A few weeks ago I compiled an analysis of the NL Central prior to the start of spring training. The result was the feeling that the Cardinals, Reds and Brewers figured to be the top three teams in the division with the Astros and Cubs hoping to play better than expected themselves while one of the "big three" fell off a bit.
The fall may have already begun. On Wednesday is was revealed that Adam Wainwright, the 29 year old Cy Young runner up from 2010 is suffering elbow difficulties that may result in a major process of recovery...maybe even up to requiring Tommy John surgery.
While the doctors in St. Louis have not yet announced the results of any examinations the folks in the Cardinal camp were not expecting anything but the worst.
Needless to say if Wainwright missed the season the Cardinals would likely be severely weakened. Th news today almost automatically pushes the Reds and Brewers ahead of the Cards in any predicted order of finish and could portend even more woe for the club if either the Astros or Cubs--or both-- play better than many expect.
Before the Cardinal news gets anyone too excited, though, don't forget it is a long spring training and the Astros have to get through it intact themselves.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
When Hoops and Baseball Clash
Big weekend for both basketball and baseball. What you say? Baseball! Surely you don't consider the day that regular players report to spring training a big deal do you? Well, no, that is not what I am referring. I am referring to the start of major college baseball's real games. Two top 20 teams are engaged in a series at Rice this weekend. Stanford won round one Friday night 5-3, but there are still two games to play. Over at Houston the Cougars blasted UT-Arlington 15-5 and likewise will continue playing. The seasons for Houston Baptist, Texas Southern and the whole Big 12 are also now underway.
If you ONLY pay attention to baseball on the major league level I suppose the first day of full rosters in camp is significant. Right now we are in the optimistic reporting phase in the papers and other media. Everyone is just so happy for spring to be coming that the warts have been covered and rose colored glasses donned. That is OK. That is almost as much a rite of spring as the bloom of new flowers. Water will seek its own level soon enough.
In addition to baseball--be it college or spring training-- basketball is heading toward the stretch. Never mind that with the stretch to begin in the NBA the All-Star game won't even be played till Sunday. The fact is that two-thirds of the season is finished. Teams that are not in playoff position now (Rockets) will have a very hard time getting there in the few games left. Collegiately, there are only two weeks left in the regular season. Trying to win as many games as left for preferred post season position is the major project for most teams.
Saturday Texas Tech is at Baylor in one of the B12 features. We will have that game on FoxSports SW/Houston at 7pm. Tech is not a post season factor, but Baylor is in a very precarious position. They SHOULD be one of the Big 12 teams that gets an NCAA invite. But they also may not get an exceptional seed. Winning out...at least till the league tournament will help them greatly. So, the game has significance.
Sometimes we get carried away with speculation and looking ahead and forget to just have fun with what is right in front of us now. Life is too short to always be looking five years down the road. Baylor is pretty solid, but not perfect right now. Before Bear fans start worrying about what will be the makeup of the team after Lacedarius Dunn leaves why not just enjoy what Scott Drew's team is now? The Bears are scrappy and while not deep do have talent among their top seven or eight players. And they do have Dunn who is the alltime leading scorer in Baylor history. Baylor men's basketball may never reach the levels of the #1 ranked Lady Bears this year. Yet, they are just as exciting and they also have a chance to succeed in the post season.
If you ONLY pay attention to baseball on the major league level I suppose the first day of full rosters in camp is significant. Right now we are in the optimistic reporting phase in the papers and other media. Everyone is just so happy for spring to be coming that the warts have been covered and rose colored glasses donned. That is OK. That is almost as much a rite of spring as the bloom of new flowers. Water will seek its own level soon enough.
In addition to baseball--be it college or spring training-- basketball is heading toward the stretch. Never mind that with the stretch to begin in the NBA the All-Star game won't even be played till Sunday. The fact is that two-thirds of the season is finished. Teams that are not in playoff position now (Rockets) will have a very hard time getting there in the few games left. Collegiately, there are only two weeks left in the regular season. Trying to win as many games as left for preferred post season position is the major project for most teams.
Saturday Texas Tech is at Baylor in one of the B12 features. We will have that game on FoxSports SW/Houston at 7pm. Tech is not a post season factor, but Baylor is in a very precarious position. They SHOULD be one of the Big 12 teams that gets an NCAA invite. But they also may not get an exceptional seed. Winning out...at least till the league tournament will help them greatly. So, the game has significance.
Sometimes we get carried away with speculation and looking ahead and forget to just have fun with what is right in front of us now. Life is too short to always be looking five years down the road. Baylor is pretty solid, but not perfect right now. Before Bear fans start worrying about what will be the makeup of the team after Lacedarius Dunn leaves why not just enjoy what Scott Drew's team is now? The Bears are scrappy and while not deep do have talent among their top seven or eight players. And they do have Dunn who is the alltime leading scorer in Baylor history. Baylor men's basketball may never reach the levels of the #1 ranked Lady Bears this year. Yet, they are just as exciting and they also have a chance to succeed in the post season.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Cards Will Likely Go "All Out" in '11 with Pujols Era End Possibly Near
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Spring Training to Start and NBA All Star Game Not Played Yet?
I blame it on the NFL extending its post season into February. Nothing like squeezing the last shilling out of the golden goose. But what it has done is really messed up the NBA. Still, it was the NBA's fault. Apparently because they didn't want to compete with King NFL they moved their All-Star break. The real half way point of the season is around the first week in February. But in 2011 they won't celebrate the "break" until two thirds or more of the season has been played.
Now admittedly the NBA All Star game itself is not much more to see than the NFL Pro Bowl the activities surrounding the game and the honor a city receives for staging it is signficant to the league. I just wonder how many fans--except those in the host city-- really care much anymore.
Too many of the teams know they don't have a chance at an NBA title. Too many teams in the league are mediocre at best when compared to the powers in San Antonio, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami. Too many teams are losing money.
Attendance is off in many cities and TV ratings have dropped precipitously. Right now many NBA cities are on the verge of being in the same boat as the National Hockey League. They still have their core backers who assure the clubs that 15-17,000 fans will be on hand for home games, but have lost the general sports fan from doing much more than spot checking during telecasts or waiting until morning to read the paper or on line and find out how the team fared.
Star players in the league are paid outrageous amounts. Even "non"-star players are paid well above their worth to a team. Too many of them have proven they do not know how to handle the riches and flaunt their wealth in front of the very fans who are supporting them by buying tickets.
Now, though getting much less publicity or interest than the NFL--this should tell something of the NBA's plight in the sport pecking order--the league is facing a labor stoppage possibility. In the past, with one exception, things have been cleaned up before NBA teams and players missed much if any time. Now, howver, even the most die-hard unionist in the real world, would have a very hard time siding with the players demands. Professional athletes do not live in the real world for many reasons. NBA player may live in the biggest fantasy world of all. Their sport is not universally healthy at all.
On the other hand sport and the NBA specifically are hardly the only parts of life that have lost control of reality. The news every day tells of some of the nation and world's business "leaders" whose greed or self sense of importance is far worse.
Now admittedly the NBA All Star game itself is not much more to see than the NFL Pro Bowl the activities surrounding the game and the honor a city receives for staging it is signficant to the league. I just wonder how many fans--except those in the host city-- really care much anymore.
Too many of the teams know they don't have a chance at an NBA title. Too many teams in the league are mediocre at best when compared to the powers in San Antonio, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami. Too many teams are losing money.
Attendance is off in many cities and TV ratings have dropped precipitously. Right now many NBA cities are on the verge of being in the same boat as the National Hockey League. They still have their core backers who assure the clubs that 15-17,000 fans will be on hand for home games, but have lost the general sports fan from doing much more than spot checking during telecasts or waiting until morning to read the paper or on line and find out how the team fared.
Star players in the league are paid outrageous amounts. Even "non"-star players are paid well above their worth to a team. Too many of them have proven they do not know how to handle the riches and flaunt their wealth in front of the very fans who are supporting them by buying tickets.
Now, though getting much less publicity or interest than the NFL--this should tell something of the NBA's plight in the sport pecking order--the league is facing a labor stoppage possibility. In the past, with one exception, things have been cleaned up before NBA teams and players missed much if any time. Now, howver, even the most die-hard unionist in the real world, would have a very hard time siding with the players demands. Professional athletes do not live in the real world for many reasons. NBA player may live in the biggest fantasy world of all. Their sport is not universally healthy at all.
On the other hand sport and the NBA specifically are hardly the only parts of life that have lost control of reality. The news every day tells of some of the nation and world's business "leaders" whose greed or self sense of importance is far worse.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Metal Bats "deadened Again. Could Pro Baseball be Watching?
With the college baseball season about to begin it will be important to see what new bat standards will do. College hurlers will be less afraid to pitch inside. Professional baseball will be watching the new bats, too, for a different reason.
http://www.foxsportshouston.com/pages/lucas_blog
http://www.foxsportshouston.com/pages/lucas_blog
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Going Over to Minute Maid Park Always Leads Thoughts to Spring
I took a ten minute walk from Fox Sports Houston's offices to Minute Maid Park on Thursday to attend a media luncheon corresponding to the equipment trucks leaving for Florida. That means baseball is not that far off. In fact, it is less than a week when pitchers and catchers will first take the field in Kissiimmee.
It obviously didn't SEEM like baseball was close during the walk in 30 degree temperatures with a wind whipping through Discovery Green and all along Crawford Street as I made my way to the ballpark. But once I headed inside the press gate and was greeted by one of the attendants by name I knew I must be nearing "home."
Not having been inside MMP since the major construction projects were well underway I glanced at the giant video board in RF. The old videoboard in centerfield will be replaced by two permanent ads. There is also a secondary video board high on the first base side for those sitting in right field. With the luncheon in the 5-7 Grill that meant I walked the concourse down the left field line and once I was at the Landry's Crawford boxes I checked out the press/broadcast area. What was once the main press box is being converted into 150 luxury Press Lounge seats that will be sold as season tickets. One level up--where formerly the video board controls, broadcast booths and general manager's boxes were located the new pressbox is under construction. It will be a three level booth seating about 70. The old booth had room for 105, but never needed that many seats except on Opening Day or for post season. The video control room has been relocated down the left field line. Broadcast booths for home and visiting radio have been moved to the first base side of the level. Using essentially the same "footprint" that already existed it appears everything will fit.
Astro GM Ed Wade was part of the luncheon. He indicated that the main things happening in the spring will be the battle for the #5 spot in the rotation plus some bullpen spots and finalizing who will serve as backups in the outfield and infield. Jason Michaels has one of those posts locked, but Brian Bogusevic, and Jason Bourgeois will have good chances to stick. As Ed pointed out, if some of those in competition don't appear to be the answer there are always players released by other clubs in the spring that might be available.
Real news from spring training will start coming in about five days. It may not be much, but it will be baseball~
It obviously didn't SEEM like baseball was close during the walk in 30 degree temperatures with a wind whipping through Discovery Green and all along Crawford Street as I made my way to the ballpark. But once I headed inside the press gate and was greeted by one of the attendants by name I knew I must be nearing "home."
Not having been inside MMP since the major construction projects were well underway I glanced at the giant video board in RF. The old videoboard in centerfield will be replaced by two permanent ads. There is also a secondary video board high on the first base side for those sitting in right field. With the luncheon in the 5-7 Grill that meant I walked the concourse down the left field line and once I was at the Landry's Crawford boxes I checked out the press/broadcast area. What was once the main press box is being converted into 150 luxury Press Lounge seats that will be sold as season tickets. One level up--where formerly the video board controls, broadcast booths and general manager's boxes were located the new pressbox is under construction. It will be a three level booth seating about 70. The old booth had room for 105, but never needed that many seats except on Opening Day or for post season. The video control room has been relocated down the left field line. Broadcast booths for home and visiting radio have been moved to the first base side of the level. Using essentially the same "footprint" that already existed it appears everything will fit.
Astro GM Ed Wade was part of the luncheon. He indicated that the main things happening in the spring will be the battle for the #5 spot in the rotation plus some bullpen spots and finalizing who will serve as backups in the outfield and infield. Jason Michaels has one of those posts locked, but Brian Bogusevic, and Jason Bourgeois will have good chances to stick. As Ed pointed out, if some of those in competition don't appear to be the answer there are always players released by other clubs in the spring that might be available.
Real news from spring training will start coming in about five days. It may not be much, but it will be baseball~
Friday, February 4, 2011
Weather, SuperBowl, Pettitte and More
As I sit in my home office on the north side of Houston in the 1960 area (which some are trying to re-name Cypress Creek Parkway) I see no ice, sleet or snow outside. The street is dry. Sure it is cold. My computer weather site says it is 28, but the thermometer outside the door downstairs registers a few degrees higher.
Naturally that weather report turns ones thoughts to... just how much worse it is in the Arlington, Fort Worth, Dallas area where SuperBowl 45 is set for Sunday. They have up to five or six inches of snow on the ground with little equipment to remove it. It has turned the big week in North Texas into a financial and fan friendly failure. Fortunately by Saturday things are supposed to be improving enough so that by Sunday things will be much more bearable.
It is admirable that the NFL is trying to bring the SuperBowl to various locales...sort of as a reward for communities agreeing to build its teams new stadiums. Certainly the stadium in Arlington, Cowboy Stadium, would be a wonderful site for multiple games. It is the largest in the league. It has a retractable roof. But it cannot over come being located where it is...or the inconsistent weather patterns for North Texas this time of year. The location in Arlington has required a very spread out venue for the pre-game activities. That is the biggest weakness. New Orleans is probably the best SuperBowl site of all. The weather is usually very satisfactory and all the venues--including some unofficial ones--like Bourbon Street are all within walking distance. Even the Miami area with the best weather of all can't beat that. The Stadium is not near anything else. Strangely enough cold weather Indianapolis will have a New Orleans-like site. Everything is close to Lucas Oil Stadium. Many of them are connected by walkways as well. Of course, no one except New Orleans has Bourbon Street.
The most interesting game will be the open air game in late January or early February in New Jersey. I will be the first to say, "What were they thinking?" The NFL might luck out. Perhaps by then weather patterns will be different and they will miss the snow and extreme cold. The odds are not good.
Perhaps THAT game will convince the league that if they want to keep their game what it always has been it must never leave a covered stadium...or Miami and go nowhere North of DFW (and that may be marginal.)
All I know is I am very happy my job has never called for coverage of SuperBowl Week--no matter where it was played.
ANDY PETTITTE IS A TEXAS BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER
The news that Andy Pettitte was to announce his retirement from baseball after a 16 year career came Friday. Thirteen of those seasons were with the Yankees and the other three with the Astros. He won 240 and lost 136 with a career 3.88 ERA. Those numbers may leave him a bit short of the Baseball Hall of Fame, but even if they do, he is at least a "mythical" Texas Baseball Hall of Famer for sure.
I use the term "mythical" since the actual operation of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame is in limbo right now. There have been no inductions or active organization for a few years. When things are started up again you can be sure Andy will be right at the top of the list of new inductees.
Andy--a native Texan-- qualifies for the TBHOF on that standpoint. But his three years with the Astros co-incided with the most successful trio of seasons of all time for the club. The Astros won their first playoff series during the Pettitte-Clemens years as well as their first NL title and World Series berth.
So, Andy, enjoy retirement. You have been one of the best for a long time.
Naturally that weather report turns ones thoughts to... just how much worse it is in the Arlington, Fort Worth, Dallas area where SuperBowl 45 is set for Sunday. They have up to five or six inches of snow on the ground with little equipment to remove it. It has turned the big week in North Texas into a financial and fan friendly failure. Fortunately by Saturday things are supposed to be improving enough so that by Sunday things will be much more bearable.
It is admirable that the NFL is trying to bring the SuperBowl to various locales...sort of as a reward for communities agreeing to build its teams new stadiums. Certainly the stadium in Arlington, Cowboy Stadium, would be a wonderful site for multiple games. It is the largest in the league. It has a retractable roof. But it cannot over come being located where it is...or the inconsistent weather patterns for North Texas this time of year. The location in Arlington has required a very spread out venue for the pre-game activities. That is the biggest weakness. New Orleans is probably the best SuperBowl site of all. The weather is usually very satisfactory and all the venues--including some unofficial ones--like Bourbon Street are all within walking distance. Even the Miami area with the best weather of all can't beat that. The Stadium is not near anything else. Strangely enough cold weather Indianapolis will have a New Orleans-like site. Everything is close to Lucas Oil Stadium. Many of them are connected by walkways as well. Of course, no one except New Orleans has Bourbon Street.
The most interesting game will be the open air game in late January or early February in New Jersey. I will be the first to say, "What were they thinking?" The NFL might luck out. Perhaps by then weather patterns will be different and they will miss the snow and extreme cold. The odds are not good.
Perhaps THAT game will convince the league that if they want to keep their game what it always has been it must never leave a covered stadium...or Miami and go nowhere North of DFW (and that may be marginal.)
All I know is I am very happy my job has never called for coverage of SuperBowl Week--no matter where it was played.
ANDY PETTITTE IS A TEXAS BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER
The news that Andy Pettitte was to announce his retirement from baseball after a 16 year career came Friday. Thirteen of those seasons were with the Yankees and the other three with the Astros. He won 240 and lost 136 with a career 3.88 ERA. Those numbers may leave him a bit short of the Baseball Hall of Fame, but even if they do, he is at least a "mythical" Texas Baseball Hall of Famer for sure.
I use the term "mythical" since the actual operation of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame is in limbo right now. There have been no inductions or active organization for a few years. When things are started up again you can be sure Andy will be right at the top of the list of new inductees.
Andy--a native Texan-- qualifies for the TBHOF on that standpoint. But his three years with the Astros co-incided with the most successful trio of seasons of all time for the club. The Astros won their first playoff series during the Pettitte-Clemens years as well as their first NL title and World Series berth.
So, Andy, enjoy retirement. You have been one of the best for a long time.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Horns Good Enough to Win it All
The most talented men's basketball team in these parts since the glory days of Houston's "Phi Slama Jama" in the early 1980s and thus a solid pick to win an NCAA championship. Those are the Texas Longhorns. The fact that the state's largest university has never been much of a factor in the tournament in the past means nothing now. Coach Rick Barnes has way more than just an entrant or even Sweet Sixteen team. He has a team every bit good enough to win the big one.
Only UTEP (then known as Texas Western) has won the championship from within the Texas borders. One of the reasons was the club was loaded with non-Texans. Barnes' U-T team has a number of non Texas high schoolers as well, as he has recruited nationally well. At the same time he has gotten the program to the point where the Longhorns are the first pick for most of the blue chippers that DO play high school hoops in the DFW and Houston regions. It has all added up to a team that plays on both ends of the court as well as anyone in the country.
Monday nights easy win over the 17-4 Texas A&M Aggies was a huge win. The Aggies are not a bad team at all. They have depth. They have some experience. They have good players. They do not have the number of great basketball athletes that Texas has. In the rematch of the one-sided U-T win in Austin earlier in January the Aggie home crowd was of no aid. The Longhorns rolled to an early commanding lead of 25 points and kept the margin at 20 when the final horn sounded.
Holding Texas A&M to only 49 points in a home game says a lot. It says the Longhorns would be a solid pick to hoist the NCAA trophy at Houston's Reliant Stadium on April 4th. A crowning achievement that would be...bringing a title to the home state--within the home state.
Only UTEP (then known as Texas Western) has won the championship from within the Texas borders. One of the reasons was the club was loaded with non-Texans. Barnes' U-T team has a number of non Texas high schoolers as well, as he has recruited nationally well. At the same time he has gotten the program to the point where the Longhorns are the first pick for most of the blue chippers that DO play high school hoops in the DFW and Houston regions. It has all added up to a team that plays on both ends of the court as well as anyone in the country.
Monday nights easy win over the 17-4 Texas A&M Aggies was a huge win. The Aggies are not a bad team at all. They have depth. They have some experience. They have good players. They do not have the number of great basketball athletes that Texas has. In the rematch of the one-sided U-T win in Austin earlier in January the Aggie home crowd was of no aid. The Longhorns rolled to an early commanding lead of 25 points and kept the margin at 20 when the final horn sounded.
Holding Texas A&M to only 49 points in a home game says a lot. It says the Longhorns would be a solid pick to hoist the NCAA trophy at Houston's Reliant Stadium on April 4th. A crowning achievement that would be...bringing a title to the home state--within the home state.
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