FAU Hall of Famer Rusty Smith joined us to talk a little about playing for Coach Schnelly, his future in football, and why NFL GM's should take notice heading into the 2010 Draft.
The creator of this amazing site joins the Power Sports Hour this past Tuesday to shoot the shit about baseball offseason moves, Fantasy Football Mumbo Jumbo, and Grady Sizemore's package.
A few of the regulars here at WDGYD run a sports talk show called the Power Sports Hour (streaming live every Tuesday from 1-3PM @ Owl Radio, and thanks to an upgrade in technology, we now have the ability to share some of the goods with you. So, we start with an interview from a while back (November 24th to be exact) with New England Patriots stud Darius Butler.
1) Giles as a Yankee is a solid deal at the right price, and further exercises my speculation about signing a bloated contract such as Curtis.
2) This is why the Mariners SUCK and will continue to SUCK:
"As the M's have made it a priority to find a DH who can also play a field position, Baker doesn't anticipate Jonny Gomes, Jack Cust, or Mike Sweeney to land with the club. As one person told him, "[The Mariners] can't carry two Griffeys."
Yeah man, we suck at being consistent. But I'm here now and that's all that matters.
The Winter Meetings have inspired me to write about all of the stupid deals that have been put ahead of any good ones.. Of course the internet is the best tool to rock some self-righteous, unfiltered opinion, so here goes... Polanco to Philly..I forgot that he was already there at one point and when I saw the highlights from years ago on MLB Network I thought I was suffering from Acid Back.. (JK.. those of you who know me know I am too neurotic to consume Motrin, let alone any psychedelic drugs) but yeah.. this is stupid.. you're replacing average defense and some marginal power with average defense and marginal OBP. I just don't see this being an upgrade from Feliz aside from the fact that it offers an insurance policy all around the IF diamond, in the event that Rollins or Utley break a limb. I guess it's also not a downgrade for a team that played in the World Series for the last 2 years, but why not just chance something from your farm and wait till June to sign some other asshole for cheap(er). Don't get it, and it happened way too soon.
Chone Figgins to Seattle...The right side of their infield is Chone Figgins and Jack Wilson. As my friend Louis said just a few days ago "they are indeed just begging to lose". With what they have now, the Mariners are well on their way to hitting the fewest HR in the game, to the point where they might as well run solid defensive gerbils out there everyday, because even the addition of Bay, Holliday, or whoever won't save this anemic offense at all. Keep in mind, our underrated awesome star who crushed an exponential ammount of HR's in that large zoo of a ballpark (Russel Branyan) is now testing the market too.. so you have effectively replaced power and OBP with marginal run prevention and scrappiness. That dog won't hunt here in Walks' world kids.
Granderson Deal... and they're still chatting with Damon.. Why? This is another pointless deal. a relatively loaded contract. The idea of this is Granderson as a 2 hitter which he is not (especially not next to Damon), and as a superstar player, which he also IS NOT.He's a platoon, RHP mastermind, and that's it. That's worth less than half what he is paid. Cashman and CO. have now effectively CREATED a problem for themselves by now being too left handed, if/when they re-ink Damon therefore needing to grab at Mike Cameron or deal for the likes of Josh Willingham or whoever is right handed and can somehow spell Curtis against lefties.. cos he's atrocious is that area of work. ATROCIOUS. Matsui and Damon both are not and were not. Neither is Melky really. You don't think the Red Sox are LOOGY shopping right now? Like I said.. he will bat second, and shouldn't unless dudes are hurt. Nick Swisher is a better offensive player, and should assume that role before Granderson is ever even considered. Would be great if he batted 6-8 and sprinked some OBP and speed in the bottom of our lineup so that the weaker and/or older hitters will see more fastballs. I don't want to continue this discussion, I just want to assume that everybody sees this deal for also being one of the more irrelevant ones. Although I am still petitioning a Melky, Granderson, Gardner OF for at least 50 games so we can see how important and vital superior OF defense actually is, even in a small ballpark.
Those are just the few I disagree with.. or whatever. The Orioles are getting good and are being smart. Weird huh? The Rockies are going buckwild signing their own catchers. Jason Kendall got a multi-year deal with the Royals and why?!?!?!? This is what I mean people.. WHY MAKE STUPID POINTLESS MOVES BEFORE THE YEAR IS EVEN OVER. I am flying to Indy and layin' down the law.. or I'll just get drunk and look at Xmas lights with my gf tonight.
Hey guys, I decided the like 6 month neglect is enough! So I am back, it's Fall. Winter's knocking on the door like a persistent Jehovah's witness, who won't take "Fuck off, it's 7am!" as a good enough reason for you resisting his return. Between bottles of whiskey at college games, Sundays in my pajamas watching and praying for NFL gold, and prepping for the oncoming NBA season, it's the greatest time to be a sports fan. Now Pax has all the Baseball playoffs covered, so I will bring you a little bit of NFL thought.
I will start with my return as I run down 5 coaches who need to be shot and buried outside their respective stadiums...well, at the very least ran out of time. These guys don't necessarily need to have plus .500 records, or have to be bubbling with personality, because lets face it, about 10 teams have new head coaches this year. I get that the Chiefs, Lions, and Rams are laughing stocks, as they usually are. But these three are headed by 3 new guys at the helm, and all have a potential to recreate something from nothing. Give these dudes some damn time!
Regardless, here is my top 5 coaches who need to have a lie down, and reevaluate how they've fucked their respective franchises!
5. Eric "Man Genius...huh?" Mangini
On the subject of a guy who needs more than a year to help the pathetic Cleveland Browns regain consciousness, this guy had his chance I'd say. You managed to single handedly make the Browns worse...if that's even possible. You had not one, but two quarterbacks who had bright futures to shine in. However, you left them both to battle up until the day of the regular season, rendering both mentally unprepared for NFL competition. Mix in how you let Winslow go to Tampa, sent Braylon to New York (At least Lebron will meet him for round 2 in a Knicks jersey) and how your team has a bunch of no names running the routes, I'd say smashing job Eric. The best thing you've done and can do is let anyone and everyone out of Cleveland, that or leave.
4. Dick "Jury Duty" Jauron
I have watched Buffalo for a few years now, build and build from nothing. With a duo of backs who presumably can match up with anyone in Lynch and Jackson, wideouts in the famous T.O and Lee Evans, and a building defense, there's no real reason for their lack of achievement. Sure, Trent isn't the most polished guy, but he can make the throw (if he can get protected). Dicky has been the common link in this disaster for a few seasons now, and the city of Buffalo needs a change in regime. My friend Spaz has suffered enough. It's bad enough to have the Phins raping you twice a year...
3. Tom Cable (Al Davis?)
Who the fuck is Tom Cable? I know him as the scary guy on the Raiders sideline who looks suspiciously like my 11th grade history teacher. Wait...hold on...he did what? He "allegedly" beat the living shit out of his assistant coach? That's positive for team unity. He came in after fuckface Lane Kiffin bailed for college as an interim guy, and you figured old man Al would look for a permanent dude, not this potential threat to all those around him, with no real views of how to win. Maybe it isn't all Tom. Maybe it's the Crypt Keeper up in the owner's box, pulling the strings. Sometimes old is too old. "Just win baby!" has been replaced with "Just breathe baby!" He has drafted the wrong guys year after year, set nothing for a defense, built no kind of community in Oakland. Just a bunch of strong, fast, mean guys who he hopes will play together and win. Time to lie down. The two of these guys should go find a high school flag football league to run...hey, Al could use the fresh air.
2. Wade "It's Enough" Phillips
It's the Cowboys. America's team. Jerry Jones puts more money into this franchise than My Complex Island puts into hair straightening products. So explain to me, as a team as storied as Dallas, year after year fills positions, and cannot make it past the first round? Is Romo the answer? Maybe not. They sure have and have had weapons. The Blue Star on the uniform makes even Miles Austin look like Michael Irvin. So what the fuck happened to them? Wade Wade Wade, Well Well Well. Your lack of leadership, voice, and overall appearance of heart has left at least me wondering why Jerry still goes with it. Rather than removing you, you assume defensive coordinator responsibility as well. That defense is the least scary I've seen in years. Refer to the game with Kansas City 2 weeks ago for evidence. Take a hike.
1. Jim "In The Army Now" Zorn
Jim Jim Jim. What's worse? Being fired or having your play calling ability stricken from you? Harsh, but necessary. Too many good players to waste. Sure, Jason Campbell isn't and never has been the future. But Clinton fucking Portis plays for you. You have Moss, Randel El, and Cooley. H-A-Y-N-E-S-W-O-R-T-H too, remember that guy you served up millions for? You have brought a lack of passion to a team that needs some. No coach has been questioned more than Zorn over the past year and a half. The Skins were in the playoffs 2 years ago. They had a real potential. Sure, Gibbs had to pack it in, but replace him with something of substance. Not a used car salesman with poor leadership and an even poorer haircut. Go get your old job at Carmax, and leave the footballin to us.
Read much? Fuck Losing. NFG. Look at all my friends.
Ain't it?!?! It's that time where we all just wanna be kids again and fake throwing up early in the morning so that our parents will leave us home to get a good look at how the October air looks up against our favorite ballplayer's silhouettes. More importantly, Troy Glaus is playing ball this October!
Real talk; the postseason is for adults and children alike. Pure baseball. Twins have got to be gassed, Jason Giambi you KNOW has something crazy planned with his facial hair, and Nick Swisher is an X-factor cos he talks to himself on the subway.
Alright check it out, there straight up is a reason why I am avoiding the stereotypical postseason preview and mindless projections. As you may already know, from last year's October folly, I hate the 5 game series. More importantly, I believe that a good baseball team is measured in long term Wins and Losses, and everything after the stock 162-163 is subjective to who's "hot" and who's not, and a solid dose of "luck". Because of this, I simply allow myself to be a big kid in October. I love my baseball team and try not to let stats stand in the way. HAHAHAHA!
Oddly enough, I heard this song/saw this movie yesterday at work.
But not too busy to bring it to your attention that MLB Network talking head, Barry Larkin said in their "Path to the Pennant" program that Nick Swisher is considered the Yanks co-captain because "he goes out there and laughs at himself". (among a few other INTANGIBLE reasons!!)
I love it. Almost as much as when people say that sub-par baseball players are "unbelievable athletes" and have some sort of "it" factor because they would do well at the NFL combine or in Olympic time trials. See:Dexter Fowler, most LAofA Angels infielders, and pretty much anybody you would describe as "fast" and/or scrappy.
Oh shit! The regular season is over! No more quantifiable, long-term stats! Only projections and post season knee jerks! Ah! Unwarranted A-Rod hate! Talks of who and who isn't a "true Yankee" or a "Real Rockie" etc etc! Nooooo
Alright, I obviously am just a little taken back by the MLB post season getting under way tomorrow. We all know how exciting it is, and as much as baseball elitists want to shun the intangibles, there's something in the air on those October nights that just gets us all reelin', much like Phil Collins would sing about, therefor leading to those cheesy MLB post season montages on whatever Network's time is so monopolized by it.
So, this Twins-Tigers thing is pretty exciting. It is unbelievable how many offensive overachievers the Twinkies had this season, and it's even more amazing that they all did it at the same time. Jason Kubel?!? A .900 OPS? Not to rain on anybody's mancrush here, but even Joe Mauer. He was NOT supposed to get all nasty and hit home runs, and we all thought that's what Matt Wieters was here to do. For the record, Verlander has been used which equates to the Tigers having no shot even if they are lucky enough to win the 1 game playoff this Tuesday evening.
I'm into it. And guess what? I am not going to make any half ass predictions. No way. Just sit back and enjoy, and get out my Arizona Fall Ball rosters, cos it will all be over before we know it.
Posts
