The question remains what is Manny proof of? Is this a case of a guy taking a substance on the sly (something he alleges he did not realize was on the banned substance list and was prescribed to him by a doctor)? Or is this a case of just so many substances being on the list that the players can't even keep track of what is and what is not banned?
I'm not making excuses here and apparently neither is Manny. I have to give him credit for simply accepting the suspension, admitting the mistake and basically just moving on. If he is telling the truth that he has taken numerous MLB drug tests in the past (he says 15 but only Bud Selig and the MLB front office know the real score), then there must be some grain of truth to this being his only infraction. This is not A-Rod who was not only taking a banned substance but actual steroids. Of course, for A-Rod it is easy to come clean when you know that there are no consequences beyond perhaps a tarnished reputation and lets face it, A-Rod's reputation was hardly sparkling to begin with.
It will take a few days for all the facts to come out on this and until then everyone will be throwing around all types of wild stories and accusations. The incorrect ones will be quietly swept under the rug (never quite denied simply never spoken of again) and the true ones will be trumpeted until we can't stand to hear about it anymore. And Manny's numbers will come into question and once again people will whisper about other players (let me get you started - Albert Pujols anyone?).
Let this be a cautionary tale to all those who said the MLB drug policy has no teeth. One of the games biggest stars is now suspended for 50 games. If it can happen to Manny, they'll do it to anyone. If I were a ball player I would have a wallet-sized list of all banned substances to bring with me to every doctor I go to and if he prescribed something I'd make damn sure it wasn't on that list.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Playoffs & Papi
- The Bruins dropped game 2 last night to the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a tough game to watch for as good as they have looked in the playoffs thus far they looked that off last night. They just lacked the ability to close out the game. When early in the first period Kobasew made a sweet pass in front and Bergeron just flat out missed the wide open net you knew it was going to be a long night as it was. Hopefully, they can recover and find the spark they were clearly missing last night. No matter how hostile the environment in Raleigh may get, it can't possibly be worse than travelling to Montreal which they handled very well.
- I normally don't expound on the Celtics as I have my deep-seated frustration with the state of officiating and the NBA game in general. That being said, the Celtics deserve a lot of credit for making it past a very good Chicago Bulls team. Ben Gordon was on fire and Joakim Noah seems to have raised him game to another level that I certainly did not think possible when he was playing in Florida. Big applause for the work of Eddie House and Glen Davis in game 7 as both picked up some of the slack from a lackluster game from Rondo and Pierce to power Boston to the second round.
- Speaking of the second round, if the Celtics don't get more out of Kendrick Perkins they are going to be in big trouble against Orlando. Dwight Howard is big and powerful and will put a 30-20 game on the Celtics repeatedly over a very short series if Perkins does not elevate his game. Perkins looks big and mean and like he can take on the world but when it comes down to it, he plans like a wuss. At one point during game 6, he got the ball on the baseline with a lane to the basket. Noah was rotating down to try and defend. Instead of taking the ball hard to the hoop and forcing Noah to make a play or draw the foul, Perk passes the ball to Rondo in the lane who promptly missed a bad fall-away jumper. He routinely, puts the ball on the floor before going up with it and allows the defense that split second to recover and make the defensive play. For a guy as big as Perkins he needs to play bigger and meaner. I was watching Big Baby Davis doing all the things that Perk should be doing and he is the smaller guy. Without Garnett and Powe, Perkins will be key to the Celtics making it any farther.
- Finally, on to baseball, where Big Papi has been anything but big to this point. I hate to say it but he may be done. He claims that he is going to come back big but there is just something lacking in his swing. He is no longer catching up to those fastballs and when he does make contact it is going to left field. When a guy who has been a straight pull hitter for years (to the point where whole shifts are named after him), starts doing nothing but hitting to the opposite field that tells you his is just routinely late. I'm not sure how you teach someone to get faster. Much like Varitek, it appears that age has caught up with David Ortiz. The Sox may not want to admit it but it is time he gets dropped in the order. You cannot afford to have a non-power, .200 hitter batting third in your line-up. The final three pieces of the 2003 squad (Varitek, Oritz, and Wakefield) may be looking at the twilight of their careers and it will be a sad day for Red Sox Nation if that is truly the case.
- I normally don't expound on the Celtics as I have my deep-seated frustration with the state of officiating and the NBA game in general. That being said, the Celtics deserve a lot of credit for making it past a very good Chicago Bulls team. Ben Gordon was on fire and Joakim Noah seems to have raised him game to another level that I certainly did not think possible when he was playing in Florida. Big applause for the work of Eddie House and Glen Davis in game 7 as both picked up some of the slack from a lackluster game from Rondo and Pierce to power Boston to the second round.
- Speaking of the second round, if the Celtics don't get more out of Kendrick Perkins they are going to be in big trouble against Orlando. Dwight Howard is big and powerful and will put a 30-20 game on the Celtics repeatedly over a very short series if Perkins does not elevate his game. Perkins looks big and mean and like he can take on the world but when it comes down to it, he plans like a wuss. At one point during game 6, he got the ball on the baseline with a lane to the basket. Noah was rotating down to try and defend. Instead of taking the ball hard to the hoop and forcing Noah to make a play or draw the foul, Perk passes the ball to Rondo in the lane who promptly missed a bad fall-away jumper. He routinely, puts the ball on the floor before going up with it and allows the defense that split second to recover and make the defensive play. For a guy as big as Perkins he needs to play bigger and meaner. I was watching Big Baby Davis doing all the things that Perk should be doing and he is the smaller guy. Without Garnett and Powe, Perkins will be key to the Celtics making it any farther.
- Finally, on to baseball, where Big Papi has been anything but big to this point. I hate to say it but he may be done. He claims that he is going to come back big but there is just something lacking in his swing. He is no longer catching up to those fastballs and when he does make contact it is going to left field. When a guy who has been a straight pull hitter for years (to the point where whole shifts are named after him), starts doing nothing but hitting to the opposite field that tells you his is just routinely late. I'm not sure how you teach someone to get faster. Much like Varitek, it appears that age has caught up with David Ortiz. The Sox may not want to admit it but it is time he gets dropped in the order. You cannot afford to have a non-power, .200 hitter batting third in your line-up. The final three pieces of the 2003 squad (Varitek, Oritz, and Wakefield) may be looking at the twilight of their careers and it will be a sad day for Red Sox Nation if that is truly the case.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Talent levels
There are many things that can be said about Tom O'Brien's tenure as the head football coach for Boston College but and inability to recruit should not be one of them. Before O'Brien, the BC program had not had many first round draft picks in the NFL draft. However, a first or early second-rounder seems to be getting more and more common for the Eagles.
Last year Matt Ryan was selected third overall in the NFL Draft, the highest ever by a BC player. This year, B.J. Raji was selected 9th overall and Ron Brace went to the Pats early in the second round. Today, while looking for some wayyyyy to early predictions for the 2010 NFL draft I find that SI.com is predicting Mark Herzlich to be selected #7 overall (which would be tied with Mike Mamula as second-highest BC selection in draft history).
One has to wonder what will happen for the players that were drafted by Jagodzinski over the past two years and if any of them have first or second round potential. O'Brien truly raised the level of talent as well as the expectations for the school. I hope that Spaziani can carry on that proud tradition and build on the solid foundation that O'Brien laid.
Last year Matt Ryan was selected third overall in the NFL Draft, the highest ever by a BC player. This year, B.J. Raji was selected 9th overall and Ron Brace went to the Pats early in the second round. Today, while looking for some wayyyyy to early predictions for the 2010 NFL draft I find that SI.com is predicting Mark Herzlich to be selected #7 overall (which would be tied with Mike Mamula as second-highest BC selection in draft history).
One has to wonder what will happen for the players that were drafted by Jagodzinski over the past two years and if any of them have first or second round potential. O'Brien truly raised the level of talent as well as the expectations for the school. I hope that Spaziani can carry on that proud tradition and build on the solid foundation that O'Brien laid.
Friday, April 24, 2009
NHL playoff musings
- Anything sweeter than watching the absolute silence that encompassed the Bell Centre on Wednesday night as the Bruins completed only the third sweep of the Canadiens in team history (1929, 1992, and 2009 - something about the 2 & the 9 I guess - but I leave that kind of thinking to the show "Numbers"). For a series that was filled with emotion and energy that had to be one of the most boring and lifeless third periods in Bruins/Canadiens history. Not just the crowd but even the teams. It was as if once the third period started both sides knew what the outcome was going to be and simply resigned themselves to that fact.
- Am I the only one who doesn't really miss Joe Thornton? Don't get me wrong. He is a tremendous player and there is a #19 Bruins sweater hanging in my closet but when it comes to crunch time he simply does not show up. Brian Engblom last night was trying to make excuses for him and saying that the defense was playing him tougher but I thought Keith Jones counter-point was more on target. Everyone is supposed to play harder in the playoffs. Everyone raises their game. But...the truly great players find a way to get it down and make a difference. Joe does not elevate his play in the postseason. It was obvious in Boston and it has become even more so in San Jose. This will more than likely be another early exit for the Sharks unless Jumbo Joe can find a way to discover that next gear and take his game to the level he is capable of otherwise he will forever be seem as a failure.
- I chuckle every time I watch a game in Philly and the crowd uses the classic "Lets go Flyers" chant and changes it to daaa-daaa-da-da-da "Crosby Sucks". He He.
- I haven't had a chance to watch as many playoff games this season as I normally do but the Calgary/Chicago series has been one of the more exciting. Some overtime, a lot of back and forth between two great skating clubs. It's nice to see the Hawks back in the playoffs. If only the Maple Leafs could get their sinking ship righted then the entire Original Six might finally all get back in the playoffs at the same time.
- Looking forward to the Bruins-Rangers series but a little scared about how well Henrik Lundqvist is playing right now. The Caps are outshooting the Rangers in the series and yet have only managed to win one game. Sometimes a hot goaltender is all you need to make it all the way.
- Am I the only one who doesn't really miss Joe Thornton? Don't get me wrong. He is a tremendous player and there is a #19 Bruins sweater hanging in my closet but when it comes to crunch time he simply does not show up. Brian Engblom last night was trying to make excuses for him and saying that the defense was playing him tougher but I thought Keith Jones counter-point was more on target. Everyone is supposed to play harder in the playoffs. Everyone raises their game. But...the truly great players find a way to get it down and make a difference. Joe does not elevate his play in the postseason. It was obvious in Boston and it has become even more so in San Jose. This will more than likely be another early exit for the Sharks unless Jumbo Joe can find a way to discover that next gear and take his game to the level he is capable of otherwise he will forever be seem as a failure.
- I chuckle every time I watch a game in Philly and the crowd uses the classic "Lets go Flyers" chant and changes it to daaa-daaa-da-da-da "Crosby Sucks". He He.
- I haven't had a chance to watch as many playoff games this season as I normally do but the Calgary/Chicago series has been one of the more exciting. Some overtime, a lot of back and forth between two great skating clubs. It's nice to see the Hawks back in the playoffs. If only the Maple Leafs could get their sinking ship righted then the entire Original Six might finally all get back in the playoffs at the same time.
- Looking forward to the Bruins-Rangers series but a little scared about how well Henrik Lundqvist is playing right now. The Caps are outshooting the Rangers in the series and yet have only managed to win one game. Sometimes a hot goaltender is all you need to make it all the way.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Cure for what ails...
...the Boston Red Sox is a visit to Fenway from the Baltimore Orioles. Four wins later the Sox are over .500 and back to being relevant again. Of course for this writer the Sox aren't truly relevant again until the Bruins are eliminated from the playoffs. Game three tonight!!
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