03 Oct
The Braves season is over but the SEC Picks continue
Home teams in bold.
Alabama 34, Kentucky 16
Florida 40, Arkansas 6
Ole Miss 22, South Carolina 21
Vandy 17, Auburn 13
Northern Illinois 7, Tennessee 6
CONTACT
Home teams in bold.
Alabama 34, Kentucky 16
Florida 40, Arkansas 6
Ole Miss 22, South Carolina 21
Vandy 17, Auburn 13
Northern Illinois 7, Tennessee 6
Soooo-eee, pig, pig, pig…
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:13 pmMeanwhile, the Alabama-Duke game in 2010 will remain in Wallace Wade Stadium despite efforts from Alabama to move it to a larger facility such as Hoover High Stadium.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:14 pmwhy on earth would ‘bama play duke in ‘10?
a better match up would be ‘bama at unc and then unc at ‘bama in ‘11.
however, i think saban fears what butch is getting done at unc.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 pmNothing to do with Saban — it’s a commitment dating from before when Duke made a visit to Tuscaloosa — in 2006, I think.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:20 pmThe Great Saban will fall before the Mighty Blue Hoard!
Why is THIS game on national tv? Back in the Curry days (known in Lexington as “Our Time in Hell”), CBS invariably showed the nation our annual embarrassment against Florida. Curry had fired (or not hired – can’t remember) Spurrier along the way and the Ole Ball Coach never forgot it.
Spurrier beat Curry 70-7, 63-6, etc. and the whole world got to see.
We’re better now, but I still fear the 16 points we’ve been given will not be enough.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:36 pmIf UPRH (University of the Particularly Ridiculous Hue) actually loses to N. Illinois, how bad do you think it would get up there?
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 pmPosted elsewhere, but, hey, why not?:
Is it fair to add Travis Henry to UT’s totals in the Fulmer Cup standings?
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:39 pmNo, Jimmy “Scarface” Johns won that for UA fair and square.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:40 pmGeez, when was the last time we actually beat Auburn? I am sure it was before my time, so color me skeptical on a Vanderbilt win.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:45 pmAccording to Stu, it was the 1955 Gator Bowl.
Since then, Auburn has won all 13 times.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pmThis bodes ill for Vandy:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Vandy-feels-the-love-then-the-cold-sting-of-rea?urn=ncaaf,112453
“Vandy is dead last in the SEC and in the bottom ten nationally in passing offense and total offense. It’s the only non-option/wishbone team — the others are Georgia Tech, Navy, Army and Air Force — throwing for less than 100 yards per game.”
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:39 pmActually, Vandy is a kind of option team. It’s the rarely seen “Chris Nickson runs around and then does whatever seems best” option.
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 pmAt the beginning of the year I adopted Vandy as my “SEC team to root for” this year but this weekend will be the first time I get to see them play, after the Mich/Juice game. Right now, I don’t see any team escaping the SEC with fewer than 2 losses except Alabama, they look like they can do it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:59 pmIf Bama can beat LSU & Auburn—this is the year, right?—they’ll be undefeated going to the Dome.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 pmI think I may like it better when Mac picks against Ole Miss.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 pmCroom seems to have Bama’s number for whatever reason. Its in Starkville again.
I don’t see it happening though.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 pmCroom was a helluva center for Alabama.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:55 pmper DOB…
Then there are the Marlins. With 17 players eligible for arbitration, keep an eye on Fredi Gonzalez’s team. I know they’d prefer to trade outside the division, but the Marlins might find irresistible a Braves offer for one of their talented young pitchers, or perhaps left fielder Josh Willingham (if the Braves didn’t spend any more than his salary in LF, they could have more to spend on pitching, starting or otherwise).
So would you want Willingham? What would you offer for him?
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:28 pmI’d take Willingham (I’d rather have him in right, of course) but I don’t see the Braves doing that. He’s a secondary skills player and the Braves are a team that apparently doesn’t value that as much as batting average. He does basically everything better than Francoeur — even run, and he’s an ex-catcher.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 pmActually, Vandy is a kind of option team. It’s the rarely seen “Chris Nickson runs around and then does whatever seems best” option.
Rick Nuehiesal had a quote about his UCLA team earlier this year that really said everything that needed to be said about his offense: “Punting is winning”. Really a popular quote in Trojan circles as you might imagine.
Vandy-Auburn is definitely a ‘punting is winning’ game. Try to get three plays off without turning the ball over and get off the field. I would guess that nearly all the points in this game will be off of turnover-generated short fields or just outright defensive scores.
Without Pena, that is one unthreating lineup the Rays roll out there. I’m not so sure the White Sox don’t win that series.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 pmCraig Sager, impeccably dressed as always.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 pmpunting is winning… check out Michigan Wisconsin last week for a great example. Based on avgs this season, if Michigan and Illinois trade punt Saturday, which I think will happen often, Michigan gains 9 yards per trade in field position.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 pmTeix up against Okajima to lead off the 7th, they need a baserunner badly.
*edit* he’s 3/3 now this game. Thats 19 hits for the Angels and 19 of them are singles
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 pmWent to see Lucinda Williams in Manhattan tonight. Lordy, she can sing…
October 4th, 2008 at 1:55 amRe@24
Once again, ububba, you show how deep your appreciation for fine music goes.
It looks like this might be the year people outside of the industry get a good chance to appreciate Lucinda.
My daughter had “Passionate Kisses” played at her wedding reception.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:54 amUbubba………i saw Lucinda in a small club(maybe 150 people) about a year ago.i guess she was in one of her good moods that night…….. shes still haunting me.
October 4th, 2008 at 10:11 amYeah, Lucinda was in a good mood last night, too. Didn’t do “Passionate Kisses,” which is about as perfect a song as anyone’s ever written, but it hardly mattered. Her band, Buick 6, was terrific & her voice was right there all night.
Highlights: “Car Wheels on the Gravel Road,” “Drunken Angel,” “Changed the Locks,” “Essence” & the new “Jailhouse Tears.”
And how’s this for an encore set of covers?
Fats Domino’s “I Love My Life,” Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” & AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock & Roll)”
October 4th, 2008 at 1:03 pmApparently there’s a pretty good SEC game going on in Oxford between the Gamecocks and the Rebels. Too bad nobody can see it.
October 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pmSpurrier’s offense woke up and the Cocks hold on to win.
October 4th, 2008 at 4:19 pmAlabama/Kentucky is turning out to be good
October 4th, 2008 at 5:23 pmAnyone see this? I hope it works!
http://www.braveslaunchpad.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/picture-1.png
October 4th, 2008 at 6:01 pmAlabama let Kentucky hang around. They keep doing this, and eventually it is going to bite them. No way that game should have been close after the first half.
Ben Tate has 21 carries against Vandy in the first half. That’s a lot.
October 4th, 2008 at 6:37 pmI will go where ever they value loyalty the most
October 4th, 2008 at 6:47 pmEvery week I say Auburn can’t look worse than they already have, and every week I’m proven wrong…
October 4th, 2008 at 7:27 pmIn their defense, Vandy is a much better team than the clowns they played last week.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:30 pmThat Tennessee prediction is looking right on.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pmWell, that was a fitting ending.
October 4th, 2008 at 8:08 pmIf Vandy would have made one of those fieldgoals, I would have gotten the score dead-on.
October 4th, 2008 at 8:21 pmMac, why didn’t Bama offer Chris Smelley?
October 4th, 2008 at 9:49 pmBecause he’s not actually very good, and he played at an independent school against markedly inferior competition. Given the scholarship limits Shula was under, he really couldn’t add more than one quarterback per year, and he went with McElroy.
October 4th, 2008 at 9:51 pmI think Smelley’s at least on par with JPW, so he’s probably better than McElroy. I guess Shula missed on that one. Though I guess it was hard to judge with him playing against private schools. If they’d have offered he’d have gone there, since he was an Alabama fan, while McElroy was from Texas.
October 4th, 2008 at 10:03 pmGo ‘Dores!
October 4th, 2008 at 10:38 pmMark May wants LSU to jump Alabama because of their “Weak” performance against Kentucky?? Seriously, shouldnt it be unrealistic for a team on a bye week to jump a team that just won and is still undefeated? I dont really understand how that could happen since Bama is the only team to beat two top 10 teams (both on the road). It doesnt matter because they’ll match up in a couple of weeks anyways, but it doesnt make any sense
October 4th, 2008 at 10:41 pmnm
October 4th, 2008 at 10:44 pmcsg – I was just going to ask how many of the other undefeated teams (besides Vandy) have beaten two other ranked opponents.
Anyone besides Bama?
I know USC has two such impressive wins, but they are not undefeated.
Also, has Oklahoma played anybody?
October 4th, 2008 at 10:46 pmTech will beat Georgia 24-13.
Auburn has no business in the Top 25.
There are only 4 good SEC teams and I’m not sure Georgia is all that.
October 4th, 2008 at 10:48 pmPoor cubs… they’re just now starting to play like the team they really are…
October 4th, 2008 at 11:16 pmMalone, you’re drunk again.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:16 pmAnybody lose any serious cash betting against my Wildcats +16?
If it wasn’t for the worst on-side kick in history, who knows where we could be?
Oh, yeah – Bama holds on every freaking play. Every freaking play.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:19 pmCongrats to the Vandy folk. Missed the second half—went to see Margaret Cho at Radio City Music Hall, woo my sides still hurt—but I’m guessing it had to feel like a 50+ year excorcism.
And how does Tech, a school that’s lost 7 consecutive years to Georgia, talk trash? Reminds me of a ’90s Mets fan.
October 5th, 2008 at 12:34 amJust back from Singapore–where I had only limited internet access: “GO VANDY!”
October 5th, 2008 at 2:59 amOn a train to Long Island, where I’m catching a flight back to Nashville, but I wanted to stop by and ask: “Who ya with?”
It would appear that we have a pretty good football team.
October 5th, 2008 at 10:18 amVandy! Wow…
October 5th, 2008 at 11:06 amUSA Today Poll has Bama dropping to 4th, Missouri 2nd. Vandy up to 14th.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:51 amAlabama was already fourth in the coaches poll.
October 5th, 2008 at 12:17 pmPut me back on the Vandy Bandwagon. After the way we played(Auburn) we didn’t deserve to win that game.
October 5th, 2008 at 12:38 pmOh. My bad.
October 5th, 2008 at 12:45 pmI think we had something to do with the way you played, chill.
October 5th, 2008 at 2:14 pmStu,
October 5th, 2008 at 2:17 pmWhere’d you go in NY?
One of the several Vanderbilt-themed sports bars, no doubt.
October 5th, 2008 at 2:22 pmHey – Falcons win!
I might be more surprised about 3 Falcon’s wins than 5 Vandy wins.
Also, looks like a Dodgers-Philly NLCS.
October 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pmI’m really happy for Vandy. And former ‘Dore Cutler is tearing it up for Denver today too.
October 5th, 2008 at 3:39 pmI like that second QB from Vandy better than the first. If Nickson plays the whole game, Auburn probably wins.
I think we had something to do with the way you played, chill.
To some degree, but Auburn has looked pretty pathetic every week.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:41 pmChris Todd is evidently a suckup of colossal proportions, able to convince people that he’s a competent quarterback even though most of the time he looks like he doesn’t know which way the team is supposed to be going. Franklin (who is, admittedly, an idiot) keeps going on about how great he is at running the offense and how it’s just terrible that Tuberville occasionally takes him out in an effort to get some sort of competence at quarterback. Herbstreit, who is, admittedly, also an idiot, during the broadcast, couldn’t help but rave about how great Todd was at throwing four-yard outs and how he was so great before Burns came in. Either these people really love Chris Todd or they really hate Kodi Burns.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:44 pmor neither one is any good. Burns doesnt look like he has a clue either. He cant throw and usually cant handle snaps. They may want to move him to another position and they may want to get their freshman QB some snaps before the season is over. Either way, both guys arent capable of running the offense and Im sure you wouldnt want either one having to run a 2 min. offense with the game on the line. However, at least Burns can run and can make some people miss.
Auburn had better get back to the two tight end set and get the ball back in Tate, Lester, and Fannin’s hands
October 5th, 2008 at 7:19 pmI think we underestimate the value coaches put on the QB throwing the 4 yard out and bubble screen pass accurately in the spread offense. At Michigan, Nick Sheridan, a true freshman walkon with no ability to do anything other than throw a slightly more accurate bubble screen pass won the opening day starting job over the vastly more talented redshirt freshman Steven Threet (who was actually a fairly highly rated recruit at GT before transfering away from the wishbone). The main reason for that was Threet’s inaccuracy on those short horizontal passes. Sheridan proved, as Todd is proving, not to be a viable D-1 QB.
If you can’t have an ideal spread QB, coaches should at least choose the better overall QB, not the guy who marginally outperforms the other is very spread specific abilities, but vastly underperforms in all other general QB abilities like throwing 10 yards downfield and reading a defense
October 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pmBig story on ESPN yesterday on the campaign to have MLB retire Roberto Clement’s number as they did Jackie Robinson’s. Any thoughts?
October 6th, 2008 at 7:49 amI don’t agree with it. I’m not a big proponent of league wide number retirements. Jackie Robinson’s is well deserved. First Latin American hall of famer doesn’t have the same importance as first African-American major leaguer. Not only that, baseball has already honored Clemente by waiving the 5 year wait for hall of fame induction and they have the Roberto Clemente award named after him for humanitarian effort. (wiki facts, aren’t they great)
oh, and the NHL is ridiculous for retiring Gretzky’s number league-wide.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:12 amI didn’t read the story but I don’t think that they should retire Clemente’s number. Jackie Robinson was truly a pioneer that changed American sports and society. I don’t think you can say the same about Clemente.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:12 amInteresting article by Neyer on the advantage in the division series of having three aces. He lists 10 teams since the division series started with three aces; the Braves have four–1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. They swept all of those division series although they only won one world series. But it really is amazing (and a bit depressing now) to comtemplate the Braves pitching in the 90s.
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=3618281
October 6th, 2008 at 8:20 amI agree with Dix. The Clemente award is an enduring and fitting tribute to an undoubtedly good man. It ensures that new baseball fans will continue to be curious about, and learn about, the legacy of its namesake. Retiring his number would be a redundant gesture, and a lesser one at that.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:25 amububba,
My wife and I were visiting 4 of our closest friends from college (2 married couples), all of whom recently moved to the city. We stayed in one of the couple’s apartments on Madison, between 96th and 97th.
This was my first time in NYC, so we spent a lot of time doing tourist things. Ate a great burger at Corner Bisto and some really good Peruvian food at a place called Pio Pio. Watched the game Saturday with that group and several other people we knew from school at the apartment we were staying in, then went out to celebrate at Southern Hospitality, the pretty lame bar (owned by Memphis’ very own Justin Timberlake, apparently) where the NYC Vanderbilt Alumni Club had gathered for the game.
Anyway, the next time we’re in town won’t be the first, so I hope to have a chance to get away and grab a beer with one of my favorite online personalities, if you’re up for it. And now that several of our best friends live there, I don’t think it will be too far off in the future.
Where do you live now? I remember that you recently moved.
Robert,
I think you’re right about what would have happened had Nickson stayed in the game. Of course, he was hurt and had tingling nerves all the way down to his hand. To his credit, he took himself out of the game.
Adams played very well obviously, although there were a couple of his patented no!-no!-no!-yes!!! throws (most notably, the second TD pass).
October 6th, 2008 at 8:51 amThe second TD pass was beautiful. Good vision.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:07 amYeah, it was perfect. But if it had been even a little off…
October 6th, 2008 at 9:58 amStu,
Sure, anytime & I’m guessing I can take you to a nightspot that you might find more pleasing. Plus, we have a ton of great music places.
Yep, finally made my move this past July 4 weekend to Long Island City in Queens, across the street from the 59th Street Bridge. (I always have a certain Simon & Garfunkel song in my head.)
I miss the beach & the air out on Long Island Sound (Billy Joel Land has some advantages), but I can’t beat the access to the city here.
Glad your maiden voyage was accentuated with a big Vandy win, and how nice that it was actually on national TV.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:41 amHow did Kodi Burns look so good running this offense in the Peach Bowl?
Less time for Tuberville to tweak it?
I respect TT, but you’ve got to be all in with this offense or you look like, well, Auburn …
October 6th, 2008 at 12:45 pmShorten the baseball season and make the first round of the playoffs best 4 of 7.
This would add integrity to both playoffs and regular season.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:48 pm#67
ummmm, for those of you who don’t think that Clemente deserves his # retired, think about this:
in an age (the 1970’s) when pretty much 50% of Major League Players were on some sort of illegal substance (i don’t have stats…but COME ON…), he was the shining example of how a player was to act. professional and gave MUCH back to his country and community. he died air-lifting aid to people in his country.
now, tell me…how many players today would remotely consider that? if anything, he should have his # retired for being a humanitarian.
now, some people would argue that his value as the first Latino Hall of Famer does not deserve the same accolades at the first African American player. However, seeing that Baseball is one of the only avenues for Latinos in certain countries to break free of the chains of poverty, he was the first, and I would argue the best, player ever from a Latino Background. Some will say otherwise and might point to facts that I know nothing about; however, Clemente was and is the Latino Babe Ruth.
if MLB wants to show some love for its Latino fan-base, it will retire the # (just like it did with its African-American fan-base with Robinson’s # being retired).
He also deserves his # to be retired simply because he had the best arm ever for a RF. I saw clips of him throwing a guy out at home from the warning track and it didn’t get over 6 feet off the ground and it was a laser. People would not run on him, hence he not having the record for Outfield Assists.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:49 pmSo, why not retire Hank Aaron’s number everywhere? Or Sandy Koufax’s, to honor Jewish players? Or Babe Ruth’s — nobody ever meant more than Ruth. Where does it end?
October 6th, 2008 at 12:50 pmThen why retire Robinson’s?
Problem is, it had nothing to do with talent (That would be Josh Gibson) but had to do with Image.
If we’re taking that line of thinking, then nobody has a better image than Clemente.
the assertion about Koufax means that there has been some systematic segregation of Jewish players (there never was…many Jewish kids played Basketball, due to their Urban up-bringing…or couldn’t play sports at all due to games being on the Sabbath and High Holidays) is a bit far-fetched.
However, Clemente and Latinos, along with African Americans, were not allowed to play.
Race relations between African-Americans and Latinos is very contentious…and to say that one has their “Babe Ruth” retired but not the other could get very sticky for the MLB.
I, for one, would want Ruth’s number retired.
As for Aaron, he was and is an ambassador for the game, but I don’t think he has meant as much to as many people as Ruth, Clemente, or Robinson has.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:52 pmThis could get ugly.
I’m just glad chris seems to have transitioned to using capitalization where appropriate somewhere in the middle of 78.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pmSo, why not retire Hank Aaron’s number everywhere? Or Sandy Koufax’s, to honor Jewish players? Or Babe Ruth’s — nobody ever meant more than Ruth. Where does it end?
Don’t give Bud any ideas.
I don’t really care if they retire Clemente’s number, he’s obviously worthy of any accolade you want to give him. It’s not like we are going to run out of numbers.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:58 pmha
seeing that these are internet posts, capitalization is a bit asinine.
i could point out that pointing out about capitalization is just another internet ploy to discredit a post without reading or bothering to address issues simply because your argument is unable to do just that, but that would be childish.
hugggggs to stu
October 6th, 2008 at 12:58 pmThe arm thing, of course, is just nonsense. Why not retire Ozzie Smith’s number everywhere? Being the best defensive shortstop ever is a hundred times more relevant than having the best throwing arm in right field.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:59 pm#82 – Now batting for the Kansas City Royals, #358, Jeff Francoeur!
October 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pmMac, we ALSO should retire Mendoza’s #…
just for fun
i bet it’s also Frenchy’s
October 6th, 2008 at 1:07 pmFyi – those numbers are in all caps.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:08 pmFor Francouer it would be -358. And make the number red like a negative number in Excel would be. Just to give Royals fans and idea of what they are in for.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:08 pmchris,
What argument? I can’t say that I care one way or the other about Clemente’s number or the retiring thereof.
You’ll have to direct me to a copy of the Internet User’s Style Guide subsection on capitalization.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pmRemarkably close on that Arkansas score there, Mac. Same with Auburn/Vandy. Actually, you basically nailed both of those.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pmI don’t want this to get nasty. However, I think Jackie Robinson is a special case; his number wasn’t retired, obviously, because of his baseball talent, which was considerable, but because of his pioneering role in breaking down racial barriers in America. I’m not by any means denigrating what Clemente and other Latin ball players went through, but it was Robinson that paved the way for him. He would deserve to have his number retired even if he had been a mediocre player just because of his impact on the United States of America. In other words, it’s a one-shot thing–it’s not a matter of honoring particular groups but of recognizing what Robinson meant to the country and the world in general. I understand how Latinos feel about Clemente but he would not have been playing in the majors if not for Robinson.
I’m not going to argue that Koufax’ number should be retired but if you are going that way, think about Hank Greenberg, who played during an era of rampant anti-semitism paralleling the rise of Hitler. He wasn’t the first Jewish player but he was probably the first that was openly Jewish (many changed their names). He had to put up with a lot of crap, with pitchers throwing at him because he was Jewish and so forth. But no, I don’t think his number should be retired either.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:22 pmUm, I know I may be stepping into something here, but I really disagree with the idea of retiring Clemente’s number everywhere. He’s a wonderful ballplayer, and stands for wonderful things, and that’s why he should — and does — have his number retired by the Pirates.
Jackie Robinson was a wonderful ballplayer and stands for wonderful things, and that’s why his number was retired by the Dodgers long before it was retired by MLB.
However, he also was the first player to break baseball’s half-century old color line, the first American professional sport — and arguably the first public sphere — to integrate. After Jackie, every other sport, every public school, and the United States military all eventually followed suit. That’s why his number deserves to be retired everywhere.
There’s really no other single player in major league history or future who could have a similar impact both on the sport and on the country.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:50 pmJorge’s completely unbiased SEC quarterback rankings:
1) Stafford
Nick Stephens
October 6th, 2008 at 2:03 pm2) Tebow
3) Jarrett Lee
4) J.P. Wilson
5) Smelley
6) Mike Hartline
7) Mackenzie Adams
9) Tyson Lee
10) Chris Nickson
11) Casey Dick
12) Kodi Burns
13) Chris Todd
14) Jevan Snead
Loving that Crompton isn’t even on the list.
One thing that list brings home for me: This is a terrible year for QBs in this conference.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:08 pmI think its a down year for the conference as a whole. One team deserves to be in the top ten and maybe four in the top 25. I don’t see an SEC team finishing with less than 2 losses.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:22 pmRobinson paved the way for Clemente. That alone is enough for Clemente not to deserve his number retired.
Having your number retired league wide should not really have anything to do with talent or ability. That’s why the Gretzky thing annoys me so much, he didn’t do anything besides be the best player/scorer in a time when scoring was up. Let other players honor him by wearing his number.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:37 pmIs there anyway that Auburn losses to Arkansas?
October 6th, 2008 at 2:39 pmAgain, baseball’s annual humanitarian award is named for Clemente. As Ron Burgundy might say, that’s kind of a big deal. In what way, chris, do you find this to be an insufficient tribute to the man?
ETA: In fact, in naming the award for him, you could make the claim that Clemente is already the second-most recognized player in terms of his contributions to the game outside the lines.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:42 pmChris,
Should Pat Tillman have his number retired by the entire NFL? Why, or why not?
October 6th, 2008 at 2:59 pmAlthough I’m with Marc S in his sentiments— and well put, I must say—I’m still a little ambivalent about retiring Clemente’s 21 for all-time.
Overall, it’s probably hard to justify, but it wouldn’t make me nuts either.
Also, I’d recommend the recent PBS special on Clemente. It seems to be running a lot these days.
October 6th, 2008 at 3:10 pmWell if Clemente’s number is retired, we wouldn’t have to put another retired number ‘plaque’ up at Turner Field, now would we
October 6th, 2008 at 3:23 pmWould you guys do KJ and Hanson (and some organizational filler) for Peavy?
October 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pmThat’s tough, Parish. But I think I would.
October 6th, 2008 at 3:39 pm#80 – When were Latinos not allowed to play? Cuban Adolfo Luque pitched 1914-1935, including going 28-7 in 1923 for the Reds. There were other Cuban players in the majors before Robinson too.
#91 – There were openly Jewish players before Greenberg, including a Moses Solomon who was nicknamed “The Rabbi of Swat” but only played briefly. In his chapter in “The Glory of their Times” (a great read, btw) Greenberg talked about the insults he encountered but said that Poles & others heard similar things, said he only realized many years after retiring how important an example he had been to Jewish kids, but said the only time prejudice really affected him was when he was thinking about buying the White Sox in 1961 and realized he couldn’t count on the other owners for any support if he ran into trouble. He also said Robinson had it way worse than he did.
October 6th, 2008 at 3:46 pm#102, how about a counteroffer of Prado & Hanson?
October 6th, 2008 at 4:05 pmI wonder if we threw Gorkys or Flowers in there if it would be enough to make Prado and Hanson acceptable.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:08 pmthis is suprising and disturbing…
Reyes has the physical tools to be successful at the Major League level. Tom Glavine and John Smoltz liked him enough that they monitored many of his bullpen sessions until he decided that the Hall of Fame knowledge they were providing was handicapping his mental process during games.
Late in the season, Reyes revealed that around the All-Star break, he told Glavine and Smoltz that he didn’t want their assistance anymore. That was only slightly less disturbing than the fact that he admitted he came to his first Major League Spring Training this year unprepared to consistently locate his pitches.
is he really that stupid? when does a 25 yr old say thanks, but no thanks to Glav and Smoltz??
October 6th, 2008 at 4:57 pmI’ve just taken a screenshot: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3629362
October 6th, 2008 at 4:57 pmGabe Gross with a HR saving catch for the Rays. He and Jason Campbell continue to show that not all Auburn quarterbacks are totally useless, just the current ones.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:01 pmAnd Brandon Cox is always punctual when delivering my pizza.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pmThanks to his Auburn education, Brandon will move up to assistant manager in a year.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:05 pm#107
Yeah, I read that this morning. There’s something to be said for trusting in your pitching coach’s advice without outside distractions, I guess. If they were getting in his head during games that he was pitching, then I can see asking them not to.
However…
Pre All-Star ERA: 4.40
Post All-Star ERA: 8.92
Maybe he ought to listen.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:09 pmNot unless his arm strength has improved to the point where he’s at least competent to toss the dough.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:10 pm4-0 Rays, nobody out in the fourth, Guillen going to his bullpen.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:13 pmWho is more hateable, Tony La Russa or Ozzie Guillen?
October 6th, 2008 at 5:42 pmAmazon.com: A Tiger Walk through History: The Complete Story of Auburn Football from 1892 to the Tuberville Era (Pebble Hill Book): Paul Hemphill: Books
I don’t know what’s a better source of jokes on this book:
1. Published by University of Alabama Press, or
2. “Foreword by Vince Dooley”.
It might be a tie.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:53 pm115- Definitely LaRussa.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:56 pmYay, Rays!
October 6th, 2008 at 7:20 pmGlad to be wrong, Rays move on.
When did Grant Balfour become Mariano Rivera? I must have missed a memo.
A Kotsay sighting in Boston tonight.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:24 pmNot nearly as bizarre as the White Sox starting DeWayne Wise in left field for an elimination game.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:26 pmThats a Zombie Cox move.
nice screenshot Stu, wonder how many times the words “Vandy is number 1″ have been written about their football team.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:40 pmI think I’d rank the starting SEC QBs:
1. Tebow
October 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm2. Stafford
3. Wilson
4. Nickson
5. Smelley
6. Hartline
7. Snead
8. J. Lee
9. Dick
10. Todd
11. Stephens
12. T. Lee
10.
Dix – I think Cox has made that exact move.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pmGod I loved this:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3626535&sportCat=mlb
October 6th, 2008 at 9:39 pmenough with the QBs, lets rank the fullbacks. I’m not so knowledgeable about the SEC rosters so I’ll start and someone else can finish. Here goes:
1. Tim Tebow
October 6th, 2008 at 10:59 pmMac,
October 6th, 2008 at 11:17 pmActually Dooley graduated from Auburn and coached under Shug Jordan, so there’s a connection there.
Chill, Mac’s aware of the Dooley-Auburn connection, but at this point, Dooley is far more famous for being our great coach for a lot of years at Georgia, and then our A.D.
It does look like Auburn needs help with that whole “reading & writing” thing…just sayin.
I am back after another long absence because I had hoped I’d be seeing this column when I first heard the Padres were open to dealing lifelong Braves fan, Jake Peavy:
http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/braves/entries/2008/10/06/alabama_son_pea.html
October 7th, 2008 at 8:17 amAlex R.,
October 7th, 2008 at 8:48 amThank you for bringing such a beacon of hope this morning. And how ’bout them Dawgs?
Would someone help me understand why the Pads would want to trade Peavy? Would it just be to scrap the current team and reload with prospects and young players and Peavy is their only asset that could bring in the kind of haul that would be worth it?
Having a guy like Peavy locked up and affordable seems like the kind of thing you build around, not the kind of thing you jettison so that you can build.
October 7th, 2008 at 9:41 amLook at what the A’s got for Dan Haren.
October 7th, 2008 at 9:58 amYeah, they have a horrible upper farm system at present, and it seems no shot at contending in the next couple of years.
Add in the payroll considerations, and there’s not much point paying an ace $11-15 million when it won’t make a difference. Better to use him to rebuild for when you plan to be competitive again.
Are we pretty much agreed that any deal will start with Tommy Hanson?
Do you think if we just offered them the Richmond/Gwinnett roster they’d be okay with that?
October 7th, 2008 at 9:58 amOn the other hand, look at what they got for Tim Hudson!
October 7th, 2008 at 10:00 amLast year I proposed trading the Low A roster for Peavy. Stu was on board.
I can’t imagine that they want to get rid of him. It’d take a haul like what Oakland got for Haren, at least.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:49 amThere was an article in the Wall Street Journal this past weekend (don’t remember which day.. friend dropped off the article for me) about how many teams will now build offenses like the Angels because of the copycat syndrome.
Seemed silly to me at the time, since the Angels’ success came from their pitching, not from their over aggressive lack of power hitters. Everybody tries to get good pitching.
And now the players are ticked that Scioscia small balled themselves out of the playoffs.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:57 amCould you imagine the outrage on here if Bobby Cox pulled that move last night? I understand the thinking, but you cant get caught in that position. You have to let your hitters try and put the ball in the air there.
How about Tex robbing Kotsay yesterday in the 9th? Awesome play there
October 7th, 2008 at 11:10 amPeavy might be damaged goods. That’s why the Padres may trade him.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:14 amyeah, the missed time with the elbow injuries this year could be a cause for alarm
October 7th, 2008 at 11:16 amCould you imagine the outrage on here if Bobby Cox pulled that move last night? I understand the thinking, but you cant get caught in that position. You have to let your hitters try and put the ball in the air there.
It might have made me turn on Bobby for good. Having watched so many Angel games over the years, I knew it was coming. I told my wife it was coming as soon as Francona called for Delcarmen (you’ll have to take my word for it). Boston went to their strike out pitcher and I knew Scioscia wouldn’t be able to help himself. And since Delcarmen threw every pitch basically right at Aybar, it’s pretty clear they knew it was coming too.
Tough to bounce back from. Scioscia essentially told Aybar “Even though you had the game winning hit last night, this is how much I think you suck: You can’t be trusted to get this guy out of the infield.”
October 7th, 2008 at 11:22 amI didn’t think it was such a bad move. The Angels had struggled with RISP the entire series; there was no guarantee the guy would get the runner in. He had a perfect pitch to bunt and just missed it. If it had worked, Sciosia would have been a genius. I can’t remember who was up but it wasn’t Teixera or Guerrero. But I agree that there is no reason to copy the Angels offense; it struggled all year and was just set up to fail in the playoffs. And they got Teixera specifically to make a difference in October and, although he played well, he didn’t show any power. Of course, it’s not clear whether giving up Kotchman and Marek really hurts the Angels that much even if they don’t resign Tex.
Trading for a pitcher is always risky because there is always the chance of injury. I think the Braves should go for it but don’t give away the farm.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:28 amRobert,
I don’t really see it that way. Just because Aybar delivered in one situation doesn’t mean that he would this time. When you are talking about essentially average players, you have to look at the particular situation. Last I checked, Aybar isn’t Manny Ramirez. It looked to me like the pitch was perfect and he just missed it.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:31 amI don’t think Peavy’s damaged goods and I agree that the Padres are being silly trading him.
Fine if you are a bad team that wants to cut payroll, but finding a #1 starter is so completely impossible these days, that you don’t trade them when they are 27 and in their prime. And Peavy acnhors your staff.
The Braves would be asinine not to throw the kitchen sink to get this lifelong Braves fan to plug the gigantic holes currently being left by likely no Smoltz and no Hudson.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:36 amJust because Aybar delivered in one situation doesn’t mean that he would this time.
That’s certainly true but a squeeze is so low percentage, it’s dumb with all but the most hopeless hitter. Aybar can hit a little and he was up on the count 2-0. That’s already a good situation, the manager just needs to stay out of the way.
Sciosia would have been a genius.
Yeah, he was obviously going for genius points here. His team would have been much better served if he had not tried to show everyone how smart he was.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:37 amNew open thread is up.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am@141
Peavy’s a great pitcher and rare, true ace. But there is a limit on how much he should fetch. Would the Braves be asinine to turn down Peavy for Heyward, Hanson, Freeman and Schafer? No one player is worth the whole farm.
Having said that, I’d probably do Peavy for something like Hanson, Flowers, and one of Schafer/Hernandez. Preferably, Hernandez.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:55 am