bluesdog’s profile

Can someone get Jerry Jones on the phone? He hasn't signed a troubled castoff from another team in nearly 7 weeks.

posted at 02:12 AM on December 01

Beltran Backpay Ballpark

posted at 12:28 PM on November 26

MVP is a bad name for the award in any sports league. Every year the "valuable" topic comes up -- just change the name already. It can mean anything you want to justify your rooting interest in a player. Valuable to what -- the team, the league, the fans, the game of baseball?

A more fitting title would be Outstanding Player, Most Productive or just Player of the Year. There would still be bias toward guys on the best teams but hopefully it would encourage voters to look at individual production.

posted at 11:35 AM on November 19

The right guys got it this year. Pujols's numbers are superior to everyone in the NL. Ryan Howard struck out 199 times and bat .251 and that doesn't cut it. You can't say he totally carried his team on his back. Pujols. Easy.

Pedroia is trickier because Mauer and Morneau had comparable numbers. In that case, tie goes to the guy whose team DOES get in the playoffs (although Twins almost did). Anyway, those two guys cancelled each other out. And with that competition Josh Hamilton didn't have a chance playing on a bad team. Pedroia really did carry the Sox though when the going got tough.

posted at 12:56 AM on November 19

It's great when your team signs an ironman who stays healthy throughout his career but it says a lot when a guy goes through the kind of injuries Wood had and comes back to produce in a totally different role. Wdminott, have you pitched pro ball? Do you know what it's like to throw in the mid 90s with a blister on your throwing hand? He would have been a total liability if they put him back on the mound before it was healed.

Wood is a consummate pro. Read this...

"I just don't think it was the right time for the team and the things they need to address," Wood said. "Obviously, the first choice was to stay here, and I would've done just about anything to stay here. They have other issues and a very capable guy to get the job done."

That's class.

posted at 05:41 PM on November 14

Am I crazy or does Jerry Jones only pick up guys with baggage? Dallas is like the final resting place for extremely talented misfit players.

T.O. and Williams are buddies now. But do you think T.O. will be happy if he only has 7-8 pass targets per game?

Charlatan, how did you end up drafting Romo 4 times? The odds of that are crazy. Unless you only have auction drafts and you went on a Romo binge. Btw, sorry for your loss.

posted at 12:37 AM on October 15

Look everyone's personal opinion about what he said is valid. Not going to debate that. But looking at it from a professional standpoint, he BLEW it! It's not even about being a role model. It's about knowing when your private thoughts (or jokes) might become public fodder. As in ANY TIME YOU ARE IN FRONT OF A CAMERA. My guess is that this will eventually blow over. He will probably make some kind of written public apology through a spokesman that it was meant in jest but that he should have been more sensitive. Unless the people of Dallas demand his head, he'll keep playing for the Mavs. And if he keeps putting up 20 pts a game, it will be forgotten.

posted at 01:07 AM on September 18

Interesting stat, Hal. I'd heard something along those lines as well about managerial impact. Though there's a degree of subjectivity to be sure. I don't think they believe Sveum will ignite the team as much as Yost's absence will make for a more positive clubhouse. It's similar to what the Mets did dropping Willie Randolph and having Jerry Manuel take the helm (at least for this season). They think guys will just feel more comfortable with a less divisive skipper. And at least on paper, it's worked for the Mets. It seems like voodoo science but this is a desperate situation for the Brewers. Getting into the playoffs this year is critical for Milwaukee. They will probably lose Sabbathia and Sheets after the season no matter how well they do so they have to make a run now. As a Cub fan, I pray that doesn't happen.

Side note -- I agree with Qatarian. Having the Cubs come in to Milwaukee and win under those circumstances must suck for the Brewers. I would not be happy about a division rival playing in Wrigley against any team other than the Cubs. Raw deal for Astros and Brewers.

posted at 02:18 AM on September 16

Like it or not, these decisions are always hugely political. No sports organization wants to be affiliated with perceived sketchiness. As kokaku points out, Allianz is not the same company today and has acknowledged its shame for contributing to Nazi atrocities. I've heard that some Jewish organizations consider present day Allianz a friend to the Jewish community. But it doesn't matter because this has become a cause celebre for a lot of people in New York. It's bad for business and good business is all that matters. That's why Enron Field is now Minute Maid Part. With the subprime mess we're in now, I would bet that if Citibank were implicated (unlikely but possible), the Mets organization would consider buying back the naming rights so the new stadium did not bear the name Citi Field.

posted at 02:12 PM on September 13

Like it or not, these decisions are always hugely political. No sports organization wants to be affiliated with perceived sketchiness. As kokaku points out, Allianz is not the same company today and has acknowledged its shame for contributing to Nazi atrocities. I've heard that some Jewish organizations consider present day Allianz a friend to the Jewish community. But it doesn't matter because this has become a cause celebre for a lot of people in New York. It's bad for business and good business is all that matters. That's why Enron Field is now Minute Maid Part. With all subprime mess we're in now, I would bet that if Citibank were implicated (unlikely but possible), the Mets organization would consider buying back the naming rights so the new stadium did not bear the name Citi Field.

posted at 02:11 PM on September 13

Wdminott, I am a Bear fan too and Rex gives me ulcers out there. But unless Rex is tanking beyond belief (possible) I don't think putting Griese in will make a difference. He hasn't had the reps this season to come into a huge game like this and bail them out of a jam. When he has played his numbers have been subpar. Like everyone else who is prescribing the solution to Rex's woes, here is my prescription: 1. Be aware of pressure and take a sack if necessary. Too many times Rex doesn't see defenders bearing down on him and when he does, he doesn't tuck the ball into his body and take a 5 or 10 yard loss to avoid fumbling or throwing a pick. 2. Hit receivers in stride. Did you notice how many balls he threw to a receiver's rear shoulder? 80% of the time, guys had to reach back to make catches. Muhammed coughed up that one ball for an INT but Rex's ball placement did not help. 3. Lean into passes and throw off front foot.. The throwing off his back foot drives me nuts. It automatically puts more loft on the ball and makes it easier for DBs to pick it off. 4. Learn from mistakes. You have to take risks in a game but you can't afford to gamble with field position or turnovers.

posted at 01:35 AM on January 16

If you are an NFL owner you have to learn from recent history -- college coaches who jump straight to the NFL without pro coaching experience don't pan out so well. Steve Spurrier, Butch Davis, Dennis Erickson, Pete Carroll and now Saban. There may be others I'm forgetting. Jimmy Johnson is the exception to the rule. And I guess you could make an argument for Tom Coughlin. It's a different reality in the pro game. Teaching and mentoring is lost on those huge paychecks. Joe Theisman had an interesting observation on ESPNews -- how will Saban talk to recruits about making a commitment to Alabama after this? Probably won't be too hard but it's a fair point.

posted at 11:45 AM on January 03

What makes it hollow? He still had to run over the other team even though they knew he was going to be running. They still couldn't stop him. Because it was like shooting ducks in a barrel. The kid himself thought he'd be watching from the sidelines after halftime. So the score was obviously lopsided at that point. Even if he played the third quarter to insure the victory, fine. But not returning punts to help him get more yardage? The coach did that because he knew it was a cakewalk. And it proves that coaching all aspects of the game became unimportant to him. He made a choice to stop coaching the way the game should be played and to start a public campaign for one player in the middle of an official game. His ass should be fired. If I was the opposing coach I would have repeatedly gone for it on 4th down even in his own team's territory. Besides, if they were down by that much they shouldn't bother punting anyway.

posted at 11:57 AM on October 06

forget the sportsmanship issue for a moment. isn't the job of a coach to promote a team first attitude rather than putting one player on a pedestal? even if the kid deserves some glory because of his amazing work ethic and attitude -- in fact, BECAUSE of that -- it sends a completely wrongheaded message to your players -- that it's all about individual records and recognition. it was no longer about winning. it was no longer about giving kids on the bench some playing time -- which might be useful if at some point in the future. it all focused on one guy in a team game. if it was tennis -- all bets are off -- go for as many aces as you can get. but come on, that was lame. sure, all the kids were probably psyched that their buddy broke the record but years later they'll know they took advantage of easy prey. forget sportsmanship -- what a hollow friggin' achievement. the only attention it will bring this kid is negative attention. and don't tell me it helps put smaller schools on the map. it only reflects badly on them.

posted at 10:12 AM on October 06

I'm superstitious so I believe in this crap I admit. I wonder if players may graciously decline the opportunity to be on the Madden cover. I guess if you want rock solid proof, someone indestructible like Peyton Manning has to be on the cover.

posted at 02:32 AM on September 26