Monday, March 26, 2012

9 MORE DAYS TILL OPENING DAY

I can hardly wait. In the meantime, what else is going on?

***HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN***
Bobby Abreu has been very outspoken about his role with the Angels this year. So how's he doing? Well, not very good. He's hitting only .108 (4-37). Before you start laughing, consider this: That's exactly twice what the Yanks DH, Raul Ibanez, is hitting (2-37). Apparently DH stands for Doesn't Hit.

***ANOTHER DRUG PROBLEM***
MLB has made great strides in eliminating the PED problem, now they've got to work on alcoholism. It seems drinking to excess has always been a big problem in spring training. So far, 3 players have been ticketed for excessive blood alcohol: Alex White, Matt Bush and Bobby Jenks. Bush's problem was particularly serious, as he rear-ended a 72-year old motorcyclist, who is in serious condition. He is facing 7 charges stemming from that accident.

***IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT***
The Daniel Bard story continues. The Red Sox GM favors Bard in the bullpen, based on his stats as starter this spring. Manager Bobby Valentine wants him to be a starter, regardless of his lack of success so far. This has been Valentine's history as a manager. He thinks he's always right and objects to anyone who disagrees, to the point of ridiculousness. Even when it comes from someone who is his boss, Bobby will continue to do it his way out of spite.
Bard's last start was not so good: 6 innings, 6 hits and 5 runs. Hard to be happy over that outing, right? Not so with Valentine. "Overall, I liked everything. What was there not to like -- besides the five runs on the board?" Right, Bobby. And other than blowing a 9 game lead, the Red Sox had a good September last year.
As a Yankee fan, I agree with Valentine. Bard can do that every time he faces the Yankees and he won't win a game.

***THE AFTERMATH OF SYRACUSE'S YEAR***
The Orange will lose seniors Jardine and Joseph this year, but most analysts think that Fab Melo won't be back since it makes no sense to stay if you can't maintain academic eligibility. I also read that Waiters hasn't been attending classes this spring, so it appears he has no intention of returning, either. But the nucleus of the team will be there plus help is on the way. Another Jamesville-Dewitt High School (Triche and Andy Rautins) phenom, 6'10", 275 lb. DaJuan Coleman, will be a force inside and a red-shirt freshman shooting guard named Trevor Cooney is considered a lethal long-range shooter in the mold of Gerry McNamara.

The NBA is considering making a rule that college players would not be eligible for the draft for two years after entering school as opposed to the current one year. This one-and-done scenario doesn't do the school or the player any good. Actually, three years would be even better.

***THEY SAID IT***
"The Texas Rangers are selling a two-foot long, one-pound hot dog for $26. Isn’t that the regular price for a hot dog at Yankee Stadium?" -- Janice Hough
"Freshman star Austin Rivers, one-and-done? Blue Devils fans hardly knew ye. Ready-made school slogan: "Duke Basketball: A Rivers Ran Through It." -- Dwight Perry
"In case you hadn't heard, after day 1 (I picked Mizzou to win it all), I had more X’s on my bracket sheet than Wilt had on his bedpost" -- TC Chong
"I'm trying to confirm that after Duke's loss, CBS executives proposed making the tournament double elimination." -- Brad Dickson
"The N.Y. Jets acquired Tim Tebow from Denver for a fourth and sixth round pick, and a prayer to be name named later." -- RJ Currie
"The MLB has suspended extended replay until at least 2013. As it stands, rulings will be determined the traditional way. A team of umpires will have to rely on one of them being awake." -- Alan Ray
"Poor ratings have caused Rosie O’Donnell’s show to be cancelled on the Oprah Network. The network has reportedly been struggling financially since it launched. Low cost replacement programming includes CFL Ottawa Rough Riders replays from the past 25 years." -- TC Chong
"NU was looking for someone with name recognition who's no stranger to the NCAA tournament. It's a good thing Miles accepted because the next name on the list was Ashley Judd." -- Brad Dickson

CP-

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