Even a modest prediction for the San Francisco 49ers before the season started was 10 wins. With five or six wins in their division alone easily attainable another five against the NFC South and AFC West didn't seem like a stretch at all.
With one game left in week two the Niners schedule - based on early returns and one awful game by the Singletary's - looks downright mean all of the sudden:
Week 1 at Seattle - Expectation: Rebuilding year for the 'Hawks with a new coach and a lot of new pieces. Loud place to play but the Niners will take care of business (and expectations) and get the win. Result: Three early chances to score TD's are blown leading to just six points and the team implodes, leaving a wake of accusations and allegations about communication and competency on the offensive side. Wow, even for the NFL the division-champs-to-be were smoke and mirrors pretty quick.
Week 2 vs. New Orleans - Expectation: Chalked this one up as four-six losses before the season. The defending champs come to town and are just too balanced for the Niners to upend. If they play well though, it could be a confidence-booster. The 'ol hang with the best, means we are close moment. Lose badly (like home loss to Atlanta in '09) and its back to the drawing board. Reality: Sandwiched between last's week debacle and next week's trip to KC (early start, short week, loud stadium, 2-0 Chiefs) and this game looks pretty important now.
Week 3 at Kansas City - Expectation: The Chiefs are not there yet. They have a few pieces and like Seattle it's loud and can be hostile when the team is going well but once again, this is a game a good team should be able to find a way to win. Reality: The Chiefs haven't proven a ton yet. They were outplayed by the Chargers a week ago and the torrential downpour mitigated those circumstances and beating the Browns isn't a huge hurdle to clear but the previously mentioned issues will be. West coast teams do not play well at 10 AM Pacific time, preparing for an opponent on a short week is hard and those communication issues will only be magnified in a raucous success-starved Arrowhead on Sunday morning.
Week 4 at Atlanta - Expectation: Loss. The Falcons crushed the 49ers last season at the Stick. Why would the boys of the bay roll into the ATL and suddenly handle Matty Ice and the Birds? Yea, I couldn't come up with a good reason either. So that means 2-2 after four weeks, waiting for the schedule to soften a bit. Reality: 0-4?? Season over, quarterback controversy, need for a new coach/offensive coordinator and a top-10 defense pissed that the other side of the ball is worthless despite the presence of at least two bona-fide playmakers (more on that in a second).
From there seven home games remain - three against hapless NFC West foes - but at 0-4 what does it matter? The Niners rally late and finish 7-9 again? Another off-season of pining about missed opportunities, 10-win seasons, playoffs and what could have been. Wait haven't we been down this road before?
Even at 1-3, Philadelphia comes to town and will be no easy task. Next up is the Raiders are a team the 'Niners should handle but no one is a pushover at this point. Another early start follows this time in Carolina - another road game that a playoff team wins - and then a "home" tilt with Denver across the Pond before the bye week. What was purported to be a 5-3 or 6-2 team heading into the break could be looking at a reversal of numbers. 2-6 or 3-5 certainly seems plausible when staring at an 0-4 hole. But they'll regroup after the bye, going 6-2, and string along that optimism all the way until next fall. Will that last gasp matter? Tonight should tell us a lot. Of course an upset of the defending champs at home, could sweep all of this under the rug. Such is life.
Additional thoughts: Mike Singletary may be an icon, a tremendous motivator and a wonderful mentor but he is meant to be the head coach of an NFL team. The jury has to still be out. While many coaches are blessed with great players, others get the most out of what they have. The Niners defense is formidable, the offense has more quality skill players than at any point in recent memory and then there's quarterback. Sure, Singletary's Papa Bear approach worked wonders with Vernon Davis but he was also supremely gifted. Can the same be said of Alex Smith? And for all of Coach Sing's football gusto how much does he know about molding QB's? For a franchise with two of the greatest gunslinger's ever the dearth of talent at the most crucial position in football since Jeff Garcia and definitely Steve Young and Joe Montana before him is a glaring problem and will continue to be.
Michael Crabtree is gifted. He has the potential to be a great receiver but he has really put himself in a precarious position as a pariah. The long holdout last season, the "diva" tag, missing the preseason, getting veteran treatment before proving anything to the point that V. Davis felt compelled to get in his face at practice then looking awfully lost when the lights came on Week 1. Not a great start. He needs to work hard, figure out what he's doing and start making a discernible difference if the 'Niners offense is going to take the leap necessary to be good week-in and week-out.
Enjoy the game.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Long hiatus over, NFL season upon us!
There is a lot to discuss but this post will be short.
Plenty of exciting topics to touch upon, like the baseball races - Cy Young, Triple Crown, NL West, NL East, AL East.
Basketball and hockey are close to returning.
Good first week of college football, with some big match-ups in two days and of course the NFL begins tonight.
On that note allow me to make my first pick for the season.
Vikings @ Saints (-5.5)
I'll take the defending champs to cover and I'll be back by Sunday morning for a run-down of the rest of the picks.
Plenty of exciting topics to touch upon, like the baseball races - Cy Young, Triple Crown, NL West, NL East, AL East.
Basketball and hockey are close to returning.
Good first week of college football, with some big match-ups in two days and of course the NFL begins tonight.
On that note allow me to make my first pick for the season.
Vikings @ Saints (-5.5)
I'll take the defending champs to cover and I'll be back by Sunday morning for a run-down of the rest of the picks.
Friday, July 9, 2010
NL Cy Young Update: Jimenez has the W's, but that's it
Ubaldo Jimenez has had a fantastic season. He looked fabulous again today in shutting down St. Louis and was on a record-breaking pace until recently. But a few hiccups in late June and early July have opened the door for a slew of serious contenders.
One look at U can't hit what U can't see's numbers and the data is shocking.
15-1, 2.20 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 113 K's. Nobody's won more than 27 games in the National League in nearly 60 years. Last season's Cy Young winner won 15 games all season.
But let me say it again. Last year's Cy Young winner won only 15 games.
In an age of Sabremetrics and stat geeks simply winning games won't do it. Adam Wainwright was a bullpen meltdown away from being a 20-game winner with a bunch of other gaudy numbers and he came up short in 2009.
For Ubaldo, a 25-win season, a no-hitter, 200 K's and an ERA in the low two's may be too much for anyone else to overcome. Hell, Jimenez could wind up winning the pitching triple crown (wins, ERA and strikeouts) but there are plenty of pitchers with numbers just as impressive or better than Jimenez in other categories not including record.
Let's round out the rest of the top-10 with just a few days left until the All-Star break.
LURKING
Josh Johnson (FLA)
After eight shutout innings Wednesday night in LA, Johnson's numbers are top-to-bottom the best in baseball. He sports a tidy 1.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 123 K's against just 28 walks. His record is 9-3. He leads all NL starters in every possible metric including WAR where he tops the list at 5.0. If I had to vote right now he would be my pick.
Adam Wainwright (STL)
A brilliant 2009 behind him, nothing has changed for Wainwright in the new decade. A 2.24 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, 123 K's and 32 BB with a 12-5 record. Not a lot of drop off there or from the rest of the candidates. He's gone at least six innings in every start but one and hasn't given up more than four earned runs in an appearance.
Roy Halladay (PHI)
Like Jimenez, a few rough starts have skewed some otherwise downright numbers for ol' Roy but the sum totals are still pretty fantastic. 2.33 ERA a 1.08 WHIP and 119 K's with only 18 free passes in as many starts. Doc is just 10-7 but has seven complete games and three shutouts (both the most in the NL). The Philly bats have been uncharacteristically quiet for long stretches in the early going and Halladay's record has suffered. His 4.3 WAR is tied for second in the league with Jimenez.
Mat Latos (SDP)
Certainly the surprise of the first-half, Latos has been downright brilliant for the Padres thus far. Latos boasts a 2.45 ERA with just a 0.97 WHIP. He's struck out 99 and walked just 28. He's 10-4 for the NL-West leading Daddies. His hits allowed per nine innings pitched is the second lowest behind Jimenez.
FOUR MORE TO WATCH FOR
Yovani Gallardo (MIL)
Flithy stuff, but just landed on the DL. Should be back after the break. 2.58 ERA and 128 K's. High WHIP (1.26) because of so many walks (48). 8-4 for a Milwaukee team that is really struggling and may trade off some pieces making it even harder for Gallardo to get wins.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Speaking of good stuff, this young Dodger lefty has electric pitches. He's 9-4 with 128 K's and a 2.96 ERA. Does a nice job of working out of jams - 50 BB - but makes it tough on himself by issuing so many slow trots.
Jaime Garcia (STL)
Another good young arm is the 24-year old Mexican rookie pitching for the Cardinals. His 2.17 ERA is second-best on the senior circuit. He's 8-4 and has fanned 80 hitters. Durability has been his weakness so far since Garcia has yet to throw more than seven innings in a start this season, although he has gone six or more in all but four games and has recorded a quality start each time he has done so.
Tim Lincecum (SFG)
The two-time reigning NL Cy Young winner started 2010 looking like the same pitcher that dominated the league for the past two seasons before control problems sent him into trouble. But he's regained his prowess and owns a respectable 3.26 ERA. For the third year in a row he leads the NL in strikeouts and he's 9-4. His 1.28 WHIP is inflated due to 48 BB. A strong second-half from the Freak could put Timmy right back in the middle of this conversation.
One look at U can't hit what U can't see's numbers and the data is shocking.
15-1, 2.20 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 113 K's. Nobody's won more than 27 games in the National League in nearly 60 years. Last season's Cy Young winner won 15 games all season.
But let me say it again. Last year's Cy Young winner won only 15 games.
In an age of Sabremetrics and stat geeks simply winning games won't do it. Adam Wainwright was a bullpen meltdown away from being a 20-game winner with a bunch of other gaudy numbers and he came up short in 2009.
For Ubaldo, a 25-win season, a no-hitter, 200 K's and an ERA in the low two's may be too much for anyone else to overcome. Hell, Jimenez could wind up winning the pitching triple crown (wins, ERA and strikeouts) but there are plenty of pitchers with numbers just as impressive or better than Jimenez in other categories not including record.
Let's round out the rest of the top-10 with just a few days left until the All-Star break.
LURKING
Josh Johnson (FLA)
After eight shutout innings Wednesday night in LA, Johnson's numbers are top-to-bottom the best in baseball. He sports a tidy 1.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 123 K's against just 28 walks. His record is 9-3. He leads all NL starters in every possible metric including WAR where he tops the list at 5.0. If I had to vote right now he would be my pick.
Adam Wainwright (STL)
A brilliant 2009 behind him, nothing has changed for Wainwright in the new decade. A 2.24 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, 123 K's and 32 BB with a 12-5 record. Not a lot of drop off there or from the rest of the candidates. He's gone at least six innings in every start but one and hasn't given up more than four earned runs in an appearance.
Roy Halladay (PHI)
Like Jimenez, a few rough starts have skewed some otherwise downright numbers for ol' Roy but the sum totals are still pretty fantastic. 2.33 ERA a 1.08 WHIP and 119 K's with only 18 free passes in as many starts. Doc is just 10-7 but has seven complete games and three shutouts (both the most in the NL). The Philly bats have been uncharacteristically quiet for long stretches in the early going and Halladay's record has suffered. His 4.3 WAR is tied for second in the league with Jimenez.
Mat Latos (SDP)
Certainly the surprise of the first-half, Latos has been downright brilliant for the Padres thus far. Latos boasts a 2.45 ERA with just a 0.97 WHIP. He's struck out 99 and walked just 28. He's 10-4 for the NL-West leading Daddies. His hits allowed per nine innings pitched is the second lowest behind Jimenez.
FOUR MORE TO WATCH FOR
Yovani Gallardo (MIL)
Flithy stuff, but just landed on the DL. Should be back after the break. 2.58 ERA and 128 K's. High WHIP (1.26) because of so many walks (48). 8-4 for a Milwaukee team that is really struggling and may trade off some pieces making it even harder for Gallardo to get wins.
Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Speaking of good stuff, this young Dodger lefty has electric pitches. He's 9-4 with 128 K's and a 2.96 ERA. Does a nice job of working out of jams - 50 BB - but makes it tough on himself by issuing so many slow trots.
Jaime Garcia (STL)
Another good young arm is the 24-year old Mexican rookie pitching for the Cardinals. His 2.17 ERA is second-best on the senior circuit. He's 8-4 and has fanned 80 hitters. Durability has been his weakness so far since Garcia has yet to throw more than seven innings in a start this season, although he has gone six or more in all but four games and has recorded a quality start each time he has done so.
Tim Lincecum (SFG)
The two-time reigning NL Cy Young winner started 2010 looking like the same pitcher that dominated the league for the past two seasons before control problems sent him into trouble. But he's regained his prowess and owns a respectable 3.26 ERA. For the third year in a row he leads the NL in strikeouts and he's 9-4. His 1.28 WHIP is inflated due to 48 BB. A strong second-half from the Freak could put Timmy right back in the middle of this conversation.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
AL MVP Race
July is upon us and the Midsummer Classic is just around the corner. With that in mind I thought it wasn't too early to start the AL MVP debate. While this award can certainly be won (or lost) in September when a player can swing the tide of the playoff race the groundwork for a complete resume is being laid now.
In the conversation
(AKA The 12 HR, 53 RBI guys)
10. Torii Hunter (LAA) - Despite losing bopper Kendry Morales to injury the Angels are once again in the thick of the AL West race and Hunter's calm and steady presence in the clubhouse, line-up and centerfield are a big part of that. Spiderman has won nine straight gold gloves and he leads the league in doubles (24).
9. Evan Longoria (TAM) - Longo is developing into a leader in his third season in Tampa and heads a good Rays club that is scrapping to stay with the surging Red Sox and loaded Yankees. Has a 3.2 WAR and plays a gold-glove hot corner behind the AL's best staff.
8. Adrian Beltre (BOS) - Brought to Boston to shore up the Sox infield defensively not only has Beltre put up good power numbers reminiscent of his Dodger days but he is also tied for second in the league with a whopping .349 batting average.
On the outside looking in
7. Kevin Youkilis (BOS) - Youk is a run-producing machine. He's scored a league-high 62 times and driven in 50. The first baseman leads the AL with 49 walks and his .416 OBP is second-best.
6. Paul Konerko (CHW) - Konerko is tied for the league-lead with 20 homer's and his 56 RBI's are fourth best. His White Sox are red-hot and in the middle of a heated AL central race.
5. Justin Morneau (MIN) - Has an MVP award on his mantle already, carrying a Minnesota offense that is dealing with down years from most of it's other big bats like Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel. His 5.1 WAR, .446 OBP and 1.063 OPS leads the league.
Leading the pack
4. Robinson Cano (NYY) - Leads the league with a .354 average and has been hitting for power, too (16 HR's and 54 RBI). Second in WAR (4.6) has just one error (.997 fielding percentage) and like Morneau, making up for sub-par years from A-Rod and Teixiera.
3-2. Vladimir Guerrero/Josh Hamilton (TEX)
Vlad the Impaler has always hit well in Arlington (.385 career clip, .374 in 2010) so the move to the Rangers seemed like a smart one. But coming off an injury plagued 2009 campaign that limited him to 100 games. It seemed like Guerrero, the 2004 AL MVP, was certainly on the downward arc of his brilliant career.
That assumption - and the reality then when healthy he is still a force - has been hammered home to his old mates the last couple of nights. Last night Vlad hit a go-ahead grand slam in a 4-for-4, two bomb performance and is 68 RBI tie him for the league lead. He has 18 dingers and a .339 average. The big knock against him will be that he is primarily used as a DH.
Hamilton, like Vlad, had a DL-laden 2009 season. On the heels of his unbelievable comeback and breakout 2008, he too was a question mark. But Hamilton has exploded once again. The splits are eye-popping, .343/18/58, and he currently boasts the longest hitting streak in the bigs this year (23 games). He leads the AL in total bases and has yet to ground into a double play.
1. Miguel Cabrera (DET)
After his drunken incident in the midst of the biggest series of the season and the collapse that followed, Cabrera was on thin ice. And for about .23 seconds the Tigers thought about shipping him out of town. But after getting sober and re-focusing Miggy is once again doing what he's always done, flat-out rake.
Cabrera is tied for the AL lead in homers and RBI's and sports a lofty .337 average making him a dangerous threat for the triple crown. His .628 slugging percentage is tops in the league and he's second in runs scored and total bases.
But it's his meltdown at the end of last season and his subsequent gut check that has got him here and he's really put the Tigers on his back in 2010. Barring a triple crown feat, Detroit needs to make the playoffs for Tubbs to hold off some strong competition, but if they do edge out Minnesota and Chicago then Cabrera has the inside track to his first MVP trophy later this year.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Twins-Mets musings
Headed to Citi Field in a few hours for the Minnesota-New York game. Thought I'd shed some light on the two teams, the match-up and the new Mets stadium.
Without further ado...
There were rumors this week that the Mets and Mariners had mutual interest in a deal involving Cliff Lee. The Mets however were reportedly reluctant to pull the trigger on a trade if it included big league talent like Jon Niese, Ike Davis or Angel Pagan. Wait, what?
Jon Niese is a good young pitcher but he also couldn't make it through five innings against Detroit Tuesday night after being staked to a 10-0 lead.
Ike Davis is a fan favorite in the Big Apple, already inspiring a "We like Ike" Dwight D. Eisenhower-esque campaign after just a few months in the show. The hefty lefty was the Metropolitans first-round choice in 2008, drafted 18th overall out of Arizona State. He could be a middle of the line-up masher for the next 10-15 years, and is having a fine rookie season to date.
Angel Pagan is a light-hitting outfielder, with some speed. He's hitting at a .304 clip currently but has just four home runs and is very expendable.
But since when did the Mets decide to be the Yankees? Not the free-wheeling spenders but the "we want to build from within and not continue to mortgage our future types?" Oh wait, maybe a decade-and-a-half worth of huge deals that yielded little results can cause a shift in philosophy but the Mets still have money and we are still talking about Cliff Lee.
While the Mets have been playing very good ball of late, winning seemingly every time ace Johan Santana doesn't pitch, putting Lee and Santana at the top of a rotation would be exactly the formidable one-two punch that fellow NL clubs like St. Louis (Carpenter and Wainwright), San Francisco (Lincecum and Cain) and rival Philadelphia (Halladay and the aforementioned Cliff Lee) have or should have tried to keep intact.
In case you needed reminding, since apparently Mets executives do, here are Lee's numbers from last postseason with the Phillies: 5 starts, 40.1 IP, 4-0, 27 H, 6 BB, 33 K's and a 1.56 ERA.
Now there is a guy I want on the mound come October and if the Mets are serious about contending and making noise in a pitching-packed NL postseason then they should, too.
****
Speaking of Santana, he got roughed up by his former mates yesterday (five earned in six innings, of a 6-0 loss), and even without his services the Twins just keep on chugging.
While the monster contract doled out to catcher Joe Mauer shows that even Minnesota is capable of opening up its wallets a bit the Twinkies are still a model of efficient, calculated success.
At 41-33, they own a game and a half lead over the red-hot White Sox (winners of 11 in a row) and the Detroit Tigers. Both teams spend more money than the Twins do ($108 million and $122 million respectively) but Minny's 2010 payroll is just under $98 million allowing them to keep some of their home grown talent in house and to be competitive consistently.
Beautiful new Target Field only increases the chances of that happening. The Twin Cities new jewel, a downtown, outdoor stadium, has been filled at 99 percent capacity so far in its inaugural season and with a good team in a fantastic place for summer it should be a good ride for the Twins again this year.
****
I got my first taste of Citi Field Wednesday evening when the Tigers were in town to take on the Amazing's. It feels absolutely huge, but the spacious concourses, and fabulous concessions made it a great experience. Every one of these new ball parks is a sight to behold and this one is no slouch.
I've heard about big it was and after watching so many games at Long Beach's Blair Field and following the Giants at AT&T Park it was hard for me to imagine a diamond that played much bigger than those two but Citi really is a cavernous place.
High walls and really deep alleys make it a pitcher's haven and even with Wright and Bay expected to produce a lot of power it seems like the Mets are building around pitching and winning close, low-scoring games.
****
It's only late June but both teams are locked in close division races. I mentioned the three-team battle ensuing in the AL Central but the Mets are 42-32. That puts them 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and two games clear of the two-time defending NL champion Phillies.
Needless to say in a long season, every game is still important. The Twins needed 163 games to edge out the Tigers last October after their disastrous finish and with an historic collapse of their own in the not so distant past the Mets need to keep grinding each day.
****
I'll have much more from the game, so stay tuned at twitter.com/philomis for more Twins-Mets info. There will also be plenty of World Cup tidbits and Giants-Red Sox stuff as Lester and Lincecum duel it out by the bay.
Without further ado...
There were rumors this week that the Mets and Mariners had mutual interest in a deal involving Cliff Lee. The Mets however were reportedly reluctant to pull the trigger on a trade if it included big league talent like Jon Niese, Ike Davis or Angel Pagan. Wait, what?
Jon Niese is a good young pitcher but he also couldn't make it through five innings against Detroit Tuesday night after being staked to a 10-0 lead.
Ike Davis is a fan favorite in the Big Apple, already inspiring a "We like Ike" Dwight D. Eisenhower-esque campaign after just a few months in the show. The hefty lefty was the Metropolitans first-round choice in 2008, drafted 18th overall out of Arizona State. He could be a middle of the line-up masher for the next 10-15 years, and is having a fine rookie season to date.
Angel Pagan is a light-hitting outfielder, with some speed. He's hitting at a .304 clip currently but has just four home runs and is very expendable.
But since when did the Mets decide to be the Yankees? Not the free-wheeling spenders but the "we want to build from within and not continue to mortgage our future types?" Oh wait, maybe a decade-and-a-half worth of huge deals that yielded little results can cause a shift in philosophy but the Mets still have money and we are still talking about Cliff Lee.
While the Mets have been playing very good ball of late, winning seemingly every time ace Johan Santana doesn't pitch, putting Lee and Santana at the top of a rotation would be exactly the formidable one-two punch that fellow NL clubs like St. Louis (Carpenter and Wainwright), San Francisco (Lincecum and Cain) and rival Philadelphia (Halladay and the aforementioned Cliff Lee) have or should have tried to keep intact.
In case you needed reminding, since apparently Mets executives do, here are Lee's numbers from last postseason with the Phillies: 5 starts, 40.1 IP, 4-0, 27 H, 6 BB, 33 K's and a 1.56 ERA.
Now there is a guy I want on the mound come October and if the Mets are serious about contending and making noise in a pitching-packed NL postseason then they should, too.
****
Speaking of Santana, he got roughed up by his former mates yesterday (five earned in six innings, of a 6-0 loss), and even without his services the Twins just keep on chugging.
While the monster contract doled out to catcher Joe Mauer shows that even Minnesota is capable of opening up its wallets a bit the Twinkies are still a model of efficient, calculated success.
At 41-33, they own a game and a half lead over the red-hot White Sox (winners of 11 in a row) and the Detroit Tigers. Both teams spend more money than the Twins do ($108 million and $122 million respectively) but Minny's 2010 payroll is just under $98 million allowing them to keep some of their home grown talent in house and to be competitive consistently.
Beautiful new Target Field only increases the chances of that happening. The Twin Cities new jewel, a downtown, outdoor stadium, has been filled at 99 percent capacity so far in its inaugural season and with a good team in a fantastic place for summer it should be a good ride for the Twins again this year.
****
I got my first taste of Citi Field Wednesday evening when the Tigers were in town to take on the Amazing's. It feels absolutely huge, but the spacious concourses, and fabulous concessions made it a great experience. Every one of these new ball parks is a sight to behold and this one is no slouch.
I've heard about big it was and after watching so many games at Long Beach's Blair Field and following the Giants at AT&T Park it was hard for me to imagine a diamond that played much bigger than those two but Citi really is a cavernous place.
High walls and really deep alleys make it a pitcher's haven and even with Wright and Bay expected to produce a lot of power it seems like the Mets are building around pitching and winning close, low-scoring games.
****
It's only late June but both teams are locked in close division races. I mentioned the three-team battle ensuing in the AL Central but the Mets are 42-32. That puts them 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and two games clear of the two-time defending NL champion Phillies.
Needless to say in a long season, every game is still important. The Twins needed 163 games to edge out the Tigers last October after their disastrous finish and with an historic collapse of their own in the not so distant past the Mets need to keep grinding each day.
****
I'll have much more from the game, so stay tuned at twitter.com/philomis for more Twins-Mets info. There will also be plenty of World Cup tidbits and Giants-Red Sox stuff as Lester and Lincecum duel it out by the bay.
Friday, June 25, 2010
So you're telling me there's a chance
That's one of my favorite lines from a long list of classic Dumb and Dumber quotes.
Lloyd asks Mary the chances of "a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?"
Mary tells him they are one in a million. Lloyd is ecstatic.
That's how the U.S. men's soccer team and it's supporters feel on the eve of a monumental tilt with the Black Stars of Ghana.
The Yanks were given a gift when English goalie Robert Green flubbed Clint Dempsey's shot near halftime in their opening match in South Africa.
But then their luck turned. After making an epic comeback to even the score with Slovenia, drawing to 2-2 after being down a pair at intermission, Maurice Edu's game-winner was disallowed and the red, white and blue was on the brink of another early exit.
In Wednesday's third and final qualifying game the Americans had another goal waived off but didn't waiver and Landon Donovan's goal in extra time sent the U.S. through to the round of 16.
****
What number 10's magical strike really did was give the U.S. new life. Staring elimination straight in the face the "cardiac kids" not only found the tally they so desperately needed but in doing so clinched the top spot in Group C and really found themselves excited about their "one in a million moment."
****
The last Vegas-based odds I saw before the World Cup began had the Americans as 66-1 to hoist the golden ball. Overseas it was even higher, going off at 125-1. A Sam Bradford-led renaissance in St. Louis, where the hapless Rams win the Super Bowl next February is a 200-1 possibility at the moment.
There all parallels. Both the Rams and the U.S. would have to beat out 31 other foes and the mere mention of it brings both snickers and looks of disbelief.
But once again Donovan's goal changed everything.
Not only did the U.S. win their table by finishing with more goals than the Three Lions but they also won the lottery in terms of who they will face en route to the "Final Four."
Make no mistake, a run to the semi-finals would be very much like Butler or George Mason making it. But for the Americans the three teams they are now matched up against in the "Sweet Sixteen" that remain alive in South Africa are like an eight seed, a nine seed and a 13 seed.
To be in a foursome with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea while world soccer powers Argentina, Germany and England are opposite them, plus rival Mexico, well, the United States simply may NEVER have this kind of opportunity to at least make the semi-finals of the planet's biggest sporting event.
****
There is no getting around the fact that the U.S. team could already be back in the States. They did not play exceptionally well and could have very easily found themselves on the outside looking in but this situation is not at all new to them.
Just last summer, on South African soil and in many of the same stadium's, the Americans looked outnumbered and uninterested for their first two games before a 3-0 triumph against Egypt and a bizarre sequence of tiebreakers saw them sent through to face reigning European champion Spain.
They made the most of that opportunity knocking off the best team in the world 2-0 before taking an identical lead against the most decorated world soccer side, Brazil, in the Confederation's Cup final.
The Brazilians brilliance shone through in the second half and the Americans came up short but it was an important lesson on focusing on the task at hand and realizing that when presented with that "chance" anything is possible.
****
Tomorrow's game against Ghana is that chance multiplied by one hundred. What Donovan's goal set in motion was a chain of events that could change the course of American soccer history.
The Black Stars are a young team but a determined one. They sent the red, white and blue packing four years ago with a 2-1 win to close out group play and carry the hopes of an entire continent on their back, Five African teams made this World Cup, the first ever on the continent, and they are the only one still playing on home soil.
Uruguay has looked very good so far and La Celeste has won two World Cup titles - albeit not recently - and they use an up-tempo, attacking style that could cause problems for an unsettled American back line.
South Korea is still a relative unknown to the soccer world but has nothing to lose and so much to gain having advanced to this point already. The U.S. has surprised as an underdog but often scuffled against equal or lesser opponents.
Nothing will be guaranteed against any of these teams but when the anthems are done tomorrow evening in South Africa a "one in a million chance" will be a dream much closer, and much more plausible, for the Americans to realize.
Lloyd asks Mary the chances of "a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?"
Mary tells him they are one in a million. Lloyd is ecstatic.
That's how the U.S. men's soccer team and it's supporters feel on the eve of a monumental tilt with the Black Stars of Ghana.
The Yanks were given a gift when English goalie Robert Green flubbed Clint Dempsey's shot near halftime in their opening match in South Africa.
But then their luck turned. After making an epic comeback to even the score with Slovenia, drawing to 2-2 after being down a pair at intermission, Maurice Edu's game-winner was disallowed and the red, white and blue was on the brink of another early exit.
In Wednesday's third and final qualifying game the Americans had another goal waived off but didn't waiver and Landon Donovan's goal in extra time sent the U.S. through to the round of 16.
****
What number 10's magical strike really did was give the U.S. new life. Staring elimination straight in the face the "cardiac kids" not only found the tally they so desperately needed but in doing so clinched the top spot in Group C and really found themselves excited about their "one in a million moment."
****
The last Vegas-based odds I saw before the World Cup began had the Americans as 66-1 to hoist the golden ball. Overseas it was even higher, going off at 125-1. A Sam Bradford-led renaissance in St. Louis, where the hapless Rams win the Super Bowl next February is a 200-1 possibility at the moment.
There all parallels. Both the Rams and the U.S. would have to beat out 31 other foes and the mere mention of it brings both snickers and looks of disbelief.
But once again Donovan's goal changed everything.
Not only did the U.S. win their table by finishing with more goals than the Three Lions but they also won the lottery in terms of who they will face en route to the "Final Four."
Make no mistake, a run to the semi-finals would be very much like Butler or George Mason making it. But for the Americans the three teams they are now matched up against in the "Sweet Sixteen" that remain alive in South Africa are like an eight seed, a nine seed and a 13 seed.
To be in a foursome with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea while world soccer powers Argentina, Germany and England are opposite them, plus rival Mexico, well, the United States simply may NEVER have this kind of opportunity to at least make the semi-finals of the planet's biggest sporting event.
****
There is no getting around the fact that the U.S. team could already be back in the States. They did not play exceptionally well and could have very easily found themselves on the outside looking in but this situation is not at all new to them.
Just last summer, on South African soil and in many of the same stadium's, the Americans looked outnumbered and uninterested for their first two games before a 3-0 triumph against Egypt and a bizarre sequence of tiebreakers saw them sent through to face reigning European champion Spain.
They made the most of that opportunity knocking off the best team in the world 2-0 before taking an identical lead against the most decorated world soccer side, Brazil, in the Confederation's Cup final.
The Brazilians brilliance shone through in the second half and the Americans came up short but it was an important lesson on focusing on the task at hand and realizing that when presented with that "chance" anything is possible.
****
Tomorrow's game against Ghana is that chance multiplied by one hundred. What Donovan's goal set in motion was a chain of events that could change the course of American soccer history.
The Black Stars are a young team but a determined one. They sent the red, white and blue packing four years ago with a 2-1 win to close out group play and carry the hopes of an entire continent on their back, Five African teams made this World Cup, the first ever on the continent, and they are the only one still playing on home soil.
Uruguay has looked very good so far and La Celeste has won two World Cup titles - albeit not recently - and they use an up-tempo, attacking style that could cause problems for an unsettled American back line.
South Korea is still a relative unknown to the soccer world but has nothing to lose and so much to gain having advanced to this point already. The U.S. has surprised as an underdog but often scuffled against equal or lesser opponents.
Nothing will be guaranteed against any of these teams but when the anthems are done tomorrow evening in South Africa a "one in a million chance" will be a dream much closer, and much more plausible, for the Americans to realize.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Perfect Patriotism
Patriotism feels too often forced.
Holidays, war and tragedy can do that to us.
Sports are scheduled, so to say they bring out completely spontaneous acts of national pride would be false, but they sure can bring a bar to its feet.
Such was the case Saturday morning.
At the Harp Inn, an Irish Pub in Costa Mesa, Calif., the fervor and sheer size of the crowd watching the USA/England match was stunning.
The small sign on the far wall reads "maximum occupancy: 147" but by the time the game was in full swing more than 350 raucous revelers were packed in an area half the size of a goalie box.
The action on the field was fast-paced and had it's share of twists and turns but one event just before the whistle blew stood out above all else: The American national anthem.
One of my absolute favorite You Tube videos is of the entire crowd at Rexall Place belting out "O Canada" before an Oilers-Ducks playoff game in 2006. The anthem singer quickly bows out as the crowd simply takes over in a passionate chorus. I had chills watching it the first time and goosebumps watching it again as I pasted the link into this post.
I have no connection to Canada, it's a tremendous anthem, but I feel no attachment to it.
Something magical happened that reminded me of that video yesterday morning. With the volume of the game not audible above the crowded bar, the Star Spangled Banner began to play in South Africa as the players were shown standing with their hands on their hearts.
All of the sudden, 90 percent of the bar, or all of American supporters began to sing. It started out as a swelling sound and began to be an enthusiastic yell.
People were smiling and laughing, some were crying. But I'll never forget that sound.
More than 300 soccer fans gave me the greatest sense of patriotism I've ever known and it was truly remarkable. I'm not proud of a lot of my country's past nor do I agree with a lot of what we are currently involved in but for those two minutes I was enthralled with the words and passion of the red, white and blue.
****
As for the game itself the British certainly had the most quality chances but the U.S. has to feel as though they had the biggest "oh, what could have been" moment when Jozy Altidore sprung free down the left flank and his scoring attempt was deflected by the keeper off both the goalpost and crossbar before caroming away.
The Yanks were mere inches from taking a 2-1 lead and could have scored a huge upset and registered a massive three points.
****
The first two things I screamed after the pandemonium finally quieted a bit and I shook myself from utter shock following the American equalizer were "that would have been bad in high school" and "what in the name of Bill Buckner just happened?"
For a U.S. side desperate for some consistent play on the world's biggest stage their goal, and Green's gaffe, were a welcome break. It doesn't matter how you score, just that you do, and considering the gift they were given by the British blunder was enough to earn a tie they will certainly take it and move on accordingly.
****
In the other net, Tim Howard was unequivocally the man of the match. After not sleeping at all the night before the game and spending six-plus hours at the bar, I've read none of the press or seen any of the highlights.
This may have already been echoed by many but the U.S. could have finished that game in a three or four goal hole if not for the brilliance of one of the world's best keepers.
Add to the mix the fact that Howard took a boot to his arm and chest in the first half and the Americans certainly have a hero to ride as far as he can take them over the next few weeks.
****
Getting a point had to be exactly what coach Bob Bradley and the red, white and blue were playing for. Anything more would have been gravy. But the U.S. is still in a precarious spot. They really need decisions in their next two games and ultimately a win and a draw may be necessary to get them through.
Assuming England win's out they will finish on top of the group with seven points. If Slovenia beats Algeria then the U.S. would need to also beat Algeria and at least earn a draw with Slovenia to finish with five points or one more than Slovenia would have.
Here's how that would look:
England 2-0-1 (7 pts)
USA 1-0-2 (5 pts)
Slovenia 1-1-1 (4 pts)
Algeria (0-0-3) (0 pts)
If Algeria upsets Slovenia then the same could be said for their chances and what the U.S. must do but ideally these two sides will draw and the Americans could advance even without a win if they can stay out of the loss column.
But a Slovenia win would make Friday morning's showdown a winner-take-all affair.
****
I own many different hats and jersey's for my favorite teams and plenty get attention especially considering I'm a bay area native living in enemy territory in southern California but the amount of people that stopped to ask me about the game, yelled at me from their cars or simply made a comment as they passed by me in the hours that followed the match as I walked around the beach yesterday afternoon was staggering.
People wanted to know the score, talk to me about the game or most entertaining, a handful actually thought I had netted the lone American tally.
I'm not sure what that says more about the state of soccer in the lower 48. On the one side, in an official blue jersey exactly like the ones the U.S. wore and with a beard and sunglasses on I do look a lot like Clint Dempsey.
But the U.S. and England had just finished playing halfway around the world and except for cheesy TV commercials most athletes don't wear their jerseys around in public just for fun.
It made for some interesting exchanges and I was definitely thrilled with the number of passers-by that had something soccer related to say. Not an everyday occurrence by any stretch of the imagination.
Until next time.
Holidays, war and tragedy can do that to us.
Sports are scheduled, so to say they bring out completely spontaneous acts of national pride would be false, but they sure can bring a bar to its feet.
Such was the case Saturday morning.
At the Harp Inn, an Irish Pub in Costa Mesa, Calif., the fervor and sheer size of the crowd watching the USA/England match was stunning.
The small sign on the far wall reads "maximum occupancy: 147" but by the time the game was in full swing more than 350 raucous revelers were packed in an area half the size of a goalie box.
The action on the field was fast-paced and had it's share of twists and turns but one event just before the whistle blew stood out above all else: The American national anthem.
One of my absolute favorite You Tube videos is of the entire crowd at Rexall Place belting out "O Canada" before an Oilers-Ducks playoff game in 2006. The anthem singer quickly bows out as the crowd simply takes over in a passionate chorus. I had chills watching it the first time and goosebumps watching it again as I pasted the link into this post.
I have no connection to Canada, it's a tremendous anthem, but I feel no attachment to it.
Something magical happened that reminded me of that video yesterday morning. With the volume of the game not audible above the crowded bar, the Star Spangled Banner began to play in South Africa as the players were shown standing with their hands on their hearts.
All of the sudden, 90 percent of the bar, or all of American supporters began to sing. It started out as a swelling sound and began to be an enthusiastic yell.
People were smiling and laughing, some were crying. But I'll never forget that sound.
More than 300 soccer fans gave me the greatest sense of patriotism I've ever known and it was truly remarkable. I'm not proud of a lot of my country's past nor do I agree with a lot of what we are currently involved in but for those two minutes I was enthralled with the words and passion of the red, white and blue.
****
As for the game itself the British certainly had the most quality chances but the U.S. has to feel as though they had the biggest "oh, what could have been" moment when Jozy Altidore sprung free down the left flank and his scoring attempt was deflected by the keeper off both the goalpost and crossbar before caroming away.
The Yanks were mere inches from taking a 2-1 lead and could have scored a huge upset and registered a massive three points.
****
The first two things I screamed after the pandemonium finally quieted a bit and I shook myself from utter shock following the American equalizer were "that would have been bad in high school" and "what in the name of Bill Buckner just happened?"
For a U.S. side desperate for some consistent play on the world's biggest stage their goal, and Green's gaffe, were a welcome break. It doesn't matter how you score, just that you do, and considering the gift they were given by the British blunder was enough to earn a tie they will certainly take it and move on accordingly.
****
In the other net, Tim Howard was unequivocally the man of the match. After not sleeping at all the night before the game and spending six-plus hours at the bar, I've read none of the press or seen any of the highlights.
This may have already been echoed by many but the U.S. could have finished that game in a three or four goal hole if not for the brilliance of one of the world's best keepers.
Add to the mix the fact that Howard took a boot to his arm and chest in the first half and the Americans certainly have a hero to ride as far as he can take them over the next few weeks.
****
Getting a point had to be exactly what coach Bob Bradley and the red, white and blue were playing for. Anything more would have been gravy. But the U.S. is still in a precarious spot. They really need decisions in their next two games and ultimately a win and a draw may be necessary to get them through.
Assuming England win's out they will finish on top of the group with seven points. If Slovenia beats Algeria then the U.S. would need to also beat Algeria and at least earn a draw with Slovenia to finish with five points or one more than Slovenia would have.
Here's how that would look:
England 2-0-1 (7 pts)
USA 1-0-2 (5 pts)
Slovenia 1-1-1 (4 pts)
Algeria (0-0-3) (0 pts)
If Algeria upsets Slovenia then the same could be said for their chances and what the U.S. must do but ideally these two sides will draw and the Americans could advance even without a win if they can stay out of the loss column.
But a Slovenia win would make Friday morning's showdown a winner-take-all affair.
****
I own many different hats and jersey's for my favorite teams and plenty get attention especially considering I'm a bay area native living in enemy territory in southern California but the amount of people that stopped to ask me about the game, yelled at me from their cars or simply made a comment as they passed by me in the hours that followed the match as I walked around the beach yesterday afternoon was staggering.
People wanted to know the score, talk to me about the game or most entertaining, a handful actually thought I had netted the lone American tally.
I'm not sure what that says more about the state of soccer in the lower 48. On the one side, in an official blue jersey exactly like the ones the U.S. wore and with a beard and sunglasses on I do look a lot like Clint Dempsey.
But the U.S. and England had just finished playing halfway around the world and except for cheesy TV commercials most athletes don't wear their jerseys around in public just for fun.
It made for some interesting exchanges and I was definitely thrilled with the number of passers-by that had something soccer related to say. Not an everyday occurrence by any stretch of the imagination.
Until next time.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
1776 & 1950, Final Tally: USA 1, England 0
It's been 16 years since the U.S. men's soccer team played a game this big.
Sure they have gone up against better opponents and even played games with more on the line but in just under nine hours their opening match of the 2010 World Cup against England will top all of them from the past decade and a half.
On July 4th, 1994 in the round of 16 the upstart Americans fought valiantly before falling 1-0 to Brazil on the Stanford Stadium pitch.
It was Independence Day and the United States was hosting the World Cup for the first (and only) time. Soccer fever was running rampant across the nation that summer and the U.S. was on the brink of something truly spectacular.
Add in the most decorated side the world has seen and you had a script that frankly seemed too far-fetched even for a feel-good sports flick.
But the Brazilians with all their flair and skill squeaked past the Yanks on their way to World Cup royalty at the Rose Bowl nearly two weeks later.
America had been captivated for almost a month.
Fascinated with the millions of fans from the world over, so fervent and enthusiastic. Mesmerized by the beautiful game being played out so eloquently right in front of their eyes and in their own back yard.
They were stunned by the news of Columbian Andres Escobar's death just days after his own goal was the difference in an American opening round win.
Sure many Red Sox fans had probably dreamt about hunting down Bill Buckner eight years before but he was still kicking.
Americans were faced with a stark reality. What they were witnessing was much more than just a game to everyone else.
By the time Brazil was victorious, baseball, the national pastime, was less than a month away from a labor strike that would see the first fall come and go without a World Series in 90 years.
But even without baseball the NFL was growing in popularity. Hockey was a major sport in the North American psyche. Michael Jordan was off playing baseball between his three-peats. None of it mattered.
If you roll all of that into one, all of that passion and excitement then you can really only truly begin to understand what soccer means on the global stage.
In 1994, Americans saw that for the first time and the confluence of events that brought that Brazil/USA match together meant it could mean something in the states too but the red, white and blue fell tantalizingly short.
The women's national team gained notoriety by winning it all and Major League Soccer has managed to stay afloat since its inception in 1993 on the eve of the World Cup.
But despite millions of kids playing soccer all over the country from pro leagues to AYSO, the sport still takes a major back seat to many other athletic endeavors in the U.S.
****
But an opening round game that pits an eager American side against Mother England provides exactly the type of dramatic recipe and anticipation that makes it once again - for the first time in 16 years - capable of reaching far beyond the white lines.
60 years ago this month the U.S. pulled off the Miracle on Grass beating the Brits 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup despite being as big as 500-1 underdogs. (To put 500-1 odds in perspective, England beating the U.S. 8-0 is going off at 500-1. Most sportsbook's simply won't go any higher than that since the risk simply outweighs the reward.)
30 years later was the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid where the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviet Union.
Earlier this year the national pride swelled when the U.S. hockey team upended the Canadian's on their home ice, but fell short in a repeat attempt with the gold medal on the line.
The stakes simply aren't that high. Both teams should advance out of group play and into the elimination stages but beating England has been something Americans have prided themselves on since they tossed tea into the Boston Harbor more than two centuries ago.
****
American soccer is one of the true places where we can still relish the underdog role. We've been to the top of the mountain in nearly every sport but we've barely begun to scale the pinnacle of football glory.
The Sons of Sam took a few sizable steps last summer. After falling flat in their first two games of the Confederation's Cup they managed to beat Egypt in their last match of the group stage and advance due to some bizzare tiebreaking procedures.
But I'll never forget the feeling of disbelief in the Venetian sportsbook during the shocker that followed as the U.S. soundly beat Spain, the number one team in the World, to advance to the finals against Brazil.
And I'll always remember the euphoria when Clint Dempsey put the Americans ahead 1-0 after 10 minutes and the hysteria when Landon Donovan netted another 17 minutes later to push the lead to two goals.
I have this distorted video that plays in my mind after Donovan's ball tickled the twine where at least sixty people crowded into a small, dark Costa Mesa pub leap to their feet in unison as if the ground had suddenly swelled from under them.
I'm convinced that I jumped at least four feet into the air. I felt like I wasn't coming down.
****
I did come down, and what a crash it was. After gliding into the locker room still two goals clear of the mighty Brazilians and faced with the ridiculous reality that yes, in fact, the U.S. could win after such a horrific start in South Africa, the whistle blew for the final forty-five and Fabiano struck fear into our hearts.
Less than a minute after the intermission it was 2-1. And the whirlwind of yellow speed and skill simply ensued from there. When the dust settled Fabiano had tallied another, Lucio had scored the winner and the South American champions had certainly been slighted on another shot that clearly crossed the U.S. goal line.
It was a stunning defeat in the sense that for an hour or so what had seemed so probable fantastically felt in great doubt. But in the end the better team won, but with that match and the brilliant defeat of the European champion Spaniards squarely in the Americans rear view mirror, a return trip to South Africa in a year definitely felt like a tremendous opportunity.
Despite some treacherous spots in CONCACAF qualifying and a series of injuries to significant players the U.S. side finally stands on the precipice of possibility.
ESPN's slogan for this tournament is: "One game changes everything." A win does little to bolster the American's chances of actually winning the World Cup, something that seems still out of reach even for the biggest of dreamer's but it could rally the country like never before and push this team closer to raising that gold statue than ever in history and that's not something to belittle.
Only eight hours until kickoff now, the excitement is reaching unprecedented levels.
Enjoy the game, it's been 16 years since they've had one of this magnitude, maybe this time they can continue the trend of upending the Brits.
It's the most patriotic thing they can do, long live the red, white and blue!
Sure they have gone up against better opponents and even played games with more on the line but in just under nine hours their opening match of the 2010 World Cup against England will top all of them from the past decade and a half.
On July 4th, 1994 in the round of 16 the upstart Americans fought valiantly before falling 1-0 to Brazil on the Stanford Stadium pitch.
It was Independence Day and the United States was hosting the World Cup for the first (and only) time. Soccer fever was running rampant across the nation that summer and the U.S. was on the brink of something truly spectacular.
Add in the most decorated side the world has seen and you had a script that frankly seemed too far-fetched even for a feel-good sports flick.
But the Brazilians with all their flair and skill squeaked past the Yanks on their way to World Cup royalty at the Rose Bowl nearly two weeks later.
America had been captivated for almost a month.
Fascinated with the millions of fans from the world over, so fervent and enthusiastic. Mesmerized by the beautiful game being played out so eloquently right in front of their eyes and in their own back yard.
They were stunned by the news of Columbian Andres Escobar's death just days after his own goal was the difference in an American opening round win.
Sure many Red Sox fans had probably dreamt about hunting down Bill Buckner eight years before but he was still kicking.
Americans were faced with a stark reality. What they were witnessing was much more than just a game to everyone else.
By the time Brazil was victorious, baseball, the national pastime, was less than a month away from a labor strike that would see the first fall come and go without a World Series in 90 years.
But even without baseball the NFL was growing in popularity. Hockey was a major sport in the North American psyche. Michael Jordan was off playing baseball between his three-peats. None of it mattered.
If you roll all of that into one, all of that passion and excitement then you can really only truly begin to understand what soccer means on the global stage.
In 1994, Americans saw that for the first time and the confluence of events that brought that Brazil/USA match together meant it could mean something in the states too but the red, white and blue fell tantalizingly short.
The women's national team gained notoriety by winning it all and Major League Soccer has managed to stay afloat since its inception in 1993 on the eve of the World Cup.
But despite millions of kids playing soccer all over the country from pro leagues to AYSO, the sport still takes a major back seat to many other athletic endeavors in the U.S.
****
But an opening round game that pits an eager American side against Mother England provides exactly the type of dramatic recipe and anticipation that makes it once again - for the first time in 16 years - capable of reaching far beyond the white lines.
60 years ago this month the U.S. pulled off the Miracle on Grass beating the Brits 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup despite being as big as 500-1 underdogs. (To put 500-1 odds in perspective, England beating the U.S. 8-0 is going off at 500-1. Most sportsbook's simply won't go any higher than that since the risk simply outweighs the reward.)
30 years later was the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid where the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviet Union.
Earlier this year the national pride swelled when the U.S. hockey team upended the Canadian's on their home ice, but fell short in a repeat attempt with the gold medal on the line.
The stakes simply aren't that high. Both teams should advance out of group play and into the elimination stages but beating England has been something Americans have prided themselves on since they tossed tea into the Boston Harbor more than two centuries ago.
****
American soccer is one of the true places where we can still relish the underdog role. We've been to the top of the mountain in nearly every sport but we've barely begun to scale the pinnacle of football glory.
The Sons of Sam took a few sizable steps last summer. After falling flat in their first two games of the Confederation's Cup they managed to beat Egypt in their last match of the group stage and advance due to some bizzare tiebreaking procedures.
But I'll never forget the feeling of disbelief in the Venetian sportsbook during the shocker that followed as the U.S. soundly beat Spain, the number one team in the World, to advance to the finals against Brazil.
And I'll always remember the euphoria when Clint Dempsey put the Americans ahead 1-0 after 10 minutes and the hysteria when Landon Donovan netted another 17 minutes later to push the lead to two goals.
I have this distorted video that plays in my mind after Donovan's ball tickled the twine where at least sixty people crowded into a small, dark Costa Mesa pub leap to their feet in unison as if the ground had suddenly swelled from under them.
I'm convinced that I jumped at least four feet into the air. I felt like I wasn't coming down.
****
I did come down, and what a crash it was. After gliding into the locker room still two goals clear of the mighty Brazilians and faced with the ridiculous reality that yes, in fact, the U.S. could win after such a horrific start in South Africa, the whistle blew for the final forty-five and Fabiano struck fear into our hearts.
Less than a minute after the intermission it was 2-1. And the whirlwind of yellow speed and skill simply ensued from there. When the dust settled Fabiano had tallied another, Lucio had scored the winner and the South American champions had certainly been slighted on another shot that clearly crossed the U.S. goal line.
It was a stunning defeat in the sense that for an hour or so what had seemed so probable fantastically felt in great doubt. But in the end the better team won, but with that match and the brilliant defeat of the European champion Spaniards squarely in the Americans rear view mirror, a return trip to South Africa in a year definitely felt like a tremendous opportunity.
Despite some treacherous spots in CONCACAF qualifying and a series of injuries to significant players the U.S. side finally stands on the precipice of possibility.
ESPN's slogan for this tournament is: "One game changes everything." A win does little to bolster the American's chances of actually winning the World Cup, something that seems still out of reach even for the biggest of dreamer's but it could rally the country like never before and push this team closer to raising that gold statue than ever in history and that's not something to belittle.
Only eight hours until kickoff now, the excitement is reaching unprecedented levels.
Enjoy the game, it's been 16 years since they've had one of this magnitude, maybe this time they can continue the trend of upending the Brits.
It's the most patriotic thing they can do, long live the red, white and blue!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
NL Cy Young Update: Jimenez no, no-hitter hangover
Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay have continued to pitch really well.
In his last three starts, Lincecum has pitched 22 and a third, given up six runs and struck out 32. He has just one win to show for it however, since the Giants bullpen has blown a lead in his last two outings.
Season stats: 4-0, 42.1 IP, 1.70 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 8 BB, 56 K's
Halladay has motored right along, too. He suffered his first loss at the hand's of Lincecum's Giants, yielding five runs on ten hits but that was sandwiched between two complete game shutout's.
Season stats: 5-1, 49 IP, 1.47 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 4 BB, 39 K's
Washington's Livan Hernandez is 4-1 with a 0.99 ERA, San Fran's Barry Zito (a 2002 AL Cy Young winner) is 4-0 with a 1.53 ERA and a trio of St. Louis guys rookie Jaime Garcia (3-1, 1.13 ERA), Brad Penny (3-1, 1.56 ERA) and Adam Wainwright (4-1, 1.96 ERA) have all been throwing really well.
But the biggest early-season challenger to the Lincecum-Halladay duel is Colorado pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.
The big righty from the Dominican no-hit the Braves on April 17th and has barely blinked since. He has given up just 11 hits and one earned run in three starts since the no-no and had a 25-inning scoreless streak snapped the other night.
He was hitting 101 mph on the radar gun and struck out 13 Padres.
Season stats: 6-0, 41.1 IP, 0.87 ERA, 1.02 WHIP 16 BB, 41K's
Needless to say this is going to be a battle and when the smoke clears we may be picking between some of the best single-season pitching performances of all-time.
No one won 20 games last season in the National League and nobody since Curt Schilling in 2002 has struck out 300 batters. Both of those marks could fall. Stay tuned.
In his last three starts, Lincecum has pitched 22 and a third, given up six runs and struck out 32. He has just one win to show for it however, since the Giants bullpen has blown a lead in his last two outings.
Season stats: 4-0, 42.1 IP, 1.70 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 8 BB, 56 K's
Halladay has motored right along, too. He suffered his first loss at the hand's of Lincecum's Giants, yielding five runs on ten hits but that was sandwiched between two complete game shutout's.
Season stats: 5-1, 49 IP, 1.47 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 4 BB, 39 K's
Washington's Livan Hernandez is 4-1 with a 0.99 ERA, San Fran's Barry Zito (a 2002 AL Cy Young winner) is 4-0 with a 1.53 ERA and a trio of St. Louis guys rookie Jaime Garcia (3-1, 1.13 ERA), Brad Penny (3-1, 1.56 ERA) and Adam Wainwright (4-1, 1.96 ERA) have all been throwing really well.
But the biggest early-season challenger to the Lincecum-Halladay duel is Colorado pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.
The big righty from the Dominican no-hit the Braves on April 17th and has barely blinked since. He has given up just 11 hits and one earned run in three starts since the no-no and had a 25-inning scoreless streak snapped the other night.
He was hitting 101 mph on the radar gun and struck out 13 Padres.
Season stats: 6-0, 41.1 IP, 0.87 ERA, 1.02 WHIP 16 BB, 41K's
Needless to say this is going to be a battle and when the smoke clears we may be picking between some of the best single-season pitching performances of all-time.
No one won 20 games last season in the National League and nobody since Curt Schilling in 2002 has struck out 300 batters. Both of those marks could fall. Stay tuned.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Premature Speculation: NL Cy Young
I get it. Friday was tax day. The NBA and NHL playoffs just started. The NFL Draft is still four days away. It's WAY too early to start this conversation. Guess what? I don't care.
So here it goes: The two-headed Mississippi Monster Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright is 4-0 (Wainwright pitches tonight), Ubaldo Jimenez is 3-0 and threw a no-hitter last night against a pretty good Braves team. Livan Hernandez hasn't given up a run in either of his two starts and Brad Penny, Carlos Silva and Jaime Garcia have ERA's under one after two starts.
But the NL Cy Young race should boil down to two fantastic starters that have not yet been mentioned.
Tim Lincecum is 3-0. He's pitched 20 innings, given up two runs on 13 hits, and struck out 24 batters while issuing just three walks. His ERA is 0.90 and the lead-off man has reached base just once in those 20 innings of work. Most importantly he's coming off back-to-back Cy Young awards becoming the youngest player to win two and first to do it in his two initial full seasons at the big league level.
The new challenger is Roy Halladay. He's 3-0. He's pitched 24 innings in his three starts, giving up four runs (three earned) on 21 hits, and struck out 21 batters while walking only two. His ERA is just 1.13 and unlike the rest of the challengers (Carpenter and Wainwright to a lesser extent, excluded) has done this before.
Halladay is 151-76 in his career with a 3.40 ERA. Until being traded to Philadelphia this offseason the big 6'6" 230 pound righty had pitched his entire career in the hitter-laden AL East. "Doc" is durable and strong and already has a Cy Young award to his resume from 2003.
His other advantage over the incumbent Lincecum is the offense that plays behind him. The Phillies have scored a league-high 78 runs already this season and led the NL in 2009 as well. The Giants offense has improved (scoring 68 runs) and that should help Timmy increase his win total from a meager 15 a year ago but there is no doubt Halladay can have a few bad starts and win with the line-up his team puts out on the field.
To add to the excitement the Phillies have been to the World Series each of the last two seasons - winning it in 2009 - and the Giants lead a very strong NL West early on. As Philadelphia and San Francisco battle for playoff spots it could be the pitcher that puts his team over the top that gets the hardwood in the end.
I'll keep an eye on how this one is progressing. For updates follow me on twitter - @philomis
So here it goes: The two-headed Mississippi Monster Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright is 4-0 (Wainwright pitches tonight), Ubaldo Jimenez is 3-0 and threw a no-hitter last night against a pretty good Braves team. Livan Hernandez hasn't given up a run in either of his two starts and Brad Penny, Carlos Silva and Jaime Garcia have ERA's under one after two starts.
But the NL Cy Young race should boil down to two fantastic starters that have not yet been mentioned.
Tim Lincecum is 3-0. He's pitched 20 innings, given up two runs on 13 hits, and struck out 24 batters while issuing just three walks. His ERA is 0.90 and the lead-off man has reached base just once in those 20 innings of work. Most importantly he's coming off back-to-back Cy Young awards becoming the youngest player to win two and first to do it in his two initial full seasons at the big league level.
The new challenger is Roy Halladay. He's 3-0. He's pitched 24 innings in his three starts, giving up four runs (three earned) on 21 hits, and struck out 21 batters while walking only two. His ERA is just 1.13 and unlike the rest of the challengers (Carpenter and Wainwright to a lesser extent, excluded) has done this before.
Halladay is 151-76 in his career with a 3.40 ERA. Until being traded to Philadelphia this offseason the big 6'6" 230 pound righty had pitched his entire career in the hitter-laden AL East. "Doc" is durable and strong and already has a Cy Young award to his resume from 2003.
His other advantage over the incumbent Lincecum is the offense that plays behind him. The Phillies have scored a league-high 78 runs already this season and led the NL in 2009 as well. The Giants offense has improved (scoring 68 runs) and that should help Timmy increase his win total from a meager 15 a year ago but there is no doubt Halladay can have a few bad starts and win with the line-up his team puts out on the field.
To add to the excitement the Phillies have been to the World Series each of the last two seasons - winning it in 2009 - and the Giants lead a very strong NL West early on. As Philadelphia and San Francisco battle for playoff spots it could be the pitcher that puts his team over the top that gets the hardwood in the end.
I'll keep an eye on how this one is progressing. For updates follow me on twitter - @philomis
Monday, February 15, 2010
"We update our formulas..."
That's a classic Gang Starr line from their "Moment of Truth" album and it applies to the very outdated and stale dunk content we witnessed at NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas.
It was an incredible venue and the game itself was exciting and came down to the last shot but the dunk contest was just plain awful. The stars don't want to do it and as athletic as Nate Robinson is I don't want to see him anymore or see him have to try dunks 15 times just so he can pull it off.
My proposal stems from something we saw last year. Dwight Howard dunked on an 11-foot hoop in the contest and did it with ease.
Get a hoop that can be raised and do it track and field, high jump style.
Start it at 11 feet and keep raising it until only one guy can jam it. I don't know one person that wouldn't find this incredibly fascinating.
How high guy can these guys go? 12-and-a-half feet? 13? We have all seen LeBron throw it down when his head is practically even with the rim so what would his ceiling be.
Could a big man like Howard with height and reach compete with a smaller James who can jump out of the building.
Get four guys and just let them go. They can run dunk lines like pre-game layup lines and if one guy can't hit the level the other guys do he's out. Keep ratcheting it up. The pizzaz of the 360's and windmills would be gone but the intrigue would surely not.
Moreover this competition would create precedent. We have seen the old dunks from MJ at the free-throw line to 'Nique's aerial acrobatics but like the "hardest shot" event at the NHL's All-Star weekend, a tangible bar would be set and that number would be ingrained in your psyche.
For 16 years Al Iafrate's 105.2 mph slap shot stood as the record and every year guys went gunning for it. Using a vastly-improved carbon fiber stick Zdeno Chara bested that mark by two-tenths of a second in last year's competition and I remember how exciting it was.
Of even greater importance I think guys like James and Howard would want to try this. It wouldn't be as dangerous as trying the wilder dunks and I know LeBron would look at this and one more possible stamp of his greatness.
The Jordan-Kobe-LeBron debate will rage on but a high-dunk competition would be one measuring stick for generations of hoopers.
13 feet? Is it really possible? We have no clue, but I would sure like to find out.
It was an incredible venue and the game itself was exciting and came down to the last shot but the dunk contest was just plain awful. The stars don't want to do it and as athletic as Nate Robinson is I don't want to see him anymore or see him have to try dunks 15 times just so he can pull it off.
My proposal stems from something we saw last year. Dwight Howard dunked on an 11-foot hoop in the contest and did it with ease.
Get a hoop that can be raised and do it track and field, high jump style.
Start it at 11 feet and keep raising it until only one guy can jam it. I don't know one person that wouldn't find this incredibly fascinating.
How high guy can these guys go? 12-and-a-half feet? 13? We have all seen LeBron throw it down when his head is practically even with the rim so what would his ceiling be.
Could a big man like Howard with height and reach compete with a smaller James who can jump out of the building.
Get four guys and just let them go. They can run dunk lines like pre-game layup lines and if one guy can't hit the level the other guys do he's out. Keep ratcheting it up. The pizzaz of the 360's and windmills would be gone but the intrigue would surely not.
Moreover this competition would create precedent. We have seen the old dunks from MJ at the free-throw line to 'Nique's aerial acrobatics but like the "hardest shot" event at the NHL's All-Star weekend, a tangible bar would be set and that number would be ingrained in your psyche.
For 16 years Al Iafrate's 105.2 mph slap shot stood as the record and every year guys went gunning for it. Using a vastly-improved carbon fiber stick Zdeno Chara bested that mark by two-tenths of a second in last year's competition and I remember how exciting it was.
Of even greater importance I think guys like James and Howard would want to try this. It wouldn't be as dangerous as trying the wilder dunks and I know LeBron would look at this and one more possible stamp of his greatness.
The Jordan-Kobe-LeBron debate will rage on but a high-dunk competition would be one measuring stick for generations of hoopers.
13 feet? Is it really possible? We have no clue, but I would sure like to find out.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The single-season spike aka "the earthquake year"
If you look on a seismometer the average movement is pretty small. The meter is always moving but it goes up and down pretty calmly with not a lot of serious ambition. It just rumbles along.
But when an earthquake hits all hell breaks loose and it flails up and down like a Vegas partygoer.
In sports we are talking a spike in numbers. An increase in stats or performance that totally interrupts the career arc of a player and sends it soaring like the Himalayas.
Nowadays there is a pretty simple explanation: Steroids.
While more often than not, the use of performance-enhancing drugs is a pretty good place to start there are some other factors to consider.
As much as players love the game, it's also a business. Big money is out there for the taking and in a "contract-year" guys will be very motivated to not only be in great shape but also produce at a very high level for financial fodder at the bargaining table during the offseason.
Health plays a part as a guy who is pain-free can string together five or six solid months at a time but what happens then?
New teammates, coaches or surroundings can also contribute to a monster year. A new spouse or significant other can have an impact. See Greg Norman but not Eldrich Woods.
Regardless of the reason it is truly remarkable to try and view the peak from either side of the valley. Guys will be elite for a period of time like Sandy Koufax, but a one-year reign is breathtaking.
****
With that I give you the pride of Moose Factory, Ontario, Canada, Mr. Jonathan Cheechoo.
Placed on waivers yesterday by the Ottawa Senators, Cheech and his $3.5-million contract, will end up in the AHL if he's not claimed. In 61 games with Ottawa the former second-round pick of the San Jose Sharks had just 14 points (5 goals and 9 assists).
Just 29 years of age, the right winger blossomed in the year after the lockout, racing to a league-high 56 goals in 2005-2006. In six years, the Cheechoo Train has tickled the twine 170 times meaning nearly one-third of his total tallies came in that season.
In early December of 2005 and mired in a 10-game losing streak the Sharks traded for Boston's Joe Thornton.
Cheechoo had just one goal in all of November, but in Jumbo Joe's first game in teal, he scored twice, and San Jose reeled off six straight wins and Cheech put in 13 goals before the New Year.
In 24 games before Thornton's arrival, Cheechoo had seven goals. In the 58 games after he recorded an astounding 49, including nine game-winners.
San Jose made the playoffs after their awful start, Thornton was named the league's MVP and Cheechoo was the top goal scorer.
But that was the top of the mountain. He managed 37 goals the following season but hasn't reached the 30-goal plateau again, on either side of that magical run.
Bringing Thornton, the best passer in the world, into the fold certainly didn't hurt his epic ascension, but it also doesn't explain that despite Joe's continual achievements Cheechoo could never come close to matching that type of production.
Ottawa was hoping a change of scenery might bring him a fresh opportunity but now it appears as though his career is at a real crossroads and it's hard to imagine him ever being an elite goal scorer in the NHL ever again.
****
The first comparison to this type of season happened 10 years before in Baltimore with the Orioles Brady Anderson. In 1996 the outfielder from California slugged 50 home runs.
He hit 41 the three seasons before and 36 in the two seasons after. He hit 24 in 1999 and only went over 20 one other time.
In the history of baseball only 19 times had a player hit more than Anderson's 50.
But the steroid era was just getting underway.
In 2001, Arizona outfielder Luis Gonzalez went off for 57 round-trippers. Just like Cheechoo he had one more year in the thirties (31 bombs the year before) and never made it out of the twenties again.
In his first five full big league seasons Gonzalez hit 59 dingers. In a century of modern baseball, and ignoring the numbers of other users like McGwire and Sosa, there were five seasons of more than 57 homers in that time.
****
So the steroids count for something. New teammates can too.
Washington Redskins RB John Riggins went off for 24 TD's in 1983 at age 34. He only had double-digits rushing scores two other times and never more than 14. He had 25 his first five seasons.
The diamond-in-the-rough seasons are few and far between. They are as interesting as statistical anomalies as they are for the reasons surrounding them.
Greatness and mediocrity come and go but one historical year can be the most fascinating.
But when an earthquake hits all hell breaks loose and it flails up and down like a Vegas partygoer.
In sports we are talking a spike in numbers. An increase in stats or performance that totally interrupts the career arc of a player and sends it soaring like the Himalayas.
Nowadays there is a pretty simple explanation: Steroids.
While more often than not, the use of performance-enhancing drugs is a pretty good place to start there are some other factors to consider.
As much as players love the game, it's also a business. Big money is out there for the taking and in a "contract-year" guys will be very motivated to not only be in great shape but also produce at a very high level for financial fodder at the bargaining table during the offseason.
Health plays a part as a guy who is pain-free can string together five or six solid months at a time but what happens then?
New teammates, coaches or surroundings can also contribute to a monster year. A new spouse or significant other can have an impact. See Greg Norman but not Eldrich Woods.
Regardless of the reason it is truly remarkable to try and view the peak from either side of the valley. Guys will be elite for a period of time like Sandy Koufax, but a one-year reign is breathtaking.
****
With that I give you the pride of Moose Factory, Ontario, Canada, Mr. Jonathan Cheechoo.
Placed on waivers yesterday by the Ottawa Senators, Cheech and his $3.5-million contract, will end up in the AHL if he's not claimed. In 61 games with Ottawa the former second-round pick of the San Jose Sharks had just 14 points (5 goals and 9 assists).
Just 29 years of age, the right winger blossomed in the year after the lockout, racing to a league-high 56 goals in 2005-2006. In six years, the Cheechoo Train has tickled the twine 170 times meaning nearly one-third of his total tallies came in that season.
In early December of 2005 and mired in a 10-game losing streak the Sharks traded for Boston's Joe Thornton.
Cheechoo had just one goal in all of November, but in Jumbo Joe's first game in teal, he scored twice, and San Jose reeled off six straight wins and Cheech put in 13 goals before the New Year.
In 24 games before Thornton's arrival, Cheechoo had seven goals. In the 58 games after he recorded an astounding 49, including nine game-winners.
San Jose made the playoffs after their awful start, Thornton was named the league's MVP and Cheechoo was the top goal scorer.
But that was the top of the mountain. He managed 37 goals the following season but hasn't reached the 30-goal plateau again, on either side of that magical run.
Bringing Thornton, the best passer in the world, into the fold certainly didn't hurt his epic ascension, but it also doesn't explain that despite Joe's continual achievements Cheechoo could never come close to matching that type of production.
Ottawa was hoping a change of scenery might bring him a fresh opportunity but now it appears as though his career is at a real crossroads and it's hard to imagine him ever being an elite goal scorer in the NHL ever again.
****
The first comparison to this type of season happened 10 years before in Baltimore with the Orioles Brady Anderson. In 1996 the outfielder from California slugged 50 home runs.
He hit 41 the three seasons before and 36 in the two seasons after. He hit 24 in 1999 and only went over 20 one other time.
In the history of baseball only 19 times had a player hit more than Anderson's 50.
But the steroid era was just getting underway.
In 2001, Arizona outfielder Luis Gonzalez went off for 57 round-trippers. Just like Cheechoo he had one more year in the thirties (31 bombs the year before) and never made it out of the twenties again.
In his first five full big league seasons Gonzalez hit 59 dingers. In a century of modern baseball, and ignoring the numbers of other users like McGwire and Sosa, there were five seasons of more than 57 homers in that time.
****
So the steroids count for something. New teammates can too.
Washington Redskins RB John Riggins went off for 24 TD's in 1983 at age 34. He only had double-digits rushing scores two other times and never more than 14. He had 25 his first five seasons.
The diamond-in-the-rough seasons are few and far between. They are as interesting as statistical anomalies as they are for the reasons surrounding them.
Greatness and mediocrity come and go but one historical year can be the most fascinating.
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