John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Thinking out loud…while wondering whatever happened to the nice, safe slip ‘n slide I had in the backyard as a kid…
- Jon Lester’s all-star selection is a just one (as is Koji Uehara’s addition), but to think that Boston hasn’t had an offensive player picked since 1961 is mind-boggling. It should serve as an absolute incentive to fix this thing, but at what cost? Mortgaging the future for the present? Many of my friends believe the Sox should blow this thing up, and while I would personally be hesitant to do that, it’s not because I’m trying to hold onto any shred of World Series memories of the past decade. It’s because I want these guys to be smart, and still spend at least a few sheckles you and I know they can afford, first…
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- While last year might be seen as a bit of a fluke, this year should be seen similarly. Do the due diligence and make some tough decisions, sure. But scientists don’t base research on one lab sample, and team poo-bahs (are you listening, Ben Cherington and Larry Lucchino?) shouldn’t try to concoct future success based on one year of putrid play. With some of the Sox nearing the end of the line, however – either by the team’s choice or their own – there isn’t much more time to play with…
- Let’s be real here. The Sox as sellers prior to the trading deadline? That’s almost unthinkable. I’ve seen opinions and heard the radio airwaves full of “ditch Lester” and “trade Koji” and I’m wondering what these people are smoking? Sure, if you’re out of the race, you should take a temp check around the league to see if there’s interest in perhaps your two best players. But realistically, can you get equal – or even any – value in return? NO. WAY. Have other teams taken stupid pills? Take whatever you can get? That’s a loser’s mentality, and a reason why hapless franchises stay hapless for what seems like an eternity. Loser teams sell off when they’re out of it, and never get real value in return…
- So what’s the answer? Hate to say it, but I’d still play this current hand out a bit longer. Play the guys who are expendable, to see if they’re worth keeping around. Except for A.J. Pierzynski…never really understood that move, and his DFA basically waves the white flag. Not one, but TWO 37-year old catchers to start the year (David Ross is the other). Who really thought that was a good idea? That WEEI’s Rob Bradford and the Boston Herald’s John Tomase have recently written about Pierzynski’s lack of a “fit” within the clubhouse only points more of a finger at Cherington. And rightfully, he’s said as much…
- What else? Mix in the rookies, yes. Let some of the vets under contract have time off…if you’ve deemed them worthy of returning in the first place. But blow it ALL up? Let the young guys have all the time? Five rookies will now see significant time going forward, a first for a single Boston lineup in 27 years. You need to rebuild a bit, not re-invent the wheel. Young players, if they hit a wall, sometimes never get over it in these situations. Mix and match. Know who you are, and that better days are ahead if the poo-bahs make better calls on personnel than they did this past off-season…and that guys who you rely upon also play better than they have this year…
- Make chicken salad out of chicken feathers. Call the year a mulligan, cut some prices and keep the seats at Fenway reasonably filled. You can build goodwill and play things sensibly, without a demolition derby having to take place…
- Would Jose Abreu have made that much of a difference? The Herald ran with a story this week that the Red Sox were less than $5 million from “winning” Abreu over the Chicago White Sox. Would his arrival have kept Mike “swing and miss” Napoli away? Maybe not. But his bat (just behind Nelson Cruz for the AL HR lead) would have been nice protection for David Ortiz in a lineup that currently looks like a piece of swiss cheese – full of holes. What disturbs me is the apparent willingness by the Sox to penny-pinch for a mere $5 million…
- Say it, John Lackey. Say the words. If you think Cruz is still on the juice after he went a career-best 5-for-5 against you last week…then say so. Innuendo sounds like sour grapes. The guy beat you like a rented mule. Don’t want to make news with your words? Then simply zip the pie hole…
- File this under “things I wish I hadn’t seen.” We need to ask that athletes at least be healthy, and playing, before they “strut their stuff” and cause a nationwide epidemic of glaucoma, don’t we?
- And then there are the Yankees, who designated Alfonso Soriano for assignment, and for all intents and purposes have cut him loose. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 71-to-6 indicates he simply didn’t care about much of anything, and the Yankees were right to cut him loose. He also hit just .204 against rightees. Wait a minute…that’s an upgrade compared to the Red Sox against right-handers, isn’t it?
- As part of the deal that sent Soriano packing, the Yankees picked up Brandon McCarthy from Arizona for Vidal (Sassoon) Nuno, who owned the Sox the last time he faced them. Wait a minute…New York is cutting Sox-killers? Whoa…
- Uh oh…Masahiro Tanaka has hit the disabled list because of elbow inflammation, and a torn UCL. Guess picking up those dollar-bill stacks or restaurant checks got to be a bit too much…
- And here’s why some Yankee fans are still insufferable…this guy gets caught snoozing at a Sox-Yankee game, and is now suing ESPN for $10 million because of the mental anguish their comments caused? Dude, the two teams put you to SLEEP. Sue them, first. And have a salad…
- Remember that one time, when Yankee lefty Randy Johnson hit a bird with one of his devastating pitches? The probably-once-in-a-lifetime occurrence happened again last week, albeit in a minor league game. The end result, however, was similar…
- Oh, and speaking of remembrances…remember recently when Tom Brady was deemed unworthy of a Top-5 QB ranking in the NFL? Pro Football Focus said as much, and apparently, odds makers aren’t listening. Bovada.com released its odds for 2014 NFL MVP this week, and lists TB12 4th at 9-to-1. That is, however, one spot worse than last year, when he was listed 3rd for 2013…
- Peyton Manning is, once again, the favorite to repeat and win the honor for a second straight season. Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers rank ahead of Brady…with Andrew Luck rounding out the top 5. Love to get me a little of that action, actually. I’ll take the field over any of those guys at this moment…
- It’s the slower time of year for college plaudits, but two big ones came the way of Providence Friar student-athletes Bryce Cotton and Emily Sisson this week. The two were named winners of the Big East Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence awards in their respective sports within the league – Bryce for men’s hoops, Emily in cross-country. Men’s basketball won a Big East tournament title, and women’s cross-country claimed the national championship this past year. The awards are given based on athletic accolades or performances, academic credentials and volunteer service to the community. Big East student-athletes who are at least juniors in academic standing and hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or higher are eligible…
- And…the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame this week recognized Dr. Tom Catena, Brown Class of 1986 and an all-Ivy nose guard, as a co-winner of the 2014 NFF Gold Medal. Dr. Catena will be honored in December, along with the College Football Hall of Fame Class of ’14 in New York City. Originally presented to President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in 1958, the Gold Medal has an impressive list of past recipients, including seven presidents, four generals, three admirals, one Supreme Court Justice, 29 corporate CEOs and chairmen, actor John Wayne and baseball immortal Jackie Robinson. Last year’s winner was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Catena has unselfishly given of himself and his medical abilities to the civil war-torn region of Sudan, and will become the 60th recipient of the NFF Gold Medal. As a result of gaining this honor, Catena will also get the chance to spend the Christmas holidays with his family for the first time in 13 years…
- The revelation by former North Carolina hoop star Rashad McCants last month that he hardly went to class and had tutors do much of his work while in school…might be getting ready to pay off. For McCants. He told Sports Illustrated this week that the school has a $10 million check ready for him, due to the “exploitation of me as a player,” and another $300 million from the NCAA to help facilitate sports education programs across the country. If any of this is true, just wait – there will be a run on former players “to tell the truth” like we’ve never seen before…
- The Celtics got who? Tyler Zeller? Marcus Thornton? YAWN…
- LeBron goes home again…forever scarred by his infamous decision to take his talents to South Beach in the first place four years ago, LeBron James is seemingly trying to right the wrong from jilting Cleveland and joining up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. Honestly, no one should really care, outside of the affected cities in Ohio and Florida. Miami, be grateful for the two titles you won. Cleveland, you’ve still got a lot of work to do before you ever win one. Does this mean Miami is no longer a Celtic rival, and we have to start hating on the Cavs?
- Can you go home again? It rarely works. Most of the time, athletes are mere shells of who they were prior to their initial departure. James probably is not quite what he was four years ago, but certainly his overall skills haven’t diminished entirely. His success, and that of Cleveland’s, will depend on who plays by his side…
- And how about this…James is only 29 years old. Could he bolt from the Cavs again at some point in the future…especially if they don’t win it all in a couple of years? On pure speculation of his return alone, the Cavaliers sold $1 million in tickets BEFORE he made his decision. If he decides to take his talents elsewhere again, the ground may open up and swallow the city whole…
- Tweet of the Week I – from @DanWoikeSports: “This is the worst corporation in America. Everyone will find out how dishonest and terrible they are.” Donald Sterling on NBA…”
- Had enough World Cup fill? That 7-1 slaughter for Germany over Brazil in the semis equates to about a 77-7 shellacking on our gridiron. Some excitement. Is Team USA really that good, in that they lost only 1-0 to the same German team? Was Brazil missing their star player, Neymar, that much? No, and yes. The shocking result showed some similarity with the NFL – injuries and turnovers kill. That is all…
- Ratings-wise, the World Cup got great numbers in our country through ESPN…more than double the total audience from 2006. But I can already see the stories in 2018 for the next Cup in Russia – “No One Watching,” or “Who Cares? We Don’t.” The problem is when Fox takes over the TV coverage in four years, the time difference will be huge, unlike the one-hour difference between Brazil and our east coast. It will be eight or nine hours difference in kick-off times. So, unless scheduling is somehow done creatively to cater to the American audience, the ratings will automatically be down. Even if the USA is any good…
- And thus we hit the crux of the problem, IMO, with soccer in America. It ain’t our sport. It’s the world’s sport. And if we can’t kick butt in it, win it, own it…fuggeddaboutit…
- Not for nuthin’…but I’ll just say this – we manage to do pretty well in the Olympics every four years, don’t we? So why can’t we do the same in soccer? Partially because we don’t commit to the sport on a national level like other countries…and partially because our coaches/players don’t like to “strike.” They’re too defensive. Maybe those attitudes change with Jurgen Klinsmann as coach, maybe they don’t. If they don’t, soccer will probably stay relegated to afterthought status on our sports front pages…
- Tweet of the Week II – from @AndyGlockner: “We should have read the signs. #NEDARG anagrams to danger, as well as grande, the size of coffee needed to survive this after a…gander…”
- Immigration. The new four-letter word in Texas. The President was in Texas this past week, as I was, but declined to go look at the problem on the border with Mexico…where thousands of illegal, unaccompanied minors have infiltrated immigration centers. Throw money at the problem? Ok, sure. Short term help, maybe. Process them, send them on their way. But what about longer term? What will cure the real problem? Those children are here because they (and their parents, if they have any) know we’ll take many of them…most of them…even at the expense of the local economy and infrastructure…
- We’re no longer the country of Emma Lazarus’ famous poem stamped on the Statue of Liberty – “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” We’re now the country of “send us all you’ve got, and we’ll figure out a way to feed, clothe, house and employ them all…at the expense of those who already live here…” Stupid is as stupid does…
- Oh. My. A Maine lobster processor lost a contract in Boston to a food service company that also services TD Garden – all because the food service company caught wind of a PETA video that showed the lobsters being, um, processed. By hand. Guess that means Maine lobster is off next seasons’ menu. What’s next – cheeseburgers being banned because of the slaughter of innocent cattle? Hot dogs disappearing due to the demise of pigs? Tofu (and a beer) for everyone…
- Tweet of the Week III – from @SI_ExtraMustard: “We may have never gotten the opportunity to watch Da Vinci paint, but we do have the privilege of watching Joey Chestnut eat hot dogs…”
- As much as we’ve hammered NCAA Grand Poo-bah Mark Emmert in this corner – and rightfully so – today we praise him. Emmert pitched a Senate panel this past week on the idea that college athletes should receive scholarships for life. And I happen to concur. Rather than renewing scholarships on an annual basis, like most schools do at the present time, “scholarships for life” could help solve some of the problems we find in the intercollegiate sports world these days…like not keeping an emphasis on s-c-h-o-o-l for a student-athlete. If we’re demanding they perform and compete at a high level for our lovable U, then we at least ought to give them a chance to be a college kid and actually LEARN something at some point, don’cha think?
- One of the other things learned on my Texas visit – that soon we’ll all be characters in the Disney production called “life.” Maybe not quite that obvious, but the Disneyization of American sports is working its way across college campuses. The Disney Institute is partnering with several major schools and their athletic departments (including TCU) to improve the game day experience for fans…from the moment they park the car. It’s a great idea, and one that colleges will need to keep ticket holders happy and coming to stadiums and arenas – rather than having them stay at home to watch on TV. Can I get a tram ride from my car to my seat?
- ICYMI – in the sports radio wars, 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) edged WEEI in all day parts over the past three month period…for a 7th straight ratings period…among men 25-54. However, WEEI did post gains in morning and afternoon drive listeners, while The Sports Hub numbers slipped. Biggest winner – D&C, with Kirk Minihane, up more than two share points over the same period a year ago. Biggest loser – Planet Mikey (and the Red Sox), a mere 11th among all stations in the listener profile. Just sayin’…
- Speaking of listening, my buddy Statbeast sez he and Mrs. Statbeast were at a party when the subject of marriage counseling came up. Mrs. Statbeast spoke right up and said they’ll never need it. “We have a great relationship,” she said. “He was a communications major in college and I majored in theatre arts. He communicates really well and I just act like I listen…”
- One of the hazards is “death?” That’s what park workers at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, MO are instructed to tell their riders before they descend on the newly-opened world’s tallest waterslide…known as Verruckt. That’s actual German for “insane.” My, we’ve progressed in this country over the past 50 years, haven’t we? From the simple, fun and frolicking backyard slip ‘n slide to utter insanity. Thanks, but no…
- From the mailbag this week – Rose from San Francisco, CA via Facebook: “Are there any copyright issues with (baseball) walkup songs?” Rose: Cool question. Generally speaking, the popular music played over public address systems in any arena or stadium are subject to copyright laws, and as such, the teams responsible for playing them generally have licensing agreements (public performance rights) with the recording artists through ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) or SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers). If they don’t, then they could be sued for illegal reproduction or rebroadcast every time a song is played…and since teams/organizations don’t want that, they usually pay the fees so they can play all music – popular or not…
- Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
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