Baseball has a problem and it needs to be addressed immediately.
I know among baseball people this is unpopular, but I don’t care about baseball people right now. I know human error has and always will be apart of the game, but sometimes, humans really screw up.
Even with the limited use of instant replay that baseball currently uses, the umpires are getting calls wrong. Not only are the umps getting them wrong, they are terribly wrong; and Bud Selig seems happier than a pig in slop about this.
Selig, or “Captain Reaction” as I sometimes refer to him as, has tried his hardest to keep the use of technology out of baseball.
But give Selig some credit; he has talked to baseball people about the issue. You know these people; they share the same views as the Commissioner.
“The more baseball people I talk to, there is a lot of trepidation, and I think their trepidation is fair,” Selig told reporters. “Affecting the game on the field is not something I really want to do.”
Fair points, but baseball has made on the field changes in the past. Lowering the mound following Bob Gibson’s 1968 season? Adding teeth to their steroid policy after allowing the problem to run rampant for years, only after Jose Canseco decided he needed some money. I’m just saying that change isn’t a bad thing.
For change to happen, Selig has to open up his circle and not just talk strictly to baseball people. He must talk to other commissioners like Roger Goddell of the NFL, whose league uses replay on a challenge system for a ton of calls. How about Gary Bettman of the NHL whose league uses replay for goal calls, high sticks on goals and for determining suspensions. Or possibly David Stern of the NBA who’s league uses it for buzzer beaters or calling a made shot a two or three pointer.
“I think my position is clear,” Selig told the New York Times. “This is a game of pace, I’m worried about that.”
Excuse me? I love baseball, but I think I saw a snail roll by a baseball game once and comment on how slow the game was going. What would take more time? A replay official paging the on-field umps to take a second look, or a manager getting out of the dugout and in the face of one of the umpires?
The replay might take less time than Lou Piniella kicking his hat around the diamond. It would just be far less entertaining.
Sports fans are calling for Selig to react to the poor umpiring. Come on Captain Reaction…React! It’s what you’re best at.
So the numbers are in for the first month of the fall ratings on the radio. This is the new People Meter System which should deliver a more accurate account on who is listening to what.
Here are the highlights as I know them:
Men aged 25-54..Total Share Of Audience
John Oakley — 7.7
590 Morning Show – 6.3
CFRB – 5.7
Cumulative Audience
Fan 590: 158,000
640 Toronto: 111,000
So fair is fair and fair is unfair- there is only one sports show in town and the closest comparison is Oakley…
Mike Stafford — 7.4
The Bullpen — 2.9
Same story here as the Bullpen is the only sports show in town. I suspect this isn’t that surprising to the folks at the fan. It’s not the best time of day, the show appeals to a very small but dedicated group of people. No one else talks ARGO football/ CFL and then, well there is Toth….
Leafs Lunch — 6.3 – older demo (35-49) 4.0
Hockey Central/baseball show (only 12-1pm) — 4.3 older demo (35-49) 5.4
leafs lunch — 18-34 4.6
HC/BC ——-18-34 2.6
weekly cumulative: 25-54 fan 590 152,000 640 101,000
daily cumulative 18-34 fan 54,000 640 30,000
640 has fewer people listening longer which leads to larger share of the audience
I seem to recall this being reversed. To be fair, again, HC didn’t have a full month. The baseball show in a baseball dead town took on half the month. This is a good sign for Dreger though. I am most interested to see this number in the coming books.
Mccown has a big lead. BWS makes in roads in this space there is no question. However, Mccown is Mccown.
Interestingly enough, the Watters show surpassed Mccown with the younger demographic, 18-34 men: BWS 4.8, Mccown 3.9
In the older demographic men aged 35-54: Mccown 10.2, BWS 4.4
I don’t think that is totally surprising either.
TSM spoke with Nelson Millman, the boss over at the fan about the latest “book”
“It is fine, not hugely different than what we have seen. Our cumulative are up, honestly it will take 6 months for this all to shake out and we can identify some trends. No programming decisions will be based on personal people meters. No one should rip their rotator cuff off padding themselves on the back from one month under the new system.”
Over at 640, Program Director Gord Harris offered this “Leafs Lunch has been a market-leading program for some time, and we are thrilled that TSN’s Darren Dreger, as the program host, has extended our lead over other news/talk and sports/talk competitors in both the Male 25-54 and Male 18-34 demographics. In fact, AM640 is the number one AM radio station in the Toronto market in those demos during Leafs Lunch. We are confident that, as the exclusive radio partner with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the only radio reporter who travels with the team to every game, and our unprecedented line up of hockey “insiders” (including TSN’s Darren Dreger, Bob McKenzie, Ray Ferraro, Pierre McGuire, and CBC’s Scott Morrison),
We are also very happy with the strong growth we have seen for The Bill Watters Show, going from approximately 10% of our competitor’s share of listening in Male 25-54 demographic before we launched the show, to over 50%. That in just two years since the launch. Even more gratifying is the tremendous growth we have enjoyed in the younger male demographic (18-34) where we lead both our news/talk and sports/talk competitors. As the host of The Bill Watters Show, Greg Brady brings not only a wealth of sports knowledge and experience to listeners, but a youthful enthusiasm and humour – because sports is, after all – fun!”
Interesting times at both stations for sure. Let’s see how this looks next month.
Alright this is becoming just downright ridiculous. Back-to-back walk off wins and three postings on the game of the day, but if there’s any game you want to watch tonight it’s game two between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two nights ago the Rox pull oout a win thanks to a 14th inning grand salami. Last night the Rockies were down to their last strike in the bottom of the tenth inning and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hits a single to give Colorado a 5-4 win. With the win the Rockies gain another game of the NL West leading Dodgers and have cut the deficit to only two games.
Tonight Josh Fogg (0-1) gets the call for the Rockies. Randy Wolf (8-6) starts for LA. Folks strap on your helmets and snap in those seat belts – this is going to be one heck of a ride!
So Toronto Blue Jays GM JP Ricciardi was on Prime Time Sports tonight with Jeff Blair guest hosting. I get the sense that Blair is one of the few guys who really likes and respects JP. He certainly isn’t bothered by the perception or fact that JP only really talks to the US media as opposed to the guys n gals who cover the team here locally. Here is a review of the interview:
*Never got close on Halladay
* On why he went public with listening to offers for Roy, Writers get the story, then they all call and ask if Roy is available. So what do you do? We told the truth- it was going to get out, rumours are part of the business. In essence, we new the word woould leak out so we decided to deal with it upfront.
* He was asked about how the management had said earlier in teh season and pre-season that the team would focus on contending in 2010, yet this doesn’t jibe with trading Roy, did ownership send new message? Was this part of the out of town corporate Rogers retreat that apparently took place a few weeks ago? JP: No one sending any message here- we try to put best team on field we can. we weren’t saying we aren’t trying to contend, if we could deal Roy and that would make our team better then we would have done it. We didn’t get that type of offer and we think we will contend with Roy and the young arms coming up behind him..There was a rogers business retreat had nothing to do with baseball. We look to be a very good team next year.
* JP was asked point blank, will he be back next season. JP: No reason to believe he won’t be here next year. I have a contract and will honor the contract. Everyone tells him they are happy with direction the club has made. Drafted and developed really well contrary to what people have written. Problem we face is the division we play in. You will see it play out with Tampa Bay. It will be very hard for them to continue to be good. In our division don’t have to be good, have to be great. If I last as long as my contract then I am really excited for next season. If I don’t then that is okay too, that is the nature of this business.
* He was then asked if he had met the new Blue Jays President. JP: Don’t believe there is a new President. Beeston is the best guy for the job. We don’t press him on that though, it’s between him and Rogers.
*Never thought of trading Roy before recently when he expressed interest in testing free agency waters. We will listen, have to be ready to change, but we are not looking to trade Roy Halladay.
“It’s anyone’s guess as to how the dispute will be won, but I am most intrigued by Balsillie’s accusation in a separate lawsuit that the NHL is operating an “illegal cartel”. For many years, I have wondered about the unilateral territorial claim that is common in all professional leagues, but doesn’t appear to be constitutional. In a free-enterprise system, competing factions are encouraged to exist in proximity to one another; it’s the reason a Burger King restaurant can set up shop across the street from an existing McDonald’s franchise. Such an arrangement satisfies anti-trust regulations by discouraging monopolistic tendancies.”
Now you see, this is why guys like Howie shouldn’t try to analogize with the law. This analogy with two competing Burger joints is totally irrelevant. The better analogy would be with multiple McDonald’s franchises within one city. There would be no way to keep a burger king from opening up wherever the hell they want! It’s not possible. That has nothing to to with anti-trust. A law firm in the US has a good article that explains antitrust cases at length. Here is a good snippit of the famous Kodak case:
“At one point in history, Kodak has controlled as much as 96% of the film and camera market in the United States. Through the years, Kodak has seen and weathered several antitrust suits and claims brought by both private and federal parties. The two suits that would shape and reinforce antitrust law in the United States were brought on by the U.S. Government In 1921 and in 1954 and would result in two consent decrees. In accordance with the 1921 decree, Kodak agreed to not sell private-label film – it was disbarred from selling film under any other label but it’s own. In 1954, following the development of its’ Kodacolor film, Kodak’s became not only the only manufacturer and seller of Kodacolor, it was also the only company that knew how to process the film as well – and parlayed that into its’ business strategy. As part of the purchase cost of Kodacolor, Kodak included a fee that would allow the customer to send in the film for processing and delivery. Accused that the “tying” together of the film and the finished product constituted a violation of the Sherman Act, Kodak was forced to license the color finishing process to third parties. In 1994, citing changing international economic conditions, both consent decrees were terminated.”
The US has laws that prevent “monopolies” or unfair business practices with respect to competition. The Coyotes are arguing that the NHL’s rules with respect to moving franchises is anti-competitive; it isn’t allowing others to compete and therefore is preventing their owners to succeed.
“The reversal of such a long-term practice could affect the most routine elements of sport – those which are overlooked in legal circles for being internally policed. If you smacked another person on the street, or rammed that person into the side of a building, you’d quickly be charged with assault. But, hockey players can fight one another and rigorously hammer opponents into wooden boards that surround the playing surface. If you sprinted toward a stranger during a walk in the park and violently propelled that person to the ground, you’d quickly be in handcuffs. But, football players are encouraged to tackle opponents with all the brutality they can muster. In a friendly neighborhood baseball game, purposely winging the ball at an individual’s head might get you in loads of trouble if it connects, causing serious injury. In the major leagues, such action – though frowned upon – is considered legitimate strategy. The most profound anti-societal sport is boxing, but matches are sanctioned by commissions that are loosely affiliated with government.
It’s interesting to imagine what could transpire if someone challenged the minute legalities of sport.”
I have no clue the relevancy of this point by Berger. Whether or not a league is in violation of the antitrust laws has little to do with the fact that there are different standards in sports vs. society. I am not sure what he is trying to get at. I can’t imagine he is trying to suggest that there could be a slippery slope here; that is, that if the NHL is said to be in violation of the antitrust laws therefore it is possible that a hockey player who bodychecks another player could be charged with assault! In fariness to Howie, I heard other sports media members on the radio and television trying to wax poeticly about bankruptcy law, and it’s just nuts. A trustee in bankruptcy has nothing in common with a hockey game. To ask a hockey insider what he thinks is going to happen is totally irrelevant. One of the downsides of the economy is the jack of all trades media members…you do remember the last part of that saying right….
“Leaf fans are smitten by anything that resembles a top prospect, and most are unwilling to even consider the notion of trading the big defenseman. But, if Burke truly wants a legitimate shot at Tavares, he’ll have no choice but to dangle Schenn as bait. An argument can be made that Schenn is likely to evolve as a facsimile of veteran Adam Foote – a solid, reliable blue-liner that can diffuse opposition advances. Such players do not grow on trees, but neither has a club ever built a team around Adam Foote. A natural goal-scorer such as Tavares could provide the Leafs the caliber of building block they’ve lacked since drafting Darryl Sittler almost 40 years ago. That’s why I believe Burke is serious about pursuing Tavares. And, why he may have to consider all options at the draft table.”
If you have followed this blog, you know that I have said for some time that Luke Schenn isn’t Burke’s guy. Burke future isn’t attached to Luke. Does that mean he should be thrown overboard? Hell no. I think Burke would move Schenn in the absolute right package. I don’t know any leaf fan who has said “thou shall not trade Luke under any circumstances”. Clearly this is a market for everyone, and even the biggest Schenn lover (family excluded) would break at some offer. I think there is great banter out there as to what Garth Snow is thinking, same with Brian Burke. Does anyone believe that these guys are going to share anything of substance? Didn’t think so.
You all saw this hit right? Aaron Ward got clobbered. Walker, several minutes in penalties:
Damien through out his prediction on what would happen when the league met with Walker:
“Will the league do anything? Its sounds unlikely, although there will be a hearing on the matter today in New York. In fact – you’re gonna love this – the league will probably RESCIND part of the in-game punishment handed down to Walker for the instigator penalty he receivedSo it may not just be that Walker won’t be suspended. He may be partially vindicated, with some of the 17 penalty minutes he was given taken away. Basically, the thinking may be that it was up to Ward to defend himself, not up to Walker to restrain himself. Hard to believe, but that’s where this may be headed. Moreover, Ward and Helm both showed that the players on the team that is winning a lopsided game basically become pinatas for the sore losers on the other side. Solution? Well, if Brookbank had to serve his two-minute minor to start Game 6 in Anaheim tomorrow, do you think his own coach, Randy Carlyle, would allow him to get away with his cheap shot? Walker got his 17 minutes worth of penalties with only 2:47 left in the third period. What if he had to serve those penalties at the start of Game 6 in Raleigh tomorrow night? This we know. Suspensions don’t seem to slow these guys down.”
He was bang on. Collie Campbell punted. I have said this too often. Colin Campbell seems to follow the Canadian justice system when it comes to handing out punishment. There is no precedent, no track record, no rhyme, no reason.
Congrats to the Caps on an amazing game 6 win. Good luck back in DC. Can’t wait to watch the Jays vs the Yankees tomorrow night. I really home the barn is full. AJ vs. Doc. Does it get any better right now? What is the over under on how many pieces ask whether or not the Jays fans will boo or cheer AJ, and then how many will question or comment on the “correctness” of booing AJ? I am curious, have we seen the last of Mats Sundin? Can you believe, no really, can you believe that he could have taken the Canucks for $20 million?????? Ask yourself this. You are an NHL GM, your phone rings on July 1, it’s Sundin’s agent, he wants to play for you- what do you offer?
Deepest sympathies to the Canucks faithful. I don’t care what anyone says, losing in the playoffs isn’t nearly as bad as not playing at all.
It’s been a hell of a week for some Fantasy owners (especially you Manny Ramirez owners), so without further ado, let’s take a look at this weekís waiver wire opportunities.
Josh Whitesell, Arizona Diamondbacks, 1B: It appears that A.J. Hinch is going to have his hands full in the desert replacing Bob Melvin. The D-Backs made the first of what could potentially be many moves when they called up Whitesell to replace the struggling Chad Tracy at first base. Down on the farm, Whitesell managed three homers, 20 RBI and an outstanding .356 BA. Arizona will be giving him plenty of at bats, at least initially, so grab him quick in NL-only leagues and monitor his progress closely in mixed formats.
Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals, OF: The injury to Rick Ankiel has created an opportunity for Rasmus to display that five-tool prowess that has had many a Fantasy owner drooling for the past several years. He should already be owned in keeper formats, but is a decent gamble in mixed formats as a replacement for the next several weeks until the return of Ankiel. It’s hard not to feel for Ankiel. Isnít it a shame that every time he seemingly turns a corner he bumps into another figurative and sometimes even literal wall?
Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins, 2B/3B/OF: The Marlins have turned to one of their top prospects in Coghlan in an attempt to bolster their struggling offense. In his past 10 games at Triple-A New Orleans, he hit to the tune of a .514 BA with three homers, 14 RBI, five stolen bases and 13 runs scored. Very, very impressive. Emilio Bonifacio and Cameron Maybin are both currently struggling and the Marlins arenít bringing up a top prospect to have him sit. Coghlan should be rostered in NL-only formats and mixed leagues.
Kris Medlen, Atlanta Braves, SP: The Atlanta Braves have a very interesting conundrum facing them. Jo-Jo Reyes has been getting beat up on a regular basis and his days in the rotation are numbered. Down on the farm, the Braves have a phenom named Tommy Hanson that many thought would break camp in the rotation. Atlanta also has a 23-year-old named Kris Medlen that is currently producing better numbers for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. Currently Medlin is 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA and, in 30 2/3 IP, has stuck out 38 while only allowing 17 hits and seven walks. It is fairly obvious that he is poised to make that next step, as is Hanson. Both should be rostered in keeper formats, but in the event that the Braves turn to Medlen first, which is a possibility, grab him quick in all formats.
Julio Lugo, Boston Red Sox, SS: Lugo is finally back in the lineup for the Sox and is currently swinging a hot bat. Over his past three games, he is 6-for-13 with five runs scored. The name of the game for Lugo is speed, and because of the knee injury it is going to take a while to allow him to fully return to that aspect of his arsenal, but in the powerful Red Sox lineup he is a solid start in all formats.
Manny Burriss, San Francisco Giants, SS: Burriss has quietly been swinging a very hot bat over the past several weeks for the Giants. He has managed to go 15-for-32 with three steals over his past 10 games. Burriss’ hot streak has caused the Giants to move him up in the order, thus affording him more chances to score runs. He also has both shortstop and second base eligibility, a very nice bonus. If your middle-infield is struggling and you need a boost in your stolen base numbers, Burris makes for a fine addition.
Matt Palmer, Los Angeles Angels, SP: The 30-year-old rookie has now pitched back-to-back great efforts for the Halos. They sure have needed the boost with most of their rotation currently on the DL. The Angels are hoping to see both John Lackey and Ervin Santana return shortly, but will still need the services of a solid number five man at the back of their rotation. Palmer is a solid addition in AL-only leagues and his progress should be monitored very closely over his next several starts for mixed formats.
Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants, SP: After his first two starts, most of us were ready to write Zito off as simply having another typical disappointing year. In what must be considered a surprise of biblical proportions, his past four starts have been very steady. Zito has managed to allow only four runs over that span, three of which came during his April 27th start against the Dodgers. Itís the middle of May and he has a very serviceable 3.57 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Zito is undoubtedly risky and potentially very dangerous, but worthy of a roster spot in NL-only leagues and, with one more quality start, should begin disappearing off the waiver wire in mixed leagues.
Juan Pierre, Los Angeles Dodgers, OF: The PED-related suspension of Ramirez has, for the next 50 games, opened a window of opportunity for Pierre. It looks like the Dodgers have moved Pierre into the lead-off slot and heís batting 6-for-11 with three RBI and a stolen base over his past three games. If your fantasy team is in need of runs scored and stolen bases and heís still out there on waivers, grab him quick before heís gone.
Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado Rockies, SP: Those of us that had high hopes for De La Rosa after his great stretch run last year are very happy. Saturday, he pitched a gem, allowing only four hits over eight innings while contributing 12 strikeouts. De La Rosa has to keep the walks down, a problem he’s had in the past, but with four of his past five starts being of the quality variety he should be owned in all formats at this time.
John Grabow/Taylor Yates, Pittsburgh Pirates, RP: Matt Capps is currently going through what has been termed ìminor discomfortî in his right elbow. This would be the same Capps that missed two months last year with shoulder problems. A trend is starting to rear its ugly head here. He is slotted to return at the beginning of the week after taking most of the past week off. Grabow and Yates have both struggled this past week, pitching very poorly. In the event Capps’ elbow woes continue, one of the two by default will most likely end up with the closer gig. Iím betting on Grabow as he at least has the history when he replaced Capps last summer. Keep this one filed under the wait-until-we-get-more-information category, but be ready to move quick should Capps end up on the DL.
“Players Association founder Marvin Miller defended the union’s conduct and accused the federal government and major drug-testing bodies of engaging in a “witch hunt” against prominent athletes.
But Miller, the 91-year-old Players Association icon, said union leaders are also now paying for their biggest mistake — the decision to bow to public and congressional pressure and enter into an agreement with Major League Baseball to institute mandatory testing in 2004.
“Everything I’ve read in the last few days is unfair and anti-union,” Miller told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “But that does not mean I agree that [union officials] are without blame. When they agreed on a testing program, I said, ‘They’re going to regret this, because you’re going to see players going to jail.’”
I was fortunate enough to see Marvin Miller speak on a couple of different occasions. Having said that, Marvin is soooooooooo off base here. Baseball is a joke. Under Bud Selig’s 17 million dollar a year leadership the game has become a sham. You want evidence of that, the entire lack of concern or outrage over what is going on right now. The most dangerous emotion out there is APATHY. People don’t care. That isn’t good at all.
Ask yourself this. You are an NHL GM, your phone rings on July 1, it’s Sundin’s agent, he wants to play for you- what do you offer? 
