Let's go ahead and polish off the AL. NL soon to follow...
AL West
ANGELS: Anchor Steam. A local favorite, but doesn’t have much mass appeal. A lot of beer novices don’t know much about it, or even where it is brewed/played. Supporters will stick with Anchor Steam in a bottle over other beers on tap.
ATHLETICS: Fat Tire. Started off as the underground choice of locals only, then exploded to become overrated (in this case, because of Moneyball). Overhyped for what it is—good, solid beer, but the output doesn’t match the hype.
MARINERS: Kirin. Very popular under specific circumstances, both the team and beer known to be paired with sushi. Pretty solid beer, but is largely an afterthought unless paired with sake (or Ken Griffey Jr).
RANGERS: Pete’s Wicked Ale. A forgotten beer for a team that almost always goes under the radar. Both had a brief run of success in the mid-90s, but have since fallen on hard times—the Rangers haven’t had a winning season this decade , while the Brew is usually in the clearance aisle.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Support Your Team-- Drink This Beer (AL Central)
Back with more...
WHITE SOX: Bass. A decent choice, but is almost always overlooked by similar, more popular beers/cross town rivals. Seldom picked as a first choice, but a lot of people go with this moreso because they don’t like other options- a good “contrarian” option.
TWINS: Budweiser. Sturdy, dependable. Not flashy, but you know what you’re getting. Ultimate blue collar beer: middle class beer for a middle-class team. People will mock, but tastes/plays better than you think.
TIGERS: Hefeweizen. Another “by default” type-selection, because it is usually good, but seldom great. A beer that needs fruit is like a team that needs the DH—the closest you’ll see to a “performance enhancer” (maybe that was what was on Kenny Rogers' hand in the World Series--lemon zest).
INDIANS: Duff’s. The choice of underachievers. The team is known for ineptitude better than perhaps any other franchise- the Moe Syzlak of MLB. Both have well-known pitchmen, but unlike Chief Wahoo, Duff Man is awesome. Oh, Yeah!
ROYALS: PBR. Kicked around and looked down upon, but nonetheless, a “salt-of-the-earth” type of beer. The locals support KC, and you go to any dive bar, you’ll find PBR, usually on tap.
WHITE SOX: Bass. A decent choice, but is almost always overlooked by similar, more popular beers/cross town rivals. Seldom picked as a first choice, but a lot of people go with this moreso because they don’t like other options- a good “contrarian” option.
TWINS: Budweiser. Sturdy, dependable. Not flashy, but you know what you’re getting. Ultimate blue collar beer: middle class beer for a middle-class team. People will mock, but tastes/plays better than you think.
TIGERS: Hefeweizen. Another “by default” type-selection, because it is usually good, but seldom great. A beer that needs fruit is like a team that needs the DH—the closest you’ll see to a “performance enhancer” (maybe that was what was on Kenny Rogers' hand in the World Series--lemon zest).
INDIANS: Duff’s. The choice of underachievers. The team is known for ineptitude better than perhaps any other franchise- the Moe Syzlak of MLB. Both have well-known pitchmen, but unlike Chief Wahoo, Duff Man is awesome. Oh, Yeah!
ROYALS: PBR. Kicked around and looked down upon, but nonetheless, a “salt-of-the-earth” type of beer. The locals support KC, and you go to any dive bar, you’ll find PBR, usually on tap.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Support Your Team-- Drink This Beer (AL East)
So as I alluded to in the previous post, often times certain teams remind you of certain beers. It can be the taste of the beer, the class of the beer, or just the qualities of the people that drink the beer. Regardless, let's break this down into divisions. We begin with the American League East.
RED SOX: Heineken. Certainly very popular, and very common. But how many times do you actually want to order a Heineken? Furthermore, the people that drink those beers tend to be obnoxious-- not loud, but a little too smug. But the sheer number of fans pushes the popularity to the top.
YANKEES: Guinness. Thinks they are god's gift to beer, and thumb their noses at any one else. Yanks have a monstrous payroll, and Guinness barely ever goes on sale at Ralph's. Furthermore, the first one may taste fine, but by the third Guinness, you just want it to go away...
RAYS: Michelob. Not appreciated very much, but nonetheless a quality product. Not a lot of fan fare behind it, but every once and a while you get a pitcher and wonder why you don’t drink it more often.
BLUE JAYS: Carlsberg. Good enough to be worth more consideration, but overlooked by other beers/teams from the same area. Arguably one of the best beer/teams you've never seen.
ORIOLES: Coors. The beer is seemingly doomed to failure, and won’t get ordered very often. Big name, and a lot of money behind it, but no matter how the beer gets marketed or who the team signs, it never seems to measure up.
RED SOX: Heineken. Certainly very popular, and very common. But how many times do you actually want to order a Heineken? Furthermore, the people that drink those beers tend to be obnoxious-- not loud, but a little too smug. But the sheer number of fans pushes the popularity to the top.
YANKEES: Guinness. Thinks they are god's gift to beer, and thumb their noses at any one else. Yanks have a monstrous payroll, and Guinness barely ever goes on sale at Ralph's. Furthermore, the first one may taste fine, but by the third Guinness, you just want it to go away...
RAYS: Michelob. Not appreciated very much, but nonetheless a quality product. Not a lot of fan fare behind it, but every once and a while you get a pitcher and wonder why you don’t drink it more often.
BLUE JAYS: Carlsberg. Good enough to be worth more consideration, but overlooked by other beers/teams from the same area. Arguably one of the best beer/teams you've never seen.
ORIOLES: Coors. The beer is seemingly doomed to failure, and won’t get ordered very often. Big name, and a lot of money behind it, but no matter how the beer gets marketed or who the team signs, it never seems to measure up.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Closing Time
San Jose, the line forms to the right for your commemorative T-shirts... thanks for coming out for the playoffs.
I know the attention span for hockey is about the length of a slap shot, but it is unreal how often the Sharks get bounced early. This year, they won the President's Cup (most regular season points)... and still lost in 6 games. If you're looking for a good game to watch, by the way--keep an eye on Devils/Canes game 7 Tuesday night; should be a good one.
Speaking of teams d-u-n done, the Utah Jazz can pull up a chair for the rest of the playoffs. They made a late push, but forgot how to make a lay-up in the last 3 minutes, while the Lakers had enough there to finish the job--especially with Lamar Odom coming to play.
LA isn't unbeatable in the west, but the only team that can bring them down are the Lakers themselves...
As for the East--Celts/Bulls go again Tuesday. In the words of Maximus Decimus Meridius, Are you not entertained? Certainly hope Ben Gordon is healthy, although given the Celts' health woes, I wouldn't expect much sympathy from them if he's a scratch...
Baseball- Red Sox have now won 11 straight games. But it wasn't until Monday night that they pulled even with Toronto. April may be just one month (yes, I know, firm graps of the obvious-- I used both hands) but so far its the only month (see?). You have the Jays at 14-7, KC over 500 (10-9), Seattle atop the AL West, with the Angels in the cellar, (albeit with extenuating circumstances). Hell, even the Pirates are 3 games over 500! Of course, so things are going according to form-- the Nationals are 4-14. Now that's more like it.
The Nationals are the Natty Lite of MLB-- you know they're bad, they know they're bad. But when you want to get the job done quickly and cheaply, there you have it. Matter of fact, I started to get on a role with team/beer analogies-- I'll roll those out tomorrow (needs time to "ferment" if you will)
As always, your suggestions/feedback are appreciated. If the email link isn't working, hit me up at ddenicke23@hotmail.com
Thanks for wasting time with me...
I know the attention span for hockey is about the length of a slap shot, but it is unreal how often the Sharks get bounced early. This year, they won the President's Cup (most regular season points)... and still lost in 6 games. If you're looking for a good game to watch, by the way--keep an eye on Devils/Canes game 7 Tuesday night; should be a good one.
Speaking of teams d-u-n done, the Utah Jazz can pull up a chair for the rest of the playoffs. They made a late push, but forgot how to make a lay-up in the last 3 minutes, while the Lakers had enough there to finish the job--especially with Lamar Odom coming to play.
LA isn't unbeatable in the west, but the only team that can bring them down are the Lakers themselves...
As for the East--Celts/Bulls go again Tuesday. In the words of Maximus Decimus Meridius, Are you not entertained? Certainly hope Ben Gordon is healthy, although given the Celts' health woes, I wouldn't expect much sympathy from them if he's a scratch...
Baseball- Red Sox have now won 11 straight games. But it wasn't until Monday night that they pulled even with Toronto. April may be just one month (yes, I know, firm graps of the obvious-- I used both hands) but so far its the only month (see?). You have the Jays at 14-7, KC over 500 (10-9), Seattle atop the AL West, with the Angels in the cellar, (albeit with extenuating circumstances). Hell, even the Pirates are 3 games over 500! Of course, so things are going according to form-- the Nationals are 4-14. Now that's more like it.
The Nationals are the Natty Lite of MLB-- you know they're bad, they know they're bad. But when you want to get the job done quickly and cheaply, there you have it. Matter of fact, I started to get on a role with team/beer analogies-- I'll roll those out tomorrow (needs time to "ferment" if you will)
As always, your suggestions/feedback are appreciated. If the email link isn't working, hit me up at ddenicke23@hotmail.com
Thanks for wasting time with me...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Disappointment...
So a few things strike me as a shame at the moment. First of all, buck fitty is no more in Westwood. Any UCLA grad can tell you that was one of the best cheap food spots in all of LA. Tasty sandwiches for all of 90 cents. Granted, they raised prices over time (I believe they were roughly three buck fitty as of last year), but still-- a sad day in Westwood.
Also disappointing is a realization that you are getting old. Went out for a few drinks last night, and woke up a little slower than I used to. Its one thing when you get hammered and pass out--quite another when you drink just enough to keep a steady buzz, only to wake up in a fog the following morning. I would like to blame the malaise on the well vodka I was drinking-- the step up to a mid-level Absolut-ish brand cannot be underestimated, and is usually worth the extra cost-- but the plain and simple fact is that I am older than I used to be.
As for disappointments related to sports, my fantasy team is a disaster, but let me tip off people to a fact that should seem obvious, but for some reason is not: no one else cares about your fantasy team. People don't care who you "stole" in the 7th round of your keeper league, or about your misfortune of bidding on a star who turns around and gets hurt. Unless you are talking to someone in your league or is a huge nerd about these things (such as myself), stay away from fantasy talk.
NFL Draft quick take-- love the Crabtree pick to SF, no idea what the Raiders were thinking about Heyward-Bey, who has bust written all over him (no offense). Not sure why ESPN feels the need to list 6 kickers on their "best available" coverage. Really? Couldn't you save that for the 2nd day? I don't mean to speak out of turn, but if 6 NFL teams feel the need to draft a kicker in the first two rounds, perhaps its time to re-evaluate things. Then again, its 70 degrees outside, sunny, and I am sitting on the couch, eating junk food, watching coverage of a non-sporting event for way too long. So maybe I should re-evaluate things a touch...
Also disappointing is a realization that you are getting old. Went out for a few drinks last night, and woke up a little slower than I used to. Its one thing when you get hammered and pass out--quite another when you drink just enough to keep a steady buzz, only to wake up in a fog the following morning. I would like to blame the malaise on the well vodka I was drinking-- the step up to a mid-level Absolut-ish brand cannot be underestimated, and is usually worth the extra cost-- but the plain and simple fact is that I am older than I used to be.
As for disappointments related to sports, my fantasy team is a disaster, but let me tip off people to a fact that should seem obvious, but for some reason is not: no one else cares about your fantasy team. People don't care who you "stole" in the 7th round of your keeper league, or about your misfortune of bidding on a star who turns around and gets hurt. Unless you are talking to someone in your league or is a huge nerd about these things (such as myself), stay away from fantasy talk.
NFL Draft quick take-- love the Crabtree pick to SF, no idea what the Raiders were thinking about Heyward-Bey, who has bust written all over him (no offense). Not sure why ESPN feels the need to list 6 kickers on their "best available" coverage. Really? Couldn't you save that for the 2nd day? I don't mean to speak out of turn, but if 6 NFL teams feel the need to draft a kicker in the first two rounds, perhaps its time to re-evaluate things. Then again, its 70 degrees outside, sunny, and I am sitting on the couch, eating junk food, watching coverage of a non-sporting event for way too long. So maybe I should re-evaluate things a touch...
Friday, April 24, 2009
Great commercial
The Heineken commercial was outstanding on its own, but this too is pretty funny stuff...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4S3X6ZoE8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4S3X6ZoE8w
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday Night Playoff Notes
Stephon Marbury looks completely different with the Celtics. When he is on the floor, he is chasing down loose balls, pushing the tempo on offense, but looking to pass first. Granted, its easier to make a good impression when your team is up double-digits, but nonetheles— Starbury not at all the black hole he was with New York.
Boston closed out the first half on 21-6 run, up 59-37 at the half. Not even the “Loveabull” cheerleaders have much to work with here.
Just a shame every series feels so disjointed. It’s the playoffs—why can’t these guys play back-to-back nights? I’m not saying 7 games in 7 days, but to wait 2-3 days to play again in the same city in some cases… there are so many series in the opening round, its hard to focus on all the match-ups.
Good god, San Antonio—remember when the Spurs were good? This team aged like a child actor; one second, all is well, at the top of their game. The next, they are strung out in rehab, relying on George Hill and Roger Mason to win games. 40 points through 3 quarters? That is not good. If I told you this game would be a 30 point blowout through 3 quarters, and offered you 1,000 dollars to pick a side, wouldn’t you go with the Spurs? A truly shocking result.
18 minutes and 50 seconds. That’s how long it took Kobe Bryant to score. But give the Lakers credit—their defense made it tough on Utah, whose shot selection in the second quarter left a lot to be desired.
How about Andrei Kirilenko early on? Kind of like a See’s box of chocolate sampler—little bit of everything, mostly good. Not enough to completely satisfy a particular craving- and zero rebounds has to be the equivalent of the strawberry nougat that takes three more chocolates just to get the taste off your tongue. But still enough good stuff to keep you reaching back for more.
The Lakers exploded in the third quarter—29-9 run? Wow. On a night when Kobe Bryant was that bad—5-24 shooting!—that was incredible that the Lakers could have a 13 point lead in the second half. But in the end, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams were too good, especially Boozer, with a 23 pt, 22 reb performance, including an emphatic dunk over Pau Gasol in the last 30 seconds of the game.
Two terrible games early, but a thriller in the nightcap.
Boston closed out the first half on 21-6 run, up 59-37 at the half. Not even the “Loveabull” cheerleaders have much to work with here.
Just a shame every series feels so disjointed. It’s the playoffs—why can’t these guys play back-to-back nights? I’m not saying 7 games in 7 days, but to wait 2-3 days to play again in the same city in some cases… there are so many series in the opening round, its hard to focus on all the match-ups.
Good god, San Antonio—remember when the Spurs were good? This team aged like a child actor; one second, all is well, at the top of their game. The next, they are strung out in rehab, relying on George Hill and Roger Mason to win games. 40 points through 3 quarters? That is not good. If I told you this game would be a 30 point blowout through 3 quarters, and offered you 1,000 dollars to pick a side, wouldn’t you go with the Spurs? A truly shocking result.
18 minutes and 50 seconds. That’s how long it took Kobe Bryant to score. But give the Lakers credit—their defense made it tough on Utah, whose shot selection in the second quarter left a lot to be desired.
How about Andrei Kirilenko early on? Kind of like a See’s box of chocolate sampler—little bit of everything, mostly good. Not enough to completely satisfy a particular craving- and zero rebounds has to be the equivalent of the strawberry nougat that takes three more chocolates just to get the taste off your tongue. But still enough good stuff to keep you reaching back for more.
The Lakers exploded in the third quarter—29-9 run? Wow. On a night when Kobe Bryant was that bad—5-24 shooting!—that was incredible that the Lakers could have a 13 point lead in the second half. But in the end, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams were too good, especially Boozer, with a 23 pt, 22 reb performance, including an emphatic dunk over Pau Gasol in the last 30 seconds of the game.
Two terrible games early, but a thriller in the nightcap.
NFL Draft Musings
So the draft weekend is nearly upon us. Already, teams are making panic trades to beef up their pick supply--Kansas City traded away perhaps the best tight end ever to play the game, Tony Gonzalez, for a 2nd round pick in 2010, one that would probably be around the 50th overall selection. Gonzalez is no spring chicken, mind you, but to trade away a proven commodity for a late 2nd round pick is dicey at best. Teams tend to overvalue potential (untapped or otherwise, of course), and fall in love with the possibilities of things going right. This trade is the equivalent of trading in a BMW with 100,000 miles on it for a salvage title Mustang with 15,000 miles on it. Sure, if the car runs well, then you have a decent swap. But you are giving away proven performance in exchange for optimism.
I'm not saying teams shouldn't try to stock pile picks--that's generally how you improve in the league. I just think teams put too much weight on draft selections over veterans...
Speaking of which, here's yet another mock draft for the first ten picks. Why only ten? Because the 49ers have the tenth pick, so after that, who cares...
1. Detroit Lions; Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia. QBs are seldom considered the safe pick, and especially for a team whose last 1st round QB selected was Joey Harrington. But if the Lions take the long view here, they will realize that since they aren't really going anywhere next year, Daunte Culpepper can start, while Stafford learns the offense, maybe taking over around mid-season, to relieve the pressure on him. But just like when you need to give QBs weapons, you need to give WR Calvin Johnson a QB that can let him make plays. They can address the myriad of other needs later.
2. St. Louis Rams; Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. The Rams' offensive line was one of their strengths when the greatest show on turf was in its prime. But without future hall of famer Orlando Pace, and in a group decimated by injuries, they need help big time. Steven Jackson can't run if the line doesn't open holes for him. Getting Smith will help not only protect the 25 QBs the Rams have on their roster, but will also help balance the offense.
3. Kansas City Chiefs; Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. The Chiefs last season were next to last in total defense. They need playmakers, espeically with no Jared Allen. Ideally, they could use a defensive end to put pressure on the QB (they were dead last with just 10 sacks as a team last year), but Curry is the next best thing--an outside LB with the speed to get to the QB.
4. Seattle Seahawks; Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. This is where the draft gets interesting. Seattle was 28th in the league in total offense in 2008. Obviously, a big part of that was the health of Matt Hasselback. The team added TJ Houshmanzadeh, so WR is not a pressing need. But while it is tempting to drop down and take Mark Sanchez around, say, 7th or 8th, if they snag Crabtree here and team him with the Housh, they instantly have a great WR tandem. The other sensible pick would be OT Eugene Monroe, but since Walter Jones is still there, they can wait a little longer for that position. They'll need to get a QB later, though (assuming they don't trade down).
5. Cleveland Browns; Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas. Its no secret the Browns need help defensively. They were next to last in sacks, with just 17. So they go for the 2nd-best defensive playmaker, in Brian Orakpo. Team him with Kameron Wimbley and Shaun Rogers, and that should help the Browns control the line of scrimmage, much like Eric Mangini's old team, the Jets, did for him.
6. Cincinnati Bengals; Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. Monroe gets the nod over Andre Smith because he is the safer pick. Cincy can't afford to have Carson Palmer go down with injury again, so they take a guy who can protect the blind side, and maybe even open a running lane or two for Cedric Benson, who came on late in the year.
7. Oakland Raiders; Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. I had Andre Smith pegged here, and I think he is the better choice over Maclin, based on the depth of the WR class this year. But when you finish dead last in passing, and you have your franchise QB poised to make a huge improvement (can't get much worse, in theory), you have to get him a legitimate #1 target.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars; Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. The Jags would have loved to get Maclin to team up with alongside Jimmy Smith--and they might be good trading partners with Seattle here, who could in theory get either Andre Smith or Mark Sanchez if they choose to fall back, while Jax could snag Crabtree. But picking where they are, Jacksonville's offensive line was a mess last year, largely due to injuries. If everyone is back, and David Garrard can be the patient, proficient pocket passer that he was in 2007, this pick really solidifies the Jags.
9. Green Bay Packers; Aaron Maybin, OLB, Penn St. The Packers' D was in the bottom third in most categories last year (including 25th in sacks), and they need someone to play opposite Aaron Kampman. Maybin is better served in a 3-4 defense, which makes him a good fit win the land of cheddar. BJ Raji would be too, in which case, expect the 49ers to swoop in and take Maybin.
10. SF 49ers; BJ Raji, DT, Boston College. As badly as the 49ers need to upgrade their offensive weapons, Raji is probably the only player available that could step in immediately and start in the 3-4 NT for SF. The 49ers could also think about Michael Jenkins here, the CB from Ohio State. That makes sense only if they move him to safety. They will likely target a WR in the 2nd round. This pick will tell you all you need to know about Mike Singletary's confidence in Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. If they pass on Mark Sanchez (assuming he is still on the board), then those two incumbents will be battling it out in the fall.
I'm not saying teams shouldn't try to stock pile picks--that's generally how you improve in the league. I just think teams put too much weight on draft selections over veterans...
Speaking of which, here's yet another mock draft for the first ten picks. Why only ten? Because the 49ers have the tenth pick, so after that, who cares...
1. Detroit Lions; Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia. QBs are seldom considered the safe pick, and especially for a team whose last 1st round QB selected was Joey Harrington. But if the Lions take the long view here, they will realize that since they aren't really going anywhere next year, Daunte Culpepper can start, while Stafford learns the offense, maybe taking over around mid-season, to relieve the pressure on him. But just like when you need to give QBs weapons, you need to give WR Calvin Johnson a QB that can let him make plays. They can address the myriad of other needs later.
2. St. Louis Rams; Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. The Rams' offensive line was one of their strengths when the greatest show on turf was in its prime. But without future hall of famer Orlando Pace, and in a group decimated by injuries, they need help big time. Steven Jackson can't run if the line doesn't open holes for him. Getting Smith will help not only protect the 25 QBs the Rams have on their roster, but will also help balance the offense.
3. Kansas City Chiefs; Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. The Chiefs last season were next to last in total defense. They need playmakers, espeically with no Jared Allen. Ideally, they could use a defensive end to put pressure on the QB (they were dead last with just 10 sacks as a team last year), but Curry is the next best thing--an outside LB with the speed to get to the QB.
4. Seattle Seahawks; Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. This is where the draft gets interesting. Seattle was 28th in the league in total offense in 2008. Obviously, a big part of that was the health of Matt Hasselback. The team added TJ Houshmanzadeh, so WR is not a pressing need. But while it is tempting to drop down and take Mark Sanchez around, say, 7th or 8th, if they snag Crabtree here and team him with the Housh, they instantly have a great WR tandem. The other sensible pick would be OT Eugene Monroe, but since Walter Jones is still there, they can wait a little longer for that position. They'll need to get a QB later, though (assuming they don't trade down).
5. Cleveland Browns; Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas. Its no secret the Browns need help defensively. They were next to last in sacks, with just 17. So they go for the 2nd-best defensive playmaker, in Brian Orakpo. Team him with Kameron Wimbley and Shaun Rogers, and that should help the Browns control the line of scrimmage, much like Eric Mangini's old team, the Jets, did for him.
6. Cincinnati Bengals; Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. Monroe gets the nod over Andre Smith because he is the safer pick. Cincy can't afford to have Carson Palmer go down with injury again, so they take a guy who can protect the blind side, and maybe even open a running lane or two for Cedric Benson, who came on late in the year.
7. Oakland Raiders; Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. I had Andre Smith pegged here, and I think he is the better choice over Maclin, based on the depth of the WR class this year. But when you finish dead last in passing, and you have your franchise QB poised to make a huge improvement (can't get much worse, in theory), you have to get him a legitimate #1 target.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars; Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. The Jags would have loved to get Maclin to team up with alongside Jimmy Smith--and they might be good trading partners with Seattle here, who could in theory get either Andre Smith or Mark Sanchez if they choose to fall back, while Jax could snag Crabtree. But picking where they are, Jacksonville's offensive line was a mess last year, largely due to injuries. If everyone is back, and David Garrard can be the patient, proficient pocket passer that he was in 2007, this pick really solidifies the Jags.
9. Green Bay Packers; Aaron Maybin, OLB, Penn St. The Packers' D was in the bottom third in most categories last year (including 25th in sacks), and they need someone to play opposite Aaron Kampman. Maybin is better served in a 3-4 defense, which makes him a good fit win the land of cheddar. BJ Raji would be too, in which case, expect the 49ers to swoop in and take Maybin.
10. SF 49ers; BJ Raji, DT, Boston College. As badly as the 49ers need to upgrade their offensive weapons, Raji is probably the only player available that could step in immediately and start in the 3-4 NT for SF. The 49ers could also think about Michael Jenkins here, the CB from Ohio State. That makes sense only if they move him to safety. They will likely target a WR in the 2nd round. This pick will tell you all you need to know about Mike Singletary's confidence in Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. If they pass on Mark Sanchez (assuming he is still on the board), then those two incumbents will be battling it out in the fall.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
NBA Draft Age Limit by the numbers
One and done is a common theme for college hoopsters. But now, players are bypassing college all together. Brandon Jennings graduated from high school and went to Europe for a year, and will likely be a first round pick in this year's draft. The latest: reports out of San Diego have a 17 year old, Jeremy Tyler, dropping out of high school to go play across the pond for two years, presumably before coming back to the NBA once he is eligible. But the question remains: should the NBA change its draft eligibility requirements?
By my count, 44 players have jumped early to the pros--although only 4 are leaving after a year on campus. While not all have hired agents, most of them will stay in the draft. The key to the NBA draft is that only first round picks get a guaranteed contract. So there are 30 draftees that will get paid big bucks; the rest have to hope they can earn their meal ticket. So if you count 5 international players and 5 seniors getting drafted in the first round, over half the players that have jumped early will not get a first round golden ticket. So clearly, there are a lot of players that get drafted late, and wash out very quickly.
Name a school, and chances are there is a player that left too early. An extreme example is at Ohio State-- Thad Matta has seen 5 players jump ship after one season in Columbus in the past 3 years. Greg Oden, sure. But when was the last time you saw Kostas Koufas on the highlight reel? (Probably not in a long time, since "reels" don't technically exist any more. But you get the idea).
So now that we have a sense of the numbers, the question is, should the NBA change their rule? In the NFL, the limit is 3 years after graduating high school. But perhaps a better rule is what baseball has--players are draft-eligible out of high school, but if they choose to go to college, they have to stay there for three years.
If you apply this to basketball standards, yes there would be a lot of guys rolling straight into the NBA (or at least trying to). But at the same time, forcing NCAA-bound players to develop their game would be a good middle ground, allowing college basketball to become at least a little more polished, as the players would become closer to a finished product, given three years of development to one. This compromise allows players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and yes, even Ricky Rubio (the 18 year old Spanish PG) to dive right into the waters. But it could protect others like Kosta Koufos, William Avery and potentially Jeremy Tyler from leaving for presumed NBA riches too early.
It may not be a perfect solution, but no good compromise ever is.
By my count, 44 players have jumped early to the pros--although only 4 are leaving after a year on campus. While not all have hired agents, most of them will stay in the draft. The key to the NBA draft is that only first round picks get a guaranteed contract. So there are 30 draftees that will get paid big bucks; the rest have to hope they can earn their meal ticket. So if you count 5 international players and 5 seniors getting drafted in the first round, over half the players that have jumped early will not get a first round golden ticket. So clearly, there are a lot of players that get drafted late, and wash out very quickly.
Name a school, and chances are there is a player that left too early. An extreme example is at Ohio State-- Thad Matta has seen 5 players jump ship after one season in Columbus in the past 3 years. Greg Oden, sure. But when was the last time you saw Kostas Koufas on the highlight reel? (Probably not in a long time, since "reels" don't technically exist any more. But you get the idea).
So now that we have a sense of the numbers, the question is, should the NBA change their rule? In the NFL, the limit is 3 years after graduating high school. But perhaps a better rule is what baseball has--players are draft-eligible out of high school, but if they choose to go to college, they have to stay there for three years.
If you apply this to basketball standards, yes there would be a lot of guys rolling straight into the NBA (or at least trying to). But at the same time, forcing NCAA-bound players to develop their game would be a good middle ground, allowing college basketball to become at least a little more polished, as the players would become closer to a finished product, given three years of development to one. This compromise allows players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and yes, even Ricky Rubio (the 18 year old Spanish PG) to dive right into the waters. But it could protect others like Kosta Koufos, William Avery and potentially Jeremy Tyler from leaving for presumed NBA riches too early.
It may not be a perfect solution, but no good compromise ever is.
Random Wednesday Afternoon
One of the few joys of being unemployed is the ability to walk down to a bar on a random Wednesday afternoon and take in some sports. And while I got a late start, the menu was quite appetizing. Three games, all tied in the 7th or later. So here is a rough translation of what happened in the games, real time... (all times PT)
2:56
A's @ Yankees
A's fly out to deep center to end the top of the 14th inning. There is an A's fan at the bar, and he seems distraught that the ball did not leave the yard. Not sure what to tell him-- when you see the ball hit, watch the fielder's reaction--they will tell you if its going to be caught. The guy took two cavalier steps to his left and camped out-- not likely going over his head.
More importantly-- an A's fan? In LA? That is a rare find indeed--sort of like driving onto the 405 and see it empty, like in car commercials. I know its TV "trickery", but I always wonder how those cars can be driving on empty roads in broad daylight. Is there some sort of website or hot line to figure out when and where these road conditions are in play? Hook me up...
2:59
Padres @ Giants
Brian Wilson comes into a scoreless ninth, and promptly lets the leadoff guy on, albeit on a liner just past Edgar Renteria. But then Wilson settles down, and even gets a strikeout to end the inning. More impressively for the Giants in this game--Barry Zito threw 6 shutout innings. I realize its the Padres, but the Giants' starters have quietly put together 5 consecutive quality starts. We know their offense won't be up to much this year (note the scoreless game in the 9th), but if their pitching can round into shape, at the very least the games will be entertaining, because they will be close. Assuming you like 1 run games...
3:03
A's @ Yankees
Well, well, well.... Yankees come through with a little drama. Melky Cabrera with a walk-off dinger, and the Yankees win it in 14. Much to the chagrin of our A's friend. All the miller lites and iced teas in the bar can't ease the pain. Tough break.
After the game, the first interview is with Nick Swisher. Really? What the hell--was the bullpen catcher busy? Nick Swisher was 1-4 for the game, which ended in a freakin' walk off homer. No Cabrera. No Jeter. No Sabathia... No, we need to hear from the guy that hit .219 last year.
On a side note, that jack must have been cathartic for Cabrera, after he lost his starting job to Brett Gardner, who has been hitting .245 so far. Cabrera gets the start, and delivers. It took him 14 innings, of course, but I'm sure he is a happy camper.
3:10
Rockies @ D'Backs
Great pitching duel. Colorado's Jorge De la Rosa ran out of gas a little in the 7th, giving up two singles, then walking the bases loaded (intentionally). Jason Grilli came in to douse the flames, and promptly walked in a run. Not exactly what Clint Hurdle had in mind... 2-0 Snakes.
3:14
Padres @ Giants
The Giants defense could come back to bite them. Pablo Sandoval, playing catcher, had Jody Gerut hung out to dry, but skipped the throw past the bag, and into center. Thus, the inning goes from 2 out, nobody on, to 1 out, go-ahead run in scoring position. This could be a problem for the Giants, if they can't find a permanent spot for Sandoval. His bat insists on his presence in the lineup (especially the Giants' lineup), but his glove reeks of a platoon or DH. But of his three positions, C, 1B and 3B, the spot where bad defense will cost you the most is catcher.
3:17
Padres @ Giants
Wilson gets a line-out and ground-out, ironically both to 3B, where Juan Uribe keeps it scoreless.
3:18
The A's fan at the bar is trying to come up with a comedian from the '70s, whom Jim Carrey played in a movie back in the '90s. I know its Andy Kaufmann, but it leads to an interesting guy dilemma-- when a stranger is asking a question aloud, and you seem to be the only guy who knows the answer, how do you approach this? If you jump in too early, you're the guy who feels the need to but in and always be right. And you don't want to be too sanctimonious. But at the same time, if you're hanging out by yourself at a bar on a Wednesday afternoon, how much do you really have to lose? So I wait for a break in the conversation, and drop the Andy Kaufmann name, and all goes well. Until he starts talking to me about the life and times of Andy Kaufmann. Now, I don't know too much about Kaufmann-- I wasn't alive when he was in his prime. But at the same time, answering the question essentially wrote me a ticket into the conversation, whether I wanted to be there or not. So at this point, I keep my answers brief and vague as possible, saying things like, "Well, he was funny, but his stuff was really out there. So I don't think a lot of people got him." This seemed to serve two pruposes: first, it put a bow on the conversation, without me beeing rude. And secondly, allowed me to get back to watching baseball. Speaking of which...
3:20
Rockies @ D'Backs
Chad Qualls in to close it out for Arizona, up 2-0 in the 9th. Not exactly a lead pipe lock, but it would seem the Rockies just don't have it today. Dan Haren racked up 9 Ks over 7, and checking the box score, not one Rockie starter was hitting 300 or better. Think about that-- Todd Helton, Garret Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki: 250, 214, 295, and 196.
But Ryan Spilborghs, now 4-5 on the day, singles, making it 2 on and 2 out for Clint Barmes. This is the same guy that claimed he hurt himself tripping on stairs after buying venison at the supermarket. The thing that stands out there: venison? If you were to think of different meats to get at the supermarket, where would venison rank--7th? 12th? It almost seemed strange enough to be plausible. Of course, turned out he was riding an ATV and got hurt, but still--the venison story gets points for creativity. As for the game, no points for grounding out to third. Ballgame.
3:27
Padres @ Giants
Bengie Molina, the usual starter behind the plate for SF, steps in with a chance to be the hero--2 on, 2 out in the bottom of the 10th. An extra bonus for the home team when batting in the bottom of a tie game--- not having to face the other team's closer. Most managers try to save their best reliever in case they need to protect a lead. That seems strange, given the fact that a tie game is also a perilous adventure. So with Heath Bell hanging out in the pen, its Edwin Moreno's game to lose, which he does by giving up a ground rule double to Molina. Andres Torres scores, and Giant fans celebrate win number 6 on the year. Oh, happy days...
So what did we learn? Well for starters, when in doubt at a bar, go for the black and tan. First off, its a fun drink to order, and bartenders/waitresses almost always nod their head, as if to say 'good call, didn't see that one coming'. Secondly, it's two beers in one, especially when layered correctly. You get the sharp, bitter stout first. Which is a good attention-grabber for your tastebuds. But by the time you get accustomed to that, its on to the next part, a smoother counterpart (usually Bass, sometimes Harps). This has a more mellow finish, which kind of lets you relax, and enjoy the rest of your beer at your own pace. Just a great combo.
The second thing we learned is that the west is the Dodgers for the taking. Watching the other 4 teams in that division, nobody has the combination of hitting and pitching needed to keep pace with LA. As mentioned, the Rockies' hitting is not there (at least not in late April)--probably missing Matt Holliday, which is understandable. The Diamondbacks have a bunch of promising young players, but they are all kind of similar; very streaky, strike out a ton, and you can't count on them in the clutch. Its early, but they have the markings of a team that has enough pitching to stay in games, but if it gets close late, their bats need some help (help that arrived today in the form of poor relief pitching).
As for SD and SF, both of those teams are retooling. Although I'm not sure if the Pads got that memo, based on their lineup. But come 2010, both teams (especially SF) could be in place to contend for the west.
As for the third thing we learned, unemployment has its benefits. Especially when the weather cooperates.
2:56
A's @ Yankees
A's fly out to deep center to end the top of the 14th inning. There is an A's fan at the bar, and he seems distraught that the ball did not leave the yard. Not sure what to tell him-- when you see the ball hit, watch the fielder's reaction--they will tell you if its going to be caught. The guy took two cavalier steps to his left and camped out-- not likely going over his head.
More importantly-- an A's fan? In LA? That is a rare find indeed--sort of like driving onto the 405 and see it empty, like in car commercials. I know its TV "trickery", but I always wonder how those cars can be driving on empty roads in broad daylight. Is there some sort of website or hot line to figure out when and where these road conditions are in play? Hook me up...
2:59
Padres @ Giants
Brian Wilson comes into a scoreless ninth, and promptly lets the leadoff guy on, albeit on a liner just past Edgar Renteria. But then Wilson settles down, and even gets a strikeout to end the inning. More impressively for the Giants in this game--Barry Zito threw 6 shutout innings. I realize its the Padres, but the Giants' starters have quietly put together 5 consecutive quality starts. We know their offense won't be up to much this year (note the scoreless game in the 9th), but if their pitching can round into shape, at the very least the games will be entertaining, because they will be close. Assuming you like 1 run games...
3:03
A's @ Yankees
Well, well, well.... Yankees come through with a little drama. Melky Cabrera with a walk-off dinger, and the Yankees win it in 14. Much to the chagrin of our A's friend. All the miller lites and iced teas in the bar can't ease the pain. Tough break.
After the game, the first interview is with Nick Swisher. Really? What the hell--was the bullpen catcher busy? Nick Swisher was 1-4 for the game, which ended in a freakin' walk off homer. No Cabrera. No Jeter. No Sabathia... No, we need to hear from the guy that hit .219 last year.
On a side note, that jack must have been cathartic for Cabrera, after he lost his starting job to Brett Gardner, who has been hitting .245 so far. Cabrera gets the start, and delivers. It took him 14 innings, of course, but I'm sure he is a happy camper.
3:10
Rockies @ D'Backs
Great pitching duel. Colorado's Jorge De la Rosa ran out of gas a little in the 7th, giving up two singles, then walking the bases loaded (intentionally). Jason Grilli came in to douse the flames, and promptly walked in a run. Not exactly what Clint Hurdle had in mind... 2-0 Snakes.
3:14
Padres @ Giants
The Giants defense could come back to bite them. Pablo Sandoval, playing catcher, had Jody Gerut hung out to dry, but skipped the throw past the bag, and into center. Thus, the inning goes from 2 out, nobody on, to 1 out, go-ahead run in scoring position. This could be a problem for the Giants, if they can't find a permanent spot for Sandoval. His bat insists on his presence in the lineup (especially the Giants' lineup), but his glove reeks of a platoon or DH. But of his three positions, C, 1B and 3B, the spot where bad defense will cost you the most is catcher.
3:17
Padres @ Giants
Wilson gets a line-out and ground-out, ironically both to 3B, where Juan Uribe keeps it scoreless.
3:18
The A's fan at the bar is trying to come up with a comedian from the '70s, whom Jim Carrey played in a movie back in the '90s. I know its Andy Kaufmann, but it leads to an interesting guy dilemma-- when a stranger is asking a question aloud, and you seem to be the only guy who knows the answer, how do you approach this? If you jump in too early, you're the guy who feels the need to but in and always be right. And you don't want to be too sanctimonious. But at the same time, if you're hanging out by yourself at a bar on a Wednesday afternoon, how much do you really have to lose? So I wait for a break in the conversation, and drop the Andy Kaufmann name, and all goes well. Until he starts talking to me about the life and times of Andy Kaufmann. Now, I don't know too much about Kaufmann-- I wasn't alive when he was in his prime. But at the same time, answering the question essentially wrote me a ticket into the conversation, whether I wanted to be there or not. So at this point, I keep my answers brief and vague as possible, saying things like, "Well, he was funny, but his stuff was really out there. So I don't think a lot of people got him." This seemed to serve two pruposes: first, it put a bow on the conversation, without me beeing rude. And secondly, allowed me to get back to watching baseball. Speaking of which...
3:20
Rockies @ D'Backs
Chad Qualls in to close it out for Arizona, up 2-0 in the 9th. Not exactly a lead pipe lock, but it would seem the Rockies just don't have it today. Dan Haren racked up 9 Ks over 7, and checking the box score, not one Rockie starter was hitting 300 or better. Think about that-- Todd Helton, Garret Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki: 250, 214, 295, and 196.
But Ryan Spilborghs, now 4-5 on the day, singles, making it 2 on and 2 out for Clint Barmes. This is the same guy that claimed he hurt himself tripping on stairs after buying venison at the supermarket. The thing that stands out there: venison? If you were to think of different meats to get at the supermarket, where would venison rank--7th? 12th? It almost seemed strange enough to be plausible. Of course, turned out he was riding an ATV and got hurt, but still--the venison story gets points for creativity. As for the game, no points for grounding out to third. Ballgame.
3:27
Padres @ Giants
Bengie Molina, the usual starter behind the plate for SF, steps in with a chance to be the hero--2 on, 2 out in the bottom of the 10th. An extra bonus for the home team when batting in the bottom of a tie game--- not having to face the other team's closer. Most managers try to save their best reliever in case they need to protect a lead. That seems strange, given the fact that a tie game is also a perilous adventure. So with Heath Bell hanging out in the pen, its Edwin Moreno's game to lose, which he does by giving up a ground rule double to Molina. Andres Torres scores, and Giant fans celebrate win number 6 on the year. Oh, happy days...
So what did we learn? Well for starters, when in doubt at a bar, go for the black and tan. First off, its a fun drink to order, and bartenders/waitresses almost always nod their head, as if to say 'good call, didn't see that one coming'. Secondly, it's two beers in one, especially when layered correctly. You get the sharp, bitter stout first. Which is a good attention-grabber for your tastebuds. But by the time you get accustomed to that, its on to the next part, a smoother counterpart (usually Bass, sometimes Harps). This has a more mellow finish, which kind of lets you relax, and enjoy the rest of your beer at your own pace. Just a great combo.
The second thing we learned is that the west is the Dodgers for the taking. Watching the other 4 teams in that division, nobody has the combination of hitting and pitching needed to keep pace with LA. As mentioned, the Rockies' hitting is not there (at least not in late April)--probably missing Matt Holliday, which is understandable. The Diamondbacks have a bunch of promising young players, but they are all kind of similar; very streaky, strike out a ton, and you can't count on them in the clutch. Its early, but they have the markings of a team that has enough pitching to stay in games, but if it gets close late, their bats need some help (help that arrived today in the form of poor relief pitching).
As for SD and SF, both of those teams are retooling. Although I'm not sure if the Pads got that memo, based on their lineup. But come 2010, both teams (especially SF) could be in place to contend for the west.
As for the third thing we learned, unemployment has its benefits. Especially when the weather cooperates.
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