AVERAGE 32 8 3 239 193 65 57 38 184 18 8 0.97 2.16
PLAYER B
GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO W L WHIP ERA
31 13 4 241.1 158 65 51 67 305 17 8 0.93 1.9
33 3 2 233.2 188 82 75 67 251 19 7 1.09 2.89
29 5 1 213.1 160 56 49 37 313 23 4 0.92 2.07
29 7 4 217 128 44 42 32 284 18 6 0.74 1.74
18 1 0 116.2 84 33 31 25 163 7 3 0.93 2.39
30 2 0 199.1 144 62 50 40 239 20 4 0.92 2.26
29 3 0 186.2 147 52 46 47 206 14 4 1.04 2.22
AVERAGE 28 5 2 201 144 56 49 45 252 17 5 0.94 2.20


After analyzing the stats, Player A displayed greater control and consistency, which is displayed in his lower walk numbers over more innings pitched. He also proved dominant by limiting his ERA despite allowing more hits than Player B. Player B showed complete dominance in overpowering hitters with extremely low hit totals and high strikeout totals.

Personally, I would have to pick Player B, whose fourth season cannot be overlooked. He posted another incredibly K/9 rate and also an unheard of 0.74 WHIP and 1.74 ERA.

If you havent guessed yet, Player A was the “Mad Dog”- Greg Maddux. During this stint, he was NL Cy Young Four years in a row and a gold glove winner all seven years (he won the gold glove for the NL 16 times in a 17 year span). I found it amazing that he was able to have these great years in the steroid era through his incredible control of the strike zone.

Player B was Pedro Martinez. Pedro was hands down my favorite pitcher to watch during this stint. Pedro won the Cy Young in three of these years. He also put up these numbers against the AL East in a hitters ballpark named Fenway Park. He had the Pedro K count in the Boston Globe and he would make every game enjoyable for any fan. You never knew what you would get out of the guy, whether it was a 14 strikeout night, whether he’d start a bench clearing brawl, or whether he would toss a 70-year-old man to the ground.