The 40+ year old pitcher for the New York Mets, Bartolo Colon shows a side we never knew he had…..the behind the back toss to the first baseman for the out!
Nice play – check it out here.
Tag Archives: baseball
Some sports teams keep making dumb decisions
In September 2011, the Miami Marlins appointed Ozzie Guillen as their manager on a four year contract. Guillen brought a .524 winning record from his seven year stretch as the Chicago White Sox skipper. Whilst not setting the world on fire in his first season 
with the Marlins, he could have reasonably expected his tenure was not in jeopardy. What Guillen didn’t plan on was the intervention of Marlins’ owner Jeffrey Loria who fired Guillen and appointed Mike Redmond.
Redmond, who last year had his contract extended to 2017, had his managerial appoinment terminated yesterday after a 16-22 start to the season. He was replaced by Marlins’ General Manager Dan Jennings. Jennings has no Big League or managerial experience.
Due to prior questionable decisions, the Marlins now find themselves with three managers on the payroll being Guillen, Redmond and Jennings. What a waste of money!
That is not the worst of it. There is every possibility that the Marlins will have four managers on the payroll before the season is too much 
older. I say this as owner Loria has not shown any patience with his managers and if Jennings doesn’t win games, he’ll be the next casualty.
Aside from the managerial sackings, the decision to appoint a person with no managerial experience is a stunner. Would you employ a person who hasn’t flown a plane as a pilot? How about a person with no medical degree as a doctor? Whilst I wish Jennings well, the cards are certainly stacked against success.
Given the recent decisions, is it is surprising that the Marlins are equal last in the NL East?
MLB playoff moneyball selections
With the MLB playoffs having commenced, I thought it might be interesting to re-visit team payrolls and look at the teams still vying for a World Series spot.
The division pennant winners (with 2014 payroll in brackets) were:
American League
East – Baltimore Orioles ($107.5 million)
Central – Detroit Tigers ($162.3 million)
West – LA Angels ($155.7 million) * best record in the AL for wins/losses
Wild card entry – Kansas City Royals ($92.1 million) and Oakland A’s ($83.5 million)
National League
East – Washington Nationals ($134.7 million) * best record in the NL for wins/losses
Central – St Louis Cardinals ($111.1 million)
West – LA Dodgers ($235.3 million)
Wild card entry – San Francisco Giants ($154.2 million) and Pittsburgh Pirates ($78.2 million)
The American League has already played its Wild Card game with the Royals coming out on top over Billy Beane’s A’s. The National League plays today with the Giants and Pirates playing in a winner take all game to advance in the playoffs.
The ALDS sees the Orioles play the Tigers while the Angels take on the Royals.
In the NLDS, the Cardinals play the Dodgers while the Nationals play the winner of the Pirates/Giants game.
Going on strength of payroll alone, it should be a Dodgers v Tigers World Series, however, given many teams with high payroll haven’t even made the playoffs that clearly isn’t the sole determining factor.
I like
the Royals to continue their fairy tale run to play the Nationals in the decider.
One thing for certain, Billy Beane knows that even $83.5 million per year wasn’t enough to get the A’s over the line in 2014!
Wednesday rant – MLB and buying wins
In what endeavour would you be responsible for spending in excess of $203 million, have little or nothing to show for it results wise and still be in a job? In baseball that’s where. How does Brian Cashman, General Manager and Senior Vice President of the New York Yankees retain his job? The Yankees, who have all but been eliminated from post season play, have currently won 81 games. When viewed against their payroll (second highest in MLB), they pay about $2.5 million per win. The concept of ‘buying wins’ was adopted by Billy Beane and brought to the public’s attention in the book and film, Moneyball. By comparison, the other New York team, the Mets get better value for money as they pay about $1.17 million per win spending less in payroll and winning nearly as many games as the Yankees.
Probably the best result in 2014 has been returned by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have qualified for the post season winning 86 games spending $908,000 per win. As for the Oakland A’s, they spend a little more than the Pirates at $970,000 per win and are still in the wildcard chase. The bottom line is getting value for money and the Yankees haven’t whilst the Pirates and A’s have. Maybe Mr Cashman and the Yankees need to re-think the strategy.
Friday musing – Premier League, AFL, MLB……..
Not much has grabbed me this week on the sporting front although I must say that the Gunners have left me feeling a little flat after a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea and a draw at home with Swansea. With a game coming up against Manchester City I will just have to focus all my attention on the FA Cup.
One thing that has piqued my interest is how the AFL pundits are prepared to make prognostications about various teams seasons on the back of one performance. Some people had North Melbourne finishing in the top four and now they are gone, Carlton’s recruiting is all wrong and they are destined for mediocrity, the Bombers were in for a poor season, but they could finish in the top four. I think the reality is that you cannot make a judgement based on one performance. Essendon had a good win last week, but they get the reality check this week against Hawthorn. The Kangaroos played badly last week, but should bounce back this week against the Bulldogs. Carlton also played well last week and if they had kicked straight should have won the game with a number of their first picked players not available. One game does not define a season and you need to wait until at least half way before you can write someone off.
I didn’t get to watch any of the Major League baseball from Sydney last week, however, the ground looked amazing and as I understand it, the game was a success so it will be interesting to see if more Major League games come to Australia.
Have a great weekend!
The Professor’s rant #1
Poor form by Braves players who refused to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Chipper Jones. By the way Chipper just happened to play 19 seasons with the Braves, 8 time All Star, 1999 NL MVP, his number retired by the Braves and no doubt a first round Hall of Fame entrant when he is eligible.
The petulant players sent out the Brave’s mascot instead to catch the ball.
Chipper’s crime? His forecast to the media that he thought the Dodgers would beat the Braves 4-1 (which they did).
Me thinks the Braves as an organisation need to take a good hard look at themselves! A terrible way to treat a former champion.
Braves……you have struck out!
Sportzfan Radio show #291 highlights
The Professor talks to Dan Butterly on US sport including Palace Malice winning the Belmont Stakes result 130609_121408 the NBA playoffs – he still thinks Miami will prevail 130609_121550 – in Major League Baseball he looks at the Mets and Yankees series and thinks the Mets just got hot for four games 130609_mets but he didn’t name Serena Williams as the best African American athlete representing the US 130609_serena
With Mark Fiorenti out of State the Professor and the Panel talk soccer
including Melbourne Heart’s signing of Harry Kewell 130609_kewell and whether Sir Alex Ferguson should be approached to head up Australian soccer 130609_ferguson.
The Professor also talks to Paul Dalligan about State of Origin 1 130609_origin1 and round 13 action in the NRL 130609_NRL round 13.
Sportzfan Radio show #267.1
14 October 2012 267.1 – David Coutts (Coutta) joins the Panel with the Gambler, Daniel Eade and the Professor. Daniel suggests that there is a moment of silence for Paul Dalligan’s multi which went west when the Washington Nationals lost. Dan Butterly comes on to talk US sport and kicks off with the Lance Armstrong story. He also looks at the MBL playoffs and discusses Yankees player Alex Rodriguez being benched. He feels the St Louis Cardinals will play Detroit Tigers for the World Series. He believes the NHL is in mortal danger if it can’t resolve the lockout. The Gelding talks racing and the Spring Carnival with racing at Caulfield yesterday. He also discusses the revelations that Damian Oliver allegedly bet $10,000 on a horse in the same race he was riding in. The Gelding awards S-hit rides to Nash Rawiller for his rides on More Joyous and Pierro. Dr Leslie’s CSA makes a return.
Sportzfan Radio show #258.1
5 August 2012 258.1 – featuring Daniel Eade, the Gelding, Sportzfan Stan and the Professor who begin the show talking AFL tanking then chat US sport with Dan Butterly who looks at the Olympic fortunes of the US team, especially the golden run of Michael Phelps. He also discusses the start of the NFL pre-season and the MLB trades made before the deadline. The Gelding talks horse racing and looks at the results from Moonee Valley and Canterbury. Daniel reviews the Olympic basketball tournament and the fortunes of the Boomers and Opals.
Sportzfan Radio show #246.1
13 May 2012 246.1 – Featuring the Professor, Daniel Eade and Sportzfan Stan in studio with guest Dan Butterly talking US sport in particular, basketball and the NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony, ice hockey and the NHL playoffs, Major League Baseball and the New York Mets. The Gelding calls in to discuss racing at Caulfield and Rosehill plus Black Caviar’s 21st win, when Danish Rock will run next and how the Sydney Colt fared with his tips yesterday.
