Just The Tip - 8-23-10

Back by popular demand, or at the very least necessity, is another edition of Just The Tip, the experimental blog where we’ll try just about anything, just to see how it feels.

Of course the two most interesting sports stories of the week have been covered to death by every media outlet and two-bit blogger all around the web, but it goes without saying that something needs to be said about the inevitable return of Brett Favre to Minnesota and the indictment of Roger Clemens on perjury charges. But in the true spirit of Just The Tip, we’ll keep it short and sweet, so that’s why I’m going to let movie quotes handle it for me.

On Favre’s Return:

On Clemens’s indictment and subsequent continued denial:

“I would never lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation.”

-         Fox Mulder, The X-Files

Alright, now that we’ve got the given out of the way and dealt with the uncomfortable part, let’s move on.

-         The Red Sox and their fans are finally succumbing to the collapse of Theo Epstein’s “Bridge”. The team fought valiantly to stay in the race this season, but after having lost Dustin Pedroia (twice), Jacoby Ellsbury (thrice), Jason Varitek, Josh Beckett, Victor Martinez, Clay Bucholtz, Jed Lowrie, Hideki Okajima, and various other moving parts to the disabled list throughout the season, Boston finds itself 5.5 games out of a playoff spot with just over a month left to play on the season. It certainly doesn’t help that they are chasing the two teams in their own division that have the two best records in baseball, but still, it stings to know the season is just about over in New England.

-         Can someone please update me how it is that Ben Roethlisberger is practicing with the Steelers and appearing in pre-season games, despite being suspended for at minimum the first four games on the 2010 season? I may be wrong but it seems to me that neither Michael Vick or Pac-Man Jones were afforded such a luxury? This may be the largest double-standard since men were allowed to stand up to relieve themselves while women were forced to straddle the porcelain god. Last time I checked, a suspension entailed sitting out from any activity related the game you play. Enough said.

-         Has someone checked the water coolers in the Orioles dugout lately? Prior to hiring Buck Showalter as manager, the Orioles were sitting at 31-76 on the season. However, after the hiring of Showalter, the Birds are 13-4. This is a team that hasn’t changed any personnel, aside from releasing Garrett Atkins, and has been guided by not one but two different managers prior to bringing Buck aboard. Maybe Peter Angelos should have made a move earlier, but it is doubtful that their position would have improved much given the division they play in. Still, at least fans can remove the paper bags right?

-         The United States Basketball team is again struggling in international competition, having barely survived in two warm-up matches against Lithuania and now Spain. Maybe it has to do with the players that populate team, who are not the same as the ones that lead the U.S. to the gold medal at the Olympic Games, or maybe it is actually the beginning of a bigger picture. In a game dominated by the United States in the past, the international competition showed in 2008 and again in this year’s games that they are closing the gap. American players may still be able to outjump anyone on the floor, but what really lands home is just home much more fundamentally sound the European teams are. American players spend so much time skipping college and learning to play on the playground than they do learning the fundamentals of the game, and that’s why they struggle to maintain their superiority.

Originally published on YouGabSports.com!

Just The Tip - Ozzie's Foot In Mouth Disease

I love this image for some reason, because this innocent little strumpet has no idea what she gets to collect as soon as she passes go. And let's be honest, we all used to think we were bending over and taking it when you landed on Park Place. Talk about an eye opener. I wonder if you have to roll a pair to get out of that jail?

Anyway, I was thinking about discussing the trade deadline moves and such, but I I also wanted to make sure that you guys didn't fall asleep on Monday morning, so I'll spare you from that lecture...for now.

Still, on the tip of my tongue is something that has been eating at me a bit since I read about it, although it seemed to roll off of the tip of his tongue pretty easily. Needless to say, I'm referring to Ozzie Guillen, who made a comment this week about how much easier the Asian players have it in Major League Baseball than the Latin players.

It seems that Mr. Mouth of the Southside thought it was prudent to poke the embers of racial bias for no reason whatsoever other than to get the camera pointing at him again. Ozzie referred to the ability of Asian players to come to the United States and get assisted by the team with interpreters and personal masseuses while Latin ballplayers are left to wallow in the minor leagues, scraping by on their own accord and meager salaries. Apparently this was all based on the fact that his son's minor league team acquired a Korean ballplayer who came packaged with an interpreter, while his boy is saddled with the need to interpret for the Spanish speaking players on the team.

Well Mr. Guillen, you have a certain point in regards to equality, but you miss a few key points to the argument.

Firstly, most Asian players who have made their ways West are coming over as established professional players, who despite their inexperience at the Major League level, still possess some level of negotiation skills. On the flip side, most Latin players sign their contracts at extremely young ages, prior to having possessed any level of professional experience, and often have had their contract negotiated for them by a liason in their country who has swindled them out of the majority of their deal.

Secondly, Asian players make up the smallest percentage of foreign players in the Major Leagues and its subordinate minor league systems. They tend to have few teammates that can assist them in acclimating to our societies and therefore require at least someone that can help them to at least understand what Joe Coach is saying to him. Meanwhile,Latin ballplayers make up the largest growing population on Major League Baseball, let alone the United States. That said, it is more that easy to see why teams won't invest in translators for them when they generally already on the team or coaching staff.

So come over here for a second and sit down Ozzie, I have a piece of information that I'd like to pass along to you and your fellow crybabies; "No one in this country gets a free ride or a silver spoon."

Let's face facts, if you are lucky enough to have landed a job where you get to play a game for a living, your life isn't hard. Sure, there is a lot of work involved in keeping your position and earning promotions, but I have news for you, that's why they call it a job and that's why you're paid to do it. If for some reason it is too much work for your son to be a comrade to his teammates from another country and help them to acclimate, then just have him hand them the yellow pages and help them find someone else to teach them the language so that they don't require his services any more. Or at the very least, let him file a grievance with the union

Do you want to impress me Ozzie? Sit down and realize that your team is in first place and that they don't necessarily need you to shine the spotlight on yourself. Let their performance do the talking for you. You're the manager, not the face of the franchise. Your job is to put the line-up card together and flash signs, so if you don't want to speak more than one language to your players, then there is only one thing left for you to do:

Shut up!

Originally Published At YouGabSports.com

Five Burning Questions For MLB's Second Half

With the National League's win in the 2010 All-Star game, the first half of baseball is now officially in the books.

It is fairly easy to say that the first half of the season belonged to the pitchers, with no-hitters, perfect games, and many near misses of both. As a matter of fact, twelve teams enter the second half with team ERA's below 4.00 and eighteen individual pitchers had ERA's below 3.00 on the season.

Certainly, the hitters will look to make a difference in the second half of the season, as we enter the dog days of summer, but they won't be the only story of the second half. Here are the other burning questions that will need to be answered as baseball swings from July to October:


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No Sport Needs A Super Team

We were all witness to the Lebron James extravaganza that held the fates of New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, and Cleveland in its hands. And we were all less than surprised when James chose to team up with fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in order to try and win a championship with the Heat.

Fans in Cleveland and New York rightfully felt betrayed and angered by the decision, but all misgivings aside, James followed his desire to win a championship in making his decision, and obviously felt that by helping to create a super team in South Beach was his best means to an end. Then again, nothing is guaranteed in sports, and the games will still need to be played. That all said, there is one thing that bears saying about this whole ordeal:


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Many fans of baseball may have loved to hate him, but few of us can really fault the man for his passion for winning and the contributions he made to the game and the legacy of the New York Yankees. With that said, and despite any personal misgivings toward George Steinbrenner, those same baseball fans are united in mourning after learning that Steinbrenner had passed away earlier today at the age of 80.

George Steinbrenner achieved a level of success that few sports owners ever have, parlaying a struggling team he purchased for $8.8 million into a franchise worth an estimated $1.6 billion, winning seven world championships during his tenure. Steinbrenner was also known as much for his antics with the media, managers, and players as he was for his dedication to putting together the best team’s money could buy.

But George left a completely different legacy as well, as he was one of the greatest sound bites that sports reporters could dream of. The following is just a small collection of some of the greatest George Steinbrenner quotes ever captured.

“I am dead set against free agency. It can ruin baseball.”

-         Given that the Yankees have made a living off of the free agent market since its inception, one could argue that George was a little hypocritical here. But then again, there are very few fans of small market teams that would disagree with this quote either.

“I will never have a heart attack. I give them.”

-         George gave his fair share of heart attacks during his reign atop the Yankees. From managers to general managers to players and fellow owners, Steinbrenner was a force to be reckoned with. Fitting though that a man who fired on all cylinders would eventually succumb to just such an attack.

“Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.”

-         If there was one mantra that Steinbrenner lived by, it was winning. Winning was everything and the fans of New York always knew if George was steering the ship, he would make sure they had the best chance to do it.

“He pushed me to strive for excellence. If I competed in five races and won four, we talked about the one I lost.”

-         This was part of a quote about how George’s father pushed him in athletics, but it personifies what he stood for as an owner, especially in regards to the Yankees. Steinbrenner didn’t want to hear about how much was achieved unless it was completed with a world championship.

“When you're entrusted with a tradition, you've got to protect it.”

-         Steinbrenner certainly recognized the tradition that the Yankees had and made it a point to protect and expand it. He made them the most recognizable franchise in all of sports, establishing them more as a name brand than a team. He also instilled the same mentality in his children, who he’s now entrusted to carry on that tradition.

George Steinbrenner will always be remembered as one of the most recognizable owners that American sports have even seen. He will be missed by all, fans and detractors alike. Rest in peace Boss.

Sources:

Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner Dies at 80, Boston.com

George Steinbrenner, Wikipedia.com

George Steinbrenner Quotes, BrainyQuotes.com

George Steinbrenner Quotes, ThinkExist.com

George Steinbrenner Quotes, Esquire.com

Is There A New Red Sox Curse?

Call it whatever you wish, but the “Curse Of The DL” has fallen upon the Boston Red Sox.

Since June 24^th, the Red Sox have been steadily adding names to the Disabled List, including Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, Manny Delcarmen, Mike Lowell, and now captain Jason Varitek, who was catching just his first game since Martinez was taken with a broken bone on the tip of his thumb. Overall, Boston now has 10 total players on the DL, some with minor injuries and others with the kind of freak injuries that only befit a curse.

-         Josh Beckett – Lower Back Spasms – Due Back Late July

-         Jacoby Ellsbury – Rib Fracture – Unknown Return Date

-         Jeremy Hermida – Rib Fracture – Unknown Return Date

-         Mike Lowell – Right Hip Injury – Unknown Return Date

-         Jed Lowrie – Mononucleosis – Unknown Return Date

-         Victor Martinez – Broken Left Thumb – Due Back Late July

-         Dustin Pedroia – Broken Left Foot – Due Back Early August

-         Jason Varitek – Broken Foot – Due Back Early-Mid August

-         Manny Delcarmen – Right Forearm Strain – Due Back Late July

-         Junichi Tazawa – Tommy John Surgery – Out For Season

What lends credence to the thought of a curse is a couple of factor. First, the Red Sox had just pulled themselves within a game and a half of the first place Yankees in the AL East and had taken possession of the Wild Card lead from division rival Tampa Bay, so the timing of the recent rash of injuries couldn’t be any tougher to deal with.

Second, the nature of how the injuries occurred just hinges on the absurd. Both Ellsbury and Hermida experienced fractured ribs after colliding with third baseman Adrian Beltre on shallow fly balls. Pedroia suffered his broken foot after fouling a pitch off of it. Both Martinez and Varitek suffered their injuries while catching and taking a foul ball of an opponents bat into their glove hand and foot respectively. The sheer magnitude of all of these occurring within a given season is mind-boggling.

Perhaps the devil was due after the Red Sox had achieved not one but two World Series championships during the first decade of the century after waiting 84 years between championships. Perhaps it is just coincidence, but whatever it is a tremendous hurdle to overcome for a team in the middle of the pennant race and playing in the toughest division in baseball.

This is the kind of adversity that can define a team, something that could make or break them. No one would fault the Red Sox if they fell out of the race at this stage, but can you imagine what it will do for them if they pull though it and get back that troop just in time for the postseason? A team that rested could be a wrecking ball in October.

But first they have to get there.

Sources:

Varitek To Miss Six Weeks With Broken Foot, Boston.com

Red Sox Injury Updates, MLB.com

Every team in baseball has that guy; the one that ignites everything the team does and is the very glue that holds them together. You know the guy, the one that goes out and does his job day in and day out without question; the one guy that provides the big hits and still does the little things to keep an inning moving.

Recently, the Boston Red Sox lost that guy, when it was revealed that second baseman Dustin Pedroia suffered a fracture of his left foot after fouling a pitch off of it in a game against San Francisco on June 25^th. Pedroia was coming off a career night the game before, going 5 for 5 with three home runs and five runs batted in. Pedroia's stellar defense at the keystone position, as well as his hitting prowess and base running skills make him one of the elite team players in all of baseball. Somehow, the Red Sox are going to have to weather his loss for the next six weeks and still hope to stay in the tough American League East race with New York and Tampa Bay.


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