The San Francisco Giants (71-63) just fell 4-3 in 11 innings to the Houston Astros (44-90), meaning they lost four out of seven to the worst team in baseball. And I mean by far the worst team in baseball. No other team even has 80 losses. The Astros have 90. In August. So, needless to say it's been a pretty sorry performance for the Giants lately. Two of the three they did win against Houston came in extra innings.
The Giants are now four back of the Arizona Diamondbacks (75-59) in the NL West. The D-Backs lost six in a row about a week ago to the Phillies (83-46) and Braves (79-54), but don't seem to lose at all to anyone else. They just completed a sweep of the San Diego Padres (60-74), meaning that Arizona has now won six in a row. The Giants will have to hope the Snakes cool off a bit or there may be no return trip to October. The big head-to-head series between the two is next weekend in San Francisco and it looks like the Giants will have to at least take two of three and probably sweep in order to feel good about things. The odds of that right now don't look so great.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Vin Scully to return for another season
I know I am a Giants fan, but I was pleased to hear that legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully will return to the booth for at least one more season. I often enjoy watching the Dodgers feed of games (even though I'm cheering for the other team) because I truly enjoy listening to Scully. He has a unique delivery and it is apparent through his broadcasting that he is a big fan of the game.
Scully is always dispensing knowledge about the game, along with unique and insightful stories. Plus his voice is a great fit for calling games. In a season where a lot of things are going wrong for the Dodgers, Scully is something they have going right.
Scully is always dispensing knowledge about the game, along with unique and insightful stories. Plus his voice is a great fit for calling games. In a season where a lot of things are going wrong for the Dodgers, Scully is something they have going right.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
NFL shouldn't suspend Pryor
The NFL has allowed former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor to enter the NFL via its supplemental draft, but has decreed that Pryor will be suspended for the first five games of the season. Pryor was forced to leave Ohio State before this season due to NCAA rules violations. The NCAA had suspended Pryor for the first five games of the season before his departure. Pryor had somehow been allowed to participate in last season's Sugar Bowl despite having been found being worthy of suspension by the NCAA.
However, this blog post is about the NFL. Pryor is no longer in the NCAA. And as far as I can tell, he hasn't violated any NFL rules, particularly since he declared himself eligible. So, in my view, the NFL has no business suspending him. Look, the guy messed up. Big time. But the NFL's job isn't too enforce NCAA rules. Pryor isn't eligible for the NCAA, I get it. But the NFL doesn't have to and shouldn't concern itself with cleaning up the NCAA's business. I get the NFL doesn't want to set an example that is a great escape from the NCAA.
But ask yourself this: wouldn't Pryor be better off if he was still in college? He undoubtedly would be. He would be able to showcase his skills on the national stage; plus he would be able to repair his damaged public image. As it is, NFL teams are going to be wary of drafting Pryor in the supplemental draft, and would be even if he wasn't suspended. Just being in the supplemental draft is plenty enough of a red flag for teams; it's not as if he declared for the original 2011 NFL Draft under his own free will. The punishment should be from his actions and that punishment is already significant. The NFL doesn't need to add on to something that wasn't a violation of its rules.
However, this blog post is about the NFL. Pryor is no longer in the NCAA. And as far as I can tell, he hasn't violated any NFL rules, particularly since he declared himself eligible. So, in my view, the NFL has no business suspending him. Look, the guy messed up. Big time. But the NFL's job isn't too enforce NCAA rules. Pryor isn't eligible for the NCAA, I get it. But the NFL doesn't have to and shouldn't concern itself with cleaning up the NCAA's business. I get the NFL doesn't want to set an example that is a great escape from the NCAA.
But ask yourself this: wouldn't Pryor be better off if he was still in college? He undoubtedly would be. He would be able to showcase his skills on the national stage; plus he would be able to repair his damaged public image. As it is, NFL teams are going to be wary of drafting Pryor in the supplemental draft, and would be even if he wasn't suspended. Just being in the supplemental draft is plenty enough of a red flag for teams; it's not as if he declared for the original 2011 NFL Draft under his own free will. The punishment should be from his actions and that punishment is already significant. The NFL doesn't need to add on to something that wasn't a violation of its rules.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tough times for the World Champion Giants
When I last posted, the World Champion San Francisco Giants were 61-44 and coming off taking 2 out of 3 from the Phillies (78-42) in Philadelphia. And the Giants had just acquired slugger Carlos Beltran, the premier piece on the trade market, from the New York Mets (59-62). The Giants led the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West by 4 games. Things were looking up.
Now, Beltran is on the Disabled List and the Giants have gone 5-13 since my last post. Their record is 66-57 and they trail Arizona (69-53) by 3.5 games in the West. It doesn't help that the Diamondbacks never seem to lose anymore. The Giants are struggling and need to turn it around soon. Real soon. The schedule is approaching September, and the Giants don't want to be too far out of striking distance.
Beltran is far from the only one hurting right now. Stellar set-up man Sergio Romo is also on the DL, and starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez left tonight's game at the Braves (72-51) with an apparent injury. Nate Schierholtz and Jeff Keppinger also have suffered injuries of some sort and their prognosis for return isn't totally certain. Not to mention, Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez are sidelined for the season. It seems the Giants have had more than their share of bad luck.
Still, all is not lost. It stands to reason that the Diamondbacks have to lose a few games and let's not forget, the Giants were even farther behind the Padres around this time last year. So, there's still hope, even if things are looking bleak right now and it kind of feels like this might not be the year. I'll keep paying attention and hoping for the best.
Now, Beltran is on the Disabled List and the Giants have gone 5-13 since my last post. Their record is 66-57 and they trail Arizona (69-53) by 3.5 games in the West. It doesn't help that the Diamondbacks never seem to lose anymore. The Giants are struggling and need to turn it around soon. Real soon. The schedule is approaching September, and the Giants don't want to be too far out of striking distance.
Beltran is far from the only one hurting right now. Stellar set-up man Sergio Romo is also on the DL, and starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez left tonight's game at the Braves (72-51) with an apparent injury. Nate Schierholtz and Jeff Keppinger also have suffered injuries of some sort and their prognosis for return isn't totally certain. Not to mention, Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez are sidelined for the season. It seems the Giants have had more than their share of bad luck.
Still, all is not lost. It stands to reason that the Diamondbacks have to lose a few games and let's not forget, the Giants were even farther behind the Padres around this time last year. So, there's still hope, even if things are looking bleak right now and it kind of feels like this might not be the year. I'll keep paying attention and hoping for the best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
