Author: Vin

Vin is a Philly boy who shouldn't be invited into your house because he'll judge you on your book and music collection. He owns Dawkins, Utley, Iverson, and Lindros jerseys, which is all you really need to know about him. He can be reached at [email protected].

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Waiting on the Rocket

1. Still waiting: After reports that Roger Clemens was once again going to become an Astro, the deal is not officially done yet. Clemens’ agent, Randy Hendricks, denied even speaking with the Astros but said Clemens is “very close with a final decision.” Of course, this means that he probably has spoken with them and they’re likely very close to a deal. But nothing is official yet. The Astros do need the powerhouse pitcher as soon as they can get him–they’re 27-26. St. Louis, who they beat last year in the NLCS, leads the NL Central by 6.5 over them. Clemens won the Cy Young in 2004 and came very close in 2005.

2. Power surge: The Red Sox’s Josh Beckett had been excellent so far this season, but he was no match for the Blue Jays offense on Tuesday. Both of Toronto’s big power hitters, Troy Glaus and Vernon Wells, had huge games. Wells highlighted the effort with 3 homeruns, two of them coming off Beckett. Glaus added two of his own, increasing his total to a team-high 17. Wells (15) became the third player this year to have a three-homer game, joining Albert Pujols and Alfonso Soriano. Beckett gave his worst effort of the year, allowing 7 runs and 4 homers in less than five innings. Toronto starter Gustavo Chacin allowed no runs in five innings, upping his record to 6-1. Closer BJ Ryan picked up his 12th save, and his ERA stands at an incredible .69.

3. An 11-inning blowout: It’s not often a game goes into extras and still results in a one-sided victory. But that happened in the Yankees-Tigers game yesterday, with the game tied at 6 going into extras but the Yankees emerging 11-6 victors. New York scored five runs in the 11th, including Jason Giambi’s first homer since May 10. Giambi started the scoring with a solo shot, his 13th of the year, and three singles scored the other runs. Mariano Rivera pitched a season-high three innings, allowing no runs in the process. For the Tigers, Ivan Rodriguez drove in three runs and fell a homer short of the cycle. The Yankees win combined with the Red Sox loss results in a tie for the AL East lead.

4. Reversal of fortune: The Rockies shut out the Padres 5-0 on Monday, but on Tuesday it went the other way. Padres starter Chris Young, in his best effort of the season, allowed no runs in 8 innings and took a no-hitter into the eighth. Young’s effort for the first no-no in Padres history was ended when Brad Hawpe hit a leadoff double, but the Padres still won 2-0. Trevor Hoffman came on for the save, his 10th in 10 tries. Both teams now have identical 27-25 records.

5. At last: After a 5-0 April, Greg Maddux had been waiting all of May for another win. Though he wasn’t perfect last night, allowing three runs in 5.1, he was able to get the W as the Cubs topped the Reds 8-3. Jacque Jones hit his eighth homerun of the year and drove in 4 Cubs runners. Maddux (6-4, 1-4 in May) is now tied with Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton on the career wins list with 324. Cincinnati is still in second in the NL Central division.

Categories
General Sports

May 30 2006 episode of Poor Man’s PTI

Welcome to another episode of the Sportscolumn podcast. We’ve renamed it Poor Man’s PTI because…well… it is. A very poor man.  If you’d like to be a guest on the podcast (which is recorded Tuesday nights) or you want to suggest a topic, drop us a line at [email protected].

You can download this week’s podcast directly (running time 35 mins) or subscribe to the feed.  

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

This week’s topics include:

  • Ripping the media
  • Dynasties
  • Gilbert Arenas and Santonio Holmes get arrested
  • The AL playoff race
  • Pistons and Flip Saunders
  • Chad Ford sucks / NBA Draft / Adam Morrison
  • Women we love nominations

Hope you guys enjoy the podcast.  If you did enjoy it, please give us a good rating below so we can rise up in the rankings. If you didn’t, send us an email ([email protected]) and give us some suggestions. Thanks for listening.

Categories
Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles NFC Championship ring stolen a month ago available on ebay



photo from ebay

[Update: Of course, the seller has a myspace account. Also, the auction was shut down but not removed.]

The house of Dave Spadaro, the Philadelphia Eagles’ media guy/in-house journalist/PR flunkie, was burglarized a month ago and part of the stolen loot was his NFC Championship ring from the 2004 season. (We’re not certain why Dave even gets a ring but that’s another issue.) Well, like most stolen items these days, it promptly showed up on ebay.

The auction states:

HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A ONE OF A KIND RING OWNED BY DAVE SPADARO

MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT THIS RING A MONTH OR SO AGO FROM A VERY EXPERIENCED JEWELER IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. THE RING IS MADE OF WHITE GOLD AND HE TELLS HIM ITS WORTH AT LEAST 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST IN SCRAP GOLD. NOT INLUDING THE DIAMONDS!!

WITH GRADUATIONS COMING UP WHAT WOULD BE A BETTER GIFT FOR THE EAGLES FAN IN YOUR HOME. YOU MIGHT NEVER COME ACROSS ANYTHING LIKE THIS AGAIN.

Since the theft of Spadaro’s ring was widely publicized (well, at least in the Eagles community), either this guy has cojones the size of Sam Cassell, is the stupidest criminal on ebay, or there’s a jeweler in South Jersey who’s got some ‘splaining to do.

Dave Spadaro found out about the auction via a thread on the PhiadelphiaEagles.com forums and is contacting the police. We’ll keep you updated with this ridiculous story.

Categories
Soccer

Odds and Ends for Tues May 30: Ronaldo turns down $120M

The World Cup is almost here and that means more soccer stories are coming across the wire. Today, Ronaldo, one of the most recognizable soccer players in the world, turned down MLS’ New York Red Bulls offer of $120M over 10 years. Ronaldo said he’d like to play in the MLS but later in his career.

The offer would have made him the highest paid MLS athlete by more than $11M a year. MLS is desperate to attract a high profile international soccer star to boost interest. Much like the Argonauts signing Rocket Ismail, which worked wonders for the CFL.


In other news…

[Bengals.com]: Does “cornhole” mean something entirely different in Cincinnati?

[NY Post]: Stephon Marbury wants to die a loser

[Seattle Times]: The top 20 stupidest things done by college athletes

[Inside Bay Area]: Who sabotaged Dave Flemming’s Barry Bonds 715 call?

[Yahoo]: Ukraine soccer team will get sex if they win, whether they like it or not

Categories
All Other Sports

There’s crying in rugby

New Zealand All Blacks player Chris Masoe and his team captain Tama Umaga were in a bar in Christchurch at 7:00 in the morning when Masoe tripped over a man’s legs and then got up and punched him in the jaw.

Umaga then grabbed a woman’s handbag and hit Masoe twice across the head, at which Masoe allegedly burst into tears.

What?! So instead of restraining his teammate, Umaga decides the best way to calm him down would be to hit him with a handbag. Well, it worked.

We’re trying to reconcile the bursting into tears like a little girl (second part added) with this video of the All Blacks intimidating their opponents with a traditional Maori war chant, which is incredibly badass.

Links:
[BBC]: All Black fined for handbag brawl

Categories
Los Angeles Dodgers

Grady Little gets criticized for pulling a pitcher too early?

Brad Penny loves his Ws. Though the Dodgers got the win, Penny had a meltdown on the mound because Grady Little pulled him in the fifth inning before he qualified for the win. Even though he had given up 6 straight runs, 4 of them in the 5th inning, Penny decided to show up his manager and the water cooler by hitting it with a bat. The cooler, not the manager.

Grady Little said that pulling Penny early was key to the Dodgers’ win but Penny disagreed.


I wanted a chance to get that inning out of the way. I’m out there pitching hurt. … I don’t appreciate not getting the chance with a three-run lead to finish the inning.

Little defended his decision by saying, “I didn’t want to pull a ‘Grady Little’.” Oh, if only that last sentence were true.

Links:

[Tennessean.com]: Little’s hook angers Penny

Categories
Cleveland Indians

Scott Sauerbeck is trying out for COPS



Quick! In the bushes!

In a scene straight out of Cops, Scott Sauerbeck was arrested this morning at 5:00 AM for wrongful entrustment for allowing the woman he was with to drive, and obstructing official business, which means he fled the car and attempted to make a run for it.

Police spotted a car being driven recklessly and attempted to pull it over. Two people then fled the car and the police found them hiding in a bush. The driver, Lily Miller, had a BAC of three times the legal limit, or at least .30.

No word on whether Sauerbeck was wearing a wife-beater and barefoot at the time.

Links:
[Cleveland.com]:

Categories
Boston Red Sox

12 year old kid heckles the Red Sox

You know what’s great about Boston? They teach their kids at a young age how to be as much of a masshole as possible. According to Terry Francona, the kid who yelled something at Keith Foulke is the same 12 year old who has been yelling at him for 2 years.


That guy yelling at Foulke is the same one who’s been yelling at me for two years. He said something inappropriate.
…
Where’s Timlin, you dumb-ass?. He’s 12. If I had been his dad, I’d have smacked the $#^@ out of him.

Sure he’s 12 but he’s got the heckling skills of at least a 16 year old.

A note on the kid pictured here. He is the most photoshopped fan on the planet. He’s been giving the finger as a Steelers fan, a Browns fan, a Yankees fan, a Red Sox fan… the list goes on and on. Who is this Golden Child of Anger?

Links:
[Boston Herald]: Foulke holds back

Categories
MLB General

MLB Cost Index for Tues May 30 2006

The biggest losers this week are the A’s, who continue their awful play by losing to the Royals. The A’s have dropped to 14th in the Cost Index. That $62.3M payroll doesn’t help if it’s sitting on the DL the whole season.

** all $ are in millions.

Rank (Pv) Team 2006 Payroll GP Wins YTD Payroll Cost/Win
1 (1) Marlins $15.0 49 16 $4.54 $0.28
2 (2) Rockies $41.1 51 27 $12.95 $0.48
3 (3) Devil Rays $35.4 51 21 $11.15 $0.53
4 (5) D’backs $59.2 50 29 $18.28 $0.63
5 (4) Reds $59.5 51 28 $18.73 $0.67
6 (6) Brewers $56.8 51 26 $17.88 $0.69
7 (7) Indians $56.8 50 24 $17.53 $0.73
8 (9) Tigers $82.3 51 35 $25.91 $0.74
9 (10) Pirates $40.2 51 17 $12.67 $0.75
10 (11) Rangers $65.5 51 27 $20.61 $0.76
11 (14) Blue Jays $71.9 50 28 $22.20 $0.79
12 (13) Cardinals $88.4 51 33 $27.84 $0.84
13 (12) Padres $69.7 51 26 $21.95 $0.84
14 (8) A’s $62.3 51 23 $19.62 $0.85
15 (15) Twins $63.8 50 23 $19.69 $0.86
16 (16) White Sox $102.9 50 33 $31.75 $0.96
17 (22) Nationals $63.3 52 21 $20.31 $0.97
18 (17) Orioles $72.6 51 23 $22.85 $0.99
19 (19) Mets $100.9 50 31 $31.14 $1.00
20 (18) Phillies $88.3 50 26 $27.24 $1.05
21 (23) Dodgers $99.2 51 29 $31.22 $1.08
22 (24) Braves $92.5 51 27 $29.11 $1.08
23 (21) Giants $90.9 51 26 $28.60 $1.10
24 (20) Astros $92.6 52 26 $29.71 $1.14
25 (25) Royals $47.3 49 12 $14.30 $1.19
26 (26) Red Sox $120.1 49 30 $36.33 $1.21
27 (27) Mariners $88.3 53 22 $28.90 $1.31
28 (29) Angels $103.6 51 22 $32.62 $1.48
29 (28) Cubs $94.8 50 19 $29.27 $1.54
30 (30) Yankees $198.7 49 29 $60.09 $2.07

Categories
MLB General

Full Count for Tues May 30 2006: Prodigal son

1. Make yourself at home: Jim Thome, playing in his second series at Jacobs Field since he used to be an Indian, gave fans a flashback to the past on Memorial Day. Thome, who hit 334 homers in his career as an Indian, hit two out on Monday, giving him 20 on the year. His two two-run shots increased his RBI total to 49, and he leads the AL in both power categories. Thome was just a part of the White Sox’s 11-0 smashing of the Indians, as Paul Konerko also homered and Javier Vasquez pitched 2-hit ball through 6 innings. The shutout was the third of the year for the Indians, who are second in the majors in scoring. The White Sox improved to 33-17, but they are still 1.5 back of the Tigers.

2. Most Important Player: Albert Pujols proved once again on Monday how valuable he has been to the Cardinals and their best-in-NL 33-18 record. With the Cardinals down 1-0 in the seventh and Astros starter Roy Oswalt out of the game, Pujols jacked his 25th homerun on the season. The three-run shot provided the Cards with their only runs of the game and showcased once again how valuable this player is. The Cardinals pitchers were efficient as usual–Jason Marquis improved to 7-4 and Jason Isringhausen got his NL-leading 17th save. The Astros–who have met the Cardinals in each of the last two NLCS–fell to 26-26 on the year.

3. Guess who’s back: Randy Johnson has struggled hugely this year for the Yankees, with no quality starts since April 23. On Monday, he showed that he can still pitch well, shutting out the Tigers in 6 innings pitched. It was the first time this year that Johnson hadn’t allowed a run, and the first time this month that he has allowed less than 4 runs. The Yankees rode Johnson to a 4-0 victory over the Tigers, who still have the major league’s best record. Detroit was held to 2 hits on the day, and this was their second loss in a row after winning 15 of 16. Meanwhile, the Yankees have won 3 in a row but they still trail the Red Sox by a game.

4. The Rockies are pitching well: That’s not a sentence you hear very often, but it was true on Monday. Jason Jennings, who’s ERA hasn’t been under 5 since his 2002 Rookie of the Year campaign, shut out the Padres. Jennings allowed only 2 hits in a complete game effort, and he was supported well by the Rockies offense. Matt Holliday hit his 12th homerun, and surprising Brad Hawpe hit his 11th. The Rockies are in third place now in the jam-packed NL West, while the Padres are just a game back of them yet tied for last. Arizona and Los Angeles are virtually tied for the division lead.

5. DL Time: 2005 AL Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon had been on the DL for more than a month now, and he is about to be joined by last year’s NL winner Chris Carpenter. Carpenter, who is on pace for numbers similar to last year’s stellar season, has had shoulder problems. He will go on the 15-day disabled list and will be replaced in the rotation by promising prospect Anthony Reyes. But the news is much worse for the Blue Jays’ AJ Burnett. He was transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day, which means he can’t come back until June 21. Burnett, after signing a huge contract this offseason, has only seen two starts in a Toronto uniform. However, Dodgers fans should be happy, as Eric Gagne made his final rehab start yesterday. Gagne, the record-breaking closer, earned a save for AAA Las Vegas. He is expected to be back this Thursday to fortify to Dodgers’ bullpen.