Around the Horn

The Mets managed to choke out another September collapse, the second time in 2 years.
This time it was’t to the epic proportion it was last year but still not good.
It was kind of a weird atmosphere after being eliminated from the playoffs to have a celebration to close Shea Stadium, it sure was no Yankee Stadium.
Question: How does Omar Minaya get a 4 year extension with this team? and, How can a bullpen be that awful?

Win less St. Louis Rams fired coach Scott Linehan?
0-4, no hope for a turn around, what took so long?
Marc Bulger must be the happiest man in town today, he may get to see the field again.

CC Sabathia threw a complete game on 3 days rest for the 3rd time in a row.
Either he is a freak or it proves that like I said in an earlier blog, let pitchers pitch, don’t baby them and their arms will only get stronger.
p.s. CC PUT A CURVE IN YOUR HAT AND PUT IT ON STRAIGHT, you look like an ass just like all those straight brimmed punks at the mall

Matt Flynn saw some snaps in relief of an injured Aaron Rogers for the Green Bay Packers.
Good work on managements part to get a credible veteran backup. I am not saying Brett Farve but maybe have traded Farve for Pennington not a draft pick. There must be a one of the Detmer’s or isn’t there another Hasslebeck out there looking for work

T.O. got 1/3 of all the plays that the Cowboys ran, and they lost and he complained about not being used enough.
Marion Barber had 8 runs and Felix Jones didn't get 1 play from scrimmage. I think that they may have more of a beef about not getting the ball enough. Probably a good reason why the Cowboys lost

Around the Horn

Brian Griese threw it up 67 times in Sunday’s game. (38-67, 407)
Says very little for the running game for Tampa Bay, says a lot for the prestigious Michigan Wolverines pedigree for QB’s

Former Michigan QB Tom Brady is my early season MVP candidate.
After watching New England play, Brady hasn’t even played a full quarter and is out for the year and clearly he is the most valuable to his team.

The Mets, after last years collapse or choke job or whatever you want to call it look like they want to make it an annual event.
Sure it isn’t of historic proportions as it was last year but they seem to be trying to do everything in their power to give it away again. As a Braves fan, I will watch and enjoy.

Kyle Busch was dominant in Dover Nationwide race
Kyle Busch was first eliminated in Dover Sprint Cup race with engine failure.
Looks like Kyle chose the wrong race as he has dug himself into a hole in the Chase Championship that will be tough to get out of...No, No, dig up stupid!

Yankee Stadium saw its last game on Sunday.
Did anyone else think that it was a little odd and frankly unjust that it was a game involving the Baltimore Orioles and not the Boston Red Sox?

Blues defenseman Erik Johnson suffered a knee injury. Johnson is a promising young defenseman and high prospect. He was attempting to stop his golf cart and step out to hit his next shot when he jammed his right foot between the accelerator and brake.
This would never happen to a Toronto Maple Leafs player as they have had more then enough practice on the golf course after missing the playoffs the last 3 years.

John Ferguson Junior has been hired as pro scout director in San Jose
Yes, that sound you just heard was Joe Thornton flipping pages looking for that opt-out clause in his contract

Jeter - A big hit at Yankee Stadium

Derek Jeter, the current Mr.Yankee went 2-for-3 the other night to break a tie with Lou Gehrig for most hits all-time at Yankee Stadium. The two hits give Jeter 1,271 to Gehrig's 1,269. The hit came in Jeter's 8,002nd major league at-bat, and he passed Gehrig for second on the Yankees' career list behind Mickey Mantle (8,102). This is just another notch in Jeters belt to prove that he is one of the all time Yankee great. Now I hate the Yankees as much as the next guy and I am very happy that it looks like their streak of 13 straight playoff appearances will come to an end. I am a huge Braves fan and I want the Braves 14 straight division titles/playoff appearances not to be matched by the boys from the Bronx. With that being said I do respect what Jeter has done through out his career. He is one of the greatest clutch performers of all time, the ultimate professional, a class act all the way, The Captain. It won’t take too long after he decides to retire before you see his bust in the New Yankee Stadium with his #2 retired along with the other all time Yankee greats, the likes of Mantle, Ruth, Dimaggio et al. Yankee Stadium will close this Sunday after the last home game of the season and it is fitting that the House That Ruth Built is going to become the House that Jeter closed down with every hit and hustle play he has has over his Hall of Fame career.
Congratulations Derek, this record is one that will not be broken.

All Star Reflection

They always say that at a baseball game that there is the potential that you’ll see something that you have never seen before, so why should an All Star Game be any different? 15 innings and near chaos...sure why not. As I had mentioned in an earlier posting having too many people go into the game isn’t like to good ol’ days but it can leave you high and dry in a big hurry. Pitchers and managers alike were at near breaking points. NL Manager Clint Hurdle said to 3rd baseman David Wright... "I told David, ‘You were the last pick, I went and got you. Have you ever pitched in an All-Star game?" Francona apparently asked an MLB official if he could pitch...i am guessing the official wasn’t Bud Selig.
Ken Rosenthal’s idea of having 4 extra ranked pitchers on reserve for those pitcher that may have pitched on the previous Sunday is a great alternative. That would give a little more flexibility to the managers while not endangering million dollar arms.
The pre game was great to see with the parade on the red carpet and all the old time hero's and Hall of Famers. It was a sight that any fan would get chills from. It was great to see the current players interacting with the vets. Mr. Cub Earnie Banks and Kosuke Fukudome was cool to see. A personal highlight was to see my favorite player Chipper Jones with his parents and his Smokin' hot wife in the parade and getting some facetime on Fox.
Other then the length of the game it was a fitting way to close out Yankee Stadium...it was like the ghosts didn’t want to let the place go and kept the game hanging in the balance until the bitter end.
Canadian Justin Morneau had a great game and a great break all around. After becoming the Home Run Champion that no one will remember after Josh Hamilton stole the show Morneau went 2-4 with 2 runs including the game winning run.

On a side note all tours of Yankee Stadium are sold out and the usual $20 ticket is available on Stub Hub ranging from $79-$200. That may have just solidified my not going to see it. Guess I will have to put my focus on Wriggly and Fenway.

The Stars Come Out

We have hit the "midway" point of the baseball season and it is All Star time. Of all the major sports except for maybe NASCAR the MLB All Star game is the only game that can be played close to what the game is actually like. Any of the contact games are just too risky for players to go all out for little or no reason and risk injury.
Unfortunately over time, baseball’s game has turned from a passionate game too more of a spectacle in recent years. Long are the days of the old timers who would play a full game not just 2 or 3 innings, the desperation to win that was once there just isn’t there anymore and the pride of the league in free agent era does not exist and with the recent inter-league play that has come in there is less of a mystery between the 2 leagues. Lets just say the is little chance that you will see Manny Ramirez take out Giovanni Soto at home...actually you probably wouldn’t see that anyway, but you get the jist. Despite Bud Selig trying to make the game "count" by awarding home field for the World Series to the winning league, it is very transparent of his attempt to make the game draw a few more people and up the tv ratings. Lets just enjoy the game for what it is and that is a celebration of the game for the fans to enjoy and a chance to say goodbye to one of the most historic parks in baseball history, Yankee Stadium.
I would have loved to gone there one to take it in for myself but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.
For those who are fans of the game I guess it doesn’t really matter. If you are going to get up for a Pardes-vs-Giants game then this will be light years ahead of that. Actually the All Star Game is actually more meaningful then a Pardes-vs-Giants game....both those teams are Not Good.