Monday Morning Mehta 8/1/05
Edition # 126
August 1, 2005
NEXT MMM: August 15, 2005
Phils/MLB
Phillies come off of an as predicted 3-4 road trip which started off by getting swept by the red hot Houston Astros. The week was also important as the non-waiver trade deadline was Sunday at 4pm EST. The Phillies stood pat, we'll get to that later.
Positives:
- Brett Myers has gone through his rough patch and come out of it nicely. He needs to go a little deeper into games but he hasn't given up more than 3 ER in his last 6 starts.
- Jimmy Rollins. I'm about to say something nice about Rollins: He had a hit in each game of the road trip. Consistency and smarter plate discipline is all I've ever asked from Rollins, let's hope he keeps it up.
- Billy Wagner. He's really stepped it up a few notches the last month. Wagner hasn't given up a run in his first inning of work in over a month.
Negatives:
- What the heck is going on with Bobby Abreu? The all-star game has effected him drastically, as he's not the same player we've all grown to know and respect. Abreu has never been as streaky of a hitter as a Jim Edmonds, so this is definitely the worst funk of his career. The biggest thing that should tell you this is Abreu has gone 8 games without drawing a walk. He's just the same hitter right now, I'm confident this home stand will break him out of it.
- Jon Lieber. Just when you thought he'd put his troubles behind him, he gets tagged for NINE runs in one inning.
Overall I expect the Phils to tread water like the rest of the season. They're right on track to finish with 84 wins which doesn't get you into the playoffs (unless you reside in the NL West). What 84 wins does give is Ed Wade more excuses about how they "could've" made the playoffs if it weren't for Thome and Wolf's injuries.
The Phillies are mired in mediocrity and the front office is too dumb to do anything about it.
Trade Deadline
The non-waiver trade deadline passes with very little action. Don't let this fool you, I think they're still lots of trades that will happen in the next month. There are many players who will clear through waivers in the next few weeks and will be traded to contending teams. There really wasn't much to be had out there once the big three were taken off the block (AJ Burnett, Alfonzo Soriano and Manny Ramirez). Don't be surprised to see the Phils add a 5th starter and a bullpen guy in the coming weeks.
Around the MLB
The Houston Astros and the Oakland A's remain the hottest teams in baseball. They've had big turn arounds in the last 2 months and are each now in the drivers seat of the wild card race. Oakland is knocking on the Angels doorsteps which is something nobody expected 6 weeks ago. As I said last week, 6 weeks from now don't be surprised if Houston is knocking on the Cards doorstep.
What the heck's gotten into Jason Giambi? He's gotta be back on the juice...
The NL West is horrible. I don't even know what to say. The Giants are 5.5 games back. Is it possible that if Bonds returns in a few weeks they could make a run?
Watch out for the Florida Marlins. They've been playing well the last 2 weeks and Juan Pierre is looking healthy again. If Willis doesn't collapse as he has in prior years, watch out for them in wild card race.
Atlanta is about to bury the rest of the pack in the NL East. Great series next weekend, Atlanta visits the Cards at Busch Stadium for the final time.
Manny Ramirez, who was away from the Red Sox for a few days to clear his mind, came back to pinch hit yesterday in a tie game in the 8th inning. He was welcomed with one of the loudest standing ovations I've seen in a long time. He delivered with an RBI hit as usual. Fenway Park was going bonkers. Sean McDonough, the voice of NESN which broadcasts Sox games says "This has to be one of the greatest moments ever at Fenway Park". I have to admit, it was awesome theater, but seriously, c'mon, greatest moment at Fenway?? Calm down a bit Sean...
Eagles
The circus comes to Lehigh University today as the Eagles veterans are slated to report to training camp. Terrell Owens is likely to be on time but his presence will create a circus like environment the whole time. The Eagles had enormous crowds last year for camp, I can't even imagine what this year will be like.
I'll say this about Owens, why isn't the headline on SportsCenter about Hines Ward holding out? Please don't tell me it's been only one year for Owens, a contract is a contract.
Jerome McDougle was shot last Friday in the stomach, he'll be out 4 weeks. While that's probably worse news on a personal level, than on a football level, it just emphasizes what kind of crazy off season the Eagles have had. Corey Simon's probable holdout isn't even a blip on anyone's radar. This team always seems to face adversity, but this year it seems ridiculous. You'll have to wait and see if I think it will effect their play on the field though until the much anticipated MMM NFL Previews:
AFC Preview: August 29th
NFC Preview: September 6th
Golf
Since the next MMM is August 15th, I'll give my PGA pick. MMM will be at the PGA Championship which is at Baltrusol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ. I'll be attending the Friday session. It's a shame Michael Campbell had to screw things up otherwise Tiger would be going for history. The way Tiger is playing right now I don't think anyone can beat him in the majors. He'll be the clear favorite as usual. But we don't pick Tiger more than once, that'd be unfair.
The PGA is generally a major where the "lesser" players can sneak up and win one. Vijay Singh has had a great year to date and is the defending champ. A Tiger/Vijay showdown would be a great way to end the unofficial golf season (it really ends with the PGA).
Guys I think that'll play well: Sergio Garcia, Jim Furyk, and Adam Scott.
Winner: Chris DiMarco. He's been very good at the Masters and finished 2nd to Singh last year at the PGA. DiMarco's going to win a couple of majors before his career is over, and I think this is his start. He's put the choking behind him for the most part.
NHL Week in Review By: Ed Wasser
- So Bob Goodenow resigned as the NHL Players Association president. He sort of resigned the same way Sadam Hussein "resigned" as president of Iraq. It gets a little tough to govern effectively when you have tons of people hanging around that want to kill you. But I won't be one to dance on Goodenow's grave. As Al Morganti pointed out on WIP radio it was Goodenow that got the NHL players the disproportionately high salaries in the first place. So if you're someone like Jaromir Jagr, who came into the NHL almost at the same time Goodenow did, all you know is making these insane salaries. And if you're someone like Steve Yzerman who came into the league in 1983 making less the $50,000 a year and the next thing you know you're making more than three times that amount of money every week under Goodenow's leadership you may tend to think the guy is a hero.
- Line of the week. From New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica on ESPN's The Sports Reporters regarding Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy : "A quick question about the defensive guru Tony Dungy....when exactly is he going to start guru-ing?"
- The NHL draft happened last Saturday. The Flyers picked 18 year old Steve Downie who played for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Do you know what makes him a special player? Ahhhhhh....that's not a rhetorical question because I have no idea. I've never seen him play, but he plays right wing I know that much. You think the other sports have drafts that are a total crap shoot; In the NHL every pick you make is of an 18 year old kid or in a lot of cases even younger. So it's just a throw a dart at a name and hope for the best type of thing.
- From the "God I wish I was a judge for one day!!" file. Mark Downs, a North Union Township, Pa. t-ball coach, is charged with offering to pay 8 year old Keith Reese $25 to hit mentally disabled teammate Harry Bowers with a baseball in the face. The confused Reese actually hit Bowers twice before the game, once in the groin and once in the ear, before Downs told Bowers' mother that he should probably sit out the game because "the balls must be after (your son)". I swear on my life if Downs was convicted and I was the sentencing judge I would put him in jail for 2 years.
- From the world of Bada Boom Racing Stables.....Velocious was gelded over the weekend and after he recovers (approximately 10 days) he'll go to the thoroughbred retirement home in New York. The search for another horse continues. There is a very good chance that Clemente will run again on the turf next Monday. It'll be the most important race in Bada Boom Racing's history because if Clemente has a strong showing then we're going to nominate him for a stakes race at Penn National Race Track in Harrisburg, Pa. That means Clemente would be running against the top horses in the area for a lot of dough. If Clemente does do well next Monday he'll have a pretty good chance of getting in the stakes race by virtue of the fact that he was bred in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania bred horses get priority when putting together races in Pennsylvania. I'll keep you posted in the next issue of MMM.
Comments:
saurinmeht@aol.com
ewwasser@hotmail.com
August 1, 2005
NEXT MMM: August 15, 2005
Phils/MLB
Phillies come off of an as predicted 3-4 road trip which started off by getting swept by the red hot Houston Astros. The week was also important as the non-waiver trade deadline was Sunday at 4pm EST. The Phillies stood pat, we'll get to that later.
Positives:
- Brett Myers has gone through his rough patch and come out of it nicely. He needs to go a little deeper into games but he hasn't given up more than 3 ER in his last 6 starts.
- Jimmy Rollins. I'm about to say something nice about Rollins: He had a hit in each game of the road trip. Consistency and smarter plate discipline is all I've ever asked from Rollins, let's hope he keeps it up.
- Billy Wagner. He's really stepped it up a few notches the last month. Wagner hasn't given up a run in his first inning of work in over a month.
Negatives:
- What the heck is going on with Bobby Abreu? The all-star game has effected him drastically, as he's not the same player we've all grown to know and respect. Abreu has never been as streaky of a hitter as a Jim Edmonds, so this is definitely the worst funk of his career. The biggest thing that should tell you this is Abreu has gone 8 games without drawing a walk. He's just the same hitter right now, I'm confident this home stand will break him out of it.
- Jon Lieber. Just when you thought he'd put his troubles behind him, he gets tagged for NINE runs in one inning.
Overall I expect the Phils to tread water like the rest of the season. They're right on track to finish with 84 wins which doesn't get you into the playoffs (unless you reside in the NL West). What 84 wins does give is Ed Wade more excuses about how they "could've" made the playoffs if it weren't for Thome and Wolf's injuries.
The Phillies are mired in mediocrity and the front office is too dumb to do anything about it.
Trade Deadline
The non-waiver trade deadline passes with very little action. Don't let this fool you, I think they're still lots of trades that will happen in the next month. There are many players who will clear through waivers in the next few weeks and will be traded to contending teams. There really wasn't much to be had out there once the big three were taken off the block (AJ Burnett, Alfonzo Soriano and Manny Ramirez). Don't be surprised to see the Phils add a 5th starter and a bullpen guy in the coming weeks.
Around the MLB
The Houston Astros and the Oakland A's remain the hottest teams in baseball. They've had big turn arounds in the last 2 months and are each now in the drivers seat of the wild card race. Oakland is knocking on the Angels doorsteps which is something nobody expected 6 weeks ago. As I said last week, 6 weeks from now don't be surprised if Houston is knocking on the Cards doorstep.
What the heck's gotten into Jason Giambi? He's gotta be back on the juice...
The NL West is horrible. I don't even know what to say. The Giants are 5.5 games back. Is it possible that if Bonds returns in a few weeks they could make a run?
Watch out for the Florida Marlins. They've been playing well the last 2 weeks and Juan Pierre is looking healthy again. If Willis doesn't collapse as he has in prior years, watch out for them in wild card race.
Atlanta is about to bury the rest of the pack in the NL East. Great series next weekend, Atlanta visits the Cards at Busch Stadium for the final time.
Manny Ramirez, who was away from the Red Sox for a few days to clear his mind, came back to pinch hit yesterday in a tie game in the 8th inning. He was welcomed with one of the loudest standing ovations I've seen in a long time. He delivered with an RBI hit as usual. Fenway Park was going bonkers. Sean McDonough, the voice of NESN which broadcasts Sox games says "This has to be one of the greatest moments ever at Fenway Park". I have to admit, it was awesome theater, but seriously, c'mon, greatest moment at Fenway?? Calm down a bit Sean...
Eagles
The circus comes to Lehigh University today as the Eagles veterans are slated to report to training camp. Terrell Owens is likely to be on time but his presence will create a circus like environment the whole time. The Eagles had enormous crowds last year for camp, I can't even imagine what this year will be like.
I'll say this about Owens, why isn't the headline on SportsCenter about Hines Ward holding out? Please don't tell me it's been only one year for Owens, a contract is a contract.
Jerome McDougle was shot last Friday in the stomach, he'll be out 4 weeks. While that's probably worse news on a personal level, than on a football level, it just emphasizes what kind of crazy off season the Eagles have had. Corey Simon's probable holdout isn't even a blip on anyone's radar. This team always seems to face adversity, but this year it seems ridiculous. You'll have to wait and see if I think it will effect their play on the field though until the much anticipated MMM NFL Previews:
AFC Preview: August 29th
NFC Preview: September 6th
Golf
Since the next MMM is August 15th, I'll give my PGA pick. MMM will be at the PGA Championship which is at Baltrusol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ. I'll be attending the Friday session. It's a shame Michael Campbell had to screw things up otherwise Tiger would be going for history. The way Tiger is playing right now I don't think anyone can beat him in the majors. He'll be the clear favorite as usual. But we don't pick Tiger more than once, that'd be unfair.
The PGA is generally a major where the "lesser" players can sneak up and win one. Vijay Singh has had a great year to date and is the defending champ. A Tiger/Vijay showdown would be a great way to end the unofficial golf season (it really ends with the PGA).
Guys I think that'll play well: Sergio Garcia, Jim Furyk, and Adam Scott.
Winner: Chris DiMarco. He's been very good at the Masters and finished 2nd to Singh last year at the PGA. DiMarco's going to win a couple of majors before his career is over, and I think this is his start. He's put the choking behind him for the most part.
NHL Week in Review By: Ed Wasser
- So Bob Goodenow resigned as the NHL Players Association president. He sort of resigned the same way Sadam Hussein "resigned" as president of Iraq. It gets a little tough to govern effectively when you have tons of people hanging around that want to kill you. But I won't be one to dance on Goodenow's grave. As Al Morganti pointed out on WIP radio it was Goodenow that got the NHL players the disproportionately high salaries in the first place. So if you're someone like Jaromir Jagr, who came into the NHL almost at the same time Goodenow did, all you know is making these insane salaries. And if you're someone like Steve Yzerman who came into the league in 1983 making less the $50,000 a year and the next thing you know you're making more than three times that amount of money every week under Goodenow's leadership you may tend to think the guy is a hero.
- Line of the week. From New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica on ESPN's The Sports Reporters regarding Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy : "A quick question about the defensive guru Tony Dungy....when exactly is he going to start guru-ing?"
- The NHL draft happened last Saturday. The Flyers picked 18 year old Steve Downie who played for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Do you know what makes him a special player? Ahhhhhh....that's not a rhetorical question because I have no idea. I've never seen him play, but he plays right wing I know that much. You think the other sports have drafts that are a total crap shoot; In the NHL every pick you make is of an 18 year old kid or in a lot of cases even younger. So it's just a throw a dart at a name and hope for the best type of thing.
- From the "God I wish I was a judge for one day!!" file. Mark Downs, a North Union Township, Pa. t-ball coach, is charged with offering to pay 8 year old Keith Reese $25 to hit mentally disabled teammate Harry Bowers with a baseball in the face. The confused Reese actually hit Bowers twice before the game, once in the groin and once in the ear, before Downs told Bowers' mother that he should probably sit out the game because "the balls must be after (your son)". I swear on my life if Downs was convicted and I was the sentencing judge I would put him in jail for 2 years.
- From the world of Bada Boom Racing Stables.....Velocious was gelded over the weekend and after he recovers (approximately 10 days) he'll go to the thoroughbred retirement home in New York. The search for another horse continues. There is a very good chance that Clemente will run again on the turf next Monday. It'll be the most important race in Bada Boom Racing's history because if Clemente has a strong showing then we're going to nominate him for a stakes race at Penn National Race Track in Harrisburg, Pa. That means Clemente would be running against the top horses in the area for a lot of dough. If Clemente does do well next Monday he'll have a pretty good chance of getting in the stakes race by virtue of the fact that he was bred in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania bred horses get priority when putting together races in Pennsylvania. I'll keep you posted in the next issue of MMM.
Comments:
saurinmeht@aol.com
ewwasser@hotmail.com
posted by Monday Morning Mehta at 10:26 AM
1 Comments:
Raffy should get in the idiot hall of fame. You gotta know that you're going to be seen as the biggest moron on two feet by getting busted for steroids after esssentially calling the members of Congress jerks for even calling you to testify.
Ed Wasser
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