Roger Clemens made his return to the bigs against the Twins on Thursday, but the story of the game was the other starting pitcher. Twins' 22-year-old phenom hurler Francisco Liriano scattered four hits over eight innings and improved to 7-1 on the year with an ERA that's plummeting towards 2.50. Liriano dazzles you with his change of speeds and put-away slider: he's got a killer instinct that few veterans possess. Now, with his emergence alongside Johan Santana at the top of the rotation, Minnesota has itself a couple of key building blocks firmly cemented in the pitching core for years to come. If Boof Bonser can stabilize on the right side of the hill, Minnesota's young pitching could get scary good in a hurry.
The Twins' young offense is showing some real consistent pop for the first time as well. Catcher Joe Mauer has clearly turned the corner with an average over .380 . . . The timing and patience at the plate really starting to sink in for the former #1 overrall pick: he's been hitting at nearly a .500 clip for a month now . . . That's .500, folks, and this isn't city league softball! Also impressive, Justin Morneau's power is on to the tune of 19 HRs with an improving .270 average to boot. Could he be the first Twin to hit 30 HRs in a season since Kent Hrbek in 1987? I think so. Throw in the emerging Jason Kubel's bat and Torii Hunter's expected second half surge and all of a sudden the Twins' offense doesn't look so bad anymore.
So what does it all mean in Minnesota? Depends on whether you're a glass half empty or glass half full kinda person. Me, I usually try to be the latter. Sure, the Twins are still 11.5 games behind the Tigers for the AL Central lead and 11 games in back of the Chisox for the wild card . . . But on the flip, at least they're two over .500 for the first time all year. And look, it could be way worse: they could be the Indians!
The Twins probably won't make the playoffs this year, but with just one more piece or two, they could be playing October ball again in a year. With a new stadium now in the cards for 2010, Minnesota's major league baseball future looks pretty bright on and off the field for the first time in a long while.
-JAB
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
It's the World's Game, Just Not Ours
I remember playing soccer growing up as a kid and enjoying it immensely. It wasn't just me: lots of my friends in New Jersey were in leagues or on traveling teams when we were young. We played because we were encouraged to do so for a while and, more importantly, because it was fun. Yet somewhere along the way, for most of us, soccer became uncool. Gradually, football, basketball and baseball took up more of our time and focus because they were the "real" American sports, or so were told . . . They were the true tests of athletic prowess. I believe it is this athletic discrimination syndrome, if you will, that has continually kept our nation from competing at a high level with the other top soccer powers on the international stage of the World Cup.
Think about it: the United States of America has a diverse population of over 300 million people, way more than the combined populations of countries like England, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Argentina, yet it is those nations who regularly dominate us in the sport of soccer, er, football (whatever). We lost to the Czech Republic, 3-0, for crying out loud! I realize our country handled itself well in the 2002 World Cup, getting all the way to the quarterfinal round, but everybody gets a little bit lucky once in a while. Don't think that was anything more than a fluke. We'll be out of this World Cup by the end of the opening round next week.
To me, it's not all that embarrassing though. Most of us in this country are brought up viewing soccer as nothing more than a kids' game, a fun social get together for the soccer moms and dads. When we get old enough and our physicalities start to develop, we're steered towards the other sports. And so our nation's greatest athletes become hoopsters and hurlers, receivers and runners, instead of strikers and goalkeepers . . . There are execeptions to this, of course, but unlike in most of the rest of the world, where all the good athletes play soccer, the bulk of our best do not. This trend being clearly reflected in the whoopings our national team has routinely taken on soccer's biggest of stages over the years.
Will it ever change? Probably not. As long as football, baseball, basketball and golf continue to dominate the collective American sports conciousness, soccer will keep on laying in the bin on the side with the rest of the not-so-much games, like hockey and tennis and swimming and skiing. We just have too many options here in the States, which isn't a bad thing really, except when it comes to fielding a killer national soccer club. So don't take it personally when we get ripped by Italy this weekend and Ghana next week. Soccer just isn't in our blood.
-------------------------------
Final Four World Cup Soccer Picks:
Brazil, England, Italy and Argentina
-------------------------------
-JAB
Think about it: the United States of America has a diverse population of over 300 million people, way more than the combined populations of countries like England, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Argentina, yet it is those nations who regularly dominate us in the sport of soccer, er, football (whatever). We lost to the Czech Republic, 3-0, for crying out loud! I realize our country handled itself well in the 2002 World Cup, getting all the way to the quarterfinal round, but everybody gets a little bit lucky once in a while. Don't think that was anything more than a fluke. We'll be out of this World Cup by the end of the opening round next week.
To me, it's not all that embarrassing though. Most of us in this country are brought up viewing soccer as nothing more than a kids' game, a fun social get together for the soccer moms and dads. When we get old enough and our physicalities start to develop, we're steered towards the other sports. And so our nation's greatest athletes become hoopsters and hurlers, receivers and runners, instead of strikers and goalkeepers . . . There are execeptions to this, of course, but unlike in most of the rest of the world, where all the good athletes play soccer, the bulk of our best do not. This trend being clearly reflected in the whoopings our national team has routinely taken on soccer's biggest of stages over the years.
Will it ever change? Probably not. As long as football, baseball, basketball and golf continue to dominate the collective American sports conciousness, soccer will keep on laying in the bin on the side with the rest of the not-so-much games, like hockey and tennis and swimming and skiing. We just have too many options here in the States, which isn't a bad thing really, except when it comes to fielding a killer national soccer club. So don't take it personally when we get ripped by Italy this weekend and Ghana next week. Soccer just isn't in our blood.
-------------------------------
Final Four World Cup Soccer Picks:
Brazil, England, Italy and Argentina
-------------------------------
-JAB
Monday, June 12, 2006
Bad News for Big Ben
Terrible news today out of Pittsburgh . . . Steelers' franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger was involved in a motorcycle accident in downtown Pittsburgh that left him in serious but stable condition. First reports indicated that Roethlisberger had suffered extensive facial and jaw damage with injuries to his knees as well. It's way too early to say whether or not the accident will cost Big Ben any playing time in the fall, but based on previous athlete-with-motorcycle accidents, you'd have to think it's going to be a lengthy road back to 100% health.
Apparently Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet, and while that's just plain stupid, it's far from the first time we've seen a big bucks professional athlete make such a decision. Just look at NBAer Jay Williams and NFLer Kellen Winslow, Jr., in recent years. These guys could not resist the temptation of the motorcycle, whether it was the open road, the daredevil nature or just the plain old thrill of it. Williams saw his bright hoops career ruined, while Winslow still has yet to make his presence felt at the pro level. Roethlisberger's case is a little different: here's a guy who'd already become the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, a guy who was amongst the short listers for the league's clean cut image award, a guy from a small college who was really difficult not to root for, even if he was a Pittsburgh Steeler.
And for all that, what difference did it make? Big Ben loved riding his motorcycle, said he was "safe" as could be in doing so, and ignored warnings from head coach Bill Cowher and a host of others about the dangers of riding without wearing a helmet. I guess it just didn't register with him like it should have. Once again we are struck with the picture of an athlete believing the hype, believing himself to be above the laws of chance and suffering terrible consequences.
Not a fun day for anyone. Especially Ben Roethlisberger.
-JAB
Apparently Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet, and while that's just plain stupid, it's far from the first time we've seen a big bucks professional athlete make such a decision. Just look at NBAer Jay Williams and NFLer Kellen Winslow, Jr., in recent years. These guys could not resist the temptation of the motorcycle, whether it was the open road, the daredevil nature or just the plain old thrill of it. Williams saw his bright hoops career ruined, while Winslow still has yet to make his presence felt at the pro level. Roethlisberger's case is a little different: here's a guy who'd already become the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, a guy who was amongst the short listers for the league's clean cut image award, a guy from a small college who was really difficult not to root for, even if he was a Pittsburgh Steeler.
And for all that, what difference did it make? Big Ben loved riding his motorcycle, said he was "safe" as could be in doing so, and ignored warnings from head coach Bill Cowher and a host of others about the dangers of riding without wearing a helmet. I guess it just didn't register with him like it should have. Once again we are struck with the picture of an athlete believing the hype, believing himself to be above the laws of chance and suffering terrible consequences.
Not a fun day for anyone. Especially Ben Roethlisberger.
-JAB
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
NBA Finals Should See Points A-Plenty
Miami and Dallas will both be making their first-ever appearances in the NBA Finals this year. Two clubs with offensive mentalities get together for what should be a nice change of pace from a year ago in the final series of the season. No, this isn't Detroit and San Antonio playing defensive-oriented ball; this year's championship set should be an up and down the floor frenzy with the last team standing being the one with the most bullets in the proverbial gun.
This year's Mavericks have a lot of weapons and have consistently displayed a new found grit in their run to the final round. Dirk Nowitzki has emerged as a superstar on both ends of the floor for the first time. He actually seems to enjoy playing defense now. Josh Howard is showing that he's not just a quality NBA player, but likely a soon-to-be All-Star as well. And guard Devin Harris is finally playing like the #5 pick from last year's draft. His emergence in the backcourt alongside Jason Terry is a huge reason why the Mavericks were able to overcome the strong guard play of both the Spurs and Suns. Still, the key to it all coming together, this year's real life Lone Star version of the super glue has to be Avery Johnson. The animated sideline stalker has proven to be a tremendous influence for his team.
And yet it's the Heat, I believe, who will emerge from this final showdown victorious. Veterans Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning have given Shaq's crew a depth and poise that wasn't there in recent years. Pat Riley's intensity and focus on the bench has certainly added to that poise as well. But the fact remains that Miami is still indeed Shaquille O'Neal's team. Big Daddy looks healthy and eager to add a fourth ring to his collection. His play has been increasingly strong as the playoffs have gone on . . . you're going to tell me that Erick Dampier and Desagana Diop are going to contain him? I don't think so. They couldn't contain Boris Diaw at all in the last round. Shaq's a little bigger and badder than Diaw.
Ultimately, though, this series will be decided by the most exciting young guard on the planet. Dwyane Wade has been on a jet-propelled path to superstardom ever since leaving Marquette three years ago. Wade is so strong and crafty at getting to the basket, drawing contact and finishing, I just don't see anyone on the Mavericks who can stop him. He scores, dishes, rebounds and makes a whole bunch of key defensive plays as well. Outside of the three-point shot, he's truly as well-rounded a player as there is in the league today. It is Wade who will emerge on this biggest of NBA stages as the best of them all. Heat in six. Wade M-V-P.
-JAB
This year's Mavericks have a lot of weapons and have consistently displayed a new found grit in their run to the final round. Dirk Nowitzki has emerged as a superstar on both ends of the floor for the first time. He actually seems to enjoy playing defense now. Josh Howard is showing that he's not just a quality NBA player, but likely a soon-to-be All-Star as well. And guard Devin Harris is finally playing like the #5 pick from last year's draft. His emergence in the backcourt alongside Jason Terry is a huge reason why the Mavericks were able to overcome the strong guard play of both the Spurs and Suns. Still, the key to it all coming together, this year's real life Lone Star version of the super glue has to be Avery Johnson. The animated sideline stalker has proven to be a tremendous influence for his team.
And yet it's the Heat, I believe, who will emerge from this final showdown victorious. Veterans Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning have given Shaq's crew a depth and poise that wasn't there in recent years. Pat Riley's intensity and focus on the bench has certainly added to that poise as well. But the fact remains that Miami is still indeed Shaquille O'Neal's team. Big Daddy looks healthy and eager to add a fourth ring to his collection. His play has been increasingly strong as the playoffs have gone on . . . you're going to tell me that Erick Dampier and Desagana Diop are going to contain him? I don't think so. They couldn't contain Boris Diaw at all in the last round. Shaq's a little bigger and badder than Diaw.
Ultimately, though, this series will be decided by the most exciting young guard on the planet. Dwyane Wade has been on a jet-propelled path to superstardom ever since leaving Marquette three years ago. Wade is so strong and crafty at getting to the basket, drawing contact and finishing, I just don't see anyone on the Mavericks who can stop him. He scores, dishes, rebounds and makes a whole bunch of key defensive plays as well. Outside of the three-point shot, he's truly as well-rounded a player as there is in the league today. It is Wade who will emerge on this biggest of NBA stages as the best of them all. Heat in six. Wade M-V-P.
-JAB
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