Pick-Off Sports Talk: 2005

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Baseball Talk: The Oakland A's & the Media

So I recently read an article on cnnsi.com about the 2005 Oakland A's. Jacob Luft's article, entitled Chatter Up, is a short write-up about the Oakland A's and Atlanta Braves. Luft predicts the A's will do "not much" come playoff time. After reading this, I had to catch my breath and grab a glass of water. How could anyone say the hottest team in baseball, on 47-16 tear through the majors, will fail to produce come playoff time. I looked for Luft's explanation, and what I found just about made me laugh. Luft preceded to support his hypothesis with the most inaccurate data, stating "history" as proof that the A's will lose. HE lists the A's 0-4 record from 200-2003. Well, it is 2005 now folks, and last time I checked, the A's have a much different team. None of the current A's starters were on the 2000 squad, and Barry Zito is the oldest A's veteran, playing since 2001. The 4 other starters are all new and young. The staffs that lost in the playoffs had guys like Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, and Kevin Appier. Good players? Sure (maybe not Appier), but older and injury prone. The new young pitchers have not shown any injury problems through the first two-thirds of the season, and put up good numbers.
The bullpen has changed, instead of Jim Mecir and Chad Bradford (whom I remember giving up many a heart-breaking homeruns), the A's have young talent in All-Star Justin Duchscherer and stud rookie closer Huston Street who holds an intimidating 1.31 era and 13 saves in 17 chances. Think thats impressive, how about 50 strikeouts in 55 innings. As for the lineup, there is no more Terrence Long, Ramon Hernandez, Ray Durham, Jermaine Dye, Eric Byrnes, Esteban German, and Frank Menechino. I know, that sucks, J Dye used to watch some pretty called third strikes blow by him. Once again, young talent that won't break down at the end of the year (cough...Hatteberg...cough...Durazo...). Dan Johnson has emerged as a legit hitter, posting a .366 average and .448 obp. since the All-Star break. Nick Swisher leads AL rookies in home runs (18) and rbi's (65). With strong veterans in Eric Chavez, Jason Kendall, and Mark Kotsay, as well as suprise newcomer Jay Payton (acquired through trade), the A's look to be the perfect mix young and old players. Lastly, Luft states that if the A's do advance to the playoffs, they will struggle against the powerful AL teams. The A's have a better record and a more attractive pitching staff to compete with the Yankees or Red Sox in the first round. As for the juggernaut White Sox, the Oakland is 7-2 this year agains them, with a nice sweep of the Sox in Chi-town. So what seems more convincing, the stats, or history?

The NHL Born Again

The players need more money, I'm sure they do, don't we all. With the nearly ten month strike ending so recently, the NHL has taken immediate steps to improve their destroyed image:

1. Wayne Gretzky gets a head coaching job. When I first saw this, I knew exactly what was going on, imagine this conversation:

Commissioner Bettman: Hi Great One. Hockey is dead, you need to come back. Jordan did it, so can you. Please.

The Great One: I cannot play anymore. I'm sorry.

Commissioner Bettman: If you do not come back, hockey will die, we need you to draw the fans back into the sport. The NHL needs money.

The Great One: I will coach the Coyotes.

Commissioner Bettman: Super!

After first reading the news, I knew that this move was purely marketing for the NHL. I feel bad for Gretzky, who looks to be used as the goat. If the Coyotes (a 22 game winner and last place in the Pacific in 2004) have another losing season, Gretzky loses face, but the NHL will have profited. It seems like too much to ask from one man, as Great as he is.

2. Tom Bertuzzi was reinstated today, August 9th 2005. For those who don't know him, the famed Bertuzzi skated behind Colorado Avalanche's Steve Moore, and threw a pinched that dropped Moore to the ice and broke his neck, oh yeah, and Bertuzzi landed on his head when the two hit the ice. Moore has yet to recover fully and most likely will never play again. Bertuzzi was suspended, a suspension lasting 17 months until today. So let me get this right, this dangerous man, a threat to all of the players' safety on the ice, is allowed to play again. Not only that, but the man he hurt still cannot play. I find this offensive to athletics, that a scumbag that cheap shots a fellow player (when Bertuzzi's Canucks were losing 8-2!) only sits out 17 months, and 10 of those months, the NHL was on lockout. Wow, you sure missed out on a lot there Bertuzzi. He should be banned from the sport, and never to be seen again for that completely asinine act of violence. Bertuzzi's reinstatement is a controversial move that will give the NHL more press and continue to draw in fans. Fans will watch to see what Bertuzzi will do next, or watch to see how hard the mother fucker gets checked everynite.

Well, I can't write much more on the NHL, its boring me, plus I'm hungry. Final thoughts; the NHL is making change to draw their lost fans back. Without the fan support, the NHL may as well call it quiis for good.

Au revoir-

mike

Tuesday, August 09, 2005