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: The Mighty Mariners


1. Seattle Surprise: Many think the Brewers are the most surprising team this season, but that title should actually go to the Mariners. Milwaukee plays in the league’s easiest division, while Seattle plays in the rigorous American League but has still posted the fifth-best record in the majors. The Mariners won their 50th game on Thursday as they topped the Tigers 3-2. Their scoring came on an Adrian Beltre single that ended up scoring three runs due to bizarre baserunning. Beltre tried to advance to second after two runs had scored, then somehow got away, avoiding Carlos Guillen’s tag as he made it to third. Richie Sexson scored while this was happening, though Beltre was actually called out at third. The strange play scored enough runs to win the game, as Felix Hernandez pitched decently and the bullpen was almost perfect. The Mariners, who have won four straight, are now just two games back of the Angels in the AL West.

2. Ready for a Run: The Yankees’ season has been a disaster overall, but they still have a chance to compete. With five combined series against Tampa, Kansas City, and Baltimore over the next few weeks, their schedule is at its easiest. They started off this must-win stretch by besting the Devil Rays 7-3. The Yanks hit three solo homers in the fourth inning, including Alex Rodriguez’s 31st on the year. James Shields of the Devil Rays continued his slide by allowing six runs. He has gone 1-5 the last month and his ERA has risen by 0.94. With the win, the Yankees improved to .500 on the year, still ten games back on the Red Sox. They need to be in contention by mid-August, when they will face three first-place teams in a brutal two-week stretch.

3. The Rich get Richer: There is contract talk right now involving two of the league’s best players. Ichiro has agreed to a new contract, worth $100 million over five years. The All Star Game MVP will stay in Seattle until he is 39 years old under the new deal. A-Rod, meanwhile, has said he will not negotiate a contract extension with the Yankees during the season. He does have 3 years left on his mega-deal, but he can opt to become a free agent after this season. No matter who he signs with, Rodriguez could become the league’s first $30 million per year player.

Player of the Day: Jermaine Dye, White Sox: 3-5, 2 runs, HR (13) in a 9-7 win over the Orioles.

Categories
General Sports

Vote for July’s Woman We Love

The nominees this month are a little nuts as Trevor and Ryan decided they wanted to go back and live in 1997 with a couple of their picks. But we’re sure that you folks will pick the hottest woman anyway.

– Alessandra Ambrosio
– Megan Fox
– Rebecca Gayheart*
– Stacey Keibler
– Kim Smith
– Tiffani Amber Thiessen*
*Editor does not endorse this pick

Vote Now

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: All-Star Game auditions


This isn’t Guys and Dolls, but if yesterday was an audition for All-Star pitchers to prove they’re worthy of starting next Tuesday in the Midsummer Classic, some passed with flying colors, while others just gave up big flys. And lots of them. Yesterday’s winners were Justin Verlander of the Tigers, Josh Beckett of the Red Sox and Jake Peavy of the Padres; while Brad Penny of the Dodgers and C.C. Sabathia of the Indians should have Leyland and LaRussa screaming “Next!” Verlander beat Sabathia head-to-head, going seven strong innings and striking out seven. Sabathia, on the other hand, was brutal, only lasting four innings and giving up three homers. Beckett dominated the D-Rays, but doesn’t everybody? Peavy, though, was a victim (again) of lack of run support, but still had a great outing going seven innings with 6 K. Penny, who has been the best pitcher in the National League, was a nightmare, lasting only four innings while giving up six runs in his worst outing of the year.

Maybe it’s the beer talking, but how pathetic is the NL Central? The Milwaukee Brewers were enjoying the most comfortable division lead outside of New England, but if they don’t improve their play on the road, they could be crying in their drinks come October. After losing three of four to the pathetic (if they improved) Pittsburgh Pirates, the Brewers road record stands at 18-24, worst of all the first place teams. Lucky for them, they’re 30-13 in the house of hops. It was a rough series for the Crew, as Ben Sheets and the staff couldn’t keep Adam LaRoche and Ryan Doumit in the yard. Those modern day Ruth and Gehrig clones combined for five HR and 10 RBI in the series. Even worse, star outfielder Billy Hall sprained his ankle trying to catch one of them. Hall is out indefinitely. Mmmmmmm….beer.

They like us! They really, really like us. As expected, starting pitcher Chris Young of the Padres and reliever Hideki Okajima of the Red Sox won the online voting for final roster spots on the All-Star team. Over the last few years, the race to be Mr. Irrelevant on the squad has taken on a life of its own. According to mlb.com, over 23 million votes were cast for ten players, with Young and Okajima winning with about 4.5 million each. Even more interesting is the campaigning that goes on for a guy who might not even get into the game. Brandon Webb’s hometown of Ashland, KY held “Vote for Brandon Webb” day and in Pittsburgh, the Pirates set up laptops in the PNC Park concourse so fans could cast an online ballot –or 25– for lefty Tom Gorzelanny. In the American league, Red Sox Nation proved again to be the most nerdy (and far reaching, as we’re sure all of Japan clicked on) as they voted a Sox player in for the third time in five years.

Player of the day: Mike Lowell, Red Sox 5 for 6, HR, 5 RBI, 3 R against the Devil Rays

Categories
Oakland Raiders

Guess who won’t be on the Raiders practice squad this year?


Being on the practice squad must suck. You make about $5000 a week (which isn’t bad for normal people but sucks in comparison to the players on the real team), you are largely ignored by everyone, and on top of that, you have a hard time keeping a straight face when trying to pick up chicks with the “I’m a professional football player” line.

On the flip side, you still are playing football for a living. So it always surprises us when a player will throw away his chance at a football career by trying to make some quick cash or doing something stupid. This week’s “winner” is Bryant McNeal of the Oakland Raiders. McNeal was arrested yesterday on an outstanding December 2005 warrant for selling a Land Rover for $15,000. Because he was craaaazy for selling it at such a low low price? No, because the car didn’t actually belong to him.

McNeal is also accused of writing a fraudulent $1,500 check to Berger Dental Group. Well, at least he’ll have a nice smile when he takes your order at the local Burger King.

Links:
[Yahoo]:Raiders reserve arrested on 2005 warrant

Categories
MLB General

2 years and 9 months in jail for what?


Troy Ellerman, the attorney who leaked grand jury testimony in the BALCO case has agreed to the maximum sentence of 2 years and 9 months in jail. While this is 9 months longer than his plea bargain, prosecutors did reduce his fine from $250,000 to $60,000. Ellerman had also previously gave up his California law license. Ellerman pleaded guilty to allowing Mark Fainaru-Wada to see confidential transcripts.

So the question is, what exactly did Ellerman get out of this? He was a successful attorney when he was hired to defend Victor Conte and now his life is basically ruined. Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams got a book, an SI cover story, and national exposure out of it. Ellerman gets almost 3 years in federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison. We guess we shouldn’t feel too sorry for a guy who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and his photocopier off but Mark Fainaru-Wada should be visiting him every week in prison and slipping him some money.

Links:

[AP]: BALCO leak agrees to maximum sentence

Categories
MLB General

The Full Count: Chris Young makes his case

There is a possibility that there will be NO SOUP FOR YOU!! Every year there is that one All-Star snub that just baffles everyone. This year’s candidate has to be Padres pitcher Chris Young. Young will probably make the NL team, one way or the other. He can be voted in in the final online voting, which ends at 6 p.m. Eastern today, or he could replace an injured player, such as John Smoltz of the Braves. However, in last nights game against the Marlins, Young made the proverbial statement that he should’ve already freakin’ been there, LaRussa, with another stellar outing. Young went seven innings, allowing no runs while striking out nine. Like the proverbial broken record, he got a no decision for his effort. It was the seventh time Young has carried a shutout into the seventh inning this season, and the fourth in which he got no decision. In 17 starts, Young has allowed only 23 earned runs. Not to get all editorial after your July 4 hangover, but if the game is going to count as far as awarding home field advantage in the World Series, then managers Tony LaRussa and Jim Leyland should be able to pick the best team available, and not be hamstrung by the every-team-must-be-represented rule.

Old Man River does it againThe Tigers snapped the Indians six-game winning streak 6-4, with the help of Kenny Rogers. Rogers won his third straight start since coming of the DL and kept the Tigers two games behind Cleveland in the Central and 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners for the Wild Card. Carlos Guillen led the offense by going 3 for 4 with a run-scoring triple. It was Rogers’ sixth straight win going back to last year’s postseason, and he has allowed only four earned runs this year.

I love New York, it’s the rest of the league that’s the problem. The Colorado Rockies became the first team since 1956 to sweep two New York teams in the same season. The Rock gave the Mets an old fashioned Coors enema, pounding out 20 hits and 17 runs and forcing Mets pitchers to throw 233 pitches (including 107 in 4 innings by El Duque Hernandez). The Rockies swept the Yankees three weeks ago, and outscored the Gothams 47-17 overall. Unfortunatley, they have no more games left against New York teams. Bye bye wild card hopes.

Player of the Day: Garrett Atkins, Rockies. 4 for 5, HR, 5 RBI and 2 runs scored in a 17-7 win over the Mets.

Categories
All Other Sports

Don’t get caught looking the wrong way

We found this pic on digg and had to share.

Categories
New York Knicks

Stephon Marbury makes no sense

This is a train wreck of a television interview with Stephon Marbury where he seems like he might be drunk or high.  At around the 8 minute mark, his phone rings and he says, “I’m sorry about that… that was my better ho.”

Categories
All Other Sports

Hey Lance, nobody cares what you think


Hey, everyone gather round, Lance Armstrong, doping expert and medical doctor doesn’t believe that Floyd Landis took any banned substances when he won the Tour de France last year.


I think conventional wisdom is that he will lose (his arbitration hearing), because USADA has never lost a case,” said Armstrong, the guest speaker Tuesday at an Aspen Ideas Festival health forum discussion.

“The arbitrators don’t ever rule for the athletes,” Armstrong said, according a story in Wednesday’s edition of The Aspen Times. “Quite frankly, the system is set up against the athletes. Unfortunately for him, I don’t think he did it. That’s always been my position and still is today.

So despite multiple positive tests and expert testimony that the levels of testosterone could not have been produced naturally, Dr. Lance Armstrong has decided that Floyd Landis isn’t guilty of doping. Oh, and don’t forget the story about Landis’ manager threatening Greg LeMond if he testified against Landis.

There’s about 100% chance that Floyd Landis doped up for the Tour de France. There’s a slightly less than 100% chance that Armstrong did too and just never got caught. So Lance, shut the f up and go back to hawking crappy yellow bracelets.

Links:
[Fox Sports]: Armstrong: Landis is innocent of doping

Categories
General Sports

July 3 2007 episode of Poor Man’s PTI

Welcome to another episode of Poor Man’s PTI.  

You can download this week’s podcast directly (running time 55 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:

  • NBA Draft recap
  • baseball talk
  • 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.