Thursday, April 05, 2007

Thursday 04/05 A.M. Quickie:
MLB Preview Continues: Awards!

Continuing our belated MLB Season Preview...

Today: Awards Picks!

NL MVP: Carlos Beltran
NL Cy: Ben Sheets
NL Rookie: Tim Lincecum
NL Manager: Willie Randolph

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore
AL Cy: Daisuke Matsuzaka
AL Rookie: Alex Gordon
AL Manager: Eric Wedge

* - Why not Matsuzaka for AL ROY? I predict AL award voters age-discriminate against Matsuzaka (particularly factoring in a backlash after they must give him the Cy).

Give out your own awards in the Comments.

MLB Wrap: Break up the Nats! 9th-inninng rally gives DC their first win of the season (in a season where wins are expected to be few and far between).

Crushing the Cards (again) may not be much solace for the Mets from last year's NLCS disappointment, but it might foreshadow better times for the Mets THIS season.

Stud (hitter): Grady Sizemore
Stud (pitcher): Ted Lilly

Bonds hits HR No. 1 of '07. 'Nuff said.

Extra Innings to stay on cable: Fans win! Fans win! In a nice bit of common sense in action, MLB will keep "Extra Innings" available to cable subscribers. (Now: All those fans who were griping BETTER pony up and buy the thing.)

Kudos to Ken Griffey for planning to wear Jackie Robinson's 42 jersey on the anniversary of Robinson's entry into the majors. And kudos to MLB for extending the offer to every team. Which players will step up? (At least one MANAGER will: Willie Randolph will wear 42, too.)

Via sports-media guru Richard Deitsch of SI.com, TBS has signed Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn to be part of their broadcast team. This is a fantastic move -- star power AND solid analysis. I'm totally curious how Ripken will do.

Masters: As usual, the key question is "Tiger or the Field?"

The pick: Usually, I take "The Field" (with no dis meant against Tiger), but given Tiger's pending fatherhood and his imminent Varsity Dad status, I think this year I'm going to go with the dad-to-be.

(Wow: Was it really 10 years ago that Tiger won his first Masters in that dominating style? I would argue that golf's current era began that weekend, even though Tiger was a pro before.)

NBA: Gilbert Arenas injures knee in the ultimate karmic boomerang. Any season that began as stunningly well as his did would HAVE to end miserably, right? It's just the Wizards Way. Given the fact it suddenly looks like the Wiz won't get out of the first round of the playoffs, can they trade their playoff spot to a Lottery team in the East in exchange for a better draft pick?

(Meanwhile, promising Blazers rookie LaMarcus Aldridge is out indefinitely with some weird kind of heart issue. He was looking really good in March; let's hope he's OK for the long-term.)

NBA Draft Watch: In what might have been called "The Durant Game," the Celtics proved more interested in their draft status than winning the game against their bottom-feeding rival, the Bucks. More power (and Ping-Pong balls) to Boston. In a head-to-head matchup of the dregs, with perhaps Kevin Durant on the line, winning is losing.

Billy Donovan Watch: He wants some time to "decompress" before making his decision. That doesn't sound like someone who seems 100 percent committed to his current gig. But he hasn't heard Florida's pitch yet. (Or Kentucky's, for that matter.)

More coaching carousel: Is Bob Huggins going to jump from Kansas State to West Virginia? If he did, he sure would be screwing over the players he connived into going there. (Of course, top prepster Michael Beasley would be able to get out of his commitment and, say, re-commit to WVU.)

Women's Hoops: Candace Parker didn't enter the WNBA Draft, and you have to install defending champ Tennessee as the team to beat next season. Will women's hoops get a repeat of their own to rival the men's?

Eddie Robinson, R.I.P.: Hope you've been enjoying all of the columns in appreciation of late Grambling coach Eddie Robinson. After reading everything, I can't believe he wouldn't make everyone's all-time college coach Top 5.

Finally: Reggie Bush is apparently NOT banned from the Playboy Mansion. I'm sure you'll all sleep better. (h/t: Fanhouse)

Bonus! Just saw this in today's NYT Op-Ed section. Does it woozily remind you how this blog sometimes works?

-- D.S.

91 comments:

NA said...

Actually at least 2 players will be wearing 42. Assuming MAriano Rivera doesn't change his number

Anonymous said...

why gilbert why!!!?

CMFost said...

Actually I heard on Mike and Mike this morning on the anniversary of Jackie's 1st game all the dodger players are going to be wearing #42



RIP:Darryl Stingley

Matt T said...

Dice-K winning ROY would be as bad as when Nomo won and robbed Chipper Jones.

Dud: Phillies bullpen. Blew a lead for the second night in a row.

Conditions for the masters today are going to be hard and fast, no rain for the first time in a while, this will favor Tiger and Phil even more

CMFost said...

My Awards:

AL
MVP: Manny
CY: Santana
Rookie: Matzusaka
Manager: Ron Washington - Texas

NL
MVP: Cabrera - Fla
CY: Peavy
Rookie: Chris Young
Manager: Grady Little

CMFost said...

Why would a 26 year old pitcher in his first major league season be so bad as when Nomo won it. Japanese Baseball is similar to a player spending several years in the minors and then get called up to the majors at the age of 24-26.

Big D said...

Along with Eddie Robinson, former Patriots' receiver Daryl Stingley died last night. He was the receiver paralyzed by Jack Tatum's blatant cheap shot, and the main reason why I hate the Raiders with every square inch of my football-loving body.

That's 2 deaths in 2 days. Who's #3?

philipjsnell said...

As a lifelong Royals fan I'd like nothing more than to see Alex Gordon win the AL ROY! His season has gotten off to a rough start, 0-7 with 6 strikeouts. Yikes.

TJ said...

Candace Parker can't enter the WNBA draft yet. At least, that's what I remember hearing during the title game broadcast. What they were talking about her doing was going overseas for a year (where she could make somewhere around a million dollats) and THEN coming back and entering the WNBA draft.

CMFost said...

Hey Troy what is a dollat?

Sean McNally said...

As Biebs noted.. Mo is still wearing 42 - he's the last "grandfathered" player standing.

Other grandfathered players included Mo Vaughn and the immortal Butch Huskey.

Matt T said...

@cmfost,

I see a difference in a minor league guy getting called up than a player coming over who has played major league ball before.

But I understand both sides of the argument. That year, Nomo's numbers weren't that great.


NL Cy: John Smoltz, he tied for the NL wins last year even with the bullpen blowing 6 games for him. With an upgrade in the bullpen, he could win 20.

pv845 said...

I would like to see Gordon win the AL ROY as well, but then again I don't. We all know how Carlos Beltran is doing, but I worry that it could be another Bob Hamlin or Angel Berroa. Just another thought on the subject.

Unknown said...

number 3 was the UNC Mascot

Brian in Oxford said...

The Dodgers don't usually wear names on the back of their home uniforms, right? A bunch of 42s might be a bit confusing without a scorecard.

(Otherwise, Nomar could just sneak into the lineup in 5 different places, assuming you couldn't tell him from the other players.)

Aren't there some college basketball conferences that award a "newcomer" of the year, instead of a "freshman" of the year? As to allow transfers to win....This would parallel the idea of whether or not Japanese imports count as "rookies" -- are they freshman, or simply newcomers?

jhawkjjm said...

Uniwatch has a "42" entry today for those who are curious.

I like Gordon for ROY too, but so far he seems to be a bit overmatched. He's struck out 4 or 5 times already in two games. (Granted it was Schilling and Beckett)

Big Blog of Basketball Lists said...

@matt t

I don't know much about Japanese pro ball, but I'd imagine the level of competition is not much higher than American AAA or even AA ball.

I think getting "called up" from a Japanese pro league is pretty much the equivalent of getting called up from the minors.

Josh said...

Break up the Bucs! A team that had been 11-42 in Houston since 2000 gets the season opening sweep. Amazing.

This is the year we are breaking our 14-season losing streak.

Coach Chip said...

I thought the point of retiring the #42 from all of MLB was so no one would ever wear it again. This tribute is like a reverse tribute on the original tribute.

Patriots64 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Patriots64 said...

Dice-K will win ROY and Santana CY Young, Alex Gordon finishes 2nd in ROY IMO. Anyone hear if Carpenter's injury is serious, that could hurt Cards chance at a repeat?

Patriots64 said...

Habs vs Rangers tonight!! Dice-K regular season debut, The Masters and an extended The Office on tonight!

Best day ever!!

ToddTheJackass said...

How come no one is mentioning Delmon Young as a ROTY candidate? I think he's more MLB ready than Alex Gordon.

Still though, I think Daisuke wins it, but I'm not as convinced as Dan that he's Cy ready just yet... Johan is still the best pitcher in baseball.

CMFost said...

Pat64 do not forget you also have the Frozen Four - National Semi-Finals tonight

CMFost said...

CBS.sportsline.com has the Masters Live you can watch the play at Amen corner right now and then at 3 you can watch the TV coverage

The heroin sheik said...

I have to agree I think the ROY is going to come form one of the guys on the d-rays like elijah dukes or d-young(er). Man the Rays have some offensive talent just no pitching. Individual awards are so hard to predict but I think Smoltz is always a decent guess for CY. IF anyone read the elias says today there is a mention of Bobby Cox. It will be a sad day for braves fans when he either retires or god forbid gets fired. After all he has done he deserves the right to go out as he sees fit when that time comes.

Natsfan74 said...

NL CY -- Carlos Zambrano
NL MVP -- Carlos Beltran
NL ROY -- Carlos somebody -- or Kory Casto

AL CY -- Johan
AL MVP -- Michael Young (no one will remember this foolish pick in September anyway)
AL ROY -- Dice-K

Season Surprises -- Bonds doesn't break record, Cubs and Pirates compete for Central Division title (with Brewers close behind), Nats don't lose 100, and I would have said Marlins win 85, but their bullpen sucks.

CMFost said...

wow, I do not know if any of you are watching the masters coverage on CBS.sportsline.com but I just saw Ian Poulter and lets just say if you see him you are going to laugh your ass off.

verbal97 said...

Do we need a running count of Bonds' home runs? ***YAWN*** Wake me up when he gets indicted for perjury and/or illegal steroid use.

Josh said...

re: WNBA draft

After the women's championship, Candace Parker was repeatedly asked by reporters at the press conference if she was leaving early. She exasperatedly (if that's a word) responded "no", as she has all season.

Then Trey asked her when her and Pat Summitt were on ESPN. She once again answered an emphatic "no".

The AP article states that the #1 pick in the WNBA draft became meaningless when Parker decided to stay in school.

So, by all accounts, she could have left and played in the WNBA this summer.

ToddTheJackass said...

D-Rays have some good pitching prospects in their farm system, and will probably get top pick David Price out of Vandy, who could probably hit the majors by late '08 or '09. But Jeff Niemann is a big, 6'9 RHP with a good fastball and slider. D-Rays also have a few studs in Hi-A ball who could go either way, but have a lot of upside.

Anyway, my picks are:

AL MVP: Travis Hafner (yes, a DH will win it)
AL Cy: Johan Santana
AL ROTY: Daisuke Matsuzaka
AL Manager: Eric Wedge

NL MVP: Carlos Beltran
NL Cy: Ben Sheets
NL ROTY: Troy Tulowitzki
NL Manager: Ned Yost

TJ said...

Moment of silence for the GPD officer who died yesterday after being hit by a drunk driver in the waning hours of the Gators' Championship celebration early Tuesday morning.

It's a shame that this idiot did something so stupid on a night that was supposed to be about celebrating and having a good time. His charges should be upgraded to DUI manslaughter now, which could get him 30 years, every day of which he deserves.

Matt T said...

@heroin sheik

He mentioned in the Atlanta paper a few weeks ago he wanted to manage this year and next and then would probably quit.

It will be a very sad day when he retires, but my hope when that happens is for Terry Pendleton or Ned Yost to take over

Andy Roberts said...

I had my suspicions but last night confirmed them: There's a good chance Ted Lilly can be 2007's Bronson Arroyo - mediocre pitcher jumps to higher heights when he goes to the NL.

Mega said...

Here are my picks for will/should win (should win meaning they were more deserving, name is in paranthesis):

AL MVP: David Ortiz (Vernon Wells)AL CY: Dice-K (Johan Santana)
AL ROTY: Dice-K (Alex Gordon)
AL Manager: Either Boston's, NYY's, or Cleveland's manager (should win- the A's manager, for having to deal with the overrated Billy Beane and his massive ego)

NL MVP: Carlos Beltran (Nomah!)
NL Cy: Barry Zito (Ian Snell)
NL ROTY: Unsure...
NL Manager: Ditto...

Big D said...

Funny photo from NYT... strange though, I usually just jump right to steps 5 & 18 without making all the required stops... Kind of like this very comment.

ToddTheJackass said...

One outing doesn't make a season. @ Andy r,

Lilly could make the jump, but he gives up a lot of fly balls for a guy pitching at Wrigley. Wait until the wind blows out, and let's make a better judgment about Lilly then.

This early into the season, no theories can be "confirmed". Even if this is an instant history blog.

thistlewarrior said...

re:WNBA Draft

Parker could have made herself elligible this year due to a loophole in the early entry rule. Appearantly, you can declare early if you are scheduled to graduate in the same calendar year as the draft. So, if she could fit the remander of her classes in by the end of Dec. she could have went.

Brian in Oxford said...

Well, heck, in theory, she *could* sign up for 9 classes at once, right?

David Kippe said...

It is bigger news because a Giants loss on April 4 means nothing compared to Bonds coming within 20 HRs of the greatest record in all of professional sports, thats why.

Josh said...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2826756

Donovan reportedly will stay at Florida.

Big D said...

And that's the end of the Hibachi Playoff watch... Torn Meniscus. Surgery. Thanks for playing - see you next season.

On the bright side, at least Billy D is staying in the Sunshine State...

futurelegendvinceyoung said...

Masters Update:

Mickelson is +5 through 7. Way to go Phil

CMFost said...

The 4 Florida Junior are going to have a press conference at 4:00 PM today. What are the chances they annouce they are coming back because Donovan is and they want to be the first team since UCLA to win 3 straight titles?

Natsfan74 said...

Is Billy D the new Nick Saban? I'm staying, I promise?

pv845 said...

If the Gators do come back, I will prolly not watch any CBB next year that involve the whiney brats, I mean Florida Gators.

TJ said...

If the Gators do come back, I will prolly not watch any CBB next year that involve the whiney brats, I mean Florida Gators.

I'm ok with people hating Joakim Noah. But have you even watched Florida Basketball? If Noah weren't on this team, they would be universally praised as humble, unselfish, and intelligent guys. I just don't get the need to tear people down, a need that a surprising number of people seem to have toward this Gator team.

ToddTheJackass said...

I like Phil's playing. If you suck early, you can't choke later... maybe A-Rod should learn from this.

I'll believe Billy Donovan isn't going anywhere in November... for now, you just can't trust these things.

pv845 said...

Ok, so I was a little broad in my complaint. All of them are fine upstanding players, but there are a couple that are whiny. Brewer acts like he is entitled to everything. Noah acts like a tool. Hordford, Green, and Humpry are nothing like those two. I will rephrase what I said into those two are whiny brats.

ToddTheJackass said...

Noah is the worst, and you're right that I don't think anyone really hates Horford or Green... not sure about Brewer, as he does have that look of disbelief and throws his [14 foot long] arms up in the air whenever a call goes against him.

Would definitely not use the word intelligent to describe Lee Humphrey though...

chitown italian said...

I hate Bonds. He stands for all that is wrong in professional sports. He'll get his someday. Unfortunately it will be after he breaks the HR record.

Is it bad of me to wish a pitcher would've drilled him in the ear hole before passing Babe Ruth?

Can we start a petition for tshirthell.com to start selling the "Barry Takes it in the Ass" tees again.

Here's how I plan on protesting Bonds. I picked him up in my fantasy league after dropping Liraino. Bonds will be riding the pine all year. I know, it's not going to help my team, but I can't do anything to the jackass.

Go Cubbies! $300M and one win so far.

CMFost said...

Damn Sizemore another lead off Home Run

TJ said...

Would definitely not use the word intelligent to describe Lee Humphrey though...

By all accounts, he's a smart dude. Don't hold his looks against him.

Patriots64 said...

I Heart Sizemore!

ToddTheJackass said...

While I'm obviously more interested in seeing how Daisuke pitches today, the Zach Greinke story is also pretty incredible. You really have to hope a guy like that does well after all his off-the-field personal troubles last year.

Can't believe there are still some empty seats in KC for this...

Brian in Oxford said...

Why is MLB.tv using the Royals' feed for Dice K? That makes no sense. I'm surprised the Royals even have a TV crew for this game.

TJ said...

@brian, mlb.tv always uses the home team's feed. Which is why I was subjected to Jeff Brantley during the Cubs game yesterday in Cincy.

pv845 said...

The empty seats are due to the cold ass waether here in KS. I am about 2 hours west of KC and it is snowing HARD!

Brian in Oxford said...

That's not true. The Cubs feed is providing the game in Cincy today. I really think MLB.com tries to do some of everyone's.....but in this case, the announcing crew that knows the most about Dice would be the better choice.

CMFost said...

Manny double and Dice-k will start with at least a 1-0 lead

David Kippe said...

knew i should have drafted sizemore. damn it!

CMFost said...

can someone give me a rundown on Dice-k's 1st inning? All I have here in my office is stupid gamecast, no audio, no video

ToddTheJackass said...

So what allegedly happened with K-Rod last night?

That'd be something if it comes out he's been doctoring the ball...

CMFost said...

The questions is: How many at bats does Coco Crisp have to suck before Wily Mo plays full time?

Anonymous said...

2 months what the hell why gilbert why get better.

Brian in Oxford said...

first inning...

lined inside-out single to left-center
4-3 fielder's choice
walk
1-6-3 double play.

second inning...
fly to left
line-out to right
strikeout

Anonymous said...

somehow a guy who hurt his knee did not need a wheelchair but a guy who hurts his shoulder does. I need this explained.

ToddTheJackass said...

Greinke owns David Ortiz... Papi better watch out, or he'll get tossed.

Still, anyone know more about K-Rod?

TJ said...

@brian.

Good question then. I watched about 40 Cubs games on mlb.tv last year and I could have sworn they always used the home team's feed. But you're right, the Cubs feed is the one today. In that case, they should definitely be using Red Sox guys for the Dice-K game.

ToddTheJackass said...

Here's a link to Dice-K's Nike ad:

http://nike.jp/jdi/?id=31

Big Blog of Basketball Lists said...

@troy (gainesville, fl)

MLB extra innings is the same way. There never seemed to be any rhyme or reason to which announcing team they chose for the game.

I have a subquestion for anyone with XM. On Sirius, the NFL games typically have two broadcasts so you can listen to the radio announcers for either team. Does XM do the same thing with baseball?

This is one of the things I'm curious about before Sirius and XM merge.

Brian in Oxford said...

I bet the satellite radio uses all the feeds....MLB's website allows you to pick home/away, and home/away Spanish, if you want.

It's only the video feed that's one and one only. Sometimes it's the ESPN feed, too.

The worst part is that they seem to be again, blocking out the local commercials.

I think feeds from the Cubs/Sox/Yanks are more prevalent simply because they televise every game for their teams. I've watched games on mlb.tv where all you get is the diamond vision feed and a radio broadcast at the same time. No graphics to remind you of count/inning, etc.

jhawkjjm said...

It's only about 40 degrees here in KC. Plus its a day game, people work. If this was a Chief's game people would skip out, but not after they skipped out on Monday for opening day.

Rumor is that WV has scheduled a 3pm press conference on Friday to announce Bob Huggins as coach.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/6648384

jhawkjjm said...

Looks as if Donovan is the only UFer coming back, not unexpected.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2827116

RevScottDeMangeMD said...

Dan Patrick just said that Bob Huggins is going to West Virginia.

ToddTheJackass said...

Not sure Green is talented enough to make it in the NBA. Surprised he'd go pro. The others obviously not surprised at all.

Also, it warrants mentioning that Simmons said he'd be okay with Noah being on the Celtics... WTF has he been watching? Simmons really needs to just not do NCAA BB at all.

chitown italian said...

Does anyone think Donovan talked to Spurrier?

ToddTheJackass said...

Now the Florida guys get paid even more than they were now... (saying with no basis whatsoever)

Unknown said...

Huggins to West Virgina is official

2 Questions:

1. Bill Walker?
2. Michael Beasley?

pv845 said...

Simmons just needs to not do sports for anyone outside of Boston.

Brian in Oxford said...

Isn't Huggins actually a WV alum? At least that would make some semblance of sense for him to go back.

jhawkjjm said...

1. Walker- still rehabing his knee injury. Could transfer but would have to sit a year. Could turn pro, but I believe he would have to fight the process because he graduated HS in October so he could play for KState second semester.

2. Beasley- Could follow Huggins without sitting, IF Kstate releases him from the scholarship.

Needless to say, the Purple Kitties just realized they (still) suck.

Unknown said...

Bob Huggins was actually born in Morgantown and played point guard for West Virgina from 75-77. After he graduated and didn't make the NBA he went back to West Virgina and got his Masters while also being a graduate assistant.

So I guess it does make sense. But there are still my 2 questions...

Brian in Oxford said...

How do you graduate high school in October?

I'd like to see some prep star try to pass his GED at age 15, see if he can get into college early.

Unknown said...

I'm not sure K-State has to release him. I thought that if the coach leaves you are allowed to leave if you want, hence the Jai Lucas situation where he was committed to Kentucky and when Tubby left he was released.

He's currently choosing between OK STATE, Oklahoma, and Maryland.

TJ said...

Not sure Green is talented enough to make it in the NBA. Surprised he'd go pro. The others obviously not surprised at all.

Green rooms with the other three juniors. They do pretty much everything together and have said that if one goes they all go, if one stays they all stay.

Plus, there is really no reason to think his draft stock will be any higher after another year in college. He's managed to become fairly overrated as a point guard and I can't imagine him looking any more impressive next year.

Still, he's a better PG prospect than Roberson and is a much better player than Matt Walsh. It might be a good idea for him to not hire an agent just in case, but the 04's came back to do just what they did, and to do it together. Since he's probably not going to improve his stock any, now's as good a time as any for Green to get out.

Jen said...

patriots64~I HEART Sizemore too!

Good to see some lovin' to the Indians, Dan! Thanks! They need some after the past few seasons they've had.

Grady was the first Cleveland Indian in the history of the team to hit a HR in the first three games of the season.

Brian in Oxford said...

His stock as a guard might be lower, because there's 2 years' worth of big men available.

CMFost said...

wow does Coco Crisp suck.

Andy Roberts said...

The reason the Cubs feed was used today on EI and MLBTV is that there was no Reds telecast today.

Anonymous said...

Dan:Durant's not coming to Boston.Aigne wants another big man down low to help out Al Jefferson(stud).

We already got a durant like player.(gerald green.)