WOW! All those series against relatively weak teams that the Astros struggled to win during this run and they end up SWEEPING the Cards.
Game three's theme: you'd rather be lucky than good. Chris Coste can't get a bunt down in the ninth so he ends up with an RBI double on an 0-2 pitch. Then, first and third with one out and on Matsui's grouder the Cards come home for a made tag rather than a sure inning-ending double play. The extra out gave Tejada an at bat to get his walk off hit.
This team is in it now. Forget about being sellers. As long as Roy O. and Wandy stay sharp they should be able to at least hang in there. But they'll need help. And when teams make the kind of mistakes the Cardinals did this week it certainly boosts the cause.
So much for those '70's mustaches with the Cardinals pitching staff. Try NHL playoff beards next time.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
How can agents say that there is collusion in baseball? Well, teams shaved a collective $47 million in payroll from last year. A lot of free agents took a bath or didn't get signed at all.
Welcome to America circa 2009! Scott Boras's contention that baseball is in great financial health relative to the rest of the world may be true. But the same could be said for his clients.
Attendance is down 5% which is a miracle considering yours and my stock portfolios are still gasping for air. But many MLB teams tried to get a tad more conservative with their spending. You can't blame them considering we are hardly out of the recession yet.
People ask me all the time about the "impending doom" of an NFL work stoppage in 2011. I would be surprised if it happened. The last thing fans want to hear about is millionaires arguing with billionaires while unemployment pushes 10%. Of course, I would hope the economy would be better by the time we get past the 2010 season. That would slightly soften the ire of the fans. Still, I expect cooler heads to prevail and play to continue.
Another thing I always get asked about is the Texans' contract situations with O.D., Dunta and Demeco. I don't exactly have a wire tap into Rick Smith's phone but I would be totally shocked if these guys aren't coming out of the tunnel September 13 completely focused and prepared to beat the Jets. The rest is conversation.
You hear a lot of things: the teams says this, the player tweets that. The bottom line is contract disputes and negotiations are just a reality in sports. As my buddy RJ says, no one wants to see the sausage being made. Well, ignore the noise, wait for the opener and bon appetit!
Welcome to America circa 2009! Scott Boras's contention that baseball is in great financial health relative to the rest of the world may be true. But the same could be said for his clients.
Attendance is down 5% which is a miracle considering yours and my stock portfolios are still gasping for air. But many MLB teams tried to get a tad more conservative with their spending. You can't blame them considering we are hardly out of the recession yet.
People ask me all the time about the "impending doom" of an NFL work stoppage in 2011. I would be surprised if it happened. The last thing fans want to hear about is millionaires arguing with billionaires while unemployment pushes 10%. Of course, I would hope the economy would be better by the time we get past the 2010 season. That would slightly soften the ire of the fans. Still, I expect cooler heads to prevail and play to continue.
Another thing I always get asked about is the Texans' contract situations with O.D., Dunta and Demeco. I don't exactly have a wire tap into Rick Smith's phone but I would be totally shocked if these guys aren't coming out of the tunnel September 13 completely focused and prepared to beat the Jets. The rest is conversation.
You hear a lot of things: the teams says this, the player tweets that. The bottom line is contract disputes and negotiations are just a reality in sports. As my buddy RJ says, no one wants to see the sausage being made. Well, ignore the noise, wait for the opener and bon appetit!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Aaron Glenn is done playing. Teams keep calling but he's home for good in Houston now after 15 seasons in the league. We had him in studio Wednesday morning and talked about a lot of things including 19-10. He still sees it as one of the greatest games he's ever been in. He talked about the smoke being so thick (from the pregame fireworks) that players had trouble seeing the ball in the first half. Corey Bradford drew a pass interference call on the first drive of team history but told Aaron he couldn't find the ball anyway. Two plays later Billy Miller was in the endzone.
My most lasting Steve McNair memory is not a good one. Last play of the Christmas weekend game in 2003 McNair found Drew Bennett in the endzone on 4th and 10 in the 3rd most gut wrentching loss to the Titans in team history (you know about the other two). I'll always remember things Dom Capers told me about how hard it was to bring down McNair. He was super strong and one of two QBs in my lifetime who could skip practice and be precise on Sunday. Dan Fouts was the other.
I really hope Daryl Morey has something up his sleeve for this season because it's looking like '09-'10 will be a 'wait until next year' kind of campaign. Right now there is no "easy offense" on the roster. Not that the team as it stands can't play hard and make things interesting but it's hardly a contender.
Lance Armstrong's run is compelling. I don't watch it but I follow it. I've called him the Barry Bonds of Europe only because of how many locals feel about him. If he's never tested positive in a sport that tests more than Ron Artest tweets, that's good enough for me.
My most lasting Steve McNair memory is not a good one. Last play of the Christmas weekend game in 2003 McNair found Drew Bennett in the endzone on 4th and 10 in the 3rd most gut wrentching loss to the Titans in team history (you know about the other two). I'll always remember things Dom Capers told me about how hard it was to bring down McNair. He was super strong and one of two QBs in my lifetime who could skip practice and be precise on Sunday. Dan Fouts was the other.
I really hope Daryl Morey has something up his sleeve for this season because it's looking like '09-'10 will be a 'wait until next year' kind of campaign. Right now there is no "easy offense" on the roster. Not that the team as it stands can't play hard and make things interesting but it's hardly a contender.
Lance Armstrong's run is compelling. I don't watch it but I follow it. I've called him the Barry Bonds of Europe only because of how many locals feel about him. If he's never tested positive in a sport that tests more than Ron Artest tweets, that's good enough for me.
Monday, June 29, 2009
NOOOOOOOO!
"Say it ain't so." A kid once said that to Shoeless Joe and I'm saying it to Yao's foot. I know that nothing is final. Yet. But when you heard the news that Yao might miss a year didn't you just have this feeling that the Yao era in Houston could be over? I hate to be pessimistic. Me, being the Norman Vincent Peale of Houston sports. But, Yao's big feet are not cooperating the way his heart and mind would like. Let's hope whatever they decided to do works and we again get to see performances like the 28 point night in L.A. to go up on the Lakers.
Jose Valverde's meltdown Sunday reminded me that closers are kind of like field goal kickers. I'm not saying getting out of one inning is like an extra point chip shot. But how about a 35 to 40 yard boot to win a game. The team does all this work to get into position to win then one guy basically blows it. Valverde went through a little funk earlier this year and snapped out of it. With the Astros getting good starting pitching lately the last thing you want to see is bullpen failure...especially with the team having trouble pushing runs across.
I was neck deep in Team USA tension with them leading Brazil 2-0 at the break. Facebook was blowing up with reaction. I was getting texts from everywhere. Yet there were also friends and acquaintances who didn't even realize it was on. Weird. I am not a huge Soccer fan but with our boys about to knock off the Yankees/Lakers of the sports I was into it. It was strange feeling sports anxiety like that this time of year.
"Say it ain't so." A kid once said that to Shoeless Joe and I'm saying it to Yao's foot. I know that nothing is final. Yet. But when you heard the news that Yao might miss a year didn't you just have this feeling that the Yao era in Houston could be over? I hate to be pessimistic. Me, being the Norman Vincent Peale of Houston sports. But, Yao's big feet are not cooperating the way his heart and mind would like. Let's hope whatever they decided to do works and we again get to see performances like the 28 point night in L.A. to go up on the Lakers.
Jose Valverde's meltdown Sunday reminded me that closers are kind of like field goal kickers. I'm not saying getting out of one inning is like an extra point chip shot. But how about a 35 to 40 yard boot to win a game. The team does all this work to get into position to win then one guy basically blows it. Valverde went through a little funk earlier this year and snapped out of it. With the Astros getting good starting pitching lately the last thing you want to see is bullpen failure...especially with the team having trouble pushing runs across.
I was neck deep in Team USA tension with them leading Brazil 2-0 at the break. Facebook was blowing up with reaction. I was getting texts from everywhere. Yet there were also friends and acquaintances who didn't even realize it was on. Weird. I am not a huge Soccer fan but with our boys about to knock off the Yankees/Lakers of the sports I was into it. It was strange feeling sports anxiety like that this time of year.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
We had Brad Sham (voice of the Cowboys) on the air Tuesday and he talked a great deal about the terrible accident at their practice facility. So many lives were affected it's hard to believe it's not going to somehow impact their season in some way. He made a good point that the national media swooping in and out of Valley Ranch will consistently ask players for perspective on the accident relative to whatever success or failure the team gets.
He also said that 9-7 seems like a reasonable call as far as record goes considering the schedule. And that they are a better team with T.O. playing in western New York.
I keep looking at the Texans schedule with the most optimism I've had heading into a season (and that's saying something). But the finish at Miami and home to New England is brutal. There's a thought that the Pats might not 'need' the game. Or if the game is for a playoff spot the Texans can and will beat anyone in the world on their field. You'd just hate to see a Christmas weekend road game at Miami screw things up.
Houston is third in the league in home wins in the last two years behind Pittsburgh and New England. The Pats and Steelers represented the AFC in the last two Super Bowls as you may recall.
How great was it to have the U.S. Open settled during business hours? Maybe not so much if you couldn't escape to check it out but it gives things an NCAA Tournament feel to watch a major sporting event with your co-workers.
Anyone who thinks Phil choked probably doesn't golf much or even watch that much golf for that matter. Yes, he lacks Tiger's closing ability but finishing second five times is amazing because you have to be good enough to even be that close. Jack Nicklaus won a record 18 majors but finished second 19 times. Phil has to win at least one U.S. Open, right?
The late Dick Harmon's pupil (Lucas Glover) won the event making Sports Radio 610 Golf Hour hosts two for two in majors this year. A story was told at Dick's funeral about him watching Tiger blow away the field at an Open and calling his brothers saying "can you imagine how proud Dad would be of Butch right now." Well, can you imagine the Harmon brothers' reaction to seeing Glover's victory?
He also said that 9-7 seems like a reasonable call as far as record goes considering the schedule. And that they are a better team with T.O. playing in western New York.
I keep looking at the Texans schedule with the most optimism I've had heading into a season (and that's saying something). But the finish at Miami and home to New England is brutal. There's a thought that the Pats might not 'need' the game. Or if the game is for a playoff spot the Texans can and will beat anyone in the world on their field. You'd just hate to see a Christmas weekend road game at Miami screw things up.
Houston is third in the league in home wins in the last two years behind Pittsburgh and New England. The Pats and Steelers represented the AFC in the last two Super Bowls as you may recall.
How great was it to have the U.S. Open settled during business hours? Maybe not so much if you couldn't escape to check it out but it gives things an NCAA Tournament feel to watch a major sporting event with your co-workers.
Anyone who thinks Phil choked probably doesn't golf much or even watch that much golf for that matter. Yes, he lacks Tiger's closing ability but finishing second five times is amazing because you have to be good enough to even be that close. Jack Nicklaus won a record 18 majors but finished second 19 times. Phil has to win at least one U.S. Open, right?
The late Dick Harmon's pupil (Lucas Glover) won the event making Sports Radio 610 Golf Hour hosts two for two in majors this year. A story was told at Dick's funeral about him watching Tiger blow away the field at an Open and calling his brothers saying "can you imagine how proud Dad would be of Butch right now." Well, can you imagine the Harmon brothers' reaction to seeing Glover's victory?
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Rex Grossman a Texan? I knew some coaches at Florida who told me then what a great leader he was. Obviously his numbers don't look so hot over time. Low completion percentage, high picks. But he did take a team to the Super Bowl. He'll be well coached here with a lot of talent around him and a proven system. He'll give the Texans a third QB who has played in the league.
I said on the air that Quinn Gray was invited to fill this role last year but came up short. Ask yourself this: Are they a better or worse football team after this signing? This is low cost insurance. If Schaub goes down you're one snap away from Alex Brink. Now, whether you like Orlovsky better than Grossman is a whole other question. But that question never came up with Brink. That alone makes them a better team today.
------------
The Godfather's Guide to Business and Life Success
Not to glamorize organized crime but there is a ton of useful info in the first two film such as...
"It's not personal, it's business." - Michael Corleone. Separating the two is always important.
"The most important thing in life is health, more important than money...and power" - Hiram Roth knows this because he was dying and all the cash in the world could not make him better.
"Never tell anyone outside of the family (organization) what you're thinking" -Vito Corleone.
Keep strategy to yourself.
"This is the business we've chosen." Hiram Roth. This comes in real handy when I have to explain to the wife why we're not leaving town for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Whatever business you're in requires sacrifices unique to that line of work. It's important to regain perspective every once in while.
There are many more in the films. And don't even get me started on Goodfellas.
I said on the air that Quinn Gray was invited to fill this role last year but came up short. Ask yourself this: Are they a better or worse football team after this signing? This is low cost insurance. If Schaub goes down you're one snap away from Alex Brink. Now, whether you like Orlovsky better than Grossman is a whole other question. But that question never came up with Brink. That alone makes them a better team today.
------------
The Godfather's Guide to Business and Life Success
Not to glamorize organized crime but there is a ton of useful info in the first two film such as...
"It's not personal, it's business." - Michael Corleone. Separating the two is always important.
"The most important thing in life is health, more important than money...and power" - Hiram Roth knows this because he was dying and all the cash in the world could not make him better.
"Never tell anyone outside of the family (organization) what you're thinking" -Vito Corleone.
Keep strategy to yourself.
"This is the business we've chosen." Hiram Roth. This comes in real handy when I have to explain to the wife why we're not leaving town for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Whatever business you're in requires sacrifices unique to that line of work. It's important to regain perspective every once in while.
There are many more in the films. And don't even get me started on Goodfellas.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sitting here watching Tiger making a run at Memorial got me thinking about Kobe, Lebron and the greatest athletes at their particular sports. Being team sport athletes, Kobe and Lebron are going to have their share of critics because they might not belong to 'you.' But surely you have a feel on how much you may like or dislike these guys.
Kobe's court drama aside, he is one of the greatest players I have ever seen on a hardwood floor. No, he's not Jordan. You may scream and shout about how me might be a better athlete or you may start splitting hairs on drives and dishes. Please. If I could beam you back to the context of a Jordan finals game you would say "oh yeah, I forgot."
And I'm not even a huge Jordan 'fan.' I will concede he's the best ever but I still love Magic the most. He was such a great leader, passer and winner. So was Bird but Magic beat him 5 to 3 in NBA titles (plus the college ring). This is very subjective territory anyway. You may love Clapton more than Hendrix. They're both great. You may love Pele as the greatest all time athlete on the planet. Ali would get many votes too. We really can't measure. Clearly, Tiger belongs in the group.
----
I was asked recently why I play pick up hoops and hate working out at the gym or running on the mill. It's fun to actually look forward to getting exercise. I think it's very healthy as adults to actually play games and get a work out doing it. We went to gym class as kids and enjoyed it. But wasn't so much of it a weeding out process to find the best athletes for varsity? I was captain of the sailboat racing team so I was never BMOC in sports. But I play now more than ever. It keeps me healthy and sane.
Kobe's court drama aside, he is one of the greatest players I have ever seen on a hardwood floor. No, he's not Jordan. You may scream and shout about how me might be a better athlete or you may start splitting hairs on drives and dishes. Please. If I could beam you back to the context of a Jordan finals game you would say "oh yeah, I forgot."
And I'm not even a huge Jordan 'fan.' I will concede he's the best ever but I still love Magic the most. He was such a great leader, passer and winner. So was Bird but Magic beat him 5 to 3 in NBA titles (plus the college ring). This is very subjective territory anyway. You may love Clapton more than Hendrix. They're both great. You may love Pele as the greatest all time athlete on the planet. Ali would get many votes too. We really can't measure. Clearly, Tiger belongs in the group.
----
I was asked recently why I play pick up hoops and hate working out at the gym or running on the mill. It's fun to actually look forward to getting exercise. I think it's very healthy as adults to actually play games and get a work out doing it. We went to gym class as kids and enjoyed it. But wasn't so much of it a weeding out process to find the best athletes for varsity? I was captain of the sailboat racing team so I was never BMOC in sports. But I play now more than ever. It keeps me healthy and sane.
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