June 2008 Archives
John Zecca was hired Monday to replace Brad Lenaburg as Kirtland Central's boys basketball coach.
Zecca comes from Gallup, where he led the Bengals to a 17-10 record this season. We're still trying to track down the new coach, who will try and turn around a Broncos program that has struggled mightily in recent years.
Also at KC, Tom Adair is the new athletic director, replacing Rich Anderson. Adair has deep roots in Kirtland, where he coached football for 16 years with Bill Cawood. He also guided the Broncos track team to a state title in 2001. Adair, a 1977 KC graduate, is coming from Cortez.
***
In case you missed it, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open in sudden death today over Rocco Mediate. Tiger birdied 18 to force the sudden death, and his par on the first extra hole was enough for his third U.S. Open title and 14th career major championship.
I might have to write more about the playoff tonight. Suffice it to say, that was amazing theatre between the greatest golfer to ever play the game and Mediate, a genuinely good guy who never stopped smiling, even when he was falling apart on the 19th hole.
Great golf to watch.
Zecca comes from Gallup, where he led the Bengals to a 17-10 record this season. We're still trying to track down the new coach, who will try and turn around a Broncos program that has struggled mightily in recent years.
Also at KC, Tom Adair is the new athletic director, replacing Rich Anderson. Adair has deep roots in Kirtland, where he coached football for 16 years with Bill Cawood. He also guided the Broncos track team to a state title in 2001. Adair, a 1977 KC graduate, is coming from Cortez.
***
In case you missed it, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open in sudden death today over Rocco Mediate. Tiger birdied 18 to force the sudden death, and his par on the first extra hole was enough for his third U.S. Open title and 14th career major championship.
I might have to write more about the playoff tonight. Suffice it to say, that was amazing theatre between the greatest golfer to ever play the game and Mediate, a genuinely good guy who never stopped smiling, even when he was falling apart on the 19th hole.
Great golf to watch.
Baseball Tonight just ran a nice, albeit brief, piece on Jacoby Ellsbury.
Ellsbury has set the Red Sox rookie record for stolen bases in a single season. It's mid-June, by the way, not even halfway through the season.
The electric player stole two bases today, going from first to third before scoring on a sacrifice fly. Small ball at its best.
Ellsbury has set the Red Sox rookie record for stolen bases in a single season. It's mid-June, by the way, not even halfway through the season.
The electric player stole two bases today, going from first to third before scoring on a sacrifice fly. Small ball at its best.
Every so often, we're leveled with one of those "it's a small world" realizations.
One happened to me today.
I learned that Grant Muncrief, the talented ballplayer from Farmington, will spend his summer playing in the Northwoods League, one of the premier wood-bat circuits in the country. Grant, who just wrapped up his freshman year at Wichita State (the Shockers just missed the College World Series), reports this weekend to the Duluth Huskies, who play at venerable Wade Stadium on the shores of Lake Superior, just a stone's throw from I-35.
I know this because I worked at Wade Stadium for three years, my parents are a host family for the Huskies and they have season tickets. My dad spends many a summer night sipping a Coke from the third row directly behind home plate.
I'm headed home next week for an extended vacation. No doubt, I'll head to "The Wade" for a ballgame or two, maybe just a few innings. But it will be beyond bizarre to watch a guy I covered right here in Farmington playing in my hometown. While Grant has a great opportunity to go head to head with some of the best Division I players in the land, he'd be wise to pack a few sweatshirts, maybe a parka. On Wednesday, my mom told me to do just that for my upcoming trip after that day's high was 43 with two inches of rain in the forecast.
Can't wait for that.
***
Brian Kortan got off to a slow start in the U.S. Open on Thursday. Kortan, the Albuquerque golfer who is a past winner of the San Juan Open, posted a seven-over 78. He did, though, fare better than Colin Montgomerie. So he's got that goin' for him, which is nice.
One happened to me today.
I learned that Grant Muncrief, the talented ballplayer from Farmington, will spend his summer playing in the Northwoods League, one of the premier wood-bat circuits in the country. Grant, who just wrapped up his freshman year at Wichita State (the Shockers just missed the College World Series), reports this weekend to the Duluth Huskies, who play at venerable Wade Stadium on the shores of Lake Superior, just a stone's throw from I-35.
I know this because I worked at Wade Stadium for three years, my parents are a host family for the Huskies and they have season tickets. My dad spends many a summer night sipping a Coke from the third row directly behind home plate.
I'm headed home next week for an extended vacation. No doubt, I'll head to "The Wade" for a ballgame or two, maybe just a few innings. But it will be beyond bizarre to watch a guy I covered right here in Farmington playing in my hometown. While Grant has a great opportunity to go head to head with some of the best Division I players in the land, he'd be wise to pack a few sweatshirts, maybe a parka. On Wednesday, my mom told me to do just that for my upcoming trip after that day's high was 43 with two inches of rain in the forecast.
Can't wait for that.
***
Brian Kortan got off to a slow start in the U.S. Open on Thursday. Kortan, the Albuquerque golfer who is a past winner of the San Juan Open, posted a seven-over 78. He did, though, fare better than Colin Montgomerie. So he's got that goin' for him, which is nice.
I asked a question earlier today, and now I will answer said question.
Brian Kortan, past winner of the San Juan Open, will tee it up Thursday at the U.S. Open. Amazingly, Kortan is one of six former UNM golfers in the field this week, and one of eight with ties to the Land of Enchantment, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The other seven are: Charlie Beljan, Michael Letzig, Jay Choi, Brad Bryant, D.J. Brigman, Rich Beem and Bart Bryant.
Kortan, though, has the best story. He will play Torrey Pines with a defibrillator after suffering a massive heart attack a few years ago.
"It's a sense of accomplishment," Kortan told the Journal. "After going through a tough year-and-a-half, questioning if you still should be doing what you're doing, this kind of answers a few of those questions."
Read more about Kortan, who nearly walked away from the game following his health troubles, in Thursday's sports section.
By the way, the San Juan Open starts June 19, the exact day I go on vacation to the great state of Minnesota. For the second summer in a row, I will miss one of the best local sporting events. As my esteemed colleague and NASCAR crazy Dorothy Nobis would say, "darn the bad luck."
***
Also in Thursday's edition, you can find a complete list of the all-state baseball and softball squads. Might wanna set aside a solid hour of your time to browse through these babies. Wait, was that another veiled shot at the process of selecting all-state and all-district teams? I think it was.
That was not premeditated. Not one bit. The cynicism, which recklessly beats around my brain, overcame me there.
Brian Kortan, past winner of the San Juan Open, will tee it up Thursday at the U.S. Open. Amazingly, Kortan is one of six former UNM golfers in the field this week, and one of eight with ties to the Land of Enchantment, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The other seven are: Charlie Beljan, Michael Letzig, Jay Choi, Brad Bryant, D.J. Brigman, Rich Beem and Bart Bryant.
Kortan, though, has the best story. He will play Torrey Pines with a defibrillator after suffering a massive heart attack a few years ago.
"It's a sense of accomplishment," Kortan told the Journal. "After going through a tough year-and-a-half, questioning if you still should be doing what you're doing, this kind of answers a few of those questions."
Read more about Kortan, who nearly walked away from the game following his health troubles, in Thursday's sports section.
By the way, the San Juan Open starts June 19, the exact day I go on vacation to the great state of Minnesota. For the second summer in a row, I will miss one of the best local sporting events. As my esteemed colleague and NASCAR crazy Dorothy Nobis would say, "darn the bad luck."
***
Also in Thursday's edition, you can find a complete list of the all-state baseball and softball squads. Might wanna set aside a solid hour of your time to browse through these babies. Wait, was that another veiled shot at the process of selecting all-state and all-district teams? I think it was.
That was not premeditated. Not one bit. The cynicism, which recklessly beats around my brain, overcame me there.
With the U.S. Open a day away, and having just finished a stellar read depicting the titanic rivalry between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, I'm unequivocally jazzed for the Tiger-Phil pairing.
Also, I'm curious to know who readers want and expect to win this weekend at Torrey Pines. Feel free to leave your thoughts as a comment. Also, anyone know if there's anybody in the field with ties to the San Juan Open? That would be a great story to pursue.
Back to the book by Ian O'Connor, it did a solid job of picking apart a dynamic relationship between golf's best player (Nicklaus) and it's most popular figure (Palmer). "Arnie & Jack" is a smooth read, though it does tend to repeat itself throughout its roughly 300 pages. Nonetheless, that rivalry was fascinating, even for a guy who never had the chance to experience either player even close to his prime -- I was four when a silver-haired Nicklaus improbably won the 1986 Masters.
A must-read for any golf fan, the book revolves around Palmer's stunning fame and popularity -- stunning because golf was not yet a mainstream pursuit in America -- and Nicklaus' rapid emergence to world's best player. The two frequently butted heads, and the theme is rooted in both guys wanting what the other had -- an endless supply of fans for Palmer and one-of-a-kind talent for Nicklaus. They competed at everything they did, a constant game of cat and mouse. Who had the bigger plane, who hosted the best tournament, who was the best course designer, and so on.
Unfortunately, because of Tiger Woods' decade-long dominance, he has no certifiable rival, leaving current golf fans without the appeal of a constant Nicklaus-Palmer battle. Mickelson is the closest challenger, but even he presents a dubious challenge to Tiger's throne. The old adage goes that a rivalry doesn't exist until both sides draw blood. Well, Phil rarely has drawn blood in his pursuit of Woods.
He gets a chance this weekend, a chance to ruin Tiger's comeback from knee surgery. The two are paired together Thursday and Friday, and, if nothing else, should provide good theatre at a challenging course.
My prediction: I think Phil will win at what essentially is his hometown course.
Then again, I predicted a Suns-Bulls NBA Finals.
Also, I'm curious to know who readers want and expect to win this weekend at Torrey Pines. Feel free to leave your thoughts as a comment. Also, anyone know if there's anybody in the field with ties to the San Juan Open? That would be a great story to pursue.
Back to the book by Ian O'Connor, it did a solid job of picking apart a dynamic relationship between golf's best player (Nicklaus) and it's most popular figure (Palmer). "Arnie & Jack" is a smooth read, though it does tend to repeat itself throughout its roughly 300 pages. Nonetheless, that rivalry was fascinating, even for a guy who never had the chance to experience either player even close to his prime -- I was four when a silver-haired Nicklaus improbably won the 1986 Masters.
A must-read for any golf fan, the book revolves around Palmer's stunning fame and popularity -- stunning because golf was not yet a mainstream pursuit in America -- and Nicklaus' rapid emergence to world's best player. The two frequently butted heads, and the theme is rooted in both guys wanting what the other had -- an endless supply of fans for Palmer and one-of-a-kind talent for Nicklaus. They competed at everything they did, a constant game of cat and mouse. Who had the bigger plane, who hosted the best tournament, who was the best course designer, and so on.
Unfortunately, because of Tiger Woods' decade-long dominance, he has no certifiable rival, leaving current golf fans without the appeal of a constant Nicklaus-Palmer battle. Mickelson is the closest challenger, but even he presents a dubious challenge to Tiger's throne. The old adage goes that a rivalry doesn't exist until both sides draw blood. Well, Phil rarely has drawn blood in his pursuit of Woods.
He gets a chance this weekend, a chance to ruin Tiger's comeback from knee surgery. The two are paired together Thursday and Friday, and, if nothing else, should provide good theatre at a challenging course.
My prediction: I think Phil will win at what essentially is his hometown course.
Then again, I predicted a Suns-Bulls NBA Finals.
Another baseball signing to pass along, in this, the season of signing.
Levi Dwinell, Piedra Vista's talented pitcher/infielder, is headed to Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla. Dwinell is one of those kids who exudes potential -- a million-dollar word in the recruiting world. The 18-year-old hit better than .400 this spring, but projects more as a pitcher, and for good reason.
With a slender frame -- he's 6-foot-2, though he says, "almost 6-3," and 170 pounds -- Dwinell's high-80s fastball will definitely improve as his body matures and he gets on a weight program at Hillsborough. PV coach Dick Laughlin said today he expects his former charge to be pitching in the mid-90s after two years of junior college ball.
Dwinell tallied an ERA right around 2.50 this season as the Panthers advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals, where they lost to district rival Farmington High. He entered the state's prep record books when he struck out 16 in the first round of the state tournament, a Game 1 win over Del Norte. That tally is tied for the fourth-most punchouts in a single game.
For more on Dwinell's signing, read Friday's print edition.
***
Laughlin also said another of his former standouts, Jason Ray, is sitting out this summer after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Ray is a 23-year-old prospect in the Oakland Athletics organization, meaning he had the surgery at a young enough age to hopefully bounce back and continue his journey through pro baseball.
***
A new swim coach for Farmington High and Piedra Vista has been named. Trevor Gray, who was hired by FCAT earlier this spring, will coach both squads.
Read more about that hire in Thursday's print edition.
Levi Dwinell, Piedra Vista's talented pitcher/infielder, is headed to Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla. Dwinell is one of those kids who exudes potential -- a million-dollar word in the recruiting world. The 18-year-old hit better than .400 this spring, but projects more as a pitcher, and for good reason.
With a slender frame -- he's 6-foot-2, though he says, "almost 6-3," and 170 pounds -- Dwinell's high-80s fastball will definitely improve as his body matures and he gets on a weight program at Hillsborough. PV coach Dick Laughlin said today he expects his former charge to be pitching in the mid-90s after two years of junior college ball.
Dwinell tallied an ERA right around 2.50 this season as the Panthers advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals, where they lost to district rival Farmington High. He entered the state's prep record books when he struck out 16 in the first round of the state tournament, a Game 1 win over Del Norte. That tally is tied for the fourth-most punchouts in a single game.
For more on Dwinell's signing, read Friday's print edition.
***
Laughlin also said another of his former standouts, Jason Ray, is sitting out this summer after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Ray is a 23-year-old prospect in the Oakland Athletics organization, meaning he had the surgery at a young enough age to hopefully bounce back and continue his journey through pro baseball.
***
A new swim coach for Farmington High and Piedra Vista has been named. Trevor Gray, who was hired by FCAT earlier this spring, will coach both squads.
Read more about that hire in Thursday's print edition.
The Roger Clemens witch hunt is reaching the highest of high comedies. According to a "report" on ESPN, Clemens kept Viagra in his locker at Yankee Stadium. Clearly, the guy wants to be the best at everything he does. He's a competitor, you know. Not sure who he used the Viagra to compete against, but nonetheless he's a competitor.
The absolute best part of the report was, and I paraphrase here: Viagra is not a banned substance by MLB, but it has been proven to "build endurance."
Yes, yes it has.
This begs the question: What exactly was Roger Clemens planning to do on the mound? And what exactly does Viagra have to do with the guy's drug woes. Also, with a wife who dabbled in steroids, is this the most intense family in America? Steroids, Viagra ... they should write a "how-to" book on successful marriages.
I'm all for dragging a guy who bastardized my favorite sport through the mud, but let's not get off track here. Stick to the script, which is digging up more affairs between Clemens and underage country singers.
***
The real reason I wanted to post tonight was because of Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th career bomb. It got me thinking about who resides in my list of the top-five position players of all time (yes, this is what I do in my free time). In order, this is what I came up with:
1. Willie Mays: I'm a stickler for five-tool guys. I love defense, and Mays was a wizard with the glove. And he could rake, too. Probably without the help of Viagra.
2. Babe Ruth: Five tools or not, when a guy singlehandedly hits more runs than entire teams, he's a pretty special player. Ruth's rampaging ways breathed life into a sport still reeling from a few gambling scandals. He was entertaining, he was a free spirit, and he certainly is one of the all-time greats.
3. Ted Williams: Think about this: Williams got four hits for every 10 at-bats when he hit .406. The greatest story regarding Williams' improbable .400 season is that the Splendid Splinter entered the final day of the season at .3996, which would have rounded up to the magic number. With a doubleheader, Williams was offered a day off to preserve his mark, but refused and went out and notched six hits in eight trips to the plate. That's awesome. It's also how you get the nickname "Teddy Ballgame."
4. Ken Griffey Jr.: It's so tough to compare players across drastically different eras. Griffey plays at a time when offense rules. Balls are juiced, parks are shrinking, expansion has drained the talent pool of legitimate pitchers, and so on. But I honestly believe Griffey would have been similarly successful in the 1940s or the 1960s. He has, quite simply, the most breathtaking swing I've ever seen. It's flawless, an impossibly smooth stroke from start to finish. And his defense ... oh the man's defense. He was a treasure to watch while fearlessly patrolling center field at the old Kingdome, and then Safeco. I mean, I would pay just to watch him shag fly balls, circa 1993. He epitomized everything that was fun about the game, and cool -- hat on backwards, earrings shining and an infectious smile that was nothing if not camera-friendly.
Again, it's tough to compare Griffey with a Willie Mays, but he's definitely in my top five (if you don't like it, make your own top-five list ... and leave it as a comment, I'd love to read a few suggestions).
5. Hank Aaron: The all-time RBI leader and the real home run record-holder. You can't pass up the Hammer.
Apologies to: Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench and Roberto Clemente.
No apologies to: Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.
***
Eddie Carl, who starred at Piedra Vista before going to Eastern Arizona College, signed last week to play baseball at UNM. Carl graduated from PV in 2006 and was a sophomore this spring at EAC, where he posted a 2.51 ERA in 61 innngs. Of course, you can read more about the signing in Tuesday's print edition.
The absolute best part of the report was, and I paraphrase here: Viagra is not a banned substance by MLB, but it has been proven to "build endurance."
Yes, yes it has.
This begs the question: What exactly was Roger Clemens planning to do on the mound? And what exactly does Viagra have to do with the guy's drug woes. Also, with a wife who dabbled in steroids, is this the most intense family in America? Steroids, Viagra ... they should write a "how-to" book on successful marriages.
I'm all for dragging a guy who bastardized my favorite sport through the mud, but let's not get off track here. Stick to the script, which is digging up more affairs between Clemens and underage country singers.
***
The real reason I wanted to post tonight was because of Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th career bomb. It got me thinking about who resides in my list of the top-five position players of all time (yes, this is what I do in my free time). In order, this is what I came up with:
1. Willie Mays: I'm a stickler for five-tool guys. I love defense, and Mays was a wizard with the glove. And he could rake, too. Probably without the help of Viagra.
2. Babe Ruth: Five tools or not, when a guy singlehandedly hits more runs than entire teams, he's a pretty special player. Ruth's rampaging ways breathed life into a sport still reeling from a few gambling scandals. He was entertaining, he was a free spirit, and he certainly is one of the all-time greats.
3. Ted Williams: Think about this: Williams got four hits for every 10 at-bats when he hit .406. The greatest story regarding Williams' improbable .400 season is that the Splendid Splinter entered the final day of the season at .3996, which would have rounded up to the magic number. With a doubleheader, Williams was offered a day off to preserve his mark, but refused and went out and notched six hits in eight trips to the plate. That's awesome. It's also how you get the nickname "Teddy Ballgame."
4. Ken Griffey Jr.: It's so tough to compare players across drastically different eras. Griffey plays at a time when offense rules. Balls are juiced, parks are shrinking, expansion has drained the talent pool of legitimate pitchers, and so on. But I honestly believe Griffey would have been similarly successful in the 1940s or the 1960s. He has, quite simply, the most breathtaking swing I've ever seen. It's flawless, an impossibly smooth stroke from start to finish. And his defense ... oh the man's defense. He was a treasure to watch while fearlessly patrolling center field at the old Kingdome, and then Safeco. I mean, I would pay just to watch him shag fly balls, circa 1993. He epitomized everything that was fun about the game, and cool -- hat on backwards, earrings shining and an infectious smile that was nothing if not camera-friendly.
Again, it's tough to compare Griffey with a Willie Mays, but he's definitely in my top five (if you don't like it, make your own top-five list ... and leave it as a comment, I'd love to read a few suggestions).
5. Hank Aaron: The all-time RBI leader and the real home run record-holder. You can't pass up the Hammer.
Apologies to: Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench and Roberto Clemente.
No apologies to: Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.
***
Eddie Carl, who starred at Piedra Vista before going to Eastern Arizona College, signed last week to play baseball at UNM. Carl graduated from PV in 2006 and was a sophomore this spring at EAC, where he posted a 2.51 ERA in 61 innngs. Of course, you can read more about the signing in Tuesday's print edition.
Last week's MLB Draft kind of slid by under the radar, as it usually does. With 50 rounds, it doesn't receive nearly the hype that dominates in the NFL and NBA. I'm just now getting to glossing over the list of players drafted, and perusing the first-round picks, a familiar name caught my eye: Eric Hosmer, who went third overall to the Kansas City Royals.
Hosmer played on last summer's Midland Redskins team, which gave iconic manager Joe Hayden his 10th Connie Mack championship. I vaguely remember Hosmer as a huge offensive threat. And if I'm not mistaken, he ripped a colossal homer that ended up in the parking lot of the Farmington Aquatic Center. I could be wrong.
Here's what MLB.com had to say about the first baseman:
"Arguably the top high school bat in the Draft class, the lefty first baseman has drawn comparisons to Casey Kotchman for his advanced hitting approach, though he might not quite be there. He's got a ton of upside with the bat, both in terms of hitting for average and power and he's surprisingly nimble defensively. Teams who like high school hitters with potential to move fairly quickly will be on Hosmer all spring."
On a side note, Hosmer has until Aug. 15 to sign with the Royals, meaning he could be back at Ricketts for this summer's World Series.
***
Wichita State saw its season come to an end Sunday in a super regional loss to Florida State. Grant Muncrief, who helped lead Farmington High to its third straight state championship in 2007, appeared in the box score. Muncrief pitched a scoreless inning in the Shockers' 11-4 loss to FSU. He gave up one hit as Wichita lost Game 3 in the best-of-three series. A win would have sent Muncrief and the Shockers to the College World Series.
The former Scorpion finished the season with a 7.36 ERA in 10 appearances.
Hosmer played on last summer's Midland Redskins team, which gave iconic manager Joe Hayden his 10th Connie Mack championship. I vaguely remember Hosmer as a huge offensive threat. And if I'm not mistaken, he ripped a colossal homer that ended up in the parking lot of the Farmington Aquatic Center. I could be wrong.
Here's what MLB.com had to say about the first baseman:
"Arguably the top high school bat in the Draft class, the lefty first baseman has drawn comparisons to Casey Kotchman for his advanced hitting approach, though he might not quite be there. He's got a ton of upside with the bat, both in terms of hitting for average and power and he's surprisingly nimble defensively. Teams who like high school hitters with potential to move fairly quickly will be on Hosmer all spring."
On a side note, Hosmer has until Aug. 15 to sign with the Royals, meaning he could be back at Ricketts for this summer's World Series.
***
Wichita State saw its season come to an end Sunday in a super regional loss to Florida State. Grant Muncrief, who helped lead Farmington High to its third straight state championship in 2007, appeared in the box score. Muncrief pitched a scoreless inning in the Shockers' 11-4 loss to FSU. He gave up one hit as Wichita lost Game 3 in the best-of-three series. A win would have sent Muncrief and the Shockers to the College World Series.
The former Scorpion finished the season with a 7.36 ERA in 10 appearances.
Before we get to the meat and potatoes of this post, a few quick hits regarding a busy weekend in San Juan County. And again, a customary disclaimer about our woeful lack of blog updates the past two months. Darren and I remain shorthanded (though for as long as we've been at two people, I'm not sure we can really call it shorthanded anymore ... perhaps just "handed") and we're plugging along while trying to provide ample local coverage in the print edition. But I will attempt to provide more frequent appearances in this blog.
With that out of the way, keep in mind this weekend (June 6-8) offers a wealth of activities. There's a quarter horse show at McGee and, supposedly, a rodeo at McGee (although I'm not sure how they're going to pull off two shows the same weekend, and of course we don't learn of in-town rodeos until roughly three days before they start). Also, there's some rockcrawling at Choke Cherry Canyon, and the Roughnecks vie for a SWFC title Saturday in El Paso. Throw in a few Connie Mack games, the Xterra triathlon, and that's a pretty solid weekend.
Now, the real reason, the aforementioned meat and potatoes, for this whimsical post. I've been off the past few days and have watched approximately 76 hours of baseball with my horrendously overpriced DirecTV MLB Pass (thanks DirecTV, you guys are the best). Anyways, many things have jumped out while spending an inordinate amount of time on my couch. Because I love top-10 lists, let's take that approach.
1. Josh Hamilton is the best player in baseball. Bar-none (well, not quite "bar-none" as Chase Utley is having a stupendous season, but "bar-none" makes it sound much more emphatic and cool). Forget the guy's crazy story about battling back from the depths of crack hell, he can flat-out rake. A former No. 1 pick, the expectations for Hamilton were through the roof, and we're just now seeing why he was widely regarded as a future stud and possibly an all-time great. He's leading the American League in each of the three Triple Crown categories. Good luck to him and his 26 tattoos.
2. I'm beyond sick of Joba Chamberlain. And not because he wore a way-too-colorful cardigan sweater to his postgame press conference Tuesday, but because that's all I've heard about this week. Joba Chamberlain is going to the rotation. Who cares? The Yankees are still a .500 team with an aging and one-dimensional roster.
3. Parity has invaded MLB in recent seasons, which has been kind of fun to watch. It's also pointed out this reality: The gap between good and bad teams isn't as much about talent as it is about culture. Take the Orioles for example. On Tuesday night, they were absolutely brutal on the basepaths. Granted, they still beat my beloved Twins 5-3. But Baltimore was far from fundamentally sound. Early in the game, with nobody out and runners on second and third, a lazy flyball was hit to center field. The guy on third (I believe it was Luke Scott) tagged up to score, while the guy on second (Ramon Hernandez?) inexplicably wandered off the bag and was caught in a rundown when the Twins alertly cut off the relay throw headed home. He would have been in scoring position with one out.
The second baserunning gaffe occurred on a pickoff. With runners on the corners and one out, Baltimore's player on first base was caught leaning and ended up in a lengthy rundown. Adam Jones, on third base, didn't even bother dancing off the bag to (A) either induce a throw home or (B) distract the Twins into a potential error. Nothing. Stayed within about four or five feet of the bag.
The point: Bad teams, with a history of losing, seem to accept their mediocrity while doing little to change the course of a season. The Orioles have some talent, but like a lot of sub-,500 clubs, don't always do the little things to scratch out wins. See: Kansas City Royals.
4. Ken Griffey Jr. is about to become the sixth (?) member of the 600 HR club. I'm just saying.
5. Chipper Jones is still hitting above .400, but his home run and RBI numbers are pretty low. I don't think that matters. Ichiro is always criticized for being a singles hitter, but if a guy gets on base two times every night, that's pretty valuable, right?
6. I can't figure out the Marlins. How is this team competing in a tough NL East? With a payroll of $22 million - by far the lowest in the league? Sure, they're absolutely ripping off baseball fans in Florida, but they look more and more like a bona fide contender.
7. Regardless of how the Yankees fare in the win-loss column, ESPN will show them at least twice a week. It's the law, you know.
8. Ozzie Guillen enjoys sugar and Jim Leyland enjoys cigarettes. Quote, loosely translated, from "The Sporting News" where Leyland made light of MLB's desire to speed up games: "I smoke three packs a day and they want me to run to the mound?"
9. That ticking sound you hear is the clock on Clint Hurdle's managerial career in Denver winding down.
10. The Chicago Cubs have the game's best record in June for the first time since 1908, the last time they won the World Series (I believe this to be true. I've heard something along these times 1,036 times in the past three days, but may have gotten the context wrong). Regardless, they won't win the World Series with that patched-together starting rotation. Pitching wins in the postseason, not home run-hitting left fielders. Of course, the Cubs have the resources to make a midseason trade (CC Sabathia, anyone), so all bets are off.
With that out of the way, keep in mind this weekend (June 6-8) offers a wealth of activities. There's a quarter horse show at McGee and, supposedly, a rodeo at McGee (although I'm not sure how they're going to pull off two shows the same weekend, and of course we don't learn of in-town rodeos until roughly three days before they start). Also, there's some rockcrawling at Choke Cherry Canyon, and the Roughnecks vie for a SWFC title Saturday in El Paso. Throw in a few Connie Mack games, the Xterra triathlon, and that's a pretty solid weekend.
Now, the real reason, the aforementioned meat and potatoes, for this whimsical post. I've been off the past few days and have watched approximately 76 hours of baseball with my horrendously overpriced DirecTV MLB Pass (thanks DirecTV, you guys are the best). Anyways, many things have jumped out while spending an inordinate amount of time on my couch. Because I love top-10 lists, let's take that approach.
1. Josh Hamilton is the best player in baseball. Bar-none (well, not quite "bar-none" as Chase Utley is having a stupendous season, but "bar-none" makes it sound much more emphatic and cool). Forget the guy's crazy story about battling back from the depths of crack hell, he can flat-out rake. A former No. 1 pick, the expectations for Hamilton were through the roof, and we're just now seeing why he was widely regarded as a future stud and possibly an all-time great. He's leading the American League in each of the three Triple Crown categories. Good luck to him and his 26 tattoos.
2. I'm beyond sick of Joba Chamberlain. And not because he wore a way-too-colorful cardigan sweater to his postgame press conference Tuesday, but because that's all I've heard about this week. Joba Chamberlain is going to the rotation. Who cares? The Yankees are still a .500 team with an aging and one-dimensional roster.
3. Parity has invaded MLB in recent seasons, which has been kind of fun to watch. It's also pointed out this reality: The gap between good and bad teams isn't as much about talent as it is about culture. Take the Orioles for example. On Tuesday night, they were absolutely brutal on the basepaths. Granted, they still beat my beloved Twins 5-3. But Baltimore was far from fundamentally sound. Early in the game, with nobody out and runners on second and third, a lazy flyball was hit to center field. The guy on third (I believe it was Luke Scott) tagged up to score, while the guy on second (Ramon Hernandez?) inexplicably wandered off the bag and was caught in a rundown when the Twins alertly cut off the relay throw headed home. He would have been in scoring position with one out.
The second baserunning gaffe occurred on a pickoff. With runners on the corners and one out, Baltimore's player on first base was caught leaning and ended up in a lengthy rundown. Adam Jones, on third base, didn't even bother dancing off the bag to (A) either induce a throw home or (B) distract the Twins into a potential error. Nothing. Stayed within about four or five feet of the bag.
The point: Bad teams, with a history of losing, seem to accept their mediocrity while doing little to change the course of a season. The Orioles have some talent, but like a lot of sub-,500 clubs, don't always do the little things to scratch out wins. See: Kansas City Royals.
4. Ken Griffey Jr. is about to become the sixth (?) member of the 600 HR club. I'm just saying.
5. Chipper Jones is still hitting above .400, but his home run and RBI numbers are pretty low. I don't think that matters. Ichiro is always criticized for being a singles hitter, but if a guy gets on base two times every night, that's pretty valuable, right?
6. I can't figure out the Marlins. How is this team competing in a tough NL East? With a payroll of $22 million - by far the lowest in the league? Sure, they're absolutely ripping off baseball fans in Florida, but they look more and more like a bona fide contender.
7. Regardless of how the Yankees fare in the win-loss column, ESPN will show them at least twice a week. It's the law, you know.
8. Ozzie Guillen enjoys sugar and Jim Leyland enjoys cigarettes. Quote, loosely translated, from "The Sporting News" where Leyland made light of MLB's desire to speed up games: "I smoke three packs a day and they want me to run to the mound?"
9. That ticking sound you hear is the clock on Clint Hurdle's managerial career in Denver winding down.
10. The Chicago Cubs have the game's best record in June for the first time since 1908, the last time they won the World Series (I believe this to be true. I've heard something along these times 1,036 times in the past three days, but may have gotten the context wrong). Regardless, they won't win the World Series with that patched-together starting rotation. Pitching wins in the postseason, not home run-hitting left fielders. Of course, the Cubs have the resources to make a midseason trade (CC Sabathia, anyone), so all bets are off.