Bob Feller died this past week. He was 92 and died after a full life. He was an American hero.
This man had a strong opinion on Hell of Fame induction for people like Pete Rose and steroid users. He earned it. Was he old fashioned. Yes. You cannot convince me that is a bad thing.
Take a look at Bob Feller's statistics and they tell you all you need to know about how great he was on the field. You can read a story about how he was clocked at 104 mph using the methods of the day. With motorcycles.
The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked Bob Feller signed up to join the Navy. He did not see if he had to. He did not have his agent look into it. To be fair many other players joined as well.
Ted Williams and Bob Feller however might well be the best examples of superstar athletes who did their country most proud not on the field of play but the field of battle.
Bob Feller set an example in so many ways. We live in a different world now, athletes would not be expected to join which is why it so caught us short when Pat Tillman joined the military and later died. Tillman while a good athlete was not in the class of these two men bu that should not diminish his choice.
Bob Feller American Hero. God Bless and rest in peace
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sox Bullpen Reconstruction
The Red Sox bullpen continues to be reconstructed. Jon Papelbon had a bad year last year, has really slid noticeably since blowing a lead in the playoffs in 2009. In addition to his struggle his contract status has become a liability for him. The Sox, it would seem, have no plans to sign him to the kind of money he will be looking for. His final year of arbitration this year will make him 10 million at least.
Lenny DiNardo, Andrew Miller join Felix Doubrant as potential lefties out of the pen. If Miller can show any of the potential he once had he could be a find. Matt Albers, Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler join Papelbon and Daniel Bard as the right handers and surely Theo is not done.
It should be interesting.
Lenny DiNardo, Andrew Miller join Felix Doubrant as potential lefties out of the pen. If Miller can show any of the potential he once had he could be a find. Matt Albers, Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler join Papelbon and Daniel Bard as the right handers and surely Theo is not done.
It should be interesting.
Patriots Look Like a Super Bowl Team
Right now the Patriots look like a Superbowl team. They have in the last few weeks dismantled the Bears, Jets, Steelers and Colts and made it look easy. Tom Brady, he of the Bieber hair is now the best quarterback in the NFL. He elevates receivers of average ability. He is a career maker.
If the Patriots continue and get home field it is hard to picture them not getting to the Super Bowl.
If the Patriots continue and get home field it is hard to picture them not getting to the Super Bowl.
Heat Wave
The Miami Heat have now won 11 in a row and seem to have gelled since their players only meeting a few weeks ago. No doubt this team has loads of talent although the distribution of that talent may prove to be a problem in the playoffs. We shall see. One thing is for certain the playoffs in the East should be wonderful this year. The Celtics, Magic and Heat may be jockeying all season and whomever finishes first will have advantage of only playing one of the other two in the expected matchups. Go Celtics
Donovan McNabb : The beginning of the End
What is it about Donovan McNabb. Was he overrated all those years. Was he ever as good as people thought he was. Perhaps that is why his fall from grace has been so shocking. Or not shocking depending on how you look at it.
I myself never pictured him as an elite quarterback. Ever. All the way back to Rush Limbaugh on ESPN saying that as a black quarterback he was over elevated above his talent level their has been a lingering doubt about him.
When the Eagles traded him for a draft pick to make Kevin Kolb the starter ( see NFL quarterback job security for how that worked out) most wondered what Andy Reid knew that was not apparent to others.
McNabb's year with the Redskins has been a flop. The Skins have not won, he has not performed. Clearly he has not made a good team with Mike Shanahan. Weeks ago he was benched on a Monday night game as the Coach said he felt he was not in shape enough to lead a two minute drill. What does that mean? Then talk surfaced from teammates new and old that Donovan did not work hard in practice, never had and everyone new that and perhaps this was Shanahan's making a point about that.
If the point was to be made it did not stick. Earlier in the year the Skins gave McNabb a huge contract extension which at the time I told my son seemed strange considering how he did not seem to be playing well.
It is clear that this too was thought to be a prod to make him step up his game. We find out now that their is a clause in the contract allowing him to be cut at season's end with no further money owed.
This week we are told that Rex Grossman will start with McNabb as his backuo and for the last two weeks of the season he will be the third string quarterback.
Clearly the experiment is over. McNabb will latch on somewhere desperate for a quarterback. Arizona comes to mind. But his days as an elite performer are done and perhaps should have been done long ago.
I myself never pictured him as an elite quarterback. Ever. All the way back to Rush Limbaugh on ESPN saying that as a black quarterback he was over elevated above his talent level their has been a lingering doubt about him.
When the Eagles traded him for a draft pick to make Kevin Kolb the starter ( see NFL quarterback job security for how that worked out) most wondered what Andy Reid knew that was not apparent to others.
McNabb's year with the Redskins has been a flop. The Skins have not won, he has not performed. Clearly he has not made a good team with Mike Shanahan. Weeks ago he was benched on a Monday night game as the Coach said he felt he was not in shape enough to lead a two minute drill. What does that mean? Then talk surfaced from teammates new and old that Donovan did not work hard in practice, never had and everyone new that and perhaps this was Shanahan's making a point about that.
If the point was to be made it did not stick. Earlier in the year the Skins gave McNabb a huge contract extension which at the time I told my son seemed strange considering how he did not seem to be playing well.
It is clear that this too was thought to be a prod to make him step up his game. We find out now that their is a clause in the contract allowing him to be cut at season's end with no further money owed.
This week we are told that Rex Grossman will start with McNabb as his backuo and for the last two weeks of the season he will be the third string quarterback.
Clearly the experiment is over. McNabb will latch on somewhere desperate for a quarterback. Arizona comes to mind. But his days as an elite performer are done and perhaps should have been done long ago.
Cliff Lee to the Yankees......NOT
So Cliff Lee spurned the Yankees and went to the Phillies. Wow. That is quite a starting rotation for the Phillies. Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and now Cliff Lee. Clearly this team has to be the favorite for the National League Pennant if not the World Series.
Often times however teams that look this good in December have things happen in the season that no one expects.
As for the Yankees, clearly they expected to get Lee. Everyone expected them to get Lee. However the 7 years they offered him. I am in sure in the next year or two the Yanks will wish they had Lee. I am also sure that 5 to 6 years from now they will be glad they do not have him. A 7 year deal for a 32 year old pitcher who does not throw that hard. I think not. Sometimes as Garth Brooks said you have to thank God for Unanswered Prayers and I am pretty sure that in a few years the Yankees will be very thankful indeed.
Often times however teams that look this good in December have things happen in the season that no one expects.
As for the Yankees, clearly they expected to get Lee. Everyone expected them to get Lee. However the 7 years they offered him. I am in sure in the next year or two the Yanks will wish they had Lee. I am also sure that 5 to 6 years from now they will be glad they do not have him. A 7 year deal for a 32 year old pitcher who does not throw that hard. I think not. Sometimes as Garth Brooks said you have to thank God for Unanswered Prayers and I am pretty sure that in a few years the Yankees will be very thankful indeed.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Carl Crawford in Boston
A late surprise at the Winter Meetings last night when it was announced Carl Crawford now was coming to Boston. Strike all those references to him being a thug. He is just intense.
Crawford is a great player. His power has grown, his average is strong, a gold glove fielder with great speed. One wonders if the Red Sox will fully use his speed with his projected spot in the order but the speed will be there when it is needed.
It should be a very exciting season.
Crawford is a great player. His power has grown, his average is strong, a gold glove fielder with great speed. One wonders if the Red Sox will fully use his speed with his projected spot in the order but the speed will be there when it is needed.
It should be a very exciting season.
Shaq in Boston
I still cannot get used to seeing Shaq every night for the Celtics. He is still in short bursts a force to be reckoned with. My son and I marvel at him, he is so big, when guards run into him they bounce.
One wonders how long he can go this season without injury and how much help he can be in the playoffs. One would think when Kendrick Perkins returns and they have their full complement of big men that he can be a force in short bursts in the playoffs.
One wonders how long he can go this season without injury and how much help he can be in the playoffs. One would think when Kendrick Perkins returns and they have their full complement of big men that he can be a force in short bursts in the playoffs.
Adrian Gonzales
The Red Sox finally completed a trade for Adrian Gonzales. In a deal that has been foretold for more than a year the Red Sox sent three top prospects to Boston for the slugging first basemen.
It seems a perfect fit. A left handed power hitter that goes to the opposite field with power Fenway should be made for him. Now in a lineup where he cannot be pitched around easily one wonders what kind of numbers he will put up in Boston. The Red Sox have not announced an extension of his contract but we must assume it is a deal that is foregone, the Sox would not move three prospects for a one year rental.
Gonzales will be the cornerstone of this franchise for years to come.
Play Ball
It seems a perfect fit. A left handed power hitter that goes to the opposite field with power Fenway should be made for him. Now in a lineup where he cannot be pitched around easily one wonders what kind of numbers he will put up in Boston. The Red Sox have not announced an extension of his contract but we must assume it is a deal that is foregone, the Sox would not move three prospects for a one year rental.
Gonzales will be the cornerstone of this franchise for years to come.
Play Ball
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