For those of you with lives, let's catch up on Bay Area sports-
Warriors- the season is mercifully winding down, with the 'future' getting their time and giving the faithful a smidgen of hope. Randolph is clearly a talent with the emotional maturity of my three-year old; Wright hasn't played enough to make an impression, but betting money has him gone before the beginning of next year; Morrow works hard and has the sweetest stroke on the team, but he's a soft tweener who can't stop anybody; Bellineli shows flashes, but he's too slow and another defensive no-show. Biedrins and Monte and Kelenna A. are mainstays, as is Turiaf at backup center. I'd love to see the W's trade Jackson; he is the most overrated player in the NBA. They desperately need a true point guard to free Monte, and they need a bruiser to grab some bounds. Unfortunately, for trade bait, Jamal Crawford's contract is too big and so is Maguette's- way to go, management. They'll be better next year, but the playoffs are a reach.
Sharks- everybody has finally had their babies and are apparently finished being 'hurt' with undisclosed lower body injuries, so they have two remaining games to get their fucking lines together and find some rhythm. All the smart eyes hope for a St. Louis first round, but the next three days will tell. A third straight Predator first-round matchup wouldn't keep me up at night, but I don't need the damn Ducks right off the bat. The problems- the team has not scored for awhile. The defense is solid and has kept the puck moving up and out of the zone, but the big boys are not getting nearly as many shots to the net and are not creating nearly as much traffic as they'll need to generate goals from the blue line on the power play. Thornton coasted through the final third of the season, and the big line of Marleau, Thornton and Setagouchi hasn't played together for weeks. Will Todd put Cheech on that front line to start the playoffs? Will Nabby get his game face back on? Will Shelley get any playoff minutes now that Staubitz's left is the talk of the league? Can Dan Boyle make the blue line relevant on the power play?
I don't fucking know, either. See you next week in the red lounge, where hockey fans don't complain, they...
Giants- Are those the sounds of whaps from last year's sagging bats? Mr. Molina has an eye on the rearview mirror of Mr. Posey, and a number of doubles to keep the future at bay. Sandoval looks like the real deal and a real character to boot. Rowand is having a miraculous start, given the last half of last year and the spring that boded darkly for the one beats up mirrors. Given Burriss's first three games, somewhere Kevin Frandsen is warming up. Freddy Lewis gets just the kind of start he needs to build confidence that he's indeed an everyday player. And hey, Matt Cain pitches like Lincy and the Thursday afternoon crowd hits MoMo's with smiles and big happy thirsts.
And the Raiders sign Jeff Garcia, and everything old is new again, and all you have to do is take the ferry into the future...
Warriors- the season is mercifully winding down, with the 'future' getting their time and giving the faithful a smidgen of hope. Randolph is clearly a talent with the emotional maturity of my three-year old; Wright hasn't played enough to make an impression, but betting money has him gone before the beginning of next year; Morrow works hard and has the sweetest stroke on the team, but he's a soft tweener who can't stop anybody; Bellineli shows flashes, but he's too slow and another defensive no-show. Biedrins and Monte and Kelenna A. are mainstays, as is Turiaf at backup center. I'd love to see the W's trade Jackson; he is the most overrated player in the NBA. They desperately need a true point guard to free Monte, and they need a bruiser to grab some bounds. Unfortunately, for trade bait, Jamal Crawford's contract is too big and so is Maguette's- way to go, management. They'll be better next year, but the playoffs are a reach.
Sharks- everybody has finally had their babies and are apparently finished being 'hurt' with undisclosed lower body injuries, so they have two remaining games to get their fucking lines together and find some rhythm. All the smart eyes hope for a St. Louis first round, but the next three days will tell. A third straight Predator first-round matchup wouldn't keep me up at night, but I don't need the damn Ducks right off the bat. The problems- the team has not scored for awhile. The defense is solid and has kept the puck moving up and out of the zone, but the big boys are not getting nearly as many shots to the net and are not creating nearly as much traffic as they'll need to generate goals from the blue line on the power play. Thornton coasted through the final third of the season, and the big line of Marleau, Thornton and Setagouchi hasn't played together for weeks. Will Todd put Cheech on that front line to start the playoffs? Will Nabby get his game face back on? Will Shelley get any playoff minutes now that Staubitz's left is the talk of the league? Can Dan Boyle make the blue line relevant on the power play?
I don't fucking know, either. See you next week in the red lounge, where hockey fans don't complain, they...
Giants- Are those the sounds of whaps from last year's sagging bats? Mr. Molina has an eye on the rearview mirror of Mr. Posey, and a number of doubles to keep the future at bay. Sandoval looks like the real deal and a real character to boot. Rowand is having a miraculous start, given the last half of last year and the spring that boded darkly for the one beats up mirrors. Given Burriss's first three games, somewhere Kevin Frandsen is warming up. Freddy Lewis gets just the kind of start he needs to build confidence that he's indeed an everyday player. And hey, Matt Cain pitches like Lincy and the Thursday afternoon crowd hits MoMo's with smiles and big happy thirsts.
And the Raiders sign Jeff Garcia, and everything old is new again, and all you have to do is take the ferry into the future...
7 comments:
Nice! Can't ever remember you doing that kind of summary. Great stuff. Ok, tell me if you think the Ws will actually acquire a PG or PF. Everyone knows these are desperately needed players, but that doesn't mean squat with this management. Think they finally will get it? If not there is no reason to watch this team.
there are plenty of reasons to watch the Warriors, but I have no idea what they're going to do. Their most tradable bait is overpaid- when they dumped Harrington for Crawford they picked up a monster contract- why? If you know the team is rebuilding, why not trade for a smaller contract? What they really need is a big point guard who can defend the other team's 2-guard and distribute the ball, but I think Magic Johnson has retired.
Their rebounding isn't as bad as it used to be, but they cannot defend, especially up top. Any guard blows by and gets right to the hoop every time, and Monte and Crawford are the worst.
People like Maguette but I don't- he just doesn't strike me as a winner- he's rarely good during stretch time, and his all-around game is weak- he can get his points, but often the offense stops so that he can back some guy up while four guys stand around, not exactly Nellie's dream up and down frenzy. He can't make plays, and his defense consists of doing a back spring flop.
Randolph could be the guy at power forward, albeit a different kind of PF, but that remains to be seen. His leaping ability can trump power at times, but I'm trying to imagine him guarding Carlos Boozer in a playoff game. I think Nellie imagines him at small forward, once he develops a richer offensive game.
I had the meatball sandwich today after four hours of sleep. Dexter killed. Manball.
I think you, me and everyone else is on the same page in terms of what the Warriors need. Where Ray Ratto and myself differ from others is that we see no need to pay attention to the team until the Ws get that PG and PF.
1 playoff appearance in 12 years. In the NBA!
But what do I care? The Masters is on, I'm wearing dockers and a polo short while listening to an endless loop of Nordstrom's piano music. I've instructed my wife she is to only talk in a hushed tone during play at Augusta, as well.
Oh the tradition! Oh the pageantry! Oh I am an ass!
you're right
Some things never change. Tonight the $17M a year Barry Zito went 4 innings, and gave up 7 hits, 2 walks, and 4 runs (all earned). Bc I know your wondering, that's an ERA of 9 and a WHIP of 9.
In the notoriously NY myopic Sports Illustrated, the point was made in baseball preview edition that a) Zito's signing is to date the worst in baseball free agency history and b) the Giants will have the best rotation in baseball if they get rid of Zito and instead let one of their two top pitching prospects play.
Better than the Yankees, Boston, Philadelphia, anyone. The writer concluded the Giants HAD to get rid of Zito even if it meant eating the entire contract.
Strong stuff. Especially considering the source.
and even with that, if Ishikawa doesn't ground into that home-first double play in the sixth with the bases loaded and nobody out, they could have won that game.
Renteria looks bad to me- just really slow on the swing.
Another brilliant Sabean move. At $9M per for two years. Meanwhile across the Bay, Beane gets virtually the exact same player for a small fraction.
You know who's looked bad so far? Tim.
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