Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
July 28, 2015
Movie Review: Southpaw (2015)
January 3, 2014
Outcast Mini: Grudge Match (2013)
April 9, 2009
The Mets, Shea, and Me
WARNING: This is riddled with inaccuracies accentuated by them being the memories of a child. This is not about fact, but about my fandom and the inaccuracy of memory. Enjoy.
The year was 1986, I was a young boy who decided to start watching baseball. Granted, I was a bit older than most kids getting into baseball, but that's what happens when you grow up in a household that doesn't watch sports, despite my extended family being die hard Yankee fans. Well, I guess you can't win them all. Anyway, that summer I watched Met games, I watched Yankee games. As it turns out, the Yankee games were dull and Mets games were exciting, what with guys like Daryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, not to mention running away with the National League Eastern Division. Of course, there was also that dramatic World Series victory over the Red Sox.
Ever since that year, I have been a fan of the Mets. During the 21 subsequent seasons there was no other team for me, nor will their be for the foreseeable future. Over the years my attention has followed a reverse bell curve pattern, beginning high in 1986 and continuing through the late 1980s and early 1990s before dipping through those horrid teams in the mid-90s before rebounding in 1999 and 2000 and reaching an even higher peak over the past few years.
In 1987 my father began to take me to Mets games, it was only one or two a year, but they provided great memories, even if they lost most of them. However, my greatest game memory came from that first year. I don't remember who they were playing (although, I want to say it was the Pirates), but I remember how it ended. Before we could get to that end, I remember getting to the stadium, seeing that glorious structure get bigger as we got closer to it. I remember buying a scorecard and a yearbook, taking my father's hand and walking up the ramps. I remember taking those last few steps up the ramp towards the seats, the field opening up in front of me, the sun shining down, the green grass, the dirt, everything just leaping up to great me. I tell you, it was awe inspiring, and every time since then I have had the same reaction.
The game was a blast. I had no idea how to keep score, or notice any of the finer points of the game, but it was great just being there. Somewhere in the sixth or seventh inning, it began to rain, resulting in a two-hour rain delay. It was looking dire for the Mets as they were trailing. Lee Mazzilli came in and drove in the tying run with a big pinch hit, the crowd went wild. The game would remain tied until the thirteenth inning (yes, it was a long day). In the bottom of the inning, Kevin McReynolds came up and hit a game winning, walk off home run. To say I was happy would be an understatement. Of course, that was one of the last winning games I saw until this year.
When this year began, I was determined to get to at least one game. I was fortunate enough to attend three. Not only that, but they won all three! Man, it had been so long since I had been to a winning game. I have to say it was pretty special seeing a Mets win.
The first game was May 29th against the Dodgers with a pitching match up of Brad Penny (who may be good, but the Mets own) against Claudio Vargas. Sure, I wish I had seen one of the regular Mets starters, but I will settle for a win (wouldn't you?). The game was a blast, especially seeing a two-homer performance from David Wright.
It was August 21st when I was able to get back to the Stadium. This time they were facing the Braves with Pedro Martinez (not exactly an ace anymore, but still fun to watch when he is on) facing down Mike Hampton (Booo!). This game proved to be a bit more exciting, despite a good performance from Pedro, we won it in walk off fashion. Very exciting. This game featured another offensive performance from David Wright, who homered and doubled twice.
Now, that brings me to the third game of 2008 trifecta, September 27th. It was one of the most important games of the season. Mets versus Marlins, with the Mets trailing the Brewers by one game in the race for the wildcard. The game was the second to last regular season game that would be played in Shea Stadium. Johan Santana stepped up to the plate and delivered one of the single best games of his career.
The game aside, as great as it was, it proved to be a much more emotional experience than I had anticipated. It is hard to tell what will make you react emotionally. Before this game if you had told me that a baseball game could nearly move me to tears, I would tell you that you were crazy. However, as Michael Amante sang the National Anthem, I found myself getting a little choked up. It would happen a few times throughout the game as I realized that this would be the last time I would set foot within the friendly confines of Shea Stadium. There were moments I could not cheer for fear that tears would fall from my eyes. Being a part of that crowd during this final weekend of Shea just really got to me. It was a spectacularly moving experience that I will not soon forget. It may not have been the offensive game that would have been nice, but it allowed me to see Johan Santana toe the rubber and deliver a performance of the ages. Simply amazing.
Now, with all of those games aside, the final game of the season is here. Going in my beloved Mets were tied with Milwaukee for the wildcard, due in no small part to Santana's phenomenal performance on Saturday. I sat there watching every inning, every pitch. We went down 2-0 and came back to tie, thanks to a clutch home run from Carlos Beltran, but then the bullpen did what they have done so many times this year, back to back home runs by Marlin batters drove the final nail into the coffin of the 2008 season. The bullpen does not solely take the blame, as our offense hardly showed up for this game, or this series, but it does point to one of, if not the biggest weakness of this team down the stretch and across the season. I was, I am, heartbroken. The season is over, Shea has been permanently shuttered and we head into the off season with dreams of what could have been, thoughts of what needs to be done, and hopes that perhaps 2009 will be the year that the Mets finally put the right pieces together to make it to the post season.
With the game in the rearview mirror, there was one final piece of business left to attend to.Following the loss the final closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium took place. It was special, it was magical, it was sad, but it also helped point out all of the good things that have happened here. The stars were out in force. Each one announced by Howie Rose, as the entered through an opening in center field before making their way down the sidelines to the infield.
Among the stars present were Ed Kranepool, Ron Hunt, Jerry Koosman, Felix Millan, Cleon Jones, Ron Swoboda, Dave Kingman, Al Leiter, Lenny Dykstra, Wally Backman, Daryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, John Franco, Tim Teufel, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Lee Mazzilli, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile, Sid Fernandez, Jesse Orosco, Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza, and The Franchise Tom Seaver.
All of them were given a chance to touch home plate one more time before a ceremonial final pitch was thrown by Tom Seaver to Mike Piazza, two of the biggest players to ever where a Mets uniform. Together the headed to the outfield, towards the open gate in centerfield and towards Citifield. As they made their way, the stadium lights began to go out. Once at the gates, Seaver and Piazza closed the gates signalling the closure of the stadium, fireworks lit up the sky, launched from the upper rim of the stadium, the crowd cheered one last time and it was all over.
For as disappointing an end to the season as this was, these final moments with the stars of the team was very special. I was left something of an emotional wreck, something I did not think would, or could, happen. I felt as if a chapter of my life was being closed, and in a way it was.
Well, Citifield, here we come. It is time to begin a new chapter and start making new memories.
Here are some photos I took at the three games:
The year was 1986, I was a young boy who decided to start watching baseball. Granted, I was a bit older than most kids getting into baseball, but that's what happens when you grow up in a household that doesn't watch sports, despite my extended family being die hard Yankee fans. Well, I guess you can't win them all. Anyway, that summer I watched Met games, I watched Yankee games. As it turns out, the Yankee games were dull and Mets games were exciting, what with guys like Daryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, not to mention running away with the National League Eastern Division. Of course, there was also that dramatic World Series victory over the Red Sox.
Ever since that year, I have been a fan of the Mets. During the 21 subsequent seasons there was no other team for me, nor will their be for the foreseeable future. Over the years my attention has followed a reverse bell curve pattern, beginning high in 1986 and continuing through the late 1980s and early 1990s before dipping through those horrid teams in the mid-90s before rebounding in 1999 and 2000 and reaching an even higher peak over the past few years.
In 1987 my father began to take me to Mets games, it was only one or two a year, but they provided great memories, even if they lost most of them. However, my greatest game memory came from that first year. I don't remember who they were playing (although, I want to say it was the Pirates), but I remember how it ended. Before we could get to that end, I remember getting to the stadium, seeing that glorious structure get bigger as we got closer to it. I remember buying a scorecard and a yearbook, taking my father's hand and walking up the ramps. I remember taking those last few steps up the ramp towards the seats, the field opening up in front of me, the sun shining down, the green grass, the dirt, everything just leaping up to great me. I tell you, it was awe inspiring, and every time since then I have had the same reaction.
The game was a blast. I had no idea how to keep score, or notice any of the finer points of the game, but it was great just being there. Somewhere in the sixth or seventh inning, it began to rain, resulting in a two-hour rain delay. It was looking dire for the Mets as they were trailing. Lee Mazzilli came in and drove in the tying run with a big pinch hit, the crowd went wild. The game would remain tied until the thirteenth inning (yes, it was a long day). In the bottom of the inning, Kevin McReynolds came up and hit a game winning, walk off home run. To say I was happy would be an understatement. Of course, that was one of the last winning games I saw until this year.
When this year began, I was determined to get to at least one game. I was fortunate enough to attend three. Not only that, but they won all three! Man, it had been so long since I had been to a winning game. I have to say it was pretty special seeing a Mets win.
The first game was May 29th against the Dodgers with a pitching match up of Brad Penny (who may be good, but the Mets own) against Claudio Vargas. Sure, I wish I had seen one of the regular Mets starters, but I will settle for a win (wouldn't you?). The game was a blast, especially seeing a two-homer performance from David Wright.
It was August 21st when I was able to get back to the Stadium. This time they were facing the Braves with Pedro Martinez (not exactly an ace anymore, but still fun to watch when he is on) facing down Mike Hampton (Booo!). This game proved to be a bit more exciting, despite a good performance from Pedro, we won it in walk off fashion. Very exciting. This game featured another offensive performance from David Wright, who homered and doubled twice.
Now, that brings me to the third game of 2008 trifecta, September 27th. It was one of the most important games of the season. Mets versus Marlins, with the Mets trailing the Brewers by one game in the race for the wildcard. The game was the second to last regular season game that would be played in Shea Stadium. Johan Santana stepped up to the plate and delivered one of the single best games of his career.
The game aside, as great as it was, it proved to be a much more emotional experience than I had anticipated. It is hard to tell what will make you react emotionally. Before this game if you had told me that a baseball game could nearly move me to tears, I would tell you that you were crazy. However, as Michael Amante sang the National Anthem, I found myself getting a little choked up. It would happen a few times throughout the game as I realized that this would be the last time I would set foot within the friendly confines of Shea Stadium. There were moments I could not cheer for fear that tears would fall from my eyes. Being a part of that crowd during this final weekend of Shea just really got to me. It was a spectacularly moving experience that I will not soon forget. It may not have been the offensive game that would have been nice, but it allowed me to see Johan Santana toe the rubber and deliver a performance of the ages. Simply amazing.
Now, with all of those games aside, the final game of the season is here. Going in my beloved Mets were tied with Milwaukee for the wildcard, due in no small part to Santana's phenomenal performance on Saturday. I sat there watching every inning, every pitch. We went down 2-0 and came back to tie, thanks to a clutch home run from Carlos Beltran, but then the bullpen did what they have done so many times this year, back to back home runs by Marlin batters drove the final nail into the coffin of the 2008 season. The bullpen does not solely take the blame, as our offense hardly showed up for this game, or this series, but it does point to one of, if not the biggest weakness of this team down the stretch and across the season. I was, I am, heartbroken. The season is over, Shea has been permanently shuttered and we head into the off season with dreams of what could have been, thoughts of what needs to be done, and hopes that perhaps 2009 will be the year that the Mets finally put the right pieces together to make it to the post season.
With the game in the rearview mirror, there was one final piece of business left to attend to.Following the loss the final closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium took place. It was special, it was magical, it was sad, but it also helped point out all of the good things that have happened here. The stars were out in force. Each one announced by Howie Rose, as the entered through an opening in center field before making their way down the sidelines to the infield.
Among the stars present were Ed Kranepool, Ron Hunt, Jerry Koosman, Felix Millan, Cleon Jones, Ron Swoboda, Dave Kingman, Al Leiter, Lenny Dykstra, Wally Backman, Daryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, John Franco, Tim Teufel, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Lee Mazzilli, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile, Sid Fernandez, Jesse Orosco, Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza, and The Franchise Tom Seaver.
All of them were given a chance to touch home plate one more time before a ceremonial final pitch was thrown by Tom Seaver to Mike Piazza, two of the biggest players to ever where a Mets uniform. Together the headed to the outfield, towards the open gate in centerfield and towards Citifield. As they made their way, the stadium lights began to go out. Once at the gates, Seaver and Piazza closed the gates signalling the closure of the stadium, fireworks lit up the sky, launched from the upper rim of the stadium, the crowd cheered one last time and it was all over.
For as disappointing an end to the season as this was, these final moments with the stars of the team was very special. I was left something of an emotional wreck, something I did not think would, or could, happen. I felt as if a chapter of my life was being closed, and in a way it was.
Well, Citifield, here we come. It is time to begin a new chapter and start making new memories.
Here are some photos I took at the three games:
March 16, 2008
Fantasy Baseball 2008: Year Three, the Plot Thickens
It's that time of year again. What time? Fantasy baseball time, of course. This will be my third go-around as fantasy baseball GM, and it is already shaping up to be the toughest one yet. Why, you ask? Because there are six more teams this time, and you know what that means. Six more players per round over a twenty round draft. That pretty effectively thins the talent pool and makes my job picking a team a little more difficult.
My first year, 2006, was little more than an exercise in futility. After a few weeks I began to forget to manage my team, before long the idea of checking who was playing was a distant memory. Subsequently, my non-managed team ran right into the ground. I don't even know where I ended up. 2007 proved to be a different story. I went to the draft to play. I came out with a decent team that I successfully managed for the entire and led my team (with a few changes along the way) to a second place finish. Well, I actually finished third, but there are ongoing investigations into improprieties with the first place team that are as yet unresolved.
This year there was a distinct similarity to last year. The carryover is my utter and complete lack of genuine research. I keep myself pretty busy with writing for this site, which kept me away from all of those 2007 stats and 2008 projections, not to mention pre-ranking and having some sort of position guide/cheat sheet to make sure I get all of the players I need. Sure, I had done a little checking, but not nearly enough to be worthwhile.
So, I entered the draft room with just a little anxiety. Then I saw my place in the draft, fourteenth out of fourteen. Well, there go my dreams of getting A-Rod, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Johan Santana, or any of the other first tier names that I was interested in. Resigned to that fact, I took a look down the list of ESPN's standard pre-rankings and began to put together a little bit of a strategy, a strategy that did not really work out in the end.
Before going any further, let's take a look at my drafted team, with comparisons to my first two teams:
My first year, 2006, was little more than an exercise in futility. After a few weeks I began to forget to manage my team, before long the idea of checking who was playing was a distant memory. Subsequently, my non-managed team ran right into the ground. I don't even know where I ended up. 2007 proved to be a different story. I went to the draft to play. I came out with a decent team that I successfully managed for the entire and led my team (with a few changes along the way) to a second place finish. Well, I actually finished third, but there are ongoing investigations into improprieties with the first place team that are as yet unresolved.
This year there was a distinct similarity to last year. The carryover is my utter and complete lack of genuine research. I keep myself pretty busy with writing for this site, which kept me away from all of those 2007 stats and 2008 projections, not to mention pre-ranking and having some sort of position guide/cheat sheet to make sure I get all of the players I need. Sure, I had done a little checking, but not nearly enough to be worthwhile.
So, I entered the draft room with just a little anxiety. Then I saw my place in the draft, fourteenth out of fourteen. Well, there go my dreams of getting A-Rod, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Johan Santana, or any of the other first tier names that I was interested in. Resigned to that fact, I took a look down the list of ESPN's standard pre-rankings and began to put together a little bit of a strategy, a strategy that did not really work out in the end.
Before going any further, let's take a look at my drafted team, with comparisons to my first two teams:
| Position | 2008 Team | 2007 Team | 2006 Team |
| Catcher | Kenji Johjima (Sea) | Paul LoDuca (NYM) | Jason Varitek (Bos) |
| 1st Base | Prince Fielder (Mil) | Carlos Delgado (NYM) | Lance Berkman (Hou) |
| 2nd Base | Aaron Hill (Tor) | Dan Uggla (Fla) | Tadahito Iguchi (CWS) |
| 3rd Base | Aramis Ramirez (ChC) | Troy Glaus (Tor) | David Wright (NYM) |
| Shortstop | Jhonny Peralta (Cle) | Jose Reyes (NYM) | Derek Jeter (NYY) |
| Outfield | Carlos Beltran (NYM) | Carlos Beltran (NYM) | Andrue Jones (Atl) |
| Outfield | Hunter Pence (Hou) | Jermaine Dye (CWS) | Johnny Damon (NYY) |
| Outfield | Hideki Matsui (NYY) | Nick Swisher (Oak) | Cliff Floyd (NYM) |
| Utility | Luis Castillo (NYM) | Ramon Hernandez (Bal) | Jim Edmonds (StL) |
| Utility | Conor Jackson (Ari) | Pat Burrell (Phi) | Preston Wilson (Hou) |
| Bench | Rick Ankiel (StL) | Adrian Gonzalez (SD) | Melvin Mora (Bal) |
| Bench | Stephen Drew (Ari) | JD Drew (Bos) | Bobby Crosby (Oak) |
| Bench | Josh Fields (CWS) | Omar Vizquel (SF) | Placido Polanco (Det) |
| Bench | Ryan Church (NYM) | Luis Castillo (Min) | Paul LoDuca (NYM) |
| Bench | Nick Johnson (Was) | ||
| Starting Pitcher | Justin Verlander (Det) | Roy Oswalt (Hou) | Dontrelle Willis (Fla) |
| Starting Pitcher | John Lackey (LAA) | Aaron Harang (Cin) | Tim Wakefield (Bos) |
| Starting Pitcher | Roger Clemens (Hou) | ||
| Relief Pitcher | Todd Jones (Det) | Billy Wagner (NYM) | Trevor Hoffman(SD) |
| Relief Pitcher | Brian Wilson (SF) | Takashi Saito (LAD) | Aaron Heilman (NYM) |
| Pitcher | John Maine (NYM) | CC Sabathia (Cle) | Ben Sheets (Mil) |
| Pitcher | Andy Pettite (NYY) | Andy Pettite (NYY) | Noah Lowry (SF) |
| Pitcher | Kevin Millwood (Tex) | ||
| Pitcher | Matt Cain (SF) | ||
| Pitcher | Joe Borowski (Fla) |
First impressions?
I don't think I did all that bad, although I feel I may be a bit lacking in the starting pitching department. After all, eight top flight pitchers were chosen before I got to my third pick (my first two were position players. I think Verlander and Lackey will have good years, Pettite is generally solid, and I hope that Maine can build on his 15 wins from last year.
I have two carryovers from last year, Beltran and Pettite, while there is one returning from my 2006 team in Luis Castillo, although this time as a backup rather than a starter. I should also note that Hunter Pence was on my team at the end of last season and was impressive, I hope to see him continue his success.
Among my more questionable picks is Rick Ankiel, the pitcher turned outfielder who was also in the midst of the steroid scandal. He put up decent numbers in his limited exposure as an outfielder for the Cardinals. Playing everyday will either increase his production or expose him as a flash in the pan, I am banking on an increase. Then there is Ryan Church, who should be solid, but is not exactly star material. What can I say? He was my 20th round pick, I needed an outfielder, and the pickers were slim.
Will this team be able to hold up? Time will tell, although I am sure a few transactions will be in the offing.
For the curious, here are how my first few rounds went: 1. Prince Fielder, 2. Carlos Beltran, 3. Aramis Ramirez, 4. Justin Verlander, 5. John Lackey, 6. Hunter Pence.
For the even curioser (I know that isn't a word), here is the first round: 1. Alex Rodriguez, 2. Johan Santana (surprisingly early), 3. Hanley Ramirez, 4. Jimmy Rollins, 5. David Wright, 6. Jose Reyes, 7. Chase Utley, 8. Albert Pujols, 9. Jake Peavey, 10. Miguel Cabrera, 11. Matt Holliday, 12. Ryan Howard, 13. Carl Crawford, 14. Prince Fielder.
And so it goes, the season is rapidly approaching and I cannot wait to see how my team does, meaning the Mets. They made the biggest trade of the off-season and seem poised to run straight for the top. I worry, however, about their depth, they have none and if they have to deal with any number of injuries, the season could get hairy in a hurry. I mean we already lost Moises Alou until May....
March 8, 2007
Fantasy Baseball: The Second Year
OK, last year I tried my hand at a round of fantasy baseball. It was something that I never quite understood the fascination with it, yet I found myself filled with axiety as the draft day rolled around. I sat there, at the keyboard, praying that the players I wanted wouldn't be snagged out from under me. It happened a few times, but I ended up with a halfway decent team. I would log in daily and figure out what changes I had to make, but a few months in, I slipped off and found my team slip off to the bottom of the pile. Well, it is a new year, and a new baseball season is nearly upon us. I got the invite, this time at ESPN's fantasy leagues as opposed to Yahoo. The biggest difference being we play 20 man teams against Yahoo's 25 man team. Will this year be any different?
This year there was no question that I was going to sign up, unlike last year's tentative entry. My thoughts swirled as I wondered who I would choose, or who would be left to be drafted. Dreams of Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Alfonso Soriano, and Johan Santana danced in mind. Oh, to know what picks I would have. Would I be high up in the draft? Would I be languishing in the shadows of the rest of the league? Would I stock up on players from my favorite team? The combinations were staggering.
Suddenly, draft day was upon us and I hadn't even done any pre-ranking. I was so bad that I hadn't done any research on the lesser of the big names. As I went through the work day, I could not help but think I was a lost cause for the big selection. My dreams of All-Stars fell to dreams of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals.
Fortunately, I was able to do some quick checking and a little bit of pre-ranking, and I think my team looks better this year than it did last, when I made a few hasty choices. This year I missed out on a few names that I really wanted, but I feel I have a better chance at ranking higher this year. Now, I am not getting ahead of myself and thinking I have any shot at winning it all, but definitely thinking of a higher placement.
When the draft started, I found myself at the south end of the action, number 7 of 8. At least the order reversed in round two. Well, that turned out to be sort of good, with better placement also came less time to look through the remaining players looking for the next pick, that was followed by a long and agonizing wait as you peruse the lists with almost too much time on your hands.
Without further ado, let's take a look at this years team versus last year's choices:
There you have it, my 2006 team. You will probably immediately notice that there are a lot fewer pitchers in this league, and overall, I think I made a few better choices this time around. I did not make any silly choices like Roger Clemens, and I decided to stick to starters and closers, avoiding long relievers like Aaron Heilman. I am not sure if that was wise, but it is the direction I started to go in.
You may also notice that my backup catcher last year is my started this year in my only carryover from last year's team. I am also willing to bet that you can tell who my favorite team is by checking out my roster!
Also, if you are curious, my first few rounds looked like this: 1. Carlos Beltran 2. Jose Reyes 3. Carlos Delgado 4. Paul LoDuca 5. Roy Oswalt. I will also say that I had hoped that David Wright would make it to round 3 for me to draft, but he was selected at the end of round 2. I had to decide between him and Reyes, ultimately choosing the star shortstop. I think the only choice I wasn't that crazy about was Nick Swisher, not sure why though.
And to show who was most popular, here are the first two rounds order: Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Howard, Johan Santana, Derek Jeter, Carlos Beltran, Miguel Cabrera, Manny Ramirez, Jose Reyes, Ichiro Suzuki, Chase Utley, David Ortiz, Carl Crawford, Vladimir Guerrero, and David Wright. Goes to show who the stars are!
That brings this years draft to a close. Hopefully I will do better this year than last.
This year there was no question that I was going to sign up, unlike last year's tentative entry. My thoughts swirled as I wondered who I would choose, or who would be left to be drafted. Dreams of Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Alfonso Soriano, and Johan Santana danced in mind. Oh, to know what picks I would have. Would I be high up in the draft? Would I be languishing in the shadows of the rest of the league? Would I stock up on players from my favorite team? The combinations were staggering.
Suddenly, draft day was upon us and I hadn't even done any pre-ranking. I was so bad that I hadn't done any research on the lesser of the big names. As I went through the work day, I could not help but think I was a lost cause for the big selection. My dreams of All-Stars fell to dreams of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals.
Fortunately, I was able to do some quick checking and a little bit of pre-ranking, and I think my team looks better this year than it did last, when I made a few hasty choices. This year I missed out on a few names that I really wanted, but I feel I have a better chance at ranking higher this year. Now, I am not getting ahead of myself and thinking I have any shot at winning it all, but definitely thinking of a higher placement.
When the draft started, I found myself at the south end of the action, number 7 of 8. At least the order reversed in round two. Well, that turned out to be sort of good, with better placement also came less time to look through the remaining players looking for the next pick, that was followed by a long and agonizing wait as you peruse the lists with almost too much time on your hands.
Without further ado, let's take a look at this years team versus last year's choices:
| Position | 2007 Team | 2006 Team |
| Catcher | Paul LoDuca (NYM) | Jason Varitek (Bos) |
| 1st Base | Caros Delgado (NYM) | Lance Berkman (Hou) |
| 2nd Base | Dan Uggla (Fla) | Tadahito Iguchi (CWS) |
| 3rd Base | Troy Glaus (Tor) | David Wright (NYM) |
| Shortstop | Jose Reyes (NYM) | Derek Jeter (NYY) |
| Outfield | Carlos Beltran (NYM) | Andrue Jones (Atl) |
| Outfield | Jermaine Dye (CWS) | Johnny Damon (NYY) |
| Outfield | Nick Swisher (Oak) | Cliff Floyd (NYM) |
| Utility | Ramon Hernandez (Bal) | Jim Edmonds (StL) |
| Utility | Pat Burrell (Phi) | Preston Wilson (Hou) |
| Bench | Adrian Gonzalez (SD) | Melvin Mora (Bal) |
| Bench | JD Drew (Bos) | Bobby Crosby (Oak) |
| Bench | Omar Vizquel (SF) | Placido Polanco (Det) |
| Bench | Luis Castillo (Min) | Paul LoDuca (NYM) |
| Bench | Nick Johnson (Was) | |
| Starting Pitcher | Roy Oswalt (Hou) | Dontrelle Willis (Fla) |
| Starting Pitcher | Aaron Harang (Cin) | Tim Wakefield (Bos) |
| Starting Pitcher | Roger Clemens (Hou) | |
| Relief Pitcher | Billy Wagner (NYM) | Trevor Hoffman(SD) |
| Relief Pitcher | Takashi Saito (LAD) | Aaron Heilman (NYM) |
| Pitcher | CC Sabathia | Ben Sheets (Mil) |
| Pitcher | Andy Pettite | Noah Lowry (SF) |
| Pitcher | Kevin Millwood (Tex) | |
| Pitcher | Matt Cain (SF) | |
| Pitcher | Joe Borowski (Fla) |
There you have it, my 2006 team. You will probably immediately notice that there are a lot fewer pitchers in this league, and overall, I think I made a few better choices this time around. I did not make any silly choices like Roger Clemens, and I decided to stick to starters and closers, avoiding long relievers like Aaron Heilman. I am not sure if that was wise, but it is the direction I started to go in.
You may also notice that my backup catcher last year is my started this year in my only carryover from last year's team. I am also willing to bet that you can tell who my favorite team is by checking out my roster!
Also, if you are curious, my first few rounds looked like this: 1. Carlos Beltran 2. Jose Reyes 3. Carlos Delgado 4. Paul LoDuca 5. Roy Oswalt. I will also say that I had hoped that David Wright would make it to round 3 for me to draft, but he was selected at the end of round 2. I had to decide between him and Reyes, ultimately choosing the star shortstop. I think the only choice I wasn't that crazy about was Nick Swisher, not sure why though.
And to show who was most popular, here are the first two rounds order: Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Howard, Johan Santana, Derek Jeter, Carlos Beltran, Miguel Cabrera, Manny Ramirez, Jose Reyes, Ichiro Suzuki, Chase Utley, David Ortiz, Carl Crawford, Vladimir Guerrero, and David Wright. Goes to show who the stars are!
That brings this years draft to a close. Hopefully I will do better this year than last.
February 17, 2007
NASCAR: Daytona 500 - "Start Your Engines" the 2007 Edition
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NASCAR is the only sport that I can think of that features its premiere race at the start of the season. All of the other sports, that I can think of, place it at the end of the year, culminating with the coronation of a new champion. Of course, NASCAR does not crown their champ at the start, they still have the championship awarded at the end of the season, yet there is something magical, something revered, and something that every driver so greatly desires in the Daytona 500. It marks the start of a new season of motorsports, and could be equated to the Super Bowl in terms of anticipation and build up.
The Daytona 500 has the largest televised audience of any race during the year, it attracts the largest in person attendance, and also offers the largest purse to the winner. It is a race that all the greats have won, although it does take some longer than others, with Dale Earnhardt winning it after 20 years worth of attempts, others win it early in their career, like Jeff Gordon, who won in only his second full season on the circuit.
This year, 43 drivers are competing for the prestigious prize. Like every year, the field is wide open. There is no way to predict who the winner is going to be, of course the favorite is inevitably the pole sitter, although it is all but a sure thing. NASCAR Nextel Cup racing may look like a sprint, due to those incredibly high speeds, but it is more akin to a marathon, as you have to factor in the length of the race, fuel and tire consumption, speed of the pit crews, and a whole host of other variables. It seems just as likely for someone to win from the back of the pack as it is for those at the front. In the 49 years that the race has existed, there have been 30 different winners, with 5 going on to win the championship that same season.
Heading up this year's field is David Gilliland, driving Ford #98 emblazoned with the M&M's logo. This will be his first full year on the circuit, and this is his first Daytona 500, and there he is, starting at the top of the field in the big one. Rounding out the top five are Ricky Rudd, two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. To show that there is star power throughout the field, Jeff Gordon will be starting from the 42nd position.
Following last weekend's qualifying, there was much to be reported on. There were infractions, major and minor, wrecks, and suspensions all emanating from Daytona International Speedway. Each year delivers its own set of news and controversies, and this year is no different.
Four team directors were suspended, two for four races, the other two for two races. Directors for Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth received the four race suspensions, while Elliot Sadler and Scott Riggs will lose their directors for two races each. In addition to the suspensions, there were point deductions and monetary fines levied against the various teams involved. Then there was the infraction found on Jeff Gordon's car, his spoiler was found to be below regulation height, and he has been forced to drop from his qualified fourth position all the way down to 42nd. Michael Waltrip, a two time Daytona 500 winner, has hit something of a crisis, involving a seized car, and loss of money and points.
The specifics of all of these occurences escapes me, as there are so many specific and stringent rules and regulations governing every aspect of each car. Considering my level of enjoyment, I doubt that I will ever know, although it is interesting to see the results of the infractions, as they can be quite severe.
In better news, there are a bunch of firsts in this years race. Including pole sitter Dave Gilliland, there are four rookies in the field, the other three names being David Reutimann, Juan Montoya, and David Ragan. Joining the four rookies will be the first attempts by Toyota to get into the NASCAR circuit. Previously, the stock car racing business has played host to Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge. There are four Toyota Camry's in the starting field, including Michael Waltrip. It will be interesting to see how they compete, Ford and Chevrolet have the most cars in the field.
You may have remembered way back at the start of this, I mentioned that I wasn't much of a fan. That is a fact that must have you asking yourself why I wrote this. Well, it is pretty simple, the race is around the corner, and it does have some interesting aspects to it, and I thought I would add a little bit of the outsider looking in. I may even watch the race.
Oh yeah, for the record, I predict Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win his second Daytona 500. If you have read my predictions for other areas of entertainment, you will also know that I have been known to be wrong. From time to time.
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