Sunday, April 23, 2006

Quick Thoughts - April 23 2006

Random Thoughts while staring aimlessly at my fishtank…

OK, I know. It’s been way too long since I last posted. My original plan was to put up my 2006 MLB Preview post(s), then wait a week or maybe even two to see how things shook out before gloating or apologizing.

Unfortunately, life got a little hectic since then, what with a college reunion weekend at Foxwoods (click here for two ridiculous videos, but be warned – there is sound, and a LOT of swearing from a couple of very, very drunk guys…), and planning for the 2006 DBQ (thanks, once again, to The Irvdawg for copyrighting that name). So this follow-up post got pushed back, and pushed back, and then I realized that it was almost a month later, so I really should write something.

So here it is…

n After three weeks of the baseball season, I can say, with complete confidence, that I was absolutely, positively, 100% wrong with my analysis of the Red Sox / Marlins trade that brought Josh Beckett to Boston. I have never seen a more intense pitcher wearing a Red Sox uniform, and I lived through the Ugueth Urbina era here in Boston. The guy just looks like every game is a life or death situation for him. It’s nice to see a young player who “gets it” – who understand that in New England, many people value the Red Sox higher than even their own families. Hell, I once told someone that they’d better schedule their wedding before Spring Training started, or else no one would attend.

n Not to mention that Mike Lowell seems to have a perfect Fenway swing: .324 AVG / .361 OBP / .529 SLG at home, /185/.267/.333 on the road. Keep him on the bench when the team is on a trip, but that guy needs to start all 81 in Boston.

n Damn the Mets look good… Still need one more starting arm in the rotation, but without it, I still feel pretty good about them fulfilling my predictions and making the World Series…

n And, for that matter, the White Sox don’t look too bad either. Jim Thome for Aaron Rowand might be the biggest trade of the offseason… unless Beckett wins the AL Cy Young.

n Nice to see Barry Bonds finally remember how to swing a bat. I drafted him in two fantasy leagues this year (once way too high – 4th round, and once way later than I thought he’d be available – 10th round). Everyone kept mocking me for it, until I reminded them that even if he only hits 15 HRs this season, I’ll still take his .500 OBP. Of course, then they reminded me that in the league where I got him in the 10th round, OBP isn’t a stat category. Yes, I’m a tool.

n This is a weird time of year in the Boston sports scene. In most seasons, either the Celtics or Bruins are still playing, so they can divert some attention from the Red Sox. This season though, aside from next week’s NFL Draft, nothing remotely important is happening in the sports world outside of Red Sox baseball. If you live around here, watch the emotion of the city swing day-to-day when the Sox win or lose – it’s really amazing.

n Speaking of the NFL Draft… I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – Houston needs to trade that #1 pick. They don’t need a quarterback, they don’t (really) need a running back, and they don’t want to have to pay #1 overall money to the position they really want/need – offensive lineman. Let’s break it down:

o The Jets & Titans are falling all over themselves to make a deal with the Saints and move ahead of the other team to get Matt Leinart – how much do you think they’d pay to get all the way to the top, guarantee themselves Leinart at least, and then have a decision to make with Reggie Bush? Remember Aaron Rogers, the guy who was supposed to be the consensus #1 pick in the draft last year – the California QB that the 49ers couldn’t possibly pass up at #1… until they took Alex Smith, and Rogers fell all the way to #25 and the Packers – as the 3rd QB taken (behind Smith & Jason Campbell)?

o Bush is the “safe” #1 pick – he’s explosive, he’ll put fans in the seats, and he’s guaranteed at least one highlight-reel quality play per game. But he’s not what the Texans need.

o If Houston swaps with the Titans at #3, Tennessee would probably take Leinart #1 overall. New Orleans seems enamored with D’Brickashaw Ferguson (who might have the best lineman’s nickname ever – “The Brick”), and the Saints would have a tough decision on their hands if they had to choose between Ferguson & Bush.

o Of course, Houston could swap out with the Jets, putting Bush in New York – where he would be an endorsement magnet, and would have the advantage of splitting time with a Hall-of-Famer in Curtis Martin for his first year, plus the Texans would most likely still end up with the player they really want – Mario Williams (assuming New Orleans takes Ferguson… Is it me, or does this scenario just make too much sense? OK, I’m getting an ice cream headache. I need to go lay down for a minute…

n Back to baseball… I’m wasn’t sure how to feel the other day when I was listening to the radio and I heard that Albert Pujols (A.K.A. the best professional baseball player in the world) isn’t quite two years older than me. Am I supposed to feel old? Or maybe I should be inspired to think that, if I ever got my ass into shape, I might still have some playing days left in me (pfff… yeah, OK). It’s funny – right now, on his ESPN.com player card, the “Player News” for April 20th reads: “Pujols did NOT hit a homer run on Wednesday.” What’s that say about a guy when it’s news that he didn’t hit a home run?

n Is it just me, or is Eddie Vedder starting to sound a little like Bob Dylan in his later years? Every time I hear “Worldwide Suicide” on the radio, I can understand fewer and fewer lyrics.

n One final link for you to click, just for the hell of it. If you’re at all a fan of the Fox TV show “Family Guy”, you need to see this site (SOUND). It’s probably the best possible way to kill a couple hours of your day.

Alright, that’s it for today. I promise – I’ll try to get back on here more frequently as the season goes on, and I’ll probably be back either just before or just after the NFL Draft. Or maybe I’ll even post live during it. Who knows…

Lata.

posted by Big D @ 1:12 PM

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