Wednesday, January 12, 2005
CLIPART
For those wondering, this post was powered by the album Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode.
MARINERS
Only thirty-five more days until pitchers and catchers report to Peoria. This is coming fast. I say this knowing full well that we'll all be sitting here on March 24th just bored out of our minds waiting for the regular season to start and being sick of reading all the same fluff pieces from the dailies.
Mike Hargrove is out cruising, but before doing so, he's apparently drawn up quite a few lineups. He says Richie Sexson has been fourth in most of them, though he acknowledges that he has a few options in the fourth slot. He's told Raul Ibanez he hasn't been penciled into the DH slot. Basically, it's all based on brainstorming and pencil-and-paper, because it's not even spring training yet, and there hasn't been any time for Hargrove to be a mad lineup scientist with the batters actually hitting in, well, actuality. But hey, it's the offseason, and it's something for the fans to chew on.
You know how apparently it's bad English to end a sentence with a preposition? That's what I did with that Hargrove blurb. Saying "something on which to chew" just doesn't have the same effect as "something to chew on" does.
Well, it's a Finnigan article, so once again, there's your warning. Good God, Finnigan even used the phrase "training camp." Wrong sport, Bob. When it comes to baseball this time of year, the only word that comes before "training" is "spring," just like how in football, "ensuing" is followed most often by "kickoff" (and in basketball by "possession"). Bavasi apparently says that the Randy Winn to Houston rumors (Beltran's no longer there) don't have legs. So what's the speculation in the article regarding pitching? Pedro Astacio, Aaron Sele, and possibilities of minor-league contracts with invites. Please excuse me while I block this entire paragraph out of my mind.
Yes, it will be weird to have Bucky Jacobsen and Greg Dobbs at my old high school.
By the way, Randy Johnson's new number 41 has been worn by past Yankees such as...Sterling Hitchcock.
SEAHAWKS
Mike Holmgren thought about stepping down, but he decided not to do that. Since Bob Whitsitt didn't fire him, he'll be back. Now we're officially in offseason mode. What to do with the rest of the team? Well, in the article, they point out free agency, healthiness, and just plain getting better. The fourth item? Holmgren had this to say about Koren Robinson: "I was counting on him to have a big year and it didn't happen. It hurt us." The sad thing is, I can't even tell myself that Koren truly knows he hurt this football team.
Yes, after this tough season, Holmgren is beat. Hell, I think even I might be beat after just watching it, covering it, and airing out about in on some piddly little weblog. Holmgren thinks he should have been the difference in the closer games, and that's eaten at him. His wife was worried about his health. I still can't believe the Seahawks didn't lock any of Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, or Shaun Alexander last offseason. Simply mind-numbing. Was there any rationale behind this at all?
Yes, some Seahawks talked publicly about wishing there were less headcases on the team, that they have to get mentally tougher, etc. By the way, Koren Robinson? Still being held with kid gloves. I really hope whatever the problem with him is is eventually (at the right time) revealed, and it better be a damn good reason as to why he missed 6 games this year. Until then, I'm assuming he's a man who can make his own decisions. Assuming he's fully cognizant of his decisions, he's damn lucky he didn't lose either of those fumbles last Saturday, and if he drops any passes next year at home, the fans should just absolutely let him have it.
In amove surprising absolutely nobody, Mark Michaels was let go as the special teams coach of your Seattle Seahawks. I'm still flabbergasted that Pete Rodriguez left and somehow the special teams got WORSE than they were last year, and I thought they were horrid last year. I think we can all agree that when other coaches were summoned to help Michaels do special teams, the writing was on the wall. Holmgren has wide recievers coach Nolan Cromwell's back, even with the dropped passes situation. As for dropped passes, it definitely wasn't just a 2004 problem, lest we forget about Darrell Jackson's 2003 season. Holmgren also says Ray Rhodes didn't really have too much of a fair shake, what with all the injuries to the defense. As for getting burned in the backfield, though, that also isn't just a problem for this year. Anyone who remembers the games last year in Minnesota and Baltimore know this.
David Locke has a phrase for the Seahawks' state of affairs -- it's the .500 mentality. Judging by the comments that Grant Wistrom and Trent Dilfer made, it seems like they've been holding those thoughts for quite a long time. Though I'm not doubting anything they've said, I wish they'd have been on the field for most of the course of the season so their words would hold a bit more water. If Ken Hamlin, Mack Strong, or Steve Hutchinson come out and rail on the team, then I might look at this differently. I'm not doubting Dilfer and Wistrom at all, as they've done great things in the past. I just wish they'd played 12 games each or something so they'd have more of a perspective on it, that's all.
BASKETBALL
The Marvin Williams Watch
The Tar Heels have a HUUUUUGE home game against Georgia Tech tonight (ESPN telecast), and are at Wake Forest on Saturday.
Huskies
The Huskies and Ducks are diffusing any rumors of intersquad animosity. How boring. Come on, guys.
Likewise, the Oregon game will not be televised tomorrow night due to the idiotic Pac10 television contract. Mentioned in the article is that the Pac10 doesn't necessarily want to get on ESPN because the latter wants the former as part of the 9pm Pacific games on Big Monday. So I guess it turns out it might not just be the Pac10's fault. Of course, this all flies in the face of what Mike Gastineau, Jeremy, and I believe in, which would be the bitchin' ESPN Pac10 Basketball Thursday that could be had. They've got two networks to do this with, and there's no hockey. What would Pac10 Thursdays be pushing out? Infinite reruns of Tilt? World Series of Poker? World's Strongest Man reruns from Malaysia and South Africa? As for not biting at having the late game on Big Monday, I guess I can see the Pac10's case in a way, but only if they think it'd be too late for anyone on the east coast to actually pay attention to it. It'd be a midnight game on the east coast.
Bulldogs
This week, Gonzaga has home games against Loyola Marymount on Thursday and Pepperdine on Saturday.
Sonics
For my take on the game, scroll down one post or click here if you're in the archive.
Revenge hath been served. It's almost too bad the teams play again tonight in LA; the Sonics won't have any time to savor this one. In things I didn't previously know, the Sonics held the Clippers without a basket for three minutes late in the fourth quarter. The defensive play I couldn't quite get my head around in the recap to the game was Fortson diving to tip the ball up the court, leading to the Radmanovic dunk. Oh, and there's a detailed description of the ball movement on the play leading to the key Rashard Lewis three, which account for one-third of his scoring tonight, due to the thigh contusion.
Sure, you might not be able to say much about the defense when they allow 99 points, but they clamped down when it mattered. They held the Clippers scoreless on four straight possessions late in that fourth quarter. If you read to the end of Percy Allen's article, you can learn why Ray Allen hated the Bulls back in the day.
Reggie Evans did a solid job last night in 22 minutes, bouncing back from gastroenteritis. The diet of champions? Jell-O, eggs, and sausages. You know, this is weird, but I find it almost enjoyable and funny in the weirdest way when Evans and Fortson react to the referees calling them for loose-ball fouls or moving screens even when it's blatantly obvious.
Dwane Casey will be coaching the Sonics tonight because Nate McMillan will be at his aunt's funeral. McMillan will return to the team on Thursday.
Upcoming...
Tonight at LA Clippers
Friday vs. Golden State
Sunday vs. Cleveland
Tuesday vs. Denver
HOCKEY
Seattle beat Tri-City 3-1. Thanks to what happened in the game below this one, the Thunderbirds have opened up an 11-point lead on Everett. The T-Birds are now 29-10-0-1 with a sparkling road record of 16-6. Last night, they won while missing three of their regulars (Tyler Metcalfe, Ryan Gibbons, Denis Tolpeko). Early in the second period, Ladislav Scurko tied the game at 1-1. WHL rookie David Linsley scored his first WHL goal with 12:31 to go in the final period for what held up as the game-winner. Aaron Gagnon put the game away with an empty-netter. Seattle outshot Tri-City 32-22. Gavin McHale stopped 21 in the Seattle net. Matt Hansen and Scott Jackson were both plus-2 skaters. Also of note is that the T-Birds along with Port of Seattle employees were able to raise $11449 for Northwest Medical Teams to help tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Kootenay beat Everett 4-2. Everett was missing their top three scorers, and Kootenay had Nigel Dawes and goalie Jeff Glass, both members of Canada's gold medal team at the World Juniors just a week or so ago. The Silvertips managed to give up an even-strength goal, a shorthanded goal, a power play goal, and an empty-netter (in that order). Mitch Love's goal with 9:12 left in the third period brought the 'Tips to within one at 3-2, but Casey Lee's empty-netter sealed the deal 3:59 later. Everett outshot Kootenay 29-24, and Mike Wall stopped 21 for the Silvertips.
Portland beat Regina 5-2. Three games into their eight-game road trip, the Winter Hawks find themselves having won consecutive games for only the fourth time this season. They have an opportunity to post their first three-game win streak of the season with their next game. In this one, two quick goals midway through the second period by Kyle Bailey and Alex Aldred made sure that the Pats' lead was short-lived. Team Canada member Braydon Coburn got a backbreaking goal with three seconds left in the second period to make it 3-1 Winter Hawks. Sasha Golin got his first WHL goal on the power play in the third period, and Cody McLeod iced the game with an empty-netter. Portland outshot Regina 40-32. Dustin Butler stopped 30 for Portland in his 25th straight start in the Portland net. McLeod is now 14th all-time on the Winter Hawks career penalty minutes list, pushing ahead of Andrew Ference. Bailey, Mike Funk, Nick Hotson, and Brian Woolger were all plus-2 for the Winter Hawks.
Vancouver beat Prince George 4-1. Matt Robinson scored on a power play in the first period, and Tim Kraus accounted for the game-winner in the middle of the second period. Marek Schwarz in the Vancouver net held the Cougars out of it the rest of the way, sans one goal. For good measure, Conlan Seder followed up with a one-timer about two minutes after the Kraus goal to stake Portland out to a 3-0 lead. The final goal was accounted for with Mitch Bartley's empty-netter. Portland outshot Prince George 27-23. Marek Schwarz stopped 22 in the Vancouver net.
Manitoba beat San Antonio 6-3. The almost-Canucks put away the almost-Panthers. Jimmy Roy assisted on the game-winner and got the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight). The Moose had a 2-0 lead after a dominant first period (they outshot the Rampage 14-5) with goals by Alexandre Burrows and Roy. Ryan Kesler answered a Rampage goal in the second period, putting in a rebound to make it 3-1 about eight minutes into the period. The Moose were able to answer each of San Antonio's goals in the third period thanks to Justin Morrison's game-winner (34 seconds after a San Antonio goal) and Ryan Kesler's empty-netter, with Lee Goren's power-play goal sandwiched in between. Manitoba outshot the Rampage 30-24, and Alex Auld stopped 21 in the Moose net. Manitoba had six skaters who where plus-2.
Upcoming...
Tonight: Kootenay at Seattle, Portland at Brandon
Tomorrow: Manitoba at San Antonio
Friday: Everett at Vancouver, Seattle at Tri-City, Portland at Moose Jaw, Manitoba at Houston, Puget Sound at Portland
Saturday: Vancouver at Everett, Portland at Kootenay, Puget Sound at Portland
---
Have a great middle-of-the-week day, everybody. After all, it's the middle of the week. Go have yourself a mini-solstice parade or something.
MARINERS
Only thirty-five more days until pitchers and catchers report to Peoria. This is coming fast. I say this knowing full well that we'll all be sitting here on March 24th just bored out of our minds waiting for the regular season to start and being sick of reading all the same fluff pieces from the dailies.
Mike Hargrove is out cruising, but before doing so, he's apparently drawn up quite a few lineups. He says Richie Sexson has been fourth in most of them, though he acknowledges that he has a few options in the fourth slot. He's told Raul Ibanez he hasn't been penciled into the DH slot. Basically, it's all based on brainstorming and pencil-and-paper, because it's not even spring training yet, and there hasn't been any time for Hargrove to be a mad lineup scientist with the batters actually hitting in, well, actuality. But hey, it's the offseason, and it's something for the fans to chew on.
You know how apparently it's bad English to end a sentence with a preposition? That's what I did with that Hargrove blurb. Saying "something on which to chew" just doesn't have the same effect as "something to chew on" does.
Well, it's a Finnigan article, so once again, there's your warning. Good God, Finnigan even used the phrase "training camp." Wrong sport, Bob. When it comes to baseball this time of year, the only word that comes before "training" is "spring," just like how in football, "ensuing" is followed most often by "kickoff" (and in basketball by "possession"). Bavasi apparently says that the Randy Winn to Houston rumors (Beltran's no longer there) don't have legs. So what's the speculation in the article regarding pitching? Pedro Astacio, Aaron Sele, and possibilities of minor-league contracts with invites. Please excuse me while I block this entire paragraph out of my mind.
Yes, it will be weird to have Bucky Jacobsen and Greg Dobbs at my old high school.
By the way, Randy Johnson's new number 41 has been worn by past Yankees such as...Sterling Hitchcock.
SEAHAWKS
Mike Holmgren thought about stepping down, but he decided not to do that. Since Bob Whitsitt didn't fire him, he'll be back. Now we're officially in offseason mode. What to do with the rest of the team? Well, in the article, they point out free agency, healthiness, and just plain getting better. The fourth item? Holmgren had this to say about Koren Robinson: "I was counting on him to have a big year and it didn't happen. It hurt us." The sad thing is, I can't even tell myself that Koren truly knows he hurt this football team.
Yes, after this tough season, Holmgren is beat. Hell, I think even I might be beat after just watching it, covering it, and airing out about in on some piddly little weblog. Holmgren thinks he should have been the difference in the closer games, and that's eaten at him. His wife was worried about his health. I still can't believe the Seahawks didn't lock any of Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, or Shaun Alexander last offseason. Simply mind-numbing. Was there any rationale behind this at all?
Yes, some Seahawks talked publicly about wishing there were less headcases on the team, that they have to get mentally tougher, etc. By the way, Koren Robinson? Still being held with kid gloves. I really hope whatever the problem with him is is eventually (at the right time) revealed, and it better be a damn good reason as to why he missed 6 games this year. Until then, I'm assuming he's a man who can make his own decisions. Assuming he's fully cognizant of his decisions, he's damn lucky he didn't lose either of those fumbles last Saturday, and if he drops any passes next year at home, the fans should just absolutely let him have it.
In amove surprising absolutely nobody, Mark Michaels was let go as the special teams coach of your Seattle Seahawks. I'm still flabbergasted that Pete Rodriguez left and somehow the special teams got WORSE than they were last year, and I thought they were horrid last year. I think we can all agree that when other coaches were summoned to help Michaels do special teams, the writing was on the wall. Holmgren has wide recievers coach Nolan Cromwell's back, even with the dropped passes situation. As for dropped passes, it definitely wasn't just a 2004 problem, lest we forget about Darrell Jackson's 2003 season. Holmgren also says Ray Rhodes didn't really have too much of a fair shake, what with all the injuries to the defense. As for getting burned in the backfield, though, that also isn't just a problem for this year. Anyone who remembers the games last year in Minnesota and Baltimore know this.
David Locke has a phrase for the Seahawks' state of affairs -- it's the .500 mentality. Judging by the comments that Grant Wistrom and Trent Dilfer made, it seems like they've been holding those thoughts for quite a long time. Though I'm not doubting anything they've said, I wish they'd have been on the field for most of the course of the season so their words would hold a bit more water. If Ken Hamlin, Mack Strong, or Steve Hutchinson come out and rail on the team, then I might look at this differently. I'm not doubting Dilfer and Wistrom at all, as they've done great things in the past. I just wish they'd played 12 games each or something so they'd have more of a perspective on it, that's all.
BASKETBALL
The Marvin Williams Watch
The Tar Heels have a HUUUUUGE home game against Georgia Tech tonight (ESPN telecast), and are at Wake Forest on Saturday.
Huskies
The Huskies and Ducks are diffusing any rumors of intersquad animosity. How boring. Come on, guys.
Likewise, the Oregon game will not be televised tomorrow night due to the idiotic Pac10 television contract. Mentioned in the article is that the Pac10 doesn't necessarily want to get on ESPN because the latter wants the former as part of the 9pm Pacific games on Big Monday. So I guess it turns out it might not just be the Pac10's fault. Of course, this all flies in the face of what Mike Gastineau, Jeremy, and I believe in, which would be the bitchin' ESPN Pac10 Basketball Thursday that could be had. They've got two networks to do this with, and there's no hockey. What would Pac10 Thursdays be pushing out? Infinite reruns of Tilt? World Series of Poker? World's Strongest Man reruns from Malaysia and South Africa? As for not biting at having the late game on Big Monday, I guess I can see the Pac10's case in a way, but only if they think it'd be too late for anyone on the east coast to actually pay attention to it. It'd be a midnight game on the east coast.
Bulldogs
This week, Gonzaga has home games against Loyola Marymount on Thursday and Pepperdine on Saturday.
Sonics
For my take on the game, scroll down one post or click here if you're in the archive.
Revenge hath been served. It's almost too bad the teams play again tonight in LA; the Sonics won't have any time to savor this one. In things I didn't previously know, the Sonics held the Clippers without a basket for three minutes late in the fourth quarter. The defensive play I couldn't quite get my head around in the recap to the game was Fortson diving to tip the ball up the court, leading to the Radmanovic dunk. Oh, and there's a detailed description of the ball movement on the play leading to the key Rashard Lewis three, which account for one-third of his scoring tonight, due to the thigh contusion.
Sure, you might not be able to say much about the defense when they allow 99 points, but they clamped down when it mattered. They held the Clippers scoreless on four straight possessions late in that fourth quarter. If you read to the end of Percy Allen's article, you can learn why Ray Allen hated the Bulls back in the day.
Reggie Evans did a solid job last night in 22 minutes, bouncing back from gastroenteritis. The diet of champions? Jell-O, eggs, and sausages. You know, this is weird, but I find it almost enjoyable and funny in the weirdest way when Evans and Fortson react to the referees calling them for loose-ball fouls or moving screens even when it's blatantly obvious.
Dwane Casey will be coaching the Sonics tonight because Nate McMillan will be at his aunt's funeral. McMillan will return to the team on Thursday.
Upcoming...
Tonight at LA Clippers
Friday vs. Golden State
Sunday vs. Cleveland
Tuesday vs. Denver
HOCKEY
Seattle beat Tri-City 3-1. Thanks to what happened in the game below this one, the Thunderbirds have opened up an 11-point lead on Everett. The T-Birds are now 29-10-0-1 with a sparkling road record of 16-6. Last night, they won while missing three of their regulars (Tyler Metcalfe, Ryan Gibbons, Denis Tolpeko). Early in the second period, Ladislav Scurko tied the game at 1-1. WHL rookie David Linsley scored his first WHL goal with 12:31 to go in the final period for what held up as the game-winner. Aaron Gagnon put the game away with an empty-netter. Seattle outshot Tri-City 32-22. Gavin McHale stopped 21 in the Seattle net. Matt Hansen and Scott Jackson were both plus-2 skaters. Also of note is that the T-Birds along with Port of Seattle employees were able to raise $11449 for Northwest Medical Teams to help tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Kootenay beat Everett 4-2. Everett was missing their top three scorers, and Kootenay had Nigel Dawes and goalie Jeff Glass, both members of Canada's gold medal team at the World Juniors just a week or so ago. The Silvertips managed to give up an even-strength goal, a shorthanded goal, a power play goal, and an empty-netter (in that order). Mitch Love's goal with 9:12 left in the third period brought the 'Tips to within one at 3-2, but Casey Lee's empty-netter sealed the deal 3:59 later. Everett outshot Kootenay 29-24, and Mike Wall stopped 21 for the Silvertips.
Portland beat Regina 5-2. Three games into their eight-game road trip, the Winter Hawks find themselves having won consecutive games for only the fourth time this season. They have an opportunity to post their first three-game win streak of the season with their next game. In this one, two quick goals midway through the second period by Kyle Bailey and Alex Aldred made sure that the Pats' lead was short-lived. Team Canada member Braydon Coburn got a backbreaking goal with three seconds left in the second period to make it 3-1 Winter Hawks. Sasha Golin got his first WHL goal on the power play in the third period, and Cody McLeod iced the game with an empty-netter. Portland outshot Regina 40-32. Dustin Butler stopped 30 for Portland in his 25th straight start in the Portland net. McLeod is now 14th all-time on the Winter Hawks career penalty minutes list, pushing ahead of Andrew Ference. Bailey, Mike Funk, Nick Hotson, and Brian Woolger were all plus-2 for the Winter Hawks.
Vancouver beat Prince George 4-1. Matt Robinson scored on a power play in the first period, and Tim Kraus accounted for the game-winner in the middle of the second period. Marek Schwarz in the Vancouver net held the Cougars out of it the rest of the way, sans one goal. For good measure, Conlan Seder followed up with a one-timer about two minutes after the Kraus goal to stake Portland out to a 3-0 lead. The final goal was accounted for with Mitch Bartley's empty-netter. Portland outshot Prince George 27-23. Marek Schwarz stopped 22 in the Vancouver net.
Manitoba beat San Antonio 6-3. The almost-Canucks put away the almost-Panthers. Jimmy Roy assisted on the game-winner and got the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight). The Moose had a 2-0 lead after a dominant first period (they outshot the Rampage 14-5) with goals by Alexandre Burrows and Roy. Ryan Kesler answered a Rampage goal in the second period, putting in a rebound to make it 3-1 about eight minutes into the period. The Moose were able to answer each of San Antonio's goals in the third period thanks to Justin Morrison's game-winner (34 seconds after a San Antonio goal) and Ryan Kesler's empty-netter, with Lee Goren's power-play goal sandwiched in between. Manitoba outshot the Rampage 30-24, and Alex Auld stopped 21 in the Moose net. Manitoba had six skaters who where plus-2.
Upcoming...
Tonight: Kootenay at Seattle, Portland at Brandon
Tomorrow: Manitoba at San Antonio
Friday: Everett at Vancouver, Seattle at Tri-City, Portland at Moose Jaw, Manitoba at Houston, Puget Sound at Portland
Saturday: Vancouver at Everett, Portland at Kootenay, Puget Sound at Portland
---
Have a great middle-of-the-week day, everybody. After all, it's the middle of the week. Go have yourself a mini-solstice parade or something.
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