Thursday tidbits 10/14/10

Someday I'll get some stuff in between, but until then, here are more tidbits!

A Quote

Norv Turner came out with quite the gem in response to Tony Dungy's criticism of him after the Chargers lost to the Raiders last Sunday:

"You make a comment, and you see a team from afar, and I understand his comment and I can relate to him...It's probably how he felt when his players let Darren Sproles return a punt and a kick for a touchdown here on a Sunday night game or when Peyton threw six interceptions against us."

Wow, Norv. Nailed it! There's just one problem. Tony Dungy probably felt fine after the Darren Sproles game to which you referred. I bet he was bummed at first...and then he went home, saw his shiny Super Bowl ring, and felt OK again.

I know some people think Norv is more competent than I do (and to be clear, I do not think he is competent. I think he calls plays for a real football team like some of my friends call plays on Madden video games). Regardless, he should probably avoid trading barbs with (former) coaches who so trump him.

A Video

Or a series of them. Joe Posnanski gives us 32 great sports play-by-play calls, with many of the videos available right there on the page. Lots of goosebumps moments - I would only warn you that you should not start watching these if you have a 'to-do list,' because you'll be hooked after the first few. Vin Scully calling Dwight Clark's catch? Bob Costas calling Jordan's game-winning shot over the Jazz? Can't beat it.

My advice - make sure to watch the call of Jason Lezak's unreal comeback in the 4x100 in Beijing that kept Michael Phelps alive in his chase for a record eight gold medals. Awesome call that a lot of us probably did not hear at the time.

A Photo

Or a bunch of them. Probably my finest accomplishment this week was stumbling upon the greatest beards in sports history, as presented by SI.com. It was like Christmas in October.

Serious question - can anybody beat an NHL playoff beard? They are the standard to which we all aspire.

A Tweet

@jimrome: The fraternity for #NFL coaches who talk smack is now 2. #REXRYAN and Norv Turner. But Norv bumped his gums after a loss to the Raiders. 9am

A Bonus Video!

Vanilla Ice has a new show on the DIY network. It's cleverly called: The Vanilla Ice Project. He's a "successful general contractor and a home improvement expert."

Of course he is...

Another Bonus Video! 

Jesse Ventura has a new show on truTV. It's called Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura. As you'll see, Jesse confidently announces that. "this is the show they don't want you to see."

Well, Jesse, I don't think they have much to worry about then...

A suggestion that (definitely) won't surprise you

Watch the Phillies v. Giants on Saturday night. Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay. 

Links

Jeff Passan writes about the number one starters in both the NLCS and ALCS. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AgOCt0O.JW9KuRv_SxM6Tk05nYcB?slug=jp-fouraces101410

Jeffri Chadiha writes about Houston Texans running back Arian Foster http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=chadiha_jeffri&page=hotread05/ArianFoster

Peter King picks the week 6 NFL games http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/10/14/week.6.weekend.pickoff/index.html?eref=sihp

Thursday tidbits 10/7/10 (on Friday!)

A Quote

Add this to the hype machine for the upcoming Monday Night Football match-up between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. Darrelle Revis had this to say about Randy Moss:

“In the second half, you could tell he was kind of like putting his foot on the brake. But everybody knows that’s Randy: sometimes he plays 100 percent, sometimes he doesn’t.”

Do we really think these comments bothered Randy Moss that much? I feel like if we asked him, he would say, "Yea, that sounds about right."

Between the Randy Moss trade, these comments, Brett Favre returning to play against the Jets, the accusations that Favre sent inappropriate text messages to a reporter when he was a Jet, Rex Ryan...this might be too much for ESPN to take. I mean, Rachel Nichols can only be in one place at a time!

Don't get me wrong, because I am absolutely going to watch this game. But take my advice, and don't watch ESPN until the game itself, because the hype is going to be on a whole new level.

A Video

The Colorado Avalanche held a reunion for the 1996 Stanley Cup champion team before their season-opening victory over the Blackhawks last night. Unfortunately, the game was not on the Altitude networks, meaning fans at home did not get to see much of the ceremony. Here is a video of the players arriving for the reunion. It's very cool to see them together again.

(Spoiler: Patrick Roy doesn't punch anybody. I know, I was disappointed too)

A Photo

Check out this picture of Roy Halladay shortly after the final out of his NLDS no-hitter (from SI.com). It's nice for fans that the best pitcher in the game is also a class act. Even if he is a Phillie, it was incredible to see this accomplishment. The story of the playoffs thus far has been dominant pitching. Some of these were expected (Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Cliff Lee) and some were not (Andy Pettitte, C.J. Wilson). That's the beauty of baseball.

A Tweet

@TracyRingolsby:  How big is starting pitching in post-season. Starting pitcher for winning team so far this year 6-0 with 1.22 ERA, 49 SO, 8 BB, 44 1/3 IP.

A story that made me go "Are you kidding???"

Remember Glen Coffee? Maybe you never even knew who he was. He was a running back at Alabama and then briefly for the San Francisco 49ers. His surprise retirement was a fairly big story during training camp. Coffee retired because he said God had called him to ministry. Regardless of your opinion on that decision, this headline ought to get your attention: Recently retired Glen Coffee arrested for having concealed weapon.

Sigh...

A suggestion that won't surprise you

Watch Michigan v. Michigan St. on Saturday. Denard Robinson is always must see TV, and coach Mark D'antonio for MSU will be back on the sidelines after suffering a heart attack a few weeks ago. MSU has looked tough offensively and Michigan doesn't play much defense, so this shapes up to be a high scoring and very entertaining game.

A suggestion that will surprise you

Watch the New Orleans Saints v. the Arizona Cardinals. Everybody is ready to call this a blow out, and maybe it will be. But the Cardinals have a ton of motivation to scratch out wins in a ghastly NFC West, they are at home, and undrafted rookie Max Hall is making his debut in what may become a feel good story. And the Saints have not blown the doors off of anybody this year, including an escape at home against the lowly Panthers last week. I've got this game as much closer than people think, and a possible upset special.

Links

I chose not to address the issue of replay in baseball, because I don't really know how I feel yet, but here is Joe Posnanski writing about the missed calls problem in baseball: http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/10/08/bad-calls-in-baseball/

Ken Rosenthal addresses replay and the problems with umpires: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Postseason-umpire-errors-prove-the-need-for-expanded-replay-in-mlb-100710

Bill Simmons on the Randy Moss trade: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmonsnfl2010/101008&sportCat=nfl

Mark Kiszla says the Avalanche are still in project mode: http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16284825

Tom Verducci says that Roy Halladay is the Sandy Koufax of our generation: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/10/07/five.cuts.halladay/index.html

What I think I learned about the Rockies this season

These Rockies are not big believers in playing 'for pride'
When they were eliminated, things got ugly fast. One run in a 30 inning stretch in St. Louis and they dropped 13 of their last 14. One thing I found a bit baffling during this stretch was the fact that Melvin Mora and Todd Helton continued to log regular innings. Especially with the Toddfather - why put extra miles on that back in meaningless games? Sometimes we can at least enjoy the so-called "meaningless" games because it gives young players a chance to get experience. There was absolutely nothing to enjoy about the Rockies' final stretch.

Rockies fans relearned the importance of starting pitching
In their final gasp for a playoff berth, it seems the Rockies were in a 3-0 or 4-0 hole every game before they got to the 3rd inning. The inability of pitchers to pitch deep into games ran their bullpen into the ground and ultimately exposed it to a thrashing at the hands of the lowly Diamondbacks. This makes the signing of Jorge De La Rosa a top priority in the offseason (we hope), and Jhoulys Chacin is a key player entering next season. And how bizarre was Jason Hammel's dead arm? A weird tag on the end of a weird season.

This might be the time for the organization to make an exception when it comes to its dependence on home grown players
Because they need to go get more pop for this lineup. There are a lot of likable players who flat out did not get it done this year. Ian Stewart will (again) be a key player for the team next season, but this year he was (again) a huge disappointment between his inconsistency, his frightening strike-out streaks, and his injuries. Seth Smith reached a point where he was approaching what I like to call 'Peyton Hillis' status when it came to fans screaming for him to get more playing time. The difference is, instead of trading him, the Rockies gave Seth a chance to play every day and he was an absolute disaster. Enjoy pinch hitting, Seth.

(Note: If you don't know who Peyton Hillis is, ask the nearest Broncos fan. They will tell you he is a running back, and then they will use all the white football player cliches, like he has a 'good motor' and is a 'workhorse.' Whatever they say, they will conclude with "AND HE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED MORE LAST YEAR!" Denver traded him to the Browns, where he is playing well. This is a very sensitive issue for Broncos fans. Seth Smith was close to this status with Rockies fans, as in, "Seth Smith is so good, just imagine if he got to play every day?" Well, he batted something like .180 after the all-star break, so now we don't have to wonder).

Chris Iannetta is another home grown talent with all the raw power one could hope for, and all the inconsistencies to drive us crazy. It was inevitable that this team would fall short if nobody produced runs behind CarGo and Tulo. And nobody did.

They will need to go get more pop, whether in an outfielder who can start in the corner not occupied by CarGo or a first baseman to pair with Todd Helton. Even though he is a miserable fielder, these Victor Martinez grumblings are interesting.

They need more bullpen arms
But really, doesn't every team learn this every season?

It's a great time to be a Rockies fan
I know a lot of people are extra bummed because of the way they folded at the end, but we've now had a stretch of three out of four seasons where the Rockies have been relevant and playing meaningful games late into September. Remember the days of Royce Clayton? Denny Neagle? Jeff Cirillo? Jeffrey Hammonds? Bobby Estalella? Rodrigo Lopez? Jeromy Burnitz? (Want me to keep going?) Take any of the seasons where any of those names was an important Rockie, and you would find me and so many others dying to just watch a team who had a chance. Now we have that team.

I understand that this season is considered a failure. But how fun is it that we get to ask questions like "What pieces do they need to get over the top in the division?" instead of "How old is Ray King?" or "Did they seriously sign Jeromy Burnitz?"

Playoff Picks!


Divisional Series
Twins over Yankees in 4 - They will finally beat the Yankees in the divisional series. However, I predict they do it the non-traditional way (or what many call the "impossible way"). They will lose game 1 to CC, but will then win 3 straight slug fests, including beating a short-rested CC in game 4.

Rays over Rangers in 5 - I know the divisional series rarely comes down to a 5th game, but I think this one will and the Rays will benefit from their previous playoff experience and win it. Once again, don't expect low scoring nail-biters because neither team has much pitching these days.

Phillies over Reds in 3 - I really hope I'm wrong because the Reds are an easy team to cheer for. But like everybody else, I just don't see the Phillies losing many games on their way to the World Series.

Giants over Braves in 4 - The Giants are the only team besides the Phillies who actually have some starting pitchers they can ride deep into the playoffs. It will pay off here and the Braves will finally run out of gas and come up short in Bobby Cox's final season.

Championship Series
Rays Over Twins in 7 - if the Twins do make it this far, I'll be cheering hard for them, but the Rays are a more complete team and would edge them out in a long series.

Phillies over Giants in 6 - I would love to just say Phillies in 4, because I want the Giants to get housed by somebody after the whole humidor issue. But these will feel more like old fashioned playoff games, with some great pitching match-ups. The Phillies will come up with the timely hits to come out on top.

World Series!
Phillies over Rays in 5 - With Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels, the Phillies bring the World Series back to the National League. Ugh, I do not care for those Phillies fans, but I think they're going to get another one because that trio of starting pitchers is stupid good, and will stand out in a year where stud starting pitchers are notably absent in the playoffs.

Other, smarter guys writing about the playoffs...

Tom Verducci answers 10 questions about the playoffs http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/10/05/playoff.preview/index.html?eref=sircrc

Jerry Crasnick writes about Roy Halladay http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=5644528

Ken Rosenthal previews Rays v. Rangers http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Tampa-Bay-Rays-Texas-Rangers-ALDS-preview-100510

Jeff Passan on Derek Jeter's role for the Yankees in the playoffs http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AkN_pEqjna3qf.lY08AmK8MRvLYF?slug=jp-jeter100510