2018 MLB HOF Class - Follow Up

I posted in January that I liked this new class of Vlad Guerrero, Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, and Trevor Hoffman.  Since then the ridiculous "Modern Baseball Era" committee has added Jack Morris and Alan Trammel.  Rarely have I been as bothered by a decision as this.  I know the line for HOF players is hard to define, but to me these 2 are clearly below it.

Trammel is interesting because he had a long career and was really good.  He hit .285 with just a little power at shortstop.  Had around 2,300 hits.  Never won any major awards, never led the league in anything, but went to 6 all-star games and won 4 gold gloves.  Solid but not HOF.  However advanced metrics says he was much better as his career WAR is 11th among shortstops.

Morris is even worse.  He was a workhorse for sure.  But, a career ERA of 3.90 in that era is simply not impressive.  His career strikeout to walk ratio of 1.8 is mediocre, as is his .577 won-loss %.  Never won a Cy Young, never finished 2nd.  Went to 5 all-star games.  Meanwhile Mike Mussina had an ERA .22 better than Morris while pitching in the heart of the steroid era, had a won-loss of of .638, and a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.6.  What's really stunning is that Morris has the 163rd best WAR among starting pitchers while Mussina is 29th.

This crap is what gives the HOF a bad name.  In no way do these 2 belong with the 1st 4 in this class and makes me not even want to watch.

S

American League at Mid-Year

As we just passed the halfway point of the season, we have 3 teams in the AL on pace for over 100 wins.  Red Sox, Yankees, Astros all appear to be juggernauts who won't slow down.

Sox - already 64 wins; first in AL in every major offensive category, 3rd in pitching; they have 5 every day players with an OPS over .850 and they have an ace in Chris Sale.  What's also cool is that even though they have some big free agents on the team, much of their foundation is home-grown: Betts, Benentendi, Boegarts.  This is a really good all-around team.

Yankees - 59 wins; 3rd in runs, 2nd in OPS and slugging, 1st in homers, 2nd in team ERA.  They have a surprise ace in Severino who is 14-2 and a lights-out bullpen.  They also have 7 every-day players with double-digit homers and have also built a great foundation with home-grown players: Judge, Torres, Sanchez, Hicks.  They will probably shop for another starter shortly.

Astros - the defending champs are cruising under the radar with 62 wins.  They are 2nd in runs, 3rd in slugging and OPS, and they lead the league in most pitching categories including ERA and K's.  The lineup is solid with Bregman having a breakout year, but the rotation is absurd from top to bottom.  Their 4 and 5 starters have double-digit wins!  But the closer has an ERA of 4.99.

Either the Yankees or Red Sox will have to play a wild-card play-in game, which is unfortunate.  I'll really be watching to see if they all reach 100 wins.  Playoffs will be fun.

S

Cowboys All or Nothing

This show is a failure for the reason you point out; viewers are getting no context of how the NFL is about schemes and game-planning.  Our coaches walk around preaching effort and execution leaving the viewers with a false impression of what it takes to win.  We're getting no view of the game-planning and the review of the failed game-plans.

I agree Garrett is worse than we thought.  Princeton-educated but clueless.  He's like a caricature preaching character and accountability but holding no one accountable (except the practice squad that he ripped for 10 minutes).  He is 100% rooted in that culture of believing only in the tried and true, old school tactics, tired thoughts.  I just don't understand why Jerry and Stephen don't see it.  I guess the reason may be that they won 3 Super Bowls running the lead-draw to Emmitt Smith 25 times a game 25 years ago.

I also agree that Elliott is a low-character dude who I hate to rely on - even though he has the goods.  Dez, no surprise.  Witten, no surprise.  Really the show is pretty boring and disappointing.  They show off the Cowboys shiny facilities and Jerry's helicopter a lot.  Unfortunately not a lot to see.

S

Cowboys on Prime "All or Nothing"

Red Jesus is much worse than I could have ever imagined.

I do not know what is worse, his preaching execution constantly or his insane lack of communication skills. Did everyone flash back the worst managers they ever were cursed with listening too?

Constant talk about execution without ever truly knowing why something failed.  Someone please tell him that it is okay to outsmart the other teams. You just know he is one that preaches that players have trouble learning the plays they have now, so we can't game plan complexity.
Then after he screams execution while dropping his F bombs, (which suggest he absolutely thinks its the players fault his plan failed,) he will praise them and make excuses for the lack for success..... INSANITY.

Get those players a pacifier, there is no reasonable leader that would accept such petulant behavior from anyone.

On the players:

• I found Dak to be respective and responsive to those people he spoke with. 
• DEZ, he needed the rules of constructive work environment dropped on  his ass years ago.
• Zeke, despondent, lacking the moral fiber to even look at people when he spoken too. He makes it very hard for me to pull for his success.  Then just as worrisome, they mention how good Von Miller is while watching tape and the wonderful Elliot starts talking about his money..Not Good. 
• D Lawrence, I thought he represented himself very well during his breakout season.
• Sean Lee, he is now in my favorites of all time. 
• Witten...Exactly what I expected. Even though, I do wonder how he will translate to an analyst chair.  Romo is pure wit and it showed on camera during his interviews, (even if the sportswriters hated his word jabs at their myopic views during his career. I loved them.)

Most striking thing to me... and I bet more incidents were editted out. 

• Sean Lee confronting Coach about the scheme and the fact that it did not cover the situations on the goal line. 
• Witten complaining that the scheme isn't working during another and no one looking at him. 

Note to Jerry, there is a lack of brilliance, toughness and discipline in Dallas. 

J. 

Update on USGA vs DeChambeau

They have outlawed his use of a compass to figure out exact placement of the pin on the pin sheets.

After initially allowing the use, the USGA passed the buck and blamed the other ruling bodies..
(See my smirk at this point)

"At the request of the PGA Tour, the USGA and The R&A reviewed Bryson DeChambeau’s stated use of a drawing compass to assist him in determining 'true' hole locations, and jointly determined that his specific usage would be in breach of Rule 14-3, if used in a future round.

"The Rule prohibits a player, during a stipulated round, from using any artificial device or unusual equipment, or using any equipment in an abnormal manner, that 'might assist him in making a stroke or in his play.' Because a compass is not a usual piece of equipment in golf, and Bryson clearly stated that he had used the device to assist him, the USGA, R&A and the PGA Tour agreed it was in the best interest of the game to share this determination with Bryson immediately."

j

The Merry Mex

I started a post to discuss Trevino.
It is too complicated a blurb for a sit down version to fit within 3 paragraphs.
Some quotes for the time being.

•  People ask me who's better, Tiger or Jack. It's close, but if they played one 18-hole round, both men in their primes, I'd have to take Jack. He was longer than Tiger, a better putter, and he'd game-plan Tiger to death. Nicklaus at his best always found a way to win.
• If your concentration is getting bad, take up bass fishing. It will really improve your ability to focus. If you aren't ready when that fish hits, you can't set the hook.
• __Show me a golfer who doesn't have a mean streak,__and I'll show you a weak competitor.

• "I though Manual Labor was a Mexican golf pro"
• "You can talk to a fade but a hook won't listen."
• "If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron."
• "I've never had a coach in my life. When I find one who can beat me, then I'll listen."
• "There is no such thing as a natural touch. Touch is something you create by hitting millions of golf balls."

J

Lincoln Riley

Riley needs to take a class in mature public speaking, he seems to have assumed the personality of his mentor Mr. Stoops when he feels belittled.

Why would he go on a national station and demean the Georgia defense?
No Way Georgia would be a top 5 defense in Big 12.

The Sooners had completely fooled the Dogs coaches in the first 25 minutes with that incredible scheme. But like most in the media Riley seems to have forgotten that that his offense went for a total of 139 yards on 8 possessions in second half versus that mind numbing 360 in the first quarter and a half.

That was a great Oklahoma team and the Georgia staff heaped tons of praise on Oklahoma,

We watched Georgia dial up the defensive pressure up front on that high acclaimed OLine could not created the running lanes and Mayfield did not have time to do his magic.


Why do folks in Norman have such a chip on their shoulder?

I hope he learns that he can promote his conference and team without criticizing other teams and leagues.

Should someone show him the differences in NFL talent playing on Sundays from each conference.
Yes, It appears that the SEC has more offensive players in the NFL than the entire list of Big 12 players on both sides of the ball.


Big 12 has 213.
SEC 492

J

Woods Popularity

I am posting this just for you.  I think he is the epitome of how not to act, but his a crowd favorite.
He only lost by 10 strokes in the tourney.
I literally cannot hardly listen to the jarheads talk about him on the Ryder Cup.  But all praise him for moving into the top 50 at number 47 in the FedExCup points.   Ridiculous.

And we know that the President Cup will not be doing drug testing with him as the Captain.  What a disgrace to US Golf.

NBA Free Agents next year.

After all of the press kill with Lebron, George, and Paul signing, I decided to look ahead.

I really like next years NBA class much better than this year for nothing more than an age factor. 
These are in no particular order.  Some have a Qualifying options.

1. Kemba Walker.
2. Kryie Irving
3. Jimmy Butler
4. Klay Thompson
5. Devin Booker
6. Kawhi Leonard 
7. Goran Dragic
8. Karl Anthony Towns  Why is he listed as Forward.. Seriously.  Him and Duncan. Ha. 
9. Kristaps Porzingis

I tried to leave off the folks with a team option and I am sure I missed a few.

If a few of these guys play this game of going the same place again next year, we could have another super team coming.

J.