Still Picking on the Uptons!

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

So while I have the Uptons on my mind, I thought I might as well look a little more closely at why Justin has not been offered a long term, "face of the franchise" deal like Joey Votto or Evan Longoria. He fits right in to that mold as a 25 year old, potential filled, outfielder that possesses all the tools and seemingly has yet to reach his peak.

Instead of the Diamondbacks rejecting any clubs snooping around as to the availability of Upton, they have made it quite clear, quite often, that he can be involved in trade discussions. For the past two seasons, Justin's name has come up on numerous occasions. Even after the winter meetings, his name is still being involved in possible trades. With the value of youth and club friendly contracts emphasized in today's baseball market, Upton would appear to be a prime candidate to remain with his team and be offered a lengthy extension.

By this point, with Arizona declaring they like him, but unwilling to extend his deal, Upton has surely determined that he may be better off leaving the Diamondbacks. So why is Upton so available? There seems to be a market for him as several teams have reportedly inquired about him and a couple have seriously attempted to acquire him via trade. But the Diamondbacks know him better than any other organization as he was drafted and developed by Arizona.

Arizona has coaches, executives and scouts that have seen Upton for all these years. They know what he brings to the ballpark on a nightly basis. Baseball is a very hard game and Upton is wildly inconsistent which is typical for a developing player of any talent level and not at all out of the ordinary for a 25 year old.

But the injury factor usually does not play such a large role at this juncture. The injury risk is significantly lower and less of a concern with such a young player. But Upton does have health concerns at just 25. He has only played over 150 games once in his five full seasons and has been slowed or disabled in the second half of seasons often. So if his tools and talents dictate he should be playing, how does he not even start 18% of the games during his ages 20-24? Part of his inconsistency must come from the injuries.

On the other hand, Upton may try to lobby to stay in Arizona and Chase Field. His numbers are significantly higher at home whether that is because of the actual park or just the familiarity some young players have during home games. It also may give pause to some teams in what they are willing to give up to acquire him. Justin is only hitting .250 in 367 road games with an OBP just above .300 which is in the journeyman level of statistics. Normally, that could be understood for a young player, but even though Upton is 25, he has played five years in the big leagues and that experience should have resulted in better home/road splits by now.

It just doesn't seem that Justin is a franchise player and the Diamondbacks might recognize that. Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates is the same age and you would not be able to pry him from Pittsburgh. He continues to get better and is definitely representing the Pirates as a franchise player while Upton can be had for a reasonable return.

But just like B.J., Justin is a superstar waiting to break out. And also like B.J., the potential tag is still stuck to him, even after five major league seasons. Maybe a new ballpark and new lineup would help Justin make the leap to stardom, but I am guessing Arizona doesn't see it that way. So maybe someone will take a chance on a 25 year old with monster tools, keeping in mind that, once again, "potential" is just another word for "hasn't done anything yet."

All this because I know more about nothing...

Did B.J. Upton Thank Marvin Miller?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know…

Marvin Miller died last week and it caused me to stop and wonder if B.J. Upton, Jeff Keppinger, or Angel Pagan even knew who he was, yet alone thanked him.

In 1966, the Players Association was a mess and the players were obsessed with improving the state of their pension plan. Miller was a labor economist for the United Steelworkers, contemplating taking the position of representing the Major League Baseball players. Miller listened to their concerns with the pension plan while becoming even more shocked by many other issues painting a horrible overall picture for the players.

At that time, working conditions were horrible for the players. Owners made players work for several consecutive weeks without a day off; double headers were regularly scheduled and even played on consecutive days. From 1946-1965, the minimum player salary had “climbed” from $5,000 to $6,000! Even little things which presented dangerous working conditions were in place such as poor warning tracks and unpadded fences and outfield walls.

Miller dug even deeper and was horrified to discover the “reserve clause” in every standard baseball contract. Miller determined this was “one of the worst labor documents I’ve ever seen.” This clause allowed the team to renew a player’s contract without the player’s approval for the period of one year. In the eyes of the owners, this clause could be renewed indefinitely each year. This allowed the owners to have complete control over a player in terms of pay until they decided to trade or release them. Miller took the job.

He attacked the job on a philosophy that gradual, incremental victories would yield more progress than winning an issue by a blowout and creating bad feelings. He obviously had an expert handle on the economics of the player’s situation and decided to start his progressive plan by going after wages. The minimum player salary increased to $10,000 in his first negotiation and he upgraded the pension plan shortly thereafter. Even currently, the pension plan is an incredibly generous agreement. Many players who retired before free agency was in place make more in the pension plan than they did in salary while playing.

Previously, the Commissioner of Baseball, hand picked by the owners, was the “impartial” arbitrator to oversee grievances. The negotiation for the 1970 agreement had Miller establishing an outsider as the impartial arbitrator. This proved to be crucial later and Miller knew it, setting up his biggest move to come.

His earlier progress and victories with the wages and pension plan gained the backing and full support of the players. This had never been achieved previously in their association. By gaining this status, Miller was now able to take on the reserve clause. Under Miller’s counsel, Curt Flood, a St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, sued, claiming the clause violated anti-trust laws and restrained fair trade. Flood went the distance with his case, raising huge awareness and receiving gratitude from the players even though he eventually lost in front of the Supreme Court and cost himself his baseball career.

However, this allowed Miller to instruct two other players, Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally, to play an entire season without having signed their contracts and then file grievances afterwards. The arbitrator reviewing the grievances ruled in the player’s favor, ruling the clause was good for one year only, not in perpetuity. The decision was monumental and abolished the reserve clause and allowed free agency to begin.

In regards to Miller’s historical spot in the game of baseball, his absence from the Hall of Fame seems very political. Eligible “pioneers” are selected by a Veterans Committee, instead of the Baseball Writers Association of America. The Veterans Committee is populated by current or former management members which explains how Bowie Kuhn (an employee of owners and management) can be inducted and Marvin Miller remains out.

But Miller’s legacy really lives on through the state of the game, the entire game. While player’s rights and salaries are healthy, the overall prosperity of Major League Baseball is phenomenal. Miller summed it up very succinctly just before his death by saying, “When I began…there were 20 major league franchises and they had a combined revenue of $50 million for the whole year. Last year, revenues exceeded $6 billion. That’s the industry we’ve ruined with higher salaries.”

In the midst of that $6 billion industry, these three players (Upton, Keppinger and Pagan) that will only enter the Hall of Fame as visitors, signed to play baseball for a combined $127.25 million. On their behalf: Thank you Mr. Miller.

All this because I know more about nothing…

Tampa Bay Rays Win! Upton Signs with Braves!

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know…

The Tampa Bay Rays have done it again! They have managed to make a good roster move, rid themselves of a depreciating asset, maintain a good public relations position, and save themselves from wasting millions of dollars.

The Rays went ahead and let the Atlanta Braves make the first big boo boo of the Hot Stove season.

B. J. Upton takes his bat and glove up I-75 in exchange for $75.25 million over the next five seasons. While he received market value for a star (not super star), the 28 year old Upton arrives at Turner Field as a somewhat valuable player who has actually performed below the level of his talent in the major leagues so far in his career.

The Braves do not feel they overpaid for Upton but losing a 2013 first-round draft pick to the Rays adds to the cost and just makes the deal even sweeter for Tampa Bay. Based on how well the Rays have drafted and developed picks in the last decade, the return in both the cost and productivity departments is a huge increase over having Upton.

Upton settled into center field as a regular in the big leagues in 2007 after being promoted to the majors in 2004. As a 22 year old, Upton put up numbers he has been unable to reach or duplicate in five seasons since. He slugged 24 home runs, stole 22 bases, compiled a .300 batting average to go with a .411 slugging percentage. This translated to a very productive 4.1 WAR, Wins Above Replacement, which is an all encompassing modern measurement of a player.

2008 saw Upton lose his power, playing with an injury, and produce just nine home runs. This would be his lowest HR output in a full major league season. Surgery on the shoulder to repair it led to speculation  that 2009 would be a monster season and break out campaign for the 24 year old. Apparently the shoulder had not returned to 100% and was taking longer than expected to heal. Upton struggled through his worst season, hitting .241 with a slugging percentage of just .313.

His power seemed to return in 2010 and progress through 2012 as Upton , strangely, put up a career high 28 home runs. Because in spite of the power return, a complete regression in approach to each at bat led to a career high 169 strikeouts and a career low walk total. This led to a sub .300 on base percentage for 2012. Over the last three seasons combined, B.J.’s batting average  is at .242 with an on-base percentage barely above .300. Never has someone with 28 home runs for a season ever looked so lost and so void of any plan at the plate.

Upton’s play in centerfield is a debatable topic.  Local broadcasters have declared he is the best defensive center fielder in baseball and some writers proclaim him as a top 3 defender. A closer analysis and reviewing him on a fundamental basis reveals a different story. He does have speed, he does have a strong arm, and he does move nicely, appearing to glide to the ball effortlessly.

Detailed analysis of his movements often show a poor path to tracking balls which results in some catches appearing harder than they could have been and other balls falling for hits when they could have been outs. Despite a strong arm, the tendency to crank it up and miss the cut off man has led to extra bases being taken by runners. This leads to more pitches being made under stress as hurlers attempt to dig out from situations created by his gifts to the opponent. 

Upton continues to make mental errors from a position that normally sets the example for the corner outfielders. He does have a natural ability to play the position but often negates that talent by playing overly shallow, at least to the point that many advanced metrics measuring his range indicate he is giving up territory. He is still prone to lapses in attention and lackadaisical play. Overall, some advanced fielding metrics and defensive measurements have even graded Upton as below average.

The Braves have replaced Michael Bourn with Upton and it could work out, it is a calculated risk to some degree. Upton is two years younger, but in regards to defense, B.J. will be a significant downgrade. He has the talent and ability to make up for that at the dish and Turner Field may even play a role and be helpful in that aspect. But a five year, $75 million investment for a .240 hitter with a low walk rate and a guaranteed 150 strikeouts per year seems like a reach.

Age 27 is now generally accepted as a player’s most prime year for performance. Even though Upton just completed his, there is the possibility that he is still poised for a break out season and some peak years. The Braves are obviously banking on that. The Rays took a different approach thinking that $75 million and a draft pick would be more productive over the next five seasons.

After 8 major league seasons, 6 as a regular centerfielder, Upton cashes in, the Rays move on and “potential” remains just another word for “hasn’t done anything yet.”

All this because I know more about nothing…

Your 2012 Penn State Nittany Lions!

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

There are two groups associated with Penn State that should no longer suffer. One is the victims of the despicable acts that happened and the other is the current Nittany Lion football players. While time, counseling and legal proceedings may do something to combat the situations of those molested, there is a solution for the current players that we can implement now.

Matthew McGloin

The ultimate monster, Jerry Sandusky, is long gone....and gone forever. He didn't recruit any current players and he won't coach any current players. When Penn State takes the field this fall, we have to remember that Sandusky will not.

Sean Stanley

They will not be coached by Joe Paterno either. He is gone, passed on in disgrace and even his statue has been removed. He is a justifiable target for your venom and disgust, no matter what level of involvement you believe he had. He will not call one play, nor make one pre-game pep talk for the 2012 Penn State football team. Remember that.

Gerald Hodges

Former players such as Franco Harris and Michael Robinson who defend Paterno and plan to appeal to the NCAA regarding the victories being vacated are also missing the big picture. They appear heartless in the eyes of us looking at this from the victim's standpoint. But they will not play for the 2012 Penn State football team.

Glenn Carson

Penn State obviously still has a Board of Trustees in place that views this tragedy as a corporate inconvenience. They are also planning to appeal the NCAA sanctions that the university president negotiated and promised not to appeal. We must remember and acknowledge the Board does not play for the 2012 Penn State football team.

Michael Mauti

While it makes sense that Jay and Scott Paterno live under the Paterno family bubble, they need to lay low and refrain from their insensitive public responses to the national reaction. Fortunately, they do not coach or play for the 2012 Penn State football team.

This team will take the field with players who chose to remain at Penn State. They will compete without Paterno, without Sandusky, without Penn State executives and Board members. They should be able to play without the stigma of being thought of as villains or pedophiles. They will have new uniforms, new coaches, a new outlook and a new attitude.

The new uniforms were necessary. For decades, the face of the program was purely Joe Paterno. His glasses, his pants, his statue, his control. While emphasizing that the team is bigger than any player by not having names on the jerseys, adding the names this season will show the nation who the players are that decided to stay. The blue ribbons on each jersey will show that these players remember. Both the names and ribbons will also let the viewing public know that these guys aren't THOSE guys and that must be remembered.

The current players will work and practice hard, play to win, and gesture constantly through their appearance and comments that they are aware.  All the real villains have been identified and called out, removed from the program in one way or another. None of them are involved in any manner with this team. The program is crippled, but alive. But the current players deserve their moment. They deserve their opportunity to play hard and represent the faction of Penn State that will work to right this horrible wrong. They need to be recognized for their place and effort now. They play for the 2012 Penn State football team and we need to remember that.

All this because I know more about nothing...

Rio de Janeiro, 2016 Olympics!!!

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

So now we all look forward to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the inclusion of golf and rugby which were previous Olympic sports. There seems to be quite a revolving door that exists for events and the International Olympic Committee is constantly examining current sports and evaluating potential new ones.

Bringing back golf for 2016 is fitting since the Olympic ideal of a lean, hard, Adonis-like individual with 6 pack abs at the height of his athletic condition will be represented by...Phil Mickelson?

It would seem easier for the IOC to bypass any evaluation procedure and just have some former sports and events return. This way, records would already exist that new competitors could challenge.

The IOC could start by reinstating the rope climbing event which was a part of the gymnastics program through 1932. Competitors started in a seated position and climbed to the top of a 46 foot rope (later shortened to 25 feet) using only their hands and arms while keeping their legs outstretched in an "L" position. In 1896, the first Olympiad, only two participants reached the top with Nikolaus Andriakopoulos taking the gold!

Since Rio de Janeiro is partly bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the Olympics could return to having swimming events take place outdoors - really outdoors. In the early Olympiads, swimming took place in the natural waters including the Bay of Zea in Greece. Sharks and sting rays were the impetus for fast finishes, not endorsements and notoriety.

Speaking of swimming, how did the IOC discontinue Solo Synchronized Swimming in 1992? One lonely person with a strange smile and a nose clip floating in a pool perfectly synced with...

Croquet could also return from it's 116 year hiatus. NBC and local Rio ticket sellers could hype and promote it to the point where interest will reach a frenzy and generate more than one fan. Although France won all the croquet events in 1900, an Englishman had traveled from Nice especially for the competition and was the only spectator. In addition, this sport would provide all of the back yard, family gathering croquet champs a chance at displaying the old skills and realizing the dream of standing on the podium and receiving a medal.

At this point, I would have to say that the movement to have live pigeon shooting return to the Games should be rejected. The birds were released in front of the competitor and the winner was the one who shot down the most pigeons from the sky. Upon missing two birds, a participant was eliminated. Between the blood and feathers all over the place, the dead and injured birds on the ground, and over 300 pigeons being killed, this event was short lived. Leon De Lunden of Belgium and his 21 birds killed will probably remain as the Olympic record holder.

Which brings us around to the biggest addition to the track and field program, Tug-of-War. This was contested through 1920, was highly competitive, and even contained controversy that would fit perfectly in today's track and field landscape.

Countries sent several teams back then for the Tug-of-War events. Three different USA teams (Milwaukee Athletic Club, and two teams from St. Louis) captured the gold, silver, and bronze in 1904.

In 1908, Great Britain sent three teams comprised of bobbies - City of London Police, Liverpool Police, and Metropolitan Police. The London teams both had byes into the semi-finals, but the Liverpool team drew the USA team in order to qualify for the fourth semi-final spot. The United States team were behemoths, consisting of several hammer throwers and weightlifters. Incredibly though, the British squad used one quick mighty tug and pulled the Americans over the line. The Americans were so shocked, they immediately withdrew from the contest and any future matches.

The team from the USA then lodged a protest and claimed the Liverpool team had been unfairly prepared by wearing weighted, spiked shoes. The police group responded by saying they were only wearing standard issue police work boots. Although heavy and with a metal rim, they were deemed not to be unfairly weighted or containing any spikes. The Liverpool team was put through only to be stopped in the final, for the gold medal, by the London contingent. Afterwards, both London and Liverpool offered the Americans a tug in bare feet, but the offer was declined.

The Americans never recovered from the loss and that left Great Britain and Sweden as the tug-of-war powers up through the 1920 Olympics.

So let's save the IOC some time and push these sports back through for 2016. Welcoming back golf and rugby is fine, recalling these classics mentioned above would be even better. All the while giving the IOC more time to decide on corporate sponsorship and who should hand out medals.

All this because I know more about nothing...

Does the IOC Need A Fresh Breath of Air?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

Maybe it is just me but it seems that the International Olympic Committee has gotten just a little too stuffy and full of themselves.

Being old enough to remember the Munich Games of 1972 and the tragedy that occurred with the murder of eleven athletes and coaches 40 years ago, it was completely appropriate in my mind to have a moment and acknowledge them at some point during the current Games. It could have been done during the Opening ceremonies, at some midway point through the Games during a singular and specific observance, or even during the Closing ceremony.

The IOC did not find it fitting to do so and offered a statement saying it was not in the spirit of the Opening ceremonies to have such a moment. Not in the spirit? Sixty seconds of silence for eleven murdered participants during a three hour extravaganza would dampen the Olympic spirit? I believe such a moment may raise the spirit even higher allowing all those involved to remember that this is a sportsmanship event that is intended to rise above politics and any disputes or wars between countries.

Now we have eight Olympic badminton players being disqualified for not trying hard enough and tanking matches. The eight players had already qualified for the elimination round when they stopped trying to win. The theory is that the players tried to lose in order to set up an easier match in the next round. So now the Badminton World Federation and IOC must get involved. How does this turn out? The players who tanked the matches are disqualified from the Games and disgraced. The players who thought they won honestly feel humiliated and mad. Fans who bought tickets are not being offered a refund because the IOC has stated there were other legitimate matches to watch. However, they are offering free tickets to the cycling!

My real question is how can the IOC be so shocked and display outrage at this happening? After all, when it set up a format in a competition that rewards players for losing, how could they have ever predicted that players would try to get rewarded for losing? Stunning!

Finally, we also witness Michael Phelps becoming the greatest medal winning Olympian of all time. In doing so, he passed Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina, considered to be the sport’s first female superstar. Latynina won 18 medals for the Soviet Union from 1956 to 1964, winning her final medal at age 29!

Possessing the spirit of a true Olympian, Latynina was willing and eager to pass her "most medal" title to Phelps in a personal way — by presenting Phelps his gold medal for the relay at the ceremony.

Olympic regulations forbade her act of generosity.

The IOC, of course, can  make exceptions and rulings on everything under the Olympic umbrella. So here we have history made in the Olympic Aquatics Centre and yet the International Olympic Committee missed out on the chance to make more history. For some reason (one statement from the IOC claimed they would have to make these exceptions for everyone) the IOC refused to create a special moment and allow the previous record holder to present Phelps with his historic medal.

This was not just another medal and another world record for some event.  This was the passing of a lifetime achievement that had stood for nearly five decades. In addition, this was a chance for two athletes from completely different disciplines to unite. A chance for athletes from two countries vastly different with a history of being rivals to meet and share a moment. It was a chance for the goodwill and sportsmanship  associated with the Olympics to be captured forever as one athlete be allowed to go forward on her own idea and reward another athlete for a monumental accomplishment.

Yet the IOC, who will probably not have any current members live long enough to see such an occurrence again, gave a basketball administrator the responsibility of giving a medal to the greatest-ever Olympian.

Can we look forward to Rio in 2016 with a new outlook from this committee...please?

All this because I know more about nothing...

Death Penalty for Penn State?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

A general outcry that I have read and heard often lately is for the Penn State football program to be issued the "death penalty" by the NCAA.

The statue of Joe Paterno should be removed, the football program ended and even the stadium razed and replaced by a memorial to victims. Based on some of the comments regarding what should happen to Jerry Sandusky, the aforementioned ideas are some of the more calm responses to the current events in Happy Valley.

People are upset, and rightfully so. They want justice for the victims, they want to further punish a man who has passed on. They want the NCAA to act and to put the Penn State football program out of business. All this outrage is perfectly understandable, deserving and justified. Delivering the death penalty to Nittany Lion football is not.

We have seen many programs punished recently for violations of NCAA laws. The reasons and transgressions have varied and ranged all the way to including free tattoos.  In 1987, the NCAA canceled the entire season for SMU based on their multiple violations and slush fund for buying players. So based on the wide variety of scandals and punishments handed out by the NCAA, how can it let Penn State get away with its crime? When you take away a bowl game appearance for inking body parts at no charge, what does child rape warrant?

In essence, there are not any NCAA violations here. There is not a violation on the NCAA books for raping a child or molesting a youngster as it is already assumed that the criminal law and the presence of any sense in a human being would already cover the situation.

Many voices are saying the NCAA can act based on the bylaw of "lack of institutional control." This is most definitely NOT a violation of "lack of institutional control." It is the ultimate application of "complete institutional control" as they (the football powers that be and university executives), were able to "control" the situation for as long as they did.

Thank goodness this is uncharted territory. Would NCAA sanctions really rectify acts so obscene? It just seems people are calling for something, anything, to be done. But isn't this much larger than the NCAA and the capabilities it has to address this situation? Angry people want the program destroyed, but hasn't that already taken place?

The cover-up has now been exposed. The president of a large, prestigious university has been fired. The head football coach was fired and an extremely significant legacy is destroyed. The administrators who allegedly helped and participated in the cover-up are now facing time in jail. Jerry Sandusky is convicted and likely spending his remaining days in prison. The name Penn State is spoken with disgust and the upcoming law suits may result in untold millions being paid out to victims.

Penn State is now in a position to face punishment of historic levels even without the NCAA becoming involved. The concept of NCAA sanctions being administered to punish and deter are trivial in this matter. Prison time, millions of dollars in settlements and a ruined reputation are slightly more severe than being restricted from playing for a conference trophy and not going to the Beef 'O' Bradys Bowl next December.

This university is guilty of having a football culture that can create circumstances that allow these acts to happen. Just as it happens in society daily, it apparently will happen within these programs. But that does not justify the death penalty. If the football program creates followings and feelings within itself that cause members to become so immersed as to rationalize away such acts, then law enforcement needs to step in.

If blind loyalty, coach worshiping, and having boosters heap giant sums of money upon their universities and teams is a reason to shut down a program, then Tallahassee, Columbus, Lincoln, and a few other places may be in trouble too. No, Penn State needs more severe punishment than the NCAA is capable of administering and they have received some of it already. I suspect plenty more is coming.

So is the death penalty for Penn State football the way to make a statement, please the angry crowds, and punish the participants in this scandal? Maybe, but I wouldn't call it justice....and the victims may not either.

All this because I know more about nothing...

The Last # 42?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

In 1997, baseball universally retired the number 42 throughout the major and minor leagues in honor of Jackie Robinson. The grandfather clause was implemented allowing current and active personnel wearing 42 to continue to do so until their retirement.

Pedro Martinez, Jose Lima and Mo Vaughn were a few of the final players to wear 42. In fact, Mo Vaughn was the last player to wear that number for three different clubs, the Red Sox, Angels and Mets.

Mariano Rivera of the Yankees is the last active major league player wearing 42 and he is out for the year with an injury. If he returns for next season, the clause will allow him to continue. If Rivera decides to retire instead, is that it for the number 42?

It turns out there is one other active person wearing 42 in professional baseball. Art Silber, owner of the Potomac Nationals (minor league affiliate for the Washington club) is also the first base coach. He is in his 23rd season and has announced he is retiring from coaching.

Silber grew up in Brooklyn and attended Jackie Robinson's first game on April 15, 1947. He used to wait for Robinson on a street corner from 1947 until the mid 50's just so he could walk and talk with the great Dodger. As Brooklyn was a melting pot in the late 40's, Jackie Robinson was an inspiration for many in the borough. With minorities, returning war soldiers, those still recovering from the Depression and those affected by the Holocaust, Robinson became a symbol of excellence and perseverance.

Silber wore the number 42 so he could continue to spread the message and relay the story to all those he contacted. Little Leaguers, new players to the Nationals, and fans were all lucky enough to hear the stories and receive the message from a baseball man who was there at the beginning.

But Silber is a proud man and very aware of baseball history along with being respectful of others. He has stated he would never back into the title of being the last baseball professional to wear 42. So based on Mariano Rivera being hurt and uncertain about playing again, Silber declared he has coached his last game and will hang his 42 uniform up for good.

So out of respect for Rivera, Silber ends an era as the last minor league baseball person wearing the number 42...but he will continue to communicate who Robinson was and what he did.

All this because I know more about nothing...

NBA Finals Tape Delay

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

Now that the NBA Finals are over, we can all go back to normal sleep patterns since we won't have any more 9pm week night start times for games.

While some of us may think those were late starts and the league needs to move those times up even more, the NBA actually did us (and themselves) a favor by starting them that early. Do you remember watching the incredible performance of Magic Johnson in the sixth game of the 1980 Finals?

Although the Lakers enjoyed a 3-2 lead in the NBA finals, they were headed for the home court of the Philadelphia 76ers without their dominating center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was staying home because of a badly sprained ankle.

Johnson had symbolically sat in the seat normally reserved for Abdul-Jabbar and he planned to take Kareem's place on the court as well, playing center for at least part of the game.

Johnson, a 20-year-old rookie at the time, wound up playing all five positions at various points in the game, scoring 42 points, making all 14 of his free throws, getting 15 rebounds and handing out seven assists as he led the Lakers to a 123-107 victory and the NBA title.

But very few fans actually saw it. The Spectrum was filled with 18,726 people but the television audience was scarce as the 11:30pm start time for the tape delayed broadcast discouraged many viewers. What, 11:30pm start time, on tape? That is right, the NBA was televising the weeknight Finals games on tape delay following the local news!

Before the Internet and social media, real time scores were not as available. The NBA offices would beg local television affiliates not to reveal the score of the game that was actually played earlier.

Sadly, the games could not compete against the likes of "Dallas" and other programs during sweeps periods. CBS executives did not want the low rated league messing up their important ratings and even assumed they were going to get blown out in the ratings anyway by NBC's Johnny Carson, then the undisputed king of late-night television.

In order to have as many weekend games as possible, which were televised live in the sports filled afternoon, the NBA had the Finals games played on back to back days, Saturday and Sunday. Even with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson beginning their storied rivalry, the NBA was relegated to second class TV status. CBS aired tape delayed NBA games up through 1986 before finally breaking through from being a poor cousin to baseball and football.

So be thankful, and rested, that every amazing performance or exciting game seen this past year was live....and a little earlier.

All this because I know more about nothing...

Research Indicates Tiger is Back!!!

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

2012 has been the year in golf so far for everyone to be asking if Tiger Woods is back. He tied for second in March at the Honda Classic finishing with a fourth round 62. In late March, he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational looking as if he was ready for the Masters. He imploded at Augusta, finishing tied for 40th.

Woods followed that up by missing the cut at the Wells Fargo and tying for 40th again at the Players Championship. Then in his final tune up before the U.S. Open, he wins the Memorial and ties Jack Nicklaus for Tour wins.

So which is it? Are his new swing elements still too inconsistent to produce results? Or is everything in place and he is on the verge of running off on another streak of greatness in his attempt to pass Nicklaus in Majors wins?

Based on two interesting books regarding tour players and their swing tempos, Tour Tempo and Tour Tempo 2, it appears as if Tiger has locked down his new swing components and is ready to roar.

According to the book, and recent research on Woods' swing, he is mostly "sevens" and "two to one" on his putts, perfect numbers for him to achieve great things. Let me explain this crazy golf jargon.

The books explain that virtually all tour players, no matter how fast or slow their swings, have the same full-swing tempo -- their backswings take three times as long as their downswings. Consistency in tempo is the key and in 2000, Tiger Woods had the best tempo because it never varied. Recently, with new coaches, different swing techniques, injuries, and possibly personal issues, he has had one of the worst tempos in golf. His swing times have been all over the board and wildly erratic.

The measurements are based on video of each golfer's swing and the numbers come from the amount of frames of video for each section of the swing. Woods was a robotic 24/8 for his peak years which means the swing consumes 24 frames of video from takeaway to the top, and then 8 frames of video back down to striking the ball. The desired number for ultimate results is a 3 to 1 ratio for any tour player. Research shows Woods hitting wayward shots at the Masters this year with many swings of 24/6 and 20/8.

When Tiger pulls the ball over two fairways and sends balls into the rough, those are usually results of a fast downswing, a 6 on the video frame meter. He doesn’t seem to handle the faster downswing well. Yesterday, at the Open, he measured much better and much more consistently. Thursday he hit an iron approach to six feet on the fourth hole. That swing was measured at 22/7. His tee shots Friday, the ones that split the fairway, were 20/7. All those 7-frame downswings are a really good sign for Woods. Tiger needs to maintain the 3 to 1 ratio and slow the downswing slightly.

Now green side strokes and putts are desired to come in at a 2 to 1 ratio. So far, through two rounds, he has showed 14/7 and 16/8 on all his chips and putts. The great green side shot he made at the Memorial was measured at 21/10, almost perfect on the scale and absolutely perfect in the results!

Basically, these numbers suggest that Woods has practiced his new moves and achieved comfort with them. They have become second nature so he is, once again, able to make an athletic swing at the ball without thinking. Just a reflexive move that is allowing him to hit the ball straight, or curve it at will.

All these numbers make Tiger the favorite to win this weekend at Olympic, but as any golfer knows, there is a mental aspect to the game as well. So while he is the favorite to win his 15th Major, and a favorite to win anywhere he plays this year, keeping that consistency will determine if Tiger is back.

This analysis and application is interesting and telling, but a back nine on any given Sunday is always the true measurement.

All this because I know more about nothing...

 

Are the Gray Dreadlocks Done?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

With two months of the baseball season gone, some teams are already starting to consider if they will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Other teams are analyzing their own systems to find replacements for injuries and see if there are any untapped sluggers or arms hiding in the minor leagues.

The Oakland Athletics are dead last in the American League in runs scored, in hits, in RBIs, in batting average, in on-base percentage, in slugging, and in OPS. The A's "offense" is in the market and anxiously looking for any of these hidden talents.

They could definitely use a jolt of offense, a kick in the power department to awaken the lineup and maybe even draw some additional fans. So the services of a slugger, a potential Hall of Fame hitter, and a personality would seem to be a good fit in Oakland. Yet the A's don't even need to go shopping or look beyond their own state for such a player.

Possibly the greatest right handed hitter of this generation, Manny Ramirez sits on a minor league bench, in a Sacramento River Cats uniform, a AAA team in the A's system, and is not able to contribute anything to the big league club.

Based on the creativeness and insight of General Manager Billy Beane along with his willingness to make unusual moves, no action regarding calling up Ramirez may indicate that this is truly the end of the slugger's career.

It was a no risk, very low cost gamble to sign Manny and bring him to spring training. By signing Ramirez, who had not played in a year and a half based on his retirement after five games last April, and having the suspension for 50 games this season create a "built in" extended spring training, it seemed a perfect opportunity to recall him to the A's after his suspension ended May 30, when he also turned 40 years old.

I suspect Beane and manager Bob Melvin are not even considering promoting Ramirez to the big club at this time.  It has been reported he has a hamstring injury which has prevented him from even playing a full game in the past week. But at last check, he was hitting .243 for the River Cats and did not have any extra base hits. Hardly numbers and production that an American League designated hitter or left fielder would need to possess.

Manny is clearly not Manny or capable of being Manny anymore. There is no pressure on the situation as the A's do not have a chance to compete at this point in the American League West. But for all of Manny's quirks and eccentricities, I can't imagine he will languish very long in the minor leagues without realizing the skills are gone.

It would have been nice to see Ramirez catch lightning in a bottle one more time, thrill us for a spell and attempt to erase a little bit of the way he exited last time. Manny stated his goal was to return to the major leagues and grab a bit of redemption along with reshaping the end to his career.

Having followed him closely since the Indians drafted him in 1991, he was pure power and bat speed right from the start. He was a force in his first full year, hitting .308 with 31 HR's and 107 RBI's, long before any rumors or visible signs of PED's. He was a talent and a joy to watch as he would provide displays of hitting not seen in years along with enough moments of "Manny being Manny" to keep us entertained.

We followed him through Boston, LA and Chicago and even hoped for his initial redemption to happen in Tampa Bay.  But now time has brought Manny Ramirez to Oakland and when a player of this magnitude, having Hall of Fame numbers, sets the path for a comeback, we get caught up in the memories and hope for a thrilling ride off into the sunset.

Baseball is brutal, hard and humbling. The skills and talent required escape most of us our entire life, so reality and age definitely have an advantage over those attempting to resurrect those talents at such an advanced age.

Ramirez has obviously seen a decrease in his talents and age is a number he cannot change so if he cannot find a spot on the Oakland A's, then his career must really be over.

I will always remember watching Ramirez and will miss Manny just being a happy, dangerous and feared hitter.

All this because I know more about nothing...

"Happy" Anniversary 10 Cent Beer Night!

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

Would you head for the ball park to see a game if the nightly promotion was 10 cent beers? Would you stuff your pockets with change and even hoist a few during a pre-game tail gate party?

The 1974 Cleveland Indians were an assembly of highly forgettable talent that were stumbling through another losing season and playing in a cavernous, depressing stadium. The Tribe's poor attendance and pathetic performance for the previous six seasons had the franchise bleeding money and looking at more financial losses. Executive vice president Ted Bonda gathered team employees looking for ideas to increase attendance. One suggestion presented was copying the Texas Rangers, who had recently hosted a successful "10-Cent Beer Night."

Much more than a mid season game was involved for both teams as there had been a bench clearing brawl in a previous Indians/Rangers game one week earlier in Texas, during a ten cent beer night held on May 29, 1974.

In Texas, the trouble had started in the bottom of the fourth inning and escalated into a full donnybrook in the 8th inning. As Indians players and coaches returned to the dugout, they were struck by food and beer hurled by fans. However, that game was not suspended or forfeited, no players from either team were ejected, and the Rangers won 3-0.

Six days later, Cleveland's hosted their own Ten Cent Beer Night promotion and 25,134 "fans" entered Municipal Stadium for the game. The past season's average attendance had been under 8,000 so this was the increase Indians' execs were looking to generate.

The Rangers jumped out to a 5-1 lead while the beers flowed. At this point, the Indians were unable to match the demand for beer at concession stands. They decided to allow fans to line up behind the outfield fences and have their cups filled directly from Stroh's company trucks.

All the usual shenanigans of the 1970's took place throughout the game as a woman ran out to the Indians' on-deck circle and flashed her breasts and a naked man streaked to second base as Tom Grieve hit his second home run of the game. A father and son pair (nothing I recall ever doing with my father) ran into the outfield and mooned the fans in the bleachers one inning later. More and more people ran onto the field as the game wore on.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Indians managed to rally and tie the game. The winning run was on second base.  At this point, a fan ran onto the field and attempted to steal Texas outfielder Jeff Burroughs' cap. In starting after the fan, Burroughs tripped over his own feet. The slope of the diamond made it impossible for Rangers' manager Billy Martin to see below the level of an outfielder's knees from his position in the dugout. He did not hesitate after Burroughs fell from view. "Let's go get 'em, boys," he said, arming himself with a fungo bat and sprinting toward right-center field. The Rangers, understandably inspired, followed him.

Unfortunately, the Rangers were met by a mob carrying items that far outweighed any Louisville Slugger. People wielding chains, knives and clubs created from pieces of stadium seats greeted the players. The 25 Texas players found themselves surrounded by angry drunks, and more were coming over the wall onto the field. The Texas Rangers had been ambushed.

Now Ken Aspromonte, the Indians' manager, realized the Rangers were in serious trouble. He ordered his players to grab bats and help the Rangers, attacking the team's own fans in the process.

In an attempt to soothe the crowd and tame the riot, the organist then played "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

The bases were pulled up and stolen and many rioters threw a vast assortment of items which included rocks, batteries from radios, bottles, hot dogs and steel folding chairs. Based on this, umpire Nestor Chylak, realizing that order would not be restored, forfeited the game to Texas.

NBC newscaster Tim Russert, then a student at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, attended the game and recalled, "I went with $2 in my pocket, you do the math." According to reports, over 60,000 cups of beer were sold and there is still a debate about whether they were 8, 10 or 12 ounce cups.

Incredibly, the Indians held their next Ten Cent Beer Night promotion the following month, July 18, and based on increased police security, the game and promotion went off without a hitch!

To this day, I scour eBay daily for those missing bases...

All this because I know more about nothing...

The Biggest Unwritten Rule

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

Baseball has axioms, adages, and some of the most unique unwritten rules that provide a style, flow and tradition like no other sport. While many of the unwritten rules are well known and apply to game strategy, there are rules of thumb that are lesser known and apply to every aspect of the sport.

The nuances and professionalism that some of these unwritten rules provide to baseball far exceed those of other sports. Most are designed, implemented and followed to preserve the integrity and tradition of the game.

There was one unwritten rule, however, that did not fall into the category of preserving and providing what was best for the national past time.

Before Jackie Robinson broke in with the Dodgers in 1947, there were not any African-American players in the Major Leagues. This was not a policy or a directive that was written anywhere. This was baseball's biggest unwritten rule. Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was commissioner of baseball during these years and made sure this unwritten rule was understood.

In 1938, he hosted a delegation of African-American leaders who wanted to be heard regarding bringing players from the Negro Leagues to the Major Leagues. Landis welcomed them to a meeting consisting of the team owners as well and let them have their say.

After the presentation, Landis thanked them and dismissed them from the meeting. Turning to the club owners, he asked what the next order of business was for the league meeting. One owner replied, "Shouldn't we discuss their ideas and proposal first?" Landis answered by stating, "They wanted to be heard and we listened, next item!"

Leo Durocher was manager of the Dodgers and always understood the unwritten rule. He didn't agree with it however and in 1942, went public stating that there was a "grapevine understanding" keeping African-Americans out of the major leagues. Commissioner Landis caught wind of this statement and had Durocher report to his Chicago office. When Durocher emerged from the meeting, he suddenly alleged that he had been misquoted.

Landis stepped forward also and stated, "Negroes are not barred from organized baseball by the commissioner and never have been in the 21 years I have served. There is no rule in organized baseball prohibiting their participation and never has been to my knowledge. If Durocher, or if any other manager, or all of them, want to sign one, or twenty-five Negro players, it is all right with me. That is the business of the managers and the club owners. The business of the commissioner is to interpret the rules of baseball, and to enforce them."


Paul Robeson, an African-American singer and former star athlete led another group in 1943 who voiced a request for "equal rights for Negro players in major league competition." This was at the final session of the annual big league meetings.

Again, Landis listened to them and reiterated that there was not any written rule or law against any African-American joining the big leagues. Landis then declared publicly, "Each club is entirely free to employ Negro players to any and all extent it desires. The matter is solely one for each club's decision without any restriction whatever."

By stating this for the newspapers, Landis threw the weight of the unwritten rule back onto the shoulders of the team owners. He was able to maintain his veiled racism and challenge the owners to take any necessary steps if they wanted to break the color line.

According to reports, many owners had thoughts and had even selected players from the Negro Leagues that they wanted to sign and have play in the Majors. Landis' contract as commissioner was set to expire in 1946 but the owners had already voted him another seven year term. However, in 1944, Landis died and coincidentally, plans were put into place to begin to sign African-American players.

While Landis may be blamed for delaying the integration of the Major Leagues and perpetuating the unwritten rule, he probably could not have prevented Branch Rickey from signing Jackie Robinson.

So just as today, while some of the unwritten rules are being diminished or even ignored, 1947 saw the strongest "grapevine understanding" tossed aside and proven that it was not in the best interest of baseball.

All this because I know more about nothing...