Happy Holiday of Consumption!

Abject gluttony and a campaign of subjugation of Native Americans is always cause for celebration! That's dynamic duo is what makes Thanksgiving my favorite holiday. Throw in Texas - Texas A&M, good times with family, and a little Jewish guilt for all the people who don't have as much to be thankful for, and you have the makings of a perfect day of festivities. Therefore, I offer to you and all the readers a safe, happy, and joyous Thanksgiving.

But of course, we here at SLAE do tend to be sports-centric and, frankly, it ain't going to be a happy Thanksgiving if things don't go well starting at 7:00 pm tonight. So let's look at this game from a couple of different angles.

A&M's strength (to the extent it is "strong") is its offense. Jerrod is a legitimate athlete and a passable quarterback (get it, "passable"?). The Fightin' Sherminators have two quality running backs in Cyrus Gray and the male incarnation of "Christine." Unfortunately for the Farmers, defense is the strength of this Texas team, and I don't think the A&M offense can operate as efficiently as Kansas's did last week. Really, it was Reesing's quality decision-making that lead to an abnormal number of yards given up by the Horns' defense, and I don't see Johnson being that smart with the football. In the spirit of the fascist Aggies, I could go all "Radio" here and make a racist comment about stupid black QB's, but I'm going to resist. Really. I am.

The Aggies defense is hot garbage that has been sitting in a Houston garage for a month. In July. Which is to say it stinks. From what I read, their only quality is in pass-rushing end Von Miller. Unfortunately, our OL was flaccid like after 5 whiskies (not that I know what that's like) last week. I think we have to expect Colt to get hit some, and that could lead to the only thing that will keep A&M in the game: turnovers. If the Aggy D can get the ball back and create some short fields, anything can happen. Unfortunately, I think this does happen and A&M will get some points out of it.

In the end, though, I don't see Colt letting this team lose this game. Rivalry or not, I am not willing to imagine a Thanksgiving that involves a loss to A&M, the end of out National championship run, and my father-in-law bitching about losing his bets and the games being fixed. I refuse to think of this end. Therefore, we will focus on the positives.

In true holiday fashion, I will end this post by saying I am thankful for my family (including my gestating child), good friends both old and new, and for not being unemployed this Scroogish holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Return of the Evil Empire

Well, we've had about a week to digest the return of the New York Yankees to the summit of Mount MLB. To this writer, the Yankees winning the World Series is akin to the zombies killing the teenage skinny dippers in a horror flick (and right before the nude scene, no less), or the passage of Pelosi/Obama-care. Not unexpected, but disappointing and anti-climactic. Combine the Yankees win with the end of baseball season, and your faithful author has been in a bit of a sports funk (and Texas's beatdown of the University of Central Florida didn't quite fit the adernaline bill).

But the Yankees' win also got me to do something George Steinbrenner no longer can -- think. (And yes, I am going straight to Hell for that particular comment). Is the reascenscion of the Yankees good for baseball? Or is it a sign of exactly what Houston Astros fans have long lamented -- that the big market clubs can buy a championship while Uncle Drayton has to content himself with sippin' on moonshine and throwin' rocks in the pond?

Like the good Jew that I am, I have mixed feelings on the subject. Statistically speaking, there is not a lot of evidence to support the theory that the big market clubs have a dynamic advantage. Something like 20 different teams have made the playoffs in the last 10 years, coming from a range of markets. This would suggest that wise-spending, talent-oriented teams from "small" markets can still succeed. But that tingling in your gut is not the unpleasant rise of last night's dinner, its the realization that -- at the heart of the matter -- probably 25 out of 30 teams don't have a realistic chance of winning at the start of any given year.

So what's more accurate, the numbers or the intuition. My sense is, like so much, the answer lies somewhere in between. Small market teams with owners who don't worry about turning a profit (which, realistically, is not what owning a sports team is really about), can win. They could spend far more than they do, and have a significantly improved chance of prevailing. But the economic realities (i.e. there is so much money in play) suggest that owners are going to be guided by the finances before (and above) winning.

All this is a roundabout way of saying that something needs to be done about baseball salaries for the good of the game. While I am usually the first to stand at the the front of the capitalist, laissez faire line, in this instance I think that the collective good might be best for each individual club. Think of the increased revenue if even half the after-thought teams had diligent followings past the All-Star Break. Baseball has no seasonal competition for much of the year, and yet is in great danger of becoming gerrymandered into a sport of the northeastern coordinator (and St. Louis). In this case, could a rising tide raise all boats?

Or maybe I should just stop drinking for the night.

Oh, and go Dodgers!

Success; But Are We Satisfied?

Texas thoroughly demolished a team that, as my emails during the game can attest, worried me as a real thorn in the run to the Roses. The defensive performance was one of the best I have seen out of a Texas squad, and, for me, solidifies Muschamp as a certified coaching stud. All that had been lacking on that side of the ball was the ability to make game changing turnovers, and that notion was thrown out the window with a vengeance last night.

So I wake up this morning, sit down at the computer, and the pregnant Mrs. Neurotic Fan asks if I am going to pen a masterpiece for SLAE. To that, I respond that I don't feel inspired. And that says something, I think, about this victory and this team. A thorough working over of Okie Lite would normally inspire all sorts of hyperbole in this Texas observer. But this particular Cowboy pounding (and boy does that sound wrong) was like something delivered by a $3 hooker working above the local saloon. Efficient, straightforward, direct and without airs. The proper end was achieved, but in no way does it feel as though work is done.

I tend to believe that the attitude of the fanbase is generally a good reflection of the attitude of the Horns. One of Mack's shortcomings (or perhaps it is an unintended consequence of his style) is a decision to acknowledge and address the perceptions and expectations that surround this program. Whether consciously or unconsciouslly, Mack's attempts to identify and diffuse the pressures of being Texas football can have effect of infusing Texas teams with the general tenor of the fans (and vice versa).

If I'm correct, I think this year's Horns are in a good position. I know I come out of this game unsatisfied. Not with the performance, which was excellent in many respects, but with the state of the season. There is very little about this year that leaves me with a sense of complacency, and that is essential in a game in which every week can make or break the season. In 2005, complacency set in after the OU game. That team was so good offensively that there was a sense we were playing at 75% for most of the season and were still able to win. However, the 75% almost bit that team in the ass in College Station that year, and only VY's dominance and the Greatest Moment Ever allowed the team to reach their ultimate goal.

This year, there doesn't seem room for slacking. Yes, the defense has been dominant; but that has been a by-product of intense effort on a weekly basis, and lots of work by Muschamp -- not sheer dominance by athletic gods. The offense's shortcomings have been well-documented, and will require weekly preparation, adjustment, focus, and, in some cases, muddling-through. Together, the need for constant work from this team on a week to week basis will make them better and should help us avoid the potential pratfalls that remain on our schedule.

This is a strange position for Texas and a strange position for me. Is this what optimism feels like???

A Question for the Masses

And by "the masses," I of course mean my co-blogger. And perhaps the Lone Reader, should he be reading (though after the Epic Fail of Matt Holiday I don't anticipate many visits to this site by Lone Reader). And I welcome any contribution from The Law Clerk New To Burnt Orange ("TLCNTBO") should she feel compelled to visit. But other than that, its basically just you.

So, on to the question: Was Greg Davis's offensive game plan as putrid as (1) it seemed on TV; and (2) its being described by fellow bloggers throughout the interwebs? I'll confess that I don't know enough to decide if it was bad game planning by GD, lack of offensive talent at the WR and RB positions, or total fucking meltdown along the offensive line, that was the cause of our offensive struggles. I am curious what it looked like from inside the Cotton Bowl.

Thoughts?

What Happened Here?

Soul-crushing. Gut wrenching. Mind blowing. These are phrases that leap to mind as I try to put into words last night's Dodgers loss.

Quickly following these phrases are questions: How does Broxton walk Matt freaking Stairs on four pitches with 1 out and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth? How does he hit Carlos Ruiz with a pitch? Do the Dodgers just lack the killer instinct necessary to put a team away in the playoffs? Is this series over and, if so, will this Dodgers core ever win or do they lack some necessary element that needs to be obtained before the core is broken up by free agency? Will my head explode as I continue to hear Chip Carey fellate the Phillies throughout Game 5?

Baseball is, at its core, a game of failure. In that respect, as a baseball fan I should be insulated from these types of losses. But this feels like the failure of a Dodgers era -- call it the post-Gibson era. With so many hopes pinned on the young Dodgers stars, watching them crater in such a magnificent fashion (lead by, arguably, the best of them) undercuts not just this season but the whole theory behind this team. Some teams have that "winner" element that allows them to succeed in the most pressure packed, intense situations. It goes beyond the ability to relax (which Torre stresses so much) and treads into a combination of urgency and serenity that is typically referred to as confidence (though I don't think that captures it). I am starting to wonder if this iteration of the Dodgers has it. The inability to put away the division when it mattered. The epic failures of last year and this year against the Phillies. The season-long tendency to play down to their opponent. All these facts suggest this team embraces failure a bit too much and lacks "It."

There are lots of "X's and O's" issues that could be discussed about this game. Ted Barrett's umpiring giving Ryan Howard 4 strikes before his 1st inning home run. The Dodgers leaving the bases loaded after tying the game with 2 outs. The inability to get to the horrible Phillies bullpen for an insurance run or two. Sherrill's struggles in the 8th that lead Torre to call to Broxton an inning early (and for him to sit for 18 minutes while the Dodgers batted in the top of the 9th). Baseball turns on these things. But such discussions seem hollow when the soul of this Dodgers team seems crushed.

Some day, I hope, my baby girl will become a sports fan. I will sit with her watching our favorite teams and try to teach her what there is to love about grown men playing meaningless games for our entertainment, and will attempt to give her the passion that makes sports great without the fanaticism that makes losing so hard. And she and I will, at some point, have to face a game like last night. Then, as today, I will not know what to say.

Thank god the 'Horns won.

Penny's Prognostication

First off, and let me get this out of the way, I apologize for the horrible title of this post. That is really, really awful. I just can't resist a good alliteration (or even a bad one).

Baseball is an especially hard sport to handicap. Unlike football or even basketball, so much of the outcome in baseball is dependent on circumstance, fate, chance, or plain luck. In football, plays are highly coordinated, and control of the ball is prized almost beyond all else. The team's ability to execute the plan effectively is the most important element of victory. In basketball, athletic ability reigns above all else. If you can run faster, jump higher, or shoot better, you're likely to win. Baseball is the only sport in which, once it leaves the pitchers hand, the ball is largely out of human control for much of the dispositive duration of the play. When you are attempting to hit a round ball with a round bat squarely, you're happy enough to make solid contact without worrying about where the ball travels after you hit it.

The difference between winning and losing can come down to whether the ball travels 100 feet or 150 feet, is four inches to the left or right, or if an idiot fan reaches over the fence and catches a sure out. With that much luck involved, picking which team is going to prevail -- especially over a short series -- is nearly impossible. Yet we at SLAE are never ones to back down from a challenge, so I am going to make some predictions and comments.

AL Series
Yanks over Twins in 4
No commentary needed.

Angels over Red Sox in 5
I think this pick is as much because the Red Sox aren't themselves as that I like the Angels. Papi is not the same as he has been in prior postseasons, and, frankly, neither are the Sox since Manny left. Plus, I don't think you can count on the Sox pitching to dominate the small ball lineup of the Angels. I think the Sox lose to the Angels at their own game.

NL Series

Rockies over Phillies in 5
I will follow this paragraph with a totally contradictory and hypocritical discussion of how momentum doesn't matter, but I think the Rockies are playing too well to lose to the Phils. Lee and Hamels have limped down the stretch, the lineup is not performing as impressively as last year's championship lineup, and the Rockies have more ways to win games than the Phils. That said, I think these teams are very evenly matched. Losing De La Rosa could actually swing this series in the Phils favor.

Dodgers v. Cardinals
I don't buy the standard argument that the Dodgers are dead in the water because of their last week. All year, this team has played to the level of its competition, and losing to Washington, Pitts and S.D. in the last week is not that surprising in light of that fact. Further, the Cardinals have actually had a worse September and October than the Dodgers, so that argument cuts both ways.

I do, however, buy the argument that this is not the same Dodgers team as showed up in the first half and ran up such a gaudy record. The Dodgers were at their best when O-Dog was getting on base, Blake was hitting homeruns, and there were no "easy" outs in the lineup 1-8. Since just before the All-Star break, Hudson and Martin (who looks exactly like Turtle from Entourage) have basically been guaranteed outs, and Furcal's improvement has not been enough to offset Hudson's decline. Now we are starting Belliard in Hudson's place, and I think its safe to say he is a total mystery on whom we cannot count for performance. Blake has reverted to his decidedly average form, and Loney's improvement is not enough to offset that lost performance. All in all, there are outs to be had in this lineup, and the Cardinals are the type of team that knows how to get those outs and make the most out of them.

Now, anything can happen if Kemp/Ethier/Manny get hot, but they have only been tepid for the past month, which leaves this team exactly where it has been for the past month, about a .500 team.

The Cards, on the other hand, do lots of little things well. I swear Brendan Ryan's defense won at least 2 games against the Dodgers this year. Their pitchers pitch to contact and still get outs. They don't rely too heavily on their bullpen. While their offense can still disappear at times, I don't feel like the Dodgers pitchers know how to make the most of the outs in the Cardinals lineup. The loss of the first-half version of Billingsley really hurts this team, since he was a guy that was able to dominate a game on any given day.

In short, to win any game the Dodgers need either (1) a dominant performance from their starter or (2) a dominant offensive performance. I think the Cardinals are exactly the type of team that does not give up dominant offensive performances or permit dominant performances by opposing starters. That does not bode well for the Penny household

Cards in 4.

Seasons

There are moments in the cycle of life that encourage one to stop, reflect, and enjoy their implicit wonder. Perhaps it is the turning of the seasons from Summer to Fall (can't you tell, its only 90 with 90% humidity out), perhaps it is the pending arrival of a child that makes one feel very mortal, or perhaps it is the end of the daily grind of baseball's regular season and the "beginning" of conference play in college football.

This year presents a confluence of all these occurrences for me, and that has made me somewhat introspective. How lucky are we to have arrived at this time of the year? A week of fall rain has saved me mucho energy and $$ spent on watering my lawn. We are closer to the arrival of my (as yet unnamed) baby girl than we are to the date of her conception. The crucial stretch begins for the Horns this week (though hopefully Colorado does not prove to be a worthy opponent). The Dodgers have (finally, exhaustingly) clinched the West and move on to the glorious playoffs (there is nothing better than playoff baseball). To top it off, they will face the Cardinals first, renewing one of the great MLB rivalries of all-time and stoking the flames of hatred between yours truly and the Lone Reader.

And, if I may, Summer and Fall are acting very Spring-like for my co-author, bringing a renewal and rejuvenation of sorts.

There will be opportunity for preview and predictions before Wednesday's first game. Certainly, my sanguine mood will be replaced by a surly, pessimistic gloom as the prospect of Carpenter/Wainwright/Piniero v. Wolf/Kershaw/??? grows closer. But for now, let's just enjoy a day of calm, reflection, and happiness for all.

Except for OU. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

"Carnack" Stockel

First, sorry for the mistaken post earlier. What kind of site are we running here?: I hit one wrong button and whoops! there goes everything.

More importantly, we are now 3 games into the college football season. SLAE was founded, in part, to allow us to make bold, visionary predictions that would be cherised for all posterity -- and subject to endless ridicule when inevitably wrong. In that misanthropic spirit, I went back and reviewed David's pre-summer prediction thread regarding the Horns.

My god, David, what is in the water over there at Legge Farrow!! Let's review:

Game Pick Score

UL-Mon Tex 55-6 Tex 59-20

Wyoming Tex 45-14 Tex 41-10

Tech Tex 49-24 Tex 34-24

So, after three games, including 2 against garbage opponents where picking the score is compromised by meaningless end-of-game points, you are: within 4 points of our score against ULM, within 4 points of our score and Wyo's score, and dead on with Tech's total (a huge surprise given we haven't held them to 24 points since 2005.

What's more, you said we would beat ULM by 39, and we did. You had us beating Wyoming by 31, and we did. That's just sick accuracy!! I seriously hope you laid some money in Vegas because... well... SLAE has its eye on a hot Cisco server and wants to show her the bling-bling. If your trend continues, things definitely bode well for the Horns (and you should quit this law thing and start up a Phil Steele-esque phone line).

Predictions asside, what we saw from the Horns left a lot to be desired. The D was excellent. Say what you want about the second half passing yards, but Tech is going to get those yards no matter what, and holding them to 24 is an accomplishment. The O....not so much. I've been to CLE's with more action than our offense showed in the first half. I don't know if the flu really got to Colt, if this season is going to be 2007 redux, if he broke up with that hottie of a girlfriend or what, but he is just not the same QB as last year. That might be fine if our offense utilized any other weapons besides him, but ... as they say ... live by the spread offense, die by the spread offense.

Something tells me this team starts to gel in the next few weeks, and that game with OU becomes a monster. I know that if the OL doesn't get its act together, I'm going to get an ulcer watching OU's D-line.

Showdown at the OK Corral

Its getting near time. The weekend is fast approaching. One of the participants is a brash upstart, talking a little trash and hoping its swagger will help it win the day; the other is an old powerhouse, the establishment, the tried and true that is confident...nee cocky?...in its prospects. Who will win out? We will see this weekend.

Wait... what?? You thought I was talking about Texas vs. Wyoming. Hell no!! I meant Comcast (parent company of Versus) against DirecTV!! Unfortunately, this ridiculous business brouhaha is likely to prevent me from watching our Horns go off against Wyoming and its long football tradition of ... well, even my in-depth internet research can't turn up any players I've heard of, so it must not be much of a tradition.

How in this day and age is it possible that we can't watch this game!?! Come on people. It is frigging Versus network! I have more leverage with my pregnant wife than they do with DirecTV. How many people really sign up for DTV with the hope of catching the Versus channel nightly? Now that the NHL is back from the hinterlands, what is even on Versus? Mountain biking? Custom hot rod design shows? Extensive late night infomercials?

I can't believe an agreement hasn't been reached between Comcast and DTV on this, but I guess it just goes to show that the anger and bickering we see on TV every night is actually governing the businesss of TV also. I am jealous of those (brilliant) among us who will be dining on Cowboy Saturday evening in Laramie. Wait, that didn't come out sounding right....

Oy Vey!!

If this keeps up, I may just start using SLAE to talk about health care reform...

It is bad enough for the Dodgers to lose a baseball game, especially in the midst of what is shaping up to be an historic collapse in the NL West, and especially on a night when the Rockies magic appears to be fully taking hold. But to lose a game when your ninth-inning reliever commits a throwing error on a simple grounder, then walks in the winning run, that is just stupendously infuriating.

The faith that I once had in this team is nearly entirely gone. I feel like each goal I set for the team is being systematically broken, one by one. I am reduced to satisfying myself with the reality that (in all likelihood) we will still make the playoffs; then I want to puke at the thought of settling for the Wild Card. Each day feels like one tiny failure after another, which is horrible because we are still in first place. Imagine what happens if (when?) the Rockies pass us. I can't imagine how the team can have any confidence left.

Remind me, why do I follow sports?

And So it Begins....

I hate to think, but am starting to believe, we have this to look forward to all season:

1. Fozzy Whittaker will be a game time decision on Saturday.

Death By A Thousand Cuts

First of all, this brilliant picture is off of a site called "executedtoday.com." Really a lovely image, if I do say so, and one that perfectly encapsulates what it has been like to be a Dodgers fan lately.

While some of us have been too busy to blog of late (notwithstanding that we are only 12 days away from the start of college football season), others have been so disgusted by the near loss of a 15 1/2 game lead that the mere thought of putting fingers to keys carried the weight of Leonard Davis five years after his pro career ends. However, on the eve of a massive 3 game series in Colorado, I felt the need to add my thoughts to the ether .... lest the bloodletting soon be completed and render me incapable of offering any more.

I suppose the good fan in me should concede nothing. We have a 3 game lead still, and just as easily as a Colorado sweep of the next three games could erase that lead, a Dodgers sweep could make it 6. Still, Old Mo' is really on the Rockies side, and i get the feeling the Boys in Blue are wilting under the pressure of their first real challenge since Manny arrived last year. Ned Colletti elected to do nothing prior to the trading deadline, and we will see if that is brilliant faith in the young kids or delusional myopia predicated on saving a little money.

Needless to say, I don't have a good feeling at the start of this series. Amazingly, it feels as though the Dodgers have already lost their lead and the series, despite the fact that the Rockies are trotting out Josh Fogg and Jason Hammel (he of the 7.00+ ERA at home) as two of their starters. The way the Dodgers have been hitting, though, I can't see us taking more than one in the series. At this point, I feel it is more likely Vicente Padilla incites a full-blown riot by hitting Todd Helton in the head than that the Dodgers pull 2 of 3. Still, I will be pulling for them, if only because baseball is a synonym for masochism.

Where's the Tylenol?

We at SLAE are not always big on numbers, but let me throw out some numbers.

14 W - 17L (the Dodgers' record since the All-Star Break).

6-9 (the Dodgers' record in August).

4 1/2 (the number of games back in the NL West of the Rockies.

3 (number of blown saves by Broxton out of his last 5 opportunities).

0-2, 4.76 ERA (tonight's starter's, Chad Billingsley, numbers lifetime against the Cardinals).

We at SLAE are also not ones to panic when things turn bad.

Wait....yes we are.....P A N I C!!!!!!

After last nights systematic dismantling by Chris Carpenter and the Cards (which should please the Lone Reader), the NL West suddenly looks imminently loseable by the Boys in Blue. The numbers tell part of the story, but what is most concerning is that they are just playing bad baseball.

Carpenter, with all due respect, did not look particularly dominant last night. Evidencing the SLAE jinx, Bison Kemp struck out twice on HORRIBLE pitches, even after working the count in his favor. Casey Blake is going through his predictable decline to slap-hitter status (which belies his size and Beard), Furcal and Hudson continue to fail to spark the top of the lineup, and Manny still does not look like the Manny of old (and certainly not the Manny of last year).

I'll give some credit to the Cards (mostly for Lone Reader's benefit). Pujols is a frigging God. The guy seriously should just relocate to Mount Olympus. Ankiel hit a mammoth home run, and Ludwick made a beautiful throw to nail Ethier at third on a sac fly. But more than anything, they impressed me by making just enough plays to hang around until they got to poor Charlie Haeger -- which you just knew was going to happen eventually.

The Dodgers are playing right now without that confidence and assurance. Watching them, they don't look like they are always thiiiiis close to pulling a game out (as the good teams do), they look like they have to put up 9 runs in order to have a chance to win. And no team is going to do that in the playoffs (if they, gulp, get there).

So now the questions start: did the team get complacent (I think so); is the bullpen dead tired (umm, yeah); is there enough starting pitching to survive a stretch run and the playoffs, especially with Kuroda out for at least a start and of questionable effectiveness when he returns (we'll see); what the hell happened to the offense that was getting key hits early in the year and always seemed to have guys on base (who the hell knows).

All I know, is I am thiiiiiiiiis close to full-fledged meltdown mode, and if Billingsley can't beat
Mitchell Boggs tonight, and the Rockies win, I could spend the night curled in the fetal position in the corner of my living room.

How long until Longhorns football starts again?!?

Attack of the Bison

Not enough has been said here on SLAE (in fact, not enough has been said here lately, period) about one of the great young players in baseball. Anyone who watches the game today knows about Matt Kemp's athletic gifts. He has speed and burst like a good running back, power, a penchants for great plays on defense, and a nice arm. He is now hitting .313/.372/.494 and has a nice OPS of .866. He has 16 homeruns, 76 RBI, and, oh by the way, is 24 years old. All those things would be enough to make me worship at the altar of the Bison.

What I really enjoy about Kemp, though, is the emotion he brings to the game. He, of all the younger Dodgers, really seems to have benefited from Manny's presence and, I think, it has most to do with the fun Manny has while playing. Watching Kemp, he is smiling, laughing, talking throughout the game. He makes a great catch, he yells over to Either. He gets a gork single, he is laughing with Mariano Duncan at first base. He hits a home run, and you can seem him enjoying the moment with his teammates in the dugout.

Not enough players these days enjoy sports that way -- the way that sports need to be enjoyed. There are certainly enough things in our day-to-day life to be serious about, and sports should not be one of them. Certainly we fans are going to take these games WAY too seriously (football season is less than a month away, after all), but losing ourselves to the emotion of the game is part of the fun. From the players, I want to see reminders that these games are entertainment. I want something to make me smile, something that inspires me to not take life so seriously (if only for a little while). More than anything, I think that is what we need from our sports these days.

That and a World Series championship!

Separated At Birth?

I think I have found a long-lost family connection. I suggest you tap into that contract...

Moving Weekend

Well, it appears this weekend may be moving weekend, and in more ways than one. The Penny family is finally uprooting in favor of its more permanent domicile, complete with all the joys of home ownership. And it appears another Matt (though one that is decidely more wealthy) will also be relocating.

I know 100% of our readers will be thrilled with the move (though losing Brett Wallace has got to hurt), but I'm here to throw a little water on the fire. First, let's see how Holliday does when he doesn't get to play half his games at Mile High Coors Field. Oh, wait a minute, we have seen what he does. He is slugging .454, nearly 90 points off his career of .541. He has a grand total of 11 home runs. And how is he going to like playing in LaRussa's constant tinkered-with lineup?

Oh who am I kidding!?! The prospect of a Pujols-Holliday lineup scares the bejeezus out of me, since it looks like the Dodgers' road to the World Series is going to have to pass through St. Louis. Damn it! Now the Boys in Blue had better get Doc, if only so we can screw the announcers and have a Halladay v. Holliday matchup.

Calling all buyers

If the Jays wanted to audition Doc for potential trade suitors (not that it's really necessary), today can only help.

Versus the Red Sox, Halladay went the distance. Stop me if you've heard this before. W, 9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 105 pitches. Doc retired his final 11 batters and threw 78 of 105 pitches for strikes. Just another vintage Halladay performance.

It remains to be seen if this was Halladay's last start for the Blue Jays. When asked about Halladay after the game, Terry Francona had this gem:

“I stand by what I said the other day,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona joked. “They should have traded him the other day, and to a National League team.”

Again, let's not forget that Halladay does what he does versus the AL East. I would love to see what he would do in the National League. We may get to find out soon enough.

He is Still the King

Well, the NL's record of futility continues, and I, being an NL guy, am disappointed this morning. I thought the top 4 in the NL lineup would be revved up to prove themselves, and there are no four other guys that you want revved up besides Hanley, Utley, the King, and the Hebrew Hammer. Alas, there is one other guy you want apparently, Carl Crawford. That catch was ridiculous.

Still props need to be extended for the first half turned in by last night's man of the hour (and the only bright spot on my dismal fantasy team). For some perspective, let's note that Vernon Wells signed a 7 year, $126 million contract in 2006 after coming off a season where he went .303/32/106. Albert Pujols, AFTER 90 GAMES!!!, has this line: .332/32/87. That is inhuman (and frankly, inhumane to NL pitchers). What's more, the guy has absolutely no protection in his lineup, which makes his performance even more remarkable.

Still, as we at SLAE like to look at the big picture (and, as Longhorns fans, have a decidedly what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude), I have to ask where El Hombre ranks in the Pantheon of greatest baseball players ever. Is he one of the top 5 players ever, as his stats would suggest? He has made the playoffs 5 of his 9 years. He has won 7 out of 11 postseason series, and hit a collective .323/13/35 in those series. However, he has only 1 World Series title (compared to a guy like Jeter who has 4). His performance at such an early age puts him alongside guys like Foxx, Aaron, DiMaggio, Mantle, and Gehrig....and yet I feel like there is just something separating those guys from Albert. Am I wrong? Am I swayed by the "romance" of old-time baseball?

For that matter, is it fair to judge baseball players along the same lines (championships) as we would, say, quarterbacks or basketball stars? Baseball is the ultimate individual game (pitcher versus hitter), but at the same time it is the ultimate team game (a hitter generally has four chances total to really change a game). So how will Albert be remembered?

Say it Ain't So, J.P.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4311661

Although, the prospect of trading Kershaw is certainly intriguing....

HAPPY RETURN OF MANNY DAY!

Attaboy Rook!

In both a celebration of a loss by the Hated Ones (on a day when the Boys in Blue grind out a 1-0 nailbiter), and as a shout out to our St. Louis readership, I present to you walk-off boy Colby Rasmus. Way to get those Giants in extra innings, Colby!

On a side note, I though the DeRosa trade was a great move for the Cardinals. That guy is unbelievably underrated. A solid producer who can play multiple positions, he is going to be a perfect fit for the perennial lineup changer Tinkering Tony LaRussa.

Ouch

I watched every pitch of the 2 hour, 16 minute dismantling of my favorite team last night, by none other than Jason Marquis. It was a sobering, infuriating experience, strangely combined with awe over the sheer artistry displayed by Marquis. The experience left me thoroughly frustrated and angry that the Dodgers didn't make any attempts to break up Marquis' rhythm; no stepping out of the box, not near enough bunt attempts, no 10 pitch at-bats. It was one of the more lackadasical offensive efforts from the Boys in Blue I have seen this year, and it makes me think they are already looking forward to the end of the Manny-less stint.

Marquis' gem also got me thinking about how different baseball is than other sports. Is there any other game where a great performance is so much like art as opposed to athletics? Notwithstanding the adjectives thrown around about Kobe's 81 point game, or an 18 of 20 passing performance, or a hat trick on the ice, I really think only baseball has the combination of athletic skill with artistic panache. (And yes, I did just use the word "panache" in a sports blog).

But back to the practicalities of the games. Don't look now, but thanks to the Cardinals inability to win at home (what the hell Chris Carpenter, you pick NOW to finally have a bad start?!), the Hated Ones are just 6 games back, and the red-hot Rockies (led by ex-Dodger manager Jim Tracy) are only 7 1/2. If I am right and some of these guys are looking ahead to Manny's return, then Manny sure has hell better hit like he is still on the juice because our offense is going south fast.

Some random thoughts...

We are officially in the sports dead period from now until some pre-season football games and two-a-day practice reports begin. Until then, we are left with some MLB games and some spare time to ponder the meaning of life. Along those lines, I had some random thoughts over the weekend:

1. Admittedly, I am no soccer fan. But I do follow the USMNT and find myself getting caught up in World Cup qualifying and the major international events. The 2-0 victory of Spain was tremendous on its own. However, the two goals scored by the US vs. Spain could hardly be classified as beautiful or technical. They count just the same, but they were more hustle plays than anything else. Still, a tremendous victory over the world's #1 team.

However, that first half yesterday vs. Brazil was something entirely different. Dempsey's first goal was something a Brazilian or Italian would be proud of. And the entire counter attack leading to Donovan's goal was gorgeous. I'm hardly a United States soccer historian, but that was the best goal I've ever seen scored by the USMNT.

It's unfortunate that Brazil scored so quickly to start the 2nd half and things just snowballed from there (i.e., reality set in). Regardless, it was a fun couple of matches. It only enhances my interest in the rest of World Cup qualifying and 2010 in South Africa.

2. Welcome back, Mr. Halladay. Doc toes the rubber tonight vs. Tampa Bay. Please say a quick prayer for Doc's groin to hold up. (You may want to say a silent prayer because it's generally frowned upon to say verbal prayers about another man's groin.)

3. Just about two months until football season. I've been going through some of my 2008 game recordings (for about the millionth time since the Fiesta Bowl). I've come to the following general conclusions heading into 2009:

We are going to miss Quan's consistency on 3rd down and his ability to pick up 5-7 yards every time.
But Malcolm Williams will provide some welcomed big play ability.
Our DT depth really scares me. Roy Miller was such a complete stud last year.
But overall, I am very excited about this defense. I expect Muschamp and Co. to take it to the next level in 2009.
Our RB's will be fine. Fairly surprisingly, I am taking Vondrell as my sleeper to shine in 2009.
Blaine Irby's injury sucks. That kid was on the way to being a star for us last year. Ugh.
I really like Kirkendoll and Collins. Guys who will never play in the NFL, but will end up putting together a heck of a career for us.
I still think we go undefeated through the regular season.

4. You hear the bad news about Yao? Apparently, his foot injury has gotten worse and it looks like he might miss the entire 2009-2010 season (if not the rest of his career). What a horrible blow to the Rockets. It's not going to ruin my day, but I hate to see things like that happen to a good guy/good organization.

5. Mannywood returns on Friday after the 50 game suspension. Take a look back at the May 9 blog entry. My prediction for the Dodgers' record during the Manny-less stretch was 27-23. As of today, the Dodgers are 27-20 with 3 games to play vs. Colorado. If the Rockies go into L.A. and sweep the Dodgers, I look like a f'ing genius. If the Dodgers win a game or two, then they have exceeded even my optimistic expectations. And to think there were SOME Dodger fans who thought anything better than a 20-30 record would be a gift from heaven. Ha!

Game 3

Game 2

Augie is fond of saying that baseball is a game of infinite possibilities. Well that may be correct, but when all is said and done, there is only one possibility for this team tonight: win. Win or go home. The Heart Attack Horns have thrived under pressure so far in this College World Series, which speaks volumes of their character. However, the same team choked last night, proving that LSU is a horrible matchup for our Horns.

How is this a horrible matchup? Texas's strength is starting pitching. However, LSU has a left hand-heavy lineup and all our starters are right handed. Further, we have a power-pitching right handed rotation that likes to pitch off the fastball and that is prone to giving up the home run. Only Dicharry (a non-starter) really relies on a change-of-pace pitch (his nasty change). Assuming Jungmann goes tonight, LSU is going to see more of the same approach as they saw last night -- though hopefully not the same from Jungmann, who was as bad as the diapers I can look forward to in 7 or so months.

Obviously, we are past the point of mere concern and into "all cliches are out the window" land. The Horns' best hope would seem to be playing loose and carefree, having fun, and seeing what happens. If we are close at the end, anything is possible. But we looked tight once the 8th inning rolled around last night, and that doesn't bode well for tonight. I hope I am wrong, and we will end up tomorrow night singing a totally different Queen song.

Better Late Than Never

The title of this entry applies both to my delay in getting up an appropriate posting honoring the purple and gold, as well as the one year delay in the championship parade that should have been held last year. See, that is how Laker fans thought of this trophy, as the natural progression of what started (and should have ended) against the Celtics. This was Kobe's trophy all along, and now he finally got it. I have no doubt, too, that it is exactly that attitude that makes so many people hate Kobe and the Lakers (and the Horns, and the Yankees, etc.).

Another interesting element of this championship to me is how different it feels from the G.M.E. (Greatest Moment Ever). The Lakers championship was not accompanied by the sheer elation of the GME. No raucous celebration, no leaping and hugging. While part of it was just the nature of the clinching game, part of it too was the sheer expectation of victory. There was more a sense of completion than there was a sense of the joy of victory. It makes me think that, no matter what we said going into the GME, I think most of us still didn't expect to win, and so the suprise was as compelling as the victory itself.

And that makes me wonder if that is not how the pro players feel. A sense of completion more than a sense of triumph.

Discuss amongst yourselves. I am feeling a bit veklempt.

The Worst of the Worst

Let me just note, I am not a particular connoisseur of Texas Rangers broadcasts. I am a National League guy in general and, frankly, the Rangers have not been worthy of watching before this year. But with my Dodgers in Arlington, I have been forced to watch Fox Sports Southwest broadcasts (damn you black out rules!).

Where am I going with all this, you ask? I'll tell you. I am just astonished that Fox Sports SW, that proprietor of so many Texas Longhorns games, has decided to take the worst part of Longhorns broadcasts (okay, maybe second worst behind that color commentator whose name I can't remember) and apply it in a venue in which it works even worse. Ladies and gentlemen, let me present the abomination that is Jim Knox! How on Earth does this tool still have a job? He brings nothing to the table, and in fact is both an annoyance and a distraction from the game. Please, PLEASE shut this guy up! His schtick is at least palatable when he is talking to hot looking co-eds on college campuses, but acting retarded with semi-literate fans at Rangers games is just too much.

Its sad too, because a good Member of the Tribe, Josh Lewin, does an admirable job broadcasting.

Finally, we get the break

On the eve of UT's opener in the College World Series and 2 1/2 months before the UT football team starts the season with MNC expectations, we learn that Damion James is returning for his senior year. 2009-2010 shouldn't be a bad year to be a Longhorn fan, eh?

Frankly, it just feels good to finally get that break for the basketball program. We have been so close to putting together the roster of dreams. We had a great year in 2002-2003 and would have had a legit chance at a championship if TJ had returned the following year. Alas, he turned pro and we were left with a solid (but not championship-worthy) team. We had another excellent year in 2005-2006 and would have had a ridiculously-talented team the next year if we had any experience coming back at all. Alas, Gibson, Tucker, and Aldridge all left for the league and we were left with an exciting (but inexperienced and defensively deficient) team. We had another fantastic year in 2007-2008 and would have had a legit chance at a championship if DJ had returned for his junior year. Alas, DJ left for the league and we were left with a...ugh...we sucked ass last year.

But now, finally, everyone is there. Damion is back. Dex is back. It appears that both Jordan and Avery have made it in with no problems. We are absolutely loaded.

Starters:

Balbay
Bradley
Hamilton
James
Pittman

No team in the country will be able to rebound better in the frontcourt than Damo and Dexter. No team will have the scoring ability on the wings that we'll have with Avery, Jordan, and Damo. No team will have the backcourt defense that we'll have with Balbay and Bradley.

Need a shooter at PG? Put in Lucas (once he's eligible). Need an effort guy in the frontcourt off the bench? Put in Gary. Need some experience in the backcourt? Put in Mason. Need another guard to match up defensively? Put in Ward. Want to go small and run like crazy? Sub Lexi in for Dex.

We should be excellent and able to run many different styles depending on who's on the floor. To me, getting it all to work together is really on Barnes. I don't want to see us without an identity when conference play rolls around in January. I don't want to see any of our key guys struggling with confidence and not getting minutes because Barnes wants to send a message. Get these guys to relax and play together from the get go. Barnes has never had a team this deep and talented, that's for sure. I don't really like to put expectations on a team like this, but anything less than an Elite 8 run would be a massive, massive disappointment.

We'll certainly have our chances to build a #1 seed resume next year. UNC, Michigan State, UConn (I think), Pitt (likely in one of those preseason tournaments), and USC (whatever is left of them) all in the non-conference. And then of course, the epic matchup with KU in Austin during conference play. And something tells me we'll see KU again in Kansas City during the Big 12 tournament.

The good thing? If we can get a #1 seed, our road in the tournament will probably start in either New Orleans or Oklahoma City. Then the second weekend returns to Reliant Stadium in Houston. Yes, please.

An Off Night for Some Number 1's

A little pre-NBA Finals baseball tonight, and it appears some of the aces are not quite on their game. Burnett gives up 5 to the Red Sox, Santana gives up back-to-back jacks to Howard and Ibanez (who appears to be an 87-year old stud), and Carpenter does not look sharp against the Marlins (who have all of five people in Joe Robbie...er...Dolphins...er....Land Shark Stadium). Let's hope this doesn't bode poorly for Thunder Thighs going for win number 8 and the Lakers going for win number 3!

Omaha..Somewhere in Middle America

Wow! Who would have thought this team would be back in Omaha and ranked number 1 in the country when we were being swept by Kansas?

Its great to be back in the CWS, one of the most underappreciated sporting events in the country, in my opinion. And this team has the look of a team of destiny, finding ways to win no matter what else is going on with the offense (read: dead bats). Unfortunately, destiny has a way of losing out to good starting pitching, or, in our case, mediocre starting pitching. I am not optimistic that our anemic offense can keep this up for the course of the next two weeks given the staffs that we are going to be facing.

But hey, at the very least the baseball team has shortened the wait until football season starts!

The best player in college football

Our boy Colt was up in Bristol, Connecticut this week to do various ESPN radio and television shows. Colt has turned himself into a pretty damn good interview.

In case you missed it, here is Colt's interview with Colin Cowherd: http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?id=4224724

And here is his interview on Tirico & Van Pelt: http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?id=4222323

When you step back and really think about it, it's truly amazing how far Colt has come. I mean, the kid was a complete afterthought during the recruiting process. And yes, I was sure he had no chance to beat out Jevan Snead for the starting spot in 2006. Even when he was announced as the starter to open that season, it was just a matter of time before the more talented Snead took over, right?

The fact of the matter is that the kid is just damn good. Colt McCoy should have won the Heisman last year, is a favorite for it this year, and will likely be a 1st round pick in 2010. Seriously, how ridiculous is that? Not only that, but he's a tremendous leader and one badass clutch motherfucker. Who knew?

I think I'm in love

Please tell me you saw Roy Halladay's performance tonight. I am in awe. Aside from former Longhorns, Halladay is BY FAR my favorite professional athlete in any sport. It's not even close. And that's saying something considering there couldn't be a more generic, uninteresting team than the Toronto Blue Jays. But my goodness, Halladay is just a joy to watch perform.

Here's what he did tonight:

W, 9 IP (complete game), 4 ER, 7 hits, 1 BB, 14 K

But that doesn't even tell the story. The dude threw 133 pitches! Who does that in the majors anymore? Nobody - except soft tossers like Livan Hernanez. To truly appreciate this performance, you had to watch it. Basically, the Angels had no chance against Doc tonight.

He cruised through the first six innings while the Jays staked him to a 6-0 lead. Through six innings, he had given up 3 hits and struck out 8 batters. But when he came out for the 7th inning, he clearly wasn't sharp. As is typical for Halladay, he eased up a bit and let the Angels score four runs. (As an aside, he seriously always does that. It's like he conserves energy just so he can pitch the entire game. It messes with his ERA just a bit, but I guess I can't complain.)

So, after giving up 4 runs in the 7th and being past the 100 pitch mark, you figure Cito Gaston goes to the bullpen. That's just what MLB managers do these days. But not with Halladay. He came back out for the 8th inning. And he dominated. He struck out Kendrick, got Figgins to ground out, and then struck out Abreu.

Up 6-4 heading into the top of the 9th, you figure Cito Gaston would go to his closer. Halladay was over 115 pitches. That's just what MLB managers do these days. But not with Halladay. He came back out for the 9th inning. And yes, he dominated. He struck out Vlad Guerrero and then struck out Torii Hunter. After he allowed a bloop single to Kendry Morales, Halladay was at 130 pitches. No big deal. Halladay finished the game by getting a called strike three on Maicer Izturis on a nasty breaking ball.

Game over. Complete game. 14 strikeouts. 133 pitches. Hell, the dude threw 88 strikes! There are so many pitchers these days who can't even throw 88 pitches in an entire game.

Roy, I love you.

Report: Oswalt won't agree to White Sox trade

Who is this more pathetic for, the Chi-Sox, who get turned down without even making an offer, or the disAstros, who 50 or so games into the season are already on "when are we going to trade our marquee starting pitcher" watch?

Only 3+ months to go...

Yes, I realize it's only the end of May. But the end of May means we are close to June, which means we are close to summer, which means that college football isn't THAT far away. Sure, we have the NBA playoffs, regular season MLB, and a (hopeful) trip to Omaha to bide our time over the next few weeks. But who are we kidding? It's all just a way to occupy our time until Louisiana-Monroe rolls into town. Yes, it's only the end of May, but I can see the sun starting to break through the clouds. Only 3+ months to go until the hibernation period is over once again.

I also realize the picture above really has nothing to do with the 2009 football season. But holy hell, that's an awesome picture. Look at Stoops in the white shirt in the background with his hand held to his head, thinking "remember when I used to own these guys? That seems like a lifetime ago."

In any event, I figured it would be a good time to record some pre-summer predictions for the 2009 season. Without putting too much thought into it (hell, we still have plenty of time for that), here are my game-by-game initial impressions. I'm not really going into detail re: matchups or opponents' strengths/weakness. More just my general thoughts on how the schedule plays out.

Louisiana-Monroe (Austin, TX) - ULM is not an absolutely terrible team, but they aren't real good either. They were 3-4 in the Sun Belt last year and handed Troy their only conference loss of the year. However, when matched up against power conference teams, the Warhawks didn't fare so well. Losses at Auburn (34-0) and Ole Miss (59-0), although they did play Arkansas very close in Little Rock (lost 28-27). Of course, Arkansas was absolutely dreadful in September last year, so that's more an indictment of Arkansas than anything else. We absolutely thrashed that Arkansas team in one of the worst beatings I've seen vs. another BCS school. SEC! SEC! Anyway, this will likely be your typical early season blowout. ULM did beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2007, but that ain't happening here. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 55 ULM 6.

Wyoming (Laramie, WY) - Wyoming sucks. They were 1-7 last year in the Mountain West and will be playing their second game under new coach Dave Christensen when we roll into Laramie. Christiansen was the offensive coordinator at Mizzou last year. I seem to remember having some success against them last year. Remember what I said about our massive beating of Arkansas being one of the worst I've seen vs. another BCS school? Well, repeat that here. That first half vs. Mizzou last year was pure magic. In any event, there won't be any Jeremy Maclin or Chase Coffman to help Wyoming in this one. I would expect something similar to last year's UTEP game in El Paso. We'll look sloppy at times and Wyoming will be fired up for the biggest thing to ever hit Laramie, but it won't really matter in the end. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 45 Wyoming 14.

Texas Tech (Austin, TX) - One day, someone will have to explain to me why Tech agreed to move this game to mid-September. They are breaking in a new QB and learning to play without that beast at WR. So why not go ahead and move your toughest game of the year from November up to September? Great idea! Not that I'm complaining, obviously. I fully expect this game to be a revenge bloodbath after last year's debacle. It still makes me nauseous just thinking about it. Seriously. But yeah, this game could get ugly, mostly because I think Tech is due for a regression to the mean after last year. They had a nice year with a nice run in October, but were they really any different than the usual Texas Tech? Upset a good team at home, beat A&M, but fail to show up when the chips are really down. The only difference for Tech in 2008 was that they didn't lose that one head-scratcher. They almost did - vs. Nebraska and vs. Baylor. This year, I have them pencilled in for a Tech-tastic 8-4 season, including a blowout loss in Austin. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 49 Tech 24.

UTEP (Austin, TX) - This game has letdown written all over it. Uninspiring opponent? Check. First game after an emotional game the week before? Check. Last game before the bye week? Check. I think we go through the motions in this one, which is fine so long as nobody gets hurt. Honestly, I wouldn't mind moving this game to El Paso again. That was really cool last year (much cooler than I had anticipated prior to heading out to El Paso). In any event, I envision a methodical beatdown of the Miners. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 52 UTEP 16.

Colorado (Austin, TX) - After a bye week, conference play starts with the Buffs in Austin. DA-RELL SCOTT! Good times. I'm not really sure what to expect from Colorado this year. They were really disappointing last year. Things looked promising early when they beat West Virginia, but everything crashed down to Earth after we pasted them in Boulder. Looking at their 2009 schedule, I wouldn't be totally shocked if CU rebounded with a 7-5 type season this year. They have to play @ Texas and @ Oklahoma State in conference play, but every other conference game is at least winnable for them. They do have some talent offensively with Stewart, Scott, and Josh Smith. Unfortunately, Cody Hawkins sucks bad and their defense is nothing to write home about. It won't matter in Austin anyway. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 37 Colorado 13.

Oklahoma (Dallas, TX) - I could write a novel on this one, so I'll just try to keep it brief. Fuck them. As for some actual discussion, we should know a bit more about the Sooners through the month of September. I fully expect them to beat BYU (in Arlington) and Miami (in Miami), but those will be tests. I'll be very curious to see how the new OU OL holds up, especially in Miami. Without question, OU is loaded at QB, RB, and TE. But that OL stands out like a sore thumb. They are starting four new guys, including guys like Stephen Good and Ben Habern who haven't really played much at all yet. And behind the starters, they basically have nothing. It's going to be an issue for OU in 2009. On defense, they should be in good shape. What's the over/under on when Ryan Reynolds' knee gives out? I'm not crazy about OU's secondary, but that's been the case for the last six years or so. In the front 7, OU will be as good as it gets. All in all, OU should be very good in 2009, but I think they lose a couple along the way. They do have to play vs. BYU (in Arlington), at Miami, vs. Texas, @ Kansas, @ Nebraska, @ Tech, and vs. Oklahoma State in Norman. Do you think they lose two of those? I probably do. Fuck them. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 27 OU 21.

Missouri (Columbia, MO) - I think Mizzou will be just another one of those mediocre Big 12 North teams in 2009. They were nothing special last year, but now they have to play without Daniel, Maclin, Coffman, Ziggy Hood, and William Moore. Good luck with that. Playing in Columbia is one of those tricky spots that could bite us if we aren't careful. Something similar to playing KU in Lawrence last year. But if you get up early and put your foot on their throat, it ends up being just another day at the park. We usually play lights out the week after OU, so I would expect that again in 2009. Mizzou plays Nebraska and at Oklahoma State during the two weeks before we show up in Columbia, so Mizzou won't exactly be fresh either. They may be desperate and keep it close for a while though. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 38 Missouri 20.

Oklahoma State (Stillwater, OK) - Well, this is the tricky one. Does Stillwater 2009 = Lubbock 2008? This game is going to be a real bitch. If Oklahoma State gets by Georgia in the season opener (really looking forward to that one, by the way), I fully expect them to be undefeated when we show up on Halloween night. Ugh. OSU loses Pettigrew on offense, which is undoubtedly a huge loss. That guy was a beast both in the passing game and running game. Even so, I'll take Robinson/Hunter/Bryant as the best QB/RB/WR combo in the nation next year. They also return Okung at LT, so it's not like they are totally rebuilding their OL either. On defense, it's another story. I like the Bill Young hire, but that defense won't be anything terrific in 2009. Regardless, it should be good enough to keep OSU in the Top 15 most of the year. The real question I have with OSU is whether they will show up when the lights are brightest. There's no reason they shouldn't beat Georgia to open the season, but I remain skeptical. And I'll remain skeptical on whether they can beat us in what's sure to be a nationally televised game on October 31. That doesn't mean I'm not already nervous as hell about this one. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 38 Oklahoma St. 34.

Central Florida (Austin, TX) - As long as nobody gets hurt and I don't have to listen to Milli Vanilli during a rain delay, I will consider this a victory. Of course, this game represents another reason why Tech was absolutely crazy to agree to move our game to September. Instead of having to face Tech after a stretch of OU/Mizzou/Oklahoma State (all away from Austin), we get to play Central Florida. How great is that? Needless to say, I expect a sluggish performance in this one. Probably something similar to the Baylor game from last year. As long as Kevin Smith doesn't have any more eligibility for UCF, I think we'll be fine. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 49 UCF 17.

Baylor (Waco, TX) - We need to be careful here. I know it's Baylor and I know the odds of us losing this one are slim, but I'm just saying. Robert Griffin is legit. They also have some skill guys on offense who can play. On defense, they are nothing special, although they do have a couple of scrappy, Scott Derry types at LB and in the backfield. It's quite possible that Baylor is 6-3 at this point in the season, so they'll be ready to play. How many times in the past have we had that one November blunder or scare that almost derails our season? 1998 - Tech in Lubbock. 1999 - A&M in College Station. 2001 - A&M in College Station. 2002 - Tech in Lubbock. 2003 - Tech in Austin. 2004 - KU in Lawrence. 2005 - Oklahoma St. in Stillwater. 2006 - KSU in Manhattan. 2007 - A&M in College Station. That's what was so remarkable about 2008. We never had that hiccup game. Baylor could be it in 2009. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 35 Baylor 24.

Kansas (Austin, TX) - Todd Reesing is still around? He and Desmond Briscoe make a nice little combination (emphasis on the word little for Reesing). However, KU just doesn't do much for me. I expect them to start the season 6-0 with a cushy schedule through mid-October. They may even be ranked fairly high when they host OU on October 24. That will annoy me when OU destroys them and gets credit for beating a highly-ranked undefeated team. After that, KU's second half schedule gets a bit tougher. They could win 7 or 8 games and find themselves in a middle-tier bowl, which should be great for KU on a yearly basis. While I respect that program and think Mangino can coach, they just don't have the horses to put up a real fight in Austin. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 41 Kansas 13.

Texas A&M (College Station, TX) - I'm really tempted to say this will be a battle, especially considering that we have had to work for it at Kyle Field in 1999 (loss), 2001 (4th quarter win), 2005 (ugly win), and 2007 (loss). Only 2003 was a beatdown and that Aggie team was absolutely pathetic. However, I've just seen absolutely nothing from Mike Sherman to make me think he has any ability to put together a competitive team. Seriously, what a horrendous hire. Look at 2008. Loss to Arkansas State, close win at New Mexico, destroyed by Miami at home, squeak by Army at home, annihilated at Oklahoma State, beaten soundly by KSU and Tech at home, wins at Iowa State and vs. Colorado, and then a 3-game losing streak to end the year with epic destructions by OU, Baylor, and Texas. Where is the upside there? It's not like the talent is suddenly going to get much better either. They could go 7-5 or 6-6 this year, but that prediction doesn't include any inexplicable horrific losses (which A&M has made a habit of enduring lately). If things really fall apart for them, I could really see a 1-7 conference record with the only win being vs. Iowa State. So, aside from it being a rivalry game on the road to close out the regular season, I see no reason to predict a real close game vs. Texas. Pre-summer prediction: Texas 38 A&M 17.

I'm not even going to predict the Big 12 Championship or bowl game at this point. Safe to say, I have us playing at Jerry World in early December and then likely in Pasadena in early January. But the official prediction will come once August rolls around. Just a couple more months...

A Shout Out

Okay, this post is part shout out to (our first?) regular blog reader and part homage to a fantastic baseball guy. Is there any better coach in MLB than Dave Duncan? The Cardinals are in first place in what is, in my opinion, the second-toughest division in baseball, and their rotation is: Kyle Lohse, Todd Wellemeyer, Joel Piniero, a Chris Carpenter that has more cuts in his arm than a suicidal 15-year old girl, and Adam Wainwright. They have gone through 3 closers in 40 games, and their best pitching prospect went Jean Claude Van de Velde...and is now a power hitting outfielder! Yet they are in first place. How is this possible?

Imagine if they were to go out and trade for Peavy! He would be a good fit: National League team, but not in the West. They have a surplus of Major League ready young guys who can be traded. They are undoubtedly going to be competitors for the NL crown. St. Louis is a crazy baseball town (which seems like something that would appeal to Peavy). I could see that actually working. How good would that team look then?!!

Speaking of reclamation projects, did you notice that Lamar Odom is in fact not dead? Who would have thought?! If he plays like he did in Game 5 throughout the rest of the playoffs, you can just put the Lakers name on the Larry O'Brien Trophy now.

Today is Mr. and Mrs. Penny's 5th anniversary, and it sure would be a good present if the Lake-show would book a trip to the NBA Finals.

The Golden Pipes of Bob Costas

Dodgers and Cubbies tonight on The Network. Called by the esteemed duo of Bob Costas and Dan Pleasac (who I think does an excellent job on MLB Tonight). Costas calling a Dodgers game brings back the memories of those old playoff series that were on NBC.

As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Dodgers have not lost when they play on the same day that the Lakers have a playoff game. Wish I could say the same thing for the Lakers.....

Un-Doc Like

You know you are good when this is considered an off night:


Halladay
IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
7.0 8 3 3 2 5 1 2.63

Not this Again

I don't know that I can take another playoff series like this.

I thought after Game One the Lakers were in a great position. The Thuggets seemed a much better matchup for L.A. than the Rockets, and the Lakers seemed to have the intensity that was lacking against Houston. I could even live with the swiss cheese defense because of the up-and-down nature of the game.

After Game Two, my feelings are totally reversed. The Nuggets are exploiting every Laker weakness. I really am not sure Pau is tough enough to win an NBA championship, notwithstanding his fantastic skill level. Fisher is a shell of himself, and that is an insult to shells everywhere.

What concerns me most is the propensity for blowing leads. Yes this is the NBA and yes teams are always making runs, but the Lakers show no killer instinct at all. That is troubling. I foresee a tough, tough Game 3 in Denver, and then pray that L.A. can bounce back in Game 4. No matter what, though, I am going to be a wreck all series.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Landing in sports purgatory couldn't have happened to a more deserving Sooner. Have fun with the worst organization in sports, Blake!

Roids or Not, the Guy Can Rake

Much to the joy of Team Stockel -- A-Rod homers in his fourth straight.

Did the Mets throw that game?

I'm not sure I've ever seen a team give away a baseball game in one inning quite like that. Let's examine.

Top 11th: NY Mets
- R. Martinez lined out to center
- R. Castro lined out to left
- R. Church singled to left
- A. Pagan singled to deep right center, R. Church out at third

The Mets appeared to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th on Pagan's gapper to the wall. Church scores from first base easily - except for the fact that he clearly missed third base on the way home. I've never seen a base runner look so guilty. The Dodgers quickly picked up on it, tagged the base, and the inning was over. A horrendous mistake by an established big-league player, but shit happens, right?

Bottom 11th: LA Dodgers
- M. Loretta walked
- X. Paul safe at first on center fielder C. Beltran's fielding error, M. Loretta to third, X. Paul to second
- J. Pierre intentionally walked
- R. Furcal flied out to left
- O. Hudson reached on fielder's choice, M. Loretta scored, X. Paul to third, J. Pierre to second on first baseman J. Reed's throwing error

This is where things get crazy. After Loretta leads off with a walk, Xavier Paul hits a routine fly ball to left center field. Beltran and Pagan converge on it, both of them making it there in time to catch the ball. Beltran clearly calls off Pagan, but the ball falls innocently between them. Hmm. Beltran picks it up and rifles it into the infield. There's now runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. The Dodgers then intentionally walk Ted Williams.....err....Juan Pierre to load the bases.

The Mets then bring in Beltran to play a 5th infielder spot. Furcal flies out to shallow left and Loretta decides not to test Pagan's arm. Hudson then hits a ground ball directly to Jeremy Reed, who has an easy throw home to get the force out and preserve the tie. Of course, Reed throws it five feet wide of the catcher. Loretta scores and the Dodgers win.

Sheesh. I'm only half-joking about the possibility that the Mets "black-soxed" it last night. However, the alternative for the Mets ain't all that appealing. A little league team would be embarrassed by that 11th inning. The Dodgers will certainly take it though.

1st Half Thoughts

I am watching on DVR, so this is a little late in coming, but .... damn that was quite a first half. Pau finally looked like he wasn't up all night drinking mojitos and screwing eurotrash women, Ariza is about one step away from turning this into a gang war, and Kobe is just sitting back letting everyone else take over.

Can't ask for much more as a Laker fan. Still need to play defense, but the defensive effort so far looks strong. What is it about home cooking?

And not to be lost on this day.... Clayton F'ing Kershaw!! No-hitter through 7! Dodgers win 12-5 with the scrub lineup in! Looks like it could be a glorious sports day in the Penny household. Laker Girl is giddy.

Dare to Nightmare?

There is too much potential for a loss for any Laker fan to feel comfortable on this Sunday morning. At this point, I am done with predictions, done with analysis, and done with the semblance of understanding what makes these Lakers tick (or not). In some ways, I am reverting to pure fan status, just waiting with anticipation for the game, which I will watch either with glee or outright depression. I don't know that I like this better, but a Game 7 with a clear underdog is definitely what sports is all about.

That said, looking at this game on paper it would certainly suggest that the Lakers should bounce back. But as they say...

Good thing I have the Dodgers and Fish to tide me over until Showtime!

The Reports of My Demise are Greatly Exaggerated.

I have to admit, I was cursing the baseball gods, breaking stuff, and generally burning things in effigy after the 1-3 post-Manny start. I had lost all faith. I had foresworn the gospel. I was a baseball Judas.

But I have reformed. The Dodgers can play! They do some good little things to win. They play good defense, and the pitching has been remarkably adequate. Don't let the record fool you, the Phillies are a good team and taking 2 of 3 in Philly is huge. Beating Volstad in Florida is no small feat either, given that guy's stuff. And now they face Andrew Miller and Jon Koronka, not exactly the aces of the Marlins staff.

The Dodgers have magically transformed into a "Moneyball" style force that relies on getting guys on base. I have been critical of Joe Torre, and the bullpen (both handling and personnel) remains a mess, but the Pierre, Furcal, Hudson sequence in the lineup really puts a lot of pressure on opposing pitchers and I think it is working for this team. I don't know how long they can continue to prevail like this once Pierre (inevitably) reverts to the norm of his performance, but so far this style of ball has worked and we need to give credit where it is due.

A Riddle, Wrapped In a Mystery, Shrouded in an Enigma

I have spent much of my day trying to understand what is going on with the Lakers. I think we can agree that the series really is about the team from L.A. (not to be too much of a homer). When they show up, they win by 40. When they don't, the Lamar High Redskins could beat them. So what is happening here?

I have come to some conclusions that you are free to tear apart:

1) The Lakers are young and inexperienced. This seems impossible given that they are, well, the Lakers, but this team is really not playoff tested. Beyond Kobe and Fisher, you have Gasol (whose first playoff experience was last year, when they cakewalked to the Finals and then were toasted by a real team), Lamar Odom (experienced), Trevor Ariza (2 playoff games last year), Bynum (no playoff games last year), Farmar (perennial backup, had a horrible playoffs last year), and Vujacic and Walton (experienced, but both struggling this year). The Lakers "best five" (Kobe, Fisher, Gasol, Bynum, Ariza/Odom) basically have no winning experience on the front line.

2) The Yao-less Rockets are a Horrible Matchup. Without Yao, there is no place to hide Bynum on defense. This forces the Lakers to play small-ball, which is not the strength of either this team or the triangle offense. The triangle relies on a good passing bigman in the post, but Gasol is struggling as a post player against smaller, quicker Rockets forwards. Bynum can't play on offense because he is a tremendous defensive liability against the mighty mite offense the Rockets are running.

3) The Lakers are Arrogant. This team succeeded in the playoffs last year when they were the underdogs and everyone thought they were a year away. This team struggled against crappy opponents in the regular season this year because they went in expecting to win even if they are not as sharp as they could be. This team is lacking a Garnett-type leader, a blue-collar, lunch pail type player who jerks them back into focus when they are coasting. The Zen-master is the exact opposite of this type of leader. He is trying to make them relax when it appears the problem is they are too relaxed.

4) Vujacic can't shoot. It is easy to forget that this off-season the Lakers got rid of an energy guy (Turiaf) and resigned Vujacic for big money because of his great shooting in the playoffs. The Rockets are able to clog the lane and prevent Kobe from getting his shots in large part because no one is hitting any 3's (except Ariza, who is not exactly a feared shooter). Vujacic was supposed to play the John Paxson roll on this team, and instead he is playing the Luc Longley roll.

5) The NBA is Fixed. Okay, I just threw this in because I told Laker Girl last night when the score was 21-3 that, if I didn't know better, I'd say the Lakers were throwing the game. David Stern was in attendance after all.

As for Sunday....who the hell knows. At this point, I would be hard pressed to go against the Lakers with their backs against the wall -- but at the same time the Lakers have shown they cannot match the Rockets' mental toughness. If the Rockets get out to a lead I have no faith that the Lakers can mount a rally.